Objective:To understand the breastfeeding situation in the neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Qianxinan Prefecture, Guizhou Province, and to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of doctors and nurses regarding breastfeeding, aiming to provide foundational data for improving breastfeeding quality.Methods:A questionnaire was developed to survey the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to breastfeeding in NICUs. The questionnaire was divided into three dimensions: knowledge (seven items, total score of 7), attitudes (nine items, total score of 45), and practices (seven items, total score of 35). Lower scores indicated weaker recognition of breastfeeding. Additionally, five items were included to identify the most influential factors affecting breastfeeding. From November 25 to November 30, 2023, a survey was conducted among doctors and nurses with professional qualifications who had worked in the neonatal departments of nine hospitals in Qianxinan Prefecture for at least one year. Independent sample t-tests and Chi-square tests were used to compare the scores of doctors and nurses from different levels of hospitals and within the same level of hospitals across the three dimensions. Results:(1) Among the nine hospitals, three were tertiary grade A hospitals (referred to as "tertiary hospitals"), with 95.6% (43/45) of the doctors and 96.5% (110/114) of the nurses participating in the survey. Six were secondary grade A hospitals (referred to as "secondary hospitals"), with 95.0% (38/40) of the doctors and 97.6% (83/85) of the nurses participating. (2) All nine hospitals were baby-friendly hospitals and all had breastfeeding promotional materials. Six hospitals had NICUs that promoted breastfeeding, with an average NICU breastfeeding rate of 25.8% across the prefecture between year 2021 to 2023. (3) The proportion of doctors who had received breastfeeding training was higher than that of nurses within the same level of hospitals [tertiary hospitals: 69.8% (30/43) vs. 40.0% (44/110), χ 2=10.97, P=0.001; secondary hospitals: 47.4% (18/38) vs. 24.1% (20/83), χ 2=6.55, P=0.010], although the overall training rates were low. (4) In tertiary hospitals, doctors scored higher than nurses in the attitude dimension [(35.35±4.75) vs. (33.18±5.60) scores, t=－2.03, P=0.044] and also in the practice dimension [(26.98±3.00) vs. (25.60±3.75) scores, t=－2.17, P=0.032]. In secondary hospitals, the total knowledge dimension score of doctors was higher than that of nurses [(4.92±1.44) vs. (4.20±1.45) scores, t=－2.52, P=0.013]. In tertiary hospitals, the total scores for attitude and practice dimensions of doctors were higher than those of doctors in secondary hospitals, and the total scores for knowledge, attitude, and practice dimensions of nurses were higher than those of nurses in secondary hospitals (all P<0.05). (5) In the knowledge dimension, the lowest scoring item of doctors in the tertiary hospitals was "Breastfeeding is possible for maternal hepatitis B newborns after receiving vaccines and immunoglobulin"; the lowest scoring item of nurses in the tertiary hospital, and doctors and nurses in the secondary hospitals was "The duration of breastfeeding has a greater impact on neonatal outcomes". In the attitude dimension, the lowest scoring item for doctors and nurses in both tertiary and secondary hospitals was "You think the breastfeeding process is more troublesome than feeding preterm formula". In the practice dimension, the lowest scoring item of the doctors and nurses in the tertiary hospitals was "Your hospital had enough breastfeeding knowledge training", while for the doctors and nurses in the secondary hospitals were "You have more opportunities to participate in various breastfeeding-related training" and "Breast feeding should be started as soon as possible when the infant is stable after active treatment", respectively. (6) The most influential factors affecting breastfeeding were: lack of cooperation from parents (50.0%, 137/274), relative insufficient human resources for doctors and nurses (21.9%, 60/274), and the absence or poor implementation of breastfeeding management policies (18.3%, 50/274), etc. Conclusions:The breastfeeding rate in NICU of county-level hospitals is relatively low, and medical staff, especially nurses, have insufficient knowledge about breastfeeding. It is necessary to strengthen various breastfeeding training for medical staff to enhance their understanding of NICU breastfeeding.

Biosynthesis of nanomaterials has attracted much attention for its excellent characteristics such as low energy consumption, high safety, and environmental friendliness. As we all know, the toxic selenite can be transformed into higher-value nanomaterials by using bacteria. In this study, nano-selenium was synthesized by halophilic Bacillus subtilis subspecies stercoris strain XP in LB medium supplemented with selenite (electron acceptor). The physicochemical characteristics of nano-selenium were analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray energy dispersive spectral analysis (EDAX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Meanwhile, the antifungal activity of nano-selenium to strawberry pathogens (fusarium wilt, erythema, and purple spot fungi) was determined. The products from reduction of selenite by strain XP was amorphous spherical selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) with a diameter range of 135-165 nm. The production of SeNPs was positively correlated with time (0-48 h) and no changes were observed on cell morphology. Selenium was dominant in the surface of SeNPs where the organic elements (C, O, N, and S) existed at the same time. SeNPs were coated with biomolecules containing functional groups (such as -OH, C=O, N-H, and C-H) which were associated with the stability and bioactivity of particles. Although the highest concentration of SeNPs had significant (P<0.05) inhibitory effects on three strains of strawberry pathogens, antifungal activity to erythema and fusarium wilt pathogenic fungi was higher than that to purple spot pathogenic fungi from strawberry. In conclusion, strain XP not only has strong tolerance to high salt stress, but can be also used to synthesize biological SeNPs with good stability and biological activity. Thus, the strain XP has bright perspectives and great potential advantage in pathogens control and green selenium-rich strawberry planting as well as other fields.
Bacillus subtilis ; Fragaria ; Nanoparticles ; Selenious Acid ; Selenium

Objective To detect and analyze the HBV?related indexes in the urine of HBV transgenic mice and further understand the biological characteristics of transgenic mice, and to clarify the tissue sources of HBV?related indexes. Methods HBV?related indexes in the urine of transgenic mice were tested using enzyme?linked immune sorbent assay ( ELISA ) and fluorescence quantitative PCR ( real?time RCR ) . The tissue sources were confirmed by several experiments, i. e. hydrodynamic transfection of mice, RNA interference to inhibit HBV?expression in the transgenic mice, and to infect normal mice with HBV?positive serum from patients. Results Expression of HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV?DNA was present in the urine of transgenic mice, of which the HBsAg expression level was high (6674 ± 619?8 IU/mL), but lower than that in the serum (16470 ± 2704 IU/mL). The level of HBsAg expression in the urine of male mice was higher than that in female mice. The level of HBeAg expression in the urine was lower and the HBeAg positive rate of urine was higher than that of blood, and the levels of HBeAg expression showed significant inter?individual and inter?sexual differences. HBV?DNA level reached 103 -105 copy/mL in the urine, but no related antibody expression was detected. The experiments such as hydrodynamic infection test indicated that the HBV?related indexes in the urine are derived from replication in the kidneys rather than secreted from the liver, entered into the blood circulation, and discharged from the urine. The kidneys are an independent expression site of HBV. Conclusions The expression of HBV?related indexes is present in the urine of transgenic mice and it is a long?term expression along with the age in months, of which the expression levels of HBsAg and HBV?DNA are rather high and stable. HBsAg titer in the urine of the male mice is higher than that of female mice. HBeAg expression level in the male mice is more stable compared with that in female mice. No expressions of various kinds of antibodies have been found in the urine. The kidneys are an independent expression site of HBV.

OBJECTIVETo elucidate the role of transforming growth factor-beta1(TGF-β1) in epithelial-mesenchymal transition of mesothelial cells and peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer.

METHODSHMrSV5 cells, a human peritoneal mesothelial cell line, were incubated with TGF-β1, and their morphological changes were observed by phase contrast microscopy. Expressions of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), vimentin, cytokeratin, E-cadherin, phosphorylated-Smad2 and Smad2 were examined by Western blotting. After fibroblastic-like mesothelial cells were co-incubate with HSC-39 cells(gastric cancer cell line), the adhesion and invasion potential of HSC-39 were evaluated by adhesion and invasion assay in vitro.

RESULTSFew mesothelial cells converted to spindle fibroblast-like morphology for 24 h, and remarkable phenotypic changes were observed at 72 h of TGF-β1 activation. TGF-β1 could induce α-SMA and vimentin expression, and down-regulate cytokeratin and E-cadherin expression in mesothelial cells (P<0.05). TGF-β1 induced phosphorylation of Smad2 within 15 min of stimulation, reached a maximum at 30 min after treatment and remained high level during the experiment without affecting total Smad2 expression(P>0.05). The percentage of HSC-39 gastric cancer cells adhered were significantly increased as compared to the control. When the mesothelial cells were treated by TGF-β1 for 72 h, the increased adhesion percentage was(146±17)%(P<0.05). After fibroblastic-like mesothelial cells co-incubated with HSC-39 cells for 48 h, more cancer cells [(61.1±11.4) cells/view field] invaded the coated membrane as compared to the control group [(31.9±8.1) cells/view field] (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONTGF-β1 can induce the transition of mesothelial cells into myofibroblasts and Smad2 signal pathway may play a role in this transition, which is associated with increased adhesion and invasiveness of gastric cancer cells, and provides favorable environment for the dissemination of gastric cancer.

Cadherins ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Epithelium ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Peritoneal Neoplasms ; Signal Transduction ; Smad2 Protein ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Vimentin

Objective To elucidate the role of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1) in epithelial-mesenchymal transition of mesothelial cells and peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer. Methods HMrSV5 cells, a human peritoneal mesothelial cell line, were incubated with TGF-β1, and their morphological changes were observed by phase contrast microscopy. Expressions of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), vimentin, cytokeratin, E-cadherin, phosphorylated-Smad2 and Smad2 were examined by Western blotting. After fibroblastic-like mesothelial cells were co-incubate with HSC-39 cells (gastric cancer cell line), the adhesion and invasion potential of HSC-39 were evaluated by adhesion and invasion assay in vitro. Results Few mesothelial cells converted to spindle fibroblast-like morphology for 24 h, and remarkable phenotypic changes were observed at 72 h of TGF-β1 activation. TGF-β1 could induce α-SMA and vimentin expression, and down-regulate cytokeratin and E-cadherin expression in mesothelial cells (P<0.05). TGF-β1 induced phosphorylation of Smad2 within 15 min of stimulation, reached a maximum at 30 min after treatment and remained high level during the experiment without affecting total Smad2 expression (P>0.05). The percentage of HSC-39 gastric cancer cells adhered were significantly increased as compared to the control. When the mesothelial cells were treated by TGF-β1 for 72 h, the increased adhesion percentage was (146 ±17)%(P<0.05). After fibroblastic-like mesothelial cells co-incubated with HSC-39 cells for 48 h , more cancer cells [(61.1 ±11.4) cells/view field] invaded the coated membrane as compared to the control group [(31.9±8.1) cells/view field] (P<0.05). Conclusion TGF-β1 can induce the transition of mesothelial cells into myofibroblasts and Smad2 signal pathway may play a role in this transition , which is associated with increased adhesion and invasiveness of gastric cancer cells , and provides favorable environment for the dissemination of gastric cancer.

Objective To elucidate the role of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1) in epithelial-mesenchymal transition of mesothelial cells and peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer. Methods HMrSV5 cells, a human peritoneal mesothelial cell line, were incubated with TGF-β1, and their morphological changes were observed by phase contrast microscopy. Expressions of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), vimentin, cytokeratin, E-cadherin, phosphorylated-Smad2 and Smad2 were examined by Western blotting. After fibroblastic-like mesothelial cells were co-incubate with HSC-39 cells (gastric cancer cell line), the adhesion and invasion potential of HSC-39 were evaluated by adhesion and invasion assay in vitro. Results Few mesothelial cells converted to spindle fibroblast-like morphology for 24 h, and remarkable phenotypic changes were observed at 72 h of TGF-β1 activation. TGF-β1 could induce α-SMA and vimentin expression, and down-regulate cytokeratin and E-cadherin expression in mesothelial cells (P<0.05). TGF-β1 induced phosphorylation of Smad2 within 15 min of stimulation, reached a maximum at 30 min after treatment and remained high level during the experiment without affecting total Smad2 expression (P>0.05). The percentage of HSC-39 gastric cancer cells adhered were significantly increased as compared to the control. When the mesothelial cells were treated by TGF-β1 for 72 h, the increased adhesion percentage was (146 ±17)%(P<0.05). After fibroblastic-like mesothelial cells co-incubated with HSC-39 cells for 48 h , more cancer cells [(61.1 ±11.4) cells/view field] invaded the coated membrane as compared to the control group [(31.9±8.1) cells/view field] (P<0.05). Conclusion TGF-β1 can induce the transition of mesothelial cells into myofibroblasts and Smad2 signal pathway may play a role in this transition , which is associated with increased adhesion and invasiveness of gastric cancer cells , and provides favorable environment for the dissemination of gastric cancer.

Sugarcane bagasse modified by polyethylenimine (PEI) and glutaraldehyde (GA) was used as a carrier to immobilize Clostridium acetobutylicum XY16 in the process of butanol production. The effects of chemically modified sugarcane bagasse on batch and repeat-batch fermentations were investigated. Batch fermentation was conducted with an addition of 10 g/L modified sugarcane bagasse and 60 g/L glucose, resulting in a high solvent concentration of 21.67 g/L and productivity of 0.60 g/(L x h) with the treatment of 4 g/L PEI and 1 g/L GA. Compared to the fermentations by free cells and immobilized cells on unmodified sugarcane bagasse, the productivity increased 130.8% and 66.7%, respectively. The fibrous-bed bioreactor also maintained a stable butanol production during repeat-batch fermentations, achieving a maximum productivity of 0.83 g/(L x h) with a high yield of 0.42 g/g.
Batch Cell Culture Techniques ; Bioreactors ; Butanols ; metabolism ; Cells, Immobilized ; Cellulose ; metabolism ; Clostridium acetobutylicum ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; Saccharum ; chemistry

Objective To observe the NTBC dependence of Fah-knockout mice and study the biological characteristics in order to use the model more effectively.Methods Examine the progressive changes in body weight, survival time, liver pathology and serological markers after the NTBC withdrawal.Results After removing of NTBC, Fah-knockout mice lost their body weight gradually, and finally died in 5 to 7 weeks, along with increased serum ALT, AST levels and deformation of the hepatocytes.Conclusions Fah-knockout mice have a strong drug dependence of NTBC and could be the ideal model to hereditary tyrosinemia type I and other liver injury.

BACKGROUND:Autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s can treat decompensated liver cirrhosis, however, little evidence has addressed the control ed clinical research in hepatitis B patients with decompensated live cirrhosis.
OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s in the treatment of hepatitis B with decompensated live cirrhosis.
METHODS:A total of 67 hepatitis B patients with decompensated live cirrhosis were divided into two groups according to their wishes to receive stem cel transplantation. The control group (34 patients) only received oral administration of nucleoside analog antivirus and supportive treatment. The treatment group (33 patients) received autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s transplantation via hepatic artery plus antivirus and supportive treatment. The liver functional index, clinical signs and symptoms, adverse reactions were observed and compared at 4, 12, 24 weeks after treatment.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After treatment, al patients’ symptoms were improved to varying degrees. After 4 weeks of treatment, the liver functional indexes were al significantly improved compared with before treatment, the levels of alanme aminotransferase, cholinesterase and prothrombin activity in treatment group were significantly ameliorated compared with control group (P<0.05). At 12 and 24 weeks of treatment, the alanme aminotransferase, albumin, total bilirubin, cholinesterase and prothrombin activity in control group and treatment group showed statistical y significant differences compared with before treatment (P<0.05). At the same time point, al the indicators in the treatment group were significantly ameliorated compared with control group (P<0.05). The Child-pugh score and model for end-stage liver disease score declined at 4, 12, 24 weeks after treatment, showing significant differences compared with before treatment. The difference was also significant at the same time point between two groups. The treatment of nucleoside analogue antivirus combined with autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s transplantation on hepatitis B patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis is an effective method to improve liver function and blood coagulation function, with symptom improvement, safety and low risk.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of D-galactosamine (D-GaIN) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on liver tissue regeneration and repair in mice following liver injury induced by partial hepatectomy.

METHODSA total of 40 male BALB/c mice were randomly assigned into 2 equal groups to receive intraperitoneal injections of D-GaIN (500 mg/kg) plus LPS (50 µg/kg, given 1 h later) or two doses of saline 24 h prior to 1/3 hepatectomy. The liver weight/body weight (LW/BW) ratio and liver regeneration rate were observed at different time points after partial hepatectomy. Liver cell injury was assessed using HE staining, hepatocyte proliferation evaluated with BrdU staining, and the oval cell proliferation observed with immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSIn mice receiving saline injection, the liver volume was nearly restored 9 days after partial hepatectomy, while in mice with D-GaIN and LPS injections, the liver failed to recover the normal volume even at 14 days, showing a significant difference in the liver regeneration rate between them [(22.6∓105.93)% vs (9.49∓32.55)%, P<0.001]. Significant degenerative changes of the hepatic cells were found in D-GaIN/LPS-treated group, while only mild inflammatory reaction was observed in saline-treated group after partial hepatectomy. Obvious hepatocyte proliferation was observed at day 7 in saline-treated group but not in D-GaIN/LPS-treated group. Oval cell proliferation in the portal area occurred 3 days after partial hepatectomy in D-GaIN/LPS-treated group.

CONCLUSIOND-GaIN and LPS can obviously inhibit hepatocyte regeneration after liver injury in mice. D-GaIN and LPS combined with partial hepatectomy can induce oval cell proliferation.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Galactosamine ; pharmacology ; Hepatectomy ; methods ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Liver ; cytology ; injuries ; physiopathology ; Liver Regeneration ; drug effects ; physiology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Stem Cells ; cytology