Comparative analysis of the hydrogen sulphide pathway in internal thoracic artery and radial artery

OBJECTIVES: The molecular basis supporting the superiority of the left internal thoracic artery (LITA) as a bypass conduit is limited. This study was conducted to compare the expression and localization of hydrogen sulphide synthesizing enzymes in LITA and radial artery (RA). METHODS: Nineteen patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting using LITA and RA were enrolled. The remnant LITA and RA were collected to measure the expression levels of 3 hydrogen sulphide-producing enzymes: cystathionine beta-synthase, cystathionine gamma-lyase and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulphurtransferase using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Expression levels of these enzymes in the LITA and RA were compared in each subject. The expression and localization patterns of the enzymes were also analysed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The mRNA expression of the cystathionine beta-synthase was greater in the LITA than in the RA (P = 0.033), whereas the expression levels of the other 2 enzymes did not significantly differ between the 2 arteries. The immunohistochemistry analysis demonstrated greater expression of the cystathionine beta-synthase in the LITA than in the RA (P= 0.006). This protein was present in both tunica intima and tunica media of the LITA, although it was present only in the tunica media of the RA. Localization patterns of the other 2 enzymes were not different between LITA and RA. CONCLUSIONS: Expression levels of the mRNA and protein of cystathionine beta-synthase were significantly greater in LITA than in the RA. These findings might be a factor that affects the superior patency rate of LITA.N

A Social Media–Based Intervention for Chinese American Caregivers of Persons With Dementia: Protocol Development

BackgroundRacial/ethnic minority and immigrant caregivers of persons with dementia experience high rates of psychosocial stress and adverse health outcomes. Few culturally tailored mobile health (mHealth) programs were designed for these vulnerable populations. ObjectiveThis study reports the development of a culturally tailored mHealth program called Wellness Enhancement for Caregivers (WECARE) to improve caregiving skills, reduce distress, and improve the psychosocial well-being of Chinese American family caregivers of persons with dementia. MethodsCommunity-based user-centered design principles were applied in the program development. First, the structure and curriculum of the WECARE program were crafted based on existing evidence-based interventions for caregivers with input from 4 experts. Second, through working closely with 8 stakeholders, we culturally adapted evidence-based programs into multimedia program components. Lastly, 5 target users tested the initial WECARE program; their experience and feedback were used to further refine the program. ResultsThe resulting WECARE is a 7-week mHealth program delivered via WeChat, a social media app highly popular in Chinese Americans. By subscribing to the official WECARE account, users can receive 6 interactive multimedia articles pushed to their WeChat accounts each week for 7 weeks. The 7 major themes include (1) facts of dementia and caregiving; (2) the enhancement of caregiving skills; (3) effective communication with health care providers, care partners, and family members; (4) problem-solving skills for caregiving stress management; (5) stress reduction and depression prevention; (6) the practice of self-care and health behaviors; and (7) social support and available resources. Users also have the option of joining group chats for peer support. The WECARE program also includes a back-end database that manages intervention delivery and tracks user engagement. ConclusionsThe WECARE program represents one of the first culturally tailored social media–based interventions for Chinese American caregivers of persons with dementia. It demonstrates the use of community-based user-centered design principles in developing an mHealth intervention program in underserved communities. We call for more cultural adaptation and development of mHealth interventions for immigrant and racial/ethnic minority caregivers of persons with dementia

Elevated CO2 Enhances Dynamic Photosynthesis in Rice and Wheat

Crops developed under elevated carbon dioxide (eCO(2)) exhibit enhanced leaf photosynthesis under steady states. However, little is known about the effect of eCO(2) on dynamic photosynthesis and the relative contribution of the short-term (substrate) and long-term (acclimation) effects of eCO(2). We grew an Oryza sativa japonica cultivar and a Triticum aestivum cultivar under 400 mu mol CO2 mol(-1) air (ambient, A) and 600 mu mol CO2 mol(-1) air (elevated, E). Regardless of growth [CO2], the photosynthetic responses to the sudden increase and decrease in light intensity were characterized under 400 (a) or 600 mu mol CO2 mol(-1) air (e). The Aa(1), Ae(2), Ea(3), and Ee(4) treatments were employed to quantify the acclimation effect (Ae vs. Ee and Aa vs. Ea) and substrate effect (Aa vs. Ae and Ea vs. Ee). In comparison with the Aa treatment, both the steady-state photosynthetic rate (P-N) and induction state (IS) were higher under the Ae and Ee treatments but lower under the Ea treatment in both species. However, IS reached at the 60 sec after the increase in light intensity, the time required for photosynthetic induction, and induction efficiency under Ae and Ee treatment did not differ significantly from those under Aa treatment. The substrate effect increased the accumulative carbon gain (ACG) during photosynthetic induction by 45.5% in rice and by 39.3% in wheat, whereas the acclimation effect decreased the ACG by 18.3% in rice but increased it by 7.5% in wheat. Thus, eCO(2), either during growth or at measurement, enhances the dynamic photosynthetic carbon gain in both crop species. This indicates that photosynthetic carbon loss due to an induction limitation may be reduced in the future, under a high-CO2 world