Dietary patterns and breast cancer risk, prognosis, and quality of life: A systematic review

BackgroundStatistics indicate that the morbidity of breast cancer is increasing globally, and its (overall figures) incidence has now surpassed that of lung cancer for the first time. The relation between a whole dietary pattern, rather than of a single food or nutrient, and breast cancer (BC) should be examined for findings to capture the complexities of diet and the potential for synergism between dietary components. Hence, the effects of dietary patterns on breast cancer have recently attracted increasing attention.ObjectiveTo systematically review the effects of dietary patterns on breast cancer risk, prognosis, and quality of life in survivors.MethodsThis systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO. Data from Ovid, China Biomedical Literature Database, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, CNKI, PubMed, Weipu, The Cochrane Library, Duxiu Data, ProQuest, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus Database were retrieved and evaluated.ResultsA total of 47 studies that investigated the association between eating patterns and breast cancer were identified. Ten studies evaluated the effect of the model on treatment outcome and prognosis of breast cancer and two cross-sectional studies examined the influence of dietary patterns on quality of life. The resulting favorable dietary patterns were shown to regulate metabolic biomarkers, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, and protective genes, and inhibit cell proliferation and invasion.ConclusionNumerous studies have examined the effects of healthy eating, plant-based, anti-inflammation, low-fat, and other favorable dietary patterns in relation to breast cancer. However, few studies reported significant associations and the studies had limitations, suggesting that the current findings should be interpreted with caution.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, CRD4202 2350171

The m6A Reader IGF2BP2 Regulates Macrophage Phenotypic Activation and Inflammatory Diseases by Stabilizing TSC1 and PPARγ.

peer reviewedPhenotypic polarization of macrophages is regulated by a milieu of cues in the local tissue microenvironment. Currently, little is known about how the intrinsic regulators modulate proinflammatory (M1) versus prohealing (M2) macrophages activation. Here, it is observed that insulin-like growth factor 2 messenger RNA (mRNA)-binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2)-deleted macrophages exhibit enhanced M1 phenotype and promote dextran sulfate sodium induced colitis development. However, the IGF2BP2-/- macrophages are refractory to interleukin-4 (IL-4) induced activation and alleviate cockroach extract induced pulmonary allergic inflammation. Molecular studies indicate that IGF2BP2 switches M1 macrophages to M2 activation by targeting tuberous sclerosis 1 via an N6-methyladenosine (m6A)-dependent manner. Additionally, it is also shown a signal transducer and activators of transcription 6 (STAT6)-high mobility group AT-hook 2-IGF2BP2-peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ axis involves in M2 macrophages differentiation. These findings highlight a key role of IGF2BP2 in regulation of macrophages activation and imply a potential therapeutic target of macrophages in the inflammatory diseases

Characteristics and Diffusion Model of the Individual Knowledge in the WeChat Mode

[Purpose/significance] According to the model of the individual knowledge diffusion, we conduct a behavior research and analyze the characteristics of that based on WeChat which is the most popular communication platform in China.[Method/process] By analyzing the methods of the diffusion on WeChat, we analyzed the characteristics of the individual knowledge diffusion. [Result/conclusion]The characteristics of the individual knowledge diffusion include real-time, short-term, speciality, friendship and transmission

Exploration on the Implementation of Entrepreneurship Education in Universities from the Perspective of Knowledge Evolution

[Purpose/significance] The lack of entrepreneurial ability of college students is an important factor restricting their entrepreneurship. From the Perspective of knowledge evolution, this paper analyzes the reasons for the lack of creativity in entrepreneurial activities and puts forward suggestions, which is of great significance to the construction of entrepreneurial education system for college students. [Method/process] Based on the theory of knowledge evolution, this paper interpreted the evolutionary characteristics, evolutionary patterns and the stimulation of the external environment of college students’ entrepreneurial knowledge. And then, from four aspects of individual, external environment, subject system and education mode, this paper analyzed the factors that restrict the growth of college students’ entrepreneurial ability from the perspective of knowledge evolution. [Result/conclusion] From the view of cultivating college students’ entrepreneurial knowledge, this paper puts forward four reform measures: strengthening the learning environment of college students’ entrepreneurial knowledge, providing interdisciplinary knowledge supply, introducing social practice resources, and pushing forward the reform of education system. It also puts forward some countermeasures and suggestions for colleges and universities to promote entrepreneurial education

Construction of a Hierarchical Gene Regulatory Network to Reveal the Drought Tolerance Mechanism of Shanxin Poplar

Drought stress is a common adverse environment that plants encounter, and many drought-tolerant genes have been characterized. The gene regulatory network (GRN) is important in revealing the drought tolerance mechanism. Here, to investigate the regulatory mechanism of Shanxin poplar (Populus davidiana × P. bolleana) responding to drought stress, a three-layered GRN was built, and the regulatory relationship between genes in the GRN were predicted from expression correlation using a partial correlation coefficient-based algorithm. The GRN contains 1869 regulatory relationships, and includes 11 and 19 transcription factors (TFs) in the first and second layers, respectively, and 158 structural genes in the bottom layers involved in eight enriched biological processes. ChIP-PCR and qRT-PCR based on transient transformation were performed to validate the reliability of the GRN. About 88.0% of predicted interactions between the first and second layers, and 82.0% of predicted interactions between the second and third layers were correct, suggesting that the GRN is reliable. Six TFs were randomly selected from the top layer for characterizing their function in drought, and all of these TFs can confer drought tolerance. The important biological processes related to drought tolerance were identified, including “response to jasmonic acid”, “response to oxidative stress”, and “response to osmotic stress”. In this GRN, PdbERF3 is predicted to play an important role in drought tolerance. Our data revealed the key regulators, TF-DNA interactions, and the main biological processes involved in adaption of drought stress in Shanxin poplar

Narrative medicine as a teaching strategy for nursing students to developing professionalism, empathy and humanistic caring ability: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background Narrative medicine has become a solution to cultivate medical students’ ability of empathy and humanistic care. However, the role of narrative medicine is lacking in the study of professionalism. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of narrative medical theory learning and narrative writing on professionalism, empathy and humanistic care ability of nursing students. Methods This cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted between June 2021 and June 2022 in two universities in Jiangsu, China. The participants of this study were 85 nursing students who were randomly divided into the intervention group (n = 43) or the control group (n = 42). Participants in the intervention group were trained in narrative medical theory learning and narrative writing based on a Web-based platform, while those in the control group were not. Self-report questionnaires of professionalism, empathy and humanistic care ability were used before and after intervention. Results The results showed that the professionalism score of the intervention group was (68.7 ± 6.8 vs. 64.5 ± 7.5; P = 0.005), empathy (99.4 ± 15.7 vs. 92.2 ± 14.6; P = 0.014) and humanistic care ability (127.6 ± 20.0 vs. 113.3 ± 18.8; P = 0.004) were better than the control group. Conclusion The results of this quantitative study suggest that narrative medical theory education and narrative writing based on the network platform can promote the development of professionalism, empathy and humanistic care ability of nursing undergraduates

Protective Effect of <i>Lycium ruthenicum</i> Polyphenols on Oxidative Stress against Acrylamide Induced Liver Injury in Rats

Acrylamide (ACR) is formed during tobacco and carbohydrate-rich food heating and is widely applied in many industries, with a range of toxic effects. The antioxidant properties of Lycium ruthenicum polyphenols (LRP) have been established before. This study aimed to research the protective effect of LRP against ACR-induced liver injury in SD rats. Rats were divided into six groups: Control, ACR (40 mg/kg/day, i.g.), LRP (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day, i.g.) plus ACR, and LRP groups. After 19 days, we evaluated oxidative status and mitochondrial functions in the rat’s liver. The results showed that glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels increased after LRP pretreatment. In contrast, each intervention group reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels compared to the ACR group. Meanwhile, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), liver mitochondrial ATPase activity, mRNA expression of mitochondrial complex I, III, and expression of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its downstream proteins were all increased. This study suggested that LRP could reduce ACR-induced liver injury through potent antioxidant activity. LRP is recommended as oxidative stress reliever against hepatotoxicity

Designing Highly Efficient Cu₂O-CuO Heterojunction CO Oxidation Catalysts: The Roles of the Support Type and Cu₂O-CuO Interface Effect

In this work, a series of Cu2O/S (S = α-MnO2, CeO2, ZSM-5, and Fe2O3) supported catalysts with a Cu2O loading amount of 15% were prepared by the facile liquid-phase reduction deposition–precipitation strategy and investigated as CO oxidation catalysts. It was found that the Cu2O/α-MnO2 catalyst exhibits the best catalytic activity for CO oxidation. Additionally, a series of Cu2O-CuO/α-MnO2 heterojunctions with varied proportion of Cu+/Cu2+ were synthesized by further calcining the pristine Cu2O/α-MnO2 catalyst. The ratio of the Cu+/Cu2+ could be facilely regulated by controlling the calcination temperature. It is worth noting that the Cu2O-CuO/α-MnO2-260 catalyst displays the best catalytic performance. Moreover, the kinetic studies manifest that the apparent activation energy could be greatly reduced owing to the excellent redox property and the Cu2O-CuO interface effect. Therefore, the Cu2O-CuO heterojunction catalysts supported on α-MnO2 nanotubes are believed to be the potential catalyst candidates for CO oxidation with advanced performance

Key Technologies for an Orchard Variable-Rate Sprayer: Current Status and Future Prospects

An orchard variable-rate sprayer applies the appropriate amount of plant protection products only where they are needed based on detection data from advanced sensors, a system that has attracted increasing attention. The latest developments in the detection unit, variable control unit, and signal-processing algorithm of the variable-rate sprayer are discussed. The detection of target position and volume is realized with an ultrasonic sensor, a laser scanning sensor, or other methods. The technology of real-time acquisition of foliage density, plant diseases and pests and their severity, as well as meteorological parameters needs further improvements. Among the three variable-flow-rate control units, pulse width modulation was the most widely used, followed by pressure-based, and variable concentration, which is preliminarily verified in the laboratory. The variable air supply control unit is tested both in the laboratory and in field experiments. The tree-row-volume model, the leaf-wall-area model, and the continuous application mode are widely used algorithms. Advanced research on a variable-rate sprayer is analyzed and future prospects are pointed out. A laser-based variable-rate intelligent sprayer equipped with pulse width modulation solenoid valves to tune spray outputs in real time based on target structures may have the potential to be successfully adopted by growers on a large scale in the foreseeable future. It will be a future research direction to develop an intelligent multi-sensor-fusion variable-rate sprayer based on target crop characteristics, plant diseases and pests and their severity, as well as meteorological conditions while achieving multi-variable control