Beattylorenzen4621

To explore how older people manage social support needs when they are childless and living in poverty in the Malaysian context where social policy emphasises family as the primary provider of social support.

Semi-structured interviews were completed with a purposive sample of 34 childless and older Malaysians living in poverty in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A thematic content analysis focused on their reports of managing social support needs.

Key strategies were using existing resources, developing new networks and adjusting expectations. Agency played a vital role in avoiding institutional care.

This paper adds to research on childlessness in older age in varied policy and cultural contexts. It challenges assumptions about families providing social support and argues for policies to recognise older people as an individual unit rather than as part of a family to prolong independent living in the community.

This paper adds to research on childlessness in older age in varied policy and cultural contexts. It challenges assumptions about families providing social support and argues for policies to recognise older people as an individual unit rather than as part of a family to prolong independent living in the community.Dopamine is an essential neurotransmitter and its detection is important for bioanalytical chemistry. Two very different DNA aptamers have been reported for dopamine, one derived from an RNA aptamer (named Apt1) and other obtained via direct aptamer selection (named Apt2). In this study, we used four homogeneous binding assays to compare these two DNA dopamine aptamers. Thiazole orange (TO) fluorescence assay indicated that the Apt2 specifically bound with dopamine with a Kd of 2.37 μM, which was consistent with that from the isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) assay. However, Apt1 had much less TO fluorescence change and also no signal from ITC. By labeling the two ends of the two aptamers by a fluorophore and a quencher, the aptamer beacons showed binding of dopamine only for Apt2. Finally, the label-free AuNP-based colorimetric assay showed no difference between these two aptamer sequences, and even non-binding random DNA showed the same response, indicating that AuNPs were not a good probe for detecting dopamine. According to the data, Apt1 does not appear to be able to bind dopamine specifically, while Apt2 showed specific binding and could be used for developing related biosensors.Ecologists increasingly rely on complex computer simulations to forecast ecological systems. To make such forecasts precise, uncertainties in model parameters and structure must be reduced and correctly propagated to model outputs. Naively using standard statistical techniques for this task, however, can lead to bias and underestimation of uncertainties in parameters and predictions. Here, we explain why these problems occur and propose a framework for robust inference with complex computer simulations. After having identified that model error is more consequential in complex computer simulations, due to their more pronounced nonlinearity and interconnectedness, we discuss as possible solutions data rebalancing and adding bias corrections on model outputs or processes during or after the calibration procedure. We illustrate the methods in a case study, using a dynamic vegetation model. We conclude that developing better methods for robust inference of complex computer simulations is vital for generating reliable predictions of ecosystem responses.Skin wound is a very common type of injury and the healing process greatly affects the life quality of individuals. Ozone has been shown beneficial to wound healing with unclear mechanisms. Here, we tested the effect of ozone oil (OZ) on wound healing and investigated the underlying mechanisms. Mouse skin wound model and Masson staining were used to evaluate the effect of OZ on wound healing. Primary fibroblast culture was employed to assess the functions of OZ, miR-21-5p, and RASA1. QRT-PCR and western blot were used to determine expression levels of miR-21-5p, RASA1, α-SMA, and collagen I. CCK-8 assay and scratch wound healing assay were used to measure viability and migration of fibroblasts. Dual luciferase activity assay was performed to validate miR-21-5p/RASA1 interaction. OZ accelerated wound healing in mice and promoted proliferation and migration abilities of fibroblasts. miR-21-5p was increased while RASA1 was reduced during the wound healing and OZ treatment augmented those changes, as well as increased levels of α-SMA and collagen I. Knockdown of miR-21-5p suppressed those effects of OZ on fibroblasts. Furthermore, miR-21-5p directly targeted RASA1 mRNA and negatively regulated its expression. Overexpression of RASA1 inhibited fibroblast proliferation and migration as well as diminished α-SMA and collagen I protein expression. Additionally, RASA1 overexpression blocked the promotion of miR-21-5p overexpression on fibroblast viability and migration. In vivo, miR-21-5p facilitated wound healing while overexpression of RASA1 reversed the effect. OZ promoted wound healing by enhancing miR-21-5p-mediated RASA1 inhibition to increase fibroblast proliferation and migration.

To establish the healthcare factors that contribute to testicular torsion adverse events (orchidectomies) and 'near misses'. The secondary objective was to identify areas suitable for impactful quality improvement initiatives to be undertaken by National Health Service (NHS) healthcare providers nationally.

This was a retrospective record review and analysis, carried out in four phases. We applied the well-validated London Protocol patient safety incident analysis framework to all eligible serious incidents related to testicular torsion submitted by English NHS Trusts over a 12-year period to the Strategic Executive Information System database. Clinical reviewers established the incident population (Phase 1), were trained and piloted the feasibility of using the London Protocol (Phase 2), applied the protocol and themed the identified contributing factors linked to adverse events (orchidectomies) and near-misses (Phase 3), and reviewed the evidence for improvement interventions (Phase 4).

Our search retonsequence of healthcare serious incidents. In order to improve outcomes, we propose clinical support to aid the diagnosis of torsion, improved national clinical guidelines, development of specific standard operating procedures and (in the longer term) more exposure of trainees and medical students to urology to improve the testicular salvage rate.

This is the first study to our knowledge to systematically analyse and classify factors that are associated with loss of a testicle and related near-miss incidents in patients presenting with testicular torsion. In England, a significant number of orchidectomies occur annually as a consequence of healthcare serious incidents. In order to improve outcomes, we propose clinical support to aid the diagnosis of torsion, improved national clinical guidelines, development of specific standard operating procedures and (in the longer term) more exposure of trainees and medical students to urology to improve the testicular salvage rate.Van den Ende-Gupta syndrome (VDEGS) is a rare autosomal recessive condition characterized by distinctive facial and skeletal features, and in most affected persons, by biallelic pathogenic variants in SCARF2. We review the type and frequency of the clinical features in 36 reported individuals with features of VDEGS, 15 (42%) of whom had known pathogenic variants in SCARF2, 6 (16%) with negative SCARF2 testing, and 15 (42%) not tested. We also report three new individuals with pathogenic variants in SCARF2 and clinical features of VDEGS. Of the six persons without known pathogenic variants in SCARF2, three remain unsolved despite extensive genetic testing. Three were found to have pathogenic ABL1 variants using whole exome sequencing (WES) or whole genome sequencing (WGS). Their phenotype was consistent with the congenital heart disease and skeletal malformations syndrome (CHDSKM), which has been associated with ABL1 variants. Of the three unsolved cases, two were brothers who underwent WGS and targeted long-range sequencing of both SCARF2 and ABL1, and the third person who underwent WES and RNA sequencing for SCARF2. Foretinib Because these affected individuals with classical features of VDEGS lacked a detectable pathogenic SCARF2 variant, genetic heterogeneity is likely. Our study shows the importance of performing genetic testing on individuals with the VDEGS "phenotype," either as a targeted gene analysis (SCARF2, ABL1) or WES/WGS. Additionally, individuals with the combination of arachnodactyly and blepharophimosis should undergo echocardiography while awaiting results of molecular testing due to the overlapping physical features of VDEGS and CHDSKM.The roles of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) MCF2L-AS1 have been identified in colorectal cancer, however, its roles in lung cancer progression have never been revealed. Here, we found that lncRNA MCF2L-AS1 was highly expressed in lung cancer tissues and cells, especially in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Functional experiments showed that MCF2L-AS1 knockdown suppressed the cancer stem cell (CSC)-like traits of NSCLC cells through qRT-PCR, western blot, tumor-sphere formation, and ALDH activity detection. Additionally, bioinformatic assay combined with RNA pull down and luciferase reporter analysis confirmed that MCF2L-AS1 downregulated miR-873-5p level. Furthermore, miR-873-5p expression exhibited a lower level in lung cancer tissues and cells, and a negative correlation with MCF2L-AS1 expression in lung cancer tissues. Moreover, miR-873-5p inhibition partially reversed the suppression of MCF2L-AS1 on the CSC-like traits on NSCLC cells. Thus, this work identifies a novel MCF2L-AS1/miR-873-5p regulatory axis responsible for the CSC-like traits of NSCLC cells.Photothermal therapy usually requires a high power density to activate photothermal agent for effective treatment, which inevitably leads to damage to normal tissues and inflammation in tumor tissues. Herein, we rationally design a protein-binding strategy to build a molecular photothermal agent for photothermal ablation of tumor. The synthesized photothermal agent can covalently bind to the thiol groups on the intracellular proteins. The heat generated by the photothermal agent directly destroyed the bioactive proteins in the cells, effectively reducing the heat loss and the molecular leakage. Under a low power density of 0.2 W cm-2 , the temperature produced by the photothermal agent was sufficient to induce apoptosis. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that the therapeutic effect of photothermal therapy can be efficiently improved with the protein-binding strategy.To study metalloenzymes in detail, we developed a new experimental setup allowing the controlled preparation of catalytic intermediates for characterization by various spectroscopic techniques. The in situ monitoring of redox transitions by infrared spectroscopy in enzyme lyophilizate, crystals, and solution during gas exchange in a wide temperature range can be accomplished as well. Two O2 -tolerant [NiFe]-hydrogenases were investigated as model systems. First, we utilized our platform to prepare highly concentrated hydrogenase lyophilizate in a paramagnetic state harboring a bridging hydride. This procedure proved beneficial for 57 Fe nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy and revealed, in combination with density functional theory calculations, the vibrational fingerprint of this catalytic intermediate. The same in situ IR setup, combined with resonance Raman spectroscopy, provided detailed insights into the redox chemistry of enzyme crystals, underlining the general necessity to complement X-ray crystallographic data with spectroscopic analyses.