Immunity debt or vaccination crisis? A multi-method evidence on vaccine acceptance and media framing for emerging COVID-19 variants

Renewed COVID-19 outbreaks, stemming from the highly infectious Delta and Omicron variants, prompted rising fears of a ‘pandemic among the unvaccinated’. To address this prevalent vaccination crisis, media framing communication strategies can amplify the scientific evidence on COVID-19 vaccines to reach diverse geographic and socio-economic communities. The critical role of media framing strategies to engage and encourage large populations regarding vaccine acceptance has been rarely studied, despite growing evidence on vaccine hesitancy. The present study used a multi-method approach (i.e., content analysis and quasi-experiments) that unpacked the framing practices employed by the mainstream media in Pakistan. The findings of the content analysis revealed that the media extensively used uncertainty, conflict, consequences, and action rather than new evidence and reassurance frames in its COVID-19 related campaigns. In a series of quasi-experiments involving 720 participants, we manipulated these six frames of COVID-19 related news coverage (i.e., uncertainty, conflict, consequences, action, new evidence, and reassurance) to investigate the underlying mechanism that influences vaccine acceptance. The findings established that the message-consistent effects of media frames manifesting fear (e.g., consequence and uncertainty) and action cues made receivers more supportive of vaccination. The present study findings theoretically address the calls for a more inclusive “community-health reporting model”, besides offering new evidence on the media framing strategies to deliver more targeted, meaningful, and effective campaigns to raise public acceptance for COVID-19 vaccines.     

Silencing KLF16 inhibits oral squamous cell carcinoma cell proliferation by arresting the cell cycle and inducing apoptosis

Krüppel-like factor 16 (KLF16), a member of the Krüppel-like factor (KLF) family, has been extensively investigated in multiple cancer types. However, the role of KLF16 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains unknown. Thus, we conducted this study to investigate its related mechanism. KLF16 expression in OSCC cell lines was quantified by western blotting. Then, OECM1 and OC3 cells were divided into Blank, siCtrl, siKLF16#1 and siKLF16#2 groups. Subsequently, cell proliferation was detected using 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays, cell migration and invasion were detected with wound healing and Transwell assays, and cell cycle distribution and cell apoptosis were detected via flow cytometry. KLF16, p21, CDK4, Cyclin D1 and p-Rb expression was detected by western blotting. Finally, xenograft models were established in nude mice to observe the in vivo effects of KLF16 on OSCC. KLF16 protein expression was upregulated in OSCC cells. Compared to the cells in the Blank group, the OECM1 and OC3 cells in the siKLF16#1 group and siKLF16#2 group exhibited a sharp decrease in proliferation but a remarkable increase in apoptosis. Moreover, the proportion of cells in the G0/G1 phase notably increased and that in the S phase decreased, with evident decreases in cell invasion and migration. Moreover, KLF16, cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), Cyclin D1 and p-Rb protein expression was upregulated, but p21 expression was downregulated. The mice in the siKLF16#1 and siKLF16#2 xenograft model groups exhibited slower tumour growth and smaller tumours with evident downregulation of Ki67 expression compared to the mice in the Blank group. KLF16 expression was upregulated in OSCC cells, and interfering with KLF16 led to cell cycle arrest, inhibited OSCC cell growth and promoted cell apoptosis.     

Diffusion-weighted MRI and PET/CT reproducibility in epithelial ovarian cancers during neoadjuvant chemotherapy

PurposeTo investigate the reproducibility of diffusion-weighted (DW) MRI and ¹⁸F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG)-Positron emission tomography/CT (PET/CT) in monitoring response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in epithelial ovarian cancer.Materials and methodsTen women (median age, 67 years; range: 41.8–77.3 years) with stage IIIC-IV epithelial ovarian cancers were included in this prospective trial (NCT02792959) between 2014 and 2016. All underwent initial laparoscopic staging, four cycles of carboplatine-paclitaxel-based chemotherapy and interval debulking surgery. PET/CT and DW-MRI were performed at baseline (C0), after one cycle (C1) and before surgery (C4). Two nuclear physicians and two radiologists assessed five anatomic sites for the presence of ≥ 1 lesion. Target lesions in each site were defined and their apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), maximal standardized uptake value (SUV-max), SUV-mean, SUL-peak, metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) were monitored (i.e., 10 patients × 5 sites × 3 time-points). Their relative early and late changes were calculated. Intra/inter-observer reproducibilities of qualitative and quantitative analysis were estimated with Kappa and intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs).ResultsFor both modalities, inter- and intra-observer agreement percentages were excellent for initial staging but declined later for DW-MRI, leading to lower Kappa values for inter- and intra-observer variability (0.949 and 1 at C0, vs. 0.633 and 0.643 at C4, respectively) while Kappa values remained > 0.8 for PET/CT. Inter- and intra-observer ICCs were > 0.75 for SUV-max, SUL-peak, SUV-mean and their change regardless the time-point. ADC showed lower ICCs (range: 0.013–0.811). ANOVA found significant influences of the evaluation time, the measurement used (ADC, SUV-max, SUV-mean, SUV-max, SUL-peak, MTV or TLG) and their interaction on ICC values (P = 0.0023, P< 0.0001 and P =0.0028, respectively).ConclusionWhile both modalities demonstrated high reproducibility at baseline, only SUV-max, SUL-peak, SUV-mean and their changes maintained high reproducibility during chemotherapy.     

Swedish neonatal nurses’ experiences of enhancing attachment to children born prematurely

The purpose of this study was to illuminate pediatric neonatal nurses' (PNNs') experiences of enhancing early attachment for the premature children in neonatal intensive care (NIC). An interview study with 8 PNNs in NIC in southeastern Sweden was conducted, and analyzed by content analysis. Result, illustrated three categories: Enabling closeness between the child and the parents, Supporting parents’ sense of parenthood, and Obstacles to enhancing attachment. Discussion, PNNs have a great role to supporting parents, but several barriers need to be addressed to make it easier for the PNN in NIC to enhance attachment for the child.     

基于TCA循环关键酶测定研究督灸治疗早期强直性脊柱炎患者关节活动度的疗效及机制＊

目的 基于TCA循环（三羧酸循环，tricarboxylic acid cycle）关键酶测定研究督灸治疗早期强直性脊柱炎（AS）肾虚督寒证患者关节活动度的疗效及生物学机制。方法 110例早期AS肾虚督寒证患者随机分为观察组和对照组，各55例。对照组口服甲氨蝶呤+洛索洛芬钠，观察组在对照组治疗基础上给予督灸，疗程均为12周。观察治疗前后患者的病情活动指数（bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index，BASDAI）、功能指数（bath ankylosing spondylitis fundation index，BASFI）、活动度衡量指数（bath ankylosing measure index activity index，BASMI）、总和指数（bath ankylosing spondylitis patient slobal，BAS-G）、指-地距、枕-墙距、胸廓活动度、Schober试验水平和早期AS肾虚督寒证中医辨证（肾虚督寒证）评分；检测血清炎症因子肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）、白细胞介素-18（IL-18）、血沉（ESR）和C-反应蛋白（CRP）含量；检测TCA循环关键酶柠檬酸合成酶（citrate synthase，CS）、异柠檬酸脱氢酶（isocitrate dehydrogenase，IDH）及α-酮戊二酸脱氢酶（α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase，α-KGDHC）的水平；比较治疗12周患者的临床疗效及随访6个月复发率。结果 临床研究过程脱落6例。观察组总有效率96.2%，明显高于观察组的82.4%（P<0.05）；观察组随访6个月复发率5.7%，明显低于对照组的21.6%（P<0.05）。治疗12周后，观察组患者BASDAI、BASFI、BASMI、BAS-G、指-地距、枕-墙距和肾虚督寒证评分较对照组明显下降（P<0.05），胸廓活动度和Schober试验较对照组明显升高（P<0.05）；观察组患者TNF-α、IL-18、ESR、CRP、CS和IDH水平较对照组明显下降（P<0.05），α-KGDHC水平较对照组明显升高（P<0.05）。结论 督灸可以有效改善早期AS肾虚督寒证患者的临床症状，复发率低，值得临床推广应用。     

胞饮突评估子宫内膜容受性的研究进展

胚胎植入是一个复杂且受到高度调控的过程,需要囊胚与母体子宫内膜的发育精确同步。胞饮突作为表达于子宫内膜上的一种特殊膜状突起,随月经周期变化表现为不同形态,可分为发育期、成熟期及退化期。目前已有一系列研究证实,胞饮突的数量、覆盖面积及发育阶段等在预测不孕女性种植窗及评估子宫内膜容受性中具有临床价值。胞饮突评分较高、覆盖面积较广且成熟期胞饮突占比较高的女性妊娠结局更佳。其机制可能包括胞饮突通过调节宫腔内容物影响子宫内膜容受性、通过表达植入相关蛋白参与囊胚-子宫内膜相互作用等。然而,对胞饮突精准且客观的评估手段仍待进一步探索,胞饮突评估子宫内膜容受性的精确度也待进一步验证。     

基于零缺陷管理理论构建肝胆外科加速康复评价指标体系

目的构建适用于肝胆外科的加速康复评价指标体系,为加速康复外科实施效果提供评价工具。方法在零缺陷管理理论基础上,通过文献查阅、德尔菲专家咨询法构建肝胆外科加速康复评价指标体系。结果 2轮问卷回收率均为100%,专家权威系数分别为0.920、0.919。经过2轮专家咨询,最终构建的肝胆外科加速康复评价指标体系包括3个一级指标,8个二级指标,39个三级指标;指标重要性评分均4分,变异系数0～0.166;并确定各级指标权重。结论肝胆外科加速康复评价指标体系构建合理,有较好的可信度,经验证后可作为肝胆外科加速康复质量评价工具。