Blue luminescent carbon dots (CDs) with a high photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield (48.3 ± 5.3%) were prepared by the one-pot hydrothermal reaction of citric acid with poly(ethylenimine) (PEI). The CDs display bright PL, narrow emission spectra, pH-dependent PL intensity, high photostability, and up-converted luminescence. The CDs exhibit a quenching of both down- and up-conversion PL in the presence of morin and thus serve as useful probes for morin detection. Both down- and up-conversion measurements allow the quantification of concentrations from 0 to 300 μmol/L with a detection limit of 0.6 μmol/L, and this dual-mode detection increases the reliability of the measurement. The proposed method of determination is simple, sensitive, and cost-effective, with potential applications in clinical and biochemical assays.

BackgroundDepressive symptoms are a pervasive mental health problem in Chinese adolescents. The aim of this article was to systematically assess the trend of depressive symptoms in China among adolescents (1988 to 2018).Material/MethodsA systematic and comprehensive literature search was conducted in both English and Chinese databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, CNKI, and Wan Fang Database, to identify relevant studies published between 1988 and 2018. Batteries of analyses in this meta-analysis were undertaken using Stata version 12.0 statistical software.ResultsSixty-two related reports involving 232 586 participants finally met our inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results suggest the prevalence of depressive symptoms has generally increased over time. The prevalence estimates before 2000 were 18.4% (95% CI, 14.5–22.3%), and were 26.3% (95% CI, 21.9–30.8%) after 2016. The pooled prevalence of depressive symptoms among children and adolescents was 22.2% (95% CI: 19.9–24.6%, I2=99.6%, p<0.001). More subgroup analyses classified by screening instrument, gender, and region were carried out in this meta-analysis.ConclusionsResults of our meta-analysis suggest that depressive symptoms have become more prevalent among Chinese adolescents. This trend emphasizes the need for effective prevention strategies and greater availability of screening tools for this vulnerable population.

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Aims and objectives To assess the effectiveness of a 12‐week educational intervention on foot self‐care behaviour among diabetic retinopathy patients with visual disability and their primary caregivers in China. Background Diabetes with the coexistence of diabetic retinopathy and foot problems complicating diabetes not only represents a personal disaster, but also becomes a serious burden to public health in China. A foot self‐care educational intervention is both cost‐effective and feasible even in a health resource‐limited setting, which should be developed and evaluated. Design Quasi‐experimental. Methods From July–September 2017, we enrolled 80 eligible hospitalised diabetic retinopathy patients and their primary caregivers by convenient sampling method in a first‐class comprehensive hospital in Nantong, in China. Before and after the educational intervention that is in accordance with the TREND statement (for details, see the “Supplementary File 1”), researchers and subjects filled out the self‐designed questionnaire on foot problems complicating diabetes and the Diabetic Foot Self‐care Behavior Scale, respectively. Results Scores of foot self‐care behaviour among the subjects significantly improved from 54.19 ± 8.01–75.85 ± 5.04. The number of patients with fasting blood glucoses <7.0 mmol/L improved from 43 (53.75%)–80 (100%). The results of incidence of foot problems complicating diabetes were not statistically significant. The complete execution of each item in Diabetic Foot Self‐care Behavior Scale of subjects was apparently higher. Conclusions This educational intervention can facilitate positive foot self‐care behaviours among the diabetic retinopathy patients with visual disability and their primary caregivers in China. Relevance to clinical practice. This study adds to the evidence of the effectiveness of an educational intervention to foster positive foot self‐care behaviours. This educational intervention appears to be prospective in promoting diabetic home‐based self‐management in China, and the delivery method of the intervention may be applied to other chronic diseases.

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has profound impacts on cancer progression and also on drug resistance, including epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs). Nowadays, there is still no predictive biomarker identified for the use of EGFR-TKIs in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with wild-type EGFR. To clarify the role of EMT phenotype as a predictive marker for EGFR-TKI, we performed a retrospective study in 202 stage IV or recurrent NSCLC patients receiving gefitinib or erlotinib therapy from June 2008 to September 2012 in our institute. Clinical data and EGFR mutational status were collected, while epithelial, epithelial to mesenchymal, not specified or mesenchymal phenotype were classified according to EMT markers such as E-cadherin, fibronectin, N-cadherin and vimentin by immunohistochemistry. Epithelial phenotype was more frequently found in patients with EGFR mutation (p 5 0.044). Epithelial phenotype was associated with a significantly higher objective response rate (23.5 vs. 11.1 vs. 0.0 vs. 2.4%, p 5 0.011), longer progression-free survival (4.4 vs. 1.9 vs. 1.7 vs. 1.0 months, p < 0.001) and longer overall survival (11.5 vs. 8.9 vs. 4.5 vs. 4.9 months, p < 0.001) compared to epithelial to mesenchymal, not specified and mesenchymal phenotype in the wild-type EGFR subgroup. In the subgroup with EGFR mutation, the trend remained but without a statistically significant difference. In conclusion, epithelial phenotype was more likely expressed in patients with EGFR mutation and was associated with a better outcome in advanced NSCLC patients with wild-type EGFR, which indicates that the EMT phenotype might be a potential marker to guide EGFR-TKI therapy in this population.Tailored therapy based on biomarker analysis has entered reality of lung cancer treatment. Patients with EGFR-activated mutation or ALK/ROS1 fusion gain significant benefit from targeted therapy with epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) or ALK inhibitors. However, only a minority of patients express these markers, with EGFR