Tag: pubmed

J Perianesth Nurs. 2024 Dec 27:S1089-9472(24)00481-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jopan.2024.09.020. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Health literacy is a complex issue that affects the health outcomes of surgical patients. This study aimed to determine the health literacy of general surgery patients.

DESIGN: A descriptive cross-sectional study.

METHODS: The sample of the descriptive study consisted of 420 patients who applied to the general surgery outpatient clinic of the hospital between December 2019 and April 2020. Research data were collected using the “Patient Information Form” and “Health Literacy Index” prepared by the researchers in line with the literature. The score ranges of the Health Literacy Index are a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 25. Data were analyzed by number and percentile distribution, mean, standard deviation, t test, and one-way analysis of variance.

FINDINGS: The mean age of the participants in the study was 47.58 ± 14.92 years and 56.2% of them were women. Participants’ Health Literacy Index total score average was determined as 101.33 ± 18.56. Individuals received a maximum score of 25 points in access to information and a minimum score of 7 points in understanding the information from the subindices. There was a statistically significant difference between the demographic characteristics (eg, age, marital status, gender, education level, occupation, place of residence) of the participants and their health literacy levels.

CONCLUSIONS: The health literacy levels of the participants in the research are adequate and at a good level. We recommend evaluation of health literacy levels in surgical patients to reduce complications and enable patients to participate effectively in care.

PMID:39736051 | DOI:10.1016/j.jopan.2024.09.020

J Perianesth Nurs. 2024 Dec 30:S1089-9472(24)00458-1. doi: 10.1016/j.jopan.2024.09.006. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of preoperative tele-nursing counseling on anxiety and patient satisfaction in day surgery.

DESIGN: Randomized controlled study design was employed.

METHODS: The study was conducted in a city hospital and a university hospital in Istanbul between July 2022 and May 2023 with patients who met the study criteria. The sample consisted of 160 patients in the experimental (n = 80) and control (n = 80) groups. In the first interview, the patients who came to be examined (experimental and control groups) were given the Descriptive Information Form and the Surgery-specific Anxiety Scale. The patients in the experimental group were given a training booklet and counseling with tele-nursing practice the day before the surgery, and the patients in the control group were given routine clinical follow-up and a training booklet. The patients (experimental and control) were given the Surgery-specific Anxiety Scale on the day they came for surgery before they were taken into surgery. After the surgery, the Patient’s Perception of Nursing Care Scale was applied to the patients. The patients in the experimental group were also given the Tele-nursing Evaluation Form.

FINDINGS: As a result of the study, the patients in the experimental group who received tele-nursing counseling had lower levels of surgery-specific anxiety than the control group. Patients in the experimental group were statistically significantly more satisfied with nursing care.

CONCLUSIONS: Providing preoperative tele-nursing counseling to patients scheduled for day surgery contributed to the reduction of anxiety and worry of the patients and increased the satisfaction of the patients.

PMID:39736050 | DOI:10.1016/j.jopan.2024.09.006

Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2024 Dec 30:S0889-5406(24)00483-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ajodo.2024.10.017. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The dentoskeletal effects of clear aligner treatment (CAT) with Invisalign vs temporary skeletal anchorage device-anchored Sydney intrusion spring (SIS) were compared in consecutively treated growing patients with anterior open bite using cone-beam computed tomography scans.

METHODS: Fifteen adolescents treated exclusively with Invisalign, and 14 with SIS (first-phase treatment) were assessed retrospectively. Rigid-wise, voxel-based registration of pretreatment and posttreatment cone-beam computed tomography scans were performed using the anterior cranial base, maxillary plane, and mandibular body as reference regions. Treatment outcomes were compared between groups using median regression modeling.

RESULTS: Molar intrusion and incisor extrusion (millimeters), as well as buccolingual inclination changes (°), were not expressed as prescribed in the ClinChecks for Invisalign. Both treatment modalities resulted in similar improvement of anterior open bite; however, via different mechanics. Compared with CAT, SIS demonstrated significantly greater intrusion of the maxillary first molars when measured from the mesiobuccal (16: 2.09 mm [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.05-3.12]; 26: 2.98 mm [95% CI, 2.00-3.96]) and palatal cusps (16: 2.08 mm [95% CI, 1.15-3.01], 26: 2.83 mm [95% CI, 1.92-3.74]) and less extrusion of the maxillary incisors (12: -1.30 mm [95% CI, -2.13 to -0.47], 11: -1.30 mm [95% CI, -2.40 to -0.20], 21: -0.92 mm [95% CI, -1.73 to -0.12], 22: -0.85 mm [95% CI, -1.71 to -0.00]). There was weak evidence of association with less extrusion of the mandibular incisors using SIS. Maxillary and mandibular incisors tipped lingually in both groups with no statistical difference across groups.

CONCLUSIONS: SIS demonstrated greater maxillary molar intrusion, whereas CAT was associated with incisor extrusion.

PMID:39736048 | DOI:10.1016/j.ajodo.2024.10.017

Pol J Vet Sci. 2024 Dec;27(4):501-511. doi: 10.24425/pjvs.2024.151745.

ABSTRACT

The effects of T4 are mainly manifested by positive ino- and chronotropism. The syndrome accompanying hypothyroidism in rabbits (impaired myocardial contractility and reduced ejection capacity) is caused by a deficiency of thyroid hormones – especially T4. The study group consisted of a total of 41 animals: 15 males and 26 females, ranging in age from 2 months to 8 years, with echocardiogram showing reduced fractional shortening (<30%), with normal results of heamatological and biochemical tests. Blood was collected in order to measure T4 level. Echocardiographic examinations were performed with two-dimensional (2D) imaging, M-mode measurements and the pulsed/colour-labelled Doppler technique. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistica 13.0. Correlations were determined: between serum thyroxine concentration and the value of the fraction of shortening in the groups: young animals (up to 5 years of age) and older animals, females and males, and sterilised and non-sterilised animals. Statistical analysis showed a positive correlation between T4 levels in the blood of the test animals and myocardial fractional shortening and heart rate and left-atrial to aortic ratio (LA/Ao) in the pre-treatment period. A positive correlation was also shown after dividing the patients into 2 groups based on their age (below 5 years vs. 5 years and over), sex (male and female rabbits) and fact of sterilization (yes/no). Our study unequivocally confirmed a positive correlation between the decreased serum T4 concentration and reduced fractional shortening, indicating decreased cardiac systolic function in hypothyroid rabbits.

PMID:39736025 | DOI:10.24425/pjvs.2024.151745

Vet Med Sci. 2025 Jan;11(1):e70186. doi: 10.1002/vms3.70186.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Fasciolosis is a prevalent disease that significantly impairs the health and productivity of cattle and causes significant economic damage. Beyond the individually available studies with varying prevalence rates, there are no pooled national prevalence studies on bovine fasciolosis. Therefore, the current study aims to determine the pooled prevalence and economic significance of fasciolosis among cattle in Ethiopia.

METHODS: Cochrane’s Q, inverse variance (I²), sensitivity analysis, funnel plots, Begg’s and Egger’s regression tests were used to assess heterogeneity and publication bias. A random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled burden of fasciolosis among cattle.

RESULTS: The pooled prevalence of fasciolosis among cattle was 28.02% (7626/27,604) with (95% CI: 24.77%-31.26%). About 25.58% (3200/12,639) with (95% CI: 20.89, 30.27) and 30.45% (4426/14,965) with (95% CI: 26.05, 34.85) were found to harbour Fasciola through coprological inspection and post-mortem examination, respectively. Among a total of 14,965 livers of slaughtered cattle examined in municipal abattoirs, Fasciola hepatica (54.43%) was the predominant fluke identified compared to Fasciola gigantica (23.21%). Mixed infections of both species and unidentified immature flukes were detected in 15.04% and 7.02% of the affected livers, respectively. Regarding the severity of the pathological lesions observed, 35.08%, 49.31% and 15.61% of the livers were mildly, moderately and seriously infested, respectively. The total annual economic significance of fasciolosis among cattle from 21 reported studies was approximately 43,240,653.2 ETB (US$4,069,100.649). Increasing and decreasing trends of pooled fasciolosis prevalence were observed from 2010 to 2023 in coprological examination and post-partum inspection, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Therefore, bovine fasciolosis requires integrated control methods to address its influence on animal health and economic impact.

PMID:39736023 | DOI:10.1002/vms3.70186

CNS Neurosci Ther. 2024 Dec;30(12):e70180. doi: 10.1111/cns.70180.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC) undergoing spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for arousal treatment require an assessment of their conscious state before and after the procedure. This is typically evaluated using behavioral scales (CRS-R), but this method can be influenced by the subjectivity of the physician. Event-related potentials (ERP) and EEG power spectrum are associated with the recovery of consciousness. This study aims to explore the electrophysiological and behavioral evidence of consciousness recovery in DOC patients after spinal cord stimulation (SCS) and to investigate the role of scalp EEG as a guide for preoperative assessment related to the surgery.

METHODS: For the 27 recruited patients, the CRS-R scale assessment and ERP P300 evaluation were completed before the surgery. At 3 months post-surgery, all 27 patients underwent the same assessments as preoperatively, and at 6 months post-surgery, the same evaluations were repeated for the 15 patients who could still be followed up. Between May 2023 and November 2023, resting-state EEG was collected from 13 patients using a 19-channel setup, with additional resting-state EEG recordings taken at 3 months and 6 months after the surgery. The EEG data were processed using EEGLAB to obtain P300-related metrics and EEG power spectrum. Changes in the CRS-R scale, ERP, and EEG power spectrum before and after the surgery were compared.

RESULTS: The Behavioral Scale (CRS-R) showed significant improvement at 3 months and 6 months post-surgery compared to preoperative assessments, with statistical significance (p < 0.001). The resting-state EEG power in the 5-9 Hz frequency band demonstrated statistically significant improvements at the P3 and O1 electrodes; however, this statistical result do not survive FDR correction. In the 9-13 Hz and 20-35 Hz frequency bands, the power spectrum showed statistically significant improvements across most electrodes of the brain, and these results survive FDR correction (p < 0.05). The mean amplitude, peak, and latency of P300 at the Pz electrode showed significant improvements at 3 months and 6 months post-surgery compared to preoperative values, with statistical significance (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Our study shows that SCS can effectively improve the consciousness states of patients with DOC. After surgery, there were positive changes in the EEG power spectrum of the patients, transitioning from type “B” to better types “C” and “D.” The average amplitude, peak, and latency of P300 also demonstrated significant improvements postoperatively. We believe that the “ABCD” model and ERP assessment applied during the preoperative evaluation can effectively enhance the success rate of SCS surgery in promoting awakening.

PMID:39736021 | DOI:10.1111/cns.70180

Front Biosci (Elite Ed). 2024 Nov 25;16(4):35. doi: 10.31083/j.fbe1604035.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Flavonoids are among the most important compounds found in plants, since laboratory studies have shown them to be a daily requirement in human diets due to their various health benefits. Therefore, this study focused on extracting, purifying, and measuring the antioxidant activity of the flavonoid quercetin, which is widely found in plants and possesses a variety of biological activities, from different plant sources.

METHODS: The extraction of quercetin was performed using several methods (chemical, physical, and enzymatic) and several extraction solutions (water, ethanol, and chloroform) from several plants (spinach, dill, Onion Skin, Pistacia eurycarpa, sumac, digalkhasab chemri, and leelwi chemri). The alcoholic extract extracted by chemical method was purified and the content of total flavonoids based on quercetin in all plant extracts was determined using adsorption chromatography on a silica gel column (100-200 mesh), followed by thin layer chromatography (TLC). TLC and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were used to assess the purity of quercetin. The ability of quercetin to capture free radicals using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) was compared to that of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Statistical analyses were performed using completely randomized designs (CRD) for factorial experiments, and the least significant difference (LSD) test was used to calculate the significant differences between the averages of the coefficients at the 0.05 probability level.

RESULTS: The alcoholic Pistacia extract extracted by chemical method yielded the highest concentration of quercetin (84.037 mg/g). Furthermore, it was found that quercetin purified from Pistacia possessed strong antioxidant activity, and its antioxidant activity increased with increased concentration.

CONCLUSIONS: Pistacia eurycarpa showed the highest quercetin content among the assessed plants. Moreover, solvents played a major role in extracting plant components due to the high polarity of flavonoids. Quercetin purified using a silica gel column demonstrated antioxidant activity.

PMID:39736003 | DOI:10.31083/j.fbe1604035

Front Biosci (Landmark Ed). 2024 Dec 25;29(12):429. doi: 10.31083/j.fbl2912429.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Regulatory T-cells (Tregs) play a crucial role in maintaining immune homeostasis, but their dynamics are altered in a subset of people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) known as immunological non-responders (INRs). INRs fail to reconstitute CD4⁺ T-cell counts despite viral suppression. This study aimed to examine Treg dysregulation in INRs, comparing them to immunological responders (IRs) and healthy controls (HCs).

METHODS: The study included 40 INRs, 42 IRs, and 23 HCs. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated and analyzed by flow cytometry. Conventional CD4⁺ T-cells (Tconvs) were identified as CD25^-/loFOXP3^– cells, while Tregs were identified as CD25⁺CD127^loFOXP3⁺ CD4⁺ T-cells. Cells were further divided into naive, central memory, effector memory, and effector memory cells re-expressing CD45RA (TEMRA) subsets. Activated/cycling cells were identified as CD71⁺ and quiescent cells were CD71^–. Mitochondrial mass and transmembrane potential were measured using MitoTracker Green and MitoTracker Orange dyes, respectively. Statistical comparisons were made using the Kruskal-Wallis test with Dunn’s post-hoc analysis and Mann-Whitney U-test.

RESULTS: INRs exhibited the highest frequencies of activated/cycling CD4⁺ T-cells. The proportion of activated/cycling cells was higher in Tregs compared to Tconvs in all groups. Cycling rates of Tregs and Tconvs were correlated, suggesting Tregs help control Tconv proliferation. Despite high overall Treg frequencies in INRs, they showed a Treg deficiency in activated/cycling CD4⁺ T-cells, specifically in naive and central memory subsets, causing an imbalance in the Tconv/Treg ratio. This deficiency was hidden by increased Treg frequencies in quiescent effector memory CD4⁺ T-cells. Activated/cycling naive and memory Tregs from INRs had normal forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) and CD25 expression, but activated/cycling memory Tregs showed decreased ability to regulate mitochondrial transmembrane potential, indicating impaired mitochondrial fitness. These mitochondrial abnormalities were similar to those observed in memory conventional T-cells.

CONCLUSIONS: The complex Treg dysregulation in immunological non-responders involves quantitative and functional alterations, including a Treg deficiency within activated/cycling naive and central memory CD4⁺ T-cells, impaired mitochondrial fitness of activated/cycling memory Tregs, and functional disorders of the parent conventional T-lymphocytes. These findings underscore the need for a nuanced understanding of Treg dynamics in suboptimal CD4⁺ T-cell reconstitution during HIV-infection.

PMID:39735996 | DOI:10.31083/j.fbl2912429

Front Biosci (Landmark Ed). 2024 Dec 3;29(12):408. doi: 10.31083/j.fbl2912408.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: There is a growing interest in exploring the biological characteristics of nanoparticles and exploring their potential applications. However, there is still a lack of research into the potential genotoxicity of fullerene derivatives and their impact on gene expression in human cells. In this study, we investigated the effects of a water-soluble fullerene derivative, C60[C6H4SCH2COOK]5H (F1), on human embryonic lung fibroblasts (HELF).

METHODS: 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) test was used to study the cytotoxicity of F1; reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was determined with 2,7-DCFH-DA; gene expression level was evaluated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); protein expression level was determined by flow cytofluorometry; fluorescence microscopy was used for visualization; Mann-Whitney statistical U-test was used for data processing. The differences were considered significant at p < 0.01.

RESULTS: F1 at a concentration of 0.3 mg/mL causes a short-term (up to 1 hour) increase in the number of double-strand breaks and oxidative DNA damage in HELF. Within 1 to 24 hours, F1 penetrates through the cell and nuclear membrane of HELF and localizes in the nucleus. In this case, the response of cells to DNA damage is activated: the functional activity of DNA repair genes, antioxidant and anti-apoptotic genes is increased within 24 hours. Due to the processes of activation of cell division and inhibition of apoptosis, an increase in the population of HELF cells in the presence of the fullerene derivative F1 is observed. F1 has a stabilizing effect on cell nuclei under the action of 1 Gy radiation.

CONCLUSIONS: An increase in antioxidant protection, activation of repair genes, anti-apoptotic genes, progression of the cell cycle, and a decrease in the level of oxidative damage, and DNA breaks in cells indicates the cytoprotective properties of F1.

PMID:39735985 | DOI:10.31083/j.fbl2912408

J Integr Neurosci. 2024 Dec 4;23(12):211. doi: 10.31083/j.jin2312211.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Heat shock proteins (HSPs) play a critical role in the molecular mechanisms of ischemic stroke (IS). A possible role for HSP40 family proteins in atherosclerosis progression has already been revealed; however, to date, molecular genetic studies on the involvement of genes encoding proteins of the HSP40 family in IS have not yet been carried out.

AIM: We sought to determine whether nine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes encoding HSP40 family proteins (DNAJB1, DNAJB2, DNAJA1, DNAJA2, DNAJA3 and DNAJC7) are associated with the risk and clinical features of IS.

METHODS: Using TaqMan-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the MassArray-4 system, DNA samples of 2551 Russians – 1306 IS patients and 1245 healthy individuals – were genotyped.

RESULTS: SNP rs2034598 DNAJA2 decreased the risk of IS exclusively in male patients (odds ratio = 0.81, 95% confidence interval 0.78-0.98, p = 0.028); rs7189628 DNAJA2 increased the brain infarct size (p = 0.04); and rs6500605 DNAJA3 lowered the age of onset of IS (p = 0.03). SNPs rs10448231 DNAJA1, rs7189628 DNAJA2, rs4926222 DNAJB1 and rs2034598 DNAJA2 were involved in the strongest epistatic interactions linked to IS; SNP rs10448231 DNAJA1 is characterised by the most essential mono-effect (2.96% of IS entropy); all of the top SNP-SNP interaction models included the pairwise combination rs7189628 DNAJA2×rs4926222 DNAJB1, which was found to be a key factor determining susceptibility to IS. In interactions with the studied SNPs, smoking was found to have multidirectional effects (synergism, antagonism or additive effect) and the strongest mono-effect (3.47% of IS entropy), exceeding the mono-effects of rs6500605 DNAJA3, rs10448231 DNAJA1, rs2034598 DNAJA2, rs7189628 DNAJA2 and rs4926222 DNAJB1, involved in the best G×E models and determining 0.03%-0.73% of IS entropy.

CONCLUSIONS: We are the first to discover polymorphisms in genes encoding HSP40 family proteins as a major risk factor for IS and its clinical manifestations. The comprehensive bioinformatics analysis revealed molecular mechanisms, underscoring their significance in the pathogenesis of IS, primarily reflecting the regulation of heat stress, proteostasis and cellular signalling.

PMID:39735968 | DOI:10.31083/j.jin2312211