Gratitude at the End of Life: A Promising Lead for Palliative Care.

Numerous studies, conducted largely with non-clinical populations, have shown a significant link between gratitude and psychological dimensions relevant for palliative care (e.g., psychological distress). However, the relevance of gratitude in the context of palliative care needs to be confirmed. We strived to evaluate the association between gratitude and quality of life (QoL), psychological distress, post-traumatic growth, and health status in palliative patients, and to develop an explanatory model for QoL. An ancillary purpose was to identify which life domains patients considered sources of gratitude. We performed an exploratory and cross-sectional study with palliative patients of the Lausanne University Hospital. We used the Gratitude Questionnaire, the McGill Quality of Life questionnaire revised, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Post-traumatic Growth Inventory, and the health status items of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. Spearman correlations and multivariate analyses were performed. Sixty-four patients participated (34 women, mean age = 67). The results showed significant positive correlations between gratitude and QoL (r = 0.376), and the appreciation of life dimension of the post-traumatic growth (r = 0.426). Significant negative correlations were found between gratitude and psychological distress (r = -0.324), and health status (r = -0.266). The best model for QoL explained 47.6% of the variance (F = 26.906) and included psychological distress and gratitude. The relational dimension was the most frequently cited source of gratitude (61%). Gratitude may act positively on QoL and may protect against psychological distress in the palliative situation. The next step will be the adaptation and implementation of a gratitude-based intervention

Analysis of IUE spectra of helium-rich white dwarf stars

We studied the class of DB white dwarf stars, using re-calibrated UV spectra for thirty four DBs obtained with the IUE satellite. By comparing the observed energy distributions with model atmospheres, we simultaneously determine spectroscopic distances (d), effective temperature (Teff), and surface gravities (log g). Using parallax measurements and previous determinations of Teff and log g from optical spectra, we can study whether the atmospheres of eleven DB stars are consistent with pure He or have a small amount of H contamination. We also report on our observations of seventeen stars with Teff close to the DB instability strip through time series photometry and found them to be non variable within our detection limits.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure

Importation of Alpha and Delta variants during the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Switzerland: Phylogenetic analysis and intervention scenarios.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has led to the emergence of various variants of concern (VoCs) that are associated with increased transmissibility, immune evasion, or differences in disease severity. The emergence of VoCs fueled interest in understanding the potential impact of travel restrictions and surveillance strategies to prevent or delay the early spread of VoCs. We performed phylogenetic analyses and mathematical modeling to study the importation and spread of the VoCs Alpha and Delta in Switzerland in 2020 and 2021. Using a phylogenetic approach, we estimated between 383-1,038 imports of Alpha and 455-1,347 imports of Delta into Switzerland. We then used the results from the phylogenetic analysis to parameterize a dynamic transmission model that accurately described the subsequent spread of Alpha and Delta. We modeled different counterfactual intervention scenarios to quantify the potential impact of border closures and surveillance of travelers on the spread of Alpha and Delta. We found that implementing border closures after the announcement of VoCs would have been of limited impact to mitigate the spread of VoCs. In contrast, increased surveillance of travelers could prove to be an effective measure for delaying the spread of VoCs in situations where their severity remains unclear. Our study shows how phylogenetic analysis in combination with dynamic transmission models can be used to estimate the number of imported SARS-CoV-2 variants and the potential impact of different intervention scenarios to inform the public health response during the pandemic

Effect of Cavtratin, a Caveolin-1 Scaffolding Domain Peptide, on Oligodendroglial Signaling Cascades

Caveolin and caveolin containing rafts are involved in the signaling of growth factors in various cell types. Previous reports of our lab indicated a co-localization of caveolin and the high affinity nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor tyrosine kinase A (TrkA). Mutual effects have been observed among which a caveolin-1 knock-down resulted in an impairment of the NGF signaling cascade rather than in an increase of activity as expected from other growth factor reports. On the other hand, an over-expression of caveolin-1 impaired the NGF stimulated activity of p42/44 mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK). In this study, we used a caveolin-1 scaffolding domain (CSD) peptide (cavtratin) of which an inhibitory effect on growth factor receptors was reported. Our data showed that cavtratin suppresses the NGF-induced phosphorylation of TrkA as well as the activation of MAPK in porcine oligodendrocytes significantly

Different techniques of distal aortic repair in acute type A dissection: impact on late aortic morphology and reoperation

Objective: To compare three different techniques of distal aortic repair in acute type A (de Bakey type I) aortic dissection and to evaluate their impact on the late morphology of the aortic arch and descending aorta and on the incidence of reoperation. Methods: From 65 patients operated on due to an acute type A aortic dissection between 1989 and 1993, 54 long-term survivors underwent clinical and radiologic follow-up examination after a mean postoperative interval of 62±16 months. The surgical techniques of distal aortic reconstruction included closed repair using Teflon felt reinforcement under moderate hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (n=20) and open repair in deep hypothermic circulatory arrest using either Teflon felt reinforcement (n=16) or gelatin-resorcin-formaldehyde (GRF) glue (n=18) to readapt the dissected aortic layers. In all patients, MR imaging was performed on a 1.5-T whole body imaging system for the evaluation of the morphology and function of the heart, aorta and supraaortic branches. Results: Overall hospital mortality following surgical repair of type A aortic dissection was 15.4% during this time period. The highest rate of persistent false lumen perfusion (17/20, 85%) and presence of an intimal flap in the aortic arch (13/20, 65%) was observed in patients following closed repair of acute ascending aortic dissection, whereas the lowest rate of such findings was demonstrated in patients who had undergone open distal aortic repair using biological glue (false lumen perfusion 10/18, 55% and intimal flap in the arch 2/18, 11%). Redo-surgery was significantly reduced in the open repair group using GRF glue (1/18, 5.5%) as compared with the Teflon felt repair group (3/16, 18%) and the closed repair group (6/20, 30%). Conclusions: In patients with acute type A dissection, open distal aortic repair using GRF-glue favourably influences both (1) the severity of late morphologic alterations in the downstream aorta and (2) the incidence of reoperatio

Alkamides from Anacyclus pyrethrum L. and their in vitro antiprotozoal activity

In our ongoing study to evaluate the antiprotozoal activity of alkamides from Asteraceae, a dichloromethane extract from the roots of Anacycluspyrethrum L. showed a moderate in vitro activity against the NF54 strain of Plasmodium falciparum and against Leishmaniadonovani (amastigotes, MHOM/ET/67/L82 strain). Seven pure alkamides and a mixture of two further alkamides were isolated by column chromatography followed by preparative high performance liquid chromatography. The alkamides were identified by mass- and NMR-spectroscopic methods as tetradeca-2E,4E-dien-8,10-diynoic acid isobutylamide (anacycline, 1), deca-2E,4E-dienoic acid isobutylamide (pellitorine, 2), deca-2E,4E,9-trienoic acid isobutylamide (3), deca-2E,4E-dienoic acid 2-phenylethylamide (4), undeca-2E,4E-dien-8,10-diynoic acid isopentylamide (5), tetradeca-2E,4E,12Z-trien-8,10-diynoic acid isobutylamide (6), and dodeca-2E,4E-dien acid 4-hydroxy-2-phenylethylamide (7). Two compounds-undeca-2E,4E-dien-8,10-diynoic acid 2-phenylethylamide (8) and deca-2E,4E-dienoic acid 4-hydroxy-2-phenylethylamide (9)-were isolated as an inseparable mixture (1:4). Compounds 3, 4, and 5 were isolated from Anacycluspyrethrum L. for the first time. While compounds 4 and 5 were previously known from the genus Achillea, compound 3 is a new natural product, to the best of our knowledge. All isolated alkamides were tested in vitro for antiprotozoal activity against Plasmodium falciparum, Trypanosomabruceirhodesiense, Trypanosomacruzi, and Leishmaniadonovani and for cytotoxicity against L6 rat skeletal myoblasts

'Thank you for loving me': A qualitative study on perceptions of gratitude and their effects in palliative care patients and relatives.

Empirical studies suggest that gratitude positively influence the quality of life of palliative patients and relatives. However, the literature is marked by a lack of conceptual clarity about what gratitude is and whether it can bring about individual and social benefits. This paper explores how palliative care patients and relatives understand gratitude, how discursive representations of gratitude may affect their positions, perceptions and relations, and how to conceptualise gratitude in the palliative context. We examine 33 gratitude letters written by patients and relatives and 25 semi-structured interviews conducted as part of a pilot gratitude intervention study. We use a qualitative approach, thematic analysis, within a conceptual framework of discourse analysis. Data were collected from 23 patients and 13 relatives recruited through three hospital palliative care services in French-speaking Switzerland. Participants articulate gratitude in five ways: (1) appreciating others; (2) love; (3) need to reciprocate; (4) appreciating the little things; (5) solace amid serious illness. While some of these representations are sources of positive emotions and outlook, wellbeing and hope, others may confirm self-perceptions of powerlessness and burden. These results support a tridimensional conceptualisation of gratitude in palliative care as source of individual benefits, valuing closest relationships and moral obligation. Our study suggests that gratitude is a key to a good (end of) life, whilst highlighting potential negative effects. It could help healthcare professionals to better understand what gratitude means to patients and relatives, which may facilitate awareness and fostering of gratitude in palliative care