Pharmaceutical care for patients with postoperative history

Surgical wounds are the most commonly treated wounds in today's global medical practice. Often, patients are not aware of exactly how they should treat their post-surgical wounds at home. A model for pharmaceutical care of patients with postoperative wounds was developed on the basis of literary sources and guidelines. The Life Value (LV) of the patients was evaluated using the generic SF12 v2 instrument.  SF12 v2 was administered to consulted patients and  not consulted patients in a control group. The results showed an improvement in all measured LV scores within the group of the consulted patients. Pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare professionals and with their knowledge and competencies, they can contribute to the process

Contribution of social self-efficacy and some sociodemographic factors to the different roles of children in peer violence

Cilj rada bio je ispitati ulogu socijalne samoefikasnosti i nekih sociodemografskih čimbenika u različitom angažmanu djece u vršnjačkom nasilju. U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 715 učenika (54% djevojčica i 46% dječaka) sedmih (N=370) i osmih (N=345) razreda iz različitih regija Republike Hrvatske, prosječne dobi 13,22 godina (SD=0,664). Za potrebe ovoga rada uz Upitnik općih podataka korišteni su sljedeći mjerni instrumenti: adaptirana Skala uloga djece u vršnjačkom nasilju i Skala socijalne samoefikasnosti. Hi-kvadrat testom i logističkom regresijskom analizom utvrđeno je da su dječaci češće počinitelji te aktivni i pasivni pomoćnici, dok su djevojčice češće branitelji. Oba spola podjednako su žrtve i promatrači vršnjačkog nasilja. Utvrđeno je da su učenici sedmih razreda češće počinitelji i aktivni pomoćnici. Djeca u ulozi branitelja imaju višu socijalnu samoefikasnost, dok promatrači imaju nižu socijalnu samoefikasnost. Rezultati ovog istraživanja mogu imati važne implikacije u kreiranju preventivnih programa u smanjenju i sprečavanju klasičnog i elektroničkog nasilja među djecom.The aim of this research was to examine the role of social self-efficacy and some sociodemographic factors in influencing how children engage in peer violence. A total of 715 students (54% girls and 46% boys) in the seventh grade (N = 370) and eighth grade (N = 345) from five regions in Croatia participated in this study. The average age was 13.22 years (SD = 0.664). For the purposes of this paper, the following measurement instruments were used: the General Data Questionnaire, the adapted Participant Role Questionnaire (PRQ) and Social Self-Efficacy scale. Chi-squared testing and logistic regression showed that boys were more often bullies and active and passive assistants, while girls were more often defenders. Both girls and boys were equally victims and bystanders of peer violence. Seventh-grade students were more often bullies and active assistants. Children who acted as defenders had higher social self-efficacy, while bystanders had lower social self-efficacy. The results of this research may have important implications in creating programmes to reduce and prevent peer violence, bullying and cyberbullying

Application of whey protein hydrolysate as a technological additive in the sour cream production

In the context of economic sanctions, the problem of supplying food additives, including stabilizers and thickeners, which are important in the production of fermented milk products, remains relevant for many enterprises; the development of a fermented milk product – sour cream, using whey protein hydrolysate as a technological additive is relevant. The purpose of the research was to study the effect of whey protein hydrolysate on the technological process of manufacturing a fermented milk product, sour cream, and the quality indicators of the final product. The results of the acidity study showed that in the experimental samples, the ripening process occurred faster than in the control sample. Based on the results of the research, it can be concluded that whey protein hydrolysate can be used as a technological additive in the production of fermented milk products to improve quality indicators

Preparation of dietary fiber from oats

Today, there is a trend of increasing demand for products made from plant materials, especially the demand for plant-based drinks. Many enterprises adhere to the technology of producing these drinks from whole grain raw materials. In this regard, at the enterprises, producing these products, the volumes of secondary plant raw materials, meal, have increased, the issue of processing of which has not yet been fully resolved. Sensory and physicochemical characteristics of whole grain oats were determined, and the results showed that this raw material is suitable for subsequent processing. Based on the results of the research, it was established that the prepared dietary fiber preparation from oats has high functional and technological indicators and a degree of hydration, as well as low moisture content, which increase the yield and improve the quality of the finished product. These results allow us to conclude that the obtained dietary fiber preparation can be used in the future for food production

Life Cycle Assessment of Composites Additive Manufacturing Using Recycled Materials

Additive manufacturing (AM) of composite materials is promising to create customizable products with enhanced properties, utilizing materials like carbon fibers (CFs). To increase their circularity, composite recycling has been proposed to re-introduce the recovered components in AM. A careful evaluation of recycling is necessary, considering the sustainability and functionality (i.e., mechanical properties) of the recovered components. Thus, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is applied to estimate the environmental impacts of AM via Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), using virgin or recycled CFs via solvolysis at a laboratory scale. This study aims to provide a detailed Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) of FFF and evaluate the sustainability of using recycled CFs in AM. For both virgin CF manufacturing and CF recycling, electricity consumption was the main contributor to environmental impacts. CF recovery via solvolysis resulted in lower impacts across most impact categories compared to AM with virgin CFs. Different scenarios were examined to account for the mechanical properties of recycled CFs. AM with 75% recycled CFs, compared to 100% virgin CFs undergoing landfilling, resulted in over 22% reduction in climate change potential, even after a 50% loss of recycled CF functionality. Overall, this study offers insights into the LCI of FFF and shows that CF recycling from composites is worth pursuing

The extracellular matrix component perlecan/HSPG2 regulates radioresistance in prostate cancer cells

Radiotherapy of prostate cancer (PC) can lead to the acquisition of radioresistance through molecular mechanisms that involve, in part, cell adhesion-mediated signaling. To define these mechanisms, we employed a DU145 PC model to conduct a comparative mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis of the purified integrin nexus, i.e., the cell-matrix junction where integrins bridge assembled extracellular matrix (matrisome components) to adhesion signaling complexes (adhesome components). When parental and radioresistant cells were compared, the expression of integrins was not changed, but cell radioresistance was associated with extensive matrix remodeling and changes in the complement of adhesion signaling proteins. Out of 72 proteins differentially expressed in the parental and radioresistant cells, four proteins were selected for functional validation based on their correlation with biochemical recurrence-free survival. Perlecan/heparan sulfate proteoglycan 2 (HSPG2) and lysyl-like oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2) were upregulated, while sushi repeat-containing protein X-linked (SRPX) and laminin subunit beta 3 (LAMB3) were downregulated in radioresistant DU145 cells. Knockdown of perlecan/HSPG2 sensitized radioresistant DU145 RR cells to irradiation while the sensitivity of DU145 parental cells did not change, indicating a potential role for perlecan/HSPG2 and its associated proteins in suppressing tumor radioresistance. Validation in androgen-sensitive parental and radioresistant LNCaP cells further supported perlecan/HSPG2 as a regulator of cell radiosensitivity. These findings extend our understanding of the interplay between extracellular matrix remodeling and PC radioresistance and signpost perlecan/HSPG2 as a potential therapeutic target and biomarker for PC

Germline variant affecting p53β isoforms predisposes to familial cancer

Germline and somatic TP53 variants play a crucial role during tumorigenesis. However, genetic variations that solely affect the alternatively spliced p53 isoforms, p53β and p53γ, are not fully considered in the molecular diagnosis of Li-Fraumeni syndrome and cancer. In our search for additional cancer predisposing variants, we identify a heterozygous stop-lost variant affecting the p53β isoforms (p.*342Serext*17) in four families suspected of an autosomal dominant cancer syndrome with colorectal, breast and papillary thyroid cancers. The stop-lost variant leads to the 17 amino-acid extension of the p53β isoforms, which increases oligomerization to canonical p53α and dysregulates the expression of p53’s transcriptional targets. Our study reveals the capacity of p53β mutants to influence p53 signalling and contribute to the susceptibility of different cancer types. These findings underscore the significance of p53 isoforms and the necessity of comprehensive investigation into the entire TP53 gene in understanding cancer predisposition

Protocol for a cohort study of adolescent mental health service users with a nested cluster randomised controlled trial to assess the clinical and cost-effectiveness of managed transition in improving transitions from child to adult mental health services (the MILESTONE study)

Introduction Disruption of care during transition from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) to adult mental health services may adversely affect the health and well-being of service users. The MILESTONE (Managing the Link and Strengthening Transition from Child to Adult Mental Healthcare) study evaluates the longitudinal course and outcomes of adolescents approaching the transition boundary (TB) of their CAMHS and determines the effectiveness of the model of managed transition in improving outcomes, compared with usual care. Methods and analysis This is a cohort study with a nested cluster randomised controlled trial. Recruited CAMHS have been randomised to provide either (1) managed transition using the Transition Readiness and Appropriateness Measure score summary as a decision aid, or (2) usual care for young people reaching the TB. Participants are young people within 1 year of reaching the TB of their CAMHS in eight European countries; one parent/carer and a CAMHS clinician for each recruited young person; and adult mental health clinician or other community-based care provider, if young person transitions. The primary outcome is Health of the Nation Outcome Scale for Children and Adolescents (HoNOSCA) measuring health and social functioning at 15 months postintervention. The secondary outcomes include mental health, quality of life, transition experience and healthcare usage assessed at 9, 15 and 24 months postintervention. With a mean cluster size of 21, a total of 840 participants randomised in a 1:2 intervention to control are required, providing 89% power to detect a difference in HoNOSCA score of 0.30 SD. The addition of 210 recruits for the cohort study ensures sufficient power for studying predictors, resulting in 1050 participants and an approximate 1:3 randomisation. Ethics and dissemination The study protocol was approved by the UK National Research Ethics Service (15/WM/0052) and equivalent ethics boards in participating countries. Results will be reported at conferences, in peer-reviewed publications and to all relevant stakeholder groups