The role of CA1 α-adrenoceptor on scopolamine induced memory impairment in male rats

Introduction: Similarities in the memory impairment between Alzheimer patients and scopolamine treated animals have been reported. In the present study, the possible role of α-adrenergic receptors of the dorsal hippocampus on scopolamine state-dependent memory in adult male Wistar rats was evaluated. Methods: The animals were bilaterally implanted with chronic cannulae in the CA1 regions of the dorsal hippocampus, trained in a step-through type inhibitory avoidance task, and tested 24 h after training to measure step-through latency. Results: Post-training intra-CA1 administration of scopolamine (0.5 and 2μg/rat) dose-dependently reduced the step-through latency, showing an amnestic response. Amnesia produced by post-training scopolamine (2 μg/rat) was reversed by pre-test administration of the scopolamine (0.5 and 2 μg/rat) that is due to a state-dependent effect. Pre-test intra-CA1 injection of α1-adrenoceptor agonist, phenylephrine (0.25, 0.5 μg/rat) in the dose range that we used, could not affect memory impairment induced by post-training injection of scopolamine (2 μg/rat). However intra-CA1 pretest injection of α2-adrenoceptor agonist, clonidine (0.5 μg/rat) improved post-training scopolamine (2 μg/rat) intra-CA1 injection induced retrieval impairment. Furthermore, pre-test intra-CA1 microinjection of phenylephrine (0.25 and 0.5 μg/rat) or clonidine (0.25 and 0.5 μg/rat) with an ineffective dose of scopolamine (0.25 μg/rat), synergistically improved memory performance impaired by post-training scopolamine (2 μg/rat). Our results also showed that, pre-test injection of α1-receptor antagonist prazosin (1, 2 μg/rat) or α2-receptors antagonist yohimbine (1, 2 μg/rat) before effective dose of scopolamine (2 μg/rat) prevented the improvement of memory by pre-test scopolamine. Conclusion: These results suggest that α1- and α2-adrenergic receptors of the dorsal hippocampal CA1 region may play an important role in scopolamine-induced amnesia and scopolamine state-dependent memory

The Relationship Between Job Satisfaction and Psychological/Physical Health among Malaysian Working Women

Background: The workplace environment has a great influence on employees' health. Job dissatisfaction has been widely recognised as a workplace stressor that can influence employees' psychological and physical health statuses. However, job satisfaction is a multi-dimensional concept, and it is necessary to investigate its different facets and their unique consequences. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the nine facets of job satisfaction and psychological health and somatic complaints (i.e., sleep disorders, headache, gastro-intestinal and respiratory problems). Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 567 Malaysian women working in the public sector. Data collection was conducted using a series of self-administered questionnaires. Results: The results of this study show that there is a link between job satisfaction and psychological distress as well as four somatic complaints. Satisfaction with the nature of work was the strongest predictor for psychological distress, sleep disorders, headaches and gastro-intestinal problems. Conclusion: From the results of this study, we conclude that there is a link between job satisfaction and the health status of employees. In addition, job satisfaction levels vary across different dimensions and can even differ from an individual's feelings of global job satisfaction. Policies and practices should focus on improving working conditions to enhance the fit of the job and the employee

Patient safety culture in hospitals of Iran: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Nowadays, for quality improvement, measuring patient safety culture (PSC) in healthcare organizations is being increasingly used. The aim of this study was to clarify PSC status in Iranian hospitals using a meta-analysis method. Methods: Six databases were searched: PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, Magiran, SID and IranMedex using the search terms including patient safety, patient safety culture, patient safety climate and combined with hospital (such as "hospital survey on patient safety culture"), measurement, assessment, survey and Iran. A total of 11 articles which conducted using Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC) questionnaire initially were reviewed. To estimate overall PSC status and perform the meta-analyses, Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) software v. 2 was employed. Results: The overall PSC score based on the random model was 50.1. "Teamwork within hospital units" dimension received the highest score of PSC (67.4) and "Non-punitive response to error" the lowest score (32.4). About 41 of participants in reviewed articles evaluate their hospitals' performance in PSC as 'excellent/very good'. Approximately 52.7 of participants did not report any adverse event in the past 12 months. Conclusion: The results of this study show that Iranian hospitals' performances in PSC were poor. Among the 12 dimensions of HSOPSC questionnaire, the "Non-punitive response to error" achieved the lowest score and could be a priority for future interventions. In this regard, hospitals staff should be encouraged to report adverse event without fear of punitive action

Recurrent acute pancreatitis due to a santorinicele in a young patient

A cystic dilatation of the terminal portion of the minor pancreatic duct (duct of Santorini) is referred to as a santorinicele. It is usually associated with pancreas divisum and has been suggested to be a cause of relative stenosis of the minor papilla, often leading to recurrent pancreatitis. While this anomaly has been reported in the paediatric population, it is more commonly found in the elderly. We present a 27-year-old woman with recurrent acute pancreatitis attributed to a santorinicele with a dorsal duct-exclusive pancreatic drainage

Hydatidosis: experience with hepatic and pulmonary hydatid disease

From 1989-1992, 35 cases comprising of 20 hepatic and 15 pulmonary hydatid cysts were seen. Four patients with pulmonary hydatid disease had previous or concomitant hepatic hydatidosis compared to no concomitant pulmonary hydatid disease in the hepatic group. Hepatic hydatid disease had a greater tendency to be right sides, infected and calcified. Anaphylactic reactions occurred in 3 of 20 patients with hepatic hydatid disease against none in 15 patients with pulmonary disease. Management consisted of evacuation, drainage and obliteration of the residual cavity by capittonage in the lung and omentoplasty in the liver. Two patients, one hepatic and one with pulmonary hydatid disease developed infection of the residual cavity. Bronchocystic fistula occurred in 4 pulmonary and cystobiliary fistula in 2 hepatic hydatid disease patients. One patient with severe pleuropulmonary hydatidosis required a thoracoplasty. No recurrences have been noted in either group over a mean follow-up of 11 months (range 3 weeks- 3 years)

Multiscale Fluctuation Dispersion Entropy of EEG as a Physiological Biomarker of Schizotypy

Altered electroencephalography (EEG) activity in schizotypal individuals is a powerful indicator of proneness towards psychosis. This alteration is beyond decreased alpha power often measured in resting state EEG. Multiscale fluctuation dispersion entropy (MFDE) measures the non-linear complexity of the fluctuations of EEGs and is a more effective approach compared to the traditional linear power spectral density (PSD) measures of EEG activity in patients with neurodegenerative disorders. In this study, we applied MFDE to EEG signals to distinguish high schizotypy (HS) and low schizotypy (LS) individuals. The study includes several trials from 29 participants psychometrically classified as HS (n=19) and LS (n=10). After preprocessing, MFDE was computed in frontal, parietal, central, temporal and occipital regions for each participant at multiple time scales. Statistical analysis and machine learning algorithms were used to calculate the differences in MFDE measures between the HS and LS groups. Our findings revealed significant differences in MFDE measures between LS and HS individuals in the delta frequency band (at time scale 100 ms). HS individuals exhibited increased complexity and irregularity compared to LS individuals in the delta frequency band particularly in the occipital region. Furthermore, the MFDE measures resulted in high accuracy (96.55%) in discriminating between HS and LS individuals and outperformed the models based on power spectrum, demonstrating the potential of MFDE as a neurophysiological marker for schizotypy traits. The increased non-linear fluctuation in delta frequency band in the occipital region of HS individuals implies the changes in cognitive functions, such as memory and attention, and has significant potential as a biomarker for schizotypy and proneness towards psychosis