Parental Perspectives of a Childhood Obesity Intervention in Mississippi: A Phenomenological Study

Family - based, community intervention s have been suggested as effective methods of modifying unhealthy behaviors of overweight children. To avoid unsuccessful completion rates, understanding motivating factors and potential barriers for participating families is important. The purpose of this study was to investigate influencing factors that either promote or deter successful completion of a childhood obesity intervention. In - depth interviews were conducted with 10 parents whose child participated in an intervention conducted in central Mississippi. Interviews were audio - taped, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed by a two - person coding team. The research question driving this study was: What do parents perceive as motivators or barriers for completion of an intervention for childhood obesity? Motivating factors of parents included desire to reverse the family’s obesity cycle and desire for their child to realize full potential. They perceived their children were motivated by social aspects of the group setting, improved self - confidence, and supportive staff. Scheduling conflicts and lack of complete family support were identified as main barriers. By understanding the experience of parents, programs can tailor instructive materials to meet family needs throughout the intervention. Emphasis should be placed on parental education for sustained promotion of a healthy lifestyle. Continued support and follow - up are also warranted to ensure long - term succes

Career Motivation in Newly Licensed Registered Nurses: What Makes Them Remain

Despite vast research on newly licensed registered nurses (RNs), we don\u27t know why some newly licensed registered nurses remain in their current jobs and others leave the nursing profession early in their career. Job satisfaction, the most significant factor emerging from the literature, plays a significant role in nurses\u27 decisions to remain in their current jobs. This study examined the lived experiences of newly licensed registered nurses early in their careers. The researcher interviewed 14 newly licensed registered nurses to ask why they chose nursing as a profession and to determine factors that would influence their choice to stay in nursing as a career. Data were collected from newly licensed registered nurses through in-depth, face-to-face interviews, using a semi-structured interview guide developed by the researcher. Data analysis identified the emerging themes of altruism, self-fulfillment, challenging career, and the influence of role models as determining factors for nurses staying in the field. Findings suggest that those in positions of healthcare management should consider how they can create a workplace environment that provides newly licensed registered nurses the opportunity to fulfill these employment expectations

Faculty Perceptions of Communication at an Academic Medical Center: A Faculty Forward Qualitative Analysis

The purpose of the study is to examine the faculty’s suggestions on how to improve communication at five schools in an academic medical center. The University of Mississippi Medical Center facilitated the administration of the Faculty Forward Engagement Survey by the Association of American Medical Colleges to faculty in the schools of medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, and health related professions. This survey included open-ended questions with narrative responses. On these responses to one question about communication, the authors performed the constant comparative method of grounded theory design, a foundational form of qualitative inquiry. In reviewing and coding the 201 responses, we identified recurring concepts, developed and confirmed codes, then discussed and condensed three major themes. The responses suggesting improvement in communication fell into three categories: 1. Access (to institutional leadership, dean, chair, and faculty peers); 2. Characteristics (quantity, quality, and content of communication); 3. Transparency (the “why” and “how” of decision-making, and doing what you say you will do). Because we found through the literature review that communication with and among faculty is a significant determinant of faculty satisfaction and retention, these three categories inform short-term decision making and communication improvements, but also define the area for future investigation

It\u27s all in the lens: Differences in views on obesity prevention between advocates and policy makers

Background: Intervention strategies to reduce obesity include policy and environmental changes that are designed to provide opportunities, support, and cues to help people develop healthier behaviors. Policy changes at the state level are one way to influence access, social norms, and opportunities for better nutrition and increased physical activity among the population. Methods: Ten states were selected for a broad variance in obesity rates and number of enacted obesity prevention policies during the years of 2006–2009. Within the selected states, a purely qualitative study of attitudes of childhood obesity policy using semistructured telephone interviews was conducted. Interviews were conducted with state policy makers who serve on public health committees. A set of six states that had more than eight childhood obesity policies enacted were selected for subsequent qualitative interviews with a convenience sample of well-established advocates. Results: Policy makers in states where there was more childhood obesity policy action believed in the evidence behind obesity policy proposals. Policy makers also varied in the perception of obesity as a constituent priority. The major differences between advocates and policy makers included a disconnect in information dissemination, opposition, and effectiveness of these policies. Conclusions: The findings from this study show differences in perceptions among policy makers in states with a greater number of obesity prevention bills enacted. There are differences among policy makers and advocates regarding the role and effectiveness of state policy on obesity prevention. This presents an opportunity for researchers and practitioners to improve communication and translation of evidence to policy makers, particularly in states with low legislation

Evolution of Medical Students\u27 Understanding of Systems-Based Practice: A Qualitative Account

Reflective writing is a useful tool in medical education to analyze student experiences and measure development of certain skills. This tool is particularly useful in identifying skill components of systems-based practice. These skills are necessary for any practicing physician, but are of particular importance as they are a required residency competency. There is now additional focus on systems-based practice with the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). In this qualitative, grounded theory study, the reflective writings of students at a United States medical school were analyzed using the constant comparative method to explore how the focus of a medical student progresses through the clinical curriculum. The interprofessional team of researchers specifically sought to determine if areas of medical student focus evolve vertically across the curriculum and if in the process students develop an understanding of systems-based practice. The data supported both of these objectives, and actively supports future research to identify ways, both inside and outside the curriculum, to leverage the students’ natural progression of focus in order to expand systems-based practice education

Technological Innovation or Educational Evolution? A Multi-disciplinary Qualitative Inquiry into Active Learning Classrooms

In recent years, many institutions have transformed traditional classrooms (TCs) into technology-rich active learning classrooms (ALCs) to accommodate the pedagogical concept of “active learning”. In order to investigate the impact of ALCs on teaching and teaching, we observed an instructor teaching in an ALC for an entire academic year, audio/video-recorded every class and took field notes. A focus group discussion was conducted with faculty from six allied health disciplines who taught weekly classes in the ALC and an online survey was distributed to students who took those classes. Data was then analysed using a qualitative constant comparative method (CCM). Findings indicated that the ALC generated greater teaching and learning enjoyment, deepened engagement, amplified interaction, enhanced group activity efficiency and fostered the development of creative ideas.  All these features were interrelated and created a synergistic effect on student learning

Distinct Patterns of IFITM-Mediated Restriction of Filoviruses, SARS Coronavirus, and Influenza A Virus

Interferon-inducible transmembrane proteins 1, 2, and 3 (IFITM1, 2, and 3) are recently identified viral restriction factors that inhibit infection mediated by the influenza A virus (IAV) hemagglutinin (HA) protein. Here we show that IFITM proteins restricted infection mediated by the entry glycoproteins (GP1,2) of Marburg and Ebola filoviruses (MARV, EBOV). Consistent with these observations, interferon-β specifically restricted filovirus and IAV entry processes. IFITM proteins also inhibited replication of infectious MARV and EBOV. We observed distinct patterns of IFITM-mediated restriction: compared with IAV, the entry processes of MARV and EBOV were less restricted by IFITM3, but more restricted by IFITM1. Moreover, murine Ifitm5 and 6 did not restrict IAV, but efficiently inhibited filovirus entry. We further demonstrate that replication of infectious SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and entry mediated by the SARS-CoV spike (S) protein are restricted by IFITM proteins. The profile of IFITM-mediated restriction of SARS-CoV was more similar to that of filoviruses than to IAV. Trypsin treatment of receptor-associated SARS-CoV pseudovirions, which bypasses their dependence on lysosomal cathepsin L, also bypassed IFITM-mediated restriction. However, IFITM proteins did not reduce cellular cathepsin activity or limit access of virions to acidic intracellular compartments. Our data indicate that IFITM-mediated restriction is localized to a late stage in the endocytic pathway. They further show that IFITM proteins differentially restrict the entry of a broad range of enveloped viruses, and modulate cellular tropism independently of viral receptor expression

Organometallic iridium(III) anticancer complexes with new mechanisms of action: NCI-60 screening, mitochondrial targeting, and apoptosis

Platinum complexes related to cisplatin, cis-[PtCl2(NH3)2], are successful anticancer drugs; however, other transition metal complexes offer potential for combating cisplatin resistance, decreasing side effects, and widening the spectrum of activity. Organometallic half-sandwich iridium (IrIII) complexes [Ir(Cpx)(XY)Cl]+/0 (Cpx = biphenyltetramethylcyclopentadienyl and XY = phenanthroline (1), bipyridine (2), or phenylpyridine (3)) all hydrolyze rapidly, forming monofunctional G adducts on DNA with additional intercalation of the phenyl substituents on the Cpx ring. In comparison, highly potent complex 4 (Cpx = phenyltetramethylcyclopentadienyl and XY = N,N-dimethylphenylazopyridine) does not hydrolyze. All show higher potency toward A2780 human ovarian cancer cells compared to cisplatin, with 1, 3, and 4 also demonstrating higher potency in the National Cancer Institute (NCI) NCI-60 cell-line screen. Use of the NCI COMPARE algorithm (which predicts mechanisms of action (MoAs) for emerging anticancer compounds by correlating NCI-60 patterns of sensitivity) shows that the MoA of these IrIII complexes has no correlation to cisplatin (or oxaliplatin), with 3 and 4 emerging as particularly novel compounds. Those findings by COMPARE were experimentally probed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of A2780 cells exposed to 1, showing mitochondrial swelling and activation of apoptosis after 24 h. Significant changes in mitochondrial membrane polarization were detected by flow cytometry, and the potency of the complexes was enhanced ca. 5× by co-administration with a low concentration (5 μM) of the γ-glutamyl cysteine synthetase inhibitor L-buthionine sulfoximine (L-BSO). These studies reveal potential polypharmacology of organometallic IrIII complexes, with MoA and cell selectivity governed by structural changes in the chelating ligands

Isolation of a potently neutralizing and protective human monoclonal antibody targeting yellow fever virus

Yellow fever virus (YFV) causes sporadic outbreaks of infection in South America and sub-Saharan Africa. While live-attenuated yellow fever virus vaccines based on three substrains of 17D are considered some of the most effective vaccines in use, problems with production and distribution have created large populations of unvaccinated, vulnerable individuals in areas of endemicity. To date, specific antiviral therapeutics have not been licensed for human use against YFV or any other related flavivirus. Recent advances in monoclonal antibody (mAb) technology have allowed the identification of numerous candidate therapeutics targeting highly pathogenic viruses, including many flaviviruses. Here, we sought to identify a highly neutralizing antibody targeting the YFV envelope (E) protein as a therapeutic candidate. We used human B cell hybridoma technology to isolate mAbs from circulating memory B cells from human YFV vaccine recipients. These antibodies bound to recombinant YFV E protein and recognized at least five major antigenic sites on E. Two mAbs (designated YFV-136 and YFV-121) recognized a shared antigenic site and neutralized the YFV-17D vaccine strai