Predicting needlestick and sharps injuries in nursing students: Development of the SNNIP scale

© 2020 The Authors. Nursing Open published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Aim: To develop an instrument to investigate knowledge and predictive factors of needlestick and sharps injuries (NSIs) in nursing students during clinical placements. Design: Instrument development and cross-sectional study for psychometric testing. Methods: A self-administered instrument including demographic data, injury epidemiology and predictive factors of NSIs was developed between October 2018–January 2019. Content validity was assessed by a panel of experts. The instrument's factor structure and discriminant validity were explored using principal components analysis. The STROBE guidelines were followed. Results: Evidence of content validity was found (S-CVI 0.75; I-CVI 0.50–1.00). A three-factor structure was shown by exploratory factor analysis. Of the 238 participants, 39% had been injured at least once, of which 67.3% in the second year. Higher perceptions of “personal exposure” (4.06, SD 3.78) were reported by third-year students. Higher scores for “perceived benefits” of preventive behaviours (13.6, SD 1.46) were reported by second-year students

Social support, peer victimisation, and somatic complaints: A mediational analysis.

Aim: This study investigated the associations among social support, peer victimisation and somatic problems in children and adolescents. Specifically, we tested a model that posited a mediational role of peer victimisation on the association between low social support and somatic symptoms in three age groups. Methods: A total of 1570 Italian children and adolescents aged 9 to 15 years participated in this study during Winter 2006. Students completed self-report measures of perceived social support, somatic complaints and peer victimisation. A series of regression analyses were used to test the hypothesised mediational model. Results: Age differences emerged for somatic complaints and peer victimisation, with primary school children reporting more somatic problems and victimisation experiences than older participants. Three series of regression analyses, performed separately for the three age groups, confirmed the mediational model. Low levels of social support received by peers were associated with more reported somatic complaints and more peer victimisation. When victimisation was entered as the mediator variable in the last regression equation, the association between social support and somatic problems was non-significant. Conclusions: In our sample, social support was negatively associated with somatic complaints. In all age groups, this association was completely mediated by peer victimisation experiences. These findings may suggest the importance of using targeted screening and interventions to address peer victimisation and its negative consequences on children’s and adolescents’ health

Management of celiac disease: from evidence to clinical practice

Celiac disease (CD) is a complex polygenic disorder, which involves genetic factors human leukocyte complex (HLA) and non-HLA genes, environmental factors, innate and adoptive immunity, and a robust chronic T-mediated autoimmune component. The main goal of the present monograph is to define a methodological approach for the disease, characterized by frequent late diagnosis, in order for the physician to become aware of the disease management, the diversity of the clinical presentation itself and in different patients. A unique attention is payed to the specific diagnostic tests to define a correct and accurate application of them, and in addition, to disease follow-up and possible complications. Moreover, a dedicated space is assigned to refractory CD, to potential CD and non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Legislative aspects of the celiac disease in Italy are addressed, too. The celiac disease guidelines and their evaluation by means of Appraisal of Guidelines, Research and Evaluation II instrument allow us to classify the different recommendations and to apply them according to the stakeholders’ involvement, pertinence, methodological accuracy, clarity and publishing independence. Finally, the most current scientific evidence is taken into account to create a complete updated monograph

Management of celiac disease: from evidence to clinical practice

Celiac disease (CD) is a complex polygenic disorder, which involves genetic factors human leukocyte complex (HLA) and non-HLA genes, environmental factors, innate and adoptive immunity, and a robust chronic T-mediated autoimmune component. The main goal of the present monograph is to define a methodological approach for the disease, characterized by frequent late diagnosis, in order for the physician to become aware of the disease management, the diversity of the clinical presentation itself and in different patients. A unique attention is payed to the specific diagnostic tests to define a correct and accurate application of them, and in addition, to disease follow-up and possible complications. Moreover, a dedicated space is assigned to refractory CD, to potential CD and non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Legislative aspects of the celiac disease in Italy are addressed, too. The celiac disease guidelines and their evaluation by means of Appraisal of Guidelines, Research and Evaluation II instrument allow us to classify the different recommendations and to apply them according to the stakeholders’ involvement, pertinence, methodological accuracy, clarity and publishing independence. Finally, the most current scientific evidence is taken into account to create a complete updated monograph

Darunavir-based dual therapy in HIV experienced patients

Background: We assessed the virological response of DRV/r-based dual therapy in drug-experienced patients included in the Italian antiretroviral resistance database (ARCA). Materials and Methods: Patients included in the study were treated with DRV/r in association with raltegravir (RAL), etravirine (ETV) or maraviroc (MAR) following treatment failure(s) and with a resistance test and at least one follow-up visit available. Observation was censored at last visit under dual therapy and survival analysis and proportional hazard models were used, taking virological failure (confirmed >50 c/mL HIV-RNA) as the end-point. Results: Of the total 221 patients included, 149 (67.4%) started DRV/r with RAL, 45 (20.4%) with ETV, 27 (12.2%) with MAR. Patients characteristics at the start of dual regimen were as follows: mean number of previous regimens, nine (IQR: 5–13); non-B subtype, 17 (7.7%); median CD4 count, 347 (IQR: 246–544); undetectable viral load, 74 (33.5%). Full DRV/r resistance was detected in one (0.5%, HIV-DB interpretation system), 13 (5.9%, ANRS) and 17 patients (7.7%, Rega). 69 virological failures (31.2%) were observed during follow-up. At survival analysis, the overall proportion of failure was 29.2% at one year and 33.8% at two years. The proportion of failure was lower in patients starting with undetectable versus detectable viral load (13.3% and 25.2% versus 37.4% and 38.8% at one and two years, respectively, p=0.001 for both analyses) and in patients treated with DRV 600 BID versus 800 QD (HR: 0, 56; 95% CI 0.31–0.99; p<0.05). By regimen, patients treated with DRV/r-RAL showed a non-significant lower proportion of failure (27.7% at one year, 32.0% at two years) if compared with DRV/r-MAR (35.9%, 47.1%) and DRV/r-ETV (34.1%, 34.1% at one and two years). In the adjusted proportional model, no significant difference among the three regimens was detected. A significant lower risk of failure was associated with higher overall GSS (HIV-DB HR: 0.53, 95% CI 0.32–0.88, p=0.014; Rega 0.60, 0.40-0.88, p<0.01; ANRS 0.55, 0.34–0.90, p=0.017), while a higher risk of failure was associated with detectable HIV-RNA (3.02, 1.70–5.72, p<0.001). Conclusions: Among experienced patients, the best candidates to dual-therapy regimens including DRV/r are those with undetectable viral load and higher GSS. The association with RAL is the most commonly used but no clear advantage with respect to ETV or MAR was observed in our dataset, possibly due to the limited sample size

L'italiano lingua utilitaria

I contributi dell'XI Incontro del Centro Linguistico Bocconi intendono incentrare l'attenzione sul crescente ruolo rivestito dall'uso della lingua italiana per scopi specialistici nella comunicazione internazionale. Su questo inedito ruolo di lingua considerata internazionalmente come efficace mezzo di comunicazione utilitaria scritta e orale, dialogano alcuni specialisti impegnati sul versante delle lingue straniere o direttamente a contatto con relatà linguistiche e culturali europee. Loro interlocutore d'eccezione, Francesco Sabatini, Presidente dell'Accademia della Crusca. A suo dire l'espressione "lingua utilitaria" appare particolarmente felice per designare "numerosissimi tipi di messaggi [...]: dai moduli burocratici ai cartelli al pubblico, dalle relazioni tecnico-professionali alle comunicazioni di affari e ai testi divulgativi, fino alle comunicazioni in voce nelle stazioni, sui mezzi di trasporto e simili; usi fondamentali per l'ordinato procedere della vita associativa e produttiva". L'italiano lingua utilitaria ricopre quindi l'essenziale di ciò che l'italiano lingua letteraria, inteso in senso stretto, esclude, e richiama una doppia prospettiva storica: da un lato gli usi della lingua al servizio della cultura, specialmente letteraria, dall'altro quelli della lingua al servizio della vita pratica, quotidiana

L'italiano lingua utilitaria

I contributi dell'XI Incontro del Centro Linguistico Bocconi incentrano l'attenzione sul crescente ruolo rivestito dall'uso della lingua italiana per scopi specialistici nella comunicazione internazionale. Su questo inedito ruolo di lingua considerata internazionalmente come efficace mezzo di comunicazione utilitaria scritta e orale, dialogano alcuni specialisti impegnati sul versante delle lingue straniere o direttamente a contatto con relatà linguistiche e culturali europee. Loro interlocutore d'eccezione, Francesco Sabatini, Presidente dell'Accademia della Crusca. A suo dire l'espressione "lingua utilitaria" appare particolarmente felice per designare "numerosissimi tipi di messaggi [...]: dai moduli burocratici ai cartelli al pubblico, dalle relazioni tecnico-professionali alle comunicazioni di affari e ai testi divulgativi, fino alle comunicazioni in voce nelle stazioni, sui mezzi di trasporto e simili; usi fondamentali per l'ordinato procedere della vita associativa e produttiva". L'italiano lingua utilitaria ricopre quindi l'essenziale di ciò che l'italiano lingua letteraria, inteso in senso stretto, esclude, e richiama una doppia prospettiva storica: da un lato gli usi della lingua al servizio della cultura, specialmente letteraria, dall'altro quelli della lingua al servizio della vita pratica, quotidiana

TrkB gene expression and DNA methylation state in Wernicke area does not associate with suicidal behavior.

Background Alterations of DNA methylation and expression of suicide-related genes occurring in specific brain's areas have been associated to suicidal behavior. In the BDNF pathway, TrkB gene in frontal cortex and hippocampus, and BDNF gene in Wernicke area have been found hypermethylated and down-regulated in suicide subjects as compared to controls. In this work we investigated whether epigenetic modifications of TrkB gene occur in Wernicke area of 18 suicide subjects as compared to 18 controls. Methods MassArray analysis was performed to determine the methylation degree of TrkB promoter in post-mortem samples. TrkB full length and TrkB-T1 mRNA levels were assessed by quantitative RT-PCR. Geometric averaging of four internal control genes was calculated for normalization of results. Results We found that TrkB and TrkB-T1 expression and promoter methylation in Wernicke area did not correlate with suicidal behavior whereas, in the same samples, the BDNF promoter IV was significantly hypermethylated in suicide with respect of controls. Limitation Data from a single brain's area in this study's sample. Conclusions Our data show that no correlation exists between TrkB gene methylation and suicide in Wernicke area, confirming that expression and methylation state of suicide-related genes, even belonging to the same pathway, may be specific for brain area