Working time satisfaction in aging nurses

Satisfaction with working time could represent an index of good balance between work and life and predict satisfactory work ability and endurance of aged workers. This study is aimed at checking whether elderly nurses who were satisfied with working hours had a better work ability index than those unsatisfied, and finding which factors were related to satisfaction of working time with reference to general \u201cwell being\u201d and/or \u201cprivate life\u201d. The study sample consisted of 3,174 female nurses recruited in six European countries within the Nurses\u2019 Early Exit Study. All were rotating shiftworkers (nights included) and 12.95 % were over 45 years of age. A composite questionnaire, including demands at work and in private life, working conditions, individual resources and alternatives to nursing profession, was administered to the participants at baseline and 1 yr later (Time 1). Work ability index (WAI) at time 1 was used as outcome, whereas age groups and satisfaction of working time at baseline were used as predictors, after adjusting for family status and number of children < 7yrs of age. Also \u201csatisfaction with working time\u201d at Time 1 was used as outcome, whereas working hours, job demand, leisure time, influence on planning rotas, family status, number of children, work/family conflicts, sleep at Time 0 were included as potential determinants. Conditional Random Forest analysis was used to evaluate high, moderate or weak importance of these determinants. Nurses satisfied with working time at time 0 showed a higher WAI (time1) than those unsatisfied in all age groups, also over 50. Less work/family conflicts and better quality and quantity sleep turned out to be the best predictors of satisfaction with working time. Consistently, the importance of the other predictors differs when the outcome is \u201csatisfaction with working time\u201d related to general well-being rather than to private life

Statin‐induced myopathy: Translational studies from preclinical to clinical evidence

Statins are the most prescribed and effective drugs to treat cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Nevertheless, these drugs can be responsible for skeletal muscle toxicity which leads to reduced compliance. The discontinuation of therapy increases the incidence of CVD. Thus, it is essential to assess the risk. In fact, many studies have been performed at preclinical and clinical level to investigate pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical implications of statin myotoxicity. Consequently, new toxicological aspects and new biomarkers have arisen. Indeed, these drugs may affect gene transcription and ion transport and contribute to muscle function impairment. Identifying a marker of toxicity is important to prevent or to cure statin induced myopathy while assuring the right therapy for hypercholesterolemia and counteracting CVD. In this review we focused on the mechanisms of muscle damage discovered in preclinical and clinical studies and high-lighted the pathological situations in which statin therapy should be avoided. In this context, preventive or substitutive therapies should also be evaluated

Análisis del comportamiento táctico ofensivo en momentos críticos de juego en el alto rendimiento en balonmano: Un estudio Mixed Methods

El objetivo del artículo es analizar las variables que influyen enlas fases ofensivas críticas del balonmano de alto rendimiento desde unaperspectiva dinámica ecológica y con un planteamiento Mixed Methods.Evaluamos los diferentes sistemas tácticos ofensivos en ataque posicionaly en contraataque de las últimas diez posesiones del balón y acciones ofensivasde partidos de balonmano de élite mediante un análisis observacionalen dos etapas. Una primera etapa CUALI, materializada en forma de registrodescriptivo, que permitieron la construcción de un sistema de observación(SOCTO); y una segunda etapa CUANTI con la que obtuvimosun registro sistematizado posterior mediante las siguientes dimensiones: elmarcador, el tipo de defensa, la simetría numérica, la zona de finalizacióny el tipo de finalización. Utilizando el software de registro LINCE, se observaron19 partidos de las fases finales masculinas del Campeonato delMundo 2011, Campeonato de Europa 2012 y Juegos Olímpicos 2012. Elanálisis descriptivo inicial realizada por entrenadores expertos se ha complementadocon un análisis de T-patterns. Los resultados reafirman que enlos momentos críticos y de desigualdad del final de los partidos los equiposperdedores utilizan en la fase ofensiva las zonas de finalización más alejadasde la portería contraria (zona de 9 metros) y los equipos ganadores utilizanen la fase ofensiva las zonas de finalización intermedias (entre 6 y 9 metros)aumentando así su eficacia

Canine Melanoma Immunology and Immunotherapy: Relevance of Translational Research

In veterinary oncology, canine melanoma is still a fatal disease for which innovative and long-lasting curative treatments are urgently required. Considering the similarities between canine and human melanoma and the clinical revolution that immunotherapy has instigated in the treatment of human melanoma patients, special attention must be paid to advancements in tumor immunology research in the veterinary field. Herein, we aim to discuss the most relevant knowledge on the immune landscape of canine melanoma and the most promising immunotherapeutic approaches under investigation. Particular attention will be dedicated to anti-cancer vaccination, and, especially, to the encouraging clinical results that we have obtained with DNA vaccines directed against chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4 (CSPG4), which is an appealing tumor-associated antigen with a key oncogenic role in both canine and human melanoma. In parallel with advances in therapeutic options, progress in the identification of easily accessible biomarkers to improve the diagnosis and the prognosis of melanoma should be sought, with circulating small extracellular vesicles emerging as strategically relevant players. Translational advances in melanoma management, whether achieved in the human or veterinary fields, may drive improvements with mutual clinical benefits for both human and canine patients; this is where the strength of comparative oncology lies

Orari di lavoro e sonno nel personale infermieristico impiegato in sistemi di turnazione rapida "23x8" e "2x12"

Obiettivo dello studio \ue8 di verificare, in un campione di 200 infermieri turnisti, l\u2019impatto sul sonno della diversa tipologia di lavoro (\u201cemergenza/urgenza\u201d vs. \u201cdegenza\u201d) nell\u2019ambito dello stesso schema di turno, e di due diversi schemi di turnazione a rotazione rapida (\u201c2x12\u201d e \u201c3x8\u201d), nell\u2019ambito della stessa area di lavoro (\u201cemergenza/urgenza\u201d). Il turno notturno e quello del mattino risultano interferire maggiormente con il sonno, sia in relazione ai due tipi di turno che alle due aree operative considerate. Emerge l\u2019importanza di considerare, nella strutturazione dello schema dei turni, le modalit\ue0 di rotazione tra i turni e il carico di lavoro in relazione alla durata del turno stesso

Prognostic impact of bone invasion in canine oral malignant melanoma treated by surgery and anti-CSPG4 vaccination: A retrospective study on 68 cases (2010&#8211;2020)

Prognosis of canine oral malignant melanoma encompasses clinical, histological and immunohistochemical parameters. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of bone invasion in oral canine melanoma. Sixty‐eight dogs bearing oral melanoma staged II and III that underwent surgery and anti‐CSPG4 electrovaccination, with available histological data and a minimum follow up of minimum 1 year, were retrospectively selected. Bone invasion was detected on imaging and/or histology. Median survival time of dogs with evidence of bone invasion (group 1) was 397 days and significantly shorter compared with dogs with oral melanomas not invading the bone (group 2, 1063 days). Dogs with tumours localised at the level of the cheek, lip, tongue and soft palate (soft tissue ‐ group 3) lived significantly longer compared with dogs having tumours within the gingiva of the maxilla or mandible (hard tissue ‐ group 4) with a median survival time of 1063 and 470 days, respectively. Within group 4, the subgroup of dogs with tumours not invading the bone (group 5) showed a significant prolonged survival time (972 days) in comparison with dogs of group 1 (bone invasion group). Similar results were obtained for the disease‐free intervals amongst the different groups. Statistical analysis showed that Ki67 and mitotic count were correlated with shorter survival in patients of group 1 (with bone invasion). Bone invasion should always be assessed since it appears to be a negative prognostic factor

Difference in outcome between curative intent vs marginal excision as a first treatment in dogs with oral malignant melanoma and the impact of adjuvant CSPG4-DNA electrovaccination: A retrospective study on 155 cases

Canine oral malignant melanoma is locally invasive and highly metastatic. At present, the best option for local control is en bloc excision followed by radiation if excision margins are incomplete. Adjuvantly, the role of chemotherapy is dubious while immunotherapy appears encouraging. This retrospective study evaluated 155 dogs with oral malignant melanomas (24 stage I, 54 stage II, 66 stage III and 11 stage IV) managed in a single institution. The aim was to evaluate the differences in median survival time (MST) and disease‐free interval (DFI) between dogs which, at presentation, were treated surgically with a curative intent (group 1) vs those marginally excised only (group 2). MST in group 1 was longer than in group 2 (594 vs 458 days), but no significant difference was found (P = .57); a statistical difference was, however, found for DFI (232 vs 183 days, P = .008). In the subpopulation of vaccinated dogs, the impact of adjuvant anti‐CSPG4 DNA electrovaccination was then evaluated (curative intent, group 3, vs marginal, group 4); a significant difference for both MST (1333 vs 470 days, respectively, P = .03) and DFI (324 vs 184 days, respectively, P = .008) was found. Progressive disease was significantly more common in dogs undergoing marginal excision than curative intent excision for both the overall population (P = .03) and the vaccinated dogs (P = .02). This study pointed out that, after staging, wide excision together with adjuvant immunotherapy was an effective approach for canine oral malignant melanoma

ClC-1 mutations in myotonia congenita patients: insights into molecular gating mechanisms and genotype-phenotype correlation

Loss-of-function mutations of the skeletal muscle ClC-1 channel cause myotonia congenita with variable phenotypes. Using patch clamp we show that F484L, located in the conducting pore, probably induces mild dominant myotonia by right-shifting the slow gating of ClC-1 channel, without exerting a dominant-negative effect on the wild-type (WT) subunit. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that F484L affects the slow gate by increasing the frequency and the stability of H-bond formation between E232 in helix F and Y578 in helix R. Three other myotonic ClC-1 mutations are shown to produce distinct effects on channel function: L198P shifts the slow gate to positive potentials, V640G reduces channel activity, while L628P displays a WT-like behaviour (electrophysiology data only). Our results provide novel insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying normal and altered ClC-1 function