A comparative study of patient safety in the intensive care units

Aim This study aimed to assess patient-safety principles in ICUs. Design This is a descriptive-comparative study. Methods The research environment includes ICUs of hospitals affiliated to the two universities of medical sciences in Tehran. Sampling was done by census using Time and Event Sampling methods. Research instrument was “Patient Safety Principles Checklist”. Data analysis was performed using SPSS-20 and descriptive-inferential statistics with a significance level of 0.05. Results There is no significant difference (p-value = .15) in the level of observance of patient-safety principles in two university-affiliated hospitals A (133.26 ± 9.14) and B (128.16 ± 18.01). Evaluation of the mean scores obtained in each dimension and in each of the ICUs was showed that only in dimension No.3 the difference was significant (F[68,2] = 5.20, p-value = .008) and in the AICUs (16.13 ± 1.8) (p-value = .04), it was significantly lower than other ICUs. Identifying risk factors for the patient’s immunity reduces the side effects of patient care

Varicella zoster virus-induced autophagy in human neuronal and hematopoietic cells exerts antiviral activity

Autophagy is a degradational pathway with pivotal roles in cellular homeostasis and survival, including protection of neurons in the central nervous system (CNS). The significance of autophagy as antiviral defense mechanism is recognized and some viruses hijack and modulate this process to their advantage in certain cell types. Here, we present data demonstrating that the human neurotropic herpesvirus varicella zoster virus (VZV) induces autophagy in human SH-SY5Y neuronal cells, in which the pathway exerts antiviral activity. Productively VZV-infected SH-SY5Y cells showed increased LC3-I-LC3-II conversion as well as co-localization of the viral glycoprotein E and the autophagy receptor p62. The activation of autophagy was dependent on a functional viral genome. Interestingly, inducers of autophagy reduced viral transcription, whereas inhibition of autophagy increased viral transcript expression. Finally, the genotype of patients with severe ocular and brain VZV infection were analyzed to identify potential autophagy-associated inborn errors of immunity. Two patients expressing genetic variants in the autophagy genes ULK1 and MAP1LC3B2, respectively, were identified. Notably, cells of both patients showed reduced autophagy, alongside enhanced viral replication and death of VZV-infected cells. In conclusion, these results demonstrate a neuro-protective role for autophagy in the context of VZV infection and suggest that failure to mount an autophagy response is a potential predisposing factor for development of severe VZV disease.</p

Varicella zoster virus-induced autophagy in human neuronal and hematopoietic cells exerts antiviral activity

Autophagy is a degradational pathway with pivotal roles in cellular homeostasis and survival, including protection of neurons in the central nervous system (CNS). The significance of autophagy as antiviral defense mechanism is recognized and some viruses hijack and modulate this process to their advantage in certain cell types. Here, we present data demonstrating that the human neurotropic herpesvirus varicella zoster virus (VZV) induces autophagy in human SH-SY5Y neuronal cells, in which the pathway exerts antiviral activity. Productively VZV-infected SH-SY5Y cells showed increased LC3-I-LC3-II conversion as well as co-localization of the viral glycoprotein E and the autophagy receptor p62. The activation of autophagy was dependent on a functional viral genome. Interestingly, inducers of autophagy reduced viral transcription, whereas inhibition of autophagy increased viral transcript expression. Finally, the genotype of patients with severe ocular and brain VZV infection were analyzed to identify potential autophagy-associated inborn errors of immunity. Two patients expressing genetic variants in the autophagy genes ULK1 and MAP1LC3B2, respectively, were identified. Notably, cells of both patients showed reduced autophagy, alongside enhanced viral replication and death of VZV-infected cells. In conclusion, these results demonstrate a neuro-protective role for autophagy in the context of VZV infection and suggest that failure to mount an autophagy response is a potential predisposing factor for development of severe VZV disease.</p

Amphioxus functional genomics and the origins of vertebrate gene regulation.

Vertebrates have greatly elaborated the basic chordate body plan and evolved highly distinctive genomes that have been sculpted by two whole-genome duplications. Here we sequence the genome of the Mediterranean amphioxus (Branchiostoma lanceolatum) and characterize DNA methylation, chromatin accessibility, histone modifications and transcriptomes across multiple developmental stages and adult tissues to investigate the evolution of the regulation of the chordate genome. Comparisons with vertebrates identify an intermediate stage in the evolution of differentially methylated enhancers, and a high conservation of gene expression and its cis-regulatory logic between amphioxus and vertebrates that occurs maximally at an earlier mid-embryonic phylotypic period. We analyse regulatory evolution after whole-genome duplications, and find that-in vertebrates-over 80% of broadly expressed gene families with multiple paralogues derived from whole-genome duplications have members that restricted their ancestral expression, and underwent specialization rather than subfunctionalization. Counter-intuitively, paralogues that restricted their expression increased the complexity of their regulatory landscapes. These data pave the way for a better understanding of the regulatory principles that underlie key vertebrate innovations

Cell adhesion molecules and their relation to (cancer) cell stemness

Despite decades of search for anticancer drugs targeting solid tumors, this group of diseases remains largely incurable, especially if in advanced, metastatic stage. In this review, we draw comparison between reprogramming and carcinogenesis, as well as between stem cells (SCs) and cancer stem cells (CSCs), focusing on changing garniture of adhesion molecules. Furthermore, we elaborate on the role of adhesion molecules in the regulation of (cancer) SCs division (symmetric or asymmetric), and in evolving interactions between CSCs and extracellular matrix. Among other aspects, we analyze the role and changes of expression of key adhesion molecules as cancer progresses and metastases develop. Here, the role of cadherins, integrins, as well as selected transcription factors like Twist and Snail is highlighted, not only in the regulation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition but also in the avoidance of anoikis. Finally, we briefly discuss recent developments and new strategies targeting CSCs, which focus on adhesion molecules or targeting tumor vasculature.Integrative Regenerative Medicine Center (IGEN).Peer Reviewe

The Relationship between Perceived Sleep Quality, Polysomnographic Measures and Depressive Symptoms in Chemically-Injured Veterans: A Pilot Study.

Objective: Sleep complaints are common among Iranian chemically-injured veterans. The growing body of research has investigated (in) equalities between such subjective complaints and objective sleep records. Moreover, sleep complaints are associated with depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms, also, have been frequently reported in chemically-injured veterans. Therefore, the purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the relationship between perceived sleep quality, polysomnographic measures and depressive symptoms in Iranian veterans with chemical injuries. Methods: In this pilot study, 35 Iranian veterans with chemical injuries complaining of a sleep problem were selected. Initially, participants were evaluated via all-night polysomnography, then, they completed the research questionnaires. Collected data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients. Results: Data analyses showed that there was no significant correlation between many of self-reposted variables and polysomnogaphic recordings, h wever, remarkable relationships were found between the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Beck Depression Inventory scores. Conclusion: The findings indicated that sleep complaints of chemically-injured veterans are not equivalent to objective sleep disturbances, however, these complaints are largely associated with level of depression. This study emphasizes the important role of mood in sleep evaluation. Further, the findings suggest using a combination of both subjective and objective measures for accurate assessment of sleep quality in Iranian veterans with chemical injuries (i.e., multimethod approach)

http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-79688 1 Inflammasome polymorphisms confer susceptibility to sporadic malignant melanoma

malignant melanom

Inflammasome polymorphisms confer susceptibility to sporadic malignant melanoma

Genetic variants of NLRP3 and NLRP1 are known to modulate levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-1 beta. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of NLRP3/NLRP1 polymorphisms with susceptibility and clinical features of malignant melanoma in a Swedish casecontrol study. Common variants in NLRP3/NLRP1 were investigated in sporadic malignant melanoma patients and healthy controls followed by analysis using logistic regression. NLRP3 variant (rs35829419) was significantly more common in male patients than in controls (OR, 2.22; CI, 1.273.86). Upon stratification, significant association with nodular melanoma was observed (OR, 2.89; CI, 1.336.30), which intensified in male patients (OR 4.03, CI 1.4011.59). The NLRP1 variant (rs12150220) was significantly more common in fair-skinned female patients (OR, 1.85; CI, 1.043.33) and showed strong associations with nodular melanoma (OR, 6.03; CI, 1.3325). Our data suggest that NLRP3/NLRP1 polymorphisms are associated with melanoma susceptibility; these findings warrant validation in other independent populations

The Dark Tetrad personality traits of the commentators and the partial social presence of the aim of the comments as predictors of negative internet comments

Pētījuma mērķis – pētīt, kā sociālo klātbūtni raksturojošie faktori, tumšās tetrādes iezīmes un diskusijas tēma paredz tendenci atstāt negatīvus komentārus, un to, vai sociālās klātbūtnes faktorus ietekmē teksta modifikācija ar cilvēka fotogrāfiju vai neverbālajiem signāliem. 200 respondenti atbildēja uz komentāru un aizpildīja īso tumšās triādes skalu, sadistiskās personības novērtējumu un tiešsaistīto prātu sociālās klātbūtnes aptaujas divus faktorus. Statistiski nozīmīgā līmenī neverbālo signālu pievienošana tekstam ietekmēja uztverto emocionālo izpratni (UEI). Tendenci atstāt negatīvus komentārus statistiski nozīmīgi izlasē skaidroja psihopātija, abi sociālās klātbūtnes faktori un diskusijas tēma. Neitrālā diskusijā tendenci prognozēja UEI, psihopātija un sadisms; sensitīvā – dzimums un klātesamība/emocionālā savstarpējā atkarība.The goal of the study was to assess how do the social presence factors, Dark Tetrad personality traits, and the discussion’s theme explains the tendency to leave negative comments and to discover whether the text modification with non-verbal signals or a photo with a face affects the social presence factors. 200 respondents replied to a comment and filled out the Short Dark Triad Scale, the Assessment of Sadistic Personality, and two of the Networked Minds Social Presence Measure’s scales. On a statistically significant level, adding non-verbal signals to the text influenced the perceived affective understanding (PAE). The tendency to leave negative comments in the sample was explained by psychopathy, both of the social presence factors, and the discussion’s theme. In a neutral discussion the tendency was prognosed by the PAE, psychopathy, and sadism; in a sensitive discussion – by gender and co-presence/perceived affective interdependence

Ulmus minor bark hydro-alcoholic extract ameliorates histological parameters and testosterone level in an experimental model of PCOS rats

Objective. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common and multifactorial disease associated with female factor infertility. Ulmus minor bark (UMB) is one of the medicinal plants used in Persian folklore as a fertility enhancer. In the current study, we aimed to elucidate the effect of UMB hydro-alcoholic extract on histological parameters and testosterone condition in an experimental model of PCOS rats