Koilocytes are enriched for alkaline-labile sites

This study investigated possible variations in the chromatin structure of koilocytes resulting from human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Alkaline-labile sites (ALS) were detected with the DNA breakage detection–fluorescence in situ hybridization (DBD-FISH) technique using a whole human genome DNA probe obtained from individuals without koilocytosis. The variable levels of ALS present were measured quantitatively using image analysis after whole-genome DNA hybridization. A significant increase in the number of ALS was observed in koilocytes compared with normal cells. We demonstrated that the presence of ALS could be an indicator of chromatin change in koilocytes caused by HPV infection

Design and psychometric evaluation of the 'Clinical Communication Self-Efficacy Toolkit'

Nursing students experience difficulties when communicating in clinical practice. Their self-efficacy in clinical communication should be explored as part of their competence assessment before they are exposed to real human interactions in the clinical setting. The aim of this study was to design and psychometrically evaluate a toolkit to comprehensively assess nursing students’ self-efficacy in clinical communication. The study followed an observational cross-sectional design. A sample of 365 nursing students participated in the study. The ‘Clinical Communication Self-Efficacy Toolkit’ (CC-SET) was comprised of three tools: the ‘Patient-Centered Communication Self-efficacy Scale’ (PCC-SES), the ‘Patient clinical Information Exchange and interprofessional communication Self-Efficacy Scale’ (PIE-SES), and the ‘Intrapersonal communication and Self-Reflection Self-Efficacy Scale’ (ISR-SES). The tools’ reliability, validity (content, criterion, and construct) and usability were rigorously tested. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the three tools comprising the CC-SET was very high and demonstrated their excellent reliability (PCC-SES = 0.93; PIE-SES = 0.87; ISR-SES = 0.86). The three tools evidenced to have excellent content validity (scales’ content validity index > 0.95) and very good criterion validity. Construct validity analysis demonstrated that the PCC-SES, PIE-SES, and ISR-SES have a clear and theoretically-congruent structure. The CC-SET is a comprehensive toolkit that allows the assessment of nursing students’ self-efficacy in interpersonal, interprofessional, and intrapersonal communication

Constitutive heterochromatin polymorphisms in human chromosomes identified by whole comparative genomic hybridization

Whole comparative genomic hybridization (W-CGH) is a new technique that reveals cryptic differences in highly repetitive DNA sequences, when different genomes are compared using metaphase or interphase chromosomes. W-CGH provides a quick approach to identify differential expansion of these DNA sequences at the single-chromosome level in the whole genome. In this study, we have determined the frequency of constitutive chromatin polymorphisms in the centromeric regions of human chromosomes using a whole-genome in situ cross-hybridization method to compare the whole genome of five different unrelated individuals. Results showed that the pericentromeric constitutive heterochromatin of chromosome 6 exhibited a high incidence of polymorphisms in repetitive DNA families located in pericentromeric regions. The constitutive heterochromatin of chromosomes 5 and 9 was also identified as highly polymorphic. Although further studies are necessary to corroborate and assess the overall incidence of these polymorphisms in human populations, the use of W-CGH could be pertinent and of clinical relevance to assess rapidly, from a chromosomal viewpoint, genome similarities and differences in closely related genomes such as those of relatives, or in more specific situations such as bone marrow transplantation where chimerism is produced in the recipient

Update of scientific observations of white marlin (kajikia albida) in the spanish surface longline fishing fleet targeting swordfish in the Atlantic in the period 1993-2018

A description of 1710 individuals recorded as white marlin during the period 1993-2018 is presented. 21% of the fishing sets were positive for the capture of at least one specimen for those areas considered. The overall prevalence of this species over all fish species combined was 0.65% in number and 0.52% in weight. The overall prevalence over Istiophoridae was 25.12% and 12.61% in number and weight, respectively. A discussion on the applicability of these values is included. Sizes were between 95 and 285 cm LJFL but catches of individuals smaller than 145 cm are very rare. The overall sex-ratio of females was 42.5%. Sex-ratio at size indicates an increase in the percentage of females in sizes larger than 165 cm. Only 7 females of the total 170 females with gonads analyzed presented a high gonadosomatic index. Overall nominal CPUE in weight was higher for males (2.70 kg DW/1000 hooks) than females (1.81 kg DW/1000 hooks). For the whole period analyzed, 16.3% of the specimens observed were discarded and 7.5% were released alive, although different patterns can be discerned over time

Psychometric evaluation and cultural adaptation of the Spanish version of the “Scale for End-of Life Caregiving Appraisal”

Objective: To translate, culturally adapt and psychometrically evaluate the Spanish version of the ‘Scale for End-of Life Caregiving Appraisal’ (SEOLCAS). Methods: Observational cross-sectional study. Convenience sample of 201 informal end-of-life caregivers recruited in a southern Spanish hospital. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed through its internal consistency (Cronbach’s α) and temporal stability (Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) between test-retest). The content validity index of the items (I-CVI) and the scale (S-CVI/Ave) was calculated. Its criterion validity was explored through performing a linear regression analysis to evaluate the SEOLCAS’ predictive validity. Exploratory factor analysis was used to examine its construct validity. Results: The SEOLCAS’s reliability was very high (Cronbach’s α=0.92). Its content validity was excellent (all items’ content validity index=0.8–1; scale’s validity index=0.88). Evidence of the SEOLCAS’ criterion validity showed that the participants’ scores on the SEOLCAS explained approximately 79.3% of the between-subject variation of their results on the Zarit Burden Interview. Exploratory factor analysis provided evidence of the SEOLCAS’ construct validity. This analysis revealed that two factors (‘internal contingencies’ and ‘external contingencies’) explained 53.77% of the total variance found and reflected the stoic Hispanic attitude towards adversity. Significance of the results: The Spanish version of the ‘Scale for End-of Life Caregiving Appraisal’ has shown to be an easily-applicable, valid, reliable and culturally-appropriate tool to measure the impact of end-of-life care provision on Hispanic informal caregivers. This tool offers healthcare professionals the opportunity to easily explore Hispanic informal end-of-life caregivers’ experiences and discover the type of support they may need (instrumental or emotional) even when there are communicational and organisational constraints

Promoting dignified end-of-life care in the emergency department: a qualitative study

Background: Preservation of a dying person’s dignity in the emergency department (ED) is fundamental for the patient, his/her relatives and healthcare professionals. The aim of this study was to explore and interpret physicians’ and nurses’ experiences regarding conservation of dignity in end-of-life care in dying patients in the ED. Methods: A qualitative study based on the hermeneutic phenomenological approach, was carried out in the emergency department of two general hospitals. A total of 16 nurses and 10 physicians participated in the study. Data collection included 12 individual in-depth interviews and 2 focus groups. Results: The findings revealed that two themes represent the practices and proposals for the conservation of dignity in the emergency department: dignified care in hostile surroundings and the design of a system focused on the person’s dignity. Conclusion: Dignifying treatment, redesigning environmental conditions, and reorienting the healthcare system can contribute to maintaining dignity in end-of-life care in the ED

Size distribution of porbeagle (lamna nasus) inferred from a data

A total of 5,136 size observations of porbeagle were recovered for the period 1987-2017. The GLM results explained very moderately the variability of the sizes considering three main factors, suggesting minor but significant differences in some cases especially for the year factor and non-significant differences in other factors depending on the analysis. The greatest differences in the standardized mean length between some zones were caused by some large fish of unidentified sex. The standardized mean length data for the northern zones showed stability throughout the time series, very stable range of mean values and very few differences between sexes. The size distribution for northern areas indicated an FL-overall mean of 158 cm. The size showed a normal distribution confirming that a small fraction of individuals of this stock/s is available in the oceanic areas where the North Atlantic fleet is regularly fishing and the fishes are not fully recruited to those areas and / or this fishing gear up to 160 cm. The data suggests that some individuals could sporadically reach some intertropical areas of the Atlanti

Standardized yields of the white marlin (kajikia albida) and the roundscale spearfish (tetrapturus georgii) caught as bycatch of the spanish surface longline fishery targeting swordfish (xiphias gladius) in the atlantic ocean

Standardized yields of Kajikia albida and Tetrapturus georgii were obtained from 27,481 recorded trips (887.86 x106 hooks) by the surface longline fleet targeting swordfish in the fishing areas of the Atlantic during the period 1988-2017. The observations represent about 95% of the total fishing effort of this fleet during the combined period. Roughly 4.64% of the trips recorded showed a positive catch of these species. Because of their low prevalence in this fishery, the standardized yields were calculated using a Generalized Linear Mixed Model, assuming a delta-lognormal error distribution. An overall flat trend was predicted for the whole period considered, with some annual fluctuations. The very low values predicted for the last three years were caused by the implementation of drastic domestic regulations. Some other considerations are also discussed, such as a high inter-annual variability, considered biologically unlikely, and uncertainty in the data, possibly caused by factors such as dead discards, live releases, species misidentification and current regulations

UPDATED STANDARDIZED CATCH RATES FOR SOUTH ATLANTIC STOCK OF SWORDFISH (Xiphias gladius) FROM THE SPANISH LONGLINE FLEET FOR THE PERIOD 1989-2019

Updated standardized catch rates in number and in weight were obtained using General Linear Modeling (GLM) procedures from trips carried out by the Spanish surface longline fleet targeting swordfish in the South Atlantic stock during the period 1989-2019. The criteria used to define factors were similar to those used in previous contributions. The results explained 65% and 71% of CPUE variability in number and weight, respectively, pointing to very stable standardized CPUE and mean weight trends over time. The statistical diagnoses were highly satisfactory