The study of the contamination extent in jewelry used by nursing staff and its relation to some factors in Shahrekord Medical University hospitals

Background and aims: In clinics, nurses spend most of their working shifts « hours with different if they do not follow the general principals of prevention, they will have greater share of transmission of infection to patients and others. Therefore, the aim of this study is determining the extent of contamination in nursing staff's jewelry and their level of awareness of using these objects in Shahrekord medical university hospitals. Methods: This study is a analytical discriptive study which was done on 220 nurses, who were selected by cluster sampling, in Shahrekord hospitals. For data collection, a questionnaire included demographic information and assessment of the level of awareness about the terms of using jewelries in clinical environments was used. The reliability of this questionnaire was obtained 0.86 based on Cronbach's alpha, and confirmed. After that, the nurses' palms and the jewelry used by them were sampled and cultured in vitro. After 48-72 hours, the samples were examined and the data were analyzed by the use of SPSS Software and descriptive and inferential statistical techniques such as Cross tab. Results: The results of this study revealed that only 7 (3.2%) of the participants did not use jewelry in the workplace. In the in vitro cultures from the jewelry used by participants in the study, Staphylococcus Epidermidis had the highest frequency and candida albikans had the lowest frequency. Also, the materials used in watches had a significant role in the level of microbial contamination but this relationship is not seen in other jewelry. (r=259.84, P=0.000). There is a relationship between the gender of the participants and the level of microbial contamination in the watches. (r=24.913, P=0.000) This relationship is more in women comparing with men. Although more than 75% of nurses have a good awareness of the abandonment of using the jewelry in clinical areas, yet the use of jewelry is at a considerable extent. Conclusion: The results of this study show that the hands and various types of jewelry used by nurses are contamined with various pathogens, while applying the defined professional principles for controlling infection is the most important principles of clinical programs. Therefore, the results of this study can be used by the managers of the hospitals to emphasize more desirably on the compliance of the rules and regulations for controlling of infection in clinical environments

The study of the contamination extent in jewelry used by nursing staff and its relation to some factors in Shahrekord Medical University hospitals

Background and aims: In clinics, nurses spend most of their working shifts « hours with different if they do not follow the general principals of prevention, they will have greater share of transmission of infection to patients and others. Therefore, the aim of this study is determining the extent of contamination in nursing staff's jewelry and their level of awareness of using these objects in Shahrekord medical university hospitals. Methods: This study is a analytical discriptive study which was done on 220 nurses, who were selected by cluster sampling, in Shahrekord hospitals. For data collection, a questionnaire included demographic information and assessment of the level of awareness about the terms of using jewelries in clinical environments was used. The reliability of this questionnaire was obtained 0.86 based on Cronbach's alpha, and confirmed. After that, the nurses' palms and the jewelry used by them were sampled and cultured in vitro. After 48-72 hours, the samples were examined and the data were analyzed by the use of SPSS Software and descriptive and inferential statistical techniques such as Cross tab. Results: The results of this study revealed that only 7 (3.2%) of the participants did not use jewelry in the workplace. In the in vitro cultures from the jewelry used by participants in the study, Staphylococcus Epidermidis had the highest frequency and candida albikans had the lowest frequency. Also, the materials used in watches had a significant role in the level of microbial contamination but this relationship is not seen in other jewelry. (r=259.84, P=0.000). There is a relationship between the gender of the participants and the level of microbial contamination in the watches. (r=24.913, P=0.000) This relationship is more in women comparing with men. Although more than 75% of nurses have a good awareness of the abandonment of using the jewelry in clinical areas, yet the use of jewelry is at a considerable extent. Conclusion: The results of this study show that the hands and various types of jewelry used by nurses are contamined with various pathogens, while applying the defined professional principles for controlling infection is the most important principles of clinical programs. Therefore, the results of this study can be used by the managers of the hospitals to emphasize more desirably on the compliance of the rules and regulations for controlling of infection in clinical environments. Keywords: Infection, nurse, Jewelry, Awareness, Transmission of infection

Plasma Cholesterol-Induced Lesion Networks Activated before Regression of Early, Mature, and Advanced Atherosclerosis

Plasma cholesterol lowering (PCL) slows and sometimes prevents progression of atherosclerosis and may even lead to regression. Little is known about how molecular processes in the atherosclerotic arterial wall respond to PCL and modify responses to atherosclerosis regression. We studied atherosclerosis regression and global gene expression responses to PCL (>= 80%) and to atherosclerosis regression itself in early, mature, and advanced lesions. In atherosclerotic aortic wall from Ldlr(-/-)Apob(100/100)Mttp(flox/flox)Mx1-Cre mice, atherosclerosis regressed after PCL regardless of lesion stage. However, near-complete regression was observed only in mice with early lesions; mice with mature and advanced lesions were left with regression-resistant, relatively unstable plaque remnants. Atherosclerosis genes responding to PCL before regression, unlike those responding to the regression itself, were enriched in inherited risk for coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction, indicating causality. Inference of transcription factor (TF) regulatory networks of these PCL-responsive gene sets revealed largely different networks in early, mature, and advanced lesions. In early lesions, PPARG was identified as a specific master regulator of the PCL-responsive atherosclerosis TF-regulatory network, whereas in mature and advanced lesions, the specific master regulators were MLL5 and SRSF10/XRN2, respectively. In a THP-1 foam cell model of atherosclerosis regression, siRNA targeting of these master regulators activated the time-point-specific TF-regulatory networks and altered the accumulation of cholesterol esters. We conclude that PCL leads to complete atherosclerosis regression only in mice with early lesions. Identified master regulators and related PCL-responsive TF-regulatory networks will be interesting targets to enhance PCL-mediated regression of mature and advanced atherosclerotic lesions. Author Summary The main underlying cause of heart attacks and strokes is atherosclerosis. One strategy to prevent these often deadly clinical events is therefore either to slow atherosclerosis progression or better, induce regression of atherosclerotic plaques making them more stable. Plasma cholesterol lowering (PCL) is the most efficient way to induce atherosclerosis regression but sometimes fails to do so. In our study, we used a mouse model with elevated LDL cholesterol levels, similar to humans who develop early atherosclerosis, and a genetic switch to lower plasma cholesterol at any time during atherosclerosis progression. In this model, we examined atherosclerosis gene expression and regression in response to PCL at three different stages of atherosclerosis progression. PCL led to complete regression in mice with early lesions but was incomplete in mice with mature and advanced lesions, indicating that early prevention with PCL in individuals with increased risk for heart attack or stroke would be particularly useful. In addition, by inferring PCL-responsive gene networks in early, mature and advanced atherosclerotic lesions, we identified key drivers specific for regression of early (PPARG), mature (MLL5) and advanced (SRSF10/XRN2) atherosclerosis. These key drivers should be interesting therapeutic targets to enhance PCL-mediated regression of atherosclerosis

The natural history of metallosis from catastrophic failure of a polyethylene liner in a total hip

We report on a case of metallosis initially presumed to be heterotopic ossification based on radiologic findings. A 68-year-old man with a total hip arthroplasty experienced failure of the polyethylene liner, resulting in articulation of the ceramic head with the titanium acetabular shell. During revision surgery, extensive metallic debris was evident macroscopically throughout the periprosthetic tissue and was confirmed histologically to be metallosis

The Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Program in Iranian HIV/AIDS Patients: A Pilot Study

Psychological or behavioral interventions that attenuate the effects of stress may be useful in promoting immunocompetence and delaying HIV disease progression and CD4 count level. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a behavioral intervention that has as its foundation the practice of insight-oriented (or mindfulness) meditation. In this study, we examined the effects of MBSR upon psychological, physical status and CD4 count of HIV/AIDS infected patients registered at the Positive Club of Imam Khomeini Hospital in 2007. Using a pilot study, we evaluated the effectiveness of a psychological intervention (8-week) that was based on training in mindfulness at the Positive Club of Imam Khomeini Hospital in 2007. Eight 2-hour sessions weekly and a day-long retreat were planned for a group of 10 participants with HIV. We investigated the long-term effects of this approach on psychological and physical status of patients by SCL-90-R and MSCL questionnaires and CD4 count after MBSR and in 3, 6, 9 and 12-month follow-ups. We studied six HIV positive patients. The mean age was 35 ±7.7 yrs. There was no significant difference in MSCL scores after MBSR and in 3, 6, 9 and 12 months compared to those before MBSR (P>0.05). There was a significant difference in SCL-90-R score after MBSR compared with before (P=0.05). Nevertheless, in 3, 6, 9 and 12 months no significant differences were seen in SCL-90-R scores relative to those before MBSR (P>0.05). The means of CD4 count, before and after MBSR, and in 3, 6, 9 and 12 months were 549± 173.6, 640.2±189.4, 655.3±183.4, 638±167.4, 619.3±163.2, and 595.2±165.6, respectively. There was a significant difference in CD4 counts in comparison with those before MBSR (P<0.05). In our study, MBSR had positive effects on psychological status and CD4 count. However, more studies with large sample size are necessary

Dimedone nanoparticle as a promising approach against toxoplasmosis: In vitro and in vivo evaluation

Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular parasite, has shown drug resistance and therapeutic failure in recent years. Dimedone (DIM) has been introduced as a new chemical compound with anti-bacterial and anti-cancer properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential protective role of DIM nanoparticles in an animal model of toxoplasmosis. Cytotoxicity of DIM on Vero cell line assessed using MTT, and the effect of DIM on Toxoplasma gondii was evaluated by counting the number of parasites compared to the control group in vitro. The rate of pathogenesis and virulence of the parasite was checked on the liver cells of the animal model using hematoxylin-eosin staining. Furthermore, various parameters indicating oxidative stress were compared in mouse liver tissue in different groups. The release of the nanoparticle form was significantly longer than the free drugs. The IC50 of Nano-DIM was 60 µM and the reduction of intracellular parasite proliferation in the group Nano-DIM and Nano-PYR (Nano-primethamine) was significantly lower than the free drugs in vitro. Histopathology examination in the groups treated with dimedone nanomedicine showed that the degree of disintegration of the epithelium of the central vein of the liver and infiltration and vacuolization of liver cells were lower compared to the toxoplasmosis group. Additionally, the level of some oxidative stress indicators was observed to be lower in the nano-treated groups compared to other groups. The results of this study showed DIM can be used as a promising compound for anti-T. gondii activity and can prevent the proliferation of it in cells

Atherosclerosis progression in <i>Ldlr^−/−Apob</i>^100/100<i>Mttp</i>^flox/flox mice and regression in <i>Ldlr^−/−Apob</i>^100/100<i>Mttp</i>^Δ/Δ mice.

<p>(A) Atherosclerosis progression and regression curves. Values are surface lesion area (mean ± SD), assessed by Sudan IV staining, as a percentage of the total area of pinned-out aortas. n = 4–10 per time point. Lesion development in controls without PCL (•) (<i>P</i><0.001 vs. 30 weeks) and in mice after PCL started at week 30 (▴), 40 (▪), or 50 (). Changes in lesion area between 10 and 20 weeks of low plasma cholesterol were significant only in mice with early lesions (PCL at 30 weeks, <i>P</i> = 0.05). *<i>P</i> = 0.05, ***<i>P</i><0.001. (B) Representative aortic trees (above) with magnified arches (below) stained with Sudan IV before and 10 and 20 weeks after PCL at 30, 40 and 50 weeks. Graphs indicate degree of regression at that PCL time-point (red).</p

Transcriptional profiling during regression of aortic atherosclerotic lesions in <i>Ldlr^−/−Apob</i>^100/100<i>Mttp</i>^flox/flox and <i>Ldlr^−/−Apob</i>^100/100<i>Mttp</i>^Δ/Δ mice over time.

<p>Differential expression analyses was used to define sets of genes causally and reactively related to atherosclerosis regression in <i>Ldlr^−/−Apob</i>^100/100<i>Mttp</i>^Δ/Δ mice. RNA for the transcriptional profiling was isolated from the atherosclerotic aortic arch. Narrow and bold arrows indicate times of PCL and sacrifice, respectively. Colored horizontal lines indicate time frame of transcriptional profiles used for differential expression analysis to define gene sets. Colors indicate when PCL was started: green, 30 weeks; yellow, 40 weeks; red, 50 weeks. (A) To define the PCL-responsive gene sets, we compared transcriptional profiles (4–6 per time point) of PBS-treated, high-cholesterol littermate controls sacrificed at 30, 40 and 50 weeks with those immediately after PCL. (B) To define the regression-reactive gene sets, we compared transcriptional profiles (3–6 per time point) immediately after PCL with those at 10 weeks after PCL (10 per time point).</p

PCL-responsive and regression reactive gene sets of atherosclerosis regression.

<p>Venn diagrams showing the percentage/number of differentially expressed genes at 30, 40, and 50 weeks. The colors of the circles indicate when PCL was started: green, 30; yellow, 40 weeks; red, 50 weeks. The percentage in the circles to the left represent the percentage of differentially expressed genes for that section and specific time point. The numbers in circles to the right represent numbers of differentially expressed genes. (A) The PCL-responsive gene sets consist of genes that responded immediately to PCL, initiating regression of early (30 weeks), mature (40 weeks), and advanced (50 weeks) atherosclerosis. (B) The regression-reactive gene sets consist of genes altered in lesions between immediately after PCL and 10 weeks of low plasma cholesterol levels.</p

Top hubs in the causal TF-regulatory co-expression networks inferred in human macrophages.

<p>TF, transcription factor. Common hubs >5 connections.</p