Quality of life, mentalization, and perception of challenging patient encounters in dentistry: A cross-sectional study

Objective: This study investigated how exposure to challenging patient encounters influenced participants’ self-reported quality of life, and how participants’ mentalization capabilities affected the perceptions of challenging patients encounters among Norwegian dentists and dental students. Materials and Methods: Data was collected with an online questionnaire, and a total of 165 dentists (n = 126) and dental students (n = 39) responded. Results: Participants who reported higher total exposure of challenging encounters reported lower quality of life (QoL). Mentalization tendencies affected the perception of challenging encounters with specific types of patients; critical and anxious; as well as the estimation of the total exposure to challenging patient encounters. Participants that were overconfident with regards to the mental states of others found these patient types less challenging and they reported less overall exposure to challenging patients than underconfident participants. Also, overconfident participants reported higher QoL than underconfident participants. Conclusions: Mentalization capabilities of dental practitioners interact with the perception of challenging encounters in dental practice, and how practitioners respond to these challenges. Measures should be undertaken to increase the awareness of metacognitive skills in dentistry with the dual goal of improving patient care as well as the quality of life of dental practitioners

A ShK-like domain from Steinernema carpocapsae with bioinsecticidal potential

Entomopathogenic nematodes are used as biological control agents against a broad range of insect pests. We ascribed the pathogenicity of these organisms to the excretory/secretory products (ESP) released by the infective nematode. Our group characterized different virulence factors produced by Steinernema carpocapsae that underlie its success as an insect pathogen. A novel ShK-like peptide (ScK1) from this nematode that presents high sequence similarity with the ShK peptide from a sea anemone was successfully produced recombinantly in Escherichia coli. The secondary structure of ScK1 appeared redox-sensitive, exhibiting a far-UV circular dichroism spectrum consistent with an alpha-helical secondary structure. Thermal denaturation of the ScK1 allowed estimating the melting temperature to 59.2 ± 0.1 °C. The results from toxicity assays using Drosophila melanogaster as a model show that injection of this peptide can kill insects in a dose-dependent manner with an LD50 of 16.9 µM per adult within 24 h. Oral administration of the fusion protein significantly reduced the locomotor activity of insects after 48 h (p < 0.05, Tukey’s test). These data show that this nematode expresses insecticidal peptides with potential as next-generation insecticides.J.F. received a doctoral grant from the FCT (SFRH/BD/131698/2017). This work was funded by Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER) under project NanoNema (ACORES-01- 0145-FEDER000113), approved by the Autoridade de Gestão do Programa Operacional AÇORES 2020. J.B.V. acknowledges support by FCT-Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portuguese Institute (P.I), through iNOVA4Health (UIDB/04462/2020, UIDP/04462/2020) and LS4FUTURE Associated Laboratory (LA/P/0087/2020). G.B. and P.P. acknowledge funding from NORCE Norwegian Research Centre to host JF as well as funding from the Research Council of Norway (Grant ID: 221568) for expansion of the expression vector suite

Anthropology and STS: Generative interfaces, multiple locations

In this multi-authored essay, nine anthropologists working in different parts of the world take part in a conversation about the interfaces between anthropology and STS (science and technology studies). Through this conversation, multiple interfaces emerge that are heterogeneously composed according to the languages, places, and arguments from where they emerge. The authors explore these multiple interfaces as sites where encounters are also sites of difference&mdash;where complex groupings, practices, topics, and analytical grammars overlap, and also exceed each other, composing irregular links in a conversation that produces connections without producing closure

Dynamical Properties of Josephson Junctions Coupled by a Transmission Line

A system composed of two Josephson junctions connected by a transmission line has been studied by means of electronic analog simulation. Under external current bias, the resistive component of the coupling induces frequency locking between the two junctions at commensurate ratios. The resonant modes of the transmission line give rise to steps in the I-V characteristics of the system

Long-term work outcomes and the efficacy of multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs on labor force participation in cancer patients - a protocol for a longitudinal prospective cohort study

Background. Many cancer survivors experience late effects of cancer treatment and therefore struggle to return to work. Norway provides rehabilitation programs to increase labor force participation for cancer survivors after treatment. However, the extent to which such programs affect labor force participation has not been appropriately assessed. This study aims to investigate i) labor force participation, sick leave and disability rates among cancer survivors up to 10 years after being diagnosed with cancer and identify comorbidities contributing to long-term sick leave or disability pensioning; ii) how type of cancer, treatment modalities, employment sectors and financial- and sociodemographic factors may influence labor force participation; ii) how participation in rehabilitation programs among cancer survivor affect the long-term labor force participation, the number of rehospitalizations and incidence of comorbidities. Design and methods. Information from four medical, welfare and occupational registries in Norway will be linked to information from 163,279 cancer cases (15.68 years old) registered in the Norwegian Cancer Registry from 2004 to 2016. The registries provide detailed information on disease characteristics, comorbidities, medical and surgical treatments, occupation, national insurance benefits and demographics over a 10-year period following a diagnosis of cancer. Expected impact of the study for Public Health. The study will provide important information on how treatment, rehabilitation and sociodemographic factors influence labor force participation among cancer survivors. Greater understanding of work-related risk factors and the influence of rehabilitation on work-participation may encourage informed decisions among cancer patients, healthcare and work professionals and service planners.publishedVersio

Life-history evolution and the polyphenic regulation of somatic maintenance and survival

Here we discuss life-history evolution from the perspective of adaptive phenotypic plasticity, with a focus on polyphenisms for somatic maintenance and survival. Polyphenisms are adaptive discrete alternative phenotypes that develop in response to changes in the environment. We suggest that dauer larval diapause and its associated adult phenotypes in the nematode (Caenorhabditis elegans), reproductive dormancy in the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) and other insects, and the worker castes of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) are examples of what may be viewed as the polyphenic regulation of somatic maintenance and survival. In these and other cases, the same genotype can—depending upon its environment—express either of two alternative sets of life-history phenotypes that differ markedly with respect to somatic maintenance, survival ability, and thus life span. This plastic modulation of somatic maintenance and survival has traditionally been underappreciated by researchers working on aging and life history. We review the current evidence for such adaptive life-history switches and their molecular regulation and suggest that they are caused by temporally and/or spatially varying, stressful environments that impose diversifying selection, thereby favoring the evolution of plasticity of somatic maintenance and survival under strong regulatory control. By considering somatic maintenance and survivorship from the perspective of adaptive life-history switches, we may gain novel insights into the mechanisms and evolution of aging

AXL inhibition prevents NAFLD progression in mice with soluble AXL as marker of the NAFLD to NASH transition

Trabajo presentado en el The Digital International Liver Congress, celebrado del 27 al 29 de agosto de 2020Background and Aims: TYRO3, AXL and MERTK are receptor tyrosine kinases activated by the ligand GAS6. AXL signalling is increased in NASH patients, promotes fibrosis in hepatic stellate cells and inflammation in Kupffer cells, while GAS6 protects hepatocytes against lipotoxicity via MERTK. Recent data has shown that the AXL kinase inhibitor bemcentinib, by blocking AXL signalling and increasing GAS6 levels, reduces experimental NASH. However, AXL's role in the NAFLD/NASH transition has not been addressed. Identifying mechanisms responsible for NAFLD progression into NASH could provide early markers and novel therapeutic targets. Method: Mice were fed a high-fat methionine-restricted choline deficient (HFCD) diet for 2 and 4 weeks, and a high-fat diet with fructose (HFF) for 4 months to induce different degrees of NAFLD/NASH. Mouse Gas6, soluble levels of Axl (sAXL) and Mertk were measured by ELISA. Human GAS6, sAXL and MERTK were measured by ELISA in control and patient serum, and compared with biochemical and histological data. Transaminases and triglycerides were measured at the Hospital Clinic Core. The collagen content was measured by staining with Sirius Red and quantified by imaging software. H&E staining was performed and NAS score evaluated. Transcriptomic analysis of genes related to liver inflammation and fibrosis were measured in commercial microarrays and by qPCR. Results: After 4 weeks feeding with HFCD diet, early NASH was detected featuring liver steatosis, liver inflammation, hepatocellular ballooning and fibrosis. AXL inhibition with bemcentinib for 2 weeks reduced all these hepatic anomalies, including triglyceride serums levels and liver steatosis, preventing NAFLD progression. After 2 weeks of HFCD diet, mice presented fatty liver without fibrosis; however, transcriptomic analysis evidenced strong upregulation of pro-fibrotic and pro-inflammatory genes, while soluble Axl levels were already increased. Of note, one week bemcentinib administration not only reduced specific inflammatory and fibrotic genes such as Ccr2 or Col1a1, but also hepatic steatosis and NAS score. In contrast,in HFF-fed mice only liver steatosis was observed, without evidence of fibrosis or inflammation nor changes in sAxl levels. Interestingly, previous and on-going clinical data show significant sAXL increase in clinical patients with only diagnosed liver steatosis, showing no histological signs of inflammation or fibrosis. These results justify further transcriptomic patient evaluation and possible evolution depending on sAXL levels. Conclusion: sAXL levels reveals as a potential NAFLD-NASH transition marker, indicative of the initiation of liver inflammation and fibrosis before histological detection. Early treatment with bemcentinib prevented experimental NASH appearance, pointing to AXL antagonism as possible strategy for future clinical trials

Scaling-up and rooting-down: a case study of North-South partnerships for health from Tanzania

Background: North-South Partnership (NSP) is the mandated blueprint for much global health action. Northern partners contribute funding and expertise and Southern partners contribute capacity for local action. Potential Northern partners are attracted to Southern organizations that have a track record of participating in well-performing NSPs. This often leads to the rapid &#x2018;scaling up&#x2019; of the Southern organization&#x0027;s activities, and more predictable and stable access to resources. Yet, scaling up may also present challenges and threats, as the literature on rapid organization growth shows. However, studies of the impact of scaling up within NSPs in particular are absent from the literature, and the positive and negative impact of scaling up on Southern partners&#x2019; functioning is a matter of speculation. Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine how scaling up affects a Southern partner&#x0027;s organizational functioning, in a Southern grassroots NGO with 20 years of scaling up experience. Design: A case study design was used to explore the process and impact of scaling up in KIWAKKUKI, a women&#x0027;s grassroots organization working on issues of HIV and AIDS in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania. Data included documents, observation notes and in-depth interviews with six participants. The data were analyzed by applying an established systems framework of partnership functioning, in addition to a scaling up typology. Results: KIWAKKUKI has experienced significant scale-up of activities over the past 20 years. Over time, successful partnerships and programs have created synergy and led to further growth. As KIWAKUKKI expanded so did both its partnerships and grassroots base. The need for capacity building for volunteers exceeded the financial resources provided by Northern partners. Some partners did not have such capacity building as part of their own central mission. This gap in training has produced negative cycles within the organization and its NSPs. Conclusions: Northern partners were drawn to KIWAKKUKI because of its strong and rapidly growing grassroots base, however, a lack of funding has led to inadequate training for the burgeoning grassroots. Opportunity exists to improve this negative result: Northern organizations that value community engagement can purposefully align their missions and funding within NSP to better support grassroots efforts, especially through periods of expansion