Effects of a single interprofessional simulation session on medical and nursing students’ attitudes toward interprofessional learning and professional identity: a questionnaire study

Background Participation in simulation-based interprofessional education (sim-IPE) may affect students’ attitudes towards interprofessional learning (through gaining experience with others) and their professional identity (by increasing the ‘fit’ of group membership). We examined this in two questionnaire studies involving students from four universities in two areas of the UK. Method Questionnaire data were collected before and after students took part in a sim-IPE session consisting of three acute scenarios. Questionnaires included the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) and measures of professional identity derived from the social identity theory literature. In Study 1, only identification with Professional Group (doctor or nurse) was measured, while in Study 2 identification with Student Group (medical or nursing student) and the immediate interprofessional Team worked with in the simulation were also measured. Linear mixed effects regression analysis examined the effect of the simulation session, and differences between medical and nursing students, sites and identity measures. Results A total of 194 medical and 266 nursing students completed questionnaires. A five-item subset of RIPLS (RIPLSCore) was used in analysis. In both studies RIPLSCore increased for all groups following participation in sim-IPE, although this was larger for nursing students in Study 1. Nursing students had consistently higher RIPLSCore scores than medical students at one site. Effects of the session on identity varied between sites, and dimensions of identity. Notably, while positive emotions associated with group membership (Ingroup Affect) increased for Student Group, Professional Group and Team, the sense of belonging (Ingroup Ties) and importance (Centrality) of the group increased only for Team. Nursing students had consistently higher identification scores than medical students. Conclusions Participation in a sim-IPE session can improve attitudes towards interprofessional learning. It can also enhance professional identity, particularly as related to emotional aspects of group membership, with possible benefits for wellbeing. Changes in identification with the immediate Team suggest positive psychological consequences of ad hoc Team formation in the workplace. Differences between medical and nursing students suggest their differing opportunities to work with other professions during training may change baseline attitudes and identity. However, a single sim-IPE session can still have an additive effect

In Vivo screening and discovery of novel candidate thalidomide analogs in the zebrafish embryo and chicken embryo model systems

This study was supported by a Wellcome Trust-NIH PhD Studentship to SB, WDF and NV. Grant number 098252/Z/12/Z. SB, CHC and WDF are supported by the Intramural Research Program, NCI, NIH. NHG and WL are supported by the Intramural Research Program, NIA, NIH.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Protocol for a case-control prospective study to investigate the impact of Hepatic Encephalopathy on Nutritional Intake and Sarcopenia status in patients with end-stage LIVer disease:HENS-LIV study

INTRODUCTION: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a debilitating symptom of end-stage liver disease (ESLD), but there remains a paucity of evidence regarding its impact on nutritional status, nutritional intake, compliance with nutritional support and resultant muscle health and function. Malnutrition and sarcopenia are associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients with ESLD. The aim of the current case–control study is to prospectively investigate the impact of HE on nutritional intake and sarcopenia status in patients with ESLD. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Patients with ESLD, with HE (n=10) and without HE (n=10) will be recruited at the outpatient liver unit, University Hospital Birmingham, UK. All patients will undergo clinical assessment at baseline and again at 6–8 weeks (in-line with their routine clinical follow-up), to assess the impact of HE on reported nutritional intake, nutritional status and sarcopenia/physical functional status. Standard medical, dietetic and home-based exercise physiotherapy care will continue for all participants as determined by their clinical team. Two methods of assessing nutritional intake will include the 24-hour food recall and 3-day food diaries. Assessment of sarcopenia status will be undertaken using anthropometry (mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC)) and ultrasound imaging of the quadriceps muscle group. Markers of physical function (hand grip strength; chair rise time), frailty (Liver Frailty Index (LFI)), physical activity (accelerometery) and exercise capacity (Duke Activity Status Index (DASI)) will be assessed at both clinic visits. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study is approved by Wales Research Ethics Committee 2 and Health Research Authority (REC reference: 21/WA/0216). Recruitment into the study commenced November 2021. The findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and international presentations. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: RRK7156

Acute resistance exercise training does not augment mitochondrial remodelling in master athletes or untrained older adults

Background: Ageing is associated with alterations to skeletal muscle oxidative metabolism that may be influenced by physical activity status, although the mechanisms underlying these changes have not been unraveled. Similarly, the effect of resistance exercise training (RET) on skeletal muscle mitochondrial regulation is unclear. Methods: Seven endurance-trained masters athletes ([MA], 74 ± 3 years) and seven untrained older adults ([OC]. 69 ± 6 years) completed a single session of knee extension RET (6 x 12 repetitions, 75% 1-RM, 120-s intra-set recovery). Vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were collected pre-RET, 1 h post-RET, and 48h post-RET. Skeletal muscle biopsies were analyzed for citrate synthase (CS) enzyme activity, mitochondrial content, and markers of mitochondrial quality control via immunoblotting. Results: Pre-RET CS activity and protein content were ∼45% (p < .001) and ∼74% greater in MA compared with OC (p = .006). There was a significant reduction (∼18%) in CS activity 48 h post-RET (p < .05) in OC, but not MA. Pre-RET abundance of individual and combined mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) complexes I-V were significantly greater in MA compared with OC, as were markers of mitochondrial fission and fusion dynamics (p-DRP-1(Ser616), p-MFF(Ser146), OPA-1 & FIS-1, p < .05 for all). Moreover, MA displayed greater expression of p-AMPK(Thr172), PGC1α, TFAM, and SIRT-3 (p < .05 for all). Notably, RET did not alter the expression of any marker of mitochondrial content, biogenesis, or quality control in both OC and MA. Conclusion: The present data suggest that long-term aerobic exercise training supports superior skeletal muscle mitochondrial density and protein content into later life, which may be regulated by greater mitochondrial quality control mechanisms and supported via superior fission-fusion dynamics. However, a single session of RET is unable to induce mitochondrial remodelling in the acute (1h post-RET) and delayed (48 h post-RET) recovery period in OC and MA

Design, synthesis and biological assessment of N-adamantyl, substituted adamantyl and noradamantyl phthalimidines for nitrite, TNF-α and angiogenesis inhibitory activities

Acknowledgements SB, NV, WDF funded by a Wellcome Trust-NIH PhD Scholarship (Grant number: 098252/Z/12/Z).Peer reviewedPostprin

A New Generation of IMiDs as Treatments for Neuroinflammatory and Neurodegenerative Disorders

Acknowledgements The authors acknowledge support from their associated institutions which included: (i) the Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, NIH, USA, (ii) the Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, (iii) Aevisbio Inc., USA, (iv) Aevis Bio Inc., Republic of Korea, (v) G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti and Pescara, Italy, and (vi) University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK. Funding The generation of this article was supported by: (i) the Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, NIH: AG000994. (ii) The Technology Development Program of MSS, Republic of Korea (S2782046). (iii) The National Research Foundation (NRF) grant funded by the Republic of Korea Government (2021M3A9G2015889).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Antiangiogenic Activity and in Silico Cereblon Binding Analysis of Novel Thalidomide Analogs

Funding: This research was supported in part by the Intramural Research Program of the Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (ZIA SC006538); in part with Federal funds from the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Institutes of Health, under contract HHSN261200800001E; the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health; and a Wellcome Trust-NIH PhD Studentship to SB, WDF, and NV (Grant number 098252/Z/12/Z). Acknowledgments: The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products or organizations imply endorsement by the US Government.Peer reviewedPublisher PD