Nurses' perceptions of aids and obstacles to the provision of optimal end of life care in ICU

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Hand-grip strength and sensation seeking

Sensation seeking denotes the tendency to seek novel, varied, complex, and intense sensations and experiences, and describes the willingness to take risks for the sake of such experiences. Some studies have demonstrated correlates of both circulating and prenatal testosterone with sensation seeking. Hand-grip strength (as a measure of overall muscular strength) is also known to show associations with measures of circulating testosterone, and certain physical and behavioural characteristics, particularly in men. This study examines the possible relationship between hand-grip strength and sensation seeking, assessed via the Sensation Seeking Scale Form V (SSS-V) in 117 males aged 18–30 years. A positive and significant correlation was found between hand-grip strength and SSS-V total score and thrill and adventure seeking (TAS) after controlling for weight, height, and engagement with sporting activities. We discuss our findings with reference to other studies reporting associations between biological and personality characteristics

Pelota regulates epidermal differentiation by modulating BMP and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways

The depletion of evolutionarily conserved pelota protein causes impaired differentiation of embryonic and spermatogonial stem cells. In this study, we show that temporal deletion of pelota protein before epidermal barrier acquisition leads to neonatal lethality due to perturbations in permeability barrier formation. Further analysis indicated that this phenotype is a result of failed processing of profilaggrin into filaggrin monomers, which promotes the formation of a protective epidermal layer. Molecular analyses showed that pelota protein negatively regulates the activities of bone morphogenetic protein and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathways in the epidermis. To address whether elevated activities of bone morphogenetic protein and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways were the cause for the perturbed epidermal barrier in Pelo-deficient mice, we made use of organotypic cultures of skin explants from control and mutant embryos at embryonic day 15.5. Inhibition of PI3K/AKT signaling did not significantly affect the bone morphogenetic protein activity. However, inhibition of bone morphogenetic protein signaling caused a significant attenuation of PI3K/AKT activity in mutant skin and, more interestingly, the restoration of profilaggrin processing and normal epidermal barrier function. Therefore, increased activity of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in Pelo-deficient skin might conflict with the dephosphorylation of profilaggrin and thereby affect its proper processing into filaggrin monomers and ultimately the epidermal differentiation.</p

Pelota Regulates Epidermal Differentiation by Modulating BMP and PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathways

The depletion of evolutionarily conserved Pelota protein (PELO) causes impaired differentiation of embryonic and spermatogonial stem cells. In this study, we show that temporal deletion of PELO prior to epidermal barrier acquisition leads to neonatal lethality due to perturbations in permeability barrier formation. Further analysis indicated that this phenotype is a result of failed processing of profilaggrin into filaggrin monomers, which promotes the formation of a protective epidermal layer. Molecular analyses revealed that PELO negatively regulates the activities of BMP and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways in the epidermis. To address whether elevated activities of BMP and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways were the cause for the perturbed epidermal barrier in Pelo-deficient pups, we made use of organotypic cultures of skin explants from control and mutant embryos at E15.5. Inhibition of PI3K/AKT signaling did not significantly affect the BMP activity. However, inhibition of BMP signaling caused a significant attenuation of PI3K/AKT activity in mutant skin and, more interestingly, the restoration of profilaggrin processing and normal epidermal barrier function. Therefore, increased activity of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in Pelo-deficient skin might conflict with the dephosphorylation of profilaggrin and thereby affects its proper processing into filaggrin monomers and ultimately the epidermal differentiation.s.</p