Further validation of the birth satisfaction scale-revised: Factor structure, validity, and reliability

The Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised is a short but valid and reliable robust measure of different aspects of birth satisfaction. This study aimed to test factor structure, validity and reliability of the Croatian version of the Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised. In the cross-sectional study, a convenient online sample of 552 women completed questionnaires in the first year postpartum. The Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised, subscale Satisfaction with Delivery from the Childbirth Perception Questionnaire, and a set of questions on demographic and obstetric data were administered. The results showed the excellent fit of both the three-factor model (Stress experienced during labour, Women's personal attributes, Quality of care) and two-factor model (with Stress and Women's attributes combined into one factor), with no significant difference between the two models. Furthermore, bi-factor modeling revealed a general factor of childbirth experience, which explains the variance of items from Stress and Women's attributes subscales. The internal consistency was high for the total scale and Quality of care, while acceptable for the other two subscales. Convergent and divergent validity was high. Known-group discriminant validity showed that women who gave birth by unassisted vaginal birth and planned caesarean section reported higher levels of birth satisfaction. In conclusion, both empirical findings and theoretical background suggest a three-factor model as the better solution for the Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised conceptualization. As the Croatian version of the Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised was shown to be valid and reliable, it is recommended for use to measure birth satisfaction both for research and practical purposes

Microporosity of a guanidinium organodisulfonate hydrogen-bonded framework

CITATION: Brekalo, I. et al. 2020. Microporosity of a Guanidinium Organodisulfonate Hydrogen-Bonded Framework. Angewandte Chemie, 59(5):1997-2002. doi:10.1002/anie.201911861The original publication is available at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/15213757Guanidinium organosulfonates (GSs) are a large and well-explored archetypal family of hydrogen-bonded organic host frameworks that have, over the past 25 years, been regarded as nonporous. Reported here is the only example to date of a conventionally microporous GS host phase, namely guanidinium 1,4-benzenedisulfonate (p-G2BDS). p-G2BDS is obtained from its acetone solvate, AcMe@G2BDS, by single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SC-SC) desolvation, and exhibits a Type I low-temperature/pressure N2 sorption isotherm (SABET=408.7(2) m2 g−1, 77 K). SC-SC sorption of N2, CO2, Xe, and AcMe by p-G2BDS is explored under various conditions and X-ray diffraction provides a measurement of the high-pressure, room temperature Xe and CO2 sorption isotherms. Though p-G2BDS is formally metastable relative to the “collapsed”, nonporous polymorph, np-G2BDS, a sample of p-G2BDS survived for almost two decades under ambient conditions. np-G2BDS reverts to zCO2@p-G2BDS or yXe@p-G2BDS (y,z=variable) when pressure of CO2 or Xe, respectively, is applied.https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/anie.201911861Publishers versio

An Isolator System for minimally invasive surgery: the new design

Background - The risk of obtaining a postsurgical infection depends highly on the air quality surrounding the exposed tissue, surgical instruments, and materials. Many isolators for open surgery have been invented to create a contained sterile volume around the exposed tissue. With the use of an isolator, a surgical procedure can be performed outside sterile environments. The goal of this study was to design an Isolator System (IS) for standard laparoscopic instruments while instrument movements are not restricted. Methods - The developed IS consists of a sleeve to protect the instrument shaft and tip and a special balloon to protect the incision and trocar tube. A coupling mechanism connected at the sleeve allows instrument changes without contamination of the isolated parts. Smoke tests were performed to show that outside air does not enter the new IS during a simulated laparoscopic procedure. Eight test runs and one baseline run inside a contained volume filled with thick smoke were performed to investigate whether smoke particles entered the Isolator System. Filters were used to identify smoke entering the Isolator System. Results - Seven filters showed no trace of smoke particles. In one test run, a part of the IS loosened and a small brown spot was visible. The filter from the baseline run was completely covered with a thick layer of particles, proving the effectiveness of the test. During all test runs, the isolated instrument was successfully locked on and unlocked from the isolated trocar. Instrument movements gave no complications. After removal of the isolated instrument, it took three novices an average of 3.1 (standard deviation (SD), 0.7) seconds to replace it correctly on the isolated trocar. Conclusions - The designed IS for laparoscopy can increase sterility in environments where sterility cannot be guaranteed. The current design is developed for laparoscopy, but it can easily be adapted for other fields in minimally invasive surgery.Biomechanical EngineeringMechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineerin

Comparison of apical irrigant solution extrusion among conventional and laser- activated endodontic irrigation

The aim of this study was to determine the amount of extruded endodontic irrigant among needle-syringe irrigation (NSI) and laser- activated irrigation (LAI) regimens. Twenty extracted maxillary central incisors were prepared utilizing GT professional rotary files (size 40, taper 0.06). Irrigation was performed with two 27 G irrigation needles (notched open ended (ON) and single side vented (SV)) each at two different irrigant volumetric flow rates (VFR)-0.05 ml/s (3 ml/min) and 0.10 ml/s (6 ml/min). LAI was performed with Er:YAG (erbium- doped yttrium aluminum garnet) using different fiber types (X-Pulse-14/400 cylindrical tip, Preciso- 14/300 flat cylindrical tip, PIPS- 14/400 quartz tapered tip). The Er:YAG laser with a wavelength of 2940 nm (Lightwalker AT, Fotona, Ljubljana, Slovenia) was used according to the following protocol: 10 mJ per pulse, 15 Hz, pulse duration 50 μs. Irrigation time was 60 s for all protocols. Precision syringe pump (PSP) maintained constant irrigant volumetric flow rate. Apically extruded irrigant was collected and net weighed for each protocol (N = 10). Data were analyzed by t tests and Kruskal-Wallis. All LAI regimens had statistically significant lower irrigant extrusion compared with NSI except for the SV 27 G needle used with 0.05 ml/s VFR when compared with the Preciso fiber tip (p = 0, 230). The largest amount of extruded irrigant was with the ON 27 G needle at the 0.10 ml/s VFR, while the smallest was after LAI with PIPS fiber tip. The lower quantity of apically extruded irrigant during LAI (X-Pulse and PIPS) points out a safer endodontic irrigation method compared with conventional irrigations

Bifunctional mannoside-glucosinolate glycoconjugates as enzymatically triggered isothiocyanates and FimH ligands

International audienceGlucosinolates are sulfur-containing secondary metabolites found in plants of the Brassicale order. They are precursors of isothiocyanate species, resulting from C–S hydrolysis catalysed by the thioglucohydrolase myrosinase. We describe the synthesis of bifunctional glucosinolate–mannoside glycoconjugates combining both the structural features of a substrate of myrosinase and a ligand of the lectin FimH. We show that these glycoconjugates serve as enzyme substrates and that myrosinase can indeed hydrolyze the glucosinolate moiety with affinities (KM, Vmax) comparable to the natural substrates glucomoringin and sinigrin. This enzymatic hydrolysis of the thioglycosidic bond led to the efficient formation of an isothiocyanate which was assessed by the formation of the corresponding dithiocarbamate derivatives. Finally, we show that our synthetic bifunctional glycoconjugates also serve as FimH ligands where the glucosinolate moiety does not hamper the interaction with the lectin. Our findings set the stage for an original bioconjugation tool, allowing for myrosinase-triggered specific labelling of lectins using glucosinolate glycoconjugates as non-toxic, water soluble isothiocyanate precursors

Effects of Nicorandil on Inflammation, Apoptosis and Atherosclerotic Plaque Progression

Nicorandil, a balanced vasodilator, is used in the second-line therapy of angina pectoris. In this study, we aimed to illuminate the effects of nicorandil on inflammation, apoptosis, and atherosclerotic plaque progression. Twenty-five LDL-R -/- mice were fed a high-fat diet for 14 weeks. After 6 weeks mice were randomly allocated to treatment with nicorandil (10 mg/kg/day) or tap water. Nicorandil treatment led to a more stable plaque phenotype, displaying an increased thickness of the fibrous cap (p = 0.014), a significant reduction in cholesterol clefts (p = 0.045), and enhanced smooth muscle cell content (p = 0.009). In endothelial cells nicorandil did not reduce the induction of adhesion molecules or proinflammatory cytokines. In H2O2 challenged endothelial cells, pretreatment with nicorandil significantly reduced the percentage of late apoptotic/necrotic cells (p = 0.016) and the ratio of apoptotic to living cells (p = 0.036). Atherosclerotic lesions of animals treated with nicorandil exhibited a significantly decreased content of cleaved caspase-3 (p = 0.034), lower numbers of apoptotic nuclei (p = 0.040), and reduced 8-oxogunanine staining (p = 0.039), demonstrating a stabilizing effect of nicorandil in established atherosclerotic lesions. We suggest that nicorandil has a positive effect on atherosclerotic plaque stabilization by reducing apoptosis