The correlation between leader–member exchange and organisational commitment among spanish registered nurses: The moderating role of sex and hospital size

The role of the supervisor in hospitals is to oversee and encourage the active work participation of registered nurses. In this context, leadership should be focused on the creation of a positive environment for the generation of high-quality care and the development of attitudes that have a beneficial influence on the work of the registered nurse. The aims of this study have been: (i) To verify if the quality of the supervisor–nurse interpersonal relationship was correlated with organisational commitment; (ii) to establish if the correlation could be moderated by empowerment, perceived organisational support, and leader–leader exchange. A cross-sectional survey with self-report questionnaires was performed. A total of 2541 registered nurses from nine public hospitals participated in the study. They completed scales measuring leader–member exchange, commitment, empowerment, perceived organisational support, and leader–leader exchange. There was a positive correlation between the quality of the leader–member exchange and commitment. Leader–leader exchange has a moderating effect on this relationship. The moderating effects of empowerment, perceived organisational support, and leader–member exchange on the supervisor–nurse interpersonal relationship and the nurse’s organisational commitment are influenced by sex and/or hospital size. Organisations should design supervisor training strategies aimed at establishing high-quality supervisor–nurse interpersonal relationships

Bronchoscopic balloon dilatation in the management of bronchial stenosis following lung transplantation

SummaryBackgroundBronchial stenosis (BS) is currently found in 7–15% of lung transplantation (LT) recipients. Current treatment strategies have included Nd:Yag laser, cryotherapy, bougie dilatation and stent placement. Bronchoscopic balloon dilatation has been used as alternative treatment in a few cases with controversial results. This is a study to prospectively assess the efficacy of bronchoscopic balloon dilatation as a first step in the management of post-LT BS.MethodsFrom January 1995 to December 2002, bronchoscopic balloon dilatation was evaluated as first therapeutic option in all consecutive LT patients with BS. Symptoms, pulmonary function tests, airway diameter and use of other therapeutic techniques were evaluated.ResultsA total of 10 out of 284 anastomed airways (3.5%) in 9 out of 152 LT patients were included in the study and follow-up lasted from 6 to 81 months. Dilatation of all but one BS met with initial success: increase of both luminal dimensions and forced vital capacity (P=0.01), and relief of symptoms. Bronchoscopic balloon dilatation long-term follow-up showed effective results in 5 out of 10 (50%) bronchial stenoses, after an average of 4 bronchoscopic balloon dilatation procedures (range 1–8). No severe complications were observed. Stent placement was required in the other 5 bronchial stenoses.ConclusionsBronchoscopic balloon dilatation is a safe method that should be considered as first therapeutic treatment of post-LT BS. Its use avoids the need for stent placement in up to 50% of cases

Dimethyl Fumarate Strongly Ameliorates Gray and White Matter Brain Injury and Modulates Glial Activation after Severe Hypoxia–Ischemia in Neonatal Rats

Neonatal hypoxia–ischemia is a major cause of infant death and disability. The only clinically accepted treatment is therapeutic hypothermia; however, cooling is less effective in the most severely encephalopathic infants. Here, we wanted to test the neuroprotective effect of the antioxidant dimethyl fumarate after severe hypoxia–ischemia in neonatal rats. We used a modified Rice–Vannucci model to generate severe hypoxic–ischemic brain damage in day 7 postnatal rats, which were randomized into four experimental groups: Sham, Sham + DMF, non-treated HI, and HI + DMF. We analyzed brain tissue loss, global and regional (cortex and hippocampus) neuropathological scores, white matter injury, and microglial and astroglial reactivity. Compared to non-treated HI animals, HI + DMF pups showed a reduced brain area loss (p = 0.0031), an improved neuropathological score (p = 0.0016), reduced white matter injuries by preserving myelin tracts (p < 0.001), and diminished astroglial (p < 0.001) and microglial (p < 0.01) activation. After severe hypoxia–ischemia in neonatal rats, DMF induced a strong neuroprotective response, reducing cerebral infarction, gray and white matter damage, and astroglial and microglial activation. Although further molecular studies are needed and its translation to human babies would need to evaluate the molecule in piglets or lambs, DMF may be a potential treatment against neonatal encephalopathy.This research was funded by the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), grant number GIU21/054 and J.A.A. was funded by Programa Investigo funded by EU-Next Generation, grant number PIFINVE22/14

X chromosome inactivation during grasshopper spermatogenesis

Regulation of transcriptional activity during meiosis depends on the interrelated processes of recombination and synapsis. In eutherian mammal spermatocytes, transcription levels change during prophase-I, being low at the onset of meiosis but highly increased from pachytene up to the end of diplotene. However, X and Y chromosomes, which usually present unsynapsed regions throughout prophase-I in male meiosis, undergo a specific pattern of transcriptional inactivation. The interdependence of synapsis and transcription has mainly been studied in mammals, basically in mouse, but our knowledge in other unrelated phylogenetically species is more limited. To gain new insights on this issue, here we analyzed the relationship between synapsis and transcription in spermatocytes of the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans. Autosomal chromosomes of this species achieve complete synapsis; however, the single X sex chromosome remains always unsynapsed and behaves as a univalent. We studied transcription in meiosis by immunolabeling with RNA polymerase II phosphorylated at serine 2 and found that whereas autosomes are active from leptotene up to diakinesis, the X chromosome is inactive throughout meiosis. This inactivation is accompanied by the accumulation of, at least, two repressive epigenetic modifications: H3 methylated at lysine 9 and H2AX phosphorylated at serine 139. Furthermore, we identified that X chromosome inactivation occurs in premeiotic spermatogonia. Overall, our results indicate: (i) transcription regulation in E. plorans spermatogenesis differs from the canonical pattern found in mammals and (ii) X chromosome inactivation is likely preceded by a process of heterochromatinization before the initiation of meiosi

The ``Outside-In'' Outburst of HT Cassiopeiae

We present results from photometric observations of the dwarf nova system HT Cas during the eruption of November 1995. The data include the first two--colour observations of an eclipse on the rise to outburst. They show that during the rise to outburst the disc deviates significantly from steady state models, but the inclusion of an inner-disc truncation radius of about 4 $R_{wd}$ and a ``flared'' disc of semi-opening angle of $10^{\circ}$ produces acceptable fits. The disc is found to have expanded at the start of the outburst to about $0.41R_{L1}$, as compared to quiescent measurements. The accretion disc then gradually decreases in radius reaching $<0.32R_{L1}$ during the last stages of the eruption. Quiescent eclipses were also observed prior to and after the eruption and a revised ephemeris is calculated.Comment: 9 pages, 11 figures, to appear in MNRA

Genetic relationships within and among Iberian fescues (Festuca L.) based on PCR-amplified markers

The genus Festuca comprises approximately 450 species and is widely distributed around the world. The Iberian Penninsula, with more than 100 taxa colonizing very diverse habitats, is one of its main centers of diversification. This study was conducted to assess molecular genetic variation and genetic relatedness among 91 populations of 31 taxa of Iberian fescues, based on several molecular markers (random amplified polymorphic DNA, amplified fragment length polymorphisms, and trnL sequences). The analyses showed the paraphyletic origin of the broad-leaved (subgenus Festuca, sections Scariosae and Subbulbosae, and subgenus Schedonorus) and the fine-leaved fescues (subgenus Festuca, sections Aulaxyper, Eskia, and Festuca). Schedonorus showed a weak relationship with Lolium rigidum and appeared to be the most recent of the broad-leaved clade. Section Eskia was the most ancient and Festuca the most recent of the fine-leaved clade. Festuca and Aulaxyper were the most related sections, in concordance with their taxonomic affinities. All taxa grouped into their sections, except F. ampla and F. capillifolia (section Festuca), which appeared to be more closely related to Aulaxyper and to a new independent section, respectively. Most populations clustered at the species level, but some subspecies and varieties mixed their populations. This study demonstrated the value in combining different molecular markers to uncover hidden genetic relationships between populations of Festuca

Caracterización de las gotas lipídicas en modelos esteatósicos de ratones carentes de ApoE

Las gotas lipídicas son consideradas orgánulos celulares dinámicos y ubicuos. Se componen de un núcleo central de lípidos neutros, fundamentalmente triglicéridos y ésteres de esteroles cubiertos por una monocapa de fosfolípidos y proteínas estrechamente relacionadas con la biosíntesis, metabolismo, tráfico e interacción de las gotas lipídicas con el resto de orgánulos celulares. Presentan un papel central en la homeostasis energética celular, así como en el almacenamiento lipídico y renovación de las distintas membranas celulares. El estudio se centra en las gotitas de lípidos del hígado debido a que su acumulación anormal en este órgano conduce al desarrollo de esteatosis hepática inducida por una dieta Western, como resultado final de enfermedades metabólicas muy prevalentes actualmente como síndrome metabólico, obesidad o aterosclerosis. La esteatosis no alcohólica relacionada con la obesidad se conoce como NAFLD. En este trabajo experimental se han aislado las gotitas lipídicas de hígado graso de ratones carentes de Apoe mediante separación por ultracentrifugación en gradiente de densidad de sacarosa. De este modo, se obtienen las gotas lipídicas en fracciones de distintos tamaños y se caracterizan las proteínas asociadas y expresadas diferencialmente entre sexos mediante proteómica e inmunodetección por Western Blot a nivel de fracción de gota lipídica total y en función de su tamaño.Palabras clave: gotas lipídicas, hígado, esteatosis hepática, ultracentrifugación, proteínas, proteómica, Western Blot.<br /