Effect of Using Eye Mask on Sleep Quality in Cardiac Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Patients in coronary care unit are at risk of sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation can be associated with increased blood pressure and heart rate, raising the risk of developing cardiovascular problems among patients hospitalized in coronary care unit. Objectives: This study was carried out to examine the effect of eye mask on sleep quality in cardiac patients. Patients and Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 60 patients who met the inclusion criteria were selected using a convenient sampling method and randomly allocated into the experimental and control groups. Patients in the control group received routine care. However, in the experimental group, patients received routine care and eye mask for three subsequent nights. In the both groups, the sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh sleep quality index. Data were analyzed by the chi-square test, independent samples t-test, Mann-Whitney U, and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Results: After the study, the median scores of the subjective sleep quality, the sleep latency, the sleep duration, the habitual sleep efficiency, and the sleep disturbances domains, as well as the median score of overall Pittsburgh sleep quality index in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P 0.05). Conclusions: Using eye mask can significantly improve the sleep quality in cardiac patients. Therefore, nurses are recommended to use eye mask in combination with current treatments for improving patients’ sleep quality

Critical Thinking Skills in Nursing Students: a Comparison Between Freshmen and Senior Students

Background: Critical thinking is one of the most important concepts in the field of education. Despite studies published on nursing students’ critical thinking skills (CTS), some suggest that there is not enough evidence supporting the relationship between content of nursing education programs and nursing students’ CTS. Objectives: Given the existing discrepancies, this study aimed to compare the critical thinking skills of freshmen and senior nursing students. Patients and Methods: This comparative study was conducted on 150 undergraduate freshmen and senior nursing students in Kashan University of Medical Sciences, during 2012. The students in the first and the last semesters of their study in nursing were entered in the study using the census method. Data were collected using a questionnaire including questions on demographic data and the California Critical Thinking Skills Test, form B. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS v.13 software. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Moreover, independent sample t-test and Spearman and Pearson’s correlation coefficients were used in the data analysis. Results: Both the freshmen and senior nursing students had low CTS. The mean critical thinking scores were 11.79 ± 4.80 and 11.21 ± 3.17 for the freshmen and the senior students, respectively (P = 0.511). Moreover, no significant correlation was found between the students’ score in CTS and their age, gender, high school grade point average (GPA), rank in university entrance examination (RUEE) and interest in the nursing profession. Conclusions: The students were low skilled in critical thinking and their CTS did not significantly change during their nursing degree. Thus it may be concluded that the nursing education program did not affect the CTS of its students. Longitudinal studies are suggested for assessing nursing students’ critical thinking over time. Moreover, revising the curriculum and preparing nursing educators for implementing innovative and active teaching strategies are suggested

Mmf1p, a novel yeast mitochondrial protein conserved throughout evolution and involved in maintenance of the mitochondrial genome

A novel protein family (p14.5, or YERO57c/YJGFc) highly conserved throughout evolution has recently been identified. The biological role of these proteins is not yet well characterized. Two members of the p14.5 family are present in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In this study, we have characterized some of the biological functions of the two yeast proteins. Mmf1p is a mitochondrial matrix factor, and homologous Mmf1p factor (Hmf1p) copurifies with the soluble cytoplasmic fraction. Δmmf1 cells lose mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and have a decreased growth rate, while Δhmf1 cells do not display any visible phenotype. Furthermore, we demonstrate by genetic analysis that Mmf1p does not play a direct role in replication and segregation of the mtDNA. rho(+) Δmmf1 haploid cells can be obtained when tetrads are directly dissected on medium containing a nonfermentable carbon source. Our data also indicate that Mmf1p and Hmf1p have similar biological functions in different subcellular compartments. Hmf1p, when fused with the Mmf1p leader peptide, is transported into mitochondria and is able to functionally replace Mmf1p. Moreover, we show that homologous mammalian proteins are functionally related to Mmf1p. Human p14.5 localizes in yeast mitochondria and rescues the Δmmf1-associated phenotypes. In addition, fractionation of rat liver mitochondria showed that rat p14.5, like Mmf1p, is a soluble protein of the matrix. Our study identifies a biological function for Mmf1p and furthermore indicates that this function is conserved between members of the p14.5 family

Envoplakin, a novel precursor of the cornified envelope that has homology to desmoplakin.

The cornified envelope is a layer of transglutaminase cross-linked protein that is deposited under the plasma membrane of keratinocytes in the outermost layers of the epidermis. We present the sequence of one of the cornified envelope precursors, a protein with an apparent molecular mass of 210 kD. The 210-kD protein is translated from a 6.5-kb mRNA that is transcribed from a single copy gene. The mRNA was upregulated during suspension-induced terminal differentiation of cultured human keratinocytes. Like other envelope precursors, the 210-kD protein became insoluble in SDS and beta-mercaptoethanol on activation of transglutaminases in cultured keratinocytes. The protein was expressed in keratinizing and nonkeratinizing stratified squamous epithelia, but not in simple epithelia or nonepithelial cells, Immunofluorescence staining showed that in epidermal keratinocytes, both in vivo and in culture, the protein was upregulated during terminal differentiation and partially colocalized with desmosomal proteins. Immunogold EM confirmed the colocalization of the 210-kD protein and desmoplakin at desmosomes and on keratin filaments throughout the differentiated layers of the epidermis, Sequence analysis showed that the 210-kD protein is homologous to the keratin-binding proteins desmoplakin, bullous pemphigoid antigen 1, and plectin. These data suggest that the 210-kD protein may link the cornified envelope to desmosomes and keratin filaments. We propose that the 210-kD protein be named ''envoplakin.'

Non-reciprocal interactions between K+ and Na+ ions in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

The interaction of sodium and potassium ions in the context of the primary entry of Na+ into plant cells, and the subsequent development of sodium toxicity, has been the subject of much recent attention. In the present study, the technique of compartmental analysis with the radiotracers 42K+ and 24Na+ was applied in intact seedlings of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) to test the hypothesis that elevated levels of K+ in the growth medium will reduce both rapid, futile Na+ cycling at the plasma membrane, and Na+ build-up in the cytosol of root cells, under saline conditions (100 mM NaCl). We reject this hypothesis, showing that, over a wide (400-fold) range of K+ supply, K+ neither reduces the primary fluxes of Na+ at the root plasma membrane nor suppresses Na+ accumulation in the cytosol. By contrast, 100 mM NaCl suppressed the cytosolic K+ pool by 47–73%, and also substantially decreased low-affinity K+ transport across the plasma membrane. We confirm that the cytosolic [K+]:[Na+] ratio is a poor predictor of growth performance under saline conditions, while a good correlation is seen between growth and the tissue ratios of the two ions. The data provide insight into the mechanisms that mediate the toxic influx of sodium across the root plasma membrane under salinity stress, demonstrating that, in the glycophyte barley, K+ and Na+ are unlikely to share a common low-affinity pathway for entry into the plant cell

Quantitative ion localization within Suaeda maritime, cortical cells using the combined techniques of freeze-substitution and X-ray microanalysis

The present paper describes ion distribution within mature root cortical cells of the halophyte Suaeda maritima, grown at a NaCl concentration of 200 mol/m3, by X-ray microanalysis of freeze-substituted thin sections using established methods (Harvey et al., 1981; Hajibagheri et al., 1983), but with a resolution enhanced by a new generation of analytical microscope. In addition, we have tried to assess whether there are characteristic differences between the cytoplasmic concentration of K+ in mature and meristemic cells

X-ray microanalysis of ion distribution within root cortical cells of the halophyte Suaeda maritima (L.) Dum.

The ion content of compartments within cortical cells of mature roots of the halophyte Suaeda maritima grown at 200 mom-3 NaCl has been studied by X-ray microanalysis of freeze-substituted thin sections. Sodium and Cl were found in the vacuoles at about four-times the concentration in the cytoplasm or cell walls, whereas K was more concentrated in the cell walls and cytoplasm than in vacuoles. The vacuolar Na concentration was 12- to 13-times higher than that of K. The Na concentration of cell walls of cortical cells was about 95 mom-3 of analysed volume. The cytoplasmic K concentration within the mature cortical cells was estimated to be 55 mom-3 of analysed volume

Effect of Rosa damascene aromatherapy on sleep quality in cardiac patients: A randomized controlled trial

Objective: Sleep disorders are common among patients hospitalized in coronary care unit (CCU). This study aimed to investigate the effect of Rosa damascene aromatherapy on sleep quality of patients hospitalized in CCU. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 60 patients who met the inclusion criteria were conveniently sampled and randomly allocated to the experimental and control groups. Patients in the control group received routine care. In the experimental group, patients received routine care and Rosa damascene aromatherapy for three subsequent nights. In the both groups the sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Results: After the study, the mean scores of five domains of Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index as well as the mean of total score of the index in the experimental group were significantly lower than the control group. Conclusion: Rosa damascene aromatherapy can significantly improve the sleep quality of patients hospitalized in CCUs. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd

Salinity tolerance in Hordeum vulgare: ion concentrations in root cells of cultivars differing in salt tolerance

The tolerance of 24 genotypes of barley was assessed by estimating their survival in saline conditions either in a glasshouse or in a controlled environment cabinet. Two cultivars, sensitive Triumph and resistant Gerbel, were picked for further study, which involved sequential harvesting of plants grown in a range of salinities. After about one month in 200 mol m_3 sodium chloride, the sodium concentration in the roots and shoots of the sensitive Triumph was about 1.5 times that in the roots of resistant Gerbel. The addition of Na to the root medium reduced the potassium transport to the shoot in Triumph to a much greater extent than in Gerbel, so the K:Na ratio of Gerbel was twice that for Triumph, when averaged over all treatments and harvests. The sodium, potassium and chloride concentrations within the major subcellular compartments of the cortical cells of roots of Triumph and Gerbel were determined by X-ray microanalysis following freeze-substitution and dry-sectioning. The mean cytoplasmic sodium concentration (245 molm_3 analysed volume) in Triumph grown in 200 molm_3 NaCl for 15 d was almost 1.4 times greater than that in the resistant Gerbel: the potassium concentration in Gerbel showed a lower reduction than did that of Triumph. Another major difference between the two cultivars was the higher concentrations of sodium and chloride in the cell walls of Triumph than Gerbel: the sodium concentration in the cortical cell walls of the salt-sensitive cultivar was about 1.75 times that in the more salt-resistant cultivar. The exchange capacity of the cell walls of Gerbel was greater than that of Triumph. We hypothesise that ion transport to the shoot reflects cytosolic ion concentrations, with a more sensitive cultivar having a higher sodium concentration in its cytoplasm than a more resistant variety. It is noteworthy that the difference in the K:Na ratio between the shoots of Gerbel and Triumph after 15 days of exposure to 200 mol m_3 NaCl was similar to the difference in their symplastic K:Na ratios