Relationship between Menstrual Distress and Sleep Disturbance in Middle-school Girls

PURPOSE: To identify factors associated with menstrual distress and characterize the relationship between menstrual distress and sleep disturbance in middle-school girls. METHODS: Participants in this correlational study were 117 middle-school girls who were recruited through convenience sampling. Data were collected from March 2018 to April 2018 using self-reported structured questionnaires and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 23.0. Factors associated with menstrual distress included physiological, psychological, and situational factors based on the theory of unpleasant symptoms. RESULTS: Age of menarche (β=−.28, p < .001), amount of menstruation (β=.23, p=.004), lifestyle-related exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (β=.21, p=.027), and academic and peer-relationship stress (β=.19, p=.025) influenced menstrual distress, explaining 47.4% of the variance in this regression model. The relationship between menstrual distress and sleep disturbance was statistically significant. Sleep disturbance was increased 1.26 folds when dysmenorrhea score increased by one unit (OR=1.26, 95% CI: 1.01~1.58). However, parental support was not a significant moderating factor of sleep disturbance. CONCLUSION: This study provides basis to develop an intervention strategy to alleviate menstrual discomfort in adolescents and improve their quality of sleep

Effects of a dietary modification intervention on menstrual pain and urinary BPA levels: a single group clinical trial

Background Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) occurs mainly through dietary intake. Due to current lifestyle trends, young people tend to consume fast food, to use disposable products, and to utilize convenient household items, all of which are major sources of EDCs. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a dietary modification intervention on menstrual pain and urinary bisphenol A (BPA) levels throughout three menstrual cycles in female college students who experienced severe menstrual pain. We also analyzed participants adherence to the intervention and examined whether their level of adherence was associated with differences in the effects of the intervention. Methods A single-group pretest and repeated posttest experimental design was employed. Thirty female college students with a score of 5 or higher on a menstrual pain scale were recruited through convenience sampling. During three menstrual cycles, menstrual pain was scored on a 10-point scale after each cycle, and urinary BPA levels were measured from the first morning urine collected after each cycle. The intervention involved three components: small-group education, follow-up monitoring, and peer support via social network communication. Statistical analyses were conducted using Friedman one-way repeated-measure analysis of variance by ranks, non-parametric two-way analysis of variance, and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test as a post-hoc test. Results The dietary modification intervention had significant effects on menstrual pain at all three time points of menstrual cycles (χ2 = 119.64, p = 0.000) and on urinary BPA levels until the 2nd menstrual cycle (χ2 = 205.42, p = 0.000). Slightly fewer than half (43.3%) of the participants were highly adherent. Menstrual pain differed according to adherence level (F = 4.67, p = 0.032) and decreased over time through the third cycle post-intervention (F = 18.30, p = 0.000). Urinary BPA levels also decreased significantly (F = 7.94, p = 0.000), but did not differ according to adherence level. Conclusions The dietary modification intervention was effective and sustainable for reducing menstrual pain and urinary BPA levels. Detailed information about EDCs and dietary experiences seemed to encourage the young women to become more concerned about EDCs and to perform self-protective actions. Further experimental research is suggested to examine the relationships of EDCs with various health indicators in women. Trial registration: KCT0005472 at 2020-9-24 retrospectively registered.This work was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), the Ministry of Education under Grant NRF-2015R1D1A3A01017746. This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning (2018R1A2B6001385)

Effects of exposure to endocrine disruptors, burnout, and social support from peers on premenstrual syndrome in nurses

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the effects of exposure to endocrine disruptors, burnout, and social support from peers on premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in nurses. Methods This descriptive correlational study was conducted among 122 nurses under the age of 49 working at a university hospital. The participants answered self-report questionnaires. The data were analyzed using the t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson or Spearman correlation coefficients, and hierarchical multiple regression in SPSS version 23.0. Results The mean age of the nurses was 28.9 years. Of these nurses, 49.2% were working in a general ward, 24.6% in the intensive care unit, 14.8% in the emergency room, and 11.4% in an outpatient department. The explanatory power of the model was 38.3%, and it was statistically significant (F=11.74, p≤.001). Exposure to endocrine disruptors (β=0.32, p<.001) was the most powerful variable affecting PMS, followed by burnout (β=0.27, p=.001), working in the intensive care unit or emergency room (β=0.22, p=.003), family history of PMS (β=0.19, p=.009), and support from coworkers (β=–0.15, p=.043). Conclusion Based on these findings, it is necessary to develop an intervention program to reduce the symptoms of PMS. Additionally, further studies are needed to develop and evaluate measures to minimize exposure to endocrine disruptors and burnout in order to alleviate PMS among nurses

Learning effects of virtual versus high-fidelity simulations in nursing students: a crossover comparison

Simulation is an alternative or complementary method for students who cannot obtain sufficient direct care experience, as they allow students to experience various clinical situations. Mixed learning is becoming increasingly common as a way to provide students with opportunities to experience real-life clinical scenarios. This study compared the learning effects of a virtual simulation and a high-fidelity simulation in a different order of presentation, with a focus on training for premature rupture of membranes in the field maternity nursing. Through this comparison, this study aimed to obtain evidence to support decision-making regarding the most effective way to utilize mixed simulation strategies. A quasi-experimental, crossover-design study was performed with two randomly allocated groups of 26 junior nursing students each. The virtual simulation used the vSim® for nursing, and the high-fidelity simulation used a scenario developed by the research team. The learning effects were measured in terms of the problem-solving process, clinical reasoning, reflective thinking, satisfaction with the practicum, and self-confidence. The data collected with a structured questionnaire were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney test. The virtual simulation-first, high-fidelity simulation-second order led to significantly higher scores for reflective thinking (z = 3.53, p < .001) and self-confidence (z = 2.47, p = .013) than the other order. The initial application of virtual simulation seemed to improve students thought processes, and then high-fidelity simulation seemed to allow them to perform actual practice better. Further trials of mixed learning methods are necessary to maximize learning effects in nursing education. Trial registration KCT0005767at 2021–01-12 registered.This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korean government(MSIT) (No. 2021R1A2C1003083)

Rapid Turnover of Cortical NCAM1 Regulates Synaptic Reorganization after Peripheral Nerve Injury

Peripheral nerve injury can induce pathological conditions that lead to persistent sensitized nociception. Although there is evidence that plastic changes in the cortex contribute to this process, the underlying molecular mechanisms are unclear. Here, we find that activation of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) induced by peripheral nerve injury increases the turnover of specific synaptic proteins in a persistent manner. We demonstrate that neural cell adhesion molecule 1 (NCAM1) is one of the molecules involved and show that it mediates spine reorganization and contributes to the behavioral sensitization. We show striking parallels in the underlying mechanism with the maintenance of NMDA-receptor- and protein-synthesis-dependent long-term potentiation (LTP) in the ACC. Our results, therefore, demonstrate a synaptic mechanism for cortical reorganization and suggest potential avenues for neuropathic pain treatment

Epidemiology of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Asia: A Systematic Review

Ethnic and geographical differences are important factors in studying disease frequencies, because they may highlight the environmental or genetic influences in the etiology. We retrieved the studies which have been published regarding the epidemiologic features of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in Asia, based on the definitions of GERD, study settings, publication years and geographical regions. From the population-based studies, the prevalence of symptom-based GERD in Eastern Asia was found to be 2.5%-4.8% before 2005 and 5.2%-8.5% from 2005 to 2010. In Southeast and Western Asia, it was 6.3%-18.3% after 2005, which was much higher than those in Eastern Asia. There were robust epidemiologic data of endoscopic reflux esophagitis in medical check-up participants. The prevalence of endoscopic reflux esophagitis in Eastern Asia increased from 3.4%-5.0% before 2000, to 4.3%-15.7% after 2005. Although there were only limited studies, the prevalence of extra-esophageal syndromes in Asia was higher in GERD group than in controls. The prevalence of Barrett's esophagus was 0.06%-0.84% in the health check-up participants, whereas it was 0.31%-2.00% in the referral hospital settings. In summary, the prevalence of symptom-based GERD and endoscopic reflux esophagitis has increased in Asian countries. However, the prevalence of Barrett's esophagus in Asia has not changed and also still rare

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Helicobacter pylori: What May Be the Relationship?

Relationship between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is controversial. We aimed to review the possible relationship between H. pylori infection and GERD. Epidemiological data indicate an inverse relationship between frequency of H. pylori infection and prevalence of GERD and its complications like Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma. H. pylori eradication in patients with peptic ulcer disease may be associated with increased risk of development of GERD compared with untreated patients. Infection with cagA bearing strains of H. pylori was associated with less severe GERD including endoscopic esophagitis, possibly due to pangastritis leading to hypochlorhydria. Recent studies on inflammatory markers (IL-1β and IL-1RN) suggest pro-inflammatory genotypes to be protective against development of severe GERD, especially in patients with H. pylori infection. Identification of candidate genes playing an important role in gastric acid secretion and visceral hypersensitivity to the esophageal epithelium might help in early detection of individuals susceptible to develop GERD. Interplay between H. pylori and host factors play an important role in the pathogenesis of GERD

The first case of Brucella canis in Sweden: background, case report and recommendations from a northern European perspective

Infection with Brucella canis has been diagnosed in Sweden for the first time. It was diagnosed in a three-year-old breeding bitch with reproductive disturbances. Fifteen in-contact dogs were tested repeatedly and all of them were negative for B. canis. The source of infection could not be defined. The present article describes the case and the measures undertaken and gives a short review over B. canis. Recommendations on how to avoid the infection in non-endemic countries are given