Neolignans - honokiol and 4-O-methylhonokiol - as potential compounds counteracting diabetic complications - current state of knowledge

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease. It is characterized by hyperglycemia, which means an increased glucose levels in the serum. This disease can be a result of an insufficient insulin production by the pancreatic β cells, lack of tissue response to the action of this hormone or both these states occurring together. In the course of diabetes a disturbed metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids is observed. These disorders are often accompanied by chronic oxidative stress. Treatment of type 2 diabetes is based on the use of synthetic oral antidiabetic drugs. These drugs provide good glycemic control in the diabetics’ body and improve their quality of life, however, they are not without side effects. Therefore, a comprehensive approach to the patient and additional implementation of compounds that allow to reduce the negative effects of oxidative stress and limit the occurrence of diabetic complications in the process of their treatment seem promising. The scientific world is particularly interested in plants with antioxidant properties. Honokiol is a polyphenolic compound from the neolignans group that can be found in the bark of various magnolia species. Both honokiol and 4-O-methylhonokiol are known for their pro-health properties and multidirectional action on the body, including the glycemic control and restoration of proper lipid metabolism. Therefore, this review focuses on arranging the available scientific literature, covering the issues of the influence of neolignans: honokiol and 4-O-methylhonokiol on the health of a patient suffering from type 2 diabetes and its complications. Data collected in this manuscript shows a beneficial effect of these compounds on the organs most exposed to diabetic complications - including the pancreas, heart muscle or kidneys, as well as the prevention of excessive obesity in the context of affecting the white adipose tissue. After an in-depth analysis of many scientific articles, it can be deduced that these compounds may prove to be promising agents supporting conventional therapies with antidiabetic drugs in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and its accompanying diseases

Analysis of Strategies for Managing Stress by Polish Nurses during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is having a negative impact on the mental health of nurses around the world. The aim of the study was to assess the sense of fear and the degree of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infection and to estimate the influence of various factors on the fear of SARS-CoV-2. We analysed methods and strategies for coping with stress used by Polish nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The study was conducted using a diagnostic survey, which included a self-constructed questionnaire and a standardized psychological questionnaire: Brief-Cope. Results: A total of 361 nurses confirmed their participation in the study. Most of the nurses were ages 31 to 50 (48.2%), lived in a city (83.7%), and had a master’s degree in nursing (45.7%). Nurses ≥ 51 years of age, with ≥ 21 years of work experience and with secondary education in nursing and master of nursing were more likely than other nurses to agree with the statement, I am afraid of contracting the SARS-CoV-2 (appropriately p = 0.009, p = 0.007, p = 0.014). During the outbreak of COVID-19, nurses most often took action to improve the situation, reflecting on and planning what to do. The most frequent means of coping with stress by Polish nurses during the COVID-19 outbreak were problem-focused strategies. The least frequent strategy was the use of substances (taking substances to alleviate unpleasant emotions), considered to be the least effective, but useful in some situations. Conclusions: Most nurses were afraid of being infected with COVID-19. The most frequently used strategies for coping with stress by Polish nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic were problem-focused strategies. Nurses should receive psychological support and assistance from the employer in improving their working conditions

Knowledge of School Nurses on the Basic Principles of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Self-Control and Treatment in Children

School nurses should participate in the care of children with type 1 diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge of school nurses about the basic principles of self-control and the treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus and to attempt to determine the factors that influence this level of knowledge. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among school nurses from October 2018 to November 2019 in the Pomeranian Voivodeship. The study was conducted using a self-constructed questionnaire. The survey included questions about the sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents, and a test of the knowledge and skills regarding the principles of self-control and the treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus (16 test questions). This study included 168 Polish school nurses (mean age ± SD = 55.1 ± 8.9 years). Most of the nurses had a secondary education (81%), worked in a municipal educational institution (78.6%), and provided care to more than one student with type 1 diabetes mellitus at school (70.2%). The average level of knowledge of school nurses was 12.5 ± 2.0 points (maximum 16). The nurses working in a village school and those who worked only in one school had lower levels of knowledge. Only 85.7% of nurses reported that they could independently perform a blood glucose measurement with a glucometer, and as many as 56.5% were unable to determine the level of ketone bodies in the urine with Keto-Diastix test strips. Only 62.5% of nurses had a glucometer and glucometer strips in their nursing office. A total of 19.6% of nurses did not have glucagon (1 mg GlucaGen HypoKit®, Novo Nordisk A/S, Bagsværd, Denmark) or an ampoule with 20% glucose for an intravenous administration. The knowledge of school nurses about the principles of self-control and the treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus is insufficient. Due to the strong increase in the incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus among children and adolescents, it is important to organize permanent, continuous, and mandatory training on the principles of self-control and the treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus for school nurses. The equipment in Polish school nurses’ offices should be supplemented with a working glucometer and blood glucose test strips, and the set of obligatory medications in the school nurse’s office should be supplemented with glucagon for students with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Life Satisfaction of Nurses during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland

Background: Health care practitioners are at highest risk of COVID-19 disease. They experience an enormous overload of work and time pressures. The objective of the study was to assess nurses’ life satisfaction. Method: The study included professionally active nurses. The research method was an author’s questionnaire and a standardized questionnaire, the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Results: The study group included 361 working nurses. The mean raw score and the sten score of the nurses’ responses to the statements on the SWLS questionnaire were 21.0 (SD ± 5.6, range = 5–35) and 5.73 (SD ± 1.94, range = 1–10), respectively. It was shown that lower life satisfaction was experienced by nurses aged 51 to 60 (raw score: p = 0.003, sten score: p = 0.005), as well as nurses with secondary and undergraduate nursing education (raw score: p = 0.061, sten score: p = 0.043). Nurses who had a higher self-evaluation of the level of knowledge about SARS-CoV-2 infection experienced greater life satisfaction (raw score: p = 0.008, sten score: p = 0.022). Conclusions: The majority of Polish nurses surveyed during the COVID-19 pandemic had a low or medium level of life satisfaction. The low response rate to the survey was most likely due to work overloads during the pandemic. Working in a public service profession, a nurse is exposed to stressful conditions related to protecting human health. Constant difficult and stressful situations and total fatigue experienced by nursing professionals can be the cause of a lack of motivation, occupational burnout, listlessness and mental and physical disease. Further research is necessary to assess the factors positively influencing the level of life satisfaction

Heat transfer investigations in a liquid that is mixed by means of a multi-ribbon mixer

The objective of this paper is to present the investigations of the heat transfer process carried out by means of the multi-ribbon mixer. It is shown that the heat transfer process for the synergic effect of the mixing process and the flowing liquid through the mixer has significantly higher values of the heat transfer coefficients than the mixer with motionless impellers. The empirical correlations between the heat transfer coefficient and the operational parameters obtained in this work can provide guidance for the design and operation of an apparatus equipped with the multi-ribbon impeller. These empirical correlations can be used to predict the heat transfer coefficient for the multi-ribbon mixer

Influence of elevated temperature on bovine oviduct epithelial cells (BOECs)

<div><p>The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of elevated temperature on bovine oviduct epithelial cells (BOECs), based on the expression and localization of both heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), responsible for the cellular defence mechanism, and oviduct specific glycoprotein 1 (OVGP1) which is the most important embryotrophic protein. BOECs were cultured alone and co-cultured with cattle embryos at control (38.5°C) and elevated temperature (41°C) for 168 h. The elevated temperature had no effect on the viability of BOECs but exerted a negative effect on embryo development. The elevated temperature increased the expression of HSP70 and decreased the expression of OVGP1 at both mRNA and protein levels in BOECs cultured alone and those co-cultured with embryos. However, the presence of embryos limited the decrease in OVGP1 expression in BOECs at elevated temperature but did not alter the expression of HSP70. These results demonstrate for the first time the influence of elevated temperature on BOECs, consequently providing insights into the interactions between the embryo and the oviduct at elevated temperature.</p></div

The expression of ovgp1 mRNA in BOECs cultured alone and co-cultured with cattle embryos at control (38.5°C) and elevated (41°C) temperatures for 168 h post fertilization.

<p>Data presented as Mean±SEM. Bars with different letters denote statistical differences at P<0.01.</p

Fluorescent analysis of HSP70 in BOECs cultured alone and co-cultured with cattle embryos at control (38.5°C) and elevated (41°C) temperatures for 168 h post fertilization.

<p>A) Representative images of immunofluorescent staining of HSP70 in BOECs cultured alone at control (38.5°C) (I) and elevated (41°C) (II) temperatures, or co-cultured with cattle embryos at control (38.5°C) (III) and elevated (41°C) (IV) temperatures. Nuclei were counterstained with Hoechst 33342 (blue); HSP70 localization was determined using antibody against HSP70 and Alexa Fluor 488-conjugated secondary antibody (green). B) The IOD values of HSP70-related green fluorescence were measured using the MicroImage Olympus Optical analysis system. The data are presented as Mean±SEM. Bars with different letters denote statistical differences at P<0.05.</p

Analysis of development of cattle embryos co-cultured with BOECs at control (38.5°C) and elevated (41°C) temperatures for 168 h post fertilization.

<p>Data presented as Mean±SEM. Bars with different letters denote statistical differences at P<0.01.</p

Oligonucleotide primers used in Real Time PCR assays.

<p>Oligonucleotide primers used in Real Time PCR assays.</p