Influence of palliative care training on nurses’ attitudes towards end-of-life care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain

Aim: This study aims to assess the influence of training on nurses’ attitudes toward end-of-life care during the COVID-19 pandemic alarm state in Spain. Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study. Data collection was carried out by means of an ad hoc questionnaire using Google Forms in April and May 2020. The score of attitudes toward end-of-life care was used, to which sociodemographic variables and training in palliative care were added. Methods: Data were collected from 238 nursing professionals who had cared for COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 adult patients at the end-of-life stage in a hospital or nursing home. Results: Results showed that 51% of the nurses in the sample had training in palliative care. However, the percentage decreased to 38.5% among those who cared for COVID-19 patients and to 44.5% in those who cared for non-COVID-19 patients. In relation to attitudes about end-of-life care, more positive attitudes and a higher mean score were found in the trained group. Conclusions: Palliative care training is a key element in end-of-life care and is even more important in times of COVID-19. Impact: Although end-of-life accompaniment has been studied, few studies have included the influence of training on this during the pandemic. This study identifies key elements of accompaniment and training in a comparison of COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients during the pandemic. In relation to attitudes toward end-of-life care, the results showed a more positive attitude and a higher mean score in the trained group (3.43 ± 0.37 versus 3.21 ± 0.32), the difference being statistically significant (p < 0.001)

Triterpenes From The Flowers Of Gochnatia Polymorpha Subsp. Floccose

Phytochemical study of the flowers of Gochnatia polymorpha subsp. floccosa, Asteraceae, yielded eleven known triterpenes identified as lupeol, lupeyl acetate, lupeyl palmitate, taraxasterol, taraxasteryl acetate, pseudotaraxasterol, pseudotaraxasterol acetate, α-amyrin, α-amyryl palmitate, β-amyrin and β-amyryl palmitate, along with sitosterol, stigmasterol, palmitic and stearic acids. These compounds are been reported for the first time in the species. The compounds were identified by analysis of NMR spectra (1H, 13C and DEPT), GC-MS and comparison with literature data. Previous work have reported the isolation of triterpenes, diterpenes, sesquiterpenes, flavonoids, coumarins and phenolic compounds from aerial parts and roots from G. polymorpha.213556559Adams, R.P., Identification of Essential Oils Components by Gas Chromatography/ Mass Spectrometry (2007) Allured Publ. Corp, , Carol Stream, ILBohlmann, F., Zdero, C., Schmeda-Hirschmann, G., Jakupovic, J., Dominguez, X.A., King, R.M., Robinson, H., Dimeric guainolides and other constituents from Gochnatia species (1986) Phytochemistry, 25, pp. 1175-1178Cabrera, A.L., Klein, R.M., Compostas - tribo mutisiae (1973) Itajaí: Herbário Barbosa-Rodrigues, pp. 29-35. , In: Reitz R (org.)Catalan, C.A.N., Borkosky, S.A., Joseph-Nathan, P., The secondary metabolite chemistry of the subtribe Gochnatiinae (tribe Mutisieae, family Compositae) (1996) Biochem Syst Ecol, 24, pp. 659-718Catalan, C.A.N., Vega, M.I., Lopez, M.E., Cuenca, M.R., Gedris, T.E., Herz, W., Coumarins and a kaurane from Gochnatia polymorpha ssp polymorpha from Paraguay (2003) Biochem Syst Ecol, 31, pp. 417-422Correia, S.J., David, J.M., Silva, E.P., David, J.P., Lopes, L.M.X., Guedes, M.L.S., Flavonóides, norisoprenoides e outros terpenos das folhas de Tapira guianensis (2008) Quim Nova, 3, pp. 2056-2059Diaz, G., Nogueira, M.A., Olguin, C.F.A., Somensi, A., Vidotti, G.J., Estudo fitoquímico e biológico de Vernonia tweediana Baker (Asteraceae) (2008) Lat Am J Pharm, 27, pp. 56-61Farias, A.C.M., Silva, A.J.R., Tomassini, T.C.B., Constituents of Mochinea polymorpha (1984) J Nat Prod, 47, pp. 363-364Gallegos, R.S., Roque, N.F., Análise de misturas de triterpenos por RMN 13C (1990) Quim Nova, 13, pp. 278-281Goulart, M.O.F., Santana, A.E.G., Lima, R.A., Cavalcante, S.H., Carvalho, M.G., Braz-Filho, R., Fitoconstituintes químicos de Jatropha elliptica. Atribuição dos deslocamentos químicos dos átomos de carbono e hidrogênio dos diterpenos jatrofolonas A e B (1993) Quim Nova, 16, pp. 95-100Lima, M.C.L., Lemos, T.L.G., Braz-Filho, R., Pessoa, O.D.L., Chemical constituents from the flowers of Gochnatia blanquetiana (DC) Cabrera (2003) Rev Latinoam Quim, 31, pp. 85-88Lima, S.R., Oliveira, G.S., Morais, S.A.L., Nascimento, E.A., Chang, R., Estudo dos constituintes macromoleculares, extrativos voláteis e compostos fenólicos da Madeira de candeia - Moquinia polymorpha (Less) DC (2007) Cien Florestal, 17, pp. 145-155Mahato, S.B., Kundu, A.P., 13C NMR spectra of pentacyclic triterpenoids - a compilation and some salient features (1994) Phytochemistry, 37, pp. 1517-1575Mendes, C.C., Cruz, F.G., David, J.M., Nascimento, I.P., David, J.P., Triterpenos esterificados com ácidos graxos e ácidos triterpênicos isolados de (1999) Byrsonima Microphylla. Quim Nova, 22, pp. 185-188Moreira, A.S., Spitzer, V., Schapoval, E.E.S., Schenkel, E.P., Antiinflammatory activity of extracts and fractions from the leaves of gochnatia polymorpha (2000) Phytother Res, 14, pp. 638-640Sacilotto, A.C.B., Vichnewski, W., Herz, W., Ent-kaurene diterpenes from Gochnatia polymorpha var (1997) Polymorpha. Phytochemistry, 44, pp. 659-661Silva, J.R.A., Rezende, C.M., Pinto, A.C., Pinheiro, M.L.B., Cordeiro, M.C., Young, C.M., Bolzani, V.S., Ésteres triterpênicos de Himatanthus sucuuba (Spruce) Woodson (1998) Quim Nova, 21, pp. 702-704Stefanello, M.E.A., Cervi, A.C., Wisniewski-Jr., A., Simionatto, E.L., Óleo essencial de Gochnatia polymorpha (Less) Cabr. ssp. floccosa Cabr (2006) Quim Nova, 29, pp. 999-1002Stefanello, M.E.A., Salvador, M.J., Ito, I.Y., Macari, P.A.T., Avaliação da atividade antimicrobiana e citotóxica de extratos de Gochnatia polymorpha ssp (2006) Floccosa. Rev Bras Farmacogn, 16, pp. 525-53

STANDARDIZED CATCH RATES OF ALBACORE (THUNNUS ALALUNGA BONNATERRE, 1788) IN THE SPANISH SURFACE LONGLINE FISHERY IN THE WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN IN THE PERIOD 2009-2019

Standardized relative abundance indices of albacore (Thunnus alalunga Bonnaterre, 1788) caught by the Spanish surface longline (LLALB) in the western Mediterranean Sea were estimated for the period 2009-2019. Yearly standardized CPUE were estimated through Generalized Linear Mixed Effects Models (GLMM) under a negative binomial error distribution assumption. The main factors in the standardization analysis were year and season (quarter). The index shows an increasing trend from the beginning of the series (2009) to a maximum in 2011; following a decrease up to 2013, and a relatively stable trend fluctuating around a level three and a half times lower compared to the maximum abundance for the period 2013-2019.En prens

North Atlantic oscillation affects the physical condition of migrating bullet tuna Auxis rochei (Risso, 1810) from the Western Mediterranean Sea

Climate oscillations exert direct control over the environment in which they occur and may influence the physical condition of migratory marine species, such as tuna, as reported by several authors. The main aim of thisstudywastoexploretheassociationbetweenthepotentialeffectsoftheNorthAtlanticOscillation(NAO)on thefitness condition of bullet tuna (Auxis rochei) migrating to the Spanish Mediterranean Sea. A total of 2357 length-weight pairs of data obtained from individuals collected on the Spanish Mediterranean coast were analysed. A non-parametric Spearman test was used to investigate correlations between the atmospheric oscillation indexes and two physical condition indexes. The results suggest that, in general, positive phases of the NAO index improve the physical condition offish migrating to spawning grounds in the Mediterranean Sea. These results could be explained by changes in the dominant winds, which could favour pre-spawning migration, and by nutrients availability, which guarantees their recovery after the spawning period.En prens

Correction to: Rev1 wbdR tagged vaccines against Brucella ovis

Correction to: Rev1 wbdR tagged vaccines against Brucella ovis, Vet Res (2019) 50:95 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-019-0714-

The obestatin receptor (GPR39) is expressed in human adipose tissue and is down-regulated in obesity-associated type 2 diabetes mellitus

The G protein-coupled receptor 39 (GPR39) has recently been identified as the receptor for obestatin, a peptidic hormone involved in energy homeostasis. However, the expression levels of this receptor in human adipose tissue in obesity and obesity-associated type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remain unknown. Therefore, we evaluated the actual presence of GPR39 mRNA in human adipose tissue and whether GPR39 expression levels are altered in obesity and obesity-associated T2DM. DESIGN: Omental adipose tissue biopsies obtained from 15 women were used in the study. Patients were classified as lean (body mass index 20.8 +/- 1.0 kg/m(2)), obese normoglycaemic (body mass index 48.4 +/- 2.1 kg/m(2)) and obese T2DM patients (body mass index 52.6 +/- 4.9 kg/m(2)). Anthropometric measurements and biochemical profiles were assessed for each subject. Real-time RT-PCR analyses were performed to quantify transcript levels of GPR39 and adiponectin. RESULTS: Obese T2DM patients exhibited significantly lower GPR39 expression levels compared to lean (P = 0.016) and obese normoglycaemic subjects (P = 0.008), while no differences between lean and obese normoglycaemic patients were observed. The mRNA expression levels of GPR39 were negatively correlated to fasting glucose concentrations (r = -0.581, P = 0.023), while exhibiting a positive correlation to adiponectin mRNA expression levels (r = 0.674, P = 0.006). CONCLUSION: GPR39 is expressed in human adipose tissue. The reduced expression levels of GPR39 in omental adipose tissue observed in obese patients with T2DM suggest an involvement of obestatin signalling in glucose homeostasis and T2DM development

WadD, a New Brucella Lipopolysaccharide Core Glycosyltransferase Identified by Genomic Search and Phenotypic Characterization

Brucellosis, an infectious disease caused by Brucella, is one of the most extended bacterial zoonosis in the world and an important cause of economic losses and human suffering. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Brucella plays a major role in virulence as it impairs normal recognition by the innate immune system and delays the immune response. The LPS core is a branched structure involved in resistance to complement and polycationic peptides, and mutants in glycosyltransferases required for the synthesis of the lateral branch not linked to the O-polysaccharide (O-PS) are attenuated and have been proposed as vaccine candidates. For this reason, the complete understanding of the genes involved in the synthesis of this LPS section is of particular interest. The chemical structure of the Brucella LPS core suggests that, in addition to the already identified WadB and WadC glycosyltransferases, others could be implicated in the synthesis of this lateral branch. To clarify this point, we identified and constructed mutants in 11 ORFs encoding putative glycosyltransferases in B. abortus. Four of these ORFs, regulated by the virulence regulator MucR (involved in LPS synthesis) or the ByrR/ByrS system (implicated in the synthesis of surface components), were not required for the synthesis of a complete LPS neither for virulence or interaction with polycationic peptides and/or complement. Among the other seven ORFs, six seemed not to be required for the synthesis of the core LPS since the corresponding mutants kept the O-PS and reacted as the wild type with polyclonal sera. Interestingly, mutant in ORF BAB1_0953 (renamed wadD) lost reactivity against antibodies that recognize the core section while kept the O-PS. This suggests that WadD is a new glycosyltransferase adding one or more sugars to the core lateral branch. WadD mutants were more sensitive than the parental strain to components of the innate immune system and played a role in chronic stages of infection. These results corroborate and extend previous work indicating that the Brucella LPS core is a branched structure that constitutes a steric impairment preventing the elements of the innate immune system to fight against Brucella

STANDARDIZED CATCH RATES FOR MEDITERRANEAN SWORDFISH (XIPHIAS GLADIUS LINNAEUS, 1758) FROM THE SPANISH LONGLINE FISHERY. 1988-2018

Standardized relative abundance indices for swordfish (Xiphias gladius Linnaeus, 1758) caught by the Spanish surface longline in the western Mediterranean Sea were estimated for the period 1988-2018. Standardized CPUEs in number were estimated through a General Linear Mixed Modeling (GLMM) approach under a negative binomial (NB) error distribution assumption. Standardized CPUEs in biomass were estimated through a General Linear Mixed Modeling (GLMM) approach under a log-normal error distribution assumption. The main factors in the standardization analysis were fishing area and time of the year (quarter). The standardized indices showed notable annual fluctuations without any definite trend for the period under studyEn prens

STANDARDIZED CATCH RATES OF ALBACORE (THUNNUS ALALUNGA BONNATERRE, 1788) IN THE SPANISH RECREATIONAL FISHERY IN THE WESTERN MEDITERRARREAN IN THE PERIOD 2005-2019

Catch and effort data from the Spanish recreational fishery in the Balearic Sea (Western Mediterranean) were analysed to estimate an index of relative abundance for albacore for the years 2005-2019. Standardized catch per unit effort (CPUE) in number were estimated through a General Linear Mixed Modeling (GLMM) approach under a negative binomial (NB) error distribution assumption. Nominal catch rates and a standardized abundance index are presented along with estimates of 95% confidence limits of the predicted means. These indices show an upward trend from the start of the series 2005 peaking in 2013; followed by a decrease until 2015. For the latest four-year period (2016-2019), the index shows a relatively stable trend fluctuating around a level two times lower than the maximum abundance recorded in the time series.En prens