Dynamic variation in cycling of hematopoietic stem cells in steady state and inflammation

Both fast-cycling and quiescent mouse hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) can reconstitute lifelong hematopoiesis, and HSC cycling status can fluctuate over time in steady state and accelerate upon inflammation

Healthcare violence and occupational safety support of nurses in a psychiatric hospital in South Africa

Nurses working in psychiatric hospitals are at risk of exposure to violent incidents, resulting in burnout and job dissatisfaction. The study was based on three appreciative inquiry objectives: to explore and describe the best support experiences of nurses after exposure to violent incidents (discovery); their wishes for the ideal support (dream); and their suggestions to improve the support structures (design). Data were collected through a nominal group technique and analysed using thematic analysis. Participants experienced the best support from their colleagues. Nurses tended to underreport incidents of violence, and were not satisfied with the institutional support, security services and occupational health service. They wished for ongoing training, staff support, a userfriendly reporting system, compensation for working in an unsafe environment, and protection of their rights. Exposure to violent incidents should be reported to management who should ensure appropriate support to improve nurse’ work satisfaction and quality patient care

Building consensus in defining and conceptualizing acceptability of healthcare: A Delphi study

Background The concept of healthcare acceptability is important for nursing staff spending most of their time with patients. Nevertheless, acceptability remains confusing without a collective definition in existing literature. Objective This study aimed to create a consensus among experts on definition and conceptual framework of healthcare acceptability. Methods We conducted two rounds of Delphi surveys to collect opinions from experts on definition and conceptual framework of healthcare acceptability proposed following thematic content analysis. We calculated the consensus among experts using the modified Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation II (AGREE II) instrument and followed the guidance on conducting and reporting Delphi studies (CREDES) best practices. Results A total of 34 experts completed two rounds of Delphi survey. The definition was validated through consensus as: “a multi-construct concept describing the nonlinear cumulative combination in parts or in whole of experienced or anticipated specific healthcare from the relevant patients/participants, communities, providers/researchers or healthcare systems' managers and policy makers' perspectives in a given context.” The overall quality rating was 92.6% and 95.1% for the proposed definition and conceptual framework respectively. Conclusion Opinions collected from experts provided significant insights to build a consensus on healthcare acceptability advancing public health nursing

Towards a quantitative understanding of stem cell-niche interaction: experiments, models, and technologies.

Here we report about an interdisciplinary workshop focusing on the effects of the local growth-environment on the regulation of stem cell development. Under the title "Towards a quantitative understanding of stem cell/ niche interaction: Experiments, models, and technologies", 33 experts from eight countries discussed current knowledge, new experimental and theoretical results as well as innovative measurement technologies. Specifically, the workshop addressed the following questions: What defines a stem cell niche? What are functional/regulatory characteristics of stem cell- microenvironment interactions? What experimental systems and technologies for quantifying niche function are available? As a consensus result it was recorded that there is no unique niche architecture across tissues but that there are generic principles of niche organization guaranteeing a proper function of stem cells. This functional aspect, as the major defining criterion, leads to the conclusion that stem cells and their niches need to be considered as an inseparable pair with implications for their experimental assessment: To be able to study any of those two components, the other component has to be accounted for. In this context, a number of classical in vitro assays using co-cultures of stem and stroma cells, but also new, specifically bioengineered culture systems have been discussed with respect to their advantages and disadvantages. Finally, there was a general agreement that the comprehensive understanding of niche-mediated stem cell regulation will, due to the complexity of involved mechanisms, require an interdisciplinary, systems biological approach. In addition to cell and molecular biology, biochemistry, biophysics and bioengineering also bioinformatics and mathematical modeling will play a major role in the future of this field