Individual and Professional Values of Nurse Practitioners

Individual and professional values of nurses enhance the psychological wellbeing of healthcare professionals, enabling them to do professional and proficient work and also reducing the risk of burnout.The aim of the study was to investigate individual and professional values of nurse practitioners and the relationship of these values to socio-demographic data. The study involved 163 nurses aged 22–70 years (41.6 +12.64) with 99.8% women. Respondents were interviewed in two hospitals in Riga in 2019.Permission from Rīga Stradiņš University Ethics Committee was obtained to do the study. Two surveys were used in the research: (1) Rokeach Value Surveyand (2) Nurses Professional Values Scale–Three (NPVS–3). There was no statistically significant correlation between socio-demographic data of nurses and their professional values. The most evident professional value group for nurses was care. The Rokeach scale listed physical and mental health as a priority of all terminal values with an average rate 3.8. On the other hand, happiness of others ranks as the last priority in the list of terminal values with an average rating of 14.5. At the top of the instrumental values was honesty with an average rating of 6.3. Intolerance toward the drawbacks of oneself and other people concludes the list with an average rating of 15.0publishersversionPeer reviewe

New Modalities in Knee Osteoarthritis Treatment Using Autologous Bone Marrow-Derived Mononuclear Cells

Publisher Copyright: © 2018 Valdis Gončars et al., published by Sciendo 2018.The clinical effects on knee osteoarthritis (OA) symptoms and tissue structure were evaluated after bone marrow-derived mononuclear cell intraarticular injection. A group of 32 patients with 34 knee joints in stage II-III osteoarthritis were treated by intraarticular injection of mononuclear cell suspension. Clinical results were obtained by KOOS (Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Score) and KSS (Knee Society Score) scores during a 12 months follow-up period. Radiological evaluation was performed using magnetic resonance imaging. A comparison with a control group of 28 patients treated with routinely used three hyaluronic acid intra-articular injections was made. No adverse effects were observed after the bone marrow derived mononuclear cells (BM-MNC) injection. At the end point of the follow up all score results had improved, compared to those at to the starting point. 65% of patients maintained minimal perceptible clinical improvement of the score results. The Whole Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score showed improvement from 44.31 to 42.93 points (p < 0.05) during a 6-7 month period. Comparing score results to the control group, a statistically significant (p < 0.05) improvement in the KOOS pain subscale score at the 6 and 12 months was observed in the mononuclear cell group. BM-MNC injection leads to a decrease of knee OA symptoms and slows changes in structure of the degenerative joint tissue.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Plasma circulating microRNAs in patients with stable coronary artery disease - Impact of different cardiovascular risk profiles and glomerular filtration rates

Copyright: © Whioce Publishing Pte. Ltd.Background and Aim: Plasma circulating microRNA (miRNA)-126, -145, and -155 are associated with vascular remodeling, atherosclerotic lesion formation, and plaque vulnerability. In this study, we evaluated the levels of plasma circulating miRNAs in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD), different cardiovascular risk profiles, and different glomerular filtration rates (GFR). Methods and Results: Forty patients with stable CAD admitted for elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were enrolled in a prospective study. Before PCI, fasting blood samples were obtained to evaluate clinical parameters and miRNA-126 and miRNA-155 expression. The GFR was calculated by the MDRD and CKD-EPI formulas, and the severity of CAD was calculated according to the SYNTAX score. All these parameters were correlated with miRNAs. The association between miRNA levels and clinical characteristics was evaluated. The expression of miRNA-126 positively correlated with a higher SYNTAX score (r = 0.337; p=0.034); however, no significant correlations between miR-126, GFR, and clinical characteristics were observed. Higher plasma levels of miRNA-155 correlated with increased levels of triglycerides (r = 0.317; P = 0.049), C-peptide (r = 0.452; P = 0.011), and the HOMA index (r = 0.447; P = 0.012) and a higher body mass index (BMI) (r = 0.385; P = 0.015). GFR and miRNA-155 (MDRD - Rho=0.353; P = 0.027. CKD-EPI - Rho=0.357; P = 0.026) were found to have a moderate correlation, although miRNA-155 had no correlation with the SYNTAX score. Conclusion: Plasma circulating miRNA-126 levels were increased in patients with severe atherosclerosis as determined by the SYNTAX score. Elevated miRNA-155 expression was observed in patients with Stage 1 GFR but was lower in patients with Stages 2 and 3 GFR. Plasma circulating miRNA-155 had positive correlations with higher levels of BMI, HOMA index, C-peptide, and triglycerides. Relevance for Patients: Although further investigations are needed to confirm the role of miRNA-155 and miRNA-126, they may serve as potential biomarkers detecting severity of CAD, lowering of kidney function and metabolic syndrome.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Four-Year Outcomes of Left Main Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with a Bioresorbable Scaffold in the Circumflex Ostium

Publisher Copyright: © 2022 Andrejs Erglis et al.Objectives. The study aimed to investigate the long-term outcomes of a double stent scaffold strategy in patients with left main (LM) bifurcation lesions involving the ostium of the left circumflex artery (LCX), utilizing a drug-eluting stent (DES) in the LM extending into the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and a bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) in the LCX ostium. Background. The high occurrence of in-stent restenosis of the LCX ostium is the major limitation of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for LM lesions with a two-stent strategy. Methods. This was a single-center, prospective, single-arm study of 46 consecutively enrolled patients with a stable coronary artery disease and significant unprotected LM distal bifurcation disease. Patients underwent imaging-guided PCI using DES in the LM-LAD and BVS in the LCX using a T-stent or mini-crush technique. The primary outcome at four years was the composite of death, myocardial infarction, stroke, and target lesion revascularization (TLR). Results. At four years, the primary outcome was identified in 9 patients (19.6%). All events were TLRs except one myocardial infarction due to BVS thrombosis. Seven of the eight TLRs were a result of side branch BVS restenosis. Univariate predictors of the 4-year outcome were higher LDL cholesterol and BVS size ≤2.5 mm. On multivariate analysis, LCX lesion preparation with a cutting balloon and post-procedure use of intravascular ultrasound for optimization were found to be independent protective factors of MACE. Conclusions. In selected patients with LM distal bifurcation disease, an imaging-guided double stent scaffold strategy with DES in the LM and BVS in the LCX ostium was technically successful in all patients and was reasonably safe and effective for four years.Peer reviewe

Sex Differences in Outcomes After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention or Coronary Artery Bypass Graft for Left Main Disease: From the DELTA Registries

Background Controversy exists over whether sex has significant interaction with revascularization strategy for unprotected left main coronary artery disease. Higher mortality has been reported among women treated with percutaneous coronary intervention compared with coronary artery bypass grafting. Methods and Results The DELTA (Drug-Eluting Stents for Left Main Coronary Artery Disease) and DELTA-2 registries are international, multicentric registries evaluating the outcomes of subjects undergoing coronary revascularization for unprotected left main coronary artery disease. The primary outcome was a composite of death, myocardial infarction, or cerebrovascular accidents. The population consisted of 6253 patients, including 1689 (27%) women. Women were older and more likely to have diabetes and chronic kidney disease than men (P<0.05). At a median follow-up of 29 months (interquartile range 12-49), a significant interaction between sex and revascularization strategy was observed for the primary end point (pint=0.012) and all-cause death (pint=0.037). Among women, compared with percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass grafting was associated with lower risk of the primary end point (event rate 9.5% versus 15.3%; adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 0.53; 95% CI, 0.35-0.79, P<0.001) and all-cause death (event rate 5.6% versus 11.7% AHR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.30-0.82) and no significant differences were observed in men. Conclusions In women undergoing coronary revascularization for unprotected left main coronary artery disease, coronary artery bypass grafting was associated with lower risk of death, myocardial infarction, or cerebrovascular accidents whereas no significant differences between coronary artery bypass grafting and percutaneous coronary intervention were observed in men. Further dedicated studies are needed to determine the optimal revascularization strategy in women with unprotected left main coronary artery disease. Keywords: cardiovascular disease in women; coronary revascularization; unprotected left main coronary artery disease

Political party interest in having members: explaining the different party membership levels in Estonia and Latvia

This thesis provides a demand-side explanation on why Estonia and Latvia - countries of similar contemporary historical trajectories and the emerging party systems - have substantially different results in party membership levels. The study is built on an assumption that parties in Estonia are more interested in having members than parties in Latvia, with the intent to determine a relationship between the interest in having members and the party membership level in a country. To ascertain interest in having members, a novel index is created. Not only the total results of countries are compared, a lower-level analysis in three dimensions across parties in the two countries is provided. Both country parliamentary parties are studied, providing a thorough analysis and comparisons of 14 political parties. Findings depict that the level of party membership is higher in Estonia because parties are more interested in having members than parties in Latvia. Crucial differences in approaches to member recruitment are identified.https://www.ester.ee/record=b5356536*es

Patient perceptions of the nursing image in internal care units

Bakalaura darba tēma - Pacientu priekšstati par māsu tēlu internajā aprūpē. Tēmas aktualitāti nosaka, ka mūsdienās arvien medicīnas māsas tēls ieņem nozīmīgu lomu sabiedrībā un veselības aprūpes sistēmas institūcijās, kas var kalpot kā priekšnosacījums labi īstenotai veselības aprūpes sistēmai un tās nodrošinājumam. Darba mērķis: Noskaidrot pacientu priekšstatus par māsas tēlu internajā aprūpē. Pētniecības uzdevumi: 1. Analizēt literatūras avotus. 2. Veikt anketēšanu. 3. Apkopot pētījumā iegūtos rezultātus. 4. Izdarīt secinājumus un izstrādāt priekšlikumus Izvirzītā hipotēze: Priekšstati par medicīnas māsas tēlu pacientu skatījumā ir atkarīgi no pacientu vecuma un pavadītā laika perioda stacionārā. Pētniecības instruments: Aptaujas anketa. Pētniecības metode: Aptauja. Iegūtie rezultāti norāda uz to, ka medicīnas māsas tēls ir atkarīgs no vairākiem aspektiem, kur katram no tiem ir noteikta loma un ietekme. Pacientu priekšstatus par māsas tēlu nosaka sabiedrībā pastāvošie priekšstati, pacientu vajadzības, veselības stāvoklis, zināšanas, iepriekšējā pieredze, kā arī māsas īstenotā veselības aprūpe un attieksme (saskarsme, apģērbs, balss intonācija, pacietība, un citi faktori). Līdz ar to, bakalaura darbā izvirzītā hipotēze - priekšstati par medicīnas māsas tēlu pacientu skatījumā ir atkarīgi no pacientu vecuma un pavadītā laika perioda stacionārā, ir tikai daļēji apstiprinājusies, jo pastāv arī citi aspekti, ietekmējoši pacientu izveidojušos priekšstatus par medicīnas māsas tēlu. Atslēgvārdi: Medicīnas māsas tēls, priekšstati, internā aprūpe.Title of bachelor thesis - Patient perceptions of the nursing image in internal care units. The actuality of the current topic is connected with an issue of rapidly growing nursing image role in society as well as in institutions of eh health care system, especially in nowadays. This can serve as a prerequisite for a good implementation of the health care system and its maintenance. The aim of bachelor thesis: To analyze and establish patient perceptions about nursing image in internal care units. The tasks of the bachelor thesis: 1. Analyze the sources of literature. 2. Performing questionnaire. 3. Collecting obtained results in the performing research. 4. Making conclusions and elaborating proposals. Hypothesis: Patient perceptions about nursing care depend on patient’s age and spent time in hospital. Research method: Questionnaire. The obtained results indicate that the nurse’s image depends on several aspects, where each of them has a distinct role and impact. Patient perceptions about the nursing image determine the existing perceptions in the society, patient’s needs, health condition, knowledge, past experience, as well as the nurse carried out health care and applied attitude (including communication, cloth, voice intonation, patience and other factors). Consequently, the hypothesis of the current bachelor thesis - the concept of nursing image in patient’s point of view depend on patient age and spent time in hospital, has been confirmed only partly as there are other different aspects affecting the patient established perceptions about nursing image. Key words: Nursing image, perceptions, internal care

Creative Teaching/Learning Style in ELT

Šis Bakalaura darbsizmeklē radošuma pielietošanas nozīmi angļu valodas pasniegšanā. Šī darba mērķis ir izzināt radošos valodas mācīšanas paņēmienus un novērot kā tie tiek pielietoti vairākās angļu valodas nodarbībās. Pētījumā tika izmantotas tādas metodes kā teorētiskā un gadījuma izpēte. Lai pierādītu mērķi, tika pielietota metodiskās triangulācijas metode – šī darba autors novēroja trīs trešās klases angļu valodas nodarbības no dažādām skolām, kā vadlīnijas izmantojot paša autora veidotu nodarbību novērtējuma lapu, un, pēc nodarbībām, skolnieki aizpildīja aptaujas lapu, kas sniedza viņiem iespēju izpaust savas domas, grūtības un vēlmes attiecībā uz angļu valodas nodarbībām. Beidzot pētījumu, šī Bakalaura darba autors ir nonācis pie secinājumiem, ka radošās mācīšanas tehnikas ir vērtīgasangļu valodas pasniegšanā un būtu noderīgi tās pielietot angļu valodas nodarbībās. Atslēgas vārdi: radošums, radošums angļu valodas pasniegšanā, radošais mācīšanas stils, radošās mācīšanas tehnikas, spēles angļu valodas pasniegšanā, mēdiji angļu valodas pasniegšanā, stāstīšana angļu valodas pasniegšanā, drāmas paņēmiens angļu valodas pasniegšanā.The present Bachelor thesis investigates the importance of creativity in ELT. The goal of this research is to study the techniques of creative language teaching and observe how they are applied in several English language lessons. Literature review and a case study were used as the research methods. To prove the goal, methodological triangulation method was applied -three 3rd grade English lessons from different schools were observed by the author of the paper, as a guideline taken a lesson evaluation sheet made by the author herself, and, afterwards, pupils filled in the questionnaire which gave them the opportunity to express their thoughts, difficulties and desires regarding the English language lessons. Evaluation sheets and questionnaires were analysed and compared to come to the conclusions. Having completed the research, the author of the Bachelor paper has come to the following conclusions – creative teaching techniques are beneficial for the English lessons and prove to be worthy of using. Key words: creativity, creativity in ELT, creative teaching style, creative teaching techniques, games in ELT, multimedia in ELT, storytelling in ELT, drama technique in ELT

Characters with Hybrid Identities in Amitav Ghosh’s and Salman Rushdie’s Novels

Šis maģistra darbs analizē personāžu hibrīdu identitātes un to savdabīgās balsis Salmana Rušdi un Amitava Goša romānos. Darba teorētiskā daļa ir balstīta uz krievu filozofa Mihaila Bahtina teorijām par heteroglosiju un polifoniju romānos, kā arī Edvarda Saida, Homi Babas, Roberta Janga un citu filozofu teorijām par koloniālismu, migrāciju, diasporām un hibriditāti. Darba praktiskā daļa izmeklē personāžu hibrīdu identitātes Salmana Rušdi un Amitava Goša romānos – “Magoņu jūra”, “Pusnakts bērni”, “Zeme zem viņas kājām” un “Maura pēdējā nopūta”. Pētījums pierāda, ka Amitavs Gošs un Salmans Rušdi meistarīgi iekļauj hibriditāti savos romānos, katram personāžam piešķirot specifisku un unikālu identitāti un balsi. Abi izmantotie autori, Gošs un Rušdi, ar atšķirīgu personāžu palīdzību gan problematizē hibrīdu identitāti, gan to cildina, par tās spēju šķērsot kultūras, reliģijas un valodu barjeras.The present thesis analyses the hybrid identities and peculiar voices of the characters in Salman Rushdie’s and Amitav Ghosh’s novels. The theoretical framework of the thesis is based on the concepts of heteroglossia, polyphony and dialogism developed by the Russian philosopher Mikhail Bakhtin, as well as on the theories of colonialism, migration, diaspora and hybridity, by a number of authors, such as Edward W. Said, Homi K. Bhabha, Robert Young and others. The empirical part of the thesis explores character’s hybrid identities in the selected novels by Salman Rushdie and Amitav Ghosh – Sea of Poppies, Midnight’s Children, The Ground Beneath Her Feet and The Moor’s Last Sigh. The study proves that Amitav Ghosh and Salman Rushdie masterfully employ hybridity in their novels, since each of the characters is granted a specific and unique identity and voice. Both authors, Ghosh and Rushdie, with the contrasting characters problematize hybrid identity, yet celebrate its ability to cross cultural, religious and linguistic barriers

Decision - making in political parties in Latvia: the creation of candidate lists for the 12. Saeima elections

Bakalaura darba tēma ir „Lēmumu pieņemšana politiskajās partijās Latvijā: kandidātu sarakstu veidošana 12. Saeimas vēlēšanām”. Darba autore pēc vēlēšanās startējošo politisko partiju un partiju apvienību biedru iesaistes iespējām kandidātu sarakstu veidošanā 12. Saeimas vēlēšanām noteica demokrātiskumu šajā lēmumu pieņemšanas aspektā. Lai noteiktu kandidātu sarakstu veidošanas demokrātiskumu, tika aptaujāti 39 partiju un partiju apvienību pārstāvji. Iegūtās atbildes tikai apstrādātas pēc autores izstrādātās metodoloģijas. Izvirzītā hipotēze neapstiprinās. Kandidātu sarakstu veidošana 12. Saeimas vēlēšanām neklasificējas kā ļoti nedemokrātiska. Secināts, ka kandidātu iespēja tikt ierindotiem saraksta augšgalā palielinājās galvenokārt, personīgo kvalitāšu, nevis sociālā profila iezīmju vai saistības ar partiju dēļ, kā arī ka kandidātu izvēlē un secības izveidē bija iesaistīts šaurs personu loks.The theme of this bachelor thesis is „Decision - making in political parties in Latvia: the creation of candidate lists for the 12. Saeima elections”. The author of the paper, after the possibilities of the member involvement in the creation of candidate lists of the political parties and party associations that were participating in the 12th Saeima elections, defined how democratic was this aspect of decision making. To define how democratic was the creation of candidate lists, 39 party and party association representatives were surveyed. The responses were analyzed by the author`s developed methodology. The thesis hypothesis was not approved. The creation of candidate lists for the 12th Saeima elections does not classify as highly undemocratic. It was concluded that the possibility of the candidates to rank at the top of the lists increased mainly due to their personal qualities, not because of their social profile features or the party-related obligations, as well in the selection of candidates and creation of the sequence a narrow circle of people was involved