The Impact of Learning Culture on Organizational Development among the Members of the Educational Complex of Zabol University of Medical Sciences

Nowadays, the survival of organizations and especially universities are depended on this issue that how they accept changes, improve their services and increase their competitiveness. Organizational learning is the main way for creating job together with knowledge and also improving the organizational performance. The present study was performed to assess the influence of learning culture and training courses on Organizational Development among the faculty members of Educational Complex of Zabol University of Medical Sciences in 2015. This research is descriptive and based on survey and correlational. The Statistical population of this research are all 30 faculty members of Educational Complex of Zabol University of Medical Sciences. In this study, two standard questionnaires of learning culture and organizational development were used for collecting of data. The construct validity and reliability of questionnaires were determined using confirmatory factor analysis and using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, respectively. Reliability coefficients for learning culture questionnaire was determined 0.90 and for organizational development questionnaire was determined 0.93. Descriptive statistical methods like mean and standard deviation and also inferential statistical methods like One Sample T-Test and structural equation modeling were used for data analyzing. All done statistical methods revealed that components status of Learning Culture (t =-2.494; p =0.019) was not at an optimum and average level but components status of organizational development (p=0.003; t=3.268) was in optimum and average level. These results also were shown that the effect of learning culture on organizational development (r=0.588; t-Values=3.621) is positive and significant. So there is hope that with the establishment of learning culture within every organization, increase organizational development in its

Targeted Fluoromagnetic Nanoparticles for Imaging of Breast Cancer MCF-7 Cells

Purpose: To achieve simultaneous imaging and therapy potentials, targeted fluoromagnetic nanoparticles were synthesized and examined in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Methods: Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized through thermal decomposition of Fe(acac)3. Then, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) modified by dopamine-poly ethylene glycol (PEG)-NH2; finally, half equivalent fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and half equivalent folic acid were conjugated to one equivalent of it. The presence of Fe3O4-DPA-PEG-FA/FITC in the folate receptor (FR) positive MCF-7 cells was determined via fluorescent microscopy to monitor the cellular interaction of MNPs. Results: FT-IR spectra of final compound confirmed existence of fluorescein on folic acid grafted MNPs. The Fe3O4-DPA-PEG-FA/FITC NPs, which displayed a size rang about 30-35 nm using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), were able to actively recognize the FR-positive MCF-7 cells, but not the FR-negative A549 cells. Conclusion: The uniform nano-sized Fe3O4-DPA-PEG-FA/FITC NPs displayed great potential as theranostics and can be used for targeted imaging of various tumors that overexpress FR

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Synthesis of halloysite nanotubes decorated with green silver nanoparticles to investigate cytotoxicity, lipid peroxidation and induction of apoptosis in acute leukemia cells

Abstract Leukemia is the 15th most common cancer in adults and the first most common cancer in children under the age of five, and unfortunately, it accounts for many deaths every year. Since leukemia chemotherapy usually fails due to chemotherapy resistance and disease relapse, many efforts are being made to develop new methods of leukemia treatment. Therefore, for the first time, we decorated halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) with green silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) with the help of Moringa Peregrina leaves extract to increase the solubility of Ag NPs and to use the protective ability of HNTs against lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes. Cell survival assay by the MTT method showed that HNTs-Ag NPs can decrease the survival of Jurkat T-cells to about 10% compared to the control. The IC50 value was estimated as 0.00177 mg/mL after 96 h of treatment. Investigating the expression of genes involved in apoptosis by Real-time PCR proved that decorated HNTs with Ag NPs can increase the Bak1/Bclx ratio by 17.5 times the control group. Also, the expression of the caspase-3 gene has increased 10 times compared to the control. Finally, the reduction of malondialdehyde production after 24 h proved that the presence of HNTs can have a good protective effect on lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes. Therefore, on the one hand, we can hope for the ability of HNTs-Ag NPs to induce apoptosis in blood cancer cells and on the other hand for its protective effects on normal blood cells

Investigating the Apoptosis Ability of Ethylenediamine 8-Hydroxyquinolinato Palladium (II) Complex

Purpose: High solubility, low renal toxicity and apoptosis-inducing ability of palladium complexes are the reasons for their synthesis. Methods: In vitro cytotoxic study of previously synthesized [Pd(en)(8HQ)]NO3 , was carried out on breast cancer MCF-7 cell lines and prostate cancer DU145 cell lines. DNA fragmentation indicative of apoptotic was also evaluated by TUNEL assay on DU145 cell line. Results: FT-IR spectra of final complex confirmed the existence of chelating ligands. The DU145 cells unlike the MCF-7 cells, demonstrated the significant influence of the Pd (II) complex. The IC50 values of [Pd(en)(8HQ)]NO3 and cisplatin on DU145 cells were 27 and 8.3 μM, respectively. Moreover, nearly 38% apoptosis was evident in DU145 cells after treatment with [Pd(en)(8HQ)]NO3. Conclusion: [Pd(en)(8HQ)]NO3 has great potential in DNA binding and induction of apoptosis; thus it can be used in the future against prostate cancer

Erratum to: Multifunctional mitoxantrone-conjugated magnetic nanosystem for targeted therapy of folate receptor-overexpressing malignant cells

BACKGROUND: Targeted delivery of anticancer chemotherapeutics such as mitoxantrone (MTX) can significantly intensify their cytotoxic effects selectively in solid tumors such as breast cancer. In the current study, folic acid (FA)-armed and MTX-conjugated magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were engineered for targeted eradication of folate receptor (FR)-positive cancerous cells. Polyethylene glycol (PEG), FA and MTX were covalently conjugated onto the MNPs to engineer the PEGylated FA-MTX-MNPs. The internalization studies were performed using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled FA-decorated MNPs (FA-FITC-MNPs) in both FR-positive MCF-7 cells and FR-negative A549 cells by means of fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. The cellular and molecular impacts of FA-MTX-MNPs were examined using trypan blue cell viability and FITC-labeled annexin V apoptosis assays and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, DNA ladder and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays. RESULTS: The FR-positive MCF-7 cells showed significant internalization of the FA-FITC-MNPs, but not the FR-negative A549 cells. The FR-positive cells treated with the PEGylated FA-MTX-MNPs exhibited the IC50 values of 3 μg/mL and 1.7 μg/mL, 24 h and 48 h post-treatment, respectively. DAPI staining and DNA ladder assays revealed significant condensation of nucleus and fragmentation of genomic DNA in the FR-positive MCF-7 cells treated with the PEGylated FA-MTX-MNPs as compared to the FR-negative A549 cells. The FITC-labeled annexin V assay confirmed emergence of late apoptosis (>80%) in the FR-positive MCF-7 cells treated with the PEGylated FA-MTX-MNPs, but not in the FR-negative A549 cells. The qPCR analysis confirmed profound cytotoxic impacts via alterations of apoptosis-related genes induced by MTX-FA-MNPs in MCF-7 cells, but not in the A549 cells. CONCLUSION: Our findings evince that the engineered PEGylated FA-MTX-MNPs can be specifically taken up by the FR-positive malignant cells and effectively demolish them through up-regulation of Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and Caspase 9 and down-regulation of AKt. Hence, the engineered nanosystem is proposed for simultaneous targeted imaging and therapy of various cancers overexpressing FRs

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study (Intensive Care Medicine, (2021), 47, 2, (160-169), 10.1007/s00134-020-06234-9)

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake. The members of the ESICM Trials Group Collaborators were not shown in the article but only in the ESM. The full list of collaborators is shown below. The original article has been corrected