Mediating and/or moderating roles of psychological empowerment

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to explore the mediating and/or moderating effects of psychological empowerment in the relationship between structural empowerment and burnout among nurses in China.BackgroundBurnout is prevalent among nurses. Previous studies have found that empowering organizational structures contribute to reduce nurses’ burnout. However, little is known about the mediating or moderating role of psychological empowerment in the relationship between structural empowerment and burnout among nurses in China.MethodsA cross-sectional design was conducted. A total of 244 nurses participated in this study. The data were collected in March 2013. Multiple regressions were used to test the hypothesized models.ResultsPsychological empowerment was found to be a significant mediator of the relationship between structural empowerment and burnout (standardized β = − 0.553, Sobel test: z = 7.79, p < 0.001). The moderating effect of psychological empowerment in that relationship was not verified.ConclusionBoth structural and psychological empowerment negatively correlated with burnout. The psychological empowerment had a mediating effect on burnout.Implications for nursing managementIt is important for nurse managers to develop strategies to ensure that empowering structures are in place and to facilitate nurses’ perception of psychological empowerment.     

Sinecatechins Ointment 15% for the Treatment of External Genital Warts

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common viral sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States. External genital warts (EGWs) are a commonly seen clinical manifestation of infection with certain strains of the HPV virus, particularly HPV types 6 and 11. Current treatments for the destruction and elimination of EGWs include in -office, provider -delivered therapy and patient -applied medications. Sinecatechins ointment 15% is the newest FDA -approved patient -applied treatment for EGWs. This article reviews the transmission and clinical presentation of EGWs, describes the use of sinecatechins ointment 15% as one patient -applied treatment option and discusses implications for nurses.     

利用脑磁图初步探讨针刺足三里穴的脑功能变化

目的:探讨应用针刺足三里穴脑磁图成像的实验方法,寻找针刺足三里穴引起脑功能变化的实验依据。方法:通过对5例健康志愿者行针刺右侧足三里穴,记录脑磁图(MEG)的变化,结合脑部核磁共振仪(MRI)的定位,并与足三里穴旁非经非穴、刺前与刺后进行对照,观察针刺对脑神经生理功能的影响。结果:根据实时脑磁图及颅脑核磁共振图像定位资料,认为针刺足三里穴的体感刺激诱发脑部生物磁场源在大脑中央后回,并传导至边缘系统。结论:脑磁图检测对循经感传的经络研究具有一定特异性。     

Association between transforming growth factor-β1gene-509C/T polymorphism and susceptibility of IgA nephropathy: a meta-analysis

A role for transforming growth factor-β₁gene has been suggested in the etiology of IgA nephropathy. However, results have been inconsistent. In this study, a meta-analysis was performed to further clarify the association between transforming growth factor-β₁-509C/T gene polymorphism and the susceptibility of IgA nephropathy. PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang, and VIP Data were searched for eligible studies. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using a fixed-effects model or random-effects model. A total of eight publications involving 1355 IgA nephropathy patients and 1464 controls met the inclusion and were analyzed. The pooled ORs for the association between TGF-β₁gene-509C/T polymorphism and IgA nephropathy risk were not statistically significant under all genetic models (for CT+TT vs. CC: OR?=?1.09; 95% CI?=?0.92–1.29, p?=?0.490; for TT vs. CT+CC: OR?=?1.14; 95% CI?=?0.94–1.38, p?=?0.081; for CC vs. TT: OR?=?0.87; 95% CI?=?0.69–1.08, p?=?0.195; for C allele vs. T allele: OR?=?0.92; 95% CI?=?0.83–1.03, p?=?0.149). In the stratified analysis by ethnicity, results also showed no significant association between TGF-β₁ gene-509C/T polymorphism and IgA nephropathy risk in both European and Asian populations. This meta-analysis does not support the hypothesis that TGF-β₁ gene-509C/T polymorphism is a risk factor for the development of IgA nephropathy.     

Glutathione S-transferase A1 (GSTA1) release,an early indicator of acute hepatic injury in mice

Three acute hepatic injury models (a CCl₄-induced model, APAP-induced model and ethanol-induced model) in mice were used to study the importance of GSTA1 in acute hepatic injury by comparison with a standard enzyme marker, alanine aminotransferase (ALT). GSTA1 release was demonstrated to be an earlier and more sensitive indicator of hepatotoxicity than was ALT. Significant increases in GSTA1 were detected at 2 h after CCl₄ exposure, while ALT was undetected at this time. GSTA1 was also a more sensitive indicator of hepatotoxicity than ALT after 6 h. In the APAP and ethanol models, GSTA1 was markedly increased earlier than ALT, at 2 h post exposure. The release of GSTA1 was significantly increased at a dose of 12.5 mg/kg (CCl₄ model), 100 mg/kg (APAP model) and 10 ml/kg (ethanol model), the lowest exposure concentration for each model. In contrast, AST release was not statistically significant. These results suggest that GSTA1 can be detected at low concentrations during the early stages of acute hepatic injury and that GSTA1 is a more sensitive and more accurate indicator than ALT.     

抗敏止痒液的质量研究

目的:研究抗敏止痒液的质量控制标准。方法:采用TLC法对抗敏止痒液中千里光、苦参、大黄等进行定性鉴别,采用HPLC法测定制剂中绿原酸的含量。结果:千里光、苦参、大黄的薄层色谱鉴别专属性强;绿原酸的线性范围为2μg~12μg,r=0.9999,平均加样回收率为99.8%,RSD<2。结论:本方法简便、准确、灵敏、重现性好,可作为抗敏止痒液的质量控制标准。     

Alpha synuclein dimers and oligomers are increased in overexpressing conditions in vitro and in vivo

Parkinson's disease is characterized by degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta along with the formation of intracellular fibrillar inclusions (Lewy bodies and Lewy neuritis), which are mainly composed of aggregated α-synuclein (ASYN). This latter is a 14 kDa protein that localizes to synaptic vesicles in nerve terminals and promotes soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor complex assembly. We explored the monomeric and oligomeric state of ASYN in vitro in HEK293s and SH-SY5Y cell lines. In addition rats were injected in the substantia nigra with an Adeno associated virus carrying the human A53T mutation of ASYN (in vivo experiments). We show that human wild type ASYN as well as PD-linked mutations (A30P, E46K and A53T) in overexpressing conditions mostly exists in a monomeric state in equilibrium with dimeric forms. The monomer/dimer ratio is unaffected by PD-linked mutation. Furthermore, the A30P, E46K and A53T mutations overexpression strongly increased cell death compared to wild type ASYN. Taken together, our data suggest that ASYN dimers amount do not directly correlate to reduced cellular viability, suggesting a different role in protein function and induced pathology. Our data suggest that early ASYN neuro-pathogenic effects are probably mediated by other molecular processes than increased oligomerization alone.     

Effects of Wenyang Zhenshuai Granules on the Expression of Key Mitochondrial Autophagy Proteins in the Doxorubicin-Induced Model of H9c2 Cardiomyocyte Injury

Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine - This study aimed to explore the effects of Wenyang Zhenshuai granules (WZG) on the morphology of cardiomyocytes, cell viability, and the expression...