Pathology and molecular updates in tumors of the prostate: towards a personalized approach

Introduction: Treatment planning in patients with prostate neoplasms and prostate cancer (PCa) is generally based on the clinical and pathological molecular markers obtained from prostate needle biopsy and/or radical prostatectomy specimens.

Area covered: Pathology of prostate neoplasms is evolving rapidly. Emerging trends include new additions to the 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) tumor classification as well as expanded diagnostic utility of biomarkers and molecular testing in tissue specimens, liquid biopsies and urinary samples, with the following purposes: diagnosis, prognosis and prediction.

Expert commentary: The new additions to the 2016 WHO tumor classification, which include pathological definition of Intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDC-P) and of a new grading system for PCa, as well as identification of molecular markers, such as TMPRSS2-ERG and AR-V7, may pave the way to personalized therapy for patients with prostate tumors.     

Steps towards empowerment: an examination of colleges, health services and universities

In Australia, nursing educators work across three main contexts - training colleges, health services and universities. Because the pace of change for nursing has increased dramatically and the curriculum is becoming even more crowded, educators in these contexts are likely to be experiencing work-related stress. This study investigated this issue utilising a purposive sampling strategy to interview a cross section of nurse educators and those supporting educators. Eighteen in-depth interviews were completed, which included fourteen nurse educators and four key stakeholders. Qualitative analysis revealed that regardless of context, nurse educators found their role rewarding but there are common challenges. These included: Work role pressures, a non-validating culture, the pace of change, isolation and concern for the profession. There are also differences amongst the cohorts. Finally, participants elaborated on specific solutions to these problems and there is strong support for the establishment of a national community of practice to bring diverse educators together to share, support, extend and evaluate each others' work.     

One-pot sequential multicomponent reaction between in situ generated aldimines and succinaldehyde: facile synthesis of substituted pyrrole-3-carbaldehydes and applications towards medicinally important fused heterocycles

An efficient sequential multi-component method for the synthesis of N-arylpyrrole-3-carbaldehydes has been developed. This reaction involved a proline-catalyzed direct Mannich reaction-cyclization sequence between succinaldehyde and in situ generated Ar/HetAr/indolyl-imines, followed by IBX-mediated oxidative aromatization in one-pot operation. The practical utility of this procedure is shown at gram-scale and the synthesis of diverse bioactive fused heterocyclic scaffolds such as pyrroloquinoline, pyrrolo-oxadiazole, dihydro pyrroloquinoline, and pyrrolo-phenanthridine.

An efficient sequential multi-component method for the synthesis of N-arylpyrrole-3-carbaldehydes has been developed.     

Artemisinin and its derivatives: an important new class of antimalarial agents

Artemisinin and its derivatives are a potent new class of antimalarials, originated from Artemisia annua, L. The clinical efficacy of these drugs is characterized by an almost immediate onset and rapid reduction of parasitaemia. Their efficacy is high in such areas as well where multidrug-resistance is rampant, but in these areas, their combination with other (effective) antimalarials (e.g., mefloquine) is highly recommended. In this short review, the chemical structures, pharmacological properties, and clinical uses of artemisinin drugs are discussed.     

Re-reading nursing and re-writing practice: towards an empirically based reformulation of the nursing mandate

This article examines field studies of nursing work published in the English language between 1993 and 2003 as the first step towards an empirically based reformulation of the nursing mandate. A decade of ethnographic research reveals that, contrary to contemporary theories which promote an image of nursing work centred on individualised unmediated caring relationships, in real-life practice the core nursing contribution is that of the healthcare mediator. Eight bundles of activity that comprise this intermediary role are described utilising evidence from the literature. The mismatch between nursing's culture and ideals and the structure and constraints of the work setting is a chronic source of practitioner dissatisfaction. It is argued that the profession has little to gain by pursuing an agenda of holistic patient care centred on emotional intimacy and that an alternative occupational mandate focused on the healthcare mediator function might make for more humane health services and a more viable professional future.     

Diagnosis and management of hereditary angioedema: an American approach.

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by recurrent episodes of angioedema, and caused by a deficiency of the plasma protein C1 inhibitor. HAE attacks carry a substantial risk of morbidity or even mortality, making it imperative that the correct diagnosis be established and an appropriate management plan be in place. This report reviews the current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches available in the United States. Areas in which the diagnostic or therapeutic tools are deficient are discussed, and the prospects for improved therapeutic modalities highlighted.     

Visual perception of objects: an approach to assessment and intervention

This paper proposes an alternative to the deficit-specific approach that has been used to guide the visual perceptual assessment and treatment of brain-injured adults. Recent theoretical advances in visual object perception are combined with a cognitive rehabilitation model to provide a framework for occupational therapy assessment and treatment of object-processing dysfunction. Assessment guidelines are presented that emphasize the analysis of residual function by specifying the task conditions that influence visual perception. A case study illustrates clinical application of this approach. Implications for research are discussed.     

Hypnosis and the treatment of posttraumatic conditions: an evidence-based approach

This article reviews the evidence for the use of hypnosis in the treatment of posttraumatic conditions including posttraumatic stress disorder and acute stress disorder. The review focuses on empirically supported principles and practices and suggests that hypnosis can be a useful adjunctive procedure in the treatment of posttraumatic conditions. Cognitive-behavioral and exposure-based interventions, which have the greatest empirical support, are highlighted, and an illustrative case study is presented.     

Development of an instrument for evaluating the moving and transfer of patients: an ergonomic approach

Nursing personnel are at a high risk from work-related musculoskeletal disorders, especially back symptoms. Handling patients has been attributed as one of the factors playing an important role in the aetiology of occupational low back pain. The aim of the study was to construct an instrument to evaluate the ergonomic risks during patient-handling tasks. The instrument was developed with an ergonomic approach involving the equipment, the tasks, the environment and the personnel.     

Understanding the adsorption performance of two glycine derivatives as novel and environmentally safe anti-corrosion agents for copper in chloride solutions: experimental,DFT, and MC studies

The inhibition impacts of two non-toxic glycine derivatives, namely, bicine (N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)glycine) and tricine (N-(tri(hydroxymethyl)methyl) glycine) on copper corrosion were investigated in 3.5% NaCl solutions. Surprisingly, there is no report on using bicine and/or tricine as corrosion inhibitors for Cu and its alloys in a seawater-like environment. The effects of bicine and tricine on the corrosion behavior of Cu in 3.5% NaCl were examined using the open circuit potential, Tafel polarization, and AC spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. The corrosion rate decreased as a function of the inhibitor dose. The Tafel and EIS parameters showed that the inhibitors decreased both the anodic and cathodic corrosion currents and inhibited the charge transfer process by adsorption on the Cu surface. The inhibition property was attributed to the adsorption of inhibitor molecules with the Langmuir model. Tricine showed a superior inhibition performance of more than 98% at a concentration of ∼5 mmol L⁻¹. The free energy of adsorption data revealed physical adsorption. The outcomes of Monte Carlo simulations and theoretical studies well supported the experimental data.

The inhibition impacts of two non-toxic glycine derivatives, namely, bicine (N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)glycine) and tricine (N-(tri(hydroxymethyl)methyl) glycine) on copper corrosion were investigated in 3.5% NaCl solutions.