Metabolic effects of diets differing in glycaemic index depend on age and endogenous glucose-dependent insulinotrophic polypeptide in mice

Aims/hypothesis  

High- vs low-glycaemic index (GI) diets unfavourably affect body fat mass and metabolic markers in rodents. Different effects of these diets could be age-dependent, as well as mediated, in part, by carbohydrate-induced stimulation of glucose-dependent insulinotrophic polypeptide (GIP) signalling.     

Hardship, dedication and investment: an exploration of Irish mothers commitment to communicating with their children with cerebral palsy

This qualitative study investigated the experiences of mothers who have a child with communication difficulties resulting from cerebral palsy (CP). There is a dearth of information about parents' experiences of having a child with CP and communication difficulties. Three participants, whose children had moderate or severe CP and communication difficulties, were recruited from a voluntary organization. Participants were interviewed using an in-depth, semi-structured interview guide. Interviews were audio-recorded, then transcribed and subsequently analysed using Grounded Theory methods. Five main themes emerged, combining to form the core category of mothers dedicating their attention to their children . The information gleaned from this study could have important implications for nurses involved in facilitating communication, including speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and registered nurses. By becoming more aware of the experiences of parents with a child with CP and communication disorders, nurses may be better able to plan and implement therapy and also support communication aims. The study concludes with a discussion of further research avenues, suggesting that a study investigating the experiences of parents of children with other types of physical disabilities affecting communication should be conducted to determine the similarities and differences of parents of children with other kinds of disability. A similar study with a larger sample could be conducted to validate the findings of the current study.     

Role conflict, role ambiguity, and burnout in nurses and physicians at a university hospital in Turkey

In many countries currently, health-care professionals experience burnout in their professional life. This study explored the relationship between burnout, and role conflict and role ambiguity in nurses and physicians at a university hospital in Turkey. The data were collected by questionnaires that included sociodemographic variables, Maslach's Burnout Inventory (MBI), and Rizzo's Role Conflict and Role Ambiguity Scales. Two hundred and fifty one health-care professionals (170 physicians and 81 nurses) responded to the survey. There was a strong positive correlation between the MBI and Rizzo's Role Conflict and Role Ambiguity Scales. The nurses showed significantly higher levels of role conflict, role ambiguity, and burnout compared to the physicians. A multiple regression analysis showed that role conflict and role ambiguity might help to explain the higher level of burnout experienced by the nurses compared to the physicians. Future research is needed to develop preventive measures for the burnout of health-care professionals.     

Pregnant women's knowledge and attitudes about stem cells and cord blood banking

Aim:  This study was to determine pregnant women's knowledge and attitudes towards stem cells and cord blood banking in Istanbul, Turkey.
Background:  Stem cell research is one of the most important and, at the same time, the most controversial topics of science and technology today. Nurses need to understand stem cell research so they can enter the debate on this issue. They can become important sources of information in order to help parents understand the issues.
Methods:  This exploratory descriptive study was conducted in two antenatal outpatient clinics in Istanbul. The sample consisted of 334 pregnant women during routine prenatal visits. Data were collected in interviews by using an interview form developed by the researchers according to the literature. The form included demographic characteristics of participants and 20 questions about stem cells, storing cord blood and banking and 10 independent attitude statements.
Results:  The majority of the participants had a lack of knowledge about stem cells and cord blood banking and wanted more information. Before pregnancy, they received some information through the media (newspaper, Internet, television, etc.), but unintentionally. It was determined that they wanted information before becoming pregnant, more from their obstetrician but also from nurses and midwives. The majority also wanted to store their infants' cord blood and stated that they would be more likely to choose a public cord blood bank.
Conclusion:  Those giving ante- and perinatal care need to offer accurate and scientific counselling services on this subject to parents who need to be informed.     

Oral medication management in inpatient psychiatric care in Turkey

The aim of this study was to describe current status of oral medication management and related situations by nurses who work on psychiatric wards in Turkey. The study was performed in 34 psychiatric wards in Turkey, and 471 nurses agreed to participate in the study. Data were collected by a questionnaire. In our study, it was determined that one quarter of the nurses do not collect data about past medication history of the patient before giving medications, and 59.7% of the nurses checked all the patients' mouths after each pill was given. The orders are checked by 80.5% of the nurses every day. The leading patient reaction nurses face during medication administration was refusal to take the medication. The nurses stated that they first informed the physician without making any intervention on patients who did not take their pills. The nurses primarily observed the patient to evaluate the effect of a medication (84.3%) and, with a similar percent (82.8%), the side effects of a medication. In conclusion, continuing education, certification and post-graduated courses is provided for nurses about their other roles and responsibilities as well as increasing the quality of oral medication administration which is a difficult area.     

Potential foci of Lyme borreliosis in towns

In 1997 the presence of ticks Ixodes ricinus infected with the agent of Lyme borreliosis was detected on the vegetation of Kosice urban agglomeration. The density of ticks on the vegetation of pericentral area islands of forest stands and neglected gardens was 2.4 times lower than that observed in a peripheral park forest. Only sporadical findings of ticks were reported from the industrial central part of town with remnants of uncultivated vegetation. Central parks and housing estates were actually tick-free. Borrelia-infected ticks, from 12.8 to 15% were found in the park forest and pericentral areas. The results indicate potential risks for humans and domestic animals coming in contact with borrelia-infected ticks, also in the territory of large towns.     

Hearing improvement achieved by different cochlear implantation techniques on the same and contralateral ears.

The authors have performed cochlear implantation since 1985. Different implantation techniques have been used: extracochlear, round window and intracochlear implantation combined with different receivers. Right at the beginning, the 8-channel extra-cochlear implant produces good results due to the gradually increasing current needed to obtain the same effectivity (transduction energy). However, no great differences can be observed in speech reception whether round window or intracochlear implants be used. In addition to audiological results, we briefly outline surgical implantation techniques and implant fixation methods and summarize the outlook for long-term cochlear implantation. Six months after operation, contralateral hearing was observed. The hearing presented itself at one or two frequences.     

Synthesis and in vitro receptor analysis of new potential oxytocin antagonists

Oxytocin (OT) itself and the sensitivity of the uterus to OT play a crucial role in the initiation of both normal and pathologically early delivery. It recognition of the complex mechanism of action suggests that specific OT antagonists are of therapeutic value in postponing early contractions. In this study neurohypophyseal hormone analogues containing Sar in position 7, Arg in position 8, and various conformationally restricted or bulky derivatives of phenilalanine and tryptophan amino acids in position 2 were prepared to design more potent and selective OT antagonists. We determined the ligand-receptor binding characteristics of these newly synthetized peptides in the presence of [3H]oxytocin and [3H]vasopressin on isolated guinea-pig uterus, rat liver and kidney inner medulla plasma membranes. In the case of each peptides we calculated the Ki values and the selectivity ratio. The binding to the OT receptor was dramatically decreased for the Trp-derivatives containing analogues, while the Phe-derivatives containing analogues displayed a relatively high receptor affinity and have a relatively high OT/VP1 receptor selectivity.