Health according to the experiences of Iranian women with diabetes: A phenomenological study

This study explores the meaning of health among Iranian women with diabetes using hermeneutic phenomenology based on Van Manen's approach. A total of 19 women with diabetes who were referred to the Diabetes Center of Imam Khomeini hospital in Ardabil, Iran were recruited using a purposive sampling method. Data were gathered through semi‐structured interviews. Each interview was transcribed verbatim and analyzed simultaneously. Data analysis led to the emergence of five main themes: a God‐centered life, health as a precious possession, health as wellbeing, independence, and acceptance. Patients often described coping with their illnesses and pursuing lifestyle changes by applying their spiritual and religious beliefs. The findings of this study can be used by healthcare teams to revise their opinions about patients with diabetes according to the culture of their patients.     

Prediction of Mortality in Pediatric Burn Injuries: R-Baux Score to Be Applied in Children (Pediatrics-Baux Score)

Objective

R-Baux score has obtained an acceptable validity and accuracy in predicting burn-related mortality. However, its usage and efficacy among pediatric burn patients has not been well documented. The aim of this study was to employ Pediatrics-Baux (P-Buax) score as modified version of R-Baux score in these patients to determine how it could be applicable in this population.

Methods

Through a prospective study, 870 pediatric burn patients were enrolled. P-Baux and R-Baux scores were calculated for each patient and they were categorized to different groups according to these scores. Mortality and further death probability were measured for each subject and then analyzed by logistic regression model to reveal how they change in relation with age in pediatric burn patients.

Findings

R-Baux score for 95% probability of death revealed a mean of 73 among patients of this study. Also P-Baux score was measured in these patients with inhalation injury which showed to be 55 for 95% probability of death. Results showed that age had a positive prognostic value in contrast to the negative prognostic value of Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) and inhalation injury.

Conclusion

Our analysis showed that in children under the age of 15 years, age has a positive prognostic value while TBSA and inhalation injuries had negative prognostic values in relation to mortality. Hence, in contrast to the adult population, burn injury related mortality may be predicted by modified R-Baux score as (TBSA - age + [18×R]) which could be named as P-Baux score.     

Nestin, a neuroectodermal stem cell marker, is expressed by bovine sertoli cells

Nestin, an intermediate filament protein is expressed by neuroectodermal stem cells and tumors originating from cells of neuroectodermal and mesenchymal lineages. Nestin expression is prominent in embryos and remains upregulated until 3–6?weeks after birth but is downregulated afterward. Sertoli cells are nucleated somatic cells that are spanned in the seminiferous epithelium and play a critical role in supporting and controlling germ-cell development. In this context, we employed immunocytochemical, Western blot, and Flow cytometric analyses to demonstrate nestin expression in bovine sertoli cells. Immunostaining clearly showed that setoli cells express high levels of nestin, a result which was confirmed by Western blot analysis of purified cells. Intracellular staining of sertoli cells by flow cytometry revealed that around 74% of the cells express this marker. Given the high expression of vimentin by sertoli cells, it is proposed that the expression of nestin in these cells might be required for the formation of stable vimentin/nestin intermediate filament network. In light of these findings, it seems that sertoli cells of mature bull have potentiality of proliferation.     

A case report of endometrial adenocarcinoma with leptomeningeal metastases

In patients with a history of solid tumors, any new onset of neurological symptoms should be assessed for central nervous system involvement even in rare cases such as gynecological malignancies that nervous system involvement is a rare event.     

Environmental justice research and action: a case study in political economy and community-academic collaboration

Community-university partnerships increasingly are being created to study and address environmental injustices. This article describes a case study of one such effort and its contributions to a decade-long community struggle to curb the growth of industrial hog operations and their adverse health effects in the United States' rural south. Worldwide transformation of livestock production from family farms to large-scale industrial agricultural complexes has resulted in the degradation of local environments, with negative impacts on public health. In the rural south, the concentration of industrial livestock operations has been most pronounced in low income African-American communities. Using political economy and community-based participatory research (CBPR) as a conceptual framework, this article explores the partnership between a strong community-based organization, Concerned Citizens of Tillery, and researchers at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, School of Public Health to study and address this problem. The political, economic, and historical context of the partnership is examined, as are the challenges faced, and the partnership's contributions to maintaining grassroots community organizing and activism and affecting local policy change. Implications for other CBPR partnerships are discussed.     

Protective effects of sinapic acid against cyclophosphamide-induced testicular toxicity via inhibiting oxidative stress,caspase-3 and NF-kB activity in BALB/c mice

Cyclophosphamide (CP), as a chemotherapeutic agent, with the generation of oxidative stress leads to testicular toxicity. Sinapic acid (SA), as a phenylpropanoid compound has therapeutic activities. This research was planned to evaluate the improving effects of SA versus testicular injury induced by CP. Forty-eight mice were distributed into six groups: untreated, SA (5 and 10 mg/kg), CP (200 mg/kg) and CP + SA (5 and 10 mg/kg). SA was administrated for 7 successive days and CP was administered intraperitoneally on the 3rd day of study. On the 10th day of research, testicular toxicity was evaluated by sperm parameters test, tissue (oxidative stress parameters) and serum (testosterone) biochemical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical (Caspase-3 and NF-kB) assays. The findings illustrated that CP induces atypical appearance in tissue structure, disorder of sperm parameters dysfunction, decrease of testosterone, oxidative stress (an increase of MDA and decrease of GSH), apoptosis and inflammation in testicular tissue. SA administration protected testis from oxidative stress and improves testosterone level and structure. Moreover, immunohistochemical findings also showed that SA can inhibit Caspase-3 and NF-kB activity. Data have confirmed that SA could protect testis structure and its functions against CP-induced injury through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activities.