Dimensions of Nurse Caring

Dimensions of nurse caring were elicited through nurse and patient responses on the revised Caring Behaviors Inventory (CBI), a 43-item instrument. Subjects included 278 nurses and 263 patients and former patients. An exploratory factor analysis using the principal components method with varimax rotation was used to identify CBI dimensions; a five factor solution resulted. The five dimensions of nurse caring were respectful deference to others, assurance of human presence, positive connectedness, professional knowledge and skill, and attentiveness to the other's experience     

Podocyte Glutamatergic Signaling Contributes to the Function of the Glomerular Filtration Barrier

Podocytes possess the complete machinery for glutamatergic signaling, raising the possibility that neuron-like signaling contributes to glomerular function. To test this, we studied mice and cells lacking Rab3A, a small GTPase that regulates glutamate exocytosis. In addition, we blocked the glutamate ionotropic N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) with specific antagonists. In mice, the absence of Rab3A and blockade of NMDAR both associated with an increased urinary albumin/creatinine ratio. In humans, NMDAR blockade, obtained by addition of ketamine to general anesthesia, also had an albuminuric effect. In vitro, Rab3A-null podocytes displayed a dysregulated release of glutamate with higher rates of spontaneous exocytosis, explained by a reduction in Rab3A effectors resulting in freedom of vesicles from the actin cytoskeleton. In addition, NMDAR antagonism led to profound cytoskeletal remodeling and redistribution of nephrin in cultured podocytes; the addition of the agonist NMDA reversed these changes. In summary, these results suggest that glutamatergic signaling driven by podocytes contributes to the integrity of the glomerular filtration barrier and that derangements in this signaling may lead to proteinuric renal diseases.It is widely recognized that most glomerular diseases are characterized by defects of the filtration barrier, where podocytes play a central role. Mutations of single podocyte proteins have been found at the basis of human nephrotic syndromes,¹ and podocyte deletion of the same molecules causes heavy proteinuria in experimental models.^2–8Podocytes are highly ramified cells: From the cell body depart a number of primary processes, further originating secondary foot processes. Starting from these features, it has been demonstrated that podocytes share numerous similarities with neurons: They both are terminally differentiated cells, have a common cytoskeletal organization, and have a common machinery of process formation.⁹ Furthermore, a number of expression-restricted proteins, such as nephrin,² Neph1 and Neph2,¹⁰ GLEPP1,¹¹ CAT3 and EAAT2,¹² synaptopodin,¹³ drebrin,¹⁴ and Sam68-like-MP2,¹⁵ specifically belong to the podocyte and the neuron.Our group has contributed to this line of research, initially by describing in podocytes the presence of Rab3A, a small GTPase that is mostly enriched in synaptic vesicles because it tightly modulates highly regulated exocytosis by acting through a number of effector molecules, including rabphilin-3a and Synapsin-I.¹⁶ After finding that in podocytes, as it occurs in neurons, Rab3A associates to glutamate-containing vesicles along cell processes, we discovered that podocytes are equipped with a complete neuron-like glutamatergic signaling system.¹⁷ We described that podocytes possess functional synaptic-like microvesicles and renal glomeruli express cognate glutamate transporters and receptors. These properties strengthened the analogies between podocytes and neurons and offered a rational interpretation to the biochemical similarity of foot process and synaptic adhesion complexes¹⁷; however, the role played by glutamate signaling in podocytes remained unanswered, and nothing was known about its relevance to podocyte and glomerular homeostasis. To get more details on the requirement of this neuron-like system of signaling by podocytes, we first conducted a preliminary analysis on its temporal appearance during podocyte differentiation. Then we studied conditions in which it was altered, on the vesicle and on the receptor side. The vesicular component was analyzed by studying the consequences of the absence of Rab3A. On the receptor side, we antagonized the ionotropic N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), that we found present in human and rodent glomeruli, as well as in podocyte cell cultures.¹⁷ Both Rab3A and NMDAR1 glomerular synthesis were also confirmed by in situ hybridization (Supplemental Figure 1) and by microarray expression data.¹⁷     

Continuous exposure to 900 MHz GSM-modulated EMF alters morphological maturation of neural cells

The effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure on neuronal phenotype maturation have been studied in two different in vitro models: murine SN56 cholinergic cell line and rat primary cortical neurons. The samples were exposed at a dose of 1 W/kg at 900 MHz GSM modulated. The phenotype analysis was carried out at 48 and 72 h (24 and 48 h of SN56 cell line differentiation) or at 24, 72, 120 h (2, 4 and 6 days in vitro for cortical neurons) of exposure, on live and immunolabeled neurons, and included the morphological study of neurite emission, outgrowth and branching. Moreover, cortical neurons were studied to detect alterations in the expression pattern of cytoskeleton regulating factors, e.g. β-thymosin, and of early genes, e.g. c-Fos and c-Jun through real-time PCR on mRNA extracted after 24 h exposure to EMF. We found that RF-EMF exposure reduced the number of neurites generated by both cell systems, and this alteration correlates to increased expression of β-thymosin mRNA.     

Comparative in vivo evaluation of porous and dense duplex titanium and hydroxyapatite coating with high roughnesses in different implantation environments

Ti (PG60) and Ti plus HA (HPG60) dense coatings with ultrahigh roughness (Ra: 74 +/- 8 microm and 53 +/- 18 microm, respectively) were compared to high Ti (Ti60) and Ti plus HA (HT60) high roughened porous coatings (Ra: 40 +/- 7 microm and 36 +/- 3 microm, respectively). Surfaces were implanted in cortical and trabecular bone of young adult (YOUNG), aged (AGED) and estrogen-deficient sheep (OVX) and analyzed by means of histology, histomorphometry and push-out tests 3 months after implantation. A significantly lower value in affinity index (AI) of PG60 when compared to TI60 (p < 0.01) was observed in cortical bone. In trabecular bone, lower values in AI were found in TI60 and PG60 when compared to their HA-coated surfaces (p < 0.0005). Bone ingrowth (BI) of TI60 and PG60 was significantly lower than that of the HA-coated surfaces in trabecular bone (p < 0.05). Significantly lower values in BI in OVX sheep in comparison to YOUNG sheep in both cortical and trabecular bone were observed (p < 0.05). Data showed that high roughness and Ti and HA-coated surfaces are suitable for aged and osteoporotic patients. HA coatings represent the most successful strategy in trabecular bone.     

From Hippocrates to Tissue Engineering: Surgical Strategies in Wound Treatment

The history of wound treatment has been virtually the history of surgery for many centuries and also is a history of alliance and conflicts between the physician and nature. The Hippocratic statement about natura medicatrix has been well known since antiquity, but often was neglected. Suppuration was considered a necessary event in the healing process and was elicited by the surgeons with traumatic and painful procedures. The concept of simplicity in treating the wounds was suggested by Teodorico Borgognone and Henry de Mondeville in 13th century and was confirmed only three centuries later by the works of Ambroise Paré and Cesare Magati. The history of wound management has been characterized by empiricism since the 18th century, but it took a physiopathological direction during the 19th century when Virchow investigated tissue reaction to injuries, and Lister introduced antiseptic procedures in surgery. By establishing the basis for a biological method to treat wounds, the seeds were sown to enhance the pathways involved in tissue repair, also with the support of new strategies and technology.     

Scales for the measurement of attitudes toward blood donation

Attitudes toward blood donation are frequently assumed to vary along a single dimension from unfavorable to favorable. In contrast, theories of attitude structure specify three distinct attitude components: affect, cognition, and behavior. This article describes the development of three new scales for the measurement of affective, cognitive, and behavioral components of attitudes toward blood donation. The scales were developed using the method of equal-appearing intervals and were administered to both donors of blood and nondonors. Correlations among the scales were relatively small and supported the three-component distinction. Affect was more strongly correlated with the number of prior donations than was cognition, which suggested an important role for emotional factors in blood donation. Scores on all three scales showed the attitudes of blood donors to be more favorable than those of nondonors.     

Antibacterial substantivity of a new antibiotic‐based endodontic irrigation solution

The aim of this study was to evaluate the residual antibacterial activity of Tetraclean, MTAD and 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) in bovine root dentin in vitro. One hundred and ten dentin tubes prepared from bovine incisor teeth were infected in vitro for 14 days with Enterococcus faecalis. Thereafter, the specimens were divided into five groups as follows: Tetraclean; MTAD; 5.25% NaOCl; infected dentin tubes (positive control); and sterile dentin tubes (negative control). Dentin chips were collected using round burs into tryptic soy broth and after culturing, the number of colony‐forming units (CFU) was counted. The number of CFU in all experimental groups was minimum after treatment, and the results obtained were significantly different from each other at any time period (P < 0.05). The Tetraclean group showed the most effective antibacterial action at all five experimental periods (P < 0.05). MTAD group showed the least antibacterial activity after treatment. However, at days 7, 14, 21 and 28 MTAD showed more effective antibacterial action than NaOCl. In each group, the number of CFU increased significantly by time‐lapse (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the residual antibacterial activity of Tetraclean was significantly greater than MTAD and 5.25% NaOCl.     

The influence of bright light during the daytime upon circadian rhythm of core temperature and its implications for nocturnal sleep

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to investigate how bright light during the daytime could influence circadian rhythms of core temperature and nocturnal sleep. Seven females (age 20 ± 2 years) served as participants. The participants lived in the experimental unit for 4 days and were exposed to either 6000 lx (bright) or 200 lx (dim) light during the daytime. Rectal temperature (T_re) was measured during the experimental period. Subjective alertness was measured by the Kansei-gakuin Sleeping Scale five times a day. The minimum T_re was significantly lower after bright exposure ( P < 0.05). The T_re fell rapidly after bright exposure before they retired ( P < 0.05) and increased more rapidly during bright light after they woke up ( P < 0.05). The morning wakefulness under bright exposure was more active than under dim exposure ( P < 0.05). The melatonin secretion at wake up during bright exposure was significantly lower than during dim exposure ( P < 0.05). Exposure to bright light during daytime lowered the nocturnal level of T_re, its evening fall was faster and the morning rise quicker. This suggests that indoor light during daytime should be bright enough to promote healthy sleep at night.     

Transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGFB1) and peak bone mass: association between intragenic polymorphisms and quantitative ultrasound of the heel

Background  

Variance of peak bone mass has a substantial genetic component, as has been shown with twin studies examining quantitative measures such as bone mineral density (BMD) and quantitative ultrasound (QUS). Evidence implicating single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGFB1) gene is steadily accumulating. However, a comprehensive look at multiple SNPs at this locus for their association with indices of peak bone mass has not been reported.