Antioxidant treatment prevented late memory impairment in an animal model of sepsis

OBJECTIVE: Assess the effect of antioxidant treatment on late memory impairment and early hippocampus oxidative stress after cecal ligation and perforation. SUBJECTS: Male Wistar rats. INTERVENTIONS: Rats underwent sham operation or cecal ligation and perforation. Animals that underwent cecal ligation and perforation were divided into groups: 1) treated with basic support (50 mL/kg saline, 30 mg/kg ceftriaxone, and 25 mg/kg clindamycin every 6 hrs), 2) treated with basic support plus N-acetylcysteine (20 mg/kg N-acetylcysteine at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 hrs after cecal ligation and perforation), 3) treated with basic support plus deferoxamine (20 mg/kg deferoxamine at 3 and 24 hrs after cecal ligation and perforation), 4) treated with basic support plus N-acetylcysteine and deferoxamine, or 5) treated with N-acetylcysteine plus deferoxamine. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: On days 10 and 30 after surgery, the animals underwent behavioral tasks: inhibitory avoidance task, habituation to an open field, and continuous multiple-trials step-down inhibitory avoidance task. The sepsis group showed significantly decreased performance in latency retention compared with the sham group in the inhibitory avoidance task. In the open-field task, the sepsis group presented memory impairment after sepsis. In the continuous multiple-trials step-down inhibitory avoidance task, the sepsis group showed a significant increase in the number of training trials required to reach the acquisition criterion. All these memory impairments were prevented by N-acetylcysteine plus deferoxamine treatment, but not its isolate use. In addition, the combined use of antioxidants attenuated oxidative damage in hippocampus 6 hrs after sepsis induction. CONCLUSIONS: Antioxidant treatment prevented the development of late cognitive deficits in an animal model of sepsis.     

Short-term inhalation study of graphene oxide nanoplates

Graphene oxides possess unique physicochemical properties with important potential applications in electronics, pharmaceuticals, and medicine. However, the toxicity following inhalation exposure to graphene oxide has not yet been clarified. Therefore, this study conducted a short-term graphene oxide inhalation toxicity analysis using a nose-only inhalation exposure system and male Sprague–Dawley rats. A total of four groups (15 rats per group) were exposed: (1) control (fresh air), (2) low concentration (0.76?±?0.16?mg/m³), (3) moderate concentration (2.60?±?0.19?mg/m³), and (4) high concentration (9.78?±?0.29?mg/m³). The rats were exposed to graphene oxide for 6?h/day for 5 days, followed by recovery for 1, 3, and 21 days. No significant body or organ weight changes were noted after the short-term exposure or during the recovery period. Similarly, no significant systemic effects of toxicological importance were noted in the hematological assays, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) inflammatory markers, BAL fluid cytokines, or blood biochemical assays following the graphene oxide exposure or during the post-exposure observation period. Moreover, no significant differences were observed in the BAL cell differentials, such as lymphocytes, macrophages, or polymorphonuclear cells. Graphene oxide-ingested alveolar macrophages as a spontaneous clearance reaction were observed in the lungs of all the concentration groups from post 1?day to post 21 days. Histopathological examination of the liver and kidneys did not reveal any significant test-article-relevant histopathological lesions. Importantly, similar to previously reported graphene inhalation data, this short-term nose-only inhalation study found only minimal or unnoticeable graphene oxide toxicity in the lungs and other organs.     

The importance of microfluidics for the preparation of nanoparticles as advanced drug delivery systems

Introduction: Nanoparticles are anticipated to overcome persistent challenges in efficient drug delivery, but the limitations associated with conventional methods of preparation are resulting in slow translation from research to clinical applications. Due to their enormous potential, microfluidic technologies have emerged as an advanced approach for the development of drug delivery systems with well-defined physicochemical characteristics and in a reproducible manner.

Areas covered: This review provides an overview of microfluidic devices and materials used for their manufacturing, together with the flow patterns and regimes commonly used for nanoparticle preparation. Additionally, the different geometries used in droplet microfluidics are reviewed, with particular attention to the co-flow geometry used for the production of nanoparticles. Finally, this review summarizes the main and most recent nanoparticulate systems prepared using microfluidics, including drug nanosuspensions, polymeric, lipid, structured, and theranostic nanoparticles.

Expert opinion: The production of nanoparticles at industrial scale is still a challenge, but the microfluidic technologies bring exciting opportunities to develop drug delivery systems that can be engineered in an easy, cost-effective and reproducible manner. As a highly interdisciplinary research field, more efforts and general acceptance are needed to allow for the translation of nanoparticulate drug delivery systems from academic research to the clinical practice.     

The relationship between smartphone addiction predisposition and impulsivity among Korean smartphone users

Background: The smartphone ownership rate has been growing steeply worldwide, and there are various adverse effects of smartphone overuse. Previous studies suggest that adolescents are vulnerable to addiction because they lack the ability to control impulsive behavior. However, only a few studies have investigated psychological factors related to smartphone addiction predisposition (SAP) among adolescents. This study compared the prevalence of SAP in adolescents and adults and investigated associations between impulsivity and SAP.

Methods: A total of 7003 participants answered the entire set of questionnaires. Participants completed self-report Korean questionnaires regarding demographic characteristics, level of SAP, and trait impulsivity. They were divided into three groups based on age: an adolescent group (14–18?years old), an early adulthood group (19–25?years old), and an adulthood group (over 26?years old). SAP was assessed with the Smartphone Addiction Proneness Scale (SAPS), and impulsivity was assessed with Dickman’s Impulsivity Inventory (DII).

Results: The level of SAP was significantly different between age groups, with the adolescent group having the highest percentage of SAP. Dysfunctional DII score was highest in the adolescent group, and there was a significant difference between the adolescent group and the other two age groups. Moreover, the higher the level of SAP, the greater the dysfunctional impulsivity score.

Conclusions: Result suggests that adolescents are vulnerable to SAP, which is similar to substance addiction and other types of behavioral addiction. In addition, impulsivity may be one of the factors contributing to this vulnerability, as it does to other addictions.     

Enlightenment about the new Architect-i2000 estradiol (Abbott Laboratories) immunoassay during in vitro fertilization

OBJECTIVE: We assessed a new estradiol (E2) immunoassay on the Architect-i2000 (Abbott Laboratories) for monitoring ovulation stimulation for IVF-ET and re-establishing clinical cut-off points. The method has been modified to improve E2 measurements especially at normal and low concentrations. DESIGN AND METHOD: E2 was determined for 552 samples, from 83 women, presenting normal follicular status and undergoing 100 cycles of IVF treatment. We assessed the value of this assay for down-regulation of E2 concentration limit using gonadoliberin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa), and monitoring of the ovarian hyperstimulation, expected range of E2 per mature follicle prior to the administration of exogenous hCG and day 3 concentration limit. We compared results with our routine method (E2-6II Advia-Centaur; Siemens-Diagnostics) for which decision-making values were known. RESULTS: Considering E2 concentrations obtained with the new Architect-i2000 assay for patients treated with GnRHa for 2 weeks, the cutoff-point for ovarian down-regulation should be set down at 110 pmol/L to maintain 100% of sensitivity. Considering day 3 concentration limit determination, results were not significantly different from those obtained with our routine method. The mean E2 values per mature follicle fell into the range generally expected. CONCLUSION: E2 determination with the new E2 Architect-i2000 assay could be used to monitor ovulation, in patients undergoing IVF-ET, in combination with transvaginal ultrasound.     

The value of the political action committee: dollars and influence for nurse leaders

Nurse leaders play an important role in the shaping of healthcare policy and the care delivery models of the future. It is vital for nurse leaders to understand the role of money in politics and how donations to a candidate's campaigns can be beneficial in getting one's concerns addressed by Congress. The political action committee (PAC) is a major vehicle for campaign contributions for candidates from any party. This article will detail the following related to PACs: history and background information, government regulations, and why PACs are an important vehicle for nurse leaders to gain access and influence in Congress.     

Patients’ and parents’ views about lower limb orthopaedic surgery for ambulant children and young people with cerebral palsy: a qualitative evidence synthesis

PurposeThe article identifies the aspects of health and outcomes that are considered important from the perspective of ambulatory children with cerebral palsy (CP) and their parents regarding lower limb orthopaedic surgery and explores how they experience surgical interventions.MethodsFour databases (Embase, MEDLINE (Ovid), CINAHL and PsycINFO) were searched from inception to 11 April 2020. Studies were included if they: 1) they involved children or young adults diagnosed with ambulant CP or their family, 2) participants had experience with lower limb orthopaedic surgery and 3) studies employed qualitative research methods. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme was used to appraise identified studies. The ‘Best-fit framework’ synthesis approach was used by applying the International Classification of Functioning-Children and Youth (ICF–CY) linking rules and thematic synthesis. The review process was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.ResultsSix studies were included. Four themes were generated which were linked to the ICF–CY framework: Body function and structure, Activity and participation, Environmental factors, Personal factors, as well as non-ICF–CY themes including Emotional well-being and Goal setting. Important surgical outcomes identified were pain, fatigue, movement-related function, mobility, walking ability, community life, emotional well-being, and adequate provision of public and health services.ConclusionThese findings are important for understanding patient-centred outcomes in lower limb ortho-paedics surgery and providing focus for future interventional studies aimed at improving outcomes of importance to children with CP. These findings highlight the importance of long-term support to help people negotiate the challenge of surgical regimes and to achieve good outcomes after orthopaedic surgery. The outcomes identified will contribute to the development of a core outcome set in this field.Level of evidenceIII