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This study aimed to assess the administration technique of eye medications, its determinants and disposal practices among ophthalmic outpatients.
An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted.
Brhan Aini Ophthalmic National Referral Hospital in Asmara, Eritrea.
Samples of ophthalmic outpatients aged
Data were collected from August 2021 to September 2021, using an interview-based questionnaire. The collected data were entered and analysed using CSPro (V.7.3) and SPSS (V.26), respectively. Descriptive statistics and independent samples t-test were performed. P-values less than 0.05 were considered as significant.
A total of 333 respondents with a mean age of 56.4 (SD: 18.76) years were recruited in the study. More than half of the respondents (57.4%) did not have any information on the time interval between two successive eye medications. However, only 16.5% of the respondents managed to close their tear ducts after the administration of eye medication. The mean (SD) score for proper administration of eye medication was 4.16 (1.07) out of 7.0. Female sex (p=0.002), the absence of glaucoma (p=0.035) and the presence of cataract (p=0.014) were significant determinants of the proper administration technique of eye medication. The most favoured disposal practice for unused and/or expired eye medications was disposing of regular garbage (79.9%).
This research revealed that there was an inappropriate administration technique and disposal practices of eye medications among ophthalmic outpatients. This requires immediate attention from policy-makers, programme managers and healthcare professionals to ensure the appropriate use of eye medications by the patients.
by Dino Bekric, Tobias Kiesslich, Matthias Ocker, Martina Winklmayr, Markus Ritter, Heidemarie Dobias, Marlena Beyreis, Daniel Neureiter, Christian Mayr
IntroductionBiliary tract cancer (BTC) is a lethal disease with a bad overall survivability, partly arising from inadequate therapeutic alternatives, detection at a belated stage, and a resistance to common therapeutic approaches. Ferroptosis is a form of programmed cell death that depends on reactive oxygen species (ROS) and iron, causing excessive peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Therefore, the objective of this investigation is, whether ferroptosis can be induced in BTC in vitro and whether this induction is dependent on specific molecular markers.
MethodsThe study conducted resazurin assay and IC25/50 calculation to explore the possible cytotoxic outcomes of different classes of ferroptosis-inducing substances (FINs) on a comprehensive in vitro model of 11 BTC cell lines. Combinatory treatments with different cell death inhibitors were performed to evaluate the magnitude of ferroptosis induction. To ascertain whether ferroptotic cell death occurred, liperfluo and iron assay kits were employed to evaluate lipid ROS and intracellular iron abundance. Potential biomarkers of ferroptosis sensitivity were then assessed via western blot analysis, a rtPCR panel and functional assay kits.
ResultsThe study found that different FINs reduced cell viability in a cell line-dependent manner. In addition, we measured increased lipid ROS and intracellular Fe2+ levels upon exposure to FINs in BTC cells. Combining FINs with inhibitors of ferroptosis, necroptosis or apoptosis suggests the occurrence of ferroptotic events in BTC cell lines CCC-5, HuH-28 and KKU-055. Furthermore, we found that BTC cells display a heterogeneous profile regarding different molecular genes/markers of ferroptosis. Subsequent analysis revealed that sensitivity of BTC cells towards IKE and RSL3 positively correlated with CD71 and SLC7A11 protein expression.
ConclusionOur results demonstrate that induction of ferroptosis is a promising approach to inhibit BTC cell growth and that the sensitivity of BTC cells towards ferroptosis induction might be dependent on molecular markers such as CD71 and SLC7A11.
by Andreas W. Oehm, Yury Zablotski, Amely Campe, Martina Hoedemaker, Christina Strube, Andrea Springer, Daniela Jordan, Gabriela Knubben-Schweizer
Fasciola hepatica is an internal parasite of both human and veterinary relevance. In order to control fasciolosis, a multitude of attempts to predict the risk of infection such as risk maps or forecasting models have been developed. These attempts mainly focused on the influence of geo-climatic and meteorological features. Predicting bovine fasciolosis on farm level taking into account farm-specific settings yet remains challenging. In the present study, a new methodology for this purpose, a data-driven machine learning approach using a random forest classification algorithm was applied to a cross-sectional data set of farm characteristics, management regimes, and farmer aspects within two structurally different dairying regions in Germany in order to identify factors relevant for the occurrence of F. hepatica that could predict farm-level bulk tank milk positivity. The resulting models identified farm-specific key aspects in regard to the presence of F. hepatica. In study region North, farm-level production parameters (farm-level milk yield, farm-level milk fat, farm-level milk protein), leg hygiene, body condition (prevalence of overconditioned and underconditioned cows, respectively) and pasture access were identified as features relevant in regard to farm-level F. hepatica positivity. In study region South, pasture access together with farm-level lameness prevalence, farm-level prevalence of hock lesions, herd size, parity, and farm-level milk fat appeared to be important covariates. The stratification of the analysis by study region allows for the extrapolation of the results to similar settings of dairy husbandry. The local, region-specific modelling of F. hepatica presence in this work contributes to the understanding of on-farm aspects of F. hepatica appearance. The applied technique represents a novel approach in this context to model epidemiological data on fasciolosis which allows for the identification of farms at risk and together with additional findings in regard to the epidemiology of fasciolosis, can facilitate risk assessment and deepen our understanding of on-farm drivers of the occurrence of F. hepatica.Housing and the ageing population are issues that pose challenges for social, health and economic policies. Therefore, there is a need for more knowledge on how to design housing and public infrastructure to improve the social engagement and well-being of older adults who age in place. This project aims to provide an overview of the existing literature on design features that support socially sustainable living environments for older adults.
A systematic scoping methodology was used to identify and summarise the findings. Four databases were searched (CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), Scopus, Medline and Embase) to identify the articles. Articles were included if published in English in the last 15 years (eg, from January 2008 to June 2023) without restricting the study location or country. Articles were included if they were based on empirical qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method data. The results of the review will be discussed with a panel of 15 stakeholders (n=15) from Canada, Sweden and the Netherlands (five per country). The interdisciplinary stakeholders will have expertise in housing, architecture, engineering and social and health services. The consultations will provide content expertise to the literature findings and an opportunity to build evidence-based solutions that support the design of socially sustainable living environments for older persons.
Ethical clearance for this project has been granted by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority for Dalarna University (dnr 2023-01543-01) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Sciences (NES) Ethics Committee at the University of Twente in the Netherlands (dnr 230407) has approved this project. Stakeholders will be asked to provide signed consent to participate in the study. The results of this project will be disseminated through web seminars, community advisory groups, peer-reviewed journals and policy documents to support the development of housing and public health policy.
Objetivo: comprender la percepción de las enfermeras que actúan en la Unidad de choque en relación a cuidado durante la terapia fibrinolítica. Método: Estudio cualitativo, de aproximación Etnográfico, según la etnoenfermería, de la teoría de Leininger. Participaron 34 enfermeras actoras en una unidad de Choque para adulto de un hospital general mexicano. Los datos se consiguieron a través de entrevista semi-estructurada, observación participante, se optó por el análisis de contenido que permitió la elaboración de las categorías que facilitaran la comprensión de los datos. Resultados: El análisis reveló los temas: Una experiencia en el tiempo del otro, lo científico y humanístico con una luz en el camino paradigmático; oportunidad desde la naturaleza de la vida y el cuidados desde la visión sensible mi lado humano. Conclusión: es perceptible el cuidado humano por la creencia, motivada desde las experiencias vividas en las unidades de terapia intensiva, en este escenario se requiere impulsar estudios transculturales hospitalarios, por la riqueza científica de las intervenciones de enfermería en la unidad de choque, eso fortalece los cuidados como una luz en el camino.
To explore the moral dimension of family experiences with being involved in the care of their loved one with dementia in the nursing home, using the care ethical framework of Tronto.
This qualitative study used a care ethical approach in which empirical data and care ethical theory were dialectically related and mutually informing.
Fifteen close family members of nursing home residents with dementia were interviewed between February 2020 and October 2020. Forty-two interviews were conducted, based on a semi-structured open-ended design. A thematic narrative approach combined with the five phases of care as defined by Tronto was used to analyse the empirical data. Subsequently, Tronto's identified ethical qualities were used to identify the moral dimension of these empirical findings.
We found that in the care process (1) family can find it difficult to recognize their loved one's care needs; (2) both family and staff are reluctant to discuss the allocation of responsibilities with each other; (3) family sometimes feels insecure when it comes to connecting with their loved one; (4) family is often reluctant to provide feedback to staff when they are critical about the care that has been given; and (5) family is generally mild in judging staff, due to staff shortages. The care ethical interpretation of these findings showed that the moral qualities of attentiveness, responsibility, competence, responsiveness, and solidarity are under pressure to a certain extent.
Family experiences moral distress during the care process, which hinders family involvement in nursing homes for people with dementia.
Nursing home staff can look for and pilot strategies focused on supporting families to act more in accordance with the moral qualities that are under pressure. This can improve family involvement in practice.
No Patient/Public Contribution.
Nursing home staff paying more attention to families' emotional struggles related to the decline of their loved one, could help families to be more attentive to noticing true care needs of the resident. Both family and nursing home staff should take more often initiatives to evaluate the division of care responsibilities with each other. Nursing home staff should help family connect with their loved one during their visits if they experience difficulties in doing so. Nursing home staff taking more often initiatives to contact family and ask them how they perceive the care for their loved one, can positively affect the responsiveness of both family and staff. It would be helpful if nursing home management could ensure the presence of sufficient and qualified staff so that the first four phases of the care process are not hindered by the lack of staff.
by Chalachew Kassaw, Valeriia Demareva
BackgroundAcademic success is a measure of students’ ability to attain their educational objectives, often assessed through regular evaluations or examinations. To establish effective policies and programs that align with academic accomplishments, conducting comprehensive data analysis is pivotal. Hence, this systematic review aimed to synthesize the factors impeding the academic achievements of Ethiopian students in higher education.
MethodsA comprehensive review was conducted on studies involving Ethiopian university students from 2013 to 2022. The review encompassed 24 papers that were gathered from different databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, African Journals Online, Scopus, and Web of Science.
ResultsThe findings of this research revealed that inadequate classroom environments, experiencing dysmenorrhea, and engaging in excessive social media usage were all linked to a decline in academic performance. Conversely, adopting healthy sleep habits, achieving high scores in entrance exams, and avoiding recent substance abuse were all factors positively influencing academic success. In addition, there was a positive correlation between academic excellence and being a health science college student and age range of 20 to 24 years old.
ConclusionTo enhance academic performance, it is crucial to address the negative factors identified, such as inadequate classroom environments, dysmenorrhea, and excessive social media usage, while promoting positive factors like healthy sleep habits, high scores in exams, and avoiding substance abuse. Additionally, being a health science college student and belonging to the age range of 20 to 24 were found to be associated with academic excellence.
by Andreas W. Oehm, Yury Zablotski, Martina Hoedemaker, Amely Campe, Christina Strube, Daniela Jordan, Andrea Springer, Markus Klawitter, Gabriela Knubben-Schweizer
Fasciola hepatica is one of the economically most important endoparasites in cattle production. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the relevance of production level on the associations of on-farm presence of F. hepatica with farm-level milk yield, milk fat, and milk protein in Holstein cows, a specialised dairy breed, and in Simmental cows, a dual purpose breed. Furthermore, we investigated whether differential associations were present depending on breed. Data from 560 dairy farms across Germany housing 93,672 cows were analysed. The presence of F. hepatica antibodies was determined via ELISA on bulk tank milk samples. Quantile regression was applied to model the median difference in milk yield, milk fat, and milk protein depending on the interaction of breed and fluke occurrence. Whereas a reduction in milk yield (-1,206 kg, p F. hepatica positive German Holstein farms, only milk fat (-33.8 kg, p = 0.01) and milk protein (-22.6 kg, p = 0.03) were affected on F. hepatica positive German Simmental farms. Subsequently, production traits were modelled within each of the two breeds for low, medium, and high producing farms in the presence of F. hepatica antibodies and of confounders. On Holstein farms, the presence of F. hepatica seropositivity was associated with lower production, while on German Simmental farms such an association was less evident. This work demonstrates that production level is relevant when assessing the associations between the exposure to F. hepatica with production characteristics. Moreover, both models indicate a breed dependence. This could point towards a differential F. hepatica resilience of specialised dairy breeds in comparison with dual purpose breeds.
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