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Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MASLD) is the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome and the leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. Given that there is no pharmacological treatment for MASLD, it is imperative to understand whether lifestyle modifications may improve biochemical and pathological outcomes. One commonly proposed dietary modification is the Mediterranean diet; however, vegetarianism may also be a promising intervention. Vegetarianism has been shown to be associated with reduced morbidity and mortality in metabolic syndrome outcomes in coronary artery disease and diabetes; however, the relationship between vegetarian diet and MASLD is less clear. In this scoping review, we will provide a comprehensive overview of the current body of evidence related to a vegetarian diet and MASLD.
The aim of this scoping review is to describe and summarise the current body of evidence related to MASLD and a vegetarian diet. This review will be conducted using Arksey and O’Malley’s framework. The literature review will be conducted using the following databases: SCOPUS, Web of Science, CINAHL-Plus, Cochrane Library and Medline. No restriction will be made on publication date. Included studies will encompass clinical trials and observational designs that examine effects or association of vegetarian diet in adults (≥16 years) and report on the incidence, prevalence or progression of MASLD. Grey literature, non-human studies and articles focusing on changes in a specific food or nutraceutical will be excluded. Articles must have an English-language abstract available to be considered for inclusion. Screening and data extraction will be conducted by two independent reviewers. The findings will be summarised with descriptive statistics.
Approval from a medical ethics committee is not required for this review. Once the review is complete, the findings will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal.
by Harikrishnan Vijayakumar Sreelatha, Hamza Palekkodan, Ansar Fasaludeen, Lissy K. Krishnan, Klas S. P. Abelson
Usage and reporting of analgesia in animal models of spinal cord injury (SCI) have been sparse and requires proper attention. The majority of experimental SCI research uses rats as an animal model. This study aimed to probe into the effects of some commonly used regimens with NSAIDs and opioids on well-being of the rats as well as on the functional outcome of the model. This eight-week study used forty-two female Wistar rats (Crl: WI), randomly and equally divided into 6 treatment groups, viz. I) tramadol (5mg/kg) and buprenorphine (0.05mg/kg); II) carprofen (5mg/kg) and buprenorphine (0.05mg/kg); III) carprofen (5mg/kg); IV) meloxicam (1mg/kg) and buprenorphine (0.05mg/kg); V) meloxicam (1mg/kg); and VI) no analgesia (0.5 ml sterile saline). Buprenorphine was administered twice daily whereas other treatments were given once daily for five days post-operatively. Injections were given subcutaneously. All animals underwent dental burr-assisted laminectomy at the T10-T11 vertebra level. A custom-built calibrated spring-loaded 200 kilodynes force deliverer was used to induce severe SCI. Weekly body weight scores, Rat Grimace Scale (RGS), and dark-phase home cage activity were used as markers for well-being. Weekly Basso Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) scores served as markers for functionality together with Novel Object Recognition test (NOR) at week 8 and terminal histopathology using area of vacuolisation and live neuronal count from the ventral horns of spinal cord. It was concluded that the usage of analgesia improved animal wellbeing while having no effects on the functional aspects of the animal model in comparison to the animals that received no analgesics.by Lakmini Kosgahakumbura, Jayani Gamage, Luke P. Robertson, Taj Muhammad, Björn Hellman, Ulf Göransson, Prabath Jayasinghe, Chamari Hettiarachchi, Paco Cárdenas, Sunithi Gunasekera
Sri Lanka is a biodiversity hotspot and one of the richest geographical locations of marine sponges in the Indian ocean. However, the most extensive taxonomical study on Sri Lankan sponge biodiversity dates back ~100 years and only a limited number of studies have been conducted on sponge natural products. In the current study, 35 marine sponge specimens (collected from 16 sponge habitats around Sri Lanka) were identified, microfractionated and evaluated for antibacterial and anticancer assays. In total, 30 species were characterized, of which 19 species gave extracts with antibacterial and/or cytotoxic activities. Microfractionated organic extract of Aciculites orientalis gave the most potent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and strongest lymphoma cell toxicity was exhibited by the organic extract of Acanthella sp. Guided by the molecular ion peaks in the bioactive fractions, large-scale extraction of Stylissa massa led to the isolation of three bromopyrrole alkaloids, sceptrin, hymenin and manzacidin A/C. Of these, sceptrin exhibited broad spectrum antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli and S. aureus (MIC of 62.5 μM against both species). Based on natural product literature, seven promising species were identified as understudied. Their further exploration may lead to the discovery of structurally novel compounds.Middle-aged multidomain risk reduction interventions targeting modifiable risk factors for dementia may delay or prevent a third of dementia cases in later life. We describe the protocol of a cluster randomised controlled trial (cRCT), HAPPI MIND (Holistic Approach in Primary care for PreventIng Memory Impairment aNd Dementia). HAPPI MIND will evaluate the efficacy of a multidomain, nurse-led, mHealth supported intervention for assessing dementia risk and reducing associated risk factors in middle-aged adults in the Australian primary care setting.
General practice clinics (n≥26) across Victoria and New South Wales, Australia, will be recruited and randomised. Practice nurses will be trained to implement the HAPPI MIND intervention or a brief intervention. Patients of participating practices aged 45–65 years with ≥2 potential dementia risk factors will be identified and recruited (approximately 15 patients/clinic). Brief intervention participants receive a personalised report outlining their risk factors for dementia based on Australian National University Alzheimer’s Disease Risk Index (ANU-ADRI) scores, education booklet and referral to their general practitioner as appropriate. HAPPI MIND participants receive the brief intervention as well as six individualised dementia risk reduction sessions with a nurse trained in motivational interviewing and principles of behaviour change, a personalised risk reduction action plan and access to the purpose-built HAPPI MIND smartphone app for risk factor self-management. Follow-up data collection will occur at 12, 24 and 36 months. Primary outcome is ANU-ADRI score change at 12 months from baseline. Secondary outcomes include change in cognition, quality of life and individual risk factors of dementia.
Project approved by Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee (ID: 28273). Results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and at healthcare conferences. If effective in reducing dementia risk, the HAPPI MIND intervention could be integrated into primary care, scaled up nationally and sustained over time.
ACTRN12621001168842.
People who are insecurely housed and use drugs are disproportionately affected by drug poisonings. Nurses are uniquely positioned to utilize harm reduction strategies to address the needs of the whole person. Needle debris encompasses drug paraphernalia discarded in public spaces. Studying needle debris provides a strategic opportunity to identify where drugs are being used and target public health strategies accordingly.
Our aim in this article is to illustrate how spatial video geonarratives (SVG) combined GPS technology interviews, and videos of locations with needle debris, can elicit valuable data for nursing research.
Using SVG required knowledge of how to collect data wearing cameras and practice sessions were necessary. A Miufly camera worn at waist height on a belt provided the stability to walk while interviewing stakeholders. We wore the cameras and conducted go-along interviews with outreach workers, while filming the built environment. Upon completion of data collection, both the interview and GPS information were analysed using Wordmapper software.
This methodology resulted in data presented uniquely in both a visual map and narrative. These data were richer than if a single modality had been used. These data highlighted specific contextual factors that were related to the location of needle debris, which created opportunities for nursing interventions to support people experiencing vulnerability.
To evaluate the attitudes of Indian nurses towards the importance of family involvement in nursing care and the association between nurse attitudes and sociodemographic characteristics.
Involving the family in the care process is crucial for delivering family- and patient-centred care and ensuring the best possible patient outcomes. Nevertheless, published literature revealed that the nurses may lack clarity regarding the role of family members in the patient's care, which in turn hinders families' participation in care.
Cross-sectional descriptive study. The STROBE checklist was used to report the present study.
A total of 203 Nurses participated in a prospective cross-sectional study between May 2022 and August 2022. They were recruited through convenience sampling from two tertiary care centres in India. A two-part questionnaire was used to gather the data; the first section contained questions for gathering sociodemographic information, and the second part contained the standardized FINC-NA scale.
The mean age of the nurses was (28.08 ± 4.722) years, and their median professional experience was 2.5 (1–5.5) years. Nurses' attitude regarding family's importance in patient care was found to be significantly associated (p ≤ .05) with education level, marital status, religion and hometown region.
In several items Indian nurses have positive attitudes towards family involvement in care but some of the lower scoring items can present opportunities for focused improvement. Continuing development programmes about family-centered care can constitute important strategies to improve the positive attitudes of nurses towards families in practice.
No patient or public contribution.
by Ajaya Basnet, Basanta Tamang, Mahendra Raj Shrestha, Lok Bahadur Shrestha, Junu Richhinbung Rai, Rajendra Maharjan, Sushila Dahal, Pradip Shrestha, Shiba Kumar Rai
IntroductionThe lack of standardized methods for detecting biofilms continues to pose a challenge to microbiological diagnostics since biofilm-mediated infections induce persistent and recurrent infections in humans that often defy treatment with common antibiotics. This study aimed to evaluate diagnostic parameters of four in vitro phenotypic biofilm detection assays in relation to antimicrobial resistance in aerobic clinical bacterial isolates.
MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, bacterial strains from clinical samples were isolated and identified following the standard microbiological guidelines. The antibiotic resistance profile was assessed through the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Biofilm formation was detected by gold standard tissue culture plate method (TCPM), tube method (TM), Congo red agar (CRA), and modified Congo red agar (MCRA). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 17.0, with a significant association considered at p Result
Among the total isolates (n = 226), TCPM detected 140 (61.95%) biofilm producers, with CoNS (9/9) (p Conclusion
It is suggested that TM be used for biofilm detection, after TCPM. Unlike MCRA, black pigmentation in colonies formed on CRA declined with time. MDR- and XDR-biofilm formers were frequent among the clinical isolates.
by Jaya M. Satagopan, Tina Dharamdasani, Shailja Mathur, Racquel E. Kohler, Elisa V. Bandera, Anita Y. Kinney
BackgroundSouth Asians are a rapidly growing population in the United States. Breast cancer is a major concern among South Asian American women, who are an understudied population. We established the South Asian Breast Cancer (SABCa) study in New Jersey during early 2020 to gain insights into their breast cancer-related health attitudes. Shortly after we started planning for the study, the COVID-19 disease spread throughout the world. In this paper, we describe our experiences and lessons learned from recruiting study participants by partnering with New Jersey’s community organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
MethodsWe used a cross-sectional design. We contacted 12 community organizations and 7 (58%) disseminated our study information. However, these organizations became considerably busy with pandemic-related needs. Therefore, we had to pivot to alternative recruitment strategies through community radio, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey’s Community Outreach and Engagement Program, and Rutgers Cooperative Extension’s community health programs. We recruited participants through these alternative strategies, obtained written informed consent, and collected demographic information using a structured survey.
ResultsTwenty five women expressed interest in the study, of which 22 (88%) participated. Nine (41%) participants learned about the study through the radio, 5 (23%) through these participants, 1 (4.5%) through a non-radio community organization, and 7 (32%) through community health programs. Two (9%) participants heard about the study from their spouse. All participants were born outside the US, their average age was 52.4 years (range: 39–72 years), and they have lived in the US for an average of 26 years (range: 5–51 years).
ConclusionPivoting to alternative strategies were crucial for successful recruitment. Findings suggest the significant potential of broadcast media for community-based recruitment. Family dynamics and the community’s trust in our partners also encouraged participation. Such strategies must be considered when working with understudied populations.
by Idham Jaya Ganda, Try Kartika Eka Putri, Syarifuddin Rauf, Amiruddin Laompo, Ninny Meutia Pelupessy, Sitti Aizah Lawang, Nadirah Rasyid Ridha, Bahrul Fikri, Muhammad Nasrum Massi
IntroductionDysregulated immune responses are developed in Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels are reflecting the severity of the clinical presentation. This study aimed to analyze IL-6 serum level, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), and Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) as risk factors for mortality in children with COVID-19.
MethodsThis prospective cohort study was conducted on children with COVID-19 infection confirmed by Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) who were admitted to infection center at Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital from September 2021 to September 2022. Subjects were selected using the consecutive sampling method.
ResultsA total of 2,060 COVID-19 RT-PCR tests were performed, and 1,065 children were confirmed positive. There were 291 cases that met the inclusion criteria, with 28.52 percent non-survives and 71.48% survives. The risk factors for mortality were IL-6, ARDS, AKI, Prothrombin Time / Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (PT/aPTT), oxygen saturation, Absolut lymphocyte count (ALC), leukocytes, Length of Stay (LOS), and nutritional status (p80.97 pg/ml with 93% sensitivity and 90% specificity. Area Under Curve was 0.981 (95% CI), 0.960–1.000). A multivariate analysis showed IL-6 levels with OR 18.570 (95% CI 5.320–64.803), ARDS with Odds Ratio (OR) 10.177, (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.310–9.040), and AKI with OR 3.220 (95% CI 1.070–10.362). A combination of increased IL-6, ARDS, and AKI can predict a mortality probability as high as 98.3%.
ConclusionIL-6, ARDS, and AKI are risk factors for mortality in children with COVID-19. IL-6 level was the highest mortality risk factor.
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