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A standardized wound infection model for antimicrobial testing of wound dressings in vitro

Abstract

To investigate the effectiveness of antimicrobial agents against wound infections, experiments using either 2D cultures with planktonic microorganisms or animal infection models are frequently carried out. However, the transferability of the results to human skin is limited by the lack of complexity of the 2D models or by the poor translation of the results from animal models. Hence, there is a need for wound infection models capable of assessing antimicrobial agents. In this study, an easily standardized wound infection model was established. This model consists of a mechanically wounded human skin model on a collagen matrix infected with various clinically relevant bacteria. Infection of the model led to recognition of the pathogens and induction of an inflammatory response. The untreated infection spread over time, causing significant tissue damage. By applying an antimicrobial-releasing wound dressing, the bacterial load could be reduced and the success of the treatment could be further measured by a decrease in the inflammatory reaction. In conclusion, this wound infection model can be used to evaluate new antimicrobial therapeutics as well as to study host-pathogen interactions.

Sustained Mood Improvement with Laughing Gas Exposure (SMILE): Study protocol for a randomized placebo-controlled pilot trial of nitrous oxide for treatment-resistant depression

by Karim S. Ladha, Jiwon Lee, Gabriella F. Mattina, Janneth Pazmino-Canizares, Duminda N. Wijeysundera, Fatemeh Gholamali Nezhad, Kaylyssa Philip, Vanessa K. Tassone, Fathima Adamsahib, Venkat Bhat, on behalf of the SMILE Study Investigators

Background

Nitrous oxide has shown potentially as an efficacious intervention for treatment-resistant depression, yet there remains insufficient evidence pertaining to repeated administration of nitrous oxide over time and active placebo-controlled studies with optimal blinding. Thus, we aim to examine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a six-week follow up study examining the effects of a 4 week course of weekly administered nitrous oxide as compared to the active placebo, midazolam.

Methods

In this randomized, active placebo-controlled, pilot trial, 40 participants with treatment-resistant depression will receive either inhaled nitrous oxide (1 hour at 50% concentration) plus intravenous saline (100mL) or inhaled oxygen (1 hour at 50% concentration) plus intravenous midazolam (0.02 mg/kg in 100mL, up to 2mg) once per week, for 4 consecutive weeks. Participants will be followed up for 6 weeks starting from the first treatment visit. Primary feasibility outcomes include recruitment rate, withdrawal rate, adherence, missing data, and adverse events. The primary exploratory clinical outcome is change in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score at day 42 of the study. Other exploratory clinical outcomes include remission (defined as MADRS score Discussion

This pilot study will provide valuable information regarding the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of repeated nitrous oxide administration over time for treatment-resistant depression. If feasible, this study will inform the design of a future definitive trial of nitrous oxide as an efficacious and fast-acting treatment for treatment-resistant depression.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04957368. Registered on July 12, 2021.

Coeliac disease in the Trondelag Health Study (HUNT), Norway, a population-based cohort of coeliac disease patients

Por: Lukina · P. · Andersen · I. L. · Eggen · P. T. · Mjones · P. G. · Ronne · E. · Bolstad · N. · Klaasen · R. A. · Warren · D. J. · Iversen · R. · Hveem · K. · Bernklev · T. · Jelsness-Jorgensen · L. P. · Pedersen · L. · Jonkers · I. · Lagergren · P. · Sollid · L. M. · Lundin · K. · Ness-Je
Purpose

Coeliac disease (CD) is a common disorder and affects about 1% of the population worldwide. CD in the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) is a population-based cohort study which was established to provide new knowledge about CD that can improve the diagnostics and management, prevent the onset or progression and expand the knowledge about the role of genetics of the disease.

Participants

The cohort is based on the fourth wave of the population-based HUNT study (HUNT4), Norway, performed during 2017–2019, also including linkage to hospital records and the Norwegian Patient Registry (NPR). A total of 54 541 HUNT4 participants with available sera were screened for CD by serology. All seropositive participants were invited to a clinical assessment, including endoscopy with duodenal biopsies, during 2019–2023.

Findings to date

A total of 1107 HUNT4 participants (2%) were seropositive for CD and 1048 were eligible for clinical assessment, including biopsy. Of these, 724 participants attended the clinical assessment and 482 were identified with CD. In addition, 371 participants with CD were identified through the hospital records and NPR. In total, 853 participants in HUNT4 with biopsy-verified CD diagnosis were identified.

Future plans

All participants in the study will be invited to a follow-up assessment after at least 1 year, including repeated standard serological testing, endoscopy and tissue sampling. The collected data and material will be used to establish the true population-based prevalence of CD. The consequences of CD, including symptoms, deficiencies and comorbidity, will be investigated and possible triggers and predictors, will be studied. With access to serum samples from the previous HUNT surveys in HUNT Biobank, serological signs of CD in prediagnostic samples of seropositive individuals will be used. Genetic studies will identify new CD markers, assess genotype–phenotype links and explore gene–environment correlations.

Registration

clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT04041622.

Perceived quality of life and associated factors in long COVID syndrome among older Brazilians: A cross‐sectional study

Abstract

Aims and objectives

This paper aims to: (a) determine the personal, sociodemographic, clinical, behavioural, and social characteristics of older Brazilians with clinical evidence of long COVID; (b) evaluate perceived quality of life and determine its association with personal, sociodemographic, behavioural, clinical and social variables; and (c) assess significant predictors of high perceived QoL.

Background

Given the inherent vulnerabilities of the ageing process, the older people are an at-risk group for both contagion of SARS-CoV-2 and the perpetuation of residual symptoms after infection, the so-called long COVID or post-COVID syndrome.

Design

A cross-sectional survey design using the STROBE checklist.

Methods

Brazilian older people with long COVID syndrome (n = 403) completed a phone survey measuring personal, sociodemographic, behavioural, clinical, and social characteristics, and perceived Quality of Life (QoL). Data were collected from June 2021–March 2022. A multiple linear regression model was performed to identify salient variables associated with high perceived QoL.

Results

The mean age of participants was 67.7 ± 6.6 years old. The results of the multivariate regression model showed that race, home ownership, daily screen time, musculoskeletal and anxiety symptoms, and work situation were the significant predictors of QoL among COVID-19 survivors.

Conclusions

Knowledge about the persistence of physical, emotional, and social symptoms of COVID-19 can help nurses and other healthcare providers to improve the management of survivors, bringing benefits to the whole society.

Relevance to clinical practice

Given the novelty of long-COVID and its heterogeneous trajectory, interventions focusing on the repercussions and requirements unique to more vulnerable older persons should be developed and these aspects should be included in public health recommendations and policymakers' concerns.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution was required to design, to outcome measures or undertake this research. Patients/members of the public contributed only to the data collection.

Support, networks, and relationships: Findings from a mixed-methods evaluation of a mentorship programme for early career women researchers in sexual and reproductive health and rights

by Muhammad Asim, Peter Muriuki Gatheru, Joy J. Chebet, Mehr G. Shah, Anna Thorson, Vanessa Brizuela

Low research output among women researchers in health research has been linked to inadequate mentorship opportunities for early career women researchers and particularly in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) field. Mentorship has been recognized as a contributor to strengthening research capacity and as beneficial for both mentors and mentees. Women researchers oftentimes experience negative impacts of organizational and structural gender inequities related to formal and informal mentoring. In 2020, the UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction at WHO launched a mentorship programme for early career SRHR women researchers from low- and middle-income countries. The programme sought to provide professional skill-building, promote and share networking opportunities, and offer support in navigating personal and professional life. We conducted a convergent parallel mixed-methods evaluation of the 2020 pilot programme, which included 26 participants, through an online survey and semi-structured in-depth interviews (IDIs). Data collection occurred between March and May 2022. Nineteen responded to the online survey (12 mentees, 7 mentors) and 11 IDIs (7 mentees, 4 mentors) were completed. Based on a preliminary framework, we used deductive and inductive methods to identify six themes: views on mentorship; reasons for applying and expectations of participation in the programme; preferred aspects of programme implementation; challenges with the programme implementation; perceived lasting benefits of the programme; and recommendations for improvement. All participants found the initial training useful, most discussed work-life prioritization throughout the mentorship relationship, and most planned to continue with the relationship. There appear to be ample benefits to mentorship, especially when planned and implemented in a structured manner. These attributes can be particularly beneficial when they are conceived as a two-way relationship of mutual learning and support, and especially for women at the start of their research careers as they navigate structural gender inequities.

Medium-term storage of calf beddings affects bacterial community and effectiveness to inactivate zoonotic bacteria

by Delphine Rapp, Colleen Ross, Vanessa Cave, Paul Maclean, Ruy Jauregui, Gale Brightwell

Land-spreading of animal faecal wastes -such as animal beddings- can introduce zoonotic enteropathogens into the food system environment. The study evaluated the effectiveness of animal beddings naturally contaminated by calf manure to reduce E. coli O157:H7 or Salmonella enterica. The two pathogens were introduced separately as a four strains-cocktail and at high (>6.5 Log10 g-1) concentration into bedding materials, and their inactivation over a 10 weeks-period was monitored by using a Most Probable Number (MPN) enumeration method. Inactivation of E. coli O157:H7 was more effective in the bedding inoculated immediately after collection from calf pens than in the beddings inoculated after a 2 months-pre-storage period: E. coli O157:H7 levels were reduced by 6.6 Log10 g-1 in unstored bedding (0.5 Log10 g-1 recovered; 95%CI: 0.0–1.2), and by 4.9 Log10 g-1 in pre-stored bedding (2.2 Log10 g-1 recovered; 95%CI: 1.5–2.8) with a significant (pS. enterica was inactivated less effectively as counts were reduced by one order of magnitude, with no significant difference in inactivation between unstored and pre-stored beddings. Low levels of naturally occurring E. coli O157 and Salmonella spp. were detected in the non-inoculated beddings, as well as in the straw prior to use in the animal facility. To better understand the possible biological processes involved, the bacterial community present in the beddings was characterised by short-read 16S rRNA sequencing. Pre-storage of the bedding affected the composition but not the diversity of the bacterial community. Analyses of the key bacterial phyla suggested that the presence of a diverse and stable bacterial community might facilitate inactivation of the introduced pathogens, and a possible role of bacterial orders associated with lignocellulolytic resources. Overall, the study contributed to the understanding of the fate of zoonotic bacteria introduced in animal beddings during storage and identified bedding storage practices pre-and post-use in animal facilities that could be important to prevent the risk of zoonosis dissemination to the environment or to the dairy herds.

Cuidado de la familia al niño en una Unidad de Terapia Intensiva Pediátrica

Este estudio tiene el objetivo de conocer el cuidado dispensado por el familiar al niño internado en la Unidad de Terapia Intensiva Pediátrica (UTIP). Se trata de una investigación descriptiva y exploratoria con abordaje cualitativo, desarrollada en una UTIP de un hospital del sur de Rio Grande do Sul / Brasil. Participaron 15 familiares cuidadores de niños. La recolección ocurrió entre diciembre / 2017 a enero / 2018, por medio de una entrevista semiestructurada que ocurrió después de la aprobación del Comité de Ética en Investigación de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Federal de Pelotas (UFPel), bajo el parecer nº 2.416.925. Los datos fueron interpretados según el análisis de contenido temático. Se elaboró ​​dos categorías: el cuidado prestado por los familiares dentro de una UTIP; Relación establecida por el equipo de salud de la UTIP con el familiar cuidador y el niño. La familia ofrece al niño un cuidado basado en el amor, cariño y calidez, expuestos al realizar acciones como cambiar los pañales, auxiliar en el baño y en curativos. De la misma forma el cuidado recibido por los familiares por parte del equipo de salud se mostró importante para facilitar el proceso de adaptación a la situación vivida y la continuidad del cuidado del familiar al niño.

Assessment of oligomerization of bacterial micro-compartment shell components with the tripartite GFP reporter technology

by Lucie Barthe, Vanessa Soldan, Luis F. Garcia-Alles

Bacterial micro-compartments (BMC) are complex macromolecular assemblies that participate in varied metabolic processes in about 20% of bacterial species. Most of these organisms carry BMC genetic information organized in operons that often include several paralog genes coding for components of the compartment shell. BMC shell constituents can be classified depending on their oligomerization state as hexamers (BMC-H), pentamers (BMC-P) or trimers (BMC-T). Formation of hetero-oligomers combining different protein homologs is theoretically feasible, something that could ultimately modify BMC shell rigidity or permeability, for instance. Despite that, it remains largely unknown whether hetero-oligomerization is a widespread phenomenon. Here, we demonstrated that the tripartite GFP (tGFP) reporter technology is an appropriate tool that might be exploited for such purposes. Thus, after optimizing parameters such as the size of linkers connecting investigated proteins to GFP10 or GFP11 peptides, the type and strength of promoters, or the impact of placing coding cassettes in the same or different plasmids, homo-oligomerization processes could be successfully monitored for any of the three BMC shell classes. Moreover, the screen perfectly reproduced published data on hetero-association between couples of CcmK homologues from Syn. sp. PCC6803, which were obtained following a different approach. This study paves the way for mid/high throughput screens to characterize the extent of hetero-oligomerization occurrence in BMC-possessing bacteria, and most especially in organisms endowed with several BMC types and carrying numerous shell paralogs. On the other hand, our study also unveiled technology limitations deriving from the low solubility of one of the components of this modified split-GFP approach, the GFP1-9.

Staff perceptions towards virtual reality-motivated treadmill exercise for care home residents: a qualitative feedback study with key stakeholders and follow-up interview with technology developer

Por: Bradwell · H. L. · Cooper · L. · Edwards · K. J. · Baxter · R. · Tomaz · S. A. · Ritchie · J. · Gaudl · S. · Veliz-Reyes · A. · Ryde · G. C. · Krizaj · T. · Warren · A. · Chatterjee · A. · Willis · K. · Haynes · R. · Hennessy · C. H. · Whittaker · A. C. · Asthana · S. · Jones · R. B. · On
Objectives

Health and care resources are under increasing pressure, partly due to the ageing population. Physical activity supports healthy ageing, but motivating exercise is challenging. We aimed to explore staff perceptions towards a virtual reality (VR) omnidirectional treadmill (MOTUS), aimed at increasing physical activity for older adult care home residents.

Design

Interactive workshops and qualitative evaluation.

Settings

Eight interactive workshops were held at six care homes and two university sites across Cornwall, England, from September to November 2021.

Participants

Forty-four staff participated, including care home, supported living, clinical care and compliance managers, carers, activity coordinators, occupational therapists and physiotherapists.

Interventions

Participants tried the VR treadmill system, followed by focus groups exploring device design, potential usefulness or barriers for care home residents. Focus groups were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. We subsequently conducted a follow-up interview with the technology developer (September 2022) to explore the feedback impact.

Results

The analysis produced seven key themes: anticipated benefits, acceptability, concerns of use, concerns of negative effects, suitability/unsuitability, improvements and current design. Participants were generally positive towards VR to motivate care home residents’ physical activity and noted several potential benefits (increased exercise, stimulation, social interaction and rehabilitation). Despite the reported potential, staff had safety concerns for frail older residents due to their standing position. Participants suggested design improvements to enhance safety, usability and accessibility. Feedback to the designers resulted in the development of a new seated VR treadmill to address concerns about falls while maintaining motivation to exercise. The follow-up developer interview identified significant value in academia–industry collaboration.

Conclusion

The use of VR-motivated exercise holds the potential to increase exercise, encourage reminiscence and promote meaningful activity for care home residents. Staff concerns resulted in a redesigned seated treadmill for those too frail to use the standing version. This novel study demonstrates the importance of stakeholder feedback in product design.

Advanced nurse and midwife practitioners' experience of interprofessional collaboration when implementing evidence‐based practice into routine care: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

Abstract

Aim

To understand advanced nurse and midwife practitioners' experience of interprofessional collaboration in implementing evidence-based practice into routine care.

Design

A qualitative interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Methods

A purposeful sample of 10 Registered Advanced Nurse and Midwife Practitioners from a range of practice settings in the Republic of Ireland participated in semi-structured interviews over a 10-month timeframe. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and data were analysed using a multi-stage approach in line with guidance for interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Results

Six superordinate themes emerged: Understanding of advanced practice; ‘Treated as an equal and as a “nurse”’; Nursing management support; ‘A voice to implement anything new’; Confidence and Emotional intelligence. These factors impacted interprofessional relationships and the extent to which advanced practitioners could implement evidence-based practice.

Conclusion

There is scope to improve advanced practitioners' ability to collaborate with the interprofessional team in implementing evidence-based practice into routine care.

Impact and Implications

The study findings demonstrate that enhancing understanding of the advanced practice role; increasing organizational support for advanced practitioners and augmenting specific practitioner skills and attributes will increase their ability to collaborate effectively and implement evidence-based practice. Supporting advanced practitioners in this important aspect of their role will positively influence health outcomes for patients.

Contribution to the Wider Global Clinical Community

As numbers of both nurse and midwife practitioners increase globally, this study provides timely evidence from a range of practice settings to guide the design of education programmes and policies governing advanced practice.

Study recommendations have broad applicability to all healthcare professionals who are engaged in implementing evidence-based practice into routine care.

Reporting Method

Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ).

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.

Barriers to and facilitators of effective management of fever episodes in hospitalised Kenyan children with cancer: protocol for convergent mixed methods study

Por: Nessle · C. N. · Njuguna · F. · Dettinger · J. · Koima · R. · Nyamusi · L. · Kisembe · E. · Kinja · S. · Ndungu · M. · Njenga · D. · Langat · S. · Olbara · G. · Moyer · C. · Vik · T.
Introduction

Febrile neutropenia is an oncological emergency in children with cancer, associated with serious infections and complications. In low-resourced settings, death from infections in children with cancer is 20 times higher than in high-resourced treatment settings, thought to be related to delays in antibiotic administration and management. The barriers to effective management of fever episodes in children with cancer have not previously been described. This convergent mixed-methods study will provide the evidence to develop fever treatment guidelines and to inform their effective implementation in children with cancer at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), a level 6 referral hospital in western Kenya.

Methods and analysis

Prospective data collection of paediatric patients with cancer with new fever episodes admitted to MTRH will be performed during routine treatment. Clinical variables will be collected from 50 fever episodes, including cancer diagnosis and infectious characteristics of the fever episode, and elapsed time from fever onset to various milestones in the management workflow. Semistructured qualitative interviews with healthcare providers (estimated 20 to reach saturation) will explore the barriers to and facilitators of appropriate management of fever episodes in children with cancer. The interview guide was informed by a theoretical framework and Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. A mixed-methods analysis use of joint display tables and process mapping will link and integrate the two types of data with meta-inferences.

Ethics and dissemination

Institutional review board approval was obtained from the MTRH (0004273) and the University of Michigan (HUM0225674), and the study was registered with National Commission for Science Technology and Innovation (P/23/22885). Written consent will be obtained from all participants. Results will be formally shared with local and national policy leadership and local end users, presented at relevant national academic conferences and submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Mental state, well-being and coping are affected by a high-risk pregnancy

Por: Holness · N. · Barfield · L.

Commentary on: Williamson SP, Moffitt RL, Broadbent J, Neumann DL, Hamblin PS. Coping, wellbeing, and psychopathology during high-risk pregnancy: A systematic review. Midwifery. 2023 Jan;116:103556. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2022.103556. Epub 2022 Nov 14.

Implications for practice

  • Awareness of negative impacts of high-risk pregnancies on mental health will help to identify women in need of support.

  • Strategies can be created to improve coping and well-being for high-risk pregnant women.

  • Context

    Pregnancy is a period of major physiological changes. Psychological adjustments occur, more so with a high-risk diagnosis in pregnancy. In their systematic review, the authors outlined the state of the science of pregnant women’s psychopathology, coping and well-being when high-risk conditions including hypertension, diabetes and kidney disease develop during pregnancy. Pregnant women with these conditions can experience ineffective coping, poor well-being, anxiety and depression among other negative symptoms. Provider’s awareness, culturally appropriate education and support can reduce...

    Análisis espacial de la coinfección tuberculosis/VIH farmacorresistente en estado del nordeste brasileño

    Objetivo: Analizar la distribución especial de casos de infección por drogas tuberculosis/VIH en el estado del nordeste brasileño y su correlación con los indicadores sociales, económicos y de la salud. Métodos: Estudio ecológico, realizado en Ceará, con 49 personas con tuberculosis/VIH. Datos de los sistemas oficiales de salud, analizados por la correlación de Pearson, ArcGIS y del índice global de Moran. Resultados: Hubo mayor número de casos en 2017 (24,5%) y en Fortaleza (63,8%), con prevalencia de casos en barrios, con promedio de 3,44-3,61 residentes, en hogares con 1 a 3 baños y responsables con ingreso entre R $ 429,02 y R$ 1111,32. Conclusiones: En la mayoría de los casos coinfectados farmacorresistentes estaban localizados en la capital del estado, en regiones socialmente desfavorecidas.

    Exploring the validity of allostatic load in pregnant women

    The theory of allostatic load has gained momentum in perinatal research to understand the biological pathways of the impact of maternal chronic stress on adverse perinatal outcomes. However, due to physiological changes of pregnancy, including large variations across gestation, the extent to which allostatic load measured in pregnancy is valid has not been queried in depth.

    Evaluación y cuidado de la piel al final de la vida

    Este artículo contempla una actualización con base a los diez puntos establecidos por el consenso Skin Changes at the Life's End [Cambios en la Piel en el Final de la Vida] (Scale, por su sigla en inglés) y tiene por objetivo discutir la evaluación de las condiciones y el cuidado de la piel en el final de la vida. Acerca de los pacientes y familiares, se propone la construcción de un plan de cuidados basándose en sus deseos que deben ser debidamente registrados. Para los profesionales de salud, las recomendaciones buscan la educación para la evaluación de los signos clínicos de falla e insuficiencia de la piel. Así pues, la prioridad es la comodidad del paciente. Se concluye que la utilización del consenso Scale va al encuentro de la filosofía de los cuidados paliativos y puede así mejorar los aspectos multidimensionales involucrados en la calidad del proceso de morir.

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