Activity

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), generated extracellularly by the action of autotaxin and phospholipase A2, functions through LPA receptors (LPARs) or sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors (S1PRs) to induce pro-fibrotic signaling in the lower respiratory tract of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We hypothesized that LPA induces changes in small airway epithelial (SAE) basal cells (BC) that create cross-talk between the BC and normal human lung fibroblasts (NHLF), enhancing myofibroblast formation.

To assess LPA-induced signaling, BC were treated with LPA for 2.5min and cell lysates were analyzed by phosphokinase array and Western blot. To assess transcriptional changes, BC were treated with LPA for 3h and harvested for collection and analysis of RNA by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). To assess signaling protein production and function, BC were washed thoroughly after LPA treatment and incubated for 24h before collection for protein analysis by ELISA or functional analysis by translleviating the LPA-induced pro-fibrotic feedback loop between SAE BC and NHLF.

Inhibition of CREB signaling may represent a novel target for alleviating the LPA-induced pro-fibrotic feedback loop between SAE BC and NHLF.

ATP1A2 gene mutation has been indicated to cause alternating hemiplegia of childhood (AHC); however, limited evidence supports this relationship so far.

We reported two Chinese patients with de novo ATP1A2 variants (c.970G>A and c.889G>A). Both patients presented with episodes of alternating hemiplegia, seizures and mild developmental delay. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed abnormal signals in both patients.

The new genetic evidence we reported here strengthened the gene-disease relationship, and the gene curation level between ATP1A2 and AHC became “Moderate” following the ClinGen Standard Operation Procedure. Consequently, the two variants can be reclassified as likely pathogenic.

The new genetic evidence we reported here strengthened the gene-disease relationship, and the gene curation level between ATP1A2 and AHC became “Moderate” following the ClinGen Standard Operation Procedure. Consequently, the two variants can be reclassified as likely pathogenic.

Nurse managers play a critical role in enhancing nursing and patient outcomes. The work of nurse managers, who can be described as middle-managers at health care organizations, is complex and changes on a daily basis. Only a few studies have clarified how nurse managers divide their time across various work activities. This study aimed to describe the relationships between nurse managers’ work activities, nurses’ job satisfaction, patient satisfaction, and medication errors at the hospital unit level.

A cross-sectional and correlational study design was used. The data were collected from nurse managers (n = 29), nursing staff (n = 306), and patients (n = 651) from 28 units across three Finnish acute care hospitals between April and November 2017. In addition, data concerning medication errors (n= 468) over one calendar year (2017) were acquired from the hospitals’ incident reporting register. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to estimate relationships between data from subareas of Nurse Managers’ Wd and secure. Furthermore, nurse managers should adopt a leadership style that emphasizes safe and patient-centered care. The results also suggest that the administration of today’s health care organizations should actively evaluate nurse managers’ share of work activities to ensure that their daily work is in line with the organizational goals.

The findings suggest that nurse managers should focus on improving nursing practices by managing and organizing nurses’ work in a way that makes their employees feel supported, motivated and secure. Furthermore, nurse managers should adopt a leadership style that emphasizes safe and patient-centered care. The results also suggest that the administration of today’s health care organizations should actively evaluate nurse managers’ share of work activities to ensure that their daily work is in line with the organizational goals.

The transplantation of porcine islet cells provides a new potential therapy to treat patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Compared to other biomedical technologies, xenotransplantation stands out in terms of its involvement of animals as graft sources, as well as the possible transmission of infectious diseases. As these aspects are especially relevant for potential xenotransplantation recipients, it is important to assess their opinion regarding this technology, in particular in terms of the requirements that should be met in the informed consent process for xenotransplantation.

We conducted qualitative interviews with seven T1DM patients to assess their information needs prior to xenotransplantation. Before the interview, the participants received a model informed consent form for a clinical trial with porcine islet cells transplantation. The interviews were transcribed and analysed using qualitative content analysis.

In the interviews, we identified several requirements that are crucial fordiabetic patients when considering porcine islet cell transplantation. The use of pigs as source for organ retrievals was not considered as problematic.

The rapid shift in hospital governance in the past few years suggests greater orthopedist involvement in management roles, would have wide-reaching benefits for the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare delivery. This paper analyzes the dynamics of orthopedist involvement in the management of clinical activities for three orthopedic care pathways, by examining orthopedists’ level of involvement, describing the implications of such involvement, and indicating the main responses of other healthcare workers to such orthopedist involvement.

We selected four contrasting cases according to their level of governance in a Canadian university hospital center. mTOR inhibitor drugs We documented the institutional dynamics of orthopedist involvement in the management of clinical activities using semi-structured interviews until data saturation was reached at the 37th interview.

Our findings show four levels (Inactive, Reactive, Contributory and Active) of orthopedist involvement in clinical activities. With the underlying nature of orthopedic surgeries, there are (i) some activities for which decisions cannot be programmed in advance, and (ii) others for which decisions can be programmed.