Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial impact on the utilisation of hospital and emergency department (ED) services. We examined the effect of a rapid response service on hospital re-presentations among people discharged from the ED and short-stay wards at a tertiary referral hospital.
Methods: This retrospective cohort study compared 112 patients who completed the Care in the Community program with 112 randomly selected controls.
Hyperprolactinemia, as a potential side-effect of some antipsychotic medications, is associated with decreased bone density and an increased risk of fractures. This study investigates whether calcium and vitamin D supplementation affects prolactin receptor ( gene expression in the duodenum, vertebrae, and kidneys of female rats with sulpiride-induced hyperprolactinemia. Twenty-one-week-old female Wistar rats were assigned to three groups: Group S consisted of ten rats who received sulpiride injections (10 mg/kg) twice daily for 6 weeks; Group D (10 rats) received daily supplementation of 50 mg calcium and 500 IU vitamin D along with sulpiride for the last 3 weeks; and Group C consisting of seven age-matched nulliparous rats serving as a control group.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Carers for people with dementia commonly experience difficulty assisting the care-recipients with their daily activities and may adopt specific strategies to decrease the difficulties experienced. The objective of this qualitative study was to explore and understand the strategies used by carers to assist with daily activities for persons living with dementia.
Methods: Individual semi-structured interviews via face-to-face or telephone mode were conducted with 62 carers of persons living with dementia in Australia.
Psychotherapies are first-line treatments for most mental disorders, but their absolute outcomes (i.e., response and remission rates) are not well studied, despite the relevance of such information for health care users, providers and policy makers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHealthcare workers (HCWs) were at increased risk for mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic, with prior data suggesting women may be particularly vulnerable. Our global mental health study aimed to examine factors associated with gender differences in psychological distress and depressive symptoms among HCWs during COVID-19. Across 22 countries in South America, Europe, Asia and Africa, 32,410 HCWs participated in the COVID-19 HEalth caRe wOrkErS (HEROES) study between March 2020 and February 2021.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe conformational state of DNA fine-tunes the transcriptional rate and abundance of RNA. Here, we report that G-quadruplex DNA (G4-DNA) accumulates in neurons, in an experience-dependent manner, and that this is required for the transient silencing and activation of genes that are critically involved in learning and memory in male C57/BL6 mice. In addition, site-specific resolution of G4-DNA by dCas9-mediated deposition of the helicase DHX36 impairs fear extinction memory.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of this study was to determine the association of basal compartment and superficial markers, comprising CK5/6, CD44, CK20, and the pathological characteristics of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) associated with Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN). Comparing the expression of the investigated markers in 54 tumors from the BEN region and 73 control UTUC, no significant difference between them was detected. In regression analysis, CK20 expression was not determined with expression of CK5/6, CD44, and the phenotypic characteristics of BEN and control UTUC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The outcomes of rapid response systems (RRS) are poorly established in older people. We examined the outcomes in older inpatients at a tertiary hospital that uses a 2-tier RRS, including the outcomes of each tier.
Methods: The 2-tier RRS comprised the clinical review call (CRC) (tier one) and the medical emergency team call (MET) (tier two).
The term "aristolochic acid nephropathy" (AAN) is used to include any form of toxic interstitial nephropathy that is caused either by ingestion of plants containing aristolochic acids (AA) or by the environmental contaminants in food such as in Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN). Aristolochic acid (AA) intoxication is strongly associated with the development of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC); however, the underlying molecular mechanism remains to be defined. MicroRNAs (miRNA) regulate several biological processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, and metabolism, acting as oncogenes or tumor suppressors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHere, we used RNA capture-seq to identify a large population of lncRNAs that are expressed in the infralimbic prefrontal cortex of adult male mice in response to fear-related learning. Combining these data with cell-type-specific ATAC-seq on neurons that had been selectively activated by fear extinction learning, we find inducible 434 lncRNAs that are derived from enhancer regions in the vicinity of protein-coding genes. In particular, we discover an experience-induced lncRNA we call ADRAM (activity-dependent lncRNA associated with memory) that acts as both a scaffold and a combinatorial guide to recruit the brain-enriched chaperone protein 14-3-3 to the promoter of the memory-associated immediate-early gene Nr4a2 and is required fear extinction memory.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnaesthesiol Intensive Ther
March 2022
Introduction: In critically ill brain-injured patients maintaining balanced fluid management is a crucial part of critical care. Many factors influence the relationship between fluid management, cerebral blood flow and cerebral oxygenation. Passive leg raising (PLR)-induced changes predict fluid responsiveness in the majority of non-neurological ICU patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOccurrence of urosepsis is not uncommon following urinary tract infections (UTI). However, there is a lack of evidence explaining the risk factors predisposing to urosepsis in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This retrospective study was undertaken to evaluate the incidence and possible risk factors for urosepsis among patients hospitalized with UTI in a cohort of CKD patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: There is a growing body of research that addresses caregivers for people living with dementia. However, there is limited research looking at the perceptions of caregivers in specific daily tasks. To address this gap, this study investigated the assistance caregivers provided and the difficulty they faced when completing daily tasks for people with dementia and, additionally, how these experiences might relate to their perceived burden.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground/objective: Ineffective interdisciplinary communication has negative impacts on patient outcomes. The use of regular structured interdisciplinary bedside rounds (SIBR), where each patient interaction lasts 3-5 minutes, is a model of care that improves interdisciplinary communication. We evaluated the impact of SIBR on in-hospital falls.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFluoroscopy is increasingly used to guide minimally invasive endourological procedures and optimised protocols are needed to minimise radiation exposure while achieving best treatment results. This multi-center study of radiation exposure of patients was conducted by the South-Eastern European Group for Urolithiasis Research (SEGUR), in cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Seven clinical centers from the SEGUR group collected data for 325 procedures performed within a three-months period, including standard percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), mini PCNL, retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS), semirigid ureterorenoscopy (URS) and flexible URS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBalkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) is a chronic tubulointerstitial disease frequently accompanied by urothelial carcinoma (UC). In light of the increased UC incidence and the markers observed in BEN patients with developed UC, the aim of the current case-control study is to assess survivin, p53 protein, growth factors and receptors (VEGF, VEGFR1, IGF I, IGF-1R and IGFBP5), tumor marker (TF)/CD142, circulating soluble Fas receptor and neopterin, as potentially predictive markers for UC in patients with BEN (52 patients), compared to healthy, age-matched subjects (40). A threefold increase was registered in both circulating and urinary survivin level in BEN patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBalkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) represents a chronic tubulointerstitial nephropathy which is followed by the progression of kidney fibrosis to end-stage kidney failure. The critical involvement of poisons in food (aristolochic acid (AA), ochratoxin, and heavy metals) and selenium deficiency are among nutritive factors which contribute to the pathogenesis of BEN, due to reactive oxygen species (ROS) liberation and/or decreased antioxidative defence system. The aim of the study is to distinguish a possible systemic and local origin of ROS through the measurement of xanthine oxidase (XO) activity in urine and plasma, along with the determination of the oxidative changes in lipids and proteins.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProstate cancer (PC) is one of the most frequent malignancies. Better biomarkers are constantly wanted, such as those which can help with the prediction of cancer behavior. What is also needed is a marker which may serve as a possible therapeutic target.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction And Hypothesis: The aim of the study was to evaluate hysterectomized and non-hysterectomized patients with prolapse and incontinence. Laparoscopic sacrohysteropexy (LSHP) and minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy (LMSCP) were done in combination with transobturator tape (TOT) and native tissue repair of the anterior and posterior vaginal compartments in patients with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and occult, stress, or urinary incontinence (SUI). The hypothesis is that both methods are successful.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction And Objectives: To assess the surgeon's ability to evaluate the composition of the stone by observation of endoscopic images.
Materials And Methods: A series of 20 video clips of endoscopic treatments of urinary stones of which was also available the result of infrared spectroscopy was uploaded to a YouTube site accessible only to members of the South Eastern Group for Urolithiasis Research (SEGUR) who were asked to identify the composition of the stones.
Results: A total of 32 clinicians from 9 different countries participated in the study.
An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDNA forms conformational states beyond the right-handed double helix; however, the functional relevance of these noncanonical structures in the brain remains unknown. Here we show that, in the prefrontal cortex of mice, the formation of one such structure, Z-DNA, is involved in the regulation of extinction memory. Z-DNA is formed during fear learning and reduced during extinction learning, which is mediated, in part, by a direct interaction between Z-DNA and the RNA-editing enzyme Adar1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Ineffective interdisciplinary communication is linked to many adverse consequences of hospitalization. This study evaluated the effect of SIBR, a model of care that encourages interdisciplinary communication and patient and family participations, on in-hospital deaths and new nursing home (NH) placements.
Materials And Methods: This before-after study included 3,673 consecutive inpatients of mean age 83.
Introduction: Distal urogenital fistulas (DUF) are usually iatrogenic and are uncommon in Europe. They occur in the urethra or near the bladder neck, and can be caused by vaginal hysterectomy, para-urethral cyst surgery, or erosion of the bladder or urethra from tension-free slings or meshes. The psychological and physical health consequences of DUF are devastating because most patients consider themselves "healthy" before surgery.
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