RGD peptide promotes follicle growth through integrins αvβ3/αvβ5 in three-dimensional culture.

In Brief: Three-dimensional ovarian tissue culture is a unique model to define the effects of molecules on folliculogenesis. Using this model, we determined that RGD-integrin interaction plays a role in antrum formation and theca cell differentiation.

Abstract: We recently developed a three-dimensional (3D) ovarian tissue culture system supported by bacterial-derived dextran hydrogel.

High Rates of Pediatric Venous Thromboembolism After Elective Laparoscopic Splenectomy Suggest Need for Perioperative Prophylaxis.

Introduction: In adult populations, postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a reported complication of up to 8% of elective laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) cases. VTE is a rare event in the pediatric population, affecting less than 1% of all pediatric surgical patients. We hypothesized that pediatric patients are at a higher risk of postoperative VTE after undergoing elective LS relative to other laparoscopic procedures and may warrant prophylactic treatment.

Nutritional effects of invasive macrophyte detritus on infections in snail intermediate hosts.

Schistosomes are parasitic flatworms that cycle between humans and freshwater snails, infecting more than 200 million humans. Many schistosome-endemic sites are invaded by non-native plants that snails cannot consume. Inedible plants could suppress snail growth, reproduction, and schistosome production by outcompeting edible resources.

Variation in the risk of death due to COVID-19: An international multicenter cohort study of hospitalized adults.

Background: There is wide variation in mortality among patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Whether this is related to patient or hospital factors is unknown.

Objective: To compare the risk of mortality for patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and to determine whether the majority of that variation was explained by differences in patient characteristics across sites.

"You're O.K. Anesthesia": Closed Reduction of Displaced Pediatric Forearm and Wrist Fractures in the Office Without Anesthesia.

Background: Angulated wrist and forearm fractures are among the most common pediatric fractures, and they often require closed reduction with anesthesia. There are several issues associated with pediatric anesthesia including the low but non-zero risk of significant complications, increased physician and staff time and effort, and increased cost. Despite these issues, there have not been any studies to prove that using anesthesia results in better outcomes or higher caregiver satisfaction in comparison to performing closed reductions without anesthesia.

Global digital social learning as a strategy to promote engagement in the era of COVID-19.

Aims And Objectives: To assess formative and summative milestones in a digital course and the reach to low- and middle-income countries of a Massive Open Online Course focussing on supporting nurses dealing with an emerging pandemic.

Background: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has ravaged the globe and increased the need for timely and accurate information from reliable sources. Access to reliable and accurate information, as well as support, is important in achieving health systems strengthening.

Biological pathways underlying the association between habitual long-sleep and elevated cardiovascular risk in adults.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the world. In addition to non-modifiable factors such as age and sex, cardiovascular risk is also driven by behavioral, and therefore somewhat modifiable, factors such as physical activity, diet, and sleep. It is well established that sleep duration has a U-shaped association with mortality and cardiovascular disease, with recent evidence suggesting that this association is observed even while controlling for the effects of comorbid conditions.

Delirium point prevalence studies in inpatient settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims: To examine the delirium point prevalence studies conducted in different inpatient settings and to discuss the implication of the findings for delirium screening, assessment, prevention and management.

Background: Delirium-a common and distressing condition manifesting as an acute decline of attention and cognition-is frequently overlooked, misdiagnosed or treated inappropriately. This neuropsychiatric syndrome manifests as changes in attention, cognition and awareness, with resultant impact on behaviour, function and emotions.

Global service learning and health systems strengthening: An integrative literature review.

Introduction: The sustainability of many global interventions, in the absence of adequate local financial and human resources to sustain them in the long term, is questioned. In response, there has been a shift in focus among global health actors towards the strengthening of local health systems via global service learning to effectively, efficiently and sustainably deliver healthcare and build capacity. There has been considerable research examining the benefits of global service learning experiences for students, but limited research has been conducted to determine the impact that health sciences global service learning experiences are having on the host country health systems.

A social-ecological framework: A model for addressing ethical practice in nursing.

Aims And Objectives: To develop a framework to enable discussion, debate and the formulation of interventions to address ethical issues in nursing practice.

Background: Social, cultural, political and economic drivers are rapidly changing the landscape of health care in our local environments but also in a global context. Increasingly, nurses are faced with a range of ethical dilemmas in their work.

Health Impact of Climate Change in Older People: An Integrative Review and Implications for Nursing.

Purpose: Older people account for the highest proportion of mortality from extreme weather events associated with climate change. This article aims to describe the health impacts of climate change on older people.

Type Of Study: An integrative review was conducted with 30 studies retrieved from PubMed, EBSCO, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) on climate stressors, determinants of resilient capacity, risk factors, and health outcomes.

Spatial-spectral characterization of focused spatially chirped broadband laser beams.

Proper alignment is critical to obtain the desired performance from focused spatially chirped beams, for example in simultaneous spatial and temporal focusing (SSTF). We present a simple technique for inspecting the beam paths and focusing conditions for the spectral components of a broadband beam. We spectrally resolve the light transmitted past a knife edge as it was scanned across the beam at several axial positions.

Autobiographical memory specificity predicts social problem-solving ability in old and young adults.

Based on recent research with young, depressed adults, age-related cognitive declines and decreased autobiographical specificity were hypothesized to predict poorer social problem-solving ability in older than in younger healthy adults. Priming autobiographical memory (ABM) was hypothesized to improve social problem-solving performance for older adults. Subsequent to cognitive tests, old and young participants' specific ABMs were tested using a cued recall task, followed by a social problem-solving task.

Communication strategies to promote spiritual well-being among people with dementia.

Declining communication skills in dementia threaten a person's sense of self. Building on enduring capabilities, pastoral visitors can significantly enhance spiritual well-being through the use of individualized, person-centered strategies. This article outlines the primary spiritual needs of older adults with dementia and some general strategies to improve communication based on enduring abilities.

Proliferation of prostate cancer cells in the bone marrow predicts recurrence in patients with localized prostate cancer.

Background: Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplification of prostate specific antigen (PSA) mRNA has been used to detect the presence of prostate cancer cells in the peripheral blood and bone marrow of patients with clinically localized disease. Some studies have demonstrated a correlation between detection of PSA-mRNA and disease recurrence. However, many RT-PCR-positive patients remain disease-free.

Cellular proliferation and prevalence of micrometastatic cells in the bone marrow of patients with clinically localized prostate cancer.

The presence of prostate cancer cells in the bone marrow (BM) of patients with clinically localized disease is associated with an increased chance of disease recurrence; however, not all patients develop recurrence. We therefore sought to determine the phenotype of individual micrometastatic cells as a potential method to better predict disease outcome. Immunostaining was performed on BM cells from 46 patients whose BM RNA fraction had been identified to contain prostate-specific antigen mRNA.

Effect of neoadjuvant androgen deprivation on circulating prostate cells in the bone marrow of men undergoing radical prostatectomy.

Our objective was to determine the effect of neoadjuvant hormonal therapy on the presence of circulating prostate cells in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer. A total of 60 patients at high risk for extraprostatic disease were analyzed for the presence of circulating prostate cells using reverse transcriptase PCR (RTPCR) amplification of the prostate-specific antigen mRNA. Twenty-nine patients underwent radical prostatectomy for a clinical T2b-c tumor or a stage T1c-T2a tumor and a serum prostate-specific antigen level > or =10ng/ml (radical prostatectomy alone), and 31 similarly staged patients received neoadjuvant hormonal therapy before radical prostatectomy (neoadjuvant).

Nonradioactive in situ hybridization histochemistry in leukemic and nonleukemic culture.

Technical limitations are associated with conducting successful in situ hybridization. In this study, three cell types including a tumor neuroblastoma cell line (Neuro-2a), an oligodendrocyte primary culture, and a nonneuronal acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line (Reh) were used to conduct successful nonradioactive in situ hybridization. Two cDNA probes were used.

Predictor variables related to the classification of learning disabilities.

Psychoeducational assessment variables for high school students were subjected to a discriminant function analysis. Variables predictive of learning disability classification were spelling, IQ, and a student interview question.

Empathy-based helping: is it selflessly or selfishly motivated?

A substantial body of evidence collected by Batson and his associates has advanced the idea that pure (i.e., selfless) altruism occurs under conditions of empathy for a needy other.

What do first-line nursing managers do?

Appropriate selection and preparation of nursing managers is essential; however, the unclear role descriptions for first-line managers has hindered the selection and preparation process. A specific image of the actual tasks performed by first-line nursing managers provides the information necessary to design a clearer role description and an appropriate educational program for the development of managers.

Self-awareness and transgression in children: two field studies.

Two field studies explored the relationship between self-awareness and transgressive behavior. In the first study, 363 Halloween trick-or-treaters were instructed to only take one candy. Self-awareness induced by the presence of a mirror placed behind the candy bowl decreased transgression rates for children who had been individuated by asking them their name and address, but did not affect the behavior of children left anonymous.