Strengthening the planning and design of Objective Structured Clinical Examinations.

Background: Although Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) offer innovative, objective, and fair methods of clinical assessment, their quality is compromised by poor planning and design.

Aim: This study aimed to describe the development and present evidence-based recommendations on strengthening the planning and design of OSCEs for a South African public College of Nursing.

Setting: A South African public College of Nursing.

Circulating adrenal and gonadal steroid hormones heterogeneity in active young males and the contribution of 11-oxy androgens.

The classical androgens, testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, together with dehydroepiandrosterone, the precusrsor to all androgens, are generally included in diagnostic steroid evaluations of androgen excess and deficiency disorders and monitored in androgen replacement and androgen suppressive therapies. The C11-oxy androgens also contribute to androgen excess disorders and are still often excluded from clinical and research-based steroids analysis. The contribution of the C11-oxy androgens to the androgen pool has not been considered in androgen deficiency.

Qualitative Exploration of Health Professionals' Perceptions of Addressing Malnutrition Within the First 1,000 Days.

Objective: Explore health professionals' perceptions toward how to address malnutrition within the first 1,000 days of life in underresourced communities.

Design: A qualitative explorative-descriptive study using 8 face-to-face focus group discussions.

Setting: Health facilities serving underresourced communities within Nelson Mandela Bay, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

Chronic activation of adrenal Gq signaling induces Cyp11b2 expression in the zona fasciculata and hyperaldosteronism.

Hyperaldosteronism is often associated with inappropriate aldosterone production and aldosterone synthase (Cyp11b2) expression. Normally, Cyp11b2 expression is limited to the adrenal zona glomerulosa (ZG) and regulated by angiotensin II which signals through Gq protein-coupled receptors. As cells migrate inwards, they differentiate into 11β-hydroxylase-expressing zona fasciculata (ZF) cells lacking Cyp11b2.

Effects of river regulation on aquatic invertebrate community composition: A comparative analysis in two southern African rivers.

While natural floods play a crucial role in shaping the composition of aquatic communities, the most rivers worldwide are regulated or dammed for anthropogenic purposes, resulting in alterations to the biological and chemical composition of these ecosystems. Studies have demonstrated various negative effects of river regulation on aquatic invertebrate communities globally. However, there is a scarcity of research in Africa, despite its vulnerability to anthropogenic impacts.

C11-hydroxy and C11-oxo C and C Steroids: Pre-Receptor Regulation and Interaction with Androgen and Progesterone Steroid Receptors.

C11-oxy C and C11-oxy C steroids have been identified as novel steroids but their function remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the pre-receptor regulation of C11-oxy steroids by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11βHSD) interconversion and potential agonist and antagonist activity associated with the androgen (AR) and progesterone receptors (PRA and PRB). Steroid conversions were investigated in transiently transfected HEK293 cells expressing 11βHSD1 and 11βHSD2, while CV1 cells were utilised for agonist and antagonist assays.

Investigating the biosynthesis and metabolism of 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione.

The "rediscovery" 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione (11OHA4) placed the spotlight on this unique adrenal-derived hormone with researchers and clinicians once again focusing on the steroid's presence in endocrine pathology. Little was known about the steroid other than its chemical characterisation and that a mitochondrial cytochrome P450 enzyme catalysed the 11β-hydroxylation of 11OHA4. The fact that neither the biosynthesis nor metabolism of 11OHA4 had been fully characterised presented an ideal opportunity to investigate the metabolic pathways.

Malawian critical care nurses' views on the implementation of an educational intervention to enhance sustained use of an evidence-based endotracheal tube cuff pressure management guideline: A survey study.

Background: Evidence-based guidelines can assist critical care nurses in promoting best practices, including those related to endotracheal tube cuff pressure management. However, these guidelines require tailored strategies to enhance their implementation, uptake, and sustained use in practice.

Objectives: To evaluate Malawian critical care nurses' views on the implementation of an endotracheal tube cuff pressure management guideline to enhance sustained guideline use.

Bioaccumulation and trophic transfer of total mercury through the aquatic food webs of an African sub-tropical wetland system.

Anthropogenic activities, including combustion of fossil fuels, coal, and gold mining, are significant sources of mercury (Hg) emissions into aquatic ecosystems. South Africa is a major contributor to global Hg emissions (46.4 tons Hg in 2018), with coal-fired power stations as the main source.

Screening and nursing management of gestational diabetes in Ghana: Evidence-based recommendations.

Objective: To describe the development of evidence-based recommendations for screening and nursing management of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Ghana and present the recommendations.

Design: A qualitative study.

Setting: Military Health Institutions in Ghana.

Preventing malnutrition within the first 1000 days of life in under-resourced communities: An integrative literature review.

This integrative review aimed to summarise existing best evidence practice for preventing malnutrition within the First 1000 Days of Life in under-resourced communities. BioMed Central, EBSCOHOST (Academic Search Complete, CINAHL and MEDLINE), Cochrane Library, JSTOR, Science Direct and Scopus were searched as well as Google Scholar and relevant websites for grey literature. Most recent versions of strategies, guidelines, interventions and policies; published in English, focussing on preventing malnutrition in pregnant women and in children less than 2 years old in under-resourced communities, from January 2015 to November 2021 were searched for.

Quality Management of Objective Structured Clinical Examinations at a Multicampus Nursing College: A Pilot Study.

Background: Although objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) are deemed objective and bias-free, human error, inconsistency, nonuniformity in grading, and inter-rater variability have been reported. Quality management of OSCEs therefore is crucial.

Method: Semistructured individual interviews with 14 nurse educators and a qualitative document analysis of 15 external moderators' reports were conducted.

Simulation debriefing as part of simulation for clinical teaching and learning in nursing education: A scoping review.

Aim: To map the evidence of the simulation debriefing phase in simulation activities of nursing education, to address and inform clinical teaching and learning in nursing.

Design: A scoping review.

Methods: A systematic review of literature published between 2008-2021 was conducted using CINAHL & ERIC, MEDLINE, EMBASE, APA PsycInfo, the Cochrane Library and JBI Evidence synthesis.

Clinical teaching practices of nurse educators: An integrative literature review.

Unlabelled: Clinical teaching practice of nurse educators is important in the development of clinical competence of undergraduate nursing students, but it is often not done according to best practice standards. This study aimed to summarise the best clinical teaching practices of nurse educators teaching undergraduate nursing programmes. An integrative literature review was conducted according to Whittemore and Knafl's adapted stages.

Primary aldosteronism caused by a pI157S somatic mutation in a black adolescent female with aldosterone-producing adenoma.

Aldosterone-producing adenoma is a rare cause of hypertension in children. Only a limited number of cases of aldosterone-producing adenomas with somatic gene mutations have been described in children. Blacks are particularly more susceptible to developing long-standing cardiovascular effects of aldosterone-induced severe hypertension.

Screening and diagnosis of women for chorioamnionitis: An integrative literature review.

Objective: This integrative literature review provides an overview of current best research evidence on the screening and diagnosis of women for chorioamnionitis, as no current review has been conducted. An overview of best practices on screening and diagnosis of women for chorioamnionitis can assist midwives with an accurate diagnosis, allowing for early referral and adequate management of this infection.

Design: An integrative literature review was conducted using a systematic electronic literature search through EBSCOhost (CINAHL with Full Text, e-Book Collection, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, MEDLINE, Open Dissertations and PsycINFO), Cochrane Online, PubMed, Scopus, followed by a manual search for grey literature using Google and a citation search.

The prevalence and significance of gestational cannabis use at an Australian tertiary hospital.

Background: Cannabis is one of the most common non-prescribed psychoactive substances used in pregnancy. The prevalence of gestational cannabis use is increasing.

Aim: The aim was to examine the prevalence of gestational cannabis use and associated pregnancy and neonate outcomes.

Best practice recommendations for healthy work environments for nurses: An integrative literature review.

Unlabelled: Healthy work environments that maximise the health and well-being of nurses are essential in achieving good patient and societal outcomes, as well as optimal organisational performance. While studies have been conducted on healthy work environments, there is no available evidence that an integrative literature review summarising best-practice recommendations related to healthy work environments has been conducted before. This review aimed to summarise existing best-practice recommendations related to a healthy work environment for nurses.

Screening and managing women with chorioamnionitis in resource-constrained healthcare settings: Evidence-based recommendations.

Objective: To describe the development of evidence-based recommendations on screening and managing women at risk for chorioamnionitis in resource-constrained healthcare settings.

Design: A qualitative study, using data from an integrative literature review to develop the evidence-based recommendations was conducted. The NICE guideline development principles were followed to format the recommendations, which were reviewed by expert reviewers using the AGREE II tool.

Family dynamics in dementia care: A phenomenological exploration of the experiences of family caregivers of relatives with dementia.

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Several studies explore and describe the role of family dynamics in dementia care. However, few focus specifically on the diversity of family relationships that influence family caregivers' experiences of providing care to a relative with dementia. The role of family caregivers engaging in unpaid care of relatives with dementia is becoming more and more critical as the numbers of people living with dementia increase across the globe.

Midwives' knowledge and practices regarding the screening for and management of chorioamnionitis: A qualitative study.

Background: Screening for chorioamnionitis, or the risk thereof, by midwives is largely lacking during antenatal care and no best practice guidelines for chorioamnionitis in South Africa was noted.

Aim: To explore and describe midwives' knowledge and practices related to the screening and management of women who are at risk of or diagnosed with chorioamnionitis.

Setting: Public healthcare institutions in a health district in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.

Quality management of objective structured clinical examinations: An integrative literature review.

Background: Objective Structured Clinical Examinations are widely adopted as a clinical assessment method in nurse education. Quality is an integral aspect of the design and implementation of OSCEs, facilitating their credibility and rigour. However, there is a dearth of literature regarding the management of the quality of Objective Structured Clinical Examinations.