An Assessment of an Inpatient Robotic Nurse Assistant: A Mixed-Method Study.

The worldwide nursing shortage has led to the exploration of using robotics to support care delivery and reduce nurses' workload. In this observational, mixed-method study, we examined the implementation of a robotic nurse assistant (RNA) in a hospital ward to support vital signs measurements, medication, and item delivery. Human-robot interaction was assessed in four domains: usability, social acceptance, user experience, and its societal impact.

Cellular uptake and anti-inflammatory effects of palm oil-derived delta (δ)-tocotrienol in microglia.

Tocopherols long dominated studies on vitamin E, although interest has shifted to tocotrienols. It was previously shown that δ-tocotrienol derived from palm oil reduced nitric oxide released by BV2 microglia as early as 18 h after lipopolysaccharide stimulation. The current study measured δ-tocotrienol uptake by BV2 over a 24 h incubation period and its anti-inflammatory effects on primary microglia.

Environmentally relevant concentrations of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate exposure alter larval growth and locomotion in medaka fish via multiple pathways.

Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) is a commonly used plasticizer, with evidence of ubiquitous human exposure and widespread occurrence in the aquatic environment. It is an emerging environmental pollutant with regulatory priority; however, most studies have focused on the toxicity of DEHP related to endocrine disruption and reproduction in mammals. The ecotoxicological impact of phthalates (e.

Isolation and characterization of primary microglia from post-natal murine brain tissues: a comparison of two methods.

Microglia are resident macrophages of the central nervous system (CNS). Apart from playing vital roles as sentinel cells, they are crucial in physiological processes such as synaptic pruning during brain development. CNS disorders require an understanding of the contribution of each cellular compartment to the pathogenesis.

Impact of an antimicrobial stewardship program on the use of carbapenems in a tertiary women's and children's hospital, Singapore.

Objectives: Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) promote the judicious use of antimicrobials by limiting inappropriate use. This article evaluates the impact of a prospective-audit-and-feedback ASP implementation on the appropriate utilization of carbapenems in a tertiary pediatrics and obstetrics/gynecology hospital in Singapore (KKH) after the establishment of an ASP in July 2011.

Methods: This was a prospective, single-center, pre-post intervention study designed to analyze the appropriate prescribing of carbapenems pre-ASP (October 2009 to June 2011) and post-ASP (July 2011 to December 2013).

Mesenchymal stem cells exert anti-proliferative effect on lipopolysaccharide-stimulated BV2 microglia by reducing tumour necrosis factor-α levels.

Background: Progression of neurodegenerative diseases occurs when microglia, upon persistent activation, perpetuate a cycle of damage in the central nervous system. Use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) has been suggested as an approach to manage microglia activation based on their immunomodulatory functions. In the present study, we describe the mechanism through which bone marrow-derived MSC modulate the proliferative responses of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated BV2 microglia.

Inhibitory effects of palm α-, γ- and δ-tocotrienol on lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production in BV2 microglia.

Anti-inflammatory actions of the vitamin E fragment tocotrienol have not been described for microglia. Here, we screened palm α-, γ- and δ-tocotrienol isoforms and Tocomin® 50% (contains spectrum of tocotrienols and tocopherols) for their ability to limit nitric oxide (NO) production by BV2 microglia. Microglia were treated with varying doses of tocotrienols for 24h and stimulated with 1 μg/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells modulate BV2 microglia responses to lipopolysaccharide.

The immunoregulatory properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have been demonstrated on a wide range of cells. Here, we describe the modulatory effects of mouse bone marrow-derived MSC on BV2 microglia proliferation rate, nitric oxide (NO) production and CD40 expression. Mouse bone marrow MSC were co-cultured with BV2 cells at various seeding density ratios and activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS).