Participating in the personal care of a person living with a life-limiting illness in a hospice inpatient setting: the informal caregiver's perspective.

Methods: Using semi-structured interviews, this descriptive qualitative research study examined informal caregivers' perspectives of participating in the personal care of a person living with a life-limiting illness within one hospice inpatient setting. Some 10 principal, informal caregivers of hospice inpatients were recruited by means of purposive sampling, using posters displayed in the hospice inpatient unit. Thus, participation was entirely 'opt-in'.

Improving the waiting times within a hospice breathlessness service.

Background: Breathlessness, a common symptom in advanced disease, is a distressing, complex symptom that can profoundly affect the quality of one's life. Evidence suggests that specialist palliative care breathlessness intervention services can improve physical well-being, personal coping strategies and quality of life. In the UK, the use of quality improvement methods is well documented in the National Health Service.

Advance care planning in a community setting.

Aim: To evaluate the effects of implementing an advance care planning process within pilot sites in North Ayrshire in 2010, focusing on people with palliative care needs.

Method: Data were collected from participants in advance care planning training using a questionnaire. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and an audit of documentation was undertaken.

A study of the lived experiences of registered nurses who have provided end-of-life care within an intensive care unit.

Background: End-of-life care (EOLC) in the intensive care unit (ICU) has received little attention in the literature in comparison to the considerable amount of existing literature available on EOLC in other areas of nursing. The ethos of the ICU is to preserve life, but as many patients die in this environment, EOLC should be an integral part of the ICU nurse's role. This qualitative study explored the experiences of ICU nurses who had provided EOLC to patients and their families.

Optimising palliative and end of life care in hospital.

The acute hospital setting is increasingly regarded as an important area for the delivery of palliative care. A significant number of patients with advanced, life-limiting illness have a range of palliative care needs, some of which can be met by ward staff, but others may require additional, specialist input. Several factors have the potential to limit the palliative care patients in hospital receive, not least of these being disagreement about when and how the transition to palliative care should take place.

The inhibitory effects of neurokinin B on GnRH pulse generator frequency in the female rat.

Neurokinin B (NKB) and its receptor (neurokinin-3 receptor) are coexpressed with kisspeptin and dynorphin A (Dyn) within neurons of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus, the suggested site of the GnRH pulse generator. It is thought that these neuropeptides interact to regulate gonadotropin secretion. Using the ovariectomized (OVX) and OVX 17β-estradiol-replaced rat models, we have carried out a series of in vivo neuropharmacological and electrophysiological experiments to elucidate the hierarchy between the kisspeptin, NKB, and Dyn signaling systems.

Addressing the spiritual care needs of people near the end of life.

Spiritual care is increasingly being recognised as an essential component of healthcare practice. Peoplewith life-limiting illness and those who are recently bereaved are particularly likely to require this type of care. This article identifies some of the practical ways in which nurses can identify, support and assist people to meet their spiritual care needs.

Self-care and end of life care--patients' and carers' experience a qualitative study utilising serial triangulated interviews.

Purpose: This study aimed to understand patient and carer experiences of end of life care and to explore how patients care for themselves at the end of life in Scotland.

Research Questions: (1) From the perspectives of patients and carers, what are their experience of advanced cancer and end of life care? (2) What self-care strategies enable patient and carers to cope with their end of life care?

Methods: This paper reports a qualitative study using in-depth, unstructured serial interviews involving collaboration with and participation of people affected by advanced cancer. The study was a 2-year, three-phase study with multiple methods of data collection.

Neonatal programming by immunological challenge: effects on ovarian function in the adult rat.

Neonatal exposure to an immunological challenge (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) increases the activity of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis and sensitises the GNRH pulse generator to the inhibitory influence of stress in adult rats. We investigated the effects of neonatal exposure to LPS on various reproductive parameters during puberty and into adulthood in female rats. LPS (50 μg/kg, i.

Kisspeptin signalling in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus regulates GnRH pulse generator frequency in the rat.

Background: Kisspeptin and its G protein-coupled receptor (GPR) 54 are essential for activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis. In the rat, the kisspeptin neurons critical for gonadotropin secretion are located in the hypothalamic arcuate (ARC) and anteroventral periventricular (AVPV) nuclei. As the ARC is known to be the site of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse generator we explored whether kisspeptin-GPR54 signalling in the ARC regulates GnRH pulses.

Impacts of climate change and environmental factors on reproduction and development in wildlife.

The robustness of the growth of the human population in the face of environmental impacts is in contrast to the sensitivity of wildlife. There is a danger that the success of reproduction of humans provides a false sense of security for the public, media and politicians with respect to wildlife survival, the maintenance of viable ecosystems and the capacity for recovery of damaged ecosystems and endangered species. In reality, the success of humans to populate the planet has been dependent on the combination of the ability to reproduce successfully and to minimize loss of offspring through controlling and manipulating their own micro-environment.

The normal mechanisms of pregnancy-induced liver growth are not maintained in mice lacking the bile acid sensor Fxr.

Rodents undergo gestational hepatomegaly to meet the increased metabolic demands on the maternal liver during pregnancy. This is an important physiological process, but the mechanisms and signals driving pregnancy-induced liver growth are not known. Here, we show that liver growth during pregnancy precedes maternal body weight gain, is proportional to fetal number, and is a result of hepatocyte hypertrophy associated with cell-cycle progression, polyploidy, and altered expression of cell-cycle regulators p53, Cyclin-D1, and p27.

Self care and end of life care in advanced cancer: literature review.

Background: Self care is a key feature of health care policy in the UK. It has been suggested that self care by patients with cancer improves quality of life, symptom management, and patient satisfaction. However, little is known about self care and end of life care.

The hop phytoestrogen, 8-prenylnaringenin, reverses the ovariectomy-induced rise in skin temperature in an animal model of menopausal hot flushes.

The mechanisms underlying menopausal hot flushes are poorly understood, although it is generally assumed they result from disturbances of thermoregulatory centres in the hypothalamus. 8-Prenylnaringenin (8-PN) has been identified as a potent phytoestrogen in hops (Humulus lupulus) and there are claims that hop-containing preparations can reduce hot flushes. We have investigated the site of action of 8-PN in a rat model of menopausal hot flushes, in which the tail skin temperature (TST) is increased after oestrogen withdrawal induced by ovariectomy.

Effects of estrogenic xenobiotics on human and mouse spermatozoa.

Objective: To investigate human sperm responsiveness to the estrogenic xenobiotic genistein and seek further information regarding the mechanism of action of estrogenic xenobiotics using mouse spermatozoa.

Methods: Uncapacitated human spermatozoa were incubated with genistein and assessed using chlortetracycline (CTC) fluorescence. CTC was also used to evaluate mouse sperm responses to daidzein and combinations of genistein, 8-prenylnaringenin and nonylphenol.

Multiple signaling defects in the absence of RIP140 impair both cumulus expansion and follicle rupture.

The nuclear receptor corepressor RIP140 is essential in the ovary for ovulation, but is not required for follicle growth and luteinization. To identify genes that may be subject to regulation by RIP140 or play a role in ovulation, we compared ovarian gene expression profiles in untreated immature wild-type and RIP140 null mice and after treatment with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin and human chorionic gonadotropin. Many genes involved in signaling, extracellular matrix formation, cell-cell attachment, and adhesion were aberrantly regulated in the absence of RIP140, varying according to the hormone status of the mice.

Estrogenic activity of a polyphenolic extract of the leaves of Epimedium brevicornum.

The estrogenic activity of a polyphenolic extract of the leaves of Epimedium brevicornum and five fractions obtained by solid-phase extraction were investigated using estrogen-responsive bioassays, a yeast cell assay and the Ishikawa Var-I assay. The extract was found to exhibit significant estrogenic activity in both assays. Furthermore, bioassay-guided fractionation led to localisation of the estrogenicity in the relatively non-polar fractions of the polyphenolic extract.

Estrogenic and anticarcinogenic properties of kurarinone, a lavandulyl flavanone from the roots of Sophora flavescens.

Kurarinone, a lavandulyl flavanone, was isolated from a polyphenolic extract of the roots of Sophora flavescens using fractionation guided by estrogenic activity, which was determined by recombinant yeast and Ishikawa Var-I bioassays. Kurarinone showed weak estrogenic activity both in the yeast screen and in the Ishikawa Var-I assay with EC(50) values of 4.6 and 1.

Structure--activity relationships of the estrogenic sesquiterpene ester ferutinin. Modification of the terpenoid core.

Esterification of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, a very weak estrogenic compound, with the daucane alcohol jaeschkeanadiol (1b) leads to a spectacular magnification of the estrogenic activity. To identify the structural elements responsible for this effect, the terpenoid core of jaeschkeanadiol p-hydroxybenzoate (ferutinin, 1a) was modified, capitalizing on the presence of two functionalities, the monoacylated, hydrogen-bonded 1,3-diol system and the double bond. The hydrogen bonding, while possibly useful, was not critical for activity, while hydrogenation and cyclopropanation of the double bond were tolerated.

Nuclear receptor corepressor RIP140 regulates fat accumulation.

Nuclear receptors and their coactivators have been shown to function as key regulators of adipose tissue biology. Here we show that a ligand-dependent transcriptional repressor for nuclear receptors plays a crucial role in regulating the balance between energy storage and energy expenditure. Mice devoid of the corepressor protein RIP140 are lean, show resistance to high-fat diet-induced obesity and hepatic steatosis, and have increased oxygen consumption.

Perceptions of spiritual care among nurses undertaking postregistration education.

Previous research has suggested that qualified nurses recognize that patients have spiritual needs and consider meeting those needs to be important. However, there is also evidence suggesting that nurses feel ill prepared for, and uncertain about, their role as spiritual care providers. A questionnaire on spiritual care and the nurse's role was distributed to a group of 59 registered nurses (of varying ages and levels of experience) undertaking a palliative care module as part of a post-registration degree programme in Scotland.

Interactions of androgens, green tea catechins and the antiandrogen flutamide with the external glucose-binding site of the human erythrocyte glucose transporter GLUT1.

This study investigates the effects of androgens, the antiandrogen flutamide and green tea catechins on glucose transport inhibition in human erythrocytes. These effects may relate to the antidiabetogenic effects of green tea. Testosterone, 4-androstene-3,17-dione, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA-3-acetate inhibit glucose exit from human erythrocytes with half-maximal inhibitions (Ki) of 39.

Identification of RIP140 as a nuclear receptor cofactor with a role in female reproduction.

Nuclear receptors function as ligand-dependent transcription factors by recruiting cofactors that remodel chromatin and recruit the transcription machinery. RIP140 (receptor interacting protein with a molecular weight of 140 kDa) is a widely expressed corepressor that has the potential to inhibit the transcriptional activity of most, if not all nuclear receptors. Mice devoid of RIP140 indicate that it plays a crucial role in female fertility and in adipose biology.

Daucane phytoestrogens: a structure-activity study.

The estrogenic activity of a series of analogues of the daucane ester ferutinin (1a) modified at the acyl moiety was investigated in a yeast screen containing the human estrogen receptor alpha. Rather strict structure-activity relationships were observed. Thus, while the parent polyol (jaeschkeanadiol, 2a) was inactive, the presence of a p-hydroxybenzoyl moiety was necessary for activity in the yeast screen.

Effects of perinatal octylphenol on ultrasound vocalization, behavior and reproductive physiology in rats.

A rodent diet containing paraffin wax was designed to administer the environmental estrogen octylphenol (OP) to nonpregnant, pregnant and lactating rats. The estrogenic activity of OP via this diet was first confirmed in ovariectomized adult animals: 20 mg OP/kg/day increased the mitoses in the vaginal epithelium, and 60 mg OP/kg/day stimulated mitoses in the uterine luminal epithelium. The effects on a variety of reproductive and nonreproductive parameters were then investigated in the offspring of dams fed OP (100-250 mg/kg/day during gestation and lactation).