Nurse-Led/Involved Home-Based Interventions for Older Adults With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review.

Aims: To determine the effectiveness of nurse-led/involved home-based interventions for older people with COPD and to explore the experiences of older people and nurses with the interventions.

Design: A mixed-methods systematic review following the JBI methodology for mixed-methods systematic reviews.

Data Sources: The search included relevant and peer-reviewed studies published from January 2010 to December 2023 in CINAHL, MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PsycINFO, EMBASE, JBI, EMCARE and ProQuest.

Sex-dependent modulation of T and NK cells and gut microbiome by low sodium diet in patients with primary aldosteronism.

Background: High dietary sodium intake is a major cardiovascular risk factor and adversely affects blood pressure control. Patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) are at increased cardiovascular risk, even after medical treatment, and high dietary sodium intake is common in these patients. Here, we analyze the impact of a moderate dietary sodium restriction on microbiome composition and immunophenotype in patients with PA.

Hierarchical chirality observed from chiral supramolecular assembling of racemic and enantiopure helicene derivatives on silica nanohelix surfaces.

Cast films of racemic helicene derivatives adsorbed onto the surface of nanometric silica helices with controlled handedness exhibited distinct CD signals, whereas no CD signal was observed in the absence of silica nanohelices. These CD signals originate from the helical supramolecular assemblies formed by the racemic mixture of helicenes, with no evidence of enantiospecific adsorption. Interestingly, when enantiomerically pure forms of these helicenes were drop-cast onto the silica helices, different CD spectra were observed depending on the combination of the helicenes' handedness with that of the silica nanohelices.

Optimizing and Sustaining Clinical Outcomes in 88 US Hospitals Post-Pandemic: A Quality Improvement Initiative.

Background: Optimizing outcomes of hospitalized patients anchors on standardizing processes in medical management, interventions to reduce the risk of decompensation, and prompt intervention when a patient decompensates.

Methods: A quality improvement initiative (optimized sepsis and respiratory compromise management, reducing health care-associated infection and medication risk, swift management of the deteriorating patient, feedback on performance, and accountability) was implemented in a multistate health system. The primary outcome was risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality.

Highly Luminescent Aceno[6]helicenones by Intramolecular Radical Cyclization.

Helicenes and helicenoid structures are promising candidates for future applications exploiting circularly polarized light. Ideal candidates should possess near-quantitative photoluminescence quantum yield, a high luminescence dissymmetry factor and an adjustable HOMO-LUMO gap. However, carbo[n]helicenes are poorly luminescent compounds and they absorb light mainly in the ultraviolet region.

The Freiburg Index of Post-TIPS Survival accurately predicts mortality in patients with acute decompensation of cirrhosis.

Introduction: The recently developed Freiburg Index of Post-TIPS Survival (FIPS) allows improved risk classification of patients with decompensated cirrhosis allocated to transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) implantation. This study investigated the prognostic value of the FIPS in patients hospitalized with acute decompensation of cirrhosis (AD), outside the setting of TIPS implantation.

Methods: A total of 1133 patients with AD were included in a retrospective, multi-centre study.

Pre-receptor regulation of 11-oxyandrogens differs between normal and cancerous endometrium and across endometrial cancer grades and molecular subtypes.

Background: Endometrial cancer (EC) is a prevalent gynecological malignancy globally, with a rising incidence trend. While classic androgens have been implicated with EC risk, the role of their 11-oxygenated metabolites is poorly understood. Here, we studied 11-oxyandrogen formation from steroid precursors in EC for the first time.

Carbonyl mediated fluorescence in aceno[]helicenones and fluoreno[]helicenes.

Helicenes are very attractive chiral non-planar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons possessing strong chiroptical properties. However, most of the helicenes absorb light mainly in the ultraviolet region, with only a small segment in the blue part of the visible spectrum. Furthermore, carbo[]helicenes exhibit only weak luminescence that limits their utilization.

Diagnostic delay in Hidradenitis suppurativa investigated using data from social media and from statutory health insurances.

Background: The chronic inflammatory skin disease hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) leads to severe pain and reduced quality of life. Nonetheless, it often takes years until a correct diagnosis is made. In this analysis, disease-related experiences and pathways of patients with HS were investigated and compared with the physicians' perspective.

Prevention of Vascular Access Device-Associated Hospital Onset Bacteremia and Fungemia: A Review of Emerging Perspectives and Synthesis of Technical Aspects.

Significant events impacting healthcare over the last several years have been associated with escalating rates of healthcare-associated infections. This has resulted in increased efforts to reinstitute well-established and evidence-based infection prevention practices, particularly for central line associated bloodstream infections. However, implementation of prevention initiatives beyond central lines has not received the same level of acknowledgement and response as being a considerable risk to patients.

Reduced bone mineral density is associated to post-TIPS survival of female patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

Background: Malnutrition is common in patients with cirrhosis, eventually leading to sarcopenia and loss of bone mass.

Aims: The aims of this study was the assessment of body composition (BC) and bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with decompensated cirrhosis and the prognostic impact on survival after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) implantation.

Methods: BMD and BC of 107 patients with cirrhosis undergoing TIPS implantation were prospectively analyzed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Helicene Aromaticity Deviates from the Clar Rule-On the Electronic Dissimilarity of Large Isomeric Fibonacenes.

This combined experimental and theoretical study illustrates the profound consequences of non-planarity on the electronic properties of polycyclic arenes. Three isomeric [10]fibonacene tetraesters were synthesized through a robust and regiocontrolled Perkin/Mallory approach: a nearly planar [10]phenacene derivative, a moderately twisted [10]semicircle derivative, and a 3D non-planar [10]helicene derivative. The photophysical properties of the 3D [10]helicene isomer were found to be dramatically different from the comparable ones of the [10]phenacene and [10]semicircle isomers.

Ten pillars for the expansion of health system infection prevention capacity.

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated changes in health care across the nation. Particularly, infection prevention programs have been subjected to pressures and increased responsibilities with no expansion in support. In addition, there is a rapid trend for health systems to merge to ensure long term sustainability.

Fibrosis Progression in Patients with Budd-Chiari Syndrome and Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS): A Long-Term Study Using Transient Elastography.

Hepatic vein outflow obstruction causes congestion of the liver, leading to necrosis, fibrosis, and portal hypertension (PH). A transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) reduces congestion and PH by providing artificial outflow. The aim of the study was to investigate fibrosis progression in patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) and TIPS using transient elastography (TE).

β-Disubstituted Pentacene Derivatives: Thin Film Structural Properties and Four-Probe Field Effect Mobility.

2,9- and 2,10-diphenylpentacene were synthesized by direct C-H borylation of ketal-protected pentacene, followed by halodeboronation, resolution of the dihalo isomers, Suzuki arylation, cleavage of the ketals and decarbonylation in the solid state. They were studied as main active components in organic field effect transistors (OFETs). Diphenyl substitution of pentacene affects the unit cell dimensions only slightly, preserving a face to edge molecular packing in the first layers of thin films evaporated on SiO substrates.

Proton pump inhibitor treatment aggravates bacterial translocation in patients with advanced cirrhosis and portal hypertension.

Long-term prescription of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in patients with cirrhosis is common practice. However, in recent years, several observational studies have reported increased complications and negative prognostic effects of PPI treatment in these patients. Judging the significance of these associations is complicated by the fact that a plausible underlying pathomechanism has not been identified so far.

Impact of COVID-19 on 1-Year Survival Outcomes in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe disruption of healthcare services worldwide and interrupted patients' access to essential services. During the first lockdown, many healthcare services were shut to all but emergencies. In this study, we aimed to determine the immediate and long-term indirect impact of COVID-19 health services utilisation on hepatocellular cancer (HCC) outcomes.

Effects of Hydrophobic Gold Nanoparticles on Structure and Fluidity of SOPC Lipid Membranes.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are promising candidates in various biomedical applications such as sensors, imaging, and cancer therapy. Understanding the influence of AuNPs on lipid membranes is important to assure their safety in the biological environment and to improve their scope in nanomedicine. In this regard, the present study aimed to analyze the effects of different concentrations (0.

Proton pump inhibitor treatment is associated with acute-on-chronic liver failure in patients with advanced cirrhosis.

Background: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a fatal complication of cirrhosis. Hence, identification of risk factors for ACLF is crucial. Previous studies have linked proton pump inhibitor (PPI) treatment to complications of cirrhosis, however, a possible effect of PPI treatment on the risk of ACLF has not been investigated yet.

Functional brainstem representations of the human trigeminal cervical complex.

Background: The human in-vivo functional somatotopy of the three branches of the trigeminal (V1, V2, V3) and greater occipital nerve in brainstem and also in thalamus and insula is still not well understood.

Methods: After preregistration (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03999060), we mapped the functional representations of this trigemino-cervical complex non-invasively in 87 humans using high-resolution protocols for functional magnetic resonance imaging during painful electrical stimulation in two separate experiments.

Moderate dietary salt restriction improves blood pressure and mental well-being in patients with primary aldosteronism: The salt CONNtrol trial.

Background: Primary aldosteronism (PA) is a frequent cause of hypertension. Aldosterone excess together with high dietary salt intake aggravates cardiovascular damage, despite guideline-recommended mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) treatment.

Objectives: To investigate the antihypertensive impact of a moderate dietary salt restriction and associated physiological changes, including mental well-being.

Textbook Outcome After Trans-arterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Purpose: Textbook Outcome (TO) is inclusive of quality indicators and it not been provided for trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials And Methods: Data on treatment-naïve HCC patients receiving TACE from 10 centers were reviewed. TO was defined as "no post-TACE grade 3-4 complications, no prolonged hospital stay (defined as a post-procedure stay ≤ 75th percentile of the median values from the total cohort), no 30-day mortality/readmission and the achievement of an objective response (OR) at post-TACE imaging.

Indiana Parental Perceptions of the Acceptability of General and HPV-Specific State Vaccine Requirements.

State vaccine requirements are a tool for improving child and adolescent vaccination immunization coverage, but to be effective, parental buy-in is needed. The objective of this study was to assess the demographic, healthcare characteristics, and health beliefs associated with parental acceptance of general and HPV-specific state vaccine requirements. Indiana parents (N = 601) with children ages 11-17 years old completed a survey during March 2020.

Comparing the Effects of Encapsulated and Non-Encapsulated Propolis Extracts on Model Lipid Membranes and Lactic Bacteria, with Emphasis on the Synergistic Effects of Its Various Compounds.

Propolis is a resinous compound made by bees with well-known biological activity. However, comparisons between encapsulated and non-encapsulated propolis are lacking. Therefore, the antibacterial activity, effect on the phase transition of lipids, and inhibition of UV-induced lipid oxidation of the two forms of propolis were compared.