Effects of empathy mapping and mini-simulation on second-year nursing students' empathy and communication self-confidence: a quasi-experimental study.

Background: Empathy and communication are critical abilities for nursing students, and in recent years, scenario-based teaching has played a crucial role in fostering empathy and professional skill development. However, novice nursing students in basic nursing education often lack prior experience in patient communication, making it challenging for them to prepare adequately for scenarios and effectively handle difficulties in real-life situations. This deficiency also hampers participants' or observers' ability to engage in deep reflection, feedback, and learning.

3D Imaging Resolves Human Pancreatic Duct-β-Cell Clusters During Cystic Change.

Pancreatic cystic changes in adults are increasingly identified through advanced cross-sectional imaging. However, the impact of initial/intra-lobular epithelial remodeling on the local β-cell population remains unclear. In this study, we examined 10 human cadaveric donor pancreases (tail and body regions) via integration of stereomicroscopy, clinical H&E histology, and 3D immunohistochemistry, identifying 36 microcysts (size: 1.

Addition of long-acting injectable antipsychotics during manic episodes in bipolar disorder: A retrospective analysis of rehospitalizations.

Introduction: Bipolar disorder (BD) often necessitates hospitalization, especially during manic episodes. Long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) are theorized to enhance treatment adherence and decrease rehospitalization rates compared to oral medications. This study aimed to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of LAIs in reducing rehospitalizations among BD patients admitted for bipolar mania.

Evaluation of Health-related Factors Influencing Fears of Aging among Elderly Chinese Citizens.

Many countries face an increasingly aging population, but China is now home to the largest population of older people in the world. This study aims to analyze health-related factors influencing fears of aging among elderly Chinese citizens. Multiple regression models were constructed using fears of aging as the dependent variable and demographics and other key components as independent variables, respectively.

Changes in nutritional status and fatigue and their associations with quality of life in patients with pancreatic cancer after surgery: A 12-month longitudinal study.

Objective: This study examined changes in nutritional status, fatigue, and quality of life, and identified longitudinal factors influencing changes in quality of life in patients with pancreatic cancer before and 12 months after surgery.

Methods: A longitudinal, correlational, single-group study was conducted on 89 patients with operable pancreatic cancer in Taiwan. Data were collected preoperatively (T0) and at 3 (T1), 6 (T2), and 12 (T3) months post-surgery using questionnaires- Mini Nutritional Assessment, Fatigue Symptom Inventory, and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General-and through bioelectrical impedance analysis, handgrip strength measurement, and the 30-s sit-to-stand test.

DBPR116, a Prodrug of BPRMU191, in Combination with Naltrexone as a Safer Opioid Analgesic Than Morphine via Peripheral Administration.

The development of opioid analgesics with reduced adverse effects is an unmet need. In a previous study, we discovered a unique combination of BPRMU191 and morphinan antagonists that produced potent antinociception with reduced adverse effects after central administration (intrathecal or intracerebroventricular). BPRMU191/naltrexone exhibits notable and pharmacological properties.

SEMA7A-mediated juxtacrine stimulation of IGFBP-3 upregulates IL-17RB at pancreatic cancer invasive front.

Tumor invasion is the hallmark of tumor malignancy. The invasive infiltration pattern of tumor cells located at the leading edge is highly correlated with metastasis and unfavorable patient outcomes. However, the regulatory mechanisms governing tumor malignancy at the invasive margin remain unclear.

Trajectories of perioperative nutritional status in patients with pancreatic tumor after surgery in six months.

Purpose: To characterize subgroups with similar nutritional status trajectories during the 6-month period after pancreatectomy and to identify demographic and clinical characteristics influencing changes in nutritional status in each subgroup.

Methods: This longitudinal prospective study recruited 112 patients with newly diagnosed pancreatic tumor from an outpatient pancreatic surgical department of a medical center in northern Taiwan between September 2016 and April 2019. Patients completed a demographic and clinical characteristics form, the Mini Nutritional Assessment scale, and the Symptom Severity Scale prior to surgery (T0), 3 months after surgery (T1), and 6 months after surgery (T2).

Adding-on nivolumab to chemotherapy-stabilized patients is associated with improved survival in advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are rarely used to treat advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) due to marginal efficacy.

Patients And Methods: This study included 92 consecutive patients diagnosed with advanced or recurrent PDAC who received nivolumab-based treatment. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify prognostic factors.

Separation of Inverse Altermagnetic Spin-Splitting Effect from Inverse Spin Hall Effect in RuO_{2}.

Recently, a significant amount of attention has been attracted toward a third classification of magnetism, altermagnetism, due to the unique physical properties of altermagnetic materials, which are compensated collinear antiferromagnets that host time-reversal symmetry-breaking phenomena like a ferromagnet. In an altermagnetic material, through the nonrelativistic altermagnetic spin-splitting effect (ASSE), a transverse spin current is generated upon charge current injection. However, it is very challenging to experimentally establish the ASSE since it is inevitably mixed with the spin Hall effect due to the relativistic spin-orbit coupling of the material.

The compliance with TTM protocol may benefit outcomes in cardiac arrest survivors: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Established protocols for implementing high-quality targeted temperature management (TTM) provide guidance concerning the cooling rate, duration of maintenance, and rewarming speed. However, whether compliant to TTM protocols results in improved survival and better neurological recovery has not been examined.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study enrolled 1141 survivors of non-traumatic adult cardiac arrest with a pre-arrest cerebral performance category (CPC) score of 1-2 from 2015 to 2020 at a tertiary medical center.

Discovery of a mu-opioid receptor modulator that in combination with morphinan antagonists induces analgesia.

Morphinan antagonists, which block opioid effects at mu-opioid receptors, have been studied for their analgesic potential. Previous studies have suggested that these antagonists elicit analgesia with fewer adverse effects in the presence of the mutant mu-opioid receptor (MOR; S196A). However, introducing a mutant receptor for medical applications represents significant challenges.

pLxIS-containing domains are biochemically flexible regulators of interferons and metabolism.

Signal transduction proteins containing a pLxIS motif induce interferon (IFN) responses central to antiviral immunity. Apart from their established roles in activating the IFN regulator factor (IRF) transcription factors, the existence of additional pathways and functions associated with the pLxIS motif is unknown. Using a synthetic biology-based platform, we identified two orphan pLxIS-containing proteins that stimulate IFN responses independent of all known pattern-recognition receptor pathways.

Hypotension prediction index for prevention of intraoperative hypotension in patients undergoing general anesthesia: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Intraoperative hypotension is a common side effect of general anesthesia. Here we examined whether the Hypotension Prediction Index (HPI), a novel warning system, reduces the severity and duration of intraoperative hypotension during general anesthesia.

Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted in a tertiary referral hospital.

Most total pancreatectomies for ductal adenocarcinoma potentially can be replaced by Whipple over the splenic artery: a before and after study.

Introduction: Recently, more and more total pancreatectomy (TP) has been performed for central-located pancreatic ductal cell adenocarcinoma (PDCA), which abuts or involves both gastroduodenal and splenic arteries and demands transaction of both of them for complete resection. Spiked by Warshaw's procedure (spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy with excision of splenic vessels), the authors developed a new procedure "Whipple over the splenic artery (WOTSA)" to replace TP by leftward extension of pancreatic parenchyma transaction line and preservation of pancreatic tail and spleen after excision of the splenic artery. This uncontrolled before and after study assesses the safety and efficacy of a new technique "Whipple over the splenic artery (WOTSA)" as a treatment for pancreatectomy for ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), which traditionally requires TP for a complete excision.

Comparison of dexmedetomidine versus propofol sedation on microcirculation and organ injuries in critically ill surgical patients: A randomized controlled pilot study.

Background: Recent studies have shown that dexmedetomidine may improve microcirculation and prevent organ failure. However, most evidence was obtained from experimental animals and patients receiving cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. This study aimed to investigate the effect of dexmedetomidine on microcirculation and organ injuries in critically ill general surgical patients.

Beneficial Effects of Concomitant Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics on Time to Rehospitalization in Patients With Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia Receiving Clozapine: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

This study aimed to assess the association between long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic prescription and the risk of psychiatric hospitalization in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) receiving clozapine. In this retrospective cohort study at a single tertiary psychiatric center, we analyzed rehospitalization hazard ratios (HRs) in refractory schizophrenia patients, classified by and criteria. We examined various psychotropic regimens-clozapine with or without other oral antipsychotics (OAPs) or LAI antipsychotics.