Prevalence and associations of neurodevelopmental and mental health disorders with academic and well-being challenges among nursing and midwifery students: A cross-sectional study.

Introduction: This study highlights the significant stress faced by nursing and midwifery students stemming from the rigorous requirements of their curriculum, which includes both demanding theoretical and practical elements. This study aims to identify the causes and manifestations of learning environment stress among midwifery and nursing students.

Methods: A cross-sectional study in Lithuania, Poland and Latvia was employed to evaluate students' learning challenges and neurodiversity using 40 different questions assessed on a Likert scale.

Care of women and application of the principle of informed consent to interventions during birth in the COVID-19 pandemic period.

Introduction: In the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, inadequate intrapartum care protocols were in place. Many organizations have responded promptly and recognized the importance of adherence to appropriate guidelines. The International Confederation of Midwives issued an official statement on 29 March 2020, which states that every woman has the right to information, to give consent, to refuse consent, and to have her choices and decisions respected and upheld.

Women's experiences of childbirth during the COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania.

Introduction: Childbirth experiences depend on environmental factors, the provision of qualified medical and non-medical care, and the woman's psychological well-being. Stress experienced during pregnancy and childbirth affects a woman's psychological well-being. The aim of this study was to determine the care of women who gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania.

Modulation of Connexin-36 Gap Junction Channels by Intracellular pH and Magnesium Ions.

Connexin-36 (Cx36) protein forms gap junction (GJ) channels in pancreatic beta cells and is also the main Cx isoform forming electrical synapses in the adult mammalian brain. Cx36 GJs can be regulated by intracellular pH (pH) and cytosolic magnesium ion concentration ([Mg]), which can vary significantly under various physiological and pathological conditions. However, the combined effect and relationship of these two factors over Cx36-dependent coupling have not been previously studied in detail.

Molecular basis for potentiation of Cx36 gap junction channel conductance by -alcohols and general anesthetics.

In our recent study, we have demonstrated that short carbon chain -alcohols (up to octanol) stimulated while long carbon chain -alcohols inhibited the conductance of connexin (Cx) 36 (Cx36) gap junction (GJ) channels. In contrast, GJ channels composed of other types of Cxs all were inhibited by -alcohols independent of their carbon chain length. To identify the putative structural domains of Cx36, responsible for the dual effect of -alcohols, we performed structural modeling of Cx36 protein docking with hexanol and isoflurane that stimulated as well as nonanol and carbenoxolone that inhibited the conductance of Cx36 GJs and revealed their multiple common docking sites and a single pocket accessible only to hexanol and isoflurane.

The role of neural connexins in HeLa cell mobility and intercellular communication through tunneling tubes.

Background: Membranous tunneling tubes (TTs) are a recently discovered new form of communication between remote cells allowing their electrical synchronization, migration, and transfer of cellular materials. TTs have been identified in the brain and share similarities with neuronal processes. TTs can be open-ended, close-ended or contain functional gap junctions at the membrane interface.