Application of the workload indicators of staffing need (WISN) to assess dietetic workforce needs in South African central and tertiary public hospitals.

South Africa faces both under- and over-nutrition, highlighting the need for prioritizing nutrition services. Registered dietitians are crucial for delivering appropriate and quality nutrition services. Consequently, this case study employs the World Health Organization evidence-based Workload Indicators of Staffing Need to ascertain the requisite dietetic workforce needed at central and tertiary public hospitals in South Africa.

Sex specificity in associations between exposure to a mixture of per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances and anxiety among US adults.

Background: Exposure to per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is suggested to interfere with the central nervous system that may affect mental health. Studies on the relationships between exposure to PFAS mixtures and anxiety in humans are rare. This study aimed to evaluate the associations between single and combined exposure to PFAS and anxiety among adults.

Factors influencing parents' educational anxiety of primary and secondary school students: evidence from parents in China.

Background: Current research has focused on exploring the sources of parents' anxiety about children's education (PAE), and we continue in this direction by exploring the factors influencing parental educational anxiety in primary and secondary school students and the interactions among them.

Methods: Parental Educational Anxiety Measurement Questionnaire was used to measure the level of PEA. Pearson correlation coefficient analysis was used to examine the correlation between the level of PAE and the demographic variables.

Reliability and Validity of the KFORCE Sens Inertial Sensor for Measuring Cervical Spine Proprioception in Patients with Non-Specific Chronic Neck Pain.

Background/objectives: Patients with non-specific chronic neck pain (NSCNP) exhibit sensorimotor disturbances, with proprioception impairment considered an important aspect. The aim of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of a novel inertial sensor-based electrogoniometer (KFORCE Sens) for cervical spine (CS) proprioception measurement in patients with NSCNP.

Methods: The within-day intra-rater reliability of CS proprioception and its association with patient demographics and clinical status were examined in fifty-nine patients with NSCNP, aged between 25-65 years, recruited from primary care.

Just informal patient payments are not enough, 'personal connections' and knowledge of the 'rules' are also required: a logistic regression analysis of informal practices in health care in Ukraine.

In Ukraine, patients and their family members face numerous barriers to health care services. In response, they use coping strategies, that are manifold and complex activities aimed at overcoming these barriers, the financial burden of the treatment, and the poor quality of health care services. These activities include formal and informal practices.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of pembrolizumab with chemotherapy for metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer in Taiwan.

This study was aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of pembrolizumab with chemotherapy (pembrolizumab combination therapy) and compare it with standard-of-care platinum-based chemotherapy (chemotherapy alone) as a first-line treatment for metastatic nonsquamous NSCLC from the perspective of Taiwan's third-party-payer public health-care system. We used a partitioned survival model with an estimated time horizon of 10 years. The partitioned survival model uses Kaplan-Meier estimates of progression-free and overall survival from the KEYNOTE-189 clinical trial.

Nursing Practices for Preventing Delirium in Patients with Cancer with Prognoses of Months and Weeks: A Multi-Site Cross-Sectional Study in Japan.

Background: Delirium is a condition characterized by an acute and transient disturbance in attention, cognition, and consciousness. It is increasingly prevalent at the end of life in patients with cancer. While non-pharmacological nursing interventions are essential for delirium prevention, their effectiveness in terminally ill patients with cancer remains unclear.

Awareness-raising activities of advance care planning for community residents: a nationwide cross-sectional survey in Japan.

Background: Japan is implementing awareness-raising of advance care planning for older adults; however, only 451 out of 1 741 municipalities were engaged in advance care planning awareness-raising activities among residents, according to a 2017 survey. This study examined advance care planning awareness-raising activities among community residents by local governments after the 2018 revision of the government guidelines, as well as utilization of the revised guidelines, issues in awareness-raising activities, and directions for future activities.

Methods: This cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in prefectures and municipalities nationwide in 2022.

Palmitic acid induces insulin resistance and oxidative stress-mediated cell injury through accumulation of lipid rafts in murine hepatocytes.

Lipid rafts are subdomains of the cell membrane that are rich in cholesterol and glycolipids, and they are involved in various cellular processes and pathophysiological mechanisms. However, the specific role of lipid rafts in hepatocyte dysfunction during the pathogenesis of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the impact of lipid rafts on insulin sensitivity and hepatocyte injury induced by saturated free fatty acids (sFFAs) using primary-cultured mouse hepatocytes.

Benefits from Implementing Low- to High-Intensity Inspiratory Muscle Training in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery: A Systematic Review.

Cardiac surgery procedures are among the main treatments for people with cardiovascular disease, with physiotherapy playing a vital part. Respiratory complications are common and associated with prolonged Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and hospital stay, as well as increased mortality. Inspiratory muscle training has been found to be beneficial in improving respiratory muscle function in critically ill patients and patients with heart failure.

How are the Barthel Index and care need levels associated in residents of nursing homes in Japan?

This study examined the relationship between Long-Term Care Insurance care need levels and Barthel Index scores in Japanese nursing home residents. Findings show a strong correlation (r = -0.68), comparable to community-dwelling individuals, yet certain care need levels exhibited large score variability.

East London Project: a participatory mixed-method evaluation on how removing enforcement could affect sex workers' safety, health and access to services in East London.

Background: Sex workers' risk of violence and ill-health is shaped by their work environments, community and structural factors, including criminalisation.

Aim: We evaluated the impact of removing police enforcement on sex workers' safety, health and access to services.

Design: Mixed-methods participatory study comprising qualitative research, a prospective cohort study, mathematical modelling and routine data collation.

Machine Learning Prediction for Postdischarge Falls in Older Adults: A Multicenter Prospective Study.

Objectives: The study aimed to develop a machine learning (ML) model to predict early postdischarge falls in older adults using data that are easy to collect in acute care hospitals. This may reduce the burden imposed by complex measures on patients and health care staff.

Design: This prospective multicenter study included patients admitted to and discharged from geriatric wards at 3 university hospitals and 1 national medical center in Japan between October 2019 and July 2023.

Long-term prevalence of PTSD symptom in family members of severe COVID-19 patients: a serial follow-up study extending to 18 months after ICU discharge.

Background: Experiencing a loved one's stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) can profoundly affect families, often leading to post-intensive care syndrome-family (PICS-F), a condition particularly exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. While PICS-F significantly impacts the mental health of families of ICU patients, especially in the context of COVID-19, the long-term effects beyond 12 months remain understudied. This study aims to explore the prevalence of PTSD-related symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in family members up to 18 months after ICU discharge.

Evaluation of Treatment Outcomes Among Individuals on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Despite access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), South Africa has a high human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) burden. Treatment outcomes among individuals on highly active ART (HAART) in KwaZulu-Natal, with a higher incidence of HIV, are not fully known. This study evaluated the impact of HAART outcomes and identified and analyzed the factors associated with the outcomes in people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) in the high-incidence region of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa.

Factors associated with burnout among internationally educated nurses: A scoping review.

Background: The increasing nursing shortage in the healthcare industry has become a concern in many countries. Recruiting certified nurses from outside a country is one strategy to address this shortage. While the hiring of internationally educated nurses (IENs) fills the labor gap, a supportive work environment is necessary to retain IENs in the field.

Clinical and Biochemical Efficacies of Green and White Tea Extract Mouthwashes in the Management of Plaque-Induced Gingivitis.

Objective: In this clinical study, chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX) was chosen as the positive control group, and the clinical and biochemical efficacy of mouthwashes with green tea, white tea and essential oil (EO) as the active ingredients were aimed to be examined comprehensively.

Methods: A total of 112 participants with gingivitis were randomly assigned to four different groups and different mouthwashes were used for 4 weeks: CHX-MW group (as a positive control group), EO-MW group, GT-MW group and WT-MW group. The effects of the mouthwashes on plaque, inflammation and dental staining were evaluated by indexed scores at the beginning and 4th week.

How Mental Health Nurses Perceive the Implementation of Batho Pele Principles in a Selected Mental Health Hospital in Limpopo Province, South Africa.

Batho Pele is a South African legislative framework initiative introduced to improve the overall delivery of public services. The framework was introduced in 1997 and aimed at bringing a comprehensive transformation of the work ethics of all public servants, including health workers, at all levels of health hospitals. The study aims to investigate nurses' perceptions of implementing Batho Pele principles in selected mental health hospitals.

The effectiveness of sanggenon c in alleviating SLC7A11-induced ferroptosis in lung cancer was evaluated using in vivo, in vitro, and computational approaches.

Sanggenon c, a component in Morus alba L, has been proved to possess various biological activities. The aim of this study is to investigate whether sanggenon c can target SLC7A11 and inhibit lung cancer by regulating the ferroptosis mechanism. The levels of antioxidant factor, Fe , and SLC7A11 were measured in the lungs of cancerous mice and human A 549 lung cancer cells.

Dietary habits among primary school learners in the Tshwane West District of Gauteng, South Africa.

Background: Poor dietary habits are major contributors to malnutrition globally, particularly in children living in African countries. The widespread transition from African diet of healthy indigenous foods to a nutrient-poor Western-style diet is well-documented in global societal culture.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the dietary habits and their nutritional implications among learners in public primary schools.

Elements of a care pathway for human trafficking victims in emergency departments: A mapping review.

Background: Human trafficking, a form of modern slavery, is a global health problem. Human trafficking victims may need health care while they are being exploited, and traffickers often take victims to emergency departments (EDs) if their injuries and illness prevent them from working. Healthcare professionals in EDs could help combat human trafficking; however, 85% of human trafficking victims in EDs remain unidentified.

Life skills programmes for university-based wellness support services for students in health sciences professions: a scoping review.

Background: Student wellness is a major concern during the educational programme of health professionals, as mental distress impacts negatively on students' academic performance and success. Available literature indicates that improving student wellness has the potential to increase academic performance and success for students. Medical schools implement various forms of support to lessen student distress and enhance wellness.

Perspectives of people with schizophrenia on clinical outcome scales and patient-reported outcome measures: a qualitative study.

Background: Over the past half-century, numerous scales have been designed to quantify outcomes in people with severe mental health disorders. However, little is known about the views of people diagnosed with schizophrenia on individual outcome scales, particularly outside of European countries.

Aim: We conducted a qualitative study to examine the perspectives of people with schizophrenia on multiple scales in Japan.

Evaluating compliance with quality indicators of HIV and AIDS clinical care and analyzing those associated with mortality in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Background: Since human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) infection have been identified, significant improvements have been made concerning its diagnosis and treatment. Few contributions have been made in the area of quality indicators in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). To address this gap, a recent study conducted in the said area in 2023 resulted in the development of a comprehensive list of 88 indicators for assessing the quality of clinical care for HIV and AIDS.