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by Nikola Lübbering, Alexander Krogmann, Felix Jansen, Eicke Latz, Georg Nickenig, Sebastian Zimmer
BackgroundAtherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease driven by endothelial dysfunction, cholesterol accumulation, and immune activation leading to thrombosis and vascular stenosis. While LDL-lowering therapies are firmly established, targeting the underlying inflammation is still an emerging strategy. Cholesterol crystals (CC) contribute to inflammation by activating the NLRP3 inflammasome in monocytes and promoting disease progression. Cyclodextrin (CD), an FDA-approved drug carrier, has shown atheroprotective effects by enhancing cholesterol metabolism and reducing inflammation in preclinical models. This study investigated whether CC-uptake in human monocytes, a prerequisite for inflammasome activation, is also influenced by CD pretreatment.
MethodsHuman peripheral mononuclear cells were isolated from whole blood samples provided by 76 patients undergoing coronary angiography at the University Hospital Bonn between November 2017 and February 2018. After separation, peripheral mononuclear cells were stimulated with 2-Hydroxypropyl-γ-Cyclodextrin and CC. CC-uptake by monocytes was analyzed using flow cytometry.
ResultsCC-uptake by monocytes varied greatly between patients (8–37%), with lower uptake observed in patients with elevated leukocytes (p = 0.0058) and diabetes mellitus (p = 0.0448). CD-pretreatment significantly reduced CC-uptake (20.1% ± 0.8% vs. 15.0% ± 0.6%, p p = 0.0316), requirement for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (p = 0.0030), and elevated leucocyte levels (p = 0.0135) had lower CCΔCD, suggesting a link between systemic inflammation and attenuated CD efficacy.
ConclusionWe demonstrated that CD significantly reduced CC-uptake in patients undergoing coronary angiography, which supports its role in inhibiting CC-phagocytosis and promoting cholesterol efflux. Interestingly, patient response to CD varied, with those exhibiting greater systemic inflammation or CAD showing a less pronounced reduction in CC-uptake. Our findings provide insight into the atheroprotective mechanisms of CD and suggest its potential utility in evaluating individual cardiovascular risk and monitoring CD-based therapeutic interventions in humans.
Introducción: La Inseguridad Alimentaria (IA), vinculada a la pobreza, favorece el consumo de alimentos poco nutritivos y aumenta el riesgo de enfermedades crónicas. Su comprensión es clave en enfermería comunitaria y escolar para fomentar hábitos saludables desde edades tempranas. Objetivo: Analizar la relación entre el Nivel Socioeconómico (NSE) e IA en Estudiantes de Una Universidad Pública del Norte de Sinaloa, México. Metodología: Estudio cuantitativo, descriptivo, correlacional y transversal en estudiantes de 18 a 25 años inscritos en un programa de Licenciatura. Los participantes fueron seleccionados a partir de un muestreo aleatorio simple. La muestra fue de 311 estudiantes. Se aplicó una cédula de datos sociodemográficos, el cuestionario AMAI y la Escala Latinoamericana y Caribeña de Inseguridad Alimentaria. Resultados: En los hogares sin presencia de menores, la IA severa presenta mayor prevalencia en NSE medio (29,6%) y alto (32,5%). Se observó una correlación positiva y significativa entre el NSE y la IA, tanto en hogares sin integrantes menores de edad (rs = 0,263, p < 0,01), como en aquellos con menores (rs = 0,231, p < 0,01). Conclusiones: En esta población de estudiantes universitarios, se observó que a medida que aumenta el NSE, también lo hace la IA, lo que sugiere que esta no es exclusiva de los sectores socioeconómicos bajos, sino que también afecta de forma considerable a los niveles medio y alto. La persistencia de esta problemática en todos los niveles sugiere que factores estructurales, más allá del ingreso, como el acceso a alimentos nutritivos, educación alimentaria y estabilidad laboral, podrían influir significativamente.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Food insecurity (FI), linked to poverty, promotes the consumption of unhealthy foods and increases the risk of chronic diseases. Understanding it is key in community and school nursing to foster healthy habits from an early age. Objective: To analyze the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and FI in students at a public university in Northern Sinaloa, Mexico. Methodology: A quantitative, descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional study was conducted with students aged 18 to 25 years enrolled in an undergraduate program. Participants were selected using simple random sampling. The sample consisted of 311 students. A sociodemographic data form, the AMAI questionnaire, and the Latin American and Caribbean Food Insecurity Scale were administered. Results: In households without children, severe FI was more prevalent in middle (29.6%) and high (32.5%) SES groups. A positive and significant correlation was observed between socioeconomic status (SES) and food insecurity (FI), both in households without minor members (rs = 0.263, p < 0.01) and in those with minors (rs = 0.231, p < 0.01). Conclusions: In this population of university students, it was observed that as SES increases, so does FI, suggesting that it is not exclusive to low socioeconomic sectors, but also significantly affects middle and high levels. The persistence of this problem at all levels suggests that structural factors, beyond income, such as access to nutritious food, nutrition education, and job stability, could have a significant influence.
by Bwambale Jonani, Emmanuel Charles Kasule, Bwire Roman Herman, Joel Fredrick Arturo, Mwesigwa Calvin Mugambwa, Ssebulime Stephen, John Bosco Mundaka, Richard Kwizera, Gerald Mboowa, Felix Bongomin
IntroductionSickle Cell Anemia (SCA) is a significant genetic disorder in Africa; however, comprehensive data on its prevalence and geographic distribution remain limited. We aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of SCA (HbSS) in African populations and examine regional, demographic, and temporal variations from 1994–2024.
MethodsWe systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and BASE databases for studies reporting SCA prevalence in African populations. Screening and quality assessments were performed using JBI tools. A random-effects meta-analysis with logit transformation was performed, with subgroup analyses by region, age, sex, and study design. Meta-regression explored heterogeneity sources, including geographic region, age category, diagnostic method, study design, and publication year.
ResultsFrom 115 studies with 1,203,839 participants and 17,458 confirmed HbSS cases, the pooled prevalence was 1.43% (95% CI: 1.08%–1.88%), with substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 99.1%) and a prediction interval of 0.21%–8.91%. Central Africa showed the highest prevalence (1.99%), and Southern Africa showed the lowest (0.59%). Children exhibited a higher prevalence (1.65%) than adults (0.45%), while sex differences were non-significant (males 2.71%, females 1.74%; p = 0.694). The prevalence has remained stable over three decades despite a six-fold increase in research output, although wide prediction intervals indicated substantial between-study variability. Electrophoretic techniques predominated (86.4% of cases). Diagnostic method (χ² = 16.73, p = 0.033) and age category (χ² = 33.66, p 2 = 98.6%). Leave-one-out sensitivity analysis showed that no single study significantly impacted the pooled estimates.
ConclusionSCA represents a substantial and geographically variable public health challenge across Africa. These findings highlight the need for region-specific interventions, expanded newborn screening programs, improved diagnostic accessibility with quality assurance for point-of-care technologies, and continued surveillance to address geographic gaps.
Pain is a prevalent symptom in people living with dementia. Evidence shows that pain frequently remains unrecognised and untreated in this vulnerable population, leading to avoidable suffering. Effective pain management is hindered by multifactorial barriers at the individual, organisational and policy level. This study aims to achieve expert consensus on the key barriers to pain management in non-verbal people living with dementia and strategies to address these barriers within Portuguese residential care facilities.
An e-Delphi study will be conducted using two rounds of online questionnaires. The Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) framework guided the development of e-Delphi statements by linking identified determinants (i.e., barriers and facilitators) to intervention functions. Barriers were extracted from the literature reviews and mapped into the capability, opportunity and motivation–behaviour model. Intervention functions were then selected using the BCW linkage matrices and operationalised into practical strategies. A purposive and snowball sampling approach will be used to recruit a heterogeneous panel of experts across national residential care facilities, including nurses, physicians, managers and policymakers with relevant experience in dementia. During the e-Delphi rounds, participants will be invited to rate the relevance of each barrier and associated strategy(ies) on a five-point Likert scale and provide comments or suggestions. Consensus will be defined as ≥75% agreement on each statement.
Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Egas Moniz Ethics Committee (Ref. 1586), and all procedures will comply with the Declaration of Helsinki. Informed consent will be obtained from all participants. The findings will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication, scientific events and stakeholder networks, including residential care facilities, to inform future practice and policy in dementia care.
by Tessy Luger, Felix Uhlemann, Florestan Wagenblast, Thomas Läubli, Barbara Munz, Manfred Schmolz, Monika A. Rieger, Benjamin Steinhilber
BackgroundWork-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are prevalent in occupations characterised by high repetition and high force demands. Both factors not only evoke inflammatory and degenerative processes in affected musculoskeletal tissue, but also systemic responses identified by biomarkers in blood serum. Clarifying methodological aspects of biomarkers may provide insights into their predictive role in the pathway of developing WMSDs. This study will primarily assess reliability of systemic inflammatory biomarkers (CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β) and immune cell reactivity by repeated measures in workers with constant workloads over time.
MethodsThis observational cross-sectional study will include two groups of workers: exposed group including workers exposed to higher upper-extremity physical workloads, especially affecting the elbow/forearm/hand-area; unexposed group, including office workers exposed to lower upper-extremity physical workloads. Recruited persons are screened against eligibility criteria followed by a medical anamnesis and blood analysis. Enrolled participants undergo nine repeated measurements once every two weeks, taking blood among others. Blood analyses will determine values of systemic inflammatory biomarkers and reactivity of immune cells. The absolute test-retest reliability of biomarkers and immune cell reactivity over time is assessed by the intra-class correlation coefficient applying two-way mixed-effects models. The relative test-retest reliability is assessed by the standard error of measurement.
DiscussionKnowledge of and models currently describing the pathological role of systemic inflammatory biomarkers are based on highly-controlled laboratory rat experiments. This study has the strength of assessing a human population under real-life conditions. The major challenge is in participant recruitment given the intensive and complex study design. The results of this study could provide fundamentals for initiating a cohort study and be used for developing work-related stress-recovery concepts for occupations with different physical demands to identify workers who may be at risk for developing WMSDs. German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00031872, 25 May 2023).
Introducción: En la atención del parto es primordial brindar cuidado humanizado a la madre, garantizando de esta forma el respeto a su dignidad, bienestar y cultura. Objetivo: Describir la atención y cuidados que brinda el personal de enfermería durante el parto a mujeres hablantes de lengua náhuatl y comparla con la percepción de las y los enfermeros. Materiales y método: Investigación cualitativa, con ocho mujeres hablantes de la lengua náhuatl de Uxtuapan, a quienes se les realizó una entrevista semiestructurada mediante grupo focal y una segunda entrevista individualizada en domicilio. También se entrevistaron a 11 profesionales de enfermería con grabadora de voz. Se transcribieron las entrevistas, se identificaron unidades de significado, se recategorizó y se describieron los resultados a través de la conformación de categorías: Cuidado, Entorno, Cultura, Relación ayuda-confianza. Se respetó la confidencialidad de los datos. Resultados: La falta de comunicación, tiempo e interacción en la relación enfermera-paciente favorece una percepción errónea de las pacientes ante su cuidado, denotando maltrato, soledad, falta de empatía. Conclusión: Para asegurar el cuidado humanizado en la atención del parto, se requiere mantener una conexión con las mujeres y cuidadores, donde se respeta su cultura y se favorece la seguridad de la vida humana.
To map interventions in the sexuality of men with stomas.
Scoping review, following JBI and PRISMA-ScR guidelines to report results.
Databases consulted were PubMed, via National Library of Medicine, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, Scientific Electronic Library Online, Brazilian Electronic Library of Thesis and Dissertations, CAPES Catalogue of Thesis and Dissertations and Open Access Scientific Repository of Portugal. Texts were read by independent reviewers, with no time or language restrictions.
The final sample included 10 studies. Data were synthesised and grouped for its similarity to approach models, preoperative orientations, self-care promotion, collecting pouch hygiene and safety, sexual health discussion and education, construction of bonds and sexual function evaluation.
Interventions in the sexuality of men with stomas included adherence to models for approaching sexuality, focusing on the permission and coparticipation of the patient, open conversations on the topic, self-care promotion, collecting pouch hygiene and safety, encouragement to the creation of bonds, sexual function evaluation in pre- and postoperative periods and individual and/or collective sexual health education.
This study contributes to the sexuality of men with stomas. It identified recommendations to approach and conduct the topic at hand, addressing the rehabilitation process since the surgery to place the stoma is considered.
This study addressed scientific literature on the sexuality of men with stomas. Most were from Europe and results demonstrated a gap in knowledge. This research will impact the stoma therapy research, affecting teams involved in the care to men with stomas, encouraging reflections on the sexuality of these patients.
This study complies with the PRISMA-ScR.
There was no patient or public contribution.
The protocol of this scoping review was registered in the Open Science Framework, registered under DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/X9DSC. It can be accessed through the following link: https://osf.io/x9dsc/?view_only=a9c62ef6c11f44499f7b2bfe1fe379f9.
Introducción: Actualmente la diabetes es un gran reto para la sociedad y los sistemas de salud, el abordaje fenomenológico se configura como un método esencial para reconstruir vivencias y significados de quien vive con Diabetes Tipo 2 (DT2). Objetivo: Analizar la literatura científica cualitativa con método fenomenológico sobre la experiencia de vivir con DT2 en adultos. Metodología: Revisión sistemática de acuerdo con la declaración PRISMA, se consultaron 8 bases de datos electrónicas utilizando los términos MeSH y DeSC, se incluyeron estudios fenomenológicos en español, inglés y portugués publicados de 2012 a 2022. Resultados: de 776 estudios, 15 estudios fenomenológicos mostraron la experiencia de vivir con DT2 sobre: diagnóstico inesperado y cambios en el estilo de vida, conocimiento y actitud hacia la DT2, espiritualidad, autocuidado, educación cultural, relación entre profesionales de la salud, la carga financiera y apoyo social. Conclusión: Las personas con DT2 experimentan diversas situaciones que requieren de más investigación fenomenológica que permita comprenderlos y proponer estrategias de cuidado con las intervenciones adaptadas a cada contexto, que permita el dialogo de saberes persona con DT2 y enfermería.
This paper aims to: (a) determine the personal, sociodemographic, clinical, behavioural, and social characteristics of older Brazilians with clinical evidence of long COVID; (b) evaluate perceived quality of life and determine its association with personal, sociodemographic, behavioural, clinical and social variables; and (c) assess significant predictors of high perceived QoL.
Given the inherent vulnerabilities of the ageing process, the older people are an at-risk group for both contagion of SARS-CoV-2 and the perpetuation of residual symptoms after infection, the so-called long COVID or post-COVID syndrome.
A cross-sectional survey design using the STROBE checklist.
Brazilian older people with long COVID syndrome (n = 403) completed a phone survey measuring personal, sociodemographic, behavioural, clinical, and social characteristics, and perceived Quality of Life (QoL). Data were collected from June 2021–March 2022. A multiple linear regression model was performed to identify salient variables associated with high perceived QoL.
The mean age of participants was 67.7 ± 6.6 years old. The results of the multivariate regression model showed that race, home ownership, daily screen time, musculoskeletal and anxiety symptoms, and work situation were the significant predictors of QoL among COVID-19 survivors.
Knowledge about the persistence of physical, emotional, and social symptoms of COVID-19 can help nurses and other healthcare providers to improve the management of survivors, bringing benefits to the whole society.
Given the novelty of long-COVID and its heterogeneous trajectory, interventions focusing on the repercussions and requirements unique to more vulnerable older persons should be developed and these aspects should be included in public health recommendations and policymakers' concerns.
No patient or public contribution was required to design, to outcome measures or undertake this research. Patients/members of the public contributed only to the data collection.
Justificación. El Síndrome de Apneas-Hipoapneas durante el Sueño (SAHS) y su potencial vinculación con el cáncer ha generado un amplio interés en los últimos años. Objetivo. El principal objetivo es conocer y comparar la tasa de incidencia de tumores en pacientes con SAHS respecto de la población general. Metodología. Estudio retrospectivo de una cohorte de pacientes diagnosticados de SAHS entre 2004 y 2008 en un área de salud realizando el seguimiento hasta el año 2014. Resultados principales. De los 1239 sujetos, 94 fueron diagnosticados de cáncer incidente du-rante el seguimiento. En comparación con la población general mayor de 18 años, la tasa de incidencia fue similar entre los pacientes hombres con SAHS (RME 1,06; IC 95% 0,84-1,32) y ligeramente inferior en el caso de las mujeres de la muestra (RME 0,90; IC 95% 0,50-1,63). Conclusión. Al ajustar la tasa de incidencia de cáncer en pacientes con SAHS por edad y sexo, esta no es mayor que en la población general.
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