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Educating the existential view to nurses in cancer care: A review
Get PDFThe aim of this study was to review the interventional studies about educating existential concepts to the nurses working in cancer care. Materials and Methods: In this systematic narrative review, the papers published in English and Farsi databases of PubMed, Elsevier, web of since, Scopus, ProQuest, ERIC, Google Scholar and Ovid, MagIran and SID, from 1990 to 2018 were reviewed. Methodological quality of the studies was independently assessed by, using checklists developed by Greenhalgh, and Cochrane Center. No statistical pooling of the outcomes was performed, due to heterogeneity of the outcomes. Results: After wide search, the 17 studies entered to this narrative study. The results showed that educating the existential concept to the nurses dealing with cancer patients can improve their self-competency in providing efficient care to these patients and their ability in decision making. It also enhances their quality of life and decreases the death anxiety and emotional exhaustion. Conclusions: There were limited and low quality interventional studies about the effects of educating existential concepts to the nurses dealing with cancer patients. These studies showed that knowing this philosophy can help nurses to address caring needs of cancer patients more efficiently. The specific method or content of education cannot be recommended because of the large differences in the methodologies between the studies. © 2019 Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research Published by Wolters Kluwer - Medknow
The prevalence of low back pain among Iranian hospital nurses: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Get PDFBackground:Low back pain (LBP) is common among nurses. Yet, studies reported contradictory results about its prevalence. Objectives:The aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the prevalence of LBP among Iranian hospital nurses. Methods:This was a systematic review and meta-analysis. Online databases such as Scientific Information Database, MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar were searched for studies on Iranian hospital nurses' LBP published in 2000-2017. A meta-analysis was performed using the random effects model via the Comprehensive Meta-analysis software. The heterogeneity of the studies was assessed using the Cochran's Q test and I2 statistic. Results: In total, 17 studies were included. The overall prevalence of LBP among Iranian hospital nurses was 64.8 (95 confidence interval CI: 59.6%-69.7%). The lowest and the highest LBP prevalence rates were, respectively, 46.2% (95% CI: 43.5%-49%), among nurses in Tehran and 89.1% (95% CI: 82.2%-93.6%) among nurses in Isfahan. Meta-regression analysis revealed that increase in the sample size and the publication year of the reviewed studies were associated, respectively, with statistically significant decrease and increase in the prevalence of LBP (P< 0.05). Conclusion:With an overall prevalence of 64.8%, LBP is highly prevalent among Iranian hospital nurses. Health policymakers and hospital managers need to provide nurses with necessary educations about LBP prevention and management and make necessary modifications to their workplace in order to create an ergonomically appropriate environment for their practice
Care needs in the phase I of cardiac rehabilitation: A hybrid concept analysis
Get PDFBackground:Care quality improvement necessitates the identification and fulfillment of patients' care needs. Yet, there is no comprehensive information about the care needs of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Objectives: The objective of this study was to analyze the concept of care needs in the Phase I of cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Methods:This concept analysis was conducted using the three-phase hybrid model. In the first (theoretical) phase, the attributes of care needs were identified through a literature review. In the second (fieldwork) phase, data were collected through semi-structured interviews and were analyzed through directed content analysis to determine the attributes of care needs based on the sociocultural context of Iran. Six patients, five nurses, and one surgeon were purposively recruited from two university hospitals and one private hospital in Ahvaz, Iran. In the third (final analytic) phase, the results of the first and the second phases were integrated, and the final attributes of the concept were identified. Results: The first phase revealed that the concept of care needs has three main attributes, namely physical, psychological, and social care needs. Besides confirming these three attributes, the second phase showed that the concept also has another attribute, that is, spiritual care needs. Conclusion:The concept of care needs in the Phase I of CR includes the four main dimensions of physical, psychological, social, and spiritual care needs. The findings of this study provide useful information for the careful assessment of care needs among patients with CAD
The effects of vitamin E supplementation on endometrial thickness, and gene expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and inflammatory cytokines among women with implantation failure
No full textAbstract
Objective: Data on the effects of vitamin E supplementation on endometrial thickness, and gene expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and inflammatory cytokines among women with implantation failure are limited. This research was performed to determine the effects of vitamin E supplementation on endometrial thickness, and gene expression of VEGF and inflammatory cytokines among women with implantation failure.
Methods: A randomized clinical trial was done among 40 women with implantation failure aged 18–37 years old. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: group A (n = 20) received 400-IU vitamin E supplements and group B (n = 20) received placebo for 12 weeks. Fasting blood samples were taken at baseline and after the 12-week treatment to determine biomarkers of oxidative stress, and gene expression of VEGF and inflammatory cytokines.
Results: After the 12-week intervention, compared with the placebo, women with implantation failure who consumed vitamin E supplements had significantly increased serum vitamin E levels (+18.6 ± 15.0 versus −1.5 ± 1.0 nmol/mL, p < .001) and endometrial thickness (+1.1 ± 0.9 versus −0.5 ± 0.3 mm, p = .01), and significantly decreased plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations (−0.4 ± 0.3 versus +0.4 ± 0.3 µmol/L, p < .004). In addition, results of RT-PCR demonstrated that compared with the placebo, vitamin E intake downregulated gene expression of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) (p = .008), interleukin-1 (IL-1) (p = .02), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) (p = .007) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of women with implantation failure.
Conclusions: Overall, vitamin E supplementation for 12 weeks among women with implantation failure had beneficial effects on endometrial thickness, MDA values, and gene expression of LDLR, IL-1, and TNF-α.
Keywords: Gene expression, implantation failure, supplementation, vitamin
CD8 + cytotoxic T lymphocytes in cancer immunotherapy: A review
No full textCD8 + cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are preferred immune cells for targeting cancer. During cancer progression, CTLs encounter dysfunction and exhaustion due to immunerelated tolerance and immunosuppression within the tumor microenvironment (TME), with all favor adaptive immune-resistance. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), macrophage type 2 (M2) cells, and regulatory T cells (Tregs) could make immunologic barriers against CD8 + T cell-mediated antitumor immune responses. Thus, CD8 + T cells are needed to be primed and activated toward effector CTLs in a process called tumor immunity cycle for making durable and efficient antitumor immune responses. The CD8 + T cell priming is directed essentially as a corroboration work between cells of innate immunity including dendritic cells (DCs) and natural killer (NK) cells with CD4 + T cells in adoptive immunity. Upon activation, effector CTLs infiltrate to the core or invading site of the tumor (so-called infiltrated�inflamed I�I TME) and take essential roles for killing cancer cells. Exogenous reactivation and/or priming of CD8 + T cells can be possible using rational immunotherapy strategies. The increase of the ratio for costimulatory to coinhibitory mediators using immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) approach. Programmed death-1 receptor (PD-1)�ligand (PD-L1) and CTL-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) are checkpoint receptors that can be targeted for relieving exhaustion of CD8 + T cells and renewing their priming, respectively, and thereby eliminating antigen-expressing cancer cells. Due to a diverse relation between CTLs with Tregs, the Treg activity could be dampened for increasing the number and rescuing the functional potential of CTLs to induce immunosensitivity of cancer cells. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc
Alteration Pattern of Taste Perception After Bariatric Surgery: a Systematic Review of Four Taste Domains
Get PDFBackground: Efforts continue to understand the underlying mechanism of weight loss after bariatric surgery. Taste perception has shown to be a contributing factor. However, the alteration pattern in different taste domains and among bariatric procedures has not been sufficiently investigated. Objectives: To study the alteration pattern in the perception of four taste domains after different bariatric procedures. Settings: Private Research Institute, USA. Methods: A systematic review was conducted to pool available data in the literature on post-operative changes in the perception of sensitivity to four taste domains after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), and adjustable gastric banding (AGB). Results: Our study showed that bariatric surgery is associated with significant change in sensitivity to all four taste domains especially salt taste, sweetness, and sourness. LSG patients showed an increased sensitivity to all four taste domains. However, RYGB patients had a variable alteration pattern of taste perception but more commonly a decreased sensitivity to sweetness and an increased sensitivity to salt taste and sourness. Additionally, AGB patients had a decreased sensitivity to sweetness, salt taste, and sourness. Conclusion: Bariatric surgery is associated with taste change in a way which results in less preference for high-calorie food and possibly reduced calorie intake. This may explain one of the mechanisms by which bariatric surgery produces weight loss. However, data are heterogeneous, the potential effect dilutes over time, and the alteration varies significantly between different procedures. © 2019, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature
Mechanisms for radioprotection by melatonin; can it be used as a radiation countermeasure?
Get PDFBackground: Melatonin is a natural body product that has shown potent antioxidant property against various toxic agents. For more than two decades, the abilities of melatonin as a potent radioprotector against toxic effects of ionizing radiation (IR) have been proved. However, in the recent years, several studies have been conducted to illustrate how melatonin protects normal cells against IR. Studies proposed that melatonin is able to directly neutralize free radicals produced by IR, leading to the production of some low toxic products. Discussion: Moreover, melatonin affects several signaling pathways, such as inflammatory responses, antioxidant defense, DNA repair response enzymes, pro-oxidant enzymes etc. Animal studies have confirmed that melatonin is able to alleviate radiation-induced cell death via inhibiting pro-apoptosis and upregulation of anti-apoptosis genes. These properties are very interesting for clinical radiotherapy applications, as well as mitigation of radiation injury in a possible radiation disaster. An interesting property of melatonin is mitochondrial ROS targeting that has been proposed as a strategy for mitigating effects in radiosensitive organs, such as bone marrow, gastrointestinal system and lungs. However, there is a need to prove the mitigatory effects of melatonin in experimental studies. Conclusion: In this review, we aim to clarify the molecular mechanisms of radioprotective effects of melatonin, as well as possible applications as a radiation countermeasure in accidental exposure or nuclear/radiological disasters. © 2019 Bentham Science Publishers
Evaluation of the prevalence of Legionella pneumophila in Iranian clinical samples: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Get PDFBackground: Legionella pneumophila is the main cause for community-acquired pneumonia especially in hospital environments. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we evaluated the prevalence of L. pneumophila in clinical samples obtained from Iranian patients. Methods: The studies reporting L. pneumophila prevalence in Iranian clinical samples that were published between January 2000 and July 2016 were recruited. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Software (version 3.3.070) was used for quantitative data analysis. Because of high heterogeneity between the studies according to the Cochrane Q and I 2 statistics, a random-effects model was used for meta-analysis. Results: Sixteen studies encompassing 1956 subjects were included in the meta-analysis. The overall prevalence of L. pneumophila was 9.6 in clinical samples obtained from the Iranian patients. The age spectrum ranged from 6 months to 80 years old. Dyspnea and cough comprised the most common clinical manifestations. In the subgroup analysis, the prevalence of L. pneumophila was higher in studies with sample size �100 (12.9) in comparison with studies with sample size >100 (8.4). In addition, the prevalence of L. pneumophila was higher in the years 2009�2016 (9.2) compared with 2000�2008 (0.7). Conclusion: L. pneumophila is a major cause of community- and hospital-acquired pneumonia. It is of pivotal importance to implement sensitive and reliable molecular and culture-based techniques to detect and control this infection in healthcare environments. © 2019 Elsevier Lt
New method for synthesis of BaFe 12 O 19 /Sm 2 Ti 2 O 7 and BaFe 12 O 19 /Sm 2 Ti 2 O 7 /Ag nano-hybrid and investigation of optical and photocatalytic properties
No full textNanoscale BaFe 12 O 19 /Sm 2 Ti 2 O 7 and BaFe 12 O 19 /Sm 2 Ti 2 O 7 /Ag ternary nano-hybrid were successfully synthesized by a new method for the first time. PEG, PVA, and PVP were used to investigate their effects on the morphology and particle size of final products. The photocatalytic efficiency of BaFe 12 O 19 /Sm 2 Ti 2 O 7 /15Ag was improved by 59 which was higher than pure BaFe 12 O 19 /Sm 2 Ti 2 O 7 for the degradation of MB. In this work, Ag was doped with BaFe 12 O 19 /Sm 2 Ti 2 O 7 with the aid of improving its photocatalytic activity and stability toward degradation of dyes under visible light irradiation. Transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared, photoluminescence, diffuse reflection spectroscopy, and Field emission scanning electron microscopy were applied to characterize BaFe 12 O 19 /Sm 2 Ti 2 O 7 /Ag ternary nano-hybrid. © 2019, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature
Macrophage polarity in cancer: A review
No full textMacrophages are the most abundant cells within the tumor stroma displaying noticeable plasticity, which allows them to perform several functions within the tumor microenvironment. Tumor-associated macrophages commonly refer to an alternative M2 phenotype, exhibiting anti-inflammatory and pro-tumoral effects. M2 cells are highly versatile and multi-tasking cells that directly influence multiple steps in tumor development, including cancer cell survival, proliferation, stemness, and invasiveness along with angiogenesis and immunosuppression. M2 cells perform these functions through critical interactions with cells related to tumor progression, including Th2 cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, cancer cells, regulatory T cells (Tregs), and myeloid-derived suppressor cells. M2 cells also have negative cross-talks with tumor suppressor cells, including cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells. Programed death-1 (PD-1) is one of the key receptors expressed in M2 cells that, upon interaction with its ligand PD-L1, plays cardinal roles for induction of immune evasion in cancer cells. In addition, M2 cells can neutralize the effects of the pro-inflammatory and anti-tumor M1 phenotype. Classically activated M1 cells express high levels of major histocompatibility complex molecules, and the cells are strong killers of cancer cells. Therefore, orchestrating M2 reprogramming toward an M1 phenotype would offer a promising approach for reversing the fate of tumor and promoting cancer regression. Macrophage switching toward an anti-inflammatory M1 phenotype could be used as an adjuvant with other approaches, including radiotherapy and immune checkpoint blockades, such as anti-PD-L1/PD-1 strategies. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc