The Effect of Self-Care Education on the Awareness,Attitude, and Adherence to Self-Care Behaviors in Hospitalized Patients Due to Heart Failure with and without Depression

Background

Cardiovascular diseases are among somatic disorders and psychological factors affect their onset, exacerbation, and treatment. This study was conducted on the hospitalized patients who had heart failure with and without depression. The study criteria was to evaluate the effect of self-care education on awareness, attitude, and adherence to self-care behaviors on these patients.

Materials and Methods

In this quasi-experimental study, seventy patients with heart failure that met the inclusion criteria were recruited through purposive sampling method. They were assigned in to two equal size groups regarding their depression status. First, the eligible patients were selected; then Beck Depression Inventory was done on the patients followed by examination by the clinical psychologist. Patients with average and higher scores were classified in the depressed group and others who got lower than average scores were classified as the non -depressed group. A questionnaire containing items related to awareness, attitude, and adherence to self-care behaviors was used to collect the data. First, self-care behavior was determined and then a four-sessions of educational intervention were held individually for both groups. The second round of questionnaires were completed at patients’ home twelve weeks after the discharge. The Collected data was analyzed using independent-samples and paired-sample t tests, Chi square, and statistical analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) tests through SPSS (version 21, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

Results

After the educational sessions, the statistical analysis showed significant differences in the mean scores of awareness, attitude, and adherence to self-care behaviors between the two groups (P<0.0001).

Conclusion

Self-care behavior education had lower effects on the depressed patients with heart failure. Therefore, before providing education for these patients, it is necessary to consider their psychological problems such as depression.     

Carbamate derivatives of colchicine show potent activity towards primary acute lymphoblastic leukemia and primary breast cancer cells—in vitro and ex vivo study

Colchicine ( COL ) shows strong anticancer activity but due to its toxicity towards normal cells its wider application is limited. To address this issue, a library of 17 novel COL derivatives, namely N‐carbamates of N‐deacetyl‐4‐(bromo/chloro/iodo)thiocolchicine, has been tested against two types of primary cancer cells. These included acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and human breast cancer (BC) derived from two different tumor subtypes, ER+ invasive ductal carcinoma grade III (IDCG3) and metastatic carcinoma (MC). Four novel COL derivatives showed higher anti‐proliferative activity than COL (IC₅₀ = 8.6 nM) towards primary ALL cells in cell viability assays (IC₅₀ range of 1.1‐6.4 nM), and several were more potent towards primary IDCG3 (IC₅₀ range of 0.1 to 10.3 nM) or MC (IC₅₀ range of 2.3‐9.1 nM) compared to COL (IC₅₀ of 11.1 and 11.7 nM, respectively). In addition, several derivatives were selectively active toward primary breast cancer cells compared to normal breast epithelial cells. The most promising derivatives were subsequently tested against the NCI panel of 60 human cancer cell lines and seven derivatives were more potent than COL against leukemia, non–small‐cell lung, colon, CNS and prostate cancers. Finally, COL and two of the most active derivatives were shown to be effective in killing BC cells when tested ex vivo using fresh human breast tumor explants. The present findings indicate that the select COL derivatives constitute promising lead compounds targeting specific types of cancer.     

Development of an anti-CD45RA-quantum dots conjugated scFv to detect leukemic cancer stem cells

Molecular Biology Reports - Leukemic cancer stem cells (LSCs), aberrantly overexpressing CD45RA are among the major causes of relapse following chemotherapy in patients with acute myeloid leukemia...     

On the role of astrocytes in synchronization of two coupled neurons: a mathematical perspective

Based on recent findings, astrocytes, a subtype of glial cells, dynamically regulate the synaptic transmission of neuronal networks. In this research, a biologically inspired neuronal network model is constructed by connecting two Morris-Lecar neuron models. In this minimal network model, neuron–astrocyte interactions are considered in a functional-based procedure. Utilizing the developed model and according to the theoretical analysis carried out in the article, it is confirmed that, the astrocyte increases the threshold value of synchronization and provides appropriate feedback control in regulating the neural activities. Therefore, the healthy astrocyte has the potential to desynchronize the synchrony between two coupled neurons. Next, we investigate malfunction of the astrocyte in the regulatory feedback loop. Mathematically, we verify that pathologic astrocyte is no longer able to increase the synchronization threshold and therefore, it cannot compensate excessive increase in the excitation level. The main reason behind this is the fact that healthy astrocyte can optimally increase the input current of the individual neurons, while the so-called pathological astrocyte is unable to modify correctly the amount of this current. Consequently, disruptions of the signaling function of astrocyte initiate the hypersynchronous firing of neurons. In other words, reduction in neuron–astrocyte cross-talk will lead to synchronized firing of neurons. Therefore, our results propose that the astrocyte could have a key role in stabilizing neural activity.     

Engineering porous scaffolds using gas-based techniques

Scaffolds are used in tissue engineering as a matrix for the seeding and attachment of human cells. The creation of porosity in three-dimensional (3D) structures of scaffolds plays a critical role in cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation into the specific tissue while secreting extracellular matrix components. These pores are used to transfer nutrients and oxygen and remove wastes produced from the cells. The lack of oxygen and nutrient supply impedes the cell migration more than 500μm from the surface. The physical properties of scaffolds such as porosity and pore interconnectivity can improve mass transfer and have a great impact on the cell adhesion and penetration into the scaffolds to form a new tissue. Various techniques such as electrospinning, freeze-drying, and solvent casting/salt leaching have been used to create porosity in scaffolds. The major issues in these methods include lack of 3D structure, control on pore size, and pore interconnectivity. In this review, we provide a brief overview of gas-based techniques that have been developed for creating porosity in scaffolds.     

An annotated checklist of the planthoppers of Iran (Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha, Fulgoromorpha) with distribution data

A list of Hemiptera Fulgoromorpha (planthoppers) of Iran is provided, based primarily on literature records from 1902 to the present. In total 15 families and 235 species are recorded, with taxonomic details. Distribution data in Iran are given. Iranissus ephedrinus Dlabola, 1980 is transferred from Issidae to Nogodinidae. To resolve nomenclatural difficulty the following new combinations in Issidae are given: Iranodus dumetorus (Dlabola, 1981), Iranodus khatunus (Dlabola, 1981) and Iranodus repandus (Dlabola, 1981). Due to published generic synonomy the following are new combinations: Duilius seticulosus (Lethierry, 1874), Duilius tamaricis (Puton & Lethierry, 1887), Duilius tamaricicola (Dubovsky, 1966) and Duilius v-atrum (Dlabola, 1985).     

Sterilization of ginseng using a high pressure CO2 at moderate temperatures

The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of using high pressure CO2 for sterilization of Ginseng powder, as an alternative method to conventional techniques such as gamma-irradiation and ethylene oxide. The Ginseng sample used in this study was originally contaminated with fungi and 5 x 10(7) bacteria/g that was not suitable for oral use. This is the first time that high pressure CO2 has been used for the sterilization of herbal medicine to decrease the total aerobic microbial count (TAMC) and fungi. The effect of the process duration, operating pressure, temperature, and amount of additives on the sterilization efficiency of high pressure CO2 were investigated. The process duration was varied over 15 h; the pressure between 100 and 200 bar and the temperature between 25 and 75 degrees C. A 2.67-log reduction of bacteria in the Ginseng sample was achieved after long treatment time of 15 h at 60 degrees C and 100 bar, when using neat carbon dioxide. However, the addition of a small quantity of water/ethanol/H2O2 mixture, as low as 0.02 mL of each additive/g Ginseng powder, was sufficient for complete inactivation of fungi within 6 h at 60 degrees C and 100 bar. At these conditions the bacterial count was decreased from 5 x 10(7) to 2.0 x 10(3) TAMC/g complying with the TGA standard for orally ingested products. A 4.3 log reduction in bacteria was achieved at 150 bar and 30 degrees C, decreasing the TAMC in Ginseng sample to 2,000, below the allowable limit. However, fungi still remained in the sample. The complete inactivation of both bacteria and fungi was achieved within 2 h at 30 degrees C and 170 bar using 0.1 mL of each additive/g Ginseng. Microbial inactivation at this low temperature opens an avenue for the sterilization of many thermally labile pharmaceutical and food products that may involve sensitive compounds to gamma-radiation and chemically reactive antiseptic agents.     

Preparation and Investigation of Sustained Drug Delivery Systems Using an Injectable, Thermosensitive, In Situ Forming Hydrogel Composed of PLGA–PEG–PLGA

In situ gelling systems are very attractive for pharmaceutical applications due to their biodegradability and simple manufacturing processes. The synthesis and characterization of thermosensitive poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-polyethylene glycol (PEG)-PLGA triblock copolymers as in situ gelling matrices were investigated in this study as a drug delivery system. Ring-opening polymerization using microwave irradiation was utilized as a novel technique, and the results were compared with those using a conventional method of polymerization. The phase transition temperature and the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the copolymer solutions were determined by differential scanning calorimetry and spectrophotometry, respectively. The size of the micelles was determined with a light scattering method. In vitro drug release studies were carried out using naltrexone hydrochloride and vitamin B12 as model drugs. The rate and yield of the copolymerization process via microwave irradiation were higher than those of the conventional method. The copolymer structure and concentration played critical roles in controlling the sol-gel transition temperature, the CMC, and the size of the nanomicelles in the copolymer solutions. The rate of drug release could be modulated by the molecular weight of the drugs, the concentration of the copolymers, and their structures in the formulations. The amount of release versus time followed zero-order release kinetics for vitamin B12 over 25 days, in contrast to the Higuchi modeling for naltrexone hydrochloride over a period of 17 days. In conclusion, PLGA-PEG1500-PLGA with a lactide-to-glycolide ratio of 5:1 is an ideal system for the long-acting, controlled release of naltrexone hydrochloride and vitamin B12.     

S. choloroleuca, S. mirzayanii and S. santolinifolia protect PC12 cells from H(2)O (2)-induced apoptosis by blocking the intrinsic pathway

Several studies have shown that neuronal cell death due to apoptosis is the major reason for cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. In this study, we report the anti-apoptotic effects of three Salvia species from Iran-S. choloroleuca, S. mirzayanii and S. santolinifolia-against H(2)O(2)-induced cytotoxicity in neuron-like PC12 cells. We showed that these antioxidant species could interfere with the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis by attenuating Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, decreasing outer mitochondrial membrane break and decreasing cytochrome c release to cytoplasm. Interestingly, we found that these species were able to replenish reduced glutathione level which affects cellular redox status and cytochrome c activity. Moreover, the decreased level of caspase-3, the executioner caspase, resulted in decrease of PARP-1 cleavage. Anti-apoptotic effects of these species along with their antioxidant effects, may represent a promising approach for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.     

Proteinuria Triggers Renal Lymphangiogenesis Prior to the Development of Interstitial Fibrosis

Proteinuria is an important cause of progressive tubulo-interstitial damage. Whether proteinuria could trigger a renal lymphangiogenic response has not been established. Moreover, the temporal relationship between development of fibrosis, inflammation and lymphangiogenesis in chronic progressive kidney disease is not clear yet. Therefore, we evaluated the time course of lymph vessel (LV) formation in relation to proteinuria and interstitial damage in a rat model of chronic unilateral adriamycin nephrosis. Proteinuria and kidneys were evaluated up to 30 weeks after induction of nephrosis. LVs were identified by podoplanin/VEGFR3 double staining. After 6 weeks proteinuria was well-established, without influx of interstitial macrophages and myofibroblasts, collagen deposition, osteopontin expression (tubular activation) or LV formation. At 12 weeks, a ∼3-fold increase in cortical LV density was found (p<0.001), gradually increasing over time. This corresponded with a significant increase in tubular osteopontin expression (p<0.01) and interstitial myofibroblast numbers (p<0.05), whereas collagen deposition and macrophage numbers were not yet increased. VEGF-C was mostly expressed by tubular cells rather than interstitial cells. Cultured tubular cells stimulated with FCS showed a dose-dependent increase in mRNA and protein expression of VEGF-C which was not observed by human albumin stimulation. We conclude that chronic proteinuria provoked lymphangiogenesis in temporal conjunction with tubular osteopontin expression and influx of myofibroblasts, that preceded interstitial fibrosis.