Small Warriors of Nature: Novel Red Emissive Chlorophyllin Carbon Dots Harnessing Fenton-Fueled Ferroptosis for In Vitro and In Vivo Cancer Treatment.

The appeal of carbon dots (CDs) has grown recently, due to their established biocompatibility, adjustable photoluminescence properties, and excellent water solubility. For the first time in the literature, copper chlorophyllin-based carbon dots (Chl-D CDs) are successfully synthesized. Chl-D CDs exhibit unique spectroscopic traits and are found to induce a Fenton-like reaction, augmenting photodynamic therapy (PDT) efficacies via ferroptotic and apoptotic pathways. To bolster the therapeutic impact of Chl-D CDs, a widely used cancer drug, temozolomide, is linked to their surface, yielding a synergistic effect with PDT and chemotherapy. Chl-D CDs' biocompatibility in immune cells and in vivo models showed great clinical potential.Proteomic analysis was conducted to understand Chl-D CDs' underlying cancer treatment mechanism. The study underscores the role of reactive oxygen species formation and pointed toward various oxidative stress modulators like aldolase A (ALDOA), aldolase C (ALDOC), aldehyde dehydrogenase 1B1 (ALDH1B1), transaldolase 1 (TALDO1), and transketolase (TKT), offering a deeper understanding of the Chl-D CDs' anticancer activity. Notably, the Chl-D CDs' capacity to trigger a Fenton-like reaction leads to enhanced PDT efficiencies through ferroptotic and apoptotic pathways. Hence, it is firmly believed that the inherent attributes of Chl-CDs can lead to a secure and efficient combined cancer therapy.

Design and Development of a Chemical Probe for Pseudokinase Ca2+/calmodulin-Dependent Ser/Thr Kinase.

CASK (Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent Ser/Thr kinase) is a member of the MAGUK (membrane-associated guanylate kinase) family that functions as neurexin kinases with roles implicated in neuronal synapses and trafficking. The lack of a canonical DFG motif, which is altered to GFG in CASK, led to the classification as a pseudokinase. However, functional studies revealed that CASK can still phosphorylate substrates in the absence of divalent metals. CASK dysfunction has been linked to many diseases, including colorectal cancer, Parkinson's disease, and X-linked mental retardation, suggesting CASK as a potential drug target. Here, we exploited structure-based design for the development of highly potent and selective CASK inhibitors based on 2,4-diaminopyrimidine-5-carboxamides targeting an unusual pocket created by the GFG motif. The presented inhibitor design offers a more general strategy for the development of pseudokinase ligands that harbor unusual sequence motifs. It also provides a first chemical probe for studying the biological roles of CASK.

New graduate nurses' satisfaction, adaptation and intention to leave in their first year: A descriptive study.

AIM: To determine the factors affecting the professional and institutional satisfaction of new graduate nurses in their first year of work, their adaptation process and their intentions of leaving the nursing profession. BACKGROUND: The number of new graduates has been increasing in the global labour force, yet a significant proportion of them have left their profession. The first year in the nursing profession is particularly stressful and challenging for new graduate nurses. METHODS: The study was conducted at four hospitals with 428 new graduate nurses who were in the first years of their careers. RESULTS: The nurses' mean score, out of ten, was 5.52 points for job satisfaction and 5.16 points for satisfaction with their institution. Of them, 47.7% had difficulties adapting to nursing, and 53.5% had issues adapting to their jobs. Of them, 42.5% had considered leaving nursing, and 50.9% planned to leave their institutions. CONCLUSIONS: New graduates that perceive high workload, poor communication with patients and families or team members or inadequate skills and knowledge are more likely to consider turnover or leaving the profession. IMPLICATION FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: New graduates suggested that better cooperation and teamwork, participation in decisions, consideration of requests for placement in a specific department, fair distribution of duties and shifts and in-unit professional development opportunities would all improve the work environment and decrease risk of turnover.

Determining the learning needs of new graduated nurses working in inpatient care institutions.

BACKGROUND: The first year of practice impacts newly graduated nurses' adaptation to both work and profession life. During this period, new graduates most need to improve their professional knowledge and skills. OBJECTIVES: This study determined the learning needs of newly graduated nurses working in hospitals. DESIGN: This is a descriptive study. SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS: The sample consisted of 459 newly graduated nurses at six hospitals in Istanbul in Turkey. METHODS: The data were collected with a collection tool developed by the researchers. The data were analyzed using mean, frequency, percentage, and the chi-square test. RESULTS: The study determined that 34.6% of the newly graduated nurses were working in the emergency room and intensive care unit and 50.5% did not choose their unit voluntarily. Although 67.8% stated that their theoretical training in school was sufficient, 53.2% found clinical and 67.3% found laboratory practices insufficient. Of them, 67.1% stated that they participated in a unit orientation program and nearly half found the program insufficient for solving clinical issues. The newly graduated nurses specified they needed to learn more about nursing interventions such as resuscitation, postmortem care, efficient crisis management and code/emergency management. Newly graduated nurses who chose their unit voluntarily, found their undergraduate education sufficient preparation for the profession, and found the orientation program effective felt more competent in nursing practices. They made several suggestions for their professional development: effective feedback, in-unit trainings, working with a mentor during the first year of practice and more clinical practice during undergraduate education. CONCLUSIONS: This study includes data on the learning needs of newly graduated nurses and the factors that affect them. These results will be beneficial for planning studies to help newly graduated nurses to improve their skills.