Culture, conditions and care support mental health of healthcare workers during crises.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has presented immense challenges to health systems worldwide and significantly impacted the mental health of frontline healthcare workers. AIMS: This study drew on the experiences of frontline healthcare workers to examine organizational strategies needed to support the mental health and well-being of healthcare workers during times of crisis. METHODS: Semi-structured focus groups or individual interviews were conducted with healthcare workers to examine their perspectives on organizational strategies for enhancing staff mental health and well-being during crises. Data were analysed thematically. Following this, evidence for the identified strategies was reviewed to assess alignment with participant views and recommendations. RESULTS: Thirty-two healthcare workers from diverse disciplines (10 allied health, 11 nursing, 11 medical) participated in the study. Data analysis identified three broad themes contributing to supporting mental health and well-being. These themes can be encapsulated as the 'Three Cs'-culture (building an organizational culture that prioritizes mental health); conditions (implementing proactive organizational strategies during crises) and care (ensuring fit-for-purpose strategies to support mental health and well-being). CONCLUSIONS: Study findings underscore the necessity of an integrated and systemic organizational approach to address mental health and well-being in the healthcare workplace. This approach must be long term with the components of the 'Three Cs', particularly cultural change and conditions, viewed as a part of a suite of strategies to ensure crisis preparedness. It is imperative that organizations collaborate with their staff, providing support and fostering a safe and inclusive work environment that ultimately benefits patients, their care and staff well-being.

Mapping end-of-life and anticipatory medications in palliative care patients using a longitudinal general practice database.

OBJECTIVE: End-of-life and anticipatory medications (AMs) have been widely used in various health care settings for people approaching end-of-life. Lack of access to medications at times of need may result in unnecessary hospital admissions and increased patient and family distress in managing palliative care at home. The study aimed to map the use of end-of-life and AM in a cohort of palliative care patients through the use of the Population Level Analysis and Reporting Data Space and to discuss the results through stakeholder consultation of the relevant organizations. METHODS: A retrospective observational cohort study of 799 palliative care patients in 25 Australian general practice health records with a palliative care referral was undertaken over a period of 10 years. This was followed by stakeholders' consultation with palliative care nurse practitioners and general practitioners who have palliative care patients. RESULTS: End-of-life and AM prescribing have been increasing over the recent years. Only a small percentage (13.5%) of palliative care patients received medications through general practice. Stakeholders' consultation on AM prescribing showed that there is confusion about identifying patients needing medications for end-of-life and mixed knowledge about palliative care referral pathways. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: Improved knowledge and information around referral pathways enabling access to palliative care services for general practice patients and their caregivers are needed. Similarly, the increased utility of screening tools to identify patients with palliative care needs may be useful for health care practitioners to ensure timely care is provided.

Pegylated and amphiphilic Chitosan coated manganese ferrite nanoparticles for pH-sensitive delivery of methotrexate: Synthesis and characterization.

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are the major class of nanoparticles (NPs) with specific functional properties that make them good candidates for biomedical applications. Due to their response to the magnetic field, they can be used in targeted drug delivery systems. In current research, the MNPs were synthesized with the general formula of Fe1-xMnxFe2O4 by the co-precipitation technique. First, the effect of the Fe2+ ions in the system was investigated. Succinic anhydride was used as the first stabilizer to prepare surface for binding two types of polymer, including Polyethylene glycol (PEG) and palmitoylated Polyethylene glycol-grafted Chitosan (Cs-PEG-PA) were introduced as a polymeric shell. The composition, size, structure and magnetic properties of NPs were determined by the particle size analysis (PSA), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Determining the well-defined properties of MNPs, methotrexate (MTX), as a common anticancer drug, was encapsulated into the coated MNPs. The drug encapsulation efficiency was as high as 92.8% with the magnetization value of 19.7emu/g. The in-vitro release pattern was studied, showing only 6% of the drug release in pH=7.4 (as a model of the physiological environment) and 25% in pH=5.4 (as a model of the tumor tissue environment) after 72h. Based on these results, we may be able to introduce this specific system as a novel pH sensitive MNP system for MTX targeting to tumor tissues in cancer chemotherapy.

Perception of Nepalese dental hygiene and dentistry students towards the dental hygienists profession.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigates student and stakeholder perceptions of the role of the dental hygienist in Nepal. The impact of these perceptions on the professionalization of dental hygienists is described whilst exploring the consequences for oral health workforce planning. METHODS: Dentistry and dental hygiene students from one dental college in Nepal were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire; 171 students returned the questionnaire containing a mix of forced response and open-ended items. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS® 22. These data were complemented with qualitative information from survey open questions and from semi-structured interviews with key informants from several relevant organizations. Qualitative data were manually analysed and coded. Data were triangulated to contextualize quantitative data. RESULTS: A high level of positive regard for the role of the dental hygienist in Nepal was evident amongst dentistry and dental hygiene students in this college. Both groups believe that the dental hygienist can play a major role in raising oral health awareness in Nepal. The scope of practice of the dental hygienist was unclear with issues surrounding the scope of practice and reports of illegal practice by dental hygienists. Significant differences (P < 0.001) were noted between dental hygiene and dentistry students in relation to their opinion regarding independent practice and the need of supervision by a dentist. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Supervision of the dental hygienist by dentists and issues surrounding the scope of practice are polarizing the relationship between dentists, dental hygienists and the relevant professional organizations. This could hinder cooperation between these oral health professionals and might lead to underutilization of the dental hygienist. To improve the understanding about the roles of each oral health professional, establishing functional relationships and intraprofessional education involving dentistry and dental hygiene students needs to be introduced. This will benefit the introduction of preventative oral health services in Nepal. Government jobs and incentives to increase the retention and distribution of oral health professionals should be created. The government and professional organizations need to consider professionalizing the dental hygiene workforce and formalize the scope of practice. The unique demographic details of Nepal require a paradigm shift in oral health workforce management in Nepal.

Does enhancing personal care assistants' own oral health influence their attitudes and practices towards oral care for residents - a pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether, within a residential care facility, increasing personal care assistants' (PCAs) awareness of their own oral health status and self-care skills would alter existing attitudes and behavioural intentions related to the oral health care of residents. METHODS: PCAs (n = 15) in the dementia care unit of a residential care facility in Melbourne, Australia, were invited to participate in a small research project that appeared to test the effectiveness of a work-place oral health educational programme in enhancing their own oral health whilst masking the actual outcome of interest, namely its effect on PCAs oral healthcare attitudes and practices towards the residents. RESULTS: Post-intervention, the self-reported confidence of the PCAs to identify their personal risk for oral health problems, identifying common oral health conditions and determining the factors contributing to their personal oral health was increased significantly (P < 0.05). Post-intervention, the self-reported confidence of the PCAs to feeling confident to identify factors that could contribute to poor oral health of residents, identify resident's higher risk for poor oral health and feeling confident in identifying common oral health conditions in residents was also increased significantly (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this pilot study show that the educational intervention to increase the personal care assistants' (PCAs) awareness of their own oral health status and self-care skills increased the confidence of the carers to identify oral health risks in the residents, as well as increasing their self-reported confidence in providing oral care to residents.

Validity and reliability of eye healthcare professionals in the assessment of glaucoma - a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE(S): To explore the validity and reliability of eye healthcare professionals with different levels of training in diagnosing and/or identifying glaucomatous progression. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Substantial pressure is being placed on our current eye healthcare workforce by chronic diseases such as glaucoma. Shared care schemes and role expansion of professionals other than ophthalmologists are being proposed to alleviate this pressure. A sound evidence base is imperative to determine whether other allied health professionals are skilled and clinically competent, when it comes to taking on these new roles in glaucoma management. METHODS: A systematic review of research articles identified in MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, Scopus and Cochrane Library was performed. Studies which investigated rater reliability of various health professionals in diagnosing and/or identifying glaucoma progression against a reference standard were included. RESULTS: Of the 4088 publications identified by the initial database search, 32 met the inclusion criteria. The majority of studies demonstrated positive results, with most finding moderate to substantial agreement for inter- and intra-rater reliability across all testing modalities. The eye health professionals with ophthalmology training consistently attained the greatest agreement. When allied health professionals with different levels of training were compared, those who had completed residency training were significantly better than those who had not. CONCLUSION: The studies included in this review show promising results, including those raters without ophthalmology training. A lack of power calculations, unequal sample sizes in some studies and the diversity of the testing procedures used make it difficult to make sound inferences.

Molecular identification of uncommon clinical yeast species in Iran.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: By using advanced detection/identification methods, the list of emerging uncommon opportunistic yeast infections is rapidly expanding worldwide. Our aim in the present study was sequence-based species delineation of previously unidentified yeasts obtained from a clinically yeast collection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of twenty three out of the 855 (5.7%) yeast isolates which formerly remained unidentified by PCR-RFLP method, were subjected to sequence analysis of the entire internal transcribed spacers (ITS) regions of rDNA. The precise species recognition was performed by the comparison of the sequences with the reliable GenBank database. RESULTS: Sequencing analysis of the ITS region of the strains revealed several uncommon yeasts that were not reported previously in Iran. The species include Hanseniaspora uvarum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Sporidiobolus salmonicolor, Pichia fabianii, Pichia fermentans, Candida famata, Candida inconspicua, Candida maqnoliae, Candida guilliermondii, Candida kefyr, Candida rugosa, Candida lusitaniae, Candida orthopsilosis, and Candida viswanathii. CONCLUSION: We identified several rare clinical isolates selected from a big collection at the species level by ITS-sequencing. As the list of yeast species as opportunistic human fungal infections is increasing dramatically, and many isolates remain unidentified using conventional methods, more sensitive and specific advanced approaches help us to clarify the aspects of microbial epidemiology of the yeast infections.

Nano-magnetic particles used in biomedicine: core and coating materials.

Magnetic nanoparticles for medical applications have been developed by many researchers. Separation, immunoassay, drug delivery, magnetic resonance imaging and hyperthermia are enhanced by the use of suitable magnetic nanoparticles and coating materials in the form of ferrofluids. Due to their low biocompatibility and low dispersion in water solutions, nanoparticles that are used for biomedical applications require surface treatment. Various kinds of coating materials including organic materials (polymers), inorganic metals (gold, platinum) or metal oxides (aluminum oxide, cobalt oxide) have been attracted during the last few years. Based on the recent advances and the importance of nanomedicine in human life, this paper attempts to give a brief summary on the different ferrite nano-magnetic particles and coatings used in nanomedicine.

Predicting concordance with multilayer compression bandaging.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between concordance with multilayer compression bandaging and a number of client and wound characteristics, including wound severity, health status and client independence with respect to activities of daily living. METHOD: Using data gathered for a randomised controlled trial that compared two types of antimicrobial dressings on infected or critically colonised lower leg ulcers, we explored the level of concordance with compression therapy by patients with wounds that had an ankle brachial pressure index of between 0.8 and 1.2. RESULTS: A logistic regression analysis found that increased pain and wound size, older age and shallow wound depth were all significant predictors of non-concordance with multilayer compression bandaging. CONCLUSION: Although the results suggest that pain, wound size, age and wound depth are all significant predictors of non-concordance with multilayer bandaging, the generalisability of these results is limited, given that data were gathered in the context of a RCT. Further studies are required to explore the relative contribution of predictors of concordance with compression therapy, in order to help inform strategies that promote it and, thereby, optimise healing. CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None.

Definition of the transcription factors which bind the differentiation responsive element of the Epstein-Barr virus BZLF1 Z promoter in human epithelial cells.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous human herpesvirus and an important human pathogen. Initiation of the EBV lytic cycle is dependent upon transcription of the EBV BZLF1 gene. Our previous studies of transcriptional regulation of the BZLF1 Z promoter (Zp) in human SCC12F epithelial cells identified a region within Zp that is responsive to epithelial cell differentiation. In the present study, we localize this differentiation responsive element to the CREB/AP-1-like binding site (TGACATCA) between -67 to -60 bp within Zp, previously designated ZII, and furthermore show that homodimers and heterodimers of CREB and ATF-1 specifically bind ZII. Consistent with a regulatory role for CREB and ATF-1 in differentiation dependent BZLF1 expression, ZII was able to bind approximately 3-fold more CREB and ATF-1 when incubated with nuclear extract obtained from populations of SCC12F cells enriched for the differentiated phenotype than when incubated with extract obtained from populations enriched for the undifferentiated phenotype. In addition, CREB and ATF-1 were found to increase in abundance during SCC12F differentiation. These results indicate a regulatory role for CREB and ATF-1 in differentiation-dependent expression of BZLF1 in human epithelial cells.

Identification of an epithelial cell differentiation responsive region within the BZLF1 promoter of the Epstein-Barr virus.

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) BZLF1 gene product, Zta is able to trigger the viral lytic cycle in latently infected B lymphocytes. Investigations into regulation of the promoter, Zp for the BZLF1 gene in B cells have identified 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate, anti-immunoglobulin and Zta responsive elements as well as a negative regulatory element within Zp. EBV infects and replicates within squamous epithelial cells and there is evidence to indicate that EBV gene expression is linked to the differentiation status of epithelial cells. We have investigated regulation of Zp in undifferentiated and differentiated cells of the human squamous epithelial cell line SCC12F. Zp was found to be active in SCC12F cells and activity was increased approximately 7-fold upon induction of epithelial terminal differentiation. Sequences responsive to epithelial cell differentiation were contained within the region of Zp from -86 to +12 bp, a region previously shown to contain an AP-1-like binding site, designated the ZII domain. In addition, enhancing sequences were detected in the region -221 to -86 bp. These studies will lead to a greater understanding of differentiation-linked EBV gene expression in human squamous epithelial cells.