The effect of nurse-initiated diary intervention on posttraumatic stress disorder and recall of memories in ICU survivors: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Patients' recall of memories from the ICU plays an important role in the occurrence of post-traumatic stress disorder. This study aimed to determine the effect of nurse-initiated diary intervention on post-traumatic stress disorder and recall of memories in ICU survivors. METHODS: This RCT study included all patients admitted to two trauma ICUs in Southeast of Iran. Thirty patients considered in control and intervention groups. Data collection tools included the Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R), and the ICU Memory Tool (ICU-MT). The researcher wrote daily diaries of the intervention and control groups during the first 72 h of their admissions. SPSS25 was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The total mean PTSD score in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group (p > 0.0001, z = -3.75). The number of those in the intervention group who clearly recalled their admission to hospital, their hospital stay before being admitted to the ICU and all memories from the ICU stay, was more than those in the control group; this difference was statistically significant (p > 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The results showed that the nurse-initiated diary was effective on the PTSD and recall clear memories of patients admitted to the ICU. We suggest medical and educational centers to use this intervention in order to reduce the posttraumatic stress disorder in these patients. As nurse-initiated diary intervention had no significant difference in the recall of different types of memories from the ICU, we require further studies in this field.

Simultaneous Screening of Six Families of Antibiotic Residues in Milk Samples by Biochip Multi-array Technology.

Background: Antimicrobial compounds are used in animal husbandry to prevent and treat bacterial diseases and as illegal growth-promoting agents. Due to the excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics, the antibiotic residues in milk can cause allergic reactions and antibiotic resistance. A rapid biochip-based method for the multi-analyte screening of 6 families of antibiotic residues (quinolones, ceftiofur, florfenicol, streptomycin, tylosin, and tetracyclines) in milk was validated based on Commission Decision 2002/657 and the European guidance for screening methods for veterinary medicinal products. Methods: This methodology allows the 6 antibiotic families to be detected simultaneously, increasing the screening capacity and reducing costs in test settings. The method's applicability was shown by screening 38 UHT cow milk samples taken from Tehran province, IR Iran. Results: The results showed that the positive threshold T was above Fm, and the CCß was below the European Commission's Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) (100 ppb for ceftiofur and tetracycline and 50 ppb for tylosin in milk). Norfloxacin was detected in about 8% of the samples and tylosin in 2.63%. The total antibiotic concentration in UHT cow milk samples was lower than the European Commission's MRL. Conclusions: This study showed that the biochip technique is valid for screening tylosin, ceftiofur, streptomycin, tetracycline, norfloxacin, and florfenicol in milk. It was found that the method was easy, quick, and capable of detecting 6 families of antibiotic residues simultaneously from a single milk sample without sample preparation.

Correlation between professional quality of life and alarm fatigue symptoms among intensive care unit nurses.

Introduction: Medical devices and equipment are necessary for accurate and continuous monitoring of the patients admitted to intensive care units, one of which is alarm systems. Frequent sounds of alarms can affect nurses' concentration and accuracy when providing care. Complications such as headache, fatigue, and stress occur after repeated alarms, leading to poor quality of professional life among nurses. This study aimed to determine the relationship between quality of professional life and alarm fatigue syndrome among intensive care unit nurses. Methods: This cross-sectional study used convenience sampling to select nurses working in intensive care units from three hospitals in southern Iran in 2021 (n = 201). Data were collected using three questionnaires, including sociodemographic form, the professional quality of life questionnaire (ProQOL), and the alarm fatigue symptom (AFS) scale. Results: The mean scores of compassion satisfaction (CS), burnout, secondary traumatic stress (STS) (subscales of the ProQOL), and AFS were 34.66 ± 7.54, 28.98 ± 7.59, 27.69 ± 5.87, and 13.48 ± 7.32, respectively. The majority of them had no or mild AFS, moderate CS, burnout, and STS. Among the study variables, only AFS were a significant predictor of CS and STS among ICU nurses. In addition, work experience in ICU, AFS, and a second job were significant predictors of burnout among ICU nurses. Conclusions: The study results showed a significant relationship between alarm fatigue syndrome, burnout, STS, and CS. Given that more than half of the nurses in the intensive care unit in the present study experienced some degree of alarm fatigue syndrome, it is necessary to plan and implement interventions to better manage the alarms in the intensive care unit.

Simultaneous Screening of Nitrofuran Metabolites in Honey Using Biochip Array Technology: Validation Study According to the Decision 2002/657/EC of the European Union.

Background: Although no authorization is available for antibiotics to treat bee diseases, some veterinary compounds are used by beekeepers, and each country sets its own thresholds. Inappropriate and excessive use of these drugs can cause allergic reactions and antibiotic resistance in humans who consume the remaining antibiotic residues in honey and its products. It is, therefore, relevant to monitor the presence of antibiotic residues in this matrix. Objectives: A rapid method for the simultaneous screening of nitrofuran metabolite residues in honey was validated according to Commission Decision 2002/657/EC (C.D 657) and the European guideline for the validation of screening methods for veterinary medicines. Methods: This multi-analytical screening method enables the simultaneous determination of four nitrofuran metabolites [3-amino-2-oxazolidone (AOZ), 3-amino-5-morpholinomethyl-2-oxazolidinone (AMOZ), 1-Aminohydantoin HCl (ADH), and semicarbazide (SEC)] from a single honey sample. Thirty-five honey samples were collected randomly as real samples for screening from Tehran, IR Iran, Germany, and the Netherlands in 2018. Results: For all four antibiotic residues, the positivity threshold T was higher than the cut-off value Fm, and no false-positive results were obtained for three antibiotics (AOZ, AMOZ, and SEC). Detection capabilities (CCß) of all compounds were under the minimum required performance limit (MRPL) authorized by the European Commission (currently 1 µg/kg). The screening results of 15 domestic and 20 imported honey samples showed that the levels of AOZ in 6.66% and 10% of the samples, the level of AMOZ in 13.33% and 0% of the samples, and the level of SEC in 33.33% and 40% of the samples were less than the cut-off ([in relative light units (RLUs)], respectively. Conclusions: This study found that this technique is valid for detecting and quantifying three antibiotic residues in honey samples at the measured validation levels. This method was simple, rapid, and capable of simultaneously screening three nitrofuran metabolites from a single honey sample.

Validation of a Multiclass Method for the Screening of 15 Antibiotic Residues in Milk Using Biochip Multi-array Technology and Its application to Monitor Real Samples.

Veterinary drugs are extensively and legally consumed to treat and prevent disease in chattels but some are also used illegally as growth-stimulating agents. Inappropriate or intensive use of antibiotics can cause allergic reactions and, above all, antibiotic resistance. A multiclass approach for the screening of antimicrobial substances in milk was validated in consonance with Commission Decision 2002/657/EC and to the European guideline for the validation of screening methods for veterinary medicines. This biochip-based approach enables the simultaneous determination of a total of 13 sulphonamide, dapsone and trimethoprim. For monitoring of antibiotic residues, 53 UHT milk samples collected from Tehran, IR Iran were screened applying this technology. The result showed that for all antibiotic residues, the positivity threshold T was much more than the cut-off value Fm. A false positive rate of less than 5% was found for all antibiotics which are satisfactory. All detection capabilities (CCß) were well below the Maximum Residue Level (MRL) set by the European Commission (100 µg/kg for the sum of all sulphonamides and 50 µg/kg for trimethoprim in milk). The screening results of 53 milk samples showed that 71.7% of samples were compliant and all positive samples were below the MRL set by European Commission. This study showed that the biochip-based technique is valid to identify and quantify antibiotic residues in milk at the studied validation levels. The method was rapid, easy, safe, and able to screen 13 sulphonamide, dapsone and trimethoprim from a single milk sample simultaneously with no sample preparation procedure (or just one-step centrifugation).

Designing of a pH-activatable carbon dots as a luminescent nanoprobe for recognizing folate receptor-positive cancer cells.

During recent years, cancer has been recognized as a well-known disorder all over the world. One of the important factors to tackle this problem better than past decades is early diagnosis that takes into practice by state-of-the-art visual equipment for detection cancer cells. Herein, in this research, we synthesized carbon dots with pH-dependent behavior from a green source by hydrothermal method with high quantum yield and blue fluorescence. Folic acid-conjugated carbon dots by an efficient and optimal conjugation method were set upped which determined cancer cells visually. These synthesized and conjugated nanoparticles entered into the cancer cells more comprehensive than normal cells by receptor-mediated endocytosis and could distinguish cancer cells from normal ones by fluorescence imaging. Ultimately, synthesized nanoparticles in this research can be considered as an efficient fluorescent nanoprobe for cancer pre-diagnosis.

Validation of Simultaneous Biochip-based Method for Screening of 3 Beta-Lactam Families Residues in Cow's Milk in Accordance with the European Union Decision 2002/657/EC and its Application on Real Samples.

Illegal and excessive use of veterinary antibiotics as a food additive for growth promotion in livestock can lead to allergic reactions and antibiotic resistance, which is a worldwide concern. A biochip-based semi-quantitative screening method of antimicrobial residues in milk was validated based on Commission Decision 2002/657/EC and the European guideline to validate screening methods for veterinary medicines. This multi-analytical screening method enables to determine of 3 beta-lactams (cefalexin, ampicillin, and cefuroxime) simultaneously. Analysis of 20 blank and 20 spiked milk samples showed that for all 3 antibiotic residues, the positivity threshold T was above cut-off value Fm, and no false-positive results were obtained for all 3 antibiotics. All detection capabilities (CCß) were below Maximum Residue Level (MRL) authorized by European Commission. 47 UHT cow's milk samples collected from Tehran province, IR Iran, were screened, and compliance was found in 100% of samples. This study found that the biochip method is valid to determine antibiotic residues in milk samples at the measured validation levels. The method was fast, simple, and able to simultaneous screen three families of beta-lactams from a single milk sample with almost no sample preparation.