Don't abandon hope all ye who enter here: The protective role of formal mentoring and learning processes on burnout in correctional officers.

BACKGROUND: Within a Job Demands-Resources Model framework, formal mentoring can be conceived as a job resource expressing the organization's support for new members, which may prevent their being at risk for burnout. OBJECTIVE: This research aims at understanding the protective role of formal mentoring on burnout, through the effect of increasing learning personal resources. Specifically, we hypothesized that formal mentoring enhances newcomers' learning about job and social domains related to the new work context, thus leading to lower burnout. METHODS: In order to test the hypotheses, a multiple regression analysis using the bootstrapping method was used. RESULTS: Based on a questionnaire administered to 117 correctional officer newcomers who had a formal mentor assigned, our results confirm that formal mentoring exerts a positive influence on newcomers' adjustment, and that this in turn exerts a protective influence against burnout onset by reducing cynicism and interpersonal stress and also enhancing the sense of personal accomplishment. CONCLUSIONS: Confirming previous literature's suggestions, supportive mentoring and effective socialization seem to represent job and personal resources that are protective against burnout. This study provides empirical support for this relation in the prison context.

Evaluation of fat grafting safety in patients with intraepithelial neoplasia: a matched-cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Fat grafting is widely carried out in breast cancer patients to improve quality in breast reconstruction. Recently, in vitro and animal studies have questioned the role of adipose tissues in cancer development. DESIGNS: Matched-cohort study. We analysed: (i) 59 intraepithelial neoplasia patients who had undergone lipofilling, with no recurrence between primary surgery and lipofilling. (ii) A control group of 118 matched patients (two controls per lipofilling patient) with the corresponding recurrence-free intervals. Both groups were also matched for main cancer criteria. A local event (LE) was the primary end point, with follow-up starting from the baseline. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 63 and 66 months from surgery, and 38 and 42 from baseline, for the lipofilling and control groups, respectively; the 5-year cumulative incidence of LE was 18% and 3% (P = 0.02). Ki-67 was the significant factor in univariate survival analysis. A subgroup analysis showed that lipofilling increased the risk of LE in women <50 years, with high grade neoplasia, Ki-67 ≥ 14 or who had undergone quadrantectomy. CONCLUSION: Higher risk of LE was observed in intraepithelial neoplasia patients following lipofilling. Although further studies are required to validate our conclusions, patients belonging to this subgroup should be informed of these results and the potential risks.

Endograft treatment in ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms using the Talent AUI stentgraft system. Design of a feasibility study.

OBJECTIVES: To study the outcome of patients with ruptured AAA treated by EVAR using the Talent AUI stentgraft system. DESIGN: A multicenter prospective consecutive patient cohort of 100 patients. MATERIALS: Consecutive patients with ruptured AAA will be screened for treatment by EVAR. All patients screened, including those excluded from EVAR, will be clustered and called the study group. The study group will be compared with a historical group of patients with ruptured AAA derived from literature. The New ERA study started February 2003. OUTCOME: Main outcome events are applicability rate and operative mortality rate of the study group. CONCLUSION: The study rationale and design are reported here.

[Ovarian function after total simple hysterectomy]. / La funzionalità ovarica dopo isterectomia totale semplice.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this prospective study is to evaluate the ovarian function and its duration after total simple hysterectomy. METHODS: This research was carried out on thirty regularly menstruating patients who underwent simple hysterectomy. Ovarian function has been evaluated by measuring FSH, E2, PP at 6 and 24 months from hysterectomy or from the first observation at the beginning of the study. RESULTS: None of the patients showed ovarian failure at 6 months. Nine patients (average age: 48,8 years) showed ovarian failure at 24 months. CONCLUSIONS: The conclusion is drawn that the cessation of ovarian activity is not influenced by hysterectomy: it rather depends on the age of the patient.

Signaling system in Porphyromonas gingivalis based on a LuxS protein.

The luxS gene of quorum-sensing Vibrio harveyi is required for type 2 autoinducer production. We identified a Porphyromonas gingivalis open reading frame encoding a predicted peptide of 161 aa that shares 29% identity with the amino acid sequence of the LuxS protein of V. harveyi. Conditioned medium from a late-log-phase P. gingivalis culture induced the luciferase operon of V. harveyi, but that from a luxS insertional mutant did not. In P. gingivalis, the expression of luxS mRNA was environmentally controlled and varied according to the cell density and the osmolarity of the culture medium. In addition, differential display PCR showed that the inactivation of P. gingivalis luxS resulted in up-regulation of a hemin acquisition protein and an arginine-specific protease and reduced expression of a hemin-regulated protein, a TonB homologue, and an excinuclease. The data suggest that the luxS gene in P. gingivalis may function to control the expression of genes involved in the acquisition of hemin.

p-Aminobenzoic acid and its metabolite p-acetamidobenzoic acid inhibit agonist-induced aggregation and arachidonic acid-induced [Ca2+]i transients in human platelets.

We have previously found that the naturally occurring amine p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) inhibits the thrombin-induced thromboxane B2 production in human platelets. In this report we show that PABA and its acetylated metabolite p-acetamidobenzoic acid (PACBA) inhibit platelet aggregation induced by agonists such as adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and arachidonic acid (AA). Both substances were equipotent to acetylsalicylic acid regarding inhibition of ADP-induced aggregation and approximately 50% as potent as acetylsalicylic acid regarding arachidonic acid-induced aggregation. Although not significantly inhibiting collagen aggregation, PABA and PACBA reduced the concomitant adenosine triphosphate (ATP) secretion by approximately 30 and 20%, respectively. The antiaggregatory effect does not seem to be mediated through cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) increase because in our experiments PABA and PACBA did not significantly affect cAMP levels. However, we have found that PABA and PACBA inhibit the intracellular aequorin indicated Ca2+ transient upon arachidonic acid stimulation. Our results describe a hitherto unknown effect of PABA and PACBA on platelet aggregation.

Coenzyme Q10 administration increases antibody titer in hepatitis B vaccinated volunteers--a single blind placebo-controlled and randomized clinical study.

Persons involved in the study, 21 per treatment arm, were consuming ubiquinone (Q10), 90 mg/day, 180 mg/day or placebo, for two weeks prior to hepatitis B vaccination. After 30 days this vaccination was repeated. Q10 was given as soft gelatin capsules containing 30 mg each. The consumption was continued throughout the study conducted for 90 days. Clinical observations and laboratory tests were performed throughout the study and no adverse effects were observed in any of the groups. Already after 30 days the two groups receiving Q10 showed a slightly titer of antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen then the placebo group. This difference escalated and the immunopotentiating effect of Q10 was even more clear-cut in the residual part of the study. In addition, a dose response did also seem to be present when comparing the 90 mg group with the 180 mg group. Statistics revealed that Q10 in the dose 180 mg/day is able to increase antibody response in vivo in humans vaccinated against hepatitis B with up to 57% (p = 0.011).

Lower arachidonic acid content and preferential beta-oxidation of arachidonic acid over palmitic acid in tumour cell lines as compared to normal lymphoid cells.

In several studies certain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have been shown to be selectively tumouricidal or suppressive of tumour cell proliferation. The mechanism behind this phenomenon likely involves peroxidation of the PUFA and generation of free radicals to which tumour cells seem to be more sensitive than normal cells. In this report we have measured the total lipid content in separated lymphoid cells and several tumour cell lines, among which, T-cell leukaemia, monocytic leukaemia, melanoma, fibrosarcoma, lung carcinoma and colon adenocarcinoma are included. Generally these tumour cell lines contain only one half to one third of the relative amount of arachidonic acid (AA) as compared to freshly prepared lymphocytes and monocytes or lymphocytes kept in culture. Furthermore, when we measured the beta-oxidation in long term incubation of [1-14C] AA and compared it with that of [1-14C] palmitic acid we found that several of the tumour cell lines showed a preference for AA over palmitic acid in the tumour cell lines whereas the opposite was observed for normal lymphoid cells.

Changing strategies of lung biopsies in diffuse lung diseases: the impact of video-assisted thoracoscopy.

The aims of this report were: 1) to compare the strategy of bioptic approach in Italy during the last 4 yrs with a previous period; and 2) to compare efficacy and safety of video-assisted thorascopic lung biopsy (VTLB) versus OLB. We retrospectively evaluated: 1) the strategy of the bioptic approach in the Milan Sarcoid Clinic in the years 1992-1995 (201 patients) versus 1988-1991 (197 patients); and 2) data from 65 VTLB procedures in the years 1992-1995 versus 68 OLB procedures in the years 1988-1991 performed in patients with diffuse lung disease. It was found that the use of OLB (17-9%), mediastinoscopy (15-5%), and scalene node biopsy (20-7%) decreased, whereas transbronchial biopsy (TBB) increased (11-17%). VTLB biopsy is now performed in 17% of patients. VTLB compares favourably with OLB as there is less need for analgesia (7.5+/-7.5 versus 17.5+/-8.0 methadone mg i.m.: p<0.001), lower blood loss (61+/-58 versus 156+/-84 mL in the first postoperative day: p<0.001), and shorter postoperative stay (4.7+/-1.6 versus 5.7+/-1.4 days: p<0.001). Specimen adequacy (98.6 versus 985%) and diagnostic accuracy (86.1% VTLB, versus 92.6% OLB: p>0.05) were the same in the two groups. In conclusion, video-assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsy is replacing both mediastinoscopy and open lung biopsy. It is at present the best option when a surgical procedure is required for histological confirmation of diffuse lung disease.

Lipoxygenase inhibitors counteract protein kinase C mediated events in human T lymphocyte proliferation.

Four structurally unrelated inhibitors of lipoxygenase (LO), i.e. nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), Esculetin, AA861 and 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA) suppressed mitogen induced proliferation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes in a dose-dependent manner. The degree of suppression was influenced by the type of the mitogenic stimulus. Receptor mediated stimulation, i.e. through phytohemagglutinin or the anti-CD3 antibody OKT3, was overall less susceptible, whereas proliferation initiated by direct activation of protein kinase C (PKC), i.e. through phorbol myristate acetate or indolactam V, was profoundly suppressed (up to 90%). The effect of the LO inhibitors was not due to non-specific interference with intracellular radical intermediates, because AA861 and ETYA showed no radical scavenging activity. Two PKC inhibitors, H-7 and H-8, similarly suppressed lymphocyte proliferation and showed essentially the same suppressive pattern as LO inhibitors. The results clearly indicate that LO product(s) participate in signal transduction mechanisms in T lymphocytes, possibly via stimulation of PKC activity and cell proliferation.

p-Aminobenzoic acid, but not its metabolite p-acetamidobenzoic acid, inhibits thrombin induced thromboxane formation in human platelets in a non NSAID like manner.

We have previously shown that p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) is acetylated by several cell lines and most peripheral blood cells, including platelets, to p-acetamidobenzoic acid (PACBA). The structural similarity of PABA and PACBA to local anesthetics and some non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs urged us to perform the present investigation. When human platelets were stimulated with thrombin to liberate AA, we found that PABA inhibited the production of thromboxane (TxB2) as measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The inhibition was reversible and observed at PABA concentrations ranging between 55 and 1000 microM. At 328 microM PABA the production of TxB2 diminished by 87% (p = 0.013). PACBA in the same doses did not affect the production of TxB2. When platelets were incubated with [1-14C]AA, in the presence of PABA, the production of [1-14C]TxB2 was only slightly inhibited, according to analysis by high pressure liquid chromatography. Obviously PABA is not mainly acting as a prostaglandin H (cyclooxygenase) or Tx synthase inhibitor. It is rather affecting a step prior to thromboxane production, most likely the liberation of the precursor AA. In conclusion, our results demonstrate for the first time that PABA, a substance occurring in nature, inhibits endogenous TxB2 synthesis in human platelets and might thus exert profound effects on platelet AA metabolism.

Arachidonic acid is a preferred acetyl donor among fatty acids in the acetylation of p-aminobenzoic acid by human lymphoid cells.

We have previously reported that human lymphoid cells, such as peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (PBML) and the T-cell leukemia line Jurcat, synthesize p-acetamidobenzoic acid from p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) and a two carbon fragment from arachidonic acid (AA), conceivably derived from beta-oxidation. Here we demonstrate that AA is a preferred substrate in this acetylation reaction over other common fatty acids such as palmitic (PA), oleic, linoleic or linolenic. This was unexpected because AA is not considered as a fuel fatty acid. In Jurcat cells, AA is also preferred as a substrate for beta-oxidation over PA. In contrast, in PBML, PA was clearly preferred as substrate for beta-oxidation over AA, in accordance with previous observations. The difference between Jurcat cells and PBML was not dependent on culture conditions, because phytohemagglutinin and interleukin-2 activated PBML, kept in culture, showed the same PA preference as freshly prepared non-activated PBML. Furthermore, we observed differences between Jurcat cells and PBML in their relative content of fatty acids and in the incorporation of PA and AA into triacylglycerols and phospholipids. Taken together, our results show differences in beta-oxidation between Jurcat cells and PBML, and suggest the involvement of peroxisomal, besides mitochondrial, beta-oxidation, in the acetylation of PABA with fatty acids as acetyl donors.

Identification of a substance, previously shown to enhance mitogenesis of human lymphocytes, as the acetamide of p-aminobenzoic acid.

We characterize here an arachidonic acid (AA)-derived metabolite previously found to have an adjuvant effect in phytohemagglutinin-induced mitogenesis of lymphocytes from mothers of newborn babies and from immunodeficient infants. We named the metabolite 'compound 4' due to its position in a thin-layer chromatography system developed for isolation of eicosanoids. The compound was originally found to be produced by peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes and the T cell leukemia line Jurcat after long-term (18-24 h) incubation with [1-14C]AA. Compound 4 is also produced by lymphocytes, monocytes, platelets, thrombocytes, cultured fibroblasts and various types of malignant cell lines. We purified this metabolite by means of high pressure liquid chromatography with synchronous detection of radioactivity and measurement of ultraviolet-light absorption at 278 nm. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry with electron impact techniques demonstrated that compound 4 is not an eicosanoid, but is identical to p-acetamidobenzoic acid (PACBA). The cells synthesize PACBA from p-aminobenzoic acid and a two-carbon residue from AA.

Quantitative determination of the absorption spectra of chromophores in strongly scattering media: a light-emitting-diode based technique.

The absorption and scattering coefficient of a macroscopically homogeneous strongly scattering medium (lipid emulsion) containing Methylene Blue is quantitatively measured in the spectral range from 620 to 700 nm. We conduct the measurements in the frequency domain by using a light-emitting diode (LED) whose intensity is modulated at a frequency of 60 MHz. We derive an analytical expression for the absorption and scattering coefficients that is based on a two-distance measurement technique. A comparison with other measurement protocols such as measurement at two modulation frequencies shows that the two-distance method gives a better determination of the scattering and absorption coefficients. This study highlights the efficiency and ease of use of the LED technique, which lends itself to in vivo spectroscopy of biological tissues.

Biological profile of FCE 24517, a novel benzoyl mustard analogue of distamycin A.

FCE 24157 (chemically (beta-[1-methyl-4-(1-methyl-4--[1-methyl-4-(4-N,N- bis(2-chloroethyl) amino-benzene-1-carboxy-amido) pyrrole-2-carboxiamido]pyrrole-2-carboxyamido)pyrrole-2-c arboxyamido]) propionamidine, hydrochloride) is a distamycin A (Dista A) derivative bearing a benzoyl mustard moiety instead of the formyl group at the N-terminal. Contrary to Dista A, FCE 24517 has been found to display potent cytotoxic activity on human and murine tumour cell lines. The compound maintains activity on melphalan (L-PAM)-resistant cells, whereas cross-resistance is observed on doxorubicin-(DX)-resistant cells. In vivo, FCE 24517 was found to possess evident antineoplastic activity on a series of murine transplanted solid tumours and human tumour xenografts. The following neoplasms were in fact found to be sensitive to FCE 24517 treatment: M14 human melanoma xenograft, N592 human small cell lung carcinoma, MTV murine mammary carcinoma, Colon 38 murine carcinoma, PO2 murine pancreatic carcinoma and M5076 murine reticulosarcoma. Lower effectiveness was observed against the murine P388 and Gross leukaemia, Lewis lung murine carcinoma, LoVo human colon carcinoma xenografts and A459 human lung adenocarcinoma. Against the murine L1210 leukaemia, FCE 24517 displayed a clear activity only when the tumour was transplanted i.p. and treatment was given i.p., whereas only marginal activity was seen against this leukaemia if transplanted i.v. and the drug was given i.v. As true also in vitro, FCE 24517 was effective against i.p. implanted L1210 leukaemia resistant to L-PAM. The mode(s) of action of this new compound is under active investigation.

Typical and atypical bronchial carcinoids.

From January 1955 to April 1987 111 patients with bronchial carcinoid were operated on in our department. There were 62 males and 49 females with a mean age of 45.5 years. Preoperative histological diagnosis was achieved in 22 cases, while in five patients, a false positive diagnosis of small cell lung cancer was reported. Fifteen patients required pneumonectomy, 70 had lobectomy, 16 bilobectomy, and four segmentectomy. One patient required tracheal resection, while in another patient the tumour was removed through bronchotomy. Four patients were completely treated with YAG laser phototherapy. There were three postoperative deaths. The following variables were analysed and discussed in order to evaluate their influence on prognosis: (1) size of the tumour, (2) typical or atypical appearance, (3) endoluminal or extraluminal growth, (4) vascular invasion, (5) node metastases. Atypical onset, node metastases and extraluminal invasion are significant factors in worsening the prognosis.

Emergency laser vaporization and helium-oxygen administration for acute malignant tracheobronchial obstruction.

Two patients with malignant airway obstruction and acute respiratory insufficiency were given emergency treatment with yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) laser tissue vaporization under local anesthesia only. A mixture of oxygen and helium was administered to reduce the respiratory distress. This case emphasizes the rapidity and effectiveness of YAG laser treatment via fiberoptic bronchoscopy under local anesthesia in the management of acute malignant airway obstructions.