Protective potentials of polymyxin B and honey against bacterial lipopolysaccharide-induced endotoxemia in mice.

Objective: The experiment aimed to determine the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), polymyxin B, and honey on survival rates, hematological parameters, liver and kidney biomarkers, blood glucose levels, serum insulin levels, and histopathology of the liver, kidney, lungs, brain, and pancreas in LPS-challenged mice. Materials and Methods: 50 male Swiss Albino mice (Mus musculus), aged 3 weeks, were randomly assigned into 5 groups (10 mice per group): Control group (A), LPS (2 mg/kg bwt/day IP in NS) treated group (B), polymyxin B (1.2 mg/kg bwt/day IM) pre-treated plus LPS (2 mg/kg bwt/day IP in NS) treated group (C), honey (10 gm/kg bwt/day PO) pre-treated plus LPS (2 mg/kg bwt/day IP in NS) treated group (D), both polymyxin B (1.2 mg/kg bwt/day IM) and honey (10 gm/kg bwt/day PO) pre-treated plus LPS (2 mg/kg bwt/day IP in NS) treated group (E). The LPS was administered intraperitoneally (IP) at 80 µg/mice/day, diluting in normal saline. After 16 weeks, the mice were sacrificed, and blood samples and organs (liver, kidney, lung, brain, and pancreas) were collected for laboratory tests. Results: The results revealed that in LPS-treated mice, the mortality rate was the highest, and hemato-biochemical parameters were altered. Histopathological examination in the group treated with LPS showed disarrangement of hepatocytes, cellular infiltrations in the glomerulus, alveolar congestion in the lungs, several nerve fiber degenerations in the brain, and degenerative changes in pancreatic islets. The mortality rate and hemato-biochemical and histopathological changes were restored by the combined treatment of polymyxin B and honey. Conclusion: LPS has detrimental effects on survival rate and hemato-biochemistry, which are lessened by taking honey and polymyxin B supplements.

A Hybrid Physical-Digital Simulation Laboratory to Expedite Context-Aware Design and Usability Testing in Digital Health.

Fit within existing physical and digitalised workflows is a critical aspect of digital health software usability. Early, iterative exploration of contextual usability issues is complicated by barriers of access to healthcare settings. The Validitron SimLab is a new facility for digital health prototyping that augments immersive, realistic physical environments with a digital sandbox allowing new and existing software to be easily set up and tested in the physical space.

Adapting an Environmental Scan for 'Insights Reporting': Learnings from an Online Brain Cancer Peer Support Platform.

When developing a digital health solution, product owners, healthcare professionals, researchers, IT teams, and consumers require timely, accurate contextual information to inform solution development. Insights Reporting can rapidly draw together information from literature, end users and existing technology to inform the development process. This was the case when creating an online brain cancer peer support platform where solution development was conducted in parallel with contextual information synthesis. This paper discusses the novel adaptation of an environmental scan methodology using codesign and multiple layers of qualitative rigor, to create Insights Reporting. This seven-step process can be completed in two months and results in salient points of knowledge that can rapidly inform the design of a solution, creating a shared understanding of a digital health phenomenon. Project members noted that Insights Reporting surfaces previously inaccessible knowledge, catalyzes decision-making and allows all stakeholders to influence the report agenda, affirming principles of digital health equity.

The moderating effect of social support on the stress-satisfaction relationship among Jordanian hospital nurses.

AIM: To investigate the moderating effect of social support from co-workers and supervisors on the stress-satisfaction relationship among Jordanian hospital nurses. DESIGN: A correlational descriptive survey was used to investigate this effect among a convenience sample of 288 hospital nurses in Jordan. METHODS: Data were collected using a set of questionnaires that included the Nursing Stress Scale, the McCloskey/Mueller Satisfaction Scale, the Sargent and Terry Scale, and the demographic form. RESULTS: Perceived social support from both co-workers and supervisors enhanced the level of perceived job satisfaction. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that 33% of the variation in job satisfaction was explained by the background variables, job stress, social support from co-workers, social support from supervisors, and the interaction between job stress and social support from both co-workers and supervisors. CONCLUSION: The results indicated the importance of the moderating effects of social support from both co-workers and supervisors on nurses' job satisfaction. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Social support groups in the workplace can be paramount in enhancing the level of nurses' job satisfaction.

Perceived and unmet needs of adult Jordanian family members of patients in ICUs.

PURPOSE: To identify the self-perceived needs of adult Jordanians who have family members in ICUs and to explore whether those needs were being met. DESIGN: A descriptive, exploratory design was used. A convenience sample of 139 family members of 85 critically ill patients was recruited from ICUs located in three different types of hospitals in Irbid, a city in northern Jordan. The three types of hospitals included Ministry of Health, university health system, and private sector. METHODS: Family members who participated in this study were instructed to answer all the questionnaires that included: a demographic data form, the Critical Care Family Needs Inventory (CCFNI), and Needs Met Inventory (NMI). RESULTS: The findings showed that the 10 most important needs identified by adult Jordanian family members were in the Assurance and Information subscales. The need "to be assured that the best care possible is being given to the patient" was reported as the most important need. Use of the NMI indicated that none of the 10 most important needs were perceived as being met. CONCLUSIONS: Jordanian ICU nurses should be prepared to care for families in crisis, and the focus of nursing practice should be moved from just patient-centered care to a more holistic approach including family needs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Meeting family needs should be emphasized in nursing practice. Meeting these needs might help family members to cope better and be more supportive to their critically ill loved one.