Bereavement, Self-Reported Sleep Disturbances, and Inflammation: Results From Project HEART.

OBJECTIVE: Spousal bereavement is linked to increased mortality and morbidity from inflammatory conditions. It also has a significant impact on sleep disturbances. Evidence from experimental studies indicates that chronic stress may prime individuals to have an exaggerated inflammatory response to acute stress. In this study, we examined the association between self-reported sleep disturbances and inflammation after adjusting for depressive symptoms and determined whether this association varies by bereavement status (bereaved individuals versus controls). METHODS: Participants included 54 bereaved individuals and 47 controls with a M (SD) age of 67.12 (12.11) years. Inflammation was measured using C-reactive protein. Self-reported sleep disturbances were measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. RESULTS: Sleep disturbances were not associated with elevated levels of C-reactive protein in the overall group (B = 0.030, standardized ß = 0.122, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.027 to 0.087, p = .299) after adjusting for depressive symptoms. Results indicated, however, that bereavement moderated the association between inflammation and sleep disturbances (B = 0.104, ß = 0.517, 95% CI = 0.009 to 0.198, p = .032). Stratified analyses demonstrated that these associations differed across groups. Associations were significant among bereaved individuals (B = 0.104, ß = 0.406, 95% CI = 0.013 to 0.196, p = .026) and not controls (B = -0.016, ß = -0.066, 95% CI = -0.096 to 0.065, p = .690). CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide preliminary evidence that bereavement moderates the association between self-reported sleep disturbances and inflammation. Future studies should examine the course of sleep disturbances after bereavement and establish whether objective sleep has differential associations with inflammation among bereaved adults.

Flanking Domains Modulate α-Synuclein Monomer Structure: A Molecular Dynamics Domain Deletion Study.

Aggregates of misfolded α-synuclein proteins (asyn) are key markers of Parkinson's disease. Asyn proteins have three domains: an N-terminal domain, a hydrophobic NAC core implicated in aggregation, and a proline-rich C-terminal domain. Proteins with truncated C-terminal domains are known to be prone to aggregation and suggest that studying domain-domain interactions in asyn monomers could help elucidate the role of the flanking domains in modulating protein structure. To this end, we used Gaussian accelerated molecular dynamics (GAMD) to simulate wild-type (WT), N-terminal truncated (DN), C-terminal truncated (ΔC), and isolated NAC domain variants (isoNAC). Using clustering and contact analysis, we found that N- and C-terminal domains interact via electrostatic interactions, while the NAC and N-terminal domains interact through hydrophobic contacts. Our work also suggests that the C-terminal domain does not interact directly with the NAC domain but instead interacts with the N-terminal domain. Removal of the N-terminal domain led to increased contacts between NAC and C-terminal domains and the formation of interdomain ß-sheets. Removal of either flanking domain also resulted in increased compactness of every domain. We also found that the contacts between flanking domains results in an electrostatic potential (ESP) that could possibly lead to favorable interactions with anionic lipid membranes. Removal of the C-terminal domain disrupts the ESP in a way that is likely to over-stabilize protein-membrane interactions. All of this suggests that one of the roles of the flanking domains may be to modulate the protein structure in a way that helps maintain elongation, hide hydrophobic residue from the solvent, and maintain an ESP that aids favorable interactions with the membrane.

Assessment of Angiogenesis and Cell Survivability of an Inkjet Bioprinted Biological Implant in an Animal Model.

The rapidly growing field of tissue engineering hopes to soon address the shortage of transplantable tissues, allowing for precise control and fabrication that could be made for each specific patient. The protocols currently in place to print large-scale tissues have yet to address the main challenge of nutritional deficiencies in the central areas of the engineered tissue, causing necrosis deep within and rendering it ineffective. Bioprinted microvasculature has been proposed to encourage angiogenesis and facilitate the mobility of oxygen and nutrients throughout the engineered tissue. An implant made via an inkjet printing process containing human microvascular endothelial cells was placed in both B17-SCID and NSG-SGM3 animal models to determine the rate of angiogenesis and degree of cell survival. The implantable tissues were made using a combination of alginate and gelatin type B; all implants were printed via previously published procedures using a modified HP inkjet printer. Histopathological results show a dramatic increase in the average microvasculature formation for mice that received the printed constructs within the implant area when compared to the manual and control implants, indicating inkjet bioprinting technology can be effectively used for vascularization of engineered tissues.

Uso racional de antibióticos en pacientes de terapia intensiva desde la administración pública

Objetivo: Analizar el uso racional de antibióticos en pacientes de terapia intensiva desde la administración pública. Metodología: Se empleó el paradigma positivista desde la perspectiva cuantitativa, con un diseño no experimental, tipo de investigación de campo y nivel descriptivo y la aplicación del método fue deductivo. La población de estudio estuvo constituida por 40 trabajadores del Hospital General de Manta, específicamente de la unidad de cuidados intensivos. Se aplicó un cuestionario. Se empleó la estadística descriptiva para el procesamiento de los datos. Resultados: El 100% de los pacientes y familiares no compran antibióticos para el tratamiento en el momento de estar recluidos en la institución. En conclusión: El uso racional de antibióticos en pacientes de terapia intensiva desde la administración pública, reflejó un adecuado manejo por parte de los responsables de la parte administrativa y financiera que ejecutan el presupuesto del gobierno central, los aportes patronales y de los afiliados.