How do work-life balance programmes influence nurses' psychological well-being? The role of servant leadership and learning goal orientation.

AIMS: Our study aims to investigate the effect of work-life balance programmes on Chinese nurses' psychological well-being, directly and indirectly, via learning goal orientation. Our research also aims to investigate the moderating role of servant leadership, a holistic leadership style that prioritizes serving employees, in the association between work-life balance programmes and psychological well-being. DESIGN: A questionnaire-based, time-lagged study (1-week interval). METHODS: From September 2022 to October 2022, we collected a total of 211 matched and valid responses from nurses working for hospitals in Jiangsu Province, China. Data regarding work-life balance programmes, servant leadership, learning goal orientation and psychological well-being were gathered using a survey administered in two waves, 1 week apart. We utilized the PROCESS Model 5 to test the moderated mediation model. RESULTS: Work-life balance programmes significantly improved nurses' psychological well-being. Moreover, learning goal orientation mediated the relationship between work-life balance programmes and psychological well-being. However, servant leadership did not moderate the association between work-life balance programmes and psychological well-being. CONCLUSION: Our study contributes to extant nursing literature by attending to the organizational strategies that promote psychological well-being. This study is novel because it evaluates the mediating and moderating process through which work-life balance programmes improve nurses' psychological well-being. IMPACT: The provision of work-life balance programmes could enhance learning goal orientation, resulting in possible improvement in nurses' psychological well-being. Moreover, servant leadership styles may contribute to psychological well-being. Our study can help nurse managers enhance their organizational strategies (e.g. work-life balance programmes) and leadership resources (e.g. servant leadership styles) to address nurses' well-being issues. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: This paper addresses the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 3 regarding 'Good Health and Well-being'.

Recombinant LH supplementation improves cumulative live birth rates in the GnRH antagonist protocol: a multicenter retrospective study using a propensity score-matching analysis.

BACKGROUND: Luteinizing hormone (LH) is critical in follicle growth and oocyte maturation. However, the value of recombinant LH (r-LH) supplementation to recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (r-FSH) during controlled ovarian stimulation in the gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist regimen is controversial. METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study recruited 899 GnRH antagonist cycles stimulated with r-LH and r-FSH in 3 reproductive centers and matched them to 2652 r-FSH stimulating cycles using propensity score matching (PSM) for potential confounders in a 1:3 ratio. The primary outcome was the cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) per complete cycle. RESULTS: The baseline characteristics were comparable in the r-FSH/r-LH and r-FSH groups after PSM. The r-FSH/r-LH group achieved a higher CLBR than the r-FSH group (66.95% vs. 61.16%, p = 0.006). R-LH supplementation also resulted in a higher 2-pronuclear embryo rate, usable embryo rate, and live birth rate in both fresh embryo transfer cycles and frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles. No significant differences were found in the rate of moderate and severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), or cycle cancellation rate in the prevention of OHSS. CONCLUSIONS: R-LH supplementation to r-FSH in the GnRH antagonist protocol was significantly associated with a higher CLBR and live birth rate in fresh and FET cycles, and improved embryo quality without increasing the OHSS rate and cycle cancellation rate.

In Vitro Drug Screening Using iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes of a Long QT-Syndrome Patient Carrying KCNQ1 & TRPM4 Dual Mutation: An Experimental Personalized Treatment.

Congenital long QT syndrome is a type of inherited cardiovascular disorder characterized by prolonged QT interval. Patient often suffer from syncopal episodes, electrocardiographic abnormalities and life-threatening arrhythmia. Given the complexity of the root cause of the disease, a combination of clinical diagnosis and drug screening using patient-derived cardiomyocytes represents a more effective way to identify potential cures. We identified a long QT syndrome patient carrying a heterozygous KCNQ1 c.656G>A mutation and a heterozygous TRPM4 c.479C>T mutation. Implantation of implantable cardioverter defibrillator in combination with conventional medication demonstrated limited success in ameliorating long-QT-syndrome-related symptoms. Frequent defibrillator discharge also caused deterioration of patient quality of life. Aiming to identify better therapeutic agents and treatment strategy, we established a patient-specific iPSC line carrying the dual mutations and differentiated these patient-specific iPSCs into cardiomyocytes. We discovered that both verapamil and lidocaine substantially shortened the QT interval of the long QT syndrome patient-specific cardiomyocytes. Verapamil treatment was successful in reducing defibrillator discharge frequency of the KCNQ1/TRPM4 dual mutation patient. These results suggested that verapamil and lidocaine could be alternative therapeutic agents for long QT syndrome patients that do not respond well to conventional treatments. In conclusion, our approach indicated the usefulness of the in vitro disease model based on patient-specific iPSCs in identifying pharmacological mechanisms and drug screening. The long QT patient-specific iPSC line carrying KCNQ1/TRPM4 dual mutations also represents a tool for further understanding long QT syndrome pathogenesis.

Autologous platelet-rich plasma infusion improves clinical pregnancy rate in frozen embryo transfer cycles for women with thin endometrium.

BACKGROUND: Adequate thickness of the endometrium has been well recognized as a critical factor for embryo implantation. This was a prospective cohort study to investigate the benefits of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for women with thin endometrium who received frozen embryo transfer (FET) program in a larger number of patients and explore the underlying mechanism. METHODS: In this study, we investigated the effects of PRP in women with thin endometrium in FET program. 64 patients with thin endometrium (<7 mm) were recruited. PRP intrauterine infusion was given in PRP group during hormone replacement therapy (HRT) cycle in FET cycles. RESULTS: After PRP infusion, the endometrium thickness in PRP group was 7.65 ±â€Š0.22 mm, which was significantly thicker than that in control group (6.52 ±â€Š0.31 mm) (P <.05). Furthermore, PRP group had lower cycle cancellation rate when compared to control group (19.05% vs. 41.18%, P <.01). The implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate in PRP group were significantly higher than those in control group (27.94% vs 11.67%, P <.05; 44.12% vs 20%, P <.05, respectively). PRP blood contained 4 folds higher platelets and significantly greater amounts of growth factors including platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-AB, PDGF-BB, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß than peripheral blood (P <.01). CONCLUSIONS: PRP plays a positive role in promoting endometrium proliferation, improving embryo implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate for women with thin endometrium in FET cycles.

Use of electroacupuncture and transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation in reproductive medicine: a group consensus.

With the rapid development of assisted reproductive technology, various reproductive disorders have been effectively addressed. Acupuncture-like therapies, including electroacupuncture (EA) and transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS), become more popular world-wide. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that EA and TEAS are effective in treating gynecological disorders, especially infertility. This present paper describes how to select acupoints for the treatment of infertility from the view of theories of traditional Chinese medicine and how to determine critical parameters of electric pulses of EA/TEAS based on results from animal and clinical studies. It summarizes the principles of clinical application of EA/TEAS in treating various kinds of reproductive disorders, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), pain induced by oocyte retrieval, diminished ovarian reserve, embryo transfer, and oligospermia/ asthenospermia. The possible underlying mechanisms mediating the therapeutic effects of EA/TEAS in reproductive medicine are also examined.

Resveratrol limits diabetes-associated cognitive decline in rats by preventing oxidative stress and inflammation and modulating hippocampal structural synaptic plasticity.

Many patients with diabetes are at increased risk of cognitive dysfunction and dementia. Resveratrol, a polyphenol found mainly in grapes and red wine, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective activities. Studies demonstrated that resveratrol could prevent memory deficits and the increase in acetylcholinesterase activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. However, whether administration of resveratrol could modulate the structural synaptic plasticity in diabetic rats remains unknown. Therefore, we tested its influence against cognitive dysfunction as well as on hippocampal structural synaptic plasticity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Our results showed that the cognitive performances in diabetic group were markedly deteriorated, accompanied by noticeable alterations in oxidative as well as inflammation parameters, SYN and GAP-43 expression were reduced in the hippocampus. In contrast, chronic treatment with resveratrol (10, 20mg/kg) improved neuronal injury and cognitive performance by attenuating oxidative stress and inflammation as well as inhibiting synapse loss in diabetic rats. In conclusion, the present study suggested that oral supplementation of resveratrol might be a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment and/or prevention of diabetic encephalopathy.

Therapeutic effect of Jinzhen oral liquid for hand foot and mouth disease: a randomized, multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: No specific antiviral agent against hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is available for clinical practice today. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Jinzhen oral solution in treating uncomplicated HFMD. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 399 children aged 1 to 7 years with laboratory confirmed HFMD were randomized to receive Jinzhen oral liquid or placebo 3 times daily for 7 days with a 3-day follow-up. The primary outcomes were time to the first disappearance of oral ulcers and vesicles on hand or foot and time to the first normalization of temperature (fever clearance). RESULTS: There were 199 children enrolling into the Jinzhen group including 79 with fever and 200 into the placebo group including 93 with fever. Jinzhen reduced the time to the first disappearance of oral ulcers and vesicles on hand or foot to 4.9 days (95% CI, 4.6 to 5.2 days), compared with 5.7 days (95% CI, 5.4 to 6.0 days) in the placebo group (P = 0.0036). The median time of fever clearance was shorter in the 79 children who received Jinzhen (43.41 hrs, 95% CI, 37.05 to 49.76) than that in the 93 children who received placebo (54.92 hrs, 95% CI, 48.16 to 61.68) (P = 0.0161). Moreover, Jinzhen reduced the risk of symptoms by 28.5% compared with placebo (HR, 0.7150, 95% CI, 0.5719 to 0.8940, P = 0.0032). More importantly, treatment failure rate was significantly lower in the Jinzhen group (8.04%) compared with that in the placebo group (15.00%) (P = 0.0434). The incidence of serious adverse events did not differ significantly between the two groups (9 in Jinzhen group vs. 18 in placebo, P = 0.075). CONCLUSIONS: Children with HFMD may benefit from Jinzhen oral liquid treatment as compared with placebo. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org/en/) ChiCTR-TRC-10000937.

[Study on chemical constituents of the Ixeris chinensis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of the Ixeris chinensis . METHODS: The constituents were isolated by silica gel column chromatography, HPLC and recrystallization and their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis. RESULTS: Fifteen compounds were isolated and identified as Methyl-4-hydroxyphenylacetate (1), Daucosterol (2), Sitosterol (3), Luteolin-7-O-beta-D-glucoside (4), 15-hydroxy-2-oxoguaia-1 (10), 3,11 (13)-triene-12,6-lactone (5), Chinensiolide B (6), Chinensiolide E (7), Ixerochinoside (8), Chinensiolide C (9), 10alpha-hydroxy-guaia-4(15)-ene-12,6-lactone (10), 10alpha-hydroxy-guaia-4 (15), 11 (13)-diene-12,6-lactone-3beta-O-beta-D-(6'-p-hydroxyphenylacetyl) glucopyranoside (11), Epiloliolide (12), Apigenin-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (13), Luteolin (14), Lutein (15). CONCLUSION: Compounds 1,10,11,12 and 15 are isolated from this plant for the first time.

[Studies on technology optimization for extracting triterpenoid saponins from Picria felterrae by multi-target grading method].

OBJECTIVE: To study the optimum extraction conditions of triterpenoid saponins from Picria felterrae. METHODS: The optimum extraction conditions were investigated by the contents of the total glycosides and picfeltarraenine I A and I B, using orthogonal test. RESULTS: The optimum extraction conditions were as follows: using 70% alcohol of 19 times than the amount of original material soaking 3 hours, extracting twice with hot reflux method at 80 degrees C, 3h the first time, 1 h the second time. CONCLUSION: The selected extraction conditions are convenient and practical with high accuracy, and could be used as a reference for industrial production.