Effects of a mindfulness-based interventions on stress, burnout in nurses: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Stress in the healthcare environment causes negative effects in nurses such as burnout, anxiety, and depression. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in increased pressure on medical staff globally, highlighting the potential benefits of mindfulness-based interventions in reducing nurses' stress levels. Despite numerous studies exploring the effect of mindfulness-based training on nurses, the results remain inconclusive. Objective: To systematically evaluate the impact of mindfulness training on nurse's performance and increase the certainty of existing evidence. Methods: This study searched various databases, including EBSCO, Embase, Web of Science, PubMed, ProQuest, Scopus, Cochrane Online Library, Wanfang, SinoMed, CNKI, and VIP, for randomized controlled trials on the impact of mindfulness-based interventions for nurses up until 02 December 2022. Two investigators independently screened and extracted data from the articles, while also assessing the risk of bias. The data was analyzed using RevMan 5.4 software. Results: This review identified 15 studies out of the 2,171 records retrieved, consisting of a total of 1,165 participants who were randomized. Post-intervention analysis provided very-low certainty evidence of moderate effectiveness of mindfulness-based training in reducing stress [standardized mean difference (SMD) = -0.81; 95% confidence interval (CI) = -1.11 to -0.52], with no significant effect on anxiety (SMD = -0.30; 95% CI = -0.72 to 0.13) or depression (SMD = -0.24; 95% CI = -0.55 to 0.07). However, the training was effective in reducing burnout, as demonstrated by the lower scores for emotional exhaustion (SMD = -4.27; 95% CI = -5.94 to -2.59) and depersonalization (SMD = -2.89; 95% CI = -4.24 to -1.54) and higher scores for personal accomplishment (SMD = 2.81; 95% CI = 0.12 to 5.50). There was a sustained improvement in stress levels in the short-term (≤3 months), with delayed benefits for burnout. However, only two studies were available for later follow-ups, and there was no significant evidence of long-term effects. Conclusion: Mindfulness-based training may be a viable intervention for improving the psychological wellbeing of nurses, including reducing stress, burnout. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42023387081.

Transmembrane transport mechanism of n-hexadecane by Candida tropicalis: Kinetic study and proteomic analysis.

Yeasts are the most predominant petroleum hydrocarbon-degrading fungi isolated from petroleum-contaminated soil. However, information of the transmembrane transport of petroleum hydrocarbon into yeast cells is limited. The present study was designed to explore the transmembrane transport mechanisms of the typical petroleum hydrocarbon n-hexadecane in Candida tropicalis cells with petroleum hydrocarbon biodegradation potential. Yeast cells were treated with n-hexadecane in different scenarios, and the percentage of intracellular n-hexadecane and transport dynamics were investigated accordingly. The intracellular concentration of n-hexadecane increased within 15 min, and transportation was inhibited by NaN3, an ATPase inhibitor. The uptake kinetics of n-hexadecane were well fitted by the Michaelis-Menten model, and Kt values ranged from 152.49 to 194.93 mg/L. All these findings indicated that n-hexadecane might cross the yeast cells in an energy-dependent manner and exhibit an affinity with the cell transport system. Moreover, the differentially expressed membrane proteins induced by n-hexadecane were identified and quantified by tandem mass tag labeling coupled with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analysis. The proteome analysis results demonstrated that energy production and conversion accounted for a large proportion of the functional classifications of the differentially expressed proteins, providing further evidence that sufficient energy supply is essential for transmembrane transport. Protein functional analysis also suggested that differentially expressed proteins associated with transmembrane transport processes are clearly enriched in endocytosis and phagosome pathways (p < 0.05), and the analysis supported the notion that the underlying transmembrane transport mechanism might be associated with endocytosis and phagosome pathways, revealing a new mechanism of n-hexadecane internalization by Candida tropicalis.

Morphology, structural and physicochemical properties of starch from the root of Cynanchum auriculatum Royle ex Wight.

The root of Cynanchum auriculatum Royle ex Wight is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine and healthy food. Although C. auriculatum has already been processed into starch for human consumption in China, the structural characterizations of C. auriculatum starch is still unknown. Therefore, the morphology, structural and physicochemical properties of C. auriculatum starch were investigated in this study. C. auriculatum starch exhibited both spherical and polygonal shapes with granule size ranging from 2 to 12µm. Some void cavities and serpentine channels were observed in the inner of starch granules. X-ray powder diffraction pattern revealed that C. auriculatum starch was a CB-type with relative crystallinity of 25.19%. Small-angle X-ray scattering spectrum indicated C. auriculatum starch had a lamellar repeat distance of 9.21nm. The proportions of single helix, double helix and amorphous components in C. auriculatum starch were 3.42%, 27.11% and 69.47%, respectively. The amylose content of C. auriculatum starch was 28.0% with the gelatinization temperature ranging from 59.3 to 70.1°C. The maximum weight loss rate of C. auriculatum starch appeared at 309°C. In addition, C. auriculatum starch showed higher swelling power than other starches tested. Our results suggest C. auriculatum starch will have wide applications in food industry.

[Research on compatibility chemistry of acid-alkaline pair medicines in formulas of traditional Chinese medicine].

Compatibility chemistry of acid-alkaline pair medicines in formulas of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an important research field which should merit to pay attention. The ideas and methods in prescription compatibility research on formulas containing alkaline-acid pair medicines were summarized from the aspect of chemical groups of alkaline and acid ingredients; the research results were introduced and analyzed; the research meaning was elaborated; and the expectation of the field was viewed.

A novel way to enhance the oil recovery ratio by Streptococcus sp. BT-003.

Degrading hydrocarbon by Streptococcus sp. BT-003 as a kind of microbe for oil recovery was analyzed in this paper. The Streptococcus sp. BT-003 showed that it could use crude oil as the sole source of carbon and produce organic acid, bio-gas and polysaccharide which were propitious to emulsify and reduce the viscosity of crude oil. After cultivating 8-14 h, the viscosity of crude oil reduced from 8000-15000 mPa . s to 50-250 mPa . s. The content of organic acid increased 8-15 times, and carbon dioxide and polysaccharide reached 55 ml/l and 8 g/l respectively. Paraffin and resin reduced by 60-95%, and light components increased obviously. Fluid rheology was better than before, the interfacial tension between the crude oil and water were reduced effectively.