Molecular markers of putative spermatogonial stem cells in the domestic cat.

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are an important tool for fertility preservation and species conservation. The ability to expand SSCs by in vitro culture is a crucial premise for their use in assisted reproduction. Because SSCs represent a small proportion of the germ cells in the adult testis, culture success is aided by pre-enrichment through sorting techniques based on cell surface-specific markers. Given the importance of the domestic cat as a model for conservation of endangered wild felids, herein we sought to examine culture conditions as well as molecular markers for cat SSCs. Using a cell culture medium for mouse SSCs supplemented with glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), germ cells from prepuberal cat testes remained viable in culture for up to 43 days. Immunohistochemistry for promyelocytic leukaemia zinc finger (PLZF) protein on foetal, prepuberal and adult testis sections revealed a pattern of expression consistent with the labelling of undifferentiated spermatogonia. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) with an antibody against epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EPCAM) was used to sort live cells. Then, the gene expression profile of EPCAM-sorted cells was investigated through RT-qPCR. Notably, EPCAM (+) cells expressed relatively high levels of CKIT (CD117), a surface protein typically expressed in differentiating germ cells but not SSCs. Conversely, EPCAM (-) cells expressed relatively high levels of POU domain class 5 transcription factor 1 (POU1F5 or OCT4), clearly a germ line stem cell marker. These results suggest that cat SSCs would probably be found within the population of EPCAM (-) cells. Future studies should identify additional surface markers that alone or in combination can be used to further enrich SSCs from cat germ cells.

Lipoic acid improves nerve blood flow, reduces oxidative stress, and improves distal nerve conduction in experimental diabetic neuropathy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether lipoic acid (LA) will reduce oxidative stress in diabetic peripheral nerves and improve neuropathy. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We used the model of streptozotocin-induced diabetic neuropathy (SDN) and evaluated the efficacy of LA supplementation in improving nerve blood flow (NBF), electrophysiology, and indexes of oxidative stress in peripheral nerves affected by SDN, at 1 month after onset of diabetes and in age-matched control rats. LA, in doses of 20, 50, and 100 mg/kg, was administered intraperitoneally five times per week after onset of diabetes. RESULTS: NBF in SDN was reduced by 50%; LA did not affect the NBF of normal nerves but improved that of SDN in a dose-dependent manner. After 1 month of treatment, LA-supplemented rats (100 mg/kg) exhibited normal NBF. The most sensitive and reliable indicator of oxidative stress was reduction in reduced glutathione, which was significantly reduced in streptozotocin-induced diabetic and alpha-tocopherol-deficient nerves; it was improved in a dose-dependent manner in LA-supplemented rats. The conduction velocity of the digital nerve was reduced in SDN and was significantly improved by LA. CONCLUSIONS: These studies suggest that LA improves SDN, in significant part by reducing the effects of oxidative stress. The drug may have potential in the treatment of human diabetic neuropathy.

Formulation and testing of a nursing assessment form for mental patients as a basis for individualized nursing care.

The study described here was designed to develop and test a form of nursing assessment of mental patients for use as a basis for individualized holistic nursing care in any setting. Nursing assessment was made of 581 mental patients receiving care in either mental hospitals, psychiatric departments of general hospitals or in mental health centres. Subjects were observed, interviewed and asked to complete a structured assessment form. Major variables studied were physical nursing problems/needs with nine categories, psychosocial nursing problems/needs with nine categories, sex, age, and physical and psychiatric disorders. Data were analysed with frequency distribution and comparative techniques, correlational procedures, and the multiple linear regression statistical procedure. The frequency distribution of psychiatric diagnoses showed that schizophrenic disorders were the most frequent in the total sample. However, there were more depressive patients in the general hospital group. Physical nursing problems/needs were significantly related with psychosocial nursing problems/needs, affective-depressive disorders, sex and age as well as negatively related with psychotic and anxiety disorders. Psychosocial nursing problems/needs were significantly related with schizophrenic and psychotic disorders, physical disorders and with the younger age groups. It was concluded that the psychiatric nursing assessment should encompass the areas of personal characteristics, and physical and psychological problems of the patient, and thus lead to practicing psychiatric nursing, that is, holistic psychosomatic nursing.

Psychosomatic nursing assessment of psychiatric patients.

This article presents the results of a research study on 547 mental patients testing a form of nursing assessment of mental patients in psychiatric and in general hospitals, as a means to assess their nursing needs and as a basis for planning, implementation and evaluation of their personalized holistic nursing care. The study showed that more depressive than schizophrenic patients went to the general hospital for help. The reverse was observed in the psychiatric hospital. The psychological nursing needs of the patients were significantly correlated with their somatic nursing needs. The psychological as well as the somatic nursing needs of the patients were significantly correlated with sex, age, somatic health state and mental health state in general, and not with their concrete psychiatric diagnosis. It is concluded that the psychiatric nursing assessment should be oriented towards the investigation of the patient's psychosomatic nursing needs rather than be based on his medical diagnosis.

Can knowledge be promoted and values ignored? Implications for nursing education.

This paper aims to reflect upon the educational task of the university, to consider whether knowledge can be promoted and values ignored, and thus to explore the implications for nursing education. The university is the cradle which nurtures intellectuals, professionals and scientists as whole human beings. Paced by the spirit and the ideals of paideia, it cannot be limited merely to developing the student's mind. It should also inspire the student with a belief in the higher values of life, as a compass in his profession. (Paideia is an ancient Greek conception of the ideal human education. It includes modern notions such as civilization, culture, tradition, literature, philosophy and education. It means formation of the human being of any age, as an independent, free and virtuous whole person.) Values, when transmitted by all teachers of all subjects within the educational structures of the university, can increase the student's respect for truth, for the worth and the rights of other persons, his appreciation of his own worth, assets and limitations, his love of wisdom and desire to serve humanity, his outlook about man's position in the world and his inquiring mind in order to discover higher perspectives of life. Only in this way does university become a worthy centre of paideia for educating nurses committed and aspiring to provide holistic, personalized, quality nursing care to people, as well as to determine and shape the future of nursing education in the midst of our technological, computerized, and some would say dehumanized era, propelling itself into the twenty-first century.