Impact of COVID-19 on lifestyles related etiquette among nursing staff in India: a cross sectional descriptive e-survey.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the impact of COVID-19 pandemics on lifestyle-related etiquettes like eating, physical activity, and sleep behavior among nursing staff in India. METHODS: A crosssectional descriptive E-survey was conducted among 942 nursing staff. The validated electronic survey questionnaire was used to assess the changes in lifestyle-related etiquette before and during COVID-19 Pandemic. RESULTS: Pandemic. Results. A total of 942 responses (mean age 29.01±5.7years) were collected, 53% of the respondents were men. A slight decline in healthy meal consumption pattern (p<0.0001) and a restriction of unhealthy food items were observed (p<0.0001), and also reduction in physical activity coupled with decreased participation in leisure-related activities was seen (p<0.0001). The stress and anxiety slightly increase during COVID-19 pandemics (p<0.0001). Additionally, social support extended by family and friends to maintain healthy lifestyle-related behaviors also significantly decreased during COVID-19 PANDEMIC pandemics compared to before (p<0.0001). Although the COVID-19 Pandemic slightly reduced the intake of healthy meals and deterred participants from consuming unhealthy food, this this may have led to individual weight loss. CONCLUSIONS: In general, there was a negative impact on, lifestyle like diet, sleep and mental health was observed. A detailed understanding of these factors can help to develop interventions to mitigate the harmful lifestyle-related etiquette that has manifested during COVID-19 Pandemic.

Impact of COVID-19 on lifestyles related etiquette among nursing staff in India: a cross sectional descriptive e-survey / Impacto de COVID-19 en las etiquetas relacionadas con el estilo de vida entre el personal de enfermería en la India: una encuesta electrónica transversal / Impacto do COVID-19 nos rótulos relacionados ao estilo de vida entre a equipe de enfermagem na Índia: uma pesquisa eletrônica transversal

Objective. To analyze the impact of COVID-19 pandemics on lifestyle-related etiquettes like eating, physical activity, and sleep behavior among nursing staff in India. Methods.A crosssectional descriptive E-survey was conducted among 942 nursing staff. The validated electronic survey questionnaire was used to assess the changes in lifestyle-related etiquette before and during COVID-19 Pandemic. Results. A total of 942 responses (mean age 29.01±5.7years) were collected, 53% of the respondents were men. A slight decline in healthy meal consumption pattern (p<0.0001) and a restriction of unhealthy food items were observed (p<0.0001), and also reduction in physical activity coupled with decreased participation in leisure-related activities was seen (p<0.0001). The stress and anxiety slightly increase during COVID­19 pandemics (p<0.0001). Additionally, social support extended by family and friends to maintain healthy lifestyle-related behaviors also significantly decreased during COVID-19 PANDEMIC pandemics compared to before (p<0.0001). Although the COVID-19 Pandemic slightly reduced the intake of healthy meals and deterred participants from consuming unhealthy food, this this may have led to individual weight loss. Conclusion. In general, there was a negative impact on, lifestyle like diet, sleep and mental health was observed. A detailed understanding of these factors can help to develop interventions to mitigate the harmful lifestyle-related etiquette that has manifested during COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objetivo. Analizar el impacto de la pandemia por COVID-19 en las etiquetas relacionadas con el estilo de vida (alimentación, actividad física y comportamiento del sueño) entre enfermeras de la India. Método. Se realizó un estudio de corte transversal en el que participaron 942 enfermeros de todo el país. Se utilizó un cuestionario electrónico validado para evaluar los cambios en los estilos de vida antes y durante la pandemia por COVID-19. Resultados. La edad media fue de 29.01±5.7años, 53% fueron hombres. En comparación con antes de la pandemia por COVID-19, durante la misma se observó un ligero descenso en el patrón de consumo de comidas saludables (p<0.0001) y se observó una restricción de alimentos poco saludables (p<0.0001, además de una reducción de la actividad física junto con una menor participación en actividades relacionadas con el ocio (p<0.0001). El estrés y la ansiedad aumentaron ligeramente (p<0.0001). Además, el apoyo social prestado por la familia y los amigos para mantener comportamientos saludables relacionados con el estilo de vida también disminuyó significativamente durante la pandemia en comparación a antes (p<0.0001). Aunque la pandemia por COVID-19 redujo ligeramente la ingesta de comidas saludables y disuadió a los participantes de consumir alimentos poco saludables, esto puede haber conducido a una pérdida de peso individual. Conclusión. En general, se observó un impacto negativo en el estilo de vida, como la dieta, el sueño y la salud mental. Una comprensión detallada de estos factores puede ayudar a desarrollar intervenciones para mitigar la etiqueta nociva relacionada con el estilo de vida que se ha manifestado durante la pandemia COVID-19 en los enfermeros en India.

Objetivo. Analisar o impacto da pandemia de COVID-19 nos rótulos do estilo de vida (dieta, atividade física e comportamento do sono) entre enfermeiras na Índia. Método. Foi realizado um estudo transversal do qual participaram 942 enfermeiros de todo o país. Um questionário eletrônico validado foi usado para avaliar as mudanças no estilo de vida antes e durante a pandemia de COVID-19. Resultados.A média de idade foi de 29.01±5.7 anos, 53% eram homens. Comparado com antes da pandemia de COVID-19, observou-se uma leve diminuição no padrão de consumo de refeições saudáveis durante a pandemia (p<0.0001), além de redução da atividade física e menor participação em atividades relacionadas ao lazer (p<0.0001). O estresse e a ansiedade aumentaram ligeiramente (p<0.0001). Além disso, o apoio social fornecido pela família e amigos para manter comportamentos de estilo de vida saudável também diminuiu significativamente durante a pandemia em comparação com antes dela (p<0.0001). Conclusão. Em geral, foi observado um impacto negativo no estilo de vida, como dieta, sono e saúde mental. Uma compreensão detalhada desses fatores pode ajudar a desenvolver intervenções para mitigar a etiqueta prejudicial relacionada ao estilo de vida que se manifestou durante a pandemia de COVID-19 entre enfermeiras na Índia.

The fibrotic niche impairs satellite cell function and muscle regeneration in mouse models of Marfan syndrome.

AIM: It has been suggested that the proliferation and early differentiation of myoblasts are impaired in Marfan syndrome (MFS) mice during muscle regeneration. However, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated muscle regeneration in MFS mouse models by analyzing the influence of the fibrotic niche on satellite cell function. METHODS: In vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro experiments were performed. In addition, we evaluated the effect of the pharmacological inhibition of fibrosis using Ang-(1-7) on regenerating skeletal muscles of MFS mice. RESULTS: The skeletal muscle of MFS mice shows an increased accumulation of collagen fibers (81.2%), number of fibroblasts (157.1%), and Smad2/3 signaling (110.5%), as well as an aberrant number of fibro-adipogenic progenitor cells in response to injury compared with wild-type mice. There was an increased number of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory macrophages (3.6- and 3.1-fold, respectively) in regenerating muscles of wild-type mice, but not in the regenerating muscles of MFS mice. Our data show that proliferation and differentiation of satellite cells are altered (p ≤ 0.05) in MFS mice. Myoblast transplantation assay revealed that the regenerating muscles from MFS mice have reduced satellite cell self-renewal capacity (74.7%). In addition, we found that treatment with Ang-(1-7) reduces fibrosis (71.6%) and ameliorates satellite cell dysfunction (p ≤ 0.05) and muscle contractile function (p ≤ 0.05) in MFS mice. CONCLUSION: The fibrotic niche, caused by Fbn1 mutations, reduces the myogenic potential of satellite cells, affecting structural and functional muscle regeneration. In addition, the fibrosis inhibitor Ang-(1-7) partially counteracts satellite cell abnormalities and restores myofiber size and contractile force in regenerating muscles.

Platelet-rich plasma vs bone marrow aspirate concentrate: An overview of mechanisms of action and orthobiologic synergistic effects.

The use of orthobiologics as a novel therapy for the treatment of numerous musculoskeletal disorders has increased considerably over the past decade. Currently, there are multiple alternatives available as suitable treatments; however, the use of autologous blood-derived products such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), bone marrow aspirate (BMA) and BMA concentrate (BMAC), specifically, is expanding. Although many investigations attempted to demonstrate the effectiveness of these therapies, even with positive results, the literature lacks standardized protocols and overall accuracy in study designs, which leads to variance and difficulty in reproducibility of protocols. The efficacy of PRP for the treatment of cartilage, bone and muscle tissues is well known. Although BMAC has generated optimistic results for the same purposes, its applicability in clinical trials is still relatively recent when compared to PRP. Both products demonstrate the potential to set forth reparative processes, each in their own distinct mechanism. The combination of these biological products has been previously proposed, yet little is known about their synergism. Evidence indicates that growth factor, cytokine, and chemokine profiles seen in both PRP and BMAC vary but are likely to work synergistically to enhance musculoskeletal healing. BMAC products seem to work well without PRP; however, the addition of PRP to BMAC has been shown to act as a rich and natural source of culture medium for stem cells located either peripherally or in the bone marrow itself. Nevertheless, additional variables associated with the use of BMAC and PRP in orthopedics must be further evaluated in order to consolidate the efficacy of this therapeutic strategy.

Effect of Diabetes on the Male Reproductive System­A Histomorphological Study

Introduction Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder characterized by lack of insulin production by the ß cells of the pancreas. This lack of insulin causes a variety of systemic effects on the metabolism of the body, one of which is reproductive dysfunction. The present study investigates the effects of diabetes on the male reproductive system of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Material and Methods A total of 18 adult male Wistar rats weighing between 250 and 300 g were included in the present study. The animals were divided into normal and diabetic groups. The diabetic group was further subdivided into 2 subgroups with durations of 24 and 48 days. A single dose of STZ (40 mg/kg body weight) was administrated intraperitoneally to the animals of the diabetic group. After the planned duration, the testes and epididymides were dissected, and their gross weight was measured. The tissues were then processed for histological study. Results The gross weight of the testes and epididymides in diabetic rats at 24 and 48 days showed a decrease in comparison to the control. (p < 0.01 for testes and epididymides). Diabetic animals presented a significant decrease in the diameter of the seminiferous tubules compared with the control group (p < 0.01). The epididymides in the diabetic groups showed a considerable reduction in the tubular surface area compared with the control group (p < 0.01). There was also a reduction in the mean diameter, which was measured using the maximum and minimum diameter of the tubules (p < 0.01). Conclusion The present study is an insight into the adverse effects that diabetes can have on the tissue structure of the testes, of the epididymides, and ultimately on the process of spermatogenesis.

Vascular sclerosing effects of bleomycin on cutaneous veins: a pharmacopathologic study on experimental animals.

BACKGROUND:: Varicose veins and the complications of venous disease are common disorders in humans. OBJECTIVE:: To study the effects of bleomycin as a potential new sclerosing agent and its adverse events in treating varicose veins. METHODS:: Bleomycin-loaded liposomes 0.1ml was injected in the dorsal ear veins of white New Zealand rabbits. Sodium tetradecyl sulfate was used as a positive control. Normal saline was used as negative control. The blood vessels of the treated ears were photographed before and at one hour and two, eight and 45 days after treatment. Biopsies from the treated areas were obtained for histological examination. Blood samples were collected to determine any possible toxicity. RESULTS:: Bleomycin by itself was ineffective; therefore, liposomes were used as a vector to deliver bleomycin to the vein lumen. Subsequently, bleomycin started showing its sclerosing effects. Toxicity monitoring showed no apparent hematologic, pulmonary, hepatic or renal toxicities. This study revealed that bleomycin induced vasculitis, which led to vascular occlusion, which was observed on day 1 and day 8. No bleomycin-related injury was noted by histopathological examination of lung sections. The calculation of the lung/body weight coefficient indicated that edema was present in the experimental groups compared with the negative and positive controls. STUDY LIMITATIONS:: Relatively small number of experimental animals used. CONCLUSIONS:: This study showed that bleomycin-loaded liposomes were able to induce vasculitis and vascular occlusion without any toxicity or complications. It might be useful, hence, to treat patients suffering from Varicose veins and other ectatic vascular diseases with this agent.

Vascular sclerosing effects of bleomycin on cutaneous veins: a pharmacopathologic study on experimental animals

Abstract: Background: Varicose veins and the complications of venous disease are common disorders in humans. Objective: To study the effects of bleomycin as a potential new sclerosing agent and its adverse events in treating varicose veins. Methods: Bleomycin-loaded liposomes 0.1ml was injected in the dorsal ear veins of white New Zealand rabbits. Sodium tetradecyl sulfate was used as a positive control. Normal saline was used as negative control. The blood vessels of the treated ears were photographed before and at one hour and two, eight and 45 days after treatment. Biopsies from the treated areas were obtained for histological examination. Blood samples were collected to determine any possible toxicity. Results: Bleomycin by itself was ineffective; therefore, liposomes were used as a vector to deliver bleomycin to the vein lumen. Subsequently, bleomycin started showing its sclerosing effects. Toxicity monitoring showed no apparent hematologic, pulmonary, hepatic or renal toxicities. This study revealed that bleomycin induced vasculitis, which led to vascular occlusion, which was observed on day 1 and day 8. No bleomycin-related injury was noted by histopathological examination of lung sections. The calculation of the lung/body weight coefficient indicated that edema was present in the experimental groups compared with the negative and positive controls. Study limitations: Relatively small number of experimental animals used. Conclusions: This study showed that bleomycin-loaded liposomes were able to induce vasculitis and vascular occlusion without any toxicity or complications. It might be useful, hence, to treat patients suffering from Varicose veins and other ectatic vascular diseases with this agent.

Effects of omega-3 on matrix metalloproteinase-9, myoblast transplantation and satellite cell activation in dystrophin-deficient muscle fibers.

In Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), lack of dystrophin leads to progressive muscle degeneration, with DMD patients suffering from cardiorespiratory failure. Cell therapy is an alternative to life-long corticoid therapy. Satellite cells, the stem cells of skeletal muscles, do not completely compensate for the muscle damage in dystrophic muscles. Elevated levels of proinflammatory and profibrotic factors, such as metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), impair muscle regeneration, leading to extensive fibrosis and poor results with myoblast transplantation therapies. Omega-3 is an anti-inflammatory drug that protects against muscle degeneration in the mdx mouse model of DMD. In the present study, we test our hypothesis that omega-3 affects MMP-9 and thereby benefits muscle regeneration and myoblast transplantation in the mdx mouse. We observe that omega-3 reduces MMP-9 gene expression and improves myoblast engraftment, satellite cell activation, and muscle regeneration by mechanisms involving, at least in part, the regulation of macrophages, as shown here with the fluorescence-activated cell sorting technique. The present study demonstrates the benefits of omega-3 on satellite cell survival and muscle regeneration, further supporting its use in clinical trials and cell therapies in DMD.

Asn336 is involved in the substrate affinity of glycine oxidase from Bacillus cereus

Background: Glycine oxidase (GO), a type of D-amino acid oxidase, is of biotechnological interest for its potential in several fields. In our previous study, we have characterized a new glycine oxidase (BceGO) from Bacillus cereus HYC-7. Here, a variant of N336K with increased the affinity against all the tested substrate was obtained by screening a random mutant library of BceGO. It is observed that the residue N336 is invariable between its homogeneous enzymes. This work was aimed to explore the role of the residue N336 in glycine oxidase by site-directed mutagenesis, kinetic assay, structure modeling and substrate docking. Results: The results showed that the affinity of N336H, N336K and N336R increased gradually toward all the substrates, with increase in positive charge on side chain, while N336A and N336G have not shown a little significant effect on substrate affinity. The structure modeling studies indicated that the residue Asn336 is located in a random coil between -J-18 and a-10. Also, far-UV CD spectra-analysis showed that the mutations at Asn336 do not affect the secondary structure of enzyme. Conclusion: Asn336 site was located in a conserved GHYRNG loop which adjoining to substrate and the isoalloxazine ring of FAD, and involved in the substrate affinity of glycine oxidase. This might provide new insight into the structure-function relationship of GO, and valuable clue to redesign its substrate specificity for some biotechnological application.

Genome-wide analysis of methotrexate pharmacogenomics in rheumatoid arthritis shows multiple novel risk variants and leads for TYMS regulation.

OBJECTIVE: Methotrexate (MTX) is the drug of first choice for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but is effective only in around 60% of the patients. Identification of genetic markers to predict response is essential for effective treatment within a critical window period of 6 months after diagnosis, but have been hitherto elusive. In this study, we used genome-wide genotype data to identify the potential risk variants associated with MTX (poor)response in a north Indian RA cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Genome-wide genotyping data for a total of 457 RA patients [297 good (DAS28-3≤3.2) and 160 poor (DAS28-3≥5.1) responders] on MTX monotherapy were tested for association using an additive model. Support vector machine and genome-wide pathway analysis were used to identify additional risk variants and pathways. All risk loci were imputed to fine-map the association signals and identify causal variant(s) of therapeutic/diagnostic relevance. RESULTS: Seven novel suggestive loci from genome-wide (P≤5×10(-5)) and three from support vector machine analysis were associated with MTX (poor)response. The associations of published candidate genes namely DHFR (P=0.014), FPGS (P=0.035), and TYMS (P=0.005) and purine and nucleotide metabolism pathways were reconfirmed. Imputation, followed by bioinformatic analysis indicated possible interaction between two reversely oriented overlapping genes namely ENOSF1 and TYMS at the post-transcriptional level. CONCLUSION: In this first ever genome-wide analysis on MTX treatment response in RA patients, 10 new risk loci were identified. These preliminary findings warrant replication in independent studies. Further, TYMS expression at the post-transcriptional level seems to be probably regulated through an antisense-RNA involving the 6-bp ins/del marker in the overlapping segment at 3'UTR of TYMS-ENOSF1, a finding with impending pharmacogenetic applications.

Ferroelectric-carbon nanotube memory devices.

One-dimensional ferroelectric nanostructures, carbon nanotubes (CNT) and CNT-inorganic oxides have recently been studied due to their potential applications for microelectronics. Here, we report coating of a registered array of aligned multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) grown on silicon substrates by functional ferroelectric Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT) which produces structures suitable for commercial prototype memories. Microstructural analysis reveals the crystalline nature of PZT with small nanocrystals aligned in different directions. First-order Raman modes of MWCNT and PZT/MWCNT/n-Si show the high structural quality of CNT before and after PZT deposition at elevated temperature. PZT exists mostly in the monoclinic Cc/Cm phase, which is the origin of the high piezoelectric response in the system. Low-loss square piezoelectric hysteresis obtained for the 3D bottom-up structure confirms the switchability of the device. Current-voltage mapping of the device by conducting atomic force microscopy (c-AFM) indicates very low transient current. Fabrication and functional properties of these hybrid ferroelectric-carbon nanotubes is the first step towards miniaturization for future nanotechnology sensors, actuators, transducers and memory devices.

Novel room temperature multiferroics for random access memory elements.

We have fabricated a variety of PZT-PFW (P bZr0.52Ti0.48O3)1-x(PbFe2/3W1/3O3)x [PZTFWx; 0.2 < x <0.4] single-phase tetragonal ferroelectrics via chemical solution deposition [polycrystalline] and pulsed laser deposition [epitaxial] onto Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si(100) and SrTiO3/Si substrates. These exhibit ferroelectricity and (weak) ferromagnetism above room temperature with strain coupling via electrostriction and magnetostriction. Application of modest magnetic field strength (µ0H < 1.0 T) destabilizes the long-range ferroelectric ordering and switches the polarization from approximately 22 µC/cm² (0.22 C/m²) to zero (relaxor state). This offers the possibility of three-state logic (+P, 0, -P) and magnetically switched polarizations. Because the switching is of large magnitude (unlike the very small nanocoulomb per centimeter squared values in terbium manganites) and at room-temperature, commercial devices should be possible.

Cambios de las hormonas tiroideas durante el embarazo / Changes in thyroid hormones during pregnancy

Pregnancy is known to cause different effects on thyroid binding globulin, iodine balance and thyroid function. There is enhanced transplacental uptake of iodide and increased maternal renal clearance during pregnancy. This leads to the increased dietary requirement of iodine, which is a major component of thyroid hormones. This relative iodine deficiency is compensated by increasing thyroid iodine uptake and synthesis of thyroid hormones. Therefore, reference laboratory values of normal thyroid function tests, which have been obtained from non-pregnant subjects of different age and sex, may not be same during pregnancy. Our pilot study defines the range of T3 as 1.7-4.3 nmol/l in second trimester and 0.4-3.9 nmol/l in third trimester, T4 as 92.2-252.8 nmol/l in second trimester and 108.2-219.0 nmol/l in third trimester, and TSH as 0.1-5.5 µIU/ml in second trimester and 0.5-7.6 µIU/ml in third trimester of pregnancy. The biochemical hypothyroidism in this group of pregnant women is well tolerated with no clinical features of hypothyroidism.

Se sabe que el embarazo produce diferentes efectos sobre la globulina transportadora de hormonas tiroideas, el equilibrio del yodo y la función tiroidea. Durante el embarazo se produce un aumento en la captación transplacentaria de yoduro y en la depuración renal materna. Esto conduce a un aumento de los requerimientos dietarios de yodo, que constituye el componente principal de las hormonas tiroideas. Esta deficiencia relativa de yodo es compensada por el aumento de su captación tiroidea y por la síntesis de hormonas tiroideas. En consecuencia, los valores normales de referencia de las pruebas de función tiroidea obtenidas de pacientes no embarazadas de diferentes edades pueden ser distintos de los del embarazo. Nuestro estudio piloto define el intervalo de T3 como 1.7-4.3 nmol/l en el segundo trimestre y 0.4-3.9 nmol/l en el tercer trimestre, el de T4 como 92.2-252.8 nmol/l en el segundo trimestre y 108.2-219.0 nmol/l en el tercer trimestre, y el de TSH como 0.1-5.5 µUI/ml en el segundo trimestre y 0.5-7.6 µUI/ml en el tercer trimestre del embarazo. El hipotiroidismo bioquímico en este grupo de embarazadas es bien tolerado y no presenta características clínicas.

Patrón de crecimiento y características imagenológicas de tumores malignos sinonasales / Growth pattern and imaging characteristics of malign synonasal neoplasms

Objetive: To describe the local and regional anatomical spread and growing pattern of the sinonasal malignant tumors based on pretreatment CT and MRI findings. Material, patients and methods: The current study was performed as a retrospective clinical series that includes 21 patients studied and treated in MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. Anatomical analisis was performed based in CT and MRI findings. Results: Here is described in detail the growing pattern of sinonasal malignancies and the corresponding secondarily affected structures. Conclusion: The sinonasal malignancies mainly affects elderly people, corresponding to carcinomas, arising frequently from the maxilary sinus that compromises the suprastructure and secondarily involves the pterigopalatine fossa, orbits and nasal cavity. Imaging based anatomical mapping of the tumoral spread leads the desition of resectability and focuses the attention in possible areas of recurrence