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1.
BMJ Support Palliat Care ; 13(e3): e1390-e1397, 2024 Jan 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38557352

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Most people say if they had a terminal illness, they would prefer to be cared for at home and, if possible, to die there. Often this is not possible without a carer to assist with on-going practical care and symptom management. If breakthrough symptoms are not treated in a timely manner, symptoms can escalate quickly causing increased suffering resulting in unwanted hospital transfers. Many carers report feeling motivated but uneducated for the task of medicine management, especially if it involves preparation and/or administration of subcutaneous medicines This study assesses the impact of an education and resource package, caring@home, on carers' confidence, knowledge, and skills in managing palliative symptoms at home using subcutaneous medicines. METHODS: Nurses trained volunteer carers on the use of the package. Carers were invited to complete a 10 min written evaluation survey and to consider consenting to a 30 min semistructure phone interview. RESULTS: Fifty carers returned surveys and 12 were interviewed. Most carers agreed or strongly agreed that the package provided them with the necessary knowledge, skills and confidence to safely and confidently manage breakthrough symptoms using subcutaneous medicines, further, they would recommend the package to others. Interview analysis revealed three main themes: (1) hesitation and motivation to adopt expanded carer role; (2) the importance of a layered approach to support; and (3) avoiding perceived unnecessary contact with nurses. CONCLUSION: The programme can be used by clinical services to empower carers to help enable a person to be cared for, and to die at home.


Subject(s)
Caregivers , Palliative Care , Humans , Caregivers/education , Palliative Care/methods , Delivery of Health Care , Pharmaceutical Preparations , Surveys and Questionnaires
2.
Br J Community Nurs ; 29(Sup4): S6-S13, 2024 Apr 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38578926

ABSTRACT

Toe and foot swelling can manifest as lymphoedema or chronic oedema but can also be a complication of the treatment of these conditions. In this article, the authors discuss the assessment and treatment options for toe and foot swelling, highlighting the importance of prevention in the first instance.


Subject(s)
Foot , Lymphedema , Humans , Edema/therapy , Lymphedema/diagnosis , Lymphedema/therapy , Toes
3.
Int J Palliat Nurs ; 29(11): 538-546, 2023 Nov 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38039121

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Most Australians say they wish to die at home, but many are admitted to inpatient facilities for symptom management. Caring@home resources can be used to support informal carers to manage breakthrough symptoms safely using subcutaneous medicines. Nurses require education about how to teach informal carers to use these resources. AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness and relevance of an online education programme for registered nurses (RNs) about using the caring@home resources. METHODS: Nurses must complete an online survey prior to the commencement of the online education programme and again upon completion to assess their change in skills, knowledge, confidence and attitudes of the RNs. T-tests were conducted to compare average pre- and post-education scores. FINDINGS: The knowledge, skills and confidence of RNs to teach carers improved significantly following the completion of an education programme. There was a significant change in attitude, meaning that the perceived benefit of teaching informal carers to give subcutaneous medicines improved. All reported they would use the resources in their clinical practice. CONCLUSION: The online education programme is an effective and cost-efficient strategy to educate nurses to support informal carers to help manage breakthrough symptoms using subcutaneous medicines.


Subject(s)
Education, Distance , Nurses , Humans , Caregivers , Australia , Palliative Care
4.
Commun Biol ; 6(1): 1273, 2023 12 16.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38104187

ABSTRACT

Arsenic enhances the carcinogenicity of ultraviolet radiation (UVR). However, the mechanisms of arsenic-driven oncogenesis are not well understood. Here, we utilize experimental systems to investigate the carcinogenic and mutagenic properties of co-exposure to arsenic and UVR. In vitro and in vivo exposures indicate that, by itself, arsenic is not mutagenic. However, in combination with UVR, arsenic exposure has a synergistic effect leading to an accelerated mouse skin carcinogenesis and to more than 2-fold enrichment of UVR mutational burden. Notably, mutational signature ID13, previously found only in UVR-associated human skin cancers, is observed exclusively in mouse skin tumors and cell lines jointly exposed to arsenic and UVR. This signature was not observed in any model system exposed purely to arsenic or purely to UVR, making ID13, to the best of our knowledge, the first co-exposure signature to be reported using controlled experimental conditions. Analysis of existing skin cancer genomics data reveals that only a subset of cancers harbor ID13 and these exhibit an elevated UVR mutagenesis. Our results report a unique mutational signature caused by a co-exposure to two environmental carcinogens and provide comprehensive evidence that arsenic is a potent co-mutagen and co-carcinogen of UVR.


Subject(s)
Arsenic , Skin Neoplasms , Animals , Mice , Humans , Arsenic/toxicity , Ultraviolet Rays/adverse effects , Mutagens , Skin Neoplasms/genetics , Skin Neoplasms/pathology , Skin
5.
Nucleic Acids Res ; 51(14): 7342-7356, 2023 08 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37326017

ABSTRACT

Efficient repair of oxidized DNA is critical for genome-integrity maintenance. Cockayne syndrome protein B (CSB) is an ATP-dependent chromatin remodeler that collaborates with Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase I (PARP1) in the repair of oxidative DNA lesions. How these proteins integrate during DNA repair remains largely unknown. Here, using chromatin co-fractionation studies, we demonstrate that PARP1 and PARP2 promote recruitment of CSB to oxidatively-damaged DNA. CSB, in turn, contributes to the recruitment of XRCC1, and histone PARylation factor 1 (HPF1), and promotes histone PARylation. Using alkaline comet assays to monitor DNA repair, we found that CSB regulates single-strand break repair (SSBR) mediated by PARP1 and PARP2. Strikingly, CSB's function in SSBR is largely bypassed when transcription is inhibited, suggesting CSB-mediated SSBR occurs primarily at actively transcribed DNA regions. While PARP1 repairs SSBs at sites regardless of the transcription status, we found that PARP2 predominantly functions in actively transcribed DNA regions. Therefore, our study raises the hypothesis that SSBR is executed by different mechanisms based on the transcription status.


Subject(s)
Chromatin , Humans , Carrier Proteins/genetics , Chromatin/genetics , DNA/genetics , DNA/metabolism , DNA Repair , Histones/metabolism , Nuclear Proteins/metabolism , Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase-1/genetics , Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase-1/metabolism , Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases/genetics , Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases/metabolism , X-ray Repair Cross Complementing Protein 1/genetics , X-ray Repair Cross Complementing Protein 1/metabolism
6.
bioRxiv ; 2023 Feb 23.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36865271

ABSTRACT

Environmental co-exposures are widespread and are major contributors to carcinogenic mechanisms. Two well-established environmental agents causing skin cancer are ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and arsenic. Arsenic is a known co-carcinogen that enhances UVR's carcinogenicity. However, the mechanisms of arsenic co-carcinogenesis are not well understood. In this study, we utilized primary human keratinocytes and a hairless mouse model to investigate the carcinogenic and mutagenic properties of co-exposure to arsenic and UVR. In vitro and in vivo exposures revealed that, on its own, arsenic is neither mutagenic nor carcinogenic. However, in combination with UVR, arsenic exposure has a synergistic effect leading to an accelerated mouse skin carcinogenesis as well as to more than 2-fold enrichment of UVR mutational burden. Notably, mutational signature ID13, previously found only in UVR-associated human skin cancers, was observed exclusively in mouse skin tumors and cell lines jointly exposed to arsenic and UVR. This signature was not observed in any model system exposed purely to arsenic or purely to UVR, making ID13 the first co-exposure signature to be reported using controlled experimental conditions. Analysis of existing genomics data from basal cell carcinomas and melanomas revealed that only a subset of human skin cancers harbor ID13 and, consistent with our experimental observations, these cancers exhibited an elevated UVR mutagenesis. Our results provide the first report of a unique mutational signature caused by a co-exposure to two environmental carcinogens and the first comprehensive evidence that arsenic is a potent co-mutagen and co-carcinogen of UVR. Importantly, our findings suggest that a large proportion of human skin cancers are not formed purely due to UVR exposure but rather due to a co-exposure of UVR and other co-mutagens such as arsenic.

7.
Toxicol Appl Pharmacol ; 457: 116320, 2022 Dec 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36403797

ABSTRACT

Environmental arsenic exposure is associated with lung cancer. Arsenic is the first substance known to cause lung cancer by two distinct routes, ingestion and inhalation, in the forms of soluble arsenite and particulate arsenic trioxide, respectively. In comparison to significant progresses in research on mechanisms for lung carcinogenesis of arsenic ingestion, inhalation arsenic exposure route in particulate form and its lung carcinogenic mechanisms are relatively under-investigated. Fundamentally, it remains unclear whether particulate arsenic exposure is in a dissolved form and whether particulate exposure yields higher damage. Utilizing dynamic laser scattering, particulate arsenic trioxide exposure in cellular system was confirmed to be in particulate form instead of dissolved form. Using immunofluorescence, particulate arsenic trioxide was demonstrated to generate dramatically higher oxidative DNA damage and strand break, as well as significantly higher superoxide, in lung epithelial cell lines such as BEAS-2B, HSAEC1-KT, and SAE, comparing to soluble arsenite exposure at similar or lower concentration. This study demonstrated that particulate arsenic trioxide exposure yields higher damage in lung epithelial cells, and indicated that inhalation route of particulate arsenic exposure plays an important role in lung carcinogenesis.

8.
Plast Reconstr Surg ; 150(4): 847e-853e, 2022 10 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35921649

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Outpatient prescriptions for postoperative pain play an important role in the opioid epidemic. Prescribing guidelines are an effective target for intervention but require procedure-specific data to be successful. The aim of this study was to examine opioid prescribing patterns and pain control after primary cleft lip and palate repair at a large academic center. METHODS: Children undergoing cleft lip and palate repair from April of 2018 to July of 2019 were included in a prospective cohort study. Data on discharge prescriptions, refills, and emergency room visits were obtained from the medical record. Caregivers were surveyed 7 to 21 days after surgery regarding pain control, opioid use, education exposure, storage, and disposal. Chi-square tests and one-way analysis of variance were used to examine predictors of pain control, opioid consumption, safe storage, and disposal. RESULTS: After screening, 59 children were included in the study. Patients were 55.8 percent male with a median age of 12 months (interquartile range, 5 to 15). Ninety percent of patients received an opioid prescription at discharge with a mean quantity of 10 doses (interquartile range, 5 to 15). Ninety-seven percent of caregivers used adjunct medication. Opioids were given for a median of 3 days (interquartile range, 2 to 6.5). Seventy-six percent of caregivers gave less opioid than prescribed. There was no association between pain control and opioid quantity ( p = 0.68). Twenty-four percent of caregivers used locked storage. Thirty-four percent of respondents with leftover medication reported disposal. CONCLUSIONS: Opioids are often overprescribed after cleft lip and palate repair. Providers should consider limiting prescriptions to a 3-day supply to help reduce the quantity of opioids available in the community.


Subject(s)
Cleft Lip , Cleft Palate , Analgesics, Opioid/therapeutic use , Child , Cleft Lip/surgery , Cleft Palate/surgery , Humans , Infant , Male , Pain, Postoperative/diagnosis , Pain, Postoperative/drug therapy , Practice Patterns, Physicians' , Prospective Studies
9.
Toxicol Appl Pharmacol ; 434: 115799, 2022 01 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34798142

ABSTRACT

Arsenic is a naturally occurring element present in food, soil and water and human exposure is associated with increased cancer risk. Arsenic inhibits DNA repair at low, non-cytotoxic concentrations and amplifies the mutagenic and carcinogenic impact of other DNA-damaging agents, such as ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Arsenic exposure leads to oxidation of zinc coordinating cysteine residues, zinc loss and decreased activity of the DNA repair protein poly(ADP)ribose polymerase (PARP)-1. Because arsenic stimulates NADPH oxidase (NOX) activity leading to generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the goal of this study was to investigate the role of NOX in arsenic-induced inhibition of PARP activity and retention of DNA damage. NOX involvement in the arsenic response was assessed in vitro and in vivo. Keratinocytes were treated with or without arsenite, solar-simulated UVR, NOX inhibitors and/or isoform specific NOX siRNA. Knockdown or inhibition of NOX decreased arsenite-induced ROS, PARP-1 oxidation and DNA damage retention, while restoring arsenite inhibition of PARP-1 activity. The NOX2 isoform was determined to be the major contributor to arsenite-induced ROS generation and DNA damage retention. In vivo DNA damage was measured by immunohistochemical staining and analysis of dorsal epidermis sections from C57BI/6 and p91phox knockout (NOX2-/-) mice. There was no significant difference in solar-simulated UVR DNA damage as detected by percent PH2AX positive cells within NOX2-/- mice versus control. In contrast, arsenite-dependent retention of UVR-induced DNA damage was markedly reduced. Altogether, the in vitro and in vivo findings indicate that NOX is involved in arsenic enhancement of UVR-induced DNA damage.


Subject(s)
Arsenic/toxicity , DNA Damage/drug effects , DNA Damage/radiation effects , Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic/drug effects , NADPH Oxidase 2/metabolism , Ultraviolet Rays , Animals , Cell Line , Humans , Keratinocytes/drug effects , Keratinocytes/radiation effects , Mice , Mice, Knockout , NADPH Oxidase 1/genetics , NADPH Oxidase 1/metabolism , NADPH Oxidase 2/genetics , Reactive Oxygen Species
11.
J Prof Nurs ; 36(5): 322-329, 2020.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33039065

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Identifying students' who are able to complete a rigorous course of study, graduate on time, and pass the NCLEX-RN© is a principle role of nursing program admissions teams. PURPOSE: To examine which preadmission factors predict students' success in the first semester of a baccalaureate nursing program. METHODS: Undergraduate students' data from the academic years 2013 to 2017 were analyzed (N = 927). Bivariate and multiple regression analyses were used to examine potential predictors of first semester course success, and scores on standardized NCLEX preparation exams. RESULTS: Preadmission cumulative GPA (OR = 3.82, 95% CI = 1.43-10.16) and prerequisite science GPA (OR = 2.57, 95% CI = 1.14-5.78) predicted success in the pathopharmacology course. Preadmission cumulative GPA (OR = 6.53, 95% CI = 1.59-26.85) and TEAS composite score (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.09-1.22) predicted success in the health assessment course. Preadmission cumulative GPA (OR = 3.42, 95% CI = 1.18-9.92) and TEAS composite score (OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.01-1.10) predicted success in the foundations course. Higher preadmission cumulative GPA (B = 14.19, p < 0.01), prerequisite science GPA (B = 12.62, p < 0.01), and TEAS composite score (B = 0.48, p < 0.01) predicted a higher pathopharmacology-KAPLAN, Inc. test scores. Higher preadmission cumulative GPA (B = 62.52, p < 0.01), prerequisite science GPA (B = 61.18, p < 0.01), and TEAS composite score (B = 4.76, p < 0.01) predicted a higher fundamentals-HESI test scores. CONCLUSIONS: Preadmission cumulative GPA, prerequisite science GPA, and TEAS composite score were significant predictors of success in first semester courses and performance on standardized tests.


Subject(s)
Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate , Achievement , Educational Measurement , Humans , Licensure, Nursing , School Admission Criteria
12.
Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg ; 162(5): 746-753, 2020 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32204656

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether a service guideline reducing postoperative opioid prescription quantities and caregiver-reported education to use nonopioid analgesics first are associated with caregiver-reported pain control after pediatric tonsillectomy. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study (July 2018-April 2019). SETTING: Pediatric otolaryngology service at a tertiary academic children's hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Caregivers of patients aged 1 to 11 years undergoing tonsillectomy (N = 764) were surveyed 7 to 21 days after surgery regarding pain control, education to use nonopioid analgesics first, and opioid use. Respondents who were not prescribed opioids or had missing data were excluded. Logistic regression modeled caregiver-reported pain control as a function of service guideline implementation (December 2018) recommending 20 rather than 30 doses for postoperative opioid prescriptions and caregiver-reported analgesic education, adjusting for patient demographics. RESULTS: Among 430 respondents (56% response), 387 patients were included. The sample was 43% female with a mean age of 5.0 years (SD, 2.5). Pain control was reported as good (226 respondents, 58%) or adequate/poor (161 respondents, 42%). Mean opioid prescription quantity was 27 doses (SD, 7.9) before and 21 doses (SD, 6.1) after guideline implementation (P < .001). Education to use nonopioids first was reported by 308 respondents (80%). In regression, prescribing guideline implementation was not associated with pain control (adjusted odds ratio, 1.3; 95% CI, 0.9-2.0; P = .22), but caregiver-reported education to use nonopioids first was associated with a higher odds of good pain control (adjusted odds ratio, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1-3.2; P = .02). CONCLUSION: Caregiver education to use nonopioid analgesics first may be a modifiable health care practice to improve pain control as postoperative opioid prescription quantities are reduced.


Subject(s)
Analgesics, Opioid/administration & dosage , Caregivers/education , Pain Management/methods , Pain, Postoperative/drug therapy , Practice Patterns, Physicians'/statistics & numerical data , Tonsillectomy , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Prospective Studies
13.
J AOAC Int ; 103(2): 523-532, 2020 Apr 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31623701

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: NeoSeekTM STEC is a single-source, service-based method for detection and identification of select Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), including E. coli O157:H7 and STEC of somatic groups O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145. The method is a multiplex molecular method utilizing more than 80 genetic targets to identify STEC in complex matrices such as food enrichment cultures. OBJECTIVE: A study was conducted to validate the NeoSeek method for detection of select STEC in raw beef trim. METHODS: Performance of the NeoSeek STEC method was compared with that of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service reference methods for E. coli O157:H7 and non-O157 STEC for detection of E. coli O157:H7 and E. coli O26:H11 in raw beef trim. Additionally, inclusivity/exclusivity testing and method robustness testing were performed. RESULTS: Results of raw beef trim testing showed no statistically significant differences in performance between the NeoSeek and reference methods in the ability to detect either E. coli O157:H7 or E.coli O26:H11, as determined by probability of detection analysis. Results of inclusivity and exclusivity testing showed 100% expected results with target and nontarget bacteria, with the exception of a single strain of E. coli O157:H7, which was subsequently verified to be stx-negative by PCR. Conclusions and Highlights: NeoSeek STEC is an accurate, reliable method for rapid detection and identification of select STEC in complex populations such as beef trim enrichment cultures.


Subject(s)
Escherichia coli O157 , Escherichia coli Proteins , Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli , Animals , Cattle , Escherichia coli O157/genetics , Escherichia coli Proteins/genetics , Food Microbiology , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli/genetics
14.
JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg ; 145(10): 911-918, 2019 Oct 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31393537

ABSTRACT

IMPORTANCE: Practice guidelines recommend nonopioid medications in children after tonsillectomy, but to date, studies have not used recent national data to assess perioperative opioid prescribing patterns or the factors associated with these patterns in this population. Closing this knowledge gap may help in assessing whether such prescribing and prescription duration could be safely reduced. OBJECTIVE: To assess national perioperative opioid prescribing patterns, clinical and demographic factors associated with these patterns, and association between these patterns and complications in children after tonsillectomy compared with children not using opioids. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cohort analysis used the 2016 to 2017 claims data from the database of a large national private insurer in the United States. Opioid-naive children aged 1 to 18 years with a claims code for tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy between April 1, 2016, and December 15, 2017, were identified (n = 22 567) and screened against the exclusion criteria. The final sample included 15 793 children. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The percentage of children with 1 or more perioperative fills (prescription drug claims for opioids between 7 days before to 1 day after tonsillectomy) was calculated, along with the duration of perioperative prescriptions (days supplied). Linear regression was used to identify the demographic and clinical factors associated with the duration of perioperative opioid prescriptions. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between having 1 or more perioperative fills and their duration and the risk of return visits 2 to 14 days after tonsillectomy for pain or dehydration, secondary hemorrhage, and constipation compared with children not using opioids. RESULTS: Among 15 793 children, the mean (SD) age was 7.8 (4.2) years, 12 807 (81.1%) were younger than 12 years, 2986 (18.9%) were between 12 and 18 years of age, and 8289 (52.6%) were female. In total, 9411 (59.6%) children had 1 or more perioperative fills, and the median (25th-75th percentile) duration was 8 (6-10) days; 6382 had no perioperative fills. The probability of having 1 or more perioperative fills and the duration of prescription varied across US census divisions. Having 1 or more perioperative fills was not associated with return visits for pain or dehydration (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.13; 95% CI, 0.95-1.34) or secondary hemorrhage (AOR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.73-1.10) compared with children not using opioids, but it was associated with increased risk of return visits for constipation (AOR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.24-3.28). Duration was not associated with return visits for complications. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: These findings suggest that reducing perioperative opioid prescribing and the duration of perioperative opioid prescriptions may be possible without increasing the risk of these complications.

15.
Nurse Educ Today ; 77: 65-70, 2019 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30981145

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Given the emerging evidence internationally of poor care within the healthcare sector, a recent report in the United Kingdom recommended the need for education to produce nurses who are prepared both intellectually and with compassion. AIM: This paper aims to understand the beliefs and values of caring, held by student nurses from entry to completion of their education programme. METHODS: Using a prospective qualitative longtitudinal approach, two cohorts of nursing students (February 2013 and 2014) each following a different undergraduate curriculum (the February 2013, based on a philosophy of person-centred care and the February 2014, based on the philosophy of humanisation) were followed throughout their programme leading to Registration. Data were collected from February 2013 to February 2017 using individual interviews at commencement and completion of their programme with focus groups after their first placement and at the end of years one and two. Using purposive sampling, from February 2013, 12 commenced the study and five finished. From February 2014, 24 started, with nine completing. FINDINGS: Data were analysed using thematic analysis with four themes emerging: i) Articulating the terms caring and dignity ii) Recognising the need for individualisation iii) Learning nursing and iv) Personal journey. CONCLUSION: Reporting on the final phase of this 5-phase study and on the brink of qualifying, both cohorts of students recognised the impact of their different curriculum and their exposure to the same educators who had embraced the humanisation philosophy. They each acknowledged just how they had changed as individuals and how determined they were to influence the quality of care.


Subject(s)
Attitude of Health Personnel , Empathy , Students, Nursing/psychology , Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate/methods , Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate/standards , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Prospective Studies , Qualitative Research , Social Values , Students, Nursing/statistics & numerical data , United Kingdom
16.
Front Nutr ; 5: 51, 2018.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29938206

ABSTRACT

Objective: To quantify the performance of food products in a sustainable diet based on the balance of their contribution to nutrient intake and environmental impact, within the context of the Dutch diet. Design: While fixing the quantity of a specific food group at different levels, optimized diets that met nutrient requirements and stayed as close as possible to the current Dutch diet were calculated, in order to understand its potential environmental impact and its nutritional quality. Bread & breakfast cereals, dairy, and meat were compared between 0 and 250% of current intake. Their performance is expressed in the relationship between the quantity of these food products and (1) the environmental impact of diets and (2) the nutrient balance of the diets. Setting: The Netherlands. Subjects: Women aged 31-50. Results: The amount of bread & breakfast cereals in the optimized diets were inversely correlated with their environmental impact. The nutrient balance of the optimized diets was maintained despite varying cereal content, with the expected improvement over the current diet. Increasing amounts of dairy in the optimized diet were associated with an increase in environmental impact and meat with a steep increase. The nutrient balance of optimized diets with varying dairy and meat contents was also maintained at high levels, even at 0% content. Conclusions: Bread and breakfast cereals are sources of nutrients with a better environmental performance compared to dairy or meat within the context of the Dutch diet. It is possible to optimize diets for environmental impact whilst maintaining a high nutrient balance.

17.
J Psychopharmacol ; 32(7): 770-778, 2018 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29945469

ABSTRACT

AIM: The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between escalating higher doses of psilocybin and the potential psilocybin occasioned positive subjective effects. METHODS: Healthy participants ( n=12) were given three escalating doses of oral psilocybin (0.3 mg/kg; 0.45 mg/kg; 0.6 mg/kg) or (18.8-36.6 mg; 27.1-54.0 mg; 36.3-59.2 mg) a minimum of four weeks apart in a supervised setting. Blood and urine samples, vital signs, and electrocardiograms were obtained. Subjective effects were assessed using the Mystical Experience Questionnaire and Persisting Effects Questionnaire. RESULTS: There was a significant linear dose-related response in Mystical Experience Questionnaire total score and the transcendence of time and space subscale, but not in the rate of a complete mystical experience. There was also a significant difference between dose 3 compared to dose 1 on the transcendence of time and space subscale, while no dose-related differences were found for Mystical Experience Questionnaire total scores or rate of a mystical experience. Persisting Effects Questionnaire positive composite scores 30 days after completion of the last dose were significantly higher than negative composite scores. Persisting Effects Questionnaire results revealed a moderate increase in sense of well-being or life satisfaction on average that was associated with the maximum Mystical Experience Questionnaire total score. Pharmacokinetic measures were associated with dose but not with Mystical Experience Questionnaire total scores or rate of a mystical experience. CONCLUSIONS: High doses of psilocybin elicited subjective effects at least as strong as the lower doses and resulted in positive persisting subjective effects 30 days after, indicating that a complete mystical experience was not a prerequisite for positive outcomes.


Subject(s)
Hallucinogens/administration & dosage , Mysticism/psychology , Psilocybin/administration & dosage , Administration, Oral , Adult , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Hallucinogens/pharmacokinetics , Hallucinogens/pharmacology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Personal Satisfaction , Psilocybin/pharmacokinetics , Psilocybin/pharmacology , Surveys and Questionnaires , Time Factors , Young Adult
18.
Front Nutr ; 5: 19, 2018.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29644218

ABSTRACT

The UK currently has the most detailed, directly measured data for food wasted in the home. This includes information on the exact types of food wasted. These data allow calculation of the nutrients within that waste, as well as its environmental impact. The results progress the conversation beyond how much food is wasted or its energy content; it permits the implications for nutrition and sustainability to be assessed in detail. Data for UK household food waste were expressed as an average waste per capita for each type of food. Each food type was matched with an item (or group of items) from the UK Composition of Foods (7th Ed). The level of nutrients wasted was compared to UK Reference Nutrient Intakes (RNIs) for adult women (19-50 years, used as a proxy for general population requirements). The data were normalized into "nutrient days" wasted per capita per year, then into the number of complete diet days (for 21 nutrients plus energy). Results show that approximately 42 daily diets were discarded per capita per year. By individual nutrient, the highest losses were vitamin B12, vitamin C, and thiamin (160, 140, and 130 nutrient days/capita/year, respectively). For protein, dietary energy and carbohydrates, 88, 59, and 53 nutrient days/capita/year, respectively, were lost. Substantial losses were also found for under-consumed nutrients in the UK: calcium, which was mostly lost via bakery (27%) and dairy/eggs (27%). Food folate was mainly lost through fresh vegetables/salads (40%) and bakery (18%), as was dietary fiber (31 and 29%, respectively). Environmental impacts were distributed over the food groups, with wasted meat and fish the single largest contribution. For all environmental impacts studied, the largest contribution came from agricultural production. This paper shows that there are areas where interventions preventing food waste and promoting healthy eating could work together (e.g., encouraging consumption of vegetables or tackling overbuying, especially of unhealthy foods). Food manufacturers and retailers, alongside governments and NGOs, have a key role to minimize waste of environmentally impactful, nutrient-dense foods, for instance, by helping influence people's behaviors with appropriate formulation of products, packaging, portioning, use of promotions, or public education.

19.
J Sci Food Agric ; 98(9): 3219-3224, 2018 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29427307

ABSTRACT

Global food systems will face unprecedented challenges in the coming years. They will need to meet the nutritional needs of a growing population and feed an expanding demand for proteins. This is against a backdrop of increasing environmental challenges (water resources, climate change, soil health) and the need to improve farming livelihoods. Collaborative efforts by a variety of stakeholders are needed to ensure that future generations have access to healthy and sustainable diets. Food will play an increasingly important role in the global discourse on health. These topics were explored during Nestlé's second international conference on 'Planting Seeds for the Future of Food: The Agriculture, Nutrition and Sustainability Nexus', which took place in July 2017. This article discusses some of the key issues from the perspective of three major stakeholder groups, namely farming/agriculture, the food industry and consumers. © 2018 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.


Subject(s)
Conservation of Natural Resources , Diet, Healthy , Food Supply , Agriculture/methods , Dietary Proteins , Food Industry , Global Health , Humans , Micronutrients/deficiency , Nutritive Value , Plants, Edible/growth & development , Protein-Energy Malnutrition , Seeds
20.
Br J Nurs ; 27(1): 52-55, 2018 Jan 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29323977

ABSTRACT

This article explores how nurse academics in one British university uphold and role model the humanising framework developed by Todres et al (2009) . It gives a brief overview of nurse education in the UK. Next it outlines the nature of the personal tutor role. It then offers an overview of the humanising framework, its background and embodiment in the undergraduate nursing curriculum. It explores how nurse academics role model humanisation and how this influences and impacts on students' ability to live and apply the humanising dimensions of nursing to enhance patients' lived experience of care. It concludes with examples of how this encourages positive meaningful relationships between students and tutors.


Subject(s)
Mentors , Nurse's Role , Students, Nursing , Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate , England , Hospitals, University , Humans
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