Perceived Nexus Between Non-Invigilated Summative Assessment and Mental Health Difficulties: A Cross Sectional Studies.

The COVID-19 pandemic rapidly led to changes in the mode of teaching, learning and assessments in most tertiary institutions worldwide. Notably, non-invigilated summative assessments became predominant. These changes heightened anxiety and depression, especially among individuals with less resilient coping mechanism. We explored the perceptions and experiences of mental health difficulties of students in tertiary education regarding non-invigilated alternative assessments in comparison to invigilated assessments. A pragmatic, mixed method cross sectional design was conducted online via Qualtrics. Thematic analysis of text was carried out using NVivo 12. In the quantitative analysis, univariable and multivariable ordinal logistic models were used to examine the potential factors for preference among students in higher education. A total of 380 Nursing and Social Science students responded to the survey. Approximately 77% of students perceived non-invigilated assessments to be less stressful compared to invigilated exams. Age, course of study, stage of studies, and number of units enrolled per semester were identified as significant drivers for students' perceived preference for non-invigilated assessments. There was an inverse relationship between the perception of stress associated with invigilated exams and the age of students. For instance, students aged between 18-24 were 5 times more likely to prefer non-invigilated exams compared to those aged 55 or more. Comparatively, students in early stages of studies had higher preference for non-invigilated assessments. However, there was a preference reversal for students enrolled in 2 or less units per semester. Social sciences students were two times more likely to prefer non-invigilated examinations to invigilated examinations compared to nursing students. The findings reinforce the use of alternative assessments in higher education as a mitigating agency to lessen the mental health burden of tertiary students in post COVID-19 era. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10805-023-09472-w.

Experiences of Western Australian rural nursing graduates: A mixed method analysis.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the current rural graduate programmes in Western Australia adequately support new graduate nurses transitioning into practice. BACKGROUND: Graduate nurse's transition to employment is a time of significant change and challenge, often resulting in periods of transition shock. These challenges are magnified in rural areas where graduates have to relocate to commence their career with limited rural nursing experience. Graduate programmes were developed to smooth the transition for university trained bachelor's degree registered nurses into the workforce. Supportive graduate nursing programmes are essential for enabling transition to practice and reduce attrition rates. DESIGN: Longitudinal convergent mixed method parallel design was informed by Duchscher's transition stage model. METHOD: Thematic analysis was applied to all interviews. COREQ checklist was completed. Descriptive statistics and content analysis were used to analyse the survey responses. RESULTS: New graduates cycled through both transition shock and honeymoon periods on commencement of employment, reporting high levels of satisfaction in simultaneity with signs of transition shock. Satisfaction dropped within 7 months indicating a transition crisis before an adjustment period occurred at the end of their graduate year. Limited resources were highlighted as obstacles to providing adequate support to rural graduate nurses. CONCLUSION: The honeymoon stage of transition co-existed with transition shock at the commencement of graduate programmes, which may obscure the need for continuing adequate support. Inadequate and/or a lack of preceptorship was evident throughout the Western Australian rural graduate programmes. Graduate programmes need to be structured but flexible to allow for individual differences in graduates' and clinical contexts. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Structured but flexible graduate programmes allow for individual differences in graduates and clinical situations. New graduate nurses would benefit from a break midway through their graduate year to assist and overcome the transition crisis stage. Education of nurses undertaking the preceptor role is required to deliver adequate support to graduate nurses and decrease transition shock.

Contemporary nursing graduates' transition to practice: A critical review of transition models.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To critically review contemporary transition theories to determine how they apply to the newly qualified graduate registered nurse programmes. BACKGROUND: Graduate nurse transition to employment is the time of significant change which has resulted in high attrition rates. Graduates are often challenged by their expectation of nursing practice and the reality of the role. The transition from hospital-based training to university-based training has resulted in the need for primary employment to commence with graduate/orientation/internship programmes to help support new graduates transition into clinical practice. One transition model, Duchscher's stages of transition theory, utilised three former theories to develop a final model. DESIGN: A narrative critical literature review. METHOD: The theories selected for the review were Kramer's reality shock theory, Benner's novice to expert theory, Bridges transition theory and Duchscher's stages of transition theory. CONCLUSION: Duchscher's stages of transition theory reflects the experiences of registered nursing transition into the workforce directly from university. The application of the theory is effective to guide understanding of the current challenges that new graduate nurse's experience today. There is a need for new graduates to complete their university degree as advanced beginners in order to decrease the experience of transition shock and keep pace with rapidly changing demands of the clinical environment. This may be achieved by increasing ward-based simulation in university education. A theoretical framework can provide a deep understanding of the various stages and processes of transition and enable development of successful programmes. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Both universities and hospitals need to adapt their current practice to align with the needs of new graduates due to large student numbers and ongoing systematic advancements to decrease the attrition rate.

Maternal high-fat diet alters lung development and function in the offspring.

The effects of maternal obesity on lung development have been recognized, and speculation is that these diseases are not simply because of accelerated pulmonary decline with aging but with a failure to achieve optimal lung development during early life. These studies tested the hypothesis that maternal obesity alters signaling pathways during the course of lung development that may affect life-long pulmonary health. Adult female mice were fed 60% fat [high-fat diet (HFD)] or 10% fat [control diet (CD)] for 8 wk before mating and through weaning. Pup lung tissues were collected at postnatal days (PN) 7, 21, and 90 (after receiving HFD or CD as adults). At PN7, body weights from HFD were greater than CD but lung weight-to-body weight ratios were lower. In lung tissues, NFκB-mediated inflammation was greater in HFD pups at PN21 and phospho-/total STAT3, phospho-/total VEGF receptor 2, and total AKT protein levels were lower with maternal HFD and protein tyrosine phosphatase B1 levels were increased. Decreased platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule levels were observed at PN21 and at PN90 in the pups exposed to maternal HFD. Morphometry indicated that the pups exposed to maternal or adult HFD had fewer alveoli, and the effect was additive. Decreases in pulmonary resistance, elastance, and compliance were observed because of adult HFD diet and decreases in airway resistance and increases in inspiratory capacity because of maternal HFD. In conclusion, maternal HFD disrupts signaling pathways in the early developing lung and may contribute to deficiencies in lung function and increased susceptibility in adults.

Effects of Myo-inositol on Type 1 Retinopathy of Prematurity Among Preterm Infants <28 Weeks' Gestational Age: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Previous studies of myo-inositol in preterm infants with respiratory distress found reduced severity of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and less frequent ROP, death, and intraventricular hemorrhage. However, no large trials have tested its efficacy or safety. Objective: To test the adverse events and efficacy of myo-inositol to reduce type 1 ROP among infants younger than 28 weeks' gestational age. Design, Setting, and Participants: Randomized clinical trial included 638 infants younger than 28 weeks' gestational age enrolled from 18 neonatal intensive care centers throughout the United States from April 17, 2014, to September 4, 2015; final date of follow-up was February 12, 2016. The planned enrollment of 1760 participants would permit detection of an absolute reduction in death or type 1 ROP of 7% with 90% power. The trial was terminated early due to a statistically significantly higher mortality rate in the myo-inositol group. Interventions: A 40-mg/kg dose of myo-inositol was given every 12 hours (initially intravenously, then enterally when feeding; n = 317) or placebo (n = 321) for up to 10 weeks. Main Outcomes and Measures: Type 1 ROP or death before determination of ROP outcome was designated as unfavorable. The designated favorable outcome was survival without type 1 ROP. Results: Among 638 infants (mean, 26 weeks' gestational age; 50% male), 632 (99%) received the trial drug or placebo and 589 (92%) had a study outcome. Death or type 1 ROP occurred more often in the myo-inositol group vs the placebo group (29% vs 21%, respectively; adjusted risk difference, 7% [95% CI, 0%-13%]; adjusted relative risk, 1.41 [95% CI, 1.08-1.83], P = .01). All-cause death before 55 weeks' postmenstrual age occurred in 18% of the myo-inositol group and in 11% of the placebo group (adjusted risk difference, 6% [95% CI, 0%-11%]; adjusted relative risk, 1.66 [95% CI, 1.14-2.43], P = .007). The most common serious adverse events up to 7 days of receiving the ending dose were necrotizing enterocolitis (6% for myo-inositol vs 4% for placebo), poor perfusion or hypotension (7% vs 4%, respectively), intraventricular hemorrhage (10% vs 9%), systemic infection (16% vs 11%), and respiratory distress (15% vs 13%). Conclusions and Relevance: Among premature infants younger than 28 weeks' gestational age, treatment with myo-inositol for up to 10 weeks did not reduce the risk of type 1 ROP or death vs placebo. These findings do not support the use of myo-inositol among premature infants; however, the early termination of the trial limits definitive conclusions.

Nurr1 expression is modified by inflammation in microglia.

Advances in neonatal care have allowed premature infants to survive at earlier gestational ages, but they are often afflicted with neurological delays or deficits. Maternal inflammation has been identified as a major risk factor for premature birth and once born, infants often require supplemental oxygen for survival. Nurr1 (NR4A2) is an orphan nuclear receptor with no known binding site and is essential for the growth of midbrain dopamine neurons. Others have reported that Nurr1 can act as an anti-inflammatory transcription factor in microglia and astrocytes and respond lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We have previously reported decreased numbers of oligodendrocytes and increased numbers of microglia in the mice exposed to both maternal inflammation and neonatal hyperoxia in the perinatal period. These studies tested the hypothesis that the combined exposures to inflammation and hyperoxia would increase Nurr1 expression in microglia in our mouse model and in an immortalized microglia cell line, BV2 cells. Our data indicate that Nurr1 protein expression is increased at postnatal day 0 and postnatal day 28 in whole-brain homogenates from mice exposed to LPS and hyperoxia. Alternatively, Nurr1 message is decreased at postnatal day 60 in isolated microglia, indicating that the increases in whole-brain homogenates may be due to other cell types. In BV2 cells, Nurr1 message in increased by exposure to hyperoxia, but this increase is attenuated in cells exposed to both LPS and hyperoxia. Although Nurr1 regulation is not straightforward, these data indicate that Nurr1 expression is increased in whole-brain homogenates in response to inflammation, but is decreased in isolated primary microglia and BV2 cells in response to similar inflammation. Our data support the hypothesis that Nurr1 expression may play a significant role in regulating inflammation in the brain and understanding the complex regulation of Nurr1 could lead to new therapeutic strategies.

Maternal high fat diet exposure is associated with increased hepcidin levels, decreased myelination, and neurobehavioral changes in male offspring.

Maternal obesity induces chronic inflammatory responses that impact the fetus/neonate during the perinatal period. Inflammation, iron regulation, and myelination are closely interconnected and disruptions in these processes may have deleterious effects on neurodevelopment. Hepcidin levels are increased in response to inflammation causing subsequent decreases in ferroportin and available iron needed for myelination. Our current studies were designed to test the hypotheses that: 1) maternal high fat diet (HFD) prior to and during pregnancy is sufficient to induce inflammation and alter iron regulation in the brain of the offspring, and 2) HFD exposure is associated with altered myelination and neurobehavioral deficits in the offspring. Our data revealed modest increases in inflammatory cytokines in the serum of dams fed HFD prior to pregnancy compared to dams fed a control diet (CD). Early increases in IL-5 and decreases in IL-10 were observed in serum at PN7 while IL-5 remained elevated at PN21 in the HFD-exposed pups. At PN0, most cytokine levels in whole brain homogenates were higher in the pups born to HFD-fed dams but were not different or were lower than in pups born to CD-fed dams at PN21. Conversely, the inflammation mediated transcription factor Nurr77 remained elevated at PN21. At birth, brain hepcidin, ferroportin, and l-ferritin levels were elevated in pups born to HFD-fed dams compared to pups born to CD-fed dams. Hepcidin levels remained elevated at PN7 and PN21 while ferroportin and l-ferritin levels were lower at PN7 and were not different at PN21. Decreases in myelination in the medial cortex were observed in male but not in female pups born to maternal HFD-fed dams at PN21. These structural changes correlated with changes in behavior (novel object recognition) in at 4months in males only. Our data indicate that maternal obesity (HFD) results in disruption of iron regulation in the brains of the offspring with structural and neurobehavioral deficits in males.

Enhanced Steatosis and Fibrosis in Liver of Adult Offspring Exposed to Maternal High-Fat Diet.

Early life exposures can increase the risk of developing chronic diseases including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Maternal high-fat diet increases susceptibility to development of steatosis in the offspring. We determined the effect of maternal high-fat diet exposure in utero and during lactation on offspring liver histopathology, particularly fibrosis. Female C57Bl/6J mice were fed a control or high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks and bred with lean males. Nursing dams were continued on the same diet with offspring sacrificed during the perinatal period or maintained on either control or high-fat diet for 12 weeks. Increased hepatocyte proliferation and stellate cell activation were observed in the liver of HFD-exposed pups. Offspring exposed to perinatal high-fat diet and high-fat diet postweaning showed extensive hepatosteatosis compared to offspring on high-fat diet after perinatal control diet. Offspring exposed to perinatal high-fat diet and then placed on control diet for 12 weeks developed steatosis and pericellular fibrosis. Importantly, we found that exposure to perinatal high-fat diet unexpectedly promotes more rapid disease progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, with a sustained fibrotic phenotype, only in adult offspring fed a postweaning control diet.

Perinatal inflammation results in decreased oligodendrocyte numbers in adulthood.

AIMS: Maternal inflammation is a risk factor for preterm birth, and premature infants are often exposed to supplemental oxygen as a life-sustaining therapy. While more immature neonates are surviving, rates of neurodevelopmental impairment are not improving. We developed a novel mouse model with clinically relevant exposures to test the hypothesis that systemic maternal inflammation with transient neonatal hyperoxia exposure will induce a phenotype similar to diffuse periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) like that observed in premature human infants. MAIN METHODS: Timed-pregnant C3H/HeN mice received intraperitoneal injections of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or saline on embryonic day 16. Newborn pups were placed in room air (RA) or 85% oxygen (O2) for 14 days, followed by 14 days in RA recovery. Oligodendroglial and microglial populations were evaluated at 14 and 28 days. KEY FINDINGS: Brain weight to body weight ratios were lower in mice exposed to LPS. Oligodendrocyte numbers were decreased significantly in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus in groups exposed to LPS or LPS/O2 at 14 days, and persisted in the cerebral cortex at 28 days for LPS/O2 mice. At day 14, cleaved caspase 3 was increased and numbers of microglia were elevated in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of LPS/O2 animals. SIGNIFICANCE: These data indicate that combining systemic maternal LPS and neonatal hyperoxic exposure impairs myelination, and suggests that this novel mouse model may represent a subtle, diffuse form of periventricular white matter injury that could provide a clinically relevant platform for further study of perinatal brain injury.

Associations between maternal and infant morbidities and sRAGE within the first week of life in extremely preterm infants.

BACKGROUND: Soluble RAGE (sRAGE) has been associated with multiple inflammatory responses including maternal chorioamnionitis and preeclampsia. Analysis of umbilical cord blood levels have also indicated that sRAGE levels in the infant are affected by maternal inflammation. S100b is a ligand for RAGE and increases in circulating S100b levels are associated with poor neurological outcome in preterm infants. The objective of this study was to determine whether sRAGE or s100b levels in plasma samples from extremely preterm infants at the end of the first week of life were correlated with infant morbidities and whether sRAGE and s100b levels at this time point were still associated with maternal inflammation. METHODS: Plasma samples were collected from 130 preterm infants (≤28 weeks) at days of life 5, 6, or 7. sRAGE and s100b levels were measured by ELISA and data were analyzed by Pearson's correlation or Generalized Estimating Equations. RESULTS: sRAGE was negatively correlated with development of sepsis (p=0.024), the FiO2 requirement of the infant at the time of sampling (p=0.030), as well as maternal preeclampsia (p=0.046), and positively correlated with maternal chorioamnionitis (p=0.006). s100b levels were positively associated with maternal chorioamnionitis (p=0.039). No correlations were observed with other infant morbidities. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that sRAGE could potentially be a biomarker of early severe inflammatory responses in the preterm infant. However, more studies are needed to confirm the present findings.

Folic acid supplementation can adversely affect murine neural tube closure and embryonic survival.

Neural tube defects (NTDs), a common birth defect in humans, result from the failure of the embryonic neural tube (NT) to close properly. NT closure is a complex, poorly understood morphogenetic process influenced by genes and environment. The most effective environmental influence in decreasing the risk for NTDs is folic acid (FA) fortification and supplementation, and these findings led to the recommendation of periconceptual FA intake and mandatory fortification of the US grain supply in 1998. To explore the relationship between genetics and responsiveness to FA supplementation, we used five mouse NTDs models-Zic2, Shroom3, Frem2, Grhl2 (Grainyhead-like 2) and L3P (Line3P)-and a long-term generational FA supplementation scheme. Contrary to expectations, we find that three genetic mutants respond adversely to FA supplementation with increased incidence of NTDs in homozygous mutants, occurrence of NTDs in heterozygous embryos and embryonic lethality prior to NT closure. Because of these unexpected responses, we examined NTD risk after short-term FA supplementation. Our results indicate that, for the same genetic allele, NTD risk can depend on the length of FA exposure. Our data indicate that, depending on the gene mutation, FA supplementation may adversely influence embryonic development and NT closure.