Applicability of the Self-Evaluation Scale of nursing practices for improving sleep quality among patients with dementia taking sleeping pills to general nurses.

Objective: Many patients with dementia experience sleep-related problems. However, there is a lack of clarity regarding nursing practices that can address these issues. Thus, we developed a self-assessment scale for nursing practices to improve sleep quality among patients with dementia taking sleep medication and confirmed its validity and reliability. This study aimed to test the validity and reliability of this scale for adaptability to general nurses and test its applicability. Participants and Methods: The survey included basic attributes and questionnaire items related to nursing practices to improve sleep quality in patients with dementia taking sleeping pills. Data from 477 participants with no missing values in the survey items were used in the analysis. The self-evaluation scale of nursing practices for improving sleep quality among patients with dementia taking sleeping pills was based on a three-factor model, and confirmatory factor analysis was performed using structural equation modeling. Results: Goodness-of-fit indices were satisfactory, supporting the construct validity of the scale. Cronbach's α coefficients for the total score and the three factors of the self-evaluation scale of nursing practices for improving sleep quality among patients with dementia taking sleeping pills exceeded 0.7. Conclusion: The development of this scale can improve the quality of nursing practice for patients with dementia who take sleeping pills. Moreover, it can serve as evidence for general nurses to participate in drug treatment and can be considered as basic research for appropriate drug treatment in nursing practice.

Deep Red Photoluminescence from Cr3+ in Fluorine-Doped Lithium Aluminate Host Material.

Deep red phosphors have attracted much attention for their applications in lighting, medical diagnosis, health monitoring, agriculture, etc. A new phosphor host material based on fluorine-doped lithium aluminate (ALFO) was proposed and deep red emission from Cr3+ in this host material was demonstrated. Cr3+ in ALFO was excited by blue (~410 nm) and green (~570 nm) rays and covered the deep red to near-infrared region from 650 nm to 900 nm with peaks around 700 nm. ALFO was a fluorine-doped form of the spinel-type compound LiAl5O8 with slightly Li-richer compositions. The composition depended on the preparation conditions, and the contents of Li and F tended to decrease with preparation temperature, such as Al4.69Li1.31F0.28O7.55 at 1100 °C, Al4.73Li1.27F0.17O7.65 at 1200 °C, and Al4.83Li1.17F0.10O7.78 at 1300 °C. The Rietveld analysis revealed that ALFO and LiAl5O8 were isostructural with respect to the spinel-type lattice and in a disorder-order relationship in the arrangement of Li+ and Al3+. The emission peak of Cr3+ in LiAl5O8 resided at 716 nm, while Cr3+ in ALFO showed a rather broad doublet peak with the tops at 708 nm and 716 nm when prepared at 1200 °C. The broad emission peak indicated that the local environment around Cr3+ in ALFO was distorted, which was also supported by electron spin resonance spectra, suggesting that the local environment around Cr3+ in ALFO was more inhomogeneous than expected from the diffraction-based structural analysis. It was demonstrated that even a small amount of dopant (in this case fluorine) could affect the local environment around luminescent centers, and thus the luminescence properties.

Development of a Visiting Nursing Practice Self-Evaluation Scale: Assessment of Skill for Caring for Individuals With Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia.

Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) continue to be a concern for our rapidly progressing aging society. Visiting nurses play an important role in community service for individuals with BPSD. The aim of the current study was to develop a visiting nursing practice self-evaluation scale for nurses who care for individuals with BPSD. The study was conducted in two phases. Semi-structured interviews were arranged to generate a draft scale that was further examined by an expert panel. A national survey was performed using the draft scale and two existing scales. Four factors and 22 items were obtained from exploratory factor analysis: (a) assessment and response factors related to BPSD, (b) interventions for reducing family care burdens, (c) nonpharmacological approaches, and (d) attitudes in trying to understand a patient's intentions. Reliability and validity were verified. The scale is useful for improving visiting nursing services for individuals with dementia. [Research in Gerontological Nursing, 13(1), 49-60.].

Effects of protease-activated receptors (PARs) on intracellular calcium dynamics of acinar cells in rat lacrimal glands.

Protease-activated receptors (PARs) represent a novel class of seven transmembrane domain G-protein coupled receptors, which are activated by proteolytic cleavage. PARs are present in a variety of cells and have been prominently implicated in the regulation of a number of vital functions. Here, lacrimal gland acinar cell responses to PAR activation were examined, with special reference to intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) dynamics. In the present study, detection of acinar cell mRNA specific to known PAR subtypes was determined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Only PAR2 mRNA was detected in acinar cells of lacrimal glands. Both trypsin and a PAR2-activating peptide (PAR2-AP), SLIGRL-NH2, induced an increase in [Ca(2+)]i in acinar cells. The removal of extracellular Ca(2+) and the use of Ca(2+) channel blockers did not inhibit PAR2-AP-induced [Ca(2+)]i increases. Furthermore, U73122 and xestospongin C failed to inhibit PAR2-induced increases in [Ca(2+)]i. The origin of the calcium influx observed after activated PAR2-induced Ca(2+) release from intracellular Ca(2+) stores was also evaluated. The NO donor, GEA 3162, mimicked the effects of PAR2 in activating non-capacitative calcium entry (NCCE). However, both calyculin A (100 nM) and a low concentration of Gd(3+) (5 µM) did not completely block the PAR2-AP-induced increase in [Ca(2+)]i. These findings indicated that PAR2 activation resulted primarily in Ca(2+) mobilization from intracellular Ca(2+) stores and that PAR2-mediated [Ca(2+)]i changes were mainly independent of IP3. RT-PCR indicated that TRPC 1, 3 and 6, which play a role in CCE and NCCE, are expressed in acinar cells. We suggest that PAR2-AP differentially regulates both NCCE and CCE, predominantly NCCE. Finally, our results suggested that PAR2 may function as a key receptor in calcium-related cell homeostasis under pathophysiological conditions such as tissue injury or inflammation.

P2Y purinoceptors induce changes in intracellular calcium in acinar cells of rat lacrimal glands.

Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) is an extracellular signal that regulates various cellular functions. Cellular secretory activities are enhanced by ATP as well as by cholinergic and adrenergic stimuli. The present study aimed to determine which purinoceptors play a role in ATP-induced changes in the intracellular concentration of calcium ions ([Ca²âº](i)) and in the fine structure of acinar cells of rat lacrimal glands. ATP induced exocytotic structures, vacuolation and an increase in [Ca²âº](i) in acinar cells. The removal of extracellular Ca²âº or the use of Ca²âº channel blockers partially inhibited the ATP-induced [Ca²âº](i) increase. U73122 (an antagonist of PLC) and heparin (an antagonist of IP3 receptors) did not completely inhibit the ATP-induced [Ca²âº](i) increase. P1 purinoceptor agonists did not induce any changes in [Ca²âº](i), whereas suramin (an antagonist of P2 receptors) completely inhibited ATP-induced changes in [Ca²âº](i). A P2Y receptor agonist, 2-MeSATP, induced a strong increase in [Ca²âº](i), although UTP (a P2Y2,4,6 receptor agonist) had no effect, and reactive blue 2 (a P2Y receptor antagonist) resulted in partial inhibition. The potency order of ATP analogs (2-MeSATP > ATP >>> UTP) suggested that P2Y1 played a significant role in the cellular response to ATP. BzATP (a P2X7 receptor agonist) induced a small increase in [Ca²âº](i), but α,ß-meATP (a P2X1,3 receptor agonist) had no effect. RT-PCR indicated that P2X2,3,4,5,6,7 and P2Y1,2,4,12,14 are expressed in acinar cells. In conclusion, the response of acinar cells to ATP is mediated by P2Y (especially P2Y1) as well as by P2X purinoceptors.