Early Nurse Management Experiences from Finnish COVID-19 Hubs: An In-Action Review.

Primary healthcare (PHC) clinics are the point of access for many COVID-19 patients; however, the focus of crisis response work has been in securing hospital capacities. The purpose of this study was to describe the early nurse management experiences from PHC clinics within Greater Helsinki dedicated to caring for all ambulatory patients with possible COVID-19 symptoms. The study objectives were to make PHC crisis response contributions known and to provide an in-action review (IAR) of crisis response efforts. Nurse managers from the four COVID-19 hubs in Greater Helsinki were interviewed using thematic pair interviews. The data were analyzed inductively using thematic analysis, by which four main themes emerged: (1) capacity development led to a state of flux, (2) infection prevention control (IPC) was critical, (3) management of staff was essential in facilitating crisis response, and (4) respondents' personal experiences. The state of flux stressed the provision of PHC services, but quick developments in telemedicine eased that burden. Conversation surrounding IPC was extensive, though discrepancies suggest that global efforts to standardize IPC practices must begin locally. Leadership was adjusted to accommodate for the crisis, especially regarding the motivation of staff. A vision to aspire toward in crisis recovery is needed.

In-vitro mutagenic potential and effect on permeability of co-administered drugs across Caco-2 cell monolayers of Rubus idaeus and its fortified fractions.

This study investigated the mutagenic, anti-mutagenic and cytotoxic effects of acetone extract of raspberry, Rubus idaeus L. (v. Ottawa) Rosaceae, and the isolated and characterized ellagitannin and anthocyanin fractions thereof, suitable for food applications. The studied raspberry extract and fractions did not show any mutagenic effects determined in the miniaturized Ames test and were not cytotoxic to Caco-2 cells at the used concentrations. However, the anti-mutagenic properties were changed (i.e. decreased mutagenicity of 2-nitrofluorene in strain TA98, and slightly increased mutagenicity of 2-aminoanthracene in strain TA100) with metabolic activation. Further, their influence on the permeability of co-administered common drugs (ketoprofen, paracetamol, metoprolol and verapamil) across Caco-2 monolayers was evaluated. The apical-to-basolateral permeability of highly permeable verapamil was mostly affected (decreased) during co-administration of the raspberry extract or the ellagitannin fraction. Ketoprofen permeability was decreased by the ellagitannin fraction. Consumption of food rich in phytochemicals, as demonstrated here with chemically characterized raspberry extract and fractions, with well-absorbing drugs would seem to affect the permeability of some of these drugs depending on the components. Thus their effects on the absorption of drugs in-vivo cannot be excluded.

Antioxidant activity of olive pulp and olive oil phenolic compounds of the arbequina cultivar.

The aim of this study was to characterize antioxidant activities of phenolic compounds that appear in olive pulp and olive oils using both radical scavenging and antioxidant activity tests. Antiradical and antioxidant activities of olive pulp and olive oil phenolic compounds were due mainly to the presence of a 3,4-dihydroxy moiety linked to an aromatic ring, and the effect depended on the polarity of the phenolic compound. Glucosides and more complex phenolics exhibited higher antioxidant activities toward oxidation of liposomes, whereas in bulk lipids aglycons were more potent antioxidants with the exception of oleuropein. Lignans acted as antioxidants only in liposomes, which could partly be due to their chelating activity, because liposome oxidation was initiated by cupric acetate. The antioxidant activity of virgin olive oil is principally due to the dialdehydic form of elenolic acid linked to hydroxytyrosol (3,4-DHPEA-EDA), a secoiridoid derivative (peak RT 36, structure unidentified), and luteolin.

Effect of plant phenolics on protein and lipid oxidation in cooked pork meat patties.

Rapeseed and pine bark are rich sources of phenolic compounds that have in previous studies been shown to exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, the antioxidant effect of rapeseed and pine bark phenolics in inhibiting the oxidation of lipids and proteins in meat was tested as a possible functional food application. The cooked pork meat with added plant material was oxidized for 9 days at 5 degrees C under light. The suitable level of plant material addition was first screened by following lipid oxidation only. For further investigations plant materials were added at a level preventing lipid oxidation by >80%. The oxidation was followed by measuring the formation of hexanal by headspace gas chromatography and the formation of protein carbonyls by converting them to 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones and measured by spectrophotometer. It was shown that rapeseed and pine bark were excellent antioxidants toward protein oxidation (inhibitions between 42 and 64%). These results indicate that rapeseed and pine bark could be potential sources of antioxidants in meat products.

Preclinical evaluation of rapeseed, raspberry, and pine bark phenolics for health related effects.

Rapeseed, raspberry, and pine bark are promising bioactive sources of plant phenolics selected from among ca. 100 previously screened plant materials for in vitro preclinical evaluation of health related effects. Phenolic extracts and isolated fractions of the selected materials were investigated for antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiinflammatory, and antimutagenic properties as well as for cell permeability. It was shown that rapeseed and pine bark phenolics and raspberry anthocyanins were good or excellent antioxidants toward oxidation of phosphatidylcholine membrane (liposomes), rapeseed oil (crude) phenolics were effective radical scavengers (DPPH test), and both raspberry and pine bark phenolics inhibited LDL oxidation. Rapeseed oil phenolics, principally vinylsyringol, raspberry anthocyanins, and pinoresinol and matairesinol, the principal components of pine bark phenolic isolate, were effective against formation of the proinflammatory mediator, prostaglandin E(2). Raspberry ellagitannins inhibited the growth of Proteus mirabilis and Klebsiella oxytoca. Pine bark and rapeseed had minor effects on the permeability of model drugs in Caco-2 experiments. None of the tested extracts were mutagenic nor toxic to Caco-2 cells or macrophages. Thus, phenolic isolates from rapeseed, raspberry, and pine bark and are safe and bioactive for possible food applications including functional foods intended for health benefit.

Impact of isolation method on the antioxidant activity of rapeseed meal phenolics.

Rapeseed meal is the byproduct of the rapeseed deoiling process. Among oilseed plants, rapeseed contains the greatest amount of phenolic compounds. In this study, the rapeseed phenolics were isolated with aqueous methanol, aqueous ethanol, hot water, and enzymatically with ferulic acid esterase. These isolates were tested for radical scavenging and for liposome and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) model systems. The radical scavenging activities of all isolates were >60% at a concentration of 1.5 mg/mL. In the liposome model system the formation of hexanal was inhibited by all rapeseed meal isolates by >90% and the formation of conjugated diene hydroperoxides by >80% (8.4 microg/mL concentration). All rapeseed meal isolates also inhibited oxidation of LDL particles by >90% inhibition (4.2 microg/mL concentration). Isolation of rapeseed meal phenolics with either water or enzyme is a very suitable method devoid of organic solvents. Thus, rapeseed meal phenolics constitute an interesting source for food and cosmetic applications with antioxidant effect.