Systematic analysis of the prognostic value and immunological function of LTBR in human cancer.

Lymphotoxin beta receptor (LTBR) is a positive T cell proliferation regulator gene. It is closely associated with the tumor immune microenvironment. However, its role in cancer and immunotherapy is unclear. Firstly, the expression level and prognostic value of LTBR were analyzed. Secondly, the expression of LTBR in clinical stages, immune subtypes, and molecular subtypes was analyzed. The correlation between LTBR and immune regulatory genes, immune checkpoint genes, and RNA modification genes was then analyzed. Correlations between LTBR and immune cells, scores, cancer-related functional status, tumor stemness index, mismatch repair (MMR) genes, and DNA methyltransferase were also analyzed. In addition, we analyzed the role of LTBR in DNA methylation, mutational status, tumor mutation burden (TMB), and microsatellite instability (MSI). Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) were used to explore the role of LTBR in pan-cancer. Finally, the drugs associated with LTBR were analyzed. The expression of LTBR was confirmed using quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot. LTBR is significantly overexpressed in most cancers and is associated with low patient survival. In addition, LTBR expression was strongly correlated with immune cells, score, cancer-related functional status, tumor stemness index, MMR genes, DNA methyltransferase, DNA methylation, mutational status, TMB, and MSI. Enrichment analysis revealed that LTBR was associated with apoptosis, necroptosis, and immune-related pathways. Finally, multiple drugs targeting LTBR were identified. LTBR is overexpressed in several tumors and is associated with a poor prognosis. It is related to immune-related genes and immune cell infiltration.

Bioinformatics analysis of genomic and immune infiltration patterns in autism spectrum disorder.

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a specific type of pervasive developmental disorder, and most studies suggest that the onset of autism may be related to genetic and immune factors. The etiology of autism and the underlying molecular events need to be further addressed. Methods: The ASD-related dataset GSE18123 was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to screen for Gene Ontology (GO) terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways that may be associated with autism. The top 5,000 genes with an absolute median difference were obtained, and a co-expression network was constructed using weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA). In addition, GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed for genes in the modules most closely related to ASD. Hub genes were found in the significant modules, and the expression values and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of the hub genes were analyzed and validated. Immune cell infiltration in ASD was calculated using the CIBERSORT algorithm, and the relationship between hub genes and immune cells was analyzed. Finally, GSEA was used to explore the potential pathways of hub genes affecting ASD. Results: The 5,000 DEGs were divided into eight significant modules by WGCNA. The green module was most significantly associated with ASD, and two hub genes [fatty acid-binding protein 2 (FABP2) and Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)] were found. Immune cell infiltration showed that resting dendritic cells and monocytes differed significantly in ASD and healthy individuals. FABP2 was significantly associated with memory B cells and CD8 T cells. JAK2 was significantly associated with monocytes, CD4 activated memory T cells, CD4 resting memory T cells, activated dendritic cells, gamma delta T cells, regulatory T cells (Tregs), CD8 T cells, and naïve CD4 T cells. FABP2 and JAK2 were found to affect multiple pathways of immunity. Conclusions: FABP2 and JAK2 may influence the immune microenvironment of ASD by regulating immune cells and immune-related pathways and are candidate molecular markers for the development of ASD.

Comparative Study between the Combination of Dexamethasone and Bupivacaine for Third Molar Surgery Postoperative Pain: A Triple-Blind, Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objectives: To compare the possible benefits of the combination of dexamethasone-bupivacaine with articaine-epinephrine as an anaesthetic block after third molar surgery. Materials and Methods: Triple-blind, randomized, controlled, parallel, phase 3 clinical trial. Two groups: experimental (93 patients) with standard anaesthetic block: 40/0.005 mg/mL articaine-epinephrine and submucosal reinforcement with 0.8 mg dexamethasone-5% bupivacaine; and control group (91 patients) with standard block: 40/0.005 mg/mL articaine-epinephrine. The surgery consisted of the extraction of the impacted mandibular third molar by performing a procedure following the same repeatable scheme. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to analyse postoperative pain. Results: Groups were homogeneous, without significant differences related to epidemiological variables. Postoperative pain among the first, second, and seventh postoperative days was statistically significantly lower in the experimental group compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Drug consumption was lower in the experimental group throughout the study period (p < 0.04). Conclusion: Bupivacaine is an alternative to articaine in oral surgery, being more effective in reducing postoperative pain by reducing patients' scores on the VAS as well as their consumption of analgesic drugs after surgery.

Nursing Interventions to Facilitate the Grieving Process after Perinatal Death: A Systematic Review.

Perinatal death is the death of a baby that occurs between the 22nd week of pregnancy (or when the baby weighs more than 500 g) and 7 days after birth. After perinatal death, parents experience the process of perinatal grief. Midwives and nurses can develop interventions to improve the perinatal grief process. The aim of this review was to determine the efficacy of nursing interventions to facilitate the process of grief as a result of perinatal death. A systematic review of the literature was carried out. Studies that met the selection criteria underwent a quality assessment using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tool. Four articles were selected out of the 640 found. Two are quasi-experimental studies, and two are randomized controlled clinical studies. The interventions that were analyzed positively improve psychological self-concept and role functions, as well as mutual commitment, depression, post-traumatic stress and symptoms of grief. These interventions are effective if they are carried out both before perinatal loss and after it has occurred. The support of health professionals for affected parents, their participation in the loss, expressing feelings and emotions, using distraction methods, group sessions, social support, physical activity, and family education are some of the effective interventions.

Comunicación terapéutica en la Esclerosis Lateral Amiotrófica: la enfermera gestora de casos al final de la vida / Therapeutic communication in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: case management at the end of life

La Esclerosis Lateral Amiotrófica (ELA) es una enfermedad neurodegenerativa caracterizada por una evolución rápida y mortal, produciendo un gran impacto emocional tanto en el paciente, como en su familia. El papel de la enfermera Gestora de Casos en el seguimiento, evaluación y control del paciente y su familia desde el diagnóstico de ELA, y como principal referente experta en cuidados, la posiciona como referente de nexo de unión del equipo multidisciplinar y la unidad familiar. Su papel dentro del equipo interdisciplinar ayuda a mejorar la asistencia que el cuidador familiar proporciona, evitando la sobrecarga del rol de cuidador, aumentando la seguridad del paciente, y por tanto la calidad de vida de ambos, mejorando así también la comunicación e información y la satisfacción familiar. En la práctica, resulta complicado mantener una continuidad de cuidados integrales a lo largo de todo el proceso de la enfermedad, desde el diagnóstico, hasta los últimos días. (AU)

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by rapid and fatal evolution, producing a great emotional impact on both the patient and their family. The role of the Nurse Case Manager in the monitoring, evaluation, and control of the patient and their family from the diagnosis of ALS, and as the main expert reference in care, positions her as a point of reference for the union of the multidisciplinary team and the family unit. Their role within the interdisciplinary team helps to improve the assistance that the informal caregiver provides, avoiding the overload of the caregiver role, increasing patient safety, and therefore the quality of life for both, thus also improving communication and information and family satisfaction. In practice, it is difficult to maintain a continuity of comprehensive care throughout the disease process, from diagnosis to the last days. (AU)

Effects of a Clinical Simulation Course about Basic Life Support on Undergraduate Nursing Students' Learning.

Training in basic life support (BLS) using clinical simulation improves compression rates and the development of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills. This study analyzed the learning outcomes of undergraduate nursing students taking a BLS clinical simulation course. A total of 479 nursing students participated. A pre-test and post-test were carried out to evaluate theoretical knowledge of BLS through questions about anatomical physiology, cardiac arrest, the chain of survival, and CPR. A checklist was used in the simulation to evaluate practical skills of basic CPR. The learning outcomes showed statistically significant differences in the total score of the pre-test and after completing the BLS clinical simulation course (pre-test: 12.61 (2.30), post-test: 15.60 (2.06), p < 0.001). A significant increase in the mean scores was observed after completing the course in each of the four parts of the assessment protocol (p < 0.001). The increase in scores in the cardiac arrest and CPR sections were relevant (Rosenthal's r: -0.72). The students who had prior knowledge of BLS scored higher on both the pre-test and the post-test. The BLS simulation course was an effective method of teaching and learning BLS skills.

Exposición medioambiental a xenoestrógenos y riesgo de criptorquidias / Environmental exposure to xenoestrogens and risk of cryptorchidism

Existe una preocupación social en relación con el uso de pesticidas en el cultivo de productos alimenticios y su efecto en la salud. El propósito de este estudio fue conocer la prevalencia del criptorquidismo en tres distritos sanitarios de la provincia de Almería en relación a los diferentes niveles de exposición a plaguicidas utilizados en los cultivos de cada distrito. Material y método: se han estudiado los 423 casos de criptorquidias diagnosticadas en la provincia de Almería en el período 1993-2005, recogidas en el Conjunto Mínimo Básico de Datos (CMBD) hospitalario español. Se han comparado los casos de criptorquidismo de las tres áreas geográficas, teniendo en cuenta los niveles de uso de plaguicidas en cada una. Resultados: se han encontrado diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre el distrito Poniente y el distrito Almería Centro, PR (razón de prevalencia) de 1,48 (IC: 1,2-1,83) y el distrito Levante, PR de 3,97 (IC:2,97-5,33). Es significativa la asociación entre el número de criptorquidias y el número de hectáreas invernadas en los distritos de Poniente y de Almería-Centro. Conclusiones: se ha observado que la probabilidad de padecer criptorquidias es mayor en varones con residencia en áreas geográficas con niveles elevados de utilización de plaguicidas (AU)

There is a social concern in relation to the use of pesticides for the growing of food products and their effect on health. The purpose of this study is to establish the prevalence of cryptorchidism in three different healthcare districts in the province of Almeria with regard to the different levels of exposure to anti-plague chemicals used in crops in each district. Material and method: 423 cases of cryptorchidism diagnosed in the province of Almeria between 1993 and 2005, compiled from the Spanish hospital Minimal Basic Data Set(MBDS) were studied. Cryptorchidism cases from the three geographical areas were compared taking into account the anti-plague chemicals used in each area. Results: significant differences were found in the eastern district and the Almeria Centre district, PR (prevalence ratio)1,48 (CI: 1,2-1,83) and the western district, PR 3,97 (CI:2,97-5,33). Significant is the association between the number of cases of cryptorchidism and the number of hectares (acres) hibernated in the western and central Almeria districts. Conclusions: it has been observed that the likelihood of suffering from cryptorchidism is greater in males who reside ingeographical areas where high levels of anti-plague chemicals are used (AU)