Depression and Suicide Risk Among Nursing Staff at a Honduran National Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Depression and suicide risk among nursing staff have become increasingly concerning, especially given the demanding nature of their profession. The World Health Organization identifies depression as a primary factor contributing to global disability and suicide deaths. METHODS: A descriptive, non-experimental, cross-sectional cohort study was conducted, encompassing the eligible personnel (n=82) out of a total of 102 nurses at the Mario Catarino Rivas Hospital in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, from October to November 2022. The study utilized the Okasha assessment tool to gauge the prevalence of suicidal risk and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) instrument to analyze the extent and severity of depression. In addition, the participants completed a demographic survey.  Results: The average age of participants was 34.91 years, with a majority (86.6%) being female. In terms of work assignments, 54.9% were employed in the inpatient area. Regarding the mental health of the nursing staff, 78% displayed no or minimal depression, 9.7% presented mild depression, 7.3% showed moderate depression, 4.8% displayed severe depression, and 14.6% exhibited a suicide risk. Young adults had the highest prevalence of all three levels of depression, and the emergency department and inpatient area had the most at-risk individuals for suicidal tendencies. CONCLUSION: The study offers a comprehensive insight into the demographics, work environment, and mental health of the nursing staff at the Honduran National Hospital. The results highlight the importance of specialized measures and strong support systems to safeguard the mental health of nursing staff.

In Vivo evaluation of adipogenic induction in fibrous and honeycomb-structured atelocollagen scaffolds.

Nowadays, soft tissue restoration techniques are mainly focused on volume regeneration instead of function recovering. So far, autologous fat transplant has been the most popular method although its multiple reported problems like volume and function loss. Adipose tissue engineering therefore emerges as a solution for development of biological substitutes for soft tissue which promotes not only volume regeneration but also function restoration with minimal consequences. Here we tested fibrous-structured atelocollagen (FSA) scaffolds and honeycomb atelocollagen (HCA) scaffolds for their ability to induce adipogenesis in vivo. Implants were subjected to histological and immunohistochemical assessment after 1, 2, and 4 weeks of implantation. Our studies showed that FSA scaffolds induced in vivo a markedly adipogenic response, whereas an acute inflammatory process was observed at HCA scaffolds without tissue regeneration detected within them. Our histological findings concerning FSA scaffolds clearly showed the presence of adipose-like tissue surprisingly composed by a mixture of brown-like and white-like adipocytes at week 2 whereas only white-like adipocytes at week 4. Subsequent positive Pax7 immunostaining at weeks 1 and 2 suggested the existence of a common myogenic progenitor shared by brown-like and white-like adipocytes observed. Then, in this work we present FSA scaffolds as a promising structure for brown and white adipose tissue engineering.

Drug delivery vehicles on a nano-engineering perspective.

Nanoengineered drug delivery systems (nDDS) have been successfully used as clinical tools for not only modulation of pharmacological drug release profile but also specific targeting of diseased tissues. Until now, encapsulation of anti-cancer molecules such as paclitaxel, vincristin and doxorubicin has been the main target of nDDS, whereby liposomes and polymer-drug conjugates remained as the most popular group of nDDS used for this purpose. The success reached by these nanocarriers can be imitated by careful selection and optimization of the different factors that affect drug release profile (i.e. type of biomaterial, size, system architecture, and biodegradability mechanisms) along with the selection of an appropriate manufacture technique that does not compromise the desired release profile, while it also offers possibilities to scale up for future industrialization. This review focuses from an engineering perspective on the different parameters that should be considered before and during the design of new nDDS, and the different manufacturing techniques available, in such a way to ensure success in clinical application.

Effect of fluoride-substituted apatite on in vivo bone formation.

Biological apatites are characterized by the presence of minor constituents such as magnesium (Mg), chloride (Cl), or fluoride (F) ions. These ions affect cell proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation during bone tissue formation. F-substituted apatites are being explored as potential bonegraft materials. The aim of the present study is to investigate the mechanism of bone formation induced by fluoride-substituted apatite (FAp) by analyzing the effect of FAp on the process of in vivo bone formation. FAps containing different F concentrations (l-FAp: 0.48 wt%, m-FAp: 0.91 wt%, h-FAp: 2.23 wt%) and calcium-deficient apatite (CDA), as positive control, were implanted in rat tibia and bone formation was evaluated by histological examination, immuhistochemistry, in situ hybridization and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase examinations. The results showed that l-FAp, m-FAp, h-FAp, and CDA biomaterials allowed migration of macrophages, attachment, proliferation, and phenotypic expression of bone cells leading to new bone formation in direct apposition to the particles. However, the l-FAp preparation allowed faster bone conduction compared to the other experimental materials. These results suggest that FAp with low F concentration may be an efficient bonegraft material for dental and medical application.

Allelic loss of the ING gene family loci is a frequent event in ameloblastoma.

Ameloblastoma is the most frequently encountered odontogenic tumor, characterized by a locally invasive behavior, frequent recurrences, and, although rare, metastatic capacity. Loss or inactivation of tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) allows cells to acquire neoplastic growth. The ING family proteins are tumor suppressors that physically and functionally interact with p53 to perform important roles in apoptosis, DNA repair, cell cycle regulation, and senescence. TP53 genetic alterations were reported to infrequently occur in ameloblastoma. Considering that other TSGs related to TP53 could be altered in this tumor, we focused our study on the ING family genes. We analyzed the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) status of the ING family (ING1-ING5) chromosomal loci in a group of ameloblastomas by microsatellite analysis, and correlated the ING LOH status with clinicopathological characteristics. By using specific microsatellite markers, high frequency of LOH was found at the loci of each ING gene family member (33.3-72.2%). A significant relationship was shown between LOH of D2S 140 (ING5 locus) and solid tumor type (p = 0.02). LOH of ING3MS (ING3 locus) was also high in solid type tumors, showing a near significant association. In addition, a notable tendency toward higher LOH for half of the markers was observed in recurrent cases. LOH of ING family genes appears as a common genetic alteration in solid ameloblastoma. The current study provides interesting novel information regarding the potential prognostic significance of the allelic loss of the ING gene family loci in ameloblastoma tumorigenesis.

Effect of a new titanium coating material (CaTiO3-aC) prepared by thermal decomposition method on osteoblastic cell response.

Titanium and hydroxyapatite (HA) are widely used as biomaterials for dental and medical applications. HA-coated titanium implants have excellent biocompatibility and mechanical properties. However, the adherence of HA film formed on titanium substrate is weak because of the lack of chemical interaction between HA and titanium. A solution to this problem is to form an intermediate film on titanium substrate, which provide excellent adherence to both titanium substrate and HA. We developed a novel biomaterial called calcium titanate-amorphous carbon (CaTiO(3)-aC) coating prepared by modified thermal decomposition method. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of CaTiO(3)-aC and HA coating (positive control), and Ti (negative control) on osteoblastic (MT3T3-E1) cell responses. An increased cellular proliferation was observed in CaTiO(3)-aC coating compared to HA coating. The maximum expressions of ALP activity, Col I and ALP mRNA were higher and achieved in shorter period of time in CaTiO(3)-aC coating compared to others. These results demonstrated that CaTiO(3)-aC promoted better cell attachment, cellular proliferation, and osteoblastic differentiation compared with HA. In conclusion, we suggested that CaTiO(3)-aC could be considered as an important candidate as a coating material.

Effect of CaTiO(3)-CaCO(3) prepared by alkoxide method on cell response.

In recent years, calcium titanate (CaTiO(3)) and carbon-containing materials have gained much attention in a number of biomedical material researches. To maximize the advantages of both materials, we developed a novel alkoxide method to get "calcium titanate with calcium carbonate" (CaTiO(3)-CaCO(3)). The objective was to evaluate the crystallinity and elemental composition of CaTiO(3)-CaCO(3) prepared by alkoxide method, CaTiO(3)-aC elaborated by modified thermal decomposition method, commercially-prepared CaTiO(3), and the effect of these materials on the bone marrow stromal cell. Hydroxyapatite was used as positive control material. We examined the cellular proliferation, osteoblastic differentiation, and mineralization of KUSA/A1 cells cultured with the materials. The results showed that CaTiO(3)-CaCO(3) and CaTiO(3)-aC contained evidence of calcium carbonate enhancing cell proliferation, osteoblastic differentiation, and mineralization. On the contrary, the commercially-prepared CaTiO(3) revealed absence of calcium carbonate with lower cell response than the other groups. The results indicated that calcium carbonate could play a key role in the cell response of CaTiO(3) material. In conclusion, our findings suggest that CaTiO(3)-CaCO(3) could be considered an important candidate as a biomaterial for medical and dental applications.

Influence of the microenvironment on gene and protein expression of odontogenic-like and osteogenic-like cells.

Progenitor cells play an important biological role in tooth and bone formation, and previous analyses during bone and dentine induction have indicated that they may be a good alternative for tissue engineering. Thus, to clarify the influence of the microenvironment on protein and gene expression, MDPC-23 cells (mouse dental papilla cell line) and KUSA/A1 cells (bone marrow stromal cell line) were used, both in vitro cell culture and in intra-abdominal diffusion chambers implanted in 4-week-old male immunodefficient mice (SCID mice). Our results indicate that KUSA/A1 cells differentiated into osteoblast-like cells and induced bone tissue inside the chamber, whereas, MDPC-23 showed odontoblast-like characteristics but with a low ability to induce dentin formation. This study shows that MDPC-23 cells are especial cells, which possess morphological and functional characteristics of odontoblast-like cells expressing dentin sialophosphoprotein in vivo. In contrast, dentin sialophosphoprotein gene and protein expression was not detected in both cell lines in vitro. The intra-abdominal diffusion chamber appears as an interesting experimental model for studying phenotypic expression of dental pulp cells in vivo.

Secreted frizzled related protein (sFRP)-2 inhibits bone formation and promotes cell proliferation in ameloblastoma.

Secreted frizzled related protein (sFRP)-2, a Wnt antagonist, was strongly expressed by both stromal and tumor cells of ameloblastoma. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether sFRP-2 secreted from tumor cells have any direct role in suppressed bone formation or not. A pre-osteoblastic cell line, KUSA/A1 cells, cultured in conditioned medium of an ameloblastoma-derived cell line (AM-1CM) was used in the study. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, alizarin red staining, mineral quantification and MTS assay was performed. Wnt-canonical pathway is a major pathway for osteoblasts. Antagonists of this pathway, sFRP-1, 2 and 3, were detected by immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. KUSA/A1 cells cultured in AM-1CM showed high cell proliferation, low ALP activity without mineralized matrix deposition. sFRP-2 was strongly expressed in ameloblastoma tissue and AM-1 cells. After sFRP-2 depletion, the cells showed diffuse mineralization. In this study, it was confirmed that ameloblastoma cells have a major role in decreased bone formation by secreting sFRP-2 in cell culture model. Though, sFRP-2 has great effect on tumor progression, inhibition of sFRP-2's anti-bone formation activity and cell proliferative activity may reduce the invasive property of ameloblastoma and possibility of recurrence rate.

Influence of the microenvironment on gene and protein expression of odontogenic-like and osteogenic-like cells

Progenitor cells play an important biological role in tooth and bone formation, and previous analyses during bone and dentine induction have indicated that they may be a good alternative for tissue engineering. Thus, to clarify the influence of the microenvironment on protein and gene expression, MDPC-23 cells (mouse dental papilla cell line) and KUSA/A1 cells (bone marrow stromal cell line) were used, both in vitro cell culture and in intra-abdominal diffusion chambers implanted in 4-week-old male immunodefficient mice (SCID mice). Our results indicate that KUSA/A1 cells differentiated into osteoblast-like cells and induced bone tissue inside the chamber, whereas, MDPC-23 showed odontoblast-like characteristics but with a low ability to induce dentin formation. This study shows that MDPC-23 cells are especial cel ls, which possess morphological and functional characteristics of odontoblast-like cells expressing dentin sialophosphoprotein in vivo. In contrast, dentin sialophosphoprotein gene and protein expression was not detected in both cell lines in vitro. The intra-abdominal diffusion chamber appears as an interesting experimental model for studying phenotypic expression of dental pulp cells in vivo.

Influence of the microenvironment on gene and protein expression of odontogenic-like and osteogenic-like cells

Progenitor cells play an important biological role in tooth and bone formation, and previous analyses during bone and dentine induction have indicated that they may be a good alternative for tissue engineering. Thus, to clarify the influence of the microenvironment on protein and gene expression, MDPC-23 cells (mouse dental papilla cell line) and KUSA/A1 cells (bone marrow stromal cell line) were used, both in vitro cell culture and in intra-abdominal diffusion chambers implanted in 4-week-old male immunodefficient mice (SCID mice). Our results indicate that KUSA/A1 cells differentiated into osteoblast-like cells and induced bone tissue inside the chamber, whereas, MDPC-23 showed odontoblast-like characteristics but with a low ability to induce dentin formation. This study shows that MDPC-23 cells are especial cel ls, which possess morphological and functional characteristics of odontoblast-like cells expressing dentin sialophosphoprotein in vivo. In contrast, dentin sialophosphoprotein gene and protein expression was not detected in both cell lines in vitro. The intra-abdominal diffusion chamber appears as an interesting experimental model for studying phenotypic expression of dental pulp cells in vivo.(AU)

Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2/atelocollagen composite as a new material for ossicular reconstruction.

Ossicular reconstruction is the rebuilding of the damaged middle ear. There are many different prosthesis and techniques used to reconstruct the middle ear ossicles. However, precision in the surgical procedures and prostheses used for ossiculoplasty are still imperfect. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2)/ atelocollagen composite for ossicular reconstruction implanted in the tympanic cavity of rat. The ossicles were extirpated by perforating the tympanic membranes of rats. rhBMP-2/atelocollagen composite was implanted as substitute of ossicles in intimate contact with the tympanic membrane. Composites were subjected to histological, immunohistochemical, and radiological examination. To evaluate the auditory function, auditory brainstem response (ABR) was measured. rhBMP-2/atelocollagen composites showed good stability and durability without any inflammatory reaction within the tympanic cavity. The process of new bone formation was similar to intramembranous ossification. They also demonstrated that the hearing ability was re-established by ABR threshold shifts. rhBMP-2/atelocollagen composite exhibited excellent potential for ossicular reconstruction, maintaining their vibratory function. This ossicular tissue engineering may be considered as a future therapeutic strategy for ossiculoplasty.

Frequent deletion of ING2 locus at 4q35.1 associates with advanced tumor stage in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in the ING family members has been shown in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) except for ING2. Like all the other members of ING family, ING2, which is located at chromosome 4q35.1, is a promising tumor suppressor gene (TSG). In this study, we performed LOH analysis of ING2 in HNSCC and compared it with clinicopathological variables. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed LOH analysis in DNAs from 80 paired of normal and HNSCC tissues, using a specifically designed microsatellite marker on chromosome 4q35.1, which detects allelic loss of ING2. TP53 mutation analysis and its relationship with ING2 chromosomal deletion were also performed in available 68 of the samples. The correlation between LOH status and clinicopathological characteristics was evaluated by using statistical methods. The overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) were also determined. RESULTS: LOH was detected in 54.6% (30/55) of the informative samples. Statistical significance was obtained between LOH and tumor (T) stage (P = 0.02), application of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Positive node status (N) appeared to be the only independent prognostic factor for both OS (P = 0.031) and DFS (P = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed allelic loss of 4q35.1 in HNSCC. The high percentage of LOH suggests ING2 as a candidate TSG in HNSCC. High LOH frequency was statistically associated with advanced T stage, suggesting that ING2 LOH might occur in late stages during HNSCC progression.

Sequential expressions of Notch1, Jagged2 and Math1 in molar tooth germ of mouse.

The Notch signaling pathway is an evolutionary conserved mechanism that plays an important role in cell-cell communication and cell fate in a wide range of tissues. The mammalian family of Notch receptors consists of 4 members: Notch1/2/3/4. The Notch ligand family consists of 5 members: Delta1/3/4 and Jagged1/2. Math1 encodes a murine basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor that acts as positive regulator of cell differentiation. Recently, links between Notch and Math1 pathways were demonstrated in various tissues. Expression of Notch1, Jagged2 and Math1 were analyzed in the mouse molar tooth germ during embryonic stage (E) 13 and E15 and during postnatal stage (PN) 1, PN3, PN5, PN10 and PN14 by using in situ hybridization. Positive Notch1 expression was found at the tooth bud during embryonic stages, but its expression was absent from the basal cells in contact with the dental mesenchyme. Jagged2 and Math1 were strongly expressed in differentiated ameloblasts and odontoblasts and Math1 strong expression was even maintained until PN14 stage. Math1 showed the strongest expression. Our results suggest that the Notch1 signaling pathway through Jagged2 could be importantly related to Math1, directing the process of odontogenesis toward cell differentiation.