Theft of Controlled Substances in Long-Term Care Homes: An Exploratory Study.

The theft of controlled substances has been studied in the community and healthcare settings including hospitals, pharmacies, hospice, and pain clinics. However, research on these thefts in long-term care homes has yet to be published. This exploratory study makes first steps toward bridging this gap. Using 107 Minnesota Department of Health's investigation reports substantiated as "drug diversion" between 2013 and 2021 in assisted living residences and nursing homes, we found that 11,328.5 tablets were stolen from 368 residents (97.5% were controlled substances), with over 30 tablets stolen per resident. We also identified the types of medications stolen, duration of theft, extent to which nurses stole the medications or were those initially suspecting thefts, and the role of surveillance cameras in confirming allegations. The findings could raise awareness to this form of elder mistreatment in long-term care homes and call for action to address it.

Role of CD4 + T and CD8 + T Lymphocytes-Mediated Cellular Immunity in Pathogenesis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

This work was to explore the changes of T lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood of patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (AECOPD) and the role of cellular immunity mediated in the disease process. Eighty-six patients with AECOPD who visited Qingdao Hiser Medical Center from June 2020 to December 2021 and 30 healthy people (controls) who underwent health examination in the same period were selected. The differences of pulmonary function (PF), arterial blood gas (ABG), blood routine inflammatory indexes, T lymphocyte and T lymphocyte subsets were compared between the two groups, and the correlation between T lymphocyte subsets and each index was analyzed. There were clear differences in PF, ABG, and PB inflammation indexes between AECOPD patients and the controls (P <0.05). Compared with the controls, the CD4 + and CD4 +/CD8 + ratio in PB of AECOPD group were obviously decreased, and the CD8 + level was clearly increased (P <0.05); Th1 of CD4 + cell subsets and Tc1 of CD8 + cell subsets were significantly increased, while Th2 of CD4 + cell subsets and Tc2 of CD8 + cell subsets were obviously decreased (P <0.05). However, CD4+ was significantly positively correlated with lung function indexes, and significantly negatively correlated with neutrophils/lymphocytes and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (P <0.05) and significantly positively correlated with Hs-CRP (P <0.05). In summary, CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes were involved in the occurrence and occurrence of AECOPD, the decrease of CD4+ and the increase of CD8+ may promote the deterioration of COPD.

Circular RNA circZCCHC6 contributes to tumorigenesis by regulating LPCAT1 via miR-433-3p in non-small cell lung cancer.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-associated mortality worldwide. Circular RNA (circRNA) circZCCHC6 has been reported to be upregulated in the plasma from NSCLC patients. This study is designed to explore the role and mechanism of circZCCHC6 in NSCLC. CircZCCHC6, microRNA-433-3p (miR-433-3p), and lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 1 (LPCAT1) level were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Cell viability, cell cycle progression, migration, and invasion were assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT), flow cytometry, wound healing, and transwell assays, severally. The binding relationship between miR-433-3p and circZCCHC6 or LPCAT1 was predicted by Circinteractome or Starbase, and then verified by a dual-luciferase reporter, RNA pull-down, or RNA Immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays. Protein levels of LPCAT1, Cyclin D1, E-cadherin, and Vimentin were examined by western blot assay. The biological role of circZCCHC6 on NSCLC tumor growth and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was examined by the xenograft tumor model in vivo. CircZCCHC6 was highly expressed in NSCLC serum, tissues, and cells. Moreover, circZCCHC6 knockdown could repress cell viability, cell cycle progression, migration, invasion, and EMT in NSCLC cells in vitro. The mechanical analysis suggested that circZCCHC6 acted as a sponge of miR-433-3p to regulate LPCAT1 expression. CircZCCHC6 silencing hindered cell growth and EMT of NSCLC in vivo. CircZCCHC6 inhibited the progression of NSCLC cells partly by regulating the miR-433-3p/LPCAT1 axis, implying a promising therapeutic target for the NSCLC treatment.

Fathers' involvement during pregnancy and childbirth: An integrative literature review.

OBJECTIVE: To provide an overview of existing literature on the current perceived levels of paternal involvement during the pregnancy and childbirth periods and the factors influencing this involvement. DESIGN: An integrative literature review. DATA SOURCES: A systematic search was conducted using the databases of PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Scopus. REVIEW METHODS: Studies were included for the review if they were published in English from the period of 2005-2015. Studies that focused on fathers' involvement until one-year postpartum were also included and information on parental involvement during the pregnancy and childbirth periods was extracted. A report of the search outcomes was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses. The studies were appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute's Critical Appraisal Checklists. FINDINGS: Thirty-one studies (17 quantitative, 9 qualitative, and 5 reviews) were included in this appraisal. While fathers desired to be actively involved in the antenatal and intrapartum periods, they cited several barriers that impeded their involvement. These barriers were examined as part of the factors influencing their levels of involvement, including the levels of informational support, attitudes towards involvement, qualities of marital relationship, relationships with their own parents, and sociodemographic factors. KEY CONCLUSIONS: There was a lack of literature that focused on enhancing fathers' involvement during pregnancy and childbirth. Few studies attempted to evaluate fathers' levels of involvement in association with its influencing factors. Instruments that were used by the studies to measure paternal involvement did not comprehensively capture the actual phenomenon of fathers' involvement. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Prospective studies examining the factors influencing fathers' involvement in greater depth will help to inform interventions to increase their involvement during pregnancy and childbirth. The effects of the interventions can be evaluated based on improved paternal involvement, maternal satisfaction, and relevant health outcomes. Future research can also focus on the development of a more robust tool to measure fathers' involvement.

Factors influencing first-time fathers' involvement in their wives' pregnancy and childbirth: A correlational study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine factors influencing first-time fathers' involvement in their wives' pregnancy and childbirth in Singapore. DESIGN AND SETTING: A cross-sectional descriptive correlational study was conducted in a public tertiary hospital in Singapore. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 182 first-time fathers whose wives were hospitalized at four obstetric wards were recruited from November 2015 to January 2016. MEASUREMENTS: Data were collected by three newly developed and validated instruments, namely Father's Involvement in Pregnancy and Childbirth, Father's Informational and Sources of Support, and Father's Attitude Towards Involvement in Pregnancy and Childbirth, as well as the 16-item Couple Satisfaction Index and Family of Origin Questionnaire. FINDINGS: The participants were generally involved in their wives' pregnancy and childbirth, with 35.2% being highly involved. There was no significant difference in fathers' levels of involvement between or among any sociodemographic subgroups. Significant Spearman's correlations were found between fathers' levels of involvement and levels of informational support as well as fathers' attitudes towards involvement. However, the logistic regression showed the level of informational support was the only significant factor that influenced first-time fathers' high levels of involvement in their wives' pregnancy and childbirth. KEY CONCLUSION: The study revealed the importance of providing sufficient informational support to first-time fathers so that they can be highly involved in their wife's pregnancy and childbirth. Future studies can develop technology-based intervention programmes to improve fathers' involvement in their wife's pregnancy and childbirth. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Healthcare professionals should examine and improve the existing informational support for first-time fathers and ensure its relevance and convenient access.

Palm dermatoglyphs and interleukin-4 receptor polymorphisms in asthma.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the interleukin-4 receptor (IL-4R) gene have been identified as having a close association with asthma severity in different populations. In our previous studies, a close association between asthma and a distinctive palm dermatoglyphic pattern was observed; however, the clinical implication and underlying genetic mechanisms of this particular palm pattern have not been clarified. Whether this particular palm pattern is associated with asthma severity and IL-4R SNPs was assessed in the present study. A case cohort study was conducted in 400 patients with allergic asthma and in 200 healthy controls. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes for analysis of 11 IL-4R SNPs associated with asthma via polymerase chain reaction. There are two SNPs, rs1805012 and rs3024608, which are associated with asthma (rs1805012, dominant model; P=0.03 and rs3024608, codominant model; P=0.029), and two SNPs, rs1805010 and rs3024608, which are associated with the positive palm pattern (rs1805010, log-additive model; P=0.031 and rs3024608, codominant model; P=0.016). The SNP of rs3024608 is associated with asthma and the positive palm pattern. Thus, genetic variation in IL-4R may be associated with the development of asthma and the distinctive palm pattern; however, further investigations are required to identify the connection between asthma and palm dermatoglyphic patterns.

[Association of TNF-alpha and IL-13 genes polymorphisms with bronchial asthma].

OBJECTIVE To assess the association of polymorphisms of TNF-alpha gene (rs1799724, rs1800630, rs1799964 and rs769178) and IL-13 gene (rs2158177 and rs1295687) with susceptibility to asthma among ethnic Chinese in Qingdao region. METHODS For 400 asthma patients and 200 healthy subjects, above polymorphisms were detected with a SNaPshot method. RESULTS For rs2158177, the frequency of genotype of GG in the asthma group was significantly lower than the control group (2.8% vs. 5%, OR = 0.31, 95%CI: 0.12-0.82, P = 0.021). No significant difference was detected in the genotypic frequencies for the remaining 5 polymorphisms between the two groups (All P > 0.05). CONCLUSION The study has indicated that rs2158177 polymorphism of the IL-13 gene is associated with asthma in ethnic Han Chinese from Qingdao. No association has been found between polymorphisms of TNF-alpha gene with susceptibility to asthma.

[Association study of bronchial asthma with polymorphisms of IL-4 and IL-4R receptor genes].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of polymorphisms of IL-4 gene (rs2243250, rs2243283) and IL-4R gene (rs1805012, rs1801275, rs1805010) with susceptibility to asthma among ethnic Chinese in Qingdao. METHODS: For 400 asthma patients and 200 healthy subjects, above polymorphisms were detected with SnaPshot method. RESULTS: For rs1805012, the frequency of TC genotype in the asthma group was significantly lower than the control group (8.8% vs. 15.5%, χ (2)= 6.498, P= 0.039), and so were the frequencies of TC+ CC genotypes (9.0% vs. 15.5%, χ (2) = 5.522, P= 0.019) and the C allele (4.6% vs. 7.7%, χ (2) = 4.729, P= 0.039). No significant difference was detected between the two groups in the frequency of the remaining four polymorphisms or the haplotypes formed by rs2243250 and rs2243283 (All P> 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study has indicated that rs1805012 polymorphism of IL-4R gene is associated with asthma in ethnic Han Chinese from Qingdao region. TC+ CC genotypes have a protective role against asthma compared with TT genotype. However, polymorphisms of IL-4 gene are not associated with susceptibility to asthma.

ADAM33 polymorphisms are associated with asthma and a distinctive palm dermatoglyphic pattern.

A close correlation between asthma and palm dermatoglyphic patterns has been observed in previous studies, but the underlying genetic mechanisms have not been investigated. A disintegrin and metalloprotein­33 (ADAM33) polymorphisms are important in the development of asthma and other atopic diseases. To investigate the underlying mechanisms of the association between asthma and distinctive palm dermatoglyphic patterns, thirteen ADAM33 single­nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were analyzed for the association between asthma and palm dermatoglyphic patterns in a population of 400 asthmatic patients and 200 healthy controls. Based on the results, five SNPs, rs44707 (codominant model, P=0.031; log­additive model, P=0.0084), rs2787094 (overdominant model, P=0.049), rs678881 (codominant model, P=0.028; overdominant model, P=0.0083), rs677044 (codominant model, P=0.013; log­additive model, P=0.0033) and rs512625 (dominant model, P=0.033), were associated with asthma in this population. Two SNPs, rs44707 (dominant model, P=0.042) and rs2787094 (codominant model, P=0.014; recessive model, P=0.0038), were observed in the asthma patients with the distinctive palm pattern. As rs44707 and rs2787094 are associated with asthma and a distinctive palm pattern, the data suggest that ADAM33 polymorphisms are correlated with asthma and may be the underlying genetic basis of the association between asthma and palm dermatoglyphic patterns.

[Model experiment and numerical simulation of marginal pressure in the flow field downstream of the stenostic vessel in vitro].

For the defects of interpreting the relationship between the distribution and severity of vascular stenostic disease and the low shear stress, the study focus on and explore the rules of the pressure distribution and variation downstream of the stenostic vessel with the numerical simulation and the hydrodynamic model of turbulent flow separation area for in vitro experiment. The results reveal that there is a good compatibility between the model experiment and the numerical simulation; there exists a marked pressure decrease downstream of the stenosis. And the distribution area of low pressure is similar to the characteristic distribution of the stenostic vessel diseases. The study suggested that the numerical simulation can be applied in the study of micro-flow field; the presure distribution and variatioin downstream of the stenostic vessel maybe another factor to trigger the pathogenesis of vessel stenostic diseases.

[Design and adjustment of a hydrodynamic model of turbulent flow separation area for in vitro experiment on the downstream of tubal stenosis].

This paper reports the establishment of a model of turbulent flow separation area for experiment on the downstream of tubal stenosis, and adjust it to cooperate with the velocity and turbulent shear stress (TSS) detection by means of the particle image velocimetry (PIV), and with the pressure detection of pressure sensor in vitro. The velocity, TSS and wall pressure characteristics of the downstream of tubal stenosis were quantitatively detected and analyzed via the PIV and pressure sensor. And the hydrodynamic characteristics of the velocity, TSS and wall pressure in the flow separation area were primarily understood. The model can cooperate smoothly with the PIV and pressure sensor to detect the velocity, TSS and wall pressure; there exist low velocity, low TSS and low pressure in the flow separation area downstream of tubal stenosis.