Effects of oral probiotic and lactoferrin interventions on iron-zinc homeostasis, oxidant/antioxidant equilibrium and diarrhoea incidence of neonatal piglets.

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of early-life host specific probiotic and lactoferrin (LF) supplementations on diarrhoea incidence, iron (Fe)-zinc (Zn) balance and antioxidant capabilities in serum of neonatal piglets. A total of eight sow litters obtained from parity matched sows were randomly divided into four groups and assigned to one of the four interventions: control (2.0 ml normal saline), bovine lactoferrin (bLF) (100 mg bLF in normal saline), probiotic (Pb) (1×109 cfu of swine origin Pediococcus acidilactici FT28 strain) and bLF+Pb (both 100 mg bLF and 1×109 cfu of P. acidilactici FT28). All the piglets received supplementations once daily orally for first 7 days of life. The incidence of diarrhoea markedly decreased in bLF group compared to control group. Notably, no incidences of diarrhoea were recorded in Pb and bLF+Pb groups. The Zn and Fe concentrations were significantly increased from day 7 to 21 in bLF and on day 21 in bLF+Pb group. No such changes were noted in Pb group. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in serum was significantly increased on days 7 and 15 in bLF group and on days 7 and 21 in bLF+Pb group. Malonaldehyde concentration was markedly reduced from day 7 to 21 in bLF and bLF+Pb groups. The concentrations of nitrate on days 15 and 21 and malonaldehyde on day 7 were significantly higher in Pb group, but mean TAC was unaltered from day 0 to 21. Although no correlation between the incidence of diarrhoea and Zn/Fe and oxidant/antioxidant homeostasis was noted in the Pb group, the supplementation of P. acidilactici FT28 alone was sufficient to prevent the incidence of diarrhoea in neonatal piglets. Taken together, it is concluded that strategic supplementation of P. acidilactici FT28 in early life could help in preventing diarrhoea until weaning of piglets.

Student Perspectives on Sources of Resilience During Nursing School.

ABSTRACT: Resilience is important to the academic and career success of nursing students; however, the literature on nursing student resilience is sparse and remains undertheorized. This article describes nursing students' perspectives on sources of resilience during nursing school at one institution of higher learning. A constant comparative analysis of baccalaureate nursing student focus group responses was performed. Three themes emerged: negative experiences, supportive structures and relationships, and individual coping processes and abilities. Interrelationships between thematic findings highlight the centrality of supportive structures and relationships. Based on these findings, theoretical guidance for future nursing student resilience assessments and interventions is provided.

Student perspectives on potential sources of trauma exposure during nursing school.

Adverse effects of events experienced by nursing students as harmful during nursing school have included moral distress, prolonged grief reactions, secondary traumatic stress, and anxiety and depression during nursing school. Nursing student perceptions of potential sources of trauma exposure also known as potentially traumatic events (PTEs) during nursing school are lacking in the literature. The purpose of this study was to describe nursing students' perceptions of potential sources of trauma exposure during nursing school at one private school of nursing. Four online, synchronous focus groups with undergraduate nursing students were conducted in April 2020. Four themes emerged from analysis of focus group transcripts related to potential sources of trauma exposure: Individual-oriented interpersonal sources, nursing student-oriented interpersonal sources, nursing student-oriented institutional and organizational sources, and individual-oriented community sources. Participants focused on nursing student-oriented, interpersonal, and institutional and organizational potential sources of trauma exposure, while minimizing individual-oriented, community, and macro-level potential sources of student trauma exposure during nursing school. Findings advance discussions of organizational, systems, and community PTEs in nursing education. Trauma-informed educational and healthcare systems that promote the academic and career success of nursing students should be considered in PTE prevention efforts.

Facilitators and Barriers to Critical Service-Learning Goals in a Community-Academic Relationship.

BACKGROUND: Educational exposure to authentic relationships where power is distributed is needed to prepare nursing students as social justice and patient-centered care practitioners and advocates. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify, describe, and understand facilitators and barriers to critical service-learning (SL) goals in an existing community-academic SL relationship. METHODS: Community partners were surveyed. Findings were compared with known factors in the literature that can facilitate or inhibit a relationship's success. RESULTS: Identification and description of SL relationship facilitators and barriers included partner-reported benefits from involvement in SL and limited satisfaction with their role in designing SL curriculum. CONCLUSIONS: Recommendations, such as increasing opportunities for partner involvement, provide insight into how to work toward critical SL goals in existing relationships. The equitable involvement of partners in nursing education processes has benefits for both students and community organizations.

Microencapsulated and Lyophilized Lactobacillus acidophilus Improved Gut Health and Immune Status of Preruminant Calves.

The present study was conducted to study the effect of microencapsulated, lyophilized, or fermented milk using Lactobacillus acidophilus NCDC15 as a probiotic to improve gut health, growth, nutrient utilization, and immunity status of young crossbred calves. The viable culture of L. acidophilus was used for preparation of different probiotic forms/products. To compare the efficacy of probiotic products, twenty crossbred calves (3-day old) were divided into four groups (n = 5), control (C), fed only milk and basal diet, and treatment groups, supplemented with microencapsulated, fermented, and lyophilized probiotic at 108 colony-forming units, respectively. Probiotic-supplemented groups showed reduction in faecal score, faecal pH, and ammonia concentration as compared to control indicating decreased diarrheal incidence. There was an increase (P < 0.05) in the concentration of faecal lactate and butyrate in the probiotic-supplemented groups. The faecal count (log10 (CFU)/g of fresh faeces) of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria was higher (P < 0.05), whereas faecal coliforms and clostridia count were reduced (P < 0.001) in all the probiotic fed groups as compared to control. The cell-mediated immunity was improved (P < 0.05) in the microencapsulated and fermented probiotic groups. However, there was no effect on the nutrient utilization, average daily gain, and blood biochemical profile. Therefore, it is concluded that the fermented, microencapsulated and lyophilized probiotic products were superior in improving the gut health in terms of its microbiota and metabolites and cell-mediated immunity response in calves, irrespective of form of probiotic. The increased population of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium decreased the colonization of the gut by pathogens such as Escherichia coli and Clostridium by exclusion and production of organic acids in the intestine. This decreased the diarrhoeal incidence (1.3 vs 1.8) and days in diarrhoea (3.9 vs 5.8) in calves in probiotic fed groups as compared to control.

Impact of aging on mitochondrial respiration in various organs.

Mitochondria are considered central regulator of the aging process; however, majority of studies dealing with the impact of age on mitochondrial oxygen consumption focused on skeletal muscle concluding (although not uniformly) a general declining trend with advancing age. In addition, gender related differences in mitochondrial respiration have not been satisfactorily described yet. The aim of the present study was to evaluate mitochondrial oxygen consumption in various organs of aging male and female Fischer 344 rats at the ages of 6, 12 and 24 months. Mitochondrial respiration of homogenized (skeletal muscle, left and right heart ventricle, hippocampus, cerebellum, kidney cortex), gently mechanically permeabilized (liver) tissue or intact cells (platelets) was determined using high-resolution respirometry (oxygraphs O2k, Oroboros, Austria). The pattern of age-related changes differed in each tissue: in the skeletal muscle and kidney cortex of both sexes and in female heart, parameters of mitochondrial respiration significantly declined with age. Resting respiration of intact platelets displayed an increasing trend and it did not correlate with skeletal muscle respiratory states. In the heart of male rats and brain tissues of both sexes, respiratory states remained relatively stable over analyzed age categories with few exceptions of lower mitochondrial oxygen consumption at the age of 24 months. In the liver, OXPHOS capacity was higher in females than in males with either no difference between the ages of 6 and 24 months or even significant increase at the age of 24 months in the male rats. In conclusion, the results of our study indicate that the concept of general pattern of age-dependent decline in mitochondrial oxygen consumption across different organs and tissues could be misleading. Also, the statement of higher mitochondrial respiration in females seems to be conflicting, since the gender-related differences may vary with the tissue studied, combination of substrates used and might be better detectable at younger ages than in old animals.

Impact of pH on citric acid antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria.

The antimicrobial activity of citric acid (CA) is often evaluated without pH adjustment or control and its impact on micro-organisms is better understood in acidic conditions. However, the biocidal action of the fully ionized CA molecule, predominantly available at higher pH, has not been previously investigated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of high (10%) and low (1%) concentrations of CA, each adjusted over a wide range of pH values (4·5, 6·5 and 9·5) relative to the controls exposed to corresponding pH levels alone (no CA). The viability and morphology of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella aerogenes were evaluated using a culture-based enumeration assay in parallel with direct SEM imaging. Overall, the highest membrane damage and loss in viability were achieved with 10% CA at pH 9·5, which yielded at least 4·6 log10 CFU per ml (P < 0·001) reductions in both organisms. Insight into the superior efficacy of CA at high pH is proposed based on zeta potential measurements which reveal a more negatively charged bacterial surface at higher pH. This pH-dependent increase in surface charge may have rendered the cells potentially more sensitive towards chelants such as CA3- that interact with membrane-stabilizing divalent metals.

Plasmon excitation and subsequent isomerization dynamics in naphthalene and azulene under fast proton interaction.

The interaction of fast protons (velocity between 1.41 and 2.4 a.u.) with naphthalene and azulene is investigated as a model of an ion-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon interaction system. Production of various intact and fragment ions in coincidence with electron emission, electron transfer to projectile, or both is analyzed. The two targets being isomers, the rather obvious similarity in the fundamental ion-molecule collision energetics is quantitatively verified. The fast isomerization processes of cationic azulene are observed to be influencing its further dissociation channels such as C2H2 and H eliminations. A first ever attempt is presented here wherein single plasmon excitation in conjunction with isomerization dynamics is reported. Evidence from dication evaporation energetics is used to invoke the double plasmon excitation model. A model based on the multiplasmon resonance explains the observed proton velocity dependence of double to single ionization cross sections. Moreover an attempt is made to reinforce the proposition of double plasmon excitation by explaining the observed suppression of neutral H loss from dications as opposed to monocations.

Opportunities in the integration of primary care and public health nursing: Two case exemplars on physical activity and nutrition.

OBJECTIVE: The integration of primary care and public health nursing may provide new opportunities for transforming nursing practice that addresses population health. Effective programs emphasize multilevel approaches that include both downstream (education) and upstream (policy change) actions. The purpose of this article is to identify downstream and upstream nursing actions that integrate public health and primary care practice through two case exemplars concerning disparities in physical activity and nutrition. METHODS: Describe two research case exemplars: (1) a secondary analysis of school physical activity policy for female adolescents in 36 public middle schools and (2) a focus group study of African American adults in a community kitchen program. RESULTS: In exemplar 1, school policies lacked population-based standards and presented structural disadvantages to African American girls who were already obese. In exemplar 2, participants found the community kitchen program to be more effective than the federally funded nutrition program. DISCUSSION: Integrating primary care and public health nursing could improve the tailoring of physical activity and nutrition programs to local populations by following core principles of community engagement, infrastructural sustainability, aligned leadership, and data sharing for population health improvement.

Evaluation of Interleukin-17 and Interleukin-23 in Pterygium: Immunohistochemistry Study.

PURPOSE: To compare the interleukin-17 (IL-17) and interleukin-23 (IL-23) positive cell counts between pterygium and normal conjunctiva. DESIGN: A case-control study. METHODS: This study received ethical approval (NMRR Research ID 23957) and informed consent was obtained from all participants. It involved 20 participants with 20 samples of pterygium and 20 samples of normal conjunctiva that were obtained from the same eye of each participant. All the participants underwent history taking, slit lamp examination, and pterygium excision surgery. Both samples underwent immunohistochemistry procedure. Pretreatment procedure was conducted using heat-induced epitope retrieval with PT link, subsequently followed by EnVision FLEX staining procedure and incubation with anti‒IL-17 antibody and anti‒IL-23 antibody. Slides were examined in high-power fields (400x) for both samples in 3 different fields. Total positive stained cell counts in all 3 fields with IL-17 and IL-23 between pterygium and normal conjunctiva were analyzed by using Wilcoxon signed rank test. RESULTS: IL-17 positive cell counts for normal conjunctiva showed mean 196.10 ± 80.487 but for pterygium was 331.10 ± 108.416. As for IL-23, the mean for positive cell counts for normal conjunctiva was 62.10 ± 33.462 and IL-23 positive cell counts for pterygium showed mean 102.95 ± 41.378. Both IL-17 and IL-23 were significantly increased in pterygium compared with normal conjunctiva (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Both IL-17 and IL-23 were found to be significantly higher in the pterygium group than in the normal conjunctiva group with P < 0.001 by Wilcoxon signed rank test.

Determination of triacyl glycerol and sterol components of fat to authenticate ghee based sweets.

Method comparison of triacyl glycerol (TAG) and sterol components of fats of ghee based sweets was carried out on dairy ghee, laboratory prepared control sample and market samples. The fat was extracted from control and market samples. Determination of TAG and sterol composition of the fats was carried out using low resolution Gas Chromatography. The quantification of cholesterol and ß-sitosterol and TAG classes of dairy ghee, control and market samples fat was also determined using single short column. Adulteration at 5 % level in milk fats showed varied TAG compositions of C50, C52 and C54 as compared to control and pure ghee sample. The cholesterol content of ghee and control sample was 2.30 ± 0.8, 2.00 ± 0.24 g/kg respectively and ß-sitosterol content of control was 0.20 ± 0.11 g/kg. The adulterated samples showed varied cholesterol and ß-sitosterol contents as compared to control sample fat.

Effect of a single 1200 Mg dose of Mucinex® on mucociliary and cough clearance during an acute respiratory tract infection.

BACKGROUND: Observational studies suggest that orally administered guaifenesin (GGE) may thin lower respiratory tract secretions but none have examined its effects on mucociliary and cough clearance (MCC/CC) during a respiratory tract infection (RTI). The current study was a randomized, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in non-smoking adults who suffered from an acute upper RTI. METHODS: We assessed the effects of a single dose of Mucinex(®) 1200 mg (2 × 600 mg extended release tablets) (ER GGE) on 1) MCC/CC by assessing the rate of removal from the lung of inhaled radioactive tracer particles (Tc99m-sulfur colloid), 2) sputum dynamic rheology by stress/strain creep transformation over the linear part of the curve, 3) sessile drop interfacial tension by the deNouy ring technique, and 4) subjective symptom measures. MCC was measured during the morning (period 1) and compared to that in the afternoon 4 h later (period 2) immediately following either drug (n = 19) or placebo (n = 19). For both period 1 and 2 subjects performed 60 voluntary coughs from 60 to 90 min after inhalation of radio-labeled aerosol for a measure of CC. Sputum properties were measured from subjects who expectorated sputum during the cough period post treatment (n = 8-12 for each cohort). RESULTS: We found no effect of ER GGE on MCC or CC compared to placebo. MCC through 60 min for period 1 vs. 2 = 8.3 vs. 11.8% (placebo) and = 9.7 vs. 11.1% (drug) (NS) and CC for period 1 vs. 2 was 9.9 vs. 9.1% (placebo) and 10.8 vs. 5.6% (drug) (NS). There was no significant difference in sputum biophysical properties after administration of drug or placebo. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant effect of a single dose of ER GGE on MCC/CC or on sputum biophysical properties compared to placebo in this population of adult patients with an acute RTI. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01114581.

Patterning of cells through patterning of biology.

For the first time, cells have been patterned on surfaces through the spatial manipulation of native gene expression. By manipulating the inherent biology of the cell, as opposed to the chemical nature of the surfaces they are attached to, we have created a potentially more flexible way of creating patterns of cells that does not depend on the substrate. This was accomplished by bringing an siRNA that targets the expression of pten under the control of light, by modifying it with photocleavable groups. This pten-targeting siRNA has been previously demonstrated to induce dissociation of cells from surfaces. We modified this siRNA with dimethoxy nitro phenyl ethyl photocleavable groups (DMNPE) to allow the activity of the siRNA, and hence pten knockdown, to be toggled with light. Using this approach we demonstrated light dependent cell dissociation only with a DMNPE modified siRNA that targets pten and not with control siRNAs. In addition we demonstrated the ability to make simple patterns of cells through the application of masks during irradiation.

Studies on saturated and trans fatty acids composition of few commercial brands of biscuits sold in Indian market.

Saturated fat and trans fat consumption is linked to cardiovascular disease. Considering the health implications of saturated and trans fats investigation was undertaken with the objective to study the fat compositions in biscuits sold in Indian market. These commercial biscuits were analysed for saturated and trans fatty acids using capillary GC. The results of analysis of 46 biscuit samples showed that the total fat content ranged from 9.5 to 25.0 g/100 g of biscuits. The fatty acid profile showed that, saturated fat content in biscuits ranged from 5.1 to 18.7 g/100 g. The overall range of total trans fat content was found to be 0.1 to 3.2 g/100 g biscuit and cis monounsaturated fatty acid content varied from 0.9 to 8.6 g/100 g of biscuits. The low-level trans fatty acid was mainly by dienes and trienes where as high-level trans was from monoenes of C18. Polyunsaturated fatty acids in biscuits ranged from 0.2 to 3.5 g/100 g. Biscuits of same brand on repeat analysis over a period of one year showed little variation in fat, saturated and trans fat content.

Covert medication; the last option: A case for taking it out of the closet and using it selectively.

Covert medication is the practice of hiding medication in food or beverages so that it goes undetected. Tablets may be crushed or liquid forms of medication may be used for patients who are either not in a position to give consent or refuse consent because of lack of insight. It is commonly practised in two distinct settings. The first is typically in the western world, in old patients, mostly suffering from dementia, admitted in nursing homes. The second is typically in resource strapped developing countries, in patients with psychosis, mostly at home, when patients refuse medication. The latter, from all accounts available, occurs on a large scale, but has not been studied owing to its questionable ethical and legal status and it is not discussed in the open by professionals. This paper examines the pros and cons of covert medication and argues that it should be acknowledged and studied like other therapeutic practices.

Effect of heating oils and fats in containers of different materials on their trans fatty acid content.

BACKGROUND: The nature of the container material and temperature employed for deep-frying can have an influence on the development of trans fatty acids (TFAs) in the fat used. The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of heating vegetable oils and partially hydrogenated vegetable fats with different initial TFA content in stainless steel, Hindalium (an aluminium alloy), cast iron and glass containers. Ground nut oil (oil 1), refined, bleached and deodorised (RBD) palmolein (oil 2) and two partially hydrogenated vegetable oils with low (fat 1) and high (fat 2) TFA content were uniformly heated at 175-185 °C over a period of 12 h. RESULTS: An increase in TFA content to 20 g kg⁻¹ was observed in oil 2 in the cast iron container, while a decrease in TFA content of 20-30 g kg⁻¹ was observed in fat 2 in all containers. The heating process of fats and oils also led to an increase in Butyro refractometer reading and colour values. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the TFA 18:1t content of oil 1, oil 2 and fat 1 increased with repeated or prolonged heating. The cast iron container showed the highest increase in TFA 18:1t for RBD palmolein (oil 2). The amount of linoleic acid trans isomers formed in the heating process was negligible. Fat 2 with high initial TFA content showed a decrease in TFA 18:1 and 18:2 on heating in all containers. Oils heated in glass and stainless steel containers showed less TFA 18:1t formation.

FTIR spectra and mechanical strength analysis of some selected rubber derivatives.

Rubber materials have wide range of commercial applications such as, infant diapers, famine hygiene products, drug delivery devices and incontinency products such as rubber tubes, tyres, etc. In the present work, studies on mechanical properties of some selected rubber materials viz., natural rubber (NR), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) have been carried out in three states viz., raw, vulcanized and reinforced. To enhance the quality of rubber elastomers, an attempt is made to prepare new elastomers called polyblends. In the present study an attempt is made to blend NR with NBR and with EPDM. We here report, a novel approach for the evaluation of various physico-mechanical properties such as mechanical strength, tensile strength, elongation and hardness. The method is simple, direct and fast and involves infrared spectral measurements for the evaluation of these properties. With the applications of modern infrared spectroscopy, the mechanical strength of these rubber materials have been analyzed by calculating the internal standards among the methyl and methylene group vibrational frequencies obtained from FTIR spectroscopy. Also the tensile strength measurements carried out by universal testing machine. The results pertaining physico-mechanical properties of the rubber derivatives undertaken in the present study obtained by IR-based method are in good agreement with data resulted from the standard methods.

Mental health legislation in contemporary India: a critical review.

After 20 years of experience with the legislation, it is now a good time to assess the Mental Health Act 1987 of India. How useful has it been to consumers, carers and the mental health profession? It has been perceived as isolationist because it deals only with psychiatric hospitals and excludes a large number of general hospital psychiatric units from its purview. It is also un-implementable in some parts of the country because of the shortage of resources. From a human rights perspective, it is deficient in two important ways: it failed to establish independent review bodies for involuntary admissions; and it lacks provision for research with people who have a mental illness.