Effects of the mini-clinical evaluation exercise teaching mode based on nurse-faculty cooperation in Fundamentals of Nursing course: A quasi-experimental study.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the effects of the mini-clinical evaluation exercise (mini-CEX) teaching model based on nurse-faculty collaboration in Fundamentals of Nursing course. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was conducted. A total of 111 nursing students of two parallel classes were recruited from a nursing college in Guilin, China from February to December 2022, and allocated to the intervention group (n = 56) and control group (n = 55). The intervention group received a mini-CEX teaching model based on nurse-faculty collaboration, the teaching-learning process included scenario creation (10 min), inquiry-based learning (30 min), case report (30 min), scenario simulation exercise (40 min), and effectiveness evaluation (10 min). While the control group received conventional teaching method. All students were invited to complete the College Classroom Climate Assessment Scale (CCCA) and the Chinese version of the Competency Inventory for Nursing Students (CINS-CV) before and after the intervention. Course achievement of students was evaluated. After the intervention, the intervention group was asked an open-ended question to explore the difficulties or challenges they had encountered. Results: After intervention, the CCCA score (208.36 ± 23.25 vs. 190.60 ± 28.83), CINS-CV score(106.95 ± 14.48 vs. 99.55 ± 14.60), the oretical exam score (83.01 ± 4.27 vs. 79.75 ± 5.45), and scenario simulation exam score (89.23 ± 3.17 vs. 81.42 ± 7.19) of intervention group were higher than those of the control group (P＜0.01). The open-ended questionnaire survey revealed that the difficulties or challenges faced by the intervention group were mainly related to case analysis, group cooperation, learning material acquisition, and teacher guidance. Conclusion: Applying the mini-CEX teaching model based on nurse-faculty collaboration could cultivate nursing students' competency, build a positive classroom climate, and improve the course achievement of students.

Global Trends in Nursing-Related Research on COVID-19: A Bibliometric Analysis.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has significantly impacted healthcare, especially the nursing field. This study aims to explore the current status and hot topics of nursing-related research on COVID-19 using bibliometric analysis. Methods: Between 2019 and 2022, publications regarding nursing and COVID-19 were retrieved from the Web of Science core collection. We conducted an advanced search using the following search query string: TS = ("Novel coronavirus 2019" or "Coronavirus disease 2019" or "COVID 19" or "2019-nCOV" or "SARS-CoV-2" or "coronavirus-2") and TS = ("nursing" or "nurse" or "nursing-care" or "midwife"). Bibliometric parameters were extracted, and Microsoft Excel 2010 and VOSviewer were utilized to identify the largest contributors, including prolific authors, institutions, countries, and journals. VOSviewer and CiteSpace were used to analyze the knowledge network, collaborative maps, hotspots, and trends in this field. Results: A total of 5,267 papers were published between 2020 and 2022. The findings are as follows: the USA, China, and the UK are the top three prolific countries; the University of Toronto, the Harvard Medical School, the Johns Hopkins University, and the Huazhong University of Science & Technology are the top four most productive institutions; Gravenstein, Stefan, and White, Elizabeth M. from Brown University (USA) are the most prolific authors; The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is the most productive journal; "COVID-19," "SARS-CoV-2," "nurse," "mental health," "nursing home," "nursing education," "telemedicine," "vaccine-related issues" are the central topics in the past 2 years. Conclusion: Nursing-related research on COVID-19 has gained considerable attention worldwide. In 2020, the major hot topics included "SARS-CoV-2," "knowledge," "information teaching," "mental health," "psychological problems," and "nursing home." In 2021 and 2022, researchers were also interested in topics such as "nursing students," "telemedicine," and "vaccine-related issues," which require further investigation.

m6A echoes with DNA methylation: Coordinated DNA methylation and gene expression data analysis identified critical m6A genes associated with asthma.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that involves complex gene-environment interactions. Methylation of nucleotides, such as 5-methylcytosine (5mC) in DNA and N6-methyladenosine (m6A) in mRNA, carries important information for gene regulation. Our study screened m6A genes and genes associated with asthma from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases GSE63383, GSE119580, GSE38003, GSE34313, GSE13168, and GSE35643. GSE52778, GSE35643, GSE40996, and GSE64744), and DNA methylation data from GSE85568 and GSE146377. We screened out 6 m6A related genes (FTO, IGF2BP2, RBM15, RBMX, WTAP, and YTHDC1) that were significantly dysregulated in asthma or proinflammatory conditions. A correlation study showed a high correlation between m6A genes and gene pairs such as WTAP, IL7R, and TLR2; RBMX, SLC22A4, IL33, TNC, FLG, and IL6R (|r| ≥ 0.8). Following DNA methylation dataset analysis, we proposed several DNA methylation-m6A modification asthma-related gene axes such as cg19032951/cg15153914-IGF2BP2-SMAD3. Interestingly, several target genes, such as SMAD3, possess the ability to participate in DNA methylation processes, which may reciprocally regulate the expression of m6A genes and form a closed-loop regulation axis. Some classic DNA methylation-related genes, such as TET1, UHRF1, and ZBTB4, were also involved. We identified an integrated profile of m6A gene expression in asthma and proposed a novel potential interplay between DNA methylation and m6A modification in asthma pathogenesis. Using the CMAP database, we found that resveratrol may target these dysregulated m6A genes, and therefore may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for asthma.

Caregivers' Dementia Knowledge and Care Approach in Residential Aged Care Facilities in China.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the dementia knowledge and care approach used by caregivers in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) in China. METHOD: A cross-sectional survey of 785 caregivers from a random sample of 34 RACFs in China. Caregivers' knowledge and care approach were assessed using the Chinese version of the Dementia Knowledge Assessment Tool 2 and Advanced Dementia Care Questionnaire. RESULTS: The majority of caregivers showed limited knowledge of dementia and tended not to adopt a person-centered approach to care. Educational level, dementia care training, and years of work experience were positively associated with dementia knowledge. Educational level and years of work experience were also associated with a person-centered approach to care. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides insight into the care available to people with dementia in RACFs in China. The results suggest dementia care education programs as well as person-centered care training are urgently needed for caregivers in China.

Imaging algorithm and multimodality evaluation of spinal osteoblastoma.

BACKGROUND: To analyze the features of CT, MRI and PET/CT and their diagnostic value for spinal osteoblastomas (OBs). METHODS: The radiological and clinical data of 21 patients with histopathologically-confirmed spinal OBs were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Sixteen of the 21 cases were benign and 5 were aggressive OBs. Tumors were located in the lumbar (n = 11), cervical (n = 4), thoracic (n = 5), and sacral (n = 1) spinal regions. Nineteen cases were centered in the posterior elements of the spine, 13 of which extended into the vertebral body. Punctate or nodular calcifications were found in all cases on CT with a complete sclerotic rim (n = 12) or incomplete sclerotic rim (n = 8). The flare phenomenon (indicative of surrounding tissue inflammation) was found in 17/21 cases on CT, thin in 11 cases and thick in 6 cases, and in 19/19 cases on MRI, thin in 1 case and thick in 18 cases. On 18F-FDG PET/CT, all cases (8/8) were metabolically active with the SUVmax of 12.3-16.0; the flare sign was observed in 8 cases, including 7 cases of hypometabolism and 1 case of coexistence of hypermetabolism and hypometabolism. Based on CT, 3, 12, and 6 cases were classified as Enneking stage 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Of 19 cases with MRI, 1 and 18 cases were classified as Enneking stage 2 and 3, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Spinal OB has multiple unique characteristic radiological features. Although a larger sample size is needed, combining CT, MRI and PET may be beneficial to optimize preoperative diagnosis and care of patients with OBs.

Mechanism of Fibrosis Induced by Echinococcus spp.

Infection with Echinococcus spp. causes fibrosis in various vital organs, including the liver and lungs. Hepatic fibrosis is a pathological feature of Echinococcus infection that destroys normal liver tissue, leading to jaundice, cholecystitis, portal hypertension, etc. Severe Echinococcus multilocularis infections lead to liver failure and hepatic encephalopathy. The formation of peripheral fiberboards around the metacestode is a major reason as to why antiparasitic drugs fail to be effectively transported to the lesion site. Studies on the mechanism of hepatic fibrosis caused by Echinococcus are important for treatment in patients. Recent studies have focused on miRNA and TGF-ß. More recent findings have focused on the generation of collagen fibers around the metacestode. In this review paper we focus on the mechanism by which the Echinococcus parasite induces fibrosis in liver and some other organs in intermediate hosts-animals as well as human beings.