Significant Improvements In Health Research Articles

Effects of Mind-Body Qigong Exercise on Overall Health, Fatigue/Sleep, and Cognition in Older Chinese Immigrants in the US: An Intervention Study with Control.

Culturally relevant exercises may help improve health and address disparities faced by older immigrants due to language and cultural barriers. Few studies have focused on such exercise interventions among older Chinese immigrants at US daycare centers. We conducted a 10-week nonrandomized controlled trial in older Chinese immigrants in Philadelphia, US. The intervention group practiced Chinese Qigong (Baduanjin) 5 days a week guided by trained research assistants and video instructions. The control group maintained their usual daily activities. We collected self-report assessments on overall health, sleep, and fatigue and implemented two computerized cognitive tests measuring psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) and memory twice, preintervention and postintervention. Repeated measures general linear model (GLM) and paired samples t-tests were used for data analyses. Eighty-eight older adults (Qigong, n = 53; control, n = 35) with an average age of 78.13 (SD = 5.05) were included. Groups showed no significant differences at baseline evaluation. After the 10-week exercise, the intervention group showed significant improvements in overall health (p=0.032), fatigue (p < 0.001), and cognitive functions including memory (p=0.01), response speed (p=0.002), and response time (p=0.012) on the PVT, as well as marginally significant benefits in sleep (p=0.058). Between-group comparisons identified significant group-by-time interactions in health (p=0.024), sleep (p=0.004), fatigue (p=0.004), and memory (p=0.004). We revealed significant positive effects of Qigong in older Chinese immigrants across multiple health domains. Findings highlight the potential of a culturally relevant exercise in addressing health disparities.

Does the Presence of Asymptomatic Flatfoot Deformity Impact the Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes of the Minimally Invasive Chevron and Akin Bunionectomy?

Flatfoot deformity is believed to play a role in hallux valgus development and recurrence. While symptomatic flatfoot deformity can be treated with separate procedures at the time of hallux valgus correction, the question remains whether the patient undergoing correction of a symptomatic hallux valgus deformity should have their asymptomatic flatfoot concurrently addressed. We aimed to investigate whether the presence of asymptomatic flatfoot influences patient-reported and radiographic outcomes of the minimally invasive chevron and Akin bunionectomy. A total of 104 patients were included in this study. Forty-two asymptomatic patients met the radiographic criteria for flatfoot while 62 had a normal arch. Patient-reported outcomes were evaluated and compared between the two groups using validated PROMIS measures preoperatively and at a minimum one-year postoperatively. Radiographic outcomes including hallux valgus angle (HVA), intermetatarsal angle (IMA), Meary's angle, calcaneal pitch (CP), and talonavicular coverage angle (TNCA) were measured and compared preoperatively and minimum six-months postoperatively. Both groups demonstrated similar preoperative and postoperative PROMIS scores with significant improvements in physical function, pain interference, pain intensity, and global physical health. Preoperatively, HVA was similar between both groups, however the flatfoot group showed a greater IMA, Meary's angle, TNCA, and lower CP. Postoperatively, HVA and IMA were similar between groups, although patients in the flatfoot group retained a significantly greater Meary's angle, TNCA, and lower CP. Both groups showed significant improvements in HVA, IMA, and TNCA. Our study indicates that the minimally invasive chevron and Akin bunionectomy leads to improved clinical and radiographic hallux valgus outcomes without adversely impacting radiographic flatfoot parameters. Therefore, the MIS bunionectomy may be an effective option for hallux valgus correction in patients with mild, asymptomatic flatfoot. Level III, retrospective cohort.

Impact of Preoperative Symptom Duration on Patient-reported Outcomes After Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Interbody Fusion for Degenerative Spondylolisthesis.

Retrospective cohort study. To assess the impact of preoperative symptom duration (PSD) on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) after minimally invasive (MIS) transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) for degenerative spondylolisthesis (DSpond). A prolonged duration of preoperative symptoms may implicate inferior long-term outcomes postsurgery. Prior studies of lumbar fusion recipients are limited by the inclusion of heterogeneous populations. A single-surgeon registry was retrospectively queried for privately insured patients who had undergone primary, elective, single-level MIS-TLIF for DSpond with a recorded symptom start date. Cohorts were formed by PSD: shorter duration (PSD <1 y) or greater duration (GD; PSD ≥1 y). PROMs evaluated included Patient-reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-Physical Function, Oswestry Disability Index, Visual Analog Scale-Back, Visual Analog Scale-Leg, and 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire. The magnitude of PROM (∆PROM) improvement from preoperative baseline to 6 weeks and final follow-up (∆PROM-FF) were compared between cohorts. Intercohort achievement rates of a minimum clinically important difference in each PROM were compared. A total of 133 patients included 85 patients with GD cohort. There were no significant differences in pre hoc demographics and perioperative characteristics between cohorts, as well as preoperative, 6-week, or final follow-up PROMs between cohorts. Both cohorts demonstrated significant improvement in all PROMs at 6 weeks and final follow-up ( P ≤ 0.049, all). There were no significant intercohort differences demonstrated in minimum clinically important difference achievement rates, ∆PROM-6W, or ∆PROM-FF in any PROM. Regardless of the symptom duration before MIS-TLIF for DSpond, patients demonstrate significant improvement in physical function, pain, disability, and mental health. Patients with a GD of preoperative symptoms did not report inferior scores in any PROM domain. Patients with a GD of preoperative symptoms did not suffer inferior rates of clinically meaningful improvement after surgical intervention. These findings should be considered when counseling patients before surgical intervention for DSpond.

Regional cortical brain volumes at treatment entry relates to post treatment WHO risk drinking levels in those with alcohol use disorder

Abstinence following treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD) is associated with significant improvements in psychiatric and physical health, however, recent studies suggest resumption of low risk levels of alcohol use can also be beneficial. The present study assessed whether post-treatment levels of alcohol use were associated with cortical brain volumedifferences at treatment entry. Individuals seeking treatment for AUD (n=75) and light/non-drinking controls (LN, n=51) underwent 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging. The volumes of 34 bilateral cortical regions of interest (ROIs) were quantitated via FreeSurfer. Individuals with AUD were classified according to post-treatment alcohol consumption using the WHO risk drinking levels (abstainers: AB; low risk: RL; or higher risk: RH). Regional volumes for AB, RL and RH, at treatment entry, were compared to LN. Relative to LN, AB demonstrated smaller volumes in 18/68 (26%), RL in 24/68 (35%) and RH in 34/68 (50%) ROIs with the largest magnitude volume differences observed between RH and LN. RH and RL reported a higher frequency of depressive disorders than AB. Among RH and RL, level of depressive and anxiety symptomatology were associated with daily number of drinks consumed after treatment. Volumetric differences, at treatment entry, in brain regions implicated in executive function and salience networks corresponded with post-treatment alcohol consumption levels suggesting that pre-existing differences in neural integrity may contribute to treatment outcomes. Depressive and anxiety symptomatology was also associated with brain morphometrics and alcohol use patterns, highlighting the importance of effectively targeting these conditions during AUD treatment.

Trick or treat? The Brexit effect on immigrants’ mental health in the United Kingdom

This paper investigates changes in the mental health of immigrants living in the United Kingdom (UK) during the European Union (EU) referendum. Using the UK Household Longitudinal Study, this paper assesses how the mental health of immigrants has changed before and after the referendum, compared to natives. Findings suggest that following the EU referendum result, mental health significantly improved overall for naturalised immigrants as a whole and for non-EU immigrants, relative to the changes in natives. Further, there is no evidence that mental health worsened even for EU immigrants. Our results vary by gender, with non-EU women experiencing a statistically significant improvement in mental health. The results are robust to several checks, including using balanced panel data and individual fixed effects. Our findings are consistent with the idea that the end of free movement for EU immigrants has alleviated the perception of discrimination against non-EU immigrants. This interpretation is supported by empirical results from a multinomial logit showing that non-EU migrants, particularly women, are more likely to perceive discrimination for race-related reasons when denied a job, an effect which is no longer significant in the post-referendum period.

Emicizumab Prophylaxis in Patients with Severe Hemophilia A: Insights from A Resource Limited Country.

In this prospective study, severe HA patients were recruited from January 2022 to June 2023. Inhibitor positive and inhibitor negative patients with annual bleeding rate (ABR) 8 or greater and past histories of bleeding like intra-cranial, intra-abdominal, and pseudo-tumors were included. Emicizumab loading dose was 3 mg/kg in the first 4 weeks, and the maintenance dose was started at week 5 at 6 mg/kg/month. Patients' detailed bleeding history and demographics were recorded. The five-level EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) was used to evaluate patients' HRQoL. Furthermore, Hemophilia Joint Health Score (HJHS) and Functional Independence score in Hemophilia (FISH) were applied for the assessment of joints at different time points. Results were analyzed by SPSS version 21. A total of 36 HA male patients with the mean age of 19.7 ± 14.42 years were recruited in the study; among them, 19 patients were inhibitor positive, while 17 were negative. Patients clinically presented with bleeding symptoms which included: hemarthrosis 95%, GI bleeding 13.8%, and bruises and gums bleeding 13.8%. Significant reduction was observed in the bleeding episodes after the therapeutic intervention, and joints assessment and Euro-Quality-of-life Visual Analog Scale showed a significant improvement in health after treatment. Similarly, there was a remarkable reduction in bleeding episodes and improved quality of life among HA patients. The ABR decreased from 53.6% episodes per year prior to treatment to 2.4% during Emicizumab therapy. Prior to initiating Emicizumab therapy, participants exhibited an average FISH score of 16 and HJHS score of 10, indicating moderate limitations due to joint-related issues. After treatment, the mean FISH score improved to 9 and HJHS score to 4 reflecting a substantial enhancement in participants' ability to perform daily activities (P < 0.057). Our results showed that HA patients on prophylactic treatment with Emicizumab were less restricted and had improved quality of life due to marked decrease in bleeding episodes which resulted in improved health and social lives. In addition, it was well tolerated, and no participant discontinued treatment because of adverse events.

Evaluation of a New Integrative Health and Wellness Clinic for Veterans at the San Francisco VA Health Care System: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study.

The Integrative Health and Wellness Clinic (IHWC), established in 2019 at the San Francisco VA Health Care System, is an interdisciplinary clinic consisting of a medical provider, dietician, physical therapist, and psychologist trained in complementary and integrative health (CIH) following the VA Whole Health model of care. Veterans with complex chronic conditions seeking CIH and nonpharmacologic approaches are referred to the IHWC. This study evaluated the clinic's acceptability and feasibility among veteran patients and its preliminary impact on health and wellbeing, health-related goals, and use of CIH approaches. Mixed methods were used to assess patient-reported outcomes and experiences with the IHWC. Participants completed surveys administered at baseline and 6-months and a subset completed a qualitative interview. Pre- and post-scores were compared using t-tests and chi-square tests. Thirty-five veterans completed baseline and 6-month follow up surveys. Of these, 13% were women; 24% < 50 years of age, and 44% identified as racial/ethnic minorities. Compared to baseline, at 6 months, there were significant (P < .05) improvements in overall health, physical health, perceived stress, and perceived helpfulness of clinicians in assisting with goal attainment; there was a trend toward improved mental health (P = .057). Interviews (n = 25) indicated satisfaction with the interdisciplinary clinical model, support of IHWC providers in goal attainment, and positive impact on physical and mental health. Areas for improvement included logistics related to scheduling of multiple IHWC providers and referrals to other CIH services. Results revealed significant improvement in important clinical domains and satisfaction with interprofessional IHWC clinic providers, but also opportunities to improve clinic processes and care coordination. An interdisciplinary clinic focused on CIH and Whole Health is a feasible and acceptable model of care for veterans with complex chronic health conditions in the VA healthcare system.

Investigation of changes in socio‐demographic and clinical factors related to quality of life in patients undergoing phacoemulsification

Aims/Purpose: This study investigates and evaluates the socio‐demographic and clinical factors related to health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) for patients who underwent cataract surgery, using phacoemulsification.Methods: A prospective cohort study, was carried out at the General Hospital ‘Korgialenio‐ Benakio’, from December 2020 to February 2021. In total, 82 patients were recruited, 48 men and 34 women and their age ranged between 40 and 89 years old. Demographic data and full medical history were recorded for every patient. In addition, their everyday habits and way of life were reported. Best‐corrected visual acuity was measured before and after the operation. All operations were performed by the same surgeon without any reported complications during or after the operation. All patients filled out three HRQoL questionnaires (EQ‐5D, SF‐36 and VFQ‐25), before the operation and 1 month after surgery. The results pre‐ and post‐operatively were collected and the important socio‐demographic and clinical factors were evaluated using the relevant HRQoL questionnaire utility scale.Results: Visual acuity improved in all patients following the operation. There was a statistically significant improvement in the general health of the sample (p &lt; 0.01), recorded across all questionnaires (EQ‐5D, SF‐36 and VFQ‐25). A similar improvement was revealed in responses related to mental well‐being (p &lt; 0.01). Factors affecting HRQoL scales of cataract surgery candidates were found to be age, marital status, educational level, metabolic disease, cardiovascular disease, mobility issues, mental well‐being and almost all factors related to ophthalmic disorders.Conclusions: The improved visual acuity achieved by cataract surgery using phacoemulsification leads to significant improvement in post‐operative HRQoL of patients. The findings regarding the important factors related to these HRQoL improvements should be evaluated by physicians before considering any surgical intervention.

Prevalence and short-term change in symptoms of anxiety and depression following bariatric surgery: a prospective cohort study

ObjectivesBariatric surgery is an effective treatment for severe obesity that leads to significant physical health improvements. Few studies have prospectively described the short-term impact of surgery on mental health using...

Effect of elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor on nasal potential difference and lung function in Phe508del rats.

Introduction: Phe508del is the most common cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene variant that results in the recessive genetic disorder cystic fibrosis (CF). The recent development of highly effective CFTR modulator therapies has led to significant health improvements in individuals with this mutation. While numerous animal models of CF exist, few have a CFTR mutation that is amenable to the triple combination therapy elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor (ETI). Methods: To determine the responsiveness of Phe508del rats to ETI, a baseline nasal potential difference was measured. Subsequently, they received ETI daily for 14days, after which post-treatment nasal potential difference, lung mechanics (via flexiVent) and lung ventilation (via X-ray Velocimetry) were assessed. Results: Chloride ion transport in nasal airways was restored in Phe508del rats treated with ETI, but neither lung mechanics nor ventilation were significantly altered. Discussion: These findings validate the usefulness of this rat model for future investigations of modulator therapy in CF.

MENTAL HEALTH AND TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION AMONG MEXICAN AMERICAN INFORMAL CAREGIVERS FOR PATIENTS WITH ADRD

Abstract Background The number of Latinos with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD) is expected to rise to 1.3 million by 2050. Mexican Americans with ADRD rely heavily on unpaid informal care. The use of information communication technology (ICT) among caregivers is associated with significant improvements in mental health and social support. However, current ICT studies focus mainly on White American caregivers. This study fills the gap. Method: From November 2021 to November 2022, we collected 115 surveys, of which 11 were collected from in-person interviews at a clinic and 104 were collected online. The survey included the UCLA Loneliness Scale version 3, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D), and the Online Social Support Scale. Results The participants, aged from 18 to 82 and have cared for their family members with ADRD for two years on average. About 70.4% of them use the internet daily. The results indicated that the more time spent on Instagram, YikYak, and first-person shooter online games, the higher depression the participants had. Also, the more first-person shooter online games they use, the higher is their loneliness. Other social media use is not related to loneliness or depression. Conclusion This study suggests that it is necessary to explore an appropriate internet-based ICT for Mexican American informal caregivers to reduce their loneliness and depression. Future research needs to examine their feelings and reflections on using internet-based ICT and discern how their caregiver’s role and Latino culture affect the utilization of technology.

Efficacy of Laser-assisted Periodontal Therapy vs. Conventional Scaling and Root Planing.

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of laser-assisted periodontal therapy (LAPT) with conventional scaling and root planing (CSRP) in the treatment of periodontal disease. The objective was to assess the outcomes of these two treatments on a sample of 30 patients in each group. In this study, a total of 60 patients diagnosed with periodontal disease were divided into two groups: the LAPT group and the CSRP group, with 30 patients in each group. The LAPT group received periodontal treatment using laser therapy, while the SRP group underwent traditional SRP. The patients were evaluated for periodontal parameters, including probing depth and clinical attachment level before and after the treatments. After the treatment interventions, both the LAPT group and the CSRP group showed significant improvements in periodontal health. The mean reduction in probing depth was 2.5 mm in the LAPT group and 2.2 mm in the SRP group. In addition, the clinical attachment level increased by 2.8 mm in the LAPT group and 2.5 mm in the SRP group. Statistical analysis using the paired t-test demonstrated a P-value of less than 0.05, indicating the significance of these improvements in both groups. This study suggests that both LAP and CSRP are effective in improving periodontal health in patients with periodontal disease.

Improvement in Sexual Dysfunction in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Undergoing Septal Myectomy: A Prospective Study

BackgroundSeptal myectomy improves symptoms in the majority of patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), but there are limited prospective data on functional outcomes after operation. ObjectivesThe authors investigated quality of life measures and prevalence of sexual dysfunction before and after septal myectomy for obstructive HCM. MethodsBetween January 2018 and October 2019, 436 patients underwent transaortic septal myectomy at our clinic. All patients were screened for eligibility, and 197 (45.2%) were enrolled in this prospective survey study. Patients received a questionnaire pertaining to quality of life and sexual health before and within 4 to 6 months postoperatively, and 113 (57.4%) completed the follow-up survey. ResultsThe mean age of the 54 (47.8%) women and 59 (52.2%) men was 54.7 ± 14.1 years. Quality of life, including both mental and physical components, improved significantly in both men (P < 0.001) and women (P < 0.001). Women reported mild sexual dysfunction at baseline, and following septal myectomy, they experienced significant (P < 0.05) improvement in most domains pertaining to sexual health. In men, the International Index of Erectile Function median score was 23 (IQR: 7.0-29.5), which is consistent with mild dysfunction at baseline, and there was significant improvement following surgery in young (age ≤55 years) men (P < 0.001). ConclusionsQuality of life is significantly improved following septal myectomy in patients with obstructive HCM. Both women and men reported mild sexual dysfunction at baseline, and women and younger men (age ≤55 years) experienced significant improvements in sexual health.

Management peculiarities of patients with chronic tonsillitis in comorbid conditions

Introduction. Chronic tonsillitis (CT) remains an urgent challenge in outpatient practice of not only otorhinolaryngologists, but also multi-discipline specialists – primary care physicians and general practitioners.Aim. To study the effectiveness of Tonsilgon® N at the outpatient care stage in CT patients with and without comorbidities. Materials and methods. 62 patients (30 to 56 years of age, average age 43.8 ± 13.2 years) with compensated CT were treated. The patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 (n = 30) included patients with compensated CT, Group 2 (n = 32) – patients with compensated CT and comorbidities: diabetes mellitus was detected in 40.6%, autoimmune thyroiditis in 43.7%, psoriasis in 15.7% of examined patients.Results and discussion. Evaluation of treatment outcomes using a 10-point visual analogue scale showed a significant (p &lt; 0.05) health improvement in patients of both groups who received Tonsilgon® N. The examination showed a 1.8-fold decrease in the severity of the local symptom of CT – hyperemia and a roll-like thickening of the edges of the pillars of the fauces in patients of both groups by the 7th day of treatment. The trends of changes were characterized by uniformity, amounting to 0.09 ± 0.02 scores in Group 1 and 0.1 ± 0.02 scores in Group 2 (p &lt; 0.05) by the 14th day of treatment. In CT patients without comorbidities, exacerbations that developed within 3 months were only observed in 6.6% of patients, and occurred in a mild form, which made it possible to abandon the use of antibacterials for systemic use; in Group 2 with comorbidities, they were more common and developed in 12.5% of patients.Conclusion. The high rate of successful treatment outcomes confirms the safety of the drug as an effective agent to relieve the severity of CT symptoms.

Knowing is Half The Battle: The Effect of Diagnosing Diabetes on Alcohol Consumtion in China

The diagnosis of a disease can significantly change the health behavior of a population, leading to a significant improvement in public health. This study observed how China’s alcohol consumption changes in response to a diabetes diagnosis from a health check-up. The 1991–2015 China Health and Nutrition Survey was used in this study. A difference-in-difference with a fixed effect model was applied to the dataset. The survey’s 2009 health check-up generated the treatment status, also known as the diabetes diagnosis status. The results showed that the diagnosis of diabetes decreased alcohol consumption (Beta = -0.032; 95% CI = -0.022, -0.011; P-value = 0.015). The effect was more prevalent and significant among men (Beta = -0.077; 95% CI = -0.122, -0.031; P-value = 0.001). The findings of this study showed that a health check-up to inform individuals of their diabetes status could alter alcohol consumption behavior in China. This implies that a health check-up policy in developing countries could lead to significant health improvements and reduce the costs associated with alcohol consumption.

Help overcoming pain early, a brief person-centred intervention for adolescents with chronic pain in a school setting, may improve symptoms of insomnia.

Chronic pain and symptoms of insomnia affect large numbers of adolescents and early interventions are prioritized. The aim of the current study was to evaluate potential secondary effects of the intervention, Help Overcoming Pain Early (HOPE), on symptoms of insomnia and self-rated health. The study included non-randomized aggregated data from the active and control conditions in a previously conducted randomized controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of HOPE, after the participants in the control condition also had received the intervention. Symptoms of insomnia were assessed with the Minimal Insomnia Symptom Scale and self-rated health was assessed with one item, at the start of the intervention, post intervention, and at a six-month follow-up. Baseline variables included age, gender, pain localization, pain impact, school absence and symptoms of depression (assessed with the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children). Inferential analyzes were performed using Linear Mixed Models (LMM). Effect sizes were evaluated by calculating Cohen's d. There were statistically significant improvements in symptoms of insomnia at the six-month follow-up, and statistically significant improvements in self-rated health at the end of the intervention and at the six-month follow-up. Effect sizes were small across outcomes and assessments. Results illustrated significant but small improvements in symptoms of insomnia and self-rated health in adolescents with chronic pain following the HOPE intervention. Although caution is needed when assessing the findings, results illustrate the potential utility of an accessible brief early intervention in a school context.

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Mortality, Cost, Complications, and Disparities after Radiation Therapy: Artificial Intelligence-Augmented, Cost Effectiveness, and Computational Ethical Analysis.

The optimal cardio-oncology management of radiation therapy and its complications are unknown despite the high patient and societal costs. This study is the first known nationally representative, multi-year, artificial intelligence and propensity score-augmented causal clinical inference and computational ethical and policy analysis of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) mortality, cost, and disparities including by primary malignancy following radiation therapy. Bayesian Machine learning-augmented Propensity Score translational (BAM-PS) statistics were conducted in the 2016-2020 National Inpatient Sample. Of the 148,755,036 adult hospitalizations, 2,229,285 (1.50%) had a history of radiation therapy, of whom, 67,450 (3.00%) had an inpatient AMI, and of whom, 18,400 (28.69%) underwent PCI. Post-AMI mortality, costs, and complications were comparable with and without radiation across cancers in general and across the 30 primary malignancies tested, except for breast cancer, in which PCI significantly increased mortality (OR 3.70, 95%CI 1.10-12.43, p = 0.035). In addition to significant sex, race, and insurance disparities, significant regional disparities were associated with nearly 50 extra inpatient deaths and over USD 500 million lost. This large clinical, cost, and pluralistic ethical analysis suggests PCI when clinically indicated should be provided to patients regardless of sex, race, insurance, or region to generate significant improvements in population health, cost savings, and social equity.

How does workload affect the innovative approach of intensive care nurses? A cross-sectional descriptive study

Objective: Intensive care nurses (ICN) worldwide are engaged in innovative activities and initiatives daily that lead to significant improvements in health with the aim of improving patient care outcomes and reducing health care costs. The workload of the ICNs may affect their creative and innovative approach. The aim of this study is to determine the impact of ICNs workloads during the patient care on attitudes towards innovative approaches. Material and Methods: This is a cross sectional descriptive study. One hundred and thirty eight nurses working in intensive care units at a city training and research hospital in Turkey constituted the sample. Data was collected using "Participant Information Form", “Individual Innovativeness Scale in Nursing Profession” (IIS) and the “Workload Scale". Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality test, Mann Whitney U test, Kruskall-Wallis test, Spearmans correlation were used for statistical analyses. Demographic statistics are also given. Results: According to IIS, 2.2% (n=3) of respondents are innovators, 0.7% (n=1) pioneers, 4.3% (n=6) interrogators, 13.8% (n=19) skeptics, and 79% (n=109) traditionalists. Participants had an average score of 5.00±1.17 and a total score of 2.94±0.44. Differences were found between the workload and the innovativeness subscale of IIS (p=0.012). Conclusion: The results of our study revealed that the ICNs have excessive workloads and most of them have a traditional attitude to individual innovation.

Synergistic Interactions in Enzyme Activities During Vermiremediation of Heavy Metals (HMs) Polluted Soil: Elucidating the Impact of Eudrilus eugeniae

ABSTRACT The vermiremediation potential of Eudrilus eugeniae was assessed in heavy metals (HMs) contaminated soil in a microcosm experiment. In detail, efficacy of E. eugeniae was investigated in terms of reduction in HMs content, enhancement in the soil enzyme activities, synergistic correlation between the HMs and enzyme activities and bioaccumulation of HMs in the earthworm’s biomass. Moreover, a seed germination assay was also conducted to assess the HMs toxicity in soil after remediation. The results showed that Eudrilus eugeniae was capable of decreasing the Cu, Zn, Mn, Cr, and Ni contents in the soil by 17.56–26.30% after 90 days of experimental trial. Introduction of E. eugeniae increased cellulase, amylase, polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, urease, dehydrogenase, and catalase activities by 30.3–80.95% compared to controls. Earthworm addition led to a 12.98% increase in G-Mean and 2.89% increase in T-QSI values, indicating significant soil health improvement. PCA revealed the negative impact of HMs on synergistic enzyme activities during vermiremediation. HMs content in earthworm biomass increased 13-fold. Seed germination assay confirmed HMs reduction by the end of the experiment. Thus, this study demonstrated the interconnected changes in the soil enzyme activities during vermiremediation of HMs from crude oil polluted soil.

Effects of Probiotics and Magnesium Co-supplementation on Stress Levels and Quality of Life in Obese Patients with Depressed Mood: A Randomized, Double-Blinded Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Background and objectives:: Obesity is strongly associated with mood disorders. There is evidence that obesity and mood disorders may be related pathologically. Depression and manic episodes are more common among overweight or obese individuals. Human subjects have reported the restorative effects of probiotic supplementation on neuroendocrine functions. Gut microbiota, neuroendocrine status, and obesity are related. Magnesium enriches the gut microbiota. Based on the association between gut microbiota, magnesium levels, obesity, and neuropsychiatric disorders, we examined the possibility of co-supplementation of probiotics and magnesium in humans. Methods:: For 74 individuals, demographic data, quality of life scores (SF -12), depression, anxiety, and stress scores (DASS-21) were collected, along with body mass index (BMI), waist circumfer-ence, and serum cortisol levels. An SPSS analysis was performed. Results:: Both the intervention and control groups experienced significant reductions in depression, anxiety, and stress. A significant improvement in mental health, role-emotional function, and vital-ity was observed in the probiotic and magnesium supplement group. Conclusion:: Magnesium supplements and probiotics increased vitality (VT) and mental health (MH) and reduced functional impairment from emotional stress (RE). They experienced fewer functional limitations because of physical conditions.