Advances in experimental medicine and biology最新文献

Background: Empathy cultivates deeper interpersonal relationships; however, frequent exposure can trigger the risk of burnout. This study aims to predict empathy, burnout, and syndrome among nursing staff in a university hospital in Central Greece.

Material and methods: This is a synchronic study on the nursing staff of the university general hospital in central Greece. The sample consisted of 210 nurses who took part in the study by completing a questionnaire that included demographic and social characteristics, the "Copenhagen Burnout Inventory" and the "Composite Empathy Scale." The Pearson correlation coefficient (r) and linear regression analysis with a statistical significance of 0.05 were used for the statistical analysis. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to determine the potential predictive factors associated with burnout and empathy.

Results: The prevalence of burnout and empathy among nursing staff was 62.5%. A significant positive correlation between empathy with burnout was found in almost all dimensions. For burnout subscales, "Personal Burnout" was found to be at 44.1%, Operational Burnout "at 62.5%, and in" Burn related to patients "the average was 58.3%. A higher level of burnout is associated with" Workplace Burnout "for nurses on shift work. There was a significant negative correlation between "Cognitive Personal Empathy" and the "Personal Burnout." Also, 92.9% of the nursing staff reported suffering from a disease.

Conclusion: The nurses in the university hospital are "aged staff" with health problems, high levels of empathy, and burnout.

Introduction: Mental health nursing can be highly rewarding but at the same time overwhelmingly stressful or even traumatizing. Spirituality constitutes a central element of mental health nurses' resilience while personal trauma may be activated during exposure to beneficiaries' trauma.

Aim: The aim of this study is to examine the impact of sociodemographic and work-related characteristics, spirituality, and history of trauma on compassion fatigue (CF) and compassion satisfaction among psychiatric nurses in Greece.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey study with a total of 91 mental health nurses selected by convenience sampling and required to complete the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL-V), the FACIT-Spiritual Well-Being Scale-12 non-illness scale, and the Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire (TLEQ).

Results: More than a quarter (25.3%) of participants reported high compassion fatigue risk, while 76% expressed high to moderate potential for compassion satisfaction. Secondary traumatic stress (STS) as expected was found to correlate positively with traumatic life events and negatively with the spirituality dimension of meaning. Spiritual well-being, good physical health, high levels of cooperation, respect for teamwork and positive work climate were positively related to higher levels of compassion satisfaction.

Conclusion: The findings of this study shed light on the significant prevalence of compassion fatigue and personal trauma history among nursing staff, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to improve the mental health of front-line health care nurses. Mental health care organizations must recognize the importance of fostering compassionate work environments that prioritize mental health professionals' spiritual and psychological well-being.

Insects, like most animals, have intimate interactions with microorganisms that can influence the insect host's lipid metabolism. In this chapter, we describe what is known so far about the role prokaryotic microorganisms play in insect lipid metabolism. We start exploring microbe-insect lipid interactions focusing on endosymbionts, and more specifically the gut microbiota that has been predominantly studied in Drosophila melanogaster. We then move on to an overview of the work done on the common and well-studied endosymbiont Wolbachia pipientis, also in interaction with other microbes. Taking a slightly different angle, we then look at the effect of human pathogens, including dengue and other viruses, on the lipids of mosquito vectors. We extend the work on human pathogens and include interactions with the endosymbiont Wolbachia that was identified as a natural tool to reduce the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. Research on lipid metabolism of plant disease vectors is up and coming and we end this chapter by highlighting current knowledge in that field.

Lipids are essential in insects and play pleiotropic roles in energy storage, serving as a fuel for energy-driven processes such as reproduction, growth, development, locomotion, flight, starvation response, and diapause induction, maintenance, and termination. Lipids also play fundamental roles in signal transduction, hormone synthesis, forming components of the cell membrane, and thus are essential for maintenance of normal life functions. In insects, the neuroendocrine system serves as a master regulator of most life activities, including growth and development. It is thus important to pay particular attention to the regulation of lipid metabolism through the endocrine system, especially when considering the involvement of peptide hormones in the processes of lipogenesis and lipolysis. In insects, there are several lipogenic and lipolytic hormones that are involved in lipid metabolism such as insulin-like peptides (ILPs), adipokinetic hormone (AKH), 20-hydroxyecdysone (20-HE), juvenile hormone (JH), and serotonin. Other neuropeptides such as diapause hormone-pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (DH-PBAN), CCHamide-2, short neuropeptideF, and the cytokines Unpaired 1 and 2 may play a role in inducing lipogenesis. On the other hand, neuropeptides such as neuropeptide F, allatostatin-A, corazonin, leukokinin, tachykinins, limostatins, and insulin-like growth factor (ILP6) stimulate lipolysis. This chapter briefly discusses the current knowledge of the endocrine regulation of lipid metabolism in insects that could be utilized to reveal differences between insects and mammalian lipid metabolism which may help understand human diseases associated with dysregulation of lipid metabolism. Physiological similarities of insects to mammals make them valuable model systems for studying human diseases characterized by disrupted lipid metabolism, including conditions like diabetes, obesity, arteriosclerosis, and various metabolic syndromes.

Hashimoto's disease or Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune disorder of the thyroid gland. The pathophysiology of the disorder is characterized by an increased volume of the thyroid gland, infiltration of the parenchyma by lymphocytes, and the presence of antibodies specific for thyroid antigens. The diagnosis of Hashimoto thyroiditis is based on the presence of clinical symptoms, anti-thyroid antibodies, and certain histologic features. The present study aimed to collect biomarkers and create a web-based application for detecting the disease through machine learning. The web application was created using Python and Random Forest algorithm was selected to train the existing dataset. Taking advantage of machine learning algorithms, the application provides users with a practical means for predicting immortality based on their blood tests. Although there are limitations that need to be addressed, representing a valuable tool for early diagnosis and management of the disease is required.

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS, and Huntington's disease pose a growing global health challenge due to their prevalence in aging populations and their devastating impact on cognitive and motor functions. Current treatments focus on symptom management, with no options available to reverse neuronal damage. Emerging evidence highlights the potential role of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) polyphenols in neuroprotection, particularly in the context of the Mediterranean diet, which is associated with lower rates of neurodegenerative disorders. EVOO's rich polyphenolic compounds, including hydroxytyrosol, oleuropein, tyrosol, and oleocanthal, exhibit potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. These bioactive molecules have shown potential in modulating disease-specific pathways, such as reducing oxidative stress, inhibiting abnormal protein aggregation, and regulating neuroinflammation. This paper explores the therapeutic potential of olive oil polyphenols for neurodegenerative diseases, detailing their mechanisms of action across different conditions. Our findings suggest that incorporating EVOO into dietary and medical interventions could serve as a promising strategy for mitigating neurodegenerative disease progression and enhancing cognitive health.

Background: The measures taken to protect public health during the pandemic had a significant impact on the mental, social, and physical well-being of children and adolescents. Restrictive measures had affected their development, behavior, school life, family, and friendships.

Aim: To explore the psychological impact on children and adolescents after the withdrawal of COVID-19 restrictions.

Methods and materials: This study was a cross-sectional study with a convenience sample. The sample consisted of 100 children and adolescents, and it was conducted in the outpatient department of the pediatric population of the Regional Unit of Trikala. The scale used in the present study explores post-pandemic coping strategies upon life returning to normal for children and teenagers, "PPCSRN-CT." The data were analyzed with the SPSS-12 statistical package, and multiple linear regression was performed. The level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results: In the study, nearly 60% of the participants were girls, and over 80% of the children and adolescents lived in urban areas in Trikala Prefecture. Half of them (50%) were 12 years old or older. The statistical analysis found that children and adolescents worry significantly more about the health of their loved ones when they are alone and don't have anyone to share their concerns with (p = 0.008). Furthermore, children and adolescents who lived with both parents believe that their parents have become less strict with them after the withdrawal of restrictions due to the pandemic (p = 0.001). Additionally, children and adolescents living with both parents believe that their parents care for them more after the withdrawal of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic (p = 0.013). The study also revealed that the desire of children and teenagers to learn more about COVID-19 is positively affected by whether someone close to them has been sick with SARS-CoV-2 (p = 0.009). Furthermore, children and adolescents who want to learn more about the COVID-19 pandemic and whose parents are less strict with them expect their lives to return to normal immediately after the removal of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic (p = 0.016 and p = 0.006, respectively). Finally, the study found that children and adolescents' belief that they will move on in life together with friends is positively influenced by whether they are less emotionally burdened (p = 0.024) and by whether they are more positive about their daily life (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: It is important to evaluate the perceptions of children and adolescents post-pandemic in order to implement interventions to empower this group.

Introduction: Healthcare professionals working with individuals who have experienced trauma are at risk of experiencing secondary trauma.

Purpose: To explore the perspectives and experiences of addiction nurses working in substitution treatment units and harm reduction services regarding the physical or psychological trauma of individuals coping with the dual burden of addiction and trauma.

Methodology: A mixed-method study (quantitative and qualitative) involving 111 addiction nurses. For the collection of quantitative data, the Greek version of the Professional Quality of Life Scale was used, which assesses compassion satisfaction, professional burnout, and secondary traumatic stress, as well as a questionnaire capturing demographic, individual, and professional characteristics. Eight nurses participated in semistructured interviews.

Results: The majority of participants reported (96.4%) moderate to high levels of compassion satisfaction while more than half (54.4%) of the participants reported low levels of professional burnout, and about half (49.5%) reported low levels of secondary traumatic stress. Considering Stamm's interpretation of the triad of high compassion satisfaction, moderate-to-low professional burnout, and secondary traumatic stress, the results of this study fall into the positive results category. Good physical health, participants' readiness to care for individuals with trauma, high levels of cooperation, respect for teamwork, positive work climate, and seamless colleague support were positively related to higher levels of compassion satisfaction.

Conclusions: Recognizing, reflecting on, and understanding trauma processes protected participants from mirroring the helplessness, frustration, and feelings of incompetence they encountered on the trauma responses of the individuals and families they cared for.

Childhood and adolescent obesity is a growing health concern with complex multifactorial origins, encompassing genetic, environmental, physiological, and psychosocial factors. In Greece, the prevalence of childhood obesity is among the highest in Europe, indicating an urgent need to understand its underlying mechanisms. Herein, we explore the genetic basis of obesity, focusing on both monogenic and polygenic factors, and how early life stressors contribute to obesity's onset and progression. Genetic predispositions, such as mutations in leptin-melanocortin pathways, and the role of epigenetic modifications influenced by environmental factors, are examined to understand obesity's complexity. Moreover, stress-related hormonal dysregulation impacts metabolic pathways, exacerbating weight gain and obesity-related complications. Through advanced algorithms like neural networks, decision trees, and clustering techniques, ML/AI approaches have demonstrated high accuracy in predicting obesity, identifying genetic markers, and analyzing interactions between genetic and lifestyle factors. These technologies hold promise for early detection, personalized interventions, and the development of targeted prevention strategies. The integration of ML/AI with genomic, epigenomic, and clinical data offers a comprehensive understanding of childhood obesity, paving the way for more effective management and treatment. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the genetic and environmental factors in childhood obesity and highlights the potential of AI-driven approaches in addressing this critical public health challenge.

Temperature directly shapes insect physiology and has a preponderant effect on life history traits. Winter conditions in temperate and polar regions are especially challenging for insects. Extremely low temperatures can indeed compromise insect survival by promoting freezing of body fluids, but mild cold temperatures above 0 °C (i.e., chilling) can also lead to complex and severe physiological dysregulations. Among physiological damages due to freezing and chilling, insect lipids are one of the primary targets. As low temperatures tend to rigidify phospholipid bilayers, membrane functions are compromised in the cold. Lipid rigidification due to cold also decreases the accessibility of fat stores for metabolic enzymes, and therefore their availability for basal metabolism. These deleterious effects, combined with low food availability in winter, result in substantial nutritional challenges for overwintering insects. Consequently, lipid modifications such as homeoviscous adaptation of cell membranes, fluidity maintenance of fat reserves, cuticular lipid accumulation, and production of antifreeze glycolipids are essential components of the physiological response to cold stress. The aim of the present chapter is to present the physiological challenges caused by low temperatures, the lipid modifications linked with cold tolerance in insects, and the molecular regulation of lipid metabolism during cold exposure.