Advances in experimental medicine and biology最新文献

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between social support and psychological empowerment with perceived stress of nurses working in psychiatric acute units. The study sample consisted of 153 nurses working in psychiatric acute units, located in Athens. Participants completed: (a) A questionnaire about demographic characteristics, (b) the Perceived Stress Scale, (c) the Psychological empowerment scale, and (d) the Social Support Questionnaire Short Form (SSQ-6). The majority of the participants were females (62.7%), graduates of Technological Education (47%), married (60.78%), permanent employees (81.7%), working in psychiatric units for over than 21 years (34.6%), with an average age of 45 years. Of the total sample, 64.7% considered the night shift as the most aggravating, with the main factors causing the greatest stress being (a) lack of staff, (b) dangerousness, and (c) workload. Women compared to men, and those who had been working for more years in a psychiatric ward compared to younger employees exhibited a statistically significant higher level of subjective stress (p < 0.05). Nurses who considered that night shifts were the most aggravating exhibited more stress, while female nurses exhibited higher levels of psychological empowerment compared to male nurses. Moreover, nurses who were scheduled to work more day shifts exhibited statistically significant high levels of psychological empowerment (p < 0.001), while psychological empowerment was positively correlated with social support (p < 0.001). When nurses perceived greater social support, they were more psychologically empowered. Additionally, married nurses reported high levels of social support (p < 0.01). However, older nurses and nurses who were scheduled to work more night shifts reported statistically significant low social support (p < 0.001). Thus, the implementation of strategies to reduce stress at work, family, and wider social environment is essential for nurses working in psychiatric acute units.

A large proportion of patients undergoing dialysis treatment have sleep disorders, while their psychosocial adjustment is reduced due to severe changes in patients' daily life imposed by dialysis therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between quality of sleep and psychosocial adjustment in dialysis patients. In this study, 402 patients on dialysis participated. Sleep quality was evaluated via the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) and Psychosocial adjustment via the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale (PAIS-SR). The Mann-Whitney test was utilized to compare the PAIS scale between patients with and without insomnia. Multiple linear regression analysis was utilized with the dependent variable, the PAIS scale. Adjusted regression coefficients (β) with standard errors (SE) were computed from the results of the linear regression analyses. Log transformations of the dependent variables were utilized in the multiple linear regression analysis. The results showed that having insomnia was significantly associated with greater difficulty in adjustment to vocational environment (p = 0.008), domestic environment (p < 0.001), sexual relationship (p < 0.001), extended family relationships (p < 0.001), social environment (p < 0.001), and psychological distress (p < 0.001). The findings of this study highlight the vital role of sleep quality in dialysis patients' psychosocial adjustment. Administering individualized sleep management programs such as cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia, sleep hygiene education, and relaxation techniques could help dialysis patients achieve better sleep quality and improve their psychosocial adjustment. Routine screening for sleep disorders should be part of the regular care provided to dialysis patients.

Introduction: Dientamoeba fragilis is a cosmopolitan but overlooked amoeba-like flagellate. It may cause gastrointestinal symptoms similar to those of irritable bowel syndrome. So far, no epidemiological analysis has been conducted in Greece.

Aim: This study aimed to describe the prevalence of D. fragilis infection and its associated factors in the country over the recent decade.

Material and methods: Faecal samples from 1361 Greek patients with possible intestinal parasitosis were tested for parasites including D. fragilis. Laboratory and demographic characteristics of patients with D. fragilis infection were compared to those of patients with Giardia lamblia- and Blastocystis sp.-infection and analysed.

Results: D. fragilis was found in 4.6% of patients with possible enteric parasitosis. It ranked third after Blastocystis sp. (8.4%). It ranked second after G. lamblia (4.9%) among pathogenic intestinal protozoa. D. fragilis-infected women had a high peak at their forties (women's parenting age), while a lesser peak was found in D. fragilis-infected men in their late forties (men's parenting age). D. fragilis was more likely than G. lamblia [PR = 4.70(1.68-13.14)] and Blastocystis sp. [PR = 2.2(1.07-4.90)] to be acquired in rural areas, in which young males (<40 years) were more likely than females to become infected with D. fragilis [MH- PR = 5.76(1.70-19.54)].

Conclusions: D. fragilis was identified at a low rate among Greek patients with possible intestinal parasitosis. Primary care physicians in Greece should be aware of the possibility of D. fragilis infection in people in their parenting age and in young men living in rural areas, when presented with non-specific gastrointestinal symptoms that cannot be explained by other enteropathogens and request further laboratory testing.

Cognitive decline is a critical area of research due to its profound impact on neural integrity, cognitive function, and its association with neurodegenerative diseases. Early identification of cognitive impairment is essential, as it often signals underlying neurological dysfunction, which, if left unaddressed, can lead to progressive mental deterioration. Moreover, cognitive decline extends beyond individual health, influencing high-demand environments where sustained cognitive performance is crucial for safety and decision-making. Heart rate variability (HRV), derived noninvasively from photoplethysmography (PPG), offers a real-time method for detecting autonomic dysregulation linked to cognitive fatigue. Continuous PPG monitoring under conditions of sleep deprivation, combined with machine learning algorithms such as Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, enabled accurate prediction of cognitive states based on HRV patterns through their ability to capture temporal dependencies. The findings reveal significant autonomic disturbances corresponding to mental fatigue, underscoring HRV's potential as a sensitive biomarker for cognitive decline and its applicability in transfer learning frameworks.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have revolutionized our understanding of genetic contributions to complex diseases by identifying single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with disease predisposition. Despite the substantial progress made in identifying risk factors for conditions like cancer and cardiovascular diseases, interpreting the functional impact of identified variants remains a challenge, particularly when silent mutations are involved. Silent mutations, once considered irrelevant to disease mechanisms, have emerged as significant players influencing mRNA formation, splicing, and translation processes. This study utilized the Genetic Association Database (GAD) to analyze and identify the significance of silent mutations across a wide range of diseases, employing advanced machine learning techniques and the Apriori algorithm to extract association rules from a biomedical dataset. The Apriori algorithm was applied to identify strong correlations between diseases and chromosomes, using parameters such as support, confidence, and lift to evaluate the strength and importance of these associations. Our results demonstrated the capability of the Apriori algorithm to uncover biologically meaningful relationships, which could be instrumental in improving our understanding of genetic predispositions and guiding precision medicine efforts. These findings underscore the importance of silent mutations in disease etiology and highlight the potential of bioinformatics tools in unraveling complex genetic interactions.

Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), even at low doses, has been linked to long-term alterations in alcohol-related behaviors, particularly increased alcohol consumption and preference in offspring. This chapter examines how low-dose PAE affects the motivational effects of alcohol, potentially influencing the balance between its rewarding and aversive properties. While high-dose PAE has been extensively studied for its teratogenic effects, the implications of lower, more common exposures remain less understood. Preclinical studies using rodent models suggest that even moderate PAE (1-3 g/kg/day) enhances sensitivity to alcohol's appetitive properties while reducing its aversive effects, promoting future alcohol-seeking behavior. These alterations may be mediated by neurobiological changes, including increased neurogenesis of enkephalin-expressing neurons, disruptions in dopamine and opioid signaling, and modifications in stress-related neural circuits. Behavioral paradigms, such as conditioned place preference and conditioned taste aversion, confirm that PAE enhances the reinforcing effects of ethanol while mitigating its negative consequences. Operant self-administration studies also report greater motivation after PAE. These motivational alterations correlate, albeit with studies not measuring the same variables in the same individual, with increased alcohol consumption in adolescence and adulthood. This chapter further discusses the mechanisms underlying these effects. Understanding the impact of low-dose PAE on alcohol motivation can provide crucial insights into early-life risk factors for problematic drinking and inform preventive interventions.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a pregnancy complication that, according to the World Health Organization, is showing an increasing prevalence trend, mirroring the continuing upward trend of diabetes mellitus (DM) in the general population. The present study was based on the questions of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale DASS-21 and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief WHOQOL-BREF scales (translated into Greek). One hundred five pregnant women aged 21-44 participated in the study. The participants reported good mental health (low levels of stress, anxiety, and depression) with moderate levels of nervousness impacting them. Their social life was at a good level, they were satisfied with the environment they lived in, as well as their daily life; however, their physical health was at a moderate level. Also, the trimester of pregnancy appeared to play an important role in the onset of nervousness and depression in pregnant women with GDM as well as in their quality of life during pregnancy, with pregnant women in the first trimester reporting a lower quality of life than pregnant women in other trimesters. In contrast, women in the second gestational trimester reported the lowest depression rates. There was also an association between age and the prevalence of depression, with younger and older women experiencing depression at a higher frequency. Collectively, the psychological impact of GDM as well as its impact on the quality of life of pregnant women requires further investigation.

Lung cancer is associated with one of the highest cancer-related mortality rates and is the second most prevalent cancer worldwide. Diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer has different challenges as in most cases, and it is often diagnosed late when metastatic spread is widely disseminated. The development of chemo- and radioresistance of lung cancer, as well as a lack of specific treatment, has resulted in a very high mortality and morbidity. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a group of RNAs with a wide spectrum of functions required for homeostasis. These RNAs modulate the expression of proteins posttranslationally and control the cell phenotype. Studies have shown that these RNAs could act as both oncogene and oncosuppressor, and due to their great therapeutic and diagnostic potential, recent studies have also focused on their use as biomarkers for early detection of cancers. Understanding the current findings in this field would help scientists to have an overview about different ncRNAs and their role in lung cancer progression. This chapter explores the landscape of ncRNA research related to lung cancer, highlighting the potential for novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Wound healing is a dynamic and complex process that consists of four interconnected phases: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. This complex process is based on the coordinated actions of growth factors, cytokines, and other cellular interactions. However, conditions such as diabetes and chronic illnesses can disrupt this process and lead to nonhealing wounds or chronic ulcers. This chapter addresses the molecular and cellular mechanisms that control both normal and impaired wound healing, with emphasis on diabetic ulcers, burns, and surgical wounds. Growth factors play a critical role in wound modulation and the potential of therapeutic interventions to restore balanced healing. Advances in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, including hydrogel-based therapies and synthetic polymers, have produced promising solutions for wound management. In addition, 3D bioprinting offers the possibility of producing personalized skin grafts and wound dressings that closely resemble the natural skin structure. Clinical trials are currently evaluating these innovative approaches' effectiveness and highlighting their potential to transform therapeutic outcomes in the treatment of chronic and complex wounds.

Tissue engineering in dentistry is revolutionizing the regeneration of dental pulp. The dental pulp is a specialized connective tissue that plays an important role in maintaining tooth health and supporting healing processes. However, exposure of the pulp to harmful factors, such as infections or trauma, can negatively impact its function, leading to inflammation, tissue necrosis, and ultimately pulp loss. As a solution to these challenges, tissue-engineered vital pulp therapies (VPTs) are emerging as an alternative to conventional root canal treatments. These therapies aim to preserve the vitality of the pulp, stimulate natural healing processes, and restore the dentin-pulp structure. Regenerative dentistry is also exploring tissue repair through innovations such as three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting, exosome-based therapies, and novel scaffold structures.This chapter explores the potential of tissue engineering in dental pulp regeneration, focusing on the role of stem cells, growth factors, scaffolds, and bioactive materials. In particular, stem cells derived from dental pulp are critical to this process due to their ability to differentiate into odontoblast-like cells and promote dentin production. The combination of these stem cells with bioactive scaffolds that release growth factors can significantly enhance the healing of pulp tissue. Furthermore, innovative materials, such as calcium silicate-based materials and bioactive glasses, have shown promising results in pulp regeneration and restorative dentin formation. While the future of these therapies is promising, challenges such as clinical application, long-term efficacy, and cost-effectiveness remain. As research advances, the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and clinical trials will grow in overcoming these barriers.