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Nurses’ perspectives on using mobile health applications in southeastern Iran: Awareness, attitude, and obstacles
Introduction Nurses and patients can now ensure access to qualified healthcare using the new opportunities of mobile health (mHealth) applications (or apps). To use its potential effectively, understanding nurses’ use of this technology is crucial. Here, we examined the awareness, attitudes, and obstacles to using mHealth apps among nurses. Methods We applied a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study from 08/04/2023 to 05/10/2023. Cochran’s formula estimated the sample size of 267 nurses. The researchers used a researcher-made questionnaire for data collection. We used descriptive (mean, standard deviation, frequency, and percentage) and analytical (Pearson and Spearman correlation) statistics for data analysis. Results Most nurses use a smartphone (86%), have an Android operating system installed (82%), and believe that mHealth is useful for nursing (85%), but do not use it for patient care (70.8%). The mean score for awareness, attitude, and obstacles regarding mHealth were 3.74 ± 0.657, 3.49 ± 0.513, and 3.50 ± 0.597 respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between the nurses’ awareness and attitude (r = 0. 289, P < 0.05) and nurses’ awareness and obstacles to using mHealth (r = 0. 171, P < 0.05), but a significant negative correlation between nurses’ attitude and obstacles (r = -0. 031, P < 0.05). Conclusion Despite nurses’ relatively favorable awareness and positive attitude towards the use of mHealth apps, most of them use these technologies for purposes other than patient care. Nurses considered patients’ lack of digital health literacy (DHL) and reluctance to use these technologies as the main obstacles to using mHealth apps. Improving the DHL of users (nurses and especially patients) and providing them with free access to mHealth apps is essential. Ensuring security and making the applications easy to use, as well as educating users, are also important factors. Furthermore, promoting nurses’ understanding of the benefits of mHealth and increasing their willingness to use these technologies is crucial.
Elucidating the role of KCTD10 in coronary atherosclerosis: Harnessing bioinformatics and machine learning to advance understanding
In Vitro and In Silico Antidiabetic Efficacy of Solanum lasiocarpum Dunal Fruit Extract
Exploring the possibility of familiar dietary sources as additional diabetes treatments is crucial, especially considering the financial difficulties related to diabetes mellitus. Using both in vitro and in silico techniques, this work aims to assess the antidiabetic benefits of extract from Solanum lasiocarpum Dunal. The evaluations encompass the ability to scavenge DPPH radicals, inhibition of α-amylase, α-glucosidase, inhibition of DPP-4, cytotoxicity, and glucose absorption kinetics. With an IC50 value of 0.69 ± 0.14 mg/ml, S. lasiocarpum showed encouraging DPPH inhibition. IC50 values of 2.123 ± 0.14 mg/ml inhibited the enzymes α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and DPP-4. Furthermore, a notable increase (P < 0.05) in glucose uptake by L6 myoblasts was observed with the administration of various combinations. In silico analysis, including XP docking and MM-GBSA, revealed that 10 and 21 compounds within the combination exhibited substantial interactions and stable binding capabilities with α-amylase and DPP-4 proteins, indicating their potential as enzyme inhibitors. Therefore, it can be inferred that S. lasiocarpum represents a promising therapeutic approach for diabetes management.
Evaluation of salivary ceruloplasmin for the diagnosis of Wilson’s disease
Correction: Examining the U-shaped relationship between non-agricultural sources water pollution and the urban-rural income gap
Integrative single cell transcriptomic analysis reveals 3p deletion associated tumor microenvironment and chemoresistance in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Synthesis, antibacterial activity, in silico ADMET prediction, docking, and molecular dynamics studies of substituted phenyl and furan ring containing thiazole Schiff base derivatives
This study synthesized eighteen phenyl and furan rings containing thiazole Schiff base derivatives 2(a–r) in five series, and spectral analyses confirmed their structures. The in vitro antibacterial activities of the synthesized analogs against two gram-positive and two gram-negative bacteria were evaluated by disk diffusion technique. Compounds (2d) and (2n) produced prominently high zone of inhibition with 48.3 ± 0.6 mm and 45.3 ± 0.6 mm against B. subtilis, respectively, compared to standard ceftriaxone (20.0 ± 1.0 mm). However, the antibacterial potency of the compounds with furan ring was more notable than that of phenyl ring-containing derivatives. Molecular docking and dynamic study were performed based on the wet lab outcomes of (2d) and (2n), where both derivatives remained in the binding site of the receptors during the whole simulation time with RMSD and RMSF values below 2 nm. In silico ADMET prediction studies of the synthesized compounds validated their oral bioavailability. A more detailed study of the quantitative structure-activity relationship is required to predict structural modification on bioactivity and MD simulation to understand their therapeutic potential and pharmacokinetics.
Improving solar PV performance under bird-dropping conditions with a dual-cooling approach
Abstract The degradation performance of solar photovoltaic (SPV) panels, is a critical issue for its adoption. The current study introduces a novel dual-cooling technique to enhance the performance of the SPV panels under conditions of contamination from bird droppings. The front and backside temperatures, output power, and efficiency of the cooled SPV panels were evaluated and compared. Results showed that the cooling process reduced the front and backside temperatures by 24–47% and 34–48% respectively, compared to contaminated SPV panels. The cooled SPV module exhibited an output current increase of 8–9% and an output voltage increase of 7–9% compared to both contaminated and controlled modules. Consequently, output power for the cooled SPV module increased by 12–33% and 7–12% compared to bird droppings and controlled modules, respectively. Moreover, the overall efficiency of the SPV module dropped to 15% in the presence of bird droppings, compared to 20% with the cooling process was applied. These findings suggest significant potential benefits for large-scale SPV installations, enhancing performance and efficiency.
Development of a questionnaire for problematic social networking sites use: Ensuring content validity through Delphi methodology
Objectives This study aimed to develop a questionnaire to assess problematic social network service use (PSNSU) applicable to both adolescents and adults to ensure content validity. Methods A Delphi survey methodology with a panel of 16 experts was employed from April to June 2024 to ensure the content validity of the PSNSU assessment tool. This study involved three rounds of Delphi surveys to collect both open- and closed-ended responses to the PSNSU questionnaire. Data analysis focused on calculating the content validity ratio (CVR), stability, and consensus of each item. Items that did not meet the threshold criteria were revised or removed based on expert feedback. Results The PSNSU questionnaire initially included three domains and 59 items. Following Round 1 of the Delphi survey, three domains, 11 subdomains, and 43 items were selected. After adding and modifying the domains and items, Round 2 resulted in a questionnaire with two domains, 10 subdomains, and 42 items. In Round 3, the revised PSNSU questionnaire showed an average CVR of 0.99, a stability of 0.10, and consensus of 0.97, thus concluding the Delphi process. Conclusions The final PSNSU questionnaire encompasses a wide range of issues related to addictive behaviors and occupational challenges. Content validity was validated through the Delphi survey, resulting in a comprehensive tool that reflects the multidimensional characteristics of PSNSU across different life stages. This tool can be used for both clinical assessments and research to better understand and address PSNSU.
A qualitative exploration of balancing family, work, and academics among female graduate nursing students in a lower-middle-income country
Association between the ratio of serum uric acid to high density lipoprotein cholesterol and depressive symptoms in middle-aged and elderly Chinese
Background Previous studies have reported that metabolic syndrome is associated with depression. In recent years, the ratio of uric acid to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (UHR) has been considered as a new effective marker of metabolic syndrome. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between UHR and depression in people aged 45 years and older in China using the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study(CHARLS) database. Methods A total of 10,396 subjects aged 45 years and above were included in this cross-sectional study. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10) was used to facilitate rapid screening and assessment of depression. A CESD-10 score of ≥ 10 was considered the critical value of depression. UHR was calculated from the ratio of serum uric acid (mg/dL) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (mg/dL). Linear regression and logistic regression were used to explore the relationship between UHR and depression, respectively. In addition, subgroup analysis and interaction tests were performed. Results The study found that UHR was negatively associated with depression. In the fully adjusted model, every 1-unit increase in UHR was associated with a 14% lower odds of developing depression (OR = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.05-0.37). Participants in the highest quartile of UHR were 24% less likely to develop depression compared with participants in the lowest quartile (OR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.67–0.87). The interaction analysis indicates that this negative correlation is more pronounced in the subgroup aged 60 years and above. Conclusion UHR was significantly negatively correlated with depressive symptoms in the middle-aged and elderly Chinese population. However, further prospective studies are needed to accurately elucidate the causal relationship between increased UHR levels and the risk of depression. Therefore, larger cohort studies are needed to support these findings.
Autologous serum supplementation promotes the phenotype maintenance of human chondrocytes with increased cellular autophagy
Correction: Economic evaluation on meningococcal vaccination strategies among children under nine years of age in Zhejiang province, China
Activation of endogenous retroviruses characterizes the maternal-fetal interface in the BTBR mouse model of autism spectrum disorder
Time series analysis and scaling law characteristics of viral hepatitis from 2004 to 2023 in Zhejiang Province, China
Background Hepatitis significantly increases the global disease burden and has become a major public health issue worldwide. China is a high-risk area for viral hepatitis, which is also a serious public health problem. Methods The scaling relationship between various types of hepatitis and population size was explained by a scaling law. Fixed-effects and random-effects meta-analyses were used to calculate a combined index of β based on the single-scale index from 2004 to 2023. Furthermore, the X11 process was employed to identify the structural components of the time series of various types of hepatitis. Results In the past 20 years, the proportion of patients with viral hepatitis in Zhejiang Province has changed significantly, and hepatitis B remains the main type of hepatitis, accounting for approximately 70% of all hepatitis cases. The proportion of hepatitis C and E cases has been increasing, whereas the proportion of hepatitis A cases has been decreasing since 2004 and has remained at a low level (approximately 3%) since 2010. The combined scaling exponents of hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis E and unclassified hepatitis based on the random effects model were 0.88 (95% confidence interval(CI): 0.78 to 0.98), 0.78 (95% CI: 0.70 to 0.86), 1.18 (95% CI: 1.11 to 1.26), 0.91 (95% CI: 0.86 to 0.97) and 0.89 (95% CI: 0.79 to 1.00), respectively. Conclusion In the past 20 years, the epidemic situation of hepatitis A, hepatitis B and unclassified hepatitis has shown a significant downward trend, whereas the proportions of hepatitis C and hepatitis E among those with viral hepatitis have increased annually. The combined scaling exponent and development trends of the five types of hepatitis show significant heterogeneity. Overall, hepatitis C exhibits superlinear characteristics, whereas other types of hepatitis exhibit sublinear characteristics. Different types of hepatitis exhibit distinct epidemic characteristics and require targeted prevention and control measures.
Music tempo modulates emotional states as revealed through EEG insights
Medical students’ perception of paid E-learning
Background In addition to the medical school curriculum, medical students often take the initiative to incorporate external paid digital educational resources, especially during the pandemic. In this study, we organized an exemplary questionnaire method to enable evidence-based decisions before providing paid e-learning resources to medical students. Methods An online form was distributed to all registered medical students at a Turkish medical school, and the compiled responses were subjected to statistical analysis. The participants were queried about their general background, post-graduation plans, use of study materials, purpose and perceived benefits of utilizing paid e-learning resources, as well as any financial burden or opinions regarding the associated costs. Results A total of 119 medical students participated in the online form. The findings revealed that 87% of the participants reported using paid e-learning resources for school exams, with 71.5% of them indicating an improvement in their exam scores. Approximately 26.1% of the participants did not specify any change. When asked to rate the cost of using paid e-learning resources on a scale of 1 to 10, the average score was 8.6 ± 1.58. Furthermore, 40% of the participants relied on repeated free demo sessions, while only 27% reported paying the fees associated with these resources. Conclusions With the evolution of medical education, particularly in the aftermath of the pandemic, medical students are increasingly seeking to supplement their medical curriculum, pursue self-interests, and engage in extracurricular research by utilizing paid e-learning resources. However, the costs associated with these resources often prevent some students from fully benefiting from them. Therefore, it is essential for medical schools to make evidence-based decisions to support their students, recognizing that digitally available resources play an integral role in the assimilation of medical education.
Synthesis and antitumor evaluation of amino acid conjugates of monocarbonyl curcumin in hepatocellular carcinoma cell
ECHS1 as a Lipid Metabolism Biomarker for Pediatric Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis
Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a common cause of nephrotic syndrome and often leads to end-stage renal disease. However, the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms that contribute to disease progression require further investigation to establish appropriate therapeutic targets and biomarkers. This study aimed to clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying FSGS by focusing on differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and lipid metabolism-related genes (LMRGs). We utilized the GSE69814, GSE129973, and GSE121233 datasets, which comprise glomerular transcriptomes from patients with FSGS, minimal change disease (MCD), and unaffected kidney tissues. We identified 2,459 DEGs from the GSE69814 dataset and 982 DEGs from the GSE129973 dataset. These DEGs intersected 1,450 LMRGs, resulting in 56 differentially expressed LMRGs (DELMRGs). Enrichment analysis revealed that these DELMRGs were primarily involved in fatty acid metabolic processes; localized in microbodies, peroxisomes, and mitochondrial matrices; and exhibited oxidoreductase activity. Protein-protein interaction networks were constructed using Cytoscape, and five hub DELMRGs (enoyl-CoA hydratase, short chain 1 [ECHS1], EHHADH, IDH1, SUCLG1, and ALDH3A2) were identified using multiple algorithms. We assessed the diagnostic performance using receiver operating characteristic curves and expression levels from the GSE121233 dataset, and found that ECHS1 and ALDH3A2 showed strong diagnostic potential. Immunohistochemical verification of clinical specimens from children confirmed significant expression of ECHS1 in FSGS compared with that in normal and MCD tissues. This study highlights ECHS1 as a potential biomarker for pediatric FSGS, suggesting a potential role in early diagnosis or personalized treatment, offering insights into its pathogenesis and paving the way for targeted therapeutic strategies.