Psychosocial issues of women with type 1 diabetes transitioning to motherhood: a structured literature review

BACKGROUND: Life transitions often involve complex decisions, challenges and changes that affect diabetes management. Transition to motherhood is a major life event accompanied by increased risk that the pregnancy will lead to or accelerate existing diabetes-related complications, as well as risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, all of which inevitably increase anxiety. The frequency of hyperglycaemia and hypoglycaemia often increases during pregnancy, which causes concern for the health and physical well-being of the mother and unborn child. This review aimed to examine the experiences of women with T1DM focusing on the pregnancy and postnatal phases of their transition to motherhood. METHODS: The structured literature review comprised a comprehensive search strategy identifying primary studies published in English between 1990-2012. Standard literature databases were searched along with the contents of diabetes-specific journals. Reference lists of included studies were checked. Search terms included: 'diabetes', 'type 1', 'pregnancy', 'motherhood', 'transition', 'social support', 'quality of life' and 'psychological well-being'. RESULT: Of 112 abstracts returned, 62 articles were reviewed in full-text, and 16 met the inclusion criteria. There was a high level of diversity among these studies but three common key themes were identified. They related to physical (maternal and fetal) well-being, psychological well-being and social environment. The results were synthesized narratively. CONCLUSION: Women with type 1 diabetes experience a variety of psychosocial issues in their transition to motherhood: increased levels of anxiety, diabetes-related distress, guilt, a sense of disconnectedness from health professionals, and a focus on medicalisation of pregnancy rather than the positive transition to motherhood. A trusting relationship with health professionals, sharing experiences with other women with diabetes, active social support, shared decision and responsibilities for diabetes management assisted the women to make a positive transition. Health professionals can promote a positive transition to motherhood by proactively supporting women with T1DM in informed decision-making, by facilitating communication within the healthcare team and co-ordinating care for women with type 1 diabetes transitioning to motherhood

AurkA inhibitors enhance the effects of B-RAF and MEK inhibitors in melanoma treatment

Background Aurora Kinase A (AurkA), one of the key regulators of M phase progression, is ver-expressed in melanoma and has been observed to limit tumor growth [1, 2]. The otential use of this molecule as target for biological therapy in melanoma has been examined. Materials and methods A375mel (BRAFV600E) melanoma cell line was used in this study. The cell line was exposed to B-RAF inhibitor (GSK2118436), MEK inhibitor (GSK1120212) and AurkA inhibitor (MLN8054) as single agents or in various combinations (B-RAF plus AurkA inhibitor, MEK plus AurkA inhibitor) or in triple combination (B-RAF plus MEK plus AurkA inhibitor). The effects on the cell growth of drugs, used as single agents and as different combinations, were examined by the xCELLigence technology. Total protein extracts were examined for p53 and c-myc protein expression by Western Blot analysis. The drug’s efficacy was also tested by using a 3D-human melanoma skin reconstruction model. Results A375 (BRAFV600E) melanoma cells treatment with AurkA inhibitors in combination with B-RAF and/or MEK inhibitors alone and/or with both B-RAF/MEK inhibitors, increased the anti-tumor efficacy of the drugs than given as single agents. The AurkA inhibitors enhancing anti-melanoma effect on B-RAF and MEK inhibitors was furthermore confirmed in a 3D-human melanoma model, where it was restricted to a melanoma cell sub-population localized at epithelial/dermal junction site. However, S-100 and Ki-67 positively stained spindle-shaped cells were detected in the dermal stratum, suggesting the presence of alive and proliferating melanoma cells. Conclusions These findings provide new prospects for melanoma research. For the first time, based on these results, it was observed that the triple combination treatment was more efficacious as anti-melanoma therapy. Interesting, the treatment was efficacious only on polygonal-shaped melanoma cells present at the epidermal/dermal junction site as small nests, while spindle-shaped melanoma cells present in the dermal stratum remained alive and proliferating. This finding suggested that these cells may account of the drug resistance and so be responsible of disease recurrence later on. Molecular characterization of these dermal cells may be critical for the development of novel therapeutic strategies

Multi-messenger observations of a binary neutron star merger

On 2017 August 17 a binary neutron star coalescence candidate (later designated GW170817) with merger time 12:41:04 UTC was observed through gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor independently detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) with a time delay of ~1.7 s with respect to the merger time. From the gravitational-wave signal, the source was initially localized to a sky region of 31 deg2 at a luminosity distance of 40+8-8 Mpc and with component masses consistent with neutron stars. The component masses were later measured to be in the range 0.86 to 2.26 Mo. An extensive observing campaign was launched across the electromagnetic spectrum leading to the discovery of a bright optical transient (SSS17a, now with the IAU identification of AT 2017gfo) in NGC 4993 (at ~40 Mpc) less than 11 hours after the merger by the One- Meter, Two Hemisphere (1M2H) team using the 1 m Swope Telescope. The optical transient was independently detected by multiple teams within an hour. Subsequent observations targeted the object and its environment. Early ultraviolet observations revealed a blue transient that faded within 48 hours. Optical and infrared observations showed a redward evolution over ~10 days. Following early non-detections, X-ray and radio emission were discovered at the transient’s position ~9 and ~16 days, respectively, after the merger. Both the X-ray and radio emission likely arise from a physical process that is distinct from the one that generates the UV/optical/near-infrared emission. No ultra-high-energy gamma-rays and no neutrino candidates consistent with the source were found in follow-up searches. These observations support the hypothesis that GW170817 was produced by the merger of two neutron stars in NGC4993 followed by a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) and a kilonova/macronova powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei synthesized in the ejecta

Problematizing the multidisciplinary residency in oncology: a practical teaching protocol from the perspective of nurse residents

Objective: To investigate practical teaching of nurse residents in a multidisciplinary residency in oncology. Method: A qualitative descriptive study grounded in the problematization methodology and its steps, represented by the Maguerez Arch. Data were analyzed using content analysis. Results: Potentiating and limiting elements of the residency guided the design of a practical teaching protocol from the perspective of residents, structured in three stages: Welcoming and ambience; Nursing care for problem situations; and, Evaluation process. Conclusion: Systematization of practical teaching promoted the autonomy of individuals and the approximation of teaching to reality, making residency less strenuous, stressful and distressing

Si-doped and nanocomposite Si-diamond films: cathodoluminescence and ohotoluminescence characterizations of Si centers

technique. These films are of great interest for optoelectronic applications, but it has been experienced that the structural and optical properties of such composite materials depend dramatically on both concentration and distribution of Si defects. In this work Micro-Raman spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Photoluminescence (PL), and Cathodoluminescence (CL) techniques have been employed to explore the 1.68 eV Si-related centers in polycrystalline CVD diamond films. The spatial distribution of these defects inside the diamond lattice has been studied by performing a series of CL, PL and Raman mapping with a sub- and micrometric resolution. The results allowed to correlate the emission features with the crystallographic orientation, evidencing more intense luminescence signals from (100) faces of diamond crystallites. As regards the Si distribution, the PL analysis evidenced that Si centers are preferentially located in proximity of the dislocations in the diamond crystal lattice. Moreover, the Raman signal shift of diamond peak position indicates that the Si centers give rise to a slight compressive stress, dependent on the Si concentration. Overall, the investigations carried out confirm that this CVD approach affords versatility with regards the insertion of Si centers inside the diamond lattice together with the insertion of Si nanoparticles in the diamond matrix and is suitable for production of purpose-designed optical layers

Genome organization, phylogenies, expression patterns, and three-dimensional protein models of two acetylcholinesterase genes from the red flour beetle

Citation: Lu, Y., . . . & Zhu, K. (2012). Genome Organization, Phylogenies, Expression Patterns, and Three-Dimensional Protein Models of Two Acetylcholinesterase Genes from the Red Flour Beetle. PLoS ONE, 7(2). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0032288Since the report of a paralogous acetylcholinesterase (AChE, EC3.1.1.7) gene in the greenbug (Schizaphis graminum) in 2002, two different AChE genes (Ace1 and Ace2) have been identified in each of at least 27 insect species. However, the gene models of Ace1 and Ace2, and their molecular properties have not yet been comprehensively analyzed in any insect species. In this study, we sequenced the full-length cDNAs, computationally predicted the corresponding three-dimensional protein models, and profiled developmental stage and tissue-specific expression patterns of two Ace genes from the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum; TcAce1 and TcAce2), a globally distributed major pest of stored grain products and an emerging model organism. TcAce1 and TcAce2 encode 648 and 604 amino acid residues, respectively, and have conserved motifs including a choline-binding site, a catalytic triad, and an acyl pocket. Phylogenetic analysis show that both TcAce genes are grouped into two insect Ace clusters and TcAce1 is completely diverged from TcAce2, suggesting that these two genes evolve from their corresponding Ace gene lineages in insect species. In addition, TcAce1 is located on chromosome 5, whereas TcAce2 is located on chromosome 2. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and quantitative realtime PCR analyses indicate that both genes are virtually transcribed in all the developmental stages and predominately expressed in the insect brain. Our computational analyses suggest that the TcAce1 protein is a robust acetylcholine (ACh) hydrolase and has susceptibility to sulfhydryl agents whereas the TcAce2 protein is not a catalytically efficient ACh hydrolase