Scanning ultrasound-mediated memory and functional improvements do not require amyloid-β reduction

A prevalent view in treating age-dependent disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD) is that the underlying amyloid plaque pathology must be targeted for cognitive improvements. In contrast, we report here that repeated scanning ultrasound (SUS) treatment at 1 MHz frequency can ameliorate memory deficits in the APP23 mouse model of AD without reducing amyloid-β (Aβ) burden. Different from previous studies that had shown Aβ clearance as a consequence of blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening, here, the BBB was not opened as no microbubbles were used. Quantitative SWATH proteomics and functional magnetic resonance imaging revealed that ultrasound induced long-lasting functional changes that correlate with the improvement in memory. Intriguingly, the treatment was more effective at a higher frequency (1 MHz) than at a frequency within the range currently explored in clinical trials in AD patients (286 kHz). Together, our data suggest frequency-dependent bio-effects of ultrasound and a dissociation of cognitive improvement and Aβ clearance, with important implications for the design of trials for AD therapies.

Capillary blood protein markers of posttraumatic headache in children after concussion

OBJECTIVE

Posttraumatic headache (PTH) represents the most common acute and persistent symptom in children after concussion, yet there is no blood protein signature to stratify the risk of PTH after concussion to facilitate early intervention. This discovery study aimed to identify capillary blood protein markers, at emergency department (ED) presentation within 48 hours of concussion, to predict children at risk of persisting PTH at 2 weeks postinjury.

METHODS

Capillary blood was collected using the Mitra Clamshell device from children aged 8-17 years who presented to the ED of the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, within 48 hours of sustaining a concussion. Participants were followed up at 2 weeks postinjury to determine PTH status. PTH was defined per clinical guidelines as a new or worsened headache compared with preinjury. An untargeted proteomics analysis using data-independent acquisition (DIA) was performed. Principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering were used to reduce the dimensionality of the protein dataset.

RESULTS

A total of 907 proteins were reproducibly identified from 82 children within 48 hours of concussion. The mean participant age was 12.78 years (SD 2.54 years, range 8-17 years); 70% of patients were male. Eighty percent met criteria for acute PTH in the ED, while one-third of participants with follow-up experienced PTH at 2 weeks postinjury (range 8-16 days). Hemoglobin subunit zeta (HBZ), cystatin B (CSTB), beta-ala-his dipeptidase (CNDP1), hemoglobin subunit gamma-1 (HBG1), and zyxin (ZYX) were weakly associated with PTH at 2 weeks postinjury based on up to a 7% increase in the PTH group despite nonsignificant Benjamini-Hochberg adjusted p values.

CONCLUSIONS

This discovery study determined that no capillary blood protein markers, measured at ED presentation within 48 hours of concussion, can predict children at risk of persisting PTH at 2 weeks postinjury. While HBZ, CSTB, CNDP1, HBG1, and ZYX were weakly associated with PTH at 2 weeks postinjury, there was no specific blood protein signature predictor of PTH in children after concussion. There is an urgent need to discover new blood biomarkers associated with PTH to facilitate risk stratification and improve clinical management of pediatric concussion.

Effects of lavender oil on odor elimination, ostomy adjustment and quality of life in patients with permanent colostomy: A randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to assess the impact of lavender oil on odor elimination, ostomy adjustment and quality of life outcomes in patients with permanent colostomy. Specifically, the study aims to compare the outcomes of an experimental group receiving lavender oil intervention with those of a control group.

METHODS

A randomized controlled trial design was employed, including an experimental group receiving lavender oil intervention and a control group receiving standard care. The study participants were patients with permanent colostomy. Various variables were assessed, including odor scale, work and social functioning, sexuality and body image, stoma function, financial concerns, acceptance, anxiety/preoccupation, social engagement and anger.

RESULTS

The post-scores assessment showed significant differences between the experimental and control groups in all variables. The experimental group exhibited significantly more positive outcomes concerning the reduction of odor (p<0.001), performance in the workplace (p<0.001), body image connected to sexuality (p<0.001), stoma functionality (p<0.001), financial worries (p=0.005), acceptance levels (p<0.001), anxiety levels (p<0.001), social involvement (p<0.001), and irritability (p<0.001). Effect sizes were substantial (=0.88-0.98 in all variables but one), indicating significant differences in average scores before and after the intervention.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study suggest that lavender oil intervention effectively improved odor elimination, ostomy adjustment and quality of life outcomes in patients with permanent colostomy.

Validation and cross-cultural adaptation of the six-dimension scale of nursing performance- arabic version

BACKGROUND

Nursing performance is a key indicator of patients' care quality and safety. Most healthcare research tools are available in the English language; however, nurses around the world can employ these tools if rigorously adapted and cross-culturally validated.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

This study aims to provide a cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the six-dimension scale of nursing performance to be used among Arabic-speaking nurses.

DESIGN

The study employed a descriptive, correlational design with a cross-sectional approach.

METHODS

A five-step cross-cultural adaptation process was adopted. The scale was administered to 216 Jordanian nurses between January 2022 to April 2022. SPSS and AMOS were used for descriptive and correlation analyses and testing the six-dimension model through structural equation modeling (SEM).

RESULTS

The current study produced a valid, reliable, culturally adapted Arabic language version of the six-dimension scale of nursing performance. The internal consistency of the tool was supported by a Cronbach Alpha's value of 0.99. The model's goodness of fit indices were: CFI = 0.96, RMSEA = 0.048, and CMIN/df = 1.49. The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of the scale identified three factors with eigenvalues greater than 1.00., explaining 75.22% of the variance. A subsequent EFA, specifying six factors, yielded 79.79% explained variance. All item factor loadings exceeded 0.30, confirming the scale's robust factor structure.

CONCLUSIONS

This study proved that following a robust cross-cultural adaptation process results in a reliable and valid measure of nursing performance to be used among Arabic-speaking nurses. The study supports the dimensionality of nursing performance as evidenced by the SEM results. Therefore, the findings have the potential to considerably enhance studying nursing performance in healthcare fields in Arabic-speaking nurses.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

The validation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Arabic version of the Six-Dimension Scale of Nursing Performance have direct implications for improving the quality of nursing services, enhancing patient safety, promoting cultural competence, and supporting the professional growth of Arabic-speaking nurses.

Mind bomb 2 limits inflammatory dermatitis in Sharpin mutant mice independently of cell death

Skin inflammation is a complex process implicated in various dermatological disorders. The chronic proliferative dermatitis (cpd) phenotype driven by the cpd mutation (cpdm) in the Sharpin gene is characterized by dermal inflammation and epidermal abnormalities. Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and caspase-8-driven cell death causes the pathogenesis of Sharpincpdm mice; however, the role of mind bomb 2 (MIB2), a pro-survival E3 ubiquitin ligase involved in TNF signaling, in skin inflammation remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate that MIB2 antagonizes inflammatory dermatitis in the context of the cpd mutation. Surprisingly, the role of MIB2 in limiting skin inflammation is independent of its known pro-survival function and E3 ligase activity. Instead, MIB2 enhances the production of wound-healing molecules, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and Eotaxin, within the skin. This discovery advances our comprehension of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines associated with cpdm pathogenesis and highlights the significance of MIB2 in inflammatory skin disease that is independent of its ability to regulate TNF-induced cell death.

S100 family proteins are linked to organoid morphology and EMT in pancreatic cancer

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a continuum that includes epithelial, partial EMT, and mesenchymal states, each of which is associated with cancer progression, invasive capabilities, and ultimately, metastasis. We used a lineage-traced sporadic model of pancreatic cancer to generate a murine organoid biobank from primary and secondary tumors, including sublines that underwent partial EMT and complete EMT. Using an unbiased proteomics approach, we found that organoid morphology predicts the EMT state, and the solid organoids are associated with a partial EMT signature. We also observed that exogenous TGFβ1 induces solid organoid morphology that is associated with changes in the S100 family, complete EMT, and the formation of high-grade tumors. S100A4 may be a useful biomarker for predicting EMT state, disease progression, and outcome in patients with pancreatic cancer.

TGF-β and CIS inhibition overcomes NK cell suppression to restore anti-tumor immunity

Antibodies targeting "immune checkpoints" have revolutionized cancer therapy by reactivating tumor-resident cytotoxic lymphocytes, primarily CD8+ T cells. Interest in targeting analogous pathways in other cytotoxic lymphocytes is growing. Natural killer (NK) cells are key to cancer immunosurveillance by eradicating metastases and driving solid tumor inflammation. NK cell anti-tumor function is dependent on the cytokine interleukin (IL)-15. Ablation of the IL-15 signaling inhibitor CIS (Cish) enhances NK cell anti-tumor immunity by increasing NK cell metabolism and persistence within the tumor microenvironment (TME). The TME has also been shown to impair NK cell fitness via the production of immunosuppressive TGF-β, a suppression which occurs even in the presence of high IL-15 signaling. Here, we identified an unexpected interaction between CIS and the TGF-β signaling pathway in NK cells. Independently, Cish- and Tgfbr2-deficient NK cells are both hyper-responsive to IL-15 and hypo-responsive to TGF-β, with dramatically enhanced anti-tumor immunity. Remarkably, when both these immunosuppressive genes are simultaneously deleted in NK cells, mice are largely resistant to tumor development, suggesting that combining suppression of these two pathways might represent a novel therapeutic strategy to enhance innate anti-cancer immunity.