Switching off automatic pilot to promote wellbeing and performance in the workplace: the role of mindfulness and basic psychological needs satisfaction

Introduction and method

Building on self-determination theory, this study aims to advance the happy-productive worker thesis by examining a sequential mediation linking trait mindfulness to task performance through basic psychological need satisfaction and psychological wellbeing at work. Whereas most of the papers published on the topic stem from USA and Europe, we tested our model in a Canadian sample of 283 French-speaking workers.

Results

Based on structural equation modeling, results show that the three need satisfactions at work mediate the relationship between trait mindfulness and psychological wellbeing at work. Rather than observing a sequential mediation, we find an indirect effect of trait mindfulness on task performance through the satisfaction for one of the basic psychological need (i.e., competence).

Discussion

The present research goes beyond previous studies by exploring a new pair of happy construct-productive criteria alongside an emergent intrapersonal factor contributing to this relationship.

Clinical impact of positive Propionibacterium acnes cultures in orthopedic surgery

BACKGROUND

The clinical significance of a positive culture to Propionibacterium acnes in orthopedic specimens remains unclear, whether about its role as a contaminant or a pathogen, or its impact as a coinfectant. Therefore, we performed a retrospective study to provide a more accurate description of the clinical impact of P. acnes in an orthopedic population aiming to determine: 1) if there is a clinical difference between P. acnes infection and contamination? 2) If there is a clinical difference between P. acnes monoinfection, and coinfection.

HYPOTHESIS

There is a clinical difference between P. acnes infection and contamination.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients were selected over a five-year period, and those with a minimum of one positive culture for P. acnes, from any intraoperative orthopedic tissue sample, were included in the study. P. acnes infection was defined as the isolation of P. acnes from≥2 specimens, or in only one specimen, in the presence of typical perioperative findings and/or local signs of infection.

RESULTS

A total of 68 patients had a positive P. acnes culture, 35 of which were considered to be infected. The infections affected mostly males (29/35-83%), occurred mostly in shoulders (22/35-63%), and at a site already containing an orthopedic implant (32/35-91%). Local inflammatory signs were present in half of the cases when an infection was diagnosed. Coinfection with other pathogens was present in 31% of patients (11/35). When comparing patients coinfected with P. acnes, and those who were monoinfected, the latter presented less often with local inflammatory signs. Recurrence rate was 24% (8/35) and the only risk factor for recurrence was the presence of a monoinfection.

DISCUSSION

This study confirms the pathogenicity of P. acnes in an orthopedic population, as it is present in multiple samples in the same patient, and because it is present in cultures from cases with clinical recurrence. Our study showed that monoinfections differ from coinfections mainly by their higher risk of recurrence.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV retrospective case series.

The impact of a standardized order set for the management of non-hip fragility fractures in a Fracture Liaison Service

We analysed the impact of a standardized order set empowering staff nurses to independently manage a Fracture Liaison Service over a 9-month period. Nurses identified between 30 and 70 % of non-hip fragility fractures to the unit in charge of management over time. The latter managed 58 % of referred patients.

INTRODUCTION

The main goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of a standardized order set empowering nurses to independently manage a fracture liaison service (FLS).

METHODS

Since November 2014, an order set allowed nurses of a Montreal hospital, Quebec, Canada to entirely manage an FLS on their own. Nurses followed an 6-h training program on-site. Emergency department (ED) and orthopaedic outpatient clinic (OC) nurses identified non-hip fragility fractures. Medical day treatment unit (MDTU) nurses were in charge of the management (investigation and treatment initiation). The list of patients, 50 years and older, with a fracture were retrieved for the period of November 2014 to July 2015. Performance was assessed with the rate of identification over time and the rate of management of non-hip fragility fractures.

RESULTS

Over the 9-month period, 346 patients of ≥50 years old were seen for a fracture, of which 190 met fragility criteria (excluding hip fractures). A sinusoid pattern of rates of identification between 30-70 % was observed over time. An average proportion of 58.1 % of fracture patients were managed by MDTU nurses.

CONCLUSIONS

A standardized order set legally allowing nurses to manage an FLS led to identification rates varying from 30-70 % and a management rate close to 60 % for referred patients over a 9-month period, which largely exceeds that of standard care. Identification was mostly compromised by difficulty integrating the order set into routine practice. Enforcement of the hospital policy on fragility fractures could help yield efficiency of identification of osteoporosis-related fractures by the staff.

The response of a fast scintillator screen (YAP:Ce) to low energy ions (0-40 keV) and its use to detect fast-ion-loss in stellarator TJ-II

A systematic study of scintillation materials was undertaken to improve the time resolution of the fast ion diagnostic currently installed at TJ-II stellarator. It was found that YAP:Ce (formula YAlO₃:Ce, Yttrium Aluminum Perovskite doped with Cerium) ionoluminescence offers better sensitivity and time response compared to the standard detector material, SrGa₂S₄:Eu (TG-Green), currently used in TJ-II. A comparison between both materials was carried out by irradiating them with H⁺ ions of up to 40 keV using a dedicated laboratory setup. It is found that for the low energy ions of interest at TJ-II, YAP:Ce offers 20 times higher sensitivity than TG-Green and much faster decay time, 27 ns versus 540 ns. It is expected that the use of YAP:Ce in combination with a faster data acquisition and an ion counting software as part of the TJ-II ion luminescent probe will provide 20 times faster data on ion loss.

Knowledge transfer on complex social interventions in public health: a scoping study

OBJECTIVES

Scientific knowledge can help develop interventions that improve public health. The objectives of this review are (1) to describe the status of research on knowledge transfer strategies in the field of complex social interventions in public health and (2) to identify priorities for future research in this field.

METHOD

A scoping study is an exploratory study. After searching databases of bibliographic references and specialized periodicals, we summarized the relevant studies using a predetermined assessment framework. In-depth analysis focused on the following items: types of knowledge transfer strategies, fields of public health, types of publics, types of utilization, and types of research specifications.

RESULTS

From the 1,374 references identified, we selected 26 studies. The strategies targeted mostly administrators of organizations and practitioners. The articles generally dealt with instrumental utilization and most often used qualitative methods. In general, the bias risk for the studies is high.

CONCLUSION

Researchers need to consider the methodological challenges in this field of research in order to improve assessment of more complex knowledge transfer strategies (when they exist), not just diffusion/dissemination strategies and conceptual and persuasive utilization.

Games network and application to PAs system

In this article, we present a game theory based framework, named games network, for modeling biological interactions. After introducing the theory, we more precisely describe the methodology to model biological interactions. Then we apply it to the plasminogen activator system (PAs) which is a signal transduction pathway involved in cancer cell migration. The games network theory extends game theory by including the locality of interactions. Each game in a games network represents local interactions between biological agents. The PAs system is implicated in cytoskeleton modifications via regulation of actin and microtubules, which in turn favors cell migration. The games network model has enabled us a better understanding of the regulation involved in the PAs system.

Expression of the acetylcholine release mechanism in various cells and reconstruction of the release mechanism in non-releasing cells

After loading cells in culture with acetylcholine (ACh), it was possible to identify cells that express a calcium-dependent release mechanism and cells that do not release. Mediatophore transfection restored the release capability of non-releasing cells. The transfection of choline acetyltransferase and the vesicular ACh transporter (VAChT) in cells that have already mediatophore in their membrane enables to study the effect of VAChT on the release kinetics. We also studied the properties of the mediatophore "pore" as a function of the concentration of ACh and also its temporal properties. A reconstruction of the release mechanism in cells particularly graftable cells, appears now possibly for ACh and probably for other transmitters.

Functional evaluation in distal femoral endoprosthetic replacement for bone sarcoma

A multicenter study of successfully treated patients (mean age, 36.7 years) with a minimum 1-year followup (average, 35.4 months) after distal femoral endoprosthetic replacement for bone sarcoma was done using the 1987 and 1993 versions of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society, the Short Form-36, and the Toronto Extremity Salvage Score functional evaluation criteria. Fifty-six patients (28 women and 28 men) fulfilled the criteria. Thirty-one Kotz prostheses (fixed hinge, uncemented) and 25 Modular Replacement System Prostheses (rotating hinge, cemented) were used. Thirty-five patients walked without aids, 19 used a cane, and two used crutches or a walker. The Musculoskeletal Tumor Society 1987 mean score was 28.1. The Musculoskeletal Tumor Society 1993 mean score was 80.4. The Toronto Extremity Salvage Score mean was 81.6. The Short Form-36 Physical Component Score had a mean of 43.2 and Mental Component Score mean of 54.2. The two groups of implants were comparable, except for the length of bone resection. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that patient age, existence of a pathologic fracture, and type of prosthesis all significantly accounted for differences in functional outcome as measured by the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society 1993, the Toronto Extremity Salvage Score, and the Short Form-36 Physical Component Score scales. Although both implants provided satisfactory function, the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society 1993 and the Toronto Extremity Salvage Score results were significantly better with the Modular Replacement System prosthesis. The effect of possible differences among surgeons or institutions was not addressed.

Effect of brefeldin A on acetylcholine release from glioma C6BU-1 cells

The glial C6BU-1 cell line, loaded with acetylcholine can release this neurotransmitter. This study was aimed at determining whether disruption of the Golgi-vesicular traffic by brefeldin A would change the acetylcholine release from these cells and affect proteins involved in transmitter release like the 15 kDa proteolipid, common to V-ATPase and mediatophore. Cells were treated for 24 or 36 h with brefeldin A (35.7 microM). The observed changes in cell morphology were typical for brefeldin A treated cells in which protein membrane supply has been stopped. Inhibition of membrane protein supply was confirmed in the present work. Moreover, the 15 kDa proteolipid also decayed to a very low level in the cell membrane fraction. The release of acetylcholine evoked by a calcium challenge and a calcium ionophore, or by electrical pulses decreased markedly. The life time of the release mechanism was of the order of 36 h and half decayed in 24 h. In addition, the electrically evoked release became much shorter. Considering that C6BU-1 cells are able to release large amounts of ACh and their membranes contain a sizeable amount of the 15 kDa proteolipid, these results suggest that this proteolipid may be one of the proteins forming the membrane complex responsible for transmitter release, at least in these cells.

[Treatment of diaphyseal femoral fractures in children: a clinical study]

Many therapeutic modalities have been reported for the management of femoral shaft fractures in children and young adolescents but there is no consensus on the preferable method.

PURPOSE

To compare the malunion rate of femoral shaft fractures in children treated either by traction and spica cast or traction and functional brace.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Between 1982 and 1984 a prospective study was carried out in a tertiary pediatric university hospital on 43 patients (24 boys, 19 girls) with a closed femoral shaft fracture. The patient's age ranged from 5 to 13 years old. Open, pathologic, subtrochanteric and physeal fractures were excluded. Fifteen (15) patients were treated by a functional brace and 28 were treated by a spica cast. Clinical and radiological assessments of all patients were performed 5 years or more after the fracture by an independent observer. A malunion occurred if one of these criteria were met: an angulation > or = 10 degrees in the coronal plane, an angulation > or = 15 degrees in the sagittal plane, a malrotation > or = 15 degrees by opposition to the other leg, and a discrepancy > or = 10 mm between femur's length.

RESULTS

A malunion was found in 17 patients, 6 in the functional brace and 11 in the spica cast group (p > 0.05). The leg length discrepancy was the most common type of malunion. The length of stay was not significantly different between both treatment groups. The functional brace was worn longer than the spica cast.

CONCLUSION

There was no statistical difference between the malunion rate of children treated by traction-spica cast and traction-functional brace. The functional brace appears to be a good alternative for the treatment for femoral shaft fracture in children allowing an earlier ambulation than spica cast.

Evoked acetylcholine release by immortalized brain endothelial cells genetically modified to express choline acetyltransferase and/or the vesicular acetylcholine transporter

Immortalized rat brain endothelial RBE4 cells do not express choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), but they do express an endogenous machinery that enables them to release specifically acetylcholine (ACh) on calcium entry when they have been passively loaded with the neurotransmitter. Indeed, we have previously reported that these cells do not release glutamate or GABA after loading with these transmitters. The present study was set up to engineer stable cell lines producing ACh by transfecting them with an expression vector construct containing the rat ChAT. ChAT transfectants expressed a high level of ChAT activity and accumulated endogenous ACh. We examined evoked ACh release from RBE4 cells using two parallel approaches. First, Ca2+-dependent ACh release induced by a calcium ionophore was followed with a chemiluminescent procedure. We showed that ChAT-transfected cells released the transmitter they had synthesized and accumulated in the presence of an esterase inhibitor. Second, ACh released on an electrical depolarization was detected in real time by a whole-cell voltage-clamped Xenopus myocyte in contact with the cell. Whether cells synthesized ACh or whether they were passively loaded with ACh, electrical stimulation elicited the release of ACh quanta detected as inward synaptic-like currents in the myocyte. Repetitive stimulation elicited a continuous train of responses of decreasing amplitudes, with rare failures. Amplitude analysis showed that the currents peaked at preferential levels, as if they were multiples of an elementary component. Furthermore, we selected an RBE4 transgenic clone exhibiting a high level of ChAT activity to introduce the Torpedo vesicular ACh transporter (VAChT) gene. However, as the expression of ChAT was inactivated in stable VAChT transfectants, the potential influence of VAChT on evoked ACh release could only be studied on cells passively loaded with ACh. VAChT expression modified the pattern of ACh delivery on repetitive electrical stimulation. Stimulation trains evoked several groups of responses interrupted by many failures. The total amount of released ACh and the mean quantal size were not modified. As brain endothelial cells are known as suitable cellular vectors for delivering gene products to the brain, the present results suggest that RBE4 cells genetically modified to produce ACh and intrinsically able to support evoked ACh release may provide a useful tool for improving altered cholinergic function in the CNS.

Postsurgical management with maxillary obturators after maxillectomy

A partial or complete maxillectomy may be required for the treatment of oral carcinoma, which may cause functional, esthetic, and hygienic deficiencies. The placement of a surgical obturator at the time of surgery can minimize these deficiencies and provide immediate facial rehabilitation, which can have important physical and psychological effects for the patient. Various types of obturators and the techniques used for the fabrication of different types of obturator prostheses are reviewed.

Ca2+ oscillations induced by fibroblast growth factor 2 in Xenopus oocytes expressing fibroblast growth factor receptors

Double electrode voltage clamp technique was used to follow precisely the calcium signalling pathway activated by FGF receptors from a normal and a carcinogenous cell environment. Functional FGF receptors were expressed in Xenopus oocytes following either the injection of PFR1 cRNA from Pleurodeles, an homologue of the human FGFR1 mRNA, or breast cancer MCF7 cells total mRNA. Cytosolic calcium oscillations were monitored through the endogenous Ca(2+)-dependent Cl- channel activity from both RNA injected systems, under FGF2 treatment. The Ca(2+)-dependent Cl- channel was demonstrated using the Cl- channel blocker SITS (250 microM) and by the determination of the reversal potential of the Cl- ions close to -20 mV. The FGF2-evoked Ca(2+)-dependent Cl- current was abolished by external application of genistein (10 microM, tyrosine kinase inhibitor), neomycin (10 mM, phosphatidylinositol turnover inhibitor), caffeine (10 mM, inhibitor of Ins(1,4,5)P3-mediated release of intracellular calcium), and injection of BAPTA (50 microM, calcium chelator) or heparin (2 micrograms/ml, inhibitor of the binding of Ins(1,4,5)P3). The recorded current was independent of extracellular Ca2+ but involved tyrosine kinase phosphorylation and intracellular Ins(1,4,5)P3 sensitive stores. External application of heparin enhanced the oscillatory Ca2+ rise, suggesting a role for the heparan sulfates in the regulatory mechanism of the FGF receptors. The similarities in the Ca(2+)-dependent Cl- current obtained in PFR1 and total MCF7 FGF receptors expressing oocytes are discussed.

Manifestations and treatment of xerostomia and associated oral effects secondary to head and neck radiation therapy

Xerostomia is one of the most common side effects of head and neck radiation therapy. Other oral effects are mucositis and radiation caries. Because xerostomia resulting from radiation therapy may be of a more permanent nature than xerostomia resulting from other causes, treatment is typically more extensive. Numerous regimens treat symptoms of xerostomia and associated caries and mucositis. Among them is the daily application of a fluoride gel, recommended to prevent or minimize dental caries. For patients with severe, chronic xerostomia who have some residual salivary tissue, the use of a sialagogue can promote an increased flow of saliva and treat the symptoms.

Locus of control and anxiety in children from intact and maritally disrupted families

This study investigated the associations of Locus of Control (Children Nowicki-Strickland Internal-External Control Scale) with state and trait anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children) in 302 children aged 9 to 12 yr. No significant differences were found between the groups. No significant correlations were found between the anxiety measures and externality for the 31 children from maritally disrupted families, but significant positive Pearson correlations were found for the 271 children of intact families. The results are discussed in terms of the possibility of under-reporting of marital disruption by children.