BACKGROUND

Nursing, as a profession, is a facet where job satisfaction and performance matter. In the changing landscape of nursing practice in the Philippines and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative to revisit and to perform an empirical investigation of the current state of nurses' job satisfaction and performance in the hospital setting. This study aimed to describe the job satisfaction and performance among staff nurses in private and government hospitals in Baguio City.

Using a quantitative descriptive cross-sectional survey design, a sample of 313 randomly selected staff nurses working in two private and two government hospitals in Baguio City were surveyed from March to April 2023, using a questionnaire. This study's protocol was approved by two ethics committees, namely the Saint Louis University Research Ethics Committee and the BGHMC REC. Nominal data was analyzed using the SPSS trial version employing frequencies, percentages, and the Chi-square test.

There are more staff nurses in both private and government hospitals who reported satisfactory job satisfaction levels (276 nurses, 87.9%) and had good job performance (303 nurses, 96.5%) in all domains. However, results show that there are more nurses (209 nurses, 90.7% ) in government hospitals who are satisfied with their jobs than in private hospital nurses (67 nurses, 80.1%) in the domains Intra practice Partnership/Collegiality (p=0.010); Challenge/Autonomy (p=0.001); Professional, Social and Community Interaction (p=0.010); Professional Growth (p=0.036); Time (p=0.009); and Benefits (p=0.045). In terms of job performance, more government nurses at 97.3% (224 nurses) rated a higher self-appraisal of job performance. In comparison, only 94.8% (79 nurses) of private staff nurses appraised themselves as having good performance. No significant differences were found in the domains of job performance, namely leadership, teaching, planning, communications, and professional development, except in critical care. In "Critical care," which showed significance, the results suggest that more nurses in government hospitals perceive higher job performance, revealing a significant difference (p=0.011) in the "critical care" domain, indicating that a higher proportion of nurses in government hospitals demonstrate superior performance in this area.

Through this study, it was learned that nurses in both private and government hospitals generally experience high job satisfaction and performance, reflecting a fulfilled workforce and indicating commendable competency among the staff nurses. However, more nurses in government hospitals report high satisfaction and perceived performance in critical care compared to those in private hospitals. Thus, the findings of this study can contribute to and serve as a rationale for policy making regarding creating a positive work environment, proper management and leadership, creation of training and skill development for critical care, providing opportunities for professional growth, and conducting regular evaluation and feedback----- all geared towards a satisfied and productive workforce.

Objective: To elucidate the effects of chlorogenic acid (CGA), a bioactive polyphenol compound prevalent in traditional Chinese medicine and various foods, including Lonicera japonica Thunb. (Jin Yin Hua), Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. (Du Zhong Ye), tea, and coffee, on cardiomyocyte ferroptosis and heart failure. Methods: We assessed the effect of CGA on cardiac function using a mouse model of heart failure induced by transverse aortic constriction (TAC). These indicators included the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), fractional shortening (LVFS), end-systolic volume (LVESV), end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), end-systolic diameter (LVESD), and end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD). An isoprenaline hydrochloride (ISO)-induced H9c2 cardiomyocyte cell model was also established, and the cells were treated with various concentrations of CGA. To assess the effect of CGA on ferroptosis in cardiomyocytes, we measured cell viability and evaluated the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), ferrous ions (Fe2+), and lipid peroxidation using fluorescent staining. To clarify the ferroptosis signaling pathway regulated by CGA, western blotting was used to examine the expression of ferroptosis biomarkers, specifically solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), in H9c2 cardiomyocytes and mouse myocardial tissues. Results: CGA significantly enhanced cardiac performance indices such as LVEF, LVFS, LVESV, LVEDV, LVESD, and LVEDD. H9c2 cardiomyocytes exposed to ISO showed decreased cell viability and increased ROS levels, Fe2+ content, and lipid peroxidation levels. However, CGA treatment significantly ameliorated these changes. Additionally, in both H9c2 cardiomyocytes and myocardial tissue obtained from mice with TAC, CGA increased the expression of ferroptosis-related proteins, including SLC7A11 and GPX4. Conclusion CGA has the potential to enhance cardiac function and diminish lipid peroxidation and ROS levels in cardiomyocytes via the SLC7A11/GPX4 signaling pathway. This process alleviates ferroptosis in cardiomyocytes. These results provide new insights into the clinical use of CGA and the management of heart failure.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the m.15059G>A mitochondrial nonsense mutation on cellular functions related to atherosclerosis, such as lipidosis, proinflammatory response, and mitophagy. Heteroplasmic mutations have been proposed as a potential cause of mitochondrial dysfunction, potentially disrupting the innate immune response and contributing to the chronic inflammation associated with atherosclerosis. Methods: The human monocytic cell line THP-1 and cytoplasmic hybrid cell line TCHSMAM1 were used. An original approach based on the CRISPR/Cas9 system was developed and used to eliminate mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copies carrying the m.15059G>A mutation in the MT-CYB gene. The expression levels of genes encoding enzymes related to cholesterol metabolism were analyzed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Proinflammatory cytokine secretion was assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Mitophagy in cells was detected using confocal microscopy. Results: In contrast to intact TC-HSMAM1 cybrids, Cas9-TC-HSMAM1 cells exhibited a decrease in fatty acid synthase (FASN) gene expression following incubation with atherogenic low-density lipoprotein. TC-HSMAM1 cybrids were found to have defective mitophagy and an inability to downregulate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (to establish immune tolerance) upon repeated lipopolysaccharide stimulation. Removal of mtDNA harboring the m.15059G>A mutation resulted in the re-establishment of immune tolerance and the activation of mitophagy in the cells under investigation. Conclusion The m.15059G>A mutation was found to be associated with defective mitophagy, immune tolerance, and impaired metabolism of intracellular lipids due to upregulation of FASN in monocytes and macrophages.

The widespread use of antimicrobials causes antibiotic resistance in bacteria. The use of butyric acid and its derivatives is an alternative tactic. This review summarizes the literature on the role of butyric acid in the body and provides further prospects for the clinical use of its derivatives and delivery methods to the animal body. Thus far, there is evidence confirming the vital role of butyric acid in the body and the effectiveness of its derivatives when used as animal medicines and growth stimulants. Butyric acid salts stimulate immunomodulatory activity by reducing microbial colonization of the intestine and suppressing inflammation. Extraintestinal effects occur against the background of hemoglobinopathy, hypercholesterolemia, insulin resistance, and cerebral ischemia. Butyric acid derivatives inhibit histone deacetylase. Aberrant histone deacetylase activity is associated with the development of certain types of cancer in humans.Feed additives containing butyric acid salts or tributyrin are used widely in animal husbandry.They improve the functional status of the intestine and accelerate animal growth and development. On the other hand, high concentrations of butyric acid stimulate the apoptosis of epithelial cells and disrupt the intestinal barrier function. This review highlights the biological activity and the mechanism of action of butyric acid, its salts, and esters, revealing their role in the treatment of various animal and human diseases. This paper also discussed the possibility of using butyric acid and its derivatives as surface modifiers of enterosorbents to obtain new drugs with bifunctional action.

Methods: Individuals undergoing single-level ACDF were identified. Patients were grouped by preoperative Visual Analog Scale (VAS) arm ≤8 vs. >8. PROMs collected preoperatively and postoperatively included VAS-arm/VAS-neck/Neck Disability Index (NDI)/12-item Short Form (SF-12) Physical Composite Score (PCS)/SF-12 mental composite score (MCS)/Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System physical function (PROMIS-PF). Demographics, PROMs, and MCID rates were compared between cohorts. Results: A total of 128 patients were included. The VAS arm ≤8 cohort significantly improved for all PROMs excepting VAS arm at 1-year/2-years, SF-12 MCS at 12-weeks/1-year/2-years, and SF-12 PCS/PROMIS-PF at 6-weeks, only (p ≤0.021, all). The VAS arm >8 cohort significantly improved for VAS neck at all timepoints, VAS arm from 6-weeks to 1-year, NDI from 6-weeks to 6-months, and SF-12 MCS/PROMIS-PF at 6-months (p ≤0.038, all). Postoperatively, the VAS arm >8 cohort had higher VAS-neck (6 weeks/6 months), VAS-arm (12 weeks/6 months), NDI (6 weeks/6 months), lower SF-12 MCS (6 weeks/6 months), SF-12 PCS (6 months), and PROMISPF (12 weeks/6 months) (p ≤0.038, all). MCID achievement rates were higher among the VAS arm >8 cohort for the VAS-arm at 6-weeks/12-weeks/1-year/overall and NDI at 2 years (p ≤0.038, all). Conclusions Significance in PROM score differences between VAS arm ≤8 vs. >8 generally dissipated at the 1-year and 2-year timepoint, although higher preoperative arm pain patients suffered from worse pain, disability, and mental/physical function scores. Furthermore, clinically meaningful rates of improvement were similar throughout the vast majority of timepoints for all PROMs studied.

Background: This study analyzed questions entered online by rotator cuff patients and determined types and quality of websites providing information at the top of queries. Methods: Three strings related to rotator cuff repair were explored in Google Search. The result pages were manually collected under the “People also ask” function for frequent questions and associated webpages. Questions were categorized using Rothwell’s classification with further topical subcategorization. Webpages were evaluated by Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria for source quality. Results: One hundred twenty “People also ask” questions were collected with their associated webpages. Based on the Rothwell classification of questions, queries were thematically organized into fact (41.7%), value (31.7%), and policy (26.7%) categories. The most common webpage categories were academic (28.3%) and medical practice (27.5%). The most common question subcategories were timeline of recovery (21.7%), indications/management (21.7%), and pain (18.3%). The average JAMA score for all 120 webpages was 1.50. Journal articles had the highest average JAMA score (3.77), while commercial websites had the lowest JAMA score (0.91). The most common suggested question for rotator cuff repair/surgery was, “Is rotator cuff surgery worth having?,” while the most common suggested question for rotator cuff repair pain was, “What happens if a rotator cuff is not repaired?” Conclusions The most common questions asked on Google pertaining to rotator cuff repair evaluate management options and relate to the timeline of recovery and pain management. Most information is provided by medical practice, academic, and medical information websites, which have highly variable reliability. By understanding the questions that rotator cuff repair patients are asking online, surgeons can tailor preoperative education to common patient concerns and improve postoperative outcomes.Level of evidence: IV.

The proteins of the Wnt family are involved in a variety of physiological processes by means of several canonical and noncanonical signaling pathways. Wnt signaling has been recently identified as a major player in atherogenesis. In this review, we summarize the existing knowledge on the influence of various components of the Wnt signaling pathways on the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis and associated conditions. We used the PubMed database to search for recent papers on the involvement of the Wnt pathways in atherosclerosis. We used the combination of “Wnt” and “atherosclerosis” keywords to find the initial papers, and chose papers published after 2018. In the first section of the paper, we describe the general mechanisms of the Wnt signaling pathways and their components. The next section is dedicated to existing studies assessing the implication of Wnt signaling elements in different atherogenic processes, such as cholesterol retention, endothelial dysfunction, vascular inflammation, and atherosclerotic calcification of the vessels. Lastly, various therapeutic strategies based on interference with the Wnt signaling pathways are considered. We also compare the efficacy and availability of the proposed treatment methods. Wnt signaling can be considered a potential target in the treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis. Therefore, in this review, we reviewed evidences showing that wnt signaling is an important signal for developing appropriate treatment strategies for atherosclerosis.