Background/Aims: There is no treatment, without side effects, efficiently preventing or curing skin burns, caused by radiotherapy. A new experimental topical treatment protocol was assessed in mice receiving orthovoltage X-rays at an equivalent dose to that applied to human breast cancer patients in conventional radiotherapy. Methods: SKH-HR2 female hairless mice were irradiated on their dorsum with a total dose of 4,300 cGy during a 1-month period (20 fractions). The treatment group received a combination of 3 topical products, an oil-in-water cream, a gel containing Pinus halepensis bark aqueous extract, and an ointment containing olive oil extract of the marine isopod Ceratothoa oestroides. The positive control group was treated with a conventionally used commercial gel, whereas the negative control group did not receive any topical treatment. Skin alterations were evaluated by macroscopic examinations, measurements of transepidermal water loss (TEWL), melanin content, erythema intensity, hydration, and histopathology assessment. Results: Sixty days after radiation, TEWL and hydration values were abnormal and elements of acute, chronic, and granulomatous inflammation were present in all cases. The severest damage was detected in the deeper dermis. Treatment showed a comparatively beneficial effect on chronic and granulomatous inflammation while positive control was beneficial on acute inflammation. Conclusion: Skin anti-inflammatory treatment was the most effective but must be applied for several months. Further preclinical studies should be conducted, assimilating a human cancer radiation therapeutic schema with the aim of optimizing skin inflammation treatment.
Chronic wounds unresponsive to existing treatments constitute a serious disease burden. Factors that contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic ulcers include oxidative stress, comorbid microbial infections, and the type of immune system response. Preclinically, and in a case study, a formulation containing a Ceratothoa oestroides olive oil extract promoted wound healing. Patients with chronic venous and pressure ulcers, clinically assessed as being unresponsive to healing agents, were treated for 3 months with an ointment containing the C oestroides extract combined with antibiotic and/or antiseptic agents chosen according to the type of bacterial infection. Treatment evaluation was performed using the Bates-Jensen criteria with +WoundDesk and MOWA cell phone applications. After 3 months of treatment, C oestroides resulted in an average decrease of 36% in the Bates-Jensen score of ulcers ( P < .000), with the decrease being significant from the first month ( P < .007). The combined use of topically applied antibiotics and antiseptics efficiently controlled microbial ulcer infection and facilitated wound healing. In relation to other factors such as initial wound size, chronicity appeared to be an important prognostic factor regarding the extent of wound healing. Future clinical investigations assessing the wound healing efficacy of the C oestroides olive oil extract are warranted.
Nurses experience high levels of job burnout and low levels of job satisfaction, while the COVID-19 pandemic has deteriorated working conditions. In this context, our aim was to compare levels of job burnout and job satisfaction among nurses and other healthcare workers (HCWs) after the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, we investigated the influence of demographics and job characteristics on burnout and satisfaction. We conducted a cross-sectional study with 1760 HCWs during June 2023. We used the single-item burnout measure and the “Job Satisfaction Survey”. In our sample, 91.1% of nurses experienced high levels of burnout, while the respective percentage for the other HCWs was 79.9%. Nurses’ satisfaction was lower than other HCWs. In particular, 61.0% of nurses experienced low levels of satisfaction, while the respective percentage for the other HCWs was 38.8%. Multivariable analysis identified that nurses, HCWs with an MSc/PhD diploma, shift workers, and those who considered their workplace as understaffed had higher burnout score and lower satisfaction score. Our results showed that the nursing profession was an independent factor of burnout and satisfaction. Several other demographic and job characteristics affected burnout and satisfaction. Policy makers, organizations, and managers should adopt appropriate interventions to improve work conditions.
From the safety/ quality point of view, NS lack of harmonisation and sovereign laws/ institutional controls on the market and their wide commercialization may possibly lead to risks to public health.
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