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• TSNRP celebrates 30 years of supporting military nursing science. • TSNRP provides critical support to advance the care of service members and beneficiaries. • TSNRP is optimally poised to advance military nursing research into the future. • TSNRP supports the National Defense Strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthetic cathinones, otherwise known as “bath salts”, have gained significant attention in the last few years as a result of increased use and abuse. One such compound, 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), is pharmacologically and behaviorally similar to cocaine and has been shown to possess both aversive and rewarding effects. For a host of other drugs, each of these effects (and their relative balance) can be influenced by a variety of factors, including sex, which in turn impacts drug taking behavior. In this context, the present assessment sought to determine whether males and females differed in MDPV-induced CTA and CPP. Both male and female Sprague–Dawley rats underwent a combined CTA/CPP procedure, in which an injection of one of three doses of MDPV (1.0, 1.8 or 3.2 mg/kg) was paired with both a novel saccharin solution and a novel environment and changes in preferences for these stimuli were examined. Taste avoidance was evident in both sexes, although this avoidance was weaker in females compared to males. MDPV also produced place preferences in all drug-treated animals, but these preferences did not vary as a function of sex. The fact that females showed a weaker avoidance response compared to males (despite comparable preferences) suggests that females may have a heightened susceptibility to use and abuse of MDPV, paralleling results seen with cocaine and other stimulants. The present findings extend the behavioral characterization of MDPV and the factors that may alter its aversive and rewarding effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inbred Fischer (F344) and Lewis (LEW) rats, while originally developed as animal models for cancer and tissue transplantation research, have since been used to study genetic differences in a variety of physiological and behavioral endpoints. In this context, LEW rats show greater sensitivity to the aversive effects of cocaine as compared to F344 rats in a conditioned taste avoidance procedure. Like cocaine, 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV; “bath salts”) acts as a dopamine transport blocker and possesses aversive properties, making it a good candidate for assessing whether the aforementioned strain differences with cocaine would generalize to drugs with similar biochemical action. Accordingly, male F344 and LEW rats were exposed to a novel saccharin solution followed by injections of one of four doses of MDPV in a taste avoidance procedure. Over the four saccharin/MDPV pairings during conditioning, core body temperatures were also assessed. Similar to previous research, MDPV induced robust dose-dependent taste avoidance, although no effect of strain was observed. MDPV also produced hyperthermia that was independent of strain and unrelated to the conditioned taste avoidance. These findings argue for a complex influence of multiple (and likely interacting) monoaminergic systems mediating MDPV-induced taste avoidance in the two strains and suggest different mechanisms of avoidance learning for cocaine and MDPV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Steroid hormone receptor (SR) signaling leads to widespread changes in gene expression, and aberrant SR signaling can lead to malignancies including breast, prostate, and lung cancers. Chromatin remodeling is an essential component of SR signaling, and defining the process of chromatin and nucleosome remodeling during signaling is critical to the continued development of related therapies. The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is a key SR that activates numerous promoters including the well defined MMTV promoter. The activation of MMTV by GR provides an excellent model for teasing apart the sequence of events between hormone treatment and changes in gene expression. Comparing hormone-induced transcription from stably integrated promoters with defined nucleosomal structure to that from transiently expressed, unstructured promoters permits key distinctions between interactions that require remodeling and those that do not. The importance of co-activators and histone modifications prior to remodeling and the formation of the preinitiation complex that follows can also be clarified by defining key transition points in the propagation of hormonal signals. Combined with detailed mapping of proteins along the promoter, a temporal and spatial understanding of the signaling and remodeling processes begins to emerge. In this review, we examine SR signaling with a focus on GR activation of the MMTV promoter. We also discuss the ATP-dependent remodeling complex SWI/SNF, which provides the necessary remodeling activity during GR signaling and interacts with several SRs. BRG1, the central ATPase of SWI/SNF, also interacts with a set of BAF proteins that help determine the specialized function and fine-tuned regulation of BRG1 remodeling activity. BRG1 regulation comes from its own subdomains as well as its interactive partners. In particular, the HSA domain region of BRG1 and unique features of its ATPase homology appear to play key roles in regulating remodeling function. Details of the inter-workings of this chromatin remodeling protein continue to be revealed and promise to improve our understanding of the mechanism of chromatin remodeling during steroid hormone signaling. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Chromatin in time and space. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction: Radioguided exploration (RGS) can be an important tool to direct the cytoreduction of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). The selection of the proper radiolabeled isotope, the dose, and the time interval between isotope injection and exploration are the major factors that lead to the successful use of this technique. Methods: Data on 43 patients who underwent RGS of their NET at our facility (Ochsner Medical Center-Kenner) was collected. These cases were reviewed to determine the optimal radiopharmaceutical, dose, and interval between injection and exploration. Results: The isotopes used were technetium sulfur colloid in three patients, I metaiodobenzylguanidine (I-MIBG) in six patients, and In-pentreotide in 30 abdominal NET patients and in four patients undergoing neck and mediastinum explorations. In 29 of 30 In-pentreotide-guided abdominal explorations (five of which were re-explorations, all successful), the gamma detector was determined to be 'helpful'. In the four neck and mediastinum explorations, the gamma probe was deemed 'essential' for completing a quick, safe, and minimally invasive procedure. I-MIBG injection, in contrast, was useful in only one patient. The optimal dose and interval between injection and exploration of In-pentreotide were discovered to be 6 mCi injected 7 days prior to the planned exploration. Conclusion: Radioguided exploration is a useful tool to guide the cytoreduction of NETs. The correct choice of radiopharmaceutical, its dose, and the interval between injection and exploration are critical for obtaining optimal results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Understand the importance of spiritual screening 2. See evidence of the PC-Spirit internal and external validity 3. Discuss the usefulness of implementing the PC-Spirit in clinical practice Spiritual and existential beliefs, for those religious and not, are associated with improved quality of life, reduced suffering, and preferences for care. Yet tools that systematically assess need; link those needs with intervention, treatment recommendations, and outcomes; and communicate needs with other disciplines are lacking. Our research team developed and validated the first quantifiable spiritual screening tool designed specifically for seriously ill veterans, the PC-Spirit. The objective of the study was to present the results of the quantitative validation of the PC-Spirit We administered the instrument along with a battery of comparison measures to 249 veterans with advanced illness. The comparison measures captured general spiritual well-being, religious coping, and emotional functioning and examined convergent and discriminant validity: FACIT (faith, meaning and purpose), QUAL-E (preparation and completion), R-COPE (religious/spiritual coping), POMS and PHQ-8 (anxiety and depression), and FACT-G (quality of life). We administered the PC-Spirit a week later, for test-retest reliability. Results demonstrated reliability and validity and yielded a screening tool with three main components: spiritual relevance, spiritual needs, and spiritual resources. Spiritual needs (9 items) and resources (14 items) had Cronbach's alphas of.76 and.86, respectively, items evaluating relevance of spirituality (7 items) demonstrated a Cronbach's alpha of.76. Psychometric analyses yielded a final PC-Spirit tool including 30 items. Spiritual resources was strongly positively correlated the FACIT-SP three subscales: meaning (r =.63, p <.0001), peace (r =.59, p <.0001), and faith (r =.71, p <.0001); the GES (measuring spirituality and peace with life) (r =.65, p <.0001); and the social and family well-being subscale of the Fact-G (r =.56, p <.0001), positive coping (.63, p <.0001), and religious intensity (.51, p <.0001). Spiritual needs were strongly positively correlated with depression as measured by the PHQ-8 (r =.54, p <.0001) and anxiety as measured by the POMS (r =.52, p <.0001). We also demonstrate threshold values and their correlation with anxiety and depression. The PC-Spirit demonstrates reliability and validity. PC-Spirit offers a validated tool to screening for spiritual distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] We tested the effect of intrusive thought on the neuroticism–cognition association. [•] Intrusive thoughts mediated the association between neuroticism and cognition. [•] Intrusive thoughts mediated the association beyond the effects of negative affect. [•] Results stress the importance of future interventions targeting intrusive thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]