Saint Francis University

About: Saint Francis University is a education organization based out in Loretto, Pennsylvania, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Osteoblast. The organization has 1694 authors who have published 2038 publications receiving 87149 citations.

Factors Affecting Performance in Clinical Practice among Preservice Diploma Nursing Students in Northern Tanzania.

Abstract: There is an increased call for improving the environment in which nursing students learn the clinical skills. Clinical practice in the clinical placement sites should allow students to apply their theoretical knowledge in a real environment, develop nursing skills and clinical reasoning, and observe and adapt the professional role. This study aimed at identifying the factors influencing performance in clinical practice among preservice diploma nursing students in Northern Tanzania. This study relied on a cross-sectional analysis of data collected from nursing schools in Northern Tanzania in which 208 (123 nursing students and 85 nurse tutors) participants were recruited in the study. Data was gathered using a self-administered questionnaire which collected information on sociodemographic characteristics and factors influencing clinical practice categorized in students’ factors, hospital based factors, social-economic factors, and nurse tutors opinions assessed. Descriptive analyses and chi-square test were employed to understand the background information of the sample and association between variables. Majority of the nursing students (84.4%) agreed that clinical placement offers students adequate opportunity for clinical practical learning. Barriers to effective clinical learning was reported by 70.1% of the participants and the barriers include student factors such as lack of self-confidence and absenteeism, school factors such as improper supervision, and poor preparation of clinical instructors or clinical facility factors. We found a significant association between type of barrier and gender (chi-square 0.786, p=0.020). More male nursing students (62.1%) significantly reported unsupportive environment as a barrier and anxiety was more common in female nursing students (48.9%) (p=0.020). Reporting of barriers to effective clinical learning by students from different schools of nursing was not significant (P=0.696). In addition, age of participants did not have significant association with effective clinical practice (p=0.606). Student’s factors and placement based factors played an important role to influence clinical learning experiences. Offering preclinical orientation, distributing and clarifying clinical learning objectives to students, and frequent visits and supervision of students in clinical area may improve student learning experience in clinical placement. In addition, tailoring the interventions to gender may improve learning experiences.

Matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in bone: an overview of regulation and functions.

Abstract: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), a family of Zn2+-dependent endopeptidases, mediate different physiological processes by digesting components of the extracellular matrix. Nevertheless, overexpression of MMPs is implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases. Different MMPs and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) are expressed in bone cells, and their biosynthesis is regulated by local and systemic hormones and factors. The levels of enzymatically active MMPs in bone are further controlled by secretion, activation of proenzymes, inhibition by TIMPs, cellular uptake and degradation. Members of the cysteine and serine family of proteinases also coordinate some of the biological activities of MMPs in bone. The functions of MMPs and TIMPs in bone include regulation of processes, such as degradation of collagen and other components of the bone matrix, migration and survival of bone cells, endochondral bone formation and bone resorption. Abnormal expression of MMPs may lead to pathological conditions affecting bone and cartilage. Various pharmacological agents can inhibit MMPs, and some of these inhibitors may be potential therapeutic agents for certain bone diseases. This review briefly describes the regulation and functions of different MMPs and TIMPs in bone, and provides an insight into the role of MMPs in bone development, remodeling and pathology.

Effect of fibroblast growth factor on cultured fetal rat calvaria.

Abstract: Normal rat or human serum causes a greater incorporation of 3H-proline into bone collagenase digestible protein (CDP) and noncollagen protein (NCP) than does serum from hypophysectomized animals or hypopituitary humans. In the present study, we have tested fibroblast growth factor (FGF), a peptide isolated from bovine pituitary glands that has been shown to stimulate RNA and DNA synthesis in various mesodermal cells, for its effects on cultured fetal rat calvaria. The major effect of FGF appeared to be a stimulation of periosteal fibroblastic cell proliferation. Incorporation of 3H-thymidine into DNA was increased at concentrations of 10–1000 ng/ml; the effect appeared after 12 hr, was sustained for 96 hr, and could not be ascribed to an effect on 3H-thymidine uptake. Total DNA content was increased and histologic sections showed an increase in the number of mitoses in periosteal fibroblasts after colcemid arrest. These effects were accompanied by an increase in the uptake and incorporation of 3H-uridine, a decrease in the incorporation of labeled proline into CDP, and a small and variable increase in the incorporation of proline into NCP. Cortisol opposed the effects of FGF on 3H-thymidine and 3H-uridine incorporation. Insulin did not alter the effect of FGF on 3H-thymidine incorporation, but FGF decreased the stimulatory effect of insulin on the labeling of CDP. The effect of FGF on thymidine incorporation and collagen synthesis was not altered by indomethacin. The major effect of FGF in calvaria is to increase DNA synthesis and stimulate the proliferation of periosteal fibroblasts. It does not appear to be the pituitary-dependent factor in serum that stimulates 3H-proline incorporation into CDP and NCP in calvaria.

Current status of limbal conjunctival autograft.

Abstract: The past decade has witnessed several major advances in the field of ocular surface reconstruction. It is now established that the limbal and corneal epithelia belong to the same clonogenic lineage and that conjunctival transdifferentiation does not occur. These facts have engendered the increasing use of limbal transplantation in several ocular conditions involving limbal compromise. Many reports on this procedure have been published in the past year. They add to the growing body of evidence that limbal transplantation is efficacious in replenishing the stem cell pool, promoting improved vision and enhancing ocular comfort. Recent clinical studies on limbal autograft transplantation also underscore the importance of preoperative impression cytology in donor eyes, highlight the fact that transplantation in inflamed eyes is to be avoided, and indicate that the procedure is likely to provide better outcomes if performed several months after ocular surface burns. The appreciation of the utility of amniotic membrane transplantation in ocular surface reconstruction has provided a surgical tool to use in tandem with limbal transplantation. Questions such as why limbal autografts fail, the long-term results of LAT, and whether limbal inclusion is mandatory during conjunctival transplantation after pterygium excision have not been answered fully. Studies on long-term outcomes with limbal allograft transplantation and those reporting on experience with newer techniques such as epithelial transplantation using tissue culture-cultivated epithelium are likely to provide better perspectives on the best way to reconstruct the ocular surface in stem cell-deficient eyes.