The human gut microbiota, consisting of trillions of microorganisms, plays a crucial role in gastrointestinal (GI) health and disease. Dysbiosis, an imbalance in microbial composition, has been linked to a range of GI disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), celiac disease, and colorectal cancer. These conditions are influenced by the interactions between the gut microbiota, the host immune system, and the gut-brain axis. Recent research has highlighted the potential for microbiome-based therapeutic strategies, such as probiotics, prebiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), and dietary modifications, to restore microbial balance and alleviate disease symptoms. This review examines the role of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of common gastrointestinal diseases and explores emerging therapeutic approaches aimed at modulating the microbiome. We discuss the scientific foundations of these interventions, their clinical effectiveness, and the challenges in their implementation. The review underscores the therapeutic potential of microbiome-targeted treatments as a novel approach to managing GI disorders, offering personalized and alternative options to conventional therapies. As research in this field continues to evolve, microbiome-based interventions hold promise for improving the treatment and prevention of gastrointestinal diseases.

Numerous nanocarriers with excellent biocompatibilities have been used to improve cancer therapy. However, nonspecific protein adsorption of nanocarriers may block the modified nanoparticles in tumor cells, which would lead to inefficient cellular internalization. To address this issue, pH-responsive polyurethane prodrug micelles with a zwitterionic segment were designed and prepared. The micelle consisted of a zwitterionic segment as the hydrophilic shell and the drug Adriamycin (DOX) as the hydrophobic inner core. As a pH-responsive antitumor drug delivery system, the prodrug micelles showed high stability in a physiological environment and continuously released the drug under acidic conditions. In addition, the pure polyurethane carrier was demonstrated to be virtually non-cytotoxic by cytotoxicity studies, while the prodrug micelles were more efficient in killing tumor cells compared to PEG-PLGA@DOX. Furthermore, the DOX cellular uptake efficiency of prodrug micelles was proved to be obviously higher than the control group by both flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. This is mainly due to the modification of a zwitterionic segment with PU. The simple design of zwitterionic prodrug micelles provides a new strategy for designing novel antitumor drug delivery systems with enhanced cellular uptake rates.

Novel waterborne polyurethane micelles with reactive groups on the surface has been prepared as a crosslinker and then reacted with polyacrylamide (PAM) to obtain a polyacrylamide–polyurethane/ionic liquid ionohydrogel for wireless strain sensors.

Background: The demanding requirements of nursing education impose great stress on students, which can adversely affect their health and well‐being in terms of academic and clinical performance. Aims: This study aimed to determine the level of stress and the main causes of stress among medical and nursing students. Methods: This cross‐sectional study was conducted with medical and nursing students in Pakistan via a convenience sampling method. Sources of stress‐associated factors were assessed using online questionnaire. The data were collected between July 1 and August 31, 2024. A total of 302 medical and nursing students participated in the research. Descriptive statistics (frequency, mean) and inferential statistics were used to analyze the collected data. Results: According to the findings, medical and nursing students experience stress from multiple sources, with financial difficulties, academic workload, clinical practice, and environmental factors being the primary contributors. The most common stressors were insufficient income, pressure from clinical instructors and staff, and unfamiliarity with patient diagnoses and treatments. Multifactor logistic regression analysis revealed that stress from assignments and workload was significantly associated with fear of poor grades ( p = 0.046), while clinical practice quality also showed a significant effect ( p = 0.029). Additionally, dealing with patients with physio‐psychosocial issues ( p = 0.039) and unfamiliarity with clinical conditions ( p = 0.012) were significant predictors of stress. These findings highlight the complex and multifaceted nature of student stress. Conclusion: This study revealed that medical and nursing students experience significant levels of stress related to finances, clinical practice, and academics, which affects their performance. Medical and Nursing Implications: Educational administrators must establish policies that assist medical and nursing students. Some of these policies could include evaluating the workload of Medical and nursing students, refining curriculum design, providing financial support, and providing scholarships to students facing challenging circumstances.

Background: The acknowledgment that conservative oxygen therapy (COT) was related to better prognosis in the intensive care unit (ICU) was challenged recently. We conducted an updated meta-analysis aimed to determine whether liberal oxygen therapy (LOT) or COT is associated with better improve clinical outcomes. Methods: We systematically searched the electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science and Embase) up to May 2021 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The primary outcome was the mortality of the final follow-up time and secondary outcomes were ICU mortality, the ICU length of stay and the number of ventilator-free days. Results: A total of 7 RCTs were included, with 2166 patients admitted to the ICU. There was no significant difference in the primary outcome between the LOT and COT. Additionally, LOT could not significantly increase ICU mortality and the ICU length of stay compared with COT. Conclusions: The present study showed that COT was not significantly superior to LOT in clinical outcomes. Therefore, additional high-quality studies with novel designs are required to further elucidate this controversy.

Background: Occupational stress refers to the psychological pressure from work‐related factors. Stress overload is a key contributor to the global nursing shortage. Excessive workloads and psychological pressure further exacerbate stress among healthcare professionals. Aims: This study aims to examine the impact of psychological counseling (PC), job characteristics, and perceived respect on occupational stress among Pakistani nurses. Methods: This cross‐sectional study was carried out by nurses from Pakistan, using a random sampling method. Data were collected between April 1 and May 31, 2024. We have access to the nurses’ work‐related stress, respect, and PC through an online questionnaire. A total of 292 nurses took part in the study. Results: Out of 292 participants, 276 completed the survey, with 71.38% male and 28.62% female. The main causes of occupational stress were low income (95.56%), high workload (80.80%), occupational injury (65.95%), family factors (64.50%), strict leadership (60.50%), and physical problems (56.16%). Additionally, 36.23% of nurses had limited faith in the effectiveness of PC, followed by a moderate belief. According to multiple logistic regression analyses, a correlation between a PC high work‐related stress significantly affects nurses’ mental health, increasing the need for PC ( p = 0.0979). Stress relief methods like reading, music, or outdoor sports reduce the stress (OR 2.298–11.031, p < 0.001). At the same time, factors like nurse–patient relationships and strict leadership contribute to high‐stress levels ( p = 0.417, p = 0.682), with reducing work intensity showing minimal impact ( p = 0.993). Conclusion: Our study indicated that low salaries, a high workload, and low respect could cause occupational stress among nurses who need high PC. Implications for Nursing Management: These findings can guide hospital administrators and nurse managers in enhancing rewards, reducing work hours, and improving job satisfaction. Additionally, better working conditions and training programs can help mitigate occupational stress and support nurses’ mental health.