Abstract Background: Kangaroo mother care (KMC) offers several benefits for neonates and mothers. Although many studies have evaluated the effectiveness of KMC on infants, only few studies have examined the effects on mothers. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of KMC on maternal resilience and breastfeeding self-efficacy via the role-play method in a neonatal intensive care unit. Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial. Mothers were randomized into two groups. Mothers in the intervention group were trained using the role-play method. Questionnaires were administered before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 22. Results: The training demonstrated a statistically significant difference in resilience score and breastfeeding self-efficacy in each group after the intervention. In addition, a statistically significant difference was revealed between both groups in resilience scores and breastfeeding self-efficacy after the intervention. Conclusions: KMC training with the role-play method was most effective. Role-play and routine methods are recommended as methods of therapeutic care in clinical settings to improve maternal resilience and breastfeeding self-efficacy.

Resumen Introducción: El cuidado madre canguro ofrece una gran cantidad de beneficios para el neonato y la madre. Aunque muchos estudios han evaluado la eficacia del cuidado madre canguro en los bebés, solo pocos estudios han examinado los efectos en las madres. El propósito del presente estudio fue evaluar la efectividad del cuidado madre canguro sobre la resiliencia de la madre y la autoeficacia de la lactancia mediante el método de juego de roles en la unidad de cuidados intensivos neonatales. Métodos: Se llevó a cabo un ensayo controlado aleatorio. Las madres se asignaron en dos grupos al azar. Las madres del grupo de intervención fueron capacitadas mediante el método de juego de roles. Se aplicaron cuestionarios antes y después de la intervención. Los datos se analizaron utilizando SPSS versión 22. Resultados: El entrenamiento demostró una diferencia estadísticamente significativa en la puntuación de la resiliencia y la autoeficacia de la lactancia en cada grupo después de la intervención. Además, se reveló una diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre ambos grupos en la puntuación de resiliencia y la autoeficacia de la lactancia después de la intervención. Conclusiones: La capacitación del cuidado madre canguro mediante el método de juego de roles fue más efectiva. Se recomienda el juego de roles y los métodos de rutina como métodos de atención terapéutica en entornos clínicos para mejorar la resiliencia de la madre y la autoeficacia de la lactancia.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular disease is one of the main causes of mortality and morbidity in diabetic patients. This study evaluated the effects of diabetes on myocardial capillary density and several serum angiogenic factors including nitric oxide, vascular endothelial growth factor, and soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptors. METHODS: Twelve male rats were divided into two groups: control and diabetic (n = 6 each). Diabetes was induced with a single dose of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg). After 21 days, capillary density in the myocardial tissue was evaluated using immunohistochemical staining and is reported as capillaries per mm². Blood samples were collected before and after the induction of diabetes. RESULTS: In the diabetic group, serum nitric oxide and soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 concentrations were lower than the levels in the control group, while the level of soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 was significantly higher. There was no significant change in the serum vascular endothelial growth factor concentration between the diabetic and control groups; however, the ratio of vascular endothelial growth factor to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 was significantly lower in the diabetic animals. The myocardial capillary density was also lower in the diabetic group compared with the control group (1549 ± 161 vs. 2156 ± 202/mm², respectively). CONCLUSION: Reduced serum nitric oxide and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 levels, increased serum vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 levels and a lower vascular endothelial growth factor to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 ratio may be responsible for the decreased myocardial capillary density in diabetic rats.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of L-arginine on the learning and memory of estradiol-treated ovariectomized (OVX) rats. METHODS: Forty-eight rats were divided into six groups: (1) sham, (2) OVX, (3) sham-Est, (4) OVX-Est, (5) sham-Est-LA, and (6) OVX-Est-LA. The animals of the sham-Est and OVX-Est groups were treated by weekly injection of estradiol valerate (2mg/kg). The sham-Est-LA and OVX-Est-LA groups were treated in the same manner but with an additional daily injection of L-arginine (200mg/kg). After eight weeks, animals of all groups were tested in the Morris water maze. The escape latency and path traveled to reach the platform were compared between groups. RESULTS: Time latency and path length in the OVX group were significantly higher than in the sham group (P<0.05). The OVX-Est group had a significantly shorter traveled path length and time latency compared to the OVX group (P<0.001). Time latency and path length in the sham-Est group was significantly higher than in the sham group (P<0.001). Time latency and path length in the OVX-Est-LA group were significantly higher than in the OVX-Est group. CONCLUSIONS: These results allow us to propose that chronic treatment with estradiol enhances the spatial learning and memory of OVX rats, and that long term L-arginine treatment attenuates the effects of improvement produced by estradiol in OVX rats.