Highest Mean Rank Research Articles

Parental control attitudes over their pre-school children's diet.

It is during childhood that eating behaviors begin to form, with parents being the main agents in this process. Parents have eating habits that shape their children's diet, both in terms of variety and quantity of food eaten. The aim is to analyze sociodemographic factors related to parental control over their children's diet. Descriptive-correlational and cross-sectional study, with a sample of 46 parents of preschool children. An online questionnaire was used to collect data, with data processing carried out using SPSS, using descriptive and inferential statistics. The majority of respondents were mothers (89.1%), belonged to the 20-44 age group (89.1%), and were married (89.1%). The mean of the subscales of the children's food questionnaire food restriction, pressure to eat, and monitoring was 3.266 ± 0.570, 3.109 ± 1.206, and 4.268 ± 0.848, respectively. The mean rank score for the food restriction subscale differed significantly between parents with different age groups (Mann-Whitney: p < 0.014), with the 45-64 age group having the highest mean rank, i.e., they restricted their children more in food. The age group is a factor related to food restriction, making it essential to take a closer look at the parents of that age group, during the health education process.

Identifying Constraints to Dryland Farming: A Study of Technical, Socio-personal, and Financial Barriers in Drought Prone Area of Andhra Pradesh, India

Dryland farming is a crucial agricultural practice in many regions, but farmers face various constraints that hinder its adoption. This study investigated the technical, socio-personal, and financial constraints faced by dryland farmers in Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh. A survey of 120 farmers revealed that technical constraints were the most severe, with insufficient availability of water (226 - I) and non-availability of quality seed in time (208 - II) being the top two constraints. Socio-personal constraints, such as illiteracy (188 - II) and inability to accept new practices (186 - III), were also significant. Financial constraints, including high cost of inputs (212 - I) and delay in sanction of loans (200 - II), were also major concerns. Friedman test results showed a significant difference between the different constraints (p &lt; 0.001), with technical constraints having the highest mean rank (2.40). Wilcoxon signed rank test results revealed significant differences between technical and socio-personal constraints (p = 0.009) and financial and technical constraints (p = 0.001), but not between socio-personal and financial constraints (p = 0.321). These findings highlight the need to address technical constraints to improve adoption of critical interventions in dryland farming.

Response accuracy of ChatGPT 3.5 Copilot and Gemini in interpreting biochemical laboratory data a pilot study.

With the release of ChatGPT at the end of 2022, a new era of thinking and technology use has begun. Artificial intelligence models (AIs) like Gemini (Bard), Copilot (Bing), and ChatGPT-3.5 have the potential to impact every aspect of our lives, including laboratory data interpretation. To assess the accuracy of ChatGPT-3.5, Copilot, and Gemini responses in evaluating biochemical data. Ten simulated patients' biochemical laboratory data, including serum urea, creatinine, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL-c), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-c), in addition to HbA1c, were interpreted by three AIs: Copilot, Gemini, and ChatGPT-3.5, followed by evaluation with three raters. The study was carried out using two approaches. The first encompassed all biochemical data. The second contained only kidney function data. The first approach indicated Copilot to have the highest level of accuracy, followed by Gemini and ChatGPT-3.5. Friedman and Dunn's post-hoc test revealed that Copilot had the highest mean rank; the pairwise comparisons revealed significant differences for Copilot vs. ChatGPT-3.5 (P = 0.002) and Gemini (P = 0.008). The second approach exhibited Copilot to have the highest accuracy of performance. The Friedman test with Dunn's post-hoc analysis showed Copilot to have the highest mean rank. The Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test demonstrated an indistinguishable response (P = 0.5) of Copilot when all laboratory data were applied vs. the application of only kidney function data. Copilot is more accurate in interpreting biochemical data than Gemini and ChatGPT-3.5. Its consistent responses across different data subsets highlight its reliability in this context.

Variation of b Value for Axial DWI Prostate MR Imaging in Cancer: Which b Value is Optimal?

Background: Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI) is a technique that visualizes the movement of water molecules from areas of higher to lower concentration. In DWI sequences, the b-value parameter affects the signal intensity in the images. The objective of this study is to describe the differences in anatomical image information between b-value variations of 1500s/mm2, 2000s/mm2, and 2500s/mm2 in MRI prostate case cancer and to determine the most optimal b-value. Method: This study used a pre-exeachimental approach with a 1.5T Philips MRI machine at a private hospital in South Jakarta from March to April 2023. The sample consisted of 12 Prostate MRI images with DWI sequences and different b-values. Visual grading assessment was eachformed by three radiology specialists, and the data were analyzed using the Friedman test in SPSS. Results: The results showed a significant difference in anatomical image information based on the b-value variations used, with a p-value of 0.05 (0.02). The highest mean rank was obtained from the Friedman test for the b-value of 2000s/mm2. Conclusion: The significant difference in anatomical image information occurred due to differences in signal intensity and noise levels. Prostate cancer tissues appeared more hyperintense with lower noise in images with higher b-values, and vice versa. Additionally, the b-value of 2000s/mm2 resulted in the most optimal signal intensity and noise level. In conclusion, the use of b-value variations in axial DWI images of prostate cancer Prostate MRI to differences in anatomical image information, with the most optimal image information observed at a b-value of 2000s/mm2.

Comparison of Shear Bond Strength, Adhesive Remnant and Precision Fit between Conventional Lingual Retainers and Customised CAD/CAM Fabricated Lingual Retainers: An In-vitro Study

Introduction: Fixed lingual bonded retainers offer the comfort of aesthetics and reduced tissue irritation after orthodontic treatment but are wrought with frequent bond failures. Numerous techniques have been used to adapt the retainer to the lingual surface of the lower anterior teeth, but research on customised lower lingual retainers is scarce. Aim: To evaluate and compare the Shear Bond Strength (SBS), Adhesive Remnant Index scores (ARI), and precision fit of a novel Computer-aided Designing-Computer-aided Machining/ Manufacturing (CAD-CAM) fabricated retainer and conventional retainers. Materials and Methods: This invitro study was conducted at the Department of Orthodontics, and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, SRM Dental College, Ramapuram, Chennai-89 from June 2022 to February 2023. It included a total of 360 human mandibular anterior teeth were collected and embedded in acrylic blocks in groups of six to simulate the mandibular anterior arch form. A total of 60 retainers made of braided Stainless Steel (SS) wires, co-axial wires, customised through CAD/CAM technology were evaluated. The retainers were bonded to the lingual aspect of the teeth using composite resin. A universal testing machine was used for testing SBS. Precision fit was observed using Exocad software. Statistical analysis included one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) for SBS, Kruskal-Wallis for ARI score, and Mann-Whitney U test for precision fit. Results: The CAD-CAM retainers had a more precise fit when compared to conventional retainers (p=0.009). SBS was highest for CAD-CAM fabricated retainer and lowest in the co-axial retainer, and this finding was statistically significant (p&lt;0.001). The CAD-CAM retainer had the highest mean rank in ARI scores (33.90) when compared to braided SS and co-axial wire. Conclusion: The CAD-CAM fabricated retainers would be more effective clinically, as higher bond strength due to precise fit would reduce the failure rate, thus preventing relapse and minimising chairside time.

Data Literacy Proficiency and Its Importance

In this poster, we report preliminary results from a survey of academic librarians in the U.S. and Canada on their perception of data literacy for their work practice. Our survey was distributed in August 2022 to librarians from member libraries of the Association of Research Libraries, Canadian Association of Research Libraries, Oberlin Group, as well as through various LIS listservs. We received 338 valid responses. Our focus is on the impact of library membership, librarians’ educational backgrounds, and percent of data work on librarians’ perception of the importance of various areas of data literacy. Significant library membership differences occurred both in the percentage of their job involving data-related tasks (H(3) = 9.146, p = .027), with ARL librarians having the highest mean rank, and in respondents’ importance rating on research data principles (H(3) = 10.534, p = .015), with CARL librarians having the highest mean rank. Librarians who had a non-MLS degree rated their data proficiency as significantly higher than respondents with MLS and another degree and people with only an MLS degree (H(2) = 8.815, p = .012). Percentage of data-related work was positively correlated with self-rated data proficiency (rho(n = 253) = .641, p = .000), the level of data literacy needed (rho(n = 262) = .352, p = .000), and various importance ratings of data literacy areas including programming skills (rho(n = 251) = .268, p = .000) and data processing &amp; visualization (rho(n = 253) = .185, p = .003). Further analysis is currently in progress.

Are paid tools worth the cost? A prospective cross-over study to find the right tool for plagiarism detection

BackgroundThe increasing pressure to publish research has led to a rise in plagiarism incidents, creating a need for effective plagiarism detection software. The importance of this study lies in the high cost variation amongst the available options for plagiarism detection. By uncovering the advantages of these low-cost or free alternatives, researchers could access the appropriate tools for plagiarism detection. This is the first study to compare four plagiarism detection tools and assess factors impacting their effectiveness in identifying plagiarism in AI-generated articles. MethodologyA prospective cross-over study was conducted with the primary objective to compare Overall Similarity Index(OSI) of four plagiarism detection software(iThenticate, Grammarly, Small SEO Tools, and DupliChecker) on AI-generated articles. ChatGPT was used to generate 100 articles, ten from each of ten general domains affecting various aspects of life. These were run through four software, recording the OSI. Flesch Reading Ease Score(FRES), Gunning Fog Index(GFI), and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level(FKGL) were used to assess how factors, such as article length and language complexity, impact plagiarism detection. ResultsThe study found significant variation in OSI(p < 0.001) among the four software, with Grammarly having the highest mean rank(3.56) and Small SEO Tools having the lowest(1.67). Pairwise analyses revealed significant differences(p < 0.001) between all pairs except for Small SEO Tools-DupliChecker. Number of words showed a significant correlation with OSI for iThenticate(p < 0.05) but not for the other three. FRES had a positive correlation, and GFI had a negative correlation with OSI by DupliChecker. FKGL negatively correlated with OSI by Small SEO Tools and DupliChecker. ConclusionGrammarly is unexpectedly most effective in detecting plagiarism in AI-generated articles compared to the other tools. This could be due to different softwares using diverse data sources. This highlights the potential for lower-cost plagiarism detection tools to be utilized by researchers.

Effect of airway masks on physiological parameters of healthcare workers: a clinical trial

Background: Airway masks helps protect the wearer’s respiratory environment. There are many types of airway masks which differ in materials and effectiveness. This study aims to evaluate the effect of a surgical mask, the N95 mask, and an elastomeric respirator mask on cardiopulmonary, metabolic, and subjective parameters on healthcare workers. Methods: We conducted a controlled clinical trial on healthcare workers aged between 17-35 years old. Each subject performed a treadmill test (speed 5.6 km/hour) for 30 minutes while their physiological variables were monitored (pulse rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, end-tidal CO2, body temperature, Borg scale, talk test, blood lactate, intermittent blood sugar, and subjective indicators). Each healthcare workers will be tested for four treatments, namely without using a mask, surgical mask, N95 mask, and elastomeric respirator. Results: All healthcare workers (age 25.10 ± 2.2 years old; 5 males and 5 females) completed the protocol with no adverse event. Pair-wise comparison using two-way ANOVA reported no significant difference within the mask condition for pulse rate (p=0.6497), respiratory rate (p=0.6772), oxygen saturation, (p=0.2587), end-tidal CO2 (p=0.0191), body temperature (p=0.7425), Borg scale (p=0.0930), blood lactate (p=0.6537) and glucose (p=0.8755). A statistically significant difference was reported in talk test (p=0.0129) with elastomeric respirator group showing highest result compared to control. Similarly, statistical significance was reported in subjective indicator of tightness (p=0.0017) with highest mean rank seen in N95 mask condition. However, these differences were clinically insignificant. Conclusions: The effect of surgical mask, N95 mask, and elastomeric respirator on the cardiopulmonary parameters, metabolic parameters, and subjective indicators during 30 minutes of low-moderate intensity exercise is negligible and generally well tolerated by healthcare workers. Registration: TCTR20230630001

OPTIMALISASI KUALITAS CITRA ANATOMI DENGAN VARIASI IDOSE DAN INTERATIVE MODEL RECONTRUCTION (IMR) PADA MSCT UROGRAPHY NON KONTRAS DENGAN TEKNIK TRACKING

Background: The urinary tract (urinary system) consists of the two kidneys and ureters, the urinary bladder, and the ureters. There are several ways to examine abnormalities in the urinary tract radiologically. including the current CT scan, CT Scan (MSCT) is one of the modalities to evaluate and diagnose urinary tract disorders. MSCT of the urinary tract without using positive contrast media is able to identify images of the urinary tract in cases of urolithiasis. iDose and Interative Model Reconstruction (IMR) are the second generation of IR algorithms from the previous generation, namely iDose. This technology can also lower the dose to the patient and also improve the quality of the resulting image.&#x0D; Method: This type of research is an experiment with an observational approach with comparisons. This type of research is an experiment with data obtained from a comparison of noise values and the quality of anatomical images from tracking images with iDose and IMR variations. And an assessment was carried out by 3 radiologists. Place of data collection in radiology RSUD RAA Soewondo Pati. Time for data collection From April to November 2022. in assessing anatomical images using statistical tests. Data analysis was carried out using the Wilcoxon statistical test method because the data were ordinal with paired groups. The Wilcoxon statistical test was used to test the hypothesis and see the level of difference in anatomical image information. The level of significance (level of significance) is 95% or α&gt; 0.05 and is done by assessing the p-value. For a significant level of assessment p &lt;0.05 then Ho is rejected and p&gt; 0.05 then Ho is accepted.&#x0D; Results: Friedman test on each anatomical part of the urinary tract system on Non-Contrast Urography MSCT images with Tracking Techniques with iDose 1-6 and IMR 1-3 variations, there are differences in anatomical image information with a p value of .000 (p &lt;0.05). In the anatomy of the renal parenchyma, the highest mean rank is iDose 3 with a value of 8.15. In pelvic anatomy and kidney calices, the highest mean rank is at iDose 6 with a value of 8.05. In ureteral anatomy, the highest mean rank is iDose 3 with a value of 8.05. In the anatomy of the perirenal space, the highest mean rank is iDose 3 with a value of 8.20. Based on the results of the mean rank Friedman test to find out the optimal I Dose and IMR values, it was obtained iDose 1 with a mean rank value of 4.65, iDose 2 with a mean rank value of 4.95, iDose 3 with a mean rank value of 8.3, iDose 4 with a mean rank value of mean rank 6.4, iDose 5 with a mean rank value of 6.55, iDose 6 with a mean rank value of 7.75, IMR 1 with a mean rank value of 1.65, IMR 2 with a mean rank value of 2.05, and IMR 3 with a mean value rating 2.7.&#x0D; Conclusion: Changes in the values of iDose and IMR variations affect the anatomical image information of Non-Contrast MSCT Urography with Tracking Techniques, this is based on the results of the mean rank Friedman test performed on each anatomy of the renal parenchyma, pelvic calices, ureters and perirenal space which shows a difference. Based on the results of Friedman's mean rank test conducted on the entire anatomy of the renal parenchyma, ureters, and perirenal space, it showed that the optimal iDose and IMR variation values were iDose 3 with a mean rank value of 8.3.

EFFECT OF ASIATIC ACID ISOLATE ON DECREASING REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES (ROS) LEVELS IN MICE REVERSIBLE PULPITIS

Background: Pulpitis is a form of pulp inflammation that occurs due to the response of vascular connective tissue to a trauma or continuation of caries. During inflammation the release of Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-) will regulate excess ROS. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) can damage cellular lipids that cause oxidative stress, cell or tissue damage in mice caused by ROS to be seen with malondhydehyde biomarker (MDA) donors. Asiatic acid is a natural antioxidant that is able to neutralize free radicals by suppressing oxidative stress. This study aims to determine the effect of asiatic acid isolates on the reduction of ROS levels in reversible pulpitis mouse models. Method: This type of research is an experimental laboratory in vivo, conducted by making pulpitis on the right and left teeth of the right and left jaws of 24 male Wistar rats who were treated in the form of a control group, Asiatic Acid 0.5%, 1% and 2%, then examined using elisa sandwich method Result: The One way anova test showed that the highest mean rank was the control group and the lowest was the Asiatic Acid group of 1%. The p value &lt; 0.05, there was a significant difference in the concentration of Asiatic Acid isolates against the significant reduction in ROS levels in reversible pulpitis between the four groups. Post Hoc LSD (Least Significant Difference test in between control groups and 1%, 0.5% and 1% group, and 1% and 2% groups obtained p &lt; 0.05 which means there is a significant difference in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in reversible pulpitis between the two groups. Conclusion: Asiatic Acid was able to reduce the amount of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) as seen from the parameters of Malondialdehyde antibodies (MDA) in male wistar mice that developed reversible pulpitis

The Optimal Energy Density of Photobiomodulation Therapy in Decreasing Orthodontic-Related Pain: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

Objective: The aim of this network meta-analysis (NMA) was to explore the optimal energy density (ED) for relief of orthodontic-related pain by photobiomodulation therapy. Background: Orthodontic treatment corrects the deformity of teeth, dental arch, jaw, and face using various orthodontic devices under the action of biomechanics. Materials and methods: A computerized literature search was conducted within the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and CBM databases to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that used photobiomodulation therapy to relieve pain during orthodontic treatment. Particular inclusion and exclusion criteria were connected to recognize relevant articles. The information was extricated autonomously by two reviewers, and a quality assessment was carried out by utilizing the Cochrane Collaboration "risk of bias" tool. The RevMan 5.4 software and STATA 15.0 were utilized for data analysis. Also, the NMA was performed with mvmeta commands in Stata (StataCorp, TX). Results: Of the 1024 recognized articles, 21 RCTs were at long last included. Within the risk-of-bias assessments, 2 studies displayed a high risk, 17 an unclear risk, and 2 a low risk. The global and local inconsistency of the NMA in 1 and 2 days was not significant; however, the NMA in 3 days showed a significant inconsistency. Laser with lower ED (0-10 J/cm2) appeared to be the most noteworthy possibility to become the optimal intervention, and it also had the highest mean rank in the rankogram and the biggest value of surface under the cumulative ranking in all three NMA structures. Conclusions: On account of the limited evidence of included trials, laser with lower ED (0-10 J/cm2) appeared to be more valid than the remaining treatment modalities (laser with higher ED, placebo, and control) for pain reduction in 1, 2, and 3 days after orthodontic procedures were applied. In the future, more high-quality research with consistency in research design is needed for further evaluation.

Effect of Nd:YAG and Er:YAG laser tooth conditioning on the microleakage of self-adhesive resin cement

Statement of problem Recently, the application of lasers in restorative dentistry has been considered for cavity preparation and surface conditioning of enamel and dentin. However, the beneficial effects of cavity surface conditioning by laser irradiation on microleakage are still controversial. Purpose This study aimed to compare the microleakage of self-etch adhesive resin cement with Nd:YAG and Er:YAG laser tooth surface conditioning to evaluate the capabilities of these lasers as a reliable replacement for etching cavities. Materials and methods Fifty-four class V cavities were prepared on the buccal and lingual surfaces of 27 sound human premolar teeth. The samples were randomly divided into three groups (n = 18): group 1: no conditioning; group 2: conditioned with Er:YAG laser (2940 nm, 10 Hz, 1.2 W); group 3: conditioned with Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm, 1.5 W, 10 Hz). All the cavities were filled with self-adhesive resin cement. After curing and polishing, the samples were immersed in 2% methylene blue solution for 24 h, and after being embedded in acrylic resin, they were sectioned longitudinally and examined under a stereomicroscope. The data were submitted to Kruskal–Wallis and Dunn tests (α = 0.05). Results The lowest microleakage mean rank was observed in the Er:YAG group (19.19), and the highest mean rank was noted in the Nd:YAG group (33.08), with significant differences between the three groups (P-value = .01). Pairwise comparisons demonstrated significant differences between the Er:YAG and Nd:YAG groups (P-value = .004) as well as Er:YAG and no conditioned groups (P-value =.022). Conclusion The irradiation of the Er:YAG laser (2940 nm, 10 Hz, 1.2 W) on cavity surface resulted in less marginal microleakage of self-etch adhesive resin cement restorations compared to Nd:YAG (1064 nm, 1.5 W, 10 Hz) and no conditioning groups.

Optimization of statistical and machine learning hybrid models for groundwater potential mapping

Determining areas of high groundwater potential is important for exploitation, management, and protection of water resources. This study assesses the spatial distribution of groundwater potential in the Zarrinehroud watershed of Kurdistan Province, Iran using combinations of five statistical and machine learning algorithms – frequency ratio (FR), radial basis function (RBF), index of entropy (IOE), evidential belief function (EBF) and fuzzy art map (FAM). To accomplish this, 1448 well locations in the study area were randomly divided into two data sets for training (70%= 1013 locations) and validation (30%= 435 locations) based on the holdout method. Fourteen factors that can affect the presence or absence of groundwater were identified, measured, and mapped using ArcGIS and SAGA-GIS software. The models were used to predict the locations of groundwater based on suitable combinations of the conditioning factors to produce groundwater potential maps. The probability of groundwater at any location was classified as low, moderate, high, or very high based on natural breaks in the data spectrum. The model predictions were tested for validity and their success was determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, standard errors (SE), positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), sensitivity (SST), specificity (SPF) and accuracy (ACC), and the Friedman test. The performance assessments of groundwater potential predictions using the area under the curve (AUC) and accuracy (ACC) showed that the FR-RBF model had very good performance (AUC= 0.889, ACC= 87.51). FR-FAM (AUC= 0.869, ACC= 84.67), EBF-FAM (AUC= 0.864, ACC= 84.42), EBF-RBF (AUC= 0.854, ACC= 83.94), FR-IOE (AUC= 0.836, ACC= 83.62), and EBF-IOE (AUC= 0.833, ACC= 80.42) also had acceptable performance. The results of the Friedman test also show that there are significant differences between the models and the highest mean rank was generated by the FR-FAM model (3.642). Therefore, the hybrid models can be used to increase the accuracy of groundwater-prediction models in the study region and perhaps in similar settings. Highlights The groundwater potential was studied in the area of Zarrinehroud watershed A combination of methods including FR, RBF, IOE, EBF and FAM Very high and high groundwater potential areas were located in the northern half The development of hybrid models can increase the accuracy of the results

Optimal treatment strategy of fremanezumab in migraine prevention: a systematic review with network meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

Identifying the optimal fremanezumab treatment strategy is crucial in treating patients with migraines. The optimal strategy was investigated by assessing the cumulative 50% reduction rate (50%CRR), cumulative 75% reduction rate (75%CRR), reduction in the number of migraine days, treatment-related adverse events, and serious adverse events in patients treated with fremanezumab 225 mg monthly (225 mg), 675 mg monthly (675 mg), 900 mg monthly (900 mg), a single high dose of 675 mg (S675mg), 675 mg at baseline with 225 mg monthly (675/225 mg), and placebo. Biomedical databases were searched for randomized controlled trials on this topic, and data were individually extracted. Risk ratios and mean differences were used to present the pooled results. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) was used to determine the effects of the medication strategies of fremanezumab. Five trials (n = 3404) were used to form a six-node network meta-analysis. All fremanezumab medication strategies displayed significantly higher cumulative 50% reduction rates than the placebo. The SUCRA revealed that treatment with 675 mg yielded the highest 50%CRR value (mean rank = 2.5). S675 mg was the only treatment with significantly higher 75%CRR reduction rate than placebo, whereas the SUCRA for 225 mg displayed the highest mean rank (2.2). Moreover, 225 mg (mean rank = 2.2) and S675 mg (mean rank = 2.2) presented lower probabilities of serious adverse events. Collectively, S675mg and 225 mg exhibited the optimal balance between efficacy and safety within three months. Long-term efficacy and safety remain unclear, and future studies should further evaluate the long-term outcomes.

The relationship between posterior pharyngeal wall thickness and swallowing function after radiation therapy

Background: Dysphagia is a complication following radiation therapy (RT) for head and neck cancers (HNC). Radiologic findings of posterior pharyngeal wall thickening (PPWT) after RT has not been quantified and correlated to swallowing outcomes.Aims/objective: To evaluate PPWT and its impact on swallowing function following RT.Material and methods: Retrospective analysis of pre- and three-month post-RT PPWT, demographics, oncologic history, and swallowing parameters of patients undergoing RT for HNC. Multivariate analysis of variance was performed to evaluate the effect of PPWT on swallowing outcomes.Results: The mean age of the cohort (n = 207) was 61.8 (± 11.29) years. The mean PPWT increased by 0.28 (± 0.19) cm (p = .00) three-months after RT. A significant difference in PPWT score between tumor subsites, χ2(2) = 45.883, p = .00, with the highest mean rank score of 135.97 for nasopharynx and 103.46 for oropharynx. PPWT was significantly associated with increased pyriform sinus retention, higher Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS) scores and post-deglutitive aspiration (p < .05).Conclusions and significance: PPWT increase significantly after RT for HNC. Increased PPWT was associated with mean radiation dose to the nasopharynx and oropharynx and was an independent risk factor for increased pharyngeal residue, higher PAS scores, and timing of aspiration (p < .05).

PERBEDAAN INFORMASI ANATOMI CITRA CT-SCAN SINUS PARANASAL POTONGAN CORONAL DENGAN VARIASI REFORMAT SLICE THICKNESS PADA KASUS RINOSINUSITIS KRONIS

Background : Chronic rhinosinusitis is defined as inflammation of the nose characterized by two or more symptoms, one of which should be either obstruction, facial pain pressure, reduction of smell for more than 12 weeks. Multiplanar reconstruction is a computer program that can create coronal, sagittal, and paraxial images from a stack of contiguous transverse axial scans. There are several parameters that support CT-Scan image quality, one of which is slice thickness. The slice thickness is an incision where the value chosen by the operator is in accordance with clinical requirements. The purpose of this research is to find out difference of image anatomic information in coronal ct scan paranasal sinuses with reformat slice thickness variations in chronic rhinosinusitis and the optimal reformat slice thickness.&#x0D; Method : This type of research is an experimental quantitative that was located in the Radiology Installation of dr. Moewardi Hospital Surakarta on March-May 2019. This research used 8 samples and 3 respondents, where slice thickness coronal was reformatted with variations 1 mm, 1,5 mm, 2 mm, 2,5 mm, and 3 mm. Anatomical criteria assessed were nasal septum deviation, mucosal thickening, and concha bullosa. In this research, Kappa test was conducted to determine the degree of allignment between respondents. Then analyzed by Friedman test to determine difference of image anatomic information in coronal ct scan paranasal sinuses with reformat slice thickness variations in chronic rhinosinusitis and to find out which the optimal reformat slice thickness by looking at the highest mean rank.&#x0D; Result : The results of this research showed a significant difference between the use reformat slice thickness variations to the anatomy criteria with p value &lt; 0,05. Reformat slice thickness 1 mm seems very clear on nasal septum deviation, mucosal thickening, and concha bullosa, 1,5 mm and 2 mm seems very clear on nasal septum deviation and mucosal thickening, 2,5 mm seems very clear on nasal septum deviation, 3 mm seems very clear on nasal septum deviation and concha bullosa.&#x0D; Conclusion : Based on the result that there is a difference of image anatomic information in coronal CT-Scan paranasal sinuses in chronic rhinosinusitis with the most optimal reformat slice thickness is 1 mm.&#x0D;

The treatment modalities of masticatory muscle pain a network meta-analysis.

Numerous treatment modalities have been attempted for masticatory muscle pain in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD). To compare the treatment efficacy of more than 2 competing treatments, a network meta-analysis (NMA) was conducted. This study was reported with reference to the extended Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement for reporting of systematic reviews incorporating network meta-analyses. Medline via Pubmed, Embase via OVID, and Cochrane Library Central were searched (up to February 11, 2019). Axis I protocol of Diagnostic Criteria or Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD, RDC/TMD) were chosen as diagnostic standards. The PICOS (Problem/patient, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Study design) method was used to screen trials under eligibility criteria. And the NMA was performed with mvmeta commands in Stata (StataCorp, Tex). Of 766 studies searched, 12 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) were finally included. Nineteen different therapies were found and further categorized into 9 treatment modalities. The general heterogeneity was not found among included trials. But predictive intervals (PrIs) were conspicuously wider than confidential intervals (CIs) of all pairwise comparisons, indicating that heterogeneity may exist between studies. Complementary therapy showed the greatest probability (42.7%) to be the best intervention. It also had the highest mean rank (2.3) in the rankogram and the biggest value of surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA, 84.1%). Based on the limited evidence of available trials, complementary therapy seemed to be slightly more effective than remaining treatment modalities for pain reduction in TMD patients with masticatory muscle pain. High-quality randomized controlled trials are expected to validate the findings.

Health Literacy in Lower Limb Orthopedic Trauma Patients in Riyadh Saudi Arabia

Background: Health literacy and knowledge is the persons’ capabilities which allow them to understand basic health information to make their health decisions. Low understanding about the patients own condition is more associated with low medical knowledge and bad disease outcomes. Instructions should be given to patients for recovery to avoid complications. Aim: To evaluate health knowledge of orthopedic trauma patients regarding their own condition in two level 1 Trauma centers in Riyadh, KSA and the association between health knowledge and patients demographics. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 102 participants from 2 level 1 Trauma centers in Riyadh, in the period from the 1st of July 2018 to the 30th of September 2018. A survey was given to participants upon discharge after receiving discharge instruction. Results: 60.8% of the individuals had good knowledge. The mean rank score of males was 53.88, while for females it was 48.71, the highest mean rank was found in the age group 25-30 years old and it was 57.9, the highest mean rank regarding level of education was 56.93 for those with intermediate education and those with monthly income 5000 to 10000 SR had the highest score (64.2). Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of health knowledge between orthopedic trauma patients regarding their own condition in Riyadh, KSA. Further multi center studies with a larger population should be conducted in order to asses and improve the health knowledge regarding the patients own condition among orthopedic patients and other specialties.

Identifying an effective mobile health application for the self-management of allergic rhinitis and asthma in Australia

Objective: People with allergic rhinitis (AR) often self-manage in the community pharmacy setting without consulting health care professionals and trivialize their comorbidities such as asthma. A mobile health application (mHealth app) with a self-monitoring and medication adherence system can assist with the appropriate self-management of AR and asthma. This study aimed to identify an app effective for the self-management of AR and/or asthma.Methods: MHealth apps retrieved from the Australian Apple App Store and Android Google Play Store were included in this study if they were developed for self-management of AR and/or asthma; in English language; free of charge for the full version; and accessible to users of the mHealth app. The mHealth app quality was evaluated on three domains using a two-stage process. In Stage 1, the apps were ranked along Domain 1 (Accessibility in both app stores). In Stage 2, the apps with Stage 1, maximum score were ranked along Domain 2 (alignment with theoretical principles of the self-management of AR and/or asthma) and Domain 3 (usability of the mHealth app using Mobile App Rating Scale instrument).Results: Of the 418 apps retrieved, 31 were evaluated in Stage 1 and 16 in Stage 2. The MASK-air achieved the highest mean rank and covered all self-management principles except the doctor’s appointment reminder and scored a total MARS mean score of 0.91/1.Conclusions: MASK-air is ranked most highly across the assessment domains for the self-management of both AR and coexisting asthma. This mHealth app covers the majority of the self-management principles and is highly engaging.

Investigating Readiness of Virtual Classroom Environment (VCE) among Students

Virtual classroom environment (VCE) is a platform for learners as it has thepotential to increase learners’ academic performance. The main objectiveof this paper is to investigate the readiness for VCE among students at alocal university in Malaysia. A survey was conducted with 217 respondents.Questionnaires administered comprised sections on the demography ofrespondents and their readiness for virtual classroom and TechnologyReadiness Index 2.0 (TRI 2.0). The Kruskal-Wallis test was conductedin the data analysis. The dimensions of the Technology Readiness Index;(i) insecurity, (ii) discomfort, (iii) innovativeness , and (iv) optimism,were analysed. The results showed only the ‘discomfort’ dimension hada statistically different average total score between the three generationgroups according to their age, namely; (i) Generation X (those born between1965 and 1979); (ii) Generation Y (born between 1980 and 1994); and(iii) Generation Z (born in 1995 or later). The mean rank of total score for‘discomfort’ shows that Generation X has the highest mean rank among thethree generation groups. Thus, the results suggest future qualitative studiesto unravel the ‘discomfort’ dimension for Generation X group.&#x0D; Keywords: virtual classroom environment (VCE); technology readinessindex 2.0