Significant Differences In Relation Research Articles

Mancozeb induces cytogenotoxicity in meristematic cells of Allium cepa L

Mancozeb is a fungicide of the dithiocarbamate functional group, and it is widely used in agriculture to control various fungal diseases. Thus, studies detailing its toxicological characteristics are necessary, as the population may be exposed through the consumption of food or water contaminated with mancozeb. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic, genotoxic, and mutagenic potentials of this dithiocarbamate using the Allium cepa L. test system as well as its cytotoxicity in erythrocytes of female rats (Rattus norvegicus). The meristematic roots of A. cepa bulbs were exposed to various concentrations of mancozeb (62.5, 125, 250, and 500 mg/L) for 24, 48, and 72 h to determine cytotoxicity by evaluating the mitotic index (MI), chromosomal aberrations (CA), and nuclear anomalies (NA) for genotoxicity analysis and micronuclei (MN) for mutagenicity analysis. Distilled water and copper sulfate (0.0006 mg/L) were used as the negative control (NC) and positive control (PC), respectively. The MI and the sum of CA and NA of all the mancozeb concentrations showed a significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) in relation to the NC, indicating possible cytotoxicity and genotoxicity induced by mancozeb. Additionally, MN significantly increased with mancozeb concentration from 250 mg/L to 500 mg/L in 24 h when compared to NC. In another study model, mancozeb showed to be cytolytic at concentrations starting from 125 mg/L. Therefore, these results indicate that mancozeb causes cytogenetic alterations and mutagenicity at lower concentrations than those used in agriculture, which emphasizes the need for more care when managing this fungicide.

QUALITY OF LIFE OF PATIENTS AFTER SURGICAL INTERVENTION AT THE CLINIC FOR EYE DISEASES TUZLA

Visual impairment negatively affects the quality of life of people and it is an important parameter of the outcome of treatment of patients diagnosed with cataracts, glaucoma, strabismus or injuries. The goal of the research was to assess the psychological aspects of the quality of life of patients with the above-mentioned diagnoses.The research included 99 patients of both sexes, who, after surgery at the Clinic for Eye Diseases Tuzla, were monitored on an outpatient basis in the Clinic's Specialist Outpatient Clinic. For the purposes of the research, the Vision Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25), version 2000, was used.The age of the respondents ranged from 5 to 78 years. The majority of respondents were men 50 (50.50%). The average chronological age of male respondents is 47.50±21.56 years, and female respondents 50.12±20.85. In the total sample, 45.5% of respondents have cataracts, 29.3% glaucoma, 11.1% strabismus and 14.1% have an eye injury. Of these 99 respondents, 47.5% consider their health to be average, 44.4% consider it to be above average, while 8.1% of respondents consider it to be below average. A higher percentage of male respondents have glaucoma (38%) and injuries/trauma (20%) compared to female respondents. A higher percentage of female respondents (55.1%) state that their quality of life is above average, while the percentage of male respondents is 34%. The quality of life is average for 56% of male respondents and 38.8% of female respondents. The results of the chi-square test showed that there is no statistically significant difference in relation to the gender and quality of life of the respondents (χ2= 4.48; df= 2; p= 0.106). The results of the univariate analysis of variance in relation to the cause of visual impairment, and the vision problems experienced by the subjects showed that there is a statistically significant difference between the subjects in relation to the cause of visual impairment. In relation to the overall results of vision problems, it may be concluded that subjects with cataracts and glaucoma at the statistical significance level of 0.05 state that they have more vision problems compared to subjects with strabismus and injury. Subjects with cataracts at the significance level of 0.05 state that they have more vision problems compared to subjects with glaucoma.Although the self-assessment of the psychological and spiritual components of the quality of life of the subjects gave satisfactory results, it is necessary to provide specific support in order to prevent and eliminate negative reactions to the postoperative condition of operated patients. Keywords: quality of life (QoL), NEI VFQ-25 questionnaire, visual impairment.

SOCIAL MEDIA AS AN EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT FOR STUDYING

The paper presents the results of an empirical study aimed at determining students’ attitudes toward social media as a digital tool in the process of studying. The research used a descriptive research method, and data collection was done using a specially constructed instrument – a rating scale. The research sample was intentional and consisted of 314 undergraduate students from the Faculty of Philosophy in Niš. The results of the study indicate that the majority of respondents express positive attitudes toward the use of social media during their studies. Namely, respondents recognize the potential of these tools for sharing and exchanging educational materials and are aware of their usefulness in supporting cooperative work, especially when it comes to solving tasks at the group level or collaborating on joint projects. Students perceive social media as a platform for active discussion with peers and teachers, as well as for solving academic challenges and problems. The study found no statistically significant differences in relation to independent research variables (years of study, study program, grade point average, length of presence on social media, frequency of access). It is concluded that further research into specific social media platforms is necessary to make a greater contribution to higher education

Smartphone usage and its associated behaviours among undergraduate medical students in Pakistan

This study aimed to determine the trends of smartphone usage and behaviours associated with its use among undergraduate medical students at ABWA Medical College, Pakistan. Conducted from July to December 2023, this cross-sectional survey involved 270 undergraduate medical students, with 264 participants responding, resulting in a 97.7% response rate. The validated Smartphone Addiction Survey (SAS) was administered via an online Google form after obtaining informed consent. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. The study identified that smartphone usage among medical students includes information storage, communication, education, and entertainment, with no statistically significant gender-based differences (p > 0.05). Behaviours associated with smartphone usage included daily life disturbance, overuse, withdrawal, cyberspace-oriented relations, and tolerance. The ANOVA test revealed significant differences in cyberspace-oriented relations (p = 0.012), while no significant differences were found among different MBBS classes for daily life disturbance, overuse, withdrawal, and tolerance. These findings provide valuable insights into smartphone usage patterns and behaviours among medical students, highlighting significant variations in online interaction habits. The results can inform targeted interventions to promote healthy smartphone use and improve educational experiences for medical students in the digital age.

The impact of resistance training on memory, gait and oxidative stress during periestropause in rats

Aging, especially in female, is complex, involving various factors such as reproductive sensitivity, cognitive and functional decline, and an imbalance in the redox system. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of long-term resistance training as a non-pharmacological strategy to mitigate the impairment of recognition memory, hippocampal redox state, and ambulation in aging female Wistar rats during the periestropause period. Thirty Wistar rats aged 17 months, in periestropause, were distributed into non-trained (NT) and resistance training (RT; stair climbing 3 times per week for 4 months) groups. Before (17 months) and after (21 months) of the RT period, the rats underwent tests for ambulation, elevated plus maze (EPM), open field, and object recognition. Biochemical and histological analyses were conducted on the hippocampus of these animals. Analysis of the results revealed that at 21 months, females in the NT group (21Mo/NT) exhibited a decreased in length (p=0.0458) and an increased in past width (p<0.0479) compared to their measurements at 17 months. However, after 4 months of RT, the female rats aged 21 months (21Mo/RT group) experienced changes in gait components, showing an increase in length (p<0.0008) and a decrease in stride width. Regarding memory, the object recognition test indicated potential cognitive improvement in 21Mo/RT animals, with significant interaction between intervention and age across all three stages of the test (total exploration time, p=0.0001; Test 1, p=0.0003; Test 2, p=0.0014). This response was notable compared to animals in the 21Mo/NT group, which showed a decline in memory capacity (p<0.01). The data showed a significant difference in relation to the age of the animals (p<0.01). The hippocampal redox state markers showed reduced lipid oxidative (p=0.028), catalase (p=0.022), and superoxide dismutase (p=0.0067) in the RT group compared to the NT group. Hippocampal cells from the 21Mo/RT group showed increased citrate synthase enzyme activity (p<0.05) and Nissl body staining (p<0.05). The results of this study demonstrate that RT performed during the periestropause phase leads to significant improvements in functional abilities, cognitive performance, and neuroplasticity in aging female rats.

Predictors of Mortality in Infective Endocarditis: A Retrospective Study

Introduction: Infective endocarditis (IE) remains a major health problem with significant morbidity and mortality rates. Despite its serious implications, data on prognostic factors remain scarce. Aim: We aim to determine predictive factors of mortality during infective endocarditis. Methods: We performed a retrospective study including patients admitted to university hospital Mohammed 6 of Marrakech between September 2019 and January 2024 for a confirmed IE based on Dukes modified criteria. Results: Of 43 patients included, 30 were males (69%) and 13 were females (30%). The mean age was 47.4 for men and 49.30 for women. 44.1% of our patients were admitted in heart failure, and 37% presented themselves late to our facility for management. Only 25.58% suffered from kidney failure and 55.8% presented an LV dysfunction. Complications were noted at a rate of 48%. Male’s group had less complication rate with 10% vs 38% in females’ group (p=0.042). And an overall mortality rate was at 34% and there were no significant sex related differences in terms of mortality between the two groups (33% in males vs 38% in females, p = 0.742). The analytical study concluded that heart failure at admission(p&lt;0.001), neurological complications(p=0.024), anemia (p=0.049), kidney failure (p=0.002), prolonged antibiotics (p=0.016), LV dysfunction (p=0.027) and an emergency surgery (p&lt;0.001) were independent risk factors for mortality. Conclusion: Our study underscores the urgent need to identify predictive factors of mortality in infective endocarditis (IE), and to adopt a multidisciplinary approach to enhance the care and management of patients, ultimately aiming to improve their survival rates.

Assessment of Digital Dentistry Knowledge and Practices Among Dental Students at King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND Digital dental (DD) technologies need to be developed for dental use because of the prominent position that these technologies have recently acquired. This 21-item online questionnaire-based study aimed to assess the understanding of DD methods in 120 undergraduate dental students at King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia (SA). MATERIAL AND METHODS Electronic surveys were sent to 123 dental students at different study phases (basic, preclinical, and clinical). Dental students were requested to answer the questionnaires in accordance with their knowledge, observations, particular experiences, and DD practice. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, which involved numerical values and ratios. Then, the associations among study level, knowledge, practice, and study phases were analyzed using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. RESULTS Completed questionnaires were returned by 120 students. The chi-square test showed significant differences in relation to questions "Do you have any previous knowledge of DD?", "The field that uses DD the most is…", "Does DD provide more precise results than conventional dentistry?", and "Do you know about CAD/CAM?", with P values of 0.006, 0.000, 0.018, and 0.002, respectively. Students at clinical phase exhibited significantly higher levels of knowledge than those at the preclinical phase (P<0.01). With regard to DD practice, 73.3% of students expressed a negative viewpoint, 82.5% stated that DD is essential for the future, and half said that practicing DD will result in improvements in patient satisfaction, time consumed, and level of predictability. CONCLUSIONS Students at basic, preclinical, and clinical phases had good knowledge on DD and were motivated to practice it in future in their workplaces.

Thermal Comfort of Nelore Cattle (Bos indicus) Managed in Silvopastoral and Traditional Systems Associated with Rumination in a Humid Tropical Environment in the Eastern Amazon, Brazil.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the thermal comfort of Nelore cattle (Bos indicus) managed in silvopastoral and traditional systems associated with rumination behavior in a humid tropical environment in the Eastern Amazon, Brazil. The study was carried out on a rural property in Mojuí dos Campos, Pará, Brazil, during the transition period of the year, from June to July 2023. Over these two months, six consecutive data collection days were held. We selected 20 clinically healthy non-castrated male Nelore cattle, aged between 18 and 20 months, with an average weight of 250 kg and body condition score of 3.5 (1-5). These animals were randomly divided into two groups: traditional system (TS) and silvopastoral system (SS). The physiological variables evaluated included RR, RT and BST. The variables were analyzed using the linear mixed model. For agrometeorological variables, higher values were observed between 10:00 a.m. (33 °C) and 6:00 p.m. (30 °C), with the highest temperature observed at 4:00 p.m. (40 °C). The RR showed interactions (p = 0.0214) between systems and times; in general, higher RR were obtained in the Traditional. The animals' RT showed no significant difference (p < 0.05) between the production systems, but there was a statistically significant difference in relation to the time of collection (p < 0.0001). In the BGHI, it was possible to observe that there was mild stress in the period from 22:00 at night to 6:00 in the morning and moderate stress in the period of greatest increase in temperature, from 10:00 in the morning to 18:00 at night. BST showed no statistical difference between the regions studied or between the SP (35.6 °C) and TS (36.25 °C) systems. RT in the TS showed a positive correlation with AT (r = 0.31507; p = 0.0477). RT in the SP showed a positive correlation with THI (r = 35583; p = 0.0242). On the other hand, RT in the SP (r = 0.42873; p = 0.0058) and ST (r = 0.51015; p = 0.0008) showed a positive correlation with BGHI. RR in the TS showed a positive correlation with BGHI (r = 0.44908; p = 0.0037). The greatest amounts of rumination were carried out by animals in the SP system, generally ruminating lying down (p < 0.05). With regard to rumination behavior in the morning and afternoon, there were higher numbers of WS and LD in the TS (p > 0.05). Most of the time, the cattle were LD during the morning and afternoon shifts, and at night and dawn they were WS in the TS. Therefore, the SP offers more thermal comfort advantages compared to the TS system.

Peculiarities of the chemical enrichment of metal-poor stars in the Milky Way Galaxy

The oldest stars in the Milky Way are metal-poor with Fe/H $&lt;$ -- 1.0, displaying peculiar elemental abundances compared to solar values. The relative variations in the chemical compositions among stars is also increasing with decreasing stellar metallicity, allowing for the pure signature of unique nucleosynthesis processes to be revealed. The study of the $r$-process is, for instance, one of the main goals of stellar archaeology and metal-poor stars exhibit an unexpected complexity in the stellar production of the $r$-process elements in the early Galaxy. In this work, we report the atmospheric parameters, main dynamic properties, and the abundances of four metal-poor stars: HE 1523-–0901, HD 6268, HD 121135, and HD 195636 (--1.5 $&gt;$ Fe/H The abundances were derived from spectra obtained with the HRS echelle spectrograph at the Southern African Large Telescope, using both local and non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE and NLTE) approaches, with the average error between 0.10 and 0.20 dex. Based on their kinematical properties, we show that HE 1523--0901 and HD 195636 are halo stars with typical high velocities. In particular, HD 121135 displays a peculiar kinematical behaviour, making it unclear whether it is a halo or an accreted star. Furthermore, HD 6268 is possibly a rare prototype of very metal-poor thick disk stars. The abundances derived for our stars are compared with theoretical stellar models and with other stars with similar metallicity values from the literature. HD 121135 is Al-poor and Sc-poor, compared to stars observed in the same metallicity range (--1.62 $&gt;$ Fe/H $&gt;$--1.12). The most metal-poor stars in our sample, HE 1523 -- 0901, HD 6268, and HD 195636, exhibit anomalies that are better explained by supernova models from fast-rotating stellar progenitors for elements up to the Fe group. Compared to other stars in the same metallicity range, their common biggest anomaly is represented by the low Sc abundances. If we consider the elements beyond Zn, HE 1523--0901 can be classified as an r-II star, HD 6268 as an r-I candidate, and HD 195636 and HD 121135 exhibiting a borderline $r$-process enrichment between limited-r and r-I star. Significant relative differences are observed between the $r$-process signatures in these stars.

Comparative clinicopathological study of the main anatomic locations of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

To analyze the clinicopathological and evolutionary profile of the main locations of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). This is a retrospective study on 133 patients treated for OSCC. The group was composed of 48 women and 85 men, with a mean age 63.9 ± 12.73 years. Most cases involved the lingual border of tongue (63), followed by the gingiva (36) and the floor of mouth (34). A comparative analysis was performed using multinomial regression. There were significant differences regarding age, sex, tobacco and alcohol consumption, liver pathology, oral potentially malignant disorders, and bone and perineural invasion. In multivariate regression, tobacco consumption, and bone invasion remained significant. There were no significant differences in relation to prognosis. The location of OSCC is an important factor in the clinicopathological assessment of this neoplasm. The main locations of OSCC show differential etiopathogenic and clinicopathological aspects. Tobacco consumption has a great relevance in the floor of mouth; nonetheless, it is less important in the tongue border and the gum, which suggests other pathogenic factors. It is necessary to consider the anatomical location of OSCC in preventive protocols, with the aim of reducing its high mortality.

Lichtenstein versus laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) hernia repair: Retrospective study, our experience

Abstract: Surgical correction of inguinal hernias is the most commonly used surgical procedure in the world. Currently only three surgical techniques have been validated, that is the Shouldice technique, the Lichtenstein technique, and laparoscopic techniques such as transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) hernioplasty and totally extraperitoneal endoscopic hernioplasty (TEP).The aim of the study: The aim of this study is to show the results in terms of postoperative recovery, complications, length of hospitalization after inguinal hernia surgery in patients who underwent the Lichtenstein and the laparoscopic (TAPP) methods.Material and methods: This is a monocentric, retrospective cohort study, conducted in the period from 2019 to 2023. The research period covered 70 patients who underwent surgery at the Clinic for General and Abdominal Surgery with Glandular Surgery, of the University Clinical Center, Sarajevo. The patients were divided into two groups: Group 1: 20 patients who underwent the TAPP method and Group 2: 50 patients who underwent the Lichtenstein method. All patients underwent surgery performed by two doctors.Results: One woman (1.4%) and 69 men (98.6%) participated in the research. Of the total number, 50 patients (72.5%) were treated with the Lichtenstein technique, and 19 (27.5%) were treated with the TAPP technique (p=0.539). The statistical results did not show a significant difference in the average age between patients who underwent the Lichtenstein and the TAPP technique (T=0.759; p=0.450).Discussion: There was no significant difference in relation to age and type of surgery (T=0.759; p=0.450). There was no statistical difference in the choice of surgical approach in relation to the laterality of the hernia (P&amp;lt;0.001), nor any statistically significant difference between the TAPP and Lichtenstein surgical procedures in relation to BMI T=0.613; p=0.542. Our analyses showed that patients treated with the TAPP technique had a statisticallysignificantly higher probability of shorter postoperative hospitalization compared to those treated with the Lichtenstein technique (B=0.245; p=0.019). Two patients in the study had complications within 30 days (Clavien-Dindo Grade I and Grade IIIB).Conclusion: Using an individual approach for each patient, surgical treatment of hernia using laparoscopic TAPP can be the first choice in patients without comorbidities, without previous pelvic surgery, bilaterality or recurrence of previous surgery (anterior approach). Patients treated with the laparoscopic technique (TAPP) have a shorter hospitalization time, which ultimately affects the economic aspect.

Neurosurgery in Saudi Arabia: Navigating Through Future Pathways and Students' Perspectives

Neurosurgery is a surgical discipline that demands comprehensive knowledge in other specialties. It is regarded as one of the most competitive specialties. However, there is a new trend toward considering life-style friendly specialties. Therefore, this study aims to assess the neurosurgery perception and identify potential factors influencing such attitudes. An observational, survey-based study was conducted on medical students at the College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia. An online-based questionnaire was administered to the participants. It consisted of 2 main parts: the first part collected demographic data, while the second part included 20 Likert scale-based questions. Pearson's χ2 test was utilized, with statistical significance set at P < 0.05. A total of 305 medical students from various academic years participated in the questionnaire survey, with nearly an equal gender distribution. Remarkably, a significant majority (76.72%) expressed uncertainty or disagreement regarding the adequacy of neurosurgery education during their medical studies. While a substantial portion of participants (69.5%) found neurosurgery intriguing, almost half (47.87%) indicated that they would not pursue it as their future specialty. The consideration of neurosurgery as a career path showed statistically significant differences in relation to both gender and academic year (P= 0.009 and P < 0.001, respectively). This study emphasizes how gender and academic year affect choosing neurosurgery as a career but notes limitations like self-reporting bias and a single-institution scope, which may affect generalizability. Future research might consider national summer training programs to engage more students in neurosurgery.

Echocardiographic Assessment of Left Ventricular Function in Three Oncologic Therapeutic Modalities in Women with Breast Cancer: The ONCO-ECHO Multicenter Study.

Background: Oncological treatment of breast cancer may be associated with adverse effects on myocardial function. Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare the influence of three oncological treatment methods of intervention on the echocardiographic (ECHO) parameters of left ventricular function. Materials and Methods: One hundred and fifty-five women with breast cancer were divided into three groups depending on the type of therapy used: group I (AC)-anthracyclines; group II (AC + TZ)-anthracyclines + trastuzumab; and group III (RTls+)-anthracyclines with or without trastuzumab + left-sided radiotherapy. Prospective ECHO examinations were performed at baseline and every 3 months, up to 12 months from the start of the therapy. Patients with a history of chemotherapy or who were diagnosed with heart disease were not included in the study. Results: Out of 155 patients, 3 died due to cancer as the primary cause, and 12 withdrew their consent for further observation. Baseline systolic and diastolic ECHO parameters did not differ between the analyzed groups. Cardiotoxicity, according to the LVEF criteria, occurred during follow-up in 20 patients (14.3%), irrespective of the treatment method used. Diastolic echocardiographic parameters did not change significantly after 12 months in each group, except for the left atrial volume index (LAVi), which was significantly higher in the AC + TZ compared to the values in the RTls+ group. Conclusions: All three oncologic therapeutic modalities in women with breast cancer showed no significant differences in relation to the incidence of echocardiographic cardiotoxicity criterion; however, transient systolic decrease in LVEF was most frequently observed in the AC + TZ therapeutic regimen. Left-sided radiotherapy was not associated with excess left ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction during a 12-month follow-up period. The predictors of negative changes in diastolic parameters included age and combined anthracycline and trastuzumab therapy.

Why do you not show us the outside of the school? Opportunities and limitation to conduct outdoor activities in physical education

ABSTRACT This study sought to determine the preferences, barriers, and resources that active Andalusian Physical Education teachers (Primary and Secondary) have about conducting outdoor education (OE) as well as the main limitations teachers currently encounter in performing outdoor education. Also, to analyse whether the environment, school context, and size of the school facilitate or hinder the inclusion of OE. A total of 413 teachers (age: 42.31 ± 8.62 years) joined in this research. The questionnaire ‘Diagnóstico de las actividades físicas en el medio natural en el ámbito escolar’ (DAFNE) was used. Our results showed significant differences in relation to primary and Secondary educational stages. Regarding public and private school, the size of the school, as well as the number of inhabitant where the school is situated, significant differences were found. School context, environment, size of the school and educational stage could have an influence to include OE in physical education sessions.

Avaliação do estado nutricional em idosos com diabetes mellitustus

Objective: To analyze the nutritional status of elderly individuals with diabetes mellitus. Methods: Cross-sectional population-based study. Part of the Longitudinal Study of Health of the Elderly of Alcobaça – ELSIA, including 465 elderly people. Data analysis was performed using a structured questionnaire containing sociodemographic, health and behavioral information. Nutritional status was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment – MNA. Results: There was a prevalence of risk of malnutrition/malnutrition of 47,1% (15,7% in men and 30,1% in women) in the group with diabetes. The MNA analysis revealed that the individuals in the group with diabetes, when compared to the group without diabetes, presented greater weight loss in the last three months (p=0,017), took more than three different medications per day (p=≤0,0001), believed they were malnourished (p=0,003) and considered their own health as not very good (p=0,027). When comparing genders, the male diabetes group showed differences in relation to the use of multiple medications (p=≤0,0001), mobility (p=≤0,0001), and neuropsychological problems (p=0,029). While females showed a statistically significant difference in relation to use of multiple medications (p=≤0,0001). Conclusion: The findings showed a significant prevalence of risk of malnutrition/malnutrition in elderly with diabetes mellitus, especially in females. However, the presence of the disease in males has been shown to have a significant impact on nutritional status when analyzing MNA parameters.

Emotional Regulation Mechanisms of University Students in Group Work Situations.

A total of 107 students from a Chilean university and a Spanish university, all of them enrolled in the degree in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, participated in the study. The instrument used was the Adaptative Instrument for Regulation of Emotions questionnaire. The analysis of the data shows that there are some significant differences (p ≤ 0.05), between the groups of students who worked virtually and those who worked in hybrid situations, in the aspects related to personal motivations (learn from my classmates, not to disappoint my working group, and enjoying the experience of working in a group). The students who worked online resolved conflicts mainly through individual regulation mechanisms with significant differences in relation to the students who worked in hybrid mode. No significant differences were found in the socioemotional challenges or in the balance of the metacognitive experience. The group that worked in hybrid learning valued group purposes over personal purposes and used the social regulation mechanism over individual regulation in conflict resolution. On the other hand, the group that worked virtually valued group and personal purposes equally and used the mechanism of individual regulation and social regulation to solve difficulties. Differences between students who worked in virtual and hybrid environments may be due to greater social interaction and group dynamics in hybrid environments, as well as differences in culture and access to resources and technology.

Photobiomodulation for Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Reduction in Mastectomized Women on Hormone Blockers: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To assess the impact of intravascular laser irradiation of blood (ILIB) on the primitive carotid artery (PCA) hemodynamic variables, specifically blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR), in mastectomized patients undergoing hormone blocker treatments. Materials and methods: This study is a controlled, experimental, and randomized clinical trial. Patients were allocated into two groups: the experimental group (G1)-patients who received ILIB therapy using a 660 nm laser targeted at the PCA, and the control group (G2)-patients who did not receive ILIB therapy. Clinical research was conducted weekly, with measurements of systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and HR. The Mann-Whitney U test for independent samples was used, with a significance level of α = 0.05. Results: Systemic photobiomodulation on the PCA did not demonstrate a statistically significant difference in relation to SBP and DBP. However, for HR, the p-value was <0.05, indicating a significant difference between G1 and G2. The initial mean p > decreased from 142.3 to 116.4 mmHg in G1, and from 130.4 to 119.8 mmHg in G2. The DBP varied from 78.8 to 72.8 mmHg in G1, and from 79.1 to 74.2 mmHg in G2. A statistically significant difference was observed in HR, decreasing from 81.3 to 62.06 bpm in G1, and changing minimally from 74.1 to 75.1 bpm in G2. A considerable reduction was present in the timing of application. Conclusions: ILIB therapy applied to the PCA induces a reduction in BP and, more notably, HR in mastectomized women using the tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors.

Maternal Mortality from 2014 To 2017: Trend and Risk Factors at the Kintambo Maternity Ward, Democratic Republic of Congo

Introduction: Maternal mortality is a tragedy and constitutes a triple scourge. It is dramatic for the family (which falls apart after the death of the woman), unacceptable for the medical profession (since there are obstetric means to save mothers), and unacceptable for society (dying while giving birth). However, it seems to increase every year in the city of Kinshasa, due to several factors including the lack of easy access to quality care and childbirth services. The main objective for this study was to investigate the trend in maternal mortality at the Kintambo maternity ward from 2014-2017 including the relative contribution of risk factors linked to the lack of easy access to care and services quality delivery. Methods: This is an observational case-control study among pregnant women who followed ANC or not at the Kintambo maternity ward, but who all gave birth from January 2014 until December 2017. The use of the survey method, based on the analysis of registers, with a data collection sheet (check list) which was used for the collection of data, proved essential to bring this to fruition research. The sample size was exhaustive for cases (63 cases) and 63 controls. Results: Trend in female mortality between 2014-2017 at the Kitambo maternity ward in the city of Kinshasa has been decreasing, i.e. 22 cases in 2014, 17 cases in 2015, 14 cases in 2016 and 10 cases in 2017. It was observed that the variables show a very significant difference in relation to the factors which are the age of the pregnant woman, attendance at the CPN, delivery in the same center, the number of doctors in the delivery room and the distance between the residence and the center with an added value (P) less than 0.008; In comparison to pregnant women who die or not during childbirth and the factors in relation to their Chi-square, the age of gestation has a higher. Conclusion: Reducing this mortality requires strengthening the capacities of midwives /midwives in the care of pregnant women from conception to delivery and in the postpartum period , providing maternity wards with all the assets for good operationalization in the farthest corners of the city center , raising awareness among pregnant women of the importance of attending the CPN, ensuring good monitoring of the pregnant woman during her pregnancy and during childbirth, and for women to be always accompanied by their husbands during the CPN in order to help them internalize certain notions.

Africanized honey bee colonies in Costa Rica: first evidence of its management, brood nest structure and factors associated with varroa mite infestation.

Management, brood nest structure and factors associated with varroa mite infestation were studied in 60 apiaries of Africanized honey bees in the northwest region of the Central Valley of Costa Rica. Apiaries were monitored two times. The first monitoring was taken forward during the rainy season between May and November 2019. The second monitoring during the dry season between February and March 2020. Information about the beekeepers, apiaries and management was collected through a survey. Amount of open and capped brood, honey and pollen were measured in the field. The infestation rate of varroa (IRV) was quantified using standard laboratory methods. A determination of multi-residue pesticides in bee bread was made through GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS techniques. According to the results, most of the beekeepers produce honey (96.7%), participate in training activities (82.2%), and change the bee queens annually (70%). The first monitoring was characterized by a lower amount of capped brood and honey reserves compared to the second one. IRV was significantly higher in the first monitoring (6.0 ± 0.4) in comparison with the second one (3.0 ± 0.3) (U Mann-Whitney p < 0.001). The maximum value for the first monitoring exceeds 40%, while this value was close to 25% in the second monitoring. Mite infestation exposed significant differences in relation to the variables associated to the beekeeper's management, i.e., change of bee queen (p = 0.002) or when beekeepers monitor varroa mites (p = 0.004). Additionally, the IRV had inverse correlations (p < 0.01) with the number of comb sides with capped brood (Spearman's rho coefficient = -0.190), and honey reserves (Spearman's rho coefficient = -0.168). Furthermore, 23 of 60 bee bread samples presented one to five pesticide residues, being the most frequent antifungal agrochemicals.

Evaluación del umbral de ciclo de la RT-PCR en tiempo real para SARS-CoV-2

Objective: To evaluate the cycle threshold (Ct) of the E and N2 markers for detection of SARS-CoV-2 in real-time RT-PCR and relate them to the age and service of origin of the patients.Materials and methods: A real-time RT-PCR assay was performed, obtaining the cycle threshold of 95 patients from different services. Results: The outpatient service was the highest (67.4 %); having average ages between 1 to 89 years. Regarding the “N2” and “E” genes, it was determined that there is no significant difference in relation to the age group, however, when performing inferential analysis, for the type of protein variable, it was concluded that there was a significant difference. Conclusions: SARS COV 2 is an etiology, present in different age groups, being more susceptible over 50 years of age, in addition to the threshold value of the genes, it is not usually related; this value may vary depending on the methodology used.