University Research Center Research Articles

Photo-Generated Charge Carrier Dynamics in Metal Oxide Photocatalysts

Solar water splitting is one of the most attractive energy carrier generation processes to utilize solar energy. Light generated hydrogen is a clean energy carrier, since their consumption for energy generation produces only water. Moreover, generated hydrogen can be stored and used whenever required. Hydrogen is mostly used as a feedstock in the chemical and petrochemical industries, e.g. production of ammonia, methanol and fertilisers.[1]The photocatalytic solar water splitting process has been studied extensively over the last half century. However, despite the efforts, no ideal photocatalyst has yet been identified to meet three main requirements for commercialisation: (1) low cost, (2) high solar to hydrogen (STH) efficiency and (3) durability. Over the last two decades, considerable efforts have focused on developing visible light active photocatalysts, and some promising photocatalysts with relatively high water splitting efficiency were discovered.[2] In contrast to search of appropriate photocatalyst (nano)materials, mechanisms of photocatalytic water splitting reactions, in particular charge carrier dynamics of photocatalysts, were little studied. Understanding charge carrier dynamics in photocatalysts will certainly provide an opportunity to design high efficiency photocatalysts.In this presentation, we will show dynamics of photo-generated charge carries in metal oxide photocatalyst by employing a series of transient absorption spectroscopies covering from 150 fs to 100 s over UV-VIS-NIR wavelength ranges.[2] Correlation of the charge carrier dynamics with photocatalysis reactions will be discussed.This work was partly supported by ARC DP fund (DP180103815) and ARC LIEF funds (LE170100235 and LE200100051), Australia, and the Collaborative Research Program of Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University (grant number 2023-45 and 2022-99), Japan. We also acknowledge supports from School of Engineering, RMIT University, and Forefront Research Center, Faculty of Science, Osaka University.

Planning in the Shadow of China

This article considers the influence of Maoist China on Tunisian development theory in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The shadow—or brilliant light—of the Chinese experience was evident in Tunisia by the late 1950s, where wide-scale agrarian reform within the People's Republic and the use of cooperatives and labor-intensive agricultural technologies to rationalize the use and allocation of labor were immensely impacting foreign technical attaches, young Tunisian economists and agronomists, and people at the periphery of state planning and within the state-funded university system and research centers. In reading these proposals against the grain, this article situates them in their social and political context and the constraints that context imposed: a hewing away from outright enthusiasm for Communist China within the state-funded research centers, and a warmer embrace within more independent fora. It also situates those discussions amid a Tunisian milieu wherein China was increasingly embraced for its support of Algerian national liberation, its own national liberation war, with its experience seen as a third way for the Third World against the industrial-heavy experience of the USSR.

Amyloid‐dependent tau phosphorylation drives faster accumulation of tau aggregates in female

AbstractBackgroundThe high prevalence of Alzheimer’s dementia in females have long puzzled researchers in the field. Despite similar amyloid levels, females show higher load of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Previous literature proposed that amyloid‐β (Aβ) and phosphorylated tau (p‐tau) synergism accelerates biomarker abnormalities. However, it remains to be answered whether this synergism is the driving force behind faster tau progression in females. The overarching goal of the study wa to investigate whether amyloid‐β aggregates differentially impose tau hyperphosphorylation and neurofibrillary tangles formation in a sex‐specific manner.MethodIn this longitudinal study, we assessed 287 participants from TRIAD cohort at McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging. Cerebral Aβ and tau deposition were assessed with positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracers [18F]AZD4694 ([18F]NAV4694) and [18F]MK6240, respectively. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) p‐tau181 and p‐tau217 were also measured (analysed at the Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden). Regression and voxel‐based models with interaction terms were used to evaluate baseline tau load and NFT accumulation rate as a function of sex and baseline biomarkers (Aβ and p‐tau).ResultWe identified sex difference in the relationships between CSF p‐tau, Aβ and NFT (Fig 1). Specifically, voxelwise analyses demonstrated that female presented stronger positive correlations between CSF p‐tau and AD core biomarkers (Aβ and NFT). Furthermore, we discovered that Aβ and CSF ptau181 interactively potentiated tau accumulation in females but not males (Fig 2, Table 1). Together, the present results support that Aβ load imposes higher tau aggregation in females.ConclusionAβ‐dependent tau phosphorylation was the key driver for faster NFT accumulation observed in female.

In vivo data‐driven patterns of Tau accumulation associated with AD progression using 18F‐MK‐6240 PET

AbstractBackgroundAlzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease associated with accumulation of amyloid beta and tau neurofibrillary tangles following a pattern known as Braak stages (Braak 1995,2011). Recent papers (Pascoal 2020) indicate possibility to recapitulate Braak histo‐pathological stages in vivo using tau tangles PET tracer 18F‐MK‐6240, using manually defined regions of interest. This study analyzes patterns of Tau accumulation associated with AD in a completely data‐driven fashion.MethodWe used T1w MRI and 18F‐MK‐6240 Pet scans from healthy controls in the community or outpatients at the McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging. The following number of datasets from each diagnostic group [n scans total (m unique participants)]: cognitively normal: 347(194), mild cognitive impairment: 163(99), Alzheimer’s disease dementia: 114(77).T1w MRIs were pre‐processed (non‐uniformity correction, intensity normalization, stereotaxic registration, brain masking, tissue classification); FALCON (Fonov 2020) was used to extract the mid‐cortical surface.PET scans were linearly registered to the T1w MRI and the standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) was calculated using whole cerebellum grey matter as the reference. SUVR values were sampled along cortical mid‐surfaces and geodesically smoothed with a 10mm gaussian and resampled to the cortical surface of MNI2009c template (Fonov 2011).ResultFigure 1 shows Mean SUVR values on top of Figure 1, and latent factors at the bottom. Overall low values of tau in the temporal, partial and occipital region are associated with normal cognition (F1). Tau changes in the temporal lobe (F2, similar to stage 1&2) are associated with a slight cognitive change. Change in parietal and posterior temporal areas (F3, similar to stage 3&4) are associated with even more cognitive loss. Finally changes in the motor strip and ventral portion of the occipital lobe and remaining cortex (F4 and F5) are associated with the very advanced stages (5&6) of cognitive decline.ConclusionWe discovered patterns of tau accumulation associated with progression of cognitive decline in a completely data‐driven fashion .

Efficacy and Safety of Auricular Acupuncture for Depression

Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide, and there is increasing interest in nonpharmacological treatments. Auricular acupuncture (AA) is a simple, low-cost, and well-tolerated option, but further studies are needed to establish its efficacy and safety. To estimate the efficacy and safety of auricular acupuncture as a treatment for depression. This randomized clinical trial was conducted at 4 university research centers in Brazil, from March to July 2023. Eligible patients were adults aged 18 to 50 years whose score on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) indicated moderate depression (score 10-14) or moderately severe depression (score 15-19). Exclusion criteria included previous application of AA, risk of suicidal ideation, or severe depression (PHQ-9 score >20). An intent-to-treat analysis and modified intent-to-treat analysis were conducted. Participants were randomized into 2 treatment groups, which included specific AA (SA) and nonspecific AA (NSA). Both groups received 12 sessions of AA with semipermanent needles with daily stimulation twice a week over 6 weeks and were followed-up for 3 months. All participants continued with their usual care for ethical reasons. The SA group's treatment protocol consisted of 6 acupuncture points on the auricular pavilion chosen according to the diagnosis of depression by traditional Chinese medicine (Shenmen, subcortex, heart, lung, liver, and kidney). The NSA group's acupuncture points were the external ear, the cheek and face area, and 4 nonspecific points in the helix region unassociated with mental health symptoms. A locator device was used to confirm which areas had neuroreactive points. The primary outcome was a reduction of at least 50% in the PHQ-9 score (ie, depression recovery) at 3 months. Secondary outcomes included depression recovery at 4 and 6 weeks; depression remission (PHQ-9 score < 5) at 4 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months); and adverse events. A total of 304 participants were screened, and 74 participants (62 women [84%]; median [IQR] age, 29 [23-27] years) were included in the intention-to-treat analysis, with 37 participants randomized to each group (SA and NSA). A total of 47 participants (64%) were followed-up through 3 months. The results showed no statistically significant difference in depressive recovery between the groups at 3 months (14 of 24 participants in the SA group [58%] vs 10 of 23 participants in the NSA group [43%]; risk ratio [RR], 1.34; 95% CI, 0.76-2.45; P = .38). The proportions of depression recovery and remission at 4 and 6 weeks based on the PHQ-9 were higher in the SA group (except for depression recovery at 6 weeks) with no statistically significant differences. However, a statistically significant difference was observed in symptom remission at 3 months (11 of 24 participants in the SA group [46%] vs 3 of 23 participants in the NSA group [13%]; RR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.16-3.34; P = .02) in favor of SA. There were no significant differences in adverse event rates between the groups, evidencing the intervention's safety. Most participants reported mild pain at the needle application site (33 patients [94%] in the SA group vs 32 patients [91%] in the NSA group). Five participants dropped out of the study due to adverse events. The results of this randomized clinical trial suggest that SA over 6 weeks is safe. Although there was no statistically significant difference between groups for the primary efficacy outcome, patients receiving SA did experience greater symptom remission at 3 months. A larger sample size and longer intervention are needed to further evaluate the efficacy of SA for depression. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05855421.

Usage of menstrual cups among the doctors of reproductive age group in a tertiary care centre in Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, India- An observational study

BackgroundMenstrual cups are an alternative to sanitary pads where the latter constitutes a major portion of waste disposal. The menstrual cups being reusable reduces the amount of waste generated in a substantial way. So, they are economical and eco-friendly. Their use has been limited in our country because of lack of promotion and extensive use of sanitary pads. Our study aimed to determine the awareness, knowledge and the pattern of usage of menstrual cups among the Doctors of the reproductive age group in a tertiary care centre. MethodsThis cross-sectional descriptive study was done among the doctors of the reproductive age group in SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre for a duration of 3 months. A pretested, semi-structured questionnaire was given to the doctors which contained information on sociodemographic characteristics of the participants, parity, knowledge, awareness and pattern of usage of menstrual cups. ResultsOut of 250 doctors, 9 (3.6 %) were unaware of menstrual cups. Though 241 (96.4 %) have heard of menstrual cups, 153 (61.6 %) had good knowledge about menstrual cups. Only 11 (4.4 %) of the doctors were actually using them. 224 (89.6 %) were using sanitary pads, 7 (2.8 %) were using tampons and 8 (3.2 %) were using reusable pads. ConclusionThe acceptance rate of menstrual cups is poor among the doctors even though they have good knowledge about them. Doctors being the connecting link between the public and the health care system require adequate awareness and promotion campaigns so that the adoption rate can be boosted among them.

Association of cholesterol with hepatorenal markers and quality of life in diabetic patients before and after magnesium and potassium supplements

BackgroundMagnesium and potassium are two critical minerals that have been linked to the treatment of diabetes and its consequences. A lack of magnesium has been linked to insulin resistance and diabetes, whereas potassium has been found to promote insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism. The study aimed to determine the relationship between cholesterol, liver and kidney markers, and quality of life in diabetic patients before and after magnesium and potassium supplementation. MethodsIt was a single-blind randomized controlled study at Lahore Garrison University and Lahore Medical Research Centre (LMRC). The study included 200 diabetes participants. Four groups were made based on supplements. Blood samples of all diabetes patients were obtained to assess their quality of life before and after using Mg + and K + supplements, as well as the association between cholesterol, liver, and kidney markers. ResultsThe participants' average age was 51.0 ± 11.08. 139 (69.5 %) of the 200 participants were female, whereas 26 (30.5 %) were male. There was no correlation between the quality of life measure and the patients' cholesterol levels before and after the magnesium and potassium supplementation. Furthermore, the kidney and liver indicators were not dependent on the diabetes individuals' cholesterol levels. ConclusionsThe study concluded that none of the four groups noticed a significant effect of magnesium and potassium therapies on the patient's quality of life or cholesterol levels. However, more research is needed to determine if liver and kidney problems are linked to cholesterol levels before and after medication, as the current study found no significant correlation between the two parameters.

Dietary Inflammatory Index score and its association with body mass index, body fat percentage, body fat mass, and lipid profile in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) may cause modifications in body composition, particularly for body fat associated with obesity and some biochemical parameters such as lipid profiles. We investigated whether there is a link between the inflammatory contents of diets and body composition and lipid profiles in patients with MS. This was a cross-sectional study that included 85 MS patients. The study data of the patients were collected in the Neurology Clinic of Ondokuz Mayıs University's Health Practice and Research Center. The data included demographic characteristics; anthropometric measurements such as body weight, height, body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, body fat mass, body fat-free mass, and waist-hip ratio; and biochemical parameters such as high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, and total cholesterol. The body fat percentages of the patients were higher among those with proinflammatory diets (p < 0.05). Body fat percentage had a positive and very weak correlation with the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) score (rho = 0.206 and rho = 0.217, respectively; p < 0.05). HDL-c levels were higher in the group with high DII scores and there was a positive and weak correlation between HDL-c and DII scores (rho = 0.307, p < 0.05). Crude and adjusted linear regression models showed that the effect of HDL-c on DII scores was significant (p < 0.05). We showed that DII scores, associated with the inflammatory potential of the diet and proinflammatory diets, may be associated with adiposity in MS patients and can be used from a clinical point of view for assessment.

The Correlation Between Cognitive Flexibility and Learning Strategies Adopted by Medical Students.

Background and objective The term cognitive flexibility refers to the ability of the students to adapt to a challenging environment. This quality has been found to enhance creativity and skills for innovation among medical students who are expected to face a taxing environment in clinical settings. Medical students should be competent enough to address the problems on their own and work with autonomy. The practice of self-regulated learning (SRL) can be associated with cognitive flexibility. Hence, this study aimedto determine the correlation between learning strategies and cognitive flexibility. Our primary objective was to correlate the different learning strategies adopted and cognitive flexibility among medical students. Material and methods This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Sri Venkateshwaraa Medical College Hospital and Research Center, Ariyur, Pondicherry after obtaining institutional ethical committee approval. Students from the second year to the final year of the MBBS course who volunteered to participate in the study were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The Motivated Strategy for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ), consisting of 50 items in Part B, was employed to assess SRL. Cognitive flexibility was measured using the Stroop Color and Word Test(SCWT)and Trail Making Test(TMT) Part A and Part B. Results The study included a total of 220 medical students. The mean age of the participants was 21.76 ± 1.77 years, and they had a healthy mean BMI of 21.06 ± 1.25 kg/m2. There was no significantdifference in terms of gender in the tested variables. Responses in Card "C" and Card "CW" of the Stroop test showed a significant positive correlation (p<0.001) with subscales of SRL strategies. In the TMT, the latency of Trail A showed a significant negative correlation (p<0.001) with all the subscale scores of the SRL strategies, and the latency of Trail B showed a negative correlation with rehearsal (p=0.03), organization (p=0.03), and effort regulation strategies (p=0.01) of SRL. Conclusion Implementing SRL techniques can ultimately help medical students to act more wisely and judiciously. Hence, we propose that cognitive flexibility among medical students can be enhanced by adopting SRL strategies.

Effect of using Culture-Themed Documentaries on Guided Writing Skills in Teaching Turkish to Foreigners

The present study aimed to determine whether using culture-themed documentaries in Turkish teaching of B2 level international students has effects on the development of guided writing skills. The study had an action-research design, which is one of the qualitative study approaches. The study group consisted of 12 international students at the B2 level who learned Turkish in the 2022-2023 academic year at the Turkish Teaching Application and Research Center of a state university in Turkey. The data collection process was performed under two headings as “developing an action plan” and “implementing the action plan”. During the developing an action plan stage, the themes and documentaries to be used in the activities were determined by receiving the opinions of the experts. In the next step, guided writing activities were prepared in line with the writing acquisitions by consulting experts. The pilot applications of the activities were performed at the Turkish Teaching Application and Research Center of a state university in Turkey. Quantitative and qualitative data collection tools were used and the developmental status of the students was monitored to interpret how the guided writing skill activities developed in the classroom environment progressed. The worksheets of the students were evaluated by using the “Guided Writing Scoring Key”, which was developed by the researchers. Students’ pre-test, application order, post-test, and permanency scores were determined with this key. Based on the findings obtained in the study, it was concluded that using culture-themed documentaries in Turkish teaching of international students improved the guided writing skill levels of the students.

SARS-COV 2 pandemisi sonrası Hatay (Türkiye) ilinde kedilerin son sağlık durumu nedir? ikinci bölüm

The current study, as episode two, focused on the latest status of gastrointestinal, urinary tract, and hepatobiliary diseases, which might be induced by stress in cats following the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Hatay province in Türkiye. The study looked at post-pandemic (June 2021–June 2022) diagnosis data of cats with gastrointestinal, urinary tract, and hepatobiliary diseases (n: 147), admitted to Hatay Mustafa Kemal University Veterinary Health, Practice, and Research Center. The average age of the cats admitted to the clinic was 33.04 ± 2.77 months in post-pandemic period. The ages of the cats diagnosed with gastrointestinal, urinary tract and hepatobiliary diseases were 27.78 ± 4.33, 38.04 ± 3.95, and 40.12 ± 6.27, respectively. There were no breed and sex difference for diseases diagnosed in post-pandemic duration. Distributions of gastrointestinal, urinary, and hepatobiliary diseases were determined as 51.0%, 37.4%, and 11.6%, respectively. There was no statistical difference between the cat breeds that presented to the clinic in terms of gastrointestinal, urinary, and hepatobiliary diseases. Gastroenteritis (40%), gastritis (17.33%), and unconfirmed and suspected Feline inflammatory bowel disease (13.33%) are more diagnosed digestive system diseases. Cystitis (54.54%) and hemorrhagic cystitis (32.72%) were commonly diagnosed in urinary diseases. Besides, cholangiohepatitis was commonly diagnosed either alone (41.17%) or accompanied by hepatic lipidosis (23.52%) or cholecystitis (17.65%) in cats following the pandemic. Consequentially, although restrictions implemented during the pandemic that caused stress on cats were ended, the chronic impacts of stress seem to be continuing on cats, especially in terms of the gastrointestinal system, following the pandemic.

Variation in Medial Foot Arch and Its Association with Different Categories of Body Mass Index- A Review

Background: Foot posture plays an important role in an individual’s life. The Body Mass Index (BMI) is believed to be one of the prominent factors in changing the function of foot arch. Methods: The keywords that were used were: osteoarthritis, OA knee, foot arch, medial arch, and foot posture. After finalizing keywords, internet search was conducted on Pub Med and Google Scholar; the University library and research center were also approached for e-copy and possible hand search of articles. The criteria for inclusion of articles were all research designs like Systematic review, Meta-analysis, Randomized Control trials, Cross sectional studies, Narrative Reviews and editor’s notes published in the English language, and full articles providing data on foot arches or foot posture in subjects with osteoarthritis of the knee. Results: In this review, total 12 articles were included from the various platforms and search engines. All the articles were appraised and scrutinized; their methodology, results and conclusion were read and filtered out. Conclusion: It was concluded that variation in foot arch has association with the different categories of BMI.

The relationship between perception of COVID-19, fear of COVID-19 and self-care management in individuals with chronic diseases during the pandemic process in Turkey.

To determine the relationship between perception of COVID-19, fear of COVID-19 and self-care management in individuals with chronic diseases during the pandemic process. Individuals with chronic diseases are a sensitive group during the COVID-19 pandemic process; it is thought that self-care management may be adversely affected as a result of their more intense exposure to the psychological, physiological and economic effects of the pandemic. In the literature, there is no study examining the effect of perception of COVID-19 and fear of COVID-19 on self-care management in individuals with chronic diseases. Descriptive study. The study was conducted with 322 individuals who applied to the internal medicine outpatient clinics of a university's Health Practice and Research Center, met the inclusion criteria, agreed to participate in the study and had a chronic disease. Questionnaire form, Perception of COVID-19 Scale (P-COVID-19), The Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) and Self-Care Management Process in Chronic Illness Scale (SCMP-G) were used to collect data. STROBE checklist was used to report the present study. In the study, it can be stated that individuals with chronic diseases had a moderate to the high perception of contagiousness and dangerousness of COVID-19, they had a moderate-high level of fear of COVID-19 and their self-care care management was above moderate level. There was a significant positive correlation between P-COVID-19, FCV-19S and SCMP-G in the study. It was found that the perception of COVID-19 contagiousness and the fear of COVID-19 had a positive effect on the self-care management of individuals with chronic diseases. Determining the level of COVID-19 perception and fear of COVID-19 and their effects on the life of the individual, and evaluating self-care management during the difficult pandemic process will increase the success in the holistic nursing care and management of chronic diseases.

General Status of University Application and Research Centers from Regional Development to Internationalization: The Size of the Quality Assurance System in Research and Innovation Strategies

Ülkelerin sosyal, ekonomik ve teknolojik kalkınmasında Üniversitelerin önemli görevi bulunmaktadır. Kuzey Amerika ve Avrupa dışında ülkemizde de son yıllarda oluşturulan bu üniversiteler bölgeselden başlayarak genelde ülke kalkınmasında büyük ivme yaratmışlardır. Avrupa’da geçmişi ortaçağa kadar uzanan üniversiteler önceleri bilgiyi aktaran ve yorumlayan kurumlar olarak görev yaparken 19. yüzyıldan itibaren bilgiyi üretmeye ve uygulamaya başlamıştır. Araştırma ve uygulamanın günümüzdeki değerini ve üniversitelerin statüsünü anlamak için üniversitelerdeki değişim ve dönüşümü anlamak gerekir. Üniversitelerin bilgiyi aktarma görevinden bilgiyi üretmeye evrilmesi ve ulusal kalkınmayı amaçlaması, bilimsel araştırma yapma ve uygulama görevinin artık kaçınılmaz olduğunu gösterir. Geleneksel yükseköğretim sistemine göre her düzeydeki toplumun erişebileceği bir yükseköğretim sisteminin daha sürdürülebilir olacağı görüşü benimsenmiştir. Gittikçe artan öğrenci sayısı, bununla ilişkili ihtiyaçların farklılaşması ve mezuniyet sonrası kariyer planlamaları yükseköğretimin kapsamını genişletse de araştırma işlevi ön plandadır. Ülkemizde olduğu gibi, mevcut üniversitelerin araştırma üniversitesine dönüşmesi sürecinde zorluklar ve imkânsızlıklar bulunsa da, sürecin stratejik bir bakış ve değişim yönetimi perspektifi ile ele alınması ve kalite güvencesi sisteminin oluşturulması gereklidir. Bu durum gerçek anlamda yerel, bölgesel ve ulusal kalkınma hamleleri ile örtüşen, katma değer üretebilen ve toplumsal katkı sağlayabilen, uluslararasılaşma kapsamında kalite güvencesi kriterlerini veya standartlarını oluşturabilen Araştırma ve Uygulama Merkezlerinin kurulması gerektiğini açıkça göstermektedir. Bölgesel, ulusal ve uluslararası kalkınmada Araştırma ve Uygulama Merkezlerinin katkısı yüksek olup bu sebeple tüm merkezler eğitim, araştırma ve uygulama yanında toplumla ilişkili olan görevlerini de misyon ve vizyonlarına eklemelidir. Bu bilgiler ışığında bu derlemede üniversitelerimizin Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezlerinin temel faaliyet alanlarında uluslararasılaşmaya katkı verecek şekilde kalite güvencesi standartlarını belirleyerek uygulaması, izlemesi, kontrol ve önlem mekanizmalarını oluşturması ve sürekli iyileştirmesi için tanımlı süreçlerden oluşan bir kalite güvence sisteminin geliştirilmesine öncülük edilmesi amaçlanmıştır.

Evaluation of CRP as Predictor of Chorioamnionitis in Premature Rupture of Membranes

Background: Early identification of sepsis is essential as the mother has a risk of chorioamnionitis. C-reactive protein levels are done along with placental histopathology to detect chorioamnionitis. It is one of the most significant causes of high perinatal morbidity and mortality. Aim and Objective: To determine c-reactive protein levels and placental histopathology in premature rupture of membranes for maternal chorioamnionitis. Methodology: A prospective study was conducted in a tertiary care university medical college hospital and research center in western Maharashtra. A total of 250 pregnant women were reported per vaginal leak during the study period and CRP levels were sent along with urine culture sensitivity and high vaginal swab, post-delivery the placenta was sent for histopathology and were included in the study analysis. Results: The histopathology was done in all 250 pregnant women, and chorioamnionitis was evident in 46 pregnant women. This gives the incidence of 18.4% of chorioamnionitis in the study population. The sensitivity for CRP was calculated to be 15.22%, with a specificity of 99.02%, positive and negative predictive values of 77.78% and 83.82%, respectively, with an accuracy of 83.60%. Conclusion: Normal CRP level has good predictive values to rule out maternal chorioamnionitis. A raised single CRP level has low sensitivity to predict histological chorioamnionitis prior to its clinical expression.

Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase T-786C and G-894T Gene Polymorphisms: A Risk Assessment of Coronary Heart Disease.

The polymorphism of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene is thought to enhance the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). The most protruding reason for endothelial dysfunction is the diminished production of NO. In the eNOS encoding gene, a number of mutations were associated with decreased NO effect promoting the presence of CHD. This study aims to look at the role of polymorphisms in the eNOS genes G-894T and T-786C in young South Indians. From January 2022 to May 2022, 91 angiographically proven CHD subjects attending the Department of Cardiology and Medicine and 91 controls from a master health checkup in the age group of 45 years participated in this observational cross-sectional study at SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Overnight fasting plasma samples were taken for analysis of the lipid profile as well as NO by Griess reaction utilizing an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restricted fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) were used to amplify the T-786C and G-894T eNOS genes. When compared to controls, the mean level of serum NO in CHD patients was considerably lower. For eNOS T-786C polymorphism, the distribution of TC genotype (p = 0.017), odds (OD) ratio = 2.1, CC genotype (p = 0.011), OD ratio = 3.75, and minor C allele frequency (p = 0.001). And for eNOS G-894T polymorphism, the distribution of GT genotype (p = 0.01), TT genotype (p =0.02) with OD ratio and minor T allele frequency (p = 0.002) with OD ratio = 1.07 and 0.83. Our study concludes that the polymorphism of eNOS T-786C and G-894T genes may be the main causative association for the presence of CHD. How to cite this article: Jaishankar T, Shivasekar M, Vinodhini VM. Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase T-786C and G-894T Gene Polymorphisms: A Risk Assessment of Coronary Heart Disease. J Assoc Physicians India 2023;71(9):45-50.

The effect of logotherapy-based, nurse-guided meaning attribution conversations on women diagnosed with gynecologic cancer: A Turkish pilot study

ABSTRACT Although gynecological cancers are among the most common cancers worldwide, these diagnoses are among the most traumatic experiences in women’s lives. This study aimed to examine the effects of logotherapy-based, nurse-guided meaning attribution conversations (MACs) on traumatic stress symptoms, post-traumatic growth, spiritual well-being, and life meaning attribution in gynecological cancer patients. This single-blind, randomized controlled trial consisted of face-to-face interviews with 68 women with gynecological cancer who received chemotherapy at Karadeniz Technical University Health Application And Research Center Farabi Hospital in 2019. Women in the intervention group underwent seven MAC sessions, whereas women in the control group only received routine nursing care. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form (PIF), the Traumatic Stress Symptom Scale (TSSS), the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ), and the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS). Descriptive statistics and parametric and nonparametric tests (Mann – Whitney U-test, Friedman test, Chi-squared test, and Fisher’s exact test) were used to analyze the data. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05246462). We observed statistically significant differences in the post-intervention and follow-up mean TSSS, PTGI, and MLQ scores (p = .000) between groups. However, mean total SWBS scores were not significantly different between groups (p = .145). This study demonstrated that MACs decreased the traumatic stress symptoms of women with gynecological cancer and increased their post-traumatic growth and ability to attribute meaning to life, but did not affect their spiritual well-being.

Patterns of collaboration and knowledge generated by an Australian rural research centre over 20 years: a co-authorship network analysis

BackgroundPeople living in rural areas have poorer health than their urban counterparts. Although rural health research centres have been promoted as vehicles for improving rural health by contributing evidence to address rural health disadvantage and building research capacity, their characteristics and evolution are poorly understood. Collaboration is known to have an important positive influence on research outputs and research quality. In this study we examine publication outputs from an Australian rural research centre to evaluate how researchers have engaged in research collaboration over a two-decade period.MethodsA retrospective longitudinal study of publications in peer-reviewed journals from a rural research centre—University Centre for Rural Health (UCRH) —between January 2002 and December 2021. Organisational co-author networks across four periods (2002–2006; 2007–2011; 2012–2016; 2017–2021) were constructed based on author organisational affiliations and examined using social network analysis methods. Descriptive characteristics included organisation types, study design, region of study focus, thematic research trends, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and female authorship, and journal characteristics.ResultsWe identified 577 publications with 130 different UCRH-affiliated authors. Publications and the co-author network increased in number and diversity over each period, with an acceleration and a consolidation of the network in the final period. Over time there was an increase in publications related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, coupled with an increase in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander authorship and collaborations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations; rise in female senior authorship and publication in quartile 1 journals. About two-thirds of publications make no reference to regional or remote populations.ConclusionCollaboration in publications increased, expanded, and consolidated, which coincided with an increase in the number and diversity of both co-authoring organisations and UCRH-affiliated authors in the final period. The findings highlight the value of collaborations (including urban and international) in building and strengthening rural health research capacity. With increased capacity and consolidation of the network it is now imperative that research becomes more focussed on understanding and addressing rural health inequities.

Evaluation in design science: A framework to support project studies in the context of University Research Centres

This paper proposes a discussion of the evaluation of an artefact developed under the Design Science paradigm using the Delphi method. It evaluates the Ecosystem framework of University Research Centres in Project Studies, considering a set of criteria pre-established in the literature. The Delphi method is an evaluation implemented in an electronic platform involving twenty-one participants, among whom were academics, practitioners, and PhD candidates in the field of project management. It reached consensus and stability in two rounds: the results indicate a consensus among the participants in the applicability, novelty, simplicity, completeness, fidelity to modelled phenomena, consistency and internal coherence, scalability, flexibility, interest, elegance, and reusability criteria. Usability was the only criterion that did not attain the predefined percentage of consensus among the participants (70%). Given the framework’s characteristics, Delphi participants indicated the need to produce complementary guidelines for its implementation.

Global field of view-based pixel-level recognition method for medical images

Artificial intelligence image processing has been of interest to research investigators in tumor identification and determination. Magnetic resonance imaging for clinical detection is the technique of choice for identifying tumors because of its advantages such as accurate localization with tomography in any orientation. Nevertheless, owing to the complexity of the images and the heterogeneity of the tumors, existing methodologies have insufficient field of view and require expensive computations to capture semantic information in the view, rendering them lacking in universality of application. Consequently, this thesis developed a medical image segmentation algorithm based on global field of view attention network (GVANet). It focuses on replacing the original convolution with a transformer structure and views in a larger field-of-view domain to build a global view at each layer, which captures the refined pixel information and category information in the region of interest with fewer parameters so as to address the defective tumor edge segmentation problem. The dissertation exploits the pixel-level information of the input image, the category information of the tumor region and the normal tissue region to segment the MRI image and assign weights to the pixel representatives. This medical image recognition algorithm enables to undertake the ambiguous tumor edge segmentation task with low computational complexity and to maximize the segmentation accuracy and model property. Nearly four thousand MRI images from the Monash University Research Center for Artificial Intelligence were applied for the experiments. The outcome indicates that the approach obtains outstanding classification capability on the data set. Both the mask (IoU) and DSC quality were improved by 7.6% and 6.3% over the strong baseline.