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A Comparison of Two Directed Monitoring Conditions for Improving Comprehension
No full textPurpose: The purpose of the current study was to test the hypothesis that children, specifically poor comprehenders may demonstrate better comprehension monitoring and comprehension performance under conditions that 1) place emphasis on meaning rather than decoding, 2) do not impose undue demands on working memory and processing capacity, and 3) allow for more processing time.Method: Fourth grade skilled (n = 20) and unskilled comprehenders (n = 20) listened to passages under two directed monitoring conditions. In one condition, children listened to entire passages (Listen Through; LT) and in the other condition children listened to passages one sentence at a time (Stop, Think and Monitor; STAMP). Participants were asked to listen for anomalous information, to report when and if they identified things in the passages that did not make sense, and to explain why they felt the information was erroneous. All children were asked to recall passages and answer explicit and implicit (inferential) questions about the passages after they listened to them.Results: Skilled comprehenders performed better on identifying and resolving anomalous information under both directed monitoring conditions. While skilled comprehenders performed better on comprehension outcomes (recall, answering questions) in the LT condition, this was not true in the STAMP condition. Both groups performed comparably on comprehension outcomes, specifically in answering implicit questions in the STAMP condition. Partial correlation coefficients between the number of implicit questions answered correctly and detection and resolution of anomalies was not significant after controlling for the effects of language on the outcome variables.Conclusions: Further research is needed to identify the most effective methods and procedures for teaching students to comprehend what they are hearing or reading. Underlying factors such as language ability and working memory may mediate the benefit received from an approach or strategy designed to improve comprehension performance. Our study suggests that the measure of comprehension chosen (recall or answering questions) to evaluate comprehension performance may dictate the type of intervention or strategy that is most effective
Bacterial Growth Inhibitory Effect of Ceratonia siliqua L. Plant Extracts Alone and in Combination with Some Antimicrobial Agents
No full textObjectives: To evaluate the antibacterial activity of the total extracts, methanolic and water extract of leaves with stems and the pods of Ceratonia siliqua L. each alone and in combination with some antimicrobials on some pathogens. As the wide use of antibiotics in the treatment of bacterial infections has led to the emergence and spread of resistant strains. Many studies showed that the efficacy of antimicrobials can be improved by combining them with crude plant extracts. Materials and Methods: the antibacterial activity of the total extracts, methanolic and water extract of leaves with stems and the pods of Ceratonia siliqua L. each alone and in combination with some antimicrobials was evaluated using well-diffusion method. Cytotoxicity of the total methanolic extract against Huh-7 liver and A-495 lung cancer cell lines was assessed using SRB method. Results: Well diffusion method demonstrates an in-vitro antibacterial activity of the tested extracts against tested microorganisms. Combination of the tested extracts with antimicrobials increased the activity of the tested antimicrobials. A dose dependant effect on both Huh-7 liver and A-495 lung cancer cells was observed.Conclusion: Our results revealed the importance of plant extracts when associated with antibiotics to control resistant bacteria that become a threat to human health. In addition, the tested plant extracts can be exposed for further investigation to be used as hepatoprotective agent.Alyaa Hatem Ibrahim1,Rehab Mahmoud Abd El-Baky2,Samar Yehia Desoukey1, Ahmed Abd-Lateff1,3 and Mohamed Salah Kamel11Pharmacognosy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Minia University, Minia 61519, Egypt; 2Microbiology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Minia University, Minia 61519, Egypt; 3Department of Natural Products and Alternative Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, PO Box 80260, Saudi ArabiaAbstract: Objectives: To evaluate the antibacterial activity of the total extracts, methanolic and water extract of leaves with stems and the pods of Ceratonia siliqua L. each alone and in combination with some antimicrobials on some pathogens. As the wide use of antibiotics in the treatment of bacterial infections has led to the emergence and spread of resistant strains. Many studies showed that the efficacy of antimicrobials can be improved by combining them with crude plant extracts. Materials and Methods: the antibacterial activity of the total extracts, methanolic and water extract of leaves with stems and the pods of Ceratonia siliqua L. each alone and in combination with some antimicrobials was evaluated using well-diffusion method. Cytotoxicity of the total methanolic extract against Huh-7 liver and A-495 lung cancer cell lines was assessed using SRB method. Results: Well diffusion method demonstrates an in-vitro antibacterial activity of the tested extracts against tested microorganisms. Combination of the tested extracts with antimicrobials increased the activity of the tested antimicrobials. A dose dependant effect on both Huh-7 liver and A-495 lung cancer cells was observed.Conclusion: Our results revealed the importance of plant extracts when associated with antibiotics to control resistant bacteria that become a threat to human health. In addition, the tested plant extracts can be exposed for further investigation to be used as hepatoprotective agent
Association Between Thyroid and Iron Status of Pregnant Women in Southern Bulgaria
No full textThe purpose of this study was to assess the thyroid and iron status of pregnant women on the basis of biochemical indicators and to look for correlation dependences amongst them. A subject of this research were 128 pregnant women from Plovdiv, Southern Bulgaria. For the assessment of the iron status the following indicators were examined: hemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin (SF), soluble transferrin receptors (sTfR), Body iron(mg/kg), defined by the formula:–[log(sTfR/SF)-2.8229]/0.1207. To assess the thyroid status the urinary iodine concentration was examined, and also the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free T4 (FT4). The results demonstrated that more than 1/3 of the examined pregnant women had Hb<110 g/L, and 69% had SF less than 15 µg/L, which is indicative for iron deficiency, 18.5% were with Body iron<0 mg/kg (indicate tissue iron deficiency). During the assessment of the thyroid status on the basis of ioduria it turned out that more than half of the pregnant women (59.3%) had iodine deficiency, 5.8% and respectively 19.0% had deviation in the values of TSH and FT4. In conclusion we can summarize that we have found out significant associations between iron deficiency with pregnant women and deviations in their thyroid status, which provides us with a solid base to continue and deepen the research in this direction
Potentials and Limitations of Bile Acids in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Applications of Microencapsulation as a Novel Oral Delivery System
No full textType 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic metabolic disorder resulting from genetic and environmental factors that bring about tissue desensitization to insulin and consequent hyperglycemia. Despite strict glycemic control and the fact that new and more effective antidiabetic drugs are continuously appearing on the market, diabetic patients still suffer from the disease and its complications. Recent findings present a strong link between diabetes, inflammation, altered gut microbiota and bile acid (BA) disturbances. BAs are naturally produced in humans and are gaining an appreciable interest as an adjunct treatment for T2D due to their endocrine signalling and anti-inflammatory properties. However a significant limitation to their efficacy is their low oral absorption, poor targeted delivery, gut metabolism and inter- and intra-individual dose variations. Thus there is a need for a novel and robust formulation that will encapsulate the BAs and protect them until they reach the lower intestine allowing them to be clinically beneficial. Artificial Cell Microencapsulation (ACM) is a novel oral delivery system for biologically active molecules and has been used significantly in the delivery of various cells and therapeutics. ACM-BA formulation has the potential to optimise BA efficacy and safety profiles and may have a place in the treatment of diabetes. This review aims to investigate the applications of BAs in T2D and the use of ACM as a novel delivery system for their optimum delivery
Editorial
No full textEditorial for the Inaugural Issue of the Global Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatolog
Application of 3D-Representation Algorithms in Small-Bowel Capsule Endoscopy
No full textIn video endoscopy, there is on-going research for a three-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract using stereoscopic cameras [1,2]. This could lead to improved diagnostic yield by enhancing textural features of the mucosa and/or abnormalities [3,4]. However, due to current limitations in capsule endosocpy (CE) technology i.e. size, power consumption, and resolution, accurate 3-D imaging of the intestinal lumen in CE is still unfeasible [5]. To address this shortcoming, various algorithms such as Shape-from-Shading (SfS) have been utilized in CE. Essentially, SfS algorithms reconstruct surface appearances through an inversion of the image irradiance equation thus recovering the shape of GI structures and/or lesions given a single twodimensional 2-D image. During a recent CE examination in our Department, the ampulla of Vater was identified (Figure 1). By applying 4 publicly available SfS algorithms [3, 6-9] on the 2-D image surface features become accentuated (Figure 2), although the outcome is variable and depends on the method used (unpublished authors' data)
Progress and Prospects in EEG-Based Brain-Computer Interface: Clinical Applications in Neurorehabilitation
No full textAbstract: Several patients are no longer able to communicate effectively or even interact with the outside world in ways that most of us do it. For instance, severe cases astetraplegic or post-stroke patients are literally 'locked in' their bodies, unable to exert any motor control after a spinal cord injury or a brainstem stroke, requiring alternative methods of communication and control. However, in the near future, their brains may offer them a way out. EEG-based brain-computer interface (BCI) is the technique utilized to measure brain activity and by the way that different brain signals are translated into commands that control an effector (e.g., controlling a spelling system via eye movements). Here,we aim to review the basic concepts of EEG-based BCI and the main advances in communication, in motor control restoration and in downregulation of cortical activitythat seem to be relevant for clinical applications in the coming years forneurorehabilitation of severely limited patients. It allows brain-derived communication in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and motor control restoration in patients after spinal cord injury and stroke. In addition, epilepsy and attention deficit and hyperactive disorder patients were able to downregulate their cortical activity. Owing to the rapid progression of EEG-based BCI research over the last few years and the swift ascent of computer processing speeds and signal analysis techniques, we suggest that emerging ideas related to clinical neurorehabilitation of severely limited patients will generate viable clinical applications in the near future
Perceived and Experienced Stigma and Discrimination among Caregivers of Perinatally HIV-Infected Adolescents in Thailand
No full textCaregivers are an integral part of the lives of adolescents living with HIV/AIDS. HIV-related stigma and discrimination is often both perpetuated and reflected back on the caregiver. We explored perceived and experienced HIV-related stigma and discrimination among caregivers of perinatally HIV-infected adolescents. Eighty-four caregivers were interviewed. In the community and in school caregivers perceived that others feared being infected from the adolescent (33%) and felt disgust regarding the HIV-positive status of the adolescent (25%). Caregivers forbade their adolescent from sharing his/her drinking glass (49%). In conclusion caregivers’ discrimination were more prevalent than their perceptions of stigma and discrimination in the community or schools, which was primarily shown by forbidding the adolescent to share his/her drinking glass. Caregivers propagate the adolescent’s stigma and discrimination. With increasing access to HAART, HIV has become a chronic disease in some settings, although HIV-related stigma and discrimination still exist
Overcoming Barriers Regarding Sexual History Taking: Case Reports
No full textObtaining a sexual history is an integral part of the patient interview, though many practicing physicians fail to address this topic with their patients. This can be attributed to discomfort that many physicians may have with the subject. Sexual history should especially be discussed during annual office visits or in cases in which symptoms of sexually transmitted or unexplained opportunistic infections occur. It is important to discuss sexual history in such cases in order to avert any negative consequences that may result from failed or delayed diagnosis of sexual infections. The two cases presented illustrate the importance of a timely and thorough discussion of sexual practices. This article discusses methods that can be implemented by the physician in order to obtain a complete sexual history
Original Article: Electron Microscopic Radioautographic Studies on the RNA Synthesis in the Colonic Epithelial Cells of Aging Mice
No full textFor the purpose of studying the aging changes of macromolecular synthesis in the colonic cells of experimental animals, we studied 10 groups of aging mice during aging from fetal day 19 to postnatal month 24. They were injected with 3H-uridine, a precursor for RNA synthesis, sacrificed and the colonic tissues were taken out, fixed and processed for light and electron microscopic radioautography. On many radioautograms the localization of silver grains demonstrating RNA synthesis in colonic epithelial cells in respective aging groups were analyzed qualitatively. The number of mitochondria per cell, the number of labeled mitochondria with silver grains in each cell in respective aging groups were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively in relation to the aging of animals.The results revealed that the RNA synthesis as expressed by the number of silver grains in cell nuclei, cell organelles, changed with the aging of animals. It was demonstrated that the number of mitochondria increased from embryonic day 19 to postnatal newborn day 1, 3, 7, 14, adult month 1 and 2, reaching the maximum, then decreased to senile year 1 to 2. On the other hand, the number of labeled mitochondria showing RNA synthesis at various ages increased from embryonic day 19 to postnatal newborn day 1, 3, 7, 14, adult month 1 and 2, reaching the maximum and decreased slightly to senile month 6 to senile year 1 and 2. To the contrary, the labeling index increased from embryonic day 19 to postnatal day 1, 2 and 3, then decreased to day 14 and month 1, and increased again to month 6, 12 and month 24, indicating the aging changes. These results demonstrated that intramitochondrial RNA synthesis in the colonic epithelial cells increased, then decreased and again increased due to aging of individual animals depending upon the cellular activities at respective aging stages. Based upon our findings, available literatures on macromolecular synthesis in mitochondria of various cells are reviewed