Education of Adolescents in the Prevention of HIV/AIDS in the Czech Republic

The number of HIV-positive people in the Czech Republic has trebled over the last decade. An educational programme aimed at the prevention of HIV and STDs in adolescents between 13 and 19 years of age is underway in the Moravian-Silesian Region in the Czech Republic. All schools in the region have been offered the chance to participate in the programme (on a voluntary basis). The programme consists of an educational lecture and a game with interactive elements; the students perform various tasks in groups. An anonymous paired questionnaire (input/output) was used to assess the efficacy of the programme. In order to evaluate the programme efficacy, descriptive statistics, non-parametric Wilcoxon paired test at the level of significance of 5%, and a model of logistic regression for a dichotomous variable were used. A total of 1210 students took part in the programme. The students’ knowledge improved, on average, by 15.5%. The highest efficacy was observed in the age group of 13–14-year-olds, where the improvement reached 17.9%. The educational programme was effective in raising awareness about STDs. Due to the observed increase in knowledge especially among the youngest participants (13–14 years old), we recommend aiming further interventions at the youngest age groups.

Persepsi Pasien Penyakit Kronis Terhadap Kualitas Dan Kepuasan Pelayanan Sebelum Dan Sesudah Pemberlakuan BPJS Di Unit Rawat Jalan RSH Blitar

All hospitals in Indonesia are required to serve BPJS patients with quality services. Service quality consists of five dimensions:tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy. Quality service increases service satisfaction. Conditions at RSH Blitar showed an increase in outpatient visits by 79.4% after the application of BPJS. This case may lead to changes in service quality. This study identifies the differences in patient perceptions of service quality and satisfaction before and after the application of BPJS. This study applies observational analytic research with a cross-sectional approach. Data collection was from Blitar Hospital Outpatient Unit in April-June 2018. The sample was 66 patients. The Wilcoxon Paired Test indicated a significant difference in perception of service quality and satisfaction before and after the issue of BPJS in outpatients BPJS with chronic illness at RSH Blitar. Abstrak Seluruh rumah sakit di Indonesia wajib melayani pasien BPJS dengan pelayanan yang berkualitas. Kualitas pelayanan dapat dilihat dari lima dimensi, yaitu tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, dan emphaty. Pada dasarnya, pelayanan yang berkualitas meningkatkan kepuasan pelayanan. Kondisi di RSH Blitar menunjukkan peningkatan kunjungan rawat jalan sebesar 79,4% setelah bekerjasama dengan BPJS. Peningkatan kunjungan ini dapat menimbulkan perubahan pada kualitas pelayanan. Studi ini mengkaji lebih lanjut perbedaan persepsi pasien terhadap kualitas pelayanan dan kepuasan sebelum dan sesudah diberlakukan BPJS. Studi ini adalah analitik observasional dengan pendekatan potong lintang. Pengumpulan data dilakukan di Unit Rawat Jalan RSH Blitar pada bulan April-Juni tahun 2018. Jumlah sampel penelitian adalah 66 pasien. Hasil Uji Paired Wilcoxon menunjukkan adanya perbedaan yang signifikan antara persepsi dengan kualitas pelayanan dan kepuasan pelayanan sebelum dan sesudah pemberlakuan BPJS pada pasien rawat jalan BPJS dengan penyakit kronis di RSH Blitar.

Validation of Brazilian educational technology for disseminating knowledge on leprosy to adolescents

ABSTRACT Objective: Elaborate and validate an educational technology for adolescents on leprosy, focusing on preventing the disease and reducing stigma. Method: First, a prototype of the educational technology was elaborated and later analyzed by 17 adolescents and 7 researchers’ experts in the leprosy area and educational technologies who answered a questionnaire with questions related to the subject. Subsequently, the technology has been applied to 43 adolescents, and a questionnaire was handed before and after the use of the game, so that questionnaire scores were compared by a Wilcoxon paired test. Results: After the data collection with researchers and adolescents, the answers received descriptive treatment, and the Content Validity Index was calculated, which reached a good level of agreement, with an overall value (0.86), although there were improvements to the technology, based on the perceptions of researchers and adolescents. Conclusions: There was an increase in knowledge about leprosy.

Reliability and Repeatability of the Instrument for the Assessment of Stress in Nursing Students (ASNS)

Background and objectives: Stress in nursing students is a very common experience, especially when they face clinical practice. The aims of this study were to perform a transcultural adaptation and to examine the reliability and repeatability of the Instrument for the Assessment of Stress in Nursing Students for a Spanish population. Methods: A test–retest analysis was carried out in two face-to-face sessions with the students with a lapse of 10 days between the two sessions. A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out between the months of May and June 2018. Sixty-four nursing students were recruited with a consecutive sampling method that targeted individuals in the freshman class. Results: A good internal consistency was shown for the total score (α = 0.8861) and for each of the six domains. The test–retest reliability, using the Wilcoxon paired test, was not significant, indicating no differences between the total scores or the domain scores (p ≥ 0.05). Finally, Bland and Altman plots of visual distributions did not show differences between the total scores and the domain scores. Conclusion: The Instrument for the Assessment of Stress in Nursing Students was shown to be a reliable tool for measuring stress factors among Spanish nursing students.

Achieving comparable perfusion results across vendors. The next step in standardizing stroke care: a technical report

BackgroundThe role of mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) has been further expanded by recent trials which relied on the results of CT perfusion (CTP) imaging. However, CTP parameters for ischemia and infarct can vary significantly across different vendors.MethodsWe compared the outcomes of the Siemens CTP software against the clinically validated RAPID software in 45 consecutive patients with suspected AIS. Both perfusion softwares initially processed images using vendor defined parameters for hypoperfusion and non-viable tissue. The software thresholds on the Siemens software were decrementally altered to see if concordant results between softwares could be attained.ResultsAt baseline settings, the mean values for core infarct and hypoperfusion were different (mean of 30/69 mL, respectively, for RAPID and 49/77 mL for Siemens). However, reducing the threshold values for the later software showed a concordance of values at a relative cerebral blood flow <20%, with resulting core infarct and hypoperfusion volumes at 31/69 mL, respectively, for the Siemens software. A Wilcoxon paired test showed no significant difference between the calculated core infarct and hypoperfusion values, both for the entire population as well as for the subgroup of patients with large vessel occlusion.ConclusionEquivalent CTP results between vendor softwares may be attainable by altering the thresholds for hypoperfused and non-viable tissue, despite differences in acquisition techniques, post-processing, and scanners.

Assessment of facial asymmetry and establishment of threshold of sub-clinical asymmetry in Malwa population

Introduction: The word symmetry is derived from the Greek word ‘symmetries’ which means ‘of like measure’. Facial symmetry can be defined in numerous ways, one being associated with the state of facial equilibrium, in which there is a correspondence in size, shape, and arrangement of facial landmarks on the opposite sides. Materials & Method: The 1427 subjects in the present study were selected from the Out Patient Department of Government College of Dentistry, Indore(M.P), who presented with aesthetically pleasing faces over a period of one year (October 2013-0ctober 2014). Out of the 1427 patients examined 150 (17-30 years) subjects were randomly included. Photographs and orthopantomogram of all the 150 patients were obtained. Result: The photographs and orthopantomogram were analyzed & Absolute value of Asymmetry Index was taken for all the measurements. Comparison of absolute Asymmetry index of different parameters between male and female subjects was performed. Wilcoxon paired test showed right side predominance for the parameter corpus length, middle facial width, cheek length, lower facial width. Conclusion: In the present study an attempt was made to quantify sub-clinical asymmetries in clinically symmetrical faces. Minor asymmetries were observed in nearly all individuals taken up for the study. There is no association of gender with predominance of facial asymmetry. On assessment of side predominance of asymmetry it was concluded that the right side dominance of asymmetry for corpus length, middle facial width, cheek length, lower facial width. A threshold value of 6% for sub-clinical asymmetry was established from this study except for condylar and coronoid.

The effects of 12-weeks thera-band training on swimming performance at 11-13 age group swimmers 11-13 yaş grubu erkek yüzme sporcularında 12 haftalık terabant antrenmanının yüzme performansına etkileri

Elastic tapes are one of the functional equipments used for strength development. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of resistance band trainings on swimming performance in 11-13 year old male swimming athletes. The swimmer who regularly swim for at least two years were at random divided 2 groups. Group1, swimming+thera-band (STG) (n=12, age= 12,00±0,60 years, height=147,75±8,12 cm, body weight=41,91±9,26 kg) participated 2 days swimming and swimming training plus 3 days resistance with theraband during 12 weeks while Group 2, swimming group (SG), (n=12, age=11,91±0,79 years, height=148,25±9,25cm body weight =43,50±9,05 kg) continued just 5 days swimming training per week. To evaluate the swimming performances of the groups, 50m, 100m, 150m and 200m freestyle transition tests with 25m, 50m freestyle swimming were measured before and after training. Wilcoxon paired test and Mann-Whitney U test were performed using the SPSS 15.0 statistical program in the analysis of the obtained data. At the end of the interview, significant decrease were found in both groups of 25m, 50m freestyle swimming grades and 200m grades (p<0,05). As a result of the findings, it can be said that therabant training which is done as a land work with swimming training leads to positive changes in the performance development of children aged 11-13 years.Extended English abstract is in the end of Full Text PDF (TURKISH) file.ÖzetElastik bantlar kuvvet gelişimi için kullanılan fonksiyonel ekipmanlardan biridir. Bu araştırma, yaşları 11-13 arasında olan erkek yüzme sporcularında direnç bandı antrenmanının yüzme performansına etkilerini belirlemek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Düzenli olarak en az iki yıl yüzme antrenmanı yapan erkek yüzücüler rastgele iki gruba ayrılmıştır. 1. Grup yüzme+thera-band (YTG) (n=12, yaş=12,00±0,60 yıl, boy=147,75±8,12 cm, v.ağ=41,91±9,26 kg) 12 hafta boyunca haftada 2 gün yüzme, 3 gün de yüzmeye ek olarak therabant ile kuvvet antrenmanı 2. Grup yüzme (YG) (n=12, yaş=11,91±0,79 yıl, boy=148,25±9,25cm v.ağ=43,50±9,05 kg) haftada 5 gün sadece yüzme antrenmanları uygulanmıştır. Grupların yüzme performanslarını değerlendirmek için 25m, 50m serbest stil yüzme ile 50m, 100m, 150m ve 200m serbest stil geçiş testleri antrenman öncesi ve sonrası ölçülmüştür. Bulgular SPSS 15.0 istatistik paket programında analiz edilmiş ve parametrik olmayan analizlerden Mann Whitney U testi ile Wilcoxon İkili İlişki testi uygulanmıştır. Araştırmanın sonunda her iki grubunda 25m, 50m serbest stil yüzme dereceleri ile 200m yüzme derecelerinde anlamlı azalmalar bulunmuştur (p<0,05). Elde edilen bulgular neticesinde, yüzme antrenmanları ile birlikte kara çalışması olarak yaptırılan therabant antrenmanlarının 11-13 yaşları arasındaki çocukların performans gelişimlerinde olumlu değişimlere neden olduğu söylenebilir.Elastic tapes are one of the functional equipments used for strength development. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of resistance band trainings on swimming performance in 11-13 year old male swimming athletes. The swimmer who regularly swim for at least two years were at random divided 2 groups. Group1, swimming+thera-band (STG) (n=12, age= 12,00±0,60 years, height=147,75±8,12 cm, body weight=41,91±9,26 kg) participated 2 days swimming and swimming training plus 3 days resistance with theraband during 12 weeks while Group 2, swimming group (SG), (n=12, age=11,91±0,79 years, height=148,25±9,25cm body weight =43,50±9,05 kg) continued just 5 days swimming training per week. To evaluate the swimming performances of the groups, 50m, 100m, 150m and 200m freestyle transition tests with 25m, 50m freestyle swimming were measured before and after training. Wilcoxon paired test and Mann-Whitney U test were performed using the SPSS 15.0 statistical program in the analysis of the obtained data. At the end of the interview, significant decrease were found in both groups of 25m, 50m freestyle swimming grades and 200m grades (p<0,05). As a result of the findings, it can be said that therabant training which is done as a land work with swimming training leads to positive changes in the performance development of children aged 11-13 years.

Relative impact of chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab on cytokines and angiogenic factors (CAFs) in metastatic colorectal cancer.

401 Background: CAFs were previously shown to be modulated in patients (pts) with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) after bevacizumab-containing chemotherapy. Validation of these prior findings is warranted. In addition, the relative impact of bevacizumab and the cytotoxic chemotherapy components on CAFs has not been previously described. Methods: Plasma samples from 403 mCRC pts were obtained prior to any chemotherapy (Group A) or after progression on a regimen without or with bevacizumab (Group B and C, respectively) between 2002 and 2008. Samples were matched for number of metastatic disease sites (Groups A, B, C) and for prior chemotherapy duration, and time from last chemotherapy dose to sample collection (Groups B, C). Levels of 48 CAFs were measured by suspension bead multiplex assays (BioRad and EMD). Comparisons of Groups A v C (n=169 pairs) and Groups B v C (n=65 pairs) were by the two-sided, nonparametric Wilcoxon paired test, with p<0.05 significance for confirmation of previous CAF results. Results: Prior chemotherapy duration (6.5mo, 6.7mo), and time from last chemotherapy dose to sample collection (1.3mo, 1.2 mo) were similar for Groups B and C, respectively. Results were available for 80% of the samples. Compared to Group A, Group B had reductions in multiple CAFs, including IL-8 (-38%, p<0.0001) and PDGF (-62%, p<0.0001). Commensurate with prior results, PlGF, Eotaxin and TRAIL were increased in Group C by 30% (p<0.0001), 23% (p=0.024) and 19% (p=0.008) respectively. Most CAF changes were attributable to chemotherapy alone. However, PlGF (-31%, p<0.0001) and TRAIL (+26%, p=0.037) significantly differed in Groups B v C. In group C compared to A, multiple changes were seen in the EGFR-axis including decreases in EGF (-52%, p=0.032), epiregulin (-25%, p=0.0023), and HB-EGF (-40%, p<0.0001) as well as an increase in sEGFR (+10%, p=0.004). Conclusions: Most changes in CAFs after treatment with bevacizumab-containing chemotherapy appear to be due to chemotherapy alone and not attributable to anti-VEGF therapy, with several notable exceptions. Chemotherapy-induced changes in the EGFR-axis have not previously been described in mCRC and warrant further investigation. [Table: see text]

Zone-Specific Changes in Micromechanical, Biochemical, and Structural Properties in Articular Cartilage from a Rabbit Joint Flexion Model

Metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint proximal bone-cartilage specimens from the fourth digit were collected from repetitively flexed and non-flexed (control) paws of four New Zealand White rabbits. The specimens were cryo-fractured to reveal a sagittal cut containing the cartilage zones of different collagen microstructure. Nanoindentation, Fourier Transform infrared microspectroscopic imaging (FTIRMI), and histology were performed on a region of interest (ROI) ∼400 microns wide and through the thickness of the cartilage with two goals in mind: (1) to examine the effect of collagen network structure (random in the mid zone versus organized in the deep zone) on the biomechanical and biochemical properties of cartilage; and (2) to understand the changes in these properties due to physical forces. We found that zone microstructure significantly affected the measurement of the local relaxed modulus measured by nanoindentation. The deep zone had a higher modulus than the mid zone (Wilcoxon paired test, p<0.05). We also found that flexion significantly decreased the proteoglycan content in both the mid and deep zones (Wilcoxon paired test, p<0.05), suggesting indirect repetitive loading in the rabbit paw can be damaging to the joint via down regulating proteoglycan synthesis in the mid and deep zone cartilage. This is the first study to simultaneously report the local zone-specific mechanical and biochemical properties in the rabbit joint flexion model.