Gamification and Augmented Reality to Upgrade Elementary Bilingual Education Students' Health and Engagement

Sedentary life-style, obesity, and early school leaving have been identified as major causes leading to the biggest health and educational problems in developed countries. This may derive into students showing a not recommended passive role at these ages, which also leads to their lack of interest and motivation in learning and education. This chapter presents an innovation research project which aims to face sedentariness in elementary school by applying an instructional technology-based model with the use of gamification and augmented reality in a bilingual education context. The case study shows several educational advantages, including increase in physical exercise, health awareness, learning engagement, and upgrade in L2 content understanding and linguistic skills.

Gamification and Augmented Reality to Upgrade Elementary Bilingual Education Students' Health and Engagement

Sedentary life-style, obesity, and early school leaving have been identified as major causes leading to the biggest health and educational problems in developed countries. This may derive into students showing a not recommended passive role at these ages, which also leads to their lack of interest and motivation in learning and education. This chapter presents an innovation research project which aims to face sedentariness in elementary school by applying an instructional technology-based model with the use of gamification and augmented reality in a bilingual education context. The case study shows several educational advantages, including increase in physical exercise, health awareness, learning engagement, and upgrade in L2 content understanding and linguistic skills.

The effect of intradialytic exercise on inflammatory markers in hemodialysis patients

Background Chronic low-grade inflammation is a feature of chronic kidney disease associated with increased risk of multiple morbidities and mortalities. Hemodialysis (HD) patients lead a sedentary life style which may aggravate their inflammatory state and practicing exercise may improve this condition. The aim of this work was to study the effect of intradialytic exercise (IDE) on inflammatory markers in HD patients. Results This prospective cohort study included 40 HD patients, divided into 2 groups: exercise group completed IDE for 3 months and non-exercise group matched in age and sex as controls. At baseline, there was no difference between both groups regarding physical performance assessed using short physical performance battery test (SPBT) or inflammatory markers C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) P > 0.05. After 3 months, SPBT significantly improved in exercise group (P < 0.001). Also, both serum CRP and IL-6 levels showed significant decrease in exercise group compared to baseline (P < 0.001), while no similar change was noticed in non-exercise group. Conclusions Regular intradialytic aerobic exercise program can improve physical function and inflammation in hemodialysis patients. Further studies on larger number of patients are warranted.

Expanding Arsenal Against Diabetes Mellitus Through Nanoformulations Loaded With Glimepiride and Simvastatin: A Comparative Study

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is one of the most common and life-threatening diseases found across the globe. It occurs due to insulin resistance (IR). Major causes of IR include obesity, sedentary life style and hyperlipidemia. Glimepiride (GLM) is one of the most common oral sulphonyl ureas that is being used to treat diabetes and Simvastatin (SIM) is one of the most common statins that is used to treat hyperlipidaemia. However, both the drugs suffer from dissolution rate limited oral bioavailability. In the present study two such drugs, GLM and SIM were co-formulated into nanosuspension (NS) as well as self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (L-SNEDDS). Both formulations were spray dried for solidification and evaluated for their antidiabetic potential against high fat diet and streptozotocin induced rat model. The study showed significant (p< 0.05) decrease in lipid/cholesterol and blood glucose levels and significant increase in antioxidant levels in the rats treated with NS and SNEDDS containing the drugs alone as well as their combination as compared to their unprocessed forms. However, the efficacy was more prominent in case of combination possibly due to dual benefits i.e., decrease in IR due to statin and control of blood glucose level. Among NS and SNEDDS, NS was found more efficacious than that of the SNEDDS possibly due to higher enhancement of oral bioavailability in case of NS.

Undiagnosed Hypertension and Its Associated Factors Among Adult People Living in Southern Ethiopia: Discovery From Gunchire Woreda of Gurage Zone

Background: Hypertension is defined as two or more readings of systolic blood pressure measurement of 130 mm Hg or higher or diastolic blood pressure measurement of 80 mm Hg or higher. Symptoms of hypertension (HTN) are often not detectable at early stages and because of this many people with the disease are mostly left undiagnosed. Undiagnosed HTN is the one that increases the risk of complications such as renal failure, heart failure, myocardial infarction, stroke and premature death. There is no report concerning undiagnosed hypertension in the area. This study is aimed to assess prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension and its associated factors among adult peoples.Method: Community based Cross-sectional study design was conducted. English version questionnaire was used to collect data from 574 households. The data was collected and analyzed by SPSS version.23. The association between dependent and independent variables was tested by using multivariate regression at P-value less than 0.05 and 95% CI.Result: Out of 590 participants, 108 (18.8%) respondents were cigarette smokers and 143 (24.9%) were khat chewers. About 106 (18.5%) of respondents have sedentary lifestyle. A total of 260 (45.3%) of respondents were identified as having undiagnosed hypertension. Respondents having sedentary life style had about 2.24 time’s higher risk of undiagnosed HTN than those who didn’t have sedentary life style. BMI, sedentary life style, cigarettes smoking, health seeking behavior, dietary habit and monthly income were significant predictors of undiagnosed HTN.Conclusion: Based on the identified high prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension, the finding suggests awareness creation for community members about undiagnosed hypertension, its symptoms and ways of managing it.

Evaluation of Antidiabetic Activity of Sargassum tenerrimum in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mice

Diabetes mellitus has become the most predominant disease in most of the developing and developed countries. Diabetes could occur at any stage of life for which a change in sedentary life style is the possible solution. Despite the introduction of several medications, to curtail the side effects associated with diabetes mellitus, there is no medication or treatment for complete cure. Existing medications and treatments are targeted to mitigate the intensity of the disease which abruptly could result in organ failure. Rather than the available types of treatments, natural medication is reported to produce commendable results. Extracts of many medicinal plants and seaweeds have been documented to possess anti-diabetic properties. A brown alga, S. tenerrimum, found on the west coast of India, is chosen in this study to analyse the anti-diabetic property of its methanolic extract. This extract was used to treat streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. An experimental design was framed based on acute toxicity studies to determine the change in blood glucose level, body weight, lipid profile, liver enzymes (SGPT and SGOT) and the renal function markers (urea and creatinine). After 15 days of treatment, an increase in body weight and HDL cholesterol was observed while the total cholesterol, VLDL, LDL, serum triglyceride, SGOT, SGPT, creatinine and urea decreased with 250 mg/Kg.bw of S. tenerrimum methanolic extract in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice group. This difference is significant (p<0.05) when compared with a healthy non-diabetic mice group and a treated diabetic mice group. This proves that the methanolic extract of S. tenerrimum possess anti-diabetic property. Further research could explore the active compounds that can be used in the formulation of herbal medicine for diabetes mellitus.

Psychological Understanding of Hypertension- Ayurvedic Perspective

Hypertension is the condition where blood pressure is elevated chronically. It has multiple factors such as genetic, environmental and life style. The Stress which is usually having a role in the scenario, usually is left unaddressed and the condition is managed only with the anti-hypertensives. Discussion of hypertension in the perspective of Ayurveda is a debatable area till now. Hṛdaya considered to be the root place of hypertension, has its origin from Rakta and Kapha in the normal state of development. Being abode for consciousness, senses, mind, soul etc. it is to be taken as a conglomeration of somatic, psychic as well as spiritual entities. Śṛama, Mōha, Mūṛchā which is exhibited in the circumstances of alteration of ojus such as Ōjakṣaya/ Ōjōvyāpath, can be observed in elevated blood pressure situations. Tridōṣa also contributes a major role in the development of hypertension through their dysfunctions. While considering the Nidāna paṉcaka of stress associated hypertension, negative emotions such as fear, anxiety, anger and excessive thoughts are always going in parallel to the unhealthy dietary habits and sedentary life style. A multidisciplinary approach may be ideal and quite useful in such situations. Ayurvedic principles along with the practices of yoga can improve positive health in this intricate scenario.

Awareness on Heart Diseases among Bangladesh Army Personnel

Introduction: Heart diseases are global public health problem. In 2015, 14.31% of total death in Bangladesh was due to coronary heart disease. Moreover in 2016, 2(two) recruits and 1(one) officer of Bangladesh army encountered sudden death due to cardiac arrest. Objective: To ascertain the level of knowledge, awareness and health practice regarding the threat of cardiovascular diseases among Bangladesh Army personnel. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 242 members of Bangladesh Army in different training centers and school under Army training and doctrine command (ARTDOC), units of 19 infantry division, Battle group of ARTDOC and Head quarter (HQ) ARTDOC, from February to July 2017. Results: Among the respondents, 56.2%, 45% and 44.6% respectively mentioned tobacco smoking, obesity and sedentary life style are the causes of heart disease and 62%, 42%, 31%, 10% and 2% mentioned that chest pain, shortness of breathing, sweating, radiating pain in jaw and extremity and snoring-sleep apnea are the symptoms and signs of heart disease. Conclusion: From the study it was revealed that, majority of the respondents had poor level of knowledge on awareness of heart disease. Adequate effort may be taken to increase the awareness by expert professionals and social media. JAFMC Bangladesh. Vol 16, No 2 (December) 2020: 47-50

Epidemiological and Biochemical Factors (Serum Ferritin and Vitamin D) Associated with Premature Graying Of Hair

Background Premature graying of hair (PHG) is defined as graying of hair before the age of 20 years in Caucasians and before 30 years in Blacks. Several factors contribute to development of hair graying as genetics, environmental factors, life style and stressful events. Also, many biological markers were associated with development of hair graying as vitamin D, ferritin, vitamin B12 and many other electrolytes as calcium and magnesium. Aim of the study assess various epidemiological factors and biochemical variables (serum ferritin and vitamin D) associated with premature graying of hair. Patients and methods The current study included 75 premature hair graying patients, and 75 apparently healthy controls of matched age and sex. Assessment of epidemiological, clinical characteristics, estimation of serum levels of vitamin D and ferritin was done for included subjects. Results We detected positive correlation of sedentary life style, stress perception and family history with PHG development. No significant difference of vitamin D between the two groups, while low serum ferritin was significantly associated with PHG patients.

Impaired immune response mediated by prostaglandin E2 promotes severe COVID-19 disease

The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has led to a pandemic with millions of people affected. The present study finds that risk-factors for severe COVID-19 disease courses, i.e. male sex, older age and sedentary life style are associated with higher prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) serum levels in blood samples from unaffected subjects. In COVID-19 patients, PGE2 blood levels are markedly elevated and correlate positively with disease severity. SARS-CoV-2 induces PGE2 generation and secretion in infected lung epithelial cells by upregulating cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2 and reducing the PG-degrading enzyme 15-hydroxyprostaglandin-dehydrogenase. Also living human precision cut lung slices (PCLS) infected with SARS-CoV-2 display upregulated COX-2. Regular exercise in aged individuals lowers PGE2 serum levels, which leads to increased Paired-Box-Protein-Pax-5 (PAX5) expression, a master regulator of B-cell survival, proliferation and differentiation also towards long lived memory B-cells, in human pre-B-cell lines. Moreover, PGE2 levels in serum of COVID-19 patients lowers the expression of PAX5 in human pre-B-cell lines. The PGE2 inhibitor Taxifolin reduces SARS-CoV-2-induced PGE2 production. In conclusion, SARS-CoV-2, male sex, old age, and sedentary life style increase PGE2 levels, which may reduce the early anti-viral defense as well as the development of immunity promoting severe disease courses and multiple infections. Regular exercise and Taxifolin treatment may reduce these risks and prevent severe disease courses.