Nursing Students’ Perceptions of Biomedical Education with Augmented Reality

Innovative techniques provide a teaching strategy to improve education in biomedical sciences for nursing students [1]. With augmented reality (AR) technology, elements in the physical environment can be enriched or supplemented by computer-generated sensory inputs such as text, images, 3-dimensional (3D) graphics, and audio. AR has been paradigmatically applied worldwide to education of different disciplines, making some contributions to teaching and learning [2]. However, AR products on the market mainly focus on primary or secondary education where the pleasurable aspects of AR are promoted [3]. Although acceptance of using AR in healthcare education was reported [4], the actual impacts of AR applications in the training of healthcare professionals have not been well-studied [5]. In view of the potential advantages of integrating AR into nursing education, such as a better visualization of body structures [6], a survey was conducted to specifically assess the effectiveness of AR in improving the quality of biomedical education as perceived by nursing students.

Involvement of Regucalcin in Protein Synthesis and Proteolysis: Regulation of the Enzyme Activity in the Cytoplasm and Nucleus

<p>Regucalcin was discovered in 1978 as a novel calcium-binding protein. The name, regucalcin, was proposed for this calcium-binding protein, which regulates various Ca^2+- or Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent enzyme activations. The regucalcin gene (gene symbol;rgn) is localized on the X chromosome. Regucalcin has been demonstrated to play a multifunctional role in the regulation of intracellular calcium homeostasis, signal transduction, gene expression, cell proliferation and apoptosis in various types of cells and tissues. The cytoplasmic regucalcin translocases to the nucleus and suppresses nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthesis. Moreover, regucalcin has been shown to reveal a suppressive effect on protein synthesis and a stimulatory effect on protein degradation. Regucalcin has been found to inhibit aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase and activate thiol protease. Â Regucalcin may play a suppressive role in the regulation of protein turnover in cells.</p>

The Promising Role of Dynamic 18F-NaF PET-CT in Diagnosing Symptomatic Joint Prosthesis

Our purpose was to establish proof of principle case study for the use of dynamic 18F-NaF PET-CT in the assessment of knee and hip prostheses. Approval was granted by the research ethics committee and informed<br />consent was obtained. This is a case study investigating the role of dynamic 18F NaF PET-CT in a patient with ilateral knee prostheses (1 symptomatic/painful and 1 asymptomatic). Both knees were studied with dynamic 18F-NaF PET-CT technique to demonstrate the different pattern of uptake in normal/asymptomatic joint as well as painful joints with aseptic loosening. In addition, a knee aspirate was obtained from the symptomatic knee and serum C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sediment rate levels as well as a peripheral white cell count were<br />obtained in addition to 12 month clinical follow up. Images were obtained with multi-sequential dynamic image acquisition in list mode using GE Healthcare® volume imaging protocol (ViP) after an intravenous injection of 250 MBq 18F-NaF. The images were interpreted as normal, loosening or septic loosening based on the graphical pattern of tracer uptake produced at the bone-prosthesis interface. A final diagnosis was made by a combination of joint aspiration microbiology and clinical follow-up for 1 year; in addition to C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sediment rate levels as well as peripheral white cell count. NaF PET results were compared with 3-phase dynamic bone scan results and plain radiographs. The degree of uptake in the symptomatic joint exceeded background<br />levels and also levels of uptake in the asymptomatic knee. The pattern of uptake and curve slope in both the asymptomatic and symptomatic joints matched the pattern of uptake in our hypothesis. Dynamic 18F-NaF PET-CT is a useful imaging modality for assessing painful joint prosthesis. It can differentiate between asymptomatic joints and aseptic loosening. However, more work is required for the detection of septic loosening.