ABSTRACT
Abstract Objective This study aimed to determine the differences in learning style preferences among bachelor degree nursing students at Central South University and associate degree nursing students at the Vocational Health School in China. Methods This study was a cross-sectional survey using the Chinese version of the VARK questionnaire to assess preferred learning styles: 159 enrolled bachelor degree nursing students and 199 enrolled associate degree nursing students completed the questionnaire with a response rate of 96.8%. Results The bachelor degree nursing students tend to prefer a multimodal learning style (58.49%), which significantly differed from that of associate degree nursing students (45.77%). The kinaesthetic modality was the predominant unimodal learning style among the bachelor degree and associate degree nursing students (18.20% and 33.67%), and the read-write modality was the least popular modality (2.5% and 4.02%). Conclusion There are both differences and similarities between the learning style preferences of bachelor degree and associate degree nursing students. Educational background is one of the most critical factors that influence the learning style preference of nursing students. This finding may be necessary and beneficial for carrying out future curricula reform. In addition, further comprehensive research should be conducted to examine the relationships between learning style preferences and academic performance, as well as learning style preferences and teaching methods.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To assess the sensitivity of the Alvarado score [AS], modified Alvarado score [MAS], Fenyo-Lindberg score [FS], Lintula score [LS], Eskelinen score [ES], Teicher score [TS], and Christian score [CS] [seven scorings] in patients with acute appendicitis [AA]
Study Design: Analytical study
Place and Duration of Study: The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China, from January 2012 to June 2015
Methodology: Patients with diagnosis of AA were evaluated retrospectively to compare the scoring systems. The diagnostic sensitivity [the correct number of diagnoses divided by the total number] was compared. Data were analyzed using SPSS software
Results: One hundred and seventy-nine patients were studied. The sensitivity of AS was 92.7%; It outperformed each of the other scores. The sensitivity of FS, LS, and TS in women was lower than that in men [p=0.016, p<0.001, and p<0.001, respectively]. The sensitivity of the FS, ES, TS, and CS in patients with a duration of illness greater than 48 hours was lower than that in patients with a duration of illness less than 48 hours [p<0.001 for all]
Conclusion: AS is the most useful and sensitive diagnostic tool for AA. FS, LS, and TS had a lower diagnostic sensitivity in women; and FS, ES, TS, and CS had a low sensitivity in patients with a duration of illness greater than 48 hours
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To study the role of hepatitis B virus with A1762T/G1764A double mutation in liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, and create a sensitive, fast, accurate assay for detection of A1762T/G1764A double mutation. METHODS: We developed an accurate and fast real-time amplification refractory mutation system to detect A1762T/G1764A double mutation. Cloned hepatitis B virus genome was used as a control. Assay sensitivity was determined by serial dilution and mixed template experiments. Specificity was determined by cross experiments with wild and mutant hepatitis B virus. Fifty clinical samples were tested by the real-time amplification refractory mutation system and the results were compared with sequencing. RESULTS: The real-time amplification refractory mutation system had a sensitivity of 100 copies of virus with these mutations, and 0.1% weak population virus with double mutation could be found in mixtures. A total of 50 randomly collected clinical samples were detected by real-time amplification refractory mutation system, and the results were consistent with those by DNA sequencing. Hepatitis B virus genotype C was more prevalent in 39 of 50 samples than genotype B (11 samples), and about 75% of genotype C carried a double mutation compared to 45% of genotype B. However, the percentage of A1762T/G1764A double mutation in hepatitis B e antigen-negative (58.3%) samples was almost the same as in hepatitis B e antigen-positive (61%) samples. CONCLUSION: The real-time amplification refractory mutation system is sensitive and specific for detection of hepatitis B virus double mutation. .