The Association Between Ascending Aortic and Left Ventricular Dimensions in Patients After Aortic Valve Replacement

ABSTRACT Introduction: Aortic valve replacement (AVR) is often recommended for patients with severe aortic stenosis or chronic aortic regurgitation. These conditions result in remodeling of the left ventricle, including increased interstitial fibrosis that may persist even after AVR. These structural changes impact left ventricular (LV) mechanics, causing compromised LV diameter to occur earlier than reduced LV ejection fraction (LVEF). The aim of this study was to examine the effect of left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) and its role in aortic expansion one year after AVR. Methods: Sixty-three patients who underwent AVR were evaluated. All patients underwent standard transthoracic echocardiography, which included measurements of the ascending aorta, aortic root, LVEF, and LVEDD before the surgery and one year postoperatively. Correlations between these variables were calculated. Results: All patients underwent AVR with either a mechanical or biological prosthetic aortic valve. Following AVR, there was a significant decrease in the dimensions of the ascending aorta and aortic root (both P=0.001). However, no significant changes were observed in LVEDD and LVEF. Correlations were found between the preoperative ascending aortic size and the preoperative and one-year postoperative LVEDD (r=0.419, P=0.001 and r=0.320, P=0.314, respectively). Additionally, there was a correlation between the postoperative ascending aortic size and the preoperative and one-year postoperative LVEDD (r=0.320, P=0.003 and r=0.136, P=0.335, respectively). Conclusion: The study findings demonstrate a significant correlation between the size of the aortic root and ascending aorta, before and after AVR. Additionally, a notable correlation was observed between postoperative LVEDD and the size of the aortic root.

Meta-analysis of the efficacy of invisible orthodontic appliances for maxillary molar distalization in adult patients / 口腔疾病防治

Objective@#To evaluate the clinical efficacy of invisible orthodontic appliances without brackets for the distal movement of maxillary molars to improve the ability of orthodontists to predict treatment outcomes.@*Methods@#Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, Wanfang Database, CNKI Database, and VIP Database were searched for studies investigating the efficacy of invisible orthodontic appliances for distal movement of maxillary molars in adult patients and published from database inception to August 1, 2023. A total of three researchers screened the studies and evaluated their quality and conducted a meta-analysis of those that met quality standards.@*Results@#This study included 13 pre- and postcontrol trials with a total sample size of 281 patients. The meta-analysis revealed no significant differences in the sagittal or vertical parameters of the jawbone after treatment when compared with those before treatment (P>0.05). The displacement of the first molar was MD=-2.34, 95% CI (-2.83, -1.85); the displacement was MD=-0.95, 95% CI (-1.34, -0.56); and the inclination was MD=-2.51, 95% CI (-3.56, -1.46). There was a statistically significant difference in the change in sagittal, vertical, and axial tilt of the first molar before and after treatment. After treatment, the average adduction distance of the incisors was MD=-0.82, 95% CI (-1.54, -0.09), and the decrease in lip inclination was MD=-1.61, 95% CI (-2.86, -0.36); these values were significantly different from those before treatment (P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#Invisible orthodontic appliances can effectively move the upper molars in a distal direction and control the vertical position of the molars. When the molars move further away, there is some degree of compression and distal tilt movement, which is beneficial for patients with high angles. The sagittal movement of incisors is beneficial for improving the patient's profile.

Effects of happy physical education on physical education learning burnout, body shape and mental health of college students / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To explore the effects of happy physical education based on constructivism on physical education learning burnout, body shape and mental health of college students, so as to provide a reference for the reform of physical education teaching in universities.@*Methods@#By using cluster sampling method, students from two teaching classes of the 2022 physical badminton elective course were enrolled as the research objects at Shanghai Institute of Commerce and Foreign Languages from September to December 2022. They were randomly divided into experimental group ( n =38) and control group ( n =40) by drawing lots. The control group received routine physical education teaching for 16 weeks, with 2 class hours weekly and 45 minutes per class hour. While the experimental group was given happy physical education based on constructivism, with a teaching process of building a framework, independent exploration, collaborative learning, and effect evaluation. The idea was to integrate Happy Sports into badminton technology and tactical training courses, emphasizing the fun of sports activities, and drawing on various forms of sports games when designing sports activities. Two groups of students were tested for body shape, surveyed with the Physical Education Learning Burnout Scale and Symptom Check List-90 (SCL-90). The scores of Physical Education Learning Burnout Scale, body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio, body fat rate and SCL-90 were compared between the two groups by t-test, Chi-square test and Fisher s exact probability test.@*Results@#At the end of the semester, BMI [(21.58±1.59,22.30±1.46)kg/m 2], waist to hip ratio (0.75±0.08, 0.79 ±0.07) and body fat rate [(19.77±2.50)%,(21.02±2.46)%] in experimental group were lower than those in control group ( t= -2.09, -2.35, -2.23, P <0.05). The scores of depression (15.10±3.92,17.24±4.18), improper behaviors (13.60±3.05,15.48± 3.52 ) and low sense of achievement (5.52±1.36,6.54±1.42) and total score of Physical Education Learning Burnout Scale ( 34.22± 7.55,39.26±7.86) in experimental group were lower than those in control group ( t=-2.33, -2.52, -3.24, -2.89, P <0.05). The scores of somatization (16.27±3.75,18.57±4.12), interpersonal sensitivity (14.30±4.57,16.85±4.21), depression (17.02±3.89,19.36±4.28) and anxiety (12.68±3.96,15.32±3.87), and total scores of SCL-90 (127.87±22.54,140.54±25.83) in experimental group were lower than those in control group ( t=-2.57, -2.57, -2.52, -3.00, -2.30, P <0.05).@*Conclusions@#The happy physical education mode based on constructivism can alleviate learning burnout, improve mental health and optimize body shape of college students. Appropriate reforms should be made to the teaching mode of physical education in universities to promote the physical and mental health development of college students.

The accuracy of tumor size measurement and clinical T staging for resected lung cancer: Retrospective analysis of 1 880 patients / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective To elucidate the correlation between radiological tumor size (RTS) and pathological tumor size (PTS), and to evaluate the accuracy of clinical T staging. Methods Data on patients who underwent complete resection between September 2018 and June 2019 were retrospectively collected. The correlation between RTS and PTS was analyzed by and we assessed the agreement between clinical and pathologic T staging. Results Finally, 1 880 patients were included. There were 778 males and 1 102 females at average age of 57±11 years. In the entire cohort, the RTS and PTS was 19.1±13.5 mm and 17.7±14.0 mm, respectively (P<0.001). The RTS and PTS showed a strong linear correlation with the Pearson’s correlation coefficient calculated as 0.897. The mean RTS was significantly larger than PTS (P<0.001) in tumors≤3 cm, but significantly smaller in tumors>4 cm. The overall concordance rate between clinical and pathological T staging was 65.6%. Clinical staging failed to detect T4 disease in 29.4% (5/17) of patients. Male patients and the presence of cavities within nodules were independent significant factors leading to inaccurate clinical T staging. Conclusions The correlation between the tumor sizes measured on thin-section computed tomography and pathologic specimens varies with the real tumor size. Methods and techniques for improving clinical T staging accuracy is in urgent need.

Percepção da redução do tamanho após rinoplastia de aumento não cirúrgica: Análise retrospectiva de 116 casos / Perception of size reduction after non-surgical augmentation rhinoplasty: Retrospective analysis of 116 cases

Introdução: Tradicionalmente, o rebaixamento do dorso é o único método de correção da giba. Raras séries apontam a elevação do radix como possível solução. O que explica essa maciça predominância do procedimento redutor? Ineficácia dos métodos de aumento de radix e ponta? Percepção de nariz grande com os procedimentos de aumento? Nossos objetivos são descobrir se a percepção de redução ocorre na rinoplastia não cirúrgica (RNC), feita exclusivamente com adição de volume, e se a percepção de redução é importante na RNC. Método: Análise retrospectiva de 116 pacientes consecutivos submetidos a RNC. As imagens dos pacientes foram analisadas por 12 observadores independentes que avaliaram as mudanças percebidas no tamanho do nariz e a qualidade da correção, dando notas de 1 a 10 para os dois quesitos. Quanto ao tamanho, 1 representava muito menor que antes, 5 mesmo tamanho (neutralidade) e 10 muito maior que antes. A qualidade da correção foi classificada de 1 a 10. Resultados: 92 casos (79%) foram percebidos como redução do tamanho, enquanto 20 casos (17%) foram percebidos como aumento. Houve percepção de redução na média das pontuações de tamanho (4,71). A média da qualidade da correção foi de 8,28 na escala de 1 a 10. Ademais, nossos resultados sugerem que pode haver correlação indireta entre a percepção do tamanho e a qualidade da correção. Conclusão: O aumento proporcionado pela RNC pode causar percepção de redução do tamanho do nariz, e o grau da redução percebida pode estar diretamente relacionado ao grau de qualidade percebida da correção.

Introduction: Traditionally, lowering the dorsum is the only method of hump correction. Rare series point to raising the radix as a possible solution. What explains this massive predominance of the reduction procedure? Ineffectiveness of radix and tip augmentation methods? Big nose perception with augmentation procedures? Our objectives are to determine if the perception of reduction occurs in non-surgical rhinoplasty (NSR), performed exclusively with volume addition, and if the perception of reduction is important in NSR. Method: Retrospective analysis of 116 consecutive patients undergoing NSR. The patients' images were analyzed by 12 independent observers who evaluated the perceived changes in the nose's size and the correction's quality, giving scores from 1 to 10 for both questions. As for size, 1 represented much smaller than before, 5 same size (neutrality), and 10 much larger than before. The quality of correction was graded from 1 to 10. Results: 92 cases (79%) were considered size reduction, while 20 cases (17%) were considered enlargement. There was a perception of a reduction in the average size scores (4.71). The mean correction quality was 8.28 on a scale of 1 to 10. Furthermore, our results suggest that there may be an indirect correlation between perceived size and correction quality. Conclusion: The increase provided by the NSR can cause a perception of a reduction in the size of the nose, and the degree of perceived reduction can be directly related to the degree of perceived quality of the correction.

Diseño Óptimo de Estudios en Rehabilitación: Importancia del Tamaño Muestra / Optimal Design of Rehabilitation Studies: Importance of Sample Size

Este artículo aborda los principios esenciales para la estimación del tamaño muestral en estudios cuantitativos de ciencias de la rehabilitación y movimiento humano. Además, proporciona una guía práctica y accesible sobre el diseño de investigaciones rigurosas, abordando conceptos clave como la precisión, nivel de confianza, nivel de significancia y potencia estadística, fundamentales para obtener resultados válidos y confiables. También se explora cómo estos parámetros influyen en la generalización de hallazgos y la detección de diferencias significativas, así como la importancia de un tamaño muestral adecuado para que los futuros investigadores mejoren la calidad de sus estudios en campos de la rehabilitación y el movimiento humano.

This article addresses the essential principles for sample size estimation in quantitative studies of rehabilitation sciences and human movement. In addition, it provides a practical and accessible guide on the design of rigorous investigations, addressing key concepts such as precision, confidence level, significance level and statistical power, essential to obtain valid and reliable results. It also explores how these parameters influence the generalization of findings and the detection of significant differences, as well as the importance of an adequate sample size for future researchers to improve the quality of their studies in the fields of rehabilitation and human movement.

Maternal plasma transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and newborn size: the Araraquara Cohort Study

Abstract Objective To investigate associations of maternal and cord blood cytokine patterns with newborn size and body composition. Methods This cross-sectional study involved 70 pregnant women and their healthy newborns selected from the "Araraquara Cohort Study". Newborn anthropometric measurements were recorded at birth. Body composition was evaluated by air displacement plethysmography. Maternal blood samples were collected from pregnant women between 30 and 36 weeks of gestation, and umbilical cord blood samples were collected immediately after placenta discharge. The concentrations of the cytokines were determined in plasma by ELISA. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess associations between maternal and cord blood cytokine concentrations and newborn anthropometry and body composition measurements. Results Maternal plasma TGF-β1 concentration was inversely associated with newborn weight (β= -43.0; p= 0.012), length (β= -0.16, p= 0.028), head circumference (β= -0.13, p= 0.004), ponderal index (β= -0.32, p= 0.011) and fat-free mass (β= -0.05, p= 0.005). However, the association persisted just for head circumference (β= -0.26; p= 0.030) and ponderal index (β= - 0.28; p= 0.028), after adjusting for pre-gestational BMI, gestational weight gain, gestational age, hours after delivery, newborn sex, smoking and alcohol consumption. Conclusions Maternal plasma TGF-β1 concentration may be involved in the regulation of newborn size, mainly head circumference and ponderal index. Further cohort studies are necessary to investigate the role of TGF-β1 in different trimesters of pregnancy and its effect during the early stages of fetal development.

La muestra en ensayos clínicos aleatorizados con análisis interino / Samples in randomized clinical trials with interim analysis

RESUMEN En este artículo se introducen los ensayos clínicos aleatorizados y conceptos básicos de la inferencia estadística. Se presenta como calcular el tamaño de muestra por tipo de desenlace e hipótesis a probar, junto con el código en el lenguaje de programación R para realizar su aplicación. Se presentan cuatro métodos para realizar el ajuste del tamaño de muestra original, cuando se planean análisis interinos. De una manera sencilla y concreta se busca realizar una introducción a estos temas, considerando las expresiones matemáticas que soportan los resultados y su implementación en programas estadísticos disponibles. Con el fin de acercar a los estudiantes de áreas de la salud a la estadística y al uso de programas estadísticos, aspectos poco considerados en su formación.

ABSTRACT This article introduces randomized clinical trials and basic concepts of statistical inference. We present methods for calculating the sample size by outcome type and the hypothesis to be tested, together with the code in the R programming language. We describe four methods for adjusting the original sample size for interim analyses. We sought to introduce these topics in a simple and concrete way, considering the mathematical expressions that support the results and their implementation in available statistical programs; therefore, bringing health students closer to statistics and the use of statistical programs, which are aspects that are rarely considered during their training.

Epidemiological Determinants of Depression among the Geriatric Population Residing in a Slum of Urban India: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. Worldwide interest in geriatric depression has increased but studies to assess the depression among the elderly population in urban slums has hardly been done. So this study would shed light on the risk factors of depression among geriatrics in urban slums. Aim & Objective: To study the epidemiological determinants such as age, marital status, education, financial dependency, economic status and chronic illness in relation to of depression among the geriatric population (60–80 years). Settings and Design: Community-based, cross-sectional study for 24 months with a samplesize of 209. Methods & Material: Urban slum area represented by one health post was selectedas the study area which caters to around 96,630 slum residents. Pre-tested semi-structuredinterviews were conducted after selecting households by systematic random sampling. Statistical analysis: Data was analyzed using SPSS version 21. A chi-square test was applied. Result: The present study shows overall prevalence of depression among the elderly above 60 years of age to be 48.6%. Depression is found to been significantly associated with an increase in age, living alone (72.7%), lower class economic status (100%), financial dependency (54%), history of chronic family illness (54.7%) and with no formal education (62.1%) among elderly dwelling in slums. Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of depression in the community and hence, a need to sensitize Primary level Health Care Services to institute screening tests considering the association of these determinants with depression and link them to specialized services for further management.

Identifying Pre-hypertensives in the Community: At Risk Approach for Prevention of Hypertension

Introduction: Pre-hypertension is a borderline health state of increased blood pressure (BP) that falls short of the measurable parameters at which surveillance and/or therapy would be required. The approach of identifying people “At Risk” of developing hypertension can be more cost-effective and feasible for applying lifestyle interventions. Objectives: The objective of the present study is to find the prevalence of pre-hypertensives and associated bio-socio-demographic factors Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1946 participants aged 19 years and more in the Doiwala block of Dehradun, Uttarakhand. Multistage sampling was used to arrive at desired sample size. A pre-validated, structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The questionnaire included information on the socio-demographic profile (age, sex, education etc.), awareness about hypertension and its associated risk factors. Statistical Analysis: The chi-square test was used to compare proportions and draw inferences. Results: 958 (49.2%) study participants out of a total 1946 were found to be pre-hypertensives. A statistically significant association was found between pre-hypertension and factors such as male gender, age, education, occupation and waist-hip ratio. (p<0.05) Conclusion: It is recommended that identification on the pre-hypertensive group and subjecting them to lifestyle modification could be a fruitful strategy for preventing them from becoming hypertensive.

Choosing the Correct?Sized Adult Double?Lumen Tube: Quest for the Holy Grail

Appropriate size selection of double?lumen tubes (DLTs) for one?lung ventilation (OLV) in adults is still a humongous task. Several important factors are to be considered like patient height, gender, tracheal diameter, left main bronchial diameter, and cricoid cartilage transverse diameter. In addition to radiological assessment of the airway diameters, the manufacturing details of the particular DLT being used also play a significant role in size selection. Optimal positioning of the appropriately sized DLT is indispensable to avoid complications like airway trauma, cuff rupture, hypoxemia, and tube displacement. It is imperative to know whether the one?size?fits?all dictum holds for DLT size selection as claimed by certain studies. Further randomized studies are required for crystallizing standard protocols ascertaining the correct DLT size. This systematic review article highlights the various parameters employed for DLT size selection and explores the newer DLTs used for adult OLV.

Exploring The Relationship Between Body Mass Index (BMI), Body Weight Perception, And Weight Change Behaviour Among University Students in Urban Gujarat, India: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: In the context of the rising trend of overweight and obesity, young people are more concerned about their weight. This study investigates the association between measured Body Mass Index (BMI), self-perception of body weight and weight change behavior among university students. Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed a sample of 415 university students aged 18-23 years residing in urban areas of Anand. Measures included weight, height, BMI, body weight perception and weight change behavior. The data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, the student’s t-test and Chi-square test. Results: About 36.1% of the participants misclassified their weight category. More women than men felt overweight in relation to their actual body shape. Among normal-weight or underweight BMI participants, 44.4% of females and 31.8% of males were inappropriately trying to lose weight. Conclusions: The study showed a higher prevalence of weight perception and inappropriate weight change behaviour. It also observed that the correct perception of body weight influences the willingness to lose or gain weight. It is important to consider these issues while designing a public health campaign targeting obesi-ty and healthy lifestyles.

Efficacy and Safety of Stomatab Capsules® in Improving Oral Health in Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis: An Open-labeled Clinical Study

Background: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a common ulcerative disease of the oral mucosa, which is difficult to treat. In Ayurveda, several medicinal plants have been evaluated for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in many oral diseases as an alternative for modern medicines. Method: A study with open-label, non-comparative single-arm design was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of “Stomatab” capsules in improving oral health in 30 subjects with RAS. The secondary objectives were to assess the improvement in oral health and tolerability of the herbal formulation. Subjects were instructed to take one capsule thrice daily after meals for 14 days. Patients were evaluated at three assessment points: screening and baseline (Visit 1, Day 0) with follow-ups done at Visit 2 (Day 5 ± 2) and Visit 3 at the end of the study (Day 14 ± 2). Results: There was a significant reduction in the mean ulcer size from 3.66 ± 1.27 mm (V1) to 0.64 ± 0.78 (V3). The mean number of ulcers reduced from 1.97 ± 0.72 (V1) to 0.90 ± 0.66 (V3). Significant improvement in ulcer-related symptoms of pain (Ruja), burning sensation (Daha) and redness (Raktavarnata) was noted. The total ulcer symptom scores decreased from 7.67 ± 2.38 (V1) to 0.63 ± 0.56 (V3). No side effects were reported by the study participants. Conclusion: These results show that the polyherbal formulation “Stomatab” capsule is safe and effective for the treatment of RAS.

Use of appropriate statistical tools in biomedical research: Current trend & status

Background & objectives: Due to lack of appropriate statistical knowledge, published research articles contain various errors related to the design, analysis and interpretation of results in the area of biomedical research. If research contains statistical error, however, costly, it may be of no use and the purpose of the investigation gets defeated. Many biomedical research articles published in different peer reviewed journals may retain several statistical errors and flaws in them. This study aimed to examine the trend and status of application of statistics in biomedical research articles. Study design, sample size estimation and statistical measures are crucial components of a study. These points were evaluated in published original research articles to understand the use or misuse of statistical tools. Methods: Three hundred original research articles from the latest issues of selected 37 journals were reviewed. These journals were from the five internationally recognized publication groups (CLINICAL KEY, BMJ Group, WILEY, CAMBRIDGE and OXFORD) accessible through the online library of SGPGI, Lucknow, India. Results: Among articles assessed under present investigation, 85.3 per cent (n=256) were observational, and 14.7 per cent (n=44) were interventional studies. In 93 per cent (n=279) of research articles, sample size estimation was not reproducible. The simple random sampling was encountered rarely in biomedical studies even though none of the articles was adjusted by design effect and, only five articles had used randomized test. The testing of assumption of normality was mentioned in only four studies before applying parametric tests. Interpretation & conclusions: In order to present biomedical research results with reliable and precise estimates based on data, the role of engaging statistical experts need to be appreciated. Journals must have standard rules for reporting study design, sample size and data analysis tools. Careful attention is needed while applying any statistical procedure as, it will not only help readers to trust in the published articles, but also rely on the inferences the published articles draw.

Behavioral Risk Factors of HBV Infection and its Association with HBs Ag Positivity among Residents of Kaza Sub- division of District Lahaul & Spiti in Himachal Pradesh

Background: Chronic viral hepatitis is a major global public health problem, an important cause of morbidity and mortality. We conducted this study to evaluate the behavioral risk factors of HBV infection and its association with HBsAg positivity among residents of Kaza sub-division of district Lahaul & Spiti in Himachal Pradesh. Material & Methods: The study was carried out by the Gastroenterology, Community Medicine, and Microbiology Department at Indira Gandhi Medical College Shimla at Kaza, a subdivision of Lahaul & Spiti. The cluster sampling technique was used to get the desired sample size of 4000. Forty clusters were chosen using a probability proportionate to size sampling method, and 100 research participants were added to each cluster using a simple random sampling method. The data was gathered using a pre-tested interview plan. A blood sample of 5ml from each study participant was obtained, and its HBsAg content was examined. Results: In our study, 2.7% of the interviewed respondents’ parents were positive for hepatitis B and 3.7% reported one positive family member. Injectable drug use was reported by 1.6 (68/4231). Among these users 8.8% (6/68) shared needles with other IDUs in last 12 months and 35.3% (24/68) used a common container to draw up drug solution. Sexual intercourse was reported to be experienced by 15.5 (655/4231) and 12.2% either did not disclose or were children. Out of those who ever experienced sexual/penetrative intercourse 38.3% (251/655) had reported it with someone else other than a spouse. Majority of these had two partners other than a spouse (30.3%; 76/251). Around 30% (195/655) reported of using a condom in their last intercourse. Body piercings or a tattoo from someone who doesn’t sterilize his or her equipment, including local treatment from lamas, was prevalent among 16.3% of the population (689/4231). Acupuncture was taken as a remedy for any medical condition by 9% of participants. Regression analysis also revealed that one infected family member emerged as an independent factor associated with HBsAg positive test after adjusting for confounders. Conclusion: Our study provided much important information concerning hepatitis B risk factors in this tribal group. Health education about behavioral risk factors among this tribal population should be the main intervention that might help limit the spread of these blood-borne infections.

Association of Dietary and Physical Activity Patterns and Hypertension in Western Rajasthan, 2022

Introduction: Hypertension (HTN) is a modifiable risk factor for coronary artery disease, heart failure, cerebrovascular disease and chronic renal failure. HTN affects about 1 billion people globally; by 2025, up to 1.58 billion adults worldwide are likely to suffer from complications of HTN. This study was done to know the diet and physical activity patterns and HTN among the population of three districts of Western Rajasthan. Objectives: To study the dietary and physical activity patterns among the population of Western Rajasthan. and to compare key findings among three districts Pali, Jodhpur and Barmer so that lifestyle changes can be recommended. Methods: A case-control study was done among attendees of NCD clinics of tertiary-level centers in Pali, Barmer and Jodhpur. Hospital Controls were matched to age (± 5 years) and gender Considering the prevalence of HTN to be 20%*, the proportion of exposure in the general population as 0.2, odds ratio to be 2.2, power =80%, alpha=5% sample size is estimated to be 102 cases & 102 controls (from each district). Results: Overall being married (OR= 3.3), having diabetes Cardiac disease (OR= 2.6), excessive salt consumption (OR= 2.7), moderate physical exercise less than 30 minutes (OR=1.9), using oil other than vegetable oil(OR=1.8) , Age >?60 years (OR =1.4) were the key risk factors. It was found that high BMI (BMI>27), consumption of non-vegetable oils (12.7%) was highest in Jodhpur, lack of moderate exercise for at least 30 minutes (81%), lack of sports activity (92%) was highest in Pali, least number of days/week of fruits and vegetables consumption (~1.64 days) was seen in Barmer. Conclusions: Change in quantity of salt consumption and incorporation of moderate physical exercise for >30 minutes was most followed in control of HTN among the attendees of NCD Clinics from the multiple advise given.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Regarding Electronic Waste (e-waste) Management Among Users of Electronic Equipments Living in Lucknow City

Background: Contemporary society has led to the increasing use of electronic equipment that is very much responsible for the burden of electronic waste (e-waste). E-waste contains very hazardous substance that harms health and environmental conditions. There is no delicate mechanism for the management of e-waste in Lucknow city, Uttar Pradesh. This study assessed knowledge, practice, and awareness of e-waste management among residents of this city. Material and methods: The study was conducted amongst users of electronic equipment living in the Lucknow City of Uttar Pradesh. The study was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Multi-stage random sampling was done for the selection of participants for the study. A predesigned and pretested questionnaire was administered in a single setting for all phases. The total optimum sample size is 700 individuals who participated in the study. Data were entered in MS Excel 2016 and descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages were calculated, applying the chi-square test for association using R-4.2.1 Statistical software. Aim and objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding the management of electronic waste among users of electronic equipment residing in Lucknow city. Results: Only 37% of users are aware that e-waste adversely affects health. Only 34.3% of users knew that e-waste should be given to the seller or manufacturer for recycling while rest told that it should be stored at home, sold to a scrap dealer, or disposed with normal waste. 87.3% users are not aware about e-waste govt guidelines. In the current study electronic and print media like television, radio and news paper were not found to be source of information for e-waste disposal. Conclusion: Education regarding the ill effects of e-waste is essential for people and awareness of proper disposal of e-waste is the need of the hour. Electronic and print media as well as companies producing electronic equipment should play a significant role to awaken the respondent about the disposal of e-waste

Relationship between FAMACHA© scores and zootechnical indicators of a sheep production system / Relação entre os graus FAMACHA© e indicadores zootécnicos de um sistema de produção de ovinos

In Brazil, lamb producers face challenges raising their animals because of high anthelmintic resistance and loss of productivity due to parasites. It is well known that parasitic infections can reduce the performance of sheep. However, until the publication of this work, no research was found that quantified the effects that anemia reflected by FAMACHA© scores can exert on other zootechnical indicators in a lamb production system. The objective of this study was to use the FAMACHA© scores to quantify the impacts of anemia in ewes at breeding and lambing on the productive and reproductive performance of a meat sheep flock. The variables evaluated were i) FAMACHA© score of ewes at breeding and lambing, ii) body condition score of ewes at breeding and at lambing, iii) average daily gain of lambs until weaning, iv) ewe's age, v) birth weights per individual lamb and litter, vi) weaning weight, vii) ewe's weight, viii) litter size and ix) pre-weaning survival. The treatments evaluated corresponded to the FAMACHA© score of the ewes during breeding and lambing. Quantitative responses were submitted to analyses of variance and compared by Duncan's test. In contrast, qualitative or discrete responses were evaluated by the Kruskal & Wallis test and compared to Dunn's test. The Wilcoxon test was performed to compare the FAMACHA©scores of ewes at breeding and lambing. All statistical analyzes were performed using the R-Studio software version 4.2.0 at a 5% significance level. The FAMACHA© score of breeding ewes was related to the body condition score at breeding, ewe weight, pre-weaning survival, ewe age, litter size, and birth weight. Furthermore, the FAMACHA© score of ewes at lambing was related to the body condition score at lambing, ewe weight, pre-weaning survival, birth weight per lamb and litter, pre-weaning average daily gain, weaning weight, and age of the ewe. There was no significant difference between the test times of the FAMACHA© scores of the ewes, indicating that an ewe will present a similar score at both stages. It was concluded that ewes with FAMACHA© scores of 4 and 5 and their offspring showed the worst productive and reproductive performances. Conversely, the ewes with FAMACHA© 1 obtained the opposite result, demonstrating better technical performance.(AU)

No Brasil, produtores de cordeiros enfrentam desafios na criação de seus animais devido à alta resistência anti-helmíntica e perda de produtividade devido a parasitoses. Sabe-se que as infecções parasitárias podem reduzir o desempenho de matrizes ovinas, contudo, até a elaboração desse trabalho não foram encontradas pesquisas que mensuraram os efeitos que a anemia refletida pelos graus FAMACHA© podem exercer sobre outros indicadores zootécnicos em um sistema de produção de cordeiros. Sendo assim, o objetivo desse estudo foi quantificar os impactos das verminoses em matrizes ovinas, representadas pelo grau FAMACHA©, durante a estação de monta e a parição, no desempenho produtivo e reprodutivo de um rebanho ovino de corte. As variáveis avaliadas foram: i) grau FAMACHA© das matrizes à monta e ao parto, ii) escore de condição corporal das matrizes à monta e ao parto, iii) ganho médio diário até o desmame, iv) idade da matriz, v) pesos dos cordeiros ao nascer individual e por parto, vi) peso ao desmame, vii) peso da matriz, viii) prolificidade e ix) sobrevivência pré-desmame. Os tratamentos avaliados corresponderam ao grau FAMACHA© das matrizes durante a monta e parto. As respostas quantitativas foram submetidas à análise de variância e comparadas pelo teste de Duncan, já as respostas qualitativas ou discretas foram avaliadas pelo teste de Kruskal & Wallis e comparadas pelo teste de Dunn. Realizou-se o teste de Wilcoxon para comparar os graus FAMACHA© das matrizes nos momentos de monta e parto. Todas as análises estatísticas foram realizadas no software R-Studio versão 4.2.0 ao nível de 5% de significância. O grau FAMACHA© das matrizes à monta foi relativo ao escore de condição corporal à monta, peso da matriz, sobrevivência pré-desmame, idade da matriz, prolificidade e peso ao nascer coletivo por parto. Já o grau FAMACHA© das matrizes ao parto foi relativo ao escore de condição corporal ao parto, peso da matriz, sobrevivência pré-desmame, pesos ao nascer individual e coletivo por parto, ganho médio diário pré-desmame, peso ao desmame e idade da matriz. Não houve diferença significativa entre os momentos dos graus FAMACHA© das matrizes, indicando que uma ovelha manterá um grau FAMACHA© similar em ambas as fases. Conclui-se que ovelhas com graus FAMACHA© 4 e 5, assim como suas crias, apresentaram os piores desempenhos produtivos e reprodutivos. Em contrapartida, as matrizes com FAMACHA©1 obtiveram o resultado oposto, mostrando indicadores zootécnicos com valores mais eficientes ao sistema de produção.(AU)

Metanálises em psicologia: uma introdução conceitual e prática / Meta-analyses in psychology: a conceptual and hands-on introduction / Metanálisis en psicología: una introducción conceptual y práctica

Metanálise consiste em um conjunto de técnicas estatísticas que visa integrar os resultados de dois ou mais estudos primários. Ela permite produzir estimativas pontuais e intervalares de algum parâmetro populacional, geralmente uma medida de tamanho de efeito. Este artigo tem como objetivo apresentar conceitos fundamentais sobre metanálise e suas aplicações para psicólogos e estudantes de psicologia. O artigo: (1) introduz a lógica da metanálise, seus potenciais e as críticas a ela endereçadas; (2) apresenta dois modelos de metanálise comumente usados por pesquisadores; e (3) aborda dois tópicos importantes para a interpretação correta dos resultados: heterogeneidade e análise de subgrupos. Um exemplo fictício ilustra os conceitos ao longo do artigo. Os Materiais Suplementares contêm equações dos modelos apresentados no texto, resultados comentados de uma síntese metanalítica, código na linguagem R para reproduzir resultados e figuras desse artigo e uma breve lista comentada de fontes adicionais sobre metanálise. (AU)

Meta-analysis consists of a set of statistical techniques that aims to combine the results of two or more primary studies. It enables the calculation of point and interval estimates of some population parameter, usually a measure of effect size. The aim of this article is to introduce fundamental concepts of meta-analysis and its applications for psychologists and psychology students. The article: (1) introduces the logic of meta-analysis, its uses and common criticisms levied against it; (2) presents two computational models of meta-analysis commonly used by researchers; and (3) addresses two issues associated with the correct interpretation of results from meta-analyses: heterogeneity and subgroup analysis. A worked example illustrates the concepts throughout the article. The Supplementary Materials contain a worked example of the models presented in the text, a script in R language that allows the reader to reproduce the results, and a commented list of additional sources. (AU)

El metanálisis consiste en un conjunto de técnicas estadísticas que tiene como objetivo integrar los resultados de dos o más estudios primarios. Permite producir estimaciones puntuales y de intervalo de algún parámetro de población, generalmente una medida del tamaño del efecto. Este artículo presenta conceptos fundamentales sobre el metanálisis y sus aplicaciones para psicólogos y estudiantes de psicología. El artículo: (1) introduce la lógica del metanálisis, sus potencialidades y las críticas que se le dirigen; (2) presenta dos modelos de metanálisis comúnmente utilizados por los investigadores; y (3) aborda dos temas importantes para la correcta interpretación de los resultados: heterogeneidad y análisis de subgrupos. Un ejemplo ficticio ilustra los conceptos a lo largo del artículo. Los Materiales Suplementarios contienen ecuaciones de los modelos presentados en el texto, resultados comentados de una síntesis metanalítica, código en el lenguaje R para reproducir los resultados y las figuras de este artículo, y una breve lista comentada de fuentes adicionales. (AU)

Influence of solvent choice and operating conditions on Chlorzoxazone crystal shape and size

Abstract Solubility of pharmaceutical drugs in organic solvents is one of the important parameters to understand the equilibrium concentration of solute-solvent, which helps optimize and design crystallization conditions to obtain the desired product crystals. In the present study, Chlorzoxazone (CHZ) is used as a model pharmaceutical compound to investigate the equilibrium solubility, the influence of solvent and the operating conditions on the shape, and the size distribution. The solubility of CHZ is determined in organic solvents like Isopropanol, Ethanol, and 2-Ethoxyethylacetate, Ethylacetate and Ethyllactate using shake flask method from -5ºC to 60ºC. The solubility of CHZ in these solvents shows an increasing trend as the temperature increases in the following order: ethyllactate + water (0.5+0.5) < ethylacetate < isopropanol < ethanol < 2-ethoxyethylacetate < ethyllactate + water (0.75+0.25). The solvents, isopropanol, ethanol, and ethyl lactate, produce needle-shaped crystals, while 2-ethoxyethylacetate and ethyl acetate tend to produce plate shaped crystals. CHZ crystals obtained from 2-ethoxyethylacetate tend to have plate shaped crystals with a lower aspect ratio and are selected for batch cooling crystallization experiments performed at different cooling rates, and agitation. It is found that the agitation at 300 rpm and the cooling rate 0.2ºC/min produce more uniform crystal size distribution