Factors influencing final year radiography students' intention to pursue postgraduate education in medical imaging.

INTRODUCTION: Postgraduate education in medical imaging is an important platform that can support in preparing radiographers for the role extension and advancement in radiography. Thus, this study aims to identify the factors influencing final year radiography students' intention to pursue postgraduate education in medical imaging. METHODS: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted among final year students in medical imaging programs from six institutions in Malaysia. Purposive convenience sampling has been employed. Data collection was related to students' interest in postgraduate study and possible factors that may affect students' intention to pursue postgraduate education after study degree completion. The questionnaire was a combination of a Likert Scale and open-ended question. RESULTS: A total of 148 (female, n = 132 and male, n = 16) responses were included in the analysis. Among the participants, n = 93 (62.8 %) of students intended to pursue study. The highest choice of study was mixed mode (41.9 %) and cardiac imaging was the field of choice by the students (22.3 %). Five factors have been found to significantly correlate with the students' intention to pursue postgraduate study in medical imaging which were student attributes, being an academician, remuneration, finance, and social influences (p < 0.05). Two factors that did not significantly correlate with the students' intention were being an expert in the field and Covid-19 (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Five out of seven factors tested were found to significantly influence students' decision to pursue postgraduate education in medical imaging. Effective strategies based on the influencing factors should be strategized to encourage more students to pursue postgraduate education in medical imaging. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Implementation of effective strategies based on the influencing factors will improve access to education among radiography students, ultimately enhancing future radiographers' capability and competency.

Synthesis, biological activity and molecular docking of new tricyclic series as α-glucosidase inhibitors.

Diabetes is an emerging metabolic disorder. α-Glucosidase inhibitors, such as acarbose, delay the hydrolysis of carbohydrates by interfering with the digestive enzymes. This action decreases the glucose absorption and the postprandial glucose level. We have synthesized 25 tricyclic 2-phenoxypyrido[3,2-e][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-5(4H)-ones hybrids and evaluated their α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Compounds 6h and 6d have shown stronger activity than that of acarbose. Compound 6h exhibited the highest inhibition with an IC50 of 104.07 µM. Molecular modelling studies revealed that compound 6h inhibits α-glucosidase due to the formation of a stable ligand-α-glucosidase complex and extra hydrogen bond interactions, and directed in the binding site by Trp329.25 tricyclic 2-phenoxypyrido[3,2-e][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-5(4H)-ones hybrids have been synthesized and evaluated their α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Compounds 6h have shown stronger activity than that of acarbose.

Diagnosis of upper aerodigestive tract tumours using autofluorescence endoscopy in south east asian patients.

Diagnosis of upper aerodigestive tract tumours using autofluorescence endoscopy in south east asian patients. OBJECTIVES: Autofluorescence is a highly sensitive, and specific, complementary diagnostic tool for the photodiagnosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. Together with ease of use, these properties suggest that autofluorescence, used alongside white light endoscopy, could be a promising tool for the screening of high-risk populations. The aim of this study was to evaluate its effectiveness in detecting tumours involving the upper aerodigestive tract, in comparison with histopathologic examination. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional prospective study was carried out from June 2011 till March 2012. Forty-five patients with clinical evidence of suspicious lesions involving the upper aerodigestive tract were enrolled and examined using conventional white light, and autofluorescence endoscopy. A biopsy of each lesion was subsequently submitted for histopathologic examination. RESULTS: Using histology as our gold standard, we compared the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of autofluorescence endoscopy in detecting upper aerodigestive tract tumours. In comparison to histopathologic examination, the sensitivity of autofluorescence endoscopy was 95%, with a specificity of 74% (P value<0.001). The positive and negative predictive values were 78%, and 94% respectively. These data confirm a statistically significant correlation between autofluorescence and histopathologic diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS: Autofluorescence endoscopy was effective in detecting upper aerodigestive tract tumours, with excellent discrimination between benign and malignant phenotypes; this methodology is an ideal adjunct to white light endoscopy.

Characterisation of micro-sized and nano-sized tungsten oxide-epoxy composites for radiation shielding of diagnostic X-rays.

Characteristics of X-ray transmissions were investigated for epoxy composites filled with 2-10 vol% WO3 loadings using synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) at 10-40 keV. The results obtained were used to determine the equivalent X-ray energies for the operating X-ray tube voltages of mammography and radiology machines. The results confirmed the superior attenuation ability of nano-sized WO3-epoxy composites in the energy range of 10-25 keV when compared to their micro-sized counterparts. However, at higher synchrotron radiation energies (i.e., 30-40 keV), the X-ray transmission characteristics were similar with no apparent size effect for both nano-sized and micro-sized WO3-epoxy composites. The equivalent X-ray energies for the operating X-ray tube voltages of the mammography unit (25-49 kV) were in the range of 15-25 keV. Similarly, for a radiology unit operating at 40-60 kV, the equivalent energy range was 25-40 keV, and for operating voltages greater than 60 kV (i.e., 70-100 kV), the equivalent energy was in excess of 40 keV. The mechanical properties of epoxy composites increased initially with an increase in the filler loading but a further increase in the WO3 loading resulted in deterioration of flexural strength, modulus and hardness.

Effect of particle size, filler loadings and x-ray tube voltage on the transmitted x-ray transmission in tungsten oxide-epoxy composites.

The effect of particle size, filler loadings and x-ray tube voltage on the x-ray transmission in WO(3)-epoxy composites has been investigated using the mammography unit and a general radiography unit. Results indicate that nano-sized WO(3) has a better ability to attenuate the x-ray beam generated by lower tube voltages (25-35 kV) when compared to micro-sized WO(3) of the same filler loading. However, the effect of particle size on x-ray transmission was negligible at the higher x-ray tube voltages (40-120 kV).

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma with spinal secondaries.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma has been reported to have a higher incidence of distant metastases as compared to other head and neck cancers. Distant metastases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma has been reported in the bones, lungs, liver, distant lymph nodes, brain and porta hepatis. This report presents a case of nasopharyngeal carcinoma with secondaries in the extradural space at the thoracic level of the spinal cord which hitherto has been an unreported site.