Comparing the efficacy of live vs. video instructional demonstrations in dental education: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to investigate the effects of live and video demonstrations of various dental procedures on undergraduate students’ performance and satisfaction scores. Materials and methods A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases, including MEDLINE (OVID), PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, supplemented by a manual search of bibliographic references from retrieved articles. The aim was to identify relevant randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental trials that compared live demonstrations to video demonstrations in dental education, specifically focusing on undergraduate students’ performance and satisfaction scores assessed using practical assessment rubrics and satisfaction questionnaires. The quality of included studies was assessed using the modified Downs and Black quality assessment tool. Results A total of 3686 studies were identified, of which 2222 studies remained following duplicate removal. Based on title and abstract screening 2188 studies were excluded and full text of 34 studies were comprehensively appraised for eligibility. This resulted in the inclusion of 10 studies in the systematic review, nine of which were classified as good, while one study was considered as fair. Of these, 8 studies were included in the meta-analysis.Students’ feedback reveals distinct preferences, with video demonstrations being commended for repeatability and clarity, while live demonstrations were valued for real-time interaction and guidance. Meta-analysis revealed that video-based learning significantly enhanced educational outcomes across various measures, including knowledge acquisition and practical skills over live demonstrations. Conclusion Video demonstrations emerge as viable alternatives to live demonstrations in dental education for teaching clinical procedures. Video demonstrations offer distinct benefits, including accessibility and repeatability, while live demonstrations provide essential interactive opportunities that contribute significantly to the learning experience in dental education

Status survey of uncrossmatched type O suspended RBCs in patients with emergency transfusion

[Objective] To investigate the implementation of emergency transfusion strategy of uncrossmatched type O suspended RBCs based on the single-center clinical practice, which is "emergency transfusion is initiated by the authorized doctor of the emergency department, and no more than 4 U of type O uncrossmatched suspended RBCs are issued within 15 minutes in the transfusion department"(referred as the Practice), so as to provide reference for blood management. [Methods] A retrospective analysis of the information of patients who received uncrossmatched type O suspended RBCs in West China Hospital of Sichuan University from August 2019 to April 2024 was conducted. The analysis included reasons for emergency blood transfusion, time of receiving transfusion application and blood distribution, total bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, lactate dehydrogenase before and after transfusion, blood group of patients, and disease outcome. [Results] From August 2019 to April 2024, 39 cases applied for emergency transfusion of type O suspended RBCs, and a total of 90 U uncrossmatched suspended RBCs were transfused. All patients were Rh(D) positive, including 14 cases of blood group A, 6 cases of blood group B, 16 cases of blood group O, 2 cases of blood group AB, one case of undetermined blood group, and 2 cases with positive antibody screening. The main cause of emergency transfusion of type O suspended RBCs was traffic accident, accounting for 46% (18/39), with a mortality rate at 51.28% (20/39). The cause of death was primary injury, and no adverse reactions were reported. There was no significant difference in total bilirubin (TBIL), indirect bilirubin (IBIL) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) before and after blood transfusion (P>0.05). The median duration from admission to receiving transfusion application was 30.20 minutes, and 5.30 minutes from receipt of the application to blood distribution. [Conclusion] The single-center based Practice is safe, but there is room for optimization before the link of blood transfusion application sent to the transfusion department when applying for emergency transfusion of type O suspended RBCs

A systematic review of progress test as longitudinal assessment in Saudi Arabia

Abstract Background The rapid evolution of healthcare necessitates a new generation of doctors with strong critical thinking, problem-solving, and adaptability skills. This systematic review explores current longitudinal assessment practices in undergraduate medical education in Saudi Arabia with particular emphasis on progress test and its utility, advantages, and disadvantages. Methods A systematic search was conducted across relevant databases to identify studies that discuss progress test in undergraduate medical education in Saudi Arabia. The studies were analyzed to evaluate their alignment with study objectives and to the demands of a changing healthcare landscape. Results The review highlights the dynamic nature of progress test (PT) as a longitudinal assessment method in undergraduate medical education in Saudi Arabia. The advantages included yearly assessments and holistic feedback to enhance learning techniques and knowledge retention. Moreover, PT serves as both a summative and formative assessment, offering personalized learning experiences tailored to individual needs and pacing. Contrasting traditional assessments, PT promotes deep learning strategies and meaning-oriented approaches, fostering holistic understanding rather than rote memorization. Additionally, PT’s continuous nature allows for early identification of knowledge gaps and facilitates ongoing improvement. Conclusion This systematic review provides a comprehensive overview of progress test as a longitudinal assessment method in undergraduate medical education. It identifies areas for improvement and informs the development of more effective assessment methods that better prepare future doctors for a future of innovation and personalized medicine

The impact of oxidative balance on all-cause and cause-specific mortality in US adults and cancer survivors: evidence from NHANES 2001–2018

Abstract Background Oxidative stress is a crucial pathophysiological mechanism in chronic diseases and mortality. While individual oxidative markers have been studied, the comprehensive impact of oxidative balance on mortality risks remains unclear, particularly among cancer survivors. We aimed to investigate the associations of Oxidative Balance Score (OBS) with mortality in both the general population and cancer survivors. Methods This study included 37,317 adults (52% female) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2001–2018). OBS was calculated based on antioxidant and pro-oxidant exposures and categorized into quartiles. Survey-weighted Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios for mortality risks. Restricted cubic spline analyses were performed to examine potential non-linear relationships. Stratified analyses were conducted to further refine the findings. Results During a mean follow-up of 9.1 years, 5,092 deaths occurred. Compared with the lowest quartile, the highest quartile of total OBS was associated with lower risks of all-cause mortality (HR 0.68) and cancer mortality (HR 0.55). Among cancer survivors, similar associations were observed with all-cause mortality (HR 0.66). Component analysis revealed consistent protective effects of antioxidant OBS (HR 0.60 for all-cause mortality), while higher pro-oxidant OBS showed varying associations across mortality causes. Conclusions Higher OBS was associated with lower mortality risks, particularly cancer-related mortality, in both the general population and cancer survivors. While antioxidant exposures showed consistent protective effects, the impact of pro-oxidant exposures varied by mortality causes

Global research landscape and hotspots for ferroptosis in glioma: A comprehensive bibliometric and visual analysis

Studying ferroptosis is crucial for understanding the mechanisms underlying the onset and progression of glioblastoma, identifying therapeutic targets, and improving prognosis assessment and diagnostic methods. While recent research has explored the link between ferroptosis and glioblastoma, there is a lack of comprehensive bibliometric analyses specifically addressing this relationship and its connection to glioblastoma. To address this gap, we conducted a thorough analysis of 225 relevant articles on glioma and ferroptosis obtained from the Web of Science database covering the period from 2012 to 2023, employing rigorous exclusion criteria. Visual and statistical analyses were performed using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, R Studio Plotting, and Scimago Graphica Beta. Our findings revealed a significant exponential growth in the number of studies during the last decade. China, the United States, and Germany made the most substantial contributions to research in this field, collectively accounting for 76.2 % of the total research output. Notably, Central South University, Shandong University, and Zhejiang University emerged as leaders in both literature production and research collaboration. Frontiers in Oncology stood out as the most prolific journal, encompassing a wide array of topics from molecular mechanisms to potential therapeutic strategies. Visual keyword analysis highlighted ''tumor biology'' ''cell death mechanisms'' and ''gene expression and metabolic processes'' as central themes in the research network. This study offers a comprehensive visual perspective on the global publication landscape of ferroptosis in glioma, providing valuable insights for researchers seeking to understand the current state of the field and identify potential directions for future studies

Advanced point-of-care biomarker testing for the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) stands as the primary cause of global mortality, necessitating early diagnosis for mitigating death rates and improving quality of life. Conventional CVD diagnostic techniques necessitate the use of bulky hospital instruments for electrocardiogram recording and immunoassay, resulting in time-consuming and inconvenient limitations. Point-of-care testing (POCT) presents unique benefits compared to traditional central laboratory (CLT) methods, such as accelerated turnaround times for results, enhanced portability, and ease of use, which are especially beneficial in resource-constrained healthcare environments. As a result, POCT is increasingly recognized as an innovative diagnostic strategy for the management of CVD, achieving significant standing across a variety of healthcare scenarios. The present review offers a comprehensive overview of the prevailing categories of cardiovascular diseases and emphasizes the diagnostic application of cardiac biomarkers detected through blood tests. The focus of this study is specifically on POCT devices used for the detection of biomarkers related to cardiovascular disease. Additionally, their performance will be compared and evaluated against traditional CLT methods and commercially available equipment. With the growing implementation of hierarchical medical policies and increasing demand for health management services, the market for POCT cardiac biomarkers testing is expected to expand further as a crucial development direction within the field of medicine

Safety and immunogenicity of Ad26.COV2.S in adolescents: Phase 2 randomized clinical trial

We conducted a randomized, Phase 2 trial to assess the safety and humoral immunogenicity of reduced doses/dose volume of the standard dose of Ad26.COV2.S COVID-19 vaccine (5 × 1010 viral particles [vp]) in healthy adolescents aged 12–17 years. Participants were randomly assigned to receive Ad26.COV2.S at reduced dose levels of 0.625 × 1010 (0.5 mL), 1.25 × 1010 (0.5 mL) or 2.5 × 1010 (0.5 mL or low volume 0.25 mL) vp in a 1- or 2-dose (56-day interval) primary schedule. Adolescents who received a 1-dose primary schedule received a 2.5 × 1010 vp booster dose 6 months later. Safety and humoral immunogenicity were assessed up to 6 months post-last vaccination. All regimens were well tolerated, with no safety concerns identified. Local and systemic solicited AEs in adolescents were consistent with the known safety profile in adults. All 1- and 2-dose Ad26.COV2.S primary schedules elicited robust peak Spike-binding antibody responses and virus neutralizing titers against the reference strain, in participants with and without preexisting SARS-CoV-2 immunity. Immune responses were durable for at least 6 months. Spike-binding antibody responses were comparable to those elicited in young adults aged 18–25 years who received a standard dose of Ad26.COV2.S in Phase 3 efficacy studies Reduced doses/dose volume of Ad26.COV2.S had an acceptable safety profile and elicited robust humoral immune responses in adolescents aged 12–17 years. All 1- and 2-dose schedules elicited Spike-binding antibody responses that were comparable to an adult population in whom efficacy has been demonstrated using a higher vaccine dose. (clinicaltrials.gov NCT05007080)

Motivational Factors and Cannabis Use Intention among Juvenile Offenders: Direct, Mediating, and Moderating Effects

Background/Aim: Ensuring that juvenile offenders (JOs) who stop consume cannabis during their detention remain abstinence after their sentence has been served is a fundamental preventive measure. The present study explores whether the variables of the motivational phase of the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) predicted the intention not to use cannabis after the end of the detention period among JOs. It also analyzes the mediating effect of past behavior and the moderating effect of gender. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 103 JOs in detention centers in southern Spain (mean age =16.33 years, 70.6% male). Results: A multiple linear regression analysis confirmed the joint effect of motivational variables (risk perceptions, positive and negative outcome expectancies, and action self-efficacy) on intention. Except for positive outcome expectancies, all motivational variables were found to mediate the effect of age at onset on intention. Moderation analysis revealed that when risk perceptions and action self-efficacy were high, female JOs expressed a stronger intention not to use cannabis than their male counterparts. Conclusions: The results confirm the effectiveness of the HAPA for predicting the intention not to use cannabis among JOs after the end of their detention period. The present study lays the groundwork for future research, which should broaden the analysis to include the volitional stage of change and JOs serving other sentences involving less supervision and greater opportunities to use. The results presented here will help inform the design of preventive programs, with a gender perspective

The influence of surface properties on colour centres in diamond

Colour centres in diamonds have attracted considerable interest for quantum sensing applications. Boasting great photostability, long coherence times at room temperature and unique electronic properties that allow for optical initialization and readout of their quantum state, colour centres have found use in a variety of techniques for thermometry, magnetometry and nanoscale spectroscopy. Coupled with the possibility of preparing nanoparticles, their excellent biocompatibility and versatile surface chemistry that allows for functionalization and fine-tuning of surface properties, diamonds hosting colour centres have proven to be a versatile and flexible platform for measurements of local properties in a wide range of biological and biochemical systems. In this perspective, we summarize the key properties of the colour centres in diamonds and how different surface chemistry impacts their electronic properties. Finally, we discuss the crucial role of surface chemistry in various sensing applications and highlight the potential of diamond materials to address current challenges in quantum science and technology

Social isolation increases impulsive choice with minor changes on metabolic function in middle‐aged rats

Abstract The effects of social isolation (SI) during middle age remain unclear, so we tested the hypothesis that SI would lead to an increase in impulsive choice (IC), anxiety‐like behavior, and metabolic dysfunction in middle‐aged rats. Male and female rats were housed individually or in groups of four with same‐sex housing mates at 11 months of age. Two months later, IC behavior was assessed using a delay‐discounting task and anxiety‐like behavior through a novelty‐suppressed feeding (NSF) task. Lastly, glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity following exposure to a high‐fat diet were assessed using an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and an insulin tolerance test (ITT). The results showed that socially isolated rats displayed more IC behavior than did group‐housed rats of both sexes. However, no significant effect of housing was evident in the NSF task, OGTT, or ITT. Male rats had a higher plasma insulin concentration and insulin resistance index compared to females. Our findings demonstrate that SI in middle age is sufficient to increase IC behavior and highlight inherent sex‐specific differences in metabolic profiles. These findings underscore the importance of investigating mechanisms that underlie the effects of social isolation during different stages of life