Is Gifted Education and Its Program a Brand?

The education system has been under constant construction. What will make our students successful has driven education to make a number of changes, and therefore, over the years, the importance of differentiation evolved, mandating the education system to acknowledge that education should not be standardized and that all students learn and retain knowledge differently. As a result, a number of classroom environments and programs have been established to cater to these differences. One example of this is the establishment of the Gifted and Talented Program or Gifted Education in the education system. Gifted Education provides identified students with a stimulating classroom environment that will meet their intellectual, pedagogical, and social needs. Gifted students are given opportunities of maneuvering challenges, pushing their thinking, limits, skills, existing abilities, and possible talents. However, despite the evident pedagogical advantages for these learners, over the years, Gifted Education and its program have evoked an ongoing and controversial debate. The constant question of how equitable or equal the program truly is, arises. Through close observation, the program undeniably appears to serve certain racial groups. The noticeable indications of racial disparities in our education system as a whole are also revealed through Gifted and Talented programs. As a result, many have argued that Gifted Education and its program should be removed entirely from the education system. However, we have seen the debate of whether or not Gifted and Talented programs should be removed for many years, and regardless of the substantial evidence of inequity shown in the specific students being served, the program continues to exist and remain in the system; therefore, proving that the chances of eradicating the program are extremely low. Parents continue to apply to these programs, and competitively figure out ways to get a spot in the program as young as four and five (Kindergarten). Parents work towards obtaining what they believe is the best quality of education there is to offer in public schools––giving the impression that the Gifted and Talented program is a high-demand brand that parents really want or would want. To support this claim of the Gifted and Talented program being a brand, I gathered responses through written questionnaires from parents of Gifted and Talented children in a public elementary school from grades 1-5 and current or former Gifted and Talented teachers from grades 4 and 5 to learn more about the perspectives of those who are involved in the program. In addition, as a current Gifted and Talented teacher of five consecutive years in the fourth grade of a public school, I have included challenging experiences that support my claim that the Gifted and Talented program has developed into a brand for parents. Through my study, I intend to educate on what Gifted Education is, its advantages for its respective learners, the demographic disparities shown in who are being served in the program, its injustice towards unidentified gifted students and students of communities who are at odds with the education system or lack the resources to have access to this program through data and firsthand perspectives of members within this program, and possible solutions that can improve the equity of Gifted and Talented programs or the education system as a whole

Disability in an American Indian community : prevalence, distribution, and the role of polychlorinated biphenyls

The Akwesasne reservation along the St. Lawrence River has experienced significant exposure to several persistent organic pollutants due to rapid industrialization. The Aluminum Company of America, General Motors, and Reynolds Metals operated aluminum foundries that used polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) as hydraulic fluids, which contaminated the community environment, the soil, air and water, and community food sources with PCBs. We administered the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule II (WHODAS II) to 119 Akwesasne Mohawk adults residing along the St. Lawrence River in New York. We used exploratory factor analysis to summarize the 36- items comprising the WHODAS II. The 7 factors retained by the analyses correspond to the 6 summary domains of disability, suggesting that the data are sound and measure the intended constructs. Our assessment concludes that WHODAS II is a valid tool for assessing disability within this American Indian population. We explored the potentially moderating effects of social support and cultural identity on disability, taking into account age, gender, and health comorbidities among 119 Akwesasne Mohawk adults. We used the WHO-DAS II to measure disability, the Duke University Social Support Scale with Likert-type responses to quantify social support, and the Orthogonal Ethnic Identification Scale to calculate cultural affiliation. We found that overall social support was significantly negatively associated with disability related to self-care. Both family support and non-family support were negatively associated with disabilities that prevent full participation in society. Cultural affiliation to either the white culture or the Mohawk culture was not significantly associated with disability. Although preliminary, our findings may help inform clinicians advising American Indians and Alaska Natives with disabilities on helpful interventions to provide greater social support. To understand the long-term health effects of PCB exposure, we conducted a hypothesis-generating, exploratory investigation of associations between serum PCB concentrations and disability among Mohawk adults (n=109). We found that each log-unit increase in exposure to low chlorinated PCBs was significantly positively associated with a 1.12 unit increase in disability associated with performing life activities (β = 1.12, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.07, 2.18). This suggests exposure to low chlorinated PCBs may be linked to increased difficulty performing life activities at both home and work among this population. A larger and more comprehensive investigation is necessary to more definitively assess the risks. Historically, it was thought that individuals were mostly exposed to high chlorinated PCBs via diet, specifically through fish consumption. However, recent exposure assessments have shown that inhalation is another major route of exposure for low chlorinated PCBs. Our study findings support the notion that additional epidemiological studies are necessary to assess the health risks associated with exposure to low chlorinated PCBs. Low chlorinated PBCs are toxic as their metabolites can have harmful effects on health, future studies are needed to assess the health effects associated with exposure

Norovirus Gastroenteritis in a Birth Cohort in Southern India

BACKGROUND:Noroviruses are an important cause of gastroenteritis but little is known about disease and re-infection rates in community settings in Asia. METHODS:Disease, re-infection rates, strain prevalence and genetic susceptibility to noroviruses were investigated in a birth cohort of 373 Indian children followed up for three years. Stool samples from 1856 diarrheal episodes and 147 vomiting only episodes were screened for norovirus by RT-PCR. Norovirus positivity was correlated with clinical data, secretor status and ABO blood group. RESULTS:Of 1856 diarrheal episodes, 207 (11.2%) were associated with norovirus, of which 49(2.6%) were norovirus GI, 150(8.1%) norovirus GII, and 8 (0.4%) were mixed infections with both norovirus GI and GII. Of the 147 vomiting only episodes, 30 (20.4%) were positive for norovirus in stool, of which 7 (4.8%) were norovirus GI and 23 (15.6%) GII. At least a third of the children developed norovirus associated diarrhea, with the first episode at a median age of 5 and 8 months for norovirus GI and GII, respectively. Norovirus GI.3 and GII.4 were the predominant genotypes (40.3% and 53.0%) with strain diversity and change in the predominant sub-cluster over time observed among GII viruses. A second episode of norovirus gastroenteritis was documented in 44/174 (25.3%) ever-infected children. Children with the G428A homozygous mutation for inactivation of the FUT2 enzyme (se428se428) were at a significantly lower risk (48/190) of infection with norovirus (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS:This is the first report of norovirus documenting disease, re-infection and genetic susceptibility in an Asian birth cohort. The high incidence and apparent lack of genogroupII specific immunity indicate the need for careful studies on further characterization of strains, asymptomatic infection and shedding and immune response to further our understanding of norovirus infection and disease

Outcome of Pregnancy in Lupus

Background: Pregnancy in patients with SLE is associated with a high risk of maternal disease exacerbation in active disease state and adverse fetal outcome. Objective: To analyse maternal and fetal outcome in pregnant lupus patients as well as to identify influence of disease activity on it. Methods: This retrospective observational cross sectional study was done on 27 pregnant lupus patients in feto-maternal medicine wing of the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, BSMMU from April 2007 to March 2011. For statistical analysis z test of proportion and students t test was used. Results: Mean age of the patients was 26.6 years. At booking, 8 (29.63%) had active lupus while 19 (70.37%) was in remission. As complications of SLE, lupus flare was found in 11.1%, lupus nephritis in 25.9% and skin rash in 7.4%. Regarding obstetric complications, PIH was developed in 3.7% and preeclampsia in 11.1% of the patients. Average gestational age at delivery was 34.8 weeks. Birth weight was <2.5kg in 45.8% of neonates. There was IUGR in 33.3% of the cases and 25% of the neonates needed admission in neonatal ICU. There was no neonatal death and none of the 24 neonates had neonatal lupus. In this study there was no maternal mortality. Patients who were in active disease state, most (55.5%) delivered preterm, spontaneous abortion occurred in two and IUD in one of the patients. Average birth weight was lower (1.9+.47kg) in patients with active SLE than those of with remission (2.3+.68kg). Lupus flare developed in 66.6% with active disease, while in 33.3% with remission. Conclusion: Pregnancy is relatively safe with SLE in remission but considered as high risk in terms of fetal loss and spontaneous abortion. Disease activity influences pregnancy outcome.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bsmmuj.v5i1.10995 BSMMU J 2012; 5(1):18-2

Clinical outcome of the late preterm infants

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the short-term clinical outcome of late preterm babies (34-36 week) in a tertiary level hospital from January 2013 to December 2014. A total of 3,749 babies were delivered during this period of which 513 were late preterm. Among the late preterm babies, 481 babies were delivered by cesarean section. Admission to the neonatal intensive care unit after birth was needed in case of 66 babies. Higher incidences of complication like jaundice (14.4%), sepsis (6.2%), respiratory distress syndrome (2.9%), transient tachypnea (2.3%) and others were found in comparison to control term babies. Ventilation was required in 11 cases. Late preterm mortality was 1.4%. In conclusion, late prematurity is associated with significant neonatal morbidity and mortality

Clinical outcome of the late preterm infants

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the short-term clinical outcome of late preterm babies (34-36 week) in a tertiary level hospital from January 2013 to December 2014. A total of 3,749 babies were delivered during this period of which 513 were late preterm. Among the late preterm babies, 481 babies were delivered by cesarean section. Admission to the neonatal intensive care unit after birth was needed in case of 66 babies. Higher incidences of complication like jaundice (14.4%), sepsis (6.2%), respiratory distress syndrome (2.9%), transient tachypnea (2.3%) and others were found in comparison to control term babies. Ventilation was required in 11 cases. Late preterm mortality was 1.4%. In conclusion, late prematurity is associated with significant neonatal morbidity and mortality

Use of ebastine a mast cell blocker for treatment of oligozoospermia

Background: Global infertility prevalence rates are difficult to determine, due to the presence of both male and female factors which complicate any estimate which may only address the woman and an outcome of a pregnancy diagnosis or live birth. Although overall male fertility does not appear to have declined, there is evidence for decline in sperm quality. Sperm count below 15×106 sperm/ml is called oligozoospermia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of ebastine on sperm count of oligospermic infertile men.Methods: This was a longitudinal clinical trial study and was conducted in the infertility unit outdoor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka. Bangladesh during the period from January 2015 to December 2015. This study was conducted among the male patients and followed purposive sampling technique. Finally, 334 cases were enrolled in this study.Results: From the total 334 patients in group I, mean sperm count was 10.32±2.71 million/ml in pretreatment and 18.87±9.56 million/ml in post treatment. The difference was statistically significant (p0.05). 63.9% oligospermic male showed improvement in sperm count in ebastin group and 18.1% in placebo group.Conclusions: Sperm count had significantly improved after three months’ treatment period with ebastin than placebo. Therefore, this study suggested that mast cell blocker ebastine can be helpful than placebo to improve the patients’ sperm count with oligospermia

Diagnostic value of ferritin for the severity of dengue infection in children

Retracted by the Editor-In-Chie

Diagnostic value of ferritin for the severity of dengue infection in children

Retracted by the Editor-In-Chie

Arthritis as a presentation of acute leukemia

A 14 year old boy presented with 3 months history of low back pain as well as pain and swelling of both knee joints. The pain was inflammatory in nature. He was thoroughly evaluated but no underlying cause was detected. However, the boy was treated with NSAIDs and sulphasalazine. A few weeks later he developed anemia and took the blood transfusion. Then he developed fever and the joint pain re-appeared. On examination, the patient was found moderately anemic, positive bony tenderness and splenomegaly. Musculoskeletal examination revealed right knee joint effusion. The investigation revealed pancytopenia. Bone marrow morphology and immunophenotyping revealed acute lymphoblastic leukemia. We treated the patient according to modified UKALL-2003 protocol and patient condition improved and arthritis disappeared