Integrating cognitive presence strategies: A professional development training for K-12 teachers

For K-12 teachers to improve effective teaching skills, cognitive presence (CP) integration into teaching and learning process is of utmost value. CP strategy training can serve as a facilitating component in supporting K-12 teachers’ instructional capacity. This study presents findings of a teacher professional development training aiming CP strategy implementation at K-12 level. Following a mixed-method methodology, the present research was carried out with 53 teachers from four different campuses and grade levels, who were guided to implement CP strategies in their teaching context. The data sources were CP-integrated lesson plans, trainers’ feedback on these lesson plans, teacher responses on a questionnaire. The data collection methods were utilizing an end-of-the-training questionnaire directed to teachers, lesson plan evaluation through a CP rubric, content analysis of trainer feedback on lesson plans and revised lesson plans. Results unveiled that this professional development training designed and implemented for K-12 teachers led to significantly positive changes in teachers’ CP strategy integration into lesson plans regardless of levels, subjects or topics. This study could also provide important contributions to designing teacher professional development training for researchers, practitioners and teacher trainers, particularly in CP dimension. © 2023 by authors; licensee CEDTECH by Bastas, CY

Real-world efficacy and safety of Ledipasvir plus Sofosbuvir and Ombitasvir/Paritaprevir/Ritonavir +/- Dasabuvir combination therapies for chronic hepatitis C: A Turkish experience

Background/Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the real-life efficacy and tolerability of direct-acting antiviral treatments for patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) with/without cirrhosis in the Turkish population.Material and Methods: A total of 4,352 patients with CHC from 36 different institutions in Turkey were enrolled. They received ledipasvir (LDV) and sofosbuvir (SOF)+/- ribavirin (RBV) ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir +/- dasabuvir (PrOD)+/- RBV for 12 or 24 weeks. Sustained virologic response (SVR) rates, factors affecting SVR, safety profile, and hepatocellular cancer (HCC) occurrence were analyzed.Results: SVR12 was achieved in 92.8% of the patients (4,040/4,352) according to intention-to-treat and in 98.3% of the patients (4,040/4,108) according to per-protocol analysis. The SVR12 rates were similar between the treatment regimens (97.2%-100%) and genotypes (95.6%-100%). Patients achieving SVR showed a significant decrease in the mean serum alanine transaminase (ALT) levels (50.90 +/- 54.60 U/L to 17.00 +/- 14.50 U/L) and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores (7.51 +/- 4.54 to 7.32 +/- 3.40) (p<0.05). Of the patients, 2 were diagnosed with HCC during the treatment and 14 were diagnosed with HCC 37.0 +/- 16.0 weeks post-treatment. Higher initial MELD score (odds ratio [OR]: 1.92, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22-2.38; p=0.023]), higher hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA levels (OR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.31-2.28; p=0.038), and higher serum ALT levels (OR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.21-1.83; p=0.042) were associated with poor SVR12. The most common adverse events were fatigue (12.6%), pruritis (7.3%), increased serum ALT (4.7%) and bilirubin (3.8%) levels, and anemia (3.1%).Conclusion: LDV/SOF or PrOD +/- RBV were effective and tolerable treatments for patients with CHC and with or without advanced liver disease before and after liver transplantation. Although HCV eradication improves the liver function, there is a risk of developing HCC.Turkish Association for the Study of The Liver (TASL

The Protective Effects of Kefir in Aspirin-Induced Gastric Mucosal Damage: An Experimental Study

Aims: Aspirin has a side effect of mucosal damage even at low doses. The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of kefir in the prevention of gastric damage produced by aspirin. Materials and methods: In the present study, 32 male Wistar-Albino rats were divided into four equal groups. First group (Control) and 2nd group (Aspirin) were administered 2 ml serum physiologic for seven days. Third group (Kefir) and 4th group (Kefir + Aspirin) were administered 2 ml kefir solution instead of serum physiologic. On the eight day, aspirin and Kefir + Aspirin groups were administered 200 mg/kg aspirin, three hours before being sacrificed. All stomach mucosa was examined and mucosal damage scores were evaluated. Results: In Kefir + Aspirin group, macroscopic damage score was higher than Control (P=0.002) and Kefir (P=0.028) groups, and lower than Aspirin group (P=0.005). Histological damage scores in Kefir + Aspirin group were similar to those in control and kefir groups and significantly lower than Aspirin group (P<0.001). Conclusion: It was established that kefir prevents aspirin-induced gastric damage in experimental model

Extensive hepatic-portal and mesenteric venous gas due to sigmoid diverticulitis

Hepatic portal venous gas is most often associated with extensive bowel necrosis due to mesenteric infarction. Mortality exceeds 75% with this condition. The most common precipitating factors include ischemia, intra-abdominal abscesses and inflammatory bowel disease. In this report, we present a 75-year-old woman with extensive hepatic portal and mesenteric venous gas due to colonic diverticulitis. She had a 10-year history of type II diabetes mellitus and hypertension. She was treated by sigmoid resection and Hartmann’s procedure and discharged from the hospital without any complications

Liver injury after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination: Features of immune-mediated hepatitis, role of corticosteroid therapy and outcome

Background and Aims: A few case reports of autoimmune hepatitis–like liver injury have been reported after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination. We evaluated clinical features, treatment response and outcomes of liver injury following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in a large case series. Approach and Results: We collected data from cases in 18 countries. The type of liver injury was assessed with the R-value. The study population was categorized according to features of immune-mediated hepatitis (positive autoantibodies and elevated immunoglobulin G levels) and corticosteroid therapy for the liver injury. We identified 87 patients (63%, female), median age 48 (range: 18–79) years at presentation. Liver injury was diagnosed a median 15 (range: 3–65) days after vaccination. Fifty-one cases (59%) were attributed to the Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) vaccine, 20 (23%) cases to the Oxford-AstraZeneca (ChAdOX1 nCoV-19) vaccine and 16 (18%) cases to the Moderna (mRNA-1273) vaccine. The liver injury was predominantly hepatocellular (84%) and 57% of patients showed features of immune-mediated hepatitis. Corticosteroids were given to 46 (53%) patients, more often for grade 3–4 liver injury than for grade 1–2 liver injury (88.9% vs. 43.5%, p = 0.001) and more often for patients with than without immune-mediated hepatitis (71.1% vs. 38.2%, p = 0.003). All patients showed resolution of liver injury except for one man (1.1%) who developed liver failure and underwent liver transplantation. Steroid therapy was withdrawn during the observation period in 12 (26%) patients after complete biochemical resolution. None had a relapse during follow-up. Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 vaccination can be associated with liver injury. Corticosteroid therapy may be beneficial in those with immune-mediated features or severe hepatitis. Outcome was generally favorable, but vaccine-associated liver injury led to fulminant liver failure in one patient.Fil: Efe, Cumali. Harran University Hospital; TurquíaFil: Kulkarni, Anand V.. Asian Institute of Gastroenterology Hospitals; IndiaFil: Terziroli Beretta Piccoli, Benedetta. Università Della Svizzera Italiana; Suiza. Epatocentro Ticino; SuizaFil: Magro, Bianca. ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII-Bergamo; ItaliaFil: Stättermayer, Albert. Medizinische Universität Wien; AustriaFil: Cengiz, Mustafa. Gülhane Training and Research Hospital; TurquíaFil: Clayton Chubb, Daniel. Alfred Health; AustraliaFil: Lammert, Craig. University School of Medicine; Estados UnidosFil: Bernsmeier, Christine. University Centre for Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases; Suiza. Universidad de Basilea; SuizaFil: Gül, Özlem. Kırıkkale University; TurquíaFil: de la Tijera, Fatima Higuera. Hospital General de México; MéxicoFil: Anders, Margarita. Hospital Alemán; ArgentinaFil: Lytvyak, Ellina. University of Alberta; CanadáFil: Akın, Mete. Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine; TurquíaFil: Purnak, Tugrul. University of Texas; Estados UnidosFil: Liberal, Rodrigo. World Gastroenterology Organization; Portugal. Centro Hospitalar E Universitário de São João; PortugalFil: Peralta, Mirta. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Infecciosas "Dr. Francisco Javier Muñiz"; Argentina. Latin American Liver Research Educational And Awareness Network; ArgentinaFil: Ebik, Berat. Gazi Yaşargil Education and Research Hospita; TurquíaFil: Duman, Serkan. Gazi Yaşargil Education and Research Hospita; TurquíaFil: Demir, Nurhan. Haseki Training and Research Hospital; TurquíaFil: Balaban, Yasemin. Hacettepe University; TurquíaFil: Urzua, Álvaro. Universidad de Chile; ChileFil: Contreras, Fernando. Centro de Gastroenterología Avanzada; República DominicanaFil: Venturelli, Maria Grazia. Clinica Stella Maris; PerúFil: Bilgiç, Yılmaz. Inönü University School of Medicine; TurquíaFil: Medina, Adriana. Hospital de Clínicas; ParaguayFil: Girala, Marcos. Hospital de Clínicas; ParaguayFil: Günşar, Fulya. Ege University School of Medicine; TurquíaFil: Londoño, Maria Carlota. Hospital Sant Joan de Deu Barcelona; EspañaFil: Ridruejo, Ezequiel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. CEMIC-CONICET. Centro de Educaciones Médicas e Investigaciones Clínicas "Norberto Quirno". CEMIC-CONICET; Argentin