Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety among university students: a systematic review and meta-analysis

University years are marked by multiple stressors. Consequently, university students often report anxiety symptoms or disorders, but most remain untreated. Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) has been proposed as an alternative to address known help-seeking barriers, which were aggravated during the COVID-19 pandemic. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy of ICBT for university students with anxiety. A systematic search on three databases, EBSCOhost, PubMed, and Web of Science, and a manual search were performed. Fifteen studies were identified, including a total of 1619 participants. Seven studies evaluated ICBT treatment for both anxiety and depression, three for social anxiety, two for generalized anxiety, while the remaining (k = 3) only targeted anxiety, test anxiety, and comorbidity between anxiety and insomnia. Analyses were performed based on a random-effects model using the metafor package in R. The results indicated that ICBT had a significant and positive effect on university students with anxiety compared to controls at post-test (g = 0.48; 95 % CI: 0.63, 0.27; p < .001, I2 = 67.30 %). Nevertheless, more research is required to determine the intervention components that are more relevant for therapeutic change, how much guidance is required to produce better outcomes, and how patient engagement can be improved.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Evaluation of carcinogenic/co-carcinogenic activity of a common chewing product, pan masala, in mouse skin, stomach and esophagus

Pan masala, a dry powdered mixture of areca nut, catechu, lime, unspecified spices and flavoring agents, has gained widespread popularity as a chewing substitute in India. In this study, the carcinogenic and tumor-promoting potential of an ethanolic pan masala extract (EPME) was determined using skin of S/RVCri-ba mice and forestomach and esophagus of ICRC mice as the target tissues. Carcinogenic activity of pan masala was tested by painting the mouse skin for 40 weeks with EPME or by gavage feeding for 6 months. Following initiation with 9,10-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA), carcinogenesis of mouse skin was promoted with different doses of EPME, while gastric- and esophageal-tumor-promoting activity was determined by administering EPME by gavage to animals initiated with diethylnitrosamine (DEN). The ability of EPME to effect progression of skin papilloma to carcinoma and cutaneous alterations after a single or multiple EPME treatment were also evaluated. EPME at 25 mg per dose promoted skin-papilloma formation between 30 and 40 weeks of treatment and enhanced the rate of conversion of papilloma to carcinoma. Induction of mild epidermal hyperplasia, dermal edema, increase in epidermal mitotic activity and the rate of epidermal and dermal DNA synthesis by EPME correlated well with its skin-tumor-promoting potential. In ICRC mice, EPME was inactive as a complete carcinogen, but effectively promoted the development of forestomach and esophageal papilloma and carcinoma in a concentration-dependent manner. The tumor incidence at 25 mg EPME per dose was comparable with that obtained in the 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13 acetate(TPA)-treated group. The findings indicate that habitual pan-masala use may exert carcinogenic and co-carcinogenic influence

Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor (PNET) of the Kidney with Level IV Inferior Vena Caval Thrombus: A Case Report

Primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) is classified as a malignant tumor of the kidney. It was first recognized by Arthur Purdy Stout in 1918, as a member of the family of “small round-cell tumorsâ€. Primitive renal localization is very rare. We report a case of Primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the kidney with level IV inferior vena caval (IVC) thrombus. Histologically, the tumor consisted of small round cells with round nuclei and scant cytoplasm

METODOLOGIA MONTESSORIANA E BILINGUISMO: APROXIMAÇÕES PARA A PRÁXIS PEDAGÓGICA

This paper intends to explore whether the methodological approach built by the Italian educator, researcher and physician Maria Montessori would represent a possibility of intervention to favor the children learning of a second language, be that a precocious acquisition or not. This research employs a bibliographical inventory that includes Maria Montessori’s works and the found results are shown in a threefold structure. In the first section, we introduce the pedagogical approach under analysis, and we highlight useful concepts to a wider understanding of Montessori’s thought, such as materials presentation, classroom arrangement, the contact and relationship between student and environment, the idea of absorbent mind and, consequently, the children’s sensitive periods (which comprise language, the main topic of this investigation). The second section delivers a brief connection between neurological assets and differences regarding bilingual children’s brains and emphasizes important features between bilingual and monolingual individuals, such as inhibitory control and attention. Finally, in the third section, we explore the hypothesis of how Maria Montessori’s methodological approach can help in bilingual contexts, by considering its concepts and procedures. We attempt to establish connections among the teacher, the material, his/her bilingual and monolingual students, and the Montessorian classroom, so we can create bonds that allow to interpret the methodological approach as an enabler with regard to the learning of a second language. The gathered results highlight the lack of studies, mainly in the Brazilian academia, committed to investigate the favorable associations we glimpsed between Maria Montessori’s theory and bilingual learning practices. Such a scenery is nearly unexplored, and it demands further studies so the theoretical conceptions may be transposed to children’s learning activities.Este artículo analiza y cuestiona cómo la metodología fundamentada por la pedagoga, investigadora y médica María Montessori se relaciona con el aprendizaje de una segunda lengua en los niños, sea en la adquisición precoz o no. Esta investigación se desarrolla por medio de la revisión bibliográfica, en la cual se incluyen obras de María Montessori. Los resultados se encuentran divididos en tres secciones. En la primera sección se hace una introducción a la metodología pedagógica presentada, revisando conceptos importantes para comprender el pensamiento propuesto por la teoría montessoriana, así como la presentación de materiales, disponibles en las aulas, y el contacto y relación entre el alumno y el ambiente, la idea de mente absorbente y, paso seguido, las etapas sensibles de los niños (incluyendo el lenguaje, tema central de esta investigación). La segunda sección expone una breve relación entre las ventajas y diferencias neurológicas en los cerebros de los niños bilingües y se hace énfasis en los puntos importantes entre ellos e individuos monolingües, además del control inhibitorio y la atención. Finalmente, en la tercera sección se explora la hipótesis de cómo la metodología de María Montessori puede ayudar en contextos de bilingüismo, teniendo en cuenta sus conceptos y procedimientos. Se busca establecer relaciones entre el profesor, el material, sus alumnos bilingües y monolingües, y el ambiente del aula montessoriana, creando así relaciones que puedan interpretar la metodología como un instrumento facilitador del aprendizaje de una segunda lengua. Las conclusiones elaboradas señalan la falta de estudios, sobre todo en la academia brasileña, que se dediquen a investigar los enriquecedores vínculos vislumbrados entre la teoría de María Montessori y las prácticas de aprendizaje bilingües. Este escenario prácticamente inexplorado requiere de futuros estudios para que las concepciones teóricas puedan ser transpuestas a las actividades del aprendizaje infantil.Este artigo busca explorar se a metodologia fundamentada pela pedagoga, pesquisadora e médica Maria Montessori representaria uma possibilidade de intervenção para favorecer o aprendizado de uma segunda língua em crianças, seja esta aquisição precoce ou não. Esta pesquisa se desenvolve por meio de recenseamento bibliográfico, incluindo obras de Maria Montessori, e os resultados estão divididos em três seções. Na primeira seção, faz-se uma introdução à metodologia pedagógica apresentada, pontuando conceitos importantes para entender o pensamento proposto pela teoria montessoriana, como a apresentação dos materiais, a disposição das salas, o contato e relação entre aluno e ambiente, a ideia de mente absorvente e, consequentemente, os períodos sensíveis da criança (incluindo a linguagem, tópico central nesta pesquisa). A segunda seção traz uma breve relação entre as vantagens e diferenças neurológicas em cérebros de crianças bilíngues e enfatiza pontos importantes entre elas e indivíduos monolíngues, como o controle inibitório e a atenção. Por fim, na terceira seção explora-se a hipótese de como a metodologia de Maria Montessori pode auxiliar em contextos de bilinguismo, levando em consideração seus conceitos e procedimentos. Procura-se estabelecer relações entre o professor, o material, seus alunos bilíngues e monolíngues e o ambiente da sala de aula montessoriano, criando assim ligações que possam interpretar a metodologia como um instrumento facilitador ao aprendizado de uma segunda língua. As conclusões elaboradas assinalam a escassez de estudos, sobretudo na academia brasileira, que se dedicam a investigar os profícuos vínculos vislumbrados entre a teoria de Maria Montessori e as práticas de aprendizagem bilíngues. Esse cenário, praticamente inexplorado, demanda futuros estudos para que as concepções teóricas possam ser transpostas às atividades de aprendizagem infantis

Long-term carcinogenicity of pan masala in Swiss mice

Carcinogenicity of pan masala, a dry powdered chewing mixture of areca nut, catechu, lime, spices and flavoring agents was evaluated by means of the long-term animal bio-assay 6- to 7-week old male and female S/RVCri mice were divided randomly into intermediate and lifetime exposure groups and fed normal diet without pan masala - (zero dose) or diet containing 2.5% and 5% pan masala. Animals in the intermediate-exposure group (n = 10/gender/dose group) were killed after 6, 12 or 18 months of treatment, while those in the lifetime-exposure group (n = 54/gender/dose group) were killed when moribund or at the termination of the experiment at 24 months. Several tissues were processed for histopathological examination. The body weight and survival rate of mice fed pan masala were lower than that of the controls. Histopathological observations of tissues from control animals did not reveal any neoplastic alterations. However, lifetime feeding of pan masala induced adenoma of the liver, stomach, prostate and sebaceous glands, also forestomach papilloma, liver hamartoma, hepatoma and hemangioma, carcinoma of the forestomach, adenocarcinoma of the lung and liver, and testicular lymphoma. Neoplastic lesions appeared mainly in the liver (n = 13), stomach (n = 3) and lung (n = 8). Lung adenocarcinoma, the most frequent malignant tumor type, was observed in 2/120 mice in the intermediate-exposure group and in 8/216 animals in the lifetime-exposure group. Statistical analysis of tumor-induction data revealed a significant dose-related increase in lung adenocarcinomas but not in liver and stomach neoplasms indicating that lung is the major target tissue for the carcinogenic action of pan masala

Modelagem estrutural para representação do sistema imunológico adaptativo humano utilizando Orientação a Objetos

O sistema imunológico adaptativo humano consiste em uma importante área de pesquisa por causa do seu papel na prevenção e tratamento de doenças. Em ciência da computação, este sistema pode ser utilizado para detecção de intrusos, reconhecimento de padrões e simulações de processos biológicos, como vacinas. Apesar de apresentar uma estrutura bem definida, a sua compreenção e modelagem para um pesquisador na área de computação é extremamente complexa. A fim de auxiliar no processo de análise e modelagem do desenvolvimento de um sistema imunológico adaptativo, este artigo apresenta uma modelagem estrutural que representa o sistema imunológico adaptativo humano através de orientação a objetos

Simulando um Sistema Imunológico de acordo com o Modelo da Cadeia de Abastecimento Alimentar

Several researches are being conducted in the area of Artificial Immune Systems, motivated by the necessity for discoveries of cures or treatments for immunologic diseases. Living organisms presents in the Immune System have synergetic or antagonistic associations such that the extinction of a specie can cause serious and irreversible impact on ecological balance. These rela- tionships constitute the predator-prey model, which can be organized by food supply chain model, allowing it to develop a simulator that measures the func- tionality of a vaccine within an organism

Harmonising and integrating existing exposure factors systems world-wide: feasibility study report

Eight world-wide available exposure factors systems have been selected including the ExpoFacts database that we manage. They include USA, Canada, Australia, China, Japan and Korea in addition to Germany. They are analysed across their commonalities and differences with ultimate objective to identify the potential for harmonisation, interoperability and integration. The cross-analysis is based on 20 criteria that have been grouped into five categories: project management, design & architecture, data content, data quality and data values types & usage. The selected criteria are mainly extracted from the WHO-IPCS harmonisation project on uncertainty and data quality in exposure assessment and then adapted to better fit the purpose of this analysis. The main conclusions and recommendations have resulted from the comparison and the relative analysis.JRC.I.1-Chemical Assessment and Testin

Treatment of Limbal Melanocytoma with Full Excision and a Fresh Homologous Corneoscleral Graft in a Dog

Background: Limbal melanoma has been diagnosed in dogs and due to progression may cause vision loss and eyeball removal. Definitive diagnosis is made through histopathological examination. Therapeutic options include full thickness resection and repair by homologous corneal tissue, synthetic graft material, and enucleation. In this report, we describe a case of limbal melanocitoma in a dog that has been treated successfully with fresh homologous corneoscleral graft.Case: A 5-year-old female Labrador was referred to the Ophthalmology Veterinary Section of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil, with a history of a pigmented mass located on the left eye. Ophthalmic examination revealed a pigmented mass located at the left temporal limbus with corneal involvement. Surgical excision followed by reconstruction using fresh homologous corneoscleral was recommended. The patient was premedicated with acepromazine (0.05 mg/kg, IM) and meperidine (20 mg/kg, IM). Anaesthesia was induced with propofol (10 mg/kg, IV) and maintained with isoflurane. Atracurium (0.2 mg/kg, IV) was administered to maintain a central eye position. The mass and a free margin were removed by full-thickness corneoscleral resection. A corneoscleral graft was harvested from a dogthat had been euthanised for reasons unrelated to this study and sutured with 9-0 polyglactin 910 using a simple interrupted pattern. The mass was immediately fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin and submitted for histological sectioning and routine staining. Based on the histopathological analysis it was confirmed limbal melanocytoma. Postoperative treatment consisted of topical administration of 0.3% flurbiprofen every 6 h for 15 days, and a combination of topical ciprofloxacin/dexamethasone eye drops every 6 h for 30 days. Systemic carprofen (4 mg/kg per day, VO) was prescribed for 10 days. Topical tropicamide was used twice daily for 1 week. Cyclosporin 0.2% eye drops were applied twice daily for 2 months. Examination of the left eye two months after surgery revealed decreased corneal vascularization, and the results of pupillary light response and vision testing were normal. The values of intraocular pressure remained normal in all postoperativeevaluations. The patient was followed for 36 months postoperatively, during which time there was no recurrence.Discussion: Limbal melanomas are the most common ocular melanomas in dogs. Most of them develop slowly and are located closely to the superior limbus. The tumors tend to grow more rapidly in younger dogs and more slowly in older dogs. Labrador Retrievers and German shepherds appear to be affected more frequently than other breeds. The present case involved a 5-year-old Labrador breed. The clinical presentation included a pigmented limbal mass extending intothe adjacent cornea, sclera and conjunctival tissue. A tissue biopsy is necessary to confirm the diagnosis. In the present case, the diagnosis of limbal melanocytoma was based on clinical signs and confirmed by histopathological examination. The choice of treatment is influenced by the tumour size and location, availability of equipment and materials, clinician expertise and the cost of treatment. Some techniques for removing the mass and repairing the resultant corneoscleral defect has been described. In the present case, due to the location and size of the mass and the absence of intraocular invasion, surgical removal including a margin of normal tissue was performed. With this surgical procedure, the intention was to preserve the eyeball and maintain vision. In this case, surgical excision of a limbal melanocytoma combined with homologous corneoscleral graft was effective for repairing a full-thickness corneoscleral defect and preserving ocular function

The 5th edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Haematolymphoid Tumours: Lymphoid Neoplasms

We herein present an overview of the upcoming 5th edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Haematolymphoid Tumours focussing on lymphoid neoplasms. Myeloid and histiocytic neoplasms will be presented in a separate accompanying article. Besides listing the entities of the classification, we highlight and explain changes from the revised 4th edition. These include reorganization of entities by a hierarchical system as is adopted throughout the 5th edition of the WHO classification of tumours of all organ systems, modification of nomenclature for some entities, revision of diagnostic criteria or subtypes, deletion of certain entities, and introduction of new entities, as well as inclusion of tumour-like lesions, mesenchymal lesions specific to lymph node and spleen, and germline predisposition syndromes associated with the lymphoid neoplasms