How do secondary aged pupils experience anxiety and how effective are school-based interventions in supporting them? A systematic review

Anxiety is experienced in various forms, however when it is experienced at a greater level, it can become unmanageable and cause disruption to an individual’s day to day life and general functioning. A wealth of research has been conducted to explore the experience of anxiety amongst children and young people (CYP) and possible contributing factors, Research has also explored the impact of school-based interventions such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), in determining their effectiveness in reducing anxiety levels within CYP, with varying results reported. However, to date, a systematic review has not been conducted to explore the quality and validity of this research. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review is to determine how anxiety is experienced by secondary-aged pupils and how effective school-based interventions are in supporting them. The review has been conducted in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines (Moher et al., 2009). A systematic literature search was conducted, and 10 studies were deemed eligible for the review. These were assessed for bias using the revised Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (Higgins, Savovic, et al., 2019). The results suggest that females do experience higher levels of anxiety compared to males, with varying contributing factors such as transitions, school type, learning skills and multi-dimensional constructs. Furthermore, although CBT interventions were not found to be effective in reducing anxiety levels, a decrease in symptoms, such as uncertain control and panic, were reported. However, generally the studies were deemed to be low quality and results should be considered with caution. The review is subject to a number of limitations due to the scope and process

Potential targets for prevention and treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in adults

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common condition worldwide contributing to serious liver disorders like hepatic fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Most common of NAFLD etiology is a sedentary lifestyle and taking a high-calorie diet. Presently there is no drug available for the treatment of NAFLD and only dietary measures, increased physical activity and exercise, antioxidants are the options. In this review, detailed pathophysiology, diagnostic methods and potential targets for prevention and timely treatment of NAFLD have been described

Agency and Reflection: Toward an Empirically Adequate Account of Practical Reason

Recent research in social psychology suggests that our attitudes and actions don’t typically issue from our reflective capacities. Instead, it appears that they often issue from what psychologists refer to as “automatic” processes, understood as psychological processes that operate quickly, efficiently, and outside of our conscious awareness and control. Much of this same research also suggests that when we do exercises our reflective capacities (rare as it may be), it’s usually not to question our attitudes and actions but rather to rationalize them (that is, to come up with reasons to do, think, and feel things that we want to do, think, and feel anyway). In light of these findings, a number of people have recently argued that we aren’t the kind of rational, reflective creatures that philosophers have traditionally thought we are. My aim in this dissertation is to respond to their worries. In the first half, I focus on questions related to our ability to do things for reasons. Common sense suggest that we often do things for reasons, but if our attitudes and actions typically issue from automatic processes, to what extent is this true? I argue that the best way to make good on the idea that we often do things for reasons is to accept both that our ability to do things for reasons doesn’t depend on our reflective capacities and that many of the processes that actually guide our attitudes and actions, though perhaps “automatic,” are nevertheless quite responsive to reasons. In the second half of the dissertation, I focus on whether we can rely on our reflective capacities to improve our agency. Although I deny that we need these capacities to do things for reasons, the reasons for which we do things aren’t always good reasons, and it’s only natural to think that we can rely on our reflective capacities to monitor and control their influences on us. However, this sort of view faces to main empirical challenges. First, it appears that we often don’t know what the causes of our attitudes and actions are, so how can we be expected to monitor and control their influences on us? Second, even if we do know what the causes of our attitudes and actions are, why should we think that we’re inclined to use reflection to question them? Isn’t it much more likely that we’ll use it to rationalize them instead? In response to the first challenge, I argue that once we recognize that reflection doesn’t require us to have introspective access to its objects, it becomes more plausible to think that we’re often in a good position to reflect on the causes of our attitudes and actions. In response to the second challenge, I argue that as long as we focus on the ways in which other people improve our reflection, the idea that we’ll often be inclined to use reflection to question our attitudes and actions becomes more plausible as well

Association of Intraocular Pressure With Human Immunodeficiency Virus

PURPOSE: Prior studies have shown an association between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and reduced intraocular pressures (IOP). The purpose of this study was to determine if patients with HIV on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) had any difference in their IOP compared with patients without HIV or with HIV who are not on HAART. DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional study. METHODS: We included 400 patients from our academic eye center between 2000 and 2016. Group 1 (G1) consisted of patients with HIV on HAART (n = 176), Group 2 (G2) consisted of patients with HIV who were not on HAART (n = 48), and Group 3 (G3) consisted of controls without HIV (n = 176). An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to compare mean IOP values. Multivariate linear and logistic regression models were performed to assess factors impacting IOP. Difference in IOP was the primary outcome being measured. RESULTS: The mean IOPs in mm Hg were 13.7 +/- 5.1 (G1), 13.1 +/- 3.6 (G2), and 17.3 +/- 3.8 (G3), P \u3c .01. In regression modeling, having a CD4 count CONCLUSIONS: Absolute CD4 counts may play a role in IOP fluctuations. This association was found in patients with HIV regardless of whether patients were on HAART

Current scenario of malaria vaccine

Malaria is one of the deadliest infectious diseases that affects millions of people worldwide including India. As an addition to chemoprophylaxis and other antimalarial interventions malaria vaccine is under extensive research since decades. The vaccine development is more difficult to predict than drug development and presents a unique challenge as already there has been no vaccine effective against a parasite. Effective malaria vaccine could help eliminate and eradicate malaria; there are currently 63 vaccine candidates, 41 in preclinical and clinical stages of development. Vaccines are being designed to target pre-erythrocytic stages, erythrocytic stage or the sexual stages of Plasmodium taken up by a feeding mosquito, or the multiple stages. Two vaccines in preclinical and clinical development target P. falciparum; and the most advanced candidate is the pre-erythrocytic vaccine RTS,S which is in phase-III clinical trials. It is likely that world’s first malaria vaccine will be available by 2015 at the country level. More efficacious second generation malaria vaccines are on the way to development. Safety, efficacy, cost and provision of the vaccine to all communities are major concerns in malaria vaccine issue

Probable fluoxetine-induced hepatomegaly: a case report

Depressive disorder is a common behavioural, psychiatric disorder. Among various antidepressants selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are preferred drugs for the treatment of depression. When second-generation antidepressants SSRIs and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are used to treat depression, 0.5–1% of patients develop mildly altered liver function without any symptoms. Various degrees of organ dysfunction are linked with drug-induced liver injury, which is unpredictable and might result from exposure to a drug. We reported suspected fluoxetine-induced hepatomegaly secondary to nine weeks of treatment with an SSRI fluoxetine. Upon cessation of the agent, the patient recovered symptomatically. The evidence is vital that the hepatomegaly in this patient was caused by fluoxetine

Antioxidants as potential pharmacotherapeutic agents in managing male infertility

Globally, infertility affects 8-12% of couples of reproductive age. Infertility among males accounts for 20%-30% of global infertility cases. Most male infertility cases are idiopathic, with oxidative stress as the underlying mechanism. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), in high concentrations, can outweigh the endogenous antioxidant capacity and interfere with male reproductive processes. Excess ROS levels adversely affect male fertility, but their physiological concentration is vital to mediate the normal sperm functions. The current review aims to evaluate the potential role of antioxidants in the pharmacotherapy of infertility among males

Burden and Depression among Caregivers of Visually Impaired Patients in a Canadian Population

Purpose/Background. This study reports the degree of burden and the proportion at risk for depression among individuals who provide care to visually impaired patients. Study Design. This is clinic-based, cross-sectional survey in a tertiary care hospital. Methods. Caregivers were considered unpaid family members for patients whose sole impairment was visual. Patients were stratified by vision in their better seeing eye into two groups: Group 1 had visual acuity between 6/18 and 6/60 and Group 2 were those who had 6/60 or worse. Burden was evaluated by the Burden Index of Caregivers and the prevalence of being at risk for depression was determined by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale. Results. 236 caregivers of 236 patients were included. Total mean BIC scores were higher in Group 2. Female caregivers, caregivers providing greater hours of care, and caregivers of patients who have not completed vision rehabilitation programs are at higher risk for depression

2′-3′-Cyclic Nucleotide 3′-Phosphodiesterase Inhibition by Organometallic Vanadium Complexes: A Potential New Paradigm for Studying CNS Degeneration

The enzyme, 2′-3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase (CNPase) has been known for over fifty years. Nevertheless, the roles this membrane-bound enzyme play have yet to be described completely. Recently, there has been renewed interest in the study of this enzyme due to studies that suggest that CNPase plays a role in the mediation of cellular inflammatory responses in renal and nervous system tissues. Also, this enzyme, found in oligodendrocytes of the nervous system, has been reported to participate in significant regulatory changes associated with age which may be involved in age-related CNS degeneration. Consequently, development of CNPase inhibitors is of interest and should aid in the study of this, as yet, poorly understood enzyme. In this work we utilized a spectrophotometric enzyme assay to determine the effect a panel of organo-vanadium complexes had on isolated hamster myelin CNPase activity. Our group has now identified several potent in vitro CNPase inhibitors that could prove useful in clarifying the important roles of this enzyme

Prevalence and factors predictive of intraocular fungal infection in patients with fungemia at an academic urban tertiary care center

Objective To report the prevalence and to identify factors predictive of intraocular infection in patients with fungemia receiving prophylactic antifungal therapy. Methods A retrospective review of patients who received prophylactic antifungal therapy and a dilated fundus examination at an academic urban tertiary care center from 2000 to 2007. Basic demographic information, fungal species grown, antifungal agent(s) used, number of positive blood culture specimens, visual acuity, visual symptoms, and known risks of disseminated candidiasis were noted. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors significantly associated with intraocular fungal infection. Results A total of 132 patients with positive fungemia culture were requested to have ophthalmology consults. The prevalence of ocular infection was 6.9% (N=9). All nine patients were infected with Candida species. Undergoing gastrointestinal (GI) surgery within the prior 6 months was significantly related to developing intraocular infection, with an odds ratio of 18.5 (95% confidence interval, 15.1–24.3; P=0.002). Having ≥3 positive fungal blood cultures was also a significant risk factor, with an odds ratio of 2.6 (95% confidence interval, 1.8–3.7; P=0.03). Among 40 patients having GI surgery, eight (20.0%) had intraocular fungal disease, compared with one of 92 patients (1.1%) not having GI surgery. Among 125 patients with a negative baseline examination result, two of 32 patients (6.3%), who had recent GI surgery, subsequently developed fungal ocular disease, compared with 0 of 93 patients (0%), who did not have recent GI surgery. Conclusion Recent GI surgery and higher numbers of positive fungal blood culture specimens may be predictive ofcandida ocular infections. Normal baseline fundoscopy examination results in patients with such risks may require repeat evaluations to detect delayed manifestations