The Views of Pre-Service Teachers Regarding the Effectiveness of Peer Assisted Learning Method in the Science and Technology Laboratory Practices Course

The purpose of this study is to show the views of pre-service teachers about peer-assisted learning method which is a common practice. The peer student group of the research sample (N:40) consisted of 2nd grade pre-service primary teachers attending the Uludag University Faculty of Education during the 2010-2011 academic year and taking the Science and Technology Laboratory Practices course. The peer teacher group (N:10), on the other hand, consisted of 3rd grade pre-service science teachers attending the same faculty and taking the Community Service Practices course. The peer teachers assisted the peer students in the Science and Technology Laboratory Practices course for 10 weeks. This a phenomenological research, which is a qualitative research method. The Peer Teacher Evaluation Form and the Peer Student Evaluation Form, which included 6 open-ended questions, were used for the/our data collection. The data were analyzed through content analysis. It was concluded that peer-assisted learning method makes the Science and Technology Laboratory Practices course more effective, benefits peer teachers and peer students, and contributes to group work

Contrast Sensitivity of Thyroid Associated Ophthalmopathy Patients without Obvious Optic Neuropathy

Purpose. To compare the contrast sensitivity levels of thyroid associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) patients without obvious optic neuropathy with those of healthy people. Methods. Forty eyes of 20 TAO patients without dysthyroid optic neuropathy and 40 eyes of 20 healthy subjects were evaluated in this prospective case-controlled study. The contrast sensitivity functions (CSFs) of all subjects were measured by the functional acuity contrast test (FACT) in five frequencies which were 1,5 cpd (A), 3 cpd (B), 6 cpd (C), 12 cpd (D), and 18 cpd (E). Results were compared for both groups, and a correlation of CSF with Hertel and clinical activity scores was assessed. Results. There was no statistically significant difference between TAO patients and control groups for age and sex. TAO patients had lower levels than the control group in all the frequencies of CSFs (P<0.05) and the difference in contrast sensitivity functions between the groups seems to be more significant in higher frequencies (B, C, D, and E) (P<0.001). Conclusions. TAO patients without DON can have contrast sensitivity loss and this would probably imply subtle optic nerve dysfunction in early disease phase

A Modular Albumin-Oligonucleotide Biomolecular Assembly for Delivery of Antisense Therapeutics

Antisense nucleic acid drugs are susceptible to nuclease degradation, rapid renal clearance, and short circulatory half-life. In this work, we introduce a modular-based recombinant human albumin-oligonucleotide (rHA-cODN) biomolecular assembly that allows incorporation of a chemically stabilized therapeutic gapmer antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) and FcRn-driven endothelial cellular recycling. A phosphodiester ODN linker (cODN) was conjugated to recombinant human albumin (rHA) using maleimide chemistry, after which a complementary gapmer ASO, targeting ADAMTS5 involved in osteoarthritis pathogenesis, was annealed. The rHA-cODN/ASO biomolecular assembly production, fluorescence labeling, and purity were confirmed using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. ASO release was triggered by DNase-mediated degradation of the linker strand, reaching 40% in serum after 72 h, with complete release observed following 30 min of incubation with DNase. Cellular internalization and trafficking of the biomolecular assembly using confocal microscopy in C28/I2 cells showed higher uptake and endosomal localization by increasing incubation time from 4 to 24 h. FcRn-mediated cellular recycling of the assembly was demonstrated in FcRn-expressing human microvascular endothelial cells. ADAMTS5 in vitro silencing efficiency reached 40%, which was comparable to free gapmer after 72 h incubation with human osteoarthritis patients’ chondrocytes. This work introduces a versatile biomolecular modular-based “Plug-and-Play” platform potentially applicable for albumin-mediated half-life extension for a range of different types of ODN therapeutics

Contrast Sensitivity of Thyroid Associated Ophthalmopathy Patients without Obvious Optic Neuropathy

WOS: 000329708700001Purpose. To compare the contrast sensitivity levels of thyroid associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) patients without obvious optic neuropathy with those of healthy people. Methods. Forty eyes of 20 TAO patients without dysthyroid optic neuropathy and 40 eyes of 20 healthy subjects were evaluated in this prospective case-controlled study. The contrast sensitivity functions (CSFs) of all subjects were measured by the functional acuity contrast test (FACT) in five frequencies which were 1,5 cpd (A), 3 cpd (B), 6 cpd (C), 12 cpd (D), and 18 cpd (E). Results were compared for both groups, and a correlation of CSF with Hertel and clinical activity scores was assessed. Results. There was no statistically significant difference between TAO patients and control groups for age and sex. TAO patients had lower levels than the control group in all the frequencies of CSFs (P < 0.05) and the difference in contrast sensitivity functions between the groups seems to be more significant in higher frequencies (B, C, D, and E) (P < 0.001). Conclusions. TAO patients without DON can have contrast sensitivity loss and this would probably imply subtle optic nerve dysfunction in early disease phase

Empowerment and Social Support as Predictors of Self-Care Behaviors and Glycemic Control in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes

This study investigated empowerment, social support, and diabetes-related characteristics as predictors of self-care behaviors and glycemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes in Turkey. Descriptive cross-sectional and relational research designs were used in this study. The study was carried out with a cohort of 220 individuals with type 2 diabetes. Linear regression analysis revealed that patient empowerment was a statistically significant predictor of diet ( = .30; p < .001), exercise ( = .19; p = .003), blood glucose monitoring ( = .27; p < .001), foot care ( = .27; p < .001), and A1c ( = -.19; p = .004). Social support was a statistically significant predictor of diet ( = .24; p < .001), exercise ( = .26; p < .001), blood glucose monitoring ( = .16; p = .011), and foot care ( = .19; p = .003). These results indicate that social support and empowerment are important for nurses to consider when planning interventions that increase the self-care behavior of individuals with type 2 diabetes and for improving glycemic control

Coping with Stress among Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Introduction: The stress of pregnancy itself, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) that develops during pregnancy is also a stressor, because it can cause serious maternal and fetal health problems. The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between the characteristics of pregnant women with GDM and their styles of coping with stress. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 126 pregnant women with GDM. The sample consisted of patients who applied to the diabetes mellitus training polyclinic of a training and research and university hospital in southeastern Turkey, Data were evaluated using descriptive statistics, Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality tests, Spearman's rho and Pearson Correlation analysis, the Student’s t-test, Mann–Whitney U-test and Kruskal–Wallis- test by SPSS software (version 13.0). Results: It was determined that a planned pregnancy, a high educational level, a first pregnancy and weight gain were important factors in the women with GDM in the study who coped effectively with stress during pregnancy. Unemployment and a second or subsequent pregnancy were important factors in the women with GDM< who coped ineffectively with stress during pregnancy. In addition, it was determined that the hemoglobin HbA1c levels of the pregnant women with GDM with "optimistic" and "submissive" approaches towards coping with stress were lower. Conclusion: It was determined that pregnant women with optimistic and submissive approaches towards coping with stress had lower HbA1c levels. It is suggested that randomized controlled studies be conducted to further determine the coping styles of patients with GDM

Are levels of coping with stress in pregnancy with gestational diabetes worse than in healthy pregnancy?

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the levels of coping with stress in healthy pregnant women in comparison with the levels of coping with stress in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).Materials and methods: In the study, the descriptive cross-sectional research design was used. The study was carried out with 218 pregnant women in total.Results: It was found that the healthy pregnant women had a higher total score for coping with stress and used the self-confident coping style, one of the effective coping styles, more frequently when compared to the pregnant women with GDM (p<.001). In addition, the pregnant women with GDM used the desperate coping style, one of the ineffective coping styles, more frequently than the healthy pregnant women (p<.001).Conclusions: Diabetes education that nurses give should allow not only the nurses to evaluate the coping levels of pregnant women with GDM, but also to teach these pregnant women how to use effective coping styles