Specialists are not Qualified Enough to Recognize and Define Dermatologic Diseases

Dermatology is a specific branch of medicine which includes dermatologic manifestations of systemic underlying diseases as well as primary cutaneous diseases. In this study, specialists’ abilities of defining and diagnosing dermatologic diseases were assessed. 381 hospitalized patients who were referred to the Dermatology Clinic were reviewed via electronic medical charts. 121 of the clinicians (31.2%) made a dermatologic definition when referring their patients to dermatology. 136 of the the clinicians (35.1%) made a pre-diagnosis for their patients’ dermatologic condition of which 90 (66,2%) were correct and 46 (33,8%) were non-relevant. Internists wrote a definitive dermatologic examination note significantly more often than surgeons (P=0.03). However, there was not a significant difference between internists and surgeons when we compared the ratio of correct and complete dermatologic definitions of patient condition (P=0.503). There was also no difference between surgeons and internists in terms of making a pre-diagnosis, making a correct diagnosis, and making a wrong diagnosis (P>0.05 for each comparison). In conclusion, dermatologic consultations are crucial and necessary for the improvement of patient care and treatment. Specialists lack basic skills to recognize and define dermatologic conditions they are confronted with

Red blood cell distribution width is a reliable marker of inflammation in plaque psoriasis

Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disease accepted as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Elevated levels and correlation of red cell distribution width (RDW) with inflammatory markers has recently been shown in studies investigating CVD risk and prognosis in rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate levels and correlation of RDW with inflammatory markers in patients with plaque psoriasis. Data including demographics, disease severity indices, laboratory parameters, and bioelectrical impedance analysis was collected from medical charts of patients who were diagnosed with plaque psoriasis at the Hacettepe University Department of Dermatology between March 2014 and August 2015. Patients were evaluated for major CVD risk factors defined by international guidelines. 199 patients with psoriasis and 73 volunteers were included. Patients had statistically significant higher values of metabolic age, visceral fat rating, body-mass index (BMI), red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), red blood cell distribution width (RDW), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), uric acid, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and C-reactive protein (CRP) (p=0.044, p=0.047,p=0.029, p= 0.005, p=0.02, p&lt;0,01, p=0.001, p=0,016, p=0,014, p&lt;0.01). A statistically significant relationship and positive correlation between RDW and CRP levels was found in the patient group (p=0.01, r=0.396). Patients without major CVD risk factors (n=79) had significantly higher values of RDW, LDL, and CRP (p=0.01, p=0.031, p=0.03, respectively). Patients with psoriasis who had one or more CVD risk factors (n=120) had significantly higher values of BMI, RDW, thrombocytes, ALT, and CRP (p=0.038, p=0.01, p=0.017, p=0.02, p=0.01, respectively). RDW, which is elevated as well as CRP, reflects the systemic inflammatory burden and can be used for prediction of CVD in psoriasis. In fact, patients with psoriasis who do not have any major CVD risk factors still have high levels of CRP and RDW, supporting the hypothesis that psoriatic inflammation itself can simultaneously cause CRP and RDW elevation. Coexistence of CVD risk factors is associated with ALT elevation since additional CVD risk factors may predict psoriatic comorbidities such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.   </p

The effects of language learning and math mindsets on academic success in an engineering program

Background: Mindsets are based on two basic assumptions: some people think that their intellectual abilities can be developed through hard work and instruction (i.e., a growth mindset), whereas others believe that nothing can change their level of intellectual ability (i.e., a fixed mindset). The association between mindsets and academic achievement has been examined in different academic subjects, such as biology and math. However, no previous study has examined the effects of language learning mindsets (LLMs) and math mindsets (MMs) on academic success in an English medium instruction (EMI) setting in which English, rather than the first language of the students, is used for teaching content (e.g., mechatronics engineering). Purpose/Hypothesis: This study explores the relationship between Turkish mechatronics engineering undergraduate students' domain‐specific mindsets, LLMs and MMs, and their academic success. Design/Method: Student test scores for English medium and first‐language medium courses were collected from fourth‐year students studying mechatronics engineering (n = 68) at a public university in Turkey. Students also completed the LLM and MM inventories. Results: Regression analyses revealed that growth LLM and MM were positive predictors of EMI and Turkish medium of instruction (TMI) academic success, whereas fixed LLM and MM were negative predictors of EMI and TMI academic success. Conclusions: In both EMI and TMI courses, a growth mindset in math and language learning can profoundly predict students' academic achievement in a mechatronics engineering program. We argue that domain‐specific mindsets can effectively explain the self‐theories of intelligence and achievement

The Effects of Growth Mindset and Resilience on Immigrant Students’ PISA Science Achievement: The Mediating Role of Attitudes Toward School

In recent years, self-theories such as growth mindset and resilience have gained interest as they have a sizable influence on achievement and school-related motivation. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between immigrant students’ growth mindset, resilience, and science achievement in PISA 2018 by considering the mediating effect of attitudes toward school. Using secondary data for Australia, the UK, and the USA obtained from PISA 2018, we conducted a series of Structural Equation Modeling analyses to unravel the relationship between self-theories and science achievement. The growth mindset had the strongest effect on science achievement for both immigrants and non-immigrants in all three countries; resilience was positively related to science achievement for immigrants in the US, and attitudes toward school were positively related to science achievement for immigrants in Australia. The mediating role of attitudes toward school between growth mindset, resilience and science achievement could not have been confirmed. We speculate that self-theories might be affecting immigrant groups differently in different countries. Implications regarding these findings are discussed

FlexHi: A Flexible Hierarchical Threshold

Threshold signature schemes have gained prominence in enhancing the security and flexibility of digital signatures, allowing a group of participants to collaboratively create signatures while maintaining a predefined threshold of participants for validity. However, conventional threshold signatures treat all participants equally, lacking the capability to accommodate hierarchical structures often seen in real-world applications. Hierarchical Threshold Signature Schemes (HTSS) naturally extend the concept of simple threshold signatures, offering a solution that aligns with hierarchical organizational structures. Our paper introduces a novel, efficient, and flexible HTSS that employs independent polynomials at each hierarchical level, removing limitations on threshold values. This adaptability enables us to tailor the scheme to diverse requirements, whether signing requires only top-level nodes or lower-level participants\u27 involvement. Based on our analysis, our FlexHi integrated into the FROST scheme outperforms Tassa\u27s hierarchical scheme on FROST and operates approximately 30% to 40% faster, depending on the number of participants and the chosen threshold values. This demonstrates that, in addition to flexibility, our scheme has practical benefits through improved performance

Our clinical experience in pelvic magnetic resonance imaging with vaginal contrast

Objectives: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an important modality for pelvic imaging. Vaginal distension is provided by the use of vaginal contrast in pelvic MRI, and it plays an important role in staging especially cervical and vaginal cancer. The aim of this study is to show whether the use of vaginal contrast material contributes to the diagnosis in pelvic examination. Material and methods: Between October 1, 2016 and December 30, 2020, a total of 57 patients who underwent pelvic magnetic resonance imaging with vaginal contrast in the radiology clinic were included in the study and evaluated retrospectively. Results: Cervical cancer was detected in 38 of the 57 patients included in the study, and when the vaginal pre- and post-contrast staging of the patients was performed, the pre-contrast stage was found to be high in six patients (15%). Eight of 38 patients diagnosed with cervical cancer underwent surgery. When the pathological and radiological staging of the patients who underwent surgery were compared, they were 100% compatible. Conclusions: The use of vaginal contrast material increases the diagnostic value of MRI in various pelvic pathologies, especially in cervical cancer staging