Istraživanje zadovoljstva pacijenata radiološkim uslugama u javnim i privatnim zdravstvenim ustanovama u saveznoj državi Kano

Background: Patient satisfaction is the extent to which the patients feel that their needs and expectations are being met by the service provider. The survey of patient satisfaction with health care services is a growing concept in Nigeria, where study on this subject is just beginning to develop. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the patients’ satisfaction level with radiological services and to identify the factors that may account for the differences in their satisfaction between a public and a private health facility in Kano state Nigeria. Method: The study was a cross-sectional prospective survey that targeted patients who visited radiology departments. Data was collected using a 43 item self-completion questionnaire designed in line with the objectives of the study. The data were categorized into groups and analysed using a statistical package for social sciences version 20.0, where descriptive statistics such as the percentages and frequencies were generated and tabulated. A chi-square test was used to test for the differences in the patients’ satisfactory level at (p<0.05). Results: The results showed that 60.7% (n=85) were female while 39.3% (n=55) were male, 52.2% (n=47) of the respondents from the public hospital were dissatisfied, while 47.8% (n=43) were satisfied. At the private hospital, only 20% (n=10) were dissatisfied, while 80% (n=40) were satisfied with the radiological services received. The type of health facility and patients’ satisfaction was found to be statistically significant at (p<0.05). Conclusion: The patients in the private health facility of the study were more satisfied than those at the public health facility because of prompt attention given to them immediately after arrival, immediate collection of their radiological reports, and high ergonometric environment provided by the hospital staff.Uvod: Zadovoljstvo pacijenta jest predodžba pacijenta o stupnju u kojem određeni pružatelj zdravstvene usluge zadovoljava njegove zahtjeve i očekivanja. Ispitivanje zadovoljstva pacijenata zdravstvenim uslugama sve više dobiva na važnosti u Nigeriji, gdje se ta tema tek počinje proučavati. Cilj: Cilj je ovog istraživanja bio usporediti zadovoljstvo pacijenata radiološkim uslugama te izdvojiti čimbenike koji mogu objasniti razlike između zadovoljstva pacijenata javnim i privatnim zdravstvenim ustanovama u saveznoj državi Kano u Nigeriji. Postupak: Ovo je prospektivno presječno istraživanje proučilo odgovore pacijenata koji su posjetili odjele za radiologiju. Podaci su prikupljeni s pomoću upitnika s 43 pitanja oblikovanog u skladu s ciljevima istraživanja. Podaci su grupirani i analizirani primjenom statističkog programa za društvene znanosti verzije 20.0 kojim se opisne statistike poput postotaka i frekvencija generiraju i tabuliraju. Hi-kvadrat test primijenjen je kako bi se ispitale razlike u razini zadovoljstva pacijenata (p < 0,05). Rezultati: Rezultati su pokazali da je 60,7 % (n = 85) ispitanika bilo ženskog spola, a 39,3 % muškog. Nezadovoljno je bilo 52,2 % (n = 47) pacijenata javne bolnice, dok je 47,8 % (n = 43) bilo zadovoljno. U privatnoj je bolnici samo 20 % (n = 10) ispitanika bilo nezadovoljno, dok je 80 % (n = 40) bilo zadovoljno radiološkim uslugama. Ustanovljeno je kako su vrsta zdravstvene ustanove i zadovoljstvo pacijenata statistički značajni (p < 0,05). Zaključak: Pacijenti privatne zdravstvene ustanove bili su zadovoljniji od onih u javnoj zdravstvenoj ustanovi zbog brzine kojom im je pružena pažnja nakon dolaska, brzine kojom su im izdani radiološki nalazi te visokog stupnja ergonometrijskog okruženja koje im je osiguralo bolničko osoblje

Istraživanje zadovoljstva pacijenata radiološkim uslugama u javnim i privatnim zdravstvenim ustanovama u saveznoj državi Kano

Background: Patient satisfaction is the extent to which the patients feel that their needs and expectations are being met by the service provider. The survey of patient satisfaction with health care services is a growing concept in Nigeria, where study on this subject is just beginning to develop. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the patients’ satisfaction level with radiological services and to identify the factors that may account for the differences in their satisfaction between a public and a private health facility in Kano state Nigeria. Method: The study was a cross-sectional prospective survey that targeted patients who visited radiology departments. Data was collected using a 43 item self-completion questionnaire designed in line with the objectives of the study. The data were categorized into groups and analysed using a statistical package for social sciences version 20.0, where descriptive statistics such as the percentages and frequencies were generated and tabulated. A chi-square test was used to test for the differences in the patients’ satisfactory level at (p<0.05). Results: The results showed that 60.7% (n=85) were female while 39.3% (n=55) were male, 52.2% (n=47) of the respondents from the public hospital were dissatisfied, while 47.8% (n=43) were satisfied. At the private hospital, only 20% (n=10) were dissatisfied, while 80% (n=40) were satisfied with the radiological services received. The type of health facility and patients’ satisfaction was found to be statistically significant at (p<0.05). Conclusion: The patients in the private health facility of the study were more satisfied than those at the public health facility because of prompt attention given to them immediately after arrival, immediate collection of their radiological reports, and high ergonometric environment provided by the hospital staff.Uvod: Zadovoljstvo pacijenta jest predodžba pacijenta o stupnju u kojem određeni pružatelj zdravstvene usluge zadovoljava njegove zahtjeve i očekivanja. Ispitivanje zadovoljstva pacijenata zdravstvenim uslugama sve više dobiva na važnosti u Nigeriji, gdje se ta tema tek počinje proučavati. Cilj: Cilj je ovog istraživanja bio usporediti zadovoljstvo pacijenata radiološkim uslugama te izdvojiti čimbenike koji mogu objasniti razlike između zadovoljstva pacijenata javnim i privatnim zdravstvenim ustanovama u saveznoj državi Kano u Nigeriji. Postupak: Ovo je prospektivno presječno istraživanje proučilo odgovore pacijenata koji su posjetili odjele za radiologiju. Podaci su prikupljeni s pomoću upitnika s 43 pitanja oblikovanog u skladu s ciljevima istraživanja. Podaci su grupirani i analizirani primjenom statističkog programa za društvene znanosti verzije 20.0 kojim se opisne statistike poput postotaka i frekvencija generiraju i tabuliraju. Hi-kvadrat test primijenjen je kako bi se ispitale razlike u razini zadovoljstva pacijenata (p < 0,05). Rezultati: Rezultati su pokazali da je 60,7 % (n = 85) ispitanika bilo ženskog spola, a 39,3 % muškog. Nezadovoljno je bilo 52,2 % (n = 47) pacijenata javne bolnice, dok je 47,8 % (n = 43) bilo zadovoljno. U privatnoj je bolnici samo 20 % (n = 10) ispitanika bilo nezadovoljno, dok je 80 % (n = 40) bilo zadovoljno radiološkim uslugama. Ustanovljeno je kako su vrsta zdravstvene ustanove i zadovoljstvo pacijenata statistički značajni (p < 0,05). Zaključak: Pacijenti privatne zdravstvene ustanove bili su zadovoljniji od onih u javnoj zdravstvenoj ustanovi zbog brzine kojom im je pružena pažnja nakon dolaska, brzine kojom su im izdani radiološki nalazi te visokog stupnja ergonometrijskog okruženja koje im je osiguralo bolničko osoblje

Studying monogenetic volcanoes with a Terrestrial Laser Scanner: Case study at Croscat volcano (Garrotxa Volcanic Field, Spain)

Erosional processes (natural or anthropogenic) may partly destroy the relatively small-sized volcanic edifices characteristic of monogenetic volcanic zones, leaving their internal structure well exposed. Nevertheless, the study of these outcrops may be extremely challenging due to restricted accessibility or safety issues. Digital representations of the outcrop surface have been lately used to overcome such difficulties. Data acquired with terrestrial laser scanning instruments using Light Detection and Ranging technology enables the construction of such digital outcrops. The obtained high-precision 3-D terrain models are of greater coverage and accuracy than conventional methods and, when taken at different times, allow description of geological processes in time and space. Despite its intrinsic advantages and the proven satisfactory results, this technique has been little applied in volcanology-related studies. Here, we want to introduce it to the volcanological community together with a new and user-friendly digital outcrop analysis methodology for inexperienced users. This tool may be useful, not only for volcano monitoring purposes, but also to describe the internal structure of exposed volcanic edifices or to estimate outcrop erosion rates that may be helpful in terms of hazard assessment or preservation of volcanic landscapes. We apply it to the Croscat volcano, a monogenetic cone in the La Garrotxa Volcanic Field (Catalan Volcanic Zone, NE Spain), quarrying of which leads to a perfect view of its interior but restricts access to its uppermost parts. Croscat is additionally one of the most emblematic symbols of the La Garrotxa Volcanic Field Natural Park, and its preservation is a main target of the park administration

A KRAB/KAP1-miRNA Cascade Regulates Erythropoiesis Through Stage-Specific Control of Mitophagy

During hematopoiesis, lineage- and stage-specific transcription factors work in concert with chromatin modifiers to direct the differentiation of all blood cells. We explored the role of KRAB-containing zinc finger proteins (KRAB-ZFPs) and their cofactor KAP1 in this process. In mice, hematopoietic-restricted deletion of Kap1 resulted in severe hypoproliferative anemia. Kap1-deleted erythroblasts failed to induce mitophagy-associated genes and retained mitochondria. This was due to persistent expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) targeting mitophagy transcripts, itself secondary to a lack of repression by stage-specific KRAB-ZFPs. The KRAB/KAP1-miRNA regulatory cascade is evolutionarily conserved, as it also controls mitophagy during human erythropoiesis. Thus, a multilayered transcription regulatory system is present, in which protein- and RNA-based repressors are superimposed in combinatorial fashion to govern the timely triggering of an important differentiation event

Distribution and abundance of freshwater snails in Warwade Dam, Dutse, Northern Nigeria

Preliminary investigation in August, 2017 reported the presence of Lymnaea natalensis, Bellamya unicolor, Melanoides tuberculata and Bulinus globosus in order of increasing abundance and distribution in Warwade dam, Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria. A follow up study was carried out from April to October, 2019 to reveal further details on the abundance and distribution of freshwater snails in relation to some physiochemical factors of the dam. Four sampling sites; human activity, vegetation cover, lentic and lotic were selected for the study along the bank of the dam. Freshwater snails were collected using long handled scoop net with mesh 0.2mm complemented by hand picking methods in the four sampling sites. Water samples from the sampling sites were analyzed in the laboratory using standard procedures. A total of 2,027 of freshwater snails belonging to ten species were identified. Bulinus globosus 12(0.6%) and Lymnaea natalensis 12(0.6%) had the lowest abundance and distribution while Melanoides tuberculata 1553(76.6%) had the highest. Snail abundance was highest in site characterized by human activities (670) followed by vegetation (482), lotic (442) and lentic (433) waters. Most of the physico-chemical factors measured appeared to favour the growth and survival of fresh water snails. pH (p = 0.01), water current (p = &lt;0.01) and magnesium ion concentration (p = &lt; 0.01) varied significantly across the four sites. Only calcium ion concentration was significantly associated with snail abundance (p = 0.04). Snail abundance showed weak positive relationship with water temperature, color, turbidity and concentration of magnesium ion. The dam habours about ten species of freshwater snails in different abundance and distribution with M. tuberculata being the most abundant throughout the period of investigation. The dominance of M. tuberculata over other species particularly those of medical and veterinary importance could have positive implication for their control in the dam

GEOAI FOR MARINE ECOSYSTEM MONITORING: A COMPLETE WORKFLOW TO GENERATE MAPS FROM AI MODEL PREDICTIONS

Mapping and monitoring marine ecosystems imply several challenges for data collection and processing: water depth, restricted access to locations, instrumentation costs or weather constraints for sampling, among others. Nowadays, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Geographic Information System (GIS) open source software can be combined in new kinds of workflows, to annotate and predict objects directly on georeferenced raster data (e.g. orthomosaics). Here, we describe and share the code of a generic method to train a deep learning model with spatial annotations and use it to directly generate model predictions as spatial features. This workflow has been tested and validated in three use cases related to marine ecosystem monitoring at different geographic scales: (i) segmentation of corals on orthomosaics made of underwater images to automate coral reef habitats mapping, (ii) detection and classification of fishing vessels on remote sensing satellite imagery to estimate a proxy of fishing effort (iii) segmentation of marine species and habitats on underwater images with a simple geolocation. Models have been successfully trained and the models predictions are displayed with maps in the three use cases

New perspectives in human stem cell therapeutic research

Human stem cells are in evaluation in clinical stem cell trials, primarily as autologous bone marrow studies, autologous and allogenic mesenchymal stem cell trials, and some allogenic neural stem cell transplantation projects. Safety and efficacy are being addressed for a number of disease state applications. There is considerable data supporting safety of bone marrow and mesenchymal stem cell transplants but the efficacy data are variable and of mixed benefit. Mechanisms of action of many of these cells are unknown and this raises the concern of unpredictable results in the future. Nevertheless there is considerable optimism that immune suppression and anti-inflammatory properties of mesenchymal stem cells will be of benefit for many conditions such as graft versus host disease, solid organ transplants and pulmonary fibrosis. Where bone marrow and mesenchymal stem cells are being studied for heart disease, stroke and other neurodegenerative disorders, again progress is mixed and mostly without significant benefit. However, correction of multiple sclerosis, at least in the short term is encouraging. Clinical trials on the use of embryonic stem cell derivatives for spinal injury and macular degeneration are beginning and a raft of other clinical trials can be expected soon, for example, the use of neural stem cells for killing inoperable glioma and embryonic stem cells for regenerating β islet cells for diabetes. The change in attitude to embryonic stem cell research with the incoming Obama administration heralds a new co-operative environment for study and evaluation of stem cell therapies. The Californian stem cell initiative (California Institute for Regenerative Medicine) has engendered global collaboration for this new medicine that will now also be supported by the US Federal Government. The active participation of governments, academia, biotechnology, pharmaceutical companies, and private investment is a powerful consortium for advances in health

Erythroid Promoter Confines FGF2 Expression to the Marrow after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Gene Therapy and Leads to Enhanced Endosteal Bone Formation

Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2) has been demonstrated to be a promising osteogenic factor for treating osteoporosis. Our earlier study shows that transplantation of mouse Sca-1+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells that are engineered to express a modified FGF2 leads to considerable endosteal/trabecular bone formation, but it also induces adverse effects like hypocalemia and osteomalacia. Here we report that the use of an erythroid specific promoter, β-globin, leads to a 5-fold decrease in the ratio of serum FGF2 to the FGF2 expression in the marrow cavity when compared to the use of a ubiquitous promoter spleen focus-forming virus (SFFV). The confined FGF2 expression promotes considerable trabeculae bone formation in endosteum and does not yield anemia and osteomalacia. The avoidance of anemia in the mice that received Sca1+ cells transduced with FGF2 driven by the β-globin promoter is likely due to attenuation of high-level serum FGF2-mediated stem cell mobilization observed in the SFFV-FGF2 animals. The prevention of osteomalacia is associated with substantially reduced serum Fgf23/hypophosphatemia, and less pronounced secondary hyperparathyroidism. Our improved stem cell gene therapy strategy represents one step closer to FGF2-based clinical therapy for systemic skeletal augmentation

Magnesia-Based Cements: A Journey of 150 Years, and Cements for the Future?

This review examines the detailed chemical insights that have been generated through 150 years of work worldwide on magnesium-based inorganic cements, with a focus on both scientific and patent literature. Magnesium carbonate, phosphate, silicate-hydrate, and oxysalt (both chloride and sulfate) cements are all assessed. Many such cements are ideally suited to specialist applications in precast construction, road repair, and other fields including nuclear waste immobilization. The majority of MgO-based cements are more costly to produce than Portland cement because of the relatively high cost of reactive sources of MgO and do not have a sufficiently high internal pH to passivate mild steel reinforcing bars. This precludes MgO-based cements from providing a large-scale replacement for Portland cement in the production of steel-reinforced concretes for civil engineering applications, despite the potential for CO2 emissions reductions offered by some such systems. Nonetheless, in uses that do not require steel reinforcement, and in locations where the MgO can be sourced at a competitive price, a detailed understanding of these systems enables their specification, design, and selection as advanced engineering materials with a strongly defined chemical basis

Selective Deletion of PTEN in Dopamine Neurons Leads to Trophic Effects and Adaptation of Striatal Medium Spiny Projecting Neurons

The widespread distribution of the tumor suppressor PTEN in the nervous system suggests a role in a broad range of brain functions. PTEN negatively regulates the signaling pathways initiated by protein kinase B (Akt) thereby regulating signals for growth, proliferation and cell survival. Pten deletion in the mouse brain has revealed its role in controlling cell size and number. In this study, we used Cre-loxP technology to specifically inactivate Pten in dopamine (DA) neurons (Pten KO mice). The resulting mutant mice showed neuronal hypertrophy, and an increased number of dopaminergic neurons and fibers in the ventral mesencephalon. Interestingly, quantitative microdialysis studies in Pten KO mice revealed no alterations in basal DA extracellular levels or evoked DA release in the dorsal striatum, despite a significant increase in total DA tissue levels. Striatal dopamine receptor D1 (DRD1) and prodynorphin (PDyn) mRNA levels were significantly elevated in KO animals, suggesting an enhancement in neuronal activity associated with the striatonigral projection pathway, while dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) and preproenkephalin (PPE) mRNA levels remained unchanged. In addition, PTEN inactivation protected DA neurons and significantly enhanced DA-dependent behavioral functions in KO mice after a progressive 6OHDA lesion. These results provide further evidence about the role of PTEN in the brain and suggest that manipulation of the PTEN/Akt signaling pathway during development may alter the basal state of dopaminergic neurotransmission and could provide a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, and other neurodegenerative disorders