A Psycho-Linguistic Exploration of Color Semantics

The purpose of present research is to identify variety of meanings imparted by colors and its effects on emotions and moods. Traditional literature is linguistically intertwined with explication of colors and their meanings spurring from imaginative spheres of human mind to determine their moods. The present study delves deep into psycholinguistic perspectives of color, mood and language and thus invites causal profile of exploration.  Communicative qualities of colors strengthen their grounds on the basis of cultural, social, historical, affective, political and linguistic compasses therefore interpret a variety of connotations having expressed in the form of moods.   In this study, survey technique was employed through questionnaires to gather relevant information. Both closed-ended and open-ended questions were included to ensure validity. Data were gathered from a random sample of 100 respondents including males and females. Non-Probability Quota sampling technique and statistical analysis were used for analyses.  The questionnaires were distributed in Pakistani academic institutions. This reveals that colors convey different connotations which are expressed by means of language and types of moods. Keywords: Color, Connotations, Mood, Psycholinguistic

Knowledge and Practices of Student Nurses towards Prevention and Management of Pressure ulcers in Allied Hospitals of Rawalpindi Medical University

Introduction: Pressure ulcer is a common preventable complication of prolonged hospitalisation. Although debilitating, but preventable through timely assessment and proper management. This study was conducted to access student nurse’s knowledge and practices towards the prevention and management of pressure ulcers. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Nursing Schools of Holy Family Hospital and Benazir Bhutto Hospital Allied with Rawalpindi Medical University. A pre-tested self-designed questionnaire was filled by 264 students selected through the non-probability convenient sampling technique. Data were analysed using SPSS 21. P-value <0.01 was considered significant. Results: Mean percentage of Student nurse’s knowledge and practices were 58.7% 69.62% respectively. 21.7% of first-year students, 34.1% of second-year students, and 60.2% of third-year students had good knowledge. Correspondingly, 10.89% of first-year students, 32.9% of second-year students, and 56.2% of third-year students had good practice. There was a significant correlation between knowledge and practices i.e. r value is 0.92, the p-value is <0.000. Conclusion: Knowledge and Practices of Student Nurses towards the prevention and management of pressure ulcers was found to be average. The practices of students gradually improved as their knowledge improved throughout their years of education

Diverse trends witnessed in assessing laryngeal lesions while comparing transcutaneous laryngeal ultrasound & videolaryngoscopy

Objective: To determine the accuracy of Transcutaneous Laryngeal Ultrasound (TLUS) and Video Laryngoscopy (VL) taking Direct Laryngoscopy (DL) as Gold Standard for assessment of  laryngeal pathologies.Methodology: This Cross Sectional Comparative clinical study recruited a sample of 24 cases of either gender, requiring laryngeal examination prospectively using convenience sampling from otolaryngology outpatients of Capital Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan over a period of six months from 1st March, 2018 to 31st August, 2018. Patients fulfilling the selection criteria were subjected to Video Laryngoscopy under local anesthesia, Transcutaneous Laryngeal Ultrasound followed by Direct Laryngoscopy under general anesthesia and findings recorded.  Data was analyzed using SPSS 23. Variables specially studied included Diagnostic values of both VDL and TLUS versus DL and presented with frequency, percentage, sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV and Accuracy Rate.Results: Study sample revealed 54.2% males and 45.8% females with mean age of 46.79 + 25.34 years. Hoarseness was commonest presentation (58.3%) and Laryngeal Polypi was the more frequent pathology noted (25%). VL had a sensitivity of 87.50%, specificity of 37.50%, PPV of 73.7%, NPV of 60% and Accuracy rate of 70.83%. While TLUS revealed a sensitivity of 43.80%, specificity of 70.80%, PPV of 100%, NPV of 47.15% and Accuracy rate of 62.50%.Conclusion: Video Laryngoscopy with a higher Accuracy and sensitivity compared to Transcutaneous Laryngeal Ultrasound, is more accurate examination for assessment of Laryngeal lesions

Approach of MBBS Students receiving Modular vs Students receiving Conventional Mode of education towards Health Research: A Comparative Study

Introduction: Health research training is an important component of the medical curriculum. This study was conducted to compare the approach of medical students being taught through an integrated modular curriculum with the students receiving conventional mode of education towards health research. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between 3rd-year MBBS students following Lecture Based Learning and Problem Based Learning (groups A and B respectively). A self-designed pretested questionnaire was filled by 153 students of each group (from group A in 2019 and group B in 2020) through a simple randomized sampling technique. Analysis was done using SPSS 21. P-value <0.05 was considered to be significant for all purposes. Results: Mean knowledge score of PBL students was 50% against a score of 55.5% of LBL students (p-value=0.114). However, the mean attitude score of PBL students was 79.2% against a score of 67.4% of LBL students (p-value< 0.000). Over 49.6% of LBL students and 41.8% of PBL students had satisfactory knowledge. 19.7% of LBL students and 82.3% of PBL students had a satisfactory attitude.  Conclusion: Significantly higher attitude of PBL students was found. However, the level of knowledge was found to be the same in both groups. PBL curriculum has a positive influence on students on their attitudes towards health research

Relativism and Skepticism: A Psychoanalytic Study of Cate Kennedy’s Like a House on Fire

This paper focuses on the exploration of the complexity of human relationships, the underlying motivations and the psychological dynamics that drive the characters’ engagement with relativism and skepticism in Cate Kennedy’s Like a House on Fire. Through a psychoanalytic prism grounded in Erikson’s developmental theory, this paper sheds light on the character’s internal problems, beliefs and inner reflections, aligning them with the interplay between personal truth and societal influence. All this leads to reflect the Psychosocial challenges of Erikson’s four stages of development. This study determines that the characters’ relativistic viewpoints and skeptical stances contribute to their psychological evolution, while they keep grappling with their struggles and trauma. The dominant worth of this study lies in its contribution to understanding the role of relativism and skepticism in the intricate phenomenon of human development and the formation of identities

An extended treatment protocol with pegylated interferon and ribavirin for hepatitis C recurrence after liver transplantation

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of an extended treatment protocol and to determine the predictors of sustained virological response (SVR) after liver transplantation (LT)

Guillain-Barre syndrome associated with peginterferon alfa-2a for chronic hepatitis C: A case report

The recommended therapy for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection is the combination of a Pegylated interferon and Ribavirin. Almost all such patients on combination therapy experience one or more adverse events during the course of treatment. Significant neurological side effects are rare. A few cases of Bell’s Palsy, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and even one case of acute demyelinating polyneuropathy with atypical features for Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) associated with Interferon therapy have been reported but no report of GBS with typical features has been published. We present a case report of typical GBS associated with Peginterferon alfa-2a and Ribavirin used for treatment of CHC infection