Designing the Learning Experiences in Serious Games: The Overt and the Subtle—The Virtual Clinic Learning Environment

: Serious Games are becoming more common in the educational setting and must pass muster with both students and instructors for their learning experience and knowledge building. The Virtual Clinic Learning Environment has recently been developed and implemented at East Carolina University using a design framework based on Bloom’s variables, and in the process of refining those design questions, identifies the methods of how serious games provide an overt and subtle learning experience. The overt learning experience is based in the design questions defined and the subtle experience was derived by examining the idea of sense of place as it relates to the virtual environment. By considering these two streams of learning, designers can avoid pitfalls and build on these design elements of a virtual learning environment

Glycated hemoglobin measurements from dried blood spots: Reliability and relation to results obtained from whole blood samples

Background: Main objective was to measure glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in dried blood spots on paper filter and in whole blood samples in diabetic patients to evaluate relationship between two methods and their respective reliability. Methods: The 20�10 μl of venous blood samples of 33 diabetics were blotted onto the filter paper allowed to dry at room temperature and then stored at 25°C and 4°C. HbA1c was measured via the Turbidimetric Inhibition Immunoassay Technique. The relation was evaluated with correlation and linear regression tests using STATA software and SPSS. Agreement between the results obtained from the dried blood spots and others was evaluated using the Bland and Altman. The pitman's permutation test was also employed to compare the difference in variance. Results: A high positive correlation was detected between whole blood samples and dried blood spots stored at 4°C (r2 =0.90) and at 25°C (r2 = 0.95). The Bland and Altman graphs, as well as the Pitman tests, showed statistically significant differences in variability between the values obtained from whole blood samples and those derived from dried spots stored at 4°C (p=0.05) or 25°C (p=0.004). Conclusion: HbA1c measurements from dried blood spots on the filter paper yielded reliable results. That the Hitachi autoanalyzer is available in most countries renders this assay less costly than the High Performance Liquid Chromatography Method (HPLC). In addition, the filter paper method for Immuno-turbidimetric estimations of HbA1c at different temperatures is reliable and may be particularly useful in outpatient diabetes clinic

Neural Substrates of Reliability-Weighted Visual-Tactile Multisensory Integration

As sensory systems deteriorate in aging or disease, the brain must relearn the appropriate weights to assign each modality during multisensory integration. Using blood-oxygen level dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging of human subjects, we tested a model for the neural mechanisms of sensory weighting, termed “weighted connections.” This model holds that the connection weights between early and late areas vary depending on the reliability of the modality, independent of the level of early sensory cortex activity. When subjects detected viewed and felt touches to the hand, a network of brain areas was active, including visual areas in lateral occipital cortex, somatosensory areas in inferior parietal lobe, and multisensory areas in the intraparietal sulcus (IPS). In agreement with the weighted connection model, the connection weight measured with structural equation modeling between somatosensory cortex and IPS increased for somatosensory-reliable stimuli, and the connection weight between visual cortex and IPS increased for visual-reliable stimuli. This double dissociation of connection strengths was similar to the pattern of behavioral responses during incongruent multisensory stimulation, suggesting that weighted connections may be a neural mechanism for behavioral reliability weighting

Good Digestion is a Key Element for Healthy Hearts: An Appealing Concept from Avicenna’s Viewpoint

Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM) has a holistic approach towards the human body. Avicenna, an outstanding TPM scholar, has provided appealing concepts such as the association between the heart and gastrointestinal system. Thus, efficient functioning of the gastrointestinal tract (digestion) could influence the proper functioning of the heart and result in a healthy life. Within TPM principles, through proper processes of digestion healthy food produces a suitable amount of the humors. These are necessary for all organs, including the heart, and if this does not occur then an environment for cardiac diseases will develop. It seems wise to provide healthy food and promote good digestion via simple lifestyle considerations rooted in TPM principles to attain a healthy heart

Shift work as an oxidative stressor

BACKGROUND: Some medical disorders have higher prevalence in shift workers than others. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of night-shift-working on total plasma antioxidant capacity, with respect to the causative role of oxidative stress in induction of some of these disorders. METHODS: Two blood samples were taken from 44 workers with a rotational shift schedule, one after their day shift and one after their night shift. The total plasma antioxidant capacity of each worker was measured through the FRAP method. The impacts of age and weight were also assessed. RESULTS: The total plasma antioxidant capacity was measured in 44 shift-workers with a mean age of 36.57 years (SD: 10.18) and mean BMI of 26.06 (SD: 4.37) after their day and night shifts. The mean reduction of total plasma antioxidant capacity after the night shift was 105.8 μmol/L (SD: 146.39). Also, a significant correlation was shown between age and weight and total plasma antioxidant capacity. Age and weight were found to be inversely related to total plasma antioxidant capacity; as age and weight increased, the total plasma antioxidant capacity decreased. CONCLUSION: Shift work can act as an oxidative stressor and may induce many medical disorders. Aging and obesity in shift workers makes them more sensitive to this hazardous effect

Hybrid poly‐l‐lactic acid/poly(ε‐caprolactone) nanofibrous scaffold can improve biochemical and molecular markers of human induced pluripotent stem cell‐derived hepatocyte‐like cells

A suitable alternative strategy for liver transplantation is the use of nanofibrous scaffolds together with stem cells. In this study, a random hybrid of poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL) was used as a three-dimensional (3D) culture for hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) differentiation and compared with routine culture (2D). The expression of the endodermal marker, FOXA2, was assessed on day 3 and the hepatic markers; albumin (ALB), alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT), and cytokeratin-18 (CK-18) were evaluated on day 18 by (qPCR). As well as, albumin, alpha-fetoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) uptake were evaluated by immunocytochemistry; moreover Periodic Acid-Schiff and Oil red were done by cell staining. In addition, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and urea production were evaluated by chemiluminescence and colorimetric assays. Light and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) microscope showed changes in the cells in 2D and 3D models. The gene expression of hepatic markers werewas significantly higher in the three-dimensional cultures. In addition, immunocytochemistry and cell staining showed that albumin, alpha-fetoprotein, LDL-uptake, Periodic Acid-Schiff, and Oil red were expressed in both cells derived on 2D and 3D. Furthermore, the evaluation of alpha-fetoprotein and urea secretion was significantly different between 2D and 3D strategies. These findings suggest that functionally cells cultured on a PLLA/PCL scaffold may be suitable for cell therapy and regenerative medicine

Cytotoxic effect of iris germanica l. Rhizomes extract on human melanoma cell line

Background: Melanoma is the leading cause of 80 of skin cancer worldwide due to its high proliferation rate, metastatic nature, and limited effective therapies. Given the rapid increase in its incidence compared to other skin cancers, new therapeutic agents are needed to control the disease. Scientists are interested in medicinal plants due to their anticancer properties. The rhizomes of the Iris germanica L., known as �Irsa�, is one of the herbs used in traditional Persian medicine for the treatment of various skin cancers. Objectives: This study aimed at investigating the cytotoxic effects of Iris germanica on A375 melanoma and AGO-1522 normal human fibroblast cell lines for the first time. Methods: The ethanolic extract was prepared by the maceration method. Cell viability and cytotoxic activities were assessed through 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and flow cytometric assay, using annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) staining. Results: IC50 values were estimated for the A375 melanoma and the AGO-1522 normal cell lines. We revealed that the IC50 for the A375 melanoma was 0.0438 mg/mL and for the AGO-1522 normal cell line was 0.8494 mg/mL after 48 hours of treatment. Further-more, flow cytometry analysis illustrated that 0.125 mg/mL of the Iris germanica extract could lead to 55.24 apoptosis of the A375 melanoma cell line. The same concentration of the Iris germanica extracts only lead to 8.76 apoptosis in the AGO-1522 cell line. Conclusions: Iris germanica extract has considerable cytotoxic effects on the human melanoma cell line. Further studies are re-quired to demonstrate the therapeutic effects of Iris germanica on melanoma cancer. © 2021, Author(s)

Analysis of glutathione S-transferase (M1, T1 and P1) gene polymorphisms in Iranian prostate cancer subjects

Glutathione S-transferase enzymes are active in detoxifying a wide number of endogenous and exogenous chemical carcinogens and subsequently, are crucial in protecting the DNA. Several studies show some differences in association of glutathione S-transferase M1, T1 and P1 genetic polymorphisms with the risk of prostate cancer in various populations. The current study was done with Iranian subjects to evaluate the association of the polymorphism of glutathione S-transferase subtypes (T, M and P) and the susceptibility of prostate cancer in Iranian patients as compared to controls. Blood samples were collected from 65 prostate cancer patients and 65 unrelated health individuals as controls from Milad hospital, Tehran, Iran. The polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method was used to determine the polymorphism of glutathione S-transferase pi (GSTP1) -313 A/G gene, while multiplex PCR method was utilized to detect the glutathione S-transferase teta (GSTT) 1 and glutathione S-transferase mμ (GSTM) 1 null allele. There was no significant association in the -313 G allele (Val) of GSTP1 gene  olymorphism and prostate cancer risk (odds ratio 0.61, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.08 - 4.60, p = 0.627). Moreover, no relationship was found between the polymorphism of GSTT1 (odds ratio 0.66, 95% CI 0.27 - 1.62) and GSTM1 (odds ratio 0.54, 95% CI 0.27 - 1.08) genes and higher risk of prostate cancer among Iranian subjects (p > 0.05). This study showed that either GSTP1-313 G polymorphism or GSTT1 and GSTM1 genes cannot be predisposing risk factors for prostate cancer among Iranian subjects.Key words: Glutathione S-transferase, prostate cancer, polymorphism

Linkage between prostate cancer occurrence and Y-chromosomal DYS loci in Malaysian subjects..

Purpose: Prostate cancer differs markedly in incidence across ethnic groups. Since this disease is influenced by complex genetics, it is many genetic factors may affect the level of susceptibility to development of the disease. In this study, four Y-linked short tandem repeats (STRs), DYS388, DYS435, DYS437, and DYS439, were genotyped to compare Malaysian prostate cancer patients and normal control males. Materials and methods: A total of 175 subjects comprising 84 patients and 91 healthy individuals were recruited. Multiplex PCR was optimized to co-amplify DYS388, DYS435, DYS437, and DYS439 loci. All samples were genotyped for alleles of four DYS loci using a Genetic Analysis System. Results: Of all DYS loci, allele 10 (A) of DYS388 had a significantly lower incidence of disease in compare with other alleles of this locus, while a higher incidence of disease was found among males who had either allele 12 (C) of DYS388 or allele 14 (E) of DYS439. Moreover, a total of 47 different haplotypes comprising different alleles of four DYS loci were found among the whole study samples, of which haplotypes AABC and CAAA showed a lower and higher frequency among cases than controls, respectively. Conclusions: It is likely that Malaysian males who belong to Y-lineages with either allele 12 of DYS388, allele 14 of DYS439, or haplotype CAAA are more susceptible to develop prostate cancer, while those belonging to lineages with allele 10 of DYS388 or haplotype AABC are more resistant to the disease