Ear swelling test by using laser speckle imaging with a long exposure time

Laser speckle imaging with long exposure time has been applied noninvasively to visualize the immediate reaction of cutaneous vessels in mice in response to a known primary irritant and potential allergen-methyl salicylate. The compound has been used topically on the surface of the pinna and the reaction of the vascular network was examined. We demonstrate that irritantinduced acute vascular reaction can be effectively and accurately detected by laser speckle imaging technique. The current approach holds a great promise for application in routine screening of the cutaneous vascular response induced by contact agents, screenings of mouse ear swelling test, and testing the allergenic potential of new synthetic materials and healthcare pharmaceutical products

Detection of Light Images by Simple Tissues as Visualized by Photosensitized Magnetic Resonance Imaging

In this study, we show how light can be absorbed by the body of a living rat due to an injected pigment circulating in the blood stream. This process is then physiologically translated in the tissue into a chemical signature that can be perceived as an image by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We previously reported that illumination of an injected photosynthetic bacteriochlorophyll-derived pigment leads to a generation of reactive oxygen species, upon oxygen consumption in the blood stream. Consequently, paramagnetic deoxyhemoglobin accumulating in the illuminated area induces changes in image contrast, detectable by a Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD)-MRI protocol, termed photosensitized (ps)MRI. Here, we show that laser beam pulses synchronously trigger BOLD-contrast transients in the tissue, allowing representation of the luminous spatiotemporal profile, as a contrast map, on the MR monitor. Regions with enhanced BOLD-contrast (7-61 fold) were deduced as illuminated, and were found to overlap with the anatomical location of the incident light. Thus, we conclude that luminous information can be captured and translated by typical oxygen exchange processes in the blood of ordinary tissues, and made visible by psMRI (Fig. 1). This process represents a new channel for communicating environmental light into the body in certain analogy to light absorption by visual pigments in the retina where image perception takes place in the central nervous system. Potential applications of this finding may include: non-invasive intra-operative light guidance and follow-up of photodynamic interventions, determination of light diffusion in opaque tissues for optical imaging and possible assistance to the blind

Photodynamic Therapy Can Induce a Protective Innate Immune Response against Murine Bacterial Arthritis via Neutrophil Accumulation

Background: Local microbial infections induced by multiple-drug-resistant bacteria in the orthopedic field can be intractable, therefore development of new therapeutic modalities is needed. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising alternative modality to antibiotics for intractable microbial infections, and we recently reported that PDT has the potential to accumulate neutrophils into the infected site which leads to resolution of the infection. PDT for cancer has long been known to be able to stimulate the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system. Methodology/Principal Findings: In the present study, a murine methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) arthritis model using bioluminescent MRSA and polystyrene microparticles was established, and both the therapeutic (Th-PDT) and preventive (Pre-PDT) effects of PDT using methylene blue as photosensitizer were examined. Although Th-PDT could not demonstrate direct bacterial killing, neutrophils were accumulated into the infectious joint space after PDT and MRSA arthritis was reduced. With the preconditioning Pre-PDT regimen, neutrophils were quickly accumulated into the joint immediately after bacterial inoculation and bacterial growth was suppressed and the establishment of infection was inhibited. Conclusions/Significance: This is the first demonstration of a protective innate immune response against a bacterial pathogen produced by PDT.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant number R01AI050875

Development of communication skills for children aged from 5 to 6 using play lessons

Bakalaura darba mērķis ir analizēt teorētisko literatūru par saskarsmes būtību un izpētīt rotaļnodarbības nozīmi saskarsmes prasmju veidošanā 5-6 gadīgiem bērniem. Darba teorētiskajā daļā tika apskatīta saskarsmes būtība, saskarsmes prasmju noteikšanas kritēriji un rādītāji bērna sociālo prasmju un personības attīstības izvērtēšanai, 5-6 gadīgu bērnu kognitīvā, sociālā, emocionālā un fiziskā attīstības specifika, rotaļnodarbība kā saskarsmes prasmju veicinātāja, bērnu pedagoģiskā – psiholoģiskā izpēte. Empīriskajā daļā tika noskaidrots Pirmsskolas izglītības iestādes personāla viedoklis, ka 5-6 gadīgu bērnu saskarsmes prasmes veidošanās norit sekmīgāk, ja rotaļnodarbība tiek organizēta, lai apmierinātu bērnu vajadzības pēc saskarsmes un sadarbības ar vienaudžiem, rotaļnodarbībā piedāvāta rotaļu daudzveidība. Pētījuma rezultātā tika izstrādātas rekomendācijas pedagogu saskarsmes prasmju pilnveidošanā. Veiktais pētījums par rotaļnodarbības nozīmi saskarsmes prasmju uzlabošanā palīdzēs audzinātājām rast individuālāku pieeju darba organizēšanā un vadīšanā ar rotaļnodarbības palīdzību, tādejādi uzlabojot savstarpējās saskarsmes prasmes, papildinot esošās zināšanas par 5-6 gadīgu bērnu specifiku darbā, individuālo pieeju katram bērnam, veicinot savstarpējo (gan bērniem ar personālu, gan savstarpēji) uzticību un adaptēšanos jaunā vidē. Galvenie rezultāti tika sasniegti, izmantojot personāla anketēšanas metodi, kura pierāda, ka rotaļnodarbība ir nepieciešama saskarsmes prasmju uzlabošanā, ar attieksmes, zināšanu, prasmju pielietošanu darbā ar mērķgrupu un teorija sakrīt ar praksi. Darba gaitā izveidotas 4 tabulas un 16 attēli.The goal of the Bachelor's work is to analyse the theoretical literature about the essence of communication and the significance of play lessons for the development of communication skills for children aged from 5 to 6. The theoretical part of the work deals with the essence of communication, the criteria for the determination of communication skills and indicators for the assessment of children's social skills and personality development, as well as the specifics of the cognitive, social, emotional and physical development of children aged 5 to 6. It views play lessons as the promoters of communication skills alongside with pedagogic and psychologic research of children. The empirical part finds out the opinion of the pre-school educational institution staff that the development of communication skills of children aged 5 to 6 is more succesful if play lessons are organized to satisfy the children's needs for communication and cooperation with their peers and if a variety of plays is offered. The research resulted in the elaboration of recommendations for raising the communication skills of the educators. The given research on the importance of play lessons for the improvement of communication skills will help the teachers to find a more individual approach for organizing and managing the work by the use of play lessons. Thus, the mutual communication skills will be improved, the knowledge on the specifics of the work with children aged 5 to 6 will be widened, as well as individual approaches will be found promoting mutual trust (both between children and teachers and among children themselves) and adaptation to a new environment. The main results have been reached by the use of personnel questionnaire method. It proved the necessity of play lessons for the development of communication skills. Theory and practice are matching and attitude, knowledge and skills must be applied when working with the target group. 16 charts and 4 tables have been created for the work

Developing Oral Communication Competencies in the Study Process of General Education in the Secondary Schools in Russian as a Foreign Language Lessons

Diplomdarba „Runas komunikatīvās kompetences veidošana vispārizglītojošās vidusskolas mācību procesā krievu valodas kā svešvalodas stundās” mērķis ir izpētīt un piedāvāt dažādus mutiskās saziņas- runas,uzdevumus skolēniem ar dažādiem personības tipiem, kas izmantojami krievu valodas kā svešvalodas stundās un veicina skolēnu komunikatīvo prasmju pilnveidošanu. Darbā ir analizēta teorētiskā literatūra par pieejām svešvalodas mācīšanā, par skolēnu komunikatīvo prasmju veidošanu svešvalodas stundās, apskatītas prasības, kas komunikatīvo prasmju apguvei izvirzītas vidusskolas mācību priekšmeta standartā, sniegti kritēriji, ko runas prasmes vērtēšanai izstrādājusi LR IzM vidusskolas posma noslēgumā. Diplomdarbā apkopoti dažādi runas uzdevumu veidi, iedalot tos šādās grupās: 1.Dialogs. 2.Monologs. 3.Lomu spēles. 4.Diskusija. 5.Projekts. Apkopotajiem runas uzdevumiem doti piemēri. Diplomdarba 3.nodaļā sniegti tie runas uzdevumi, ko autore izstrādājusi un aprobējusi praktiskā darbībā ar Madonas Valsts ģimnāzijas 10.klases skolēniem, kā arī raksturotas iespējas šo uzdevumu vērtēšanā, doti vērtēšanas kritēriju piemēri.Darba nobeigumā autore secinājusi, ka skolēnu komunikatīvās prasmes,svešvalodas apguves procesā, vislabāk attīsta tie uzdevumi, kas skolēniem šķiet saturiski interesanti un kuru veikšanā viņi var izmantot savu dzīves pieredzi. Autore secinājusi, ka ne vienmēr visi runas uzdevumi vērtējami ar atzīmi, lai nemazinātu skolēnu vēlmi izteikties, veidot brīvas komunikatīvās situācijas, izmantojot visus viņu rīcībā esošos valodas un citus komunikācijas līdzekļus.The aim of the diploma paper “Developing oral communication competencies in the study process of general education secondary shools when teaching Russian as a foreign language” is to study and offer various tasks of oral communication i.e. speech for students of various personality types to use in the Russian as a foreign language classroom, in order to support improvement of students’ communicative skills. The diploma paper analyzes the available theoretical sources on various approaches to foreign language acquisition and on developing students’ communicative skills in foreign language classes. It also studies secondary school curriculum requirements concerning acquisition of communicative skills in a foreign language. It offers criteria for assessing communicative skills at the end of secondary school as set by the Latvian Ministry of Education and Science. The diploma paper offers an overview of various speaking tasks in the following categories: 1.Dialogue 2.Monologue 3.Role plays 4.Discussion 5.Project It also provides examples for each category. Part 3 of the Paper offers speaking tasks designed and approbated by the author in practical work with class 10 students of Madona State gymnasia. It also describes possibilities to assess these tasks as well as provides examples of assessment criteria. In the end, the author comes to the conclusion that students’ communicative skills in foreign language acquisition process are best developed by those tasks that have interesting contents as well as those that give students an opportunity to share their experience. The author concludes that not all speaking tasks can or should be assessed with a grade not to eliminate students’ desire to express themselves. What is more important is to create free communication situations using the language and all the other means of communication that are available to them

The prevelance of voice disorders and related risk factors among Professors in RSU

AudiologopēdijaVeselības aprūpeAudiologopaedicsHealth CarePētnieciskā darba tēma ir „Balss traucējumu izplatība un riska faktori RSU pasniedzējiem”. Pētījuma jautājums - kāda ir balss traucējumu izplatība RSU pasniedzēju vidū? Mērķis ir izpētīt balss traucējumu biežumu RSU pasniedzēju vidū un riska faktorus (medicīniskie faktori, psihosociālie faktori, balss ergonomikas faktori). Pētnieciskie uzdevumi ietver atļaujas saņemšanu no RSU ētikas komisijas, RSU pasniedzēju anketēšanu, iegūto rezultātu interpretēšanu. Pētījuma praktiskās metodes ietver modificētas Balss riska faktoru izpētas anketas izmantošanu. Pētījumā tika iekļauti Rīgas Stradiņa universitātē pašreiz strādājošie pasniedzēji, kuru darba pienākumos ietilpst lekciju un/vai nodarbību vadīšana, kas ir spējīgi sazināties, rakstīt un lasīt latviešu valodā. Izslēgšanas kritēriji ietvēra RSU administrācijas darbiniekus un citas personas, kuru ikdienas darba pienākumos neietilpst lekciju un/vai nodarbību vadīšana. Datu apkopošanai izmantota programmatūra Microsoft Excel . Datu statiskai apstrādei izmantota IBM SPSS Statistic 27 programmatūra. Pētījuma rezultāti atspoguļo, ka 50,6% aptaujāto RSU pasniedzēju ir bijuši balss traucējumi. Statistiski nozīmīga asociācija starp balss traucējumiem un tādiem balss lietošanas paradumiem kā darba laiks nedēļā, paradums krekšķināt runājot, darba procesa vadīšana ar sāpošu kaklu, zināšanu pielietojums ikdienā. Tika noteikta statistiski nozīmīga asociācija starp balss traucējumiem un tādiem apkārtējās vides faktoriem kā liela balss noslodze tiešsaistē, pārāk zema temperatūra apkures sezonā. Balss traucējumi tiek saistīti ar pasniedzēju veselības problēmām. Tāds stresa faktors kā atalgojums ir saistāms ar balss traucējumiem. Pētījumā tika secināts, ka 50,6% aptaujāto pasniedzēju ir saskārušies ar balss traucējumiem. Asociācijas ar balss traucējumiem bija tādiem faktoriem kā darba laiks nedēļā, paradums krekšķināt runājot, darba procesa vadīšana ar sāpošu kaklu, zināšanas par balss lietošanu un saudzēšanu, liela balss noslodze darbā tiešsaistē, pārāk zema temperatūra darba telpā apkures sezonā, veselības problēmas un stresu veicinošais faktors - atalgojums.The topic of the research is "The prevalence of voice disorders and related risk factors among Professors in RSU". Research question - what is the prevalence of voice disorders among professors in RSU? The purpose of the present cross-sectional study was to investigate the prevelance of voice disorders among professors in RSU and the related risk factors (medical, psychosocial and voice ergonomics factors). Research tasks include obtaining permission from the RSU Research Ethics Commission, surveying RSU professors and interpreting the results. Practical methods of the research include the use of a modified Questionnaire of Voice Risk Factors. The study includes professors currently working at Riga Stradins University, whose job responsibilities feature conducting lectures and / or practical studies. Professors have to be able to write and read in Latvian. Exclusion criteria includes RSU administration staff and other persons whose day-to-day duties do not include conducting lectures and / or practical studies. Microsoft Excel software was used for data collection. IBM SPSS Statistic 27 software was used to process data statistics. The results of the research reflect that 50,6% of RSU professors featured in the research either have voice disorders in the present moment or have experienced them in the past. Voice disorders are positively associated with hours worked per week and voice usage habits such as throat cleaning while speaking, managing the work process with a sore throat and the application of knowledge in everyday life. This research concludes that a statistically significant association is found between voice disorders and environmental factors, such as high levels of stress to the voice while teaching online lectures and the low temperature in the workplace during heating season. Furthermore, voice disorders are found to be associated with professors' health problems. Salary is also found to be a stress factor associated with the voice disorders. The study concluded that 50,6% of the featured professors have experienced voice disorders. Factors contributing to voice disorders are weekly working hours, the habit of throat cleaning while speaking, managing the work processes with a sore throat, knowledge of the use and care of the voice, high levels of stress to the voice while teaching online lectures, the low temperature in the workplace during heating season, health problems and stress factor - salary

Bypass of Tumor Drug Resistance by Antivascular Therapy

Multidrug resistance (MDR) presents a major obstacle for the successful chemotherapy of cancer. Its emergence during chemotherapy is attributed to a selective process, which gives a growth advantage to MDR cells within the genetically unstable neoplastic cell population. The pleiotropic nature of clinical MDR poses a great difficulty for the development of treatment strategies that aim at blocking MDR at the tumor cell level. Targeting treatment to the nonmalignant vascular network—the lifeline of the tumor—is a promising alternative for the treatment of drug-resistant tumors. The present study demonstrates thatMDRin cancer can be successfully circumvented by photodynamic therapy (PDT) using an antivascular treatment protocol. We show that, although P-glycoprotein-expressing human HT29/MDR colon carcinoma cells in culture are resistant to PDT with Pd-bacteriopheophorbide (TOOKAD), the same treatment induces tumor necrosis with equal efficacy (88% vs 82%) in HT29/MDR-derived xenografts and their wild type counterparts, respectively. These results are ascribed to the rapid antivascular effects of the treatment, supporting the hypothesis that MDR tumors can be successfully eradicated by indirect approaches that bypass their inherent drug resistance. We suggest that with progress in ongoing clinical trials, TOOKAD-PDT may offer a novel option for local treatment of MDR tumors