Perception, career choice and self-efficacy of UK medical students and junior doctors in urology

Introduction: there is a growing concern about the reduced clinical exposure to urology at undergraduate level in the United Kingdom. As a consequence, the competencies of junior doctors are considered inadequate. The views of these doctors in training towards urology remain under reported.Methods: a modified Delphi method was employed to construct a questionnaire. Given the rise of social media as a platform for scientific discussion, participants were recruited via a social networking site. Outcomes assessed included career preference, exposure to urology, perceived male dominance, and confidence at core procedures.Results: in total, 412 and 66 responses were collected from medical students and junior doctors, respectively. Overall, 41% of participants felt that they had received a good level of clinical exposure to urology as part of their training and 15% were considering a career in this speciality. Female students were significantly less likely to consider urology as a career option (p &lt; 0.01). Of these, 37% of the students felt confident at male catheterization and 46% of students regarded urology as a male-dominated speciality.Conclusions: urology is perceived as male dominated and is the least likely surgical speciality to be pursued as a career option according to our survey. Increased exposure to urology at the undergraduate level and dedicated workshops for core urological procedures are needed to address these challenges.</p

Investigation of a SPR based refractive index sensor using a single mode fiber with a large D shaped microfluidic channel

In this work, a highly sensitive surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor based on a single mode fiber (SMF) incorporating a large microfluidic channel (MFC) for refractive index (RI) sensing is designed and optimized using a full-vectorial finite element method (FEM). The fluidic channel size can be varied according to the requirement due to the availability of the large cladding diameter of SMF, which makes it simple and easy to fabricate. The proposed novel sensor is favourable to both analytes and metallic strips. The D-shaped hollow section above the core is filled with the measurand analytes and a gold (Au) strip is deposited on the base of the MFC, as it is known as the most attractive metal for SPR. Our numerical simulations illustrate that the confinement loss of the designed sensor is highly influenced by the distance of the MFC from the core along with the width and thickness of the Au strip. The designed sensor shows an average sensitivity of 1350 nm/RIU and maximum sensitivity of 8250 nm/RIU in the sensing range of 1.33-1.35 and 1.41-1.43, respectively. However, for a small variation of na at a step of 0.005, within ranges like 1.415, 1.420, and 1.425, we have achieved a maximum sensitivity of 7000 nm/RIU, 9000 nm/RIU and 11000 nm/RIU, respectively. This novel SPR sensor with MFC can open up a new opportunity in the application of chemical and biological sensing

The impact of disease control measures on the spread of COVID-19 in the province of Sindh, Pakistan

The province of Sindh reported the first COVID-19 case in Pakistan on 26(th) February 2020. The Government of Sindh has employed numerous control measures to limit its spread. However, for low-and middle-income countries such as Pakistan, the management protocols for controlling a pandemic are not always as definitive as they would be in other developed nations. Given the dire socio-economic conditions of Sindh, continuation of province-wise lockdowns may inadvertently cause a potential economic breakdown. By using a data driven SEIR modelling framework, this paper describes the evolution of the epidemic projections because of government control measures. The data from reported COVID-19 prevalence and google mobility is used to parameterize the model at different time points. These time points correspond to the government’s call for advice on the prerequisite actions required to curtail the spread of COVID-19 in Sindh. Our model predicted the epidemic peak to occur by 18(th) June 2020 with approximately 3500 reported cases at that peak, this projection correlated with the actual recorded peak during the first wave of the disease in Sindh. The impact of the governmental control actions and religious ceremonies on the epidemic profile during this first wave of COVID-19 are clearly reflected in the model outcomes through variations in the epidemic peaks. We also report these variations by displaying the trajectory of the epidemics had the control measures been guided differently; the epidemic peak may have occurred as early as the end of May 2020 with approximately 5000 reported cases per day had there been no control measures and as late as August 2020 with only around 2000 cases at the peak had the lockdown continued, nearly flattening the epidemic curve

Critical appraisal of literature comparing minimally invasive extraperitoneal and transperitoneal radical prostatectomy:A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives: To systematically review studies comparing extraperitoneal (E-RP) and transperitoneal minimally invasive radical prostatectomy (T-RP). Methods: The systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines in September 2015. Several databases were searched including Medline and Scopus. Only studies comparing E-RP and T-RP (either laparoscopic or robot-assisted approach) were evaluated. The follow-up of the included patients had to be â¥6 months. Results: In all, 1256 records were identified after the initial database search. Of these 20 studies (2580 patients) met the inclusion criteria. The hospital stay was significantly lower in the E-RP cohort, with a mean difference of â0.30 days (95% confidence interval [CI] â0.35, â0.24) for the laparoscopic group and 1.09 days (95% CI â1.47, â0.70) for the robotic group (P < 0.001). Early continence rates favoured the E-RP group, although this was statistically significant only in the laparoscopic group (odds ratio [OR] 2.52, 95% CI 1.72, 3.70; P < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the E-RP and T-RP cohorts for 12-month continence rates for both the laparoscopic (OR 1.55, 95% CI 0.89, 2.69; P = 0.12) and robotic groups (OR 3.03, 95% CI 0.54, 16.85; P = 0.21). The overall complication and ileus rates were significantly lower in the E-RP cohort for both the laparoscopic and robotic groups. The symptomatic lymphocele rate favoured the T-RP cohort, although this was statistically significant only in the laparoscopic group (OR 8.69, 95% CI 1.60, 47.17; P = 0.01). Conclusion: This review suggests that the extraperitoneal approach is associated with a shorter hospital stay, lower overall complication rate, and earlier return to continence when compared to the transperitoneal approach. The transperitoneal approach has a lower lymphocele rate. Keywords: Extraperitoneal, Laparoscopy, Minimally invasive, Robotic, Transperitoneal, Prostatectom

Multi-Parameter Analysis of Biobanked Human Bone Marrow Stromal Cells Shows Little Influence for Donor Age and Mild Comorbidities on Phenotypic and Functional Properties

Heterogeneous populations of human bone marrow-derived stromal cells (BMSC) are among the most frequently tested cellular therapeutics for treating degenerative and immune disorders, which occur predominantly in the aging population. Currently, it is unclear whether advanced donor age and commonly associated comorbidities affect the properties of ex vivo-expanded BMSCs. Thus, we stratified cells from adult and elderly donors from our biobank (n = 10 and n = 13, mean age 38 and 72 years, respectively) and compared their phenotypic and functional performance, using multiple assays typically employed as minimal criteria for defining multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). We found that BMSCs from both cohorts meet the standard criteria for MSC, exhibiting similar morphology, growth kinetics, gene expression profiles, and pro-angiogenic and immunosuppressive potential and the capacity to differentiate toward adipogenic, chondrogenic, and osteogenic lineages. We found no substantial differences between cells from the adult and elderly cohorts. As positive controls, we studied the impact of in vitro aging and inflammatory cytokine stimulation. Both conditions clearly affected the cellular properties, independent of donor age. We conclude that in vitro aging rather than in vivo donor aging influences BMSC characteristics

Comparative Neurological and Behavioral Assessment of Central and Peripheral Stimulation Technologies for Induced Pain and Cognitive Tasks

Pain is a multifaceted, multisystem disorder that adversely affects neuro-psychological processes. This study compares the effectiveness of central stimulation (transcranial direct current stimulation—tDCS over F3/F4) and peripheral stimulation (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation—TENS over the median nerve) in pain inhibition during a cognitive task in healthy volunteers and to observe potential neuro-cognitive improvements. Eighty healthy participants underwent a comprehensive experimental protocol, including cognitive assessments, the Cold Pressor Test (CPT) for pain induction, and tDCS/TENS administration. EEG recordings were conducted pre- and post-intervention across all conditions. The protocol for this study was categorized into four groups: G1 (control), G2 (TENS), G3 (anodal-tDCS), and G4 (cathodal-tDCS). Paired t-tests (p &lt; 0.05) were conducted to compare Pre-Stage, Post-Stage, and neuromodulation conditions, with t-values providing insights into effect magnitudes. The result showed a reduction in pain intensity with TENS (p = 0.002, t-value = −5.34) and cathodal-tDCS (p = 0.023, t-value = −5.08) and increased pain tolerance with TENS (p = 0.009, t-value = 4.98) and cathodal-tDCS (p = 0.001, t-value = 5.78). Anodal-tDCS (p = 0.041, t-value = 4.86) improved cognitive performance. The EEG analysis revealed distinct neural oscillatory patterns across the groups. Specifically, G2 and G4 showed delta-power reductions, while G3 observed an increase. Moreover, G2 exhibited increased theta-power in the occipital region during CPT and Post-Stages. In the alpha-band, G2, G3, and G4 had reductions Post-Stage, while G1 and G3 increased. Additionally, beta-power increased in the frontal region for G2 and G3, contrasting with a reduction in G4. Furthermore, gamma-power globally increased during CPT1, with G1, G2, and G3 showing reductions Post-Stage, while G4 displayed a global decrease. The findings confirm the efficacy of TENS and tDCS as possible non-drug therapeutic alternatives for cognition with alleviation from pain

Bio-Electrochemical Fuel CELL: A Review Study on Electricity Generation Using Bio-Waste

This era is all about energy, humans cannot survive without energy. Conventional energy resources are not enough to fulfill the needs of energy that’s why it is necessary to find alternate energy resources that will be efficient and environment friendly. Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) is one of the reasonably low costs and is considered as environment friendly It degrades the harmful substance during production of electricity. This technology helps out for the producing of electricity by using the microbes. The generation of electricity is the new form of non-renewable energy by treating of the waste water from different types of effluent. The purpose of this technology is to produce the electricity that is environment friendly and sustainable. This review is also the part of research which is also to make a comparison of different MFC feeds which have unique chemical composition and are rich of various biological species and designing. This report also contains the discussion of MFC principle, necessary components, bacteria that are responsible for electricity production. This MFC contain the different batch type of reactor and in each reactor anode and cathode are dipped for time to check the response of flow of electron. Electrodes are used for drawing the comparison data of the MFC and giving new direction for the researchers. Salt bridge or membrane is connected between the reactor for the flow of proton to the cathode side and oxygen is supplied in the cathode compartment

Synthesis and mechanistic studies of diketo acids and their bioisosteres as potential antibacterial agents

A series of diketo esters and their pertinent bioisosteres were designed and synthesized as potent antibacterial agents by targeting methionine amino peptidases (MetAPs). In the biochemical assay against purified MetAPs from Streptococcus pneumoniae (SpMetAP1a), Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MtMetAP1c), Enterococcus faecalis (EfMetAP1a) and human (HsMetAP1b), compounds 3a, 4a and 5a showed more than 85% inhibition of all the tested MetAPs at 100 μM concentration. Compounds 4a and 5a also exhibited antibacterial potential with MIC values 62.5 μg/mL (S. pneumoniae), 31.25 μg/mL (E. faecalis), 62.5 μg/mL (Escherichia coli) and 62.5 μg/mL (S. pneumoniae), 62.5 μg/mL (E. coli), respectively. Moreover, 5a also significantly inhibited the growth of multidrug resistant E. coli strains at 512 μg/mL conc., while showing no cytotoxic effect towards healthy CHO cells and thus being selected. Growth kinetics study showed significant inhibition of bacterial growth when treated with different conc. of 5a. TEM analysis also displayed vital damage to bacterial cells by 5a at MIC conc. Moreover, significant inhibition of biofilm formation was observed in bacterial cells treated with MIC conc. of 5a as visualized by SEM micrographs. Interestingly, 5a did not cause an alteration in the hemocyte density in Galleria mellonella larvae which is considered in vivo model for antimicrobial studies and was non-toxic up to a conc. of 2.5 mg/mL