Different understandings of quality education across the globe: a special issue on the guiding theme of the BAICE 2016 Conference Editorial : Editorial, Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education

While the concept of ‘quality education’ has been widely debated, there is by no means a universal definition in the literature (e.g. Harvey and Williams 2010; Mishra 2007; Tam 2001). Different approaches and conceptualisations reveal the context-based nature of quality as a value judgement. In the education field in particular, its vagueness is further compounded by the difficulty in measuring education performance: learning outcomes are reflected in transformations of individuals in terms of their knowledge, characteristics and behaviour (Tsinidou, Gerogiannis, and Fitsilis 2010), and these outcomes are defined and understood in ways that are highly contextualised (Tikly 2011; Walker 2006). The critical role of context in the construction of quality education is a central theme in this special issue

Changes in the Brain Microstructure of Children with Primary Monosymptomatic Nocturnal Enuresis: A Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study

Background: Primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (PMNE) is a common disorder in school-aged children. Previous studies have suggested that a developmental delay might play a role in the pathology of children with PMNE. However, microstructural abnormalities in the brains of these children have not been thoroughly investigated. Methodology/Principal Findings: In this work, we evaluated structural changes in the brains of children with PMNE using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Two groups consisting of 26 children with PMNE and 26 healthy controls were scanned using magnetic resonance DTI. The diffusion parameters of fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) were subjected to whole-brain, voxel-wise group comparisons using statistical parametric mapping (SPM). When compared to healthy subjects, children with PMNE showed both a decrease in FA and an increase in MD in the thalamus. MD also increased in the frontal lobe, the anterior cingulate cortex and the insula; these areas are all involved in controlling micturition. The significant changes seen in the thalamus could affect both urine storage and arousal from sleep. Conclusions/Significance: The microstructure abnormalities were observed in the thalamus, the medial frontal gyrus, the anterior cingulate cortex and the insula, which are involved in micturition control network. This indicates developmenta

Cerebrospinal fluid levels of neopterin are elevated in delirium after hip fracture

Background The inflammatory cell product neopterin is elevated in serum before and during delirium. This suggests a role for disordered cell-mediated immunity or oxidative stress. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neopterin levels reflect brain neopterin levels more closely than serum levels. Here we hypothesized that CSF neopterin levels would be higher in delirium. Methods In this prospective cohort study, 139 elderly patients with acute hip fracture were recruited in Oslo and Edinburgh. Delirium was diagnosed with the confusion assessment method performed daily pre-operatively and on the first 5 days post-operatively. Paired CSF and blood samples were collected at the onset of spinal anaesthesia. Neopterin levels were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. Results Sixty-four (46 %) of 139 hip fracture patients developed delirium perioperatively. CSF neopterin levels were higher in delirium compared to controls (median 29.6 vs 24.7 nmol/mL, p = 0.003), with highest levels in patients who developed delirium post-operatively. Serum neopterin levels were also higher in delirium (median 37.0 vs 27.1 nmol/mL, p = 0.003). CSF neopterin remained significantly associated with delirium after controlling for relevant risk factors. Higher neopterin levels were associated with poorer outcomes (death or new institutionalization) 1 year after surgery (p = 0.02 for CSF and p = 0.03 for serum). Conclusions This study is the first to examine neopterin in CSF from patients with delirium. Our findings suggest potential roles for activation of cell-mediated immune responses or oxidative stress in the delirium process. High levels of serum or CSF neopterin in hip fracture patients may also be useful in predicting poor outcomes

Stressful life events, anxiety, depression and coping mechanisms in patients with Behcet's disease

Backgroun

bipolar disorder: Bipolar disorder functioning questionnaire

Objective: Even though quality of life and functioning are topics that are point of interest, they are not assessed adequately in mood disorders. In this study, it is aimed to develop a functioning assessment scale in bipolar disorder.Method: Bipolar Disorder Functioning Questionnaire (BDFQ) is developed by the Scientific Section for Mood Disorders of the Psychiatric Association of Turkey. The questionnaire contains 58 items, and consists of eleven subscales: emotional functioning, intellectual functioning, sexual functioning, feelings of stigmatization, social withdrawal household relations, relations with friends, participation to social activities, daily activities and hobbies, taking initiative and self sufficiency, and occupation.Results: In this study, 252 remitted bipolar patients from 15 centers were included. In addition, thirty subjects without any lifetime psychiatric, neurological or physical disease were recruited. The mean age of the patients was 38.6 +/- 12.1 and 56% (n=141) were female. The mean duration of the bipolar disorder was 11.9 +/- 9.2 years, and 91.3% of the patients were diagnosed to have bipolar I disorder. In the reliability analyses, after the exclusion of six items with low reliability coefficients, The Cronbach alpha coefficient was calculated to be 0.91. The item-total scale correlations were between 0.22-0.86. In test-retest reliability, the correlation between the two ratings was high (r=0.82, p<0.0001). In validity analyses, 13 factors were obtained representing 65.1% of the total variance in exploratory factor analysis. In confirmatory factor analysis, 11 domains fit the model with a RMSEA of 0.061. BDFQ significantly correlated with GAF (r=0.428, p<.0001). BDFQ also showed significantly negative correlation with HAM-D (r=-0.541, p<0.0001) and YMRS (r=-0.365, p<0.0001). It discriminated the patients (mean score=111.8 +/- 15.2) from the healthy subjects (mean score=121.4 +/- 10.4) well (t=-2.300, p=0.038).Conclusion: With the six items excluded, it is suggested that the 52-item BDFQ is a reliable and valid instrument in the assessment of functioning in bipolar disorder.C1 [Aydemir, Oemer] Celal Bayar Psikiyatri AD, Manisa, Turkey.[Eren, Ibrahim] Suleyman Demirel Psikiyatri AD, Isparta, Turkey.[Savas, Haluk] Gaziantep Psikiyatri AD, Gaziantep, Turkey.[Oguzhanoglu, Nalan Kalkan] Pamukkale Psikiyatri AD, Denizli, Turkey.[Kocal, Nesrin; Oral, Timucin] Bakirkoy Ruh Sagligi Ve Sinir Hastaliklan Egitim, Istanbul, Turkey.[Oezgueven, Halise Devrimci] Ankara Psikiyatri AD, Ankara, Turkey.[Akkaya, Cengiz] Uludag Psikiyatri AD, Bursa, Turkey.[Basterzi, Ayse Devrim] Mersin Psikiyatri AD, Mersin, Turkey.[Karlidag, Rifat] Inonu Psikiyatri AD, Malatya, Turkey.[Yenilmez, Cinar] Osmangazi Psikiyatri AD, Eskisehir, Turkey.[Oezerdem, Ayseguel] Dokuz Eylul Psikiyatri AD, Izmir, Turkey.[Kora, Kaan] Marmara Psikiyatri AD, Istanbul, Turkey.[Tamam, Lut] Cukurova Psikiyatri AD, Adana, Turkey.[Guelseren, Seref] Psikiyatri B, Ataturk Egitim Arastirma Hastanesi, Izmir, Turkey.[Vahip, Simavi] Psikiyatri AD, Ege Tip Fak, Izmir, Turkey

Development of a questionnaire to assess inter-episode functioning in bipolar disorder: Bipolar disorder functioning questionnaire

Objective: Even though quality of life and functioning are topics that are point of interest, they are not assessed adequately in mood disorders. In this study, it is aimed to develop a functioning assessment scale in bipolar disorder.Method: Bipolar Disorder Functioning Questionnaire (BDFQ) is developed by the Scientific Section for Mood Disorders of the Psychiatric Association of Turkey. The questionnaire contains 58 items, and consists of eleven subscales: emotional functioning, intellectual functioning, sexual functioning, feelings of stigmatization, social withdrawal household relations, relations with friends, participation to social activities, daily activities and hobbies, taking initiative and self sufficiency, and occupation.Results: In this study, 252 remitted bipolar patients from 15 centers were included. In addition, thirty subjects without any lifetime psychiatric, neurological or physical disease were recruited. The mean age of the patients was 38.6 +/- 12.1 and 56% (n=141) were female. The mean duration of the bipolar disorder was 11.9 +/- 9.2 years, and 91.3% of the patients were diagnosed to have bipolar I disorder. In the reliability analyses, after the exclusion of six items with low reliability coefficients, The Cronbach alpha coefficient was calculated to be 0.91. The item-total scale correlations were between 0.22-0.86. In test-retest reliability, the correlation between the two ratings was high (r=0.82, p<0.0001). In validity analyses, 13 factors were obtained representing 65.1% of the total variance in exploratory factor analysis. In confirmatory factor analysis, 11 domains fit the model with a RMSEA of 0.061. BDFQ significantly correlated with GAF (r=0.428, p<.0001). BDFQ also showed significantly negative correlation with HAM-D (r=-0.541, p<0.0001) and YMRS (r=-0.365, p<0.0001). It discriminated the patients (mean score=111.8 +/- 15.2) from the healthy subjects (mean score=121.4 +/- 10.4) well (t=-2.300, p=0.038).Conclusion: With the six items excluded, it is suggested that the 52-item BDFQ is a reliable and valid instrument in the assessment of functioning in bipolar disorder