Feasibility of transabdominal electrohysterography for analysis of uterine activity in nonpregnant women

Purpose: Uterine activity plays a key role in reproduction, and altered patterns of uterine contractility have been associated with important physiopathological conditions, such as subfertility, dysmenorrhea, and endometriosis. However, there is currently no method to objectively quantify uterine contractility outside pregnancy without interfering with the spontaneous contraction pattern. Transabdominal electrohysterography has great potential as a clinical tool to characterize noninvasively uterine activity, but results of this technique in nonpregnant women are poorly documented. The purpose of this study is to investigate the feasibility of transabdominal electrohysterography in nonpregnant women. Methods: Longitudinal measurements were performed on 22 healthy women in 4 representative phases of the menstrual cycle. Twelve electrohysterogram-based indicators previously validated in pregnancy have been estimated and compared in the 4 phases of the cycle. Using the Tukey honest significance test, significant differences were defined for P values below .05. Results: Half of the selected electrohysterogram-based indicators showed significant differences between menses and at least 1 of the other 3 phases, that is the luteal phase. Conclusion: Our results suggest transabdominal electrohysterography to be feasible for analysis of uterine activity in nonpregnant women. Due to the lack of a golden standard, this feasibility study is indirectly validated based on physiological observations. However, these promising results motivate further research aiming at evaluating electrohysterography as a method to improve understanding and management of dysfunctions (possibly) related to altered uterine contractility, such as infertility, endometriosis, and dysmenorrhea

Kyai Leadership in Internalizing Nationalism Values at Pesantren

This study aims to examine the leadership of the kyai in Pesantren Salâfiyah Cidahu Pandeglang. It specifically explored the leadership of the kyai and its role in internalizing nationalism values for students in pesantren. This study used a descriptive-qualitative method. The data were obtained through interviews, observation and documentation. The results showed that the leadership of the kyai has played a role in internalizing a spirit of nationalism for the students. The process of internalizing the spirit of nationalism was carried out through giving advice and exemplary, book recitation activities, baḥṡ al-masâ'il, community service, entrepreneurial activities, organizational activities, leadership training, maintaining traditions, and democracy-related activities. Lack of the students' motivation to learn and the limited facilities and infrastructure were the obstacles in nurturing the values of nationalism. To solve the obstacles, kyai provided motivation for the students, built the students' confidence and self-confidence, and established network with the society and government

Integration of Religion and Culture in Muslim Minority Communities through Islamic Education

The clash between Islam and culture often occurs in efforts to disseminate Islamic education to the society especially in areas with Muslim minority communities. This study aims to explore the integration of culture and Islam in Muslim minority areas in the context of implementing Islamic education. The research took place at two Madrasah Aliyah schools and one Madrasah Tsanawiyah located in Tarutung City. This study applied qualitative and phenomenological approach. The data were obtained through observation, interviews, and documentation techniques. Triangulation techniques were used to analyze the data. The informants involved in this study were community leaders, educational leaders and religious leaders. The results of the study show that Islamic religion and culture can be integrated in socializing Islamic education to people in Muslim minority areas in Indonesia. Many aspects of Batak culture are maintained because they are in accordance with Islamic religious teaching. Some aspect of Batak culture that are contrary to Islamic religious teachings are adapted to be compatible with Islamic religious teachings. In this study, the integration of Islamic religion and Batak  culture  went fairly smoothly and is accepted by the community to deliver in Islamic education in the region

Integration of Religion and Culture in Muslim Minority Communities through Islamic Education

The clash between Islam and culture often occurs in efforts to disseminate Islamic education to the society especially in areas with Muslim minority communities. This study aims to explore the integration of culture and Islam in Muslim minority areas in the context of implementing Islamic education. The research took place at two Madrasah Aliyah schools and one Madrasah Tsanawiyah located in Tarutung City. This study applied qualitative and phenomenological approach. The data were obtained through observation, interviews, and documentation techniques. Triangulation techniques were used to analyze the data. The informants involved in this study were community leaders, educational leaders and religious leaders. The results of the study show that Islamic religion and culture can be integrated in socializing Islamic education to people in Muslim minority areas in Indonesia. Many aspects of Batak culture are maintained because they are in accordance with Islamic religious teaching. Some aspect of Batak culture that are contrary to Islamic religious teachings are adapted to be compatible with Islamic religious teachings. In this study, the integration of Islamic religion and Batak  culture  went fairly smoothly and is accepted by the community to deliver in Islamic education in the region

OPEN ACCESS: AN OVERVIEW

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Blind source separation for clutter and noise suppression in ultrasound imaging:review for different applications

Blind source separation (BSS) refers to a number of signal processing techniques that decompose a signal into several 'source' signals. In recent years, BSS is increasingly employed for the suppression of clutter and noise in ultrasonic imaging. In particular, its ability to separate sources based on measures of independence rather than their temporal or spatial frequency content makes BSS a powerful filtering tool for data in which the desired and undesired signals overlap in the spectral domain. The purpose of this work was to review the existing BSS methods and their potential in ultrasound imaging. Furthermore, we tested and compared the effectiveness of these techniques in the field of contrast-ultrasound super-resolution, contrast quantification, and speckle tracking. For all applications, this was done in silico, in vitro, and in vivo. We found that the critical step in BSS filtering is the identification of components containing the desired signal and highlighted the value of a priori domain knowledge to define effective criteria for signal component selection

Efficacy of acute administration of inhaled argon on traumatic brain injury in mice

BACKGROUND: Whilst there has been progress in supportive treatment for traumatic brain injury (TBI), specific neuroprotective interventions are lacking. Models of ischaemic heart and brain injury show the therapeutic potential of argon gas, but it is still not known whether inhaled argon (iAr) is protective in TBI. We tested the effects of acute administration of iAr on brain oedema, tissue micro-environmental changes, neurological functions, and structural outcome in a mouse model of TBI. METHODS: Anaesthetised adult C57BL/6J mice were subjected to severe TBI by controlled cortical impact. Ten minutes after TBI, the mice were randomised to 24 h treatments with iAr 70%/O2 30% or air (iCtr). Sensorimotor deficits were evaluated up to 6 weeks post-TBI by three independent tests. Cognitive function was evaluated by Barnes maze test at 4 weeks. MRI was done to examine brain oedema at 3 days and white matter damage at 5 weeks. Microglia/macrophages activation and functional commitment were evaluated at 1 week after TBI by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: iAr significantly accelerated sensorimotor recovery and improved cognitive deficits 1 month after TBI, with less white matter damage in the ipsilateral fimbria and body of the corpus callosum. Early changes underpinning protection included a reduction of pericontusional vasogenic oedema and of the inflammatory response. iAr significantly reduced microglial activation with increases in ramified cells and the M2-like marker YM1. CONCLUSIONS: iAr accelerates recovery of sensorimotor function and improves cognitive and structural outcome 1 month after severe TBI in adult mice. Early effects include a reduction of brain oedema and neuroinflammation in the contused tissue

Single severe traumatic brain injury produces progressive pathology with ongoing contralateral white matter damage one year after injury

There is increasing recognition that traumatic brain injury (TBI) may initiate long-term neurodegenerative processes, particularly chronic traumatic encephalopathy. However, insight into the mechanisms transforming an initial biomechanical injury into a neurodegenerative process remain elusive, partly as a consequence of the paucity of informative pre-clinical models. This study shows the functional, whole brain imaging and neuropathological consequences at up to one year survival from single severe TBI by controlled cortical impact in mice. TBI mice displayed persistent sensorimotor and cognitive deficits. Longitudinal T2 weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed progressive ipsilateral (il) cortical, hippocampal and striatal volume loss, with diffusion tensor imaging demonstrating decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) at up to one year in the il-corpus callosum (CC: − 30%) and external capsule (EC: − 21%). Parallel neuropathological studies indicated reduction in neuronal density, with evidence of microgliosis and astrogliosis in the il-cortex, with further evidence of microgliosis and astrogliosis in the il-thalamus. One year after TBI there was also a decrease in FA in the contralateral (cl) CC (− 17%) and EC (− 13%), corresponding to histopathological evidence of white matter loss (cl-CC: − 68%; cl-EC: − 30%) associated with ongoing microgliosis and astrogliosis. These findings indicate that a single severe TBI induces bilateral, long-term and progressive neuropathology at up to one year after injury. These observations support this model as a suitable platform for exploring the mechanistic link between acute brain injury and late and persistent neurodegeneration

Placenta-derived cells for acute brain injury

Acute brain injury resulting from ischemic/hemorrhagic or traumatic damage is one of the leading causes of mortality and disability worldwide and is a significant burden to society. Neuroprotective options to counteract brain damage are very limited in stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Given the multifaceted nature of acute brain injury and damage progression, several therapeutic targets may need to be addressed simultaneously to interfere with the evolution of the injury and improve the patient’s outcome. Stem cells are ideal candidates since they act on various mechanisms of protection and repair, improving structural and functional outcomes after experimental stroke or TBI. Stem cells isolated from placenta offer advantages due to their early embryonic origin, ease of procurement, and ethical acceptance. We analyzed the evidence for the beneficial effects of placenta-derived stem cells in acute brain injury, with the focus on experimental studies of TBI and stroke, the engineering strategies pursued to foster cell potential, and characterization of the bioactive molecules secreted by placental cells, known as their secretome, as an alternative cell-free strategy. Results from the clinical application of placenta-derived stem cells for acute brain injury and ongoing clinical trials are summarily discussed