Referencing echocardiographic measurements for premature and low-birth weight infants

Thesis (M. Tech. (Clinical Technology)) -- Central University of technology, Free State, 2012Introduction: Reference ranges for cardiac measurement are available for adults, children and term infants but the same cannot be said for preterm or small for gestational age (SGA) infants surviving as a result of modern intensive care units. No published data of reference ranges for preterm infants exists for the South African population. Infants with congenital heart disease are twice as likely to be small for their gestational age and these reference ranges may affect clinical management decisions, therapeutic response and prognosis of these neonates. The aim was thus to establish reference ranges for cardiac dimensions and functional values for preterm and low birth weight infants for central South Africa and compare them with international standards. Methods: A total of 290 infants of less than 34 weeks of age and weighing less than 2500g at birth were examined during a twelve month period by echocardiography during the first 0-28 days of life. The study assessed normative cardiac measurements divided in M-Mode, 2-D and functional measurement for these infants in 3 weight groups. Exclusion criteria were applied to any condition affecting the size and functionality of the cardiac system. The following dimensions were measured: Standard M-Mode values for the left ventricle, 2D measurements of valve mitral and tricuspid orifices, as well as functional assessments including Shortening fraction (SF %), Ejection fraction (EF %), and Muscle performance Index (MPI)-index of the Left and Right ventricle. Measurements were done by the leading edge methodology following the ASE recommendations. A longitudinal study was also done to examine changes in these indices over the first month- on day 14 and day 28 of life. Interobserver differences were calculated for the variability between measurements of a single scan- 25 babies were re-measured and produced good repeatability. Results: 290 infants were included to produce Referance ranges of measurements (means and standard deviations) for 3 weight groups namely: <0.999g, 1000-1499g, and 1500g – 2500g. The gestational age’s ranges between 26-38 weeks with a median of 31 weeks, gender distribution was almost equal with a slight female preponderance. Body surface area ranged from a minimum from 0.076 m² and a maximum of 0.184 m², the body weight ranged between a minimum of 690g and a maximum of 2500g with a median of 1360g. Discussion: The left ventricular diastolic and systolic, interventricular septum, posterior wall, aortic and left atrium dimensions showed a proportionate increase in diameter with an increase in body weight There were no differences in cardiac dimensions between Small for Gestational age” (SGA) versus “Average for Gestational age” (AGA). Gender and race played no role in any functional measurements or with the cardiac sizes. Weight correlated well with BSA and the data suggest that weight only can be used to develop tables for clinical use. Cardiac chambers increased with BSA and weight and functional measurements stayed the same throughout the weight groups. Systolic and global functions were remarkably similar and constant throughout weight categories. . The longitudinal study also confirmed that the values are applicable to all low birth weight infants up to 28 days of age. Differences existed between some of the average South African infant’s cardiac chambers and international values. The Inter Ventricular Septum (IVS) and Posterior Wall (PW) measured thicker and the Left Atrium larger. This could be due to numerous factors that should be investigated further. Conclusion: The study emphasized the profound effect of growth and weight gain on the cardiac structure and that population specific reference values should therefore be developed and used

Far-right discourse as legitimacy? Analysing political rhetoric on the “migration issue” in Greece

This article advances research on the normalisation of far-right rhetoric on the “migration issue” by analysing statements from the current Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and the ruling political party New Democracy political figures. Having presented the discourse-historical approach (DHA) from critical discourse studies (CDS) as a suitable theory and method of analysis of political discourses, I use an argumentative-based DHA approach and add the argumentative schemes of Aristotelian topoi and fallacies to explore how the leadership of the conservative New Democracy government adopted far-right rhetoric on the refugee issue to justify its tough political agenda on security, law, and order. In particular, I focus on the representation of migration as a threat to national security and public health, the politics of hate, and theories of securitisation via an in-depth analysis of the current and former prime ministers’ discourses, the former government spokesman’s statement on the refugee issue and a popular journalist and New Democracy’s MP television interview, and intend to illustrate how extreme right rhetoric could serve the conservative New Democracy’s political strategies

Formación docente para la valoración y el examen en idiomas: evaluación en un programa de posgrado desde la perspectiva de sus estudiantes

A review of research conducted on language assessment teacher education (TE) revealed a lack of studies focused on the participants’ perspective. This work concentrates on the evaluation of an online computer-assisted language assessment and testing (CALAT) TE program offered for four consecutive years. The research was based on a conceptual, multidimensional e-learning evaluation model. The data were obtained from 19 practicing language teachers who attended the MA in Computer-Assisted Language Learning via an online anonymous survey focused on 1) the participants’ engagement; 2) course organization, teaching mode, and materials; 3) course strengths; 4) course aspects most helpful for learning; and 5) course aspects that constituted obstacles for learning. The results indicate the participants’ positive attitude towards the course; they highlighted that their knowledge, skills, and principles had improved, as well as the constructivist instructional design and the organization, teaching modes, and materials of the course, which motivated them and involved them in active interaction and collaboration. The participants also perceived the assessment practices performed during the course in a positive way, which favored their learning and teaching practice within the classroom. The results also include some recommendations for course improvement. Una revisión de investigaciones sobre formación docente (FD) en evaluación de idiomas reveló la ausencia de estudios centrados en la perspectiva del estudiante. Este trabajo se centra en la evaluación de un programa de FD sobre evaluación y pruebas de lenguaje asistidas por computadora (CALAT) realizado en línea y ofrecido durante cuatro años consecutivos. La investigación se basó en un modelo de evaluación conceptual multidimensional de e-learning. Los datos fueron obtenidos de 19 estudiantes de posgrado, que cursaban el Master en Aprendizaje de Idiomas Asistido por Computadora, a través de una encuesta anónima en línea a centrada en (i) el compromiso de los participantes; (ii) la organización, modalidad de enseñanza y materiales del curso; (iii) las fortalezas del curso; (iv) los aspectos del curso más útiles para el aprendizaje; y (v) los aspectos del curso que constituían obstáculos para el aprendizaje. Los resultados indican una percepción positiva de los participantes hacia el curso; destacaron que habían mejorado sus conocimientos, habilidades y principios, al tiempo que destacaron el diseño instruccional constructivista y la organización, la metodología y materiales de enseñanza del curso, lo que los motivó e involucró en interacción y colaboración activas. Los participantes también percibieron positivamente las prácticas de evaluación realizadas durante el curso, lo cual favoreció su aprendizaje y su labor docente en el aula. Los resultados también contemplan algunas recomendaciones para la mejora del curso

Social actors and institutional carriers in small island states: Examining the role of partnerships in influencing organisations’ approach towards environmental disclosure

Island societies are states with distinct inherent characteristics and vulnerabilities.Their features are important constraints in the development and adaption of actions towards environmental disclosure.Since 1992, international bodies and institutions have been emphasizing the importance of international cooperation and partnerships for helping island societies overcome their inherent obstacles and engage in environmental matters and consequently environmental disclosure.Although international bodies and institutions have been pointing out the importance of studying island societies for many years, in academic research it remains relatively unexplored.This research adopts neo-institutional theory and Scott’s theoretical framework on institutional carriers to examine the role of partnerships in imposing institutional carriers and influencing organisational behaviour towards environmental disclosure.The study examines island societies that have been cooperating through partnerships with large developed countries. Social actors are analysed at three levels, partnerships being one of them, (a) transnational through the European Union, (b) societal through domestic society and politics, and (c) the organisational field through industrial sectors, in an attempt to examine the role of social actors in shaping the structure of organisations and ascertain their interaction in diffusing institutional carriers for environmental disclosure.Qualitative content analysis was used to examine and interpret semi-structured face-to-face interviews with private and public sector organisations and the governmental environment representative

Comparison of carbetocin and oxytocin in the prevention of atonic post-partum hemorrhage following normal vaginal delivery

Background: Post-partum hemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide. Use of uterotonic drugs in active management of third stage of labour has been found to be most effective in prevention of PPH.  Aims and objectives were to compare the efficacy and safety of carbitocin and oxytocin for prophylaxis of post-partum hemorrhage after singleton, term vaginal deliveries.Methods: Prospective randomized interventional study of 250 women with singleton term pregnancies undergoing vaginal delivery at MGM Women and Children’s Hospital, Kalamboli from May 2021 to May 2022. Participants randomized into 2 groups, group A and B receiving carbitocin and oxytocin respectively. Post-delivery uterine tone, vaginal bleeding, change in Hb and PCV, occurrence of adverse effects used to assess efficacy and safety of both drugs.Results: Carbetocin was statistically equal to oxytocin in preventing uterine atony and hence PPH, with similar duration of uterotonic action and lesser requirement of other uterotonic drugs. There was no incidence of adverse effects in either group.Conclusions: Since carbetocin is an effective, room temperature stable uterotonic drug with minimal side effects, it can be beneficial for use in prevention of PPH in rural settings

Razmerja med epistemološkimi verjetji in pojmovnim razumevanjem evolucije z naravno selekcijo

This study researches relationships between 12th-grade students’ epistemological beliefs towards science and their conceptual understanding of evolution by natural selection. Forty-two 12th-grade students in a suburban high school in Cyprus, who participated in a biology course, completed measures of their: (a) epistemological beliefs towards science before the intervention of being taught evolution n (b) conceptual understanding of evolution by natural selection after evolution intervention, (c) epistemological beliefs towards science after evolution intervention. Based on previous research, we hypothesised there would be a significant relationship between students’ epistemological beliefs and their conceptual understanding of evolution by natural selection after the evolution intervention. We also hypothesised that inquiry-based intervention on evolution by natural selection would foster students’ epistemological beliefs. Our results indicate that participants’ initial epistemological beliefs predict very modestly and statistically non-significant learning achievements on conceptual understanding of evolution by natural selection. However, our results show a significant improvement in participants’ epistemological beliefs after engagement in an inquiry-based intervention on evolution by natural selection. The educational significance of this and its implications are discussed. (DIPF/Orig.

CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY OF OVARIAN NEOPLASMS – AN INSTITUTIONAL PERSPECTIVE

Objective: The objective of the study was to know the frequency and histomorphological patterns of ovarian neoplasms concerning age. Methods: A 2-year retrospective study was done in the pathology department, GITAM Institute of Medical Sciences and Research. Data were retrieved from laboratory records, H &amp; E slides of ovarian biopsies of diagnosed neoplasms were screened. Results: During the study period, 70 ovarian neoplasms were reported. Ovarian tumors were categorized according to the WHO classification. In this study surface, epithelial tumors were most common at 87.14% followed by germ cell tumors at 11.42% and sex cord-stromal tumors at 1.42%. Serous cystadenoma was the most common benign surface epithelial tumor. Conclusion: Histopathology is the gold standard for diagnosing ovarian neoplasms. Newer diagnostic techniques such as immunohistochemistry and morphometric analysis help decide management and prognosis

Social support, emotional well-being, and emotion regulation: A mediation model

Honors (Bachelor's)Biopsychology, Cognition, and NeurosciencePsychologyUniversity of Michiganhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/102761/1/salomi.pd