Comparing the Effects of E-Learning and Conventional Training on Learning and Motivation in Continuing Medical Education

Abstract: this study is carried out to investigate the effect of application of computer-assisted concept mapping on high school students’ immediate and long-term geology learning compared to conventional (Paper & pen) method. “pretest-post-test” semi experimental design with control group has been used at the study. Two classes of G11 grade students were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Participants in Experimental group were asked to create several concept-maps with use of C-map software on Geology topics and students in control group were asked to do the same with conventional (Paper & Pen) method of concept mapping. After performing pre-test, students in both groups were asked to create concept map diagrams for 6 sessions (2 hours length), and then immediately the first post-test and after three weeks the second post-test were performed to assess their immediate and long-term learning on geology concepts and topics. Three teacher-made tests each contain 25 questions were used to assess students’ learning. The cronbach alpha reliability coefficient was 0.79. Analysis of covariance and t-test were performed to analyze the data. Results revealed that the mean scores of both students’ immediate and long-term learning in experimental group were significantly higher than the control group. Considering Eta square coefficient indicates that implementing computer-assisted concept mapping in geology education can account for 33 percent of students’ immediate and 49 percent of their longterm learning. It can be concluded that computer-assisted mapping can improve students’ learning

Oncometabolites as biomarkers in thyroid cancer: a systematic review

Fatemeh Khatami,1 Moloud Payab,2 Masoumeh Sarvari,3 Kambiz Gilany,3–5 Bagher Larijani,6 Babak Arjmand,7 Seyed Mohammad Tavangar1,8 1Chronic Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 2Obesity and Eating Habits Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 3Metabolomics and Genomics Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolomics Molecular Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 4Reproductive Biotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran; 5Integrative Oncology Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, Acercr, Tehran, Iran; 6Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 7Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 8Department of Pathology, Dr. Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Introduction: Thyroid cancer (TC) is an important common endocrine malignancy, and its incidence has increased in the past decades. The current TC diagnosis and classification tools are fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and histological examination following thyroidectomy. The metabolite profile alterations of thyroid cells (oncometabolites) can be considered for current TC diagnosis and management protocols.Methods: This systematic review focuses on metabolite alterations within the plasma, FNA specimens, and tissue of malignant TC contrary to benign, goiter, or healthy TC samples. A systematic search of MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases was conducted, and the final 31 studies investigating metabolite biomarkers of TC were included.Results: A total of 15 targeted studies and 16 untargeted studies revealed several potential metabolite signatures of TC such as glucose, fructose, galactose, mannose, 2-keto-d-gluconic acid and rhamnose, malonic acid and inosine, cholesterol and arachidonic acid, glycosylation (immunoglobulin G [IgG] Fc-glycosylation), outer mitochondrial membrane 20 (TOMM20), monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4), choline, choline derivatives, myo-/scyllo-inositol, lactate, fatty acids, several amino acids, cell membrane phospholipids, estrogen metabolites such as 16 alpha-OH E1/2-OH E1 and catechol estrogens (2-OH E1), and purine and pyrimidine metabolites, which were suggested as the TC oncometabolite.Conclusion: Citrate was suggested as the first most significant biomarker and lactate as the second one. Further research is needed to confirm these biomarkers as the TC diagnostic oncometabolite. Keywords: biomarkers, oncometabolites, thyroid cancer, TC, systematic revie

Association of healthy food intake with psychiatric distress in children and adolescents: The CASPIAN-IV study

Background: Healthy dietary habits are known as a key factor for improving brain functions and cognitive ability in children and adolescents. The goal of this study was to evaluate the association of healthy food consumption with mental health in Iranian children and adolescents. Materials and Methods: Data were obtained from the fourth national school-based surveillance survey entitled CASPIAN-IV study. In this study, 14880 children and adolescents aged 6-18 years were selected by multistage, cluster sampling method from rural and urban areas. The students and their parents completed two sets of questionnaires. The psychiatric distress included depression, worry, insomnia, anxiety, aggression, confusion, and worthless and the violent behaviors comprised of physical fight, victim and bully. The healthy foods included fresh fruits, dried fruits, vegetables and dairy products. Results: The participants include 13,486 students from elementary, intermediate and high school degree. The prevalence of psychiatric distress was significantly higher among high school students, while violent behaviors were more prevalent in the middle school students. According to the multivariate model (model IV), the risk of psychiatric distress was significantly lower in students with daily consumption of fresh fruits, vegetables and milk. In addition, those with daily consumption of vegetables and milk had significantly lower risk for violent behaviors. Conclusion: Consumption of healthy foods may reduce the risk of psychiatric distress and violent behaviors. Therefore, in addition to its benefits, increasing healthy food consumption among children and adolescents can be useful in preventing mental health disorders

Association of healthy food intake with psychiatric distress in children and adolescents: The CASPIAN-IV study

Background: Healthy dietary habits are known as a key factor for improving brain functions and cognitive ability in children and adolescents. The goal of this study was to evaluate the association of healthy food consumption with mental health in Iranian children and adolescents. Materials and Methods: Data were obtained from the fourth national school-based surveillance survey entitled CASPIAN-IV study. In this study, 14880 children and adolescents aged 6-18 years were selected by multistage, cluster sampling method from rural and urban areas. The students and their parents completed two sets of questionnaires. The psychiatric distress included depression, worry, insomnia, anxiety, aggression, confusion, and worthless and the violent behaviors comprised of physical fight, victim and bully. The healthy foods included fresh fruits, dried fruits, vegetables and dairy products. Results: The participants include 13,486 students from elementary, intermediate and high school degree. The prevalence of psychiatric distress was significantly higher among high school students, while violent behaviors were more prevalent in the middle school students. According to the multivariate model (model IV), the risk of psychiatric distress was significantly lower in students with daily consumption of fresh fruits, vegetables and milk. In addition, those with daily consumption of vegetables and milk had significantly lower risk for violent behaviors. Conclusion: Consumption of healthy foods may reduce the risk of psychiatric distress and violent behaviors. Therefore, in addition to its benefits, increasing healthy food consumption among children and adolescents can be useful in preventing mental health disorders

Osteoporosis and cognitive impairment interwoven warning signs: community-based study on older adults—Bushehr Elderly Health (BEH) Program

Summary: Cognitive impairment and osteoporosis are frequently seen to coincide in clinical practice. Osteoporosis was higher in elderly populations with cognitive impairment, especially in postmenopausal women. Thus, prophylaxis for osteoporosis, falls, and fractures should be considered as part of the treatment of patients with cognitive impairment. Introduction: Cognitive impairment and osteoporosis are two important health concerns among older adults that their possible relationship, concurrent occurrence, and linking mechanism have recently been highlighted. The purpose of this study was to assess the sex-independent association of these two conditions. Materials and methods: From among 2331 individuals aged ≥ 60 years selected in Bushehr Elderly Health (BEH) Program, Iran; data of 1508 participants were analyzed. Cognitive status was assessed using Category Fluency Test and Mini-cog assessment instrument. Association between osteopenia–osteoporosis and cognitive impairment were assessed using uni- and multivariable logistic regression models. Results: Osteoporosis was diagnosed in 598 (39.6%) of the participants (58.3% female and 21.9% male, P < 0.001). From among them, 677 (44.9%) had evidence of cognitive impairment (64.5% female and 31.0% male, P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regressions showed spinal and total hip osteoporosis was associated with 1.83 (CI 95% 1.13–2.96) and 2.24-fold (CI 95% 1.28–3.89) increase in the risk of cognitive impairment among female subjects, respectively. Ordinal logistic regression, on the other hand, revealed cognitive impairment to be associated with 1.42-fold (CI 95% 1.04–1.92) increase in the risk of spinal osteopenia–osteoporosis, 1.5-fold increase in total hip osteoporosis (CI 95% 1.09–2.05), and 1.48-fold increase in general osteoporosis (CI 95% 1.06–2.0). Conclusion: Different degrees of bone loss and cognitive impairment may be a risk factor for each other among women but not in men. It is suggested that the screening, adopting preventive measures for the other condition and regular follow-ups, if needed, could be of utmost importance

Bone characteristics and metabolic phenotypes of obesity in an Iranian Elderly population: Bushehr Elderly Health Program (BEHP)

Introduction Obesity and osteoporosis are health problems with high impact on the morbidity and mortality rate. While the association between BMI and bone density is known, the combined effects of obesity and metabolic components on bone health have not yet been revealed. The objectives of this study were to determine the association between bone health and different phenotypes of obesity in an elderly population. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on the data collected in the Bushehr Elderly Health Program (BEHP). The participants were classified in four groups based on the metabolic phenotypes of obesity (metabolic healthy obese (MHO), metabolic non-healthy non-obese (MNHNO), metabolic non-healthy obese (MNHO), and metabolic healthy non-obese (MHNO)). The association between osteoporosis and TBS and the metabolic phenotypes of obesity were assessed using multiple variable logistic regression models. Results Totally, 2378 people (1227 women) were considered for analyses. The prevalence of MHNO, MHO, MNHNO, and MNHO were 902 (39.9%), 138 (6.1%), 758 (33.5%), and 464 (20.5%), respectively. In the multivariate logistic regression models, those with MHO (OR 0.22; 95% CI 0.12–0.36), MNHNO (OR 0.52; 95% CI 0.4–0.66), and MNHO phenotypes (OR 0.22; 95% CI 0.16–0.3) had a significantly lower risk of osteoporosis. Likewise, those having MHO (OR 2.38; 95% CI 1.51–3.76), MNHNO (OR 1.49; 95% CI 1.11–2), and MNHO (OR 2.50; 95% CI 1.82–3.42) phenotypes were found to had higher risk of low bone quality as confirmed by TBS. Conclusions The obese subjects have lower bone quality, regardless of their obesity phenotype