Evaluation of serum adenosine deaminase and 5′-nucleotidase activities as probable markers in ovarian cancer

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) and 5′-nucleotidase (5′-NT) activities were measured in sera of patients with ovarian cancer and patients with benign ovarian tumour. The results were compared with that of a control group consisting of healthy women. ADA levels were significantly increased (P<0.001) in the ovarian cancer group (n=50) but not in the benign group (n=28) when compared to the controls (n=20). The results indicate that ADA and 5′-NT levels may help to differentiate malignant conditions from benign tumours of the ovary in addition to the existing tests such as serum CA-125 levels and histopathological study.     

Exploring equity and quality education in South Africa using multilevel models

Educational reform in South Africa envisions schooling where all students, irrespective of their background characteristics, have the opportunity to succeed. To achieve this vision, the South African education system needs to function in such a way that students’ success does not depend on their backgrounds; that is, if school processes and policies in South Africa were inclusive and supportive of the learning of all students then we would expect high-quality schools to compensate for socio-economic disadvantage such that the achievement gap associated with the socio-economic status (SES) would be minimised. The main objective of this paper is to explore the relationship between school quality and socio-economic disadvantage. Our analysis, employing multilevel statistical models, indicates that:

1. schools do make a difference over and above the socio-economic backgrounds of learners they enrol;

2. learners are most successful in schools where they and their parents are actively engaged in the learning processes;

3. schools with these characteristics tend to compensate for learners’ socio-economic disadvantage;

4. learners from disadvantaged backgrounds are less successful in schools; and

5. the impact of SES on learners’ achievement levels is particularly prominent in high-achieving schools.

These findings call for the need to rethink the current schooling processes and policies to include structures that allow schools to provide opportunities to engage learners and their parents in the schooling processes with the objective of compensating for learners’ socio-economic disadvantage. We argue that this objective can be achieved through a capability framework where inclusion, democratic participation and child centredness serve as the major principles of the provision of quality education for all.     

Partial derivative properties of multivariable cascaded networks1

Some partial derivative properties of the impedance function of a resistively-terminated network which is a cascade of m lossless two-ports of variables p₁ to p_m dre established. Those cases where some of the lossless two-ports are lowpass or highpass ladder networks with all of their transmission zeros at the origin or at infinity are also examined. Necessary and sufficient conditions involving partial derivatives and under which an m-variable reactance or positive real function can be realized as the impedance function of a p_i-variable lowpass or highpass ladder network, with all of its transmission zeros at p_i = 0 or p_i = ∞, and terminated in a reactance or positive real impedance function in the other variables are derived.     

Lipid abnormalities,lipoprotein (a) and apoprotein pattern in non-dialyzed patients with chronic kidney disease

The present study was carried out to explore the altered lipid, lipoprotein and apoprotein abnormalities along with lipoprotein (a) in chronic kidney disease patients with stage I to V which were further divided into group 1 (stage I and II), group 2 (stage III and IV) and group 3 (stage V). 50 chronic kidney disease patients with stage I to V and 20 healthy normal subjects as controls were recruited for this study. Among the various parameters tested triglyceride levels were high in group 1 and 2, whereas VLDL cholesterol, Lp (a) and apo B levels were significantly high in all the groups when compared to controls (P<0.05). However, LDL cholesterol level was significantly low in group 3 only as compared to control group (P<0.05). Apoprotein AI values also showed significant decrease in all groups as compared to controls (P<0.05). Though total cholesterol levels in group 1 and LDL levels in group 1 and 2 were higher than controls, but the values attained not statistically significant (P>0.05). In conclusion high levels of VLDL cholesterol, Lp (a), apo B and low levels of apoprotein AI as reported in this study are the major lipid disorders in the development of cardiovascular complications at all the stages in these patients.     

Changes in antioxidant enzyme levels and DNA damage during aging

Multiple mechanisms underlie the human aging process, but interest continues in the role that free radicals and antioxidants may play. The concentrations of lymphocyte free radical generation (O₂ ⁻& H₂O₂), DNA damage and antioxidant enzyme levels (glutathione Stransferase, superoxide dismutase and catalase) were evaluated in 110 healthy individuals with an age range of 20–80 years. The antioxidant enzyme levels were significantly less in very old age when compared to young. Moreover, the levels of free radical concentration and DNA damage were increased in the same age group with respect to younger group. Cigarette smoking had a positive relation with free radicals and DNA damage, and inverse relation with antioxidants. On the other hand, body mass was found to have positive relation with free radical generation only. The data indicate that depletion of antioxidant enzyme levels would render the older people more susceptible to free radical stress and DNA damage.     

Addressing violence against teachers: A social-ecological analysis of teachers' perspectives

Much research has been dedicated to supporting school communities in combating the problem of school violence. However, violence directed toward teachers is under-investigated, and knowledge of how to support teachers is limited. This qualitative study used conventional content analysis to assess teachers' recommendations for preventing and improving the response to teacher-directed violence. The sample included 245 prekindergarten through 12th grade teachers, all of whom experienced school violence and participated in a larger national survey study on violence against teachers. Using a social-ecological framework and conventional content analysis, teacher recommendations for addressing teacher victimization were identified and organized at the individual, school, community, and society levels. Themes around conflict resolution strategies; improving policies, resources, and relationships with administrators; increasing parental involvement; and changing culture and laws were highlighted. Implications for research, practice, and policy are discussed.     

Collaborative information seeking: A field study of a multidisciplinary patient care team

Multidisciplinary teams are an essential aspect of modern organizational work. These teams often work in information-rich environments but little is known about their collaborative information seeking (CIS) behavior. We have been studying the CIS behavior of teams in the context of medical care. We conducted an ethnographic field study of a multidisciplinary patient care team in an emergency department to identify (a) team information needs and (b) situations that trigger collaborative information seeking activities. We identified seven categories of information needs as expressed by questions asked by team members. The majority of questions focused on medical information, but there were a larger than expected percentage of questions focusing on organizational information. We also identified three triggers for CIS activities. These triggers are: (1) lack of expertise, (2) lack of immediately accessible information, and (3) complex information needs. The questions and triggers highlight the importance of face-to-face communication during CIS activities and how CIS activities could lead to interruptive workplaces. We also discuss organizational and technical implications for supporting CIS behavior of teams.     

A model for understanding collaborative information behavior in context: A study of two healthcare teams

Collaborative information behavior is an essential aspect of organizational work; however, we have very limited understanding of this behavior. Most models of information behavior focus on the individual seeker of information. In this paper, we report the results from two empirical studies that investigate aspects of collaborative information behavior in organizational settings. From these studies, we found that collaborative information behavior differs from individual information behavior with respect to how individuals interact with each other, the complexity of the information need, and the role of information technology. There are specific triggers for transitioning from individual to collaborative information behavior, including lack of domain expertise. The information retrieval technologies used affect collaborative information behavior by acting as important supporting mechanisms. From these results and prior work, we develop a model of collaborative information behavior along the axes of participant behavior, situational elements, and contextual triggers. We also present characteristics of collaborative information system including search, chat, and sharing. We discuss implications for the design of collaborative information retrieval systems and directions for future work.     

Diagnostic strategies for subclinical hypothyroidism

The aim of this study is to delineate laboratory diagnostic strategies for subclinical hypothyroidism in patients who are clinically symptomatic but may have a normal thyroid profile. Tri — iodothyronine (T₃), thyroxine (T₄), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and anti thyroid peroxidase antibodies (anti-TPO) were estimated on fasting blood samples from 99 patients using electrochemiluminescence methods on ELECSYS 1010 (Roche). 74% of study subjects had elevated anti-TPO levels.61% patients had subclinical hypothyroidism. 45 of the 61 subclinical hypothyroid patients had elevated anti-TPO levels (73%). This is an important finding suggesting an autoimmune etiology for subclinical thyroid dysfunction with a higher risk of developing overt hypothyroidism.     

Malnutrition-inflammation-atherosclerosis syndrome in Chronic Kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease is becoming a major health problem globally and in India an alarming number of about 8 million people are suffering from this disease. Patients undergoing hemodialysis have a high prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition and inflammation. As these two conditions often occur concomitantly in hemodialysis patients, they have been referred together as ‘malnutrition-inflammation-atherosclerosis syndrome’ to emphasize the important association with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The three factors related to the pathophysiology in these patients are dialysis related nutrient loss, increased protein catabolism and hypoalbuminemia. Inflammation in Chronic Kidney disease is the most important factor in the genesis of several complications in renal disease. Pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-1 and TNF-alpha play a major role in the onset of metabolic alterations in Chronic Kidney disease patients. Atherosclerosis is a very frequent complication in uremia due to the coexistence of hypertension, hyperhomocysteinemia, inflammation, malnutrition and increased oxidative stress, generation of advanced glycation end products, advanced oxidation protein products, hyperlipidemia and altered structural and functional ability of HDL. LDL-cholesterol, apolipoprotein (A), apolipoprotein (B), and Lp(a) are also associated with atherosclerosis. Studies have now provided enormous data to enable the evaluation of the severity of malnutrition-inflammation-atherosclerosis syndrome as well as effective monitoring of these patients.