Moderately high altitude habitation modulates lipid profile and alkaline phosphatase activity in aged <Emphasis Type="Italic">Khasis</Emphasis> of Meghalaya

The indigenous Khasis inhabit different geographical and climatic locations of Meghalaya. In this study, we intended to find out whether habitation in moderately high altitude place has any effect on the lipid and liver profile amongst the aged Khasis. The level of various serum parameters under lipid and liver profile were analyzed and compared from aged (65–70 years) male Khasi residents of moderately high (Shillong city) and low (Byrnihat) altitude places. Results obtained from the lipid profile data show decreased total serum cholesterol (29%), triglyceride (27%) and LDL-cholesterol (42%) level in the old Khasis of Shillong compared to Byrnihat. Furthermore, the alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly raised (47%) in the old Khasis from Shillong as against Byrnihat. The decreased level of total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL-cholesterol in old Khasis from Shillong may be due to living and acclimatization in high altitude with low annual temperature. Moderately high elevation could have acted as a stressor, thereby reducing the level of serum cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL-cholesterol, which may put them at a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases. In comparison, old residents of Byrnihat with high cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL-cholesterol levels may elevate their risk of coronary complications. The raised alkaline phosphatase activity amongst the old Khasis of Shillong could be due to increased bone and/or intestinal turnover as a result of living in high altitude, which, however, may elevate the risk of osteoporosis. Taken together, we conclude that low cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL-cholesterol levels, accompanied with high alkaline phosphatase activity amongst the old Khasis of Shillong, could be due to the influence of high altitude and mild climatic conditions that prevails.     

Effect of calcium channel blockers on stress-induced visceral, endocrinological and immune responses

In the present study effects of five commonly used calcium channel blockers (CCBs) belonging to different chemical classes have been investigated on stress-induced modulation of some visceral, endocrinological and immunological parameters in rats and mice. Restraint stress (RS) produced gastric mucosal lesions, increased plasma corticosterone levels and reduced antiSRBC antibody titre, a measure of humoral immune response and % leucocyte migration inhibition (% LMI) and foot pad thickness, measures of cell-mediated immunity. Nimodipine (10, 20 40 mg/kg, i.p.) and flunarizine (10, 20, 40 mg/kg, i.p.) antagonised the effect of RS on gastric ulcerogenesis and plasma corticosterone levels but failed to modulate the stress-induced suppression of both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. Thus, CCBs appear to modulate stress-induced visceral, endocrinological and immune responses, albeit in a differential manner.     

Inhibitory effect of metalloporphyrins in conjunction with cholesterol on hepatic phospholipase A2 activityin vivo in rats

We investigated the effect of cholesterol and the metalloporphyrins cobalt mesoporphyrin (CoMP) and chromium protoporphyrin (CrPP) on phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) activity and the consequent hepatic mitochondrial stability as well as on lipid concentrations. Our studies revealed that on administration of cholesterol, CrPP, CoMP as well as simultaneous adminstration of cholesterol and CrPP, there was an inhibition of PLA₂ activity. These moieties may therefore, be agents for preventing destabilisation of the mitochondrial membrane and the consequent pathological conditions which may arise due to membrane lysis. Our results revealed that cholesterol administration increased phospholipid concentration, albeit by modest amounts. Although the independent administration of metalloporphyrins led only to minor elevations in phospholipid concentration, the simultaneous administration of cholesterol and CrPP generated a steep elevation in the concentration of total phospholipid. Since cholesterol inhibits PLA₂ activity it has the potential of being therapeutic agent for preventing the pathological conditions which may arise due to membrane lysis.     

Jung,Insung & Latchem,Colin ed (2012) Quality assurance and accreditation in distance education and e‐learning Routledge (New York & London) isbn 978‐0‐415‐88735‐9 285 pp $44.95http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415887359/

Informative, useful, and with practical inputs on quality assurance and accreditation in open, distance and e‐learning education, this book is worthy to be consulted by teachers, researchers, quality technicians, practitioners, and policy makers. If the content of this book is likely to be relevant to you, you should arrange to borrow a copy for a while. Ramesh Sharma     

Using indicators as a catalyst for inclusive education in the Pacific Islands

The Pacific Island countries are committed to promoting disability-inclusive education through enactment of the Pacific Education Development Framework. To support this move, key stakeholders have identified the need for developing local and contextually appropriate indicators for measuring progress of disability-inclusive education. This paper reports on the usefulness of a newly developed tool (Pacific Indicators for Disability-Inclusive Education – Pacific-INDIE) as a catalyst in implementing inclusive education in the Pacific. Data were collected from a range of stakeholders who have used the Pacific-INDIE in three countries (Fiji, Samoa and Solomon Islands). Thematic analysis was used to identify the key themes relating to the usefulness of the tool. The key themes that emerged from the data included, positive outcomes, challenges, planned future directions, and process issues. The findings discussed are related to how the indicators can best support future policy development and implementation of disability-inclusive education across the region.     

A Pilot Study Applying Social Cognitive Theory to Predict HPV Vaccination Intentions of Unvaccinated College Women

Although college-aged women are at high risk for human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, many college women remain unvaccinated against HPV. Testing health behavior theory can assist sexuality educators in identifying behavioral antecedents to promote behavior change within an intervention. The purpose of this pilot study was to utilize social cognitive theory (SCT) to predict unvaccinated college women's intentions to receive the HPV vaccine within the next six months. A total of 197 unvaccinated college women ages 18–26 attending a large public southeastern university in the United States completed an online questionnaire to assess SCT constructs. Expectations, HPV knowledge, self-efficacy to get the HPV vaccine, situational perception, self-control to get the HPV vaccine, and self-efficacy in overcoming barriers to get the HPV vaccine were regressed on HPV vaccination intentions using the stepwise method. Self-control (p < 0.001, β = .292) and situational perception (p < 0.001, β = .332) were significant predictors of intentions to receive the HPV vaccine, explaining 23.5% of its variance. The results of this pilot study suggest that sexuality educators should aim to increase self-control and situational perception in order to increase HPV vaccination intentions among college women.     

The impact of training on pre-service teacher attitudes,concerns, and efficacy towards inclusion

Thirty pre-service teachers took part in a nine-week university course focussed on the benefits of inclusive education and the techniques needed to successfully implement it. The Teachers’ Attitudes Toward Inclusion Scale (TATIS), Concerns about Inclusive Education Scale (CIES), and Teacher’s Efficacy in Implementing Inclusive Practices (TEIP) were administered prior to and following the university course. Paired sample t-tests revealed that participants’ attitudes and efficacy increased significantly following the course while their concerns decreased significantly. Mixed design ANOVAs revealed that pre-service teachers without past experience of teaching students with disabilities had the largest improvement in attitudes. Pre-service teachers who were not acquainted with a person with a disability had significantly larger decreases in concern level and increases in efficacy level than those who were acquainted with a person with a disability. These results are discussed and implications for future research outlined.     

Interpreting HbA1c in Presence of Deficiency Anemias

HbA1c is used extensively for the diagnosis and management of diabetes mellitus. It constitutes 80% of glycated HbA1(Glycated haemoglobin(GHb)A), and depends upon blood glucose and RBC life span. RBC life span varies with anemia, leading to a consequent alteration in the HbA1c value irrespective of the circulating blood glucose concentration. But to the best of our knowledge no Hb cut offs have been derived for appropriate interpretation of HbA1c. The prevalence of anemia in Indian population is nearly 40% as per its definition by WHO—Hb < 12 g/dL in females and < 13 g/dL in males—with most cases attributable to nutritional deficiencies. Hence, we aimed to identify Hb cut-off for accurate interpretation of HbA_1c in presence of deficiency anemias. Partial correlation between random blood glucose (RBG) and HbA_1c was studied in 1312 subjects, 470 of whom had deficiency-related anemia]. The data was adjusted for age, sex and Hb. Partial correlation between RBG and HbA1c was highly significant (p < 0.0001) till Hb of 8.1 gm/dL. Significance reduced to p = 0.003 and p = 0.006 as the cut off of Hb reduced to 7.1 gm/dL and 5.0 gm/dL, respectively, but was not lost. Hence, caution in interpretation of HbA_1c is not required till an Hb of 5 g/dL.     

Development and validation of a short form of the Teacher Efficacy for Inclusive Practices Scale (TEIP-SF)

High self-efficacy is a marker of successful teaching and is, therefore, a subject of great interest to research on inclusive education. One of the most frequently used instruments to assess such beliefs is the Teacher Efficacy for Inclusive Practice (TEIP) scale. Although used widely, some studies did not precisely replicate the original factor structure, and no short form of the TEIP scale currently exists, although this could enhance measurement efficiency. This study (1) systematically assessed the TEIP scale's factor structure and psychometric properties, (2) identified potentially problematic items and developed a more concise short form of the scale, and (3) evaluated its dimensionality and criterion and convergent validities using three validation samples of teachers in three different countries (486 in Switzerland, 189 in Australia and 276 in Canada). Compared to the full-length TEIP scale, the TEIP-SF uses half the items, demonstrates better model fit and reveals a clearer distinction of domain-specific factors. In conclusion, the TEIP-SF represents a concise, efficient means of assessing teachers' self-efficacy about teaching in inclusive classrooms.