Abstract : Medical students acquire professional training in interprofessional education, which enables them with the information, abilities, attitudes, and professionalism necessary to foster interprofessional clinical practice and healthcare. It is important to consider students' attitudes and readiness while implementing Interprofessional education (IPE) in health education programs. The objective of the current study was to assess the readiness for interprofessional education among MBBS and BDS preclinical students at a private medical university. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional review borad. The present study was a cross-sectional study with purposive sampling method. Preclinical MBBS and BDS students were given the Readiness for Inter-Professional Learning Scale (RIPLS) questionnaire after informed consent as part of the study. This study included 307 preclinical students. Among them, 183 were from the MBBS program and 124 were from the BDS program. In our study, the mean RIPLS scores for MBBS and BDS students were found to be 4.15 and 4.0, respectively. The mean scores for the subscales of teamwork and collaboration for MBBS and BDS were 4.46 and 4.34, respectively. Both professional groups showed readiness for IPE scoring high (83%) in understanding the importance of teamwork and collaboration. 91% of participants agreed that shared learning is crucial, demonstrating their readiness for IPE. 73% of the participants could identify the negative professional identity. In terms of roles and responsibilities, 8% of respondents said they were unsure about their professional roles, and 46 % stated they needed to develop their skill set. The study's findings indicated that preclinical MBBS and BDS students showed readiness for IPE. This may be a significant factor in emphasizing the importance of IPE in the early preclinical stages of medical and dental programs..
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Abstract : RMGI (resin-modified glass ionomer cement) was evaluated after 24 hours and 6 months to determine whether nano-sized titanium dioxide particles affected shear bond strength to dentine. Eighty molar teeth were utilized in this research. Each tooth's occlusal surface was cut to disclose mid-coronal dentine to produce a surface smooth before abrading surface dentine by using silicon carbide paper with a granularity of 600. Teeth have been placed in a self-curing acrylic resin mold. Titanium dioxide particles were accurately weighted with a digital balance before being added to RMGI powder to boost nanoparticle mass percentage in glass powder reach 5%. Teeth were randomly divided into two divisions established on the presence of titanium dioxide nanoparticles. Group A (control): (RMGI) without use of nano titanium dioxide particles (40 specimens). (RMGI) containing nano titanium dioxide particles (40 specimens) was used in Group B. To form to modified glass ionomer resin cement sample of 4 mm height in and 4 mm in diameter, The mixture of powder and liquid was done as stated by the manufacturer's instructions and packed into Teflon molds. Based on the samples had been stored, each group was then subdivided into two subgroups. Subgroup 1 (20 samples) was kept in synthetic saliva for 24 hours. Subgroup 2: For a total of six months, the specimens (20 in total) were maintained in synthetic saliva. We used an Instron universal testing machine to determine shear strength. The RMGIC specimen from group A (control group) with no additives exhibited the greatest mean shear bond strength (MPa) after 24 hours (5.53 1.27), followed by group B at six months (10.84 1.15), and group A at twelve months (5.53 1.27). (5.82 1.24). The control group of mean shear bond strength (RMGIC specimen without any additives) was significantly lower. After 24 hours and after six months, there was a significant difference between mean shear bonds between groups A and B (p<0.001). According to the constraints of this investigation, it seems as though we might strengthen the binding between the resin-modified glass ionomer powder and dentine by adding 5% nano-sized titanium dioxide particles..
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Abstract : Perceived threat is recognised as one of the individual's cognitive assessments toward the likelihood of a danger affecting them and how bad it will be if it does. Additionally, coping strategies are a specific effort, that people employ to master, tolerate, reduce or minimize stressful events. Due to the massive impact of the recent COVID-19 global pandemic, this study aims to explore the perceived threat and coping strategies adopted by Malaysian nurses in facing COVID-19 infections. A cross-sectional study was conducted through an online form involving 319 randomly selected nurses from a teaching hospital on the east coast of Pahang, Malaysia. The perceived threat was measured using the 5-item Brief Illness questionnaire (BIPQ5), while the coping mechanism was measured using the Brief-COPE (Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced) questionnaire. Univariate and multiple linear regression was applied to assess the association between perceived threats and coping strategies adopted toward COVID-19. Perceived threat under the domain of timeliness has the highest mean score of 7.4 ± 2.1 while the lowest was under the domain of identity with a score of 4.8 ± 2.6. For coping strategies, acceptance is the most adopted strategy with a mean score of 5.7 ± 1.4 while religion is the least adopted strategy with a score of 3.5 ± 1.4. Multiple linear regression showed significant positive correlations between the perceived threat of consequences, timeliness and emotional domain with coping strategies by denial, emotional support, instrumental support, behavioural disengagement and religion among the respondents. This study showed that there is a significant positive correlation between perceived threat towards COVID-19 with coping strategies adopted by nurses in this study with timeliness being perceived as the highest threat and acceptance being the coping strategy used most by them. Therefore, any intervention activities focusing on COVID-19 which targeted this population should take into consideration of the factors mentioned to ensure its effectiveness..
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Abstract : Sepsis is characterized by severe redox imbalance. Glutathione plays a major role in cellular defenses against oxidative and nitrosative stress. This review proposes a critical analysis of available data on potential factors affecting glutathione synthesis in sepsis. Glutathione is synthesized from its constituent amino acids—glutamate, cysteine, and glycine. Cysteine availability and the activity of the enzyme glutamate cysteine ligase are rate-limiting for glutathione synthesis. Neutrophils have a dual role in sepsis—defending against infection and mediating organ failure. Because glutathione (GSH) is lower in sepsis, the hypothesis that GSH depletion might impair the migratory response of neutrophils to infection. GSH depletion inhibits neutrophil infiltration, increases bacterial colonies. Conversely, the GSH and its precursor N-acetyl-L-cysteine augments neutrophil infiltration, decreases bacterial colonies and improves survival. Thus, migration of neutrophils to a site of infection and to a distant site is differently regulated, and optimal GSH levels are important for an efficient response to sepsis..
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Abstract : COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a myriad of the diseases. It has a negative psychological impact. It has affected the general population worldwide, putting additional strain on health-care professionals. Since COVID-19 was declared as a public health emergency, the levels of anxiety, depression and other mental health problems have been ominously rising. The students' mental health was tested using structured questionnaires. Seven hundred and fifty students belonging to I, II, III and final year MBBS batches were enrolled in the study, out of which 590 students completed the questionnaires. Questionnaires for measurement of psychological morbidity included the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder questionnaire (GAD-7). An analysis of descriptive statistics was conducted to illustrate the Socio-demographic and other selected variables. Correlational analysis was done using linear correlation analysis for continuous variables and logistic regression analysis for categorical variable. Students with minimal symptoms of depression was 35%, whereas the proportion of students with mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe depression was 35.3%%, 14.7%, 11.4%, and 3.6%, respectively. Around 45% of the students had minimal symptoms of anxiety, whereas the proportions of students with minimal, mild, moderate, and severe anxiety were 44.2%, 30.3%, 16.4%, and 9.0%, respectively. A quarter (24%) students were under stress as their PSS score was >6. The present study results concluded that first year medical students are found to suffer from higher levels of stress, anxiety and depression, with majority of male students suffering from stress, whereas female students had greater depression and anxiety levels during COVID-19. Student mentoring, which includes academic, psychic, and social counseling, may aid in the prediction and management of stress, as well as the improvement of student performance..
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