ОЦІНКА ЕКОЛОГІЧНОЇ БЕЗПЕКИ ЯК СКЛАДОВОЇ ЯКОСТІ ЖИТТЯ У ТРАНСКОРДОННИХ СУБРЕГІОНАХ

The necessity of multi-spectral improved vision systems usage is shown. Image contrast enhancing algorithms are considered. The modification proposed allows to reduce the influence of artifacts in image areas with sharp brightness variety. Full-reference quality assessment of contrast enhancement algorithms application results is realized. Multispectral image dataset is created. The values of objective and subjective multispectral image fusion quality assessments and one subjective assessment are obtained. Correlation coefficients between subjective and objective assessments are calculated. It is shown that the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient between objective and specified subjective image fusion quality assessments are not less than 0.54.

We aimed to assess the cosmetic outcome of patients who underwent enucleation for uveal melanoma. The subjective assessment was based on a questionnaire, including four questions on postoperative cosmetic outcome. As part of the objective assessment, the following features were evaluated using a four-point scale: the symmetry of the upper eyelid sulcus, color matching between the prosthetic and healthy eye, prosthetic eye motility, and eyelid position. We enrolled 90 patients after enucleation (58 with and 32 without an orbital implant). The overall subjective assessment scores were 3.5/4 and 3.3/4 points in patients with and without an implant, respectively. The overall objective assessment scores were 3.3/4 and 2.3/4 in patients with and without an implant, respectively (p < 0.001). The cosmetic outcome was rated significantly higher by patients than by investigators (p < 0.05). There was no significant association between the overall subjective and objective assessment of the cosmetic outcome in any of the groups. Cosmetic outcome after enucleation for uveal melanoma was highly rated by patients. It was rated higher by patients than by investigators. The presence of an orbital implant was associated with higher objective assessment scores in terms of the symmetry of the upper lid sulcus, prosthetic eye motility, and eyelid position.

Placebo response complicates the interpretation of treatment response in both clinical practice and clinical trials in youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In a pilot study comparing subjective ADHD symptom rating scales with scores obtained using the Quotient™ ADHD System (an objective computerized technology for assessment of hyper-activity, inattention, and impulsivity in ADHD), it was found that agreement between these 2 measures was not as strong as anticipated. This observation prompted us to evaluate placebo responses associated with subjective and objective assessments. Eligible study participants aged 6 to 14 years with a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition ADHD diagnosis based on clinician interviews were randomized to 1 of 2 treatment sequence groups (placebo, low dose, and medium dose; or low dose, medium dose, and placebo) using either atomoxetine HCl or osmotic controlled-release (OROS) methylphenidate HCl as the active treatment in a 3-week, triple-blind (subject, parent, rater) trial. Subjects were exposed to placebo and different medication doses to evaluate the comparative sensitivity of objective and subjective measures in assessing changes in clinical condition. Placebo response was defined using 3 thresholds: any improvement, > 25% improvement, or > 40% improvement from baseline on Quotient™ Global Scaled Score (QGSS) or the ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD-RS) Total score from baseline to the visit when placebo was administered. Lin's concordance correlation coefficient was used to measure agreement between baseline and placebo scores for the objective and subjective assessments. Of 30 subjects with placebo and baseline scores, 80%, 47%, and 27% met the 3 response thresholds (ie, any, > 25%, or > 40% improvement, respectively) on the ADHD-RS Total score compared with 27%, 7%, and 0% on the QGSS. Lin's concordance correlation coefficient was 0.81 and 0.39 for the QGSS and the ADHD-RS Total score, respectively. Although larger trials are warranted, we tentatively conclude that using objective measures and higher response thresholds may enhance assay sensitivity in clinical trials and hence limit necessary patient enrollments to rule out type II statistical error.

Background: Parental reports of their children’s health status is integral to pediatric medical and dental care. Therefore, understanding the accuracy of such reports is vital. Our objectives were to (1) assess the correlation between maternal reports of their children’s indicators of caries experience (subjective assessment) and actual caries status determined by oral examination (objective assessment), and (2) identify potential modifiers of this correlation. Methods: Longitudinal data from the Avon longitudinal study of parents and children (n = 1429) was used to assess the correlation between maternal reports of the number of missing and filled teeth of children aged 38 months, 54 months, and 5.5 years and clinical oral examinations of decayed, missing and filled teeth conducted when the same children were 31, 43 months, and five years of age. Homogeneity chi-square tests assessed differences in correlations according to sociodemographic factors. Results: Overall, we found a statistically significant correlation that was weak to moderate in magnitude. Maternal reports of missing teeth at 38 months was significantly correlated with decayed teeth, 0.27 (p < 0.001); missing teeth, 0.23 (p < 0.001), and the decayed, missing and filled (dmft) index, 0.35 (p < 0.001) based on oral examination at 31 months. A maternal report of filled teeth at 54 months was significantly correlated with decayed teeth, 0.30 (p < 0.001); filled teeth 0.30 (p < 0.001), and dmft 0.40 (p < 0.001) at 43 months. Mothers tended to underestimate the extent of missing and filled teeth in their children irrespective of the child’s age, but the extent of underestimation was greater among younger children. Maternal age, education level, and whether the child had ever visited a dentist were significant modifiers of subjective and objective caries assessments. Conclusions: From a clinical and dental public health perspective, our findings of a weak to moderate correlation of maternal assessments of their children’s caries experience may be concerning when reporting the burden of dental diseases in large population studies or for surveillance purposes that rely on self-reported measures and must therefore be utilized with caution because of the potential to result in underestimated disease burden.

A prospective single blinded interventional study was held in Otorhinolaryngology Clinic, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre in August 2010 until November 2012 to evaluate the functional outcome of septorhinoplasty objectively and subjectively. Objective assessment was done using rhinomanometry and subjective assessment using Nasal Obstruction Symptoms Evaluation (NOSE) scale and Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaires (HRQOL) in Rhino Surgery. All measurements were taken preoperatively and 3months postoperatively. A total of 29 patients were enrolled and completed the study. Septorhinoplasty was commonly performed in Malays and Indians and rare amongst Chinese, with age ranged from 18 to 54years. Majority had no history of trauma. Twisted nose was the most common external nose abnormality followed by crooked and saddle nose. All patients had internal valve insufficiency. There were significant improvement of the total and of all the parameters in the NOSE scale post septorhinoplasty (p<0.05). Furthermore, there were significant improvement in total and in all parameters in HRQOL score post septorhinoplasty (p<0.05). There were improvements in the rhinomanometry data bilaterally during inspiration and expiration, but were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Significant correlations were noted in the improvement between the two subjective assessments (NOSE scale and HRQOL score). However, there was no significant correlation in the improvement between the subjective (NOSE scale and HRQOL score) with objective (rhinomanometry score) assessments. Septorhinoplasty improves the nasal airflow and quality of life of patients with nasal obstruction.

Quality of life is a concept that has received wide attention from researchers in various fields. And Quality of urban life is the part that describing the influential relationship between the built environment and personal life. This research focuses on two issues: the quality of urban life, as it is one of the international new issues which focuses on two types of assessments: (a) the objective assessments in which evaluates the built environment that surround the person and (b) the individuals’ subjective assessment on their level of quality of life. The other issue is the importance of considering the concept of QOUL when designing urban communities in Cairo and dealing with unsafe and unplanned areas. The research states a way to link the two issues to each other, by (a) forming a database theory of QOUL indicators and outline its role in the development process, and (b) studying the Egyptian vision 2050, and (c) deriving a methodology in which we depend on QOUL Indicators as an approach to develop new communities and improve unsafe and unplanned areas. so, to form a more in-depth and comprehensive approach to deal with the challenges that meet architects, urban planners, and developers when solving the housing problems in Cairo.

Given the increasing use of electronic devices, and the increasing number of complaints with its use, we intend to evaluate the prevalence of manifestations of dry eye and ocular fatigue in a population of individuals, who use the computer daily to perform all their professional tasks, as well as to correlate these complaints with the number of hours of digital use as well as their possible improvement with behavioural measures and use of tear drops. A total of 77 individuals (154 eyes) were evaluated on two separate days with a 1-month interval. They completed two questionnaires: OSDI and PEG Eye Fatigue. An objective ocular surface assessment was performed: Schirmer test without anesthetic, DR-1a Dry Eye Monitor™, hyperemia evaluation, lacrimal break up, presence of keratitis and lesions in the conjunctiva, as well as near accommodation point and near convergence point. After the first evaluation, the subjects were divided into two groups: group A (< 2 hours of computer working) and group B (> 2 hours of computer working). Some environmental measures to reduce complaints and recommendation of use of artificial tears were explained to the latter. There was a statistically significant difference in the majority of the parameters evaluated in the group B, in relation to the morning period (group A) - tear film (p = 0.032), hyperemia (p < 0.001), BUT (p < 0.001), keratitis (p < 0.001), conjunctival lesion (p = 0.002) and accommodation point (p < 0.001). In the evaluation - one month later - there were no statistically significant differences in any of the parameters analysed in the group A, and in group B there was a decrease in most parameters at the end of that period - Schirmer test (p = 0.005), lacrimal film (p = 0.022), keratitis (p < 0.001), conjunctival lesion (p = 0.005) and fatigue score (p < 0.001). It was thus possible to show the appearance of ocular fatigue and ocular surface changes with prolonged use of computers (> 2 hours) as well as a significant improvement in symptomatology (subjective assessment) as well as of ocular surface changes (objective evaluation) with the implementation of postural measures, regular breaks and use of lubricants. This is the first study, to the best of our knowledge, of digital asthenopia in which, in addition to the subjective evaluation, the presence of ocular surface modifications (objective assessment) were evaluated and the respective improvement with the aforementioned ergophthalmological measures were evaluated. This survey highlights the increased overall level of awareness that we need to have to face the rapid and wide-scale changes driven by the emergence of digital technology and, more particularly, its impact on user's vision and posture. We concluded that the longer we use the electronic devices (more than two hours) the more severe the complaints and rates of ocular surface changes are. Environmental and ocular strategies can attenuate or even eliminate the discomfort caused by this syndrome, and increase professional performance and quality of life.

Examining Consistency Between Self-Assessed and Peer-Rated Quality of Life in Older Persons.

Background: Glucocorticoids (GC) therapeutic response in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) varies markedly.Aims/Objectives: To compare the utility between subjective and objective assessment of GC sensitivity in reflecting the impact of GC on systemic and local eosinophilia in CRSwNP patients.Material and methods: Twenty-six patients with CRSwNP were enrolled. All patients were given 30 mg of prednisone once daily for 7 days and subsequently classified into subjectively GC-sensitive and -insensitive subgroup or objectively GC-sensitive and -insensitive subgroup. The numbers of eosinophils and neutrophils in blood and polyp tissues were compared between GC-sensitive and GC-insensitive subgroup.Results: 17/26 (65.4%) patients were subjectively and 8/26 (30.8%) patients objectively sensitive to GC treatment. The absolute number and percentage of eosinophils in blood were decreased both in GC-sensitive and -insensitive subjects after GC treatment. In addition, a significant reduction in tissue eosinophil percentage was only observed in objectively GC-sensitive subjects after GC treatment. Furthermore, the change of tissue eosinophil percentage in objectively GC-sensitive subjects was significantly higher than that in objectively GC-insensitive subjects.Conclusions and significance: Objective assessment may better reflect oral GC response in tissue eosinophilic inflammation than subjective assessment in patients with CRSwNP.

This study aimed to assess the effect of arch support taping on both subjective and objective assessments in elite adolescent taekwondo athletes with flexible flat feet. The study included 52 taekwondo athletes aged 16 years and older who were undergoing intensive training in South Korea in 2024. We used paired sample t-tests to compare changes in tarsal descent and balance with and without arch support taping. The foot function assessment scales were compared using the non-parametric Wilcoxon test. All statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS for Windows version 27.0, with statistical significance set at α=0.05. The use of arch support taping in elite taekwondo athletes with flexible flatfoot resulted in a significant increase in the height of the medial longitudinal arch, as assessed objectively (p&lt;0.001). However, there were no significant differences in the overall stability index, the anterior-posteriorstability index, or the medial-lateral stability index during dynamic and static balance tests (p&gt;0.05; overall). Additionally, we observed a significant improvement in the foot functional assessment score, which is a subjective assessment (p&lt;0.001). Arch support taping has a positive effect on taekwondo athletes with flexible flat feet in their subjective assessments; however, it does not seem to influence objective assessments. This suggests that utilizing ALDT during competition may significantly improve athletes’ subjective factors, though it may not significantly affect objective factors such as dynamic and static balance.

Cognitive impairment in adult ADHD--perspective matters!

Introduction: Dry eye syndrome (DES) has become a public health concern, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Medical students are at risk due to an increase in visual display terminal (VDT) exposure given the transition to full-time online lectures. The presence of reduced blink rate and tear film instability in VDT users causes an increase in tear evaporation leading to symptoms of DES. This study helps us to learn about the associated factors of VDT use and DES among the young generation. This study aims to determine the prevalence and associated factors of DES among medical students exposed to VDT at the health campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 140 undergraduate medical students aged 22 to 29 years old who were VDT users. Factors analysed are age, gender, race and duration of VDT usage. Data collection included both subjective assessment (OSDI questionnaire) and objective assessment (TBUT and Schirmer’s test). Statistical analysis was conducted using Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS Inc Version 24). Results were analysed using descriptive analysis and multivariate logistic regression. Results: Most of the medical student cohort was female and Malay. Most of the students use VDT for less than 8 hours. A high incidence of DES was noted among medical students (92.1%). None of the factors showed significant association with positive findings DES by subjective and objective assessment and duration of VDT usage. Conclusion: DES is common among VDT users. This study showed a high prevalence of DES among medical students in USM. The factors analysed did not show a significant association between DES and duration of VDT usage. This study may help to recognize the problem and will raise awareness of their daily practice and implement preventive measures to avoid VDT-related DES.

IntroductionHigh noise levels in the intensive care unit (ICU) are a well-known problem. It is clear that some noise in the ICU is inevitable, but exceeding the normal range brings various physiologic and psychological changes, which directly affect health. WHO recommended threshold for hospital noise levels is (LAeq) ≤ 35 dBA during the day for in-patient care areas and LAeq ≤ 30 dBA for night- time background noise.1,2 To identify source of Noise and reducing it will help to improve Quality care in ICU.3,4,7ObjectivesThis study was aimed to do subjective and objective assessment of Noise, Mapping source of Noise and adverse effects of Noise on the Patient. This study will also help to improve Quality of care in ICU.Materials and methodsThis is a Observational prospective randomised controlled study performed in Fortis Hospital, Mulund, Mumbai, India (Tertiary care hospital) which includes 72 bed ICU including Medical, Surgical and Cardiac ICU as separate ICU. In this study OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT was done using Noise level in dbs with a NOISH sound level meter Application in iOS and SUBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT was done using different questionnaires to Patient and experience was recorded in Case record form.Results51.1% patient experienced unbearable noise in ICUs, 53.33% of patient recommended to adopt a measure to reduce Noise and 51.67% of patient's sleep got affected by Noise.5 Regarding source of Noise most of the patients voted for Alarms and Monitors as main source of Noise. 34.44% patient experienced Noise source was Staff generated and modifiable with Behavioural adoption.ConclusionOver all in Objective assessment mean Noise in ICU was 64.53 dbs which was higher than recommendations.1,2 In future, on the basis of the results of this study, protocols will be formed and steps will be taken to reduce the modifiable noise to bring down noise levels further to ensure faster recovery and greater patient comfort.3,4,6

Hardware programming skills are essential to develop control software of robot-like-systems. However, a significant percentage of mechanical engineering students struggles, especially if ‘complex’ programming constructs like arrays, loops and pointers are combined. A concept for continuous monitoring of learning success throughout a course on digitalization and C programming using different objective and subjective assessments is introduced. After a pre-analysis of challenges in different learning milestones, an application-oriented approach to teach these concepts using real world engineering examples is proposed. Immediate and continuous feedback is recorded during lectures to check students’ learning progress. Emotional engagement serves as subjective assessment. As objective assessment, three different methods are used: classical web-based assessments, muddy cards and exam rates. The results confirm the benefit: 5 percentage points better exam results and a 15 percentage points reduced dropout rate in web-based assessments. Nevertheless, the concept of pointers, interlinked with dynamic data types such as linked lists remain troublesome in the exam despite very good results in web-based assessments. The mapping of a 2D information like a matrix of sensor values into a 1D storage structure like a data register using the appropriate address type seems to be too abstract to understand for mechanical and process engineers.

BackgroundChemical peeling is increasingly used in dermatology nowadays. Salicylic acid peels have been widely used in Asian patients since long ago, but very few published literature is there focusing on the efficacy and safety of it in Asian population. This study was planned to compare the efficacy of salicylic acid (SA) peel either commercially available or freshly prepared in treatment of acne.MethodsA prospective, randomized, open-label, parallel-group study was carried out in patients with acne. A total of 126 patients were randomized to receive 30% salicylic acid peel either commercially available (group A, n = 60) or freshly prepared (group B, n = 63). Assessment of acne lesions was done at baseline and at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 weeks. Objective assessment was carried out using total acne score and subjective assessment using visual analog scale and were compared.ResultsMean age of patients was 22.4 ± 3.1 years with female predominance. After six sessions with commercially available SA peel, reduction in average number of comedones was 88.45% (P = 0.002), in inflammatory papules 89.16% (P = 0.01), in pustules 31.47% (P = 0.06), and in nodules/cyst 50% (P = 0.5). After six sessions with freshly prepared SA peel, reduction in average number of comedones was 89% (P = 0.0001), in inflammatory papules 90.36% (P = 0.0001), in pustules 28.3% % (P = 0.05), and in nodules 96% (P = 0.05). Significant reduction of both non-inflammatory and inflammatory acne was seen in both groups (P < 0.05). Both of the agents led to a highly significant (P < 0.001) improvement in the total acne score; freshly prepared SA peel showed improvement significantly earlier at 6 weeks onwards. VAS score was significantly high for the freshly prepared SA group (P = 0.05).ConclusionThis study has shown equivalence in therapeutic efficacy of both commercially available and freshly prepared SA peels both in terms of objective and subjective assessments in acne treatment with more patient satisfaction with freshly prepared peel.