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Background: As multiple mini-interviews (MMI) have grown in popularity in selecting applicants to health science programmes, it is essential to comprehend students' views towards MMI and its usefulness in the admissions process. The study aims to explore students' perceptions on the usefulness and satisfaction of the MMI as an admission process into the health science programmes offered in Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD). Methods: A cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire was distributed to all Year 1 and 2 health sciences students in the university. For qualitative data, the responses obtained from the answers to the open-ended questions were analyzed manually using thematic analysis. Open coding was performed initially to identify words with similar meanings, recurring patterns and ideas. Focus coding was performed to group codes which sounded and felt similar. Themes were formulated and then reviewed. Descriptive statistics and univariate analysis were applied. Results: 127 students participated in this study (53.4% response rate). 38.6% underwent the online MMI and 61.4% had the face-to-face MMI. 81% of participants agreed that the MMI was a fair assessment tool (81%), with adequate time allocated (91%), provided opportunity to demonstrate understanding of the profession (81%), and to express themselves (81%) but only 27% agreed that MMI was an enjoyable experience. No statistically significant differences were detected by gender. Those who did online MMI (89%) reported higher opportunity to express themselves, where 80% agreed it was an effective tool to assess selection of students in the health science profession. Univariate analysis revealed that male participants (42%) and those who did the online MMI (40%) were slightly more satisfied than those who did it onsite. Conclusion: Student perception is important for MMIs because it provides valuable insights into the effectiveness and fairness of the interview process. Study participants' perceptions of the MMI were positive, with objective reports on its fairness, timing, and feasibility but felt unprepared for the interview process and less enjoyable. Online MMI is favoured more by participants who rated it higher effectiveness and adequate timing with a better understanding of stations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Deficiency of silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) can trigger inflammation, mitochondrial malfunctioning, and apoptosis through the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, producing poor quality oocytes, leading to infertility. Normal vitamin D (VD) levels promote SIRT1 activity required for optimal fertility, and low levels of either may result in fertility problems owing to cell-membrane de-stabilization, increased autophagy, DNA damage leading to increased reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial dysfunction. Therefore, in this study, we want to estimate the levels of VD, SIRT1 and antioxidants (MnSOD; manganese superoxide dismutase, GR; glutathione reductase, visfatin) and oxidants (adrenaline & cortisol) in individuals living with infertility and explore the association of VD with SIRT1 expression (levels), antioxidants, and oxidants contributing to infertility in women. The significance of this study is that it highlights the importance of maintaining optimal levels of VD for reproductive health in females. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 342 (135 infertile and 207 fertile) female subjects. Serum levels of MnSOD, SIRT1, visfatin, GR, VD, adrenaline, and cortisol were analyzed by ELISA and were compared in fertile and infertile samples using the Mann Whitney U test. Results: There were significantly high levels of VD, SIRT1, GR, MnSOD and visfatin in fertile female participants. However, mean adrenaline and cortisol levels were higher in infertile samples with a significant negative correlation with VD. A significant negative correlation of VD with MnSOD, SIRT1, visfatin and GR was observed (p <0.01). In VD subset groups, MnSOD levels were significantly high in VD sufficient groups however, adrenaline and cortisol levels were significantly high in groups suffering from VD deficiency. Conclusions: Deficiency of VD is associated with a decrease in SIRT1 and other antioxidants, which may deter natural reproductive functions leading to infertility. Further studies are required to determine the cause-effect relationship of VD deficiency on conception and interpretation of the involved mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To observe the effect of metformin on the oxidative stress (OS) levels and SIRT1 expression in primary human granulosa cell cultures from infertile females. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2017-July 2019 on ten infertile patients. After written informed consent, the follicular fluid of these subjects was collected for establishing primary human granulosa cell cultures (HGCs), to test the capacity of metformin to reduce OS. The cultured HGCs were divided into (i) control: HGCs without any treatment, (ii) test1: HGCs induced with H2O2 (metformin absent), and (iii) test2: HGCs treated with metformin after H2O2 induction. Baseline OS (control group) was estimated, it was induced and measured by an increase in optical density (OD) (test1 & test 2). Finally, test2 was incubated with metformin (1 ml of 100 mmol/l concentration) and it effect on the levels of OS were determined by Mishra OS assay. Effect of metformin modulating SIRT1 expression in OS-induced cells was analyzed using quantitative-PCR. Results: Age of female subjects was 32.04±2.29years and BMI was 27.61±2.15 kg/m². Test (OS induced) samples gave an OD of 0.28 (0.16-0.40) while control HGC samples gave an OD; 0.153 (0.09-0.23). Test cells showed significant reduction in ODs after metformin treatment. The relative expression of SIRT1 in metformin untreated and treated cells was found to be 61.5% and 80%, respectively. Conclusion: Metformin was found to suppress OS in HGCs and increases the expression of SIRT1 in OS induced environment of primary cell cultures, suggesting a relationship between metformin, SIRT1 expression, and reduction of OS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]