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ABSTRACT: Teaching practice holds paramount significance within the domain of teacher education and training, providing student teachers with a tangible opportunity to acquire practical knowledge and firsthand experience in the dynamics of schooling and classroom pedagogy. This study set out to investigate the perceptions of EFL student teachers regarding the school-based teaching practice course in four colleges of education and basic education in Duhok province of the Kurdistan Region-Iraq. A combined qualitative and quantitative methodological approach was used to gather the research data. A paper and online questionnaire provided quantitative data from 132 participants, complemented by conducting semi-structured interviews with 16 student teachers. The results showed that the teaching practice experience was deemed ineffective and inadequate in preparing to become qualified EFL teachers. The results further revealed that the majority of the elements involved in the topic being studied were deemed unsatisfactory and there were multiple areas for improvement in the phenomenon. The implications of these findings extend our understanding of the process and procedures of the teaching practice course in this specific context. The findings presented add to our understanding of the various aspects of the subject. The research has the potential to inform policy decisions and practical interventions, thereby positively influencing the field and leading to tangible improvements. This study holds significant importance as it addresses a critical gap in existing research, shedding light on an area that has thus far been underexplored. A significant limitation of the current study is its exclusive focus on student teachers as the primary data collection subjects. Therefore, future research should consider investigating the perspectives of other stakeholders involved in the teaching practice, including university supervisors, school principals, representatives of English departments, the course developers, and focal persons.

Whilst risk prediction for individual prostate cancer (PCa) cases is of a high priority, the current risk stratification indices for PCa management have severe limitations. This study aimed to identify gene copy number alterations (CNAs) with prognostic values and to determine if any combination of gene CNAs could have risk stratification potentials. Clinical and genomic data of 500 PCa cases from the Cancer Genome Atlas stable were retrieved from the Genomic Data Commons and cBioPortal databases. The CNA statuses of a total of 52 genetic markers, including 21 novel markers and 31 previously identified potential prognostic markers, were tested for prognostic significance. The CNA statuses of a total of 51/52 genetic markers were significantly associated with advanced disease at an odds ratio threshold of ≥1.5 or ≤0.667. Moreover, a Kaplan–Meier test identified 27/52 marker CNAs which correlated with disease progression. A Cox Regression analysis showed that the amplification of MIR602 and deletions of MIR602, ZNF267, MROH1, PARP8, and HCN1 correlated with a progression-free survival independent of the disease stage and Gleason prognostic group grade. Furthermore, a binary logistic regression analysis identified twenty-two panels of markers with risk stratification potentials. The best model of 7/52 genetic CNAs, which included the SPOP alteration, SPP1 alteration, CCND1 amplification, PTEN deletion, CDKN1B deletion, PARP8 deletion, and NKX3.1 deletion, stratified the PCa cases into a localised and advanced disease with an accuracy of 70.0%, sensitivity of 85.4%, specificity of 44.9%, positive predictive value of 71.67%, and negative predictive value of 65.35%. This study validated prognostic gene level CNAs identified in previous studies, as well as identified new genetic markers with CNAs that could potentially impact risk stratification in PCa.

Objectives: To assess patients' awareness of the indications and complications of sleeve gastrectomy in King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: The cross-sectional study conducted from December 2017 to May 2018 in KKUH, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia included all patients aged 18 years and older. Data collection was conducted through self-administered questionnaires. Chi-square test was performed to determine the significant differences between variables. A P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Result: Of 480 participants, 247 (51.5%) of them were male. The educational level of most was bachelor's degree (253; 52.7%). Most of the participants (326; 67.9%) are not aware about BMI. However, 80 (16.7%) participants knew the true answer to obese BMI. Of the total participants, 283 (59.0%) did not knew about sleeve gastrectomy indications; however, 311 (64.8%) of the participants had heard about the complications of sleeve gastrectomy. All these results are correlated with the educational level of the participants. Conclusion: Our study shows a lack of awareness of sleeve gastrectomy indications and complications among study population. We need to increase public awareness about sleeve gastrectomy indications and complication by proper scientific health education in the community.

Lung cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world. In terms of the diagnosis of lung cancer, combination carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cancer antigen 125 (CA125) detection had higher sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratios than CEA detection alone. Most individuals with elevated serum CA125 levels had lung cancer that was either in stage 3 or stage 4. Serum CA125 levels were similarly elevated in lung cancer patients who also had pleural effusions or ascites. Furthermore, there is strong evidence that human lung cancer produces CA125 in vitro, which suggests that other clinical illnesses outside of ovarian cancer could also be responsible for the rise of CA125. MUC16 (CA125) is a natural killer cell inhibitor. As a screening test for lung and ovarian cancer diagnosis and prognosis in the early stages, CA125 has been widely used as a marker in three different clinical settings. MUC16 mRNA levels in lung cancer are increased regardless of gender. As well, increased expression of mutated MUC16 enhances lung cancer cells proliferation and growth. Additionally, the CA125 serum level is thought to be a key indicator for lung cancer metastasis to the liver. Further, CA125 could be a useful biomarker in other cancer types diagnoses like ovarian, breast, and pancreatic cancers. One of the important limitations of CA125 as a first step in such a screening technique is that up to 20% of ovarian tumors lack antigen expression. Each of the 10 possible serum markers was expressed in 29–100% of ovarian tumors with minimal or no CA125 expression. Therefore, there is a controversy regarding CA125 in the diagnosis and prognosis of lung cancer and other cancer types. In this state, preclinical and clinical studies are warranted to elucidate the clinical benefit of CA125 in the diagnosis and prognosis of lung cancer.

Introduction: Increased smartphone accessibility has enhanced the speed and diversity of the dissemination of data, ideas, and thoughts. Notably, patients often turn to social media platforms to gather information on treatment options, share personal experiences, offer opinions, and choose the best health-care providers. Social media has been employed to distribute health information. Aims: This study aimed to analyze the content regarding orthodontic functional appliances posted on various social media platforms. Materials and Methods: The study analyzed content posted in August 2020 on four social media sites, namely, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and Reddit, focusing on terms related to orthodontic functional appliances. Data from the first 100 posts per keyword were collected and then recorded and coded in spreadsheets. Descriptive and statistical analyses were performed to elucidate the nature of the posted content. Results and Discussion: A total of 1204 posts were included in the study. Of these, 29.8.2% were photos and 51.8% were videos. Majority of the posts (65.3%) were about information sharing and uploaded by doctors (51.2%). The type of malocclusion was described as Class II in 18.4% of the posts but not specified in 72.8%. The overall usefulness of the posts was low. Posts of photos, posts on Instagram, and posts by doctors were found to be more significantly useful (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Patients, doctors, and academics extensively use social media platforms to disseminate orthodontic information. However, more useful posts on orthodontic functional appliances should be uploaded, including those on treatment effectiveness, patient experience, and patient–clinician relationships, which have been widely disregarded.

Objectives: To determine the efficacy of open versus closed negative pressure wound therapy for contaminated and dirty surgical wounds in terms of time duration to full wound healing. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of General Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Quetta Pakistan, from Oct 2021 to Apr 2022. Methodology: A total of 96 patients with surgical wounds requiring repair were included for study. All patients underwent their respective surgery followed by grouping. Patients in Group-A received closed negative pressure wound therapy while those in Group-B received open negative pressure wound therapy. All patients were followed up till complete healing of the wound or till the occurrence of complications. Results: Our study sample had a mean age of 44.16±12.66 years, with a slight female preponderance of 51(53.1%) participants. The mean total healing time for closed negative pressure wound therapy was 17.35±6.95 days, while it was 42.00±16.21 days with open negative pressure wound therapy, (p0.05). Conclusion: Closed negative pressure wound therapy results in faster wound healing, with a similar complication rate as open negative pressure wound therapy.

AIM: To analyze the prevalence of peripapillary intra-choroidal cavitation (PICC) in eyes with gamma peripapillary atrophy (γPPA), in eyes with peripapillary staphyloma (PPS) and in those combining γPPA and PPS and to analyze border tissue discontinuity in PICC. METHODS: This prospective cross-sectional non interventional study included highly myopic eyes. Non-highly myopic eyes were used as control. Radial and linear scans centered on the optic nerve head were performed using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Variables were analyzed along the twelve hourly optical coherence tomography sections in both eyes of each subject. RESULTS: A total of 667 eyes of 334 subjects were included: 229 (34.3%) highly myopic eyes and 438 (65.7%) non highly myopic eyes. The mean age of the highly myopic group was 48.99±17.81y. PICC was found in a total of 40 eyes and in 13.2% (29/220) of highly myopic eyes. PICC was found in 10.4% (40/386) of eyes with γPPA, in 20.5% (40/195) of eyes with PPS and in 22.7% (40/176) of those combining γPPA and PPS. All the eyes with PICC showed the co-existence of γPPA and PPS whereas none of the eyes presenting only one of these entities exhibited PICC. A border tissue discontinuity in the γPPA area was found in all eyes with PICC. CONCLUSION: We confirm the presence of a border tissue discontinuity in the γPPA area of all eyes with PICC. These findings suggest the involvement of mechanical factors in the pathogenesis of PICC which may contribute to PICC-related visual field defects.

This study examines the impacts of recreation activities on Mount Tahan (2187 m a.s.l); the highest mountain in Peninsular Malaysia by assessing tree diameter, height, leaf area, sapwood area, and chlorophyll fluorescence (CF) of selected species. Vegetation cover was also determined by counting the number of species. Two most dominant tree species in the study plots, i.e., Tristaniopsis fruticosa and Baeckea frutescens were selected as representative to assess the impacts on the vegetation growth. Both tree species dominated over 50% of total vegetation in both areas. Meanwhile, CF was determined on T. fruticosa since this species was the only broadleaf species found in both areas. Four plots sized 20 m X 20 m representing each disturbed and undisturbed were established in camping and trampling areas. The total number of plant species recorded was 29 in both camping and trampling areas but was found less in disturbed plots. Impacts of trampling and camping on all the parameters at higher altitude in disturbed plots were significantly different from those in the undisturbed plots. For trampling, all growth parameters taken in disturbed plots were found lower than in undisturbed plots. For camping, however, the mean values of vegetation cover were found lower in disturbed plots compared to undisturbed plots but the mean values of tree diameter, height, leaf area and sapwood area were found greater in disturbed than in undisturbed plots. In contrast, all CF parameters were found higher in disturbed plots for both trampling and camping areas. Keywords: Recreation activities, Physiological characteristic, Chlorophyll fluorescence, Upper mountain, 1. Introduction Recreation ecology is in a sense a redefining of an age-old activity. Doubtless, human moving through the wilderness or bush have always observed the impacts of others who [...]