Effectiveness of Palliative Care Interventions Offering Coping Skills to Women with Gynecological Cancers: A Systematic Review

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Background and aim: Gynecological cancers, including ovarian, cervical, and uterine cancers, are among the most prevalent malignancies affecting women globally. Patients with these cancers frequently encounter substantial physical, psychological, and social challenges. This systematic review aims to evaluate the existing quantitative evidence on palliative care interventions that offer coping skills that facilitate the quality of life and psychological well-being of women with Gynecological Cancers.

Method: PubMed, Google Scholar, Clinical Key, and Cochrane Reviews databases were searched from 2000 to 2024. Articles in English with quantitative evidence were screened to determine whether the population included women with gynecological cancers, whether interventions were related to offering coping skills, whether control groups were available, and whether outcomes were related to psychological well-being and quality of life. Data were extracted to report on intervention models, outcome measures, and intervention outcomes. The risk of bias on randomization, allocation concealment, blinding, incomplete outcome data, selection of outcomes for reporting, and other biases was assessed by using the RoB 2, ROBINS I, and ROBINS E. Two independent reviewers were involved in all the above steps, with a third contributing to solving discrepancies. Meta-analysis was not done following heterogeneity assessments.

Results: Searches returned 297 unique articles, with twelve being for review. There were eight randomized controlled trials (RCT), two quasi-experimental trials, one cohort study, and one comparative study. The interventions or exposures included: group therapy based on coping strategies, supportive and coordinated care, communication therapies, mindfulness sessions, educational sessions, psychological counseling, and use of engagement in active coping and seeking social support. Seven studies measured psychological outcomes, six using multidimensional instruments. Five studies measured quality of life, and three used multidimensional instruments. Across the evaluated outcomes, the results consistently and significantly indicated benefits linked to providing coping skills. The majority of RCTs show significant (<0.05) improvement in quality of life with the coping skills from the baseline to the endpoint as interval measures and Growth curve analyses based on the intent-to-treat approach showed that participants in both the coping and communication-enhancing intervention (CCI) and supportive counseling (SC) groups reported lower levels of depressive symptoms compared to those receiving usual care In the Quasi-experimental trials survival expectancy by group interaction (β = 5.102, P = 0.044) was significant as well the patients who survived throughout the study, changes in FACT-G score were greater over time for patients with high survival expectancy in the treatment group compared to with all other patients.

Conclusion: Palliative care interventions offering coping skills are effective in supporting women with gynecological cancers. These interventions significantly contribute to enhancing their mental and emotional well-being and overall quality of life.

Patterns of Lower Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Findings at Jimma University Medical Center, Jimma, Ethiopia

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Background: Lower gastrointestinal (GI) disorders are common causes of morbidity worldwide, yet data on their prevalence and patterns within resource-limited settings like Ethiopia remain scarce. Endoscopy is a vital diagnostic and therapeutic tool for these conditions.

Objectives: To assess the patterns of lower GI endoscopic findings at Jimma University Medical Center (JUMC) and explore associations with demographic and clinical variables.

Methods: This retrospective, descriptive cross-sectional study included 216 adult patients (≥15 years) who underwent lower GI endoscopy at JUMC from September 9, 2021, to September 8, 2022. Patients with incomplete records or repeat procedures were excluded. Data on demographics, indications, and findings were collected using a structured tool and analyzed with SPSS v29.0. Descriptive statistics summarized the data; chi-square and multivariate logistic regression tested associations, with significance at p<0.05.

Results: Of 230 procedures, 216 met inclusion criteria. The mean age was 43.6 ± 16.2 years, with a male predominance (68.5%). The most common indication was lower GI bleeding (35.2%). Hemorrhoids were the most frequent endoscopic finding (46.3%), followed by colorectal polyps (21.2%) and colorectal cancer (11.1%). Benign lesions predominated, but the notable prevalence of polyps and cancers underscores the importance of early detection strategies.

Conclusions: Benign conditions, especially hemorrhoids, are prevalent among patients undergoing lower GI endoscopy at JUMC. However, the significant rates of polyps and cancers underscore the importance of expanding endoscopic services, enhancing training, and implementing community screening programs to improve early detection and management.

Learning-Based Animation Education in The Post-Covid Era at SMKN 2 Cimahi

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Animation learning at the vocational high school level in the last 5 years has experienced three paradigm changes in the teaching and learning process, namely offline learning before Covid-19, online learning during Covid-19 and blended learning in the post-Covid-19 period. This study aims to describe the conditions of animation learning with blended learning in the post-covid period in the Animation Study Program of SMKN 2 Cimahi. This study uses a qualitative approach with a case study method. Data collection techniques are carried out by interview and observation. The results of the study show that the results of learning with the blended learning method can improve students’ animation skills better than during the learning period with the full online method.

Differences in Mean Cephalic Index Based on Pubertal and Post Pubertal Age Groups in the Timorese in Kupang City

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Identification of victims of death due to disasters and accidents is important to fulfill the rights of victims. The identification process is carried out by anthropometric measurements, one of which is the measurement of the cephalic index. Age is one of the factors of the cephalic index value and head shape based on the time of the start of the fusion process in each bone as well as the role of hormones during growth or pubertal. The cephalic index can also serve to monitor indications of the development and growth of a varied population and its distribution and find out if there are abnormalities in the head. This study aims to determine the difference in the mean cephalic index based on the age of pubertal and post-pubertal in the Timorese in Kupang City. This research is comparative analytic with a cross-sectional approach design. The sample selection technique in this study used a concecutive sampling technique with a total sample of 100 people. The research begins with an explanation of the general description of the study, informed consent, and measuring the width and length of the head using spreading caliper. The data analysis used is an independent t-test. From the results of using the independent t-test, there was no significant difference in the mean cephalic index based on the age of pubertal and post-pubertal in the Timorese in Kupang City with a p value = 0.12. There is no significant difference in the mean cephalic index based on the age of pubertal and post-pubertal in the Timorese in Kupang City.

Antioxidant potential of Annona muricata (Leaves extract) with metallic conjugates and its cytotoxicity analysis by (in vitro) Cytokinesis Block Micronucleus assay

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Annona muricata is one of the most important traditional medicinal plants which contains numerous chemicals that exhibit various pharmacological properties. Inspired by the bioactivity from different studies of the aqueous and alcoholic extract, we employed it as a plant-based material for the green synthesis of nanoparticles. The NPs was prepared by the addition of isolated Annona muricata leaf extract as a reducing agent to metal. The synthesized metal based NPs were characterized using UV–visible spectroscopic analysis and microscopy. The observed colour changes confirmed the successful formation of NPs, Free radicals are inhibited by antioxidant compounds, which can be naturally sourced from soursop (Annona muricata L.). Extraction processes affect levels of antioxidant compounds in the extract. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the optimal extraction conditions for soursop leaves using maceration and pressing methods and determine the content of the flavonoid compound rutin in the optimized extract. The analysis was conducted to achieve maximum levels of 2.2-diphenyl 1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). This study aimed to evaluate and compare the potential cytotoxic activity of different leaf extracts of A. muricata and conjugates using the CBMN assay against the cultured lymphocyte. The cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay is an established method for assessing chromosome damage in human peripheral blood lymphocytes resulting from exposure to genotoxic agents such as ionizing radiation. This study discovered that A. muricata crude leaf extracts have the potential to inhibit the cultured lymphocyte cells by inducing cell death. Phytochemicals termed Annonaceae and Acetogenins (AGEs) found in this plant has shown antibacterial, antiviral, and anticancer properties in various in- vitro studies done. The objective of this study was to measure cytogenetic DNA damage in-vitro based on MN frequency in peripheral blood these findings contribute to the growing field of eco-friendly nanotechnology and emphasize the significance of plant-mediated approaches in nanomaterial synthesis and biomedical applications.

Principal’s Strategies in Improving Teachers’ Pedagogical Competence (A Qualitative Descriptive Study at SMA Negeri 14, Mukomuko, Bengkulu, Indonesia)

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 This study aims to describe the strategies employed by the principal to improve the pedagogical competence of teachers at SMA Negeri 14 Mukomuko (Senior High School), Bengkulu, Indonesia. This research utilizes a qualitative approach with data collected through interviews, observations, and documentation. The data management process involved data collection, data reduction, and drawing conclusions. The results indicate that: (1) the principal implements various strategies to enhance teachers’ competence, including involving teachers in teacher education and training programm, supervision, fostering teacher creativity, motivating teachers, conducting seminars and workshops, microteaching, improving facilities and infrastructure, and encouraging teacher participation in subject teacher forums; (2) supporting factors include the principal’s active facilitation of training and motivation, while inhibiting factors consist of limited use of media and learning technology by some teachers and insufficient facilities such as technological devices; (3) the impact of these strategies includes optimal use of time, effort, and budget, as well as increased teacher knowledge. This study reveals the principal’s locally based strategies at SMA Negeri 14 Mukomuko, Bengkulu, Indonesia to improve pedagogical competence through transformational, reflective, and collaborative approaches. Furthermore, this research updates the literature by focusing on leadership strategy adaptation in relation to the Merdeka Belajar curriculum and the use of technology in rural school learning environments.

The Impact of Teacher Performance Management on the “Merdeka Mengajar” Platform on the Teaching and Learning Process

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This study aims to describe the impact of teacher performance management on the “Merdeka Mengajar” platform on the teaching and learning process at SMA Negeri 5 Bengkulu, Indonesia. This research employed a qualitative descriptive method, with data collected through interviews, observations, and document analysis. Data were analyzed inductively using the Miles and Huberman model. The findings indicate that performance planning helps guide teachers in selecting performance practices. Performance implementation serves as a tool for facilitating the teaching and learning process and professional development. Performance evaluation provides feedback to teachers on their teaching practices. Supporting factors include the availability of features on the “Merdeka Mengajar” platform, school support, professional development opportunities, and teachers’ awareness and commitment. Inhibiting factors include limited time and workload, lack of supervision, unsynchronized platform features, implementation difficulties, and the absence of personal motivation and commitment among teachers.

Influence of Principals’ Incorporation of Climate Change Education into Curriculum on Climate Change Awareness amongst Students in Public Secondary Schools in Westland Subcounty, Kenya

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Climate change has become an existential environmental threat ravaging societies disproportionately. While it remains a complex global challenge with debilitating impacts, its mitigation considers climate change awareness as prerequisite for informed action, adaptation and sustainability. SDG 13; Climate Action, moreover views climate change education as a tool for empowerment-enhancing climate knowledge and skills-thereby transforming young people into agents of climate change rather than mere spectators. This role of education in climate change awareness can leverage principals’ inclusion of CCE into curriculum for enhance climate change awareness thus environmentally conscious future generation. This paper investigated the influence of principals’ incorporation of CCE into curriculum on climate change awareness amongst students in public secondary schools in Westland Subcounty, Nairobi. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods were employed in the study in which 15 school principals, 70 secondary school teachers and 460 students were purposively sampled for the study. Questionnaires and interview schedules were administered to students and teacher, and school principals respectively. Pearson Chi-square test (x2=79.826 p=0.005) was highly significant indicating that principals incorporated CCE into curriculum that contributed to climate change awareness amongst students. This showed that there is significant relationship between principals’ incorporation of CCE into curriculum and climate change awareness. It is evident from the results of the study that developing CCE curriculum, supervision and instruction, provision of materials and integration of ICT were given key consideration.  It is then recommended that principals should leverage on ICT to bolster sharing of CCE materials and resources, develop monitoring and evaluation tools, provide TML as well as effective instructional supervision. To improve principals’ vocation, there is need to equip principals with knowledge, skills and competencies.

Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: A Comprehensive Review on Synthesis and Properties

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Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) are inorganic metal oxides extensively utilized as preservatives in packaging materials and as potent antibacterial agents with minimal associated risks. The physicochemical properties of ZnO-NPs, including antibacterial efficacy, are significantly influenced by parameters such as particle size, morphology, concentration, and duration of interaction with bacterial cells. Beyond their antimicrobial applications, ZnO-NPs have garnered interest in diverse fields such as food technology, agriculture, cosmetology, and optoelectronics. Green synthesis of ZnO-NPs mediated by plant extracts has demonstrated enhanced antibacterial activity against various bacterial and fungal pathogens. Several plant species, including Trifolium, Justicia adhatoda, Physalis alkekengi L., Cassia auriculata, Aloe barbadensis, Pongamia pinnata, Limonia acidissima, Plectranthus amboinicus, Sedum alfredii Hance, and Aspidoterys cordata, have been identified as effective bioresources for nanoparticle fabrication. The resultant ZnO-NPs exhibit desirable physicochemical characteristics that are largely dependent on synthesis conditions, including particle size, shape, and concentration. This review comprehensively summarizes various green synthesis methodologies and characterization techniques for ZnO-NPs, highlighting their potential applications across the food, pharmaceutical, and textile industries.

Isolation and Identification of Indigenous Bacteria for the Degradation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Found in Refinery Wastewater

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Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) degrading bacteria were screened and isolated from contaminated soil taken from Tema Oil Refinery wastewater effluent channels. Refinery wastewater was found to contain a low amount of inhibitory heavy metals but the presence PAHs were detected and identified. The PAH-degrading bacteria isolated and identified were Pseudomonas stutzeri. Acinetobacter junii, Pseudomonas putida and Stetonotrophomonas nititireducens. All four bacteria showed high tolerance to a PAH combination of Naphthalene and Anthracene (1:1) of concentration as high as 5mg/ml. The identification of S. nititreducens as an indigenous bacterium is very significant since it is one of the very few bacteria known to be able to degrade high molecular weight PAHs.