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The paper describes the delivery of the courses in the framework of the project implementation and presents the effect the change in the methodology had on student performance as measured by final grade. Methodology: University of Pristina piloted blended courses in 2013 under the framework of the Tempus BLATT project. The blended learning approach was tackled through a supplemental model where online component was added to unreduced seat time of the courses. A total of 791 students were observed. Student performance and attainment of learning objectives in traditional vs. blended courses were compared. Notwithstanding the improved students' performance in some of the courses, the overall grades were not significantly higher with the introduction of blended approach (p>0.05). Despite the divergence from the Gaussian curve, showing the prevailing low grades, teachers tend to estimate the attainment of the learning objectives favorable. The differences between final grades and learning objectives score ranks were highly significant.

Background. Increased lactate production is frequent in unregulated/complicated diabetes mellitus. Methods. Three groups, each consisting of 40 patients (type 2 diabetics with myocardial infarction, DM+AMI, nondiabetics suffering myocardial infarction, MI, and diabetics with no apparent cardiovascular pathology, DM group), were tested for pH, serum bicarbonate and electrolytes, blood lactate, and CK-MB. Results. Blood lactate levels were markedly higher in AMI+DM compared to MI group (4.54±1.44 versus 3.19±1.005 mmol/L, p

The paper describes the delivery of the courses in the framework of the project implementation and presents the effect the change in the methodology had on student performance as measured by final grade. Methodology: University of Pristina piloted blended courses in 2013 under the framework of the Tempus BLATT project. The blended learning approach was tackled through a supplemental model where online component was added to unreduced seat time of the courses. A total of 791 students were observed. Student performance and attainment of learning objectives in traditional vs. blended courses were compared. Notwithstanding the improved students' performance in some of the courses, the overall grades were not significantly higher with the introduction of blended approach (p>0.05). Despite the divergence from the Gaussian curve, showing the prevailing low grades, teachers tend to estimate the attainment of the learning objectives favorable. The differences between final grades and learning objectives score ranks were highly significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerebrovascular insult (CVI) is a known and important risk factor for the development of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA); still, it seems that the prevalence of DKA among the patients suffering CVI and its influence on stroke outcome might be underestimated. Diabetic ketoacidosis itself has been reported to be a risk factor for the occurrence of stroke in children and youth. A cerebral hypoperfusion in untreated DKA may lead to cerebral injury, arterial ischemic stroke, cerebral venous thrombosis, and hemorrhagic stroke. All these were noted following DKA episodes in children. At least some of these mechanisms may be operative in adults and complicate the course and outcome of CVI. There is a considerable overlap of symptoms, signs, and laboratory findings in the two conditions, making their interpretation difficult, particularly in the elderly and less communicative patients. Serum pH and bicarbonate, blood gases, and anion gap levels should be routinely measured in all type 1 and type 2 diabetics, regardless of symptomatology, for the early detection of existing or pending ketoacidosis. The capacity for rehydration in patients with stroke is limited, and the treatment of the cerebrovascular disease requires intensive use of osmotic and loop diuretics. Fluid repletion may be difficult, and the precise management algorithms are required. Intravenous insulin is the backbone of treatment, although its effect may be diminished due to delayed fluid replenishment. Therefore, the clinical course of diabetic ketoacidosis in patients with CVI may be prolonged and complicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the survival of patients treated by peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD) and to detect any association with the type of metabolic changes. Methods: The outcome of clinical treatment of 407 dialysis patients was analyzed over a 4-year period. This included the demographic characteristics, the duration of dialysis, smoking, residual renal function, existence of metabolic syndrome and malnutrition, waist girth, body mass index (BMI), comorbidity, and routine biochemical parameters. Results: The overall mortality of the treated patients during the 4-year period was 53%, 37% for HD patients and 65% for PD patients. Metabolic syndrome was the dominant metabolic disorder affecting more than half of the HD patients, as well as being a predictive mortality parameter (β = 0.560; p = 0.045). The PD-treated patients had an equal prevalence of metabolic syndrome and malnutrition, whereas statistically significant predictors of mortality outcome were BMI (β = 0.088; p = 0.002) and waist girth (β = 0.023; p = 0.031). The median survival value was significantly higher for HD patients [108 months; 95% confidence interval (CI) 65–151]. Residual renal function in PD patients was significantly related to mortality ( p = 0.045). Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome is a predictive parameter of mortality for HD patients, whereas for PD patients it is the waist girth and BMI. Preserved residual renal function in patients on PD is an important factor in reducing mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although the fact that chest pain has a negative influence on the quality of life is well known, it is not completely clear whether the preoperative severity of angina can be a predictor of the quality of life change after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods: We studied 243 consecutive patients who underwent elective CABG. The Nottingham Health Profile Questionnaire part 1 was used as the model for determination of quality of life. We distributed the questionnaire to all patients before and six months after coronary artery bypass surgery. Two hundred and twenty-six patients filled in the postoperative questionnaire. Severity of angina was estimated by Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) classification of angina. Results: Quality of life (before and after CABG surgery) in all sections was significantly worse in patients with higher CCS angina class (p < 0.001). The CCS angina class was 1.89 ± 0.97 at baseline and improved to 0.46 ± 0.75 (p < 0.001) after CABG. Six months after the operation, quality of life significantly improved in patients with all classes of angina (p < 0.01). The improvement in quality of life was related to higher CCS angina class in sections of physical mobility (r = 0.4, p < 0.001), energy (r = 0.31, p < 0.001), and pain (r = 0.48, p < 0.001). High CCS angina class before CABG was an independent predictor of quality of life improvement after coronary artery bypass surgery in sections of physical mobility (p = 0.005; odds ratio [OR] = 2.11; confidence interval [CI] 1.25 to 3.55), energy (p = 0.021; OR = 1.77; CI 1.09 to 2.87), and pain (p < 0.001; OR = 3.99; CI 2.2 to 7.22). Conclusions: Patients with higher CCS angina class had worse preoperative and postoperative quality of life. Patients with preoperative higher CCS angina class had greater improvement in sections of physical mobility, energy, and pain. High CCS angina class before CABG was the independent predictor of quality of life improvement six months after CABG. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]