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Background: HIV is a major global public health issue, having claimed 40.4 million lives so far globally. In India the estimated number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) is 2.5 million (WHO, 2022). For planning targeted interventions, it is essential to know the socio-demographic and clinical profile of the HIV/AIDS patients in any particular area. Objectives: To study the socio-demographic and clinical profile of PLHIV attending anti-retroviral therapy (ART) centre of J.N. Medical College, A.M.U., Aligarh (U.P.). Methodology: This is a cross sectional study and data was accessed from routine records at ART centre, JNMCH, AMU, Aligarh. Records of 370 PLHIV aged =18 years attending the antiretroviral clinic were studied and analyzed. Socio-demographic characteristics, risk behaviours and laboratory investigations were studied. Anemia was defined according to WHO criteria. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. P value

Background: The private sector has maintained its dominance in the healthcare industry despite numerous government measures to improve public services. Public sector is still not a choice for treatment, various reasons being large distance from residence, poor quality of care, shortage of drugs, poor attitude of health care provider. Enumeration of the factors that defines pattern of the utilization of health services become utmost important. Hence, this study is being conducted to understand the factors behind the utilization of government health services. Objectives: i)To find the prevalence of Reproductive Tract Infections, among married women of reproductive age group, seeking treatment among rural and peri-urban areas of Aligarh. ii) To find the determinants of utilization of reproductive health services among married women in Aligarh. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between 2020-2021 Data was collected through a pretested, semi-structured questionnaire through simple random sampling from 500 married women of reproductive age group, in the field areas registered under Department of Community Medicine, JNMCH A.M.U. Data was analysed using IBM SPSS 20.0. Proportion, frequencies, chi square were used to interpret the data. Results: Among total females interviewed 201 (40.2%) were found to have symptoms of Reproductive Tract Infections, out of them 165, (74.1%) sought treatment. Among 165 females who started treatment, 62.4 % of females seeking treatment were literate.69% females who delayed treatment were illiterate. Self-motivation for treatment was seen among 60.2 % of literate females. Area of residence, social class and female’s role in decision making also determined the treatment seeking behaviour. Conclusion: In our study female literacy has been found as major factor influencing the health seeking behaviour. Factors like place of residence, socio economic status, female role in decision making were significant. There is no denying the significant health benefits of supporting women’s education. Education has a crucial role in family planning, from the earliest stages to caring for one’s own health and newborn children.

Background: Good communication skills are crucial for clinicians, influencing patient health and satisfaction. These skills build trust between patients and providers, preventing risks and conflicts. The 2019 introduction of the Attitude, Ethics, and Communication (AETCOM) module in MBBS curriculum by the Medical Council of India aims to enhance medical students’ communication skills, curb malpractices, and uphold patient’s trust in doctors. Methodology: It’s a cross-sectional study conducted in the Department of Community Medicine, J. N. Medical College, AMU, Aligarh. A total of 478 medical-graduates and PGs (divided into four groups of first (2023), second (2022+2021), third (2020+2019) MBBS-batch and fourth (Interns+ PGs) groups) were enrolled to fill up the communication skills attitude scale (CSAS) questionnaire online which consists of 13 positive and 13 negative, and also 13 affective, 5 cognitive and 4 respect attitude questions which was scored in five-point Likert’s scale. The data was analyzed using SPSS 20.0 software. Results: Overall score for positive, negative, affective, cognitive and respect domain were 36.6±7.0, 54.3±6.2, 43.5±4.6, 17.4±2.1 and 17.0±2.3 respectively. There is significant difference in score of negative attitude of first group with second and third group (34.4 vs 37.5, p=0.003 and 34.4 vs 37.8, p=0.001) respectively while positive attitude remained same. Also, significant difference in affective (42.6 vs 44.3, p=0.036) and cognitive (17.1 vs 17.9, p=0.034) component between first and fourth group while no such difference was found in respect attitude. Conclusion: Study reveals a positive inclination among medical graduates and PGs towards CSLP while a decrease in negative attitude of interns and PGs from final year students, may be due to increase in clinical exposure with the patients. The favorable attitude underscores the potential for successful integration of such programs into medical education, fostering effective communication, enhancing the quality of patient care.

Background: Menstruation is a significant event during adolescence. It is often a challenging period for adolescent girls since it poses significant challenges. The stigma associated with menstruation, difficulties due to menstrual disorders, and period poverty can often lead to school absenteeism and school dropout among girls. Objectives: 1) To identify menstrual characteristics and explore the symptoms associated with menstrual cycles among adolescent schoolgirls of Aligarh. 2) To examine whether adolescent schoolgirls experience absenteeism during menstruation and to elucidate the reasons for such occurrences. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study carried out among adolescent school girls of Aligarh. Two urban and two rural schools were selected randomly from the co-educational schools in Aligarh, with inclusion criteria comprising adolescent girls in grades six to ten who had experienced menarche at least six months prior. Parental consent and participant assent were obtained, resulting in the participation of 164 students. Data collection was conducted through a questionnaire method. Results: The respondents’ average age was 14.5±1.33 years, with 84.1% exhibiting regular menstrual cycles out of the 164 participants. The mean age at menarche was 12.7±1.02, and the average duration of menstruation was 4.90±1.54 days. Only 12% of students did not experience pain during menstruation, while the majority reported mild (35.4%), pain only on the first day (30.5%), or excessive (2.8%) pain. Predominant pre-menstrual symptoms included irritability, mood disturbances, and breast tenderness. Despite these challenges, a majority of students (84.1%) affirmed not taking leave during menstruation. Among those who did, the reasons included a lack of facilities for changing pads, insufficient disposal systems for pads, and dysmenorrhoea. Conclusion: This study sheds light on the menstrual characteristics and challenges faced by adolescent schoolgirls in Aligarh. Despite the challenges, the students attend school during menstruation which shows the importance of targeted interventions to address the challenges

Background: Child undernutrition is a global health concern. Malnutrition continues to be one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly in developing countries like India. As per the NFHS-V, the prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight in under-five children stands at 35.5%, 19.3% and 32.1% respectively. Anthropometry has become a practical tool for evaluating the nutritional status of populations, particularly of children in developing countries & the nutritional status is the best indicator of global well-being of children. Objective: To describe the anthropometric profile and assess malnutrition using anthropometric measurements of under-five children attending pediatric OPD at Rural Health Training Centre (RHTC), Jawan under Department of Community Medicine, JNMCH, A.M.U., Aligarh (U.P.). Methodology: This is a retrospective study with secondary analysis of anthropometric data of 255 under five children attending pediatric clinic for the first time at RHTC, Jawan, under Department of Community Medicine from January 1, 2023, to June 30, 2023. Collected data were entered into Microsoft Excel and analyzed by using the software SPSS, version 20.0. Results: The median age of the children was 24 months. 52.2% of them were boys and 47.8% were girls. Severe wasting (weight-for-height

The rivers, including Aras, in the Mughan region played an important role in the formation of the prehistoric sites. The Mughan Plain has not received particular attention in terms of the archaeological investigations, as the extensive scientific activities concentrated on the Lake Urmia basin. Yataq-Tepesi is a prehistoric site in the city of Germi (Mughan Region) that became the subject of the scientific research. The main aim of this paper is to discuss the pottery traditions at the site and to determine the chronological sequence of the studied region. In view of further detailed studies on the cultural relations of Mughan population with other territories, and to establish its chronological sequence, two main questions are posed: how do we date Yataq-Tepesi on the basis of cultural information, including pottery traditions? The main hypothesis suggested here is that the site development took place during the Middle Chalcolithic and Late Chalcolithic periods, somewhere between 4500 and 3700 / 3600 BC. The second question relates to the geographical regions that Yataq-Tepesi was in contact with through cultural relations and trade with other regions of northwestern Iran, especially with the region of Qaradagh and the Lake Urmia basin, as well as with the Southern Caucasus.

Microalgae have been mentioned as a promising feedstock for biodiesel production. In this study, microalgae Chlorella vulgaris (MCV) was cultivated in a bioreactor with wastewater. After biodiesel production from MCV oil via transesterification reaction, chemical and physical properties of MCV methyl ester were evaluated with regular diesel and ASTM standard. Besides, engine performance and exhaust emissions of CI engine fuelled with the blends of diesel-biodiesel were measured. The GC-MS analysis showed that oleic and linoleic acids were the main fatty acid compounds in the MCV methyl ester. Engine test results revealed that the use of biodiesel had led to a major decrease in CO and HC emissions and a modest reduction in CO2 emissions, whereas there was a minor increase in NOx emissions. Furthermore, there was a slight decrease in the engine power and torque while a modest increase in brake specific fuel consumption which are acceptable due to exhaust emissions reduction. The experimental results illustrate considerable capabilities of applied MVC biodiesel as an alternative fuel in diesel engines to diminish the emissions.

The photometry of the binary star BX And (HIP 10027) is performed during several nights in October and November 2019, and October 2020 using B, V, and R Johnson-Cousins filters in Dr. Mojtahedi Observatory of the University of Birjand. Astronomical image processing and data reduction are performed by the IRIS software and light curves are obtained. These curves, along with the radial velocity data of the binary star, are analyzed by the Phoebe program to determine the physical and geometric parameters of the system. The evolutionary state of this system is investigated using the Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) and density vs color index diagrams. The O-C curve is plotted using the eclipse times obtained in this study and those reported in the literature. By fitting a quadratic function to this curve, a new linear ephemeris is obtained for the system, and the mass transfer rate between the components of the system is determined. A periodic behavior is observed in the residuals, after subtracting the quadratic function from the O-C curve. These periodic changes are attributed to the presence of a third component in the system. The parameters of the third component are determined by fitting the light-time function to the residuals curve.

BIVV003 is a gene-edited autologous cell therapy in clinical development for the potential treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD). Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) are genetically modified with mRNA encoding zinc finger nucleases (ZFN) that target and disrupt a specific regulatory GATAA motif in the BCL11A erythroid enhancer to reactivate fetal hemoglobin (HbF). We characterized ZFN-edited HSC from healthy donors and donors with SCD. Results of preclinical studies show that ZFN-mediated editing is highly efficient, with enriched biallelic editing and high frequency of on-target indels, producing HSC capable of long-term multilineage engraftment in vivo, and express HbF in erythroid progeny. Interim results from the Phase 1/2 PRECIZN-1 study demonstrated that BIVV003 was well-tolerated in seven participants with SCD, of whom five of the six with more than 3 months of follow-up displayed increased total hemoglobin and HbF, and no severe vaso-occlusive crises. Our data suggest BIVV003 represents a compelling and novel cell therapy for the potential treatment of SCD.

Farzad Allameh,1 Abbas Basiri,1 Mohammadreza Razzaghi,2 Amir reza Abedi,3 Morteza Fallah-karkan,2,3 Saleh Ghiasy,3 Seyyed Mohammad Hosseininia,3 Saeed Montazeri3 1Urology and Nephrology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 2Laser Application in Medical Sciences Research Center, Shohada-e-Tajrish Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 3Department of Urology, Shohada-e-Tajrish Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranCorrespondence: Saeed MontazeriUrology Resident, Shohada E Tajrish Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranTel +98 21 22749221Email saeed.montazeri89@gmail.comIntroduction: Recent investigations showed that anticholinergic drugs could use for the management of storage symptoms after transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). The use of intravesical botulinum toxin-A (BTX-A) for the management of overactive bladder is rapidly increasing. In this research, we assess the efficacy of BTX-A vs solifenacin in men suffering from bladder outlet obstruction–over active bladder (BOO-OAB) managed with TURP.Methods: In this case–control study, 50 men with BOO-OAB randomized into two groups. The control group (A) underwent TURP and subsequently managed by solifenacin 5 mg daily, and the case group (B) underwent TURP and BTX-A injection in the bladder wall in the same session. Treatment success was the primary outcome and defined as post-injection improvement in the storage score of the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) from baseline.Results: The IPSS, post-void residual volume, frequency, incomplete emptying, nocturia and urgency subscores considerably ameliorated after 12 weeks and 36 weeks for both groups, but it was more significant in the case arm. The quality of life (QoL) scores significantly improved after the treatments in both groups. Intervention group showed significant reductions regarding urgency incontinence compared with the solifenacin group at 12th and 36th weeks.Conclusion: BTX-A is an effective and well-tolerated treatment in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) who are candidates of TURP and simultaneously suffer from OAB symptoms.Keywords: anticholinergic drug, benign prostatic hyperplasia, botulinum toxin-A, over active bladder, solifenacin, TURP

Amir Reza Abedi,1 Saleh Ghiasy,1 Morteza Fallah-karkan,1,2 Amirhossein Rahavian,1,3 Farzad Allameh1,2 1Urology Department, Shohada-e-Tajrish Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 2Center of Excellence for Training Laser Applications in Medicine, Shohada-e-Tajrish Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Health, Tehran, Iran; 3Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center (irhrc), Shahid Beheshti Medical Science University, Tehran, IranCorrespondence: Farzad AllamehDepartment of Urology, Shohada-e-Tajrish Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranTel/Fax +98 2122736386Email farzadallame@gmail.comAbstract: 5– 14% of patients underwent surgery for benign prostate hyperplasia harboring prostate cancer (PCa) focus. The best management of incidental prostate cancer (iPCa) has been debated. The decision “treatment or no treatment” should be determined by predictors which accurately foretell PCa progression after transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). The purpose of this study is to review the available data that can be useful in daily clinical judgment. Transrectal ultrasound prostate biopsy (TRUSBx) did not provide further Gleason score (GS) data in most patients diagnosed with iPCa. TRUSBX may be useful before active surveillance, but not in all following radical prostatectomy. The decision “treatment or no treatment” should be dependent on the expected chance of having residual cancer and clinical progression. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels before and after TURP are good predictors of residual cancer after TURP. Pathological report of T0 is most likely seen in patients with low PSA density after TURP and indistinguishable lesion on multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging. The decision “treatment vs no treatment” is judged by life expectancy, tumor characteristic in the pathology report of TURP sample and PSA level following TURP. Active surveillance should be contemplated in patients with iPCa who have both prostate-specific antigen density ≤ 0.08 after TURP and indistinguishable cancer lesion on multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging. Patients who do not meet the criteria for active surveillance are candidates for radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy (RT). Radical prostatectomy could be peacefully done after TURP with somewhat greater morbidity. RT in patients who had a history of TURP could be safely done and is associated with acceptable quality of life.Keywords: incidental prostate cancer, prostate cancer, transurethral resection of the prostate, TURP

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of intravitreal injection of autologous CD34+ stem cells from bone marrow (BMSCs) in eyes with vision loss from retinitis pigmentosa (RP). DESIGN: Phase I prospective, open-label, single-center study. PARTICIPANTS: Seven eyes (7 patients) with RP with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/60 to 20/400 or visual field constriction to within 10°. METHODS: A comprehensive examination with ETDRS BCVA, macular OCT, perimetry, and fluorescein angiography was performed at baseline, 1 to 3 months, and 6 months after study treatment. Bone marrow aspiration, isolation of CD34+ BMSCs under good manufacturing practice conditions, and intravitreal cell injection were performed on the same day. The CD34+ cells were isolated from bone marrow using a Ficoll gradient and the Miltenyi CliniMACS system. Isolated CD34+ cells were released for clinical use if viability, sterility, and purity met the release criteria accepted by the United States Food and Drug Administration for this clinical study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of CD34+ cells isolated for injection and adverse events associated with study treatment during follow-up. Secondary outcome measures are changes in BCVA and perimetry. RESULTS: All isolated CD34+ cells passed the release criteria. A mean of 3.26 ± 0.66 million viable CD34+ cells (range 1.6 to 7.05 million) were injected intravitreally per eye. No adverse event was noted during the study follow-up except for 1 participant who was noted with transient cells in the anterior chamber with mild elevation in intraocular pressure at 18 hours after study injection which normalized by 24 hours. Best-corrected visual acuity remained within 2 lines of baseline or improved in all participants at 6 months follow-up. Perimetry was stable or improved in all eyes during study follow-up except 1 eye with transient improvement at 1 month and worsening of both eyes at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal injection of autologous CD34+ BMSCs is feasible and appears to be well tolerated in eyes with vision loss from RP. A larger randomized prospective study would be needed to evaluate further the safety and potential efficacy of this cell therapy for vision loss associated with RP. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES: Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Internationally and in Ghana, formal professional development is cited in many education policies as a focal lever for transforming pedagogy and engaging students in cognitively demanding learning processes with digital technologies. Yet, this expectation for technology integration has proven difficult to achieve for many teachers, often due to the nature of technology professional development programs, which in Ghana, have received limited research attention. In response, this qualitative study, based on interviews with 20 teachers, five education officials, and five headteachers, investigated formal technology professional development opportunities in Ghana, including teachers' knowledge needs and preferred training subject. Thematic analysis revealed the existence of professional learning communities, district-private partnership workshops, curriculum reform workshops, and cluster-based professional development programs. These in-service training avenues all prioritise equipping teachers with basic technical skills to use technologies as productivity tools. Teachers strongly prefer these skill sets, considering them prerequisites for supporting routine teacher-centred teaching tasks. Findings reveal that most professional development programs and teachers tend to overlook pedagogical transformation and innovation aspects of integrating technology. The study argues that technology professional development should shift from emphasising isolated technical skills training to equally prioritising pedagogical knowledge development for teachers to effectively facilitate student-centred learning and teaching with digital technologies.

Amir-reza Abedi,1 Morteza Fallah-Karkan,2 Farzad Allameh,1 Arash Ranjbar,1 Afshin Shadmehr3 1Urology Department, Shohada-e-Tajrish Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 2Urology Department, Shohada-e-Tajrish Hospital, Laser Application in Medical Sciences Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 3Urology Department, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran Objective: Incidental prostate cancer (IPCa) is defined as a symptom-free cancer unexpectedly discovered upon microscopic examination of resected tissue. The aim of this study was to report the correlation between some specific clinical criteria in patients incidentally diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa) during transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) or open prostatectomy (OP) after clinically suspected benign prostatic hyperplasia.Patients and methods: This was a cross-sectional, retrospective study. Data were collected from Shohada-e-Tajrish Hospital database during November 2006 to October 2016. Four hundred and twenty three men suffering from symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia who underwent either TURP or OP that provided a prostate specimen were evaluated. The data analysis was performed using Pearson correlation test and independent t-test using SPSS version 20 software.Results: The mean age of subjects was 68.74±9.87 years old (45–93 years). The mean prostate specific antigen (PSA) level was 21.47±13.44 ng/mL (0.6–47.1 ng/mL). Results showed that 84 patients (19.9%) had PCa (40 patients who underwent TURP [12.6%] and 44 patients who underwent OP [40.7%] groups). Cut-off point of PSA for detecting IPCa was 3.8 ng/mL in our study, and this showed sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value of 26.08%, 100%, 100%, and 29.79%, respectively. Twenty two patients with cancer had a positive family history for PCa; thus, a significant relationship between familial history of PCa and its occurrence was shown (p=0.0001).Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the cut-off point for PSA levels in detecting PCa was 3.8 ng/mL, which is similar to that reported by other studies. Familial history of PCa and PSA levels were two predictors in determining the PCa. Keywords: incidental prostate cancer, transurethral resection of the prostate, open prostatectomy, prostate cancer, Iran