The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the United States that works to improve health care quality through the administration of evidence-based standards, measures, programs, and accreditation. The National Committee for Quality Assurance operates on a formula of measure, analyze, and improve and it aims to build consensus across the industry by working with policymakers, employers, doctors, and patients, as well as health plans.
This study compared quality assurance mechanisms in private and public tertiary institutions in The Gambia, employing a convergent mixed-methods design. Data were collected from 11 out of 19 accredited institutions through surveys, interviews, and checklists guided by National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority (NAQAA) indicators. Results revealed significant differences between private and public institutions in admission criteria, physical facilities, and internal assessment. Key challenges included a limited number of Quality Assurance specialists, funding constraints, and bureaucratic delays. These findings highlight the need for targeted policy reforms to strengthen Quality Assurance systems, build institutional capacity, and streamline resource allocation processes.
Superporous hydrogels (SPHs) are a promising type of material for gastro-retentive drug delivery systems (GRDDS). They are attracting attention because of their ability to swell very quickly, their strong mechanical structure, and their long gastric retention. These hydrogels contain a network of interconnected pores that allows them to absorb a large amount of gastric fluid within minutes. As a result, they expand to many times larger than their original size. This rapid swelling helps them stay in the stomach by preventing their passage through the pylorus, which supports a longer residence time and controlled release of drugs at the required site. SPHs can be prepared from natural or synthetic polymers and often include cross-linking agents, gas-forming substances, and bioadhesive components to enhance their function. Their responsiveness to pH and mechanical stress makes them suitable for drugs that are absorbed in specific stomach regions, have poor solubility, or are unstable in the intestine. This review highlights methods of SPH preparation, important design factors, and drug-loading techniques. It also discusses their evaluation in laboratory studies (in vitro) for swelling, strength, and release performance. Despite encouraging results, several challenges remain, including large-scale production, differences in gastric motility, and concerns about polymer-related toxicity. Overall, SPHs hold significant potential to provide reliable, efficient, and patient-friendly options for oral drug delivery. With further research and improved formulation strategies, they may become a key platform for achieving safe and effective gastro-retentive therapies. Keywords: Super Porous Hydrogels (SPHs), Rapid swelling, Porous structure, Gastric Retention
Background The Enhanced Quality in Primary Care for Elders with Diabetes-ADRD (EQUIPED-ADRD) is a quality improvement and pragmatic cluster-randomized controlled trial that uses clinical decision guidelines to streamline the care of older adults with diabetes mellitus and Alzheimer's disease/Alzheimer's disease-related Dementia (DM-AD/ADRD). This study tests whether the EQUIPED-ADRD intervention will increase the proportion of older adults with DM and AD/ADRD with desirable glycemic ranges, and reduce treatment burden, dementia severity, and healthcare utilization among participants and their care partners in the intervention arm compared to those in the control arm. Methods We will recruit older adults (≥65 years) with both DM and AD/ADRD diagnoses, who have care partners, and receive care at the enrolled New York University clinics. The intervention involves the use of panel managers to streamline the integration of clinical decision guidelines among primary care providers and improve the experiences of care partners and patients. Those in the control arm will have no panel management. We will conduct surveys and interviews, and extract data from EMR and Medicare claims to assess the association between the intervention and primary and secondary outcomes. The primary outcome is achieving within-range HbA1c, while the secondary outcomes include measures of healthcare utilization. Patient and care partner treatment burden, dementia symptoms, and care partner diabetes care distress. Conclusions The EQUIPED-ADRD intervention (implemented between 2018 and 2021) will assess the effect of an institutional guideline on the quality of life and health outcomes of older adults with DM-AD/ADRD and their care partners.Clinical Trial Number NCT03723707
Eurycoma longifolia Jack (commonly known as Tongkat Ali) is a valuable medicinal plant widely used in Europe, the United States, and several Asian countries as a health-supporting supplement. In Vietnam, it has long been applied in traditional medicine, particularly for conditions associated with impaired liver function. This study evaluated the hepatoprotective potential of a root extract of E. longifolia in Swiss mice with paracetamol-induced liver injury. Animals were assigned to control and treatment groups receiving different extract doses. Serum AST and ALT levels, together with hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA), were measured to assess liver damage and lipid peroxidation. Paracetamol markedly elevated all biomarkers (P < 0.05), whereas co-administration of the extract significantly reduced them, with the 125 mg/kg dose bringing values close to controls. These findings indicate that E. longifolia extract confers notable antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects against paracetamol toxicity.
Ngành điện lực đóng vai trò then chốt trong đảm bảo nguồn năng lượng ổn định cho các hoạt động kinh tế - xã hội. Máy biến áp điện lực là thiết bị trọng yếu, tuy nhiên dễ gặp phải các sự cố tiềm ẩn gây ra gián đoạn vận hành nghiêm trọng. Trong bối cảnh đó, kỹ thuật học sâu (Deep Learning) nổi lên như một công nghệ tiên tiến có khả năng tự động khai thác, học hỏi các đặc trưng ẩn sâu trong dữ liệu vận hành thiết bị. Bài báo này ứng dụng mạng nơron nhiều lớp (Multilayer Perceptron - MLP) để phát hiện và chẩn đoán sự cố máy biến áp dựa trên tập dữ liệu phân tích khí hòa tan (Dissolved Gas Analysis - DGA) mô phỏng theo tiêu chuẩn IEC 60599. Kết quả thực nghiệm cho thấy mô hình học sâu đạt độ chính xác cao trong việc phân loại tình trạng thiết bị, từ đó giúp nâng cao hiệu quả giám sát tình trạng vận hành và hỗ trợ ra quyết định bảo trì chủ động trong hệ thống điện.
