bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
From Landscape to Mindscape: Spatial Narration of Touristic Amsterdam
Authors: Dai Tianchen , Zhuang Taozhi , Yan Juan , Zhang Tong
Published: July 2018

The cultural attributes of architecture in touristic cities are vital to city image building, city branding, and rebranding, as well as generating more economic profits for sustainable urban development, and protecting cultural sustainability. However, many studies on this theme focus on the singularity of architecture referring to its stylistic or morphological definitions, lacking attention to visitors’ cultural experiences in the architectures. Considering the importance of personal experience involved in cultural activities as a process of spatial narration through which architecture makes sense to visitors and generates cultural values, the aim of this paper is to reveal the respective correlations between different types of architecture regarding the cultural experience it imparts and the non-positive dimensions of the city image. This research builds a categorization system of three cultural types of architecture, and designs a questionnaire to collect tourists’ personal opinions concerning architectures and the city image of Amsterdam’s waterfront in order to calculate such correlations statistically. The results associate architectures with ‘tourism-oriented’, ‘present/process-based’, and ‘mass’ cultural types with non-positive dimensions of city image, which leads to further discussions of ‘authenticity’, ‘identity’, and ‘mass culture’, suggesting the significance of urban cultural policies and local communities in terms of city rebranding.
Pathways to Coastal Resiliency: The Adaptive Gradients Framework
Authors: Hamin Elisabeth M. , Abunnasr Yaser , Roman Dilthey Max , Judge Pamela K. , Kenney Melissa A. , Kirshen Paul , Sheahan Thomas C. , DeGroot Don J. , Ryan Robert L. , McAdoo Brain G. , Nurse Leonard , Buxton Jane A. , Sutton-Grier Ariana E. , Albright Elizabeth A. , Marin Marielos Arlen , Fricke Rebecca
Published: July 2018

Current and future climate-related coastal impacts such as catastrophic and repetitive flooding, hurricane intensity, and sea level rise necessitate a new approach to developing and managing coastal infrastructure. Traditional “hard” or “grey” engineering solutions are proving both expensive and inflexible in the face of a rapidly changing coastal environment. Hybrid solutions that incorporate natural, nature-based, structural, and non-structural features may better achieve a broad set of goals such as ecological enhancement, long-term adaptation, and social benefits, but broad consideration and uptake of these approaches has been slow. One barrier to the widespread implementation of hybrid solutions is the lack of a relatively quick but holistic evaluation framework that places these broader environmental and societal goals on equal footing with the more traditional goal of exposure reduction. To respond to this need, the Adaptive Gradients Framework was developed and pilot-tested as a qualitative, flexible, and collaborative process guide for organizations to understand, evaluate, and potentially select more diverse kinds of infrastructural responses. These responses would ideally include natural, nature-based, and regulatory/cultural approaches, as well as hybrid designs combining multiple approaches. It enables rapid expert review of project designs based on eight metrics called “gradients”, which include exposure reduction, cost efficiency, institutional capacity, ecological enhancement, adaptation over time, greenhouse gas reduction, participatory process, and social benefits. The framework was conceptualized and developed in three phases: relevant factors and barriers were collected from practitioners and experts by survey; these factors were ranked by importance and used to develop the initial framework; several case studies were iteratively evaluated using this technique; and the framework was finalized for implementation. The article presents the framework and a pilot test of its application, along with resources that would enable wider application of the framework by practitioners and theorists.
Sustainability Transition towards a Biobased Economy: Defining, Measuring and Assessing
Authors: Morone Piergiuseppe
Published: July 2018

This Special Issue proposes an array of 11 key papers aimed at investigating the complex and multifaceted nature of the biobased economy, focusing both on a conceptual understanding of the transition and on the measurement issues associated to it. More specifically, collected papers can be broadly divided in two groups: (1) those aiming at adding to our understanding of the transition process towards a sustainable biobased economy; and (2) those aiming at adding to the definition and measurement of the emerging sustainable biobased economy. In the guest editor view, papers collected in this Special Issue offer valuable and complementary insights to our understanding of the ongoing transition towards a biobased economy, providing a logical framework to understand the transitions, as well as an overview of existing tools to assess and measure it. Ideally, policy makers will benefit from the papers included in this Special Issue and, hopefully, it will contribute to make a further step to the much-needed transition towards sustainability.
Human Fetal Liver-Derived Stem Cell Transplantation as Supportive Modality in the Management of End-Stage Decompensated Liver Cirrhosis
Authors: Khan Aleem A. , Shaik Mahaboob V. , Parveen N. , Rajendraprasad A. , Aleem Mohammed A. , Habeeb M. Aejaz , Srinivas G. , Raj T. Avinash , Tiwari Santosh K. , Kumaresan K. , Venkateswarlu J. , Pande Gopal , Habibullah C. M.
Published: July 2018

Liver transplantation is the only existing modality for treating decompensated liver cirrhosis. Several factors, such as nonavailability of donors, combined with operative risks, complications associated with rejection, usage of immunosuppressive agents, and cost intensiveness, make this strategy available to only a few people. With a tremendous upsurge in the mortality rate of patients with liver disorders worldwide, there is a need to search for an alternative therapeutic tool that can combat the above limitations and serve as a supportive therapy in the management of liver diseases. Cell therapy using human fetal liver-derived stem cells can provide great potential to conservatively manage end-stage liver diseases. Therefore, the present investigation aimed to study and prove the safety and efficacy of human fetal liver-derived stem cell transplantation in patients with end-stage liver cirrhosis. Twenty-five patients with liver cirrhosis of different etiologies were infused with human fetal liver-derived stem cells (EpCAM+ve) labeled with Tc-HMPAO through hepatic artery. Our high throughput analysis using flow cytometry, RT-PCR, and cellular characterization exemplifies fetal liver cells with their high proliferation rate could be the best source for rejuvenating the diseased liver. Further, no episodes related to hepatic encephalopathy recurred in any of the subjects following hepatic stem cell transplantation. There was marked clinical improvement observed in terms of all clinical and biochemical parameters. Further, there was decrease in mean MELD score ( p < 0.01) observed in 6 months follow-up in all patients. Therapy using human fetal liver stem/progenitor cells offers a potentially supportive modality to organ transplantation in the management of liver diseases.
Assessing the possibilities of designing a unified multistep continuous flow synthesis platform
Authors: Sharma Mrityunjay K , Acharya Roopashri B , Shukla Chinmay A , Kulkarni Amol A
Published: July 2018

The multistep flow synthesis of complex molecules has gained momentum over the last few years. A wide range of reaction types and conditions have been integrated seamlessly on a single platform including in-line separation as well as monitoring. Beyond merely getting considered as ‘flow version’ of conventional ‘one-pot synthesis’, multistep flow synthesis has become the next generation tool for creating libraries of new molecules. Here we give a more ‘engineering’ look at the possibility of developing a ‘unified multistep flow synthesis platform’. A detailed analysis of various scenarios is presented considering 4 different classes of drugs already reported in the literature. The possible complexities that an automated and controlled platform needs to handle are also discussed in detail. Three different design approaches are proposed: (i) one molecule at a time, (ii) many molecules at a time and (iii) cybernetic approach. Each approach would lead to the effortless integration of different synthesis stages and also at different synthesis scales. While one may expect such a platform to operate like a ‘driverless car’ or a ‘robo chemist’ or a ‘transformer’, in reality, such an envisaged system would be much more complex than these examples.
Solar Energetic Particle Events Observed by the PAMELA Mission
Authors: Bruno A. , Bazilevskaya G. A. , Boezio M. , Christian E. R. , Nolfo G. A. de , Martucci M. , Merge’ M. , Mikhailov V. V. , Munini R. , Richardson I. G. , Ryan J. M. , Stochaj S. , Adriani O. , Barbarino G. C. , Bellotti R. , Bogomolov E. A. , Bongi M. , Bonvicini V. , Bottai S. , Cafagna F. , Campana D. , Carlson P. , Casolino M. , Castellini G. , Santis C. De , Felice V. Di , Galper A. M. , Karelin A. V. , Koldashov S. V. , Koldobskiy S. , Krutkov S. Y. , Kvashnin A. N. , Leonov A. , Malakhov V. , Marcelli L. , Mayorov A. G. , Menn W. , Mocchiutti E. , Monaco A. , Mori N. , Osteria G. , Panico B. , Papini P. , Pearce M. , Picozza P. , Ricci M. , Ricciarini S. B. , Simon M. , Sparvoli R. , Spillantini P. , Stozhkov Y. I. , Vacchi A. , Vannuccini E. , Vasilyev G. I. , Voronov S. A. , Yurkin Y. T. , Zampa G. , Zampa N.
Published: July 2018

Despite the significant progress achieved in recent years, the physical mechanisms underlying the origin of solar energetic particles (SEPs) are still a matter of debate. The complex nature of both particle acceleration and transport poses challenges to developing a universal picture of SEP events that encompasses both the low-energy (from tens of keV to a few hundreds of MeV) observations made by space-based instruments and the GeV particles detected by the worldwide network of neutron monitors in ground-level enhancements (GLEs). The high-precision data collected by the Payload for Antimatter Matter Exploration and Light-nuclei Astrophysics (PAMELA) satellite experiment offer a unique opportunity to study the SEP fluxes between ∼80 MeV and a few GeV, significantly improving the characterization of the most energetic events. In particular, PAMELA can measure for the first time with good accuracy the spectral features at moderate and high energies, providing important constraints for current SEP models. In addition, the PAMELA observations allow the relationship between low- and high-energy particles to be investigated, enabling a clearer view of the SEP origin. No qualitative distinction between the spectral shapes of GLE, sub-GLE and non-GLE events is observed, suggesting that GLEs are not a separate class, but are the subset of a continuous distribution of SEP events that are more intense at high energies. While the spectral forms found are to be consistent with diffusive shock acceleration theory, which predicts spectral rollovers at high energies that are attributed to particles escaping the shock region during acceleration, further work is required to explore the relative influences of acceleration and transport processes on SEP spectra.
Empirical Relations for the Accurate Estimation of Stellar Masses and Radii
Authors: Moya Andy , Zuccarino Federico , Chaplin William J. , Davies Guy R.
Published: July 2018

In this work, we have taken advantage of the most recent accurate stellar characterizations carried out using asteroseismology, eclipsing binaries and interferometry to evaluate a comprehensive set of empirical relations for the estimation of stellar masses and radii. We have gathered a total of 934 stars—of which around two-thirds are on the main sequence—that are characterized with different levels of precision, most of them having estimates of M, R, T
eff, L, g, ρ, and [Fe/H]. We have deliberately used a heterogeneous sample (in terms of characterizing techniques and spectroscopic types) to reduce the influence of possible biases coming from the observation, reduction, and analysis methods used to obtain the stellar parameters. We have studied a total of 576 linear combinations of T
eff, L, g, ρ, and [Fe/H] (and their logarithms) to be used as independent variables to estimate M or R. We have used an error-in-variables linear regression algorithm to extract the relations and to ensure the fair treatment of the uncertainties. We present a total of 38 new or revised relations that have an adj-R
2 regression statistic higher than 0.85, and a relative accuracy and precision better than 10% for almost all the cases. The relations cover almost all the possible combinations of observables, ensuring that, whatever list of observables is available, there is at least one relation for estimating the stellar mass and radius.
A Case of Orbital Myositis Presenting With Dizziness
Authors: Aquilina Neville , Bugeja Vincent , Zahra Charmaine
Published: July 2018

BACKGROUND: Orbital myositis is an idiopathic, inflammatory, non-infectious condition, typically confined to more than one extraocular muscle and usually targeting young females in their third decade.CASE REPORT: We describe a case of orbital myositis uncommonly afflicting an adult male. He initially presented with a sensation of dizziness when turning his head and mobilising, together with right-sided orbital pain that failed to respond to the vestibular sedative cinnarizine. Failure to resolve and development of diplopia initially prompted a working diagnosis of ocular myasthenia gravis. On further investigation using HESS charting, paresis in the inferior and medial rectus and superior oblique ocular muscles of the right eye were elicited correlating with clinical examination. However, the lack of response to low dose steroids and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, together with a negative screen for myasthenia antibodies, precluded a diagnosis of ocular myaesthenia gravis from being made. Other investigations included a high creatinine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase which indicated pathology in the extraocular muscles themselves. An MRI scan showed normal extraocular muscle thickness while excluding other orbital pathology. Exclusion of a variety of other conditions subsequently led to a diagnosis of orbital myositis.CONCLUSION: Response to high dose steroids consolidated this diagnosis with a rapid response ascertained clinically by resolution of pseudo-vertigo and pain, as well as the ophthalmoplegia with follow-up on HESS charting. We aim to raise awareness of this rare condition that carries a good response to steroids.
Prevalence of Malocclusion among Male School Children in Riyadh City
Authors: Albakri Fahad M. , Ingle Navin , Assery Mansour K.
Published: July 2018

BACKGROUND: Malocclusion is defined as irregularity of the teeth or a molar relationship between the dental arches beyond the range of what is accepted as normal.AIM: To determine the prevalence of malocclusion among male school children aged 12-15 years old in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five hundred (500) school children in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia with an age of 12-15 years participated in this study. The prevalence of malocclusion among the students was determined using a clinical examination form specially prepared for this study. The required information was collected from each subject, and descriptive statistics were performed.RESULTS: The Molar Class I relation involved the highest percentage of the sample (71.2%) while Class II relation involved only 23% which was four times of Class III (5.8%). The maxillary arch crowding was present in 23.2% of the sample which was double than that of spacing. Whereas, the mandibular arch crowding was present in 28% of the sample which was three times more than spacing (8.8%). The open bite was present in 4% of the sample while deep bite was present in 9.6%.CONCLUSION: The prevalence of malocclusion involved the highest percentage in Class I in comparison with other malocclusions.
On the Epidemiology and Statistical Analysis of HIV/AIDS Patients in the Insurgency Affected States of Nigeria
Authors: Adamu Patience I. , Oguntunde Pelumi Emmanuel , Okagbue Hilary I. , Agboola Olasunmbo O.
Published: July 2018

BACKGROUND: The effect of insurgencies on a nation regarding the economy, education, health and infrastructure cannot be overemphasised.AIM: This research is therefore focused on analysing the incidence of HIV/AIDS disease in states affected by the activities of the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria.MATERIAL AND METHODS: The data collected refer to the period from 2004 to 2017, reporting information on 16,102 patients and including the age, gender, year of diagnosing and status of the patients. Descriptive, Chi-square test of independence and Correlation analyses were performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.RESULTS: It was discovered that the majority of those living with HIV/AIDS in these Boko Haram ravaged areas are females between the age group of 30 years to 39 years. Reported cases of HIV/AIDS started increasing significantly from age 20, and the highest number of reported cases of HIV/AIDS was recorded in the year 2017.CONCLUSION: The status of the patient was found to be dependent on both the gender and age of the patients’ treatment, though the strength of the linear relationship between status and age is not significantly different from zero.
Assessment of Photodynamic Therapy and Nanoparticles Effects on Caries Models
Authors: Saafan Ali , Zaazou Mohamed H. , Sallam Marwa K. , Mosallam Osama , El Danaf Heba A.
Published: July 2018

AIM: To assess the antibacterial competence of 650 nm diode laser, Methylene Blue (MB) and Silver Nano-Particles (Ag NPs) on Streptococcus mutans in biofilm-induced caries models.MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred eighty specimens were prepared and equally divided into 6 groups. One group was untreated (control), and the others were subjected to either MB, laser, Ag NPs, the combination of MB and Laser or MB, laser and Ag NPs.RESULTS: Comparison of the log10 mean Colony Forming Units per millilitre (CFU/ml) values of each of the treated 5 groups and the control group was found statistically significant (P-value < 0.05).The combination of MB, laser and Ag NPs recorded the greatest reduction (95.28%). MB alone represented the least capable (74.09%). The efficiency differences among the Ag NPs treated group; the Laser treated group and the combined MB/Laser treated group were found statistically insignificant.CONCLUSION: The combination of MB, 650 nm diode laser and Ag NPs may be among the highly effective modern antimicrobial therapeutics in dentistry.
Evaluation of the Reliability and Validity of the Persian Version of the Fatigue Assessment Scale in Iranian Sarcoidosis Patients
Authors: Lookzadeh Somayeh , Kiani Arda , Taghavi Kimia , Kianersi Shirin , Emami Habib , Mirenayat Maryam , Abedini Atefeh
Published: July 2018

INTRODUCTION: Fatigue is one of the common symptoms of sarcoidosis, which occurs in about 50-70% of patients.AIM: Considering that there are no valid Iranian questionnaires for evaluating fatigue in sarcoidosis, in the present study, for the first time, we translated Fatigue Questionnaire into Persean and evaluated its validity and reliability among Iranian patients with sarcoidosis.MATERIAL AND METHODS: In methodological research, English version of Fatigue assessment scale (FAS) 10 items questionnaire which is designed to assess physical or mental fatigue in chronic disease patients, was translated into Persian and back-translated into English. Its validity and reliability were studied on the one hundred and thirteen confirmed sarcoidosis patients are referring to respiratory referral hospital of Iran. Reliability analysis was performed by estimation of Cronbach`s alpha test.RESULTS: According to the cut-off point of 22.84 (74%) of the studied patients were suffering from fatigue. The internal consistency calculation revealed that the alpha value of the physical fatigue and mental fatigue was 0.945 and 0.896, respectively.CONCLUSION: We concluded that the existence of questions number 4 and 10 in the questionnaire reduces the continuity of the questions, and therefore we suggest applying the FAS questionnaire without the two questions 4 and 10. This study showed that FAS questionnaire was very practical and can routinely be applied to assess the fatigue scale in sarcoidosis patients.
Factors Associated with the Choice of Peritoneal Dialysis in Iran: Qualitative Study
Authors: Ahmadi Seyedeh Masoumeh , Jalali Amir , Jalali Rostam
Published: July 2018

BACKGROUND: Decision making about the type of dialysis in kidney failure is a matter of great importance involving the patients, his/her family, and the health care team. Identifying the factors influencing decision making for undergoing peritoneal dialysis helps the development of this therapeutic method in patients.AIM: The present study aims at explaining the factors influencing decision making about undergoing PD in ESRD patientsMETHOD: The present study is a qualitative research, which utilizes content analysis method. A semi-structured and in-depth interview was conducted with the 19 participants that selected by purposefully sampling. All interviews were recorded subsequent to receiving consent of the participants and were analyzed using content analysis method.RESULTS: The first codification process resulted in 345 codes, which finally decreased to 278 codes by continuous reading and removal of duplicates. Overall, two main categories and eight categories namely facilitating factors (viz. family atmosphere, hemodialysis problems, PD advantages, and social environment) and inhibitory factors (viz. inefficient family, PD requirements, attitudes towards hemodialysis, and the country treatment system) were selected from the total 19 sub-categories and 278 codes.CONCLUSIONS: Results indicated that various personal, family-related, psychological, social, and economic factors could affect the decision on the type of dialysis in patients. Therefore, basic infrastructures such as social support, education, and even the specialist and positive perspective of the Ministry of Health are required to choose this therapeutic method.
Ameliorative Effect of Silymarin on Scopolamine-induced Dementia in Rats
Authors: A. El-Marasy Salma A. , Abd-Elsalam Reham M. , Ahmed-Farid Omar A.
Published: July 2018

AIM: This study aims to elucidate the possible ameliorative effect of silymarin on scopolamine-induced dementia using the object recognition test (ORT) in rats.METHODS: The study was extended to demonstrate the role of cholinergic activity, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, brain neurotransmitters and histopathological changes in the anti-amnestic effect of silymarin in demented rats. Wistar rats were pre-treated with silymarin (200, 400, 800 mg/kg) or donepezil (10 mg/kg) orally for 14 consecutive days. Dementia was induced after the last drug administration by a single intraperitoneal dose of scopolamine (16 mg/kg). Then behavioural, biochemical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical analyses were then performed.RESULTS: Rats pre-treated with silymarin counteracted scopolamine-induced non-spatial working memory impairment in the ORT and decreased acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, reduced malondialdehyde (MDA), elevated reduced glutathione (GSH), restored gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and dopamine (DA) contents in the cortical and hippocampal brain homogenates. Silymarin reversed scopolamine-induced histopathological changes. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that silymarin mitigated protein expression of the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) in the brain cortex and hippocampus. All these effects of silymarin were similar to that of the standard anti-amnestic drug, donepezil.CONCLUSION: This study reveals that the ameliorative effect of silymarin on scopolamine-induced dementia in rats using the ORT maybe in part mediated by, enhancement of cholinergic activity, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities as well as mitigation in brain neurotransmitters and histopathological changes.
Genetic Polymorphism of CYP2A6 and Its Relationship with Nicotine Metabolism in Male Bataknese Smokers Suffered from Lung Cancer in Indonesia
Authors: Soeroso Noni Novisari , Zain-Hamid Rozaimah , Sinaga Bintang , Sadewa Ahmad , Syafiuddin Tamsil , Syahruddin Elisna , Tann Gino , Mutiara Erna
Published: July 2018

BACKGROUND: Cytochrome P450 2A6 (CYP2A6) is known as an enzyme which is responsible for the metabolism of chemical compounds.AIM: This study aimed to analyse the relationship between CYP2A6 gene polymorphism with nicotine metabolism rates and lung cancer incidence among smokers of Batak ethnic group in Indonesia.METHODS: This study was a case-control study involving 140 research subjects through a purposive sampling technique from three hospitals in Medan, Indonesia. An examination of nicotine metabolism rates was conducted for all subjects using the 3HC/cotinine ratio parameter with LC-MS/MS technique. The examination of the CYP2A6 gene was performed with PCR-RFLP. Data were analysed with Conditional Logistic Regression test using Epi Info 7.0 software.RESULTS: The allele frequencies of CYP2A6*1A, CYP2A6*1B, and CYP2A6*4A found were 44.3%, 48.9%, and 6.8%, respectively. The *1B allele showed the highest metabolism rate. It is found that slow metabolizer individuals were 5.49 times more likely to develop lung cancer (P = 0.01, 95%CI 1.2-24.8).CONCLUSION: Among the Bataknese smokers studied, the CYP2A6*1B allele was found to be the most common allele and showed the highest rate of nicotine metabolism. However, the results show the insignificant relationship among CYP2A6 genetic polymorphism, nicotine metabolism, and lung cancer incidence.
Assessment of the Role of the Anti-Mullerian Hormone, Luteinizing Hormone/Follicle Stimulating Hormone Ratio in the Diagnosis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Sudanese Women
Authors: Tola Hafza , Abbas Mohammed , Alhassan Elsir Abu , Shrif Nassr Eldin , Rida Mohammed
Published: July 2018

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is not an easy procedure, as the signs and symptoms are heterogeneous and of undefined aetiology.AIM: This study is aimed to evaluate serum anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) level and luteinizing hormone (LH)/folic stimulating hormone (FSH) ratio in women with PCOS in Sudan and to assess the diagnostic efficiency for the diagnosis of PCOS.METHODS: In a case-control study, Serum AMH, LH, FSH was measured in the early follicular phase from Sudanese patients (N = 230) with PCOS and100 controls. The LH/FSH ratio was calculated, and its diagnostic power was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curves.RESULTS: The means of serum AMH, serum LH level and LH/FSH ratio of the test, were significantly increased in the test group compared to the control group (P-value < 0.000). The AMH sensitivity, specificity, Positive Predictive Value (PPV) and Negative Predictive Value (NPV) were found to be 83%, 99%, 99%, and 72% respectively. Serum AMH was considered adequate measures for the diagnosis of PCOS; its level showed an area under the ROC curve of 0.98 (95% confidence, P-value < 0.000). The best compromise between 98% specificity and 90% sensitivity was obtained with a cut-off value of 3.3 ng/mL for PCOS diagnosis. There was no correlation between age, body mass index (BMI) and AMH level in the test group.CONCLUSIONS: The Serum AMH level and LH/FSH ratio were higher in patients than in control. However AMH level has better discriminative power and good diagnostic potency for the diagnosis of the PCOS among Sudanese women.
An Investigation of the Prevalence of Subclinical Brain Lesions in MRI Images of Migraine Patients
Authors: Haji Naghi Tehrani Khadijeh
Published: July 2018

BACKGROUND: The use of the MRI method has opened up a new perspective on pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of brain lesions.AIM: Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of brain subclinical lesions in MRI images of migraine patients.METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 patients with a migraine referred to Baqiyatallah and Amir Al-Momenin Hospitals from 2005 to 2006. We measured the relationship between the results of MRI and the type of brain subclinical lesion by indices such as age, gender, type of a migraine, the number of migraine attacks, blood pressure and heart diseases, cholesterol, diabetes and thyroid diseases. Finally, data were analysed by IBM SPSS statistics software version 23. The significance level in this study was considered as P > 0.05.RESULTS: From among 300 patients, 87.7% were women in the age range of 13-72 years. Moreover, the results indicated that with increasing age, blood pressure and some migraine attacks, the frequency of abnormal MRI also is increased significantly as well as the ratio of a migraine with aura was significantly higher than a migraine without aura in individuals with abnormal MRI. Also, the ratio of white matter lesions (WML) is higher in a classical migraine (a Migraine with aura). Statistical analyses did not reveal any significant relationship between MRI results on age, diabetes, cholesterol, heart and thyroid diseases.CONCLUSION: The prevalence of abnormal MRI in older people and those with high blood pressure and migraine with aura is higher, and the ratio of subclinical lesions in the population of a migraine with aura is more common than a migraine without aura.
Immunotherapy in Allergic Rhinitis: It’s Effect on the Immune System and Clinical Symptoms
Authors: Kouzegaran Samaneh , Ali Zamani Mohammad , Faridhosseini Reza , Rafatpanah Houshang , Rezaee Abdolrahim , Yousefzadeh Hadis , Movahed Rahman , Azad Farahzad Jabbari , Tehrani Hooman
Published: July 2018

BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis is one of the most common allergic diseases and characterised by sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal congestion and nasopharyngeal itching. Subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) for specific allergens is an effective treatment and induces the inhibitory effect of T regulatory lymphocytes and decreases clinical symptoms in allergic rhinitis.AIM: In this study effect of subcutaneous immunotherapy with specific allergens on clinical symptoms and T regulatory and T Helper cells cytokines, in patients with allergic rhinitis are evaluated.METHODS: In this study, 30 patients with moderate to severe allergic rhinitis according to clinical criteria and positive skin prick test for aeroallergens were selected and treated by SCIT. Clinical symptoms and T cells cytokines IL4, IL17, IFN gamma, TGF beta, GITR, FOXP3 and IL-10 (by RT-PCR) were evaluated before and one year after initiation of treatment.RESULTS: Thirty (30) patients with allergic rhinitis at age range 15-45 years old were treated by SCIT, and 23 (14 female, 9 male) patients continued the study, and 7 patients did not continue treatment. After immunotherapy, clinical symptoms decreased significantly. The specific cytokines TGF beta and IL10 levels increased and changes were statistically significant. (Respectively P = 0.013 and P = 0.05) The IL17 level was also increased, but not statistically significant. (P = 0.8) IFN gamma, IL4, GITR, FOXP3, all decreased, but the changes were not statistically significant (P > 0.05).CONCLUSION: Subcutaneous Immunotherapy for specific allergens decreases clinical symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis and induces tolerance in T lymphocytes, especially by increasing T regulatory cells cytokines, TGF beta and IL10.
Immunomodulatory, Apoptosis Induction and Antitumor Activities of Aqueous and Methanolic Extract of Calvatia Craniiformis in Mice Transfected with Murine Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells
Authors: Jameel Ghassan Hamdan , AL-Ezzy Ali Ibrahim Ali , Mohammed Ibrahim H.
Published: July 2018

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the Immunomodulatory, apoptosis induction and antitumor effects of aqueous and methanolic extracts of Calvatia craniiformis regarding the size of tumour mass, caspase-8 expression and apoptotic index (AI%) in mice transfected with murine hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (H22) as an experimental therapeutic system for human hepatocellular carcinoma.MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-eight Balb/C albino mice were transfected in legs with H22 cells. Tumour size was measured twice a week. Caspase-8 protein expression and apoptotic index determination evaluated by Immunohistochemistry.RESULTS: Tumor size significantly differed between the two groups of mice transfected with H22 cells; the first was treated with C. craniiformis aqueous extract (0.3, 0.6, 1.2) mg/kg and the second group was treated with C. craniiformis methanolic extract (0.25, 0.5, 1.0) mg/kg compared with control group. The inhibitory activity of aqueous and methanolic extracts was dose and duration dependent. The size of the tumour mass was reduced up to 87.9% when treated with 1.2 mg/kg aqueous extract and 1 mg/kg for methanolic extract. Caspase-8 expression was increased in a dose-dependent manner among H22 bearing mice treated with C. craniiformis aqueous extract (0.3, 0.6, 1.2) mg/kg. At 0.3 mg/kg, the intensity of expression was strong in (33.33%) and very strong in (66.67%). While at 0.6 mg/kg and 1.2 mg/kg the intensity of expression was strong in (33.33%) and very strong in (100%) with a significant difference (P ≤ 0.001). H22 bearing mice treated with (0.25, 0.5, 1.0) mg/kg C. craniiformis methanolic extract shows increased caspase-8 expression in a dose-dependent manner. At 0.25 mg/kg, the intensity of expression was strong in (33.33%) and very strong in (66.67%). While at 0.5 mg/kg, the intensity of expression was strong in (33.33%) and very strong in (100%). At 1.0 mg/kg, the intensity of expression was strong in (16.67%) and very strong in (83.33%) with significant difference (P ≤ 0.001). AI% of H22 bearing mice treated with C. craniiformis aqueous and methanolic extracts were significantly increased (P ≤ 0.05) compared with the untreated control group. No significant difference was reported in AI% between aqueous and methanolic extracts treated groups.CONCLUSIONS: Extracts of C. craniiformis were highly efficient in tumour growth inhibition, causing a reduction in the tumour size clinically and increase the expression of caspase-8 gene product in tumour tissue, causing increase apoptotic index of H22 cells taken from the legs of inoculated mice leading to loss of legs due to bone necrosis. Antitumor activity of C. craniiformis aqueous, and the methanolic extract was dose and duration dependent.
Primary Cutaneous CD30+/ALK- ALCL with Transition into sALCL: Favourable Response after Systemic Administration with Brentuximab Vedotin! Unique Presentation in a Bulgarian Patient!
Authors: Popova Tanya Naskova , Radinov Atanass , Stavrov Konstantin , Temelkova Ivanka , Terziev Ivan , Lozev Ilia , Lukanova Detelina , Mangarov Hristo , Wollina Uwe , Tchernev Georgi
Published: July 2018

BACKGROUND: Modern drugs could sometimes be a good solution even to problematic patients. The cutaneous and systemic forms of the CD30 positive anaplastic large T-cell lymphoma could often be described as a suitable target for therapy with Brentuximab vedotin.CASE REPORT: We present the first case of a Bulgarian patient with a histologically confirmed primary cutaneous T-cell CD30+/ALK- large anaplastic cell lymphoma-cALCL (therapeutically resistant to therapy with Methotrexate, radiation therapy and systemic corticosteroid therapy) who was successfully treated with Brentuximab vedotin. In several years, the patient has developed a comparatively fast skin progression as well as an initial systemic one which impacts inguinal and mediastinal nodes. After the implementation of 4 therapy cycles with Brentuximab vedotin, complete regression of the described by previous hospitalisations lymph nodes as well as 80% reduction of the cutaneous and subcutaneous located tumour formations were observed.CONCLUSION: The therapy of CD30+/ALK- anaplastic large T-cell lymphoma is a significant challenge for oncologists and dermatologists because it requires maximally efficient and minimally traumatic treatment in parallel. Therapy with Brentuximab is a new direction which shows extremely good clinical results and can be applied to the cutaneous as well as to the systemic form of anaplastic large-cell CD30 positive lymphoma. The key element by treatment with Brentuximab is suppression of the CD30- expression which, in turn, could be the cause of relapses. On that ground, patients with these lymphomas should be strictly monitored.
Key Issues in the Management of Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis: A Case Report
Authors: Nanovic Zorica , Kaeva Jovkovska Biserka , Breskovska Gorica , Petrovska Milena
Published: July 2018

BACKGROUND: Global tuberculosis (TB) epidemic is being driven to an increasing extent by the emergence and spread of drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC). We present a case of primary multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), highlighting Macedonian MDR-TB management issues.CASE REPORT: A 39-year old previously healthy Caucasian male, with no previous history of TB or close contact to TB, was admitted in referral TB-hospital due to respiratory bleeding. Chest X-ray revealed opacity with cavernous lesions in the right upper lobe. Sputum samples showed no presence of acid-fast bacilli (AFB) on fluorescence microscopy, but molecular tests (real-time PCR-based assay and multiplex PCR-based reverse hybridisation Line Probe Assay) confirmed the presence of MTBC, also revealing rifampicin and isoniazid resistance and absence of resistance to second-line anti-tubercular drugs. The strain was considered multidrug-resistant, lately confirmed by conventional methods in liquid and solid culture. Following the protocol of the World Health Organization, we started the longer treatment of MDR-TB comprised of at least five effective anti-tubercular drugs. Due to patient’s extreme non-adherence, we had to delay and modify the regimen (i.e. omitting parenteral aminoglycoside) and to discharge him from the hospital a month after directly observed therapy (DOT) in negative pressure room. As there is no legal remedy in our country regarding involuntary isolation, our patient continued the regimen under ambulatory control of referral TB-hospital. Ignoring the risk of additional acquisition of drug resistance and prolonged exposure of the community to MDR-TB strain - for which he was repeatedly advised - he decided to cease the therapy six months after beginning.CONCLUSION: The benefit of molecular tests in the early diagnosis of TB and drug resistance is unequivocal for adequate treatment of resistant forms of TB. Whole genome sequencing ensures additional knowledge of circulating strains and their resistance patterns. These are essentials of effective TB control programs and can provide evidence to medical and legal authorities for more active policies of screening, involuntary confinement and compliance with therapy, and alternative modalities for successful treatment, as a part of infection control.
Frontal Sinus Obliteration Utilizing Autogenous Abdominal Fat Graft
Authors: Eledeissi Abla , Ahmed Mamdouh , Helmy Emad
Published: July 2018

BACKGROUND: Frontal sinus fractures have always been unique because of the controversy surrounding their ideal treatment protocol and the fatal complications that could follow if the wrong treatment opts.AIM: The purpose of this study was to assess clinically and radiographically frontal sinus obliteration technique utilising autogenous abdominal fat graft.PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was carried out on 20 patients having anterior table fracture of their frontal sinuses indicated for sinus obliteration. All sinuses were obliterated using autogenous abdominal fat graft. Post-operatively, patients were clinically evaluated for any signs or symptoms of intracranial infections, wound dehiscence, sinus affections, or aesthetic deformity. Computerized tomography (CT) radiographic evaluations were carried out immediately and 12 months postoperatively to evaluate any uneventful healing of the graft.RESULTS: Clinical follow-up showed no cerebrospinal fluid leak, no postoperative infection or wound dehiscence in 18 cases. There were two cases however that showed infection. Radiographic follow-up revealed uneventful healing of the abdominal fat grafts with no abnormality detected in the sinus cavity throughout the whole postoperative period.CONCLUSION: Autogenous abdominal fat graft appears to be a successful obliteration material in the frontal sinus cavity and is beneficial in fractures of the anterior table.
A Bayesian Analysis With Informative Prior on Disease Prevalence for Predicting Missing Values Due To Verification Bias
Authors: Hajivandi Abdollah , Ghafarian Shirazi Hamid Reza , Saadat Seyed Hassan , Chehrazi Mohammad
Published: July 2018

AIM: Verification bias is one of the major problems encountered in diagnostic accuracy studies. It occurs when a standard test performed on a non-representative subsample of subjects which have undergone the diagnostic test. In this study we extend a Bayesian model to correct this bias.METHODS: The study population is patients that have undergone at least two repeated failed IVF/ICSI (in vitro fertilization/intra cytoplasmic sperm injection) cycles. Patients were screened using ultrasonography and those with polyps were recommended for hysteroscopy. A Bayesian modeling was applied on mechanism of missing data using an informative prior on disease prevalence. The parameters of the model were estimated through Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods.RESULTS: A total of 238 patients were screened, 47 of which had polyps. Those with polyps were strongly recommended to undergo hysteroscopy, 47/47 decide to have a hysteroscopy and in 37/47 polyps confirmed. None of the 191 patients with no polyps detected in ultrasonography underwent a hysteroscopy. A model using Bayesian approach was applied with informative prior on polyp prevalence. False and true negatives were estimated in the Bayesian framework. The false negative was obtained 14 and 177 true negatives were obtained, so sensitivity and specificity was estimated easily after estimating the missing data. Sensitivity and specificity were equal to 74% and 94% respectively.CONCLUSION: Bayesian analyses with informative prior seem to be powerful tools in the simulation of experimental space.
Thermodynamics of FeS-PbS-In2S3 and Properties of Intermediate Phases
Authors: Asadov Mirsalim M. , Mustafaeva Solmaz N. , Hasanova Ulviya A. , Mamedov Faiq M. , Aliev Ozbak M. , Yanushkevich Kazimir I. , Nikitov Sergey A. , Kuli-Zade Esmira S.
Published: July 2018

The thermodynamic analysis and the X-ray Phase Analysis (XPA) of the FeS–PbS–In2S3system were carried out. It is shown that along with the triple phases of MIn2S4(M – Fe, Pb) and Pb6In6S21, the Fe1.5Pb5.5In10S22phase also participates in the triangulation of the system. The standard thermodynamic functions for the formation of MIn2S4(M-Fe, Pb), Pb6In6S21and Fe1.5Pb5.5In10S22are estimated. An isothermal section of the FeS–PbS–In2S3system at 298 K is constructed. It is shown that the activation energy of the impurity level located in the band gap of Fe1.5Pb5.5In10S22is equal to 0.19 eV.
Influence of Stacking Fault Energy on Microstructure Formation and Strength Properties of Cu-Zn Alloy
Authors: Zaynullina Liliya I. , Alexandrov Igor V. , Wei Wei
Published: July 2018

In this paper we report a microstructure and strength properties investigations of a Cu-10 mass. % Zn alloy subjected to ECAP, with the aim of forming a UFG structure and enhancing the strength properties. The obtained results for this alloy having an average SFE value (35 mJ⋅m-2) are compared with the results obtained for pure UFG copper with a high SFE value equaled to 78 mJ⋅m-2. It is shown that the decrease in SFE value leads to more developed microstructure refinement, an increase in the density of dislocations and twins, which, in turn, provides an increase in strength characteristics.
Fully Coupled Two-Phase Composite Model for Microstructure Evolution during Non-Proportional Severe Plastic Deformation
Authors: Shutov Alexey
Published: July 2018

A fully coupled micro-macro interaction model is proposed for the grain refinement caused by severe plastic deformation of cell-forming metallic materials. The model is a generalization of a previously proposed two-phase composite model suggested for the evolution of dislocation populations corresponding to the interior of the dislocation cells and dislocation cell walls. Just as within the original framework, the evolution of the material microstructure depends on the applied hydrostatic pressure, strain rate, and the loading path. Backstresses are used to define a measure of the strain path change. Thereby, the model can describe the experimentally observed dissolution of dislocation cells and the reduction of dislocation densities occurring shortly after load path changes. The large strain kinematics is accounted for in a geometrically exact manner using the nested split of the deformation gradient tensor, proposed by Lion. Within the extended model, the macroscopic strength of the material depends on the microstructural parameters. In that sense, the new model is fully coupled. It is thermodynamically consistent, objective, and w-invariant under isochoric changes of the reference configuration. A physical interpretation is provided for the nested multiplicative split in terms of the two-phase microstructure composite model.
Tensile Deformation Behaviors of Aluminum Alloy 2219 at High Temperatures from 415°C to 515°C
Authors: Li Xin , Gan Tian , Yu Zhong Qi , Zhao Yi Xi
Published: July 2018

This study is carried out to provide detailed hot deformation information on aluminum alloy AA2219-O. The uniaxial tensile tests are carried out to study the hot deformation behaviors. The test temperature ranges from 415°C to 515°C, and the strain rates are 0.001s-1 and 0.01s-1. Additionally, the analysis of the strain rate sensitivity coefficient indicates that the AA2219-O exhibits the trend of superplasticity at temperatures above 475°C.
Microstructure Evolution of Nickel-Based Superalloys Induced by Thermomechanical Processing - Simulation and Verification
Authors: Mukhtarov Shamil , Utyashev Farid Z. , Shakhov Ruslan
Published: July 2018

It is known that different parts of the gas turbine engine discs are operated at different temperature and load. Therefore, it is advisable to make such components out of nickel-based superalloys with a regulated structure that provides them the best operational properties. It is important to know the thermomechanical treatment for their processing to form such structures. Research of the deformation behavior and the microstructure evolution of nickel-based superalloys were carried out on small specimens. The accumulated strains and the stress distribution in specimens were determined during simulation. It is possible to predict structure formation on the basis of a deflected mode. Verification was carried out by isothermal upsetting of specimens out of superalloys at the temperature and strain rates determined by simulation. Thermomechanical treatments of the superalloys for different microstructure formation were defined. The features of the microstructure formation are shown depending on the chemical and phase composition of the alloys. Hot deformation of the ATI Allvac 718Plus superalloy leads to dissolution of the gamma prime phase that facilitates the deformation capacity. Increasing the alloyage of superalloys, including rhenium, leads to formation of a necklace structure instead of a homogeneous fine-grained structure for less alloyed superalloys at the same strain.