bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): Is there an impact on male reproductive health
Authors: Ibishev Kh. S. , Prokop J. O.
Published: April 2022

The male reproductive health depends on several factors that can be divided into two main groups: the first group, genetic or hereditary (in particular, Klinefelter syndrome, etc.), the second acquired factors that depend on the person's lifestyle (bad habits, diet), stress, infectious diseases of the genitourinary system, etc. The presence of infectious and inflammatory diseases of the male reproductive system leads to impaired reproductive and endocrine function, significantly reducing the reproductive potential. In the last three years of our time around the world, including Russia, the number of people who have become ill with a new viral infection (COVID-19) caused by the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which causes dysfunction and has a negative effect on many organs and organs, body systems.

The overview of recent publications is devoted to the study of the effect of SARS-CoV-2 on the reproductive health of men. The search was performed using the Medline, PubMed, and EMBASE databases.
Male fertility: summary overview of the publications October – December 2021
Authors: Rogozin D. S.
Published: April 2022

The article presents an overview of the most significant publications on the topic of male infertility. The main selection criteria were the practical significance of the article, as well as the impact factor of the journal in which it was published, according to the SCImago Journal Rank. As a result, a list of 10 articles published in the IV quarter (October — December) of 2021 was compiled. The review includes articles on the following topics: genetic causes of male infertility, the effectiveness of antioxidants, the use of testicular spermatozoa in Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection, the impact of DNA fragmentation of spermatozoa on the results of assisted reproductive technology, the relationship of male fertility with physical activity, the consumption of sweetened beverages and vitamin D intake, as well as the prognostic value of blood anti-Mullerian hormone levels before testicular biopsy.
Assessing the influence of cardiovascular risk factors on the severity of erectile dysfunction: a multivariate statistical analysis
Authors: Kamalov A. A. , Matskeplishvili S. T. , Chaliy M. E. , Strigunov A. A. , Okhobotov D. A. , Sorokin N. I. , Nesterova O. Yu. , Kadrev A. V. , Dyachuk L. I. , Bogachev R. K.
Published: April 2022

Introduction. The American Heart Association identifies 7 major factors that affect the condition of the vascular wall: smoking, blood pressure, total cholesterol, glucose, body mass index, physical activity, and diet. The vascular wall lesions most often manifest clinically as vasculogenic erectile dysfunction (ED). Consequently, evaluating patients for the presence of the above risk factors can not only help in the treatment of ED, but can also significantly increase the chances of early detection of cardiac pathology.

Purpose of the study. To assess cardiovascular disorder markers’ role in prognosing of the presence or absence of ED and its severity.

Materials and methods. The study included 40 patients aged 33 – 60 years. Erectile function was assessed using the device «Androscan – MIT» ("Minimally invasive technologies" LLC, Moscow, Russian Federation) and the IIEF-15 questionnaire. Statistical data processing was carried out using Statistica 12 («StatSoft Inc.», Tusla, CA, USA) и IBMÒ SPSS Statistics 26 («SPSS: An IBM Company», IBM SPSS Corp., Armonk, NY, USA).

Results. For patients with more severe ED, a greater deviation of the parameters studied from normal is typical. The most significant impact on the detection of different ED degrees using the device «Androscan – MIT» had TC, HDL, LDL, RP, BMI, triglycerides и HbA1c levels. Based on the androscanning data, a classification tree with two branches (branching conditions — the level of TC and LDL) and four terminal vertices (depending on the degree of ED) was obtained. There were no classification errors predicting ED degrees, which in this case indicates the good significance of the mathematical prediction. Only IIEF-15 scores had the greatest impact on ED detection using IIEF-15. The only condition for branching when constructing classification trees was the number of IIEF-15 points (two branches with three terminal vertices were obtained).

Conclusion. Cardiovascular risk factors are predictors of vascular ED, detected by androscanning, while the widespread IIEF-15 questionnaire remains completely dependent on subjective feelings of patients without relying on laboratory and instrumental research methods.
Alternative trans-parenchymal access for percutaneous contact nephrolithotripsy
Authors: Malinin Yu. Yu.
Published: April 2022

Introduction. An actual issue of modern endoscopic surgery for urolithiasis is the development of techniques for optimal access to the stone. Percutaneous access during contact nephrolithotripsy (PCNL) is believed to reach the pyelocalyceal system (PCS) along the shortest trajectory and pass through the small calyces. It assumes multi-accessibility, as well as interventional cascading. Anatomically, the kidney is divided into five relatively independent segments in terms of blood supply. The thickness of the posterior one is only a quarter of the thickness of the kidney, which allows us to assume a significantly smaller number of vessels in this segment even outside the Zondek (Brödel) bloodless line.

Purpose of the study.To prove the possibility of using an optimized transparenchymal approach in PCNL based on the renal vascular structure.

Material and methods. A prospective analysis of the treatment of 41 patients with urolithiasis who hadPCNL. Before surgery, patients were randomized by gender, age, average stone size, and urolithiasis forms. Subjects were divided into two groups. Group 1 (study) —20 (48.8%) patients underwent PCNL through trans-parenchymal access to the inferior-lateral parts of the pelvis or the large lower renal calyx due to the ventral orientation of the lower small calyces. Group 2 (control) — 21 (51.2%) patients underwent standard PCNL. The creation of access to PCS was provided simultaneously with Doppler ultrasound of the renal vessels to prevent damage to the segmental and interlobular vessels of the kidney.

Results. In 73.2% of patients, the blood supply in the region of standard access to the PCS goes through the posterior segmental artery, which does not supply blood to the lower half of the kidney (type 1 blood supply). In 26.8% of patients, branches of the posterior segmental artery cross the projection of the inferior calyces (type 2 blood supply). In cases where it is impossible to perform a standard puncture of the PCL (patients of the first group), type 1 blood supply allows you to safely make an alternative trans-parenchymal access directly to the lower calyx or pelvis through the inferior-lateral dorsal wall. The optimization of the access decreasesthe average operation time by 1.4 times and the average number of accesses by 1.3 times.

Conclusion. Doppler ultrasound scanning allows to visualize of arterial vessels, which helps to provide safe trans-cutaneous puncture access to PCS. In 73.2% of patients, the region of the posterior surface of the pelvis and the lower calyx was identified with the possibility of an anatomically justified low-traumatic trans-parenchymal access. It significantly expands the area of the parts of the PCS accessible for direct intervention. The creation of a trans-parenchymal access to the lower lateral parts of the renal pelvis allows reducing the total number of accesses to the PCS, which reduces the operation time and the number of complications.
Optimization of HIFU monotherapy for prostate cancer
Authors: Pozdnyakov K. V. , Bazaev V. V. , Dutov V. V.
Published: April 2022

Introduction. One of the most researched alternative treatments for localized prostate cancer (PCa) is ultrasound ablation (HIFU ¾ High-intensity Focused Ultrasound). Although the world history of the application of this method of PCa treatment is more than 15 years old, the scope of the application of the method has not finally been determined.

Purpose of the study. To study the results of the application of ultrasound ablation in the treatment of patients with localized and locally advanced PCa.

Materials and methods. The study included 147 patients with PCa who underwent HIFU treatment using the AblathermÒ device («EDAP TMS», Vaulx-en-Velin, Lyon, France). Group 1 included patients with localized and locally advanced PCa treated at the stage of gaining experience and evaluating the results of treatment (n = 82). Group 2 consisted of patients with localized PCa of low and moderate oncological risk (n = 65). The number of sessions in group 1 varied from 1 (65) to 2 (17). The need to perform a second session was associated with the ineffectiveness of the first. HIFU was also performed after the failure of external beam radiation (2), and photodynamic (1) therapy. In group 2, 61 patients received one treatment session, 4 patients received 2 sessions each. The mean follow-up time for the patients in group 1 was 17.4 ± 5.2 (3 – 29) months, for group 2 was 18.2 ± 7.3 (3 – 29) months.

Results. In group 1 of patients with a low degree of oncological risk, a decrease in blood prostate-specific antigen (PSA) below the threshold value and the absence of its significant increase during the observation period was noted in 87.5% of cases (28 patients), with an average degree of oncological risk in 65.6% of cases (21 patients), with a high degree in 27.7% of cases (5 patients). In 34.1% (28 patients), the treatment was ineffective, 21 of them underwent repeated ultrasound ablation of the prostate, and 7 patients received subsequent external beam radiation therapy. These results led us to abandon the use of HIFU in patients with baseline blood PSA levels greater than 20 ng/ml and locally advanced disease. In group 2, biochemical recurrence was noted in 9 patients. A control biopsy in 6 patients confirmed local recurrence, which became the basis for a second HIFU session (4). Five patients received adjuvant hormonal therapy. The total effectiveness of the treatment in group 2 was 86.2%.

Conclusion. The results support the notion that HIFU is a treatment option for localized PCa only. The evaluation of the initial results led us to abandon treatment with this method in patients with locally advanced and high-risk localized PCa.
The non-biological simulator with the ability to regulate the position of the kidney and bone landmarks: use for training puncture access in percutaneous nephrolithotripsy
Authors: Guliev B. G. , Talyshinskiy A. E. , Stetsik E. O. , Agagyulov M. U.
Published: April 2022

Introduction. The non-biological simulators presented in the literature are far from the real human anatomy and are primarily aimed at developing the skill of the pyelocalyceal system (PCS) puncture without the possibility of imitating various intraoperative scenarios.

Purpose of the study. To describe the manufacturing and initial testing of the ultrasound-guided PCS puncture simulator with arbitrary placement of bone landmarks and a kidney model, along with the use of a retrograde view during PCS puncture.

Materials and methods. This study included training for 5 resident and 2 urologists. Each participant performed the puncture 5 times using an 18-gauge ultrasound-guided needle. A comparison was made between the number of attempts to form access, the duration of the puncture and its correctness (puncture into the small calyx through the papilla), as well as the correctness of determining the target calyx. The trajectory of the needle was retrogradely assessed using a semi-rigid ureteroscope, and the anatomical identification of the selected calyx was assessed using our mobile application.

Results. The total number of attempts was 49 and 14 among residents and urologists, respectively. The average duration of the puncture step was 25.2 and 12.0 seconds. In 9/25 cases, residents were able to correctly analyze visual ultrasound information to determine the target calyx. When a contrast agent was injected into the PCS after 63 punctures, no contrast leakage was found.

Conclusion. The proposed PCS puncture simulator allows to develop to develop all the necessary skills for cost-effective training of young urologists in the technique of percutaneous access.
YV-plasty in the treatment of patients with recurrent bladder neck stenosis
Authors: Popov S. V. , Orlov I. N. , Tsoy A. V. , Topuzov T. M. , Chernysheva D. Yu.
Published: April 2022

Introduction. Bladder neck stenosis (BNS) is a late complication of surgical treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Available methods of endoscopic correction in primary BNS have limited effectiveness, while in recurrent cases their use does not lead to satisfactory results at all. YV-plasty of the bladder neck (BN) is one of the available methods of treatment for recurrent BNS.

Purpose of the study. To evaluate the treatment results of patients with recurrent BNS using endovideoscopic YV-plasty of the BN.

Materials and methods. We retrospectively analyzed the treatment results of 8 patients with recurrent BNS who underwent endovideoscopic YV-plasty of the BN in the Urology Division No.1 of the St. Luke St. Petersburg Clinical Hospital from 2019 to 2021.

Results. Endovideoscopic YV-plasty of the bladder neck was successfully performed in all 8 patients. The mean preoperative Qmax was 3.7 ml/s (1.8 – 5.7). At 6 months after surgery, the mean Qmax was 21.4 mL/s (16.7 – 24.1). The mean preoperative I-PSS score was 20.5 (17 – 24). The mean I-PSS score 6 months after surgery was 7.1 (5.0 – 9.0). No cases of de-novo stress urinary incontinence were registered.

Conclusions. Endovideoscopic YV-plasty of the BN may be an effective and safe method of treatment of patients with recurrent BNS. However, further studies are needed to obtain long-term results.
Combination therapy for benign prostate hyperplasia-related urinary symptoms
Authors: Shkodkin S. V. , Pokrovskiy M. V. , Krasnyak S. S. , Polishchuk A. V. , Chirkov S. V. , Churikova O. V. , Kravtsova N. A.
Published: April 2022

Introduction. Non-neurogenic lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are a serious polyetiologic problem in the male population. The side effects of the medication agents used to treat LUTS significantly reduce treatment compliance. According to the literature data, the frequency of refusal for the proposed treatment during the year varies from 20 to 80%. Several studies have shown the benefits of herbal medicine for LUTS concerning the fewer side effects and increased adherence to treatment. However, to obtain a high-level recommendation base, clinical trials are required.

Purpose of the study. To evaluate the effectiveness of Gardaprost® in LUTS combination therapy.

Materials and methods. The study included 57 men aged 60 – 70 years with diagnosed medium- or large-volume benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and moderate-to-severe LUTS according to I-PSS, morphologically excluded prostate cancer, without urinary infection signs. The patients were randomized into two follow-up groups. Tamsulosin 0.4 mg q.d. was prescribed to patients in the control group. Patients of the main group received Gardaprost® 0.4 mg q.d. in addition to Tamsulosin. The follow-up period in both groups was one-year. The statistical analysis includes data from 56 men. To evaluate therapy at the screening visit and on days 180 and 360, I-PSS, urination diary, IIEF-5, urinalysis, prostate-specific antigen, uroflowmetry, ultrasound were analyzed. Paired t-test and one-way ANOVA test were used to determine intergroup differences in normally distributed variables. For variables with a distribution other than normal, Friedman's two-way ANOVA for related samples was used. Events with a probability greater than 95% were considered statistically significant.

Results. At the time of inclusion in the study, the groups were comparable concerning the control parameters. In the main group, there was a more pronounced positive dynamics in the I-PSS score, maximum urine flow rate, and post-void residual urine volume, which corresponded to 7.9 ± 2.1 points, 18.0 ± 7.3 ml/sec, 23.6 ± 13.6 ml vs 19.7 ± 7.2 points, 10 ± 3.5 ml/sec, 65.9 ± 33.2 ml in the main and control groups, respectively (p < 0.001). Additionally, in the main observation group, a decrease in prostate volume was recorded by 18.8% (p < 0.001) was recorded.

Conclusion. We have obtained encouraging long-term results from the use of Gardaprost® in combination therapy of moderate-to-severe LUTS caused by medium- and large-volume BPH.
Recent advances in transurethral resection of bladder tumors
Authors: Babaevskaya D. I. , Bazarkin A. K. , Taratkin M. S. , Enikeev D. V.
Published: April 2022

Transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TURBT) is a standard procedure in bladder cancer management. TURBT has two main goals: to resect completely all the tumor lesions in healthy tissues and to provide high-quality specimen to facilitate accurate diagnosis. To achieve these goals, urologists make use of several options to maximize the efficiency of the procedure. To make tumor detection as effective as possible, the European Association of Urology guidelines recommend using enhanced visualization methods such as photodynamic diagnostics (PDD) and narrow-band imaging (NBI). Novel en bloc technique enables one to provide specimens of a higher quality and to increase recurrence-free survival. Also, the use of new energy sources such as lasers helps to decrease bleeding and prevent several complications after TURBT, e.g., obturator nerve reflex and bladder perforation. This article summarizes the options available to enhance the TURBT procedure and reports on the latest data on their feasibility for clinical practice.
Digital Health Solutions and State of Interoperability: Landscape Analysis of Sierra Leone
Authors: Chukwu Emeka , Garg Lalit , Foday Edward , Konomanyi Abdul , Wright Royston , Smart Francis
Published: April 2022

Background

The government and partners have invested heavily in the health information system (HIS) for service delivery, surveillance, reporting, and monitoring. Sierra Leone’s government launched its first digital health strategy in 2018. In 2019, a broader national innovation and digital strategy was launched. The health pillar direction will use big data and artificial intelligence (AI) to improve health care in general and maternal and child health in particular. Understanding the number, distribution, and interoperability of digital health solutions is crucial for successful implementation strategies.

Objective

This paper presents the state of digital health solutions in Sierra Leone and how these solutions currently interoperate. This study further presents opportunities for big data and AI applications.

Methods

All the district health management teams, all digital health implementing organizations, and a stratified sample of 72 (out of 1284) health facilities were purposefully selected from all health districts and surveyed.

Results

The National Health Management Information System’s (NHMIS’s) aggregate reporting solution populated by health facility forms HF1 to HF9 was, by far, the most used tool. A health facility–based weekly aggregate electronic integrated disease surveillance and response solution was also widely used. Half of the health facilities had more than 2 digital health solutions in use. The different digital health software solutions do not share data among one another, though aggregate reporting data were sent as necessary. None of the respondents use any of the health care registries for patient, provider, health facility, or terminology identification.

Conclusions

Many digital health solutions are currently used at health facilities in Sierra Leone. The government can leverage current investment in HIS from surveillance and reporting for using big data and AI for care. The vision of using big data for health care is achievable if stakeholders prioritize individualized and longitudinal patient data exchange using agreed use cases from national strategies. This study has shown evidence of distribution, types, and scale of digital health solutions in health facilities and opportunities for leveraging big data to fill critical gaps necessary to achieve the national digital health vision.
Exploring the Reasons for Low Cataract Surgery Uptake Among Patients Detected in a Community Outreach Program in Cameroon: Focused Ethnographic Mixed Methods Study
Authors: Mbwogge Mathew , Nkumbe Henry Ebong
Published: April 2022

Background

Vision 2020: The Right to Sight, was one potential way to deal with the barriers surrounding cataract surgery and improve access to eye care. To this effect, the Magrabi International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) Cameroon Eye Institute (MICEI) has performed more than 1000 sight-restoring cataract surgeries among patients referred from outreach camps. However, quite a good number of patients diagnosed with cataracts during community screening camps fail to present for surgery. This study sought to explore some of the challenges to accepting cataract surgery among community-diagnosed patients with cataract, patients operated for cataract, and community members.

Objective

The study objective was 5-fold: (1) to assess the level of awareness about cataract and available treatment, (2) to explore barriers to cataract surgery uptake, (3) to assess people’s perception about the outcome of cataract surgery, (4) to understand people’s perception about free cataract surgery, and (5) to explore reasons for outright refusal of cataract surgery.

Methods

This was a focused ethnographic study from December 2018 through February 2019 in 3 different communities of the Center Region of Cameroon, in which patients with cataract were diagnosed. The study sample was composed of patients operated for cataract, those diagnosed with cataract, key informants, and community members. Focus group discussions (FGDs), personalized in-depth interviews, and a short demographic questionnaire were used to collect data. Data were analyzed using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and Stata 14 (StataCorp). Data were presented using tabular and graphical methods.

Results

A total of 29 subjects (19 men) with a mean age of 54.5 (SD 14.5) years took part in the study. The most prominent barriers to cataract surgery were found to be cost (25/29, 86%) and fear of surgery (17/29, 59%). It was also noted by 41% (12/29) of subjects that those who do not take up cataract surgery turn to traditional medicine. Other barriers included the lack of awareness of available treatment (6/29, 21%), no perceived need (5/29, 17%), cultural beliefs and superstition (4/29, 14%), and negligence (4/29, 14%).

Conclusions

We found cost (25/29, 86%) and fear (17/29, 59%) to be the main barriers. Belief in traditional medicine and superstition were the main drivers of fear. The implementation of a tiered pricing system, counseling training for key informants, incentives for the referral of patients with cataract, mass media engagement, advocacy, training and active involvement of traditional doctors as key informants, acquisition of a 4×4 outreach van, and motorbikes for camp organizers were some of the recommendations based on our results.
Patient Activeness During Online Medical Consultation in China: Multilevel Analysis
Authors: Cao Bolin , Huang Wensen , Chao Naipeng , Yang Guang , Luo Ningzheng
Published: April 2022

Background

Online medical consultation is an important complementary approach to offline health care services. It not only increases patients’ accessibility to medical care, but also encourages patients to actively participate in consultation, which can result in higher shared decision making, patient satisfaction, and treatment adherence.

Objective

This study aims to explore multilevel factors that influence patient activeness in online medical consultations.

Methods

A data set comprising 40,505 patients from 300 physicians in 10 specialties was included for multilevel analysis. Patient activeness score (PAS) was calculated based on the frequency and the proportion of patient discourses to the total frequency of doctor-patient interactions. Intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated to identify between-group variations, and the final multilevel regression model included patient- and physician-level factors.

Results

Patients were not equally active in online medical consultations, with PASs varying from 0 to 125.73. Patient characteristics, consultation behavioral attributes, and physician professional characteristics constitute 3 dimensions that are associated with patient activeness. Specifically, young and female patients participated more actively. Patients’ waiting times online (β=–.17; P<.001) for physician responses were negatively correlated with activeness, whereas patients’ initiation of conversation (β=.83; P<.001) and patient consultation cost (β=.52; P<.001) in online medical consultation were positively correlated. Physicians’ online consultation volumes (β=–.10; P=.01) were negatively associated with patient activeness, whereas physician online consultation fee (β=.03; P=.01) was positively associated. The interaction effects between patient- and physician-level factors were also identified.

Conclusions

Patient activeness in online medical consultation requires more scholarly attention. Patient activeness is likely to be enhanced by reducing patients’ waiting times and encouraging patients’ initiation of conversation in online medical consultation. The findings have practical implications for patient-centered care and the improvement of online medical consultation services.
Mental health services, tele-mental health, and COVID-19: a systematic review of the worldwide picture (Preprint)
Authors: Zangani Caroline , Ostinelli Edoardo G , Smith Katharine A , Hong James SW , Macdonald Orla , Reen Gurpreet , Reid Katherine , Vincent Charles , Sheriff Rebecca , Harrison Paul J , Hawton Keith , Pitman Alexandra , Bale Rob , Fazel Seena , Geddes John R , Cipriani Andrea
Published: April 2022

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic required mental health services around the world to adapt quickly to the new restrictions and regulations put in place to reduce the risk of transmission. As face-to-face contacts became difficult, virtual methods were implemented to continue to safely provide mental health care. However, it is unclear to what extent service provision transitioned to tele-mental health worldwide.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to systematically review the global research literature on how mental health service provision adapted during the first year of the pandemic.

METHODS

We searched systematically for quantitative papers focussing on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health services published until the 13th of April 2021, accessing PubMed, EMBASE, medRxiv and bioXriv electronic bibliographic databases using the COVID-19 Open Access Project online platform. After the screening process and the data extraction, findings were summarised narratively in the context of each country’s COVID-19 stringency index, which reflects the stringency of a government’s response to COVID-19 restrictions at a specific time.

RESULTS

Of the identified 24339 records, 101 papers were included after the screening process. Reports on general services (n=72) showed that in several countries’ face-to-face services reduced their activities at the start of the pandemic, with a reduction in the total number of delivered visits and some services forced to close. In contrast, the use of tele-mental health rapidly increased in many countries across the world at the beginning of the pandemic (n=55), with almost complete virtualisation of general and specialistic care services by the end of the first year. In light of the reported COVID-19 stringency indexes, the increased use of virtual means seems to correspond to periods when stringency indexes were at their highest in several countries. However, due to specific care requirements, the use of tele-mental health could not be applied to certain subgroups of patients, such as those on clozapine or depot treatments and those who continued to need face-to-face visits.

CONCLUSIONS

During the pandemic mental health services have had to adapt quickly in the short-term, implementing or increasing the use of tele-mental health services across the globe. In the long-term, a blended approach, combining in-person and virtual modalities, that takes into consideration the needs, preferences, and competences of patients, may better support the future development of mental health services. This will require confidence, training, and experience in all modalities for both clinicians and service-users.
Research on Social Protection Mechanism of China’s New Urbanization Development
Authors: Haomiao Zhai , Haili Li , Meng Zhou
Published: April 2022

New urbanization is different from urbanization in the traditional sense of “concentration”, “decentralization” and “over Urbanization”. It is a historical reflection on the development theory of world urbanization. It emphasizes people-oriented, new industrialization as the driving force, overall consideration as the principle, harmonious society as the direction, and comprehensive, coordinated, harmonious and sustainable development as the characteristics, Promote urban modernization, urban clustering, urban ecology and rural urbanization, comprehensively improve the quality and level of urbanization, and take the path of scientific development, intensive and efficient, perfect functions, environment-friendly, social harmony, distinctive personality, integration of urban and rural areas, and coordinated development of large, medium and small cities and towns. To solve various economic and social problems after entering rapid urbanization, we must be “problem-oriented”, accurately grasp the current situation of China’s urbanization development from a global perspective and a multidisciplinary theoretical perspective, fully learn from some successful practices of inclusive development in the process of urbanization development and urban transformation at home and abroad, summarize and sort out experiences and lessons, and choose a new urbanization path suitable for China's national conditions, Build China’s new urbanization inclusive development strategy to provide theoretical basis, practical model and decision-making reference for the party and the state.
EFFECT OF MELATONIN IN POST-STROKE RECOVERY
Authors: SHREEN SARA , NOOREEN NABILA , ZAHID UMRA , MALEEHA AIMEN , SAMREEN AYESHA , ZOHEB MOHAMMED
Published: April 2022

Objective: Stroke is the second main cause of death worldwide. Recovery from a stroke differs from person to person. Melatonin is a neuroprotective agent with low adverse effects. The limitation of melatonin studies on human and other clinical bases made us keen to took up this research work to explore its full potential as a neuroprotective agent. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the effect of melatonin in stroke recovery inpatients.
Methods: This was a present prospective observational study carried out at the Department of Neurology of tertiary care hospital over 6 months. The patient data were collected through history interview and from the case sheets. Continuous variables were presented as the minimum, maximum, median, mean, and standard error of the mean (SEM). Categorical variables were presented as frequencies and percentages.
Results: A total of 80 patients were included in this study based on inclusion criteria. A significant difference was not found in the age and gender between the two study groups. There is a statistically significant difference in the percentage of improvement of modified Rankin Scale (mRS), Communication Disability Scale (CDS), and Cognitive Assessment of Stroke Patients (CASP) scores between the study groups.
Conclusion: Our study concluded that patients received melatonin along with first-line treatment which has shown better efficacy in treating post-recovery stroke patients when compared with patients received first-line treatment alone. Melatonin served as an excellent neuroprotectant in patients of acute ischemic stroke with improvement in the motor, speech, and cognitive functions.
METHOD DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF ERYTHROMYCIN AND OLAPARIB IN HUMAN PLASMA BY LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY–TANDEM MASS SPECTROMETRY
Authors: RAJAGOPALUDU PAGIDI , SARITHA NIMMAKAYALA , N DEVANNA , MADDI SRINIVAS
Published: April 2022

The liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS)/MS methodology was used to develop and validate a method for detecting erythromycin and olaparib in human plasma. Antibiotics such as erythromycin and olaparib fall into this category. Liquid chromatography is used to separate stationary and mobile phases based on differences in their affinities as well as to remove unwanted contaminants. It improves repeatability, sensitivity, resilience, and low-level protein detection. A C18 (C18, 5 m, 100×4.6 mm) column is utilized for high resolution and peak area. The calibration curve is created using linear regression. Internally, telmisartan is utilized as a benchmark. The flow rate of the mobile phase is 0.5 mL/min. Erythromycin and olaparib have mass-to-charge ratios of 735.43–115.97 and 435.08–102.04, respectively. Erythromycin in combination with olaparib resulted in a 98% recovery rate. The precision and accuracy of the results determined by interday QC samples are within acceptable limits. There was no evidence of instability.
IN VITRO ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF GREEN TEA EXTRACT AGAINST MULTIDRUG-RESISTANT BACTERIA
Authors: MEHTA ABHISHEK , SAXENA GAURAV , JAIN ARTI
Published: April 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extract of green tea (Camellia sinensis) against multidrug-resistant strains of the pathogenic bacteria: Extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (ESBL) producing Enterobacteriaceae, Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), and Metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the antibacterial activity of ethanolic extract of commercial green tea against the 23 multidrug-resistant test strains was evaluated by the Agar well diffusion method, and the minimum inhibitory concentration of the extract for the test strains was determined by Agar plate dilution method.
Results: Ethanolic extract of green tea was found to exhibit a remarkably significant antimicrobial activity against the ATCC (American type culture collection) control strains: E. coli ATCC 25922 and P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 with slightly higher activity against later as compared to the former. The extract exhibited a significant antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant bacterial strains. The highest activity was shown against ESBL producing strains, followed by CRE strains and the least activity against MBL producers.
Conclusion: This study strongly depicts that the ethanolic extract of green tea exhibits significant antibacterial activity even against multidrug-resistant strains. Hence, such plant extracts could be a potential source of bioactive lead compounds that could be utilized in developing herbal antimicrobials as an alternative strategy for tackling the problem of antimicrobial resistance.
Impact of Pharmacist Mediated Education on Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Rural Adolescent Girls Towards Menstrual Hygiene
Authors: MEGHA THAKUR , ADEPU RAMESH , AKHILA GUNDU , SANDHYA CHERIPALLY , D MOUNIKA
Published: April 2022

A prospective interventional study is conducted to study the influence of pharmacist-provided education on knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of school-going adolescent girls towards menstrual hygiene practices in rural Suryapet, Telangana. After obtaining permission from the school, adolescent girls meeting the study criteria were included in the study. A 13 item KAP questionnaire was designed, validated, and administered to girls. A structured education was given about menstrual hygiene management to them. Post-education, the KAP questionnaire was readministered and results were analyzed. A total of 206 students were enrolled in the study, and 90(43.0%) students were in the age group of 14. Knowledge about menstruation was 27.18% in pretest and it was 94.68% after posttest showing a significant (p < 0.01) improvement. After the education, the respondents have changed their opinion from “menstruation as a curse from God” (63.59%) to “as a natural process (95.63%). Mother was named as the main information source about menstruation, followed by teachers and friends. Post-education increased the attitude of maintaining regular genital hygiene from 86.40% to 96.60%. Proper discard of menstrual waste to refuse bin increased from 54.85% to 95.15% indicating the overall improvement in knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls.
ASSESSMENT OF INDICATIONS OF LOWER SEGMENT CESAREAN SECTION AT TERTIARY CARE CENTER: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY
Authors: MEENA NIDHI , PARVEEN SABA , NAGAR TEENA , MEENA NARESH KUMAR
Published: April 2022

Background: Cesarean section (CS) is one of the most common and widely performed surgical procedures in obstetrics in India and Worldwide. It is mainly evolved as a lifesaving procedure for mother and fetus during the difficult delivery. To study, various indications for the lower segment CS at our tertiary care center were the objective of the present study.
Methods: This is a descriptive, retrospective study of all the patients who were underwent CS in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jhalawar Medical College, Jhalawar from January 1, 2021, to March 31, 2021 for the duration of 3 months. Data of patients who delivered by C-Section in our hospital during the defined study period were recorded and a statistical analysis was done for various indications of the lower segment CS (LSCS).
Results: The total numbers of women delivered by CS over the study period were 806 among these 339 (42.05%) patients were primiparous and 467 (57.95%) were multiparous. 550 (68.23%) cases were from age group 20–25 years and 153 (18.98%) were had age group 26–30 years, 20 (2.48%) were from age group below 19 years, and 76 (10.29%) patients were above 31 years age. The previous LSCS was the leading indication to the LSCS (31.14%) followed fetal distress (13.88%), malpresentation 95 (11.78%) (including breech presentation in maximum women (86), transverse and oblique lie (9 each), and face presentation (3)) (11.78%), meconium stained liquor with fetal distress 60 (7.44%), severe oligohydramnios 48 (5.95%), non-progress of labor 32 (3.97%), cephalopelvic disproportion 23 (2.85%), pre-eclampsia 20 (2.48%), obstructed labor 19 (2.35%), big baby 19 (2.35%), pregnancy-induced hypertension 18 (2.23%), maternal request and post-dated pregnancy 15 (1.86%) each, gestational hypertension and eclampsia 11 (1.36%) each, placenta previa 10 (1.24%), induction failure 8 (0.99%), and intrauterine growth retardation and antepartum hemorrhage 7 (0.86%) and 14 (1.73%). Patients had other indications such as Abruptio placentae, gestational diabetes, twin pregnancy, uterine rupture, and deep transverse arrest.
Conclusions: In this study, CS rate (40.68%) is found to be higher as compared to other studies and the WHO guidelines. CSs rate is high probably because Jhalawar Medical College, Jhalawar acts as a government tertiary care center. The previous LSCS was a common indication in 31.14% of mothers in present study. Besides, previous LSCS, fetal distress, malpresentation (Breech presentation/transverse lie, oblique lie, and face presentation) MSL with fetal distress, and severe oligohydramnios were the common indications for LSCS, which are seen in the present study.
AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY TO ASSESS THE ADVERSE DRUG REACTION OF ANTI-ASTHMATIC DRUGS AMONG ADULTS IN WESTERN RAJASTHAN
Authors: SWAMI NARENDRA KUMAR , KUMAR JIGNESH , BHUJADE RASHMI , BAGHEL ANIL SINGH
Published: April 2022

Background: Asthma is one of the most common chronic illness worldwide. For prevention of exacerbations, patients of bronchial asthma are kept on long-term treatment that is why they are amenable for adverse drug reactions (ADRs). The study was planned to monitor ADRs with intervention of anti-asthmatic drugs in adults visited in medicine outpatient or admitted in inpatient department of a tertiary care teaching hospital.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 340 asthma patients in collaboration with Department of Medicine for duration of 12 months. Information of patients was collected with the help of semi-structured case record form ADRs along with interventions given that were also recorded.
Results: Data analysis was done with the help of SPSS version20.0. Fisher exact test was applied. A total of 340 patients were enrolled in the study. The highest numbers of ADRs were observed with Salbutamol (34.78%). The highest ADRs were noted with Beta2 agonists class of drugs. The main ADRs noted were headache followed by tremors and oral thrush. Statistically significant association was found between presence of ADRs and severity of asthma.
Conclusion: Identifying any possible connection between a presenting complaint and drug used is crucial to reduce the risk of ADRs in the future. Appropriate monitoring of ADRs is a key for this. Reduction in ADRs will improve the compliance of patient and ultimately their clinical outcome.
ASSESSMENT OF ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS OF ANTIDEPRESSANT DRUGS USED IN PSYCHIATRY DEPARTMENT OF A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL
Authors: KUSHWAHA VIRENDRA , AGRAWAL POOJA , SINGH SARITA , CHAUDHARY DHANANJAY , VERMA AMIT K. , SHARMA HIMANSHU
Published: April 2022

Objective: The aim of the study was to analyze adverse drug reactions (ADRs) reported in patients prescribed antidepressants at tertiary care hospital.
Methods: A prospective and observational study was conducted during January 2020–July 2021 at Department of Pharmacology in collaboration with the Department of Psychiatry, GSVM Medical College, and Kanpur. All patients diagnosed with depression and receiving pharmacotherapy were included in the study. ADRs were monitored using the standard form of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization and causality was determined using the Naranjo algorithm. Data were evaluated for patient’s demography, risk factors for ADRs, and pattern of ADR.
Results: A total of 293 ADRs were recorded from 110 patients. The most common ADRs observed were anxiety (47.42%) and insomnia (19.22%). Men (58.18%) were most commonly affected than women (41.82%). The most common causal drugs among antidepressants were Escitalopram (27.27%) and Venlafaxine (21.81%), respectively. The most common system involved was central nervous system (53.24%) followed by gastrointestinal system (41.63%). The majority of ADRs (97.95%) were possible according to the Naranjo’s scale.
Conclusion: Anxiety, insomnia, and dizziness were the common ADRs which were associated with the use of antidepressants. This study offers a representative profile of the ADRs which can be expected in the psychiatry outpatients.
ADDITION OF DEXMEDETOMIDINETO LIGNOCAINE FOR INTRAVENOUS REGIONAL ANESTHESIA IN UPPER EXTREMITY ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERIES
Authors: SINGH SANTOSH KUMAR , MITTAL GAURAV , ROUT ASHOK , GAJBHIYE DEWENDRAJ , KEDAR PRADEEP
Published: April 2022

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the duration of onset and regression time of sensory and motor blocks, the quality of anesthesia, and post-operative analgesia by the addition of dexmedetomidine to local anesthetic solution in intravenous regional anesthesia (IVRA) in upper extremity orthopedic surgeries.
Methods: This is a prospective, randomized, and double blind clinical trial. Ninety American Society of Anaesthesiologists Grade I and II patients of either gender between 18 and 60 years of age scheduled for elective upper extremity orthopedic surgeries lasting for <90 min were included in the study. Patients were randomly allocated to two Groups A and B of 45 each. Group A received 3 mg/kg preservative free lignocaine alone and Group B received 3 mg/kg preservative free lignocaine with dexmedetomidine, 0.5 μg/kg in IVRA.
Result: Onset time of sensory blockade in Group A and B was 5.6±0.93 min and 3.9±0.63 min, respectively. Onset time of motor blockade in Group A and Group B was 15.01±4.53 min and 10.74±3.64 min, respectively. The difference in onset time of sensory and motor blockade between the two groups was statistically significant (p<0.05). Sensory blockade recovery time after release of tourniquet was 6.9±0.53 min in Group A and 29.21±5.23 min in Group B. Motor blockade recovery time was 4.35±0.76 min for Group A and 12.32±7.23 min for Group B. The difference in sensory and motor blockade recovery time between the two groups was statistically significant (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine on addition to lignocaine for IVRA provided rapid onset of sensory and motor blockade, prolonged duration of sensory and motor blockade, and reduced tourniquet pain.
Wind tunnel tests of an inflated membrane structure. Two study cases: with and without end-walls
Authors: Pool Blanco Sherly Joanna , Gamboa Marrufo Mauricio , Hincz Krisztián Gyula , Domínguez Sandoval Cristian Joel
Published: April 2022

The use of textile membranes in architecture and civil engineering has increased rapidly in the last decades. Membrane structures are lightweight, economic structures with unique shapes. At the same time, their structural analysis is particular compared to the analysis of conventional structures. The form-finding procedure, the large displacements of the structures, and the special properties of the composite material all require unique tools. The wind analysis of membrane structures is one of the most challenging parts of the design because the design codes do not provide the pressure coefficients of the doubly curved shapes of membrane structures.
The main scope of the present research was to determine the mean pressure coefficient fields over an inflated membrane structure by wind tunnel experiments. The structure, composed of six inflated circular arches, was analyzed with and without end-walls for three wind directions. The equilibrium shape of the inflated structure was determined with the Dynamic Relaxation Method. During the numerical form-finding procedure, the orthotropic behavior of the membrane material and the warp and fill directions of the textile fibers were also considered. Based on the numerically determined equilibrium shape of the inflated structure, a model was made using a 3D printer. The flow around the model according to three wind directions was analyzed in an open-circuit wind tunnel. The pressures were measured in 102 external and 102 internal points of the inflated arches and 27 points on each end-wall. In this paper, the experimentally determined pressure coefficient fields for different wind directions are presented and compared for the open (without end-walls) and closed (with endwalls) cases. The thoroughly introduced experimental results can be used during the structural analysis of future inflated structures with similar shapes.