bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The moral foreign language effect is stable across presentation modalities
Authors: Muda Rafał , Pieńkosz Damian , Francis Kathryn B , Białek Michał
Published: June 2020

People’s judgements and decisions often change when made in their foreign language. Existing research testing this foreign language effect has predominantly used text-based stimuli with little research focusing on the impact of listening to audio stimuli on the effect. The only existing study on this topic found shifts in people’s moral decisions only in the audio modality. First, by reanalysing the data from this previous study and by collecting data in an additional experiment, we found no consistent effects of using foreign language on moral judgements. Second, in both data sets, we found no significant language by modality interaction. Overall, our results highlight the need for more robust testing of the foreign language effect, and its boundary conditions. However, modality of presentation does not appear to be a candidate for explaining its variability. Data and materials for this experiment are available at https://osf.io/qbjxn/ .
Literacy skill and intra-individual variability in eye-fixation durations during reading: Evidence from a diverse community-based adult sample
Authors: Payne Brennan R , Federmeier Kara D , Stine-Morrow Elizabeth AL
Published: June 2020

To understand the effects of literacy on fundamental processes involved in reading, we report a secondary data analysis examining individual differences in global eye-movement measures and first-pass eye-movement distributions in a diverse sample of community-dwelling adults aged 16 to 64. Participants ( n = 80) completed an assessment battery probing verbal and non-verbal cognitive abilities and read simple two-sentence passages while their eye movements were recorded. Analyses were focused on characterising the effects of literacy skill on both global indices of eye-fixation distributions and distributional differences in the sensitivity to lexical features. Global reading measures showed that lower literate adults read more slowly on average. However, distributional analyses of fixation durations revealed that the first-pass fixation durations of adults with lower literacy skill were not slower in general (i.e., there was no shift in the fixation duration distribution among lower literate adults). Instead, lower literacy was associated with greater intra-individual variability in first-pass fixation durations, including an increased proportion of extremely long fixations, differentially skewing the distribution of both first-fixation and gaze durations. Exploratory repeated-measures quantile regression analyses of gaze duration revealed differentially greater influences of word length among lower literate readers and greater activation of phonological and orthographic neighbours among higher literate readers, particularly in the tail of the distribution. Collectively, these findings suggest that literacy skill in adulthood is associated with systematic differences in both global and lexically driven eye-movement control during reading.
Efficacy and safety of leflunomide versus cyclophosphamide for initial-onset Takayasu arteritis: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Ying Sun , Xiaomeng Cui , Xiaomin Dai , Jiang Lin , Peng Lv , Lili Ma , Rongyi Chen , Zongfei Ji , Huiyong Chen , Lindi Jiang
Published: June 2020

Background:

Leflunomide (LEF) has been considered as an alternative treatment for Takayasu arteritis (TA); however, data on its efficacy are still scanty.

Objective:

To investigate the efficacy and safety of LEF versus cyclophosphamide (CYC) for initial-onset TA.

Methods:

Initial-onset TA patients with active disease were enrolled in this research. Patients enrolled from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2015 were treated with glucocorticoids and CYC, while patients enrolled from 1 January 2016 to 31 October 2018 received glucocorticoids and LEF. Treatment response including complete remission (CR), partial remission (PR), and effectiveness rate (ER) and side effects were evaluated at 6 and 12 months.

Results and conclusion:

In total, 92 patients were enrolled. A total of 47 patients were treated with LEF, while 45 patients were treated with CYC. The CR and ER rates were 75.55%, and 88.89% at 6 months, and 85.37% and 95.12% at 12 months in the LEF group. The CR and ER rates were 39.02% and 70.73% at 6 months, and 56.41% and 82.05% at 12 months in the CYC group. The CR rate was significantly higher in the LEF group than in the CYC group both at 6 months (75.61% versus 38.24%, p < 0.01) and 12 months (77.42% versus 53.33%, p < 0.05) after adjustment for propensity scores. The incidence of side effects in the LEF group was much lower than that in the CYC group (21.28% versus 44.44%). In conclusion, LEF provided a better treatment response, along with lower reproductive toxicity, compared with CYC in initial-onset TA.
‘Like a Cord Snapping’: Toward a grounded theory of how devout Mormons leave the LDS Church
Authors: Ormsbee J Todd
Published: June 2020

This study describes the cultural, cognitive, social, and emotional work that once-devout members of the LDS Church must engage in to leave the church and divest themselves of Mormon culture. A Grounded Theory approach with a multi-modal memoing process showed that, for the devout, leaving the LDS Church and Mormon culture is not a singular event, but rather a process of gradual transformation that requires time and effort, passing through a series of punctuating events. Formerly devout ex-Mormons had to confront various problems, including the LDS Church’s truth claims and ethical contradictions from within the particular Mormon framework that leavers believed in and followed, which in turn had shaped and constrained both their leaving process and their post-Mormon selves. Interview data revealed a necessary reconstruction of post-Mormon emotionalities. And devout women who left Mormonism bore an added burden of overcoming internalized misogyny.
Extramedullary disease in acute promyelocytic leukaemia: A rare presentation
Authors: Kasinathan Ganesh , Sathar Jameela
Published: June 2020

Acute promyelocytic leukaemia consists of 7%–8% of cases of acute myeloid leukaemia. Extramedullary manifestations are rare and show distinct biological features. We describe a 22-year-old female of Malay ethnicity who presented with fever and a left axillary swelling for a week. The peripheral blood smear showed abnormal promyelocytes with faggot cells. PML-RAR-alpha t(15;17) (q22; q12) was detected by polymerase chain reaction. The left axillary swelling histology and immunohistochemical staining confirmed granulocytic sarcoma. She was induced with triple agents consisting of all-trans-retinoic-acid, arsenic trioxide and idarubicin. On day 14 of induction, she developed severe neutropenic sepsis in which she responded to ventilation and antimicrobials. She completed her induction, consolidation and maintenance therapy. Currently she is in molecular and morphological remission. Extramedullary disease in acute promyelocytic leukaemia usually has a severe clinical presentation. Granulocytic sarcoma may present as an early feature of acute promyelocytic leukaemia.
A case of a highly tortuous descending thoracic aortic aneurysm treated by surgical exclusion
Authors: Tsutsumi Koji , Shimizu Hideyuki
Published: June 2020

The patient was a 76-year-old woman with an atypical descending thoracic aortic aneurysm due to a highly tortuous descending aorta. The surgical approach in this case required special consideration because of the aneurysm’s location. The main body of the aneurysm was in the right thoracic cavity. Descending thoracic aorta replacement with a prosthetic graft and aneurysmal total exclusion were performed through a left curvilinear thoracoabdominal incision. The patient’s postoperative course was uneventful. Surgical exclusion of a thoracic aortic aneurysm may be a useful technique in this special situation. Postoperative follow-up is needed to prevent early and late complications.
Botulinum toxin type A for the treatment of muscle contractures secondary to acute spinal cord injury in a young cat
Authors: McGeachan Robert I , Schwarz Tobias , Gunn-Moore Danièlle A , Marioni-Henry Katia
Published: June 2020

Case summary

A 4-month-old male entire domestic shorthair cat presented for sudden onset of right thoracic monoparesis following a fall; within 18 h, the clinical signs progressed to non-ambulatory right hemiplegia with absent sensation in the distal right thoracic limb and left hemiparesis. MRI revealed changes consistent with a C6–C7 acute non-compressive nucleus pulposus extrusion with suspected secondary C5–C7 spinal cord haemorrhage. Rehabilitation exercises were started immediately after the diagnosis of acute spinal cord trauma. Sensation in the right thoracic limb improved and, with the help of a splint applied to that limb, the cat was ambulatory on all four limbs. Unfortunately, clinical signs started to progress over the course of 10 days. The cat developed progressive discomfort on manipulation of the right elbow and carpus, and a hyperflexion of the right carpus. Radiographs revealed no skeletal abnormalities. Muscle contractures were suspected. Under general anaesthesia the triceps and flexor muscles of the carpus and digits were injected with a total of 100 U of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A). No complications were associated with the procedure and 24 h after the injection the carpal hyperflexion resolved.

Relevance and novel information

The use of BTX-A to treat muscle contractures in human medicine is an established and increasingly used technique. For example, in subacute stroke patients with a non-functional arm, BTX-A forearm injection appears to prevent disabling finger stiffness, likely by minimising the development of contractures. Here, we demonstrate that intramuscular BTX-A is an effective treatment for acquired muscle contractures in a cat.
Loneliness and Migraine Self-Management: A Cross-Sectional Assessment
Authors: Lui Jacob Z. , Young Nathan P. , Ebbert Jon O. , Rosedahl Jordan K. , Philpot Lindsey M.
Published: June 2020

Background: Chronic illness is often comorbid with the psychological state of loneliness. Models of care for patients who experience chronic migraines may often lack an understanding of psychosocial influences of the illness. Addressing the effects of loneliness on the health behaviors of chronic migraine patients may further elucidate gaps in care that exist beyond the biomedical approach to migraine treatment. The primary aim of this study was to assess the relationship between loneliness and behavioral health decisions in chronic migraine patients, specifically patient ability to self-manage, and effectiveness of treatments. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey among patients (n = 500) with migraine and assessed for the experience of loneliness by using the University of California, Los Angeles–Revised (UCLA-R) Three-item Loneliness Scale and the extent of migraine-related disability via the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS). Furthermore, we evaluated patients for their ability to self-manage their migraines, and perceived effectiveness of treatment. Results: Nearly half of our population reported at least one measure of loneliness (230/500, 46.0%). Patients experiencing chronic migraine were statistically more likely to report feeling lonely when compared to patients with episodic migraines ( P < .001). Patients who report loneliness had lower odds of feeling ’very satisfied” with their ability to self-manage their migraine symptoms (aOR = 0.34, 95% CI 0.14-0.81) and had lower odds of feeling “very satisfied” with their ability to avoid conditions that cause their headache (aOR = 0.39, 95% CI 0.16-0.91). Conclusions: Loneliness has significant effects on the illness experience of patients with chronic migraines, including their ability to self-manage or be satisfied with their current state of care. Psychosocial models of care that address loneliness among patients with chronic migraine may help improve health outcomes and management.
Feasibility of Using a Pocket-Sized Ultrasound Device to Measure the Inferior Vena Cava Diameter of Patients With Heart Failure in the Community Setting: A Pilot Study
Authors: Kimori Keiko , Tamura Yukie
Published: June 2020

Background: The incidence of heart failure as well as its treatment costs and rehospitalization rates are increasing worldwide. Physical assessment of elderly patients with heart failure living in their homes is challenging for community nurses. Pocket-sized echocardiographs will be useful for assessing the condition of the patients with heart failure during home-visit care. Objectives: This pilot study aimed to examine the feasibility of measuring the inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter using a pocket-sized ultrasound device. Methods: Nursing students were trained to use the pocket-sized ultrasound device (PUSD) for measuring the inferior vena cava diameter of a healthy subject. We evaluated the accuracy and rapidity of the nursing students’ measurements compared with those of an expert sonographer. Results: In total, 83.3% of the participants accurately visualized the IVC using the PSUD. There was no significant difference in the mean IVC diameter between that measured by the students and the sonographer. In total, 25% of the participants accurately measured the IVC diameter. The mean measurement time was 201 seconds. Conclusion: Our training program allowed the participants to accurately visualize the IVC using the PSUD. However, these results on accuracy and measurement time still need to be improved before community nurses can use the PSUD during home visits.
Precautionary Behavior Toward Dengue Virus Through Public Service Advertisement: Mediation of the Individual’s Attention, Information Surveillance, and Elaboration
Authors: Raza Syed Hassan , Iftikhar Moneeba , Mohamad Bahtiar , Pembecioğlu Nilüfer , Altaf Mohsin
Published: June 2020

The study examines the role of a health-related promotional campaign launched in Pakistan in the context of advertising campaign to improve precautionary behavior toward dengue virus (PBDV). The focus of this study is to investigate the mediation of individual’s attention, information surveillance, elaboration, and also the moderation of demographic features (e.g., gender, educational level, and dengue affected survival) in the relationship between the exposure of dengue-related public service announcements (DPSA) and PBDV. Telephonic interview technique was used to establish a representative sample ( N = 1,251) from Punjab (dengue-affected province of Pakistan) using a computer-assisted telephone survey software. The outcomes clarify the application of cognitive mediation model in the context of health communication. The findings revealed that individual’s attention and information surveillance have considerable mediating effects on PBDV and DPSA relationship. Surprisingly, however, there is no indirect effect of elaboration on PBDV. The findings provide practical recommendations to public organizations while designing health communication strategies.
The efficacies and limitations of fasciectomy and collagenase clostridium histolyticum in Dupuytren’s contracture management: A meta-analysis
Authors: Cooper Tokai B , Poonit Keshav , Yao Chenglun , Jin Zeyuan , Zheng Jingwei , Yan Hede
Published: June 2020

Background:

We intend to assess the efficacies and limitations of collagenase clostridium histolyticum (CCH) and fasciectomy in treating Dupuytren’s contracture, and the associated complications and rate of recurrences aiming to present a treatment algorithm.

Methods:

A literature search within the PubMed, Web of Sciences, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE databases was performed using the combined key words ‘Dupuytren, palmar aponeurosis contracture, collagenase clostridium histolyticum and fasciectomy’, including all possible studies with a set of predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Results:

Thirty studies were assessed for eligibility from 215 identified records. Seventeen publications satisfied the inclusion criteria including 2142 joints in 1784 patients. The mean follow-up time was 18.0 months (3–60).

Conclusion:

Acceptable contractures release was obtained in both techniques. Severe complications associated with fasciectomy outrank those of CCH, whereas the low rate of recurrence favors the fasciectomy technique.
Interview with Dr Anil K. Khandelwal: Leading Transformation of a Public Sector Bank Through People Processes and Building Intangibles
Authors: Panda Abinash
Published: June 2020

Dr Anil K. Khandelwal, former Chairman and Managing Director of Bank of Baroda (BoB) is credited with transforming the bank, one of the largest public sector banks, from a declining brand into a prime brand in the banking sector of India within just 3 years. Such a rapid and radical transformation using people processes by a human resource (HR) professional catapulted to chief executive officer (CEO) position is a rare example in the corporate world. In this interview, he describes the transformation journey he led, including how he overcame the challenges arising from trade union resistance to technology-led change and institutionalised people-centric business process reengineering in the new age of agile, digital banking. He describes his leadership style as “tough love” and expands on the leadership ideas he canvassed in his two books on the subject.
Developments in Online, Social Media Marketing in China and the West: An Overview of Different Approaches
Authors: O’Farrell Henry
Published: June 2020

How has the online world changed over the last 5–12 years in China and in the West?

Over the past 5–12 years, China has seen drastic changes to all aspects of life, businesses and as this study is focused on, social media and mobile payment systems. In 2006, just 10 per cent of China’s population were online and only one-third had a mobile phone. Turning to the present day, there are approximately 663 million smartphones in use across China ( Statista, 2018b ): an increase that shows no signs of slowing. When speaking to and interviewing Chinese students at Liaoning University, it was evident that mobile payment systems have existed and been in use for only 3–5 years. Despite this very minimal time scale, it is amazing to consider that by the end of 2018, total Chinese mobile payments will hit $5.87 trillion ( CBNEDITOR, 2018 ), a figure more than double the size of UK’s total GDP (at the time of writing)—it will be amazing to see, given the greatest gift of time, how the digital landscape of China will develop over the next decade—what a time to be alive!
Ultrasound measurement of laryngeal structures in the parasagittal plane for the prediction of difficult laryngoscopies in Chinese adults
Authors: Ni Hongwei , Guan Chunming , He Guangbao , Bao Yang , Shi Dongping , Zhu Yijun
Published: June 2020

Background

Abnormal laryngeal structures are likely to be associated with a difficult laryngoscopy procedure. Currently, laryngeal structures can be measured by ultrasonography, however, little research has been performed on the potential role of ultrasound on the evaluation of a difficult laryngoscopy. The present study investigated the value of laryngeal structure measurements for predicting a difficult laryngoscopy.

Objective

The main objective of this study was to explore the value of laryngeal structure measurements for predicting a difficult laryngoscopy.

Methods

Two hundred and eleven adult patients (over 18 years old) were recruited to undergo elective surgery under general anesthesia via endotracheal intubation. Ultrasound was utilized to measure the distance between the skin and thyroid cartilage (DST), the distance between the thyroid cartilage and epiglottis (DTE), and the distance between the skin and epiglottis (DSE) in the parasagittal plane. These metrics were then investigated as predictors for classifying a laryngoscopy as difficult vs easy, as defined by the Cormack and Lehane grading scale.

Results

Multivariate logistic regression showed that the DSE, but not DST or DTE, was significantly related to difficult laryngoscopies. Specifically, a DSE ≥ 2.36 cm predicted difficult laryngoscopies with a sensitivity and specificity of 0.818 (95% CI: 0.766–0.870) and 0.856 (95% CI: 0.809–0.904). Furthermore, when combining the best model constructed of other indicators (i.e. sex, body mass index, modified Mallampati test) to predict the difficult laryngoscopy, the AUC reached 93.28%.

Conclusion

DSE is an independent predictor of a difficult laryngoscopy; a DSE cutoff value of 2.36 cm is a better predictor of a difficult laryngoscope than other ultrasound or physiological measurements for predicting a difficult laryngoscope. Nevertheless, it’s more valuable to apply the best model of this study, composed of various physiological measurements, for this prediction purpose.
Corynebacterium striatum meningitis combined with suspected brain and lung abscesses: a case report and review
Authors: Zhang Ming-Jie , Cao Xiao-Jie , Fan Jin , Yin Ze-Gang , Yu Ke
Published: June 2020

Background

Intracranial infections with Corynebacterium striatum (C. striatum) have been described sporadically in the literature over the last two decades. However, C. striatum meningitis combined with multiple abscesses has not been published before.

Case presentation

In this report, we describe the clinical and imaging findings in a 54-year-old woman with meningitis caused by C. striatum and combined with suspected brain and lung abscesses. This patient who underwent multiple fractures and a recent cut presented with headache and paraphasia. C. striatum was isolated in cerebrospinal fluid and supposedly transmitted from the skin purulent wound through blood. The patient was treated with intravenous vancomycin and had a transient improvement, but died finally. Multiple abscesses, especially in the brain, could be a reason to explain her conditions were deteriorating rapidly.

Conclusions

Note that C. striatum can cause life-threatening infections. Early identification and diagnosis, early administration of antibiotics to which the bacterium is susceptible, and treatment of complications will be beneficial in patients with C. striatum-related infection.
Prevalence of generalized joint hypermobility in children with anxiety disorders
Authors: Javadi Parvaneh Vadood , Modaress Shadialsadat , Zahed Ghazal , Rahmani Khosro , Shiari Reza
Published: June 2020

Background

Concerning the high prevalence of anxiety disorders and joint hypermobility in children and the lack of related studies in this age group, we aimed to assess the association of hypermobility with anxiety disorders in children.

Methods

In this case-control study, 93 children ages 8–15 years with anxiety disorders referring to the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic of Mofid Children’s Hospital, Tehran, Iran, during 2018, were enrolled. The control group consisted of 100 age and sex-matched children without anxiety disorders. Anxiety was evaluated using the Spence Children Anxiety Scale (SCAS). The diagnosis of generalized joint hypermobility was done based on Beighton and Shiari-Javadi criteria.

Results

Based on Beighton’s diagnostic criteria 52.7% of the children in the case group and 16% of the children in the control group had generalized joint hypermobility. Moreover, based on Shiari-Javadi criteria, 49.5 and 13% of the children in the case and control groups had generalized joint hypermobility, respectively. Moreover, the internal correlation between the two criteria was 0.91 showing almost complete compatibility between the two (P <  0.001). Age was a risk factor that could predict hypermobility in these children. Other variables such as sex, severity, and type of anxiety disorders, and ADHD, were not predictors of hypermobility syndrome.

Conclusion

The prevalence of hypermobility was three times higher in children with anxiety disorders and only age was a predictor for the possibility to suffer from generalized joint hypermobility in these children.
Clinical and economic outcomes of hospital pharmaceutical care: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Lin Guohua , Huang Rong , Zhang Jing , Li Gaojie , Chen Lei , Xi Xiaoyu
Published: June 2020

Background

Hospital clinical pharmacists have been working in many countries for many years and clinical pharmaceutical care have a positive effect on the recovery of patients. In order to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and economic outcomes of clinical pharmaceutical care, relevant clinical trial studies were reviewed and analysed.

Methods

Two researchers searched literatures published from January 1992 to October 2019, and screened them by keywords like pharmaceutical care, pharmaceutical services, pharmacist interventions, outcomes, effects, impact, etc. Then, duplicate literatures were removed and the titles, abstracts and texts were read to screen literatures according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Key data in the literature were extracted, and Meta-analysis was conducted using the literature with common outcome indicators.

Results

A total of 3299 articles were retrieved, and 42 studies were finally included. Twelve of them were used for meta-analysis. Among the 42 studies included, the main results of pharmaceutical care showed positive effects, 36 experimental groups were significantly better than the control group, and the remaining 6 studies showed mixed or no effects. Meta-analysis showed that clinical pharmacists had significant effects on reducing systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure and shortening hospitalization days (P < 0.05), but no statistical significance in reducing medical costs (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Clinical pharmacists’ pharmaceutical care has a significant positive effect on patients’ clinical effects, but has no significant economic effect.
Spatiotemporal analyses of foot and mouth disease outbreaks in cattle farms in Chiang Mai and Lamphun, Thailand
Authors: Arjkumpa Orapun , Sansamur Chalutwan , Sutthipankul Pakdee , Inchaisri Chaidate , Na Lampang Kannika , Charoenpanyanet Arisara , Punyapornwithaya Veerasak
Published: June 2020

Background

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a highly infectious and contagious febrile vesicular disease of cloven-hoofed livestock with high socio-economic consequences globally. In Thailand, FMD is endemic with 183 and 262 outbreaks occurring in the years 2015 and 2016, respectively. In this study, we aimed to assess the spatiotemporal distribution of FMD outbreaks among cattle in Chiang Mai and Lamphun provinces in the northern part of Thailand during the period of 2015–2016. A retrospective space-time scan statistic including a space-time permutation (STP) and the Poisson and Bernoulli models were applied in order to detect areas of high incidence of FMD.

Results

Results have shown that 9 and 8 clusters were identified by the STP model in 2015 and 2016, respectively, whereas 1 and 3 clusters were identified by the Poisson model, and 3 and 4 clusters were detected when the Bernoulli model was applied for the same time period. In 2015, the most likely clusters were observed in Chiang Mai and these had a minimum radius of 1.49 km and a maximum radius of 20 km. Outbreaks were clustered in the period between the months of May and October of 2015. The most likely clusters in 2016 were observed in central Lamphun based on the STP model and in the eastern area of Chiang Mai by the Poisson and Bernoulli models. The cluster size of the STP model (8.51 km) was smaller than those of the Poisson and Bernoulli models (> 20 km). The cluster periods in 2016 were approximately 7 months, while 4 months and 1 month were identified by the Poisson, Bernoulli and STP models respectively.

Conclusions

The application of three models provided more information for FMD outbreak epidemiology. The findings from this study suggest the use of three different space-time scan models for the investigation process of outbreaks along with the follow-up process to identify FMD outbreak clusters. Therefore, active prevention and control strategies should be implemented in the areas that are most susceptible to FMD outbreaks.
Estimating the risk of declining funding for malaria in Ghana: the case for continued investment in the malaria response
Authors: Shretta Rima , Silal Sheetal P. , Malm Keziah , Mohammed Wahjib , Narh Joel , Piccinini Danielle , Bertram Kathryn , Rockwood Jessica , Lynch Matt
Published: June 2020

Background

Ghana has made impressive progress against malaria, decreasing mortality and morbidity by over 50% between 2005 and 2015. These gains have been facilitated in part, due to increased financial commitment from government and donors. Total resources for malaria increased from less than USD 25 million in 2006 to over USD 100 million in 2011. However, the country still faces a high burden of disease and is at risk of declining external financing due to its strong economic growth and the consequential donor requirements for increased government contributions. The resulting financial gap will need to be met domestically. The purpose of this study was to provide economic evidence of the potential risks of withdrawing financing to shape an advocacy strategy for resource mobilization.

Methods

A compartmental transmission model was developed to estimate the impact of a range of malaria interventions on the transmission ofPlasmodium falciparummalaria between 2018 and 2030. The model projected scenarios of common interventions that allowed the attainment of elimination and those that predicted transmission if interventions were withheld. The outputs of this model were used to generate costs and economic benefits of each option.

Results

Elimination was predicted using the package of interventions outlined in the national strategy, particularly increased net usage and improved case management. Malaria elimination in Ghana is predicted to cost USD 961 million between 2020 and 2029. Compared to the baseline, elimination is estimated to prevent 85.5 million cases, save 4468 lives, and avert USD 2.2 billion in health system expenditures. The economic gain was estimated at USD 32 billion in reduced health system expenditure, increased household prosperity and productivity gains. Through malaria elimination, Ghana can expect to see a 32-fold return on their investment. Reducing interventions, predicted an additional 38.2 clinical cases, 2500 deaths and additional economic losses of USD 14.1 billion.

Conclusions

Malaria elimination provides robust epidemiological and economic benefits, however, sustained financing is need to accelerate the gains in Ghana. Although government financing has increased in the past decade, the amount is less than 25% of the total malaria financing. The evidence generated by this study can be used to develop a robust domestic strategy to overcome the financial barriers to achieving malaria elimination in Ghana.
The crucible of COVID-19: what the pandemic is teaching us about health research systems
Authors: Turner Tari , El-Jardali Fadi
Published: June 2020

The global health crisis created by COVID-19 is providing valuable insights into the strengths of our health research system and, perhaps even more clearly, displaying its weaknesses. Much of what is being shown so plainly in the current context is not truly new. We are being reminded that health research systems are slow and noisy as well as that there is a desire for research to inform decision-making, that researchers are great collaborators, and that the walls we are so quick to erect between health research and health practice are unhelpful facades. It is our hope that the clarity with which these issues are being demonstrated by COVID-19 might provide the impetus to address these challenges and seize these opportunities to improve our health research system, for the benefit for communities facing COVID-19 now, and for the benefit of us all in facing the further health challenges that are sure to come.
Effects of Royal Jelly and Tocotrienol Rich Fraction in obesity treatment of calorie-restricted obese rats: a focus on white fat browning properties and thermogenic capacity
Authors: Mesri Alamdari Naimeh , Irandoost Pardis , Roshanravan Neda , Vafa Mohammadreza , Asghari Jafarabadi Mohammad , Alipour Shahriar , Roshangar Leila , Alivand Mohammadreza , Farsi Farnaz , Shidfar Farzad
Published: June 2020

Background

Obesity has reached an alarming rate worldwide. Promoting thermogenesis via increasing the function of brown adipose tissue (BAT) or white adipose tissue (WAT) browning has been proposed as a new protective approach against obesity. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of Royal Jelly (RJ) and tocotrienol rich fraction (TRF) on BAT activation and WAT browning during calorie restriction diet (CRD) in obesity model.

Methods

In this experimental study, 50 obese Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups and then received one of the following treatments for a period of 8-week: High-fat diet (HFD), CRD, RJ + CRD, TRF + CRD, and RJ + TRF + CRD. Effects of RJ and TRF, individually and in combination on body weight and the expression of key thermoregulatory genes in WAT and BAT were examined by quantitative real-time (qRT-PCR). Also, morphological alterations were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining.

Results

RJ (− 67.21 g ±4.84 g) and RJ + TRF (− 73.29 g ±4.51 g) significantly reduced weight gain relative to the CRD group (− 40.70 g ±6.50 g, P < 0.001). In comparison with the CRD group, RJ and RJ + TRF remarkably enhanced the uncoupling protein1 (UCP1) expression in WAT (5.81, 4.72 fold, P < 0.001) and BAT (4.99, 4.75 fold, P < 0.001). The expression of PR domain containing 16(PRDM 16), cAMP response element-binding protein1 (CREB1), P38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (P38MAPK), and Bone morphogenetic protein8B (BMP8B) have significantly increased following RJ and RJ + TRF treatments (P < 0.001). However, the expression levels of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta (CEBPβ) and Bone morphogenetic protein7 (BMP7) did not remarkably change. Multilocular beige cells in WAT and compacted dense adipocytes were also observed in BAT of RJ and RJ + TRF received groups. TRF showed no substantial effects on the expression of the mentioned thermoregulatory genes and brown fat-like phenotype.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that, Royal Jelly promotes thermogenesis and browning of WAT, contributing to an increase in energy expenditure. Thus, Royal Jelly may give rise to a novel dietary choice to attenuate obesity.
Urban air particulate matter induces mitochondrial dysfunction in human olfactory mucosal cells
Authors: Chew Sweelin , Lampinen Riikka , Saveleva Liudmila , Korhonen Paula , Mikhailov Nikita , Grubman Alexandra , Polo Jose M. , Wilson Trevor , Komppula Mika , Rönkkö Teemu , Gu Cheng , Mackay-Sim Alan , Malm Tarja , White Anthony R. , Jalava Pasi , Kanninen Katja M.
Published: June 2020

Background

The adverse effects of air pollutants including particulate matter (PM) on the central nervous system is increasingly reported by epidemiological, animal and post-mortem studies in the last decade. Oxidative stress and inflammation are key consequences of exposure to PM although little is known of the exact mechanism. The association of PM exposure with deteriorating brain health is speculated to be driven by PM entry via the olfactory system. How air pollutants affect this key entry site remains elusive. In this study, we investigated effects of urban size-segregated PM on a novel cellular model: primary human olfactory mucosal (hOM) cells.

Results

Metabolic activity was reduced following 24-h exposure to PM without evident signs of toxicity. Results from cytometric bead array suggested a mild inflammatory response to PM exposure. We observed increased oxidative stress and caspase-3/7 activity as well as perturbed mitochondrial membrane potential in PM-exposed cells. Mitochondrial dysfunction was further verified by a decrease in mitochondria-dependent respiration. Transient suppression of the mitochondria-targeted gene, neuronal pentraxin 1 (NPTX1), was carried out, after being identified to be up-regulated in PM2.5–1 treated cells via RNA sequencing. Suppression of NPTX1 in cells exposed to PM did not restore mitochondrial defects resulting from PM exposure. In contrast, PM-induced adverse effects were magnified in the absence of NPTX1, indicating a critical role of this protein in protection against PM effects in hOM cells.

Conclusion

Key mitochondrial functions were perturbed by urban PM exposure in a physiologically relevant cellular model via a mechanism involving NPTX1. In addition, inflammatory response and early signs of apoptosis accompanied mitochondrial dysfunction during exposure to PM. Findings from this study contribute to increased understanding of harmful PM effects on human health and may provide information to support mitigation strategies targeted at air pollution.
Occlusal reconstruction of a patient with ameloblastoma ablation using alveolar distraction osteogenesis: a case report
Authors: Ishihara Yoshihito , Arakawa Hikaru , Nishiyama Akiyoshi , Kamioka Hiroshi
Published: June 2020

Background

Ameloblastoma is one of the most common benign odontogenic neoplasms. Its surgical excision has the potential to lead to postoperative malocclusion. In this case report, we describe the successful interdisciplinary orthodontic treatment of a patient with ameloblastoma who underwent marginal mandibulectomy.

Case presentation

A woman of 20-year-old was diagnosed with ameloblastoma, and underwent marginal mandibulectomy when she was 8 years of age. She had an excessive overjet (11.5 mm) and a mild open bite (− 1.5 mm) with a severely resorbed atrophic edentulous ridge in the area around the mandibular left lateral incisor, canine and first premolar. An alveolar bone defect associated with tumor resection was regenerated by vertical distraction osteogenesis (DO). Subsequently, 3 dental implants were placed into the reconstructed mandible. Orthodontic treatment using implant-anchored mechanics provided a proper facial profile with significantly improved occlusal function. The occlusion appeared stable for a 7-year retention period.

Conclusions

These results suggest that surgically assisted and implant anchored-orthodontic approaches might be effective for the correction of such malocclusions.
PITChing (professional organisations, innovative trial designs and collaborative approach) for evidence generation for proton therapy
Authors: Chilukuri Srinivas , Panda Pankaj Kumar , Jalali Rakesh
Published: June 2020

Developments in the field of proton beam therapy (PBT) have recently crossed the tipping point wherein the modality is now more versatile than ever before, with possibilities and likely indications expanding rapidly.

However the pace of evidence generation lags behind the developments in the field.

Generating quality evidence has its own set of challenges owing to complexities of conducting randomized controlled trials, which are the hallmark of level 1 evidence generation.

Here we discuss various challenges to clinical evidence generation in PBT and have suggested certain solutions including collaborative approaches and alternative study designs to mitigate these challenges.
Improved health-related quality of life in patients treated with topical sirolimus for facial angiofibroma associated with tuberous sclerosis complex
Authors: Hatano Takashi , Ohno Yuki , Imai Yu , Moritake Jun , Endo Katsuhisa , Tamari Mayumi , Egawa Shin
Published: June 2020

Background

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder forming hamartomas throughout the body. Facial angiofibromas (FAs) occur in 75% of TSC patients, which are often enlarged, impairing the appearance of the face, and reducing the patient’s quality of life (QOL). The aim of this study was to characterize the impact of topical sirolimus treatment on the health-related QOL in patients with FA associated with TSC.

Methods

We investigated a total of 33 patients who received sirolimus gel treatment for FA associated with TSC and assessed the changes in the health-related QOL using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form (SF-36) Health Survey. SF-36 surveys were performed before and after 3 months of treatment. The conditions of the patients after using the sirolimus gel were categorized into the following three categories: “improved,” “unchanged,” and “aggravated.” Adverse events were investigated using the CTCAE v5.0-JCOG.

Results

The median age of the patients was 25 (range 14–55) years. After 3 months of sirolimus gel treatment, three scale scores of the SF-36, vitality (VT), social function (SF), and mental health (MH), were significantly improved compared to before the treatment. The VT and SF in patients who had improved FA were significantly better than those in the other patients. There were no significant differences in any scale scores between patients with and without adverse events at 3 months after the initiation of sirolimus gel treatment.

Conclusions

This is the first report regarding improved health-related quality of life in patients treated with sirolimus gel for FA associated with TSC by using the SF-36. The three scale scores associated with mental health were significantly improved compared to before the treatment. The health-related QOL in patients receiving sirolimus gel treatment is more strongly affected by the treatment efficacy than adverse events.

Mini-abstract

Sirolimus gel treatment improves the health-related QOL in patients with FA associated with TSC.
Description of CRISPR/Cas9 development and its prospect in hepatocellular carcinoma treatment
Authors: Wu Xiaoling , Ma Weijie , Mei Chengjie , Chen Xi , Yao Ye , Liu Yingyi , Qin Xian , Yuan Yufeng
Published: June 2020

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies today. Patients suffer from HCC since its high malignancy and limited treatment means. With the development of genetic research, new therapeutic strategy comes up in the way of gene editing. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat/CRISPR-associated nuclease 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) was discovered as an immune sequence in bacteria and archaea. After artificial transformation and follow-up research, it is widely used as a gene editing tool. In this review, the development of CRISPR/Cas9 is summarized in retrospect. Through the evaluation of novel research in HCC, it is concluded that CRISPR/Cas9 would promote cancer research and provide a new tool for genetic treatment in prospect.
Role of point-of-care ultrasound during the COVID-19 pandemic: our recommendations in the management of dialytic patients
Authors: Vieira Ana Luisa Silveira , Pazeli Júnior José Muniz , Bastos Marcus Gomes
Published: June 2020

COVID-19 is a viral disease due to the infection of the novel Corona virus SARS-CoV-2, that has rapidly spread in many countries until the World Health Organization declared the pandemic from March 11, 2020. Elderly patients and those affected by hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and chronic pulmonary and cardiovascular conditions are more susceptible to present more severe forms of COVID-19. These conditions are often represented in dialytic renal end-stage patients. Moreover, dialysis patients are more vulnerable to infection due to suppression of the immune system. Growing evidences, although still supported by few publications, are showing the potential utility of ultrasound in patients with COVID-19. In this review, we share our experience in using point-of-care ultrasound, particularly lung ultrasound, to indicate the probability of COVID-19 in patients with end-stage renal disease treated by hemodialysis. We also propose recommendations for the application of lung ultrasound, focused echocardiography and inferior vena cava ultrasound in the management of patients in hemodialysis.
Defining immune correlates during latent and active chlamydial infection in sheep
Authors: Wattegedera Sean R. , Livingstone Morag , Maley Stephen , Rocchi Mara , Lee Susan , Pang Yvonne , Wheelhouse Nick M. , Aitchison Kevin , Palarea-Albaladejo Javier , Buxton David , Longbottom David , Entrican Gary
Published: June 2020

Ovine enzootic abortion (OEA) caused by the obligate intracellular bacterial pathogenChlamydia abortus(C. abortus), is an endemic disease in most sheep-rearing countries worldwide. Following infection,C. abortusestablishes a complex host–pathogen interaction with a latent phase in non-pregnant sheep followed by an active disease phase in the placenta during pregnancy leading to OEA. Improved knowledge of the host–pathogen interactions at these different phases of disease will accelerate the development of new diagnostic tests and vaccines to control OEA. Current evidence indicates that cellular immunity is essential for controllingC. abortusinfection. We have previously described a model of mucosal (intranasal) infection of non-pregnant sheep withC. abortusthat replicates the latent and active phases of OEA. We have investigated antigen-specific recall responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in sheep infected withC. abortusvia the intranasal route to determine how these change during the latent and active phases of disease. By analysing cytokines associated with the major CD4+veThelper(Th) cell subsets (Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)/Th1; Interleukin (IL)-4/Th2; IL-17A/Th17; IL-10/Tregulatory), we show that there is selective activation of PBMC producing IFN-γ and/or IL-10 during the latent phase following infection. These cytokines are also elevated during the active disease phase and while they are produced by sheep that are protected from OEA, they are also produced by sheep that abort, highlighting the difficulties in finding specific cellular immunological correlates of protection for complex intracellular pathogens.
Positive solutions for integral boundary value problems of fractional differential equations with delay
Authors: Li Shuai , Zhang Zhixin , Jiang Wei
Published: June 2020

In this article, a class of integral boundary value problems of fractional delayed differential equations is discussed. Based on the Guo–Krasnoselskii theorem, some existence results on the positive solutions are derived. Two simple examples are given to show the validity of the conditions of our main theorems.
Efficient hybrid group iterative methods in the solution of two-dimensional time fractional cable equation
Authors: Salama Fouad Mohammad , Hj. Mohd. Ali Norhashidah , Abd Hamid Nur Nadiah
Published: June 2020

In this paper, the development of new hybrid group iterative methods for the numerical solution of a two-dimensional time-fractional cable equation is presented. We use Laplace transform method to approximate the time fractional derivative which reduces the problem into an approximating partial differential equation. The obtained partial differential equation is solved by four-point group iterative methods derived from two implicit finite difference schemes. Matrix norm analysis together with mathematical induction are utilized to investigate the stability and convergence properties. A comparative study with the recently developed hybrid standard point (HSP) iterative method accompanied by their computational cost analysis are also given. Numerical experiments are conducted to demonstrate the superiority of the proposed hybrid group iterative methods over the HSP iterative method in terms of the number of iterations, computational cost as well as the CPU times.
Markov switched stochastic Nicholson-type delay system with patch structure
Authors: Wang Wentao , Deng Guifeng , Chen Wei
Published: June 2020

Considering stochastic perturbations of white and color noises, we introduce the Markov switched stochastic Nicholson-type delay system with patch structure. By constructing a traditional Lyapunov function we show that solutions of the addressed system are not only positive, but also do not explode to infinity in finite time and, in fact, are ultimately bounded. Then we estimate its ultimate boundedness, moment, and Lyapunov exponent. Finally, we present an example of numerical simulations to verify theoretical results.