bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ВМІСТ ІНТЕРЛЕЙКІНУ-1β, ПРОКАЛЬЦИТОНІНУ В СИРОВАТЦІ КРОВІ ХВОРИХ НА ЛАКТАЦІЙНИЙ МАСТИТ
Authors: Дем’янчук Н. Р. , Акімова В. М. , Щурко М. М. , Луців Н. З. , Сойка Л. Д. , Білявська Б. М. , Лаповець Л. Є. , Бучко О. Ю. , Ткачук С. О.
Published: August 2023

Вступ. Сприятливими факторами для розвитку запального процесу в молочній залозі є лактостаз, наявність патогенної флори, а також зниження імунобіологічної реактивності організму жінки. Запальний процес спричиняє і регулює низка медіаторів. Зокрема, прозапальний інтерлейкін-1β індукує запальну реакцію і гострофазну відповідь, здійснює взаємозв’язок між неспецифічною та специфічною ланками імунітету. Дослідники вважають прокальцитонін найбільш перспективним індикатором септичного процесу, який дозволяє провести диференційну діагностику бактеріального і небактеріального запалення, оцінити тяжкість стану хворого й ефективність протизапальної терапії.

Мета дослідження – оцінити вміст інтерлейкіну-1β та  прокальцитоніну в сироватці крові хворих на лактаційний мастит.

Методи дослідження. Досліджено сироватку крові 97 жінок віком від 18 до 36 років (середній вік – (26±5) років). Контрольну групу становили 30 практично здорових жінок, які лактують. До 1-ї групи ввійшли 30 жінок із лактостазом, до 2-ї ‒ 37 жінок, в яких розвинувся лактаційний мастит. Вміст інтер­лейкіну-1β та прокальцитоніну визначали методом імуноферментного аналізу за допомогою автоматичного аналізатора “STAT FAX 303 plus”.

Результати й обговорення. Вміст інтерлейкіну-1β у сироватці крові жінок 1-ї групи ((6,37±0,46) пг/мл) у 3,5 раза перевищував показник контрольної групи ((1,78±0,11) пг/мл, р<0,05). Середня його концентрація у сироватці крові жінок 2-ї групи становила (8,32±0,38) пг/мл, що в 4,7 раза більше за контрольне значення та перевищувало показник жінок 1-ї групи в 1,3 раза (р<0,05). При розвитку лактостазу вміст прокальцитоніну ((0,07±0,02) нг/мл) був у 3,3 раза більшим за показник контрольної групи ((0,021±0,004) нг/мл, р<0,05). У сироватці крові жінок 2-ї групи він становив (0,81±0,25) нг/мл, що перевищувало величини цього маркера в контрольній і 1-й групах у 38,6 та 11,6 раза відповідно (р<0,05).

Висновки. Встановлена концентрація інтерлейкіну-1β підтверджує участь цього цитокіну в захисній реакції, її можна використовувати для оцінки активності запального процесу при лактостазі й лакта­ційному маститі. Визначення прокальцитоніну як маркера бактеріальної інфекції є доцільним для прогнозу септичного процесу в молочній залозі.
ВПЛИВ ЕНЕРГЕТИЧНОГО НАПОЮ НА АКТИВНІСТЬ Na+,K+-АТФази У ГОЛОВНОМУ МОЗКУ ЩУРІВ
Authors: Литвинюк Н. І. , Боднарчук О. В.
Published: August 2023

Вступ. Енергетичні напої значно поширені серед молоді як енергостимулятори, споживають їх з метою підвищення продуктивності праці. Проте вони є небезпечними для нервової та серцево-судинної систем. Одними з важливих показників, що характеризують швидкість енергетичного обміну в головному мозку, є швидкість утворення аденозинтрифосфату (АТФ) та зміни активності ензиму Na+,K+-АТФази, що сприяє нерівномірному розподілу іонів Na+ і K+ по різних сторонах мембрани, завдяки чому формується градієнт концентрації іонів, необхідних для передачі нервового імпульсу при збудженні.

Мета дослідження – вивчити зміни вмісту аденозинтрифосфату, рівня магнію та активності Na+,K+-АТФази в гомогенаті головного мозку щурів за умов споживання енергетичного напою.

Методи дослідження. Вплив енергетичного напою вивчали на статевозрілих щурах-самцях масою 180–200 г. Вони перебували на стандартному раціоні віварію за відповідних умов освітлення, температурного режиму та вологості. Експериментальних тварин поділили на п’ять груп: 1-ша – інтактні тварини, які отримували воду; 2-га – щури, які одержували енергетичний напій упродовж місяця, забір матеріалу здійснювали на 1-шу добу після завершення його споживання; 3-тя – тварини, які отримували енергетичний напій упродовж місяця, забір матеріалу здійснювали на 10-ту добу після завершення його споживання; 4-та – щури, які одержували енергетичний напій упродовж місяця, забір матеріалу здійснювали на 20-ту добу після завершення його споживання; 5-та – тварини, які отримували енергетичний напій упродовж місяця, забір матеріалу здійснювали на 30-ту добу після завершення його споживання. Вміст аденозинтрифосфату й активність Na+,K+-АТФази визначали спектрофотометричним методом, рівень магнію – атомно-адсорбційним методом за допомогою приладу “С-115ПК”.

Результати й обговорення. Споживання енерготоніка щурами призвело до зниження активності Na+,K+-АТФази й одночасного підвищення рівня аденозинтрифосфату. Після відміни енергетика спо­стерігали тенденцію до різкого зростання вмісту аденозинтрифосфату, підвищення активності Na+,K+-АТФази і збільшення рівня магнію.

Висновки. Отримані результати дозволяють стверджувати, що внаслідок споживання енергетичних напоїв змінюються показники енергетичного обміну, зокрема вміст аденозинтрифосфату й активність ензиму енергетичного обміну Мg+-активуючої Na+,K+-АТФази.
La presencia del género no binario en la promoción musical, de David Bowie a Lil Nas X
Authors: Fernández Rincón Antonio Raúl , González Mula Clara
Published: August 2023

El videoclip como formato prioritario de promoción y publicidad de la industria musical revela también un gran potencial para la conformación de identidades de género por su capacidad de captar la atención del público joven y adolescente. En este trabajo estudiamos la presencia del género no binario a partir de un análisis simbólico de videoclips de dos referentes de la identidad queer, David Bowie y Lil Nas X. La elección de dos artistas que han tenido éxito en momentos históricos diferentes contribuye a la reflexión en torno a la posible evolución histórica de la expresión de la individualidad a través del género no binario. Las representaciones antiguas se encuentran ligadas al género de forma más anecdótica, más asociado a lo fantástico sin intenciones de profundizar en él. En la actualidad encontramos representaciones más obvias hacia la crisis de género, algo que, en términos amplios, podría ser resultado de la crisis de identidad del individuo en el contexto de la posmodernidad.
Raça, gênero, classe e outras interseccionalidades na comunicação de marcas: análise interseccional semiótica da Vivo em 2019
Authors: Fernandes Pablo Moreno
Published: August 2023

Observamos, neste trabalho, as representações da negritude na comunicação de marca da Vivo em 2019, por meio da análise interseccional semiótica. Considerando o racismo como constituinte da identidade brasileira, avaliamos como raça se intersecciona com outras avenidas identitárias, no discurso de marcas e de promoção do consumo, em anúncios de revista e no Instagram. O trabalho dialoga com outro artigo, no qual analisamos a mesma marca, em 2018. Os resultados indicam como a raça aparece interseccionada a: gênero, no sentido de que as representações das mulheres ainda se prendem a estereótipos e imagens de controle; classe, sinalizando uma tendência a representações contraintuitivas, apesar de recorrentes associações entre negritude e pobreza.
Evolução de mensagens publicitárias durante a covid-19 nos anos de 2020 e 2021: análise comparativa em Espanha e Portugal
Authors: Hellín Pedro , Fernández Rincón Antonio Raúl , Ferreira Ivonne
Published: August 2023

Neste artigo, apresentamos uma investigação conduzida na Espanha e em Portugal sobre os mecanismos discursivos utilizados pelos principais anunciantes de cada país durante os meses após o confinamento pela pandemia da covid-19. A partir de um desenho metodológico ancorado na semiótica do discurso, analisamos uma amostra de anúncios publicitários veiculados em horário nobre com o objetivo de avançar no conhecimento das estratégias discursivas em tempos de crise. Depois de um primeiro estudo publicado em 2020, focado nos meses mais difíceis da pandemia nos dois países, oferecemos, agora, um trabalho que complementa aquele e mostra como os anunciantes parecem ignorar a crise de saúde, ainda ativa em 2021. Estamos entrando em um novo normal que, embora não tenha alcançado totalmente a cidadania, parece ter chegado plenamente no imaginário público. De repente, voltamos a um espaço onírico no qual podemos sentir felicidade com a aquisição de bens e serviços. O consumo está de volta, o velho mundo da publicidade está de volta.
Ninfa líquida: o corpo indomável em João Cabral de Melo Neto
Authors: Roque Maura Voltarelli
Published: August 2023

Este artigo busca pensar as figurações da Ninfa enquanto forma feminina em movimento na poesia de João Cabral de Melo Neto. Para desdobrar o que vemos como uma luta tensa com o fluido na poética cabralina, propomos uma leitura de “Estudos para uma bailadora andaluza” em seus ritmos intermitentes de contenção e explosão, próprios do flamenco, em que as variações de um corpo em dança são também as variações de uma obra que se abre em sua tensão dialética fundamental.
A luz em João Cabral: luz balão, luz redoma, luz Velásquez e luz Cardozo
Authors: Correia Éverton Barbosa
Published: August 2023

Considerando a interlocução entre Joaquim Cardozo e João Cabral de Melo Neto, sua apreciação será feita ao longo do poema “A luz em Joaquim Cardozo” – coligido no volume Museu de tudo (1975) e destacado na série de nove composições devotadas a seu interlocutor –, por meio do desempenho vocabular e sonoro da elaboração formal. Naquele texto, a figura do pintor Diego Velázquez será sublinhada como contraponto formal, inscrevendo na tradição ibérica a poética autoral.
Poesia, trabalho e Guerra Fria
Authors: Pires Carlos
Published: August 2023

Este artigo tem como objetivo entender “Poesia e Composição”, de João Cabral de Melo Neto, que foi escrito para uma palestra no início dos anos 50, em meio à Guerra Fria. Compreender esta palestra em vista da trajetória do poeta e da redefinição do contexto profissional do escritor nos permite pensar sobre os rearranjos políticos e culturais relacionados à transformação e incorporação de questões políticas e estéticas da arte moderna e do modernismo no Brasil.
O poeta no rádio: textos dispersos de João Cabral de Melo Neto
Authors: Ribeiro Edneia Rodrigues
Published: August 2023

Este trabalho pretende evidenciar uma faceta pouco conhecida de João Cabral de Melo: a de apresentador de rádio. Entre documentos inéditos e dispersos que integram o seu espólio documental, salvaguardado pela Fundação Casa de Rui Barbosa, destacam-se cerca de vinte textos curtos classificados como programas de rádio. Além de breve contextualização sobre a atuação de João Cabral em veículos de comunicação brasileiros, nos primeiros anos da década de 1950,  podem ser conferidas transcrições dos textos "Romanceiro da Inconfidência" e "O exílio das elites" que versam sobre a poesia de Cecília Meireles e foram apresentados por João Cabral na Rádio Clube do Brasil, em meados de 1953.
Literatura e poesia
Authors: Holanda Sérgio Buarque de
Published: August 2023

Conferência pronunciada em 1950 no curso de poética promovido pelo Clube de Poesia de São Paulo. Publicada na Revista de Poesia e Crítica, n. 8, Brasília-São Paulo-Rio de Janeiro, setembro de 1982.
Poemas de Ricardo Aleixo
Authors: Aleixo Ricardo
Published: August 2023

Poemas de Ricardo Aleixo
Biology, Society, or Choice: How Do Non-Experts Interpret Explanations of Behaviour?
Authors: Nettle Daniel , Frankenhuis Willem E. , Panchanathan Karthik
Published: August 2023

Explanations for human behaviour can be framed in many different ways, from the social-structural context to the individual motivation down to the neurobiological implementation. We know comparatively little about how people interpret these explanatory framings, and what they infer when one kind of explanation rather than another is made salient. In four experiments, UK general-population volunteers read vignettes describing the same behaviour, but providing explanations framed in different ways. In Study 1, we found that participants grouped explanations into ‘biological’, ‘psychological’ and ‘sociocultural’ clusters. Explanations with different framings were often seen as incompatible with one another, especially when one belonged to the ‘biological’ cluster and the other did not. In Study 2, we found that exposure to a particular explanatory framing triggered inferences beyond the information given. Specifically, psychological explanations led participants to assume the behaviour was malleable, and biological framings led them to assume it was not. In Studies 3A and 3B, we found that the choice of explanatory framing can affect people’s assumptions about effective interventions. For example, presenting a biological explanation increased people’s conviction that interventions like drugs would be effective, and decreased their conviction that psychological or socio-political interventions would be effective. These results illuminate the intuitive psychology of explanations, and also potential pitfalls in scientific communication. Framing an explanation in a particular way will often generate inferences in the audience—about what other factors are not causally important, how easy it is to change the behaviour, and what kinds of remedies are worth considering—that the communicator may not have anticipated and might not intend.
Antiquarianism or Taḥqīq? Guillaume Postel’s Reading of Abu’l-Fidā’s Taqwīm al-Buldān
Authors: Comacchi Maria Vittoria
Published: August 2023

This paper retraces Guillaume Postel’s (1510–1581) initial acquisition of a copy of Taqwīm al-Buldān (The Arrangement of Countries), a geographical treatise of the historian and geographer Abu’l-Fidā (672/1273–732/1331) and offers an analysis of his reading of the text through a careful examination of the manuscript itself, hitherto ignored by scholarship. After the introduction and the examination of the manuscript, I will discuss the use Postel made of the Arabic geography in his cosmographical writings advancing the hypothesis that Postel’s cosmography somehow shares a similar approach to Abu’l-Fidā with respect to the concept of “tradition.” Finally, by offering an analysis of a parallel to Postel’s appropriation of Taqwīm al-Buldān, i.e., Hajji Ahmed’s cordiform map, I will propose a new way to re-contextualize the surge of cosmographical works in sixteenth-century Europe, as, at least in part, a product of post-Mongol taḥqīq.
The Past, Present and Future of Social Stratification from Said Nursi’s Perspective
Authors: Orhan Sadettin
Published: August 2023

Social stratification is a common factor in almost every society on earth. Societies exhibit a certain hierarchical structure measured by either abstract or concrete criteria. With industrialisation, the form of stratification changed. The proletariat and the bourgeoisie formed the two main social strata of this new society. Studies aimed at understanding and explaining this change in the social structure have produced many texts with a rich theoretical discussion. In our study, the views on stratification put forward by Said Nursi, an Islamic scholar and commentator on the Qurʾan, are discussed. Nursi includes important determinations and evaluations of people, society and stratification in his works, which total more than six thousand pages. We hope that these findings and evaluations will contribute to disciplines, particularly sociology, that deal with stratification.
Description of two new species of Roussoella (Roussoellaceae, Pleosporales) associated with bamboo from Sichuan Province, China
Authors: WU KAI , TIAN WENHUI , SYED ASAD , ELGORBAN ABDALLAH M. , BAHKALI ALI H. , MAHARACHCHIKUMBURA SAJEEWA S. N.
Published: August 2023

The type genus of the Roussoellaceae family, Roussoella, is mainly known from monocotyledons, particularly on dead bamboo culms, mainly as a saprophyte. This study describes and illustrates two novel species of Roussoella viz. R. fusispora and R. sichuanensis associated with bamboo, collected from Sichuan Province, China. They were identified as new species based on morphology and phylogenetic analyses of a combined matrix of ITS, LSU, TEF1 and RPB2 gene regions. According to multi-gene phylogenetic analysis, R. sichuanensis represents a sister clade to R. multiloculata and R. verrucispora, whereas R. fusispora forms a sister clade to R. neopustulans. Roussoella fusispora exhibits distinct characteristics that differentiate it from R. neopustulans, specifically its relatively smaller asci and ascospores. Similarly, Roussoella sichuanensis can be distinguished from other closely related species primarily based on its comparatively smaller conidia and the presence of a white central ostiole opening on the conidiomata.
Green HRM: An Empirical Study on Validation of Measurement Scale in Indian Environment
Authors: Kumar Manisha , Anas Mohammad
Published: August 2023

Most firms have been infusing environmental management practices in their organisational operations as green human resource management (GHRM). This study aims to validate the constructs under the GHRM in the Indian environment. The study conducted on four functions of GHRM reveals that green performance management, green compensation management, green health and safety and green involvement support an organisation in achieving its green goals. This study uses a two-stage methodology of data analysis by using AMOS. The current study explores the varied dimensions of organisational management, paving the way for future research on green human resource practices in the Indian diaspora.
Influence of Social and Economic Factors on Impulse Buying: A Research Framework
Authors: Sugla Riya , Sen Shaon
Published: August 2023

The research aims to identify several social and economic factors expected to influence consumers’ impulsive buying. This research has adopted a scoping literature review approach to reach its findings and conclusions. The author has used keywords related to the area of study to shortlist various articles published by researchers. Also, an extensive iterative search approach is adopted to identify various research works published in established peer-reviewed national and international journals. All the research articles that pertain to this study’s specific aim are included; the rest are excluded from the study. The authors have performed an in-depth study of these papers to understand all the parameters. The authors have performed analysis of the results and findings of the reviewed research articles to identify economic and social factors that influence consumers’ impulse buying.
Late fetal hematopoietic failure results from ZBTB11 deficiency despite abundant HSC specification
Authors: Cao Huimin , Naik Shalin H. , Amann-Zalcenstein Daniela , Hickey Peter , Salim Agus , Cao Benjamin , Nilsson Susan K. , Keightley M. Cristina , Lieschke Graham J.
Published: August 2023

Hematopoiesis produces diverse blood cell lineages to meet the basal needs and sudden demands of injury or infection. A rapid response to such challenges requires the expansion of specific lineages and a prompt return to balanced steady-state levels, necessitating tightly coordinated regulation. Previously we identified a requirement for the zinc finger and broad complex, tramtrak, bric-a-brac domain–containing 11 (ZBTB11) transcription factor in definitive hematopoiesis using a forward genetic screen for zebrafish myeloid mutants. To understand its relevance to mammalian systems, we extended these studies to mice. When Zbtb11 was deleted in the hematopoietic compartment, embryos died at embryonic day (E) 18.5 with hematopoietic failure. Zbtb11 hematopoietic knockout (Zbtb11hKO) hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) were overabundantly specified from E14.5 to E17.5 compared with those in controls. Overspecification was accompanied by loss of stemness, inability to differentiate into committed progenitors and mature lineages in the fetal liver, failure to seed fetal bone marrow, and total hematopoietic failure. The Zbtb11hKO HSCs did not proliferate in vitro and were constrained in cell cycle progression, demonstrating the cell-intrinsic role of Zbtb11 in proliferation and cell cycle regulation in mammalian HSCs. Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis identified that Zbtb11-deficient HSCs were underrepresented in an erythroid-primed subpopulation and showed downregulation of oxidative phosphorylation pathways and dysregulation of genes associated with the hematopoietic niche. We identified a cell-intrinsic requirement for Zbtb11-mediated gene regulatory networks in sustaining a pool of maturation-capable HSCs and progenitor cells.
The impact on clinical outcomes after 1 year of implementation of an artificial intelligence solution for the detection of intracranial hemorrhage
Authors: Kotovich Dmitry , Twig Gilad , Itsekson-Hayosh Zeev , Klug Maximiliano , Simon Asaf Ben , Yaniv Gal , Konen Eli , Tau Noam , Raskin Daniel , Chang Paul J. , Orion David
Published: August 2023

Background

To assess the effect of a commercial artificial intelligence (AI) solution implementation in the emergency department on clinical outcomes in a single level 1 trauma center.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study for two time periods—pre-AI (1.1.2017–1.1.2018) and post-AI (1.1.2019–1.1.2020)—in a level 1 trauma center was performed. The ICH algorithm was applied to 587 consecutive patients with a confirmed diagnosis of ICH on head CT upon admission to the emergency department.

Study variables included demographics, patient outcomes, and imaging data. Participants admitted to the emergency department during the same time periods for other acute diagnoses (ischemic stroke (IS) and myocardial infarction (MI)) served as control groups. Primary outcomes were 30- and 120-day all-cause mortality. The secondary outcome was morbidity based on Modified Rankin Scale for Neurologic Disability (mRS) at discharge.

Results

Five hundred eighty-seven participants (289 pre-AI—age 71 ± 1, 169 men; 298 post-AI—age 69 ± 1, 187 men) with ICH were eligible for the analyzed period. Demographics, comorbidities, Emergency Severity Score, type of ICH, and length of stay were not significantly different between the two time periods. The 30- and 120-day all-cause mortality were significantly reduced in the post-AI group when compared to the pre-AI group (27.7% vs 17.5%; p = 0.004 and 31.8% vs 21.7%; p = 0.017, respectively). Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at discharge was significantly reduced post-AI implementation (3.2 vs 2.8; p = 0.044).

Conclusion

The added value of this study emphasizes the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) computer-aided triage and prioritization software in an emergent care setting that demonstrated a significant reduction in a 30- and 120-day all-cause mortality and morbidity for patients diagnosed with intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). Along with mortality rates, the AI software was associated with a significant reduction in the Modified Ranking Scale (mRs).
Clinical manifestations and MRI features of Danon disease: a case series
Authors: Zhang Yang , Zhao Ren , Yuan Yushan , Yu Yongqiang , Liu Bin , Li Xiaohu
Published: August 2023

Background

Danon disease (DD) is an exceptionally uncommon X-linked dominant lysosomal glycogen storage disorder characterized by pronounced ventricular hypertrophy and cardiac insufficiency. The timely identification of cardiac impairment in individuals with DD holds significant clinical importance.

Case presentation

We present a case of Danon Disease in a three-generation pedigree from Anhui Province, China. Clinical features and laboratory data were collected and analyzed for a 16-year-old male proband (III-1) and two affected female family members (II-2 and II-3). The proband exhibited Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, abnormal cognitive function, and muscle weakness. Gene sequencing confirmed a mutation (c.963G > A) in the LAMP-2 gene.

Conclusion

Patients with DD may present both dilated and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Comprehensive myocardial tissue characterization by MRI plays a key role in the diagnosis of the disease.
Structural capacity and continuum of snakebite care in the primary health care system in India: a cross-sectional assessment
Authors: Bhaumik Soumyadeep , Norton Robyn , Jagnoor Jagnoor
Published: August 2023

Background

In 2019, the World Health Organization, set a target to halve the burden of snakebite, by 2030, and identified ‘health systems strengthening’ as a key pillar of action. In India, the country with most snakebite deaths, the Union Government identified (in September 2022) training of health workers as a priority action area. In this policy context, we provide empirical evidence by analysing the most recent nationwide survey data (District Level Household and Facility Survey − 4), to assess structural capacity and continuum of snakebite care in primary health care system in India.

Methodology

We evaluated structural capacity for snakebite care under six domains: medicines, equipment, infrastructure, human resources, governance and finance, and health management information systems (HMIS). We categorised states (aspirant, performer, front-runner, achiever) based on the proportion of primary health centres (PHC) and community health centres (CHC), attaining highest possible domain score. We assessed continuum of snakebite care, district-wise, under five domains (connectivity to PHC, structural capacity of PHC, referral from PHC to higher facility, structural capacity of CHC, referral from CHC to higher facility) as adequate or not.

Results

No state excelled ( front-runner or achiever) in all six domains of structural capacity in PHCs or CHCs. The broader domains (physical infrastructure, human resources for health, HMIS) were weaker compared to snakebite care medicines in most states/UTs, at both PHC and CHC levels. CHCs faced greater concerns regarding human resources and equipment availability than PHCs in many states. Among PHCs, physical infrastructure and HMIS were aspirational in all 29 assessed states, while medicines, equipment, human resources, and governance and finance were aspirational in 8 (27.6%), 2 (6.9%), 17 (58.6%), and 12 (41.4%) states respectively. For CHCs, physical infrastructure was aspirational in all 30 assessed states/UTs, whereas HMIS, medicines, equipment, human resources, and governance and finance were aspirational in 29 (96.7%), 11 (36.7%), 27 (90%), 26 (86.7%), and 3 (10%) states respectively. No district had adequate continuum of snakebite care in all domains. Except for transport availability from CHC to higher facilities (48% of districts adequate) and transport availability from PHC to higher facilities (11% of districts adequate), fewer than 2% of districts were adequate in all other domains.

Conclusion

Comprehensive strengthening of primary health care, across all domains, and throughout the continuum of care, instead of a piece-meal approach towards health systems strengthening, is necessitated to reduce snakebite burden in India, and possibly other high-burden nations with weak health systems. Health facility surveys are necessitated for this purpose.
“This is not what I imagined motherhood would look like”: pregnancy, postpartum, and parenting during COVID-19 – a qualitative analysis of the first year since birth
Authors: Saleh Lisette , Canclini Sharon , Mathison Cheryl , Combs Shanna , Dickerson Beth
Published: August 2023

Background

Childbearing is one of the most emotional and transformative events in a woman’s life. This study aims to explore the impact COVID-19 had on childbirth, postpartum, and the first year since giving birth.

Methods

This was a qualitative study using data previously collected for a larger study of women who had given birth during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. The findings presented here are from an analysis of a subset of open-ended questions. Sixty-six participants completed questions about how COVID-19 affected childbearing and postpartum experiences. Data was analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.

Results

Thematic analysis of the data identified five major themes and several subthemes, including: (1) amplification of new mother typical emotions (positive emotions and negative emotions), (2) financial impact on mothers and their families, (3) persistent impact of COVID-19, (4) new mom paradigm crash (first time mothers and experienced mothers faced different issues such as lack of education and support, adding a layer to the day-to-day, and negotiating time with others) and (5) validating the importance of maternal health. On the whole, participants were overwhelmed, isolated, and did not have enough physical and emotional support. There was a lack of supportive maternal healthcare both in the short-term and long-term, with an emphasis on poor postpartum support.

Conclusions

This study supports previous findings that women who gave birth and entered motherhood during the COVID-19 pandemic were impacted in many ways. These findings contribute to the understanding of women’s experiences not just in the immediate postpartum period, but in their daily lives one year after childbirth. The results highlight that our nation’s traditional maternal healthcare model may be insufficient, especially when facing a national crisis. Strain placed on the healthcare system by COVID-19 impacted both the physical and mental health of mothers who were often left with inadequate care, education, and support. Our findings point to the need for more supportive maternal health both during childbirth and postpartum.
Socio-demographic correlates of unhealthy lifestyle in Ethiopia: a secondary analysis of a national survey
Authors: Gelaw Yalemzewod Assefa , Koye Digsu N. , Alene Kefyalew Addis , Ahmed Kedir Y. , Assefa Yibeltal , Erku Daniel Asfaw , Tegegn Henok Getachew , Tesema Azeb Gebresilassie , Zeleke Berihun Megabiaw , Melaku Yohannes Adama
Published: August 2023

Background

Multiple lifestyle risk factors exhibit a stronger association with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) compared to a single factor, emphasizing the necessity of considering them collectively. By integrating these major lifestyle risk factors, we can identify individuals with an overall unhealthy lifestyle, which facilitates the provision of targeted interventions for those at significant risk of NCDs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the socio-demographic correlates of unhealthy lifestyles among adolescents and adults in Ethiopia.

Methods

A national cross-sectional survey, based on the World Health Organization's NCD STEPS instruments, was conducted in Ethiopia. The survey, carried out in 2015, involved a total of 9,800 participants aged between 15 and 69 years. Lifestyle health scores, ranging from 0 (most healthy) to 5 (most unhealthy), were derived considering factors such as daily fruit and vegetable consumption, smoking status, prevalence of overweight/obesity, alcohol intake, and levels of physical activity. An unhealthy lifestyle was defined as the co-occurrence of three or more unhealthy behaviors. To determine the association of socio-demographic factors with unhealthy lifestyles, multivariable logistic regression models were utilized, adjusting for metabolic factors, specifically diabetes and high blood pressure.

Results

Approximately one in eight participants (16.7%) exhibited three or more unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, which included low fruit/vegetable consumption (98.2%), tobacco use (5.4%), excessive alcohol intake (15%), inadequate physical activity (66%), and obesity (2.3%). Factors such as male sex, urban residency, older age, being married or in a common-law relationship, and a higher income were associated with these unhealthy lifestyles. On the other hand, a higher educational status was associated with lower odds of these behaviors.

Conclusion

In our analysis, we observed a higher prevalence of concurrent unhealthy lifestyles. Socio-demographic characteristics, such as sex, age, marital status, residence, income, and education, were found to correlate with individuals' lifestyles. Consequently, tailored interventions are imperative to mitigate the burden of unhealthy lifestyles in Ethiopia.
Detection of the pathological exposure of pulp using an artificial intelligence tool: a multicentric study over periapical radiographs
Authors: Altukroni A. , Alsaeedi A. , Gonzalez-Losada C. , Lee J. H. , Alabudh M. , Mirah M. , El-Amri S. , Ezz El-Deen O.
Published: August 2023

Background

Introducing artificial intelligence (AI) into the medical field proved beneficial in automating tasks and streamlining the practitioners’ lives. Hence, this study was conducted to design and evaluate an AI tool called Make Sure Caries Detector and Classifier (MSc) for detecting pathological exposure of pulp on digital periapical radiographs and to compare its performance with dentists.

Methods

This study was a diagnostic, multi-centric study, with 3461 digital periapical radiographs from three countries and seven centers. MSc was built using Yolov5-x model, and it was used for exposed and unexposed pulp detection. The dataset was split into a train, validate, and test dataset; the ratio was 8–1-1 to prevent overfitting. 345 images with 752 labels were randomly allocated to test MSc. The performance metrics used to test MSc performance included mean average precision (mAP), precision, F1 score, recall, and area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). The metrics used to compare the performance with that of 10 certified dentists were: right diagnosis exposed (RDE), right diagnosis not exposed (RDNE), false diagnosis exposed (FDE), false diagnosis not exposed (FDNE), missed diagnosis (MD), and over diagnosis (OD).

Results

MSc achieved a performance of more than 90% in all metrics examined: an average precision of 0.928, recall of 0.918, F1-score of 0.922, and AUC of 0.956 (P<.05). The results showed a higher mean of 1.94 for all right (correct) diagnosis parameters in MSc group, while a higher mean of 0.64 for all wrong diagnosis parameters in the dentists group (P<.05).

Conclusions

The designed MSc tool proved itself reliable in the detection and differentiating between exposed and unexposed pulp in the internally validated model. It also showed a better performance for the detection of exposed and unexposed pulp when compared to the 10 dentists’ consensus.
The association between exposure to volatile organic compounds and serum lipids in the US adult population
Authors: Chen Wen-Yu , Fu Yan-Peng , Tu Hui , Zhong Wen , Zhou Liang
Published: August 2023

Background and Aim

Epidemiological evidence on the relationship between exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), both single and mixed, and serum lipid levels is limited, and their relationship remains unclear. Our study aimed to investigate the associations of exposure to VOCs with serum lipid levels in the US adult population.

Methods and results

The study examined the association of 16 VOC levels (2-methylhippuric acid, 3- and 4-methylhippuric acid, N-acetyl-S-(2-carbamoylethyl)-L-cysteine, N-acetyl-S-(N-methylcarbamoyl)-L-cysteine, 2-aminothiazoline-4-carboxylic acid, N-acetyl-S-(benzyl)-L-cysteine, N-acetyl-S-(n-propyl)-L-cysteine, N-acetyl-S-(2-carboxyethyl)-L-cysteine, N-acetyl-S-(2-cyanoethyl)-L-cysteine, N-acetyl-S-(3,4-dihydroxybutyl)-L-cysteine, N-acetyl-S-(2-hydroxypropyl)-L-cysteine. N-Acetyl-S-(3-hydroxypropyl)-L-cysteine, mandelic acid, N-acetyl-S-(4-hydroxy-2-butenyl)-L-cysteine, phenylglyoxylic acid and N-acetyl-S-(3-hydroxypropyl-1-methyl)-L-cysteine) with total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2011 and 2015, and a total of 1410 adults were enrolled. The association was evaluated by Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR), multiple linear regression and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression. In BKMR analysis, exposure to VOCs is positively correlated with levels of TC, TG, and LDL-C. However, statistical significance was observed only for the impact on TG. Our linear regression analysis and WQS regression generally support the BKMR results. Several VOCs were positively associated with serum lipid profiles (e.g., the ln-transformed level of mandelic acid (MA) displayed an increase in estimated changes of 7.01 (95% CIs: 2.78, 11.24) mg/dL for TC level), even after the effective number of tests for multiple testing (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Exposure to VOCs was associated with serum lipids, and more studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Frameshift coding sequence variants in the LPL gene: identification of two novel events and exploration of the genotype–phenotype relationship for variants reported to date
Authors: Zhang Guofu , Hu Yuepeng , Yang Qi , Pu Na , Li Gang , Zhang Jingzhu , Tong Zhihui , Masson Emmanuelle , Cooper David N. , Chen Jian-Min , Li Weiqin
Published: August 2023

Background

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is the rate-limiting enzyme for triglyceride hydrolysis. Homozygous or compound heterozygous LPL variants cause autosomal recessive familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS), whereas simple heterozygous LPL variants are associated with hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) and HTG-related disorders. LPL frameshift coding sequence variants usually cause complete functional loss of the affected allele, thereby allowing exploration of the impact of different levels of LPL function in human disease.

Methods

All exons and flanking intronic regions of LPL were Sanger sequenced in patients with HTG-related acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP) or HTG-AP in pregnancy. Previously reported LPL frameshift coding sequence variants were collated from the Human Gene Mutation Database and through PubMed keyword searching. Original reports were manually evaluated for the following information: zygosity status of the variant, plasma LPL activity of the variant carrier, disease referred for genetic analysis, patient’s age at genetic analysis, and patient’s disease history. SpliceAI was employed to predict the potential impact of collated variants on splicing.

Results

Two novel rare variants were identified, and 53 known LPL frameshift coding sequence variants were collated. Of the 51 variants informative for zygosity, 30 were simple heterozygotes, 12 were homozygotes, and 9 were compound heterozygotes. Careful evaluation of the 55 variants with respect to their clinical and genetic data generated several interesting findings. First, we conclude that 6–7% residual LPL function could significantly delay the age of onset of FCS and reduce the prevalence of FCS-associated syndromes. Second, whereas a large majority of LPL frameshift coding sequence variants completely disrupt gene function through their "frameshift" nature, a small fraction of these variants may act wholly or partly as "in-frame" variants, leading to the generation of protein products with some residual LPL function. Third, we identified two candidate LPL frameshift coding sequence variants that may retain residual function based on genotype–phenotype correlation or SpliceAI-predicted data.

Conclusions

This study reported two novel LPL variants and yielded new insights into the genotype–phenotype relationship as it pertains to LPL frameshift coding sequence variants.
Impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the clinical presentation of juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathies
Authors: Perfetto Jessica , Yoo Donna A. , Tamashiro Carolina Y. , Perron Megan M. , Vasquez-Canizares Natalia , Wahezi Dawn M.
Published: August 2023

Background

Growing evidence suggests that infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may trigger idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM). Few studies have described individual juvenile IIM (JIIM) cases following SARS-CoV-2 infection, and none explored its potential effects on JIIM clinical presentation. We aim to investigate the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on JIIM in patients diagnosed before and after the onset of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with JIIM before age 19 at The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore were included. Demographics, clinical and laboratory data, and evidence of SARS-CoV-2 exposure were collected retrospectively. Patients were grouped by pre-COVID-19 (before January 1, 2020) and post-COVID-19 (January 1, 2020, or later). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize each variable. Non-parametric testing was performed using Fischer’s exact test and Mann-Whitney U test.

Results

Fifty-one patients were included, 13 (25%) diagnosed in the post-COVID-19 era. Of these, 10 (77%) had onset of JIIM symptoms after January 1, 2020; 6 (60%) with known or suspected SARS-CoV-2 exposure. Though not statistically significant, post-pandemic patients tended to be older, female, and have non-specific cutaneous manifestations. Despite reported delays in care for other pediatric diagnoses during the pandemic, fewer post-pandemic patients had delays in JIIM diagnosis.

Conclusions

This is the first study to explore the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on JIIM clinical presentation. While our exploratory single-center study did not find significant differences in JIIM diagnosed pre- and post-pandemic, larger prospective multicenter studies are warranted to evaluate this association and to explore clinical variances over time.
Association between dietary supplement use and mortality among US adults with diabetes: a longitudinal cohort study
Authors: Hua Rong , Lam Chun Sing , Chu Natural , Yang Aimin , Chow Elaine , Cheung Yin Ting
Published: August 2023

Background

Despite the popularity of dietary supplements, their effectiveness and safety in patients with diabetes remain controversial. Furthermore, evidence from clinical trials may not be generalizable to real-world settings. This study examined the association between dietary supplement use and mortality outcomes among patients with diabetes based on a nationally representative sample of US adults.

Methods

This study analyzed data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2018. Supplement users referred to adults with diabetes who reported the use of any dietary supplements in the last 30 days, and with a cumulative duration of ≥ 90 days. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations between supplement use and all-cause mortality, and mortality from cardiovascular diseases (CVD), diabetes, and cancer. Subgroup analysis of different supplement classes (vitamins, minerals, botanicals, amino acids, fatty acids, probiotics and glucosamine) were also conducted.

Results

We included 8,122 adults with diabetes (mean age: 59.4 years; 48.7% female), of whom 3,997 (54.0%) reported using supplements regularly. Vitamins (87.3%), minerals (75.3%) and botanicals (51.8%) were the most popular supplements. At a median follow-up of 6.9 years, 2447 all-cause deaths had occurred. Overall supplement use was not associated with risk of all-cause mortality among patients with diabetes (HR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.87 to 1.08, P = 0.56). Subgroup analyses suggested that amino acid use was associated with a lower all-cause mortality (HR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.46 to 0.96, P = 0.028), while the use of fatty acids (HR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.42 to 0.92, P = 0.018) and glucosamine (HR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.51 to 0.95, P = 0.022) supplements were significantly associated with lower CVD mortality.

Conclusions

Our results derived from real-world data suggested that overall supplement use was not associated with any mortality benefit in patients with diabetes. However, there is preliminary evidence that suggests a protective effect of amino acid use on all-cause mortality, and a benefit of fatty acids and glucosamine supplement use on CVD mortality. Future large-scale longitudinal studies are needed to investigate the association between dietary supplement use and other intermediate diabetes-related outcomes, such as glucose control and reducing diabetes-related complications.
Efficacy confirmation study of aceneuramic acid administration for GNE myopathy in Japan
Authors: Mori-Yoshimura Madoka , Suzuki Naoki , Katsuno Masahisa , Takahashi Masanori P. , Yamashita Satoshi , Oya Yasushi , Hashizume Atsushi , Yamada Shinichiro , Nakamori Masayuki , Izumi Rumiko , Kato Masaaki , Warita Hitoshi , Tateyama Maki , Kuroda Hiroshi , Asada Ryuta , Yamaguchi Takuhiro , Nishino Ichizo , Aoki Masashi
Published: August 2023

Background

A rare muscle disease, GNE myopathy is caused by mutations in the GNE gene involved in sialic acid biosynthesis. Our recent phase II/III study has indicated that oral administration of aceneuramic acid to patients slows disease progression.

Methods

We conducted a phase III, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group, multicenter study. Participants were assigned to receive an extended-release formulation of aceneuramic acid (SA-ER) or placebo. Changes in muscle strength and function over 48 weeks were compared between treatment groups using change in the upper extremity composite (UEC) score from baseline to Week 48 as the primary endpoint and the investigator-assessed efficacy rate as the key secondary endpoint. For safety, adverse events, vital signs, body weight, electrocardiogram, and clinical laboratory results were monitored.

Results

A total of 14 patients were enrolled and given SA-ER (n = 10) or placebo (n = 4) tablets orally. Decrease in least square mean (LSM) change in UEC score at Week 48 with SA-ER (− 0.115 kg) was numerically smaller as compared with placebo (− 2.625 kg), with LSM difference (95% confidence interval) of 2.510 (− 1.720 to 6.740) kg. In addition, efficacy was higher with SA-ER as compared with placebo. No clinically significant adverse events or other safety concerns were observed.

Conclusions

The present study reproducibly showed a trend towards slowing of loss of muscle strength and function with orally administered SA-ER, indicating supplementation with sialic acid might be a promising replacement therapy for GNE myopathy.

Trial registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04671472).
Can the ultrasound microcystic pattern accurately predict borderline ovarian tumors?
Authors: Liu Danyi , Lyu Guorong , Lai Hongwei , Li Liya , Gan Yaduan , Yang Shuping
Published: August 2023

Objective

To investigate whether the ultrasound microcystic pattern (MCP) can accurately predict borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs).

Methods

A retrospective collection of 393 patients who met the inclusion criteria was used as the study population. Indicators that could well identify BOT in different pathological types of tumors were derived by multivariate unordered logistic regression analysis. Finally, the correlation between ultrasound MCP and pathological features was analyzed.

Results

(1) MCP was present in 55 of 393 ovarian tumors, including 34 BOTs (34/68, 50.0%), 16 malignant tumors (16/88, 18.2%), and 5 benign tumors (5/237, 2.1%). (2) Univariate screening showed significant differences (P < 0.05) in patient age, CA-125 level, ascites, > 10 cyst locules, a solid component, blood flow, and MCP among BOTs, benign ovarian tumors, and malignant ovarian tumors. (3) Multivariate unordered logistic regression analysis showed that the blood flow, > 10 cyst locules, and MCP were significant factors in identifying BOTs (P < 0.05). (4) The pathology of ovarian tumors with MCP showed "bubble"- or "fork"- like loose tissue structures.

Conclusion

MCP can be observed in different pathological types of ovarian tumors and can be used as a novel sonographic marker to differentiate between BOTs, benign tumors and malignant tumors. MCP may arise as a result of anechoic cystic fluid filling the loose tissue gap.