bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Human Rights Education: Exploring the Safety of Teachers in South African Secondary Public Schools
Authors: Mpindo Ernest , Mphojane Constance
Published: March 2024

This paper examined the extent and nature of safety for teachers in their different school settings and further underscored the importance of safety for teachers in the school context. The current school environment is violent owing to the increasing lack of teachers’ ability to maintain order in schools due to the uncertain alternatives to corporal punishment. This creates a hostile learning environment that weakens the teachers’ position of power and prohibits them from using their authority and fulfilling their duty to provide learners with compassionate monitoring. A qualitative interpretivist research paradigm was used in this study employing Critical Emancipatory Research (CER) as a research framework. A CER framework aims to strengthen the liberating, enlightening, emancipating, and empowering democratic values of equality and justice among the researcher and the participants in the research setting. A team of four teachers, a principal, and the School Governing Body (SGB) member from each school were purposively sampled to apply the principles of PAR in Lejweleputswa District in the Free State Province in South Africa. A focused group was employed to answer the following questions: What are the perceptions of secondary school teachers regarding their safety in the school setting? To what extent does learners’ violent behaviour threaten teachers’ safety at schools? And, how can teachers be assisted to change their minds regarding Human Rights Education as a tool for peaceful education? Data was analysed thematically. The findings of this research showed that teachers do not feel safe at their workplace, they fear both learners and parents who most of the time come to humiliate them physically and emotionally in front of their learners. The study contributes to a debate on the safety of teachers in schools for professional development.

Keywords: Human Rights Education, Teacher-Learner Relationships, Teachers’ Safety, Parental Involvement.
A REVIEW OF AGENT-BASED MODELING IN CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT: AN ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK BASED ON MULTIPLE OBJECTIVES
Authors: Liu Wenyao , Meng Qingfeng , Zhi Hanhao , Li Zhen , Hu Xin
Published: March 2024

The increased complexity of construction projects has caused various management challenges. To clarify the mechanism of construction system complexity and improve the ability to manage the complexity of construction projects, the Agent-based modeling (ABM) method has been introduced and used in the construction management field. Nevertheless, a systematic, holistic, and panoramic understanding of the use of the ABM model in the construction management field is still lacking. To address this research gap, this study reviewed 133 historical explorations retrieved from the database of Web of Science. By using the multiple objectives of construction management as the literature classification framework, the study described the research status of the agent-based modeling method in the field of construction management. On this basis, this paper suggested the improvement paths in the application of this method from three aspects. It is expected that this study will provide a theoretical basis for enhancing understanding of the use of the ABM method in construction management, and also provide insights for future explorations in the area.
The Disk Orientations of Perseus Protostellar Multiples at ∼8 au Resolution
Authors: Reynolds Nickalas K. , Tobin John J. , Sheehan Patrick D. , Sadavoy Sarah I. , Looney Leslie W. , Kratter Kaitlin M. , Li Zhi-Yun , Segura-Cox Dominique M. , Kaib Nathan A.
Published: March 2024

We present a statistical characterization of circumstellar disk orientations toward 12 protostellar multiple systems in the Perseus molecular cloud using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array at Band 6 (1.3 mm) with a resolution of ∼25 mas (∼8 au). This exquisite resolution enabled us to resolve the compact inner-disk structures surrounding the components of each multiple system and to determine the projected 3D orientation of the disks (position angle and inclination) to high precision. We performed a statistical analysis on the relative alignment of disk pairs to determine whether the disks are preferentially aligned or randomly distributed. We considered three subsamples of the observations selected by the companion separations a < 100 au, a > 500 au, and a < 10,000 au. We found for the compact (<100 au) subsample, the distribution of orientation angles is best described by an underlying distribution of preferentially aligned sources (within 30°) but does not rule out distributions with 40% misaligned sources. The wide companion (>500 au) subsample appears to be consistent with a distribution of 40%–80% preferentially aligned sources. Similarly, the full sample of systems with companions (a < 10,000 au) is most consistent with a fractional ratio of at most 80% preferentially aligned sources and rules out purely randomly aligned distributions. Thus, our results imply the compact sources (<100 au) and the wide companions (>500 au) are statistically different.
Probing the Nature of Rotation in the Pleiades, Alpha Persei, and Hyades Clusters
Authors: Hao C. J. , Xu Y. , Hou L. G. , Bian S. B. , Lin Z. H. , Li Y. J. , Dong Y. W. , Liu D. J.
Published: March 2024

Unraveling the internal kinematics of open clusters is crucial for understanding their formation and evolution. However, there is a dearth of research on this topic, primarily due to the lack of high-quality kinematic data. Using the exquisite-precision astrometric parameters and radial velocities provided by Gaia data release 3, we investigate the internal rotation in three of the most nearby and best-studied open clusters, namely the Pleiades, Alpha Persei, and Hyades clusters. Statistical analyses of the residual motions of the member stars clearly indicate the presence of three-dimensional rotation in the three clusters. The mean rotation velocities of the Pleiades, Alpha Persei, and Hyades clusters within their tidal radii are estimated to be 0.24 ± 0.04, 0.43 ± 0.08, and 0.09 ± 0.03 km s−1, respectively. Similar to the Praesepe cluster that we have studied before, the rotation of the member stars within the tidal radii of these three open clusters can be well interpreted by Newton’s theorem. No expansion or contraction is detected in the three clusters either. Furthermore, we find that the mean rotation velocity of open clusters may be positively correlated with the cluster mass, and the rotation is likely to diminish as open clusters age.
Pharmacological correction of the activity of bone remodelling markers in the oral fluid of patients with generalised periodontitis depending on blood type
Authors: Bandrivsky Yurii , Bambuliak Andrii , Bandrivska Orysia , Maika Iryna , Dutko Khrystyna , Kuchyrka Lesia
Published: March 2024

This article presents the data on the effectiveness of the treatment complex we developed on the activity of bone remodelling markers in the oral fluid during the treatment of generalized periodontitis, depending on the blood group. The use of our proposed drugs of general and local action in patients with generalized periodontitis of different blood groups allowed to reduce the average content of TRACP in the oral fluid by 18.25%, while increasing the level of BSALP by 27.64% in comparison with the corresponding data before treatment, p, р1<0.05, 0.01, which indicates the predominance of bone remodelling processes over osteoresorption processes in patients of the main group. The tactics of treatment of patients with generalized periodontitis of different blood groups, which we propose, is more effective than the conventional therapy and contributes to a faster achievement of remission of generalized periodontitis.
Vertebral formula and numerical variations in the spine of the Antarctic and southern South American penguins (Aves: Sphenisciformes)
Authors: Sosa M. Alejandra , Acosta Hospitaleche Carolina
Published: March 2024

Abstract

The vertebral column in tetrapods consists of several constant regions, namely the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and caudal regions. Each of these regions is characterized by a specific number of vertebrae, contributing to the overall vertebral formula. Supernumerary and/or missing vertebrae have only been sporadically mentioned for penguins, and the specific vertebral formula is only determined for some non-passeres orders. Variations in the anatomy and vertebral number of South American and Antarctic penguin species are evaluated here. Sixty-six specimens of Aptenodytes forsteri, Pygoscelis adeliae, P. antarcticus, P. papua, Spheniscus magellanicus, and Eudyptes chrysocome were examined to establish the vertebral formula for six South American and Antarctic species, reporting the type and frequency of the variations found in the generalized configuration. We found no intraspecific variation in respect of the number of cervical as well as cervicothoracic vertebrae in all penguin species studied. Intra- and interspecific variation occur in the thoracic, synsacral, and caudal regions comprising 6–7, 13–14 and 5–8 vertebrae, respectively. Particularly, the variations were found in the transitional zones between one region and another and/or between synsacral segments.
Facing Covid-19 : Let’s be organizationally resilient, let’s go « Glocal »
Authors: de Vittoris Raphaël , Bousquet Carole
Published: March 2024

À partir d’une recherche-intervention déployée au cœur des cellules de crise d’une multinationale faisant face à la crise Covid-19, nous abordons un point peu abordé dans la littérature, celui de l’antinomie spécifique rencontrée par les multinationales. Ces dernières doivent en effet déployer une réponse cohérente tout en naviguant à travers les contextes variés de leurs entités locales. L’étude de la littérature nous permet de nous aligner avec les travaux ayant synthétisés les retours d’expérience des crises sanitaires, à ceci près qu’ils ne tiennent souvent pas compte des complexités rencontrées par les multinationales face à des réglementations, contextes et environnements variés. Dans le cadre d’un questionnaire partagé avec 19 cellules de crise activées d’une même multinationale, nous montrons que l’organisation homothétique de la crise favorise la flexibilité grâce à une influence ascendante des cellules de crise locales. En illustrant les bénéfices de la subsidiarité dans l’organisation des différentes cellules de crise, les résultats permettent de proposer aux multinationales de développer une organisation de gestion de crise adaptée pour faire face aux crises complexes et multicouches à venir.
Quick review of pedagogical experiences using GPT-3 in education
Authors: Prieto Andreu Joel Manuel , Labisa Palmeira Antonio
Published: March 2024

GPT-3 is a neuronal language model that performs tasks such as classification, question-answering and text summarization. Although chatbots like BlenderBot-3 work well in a conversational sense, and GPT-3 can assist experts in evaluating questions, they are quantifiably worse than real teachers in several pedagogical dimensions. We present the first systematic literature review that analyzes the main contributions and uses of GPT-3 in the field of education. The protocols suggested in the PRISMA 2020 statement were followed for the drafting of the review. According to the results, 34 significant productions were identified through a systematic search in ISI Web of Science, SCOPUS and Google Scholar. GPT-3 has been considered in the academic, ethical and medical fields, in humanities and in computer science, in the formulation of questions and answers, and through cooperative educational dialogs. GPT-3 has been proven to have valuable applications in education, such as the automation of routine tasks, in making quick diagnoses of the students’ weaknesses and in the automatic generation of questions, but it still faces challenges and limitations that require additional investigation. We discuss the educational possibilities and the limitations to the use of GPT-3.
Application and Analysis of an Interspecific Competition Model in a Digital Economy Ecosystem
Authors: Yang Xiangdong
Published: March 2024

Expanding industrial digitization is vital for a thriving digital economy. This article delves into the application of interspecies competition models within the digital economy ecosystem. Such models aid in analyzing competitive dynamics among enterprises and understanding innovation trends. Interspecies competition models offer insights into enterprise competition within the digital economy ecosystem. They illuminate competitive landscapes, enabling strategic planning for enterprises facing peer and cross-industry competition. Moreover, these models facilitate the study of innovation and evolution, predicting market trends and aiding decision-making for enterprises and policymakers. Empirical studies across e-commerce, fintech, and sharing economy sectors validate the effectiveness of interspecies competition models. Analysis using these models elucidates competitive dynamics and provides actionable insights for enterprises and policymakers. Furthermore, addressing data migration bandwidth issues in cloud processes fortifies digital ecosystem construction.
An Overview of Nursing Regulation
Authors: Fuller Valerie
Published: March 2024

The rules and regulations that govern nursing practice are topics rarely covered in nursing education programs. This article aims to provide a basic understanding of state and federal rules that govern nursing practice; the role and duties of nurse regulatory boards; types of legal actions that nurses may face; and an overview of discipline, complaint, and reporting processes.
Comparison of the effect of patient-centred and family-centred education through smartphones on the quality of life of patients with type 2 diabetes: A quasi-experimental study
Authors: Mohammadi-Avizi Danial , Firouzkouhi Mohammadreza , Abdollahimohammad Abdolghani , Naderifar Mahin
Published: March 2024

Diabetes is one of the most common non-communicable metabolic diseases with debilitating complications that affect the quality of life of patients. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the effect of patient-centred and family-centred education via smartphone on the quality of life of type 2 diabetic patients. This is a quasi-experimental study with a three-group design (patient-centred education, family-centred education and patient-family-centred education) that was conducted on patients with type 2 diabetes and their families in 2022. Research subjects were selected by the purposive sampling method. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS ver. 21. The results showed no significant difference between the three groups in terms of age, sex, marital status, educational level and duration of diabetes. There was a significant difference between the three groups in terms of the mean total quality of life (QoL) score before and after the intervention (p <0.05). In other words, in addition to having a better score than the previous intervention in the three groups after the intervention, the total QoL score was better in the patient-family-centred education group. The results of the present study showed that patient-family-centred education has a greater impact on QoL scores. Therefore, healthcare providers and policymakers should pay more attention to this issue.
When interprofessionalism also involves the patient: how to provide good healthcare beyond care
Authors: Manfellotto Dario , Tesei Letizia
Published: March 2024

The prevalence of aging-related chronic diseases makes it necessary to change organizational structures. In order to facilitate the transformation of health systems, interprofessional care teams, patient engagement, and collaborative practice will be necessary. Patient-centered interprofessional care is a process based on the collaborative relationship between healthcare professionals, patients and caregivers, as a useful strategy to “develop a shared understanding of the problem and generate a mutually acceptable assessment and management of the care plan”. Everything must take place on a collaborative level, always respecting the different skills. Although the literature provides preliminary information to support the benefits of the patient-centered approach, transformational leadership and an organizational culture are needed to foster learning, research, and the implementation of innovative models to patient care. Furthermore, in the Italian healthcare reality, the aspects of practicability and “sustainability” of this model of care should be considered and the key elements, mechanisms and stages of development necessary for its possible implementation should be better defined.
Cytochrome p450 and innovative nutraceutical products
Authors: Frati Francesco , Torello Giulio , Di Cara Giuseppe
Published: March 2024

Dietary supplements are products that are ingested in addition to the regular diet to provide additional health-promoting nutrients. Dietary supplements are defined and regulated differently in the European Union (EU) and the United States (US). A fundamental aspect, besides the one related to the composition of the various products on the market, is linked to their quality, both from a nutritional and a pharmacological point of view. Concerning the knowledge of the metabolic aspects, the analysis of the interference, as an inductive or an inhibitory effect, of the p450 enzyme on individual preparations of supplements, is crucial. In this study, we present the results of the interference analysis of a new nutraceutical product based on 38% Bergamot Polyphenolic Fraction BPF® (Citrus bergamia Risso et Poit.), Pomegranate (Punica granatum) and Citrus fruits (Citrus aurantium var. dulcis, Citrus maxima Burm. Merr, Citrus paradisi Macfad) extract with cytochrome p450, showing that the product has limited activity on the cytochromes involved in most of human drug metabolism. This nutraceutical product is to be considered safe and potentially useful in the context of multiple treatments, not interfering with the traditional chronic therapies of patients. These findings open the door to modern "pharma-grade" nutraceuticals, expanding the safety and quality profiles of these new products.
Editorial
Authors: Ohshiro Toshio , Fornaini Carlo , Longo Leonardo
Published: March 2024

With regard to the Oriental Zodiac, we are about to pass from the Year of the "U (Rabbit)" to the Year of the "Tatsu (Dragon)." The character "to shake" is the root of the word "Tatsu," which denotes the condition in which everything in nature vibrates and plants flourish and are bursting with life. The only made-up animal in the zodiac, "Tatsu" also means dragon. It was said that the dragon was selected as the sign of the zodiac because it was a well-known representation of wealth and power in the East. May 2024 brings with it the promise of a prosperous, peaceful, and joyful new year filled with everything you and yours could possibly want.
Facilitating Factors and Barriers to Physical Activity among Undergraduate Medical Students in North India: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Kumar Pentapati Siva Santosh , Goswami Kiran , Goswami Anil , Yadav Kapil , Vanni Poornima , Tayade Prashant
Published: March 2024

Background:

Medical undergraduate students are the doctors of the future. Evidence supports that medical students who practice physical activity (PA) regularly will continue to perform PA in the future and are more likely to counsel patients about it in their practice. This study was planned to understand the facilitating factors and barriers to PA among Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) students using a qualitative approach.

Materials and Methods:

This study is part of a larger study on PA among undergraduate medical students from a medical college in North India. A cross-sectional study with a qualitative approach was conducted on undergraduate medical (MBBS) students enrolled from 2012 to 2017 at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.

Results:

The most common facilitating factors identified in the study were self-motivation and personal preference, followed by health consciousness to maintain fitness and the continuation of habits from early childhood. Other facilitating factors reported are being good at sports, having sports-loving friends, an increase in self-confidence, the desire to build six packs, and reducing weight. Those with a concern for self-health, prevention of disease in the future, or a family member already suffering from a disease related to PA were also likely to practice it. Barriers found in the study broadly were competing for time, gender issues, resource-related issues, and sole focus on academics.

Conclusion:

Rigorous efforts are needed from the individual level to the system level to reinforce the facilitators and fight the barriers. Future studies should focus on finding ways to overcome the barriers and strengthen the facilitating factors for PA among medical students in India.
Cine Medicine in Indian Scenario: A SWOT Analysis
Authors: Mathur Medha , Mathur Navgeet , Mathur Anjana , Keshri Nitika , Kumar Dewesh
Published: March 2024

Cinema has the ability to convey important messages in an engaging and interesting manner. Cine medicine also known as cinema medicine or Cinemeducation has the potential to teach medical students and healthcare professionals about various aspects of medical conditions and illnesses. It is an innovative approach that can enhance empathy among the students and understanding toward patients with various medical conditions. Indian cinema has played a significant role in promoting health awareness and educating people about various medical conditions. Cinemeducation/Cine medicine can be instrumental in inculcating ethics and professionalism among budding clinicians. Of late, medical educationists have understood its importance and have introduced this innovative method in teaching not only medical humanities but medicine per
se. This article aims to summarize the strengths, weaknesses opportunities, and threats analysis of the cine medicine along with reviews of Indian cinema for emphasizing the medical condition depicted in these cinemas/movies.
Regional Variation in the Prevalence of Undernutrition and its Correlates Among Under Five-Year Children in North India
Authors: Meshram Indrapal Ishwar , Kodavanti Mallikharjun Rao , Krishna K Sreerama , Laxmaiah Avula
Published: March 2024

Background:

Undernutrition is an important public health problem affecting one-third of under five-year-old children in India.

Objectives:

To assess the nutritional status of under five-year-old children along with child feeding practices.

Materials and Methods:

We adopted a systematic sampling procedure to carry out this community-based, cross-sectional study in all the districts of Haryana. Data was collected on socioeconomic and demographic particulars along with anthropometric measurements. Analysis was done using SPSS Windows 23.

Results:

The overall prevalence of stunting, underweight, and wasting was 34%, 27.5%, and 11%, while that of severe undernutrition was 11%, 8%, and 3%, respectively. The odds of underweight were significantly higher among children of the Muslim religion, children of scheduled caste, children of illiterate mothers, lower per capita income, HHs without electricity, landless HHs, low birth weight, no ANC care, and those early ages at complementary feeding. Stunting was significantly higher among children whose mothers were illiterate, children whose fathers were laborers, among landless HHs, with no separate kitchen and lower birth weight, while wasting was higher among children of Muslim religion, children of scheduled caste, with no sanitary latrine facility, low-birth-weight children and early initiation of complementary feeding.

Conclusions:

Undernutrition is observed to be associated with religion, community, education of mother, per capita income, land holding status, birth weight, and age at complementary feeding. Thus, improving maternal nutrition can improve birth weight, improving maternal knowledge about child feeding, and the household’s socio-economic status may improve the nutritional status of children.
Measuring the Effect of Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojna (AB-PMJAY) on Health Expenditure among Poor Admitted in a Tertiary Care Hospital in the Northern State of India
Authors: Kanwal Shweta , Kumar Dinesh , Chauhan Raman , Raina Sunil Kumar
Published: March 2024

Background:

Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojna (AB-PMJAY) as a financial risk protection scheme intends to reduce catastrophic health expenditure (CHE), especially among poor. The current study was carried out to assess the utility of AB-PMJAY in terms of reduction in CHE from before and after admission in a tertiary hospital in the northern state of India.

Methodology:

It was a hospital-based cross-sectional study carried out from August 2020 to October 2021 at a public tertiary hospital of Himachal Pradesh, India. Data were collected from surgery- and medicine-allied (SA and MA) specialties. Along with socio-demographic details, information for total monthly family expenditure (TMFE), out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE), and indirect illness-related expenditure (IIE) was recorded before and after hospital admission. CHE was considered as more than 10.0% OOPE of THFE and more than 40.0% of capacity to pay (CTP).

Results:

A total of 336 participants with a mean age of 46 years were recruited (MA: 54.6%). The majority (~93.0%) of participants had illness of fewer than 6 months. The mean TMFE was observed to be INR 4213.1 (standard deviation: 2483.7) and found to be similar across specialties. The OOPE share of TMFE declined from 76.1% (before admission) to 30.0% (after admission). Before admission, CHE was found among 65.5% (10.0% of THFE) and 54.2% (40.0% of CTP) participants. It reduced to about 29.0% (based on both THE and CTP) after admission to hospital.

Conclusion:

AB-PMJAY scheme found to be useful in reducing CHE in a tertiary hospital.
Analysis of Health Ailments and Associated Risk Factors in Small-Scale Fisherfolk Community of Indian Sundarbans: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Roy Aparna , De Angshuman , Aftabuddin Md. , Bera Asit K. , Bayen Supriti , Ghosh Abhishek , Das Basanta K.
Published: March 2024

Background:

Small-scale fishers of Indian Sundarbans depend on open-water fisheries for their livelihoods. They often face health, occupational, and safety issues in their profession due to environmental, socio-economic, and policy changes. The morbidity pattern and related risk factors are important indicators of well-being for any community, hence applicable to small-scale fishers of Sundarbans. The present study was designed to assess patterns of morbidities, associated risk factors including occupational health hazards, and treatment-seeking behavior of small-scale fishers in the Indian Sundarbans.

Material and Methods:

Household surveys, focused group discussions, and personal interviews were conducted through a predesigned pretested structured questionnaire. Associated risk factors and the nature of seeking treatment were considered during the data collection covering 650 individuals from 132 fishers’ families.

Results:

Morbidities were more frequent in males (39.33%) than in females (28.5%). The fever (31%) was the most dominant reason for morbidities followed by ocular ailments (23%), musculoskeletal disorder (20%), dermatological ailments (17%), and respiratory illness (9%). The highest morbidities (25%) were recorded in the age group of 21-30 years in males while that was 20% in the 11-20 years age group in the case of the females. Physical labor for fishing activities predisposes to health ailments of the studied population.

Conclusions:

The prevalence of morbidity among the fishermen community was found to be 28.5%. The understanding of the morbidity profile of a population in general and specific age groups of both sexes in specific sheds light on the vulnerability of working groups that will help for effective healthcare planning and resource allocation.
Evolution of research in diagnosis and management of uveitis over four decades in India
Authors: Biswas Jyotirmay , Jadhav Sourabh , Eswaran Bhuvaneshwaran V
Published: March 2024

Uveitis and its complications are more common in the developing world, in which the condition occurs in up to 714 per 100,000 in the population and accounts for up to 25% of all blindness. In India, the ophthalmic sub speciality of uveitis greatly evolved in the last four decades. In the early decades most of the studies were epidemiological studies. In recent years, more research has been published due to tremendous advancements in clinical diagnosis, laboratory investigations and ancillary test and treatment modalities. In this review article, we did a medline search with key words ‘uveitis’ and ‘India’, and selectively incorporated articles showing the evolution of this sub-speciality in India.
Indocyanine green-enhanced transpupillary thermotherapy for juxtapapillary retinal capillary hemangioblastoma
Authors: Ketkar Manasi , Raval Vishal R , Reddy P Vijay Anand , Kannan Kiruthika , Kaliki Swathi
Published: March 2024

Purpose:

To study the clinical presentation and treatment outcomes of indocyanine green-enhanced transpupillary thermotherapy (ICG-TTT) for treatment-naïve juxtapapillary retinal capillary hemangioblastoma (JRCH).

Methods:

A prospective interventional case series. The technique involved ICG dye infusion 45 seconds prior to application of TTT. The main study outcomes were local tumor control, resolution of subretinal fluid (SRF), and improvement in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA).

Results:

Eight eyes of seven patients (5 males and 2 females) were included. The mean age was 26 years (range: 5–56 years). Systemic evaluation revealed von-Hippel Lindau (VHL) disease in five patients. The most common location was the temporal aspect of the optic disc (5 eyes). The mean basal diameter was 2.9 mm (range: 1–8 mm), and tumor thickness was 1.4 mm (range: 1–4 mm). All eight eyes were treated with multiple sessions of ICG-TTT (mean: 3 sessions). Six eyes received adjuvant intravitreal injection of dexamethasone implant (4 eyes) and/or bevacizumab (4 eyes). Post treatment, six eyes (75%) had tumor regression with reduction of SRF. One eye had a partial response with persisting SRF, and one eye showed poor response to TTT for which external beam radiotherapy was performed. At the last follow-up (median: 11 months; range: 6–29 months), the BCVA remained stable in seven eyes and improved in one eye (hand motion to 20/40).

Conclusion:

Multiple ICG-TTT sessions can be considered as an alternative treatment option for JRCH with effective local tumor control and SRF resolution.
Evaluation of agreement in macular vascular density measured by different protocols: 4.5 mm × 4.5 mm and 6 mm × 6 mm
Authors: Sagar Pradeep , Divya Pagidimarri , Biswal Suchitra , Kakunje Chaithra , Pradeep BC , Ravishankar HN
Published: March 2024

Purpose:

To evaluate the agreement in the macular vascular density (MVD) measured by two protocols: 4.5 mm × 4.5 mm and 6 mm × 6 mm.

Design:

Cross-sectional observational study.

Methods:

Healthy volunteers between the age group of 19 and 39 years were recruited. Topcon DRI OCT Triton plus (Topcon Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) was used to acquire the fovea-centered optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) image using two protocols: 4.5 mm × 4.5 mm and 6 mm × 6 mm. MVD was measured by the manufacturer software in the superficial capillary plexus slab in five regions: central, superior, nasal, inferior, and temporal subfields of early treatment diabetic retinopathy study grid in each protocol.

Results:

The study included 79 eyes of 40 healthy volunteers. The difference in the mean MVD between two protocols was 3.84% in right eye and 4.2% in left eye in central subfield, 0.93% in right eye and 1.13% in left eye in superior subfield, 0.06% in right eye and 1.45% in left eye in nasal subfield, 1.65% in right eye and 0.7% in left eye in inferior subfield, 0.4% in right eye and 0.54% in left eye in temporal subfield. The measurements were significantly higher in 6 mm × 6 mm in central subfield in both the eyes and in nasal field in the left eye. Whereas, the measurements were significantly higher in 4.5 mm × 4.5 mm in superior and inferior subfield in both the eyes and in temporal subfield in the left eye.

Conclusion:

The protocols should not be used interchangeably and it is necessary to include recommendation of the field of view to measure MVD while standardizing OCTA reporting.
Optical coherence tomography angiography for the assessment of retinal microvasculature characteristics in preterm-born children: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zhou Qi , Deng Bo , Xiang Xiaohong , Liu Yuting , Lei Yingqing , Wang Fang , Lv Hongbin
Published: March 2024

This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in assessing retinal microvascular structural changes in preterm-born children and compare them with those in term-born children. The Web of Science Library, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and Sino Med databases were searched systematically to extract studies published till April 25, 2023. Two independent reviewers searched all the literature and completed the data extraction and quality assessment. Mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the continuous estimates. STATA software (v15.1; StataCorp, College Station, TX) was used to analyze the data. Twelve published studies were eligible for inclusion in this study. The meta-analysis revealed that the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area of preterm-born children was remarkably smaller than that of term-born children, with the laser photocoagulation (LP)-ROP group showing the most pronounced reduction. The foveal superficial capillary plexus vessel density (SCP-VD) and deep capillary plexus vessel density (DCP-VD) were remarkably higher in the preterm-born group than in the control group, with variations in subgroups (LP-ROP, anti-VEGF-ROP, SR-ROP, and Pre-T-ROP). The parafoveal SCP-VD was remarkably lower in preterm-born children compared to that of the controls, while no significant difference was identified in the parafoveal DCP-VD. Preterm-born children had a smaller FAZ area, higher foveal SCP-VD and DCP-VD, and lower parafoveal SCP-VD compared to their term-born counterparts. The parafoveal DCP-VD did not differ substantially between preterm- and term-born children. OCTA is an effective modality for assessing alterations in the retinal microvasculature in preterm children.
Association of eGFR with stages of diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration in Indian population
Authors: Neelamegam Vidya , Surya R Janani , Venkatakrishnan Praveena , Sharma Tarun , Raman Rajiv
Published: March 2024

Purpose:

To investigate the influence of glomerular filtration rate in renal disease decline and its association with diabetic retinopathy (DR) and age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) in patients in South India.

Methods:

A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted including participants with DR and ARMD recruited from urban and rural populations. The data collection included medical history, anthropometric measurements, and ophthalmic work-up. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using the equation of chronic kidney disease-epidemiology collaboration (CKD-EPI). The grading of AMD was done by a single experienced (more than 5 years) vitreoretinal surgeon as per the International ARM Epidemiological Study Group and it was staged based on grading in the worsened eye.

Results:

A decline in eGFR was observed as the severity of DR increased (P < 0.001). Baseline characteristics such as age (P < 0.001), duration of diabetes (P < 0.001), gender (P < 0.001), creatinine (P < 0.001), albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR; P < 0.001), albuminuria (P = 0.023), blood urea (P < 0.001), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL; P = 0.003) were found to be statistically significant. The risk for developing DR with CKD was found to be 5 times higher in male patients compared to female patients. Age and high blood urea level, diastolic blood pressure, mild and moderate DR were the risk factors associated with CKD. A decline in eGFR was observed as the severity of ARMD increased (P < 0.001). The risk factors associated with CKD were age, gender, smoking, alcohol consumed, presence of hypertension, duration of diabetes, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, history of diabetes, body mass index (BMI), serum triglycerides, and serum HDL cholesterol.

Conclusion:

Reduced eGFR values were associated with an increase in the severity of DR and ARMD.
Cataract surgery in children using intracameral mydriatic
Authors: Sukhija Jaspreet , Kaur Savleen , Kumari Kiran , Gupta Kajree , Gupta Parul Chawla
Published: March 2024

Purpose:

To study the pupil dynamics with premixed intracameral anesthetic mydriatic combination of phenylephrine (0.31%), tropicamide (0.02%), and lidocaine (1%) in pediatric cataract surgery.

Methods:

Consecutive children aged ≤12 years planned for cataract surgery were recruited. A commercially available premixed combination of phenylephrine (0.31%), tropicamide (0.02%), and lidocaine (1%) was injected at the beginning of surgery without any topical/infusion drugs for mydriasis. Pupil sizes at various points of surgery were studied.

Results:

We recruited 75 patients with a mean age of 24.3 ± 33.4 months (range: 1 month–11 years). Adequate mydriasis with a single injection was achieved in 93.5% (n = 73 eyes of 70 patients) without additional pharmacotherapy or intervention. The mean pupillary diameter increased from 1.8 ± 0.79 to 6.1 ± 1.4 mm after injection (mean change of 4.2 ± 1.25 mm from baseline). The mean variability in pupillary diameter was 0.73 ± 1.3 mm. In five eyes, good dilatation was not possible even after repeat injection.

Conclusion:

Fixed-dose premixed intracameral injection is effective in pupil dilatation. It alleviates the need for any topical dilators or additional intraoperative supplementation for pediatric cataract surgery.
Prevalence of blindness and visual impairment in a coastal region of Southern India: A cross-sectional survey in Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh
Authors: Kumar Hemanth , Pant Hira , Chaudhuri Sirshendu , Kalluri Viswanath , Sarvepally Vijay Kiran , Govindahari Vishal , Vashist Praveen , Tandon Radhika , Murthy GVS
Published: March 2024

Purpose:

To estimate the magnitude, determinants, and causes of visual impairment (VI) and blindness among people >40 years.

Methods:

In this cross-sectional survey, 2,968 people >40 years from 34 clusters were examined. A cluster random sampling method with a compact segment sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Prevalence of any VI (presenting visual acuity (PVA) <6/12 in better eye), severe VI (PVA <6/60 – 3/60), and blindness (PVA <3/60 in better eye) were expressed as percentage with 95% confidence interval. Logistic regression was performed to determine the risk factors associated with blindness. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results:

The mean age of the participants was 54.6 years (Standard deviation ± 11.2 years). The prevalence of mild, moderate, and severe visual impairment was 14.2% (12.95–15.49), 13.7% (12.46–14.97), and 0.7% (0.47–1.12), respectively. The prevalence of blindness was 1.3% (0.94–1.79, n = 39). The overall prevalence of VI (presenting Visual Acuity <6/12) was 12.0% (95% CI: 10.8–13.2%). The major causes of VI were cataract (78.08%), refractive error (12.07%), and optic atrophy (2.22%), and corneal opacity (2.22%) and the major cause of blindness was cataract (77.27%). Blindness was strongly associated with increasing age- OR 17.1 (95% CI: 4.9–59.8) for people >70 years, and OR 7.6 (95% CI: 2.2–26.5) for people aged between 60 and 69 years compared to those aged 41–50 years and people living near coastal regions (Within 50 km of coast) (OR: 3.9, 95% CI: 1.6–7.3).

Conclusion:

Blindness and vision impairment are of public health concern in this geographic region. Eye care services need to be augmented to address this challenge.
Evaluation of oral and dental health in Turkish and refugee pregnant women
Authors: Tavuz Kübra Aycan , Tavuz Aziz İhsan , Aycan Hanife Esra
Published: March 2024

Objective:

Oral hygiene habits and demographic characteristics of refugees and Turkish citizens among pregnant women were investigated.

Materials and Methods:

This cross-sectional study, conducted at our university hospital, focused on pregnant women and collected data on demographic features and oral health characteristics. Information was gathered through a questionnaire administered to female patients at the dental clinic.

Results:

The study involved 197 volunteers and revealed that refugees tend to have more children than citizens of the Republic of Turkey. While 7% of women experienced positive changes in toothbrushing habits during pregnancy, 93% faced negative changes. Citizens of the Republic of Turkey exhibit significantly higher rates of going to the dentist for prepregnancy checkups compared to refugees (P < 0.05). No differences were observed between refugees and citizens regarding tooth loss or receiving dental treatment during pregnancy.

Conclusions:

Optimal oral hygiene, through collaboration between dentists and gynecologists, should be integrated into the prenatal care protocol. All pregnant women should receive invitations for oral and dental health screenings and undergo oral hygiene training before pregnancy. Dental and oral hygiene screening should be an essential component of the prenatal care protocol.
Stress-coping strategies among bankers in Southwest Nigeria
Authors: Adekeye Abolaji Paul , Elegbede Adetokunbo , Tunde-Ayinmode Mosunmola F.
Published: March 2024

Background:

Work-related stress is the reaction individuals may have when faced with work expectations and forces that are not in tandem with their skill set and capacities and which frustrate their ability to cope. Coping strategies are paradigms used to limit the impact of stressful experiences, thus inhibiting the psychological and physical responses and making it more possible to maintain normal functioning at the time.

Aim:

This study aims to determine how bankers cope with stress from work in Ado-Ekiti, Southwest Nigeria.

Materials and Methods:

This cross-sectional study was done among three hundred and two bankers in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti state. A sociodemographic questionnaire was designed to obtain data on the sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents, while coping with work-related stress was assessed with The Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (Brief-COPE).

Results:

Two hundred and ninety-eight respondents (98.7%) used adaptive coping strategies, while four (1.3%) did not use them. One hundred and ninety-seven respondents (65.2%) used maladaptive strategies, while one hundred and five respondents (34.8%) did not cope with them. In essence, the majority of the respondents used adaptive strategies to cope with stress.

Conclusion:

Most of the bankers utilized adaptive strategies in coping with work-related stress.
Fragmentation patterns of cell-free DNA and somatic mutations in the urine of metastatic breast cancer patients
Authors: Lin Shaoyan , Wang Shusen , Xu Binghe
Published: March 2024

Background:

Urinary cell-free deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) (ucfDNA) holds promise as a biomarker; however, its potential remains largely unexplored. We examined the fragmentation pattern of ucfDNA and identified somatic mutations within urine samples from metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients.

Methods:

Urine and blood specimens were collected before treatment from 45 MBC patients and posttreatment urine samples from 16 of the 45 patients at the China National Cancer Center. Somatic mutations and tumor mutational burden (TMB) in the urine and plasma of 10 patients were analyzed by next-generation sequencing (NGS). Fragmentation patterns of cfDNA were displayed using electropherograms. Differences in the extracted amount of cfDNA, length of cfDNA fragments, and TMB between urine and plasma were compared using a Wilcoxon test.

Results:

The fragmentation patterns of ucfDNA were categorized as follows: (1) profile A (n = 26) containing a short peak (100–200 bp) and a long peak (>1500 bp); (2) profile B (n = 8) containing only a long peak; and (3) profile C (n = 11) containing flat pattern. For profile A patients, the short-peaked ucfDNA circulating in the bloodstream was much shorter compared with plasma cfDNA (149 vs. 171 bp, Wilcoxon test,P= 0.023). The fragmentation patterns in lung metastasis patients exhibited a higher propensity toward profile C (P= 0.002). After treatment, 87.5% of the patients exhibited consistent fragmentation patterns. The concordance rate for somatic mutations in the plasma and urine was 30%, and the median TMB of urine and plasma was not significantly different.

Conclusions:

This study established a fragmentation pattern for ucfDNA and detected somatic mutations in the urine of MBC patients. These results suggest the potential application of ucfDNA as a biomarker for MBC.
High-sensitivity Troponin I Assay for Early Detection of Myocardial Injury in Carbon Monoxide Intoxication
Authors: Tsai Tsung-Neng , Shen Chih-Hao , Lin Gen-Min , Liu Pang-Yen , Liu Ming-Yueh , Huang Li-Yen
Published: March 2024

Background:

Carbon monoxide (CO) intoxication is the most common gas-related event resulting in emergency room (ER) visits, often leading to myocardial injuries measured through the assessment of troponin levels. Recent efforts have focused on developing high-sensitivity troponin assays for more accurate acute myocardial infarction diagnosis. However, studies using high-sensitivity troponin I (hs-TnI) assays to identify myocardial injury following CO intoxication are lacking.

Aim:

We compared the measurement of circulating troponin I levels using the hs-TnI assay and the contemporary troponin I (cTnI) assay.

Materials and Methods:

We prospectively analyzed 50 patients with CO intoxication who were admitted to the ER between September 2012 and October 2013. Clinical, demographic, electrocardiographic (ECG), echocardiographic, and laboratory data were compared. Circulating troponin I levels were measured using hs-TnI and cTnI assays upon arrival in the ER and 24, 48, and 72 h after admission.

Results:

Most patients with moderate or severe CO intoxication had elevated circulating troponin I levels, as detected using the hs-TnI assay. In addition, none of the results above or below the cutoff value for circulating troponin I changed from those found in the ER. In the cTnI assay, elevated circulating troponin I above the cutoff value in the ER was detected in 21 of 36 patients (58%). Participants with elevated troponin I levels, as measured by the hs-TnI assay, were more likely to experience various unfavorable clinical outcomes.

Conclusion:

The hs-TnI assay can detect elevated circulating troponin I levels earlier than the cTnI assay in patients with CO intoxication and myocardial injury.
Ultrasound-Assisted Neuraxial Anaesthesia and Intra-Operative Non-Invasive Ventilation for Emergency Caesarean Section in a Parturient with Profound Respiratory Failure: A Case Report
Authors: Catton Tim , Isaacs Richard , Bracegirdle Luke
Published: March 2024

Here we describe the perioperative management of a patient with profound respiratory failure. A 32-year-old parturient presented with acute-on-chronic respiratory failure at 30 weeks’ gestation. Her deterioration was attributed to advancing gestation on a background of significant respiratory comorbidity and required emergency caesarean section. Anaesthesia for a safe operative delivery was predicted to be difficult, carrying significant risk for both patient and fetus. We describe the successful use of intra-operative non-invasive ventilation and ultrasound-assisted neuraxial anaesthesia in order to facilitate emergency caesarean section without general anaesthesia.