bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recent advances in management of lymphedema
Authors: Rajan Sheeja , Venkatramani Hari
Published: April 2021

There has been a paradigm shift in the management of lymphedema with a better understanding of the functioning of lymphatics with the introduction of “lymphosome concept” and with the recent advances in super-microsurgical techniques. The most frequently used intraoperative imaging modality now is indo cyanine green lymphangiography. In endemic countries, any patient with lymphedema without prior history of trauma or, oncosurgical or radiotherapy interventions must undergo Alere filariasis test strip. Patients in early stages of disease can benefit from complex decongestive therapy and physiologic surgical procedures such as lymphovenous anastomosis or vascularized lymph node transfers. However, in advanced disease, excisions or debulking through radical reduction with preservation of perforators will be required. The localized adipose tissue deposits in lymphedema can be removed by liposuction. At present, there is still no cure for lymphedema, but emerging research in tissue engineering, lymphangiogenic growth factors, and immunomodulatory therapy may provide better management options for lymphedema in future.
Features of surgical treatment of Brown's syndrome in children
Authors:   Rauchfus Children's City Multidisciplinary Clinical Center of High Medical Technologies named after K. A. Saint Petersburg, Malinovskaya N.A. ,   Mechnikov North-Western State Medical University, Saint Petersburg, Semyonova E.V. ,   Rauchfus Children's City Multidisciplinary Clinical Center of High Medical Technologies named after K. A. Saint Petersburg, Toriya A. ,   Rauchfus Children's City Multidisciplinary Clinical Center of High Medical Technologies named after K. A. Saint Petersburg, Nikonorova P.A. ,   Rauchfus Children's City Multidisciplinary Clinical Center of High Medical Technologies named after K. A. Saint Petersburg
Published: April 2021

Purpose. To study the features of surgical treatment of Brown's syndrome in children. Material and methods. 47 children with Brown's syndrome aged from one to 10 years were treated: 4 children had bilateral form, 43 had congenital form and 4 had acquired form. The operation was performed for 44 children. The indications for surgical treatment were double vision in a straight position, forced position of the head, impaired binocular vision. Results. Three children with acquired Brown's syndrome had a positive effect on the background of conservative treatment. Surgical treatment of Brown's syndrome was effective, but often required repeated interventions (31 patients, 70%): the first stage was weakening of the superior oblique muscle (tenotomy, recession, prolongation), the second stage was recession of the inferior oblique muscle, the third stage was recession of the contralateral inferior rectus muscles (4 patients, 9%). In a number of cases (5 children, 11%), at the outcome of surgical treatment, asymmetry of the palpebral fissures was noted due to mild enophthalmos in the operated eye (the result of weakening of the oblique muscles that «pull» the eyes out of the orbit and weakening of the contralateral inferior rectus muscle that «tightens» the eyeball). Conclusion. Surgery for Brown's syndrome is effective, but often requires reoperation. With acquired forms of Brown's syndrome, examination and the first stage of conservative treatment are required. The absolute indications for surgical treatment of Brown's syndrome are forced head position, double vision in a straight position and impaired binocular vision. Keywords: Brown's syndrome, double vision in a straight position, forced position of the head, impaired binocular vision, surgical treatment.
Primary endoprosthetics of the orbit during enucleation for retinoblastoma
Authors:   Fyodorov Eye Microsurgery Federal State Institution, Moscow, Kotelnikova A.V. , Kotova E.S. ,   Fyodorov Eye Microsurgery Federal State Institution, Moscow, Volodin D.P. ,   Fyodorov Eye Microsurgery Federal State Institution, Moscow, Ushakova T.L. ,   Research Institute of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Blokhin Russian Cancer Research Center, Yarovoy A.A. ,   Fyodorov Eye Microsurgery Federal State Institution, Moscow
Published: April 2021

This review presents a cosmetic rehabilitation method in children with enucleated eye due to retinoblastoma – primary orbital endoprosthetics. General surgical approaches, implant types, cosmetic outcomes and complications are described within review. Primary orbital endoprosthetics in children with enucleated eye due to retinoblastoma is considered as safe and necessary method of pediatric rehabilitation. Key words: retinoblastoma, primary endoprosthesis replacement of the orbit, implants, chemotherapy, external beam therapy, pediatric rehabilitation.
Prospects for the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity
Authors:   Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Sidorenko E.I. , Sidorenko E.E. ,   Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow,   Voyno-Yasenetsky Scientific and Practical Center of Specialized Medical Care for Children, Moscow
Published: April 2021

The review article is devoted to the prospects for the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity. Cryocoagulation, laser photocoagulation, infrasonic vacuum pneumomassage and their effectiveness in the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity, as well as modern substitution therapy, regulation of the level of insulin-like factor in the blood of a preterm baby and weight dynamics are considered as important risk mechanisms for the development of retinopathy of prematurity. The possibility of using omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and genetic engineering in the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity was evaluated. Key words: retinopathy of prematurity, cryocoagulation, laser coagulation, infrasound vacuum pneumomassage, genetic engineering.
Epidemiology of tumors of the spinal cord and spine in Ukraine in 2000-2019
Authors: Pedachenko Eugene G. , Slynko Ievgenii I. , Nekhlopochyn Oleksii S. , Nikiforova Anna N. , Botev Viacheslav S. , Yovenko Tetyana A.
Published: April 2021

Objective. To determine the dynamics and state of neurosurgical care for tumors of the spinal cord and spine (TSCS) in Ukraine.
Materials and methods. The work is based on the analysis of hospitalizations and surgical treatment of patients with TSCS in neurosurgical departments of Ukraine in 2000-2019.
Results. In 2019, 1,325 patients with TSCS were hospitalized in neurosurgical departments of Ukraine, which is 2,3 times more than in 2000 (567), per 1 million population - almost 3 times (34,7 vs. 11, 6 ). Over 20 years, the number of operated patients increased 2,8 times (from 385 to 1079), per 1 million population - 3,6 times (from 7,9 to 28,3), there was an increase in surgical activity by 20% (from 67,9 to 81,4%), a decrease in the general and postoperative mortality - twice (from 2,6 to 1,2% and from 2,6 to 1,3% respectively).
Patients with TSCS account for 1,5% of all patients hospitalized in neurosurgical departments of Ukraine, 12,8% of all CNS neoplasms and 5,2% of all spinal pathology. Vertebral tumors account for 42,64% of all TSCS and extramedullary tumors have an incidence rate similar to vertebral tumors (42,64%), intramedullary tumors account for 14,72%.
In 2019, 74.4% more patients with extramedullary tumors were hospitalized than in 2000 (565 and 324 respectively), and 84.5% more were operated on (463 and 251 respectively). The rate of increase is even higher per 1 million population. In 2019, there were 14.8 hospitalizations per 1 million population for extramedullary tumors, which is 2.2 times greater than in 2000 (6,6 hospitalizations), and 12,1 operations, which is 2,4 times greater than in 2000 (5,1 operations).
In 2019, patients with intramedullary tumors were hospitalized 2,2 times more than in 2000. (195 and 89 respectively), were operated 2,5 times more (151 and 61 respectively). The rate of increase is even 4higher per 1 million population. In 2019, there were 5,1 hospitalizations for intramedullary tumors per 1 million population, which is 2,8 times greater than in 2000 (1,8 hospitalizations), and 4,0 operations, which is 3,2 times greater than in 2000 (1,2 operations).
In 2019, patients with vertebral tumors were hospitalized 3.7 times more than in 2000 (565 and 154 respectively), were operated 6,4 times more (465 and 73 respectively). The rate of increase is even higher per 1 million population. In 2019, there were 14,8 hospitalizations per 1 million population for vertebral tumors, which is 4,7 greater than in 2000 (3,1 hospitalizations), and 12,2 surgeries, which is 8,2 greater than in 2000 (1,5 operations).
Сonclusions. The introduction of modern neuroimaging methods and advanced treatment methods into clinical practice has contributed to an increase in the number of hospitalizations and surgical interventions in TSCS.
The classifications of subaxial cervical spine traumatic injuries. Part 4. AOSpine Subaxial Classification System
Authors: Nekhlopochyn Oleksii S. , Slynko Ievgenii I. , Verbov Vadim V.
Published: April 2021

Cervical spine injuries are a fairly common consequence of mechanical impact on the human body. The subaxial level of the cervical spine accounts for approximately half to 2/3 of these injuries. Despite the numerous classification systems that exist for describing these injuries, the recommendations for treatment strategy are very limited, and currently none of them is universal and generally accepted. Consequently, treatment decisions are based on the individual experience of the specialist, but not on evidence or algorithms. While the classification system based on the mechanism of trauma originally proposed by B.L. Allen et al. and subsequently modified by J.H. Harris Jr et al., was comprehensive, but lacked evidence, which to some extent limited its clinical applicability. Similarly, the Subaxial Injury Classification System proposed by the Spine Trauma Group, had no distinct and clinically significant patterns of morphological damage. This fact hindered the standardization and unification of tactical approaches.
As an attempt to solve this problem, in 2016 Alexander Vaccaro, together with AO Spine, proposed the AO Spine subaxial cervical spine injury classification system, using the principle of already existing AOSpine classification of thoracolumbar injuries. The aim of the project was to develop an effective system that provides clear, clinically relevant morphological descriptions of trauma patterns, which should contribute to the determination of treatment strategy. The proposed classification of cervical spine injuries at the subaxial level follows the same hierarchical approach as previous AO classifications, namely, it characterizes injuries based on 4 parameters: (1) injury morphology, (2) facet damage, (3) neurological status, and (4) specific modifiers. The morphology of injuries is divided into 3 subgroups of injuries: A (compression), B (flexion-distraction), and C (dislocations and displacements). Damage types A and B are divided into 5 (A0-A4) and 3 (B1-B3) subtypes, respectively. When describing damage of the facet joints, 4 subtypes are distinguished: F1 (fracture without displacement), F2 (unstable fracture), F3 (floating lateral mass) and F4 (dislocation). The system also integrates the assessment of neurological status, which is divided into 6 subtype). In addition, the classification includes 4 specific modifiers designed to better detail a number of pathological conditions. The performance evaluation of AOSpine SCICS showed a moderate to significant range of consistency and reproducibility.
Currently, a quantitative scale for assessing the severity of classification classes has been proposed, which also, to a certain extent, contributes to decision-making regarding treatment strategy.
Photoluminescent Carbon Dot-Intercalated Bentonite: A Light Responsive Nanohybrid for Lead Removal
Authors: Jlassi Khouloud , Ahmed Abdelgalil Khalaf , Mutahir Hafsa , Sliem Mostafa H. , Abdullah Aboubakr M. , Chehimi Mohamed , Krupa Igor
Published: April 2021

This work describes the preparation of novel fluorescent bentonite clay (BP), modified with carbon quantum dots nanomaterials (CDs), and its usage as lead removal platform, the CDs was prepared using graphitic waste serving as carbon source material via hydrothermal method, and the as obtained CDs were found to be fluorescent, in spherical shape, positively charged and smaller than 5 nm. Encouraged by their structure and photoluminescence feature, they were used hereafter as intercalants or surface modifiers, in order to make fluorescent bentonite nanocomposites. Bentonite was used as negatively charged model of aluminosilicate and reacted with the positively charged CDs. Interestingly, CDs were found to intercalate bentonite as judged from XRD patterns, and TEM. Indeed, the basal distance of bentonite clay d(001) shifted from 1.2 nm to 2.9 nm, after bentonite modification using the prepared carbon dots; moreover the XRD pattern of BP-CDs recorded in the some regions show some additional diffraction peaks along with those for bentonite. The peaks centered at 2Ѳ =27 degree allocated to the facets of graphitic-like carbon, originated from the introduced carbon dots inside bentonite galleries. The prepared materials were characterized by XPS, FTIR and fluorescence analysis. The obtained results indicate that CDs were successfully intercalated inside bentonite matrix and found to be stable over time. The BP-CD nanocomposites were finally used as efficient hybrid platform for led removal with and extraction efficiently of 95% under light condition, room temperature under alkaline conditions and after only 10 min of reaction.
Simulation Meets Experiment: Unraveling the Properties of Water in Metal-Organic Frameworks Through Vibrational Spectroscopy
Authors: Hunter Kelly M. , Wagner Jackson , Kalaj Mark , Xiong Wei , Lab Paesani , Paesani Francesco
Published: April 2021

In nanoporous materials, guest–host interactions affect the properties and function of both adsorbent and adsorbate molecules. Due to their structural and chemical diversity, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), a common class of nanoporous materials, have been shown to be able to efficiently and, often, selectively adsorb various types of guest molecules. In this study, we characterize the structure and dynamics of water confined in ZIF-90. Through the integration of experimental and computational infrared (IR) spectroscopy, we probe the structure of heavy water (D2O) adsorbed in the pores, disentangling the fundamental framework–water and water–water interactions. The experimental IR spectrum of D2O in ZIF-90 displays a blue-shifted OD-stretch band compared to liquid D2O. The analysis of the IR spectra simulated at both classical and quantum levels indicates that the D2O molecules preferentially interact with the carbonyl groups of the framework and highlights the importance of including nuclear quantum effects and taking into account Fermi resonances for a correct interpretation of the OD-stretch band in terms of the underlying hydrogen-bonding motifs. Through a systematic comparison with the experimental spectra, we demonstrate that computational spectroscopy can be used to gain quantitative, molecular-level insights into framework–water interactions that determine the water adsorption capacity of MOFs as well as the spatial arrangements of the water molecules inside the MOF pores which, in turn, are key to the design of MOF-based materials for water harvesting.
Facile Manner in Regulating the Graphene-Shelled Structure of Cobalt Nanoparticles for the Synthesis of Amines
Authors: Zhuang Xiuzheng , Liu Jianguo , Ma Longlong , 庄 修政
Published: April 2021

The synthesis of pharmaceutical relevant compounds keeps close ties with the development of metalbased catalysts, which remains a common goal in chemical research to solve challenges of application, such as the deactivation of catalyst caused by its tender structure or metal leaching. In this work, we reported a simple and manageable method for the preparation of heterogeneous catalyst with stable cobalt nanoparticles that encapsulated by the outer graphitic shell, whose catalytic activity and selectivity for the synthesis of primary amines via a wide range of aldehydes (more than 52 examples), ketones (more than 26 examples), and nitriles (more than 18 examples) were proved to be broadly effective (but not all of them are shown). And also, subsequent synthesis of N, N-dimethylamine compounds following a brand-new tandem pot process by the same Co-based catalyst were simultaneously explored. In most cases, the Co-based catalyst enables easy substitution of –NH2 moiety towards functionalized and structurally diverse molecules under very mild industrially viable and scalable conditions, providing cost-effective access to numerous amines and other precursors for more complex drug products. More surprisingly, the Co-based catalyst can also be easily recycled due to its intrinsic magnetism and still remains excellent catalytic activity and selectivity for the target products even after reusing up to twelve times. Results from analytic technologies, including but not limited to XRD, XPS, TEM/Mapping and in-suit FTIR, reveals that the structural features of catalyst are closely in relation to its catalytic mechanisms; in simple terms, the outer graphitic shell is activated by the electronic interactions between the inner metallic nanoparticles and the carbon layer as well as the induced charge redistribution. Except for the gram-scale batch test in laboratory, we have firstly evaluated the lifecycle of Co-based catalyst on an automatic hydrogenation reactor by employing continuous flows of reactant (5 ml/min, react within 1.6 min) under the similar conditions (90 °C, 3 MPa H2, 0.1 mol/L), whose results suggests the theoretically minimal lifecycle of Co-based catalyst can reach a continuous period of 72 h without any significant loss of catalytic efficiency. In conclusion, the advantages of this newly developed method involving operational simplicity, high stability, easily recyclable, cost-effective of the catalyst, and good functional group compatibility for the synthesis of functional amines, as well as the highly efficient and industrial applicable tandem synthesis process.
Building Machine Learning Force Fields of Proteins with Fragment-Based Approach and Transfer Learning
Authors: Cheng Zheng , Du Jiahui , Zhang Lei , Ma Jing , Li Wei , Li Shuhua
Published: April 2021

Molecular dynamic (MD) simulation plays an essential role in understanding protein functions at atomic level. At present, MD simulations on proteins are mainly based on classical force fields. However, the accuracy of classical force fields for proteins is still insufficient for accurate descriptions of their structures and dynamical properties. Here we present a novel protocol to construct machine learning force field (MLFF) for a given protein with full quantum mechanics (QM) accuracy. In this protocol, the energy of the target system is obtained by fitting energies of its various subsystems constructed with the generalized energy-based fragmentation (GEBF) approach. To facilitate the construction of MLFF for various proteins, a protein’s data library is created to store all data of subsystems generated from trained proteins. With this protein’s data library, for a new protein only its subsystems with new topological types are required for the construction of the corresponding MLFF. This protocol is illustrated with two polypeptides, 4ZNN and 1XQ8 segment, as examples. The energies and forces predicted from this MLFF are in good agreement with those from density functional theory calculations, and dihedral angle distributions from GEBF-MLFF MD simulations can also well reproduce those from ab initio MD simulations. Therefore, this GEBF-ML protocol is expected to be an efficient and systematic way to build force fields for proteins and other biological systems with QM accuracy.
Efficacy of butyric acid inclusion in eradication regimens for Helicobacter pylori infection: a meta-analysis of controlled trials
Authors: Andreev D. N. , Kucheryavyy Yu. A. , Maev I. V.
Published: April 2021

Aim. Systematization of data on the efficacy and safety of butyric acid inclusion in eradication therapy (ET) regimens for Helicobacter pylori infection.
Methods. Research searches were carried out in the electronic databases MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, Google Scholar, the Russian Science Citation Index (RSCI) until November 2020. All controlled studies comparing the efficacy and/or safety of including butyric acid in ET regimens for H. pylori infection were included in the final analysis.
Results. The meta-analysis included 6 controlled studies (1 Italy, 5 Russia) involving 736 patients (381 in the ET groups with butyric acid; 355 in the comparison groups). The pooled eradication efficiency in the butyric acid groups was 90.23% (95% confidence interval CI 86.73493.069), while in the comparison groups it was 65.69% (95% CI 60.44170.669). Meta-analysis showed that the addition of butyric acid to ET regimens significantly increased the eradication efficiency (odds ratio OR 5.355, 95% CI 3.5048.184; p0.001). There was no significant heterogeneity between results (p=0.1408; I2=42.1%). The addition of butyric acid to ET regimens significantly reduces the risk of diarrhea (OR 0.225, 95% CI 0.09230.549; p=0.001; I2=34.21%) and abdominal distention (OR 0.357, 95% CI 0.1550.818; p=0.015; I2=80.13%) by the end of the 1st week of treatment.
Conclusion. The present meta-analysis demonstrated that the inclusion of butyric acid in ET regimens for H. pylori infection significantly increases the effectiveness of treatment and reduce the incidence of side effects. Apparently, the increase in the effectiveness of eradication is due to an increase in patient compliance with treatment due to an improvement in the safety profile of therapy.
Historical milestones in the knowledge of celiac disease: on the 80th anniversary of the discovery of W.-K. Dike of the аgluten diet
Authors: Parfenov A. I.
Published: April 2021

The article describes the main achievements in the knowledge of celiac disease a mysterious disease known since the time of Hippocrates. The most important discovery was made by Willem-Karel Dicke, in 1941 linking the cause of the disease with the consumption of bread. Dicke is recognized as an outstanding medical worker in Holland. His memory and contribution to medicine is embodied in the Dicke Medal, the most prestigious award of the Dutch Society of Gastroenterology.
New approaches to the pathogenesis, clinic, and treatment of hepatic encephalopathy
Authors: Podymova S. D.
Published: April 2021

This review article presents new approaches to the assessment of key pathogenesis factors, clinical features, and treatment of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) associated with liver cirrhosis. Various clinical variants of the course of HE in patients with cirrhosis of the liver areconsidered, which are important for the choice of treatment and prevention of repeated relapses of HE. Analyzed the ammonia hypothesis of pathogenesis and associated hyperammonemia, which is the basis of most modern treatment methods. These data on the activation of the adaptive pathway for removing ammonia in the form of glutamine are used in the further study of drugs that enhance the clearance of ammonia. The possibility of reducing GABA-ergic tone due to the effect of the antagonist on the neurosteroid site in the GABA receptor complex is emphasized.
Features of intestinal microbiota disorders in the development of metabolic disorders in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Livzan M. A. , Krolevets T. S. , Mozgovoy S. I. , Nikolaev N. A. , Nelidova A. V.
Published: April 2021

We discussed about the term intestinal permeability like as the mucosal barrier a single structural and functional conception that includes the layer of mucus, the indigenous microbiota and the epithelium of the mucosa in this publication. Information was presented about the role of the microbiota, the composition of intestinal mucus, epithelial cells and proteins of tight junctions which lead to various metabolic diseases. The complex pathogenetic interactions are formed between the intestinal mucosal barrier, metabolic disorders such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular diseases. The complex researches and modification of this interactions will allow to create personalized approaches and to prevent of these diseases.
Lung disease/pneumonitis in a patient with ulcerative colitis due to mesalazine
Authors: Sablin O. A. , Chernousova V. V. , Komlev A. D.
Published: April 2021

Mesalazine is a main medicine for treatment of ulcerative colitis. Most patience of left-sides and total colitis receive oral mesalazine for many years. Currently, there is a little information about the tolerability and safety of long-term use of mesalazine. The eosinophilic pneumonia, organizing pneumonia, and nonspecific interstitial pneumonia are very rare adverse effects of ulcerative colitis treatment with mesalazine. The article presents case of the development interstitial lung disease induced by mesalazine under long-term maintenance treatment for three years in the young patient with ulcerative colitis. It shows the difficulties in diagnosing this disease due to the work-long low-grade fever in manifestation of pneumonitis, the similarity of clinical and radiological manifestations (diffuse bilateral pattern in chest imaging). The article demonstrates the limitations of modern laboratory and instrumental diagnostic methods for the differentiation of disseminated lesions of the lung tissue, and shows the importance of elimination treatment of mesalazine-induced pneumonitis.
The importance of the bacterial overgrowth syndrome in the development of disorders metabolic functions of the liver in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Vakhrushev Ya. M. , Lukashevich A. P.
Published: April 2021

Aim. To study the basic metabolic functions of the liver in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and to assess the relationship of these disorders with the bacterial overgrowth syndrome.
Materials and methods. 50 patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease at the stage of steatosis were examined. In the verification of the diagnosis, hepatobiliary system ultrasound and FibroMax test data were used. A study was conducted of indicators of lipid, carbohydrate, protein, pigment, mineral metabolism and the exchange of enzymes in the blood. The bacterial overgrowth syndrome was studied by the results of a hydrogen breath test with lactulose using a LactofаH2 analyzer.
Results. Patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease showed a significant increase in total cholesterol (median 5.9 mmol/l vs 5.0 mmol/l, p=0.000013), triglycerides (1.35 g/l vs 0.9 g/l, p=0.014), glucose (5.65 mmol/l against 5.1 mmol/l, p=0.000001) of blood serum compared with the control group. An increase in total protein and a tendency to decrease in albumin, an increase in serum sodium and calcium were detected. In patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease there is a significant increase in the markers of cytolysis and cholestasis compared with the control group. The bacterial overgrowth syndrome was detected in 72% of cases, with ileocecal valve function impaired in 50% of patients, gastrointestinal motility slowed down, or colon dysbiosis occurred. A correlation analysis revealed positive relationships between the bacterial overgrowth syndrome on the one hand and glucose (r=0.83, p0.05), total protein (r=0.35, p0.05), calcium (r=0.5, p0.05) on the other hand; negative relationship between the bacterial overgrowth syndrome and albumin (r=-0.8, p0.05). In this case, a positive relationship between the bacterial overgrowth syndrome and the increase in glycemia after glucose loading, that is, absorption in the small intestine, was revealed.
Conclusion. The established violations of the metabolic functions of the liver with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are closely related to the bacterial overgrowth syndrome.
Disorders of carbohydrate-lipid metabolism and galectin-3 level as factors of liver fibrosis progression in chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Kovalevа V. A. , Zhevnerova N. S. , Antonova T. V.
Published: April 2021

Aim. To assess the effect of metabolic disorders and galectin-3 levels on the progression of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C.
Materials and methods. 106 patients with HCV without decompensated liver cirrhosis were examined. Exclusion criteria: age younger than 20 and older than 65 years, diabetes, coronary heart disease, hypertension, alcoholism, drug addiction. Laboratory examination (biochemical blood test, enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) with determination of HCV-Ab antibodies, viral load) was supplemented with liver elastometry (Fibroscan) with fibrosis assessment (kPa, METAVIR scale). The body mass index of Quetelet (kg/m2), the presence of abdominal obesity, insulin resistance were evaluated. Serum levels of insulin and galectin-3 were determined by ELISA.
Results. In 45% of patients, an increase in ITM was revealed, in 44% abdominal obesity, in 62% insulin resistance. In 75% abdominal obesity was determined in patients with liver fibrosis F3F4. Insulin resistance was found more often in patients with fibrosis F01 56.7%. Significant correlations between the level of galectin-3 and the degree of liver fibrosis (in kPa) [r=0,206, p=0,034], as well as the stage of liver fibrosis (on the METAVIR scale) [r=0,247, p=0,01] were obtained. The level of galectin-3 in liver cirrhosis was 6.32 (4.57; 9.64) ng/ml, which is significantly higher than in F0 3.96 (1.45; 5.30) ng/ml (p=0.002) and F1 3.85 (2.20; 5.83) ng/ml (p=0.002). By calculating the specificity and sensitivity of isolated for F4 stage of liver fibrosis (ROC-curve, the level of galectin-3 is 5.21 ng/ml), the level of specificity of 74.7%, sensitivity of 74% was established.
Conclusion. We found a significant relationship between the disturbances of carbohydrate-lipid metabolism and liver fibrosis, the level of galectin-3 and fibrosis stage of the liver. The prognostic value of increasing the level of galectin-3 for predicting the cirrhotic stage of liver fibrosis is substantiated.
The Morphophonology of Moroccan Arabic Derived Causatives
Authors:   Mohammed V University, Morocco, Noamane Ayoub
Published: April 2021

This paper aims at investigating the morphophonological make-up of derived causatives in Moroccan Arabic within the framework of Optimality Theory (Prince & Smolensky, 2004). Causative verbs in MA are characterized by the systematic gemination of their medial consonants. However, it is not easy to determine the morphological nature of the causative morpheme involved in this derivation. Also, it is not clearly known why the causative morpheme gets realized exactly on the second segment of the base form. Therefore, we seek to achieve the following goals. First, we intend to determine the nature of the causative morpheme. Second, we aim to explain why the causative morpheme is realized on the second segment of the base form. In this respect, we show that the causative morpheme is represented by a featureless consonantal mora that targets the second segment of the base root, turning it into a geminate. We also show that the causative morpheme gets infixed thanks to the privileged status of root-initial segments.
French versus English: A sociolinguistic study of Moroccans’ foreign language attitudinal tendencies
Authors:   Mohammed V University, Morocco, Seddik Mahmoud
Published: April 2021

The complexity of the Moroccan language landscape sparks off a power struggle between languages. The focus in this chapter is on the apparent French/English language contest over supremacy. Here comes the current investigation that aims at gauging Moroccan’s perceptions of French and English through a language questionnaire. Responses were subjected to statistical analyses to support or reject the hypothesis that gender, age and language proficiency affect Moroccans’ evaluations of French and English. The study reveals that Moroccans’ attitudes towards English are significantly more favorable than those towards the French language. Age, but not gender, has turned out to have a statistically significant difference in the overall evaluation of French and English. These evaluations have also been shown to correlate with the respondents’ French and English language proficiency. The result of this study is an indication that Moroccans’ attitudes toward French and English are undergoing a change from a conventional preference for French to a recent favor of English whose phenomenal growth globally may have affected language attitudes locally.
Seeping Ugly
Authors: Louisson Charles
Published: April 2021

This thesis examines the human experience of encountering manifestations of historical pollution from the Houghton Bay legacy landfill in Wellington New Zealand. While much scholarship has already been dedicated to researching the broad characteristics of environmental victims, there exists a gap within the literature regarding the specific human experiences of historical pollution within urban contexts. This thesis tells the experiential stories of the Houghton Bay residents and their encounters with the landfill and examines their efforts to have overseeing institutions acknowledge their victimization. Through the examination of institutional documents, scientific evidence, visual illustrations and ten qualitative interviews with Houghton Bay residents, the research constructs a holistic view of how a deliberately confused and obfuscated informational landscape concerning a case of historical pollution can not only inhibit institutional acknowledgement of the experience of becoming and living as an environmental victim, but exasperate it. The thesis concludes that the human experience of historical pollution within urban settings is complicated by means of state and corporate propagated agnosis and ainigmology, and that in that process the question of ‘who is responsible’ becomes evident.
A new method to choose the approximate function in order to determine the correlation between the imposed and the obtained clearances in FDM
Authors:   University of Pitesti, BESLIU-GHERGHESCU Maria-Luiza , STANESCU Nicolae-Doru
Published: April 2021

Practical experiments proved that the variation of clearance between two circular pieces simultaneously manufactured by FDM, in function of different parameters has a complex variation starting from zero when the imposed clearance has a small value and being approximated by the value of the imposed clearance when the last one has great values. This observation implies that the resulted clearance may be approximated by non-linear functions for which one has to impose some frontier conditions. In this paper we discuss the conditions which have to be fulfilled by the candidate functions, considered only by polynomial ones.
The determination of the mechanical friction work in a cam –follower couple of complex cam mechanisms. Part I-theoretical aspects
Authors:   University of Pitesti, POPA Claudia Mari , PANDREA Nicolae , POPA Dinel
Published: April 2021

In thispaper we arepresenting theoretical aspects regarding the determination ofthe mechanical friction work presentedin a cam-follower couple, in the case where the follower has a plane parallel movement. An articulated quadrilateral mechanism itis cinematically anddynamically studied, where the connecting rod is actioned by a rotation cam. For showing the relative movement of the contact point on the cam and on the follower, a zero-dimension ring is inserted between the cam and the follower. The expression of the mechanical work is obtained after solving the cinematic and dynamical analysis of the complex rotation cam mechanism. The value of the mechanical work is obtained by integration. The conclusions are presented in the end of the paper and it is mentioned that in a future paper, a numerical application will be made for illustrating the calculation algorithm.
De um caminhar na perspectiva inclusiva a um coletivo de atores em uma formação continuada em tecnologias no ensino de Matemática: reflexões da trajetória
Authors: Klaus Vanessa Lucena Camargo de Almeida , Lübeck Marcos , Boscarioli Clodis
Published: April 2021

Este artigo apresenta uma jornada docente, em formação, relatada a partir de quatro produções científicas e uma pesquisa em andamento, situados na Educação Básica e Ensino Superior, envolvendo professores, alunos e Tecnologias Digitais de Informação e Comunicação. E ante às diferenças, esse andar, que objetiva uma Educação Matemática Inclusiva, tem conduzido uma professora a desafiar-se na elaboração de uma formação sobre ensino de Matemática com Scratch para docentes que atuam em escolas bilíngues de surdos do Núcleo Regional de Educação de Foz do Iguaçu/PR. Nessa investigação, esses entes têm elaborado objetos de aprendizagem da Matemática para os Anos Iniciais do Ensino Fundamental. No processo científico dessa pesquisa, as descrições das ações dos participantes são acatadas sob os fundamentos da abordagem teórico-metodológica da Teoria Ator-Rede, a qual reivindica um olhar na perspectiva da antropologia simétrica. Também, amparada na Pesquisa-formação, visa lançar posicionamentos acerca dessa abordagem e no que isso tem impactado na formação da investigante. Dos resultados, um (re)pensar da profissão perante a dinâmica das ações educativas tem sido levantado, como reflexões sobre o ensino e os conhecimentos emergidos quanto a historicidade dos elementos envolvidos, resultantes das interações coletivas, humanas e não humanas, em uma rede que se mostra em produção.
As desigualdades de gênero na docência em Matemática no Ensino Superior: uma revisão de literatura a partir de estudos recentes no Brasil
Authors: Almeida Dione Alves de , Almeida Shirley Patrícia Nogueira de Castro e , Amorim Mônica Maria Teixeira
Published: April 2021

Neste estudo, propomo-nos a pesquisar a construção sociocultural da Matemática como um campo eminentemente masculino. Para isso, lançamos mão de uma revisão sistemática descritiva de literatura, analisando teses e dissertações tanto no banco de dados da Biblioteca Digital Brasileira de Teses e Dissertações (BDTD) quanto no catálogo da Capes, no período de 2000 a 2019. Com os descritores “Gênero”, “Mulheres” e “Matemática”, encontramos cinquenta e um trabalhos que, após aplicados os critérios de inclusão e exclusão e lidos os títulos e resumos, chegamos ao número de quatro investigações, as quais passaram a compor nosso corpus de estudo. Nos estudos analisados, pudemos identificar experiências que marcam a invisibilidade das mulheres docentes de Matemática, justificadas, metaforicamente, pelo Teto de Vidro e Labirinto de Cristal; bem como pelas violências simbólicas que foram, culturalmente, desenvolvidas devido ao habitus masculino em que esta ciência foi construída. Os trabalhos analisados mostram que esse habitus não só dificulta a inserção das mulheres na docência em Matemática no Ensino Superior, como também impõe obstáculos para sua permanência, visto que sua proficiência em Matemática não é reconhecida, sua identidade feminina é secundarizada e sua área de atuação, quando se pensam as posições ocupadas por homens, é desprestigiada.
Estatística nos Anos Finais do Ensino Fundamental: possíveis conexões teóricas e práticas
Authors: Kuhn Malcus Cassiano , Pereira Tatiana Maria Flores
Published: April 2021

O artigo apresenta possíveis conexões teóricas e práticas para ensinar estatística nos anos finais do Ensino Fundamental, na perspectiva da Educação Estatística Crítica. Tem uma abordagem qualitativa, por meio de um estudo bibliográfico, fundamentado Aprendizagem Significativa Crítica, Educação Estatística Crítica e Base Nacional Comum Curricular (BNCC). Objetiva discutir uma proposta de ensino, que articula conhecimentos estatísticos com o estudo de casos reais e de interesse dos estudantes. A BNCC indica o ensino de estatística desde o 1º ano do Ensino Fundamental, ampliando os objetos de conhecimento acerca da temática e habilidades a serem desenvolvidas, gradativamente. Nesse sentido, propõe-se que os estudantes realizem as etapas de uma pesquisa estatística, com definição do tema, elaboração e aplicação de questionário para determinada amostra, organização dos dados obtidos no questionário e sua apresentação através de tabelas e gráficos, usando ou não recursos tecnológicos, e, por fim, interpretação e análise crítica dos resultados obtidos e a sua comunicação escrita e oral. Nesse processo, o professor deve atuar como mediador e os estudantes como protagonistas, num ambiente de ressignificação de conhecimentos estatísticos e desenvolvimento de competências e habilidades, com base na teoria da Aprendizagem Significativa Crítica, nos princípios da Educação Estatística Crítica e na BNCC.
Prevalence of insomnia symptoms and the use of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs for their treatment among medical students
Authors: Balčiūnaitė B. , Būgaitė V. , Karnickas M.
Published: April 2021

Background. Even though it is common for medical students to complain about insomnia symptoms, no study has been conducted in Lithuania to determine the prevalence of insomnia symptoms among medical students. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of insomnia symptoms, to evaluate students’ knowledge about benzodiazepine treatment and to examine the means used by students to treat sleep disorders.Materials and methods. From December 2019 to April 2020, 321 medical students from Vilnius University (VU) (138 students) and Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LUHS) (183 students) participated in an anonymous online survey including 28 multiple choice questions. The acquired data was analysed using Microsoft Excel and the statistical p value of <0.05 was considered significant.Results. Medical students of all study years participated in the survey (1st year students – 16.8%, 2nd year – 10.9%, 3rd year – 14%, 4th year – 18.4%, 5th year – 22.4%, and 6th year – 17.4%). Of the 321 participants, 262 were female (81.6%) and 59 were male (18.4 %). Over half (55.5%) of all surveyed participants experienced sleep disturbances while studying medicine. The combined prevalence of insomnia symptoms was determined as follows: 56.3% in LUHS and 54.35% in VU; 55.9% prevalence among men and 55.3% prevalence among women. The highest prevalence of insomnia symptoms was recorded in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year of medical studies: 28.1%, 26.4% and 22.5%, respectively. Only 45.8% of participants were aware of the recommended duration of treatment with benzodiazepine drugs, which is a maximum of one month. One third (33.9%) of participants, who experienced symptoms of insomnia and used non-pharmacological measures to alleviate those symptoms, also tried using alcohol as a measure to help them fall asleep. Of the participants who experienced symptoms of insomnia (a total of 63 students), 33 (52.4%) used benzodiazepines and 30 (47.3%) used Z-drugs for the treatment. Insomnia symptoms lasting for more than 3 months were experienced by 57 students (17.8% of all participants), while 9 students (2.8% of all participants) experienced insomnia symptoms so severe that they slept less than 2 hours per night. 17 students (5.3% of all participants) experienced symptoms of insomnia 7 days per week.Conclusions. A significantly higher prevalence of insomnia symptoms (55.5%) and a significantly higher prevalence of chronic insomnia symptoms lasting more than 3 months (17.8%) was measured among medical students in comparison to similar studies with non-medical students. Less than half of medical students (45.8%) knew the longest recommended use of benzodiazepines and one in three (33.9%) medical students with symptoms of insomnia also used alcohol as a measure to help them fall asleep.
Treatment of tardive dyskinesia caused by long-term antipsychotic use: case reports and literature review
Authors: Pabarčiūtė I. , Karnickas M.
Published: April 2021

Introduction. Tardive dyskinesia is a movement disorder that begins with exposure to dopamine receptor-blocking agents for at least a few months. These agents include most of antipsychotics, which are widely used to treat mental illness. This disabling condition will remain a clinical part of modern psychiatry, and the large number of publications on tardive dyskinesia that have appeared in the literature in recent years is a huge step forward in this area.Case descriptions. A 43-year-old woman with paranoid schizophrenia was hospitalized in 2018 due to constant involuntary movements of the whole body, especially expressed for ~2 years. The patient had been taking antipsychotics for about 20 years, the first dyskinetic movements were observed ~10 years ago (various jerks) and described in 2014 (champing). Tardive dyskinesia was diagnosed and the patient was treated with tetrabenazine. The patient’s condition in the hospital clearly improved, the stereotypical dystonic-hyperkinetic movements of the limbs and torso and other symptoms disappeared.Another patient, a 55-year-old woman hospitalized for involuntary movements in 2019, had been regularly taking antipsychotics for delusional disorder for ~10 years. Akathisia and hand dyskinesia appeared ~7 years ago and gradually progressed to choreoathetoid movements of the face, neck, arms, and torso. Paranoid schizophrenia and tardive dyskinesia were diagnosed during hospitalization and treatment with tetrabenazine was initiated. During treatment, the amplitude of involuntary movements partially decreased and the patient became more functional.Literature review. One of the difficulties in treating tardive dyskinesia in psychiatry is the need to continue the antipsychotics that caused the condition. In this case, the best choice would be second-generation atypical antipsychotics. The first-line treatment for tardive dyskinesia is VMAT2 inhibitors – deutetrabenazine, valbenazine; if they are not available – tetrabenazine.Conclusions. In order to provide reliable evidence-based recommendations for the treatment of tardive dyskinesia and to better understand its pathophysiology, genetic predisposition, and therapeutic agents, more studies with larger samples and more uniform conditions are needed.
Prevalence of physical, sexual and emotional violence among married women in Pakistan: A detailed analysis from Pakistan demographic health survey 2017-18
Authors: Muhammad Imran  , Rehana Yasmeen
Published: April 2021

Background: Domestic violence is a significant public health concern all around the world. Globally around 10 out of 70 women faced domestic violence at least once in their life. However, there is a vast variation in the reported prevalence of domestic violence all around the world. Our study aims to explore the situation of domestic violence by using the Pakistan Demographic Health Survey (PDHS) dataset 2017-18.

Methodology: Secondary data analysis was performed on 4085 married women of age 15-49 years by using a recently conducted PDHS data set to determine the prevalence, socio-demographic and economic factors that potentially increase the risk of different domestic violence types. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors associated with domestic violence.

Results: In this study, the overall prevalence of domestic violence in Pakistan is 34.2%. However, the prevalence of sexual violence 4.79% (3.75-6.09), emotional violence 28.91% (26.76-31.17), and physical violence was 14.84% (13.22-16.63) respectively in Pakistan. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported the highest prevalence of sexual violence, 7.71%, followed by FATA 4.69%, Punjab 4.61%, Sindh 3.73%, and Balochistan 3.13%. Moreover, FATA has the highest prevalence of physical violence, 36.13%, followed by Balochistan, 33.5%, KPK, 22.5%, Punjab 13.28%, ICT 10.65%, and Sindh 7.68%. However, FATA also has the highest prevalence of emotional violence, 65.87%, followed by KPK 50.80%, Balochistan 48.37%, ICT 33.23%, Punjab 25.45%, and Sindh 15.1%.

Conclusion: In our study, we found an association of low educational level of husband, poor wealth index, increase age of husband, and use of alcohol by the husband. Although policies are in place at the provincial level in Pakistan but there is no effective implementation of those policies at the provincial level. There is a need to study risk factors and societal perceptions regarding domestic violence across provinces to design and implement an effective intervention.