bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disseminated cutaneous herpes simplex infection after COVID-19 vaccination in a rheumatoid arthritis patient: a case report and review
Authors: Mohamadzadeh D. , Assar S. , Pournazari M. , Soufivand P. , Danaei S.
Published: September 2022

Since COVID-19 vaccination started in December 2020, different side effects were reported. This case report describes the possibility of developing disseminated herpes simplex infection after COVID-19 vaccine in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis. In this case report, we describe a 63-year-old Iranian female. She was a known case of seronegative rheumatoid arthritis and presented with generalized papulo-pustular itchy and painful skin lesions which appeared about seven days after the second dose of Sinopharm BIBP COVID-19 vaccine (BIBP-CorV). A biopsy of the skin lesions revealed acantholysis, neutrophils, and enlarged keratinocytes with eosinophilic intra-nuclear inclusions. Findings were consistent with herpes simplex infection. She was successfully treated by acyclovir. Disseminated cutaneous herpes simplex infection may have been triggered by COVID-19 vaccination. Reactivation of herpes virus after COVID-19 vaccines was reported in both rheumatic patients and other individuals. Whether having an underlying autoimmune inflammatory disorder could be an additional risk factor is still unknown.
Evaluating the readability, quality and reliability of online information on Behçet’s disease
Authors: Özduran E. , Hanci V.
Published: September 2022

There are concerns over the reliability and comprehensibility of health-related information on the internet. The goal of our research was to analyze the readability, reliability, and quality of information obtained from websites associated with Behçet’s disease (BD). On September 20, 2021, the term BD was used to perform a search on Google, and 100 eligible websites were identified. The Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES), Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), and Gunning Fog (GFOG) were used to evaluate the readability of the website. The JAMA score was used to assess the websites’ reliability, the DISCERN score and the Health on the Net Foundation code of conduct (HONcode) were used to assess quality, and Alexa was used to analyze their popularity. Sections of the text were evaluated, and the results revealed that the mean FRES was 35.49±14.42 (difficult) and the mean GFOG was 14.93±3.13 years (very difficult). According to the JAMA scores, 36% of the websites had a high reliability rating and 20% adhered to the HONcode. The readability was found to significantly differ from the reliability of the websites (p<0.05). Moreover, websites with scientific content were found to have higher readability and reliability (p<0.05). The readability of BD-related information on the Internet was found to be considerably higher than that recommended by the National Health Institute’s Grade 6, with moderate reliability and good quality. We believe that online information should have some level of readability and must have reliable content that is appropriate to educate the public, particularly for websites that provide with patient education material.
Religious capital and job engagement among Malaysian Muslim nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Mukhlis Hamid , Ibraheem Shelash Al-Hawary Sulieman , Viet Linh Hoang , Rasool Hani Ibrahim , Adnan Samar
Published: September 2022

Even if religiosity has long been introduced as the major cause for backwardness by anti-religion philosophers, the divine religion has been an important source of value for individuals and society, encouraging them to shape economic and sociocultural outcomes. In this manner, religiosity and religious capital (RC) are the stimuli for society-wide development. Against this background, religion can have positive implications for enriching individual and social economy. Assigning tasks, providing guidance on productivity and more effort, living a purposeful life, establishing effective socio-economic institutions and assessing functional behaviours in organisational settings are accordingly among the ways in which RC induces economic behaviours. On the other hand, job engagement (JE) has been one of the relatively common concepts within the novel approaches to human resource management. Considering employment and the promotion of standard Islamic culture, how religion and JE are associated is thus of utmost importance. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the effect of RC on JE among 2500 Malaysian Muslim nurses working in Kuala Lumpur and Penang hospitals during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in 2021, as the statistical population selected via random sampling. A standardised questionnaire was also administered as the data collection tool, whose validity and reliability were confirmed. The SPSS and LISREL software packages were further utilised to analyse the data. The study results revealed that RC had a significant positive effect on nurses’ JE in the course of COVID-19 (p = 0.83, t = 11.94).Contribution: The research findings suggest that reinforcing RC in Islamic societies, such as Malaysia, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, affects nurses’ sense of hope, faith and beliefs regarding their capabilities to achieve career success.
Evaluation of the role of Islamic values in improvement of spiritual health among Iraqi Muslims
Authors: Wahyuni W. , Ahmed Shihab Saman , Ghazi Talib Saad , A. Mutlak Dhameer , Abed Hussein Rasha , Ketut Acwin Dwijendra Ngakan
Published: September 2022

Given that most of the adults’ life is spent in the workplace, and because the quality of working life has a significant effect on family life and community health, it is crucial to study the components involved in the improvement of the workplace and people’s health in the work environment. Therefore, by examining the common literature of Islamic values, spirituality and spiritual health, an attempt has been made in this research to explain organisational values and spiritual health in the management of organisations and to analyse the relationship of these variables with each other in Iraq using an Islamic approach. Similar to any other community, an Islamic community requires management proportional to its specific circumstances. In fact, an Islamic community needs a type of management that intertwines with divine and Islamic values and ethical principles and prioritises Islamic ideals. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the role of organisational values in the improvement of Islamic values of Iraqi Muslims. To this end, 2800 employees selected from 30 oil and chemical compound manufacturing organisations are examined. According to the results, the Islamic values governing the Iraqi organisations play an effective role in the improvement of employees’ spiritual health.Contribution: Divine and religious values and Islamic ethics have always been considered in Islamic communities, where formal and informal procedures are taken into consideration. An Islamic approach to management is combined with Islamic values, behaviours and ethics, and these values affect Islamic administration. Therefore, a proper understanding of Islamic values will help develop the right plan for human resource management, as well as the maintenance of organisational and community health.
Sovereign responsibility: An impossible solidarity
Authors: Molapo Sepetla
Published: September 2022

This article takes interest in solidarity as sovereign responsibility. Sovereign responsibility is a nonproductive form of care that emerges at the interface of order defined by a privileging of economy and a general economy defined by a return to order of life lost to death. It is this return that unveils the existence and operations of a general economy that order presupposes. The article locates its discussion of sovereign responsibility at two levels of relationality. Firstly, it situates its deliberations concerning sovereign responsibility in the family and among kin. Here it argues that as a form of solidarity, sovereign responsibility positions relations among kin as those of neighbours. Secondly, it shows that the question of the neighbour extends beyond kinship relations and into the realm of extra-kinship relations where others and strangers appear as neighbours. The overall argument of the article is that sovereign responsibility holds potential to facilitate an Afrocentred and counter-hegemonic response to the modern experience of alienation.Contribution: The modern experience of alienation, as well as how it can be challenged, are of interest to this article. The article recognises that numerous attempts have been made to try and address this problematic of alienation in modernity. What it claims has not been done is to engage that problem by taking Africa as an idea, and not just geography, seriously.
Stuck between Mother Earth and a mother’s womb? On women, population policy and ecological sustainable development
Authors: Van Wyk Tanya
Published: September 2022

This article considers how the metaphor of Mother Earth, for women, concerns a dual stance of both belonging and distance. The link between women, nature and Mother Earth is problematised by considering the possible, or contested, link between population growth and climate change, and the South African population policy specifically is considered as an example. Ecofeminism’s challenge to the perceived connection between women, motherhood and Earth, that is the ‘distance’ stance, is considered and a response to that is offered by reflecting on Mercy Oduyoye’s notion of mothering, which represents the ‘belonging’ stance. In this regard, an intercultural approach to the definition of motherhood is implied. It is ultimately indicated that for women to reclaim their own agency regarding a perceived responsibility towards nature, it is necessary to deconstruct and reconstruct ‘motherhood’ to free themselves from being stuck between Mother Earth and a mother’s womb.Contribution: This article makes a contribution to feminist studies at the intersection of gender roles and the climate crisis, as it relates to population growth and an intercultural definition of motherhood. It contributes to UN’s sustainable development agenda as it relates to both SDG 5 (gender equality) and SDG 13 (climate action).
Integrative networking for theological education in Africa
Authors: Denton Rudy A.
Published: September 2022

No abstract available.
Policy uncertainty, the economy and business
Authors: Parsons Raymond , Krugell Waldo
Published: September 2022

Elevated policy uncertainty acts as a tax on investment. In 1921, Frank Knight made a basic conceptual distinction between risk and uncertainty. In a market context, risks can be hedged through the use of different instruments, yet in the policy context, uncertainty makes waiting and seeing an option with value. However, this can come at a high economic cost. The academic analysis of policy uncertainty is today an active field of research globally. Some papers have been published in this regard, each using different approaches to measure macroeconomic and policy uncertainty. In 2015, the North-West University Business School (in conjunction with the School of Economics) pioneered the creation and publication of a Policy Uncertainty Index (PUI) for South Africa, which has since then captured the impact of key events – from ‘Nenegate’ to ‘Ramaphoria’. This paper presents an analysis of policy uncertainty in South Africa and how the PUI has contributed to an understanding of the economic environment in which business operates, with a specific focus on investment. The paper’s contribution lies in the unique context that it creates – where policymaking is more performative than evidence-based and there is a perennial tug of war between the state and market forces, against the backdrop of South Africa’s mixed economy.
Integrated report quality and earnings management – Evidence from South Africa
Authors: Eloff Anne-Marie , Steenkamp Shené
Published: September 2022

Background: No prescribed standard disclosure requirements for integrated reporting exist. Instead, the International Integrated Reporting Framework is widely adopted, which provides guidelines for integrated reporting to improve the quality of information reported to end-users. These guidelines, however, allow management a degree of freedom in implementing integrated reporting, making the quality of disclosure thereof dependent on management’s approach to reporting. In contrast to the purpose of integrated reporting stands the management of earnings where management can use judgement to manipulate financial reports to mislead end-users. The conflicting theoretical objectives of integrated reporting and earnings management (EM) pose the question of how these two variables relate to one another.Aim: We examine the association between the quality of integrated reports and EM.Setting: Our sample consists of 238 company-years from 2013 to 2017 that were listed as part of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) top 100 companies and were ranked on Ernst and Young (EY’s) annual Excellence in Integrated Reporting Awards. The likely association between integrated report quality (IRQ) and EM was identified based on theoretical frameworks, including the stakeholder and agency theories.Method: We perform a robust, one-way cluster regression on our main empirical model, measuring IRQ on rankings, determined by the annual EY Excellence in Integrated Reporting Awards and EM through discretionary accruals.Results: We find a statistically significant negative association between EM, measured as income increasing accruals, and IRQ.Conclusion: Results suggest that companies with income increasing EM activities are less likely to disclose higher quality integrated reports.
An investigation into the knowledge–sharing practices for innovation in higher education institutions of developing countries
Authors: Mazorodze Alfred H. , Mkhize Peter
Published: September 2022

The adoption of knowledge-sharing practices in higher education result in improved decision-making, improved access to information and increased collaboration. A knowledge-sharing culture enables the free exchange of knowledge amongst academics and this drives institutions towards innovation.This study examines the extent to which knowledge-sharing practices have been adopted at higher education institutions (HEIs) of developing countries.The article reports on an inquiry conducted at HEIs in Zimbabwe to determine the knowledge-sharing practices in place.A survey was used to collect quantitative data from 240 purposefully selected academics at the HEIs. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics.This study established that HEIs have not fully implemented the knowledge-sharing practices. Empirical evidence confirms that attendance of conferences is important for knowledge sharing where 43% of the participants approved the proposition. Coaching and mentoring improve academic skills such that 21.7% of the participants approved the premise. Subscribing to international journals increases the visibility of scientific research work and only 18.3% of the participants confirmed that their institutions subscribe to internationally recognised journals. Surprisingly, 60% of the participants confirmed that their institutions do not offer knowledge-sharing workshops. Unremarkably, 23.3% of the participants confirmed that their institutions do not have a knowledge-sharing culture.Transdisciplinarity Contribution: Higher education institutions have not fully exploited the knowledge-sharing practices that could make them more innovative. The institutions are still at the trial stage of adopting knowledge-sharing practices. This study therefore recommends the creation of communities of practice (COPs) specifically for knowledge sharing.
A comprehensive review of Trivanga bhasma (herbomineral trimetallic formulation)
Authors: Jawanjal Pravin , Choudhary Swapnil , Bedarkar Prashant , Patgiri B. J.
Published: September 2022

BACKGROUND:

Trivanga Bhasma, a herbomineral formulation prepared by incineration of Vanga (Tin), Naga (Lead), Yashada (zinc). In Rasa Kaumudi Trivanga bhasma is mentioned as Triloha bhasma.

AIM:

The aim of the present study was analysis of various pharmaceutical methods, doses, indications, of Trivanga Bhasma mentioned in Ayurveda texts.

INTRODUCTION:

Trivanga Bhasma is indicated in MutraRoga (disorders of urine), Madhumeha (Diabetes) and Vandhyatva (Infertility), Napunasakta (Impotency), Shaktivardhaka (Strength) Swetapradara (Leucorrhea).

METHODS:

Ancient Ayurvedic classics included Rasatantrasara Evam Siddhaprayoga Sangraha, Ayurvedeeya Oushadi Gunadharma Shastra, Siddhayoga Sangraha, Rasa Kaumudi, Bhasma Vigyana, Rasa Raj Mahodadhi, and other available translations in various languages were viewed. Marana (incineration) method of Trivanga Bhasma mentioned in classics were collected and analyzed. A comprehensive review of Trivanga Bhasma has been attempted by searching of published literatures in various database including Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Taylor and Francis, Google Scholar, and University Grants Commission care journals list.

DISCUSSION:

In classical texts, fourteen methods of preparation of Trivanga Bhasma were found and in texts-Rasa Kaumudi-1, Rasayansara-2, SiddhaYoga Samgraha-1, Rasaraj Mahodadhi-1, Ayurvediya Aushadhi Guna Dharma Shastra-1, Rasatantra Sara Evam Siddha Prayoga Samgraha-2, Bhasma Vigyana-5, and Ayurvedic Formulary India-1 methods are mentioned. In these methods, 9 methods were Jarana followed by Putapaka, Jarana in 3 methods, Damaru Yantra Kramangi paka in 2 methods.

CONCLUSION:

A total of 14 methods of Marana with 22 media are mentioned for Trivanga Bhasma.
Out-of-pocket expenditure on maternal health care in two backward districts of Karnataka
Authors: Swamy Shivakumar , Lakshmi Jyothi S
Published: September 2022

BACKGROUND:

Maternal health is an important indicator of a woman's health and society. Safe motherhood is still a nightmare in many communities. Medical services related to maternal health are almost free in India, yet many families face significant out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure, especially in poor communities in the rural areas, leading to more poverty and exclusion. This study has the aim of revealing OOP expenditure on maternal health care in rural areas.

METHODS:

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 386 randomly selected mothers who had delivered a baby in the past 2 years in two backward districts of Karnataka using a mixed method. Univariate, bivariate, and t-tests were used for the analysis.

RESULTS:

The findings revealed that poor education and low income have a significant association with OOP expenditure. Getting laboratory services, purchasing medicine from the market, informal payments to the hospital staff, and other indirect costs are the major components of catastrophic expenditure for the poor mothers.

CONCLUSION:

It is concluded that there is strong evidence to support the high burden of maternal health-care spending. More comprehensive schemes are needed in the government's maternal health-care services to reduce out-of-pocket expenses.
Middle ear myoclonus
Authors: Swain Santosh Kumar
Published: September 2022

Myoclonus is an involuntary, sudden jerking of a muscle or group of muscles. Middle ear myoclonus (MEM) is an idiopathic clinical entity attributed to causing abnormal repetitive contractions of the tensor tympani and/or stapedius muscles. MEM is an uncommon disorder produced by repetitive contractions of the middle ear muscles. In MEM, the objective tinnitus is produced by synchronous repetitive contraction of the tensor tympani and/or stapedius muscle. The exact etiology of MEM remains unclear. The diagnosis of MEM is often based on the history of rhythmic and involuntary clicking or buzzing tinnitus which is invariably unilateral. The important differential diagnosis of the MEM is palatal myoclonus while other local otological diseases must be excluded with careful clinical examination. Transcanal microscopic/endoscopic middle ear exploration with the injection of botulinum toxin into the tensor tympani and stapedius muscles is helpful to relieve the symptoms of MEM. This approach is both helpful as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool that allows temporary paralysis of the middle ear muscles before providing definitive surgical treatment. The surgical section of the middle ear muscles through tympanotomy is an excellent treatment option for MEM. There are not adequate research articles available concerning MEM and mainly case reports and few case series are available during the literature search. Proper methods for diagnosis and treatment of MEM are helpful to early resolution of the symptoms and enhance the quality of life. Here, this review article is attempting to discuss the etiopathology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and medical and surgical treatment of MEM. Literature search for MEM was done from the database of PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google Scholar search with the use of the words MEM, middle ear muscles contractions, symptoms of MEM, diagnosis of MEM, and treatment of MEM.
Comparison of thoracic epidural and ultrasound guided erector spinae plane block in pediatric thoracic surgeries
Authors: Reddy N Vineela , Ghodke Sandhya , Hiremath Ravishekar N , Nimbannavar Smita M , Kulkarni Mahesh Krishna
Published: September 2022

OBJECTIVE:

The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of thoracic epidural and ultrasound-guided (USG) erector spinae plane block in pediatric thoracic surgeries.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Eight patients undergoing elective thoracic surgeries – videoscopic-assisted thoracic surgeries were divided into two groups, Group A – who received single-shot thoracic epidural using 0.125% bupivacaine in a dose of 0.5 ml/kg and Group B – who received USG erector spinae block (ESP block) using 0.125% bupivacaine in a dose of 0.5 ml/kg. Postprocedure visual analog scale (VAS) score was used to assess pain for the first 24 h. Pain assessment was done 6th hourly. Time of the first requirement of analgesics was noted and injection paracetamol 15 mg/kg intravenously was given as rescue analgesic.

RESULTS:

In Group A, VAS scores were higher compared to Group B. The duration of analgesia with single-shot epidural lasted for about 4–6 h postoperative whereas that with ESP block lasted for 8 or 10 h postoperatively. The time of the first requirement of analgesics was earlier in Group A compared to Group B.

CONCLUSION:

USG ESP block provides better analgesia compared to thoracic epidural.
Graded epidural anesthesia for fistulectomy with symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Nivedha V. , Brindha R. , Vigneshwaran S.
Published: September 2022

Hemodynamic fluctuations can occur when fistulectomy is usually done under spinal anesthesia that can cause detrimental effects for a patient with obstructive cardiomyopathy. This is a case of 51-year-old male with fistula in ano sustaining obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as suggested by chest pain, palpitation, breathlessness on exertion was scheduled for fistulectomy. Electrocardiography (ECG) showed left ventricular hypertrophy with deep narrow Q waves in V1 to V6. Echo showed asymmetrical septal hypertrophy, grade 1 diastolic dysfunction, EF – 60%. Regional anesthesia technique such as graded epidural anesthesia can be safe and cost effective by prolonging the postoperative pain relief and thus also effective in blunting autonomic, somatic, and endocrine response triggered by surgical insult.
Pulmonary function tests, fatigue levels and functional capacity in head and neck cancer patients undergoing cancer therapy
Authors: Pattanshetty Renu , Huddar Varsha , Kharwandikar Prasad
Published: September 2022

BACKGROUND:

The changes in pulmonary functions and fatigue; occurring in the months and years following cancer therapy have been well documented. The changes that occur in the hours of the cancer treatment are less clear.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

The changes detected in the early stage of cancer treatment may help to prevent late pulmonary & associated complications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The pre and post scores were taken after 3 days of treatment. PFT was recorded by vitalograph & peak flow meter, fatigue levels were assessed by FACIT-F scale and functional capacity was assessed by distance covered in 6- minute walk test.

RESULTS:

One hundred and seventeen patients with head and neck cancer were recruited 108 were males and 09 females with mean age of 52.2 years; there is a significant statistical reliable difference between the pre & post treatment values, with P-value is 0.001< 0.05. It justifies the deuteriations in health outcome post intervention.

CONCLUSION:

There is significant deterioration seen in the PFT, fatigue levels, functional capacity; could cause significant clinical problems. Early detection of all these changes can helps the patients as well as therapist to avoid or minimal late complications.
Management strategies for tackling COVID-19 pneumonia in patients with lung cancer
Authors: Reddy Ravikanth
Published: September 2022

Chest imaging during the COVID-19 pandemic should ideally be reserved for patients with moderate-severe disease or in mild cases with worsening respiratory status. Lung cancer patients who contract COVID-19 have greater risk for severity, disease progression, early deterioration and high mortality as compared to the general population. Radiologists who are at the forefront of imaging technology have to take responsibility of notifying the managing physicians of the initial findings in lung cancer patients with suspected COVID-19 in order to implement precautionary measures. Optimal management strategies with intense surveillance measures have to be adopted in such patients during the pandemic to reduce disease burden and to achieve better prognostic outcomes related to lung cancer treatment
Comparison of demographic, socioeconomic, and lifestyle determinants in infertile and fertile males and females from two big cities of Punjab
Authors: Kaur Simranpreet , Thaman Richa G. , Sood Reena , Sambyal Vasudha , Sandhu IMS , Beri Archana , Chawla MS
Published: September 2022

BACKGROUND:

Infertility is an apparent failure of a couple to conceive. The demographic, socioeconomic, and lifestyle determinants in infertility and its related factors should be seen more realistically. Regional variations in the causes of infertility need a completely comprehensive approach that helps to dive deeper into the root cause of the disease and manage it holistically.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A study on selected risk factors of infertility among 100 infertile couples and 200 fertile males, females attending tertiary health-care centers and in vitro fertilization centers from two big cities of Punjab was conducted. The data were collected using semi-structured pro forma questionnaire. The data collected included the anthropometric measurements, demographic profile, lifestyle variables impacting infertility, and socioeconomic attributes. Data were analyzed to look out for risk factors and their association using the odds ratio.

RESULTS:

The findings of the study revealed that nonvegetarian diet, more tea and alcohol usage, smoking abuse, and duration of mobile phone usage were seen more in infertile couples which was statistically significant in relation to fertile participants. Occupation, physical activity, sleep, socioeconomic variables, and education status did not show any statistical significance when compared between the two groups. Interestingly, statistical significance was seen in the obese class II category only in infertile males in comparison to fertile males.

CONCLUSION:

An all-inclusive perspective is needed for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of infertility. Health-care professionals need to dive into aspects of infertility treatment other than medical interventions to provide an integrated treatment regimen for couples facing infertility.
Unusual histomorphological spectrum of urinary bladder cancers and their treatment modalities revisited: Our experience with series of five cases
Authors: Mohanty Pranita , Mohapatra Ajit S. , Sabat Debabrat , Nayak Jhasaketan
Published: September 2022

Background:

Urinary bladder cancer is the eighth-most frequent carcinoma in men, commonly occurs in elderly male. Major risk factors are smoking, chronic cystitis, urinary stones. The most common histologic variant of bladder cancer is urothelial carcinoma (UC), but certain variants are unusual yet aggressive for which there is no consensus guideline of therapy. Those entities include neuroendocrine tumors both primary and metastatic, squamous cell carcinoma, and sarcomatoid carcinoma. Neuroendocrine tumors comprise carcinoid, small-cell carcinoma, and large-cell carcinoma.

Aim:

The present study is undertaken to highlight certain biological features of these unusual aggressive histological forms of bladder carcinoma and their recent treatment modality to prevent recurrence, metastasis, upgrading of tumor stage, and enable surprisingly complete remission.

Methods:

This piece of hospital-based perspective study was done from June 2018 to May 2020. Both transurethral resection of bladder tumor and cystectomy surgical samples of the symptomatic patients were collected from the urology department of our institute along with demographic data. Then processed, stained in both routine H and E stain and immunohistochemical stains (Immunohistochemistry [IHC]) like PanCK, NSE, synaptophysin, chromogranin, etc.

Results:

Total number of bladder cancer encountered was 42 cases; of these five rare variants were observed, i.e., one case each of primary and secondary small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, one large cell carcinoma, one squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and one case of sarcomatoid carcinoma. Histomorphology with IHC conferred the diagnosis then multimodality therapy (neoadjuvant/radiotherapy/surgery) was installed and followed up.

Conclusion:

The unconventional forms of UC can be easily diagnosed by histomorphology and can have better survival with the help of the recent multimodal treatment approach.
Gastric outlet obstruction as an unusual presentation of metastatic breast carcinoma
Authors: Misra Sunayana , Mudgal Priyadarshna , Ahuja Arvind
Published: September 2022

Gastrointestinal (GI) metastasis from breast carcinoma is a rare occurrence. If metastasis occurs to the stomach/duodenum, it can present with symptoms of gastric outlet obstruction (GOO). Hence, it clinically mimics a variety of benign as well as malignant causes of GOO, including primary malignancy. GI metastasis from breast carcinoma occurs several years after the primary diagnosis and sometimes may be the first presenting symptom. If clinical records are not available, it may be misdiagnosed as poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma on biopsy. A high index of suspicion, subtle histologic clues, and appropriate immunohistochemistry helps in clinching the right diagnosis. Hereby, we report the case of a 55-year-old female who presented with metastasis to the duodenum 8 years post mastectomy which mimicked a primary ampullary/periampullary tumor.
Protective effect of rosmarinic acid on the transmembrane transporter Ctr1 expression in cisplatin-treated mice
Authors: Akhter Juheb , Goswami Poonam , Ali Beg Mirza Masroor , Ahmad Shahzad , Najmi Abul Kalam , Raisuddin Sheikh
Published: September 2022

Aims:

Cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II), CP) is a platinum-based anticancer drug widely used in the treatment of solid malignancies. However, its side effects, particularly nephrotoxicity, are limiting factors in its clinic use. Rosmarinic acid (RA), a natural antioxidant compound, is reported to attenuate oxidative stress and associated pathophysiological outcomes. Our study aimed to explore the protective effect of RA against CP-induced acute kidney injury (AKI).

Materials and Methods:

We investigated the effect of RA at the dose of 100 mg/kg on AKI induced by CP (20 mg/kg) in mice. Various parameters of nephrotoxicity such as levels of serum electrolytes, albumin, and globulin were measured using standardized methods. Besides, a specific biomarker of damage to proximal tubular cells, kidney injury molecule-1 (Kim-1), was measured in the serum by ELISA. mRNA expression of Kim-1 and a transmembrane transporter, copper transporter 1 (Ctr1), was analyzed by quantitative reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction. CTR1 expression was also analyzed by western blot technique.

Results:

RA treatment restored the downregulated CTR1 , a renal transmembrane transporter in CP-treated mice. It was accompanied by a reduction in the level of serum albumin and globulin. Serum electrolytes such as Na+, K+, and Ca2+ in CP-treated mice were found to be restored with RA treatment. Moreover, RA also significantly downregulated the increased expression of nephrotoxicity biomarker KIM-1.

Conclusions:

Overall, RA proved to be an effective nephroprotective compound which afforded protection at cellular and subcellular levels with an appreciable modulatory effect on a transmembrane transporter.
Status of cancer treatment by radiotherapy and requirement of radiation oncology medical physicists in Asia Oceania federation of organizations for medical physics region
Authors: Chougule Arun
Published: September 2022

Objective:

Cancer is a major health problem worldwide including Asian–Pacific region. The region hosts over 4.5 billion people, over 60% of the world population and very divergent socioeconomically. The major cancers in the region in male include lung, stomach, liver, colorectal and esophagus and in female breast, lung, cervix, colorectal, and stomach. Over 60% of cancer patients need radiotherapy alone or in combination with surgery and/or chemotherapy, and therefore, radiotherapy is the main and essential modality of cancer treatment. Radiation oncology medical physicists play a pivotal role in efficient implementation of radiotherapy. This study was aimed to assess the status of cancer treatment by radiotherapy and the requirement of radiation oncology medical physicists in the region.

Materials and Methods:

To access the status and requirement of radiotherapy machines, availability of radiation oncology physicists in the region of Asia Oceania Federation of Organizations for Medical Physics (AFOMP), we have carried out a survey by sending questioners to AFOMP National Medical Physics Organizations (NMO). We received response from 21 countries, 100% response, regarding availability of teletherapy units, number of medical physicists working in radiotherapy and related information. Using GLOBOCAN cancer incidence data and considering 62.5% of cancer patients need radiotherapy treatment and up to 500 cancer patients can be treated in a year on one teletherapy machine, the gap between the available and required teletherapy machine to treat all the cancer patients requiring radiotherapy is estimated. Further, we estimated the gap between radiotherapy medical physicists available and required as per International Atomic Energy Agency and European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology guidelines.

Results:

It was observed that availability of teletherapy machines in AFOMP region is 0.21–14.0 teletherapy machine/million population and radiotherapy medical physicist are 0.82–2.43/teletherapy unit.
Role of maintenance paclitaxel in epithelial ovarian cancer
Authors: Beniwal Surender , Dhaka Saroj , Rajani Anil , Jakhar Shankar Lal , Kumar H. S. S. , Sharma Neeti
Published: September 2022

Purpose:

The purpose of the study is to assess the benefits of maintenance chemotherapy (CT) in epithelial ovarian cancer with CT and surgery. The primary and secondary endpoints of the study were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), respectively.

Patients and Methods:

Three hundred patients with ovarian cancer (registered between January 2012 and December 2013) received 6 cycles of 3 weekly CT (injection paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 + injection carboplatin 6 AUC) and surgery. After 4 weeks of completion of the above treatment, patients were assessed for response with radiological imaging and serum CA125. Then, these patients were randomly allotted in two arms; 150 patients in Arm A received 6 cycles of single agent, 3 weekly injection paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 as maintenance therapy while 150 patients in Arm B, were on observation. The follow-up was done at 1 month, then 3 monthly in the 1st year and 6 monthly in the 2nd year to evaluate PFS and annually up to 5 years for OS.

Results:

The PFS at 1 and 2 years was 91% and 80% in study arm and 65% and 50% in control arm; the differences were statistically significant (P = 0.010). The 5-year overall survival was 43% versus 38% in study and control arms, respectively (P = 0.410) and 5-year PFS was 28% versus 18% (P = 0.039) in maintenance and observation arm, respectively. Except for peripheral neuropathy, there was no statistically significant difference in toxicities between the two arms.

Conclusion:

The study suggests that 6 cycles of single-agent paclitaxel maintenance therapy significantly prolongs the duration of PFS and better trends toward OS, though a large study is needed to come to a conclusion.
Solitary osteochondroma of the rib: An unusual chest wall tumor in the pediatric age group
Authors: Tiwari Charu , Borkar Nitinkumar , Hussain Nighat , Khubchandani Naveen
Published: September 2022

Pediatric chest wall tumors are unusual and can arise from bone structures or from adjacent soft tissues. Osteochondroma is a benign cartilaginous tumor arising from the metaphysis of bone; however, it is more common in extremity rather than in membranous bone. Although benign, osteochondroma of the rib may lead to fatal complications such as pneumothorax, hemothorax, fractures, and pleural or pericardial effusion. Therefore, some form of surgical management becomes necessary to treat these lesions. We present a case of 7-year-old female child with solitary osteochondroma of the rib. The tumor was surgically excised and the child is asymptomatic on follow-up.
Mortality and Survival Analysis of Burn Patients Admitted in a Critical Care Burn Unit, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alshammari Salem Mohammad , Almarzouq Sawsan , Alghamdi Abdulrahman Abdulaziz , Shash Hani
Published: September 2022

Background

Burn injury is associated with a high mortality risk. Recent epidemiological data on burn injury and mortality rate from Saudi Arabia is lacking.

Objective:

This study aimed to analyze the survival rates and its predictability using the Baux score in patients with burn injury at a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Materials and Methods:

This retrospective study included all patients admitted to the burn unit at King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al Khobar, between March 2014 and February 2020. Patients' burn characteristics and calculated revised Baux scores were collected. The age, burn wound size, type of burn, burn extension, and Baux score of the survivors and non-survivors were compared.

Results:

A total number of 102 patients were included, and their mean age was 24.2 years (range: 9 months to 78 years). The mean affected total body surface area was 26.4%. Ninety patients (88%) suffered from flame/scald burn. The mortality rate was 17.6% (18 patients); all these patients had flame burns. No patient with a revised Baux score ≥110 survived (n = 14; 77% of the total deaths), while there was no mortality at score <36. Inhalational injuries were reported in 18 patients, of which 13 (72%) died. Patients with patent airway and no inhalation injury were 19 times more likely to survive than those with a compromised airway (P < 0.001). In terms of the depth of burn, partial thickness increased the likeliness of survival by 10 times compared with full thickness (P < 0.003).

Conclusion:

Inhalational injury and burn size were the most prognostic factors of burn injury in this study. As all cases of mortality were from flame burns, regulation on flammable materials and safety measures should be promoted to the public.
An Overview on Active Transmission Techniques for Wireless Scalable Networks
Authors: Tang Yajuan , Lai Shiwei , Zhao Zichao , Rao Yanyi , Zhou Wen , Zhu Fusheng , Chen Liming , Deng Dan , Wang Jing , Cui Tao , Zhang Yuwei , Liu Jun , Wu Di , Huang Huang , Zhou Xuan , Zhou Wei , Wang Zhao , Chen Kai , Li Chao , Li Yun , Dube Kaimeno , Muazu Abbarbas , Rono Nakilavai , Feng Suili , Qin Jiayin , Xiang Haige , Cao Zhigang , Zeng Lieguang , Yang Zhixing , Wang Zhi , Xu Yan , Lin Xiaosheng , Wang Zizhi , Zhang Yu , Lu Bowen , Zou Wanxin
Published: September 2022

Currently, massive data communication and computing pose a severe challenge on existing wireless network architecture, from various aspects such as data rate, latency, energy consumption and pricing. Hence, it is of vital importance to investigate active wireless transmission for wireless networks. To this end, we first overview the data rate of wireless active transmission. We then overview the latency of wireless active transmission, which is particularly important for the applications of monitoring services. We further overview the spectral efficiency of the active transmission, which is particularly important for the battery-limited Internet of Things (IoT) networks. After these overviews, we give several critical challenges on the active transmission, and we finally present feasible solutions to meet these challenges. The work in this paper can serve as an important reference to the wireless networks and IoT networks.
An improved sparsity‐aware normalized least‐mean‐square scheme for underwater communication
Authors: Kumar Anand , Kumar Prashant
Published: September 2022

Underwater communication (UWC) is widely used in coastal surveillance and early warning systems. Precise channel estimation is vital for efficient and reliable UWC. The sparse direct‐adaptive filtering algorithms have become popular in UWC. Herein, we present an improved adaptive convex‐combination method for the identification of sparse structures using a reweighted normalized least‐mean‐square (RNLMS) algorithm. Moreover, to make RNLMS algorithm independent of the reweighted
‐norm parameter, a modified sparsity‐aware adaptive zero‐attracting RNLMS (AZA‐RNLMS) algorithm is introduced to ensure accurate modeling. In addition, we present a quantitative analysis of this algorithm to evaluate the convergence speed and accuracy. Furthermore, we derive an excess mean‐square‐error expression that proves that the AZA‐RNLMS algorithm performs better for the harsh underwater channel. The measured data from the experimental channel of SPACE08 is used for simulation, and results are presented to verify the performance of the proposed algorithm. The simulation results confirm that the proposed algorithm for underwater channel estimation performs better than the earlier schemes.
Alien phytophagous insects in forest and urban stands of Ukraine*
Authors: Meshkova Valentyna
Published: September 2022

The aim of the research was to present current data on the distribution and development of some alien phytophagous insects in the territory of Ukraine.We considered 19 species of alien phytophagous insects, including 2 species of Coleoptera, 7 Hemiptera (including 4 bug species), 7 Lepidoptera, 2 Hymenoptera, and 1 Diptera. Hyphantria cunea penetrated Ukraine about 70 years ago and sometimes outbreaks in orchards or shelterbelts. Cameraria ohridella and Cydalima perspectalis pose a great threat to Aesculus hippocastanum and Buxus sempervirens, respectively, in urban stands. Parectopa robiniella, Macrosaccus robiniella, Nematus tibialis, and Obolodiplosis robiniae did not attract the attention of researchers until recently, since did not show a noticeable effect on the health condition of Robinia pseudoacacia. Phyllonorycter issikii is not abundant in most parts of Ukraine. Phyllonorycter platani and Corythucha ciliata are not serious pests because their host plant (Platanus sp.) is rather rare in Ukraine. Trichoferus campestris is known long ago but has not yet shown any harmful effects. The threat from sucking insects (aphids and bugs) increases due to their ability to vector tree pathogens. The polyphagous Halyomorpha halys can pose a threat to forest, ornamental and agricultural plants. Leptoglossus occidentalis poses a great danger to the restoration of Scots pine forests because its feeding decreases the seeds’ germination. Corythucha arcuata is found only in two regions but is moving northward and may pose a threat to oak stands. Agrilus planipennis has spread over several years from the eastern border with Russia to the entire Luhansk and partly Kharkiv region, inhabits Fraxinus excelsior and F. pennsylvanica, and can move west.
Nimi Wariboko’s The Pentecostal Hypothesis and African Pentecostalism during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Igboin Benson Ohihon
Published: September 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the world in significant ways just as it has opened new vistas of thought in both secular and religious circles. This article is situated within the frames of African Pentecostalism, which found itself in a gap during the lockdown in early 2020. This ‘gap’ is grounded on Nimi Wariboko’s The Pentecostal Hypothesis, which I use as a theoretical framework to interrogate how the African Pentecostal churches, which inadvertently found themselves in a ‘gap’ responded to the predictions that Africa would be the most hit by the pandemic, and how it also impacted on their teaching and praxis. The thrust of The Pentecostal Hypothesis is the creation of, and insertion into, a gap between sense and spirit, and how such a gap creates an opportunity for meaning-making: “It does not make sense, but it makes spirit.” That is, even though something may not make sense on the basis of scientific data and rational argument, there is a sense in which appealing to spiritual data, it will still be meaningful. In order to achieve this, the author adopted interpretive method, a qualitative method that helps to engage Wariboko’s socialtheological worlds of the Pentecostals within the context of COVID-19. Through this method, we analyze the responses of African Pentecostals and attempt to validate them against The Pentecostal Hypothesis. It was thus observed that many Pentecostals’ theological explications of the COVID-19 pandemic cannot pass as absolute epistemology of the pandemic as some of them assumed. Consequently, it is concluded that there is the need for a constructive engagement so that sense and spirit can be utilized for human flourishing in a pandemic or crisis situation.
Potencialidades farmacológicas de plantas medicinales cubanas como base para la conservación de su biodiversidad
Authors: González Fernández Rosalia , Rodríguez Leblanch Elizabeth , Macías Peacok Beatris , Mira Toujague Henry , Fong Lores Onel
Published: September 2022

Preservar la biodiversidad vegetal ha cobrado una atención considerable tanto por la comunidad científica como en el desarrollo de políticas públicas. La Organización Mundial de la Salud, por tal motivo, fomenta las investigaciones relacionadas con la utilización de las plantas medicinales. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo: describir las potencialidades farmacológicas de plantas medicinales cubanas como base para la conservación de su biodiversidad. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo-retrospectivo, en el cual se analizaron las diferentes especies medicinales a la cuales se les han realizado estudios preclínicos y perfiles fármaco-toxicológicos en el Centro de Toxicología y Biomedicina (TOXIMED). Además, se procesaron todos los artículos publicados relacionados con las plantas estudiadas. De cada producción científica se tuvieron en cuenta las siguientes variables cualitativas: título, autores, revista, indexación y entidades participantes. Se describieron las potencialidades farmacológicas de 24 plantas medicinales, contabilizándose un total de 29 estudios preclínicos realizados, de ellos 24 (82,7 %) ensayos toxicológicos y 5 (17,2 %) farmacológicos. A 12 especies distintas se les han realizado perfiles fármaco-toxicológicos, los cuales han formado parte del registro y comercialización de diferentes fitofármacos realizados principalmente por la Empresa comercializadora del Grupo Empresarial LABIOFAM. Estos estudios han originado un total de 19 publicaciones científicas y sin dudas contribuyen a la realización de estudios de fase II tanto farmacológicos como toxicológicos. Además de la utilización segura y conservación de estas especies.