bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coronavirus disease 2019 in proportion to population: a historical analysis of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Salam Asharaf Abdul , Al-Khraif Rshood M. , Dilip Thandassery R. , Elsegaey Ibrahim
Published: July 2022

Background

Saudi Arabia is one of the countries seriously affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) worldwide. With a few cases in early March, the daily spread of this disease increased to nearly 5000 at one point in time during the first wave to mid-June 2020. With committed efforts and public health interventions, it has been controlled to nearly 1000 by the end of August 2020 and less than 217 by November 28, 2020; thereafter, reporting declines and small increases. However, by December 2021, a third wave started, lasting for 2 months, during which the infection rate increased rapidly. By April 1, 2022, the number of infected persons in the country was 750,998, with 9047 deaths, 7131 active, and approximately 400 critical cases. This analysis of COVID-19 statistics of the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia (March 2020–April 2022) is carried out along with population data to extract patient proportions per 100,000 persons to illustrate the hypothesized social and community impact, which influences families and households.

Results

The results showed a high rate of infection and mortality, but with recovery. These rates varied across localities and cities. A few cities with higher population densities are less affected by the spread of the epidemic. However, few localities and upcoming cities/townships were severely affected. These effects are explained as the percentage of the population affected, which exposes the impact on societies, families, and individual members. With concerted efforts, they are brought under control through recovery and adopting mitigation methods.

Conclusions

Localities could be classified into four categories based on the proportion of the infected population: rapidly increasing, moderately increasing, declining, and stabilizing. Moreover, differential proportions of the affected population have implications at social and familial levels. Analysis and understanding of these trends, considering the base population, are important for policy building and intervention strategies accounting for grassroots-level demographics, which might serve as a tool to enhance interventions at population and family levels. Strategies for awareness creation and compassionate care are essential to address the psychosocial impact of health emergencies, as proved by the Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia.
Nanoformulated rosemary extract impact on oral cancer: in vitro study
Authors: Ellithy Marwa Mohamed , Aly Riham Mohamed , Tarek Heba El-Sayed
Published: July 2022

Background

Treating cancer is challenging for both the patient and the physician. This may be explained by the fact that treatment regimens rely on either chemotherapy alone or a combination with radiotherapy. Both modalities have damaging side effects that add to the patient suffer. This inconvenience from the patient part has led scientists to search for discovering new era in cancer management. Plant extracts have proved to be beneficial in many medical fields. Not surprisingly, tumor prevention and therapy is one of these bright fields. Rosmarinus Officinalis has attracted many researchers due to its diverse pharmaceutical capabilities. New drug delivery systems must be set to overcome biomedical as well as biophysical barriers. Nanoformulation of therapeutic agents may help bypassing these burdens. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of rosemary extract (RE) loaded on chitosan nanoparticles as a cancer treatment modality. Synthesis of nanoparticles encapsulating rosemary extract was performed with subsequent characterization by electron microscopy. Assessment of their effect on OSCC cell line (Hep-2) regarding cell cytotoxicity and impact on cell cycle and apoptotic pathway as well as intracellular ROS quantification was performed.

Results

RE nanoparticles were found to be cytotoxic to Hep-2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. They induced apoptotic changes as well as cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase. They enhanced ROS expression in cancer cells. Autophagosomes appeared in treated cells.

Conclusion

Finally, it could be concluded that RE nanoparticles may be a new candidate in the field of cancer management, mainly oral cancer.
Diversity of sambals, traditional Indonesian chili pastes
Authors: Surya Reggie , Tedjakusuma Felicia
Published: July 2022

Indonesia, a multicultural country, exhibits high diversity of cultural heritage. Sambal, for example, a traditional chili paste or sauce usually consumed as condiment, has been an integral part of Indonesian food culture for centuries. Initially, sambal was prepared using native ingredients such as pepper and ginger. Cayenne pepper (Capsicum annuum), a native American plant, was incorporated in sambal recipes in the sixteenth century and since then, it has been the major ingredient of Indonesian sambal. Each region of Indonesia has its own traditional versions of sambal, distinguishable by its ingredients or production methods. The aim of this review is to identify and establish a profile regarding the diversity and geographical distribution of 110 different varieties of sambal in Indonesia reviewed from various cookbooks. The island of Java exhibits the highest amount of sambal variants (64.5% of sambal variants found in Indonesia) among other islands. More than 80% of the identified Indonesian sambals are prepared by crushing and cooking the ingredients. Some also are served as raw sambals in all islands in Indonesia, except Java and Sumatra. Besides chili pepper, sambal production often involves the use of diverse secondary ingredients that gives a unique identity for every sambal recipe (e.g., fruit, local food, aromatic herbs, etc.). Nowadays, sambal is produced both traditionally for direct consumption and modernly in food industries, thus resulting in commercially packaged sambals with long shelf life. Sambal also has potential to contribute to the nation’s economic conditions, mainly by supporting the development of small and medium enterprises. With regard to novelty, this is the first international review discussing the diversity of sambals in Indonesia in a thorough and comprehensive manner.
Does resilience predict hospital length of stay after total knee arthroplasty? A prospective observational cohort study
Authors: March Marie K. , Harmer Alison R. , Thomas Bijoy , Maitland Amy , Black Deborah , Dennis Sarah
Published: July 2022

Background

Resilience, or the ability to bounce back from stress, is a key psychological factor that is associated with ongoing functional independence and higher quality of life in older adults in the context of chronic health conditions. Emerging research has explored resilience and patient-reported outcomes after TKA. Our primary aim was to explore the relationship between resilience and acute hospital length of stay after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods

A prospective observational study recruited 75 participants one month before total knee arthroplasty from two Australian hospitals. Two preoperative psychological measures were used: the Brief Resilience Scale, and for comparison, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). We collected sociodemographic, medical and surgical details, patient-reported pain, function, fatigue and quality of life one month before TKA. Health service data describing acute hospital length of stay, inpatient rehabilitation use, and physiotherapy occasions of service were collected after TKA. Non-parametric analysis was used to determine any differences in length of stay between those with low or high resilience and DASS-21 scores. Secondary regression analysis explored the preoperative factors affecting acute hospital length of stay.

Results

No significant difference was detected in length of stay between those with a low or a high resilience score before TKA. However, the group reporting psychological symptoms as measured by the DASS-21 before TKA had a significantly longer acute hospital length of stay after TKA compared to those with no psychological symptoms [median length of stay 6 (IQR 2.5) days vs. 5 (IQR 2) days, respectively (Mann-Whitney U = 495.5, P=0.03)]. Multivariate regression analysis showed that anesthetic risk score and fatigue were significant predictors of length of stay, with the overall model demonstrating significance (χ2=12.426, df = 4, P=0.014).

Conclusions

No association was detected between the brief resilience score before TKA and acute hospital length of stay after TKA, however, symptoms on the DASS-21 were associated with longer acute hospital length of stay. Preoperative screening for psychological symptoms using the DASS-21 is useful for health services to identify those at higher risk of longer acute hospital length of stay after TKA.
Does new onset and pre-existing atrial fibrillation predict mortality in COVID-19 patients?
Authors: Aydemir Selim , Aksakal Emrah , Aydınyılmaz Faruk , Gülcü Oktay , Saraç İbrahim , Aydın Sidar Şiyar , Doğan Remziye , Lazoğlu Merve , Kalkan Kamuran
Published: July 2022

Background

Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19), caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2, still remains prevalent and severe. We aimed to evaluate the effects of pre-existing atrial fibrillation and new-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) on the clinical severity and mortality of COVID-19.

Results

Between April and December 2020, 5577 patients with positive PCR and/or COVID-19 compatible findings in computed tomography hospitalized were enrolled retrospectively. Total and in-hospital mortality, need for intensive care unit (ICU), need for mechanical ventilation, and recurrent hospitalization results of 286 patients with pre-existing AF before hospitalization and 82 patients with NOAF during hospitalization were evaluated. Preexisting AF was associated with a 2-fold increase in total and in-hospital mortality [OR (2.16 (1.62–2.89), 2.02 (1.48–2.76), P < 0.001, respectively]. NOAF was associated with a 14-fold increase in total mortality and a 12-fold increase in in-hospital mortality [OR(14.72 (9.22–23.5), 12.56 (8.02–19.68), P < 0.001], respectively]. However, pre-existing AF and NOAF resulted in increased ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, and recurrent hospitalization. In the Cox regression analysis, NOAF was observed as an independent risk factor for mortality.

Conclusions

Pre-existing AF and in-hospital NOAF were associated with increased mortality and severity in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. In addition, NOAF was observed as an independent prognostic indicator in terms of total mortality.
Social media usage and loneliness among Princess Nourah University medical students
Authors: Bakry Huny , Almater Asma Abdullah , Alslami Dalia Mohammed , Ajaj Heba Salim , Alsowayan Raghad Adel , Almutairi Asya Fahad , Almoayad Fatmah
Published: July 2022

Background

Social media addiction has a negative effect on one’s daily lifestyle and impacts one’s physical and psychological health, such as in increased feelings of loneliness. This study examined the prevalence of social media addiction and loneliness and the relationship between them among medical students at the Princess Nourah University. A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students at the Princess Nourah University. A sample was conducted using a multistage technique. The sample size was 302. The tool was a self-administered paper questionnaire.

Results

Out of 302 participants, 225 (74%) had indications of social media addiction according to the self-reported scale, while around 146 (48%) had self-reported feelings of loneliness. There was a significant weak correlation between the social media addiction and loneliness measures (r = .361; p < 0.001).

Conclusions

A high prevalence of self-reported social media addiction was found in our study and was significantly correlated with self-reported feelings of loneliness. Awareness programmes can be developed and expanded regarding the consequences of social media use and the physical and mental hazards of loneliness.
Does COVID-19 shock endanger the flows of FDI in OECD? Empirical evidence based on AMG panel estimator
Authors: Badmus Jamiu Olamilekan , Bisiriyu Sodiq Olaide , Alawode Oluwadamilola Samuel
Published: July 2022

The role of foreign direct investment flows in the growth and development of any nation cannot be overemphasized. However, different economic issues influence the pattern and flow of several investment channels. Notable among such economic crises is the recent COVID-19 pandemic that ravaged the entire global economy and restricted the flow of foreign investment among countries. With the perceived influence of the pandemic on businesses and investments, this study investigates the impact of COVID-19-related shock on the FDI flows of OECD countries. Using the Augmented Mean Group (AMG) long-run estimator, it reveals that the COVID-19 shock harms FDI inflows across OECD but enhances the outflows of FDI from OECD. Furthermore, the comparative analysis of the Eurozone and non-Eurozone countries in OECD shows that the effect of COVID-19 shock on FDI flows is positive in the former but otherwise in the latter. Hence, the monetary authorities of these countries must implement favorable monetary policies that will enhance new and ongoing investments as well as the expansion of industrial activities. Also, policymakers in this region should encourage the formulation of economic frameworks that are resilient to several global and country-specific economic uncertainties to safeguard the economies from unforeseen circumstances.
Spontaneous pneumomediastinum in COVID‐19 patients: two cases
Authors: Sivil Ramazan , Selvi Fatih , Bedel Cihan , Korkut Mustafa
Published: July 2022

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a massive epidemic affecting millions of people worldwide. The common radiological findings of COVID-19 are peripheral ground glass or consolidative opacities, but pneumomediastinum is a very rare finding of COVID-19, especially in patients not receiving mechanical ventilation support. Our aim was to present cases of spontaneous pneumomediastinum in two patients with COVID-19 and to discuss the potential mechanism underlying it.
Sakshi and Dhyana: the origin of mindfulness-based therapies
Authors: Singh Swaran P.
Published: July 2022

Mindfulness-based therapies (MBTs) have shown promising results in non-psychotic disorders. Unlike most other psychotherapy models, which are claimed to be Western in origin, MBTs are firmly based in Indian philosophy and traditions. This paper summarises the concepts of the observer self (sakshi) and attention (dhyana) that underlie the principles and practice of MBT, correcting some erroneous assumptions in the process. It is argued that better understanding of these concepts is beneficial not just for specialist psychotherapists, but for all clinicians interested in the craft of healing.
Post-traumatic stress in adults with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome
Authors: von Scheibler Emma N. M. M. , van Amelsvoort Thérèse A. M. J. , Vingerhoets Claudia , van Eeghen Agnies M. , Boot Erik
Published: July 2022

22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) is associated with an elevated genetic risk of several psychiatric disorders. However, the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in individuals with 22q11.2DS has been reported to be only 0.9%; this is lower than that of the general population (3.9%). We explored the occurrence of PTSD and traumatic events in a Dutch cohort of 112 adults with 22q11.2DS, and found PTSD in 8.0%, traumatic events in 20.5% and trauma-focused treatment in 17.9% of patients. Our novel findings suggest that PTSD may be underdiagnosed in individuals with 22q11.2DS. Clinicians and other caregivers should be alert to trauma in this population in order to enable treatment and minimise psychiatric burden.
Not Going Anywhere: Local Protests as Post-global Politics
Authors: Lahiri Madhumita
Published: July 2022

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, extensive restrictions on travel and migration effectively destroyed the global mobility of persons, while widespread supply chain disruptions meant that commodities were no longer as globally mobile. Drawing on this 2020 context, this article shows how 2020’s Black Lives Matter protests indicate the contours of what we might think of as a “post-global” politics: that is, a movement that reflects a globally informed analysis but nonetheless draws only implicitly on ideas of global commonality. National movements affirm the unity of national space, but BLM insists on its very unevenness; internationalism seeks to forge communities across regions and nations, but BLM takes the unity and transportability of “Black” as a given; globalization discourse argues that the world is coming ever closer together, but BLM lays claim to no future unity. This article demonstrates this post-global conceptualization through two of 2020’s most successful novels: Brit Bennett's The Vanishing Half and Charles Yu's Interior Chinatown. What, then, is the analytic value of worldwide comparisons for a post-global movement? To answer this question, the US-based BLM protests of 2020 are considered alongside Indian politics in the same period, both through the Indian farmers’ protests that began in late 2020 and through an analysis of a successful 2020 US novel about India, Megha Majumdar's A Burning. This novel was explicitly connected by US readers to BLM's critiques of state violence against minority populations, yet the book itself feels claustrophobically small. Through the combined analysis of these three recent literary successes, this article shows how a post-global politics is reshaping US understandings of racialization.
Διαταραχές αιμόστασης σε μυελοϋπερπλαστικά νοσήματα
Authors: Γιαννακοπούλου Νεφέλη
Published: July 2022

Aσθενείς με Φιλαδέλφεια χρωμόσωμα αρνητικά μυελοϋπερπλαστικά νεοπλάσματα (Ph- ΜΥΝ), όπως η αληθής πολυκυτταραιμία (ΑΠ), η ιδιοπαθής θρομβοκυττάρωση (ΙΘ) και η πρωτοπαθής μυελοΐνωση (ΠΜ), εμφανίζουν αυξημένο κίνδυνο εμφάνισης θρομβώσεων. Η θρομβοελαστομετρία σε σύγκριση με τις κλασικές δοκιμασίες πήξης φαίνεται να είναι περισσότερο επαρκής ως προς την εκτίμηση του θρομβωτικού κινδύνου του ασθενή.Στην μελέτη αυτή, βασισμένη σε δεδομένα από 114 ασθενείς με Ph- ΜΥΝ από ένα κέντρο στην Ελλάδα, η αιμοστατική εικόνα εκτιμήθηκε με κλασικές δοκιμασίες πήξης, σφαιρική θρομβοελαστομετρία (ROTEM) και αναλυτή λειτουργικότητας αιμοπεταλίων (PFA-100). Ακολούθησε συσχετισμός με κλινικά και εργαστηριακά χαρακτηριστικά, με την χορηγούμενη θεραπεία, με μεταλλάξεις των γονιδίων Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), καλρετικουλίνης (CALR), του υποδοχέα της θρομβοποιητίνης (MPL) και τον πολυμορφισμό rs1136410 της πολύ(ΑDP-ριβόζης) πολυμεράσης-1 (PARP-1). Με βάση τις παραμέτρους της ROTEM, οι ασθενείς με ΙΘ εμφάνισαν μεγαλύτερη υπερπηκτικότητα σε σύγκριση με τους ασθενείς με ΑΠ και ΠΜ (p ≤ 0,001). Σε όλους τους ασθενείς παρατηρήθηκε στατιστικά σημαντική θετική συσχέτιση μεταξύ της γωνίας άλφα και του αριθμού των αιμοπεταλίων (ΑΜΠ) και μεταξύ της μέγιστης σταθερότητας θρόμβου (MCF) και των ΑΜΠ (p < 0,001). Στους ασθενείς με ΑΠ που έφεραν την μετάλλαξη JAK2, η απουσία του πολυμορφισμού της PARP-1 συσχετίστηκε με την εμφάνιση θρομβώσεων μετά την διάγνωση του Ph- MYN (p= 0,019). Aπό τους 47 ασθενείς που λάμβαναν θεραπεία με ασπιρίνη και εμφάνιζαν πλήρη αναστολή της λειτουργικότητας των αιμοπεταλίων σύμφωνα με τον PFA-100, κανένας ασθενής δεν εκδήλωσε θρομβωτικό επεισόδιο κατά την διάρκεια παρακολούθησης της μελέτης (p= 0,006).Σύμφωνα με τα αποτελέσματα της μελέτης μας, παγκόσμιες αιμοστατικές δοκιμασίες όπως η ROTEM σε συνδυασμό με άλλες παραμέτρους θα μπορούσαν να βοηθήσουν στην ανίχνευση ασθενών με Ph- ΜΥΝ με υψηλό θρομβωτικό κίνδυνο και στην προσαρμογή του είδους και της δοσολογίας της θεραπείας.
Ψυχρός βρόχος πολυποδεκτομής έναντι θερμού βρόχου πολυποδεκτομής έναντι APC για την πλήρη αφαίρεση των μικρών πολύποδων από το αριστερό κόλον
Authors: Βαρυτιμιάδης Λάζαρος
Published: July 2022

Σκοπός της παρούσας μελέτης ήταν να συγκρίνει τα ποσοστά υποτροπής μεταξύ τριών μεθόδων ενδοσκοπικής θεραπείας για πολύποδες του παχέος εντέρου μεγέθους 5-9 mm στο αριστερό κόλον.Τα υλικά και μέθοδοι που χρησιμοποιήθηκαν ήταν διαδοχικοί ενήλικες που προσήλθαν για προληπτική κολονοσκόπηση (1/2015-1/2018) με τουλάχιστον έναν πολύποδα μεγέθους (5-9 mm) που βρισκόταν περιφερικότερα της σπληνικής καμπής. Κατανεμήθηκαν τυχαία (1:1:1) σε μία από τις τρεις μεθόδους θεραπείας: (1) ψυχρή πολυποδεκτομή με βρόχο (CSP), (2) θερμή πολυποδεκτομή με βρόχο (HSP) και (3) καταστροφή με argon plasma (APC) (50-60 W, ροή: 2 l/min). Η θέση του πολύποδα σημαδεύτηκε με ενδοσκοπική μελάνι (tattoo) και πραγματοποιήθηκε κολονοσκόπηση επανεξέτασης με βιοψίες από το σημείο της ουλής >6 μήνες μετά την επέμβαση αναφοράς. Καταμετρήθηκε το ποσοστό υποτροπής του πολύποδα και η εμφάνιση επιπλοκών.Όσον αφορά τα αποτελέσματα, συμπεριλήφθηκαν εκατό δεκαεννέα ασθενείς, εκ των οποίων 112 (62,5% άνδρες, μέση ηλικία 61,1 ± 9,9 έτη) με 121 πολύποδες (CSP, 39- HSP, 45- APC, 37) επέστρεψαν για επανέλεγχο. Το μέσο μέγεθος του πολύποδα ήταν 6,7 ± 0,91 mm. Το 58% των πολυπόδων εντοπίστηκε στο σιγμοειδές, το 33% στο ορθό και το 8% στο κατιόν. Η πλειονότητα των πολυπόδων που αφαιρέθηκαν με CSP ή HSP ήταν νεοπλασματικοί (σωληνώδη αδενώματα: 25,9%, σωληνολαχνωτά αδενώματα: 11,1% και άμισχα οδοντωτά αδενώματα/πολύποδες: 17.5%). Δεν εμφανίστηκαν περιπτώσεις καθυστερημένης αιμορραγίας ή διάτρησης. Οι βιοψίες κατά την κολονοσκόπηση παρακολούθησης (που πραγματοποιήθηκε μετά από ένα μέσο διάστημα 13,4 ± 3,8 μηνών) αποκάλυψαν 6 (5,3%) περιπτώσεις υποτροπής πολυπόδων, χωρίς σημαντική διαφορά μεταξύ των τριών ομάδων θεραπείας [CSP, 3/39 (7,7%)- HSP, 1/45 (2,2%)- APC, 2/37 (5,4%)- P = 0,51).Η CSP, η HSP και η APC-αφαίρεση είναι αποτελεσματικές και αποδεκτές θεραπευτικές μέθοδοι για πολύποδες του παχέος εντέρου μεγέθους 5-9 mm στο αριστερό κόλον. Η παρούσα τυχαιοποιημένη μελέτη δεν εντόπισε καμία διαφορά στο ποσοστό υποτροπής των πολυπόδων μεταξύ των τριών ενδοσκοπικών τεχνικών.
Συσχέτιση στεφανιαίας νόσου και αθηρωμάτωσης των καρωτίδων με την ατμοσφαιρική ρύπανση σε δείγμα αγροτικού πληθυσμού
Authors: Μυστακίδη Βασιλική-Χαρά
Published: July 2022

Εισαγωγή: Η ατμοσφαιρική ρύπανση είναι ένας καλά περιγραφόμενος περιβαλλοντικός παράγοντας κινδύνου με στοιχεία τα οποία υποδηλώνουν σταθερή συσχέτιση με καρδιαγγειακά νοσήματα. Σκοπός: Σκοπός αυτής της μελέτης ήταν να προσδιοριστεί η συσχέτιση της έκθεσης σε αέριους ατμοσφαιρικούς ρύπους με το φορτίο της αθηροσκλήρωσης.Μέθοδοι: 1955 κάτοικοι της περιοχής της Κορινθίας, ηλικίας 40 ετών και άνω, υποβλήθηκαν σε κλινική και εργαστηριακή αξιολόγηση (βιοχημικός αιματολογικός έλεγχος) καθώς και υπερηχογραφικό έλεγχο καρωτίδων για την αξιολόγηση του πάχους του έσω-μέσου χιτώνα των καρωτίδων (cIMT) και του φορτίου της αθηρωματικής πλάκας. Οι ειδικοί αναλυτές/καταγραφείς συγκεντρώσεων μονοξειδίου του άνθρακα (CO), διοξειδίου του αζώτου (NO2) και διοξειδίου του θείου (SO2) τοποθετήθηκαν σε 4 διαφορετικές ανοιχτές τοποθεσίες (Περιοχές 1, 2, 3 και 4) με βάση την εγγύτητά τους σε βιομηχανίες, αυτοκινητόδρομους ή ναυπηγεία.Αποτελέσματα: Υψηλότερη συγκέντρωση CO, NO2 και SO2 παρατηρήθηκε στην Περιοχή 4 σε σύγκριση με τις άλλες περιοχές. Όσον αφορά τον μέσο όρο cIMT (Περιοχή 1: 0,93 ± 0,24 mm, Περιοχή 2: 0,96 ± 0,40 mm, Περιοχή 3: 0,94 ± 0,39 mm, Περιοχή 4: 1,14 ± 0,55 mm, p < 0,001), το μέγιστο cIMT (p <0.001) καθώς και το φορτίο αθηρωμάτωσης των καρωτίδων όπως αυτό μετράται μέσω της καρωτιδικής πλάκας (Περιοχή 1: 13,3%, Περιοχή 2: 18,8%, Περιοχή 3: 22,4%, Περιοχή 4: 38,6%, p < 0,001) ήταν σημαντικά υψηλότερη στα άτομα της Περιοχής 4. Οι κάτοικοι της Περιοχής 4 είχαν επίσης υψηλότερη επίπεδα C αντιδρώσας πρωτεΐνης (Περιοχή 1: 4,56 ± 4,85 mg/l, Περιοχή 2: 3,49 ± 4,46 mg/l, Περιοχή 3: 4,03 ± 3,32 mg/l, Περιοχή 4: 5,16 ± 8,26 mg/l, p < 0,001). Με στατιστική τεχνική αντιστοίχισης (propensity score analysis) αποκαλυφθήκαν οι υψηλότερες διαφορές μεταξύ των περιοχών στη μέση τιμή του cIMT των ατόμων με στεφανιαία νόσο (CAD) (περιοχή υψηλή έναντι χαμηλής ατμοσφαιρικής ρύπανσης: 1,56 ± 0,80 mm έναντι 1,18 ± 0,54 mm, p <0,001) ενώ δεν υπήρχε διαφορά στην μέση τιμή του cIMT του αντιστοιχισμένου πληθυσμού χωρίς CAD (p = 0,52).Συμπεράσματα: Αυξημένη αθηρωματική και φλεγμονώδης επιβάρυνση των καρωτίδων παρατηρείται σε κατοίκους αγροτικών και ημιαστικών περιοχών με τη μεγαλύτερη συγκέντρωση ατμοσφαιρικών ρύπων.
Μεθοδολογία προσδιορισμού και σύγκριση παραμέτρων ταχυδύναμης σε διαφορετικά εργόμετρα και τύπους μυϊκών συστολών
Authors: Μαρτινοπούλου Κλημεντίνη
Published: July 2022

Σκοπός της παρούσας διατριβής, ήταν ο προσδιορισμός και η αξιολόγηση των παραμέτρων της ταχυτητο – δυναμικής σχέσης και του ρυθμού εφαρμογής της δύναμης (RFD) σε διαφορετικά εργόμετρα κάτω άκρων (κυκλοεργόμετρο, μηχάνημα εκτάσεων κάτω άκρων- πρέσα/leg press) και τύπους μυϊκών συστολών (σύγκεντρη: άλμα από ημικάθισμα, SJ, έκκεντρη: άλμα με προδιάταση, CMJ, ισομετρική: έκταση κάτω άκρων σε σταθερή πρέσα, ILP και ισομετρική έλξη μπάρας από το μηρό, IMTP). Για το σκοπό αυτό διεξήχθησαν δύο μελέτες. Στην πρώτη μελέτη έλαβαν μέρος δέκα αθλητές καλαθοσφαίρισης και ποδοσφαίρου, οι οποίοι εκτέλεσαν πέντε μέγιστες προσπάθειες με αυξανόμενα φορτία: α) σπριντ στο κυκλοεργόμετρο και β) εκτάσεις κάτω άκρων στο μηχάνημα της πρέσας (leg press). Τα κύρια ευρήματα της μελέτης αυτής ήταν ότι όλες οι παράμετροι της ταχυτητο – δυναμικής σχέσης μπορούν να αξιολογηθούν στο κυκλοεργόμετρο με τη χρήση μόνο ενός φορτίου το οποίο ήταν 6.0 kg ή (0.09±0.01 ανά kg·BM) με μέγιστη ταχύτητα 138±22rpm. Επίσης βρέθηκε ότι με τον προσδιορισμό της σχέσης φορτίου-ταχύτητας στο κυκλοεργόμετρο μπορεί να εκτιμηθεί με μεγάλη ακρίβεια το φορτίο που αντιστοιχεί στη μέγιστη δύναμη (1RM) στις εκτάσεις κάτω άκρων στη πρέσα (κυκλοεργόμετρο:189±18kg, leg press:189±26kg). Στη δεύτερη μελέτη έλαβαν μέρος είκοσι τρεις αθλητές καλαθοσφαίρισης και πετοσφαίρισης (14 άντρες, 9 γυναίκες), οι οποίοι αξιολογήθηκαν στο CMJ, στο SJ, στην ILP και στην IMTP. Τα κύρια ευρήματα αυτής της μελέτης ήταν ότι: (α) ο RFD 0-50ms ήταν παρόμοιος σε όλους τους τύπους μυϊκής σύσπασης (CMJ, SJ, ILP), (β) ο RFD ήταν παρόμοιος σε όλη τη καμπύλη χρόνου-δύναμης στο SJ και CMJ, (γ) ο μέγιστος RFD εκφρασμένος ως προς τη μέγιστη δύναμη (RFD/Fpeak) επιτεύχθηκε στα 50-100ms χωρίς διαφορές μεταξύ ILP, CMJ και SJ, μεταξύ ανδρών και γυναικών στις ίδιες ασκήσεις (CMJ, SJ, ILP), καθώς και μεταξύ των ισομετρικών ασκήσεων ILP και IMTP. Συμπερασματικά, στη διατριβή αυτή αναδείχθηκε η δυνατότητα αξιολόγησης της ταχυδύναμης των κάτω άκρων με τη χρήση μόνο μιας σύντομης αξιολόγησης (ένα σπριντ στο κυκλοεργόμετρο). Σημαντική συμβολή στην εργομετρική αξιολόγηση αθλημάτων ισχύος και ταχύτητας αποτελεί και το εύρημα ότι ο RFD κατά την έναρξη μιας ταχείας συστολής δεν διαφέρει μεταξύ δυναμικών και ισομετρικών κινήσεων. Επίσης, οι ομοιότητες μεταξύ του CMJ και του SJ στον RFD υποδηλώνουν ότι αυτοί οι δυο τύποι άλματος θα μπορούσαν να χρησιμοποιηθούν εναλλακτικά για την αξιολόγηση της ταχυδύναμης των κάτω άκρων. Τέλος, ο RFD/Fpeak στην αρχή μιας εκρηκτικής μυϊκής σύσπασης προσφέρει πληροφορίες για την ταχυδύναμη, ανεξαρτήτως φύλου και τύπου μυϊκής σύσπασης.
The role of intermediaries in connecting community-dwelling adults to local physical activity and exercise: A scoping review protocol
Authors: O'Grady Megan , Barrett Emer , Broderick Julie , Connolly Deirdre
Published: July 2022

Introduction: Physical inactivity is a major global issue affecting health. Promoting, supporting and encouraging physical activity amongst community-dwelling adults is essential. An intermediary is a clinical or non-clinical professional based in primary care, community or voluntary settings. They support individuals referred to them to connect with appropriate community services with the goal of improving health and wellbeing. This may be a promising method to establish a connection to local physical activity and exercise; however the process has been poorly described to date.

Objective: The objectives of this scoping review will be to identify and summarise the literature describing the process of connecting community-dwelling adults to an intermediary, the characteristics of these adults, the processes (role, practice and procedure) of an intermediary in connecting these adults to local physical activity and exercise opportunities, and to map these processes of connection to outcomes.

Methods: This scoping review will be conducted in accordance with the scoping review methodology of the Joanna Briggs Institute. A comprehensive search strategy will identify relevant studies in Embase, Medline, Web of Science and CINAHL, along with a structured grey literature search. Studies which describe an intermediary connecting community-dwelling adults (aged ≥18 years) to local physical activity and exercise will be included. Data will be charted and narratively summarised. Intermediary processes will be mapped to outcomes related to physical activity, and the PAGER (patterns, advances, gaps, evidence for practice and research recommendations) framework will be used to identify evidence gaps and research recommendations.

Conclusions: This scoping review will be the first to describe the process of an intermediary connecting community dwelling adults to local physical activity and exercise. This review will identify, map and summarise the existing research on the processes and outcomes. The results will also identify any evidence gaps and will guide future research.
Effect of taurine administration on symptoms, severity, or clinical outcome of dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure in humans: a systematic review
Authors: McGurk Kathryn A. , Kasapi Melpomeni , Ware James S.
Published: July 2022

Background: Taurine, 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, is an amino acid found in animal products. Taurine is produced for human consumption as a supplement and ingredient in beverages. Supplementation is a safe, inexpensive, and effective treatment for dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in domestic mammals, however it is currently unlicensed in Europe and the United States for human medical treatment. Recent genome-wide association studies of DCM have identified the locus of the taurine transporter (SLC6A6). To assess whether taurine supplementation may be a novel therapeutic option for DCM, we undertook a systematic review.

Methods: Four electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Central Register, Web of Science, Biomed Central) were searched until 11/03/21. Included studies of human participants reported measured phenotypes or symptoms for cardiomyopathy, heart failure (HF), or altered left ventricle structure or function, administering taurine in any formulation, by any method. Non-English articles were excluded. Meta-analysis was completed in R software (version 3.6.0). The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale quality assessment score (NOQAS) tool was used to assess bias.

Results: 285 articles were identified, of which eleven met our criteria for inclusion. Only one paper was deemed “high quality” using the NOQAS tool. Taurine supplementation varied across studies; by dose (500 mg to 6g per day), frequency (once to thrice daily), delivery method (tablet, capsule, drink, powder), and duration (2 to 48 weeks). Patient inclusion was all-cause HF patients with ejection fraction (EF) <50% and no study was specific to DCM. While improvements in diastolic and systolic function, exercise capacity, and haemodynamic parameters were described, only EF and stroke volume were measured in enough studies to complete a meta-analysis; the association was not significant with all-cause HF (P<0.05). No significant safety concerns were reported.

Conclusions: A formal clinical trial is needed to address whether taurine supplementation is beneficial to the approximately 1/250 individuals with DCM in the population.
Anti-spike antibody trajectories in individuals previously immunised with BNT162b2 or ChAdOx1 following a BNT162b2 booster dose
Authors: Yavlinsky Alexei , Beale Sarah , Nguyen Vincent , Shrotri Madhumita , Byrne Thomas , Geismar Cyril , Fragaszy Ellen , Hoskins Susan , Fong Wing Lam Erica , Navaratnam Annalan M D , Braithwaite Isobel , Patel Parth , Kovar Jana , Hayward Andrew , Aldridge Robert W
Published: July 2022

Background: The two most common SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in the UK, BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (Oxford-AstraZeneca), employ different immunogenic mechanisms. Compared to BNT162b2, two-dose immunisation with ChAdOx1 induces substantially lower peak anti-spike antibody (anti-S) levels and is associated with a higher risk of breakthrough infections. To provide preliminary indication of how a third booster BNT162b2 dose impacts anti-S levels, we performed a cross-sectional analysis using capillary blood samples from vaccinated adults participating in Virus Watch, a prospective community cohort study in England and Wales.

Methods: Blood samples were analysed using Roche Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S immunoassay. We analysed anti-S levels by week since the third dose for vaccines administered on or after 1 September 2021 and stratified the results by second-dose vaccine type (ChAdOx1 or BNT162b2), age, sex and clinical vulnerability.

Results: Anti-S levels peaked at two weeks post-booster for BNT162b2 (22,185 U/mL; 95%CI: 21,406-22,990) and ChAdOx1 second-dose recipients (19,203 U/mL; 95%CI: 18,094-20,377). These were higher than the corresponding peak antibody levels post-second dose for BNT162b2 (12,386 U/mL; 95%CI: 9,801-15,653, week 2) and ChAdOx1 (1,192 U/mL; 95%CI: 818-1735, week 3).  No differences emerged by second dose vaccine type, age, sex or clinical vulnerability. Anti-S levels declined post-booster for BNT162b2 (half-life=44 days) and ChAdOx1 second dose recipients (half-life=40 days). These rates of decline were steeper than those post-second dose for BNT162b2 (half-life=54 days) and ChAdOx1 (half-life=80 days).

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that peak anti-S levels are higher post-booster than post-second dose, but levels are projected to be similar after six months for BNT162b2 recipients. Higher peak anti-S levels post-booster may partially explain the increased effectiveness of booster vaccination compared to two-dose vaccination against symptomatic infection with the Omicron variant. Faster waning trajectories post-third dose may have implications for the timing of future booster campaigns or four-dose vaccination regimens for the clinically vulnerable.
Preparing for Mental Health Act reform: Pilot study of co-produced implementation strategies for Advance Choice Documents
Authors: Stephenson Lucy A. , Gergel Tania , Ruck Keene Alex , Rifkin Larry , Owen Gareth
Published: July 2022

Background

Advance Decision Making (ADM) is strongly supported by stakeholders but implementation remains challenging. In England and Wales, implementation strategies are urgently required to prepare for the introduction of mental health ‘Advance Choice Documents’ (ACDs) as part of Mental Health Act reforms. We report on a pilot project which aimed to co-produce and evaluate implementation strategies for ACDs with those who experience fluctuating mental capacity in the context of bipolar.

Methods

A co-produced prototype ACD template was piloted in ‘Plan, Do, Study Act’ (PDSA) cycles. Implementation strategies were co-produced with participants and mapped onto the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) framework. Strategies were evaluated during thematically analysed qualitative interviews.

Results

We piloted the template with 17 service users during 5 successive PDSA cycles and conducted 75 in depth interviews with stakeholders. Key strategies identified as accessible, appropriate and feasible were: interactive assistance from an independent ‘supporter’, a structured template and active offers of involvement to service users and informal carers.

Conclusions

Mental health professionals and organisations must prepare for increased expectations around mental health ADM. We recommend further pilot projects and the establishment of ‘ACD workshops’. Resource is essential to fund independent ‘supporters’, training, network building and embedding ADM in clinical pathways.
Consent, decisional capacity and guardianship in mental health research
Authors: Undurraga Juan , Negussie Hanna , Wendler David
Published: July 2022

Background: Research with adults who cannot give informed consent has important social value. However, enrolling adults who cannot consent in research raises significant ethical concerns. 

Methods: To evaluate how researchers in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) can assess individuals’ decisional capacity, and the conditions under which it is appropriate to include and the conditions under which it is appropriate to exclude individuals who lack decisional capacity. 

Results: In LMICs, where resources may be limited, implementing protections for adults with decisional incapacity can be especially challenging. Recognition of the ethical concerns, and awareness of the circumstances and available resources, offers the means to protect these vulnerable participants.

Conclusions: Researchers in low and middle-income countries should be aware of steps they can take to ensure appropriate protections for subjects with decisional impairments while conducting clinical trials on methods to improve their clinical care.
Ożeż ty!, polszczyzno: Wątpliwości użytkowników języka, wyjaśnienia lingwistyczne
Authors: Malinowski Maciej
Published: July 2022

OH YOU!, POLISH LANGUAGE: DOUBTS OF POLISH LANGUAGE USERS, LINGUISTIC EXPLANATIONS This is an academic publication, which is a selection of specially written, elaborated (footnotes, a bibliography, a list of online sources, and a word index) and edited texts, then subjected to academic review, which appeared in a popular-science column on various aspects of correctness in Polish in the nationwide weekly Angora from 2019 to the first half of 2022. All the author’s considerations and reflections on the most important lexical and grammatical phenomena in contemporary Polish were inspired by readers’ questions. These posed a considerable intellectual challenge for the author, sometimes forcing him to explore the deepest layers of earlier and more recent Polish. The author takes great care to address every linguistic issue raised earlier by the readers in its explanation, referring to scholarly literature and dictionaries, and, when necessary, citing the opinions of lexicographers and linguistic experts on a given topic. At the same time, he firmly believes that linguistic prescription makes sense only when the solution to a given linguistic dilemma is presented against a broader background revealing the mechanisms governing the Polish language. It may happen, after all, that a verdict of prescriptivists from years ago does not fit the contemporary reality. And is it then really necessary to insist that something is correct or not, while language use, or established linguistic custom, contradicts it? Worthy of note is the title of the publication. It features the word ożeż written jointly and twice with ż. This is because, either alone or in combination with the pronoun ty ‘you’, it creates an expressive exclamation, that is, one in which there are two emphatic particles, although the second of them appears in a form reduced to ż, without e, because it stands after the vowel. Unfortunately, most of those who write about this orthographic norm do not know and have never heard of this, and therefore misspell the expression as o żesz.
Capability Building in Sluggish Organizations
Authors: Eliaz Kfir , Spiegler Ran
Published: July 2022

In order to thrive, organizations need to build and maintain an ability to meet unexpected external challenges. Yet many organizations are sluggish: their capabilities can only undergo incremental changes over time. What are the stochastic processes governing “routinely occurring” challenges that best prepare a sluggish organization for unexpected challenges? We address this question with a stylized principal-agent model. The “agent” represents a sluggish organization that can only change its capability by one unit at a time, and the “principal” represents the organization’s head or its competitive environment. The principal commits ex ante to a Markov process over challenge levels. We characterize the process that maximizes long-run capability for both myopic and arbitrarily patient agents. We show how stochastic, time-varying challenges dramatically improve a sluggish organization’s preparedness for sudden challenges.

This paper was accepted by Joshua Gans, business strategy.

Funding: This work was supported by the Foerder Institute for Economic Research.
Age-related Differences in Word Recognition Tasks according to Visual Interference and Noun Imagery
Authors: An Hye Jin , Sung Jee Eun
Published: July 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate age-related differences in word recognition tasks according to visual interferences using dynamic visual noise (DVN) and noun imagery.Methods: A total of 62 participants (young participants: 31, elderly participants: 31) participated in the study and each of those two groups were randomly classified into two sub-groups, 15 with visual interference and 16 with no visual interference respectively. The word stimuli consisted of two syllable words, including concrete and abstract nouns. The visual interference was created based on the DVN.Results: First, the main effect on all age groups was statistically significant in hit rate, false alarm rate, and sensitivity. Secondly, the main effects on the imagery were statistically significant in both hit rates and sensitivity. Also, all age groups exhibited a concreteness effect because the secondary interactions between age and imagery are not significant. Thirdly, the secondary interactions between visual interference and imagery were statistically significant in the hit rate but not sensitivity. Fourthly, in the age-controlled partial correlation analysis, there was a strong correlation between the working memory capacity and the hit rate and sensitivity of abstract nouns in the group with DVN.Conclusion: The decline in cognitive ability due to aging makes language processing difficult, thereby affecting the performance of word recognition, but the concrete effect was found to appear in all age groups regardless of the aging in the process of language processing.
Longitudinal Study of Child-Parent Verbal Interaction Characteristics of Preschool Children Who Do and Who Do Not Stutter: Mothers’ Articulation rate and Naturalness in Relation to Children’s Disfluencies and Articulation rate
Authors: Hwang Si Hyeon , Lee Soo Bok , Lee Youngmee , Sim Hyun Sub
Published: July 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate longitudinal changes in articulation rates of children who stutter (CWS) and children who do not stutter (CWNS) and their mother’s speaking behavior.Methods: Participants were 12 mother-child dyads, including 6 CWS (4 females and 2 male) and age-matched 6 CWNS (3 females and 3 male). Spontaneous conversational speech samples were collected at initial visit and at subsequent visit about 12 months later. The speech samples were analyzed for children’s abnormal disfluency (AD) and articulation rate as well as the mother’s articulation rate and speech naturalness.Results: No significant differences were found between the two groups in children’s articulation rate at each time interval. However, mothers of CWS exhibited significantly lower articulation rates and speech naturalness than mothers of CWNS. In the CWS group, at initial visit and 12 months later, a positive correlation was found between the mother’s articulation rate and their speech naturalness. In the CWNS group, at 12 months later, significant positive correlation was found between children’s articulation rate and mother’s articulation rate.Conclusion: The results reveal an interactive and complex relationship between mother’s speech behavior and children’s stuttering. For CWS, mothers’ verbal interaction style would be changed as a reaction to their child’s stuttering in the same way that mothers’ verbal interaction style would influence their child’s fluency.
Articulatory Characteristics as Functions of Articulation Distance and Articulatory Direction in Children with Cochlear Implants
Authors: Kim Namgyu , Lee Youngmee , Sim Hyun Sub
Published: July 2022

Objectives: Although children with cochlear implantation use correct pronunciation, many of them have difficulties with producing details of speech. The main aim of this study was to measure the articulation features of speech in well-performing children with cochlear implants (CIs).Methods: The participants were 15 children with CIs, with a mean age of 7 years (range: 5-10 years). A control group of children with typical hearing (TH) was included. Nonwords were manipulated in the form of different articulation distances and articulation movement directions. We measured phoneme accuracy, the ratio of vowel duration between the first and the second consonant, and the slope of the second formant transition (F2).Results: The two groups showed similar performance in the phoneme accuracy and the ratio of vowel duration, but the CI group produced sensitive changes according to the first consonant of nonwords and the articulation distance of the consonant pair. The CI group showed a higher slope of F2 than the TH group.Conclusion: These results suggest that children with CIs can control a range of motion and the speed of articulation organs, but their articulatory control abilities are less sophisticated and less stable. This study is meaningful in that it examined the articulation manipulation ability of children with cochlear implantation, which is perceptually difficult to distinguish, through an acoustic-phonetic evaluation method.
Treatment Efficacy of Working Memory Plus Melodic Intonation Therapy for People with Dementia of Alzheimer’s Type
Authors: Kim Ji Seong , Sung Jee Eun
Published: July 2022

Objectives: This research aimed at examining the effectiveness of the working memory (WM) intervention using melodies by comparing two groups of elderly subjects with Dementia of Alzheimer’s Type (DAT).Methods: A total of 10 patients with DAT (Global Deterioration Scale degree 6) were divided into a WM+MIT (melodic intonation therapy) group (n= 5) and a WM ONLY group (n= 5). The WM intervention consisted of 12 sessions, twice a week, for 20 minutes per day. The protocol consisted of 10 steps. At each step, the WM+MIT group was treated using melodies. The melody was developed as an MIT that takes into account the characteristics of Korean language based on shared syntactic integration resource hypothesis (SSIRH). However, the WM ONLY group was treated without applying the melodies.Results: The results revealed first that there were no significant differences in the pre- and post- performance levels between the two groups for the tasks; both for those with interventions and those for which interventions were not used. Secondly, the differences between pre- and post-performance assessments of the tasks that have interventions were found to be statistically significant within the WM+MIT and the WM ONLY group. The results of the pre- and post- assessments of the tasks that did not have interventions were not statistically significant.Conclusion: Although the results of the pre- and post- assessments of tasks that did not have interventions were not statistically significant, the performances of both groups improved in the post-assessments in general, proving the efficacy of the intervention.