bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Studying drug prescription pattern of dermatology OPD of an Indian tertiary care hospital- a prospective, observational, cross-sectional study
Authors: Baig Mirza Shiraz , Kulkarni Vishal , Medhekar Sudhir
Published: March 2023

Background: Studying prescription patterns helps prescribers to provide rational and cost-effective medical care. Drugs prescribed for skin disorders by a specialist differ in terms of numbers and the selection of drug class, necessitating periodic prescription audits and drug utilization studies.
Methods: This prospective, cross-sectional, observational study was conducted at the dermatology department OPD of Government Medical College, Aurangabad (Maharashtra, India) from January 2021 to May 2021. Digital records of prescription were collected from the hospital management information system (HMIS).
Results: N=5338 prescriptions were analysed, 40.89% of patients were from the 21-35 years age group. Polytherapy was 62.96% and monotherapy 36.99%. Drugs prescribed by generic names were 18% and brand names were 82%. Topical drugs constituted 71.67% followed by systemic drugs 28.32% of total prescriptions and the average injectables prescribed per encounter was 0.33%. Antifungals were most prescribed followed by steroids. The average number of drugs prescribed was 1.85 per encounter and the percentage of antibiotic prescriptions was 17.70%.
Conclusions: The current study showed that WHO DUS indicators were followed. The results reflect rational prescription of drugs within the available resources.
Proficiency of platelet parameters as an inexpensive efficient early marker for diagnosis of neonatal sepsis
Authors: Bagchi Nilay Ranjan
Published: March 2023

Background: Neonatal sepsis is an invasive serious infection which is life threatening if not treated early. Though blood culture is the gold standard for diagnosis but it yields positive results in fewer number of cases and it also time consuming. So it is requisite to ordain a cost effective and easy marker for its early diagnosis to initiate treatment to reduce the case fatality.
Methods: A prospective study was done for 12 months upon 48 blood culture proven cases of neonatal sepsis. 48 normal babies were taken as control group. Platelet parameters were studied in all 96 babies of the study population.
Results: It was found that thrombocytopenia, mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet large cell ratio (P-LCR) and mean platelet volume to total platelet count ratio (MPV/TPC) are early helpful markers for diagnosis of sepsis in neonates with p value of 0.0003, <0.0001, <0.0001 and <0.0001 respectively. MPV/TPC has the highest specificity (95.6%) with positive predictive value (90.2%).
Conclusions: Platelet count and its indices are cheap, early and workable marker for diagnosis of neonatal sepsis.
Correlation between ischemic heart disease and coronary atherosclerosis: an autopsy based cross-sectional study in a tertiary care hospital
Authors: Yadav Monika , Agarwal Ruchi , Singh Kulwant , Kaur Swaran , Kundu Parveen Rana
Published: March 2023

Background: The most common cause of ischemic heart disease (IHD) is reduced blood flow due to obstructive lesions in the coronary arteries. In adults, IHD associated with coronary atherosclerosis and acquired forms of cardiomyopathy are the most common findings of autopsies. Aim and objectives were to study age and gender related prevalence of IHD in population of Sonepat district of Haryana and its association with coronary atherosclerosis in autopsy cases.
Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted from April 2019-March 2020 for a duration of one year on 140 post-mortem heart specimens received in the department of pathology at Bhagat Phool Singh government medical college for Women, Khanpur Kalan, Sonepat, Haryana. Sections from various parts of heart and from three main coronary arteries were processed and examined.
Results: In our study, 22 cases (15.71%) of chronic IHD (CIHD) and 7 cases (5%) of myocardial infarction (MI) was observed. The overall prevalence of IHD was 20.7%. All 7 cases (100%) of MI and 95.46% of CIHD revealed atherosclerosis in their coronary arteries. A highly significant statistical correlation was observed between IHD and atherosclerosis p<0.05 (p=0.001). All the cases of MI and 81.82% of CIHD were observed in more than or equal to 40 years age group.
Conclusions: The awareness regarding atherosclerosis and various preventive and screening of cardiovascular risk factors should be initiated in young population as early as second decade.
Colocolonic intussusception in an adult secondary to an inflammatory polyp of the transverse colon - clinical case
Authors: Falcón-Cancino Luis A. , Obregón-Patiño Raúl , Barbosa-Guerrero Jessica , Flores-López Alejandro A. , Agustín-Martínez Luis A. , Yépez-Vallejo Segundo , Echevarría-Fernández Fidel , Padrón-Arredondo Guillermo , Villalobos-Rodríguez Alejandro L.
Published: March 2023

There are multiple causes of colocolonic intussusception in adults, such as tumors, autoimmune pathologies, previous abdominal surgeries, and gynecological conditions. Associated complications are small bowel obstruction, ischemia, necrosis, perforation with peritonitis, and sepsis that require urgent attention. A 78-year-old woman who started with colic in the mesogastrium of 5 months of evolution and changes in bowel habits. She went to the emergency room due to intense pain in the mesogastrium. On physical examination, she presented dehydration of the mucous membranes and pale integuments, pain on superficial and deep palpation in the mesogastrium. Admission laboratories: leukocytosis 17,110/ul, neutrophilia 67.9%, hydroelectrolyte imbalance: mild hyponatremia, mild hypochloremia, slightly prolonged coagulation times, normal blood chemistry. Abdominal ultrasound with "pseudokidney" image. Computed tomography reports an image of the introduction of a segment of the transverse colon into a contiguous segment of the same, with data of associated intestinal pneumatosis. Due to the previous findings, an emergency exploratory laparotomy was performed. Invagination of the transverse colon is located, accompanied by dilation of the vessels of the greater omentum; it is reduced manually, an enterotomy is performed and a tumor dependent on the wall is located, for which a 25 cm transverse colon resection, end colostomy and mucous fistula are decided. Pathology report reports inflammatory polyp. In the postoperative period, the patient improved and was discharged. Abdominal pain is the common presentation of intussusception; however, given its rarity in adults, the possibility of missing the finding on abdominal imaging leads to misdiagnosis.
Dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome: a case in rural area of Indonesia
Authors: Pasande Suspina
Published: March 2023

Dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome is a potentially fatal adverse drug reaction ranging from mild to severe involvement. If left unrecognized and untreated, this syndrome may lead to death. We reported a 19-year-old female with dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome in the rural area of Papua, Indonesia. The diagnosis was made clinically with some supporting laboratory examinations. The patient was planned to be given systemic corticosteroid of dexamethasone along with supportive care. However, due to the limited resources, dexamethasone could not be given daily to the patient leading to a poor clinical outcome.
Intestinal intussusception due to “Rapunzel syndrome” in an adult
Authors: Gómez Alan Guerrero , Mariela Itzayana López Alvarado
Published: March 2023

The bezoars are collections of foreign bodies or ingested material that accumulate over time and are often located in the stomach or small intestine,but can be found throughout the digestive tract. Most bezoars are of indigestible organic matter such as trichobezoars (hair); or vegetable and fruit- phytobezoars; or a combination of both but other rare substances have also been described in literature. In some cases, the trichobezoar extends through the pylorus into duodenum, jejunum or even into the colon. Rapunzel syndrome is a rare manifestation of a trichobezoar, which occurs when strands of swallowed hair extend beyond the pylorus of the stomach, into the intestine as a tail. It was first described by Vaughan et al in 1968. Trichobezoars can block the intestinal tract and, if left untreated, can be a life-threatening emergency requiring surgery. Patients are often women, under the age of 20 and have insidious non-specific abdominal symptoms and staggered presentations over months to years. The diagnosis of this type of pathology is usually a challenge for the attending physician, so we present a case report of a 38-year-old female with gastric-intestinal occlusion secondary to trichobezoar.
Extrafollicular adenomatoid odontogenic tumor: a case report
Authors: Vichattu Sankar Vinod , George Arun , Das Joy R. , Thomas Atic , K. Sasi Athira
Published: March 2023

Adenomatoid odontogenic tumor (AOT), a benign epithelial odontogenic tumor, constitutes around 2-7% of all odontogenic tumors that are biopsied. This lesion is unique with regard to its clinical, radiographic, and histopathological features making its diagnosis more predictable. This article emphasizes an extrafollicular variant of AOT leading to maxillary anterior jaw swelling along with cortical plate expansion, perforation, and root resorption within a short duration of time pointing towards its aggressive nature.
Multiple sexual abuse among children in Kaduna State, North-Western Nigeria: Does victim’s gender play a role?
Authors: Suleiman Auwal G.
Published: March 2023

Background: Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a human rights violation that affects millions of children globally. Many children continue to suffer sexual abuse, often due to non-disclosure of abuse. Disclosure is influenced by gender and the aim of this study was to assess whether gender was associated with multiple CSA experience.
Methods: Data for this study came from a review of 420 medical reports retrieved from one of seven police area commands in Kaduna State, over a period of four years (2018-2021). Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used to check for associations between multiple CSA experience and socio-demographic characteristics of the victims and their assailants at p value less than 0.05.
Results: Among all victims, multiple CSA experience was significantly associated with male gender (χ2=11.99, p=0.001) and familiarity with assailant (χ2=13.63, p<0.001). Among male victims only, multiple CSA experience was not significantly associated with age of victim, familiarity with assailant, age of assailant or number of assailants (P>0.05). However, among female victims, multiple CSA experience was significantly associated with older age of victims (χ2=8.57, p=0.036), being familiar with the assailant (χ2=14.78, p<0.001) and older age of assailant (χ2 =8.13, p=0.017).
Conclusions: Male gender was significantly associated with multiple CSA experience. Important associations between multiple CSA experience and socio-demographic characteristics of both the victims and their assailants were demonstrated among female but not male victims. More studies are needed to further understand these associations and provide recommendations.
Influence of socio-cultural factors on hepatitis B infection in Mombasa County, Kenya
Authors: Ndunda Jennifer M. , Kimani Harun , Orinda George , Otieno Syprine
Published: March 2023

Background: The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is responsible for causing a communicable liver disease that can be prevented through vaccination. Although the HBV vaccine was introduced in Kenya’s expanded immunization program in 2003, the incidence of HBV remains high in the country, especially among IDUs. Objective was to investigate the influence of socio-cultural factors on HBV infection in Mombasa County, Kenya.
Methods: The study utilized a cross-sectional analytical design. The study was purposely conducted in Mombasa County because the area is highly prevalent with drug users and people with hepatitis B. There are eight treatment centers in the county, 4 public and 4 privates where stratified random sampling was used. The sample size was proportionately distributed across the selected treatment centers. The study employed a mixed method of data collection, involved; self-administered questionnaire to the IDU’s, key informant interviews and focused group discussion with treatment care managers.
Results: The prevalence of hepatitis B was 22%; with male (77.1%) most affected than women (22.9%). Bivariate analysis show that a history of drug abuse was significantly associated with prevalence of hepatitis B (χ2=2.485, df=1, p=0.046).
Conclusions: The prevalence of hepatitis B is on the increase among injecting drug users. Having a history of drug abuse was a significant predictor to the prevalence of hepatitis B among injecting drug users in this study. Cultural practices such as piercing and tattooing were observed among study participants were established as a risk factor to hepatitis B infection among injecting drug users.
Donor’s perspectives on blood donation and challenges of National Blood Center, Yangon, during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: L. Maung Yan , Win Aye A. , Mya Kyaw S.
Published: March 2023

Background: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is causing major disruption at all levels of healthcare services, including blood bank services globally. The donors’ knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors regarding blood donation in Myanmar are needed to be considered. Hence, we studied the perspectives of blood donors on their donation and the challenges faced by the National Blood Centre, Yangon (NBC), during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: We conducted the cross-sectional descriptive study using mixed methods among blood donors aged 20 years and above for quantitative approach and among three purposively selected blood bank experts for key informant interviews of qualitative portion.
Results: Of the 240 donors, the mean age was 36.41±10.83 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 1.24:1. Overall, regarding blood donation, 57.1% had favorable knowledge, 59.2% had favorable attitude, and 31.3% had regular voluntary practice. The higher-income donors had more favorable knowledge (p=0.013). Male donors (p=0.037), donors aged 50 years and above (p<0.001), and who with favorable knowledge (p=0.002) had regular voluntary practice. The more knowledge and positive attitude the donors had, the more times they donated blood. Thematic analysis identified five key themes and during pandemic, NBC encountered reduced blood supply and demand, communication problems with donors, human resources shortage, poor adherence to safety precautions of COVID-19 among donors and staff, and difficulty in arrangement of continuous consumable supply and maintenance as main challenges.
Conclusions: Policymakers and medical directors should have proper plans and policies to raise awareness, mobilize regular voluntary donors, especially youth and repeated donors, and recruit potential donors.
Patients’ perception of quality of tuberculosis healthcare service in South West Nigeria
Authors: Oyebade Akin , Adeola Olatoun , Akinmurele Timothy , Taiwo Olaniyi , Oginni Adeniyi , Adekunle Isiaka , Gbadamosi Maroof
Published: March 2023

Background: Nigeria has the highest burden of tuberculosis (TB) in Africa and is among the 14 countries in all the 3 world health organization global high-burden countries for TB, TB/HIV and MDR-TB. The aim of this study was to assess patients’ perception of the quality of TB healthcare in Southwest Nigeria
Methods: The study utilized the cross-sectional design, and data was collected from drug-sensitive TB clients receiving care at health facilities providing TB healthcare services
Results: The average time clients spent to get to TB facilities from home was 23 minutes, the average waiting time was 6.7 minutes, and the average medical visit time was 17 minutes. Sixty-seven percent of respondents strongly agreed that doctors explained medical test result with them and 68.7% strongly agree that they wanted the medical doctors to spend more time with them. The mean score for convenience of accessing drugs was 4.8±0.5 mins, mean score for convenience of accessing laboratory test was 4.7±0.6 mins and mean score for convenience of accessing chest x-ray was 3.8±1.4 mins. Overall, the quality of TB care was perceived to be good.
Conclusions: Overall, the quality of TB services is very good from the perspectives of the patient, however, there is need to improve integrated patient-centered TB healthcare services by medical doctors. In addition, access to chest x-ray services should be improved to enhance quality of TB services.
Evaluation of transmission capacity of houseflies and cockroaches for pathogenic human intestinal parasites
Authors: J. Patil Ashok
Published: March 2023

Background: Household insects like houseflies and cockroaches are found in close proximation with human and animal habitations. These insects act as mechanical vectors for medically important pathogens and parasites. The present study aimed to identify the presence of human intestinal parasites transmitted by these insects in the present study area.
Methods: Collection of these insects were carried out for a period of six months (June to November, 2021) from areas like kitchen, college canteen, garbage piles, fish and meat shops. Microscopic examination showed presence of pathogenic human intestinal parasites and pathogens.
Results: Of the total collected flies and cockroaches, 157 (61.3%) flies and 72 (52.2%) cockroaches were found to be carriers of medically important parasites and pathogens. A total of three protozoan (Giardia intestinalis, Entamoeba histolytica and Balantidium coli) and three helminth parasites (Ascaris lumbricoides, Enterobius vermicularis and hookworm) were isolated from these insects. The most common protozoan and helminth parasites were Giardia intestinalis and Ascaris lumbricoides. There is significant difference between number of protozoan and helminth parasite on a single housefly and cockroach. Similarly, females of both the insect were found to be more vectorial than males. There was also correlation between the incidence of diarrhea and gastrointestinal tract infection and number of positive flies.
Conclusion: These findings imply that both insects in the current study area should be considered as possible mechanical vectors of human intestinal parasites.
Incidence density and relative rate assessment of knee osteoarthritis with respect to BMI, age and gender conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Hyderabad, India
Authors: Aseem Syed , Khanam Fouqia Mahnaz , Sufiyanuddin M. , Yaseen M. A. Malik
Published: March 2023

Background: Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis associated with limitation in mobility. Weight bearing joints of axial and peripheral skeleton are primarily affected. Prevalence of symptomatic knee osteoarthritis among men and women is 10% and 13%. Ageing and obesity epidemic are the leading causes for development of osteoarthritis in a given population.
Methods: The study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Hyderabad, India. Data was gathered from orthopedic department on a daily basis during the study duration. Patients with any grade of Kellgren-Lawrence scale of knee osteoarthritis were included in the study and incidence density, relative rate, p-value were assessed.
Results: During the study course, a total of 100 patients were enrolled. Overweight, obese and healthy patients contributed to 51%, 33% and 16% of incidence density with relative rate as 1.04, 0.49 and 0.19 respectively (p-value=0.042). Incidence density of patients ≥45 years and <45 years was 83% and 17% with relative rate as 4.9 and 0.2 (p value<0.0001). Incidence density in males and females was 34% and 66% with relative rate as 1.94 and 0.51 (p-value<0.0001). The data analyzed is statistically significant.
Conclusions: A direct proportionality between people exceeding normal BMI range and progression of knee osteoarthritis is observed due to strain manifested on diarthrodial joint by overweight patients. Increase in age is associated with onset of knee osteoarthritis because of age related-changes seen in cartilage and loss of chondrocytes. Women are more affected with knee osteoarthritis when compared to men due to irregularities in hormones post-menopause.
A study on utilization of maternal and infant health services in rural area of district Kanpur Nagar
Authors: Rathore Rajeev , Nigam Seema , Barman Santosh Kumar
Published: March 2023

Background: There is a pressing need to identify and address the grass root determinants of maternal health care utilization to steer the health services toward achieving the ambitious SDG target of reducing the global MMR to <70 per 100 000 births by 2030. Objective of current study was to assess the utilization of health services provided to mothers and infants.
Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted by the department of community medicine GSVM Medical College Kanpur using multistage random sampling technique including women having children less than 1 years of age and Infant (less than one year) born to these eligible women in rural blocks of district Kanpur Nagar for evaluation mother and infant care services from February 2021 to September 2022.
Results: 94.17% participants had at least one antenatal visit, 85.06% of delivery were take place at CHC, 83.80% post natal care provided by doctor, 30.76% infant were treated properly for Acute respiratory symptom 21.31% infant received ORT and Zinc for treatment of diarrhea. Similar results were found as per NFHS-5 in rural Uttar Pradesh in previous published research work.
Conclusions: Utilization of health care services require more improvement for infant disease treatment.
Prevalence of stress and burnout among information technology professionals during COVID-19 pandemic due to work from home situation
Authors: Padmashali Ashwini
Published: March 2023

Background: To prevent the transmission of COVID-19 infection, lockdown and social distancing was imposed across various countries. The people working in the information technology (IT) sector started working remotely.  The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of stress and burnout among the IT professionals due to sudden transition to work from home situation.
Methods: In the present cross-sectional study an online questionnaire was used for data collection from the software professionals who worked from home for a minimum duration of 1 year during the pandemic. The study sample was collected using convenience sampling and sample size attained was 40. The data analysis was done with statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. Percentages, means and standard deviations (SD) were calculated. For analytical purpose Chi-square test was used to measure the significance.
Results: The study population consisted of 24 (60%) males and 16 (40%) females. The mean of the years of experience was 10.5 years (SD=5.5). 47.5% of the study population agreed that they worked up to 8 hours and 12 hours per day. 57.5% reported of finding work from home more stressful due to increase in responsibilities of household as well as child care. 87.5% developed moderate stress and 47.5% experienced moderate burnout due to personal issues.
Conclusions: To conclude, the prevalence of stress due to work from home situation was much higher than burnout among the IT professionals. Although they had the perks of reduction in travel time, the other responsibilities of increased domestic workload caused considerable stress.
Burden of non-communicable diseases and associated risk factors in rural areas of Jharkhand
Authors: Bharath Jagadeesh
Published: March 2023

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are becoming a greater burden in India. The onset of NCDs occurs ten years earlier (around age 45) in India than it does in many developed nations. This study was conducted in 5 blocks of East Singhbhum and Saraikela-Kharsawan districts of Jharkhand to determine the prevalence of diabetes and hypertension in the rural population.
Methods: Community based cross sectional study was conducted between April 2022 to Jan 2023 among individuals residing in rural areas of Jharkhand using multi-stage sampling with a sample size of 4579 individuals, who were 30 years and above.
Results: Prevalence of diabetes amongst the study population was 16.3% (750) and prevalence of hypertension amongst the study population was 21.3% (977).
Conclusions: High prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension increase the burden on existing health care system. Primary prevention using health education, lifestyle modification etc. and secondary prevention using early diagnosis by screening in the community and referral to nearby health centers for treatment prevents the complications of NCDs.
Health and social burden of alcohol use disorders in an industrial population of India
Authors: Ray Gautam
Published: March 2023

Background: In the last two decades the rate of alcohol consumption has substantially increased in India but the socioeconomic burden of alcohol use disorders (AUD) is understudied.
Methods: 48613 patients admitted from January 2009 to December 2018 for diseases directly or indirectly related to alcohol use (40.1% of total admission) were analysed. Retrospective analysis of prospectively maintained data was used as current study design. Diagnosis were arrived at by history, clinical examination and relevant investigations. Social data included demography, alcohol related information, social, emotional, psychological aspects and occupation related issues.
Results: There was a rising trend of both direct (59.3%) and indirect (40.7%) alcohol related disorders over the years with the following rates: injuries (30.6%), gastrointestinal disorders (16.7%), AUD (6.2%), other substance abuse (4.1%), seizures (1.7%), infections (16.7%), only diabetes mellitus (1.9%), gastrointestinal cancer (4%), cardiovascular disease (4.3%), neurovascular disease (8%) and chronic kidney disease (5.8%). 39.7% patients had pulmonary tuberculosis. This entailed a yearly hospital expenditure of INR 165.54 million and an additional INR 10.3 million for work absenteeism. 37.6% died whereas disability and poor work productivity led to relocation and premature retirement in 7.2%. Social aspects revealed early initiation of drinking (73% at <30 years of age) at instances of family/ friend in a conducive setting of easy availability and permissive “drinking environment” furthered by vissisitudes in later life. Heavy consumption of spirits (average 118 gm/day), often in binges, fortends serious health consequences.
Conclusions: Alcohol related socioeconomic burden is rapidly rising in India and needs urgent attention.
The impact of COVID-19 on residential rehabilitation programs for individuals with substance use disorder
Authors: Hemasinghe Imesha H. N. , Jayamaha Akila R. , Herath Nimesha D. M. , Ranadeva Nadeeka D. K. , Dharmarathna Nishadi D. , Senanayake Bhadrani , Thamara Darshana  , Renuka Nilani , Samarasinghe Kerstin L. , Fernando Neluka
Published: March 2023

According to UNODC and WHO global estimates, only one in six individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) has access to residential rehabilitation programmes. This proportion further declined as a result of COVID-19 pandemic, which caused devastating problems to the individuals with SUD. The provision of residential treatment for individuals with SUD was interrupted due to COVID-19, in the aspects of the rehabilitation program, recruitment and service provision for rehabilitees or clients, staff and the infrastructural facilities. Further, individuals with SUD are known to have a greater risk of being infected with COVID-19 virus and developing post COVID complications due to their unstable psychological state, weakened immunity, malnutrition and other health related complications which have arisen with the prolonged use of substances. There is a timely need to provide a substantial emphasis on individuals with SUD during COVID-19 pandemic and to undertake the necessary steps to deliver the needed treatment. Critical appraisal of the available empirical evidence is instrumental prior to the laying-out and providing residential rehabilitation amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, the current review intended to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on residential rehabilitation for individuals with SUD by scrutinizing the latest empirical evidence in order to battle against the future pandemic situations.
Re-emergence of human monkeypox 2022: its ecology and public health significance-short review article
Authors: Sanusi Karama Rahama , Akinola Ajoke , Kama John
Published: March 2023

Monkeypox virus (MPXV) is one of Orthopoxvirus subfamily, it’s refers to a zoonotic disease caused by MPXV. Human monkeypox, on the other hand, has a much lower morbidity and fatality rate than smallpox. Reference to the current resurgence, monkeypox outbreaks have been reported over the past 5 decades, 10 countries in Africa was initially discovered to be affected by the outbreak and subsequently 4 countries apart from Africa. Additionally, re-emergence of monkeypox in African countries, especially Nigeria about forty 40 years of the initial outbreak, midst 2010-2019. Climate change, deforestation, lack of proper health and research advance infrastructure among the society and uncontrol intake of bush meat in the African countries could have been the reason for the recent re-emergence of monkeypox within the communities. Public health significance of monkeypox outbreak could be the factors related to the vulnerability of the population towards MPXV when smallpox vaccination was stopped. Due to the rapid global outreach of monkeypox endemic, it should be therefore considered as a very serious re-surging pathogen in the world. However, detail and proper observational research could bring more light on the influence of MPXV on overall human population, together with the advancement in qualitative and quantitative of outbreak data collection, research in the current situation is crucial and need an emergency treat in order to encourage the researchers to improve more findings on the monkeypox outbreak, which will subsequently enhances appropriate case management and public health response.
Contact tracing of health care workers as a part of health system strengthening: lessons learnt from field experience
Authors: Pathak Vineet Kumar , Panigrahi Sunil Kumar , Raj Utsav , Giri Anjan Kumar , Kujur Anubhuti
Published: March 2023

Health care workers (HCWs) are the frontline workers working tirelessly during the pandemic of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). The same HCW, after duty, is exposed to his/ her community which again increases the risk of infection. Hence, with an increased risk of exposure, we cannot afford to lose our frontline workers due to sickness or more. In the absence of any definitive antiviral treatment, unclear modes of transmission, burnout working hours, fatigue, societal stigma related to disease etc., a HCW is exposed to psychological distress and many a time develops an anxiety/panic condition which can increase the chances of work-place error and thus can increase the likelihood of infection. In this article, we have shared our experience with contact tracing among HCWs, what we have learned in the past two years, and proposed a way forward.
Amplitude and latency of visual evoked potential are un-correlated variables: A revelation from normative laboratory database of eastern India
Authors: Roy Parthasarathi , Ghosh Shreoshee
Published: March 2023

To establish normative database andinvestigate whether VEP amplitude and latency have any correlation between them.

Institution based cross-sectional observational study done in Electrophysiology of Vision Laboratory at a tertiary centre in Eastern India. 126 subjects of age group between 20 and 59 years of either sex with best corrected visual acuity 6/6 in both eyes and no other eye ailments (except error of refraction) on examination with informed consent were included. PVEP with pattern reversal stimulus with check element size 1° (60') was recorded with Retimax “Advanced” machine (manufactured by CSO s.r.l., (Firenze) Italy) and standard silver-silver chloride disc electrodes. The test parameters were customized in the machine by the manufacturer and designated to measure the N75-P100 amplitude and P100 latency.

Normative values were established for our laboratory. Only the most reliable parameters for clinically significant alterations of visual pathway i.e. N75-P100 amplitude and P100 latency were included in the analysis. Results of uniocular, age group-wise and gender-wise values were obtained by descriptive statistics as per ISCEV guidelines. No linear co-relationship (ascertained by Spearman's rho Correlation Coefficient) was found between N75-P100 amplitude and P100 latency, in either of the eyes.

PVEP amplitude and latency are uncorrelated variables. To the best of our knowledge, our study was the first study in literature on correlation between amplitude and latency of PVEP.
Intrastromal and intracameral voriconazole combination: An adjuvant therapy in intractable mycotic keratitis
Authors: Dahiya Monika , Dua Mohit , Rathi Manisha , Sachdeva Sumit , Dabas Ruchi
Published: March 2023

: To study role of intrastromal and intracameral voriconazole combination in recalcitrant fungal Keratitis.

: 20 cases of recalcitrant fungal keratitis involving >50% stromal thickness and not showing good response to oral fluconazole, topical natamycin (5%) and topical voriconazole (1%) eye drops after 4 weeks of treatment were included in the study after taking informed written consent. Patients with impending or frank perforation, scleral involvement and endophthalmitis were excluded from the study. 30 min before the procedure, patient was given Tab acetazolamide 250mg stat to lower the intraocular pressure (IOP). Then under all aseptic conditions, 50 microgram/0.1 ml dose of intrastromal and intracameral voriconazole was given with 30G needle. Cases were examined daily for 1 week and then every week for 4 weeks for monitoring progression of fungal keratitis.

Out of 20 cases, 18 (90%) patients showed significant improvement after 4 weeks. Depending on the response after 1 week, patients were planned for repeat injection and only 1 patient required >3 injections in whom Lasiodiplodia theobromae was the causative organism. Only 1 patient got worsened and was ultimately managed with therapeutic keratoplasty.

Intrastromal and intracameral voriconazole combination is an easy procedure with short learning curve which is highly efficacious and cost effective in recalcitrant fungal keratitis.
Role of fundus fluorescein angiography in identifying the unexplained visual loss due to macular edema in peripheral retinal diseases
Authors: Sultana Aliya
Published: March 2023

: Aim of our study is to identify the peripheral retinal diseases in patients which is responsible for macular oedema causing visual loss in various age group of patients.

: In this retrospective study 30 patients of macular oedema presented to our department between January 2020 to December 2021 were examined in detail. Proper history taking, BCVA, slit lamp examination, fundus examination with indirect ophthalmoscopy, fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), OCT to quantify macular oedema and documentation done in all cases. Patients were managed with pan retinal photo coagulation, intra vitreal steroids and anti vegf were given to treat macular oedema.

: BCVA, fundus examination, FFA and OCT done in all cases, most of the patients showed good outcome with anti vegf, steroid injections and pan retinal photo coagulation, but reoccurrence of macular oedema noted in few cases after one year in cases where the cause of macular edema was not detected even after FFA.

: Peripheral examination of fundus is very important to diagnose these conditions, FFA has major role in studying the peripheral retina particularly in conditions where the clinical presentation is not apparent.
An Evaluation of the Impact of Zakah and Islamic Financial Instruments on Economic Growth
Authors: Rizal Sofyan , Adibah Nur
Published: March 2023

This study analyzes the effect of Islamic economic instruments, such as zakat, SBSN, and Islamic Venture Capital (MVS), on Indonesia's economic growth. GDP measures economic growth, while the zakat variable is proxied by the distribution carried out by BAZNAS. Furthermore, MVS and SBSN are measured by total sharia business financing, and total ownership of State Sukuk issued during the study period. This study uses multiple linear models to analyze the impact of Islamic venture capital, ZIS, and SBSN regression from 2011 – 2020. The multiple regression tests were used to partially or simultaneously determine the effect of ZIS funds delivery, Sukuk (SBSN), and Islamic venture capital financing on Indonesia's economic growth. The results showed that the distribution of ZIS partially significantly affects economic growth. The SBSN and Venture Capital variables also have a significant and positive effect. Simultaneously, ZIS distribution and Sharia financing, namely SBSN and Islamic Venture Capital, significantly affected economic growth. This result implies that an increase in Islamic capital financing, SBSN, and distribution of ZIS funds can positively encourage Indonesia's economic growth.
The Impact of The Covid-19 Pandemic on The Financial Performance of Islamic Rural Banks in Central Java
Authors: Mardhiyaturrositaningsih Mardhiyaturrositaningsih
Published: March 2023

Islamic Rural Banks have a priority scale in the real sector, which is solely dependent on economic conditions. Admittedly, the Covid-19 pandemic caused serious economic instability and Central Java is one of the regions in Indonesia most affected by the phenomenon. Therefore, this study aims to determine the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the financial performance of Islamic Rural Banks in Central Java using a descriptive quantitative approach. Based on purposive sampling, 23 Islamic Rural Banks in Central Java were selected as the research sample. The results of this study show that the Islamic Rural Bank in Central Java had very healthy capital and liquidity and this was determined by the quality of assets owned by the bank. However, it was observed that the profitability state of OER was not healthy while that of ROA was quite healthy. This proves that the Covid-19 pandemic caused a significant decrease in the various bank's ability to generate profits. To successfully face the potential risk of losing during events such as the Covid-19 pandemic, adequate capital is needed in the bank's reserve.The Islamic Rural Banks are more careful in terms of asset management to maintain the bank's healthy condition, therefore, they store adequate funds in their reserves to help them combat problems similar problems like this one. The practical implication of this research is that it will be useful for banking management, policy makers and users of banking services. Lastly, this research provides information that can be used by regulators in formulating appropriate policies to minimize the adverse effects of Covid-19.
The Determinants of Profit-Loss Sharing Financing of Islamic Banks in Indonesia
Authors: Salman Kautsar Riza
Published: March 2023

Profit-loss sharing financing is one of the leading business activities carried out by Islamic banks, including buying, selling, and leasing. Thus, it is important to identify the determinants of profit-loss sharing financing of Islamic banks. This study examines the effect of capital adequacy ratios, non-performing financing, third party funds, and profit-sharing rate on mudharabah deposits of Islamic banks in Indonesia. Eleven Islamic banks in Indonesia from 2015 to 2019 periode were selected as sample of the study using purposive sampling. Data analysis using Partial Least Square with SmartPLS software version 3.3.7. The study results indicate that third-party funds have a significant positive effect on profit-loss sharing financing. The increasing number of third-party funds that Islamic banks have collected from customers impacts increasing distribution in the form of profit-loss sharing financing. The study results also indicate that the capital adequacy ratio, non-performing financing, and profit-sharing rate on mudharabah deposits do not affect profit-loss sharing financing. The implications for Islamic banks are to maintain the amount of third-party funds collection and compliance with sharia principles.
The effect of the support nature and palladium dispersion on activity and selectivity of the palladium catalyst in hydrogenation of sunflower oil
Authors: Romanenko A. V. , Simonov P. A. , Kulagina M. A. , Udalova S. I. , Voropayev I. N. , Bukhtiyarova G. A.
Published: March 2023

Samples of the powdered catalysts Pd/C and Pd/Ox, which were synthesized by depositing 0.5 and 1.0 wt.% Pd on carbon materials (Sibunit 159k, thermal black Т-900, Vulcan XC-72R) and oxide supports (Ox: γ-Al2O3, Cr2O3, Ga2O3, TiO2, Ta2O5and V2O5, and kieselguhr FW-70), were studied. Their catalytic properties were investigated in the partial hydrogenation of sunflower oil. Comparative testing of the catalysts was performed in the kinetic mode using a static Parr reactor to estimate their activity and trans-isomerization selectivity. The effect of the average size of supported palladium particles (dCO) on the indicated characteristics in a wide range of dCOvalues was discussed.
The effect of water-soluble polymers on the dynamics of carbon dioxide sorption by lime sorbents
Authors: Derevschikov V. S. , Selyutina O. Yu.
Published: March 2023

The effect of water-soluble polymers with different structure on the sorption properties of nonregenerable lime sorbents of carbon dioxide was studied. It was found that the introduction of water-soluble polymers into the sorbents could either decrease or increase the protective power time of the sorbents. To explain the revealed regularities, pore structure of the sorbents was investigated, molecular-dynamic modeling of the carbon dioxide transport was performed, and CO2 diffusion coefficients in water-polymer solutions were calculated. The results of the modeling correlate with the sorption experiment data: a high dynamic sorption capacity of the sorbent is reached after adding a water-polymer medium with a high CO2 diffusion coefficient. The results obtained can be used both to optimize the systems for the recovery of carbon dioxide from gas mixtures and to intensify mass transfer in the systems intended for photo- and electrocatalytic conversion of CO2 to useful products.
The effect of testing conditions on the time of establishing a steady-state activity of the catalysts for the second hydrocracking step
Authors: Golubev I. S. , Dik P. P. , Kazakov M. O. , Klimov O. V. , Noskov A. S.
Published: March 2023

Catalysts for the second hydrocracking step were tested under different conditions in order to reduce the time of establishing their steadystate activity. The tests were carried out at a laboratory bench under the conditions close to industrial operation and typical of the second hydrocracking step. The introduction of an additional step at the onset of testing with the increased temperature and feed space velocity as well as the use of a dimethyl disulfide solution in decane as a sulfurization mixture were shown to considerably reduce the duration of experiment. Conditions of the preliminary step were selected so as to preserve the catalyst selectivity toward the diesel fraction.
Search for the optimal shape of the envelope of a microwave pulse of a powerful generator in the maximum permissible radiation mode
Authors: Volkov Aleksey A.
Published: March 2023

In the article, the problem of choosing the shape of the envelope of the microwave pulse of a powerful generator, which provides the maximum radiated surface antenna energy in the pre-breakdown mode, is formulated in the form of an isoperimetric problem of the calculus of variations, and its solution is obtained. Optimization was carried out at a fixed effective duration of the envelope. It has been established that the optimal shape depends on the effective pulse duration and is a truncated oval. As the pulse duration increases, the optimal shape tends to be rectangular. Analytical expressions are obtained that relate the effective duration and maximum allowable energy to the breakdown field for pulses with optimal, rectangular, Gaussian, and triangular envelopes. The dependences of the breakdown field and the maximum allowable energy of pulses with the indicated envelope shapes on the effective pulse duration are calculated in the range of realizable durations of powerful relativistic microwave generators. A comparative analysis of the obtained results is given.
Mathematical models of spheroidal spiral-frame radiating structures
Authors: Tabakov Dmitry P. , Valiullin Ruslan M.
Published: March 2023

The article considers mathematical models of two spheroidal spiral-frame emitters, built on the basis of a general approach involving the use of an integral representation electromagnetic field. The internal problem of electrodynamics is reduced to a system of Fredholm integral equations of the 1st kind. The resulting system was solved by the method of moments with piecewise constant basis functions and delta functions as test functions. In this case, the local linearization of the generating conductors of the structures under consideration was carried out. The dependences of current distributions, input resistance, and radiation characteristics of structures on frequency have been studied. It is shown that standing, traveling, and mixed current waves can exist in the structures under consideration. The current regime is determined by the wave sizes and the geometry of the structures and determines the behavior of the wave resistance in the frequency range. Despite the similar geometry, the characteristics of the considered structures have certain differences.
Investigation of the microwave chiral metamaterial based on a uniform set of C-shaped conductive inclusions
Authors: Buchnev Ivan Yu. , Kushnir Dmitry S. , Osipov Oleg V. , Frolova Margarita A.
Published: March 2023

The paper considers an artificial chiral metamaterial created on a homogeneous container basefrom foamed dielectric, in which flat conducting S-shaped microelements are evenly placed and arbitrarily oriented. To describe the metamaterial, a particular mathematical model was constructed that takes into account chirality, dispersion, and heterogeneity of the structure. The Maxwell Garnett model was used to account for heterogeneity. To take into account the dispersion of the chirality parameter, the Condon model known from the theory of optically active media was used. The partial domain method was used to solve the problem of the incidence of a plane electromagnetic wave of linear polarization on a planar layer created on the base of the investigated chiral metamaterial. The solution of the problem was reduced to an inhomogeneous system of linear algebraic equations for unknown reflection and transmission coefficients, taking into account the cross-polarization of the electromagnetic field. An analysis of the numerical results showed that the structure has pronounced frequency selective properties, in particular, as in the case of chiral metamaterial based on three-dimensional conductive elements, discrete frequencies were determined at which the structure is transparent to microwave radiation. Chiral metamaterial based on C-shaped microelements can be used to create narrow-band frequency-selective microwave energy concentrators of planar type.