bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
TERRA ONTseq: a long-read-based sequencing pipeline to study the human telomeric transcriptome
Authors: Rodrigues Joana , Alfieri Roberta , Bione Silvia , Azzalin Claus M.
Published: May 2024

The long noncoding RNA TERRA is transcribed from telomeres in virtually all eukaryotes with linear chromosomes. In humans, TERRA transcription is driven in part by promoters comprising CpG dinucleotide–rich repeats of 29 bp repeats, believed to be present in half of the subtelomeres. Thus far, TERRA expression has been analyzed mainly using molecular biology–based approaches that only generate partial and somehow biased results. Here, we present a novel experimental pipeline to study human TERRA based on long-read sequencing (TERRA ONTseq). By applying TERRA ONTseq to different cell lines, we show that the vast majority of human telomeres produce TERRA and that the cellular levels of TERRA transcripts vary according to their chromosomes of origin. Using TERRA ONTseq, we also identified regions containing TERRA transcription start sites (TSSs) in more than half of human subtelomeres. TERRA TSS regions are generally found immediately downstream from 29 bp repeat-related sequences, which appear to be more widespread than previously estimated. Finally, we isolated a novel TERRA promoter from the highly expressed subtelomere of the long arm of Chromosome 7. With the development of TERRA ONTseq, we provide a refined picture of human TERRA biogenesis and expression and we equip the scientific community with an invaluable tool for future studies.
The effects of dietary intervention combined with comprehensive exercise instruction on somatic function and quality of life in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus
Authors: Sha Xu , Zhao Xiaoxiao , Chen Yao
Published: May 2024

Objective: To assess the effects of dietary intervention combined with comprehensive exercise instruction on somatic function and quality of life in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus (DM).
Methods: This was application research. A total of 120 elderly patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) admitted to The No.2 Hospital of Baoding from March 10, 2022 to March 10, 2023 were included and randomly divided into the control group and the experimental group(n=60). Patients in the control group received conventional treatment and nursing regimen, while those in the experimental group were given dietary intervention combined with comprehensive exercise instruction based on the control group. The differences before and after treatment between the two groups were compared and analyzed.
Results: After the intervention, the experimental group had remarkably lower levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), 2h postprandial blood glucose(2hPG) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) than the control group (p=0.00), while significantly improved somatic function, psychological function, social function and material life status compared to the control group (p=0.00). The levels of SAS and SDS in the experimental group were significantly decreased compared with those in the control group (p=0.00). The levels of SOD, MDA and CAT in the experimental group were obviously superior to those in the control group, with statistically significant differences (p=0.00).
Conclusion: Dietary intervention combined with comprehensive exercise instruction is an effective treatment for elderly patients with DM, boasting a variety of benefits such as regulating patients’ blood glucose levels, improving patient satisfaction, and ameliorating the level of oxidative stress in the body, which is worthy of clinical promotion.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.6.7897
How to cite this: Sha X, Zhao X, Chen Y. The effects of dietary intervention combined with comprehensive exercise instruction on somatic function and quality of life in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(6):1201-1206. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.6.7897
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Effects of comprehensive exercise training on frailty, negative emotions and physical functions of elderly patients with diabetes
Authors: Zhao Xiaoxiao , Sha Xu , Qi Lanfeng
Published: May 2024

Objective: To evaluate the effects of comprehensive exercise training on frailty, negative emotions and physical functions of elderly patients with diabetes.
Methods: This is a retrospective study. A total of 140 elderly patients with T2DM in The No.2 Hospital of Baoding were selected from December, 2021 to June, 2023 and randomly divided into two groups, with 70 patients in each group. The control group was given routine nursing and routine exercise education, and the study group was additionally given comprehensive exercise training. Tilburg frailty indicator (TFI), emotional status, physical functions, grip strength, fasting blood glucose and patient satisfaction were compared and analyzed between the two groups.
Results: Before the intervention, TFI showed no significant differences between the two groups (p>0.05). After the intervention, physical, psychological and social frailty in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group, with statistically significant differences (p= 0.00). SAS and SDS scores reduced significantly in the study group compared with those in the control group after the intervention, with statistically significant differences (p=0.00). After the intervention, the grip strength was significantly larger while the fasting blood glucose was significantly lower in the study group compared with those in the control group, with statistically significant differences (p=0.00). Patient satisfaction in the study group was higher than in the control group, with a statistically significant difference(p=0.03).
Conclusion: Comprehensive exercise training for elderly patients with diabetes is beneficial to improving their frail state, negative emotions, blood glucose levels and physical functions. It has significant clinical application value.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.6.7955
How to cite this: Zhao X, Sha X, Qi L. Effects of comprehensive exercise training on frailty, negative emotions and physical functions of elderly patients with diabetes. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(6):1225-1230. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.6.7955
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Effects of minimally invasive surgery combined with specialized pain management nursing care on postoperativepain improvement and life quality after spinal injury
Authors: Zhong Na , Wang Hai-yun , Wei Qiong , Li Hui , Zhang Na , Hao Jian-xue
Published: May 2024

Objective: To determine the impacts to research the impacts of pain’s Specialized Pain Management Nursing Care in the perioperative period on pain symptoms and life quality of patients experiencing minimally invasive surgery for spinal injury.
Method: Eighty patients with a spinal injury who underwent minimally invasive surgery in the Department of Orthopedics of Baoding No.1 Hospital from January 2018 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. They were split into two groups following different nursing methods (n=40 each group). Specialized Pain Management Nursing Care were given to patients in the observation group. Those in the control group were given treated with routine care. Their pain score and nursing effect were compared, after which their quality of life, daily living ability and complication rate compared and analyzed.
Results: The pain degree in the control group was considerably more than that in the observation group in the 1st postoperative period. The pain degree, which decreased in both groups, slumped more significantly in the observation group on the 2nd and 3rd postoperative days. The postoperative hospital stays and pain duration in the observation group were shorter than those in the control group (P<0.05), and the nursing effect was significantly better than that in the control group (P<0.05). After postoperative nursing intervention.
Conclusion: Minimally invasive surgery integrated with the Specialized Pain Management Nursing Care can remarkably ameliorate pain after spinal injury surgery, reducing complications’ incidence, and improving the life quality for patients.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.6.8652
How to cite this: Zhong N, Wang H, Wei Q, Li H, Zhang N, Jian-xue Hao6. Effects of minimally invasive surgery combined with specialized pain management nursing care on postoperative pain improvement and life quality after spinal injury. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(6):1158-1162. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.6.8652
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Integrons and multidrug resistance across phylogenetic groups of clinical isolates of Escherichia coli
Authors: Razzaq Rimsha , Sheraz Ahmad , Mohsin Muhammad , Bashir Asad , Haque Abdul
Published: May 2024

Objective: This study was aimed to investigate the multidrug resistance patterns in clinical isolates of Escherichia coli and their correlation with integrons and phylogenetic groupings.
Methods: A total of 37 clinical E. coli isolates were evaluated for drug resistance patterns by disk diffusion method. Phylogenetic groupings and the presence of integrons among E. coli were determined by multiplex PCR assays.
Results: Multidrug resistance was identified in 84% of the clinical isolates of E. coli with higher resistance found against cephalosporins (94.6%) and fluoroquinolones (83.8%), while lower resistance was observed against polymyxins (24.3%) and carbapenems (29.7%). Metallo-β-lactamases were found in all carbapenem resistant isolates. The phylogenetic group B2 was the most dominant (40.5%), followed by groups A (35.1%), D (13.5%) and B1 (10.8%). Integrons were detected in 25 (67.6%) isolates and intI1, intI2, and intI3 genes were found in 62.2%, 18.9% and 10.8% of isolates respectively.
Conclusion: Our results show that phylogenetic classification of E. coli is not relevant with antimicrobial resistance. However, there was strong association between the integron classes and resistance against β-lactam and fluoroquinolones antimicrobials. Additionally, this study highlighted that the presence of integrons plays a crucial role in the development of multidrug resistance in clinical isolates of E. coli. Most significantly, this is the first report of detection of three classes of integron among clinical isolates of E. coli in Pakistan.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.6.8886
How to cite this: Razzaq R, Sheraz A, Arshad MM, Awan AB, Haque A. Integrons and multidrug resistance across phylogenetic groups of clinical isolates of Escherichia coli. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(6):1190-1195. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.6.8886
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Direct oral anticoagulants vs Vitamin-K antagonists in solid organ transplant recipients: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: He Chujun , Yao Chunchun
Published: May 2024

Objective: Oure review aimed to examine evidence on the safety and efficacy of direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) vs Vitamin K antagonists (VKA) in patients with solid organ transplants.
Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science libraries were searched from inception to 25th November 2023 for all studies comparing DOAC with VKA in solid organ recipients.
Results: Nine studies were included with patients who had undergone kidney, heart, or liver transplants. Meta-analysis showed that patients receiving DOAC had a significantly reduced risk of composite bleeding as compared to those with VKA (RR: 0.45 95% CI: 0.30, 0.68 I2=25%). However, the risk of major bleeding was not significantly different between the two groups (RR: 0.76 95% CI: 0.40, 1.42 I2=37%). Pooled analysis showed that the risk of VTE (RR: 0.90 95% CI: 0.72, 1.13 I2=0%) and ischemic stroke (RR: 0.87 95% CI: 0.39, 1.94 I2=12%) was not significantly different between DOAC and VKA groups.
Conclusion: Limited data shows that DOAC are safe and effective in patients with solid organ transplants. The overall risk of bleeding may be reduced with the use of DOAC. There is a need for randomized controlled trials comparing DOAC and VKA in such patients to obtain high-quality evidence.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.6.9305
How to cite this: He C, Yao C. Direct oral anticoagulants vs Vitamin-K antagonists in solid organ transplant recipients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(6):1267-1273. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.6.9305
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
The evaluation value of intracranial magnetic resonance angiography combined with carotid ultrasound in cerebral infarction
Authors: Guo Xueliang , Sun Lin
Published: May 2024

Objective: To explore the evaluation value of intracranial magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) combined with carotid ultrasound (CU) in patients with cerebral infarction (CI).
Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 122 patients with CI who underwent intracranial MRA combined with CU examination in Shengzhou People’s Hospital from January 2021 to October 2022. Vascular stenosis rate and CU parameters of patients with different degrees of nerve damage (ND) and size of CI lesion were analyzed.
Results: The rate of vascular stenosis and ultrasound parameters significantly varied between patients with different degrees of ND and different sizes of CI lesion. Spearman test showed a significant positive correlation between vascular stenosis, pulsatile index (PI), and resistance index (RI) with the degree of ND and the size of CI lesions in patients. There was a significant negative correlation between peak systolic velocity (PSV) and end-diastolic velocity (EDV) and the degree of ND and the size of CI lesions (P<0.05).
Conclusions: Intracranial MRA combined with CU can clarify the vascular stenosis and hemodynamic characteristics of patients with CI, and the combined approach closely correlates with the characteristics of CI, which can be used for disease assessment.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.6.9312
How to cite this: Guo X, Sun L. The evaluation value of intracranial magnetic resonance angiography combined with carotid ultrasound in cerebral infarction. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(6):1140-1145. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.6.9312
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Congenital Vallecular Cyst: A Case Report of rare cause of upper air way obstruction in infant
Authors: Iram Iqbal  , Ayaz ur Rehman  , Ariba Siddiqui  , Naveed Ur Rehman Siddiqui
Published: May 2024

Congenital vallecular cyst is one of the rare etiologies of upper airway obstruction. Due to the scarcity of literature review, the exact incidence is not known. We report the case of a 10-month-old infant, who came to to Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) for the first time with signs of upper airway obstruction; was initially misdiagnosed as foreign body aspiration for which an emergency bronchoscopy was performed that did not reveal any foreign body. The patient was then managed in the pediatric intensive care unit, where he was diagnosed as a congenital vallecular cyst on a subsequent laryngoscopy after extubation failure. The cyst was aspirated and cauterized by the ENT team. The patient was successfully extubated without any signs of upper airway obstruction. In evaluating a child with signs and symptoms of upper airway obstruction, it is crucial to consider not only common causes like foreign body, acute epiglottitis, and croup, but also rare factors such as laryngeal cysts.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.6.9433
How to cite this: Iqbal I, Ayaz Ur Rehman, Siddiqui A, Siddiqui NR. Congenital Vallecular Cyst: A Case Report of rare cause of upper air way obstruction in infant. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(6):1310-1312. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.6.9433
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Prognostic factors and outcomes in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated glomerulonephritis: A retrospective single-center study from southern China
Authors: Zhong Lanxing , Zhang Ying , Jia Nan , Su Xiaotong , Zhong Menger , Zhao Chunmei
Published: May 2024

Objective: To investigate the prognostic factors and outcomes in patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated glomerulonephritis (ANCA-GN) in Southern China
Methods: A retrospective analysis of medical records of patients with ANCA-GN admitted to Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University and Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University between September 2011 and September 2021 was performed. The clinical presentation, biological, and renal pathology were collected. In addition, the risk factors for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and short-term overall survival in patients with ANCA-GN were analyzed.
Results: A total of 93 patients with ANCA-GN were included in the study. Of them, 91.4%, were perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (MPO-pANCA)-positive. Approximately one-quarter (24.7%) of patients had progressed to ESRD, and 7.5% died within six months. Most patients presented with hematuria (94.6%), proteinuria (78.5%), elevated serum creatinine (86.0%), anemia (90.3%), and increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (44.1%). The majority (94.6%) of patients presented with crescent formations at histopathological examination. Serum creatinine, hemoglobin, and Birmingham vasculitis activity score (BVAS) were all independent factors for ESRD (P<0.05). Moreover, while ANCA renal risk score (ARRS) has an impact on prognosis of nephropathy, it did not influence ESRD independently (P>0.05). The effect of Berden’s histopathologic classification on ESRD has not been confirmed. Age at onset, ESR and cardiovascular involvement were all independent factors affecting short-term overall survival of patients with ANCA-GN (P<0.05).
Conclusions: Serum creatinine, hemoglobin, and BVAS were all independent risk factors of ESRD, while ARRS and Berden’s histopathologic classification were not. Age at onset, ESR, and cardiovascular involvement were independent risk factors for the overall six-month survival rate in patients with ANCA-GN.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.6.9683
How to cite this: Zhong L, Zhang Y, Jia N, Su X, Zhong M, Zhao C. Prognostic factors and outcomes in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated glomerulonephritis: A retrospective single-center study from southern China. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(6):1247-1255. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.6.9683
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Hobbes' hedonism in front of classical hedonism and the free market‘s way out
Authors: Vavouras Elias
Published: May 2024

In this inquiry, it becomes evident that Hobbes' hedonism differs essentially from all the theoretical approaches of classical hedonism. The most important differentiation lies in the issue of rationality. Ancient Greek hedonism in all its manifestations cannot be separated from the rational function as a structural feature of the human existence. Any conception of bliss as pleasure presupposes the rational distinction and choice of pleasures. For Hobbes the free market is the equivalent of the natural condition, a space of insatiable fulfillment of one desire after another. Possessive individualism, greedful expansion over the others and continuous transition from one pleasure to another find their justification in this vast economic becoming. The state upholds its founding goal of self-preservation and the safety of its citizens, while the free market gives the prospect of achieving bliss as hedonistic vanity and domination over others.
Rousseau, Leo Strauss, and Denaturalization
Authors: Tsampazis Nick
Published: May 2024

Rousseau’s concept of denaturalization refers to the process of transition from the unhappy and corrupt modern man to the citizen of the Social Contract. The project is contradictory and fails. Denaturalization is incomplete and wrong. The problem, according to Strauss, comes down to choosing the right natural foundation for a “good life”. Neither the unnatural general will nor the imitation of original natural man’s way of life in the modern conditions (a renaturalization of sorts) can offer it. This requires classic natural law.
Η Αποκάλυψη του Τριαδικού Θεού με βάση την ενότητα Παλαιάς και Καινής Διαθήκης κατά τους Πατέρες του 4ου αι.
Authors: Γκραμπόζοβ Μπόρτσε
Published: May 2024

Η παρούσα διατριβή δομείται σε τέσσερα κεφάλαια. Προηγούνται πρόλογος και εισαγωγή ενώ έπονται συμπεράσματα, summary και βιβλιογραφία η οποία διαιρείται σε πατερικές πηγές και βοηθήματα. Στο πρώτο κεφάλαιο εκτίθεται η θεολογία της Εκκλησίας, η οποία είναι η βαπτισματική ομολογία στον τριαδικό Θεό κατά τη λειτουργική πράξη της, και κινείται στη βασική ομολογία: Θεός ο Πατέρας, Θεός ο Υιός, Θεός το Άγιο Πνεύμα, αλλά όχι τρείς θεοί, «Μονάδα εἰς Τριάδα και Τριάδα εἰς Μονάδα». Η διάσπαση της βαπτισματικής ομολογίας στον τριαδικό Θεό σημαίνει διάσπαση στην ομολογία της Θεότητας και ως εκ τούτου της ενότητας της θείας Οικονομίας, Παλαιάς και Καινής Διαθήκης. Στο δεύτερο κεφάλαιο της μελέτης εκτυλίσσεται το έργο του Λόγου, του ίδιου του Υιού του Θεού στην ενότητα και την πορεία της θείας Οικονομίας, Παλαιάς και Καινής Διαθήκης, με τη δημιουργία, τις θεοφάνειες και την ενανθρώπηση. Αποδεικνύεται ο τρόπος με τον οποίον ο Μ. Αθανάσιος και οι Καππαδόκες Πατέρες προσεγγίζουν την ενότητα της θείας Οικονομίας, Παλαιάς και Καινής Διαθήκης, και αυτό είναι μέσω των ιδιαίτερων «ὀνομάτων» του Λόγου, Υιού του Θεού και Κυρίου Ιησού Χριστού. Στο τρίτο κεφάλαιο εκτυλίσσεται το έργο του Πνεύματος του Θεού στην ενότητα και την πορεία της θείας Οικονομίας, όσο πριν τόσο και μετά την ενανθρώπηση του Λόγου του Θεού, με άλλα λόγια στην ιστορία της Παλαιάς και της Καινής Διαθήκης. Ως εκ τούτου αναλύονται τα «ὀνόματα» του Αγίου Πνεύματος, που θησαυρίζονται στα ι. κείμενα της Αγίας Γραφής. Στο τέταρτο κεφάλαιο προσεγγίζεται ερμηνευτικά η Πεντηκοστή, η οποία είναι γεγονός της πλήρης φανέρωσης του τριαδικού Θεού, με την έλευση του Αγίου Πνεύματος, αποκάλυψη του παραδείσου, δηλαδή κόσμος και ιστορία των Αγίων. Στο παρόν κεφάλαιο ασχολούμαστε με την ανταπόκριση του ανθρώπου στην αποκάλυψη του Θεού, με την Πεντηκοστή και μετά. Κλείνουμε την εργασία με το θέμα της δράσης του Αγίου Πνεύματος εκτός της Εκκλησίας, το οποίο Πνεύμα «ὅπου θέλει πνεῖ», σε όλη την κτίση και σε όλη τη δυνάμει Εκκλησία, δηλαδή εντός και εκτός της Εκκλησίας.
Κλινικοστατιστική μελέτη του βαθμού ικανοποίησης των ασθενών που προσέρχονται για οδοντιατρική θεραπεία στο Εθνικό Σύστημα Υγείας της Περιφέρειας Θεσσαλίας
Authors: Λιανού Αναστασία
Published: May 2024

Εισαγωγή: Η σχέση ιατρού-ασθενούς και η ποιοτική κλινική επικοινωνία συνιστούν τις θεμέλιες λίθους για την επιτυχημένη έκβαση μίας θεραπευτικής ή προληπτικής διαδικασίας. Η εκπαίδευση των ιατρών στην ανάπτυξη επικοινωνιακών ικανοτήτων, ώστε να παρέχουν μία ουσιαστική και αποτελεσματική φροντίδα στους ασθενείς, οδηγεί την κλινική έρευνα να εξετάσει διεξοδικά την κλινική επικοινωνία μεταξύ του ιατρού και του ασθενή του και να οριοθετήσει το κατάλληλο επικοινωνιακό μοντέλο. Σκοπός: Σκοπός της έρευνας ήταν να αξιολογηθούν τόσο οι απόψεις των οδοντιάτρων σχετικά με την κλινική επικοινωνία, δίνοντας την προσωπική τους εκτίμηση, όσο και οι απόψεις των ασθενών τους, εκφράζοντας τη γνώμη τους σχετικά με το πως αντιλαμβάνονται την επικοινωνία ιατρού-ασθενή, αλλά και να διερευνηθεί ο βαθμός ικανοποίησης τους από τον θεράποντα οδοντίατρο τους και από τη μεταξύ τους κλινική επικοινωνία. Μέθοδος: Στην παρούσα έρευνα εφαρμόστηκε ποσοτική προσέγγιση και ως ερευνητικό εργαλείο χρησιμοποιήθηκε το γραπτό ερωτηματολόγιο. Το δείγμα της έρευνας αποτέλεσαν οι 200 ασθενείς που επισκέφτηκαν το Οδοντιατρικό Τμήμα των δημόσιων Νοσοκομείων της Περιφέρειας Θεσσαλίας και δέχτηκαν να συμμετάσχουν. Ως μέθοδος δειγματοληψίας χρησιμοποιήθηκε η απλή τυχαία δειγματοληψία. Αποτελέσματα: Οι ασθενείς εξέφρασαν αναλυτικά τις απόψεις τους σχετικά με την επικοινωνία οδοντίατρου-ασθενή και την εμπειρία της εξέτασής τους. Από τα αποτελέσματα προκύπτει ότι αυτοί είναι αρκετά ικανοποιημένοι από την επικοινωνία που έχουν με τον οδοντίατρο του Οδοντιατρικού Τμήματος του Νοσοκομείου και την εξέταση, καθώς και από τη συμπεριφορά τόσο του οδοντίατρου όσο και του προσωπικού. Η κλινική επικοινωνία γιατρών-ασθενών επιδρά στην ικανοποίηση των ασθενών από την εξέταση και από τη συμπεριφορά του γιατρού. Τέλος, τα δημογραφικά χαρακτηριστικά του φύλου, της ηλικίας και του επίπεδου σπουδών επιδρούν στον βαθμό ικανοποίησης του ασθενή από την εξέταση και από τη συμπεριφορά του γιατρού. Συμπεράσματα: Τα αποτέλεσμα ανέδειξαν παράγοντες της κλινικής επικοινωνίας που επιδρούν τόσο στην ικανοποίηση των χρηστών των οδοντιατρικών υπηρεσιών όσο και στην ποιότητα των παρεχόμενων υπηρεσιών. Η σημαντικότητα της εγκαθίδρυσης μίας καλής επικοινωνιακής σχέσης μεταξύ οδοντιάτρου-ασθενούς είναι καθοριστική, καθώς επιδρά στα αποτελέσματα της οδοντιατρικής θεραπείας και στην επιθυμία του ασθενούς να επανέλθει για να φροντίσει τη στοματική του υγεία. Ως εκ τούτου, η εκπαίδευση και επιμόρφωση των οδοντιάτρων σε ζητήματα επικοινωνίας καθίσταται επιτακτική.
A pharmacokinetic randomised interventional study to optimise dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine dosing for malaria preventive treatment in Malawian infants: A protocol for the OPTIMAL study
Authors: Banda Clifford G , Kantonya Mphatso S , Munharo Steven , Chirwa Marumbo E , Kapulula Mayamiko D , Chavula Hellen D , Chiyana Aubrey , Katunga-Phiri Vincent , Patel Diksha , Katangwe Vusumuzi , Allen Elizabeth , ter Kuile Feiko , Mwapasa Victor , Terlouw Dianne J , Tarning Joel , Barnes Karen I
Published: May 2024

Background A newer malaria preventive treatment, dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP), has been identified as an effective alternative to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, to which malaria parasites are increasingly becoming resistant. However, how best to dose DP to safely prevent malaria in infants when aligned with routine health facility visits remains unresolved. As infants are usually excluded from participating in early dose optimisation clinical trials, the present study seeks to shift the paradigm and develop optimised DP dosing strategies for malaria preventive treatment in infants. Methods A randomised, single-blind, placebo-controlled, two-arm, interventional study will be conducted in southern Malawi. At 10 weeks (2.5 months) of age, 220 eligible infants will be randomised to receive DP (intervention group, n=110) or placebo (control group, n=110) with routine vaccines. They will be followed until 12 months of age and receive three further DP or placebo treatment courses at 14 weeks, six- and nine months. Infants in the intervention group will contribute capillary samples for piperaquine concentrations pre-dose and at three-, seven-, 14- and 28-days post-DP dosing as well as capillary samples pre-dose and on day 28 post-DP to quantify malaria parasitaemia using microscopy and quantitative PCR. In the control group, infants will contribute capillary blood samples for malaria parasitaemia at the same time points as the intervention group. Malaria incidence and adverse events will be compared between the two groups. Population pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modelling techniques will be applied to derive feasible, optimised, efficacious, and safe DP dosing strategies for malaria preventive treatment in infancy. Conclusions The findings will provide the much-needed evidence to inform DP dosing for malaria preventive treatment in infants when administered with routine health facility visits. Additionally, they will help inform optimal DP dosing for malaria treatment in infants. The trial was registered with the Pan African Clinical Trials Registry; (PACTR202211575727659) on 8 November 2022. Protocol version 3.1, dated 29 September 2022.
Una década de tejidos interculturales: la Universidad del Rosario en territorio arhuaco
Authors: Santamaría Ángela
Published: May 2024

En la primera parte del capítulo presentaremos la apuesta metodológica y la historia del proceso. En la segunda, reflexionamos en torno a las principales características históricas que configuran el proceso. Finalmente, mostramos cómo este proceso regional ha nutrido nuestras prácticas de enseñanza y de investigación.
Histología del envejecimiento
Authors: Cediel Becerra Juan Fernando
Published: May 2024

Este capítulo se presenta ordenado por sistemas y cada uno de ellos pretende exponer los principales eventos histológicos asociados con el envejecimiento.
La Inquisición en la Nueva Granada
Authors: Campillo Pardo Alberto José
Published: May 2024

Así pues, en el presente artículo se llevará a cabo una breve reconstrucción histórica de la Inquisición neogranadina, su funcionamiento y algunas de sus atribuciones principales, hasta su desaparición a principios del siglo XIX, como marco para entender la importancia que esta institución tuvo dentro de la sociedad colonial en la Nueva Granada.
De Angostura a la separación, 1819-1853: las relaciones Estado-Iglesia en los primeros años republicanos
Authors: Cortés Guerrero José David
Published: May 2024

Los historiadores fragmentan el pasado a su antojo. Crean límites temporales que dividen, sobre el papel, el antes y el después. Este artículo no será la excepción. Sin embargo, las divisiones temporales se pueden justificar1. Aquí observaremos cómo se fueron delineando las relaciones entre el Estado y la Iglesia católica, como institución, desde 1819 hasta 1853, esto es, desde la Ley Fundamental proclamada en Angostura, las victorias militares del ejército emancipador contra las tropas realistas, en cercanías de Bogotá (esencialmente la del Pantano de Vargas, el 25 de julio, y la del Puente de Boyacá, el 7 de agosto), y el inicio de la campaña religioso-política promovida por Francisco de Paula Santander para justificar, desde el púlpito, la ruptura del orden colonial, todo esto en 1819, hasta la separación legal del Estado y la Iglesia en 18532. Teniendo en cuenta lo anterior, he dividido el texto en tres apartados: 1819-1824, desde Angostura hasta la promulgación del patronato republicano; 1824-1835, esto es, hasta la aceptación de la independencia por la Santa Sede; 1835-1853, hasta la ley de separación Estado-Iglesia en junio de 18533. En cada uno de estos espacios temporales veremos, a grandes rasgos, la forma como se fueron delineando las relaciones entre el naciente Estado republicano con la Iglesia católica como institución.
La devoción popular en Colombia a partir de las novenas
Authors: Arboleda Mora Carlos
Published: May 2024

Las novenas eran el texto y la forma de vivir una religiosidad llena de santos, divinidades y ritos, y la manera de pedir ayuda para sobrellevar las vicisitudes de la vida en una sociedad todavía agraria. Los textos novenarios ayudaban a la gente a vivir su religiosidad, y para nosotros hoy son un medio de conocer el contenido y la forma de esta. Se pretende mostrar cómo las novenas ocupaban gran parte del tiempo de los creyentes y daban sentido a diferentes momentos de la vida cotidiana.
Misiones protestantes en la primera mitad del siglo XX. Historia inicial de una ciudadanía religiosa
Authors: López Amaya Jeiman David
Published: May 2024

A modo de tesis general, en este apartado se argumenta que la inserción y expansión de los movimientos misioneros protestantes en el país no solamente se debió al ímpetu de la actividad religiosa de misioneros extranjeros, sino también a factores políticos de orden nacional e internacional, los cuales generaron condiciones favorables. Con base en lo anterior, se espera que el lector pueda conocer y comprender, en primer lugar, las dinámicas históricas de las misiones protestantes en el territorio nacional, las políticas de inserción, las cifras de crecimiento y expansión, así como las estrategias de evangelización; en segundo lugar, un esbozo de aquellos factores políticos que animaron la inserción y expansión del protestantismo en Colombia; y, en tercer lugar, una reseña de los debates que reforzaron actitudes de intolerancia hacia los protestantes en el país, lo cual legitimó la consideración de estos como un asunto de seguridad nacional. Finalmente, a modo de conclusión, el lector podrá identificar que, como cierre del periodo de estudio, los evangélicos, por las circunstancias históricas del momento, lograron configurar un tipo de ciudadanía religiosa evangélica diferenciada de la sociedad mayoritaria, aspecto que marcaría una nueva etapa en la historia del protestantismo en el periodo posterior.
La libertad religiosa y de culto: un camino en construcción
Authors: Reyes Sánchez Gina Marcela
Published: May 2024

En este artículo analizamos cómo a partir de la puesta en vigencia de la carta constitucional de 1991, en la que se contemplan la libertad de conciencia y de cultos como derechos fundamentales de los colombianos, se abre el camino para que los múltiples actores religiosos planteen reivindicaciones al Estado colombiano con el fin de que tales derechos sean efectivos. Se generan así transformaciones en el ámbito jurídico orientadas a dar tratamiento integral a los derechos mencionados bajo la consideración de que, al igual que sucede con todas las libertades públicas, el Estado debe formular las diferentes acciones para su reconocimiento y protección.
Resource Allocation in an Uncertain Environment: Application to Snowplowing Operations in Utah
Authors: Wang Yinhu , Chen Ye , Ryzhov Ilya O. , Liu Xiaoyue Cathy , Marković Nikola
Published: May 2024

We consider a two-stage planning problem where a fleet of snowplow trucks is divided among a set of independent regions, each of which then designs routes for efficient snow removal. The central authority wishes to allocate trucks to improve service quality across the regions. Stochasticity is introduced by uncertain weather conditions and unforeseen failures of snowplow trucks. We study two versions of this problem. The first aims to minimize the maximum turnaround time (across all regions) that can be sustained with a user-specified probability. The second seeks to minimize the total expected workload that has not been completed within a user-specified time frame. We develop algorithms that solve these problems effectively and demonstrate their practical value through a case application to snowplowing operations in Utah, obtaining solutions that significantly outperform the allocation currently used in practice.

Funding: Financial support from the Utah Department of Transportation [Grant 218138]; the National Science Foundation [Grant CMMI-2112758]; and the Mountain-Plains Consortium [Grant 637] is gratefully acknowledged.

Supplemental Material: The e-companion is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2023.0024 .
Effects of Long-Term Storage of Pig Slurry on Nitrogen Loss in Different Seasons and Storage Conditions
Authors: Chen Guangyin , Dong Jinzhu , Wu Pei , Wang Enhui , Zheng Jiawei , Liu Xu
Published: May 2024

Highlights

The physicochemical properties of the pig slurry in different seasons were different, the contents of COD and total nitrogen of the pig slurry in the summer were significantly higher than the pig slurry in the other seasons.

The slurry temperature varied greatly in different seasons, which affected the changes of indicators in pig slurry during long-term storage.

Storing pig slurry under sealed conditions was significantly more beneficial in reducing N loss, which was 47%–56% lower than that in the open treatments.

Abstract. Pig slurry (PS) can be applied to farmland only in certain periods during the year, so long-term storage is required before field application. The effects of the long-term storage of the PS on N loss in different seasons and under different storage conditions (open and sealed storage) were investigated in this study. The physicochemical properties and slurry temperature varied greatly in different seasons. The electrical conductivity, chemical oxygen demand, ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, total nitrogen (TN), and heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, As, and Cd) decreased after 150 days of storage, while the pH value increased, and all these indicators (except for the heavy metals) were affected by the slurry temperature, exhibiting a larger decrease at higher slurry temperatures. The decrease in the N loss was 47%–56% lower in the sealed treatments than in the open treatments. The As, Pb, and Cd contents of the stored PS (except for the AU-OP treatment) met the requirements specified for GB/T 40750-2021. Overall, storing PS under sealed and lower temperature conditions was conducive to reducing N loss and improving the N content of the stored PS. Keywords: Heavy metal, Nitrogen loss, Open storage, Pig slurry, Sealed storage, Temperature.
Setting Standards for Personal Health Data in the Age of 5G and 6G Networks
Authors: Koren Ana , Prasad Ramjee
Published: May 2024

Electronic health records (EHRs) play a vital role in simplifying thorough and effective patient treatment, promoting smooth exchange of information between medical professionals, and enhancing the process of making clinical decisions. With the increasing adoption of sensor-embedded smart wearables and home automation devices, new opportunities arise for innovative solutions in various sectors, such as eHealth. In the age of 5G and 6G, the potential of utilizing user-collected health data becomes vast, promising significant improvements in people’s health and well-being. Realizing continuous healthcare access takes a step closer to reality by equipping EHRs to effectively store and interpret data collected by these sensors. This would result in personalized medical services that adhere to standardized practices. This paper presents a comprehensive review of contemporary advancements in the realm of standardization methods aimed at managing personal health data. The study delves into an extensive analysis of state-of-the-art solutions that have emerged to address the intricate challenges associated with the harmonization and uniformity of personal health information. By systematically examining these cutting-edge approaches, the review elucidates the diverse strategies employed to establish a cohesive framework for organizing, storing, and exchanging personal health data. Furthermore, the review critically evaluates the effectiveness and limitations of each solution in terms of promoting interoperability, safeguarding data privacy, and facilitating seamless data sharing among healthcare stakeholders. Furthermore, this paper then presents an approach to standardize the data by establishing semantic constraints for healthcare data types and proposing a validation procedure to ensure compliance with relevant standards and regulations.
Cuban Coffee Production: An Analysis from 1950 to 2017
Authors: Montes Rosalina , Vasallo Leosveli , Martínez Lourdes M. , Escarré Antonio , Bonet Andreu
Published: May 2024

Coffee production in Cuba had its highest value in 1961, and since then it has steadily decreased. We evaluate Cuban coffee production from 1950 to 2017 through a chronological series of data production (production, yield) and cultivation areas, and determine the influence of the loss of productive areas on the productive values. In this period the evaluated variables decreased significantly. The maximum production reached 60,326 tonnes in 1961, and the minimum 4,973 tonnes in 2012. The maximum yield was 0.36 tonnes ha−1 in 1961 and the minimum was 0.08 tonnes ha−1 in 2005. The hectares of coffee plantations decreased from 185,947.52 in 1969 to 42,296 in 2017. This decrease explains 36.8% of the decline in production. We argue that this decline is mainly due to internal factors (armed conflicts, migration, inadequate management, and economic crisis). This multifactorial process and complex situation should be considered in future studies.
Realising Disability Rights in Non-Liberal Contexts
Authors: Yang Daryl WJ
Published: May 2024

A key innovation of the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is its recognition of the critical importance of the principle of meaningful participation in realising the rights enshrined in the treaty document. Hence, the CRPD is the first human rights treaty to mandate the participation of civil society in the implementation and monitoring of the treaty. What happens, however, in a non-liberal society where human rights activism is potentially risky and lacks cultural resonance?

This article turns to Singapore as a case study and analyses how one particular cross-disability representative organisation participated in the CRPD monitoring process through the ritualistic mobilisation of disability rights. This mobilisation was enabled by the CRPD’s obligations of conduct, which provide a justification for their participation in the CRPD monitoring process. Hence, the usual risks associated with human rights activism in Singapore can be mitigated because these activists are technically assisting the Singapore government in fulfilling its obligations under the treaty. Such tactics of ritualistic mobilisation are aimed ultimately at the ritualisation of disability rights, which refers to the entrenchment of the human rights model of disability policy as the dominant political paradigm through which to approach disability issues.

In addition to demonstrating the impact of obligations of conduct enshrined in the CRPD on the mobilisation of disability rights, this article adds to the growing recognition in socio-legal and human rights scholarship that civil society participation and rights mobilisation may take a variety of forms, not only the more explicit or confrontational modes that feature in Western liberal democracies. It also contributes to the growing literature on disability movements in East Asian developmental welfare states by attending to how disability rights and the CRPD are mobilised in the region to realise a more just and equal society for disabled people.
Towards a phonetic history of the voices of Spanish poets
Authors: Colonna Valentina , Pamies Bertrán Antonio , Damato Stefano
Published: May 2024

How does the voice of a poet sound? Poetry reading, an essential component of this art, represents interesting material for phonetic studies. However, it remains an under-researched topic. This work attempts to go beyond the state of the art, providing an experimental analysis of some voices of the Generation of ’27, aiming to mark the first step towards a phonetic history of the voices of Spanish poets. This research, which employs a qualitative phonetic approach and a statistical approach, has brought to light some principal elements. These include variation as a consistent element among authors and within a single author, enabling the detection of main features and sub-groups; common features marking a global grouping; and the possible variety and criticism of clusters, revealing the complexity of this speech and the effectiveness of our model to describe it.
O devir terrano do Casino de Carballo: Como vivir xuntos na fin do mundo
Authors: Estevez Brais
Published: May 2024

O Casino 1889 é unha histórica institución de recreo situada no centro de Carballo (A Coruña). En 2018, cando parecía abocado ao peche, un grupo de persoas novas da vila tomaron conta do espazo. Conformaron unha nova directiva e iniciaron un proceso de transformación que converteu o Casino nunha sorte de centro social autoxestionado. Pouco tempo despois, unha sociedade inmobiliaria instou á entidade a desaloxar o espazo, considerando extinguido o contrato de arrendamento. Porén, o Casino intensificou a súa actividade cultural e iniciou un litixio xurídico. Partindo dunha orientación decolonial, e coa idea da fin do mundo como pano de fondo conceptual, este artigo pensa esa experiencia de ocupación como unha indagación colectiva sobre a arte de vivir xuntos nunha época incerta e, ao mesmo tempo, formula unha proposta teórica coa que reimaxinar o papel das periferias urbanas nos imaxinarios xeográficos críticos.
Cato's Origines and Earlier Traditions of Self-Representation and Self-Commemoration at Rome
Authors: Elliott Jackie
Published: May 2024

Abstract: This paper considers how Cato's status as a "new man" in the competitive social and political arena he entered at Rome shaped his self-representation in the sphere of his historical writing. At the heart of the argument is the question of how Cato's insertion of his own speeches into the fabric of the Origines modulated the tenor of his self-commemoration in that work. After briefly considering how previous historiography may have helped determine Cato's choices, the argument looks to Roman discursive practices that appear to have taken shape around the 4th- and early 3rd-century rise of the nobilitas . Especially in focus are the functions of the ancestor mask and the use of voice in honorific epigraphy.