bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Childhood leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivors lack of knowledge about their past disease and possible late effects. I-BFM ELTEC study with Chilean and Croatian participation
Authors: Becker Ana , Paris Claudia , Roganovic Jelena , Bustos Cristina , Rosas Amaia , Contreras Paula , Zepeda-Ortega Ana , Bárdi Edit
Published: January 2024

Background: Late effects in childhood cancer survivors are a major cause
of morbidity and mortality. The objective was to establish knowledge
about the disease, late effects, self-care practices, application of
health knowledge/education, sources of information, and biopsychosocial
impact of cancer, and compare the results of Chile and Croatia.
Procedure: one hundred and seventy-one, five-year survivors who were
treated for leukemia or non-Hodgkins lymphoma responded to a
questionnaire (119 in Chile and 52 in Croatia). The instrument was
reviewed by BFM- ELTEC. Results: health knowledge about past diagnosis
and general treatment had 96% Chilean and 85% Croatian survivors.
Ninety percent of Chilean and 73% of Croatian survivors were unaware of
possible late effects, and half did not know which specialist to visit
for follow-up. Forty-six percent of Chilean and 35% of Croatian
survivors knew about healthy lifestyles, but most did not practice them.
Health education was received during the treatment in 74% Chilean and
87% Croatian survivors. About 50% survivors in both groups had
experienced fear or anguish, but it was also considered an experience to
grow for 60% of Chilean and 42% Croatian survivors. Eighty-seven
percent Chilean and 77% Croatian survivors considered themselves
physically independent, while 76% and 75% felt psychologically
independent, respectively. Conclusion: It was detected a significant
lack of knowledge about the specific treatment, late effects, and future
health in both countries. They did not achieve significant learning with
the education received. Psychological sequelae were found that are
important to prevent.
Time periodic solutions for strongly nonlinear parabolic systems with p(x)-growth conditions
Authors: CHARKAOUI Abderrahim , Alaa Hamza , Alaa Nour Eddine
Published: January 2024

We study a class of nonlinear periodic systems driven by general
differential operators with variable exponent. We assume that the
reactions contains p(x)-growth nonlinearities with respect to the
gradients. By using Leray Schauder’s topological degree combined with
the sub- and super-solutions method, we establish the existence and
uniqueness results of weak periodic solutions to the studied systems.
Triple positive solutions for a class of fractional boundary value problem system
Authors: Bai Zhanbing , Shi Dongmei
Published: January 2024

In this paper, the solvability for the fractional boundary value problem
system. The fixed point theorem is used to prove that there are three
positive solutions for problems.
Adverse events for biologics in patients with CRSwNP: A meta-analysis
Authors: Shen Yang , Chang Lei , Lv Lan
Published: January 2024

Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is a key mediator for the immune reaction in
airway mucosa and plays a vital role in nasal polyposis(NP). We review
the most recent evidence for the local IgE’s characteristics, the
modulation of its synthesis and function in NPs. The level of local IgE
is significantly elevated in polyps independently of IgE serum levels
and atopic status. Furthermore, local IgE is polyclonal and functional,
which is correlated with type 2 inflammation. IgE is produced by active
B cell and dependent on the classing switch recombination(CSR). In NPs,
this process is triggered by not only allergens but also microbial
colonization, especially the superantigen- Staphylococcus aureus. The
production of local IgE is modulated by lymphocytes, cytokines,
transcription factors and B cell intrinsic factor. Due to the central
role of IgE in NPs, it is regarded as an ideal target for therapy and
has been proved to be clinically successful. Based on this knowledge, we
believe that exploring the trigger and regulatory factors for the
activation of local B cells and CSR to IgE will provide more valuable
information for us to recognize the pathological mechanisms of local IgE
and offer the possible option for new therapeutic targets of NPs.
Comparison of the Efficacy of Balthazar Score and C-reactive protein/albumin ratio for determination of acute pancreatitis severity
Authors: Kiyak Mevlut , Tanoğlu Alpaslan
Published: January 2024

Background and aim: The acute pancreatitis (AP) clinic has a wide
spectrum with variability from asymptomatic to mortality. The aim in our
study is to compare the Balthazar score with the C-reactive
protein/albumin (CAR) ratio, which is simple, rapid, easily calculated
and based on inflammation, in terms of predicting the severity of AP.
Methods: This study retrospectively included 329 AP patients admitted
and treated in hospital from January 2018 to December 2020. Patients had
Ranson score, Balthazar score, CAR values and mortality rates
calculated. Data were analyzed with SPSS for Windows version 20.
Results: CAR values were significantly high in cases with mortality
compared to cases without mortality. Ranson score, Balthazar score and
CAR value had positive correlation in terms of 1-year mortality. When
cases with mild severity pancreatitis and severe pancreatitis according
to Balthazar score are compared, the difference in CAR values was
statistically significant and a positive correlation was present
(p<0.01). ROC analysis found the area under the curve (AUC)
for CAR value was 0.844. For prediction of mortality in AP patients, CAR
value of 4.16 had 73.3% sensitivity and 76.3% specificity and was
found to be a significant marker of mortality (p<0.01).
Conclusion: The CAR value and Balthazar score display variability in
terms of determining AP severity. The CAR value elevates as AP severity
increases and with a certain cut-off value, it is a simple, cheap and
easily accessible biomarker to predict the severity of AP.
Enuresis and Hyperfiltration in Children with Sickle Cell Disease
Authors: Zahr Rima , Ding Juan , Kang Guolian , Wang Winfred , Hankins Jane , Ataga Kenneth , Lebensburger Jeffrey , Porter Jerlym
Published: January 2024

Background Nocturnal enuresis is a common symptom in children with
sickle cell disease (SCD). Risk factors for development of enuresis are
currently unknown. An early manifestation of SCD-associated kidney
damage is glomerular hyperfiltration. We test the hypothesis that in a
pediatric SCD cohort, individuals with hyperfiltration are more likely
to have nocturnal enuresis when compared to children without
hyperfiltration. Procedures To assess the relationship between nocturnal
enuresis and hyperfiltration, we retrospectively evaluated children with
SCD enrolled in the Evaluation of Nocturnal Enuresis and Barriers to
Treatment among Pediatric Patients with SCD study (PEESC; NCT01959958)
and prospectively identified children who reported nocturnal enuresis
and were enrolled in the longitudinal cohort study Sickle Cell Clinical
Research and Intervention Program (SCCRIP, NCT02098863). Results
Nocturnal enuresis occurred in 46.5% of PEESC participants and was more
frequent in participants with HbSS/HbSβ0-thalassemia and in male
participants. We did not identify an association between hyperfiltration
from three to five years of age with the later development of enuresis.
Hyposthenuria was not associated with enuresis. Conclusions Severe SCD
genotypes and male sex were associated with nocturnal enuresis after age
5 years. However, we could not identify additional renal or hematologic
predictors associated with the diagnosis of nocturnal enuresis. Future
studies should incorporate non-renal risk factors into studies that
predict development of enuresis.
Comparison of content and quality of Caribbean clinical guideline for managing type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Nixon Amy , Chattopadhyay Kaushik , Leonardi-Bee Jo
Published: January 2024

Objectives To compare a type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) management
clinical guideline from the Caribbean to a selection developed
nationally and internationally by agencies/organisations. Methods Seven
T2DM management clinical guidelines were selected a priori as a sample
of international and high-income country-specific clinical guidelines
and compared to the country-specific T2DM management clinical guideline
from the Caribbean. Two reviewers independently assessed the content
(using a previously piloted data extraction form) and quality using the
Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) tool.
Results The Caribbean clinical guideline was found to contain similar
levels of T2DM management topics compared to international and
high-income country-specific clinical guidelines; however, one
country-specific clinical guideline from New Zealand was found to have a
substantially lower level of content. The clinical guideline from the
Caribbean was found to have low-quality and could not be used in
practice; however, only three comparator clinical guidelines were found
to have a high-quality and could be recommended for use in clinical
practice. A further three comparator clinical guidelines could be used
in practice with minor modifications. Conclusion Although the T2DM
management clinical guideline from the Caribbean contained a high level
of content with regards to relevant topics, it was of insufficient
quality to be used in clinical practice. Therefore, an alternative
high-quality clinical guideline as identified within this study should
be adopted and used within the Caribbean to manage T2DM until a
high-quality region-specific clinical guideline is developed.
Comparison of amlodipine versus nifedipine for hypertension during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yin Jin jin , Mei zhengrong , Shi shengying , Du Peili , Qin Shumin
Published: January 2024

Backgroud: There is a lack of sufficient evidence regarding efficacy and
safety of amlodipine on treating hypertension during pregnancy.
Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of amlodipine with
nifedipine on hypertension during pregnancy. Search strategy: PubMed,
Embase, Cochrane Library, clinicaltrials.gov, Chinese National Knowledge
Infrastructure, Wanfang Database and China Biology Medicine disc were
searched from inception to April l5, 2021. Selection criteria:
Randomised controlled trials were included. Data collection and
analysis: Data extraction was carried out by one researcher and checked
by another. Results were reported as risk ratios (RR) for dichotomous
outcomes or mean differences (MD) for continuous outcomes, with 95%
confidence intervals (CI). Results: Seventeen RCTs were included.
Amlodipine was found the efficacy is slightly superior to nifedipine on
treating hypertension during pregnancy (RR 1.06, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.10)
with a decreased risk for maternal side effects (RR 0.42, 95% CI 0.29
to 0.61). Subgroup analysis found amlodipine can get a better control on
SBP (RR -11.68, 95% CI -17.98 to -5.37) and DBP (RR -7.44, 95% CI
-13.81 to -1.06) compared with extended release nifedipine. In addition,
there was no difference between amlodipine and nifedipine on pregnancy
outcomes including caesarean section, premature labour, placental
abruption, FGR, fetal distress, neonatal asphyxia. Conclusions: Given
the results of this systematic review and meta-analysis, amlodipine can
be effectively and safely used for hypertension during pregnancy. Key
words: Amlodipine, Nifedipine, Hypertension during pregnancy,
Meta-analysis Tweetable abstract: This review found that amlodipine is
noninferior to nifedipine in managing hypertension during pregnancy.
Experimental Study of Simple, Dentate, and Orifice-Dentate Labyrinth Weirs
Authors: Khilapour Mojtaba , Mozaffari Javad , Movahed Seyed Asadolah Mohseni
Published: January 2024

Labyrinth weirs are considered as non-linear weirs which increase the
discharge capacity for a certain upstream water surface level. In this
study, the effects of dentate and orifice labyrinth weirs on increasing
the discharge capacity in three magnification ratios of (weir length to
flume width, L/W) 2, 3, and 4 was experimentally investigated.
Experiments were conducted in a laboratory flume with length of 15 m,
width of 0.8 m, and height of 1 m in different flow discharges of 10 to
90 lit/s. Totally, 9 physical models with a thickness of 3 mm and a
height of 15 cm were used. The results showed that for L/W= 2 and H/P=
0.2, the discharge coefficient of orifice-dentate weir and dentate weir
are 75.6 and 17.5 percent, respectively, more than the simple labyrinth
weir. However, dent and orifice may lose their efficiency in high heads
and the discharge coefficient will be close to simple labyrinth weir.
The reason for these changes is the flow interference in downstream of
weir. Therefore, for H/P = 0.2, by increasing magnification ratio from 2
to 4 in simple, dentate and orifice-dentate labyrinth weirs, the
discharge coefficient is decreased by 20.8, 32.6, and 44.7 percent,
respectively. This decrease demonstrate that as the weir magnification
increases, the efficiency of orifice and dentate on labyrinth weirs will
extremely decrease and they will act as a simple labyrinth weir.
Efficient enzymatic degradation of hyaluronic acid by hyaluronidase-conjugated polyamidoamine dendrimer: A robust and stable nanobiocatalyst
Authors: Soozanipour Asieh , Taheri-Kafrani Asghar , Razmjou Amir , Asadnia Mohsen
Published: January 2024

In this work hyper-branched poly (amide amine) (PAMAM) nanoparticles
were conjugated with Hyaluronidase to produce a robust nano-biocatalyst
for hyaluronic acid (HA) degradation. The success enzyme attachment
process was confirmed by FTIR, UV-Vis, transmission electron microscopy
(TEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The influence of pH,
temperature, and inhibitor on enzymatic activity of hyaluronidase (Hyal)
were also investigated. The optimum pH, temperature and storage time of
Hyal-PAMAM nanocomplex were higher than free enzyme. Also, ascorbic acid
showed more inhibitory effect on free enzyme, the IC50 values were
determined to be around 55±0.7 and 70±0.3 mM for free Hyal and
Hyal-PAMAM nanocomplex, respectively. Based on the grater υmax and lower
Km, the Hyal-PAMAM showed a better catalytic efficiency for HA
degradation. Moreover, the in silico screening of PAMAM/Hyal
interactions further confirmed the experimental results. The novel
strategy for combining Hyal and PAMAM dendrimer can hold great promise
for applications in biomedical, sensing, and industrial catalysis.
The Role of VEGF in the Development of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma in Patients with Lymphocytic Thyroiditis
Authors: Gulcelik Nese Ersoz , Akin Safak , Aydin Kadriye , Mericoz Cisel Aydin , Usman Aydan
Published: January 2024

Objective: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a pivotal
role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune chronic inflammatory conditions
and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Design: We hypothesized that, as
VEGF expression is increased both in PTC and in lymphocytic thyroiditis
(LT), it may stimulate the development of PTC in patients with LT. To
evaluate this, we examined both tumor and adjacent non-tumoral tissues
of PTC patients with and without LT. Methods: A total of 50 patients
with PTC (52.50±7.41 years) and 17 patients with nodular goiter (NG)
(50.47±10.38 years) were included in the study. According to the
presence of LT, patients with PTC were further divided into two groups.
Immunohistochemical analyses of VEGF were conducted in all patients and
for PTC patients, both tumor tissue and adjacent non-tumoral tissue were
evaluated. Results: The scores for intensity of staining and percentage
of labeled thyrocytes for VEGF were found to be significantly higher in
the PTC patients than in the NG patients (p<0.001,
p<0.001, respectively). The tumor tissue revealed similar
scores for PTC patients with LT and without LT. However, the scores in
adjacent non-tumoral tissue were higher in PTC patients with LT than in
patients without LT (p=0.004, p=0.01, respectively). Conclusions: To the
best of our knowledge, our results are the first to demonstrate that the
expression of VEGF in adjacent non-tumoral tissue were higher in PTC
patients with LT than in those without, which shows a possible role of
VEGF expression in the progression of PTC in the presence of LT.
Mixed vaginitis: clinical recommendations regarding presentation, diagnosis and treatment
Authors: Qi Wenhui , li huanrong , Wang Chen , Li Huiyang , Zhang Bing , Dong Mengting , Fan Aiping , Han Cha , Xue Fengxia
Published: January 2024

Mixed vaginitis is caused by the simultaneous presence of at least two
vaginal pathogens, contributing to an abnormal vaginal milieu and
leading to vaginal symptoms and signs. However, associations between
symptoms and microbes have not been clearly elucidated. Therefore, mixed
vaginitis is an inflammatory condition that remains underrecognized.
Mixed vaginitis generally involves the formation of mixed biofilms. The
specific characteristics of mixed biofilms, especially their enhanced
drug resistance and their ability to evade components of the host immune
response, make them of high clinical importance. This review summarizes
the relevant clinical data to improve clinical knowledge about mixed
vaginitis.
High hydraulic safety linked to low relative phosphorus availability across a range of tropical and subtropical species
Authors: Yi Ruzhou , Xu Xianli , Zhu Shidan , Xu Chaohao , Zhang Yaohua
Published: January 2024

Nitrogen (N) or phosphorus (P) bioavailability constrain the magnitude
of terrestrial carbon uptake and plant growth in tropical and
subtropical regions, while carbon metabolism is coupled with plant
hydraulic systems; therefore, nutrient availability changes are likely
to exacerbate or alleviate drought-induced plant mortality. Most studies
have neglected the hydraulic failure risk degree and are limited to
single species fertilization experiments. We aimed to fill this gap by
examining how variation in the relative P availability to N, as
reflected by foliar N:P ratios, influences plant hydraulic failure risk
degree across a broad range of species by collecting published data and
conducting field experiments. The results demonstrated that increasing
relative P availability to N would decrease the hydraulic safety margin
(increase hydraulic failure risk) by regulating the leaf area: stem area
ratio and changing vessel wall reinforcement. This study suggests that
forests would potentially face increasing drought-induced mortality if
relative P availability is increased through human activities including
fertilization, while the mortality risk would decrease with a decrease
in relative P availability due to heavy N deposition in tropical and
subtropical regions. Relative P availability should be considered when
assessing the forests vulnerability to global change.
Stability and bifurcation analysis of an eco-epidemiological model with prey refuge
Authors: Khan Mahammad , Sen Prabir , Samanta Sudip
Published: January 2024

In this paper, we propose and analyse a predator-prey model with disease
in prey. We assume that a portion of healthy prey takes refuge to avoid
predation. We find the biologically feasible equilibrium points and
their stability criteria by using linearization technique. We also
perform Hopf bifurcation analysis around the coexisting equilibrium
point. We carry out extensive numerical simulation to validate our
theoretical results and also explore rich dynamics which cannot be
attained analytically. We draw some one and two parameter bifurcation
diagrams which demonstrate rich dynamics like, Hopf bifurcation, chaos,
bistability, etc. We observe that invasion of disease in prey can
produce chaos through period-doubling bifurcation, whereas refuge can
control chaos via period-halving bifurcation. We also observe that
refuge can control disease prevalence in the prey population.
YPD-29B is an oral Small Molecular Targeting PD-L1 for Treating Human Cancers
Authors: Lai Fangfang , Ji Ming , Wang Yuchen , Xue Nina , Huang Lei , Du Tingting , Dong Kai , Yao Xiaoqing , Jin Jing , Feng Zhiqiang , Chen Xiaoguang
Published: January 2024

Background and Purpose: PD-1 and PD-L1 antibodies have brought
extraordinary clinical beneficial for cancer patients and their
indications are expanding incessantly. Currently, most PD-1/PD-L1
products are delivered intravenously which may be inconvenient for some
cancer patients. Here, we developed a novel oral delivered small
molecular, YPD-29B, which targeted human PD-L1 specifically.
Experimental Approach: HTRF and SPR assay were used to detect the
binding affinity of YPD-29B and PD-L1. The PD-L1 dimerization were
proved by native page and HTRF. PD-L1 cell based assay and PBMC cell
activation assay were conducted to detect the T cell activation by
YPD-29B in vitro. And human PD-1 humanized mice were used to test the
antitumor activity and tolerance of YPD-29B in vivo. Key Results:: Our
data suggested that YPD-29B could potently and selectively block the
interaction between PD-L1 and PD-1, but did not inhibit any other immune
checkpoints. Mechanistically, YPD-29B induced human PD-L1 dimerization
and internalization, which subsequently activated T lymphocytes and
therefore overcomes immunity tolerance in vitro. Moreover, YPD-29B
exhibited great antitumor activity and was well tolerated in vivo.
Conclusion and Implications: Our results indicated that YPD-29B serves
as a promising therapeutic anti-human PD-L1 candidate for cancer
immunotherapy.
A new determination of pan-pathogen antimicrobials
Authors: Prathapan Praveen
Published: January 2024

Drug repositioning studies in recent decades have revealed a growing
number of antimicrobials effective at treating infection types
tangential to their original antimicrobial classification. Such
‘pan-pathogen antimicrobials’ (or ‘broad-spectrum anti-infectives’) have
not yet been formally characterised. This review examines historical
limitations of the canonical antimicrobial lexicon in light of the
contemporary model for infectious disease and propounds a taxonomy that
defines antimicrobials according to the host-pathogen interactome, not
the pathogen. By doing so, antimicrobials that are effective at treating
multiple infection types are highlighted, namely the macrolide
antibiotic azithromycin and the antiparasitic agent nitazoxanide.
Reclassification of these antimicrobials as the first pan-pathogen
antimicrobials can stimulate a more unified approach to antimicrobial
development cognisant of the host-pathogen interactome and anticipatory
of future pandemics and bioterrorist attacks.
Study of the Feasibility of the Low-Carbohydrate Ketogenic Diet in Cancer
Authors: mohammadi Khatereh Pour , Husain Durdana , Vosough Tina , Chitsaaz Parisa
Published: January 2024

Aim of the Study: The low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet (KD) has been
suggested as an adjunct therapy in cancer through its effect on
modifying the metabolic milieu of the tumor. The present study was
conducted to assess the feasibility of KD in patients with cancer.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 53 adult male
patients with advanced, metastatic solid tumor cancer in Shafa Oncology
Hospital Ahvaz, Iran in the years 2017-2019. The subject followed a
low-carbohydrate KD comprised of 10 percent carbohydrates, 20 percent
protein, and two-thirds fat. The total amount of carbohydrates per day
was 70 grams. The subjects were monitored for possible adverse effects.
The body weight, serum levels of glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and
creatinine (Cr.) were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated
on the 30th, 60th, and 90th day of study. In addition, at each round of
measurement, these variables were measured in 21 other patients with
advanced cancer following a normal diet Results: Of 53 patients, 10
passed away during the time of the study. Of 43 living patients, 22
(51.16%) dropped out of the study, and 21 (48.84%) continued to the
end. No serious adverse effects were reported. No significant
differences were detected between the patients following a
low-carbohydrate diet and patients following a normal diet in terms of
weight, BMI ,creatinine and BUN serum levels. The serum glucose level
was 97.43±13.71, 95.81±14.93, and 107.76±37.73 mg/dL in the group of
patients following the low-carbohydrate diet and 107.10±31.78,
106.67±34.74, and 99.38±27.48 mg/dL in patients following a normal diet
on the 30th, 60th, and 90th day, respectively, with no significant
difference between the two groups. Conclusion: Results of the present
study support the feasibility of the use of this diet for patients with
advanced cancer. Keywords: Cancer, Ketogenic diet, Low-carbohydrate
diet, Feasibility
Global depth distribution of soil carbon inputs inferred from belowground net primary production and root biomass profiles
Authors: Xiao Liujun , Wang Guocheng , Chang Jinfeng , Chen Yaoyao , Mao Xiali , Guo Xiaowei , Shi Zhou , Wang Mingming , Zhang Shuai , Luo Yiqi , Cheng Lei , Yu Kailiang , Mo Fei , Jia Shengyao , Luo Zhongkui
Published: January 2024

The depth distribution of carbon inputs to soil has been unquantified
globally, hindering our understanding of belowground carbon dynamics. We
synthesize global observational data to infer the allocation of carbon
inputs to soil depths down to 2 m, and map depth-specific carbon inputs
globally at 1 km resolution. Global average carbon input to the 0–20 cm
soil layer is 1.1 Mg C ha yr,
accounting for >50% of total soil carbon inputs. Across
the globe, the depth distribution of carbon inputs shows large
variability, and there are relatively more carbon inputs to deeper
layers in hotter and drier regions. Edaphic, climatic and topographic
properties (in the order of importance) explain >80% of
such variability in soil depths; and the direction and magnitude of the
influence of individual properties are soil depth- and biome-dependent.
Our results provide global benchmarks for prediction of whole-soil
carbon profiles across global biomes.
Novel early predictor marker for neonatal bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Authors: Elfarargy Mohamed , Al-Ashmawy Ghada
Published: January 2024

Background: Neonatal bronchopulmonary (BPD) is a serious chronic
respiratory disease in neonates and is associated with long term
problems and even death in neonates. Objective: Early detection of serum
vitamin A levels in neonates as a predictor for neonatal BPD. Patients
and methods: A retrospective case-control study, was done on 30 neonates
who were hospitalized in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Tanta
University Hospital (TUH) suffering from bronchopulmonary dysplasia
(BPD) (patient group) and 30 healthy neonates (control group). Detection
of serum vitamin A (retinol) was done for all studied neonates within
the first four hours after birth. Results: It showed statistically
significant difference (SSD) in the serum RT levels between the patient
and control group (P=0.001) and also significant negative correlation
between serum RT levels and grades of BPD (P=0.005*). It showed that in
the cases of neonatal BPD, the cut off value of serum RT levels was 0.84
μmol/L, AUC was 0.836, Sensitivity was 87 %, Specificity was 83 %, PPV
was 84%, NPV was 86% and Accuracy was 85%. Conclusion Neonatal serum
vitamin A levels were low in BPD neonates and may be used as a predictor
for BPD development. Recommendation: Serum vitamin A levels in neonates
could be used as a novel predictor marker for neonatal BPD.
Design of T-S fuzzy methodology for guaranteed cost synchronization of different non-integer-order complex systems
Authors: Berardehi Zahra Rasooli , Zhang Chongqi , Taheri Mostafa , Roohi Majid
Published: January 2024

Recently, guaranteed cost synchronization of different complex dynamical
systems is one of the main issues in engineering which has a lot of
applications in applied sciences. In this work, a T-S fuzzy model-free
state feedback (MFSF) methodology is designed for the synchronization of
different chaotic fractional-order systems (FOSs) with input saturation.
Based on the non-integer version of the Lyapunov stability theorem and
linear matrix inequality concept, a T-S fuzzy model-free state feedback
method is driven to suppress the undesired behavior of the FOSs without
any unpleasant chattering phenomenon. Besides, by operating the proposed
technique on synchronization of two chaotic FOSs, the effectiveness and
applicability of the T-S fuzzy MFSF are validated.
The Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on diagnosis rates and abandonment of treatment in West Java, Indonesia
Authors: Sari Nur , Susanah Susi , Suryawan Nur , Adrizain Riyadi , Alam Anggraini , Setiabudi Djatnika , Gupta Sumit
Published: January 2024

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the care of children with cancer
in LMIC is of great concern, particularly on diagnosis and abandonment
of treatment rates. Data supporting this concern however is limited to
survey and anecdotal information. A retrospective with two cohorts
design was used to compare new diagnosis and monthly abandonment rate in
Java, Indonesia. We found that new diagnoses rates had dropped
significantly during Indonesia’s first wave as compared to a
pre-pandemic cohort [rate ratio 0.57, 95th (CI) 0.41-0.79)] and that
as the first wave progressed, abandonment rates also rose in a
statistically significant manner.
Transcriptomic Characterization Reveals Attributes of High Influenza Virus Productivity in MDCK Cells
Authors: Ye Qian , Phan Thu , Hu Wei-Shou , Liu Xuping , Fan Li , Tan Wen-Song , Zhao Liang
Published: January 2024

Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cell line is among the commonly used
cell lines for the production of influenza virus vaccine. As cell
culture-based manufacturing poses to replace egg-based process,
increasing virus production is of paramount importance. To shed light on
factors affecting virus productivity, we isolated a subline, H1, which
had twice the influenza virus A (IAV) productivity of the parent (P)
through cell cloning. Transcriptome analysis revealed that within a few
hours after IAV infection, viral mRNAs constituted over one fifth of
total mRNA, with several viral genes more highly expressed in H1 than P.
Functional analysis of the transcriptome dynamics showed that H1 and P
responded to infection similarly, were both subjected to host shutoff
and inflammatory responses. Importantly, H1 was more active in
translation and RNA processing intrinsically and after infection.
Furthermore, H1 had more subdued inflammatory and antiviral response.
Taken together we postulate that high productivity of IAV hinges on the
balance between suppression of host functions to divert cellular
resources and sustain sufficient activities for virus replication. The
mechanistic insights on virus productivity can facilitate the process
optimization and cell line engineering for advancing influenza vaccine
manufacturing.
Cauliflower ear: a common sport’s complication
Authors: abdelli wissal , Souissi Asmahene , Mokni Mourad
Published: January 2024

Auricular haematoma is often seen in the external ear of people commonly
involved in contact sports. Failure to recognize and drain the haematoma
results in cauliflower ear.
The Impact of Hydroxyurea Use on Cognitive Functioning of Children with Sickle Cell Disease Living in Ghana
Authors: Oluwole Olubusola , Ampomah Mary , Owusu-Ansah Amma , Nouraie Mehdi , Segbefia Catherine , Novelli Enrico
Published: January 2024

Background: In sickle cell disease (SCD), cognitive impairment is a
manifestation of end organ damage with devastating functional effects.
Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for the highest annual SCD burden in the
world, yet little is known about cognitive impairment in children from
Africa with SCD. Additionally, it is unknown if hydroxyurea, the first
FDA-approved drug for SCD, preserves cognitive functioning. The primary
objective of this study was to assess the potential cognitive benefits
of hydroxyurea administered for ≥ 1 year in children with SCD from
Ghana. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study at Korle Bu
Teaching Hospital in Ghana. The cognitive functioning (psychomotor
function, attention, working memory and executive function) of children
with SCD (aged 5-13 years) on hydroxyurea (cases) was compared to that
of an age-matched group not on hydroxyurea (controls). Results: Children
taking hydroxyurea (n=30) had higher hemoglobin (mean 9.34 vs 8.32 g/dL,
P=0.012) and red blood cell mean corpuscular volume (mean 94 vs 77 fL,
P<0.001) when compared to the non-hydroxyurea group (n=28).
Children in the hydroxyurea group performed significantly better in the
area of working memory (adjusted difference -0.06, p=0.03), while there
was no significant difference in the other domains. Conclusion: To our
knowledge, this is the first study conducted in Africa exploring the
impact of hydroxyurea on cognitive functioning. While causality cannot
be inferred in this observational study, our results suggest that
hydroxyurea may improve cognitive functioning. Future longitudinal and
interventional studies are needed to further assess potential cognitive
benefits of hydroxyurea, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
Minimally invasive mitral valve reconstruction: is it an “all-comers” procedure?
Authors: Speziale Giuseppe , Santarpino Giuseppe , Moscarelli Marco , Bari Nicola Di , Fiore Flavio , Condello Ignazio , Bartolomucci Francesco , Bellino Maria , Nasso Giuseppe
Published: January 2024

Background and aim of the study - The debate on the usefulness of the
minimally invasive approach in mitral valve surgery is still open. The
aim of this study is to describe a single-center case series of all
comers undergoing minimally invasive mitral valve reconstruction.
Methods - From 2010 to 2019, all the data recorded in the medical
records of 893 consecutive patients undergoing mitral valve
reconstruction through a right mini-thoracotomy were retrospectively
collected. All patients were contacted by telephone for remote
evaluation and integration of echocardiographic information on surgical
results. Results - Mean age was 62.2±14.5; 447 (50%) were female and
mean log EuroSCORE was 2.5±2.8%. At a mean follow-up of 4.1 ± 2.2 years
(median 3.9), a total of 24 deaths (2.68%) were recorded. Twenty-four
patients required rehospitalization for cardiac causes, 13 (1.4%)
patients had at least moderate mitral insufficiency on follow-up
echocardiography and, of these, 7 patients underwent reoperation
(0.8%). The cumulative hazard showed that 8.3% of patients experienced
at least one event at 5 years. NYHA class improved significantly with
874 patients in NYHA class I, 13 in NYHA class II, 6 in NYHA class III,
and 0 in NYHA class IV at last follow-up (p <0.001 from
baseline as reference point). Conclusions – In a high-volume center,
mitral valve surgery using a minimally invasive approach is a feasible
treatment option for all-comers and is associated with excellent results
that are maintained at clinical and echocardiographic follow-up.
Serum Interleukin-38 in primary Sjögren’s Syndrome and its association with Disease Activity
Authors: Gültuna Selcan , Sandikci Sevinc Can , Aydin Fevzi Nuri
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Interleukin-38 has been involved as an inflammatory
mediator in rheumatic diseases. Little is known about the role of IL-38
in primary Sjögren’s syndrome development. The aim of this study was to
evaluate the role of IL-38 in primary Sjögren’s syndrome and its
association with disease activity. Materials and Methods: Between
2019-2020, 40 patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome and 39 healthy
participants were included in the study. Serum level of IL-38 was
measured by ELISA in all participants. Serum levels of IL-38 were
compared with clinical and laboratory features, and disease activity.
Results: There was not a significant difference regarding serum IL-38
level between primary Sjögren’s syndrome patients and controls (58.0
pg/ml, min-max: 0-641.0 vs. 55.0 ng/ml, min-max: 0-338.0; p=0.511). Any
significant correlations were not found between serum IL-38 level and
SSDAI (r=-0.104, p=0.523). Conclusion: IL-38 may trigger the
inflammatory process in primary Sjögren’s syndrome, but we couldn’t
demonstrate any association of serum IL-38 level in primary Sjögren’s
syndrome neither clinical findings nor disease activity.
Diatom biodiversity and speciation revealed by comparative analysis of mitochondrial genomes
Authors: Chen Nansheng
Published: January 2024

Diatoms (Bacillariophyta) constitute one of the most diverse and
ecologically significant groups of phytoplankton, comprising at least
100,000 species in three classes Bacillariophyceae, Mediophyceae, and
Coscinodiscophyceae. Nevertheless, diatom biodiversity and evolutionary
history remain elusive due to limited genomic information. Here, we
constructed complete mitochondrial genomes (mtDNAs) of 15 diatom species
including five Coscinodiscophyceae species (Guinardia delicatula,
Guinardia striata, Stephanopyxis turris, Paralia sulcata, and
Actinocyclus curvatulus), four Mediophyceae species (Hemiaulus sinensis,
Odontella aurita var. minima, Lithodesmioides polymorpha, Helicotheca
tamesis), and six Bacillariophyceae species (Nitzschia ovalis, Nitzschia
sp., Nitzschia traheaformis, Cylindrotheca closterium, Haslea
tsukamotoi, Pleurosigma intermedium). Comparative analysis of these
mtDNAs, together with diatom mtDNAs that have been published, revealed
extensive genome rearrangement events, gene duplications, gene losses,
and gains and losses of introns. Duplication of cox1 was discovered for
the first time in diatoms in Nitzschia traheaformis and Haslea
tsukamotoi. Phylogenetic analysis of 68 Bacillariophyta species revealed
that species of the genus Nitzschia were so diverse that they could
represent multiple genera. mtDNAs showed extensive genome rearrangement
events including translocations and/or inversion at the class level,
while high conservation at the order level. Molecular dating analysis
revealed that the three diatom classes split 100 Mya and many diatom
species appeared 50 Mya. More mtDNAs of diatoms representing different
orders will play great dividends to explore biodiversity and speciation
of diatoms in different ecological regions.
Evaluating Anthropogenic Origin of Unknown Chemical Compounds in the River Rhine
Authors: Ying Yangwei , Kollenburg Geert van , Brekelmans Sanne , Doel André van den , Zhou Hong , Stroomberg Gerard , Jansen Jeroen J.
Published: January 2024

Surface water of rivers like the Rhine is a highly relevant
environmental and logistic compartment and an important source of the
Dutch drinking water. To improve protection of the environment and
drinking water supply, it is important to have a continuous overview of
the chemical composition of the river. Such an overview may be obtained
with contemporary, untargeted analytical platforms like Gas
Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Interpretation of such
untargeted data is however challenged by the presence of many compounds
of biological origin. We have developed a novel approach to screen for
anthropogenic compounds using statistical tests on the time-trends of
ions that are not (yet) chemically identified. This approach filters out
many naturally occurring compounds, leaving more resources available for
wet-lab identification of anthropogenic compounds).
Exact solution for heat conduction inside a sphere with heat absorption using the regularized Hilfer-Prabhakar derivative
Authors: Elhadedy Hager , Kader Abass Abdel , Latif Mohamed Abdel
Published: January 2024

In this article, we utilize the finite Sine-Fourier transform (FSFT) and
the Laplace transform (LT) for solving fractional partial differential
equations with regularized Hilfer-Prabhakar derivative. These transforms
are used to get analytical solutions for the time fractional heat
conduction equation (TFHCE) with the regularized Hilfer-Prabhakar
derivative and with heat absorption in spherical coordinates. Two cases
of Dirichlet boundary conditions are considered with obtaining
analytical solution in each case. The effect of the parameters of the
regularized Hilfer-Prabhakar derivative on the heat transfer inside the
sphere is discussed using some figures.
Searching for a Cure on Facebook: Patterns of Social Media Use Amongst Caregivers of Patients with Childhood Cancer
Authors: Miller Tyler , Maurer Scott , Felker James
Published: January 2024

Background Social media (SM) is ubiquitous in modern society. How SM
provides information, advice, and community to families coping with
childhood cancer is poorly understood. We sought to understand how
caregivers of children with cancer use and are affected by SM. Procedure
A survey was administered to caregivers of children who were receiving
or within the last 5 years received chemotherapy. Differences in
variables across groups were evaluated using non-parametric tests and
chi-square tests. Results 48/50 caregivers acknowledged use of SM.
Facebook was the most used platform (91%). 58% and 56% used SM to
read and share information about their child’s cancer, respectively.
42% were comforted while 38% were bothered by cancer-related
information on SM. 14 participants (29%) sought a second opinion based
on information from SM. Caregivers of children with a poor prognosis
were more likely to discuss information from SM with their oncologist
(mean difference=1.19, p=0.003) and use treatment from SM that was not
initially recommended by their oncologist (OR=1.82, 95% CI 1.37-2.41).
Conclusion SM is commonly used by caregivers to obtain and share
care-related information. Many noted positive and negative effects of SM
on emotional wellness. SM influenced treatment decisions, and this
effect was stronger with poorer prognosis. Our results demonstrate the
dichotomous impact of SM in medicine—it is a source of both solace and
anxiety, a place to confirm treatment decisions and to create doubt in
the treatment decisions of the oncologist. This illustrates the
importance of discussing SM with caregivers of children with cancer.
Tacheng tick virus 1 and Songling virus infection in great gerbils ( Rhombomys opimus ) in border regions, northwestern China
Authors: Wang Yuanzhi , Ji Na , Liu Gang , Wang Shiyi , Zhao Shanshan , Liu Zhiqiang , Tan Wenbo , Wang Nan , Li Fengshi
Published: January 2024

Tacheng tick virus 1 (TcTV-1) was firstly found in a tick bitten patient
in Qinghe County (border county of China-Mongolia), Xinjiang Uygur
Autonomous Region (XUAR), and further detected in pastured cattle and
sheep. Songling virus (SGLV) was isolated in tick-borne patients in
Heilongjiang Province (border region of China-Russia) and Inner Mongolia
Autonomous Region (border region of China-Mongolia). The aim of this
study was to detect TcTV-1, SGLV and Tamdy virus (TAMV, first found in a
tick bitten patient from Kyrgyzstan) in great gerbil. A total of 276
great gerbils were collected in Manas County (common county) and Altaw
City (border city of China-Kazakhstan), XUAR, northwestern China. The
total RNA of individual spleen tissue was extracted, and the viral L
segments of TcTV-1, SGLV and TMAV were detected by
transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The amplification products were
cloned and sequenced, and phylogenetic analyses were conducted by
MEGA7.0. The results indicated that 2.9% (8/276) and 2.2% (6/276) of
spleens were respectively tested positive to the viral L segments for
TcTV-1 and SGLV, and TAMV was not detected in these samples. SGLV in
great gerbil shared 93.7% (236/252 nt) and 94.0% (78/83 aa) identities
to that of SGLV (MT328776) detected in patients in northeastern China.
TcTV-1 in great gerbil was the closest to that of TcTV-1 from a patient
in China (MK554672) with 98.5% (797/809 nt) and 98.9% (265/268 aa)
identities. This is the first molecular evidence for the presence of
TcTV-1 and SGLV in great gerbil. SGLV presented highly genetic diversity
correlated with their geographical location. Tamdy orthonairovirus
surveillance in multiple border regions of China, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Mongolia in more wild animals is necessary.
OUTCOME AND DETERMINANTS OF NEUTROPENIC ENTEROCOLITIS IN PEDIATRIC CANCER PATIENTS
Authors: Sahoo Debasish , Meena Jagdish , Gupta Aditya , Ahuja Vineet , Naranje Priyanka , Dwivedi Sadanand , Chaudhry Rama , Seth Rachna
Published: January 2024

Background Neutropenic enterocolitis (NEC) is a dreaded complication of
chemotherapy. There is scant literature regarding incidence, clinical
features, and determinants. The understanding of gut dysbiosis in NEC
and pediatric cancer is evolving. Methods Pediatric cancer patients with
neutropenia and gastrointestinal symptoms were evaluated for NEC with
CECT abdomen. Clinical, imaging, and laboratory features were analysed.
Fecal samples were analysed for fecal calprotectin by sandwich ELISA and
gut microbiota by conventional culture and compared with healthy
controls and children without NEC. Results NEC was diagnosed in 44
children based on clinical and imaging features with incidence of 7.4%
(Four had recurrent episodes). Common manifestations included
fever(98%), pain abdomen(88%), and diarrhoea(83%). Hypoalbuminemia
was observed in 78% patients. Large bowel involvement(94%) with
diffuse bowel involvement(63%) and pancolitis(64%) were common. Fecal
calprotectin was significantly elevated in NEC group than non-NEC group
and healthy controls (median 87, 53, and 42 µg/g respectively). Higher
degree of gut dysbiosis was observed in children with NEC with higher
isolation of Bacteroides and infrequent isolation of Lactobacilli..
Mortality rate of 23% was observed. Only presence of free fluid
predicted higher mortality. Though levels of fecal calprotectin and gut
dysbiosis were higher in NEC, they didn’t increase mortality. Isolation
of Bacteroides and absence of Lactobacilli predicted longer duration of
intravenous alimentation. Conclusion NEC caused significant morbidity
and mortality in pediatric cancer patients. Gut dysbiosis was
significantly higher in NEC group suggesting role in pathogenesis and
influencing outcome. This highlights role of targeted interventions
towards gut dysbiosis like prebiotics and probiotics.
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the management of head and neck cancer patients at a tertiary care institution in Poland: A case-control study
Authors: Szewczyk Mateusz , Pazdrowski Jakub , Golusiński Paweł , Pazdrowski Paweł , Więckowska Barbara , Golusiński Wojciech
Published: January 2024

Objective: To assess the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the
diagnosis and treatment of patients at tertiary hospital in Poland.
Design, setting, participants: This was a retrospective review of head
and neck cancer patients presented to the multidisciplinary tumour board
(MTB) during the 12-month period from March 2020 through February 2021
and compared to patients presented to the MTB during the prior,
pre-pandemic 12-month period from February 2019 to March 2020. Main
outcomes and measures: Patient demographic and clinical variables were
compared: sex; age at diagnosis; distance from hospital; date of first
visit, radiological diagnosis, pathology specimen, MTB meeting, and
initiation of primary and adjuvant treatment Results: The number of
patients presented to the MTB increased by 22% (278 to 340) from the
pre-pandemic to the pandemic period. The mean time from MTB presentation
to treatment initiation increased significantly from 17.1 to 21.7 days.
The mean time from first visit to treatment start increased from 44.7 to
54.4 days. The proportion of patients with early-stage oropharyngeal
cancer who underwent primary surgery rose from 47.3% to 86.6%. The
percentage of patients who received palliative radiotherapy increased
from 20.5% to 32.9%. The proportion of patients who received best
supportive care rose from 1.8% to 6.2%. Conclusion: One of the most
notable findings of this study was the increased time from first visit
to treatment initiation, which could negatively impact patient outcomes.
The differences in the treatment received in these two periods should be
further evaluated to determine their influence on survival