bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dietary inflammation index is associated with dyslipidemia: evidence from national health and nutrition examination survey, 1999–2019
Authors: Chen Xiaozhe , Hou Chunlei , Yao Lei , Li Jianhua , Gui Mingtai , Wang Mingzhu , Zhou Xunjie , Lu Bo , Fu Deyu
Published: September 2023

Background and aims

This study aimed to investigate the association between the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) and dyslipidemia, as well as to evaluate the mortality risk associated with DII in participants with dyslipidemia.

Methods

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database were divided into dyslipidemia and non-dyslipidemia groups. The association between DII and dyslipidemia was investigated using the weighted chi-square test, weighted t-test, and weighted logistic regression. Weighted Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for all-cause and cardiovascular disease-related mortality within the dyslipidemia group.

Results

A total of 17,820 participants, including 4,839 without and 12,981 with dyslipidemia were analyzed in this study. The results showed that DII was higher in the dyslipidemia group compared to the non-dyslipidemia group (1.42 ± 0.03 vs. 1.23 ± 0.04, P < 0.01). However, for energy, protein, carbohydrates, total fat, saturated fat, and iron, DII was lower in participants with dyslipidemia. Logistic regression analysis revealed a strong positive association between DII and dyslipidemia. The odds ratios for dyslipidemia from Q1 to Q4 were 1.00 (reference), 1.12 (0.96–1.31), 1.23 (1.04–1.44), and 1.33 (1.11–1.59), respectively. In participants with dyslipidemia, a high DII was associated with high all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.

Conclusion

DII was closely associated with dyslipidemia. A pro-inflammatory diet may play a role in unfavorable consequences and is linked to both all-cause mortality and cardiovascular death in patients with dyslipidemia. Participants with dyslipidemia should pay attention to their anti-inflammatory dietary patterns.
A sensitive and rapid electrochemical biosensor for sEV-miRNA detection based on domino-type localized catalytic hairpin assembly
Authors: Li Wenbin , Wang Wen , Luo Shihua , Chen Siting , Ji Tingting , Li Ningcen , Pan Weilun , Zhang Xiaohe , Wang Xiaojing , Li Ke , Zhang Ye , Yan Xiaohui
Published: September 2023

Small extracellular–vesicule-associated microRNA (sEV-miRNA) is an important biomarker for cancer diagnosis. However, rapid and sensitive detection of low-abundance sEV-miRNA in clinical samples is challenging. Herein, a simple electrochemical biosensor that uses a DNA nanowire to localize catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA), also called domino-type localized catalytic hairpin assembly (DT-LCHA), has been proposed for sEV-miRNA1246 detection. The DT-LCHA offers triple amplification, (i). CHA system was localized in DNA nanowire, which shorten the distance between hairpin substrate, inducing the high collision efficiency of H1 and H2 and domino effect. Then, larger numbers of CHAs were triggered, capture probe bind DT-LCHA by exposed c sites. (ii) The DNA nanowire can load large number of electroactive substance RuHex as amplified electrochemical signal tags. (iii) multiple DT-LCHA was carried by the DNA nanowire, only one CHA was triggered, the DNA nanowire was trapped by the capture probe, which greatly improve the detection sensitivity, especially when the target concentration is extremely low. Owing to the triple signal amplification in this strategy, sEV-miRNA at a concentration of as low as 24.55 aM can be detected in 20 min with good specificity. The accuracy of the measurements was also confirmed using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, the platform showed good performance in discriminating healthy donors from patients with early gastric cancer (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.96) and was equally able to discriminate between benign gastric tumors and early cancers (AUC: 0.77). Thus, the platform has substantial potential in biosensing and clinical diagnosis.

Graphical Abstract
Assessing the role of T cells in response to retinal injury to uncover new therapeutic targets for the treatment of retinal degeneration
Authors: Conedera Federica M. , Runnels Judith M. , Stein Jens V. , Alt Clemens , Enzmann Volker , Lin Charles P.
Published: September 2023

Background

Retinal degeneration is a disease affecting the eye, which is an immune-privileged site because of its anatomical and physiological properties. Alterations in retinal homeostasis—because of injury, disease, or aging—initiate inflammatory cascades, where peripheral leukocytes (PL) infiltrate the parenchyma, leading to retinal degeneration. So far, research on PL's role in retinal degeneration was limited to observing a few cell types at specific times or sectioning the tissue. This restricted our understanding of immune cell interactions and response duration.

Methods

In vivo microscopy in preclinical mouse models can overcome these limitations enabling the spatio-temporal characterization of PL dynamics. Through in vivo imaging, we assessed structural and fluorescence changes in response to a focal injury at a defined location over time. We also utilized minimally invasive techniques, pharmacological interventions, and knockout (KO) mice to determine the role of PL in local inflammation. Furthermore, we investigated PL abundance and localization during retinal degeneration in human eyes by histological analysis to assess to which extent our preclinical study translates to human retinal degeneration.

Results

We demonstrate that PL, especially T cells, play a detrimental role during retinal injury response. In mice, we observed the recruitment of helper and cytotoxic T cells in the parenchyma post-injury, and T cells also resided in the macula and peripheral retina in pathological conditions in humans. Additionally, we found that the pharmacological PL reduction and genetic depletion of T-cells reduced injured areas in murine retinas and rescued the blood–retina barrier (BRB) integrity. Both conditions promoted morphological changes of Cx3cr1+ cells, including microglial cells, toward an amoeboid phenotype during injury response. Interestingly, selective depletion of CD8+ T cells accelerated recovery of the BRB compared to broader depletions. After anti-CD8 treatment, the retinal function improved, concomitant to a beneficial immune response.

Conclusions

Our data provide novel insights into the adaptive immune response to retinal injury in mice and human retinal degeneration. Such information is fundamental to understanding retinal disorders and developing therapeutics to modulate immune responses to retinal degeneration safely.
Development of a rare disease algorithm to identify persons at risk of Gaucher disease using electronic health records in the United States
Authors: Wilson Amanda , Chiorean Alexandra , Aguiar Mario , Sekulic Davorka , Pavlick Patrick , Shah Neha , Sniderman King Lisa , Génin Marie , Rollot Mélissa , Blanchon Margot , Gosset Simon , Montmerle Martin , Molony Cliona , Dumitriu Alexandra
Published: September 2023

Background

Early diagnosis of Gaucher disease (GD) allows for disease-specific treatment before significant symptoms arise, preventing/delaying onset of complications. Yet, many endure years-long diagnostic odysseys. We report the development of a machine learning algorithm to identify patients with GD from electronic health records.

Methods

We utilized Optum’s de-identified Integrated Claims-Clinical dataset (2007–2019) for feature engineering and algorithm training/testing, based on clinical characteristics of GD. Two algorithms were selected: one based on age of feature occurrence (age-based), and one based on occurrence of features (prevalence-based). Performance was compared with an adaptation of the available clinical diagnostic algorithm for identifying patients with diagnosed GD. Undiagnosed patients highly-ranked by the algorithms were compared with diagnosed GD patients.

Results

Splenomegaly was the most important predictor for diagnosed GD with both algorithms, followed by geographical location (northeast USA), thrombocytopenia, osteonecrosis, bone density disorders, and bone pain. Overall, 1204 and 2862 patients, respectively, would need to be assessed with the age- and prevalence-based algorithms, compared with 20,743 with the clinical diagnostic algorithm, to identify 28 patients with diagnosed GD in the integrated dataset. Undiagnosed patients highly-ranked by the algorithms had similar clinical manifestations as diagnosed GD patients.

Conclusions

The age-based algorithm identified younger patients, while the prevalence-based identified patients with advanced clinical manifestations. Their combined use better captures GD heterogeneity. The two algorithms were about 10–20-fold more efficient at identifying GD patients than the clinical diagnostic algorithm. Application of these algorithms could shorten diagnostic delay by identifying undiagnosed GD patients.
Prevalence of propionic acidemia in China
Authors: Zhang Yixing , Peng Chuwen , Wang Lifang , Chen Sitong , Wang Junwei , Tian Ziheng , Wang Chuangong , Chen Xiaoxin , Zhu Suhong , Zhang Guo-Fang , Wang You
Published: September 2023

Propionic acidemia (PA) is a rare autosomal recessive congenital disease caused by mutations in thePCCAorPCCBgenes. Elevated propionylcarnitine, 2-methylcitric acid (2MCA), propionylglycine, glycine and 3-hydroxypropionate can be used to diagnose PA. Early-onset PA can lead to acute deterioration, metabolic acidosis, and hyperammonemia shortly after birth, which can result in high mortality and disability. Late-onset cases of PA have a more heterogeneous clinical spectra, including growth retardation, intellectual disability, seizures, basal ganglia lesions, pancreatitis, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, adaptive immune defects, rhabdomyolysis, optic atrophy, hearing loss, premature ovarian failure, and chronic kidney disease. Timely and accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment are crucial to saving patients’ lives and improving their prognosis. Recently, the number of reported PA cases in China has increased due to advanced diagnostic techniques and increased research attention. However, an overview of PA prevalence in China is lacking. Therefore, this review provides an overview of recent advances in the pathogenesis, diagnostic strategies, and treatment of PA, including epidemiological data on PA in China. The most frequent variants among Chinese PA patients are c.2002G > A inPCCAand c.1301C > T inPCCB, which are often associated with severe clinical symptoms. At present, liver transplantation from a living (heterozygous parental) donor is a better option for treating PA in China, especially for those exhibiting a severe metabolic phenotype and/or end-organ dysfunction. However, a comprehensive risk–benefit analysis should be conducted as an integral part of the decision-making process. This review will provide valuable information for the medical care of Chinese patients with PA.
Echinococcus granulosus cyst fluid inhibits inflammatory responses through inducing histone demethylase KDM5B in macrophages
Authors: Wang Xiaopeng , Lin Ruolin , Fu Chunxue , Yang Chun , Dong Dan , Wu Xiangwei , Chen Xueling , Wang Lianghai , Hou Jun
Published: September 2023

Background

Echinococcus granulosus cyst fluid (EgCF) weakens macrophage inflammatory responses, thereby enabling the parasite to evade the immune system. However, the role of histone modification in this process remains to be explored.

Methods

The levels of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10, H3K4me3, and KDM5B were detected using quantitative real-time PCR, ELISA, and Western blotting. The enrichment of H3K4me3 and KDM5B at the promoter of inflammatory factors was detected by chromatin immunoprecipitation.

Results

Based on EgCF-stimulated macrophage models, we found that EgCF significantly inhibited mRNA expression and protein secretion of IL-6 and TNF-α and upregulated mRNA expression of IL-10 under the influence of TLR4. EgCF lowered the level of H3K4me3 and promoted the transcription and protein stability of histone demethylase KDM5B. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis revealed that EgCF suppressed the enrichment of H3K4me3 modification at the promoters of TNF-α and IL-6 and downregulated their expression in macrophages. Additionally, the inhibition of KDM5B activity by CPI-455 weakened the anti-inflammatory effect of EgCF.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate a novel mechanism through which EgCF promotes KDM5B expression and inhibits the enrichment of H3K4me3 at the promoters of inflammatory cytokines to suppress the inflammatory response.

Graphical Abstract
Treatment of idiopathic anaphylaxis with dupilumab: a case report
Authors: Pepper Elizabeth , Pittman Luke
Published: September 2023

Background

Anaphylaxis is an acute, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that typically occurs after exposure to a trigger, while idiopathic anaphylaxis (IA) occurs in the absence of a trigger. Acute management of both triggered anaphylaxis and IA relies on the use of epinephrine. In some patients with recurrent IA, glucocorticoid prophylaxis with prednisone can be effective. While there is currently no high quality evidence for the use of other prophylactic options to prevent recurrent IA, evolving data exists to support the consideration of biologics that target IgE or the Th2 pathway.

Case presentation

We present the case of a 28 year old female with no atopic or autoimmune history with recurrent episodes of IA since childhood occurring up to twice weekly. There was improvement in acute symptoms with administration of first or second generation antihistamines and/or intramuscular epinephrine. Without an identifiable trigger, she was diagnosed with IA and frequent idiopathic urticaria and omalizumab was added to her treatment regimen with improvement in symptom frequency. After being lost to follow up, she had recurrence of symptom frequency and severity without omalizumab therapy and subsequently presented to our institution. Her workup at this point was negative for food allergy, alpha gal syndrome, systemic mastocytosis, hereditary alpha tryptasemia, carcinoid syndrome, and pheochromocytoma, and she was trialed on dupilumab with near resolution of her symptom frequency over a six month time period.

Conclusion

Recurrent IA is a diagnosis of exclusion that is associated with high morbidity. Prophylaxis remains an area of uncertainty, although prednisone has been effective in some cases. When prednisone is contraindicated or ineffective for the prevention of IA, biologic therapies that target IgE or the Th2 pathway may present a reasonable consideration. This case adds support to the suggestion that dupilumab may be a logical off-label consideration for prophylaxis of recurrent IA. The data for dupilumab in this clinical scenario is still very limited, and further research is required before any recommendation can be made.
Patch seriation to visualize data and model parameters
Authors: Lasfar Rita , Tóth Gergely
Published: September 2023

We developed a new seriation merit function for enhancing the visual information of data matrices. A local similarity matrix is calculated, where the average similarity of neighbouring objects is calculated in a limited variable space and a global function is constructed to maximize the local similarities and cluster them into patches by simple row and column ordering. The method identifies data clusters in a powerful way, if the similarity of objects is caused by some variables and these variables differ for the distinct clusters. The method can be used in the presence of missing data and also on more than two-dimensional data arrays. We show the feasibility of the method on different data sets: on QSAR, chemical, material science, food science, cheminformatics and environmental data in two- and three-dimensional cases. The method can be used during the development and the interpretation of artificial neural network models by seriating different features of the models. It helps to identify interpretable models by elucidating clusters of objects, variables and hidden layer neurons.

Graphical Abstract
Phytochemical and functional characterization of fermented Yerba mate using Rhizopus oligosporus
Authors: Kwak So-Hyung , Kim Hayeong , Jeon Ji hyeon , Pal Kunal , Kang Dong-Hyun , Kim Doman
Published: September 2023

Solid-state fermentation (SSF) was used to enhance the bioactive compounds and biological properties of food materials, such as buckwheat, turmeric, and ginseng. This study was investigated the effects of SSF for up to 10 days usingRhizopus oligosporuson Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensisSt. Hilaire). The total phenolic content of Yerba mate rose to 20% after 1 day fermentation. The saponin contents of Yerba mate rose to 38% after 7 day fermentation. Furthermore, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, and caffeine levels were increased up to 27.74% by fermentation, as determined by UPLC-MS analysis. ORAC and FRAP assays showed that the antioxidant activities of Yerba mate were enhanced 1.9- and 1.14-fold after 1 day fermentation. In addition, its inhibitory activities against yeast α-glucosidase and nitric oxide release in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells were higher than in the unfermented Yerba mate. Moreover, taste sensory analysis using an electronic tongue sensory system showed that the flavor of Yerba mate after 1 day fermentation was similar to that of the unfermented Yerba mate. These results suggested that solid fermentation usingR. oligosporusis conducive to producing Yerba mate with enhanced biological properties.
Regional economic analysis of major areas in South Korea: using 2005–2010–2015 multi-regional input–output tables
Authors: Lee Seongha , Ishiro Taku
Published: September 2023

South Korea’s Seoul metropolitan area accounts for more than half of the country’s GDP and population. This phenomenon is exacerbating annually. Regions outside the metropolitan area of Korea are not only decreasing in terms of economic size, but are also becoming more dependent on the metropolitan area in terms of economic structure. Earlier, the metropolitan area was based on the service industry, while other regions had a large manufacturing sector; however, the size of the latter also increased in the metropolitan area over time. To analyze dependence on the Seoul Metropolitan area, this study conducts regional production inducement effects, regional division of labor, and three regional structural decomposition analyses using Korea’s 2005–2010–2015 multi-regional input–output table (MRIO) to further analyze dependence on the metropolitan area. Furthermore, this research integrates industry classification and realizes the price level of input–output tables to link 3 years of MRIO in three industries: wholesale and retail trade and product brokerage services, motor vehicles, semiconductors, and other electronic components. From the inter-regional production inducement effect, the relation between the metropolitan area and each region is calculated using the regional export and import effects of each region. Furthermore, the proportion of metropolitan areas in major industries and their changes are measured through regional division of labor, and through multi regional structural decomposition analysis, the growth factors of each region over 10 years are determined by own region, metropolitan area, and other regions.
Implications of AI innovation on economic growth: a panel data study
Authors: Gonzales Julius Tan
Published: September 2023

The application of artificial intelligence (AI) across firms and industries warrants a line of research focused on determining its overall effect on economic variables. As a general-purpose technology (GPT), for example, AI helps in the production, marketing, and customer acquisition of firms, increasing their productivity and consumer reach. Aside from these, other effects of AI include enhanced quality of services, improved work accuracy and efficiency, and increased customer satisfaction. Hence, this study aims to gauge the impact of AI on the economy, specifically on long-run economic growth. This study conjectures a positive relationship between AI and economic growth. To test this hypothesis, this study makes use of a panel dataset of countries from 1970 to 2019, and the number of AI patents as a measure of AI. A text search query is performed to distinguish AI patents from other types of innovations in a public database. Employing fixed effects and generalized method of moments (GMM) estimation, this paper finds a positive relationship between AI and economic growth, which is higher than the effect of the total population of patents on growth. Furthermore, other results indicate that AI’s influence on growth is more robust among advanced economies, and more evident towards the latter periods of the dataset.
Optical electrocardiogram based heart disease prediction using hybrid deep learning
Authors: Golande Avinash L. , Pavankumar T.
Published: September 2023

The diagnosis and categorization of cardiac disease using the low-cost tool electrocardiogram (ECG) becomes an intriguing study topic when contemplating intelligent healthcare applications. An ECG-based cardiac disease prediction system must be automated, accurate, and lightweight. The deep learning methods recently achieved automation and accuracy across multiple domains. However, applying deep learning for automatic ECG-based heart disease classification is a challenging research problem. Because using solely deep learning approaches failed to detect all of the important beats from the input ECG signal, a hybrid strategy is necessary to improve detection efficiency. The main objective of the proposed model is to enhance the ECG-based heart disease classification efficiency using a hybrid feature engineering approach. The proposed model consists of pre-processing, hybrid feature engineering, and classification. Pre-processing an ECG aims to eliminate powerline and baseline interference without disrupting the heartbeat. To efficiently classify data, we design a hybrid approach using a conventional ECG beats extraction algorithm and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN)-based features. For heart disease prediction, the hybrid feature vector is fed successively into the deep learning classifier Long Term Short Memory (LSTM). The results of the simulations show that the proposed model reduces both the number of diagnostic errors and the amount of time spent on each one when compared to the existing methods.
Common spatial pattern for classification of loving kindness meditation EEG for single and multiple sessions
Authors: Liyanagedera Nalinda D. , Hussain Ali Abdul , Singh Amardeep , Lal Sunil , Kempton Heather , Guesgen Hans W.
Published: September 2023

While a very few studies have been conducted on classifying loving kindness meditation (LKM) and non-meditation electroencephalography (EEG) data for a single session, there are no such studies conducted for multiple session EEG data. Thus, this study aims at classifying existing raw EEG meditation data on single and multiple sessions to come up with meaningful inferences which will be highly beneficial when developing algorithms that can support meditation practices. In this analysis, data have been collected on Pre-Resting (before-meditation), Post-Resting (after-meditation), LKM-Self and LKM-Others for 32 participants and hence allowing us to conduct six pairwise comparisons for the four mind tasks. Common Spatial Patterns (CSP) is a feature extraction method widely used in motor imaginary brain computer interface (BCI), but not in meditation EEG data. Therefore, using CSP in extracting features from meditation EEG data and classifying meditation/non-meditation instances, particularly for multiple sessions will create a new path in future meditation EEG research. The classification was done using Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) where both meditation techniques (LKM-Self and LKM-Others) were compared with Pre-Resting and Post-Resting instances. The results show that for a single session of 32 participants, around 99.5% accuracy was obtained for classifying meditation/Pre-Resting instances. For the 15 participants when using five sessions of EEG data, around 83.6% accuracy was obtained for classifying meditation/Pre-Resting instances. The results demonstrate the ability to classify meditation/Pre-Resting data. Most importantly, this classification is possible for multiple session data as well. In addition to this, when comparing the classification accuracies of the six mind task pairs; LKM-Self, LKM-Others and Post-Resting produced relatively lower accuracies among them than the accuracies obtained for classifying Pre-Resting with the other three. This indicates that Pre-Resting has some features giving a better classification indicating that it is different from the other three mind tasks.
Playing by Eye: Using Music as a Parallel to Clinical Oncology
Authors: Preti Beatrice
Published: September 2023

Playing music by ear parallels a clinical oncology encounter in one author's reflection
Potential Determinants of Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies and Mortality Risk: Results From the ELSA-Brasil Study
Authors: Meneghini Vandrize , Tebar William Rodrigues , Santos Itamar Souza , Janovsky Carolina Castro Porto Silva , de Almeida-Pititto Bianca , Birck Marina Gabriela , Lotufo Paulo Andrade , Goulart Alessandra Carvalho , Sgarbi José Augusto , Teixeira Patrícia de Fátima dos Santos , Silva Gisela Tunes da , Benseñor Isabela Martins
Published: September 2023

Context

The presence of thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAbs) may be considered as an indicator of adverse health outcomes.

Objective

We aimed to investigate the potential determinants of TPOAb levels and to analyze the association between TPOAb titers and the risk of all- and specific-cause mortality.

Methods

Baseline and longitudinal data of 13 187 participants from the ELSA-Brasil Study were analyzed. We investigated the association of TPOAb, detectability, positivity, and persistent positivity with sociodemographic and lifestyle factors using logistic regressions. Cox proportional hazards and Fine-Gray subdistribution hazard regression analyses were used to verify the association of TPOAbs with mortality.

Results

The determinants of TPOAb detectability and positivity were younger age, higher body mass index, female sex, and former and current smoking status. Black, mixed, and other self-reported races, intermediate and higher education, and heavy drinking were determinants of detectable and positive TPOAb levels. Female sex, White race, and former smoking were determinants of persistent TPOAb positivity at 2 visits, although only the female sex maintained its association at 3 visits. Moreover, after multivariate adjustment, there were associations between higher levels of TPOAbs and higher risk of cancer-related mortality among men, and TPOAb detectability and mortality by other causes among women.

Conclusion

Sociodemographic and lifestyle-related factors were determinants of multiple TPOAb categories. TPOAb levels were associated with mortality risk; however, the low mortality rate in this sample might have compromised this finding. We suggest further studies to explore the clinical importance of detectable TPOAb levels, not only its positivity, as a potential marker of inflammation.
Successes and challenges in extracting information from DICOM image databases for audit and research
Authors: Mackenzie Alistair , Lewis Emma , Loveland John
Published: September 2023

In radiography, much valuable associated data (metadata) is generated during image acquisition. The current setup of picture archive and communication systems (PACS) can make extraction of this metadata difficult, especially as it is typically stored with the image. The aim of this work is to examine the current challenges in extracting image metadata and to discuss the potential benefits of using this rich information. This work focuses on breast screening, though the conclusions are applicable to other modalities.

The data stored in PACS contain information, currently underutilised, and is of great benefit for auditing and improving imaging and radiographic practice. From the literature, we present examples of the potential clinical benefit such as audits of dose, and radiographic practice, as well as more advanced research highlighting the effects of radiographic practice, e.g. cancer detection rates affected by imaging technology.

This review considers the challenges in extracting data, namely,

• The search tools for data on most PACS are inadequate being both time-consuming and limited in elements that can be searched.

• Security and information governance considerations

• Anonymisation of data if required

• Data curation

The review describes some solutions that have been successfully implemented.

• Retrospective extraction: direct query on PACS

• Extracting data prospectively

• Use of structured reports

• Use of trusted research environments

Ultimately, the data access process will be made easier by inclusion during PACS procurement. Auditing data from PACS can be used to improve quality of imaging and workflow, all of which will be a clinical benefit to patients.
Radiographic assessment of sacral hiatus anatomy with backache
Authors: Khokhar Samia khalid , Khan Dr. Ambreen Surti , Qamar Aisha , Khaliq Dr. Saneed
Published: September 2023

Objectives: To determine hiatal variations in cases of backache and controls on radiographs and association of age groups with hiatal parameters in patients with backache versus normal individuals.

Methods: This case control study on 178 patients (89 cases and 89 controls), aged from 18-65 years, selected by non-probability convenience sampling was conducted at Radiology Department of PNS Shifa Hospital, Karachi over six months.The sacral hiatus was identified on lumbosacral spine radiographs. Both metric and non-metric parameters of hiatus with respect to sacral vertebra were noted and compared between the groups.

Results: Inverted “U” was the most common type observed in cases with base of hiatus at S5 level. Comparison of hiatal shape among different age groups showed inverted “U” and inverted “V” types among all age groups. Hiatal anteroposterior diameter and width were greatest in 36-45-year age group, and it was longest in 46-55-year age group. Determination of relationship between sacral hiatal parameters and incidence of low back pain showed positive association of inverted “U” and “M” shapes with back pain. Increased risk of back pain was observed with high apex (first sacral vertebra (S1)).

Conclusion: Strong positive correlation was determined with inverted “U” and “M” shapes, and level of apex at S1 with low backache.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.6.7112

How to cite this: Khokhar SK, Surti A, Qamar A, Khaliq S .Radiographic assessment of sacral hiatus anatomy with backache. Pak J Med Sci. 2023;39(6):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.6.7112

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.
Correlation between Triclosan (TCS) exposure and endometriosis
Authors: Ma Kailai , Cheng Yan , Guo Hongling , Wang Jianguo , Yu Tingting
Published: September 2023

Objective: To study the correlation of Triclosan (TCS) exposure with typing and staging of endometriosis, and with other potential influencing factors.

Methods: This was a retrospective study. Thirty two patients that were diagnosed with endometriosis by laparoscopy or surgery in Taicang First People’s Hospital from May 2020 to December 2021 were enrolled in the endometriosis group, and patients who were confirmed free of endometriosis by surgeries for other purposes during the same period were enrolled as the control group. All blood samples were tested twice in two different vials. The association of TCS exposure level with occurrence, staging, typing of endometriosis, and income of the patients were analyzed.

Results: Patients with endometriosis had significantly higher TCS exposure levels than the control group. TCS exposure level in patients with endometriosis was positively correlated with patient income), and was significantly higher in patients with Stage-IV endometriosis than in those with Stage-III and II diseases. TCS exposure levels showed no significant difference among patients with ovarian type, ovarian + peritoneal type, and deep nodular type endometriosis TCS exposure level in patients with endometriosis was positively correlated with the staging of the disease. TCS exposure was highly positively correlated with the staging of the disease in patients with ovarian type endometriosis and in patients with deep nodular endometriosis, but there’s no such correlation in patients with ovarian + peritoneal type endometriosis.

Conclusion: TCS exposure level in endometriosis patients was higher than that in normal women, and is positively correlated with endometriosis staging and income of the patients.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.6.7170

How to cite this: Ma K, Cheng Y, Guo H, Wang J, Yu T. Correlation between Triclosan (TCS) exposure and endometriosis. Pak J Med Sci. 2023;39(6):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.6.7170

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.
Spontaneous decompression of sigmoid volvulus
Authors: Aksungur Nurhak , Peksoz Rifat , Disci Esra , Atamanalp Sabri Selcuk
Published: September 2023

Objectives: Spontaneous decompression is an uncommon outcome of sigmoid volvulus (SV). The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of spontaneously decompressed SV.

Methods: We utilized the data of our 1,063 SV patients, the most comprehensive monocenter SV series in the world. To obtain the worldwide data on the spontaneous decompression of SV, we researched the last 56-years’ literature in Web of Science and PubMed databases.

Results: The incidence of the spontaneous decompression was 0.1% (1/1,063) in our SV series, whereas it was 1.5% (8/549) in the worldwide data (Fisher exact test, p = 0.001). By this way, cumulative spontaneous decompression rate was found as 0.6% (9/1,602). In the spontaneously decompressed cases, the main clinical features were abdominal pain/tenderness, distention, and obstipation, which were similar to management-required patients. However, the treatment and follow-up algorithm is still a relatively undefined subject.

Conclusion: Spontaneous decompression of SV is a very rare clinical entity. The clinical presentation and diagnosis of the spontaneously decompressed SV look alike the management-required SV. However, as seen in most management-required patients, SV tends to recur in the spontaneously decompressed cases and a recurrence-reducing procedure is required in selected patients.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.6.8052

How to cite this: Aksungur N, Peksoz R, Disci E, Atamanalp SS. Spontaneous decompression of sigmoid volvulus. Pak J Med Sci. 2023;39(6):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.6.8052

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.
Recent discoveries in preventing mental impairments and ICU staff interventions in post-intensive care syndrome
Authors: Zalewski Paweł , Gruca Dariusz , Raabe Adam , Wais Marcin , Wróblewski Wiktor
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Mental impairments such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety are alarming problems in the ICU-survivors population because of the higher survival rate due to medical, scientific and technological progress. There are more and more patients facing long-term emotional consequences of critical illness. The main purpose of this review is to describe recent research about possible interventions and methods of prevention of mental impairments after an ICU stay made since 2015.

Review methods

The review was made using online databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar.

Brief description of the state of knowledge

Recent trials included in our review suggest that the sedation strategy has no significant impact on mental impairments in ICU survivors. ICU diaries seem to be a well-accepted and cheap method of prevention of mental disorders after critical illness but their universal usefulness is difficult to determine because variable factors like hospital and country levels influence the trials on patients. Nurse-led intervention programs, virtual reality and antioxidants described in recent studies also show no significant decrease in PTS symptoms in ICU survivors. Initial effects of mobile apps-based psychoeducational programs are comparable to therapist-led programs.

Summary

We did not find any evidence-based revolutionary method of prevention or intervention to help improve the mental health of ICU survivors. We think that the growing seriousness of this problem will lead to further research to cope with this phenomenon.
150 Years of Medical History Education in Japan: History and Challenges
Authors: LEE Kyu Won
Published: September 2023

This paper is the first attempt to get a broad view of the history of modern medical history education in Japan, from the origin of medical history education in the Meiji era to its current state in medical schools. By correcting errors related to the first university lectures on medical history in Japan and historically contextualizing the challenges of medical history education and the academic community’s responses, this paper aims to examine both the historical significance and practical implications.
The history of medical history education in Japan is relatively long. Medical history lectures in a medical school were first planned in 1876, and contrary to popular belief, the actual lecture started in December 1882 under Imamura Ryō’s charge and continues to this day. However, despite its relatively long history, the substance of medical history education in Japan is lacking in both quality and quantity. The absence of full-time professors of medical history education and related departments has led to a vicious cycle of failure in producing experts and a decline in medical education.
Medical history education in Japan failed to take advantage of the fact that it began early despite the absence of tradition. The status of medical history education greatly increased in the 1930s, but the opportunity to expand its base was not utilized during the postwar reorganization of medical education and the student movement in the late 1960s. Falling into amateurism, evasion of real issues, and a lack of collective academic responses have hindered the understanding of these phenomena and problem-solving.
The history of medical history education in Japan provides significant implications for the current reality of medical history education in Korea. The Korean medical history community must also confront and adapt proactively and organizationally within the evolving landscape of medical education. If the community settles for the present, Japan’s past will become Korea’s future.
Smallpox Prevention and Public Healthcare in China in the 1920s and 1930s: Focusing on the Cases of Shanghai and Beijing
Authors: SHIN Kyu-hwan
Published: September 2023

Beijing and Shanghai, representative modern cities in China, witnessed the development of various urban infrastructures and quarantine systems in the 1920s and 1930s. Both cities established Health Demonstration Stations in the 1930s, as part of their implementation of modern health administration. This foundation played a pivotal role for making health administration more practical. Huang Zi-fang (1899-1940) and Hu Hung-ji (1894-1932), the inaugural directors of the health bureau in the respective cities, were both graduates of the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health in the United States. They shared a similar view of public health. Active exchanges occurred between the heads of the health administration in the two cities who were the leading forces in the health reform, encompassing various health experiments including the Health Demonstration Station.
During the 1930s in China, state medicine gained prominence as the most ideal medical model for constructing a modern state. As such, the quarantine activities they promoted were also considered the most ideal model. The public health care centered on Health Demonstration Stations in the 1920s and 1930s that developed in large Chinese cities such as Beijing and Shanghai pursued similar goals by strengthening quarantine administration through free medical treatment and modern spatial control. Nonetheless, each city exhibited differences in terms of the subjects and targets of quarantine, as well as the primary bases of quarantine, which were either Health Demonstration Stations or hospitals.
Both municipal governments and the civilian sector led the sanitary infrastructure development. While Shanghai showed stronger development in terms of the number of vaccinations, Shanghai’s dualized quarantine system did not necessarily create a better health environment than Beijing in terms of spatial control.
In the 1940s, the Japanese occupation government implemented measures to inherit and further develop existing health administrations in Beijing and Shanghai. Existing international settlements were incorporated into the Japanese occupation government, and the occupation government pursued homogenization of urban space and tried to maintain the existing urban policy as much as possible to preserve the status quo. However, the intensification of the Anti-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War brought an end to the health experiment centered around the Health Demonstration Station in China in the first half of the twentieth century.
Fostering Industry Connections
Authors: Kwon Karen
Published: September 2023

Optica’s Photonic Devices Industry Summit at ficonTEC will
offer companies opportunities for networking and growth.
Illuminating Wildfire Risk
Authors: Kim Meeri
Published: September 2023

As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of
wildfires, optics is helping researchers better understand the
threats—and reduce the impacts.
AutoFocus: AI-driven alignment of nanofocusing X-ray mirror systems
Authors: Rebuffi Luca , Kandel Saugat , Shi Xianbo , Zhang Runyu , Harder Ross , Cha Wonsuk , Highland Matthew , Frith Matthew , Assoufid Lahsen , Cherukara Mathew
Published: September 2023

We describe the application of aan AI-driven system to autonomously align and focus complex x-ray mirror systems . The system has been developed and studied on a digital twin of nanofocusing X-ray beamlines, built using advanced optical simulation tools calibrated with wavefront sensing data collected at the beamline.We experimentally demonstrated that the system is systematically capable of positioning a focused beam on the sample, both by simulating the life cycle of the beamline with random perturbations due to typical variations in the light source and optical elements over time, and by conducting similar tests on an actual focusing system.
Bilingual digital learning in teacher education: Bridge or barrier in the enhancement of shared society?
Authors: Schwarz-Franco Orit , Saada Najwan , Ben-Haim Aryeh
Published: September 2023

What is the right way to design interethnic educational encounters to promote a shared society in Israel? The challenge of bridging groups who speak different languages is magnified in the Israeli case because of the national conflict and linguistic asymmetry. This article examines a possible solution, a partly bilingual massive open online course (MOOC), developed by the authors and designed to maintain a balanced emphasis on students’ ethnic group identities, along with openness towards the Other. In this qualitative research, we explored the participants’ experiences of the MOOC and whether it promoted cross-cultural understanding.
Framing the global: Assessing the purpose of global citizenship education in primary geography
Authors: Smith Bryan , Neoh Jia Ying
Published: September 2023

Global citizenship education (GCE) plays an important role in preparing citizens with the competencies to tackle existing and emerging challenges brought on by globalization. Yet, determining the desired purposes of GCE is contested as it is shaped by different perspectives on globalization, and conceptualized through different discourses in different contexts. This article uses Biesta’s three purposes of education – qualification, socialization and subjectification as a theoretical framework to examine the purposes that the K-6 geography curriculum in the Australian Curriculum serves in relation to developing global citizenship competencies through an analysis of the curriculum policy. Our analysis shows that without a clear purpose for global citizenship in the curriculum policy, global understanding is consistently related to Australia as a nation state when represented at all, limiting learning opportunities to develop global thinking that supports a critical democratic discourse of global citizenship through the subjectification purpose of GCE. Instead, the K-6 geography curriculum is largely invested in socialization towards neo-liberal ends and a passing qualification function that prepares students to be ‘knowledgeable’ as they enter the world.
Gesundheit als Treiber für die Transformation zur Nachhaltigkeit
Authors: Dahms Henriette , Hornberg Claudia , Köck Wolfgang , Marquard Lisa , Neubauer Marvin , Salomon Markus , Schmid Elisabeth , Settele Josef , Strunz Sebastian , Wiehn Jascha
Published: September 2023

Die drei großen Umweltkrisen, der Klimawandel, der Biodiversitätsverlust und die Verschmutzung der Umwelt, haben auch erheblichen Einfluss auf die Gesundheit und das Wohlbefinden der Menschen. Das verdeutlichen die jüngsten Erfahrungen mit Überflutungen sowie der Covid‑19-Pandemie. Neben neuen Herausforderungen sind es auch altbekannte Umweltprobleme, die die Gesundheit beeinträchtigen können.
Logistikunternehmen und die Erreichung der Sustainable Development Goals
Authors: Hüer Lucas , Kotzold Dennis , Griese Kai-Michael
Published: September 2023

Die Verknappung der Ressource Fläche sowie der Umgang mit genutzten Flächen haben dazu beigetragen, dass in Deutschland zukünftig Landdegradationen verhindert werden sollen. Insbesondere die Logistikbranche trägt aufgrund ihres hohen Flächenverbrauchs zu dieser Entwicklung bei. Welche zukünftigen Möglichkeiten und Risiken der Land- und Bodennutzung bestehen für den Logistiksektor?
Evaluating the Quality of ChatGPT’s Climate-related Responses
Authors: Bergener Jens , Gossen Maike , Hoffmann Marja Lena , Bießmann Felix , Veneny Marek , Korenke Ruben
Published: September 2023

The use of ChatGPT and language models carries the risk of spreading false information. Although ChatGPT produces mostly correct information about climate related topics, the answers reflect societal misunderstandings about climate change.