bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“We have suffered enough and it may even get worse if care is not taken”: Discussing the role of churches in the 2023 general election in a Nigerian town
Authors: Uwaegbute Kingsley Ikechukwu
Published: February 2025

This is a qualitative survey of the churches’ role in the electoral process of 2023 in Nsukka, Nigeria. Using semi-structured oral interviews and participant observation, the study revealed that churches in Nsukka participated actively the electoral process of 2023. Reasons identified for this approach included: belief in the new electoral law expected to ensure a credible election, the Peter Obi effect, and most importantly, local developmental problems which left many Christians in Nsukka disappointed with the ruling party in the area. Findings in the study indicated that such an approach by churches to the election has both positive and negative implications. The study concluded that there is a need to moderate the involvement of churches in the area in subsequent elections to not undermine the principles of democracy which offer people choices of who to vote for in an election.
A user-centred website to support advance care planning for people with dementia and their family caregivers: Development and usability study
Authors: Monnet Fanny , Dupont Charlèss , Pivodic Lara , Smets Tinne , De Vleminck Aline , Van Audenhove Chantal , Van den Block Lieve
Published: February 2025

Objective

Advance care planning (ACP) is a dynamic communication process about future care preferences. We aimed to develop and test an ACP support website for people with dementia and their family caregivers.

Methods

We adopted a user-centred design process to develop and test the ACP support website. A content specification phase included needs assessment, evidence synthesis and translation into preliminary content. A creative design phase included storyboarding, iterative prototyping, and usability testing. People with dementia and family caregivers engaged in usability testing across four iterations, using System Usability Scale questionnaires, and think-aloud and semi-structured interviews. An advisory group with people with dementia, family caregivers, and diverse regional stakeholders was involved. Descriptive statistics and qualitative framework analysis were applied.

Results

Website goals were: providing ACP information and facilitating ACP conversations. A ‘what matters most’ approach (i.e. enabling users to reflect on ‘what matters most’ in the present and the future) and non-linear navigation were favoured. We tested the website with 17 people with dementia and 26 family caregivers. Feedback addressed design, navigation and content. Usability scores of 76.4 for family caregivers and 81.3 for people with dementia were achieved. Family caregivers and people with dementia highlighted the value of information and interactive ACP tools, the need for language simplification and harmonised layout. People with dementia experienced challenges in using interactive tools.

Conclusion

The user-centred development process, involving diverse stakeholders, led to the development of an ACP support website deemed usable and useful. Future evaluation should focus on acceptability, feasibility and effectiveness of the ACP support website.
A 5G network based conceptual framework for real-time malaria parasite detection from thick and thin blood smear slides using modified YOLOv5 model
Authors: Lipsa Swati , Kumar Dash Ranjan , Cengiz Korhan , Ivković Nikola , Akhunzada Adnan
Published: February 2025

Objective

This paper aims to address the need for real-time malaria disease detection that integrates a faster prediction model with a robust underlying network. The study first proposes a 5G network-based healthcare system and then develops an automated malaria detection model capable of providing an accurate diagnosis, particularly in areas with limited diagnostic resources.

Methods

The proposed system leverages a deep learning-based YOLOv5x algorithm to detect malaria parasites in thick and thin blood smear samples. The YOLOv5x network architecture was modified by introducing two squeeze-and-excitation network (SENet) layers just before the Upsample layers. The system is designed to operate over 5G networks efficiently, enabling remote and smart healthcare solutions.

Results

The modified YOLOv5x model demonstrated improved accuracy and precision in detecting malaria parasites on microscopic slides. The inclusion of SENet layers optimized the network’s performance, making it suitable for real-time disease detection over a 5G network.

Conclusion

Our model exemplifies how a generic one-stage object detection algorithm, such as YOLOv5x, can be repurposed to detect objects as small as malaria parasites from microscopic visuals in a cost-effective manner over the 5G network. By integrating the computational efficiency of deep learning with the connectivity of 5G networks, this system can significantly enhance remote diagnostic capabilities and contribute to smart healthcare solutions.
The Impacts of Interplay and Congruence Between Effectuation and Causation on the Fundraising Opportunities, Successes, and Amount for Startups
Authors: Park Gyehyun , Kim KonShik
Published: February 2025

This study explores the impact of the interplay and congruence between effectuation and causation on the fundraising opportunities, successes, and total funding amount for startups. The motivation behind this research lies in the need to understand how different decision-making logics influence startup performance, especially in environments characterized by uncertainty. Effectuation, which focuses on leveraging current means and adapting to changing circumstances, contrasts with causation, which emphasizes goal-driven planning and resource allocation. This study aims to identify the relative value of each approach and determine whether a balanced use of both can enhance startup outcomes. The research utilizes data collected from 304 South Korean startup founders through a two-stage survey, supplemented by financial performance data from 2019 to 2022. Using response surface analysis, this study examines the independent and interactive effects of effectuation and causation on fundraising outcomes. The findings indicate that while the causation approach increases the number of fundraising opportunities, the effectuation approach is more effective in converting these opportunities into successful investments. Furthermore, a congruence effect was found between the two logics, with balanced use resulting in enhanced fundraising opportunities. However, this congruence effect did not translate to the number of successful investments or the total funding amount. These findings contribute to entrepreneurship literature by providing empirical evidence on the complementary roles of effectuation and causation. Practically, the results offer startup founders insights into selecting and balancing decision-making approaches to maximize fundraising opportunities and success in uncertain business environments.
Advanced EFL Learners’ Development in Written Morphologically Defined Words
Authors: Lou Xixiang
Published: February 2025

EL1 learners’ receptive morphological words (root, inflected, and derived words) develop on different scales, but whether they develop similarly in EFL learners’ language production is still unknown and deserves an examination. The answer may provide a clue to theoretical controversy about whether language learners’ morphologically defined words are identical in identity and learnability and whether their productive vocabulary grows constantly. This study uses lexical frequency profile analysis to explore the developmental trends of advanced EFL learners’ ( n = 299) morphologically defined words in writing across four consecutive semesters. The results indicate that root words are much more significant in both amount and percentage in all four semesters than inflected and derived words, and infected words are much lower than root words but greater than derived words. Over time, the three morphologically defined words go along different development trajectories.
Delayed Initiation of the 2016 World Health Organization Antenatal Care Contact and Associated Factors among Pregnant Women at Public Health Facilities of Kamba Zuria District South Ethiopia
Authors: Misikir Dawit , Ezo Elias
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Antenatal care involves specialized expert care for pregnant women from the onset of pregnancy until delivery.

Objective

To examine delayed initiation of the 2016 WHO antenatal care contact and associated factors among pregnant women at public health facilities of Kamba Zuria district, south Ethiopia, 2023.

Methods

A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 380 systematically selected pregnant women from May 1 to May 30, 2023. Data were entered using Epi-Data 7.1 Version and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Binary logistic regression was performed and all variables with a p < .25 in bivariable analysis have been shifted in multivariable logistic regression evaluation. Statistical significance was declared at a p < .05 in adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval.

Result

The magnitude of delayed initiation of the 2016 WHO antenatal care contact was 43.4% [95% CI: 38.4–48.4%]. Being a rural residence [AOR: 2.12, 95% CI: 1.24–3.62], having a history of abortion [AOR: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.14–0.45], unplanned being pregnant [AOR: 2.56, 95% CI: 1.50–4.35], having illness during present-day pregnancy [AOR: 0.20, 95% CI:0.09–0.39], now not being a member of women’s health development army [AOR: 2.73, 95% CI: 1.63–4.57], transportation get entry to hassle [AOR: 1.97, 95% CI: 1.18–3.29] and own family length of 1–2 [AOR: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.17–0.85], and 3–5 [AOR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.22–0.84] have been appreciably associated.

Conclusion

Two in five pregnant women are not on time receiving their first antenatal care services. Being a rural resident, having a record of abortion, unplanned pregnancy, infection at some stage in pregnancy, transportation troubles, being a member of the women's health development army, and circle of relatives length were substantially related. Therefore, providing health education during early antenatal contact, proper gynecological and obstetric care, and strengthening women's health development might enhance the initiation of antenatal care.
Compounded extraction: An examination of early agro-extractivism in the US Heartland
Authors: Secchi Silvia
Published: February 2025

The concept of agro-extractivism was developed by scholars of Latin America to characterize socio-ecological processes of dispossession and the commodification of human and nonhuman nature by colonial and capitalist actors. Here, I use it to understand the process of white settlement in the US Heartland in the nineteenth century. With the state of Iowa as the case study, I analyze how the creation of the state's infrastructure, from railroads to education, was based on land expropriation through a variety of land grants in what I define as compounded extraction: a massive redistribution of wealth that used the land itself to bootstrap extractivist development activities. I use a variety of primary and secondary sources, from historical documents to census data, to illustrate how the land grants helped finance the changes in the landscape that accompanied the settlement process. I show that the structure of the land grants and their effects on agriculture put the state in the middle of global financialization processes, which were reinforced via feedback loops and boom-bust cycles, and predicated on export markets and tech fixes that create treadmill accelerationist effects to this day. I present evidence that these rapid and massive land use changes had multiple negative environmental effects, many of which were clear to scientists at the time, from soil erosion to species extinction. The infrastructure created via the land grants is still at the core of many environmental and socio-economic issues the state faces today, having become one of the planet's landscapes most modified by humans. I conclude that agro-extractivism in general and as manifested via compounded extraction is a compelling organizing concept in considering the past and present of settler agriculture in the Heartland and in other settings because it illuminates the complexity of dispossession and financialization processes.
Chilblains after galcanezumab for chronic migraine prevention: A case report
Authors: Gunasekera Lakshini , Ray Jason C
Published: February 2025

Background

Calcitonin gene-related peptide monoclonal antibodies (CGRP mAbs) are effective migraine prophylactics but real-world safety data is still emerging. This is the first case of chilblains associated with galcanezumab.

Case

A 50-year-old female commenced galcanezumab for migraine prophylaxis. She tolerated the loading dose well. Ten days after her second dose, she developed multiple skin lesions, fluctuating distal cyanosis and polyarthralgia in both hands. Rheumatologists confirmed a diagnosis of chilblains temporally related to the CGRP mAb. Galcanezumab was subsequently ceased with full clinical recovery. There was no clinical or serological evidence of an underlying autoimmune condition.

Conclusion

This case demonstrates a previously unreported reaction temporally associated with galcanezumab. We hypothesise herein a mechanism of biological plausibility for this reaction based on the drug's mechanism of action. Vigilance is required in monitoring for potential adverse events. Further research is required into risk factors for such presentations.
Usability of a cross-system housing stability program for juvenile courts: A multimethod study of probation counselor perspectives
Authors: Bishop Asia S. , Walker Sarah C. , Baumgarten Ella B. , Vick Kristin , Dean Taquesha
Published: February 2025

Background

Youth in contact with the juvenile legal system experience disproportionate rates of homelessness. While system contact is a critical intervening point, juvenile courts do not typically offer housing services. One solution is to refer youth to evidence-based, community-based services to meet housing-related needs, but a myriad of individual and organizational factors often impede court staff from making such referrals. Housing Stability for Youth in Courts (HSYNC) is a novel, cross-system service linkage model for court-involved youth facing housing instability. HSYNC was developed using codesign as a strategy to improve usability and incorporated evidence on juvenile court linkage strategies effective at increasing service referrals and improving outcomes.

Method

The current study utilized a multimethod approach to evaluate the usability of HSYNC from the perspective of juvenile probation counselors (JPCs) as one group of end-users. As part of the pilot implementation study, survey ( N = 15) and semi-structured interview ( N = 20) data were obtained from JPCs from four juvenile courts in one northwestern state.

Results

Survey results indicated good usability for HSYNC (mean implementation strategy usability scale score of 80). Themes from the interviews complemented survey findings, pointing to HSYNC as a value-added program that integrated well with existing probation practices. The housing navigator's approach was highlighted as a strong facilitator of program usability. Themes also provided greater insight into implementation barriers (i.e., individual and contextual factors) and areas for improvement (e.g., eligibility screening process).

Conclusions

Drivers of program usability and implications for program improvement to address identified implementation challenges to ensure the HSYNC model is effective and sustainable long-term are discussed.
“My body, my choice” versus “officials say” Examining the effects of solidarity and monitorial reporting
Authors: Varma Anita , Masullo Gina , Limov Brad , Graham Emily , Kim Moo Sun , Malik Kanchan K.
Published: February 2025

This study contributes the first experiment (n = 1,342) comparing audience reception of solidarity reporting to monitorial reporting. Solidarity reporting prioritizes insights of people impacted, while monitorial reporting focuses on officials. We find that covering abortion access protests using a solidarity approach improved news story credibility perceptions for Democrats, while Republicans rated the solidarity and monitorial stories as equally credible. Solidarity reporting may help newsrooms cover contentious issues inclusively, without diminishing audience perceptions of credibility.
Improved survival with model-based dosing of anti-thymocyte globulin in pediatric hematopoietic cell transplantation
Authors: Admiraal Rick , Nierkens Stefan , Bierings Marc B , Belderbos Mirjam E , Huitema Alwin D. R. , Bredius Robbert GM , Jiang Yilin , Curran Kevin J. , Scaradavou Andromachi , Cancio Maria I. , Klein Elizabeth , Kollen Wouter J , Bresters Dorine , Calkoen Friso G. , Versluijs Birgitta , Zwaan C. Michel , Boelens Jaap Jan , Lindemans Caroline A.
Published: February 2025

Anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) is used in pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) to prevent graft-versus-host-disease (GvHD) and graft failure (GF). Poor or delayed T-cell recovery, associated with increased mortality, is the main toxicity of ATG. Model-based precision dosing of ATG (MBD-ATG) minimizes toxicity while maintaining efficacy. We report updated results of the single-arm phase II PARACHUTE trial investigating MBD-ATG, combined with real-world experience with identical MBD-ATG. Consecutive pediatric patients receiving a first T-cell replete HCT for any indication were evaluated. Results were compared to historical patients receiving conventional fixed ATG dosing (FIX-ATG). Primary outcome was overall survival (OS). The MBD-group consisted of 214 patients (58 trial patients, 156 real-world patients); 100 patients received FIX-ATG. MBD-ATG led to superior OS compared to FIX-ATG (hazard ratio [HR] for death 0.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.34-0.93, p=0.026), mainly due to lower treatment related mortality (TRM; HR 0.51, 95% CI 0.29-0.92, p=0.025). Successful T-cell reconstitution (>0·05 × 10⁹ CD4+ T-cells/L twice within 100±3 days after HCT) was improved in MBD-ATG versus FIX-ATG (87%±2% versus 47%±5%, p<0.0001). The improved T-cell reconstitution led to lower TRM (HR 0.19, 95% CI 0.09-0.36, p<0.0001). Incidence of grade 2-4 acute GvHD was comparable, while chronic GvHD (HR 0.35, 95% CI 0.17-0.72, p=0.004) and GF (HR 0.36, 95% CI 0.13-0.97, p=0.044) were both less frequent in MBD-ATG compared to FIX-ATG. MBD-ATG results in improved OS and reduced TRM, while reducing chronic GvHD and GF. This easy-to-implement approach can improve outcomes after pediatric HCT though confirmatory studies are urgently needed.
Developing low-carbon sustainable building material by adding micro steel fiber with recycled aggregate concrete
Authors: Rajprasad J. , Sudarsan J. S. , Prasanth M. Jeeva , Nithiyanantham S.
Published: February 2025

Concrete is the most tremendous and widespread building material in the world. Building materials have become expensive and scarce. There is a tremendous need for substitute materials made from industrial waste in this desolate area. In concrete, ensuring the most expedient utilization of recycled aggregate (RA) from demolished structures can aid in the preservation of the natural surroundings, environment, and dumping space. The natural aggregate is eliminated with RA by (25, 50, 75, and 100%) volumes were carried out in 7, 14, and 28 days. Due to drying shrinkage, fresh concrete develops structural fissures, resulting in structural failure. Adding micro steel fiber is one of the most efficient strategies for improving the concrete’s characteristics like tensile strength, compressive strength, and flexural strength. In addition to this, a comparison is made between conventional concrete and RA concrete furthermore contains micro steel fiber enhancing the enforcement that leads to unreeling concrete. The outcomes of micro steel fiber onto RA concrete are assessed, and the conflicts among natural and RA attributes are addressed and discussed in detail.
Inside the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, with Hans-Otto Pörtner
Authors: Knight Kathryn
Published: February 2025

Hans-Otto Pörtner is a leading animal physiologist based at the University of Bremen and the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Germany, who first published in Journal of Experimental Biology in 1986. Since then, he has specialised in the physiology of marine vertebrates and invertebrates, with an interest in the impact of hypoxia and temperature on survival, developing the concept of oxygen- and capacity-limited thermal tolerance. It was Pörtner's work on the impact of rising CO2 levels on marine organisms that brought him to the attention of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) when governments were considering storing CO2 in the deep oceans. Contributing to the IPCC Special Report on Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage in 2005, Pörtner was part of the team that led to the prohibition of CO2 dumping in the oceans in 2007. This resulted in Pörtner being invited to contribute to the planning process for the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Main Report, approved by the IPCC in 2014, which stated that human CO2 emissions are ‘extremely likely’ to be the dominant cause of global warming and its impacts. In 2015, Pörtner was voted co-chair of the IPCC Working Group II, assessing the planet's vulnerability to climate change, culminating in the Sixth Assessment Synthesis Report released in 2023. Pörtner is co-presenting the Climate and Biodiversity Plenary Lecture on 25 March 2025 at the Biologists @ 100 conference, hosted by The Company of Biologists. Here, he reflects on his career, his contribution to the IPCC and how to minimise our impact on the planet.
Outcomes of severe acute kidney injury requiring renal replacement therapy in renal transplant patients: A single center experience
Authors: Hafeez Abdul Rauf , Kumar Ranjeet , Nazarul Hassan Jafry  , Rehman Muniba
Published: February 2025

Objective: We aimed to assess the renal allograft and patient survival following acute kidney injury requiring dialysis therapy.
Methods: We analyzed the medical record of 3000 first living donor kidney transplant performed between 2008 to 2017 for AKI requiring dialysis at Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Karachi, Pakistan. Patients less than 15 years of age and those AKI events that happened less than three months post renal transplant were excluded. Renal allograft and patient survival were recorded at discharge and one-year post AKI. Recovery of renal functions was assessed at three-month.
Results: AKI requiring dialysis therapy was identified in 154 (5.1%) patients. At discharge, 115 (74.7%) were alive and 71 (61.7%) of them were dialysis free. At three-month, out of 71 dialysis free patients, 11 (15.5%) had complete recovery, 54 (76%) had partial recovery and six (8.5%) required dialysis again. At one-year, 98 (63.6%) patients were alive and 42 (42.9%) of them were dialysis free. Infectious etiology of AKI (P= 0.000; 0R 6.00; CI, 2.3-15.08) and more than two non-dialysis -requiring AKI in the past (P= 0.017; OR 3.04; CI, 1.2-7.5) were the risk factors of in-hospital mortality. Non-infectious cause of AKI (P=0.000; OR 45.5; CI, 9.9-206) and being off calcineurin inhibitors (P=0.014; OR 4.4; CI, 1.3-14.8) were the risk factors of dialysis dependency at hospital discharge.
Conclusions: Dialysis-requiring AKI secondary to infectious etiology has both high mortality and chances of recovery in survivors. They need prompt diagnosis and treatment. Non-infectious etiology and being off CNI are the risk factors of graft loss in dialysis-requiring AKI.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.3.10371
How to cite this: Hafeez AR, Kumar R, Jafry NH, Rehman M. Outcomes of severe acute kidney injury requiring renal replacement therapy in renal transplant patients: A single center experience. Pak J Med Sci. 2025;41(3):763-768. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.3.10371
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.
Steps initiated for sustainability of faculty mentorship program at Aga Khan University Medical College: A mixed method study
Authors: Rehman Rehana , Khan Fauzia , Ali Tazeen Saeed , Ali Rahila
Published: February 2025

Objective: To investigate and address challenges in faculty mentorship for sustainability of Faculty Mentorship Program (FMP) at Aga Khan University Medical College (AKU-MC).
Methods: This is a mixed method study conducted from June 2021 to December 2023 at AKU-MC. It comprises of the exploration of qualitative insights into the challenges faced by mentors, mentees, and administrators, also incorporating quantitative measures of success to evaluate the sustainability of the program over time. Data was retrieved from four Focus group discussions (FGD) with mentors and mentees, eight in depth interviews with the administrators of FMP and leadership. Challenges of faculty mentorship were further identified by a panel discussion and briefing sessions with faculty members of different departments at AKU-MC. Challenges identified by three data sets were presented to the FMP committee, discussed in forum meetings and recommendations were proposed for the sustainability of the program.
Results: During the interviews, mentors revealed ‘Limited Training and ‘Lack of Recognition’ as key challenges whereas mentees mentioned deficient skills in planning developmental goals. Administrators mentioned the need to enhance the visibility of the program as well as to update the resources. Panel discussion highlighted the need for recognition of mentors and providing them with protected time. Departmental meetings endorsed the need for sequential training of both mentors and mentees. To address these challenges educational grand rounds, international conferences and webinar were conducted to enhance the visibility of the program. Mentors were acknowledged by appreciation emails and tokens of appreciation. A series of workshops to enhance mentoring skills were planned and executed.
Conclusion: The FMP at AKU-MC has devised a stepwise strategy to address challenges in faculty mentorship. This approach emphasizes collaboration with departments and the active involvement of leadership. By incorporating rewards, recognition, and a series of workshops, the program aims to foster a strong mentorship culture within the university. These efforts align with the objective of investigating and resolving mentorship challenges to ensure the sustainability of the Faculty Mentorship Program at AKU-MC.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.3.10856
How to cite this: Rehman R, Khan F, Ali TS, Ali R. Steps initiated for sustainability of faculty mentorship program at Aga Khan University Medical College: A mixed method study. Pak J Med Sci. 2025;41(3):798-803. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.3.10856
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.
Construction of an imaging diagnostic model based on computed tomograph signs for peripheral small cell lung cancer
Authors: Li Jia , Liu Haitao , Jiang Cuihong
Published: February 2025

Objective: To construct an imaging diagnostic model for peripheral small cell lung cancer (pSCLC) with a diameter of ≤ 3cm to improve differential diagnostic efficiency.
Methods: As a retrospective study, patients with pathologically confirmed lung cancer with tumor diameter ≤ 3 cm who were treated at the Guang’anmen Hospital South Campus, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences from May 2018 to May 2024 were retrospectively selected. All patients underwent computer tomography (CT) imaging. Patients with pSCLC (n=38) were identified first and then matched them to patients with peripheral non-small cell lung cancer (pNSCLC) (n=114) during the same period in a 1:3 ratio. Predictive factors of pSCLC were identified by logistic regression analysis, and a predictive model was constructed.
Results: Logistic regression analysis confirmed that male gender, smooth edges, less spiculation sign, less air bronchogram sign, and lymph node enlargement are independent predictive factors for pSCLC. A predictive model that combines the above five predictive factors has high diagnostic efficacy for pSCLC. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis results showed the area under the curve AUC of 0.842 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.759~0.925), with a sensitivity of 84.2% and specificity of 78.1%.
Conclusions: Male sex, smooth edges, less spiculation and air bronchogram signs, and lymph node enlargement identified by the CT scan were shown as independent predictive factors for pSCLC. Combining the above features has a high diagnostic efficacy for pSCLC.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.3.11354
How to cite this: Li J, Liu H, Jiang C. Construction of an imaging diagnostic model based on computed tomograph signs for peripheral small cell lung cancer. Pak J Med Sci. 2025;41(3):747-752. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.3.11354
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 of risk factors for ischemic stroke with uric acid/creatinine ratio and cerebral vascular hemodynamic index (CVHI) in physical examination population
Authors: Bai Xue , Wang Hui , Li Jiangzhe , Xu Jinjin , Cai Pan
Published: February 2025

Objective: To investigate the risk of ischemic stroke, uric acid/creatinine ratio, cerebral vascular hemodynamic index (CVHI) and risk factors of stroke in physical examination population.
Methods: This was a retrospective study. Four hundred cases undergoing physical examination at physical examination center in Baoding No.1 Central Hospital from January 2023 to December 2023 were selected as subjects, and their general data were collected. They were divided into low ratio group, medium ratio group and high ratio group depending on the uric acid/creatinine ratio, and were classified as high-risk group, medium-risk group and low-risk group as per CVHI, the general data of all subjects were compared and analyzed.
Results: Multifactorial Logistic regression analysis was performed after assignment of stroke risk factors as dependent variables yielding that advanced age, smoking, alcohol abuse, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, BMI, hyperlipidemia, and hyperuricemia were risk factors for ischemic stroke(P<0.05). Those with high uric acid/creatinine ratio were markedly higher than those with medium and low ratio in the proportion of alcohol abuse, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). Obesity, advanced age, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia were obviously higher in the high-risk group for stroke than in the medium- and low-risk groups, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Risk factors for ischemic stroke predispose to older age groups, and are linked to underlying medical conditions, especially in those with high uric acid/creatinine ratios and those at high risk of stroke. The SUA/Cr ratio is negatively correlated with the CVHI score.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.3.9912
How to cite this: Bai X, Wang H, Li J, Xu J, Cai P. Correlation of risk factors for ischemic stroke with uric acid/creatinine ratio and cerebral vascular hemodynamic index (CVHI) in physical examination population. Pak J Med Sci. 2025;41(3):804-809.  doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.3.9912
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.
Επίδραση της φαρμακευτικής αγωγής στη λιπώδη νόσο του ήπατος ασθενών με σακχαρώδη διαβήτη τύπου 2, με έμφαση στις νεότερες αντιδιαβητικές θεραπείες
Authors: Κουλλιάς Εμμανουήλ
Published: February 2025

Εισαγωγή: Η Μη Αλκοολική Λιπώδης Νόσος του Ήπατος (ΜΑΛΝΗ) αποτελεί την συχνότερη αιτία ηπατοπάθειας παγκοσμίως. Διαχρονικά η θεραπευτική προσέγγιση των ασθενών περιλαμβάνει ένα μίγμα υγιεινοδιαιτητικών παρεμβάσεων και άσκησης, με σκοπό την απώλεια βάρους, με την βαριατρική χειρουργική να συνιστά τη λύση σε περιπτώσεις που η αρχική προσέγγιση δεν επαρκεί. Δεδομένων των περιορισμένων διαθέσιμων φαρμακευτικών επιλογών, το ιατρικό ενδιαφέρον έχει στραφεί σε φαρμακευτικές ουσίες που χρησιμοποιούνται για τη θεραπεία των συννοσηροτήτων των ασθενών με ΜΑΛΝΗ. Σκοπός: Σκοπός της παρούσας προοπτικής μελέτης παρατήρησης ήταν η αξιολόγηση της επίδρασης της Ντουλαγλουτίδης και της Εμπαγλιφλοζίνης στην ηπατική στεάτωση, καθώς και σε άλλους παράγοντες όπως το σωματικό βάρος, η περίμετρος μέσης, η γλυκαιμική ρύθμιση κ.λπ., καθώς και η σύγκριση των αποτελεσμάτων της θεραπείας με αυτές τις δύο ουσίες. Μεθοδολογία: Στη μελέτη συμπεριλήφθηκαν τελικώς 78 ασθενείς με Σακχαρώδη Διαβήτη τύπου 2 και ΜΑΛΝΗ, εκ των οποίων 25 ανήκαν στην ομάδα της Εμπαγλιφλοζίνης, 25 στην ομάδα της Ντουλαγλουτίδης και 28 στην ομάδα ελέγχου. Η αξιολόγηση των ασθενών έγινε με την καταγραφή δημογραφικών και ανθρωπομετρικών χαρακτηριστικών, την μέτρηση εργαστηριακών παραμέτρων και τον υπολογισμό αντίστοιχων δεικτών σχετιζόμενων με την ηπατική στεάτωση και ίνωση, καθώς και με την υπερηχογραφική και με μαγνητική τομογραφία απεικόνιση, με στόχο την αξιολόγηση του βαθμού της ηπατικής σκληρότητας και στεάτωσης, κατά την ένταξη και στις 52 εβδομάδες παρακολούθησης.Αποτελέσματα: Η ποσοτική αξιολόγηση της ηπατικής στεάτωσης, μέσω διενέργειας μαγνητικής τομογραφίας, ανέδειξε ότι, μετά από έναν χρόνο θεραπείας, η ομάδα της Εμπαγλιφλοζίνης εμφάνισε στατιστικά σημαντική μείωση του ηπατικού κλάσματος λίπους (ΗΚΛ) με μείωση του μέσου όρου (± SEM) από 12,31% ± 1.76% σε 9.34% ± 1.39%, (P = 0.007). Αντιθέτως, στην ομάδα της Ντουλαγλουτίδης και την ομάδα ελέγχου δεν παρατηρήθηκε στατιστικά σημαντική μεταβολή. Εκτός αυτού, φάνηκε ότι 52% των ασθενών της ομάδας της Εμπαγλιφλοζίνης πέτυχαν σχετική μείωση του ΗΚΛ της τάξης του 30% τουλάχιστον. Επιπλέον, καταγράφηκε σημαντική μείωση του Δείκτη Μάζας Σώματος (ΔΜΣ) και του Fatty Liver Index (FLI) και στις 3 ομάδες, με τις ομάδες της Εμπαγλιφλοζίνης και της Ντουλαγλουτίδης να υπερτερούν σε σχέση με την ομάδα ελέγχου, όσον αφορά την επίτευξη απώλειας βάρους της τάξης του 5% τουλάχιστον. Τέλος, παρατηρήθηκαν σημαντικές θετικές συσχετίσεις μεταξύ των μεταβολών του ΗΚΛ και του ΔΜΣ, της HbA1c, του FLI, των επιπέδων των αμινοτρανσφερασών, καθώς και του AST to Platelet Ratio Index (APRI) και των περιμέτρων ισχίων και μέσης. Συμπεράσματα: Στην παρούσα μελέτη η θεραπεία με Εμπαγλιφλοζίνη φάνηκε να υπερτερεί όσον αφορά τη βελτίωση της ηπατικής λίπωσης σε σχέση με τη θεραπεία με Ντουλαγλουτίδη, η οποία, παρά τη βελτίωση του ΔΜΣ, δεν επέφερε σημαντική μείωση του ΗΚΛ.
Η δημιουργική σύλληψη και ο ρόλος της φαντασίας
Authors: Κουντουρά Καλλιόπη
Published: February 2025

Στη διατριβή με τίτλο "Η Δημιουργική σύλληψη και ο ρόλος της φαντασίας: από τον Giambattista Vico στους Benedetto Croce και Luigi Pirandello", βασικό άξονα της έρευνας αποτελεί ο καταλυτικός ρόλος που διαδραματίζει η φαντασία κατά τη διάρκεια της καλλιτεχνικής δημιουργίας του ανθρώπου, αλλά και γενικότερα ο τρόπος με τον οποίο συλλαμβάνεται ένα έργο τέχνης εξετάζοντας παράλληλα όλα τα στοιχεία που συμβάλλουν στη γένεση αυτού. Μέσα από τη μελέτη επιλεγμένων έργων των τριών Ιταλών στοχαστών, γίνεται έκδηλο πως οι αισθητικές θεωρίες τους καθιστούν την αισθητική μια επιστήμη αυτόνομη και ανεξάρτητη, η οποία δύναται μέσω της συνδρομής της φαντασίας να αποτελέσει φορέα γνώσης τουλάχιστον ισάξιο του ορθού επιστημονικού λόγου, δίχως όμως να έχει ανάγκη από τη συνδρομή του τελευταίου. Γι’ αυτόν τον λόγο, εξάλλου, επιλέχθηκαν συνειδητά οι τρεις Ιταλοί στοχαστές Vico, Croce και Pirandello, με τους δύο πρώτους να ανήκουν στον τομέα της φιλοσοφίας με αξιοσημείωτο έργο στον κλάδο της αισθητικής, αλλά και τον Luigi Pirandello, ο οποίος τόσο με το λογοτεχνικό όσο και με το δοκιμιακό έργο του δομεί αναμφίβολα τη δική του αισθητική θεωρία που διέπεται από μια καθ’ όλα συνεπή φιλοσοφική σκέψη. Oι βασικοί στόχοι της διατριβής είναι να πραγματοποιηθεί στην ουσία μέσα από τα κορυφαία έργα και των τριών στοχαστών μια διερεύνηση των λειτουργιών που συνδράμουν στη γένεση των έργων τέχνης και στον ίδιο τον ρόλο της φαντασίας με την εύρεση κοινών στοιχείων στις αισθητικές θεωρίες τους, ακόμα και εκείνων που φαινομενικά παρουσιάζονται ως εκ διαμέτρου αντίθετες, ενώ παράλληλα απώτερος σκοπός είναι η ανάδειξη της ανεξαρτησίας, της αυτονομίας και της καθολικότητας της τέχνης μέσω της καθοριστικής συνδρομής της φαντασίας απουσία του ορθού λόγου.
Adaptive lensless microscopic imaging with unknown phase modulation
Authors: Chen Xiangyu , Sha Hao , Chen Chunyu , Jiang Yuan , Zou Wenzhen , Zhang Yongbing
Published: February 2025

Lensless imaging is a popular research field because of its small size, wide field-of-view, and low aberration in recent years. However, some traditional lensless imaging methods suffer from slow convergence, mechanical errors, and conjugate solution interference, which limit their further application and development. In this work, we proposed a lensless imaging method based on a spatial light modulator (SLM) with unknown phase modulation values. In our imaging system, the SLM is utilized to modulate the wavefront of the object. When the phase modulation values of the SLM are inaccurate or unknown, conventional algorithms such as amplitude-phase retrieval (APR) or the extended ptychographic iterative engine (ePIE) fail to reconstruct the complex amplitude information of the object. To address this challenge, we introduce a novel approach that combines ptychographic scanning along a spiral path with the ePIE algorithm, enabling accurate reconstruction of the original image. We further analyze the effect of modulation function and the characteristics of the coherent light source on the quality of the reconstructed image. The experiments show that the proposed method is superior to traditional methods in terms of recovering speed and accuracy, with the recovering resolution up to 14 μm in the reconstruction of the USAF phase plate image.
Gender identity and sexual orientation in Austrian adolescents
Authors: Teufl Lukas , Teutsch Friedrich , Winkler Roman
Published: February 2025

In many European countries, representative data on the proportion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) adolescents are still lacking. Therefore, this study used data of 9,295 adolescents (11 to 17 years) who participated in two nationwide surveys (Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Study and Austrian Health Study on Apprentices) and investigated answers regarding gender identity and sexual orientation. Additionally, age- and gender-specific patterns and mocking answers given were quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed. Results show that 0.8% of Austrian adolescents identified with a gender other than female or male and 10.5% with a sexual orientation other than heterosexual, with other sexual orientations being more common in girls (14%) than boys (4%). Only five adolescents were unsure about their gender identity and every twentieth adolescent did not identify with a sexual orientation yet. Most adolescents took the questionnaire seriously, with only 82 (0.8%) mocking answers given. These mocking answers were classified in seven groups, with Popular Culture and Memes being the largest group. This study makes a significant contribution to the collection of data on gender identity and sexual orientation of (Austrian) adolescents.
Changes in pregnancy-related hormones, neuromechanical adaptations and clinical pain status throughout pregnancy: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Daneau Catherine , Nougarou François , Abboud Jacques , Ruchat Stephanie-May , Descarreaux Martin
Published: February 2025

During pregnancy, increased hormonal levels contribute to ligament laxity of the pelvis and could predispose to lumbopelvic pain. The main objective of this study was to assess changes in pregnancy-related hormones, neuromechanical adaptations and clinical pain status throughout pregnancy. An exploratory objective was to examine the possible association between those variables. Twenty-eight pregnant women participated in the study. At each trimester, they provided a blood sample (to measure relaxin, estrogen and progesterone), completed questionnaires assessing clinical status (functional disability, risk of poor prognosis of prolonged lumbar disability, avoidance behaviors, anxiety and pain catastrophizing), and were asked to perform a flexion-relaxation task (erector spinae electromyography and trunk kinematics). Results showed that throughout pregnancy, nocturnal and diurnal lumbopelvic pain intensity and related-disability, risk of poor lumbopelvic pain prognosis as well as avoidance behaviors increased, while pain catastrophizing decreased. Neuromechanical characteristics of flexion-relaxation task, including low back muscle activity and trunk kinematics, were similar across the three trimesters. Positive correlations were found between disability and estrogen levels (changes between first and second trimester, p = 0.05), and estrogen and diurnal lumbopelvic pain intensity (change between second and third trimester, p = 0.02). A positive correlation was also found between weight and the Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire score (changes between second and third trimester, p = 0.05). Negative correlations were found between weight (change between first and second trimester) and lumbopelvic maximal angle (p = 0.003), FRP onset for pelvic (p = 0.04) and lumbopelvic (p = 0.003) angles as well as FRP cessation for lumbopelvic angle (p = 0.001). These results show that, in pregnant women, pain and disability are associated with hormonal changes rather than trunk neuromechanical characteristics during a flexion-relaxation task. These results suggest that the flexion-relaxation task may not be an appropriate proxy to study vertebral and pelvic muscle control in pregnant women.
LMD-YOLO: A lightweight algorithm for multi-defect detection of power distribution network insulators based on an improved YOLOv8
Authors: Han Weiyu , Cai Zixuan , Li Xin , Ding Anan , Zou Yuelin , Wang Tianjun
Published: February 2025

Insulator defect detection is a critical task in distribution network inspections. To address issues such as low detection accuracy, high model complexity, and large parameter counts caused by the variety of insulator defect types, this study propose a lightweight multi-defect detection network, LMD-YOLO, based on YOLOv8. The network improves the backbone by introducing SCConv module to improve C2f module, which reduces spatial and channel redundancy, lowering both computational complexity and the number of parameters. The SimAM attention mechanism is integrated to suppress irrelevant features and enhance feature extraction capabilities without adding extra parameters. The SIoU loss function is used in place of CIoU to accelerate model convergence and improve detection accuracy. Additionally, this study creates a target detection dataset that encompasses four types of insulators: insulator, absent insulator, broken insulator, and shedding insulator. Experimental results show that LMD-YOLO achieves a 2% higher average accuracy on the insulator dataset compared to YOLOv8n, with a 24.6% reduction in model parameters, offering an effective solution for smart grid inspections.
Syphilis seroprevalence and risk factors among first-time blood donors in Brazil: A comprehensive repeated cross-sectional analysis spanning a decade
Authors: Cortez Andre Lazzeri , Avelino-Silva Vivian I. , Labella Henriques Barbara , Vernal Sebastian , de Almeida-Neto Cesar , Rolim Belisário André , Loureiro Paula , Maximo Claudia de Alvarenga , de Oliveira Garcia Mateos Sheila , Mayaud Philippe , Cerdeira Sabino Ester
Published: February 2025

Background

Syphilis remains a global health challenge, with rising incidence rates worldwide Prevalence surveys conducted in Brazil over extended periods of time are scarce. This study examines the secular trends and risk factors for syphilis seroprevalence among first-time blood donors in Brazil.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted as part of a multicenter, repeated cross-sectional survey of blood donors from four major Brazilian blood centers, covering the period from 2007 to 2020. First-time donors who had undergone valid treponemal screening tests were included in the final dataset. Demographic characteristics and serological results were analyzed to identify risk factors for syphilis seroprevalence using multivariate Poisson models. An interaction term between age group and donation year was added to the final model. Model comparisons were performed using Likelihood Ratio Tests (LRT) and Akaike Information Criterion (AIC).

Results

1,424,850 donations from first-time donors were included during the study period. The overall syphilis seroprevalence was 2.19%, with significant heterogeneity across centers. Risk factors for increased seroprevalence included male gender, older age, lower education level, and self-reported black or mixed skin color. Notably, an increasing trend in syphilis seroprevalence was observed among younger donors and those born after 1990. Interaction analyses revealed significant effects between visit period and key demographic variables (age group, gender, education, and ethnicity), with the interaction between age group and donation year indicating higher seroprevalence among younger age groups in recent years.

Conclusion

The study highlights a high syphilis seroprevalence among first-time blood donors in Brazil, which has significant implications for blood safety and public health. The increasing trend among younger donors suggests a shift towards newer infections, warranting continued surveillance in this demographic.