bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dosimetric Evaluation and Comparison of Collapsed Cone Algorithm with AAA and AcurosXB Algorithms for Lung Cancer Treatment Planning on the Varian Halcyon Accelerator
Authors: Shao Kainan , Du Fenglei , Qiu Lingyun , Zhang Yinghao , Li Yucheng , Ding Jieni , Zhan Wenming , Chen Weijun
Published: November 2023

Objective:This study aims to compare the dosimetric calculationsin standard non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) radiotherapy planningusing the Collapsed Cone (CC) algorithm of the RayStation planningsystem on the Varian Halcyon accelerator, with the Analytical AnisotropicAlgorithm (AAA) and Acuros XB algorithms on the Eclipse accelerator.Methods:The RayStation planning system was employed to designthe RapidArc radiotherapy plans for 15 lung cancer patients on theHalcyon accelerator, using the CC algorithm for dose calculation.The plans were then transferred to the Eclipse planning system. Withoutmaking any changes to these plans, doses were computed using bothAAA and Acuros XB algorithms. The differences in dose-volume indicesfor the clinical target volume (CTV), planned target volume (PTV),and other organs at risk were evaluated.Results:Compared with the CC algorithm, the AAA algorithmshowed slightly lower dose-volume indices for both the CTV (D2%,D50%, D95%, D98%, and mean dose) and the PTV (D2%, D50%, andmean dose), with differences within 1%. Specifically, the PTV's D95%and D98% were respectively 1.7% and 2.4% lower, the heart's meandose was 3.2% lower, the lung's V20Gy was 0.2% lower, the averagedose was 0.2% higher, and the spinal cord's maximum dose (representedby D0.1cc) was 0.9% lower. In contrast to the CC algorithm, the AcurosXB algorithm also showed slightly lower dose-volume indices for theCTV and the PTV, with differences within 1.5%. Specifically, thePTV's D95% and D98% were respectively 1.6% and 2.3% lower, theheart's mean dose was 4.4% lower, the lung's V20Gy was 0.3% lower,the average dose was 1.4% lower, and the spinal cord's maximum dosewas 2.3% lower. Paired t-tests indicated that all these results hadsignificant differences (p<0.05).Conclusion:This study aimed to quantify the impact of usingRayStation system and CC algorithm on Halcyon accelerator for clinicaldose evaluations, by comparing it with the AAA and Acuros XB algorithmsof the Varian Eclipse planning system. For lung cancer radiotherapyplanning, dose calculations obtained from the AAA and Acuros XB algorithmsunder the Eclipse system were slightly lower compared to the RayStationCC algorithm across various clinical indices. Notably, the differencesin the PTV's D95% and D98% indices were over 1.5%, while dose indicesfor various organs at risk were approximately 2∼3% lower. The results of this study can serve as a reference for institutionsthat are preparing to use the RayStation planning system for the designand clinical application of plans on the Varian Halcyon accelerator.
Bromelain ameliorates inflammation and hyperlipidemia by modulating oxidative stress and lipid metabolism in hyperlipidemic rats
Authors: Sulumer Ayse Nurseli , Palabiyik Esra , Uguz Handan , Avci Bahri , Koc Kubra , Askin Hakan
Published: November 2023

Hyperlipidemia is the major cause of cardiovascular diseases(CVDs) and responsible for major deaths worldwide since it contains abnormal levels of circulating plasma lipids. Bromelain(BRO) is a bioactive compound obtained from the pineapple stem belonging to the Bromeliaceae family. Through the modulation of the inflammation pathway, BRO can be considered a promising natural therapeutic agent for improving human health problems. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the effect of BRO hypolipidemic, biochemical, histopathologically, and molecularly in hyperlipidemic rats. Total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), and LDL cholesterol(LDL-C), AST, and ALT values were measured from blood samples. Oxidative stress markers and histopathological examination were assessed in the heart and liver tissues. Finally, to determine Srebp-1c, Lxr-α, matrix metalloproteinases(MMP), and inflammation, the gene expressions of Il-1β, Il-6, and Tnf-α in the same tissues were examined. BRO treatment prevented the increase in hyperlipidemic levels caused by tyloxapol administration. It reduced the rise in LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels. In addition; lipid peroxidation levels induced by tyloxapol in rats showed that Bromelain protected the change in SOD and CAT activities by acting on oxidative stress parameters. BRO was also found to have a histopathologically protective effect against liver and heart tissue damage caused by hyperlipidemia. Inhibition of expression of Srebp-1c, Lxr-α, Mmp-2, Mmp-9 and proinflammatory cytokines Il-1β, Il-6, and Tnf-α genes also appeared. It was concluded that bromelain, an untested agent for hyperlipidemia, may be a promising new agent to reduce mortality and morbidity associated with free radical reactions, and inflammation in the liver and heart tissue.
Symptom Clusters and Quality of Life in Patients With Lung Cancer Receiving Immunotherapy in China
Authors: Yang Xuying , Zhu Xuehua , Bai Jingcui , Zhang Jinhuang , Wang Yanli , Zhao Huanping
Published: November 2023

Objectives: Lung cancer patients undergoing immunotherapyexperience various symptoms that have long-term effects on their quality of life. However, which symptom clusters are expressed and affect patients’ quality of life remain significantly controversial. Therefore, we aimed to explore symptom clusters among lung cancer patients receiving immunotherapy and identify the impact of these clusters on their quality of life.
Data Sources: This was a cross-sectional study aimed at exploring the symptom experiences and quality of life of lung cancer patients receiving immunotherapy. The participants were invited to complete the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS) and Quality of Life Quality of Life Questionnaire—Lung Cancer 43 (QLQ-LC43). Principal component analysis, Spearman correlation analyses, and multiple linear regression were used to explore symptom clusters and identify their influence on quality of life.
Conclusion: Data from 240 participants was obtained, and identified five symptom clusters: emotion-related, lung cancer-specific, perceptual, skin, and neural symptom clusters. Adjustment for covariates revealed that emotion-related, lung cancer-specific, perceptual symptom clusters were negative predictors of quality of life. The fitted model explained approximately 56% of the variance.
Implications for Nursing Practice: This study demonstrated that lung cancer patients receiving immunotherapy experienced symptoms that tended to occur in five clusters (i.e., emotion-related, lung cancer-specific, perceptual, skin, and neural symptoms). Developing interventions for emotion-related, lung cancer-specific, perceptual symptom clusters may effectively improve patients’ quality of life.
Prevalence of Cognitive Impairment in Patients Receiving 5- Fu Containing Chemotherapy- a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Dsouza Anita , Chaudhari Jyoti , Ostwal Vikas , Pawar Akash , Saklani-Professor Avnish , Rane Pallavi , Jagdish Prathepa
Published: November 2023

Introduction-
The burden of cognitive impairment in patients who receive chemotherapy is significant. This review seeks to find out the prevalence of cognitive impairment in patients who have received 5 FU containing chemotherapy
Methods-
Pubmed, sciencedirect, CINAHL and Wiley were searched using the following key words in combination (cognition OR cognitive function OR cognitive impairment OR cognitive dysfunction) AND (5 FU OR 5 Fluorouracil OR chemotherapy). The reference lists of relevant studies were hand-searched to identify additional studies by two reviewers
Results-
The overall prevalence of cognitive in patients who received 5 FU containing chemotherapy is 29%.
Discussion-
Further research should study the impact of various chemotherapy protocols on cognitive functions in cancer survivors
Lung Ultrasound as a Predictive Tool for Ventilatory Requirements in Neonates with Respiratory Distress: An Observational Study from a Tertiary NICU in South India
Authors: VC Lokesh Kumar , Patla Vinod Kumar Reddy , Vadije Praveen Rao , Murki Srinivas , Subramanian Sreeram , Injeti Gnanavelu , Nagula Karthikeya , Vadyala Mounika , Garg Mehak , Thirunagari Shivani
Published: November 2023

Background
Though lung ultrasound (LUS) is a common tool for describing neonatal respiratory conditions, its effectiveness in predicting ventilation needs, especially for late preterm and term neonates with diverse respiratory etiologies, remains less studied [1, 2].
Objective
To evaluate the predictive ability of the lung ultrasound score for ventilation requirements in neonates on non-invasive respiratory support.
Methods
Between July 2021 and June 2023, we conducted an observational study on 192 neonates and included newborns with respiratory distress needing non-invasive respiratory support within 24 hours of birth. The primary outcome was the need for mechanical ventilation within 72 hours of beginning non-invasive support.
Results
Of the 192 neonates, 31 (16.1%) needed ventilation. The median lung USG (LUS) score was 5 (IQR: 2-7.5) for non-ventilated and 10 (IQR: 7–12) for ventilated neonates. The LUS had a strong discriminative ability for ventilation with an AUC (Area under the curve) of 0.825 (CI: 0.74–0.9, p = 0.0001). An LUS score of > 7 had a sensitivity of 77.4%, a specificity of 75.1%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 37.5%, a negative predictive value (NPV) of 94.5%, and an accuracy of 75.5% for ventilation needs. On regression analysis, the LUS score predicted the need for ventilation with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.36 (95% CI: 1.2–1.6, p < 0.0001). Antenatal steroid administration (OR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.12–1.9, p = 0.28), birthweight (OR: 1, 95% CI: 0.9-1.0, p = 0.52), maximum FiO2 requirement (OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 0.9–1.1, p = 0.06), and the Silverman Anderson score (OR: 1.2, 95% CI: 0.8–1.8, p = 0.3) failed to predict the need for ventilation.
Conclusion
The study highlights the LUS's capability to predict neonatal ventilation requirements within the first 72 hours of non-invasive support, especially when the score exceeds 7.
Optimized nutritional management mitigates short-term muscle mass loss in elderly frail patients with COVID-19: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Wang Wenyue , Wang Xin , Chen Chen , Yang Dongliang , Wang Pengfei , Chen Jiewen , Li Yousheng
Published: November 2023

Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has spread rapidly worldwide, highlighting the vulnerability of elderly individuals with frailty as a risk factor for adverse outcomes.
Aim
This study was designed to investigate whether early and appropriate nutritional intervention can mitigate skeletal muscle mass loss and improve clinical outcomes in frail older adults compared with standard hospital diet.
Methods
A randomized controlled trial was conducted in a general hospital in China from January to March 2023. Eligible patients provided informed consent and were randomly assigned to either the hospital diet group or the optimized diet group. The primary endpoint of the study was ΔSMI (change in skeletal muscle index between day 7 post-feeding and admission). Secondary endpoints included several indicators of body composition such as fat-free mass (FFM), skeletal muscle mass (SMM), extracellular water/total body water ratio (ECW/TBW), visceral fat area (VFA), and phase angle. Clinical outcomes were mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and length of hospital stay.
Results
Fifty-five patients were recruited and analyzed between January and March 2023. Patients in the optimized diet group received a mean of 1.0 (SD 0.06) g/kg per day protein compared with 0.8 (SD 0.07) g/kg per day in the hospital diet group (P = 0.02). The average daily intake over 7 days was 26 (SD 6.1) kcal/kg for the optimized diet group and 21 (SD 7.2) kcal/kg for the hospital diet group(P = 0.0171). Both groups showed a reduction in skeletal muscle index (SMI), with participants receiving the optimized diet intervention showing a comparatively smaller decrease in SMI compared to those on the hospital diet (0.57 [SD 0.08] kg/m2 vs. 0.16 [SD 0.07] kg/m2, P = 0.0003). The other parameters, including fat-free mass, visceral fat area, ECW/TBW ratio, and phase angle, did not show significant differences between the two groups. During hospitalization, two patients in the hospital diet group and one patient in the optimized diet group succumbed to respiratory failure as the direct cause of death. However, there was no statistically significant difference in mortality between the two groups (P > 0.99). The mean duration of hospital stay for patients in the optimized diet group was 12.3 days, which was significantly shorter compared to the hospital diet group with a mean duration of 14.4 days (P = 0.0211).
Conclusions
Our study results suggest that early, appropriate, and rational optimization of diet may mitigate short-term muscle mass loss while reducing hospital stay.
Hypoxia-induced TPC2 transcription and glycosylation aggravates pulmonary arterial hypertension by blocking autophagy flux
Authors: li chao , li cheng , Jiang YuFei , Liu MoFei , Yang ChengYi , Lu JiaXin , Jiang YongLiang
Published: November 2023

Background
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a serious medical condition that causes a failure in the right heart. Two-pore channel 2 (TPC2) is upregulated in PAH, but its roles in PAH remain largely unknown. Our investigation aims at the mechanisms by which TPC2 regulates PAH development.
Methods
We established an experimental PAH rat model via monocrotaline administration. Human and rat pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) were treated hypoxia as in vitro cell PAH models. The thickness of pulmonary arterial wall and obstructive arteriopathy in rats were examined. Autophagy was detected through TEM, lysosomal pH and Ca2+ measurement and mRFP-GFP-LC3 transfection. The expression of α-SMA, LC3, p62, TPC2, HIF1α and STT3B were analyzed by qRT-PCR, western blot or IHC staining. The binding of HIF1α to TPC2 promoter was determined by ChIP-qPCR and EMSA assays. TPC2 glycosylation was evaluated by western blot. Transwell assay was applied to analyze cell migration.
Results
TPC2 expression was promoted and autophagy was inhibited in PAH rats and hypoxia-treated PASMCs. HIF1α directly bound to the promoter of TPC2, thus transcriptionally activating its expression in PAH rats and hypoxic PASMCs. Knockdown of TPC2 facilitated autophagic flux and repressed PASMC migration. STT3B enhanced TPC2 glycosylation in hypoxic PASMCs. Furthermore, Overexpression of TPC2 suppressed autophagic flux and promoted PASMC migration, but these effects were abrogated by STT3B knockdown or PNGase F, an eraser of N-linked glycans. Suppression of TPC2 enhanced autophagy and alleviated PAH in vivo.
Conclusion
HIF1α-induced TPC2 transcription and subsequent STT3B-dependent TPC2 glycosylation inhibit autophagic flux and aggravate PAH. Our study suggests TCP2 as a potential therapeutic target for PAH.
Adverse Events Associated with IL-23 Inhibitors in the Clinical Management of Psoriasis: A Comprehensive Pharmacovigilance Analysis
Authors: Shi Wentao , Zhai Yinghong , Zhao Ziyi , Ye Xiaofei , Xu Feng
Published: November 2023

Background
Interleukin-23 (IL-23) inhibitors constitute a pivotal class of therapeutic agents employed in the clinical management of Psoriasis, a chronic autoimmune skin disorder. Notwithstanding their therapeutic efficacy, concerns have arisen due to the emergence of multiple adverse events (AEs) associated with their usage. This study aims to provide a comprehensive examination of the distribution and characteristics of these AEs concerning IL-23 inhibitors, with a specific focus on Guselkumab, Tildrakizumab, Risankizumab, and Ustekinumab.
Methods
In this research endeavor, we conducted an extensive analysis of data extracted from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), spanning the timeframe from January 1, 2014, to September 30, 2022. To identify potential signals of AEs, we rigorously applied disproportionality analysis, utilizing both reporting odds ratio (ROR) and information component (IC) metrics. A signal was considered present when the lower limit of the 95% confidence interval (CI) for ROR (ROR025) exceeded one or when IC (IC025) surpassed zero, with a minimum requirement of three or more reported cases.
Results
Our investigation encompassed a substantial dataset, comprising a total of 41,408,408 reports detailing drug-AE associations and involving 13,271,168 individuals. Among these, 704, 13,164, 62,853, and 11,399 patients were identified as users of Tildrakizumab, Guselkumab, Ustekinumab, and Risankizumab, respectively. The analysis revealed the presence of 8, 20, 107, and 115 signals for these respective drugs. Significantly, the System Organ Class (SOC) exhibiting the highest incidence was "infections and infestations," with documented occurrences in Tildrakizumab (6/8), Guselkumab (5/20), Ustekinumab (50/107), and Risankizumab (25/115).
Conclusion
Our pharmacovigilance analysis has brought to light a substantial frequency of AEs linked to IL-23 inhibitors. These findings underscore the pivotal role of IL-23 inhibitors in modulating immune function and raise concerns regarding their potential to heighten susceptibility to infections and malignancies. Of particular significance is Risankizumab, which, despite having fewer reported cases and a later market introduction compared to Ustekinumab, exhibited a higher incidence of AEs. These results emphasize the necessity for ongoing vigilance, further investigation, and a reevaluation of the safety profile of IL-23 inhibitors in the clinical management of Psoriasis.
The triglyceride glucose index trajectory is associated with hypertension: a retrospective longitudinal cohort study
Authors: Xin Fengling , He Shuyou , Zhou Yu , Jia Xueni , Zhao Yulong , Zhao Hui
Published: November 2023

Background Previous studies have found that the triglyceride glucose index (TyG index ) trajectories are associated with cardiovascular diseases. However, the association between the patterns of TyG index trajectories and risk for hypertension has not been investigated. In a longitudinal general population, we aimed to identify distinct TyG index trajectories over 12 years and describe their association with incidence of hypertension.
Method Of the 15,056 adults retrospectively recruited from the Physical Examination Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University in northeast of China from 2011 to 2022. TyG index was calculated as The TyG index was measured ln (fasting TG [mg/dL] ×FPG [mg/dL]/2) and the TyG index trajectories were developed using group-based trajectory modelling. Cox regression analysis was accomplished to assess the association between TyG index and incidence of hypertension.
Results The median age of the population was 38 years, and 7,352 (48.83%) of the participants were men. Three distinct TyG index trajectories were identified: “low increasing” (N = 7,241), “moderate increasing” (N = 6,448), and “high stable” (N = 1,367). Using “low increasing” trajectory as a reference, “moderate increasing” and “high stable” trajectory were associated with increased risk of hypertension (HR = 2.45; 95%CI 2.25-2.67 and HR = 3.88; 95%CI 3.48-4.33). After adjusting for baseline sex, age, diabetes, smoking, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, BMI, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood glucose, triglyceride, urea, uric acid, and glomerular filtration rate, the HR were slightly attenuate in “moderate increasing” and “high stable” trajectories to 1.38 (95%CI 1.23-1.54) and 1.69 (95%CI 1.40-2.02) respectively. Meanwhile, similar results were observed in multiple sensitivity analyses. The HR of the “moderate increasing” and “high stable” trajectory groups were 2.63 (95% CI 2.30-3.00) and 4.66 (95% CI 3.66-5.93) in female, and 1.66 (95% CI 1.48-1.86) and 2.33 (95% CI 2.04-2.66) in male.
Conclusions Elevated TyG index at baseline and long-term TyG index trajectories were associated with the risk of hypertension. Early identification of increasing TyG index could provide insights for preventing hypertension later in life.
Diffusion-weighted imaging of the dorsal root ganglion as a quantitative biomarker reflecting the severity and prognosis of herpes zoster：a prospective magnetic resonance imaging study
Authors: Shen Wang , Dai Gonghua , Liu Feng , Zhang Jinyuan , Fang Hong-Wei , Xu Wen , Zhang Wei , Yu Xiuqin , Fang Hong-Wei , Wang Xiangrui , Liao Lijun
Published: November 2023

This prospective study aimed to characterize diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) in herpes zoster (HZ) and to investigate the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) as a quantitative evaluation indicator for HZ as well as a predictor for postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Thirty-six patients with HZ and ten healthy volunteers underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning. The ADC values of the affected and symmetric asymptomatic DRG were collected and compared. The rash intensity (RI), visual analog scale (VAS), pain index (PI), insomnia severity index (ISI), self-rated anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rated depression scale (SDS) were used to assess clinical characteristics. DWI analysis showed that ADC values of symptomatic DRG were significantly lower than those of symmetric asymptomatic DRG in both the HZ-period (P < 0.001) and the follow-up period (P < 0.001). The ADC value difference of the bilateral DRG at the affected segment (asymptomatic value – symptomatic value) was correlated with several clinical data in the HZ period. Analysis of the receiver operating characteristic curve revealed that the HZ-period ADC value difference had a high predictive value for PHN (Area under the curve = 0.815, P = 0.003). The cutoff value was 0.121 × 10–3mm2/s. DWI of the DRG can quantitatively display the change in the affected DRG in HZ patients and may indicate nerve necrosis and structural variation of the neuronal cell membrane. DWI of the DRG can help evaluate the clinical status of patients with HZ and may be a potential prognostic indicator for the occurrence of PHN.
Optimising surgical anastomosis in ileocolic resection for Crohn's disease with respect to recurrence and functionality: Two international parallel randomized controlled trials comparing handsewn (end-to-end or Kono-S) to stapled anastomosis (HAND2END and the End2End STUDIES).
Authors: Haanappel Anouck , Bellato Vittoria , Buskens Christianne J , Armuzzi Alessandro , Bilt Jarmilla D W van der , de Boer Nanne K H , Danese Silvio , de Willeboi Eline M L van der Does , Duijvestein Marjolijn Duijveste , Horst Danielle van der , Pellino Gianluca , Richir Milan C , Selvaggi Francesco , Spinelli Antonino , Vignali Andrea , Rosati Riccardo , Bemelman Willem A
Published: November 2023

BackgroundThe most common intestinal operation in Crohn’s disease (CD) is an ileocolic resection. Despite optimal surgical and medical management, recurrent disease after surgery is common. Different types of anastomoses with respect to configuration and construction can be made after resection for example, handsewn (end-to-end and Kono-S) and stapled (side-to-side). The various types of anastomoses might affect endoscopic recurrence and its assessment, the functional outcome, and costs. The objective of the present study is to compare the three types of anastomoses with respect to endoscopic recurrence at 6 months, gastrointestinal function, and health care consumption.MethodsThis is a randomized controlled multicentre superiority trial, allocating patients either to side-to-side stapled anastomosis as advised in current guidelines or a handsewn anastomoses (an end-to-end or Kono-S). It is hypothesized that handsewn anastomoses do better than stapled, and end-to-end perform better than the saccular Kono-S. Two international studies with a similar setup will be conducted mainly in the Netherlands (End2End) and Italy (HAND2END). Patients diagnosed with CD, aged over 16 years in the Netherlands and 18 years in Italy requiring (re)resection of the (neo)terminal ileum are eligible. The first part of the study compares the two handsewn anastomoses with the stapled anastomosis. To detect a clinically relevant difference of 25% in endoscopic recurrence, a total of 165 patients will be needed in the Netherlands and 189 patients in Italy. Primary outcome is postoperative endoscopic recurrence (defined as Rutgeerts score ≥ i2b) at 6 months. Secondary outcomes are postoperative morbidity, gastrointestinal function, quality of life (QoL) and costs.DiscussionThe research question addresses a knowledge gap within the general practice elucidating which type of anastomosis is superior in terms of endoscopic and clinical recurrence, functionality, QoL and health care consumption. The results of the proposed study might change current practice in contrast to what is advised by the guidelines.Trial registration:NCT05246917 for HAND2END and NCT05578235 for End2End (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/) Anouck Haanappel and Vittoria Bellato are shared first authors
Composite Exponential Potential Multistable Stochastic Resonance System in Weak Signal Detection
Authors: Wang Shuo , Zhang Mingwang , Yuan Yu
Published: November 2023

Based on the classical bistable system model and the Gaussian Potential model, a new composite exponential potential multistable stochastic resonance system (CEMSR system) is proposed to address the issue that it proves difficult to extract weak signals from conventional stochastic resonance systems under a strong noise background. First, enhancing the Gaussian Potential model creates a multistable stochastic resonance system model with a complex power index function. To confirm the impact of noise intensity on the system, the system is numerically solved using the fourth-order Runge-Kutta algorithm. Second, the system parameters are adjusted using the quadratic sampling technique, and the output signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is employed as the fitness function of the particle swarm optimization process. The suggested model is compared to the system output of two compound tri-stable models by signal simulation and experimental verification, and it is demonstrated that the proposed model performs better at weak signal detection under the condition of fewer system parameters.
The Manifoldness of Traditional Knowledge: The Example of the Minangkabau Society in West Sumatra, Indonesia
Authors:   Faculty of Language Studies and Human Development, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Kampus Bachok, 16300 Bachok, Kelantan, Malaysia, Stark Alexander , Hassan Ariezal Afzan ,   Faculty of Language Studies and Human Development, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Kampus Bachok, 16300 Bachok, Kelantan, Malaysia
Published: November 2023

In a fast-changing world, traditional knowledge is moved to the edge. In many fields of knowledge, there is no place for traditional knowledge. Often this wisdom is considered to be taboo and old-fashioned. However, it must be emphasised that it belongs to the cultural heritage of humankind. The authors intend to show the richness of traditional knowledge by focusing on one geographical area, namely West Sumatra. The essential fields of traditional knowledge in that area are illustrated and analysed. The authors focus on three types of traditional knowledge, namely philosophy, the judicial system, and traditional healing methods. They conducted qualitative research that included fieldwork and an analysis of relevant literature to deepen the knowledge. The main hypothesis was that the different spheres of traditional knowledge were interdependent. It was detected that the traditional Minangkabau culture has fascinating traditional knowledge that is worth to be preserved.
Writings of Ruskin Bond with Special Reference to the Autobiographical Element
Authors:   Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Dhanbad, India, Rahman Md Mojibur , Sharma Asmita ,   Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Dhanbad, India
Published: November 2023

Ruskin Bond is a well-known Indian author whose works are deeply rooted in his personal experiences and observations. His stories often feature an autobiographical element, with characters and settings inspired by his own life. This study explores the autobiographical element in Bond’s writings and how it adds depth and authenticity to his works. Through an analysis of some of his famous short stories, the researchers highlight how Bond’s stories reflect his experiences of growing up in small towns in India, observing people at railway stations, spending time with local craftsmen and living in the Himalayas. The researchers also discuss how Bond’s works often explore themes of individuality, simplicity, nostalgia and the relationship between humans and nature. Overall, Bond’s autobiographical element brings a unique perspective to his works and captures the essence of human relationships and the importance of finding beauty and joy in the everyday.
Advances in the Development of Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors as New Antiprotozoal Agents
Authors: Ortiz-Perez Eyra , Vazquez-Jimenez Lenci K. , Paz-Gonzalez Alma D. , Delgado-Maldonado Timoteo , González-González Alonzo , Gaona-Lopez Carlos , Moreno-Herrera Antonio , Vazquez Karina , Rivera Gildardo
Published: November 2023

Background:

Parasitic diseases are a public health problem despite the existence
of drugs for their treatment. These treatments have variable efficacy and, in some
cases, serious adverse effects. There has been interest in the enzyme carbonic anhydrase
(CA) in the last two decades since it is essential in the life cycle of various parasites due to
its important participation in processes such as pyrimidine synthesis, HCO3
- transport
across cell membranes, and the maintenance of intracellular pH and ion transport (Na+,
K+, and H+), among others.

Objective:

In this review, CA was analyzed as a pharmacological target in etiological
agents of malaria, American trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, amoebiasis, and trichomoniasis.
The CA inhibitors´ design, binding mode, and structure-activity relationship are also
discussed.

Conclusion:

According to this review, advances in discovering compounds with potent
inhibitory activity suggest that CA is a candidate for developing new antiprotozoal agents.
Taxonomic Status and Phylogenetic Relationship of the Charadriidae
Family Based on Complete Mitogenomes
Authors: Qian Weiya , Liu Yizheng , Miao Keer , Chang Qing , Hu Chaochao
Published: November 2023

Background:

The Charadriiformes provide a good source for researching evolution owing
to their diverse distribution, behavior, morphology, and ecology. However, in the Charadrii,
family-level relationships remain understudied, and the monophyly of Charadriidae is also a subject
of controversy.

Methods:

In the present study, we generated complete mitogenomes for two species, Charadrius
leschenaultii and Charadrius mongolus, which were found to be 16,905 bp and 16,844 bp in length,
respectively. Among the 13 protein codon genes, we observed variation in the rate of nonsynonymous
substitution rates, with the slowest rate found in COI and the fastest rate observed in
ATP8. The Ka/Ks ratio for all Charadriidae species was significantly lower than one, which inferred
that the protein-coding genes underwent purifying selection.

Results:

Phylogenetic analysis based on the genes of Cyt b, 12S and ND2 revealed that the genus
Pluvialis is the sister group of three families (Haematopodidae, Ibidorhynchidae, Recurvirostridae).
However, the phylogenetic analysis based on complete mitogenomes indicated that the genus Pluvialis
is within the Charadriidae family.

Conclusion:

This study highlights the importance of carefully selecting the number of genes used to
obtain accurate estimates of the species tree. It also suggests that relying on partial mtDNA genes with
fast-evolving rates may lead to misleading results when resolving the Pluvialis sister group. Future research
should focus on sequencing more mitogenomes at different taxonomic levels to gain a better
understanding of the features and phylogenetic relationships within the Charadriiformes order.
Recent Development in the Search for Epidermal Growth Factor
Receptor (EGFR) Inhibitors based on the Indole Pharmacophore
Authors: Mishra Shweta , Sahu Adarsh , Kaur Avneet , Kaur Maninder , Kumar Jayendra , Wal Pranay
Published: November 2023

The signal transduction and cell proliferation are regulated by the epidermal growth
factor receptor. The proliferation of tumor cells, apoptosis, invasion, and angiogenesis is inhibited
by the epidermal growth factor receptor. Thus, breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, cervical
cancer, glioma, and bladder cancer can be treated by targeting the epidermal growth factor
receptor. Although third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors are potent drugs,
patients exhibit drug resistance after treatment. Thus, the search for new drugs is being continued.
Among the different potent epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors, we have reviewed the
indole-based inhibitors. We have discussed the structure-activity relationship of the compounds
with the active sites of the epidermal growth factor receptor receptors, their synthesis, and
molecular docking studies.
Correlation of MRI Findings with ODI and VAS Score in Patients with Lower Back Pain
Authors: Vučković Suada Hasanović , Vegar-Zubović Sandra , Milišić Lejla , Kristić Spomenka , Beganović Adnan , Dervišević Lejla , Ajanović Zurifa , Hasanbegović Ilvana , Hadžihalilović Aida Sarač
Published: November 2023

Background:

In clinical practice, there is a very common discrepancy between the clinical findings of patients with lumboischialgia and the radiological findings.

Objective:

This research aimed to determine the degree of correlation between the ODI index and the VAS scale with degenerative changes in the lumbar spine found using MRI.

Methods:

The study included 100 patients, who were referred for an MRI of the lumbar spine and who had a clear clinical picture of lumboischialgia. Patients underwent MRI. Degenerative changes in the lumbar spine and discs were analysed. Patients were asked to answer the questions in the questionnaire about the subjective feeling of pain and functional status, and ODI and VAS scores were calculated.

Results:

There has been a statistically significant correlation found between the answers to the survey questions and the VAS score (p < 0.001). There was a significant correlation obtained between the level of degeneration and the disability index (p = 0.022), while the correlation with the VAS score has not been found to be significant (p = 0.325).

Conclusion:

This study has demonstrated a significant correlation between the VAS pain score and the ODI, as well as a significant correlation between the level of degeneration on MRI scans and the disability index; however, the correlation of MRI scan results with VAS score has not been found to be significant.
Pediatrician’s Perception of Air Pollution and its Impact on Children’s Health in Indonesia
Authors: Soemarko Dewi Sumaryani , Khoe Levina Chandra , Wasito Erika , Basrowi Ray Wagiu
Published: November 2023

Introduction:

Air pollution is an unseen threat to children's health as it increases the risk of respiratory infection by impairing immune responses to the respiratory tract. Nevertheless, health promotion emphasizing the impact of air pollution is not popular, even among health professionals. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the perceptions of paediatricians regarding its impact on children’s health in Indonesia.

Materials and Methods:

A cross-sectional design using an online questionnaire was employed in this study. It was composed of 30 items and divided into 4 sections, i.e. section 1 explored the demographic variables, section 2 measured the respondent’s information-seeking behavior on the issue of air pollution, section 3 measured the perception of issues related to air pollution and its impact on children’s health, and section 4 explored the respondent’s experience in practicing environmental health education with respect to their patients. Only completed surveys were analysed.

Results:

Of the 171 pediatricians who were accessed for the survey, 120 (70.2%) completed it. The majority of respondents (69%) resided in Java island and worked in urban areas (84%). About 41.7% of the respondents had little to no information on the impact of air pollution on children’s health. More than 80% of the respondents received information from scientific articles, followed by seminars (61.5%), the internet (53.8%), colleagues (30.7%), and workshops/training (17.3%). Nearly one-third of the respondents considered air quality as poor in their working environment. Almost all agreed that air pollution can affect children’s health and increase the risk of respiratory allergies and even the risk of skin allergies for children under two years of age. In daily practice, most respondents (53.3%) admitted that they never or rarely treated patients with diseases related to air pollution. About one-third of the respondents (36.7%) had never or rarely asked their patients about their living environment.

Conclusion:

Pediatricians are aware of the impact of air pollution on the risk of respiratory allergies and infection, and therefore often provide environmental health education to patients. This study has reported that the majority of pediatricians in Indonesia have an understanding of the impact of air pollution on children’s health; however, there is still a lack of health promotion to be communicated to the patients and their families in their daily practice.
French Versions of 4 English Questionnaires on Problematic Smartphone Use: Cross-Cultural Linguistic Translation and Adaptation Study (Preprint)
Authors: El Boudi Islam , Riant Mathilde , Bellier Alexandre , Vuillerme Nicolas
Published: November 2023

BACKGROUND

Excessive use of smartphones is recognized as a major problem in our modern society and can have dramatic consequences on the health of adolescents and young adults. Measuring problematic smartphone use in research and clinical practice is generally operationalized with self-reported questionnaires. In order to comprehensively assess the issue of problematic smartphone usage within the French population, it is imperative to employ validated French-language questionnaires. However, at this point, existing questionnaires are primarily available in English. Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge, these English questionnaires have yet to undergo validation processes for French-speaking cohorts.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to perform a cross-cultural translation of the Smartphone Addiction Scale, Nomophobia Questionnaire, Problematic Use of Mobile Phones scale, and Smartphone Addiction Proneness Scale to French.

METHODS

The translation process was performed using the forward/backward method. The first translation phase involved asking 4 independent French translators to translate the original English version of the questionnaires into French. In the second phase, the French version was backtranslated to English by a native English speaker. In the third phase, 2 concept experts were asked to comment and suggest modifications to the statements if necessary. Finally, the last version of the translated questionnaires was presented to 18 participants to assess the clarity, intelligibility, and acceptability of the translations.

RESULTS

During the forward translation step, the translation differences were minor. During the backward translation, the English native speaker correctly backtranslated 18 of the 33 items of the Smartphone Addiction Scale, 17 of the 20 items of the Problematic Use of Mobile Phones scale, and 13 of the 15 items of the Smartphone Addiction Proneness Scale. Backtranslation for the Nomophobia Questionnaire was less satisfactory, with only 10 out of 20 items that were correctly backtranslated. The linguistic verification step revealed a minimal modification for the 4 questionnaires. The participants also suggested few improvements that we have considered for the final version. We produced the final version directly after this step.

CONCLUSIONS

We successfully adapted and effectively translated 4 questionnaires that assess problematic smartphone use to French. This step is a prerequisite for the validation of the French questionnaires. These adapted measures can serve as valuable research instruments for investigating and addressing issues related to problematic smartphone use in French-speaking countries and for making international comparisons.
EFFECT OF CYPHENOTHRIN-INDUCED SPLENIC DAMAGE AND HEMATOLOGICAL ALTERATIONS IN MALE WISTAR RATS (RATTUS NORVEGICUS)
Authors: B. NEGLUR SRINIVAS , DAVID MUNISWAMY
Published: November 2023

Objective: Cyphenothrin is a major insecticide causing toxicological implications in mammals. Several studies estimated the consequences posed by this insecticide. The present study was designed to investigate the possible pyrethroid effects of cyphenothrin-induced hematological alterations and splenic damage in male Wistar albino rats.
Methods: The rats were subjected to 60 d of exposure to a sublethal concentration of cyhenothrin. Hematological analyses revealed alterations in blood indices including red blood cells, white blood cells, hematocrit, hemoglobin, and platelet count. However, increased cyphenothrin level in treated rat groups was significant in the present study. This might be attributed to cyphenothrin enhancing stress of animal physiology.
Results: Histological examination of spleen resulted in rarefication of white pulp, damaged marginal zone, decreased periarteriolar lymphoid sheath (PALS) 35.33 mg/Kg BW high dose, and number of lymphoid follicles in the high concentration of cyphenothrin group. However, the treatment of cyphenothrin significantly affected the low-concentration cyphenothrin-treated group more than the high-concentration-treated group 63.6 mg/Kg BW low dose compared to the control.
Conclusion: This indicates the effective property of toxicity on the immunomodulatory effects of cyphenothrin. Results of the present study suggest that the Cyphenothrin effect has a potentially key role in hematological and immunomodulatory processes that might be implemented.
Optimization of Extraction Lannea coromandelica for Antioxidant Activity using Analytical Factorial Design Approach
Authors: AR Muh. Azwar , Hikma Nurul , Yasir Budiman , Asril Burhan Asril , Khairuddin Khairuddin
Published: November 2023

Background: The yield of active compound in a plant can be affected by the extraction method, such as variety of solvent and extraction technique used. Objectives: This study aimed to optimize the yield of Lannea coromandelica leaf extract using several types of solvent and extraction techniques and evaluate the antioxidant activity of the extracts. Material and Methods: This study used a variety of solvent like distilled water, ethanol, n-hexane, and ethyl acetate with maceration, reflux, and sonication extraction techniques. The extract obtained was calculated for the percent yield and analyzed for their antioxidant activity using the DPPH method by UV -Vis Spectrophotometry with 523.5 nm maximum wavelength. The antioxidant activity was analyzed by factorial design analysis in Minitab 21 software. Results: The highest percentage yields was obtained from the extract with ethanol solvent, followed by distilled water, ethyl acetate and n-hexane. The highest extraction techniques was obtained from reflux and followed by maceration and sonication extracts. Analytical factorial design analysis showed that the linearity of solvent variation and extraction technique had a significant effect (P>0.05). From the analysis, it was found that there was a significant difference between the effect of the solvent on the antioxidant activities compared to the extraction technique. The extracts obtained have a very strong antioxidant activity against DPPH radicals. T Conclusions: L. coromandelica plant aquadest extract has potential to be developed in optimalization extraction method.
Streamflow extremes alter air-water relationships in South American river-floodplain systems of the Uruguay River Basin
Authors: Lucas Christine , Santos Leticia de Los , Badagian Juan , Gamazo Pablo , Crossa Marcelo , Brum Elias , Morales-Marin Luis
Published: November 2023

Extreme hydroclimate events affect the thermal regimes of freshwater
systems. In a four-year period spanning periods of flooding and severe
drought in Southeastern South America (2019-2023), we monitored
temperature variability in streams and floodplain lakes in an undammed
tributary of the Lower Uruguay River, using Onset HOBO dataloggers and
modeled daily streamflow (Q). We compare the performance of linear and
nonlinear regression and generalized additive models (GAM) to evaluate
how air temperature (T ) variability affects water
temperature (T ) at daily, weekly and monthly time
scales and under different Q percentile ranges. Mean daily temperatures
ranged from 6.4ºC to 30.2ºC with daily maxima coinciding with record
highs >40 ºC in T and record low
streamflow in summer months. Daily and weekly air-water relationships
for rivers, streams and lakes were best fit by nonlinear sinusoidal
models (Nash Sutcliffe Error - NSE ≥ 0.68). Extremely low-flow periods
(<10% Q) showed a linear relationship to T
, while high-flow periods (>90%) showed
a nonlinear sinusoidal air-water relationship. Moreover, high-flow
events showed weaker T -T model
perforamce than moderate to low flow periods. Preliminary comparisons
between basin land-cover and T suggest that forest
cover favors lower T . This study fills a
geographical gap in thermal regime data in freshwater ecosystems in
South America and suggests that extreme hydroclimate events have
important implications for the thermal behavior of freshwater systems.
Crop Science Futurology: A Data-Driven Approach Through Phenomic, Genomic and Enviromic Insights
Authors: Adak Alper , Murray Seth C.
Published: November 2023

In recent years, the use of field-based high-throughput phenotyping
(FHTP) has surged across diverse disciplines. Particularly, it has
gained significant traction in agricultural research, enabling
scientists to efficiently gather extensive data for a deeper
understanding of plant biology in the context of plant growth dynamics.
This abstract aims to demonstrate potential applications of data
obtained through high-throughput phenotyping in the fields of plant
biology and predictive plant breeding.

The study utilized temporal phenotype data derived from repetitive drone
flights equipped with various sensors. These data were incorporated into
a novel mixed model, providing insights into the temporal genetic
effects on different genotypes/plants. Gaussian or Lorentzian peak
models, as well as Functional Principal Component analysis, were
employed to characterize the growth patterns of various genotypes in
diverse environments. The research revealed that Temporal Effect Sizes
of Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) influence growth differently across
time points, highlighting the dynamic nature of plant development.
Furthermore, the study uncovered time-dependent associations between
genotypes and their environments based on temporal phenotype values.

The predictive capability of temporal phenomic data was found to surpass
that of genomic data in predicting complex traits in maize. However, the
combination of phenomic and genomic data consistently yielded the most
accurate predictions for complex traits. By analyzing drone flights at
specific growth stages, the study quantified physiological traits such
as senescence progression across multiple time points. This analysis led
to the calculation of new traits, including days to senescence and grain
filing period, providing valuable insights into plant development and
growth dynamics.