bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Outcomes of patients presenting with Cholecystitis in terms of Early vs Delayed Cholecystectomy
Authors: Qaiser Maryam , Rehan Maryyam , Siddique Khurram , Anwar Muhammad Idrees , Khan Omer Habib , Rehan Kausar
Published: February 2022

Introduction: Biliary tract diseases comprise the most frequently occurring pathology in the abdomen, among which cholelithiasis affects 10-15% of the population.  Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy, performed within 72 hours 2) Interval laparoscopic cholecystectomy, performed within 72 hours to 6 weeks 3) Delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy in which patients are treated with antibiotics and given date of surgery within 6-8 weeks according to international criteria.

Objective: To find out the variability between hot, urgent, and delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy in terms of clinical complications and to find out the readmission rate, the persistence of symptoms, and the safety of the procedure.

Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study carried out in the Surgical Unit ll, Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi from January 2018 to March 2018. All adult male and female patients presenting with acute cholecystitis and pancreatitis were included in the study.

Results: Total number of patients included in our study is 82. Most of the patients were female 80.5% with a mean age of 44 years. Most of the patients were categorized under delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy 93.9%, 6.1% underwent interval/urgent cholecystectomy, and 1.2% early/hot cholecystectomy. Diagnosis in the study showed acute cholecystitis in 79.3% of patients, pancreatitis in 7.3%, empyema /gangrene of gallbladder in 6.1% mucocele in 6.1%, and choledocholithiasis in 1.2% of patients. Hence we figured out that performing early cholecystectomy leads to lesser complications.

Conclusion: Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy was found out to be a safe and cost-effective procedure. There is an increased incidence of readmission and complications with delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We suggest that measures must be taken in Pakistan to follow international guidelines in health practices to improve patient care.
Circadian rhythm and obesity
Authors: ŞAHİN Tuğçe , TOZCU Duygu
Published: February 2022

The earth rotates around its axis for 24 hours, this process creates physiological, biochemical, and behavioral rhythms in living things. These one-day periods are called the circadian rhythm. The circadian rhythm regulates human physiology and behavior by responding to environmental stimuli around the clock. The circadian system and sleep/wake phases are intertwined, and conditions such as sleep disorders, exposure to artificial light, jet lag, and shift work may cause disruptions in the circadian rhythm. Circadian rhythm; It is effective in gastrointestinal system physiology such as cell proliferation, electrolyte balance, digestion, absorption, motility. Disturbances in the circadian rhythm can cause imbalances in the intestinal flora, which can lead to disruptions in both the immune system and the absorption and digestion of macronutrients. In the human body, many endocrine factors are secreted in 24-hour periods and the amount of secretion reaches its peak at certain hours during the day. Disturbances in the circadian rhythm can cause many pathological conditions such as obesity and diabetes by causing disorders in the gastrointestinal system physiology, the secretion function of appetite hormones, and other endocrine factors secreted in 24 hours. Our aim in this review is to discuss the effects of circadian rhythm on gastrointestinal health and the relationship of hormones fluctuating with 24-hour circadian rhythm and obesity. The search was conducted in peer-reviewed journals PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. For this purpose, the keywords circadian rhythm and obesity were used together and research articles were included in this study.
PUBLIC VALUES REGARDING AN URBAN MANGROVE WETLAND IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Authors: Assaf Hamed , Idwan Sahar , Jallad Abdul Halim , Ammari Madiha Z. J. , Al Chaar Aktham , Kouja Mahmoud
Published: February 2022

Mangrove wetlands are facing an existential threat from rapid socio-economic development. In this study, public environmental values regarding mangrove wetlands in the Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) city in the United Arab Emirates were assessed, considering gender, age, education, income, length of residency in RAK, knowledge of RAK mangrove and awareness of sustainability. A population sample of 427 respondents were face-to-face interviewed. Results suggest that mangrove value orientations are highly associated with length of residency in RAK and awareness of sustainability at significance levels of 0.003 and 0.005, respectively. Value orientations are less associated with age, knowledge of RAK mangrove and education at significance levels of 0.023, 0.039 and 0.095, respectively, being largely independent of gender and income. The majority of the respondents support the preservation of the mangroves even at the expense of economic development. This indicates the need to draft policies and regulations to safeguard the mangroves.
WELL ORDERED MONOTONE ITERATIVE TECHNIQUE FOR NONLINEAR SECOND ORDER FOUR POINT DIRICHLET BVPS
Authors: Verma Amit , Urus Nazia
Published: February 2022

In this article, we develop a monotone iterative technique (MI-technique) with lower and upper (L-U) solutions for a class of four-point Dirichlet nonlinear boundary value problems (NLBVPs), defined as, ... where ..., ... the non linear term ...is continuous function in x, one sided Lipschitz in ψ and Lipschitz in . To show the existence result, we construct Green’s function and iterative sequences for the corresponding linear problem. We use quasilinearization to construct these iterative schemes. We prove maximum principle and establish monotonicity of sequences of lower solution and upper solution such that... Then under certain sufficient conditions we prove that these sequences converge uniformly to the solution ψ(x) in a specific region where
DISCRETE UNIVERSALITY OF ABSOLUTELY CONVERGENT DIRICHLET SERIES
Authors: Jasas Mindaugas , Laurinčikas Antanas , Stoncelis Mindaugas , Šiaučiūnas Darius
Published: February 2022

In the paper, an universality theorem of discrete type on the approximation of analytic functions by shifts of a special absolutely convergent Dirichlet series is obtained. These series is close in a certain sense to the periodic zeta-function and depends on a parameter.
Discovery of 16 New Members of the Solar Neighborhood Using Proper Motions from CatWISE2020
Authors: Kota Tarun , Kirkpatrick J. Davy , Caselden Dan , Marocco Federico , Schneider Adam C. , Gagné Jonathan , Faherty Jacqueline K. , Meisner Aaron M. , Kuchner Marc J. , Casewell Sarah , Kacholia Kanishk , Bickle Tom , Beaulieu Paul , Colin Guillaume , Hamlet Leslie K. , Schümann Jörg , Tanner Christopher ,   The Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 Collaboration
Published: February 2022

In an effort to identify nearby and unusual cold objects in the solar neighborhood, we searched for previously unidentified moving objects using CatWISE2020 proper motion data combined with machine learning methods. We paired the motion candidates with their counterparts in 2MASS, UHS, and VHS. Then we searched for white dwarf, brown dwarf, and subdwarf outliers on the resulting color–color diagrams. This resulted in the discovery of 16 new dwarfs, including 2 nearby M dwarfs (<30 pc), a possible young L dwarf, a high-motion early-T dwarf, and 3 later-T dwarfs. This research represents a step forward in completing the census of the Sun’s neighbors.
SN 2020sck: Deflagration in a Carbon-Oxygen White Dwarf
Authors: Dutta Anirban , Sahu D. K. , Anupama G. C. , Joharle Simran , Kumar Brajesh , J Nayana A , Singh Avinash , Kumar Harsh , Bhalerao Varun , Barway Sudhansu
Published: February 2022

We present optical UBVRI photometry and low-to-medium resolution spectroscopic observations of type Iax supernova SN 2020sck spanning −5.5 days to +67 days from maximum light in the B-band. From the photometric analysis we find Δm

B
(15) = 2.03 ± 0.05 mag and M

B
= −17.81 ± 0.22 mag. Radiation diffusion model fit to the quasi-bolometric light curve indicates 0.13 ± 0.02 M
⊙ of 56Ni and 0.34 M
⊙ of ejecta are synthesized in the explosion. Comparing the observed quasi-bolometric light curve with the angle-averaged bolometric light curve of a three-dimensional pure deflagration explosion of M
ch carbon-oxygen white dwarf, we find agreement with a model in which 0.16 M
⊙ of 56Ni and 0.37 M
⊙ of ejecta is formed. By comparing the +1.4 days spectrum of SN 2020sck with synthetic spectrum generated using SYN++, we find absorption features due to C ii, C iii, and O i. These are unburned materials in the explosion and indicate a C–O white dwarf. One-dimensional radiative transfer modeling of the spectra with TARDIS shows higher density in the ejecta near the photosphere and a steep decrease in the outer layers with an ejecta composition dominated mostly by C, O, Si, Fe, and Ni. The star-formation rate of the host galaxy computed from the luminosity of the Hα (λ6563) line is 0.09 M
⊙ yr−1, indicating a relatively young stellar environment.
PSP/IS⊙IS Observation of a Solar Energetic Particle Event Associated with a Streamer Blowout Coronal Mass Ejection during Encounter 6
Authors: Getachew T. , McComas D. J. , Joyce C. J. , Palmerio E. , Christian E. R. , Cohen C. M. S. , Desai M. I. , Giacalone J. , Hill M. E. , Matthaeus W. H. , McNutt R. L. , Mitchell D. G. , Mitchell J. G. , Rankin J. S. , Roelof E. C. , Schwadron N. A. , Szalay J. R. , Zank G. P. , Zhao L.-L. , Lynch B. J. , Phan T. D. , Bale S. D. , Whittlesey P. L. , Kasper J. C.
Published: February 2022

In this paper we examine a low-energy solar energetic particle (SEP) event observed by IS⊙IS’s Energetic Particle Instrument-Low (EPI-Lo) inside 0.18 au on 2020 September 30. This small SEP event has a very interesting time profile and ion composition. Our results show that the maximum energy and peak in intensity are observed mainly along the open radial magnetic field. The event shows velocity dispersion, and strong particle anisotropies are observed throughout the event, showing that more particles are streaming outward from the Sun. We do not see a shock in the in situ plasma or magnetic field data throughout the event. Heavy ions, such as O and Fe, were detected in addition to protons and 4He, but without significant enhancements in 3He or energetic electrons. Our analysis shows that this event is associated with a slow streamer blowout coronal mass ejection (SBO-CME), and the signatures of this small CME event are consistent with those typical of larger CME events. The time–intensity profile of this event shows that the Parker Solar Probe encountered the western flank of the SBO-CME. The anisotropic and dispersive nature of this event in a shockless local plasma gives indications that these particles are most likely accelerated remotely near the Sun by a weak shock or compression wave ahead of the SBO-CME. This event may represent direct observations of the source of the low-energy SEP seed particle population.
Discovering Supernovae at the Epoch of Reionization with the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope
Authors: Moriya Takashi J. , Quimby Robert M. , Robertson Brant E.
Published: February 2022

Massive stars play critical roles for the reionization of the universe. Individual massive stars at the reionization epoch (z > 6) are too faint to observe and quantify their contributions to reionization. Some massive stars, however, explode as superluminous supernovae (SLSNe) or pair-instability supernovae (PISNe) that are luminous enough to observe even at z > 6 and allow for the direct characterization of massive star properties at the reionization epoch. In addition, hypothetical long-sought-after PISNe are expected to be present preferentially at high redshifts, and their discovery will have a tremendous impact on our understanding of massive star evolution and the formation of stellar mass black holes. The near-infrared Wide Field Instrument on the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will excel at discovering such rare high-redshift supernovae. In this work, we investigate the best survey strategy to discover and identify SLSNe and PISNe at z > 6 with Roman. We show that the combination of the F158 and F213 filters can clearly separate both SLSNe and PISNe at z > 6 from nearby supernovae through their colors and magnitudes. The limiting magnitudes are required to be 27.0 mag and 26.5 mag in the F158 and F213 filters, respectively, to identify supernovae at z > 6. If we conduct a 10 deg2 transient survey with these limiting magnitudes for five years with a cadence of one year, we expect to discover 22.5 ± 2.8 PISNe and 3.1 ± 0.3 SLSNe at z > 6, depending on the cosmic star formation history. The same survey is estimated to discover 76.1 ± 8.2 PISNe and 9.1 ± 0.9 SLSNe at 5 < z < 6. Such a supernova survey requires the total observational time of approximately 525 hr in five years. The legacy data acquired with the survey will also be beneficial for many different science cases including the study of high-redshift galaxies.
Usability Prototype Smart Portable Nebulizer for Self-care with Respiratory Disorders at Home
Authors: Sholihah Qomariyatus , Hardiningtyas Dewi , Lenggono Kumoro , Hulukati Stephan Adriansyah , Kuncoro Wahyudi , Wisuda Eko Tri
Published: February 2022

BACKGROUND: The increasing prevalence of patients with shortness of breath due to asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease requires the development of a nebulizer design that is easy, fast, inexpensive, and has reusability for sufferers in the community.

AIM: This study aims to design and assemble a prototype of a portable smart nebulizer for patients with respiratory disorders.

METHODS: The research design used an experimental approach with the design and assembly of a nebulizer which aims to analyze the operating results of the prototype of a portable smart nebulizer device with standard health calibration test equipment, and compare it with a mesh nebulizer as a control.

CONCLUSIONS: The prototype of the portable smart nebulizer had met the expected standard calibration of the instrument with the functioning of the component features of the device smartly, although it still requires improvement of the tool when used on patients.
Acute on Chronic Limb Ischemia Treatment: Case Series
Authors: Prasetio Renaldi , Harta I Komang Adhi Parama
Published: February 2022

ABSTRACT
 
BACKGROUND: Acute on chronic limb ischemia is a condition caused by acute disruption in chronic vessel disease. The major cause is peripheral arterial disease or embolism. Treating the acute phase while considering the origin of disease is important to treat acute on chronic limb ischemia.
CASE DESCRIPTION: 3 cases were described on this serial case report. The first and second case represent acute on chronic limb ischemia conditions with history of intermittent claudication (IC) and signs of acute limb ischemia (ALI) upon arrival. They were both treated with surgical intervention for ALI. Despite of adequate surgical intervention, both cases showed suboptimal limb recovery. Both patients were referred for further evaluation of chronic vessel disease with angiography. Third case represent chronic limb ischemia as end point of treatment from the first and second case. Patient with worsening IC despite adequate medical and exercise treatment underwent angiography examination. Angiography result found two sites of total occlusion of right common iliac artery and superficial femoral artery. Angioplasty and primary stenting were done on common iliac artery. Drug coated balloon and stenting was also performed on superficial femoral artery.
CONCLUSION: Patients with acute on chronic limb ischemia need to be treated during acute phase and the remaining chronic vessel disease. Consideration and care should be taken when managing similar cases for optimal treatment.
 
KEYWORDS: Acute on chronic limb ischemia, Thrombectomy, Angioplasty, Drug-coated Balloon.
Alopecia Totalis in a Five-Year-Old Boy: A Case Report
Authors: Ringoringo Harapan Parlindungan
Published: February 2022

Background:
Alopecia totalis (AT) represent the severe form of alopecia areata with a worse prognosis. In population the prevalences of alopecia totalis, is 0,08%. This study shows that Prosential, minoxidil 2% and clobetasol propionate 0.05% therapy for hair loss could be considered
Case presentation:
A 5-year-old boy weighing 13.4 kg came to the hospital complaining of hair loss all over his head, bald since two months before. The eyebrows, eyelashes, and nose hairs were also missing. The diagnosis is alopecia totalis. The patient was given Prosential therapy for four months. After two months of treatment, hair started to grow slightly, evenly across the head, eyebrows, and eyelashes. After that, the patient was lost contact. 4 months later, the patient returned with hair loss complaints again.The patient’s vital signs are normal. Eyes, ENT, heart, lungs, abdomen: normal. Skin: no hair. Laboratorium: Hemoglobin 12.1 g/dL, leukocytes 6,480/uL, platelets 324,000/uL, hematocrit 35.5%, Diff Count: basophils 0%, eosinophils 22%, stems 1%, segments 27%, lymphocytes 41%, monocytes 9%. Feces and urine analysis were normal. Glucose 86 mg/dL, total cholesterol 128 mg/dL, triglycerides 46 mg/dL. Albumin 4.33 g/dL, globulin 1.41 g/dL. Uric acid 4.64 mg/dL. Kidney and liver function were normal. Thyroid function: FT4: 1.1 ng/dL, TsHs 0.916 uIU/mL. The ANA test was negative. Diagnosis: Idiopathic alopecia totalis with hypereosinophilia. The therapy was Prosential, minoxidil 2% and clobetasol propionate 0.05%.
Conclusion: The etiology of AT should be sought in as much detail as possible because alopecia management requires a holistic approach, including psychosocial support. Hair loss is a significant factor affecting the self-esteem of children.
Immune Thrombocytopenia as the Initial Manifestation of Pediatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Case Reports
Authors: Ringoringo Harapan Parlindungan
Published: February 2022

BACKGROUND: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) can precede the onset of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by months to years.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 12-year-old girl weighing 46 kg came to the hospital with the complaint of 12 days-menstrual bleeding. The patient is weak, pale. Eyes, ENT, heart, lungs, abdomen: within normal limits, no petechiae. Laboratorium: Hemoglobin (Hb) 4.6 g/dL, leukocytes 12,930/uL, platelets 11,000/uL, hematocrit 15%, Diff Count: normal. Red blood cell (RBC) 1.59 million/uL, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) 94.3fL, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) 28.9pg, MCH concentration 30.7%, RDW-CV 14.6%. Corrected-reticulocytes 5.16%, Ret-He 22.6, IPF 54.17%. Peripheral blood smears normochromic, normocytic, blast not found, platelets are rare. The diagnosis is menometrorrhagia with anemia due to bleeding caused by ITP. The patient was given PRC and platelet transfusion, methylprednisolone. Three months later, the patient had another prolonged menstruation, hair loss, no petechiae, or purpura. Laboratorium: Hb 8.2 g/dL, leukocytes 7800/uL, platelets 6000/uL, RBC 1.59 million/uL, MCV 94.3fL, MCH 28.9pg, corrected reticulocytes 5.08%, Ret-He 24.6, IPF 54.5%. ANA test positive, Anti dsDNA-NcX 190.2 IU/ml. The diagnosis is SLE. During the last 16 months, the patient took 10 mg prednisone with a platelet count >150,000/uL.

CONCLUSION: In every case of ITP in a child, consider the possibility of SLE.
A new species of large-bodied Hemidactylus Goldfuss, 1820 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Western Ghats of India
Authors: Das Sandeep , Pal Saunak , Sasidharan Siddharth , Palot Muhamed Jafer , Veerappan Deepak , Narayanan Surya
Published: February 2022

Abstract

A new large (94–107mm SVL) species of gecko of the genus Hemidactylus is described from the drier parts of the Western Ghats of India. The new species is closely related to H. graniticolus, from which it can be distinguished based on dorsal pholidosis at mid-body, the structure of tubercles on the dorsum, dorsal pholidosis on the tail. The new species is also 6.6–7.2% divergent from H. graniticolus in the ND2 mitochondrial gene.
Acute exacerbation of COPD increases the risk of hip fractures: a nested case-control study from the Korea National Health Insurance Service
Authors: Gu Kang-Mo , Yoon Sang-Won , Jung Sun-Young , Baek Moon Seong , Kim Won Young , Jung Jae-Woo , Choi Jae-Chol , Shin Jong-Wook , Kim Jae-Yeol , Choi Byoung-Whui , Park In-Won
Published: February 2022

Background/Aims: Hip fracture and acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AE-COPD) could increase mortality in patients with COPD. There are no data on the relationship between AE-COPD and hip fracture, which may significantly affect the prognosis of patients with COPD. Therefore, we conducted this study to determine the effects of AE-COPD on hip fractures in patients with COPD.Methods: This retrospective, nested, case-control study included 253,471 patients with COPD (≥ 40 years of age) identified from the Korea National Health Insurance Service-National Health Screening Cohort (NHIS-HEALS) from 2002 to 2015. Among 176,598 patients with COPD, 1,415 patients with hip fractures were identified. Each case was matched to one control for age (within 10 years), sex, and year of COPD diagnosis. We estimated the adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for hip fractures associated with AE-COPD using conditional logistic regression analysis, adjusting for underlying diseases and smoking history.Results: In patients with AE-COPD, the risk of hip fracture was 2.50 times higher, regardless of systemic corticosteroid use and underlying disease (aOR, 2.50; 95% CI, 1.67 to 3.75). The risk of hip fracture increased if there was one episode of AE in the year before hip fractures (aOR, 2.25; 95% CI, 1.66 to 3.05). Moreover, the risk of hip fracture also increased in patients with more than two episodes of AE the year before hip fractures (aOR, 2.57; 95% CI, 1.61 to 4.10).Conclusions: AE-COPD increases the risk of hip fracture regardless of underlying diseases, including osteoporosis, and treatment with systemic corticosteroids.
Liver Environment–Imposed Constraints Diversify Movement Strategies of Liver-Localized CD8 T Cells
Authors: Rajakaruna Harshana , O’Connor James H , Cockburn Ian A , Ganusov Vitaly V
Published: February 2022

Pathogen-specific CD8 T cells face the problem of finding rare cells that present their cognate Ag either in the lymph node or in infected tissue. Although quantitative details of T cell movement strategies in some tissues such as lymph nodes or skin have been relatively well characterized, we still lack quantitative understanding of T cell movement in many other important tissues, such as the spleen, lung, liver, and gut. We developed a protocol to generate stable numbers of liver-located CD8 T cells, used intravital microscopy to record movement patterns of CD8 T cells in livers of live mice, and analyzed these and previously published data using well-established statistical and computational methods. We show that, in most of our experiments, Plasmodium-specific liver-localized CD8 T cells perform correlated random walks characterized by transiently superdiffusive displacement with persistence times of 10–15 min that exceed those observed for T cells in lymph nodes. Liver-localized CD8 T cells typically crawl on the luminal side of liver sinusoids (i.e., are in the blood); simulating T cell movement in digital structures derived from the liver sinusoids illustrates that liver structure alone is sufficient to explain the relatively long superdiffusive displacement of T cells. In experiments when CD8 T cells in the liver poorly attach to the sinusoids (e.g., 1 wk after immunization with radiation-attenuated Plasmodium sporozoites), T cells also undergo Lévy flights: large displacements occurring due to cells detaching from the endothelium, floating with the blood flow, and reattaching at another location. Our analysis thus provides quantitative details of movement patterns of liver-localized CD8 T cells and illustrates how structural and physiological details of the tissue may impact T cell movement patterns.
Quality of life measures in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A systematic review
Authors: Radin M. , El Hasbani G. , Barinotti A. , Roccatello D. , Uthman I. , Taher A. , Sciascia S.
Published: February 2022

In this study we systematically investigated the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) tools, which have been most often used over the last five years to evaluate the QoL in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), focusing on their items and applications. A detailed literature search was conducted: the inclusion criteria were as follows: 1) studies including at least 50 patients; 2) studies including at least 25 patients with SLE; 3) quality of life testing with validated measures. The systematic review was based on 119 studies for a total of 32,449 SLE patients and 3092 controls. A total of 35 different patients-reported quality of life measures, applied in cohorts of patients with SLE, were retrieved with the 36-item Medical Outcome Short Form (SF-36) (63 studies of 119 =52.95%), Lupus Quality of Life (LupusQoL) (17 studies =14.3%) and Lupus Patient-Reported Outcome (LupusPRO) (12 studies =10%) being the most commonly used tools. Overall, this systematic review of the literature indicated that quality of life in patients with SLE appears to be poor and generally lower compared to both the general population and patients with other chronic conditions, as was shown by a few studies that used SF-36 and LupusPRO. The use of HRQoL scoring in SLE is gaining increasing interest and is used both in randomized controlled trials and in real-life. Future efforts are needed to improve the understanding of the impact of the disease burden on quality of life from the patient’s perspective.
Psoriasis and family history of psoriasis may not affect disease severity of rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Şen N. , Mercan R. , Geçmez G. , Ediz B. , Volkan O. , Yilmaz-Oner S. , Tezcan M.E.
Published: February 2022

The incidence of psoriasis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is higher than in the general population. In addition, psoriasis may negatively affect the severity of rheumatological diseases in patients with autoinflammatory or autoimmune diseases. In this study, we evaluated the effect of psoriasis or a family history of psoriasis on the characteristics of RA. This is a cross-sectional study. We included 737 RA patients who met the 2010 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) RA Classification Criteria, but did not meet the CASPAR psoriatic arthritis criteria. Subsequently, we compared disease activity, the need for biologic therapy, the number of conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs taken, the frequency of erosive disease and extra-articular involvement, glucocorticoid doses and the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire scores between patients with and without a history of psoriasis, and patients with and without a family history of psoriasis. Thirteen (1.8%) patients had psoriasis, while 58 (7.9%) had a family history of psoriasis in first- or seconddegree relatives. All outcome parameters were found to be similar between the groups. We show that concomitant psoriasis has no effect on the evaluated disease characteristics of RA.
Prevalence and risk factors of myopia amongst Grade 8 learners in the Vhembe district, South Africa
Authors: Tshivhase Shonisani E. , Mashau Ntsieni S. , Mathebula Dephney
Published: February 2022

Background: Myopia is the most common cause of refractive errors in both adults and children in many countries. However, it is not a simple refractive error but sometimes and eyesight-threatening disorder. The disorder has a great impact on public health and the socio-economic well-being of people, particularly children.Aim: The study aimed to assess the prevalence of myopia amongst secondary school learners.Setting: The study was conducted in the Vhembe District, South Africa.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out amongst 297 Grade 8 students of 13 to 14 years of age. The students were selected using a multi-stage-stratified cluster sampling technique from three secondary schools. Two public secondary schools and one private secondary school. The learners’ socioeconomic background, type of school and parental myopia were assessed by a questionnaire before visual acuity assessment. Learners with visual acuity of less than or equal to 6/12 in the worse eye, who showed vision improvement with pinhole, underwent non-cycloplegic retinoscopy and subjective refraction were selected. Myopia was defined as a spherical equivalent of less than or equal to −0.50 dioptre (D). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics.Results: A total of 289 learners completed the study (156 aged 14 years and 133 aged 13 years). A total of 30 learners were identified to have myopic refractive error making the prevalence of 10.4%. Of the 154 females, 14 (47.0%) had myopia, whilst 16 (53.0%) of the 135 males had myopia making males slightly more myopic than females. From the total learners diagnosed to have refractive error (n = 40), myopia constituted 30/40 (75.0%) of the learners indicating that it is the commonest type of refractive error amongst secondary learners. Myopia was more common amongst older age children (14 years; 57.0%). About 18 (60.0%) participants were from the urban area. A total of 17 (57%) of the myopic learners attended private school and about 63% of the participants’ parents were myopic.Conclusion: Spending more time indoor and continuous reading without resting are risk factors of myopia whilst increased outdoor activities were observed as protective environmental factors against myopia in secondary school learners. Doing more outdoors activities may be beneficial to protect against myopia onset.
The prevalence and correlates of anxiety and depression amongst essential workers during the COVID-19 lockdown in Ekiti State, Nigeria
Authors: Falade Joshua , Oyebanji Adedayo H. , Oshatimi Abayomi M. , Babatola Adefunke O. , Orekoya Adefolurin , Eegunranti Benjamin A. , Falade Olusola O.
Published: February 2022

Background: Essential workers are imperative in the fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.Aim: To assess the prevalence and factors associated with anxiety and depression among essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown.Setting: This study was set in Ekiti State, Nigeria.Method: This was a cross-sectional study involving essential workers in Ekiti State Nigeria, during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown. A total of 588 essential workers were sampled. Online socio-demographic variables and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, a 14 item self-reported questionnaire were used.Results: The prevalence of anxiety and depression among the respondents was 93.4% (CI = 91.2–95.2) and 64.3% (CI = 60.4–68.4) respectively. Among the health workers, the prevalence of anxiety and depression were 96.5% (CI =94.8–98.1) and 66.5% (CI = 60.5–69.8) respectively while the prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms among non- health workers were 84.6% (CI = 78.7–90.1) and 61.5% (CI = 54.2–69.4) respectively. The odds ratio (OR) of depressive symptoms was increased among, respondents who were not satisfied with the support they received from the government during the pandemic (AOR = 2.071, CI = 1.350–2.213), respondents that were 35 years and younger (AOR = 1.512, CI = 1.033–2.213) and reduced amongst Christians (AOR = 0.501, CI = 0.286–0.879). The odd of anxiety was increased among health workers compared to non-health workers (AOR = 3.700, CI = 1.744–7.851) and the odds of anxiety was reduced among respondents with previous history of mental illness (AOR = 0.215, CI = 0.049–0.943).Conclusion: Anxiety and depressive symptoms were common mental illness among essential workers working during the COVID-19 lockdown, therefore their mental health should be adequately considered to sustain the fight against the virus.
Long-Term Impact of Global Pediatrics Curriculum, Experience, and Mentorship in Pediatric Residency
Authors: Ojo Ifelayo , Wu Andrew , Lauden Stephanie , Slusher Tina , Gladding Sophia , Danich Emily , Howard Cynthia
Published: February 2022

Global health education is offered increasingly during residency training. The University of Minnesota has offered a global pediatrics track to residents since 2005. This study aimed to understand the impacts of a global pediatrics track on graduates’ career choices, skills, and current engagement in global health. An electronic survey was sent to 110 track graduates in February to April 2020. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and paired t-tests. Content analysis of written comments was conducted. The response rate was 62% overall, varying by question. Overall, 75% of responding graduates reported global pediatrics track participation affected their career choices. Eighty-four percent recalled plans to work in global health after graduation and 64% of respondents reported working in global health abroad or at home at the time of the survey. Incorporation of public health and global research represented the greatest percentage change in career plans from the time of enrollment to graduation (24% and 27%, respectively). Ninety-five percent of respondents reported that track participation improved their ability to elicit information about cultural beliefs and practices, and 86% reported improvement in cost-conscious care. An increase in global health knowledge and skills was the most common category of impact cited by respondents. Neonatal resuscitation, bubble continuous positive airway pressure, and homemade spacers for metered-dose inhalers were the most used global health-adapted skills. Our study found that graduates of the global pediatrics track perceive their participation affected their knowledge, skills, and attitudes positively, with the potential to improve clinical care and promote health equity locally and globally.
Case Report: Symptoms and Prognosis of Trimeresurus gracilis Envenomation
Authors: Tsai Tein-Shun , Chan Yuen Ying , Huang Szu-Mien , Chuang Po-Chun
Published: February 2022

Trimeresurus gracilis is a pit viper inhabiting the high mountains of Taiwan. No specific antivenom against T. gracilis is available, and we did not find any prior published case reports on its clinical envenomation. We present two patients with T. gracilis envenomation who were both bitten on the index finger and were administered bivalent hemotoxic antivenom against Trimeresurus stejnegeri and Protobothrops mucrosquamatus. In case 1, the patient was administered seven vials of antivenom within 2 days of envenomation. She received surgical intervention on day 26 and recovered from the wound 3 months after envenomation, but her left index finger was slightly and irreversibly bent. In case 2, the patient was administered 12 vials of antivenom within 10 hours after envenomation, received surgical intervention on day 1, and underwent debridement and reconstruction surgery on day 7 after envenomation. The wounds healed 1.5 months after envenomation, and no deformity occurred. Laboratory data showed elevated D-dimer levels and prothrombin times. The cross-neutralizing ability of bivalent hemotoxic antivenom against T. stejnegeri and P. mucrosquamatus appeared insufficient to treat the local effects of T. gracilis envenomation. The deformity of the finger of the patient in case 1 might have been caused by the lower dose, later administration of antivenins, and a delay in the necessary surgery.
Surgical management of lung cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic – a narrative review and single-centre report
Authors: Werner Raphael S. , Lörtscher Andreas , Kirschner Michaela B. , Lauk Olivia , Furrer Katarzyna , Caviezel Claudio , Schneiter Didier , Inci Ilhan , Hillinger Sven , Curioni-Fontecedro Alessandra , Opitz Isabelle
Published: February 2022

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a severe impact on oncological and thoracic surgical practice worldwide. In many hospitals, the care of COVID-19 patients required a reduction of elective surgery, to avoid viral transmission within the hospital, and to save and preserve personnel and material resources. Cancer patients are more susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and are at an increased risk of a severe course of disease. In many patients with lung cancer, this risk is further increased owing to comorbidities, older age and a pre-existing lung disease. Surgical resection is an important part of the treatment in patients with early stage or locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer, but the treatment of these patients during the COVID-19 pandemic becomes a challenging balance between the risk of patient exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and the need to provide timely and adequate cancer treatment despite limited hospital capacities. This manuscript aims to provide an overview of the surgical treatment of lung cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic including the triage and prioritisation as well as the surgical approach, and our own experience with cancer surgery during the first pandemic wave. We furthermore aim to highlight the risk and potential consequences of delayed lung cancer treatment due to the deferral of surgery, screening appointments and follow-up visits. With much attention being diverted to COVID-19, it is important to retain awareness of cancer patients, maintain oncological surgery and avoid treatment delay during the pandemic.
Efsanelerin Ekonomik Kaynağa Dönüştürülmesi: Şahmeran Örneği
Authors: ÇETİN Nagihan
Published: February 2022

Kültür; birey ve toplum yaşantısında taşıdığı bütünleştirme, uyum sağlama, eğlendirme, eğitme gibi işlevleriyle birlikte ekonomik anlamda da değer taşır. Kültür endüstrisi ve kültür turizmi, kültürün ekonomik bir değere dönüştürülmesi esasına dayanır. Toplumlar, milletler veya devletler için kültürü bir değer olarak sunabilmek, rağbet edilen niteliklere uygun kültürel değer taşıyan materyaller üretebilmek önem arz eder. Bu çalışmanın konusu, Türk kültüründe çift başlı bir karakter olarak nitelendirilen Şahmeran’ın bir örgü tekniğiyle kültür ekonomisi, kültür endüstrisi, kültür turizmi bağlamında değerlendirilebilecek tasarımlarının ve bu figürlerin yer aldığı dekoratif ürünlerin yapılmasıdır. Çalışmanın giriş bölümünde kavramsal çerçeve çizilerek çalışmanın önemi, yöntemi ve kapsamı hakkında bilgi verilmiştir. Birinci bölümde kullanılan örgü tekniğinin özellikleri ve tercih sebepleri anlatılmış; ikinci bölüm ise yapılan tasarımlar ile ürünlerin niteliklerine, avantaj ve dezavantajlarına ayrılmıştır. Çalışma görsel malzemelerle desteklenerek sonuç bölümünde yapılan uygulamalara dayalı önerilerde bulunulmuştur. Bu çalışmada Şahmeran’ın hem kültürün sözel boyutunun görsele taşınması açısından hem de ucuz maliyet ve hafif malzeme kullanımı açılarından kültür ekonomisi bağlamında değerlendirilmeye uygun bir ürün olduğu sonucuna varılmıştır.
Estudio de la habitabilidad en la vivienda de interés social en la provincia de Manabí
Authors: Mendoza-Vélez Erika Elizabeth , Ortega-Bravo Bolívar Humberto
Published: February 2022

En el artículo se explora un tema de mucha importancia en lo que respecta al sector de la construcción y a garantizar el acceso a una vivienda de interés social dotada con optimas características de habitabilidad. Poseer una vivienda es una de las necesidades elementales del ser humano; por ello es fundamental el poder conocer si la vivienda de interés social en Manabí cuenta con la referida habitabilidad. Para lo cual la metodología empleada fue mixta, considerando información tanto de campo como bibliográfica; pudiendo así evaluar mediante indicadores de habitabilidad la vivienda de interés social en Manabí. Obteniendo como resultado del estudio que estas casas solo alcanzan una habitabilidad muy básica y totalmente mínima al llegar al 39% de habitabilidad, lo que demanda que se tomen acciones que mejoren estas características de la vivienda reconsiderando su concepción no solo como un medio para superar el déficit habitacional sino como lo que de ella se requiere para que se constituya en una edificación capaz de satisfacer adecuadamente la demanda de habitabilidad de una familia promedio brindando confort y seguridad.

Palabras clave: Vivienda de interés social, habitabilidad, confort, seguridad, déficit habitacional.
Solución al problema del transporte de Aplicación práctica
Authors: Girón G Miguel F. , López B Johnny R. , Sornoza B Kleber J.
Published: February 2022

En 1947, T. C. Koopmans presentó su obra “Optimum utilization of the transportation system”, estas dos obras constituyen el pilar fundamental para el desarrollo de los métodos de transporte. Sin embargo, fue William R. Vogel quién comienza a realizar estudios de lo que posteriormente se convirtiera en un modelo de solución y optimización para el problema de transporte. Existen una diversidad de métodos para encontrar una solución óptima al problema del transporte, así podemos mencionar el método de la Esquina Noroeste; método de Aproximación de Vogel y el método del Costo Mínimo. El método de Aproximación de Vogel es un método heurístico y usualmente proporciona una mejor solución de inicio que los demás métodos, es el de mayor aplicación en la solución de temas relacionados con la industria y el comercio en general dado que desde el comienzo toma en consideración los costos unitarios de cada una de las diferentes rutas posibles para minimizar el costo total de la operación. Una de las primeras aplicaciones de las técnicas de programación lineal ha sido la formulación y solución del problema del trans-porte mediante la aplicación de un proceso iterativo hasta determinar lo que la misma que sometida a un proceso de optimización finalmente nos conduce a encontrar las cantidades precisas a ser despachadas, desde cada origen hacia cada destino en función de un costo total operacional mínimo. Para ello, tenemos disponibles los métodos; método de aproximación de Vogel y método del costo mínimo.
Estudio de la expresión de genes en cacao mediadas por la levadura (saccharomyces cerevisiae), para mejorar la producción de manteca de cacao
Authors: Cagua Luis , Solis Erick , Andrade Job , Riquelme Maria Paula
Published: February 2022

La manteca de cacao puede utilizarse como materia prima en la producción de chocolates, cosméticos, combustibles entre otros productos. Esto ha generado un aumento en la demanda de MC, de tal forma que a desencadenó en una escasez de productos elaborados debido a su insuficiencia. Se han realizado numerosos estudios con relación a la MC, donde se analizaron varias cepas de levaduras no oleaginosas y oleaginosas en condiciones de cultivo limitadas en nitrógeno. Para la extracción de las diferentes cepas, utilizaron S. Cerevisiae no oleaginosa y oleaginosa, que fueron sujetas a análisis, en los cuales se pudo determinar el gran potencial de esta levadura. Actualmente la biotecnología sintética, ingeniería metabólica y la ingeniería genética, han permitido la producción de un alto nivel de triacilgliceroles (TAG) equivalentes a la MC, mediante microrganismos fermentadores como las levaduras. Esto, con el fin de medir la capacidad de producción de lípidos similares a la manteca en la biosíntesis de TAGs. La Saccharomyces cerevisiae produce TAG como lípidos de almacenamiento, que consisten en ácidos grasos C16 y C18. Sin embargo, los lípidos similares a la manteca de cacao (CBL, que se componen de POP, POS y SOS) no se encuentran entre las principales formas de TAG en la levadura. No obstante, se han diseñado cepas de levadura Saccharomyces Cerevisiae con una síntesis modificada de ácidos grasos. Al expresar los genes de cacao seleccionados en S. cerevisiae mediante transformación molecular, se aumentó con éxito la producción total de ácidos grasos de TAG y CBL.
Life Story Interviewing as a Method to Co-Construct Narratives About Resilience
Authors: Russell Laura
Published: February 2022

Human life presents many unplanned twists and turns. No one escapes this world without facing adversity of some kind. Therefore, the value in teaching and researching resilience cannot be overstated. This research explores how life story interviewing with interactive methods (also referred to as “elicitation techniques”) provides an invaluable approach to investigating and understanding resilience. Specifically, a stepwise framework is offered for researching resilience as a co-constructed, relational phenomenon. Upon applying this framework through teaching an undergraduate senior seminar, I offer thematic observations of my students’ interviewing experiences to show how life storytelling promotes (a) embodied understandings of resilience, (b) an appreciation for others’ unique differences, and (c) strengthened relationships between interviewees and interviewers. These findings show promise for future teachers and researchers interested in exploring the relational benefits made possible through creative storytelling methods. The methods proposed in this study not only provide a means for exploring conceptualizations of resilience; in and of themselves, they enact resilience.
Impact of Vaccine Manufacturing Announcement During Pandemic on The Stock Market Reaction of Pharmaceutical Companies
Authors: Trishana Cellina
Published: February 2022

The objective of this research is to identify whether there is a significant difference in the market reaction shown by the abnormal return and trading volume activity before and after the vaccine manufacturing announcement conducted by listed pharmaceutical companies around the world. The sample used in this research is listed pharmaceutical companies that conducted a vaccine manufacturing announcement during a pandemic, and the data collected is secondary data. This research uses the event study as its methodology with 3 event windows, which are one month before and after the announcement, ten days before and after the announcement, and five days before and after the announcement. The analysis of the normality test and paired difference test is conducted using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test with a significance level of 0.05. The result shows that there is no significant difference in both abnormal return and trading volume activity of the listed pharmaceutical companies before and after the vaccine manufacturing announcement. From this research, it can be concluded that the vaccine manufacturing announcement during a pandemic does not have a significant effect on the market reaction. To extend and further test the market reaction of pharmaceutical companies, future research could be done by exploring more on the effect of health-related news on all pharmaceutical companies, and the variables tested could be expanded