bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Studies on Structures and Functions of Kinases leading to Prostate Cancer and Their Inhibitors
Authors: Nagappa Anantha N. , Bhatt Shvetank , Kanoujia Jovita
Published: March 2020

Background:

Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in any part of the body. These abnormalities in the cells make them cancer cells, malignant cells, or tumour cells. These cells can infiltrate normal body tissues. Prostate Cancer begins when cells in the prostate gland start to grow out of control.

Introduction:

According to the National Cancer Institute, an estimated 20 percent of men experience Prostate Cancer in their lifetimes. Prostate Cancer can be divided into castration sensitive or hormone- sensitive Prostate Cancer (CSPC or HSPC) and castration-resistant Prostate Cancer (CRPC). Different therapies showed potential for the treatment of Prostate Cancer in that androgen receptor antagonist, cytochrome p17 inhibitors, radiation therapy, brachytherapy, surgical removal of the gland, androgen deprivation therapy and LnRH antagonists are some of the important ones. Despite various available treatment options in our understanding of the biological basis of Prostate Cancer, the management of the disease, especially in the castration-resistant phase, remains a significant challenge. Several Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been evaluated in the preclinical setting in Advanced Prostate Cancer. TKIs are small drug molecules that work by competitive ATP inhibition at the catalytic binding site of tyrosine kinase. This results in complete inhibition of the catalytic activity of certain enzymes. If chosen correctly, TKIs can target and inhibit critical, mutated pathways important for the development, progression and metastasis of Prostate Cancer. The review focuses on various tyrosine kinase drug targets and their chemical structure to discuss the mechanism and pathways in the treatment of Prostate Cancer.

Methods:

The method adopted for the study was mainly based on the secondary search through a systematic literature review. Targets discussed in this review include the epidermal growth factor family (EGFR), vascular endothelial growth factor family (VEGF) receptor, c-Src family kinases (Proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase) (c-Src), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and cmesenchymal- epithelial transition factor (c-Met), which showed some promising results in various studies.

Results:

Even with the strong scientific rationale for many TKIs in the treatment of Prostate Cancer, the clinical trial experience showed some negative results in advanced phases. However, despite various challenges, the validation studies targeting kinases hold great potential in Prostate Cancer. Given the success of kinase inhibitors across multiple other cancer types, it is likely that this drug class will eventually improve outcomes in Prostate Cancer.

Conclusion:

Modifications in structures and certain other aspects of TKIs may make these agents promising for the treatment of Prostate Cancer.
Exploration of Diosmin to Control Diabetes and Its Complications-an In Vitro and In Silico Approach
Authors: Dubey Kushagra , Dubey Raghvendra , Gupta Revathi , Gupta Arun
Published: March 2020

Background:

Diosmin is a flavonoid obtained from the citrus fruits of the plants. Diosmin has blood lipid lowering activities, antioxidant activity, enhances venous tone and microcirculation, protects capillaries, mainly by reducing systemic oxidative stress.

Objective:

The present study demonstrates the potential of Diosmin against the enzymes aldose reductase,
α-glucosidase, and α-amylase involved in diabetes and its complications by in vitro evaluation
and reverse molecular docking studies.

Methods:

The assay of aldose reductase was performed by using NADPH as starting material and
DL-Glyceraldehyde as a substrate. DNS method was used for alpha amylase inhibition and in alpha
glucosidase inhibitory activity p-nitrophenyl glucopyranoside (pNPG) was used as substrate. The
reverse molecular docking studies was performed by using Molegro software (MVD) with grid resolution
of 30 Å.

Result:

Diosmin shows potent inhibitory effect against aldose reductase (IC50:333.88±0.04
μg/mL), α-glucosidase (IC50:410.3±0.01 μg/mL) and α-amylase (IC50: 404.22±0.02 μg/mL) respectively.
The standard drugs shows moderate inhibitory activity for enzymes. The MolDock
Score of Diosmin was -224.127 against aldose reductase, -168.17 against α-glucosidase and -
176.013 against α-amylase respectively, which was much higher than standard drugs.

Conclusion:

From the result it was concluded that diosmin was a potentially inhibitor of aldose reductase, alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase enzymes then the standard drugs and it will be helpful in the management of diabetes and its complications. This will also be benevolent to decrease the socio economical burden on the middle class family of the society.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells Differentiation: Mitochondria Matter in Osteogenesis or Adipogenesis Direction
Authors: Ji Kun , Ding Ling , Chen Xi , Dai Yun , Sun Fangfang , Wu Guofeng , Lu Wei
Published: March 2020

Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) exhibit enormous therapeutic potential because of their indispensable regenerative, reparative, angiogenic, anti-apoptotic, and immunosuppressive properties. MSCs can best differentiate into mesodermal cell lineages, including osteoblasts, adipocytes, muscle cells, endothelial cells and chondrocytes. Specific differentiation of MSCs could be induced through limited conditions. In addition to the relevant differentiation factors, drastic changes also occur in the microenvironment to conduct it in an optimal manner for particular differentiation. Recent evidence suggests that the mitochondria participate in the regulating of direction and process of MSCs differentiation. Therefore, our current review focuses on how mitochondria participate in both osteogenesis and adipogenesis of MSC differentiation. Besides that, in our current review, we try to provide a further understanding of the relationship between the behavior of mitochondria and the direction of MSC differentiation, which could optimize current cellular culturing protocols for further facilitating tissue engineering by adjusting specific conditions of stem cells.
The Citrus Flavanone Hesperetin Induces Apoptosis in CTCL Cells via STAT3/Notch1/NFκB-Mediated Signaling Axis
Authors: Kottaiswamy Amuthavalli , Kizhakeyil Atish , Padmanaban Abirami M. , Mirza Fathima B. , Vijay Venkatesh R. , Lee Pin S. , Verma Navin K. , Kalaiselvan Parkavi , Samuel Shila
Published: March 2020

Background:

Hesperetin is a natural compound known for its cholesterol-lowering effect and a wide
range of pharmacological activities.

Objectives:

Investigating the potential anticancer activities of Hesperetin in malignant hematolymphoid cell
lines HuT78 and MJ, derived from patients with Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphomas (CTCL).

Methods:

The cytotoxic effect of Hesperetin on two different CTCL cell lines, HuT78 and MJ, was assessed by
MTS-based colorimetric assay. Apoptosis, cell cycle, ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) and molecular analysis
were performed using flow-cytometry and immunoblotting.

Results:

Hesperetin-treated CTCL cells were arrested at the sub-G1 phase of cell cycle with the concomitant
decrease in the expression of the cell cycle regulator protein cyclin B. In addition, the study found that the cellular
treatment with Hesperetin caused an induction of apoptosis, which was independent of ROS generation. Hesperetin
caused a significant decrease in the expression level of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xL and an increase in cleaved
caspase-3 and PARP proteins in CTCL cells. Furthermore, Hesperetin treatment in CTCL cells down-regulated
the expression of Notch1 and phosphorylation of STAT3 (Tyr705) and inhibited NFκBp65.

Conclusion:

This study highlights the anticancer properties of Hesperetin. Which induces apoptosis in CTCL
cells via STAT3/Notch1/NFκB mediated signaling pathway, suggesting that further development of this novel
class of flavonoid may contribute to new drug discovery for certain hematolymphoid malignancies.
Identidade e diferenças na terminologia "fauna" e da "flora". Notas sobre um estudo comparativo entre as línguas portuguesa, inglesa, italiana e espanhola
Authors: Martins Sabrina de Cássia
Published: March 2020

O presente estudo tem como objetivo examinar o fenômeno da variação denominativa na terminologia da fauna e da flora nas línguas portuguesa, inglesa, italiana e espanhola. Partindo-se da premissa de que a proximidade entre o observador e o meio em que a espécie ocorre propicia a formação tanto do nome científico quanto de seus nomes vernaculares, analisamos as variantes denominativas em português de cerca de duzentas espécies, comparando as motivações atuantes na formação de tais itens nessa língua, assim como em espanhol, italiano e inglês. Baseamo-nos na Teoria Comunicativa da Terminologia e assinalamos a influênciade fatores sócio-históricos e culturais atuantes na composição da terminologia aqui abordada, ênfase para as variantes denominativas compostas por nomes de cores, por nós denominadas de expressões cromáticas especializadas.
Quando o léxico dá bandeira - aspetos cognitivo-discursivos da mudança semântica na construção de brasileirismos em registros lexicográficos luso-brasileiros
Authors: Magalhães Anderson Salvaterra , De Souza Janderson Lemos
Published: March 2020

Neste artigo, busca-se demonstrar a adequação de articular princípios da Análise Dialógica do Discurso – um campo do conhecimento que emerge da recepção brasileira ao pensamento do Círculo Bakhtin-Medvedev-Voloshinov (Círculo BMV) – com fundamentos da Linguística Cognitiva para o tratamento de questões morfossemânticas do léxico do português brasileiro que indicam importantes atos napolítica lusófona. Especificamente, perseguem-se dois objetivos: 1) identificar condições cognitivo-discursivas próprias do português brasileiro que impactam seu estatuto vernáculo e 2) descrever um caso de mudança semântica que ilustra novas conceptualizações no léxico interno e registros do léxico externo a serviço de um projeto lexicográfico caracterizado como ato responsível (Bakhtin). Para isso, selecionam-se dos primeiros trabalhos lexicográficos luso-brasileiros, que datam dos séculos XVIII e XIX, duas unidades simbólicas em que constam tensões conceituais entre o lusitano e o brasileiro, a saber, bandeira e bandeirante. Os primeiros registros são cotejados com representativo trabalho lexicográfico brasileiro e lusitano do século XXI para fins de identificação, descrição e análise da mudança semântica que produz o senso de ‘brasileirismo’ tanto no Brasil quanto em Portugal a partirde frames (Fillmore) lusitanos. A discussão dos dados indica que a dimensão vernácula brasileira se constrói não por uma perspectiva propriamente brasileira, mas lusitana face às conceptualizações das relações sociais travadas em terras americanas no período colonial.
Análise contrastiva das formas de tratamento ao interlocutor no teatro brasileiro e português dos séculos XIX e XX
Authors: Machado Ana Carolina Morito
Published: March 2020

Este trabalho tem como objetivo analisar o comportamento das formas de tratamento ao interlocutor, que, nesta pesquisa, são consideradas Tradições Discursivas, no Português brasileiro e europeu dos séculos XIX e XX. Para tal, investiga-se a distribuição dessas estratégias, à luz da Sociolinguística Variacionista, em vinte e nove peças teatrais escritas ao longo desse período. Para auxiliar na compreensão de questões relativas às relações sociais e a motivações pragmáticas, foram utilizadas questões discutidas pelo trabalho The pronouns of power and solidarity, de Brown e Gilman (2003 [1960]). Os resultados apontam para uma similaridade entre o sistema de tratamento no Português brasileiro (PB) e do Português europeu no terceiro quarto do século XIX, e para um progressivo distanciamento entre as duas variedades, a partir dos últimos anos do século XIX.
Confessionele hermeneutiek. Vermittlungstheologie tussen belijden als opdracht en erfenis (1845-1855)
Authors: Smits J.C.
Published: March 2020

The reformed traditon features a tension between the historical confessions and the duty of confessing in response to God's revelation, which asks for a hermeneutics that understands the relation of contemporary Christians to ancient confessions. This article analyses the role of German theological movement of Vermittlungstheologie in this debate. After a sketch of the historical setting, the essay describes this movement’s theories on the matter of a common protestant confession (among others, the dual principle), of the necessity of differentiation, and the resulting practical consequences for the church the last aspect on the basis of the Acts of the Generalsynode of 1846. The article concludes with a brief discussion of this movement’s thought as a ‘confessional hermeneutics’.
Local Knowledge for Global Actions: The role of traditional ecological knowledge in climate change adaptation
Authors: Hosen Nadzirah , Nakamura Hitoshi
Published: March 2020

The scale of climate change put indigenous people at higher risk than the others. Nonetheless, due to their intimate knowledge of their land, traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) held by the indigenous peoples may be the key to combating climate change. This article aims to explain the role that TEK plays in adapting to climate change. Document review included grey literature alongside peer-reviewed literature and project websites related to indigenous knowledge in climate change adaptation. The findings show that TEK not only helps indigenous people cope with environmental and climate pressures, but the knowledge system fosters resilience of socio-ecological systems.Keywords: climate change adaptation;  traditional knowledge; traditional ecological knowledge; resilienceeISSN: 2398-4287 © 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/e-bpj.v5i13.2059
A Systematic Review of Employee Turnover Antecedents in the Construction Industry
Authors: Mohd Kasmuri Siti Hawa , Ismail Zulhabri , Mohd Nordin Rumaizah , Hashim Norfashiha
Published: March 2020

High turnover is regarded as a failure to fulfil work-life balance, among the approaches to improve employees life quality. This paper conducted a systematic literature review, offers an overview of the present state of research concerning the turnover antecedents in the construction industry. Through the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA), this paper concluded that work-life quality is due to organisation, individual and external antecedent. The recommendations, including the development of life quality strategy and to conduct more employee turnover. This paper assists in improving employees life quality through the identification of adverse outcome of turnover.Keywords: Construction industry; Employee Turnover; PRISMAeISSN: 2398-4287 © 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/e-bpj.v5i13.2100
Efetividade dos resultados de serviço de contrarreferência em hospital quaternário do sul de Minas Gerais
Authors: Pereira Karen Thalita , Sousa Hérica de Araújo , Duarte Suélen Ribeiro Miranda Pontes
Published: March 2020

Introdução: A realização do cuidado de modo integral vem se tornando cada vez mais um desafio para o Sistema Único de Saúde. Várias estratégias estão sendo adotadas para que este cuidado integralizado aconteça, dentre estas, encontra-se os serviços de referência e contrarreferência. Objetivo: Verificar a efetividade de serviço de contrarreferência em hospital quaternário do sul de Minas Gerais. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo, descritivo, transversal e quantitativo. Os dados foram coletados a partir de 1.078 prontuários, por meio de um banco de dados específico criado no setor de contrarreferência, no período entre março de 2017 a março de 2018. Foram avaliados dados demográficos, Escala de Fugulin (EF), especialidade envolvida e respostas adquiridas pelas unidades básicas de saúde e Estratégia de Saúde da Família. Resultados: A média de idade foi de 51,7 anos e a maioria era do sexo masculino (50,9%). A maioria dos casos necessitava somente de cuidados mínimos (32,1%), pela EF. Clínica Médica, Cirurgia Geral e Ortopedia foram as especialidades com maior número de pacientes contrarreferenciados. Constatou-se que em 54,5% dos casos foi obtido um retorno da atenção primária, sendo que em 51% dos pacientes contrarreferenciados esta resposta pode ser considerada efetiva. Conclusão: Conclui-se que o serviço de contrarreferência é efetivo, porém ainda se depara com dificuldades em obter uma maior interligação do atendimento nos diferentes níveis de atenção.
Análise de tendência da sífilis congênita no estado da Bahia de 2008 a 2017
Authors: Félix Isa Carolina Gomes , Oliveira Tatiana Farias de , Souza Carlos Dornels Freire de , Machado Michael Ferreira
Published: March 2020

Objetivo: A sífilis, causada pelo Treponema pallidum, de transmissão sexual ou vertical, é responsável pela sífilis congênita. Destaca-se por seus números expressivos e por se tratar de doença evitável, de tratamento simples e de baixo custo. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo análise de tendência da sífilis congênita, no estado da Bahia de 2008 a 2017, relacionando os dados obtidos com a implantação de ações governamentais no âmbito da saúde materno-infantil. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo observacional descritivo retrospectivo, no qual foi analisada a tendência dos casos de sífilis congênita no Estado da Bahia contidos em documentos oficiais.Resultados: Dentre os indivíduos diagnosticados com sífilis congênita, 69,5% das mães haviam realizado o pré-natal em 2008, enquanto esta porcentagem subiu para 78% em 2017. Neste período, apenas 4,2% das gestantes diagnosticadas com sífilis realizaram o tratamento adequadamente, enquanto 77,3% não realizaram ou realizaram inadequadamente. O tratamento dos parceiros ocorreu em somente 12% dos casos. Conclusão: O expressivo número de casos associado às graves consequências em decorrência desta infecção estrutura-se como um alerta à qualidade da assistência prestada à mulher, principalmente no pré-natal. Para que esta assistência ocorra de maneira adequada é necessário que haja melhoria em relação à cobertura da atenção básica, disponibilidade de exames e medicamentos para o tratamento, assim como o tratamento dos parceiros.
Неоствальдовское поведение дисперсных систем в процессах испарения и кристаллизации капель водно-органических растворов
Authors: Федосеева Е.Н. , Федосеев В.Б.
Published: March 2020

In this paper, experiments with water-based solutions of some organic compounds, which demonstrate non-Ostwald behavior have been described. Small-volume droplets demonstrate higher stability during evaporation and crystallization in comparison with larger ones, such an effect has been previously described only for water-based solutions of inorganic salts. It has been shown that non-Ostwald behavior has the same thermodynamic nature with Ostwald ripening and could occur in dispersed systems of a complicated chemical composition. Peculiar realization of such phenomena driven by surface activity of organic compounds in water solutions has also been described. The studied regularities could be used to obtain solutions of organic and bioorganic substances with concentrations significantly higher than their solubility limits under normal conditions as well as to reproduce narrow size distributions of droplets in various spray technologies.
Керамические твердые растворы Li-=SUB=-0.17-=/SUB=-Na-=SUB=-0.83-=/SUB=-Ta-=SUB=-y-=/SUB=-Nb-=SUB=-1-y-=/SUB=-O-=SUB=-3-=/SUB=-: термобарический синтез, мироструктура, свойства
Authors: Ефремов В.В. , Щербина О.Б. , Палатников М.Н. , Радюш Ю.В.
Published: March 2020

Методом термобарического синтеза (6 GPa, 1400-1800 K) впервые синтезированы сегнетоэлектрические керамические твердые растворы LixNa1-xTayNb1-yO3 (x=0.17, у=0-0.5) со структурой перовскита. Исследованы особенности их микроструктуры и упругих свойств. Показано, что керамические образцы состоят в основном из зерен изоморфной формы, огранка присуща перовскитной структуре, допускающей сосуществование ромбической фазы разной симметрии P21ma и Pbcm элементарной ячейки. Увеличение температуры синтеза привело к уменьшению величины модуля Юнга. Исследована дисперсия диэлектрической проницаемости и ее температурная зависимость. Определены удельные статические значения электропроводности и их температурная зависимость, наиболее вероятные времена релаксации и рассчитаны энтальпии активации носителей заряда Ha и транспортная энтальпия Hm. Установлено, что исследуемые керамические образцы претерпевают сегнетоэлектрический фазовый переход, при этом увеличение концентрации тантала понижает температуру Кюри. Обнаружено, что Li0.17Na0.83Та0.1Nb0.9O3 в параэлектрической фазе является супериоником. Ключевые слова: ниобат натрия, сегнетоэлектрик, модуль Юнга, импеданс спектроскопия, фазовый переход.
Methodological Challenges in Web-Based Trials: Update and Insights From the Relatives Education and Coping Toolkit Trial
Authors: Robinson Heather , Appelbe Duncan , Dodd Susanna , Flowers Susan , Johnson Sonia , Jones Steven H , Mateus Céu , Mezes Barbara , Murray Elizabeth , Rainford Naomi , Rosala-Hallas Anna , Walker Andrew , Williamson Paula , Lobban Fiona
Published: March 2020

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

RR2-10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016965
Youth Experiences With Referrals to Mental Health Services in Canada: Protocol for a Web-Based Cross-Sectional Survey Study
Authors: Lal Shalini , Starcevic Danielle Joanna , Fuhrer Rebecca
Published: March 2020

Background

Youth mental health is an important public health concern affecting low-, middle-, and high-income countries, and many young people in need of mental health services do not receive the care they need when they need it. An early step in accessing mental health care is the referral process, yet most of the research done on pathways to care has focused on clinical populations (eg, first-episode psychosis) recruited from mental health care settings. There has been limited research attention on the experiences of referral to mental health services from the perspectives of youth recruited from the general population who may or may not have received the services they need.

Objective

This study aims to investigate the experiences that youth between the ages of 17 and 30 years have with referrals to mental health services and to better understand their perspectives on the use of technology to facilitate referrals.

Methods

This study will use a cross-sectional, Web-based survey design. A convenience sample of 400 participants from 3 Canadian provinces (Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia), between the ages of 17 and 30 years, will be recruited via Facebook and will be invited to complete a Web-based survey anonymously. A questionnaire including a series of quantitative and qualitative questions will ask participants about their sociodemographic characteristics, past experiences with referral and access to mental health services, and opinions about using technology to facilitate the referral process.

Results

Participant recruitment is planned to be initiated by early January 2020 and is estimated to be completed by May 2020. Data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression or chi-square tests for quantitative data, and descriptive content analysis will be used for the qualitative data.

Conclusions

The results of this study can help inform the improvement of referral policies and procedures in youth mental health service delivery. A better understanding of young people’s perspectives on referral processes and their opinions on how these processes can be improved are essential to providing appropriate and timely access to mental health care.

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

PRR1-10.2196/16945
SMS Text Messages for Parents for the Prevention of Child Drowning in Bangladesh: Acceptability Study
Authors: Hossain Md Mosharaf , Mani Kulanthayan , Mat Min Ruhani
Published: March 2020

Background

In many cases, greater use is being made of mobile phone text messages as a means of communication between patients and health care providers in countries around the world.

Objective

We studied the use of mobile phones and the factors related to the acceptability of text messages for parents for the prevention of child drowning in Bangladesh.

Methods

From a randomized controlled trial involving 800 parents, 10% (80/800) were selected, and socioeconomic status, mobile phone use, and acceptability of SMS text messages for drowning prevention were measured. Participants with at least one child under 5 years of age were selected from rural areas in Rajshahi District in Bangladesh. Mobile phone–based SMS text messages were sent to the participants. Multivariate regression was used to determine the factors related to the acceptability of text messages for the prevention of child drowning in Bangladesh.

Results

The acceptability of SMS text messages for the prevention of child drowning in Bangladesh was significantly lower among women (odds ratio [OR] 0.50, 95% CI 0.12-1.96, P=.02) than among men, lower for parents older than 30 years (OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.14-1.70, P=.01) compared to parents younger than 30 years, higher among parents who had an education (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.11-5.80, P=.04) than among illiterate parents, and higher among parents with a monthly household income over 7000 Bangladeshi Taka (approximately US $82.54; OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.06-1.96, P=.05) than among parents whose monthly income was less than 7000 Bangladeshi Taka.

Conclusions

The high percentage of mobile phone use and the acceptability of SMS text messages for parents for the prevention of child drowning are encouraging, in terms of identifying the best strategy for using such technologies, and deserve further evaluation.
Exploring the Vast Choice of Question Prompt Lists Available to Health Consumers via Google: Environmental Scan
Authors: Tracy Marguerite Clare , Shepherd Heather L , Patel Pinika , Trevena Lyndal Jane
Published: March 2020

Background

There is increasing interest in shared decision making (SDM) in Australia. Question prompt lists (QPLs) support question asking by patients, a key part of SDM. QPLs have been studied in a variety of settings, and increasingly the internet provides a source of suggested questions for patients. Environmental scans have been shown to be useful in assessing the availability and quality of online SDM tools.

Objective

This study aimed to assess the number and readability of QPLs available to users via Google.com.au.

Methods

Our environmental scan used search terms derived from literature and reputable websites to search for QPLs available via Google.com.au. Following removal of duplicates from the 4000 URLs and 22 reputable sites, inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to create a list of unique QPLs. A sample of 20 QPLs was further assessed for list length, proxy measures of quality such as a date of review, and evidence of doctor endorsement. Readability of the sample QPL instructions and QPLs themselves was assessed using Flesch Reading Ease and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level scores.

Results

Our environmental scan identified 173 unique QPLs available to users. Lists ranged in length from 1 question to >200 questions. Of our sample, 50% (10/20) had a listed date of creation or update, and 60% (12/20) had evidence of authorship or source. Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level scores for instructions were higher than for the QPLs (grades 10.3 and 7.7, respectively). There was over a 1 grade difference between QPLs from reputable sites compared with other sites (grades 4.2 and 5.4, respectively).

Conclusions

People seeking questions to ask their doctor using Google.com.au encounter a vast number of question lists that they can use to prepare for consultations with their doctors. Markers of the quality or usefulness of various types of online QPLs, either surrogate or direct, have not yet been established, which makes it difficult to assess the value of the abundance of lists. Doctor endorsement of question asking has previously been shown to be an important factor in the effectiveness of QPLs, but information regarding this is not readily available online. Whether these diverse QPLs are endorsed by medical practitioners warrants further investigation.
Comparing Classroom Instruction to Individual Instruction as an Approach to Teach Avatar-Based Patient Monitoring With Visual Patient: Simulation Study
Authors: Rössler Julian , Kaserer Alexander , Albiez Benjamin , Braun Julia , Breckwoldt Jan , Spahn Donat Rudolf , Nöthiger Christoph , Tscholl David Werner
Published: March 2020

Background

Visual Patient is an avatar-based alternative to standard patient monitor displays that significantly improves the perception of vital signs. Implementation of this technology in larger organizations would require it to be teachable by brief class instruction to large groups of professionals. Therefore, our study aimed to investigate the efficacy of such a large-scale introduction to Visual Patient.

Objective

In this study, we aimed to compare 2 different educational methods, one-on-one instruction and class instruction, for training anesthesia providers in avatar-based patient monitoring.

Methods

We presented 42 anesthesia providers with 30 minutes of class instruction on Visual Patient (class instruction group). We further selected a historical sample of 16 participants from a previous study who each received individual instruction (individual instruction group). After the instruction, the participants were shown monitors with either conventional displays or Visual Patient displays and were asked to interpret vital signs. In the class instruction group, the participants were shown scenarios for either 3 or 10 seconds, and the numbers of correct perceptions with each technology were compared. Then, the teaching efficacy of the class instruction was compared with that of the individual instruction in the historical sample by 2-way mixed analysis of variance and mixed regression.

Results

In the class instruction group, when participants were presented with the 3-second scenario, there was a statistically significant median increase in the number of perceived vital signs when the participants were shown the Visual Patient compared to when they were shown the conventional display (3 vital signs, P<.001; effect size –0.55). No significant difference was found for the 10-second scenarios. There was a statistically significant interaction between the teaching intervention and display technology in the number of perceived vital signs (P=.04; partial η2=.076). The mixed logistic regression model for correct vital sign perception yielded an odds ratio (OR) of 1.88 (95% CI 1.41-2.52; P<.001) for individual instruction compared to class instruction as well as an OR of 3.03 (95% CI 2.50-3.70; P<.001) for the Visual Patient compared to conventional monitoring.

Conclusions

Although individual instruction on Visual Patient is slightly more effective, class instruction is a viable teaching method; thus, large-scale introduction of health care providers to this novel technology is feasible.
Pregnancy outcomes of the first thawing cycle in “freeze-all” strategy of infertility patients with fever during oocyte recruitment: A matched–pair study (Preprint)
Authors: Lin Mingmei , Niu Zi-Ru , Li Rong
Published: March 2020

BACKGROUND

It is well known that assisted reproduction technology (ART) is currently an effective method for treating infertility. But it is currently unknown whether the patients with fever after control ovulation during egg retrieval could increase risk of pelvic infection or not, and fever itself may be affect oocyte or embryo quantity and quality, thus with poor pregnancy outcomes? But if the oocyte retrieval was cancelled cause of fever, the risk of severe ovulation complications might increase, such as ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome, thrombus and ovarian pedicle torsion.

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this study was to analysis the outcomes of the patients with fever during oocyte retrieval after the first frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycle.

METHODS

This is a 1:3 retrospective paired study matched for age. In this study, 58 infertility patients (Group 1) had fever during the control ovulation and the time of the oocyte retrieval within 72 hours, they undertook ovum pick up and whole embryo freezing (“freeze-all” strategy). The control controls (Group 2) are174 patients matched for age with whole embryo freezing for other reasons. The baseline characteristic, clinical data of ovarian stimulation and the outcomes, such as the clinical pregnancy rate, early miscarriage rate, ectopic pregnancy rate and ongoing clinical pregnancy rate were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

There were 58 patients were enrolled in the Group 1, and matched with 174 patients for the Group 2. All the patients had no pelvic inflammatory disease after oocyte retrieval. The basic characteristics of patients refers to age, BMI, nulliparity, basal FSH, basal LH, basal E2 and infertility type (primary or secondary) were with no significantly difference. But the AMH lever (4.2 versus 2.2, P<0.001) were higher and the infertility time (3 versus 2, P=0.035) was longer in the control group. The number of oocytes retrieved and fertilization rate were lower in the group (P< 0.001), but the ovarian stimulation protocol, the usage of Gn both time and dose, the ICSI rate, the 2PN rate, the number of available embryos (D3 and D5), the endometrial thickness, the number of embryo transfer and the type of luteal support supplementation were similar between the two groups. Regarding pregnancy outcomes，the implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, early spontaneous rate, ectopic pregnancy rate and ongoing pregnancy rate all were with no significantly difference.

CONCLUSIONS

The patients with fever during control ovulation and the oocyte retrieval got similar outcomes compared with those with no fever patients when taken the whole embryos freezing. Fever had almost no effect on the quality of embryo and endometrium. Moreover, the oocyte retrieved is relatively safe and reliable under strict disinfection and taken oral antibiotics for prevention infection.
Uncovering the Bone-Muscle Interaction and Its Implications for the Health and Function of Older Adults (the Wellderly Project): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial (Preprint)
Authors: Smith Cassandra , Lin Xuzhu , Scott David , Brennan-Speranza Tara C , Al Saedi Ahmed , Moreno-Asso Alba , Woessner Mary , Bani Hassan Ebrahim , Eynon Nir , Duque Gustavo , Levinger Itamar
Published: March 2020

BACKGROUND

Bone and muscle are closely linked anatomically, biochemically, and metabolically. Acute exercise affects both bone and muscle, implying a crosstalk between the two systems. However, how these two systems communicate is still largely unknown. We will explore the role of undercarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC) in this crosstalk. ucOC is involved in glucose metabolism and has a potential role in muscle maintenance and metabolism.

OBJECTIVE

The proposed trial will determine if circulating ucOC levels in older adults at baseline and following acute exercise are associated with parameters of muscle function and if the ucOC response to exercise varies between older adults with low muscle quality and those with normal or high muscle quality.

METHODS

A total of 54 men and women aged 60 years or older with no history of diabetes and warfarin and vitamin K use will be recruited. Screening tests will be performed, including those for functional, anthropometric, and clinical presentation. On the basis of muscle quality, a combined equation of lean mass (leg appendicular skeletal muscle mass in kg) and strength (leg press; one-repetition maximum), participants will be stratified into a high or low muscle function group and randomized into the controlled crossover acute intervention. Three visits will be performed approximately 7 days apart, and acute aerobic exercise, acute resistance exercise, and a control session (rest) will be completed in any order. Our primary outcome for this study is the effect of acute exercise on ucOC in older adults with low muscle function and those with high muscle function.

RESULTS

The trial is active and ongoing. Recruitment began in February 2018, and 38 participants have completed the study as of May 26, 2019.

CONCLUSIONS

This study will provide novel insights into bone and muscle crosstalk in older adults, potentially identifying new clinical biomarkers and mechanistic targets for drug treatments for sarcopenia and other related musculoskeletal conditions.

CLINICALTRIAL

Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12618001756213; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=375925.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT

DERR1-10.2196/18777
Quality of Care Perceived by Older Patients and Caregivers in Integrated Care Pathways With Interviewing Assistance From a Social Robot: Noninferiority Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)
Authors: Boumans Roel , van Meulen Fokke , van Aalst William , Albers Joyce , Janssen Marèse , Peters-Kop Marieke , Huisman - de Waal Getty , van de Poll Alexandra , Hindriks Koen , Neerincx Mark , Olde Rikkert Marcel
Published: March 2020

BACKGROUND

Society is facing a global shortage of 17 million health care workers, along with increasing health care demands from a growing number of older adults. Social robots are being considered as solutions to part of this problem.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective is to evaluate the quality of care perceived by patients and caregivers for an integrated care pathway in an outpatient clinic using a social robot for patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) interviews versus the currently used professional interviews.

METHODS

A multicenter, two-parallel-group, nonblinded, randomized controlled trial was used to test for noninferiority of the quality of care delivered through robot-assisted care. The randomization was performed using a computer-generated table. The setting consisted of two outpatient clinics, and the study took place from July to December 2019. Of 419 patients who visited the participating outpatient clinics, 110 older patients met the criteria for recruitment. Inclusion criteria were the ability to speak and read Dutch and being assisted by a participating health care professional. Exclusion criteria were serious hearing or vision problems, serious cognitive problems, and paranoia or similar psychiatric problems. The intervention consisted of a social robot conducting a 36-item PROM. As the main outcome measure, the customized Consumer Quality Index (CQI) was used, as reported by patients and caregivers for the outpatient pathway of care.

RESULTS

In total, 75 intermediately frail older patients were included in the study, randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups, and processed: 36 female (48%) and 39 male (52%); mean age 77.4 years (SD 7.3), range 60-91 years. There was no significant difference in the total patient CQI scores between the patients included in the robot-assisted care pathway (mean 9.27, SD 0.65, n=37) and those in the control group (mean 9.00, SD 0.70, n=38): P=.08, 95% CI –0.04 to 0.58. There was no significant difference in the total CQI scores between caregivers in the intervention group (mean 9.21, SD 0.76, n=30) and those in the control group (mean 9.09, SD 0.60, n=35): P=.47, 95% CI –0.21 to 0.46. No harm or unintended effects occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

Geriatric patients and their informal caregivers valued robot-assisted and nonrobot-assisted care pathways equally.

CLINICALTRIAL

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03857789; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03857789
Technical Systems for Digital Soil Quality Control
Authors: Starovoytov S. I. , Tsench Yu. S. , Korotchenya V. M. , Lichman G. I.
Published: March 2020

The production of tillage equipment is focused on the growing use of soil-protective and resource-saving farming and the use of the precision agriculture in tillage principles. The differentiated tillage concept arose, and occupied an intermediate position between traditional and anti-erosion (shallow) types of tillage. The authors conducted an analysis of technical systems for tillage quality digital control taking into account the indicated trends. They indicated that there was a certain inconsistency in the soil cultivation systems names in the scientific literature. (Research purpose) To provide an analytical overview of the tillage digital quality control technical systems. (Materials and methods) The authors used manufacturers’ brochures of tillage equipment, patents and scientific works. (Results and discussion) The authors examined the commercial offers existing in the world market in the differentiated tillage and digital quality control systems spheres. They presented an analysis of similar solutions available in the world scientific literature. They studied the issues of controlling the angle of disks’ attack, the depth of tillage, the soil surface ridging, the average size of the soil lumps, the amount of crop residues, determining the soil properties in a non-contact way. They identified the fragmentation of scientific and industrial developments in the sphere of tillage quality control. They suggested combining them into one system to automate the process of differentiated tillage. (Conclusions) It was shown that tillage equipment is becoming more adaptable in terms of meeting the specific requirements of the farmer for tillage. The authors identified promising areas for the future development of tillage machines: the inclusion of different subsystems of tillage quality digital control in the same system and the automation of differentiated tillage.
The Ecological Status of Livestock and Poultry in the Border Regions of Russia and South-East Finland
Authors: Bryukhanov A. Yu. , Huhta H. , Shalavina E. V. , Vorobyeva E. A. , Vasileva N. S.
Published: March 2020

Intensifi cation of agricultural production increases the burden on the environment. Modern management and planning of agricultural activity requires a comprehensive assessment of the environmental status of the industry. (Research purpose) To develop recommendations for improving the environmental safety of agricultural production based on the implementation of the best available technologies, methods for monitoring and controlling technological processes for the disposal of organic animal waste. (Materials and methods) The authors studied agricultural enterprises, their specialization and production capacities, technologies for manure and litter utilization. The studies included an assessment of enterprises according to the criteria approved in the recommendations of Helsinki Commission for the Baltic Sea. The authors used standard methods for processing statistical, fi eld and personal data. (Results and discussion) The authors conducted a state analysis of the agro-industrial complex of Leningrad Region in terms of the organic waste formation from animal husbandry and poultry farming, and evaluated the potential for their use. They studied 142 large complexes, which produce more than 90 percent of livestock and poultry products. The average livestock density in Leningrad Region is 2.2 conventional heads per hectare of cultivated agricultural land. They showed that there are 22,200 households in southern Finland, 79 percent of which are plant growing enterprises that are engaged in small-scale production. They took into account the specifi c features of the studied territories in terms of nutrient load and proposed a system of environmental impact regulation. (Conclusions) The authors developed 4 main recommendation sections to reduce the risks of biogenic environmental pollution: the development of an industrial environmental control system based on technological regulations; mastering the system of regional monitoring and coordination of work with organic fertilizers; adoption and implementation of a program of livestock enterprises technological and technical modernization in terms of the organic waste disposal; creation of demonstration platforms for environmental specialists advanced training in the implementation of modern technological solutions.
DEPARTMENT OF FORENSIC ACTIVITY IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE SYNTHESIS OF SCIENCE AND FORENSIC PRACTICES AND EDUCATION
Authors: Chesnokova Elena V.
Published: March 2020

The features of the joint educational project of RUDN and RFCFS on preparation of masters on the program “Forensic activity in law enforcement” are illustrated. Among them is the direct connection of the teaching staff of the Department “Forensic activity” of the law Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, represented by employees of the RFCFS, with practical expert activities. The role of the joint council for the protection of scientific degrees of doctor and candidate of Sciences in the specialty 12.00.12 - criminalistics, forensic activity, operational-search activity created on the basis of the RUDN and RFCFS is considered. It represents the final link in the system of training of higher education personnel in the field of forensic activity. The main forms of international activities of the Department, which include the study and exchange of experience in the framework of relations between the CIS member States, the Shanghai cooperation organization (SCO), the European Union (EU), are considered. Presented the prospects of its development in preparation for placement as a mandatory discipline “the Theory of judicial examination” in the educational process of bachelors and the creation of transferable teaching materials on forensics and criminology that contains integrated knowledge about the history of the development of the modern state of science in Russia and abroad to attract foreign students.
IDEOLOGICAL, LEGAL AND PROCEDURAL ASPECTS OF THE SEARCH FOR EFFECTIVE WAYS OF COMPENSATION FOR HARM CAUSED BY THE CRIME
Authors: Tarnavsky Oleg A. , Bormotova Ladmila V.
Published: March 2020

The level of public confidence in the law enforcement and judicial system leaves much to be desired from year to year, citizens are increasingly showing contempt for the laws and refuse to promote justice. This is due to a number of reasons that lie not only in the plane of this discussion. Meanwhile, it is obvious that punitive measures of influence do not have the proper effect in the absence of concern on the part of the state about its citizens who have been subjected to criminal influence. Analysis from the point of view of the prospects of the article subjected to all the existing forms of redress. As a result, the authors came to the conclusion that it is necessary to simplify the methods of compensation of harm on the way to the construction of restorative criminal justice in our country. The interests of the individual and the state in modern criminal proceedings are increasingly consistent with the two most promising in the opinion of the authors of the article forms of compensation for harm: voluntary compensation for harm to the accused and/or state compensation.