bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experiences of integrating community volunteers as extensions of the primary care team to help support older adults at home: a qualitative study
Authors: Gaber Jessica , Oliver Doug , Valaitis Ruta , Cleghorn Laura , Lamarche Larkin , Avilla Ernie , Parascandalo Fiona , Price David , Dolovich Lisa
Published: May 2020

Background

Increasing the integration of community volunteers into primary health care delivery has the potential to improve person-focused, coordinated care, yet the use of volunteers in primary care is largely unexplored. Health Teams Advancing Patient Experience: Strengthening Quality (Health TAPESTRY) is a multi-component intervention involving trained community volunteers functioning as extensions of primary care teams, supporting care based on older adults’ health goals and needs. This study aimed to gain an understanding of volunteer experiences within the program and client and health care provider perspectives on the volunteer role.

Methods

This study used a qualitative descriptive approach embedded in a pragmatic randomized controlled trial. Participants included Health TAPESTRY volunteers, health care providers, volunteer coordinator, and program clients, all connected to two primary care practice sites in a large urban setting in Ontario, Canada. Data collection included semi-structured focus groups and interviews with all participants, and the completion of a measure of attitudes toward older adults and self-efficacy for volunteers. Qualitative data were inductively coded and analyzed using a constant comparative approach. Quantitative data were summarized using descriptive statistics.

Results

Overall, 30 volunteers and 64 other participants (clients, providers, volunteer coordinator) were included. Themes included: 1. Volunteer training: “An investment in volunteers”; 2. Intergenerational volunteer pairing: “The best of both worlds”; 3. Understanding the volunteer role and its scope: “Lay people involved in care”; 4. Volunteers as extensions of primary care teams: “Being the eyes where they live”; 5. The disconnect between volunteers and the clinical team: “Is something being done?”; 6. “Learning… all the time”: Impacts on volunteers; and 7. Clients’ acceptance of volunteers.

Conclusions

This study showed that it is possible to integrate community volunteers into the primary care setting, adding human connections to deepen the primary care team’s understanding of their patients. Program implementation suggestions that emerged included: using role play in training, making volunteer role boundaries and specifications clear, and making efforts to connect volunteers and the primary care team they are supporting. This exploration of stakeholder voices has the potential to help improve volunteer program uptake and acceptability, as well as volunteer recruitment, retention, and training.

Trial registration

For RCT: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02283723, November 5, 2014.
Notalgia paresthetica: clinical features, radiological evaluation, and a novel therapeutic option
Authors: Mülkoğlu Cevriye , Nacır Barış
Published: May 2020

Background/objective

Notalgia paresthetica (NP) is a sensory neuropathy characterized by localized pruritus and pain, presenting with or without a well-circumscribed hyperpigmented patch in the upper back. Abnormal sensations, such as burning, numbness, and paresthesia are often present in patients with NP. In this study, we clinically and radiologically analyzed patients with NP. The literature contains studies describing lidocaine treatments involving intravenous and topical applications for NP. We also investigated the effect of intradermal lidocaine injection on patients with NP.

Methods

A total of 80 patients (45 patients with NP and 35 suffering from dorsalgia without NP) were included in the study. The age, gender and body mass index (BMI) of the patients, and the characteristics of their symptoms were recorded. The severity of pain and pruritus was assessed by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Radiography and magnetic resonance imaging of the spine were performed. In this study, we intradermally administered lidocaine diluted with saline into the upper back over three sessions. 1 cc 2% lidocaine was diluted with 5 cc 0.9% saline, and a total of 6 cc lidocaine mixture was obtained. The injection was performed locally at 1-cm intervals around the hyperpigmented patch and segmentally along the C2-T6 spinous processes. These patients were called for a follow-up at the second and fourth weeks and third month.

Results

There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, BMI, VAS-pain score, and duration of symptoms (p > 0.05 for all). Forty-six cervical and/or thoracic degenerative changes or herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) were detected in patients with NP. There was a significantly higher number of HNP at the C6–7 segment and cervical degenerative changes in the NP group (p < 0.05). The VAS-pain and VAS-pruritus scores were significantly decreased at all follow-up sessions, and improvement was sustained by lidocaine up to the third month.

Conclusion

Cervical degenerative changes and HNP of the C6–7 segment seem to be contributing factors for NP. Local lidocaine can be effective for pain relief and pruritus in NP.
Extrastriatal 123I-FP-CIT SPECT impairment in Parkinson’s disease – the PPMI cohort
Authors: Nicastro Nicolas , Garibotto Valentina , Burkhard Pierre R.
Published: May 2020

Background

Neuropathological data and nuclear medicine imaging show extensive serotonergic impairment in Parkinson’s disease (PD). We undertook a case-controlled analysis of 123I-FP-CIT SPECT images to measure extrastriatal serotonergic transporters (SERT) in PD using the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) cohort.

Methods

We included all PD (n = 154) and Control subjects (n = 62) with available 123I-FP-CIT SPECT imaging and high-resolution T1-weighted MRI for coregistration (PD: mean age 61.6 years, 62% male, disease duration 26 months, MDS-UPDRS III score 22). 123I-FP-CIT SPECT images were processed with PETPVE12 using an exploratory voxel-wise analysis including partial-volume effect correction. Linear regressions were performed in the PD group to assess correlations between region of interest 123I-FP-CIT uptake and clinical motor and non-motor impairment.

Results

Compared to Controls, PD exhibited an uptake reduction in bilateral caudate nucleus, putamen, insula, amygdala and right pallidum (family-wise error (FWE)-corrected p <  0.05). While lower putaminal uptake on the contralateral side to clinically more affected side was associated with higher MDS-UPDRS III score (p = 0.022), we found a trend association between higher geriatric depression scale and lower pallidum uptake (p = 0.09). Higher SCOPA-AUT gastrointestinal subscore was associated with lower uptake in mean putamen and caudate nucleus (p = 0.01 to 0.03), whereas urological subscore was inversely correlated with mean caudate nucleus, putamen, and pallidum uptake (p = 0.002 to 0.03). REM sleep behaviour disorder screening questionnaire was associated with lower 123I-FP-CIT binding in caudate nucleus, putamen and pallidum (all p <  0.05). No significant association was found for Montreal Cognitive Assessment (all p > 0.45) or excessive daytime sleepiness (all p > 0.29).

Conclusions

In addition to the well-established striatal deficit, this study provides evidence of a major extrastriatal 123I-FP-CIT impairment, and therefore of an altered serotonergic transmission in early PD.
A competing risk nomogram predicting cause-specific mortality in patients with lung adenosquamous carcinoma
Authors: Wu Xiao , Yu Wenfeng , Petersen R. H. , Sheng Hongxu , Wang Yiqing , Lv Wang , Hu Jian
Published: May 2020

Background

Adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC) is an uncommon histological subtype of lung cancer. The purpose of this study was to assess the cumulative incidences of lung cancer-specific mortality (LC-SM) and other cause-specific mortality (OCSM) in lung ASC patients, and construct a corresponding competing risk nomogram for LC-SM.

Methods

Data on 2705 patients with first primary lung ASC histologically diagnosed between 2004 and 2015 were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The cumulative incidence function (CIF) was utilized to calculate the 3-year and 5-year probabilities of LC-SM and OCSM, and a competing risk model was built. Based on the model, we developed a competing risk nomogram to predict the 3-year and 5-year cumulative probabilities of LC-SM and the corresponding concordance indexes (C-indexes) and calibration curves were derived to assess the model performance. To evaluate the clinical usefulness of the nomogram, decision curve analysis (DCA) was conducted. Furthermore, patients were categorized into three groups according to the tertile values of the nomogram-based scores, and their survival differences were assessed using CIF curves.

Results

The 3-year and 5-year cumulative mortalities were 49.6 and 55.8% for LC-SM and 8.2 and 11.8% for OCSM, respectively. In multivariate analysis, increasing age, male sex, no surgery, and advanced T, N and M stages were related to a significantly higher likelihood of LC-SM. The nomogram showed good calibration, and the 3-year and 5-year C-indexes for predicting the probabilities of LC-SM in the validation cohort were both 0.79, which were almost equal to those of the ten-fold cross validation. DCA demonstrated that using the nomogram gained more benefit when the threshold probabilities were set within the ranges of 0.24–0.89 and 0.25–0.91 for 3-year and 5-year LCSM, respectively. In both the training and validation cohorts, the high-risk group had the highest probabilities of LC-SM, followed by the medium-risk and low-risk groups (both P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

The competing risk nomogram displayed excellent discrimination and calibration for predicting LC-SM. With the aid of this individualized predictive tool, clinicians can more expediently devise appropriate treatment protocols and follow-up schedules.
Gender differences and occupational factors for the risk of obesity in the Italian working population
Authors: Di Tecco C. , Fontana L. , Adamo G. , Petyx M. , Iavicoli S.
Published: May 2020

Background

Obesity is a multifactorial condition and a major risk factor associated with several non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, and with a higher risk of premature death and disability. Sex-specific factors have key roles and must be taken into consideration in studying occupational factors associated with the risk of obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate gender differences in body mass index (BMI) in a large cohort representative of Italian workers and, correlating this index with several demographic and occupational variables, to verify sex- and work-dependent differences in the risk of obesity.

Methods

We utilized data from INSuLa, a cross-sectional, nationally representative survey of the Italian worker population conducted in 2013 by the Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority to investigate health and safety at work. Analyses were run on a sample of 8000 Italian workers, aged from 16 to 64 years. Logistic regression models were employed to assess gender differences in the relation between occupational characteristics and BMI. We adjusted for age, education, variables related to health protection at work, and chronic conditions and diseases.

Results

There were several significant differences in the BMI between males and females, linked to some occupational factors. For instance, female shift workers were 1.32 times (95% CI 1.11–1.57) more likely to be overweight or obese than normal-weight workers, and this association was maintained when controlling for confounders. The likelihood of overweight or obesity among women who worked 1–2 night shifts per week was significantly higher – 1.5-1.6 times – than those on day shifts.

Conclusions

Gender-specific differences in occupational factors associated with the risk of obesity are useful with a view to characterizing this risk and helping identify workplace-targeted intervention strategies.
Outcomes of occipitocervical fixation using a spinous process screw in C2 as a third anchor point for occipitocervical fixation: a case presentation
Authors: Liu Guanyi , Li Qing , Sheng Feng , Xu Nanjian , Li Ming , Wang Yang , Ma Weihu
Published: May 2020

Background

Posterior occipitocervical fixation and fusion are often required to address occipitocervical instability. Safe, stable internal fixation with screws is vital for the success of such surgery. Thus, poor selection of an internal fixation technique may cause fixation and fusion failure, possibly leading to neurovascular injury. Hence, in certain cases, such as in patients with severe instability of an occipitocervical deformity or osteoporosis, we hypothesized that having a third anchor point (a screw in C2) could enhance the stability of the occipitocervical fixation.

Case presentation

A 31-year-old man with occipitocervical deformity and spinal cord edema underwent a traditional occipitocervical fixation procedure but with the addition of a spinous process screw in C2 as a third anchor point. The procedure included posterior internal fixation and fusion. The occipitocervical fixation was completed by inserting occipital screws, bilateral C2 pedicle screws, C3 lateral mass screws, and a spinous process screw in C2 as a third anchor point. There were no neurovascular complications or incision-site infections. Postoperatively, radiography and computed tomography showed that the occipitocervical reduction and internal fixation had resulted in good spinal alignment, and magnetic resonance imaging showed no obvious spinal cord compression. At 4 months after the surgery, fusion was observed, and the occipitocervical screws remained well positioned. The patient continued to be monitored for 24 months postoperatively. At the 24-month follow-up visit, the muscle strength of the limbs was grade 5, and the patient’s sensation function had improved over his preoperative condition.

Conclusions

Use of a C2 spinous process screw as a third anchor point may enhance the stability of occipitocervical fixation. Further biomechanical and clinical studies are needed to validate this result.
Osteoarthritis physical activity care pathway (OA-PCP): results of a feasibility trial
Authors: Allen Kelli , Vu Maihan B. , Callahan Leigh F. , Cleveland Rebecca J. , Gilbert Abigail L. , Golightly Yvonne M. , Griesemer Ida , Grimm Kimberlea , Hales Derek P. , Hu David G. , Huffman Katie , Nelson Amanda E. , Pathak Ami , Rees Jennifer , Rethorn Zachary D. , Wandishin Anne E.
Published: May 2020

Background

To obtain information on feasibility and acceptability, as well as preliminary data on efficacy, of an Osteoarthritis Physical activity Care Pathway (OA-PCP).

Methods

This was a single group pilot study involving 60 participants with symptomatic, physician diagnosed knee or hip OA, recruited from primary care clinics. Participants self-reported completing less than 150 min per week of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) at baseline. The 3-month OA-PCP intervention involved 3 physical activity (PA) coaching calls (focused on goal setting), three check-in emails and linkage with community-based or online resources to support PA. Efficacy outcomes were collected at baseline and 4-month follow-up. The primary efficacy outcome was minutes of MVPA, assessed via accelerometer. Secondary outcomes included minutes of light intensity activity, sedentary minutes, step counts, and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) pain and function subscales. Participants were also asked to rate the helpfulness of the OA-PCP intervention on a scale of 0–10. Differences in efficacy outcomes between baseline and 4-month follow-up were assessed using paired t-tests.

Results

Among participants beginning the study, 88% completed follow-up assessments and ≥ 90% completed each of the intervention calls. Average daily minutes of MVPA was 8.0 at baseline (standard deviation (SD) = 9.9) and 8.9 at follow-up (SD = 12.1, p = 0.515). There were no statistically significant changes in light intensity activity, sedentary time or step counts. The mean WOMAC pain score improved from 8.1 (SD = 3.6) at baseline to 6.2 (SD = 3.8) at follow-up (p < 0.001); the mean WOMAC function score improved from 26.2 (SD = 13.2) to 20.2 (SD = 12.5; p < 0.001). The mean rating of helpfulness was 7.6 (SD = 2.5).

Conclusions

Results supported the feasibility and acceptability of the study, and participants reported clinically relevant improvements in pain and function. PA metrics did not improve substantially. Based on these results and participant feedback, modifications including enhanced self-monitoring are being made to increase the impact of the OA-PCP intervention on PA behavior.

Trial registration

NCT03780400, December 19, 2018.
Low back pain among nurses working in clinical settings of Africa: systematic review and meta-analysis of 19 years of studies
Authors: Kasa Ayele Semachew , Workineh Yinager , Ayalew Emiru , Temesgen Worku Animaw
Published: May 2020

Background

Nurses in Africa are arguably the most important frontline healthcare workers available in most healthcare facilities, performing a broad range of tasks. Such tasks are considerably presumed in the causation of workload. Nursing is listed among the highly risky professions for developing low back pain. The nursing profession is ranked within the top ten professions which have a great risk of low back pain. Hence, this review aimed to ascertain whether low back pain is a significant concern for nurses in African healthcare facilities.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search of different databases with no date limit was conducted from September to November 2018 using the PRISMA guideline. The quality of the included studies was assessed using a 12-item rating system. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed. Cochran’s Q and the I2test were used to assess heterogeneity. The presence of publication bias was evaluated by using Egger’s test and visual inspection of the symmetry in funnel plots.

Result

In this review, 19 studies from different African regions with a total sample size of 6110 nurses were included. All the studies were carried out between 2000 and 2018. Among these, the lowest and the highest prevalence were found to be 44.1 and 82.7% respectively. The estimation of the prevalence rate of low back pain among nurses using the random-effects model was found to be 64.07% (95% CI: 58.68–69.46;P-value < 0.0001). Heterogeneity of the reviewed studies was I2 = 94.2% and heterogeneity Chi-squared = 310.06 (d.f = 18),P-value < 0.0001. The subgroup analyses showed that the highest prevalence of LBP among nurses was from West African region with prevalence rates of 68.46% (95% CI: 54.94–81.97;P-value < 0.0001) and followed by North Africa region with prevalence rate of 67.95% (95% CI: 55.96–79.94; P-value < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Even though the overall prevalence of the present study is lower when compared to the Western and Asian studies, it indicated that the prevalence of low back pain among nurses is substantial.
Time-varying and dose-dependent effect of long-term statin use on risk of type 2 diabetes: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Na Eonji , Cho Sunyoung , Kim Dae Jung , Choi Junjeong , Han Euna
Published: May 2020

Background

We evaluated the effect of statin use on new-onset type 2 diabetes among individuals without atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) using nationally representative South Korean claims data (2002–2013, N = 1,016,820).

Methods

A total of 13,698 patients (statin users 5273, non-statin users 5273) aged 40–74 years, newly diagnosed with dyslipidemia but without any history of diabetes or ASCVD, were selected in 2005. We followed up the final sample until 2013 and evaluated the cumulative incidence of type 2 diabetes. We used extended Cox regression models to estimate the time-varying adjusted hazard ratios of statin use on new-onset type 2 diabetes. We performed further analyses based on the cumulative defined daily dose of statin received per year to evaluate the degree of risk compared to non-statin users.

Results

Over the mean follow-up period of 7.1 years, 3034 patients developed type 2 diabetes; the number of statin users exceeded that of non-users, demonstrating that statin use significantly increased the risk of new-onset type 2 diabetes. The risk of new-onset type 2 diabetes differed among statin users according to cDDD per year (adjusted HR = 1.31 [95% CI 1.18–1.46] for less than 30 cDDD per year; 1.58 [1.43–1.75] for 30–120 cDDD per year; 1.83 [1.62–2.08] for 120–180 cDDD per year; and 2.83 [2.51–3.19] for more than 180 cDDD per year). The diabetogenic effect of pitavastatin was not statistically significant, but the risk was the largest for atorvastatin. Long-term exposure (≥ 5 years) to statins was associated with a statistically significant increase in the risk of new onset type 2 diabetes in all statin subtypes explored, with the highest magnitude for simvastatin (HR = 1.916, 95% CI 1.647–2.228) followed by atorvastatin (HR = 1.830, 95% CI 1.487–2.252).

Conclusions

Statin use was significantly associated with an increased risk of new-onset type 2 diabetes. We also found a dose–response relationship in terms of statin use duration and dose maintenance. Periodic screening and monitoring for incident type 2 diabetes may be warranted in long-term statin users.
Circular RNA circ-MAT2B facilitates glycolysis and growth of gastric cancer through regulating the miR-515-5p/HIF-1α axis
Authors: Liu Jia , Liu Haiying , Zeng Qingshan , Xu Pei , Liu Mingxing , Yang Ning
Published: May 2020

Background

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a special kind of non-coding RNAs that are implicated in cancer malignant behavior, including glycolysis. However, their contributions to gastric cancer (GC) cell glycolysis are still poorly understood. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the glycolysis-related role of circ-MAT2B in GC.

Methods

Gene expression was determined by qRT-PCR analysis. Protein level was detected by Western blot. The CCK-8, colony and EdU assays were carried out to assess GC cell viability, colony formation and DNA synthesis rate. Glycolysis was determined by glucose uptake and lactate production. The positive regulatory network of circ-MAT2B/miR-515-5p/HIF-1α was identified by RNA pull-down, RIP, ChIP and luciferase reporter assays. The in vivo role of circ-MAT2B was evaluated by using xenograft tumor model.

Results

Circ-MAT2B was notably increased in GC and could be used as a sensitive and specific indicator of GC diagnosis and prognosis. Stable knockdown of circ-MAT2B dramatically inhibited GC cell viability, colony formation, DNA synthesis, glucose uptake and lactate production in vitro, and retarded tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, circ-MAT2B was dominantly located in the cytoplasm and acted as a ceRNA to sponge miR-515-5p and increase HIF-1α expression. Silencing of miR-515-5p or overexpression of HIF-1α could evidently rescue the attenuated aggressive phenotype of GC cells caused by circ-MAT2B knockdown. Importantly, HIF-1α was able to directly bind to circ-MAT2B promoter and transcriptionally activate circ-MAT2B, thus forming a positive feedback loop.

Conclusion

Our data suggest that circ-MAT2B is a oncogenic circRNA in GC and provide a promising therapeutic target for GC patients.
NT-4 attenuates neuroinflammation via TrkB/PI3K/FoxO1 pathway after germinal matrix hemorrhage in neonatal rats
Authors: Wang Tianyi , Zhang Junyi , Li Peng , Ding Yan , Tang Jiping , Chen Gang , Zhang John H.
Published: May 2020

Background

Neuroinflammation plays an important role in pathogenesis of germinal matrix hemorrhage (GMH). Neurotrophin-4 (NT-4) is a member of the neurotrophin family and interacts with the tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB). NT-4 has been shown to confer neuroprotective effects following cerebral ischemia. We aimed to investigate the neuroprotective function of NT-4-TrkB signaling, as well as its downstream signaling cascade phosphatidylinositol-3-kinases (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/forkhead box protein O1 (FoxO1), following GMH in neonatal rats.

Methods

GMH was induced by intraparenchymal injection of bacterial collagenase (0.3 U) in P7 rat pups. A total of 163 pups were used in this study. Recombinant human NT-4 was administered intranasally at 1 h after the collagenase injection. The selective TrkB antagonist ANA-12, selective PI3K inhibitor LY294002, and FoxO1 activating CRISPR were administered intracerebroventricularly at 24 h prior to NT-4 treatment to investigate the underlying mechanism. Short-term and long-term neurobehavioral assessments, immunofluorescence staining, Nissl’s staining, and Western blot were performed.

Results

Expression of phosphorylated TrkB increased after GMH, reaching the peak level at day 3 after hemorrhage. TrkB receptors were observed on neurons, microglia, and astrocytes. The administration of rh-NT-4 induced phosphorylation of TrkB, expression of PI3K, and phosphorylation of Akt. Meanwhile, it decreased FoxO1 and IL-6 levels. Selective inhibition of TrkB/PI3K/Akt signaling in microglia increased the expression levels of FoxO1 and pro-inflammatory cytokines. FoxO1 activating CRISPR increased the expression of IL-6, suggesting that FoxO1 might be a potential inducer of pro-inflammatory factors. These results suggested that PI3K/Akt/FoxO1 signaling may be the downstream pathway of activation of TrkB. The rat pups treated with rh-NT-4 performed better than vehicle-treated animals in both short-term and long-term behavioral tests.

Conclusion

These data showed that rh-NT-4 reduced the expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, improved neurological function, attenuated neuroinflammation, and thereby mitigated post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus after GMH by TrkB/PI3K/Akt/FoxO1 pathway. These results indicated that rh-NT-4 could be a promising therapeutic strategy to ameliorate neuroinflammation and hydrocephalus after GMH or other similar brain injuries.
Impact of child emotional and behavioural difficulties on educational outcomes of primary school children in Ethiopia: a population-based cohort study
Authors: Mekonnen Habtamu , Medhin Girmay , Tomlinson Mark , Alem Atalay , Prince Martin , Hanlon Charlotte
Published: May 2020

Background

The relationship between child emotional and behavioural difficulties (EBD) and educational outcomes has not been investigated in prospective, community studies from low-income countries.

Methods

The association between child EBD symptoms and educational outcomes was examined in an ongoing cohort of 2090 mother–child dyads. Child EBD was measured when the mean age of children was 6.5 years, SD 0.04 (T0) and 8.4, SD 0.5 years (T1) using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Educational outcomes were obtained from maternal report (drop-out) at T1 and from school records at when the mean age of the children was 9.3 (SD 0.5) years (T2).

Result

After adjusting for potential confounders, child EBD symptoms at T1 were associated significantly with school absenteeism at T2: SDQ total score: Risk Ratio (RR) 1.01; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01, 1.02; SDQ high score (≥ 14) RR 1.36; 95% CI 1.24, 1.48; emotional subscale RR 1.03; 95% CI 1.01, 1.04; hyperactivity subscale RR 1.03; 95% CI 1.02, 1.04 and peer problems subscale (RR 1.02; 95% CI 1.00, 1.04). High SDQ (β = − 2.89; 95% CI − 5.73, − 0.06) and the conduct problems sub-scale (β = − 0.57; 95% CI − 1.02, − 0.12) had a significant negative association with academic achievement. There was no significant association between child EBD and school drop-out.

Conclusion

Prospective associations were found between child EBD symptoms and increased school absenteeism and lower academic achievement, suggesting the need for child mental health to be considered in interventions targeting improvement of school attendance and academic achievement in low-income countries.
Current regulatory approaches for accessing potential COVID-19 therapies
Authors: Halimi Vesa , Daci Armond , Stojanovska Simona , Panovska-Stavridis Irina , Stevanovic Milena , Filipce Venko , Grozdanova Aleksandra
Published: May 2020

This commentary aims to elaborate challenges in the regulatory approaches for accessing and investigating COVID-19 potential therapies either with off-label use, compassionate use, emergency use or for clinical trials. Since no therapies have been formally approved and completely effective and safe to date, the best clinical choice is acquired only after consistent and fair communication and collaboration between licensed clinicians, researchers, regulatory authorities, manufacturers and patients.
Correction to: Anteromedial positioning of the femoral tunnel in Anterior Cruciate Ligament reconstruction is the best option to avoid revision: a single surgeon registry
Authors: de Paula Leite Cury Ricardo , Simabukuro Artur Mistieri , de Marques Oliveira Victor , Escudeiro Diego , Jorge Pedro Baches , Severino Fabrício Roberto , Guglielmetti Luiz Gabriel Betoni
Published: May 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
Substrate–fungus interaction on the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant activities of solid state fermentation system
Authors: El-Katony Taha Mohamed , Nour El-Dein Mahmoud Metwally , El-Fallal Amira Ali , Ibrahim Nourhan Gamal , Mousa Mohamed Mohamed
Published: May 2020

The fungus–substrate interaction on the antioxidant activity of a solid state fermentation system (SSFS) was investigated employing two basidiomycete fungi: Pleurotus columbinus and P. floridanus and two ascomycetes: Aspergillus fumigatus and Paecilomyces variotii on powdered peels of banana, pomegranate and orange, empty pea pods and rice straw. The oven-dried substrates were moistened at 90% water holding capacity, inoculated with the test fungi and incubated at 25 °C for appropriate time. Culture extracts were tested for the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant activity. The effect of substrate on the antioxidant activity of the SSFS was stronger than that of the fungal species. Peroxidase (POX) activity was higher in the basidiomycetes than ascomycetes and achieved its maximum in P. floridanus versus complete absence in A. fumigatus. By contrast, catalase (CAT) activity was higher in the ascomycetes, particularly P. variotii on banana peel, than in the basidiomycetes. Phenolics and flavonoids were highest in pomegranate peels but lowest in banana peels and rice straw, and they were subjected to severe consumption by the basidiomycetes versus mild production by the ascomycetes. The reducing power (RP) and DPPH scavenging activity were higher in the peels of pomegranate, orange and banana relative to rice straw and empty pea pods, and the fungal effect was limited and independent of the fungal taxonomic group. Orange peel is the appropriate substrate for production of fungal CAT and POX, which activities were mutually exclusive; but pomegranate peel is more suitable for production of phenolics and flavonoids.
Knowledge, practice and correlates of sleep hygiene among people living with HIV/AIDS attending anti-retroviral therapy at Zewditu Memorial Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Mengistu Nebiyu , Belayneh Zelalem , Shumye Seid
Published: May 2020

Background

Sleep hygiene is a series of behavioral practices that can be performed by individuals with sleep complaints to prevent or reverse sleep difficulties. The feasibility, cost-effectiveness, absence of side effects and immediate responses to sleep problems make sleep hygiene practices more applicable than other treatment options for people living with HIV/AIDS. However, there is no evidence regarding sleep hygiene awareness and its practice in people with HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia.

Objectives

This study aimed to assess the knowledge, practice and correlates of sleep hygiene among adults attending outpatient anti-retroviral treatment at Zewditu Memorial Hospital.

Methods

This was an institutional based cross-sectional study conducted from 1st of May to 16th of June 2018 amongst people attending anti-retroviral therapy follow-up at Zewditu Memorial Hospital. Systematic random sampling technique was used to recruit a total of 396 study participants. Data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaire. The Sleep Hygiene Index was used to measure the level of sleep hygiene of study participants. Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with sleep hygiene practice. In the multi-variable analysis, variables with P-values of less than 0.05 were considered as significant correlates of sleep hygiene practice with 95% confidence interval.

Results

The findings of this study showed that there are limitations regarding the knowledge and practice of sleep hygiene of people with HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia. None of the participants attended training regarding sleep hygiene. More than half (51.3%) had poor sleep hygiene practice. Female sex [AOR = 5.80:95% CI (3.12, 10.7)], being single [AOR =2.29:95% CI (0.13, 9.51)], depression [AOR = 2.93: 95% CI (1.73, 4.96)] and current khat use [AOR = 3.30; 95% CI (1.67, 6.50)] were identified as statistically significant correlates of poor sleep hygiene practice.

Conclusions

Knowledge regarding sleep hygiene is poor, and its practices are incorrect amongst people living with HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia. These findings demonstrate a need for professionals to play a major role in addressing this problem by integrating sleep hygiene as an added treatment modality to the HIV/AIDS care service. Designing training programs and awareness creation strategies for people with HIV/AIDS to improve their sleep hygiene practice is also highly recommended.
Parallel poly(A) homo- and hetero-duplex formation detection with an adapted DNA nanoswitch technique
Authors: Pickard Martha Anne G. , Brylow Karl B. , Cisco Lily A. , Anecelle Matthew R. , Pershun Mackenzie L. , Chandrasekaran Arun Richard , Halvorsen Ken , Gleghorn Michael L.
Published: May 2020

Polyriboadenylic [poly(rA)] strands of sufficient length form parallel double helices in acidic and/or ammonium-containing conditions. Poly(rA) duplexes in acidic conditions are held together by A+–A+ base-pairing also involving base interactions with the phosphate backbone. Traditional UV-melting studies of parallel poly(A) duplexes have typically examined homo-duplex formation of a single nucleic acid species in solution. We have adapted a technique utilizing a DNA nanoswitch that detects interaction of two different strands either with similar or differing lengths or modifications. Our method detected parallel duplex formation as a function of length, chemical modifications, and pH, and at a sensitivity that required over 100-fold less concentration of sample than prior UV-melting methods. While parallel polyriboadenylic acid and poly-2′-O-methyl-adenylic acid homo-duplexes formed, we did not detect homo-duplexes of polydeoxyriboadenylic acid strands or poly-locked nucleic acid (LNA)-adenylic strands. Importantly however, a poly-locked nucleic acid (LNA)-adenylic strand, as well as a poly-2′-O-methyl-adenylic strand, formed a hetero-duplex with a polyriboadenylic strand. Overall, our work validates a new tool for studying parallel duplexes and reveals fundamental properties of poly(A) parallel duplex formation. Parallel duplexes may find use in DNA nanotechnology and in molecular biology applications such as a potential poly(rA) tail capture tool as an alternative to traditional oligo(dT) based purification.
Endoscopic thyroid lobectomy vs Conventional open thyroid lobectomy
Authors: Imran Mariam , Mehmood Zahid , Baloch Muhammad Naseem , Altaf Sehrish
Published: May 2020

Background and Objective: Surgical managements for these suspicious nontoxic swellings requires open conventional method of thyroidectomy by neck  incisions that can result in prominent scars and immediate risk usually hemorrhage. However new technological innovations came into practiced that include video assisted minimal invasive endoscopy by axillo-breast approach that gives very promising results with excellent cosmesis. In this study, we compared conventional open surgery with minimal invasive endoscopic techniques and associate various complaints and complications that were encountered in surgery.

Methods: Sixty patients were enrolled in this comparative study. It was conducted from period February 2018 to February 2019.The patients were randomized alternatively in two groups. Group-I patients underwent conventional lobectomy while Group-II patients were operated endoscopically, Patients having nodules less than 3cm and Thy 1 and 2 were included in this study. Patient having nodules greater than 3cm, Multinodular goiter, recurrent nodule and Thy 3-6 were excluded from the study.

Results: Patients who underwent endoscopic lobectomy were much more satisfied about scar marks whereas some developed post-operative complications. It included hoarseness of voice in Three (13.62%) patients, two patients developed seroma (9.08%), three patients (13.62%) erythema, whereas no postoperative complications were seen in patients who underwent open thyroid lobectomy. No signs of hypocalcemia noted in both approaches.

Conclusions: The complications with endoscopic approaches are higher but they are minor and resolved spontaneously within maximum period of six weeks. However scar mark satisfaction was much higher in endoscopic lobectomy group.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.4.1604

How to cite this:Imran M, Mehmood Z, Baloch MN, Altaf S. Endoscopic thyroid lobectomy Vs Conventional open thyroid lobectomy. Pak J Med Sci. 2020;36(4):831-835. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.4.1604

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Association of Interleukin-1B gene Polymorphism with H. pylori infected Dyspeptic Gastric Diseases and Healthy Population
Authors: Kalsoom Furkhanda , Rahman Sajjad-ur- , Mahmood Muhammad Shahid , Zahoor Tahir
Published: May 2020

Objective: The aim of study was to investigate the association of IL 1B gene polymorphism with involvement of H. pylori and other gastric diseases.

Methods: Blood samples of dyspeptic patients were collected from endoscopy department of Allied Hospital Faisalabad from January 2017 to January 2019 and were qualitatively assayed for serological detection of CagA H. pylori antibodies. PCR followed by direct sequencing was performed for proinflammatory IL-1B gene polymorphism detection. Sequence analysis was performed in software SnapGene viewer for haplotypes.

Results: Demographic characteristics of seropositive patients showed maximum 25% gastritis in age groups of 20-40 years and 41-60 years, predominantly (41.7%) in females. While in seronegative patient’s gastritis (33.3%) was found in age group of 20-40 years mainly in males (41.7%). Among studied groups, higher expression of IL-1B-511 genotype (33.3%) polymorphism was found in healthy individuals as compared to H. pylori seropositive (25%) and seronegative (8.3%). While IL-1B-31 genotype showed maximum 33.3% polymorphism rate in seropositive gastric diseased group. Moreover, haplotypes frequencies IL-1B-511CC and IL-1B-31TT were predominantly (20%) found in seropositive gastric diseased group.

Conclusions: In H. pylori seropositive patients, gastric disease was commonly found, however, gastric disease was not only associated with H. pylori as seronegative patients were also carrying gastric complications. Interleukin IL-1B polymorphism was partially associated with H. pylori infection in studied dyspeptic population.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.4.1883

How to cite this:Kalsoom F, Sajjad-ur-Rahman, Mahmood MS, Zahoor T. Association of Interleukin-1B gene Polymorphism with H. pylori infected Dyspeptic Gastric Diseases and Healthy Population. Pak J Med Sci. 2020;36(4):825-830. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.4.1883

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Identification of risk factors of acute coronary syndrome in young patients between 18-40 years of age at a teaching hospital
Authors: Cheema Faryal Murtaza , Cheema Hasan Mujtaba , Akram Zubair
Published: May 2020

Objectives: To identify the risk factors in acute coronary syndrome.

Methods: It was a case series study, conducted in coronary care unit of Jinnah Hospital, Lahore from January to December 2018. Convenient sampling was used for patients’ selection. The serum cardiac enzymes level was measured, and serial ECG was done at admission and repeated if required. Blood samples were collected after an overnight fast of 14 hours and tests were done for total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol.

Results: Out of 300 patients of acute coronary syndrome, 100 (33.33%) were female and 200 (66.67%) were males. Majority of patients 180 (60%) belonged to age group of 25-40 years. Out of 300 patients 94 (31.33%) had diabetes mellitus, while 139 (46.3%) were suffering from hypertension. Out of 290 patients 95 (32.7%) had family history of coronary artery disease. Out of 298 patients 125 (41.9%) were smokers.

Conclusion: Acute coronary syndrome in age group of 18-40 Years showed a male predominance with major modifiable risk factors; Hypertension followed by Diabetes mellitus, smoking and Dyslipidemia. Positive family history a non-modifiable risk factor in patients of ACS was also a common finding.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.4.2302

How to cite this:Cheema FM, Cheema HM, Akram Z. Identification of risk factors of acute coronary syndrome in young patients between 18-40 years of age at a teaching hospital. Pak J Med Sci. 2020;36(4):821-824. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.4.2302

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Ultra-high-resolution SD-OCM imaging with a compact polarization-aligned 840 nm broadband combined-SLED source
Authors: Haindl Richard , Duelk Marcus , Gloor Stefan , Dahdah Jean , Ojeda Jose , Sturtzel Caterina , Deng Shiyu , Joyce Deloria Abigail , Li Qian , Liu Mengyang , Distel Martin , Drexler Wolfgang , Leitgeb Rainer
Published: May 2020

We analyze the influence of intrinsic polarization alignment on image quality and axial resolution employing a broadband 840 nm light source with an optical bandwidth of 160 nm and an output power of 12 mW tailored for spectral-domain optical coherence microscopy (SD-OCM) applications. Three superluminescent diodes (SLEDs) are integrated into a 14-pin butterfly module using a free-space micro-optical bench architecture, maintaining a constant polarization state across the full spectral output. We demonstrate superior imaging performance in comparison to traditionally coupled-SLED broadband light sources in a teleost model organism in-vivo.
Flexible ultra-wide frequency microwave down-conversion based on re-circulating four-wave mixing in a semiconductor optical amplifier
Authors: Zou Xinhai , Zhang Shangjian , Qi Lin , Wang Heng , Zhang Zhiyao , Zhang Yali , Liu Yong
Published: May 2020

A flexible ultra-wide frequency photonic-assisted method is proposed for microwave harmonic down-conversion based on re-circulating four-wave mixing (RFWM) in a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA). The proposed down-converter consists of a RF-driven electro-optic modulator (EOM) and a RFWM-intensified optical local oscillator (LO) located in a ring-assisted Mach-Zehnder interferometer (R-MZI). In the optical LO, the optical carrier is first modulated by a low-frequency electrical LO through an EOM for triggering high-order harmonics sideband generation in the optical domain through the FWM effect in the SOA, and the generated harmonics sidebands are further intensified by re-circulating the FWM products back to the EOM and the SOA successively with an amplified ring loop. The RFWM-intensified optical LO enables accurate tunable and ultra-wide frequency operation of down-conversion by simply adjusting the low-frequency electrical LO. In the experiment, the RFWM-based optical LO is operated with wide spectrum of more than 0.8 nm (15-dB bandwidth) and 1.2 nm (20-dB bandwidth) and tunable frequency spacing from 4 GHz to 12 GHz. The microwave frequency conversion is successfully demonstrated in the RF range of 5-40 GHz down-converted to IF band below 2 GHz with a low-frequency electrical LO at about 4.8 GHz.
Realizing optical bistability and tristability in plasmonic coated nanoparticles with radial-anisotropy and Kerr-nonlinearity
Authors: Jiang X. C. , Zhou Y. W. , Gao D. L. , Huang Y. , Gao L.
Published: May 2020

We theoretically study the optical bistability and tristability in plasmonic coated nanospheres containing the nonlinear plasmonic shell and the dielectric core with radial anisotropy. Based on self-consistent mean-field approximation, we establish the relationship between the local field in the shell and the applied incident field, taking into account the Lorentz local field. One or two optical bistabilities and even optical tristability can be observed. Especially, there are two critical geometric parameters between which two optical bistabilities exist. Physically, two optical bistablities result from the excitations of two surface plasmonic resonant modes in the inner and outer interfaces of coated nanospheres, which are well reflected from the spectral representation with two poles. Moreover, the involvement of the radial anisotropy is quite essential to realize the optical tristability. Further discussion on the field-induced tuning of the reflectance reveals the macroscopic properties of this nonlinear optical structure, which provides a potential candidate for designing multi-stable optical devices at the nanoscale.
Field as Archive / Archive as Field
Authors: Çaylı Eray
Published: May 2020

This article introduces the special issue 'Field as Archive / Archive as Field': a set of critical reflections on archival research and fieldwork in academic studies focused on space. The special issue asks, how might the experience of carrying out research in the archive and the field, with all its contingencies and errancies, be taken seriously as empirical material in its own right? In other words, rather than reducing the research process to an empirically insignificant instrument through which to access useable data, how could scholars and practitioners of architecture treat this work as the very stuff of the histories, theories, criticisms, and/or practices they produce? In raising these questions that remain relatively underexplored, especially in architectural research, this special issue works from the contemporary historical juncture that is marked by an increasing visibility of rhetorical and physical hostility throughout social and political affairs. Probing how this historical juncture might impact and be impacted by spatial research, contributors to the special issue explore these impacts through the markedly urban and architectural registers in which they take place, including heritage, infrastructure, displacement, housing, and protest. They, moreover, do so through a variety of contexts relevant to the journal's scope: Egypt, Zanzibar, Turkey, Greece, Iran, and Israel/Palestine.