bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The burden for high-quality online data collection lies with researchers, not recruitment platforms
Authors: Cuskley Christine , Sulik Justin
Published: November 2022

A recent article in Perspectives on Psychological Science (Webb & Tangney, 2022, W&T) reported a study where just 2.6% of participants recruited on Amazon’s Mechanical Turk were deemed "valid". They highlight some well-established limitations of Mechanical Turk, but their takeaways—the claims that it is "too good to be true," and that it captured "only 14 human beings … [of] N=529"—are radically misleading, yet have been repeated widely. We outline issues with how W&T handled data collection and how some design choices were unsuitable for this platform. Negative attitudes towards Mechanical Turk sometimes reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of what the platform offers and how it should be used in research. We point to substantial research from that details strategies for effective recruitment on Mechanical Turk, and key elements of experimental design for online research generally. We stress that Mechanical Turk is not suitable for every kind of study. Effective use requires specific expertise and design considerations. Like all tools used in research—from advanced hardware to specialist software—the tool itself places constraints on what you should use it for. Ultimately, high-quality data requires careful experimental design. This is the responsibility of the researcher, not the crowdsourcing platform.
Policy Talk Community Based Mental Health Service in Bangladesh
Authors: Fahim Faezur Rahman
Published: November 2022

Bangladesh Mental Health policy discussion with experts. Critical Reviews, analysis, and recommendations
Stratified Entry into Illegality: How Immigration Policy Shapes Being Undocumented
Authors: Aptekar Sofya , Hsin Amy
Published: November 2022

Research shows that legal status is a critical axis of stratification in the United States but is less clear about the variably permeable boundaries around illegality and the systematic ways in which migrants are channeled into and out of the liminal states of illegality. Drawing on analysis of 105 interviews with a diverse group of undocumented or formerly undocumented immigrant young adults in New York City collected in 2018-19, we introduce the concept of stratified entry into illegality to illustrate how migrants’ nationality, race, and socioeconomic status shape their mode of entry which, in turn, shapes opportunities to adjust legal status. Our comparison of migrants who entered the US without inspection and those who overstayed visas reveals key differences in experience of illegality, including fear of deportation and future plans. We discuss the role of mandatory re-entry bans and hardship waivers on immigrants’ relationships, the “fix” of advance parole for the more privileged DACA recipients, and the gendered and racialized risks and pressures faced by visa overstayers seeking to adjust their status through marriage. Our comparison of undocumented young adults with and without DACA across mode of entry demonstrates how DACA serves as a class- and race-based filtering mechanism. We embed analysis of stratified entry into illegality within the US immigration regime and a global regime of racialized criminalization of migrants rooted in colonial and neocolonial relations of power and extraction.
Redes intelectuales, pensamiento y política-“planética” en las regiones periféricas hacia el 2000: categorías e ideas para pensar el mundo
Authors: Devés-Valdés Eduardo
Published: November 2022

Voy a presentarles el siguiente problema: La existencia, en América Latina de redes intelectuales que están intentando pensar el mundo. Específicamente, me ocuparé de la red que se agrupa en tono a la Asociación Latinoamericana de Historia de las Relaciones Internacionales. Presentaré algunas de sus ideas acerca de las maneras de superar un pensamiento que supuestamente equivoca u oprime, y finalmente intentaré extrapolar estas ideas hacia formulaciones más amplias y emancipatorias, apuntando hacia la superación de la noción de algo así como un aparato del estado global o Leviatán global.Dicho en otras palabras, interesa desarrollar, a partir del pensamiento latinoamericano y de las redes intelectuales, algunas formulaciones que puedan ser válidas para todos aquellos entes que, desenvolviéndose de alguna manera en el espacio mundial, no están dispuestos a aceptar los discursos de poder y de subordinación del imperio, buscando maneras alternativas de conceptualizar dicho espacio. Se entregan así indicaciones teóricas y metodológicas para quienes quieran abordar temas latinoamericanos, potenciando dimensiones emancipatorias.
Institutional context and life satisfaction: Does the rule of law moderate well-being inequalities?
Authors: Olivos Francisco , Jin Lei
Published: November 2022

An emerging strand of research emphasizes the role of the macro institutional context in shaping the social distribution of well-being. This article examines the variations in the association between political power and subjective well-being by how the rule of law is instituted across societies. Two hypotheses of the rule of law role are tested: (a) power-tempering and (b) power-enhancement hypotheses. We use a unique dataset of 30,491 individuals from 27 countries with diverse social and political characteristics. We first confirmed the relationship between individuals’ perceptions of their positions in the power hierarchy and their overall satisfaction with their lives using models with country-level fixed effects. Moreover, this relationship significantly varies across countries, and the Rule of Law Index explains part of the variation, as indicated by random-effects models. In societies with well-defined, universally applicable, and fair laws, the association of one’s position of power and subjective well-being is reduced. Our study illustrates that institutions of better quality and functioning may equalize access to well-being.
Assets in Periphery, Agents in the Core: Mapping the Micro Structures of International Tax Planning
Authors: Garcia-Bernardo Javier , Stausholm Saila Naomi
Published: November 2022

In the last two decades, tax avoidance has risen to the top of the agenda of policy makers and international organizations. The majority of political action and academic research has focused on the macro-level of states, pointing towards the responsibility of ‘tax havens’ or ‘offshore financial centers’. Research on the micro-level has demonstrated the importance of non-state actors who facilitate tax planning, but tax advisors have never been studied systematically with global data. In this paper, we connect the micro and macro levels. We map tax advisors geographically using a novel empirical approach based on LinkedIn. We show that tax advisors generally locate in large cities in the EU and OECD, rather than in places targeted as ‘tax havens’. We further consider what determines the locations of tax advisors. Using multiple regression analysis, we find that locations of tax advisors does not correlate with the location of corporate profits, financial secrecy, or economic activity. Rather, it correlates with the managerial and financial activity. Our results underscore the core-periphery structure in offshore finance. Effective regulation of tax avoidance should focus on tax advisors, not only on the destination of money flows, since the active facilitation does not occur in those places.
Breakoffs in an hour long online survey
Authors: Emery Tom , Cabaço Susana Laia Farinha , Fadel Luisa , Lugtig Peter , Toepoel Vera , Schumann Almut , Lück Detlev , Bujard Martin
Published: November 2022

We analyze paradata from an online pilot of the Generations and Gender Programme (GGP) conducted in three countries (Croatia, Germany & Portugal) to understand the extent, timing and patterns in breakoffs during a long online survey. The GGS is notable as an online survey given that the median length of an interview is 52 minutes and the survey was initially designed for face-to-face. Paradata was collected for 3,378 web interviews. 17% of these interviews breakoff before the questionnaire was completed. The analysis uses Cox regression models to explore the timing of breakoff and the influence of contextual factors. The results indicate that the breakoff hazard does not increase or decrease across the length of the questionnaire. The risk of breakoff does vary considerably across countries, between genders, also by partnership status. Respondents are twice as likely to breakoff on a loop question and respondents completing the survey on a smartphone are 2.6 times as likely to breakoff as those using a tablet or PC. Respondents receiving a conditional incentive were 65% less likely to breakoff than those who didn't. The lessons from this work can help inform future strategies converting existing long, cross-national face to face studies into an online format.
Um tambor sámi restituído: culturas originárias europeias e colonialismo no Ártico
Authors: Sequeiros Paula
Published: November 2022

The restitution of a Sámi drum confiscated in 1691 in Karasjok, present-day Norway, was made in early 2022. This good incorporates historical meaning, culture and own values as well as marks of colonization and inequalities in Sápmi. It can talk about the long coloniality and racist invisibilization in the far north of Europe and about the historical resistances and current processes for justice andreparation. A bibliographical synthesis is presented on the Eurocentric invention of races operated from the center of Europe in which it aimed particularly at the Sámi populations, their lands and cultures, with colonial, patriarchal and capacitist demarcations. Possible lines of intervention and reconfiguration of the work on biographical and bibliographical sources that sustain, encourage anddisseminate the incorporation of knowledge inherited and to be passed on by originary cultures with recognition and justice.
Men who Hate Women: The Misogyny of Involuntarily Celibate Men
Authors: Halpin Michael , Richard Norann , Preston Kayla , Gosse Meghan , Maguire Finlay
Published: November 2022

This paper uses computational data and social science theories to analyze the misogynistic discourse of the involuntary celibate (“incel”) community. We analyzed every comment (N=3,686,110) produced over 42 months on a popular incel discussion board and found that nearly all active participants use misogynistic terms. Participants used misogynistic terms (e.g., “foid,” “roastie”) nearly one million times and at a rate 2.4 times greater than their use of neutral terms for women (e.g., “woman”). The majority of participants’ use of misogynistic terms does not increase or decrease with post frequency, suggesting that members arrive (rather than become) misogynistic. We discuss these findings in relation to theories of masculinity, sexism, and intersectionality. We likewise discuss potential policies for mitigating incel misogyny and similar forms of online discourse.
The structural basis of party political dimensions
Authors: Tåhlin Michael
Published: November 2022

Existing approaches to determine the ideological positions of political parties are almost exclusively based on either (a) data on the explicit views of citizens, voters or experts or (b) textual analyses of party programs, manifestos or other documents from the parties themselves. Here, we suggest and apply an alternative approach. We estimate associations between political parties using only the variation in party vote shares across nominal geographical areas (constituencies or districts). The presumed mechanism that empirically links nominal districts with their distribution of party votes is that differences between districts in population structure are strongly and systematically associated with individual motives driving party choice. But these structural and individual traits need not be directly observed in order to distinguish party political dimensions. We apply this approach to Sweden from the first election with universal suffrage in 1921 to the most recent election in 2022, altogether 30 elections covering a full century of political democracy. In close to all elections, two main dimensions of inter-party correlations emerge. One of the two is a classical left-right dimension, with social democrats at one end and conservatives at the other. A second dimension differentiates between center and periphery, or urban and rural areas, with socialists, greens and to some extent liberals at one end and rural parties at the other. The center-periphery (or perhaps modern-traditional) dimension appears related to the more recently distinguished GAL/TAN scale. Our findings indicate that this dimension, far from being new, has played a significant role across the entire century of democracy in Sweden. We conclude by noting that data on aggregate election results by geographical districts are readily available for almost all countries in the world across very long time periods. The suggested approach can thus be globally useful in expanding knowledge on party political structures and their change.
Evaluación de estándares pedagógicos y didácticos disciplinares de futuros profesores de Matemáticas en Chile. ¿Construyendo un profesorado endeudado?
Authors: Gaona Jorge , Miranda David G. , Vergara Andrea , Ramírez Paola , Menares Romina
Published: November 2022

Este artículo muestra los resultados de la prueba END FID que rindieron 1691 estudiantes durante los años 2017, 2018 y 2019 (612, 597 y 482 estudiantes respectivamente). La prueba END FID midió 3 temas de conocimientos pedagógicos: 1) aprendizaje y desarrollo de los estudiantes de educación media, 2) diseño e implementación de la enseñanza y 3) la profesión docente y el sistema educacional chileno. Además, midió 5 temas didácticos disciplinares: 1) sistemas numéricos y álgebra, 2) cálculo, 3) estructuras algebraicas, 4) geometría, y 5) datos y azar. Los datos se analizaron utilizando análisis descriptivo de distribución, según variables temporales: año en que se rindió y tiempo de formación; institucionales: modalidad de estudio, tipo de administración de la universidad; territoriales: región donde se imparte la carrera, y socioeconómica: dependencia administrativa del colegio donde estudió la futura o futuro profesor. Los resultados muestran que, si se asume que esta evaluación mide lo que pretende medir, independiente de la variable que se analice, una proporción importante de quienes serán profesores cuentan con conocimientos pedagógicos y didácticos descendidos, es decir, los profesores ingresan al sistema "debiendo" conocimientos. Otra posibilidad es cuestionar poner en tela de juicio instrumento y a la entidad evaluadora que hasta el momento está al debe en cuanto a la información entregada.
Rethinking marriage metabolism: The declining frequency of marital events in the United States
Authors: Cohen Philip N.
Published: November 2022

Previous research has employed an inadequate measure of marriage metabolism, but the concept may be useful for understanding the system of marriage. This paper addresses changes in the incidence of marital events in the United States from 2008 to 2021. I offer a measure, the Total Rate of Marital Events (TRME), of the projected lifetime experience of marital transitions (marriage, divorce, and widowhood) for a life table cohort. I find that the TRME declined steeply over this relatively short period: 22 percent for men and 19 percent for women. All three components declined in every age group below 90. I suggest that the slowing churn of the marriage system reflects the diminished social presence of marriage in daily life – if not its declining importance – which coincides with the increasingly selective status of married life. A higher status marriage system is a smaller, slower, and more stable marriage system.
The Illicit Trade in Antiquities is not the World’s Third Largest Illicit Trade: A Critical Evaluation of a Factoid
Authors: Yates Donna , Brodie Neil
Published: November 2022

THIS PAPER HAS BEEN ACCEPTED TO ANTIQUITY FOR PUBLICATION IN 2023. PLEASE CITE IT AS "IN PRESS". This paper represents a “stratigraphic excavation” of the assertion that the illicit trade in antiquities is the 3rd largest, second only to arms and narcotics. Through queries into academic, popular media, and policy literature, we document the layers of use and reuse of this factoid, presenting a narrative of its evolution over the past five decades. We find that the assertion is not based on any research ever conducted, any statistics ever collected, and originates with no competent authorities. We conclude that the uncritical repetition of false “facts” undermines legitimate efforts to prevent looting, trafficking, and illicit sale of antiquities.
Recension: Democracia sin democracia
Authors: Nuñez Manuel
Published: November 2022

This is the review of the book autored by Sansó-Rubert, Daniel. (2022) Democracia sin Democracia. El escudo constitucional frente al poder del crimen organizado. Colex. 490 págs. The book is especially relevant because it addresses the threat of organized crime to democracy from the perspective of political law, constitutional law, not as an exclusively criminal matter. And this perspective is all the more important since more and more, not only the threat but the means implemented to combat it, are placed at the limit of what is constitutionally acceptable or directly transgress it.
Slide Decks as Government Publications: Exploring Two Decades of PowerPoint Files Archived from U.S. Government Websites
Authors: Owens Trevor , Estes Jonah
Published: November 2022

Over the last three decades, US government agencies have published hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of PowerPoint files on the web. Hundreds of thousands of these files have been captured and preserved in web archives. With that noted, it remains difficult to find and interact with these files. This paper analyzes a public dataset of 1,000 PowerPoints from US government websites in the Library of Congress web archives to explore the properties of these kinds of files. This publicly available dataset published in 2019 includes a random sample of a thousand files from the more than 300,000 files that purport a PowerPoint media type in the Library of Congress web archives. The study focuses on characterizing the nature of these publications, the extent to which embedded metadata in these documents could be used to improve access to them and exploring what properties of these files are likely to be important to future users. Exploring these data provides a means to begin to understand the value and nature of PowerPoint files as a format of government publishing and government records.
Ultrasonographic evaluation of cervical length and amniotic fluid index as predictor of pregnancy outcome in cases of preterm premature rupture of membrane
Authors: Nidhi Gupta  , Mohita Agarwal  , Akanksha Gupta  , Neha Shamshi
Published: December 2022

Background: Amniotic fluid index (AFI) and cervical length (CL) can be used to predict delivery latency, maternal, and neonatal outcome in cases of preterm premature rupture of membrane (PPROM).
Aims and Objectives: The aims of this study were to study the AFI and CL as a predictor of pregnancy outcome in cases presenting with PPROM, to determine the AFI in cases presenting with PPROM, to determine CL ultrasonographically in cases presenting with PPROM, and to measure the efficacy of these parameters as a predictor of pregnancy outcome in cases presenting with PPROM.
Materials and Methods: This was an ambispective observational study conducted from November 2019 to July 2021 in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in S. N. Medical College, Agra. A total of 100 women with singleton pregnancy and vertex presentation who presented to hospital within 12 h of spontaneous rupture of membrane (PPROM) from period of gestation 28–34+6 weeks were enrolled in this study.
Results: Delivery latency was inversely related to period of gestation at pprom (P<0.0001). Mean AFI in Group 1 was 5.15 cm and in Group 2 was 7.12 cm and the difference between both group was statistically significant (P<0.0001). Thus, our study shows positive correlation between AFI and delivery latency. Mean transvaginal CL (TVCL) in Group 1 was 2.47 cm and in Group 2 was 2.99 cm. Difference in terms of TVCL between both the groups was found to be statistically significant (P=0.00005). Need for neonatal intensive care unit admission was higher in Group 1 than Group 2 and this difference was statistically significant (P=0.020).
Conclusion: Our study shows that there was an increase in positive predictive value when we combine AFI and TVCL in prediction of delivery latency, so women with AFI ≤5 and TVCL ≤2.5 cm had 85.6% risk of delivery within 7 days after PPROM. A long CL (TVCL >2.5 cm) and AFI >5 correlated with increased delivery latency and increased risk of maternal morbidity (chorioamnionitis, abruption, and cord prolapse).
Knowledge, practice, and barriers of optimal mask usage among general public – A cross-sectional study from Kerala, South India
Authors: Ashok Aditya , Kunoor Akhilesh , Rajeev Midhun , Melepurakkal Soumya , Aravind Mohankumar Syamala  , Venugopal Sarath , Vishnu Gopalakrishnan  , Tajik Muhammed Shafi
Published: December 2022

Background: Social distancing, mask, and sanitizers are advised to cut the chain of transmission of the droplet and airborne infection since the first case of COVID-19 was reported from Wuhan. Universal mask usage is advised by the center for disease control. Despite this, it is assumed that there is no adequate mask practice.
Aims and Objectives: The objectives of the study are as follows: (1) To assess the knowledge and practice regarding optimal mask usage in a different setting by the general community. (2) To identify the barriers for optimal mask usage as experienced by users.
Materials and Methods: We did a cross-sectional study in Kerala using self-made validated questionnaire translated to Malayalam, the regional language distributed by web based Google form. The sample size was calculated as 200 with an assumption of awareness regarding mask usage among the general public to be at least 60% with a confidence interval of 95 and allowable error of 10% Knowledge was considered as high if 80–100%, moderate if 60–79% and low if 0–59%. The practice was considered as good if >75, 74–50 satisfactory and if <50, it is termed as unsatisfactory.
Results: Overall knowledge regarding masks and their usage was 52. 88% which is low. Only 38% were doing satisfactory practice. There were lacunae in knowledge regarding mask reusage (39.9%), ideal masks in hospital settings (43.3%). Only 26.4% practiced optimal method of mask removal and 38.4% safe mask disposal. Major barriers for mask usage were suffocation (49.3%) and exertional dyspnea (46.9%).
Conclusion: More awareness needs to be created among the public for COVID appropriate behavior with a focus on mask usage. There is a need to address the commonly observed barriers for adhering to mask practice.
Prospective comparative study of mesh fixation in laparoscopic TEP hernia repair using tacker versus cyanoacrylate versus fibrin glue tep mesh fixation with cyanoacrylate
Authors: Shukla Arvind , Kalsi Meher , Yogesh Shivaprasad  , Shah Srashti , Ahirwar Tanuj , Sharma Aditi
Published: December 2022

Background: Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repairs done by totally extra peritoneal (TEP) or trans abdominal preperitoneal techniques require mesh fixation which is commonly done by either tackers or fibrin glue. In this study, we discuss about using cyanoacrylate glue for mesh fixation as a more cost effective but equally suitable alternate.
Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluation of suitability of using highly economical cyanoacrylate ($ 0.13) with tackers ($ 318.52) and fibrin glue ($ 11.94) for mesh fixation during TEP hernia repair.
Materials and Methods: A comparative study was done in the Department of Surgery over a period of 3 years (2018–2021). This study included 210 patients who underwent laparoscopic TEP hernia repair. Cases were randomized into three groups of 70 subjects each: Group A - mesh was fixed with tacker, Group B - mesh was fixed using cyanoacrylate, and Group C - mesh was fixed with fibrin glue. Subjects were followed up for 3 months. Type of presentation, diagnosis, and type of mesh fixation were compared to post-operative complications that included pain, seroma, hematoma, and urinary retention findings were recorded and data were statistically analyzed using “SPSS” software.
Results: Decreased incidence of post-operative pain (P=0.01) and hematoma was observed in Group B as compared to Groups A and C. Average hospital stay was significantly less in fibrin glue group (P=0.02) and cyanoacrylate group (P=0.02) as compared to tacker group. There was same incidence of postoperative urinary retention (P=0.520) and seroma (P=0.354) formation between all groups. Patients of Group B started daily activities earlier at 15 days follow-up (P=0.032) as compared to Groups A and C.
Conclusion: Cyanoacrylate and fibrin glue fixation of mesh in laparoscopic TEP have better outcomes when compared to tackers. Furthermore, as cyanoacrylate is 300 times cheaper than tacker and 10 times cheaper than fibrin glue, this imparts a huge cost advantage to this technique in developing countries. Therefore, use of cyanoacrylate for mesh fixation in laparoscopic TEP can be safely advocated over tackers and fibrin glue.
Functional outcome of displaced femoral neck fractures in young patients treated by dynamic hip screw with CC screws
Authors: Mahadik Sujay , Singh Chandra Prakash , Phule Akshay , Kheni Nikunjkumar , Deshpande Shrikant
Published: December 2022

Background: Although femoral neck fractures are common in elderly individuals, it is an uncommon occurrence in young patients. It is crucial to achieve anatomical reduction as well as stable fixation so as to avoid complications in young individuals who are expected to have considerable functional demand in post-surgical period. Dynamic hip screws are commonly used for internal fixation of these fractures. Although satisfactory functional outcomes have been reported in the patients treated by DHS, complications such as malunion and osteonecrosis remain an area of concern.
Aims and Objectives: The aims of the study were to study the functional outcome of young patients with femoral neck fractures treated by DHS with CC screws and to study the complications in young patients with femoral neck fractures treated by DHS with CC screws.
Materials and Methods: This was a prospective cohort study in which 80 young adults (below the age of 45 years) having femoral neck fractures and treated by DHS with 2CC screws were included in this study on the basis of a predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Gender and distribution, nature of injury, type of fracture, functional outcome, and complications were studied in studied cases. Open reduction and internal fixation was done using dynamic hip screw. The functional outcome was assessed using modified Harris hip score. All patients were assessed for complications such as non-union, malunion, and osteonecrosis. Statistical analysis was done using SSPS 21.0 software and P<0.05 was taken as statistically significant.
Results: Out of 80 studied cases having femoral neck fractures, there were 54 (67.50%) males and 26 (32.50%) females with an M: F ratio of 1:0.48. The mean age of male and female patients was found to be 38.37±4.62 and 38.80±4.97 years, respectively. The most frequent cause of fracture was fall from height (48 cases) followed by road traffic accident (31 cases). Forty-six patients had complete fracture with partial displacement (Type III) and remaining 34 patients had complete fracture with total displacement (Type IV). Associated injuries were seen in 9 (11.25%) patients. Nine (11.25%) cases of avascular necrosis of femoral head were seen in our study. Surgery more than 48 h after injury and complete fracture with total displacement were associated with increased risk of avascular necrosis of femoral head (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Femoral neck fractures in young patients treated by dynamic hip screws with CC screws have found to have excellent functional results in majority of cases. The complications such as osteonecrosis of femoral head can be minimized by decreased time duration between fracture and surgical intervention.
A study to identify unrecognized bipolar disorder in patients of major depressive disorder taking antidepressants
Authors: Kinjal Bhupendrasinh Chauhan  , Archana Surajprasad Kantak  , Krupa Mukeshbhai Unadkat  , Bharat Navinchandra Panchal  , Ashok Ukabhai Vala
Published: December 2022

Background: Unrecognized bipolar spectrum disorder under cover diagnosis of major depression disorder leads to wrong medications (antidepressants in absence of mood stabilizer), which may switch to mania.
Aim and Objectives: A study was to identify unrecognized bipolar disorder in patients of major depressive disorder taking antidepressants.
Materials and Methods: This is an observational and cross-sectional study of 150 patients previously diagnosed as major depressive disorder taking antidepressants from tertiary care hospital. Patients were assessed by proforma containing demographic details, Questionnaire of mood disorder questionnaire (MDQ), and Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD) followed by clinical interview according to DSM-5 to confirm diagnosis. Statistical analysis was done.
Results: We found 6.67% depression patients screened positive on MDQ for bipolar disorder and diagnosis is confirmed by interview according to DSM-5. MDQ positive patients have early age of onset of depression(P=0.0109), long duration of depression(P=0.0478), presence of previous suicide attempt(P=0.0130), and family history of bipolar disorder(P=0.0361). No statistically significant difference was observed between mean HAMD score and severity of depression between MDQ positive and negative group.
Conclusion: Among patients prescribed antidepressants for depression, there is a substantial proportion with unrecognized bipolar disorder and most of them had never received diagnosis of bipolar disorder. When seeing patients with depression disorder, clinicians should review the life history for screening of unrecognized bipolar disorder by looking for early age onset of depressive episode and long lifetime duration of depression, previous suicide attempt, and family history of bipolar disorder.
Analysis of burden and outcomes of anti-tuberculosis therapy-induced adverse drug effects at a tertiary care center
Authors: Joshi Kavita , Tongaonkar Arnav , Mulkalwar Alhad , Goyal Aman
Published: December 2022

Background: Tuberculosis (TB), one of the most ancient diseases known to mankind, is one of the ten major causes of mortality worldwide. Combinations of antibiotics, called anti-TB therapy (ATT), are given for a period of six months or more as treatment.
Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), clinical profile, severity and causality among the admitted patients taking ATT in a tertiary care hospital.
Materials and Methods: This was a hospital-based, prospective, observational and non-interventional cohort study undertaken in the General Medicine wards of the hospital. This study was conducted from June 2017 to December 2018. The Patients’ data was recorded using a structured ADR reporting form. The baseline parameters, medical history and details of underlying diseases, clinical data, characteristics of ADRs and details of medication responsible for ADRs as well as medication for treatment of ADRs were recorded. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics with the Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0 software.
Results: Out of the 164 patients admitted due to ADRs within the study period, 45 (27.4%) developed ADRs due to anti-TB treatment. Most ATT-related ADRs involved the liver (n=39). The severity of ADR was found to be mild in two patients (4.4%), moderate in 28 patients (62.5%) and severe in 15 patients (33.3%). 16 patients (35.6%) completely recovered, 23 patients (51.1%) were still recovering (at the time of the analysis of the data), one patient (2.2%) did not recover and five patients (11.1%) had a fatal outcome. The presence of systemic comorbidities and polypharmacy was found to be a significant risk factor associated with ATT associated ADRs.
Conclusion: ATT is not without its side effects. About 27.4% of the patients on ATT in our study developed ADRs, a few resulting in fatality. Educating the patients about possible ADRs associated with ATT at the time of prescription can improve patient compliance and strengthen the doctor-patient relationship. Early diagnosis and treatment of ADRs associated with ATT is paramount. This requires a better surveillance system, which India is in a dire need for.
A comparison of treatment outcomes for levofloxacin versus doxycycline plus metronidazole for first-line treatment of uncomplicated pelvic inflammatory disease
Authors: De Ritam , Patra Kajal Kumar , Asoke Goswami  , Barnali Maiti  , Shubham Bhattacharya
Published: December 2022

Background: Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), a common condition among women of reproductive age caused by various aerobic and anaerobic organisms, may sometimes lead to complications such as infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and chronic pelvic pain. Moxifloxacin is a broad-spectrum bactericidal acting against many Gram-positive, Gram-negative aerobic organisms and anaerobes. Rapid absorption and high bioavailability allow single daily dosing and improves compliance.
Aims and Objectives: The present study was done to compare the treatment outcomes for levofloxacin versus doxycycline plus metronidazole for first-line treatment of uncomplicated in PID patients.
Materials and Methods: This was hospital-based prospective, randomized, double-blind study conducted at gynecology outpatient department of Gouri Devi Institute of Medical Sciences and Hospital, Durgapur, West Bengal, from January 2019 to December 2019. The study group was divided into Group A 50 cases (receiving levofloxacin) and Group B 50 cases (receiving doxycycline plus metronidazole) were included in the study. Template was generated and analysis was done on SPSS software.
Results: Among 50 patients of each group, mean age of the patients of Group A was 27.80 (±3.58) and mean age of Group B was 27.57 (±4.51). Mean parity of the patients of Group A was 1.93 (±1.11) and mean parity of Group B was 2.07 (±1.11). Past H/O PID in Group A was 17 and in Group B was 19. Visual analog scale (VAS) pain score of Group A was 3.80 (±1.827) and VAS pain score of Group B was 3.97 (±1.671). VAS pain score was 1.10 (±0.960) in Group A and 2.63 (±1.426) in Group B. VAS vaginal discharge was 1.40 (±1.276) in Group A and 3.00 (±1.619) in Group B.
Conclusion: The management of uncomplicated PID requires broad-spectrum antibiotic regimens to cover all potential pathogens. This study confirmed that fluoroquinolones, specifically levofloxacin, are effective and well tolerated in the treatment of uncomplicated PID.
Assessment of clinical profile of patients with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthropathy in a tertiary health-care center
Authors: Limaye Saurabh , More Shraddha , Nadkar Milind , Mulkalwar Alhad , Haider Hunaid , Jaju Sujay
Published: December 2022

Background: Axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) is an inflammatory and immune-mediated condition comprising clinically differentiated ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and nonradiographic nr- axSpA. Clinically, as the name suggests, non-radiographic nr- axSpA has an absence of definitive plain X-ray evidence of structural damage to the sacroiliac joint.
Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess and evaluate the clinical profile of patients with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthropathy. 
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in the department of Medicine over 18 months in a tertiary health care institution, being a prospective and observational type done with 43 subjects.
Results: We observed a major improvement as per ASDAS criteria present among 53.49% of subjects, followed by clinically significant improvement among 27.91% of subjects. About 18.60% of subjects did not show any improvement. About 9.3% of subjects showed radiological progression. Out of eight cases that did not show improvement, all presented with low back pain and morning stiffness. About 62.5% had peripheral arthritis. About 87.5% had Schober’s test positive, FABER test (62.50%) and sacroiliac joint tenderness found among 7.5% of subjects. A total of 4 (9.3%) patients showed radiological progression. All of them have low back ache and morning stiffness, and three of them having peripheral arthritis at presentation. We found that patients who showed progression had higher mean ESR and CRP (45 and 36.5, respectively) values and a very high disease activity as per ASDAS and BASDAI criteria.
Conclusion: There is a great scope and need for research to differentiate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes in the normal population against the ones patients with spinal diseases to be able to use MRI with precision in patients with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthropathy (nr-axSpA). As assessed, currently physiotherapy and NSAIDS are first line therapy for patients suffering from non-radiographic axial spondyloarthropathy.
Clinico-epidemiological profile of childhood vitiligo: Experience from a tertiary care center of Northeast India
Authors: Majumder Swapan , Binita Singha  , Sarkar Animesh , Pankaj Adhicari
Published: December 2022

Background: Vitiligo is a common acquired skin disease characterized by depigmented macules and patches due to loss of functional melanocytes. Childhood-onset vitiligo has distinct epidemiological and clinical characteristics as compared to that of late-onset disease. Studies on childhood vitiligo are rare from the North-eastern part of the country.
Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to study the clinical pattern of childhood vitiligo and its systemic association.
Materials and Methods: All children up to 13 years presenting with childhood vitiligo were taken as study participants. A detailed history, general physical examination, cutaneous examination including hair, nail, genitalia, mucosae, and systemic examination to note down associated diseases was done. Relevant investigations were carried out whenever necessary. Eye and ear examination was performed for each patient. The findings were recorded in a pro forma for analysis and interpretation of data.
Results: A total of 2544 pediatric patients attended the dermatology outpatient department during the study period, of which 52 cases had vitiligo. Thus, the occurrence of childhood vitiligo in the outpatient pediatric population was 2.04%. The most common age group at presentation was between 5 and 10 years (29; 55.77%). The most common initial site of involvement was head and neck (27; 51.92%). Vitiligo vulgaris was the most common type seen in 26 (50%) patients. A positive family history of vitiligo was obtained in 10 (19.23%) of the vitiligo patients. Seven (13.46%) childhood vitiligo patients were reported to have other associated diseases.
Conclusion: Childhood vitiligo is a common entity in this part of the country. Most patients of childhood vitiligo have a limited body surface area involvement and therefore have to be treated accordingly; avoiding systemic treatments whenever not necessary. Autoimmune and cutaneous associations are rare in childhood vitiligo, though may develop later on, lest the disease progresses.
Effect of serum uric acid level on maternal and neonatal outcome in patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy at HSK Hospital, Bagalkot: A prospective and observational study
Authors: Neel Prajapati  , Sujay Heranjal  , Varsha Chakrakodi Raghuram  , Santosh Rathod  , Ashalata Mallapur
Published: December 2022

Background: Uric acid, a metabolite of purine metabolism, is considered as a marker of hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP) severity. An increase in serum uric acid level in pregnant mothers has been found to be associated with the disease severity.
Aims and Objectives: The present study intended to evaluate the effect of serum uric acid level in maternal and neonatal outcome in cases of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
Materials and Methods: This prospective and observational study was conducted on patients with HDP from December 2017 to April 2019. The study was conducted on 274 subjects who visited the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, HSK Hospital, Bagalkot. The participants were categorized into two groups according to their serum uric acid level (<6 mg/dL and ≥6 mg/dL). Serum uric acid was estimated by enzymatic colorimetric method. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were recorded. Follow-up was done till the discharge of the mother and child from the hospital. Data were analyzed using coGuide software.
Results: The majority of the participants were in the age group of 18–23 year (52.91%). No significant association was observed between serum uric acid groups and maternal parameters such asparity, gestational age, onset of labor, mode of delivery, and maternal complications (P>0.05). There was statistically no significant difference between serum uric acid groups in neonatal outcomes such as Apgar score 1 min and 5 min, IGUR, NICU admission, and reason for NICU admission (P>0.05) except for still birth. Still birth was found to be more in patients with serum uric acid ≥6mg/dl (19.64%) group compared to <6 mg/dl (8.64%) with P=0.008.
Conclusion: This study shows that there was no significant association between adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes with increased level of serum uric acid.
Dengue infection in Agra region, Uttar Pradesh: An observational study of seroprevalence, clinicoepidemiological profile, and serotype of dengue virus from tertiary care center
Authors: Vikas Kumar  , Mridul Chaturvedi  , Arti Agrawal  , Geetu Singh  , Pavan Maurya  , Ankur Goyal  , Sanjeev Kumar
Published: December 2022

Background: Dengue is the most widespread mosquito-borne viral infection, found in tropical and subtropical climates worldwide. The World Health Organization has included dengue as one of the 10 threats to global health in 2019 with rapidly evolving epidemiology.
Aims and Objectives: Given the limitation of data in regard to dengue burden, we have planned the present study with the objectives to provide a comprehensive overview of the seroprevalence, clinicoepidemiological profile, and serotype of dengue virus in Agra region of Uttar Pradesh.
Materials and Methods: We conducted an observational study at viral diagnostic and research laboratory, Sarojini Naidu Medical College, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, from August to December 2021. Our study included all blood specimens received at virology laboratory from clinically suspected cases of dengue infection. For the identification of serotype, NS1-positive samples were sent to King Georges Medical University, Lucknow. For clinical-epidemiological profile of dengue positive patients, data were obtained from records of 203 patients from our hospital.
Results: We received total of 5457 serum samples from suspected patients for dengue serology during the study period. In total, positivity rate was 27.29% (1489/5457) and peak of cases was reported in month of October. Median age of dengue positive cases was 17 years. Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHS) was diagnosed in almost 41% of patients of 203 patients admitted in our hospital. DEN-2 was reported to be most common serotype (97.1%). In our analsyis, we found that in most patients fall in platelets levels below 50,000 happened during the 5th and 6th day in Dengue fever.
Conclusion: We conclude that our study showed higher seroprevalence of dengue in Agra region with the age group of 0–20 years being infected most. DEN-2 was most prevalent circulating strain, which leads to more severe dengue infection.
Pulmonary synovial sarcoma: A case series and review of literature
Authors: Peter Amrutha , Shukla Amarendra Kumar , Gupta Manish Kumar , Patel Vikas , Kumar Vijaya , Arya Veerendra , Tiwari Pawan , Bhargava Jitendra Kishore
Published: December 2022

Synovial sarcoma is a rare malignant mesenchymal tumor that can develop at any anatomic site. Pulmonary sarcomas constitute 0.1–0.5% of all primary lung malignancies. Primary pulmonary synovial sarcoma is highly uncommon. Most of the patients present with large intrathoracic masses with complaints of cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, or hemoptysis. Multimodality treatment in the form of wide excision, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy is the mainstay of therapy. Synovial sarcoma is considered a high-grade tumor with a poor prognosis. We hereby present three cases of histologically proven synovial sarcoma with predominantly pulmonary involvement, along with their management and in hospital outcome.
Relationship of low serum 25 (OH) Vitamin D and dementia – A cross-sectional observational study from a neurology teaching hospital in East India: Relationship of low serum 25 (OH) Vitamin D and dementia in East India
Authors: Misra Amar Kumar , Bhattacharjee Annesh , Mukherjee Joydeep , Kumar Sanjay , Mohanty Bijendra
Published: December 2022

Background: In view of the rapidly growing number of aged population with dementia in India, widespread hypovitaminosis D in the elderly individual, high frequency of dementia of unknown etiology, many studies showing a definite role of Vitamin D in dementia as well as some of the literature showing inconsistent results and reverse causality of hypovitaminosis D in dementia, we planned to investigate the relation between low vitamin D and risk of dementia.
Aims and Objective: The aim of the current study was to find out any relationship of Vitamin D with dementia.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was performed at a neurology-teaching hospital, Kolkata, India. Ethical clearance was obtained from the hospital ethics committee. A total of fifty adults completed interviews on a semi-structured questionnaire. In addition, general medical and neurological examination and detailed cognitive assessment, including MMSE, were carried out after taking written consent. All individuals with dementia, and age-gender-matched healthy volunteers provided blood samples for routine and relevant biochemical examination, including the estimation of serum 25(OH) Vitamin D by Chemiluminescence Immuno Assay (CLIA). In addition, appropriate statistical methods were applied to analyse the results.
Results: Overall, ninety percent of participants had low serum 25(OH)Vitamin D, defined as 25(OH)D < 20mg/ml. Hypovitaminosis D was associated with early and late-stage dementia and was statistically significant. Only five individuals were found to have sufficient 25 (OH) Vitamin D.
Conclusion: The mean vitamin D level of demented patients was significantly lower compared to the control population. Our observations provide an association between Vitamin D deficiency and dementia and provides a background of longitudinal prospective study in future to show cause and effect relationship between dementia and hypovitaminosis D.