bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic, Immunological, and Clinical Features of 32 Patients with Autosomal Recessive STAT1 Deficiency
Authors: Le Voyer Tom , Sakata Sonoko , Tsumura Miyuki , Khan Taushif , Esteve-Sole Ana , Al-Saud Bandar K , Gungor Hatice Eke , Taur Prasad , Jeanne-Julien Valentine , Christiansen Mette , Köhler Lisa-Maria , ElGhazali Gehad Eltayeb , Rosain Jérémie , Nishimura Shiho , Sakura Fumiaki , Bouaziz Matthieu , Oleaga-Quintas Carmen , Nieto-Patlán Alejandro , Deyà-Martinez Àngela , Altuner Torun Yasemin , Neehus Anna-Lena , Roynard Manon , Bozdemir Sefika Elmas , Al Kaabi Nawal , Al Hassani Moza , Mersiyanova Irina , Rozenberg Flore , Speckmann Carsten , Hainmann Ina , Hauck Fabian , Alzahrani Mohammed Hamdan , Alhajjar Sami Hussain , Al-Muhsen Saleh , Cole Theresa , Fuleihan Ramsay , Arkwright Peter D , Badolato Raffaele , Alsina Laia , Abel Laurent , Desai Mukesh , Al-Mousa Hamoud , Shcherbina Anna , Marr Nico , Boisson-Dupuis Stéphanie , Casanova Jean-Laurent , Okada Satoshi , Bustamante Jacinta
Published: June 2021

Autosomal recessive (AR) STAT1 deficiency is a severe inborn error of immunity disrupting cellular responses to type I, II, and III IFNs, and IL-27, and conferring a predisposition to both viral and mycobacterial infections. We report the genetic, immunological, and clinical features of an international cohort of 32 patients from 20 kindreds: 24 patients with complete deficiency, and 8 patients with partial deficiency. Twenty-four patients suffered from mycobacterial disease (bacillus Calmette–Guérin = 13, environmental mycobacteria = 10, or both in 1 patient). Fifty-four severe viral episodes occurred in sixteen patients, mainly caused by Herpesviridae viruses. Attenuated live measles, mumps, and rubella and/or varicella zoster virus vaccines triggered severe reactions in the five patients with complete deficiency who were vaccinated. Seven patients developed features of hemophagocytic syndrome. Twenty-one patients died, and death was almost twice as likely in patients with complete STAT1 deficiency than in those with partial STAT1 deficiency. All but one of the eight survivors with AR complete deficiency underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Overall survival after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation was 64%. A diagnosis of AR STAT1 deficiency should be considered in children with mycobacterial and/or viral infectious diseases. It is important to distinguish between complete and partial forms of AR STAT1 deficiency, as their clinical outcome and management differ significantly.
Riparian vegetation as a marker for bankfull and management discharge evaluation: The case study of Rio Torbido river basin (central Italy)
Authors: Apollonio Ciro , Petroselli Andrea , Cornelini Paolo , Manzari Vito , Preti Federico , Grimaldi Salvatore
Published: June 2021

Bankfull discharge estimation is a crucial step in river basin management. Such evaluation can be carried out using hydrological and hydraulic modelling to estimate flow-depths, flow velocities and flood prone areas related to a specific return period. However, different methodological approaches are described in the scientific literature. Such approaches are typically based either on the assumption that the bankfull discharge corresponds to a narrow range of return periods, or on the correlation to the river geomorphological or local descriptors, such as vegetation. In this study, we used high-resolution topographic data and a combined hydrological-hydraulic modelling approach in order to estimate bankfull discharge in the ungauged basin of Rio Torbido River (Central Italy). The field survey of plant species made it possible to investigate the link between the riparian areas and the bankfull discharge. Our results were in line with previous studies and showed a promising agreement between the results of the hydraulic modelling and the plant species present in the investigated river cross sections. The plant species position could be indeed used for a preliminary delineation of the riparian areas to be verified more deeply with the hydrological-hydraulic approach.
La dendrochronologie au service de l'hydrologie
Authors: Bégin Y , Boucher É , Nicault A
Published: June 2021

This chapter presents the foundations of dendrohydrology as employed in the ARCHIVES project. The development of annual rings in trees subject to seasonality is dependent on physiological processes leading to changes in the physical, biological and chemical
properties of woody tissues. The rings formed, by their width, density and isotopic ratios of their elements (oxygen and carbon) provide information on the tree growth conditions. The metabolic processes leading to the production of woody tissue (wood) are governed by so-called limiting factors that
dendrochronology seeks to reconstitute. The application of dendrochronology to hydrology (dendrohydrology) is supported by three approaches: 1) the search for indicators of the stresses caused by excess or lack of soil water for growth, 2) the dating of the direct actions of water or ice on trees
bordering water bodies, and 3) the study of concordances between the hydro-climatic variations of a region (precipitation and temperature) and the characteristics of the rings of affected trees. The ARCHIVES project consisted in exploring these avenues over a vast territory in northern
Quebec-Labrador.
Dévelopement d'un modèle hiérarchique Bayésien appliqué aux épaisseurs de cernes
Authors: Boreux J -J
Published: June 2021

A basic principle of the dendroclimatology is that the annual tree-rings hide information on past climate. From a statistical viewpoint, all tree rings formed the same year belong to a given perimeter associated with a latent random variable - i.e. an
unobservable random variable - integrating all forcings having affected trees of the perimeter during the period they formed their respective ring. This annual latent variable is therefore common of all trees of the investigated area. The succession of these latent variables constitutes temporal
series characterizing the handling area and the work of the statistician is to mobilize all the available information to extract a chronicle that may receive a climatic interpretation. The clarity of the output signal varies depending on the tree species, regional factors and the statistical methods
used. In the case of black spruce (Picea mariana Mill. BSP), very common in Northern Quebec, we developed a hierarchical Bayesian model named DENDRO-AR which essentially provides a chronological of posterior distributions of the latent variables, each synthesizing the influence of the environment on
the growth of trees, including the climatic conditions that prevailed during the period of vegetation. Applying this model to a set of adequately distributed sites over a wide area, the mapping of a particular quantile, e.g. the median, authorizes a spatiotemporal analysis of the common
signal.
Reconstitution de l'amplitude des crues printanières passées dans le bassin versant de La Grande Rivière
Authors: Boucher É , Lemay M , Bégin Y
Published: June 2021

Trees located in riparian landscapes of boreal hydrosystems are directly exposed to spring floods. Injuries inflicted to these stems during floods (often carrying ice blocks or ice rafts) evolve under the form of scars that can be dated by dendrochronology. The
retrospective analysis of the frequency and height of these injuries can inform on the seasonality, intensity, and frequency of past high water levels. However, depending on the environment in which these scars are found, different informations on hydrograph properties may be retrieved. Along
rivers, trees located on flood-plains tend to be scarred during sudden early spring floods often associated with ice-jamming events. In lacustrine environments, scar chronologies describe sequences of high water levels, which bring ice rafts in contact with riparian trees. Such discrete observations
represent direct evidence of past hydrological events in cold-region rivers, and can be used jointly with other proxies to constrain hydro-climatic reconstructions.
Analyse des changements de régimes dans les séries temporelles issues de la dendrochronologie
Authors: Perreault L , Nicault A , Boucher É , Arseneault D , Gennaretti F
Published: June 2021

The problem of switching regimes in hydrological time series led to serious questioning in Québec during the last decades. In fact, when we examine annual inflow and precipitation time series of a number of Québec watersheds, we can identify alternating
sequences of high and low values. These variations must be taken into account in the hydrological forecasting process. However, since we only have limited information (no more than five decades of observations), we may examine different natural archives such as trees to study hydroclimatic
variability over a longer period. One of the objectives of the ARCHIVES project was therefore to study hydrometeorological regime changes in time series reconstructed using dendrochronology. In this chapter, we address the problem of changepoint analysis in such time series by using finite mixtures
of distributions. Mixtures of distributions become natural models to represent datasets in which observations may originate from several distinct statistical populations.
The problem is treated from a Bayesian perspective. Our approach was applied to several time series reconstructed in the ARCHIVES project. These applications allowed us to identify regime changes that are spatially consistent, as well as historical changepoints that correspond to specific events
such as abrupt changes in summer temperatures that coincide with strong volcanic eruptions. In this chapter, we describe the approach and illustrate it by analysing time series of summer temperatures and water inflows reconstructed using black spruce (Picea mariana Mill. BSP)
tree-rings.
Reconstitutions hydroclimatiques basées sur les séries dendroisotopiques
Authors: Bégin C , Savard M M , Marion J , Nicault A , Gingras M
Published: June 2021

The close relationship between stable carbon and oxygen isotopes in growth rings of black spruce trees and regional climatic conditions allows us to reconstruct over the last two centuries, two hydroclimatic parameters providing the best statistical correlation
with isotopic values, namely the maximum summer temperature (June-August Tmax) and the summer discharge (July to November) of major regional rivers. The reconstructed 200 years series shows contrasting conditions marked by alternating climatic ambiances typically associated with Quebec boreal
summers, where warm and dry conditions alternate with cold and wet periods. The series also documents specific climate events such as the cooling that followed the Tambora eruption in 1815. The reconstructed hydroclimatic series were then validated by comparing them to long datasets measured at
larger scale, and to other series reconstructed from independent proxies. Results from this analysis suggest that mid and long-term hydroclimatic variations of the central part of the Quebec-Labrador peninsula, as reconstructed from dendroisotopes, were not only controlled by northern Québec
climate systems, but also by major weather systems controlling the level of rivers of northeastern North America.
Reconstitution des apports en eau et influence de la circulation atmosphérique sur la variabilité spatiotemporelle de l'hydrologie
Authors: Nicault A , Boucher É , Perreault L , Guiot J
Published: June 2021

The annual and summer water supplies were reconstructed over the four large catchments, LG2, LG4, Caniaspiscau and Churchill-Falls in Quebec-Labrador, using tree-ring proxies (chronologies of ring widths, maximum density and isotopic ratios delta-13C and
delta-18O over the period 1800-2000). These reconstructions have made it possible to highlight important contrasts in terms of hydrological regimes between the east and west of the peninsula and to relay them with atmospheric circulation indices. The variability of water levels in the western
region, mainly LG2, is very significantly correlated with the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) while the variability of the water supplies of the easternmost basins (Churchill-Falls) is strongly correlated with the winter (December, January and February) North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and
Arctic Oscillation (AO) indices and with 'Pacific' indices such as ENSO over the first part of the 20th century.
Les archives paléo-hydrologiques de Grand Lake, Labrador
Authors: Fortin D , Francus P
Published: June 2021

Sediments accumulated at the bottom of Grand Lake, located near the communities of North West River and the Innu First Nation of Sheshatshiu, Labrador, constitute an exceptional paleo-environmental archive. Their thin annual layers (varves) were analyzed in a
manner similar to the annual growth rings of trees. The varves are formed due to the great depth of the lake (> 200 meters) and the large quantity of fine particles carried by its main tributary during flood periods. Analysis of sediments collected from various locations on the
lake-bottom indicates that the varve thickness has declined over the past 150 years and that the interannual variability of floods has also decreased considerably during this period. We attribute these changes to a decrease in snow cover and in the intensity of the spring melt during the study
period.
Jojoba oil-based microemulsion for transdermal drug delivery
Authors: Assaf Shereen Mashhour , Maaroof Khalid Taieb , Altaani Bashar Mohammad , Ghareeb Mowafaq Mohammed , Abu Alhayyal Amane Awad
Published: June 2021

Background and purpose:

Microemulsions are gaining an increased interest in transdermal drug delivery. Microemulsions are stable, easy to prepare, and provide high solubilizing capacity for various drugs. The aim of this work was to prepare microemulsions from jojoba oil for transdermal delivery of ketorolac and lidocaine HCl with improved permeation.

Experimental approach:

Microemulsions based on jojoba oil as the oil phase were formulated for transdermal delivery of lidocaine HCl and ketorolac. Brij 97 was selected as surfactant and hexanol as cosurfactant. Pseudoternary phase diagrams were constructed. Selected microemulsion formulations were characterized for their physical properties and in vitro drug permeation.

Findings/Results:

Water-in-oil microemulsions were obtained with droplet sizes not more than 220 nm. The viscosity of the microemulsions was linked to the viscosity of the surfactant used. Improved drug permeation rates were observed for both model drugs. The significant increase in permeation rate in presence of hexanol was due to its impact on skin integrity as indicated by the histopathological study. Drug permeation enhancements were caused by the surfactant, the cosurfactant used, jojoba oil itself, and the microemulsion formulation. Higher surfactant content showed lower lag times and better flux.

Conclusion and implications:

Jojoba oil microemulsions are considered promising vehicles for transdermal delivery of ketorolac and lidocaine HCl with improved drug permeation. Jojoba oil-based microemulsion would present a safe and effective means for delivering drugs through the skin.
Cost-utility and budget impact analysis of adding-on apremilast to biologic therapy in the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, an Iranian payer perspective
Authors: Zargaran Marzieh , Soleymani Fatemeh , Nasrollahi Saman Ahmad , Seyedifar Meysam , Rahaghi Mohammad Mehdi Ashrafian
Published: June 2021

Background and purpose:

Plaque psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease with skin manifestations that affect the patients’ quality of life negatively. The prevalence of psoriasis is approximately 2-3% worldwide and appears to be still on the increase. Due to the stigma problems, psoriasis has a significant effect on one’s life that is often overlooked. The current study aimed to conduct the cost-utility evaluation and budget impact analysis of adding-on apremilast ahead of biologic therapy in the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. The psoriatic patients who did not undergo the conventional systemic therapy were eligible to enter the defined sequences.

Experimental approach:

An excel-based Markov model with 40 cycles of 3 months, each of which was adopted to compare the outcomes of each exclusively administered sequence in the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Two exclusive therapeutic sequences were considered. In the first sequence, apremilast was followed by biologics and in the second one, biologics were administered initially without apremilast. The results were extrapolated up to 10 years. The designed Markov model was also used in budget impact analysis. The cost-saving potential of the new treatment was accounted for the next 5 years.

Findings/Results:

Incremental cost and incremental effect were reported in the base case scenario. Using the sequence consisting apremilast provided an additional 0.10 quality-adjusted life years and decreased total costs by about 11,100 USD per patient. These results were in line with the findings from sensitivity analysis. The cost-saving over 5 years is estimated to be around 30 million dollars for the Iran market following the use of the new treatment.

Conclusion and implications:

In the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, apremilast supplementation prior to biological treatments is more cost-effective than biological treatment alone.
Thymoquinone abrogates methamphetamine-induced striatal neurotoxicity and hyperlocomotor activity in mice
Authors: Roohbakhsh Ali , Moshiri Mohammad , Salehi Kakhki Azam , Iranshahy Milad , Amin Fatemeh , Etemad Leila
Published: June 2021

Background and purpose:

Methamphetamine (METH) abuse has devastating consequences on the nervous system. There are limited therapy choices in METH abuse with reduced effectiveness and elevated recurrence rates. Thymoquinone (TQ), the most bioactive constituent of Nigella sativa seeds exerts neuroprotective effects mainly via antioxidant properties. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of TQ against METH-induced striatal neurotoxicity and hyperlocomotor activity in mice.

Experimental approach:

Our groups of animals received METH (10 mg/kg) four times a day with 2 h intervals. Normal saline or TQ (5, 10, or 20 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally 30 min before METH administration. Control and sham groups received vehicle or TQ, respectively. The rectal temperature and behavioral tests including the open field for locomotor activity and rotarod for motor coordination were evaluated. The level of superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as pathological changes, were also assessed in the striatum region.

Findings/Results:

No significant differences in rectal temperatures were observed among treated groups. Administration of METH increased locomotor activity and did not change motor coordination. TQ co-administration with METH significantly reduced the central and total locomotion and the mean latency to fall off the rotarod in a dose-dependent manner compared with the METH group. TQ also alleviated the METH-induced decrease in the activity of SOD.TQ, especially at the high dose, reduced the METH-induced reactive gliosis level.

Conclusion and implications:

In conclusion, TQ prevents the enhanced locomotor activity, antioxidant impairment, and morphological striatal damage caused by METH in mice. TQ may be a potential candidate for the treatment of specific METH-induced brain disorders or neurological diseases.
Protective effect of gallic acid on nicotine-induced testicular toxicity in mice
Authors: Jalili Cyrus , Korani Mastaneh , Pazhouhi Mona , Ghanbari Ali , Zhaleh Mohsen , Davoudi Samira , Rashidi Iraj
Published: June 2021

Background and purpose:

Nicotine is an alkaloid found in many nutrients and tobacco that can cause infertility in men. Gallic acid is a powerful antioxidant that possesses antimutagenic and anticancer activities. This study aimed to determine the potential protective effect of gallic acid against nicotine-induced testicular toxicity in male mice.

Experimental approach:

In this in vivo study, forty-eight mice were equally divided into eight groups intraperitoneally receiving normal saline (control), nicotine (0.6 mg/kg), gallic acid (5, 10, and 15 mg/kg), and gallic acid (5, 10, and 15 mg/kg) plus nicotine. Nicotine was injected intraperitoneally for 14 days and gallic acid was administered concomitantly with nicotine and continued for 7 days later. Then, body and testicular weights, the sperm parameters (viability, number, motility, and morphology of sperm), and testicular histology were evaluated. Also, serum levels of nitric oxide, total antioxidant, superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, and testosterone were measured.

Findings/Results:

The results showed that the administration of nicotine significantly reduced testis and body weight, sperm count, viability, normal morphology and motility, seminiferous tubules diameter, testosterone levels, serum levels of total antioxidants, and superoxide dismutase compared to the control group (P < 0.05). It also significantly increased the level of nitric oxide and malondialdehyde (P < 0.05). Increasing the dose of gallic acid along with nicotine significantly increased body weight, sperm count, viability, normal morphology and motility, the diameter of seminiferous, testosterone concentration, total antioxidant levels (P < 0.05). This combination also significantly decreased malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels compared to the nicotine-receiving group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion and implications:

Gallic acid had a protective effect on nicotine-induced testicular toxicity in mice. It can neutralize the harmful effect of nicotine on male fertility in smokers.
Integrin α6 β4 on Circulating Tumor Cells of Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Sharifi Mehran , Zarrin Bahareh , Bahri Najafi Majed , Hakimian Mohamad Reza , Hosseini Nastaran , Talebi Kasra , Javanmard Shaghayegh Haghjooy
Published: June 2021

Background:

The detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is prognostic during the disease in women with metastatic breast cancer. Integrins are key role players in nearly every step of cancer progression. In this study, we aimed to analyze integrin alpha6beta4 expression on CTCs isolated from blood samples of patients with advanced breast cancer.

Materials and Methods:

In this single-center study, peripheral blood samples from 23 breast cancer patients were obtained and analyzed for the presence of CTCs by EasySep™ Direct Human CTC Enrichment Kit combined with subsequent immunocytochemical staining of anti-cytokeratin and anti-epithelial cell adhesion molecules, and β4 integrin on CTCs. Data were correlated with clinicopathological parameters.

Results:

CTCs were detected in 100% of the patients. The ratio of integrin β4+ CTC was 61% ± 8% of total CTCs. No significant correlation between histopathological parameters and CTC detection was found.

Conclusion:

Our results demonstrated the importance of α6 β4 integrin expression on CTCs in distant metastasis.
Evidence-Based Review for Cardiac Rehabilitation Program Development Status and Necessity in India
Authors: Sharma Maneesh , Darbari Anshuman , Sharma Rakesh , Kumar Barun
Published: June 2021

India has a high burden of cardiovascular disease, morbidity and mortality due to CVD has been causing a high economic burden and leading to an overall increase in health care cost. Research evidence from different parts of the world indicates that structured approach to secondary prevention such as cardiac rehabilitation (CR) have health-favoring impact. When CR is supplemented with pharmacological interventions and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has shown a significant improvement in quality of life, reduces morbidity, and mortality rate, cardiac-related parameters, depression and minimizes readmission rates among cardiac patients. Primarily, CR is delivered in three phases: Phase – I begin in the hospital, Phase – II outpatient phase, and Phase – III maintenance phase. Various organizations around the world deliver structured home-based and center-based CR program to cardiac patients also provides training and certification courses in CR to healthcare professionals (HCPs). However, in India, no such organization exists; therefore, CR delivery is under prevalent; further, other factors such as lack of skilled task force, adequate infrastructure, education, and training also contribute for suboptimal use of CR in the country. Awareness among HCPs and patients is also considered one of the primary factors to minimize the uptake of CR program in India. Therefore, there is a great need to revisit the CR delivery protocol and develop an evidence-based uniform approach to increase the uptake of the CR program. Government health care agencies should also frame guidelines to facilitating better infrastructure and training to resulting in increased uptake of CR program among cardiac patients. This review article has compiled various international studies to justify the benefits of CR program development necessity and status in India.
Association between Behavioral Flexibility and Psychological Distress in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Habibovic Mirela , Widdershoven Jos , Wetzels Mart , Piera-Jimenez Jordi , Kop Willem J.
Published: June 2021

Objective:

Being able to adapt to a changing environment has been associated with better mental and physical health. This adaptivity can be measured by behavioral flexibility assessment tools. However, the mental health consequences of behavioral flexibility have not been examined in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). The current study aims to examine if behavioral flexibility is associated with depression and anxiety in patients with CVD.

Methods:

A total of n = 387 patients with stable CVD were recruited as a part of the Do CHANGE study. At baseline, 3, and 6 months, data were collected. Depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) and anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7) were assessed at all time points.

Results:

The mean age of the sample was 61.9 ± 10.23 years, with 274 (71%) being male. An inverse association between behavioral flexibility and depression at baseline, 3, and 6 months was observed. The associations remained significant after adjusting for relevant demographic and medical variables and baseline depression. No longitudinal association between behavioral flexibility and anxiety was found in the multivariate models.

Conclusions:

Behavioral flexibility is associated with depression in cardiac patients. Future studies should focus on examining the pathways of this association and offering patients with low flexibility levels additional care if needed.
Hypnotic Communication in Interventional Electrophysiology Procedures in the COVID-19 Period
Authors: Maines Massimiliano , Peruzza Francesco , Angheben Carlo , Moggio Paolo , Catanzariti Domenico , Greco Maurizio Del
Published: June 2021

Background:

Hypnotic communication is a validated technique for reducing procedural anxiety and pain. The aim of our work was to evaluate the additional utility of hypnotic communication during catheter ablation procedures in the COVID-19 period.

Materials and Methods:

Sixteen consecutive patients undergoing electrophysiological study and catheter ablation underwent: 8 to standard sedation procedure (Group B) and 8 to this with the addition of hypnotic communication (Group A). In these two groups, we measured and compared preprocedure and intraprocedure anxiety, compliance to the procedure, perceived pain, use of drugs, the procedural time perceived by the patient compared to real time in minutes, and radiological exposure, using validated scales.

Results:

Hypnotic communication resulted in a significant reduction in anxiety during the procedure (Group A: 1.1 ± 0.6 vs. Group B: 3.4 ± 2; P = 0.003); better procedural compliance (Group A: 4.8 ± 0.5 vs. Group B: 3.7 ± 0.8; P = 0.002) and showed a trend toward a reduction in procedural pain (Group A: 2.4 ± 2 vs. Group B: 4.3 ± 1.8; P = 0.08) compared to standard sedation. Midazolam was not used in Group A, while an average of 3 ± 1.3 mg was used in Group B. The use of local anesthetic and Fentanest was comparable. The real procedural durations (Group A: 167.5 ± 30.1 vs. Group B: 150 ± 27.8 min; P = not significant) and perceived (Group A: 78.8 ± 15.5 vs. Group B: 86.3 ± 29.9 min; P = not significant) and the difference between these was also comparable. The radiological exposure was 74.4 ± 65.5 s in Group A and 118 ± 119 s in Group B (P = not significant). There were no complications in the two groups.

Conclusions:

Hypnotic communication as an additional strategy during electrophysiological interventional procedures has made possible to eliminate the use of midazolam and reduce anxiety during the procedure, but above all, it has improved the patient's compliance with the procedure compared to traditional sedation approach.
Psychological Well-being in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease
Authors: Andonian Caroline , Freilinger Sebastian , Kaemmerer Harald , Beckmann Jurgen
Published: June 2021

Background:

Due to advances in medical care and treatment of congenital heart disease (CHD), the number of adults with CHD (ACHD) is constantly growing. The psychological situation of ACHD has recently received increasing attention. There is evidence that adaptation to CHD may be affected by psychological factors, especially in how patients integrate their illness into their identities. The present study examined illness identity as a mediator of the association between a self-rated health and emotional distress among ACHD.

Materials and Methods:

The study used a cross-sectional design. A sample of 229 ACHD (38 ± 12.5 [18–73] years; 45% female) provided background data and completed three questionnaires on self-rated health (EuroQol group's visual analog scale), illness identity (Illness Identity Questionnaire), and emotional distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) at the German Heart Center Munich. Serial multiple mediator models were tested using PROCESS macro for SPSS.

Results:

Perceived health had a direct and indirect effect on emotional distress which was mediated by illness identity (P < 0.05). Compared to all other dimensions of illness identity, engulfment fully mediated the relationship between self-rated health and emotional distress, when adjusted for sociodemographic and clinical confounders. The model explained 42% of variance in total emotional distress (R2 = 0.416). The extent of emotional distress did not differ as a function of CHD complexity.

Conclusions:

Illness identity emerged as a strong mediating factor between a patient's self-rated health and psychological outcomes. More importance needs to be directed toward assessing a patient's health perception and psychological state, independently of cardiac severity. Based on present findings, targeted psychocardiological interventions should include psychoeducational components and emotion-focused strategies.
Traumatic Dental Injuries in Schoolchildren and Adolescents of Rural and Urban Areas of Aligarh, India
Authors: Khan Mohammad Kamran , Jindal Mahendra Kumar , Khan Saima Yunus , Unnikrishnan Arjun
Published: June 2021

Introduction:

Traumatic dental injury is becoming a public health problem and burden worldwide due to its higher prevalence, costly treatment procedures, and its sequelae.

Materials and Methods:

A cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted among 1000 children aged 12 and 15 years of ten randomly selected schools of rural and urban areas of Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India, to evaluate the prevalence of traumatic dental injuries. The relevant findings of the study were collected by self-prepared pro forma and dental examination. Ellis and Davey's classification was used to record dental trauma in permanent teeth. SPSS 20 software was used to analyze the collected data from the study.

Results:

The overall prevalence of traumatic dental injuries in the present study was found to be as 13.5%. Children of 12 years of age (17.6%) were more affected with traumatic dental injuries as compared to adolescents of 15 years of age (12.8%). Schoolchildren of rural areas (15.2%) were traumatized greater than urban areas (11.8%) (P > 0.05).

Conclusions:

Dental trauma among schoolchildren was relatively higher in Aligarh and among which children of 12 years of age of rural areas were more traumatized with dental trauma than urban areas. Hence, preventive strategies must be implemented among children, adolescents, parents, and teachers to reduce the occurrence of such deleterious injuries.
Dentinogenesis imperfecta type II
Authors: Kaur Ramneet , Karadwal Asha , Sharma Deepak , Sandhu Manpreet Kaur
Published: June 2021

Dentinogenesis imperfecta (DGI) type II affects both primary and permanent dentitions and has the autosomal mode of inheritance. The affected teeth may appear as amber or gray because of chipping of enamel shortly after their eruption. Correct diagnosis and management are highly needed to restore the quality of oral health and to improve esthetics and masticatory functions. We present here a case of systematic and conservative dental approach in the management of a 7-year-old child having Dentinogenesis Imperfecta Type II (DGI Type II) with 1 ½ follow-up.
Prevalence of recurrent herpes labialis in Western Maharashtra
Authors: Ashwini Rani S. R , Suragimath Girish , Rajmane Vijaya , Rajmane Yojari
Published: June 2021

Background:

Recurrent herpes labialis (RHL) is a disorder with serious health and social consequences and which affects most of the adults. However, high degree of research paucity pertaining to its prevalence was observed, especially from India.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of RHL in western Maharashtra.

Materials and Methods:

In this prospective study, 1368 patients of either sex, satisfying the inclusion criteria, were included in the study after screening 34,560 patients for RHL lesions. Demographic data such as age, gender and risk factors, namely stress, menstruation and common cold, were recorded. Further, data regarding history of itching, fever, malaise and burning on lips followed by vesicles and frequency of lesions and duration were also recorded. After clinical examination site, size and nature of lesion were noted on a clinical pro forma. Results were compared statistically, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results:

The majority of the patients were in the age group of 30–39 years, with a female predominance (63.89%) (male:female = 0.33:0.59). Stress (43%) was the most common risk factor in the occurrence of RHL, followed by disturbed menstruation cycle (21%). Most of the patients had two episodes of RHL (42.4%), whereas some had just one episode of recurrence (25.4%) in the past 1 year. The most commonly occurring location for RHL was upper lip (47%), especially the left side (19.1%) and right side (18.2%) of the upper lip. The overall prevalence rate of RHL in our study was 3.9%.

Conclusion:

An established prevalence (3.9%) of RHL occurs among patients in western Maharashtra.
Solitary plasmacytoma of jaw bone
Authors: Suryavanshi Harshal , Patankar Sangeeta , Dhumal Snehal , Choudhari Sheetal
Published: June 2021

Solitary plasmacytoma of bone (SPB) is a localized form of plasma cell neoplasm where jaw involvement is rare. Distinguishing SPB from other plasma cell neoplasms is critical for treatment and survival. Here, a case of SPB of mandible in an elderly female is reported. Histopathological diagnosis of plasma cell neoplasm was confirmed immunohistochemically with MUM1 and CD138 positivity and multiple myeloma (MM) was ruled out on performing systemic workup. Prognosis of SPB worsens when it transforms into MM. A systematic review was undertaken with the objective to determine the factors affecting conversion of SPB to MM. An electronic search was undertaken with PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science and Science Direct. Fifty cases of SPB of jaw from 29 publications were reviewed. SPB commonly presents as a painless swelling. Radiographically, it is commonly seen as multilocular radiolucency with well-defined borders. Follow-up data showed that nine cases turned into MM in a mean duration of 1 year 9 months and 12 patients died after median disease-free survival of 6 years 9 months. Prognosis of SPB is found to be affected by tumor size (≥5 cm), anaplasia of tumor cells, Ki-67 labeling index, vascularity of the tumor, presence of clonal bone marrow plasma cells, serum immune globulin level, dose of radiotherapy and persistence of M protein after treatment. There is a need to identify prognostic subgroups in SPB based on these factors. Furthermore, studies are necessary for standardization of treatment protocol to halt or prolong the progression of SPB to MM.
Comparative cytopathologic evaluation using acridine orange with Papanicolaou stain in psychoactive substances abusers with potentially malignant and malignant disorders
Authors: Patel Falguni H , Bhavasar Rashmi , Shah Shreyas , Shah Vandana , Patel Pratik D
Published: June 2021

Introduction:

Oral cancer is a major health problem and its early detection is advantageous for therapeutic purposes. According to available evidence, the risks of oral malignancies increase with the usage of tobacco and other psychoactive substances (PSs). The present study showed expression pattern of nuclear and cytoplasmic changes from normal individuals without habit to oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in PS abusers with the help of fluorescence acridine orange (AO) stain and Papanicolaou (PAP) stain.

Aim and Objectives:

This study aimed to investigate and compare diagnostic efficacy of fluorescence microscopic evaluation of AO stain in cytological smears with PAP staining under light microscopy in PS abusers having oral potentially malignant and malignant lesions.

Materials and Methods:

Oral smears from 120 individuals among which 40 from potentially malignant disorders, 40 from oral malignancy and 40 normal buccal mucosa smears were prepared. One set of smears was stained by AO staining and the other by PAP staining and examined under fluorescence and light microscope, respectively. The results of both the stainings were evaluated by grading cytology smears in class-I to class-V cytology.

Results:

The AO fluorescence stain reliably demonstrated malignant cells based on the differential fluorescence. The efficacy of AO fluorescence stain was higher than PAP stain in screening of oral lesions suspicious of malignancy. The sensitivity of PAP staining and AO staining is 57.50% and 61.25%, respectively.

Conclusion:

As compared to PAP staining method, fluorescent AO method is more effective in screening of OPMD and OSCC in PS abusers.
Salivary malondialdehyde in oral submucous fibrosis – A marker for oxidative damage
Authors: Ganta Shyam Raj , Chittemsetti Samatha , Sravya Taneeru , Guttikonda Venkateswara Rao
Published: June 2021

Background:

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a potentially malignant disorder of oral mucosa and its malignant transformation rate accounts to about 7%–13%. Oxidative damage and lipid peroxidation plays an important role in OSMF. Lipid peroxidation has not been widely investigated in OSMF patients with respect to clinical staging and histopathological grading. As human saliva is a diagnostic fluid which can be obtained in a noninvasive procedure as compared to the blood for serum analysis, the present study was aimed at evaluating the salivary malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in OSMF and comparison with respect to clinical staging and histopathological grading.

Aim:

This study aims to evaluate salivary MDA levels in OSMF and compare the levels with respect to clinical and histopathological grading systems.

Materials and Methods:

Forty cases of clinically diagnosed and histopathologically proven cases of OSMF were included for the purpose of this study. As controls 40 age-matched individuals without any systemic disease were selected. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected from each individual, centrifuged and frozen at − 20°C until analysis. Lipid peroxidation products MDA were analyzed by thiobarbituric acid reaction.

Results:

Salivary MDA levels were significantly increased in OSMF patients compared to controls. The progressively increased salivary MDA levels showed a positive correlation with the clinical stages and histopathological grades of OSMF and the results were statistically significant.

Conclusion:

The increased salivary MDA levels in OSMF patients compared to the control group suggests an increased oxidative stress levels in the potentially malignant disorders such as OSMF. The mean salivary MDA levels were increased significantly as the clinical stage and histopathological grade of OSMF advances, suggesting MDA to be used as a reliable biochemical marker and also a prognostic marker to assess the extent of oxidative damage in OSMF.
An atypical presentation of plasma cell gingivitis with generalized skin lesions
Authors: Ketkar Gaurav Nitin , Kaarthikeyan G
Published: June 2021

This article aims to present a report of an atypical clinical presentation of a plasma cell gingivitis (PCG) case with unusual skin lesions. PCG is a rare benign inflammatory condition which can be classified into Type 4 hypersensitivity reaction. It occurs due to reaction to unknown antigen, often flavoring agents or spices found in chewing gums, toothpastes and lozenges. Histologically, the lesion shows dense plasma cells infiltrate in the connective tissue. Early diagnosis of PCG is essential to differentiate from variety of conditions, namely, leukemia, HIV infection, discoid lupus erythematosus, atrophic lichen planus, desquamative gingivitis, or cicatricial pemphigoid which must be differentiated through hematologic and serologic testing. In this article, we will discuss a case of PCG with unusual skin lesions.
Do patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma express receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1? Results of an observational study
Authors: Nema Swati , Kallianpur Shreenivas , Kumar Ashok , Nema Rajeev , Vishwakarma Supriya , Nema Sandeep Kumar
Published: June 2021

Context:

The receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1 (ROR1) is a transmembrane protein of the receptor tyrosine kinase family. The expression of ROR1 has been linked to cancers.

Aims:

This study aimed to investigate the expression of ROR1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Settings and Design:

This prospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary referral center for treatment of oral carcinoma from November 2013 to December 2016.

Subjects and Methods:

One-step quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (30 oral cancer tissues and ten normal oral tissue samples) was performed to characterize the expression of the ROR1 gene in oral cancer.

Statistical Analysis Used:

Analyses of all tumor samples were carried out at least twice, and the mean value was calculated. The differences in ROR1 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression between OSCC tissue and nontumorous gingival tissue was statistically analyzed using Mann–Whitney U-test. The correlations between the clinicopathological parameters and ROR1 mRNA expression were analyzed using Kruskal–Wallis test χ2 value.

Results:

There were 17, 5, 3 and 1 cases of OSCC of buccal mucosa, tongue and lower alveolus lip, respectively. Nearly 88.5% of cases had a history of tobacco consumption. The most common OSCC type was T2N1M0. There was no difference in ROR1 fold change between controls and cases (P = 0.06), but there was a trend for downregulation of ROR1 expression from controls to cases. Subgroup analysis revealed the downregulation of ROR1 expression in controls versus Grade II that was significant (P = 0.04).

Conclusions:

There was no change in the expression of ROR1 between cases and controls. A study involving a larger sample size needs to be formulated and conducted for investigating the relation between expression and regulation of ROR1 in OSCC.
Nonsyndromic delayed eruption of multiple teeth
Authors: D'souza Valen Dela , Rao Prasanna Kumar , Kini Raghavendra
Published: June 2021

Dental eruption is a very finely regulated process. A delay in tooth eruption may be due to a disturbance caused by local, systemic, or genetic abnormalities. Delayed eruption of multiple teeth in the absence of any etiology is very rare. Here, we report a case of delayed eruption in a 16-year-old female patient with multiple congenitally missing teeth and bilaterally ankylosed deciduous teeth with no underlying systemic or genetic disease.
Site specificity and expression profile of miR-21 in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Priya N S , Nayak Ramakant , Bhat Kishore , Kugaji Manohar , Vijayalakshmi K , Rao Kavita
Published: June 2021

Background:

Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common epithelial malignancy of the oral cavity which has evolved globally as a grave and growing health problem. It shares a wide geographic variation with respect to the incidence rate and exhibits anatomic adaptation to oral environment with varied clinical presentation along with a spectrum of histological mélange. Besides, in recent cancer research, both genetics and epigenetics add on at the molecular level and accounts for this diversification and tumor heterogeneity of OSCC and thereby substantiates to the miRNA expression profiling in OSCC.

Aims and Objectives:

In the present study, subsite specificity of miR-21 expression in tissue specimens of OSCC of Tongue, Buccal mucosa, and Gingivo buccal (GB) sulcus were analyzed.

Materials and Methods:

Quantification of miR-21 was done on 30 tissue samples of OSCC using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Results:

Results indicated that miR-21 expression was significantly expressed at the subsites. Out of 30 samples, 22 showed upregulation, and 8 showed down-regulation with reference to endogenous control. The comparative Ct method was used to analyze the differences in subsite specific expression of miR-21 in OSCC cases. It was significantly upregulated in the buccal mucosa (p=0.002), followed by GB sulcus (p=0.01) and Tongue (p=0.25).

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the study could identify the differential miR-21 expression at sub-sites, indicating that it may serve as a diagnostic marker with further elaboration on a larger sample size..
Expression of β-catenin in oral leukoplakia and oral submucous fibrosis
Authors: Chowdhury Pritha , Nagamalini B.R , Singh Jaya , Ashwini B.K , Sharada  , Swaminathan Uma
Published: June 2021

Background:

Oral potentially malignant disorders have increased propensity to turn malignant than its apparently normal counterparts. Histopathological examination, although gold standard, needs adjunct technique to give accurate diagnosis. Immunohistochemistry has proved to be a promising adjunct to aid in the diagnosis so far. The quest for a definitive marker is still on. Beta-catenin (β-catenin), a structural protein has been evaluated to identify its likely role in malignant transformation of potentially malignant lesions and possibly designate it as one of the identifiable signature molecules in the transformation.

Aim and Objective:

To evaluate and estimate the expression of β-catenin in different grades of dysplasia, oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) and normal mucosa and compare the same.

Methodology:

A total number of 40 cases including different grades of dysplasia, OSMF and normal mucosa were immunohistochemically stained, location and intensity of its expression were evaluated for β-catenin. The results were statistically analyzed using the one-way analysis of variance and Chi-square test.

Results:

The expression of β-Catenin in the cytoplasm as well as in the nucleus increased from mild-to-moderate dysplasia to OSMF and to severe epithelial dysplasia in an increasing order. The expression is seen to translocate from membranous to cytoplasm to nucleus indicating a proliferative potential in these group of lesions.

Conclusion:

β-catenin is a promising marker which indicates the malignant transformation potential in the higher grades of dysplasia and OSMF.