bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Title: Weight and waist-to-hip ratio change pattern during the first five years of survival: data from a longitudinal observational Chinese breast cancer cohort
Authors: Lei Yuan-Yuan , Ho Suzanne C. , Kwok Carol , Cheng Ashley , Cheung Ka Li , Lee Roselle , Mo Frankie , Yeo Winnie
Published: March 2021

Background: Body weight management was an important component in breast cancer survivorship care. The present study described the change patterns of body weight and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) during the first five years of survival, and investigated potential factors associated with very substantial changes.Patients and methods: Based on a longitudinal cohort with 1462 Chinese women with breast cancer, anthropometric measurements including body weight, height, waist and hip circumferences were measured by trained interviewers following standard protocol at four time-points: baseline at study entry, 18-, 36- and 60-months follow up assessments (termed as T0, T1, T2 and T3, respectively). Body height was measured at baseline and body weight at cancer diagnosis were retrieved from medical record.Results: Compared to weight at breast cancer diagnosis, the median weight change was -0.5kg, 0kg, +0.5kg, and +1kg at T0, T1, T2 and T3, respectively. During the first five years of survival, the proportion of women who were obese have slightly increased. At 60-months after diagnosis, only 14.3% of women had weight gain by > 5kg; and the percentage of women who had weight gain by > 10% was 10.7%. Nearly half of patients had abdominal obesity at study entry, and this proportion were gradually increased to nearly 70% at 60-months follow-up. Multivariate analysis indicated that older age, frequent sports participation and having vegetables and fruits intake ≥ 400g/day were related to lower risk of very substantial weight gain (> 10%) at 60-months follow-up; patients aged 40-49 years, having ≥ 2 comorbidities, ER negative and having vegetables and fruits intake ≥ 400g/day were associated with less likelihood of very substantial WHR substantial increase (> 10%) at 60-months follow-up. Conclusion: ﻿Weight gain was modest in Chinese breast cancer survivors during the first five years of survival, while central adiposity has become a contemporary public health issue. The incorporation of healthy weight and abdominal circumference patient education and management has a potential to improve cancer survivorship.
Biomass, Carbon Stock and Sequestration Potential of Oxytenanthera abyssinica forests in Lower Beles River Basin, Northwestern Ethiopia
Authors: Abebe Shiferaw , Minale Amare Sewnet , Teketay Demel , Jayaraman Durai
Published: March 2021

Background: Ethiopia is endowed with abundant bamboo resources. However, little is known about biomass, carbon sequestration and storage potential of bamboos. Therefore, this study was conducted to estimate the carbon sequestration and storage potential of Oxytenanthera abyssinica forests in Lower Beles River Basin, Northwestern Ethiopia. To this end, A total of 54 circular plots of 100 m2, with plots having a radius of 5.64, were established to conduct the inventory in Assitsa and Eddida bamboo forests, the typical bamboo sites in Lower Beles River Basin. Biomass accumulation of bamboo was estimated using an allometric equation based on diameter at breast height (DBH) and age. Soil samples were taken from two different soil depths (0 – 15 and 15 – 30 cm) to determine soil organic carbon.Results: Results indicate that a total of 1,620 bamboo culms were measured in the bamboo forests. The mean biomass of the bamboo forests in the study area accounted for about 140.11 ± 2.55 Mg ha-1. The mean biomass carbon and soil organic carbon stock of the bamboo forests were 65. 85 ± 1.19 and 69.70 ± 1.83 Mg C ha-1, respectively. Therefore, the mean carbon stock of the O. abyssinica bamboo forests was 135.63 ± 2.33 Mg C ha-1 with 497.8 ± 8.55 CO2 equivalents. Conclusion: Generally, the O. abyssinica bamboo forests of the study area have significant role in climate change mitigation. Therefore, sustainable management of these crucial vegetation resources will enhance their role in carbon sequestration and thereby, climate change mitigation.
Effective Prediction of Rheumatoid Arthritis (Ra) Diagnosis Using Hybrid Harmony Search with Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System
Authors: SHANMUGAM S , Saravanabhavan C , Arunkumar T
Published: March 2021

One of the severe auto immune diseases that affects the entire human body is Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), the disease triggers one’s immune system to attack the inner linings of bones and causes severe inflammation of the synovium. The continuous erosion of bone lining leads to permanent loss of the joint, accounting this severity the early prognosis of the disease is a significant and inevitable process. But, the sign and symptoms of the disease are always uncertain. The symptom of RA disease is similar to other inflammatory diseases, so highly experienced experts can identify the disease in its early stage. To support the clinicians and technicians for early prognosis of the disease, a computer-aided decision support model based on Harmony Search –Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System is presented in this study. The Harmony search algorithm is employed to select the optimal features, and ANFIS is adopted to perform classification. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the model, metrics such as Accuracy, Sensitivity, Specificity, Precision, Recall, F-measure, Positive Predictive Value, Negative Predictive Value, Root Mean Square Error, and Mean Absolute Error are employed and evaluated in MATLAB simulation environment. The proposed HS-ANFIS outperformed other models developed in this research and existing works of literature.
Differences in Axial Length and IOLs Power Basing on Alternative A-Scan or Fellow-Eye Biometry in Macular-Off Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Eyes
Authors: Liu Rui , Li Hongrong , Li Qingchen
Published: March 2021

We observe the potential refractive error basing on alternative A-scan ultrasound and fellow-eye biometry for phacovitrectomy in phakic macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) eyes, when IOLMaster fails to obtain data. Vitrectomy without lens extraction was performed for RRD repair. Preoperative axial length was measured using alternative A-scan ultrasound (AL-US). Postoperative axial length in eyes with silicone oil tamponade (AL-SO) and fellow-eye biometry (AL-FE) were obtained using IOLMaster. AL-US, AL-FE and AL-SO were 25.39 ± 2.14 mm, 25.85 ± 2.16 mm and 26.08 ± 2.53 mm, respectively. The Bland-Altman agreements among AL-US, AL-FE and AL-SO were well (95.5%, 21/22 of cases were in LoA). The mean IOLs power calculated using AL-US (Power-US) was 16.81 ± 7.19 D, using AL-FE (Power-FE) was 14.74 ± 6.95 D, and using AL-SO (Power-SO) was 13.54 ± 8.32 D. The difference between AL-US and AL-SO was significant (P < 0.05), while that between AL-FE and AL-SO was not (P > 0.05). The difference between Power-US and Power-SO was significant (P < 0.05), while that between Power-FE and Power-SO was not (P > 0.05). It showed that the alternative A-scan ultrasound leads to significant differences in axial length and IOLs power prediction, while fellow-eye biometry provided similar measurements compared with those of silicone oil-filled eyes after RRD repair.
A Head-to-Head Comparison of 68Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 and 18F-FDG PET/MR in Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Prospective Study
Authors: Qin Chunxia , Liu Fang , Huang Jing , Ruan Weiwei , Liu Qingyao , Gai Yongkang , Hu Fan , Jiang Dawei , Hu Yu , Yang Kunyu , Lan Xiaoli
Published: March 2021

PurposeTo conduct a head-to-head comparison of the diagnostic ability of 68Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 (68Ga-FAPI) and 18F-FDG PET/MR in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients.MethodsPatients diagnosed with NPC were prospectively enrolled. All patients underwent head-and-neck 68Ga-FAPI PET/MR and 18F-FDG PET/MR within one week. Primary tumor, lymph node numbers, and tracer uptake were compared by SUVmax and visual evaluation. The primary tumor volumes derived from 68Ga-FAPI, 18F-FDG PET, and MRI were also compared.ResultsFifteen patients were enrolled from June to August 2020. Both 68Ga-FAPI and 18F-FDG PET had 100% detection rate of the primary tumor. The 68Ga-FAPI SUVmax of primary tumors (13.87±5.13) was lower than that of 18F-FDG (17.73±6.84), but the difference was not significant (p=0.078). Compared with 18F-FDG, 68Ga-FAPI PET improved the delineation of skull-base invasion in eight out of eight patients and intracranial invasion in four out of four patients. When 25%SUVmax of 68Ga-FAPI or 20%SUVmax of 18F-FDG was utilized as a threshold for determining tumor volume, it was highly consistent with MRI. 18F-FDG PET detected much more positive lymph nodes than 68Ga-FAPI (100 vs 48). The SUVmax of 48 paired lymph nodes was significantly lower on 68Ga-FAPI than 18F-FDG (8.67±3.88 vs 11.79±6.17, p<0.001). Additionally, 68Ga-FAPI further detected four highly suspected small, distant metastases in three patients. Compared with 18F-FDG, 68Ga-FAPI changed overall staging in six of fifteen patients, with three patients being up-staged, and three down-staged.Conclusion68Ga-FAPI outperforms 18F-FDG in delineating the primary tumor and detecting suspected distant metastases, particularly in the evaluation of skull-base and intracranial invasion, suggesting 68Ga-FAPI hybrid PET/MR has the potential to serve as a single-step staging modality for patients with NPC. However, its value regarding lymph node and distant metastases evaluation needs further study.Trial registration: NCT04554719. Registered September 8, 2020 - retrospectively registered, http://clinicaltrails.gov/show/ NCT04554719
Laparoscopic Caudal Approach of the Inferior Vena Cava for Isolated Segment 1 Liver Resection.
Authors: Tur-Martínez Jaume , Herrero-Fonollosa Èric , García-Domingo María Isabel , Camps-Lasa Judith , Sobrerroca-Porras Laura , Costa-Henere Daniel , Rodríguez Aurora , Cugat-Andorrà Esteban
Published: March 2021

Introduction:Isolated segment 1 laparoscopic liver resection is a very challenging procedure. Very few references are available about this laparoscopic technique, so the aim of this article is to show the main technical aspects of laparoscopic caudal approach for segment 1.Material and Methods: A 64 years old woman with a past medical history of a breast cancer previously operated (pT1N0M0, with positive hormonal receptors). Adjuvant treatment was done with radiotherapy and hormone-therapy (Tamoxifen). After 12 months of follow-up, a 18 mm single liver metastasis was detected in the segment 1, suggestive of metastatic disease. A complementary study was done with Magnetic Resonance Image, Computed Tomography and Positron Emission Tomography, without other lesions proven. Result:A laparoscopic resection of isolated liver segment 1 is performed with a caudal approach of the inferior vena cava. All the steps are carefully described. The surgery time was 120 minutes and the blood loss was less than 100 ml. No postoperative complications were registered. The patient was discharged on the third postoperative day.Conclusion:Liver 1 segment resection by laparoscopy with a caudal approach of the inferior vena cava is a secure technique in selected patients and it should be performed in experienced liver surgery and advanced laparoscopy centers, because of its high complexity.
Investigation of Malaria Vectors (Diptera: Culicidae) in Agricultural Settlements in the Amazon Region of Brazil
Authors: Andrade Alice Oliveira , Santos Najara Akira Costa dos , Castro Raphael Brum , Araujo Isabelle Sousa de , Bastos Alessandra da Silva , Magi Felipe Neves , Rodrigues Moreno Magalhães de Souza , Pereira Dhélio Batista , Medeiros Jansen Fernandes , Araujo Maisa da Silva
Published: March 2021

Background: Environmental changes resulting from the urbanization process represent a challenge for malaria control. The majority of malaria cases in South America occur in rural areas, areas of recent occupation, mining and indigenous areas of the Amazon region. Although these areas have a significant impact on malaria cases, few entomological studies have been carried out in areas of recent occupation. This study aimed to describe the density, natural infection rate and hematophagic behavior of anopheline species in two settlements in the state of Rondonia, Brazil in order to understand how malaria transmission occurs in areas that have been settled at different times.Methods: An area of recent occupation, denominated Acampamento Fortaleza (AF), and an old settlement, denominated Projeto de Assentamento Florestal Jequitibá (PAFJ), were studied. Peridomicile collections of anopheles were carried out using the Protected Human Attraction Technique (PHAT). The risk and potential for malaria transmission were assessed using the human biting rate (HBR), sporozoite rate (SR) and the entomological inoculation rate (EIR).Results: The results confirmed that Nyssorhynchus darlingi, the main vector responsible for the transmission of malaria in the state of Rondônia, is the predominant species in the two studied locations. Although settlement of the two study sites has occurred at different times, the species richness found was low, showing that the environmental changes caused by anthropological actions probably favor the adaptation of the Ny. darlingi species. Of the 615 anopheline mosquitoes assessed, 7 (1.1%) were positive for Plasmodium infections. The EIR revealed that Ny. darlingi contributes to the transmission of malaria in both locations, since it was responsible for 0.41 infectious bites in humans at night in PAFJ and 0.16 in AF. In the two study sites, the biting occurred more frequently at dusk.Conclusions: Ny. darlingi is the principal vector found in the studied locations. Its prevalence occurs in areas of recent colonization but, even when present in a low density, this species could maintain transmission of malaria in an older settlement. The entomological information obtained in this study is important and may aid the selection of vector control actions in these locations that are considered as having a high risk of malaria transmission.
Biofilm Persister Cell Formation, and Relative Gene Expression Analysis of Type II Toxin-Antitoxin System in Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Strains in the Exponential and Stationary Phases
Authors: Zadeh Rezvan Golmoradi , Kalani Behrooz Sadeghi , Ari Marzie Mahdizade , Talebi Malihe , Razavi Shabnam , Jazi Faramarz Masjedian
Published: March 2021

Chronic and persistent infections and therapy failure are concerning issues in patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. Presence of persister cells in biofilm considers as one from the causes for antibiotic resistance and treatment failure. Consequently, in this research, the expression of TA type II systems into persister formation of biofilm was assessed in presence of colistin ciprofloxacin antibiotics into exponential and stationary phases. The results showed that TA systems at different stages of bacterial growth in biofilm have different functions that subsequently, cause differences in the presence amount of persister cells at each stage of bacterial growth. The expression of the systems were measured by Real-Time PCR method. Keywords: Persister cell; Biofilm; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; TA systems; Real-time PCR; Exponential and Stationary phases
Characteristics and Adverse Outcomes of Chinese Adolescent Pregnancy Between 2012 and 2019: An Observational Study of 438 Health Facilities
Authors: Xie Yanxia , Wang Xiaodong , Mu Yi , Liu Zheng , Wang Yanping , Li Xiaohong , Dai Li , Li Qi , Li Mingrong , Chen Peiran , Zhu Jun , Liang Juan
Published: March 2021

We aimed to describes characteristic of adolescent pregnancy, determines its effect on adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes and explores whether that association varies with gestational age with the goal of proposing specific recommendations for adolescent health in China. 2,366,559 women aged 10-24 years who had singleton pregnancies between 2012 and 2019 from 438 hospitals were included in the study. Adolescent pregnancy was defined as younger than 20 years of age. We used multivariable logistic regression to estimate the effect. Women aged 20-24 years served as the reference group in all analyses. The proportion of rural girls with adolescent pregnancies rebounded after 2015 despite common-law marriage in rural areas have improved. Higher risks of eclampsia (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.57~2.23), severe anaemia (aOR 1.18, 95% CI 1.09~1.28), maternal near miss (aOR 1.24, 95% CI 1.12~1.37), and small-for-gestational-age (aOR 1.30, 95% CI 1.28~1.33) were observed when gestational age was > 37 weeks. Adolescent pregnancy was independently associated with increased risks of other perinatal outcomes. Further implementation of pregnancy prevention strategies and improved health care interventions are needed to reduce adolescent fertility and to avoid adverse fertility outcomes among adolescent women in China at a time when adolescent fertility is rebounding.
Establishment and Optimization of Molecular Cytogenetic Techniques (45S Rdna-FISH, GISH And Fiber-FISH) In Kiwifruit (Actinidia L.)
Authors: Zhao Yang , Deng Honghong , Chen Yao , Li Jihan , Chen Silei , Li Chunyan , Mu Xue , Hu Zhongrong , Li Kunming , Wang Weixing
Published: March 2021

Background: Kiwifruit has long been regarded as ‘the king of fruits’ for its nutritional importance. However, the molecular cytogenetics of kiwifruit has long been hampered because of the large number of basic chromosome (x=29), the inherent small size and highly similar morphology of metaphase chromosomes. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is an indispensable molecular cytogenetic technique widely used in many plant species. Herein, the effects of post-hybridization washing temperature on FISH, blocking DNA concentration on genomic in situ hybridization (GISH), extraction method on nuclei isolation and the incubation time on the DNA fiber quality in kiwifruit were evaluated.Results: The post-hybridization washing in 2×SSC solution for 3×5 min at 37 ˚C ensured high stringency and distinct specific FISH signals in kiwifruit somatic chromosomes. The use of 50× blocking DNA provided an efficient and reliable means of discriminating between chromosomes derived from in the hybrids of A. chinensis var. chinensis (2n=2x=58) × A. eriantha Benth (2n=2x=58), and inferring the participation of parental genitors. The chopping method established in the present study were found to be very suitable for preparation of leaf nuclei in kiwifruit. A high-quality linear DNA fiber was achieved by an incubation of 20 min. The physical size of 45S rDNA signals was approximately 35-40 μmm revealed by the highly reproducible fiber-FISH procedures established and optimized in this study.Conclusions: The molecular cytogenetic techniques (45S rDNA-FISH, GISH, and high-resolution fiber-FISH) for kiwifruit was for the first time established and optimized in the present study, which is the foundation for the future genomic and evolutionary studies.
NCOA3 as a Critical Oncogene in Thyroid Cancer via Modulating Major Signaling Pathways
Authors: Li Yujun , Liang JunRong , Dang Hui , Chen Pu , Zhang Rui , Shao Yuan
Published: March 2021

Nuclear Receptor Coactivator (NCOA3) enhances transcriptional activation of nuclear hormone receptors. This study was designed to explore the role of NCOA3 in thyroid cancer. Our data demonstrated that protein expression of NCOA3 was significantly upregulated in thyroid cancer tissues. NCOA3 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation and invasion, and induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in thyroid cancer. Conversely, ectopic expression of NCOA3 promoted cell proliferation and invasiveness in thyroid cancer. Mechanically, NCOA3 promotes thyroid cancer cell survival and invasiveness through modulating PI3K/AKT, MAPK and Wnt/β-catenin pathways. Collectively, these findings suggest that NCOA3 is critical in the initiation and development of thyroid cancer, and maybe a possible marker for prognostic and therapeutic.
The Effect of Oxygen Mixing Percentage on Structural, Optical and Electrical Properties of ZnTiO3 Thin-films Grown by Rf Magnetron Sputtering.
Authors: H srinivasa varaprsad , V sridevi P. , M Satya Anuradha , Pattipaka Srinivas , D pamu
Published: March 2021

Perovskites are important composites in the area of multidisciplinary applications. It is achieved by carefully choosing and tuning the properties of the thin-film at the deposition. In this paper, ZnTiO3 (ZTO) thin-films were being deposited on quartz and N-Si substrates by RF magnetron sputtering. The thin-films were developed at room temperature, oxygen percentage levels varying from 0 to 100, and annealed at 600oC. The electrical, optical, morphological, and structural properties were analyzed as a function of oxygen mixing percentage (OMP). The crystallinity of the cubic structured ZTO thin-film is found to be high at 25 OMP, and it is gradually decreased with increased OMP. The surface morphology of the thin-film is observed, and roughness is measured from the atomic force microscope. Raman Spectroscopy investigated the phase formation and the vibrational modes of the thin-film with their spectral de-convolution. The ZTO thin-films optical properties were investigated using transmittance spectra. The ZTO thin-film indicated the highest refractive index of 2.46, at 633nm with optical bandgap values of 3.57 eV, with a thickness of 145nm and 25 OMP. The refractive index, thin-film thickness, and excitation coefficient were analyzed using the Swanepoel envelope technique. Electrical characteristics of ZTO thin-film are measured from the optimized conditions of the thin-film with conventional thermionic emission (TE) technique.
The Microenvironment Combining with Immune Infiltration of Uveal Melanoma
Authors: Zhang Daowei , Wu Jiawen , Wu Jihong , Zhang Shenghai
Published: March 2021

Background: Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common intraocular malignancy in adults. Although immunotherapy provided novel options in the disease's progression, it only benefits a minority of patients. The understanding of the UM microenvironment and the potential therapeutic targets in the microenvironment is still undefined. We aimed to propose a novel classification of UM microenvironment to identify ideal biomarkers for prognosis and potential targets for effective immunotherapy.Methods: In this study, we obtained the gene expression profile of 80 UM patients from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and calculated immune/stromal scores based on the Estimation of stromal and Immune cells in Malignant Tumours using Expression data (ESTIMATE) algorithm dividing patients into the high- and low-expression groups. Then, 1024 immune-related differently expressed genes (DEGs) were selected in total following the annotation and enrichment analysis and key genes were screened by PPI network. Consequently, we conducted CIBERSORT algorithm and TIMER database to analyses the correlation between key genes and immune cells as well as utilized GeneCards database to analyses the correlation between key genes and the disease. Additionally, GSVA was performed to enrich the nonparametric and unsupervised signaling pathways of key genes and the drug sensitivity of them were predicted.Results: Based on high- and low-expression groups, we found that there were 888 up-regulated DEGs and 126 down-regulated DEGs in total, which were mainly enriched in 4 pathways in GO and 3 pathways in KEGG. Combining with the 10 genes screened by PPI, KM-plot showed that B2M and HLA-B were significantly affected the survival of UM patients. Among 22 immune cells, B2M and HLA-B were mainly corelated with 11 of them. GSVA results revealed 42 pathways significantly enriched of B2M while 41 pathways enriched of HLA-B. Finally, we predicted the Paclitaxel as the hopefully treatment for HLA-B.Conclusions: Our study not only understands deeper of fundamental biological features of microenvironment but also with potential therapeutic targets of UM.
Overexpression of PFKFB3 Promotes Cell Glycolysis and Proliferation in Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Li Jun , Zhang Shiqiang , Liao Dingzhun , Zhang Qian , Chen Chujie , Yang Xiangwei , Jiang Donggen , Pang Jun
Published: March 2021

Background: Cancer cells prefer aerobic glycolysis to increase their biomass and sustain uncontrolled proliferation. As a key glycolytic activator, phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3) has been implicated in the progression of multiple types of tumors. However, the specific function and clinical significance of PFKFB3 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remain unclear. In the present study, we explored the role of PFKFB3 in RCC.Methods: We analyzed the expression of PFKFB3 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) tissues and its relationship with clinical characteristics of ccRCC. Real-time PCR and Western blot analysis were used to detect PFKFB3 expression levels in different RCC cell lines. Furthermore, we determined the glycolytic activity by glucose uptake, lactate secretion assay and ECAR analysis. CCK-8 assay, clone formation assay, flow cytometry and EdU assay were performed to monitor cancer cell proliferation and cell cycle distribution. In addition, nude mice xenograft model was used to investigate the role of PFKFB3 in tumor growth in vivo.Results: In this study, we found that PFKFB3 was significantly up-regulated in RCC tissues and cell lines compared with normal control. Overexpression of PFKFB3 was positively associated with advanced TNM stage and could predict poor prognosis of ccRCC patients. Furthermore, knockdown of PFKFB3 suppresses cell glycolysis, proliferation and cell cycle G1/S transition in RCC cells. Importantly, in vivo experiments confirmed that PFKFB3 knockdown delayed tumor growth derived from the ACHN cell line.Conclusion: Our results suggest that PFKFB3 plays an important role in the progression of RCC via mediating glycolysis and proliferation, and provides a potential therapeutic target for RCC.
Exploring the role of exposure to green space in preventing anxiety and depression among young people aged 14-24 living in urban settings: a systematic review
Authors: Bray Isabelle , Reece Rebecca , Sinnett Danielle , Martin Faith , Hayward Robert
Published: March 2021

Background Despite the growing problem of anxiety and depression amongst young people aged 14-24 years living in urban settings, reviews about the role of exposure to green space or nature in preventing anxiety and depression tend to focus on children, adults or sometimes adolescents. This review aims to explore whether, and if so how, exposure to green space reduces the risk of anxiety and depression among young people aged 14-24 living in urban settings.MethodsCINAHL plus, Global Health, MEDLINE, ProQuest: Dissertations and Theses, PsycINFO, Scopus and OpenGrey were searched for research published in English between January 2000 and June 2020, including all study designs. Results 9,208 sources were identified and 48 were included. Experimental studies provided evidence that walking or being in a green space improves mood and state anxiety immediately following the intervention. Observational studies suggest that social interaction, physical activity, and mindfulness mediate the relationship between exposure to green space and mental health. We propose that the absence of noise and traffic and the presence of nature promotes mindfulness and restoration.ConclusionsThis review provides evidence to clinicians about the value of green social prescribing, and to policymakers about the value of bringing the benefits of forests, vegetation and nature into cities, and ensuring that these spaces are accessible and safe for young people to use.
Carotid Disease and Retinal Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Parameters in Patients with Non-arteritic Anterior İschemic Optic Neuropathy
Authors: KAYA Fatma Selin
Published: March 2021

Purpose: To analyze the data and retinal microvasculature for nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAİON) patients referred to have carotid Doppler ultrasound from 2016 to 2020. Methods: In this case-control observational study, 30 NAİON patients evaulated with carotid doppler sonography. 22 NAION patients (at least 3 months after onset of symptoms) and 9 normal subjects underwent a complete ophthalmic examination including optical coherence tomography (OCT), optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A). NAİON eyes and fellow eyes were further divided into the groups according to presence of carotid stenosis (CS). NAION patients with CS were termed "CS-NAION"; those without were termed "NCS-NAION". Measurements of radial peripapillary capillary vessel density (RPC VD) and ganglion cell complex (GCC), disk retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness were compared among groups. Results: Fourteen of 30 NAİON patients referred for carotid Doppler were positive for CS with all of such referrals having less than 50% stenosis. RNLF, GCC and RPC VDs were reduced in NAION eyes, when compared to controls and the fellow eyes. RPC VD was significantly lower in the temporal-superior (P=0.037) and the superior-temporal (P=0.012) sectors of the NCS-NAION patients than in the CS-NAION patients. No significant differences were found between CS-fellow eyes and NCS-fellow eyes in terms of RPC VDs, RNLF or GCC. Conclusion: Results of the study highlight the effect of carotid artery stenosis on ocular perfusion pressure in the pathogenesis of NAİON. More extensive studies are necessary.
Left Breast Radiotherapy With Multi Fields Hybrid Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) Versus Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT): Balance Between Left Anterior Descending Artery Sparing and Secondary Cancer Induction Risk
Authors: Xiang Xiaoyong , Ding Zhen , Kang Kailian , Dai Zhitao , Zhang Wenjue , Zeng Qi , Xu Meiling , Yuan Qingqing
Published: March 2021

To explore the feasibility of using Volumetric-Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) to protect left anterior descending branch (LAD) after breast-conserving surgery for left breast cancer. 15 left breast cancer patients after breast-conserving surgery were selected. 7F-IMRT and 2A-VMAT treatment plans were designed with Varian Eclipse TPS (13.6version). The prescriptions of PTV and PTV Boost were 43.5Gy and 49.5Gy in 15 fractions. The dosimetric parameters, OARs dose sparing and second cancer risk (SCR) were compared between the two plans using a paired t-test. The VMAT plans obtain better PTV conformity and higher mean dose. VMAT plans show a better dose distribution in high dose areas and better sparing of OARs, including left lung, heart, and LAD. The Dmax and Dmean of LAD decreased significantly in VMAT plans. The SCRs of the contralateral lung and breast significantly increased with a higher mean dose. We recommend that contouring and evaluating the dose of LAD and LAD helping structures in left breast cancer radiotherapy. SCR should be evaluated for younger patients.
Simulation and Experimental Study on Improving Electrochemical Machining Stability of High Convex Structure on Casing Surface by Using Backwater Pressure
Authors: Ge Zhenghui , Chen Wangwang , Zhu Yongwei
Published: March 2021

Casing parts are regarded as one of the key components in aero-engine components. Most casing parts are attached with different shapes of convex structures, and their heights range from hundreds of microns to tens of millimeters. The use of profiling blocky electrodes for electrochemical machining of casing parts is a widely used method, especially in the processing of high convex structures. However, with the increase of convex structure height, the flow field of machining areas will become more complex, and short circuits may occur at any time. In this study, a method to improve the flow field characteristics of machining area by adjusting the backwater pressure is proposed, the simulation and experiment are carried out respectively. The simulation results showed that the back-pressure mehtod can significantly improve the uniformity of the flow field around the convex structure compared with the extraction outlet mode and the open outlet mode, and then the optimized back-pressure of 0.5 MPa was obtained according to simulation results. The experimental results showed that under condition of the optimized back-pressure parameters, the cathode feed-rate increased from 0.6 mm/min to 0.8 mm/min, and the convex structure with a height of 18 mm was successfully machined. This indicated that the back-pressure method is suitable and effective for the electrochemical machining of high convex structure with blocky electrode.
Recycling of Beet Sugar Byproducts and Wastes Enhances Sugar Beet Productivity and Salt Redistribution in Saline Soils
Authors: Aljabri Maha , Alharbi Saif , Ismaeil Fekry M. , Chen Jiana , Abou-Elwafa Salah Fatouh
Published: March 2021

Soil salinity adversely affects the growth, yield, and quality parameters of sugar beet, leading to a reduction in root and sugar yields. Improving the physical and chemical properties of salt-affected soils is essential for sustainable cultivation and sugar beet production. A field experiment was conducted at t the Delta Sugar Company Research Farm, El-Hamool, Kafr El- Sheikh, Egypt to evaluate the response of sugar beet to the application of beet sugar filter cake treated with sulfuric and phosphoric acid-treated, phosphogypsum (PG), desaline, humic acid and molasses under saline soil conditions. The application of treated filter cake enhanced root length, diameter and leaf area. The application of molasses enhanced root length, diameter and leaf area as well. Application of molasses increased sugar content and root yield. The application of either treated filter cake or molasses produced the highest recoverable sugar yield. Linear regression analysis revealed that the root yield, quality index and recoverable sugar yield increased in response to the increased availability of either Ca2+ and K content in the soil which increases in response to the application of soil amendments and molasses. The application of treated beet sugar filter cake and molasses increased the calcium, magnesium and potassium availability in the soil. Treated filter cake is a promising organic soil amendment that enhanced the yield by 29%, and yield-related traits of sugar beet by improving the physical and chemical properties of the soil.
Translation, adaptation and validation of the Bulgarian version of the King’s Parkinson’s Disease Pain Scale
Authors: Stoyanova-Piroth Galina , Milanov Ivan , Stambolieva Katerina
Published: March 2021

Introduction:The purpose of the present study was to translate and cross-culturally adapt the King's Parkinson's Disease Pain Scale (KPPS) into Bulgarian and to investigate its psychometric properties in order to provide a validated Parkinson’s disease-specific pain instrument in Bulgarian language (KPPS-BG).Methods:Translation into Bulgarian and a cultural adaptation were performed to obtain KPPS-BG. A total of 162 patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease were screened for pain using the complementary to the KPPS questionnaire-King’s Parkinson's Disease Pain Questionnaire (KPPQ). KPPS-BG domain and total scores were calculated and internal consistency, construct validity and test-retest reliability were examined for 129 patients having one or more positive items in the KPPQ-BG.Results:79.6% of the patients reported one or more types of pain. The most common type was musculoskeletal pain (83.7%), followed by nocturnal pain (55.0%), fluctuation-related pain (50.1%), radicular pain (43.4%), chronic pain (31.0%), discoloration, edema/swelling (27.1%) and, oro-facial pain (14.3%). Mean KPPS-BG total score was 21.1±17.3 SD. KPPS-BG showed a good reliability (Cronbach's alpha 0.75). The test-retest reliability of the KPPS-BG was high and the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.92, demonstrating а good repeatability. KPPS-BG total score was higher in patients with postural instability gait difficulty motor subtype, compared to tremor-dominant or indeterminate subtype. Significant positive correlations were found between KPPS-BG total score and modified H&Y, Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale part III.Conclusion:The KPPS-BG constitutes a reliable, comprehensive and useful tool for pain assessment in native Bulgarian patients with Parkinson’s disease.
MIBG Cardiac Scintigraphy as a Potential Biomarker That Reflects Severity in Idiopathic REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
Authors: You Sooyeoun , Won Kyoung Sook , Kim Keun Tae , Lee Hyang Woon , Cho Yong Won
Published: March 2021

Study Objectives: 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) cardiac scintigraphy was performed to demonstrate the correlation with clinical characteristics of patients with idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) and we found the factors that are associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Methods: All subjects including 39 patients with iRBD and 17 healthy controls underwent MIBG cardiac scintigraphy to assess cardiac autonomic dysfunction. The iRBDs were confirmed by in-lab overnight polysomnography. Receiver operating curve was performed to determine cut-off value of early and delayed heart to mediastinum ratio (HMR) in patients with iRBD. Based on each cut-off value, comparison analysis about RWA was performed by dividing into two groups within iRBD patients.Results: MIBG uptake below the cut-off value is associated with higher REM sleep without atonia (RWA). The lower HMR had significantly higher RWA (%) both with the cut-off value of early (11.0±5.6 VS 29.3±23.2, p=0.018) and delayed HMR (9.1±4.3 VS 30.0±22.9, p=0.011).Conclusion: This study suggests that MIBG uptake is a potential biomarker of the severity of RWA in iRBD.
Association of Biomarkers Related to Preoperative Inflammatory and Coagulation with Postoperative In-Hospital Deaths in Patients with Type A Acute Aortic Dissection
Authors: Li Ming , Sun Haifeng , Xu Suochun , Yan Yang , Wang Haichen , Zheng Jianjie , Li Yongxin , Zhang Yongjian , Hao Junjun , Deng Chao , Zheng Xinglong , Liu Miaomiao , Gao Yang , Wang Xue , Xue Li
Published: March 2021

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the predictive value of biomarkers related to preoperative inflammatory and coagulation in the prognosis of patients with type A acute aortic dissection (AAD). Methods: A total of 206 patients with type A AAD who had received surgical treatment were enrolled. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether they died during hospitalization. Peripheral blood samples were collected before anesthesia induction. Preoperative levels of D-dimer, fibrinogen (FIB), platelet (PLT), white blood cells (WBC) and neutrophil (NEU) between the two groups were compared. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were utilized to identify the independent risk factors for postoperative in-hospital deaths of patients with type A AAD. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to analyze the predictive value of D-dimer, FIB, PLT, WBC, NEU and CRP in the prognosis of the patients. Results: Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that the P values of the five parameters including D-dimer, FIB, PLT, WBC and NEU were all less than 0.1, which may be risk factors for postoperative in-hospital deaths of patients with type A AAD. Further multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that higher preoperative D-dimer and WBC levels were independent risk factors for in-hospital deaths of patients with type A AAD. ROC curve analysis indicated that FIB+PLT combination is provided with the highest predictive value for in-hospital deaths.Conclusion: Both preoperative D-dimer and WBC in patients with type A AAD may be used as independent risk factors for the prognosis of such patients. Combined use of FIB and PLT may improve the accuracy and accessibility of clinical prognostic assessment.
Predictive Utility of Changes in Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter After Cardiac Arrest for Neurologic Outcomes
Authors: Lee Heekyung , Lee Joonkee , Shin Hyungoo
Published: March 2021

Background: Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) is effective in predicting the neurologic outcome of patients with post-cardiac arrest (CA) return of spontaneous circulation. This study aimed to investigate the effect of ONSD changes before and after CA on neurologic outcomes in patients with return of spontaneous circulation after CA using brain computed tomography (CT).Methods: We included patients who were hospitalized after CA and underwent pre- and post-CA brain CT from January 2001 to September 2020. They were divided into the good and poor neurologic outcome (GNO and PNO, respectively) groups based on the neurologic outcome at hospital discharge. We performed between-group comparisons of the amount and rate of post-CA changes on brain CT. Moreover, we calculated the area under the curve to determine the predictive value of ONSD changes for neurologic outcomes.Results: We included 96 enrolled patients; among them, 25 had GNO. The amount of change was significantly higher in the PNO group than in the GNO group (0.63 vs. 0.30 mm; p = 0.030). Moreover, there was a higher rate of change in the PNO group than in the GNO group (12.29 vs. 5.26 %; p = 0.041). The AUC for predicting PNO was 0.64 (95% CI = 0.53–0.73; p = 0.04) and patients with a rate of ONSD change > 27.2% had PNO with specificity and positive predictive values of 100%.Conclusion: The amount and rate of ONSD changes on brain CT were significantly associated with the neurologic outcomes in post-CA patients. ONSD changes may predict neurologic outcomes in post-CA patients.
Knowledge-Practice Gap Regarding Surgical Scrubs Among Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Shahzad Hania , Fraz Khan Osama Bin , Siddiqui Ayat , Rizvi Narjis
Published: March 2021

Background: Medical students are involved in various aspects of patient care. Their lack of knowledge regarding infection control can compromise the safety of the patients. In this study, we describe the current knowledge and practice of medical students regarding surgical scrubs.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey among medical students using a self-administered questionnaire. The questions were based on the American Association of Surgical Technologists Standards of Practice for Surgical Attire, Surgical Scrub, Hand Hygiene, and Handwashing.Results: Most students correctly identified the components of surgical scrubs including scrub suit (95.5%), shoe covers (95.4%), headcover (94.9%), and masks (93.9%). 82.7% of students were aware of the policy of wearing surgical scrubs off-campus, 78.7% knew the correct method of using the protective over gowns, only 52.8% knew permissible areas for wearing surgical scrubs. Students’ adequate knowledge did not translate into their practices. 57.1% of the students reported not having received any formal education on scrub use. Inconvenience (66.9%), was cited as the most common cause of scrub re-use and unsafe practices.Conclusions: Medical students have sufficient knowledge regarding surgical scrubs which does not translate into their practices. The majority of the students report as not having received any formal training regarding surgical scrub guidelines. Improving medical student surgical scrub practices may help reduce the burden of HAIs in developing countries.
Optimization and Application of Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification Detection Method on Little Cherry Virus 1
Authors: Wang Deya , Li Zhili , Yang Weikang , Gao Chenmeng , Cao Xinran , Deng Yanmei
Published: March 2021

Background: Little cherry virus 1 (LChV-1) is one of the most pathogenic virus that frequently infect cherry and have caused serious economic damage to production and quality of cherry. But current detection methods of LChV-1 was less.Objective: This study aims to optimization of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) detection method on Little cherry virus 1, and lies the foundation for the application of LChV-1 fast diagnosis in the field in Shandong province.Methods: We performed one-step RT-LAMP at temperature of 59℃ for 60 minutes, whereas the reaction system contained 5.2 mM Mg2+, 8 U Bst 2.0 DNA polymerase, 1.4 mM deoxyribonucleotide and 0.2 and 1.6 µM of the outer and inner primers, respectively. And,we used the RT-LAMP method to detect 65 field samples from Shandong province, and discovered that 5 samples were infected by LChV-1, the detection results were consistent with the RT-PCR results.Conclusions: The RT-LAMP method is highly specific, sensitive, practicable and efficient and suitable method for detection LChV-1 samples.
Congestive Heart Failure Exhibited Higher BMI With Lower Energy Intake and Lower Physical Activity Level: Data From the National Health and Examination Nutrition Survey
Authors: Xu Tianyu , Zhou Haobing , Ma Zhuang , Zhang Hao , Huang Yuli , Zeng Qingchun , Xu Dingli , Zhang Yuhui , Zhang Jian
Published: March 2021

Introduction: Despite nutritional deficiency existed in congestive heart failure (CHF), there is a large amount of CHF patients suffer from obesity. This study aimed to identify the differences for increased BMI or obesity in CHF patients.Methods: This cross-sectional study included adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2016. Differences were compared between CHF participants versus non-CHF participants, and BMI ≥ 30kg/m2 versus BMI < 30kg/m2 CHF participants. Results: CHF participants were with higher BMI, lower energy and macronutrients intakes, lower physical activity level and longer rest time, lower hematocrit and hemoglobin level (all P <0.05) than non-CHF participants. The prevalence of BMI ≥ 30kg/m2 in patients with CHF was 53.48%. There was no significant difference observed in energy, macronutrients intake between CHF patients with BMI ≥ 30kg/m2 or < 30kg/m2. The water intake (P =0.032), sedentary time (P =0.002), and hematocrit (P =0.028) were significantly different between CHF with BMI ≥ 30kg/m2 and with < 30kg/m2.Conclusion: Compared with non-CHF participants, CHF patients exhibited higher BMI with lower energy and macronutrients intakes, lower physical activity level, longer rest time and hemodilution with lower hematocrit and hemoglobin level. Among CHF patients with BMI ≥ 30kg/m2, higher sedentary time and hematocrit were observed.