bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biomarkers in Asthma - Interpretation, and Utility in Current Asthma Management
Authors: Leru Polliana Mihaela
Published: January 2021

Asthma is a complex and highly heterogeneous disorder, having many clinical phenotypes
and underlining mechanisms, a broad spectrum of severity, and variable response to controller
therapy. Intensive research has been focused on the identification and validation of the most
appropriate biomarkers in the clinical management of asthma, mostly addressed to severe and refractory
cases. The use of reliable biomarkers in severe asthma can contribute to a better understanding
of disease biology, diagnosis and screening, by a refined characterization of particular
phenotypes and endotypes, assessment of severity, control, and prognosis. There is an increasing interest
to validate biomarkers able to indicate the adequate therapeutic choice from the class of biological
agents, most of them targeting T2 inflammation. Using a reliable and validated biomarker,
the clinician can monitor the response to initial therapy and early identify a severe phenotype. The
aim of this paper is to review the clinical utility of relevant biomarkers currently used in asthma management.
Indication for more advanced and efficient therapy, such as monoclonal antibodies and
selection of the optimal molecule, is based on biomarkers and clinical criteria, according to the
most recent experts’ recommendations. Peripheral blood eosinophils are considered an important
biomarker for the selection and identification of responders to anti-eosinophil biological therapy.
Real-life long-term studies to confirm the precise use and cutoffs of the already approved biomarkers
for T2 phenotypes and to identify reliable biomarkers for non- T2 severe asthma are still unmet
needs in asthma management.
Delivery of Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Tackling Systemic Disorders
Authors: Lai Wing-Fu
Published: January 2021

Development of methods for manipulating and culturing stem cells has enabled the emergence
of stem cell therapy as a promising approach in diverse applications, ranging from tissue repair
to treatment of intractable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and neurological disorders.
Along with technological advances in systemic stem cell delivery, treating multiple injured or
pathological sites simultaneously has been made possible. Despite this, most of the works on systemic
stem cell transplantation at the moment have focused on the efficiency of tackling local disorders. The
prospect of the therapy for enhancing systemic tissue repair, as well as for tackling systemic degenerative
disorders, has rarely been seriously considered. The objective of this article is to fill this gap by
reviewing the current status of research on systemic stem cell delivery, and by presenting the opportunities
and challenges for translating systemic stem cell delivery from the laboratory to the clinic.
Application of Diffusion Weighted Imaging in Prostate Cancer Bone Metastasis: Detection and Therapy Evaluation
Authors: Gong Xue-Qin , Tao Yun-Yun , Wang Ran , Liu Nian , Huang Xiao-Hua , Zheng Jing , Yang Cui , Yang Lin , Zhang Xiao-Ming
Published: January 2021

Background:

Bone metastasis is one of the most common complications of Prostate Cancer (PCa).
The detection of distal bone metastasis at the time of initial PCa diagnosis is valuable for the determination of
therapeutic methods and for the prognosis of PCa. Many current therapeutic methods target PCa bone metastasis,
but no uniform evaluation standard for therapeutic efficacy has been established; in addition, traditional
therapeutic evaluation standards that rely on changes in the measured tumor volume are quite controversial. In
clinical practice, the volumes of some tumors often change nonsignificantly at the early stage of therapy (especially
targeted therapy), while the volumes of other tumors, such as metastatic bone lesions, are difficult to measure.
Diffusion-Weighted Imaging (DWI) not only reflects the diffusion characteristics of tissues but can also allow
the analysis of microstructural and functional changes in tissues. Therefore, DWI is suitable for evaluations
of early responses to tumor therapy.

Objective:

This study mainly reviews the principle of DWI and its progress in the detection and therapy evaluation of PCa
bone metastasis.

Methods:

PubMed was searched to identify eligible articles up to December 26, 2020. The keywords of the
analysis included DWI, PCa, bone metastasis, therapeutic response, targeted therapy, Bone Scintigraphy (BS),
Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) and metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate
Cancer (mCRPC).

Results:

This review based on collected articles achieved an imaging biomarker for detection and therapy evaluation of PCa
bone metastasis.

Conclusion :

DWI is a promising imaging method for the detection and therapeutic evaluation of PCa bone metastases.
Trizbenzim, Cu-Trizbenzim and Zn-Trizbenzim as G-Quadruplex Inducing and Stabilizing Compounds on Human Telomeric Sequence and their Anticancer Properties
Authors: Renuga Duraisamy , Maheswari Palanisamy U. , Begum Kadhar M.M. Sheriffa , Prabaharan Dharmar
Published: January 2021

Background:

The benzimidazole and their derivatives have rich biological relevance with respect to
available natural amino acids and their role in protein folding and quaternary conformations. Thus the ligand
trizbenzim and their Cu(II) and Zn(II) metal complexes were prepared to induce G-quadruplex conformation
even under no-salt conditions with remarkable anticancer activities.

Methods:

The ligand N,N',N''-Tris-(1H-benzoimidazol-2-ylmethyl)-[1,3,5]triazine-2,4,6-triamine ( trizbenzim)
and its Cu and Zn complexes (Cu-trizbenzim, Zn-trizbenzim) were synthesized and characterized by IR, NMR,
and MALDI-TOF techniques. The pure ligand and its complexes interacted with human telomere DNA sequence
d(TTAGGG), HTelo8and HTelo20and the interactions were followed by circular dichroism spectroscopy,
FID assay, and molecular docking techniques. The compounds were tested for anticancer activity towards
selected cell lines.

Results:

All the three compounds stabilized the HTelo8 and HTelo20 in parallel and antiparallel G-quadruplex
conformations with salt conditions. Under no-salt conditions, the compounds induce and stabilize the G-quadruplex
conformation in antiparallel topology selectively. The pure ligand, Cu-trizbenzim, and Zn-trizbenzim were
involved in partial or classical intercalation and some backbone interactions on the strand. The FID assay using
thiazole orange intercalator supports the proposed intercalation mode of binding for the three compounds, especially
for the pure ligand and the Cu-complex. The MOE docking experiments using X-ray and NMR derived
G-quadruplex models with the title compounds extensively support the G-quadruplex induction and stabilization
of the telomere sequence by these compounds. The guanines bases involved in the G-tetrad formation interact
well with the triazine and the benzimidazole part of the ligand through strong π-π interactions. The primary
mode of binding is described as end stacking and intercalation of the compounds to the G-quadruplex structures.
The Cu-trizbenzim exhibited more anticancer property in comparison to the pure ligand and the Zntrizbenzim
complex. The IC50 values were in the nanomolar range from 50 to 150nM in concentration.

Conclusion:

This novel self-induction of G-quadruplex is novel without the presence of alkali metal ions.
Recent Advances in Metal-Organic Frameworks as Anticancer Drug Delivery Systems: A Review
Authors: Karami Abdollah , Mohamed Omnia , Ahmed Ahmed , Husseini Ghaleb A. , Sabouni Rana
Published: January 2021

Background:

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), as attractive hybrid crystalline porous materials,
are being increasingly investigated in biomedical applications owing to their exceptional properties, including
high porosity, ultrahigh surface areas, tailorable composition and structure, and tunability and surface functionality.
Of interest, in this review, is the design and development of MOF-based drug delivery systems (DDSs)
that have excellent biocompatibility, good stability under physiological conditions, high drug loading capacity,
and controlled/targeted drug release.

Objective:

This review highlights the latest advances in MOFs as anticancer drug delivery systems (DDSs) along with insights on their
design, fabrication, and performance under different stimuli that are either internal or external. The synthesis methods of MOFs, along
with their advantages and disadvantages, are briefly discussed. The emergence of multifunctional MOF-based theranostic platforms is
also discussed. Finally, the future challenges facing the developments of MOFs in the field of drug delivery are discussed.

Methods:

The review was prepared by carrying out a comprehensive literature survey using relevant work published in various scientific
databases.

Results:

Novel MOFs in biomedical applications, especially in drug delivery, have shown great potential.
MOF-based DDSs can be classified into normal (non-controllable) DDSs, stimuli-responsive DDSs, and theranostic
platforms. The normal DDSs are pristine MOFs loaded with therapeutic agents and offer little to no control
over drug release. Stimuli-responsive DDSs offer better spatiotemporal control over drug release by responding
to either endogenous (pH, redox, ions, ATP) or exogenous stimuli (light, magnetism, US, pressure,
temperature). The theranostic platforms combine stimuli-responsive drug delivery with diagnostic imaging functionality,
paving the road for imaging-guided drug delivery.

Conclusion:

This review presented a summary of the various methods utilized in MOF's synthesis along with
the advantages and disadvantages of each method. Furthermore, the review highlighted and discussed the latest
developments in the field of MOF-based DDSs and theranostic platforms. The review is focused on the characteristics
of MOF-based DDSs, the encapsulation of different anticancer drugs as well as their stimuli-responsive
release.
A Dig Deep to Scout the Pharmacological and Clinical Facet of Garlic
(Allium sativum)
Authors: Khan Mohd Masih Uzzaman , Khalilullah Habibullah , Eid Eltayeb E.M. , Azam Faizul , Khan Masood Alam , Khan Arif , Siddiqui Nasir Ali , Mahmood Tarique , Ahsan Farogh , Khan Wasi Uzzaman , Bhatia Nitish , Mahmood Danish , Anwar Md. Jamir
Published: January 2021

:

Garlic, Allium sativum L., is a culinary herb that has been employed medicinally since
ancient times. Garlic has been regarded as the oldest of all cultivated plants. Various experimental
as well as human studies have demonstrated that garlic is used in preventing the initiation and evolution
of several ailments such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, cancer, microbial
infections, arthritis, thrombosis, and Alzheimer’s disease. It can also act as an anti-oxidant.
The preclinical toxicity study gives an impression that garlic is safe, although allergic reactions
may occur. Recently, there has been systematic research regarding garlic, and positive results have
been attained in healing many diseases. For centuries many countries of different civilizations and
continents protected their populations and healed themselves using garlic. Therefore, there is an
augmented necessity of investigation on the history of garlic for the sake of strengthening the ability
of physicians and pharmacists to deal with the challenges arising in the provision of specialized
facilities to serve mankind. The present review provides morphological, pharmacological, and toxicological
insight regarding garlic. Further studies are required to explicate the therapeutic mode of
action of garlic along with its potency, effectiveness, and clinical wellbeing in the management of
different ailments.
Multifunctional Liquid Crystal Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy
Authors: Mehata Abhishesh K. , Dehari Deepa , Gupta Amit , Rabin Dangali C. , Miya Alim
Published: January 2021

Cancer is the second foremost reason for worldwide death, affecting every country of
the globe. However, 70% of cancer-related death was reported from low- and middle-income nations.
Delay in the detection and intervention of therapeutic agents in cancer patients also promoted
a cancer-related mortality index. Currently, numerous nanomedicines are under development for advancing
tumor diagnosis and therapeutic capability. Recently, liquid crystalline nanoparticles (LCNPs)
have emerged as an attractive drug delivery system for both intravenous and non-intravenous
applications. The widely explored LCNPs for cancer therapy include cubosomes and hexosomes.
They have significant advantages over other drug delivery system, which includes, high internal
surface area, unique solubilization properties and sustained release of entrapped drug molecules
and co-loading of imaging and therapeutic agents in a single system. In this review, we have briefly
discussed the advantages of LCNPs, preparation methods, and their multifunctional role in treating
various cancers.
A Comprehensive Review on Wired and Wireless Communication
Technologies and Challenges in Smart Residential Buildings
Authors: Ramalingam Senthil Prabu , Shanmugam Prabhakar Karthikeyan
Published: January 2021

Background:

The smart grid communication network is constructed with three tiers namely, Home Area
Networks (HANs), Neighborhood Area Networks (NANs) and Wide Area Networks (WANs). These networks function
with various communication protocols like table protocol, on-demand protocol, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, Z-Wave, Wi-MAX, GSM,
LTE, Cognitive Radio Networks. The network interconnection is heterogonous and all appliances have to communicate
through the IP gateways. A large amount of data is collected from various sensors placed in different locations. The
analytics on large data- “big data” is essential because these data were used to organize and plan an efficient control and
management of the smart home including secured data exchange in different sectors.

Objective:

This paper investigates broadly on data rate, channel bandwidth, power consumption, and a coverage range of
both wired and wireless communication technologies used in residential buildings. Besides, a literature survey on
optimization algorithms with various constraints to manage home appliances through scheduling is included. The paper
also discusses the communication standards along with security and privacy requirements for smart metering networks.

Conclusion:

Discussion on IEEE standards for both wired and wireless communication protocols. Gives direction to
identify the suitable communication technique through mathematical model for computing the communication channel
bandwidth. Comparison of various optimization algorithms with multiple constraints in HEMS to achieve the minimum
electricity cost and user comfort (with and without Renewable Energy Sources). From the investigation on both wired and
wireless networks, the wireless communication networks (Zig-Bee & Wi-Fi) are mostly preferred to use in HAN because
of more reliability and low cost. Zigbee is the most appropriate technology used for data transmission between the
individual appliances and smart meters. Wi-Fi is a suitable technology for controlling and monitoring appliances because
of its high data rate.
Collocational choices in the discourse activities of select paramilitary formations in Nigeria
Authors: Uwen God'sgift Ogban
Published: January 2021

This paper investigated the collocational choices used among three Nigerian paramilitary formations in their official discourse activities with a view to ascertaining the contextual meanings of the lexical choices. Data for the study were collected by means of participant observation and key informant interview (KII) of randomly selected segments of members in the office environment, patrol duties and muster parades. The findings showed that personnel of the formations used peculiar collocational choices in their formal discourse engagements with a high level of competence that enhanced in-group mutual intelligibility and solidarity. Categorically, the collocational choices occurred in eight different combinations: noun-noun, adjective-noun, verb-noun, adverb-adjective, adverb-verb, adverb-noun, noun-adjective and verb-adverb lexically compatible to advance institutionally modelled meanings. The lexical collocations are prominently two content words in the open class system consciously devised to communicate professional orientation for the discharge of their security and safety-related statutory duties.
Liberalismo e Revolução Liberal de 1820. Novas interpretações
Authors: Ribeiro Jorge
Published: January 2021

In the bicentenary of the Liberal Revolution of 1820, the Revista da FLUP – História in its v.10, nº 2 (2020) publishes a dossier related with this event, that has the objective to allow a reflection on the Portuguese Liberalism, accordingly to the new historiographical tendencies. This theme was object of great interest by Portuguese historians and writers, as well as foreigners, in the 19th and 20th centuries. In fact, the military rebellion of the 24th August 1820 was of vital importance, in the History of Portugal, as it made possible the realization of first elections, by direct suffrage that ever took place in the country and the writing of the first Liberal Constitution in 1822
O local e o regional na construção da cidadania: algumas reflexões sobre o liberalismo português
Authors: Branco João
Published: January 2021

The process of implanting liberalism in Portugal represents, in a way, an attempt to consolidate multiple realities, regional and local, in something more homogeneous. From a polyhedral reality, marked, to a greater or lesser degree, by local autonomies and by regional particularisms, the liberal State tries to move towards a political and administrative organization that intends to be rational and monolithic, derived from a political center that defines lines, rights and common duties. Municipalities and regions would integrate into an abstract national whole, like pieces of a puzzle, and individuals, previously organized in multiple ways (in orders, corporations, family networks), would become citizens, in theory equal before the law. But this idea of homogenization is, to a large extent, apparent: the local resistance to the center, evident in the Portuguese example at various times in the first half of the 19th century, and the various proposals for alternative political models, based on the virtuous examples of the local autonomies of the ancient world and medievality, which never really leave the field of political debate, show precisely that the attempt at rational uniformity carried out by the liberals is not as linear as it might at first appear. How are the new spatial and administrative realities related to the experience of res publica by citizens? What is the relevance of the local and regional dimension in this process? And how do these reflections intersect with the question of citizenship itself and how it was conceived in the concrete context of the first half of the Portuguese 19th century?
El `alcalde de los portugueses´ en tiempo de Filipe I. Vigilar la Corte moderna según el principio de origen
Authors: Ezquerra Revilla Ignacio
Published: January 2021

The exclusive attribution of the jurisdiction over Portuguese subjects in the Madrid Court of Philip I of Portugal and II of Castile to an alcalde de Casa y Corte showed the virtue of the extended royal domestic government, of oeconomic basis, for the lace of the kingdom of Portugal in the new gear of the Hispanic Monarchy. It also pointed out the restrictions of the Castilian nature extension, complementary mold of respect for the Portuguese, contained in the so-called statute of Tomar (1581). But it was an attribution that successive commissioners added to many others, a fact that contributed to its reduction and its conversion into a mere mechanism of estate protection since 1594
Da afirmação de uma «questão urbana» à produção das primeiras respostas urbanísticas do Estado: crise sanitária, movimento higienista e estruturação do campo burocrático perspetivadas a partir do Porto.
Authors: Queirós João
Published: January 2021

: This article explores the preconditions and modes of affirmation and strengthening of the role of the state in urbanism and urban intervention, taking as reference and example the case of the city of Porto, in Portugal. The sanitary crisis that follows the surge of bubonic plague observed in this city in 1899 is the motto for the development of an analysis on the relevance of the hygienist movement in the production and dissemination of a new way of envisaging the state’s intervention in the city and in the structuring of the bureaucratic field that this specific historic period testifies
De Espanha ao México. A passagem de refugiados por Portugal no contexto da Guerra Civil de Espanha: o caso de Mateos Tuñón Albertos
Authors: Faria Fábio Alexandre
Published: January 2021

This article analyzes the presence of refugees in Portugal in the context of the Spanish civil war and the establishment of the Franco´s regime, facilitated by geographical proximity. Afraid of contact with the outside world, the Salazar´s regime developed a repression aimed at these refugees, considered undesirable, seeking to prevent them from settling definitively in the country. Crossing the memorialist work of Mateo Tuñón Albertos with other documental and bibliographic sources this article deals with the case of Mateo Tuñón Albertos, who arrived in Portugal after the civil war, which exemplifies the reality experienced by many refugees, and the difficulties they faced to survive and leave the country bound for Mexico
Investigating Meaning-making Process in Design Collaboration Activities: Designers Interaction With Objects
Authors: Ali Abu , Liem Andre , Isa Siti Salwa , Isa Siti Suriawati
Published: January 2021

Various ways of accessing the meaning-making process in design activity have been explored in many fields of user-centred design, participatory design and human product experienced. However, designer collaboration activities in meaning findings have rarely been studied or reported. Therefore, this research investigates the influence of designers’ collaboration on designers’ thinking in creating meaning in the design process and the design elements that influence their making. It can be concluded that experience and a more active observation with an object in design practice contribute to the better idea in the meaning-making process.
Keywords: meaning-making, design thinking, the principle of design
eISSN: 2398-4287© 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bsby e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v5iSI3.2540
Physical Activity among Older Persons in Elderly Institutions
Authors: Dahlan Akehsan , Azri Muhammad Azwan
Published: January 2021

Engagement in physical activity is an essential part of an older person. However, there is inconclusive evidence about the level of participation in physical activity among older persons in institutions in Malaysia. In this cross-sectional study, 331 older persons who live in elderly institutions participated in this study. The results indicated that the majority of older persons in institutions have low participation in physical activity. The normal cognitive function group has a higher level of participation in physical activity compared to older persons with mild neurocognitive disorder and Dementia. Physical functioning and mental health predict participation in physical activity.
 Keywords: Physical activity, older person, institutions, cognitive functions
eISSN: 2398-4287© 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bsby e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v5iSI3.2550
Predictors of Quality of Life in Individuals Seeking Infertility Treatment: a Malaysian FertiQoL Study
Authors: Ariffin Farnaza , Daud Suzanna , Zainuddin Ani Amelia , Ramli Roszaman
Published: January 2021

Infertility problems can lower the quality of life (QoL). This study aims to predict the factors associated with QoL using the Malaysian FertiQoL. This cross-sectional study was conducted at four fertility clinics in Malaysia. Sociodemographic details and FertiQoL responses were collected. A total of 395 participants were analysed using SPSS v24 with a mean (SD) age of 33.18 (4.45). Respondents were predominantly female (57.2%) and Malay ethnicity (82.5%). The core domain means score (SD) was 74.68 (14.35) and consisted of mind-body 77.56 (17.55), emotional 70.26 (18.98), relational 77.32 (17.19) and social 73.56 (15.74). Positive predictors for QoL are Islamic faith, higher income, and general well-being.  
Keywords: Malay FertiQoL; infertile; predictor,
eISSN: 2398-4287© 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bsby e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v5iSI3.2565
Development of a Digital Health Intervention for Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptom Management in a Biotechnology Industry Context: Protocol for the Application of a Human-Centered Design Framework
Authors: Nugent Lisa , Anthony Kouyate Robin , Jackson Shawna , Smith Meredith Y
Published: January 2021

Background

Involving chronically ill patients in the management of their health is widely recognized as a vital component of high-quality health care. However, to assume the role of informed participants, patients need both access to their health information and assistance in interpreting such data. Smartphone technology with SMS text messaging functionality offers a convenient and minimally demanding mechanism for providing such dual capabilities to patients. To date, a number of similar digital tools have been developed for use in various chronic and progressive disease conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective

This paper aims to describe the development of a research protocol that applies a human-centered design (HCD) approach to develop a mobile health (mHealth) intervention to support symptom management and treatment adherence for rheumatoid arthritis.

Methods

To guide the development of the mHealth intervention for use within a commercial biotechnology context, we selected and applied an HCD framework consisting of three phases: understanding, ideation, and implementation.

Results

Leveraging the framework, we mapped the key objectives and research questions to each phase and identified the HCD techniques and methods most suitable for addressing them. In addition, we identified the need to include a fourth phase, one that referred to postimplementation assessment, which would enable evaluation of patient engagement and intervention impact on symptom self-management.

Conclusions

This paper presents a research protocol that applied an HCD framework to guide the development of an mHealth intervention within a commercial biotechnology context. This type of guidance is salient because commercial entities are becoming one of the leading producers of this type of intervention. However, the methodologies used and challenges faced from a research and development perspective are not well-represented in the published research literature to date. Our application of the HCD framework yielded important findings. Each phase of the HCD framework provided important guidance for increasing the likelihood that the final product would be understandable, acceptable, feasible, and engaging to use. Consistent with other researchers in the field of mHealth interventions, we identified the need to add a fourth phase to the HCD framework, one that focused on a postimplementation assessment to guide further improvements to support adoption in real-world settings.

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

RR1-10.2196/16430
Going From Zero to 100 in Remote Dementia Research: A Practical Guide
Authors: O'Connell Megan E , Vellani Shirin , Robertson Sheryl , O'Rourke Hannah M , McGilton Kathy S
Published: January 2021

Remote approaches for dementia research are required in the era of COVID-19, but moving a research program from in person to remote involves additional considerations. We recommend using outcome measures that have psychometric properties for remote delivery, and we recommend against adapting in-person scales for remote delivery without evidence for psychometric equivalency. We suggest remote research designs that maximize benefit for participants, which could have implications for control groups. Researchers should plan for flexibility in their methods for remote research and must not assume all participants will be able to videoconference; telephone-only research is possible. We recommend performing an assessment of information communication technology infrastructure and prior exposure to this technology with each participant before making a final choice on remote methods for research. In general, researchers should adapt their methods for remote research to each participant rather than requesting participants to adapt to the researchers. Screening for sensory loss should be conducted, and the impact of this on the use of technology for remote research should be considered. In this viewpoint, we detail how individualized training is required prior to engaging in remote research, how training plans interact with cognitive impairments and, finally, the steps involved in facilitating technology-based remote data collection.
Optimizing Engagement in an Online Dietary Intervention for Depression (My Food & Mood Version 3.0): Cohort Study
Authors: Young Claire Louise , Mohebbi Mohammadreza , Staudacher Heidi M , Kay-Lambkin Frances , Berk Michael , Jacka Felice Nellie , O'Neil Adrienne
Published: January 2021

Background

Online interventions can be a cost-effective and efficient way to deliver programs to large numbers of people regardless of geographic location. However, attrition in web-based interventions is often an issue. Developing ways to keep participants engaged is important for ensuring validity and limiting potential biases. We developed a web-based dietary intervention as part of The My Food & Mood study which aimed to optimize ways to engage participants with low mood or depressive symptoms to promote dietary behavior change. Different versions of the My Food & Mood program were tested during optimization. Iterations were developed based on user feedback and usage analysis.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to compare engagement and nonusage attrition across 4 program iterations—which differed by platform format, delivery mode, and activity type—to create an optimized version.

Methods

Each program version contained modular videos with key activities with respect to implementing behavior change techniques of equivalent levels of required participation and length: version 1.0, desktop program and smartphone app; version 2.1, desktop or smartphone program; version 2.2, desktop program; and version 3.0, smartphone app. Adults with PHQ-8 scores of 5 or greater were recruited online and assigned to 1 of the 4 versions. Participants were asked to use the program for 8 weeks and complete measures at weeks 4 and 8. Engagement data were collected from the web-based platform system logs and customized reports. Cox regression survival analysis examined nonusage attrition and Kruskal-Wallis tests compared engagement across each cohort.

Results

A total of 614 adults participated. Kruskal-Wallis tests showed significant differences across the 4 cohorts in all engagement measures. The smartphone app (version 3.0) had the greatest engagement as measured by weeks engaged, total usage time, total time key activities, number of active sessions, percentage of activities completed against protocol, goals completed, and percentage of videos watched. Cox regression multivariate survival analysis showed referral from a health practitioner (hazard ratio [HR] 0.344, P=.001) and greater proficiency with computers (HR 0.796, P=.049) reduced the risk of nonusage attrition. Computer confidence was associated with an increased risk of nonusage attrition.

Conclusions

My Food & Mood version 3.0, a dietary intervention delivered via smartphone app with self-monitoring tools for diet quality and mood monitoring, was the version with greatest engagement in a population with low mood or depression. The iterative design techniques employed and analysis of feedback from participants resulted in a program that achieved lower rates of nonusage attrition and higher rates of intensity of use.
Nonprescription Products of Internet Retailers for the Prevention and Management of Herpes Zoster and Postherpetic Neuralgia: Analysis of Consumer Reviews on Amazon
Authors: Zhu Pengyi , Woo Benjamin K P
Published: January 2021

Background

Herpes zoster affects approximately 1 million people annually in the United States, with postherpetic neuralgia as the most common complication. The frequent prescription of opioids as the first-line medication for herpes zoster or postherpetic neuralgia contributes to the increasing health care costs of their treatment. Despite the advent of internet retailers providing alternative products for the prevention and management these conditions, there are limited studies on the availability, ingredients, and consumer preference for the products.

Objective

This study used the internet retailer Amazon to determine the availability of products for the management of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia, and assessed consumer preference based on listed ingredients.

Methods

The internet retailer Amazon was used to perform a search for products related to “shingles” in September 2020. Top products sorted by reviews and ratings were determined to be either shingles-specific (including “shingles” in either the product title or description) or shingles-nonspecific. Analysis of price, rating, type of vehicle, and ingredients was performed. The types of vehicles, ingredients, and percentages of positive and negative reviews related to “shingles” of the product groups were analyzed with a two-tailed two-sample proportions Z-test to assess the difference between shingles-specific and shingles-nonspecific products. Statistical significance was judged at P<.05.

Results

The top 131 products among over 3000 products retrieved were determined based on a rating of 4 or more stars after searching for the term “shingles” on Amazon. Forty-six of the 131 products (35.1%) were shingles-specific. Shingles-nonspecific products were more likely to have positive reviews mentioning “shingles” (P=.005). Vehicles, balms (P=.02), and salves (P=.04) were more likely to be shingles-specific, whereas tablets or capsules (P=.002) were more likely to be shingles-nonspecific. Among the ingredients analyzed, aloe vera was the top-ranked ingredient, included in 29 of the 131 total products (22.1%). Aloe vera (P=.01), lemon balm (P<.001), vitamin E (P=.03), and peppermint oil (P=.008) were more likely to be included in the shingles-specific products, whereas magnesium (P=.01) was more likely to be included in shingles-nonspecific products.

Conclusions

There is an abundance of products and ingredients being used for the management and treatment of shingles with certain ingredients preferred by consumers. There is a discrepancy between approved ingredients and the ingredients preferred by consumers. Furthermore, there are insufficient studies on ingredients used by consumers on internet retailers such as Amazon, and future studies can focus on the effectiveness of popular ingredients to decrease misinformation on the internet.
Feasibility of Virtual Reality Audiological Testing: Prospective Study (Preprint)
Authors: Seol Hye Yoon , Kang Soojin , Lim Jihyun , Hong Sung Hwa , Moon Il Joon
Published: January 2021

BACKGROUND

It has been noted in the literature that there is a gap between clinical assessment and real-world performance. Real-world conversations entail visual and audio information, yet there are not any audiological assessment tools that include visual information. Virtual reality (VR) technology has been applied to various areas, including audiology. However, the use of VR in speech-in-noise perception has not yet been investigated.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of virtual space (VS) on speech performance and its feasibility to be used as a speech test instrument. We hypothesized that individuals’ ability to recognize speech would improve when visual cues were provided.

METHODS

A total of 30 individuals with normal hearing and 25 individuals with hearing loss completed pure-tone audiometry and the Korean version of the Hearing in Noise Test (K-HINT) under three conditions—conventional K-HINT (cK-HINT), VS on PC (VSPC), and VS head-mounted display (VSHMD)—at –10 dB, –5 dB, 0 dB, and +5 dB signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). Participants listened to target speech and repeated it back to the tester for all conditions. Hearing aid users in the hearing loss group completed testing under unaided and aided conditions. A questionnaire was administered after testing to gather subjective opinions on the headset, the VSHMD condition, and test preference.

RESULTS

Provision of visual information had a significant impact on speech performance between the normal hearing and hearing impaired groups. The Mann-Whitney U test showed statistical significance (P<.05) between the two groups under all test conditions. Hearing aid use led to better integration of audio and visual cues. Statistical significance through the Mann-Whitney U test was observed for –5 dB (P=.04) and 0 dB (P=.02) SNRs under the cK-HINT condition, as well as for –10 dB (P=.007) and 0 dB (P=.04) SNRs under the VSPC condition, between hearing aid and non–hearing aid users. Participants reported positive responses across almost all items on the questionnaire except for the weight of the headset. Participants preferred a test method with visual imagery, but found the headset to be heavy.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings are in line with previous literature that showed that visual cues were beneficial for communication. This is the first study to include hearing aid users with a more naturalistic stimulus and a relatively simple test environment, suggesting the feasibility of VR audiological testing in clinical practice.
Clinical Named Entity Recognition based on Deep Learning with Pre-trained Word Embedding for Colonoscopy Reports: Model Development and Performance Evaluation (Preprint)
Authors: Seong Donghyeong , Choi Yoonho , Jung Sungwon , Bae Sungchul , Shin Soo-Yong , Yi Byoung-Kee
Published: January 2021

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths. Several screening tests such as colonoscopy can be used to find polyps or colorectal cancer. Colonoscopy reports are often written in unstructured narrative text. The information embedded in the reports can be used for various purposes, including colorectal cancer risk prediction, follow-up recommendation, and quality measurement. However, the availability and accessibility of the unstructured text data are still very low despite the large amounts of accumulated data.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to develop a deep learning-based natural language processing (NLP) method for named entity recognition (NER) in colonoscopy reports. To the best of our knowledge, no previous studies on clinical NLP for colonoscopy reports have applied deep learning techniques.

METHODS

This study proposed a method to apply pre-trained word embedding to a deep learning-based NER model using large unlabeled colonoscopy reports. Approximately 280,668 colonoscopy reports were extracted from the clinical data warehouse of the Samsung Medical Center. For 5,000 reports, procedural information and colonoscopic findings were manually annotated with 17 labels. We compared variants of the long short-term memory (LSTM) model to select the one with the best performance for colonoscopy reports, which was the bidirectional LSTM with conditional random fields. Then, we applied pre-trained word embedding using a large unlabeled data (280,668 reports) to the selected model.

RESULTS

The NER model with pre-trained word embedding performed better for most labels than the model with one-hot encoding. The F1 score for colonoscopic findings were: 0.9564 for lesions, 0.9722 for locations, 0.9809 for shapes, 0.9720 for colors, 0.9862 for sizes, and 0.9717 for numbers.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, clinical NER was applied to extract meaningful information from colonoscopy reports. We proposed a deep learning-based NER model with pre-trained word embedding. The proposed method in this study achieved promising results that demonstrate it can be applied to various practical purposes.
An Explorative Qualitative Study on Pharmacist Active Engagement Approach in Primary Healthcare Diabetic Education
Authors: Selvadurai Selvakumari , Makmor-Bakry Mohd , Mhd Ali Adliah
Published: January 2021

The conventional counseling method focuses on imparting knowledge meanwhile active engagement approach would enhance patient’s participation and control in the health management process. This study explored the various elements that affect the pharmacist-patient active engagement during diabetes counseling sessions in primary healthcare settings. A qualitative study using thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews was utilized. Subjects were recruited from five primary healthcare clinics in Kuala Lumpur. Ten pharmacists actively running the diabetes medication therapy adherence clinical (DMTAC) counseling and 15 patients who are currently enrolled under the DMTAC program participated in this study. A combination of computer software ATLAS.ti and hand-written methods were used in the mind mapping to assist with the development of the themes. The qualitative analysis identified themes associated with pharmacist active engagement approach include establish rapport (subthemes: introduction and greetings, ice-breaking, background check, attitude, pharmacist motivation), getting information to explore the patient problems (subthemes: giving attention, communication, the time factor, re-assess patients’ understanding), building relationship (subthemes: sharing of ideas, emotions, relationship, trust, sensitiveness, support and belief), explanation and planning (subthemes: making a decision and mutual discussion) and closing the session (subthemes: accessibility to pharmacists, DMTAC appointments). This study established areas of active engagement namely, shared decision-making, engaging communication, and motivational interview skills that should be imparted to the pharmacists to enhance the current diabetes counseling practice.
Phytochemical Profile And Antioxidant Activity Of Guazuma ulmifolia Leaves Extracts Using Different Solvent Extraction
Authors: Rafi Mohamad , Meitary Nadya , Anggraini Septaningsih Dewi , Bintang Maria
Published: January 2021

Guazuma ulmifolia is one of the common tropical plants that has long been used as a traditional medicine to reduce body weight as slimming herbs and to lower the cholesterol in the body. The leaves of G. ulmifolia contain phenolics compound such as flavonoids and tannin that contributes to its biological activities. In this research, we determined the content of total phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, antioxidant activity, and FTIR spectrum profile from four extracts of G. ulmifolia leaves. The extraction method used in this study was stepwise maceration with different solvents n-hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanol, and water. The content of total phenolics and flavonoids were found high in ethanol extract of G. ulmifolia leaves with 35.42 and 44.85 mg QE/g dry powder, respectively. The highest content of total tannins was obtained in ethyl acetate extract of G. ulmifolia leaves as 0.55%. Antioxidant activity from four extracts of G. ulmifolia leaves was measured using DPPH, CUPRAC, and reducing power method. The highest antioxidant activity for DPPH and CUPRAC method was obtained in ethyl acetate extract with the antioxidant capacity as 55.47 and 98.17 µmol trolox/g dry powder, respectively. While using reducing power assay gives the capacity 176.75 µmol trolox/g dry powder in the water extract. The pattern of FTIR spectra from four extracts of G. ulmifolia leaves gives the distinct characteristics of each spectrum profile. Principal component analysis using FTIR spectrum shows good clustering for each extract with 94% data variability (PC1= 77% and PC2 = 17%). It can be concluded that each extract of G. ulmifolia leaves gives a distinct phytochemical profile (phenolics content, flavonoids, tannins, and FTIR spectrum) that contributes to the antioxidant activity. This antioxidant activity mainly influenced by the concentration of phenolic compounds, which is known to have antioxidant properties.
Antiplasmodial Activity of The Low Molecular Weight Compounds from Streptomyces sp. GMR22
Authors: Tambunan Tarsa Ruli , Widada Jaka , Damayanti Ema , Wahyuningsih Tutik Dwi , Mustofa Mustofa
Published: January 2021

Low molecular weight (LMW) antiplasmodial compounds isolated from bacteria, particularly Streptomyces have not been widely reported. This study aimed to identify LMW compounds from Streptomyces sp. GMR22 as antiplasmodial. Isolation of the LMW compounds from the supernatant of fermentation culture using solvent of n-hexane:ethylacetate (EtOAc) (85:15v/v)and identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Antiplasmodial assay of n-hexane:EtOAc extract was carried out in vitro against P. falciparum (3D7). Parasitemia percentage obtained through microscopic observations and 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) obtained through probit analysis. The antiplasmodial confirmation test was done by flow cytometry using SYBR Green I for Plasmodium DNA and anti-human CD235a for erythrocytes. The LMW compounds were investigated using SwissADME for drug-likeness. n-Hexane:EtOAc extract contained 21 LMW compounds from alcohol, hydrocarbon, ester, aromatic/diester, diester, fatty acid, and triester classes, which possessed moderate antiplasmodial activity with an IC50 value of 38.61 ± 19.06 µg/mL. Confirmation by flow cytometry analysis showed that the extract at 50 µg/mL exhibited antiplasmodial activity based on a decreased Plasmodium DNA intensity as compared to the control group. The result of drug-likeness screening obtained that 3 LMW compounds were drug-likeness, namely phenylethyl alcohol, ethyl citrate, and di-n-butyl phthalate. Streptomyces sp. GMR22 produced LMW compounds as antiplasmodial, and further study was needed for identification of antiplasmodial active compounds.