bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lipoxin Mimetics and the Resolution of Inflammation
Authors: Godson Catherine , Guiry Patrick , Brennan Eoin
Published: January 2023

Inflammation and its timely resolution are critical to ensure effective host defense and appropriate tissue repair after injury and or infection. Chronic, unresolved inflammation typifies many prevalent pathologies. The key mediators that initiate and drive the inflammatory response are well defined and targeted by conventional anti-inflammatory therapeutics. More recently, there is a growing appreciation that specific mediators, including arachidonate-derived lipoxins, are generated in self-limiting inflammatory responses to promote the resolution of inflammation and endogenous repair mechanisms without compromising host defense. We discuss the proresolving biological actions of lipoxins and recent efforts to harness their therapeutic potential through the development of novel, potent lipoxin mimetics generated via efficient, modular stereoselective synthetic pathways. We consider the evidence that lipoxin mimetics may have applications in limiting inflammation and reversing fibrosis and the underlying mechanisms.
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Phosphatases: No Longer Undruggable?
Authors: Shillingford Shanelle R. , Bennett Anton M.
Published: January 2023

Phosphatases and kinases maintain an equilibrium of dephosphorylated and phosphorylated proteins, respectively, that are required for critical cellular functions. Imbalance in this equilibrium or irregularity in their function causes unfavorable cellular effects that have been implicated in the development of numerous diseases. Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) catalyze the dephosphorylation of protein substrates on tyrosine residues, and their involvement in cell signaling and diseases such as cancer and inflammatory and metabolic diseases has made them attractive therapeutic targets. However, PTPs have proved challenging in therapeutics development, garnering them the unfavorable reputation of being undruggable. Nonetheless, great strides have been made toward the inhibition of PTPs over the past decade. Here, we discuss the advancement in small-molecule inhibition for the PTP subfamily known as the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatases (MKPs). We review strategies and inhibitor discovery tools that have proven successful for small-molecule inhibition of the MKPs and discuss what the future of MKP inhibition potentially might yield.
Dissipative Particle Dynamic Simulation of Oil-Water Two-Phase Flow in Quartz Slits
Authors: Wu Jiuzhu , Li Jiaqi
Published: January 2023

Aiming to study the characteristics and mechanism of oil-water two-phase flow, based on the method of dissipative particle dynamics (DPD), meso-scale models of pressure-driven flow in quartz slits with width of 5-15 nm were simulated. Water is the driving phase. The results show that, as the liquid flew, it stratified gradually. The stratification came earlier as the width, and the driving force increased. The flow in slit of 5 nm was slug flow, while velocity profiles in other models showed parabolic characteristics. When the liquid stratified, the velocity gradient in the near-wall area decreased as a result of the low momentum exchange rate between from water to oil. The density peaks of fluid appeared at the fluid-solid interface and the oil-water interface, caused by the fluid-solid interaction force and the oil-water repulsion, respectively. The oil phase showed stronger aggregation due to the attractive force from the wall. When the water saturation was 25%, the water phase was a water droplet surrounded by oil. When the water saturation was 75%, oil and water stratified. As the repulsive force between the two phases decreased, the surface tension decreased, the mixing degree increased, and the parabolic characteristics of the velocity profile were more obvious.
Entropy Generation and Regression Analysis of Magnetohydrodynamic Stagnation Point Flow of a Casson Fluid with Radiative and Dissipative Heat Transfer and Hall Effects
Authors: Prashu  , Nandkeolyar Raj , Kumar Premful , Sinha Vivek Kumar , Sangwan Vivek
Published: January 2023

The phenomenon of heat transfer is prevalent in industries and has an extensive range of applications. However, mostly the discussion of heat transfer problems is limited to the study of the first law of thermodynamics, which deals with energy conservation. It is just restricted to the quantity of energy, not to its quality; i.e., there is no difference between the work (high‐grade energy) and the heat (low‐grade energy). A measurement of the degree of randomness of energy in a system is known as entropy. It is unavailable for doing useful work because work takes place only from ordered molecular motion. Even though many boundary layer models exist in the literature to investigate the flow and heat transfer of various fluids along a stretching surface, they have not yet been used at their maximum ability. The main motive of the current research is to discuss entropy generation or its minimization during heat transfer. This work presents an entropy generation analysis for the transient three‐dimensional stagnation point flow of a hydromagnetic Casson fluid flowing over a stretching surface in the existence of Hall current, viscous dissipation, and nonlinear radiation. The physical configuration of the present work is described in terms of partial differential equations (PDEs) of nonlinear nature. Furthermore, these PDEs are converted into ordinary differential equations by using some relevant similarity transformations. An efficient numerical method named as the spectral quasilinearization method (SQLM) is used to solve this model. The expression of the Bejan number and volumetric entropy generation rate is also computed. A parametric analysis, including the essential physical parameters, is performed to examine the influences of distinct flow parameters on the velocity profile, temperature profile, Bejan number, entropy generation number, and the coefficients of skin friction and the Nusselt number. In order to further insight into the emerging physical quantities of engineering interest, multiple quadratic regression models are used to estimate the coefficients of skin friction and heat transfer.
Theoretical and Experimental Antiscaling Performance Study of Several Inhibitors to Prevent Barium Sulfate Formation during Water Injection in Oil Reservoirs
Authors: Li Haitao , Li Ran
Published: January 2023

One of the hazards from mineral precipitation during oilfield production is scaling, which mainly manifests in the following three aspects: it leads to reduction in permeability, in deliverability, and in water intake capacity of reservoir; the flowing area of pipeline shrinks, which could elevate the fluid flow resistance and even lead to well shut; and scaling could also contribute to pressure loss and may cause tube blasting when it is serious. Therefore, scaling not only improves production costs but also poses a serious threat to production safety. The injection of scale inhibitors in the process of water flooding is the main method to combat scale build-up. Efficiency of inhibitor or adsorption between inhibitor and scale is the key factor that determines success or failure of the scale inhibitor squeeze treatments. Previous studies have confirmed that interaction between the inhibitor and the scale surface plays an important role in scale prevention and control. Although many studies have been carried out on inhibitor efficiency and inhibition mechanism, a comprehensive understanding of inhibitor-scale interaction is yet available and the adsorption behavior between inhibitor and scale surface requires further research. Thereupon, this study presents performance evaluation and computational study of three inhibitors, including EDTMPS, DTPMP, and DTPA-5Na based on the scaling prediction result of the Huaqing oilfield. It was found that BaSO4 was the main type of scaling and the antiscaling performance of the three inhibitors was experimentally displayed as DTPA-5Na > DTMP > EDTMPS at the concentration from 40 mg/L to 120 mg/L. SEM micrographs of BaSO4 surfaces in the absence and presence of inhibitors at the concentration of 80 mg/L showed that the inhibitors obviously influenced the process of crystal growth of BaSO4 by lattice distortion and chelate effect. In addition, density functional theory (DFT) calculations unraveled that adsorption capacity of inhibitors interacting with three surfaces of BaSO4 increased in the order of DTPA-5Na > EDTMPS > DTPMP. DPTA-5Na was likely to be chemisorbed on the surfaces of BaSO4 while DTPMP and EDTMPS tended to be adsorbed on (210) and (001) surfaces of BaSO4 by chemical and physical effect, respectively. Calculation of difference charges and DOS analysis indicated that DTPA-5Na interacted with BaSO4 by combining atoms of oxygen and sodium to form new chemical bonds while EDTMPS and DTPMP interacted with BaSO4 by combining hydrogen and oxygen atoms to form physical bonds. The research results can provide a better understanding of the interaction between inhibitors and scale surfaces and can also lay scientific foundation for barite scale prevention and further development of inhibitors.
Comprehensive ctDNA Measurements Improve Prediction of Clinical Outcomes and Enable Dynamic Tracking of Disease Progression in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Lapin Morten , Edland Karin H. , Tjensvoll Kjersti , Oltedal Satu , Austdal Marie , Garresori Herish , Rozenholc Yves , Gilje Bjørnar , Nordgård Oddmund
Published: January 2023

Purpose:

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has emerged as a promising tumor-specific biomarker in pancreatic cancer, but current evidence of the clinical potential of ctDNA is limited. In this study, we used comprehensive detection methodology to explore the utility of longitudinal ctDNA measurements in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.

Experimental Design:

A targeted eight-gene next-generation sequencing panel was used to detect point mutations and copy-number aberrations (CNA) in ctDNA from 324 pre-treatment and longitudinal plasma samples obtained from 56 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. The benefit of ctDNA measurements to predict clinical outcome and track disease progression was assessed.

Results:

We detected ctDNA in 35/56 (63%) patients at baseline and found that it was an independent predictor of shorter progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). After initiation of treatment, ctDNA levels decreased significantly before significantly increasing by the time of progression. In some patients, ctDNA persistence was observed after the first chemotherapy cycles, and it was associated with rapid disease progression and shorter OS. Longitudinal monitoring of ctDNA levels in 27 patients for whom multiple samples were available detected progression in 19 (70%) patients. The median lead time of ctDNA measurements on radiologically determined progression/time of death was 19 days (P = 0.002), compared with 6 days (P = 0.007) using carbohydrate antigen 19–9.

Conclusions:

ctDNA is an independent prognostic marker that can be used to detect treatment failure and disease progression in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.
OCT Angiography Use in Pregnancy: Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion Associated with Patent Foramen Ovale – A Case Report and Multimodal Analysis
Authors: Pipolo Gabriel Rammert , Moreira Neto Carlos Augusto , Ishida Paulo , Pereira Raphael , Torres Romulo , Barreto Guilherme , Moreira Jr. Carlos A.
Published: January 2023

This case report is a multimodal analysis of a pregnant patient with branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) associated to patent foramen ovale (PFO). A 28-year-old woman presented at the clinic 20 h after an acute, painless black spot appearance in the inferior temporal visual field of the right eye (OD). At that time, she was 18 weeks pregnant and had no report of complications in her previous pregnancy. Best-corrected visual acuity was 1.0 in both eyes. Color fundus photo, perimetry, and OCT angiography were required. The results clearly showed an embolus in the superior nasal retinal arteriole, associated with a pallor in the distal retina. Patient was referred to a cardiologist and a transcranial Doppler with contrast indicated a right-to-left intracardiac shunt, confirmed by the presence of a PFO at the transesophageal echocardiography. Thrombophilic conditions were excluded. Enoxaparin 1 mg/kg was started and kept until the delivery. Now, a PFO surgical closure is on schedule. This case highlights the noteworthiness of considering PFO as a source of embolism for BRAO in young patients, the capability of OCTA as a dye-free method for use in pregnancy and emphasizes the importance of systemic evaluation in patients with BRAO.
Pancreatic Anastomosis in Robotic-Assisted Pancreaticoduodenectomy: Different Surgical Techniques
Authors: De Pastena Matteo , Bannone Elisa , Andreotti Elena , Filippini Chiara , Ramera Marco , Esposito Alessandro , Salvia Roberto
Published: January 2023

Robot-assisted pancreatoduodenectomy (R-PD) may provide challenges but potential benefits for pancreatic-enteric anastomosis fashioning. Despite numerous trials comparing different pancreatic-enteric anastomosis techniques, an ideal method is still missing. This study aims to describe different management strategies and surgical techniques of standardized pancreatic-enteric anastomoses during an R-PD. This study reported the robotic technical steps of the modified end-to-side Blumgart pancreaticojejunostomy, the Cattel-Warren duct-to-mucosa pancreatojejunostomy, with internal or external pancreatic duct stent, and the modified end-to-side, double-layer pancreogastrostomy. A dual-console da Vinci Xi Surgical System® (Intuitive Surgical Xi, Sunnyvale, CA) was used to perform all the R-PD. Different robotic pancreatic-enteric anastomosis techniques can be used during the reconstruction phase, possibly reproducing the open technique. The type of anastomosis and applied mitigation strategies should balance surgical strategy adaptability and operative technique standardization. R-PD should be performed in high-volume centers by surgeons with extensive experience in pancreatic and advanced MI surgery, enabling different but standardized anastomotic techniques based on patients’ risk factors and intraoperative findings. Future studies on robotic pancreatic anastomosis should focus on personalized approaches after adequate risk stratification.
Subjective and Objective Assessment of Chewing Performance in Older Adults with Different Dental Occlusion
Authors: Nedeljković Đurđa , Milić Lemić Aleksandra , Kuzmanović Pfićer Jovana , Stančić Ivica , Popovac Aleksandra , Čelebić Asja
Published: January 2023

Objectives: Satisfactory masticatory function is a significant indicator of improved oral health-related quality of life in older adults, either with or without artificial teeth. The purpose of this study was to examine masticatory performance of older adults with different prosthodontic reconstructions and occlusion, as well as to compare subjective and objective assessment of chewing performance. Material and Methods: This study included 100 participants aged 65 and more. The chewing function questionnaire (CFQ) with answers on the Likert scale 0–4 (0 = no difficulties; 4 = maximum difficulties) was used as an indicator of subjective masticatory assessment. The two-color chewing gum test was used as objective assessment of masticatory function (mixing ability), based on the Z-score values. Dental occlusion was assessed using functional teeth units (FTU). Results: The results obtained using the CFQ and the clinical mixing ability test are in compliance with each other (r = 0.742). A decrease in the number of natural teeth, especially posterior teeth, progressively reduced chewing ability and increased difficulties in mastication. Participants with less FTUs, or with FTUs that are a part of removable denture, had greater reduction in masticatory function compared to those with FTUs composed of natural teeth or fixed partial dentures. Conclusion: This study revealed a strong positive correlation between the subjective masticatory assessment in older adults using the validated questionnaire and the objective clinical test of the mixing ability of two chewing gums. Our data on influence of the number and the type of FTU on masticatory performance will be valuable when planning prosthodontic therapy.
Management of Primary Education for Ethnic Chinese Children during the Dutch Colonial Period 1900-1920
Authors: Sumardi
Published: January 2023

The management of primary education for ethnic Chinese children during the Dutch colonial period 1900-1920, to analyze the primary education of ethnic Chinese children (HCS) by the Dutch Colonial Government in 1900-1920. This research method uses five steps: Topic Selection, Heuristics, Verification, Interpretation, and Historiography. The results showed that the establishment of primary education for ethnic Chinese was due to the large number of immigrant children from China who did not get the proper attention to go to school. Then the Chinese community association Tiong Hoa Hwee Koan (THHK) began to think about the education of its descendants and established Primary Education. Apart from this, Chinese children who attended ELS could also not follow the lessons properly. This reason strengthened the colonial government to build a particular school for ethnic Chinese children, namely Hollandsch Chineesche School (HCS).
Child Protection Policy and Behavioral Management Practices at a Public Elementary School in Rizal, Philippines
Authors: Castino Liberty Gomintong
Published: January 2023

The study determined the child protection policy and behavioural management practices of a public elementary school in Rizal, Philippines in the year 2018-2019. It employed the quantitative descriptive correlational method of research which used questionnaires as the means to gather data. Results revealed that the practices observed by the respondents in child protection in terms of anti- bullying and discrimination are educating students on how to deal with bullying properly and strictly implementing the anti-bullying campaign. The behavioural management practices observed by the respondents in terms of anti-bullying and discrimination are making it more concrete for everyone the difference between play and fight and delivering praise and rewards to increase appropriate behavior. The practices observed by the respondents in child protection in terms of abuse are giving opportunities to pupils to speak and express their views and opinions especially when it comes to social interactions, gaining the trust of students through one-on-one coaching. The practices observed in child protection in terms of violence and exploitation are educating students about their rights as children and informing pupils that there are different agencies that handle issues on violations against the rights of the youth, and giving special attention to the misbehaved pupils. Lastly, there is a significant difference between the respondents in implementation of child protection policy and their behavioural management practices and that there is a positive correlation between the behavioural management practices of the respondents when grouped according to their profile.
Baseline Assessment of Rice Production Practices in Selected Barangays of Cawayan, Masbate, Philippines
Authors: Ibañez, Jr. Roger Y. , Velza Jacob Frederick P. , Barsaga Martony , Bartolay Riza
Published: January 2023

This descriptive study was conducted to obtain baseline data on the rice production practices in the identified barangays of Cawayan, Masbate for the government to offer real-time intervention. A structured survey questionnaire was used to gather information on the socio-demographic characteristics and rice production practices of the farmers. Aging farmers in the three barangays of Cawayan were observed with an age ranging from 50–60 years old. About 61% of them are classified as small-scale farmers and been tilling the land for more than 31 years. Despite the years they have been in farming, they still belong to the poorest sector with a monthly family income of PHP 800.00. About 96% of the farms in the identified barangays are rain-dependent. Majority of the farmers find difficulty in identifying the variety they are using, and 73% of them used seeds from their previous harvest as planting materials. Land preparation is done through the use of animal-drawn plows and employs direct seeding to minimize expenses. The manual method of controlling weeds, insect pests, and harvesting was practiced by the farmers. The application of fertilizer employed by the farmers is not based on the recommended rate. In totality, farmers obtained breakeven or negative income from their production. The gaps in the farming practices of the farmers can be filled through a holistic and sustainable extension program like Mag-Uma Kaupod ang Pamilya (Farming Together with the Family) in which family members are involved in agricultural production to achieve sufficient and sustainable food for all.
Triterpenoid CDDO-EA inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses in skeletal muscle cells through suppression of NF-κB
Authors: Chang Phoebe Fang-Mei , Acevedo Daniel , Mandarino Lawrence J , Reyna Sara M
Published: January 2023

Chronic inflammation is a major contributor to the development of obesity-induced insulin resistance, which then can lead to the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Skeletal muscle plays a pivotal role in insulin-stimulated whole-body glucose disposal. Therefore, dysregulation of glucose metabolism by inflammation in skeletal muscle can adversely affect skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity and contribute to the pathogenesis of T2D. The mechanism underlying insulin resistance is not well known; however, macrophages are important initiators in the development of the chronic inflammatory state leading to insulin resistance. Skeletal muscle consists of resident macrophages which can be activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). These activated macrophages affect myocytes via a paracrine action of pro-inflammatory mediators resulting in secretion of myokines that contribute to inflammation and ultimately skeletal muscle insulin resistance. Therefore, knowing that synthetic triterpenoid 2-cyano-3,12-dioxooleana-1,9(11)-dien-28-oic acids (CDDOs) can attenuate macrophage pro-inflammatory responses in chronic disorders, such as cancer and obesity, and that macrophage pro-inflammatory responses can modulate skeletal muscle inflammation, we first examined whether CDDO-ethyl amide (CDDO-EA) inhibited chemokine and cytokine production in macrophages since this had not been reported for CDDO-EA. CDDO-EA blocked LPS-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukine-1beta (IL-1β), and interleukine-6 (IL-6) production in RAW 264.7 mouse and THP-1 human macrophages. Although many studies show that CDDOs have anti-inflammatory properties in several tissues and cells, little is known about the anti-inflammatory effects of CDDOs on skeletal muscle. We hypothesized that CDDO-EA protects skeletal muscle from LPS-induced inflammation by blocking nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling. Our studies demonstrate that CDDO-EA prevented LPS-induced TNF-α and MCP-1 gene expression by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway in L6-GLUT4myc rat myotubes. Our findings suggest that CDDO-EA suppresses LPS-induced inflammation in macrophages and myocytes and that CDDO-EA is a promising compound as a therapeutic agent for protecting skeletal muscle from inflammation.
Risk of hospitalization associated with different constellations of home & community based services
Authors: Van Cleve Raymond , Cole Evan , Degenholtz Howard B.
Published: January 2023

Background

Identify the association between specific combinations of home and community-based services (HCBS) and risk of acute hospitalization.

Methods

Data for this study came from Pennsylvania Medicaid claims and Medicare records. This was a retrospective, observational cohort study that examined hospitalization, HCBS service use and patient characteristics between July, 2014 and December, 2016. This analysis compared risk of inpatient hospitalization risk for community dwelling disabled older adults using a range of Medicaid financed HCBS. Twelve constellations of HCBS were identified representing different combinations of common services (personal assistive services [PAS], delivered meals, and adult day care). Since HCBS users are not randomly assigned to different combinations of services, we used logistic regression to estimate the predicted probability of experiencing hospitalization conditional on the constellation of services, and adjusting for demographics, health and level of disability.

Results

The most common constellation was people who used under four hours of PAS per person per day. This group experienced a hospitalization rate of 13.7%. however, those individuals receiving more than 4 h per person per day experienced only a 10.2% hospitalization rate. Similar trends were seen for people who used PAS in combination with home delivered meals. However, those who used adult day care experienced higher hospitalization rates as the number of hours of personal assistive service increased: increasing from 6.8% among those with under 4 h, to 8.6% among those with 8 or more hours per person per day.

Conclusion

Using medium and high levels of PAS was associated with lower hospitalization risk for people who PAS alone or in combination with delivered meals. By contrast, higher levels of PAS was associated with increased hospitalization for adult day users (both alone or in combination). Policy makers should consider offering higher levels of PAS to offset potential risk of hospitalization. Future research is needed to explain the association between adult day care and risk.
A systematic review of the health effects of yoga for people with mild cognitive impairment and dementia
Authors: Karamacoska Diana , Tan Tiffany , Mathersul Danielle C. , Sabag Angelo , de Manincor Michael , Chang Dennis , Steiner-Lim Genevieve Z.
Published: January 2023

Background

Yoga is a mind-body practice that can elicit robust health and wellbeing effects for older adults. As a result, there is increased public and academic interest into the potential benefits of yoga for older people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia.

Methods

Literature searches in five databases (CENTRAL, PubMed and EBSCOHost indexing CINAHL Plus, PsycINFO, Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection) were conducted from the databases’ date of inception through to 4 September 2020 to identify pre-post single and multigroup studies of yoga-based interventions involving people with MCI or dementia. Effects on cognitive, mental, and physical health were evaluated, as was safety and study quality.

Results

Database searches identified 1431 articles. Of these, 10 unique studies met inclusion criteria (total 421 participants). Four studies each implemented Kundalini yoga and chair yoga, while two employed Hatha yoga. Most programs ran for 12 weeks (n = 5) and compared yoga to a control group (n = 5). Most studies reported improved cognition, mood, and balance. However, these effects were marred by the high risk of bias identified in all articles. Four studies assessed safety, with one instance of dizziness reported.

Conclusions

In this emerging field, these studies show that yoga may be safe and beneficial for the wellbeing of people with MCI or dementia. More high quality randomised controlled trials are needed to improve the evidence-base and overcome the limitations of existing studies.
Trending prevalence of healthcare-associated infections in a tertiary hospital in China during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Rong Rong , Lin Lanxi , Yang Yongjie , Zhao Shumin , Guo Ruiling , Ye Junpeng , Zhu Xinghua , Wen Qiong , Liu Dayue
Published: January 2023

Background

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate both the four-year prevalence trend of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in a large tertiary hospital and the trend regarding the prevalence of HAIs following the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in order to provide evidence of hospital infection management during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Based on the hospital’s electronic nosocomial infection databases related to HAIs, we retrospectively identified the HAI cases to assess the epidemiological characteristics of HAIs from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2021, in a large tertiary hospital in China. Similarly, the trends of HAIs after the COVID-19 outbreak and the seasonal variation of HAIs were further analyzed.

Results

The HAI cases (n = 7833) were identified from the inpatients (n = 483,258) during the 4 years. The most frequently occurring underlying cause of HAIs was respiratory tract infections (44.47%), followed by bloodstream infections (11.59%), and urinary tract infections (8.69%). The annual prevalence of HAIs decreased from 2.39% in 2018 to 1.41% in 2021 (P = 0.032), with the overall prevalence of HAIs significantly decreasing since the outbreak of COVID-19 (2.20% in 2018–2019 vs. 1.44% in 2020–2021, P < 0.001). The prevalence of respiratory tract infections decreased most significantly; whereas, overall, the prevalence of HAIs was significantly greater during the winter compared with the rest of the year.

Conclusions

Not only did the annual prevalence of HAIs decrease from 2018 to 2021, but it also significantly decreased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly respiratory tract infections. These results provide evidence for the need to prevent HAIs, especially during the winter season.
The effect of female circumcision on maternal and neonatal outcomes after childbirth: a cohort study
Authors: Rabiepour Soheila , Ahmadi Zeynab
Published: January 2023

Background

Circumcision has many side effects and complications on women’s lives and affects their physical, mental, and social health. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of female circumcision on maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Methods

Methods: A prospective cohort study was performed with 320 pregnant women by convenience sampling (160 individuals were circumcised and 160 were uncircumcised). Circumcision and its level were confirmed using observation. The data relating to demographic, midwifery history, medical history, maternal and neonatal outcomes were compiled using a questionnaire. All Statistical analyses were conducted by SPSS ver. 16.0. P-values less than 0.05 were considered significant.

Results

The mean age of circumcised women was significantly higher vs. Uncircumcised women (28.92±6.2 vs. 25.42±4.8; P < 0.001). Circumcision was significantly higher in rural compared to urban areas (51.9% vs.18.1%). The level of female education, his parents, spouse, and husband’s employment status were significantly associated with circumcision (P < 0.001). 94.4% of uncircumcised nulliparous women and 86.9% of circumcised women experienced Intended Pregnancy (P=0.02). Eighty- five percent of women were circumcision type I. The higher mean duration of the second stage of labor, Second and Third degree of tear, and need for oxytocin in induction were significantly higher among circumcised women (P = 0.03, 0.003, 0.002, respectively).

The existence one stage of labor, Second and Third degree of tear, and the need for oxytocin in induction were significantly higher among circumcised women (P = 0.03, 0.003, 0.002, respectively).

Conclusion

These findings underscore that Circumcision a prevalent predictor of poor neonatal outcomes and delivery processes, therefore this circumcised women needs intensive care during delivery.
Development of the short form Iranian women childbirth experience questionnaire: a confirmatory factor analysis approach item reduction
Authors: Shahhosseini Zohreh , Nikbakht Roya , Motaghi Zahra , Hosseini Tabaghdehi Monirolsadate
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Considering that childbirth experience has short- and long-term effects on women’s lives, it is necessary to examine their delivery experiences. This study aimed to prepare the short form of a 52-item Iranian women’s childbirth experience questionnaire with seven factors: professional support, preparation, control, positive perception, baby, family support, and fear.

Methods

This methodological research was conducted on women aged 15 to 49 years (n = 770) with uncomplicated vaginal delivery. The short form of the Iranian women’s childbirth experience questionnaire was prepared in four stages. The first stage was exploratory factor analysis, conducted on 250 samples, the second stage was confirmatory factor analysis which was performed on 260 samples, independent of the first stage, to report goodness and fit indices, and the third stage employed items from modification indices, expected parameter change, and standardized residual covariance, leading to the short form of Iranian women childbirth experience questionnaire. Finally, confirmatory factor analysis was run on 260 samples, independent of the previous two stages, to confirm the short form and compare it with the original questionnaire for psychometric analysis.

Results

In the exploratory factor analysis stage, nine items with a factor load of less than 0.4 were removed, and the number of domains was reduced to five. The second stage showed that the questionnaire had a goodness of fit index. However, the third stage resulted in removing 11 overlapping items and making a short questionnaire with 33 items. Finally, the confirmatory factor analysis in the last stage showed appropriate goodness of fit for the short form of the Iranian women’s childbirth experiences questionnaire (𝛘2/df = 2.352, CFI = 0.881, PCFI = 0.750, RMSEA = 0.072, SRMR = 0.0862).

Conclusion

The short form of the Iranian women’s childbirth experiences questionnaire enjoyed from an appropriate psychometric evaluation. It is recommended when applying the original questionnaire is not feasible due to lack of time.
Risk factors associated with low bone mineral density in children with idiopathic scoliosis: a scoping review
Authors: Yang Yuqi , Chen Zhengquan , Huang Zefan , Tao Jing , Li Xin , Zhou Xuan , Du Qing
Published: January 2023

Background

Children with idiopathic scoliosis (IS) have a high risk of osteoporosis and IS with low bone mineral density (BMD) are susceptible to curve progression. This review aims to explore the risk factors of low BMD in children with IS.

Methods

Studies were retrieved from 5 databases that were published up to January 2022. Search terms are keywords in titles or abstracts, including subject headings related to “Scoliosis”, “Bone Mineral Density”, and “Risk Factors”. Observational studies on risk factors of low BMD in children with IS were enrolled in this review. The number of studies, sample size, outcome measures, research type, endocrine, and lifestyle-related factors, gene/signal pathway, and other contents were extracted for qualitative analysis.

Results

A total of 56 studies were included in this scoping review. Thirty studies involved genetic factors that may affect BMD, including the Vitamin-D receptor gene, RANK/RANKL signal pathway, the function of mesenchymal stem cells, Runx2, Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and miR-145/β-catenin pathway. Eight studies mentioned the influence of endocrine factors on BMD, and the results showed that serum levels of IL-6, leptin and its metabolites, and ghrelin in children with IS were different from the age-matched controls. In addition, there were 18 articles on lifestyle-related factors related to low BMD in children with IS, consisting of physical activity, calcium intake, Vitamin D level, and body composition.

Conclusions

Genetic, endocrine, and lifestyle-related factors might relate to low BMD and even osteoporosis in IS. To prevent osteoporosis, the effectiveness of regular screening for low BMD risk factors in children with IS needs to be investigated. Additionally, clear risk factors suggest strategies for bone intervention. Future studies should consider the effectiveness of calcium and vitamin D supplements and physical activity in BMD improvement.
Education to keep the abdomen relaxed versus contracted during pilates in patients with chronic low back pain: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Lunkes Luciana Crepaldi , Dias Neto Milton Apolinário , Barra Lavínia Fernandes , de Castro Lívia Resende , Ferreira Arthur Sá , Meziat-Filho Ney
Published: January 2023

Background

Low back pain is a very common symptom frequently characterized as a biopsychosocial problem. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of education to keep the abdomen relaxed versus contracted during Pilates exercises in patients with primary chronic low back pain.

Methods

Two-group randomised controlled trial with allocation of parallel groups and intention-to-treat-analysis. This study will be conducted in Lavras, MG, Brazil. A total of 152 participants will be randomised into two groups that will be treated with Pilates exercises for 12 weeks (twice a week for 60 minutes). Recruitment began in May 2022. The control group will receive guidance on the specific activation of the center of strength (the powerhouse), while the experimental group will receive guidance to perform the exercises in a relaxed and smooth way. Primary outcomes will be pain intensity (Numeric Pain Rating Scale) and disability (Rolland-Morris Questionnaire) 12 weeks post randomisation. Secondary outcomes will be global improvement (Perception of Global Effect Scale) and specific functionality (Patient-specific Functional Scale). The outcomes will be analyzed using repeated-measure linear mixed models. The assessors were not considered blinded because the participants were not blinded, and outcomes were self-reported.

Discussion

The findings of this study will help in clinical decision-making concerning the need to demand abdominal contraction during the exercises, understanding if it’s a fundamental component for the effectiveness of the Pilates method for this population.

Trial registration

This trial was prospectively registered in the Clinical Trials (NCT05336500) in April 2022.
Circulating exosomal microRNAs as potential prognostic biomarkers in gastrointestinal cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Gheytanchi Elmira , Tajik Fatemeh , Razmi Mahdieh , Babashah Sadegh , Cho William Chi Shing , Tanha Kiarash , Sahlolbei Maryam , Ghods Roya , Madjd Zahra
Published: January 2023

Background

Recent reports suggested that circulating exosomal microRNAs (exomiRs) may serve as non-invasive prediction biomarkers in gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, yet their clinicopathological and prognostic values need to be more clarified. Hence, the present meta-analysis was aimed to quantitatively assess the evidence regarding the association between circulating exomiRs and prognosis in GI cancer patients.

Methods

A comprehensive search was carried out in prominent literature databases, including PubMed, ISI Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase. Odds ratios (ORs) or hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were gathered to evaluate the strength of the association. The quality assessment was investigated through the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) and publication bias via Eggers’ test and funnel plots.

Results

A total of 47 studies, comprising of 4881 patients, were considered eligible for this meta-analysis. Both up-regulated and down-regulated circulating exomiRs are significantly associated with differentiation (HR = 1.353, P = 0.015; HR = 1.504, P = 0.016), TNM stage (HR = 2.058, P < 0.001; HR = 2.745, P < 0.001), lymph node metastasis (HR = 1.527, P = 0.004; HR = 2.009, P = 0.002), distant metastasis (HR = 2.006, P < 0.001; HR = 2.799, P = 0.002), worse overall survival (OS) (HR = 2.053, P < 0.001; HR = 1.789, P = 0.001) and poorer disease/relapse/progression-free survival (DFS/RFS/PFS) (HR = 2.086, P < 0.001; HR = 1.607, P = 0.001) in GI cancer patients, respectively. In addition, subgroup analyses based on seven subcategories indicated the robustness of the association. The majority of findings were lack of publication bias except for the association between up-regulated exomiRs and OS or DFS/RFS/PFS and for the down-regulated exomiRs and TNM stage.

Conclusion

This study supports that up- and down-regulated circulating exomiRs are associated with poorer survival outcomes and could be served as potential prognostic biomarkers in GI cancers. Given the limitations of the current findings, such as significant heterogeneity, more investigations are needed to fully clarify the exomiRs prognostic role.
Primary hepatic myopericytoma coexisting with multiple cystic hepatic lesions: a case report
Authors: Yuan Jing , Li Jie , Dong Zhouhuan , Xu Wei , Wang Zhanbo
Published: January 2023

Background

Hepatic myopericytoma (MPC) is an extremely rare pathological entity in the liver. Conversely, cystic hepatic lesions are a group of heterogeneous lesions encountered commonly in daily practice. Here, we report a unique case of the coexistence of primary hepatic MPC and multiple cystic hepatic lesions along with our perceptions on its diagnosis and treatment.

Case presentation

A 56-year-old female patient was found to have a left liver mass during a routine physical examination. Computer tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed the existence of a left hepatic neoplasm along with multiple hepatic cysts but could not exclude the possible malignant nature of the neoplasm. Computer tomography (CT) also identified an enlarged mediastinal lymph node with a maximum diameter of 4.3 cm, which further underwent core needle biopsy under CT guidance. A histopathological examination was performed to rule out malignancy. Afterwards, the patient underwent left hemihepatectomy to resect a solid tumor of 5.5 cm × 5 cm × 4.7 cm with multiple cystic lesions which were histopathologically examined to establish the diagnosis of myopericytoma with hepatic cysts. Postoperatively, the patient recovered from the surgery quickly without significant adverse events and was not found to have a reoccurrence of the primary pathological entity.

Conclusions

This is the first reported case of a patient with the co-existence of primary hepatic myopericytoma and multiple cystic hepatic lesions undergoing surgical treatment with eventual recovery.
The relationship between the radiation dose of pelvic-bone marrow and lymphocytic toxicity in concurrent chemoradiotherapy for cervical cancer
Authors: Zhang Bao-Zhong , Li Yang , Xu Li-Ming , Chai Yan-Lan , Qu Chao , Cao Yuan-Jie , Wang Jing , Hou Hai-Ling , Zhang Jiaqi
Published: January 2023

Objective

The purpose of this study is to verify the correlation between medium and low radiation doses of the pelvic-bone marrow and the incidence of lymphocytic toxicity during concurrent chemoradiotherapy for cervical cancer.

Materials and methods

This research included 117 cervical cancer patients, who received concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Radiotherapy included external-beam radiation therapy and brachytherapy. The dosimetry parameters include the Volume receiving 5 Gy (V5), 10 Gy (V10), 20 Gy (V20), 30 Gy (V30), 40 Gy (V40), 50 Gy (V50), and the mean dose (D mean) of the bone marrow. Lymphocytic toxicity was calculated from lowest lymphocytic count after two cycles of concurrent chemotherapy.

Results

During concurrent chemoradiotherapy, the incidence of lymphocytic toxicity is 94.88%. The incidence of grade 3–4 toxicity is 68.38%. Multivariate analysis findings show that the dosimetry parameters V5, V10, V20, and V30 are significantly correlated with lymphocytic toxicity. The patients are divided into small-volume subgroups and large-volume subgroups based on the cutoff values. The relative risk of both grade 1–4 and grade 3–4 lymphocytic toxicity is significantly lower in the small-volume subgroups than in the large-volume subgroups (P < 0.05). Kaplan–Meier analysis shows that the incidence of both grade 1–4 and grade 3–4 lymphocytic toxicity of the small-volume subgroups is significantly lower than that of the large-volume subgroups (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

There is a significant correlation between a medium and low dose of pelvic-bone-marrow radiation and incidence of lymphocytic toxicity. Reducing the volume of medium and low radiation doses could effectively reduce incidence of lymphocytic toxicity.
The neuroprotective and neural circuit mechanisms of acupoint stimulation for cognitive impairment
Authors: Zhang Zichen , Chen Liuyi , Guo Yi , Li Dan , Zhang Jingyu , Liu Ling , Fan Wen , Guo Tao , Qin Siru , Zhao Yadan , Xu Zhifang , Chen Zelin
Published: January 2023

Cognitive impairment is a prevalent neurological disorder that burdens families and the healthcare system. Current conventional therapies for cognitive impairment, such as cholinesterase inhibitors and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonists, are unable to completely stop or reverse the progression of the disease. Also, these medicines may cause serious problems with the digestive system, cardiovascular system, and sleep. Clinically, stimulation of acupoints has the potential to ameliorate the common symptoms of a variety of cognitive disorders, such as memory deficit, language dysfunction, executive dysfunction, reduced ability to live independently, etc. There are common acupoint stimulation mechanisms for treating various types of cognitive impairment, but few systematic analyses of the underlying mechanisms in this domain have been performed. This study comprehensively reviewed the basic research from the last 20 years and found that acupoint stimulation can effectively improve the spatial learning and memory of animals. The common mechanism may be that acupoint stimulation protects hippocampal neurons by preventing apoptosis and scavenging toxic proteins. Additionally, acupoint stimulation has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, promoting neural regeneration, regulating synaptic plasticity, and normalizing neural circuits by restoring brain functional activity and connectivity. Acupoint stimulation also inhibits the production of amyloid β-peptide and the phosphorylation of Tau protein, suggesting that it may protect neurons by promoting correct protein folding and regulating the degradation of toxic proteins via the autophagy-lysosomal pathway. However, the benefits of acupoint stimulation still need to be further explored in more high-quality studies in the future.
Modulating and monitoring the functionality of corticostriatal circuits using an electrostimulable microfluidic device
Authors: Han Sukmin , Bang Seokyoung , Kim Hong Nam , Choi Nakwon , Kim Sung Hyun
Published: January 2023

The central nervous system is organized into different neural circuits, each with particular functions and properties. Studying neural circuits is essential to understanding brain function and neuronal diseases. Microfluidic systems are widely used for reconstructing and studying neural circuits but still need improvement to allow modulation and monitoring of the physiological properties of circuits. In this study, we constructed an improved microfluidic device that supports the electrical modulation of neural circuits and proper reassembly. We demonstrated that our microfluidic device provides a platform for electrically modulating and monitoring the physiological function of neural circuits with genetic indicators for synaptic functionality in corticostriatal (CStr) circuits. In particular, our microfluidic device measures activity-driven Ca2+ dynamics using Ca2+ indicators (synaptophysin-GCaMP6f and Fluo5F-AM), as well as activity-driven synaptic transmission and retrieval using vGlut-pHluorin. Overall, our findings indicate that the improved microfluidic platform described here is an invaluable tool for studying the physiological properties of specific neural circuits.