bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
COVID -19 Hastalarında Tiroid Hormon Seviyelerinin Değerlendirilmesi
Authors: KAYA Mina Gülfem , ALANLI Recep
Published: August 2022

AMAÇ: COVID-19 birçok sistemi etkilediği gibi endokrin sistemi de etkilemektedir. Bu çalışmada; COVID-19 servisinde yatan hastaların, tiroid hormon düzeyi ile hastalık şidde-ti arasındaki ilişkiyi değerlendirmek amaçlandı.

GEREÇ VE YÖNTEM: Mart 2020 ile Kasım 2020 tarihleri arasında COVID-19 PCR testi pozitif saptanıp, hastaneye yatırılan ve yoğun bakım ihtiyacı olmayan hastalar, retrospek-tif olarak değerlendirildi. Çalışmaya 93 COVID-19 hastası ve benzer yaş ve cinsiyette olan 58 kontrol grubu alındı. COVID-19 ve kontrol grubunun demografik özellikleri, tiroid hormon seviyeleri ve diğer laboratuvar değerleri karşılaştırıldı. COVID-19 saptanan has-talar akciğer tomografi bulgularına göre; akciğer tutulumu olanlar ve olmayanlar olarak iki gruba ayrıldı.

BULGULAR: COVID 19 grubunda, serbest T3 ve serbest T4 düzeyleri, kontrol grubun-dan anlamlı olarak daha düşük saptanırken, TSH ve T3/T4 oranı arasında fark saptan-madı. COVID-19 olup, akciğer tutulumu eşlik edenlerde, akciğer tutulumu olmayanlara göre; yaş, aspartat aminotransferaz, C- reaktif protein ve laktat dehidrogenaz değerleri daha yüksek,

serbest T3, nötrofil ve lenfosit sayısı ile albümin değeri ise daha düşük saptandı. Pnömo-ni varlığı ile serbest T3 seviyeleri arasında ilişki saptandı.

SONUÇ: COVID-19 seyri sırasında hastalığın şiddetine bağlı olarak tiroid fonksiyonları değişebilir. Hastanede yatan hastalarda tiroid fonksiyon testlerini ölçmek hastalığın prognozu hakkında fikir verebilir.
ÇOCUKLUK ÇAĞI HELİCOBACTER PYLORİ ENFEKSİYONU ERADİKASYONUNDA 7 VE 14 GÜNLÜK TEDAVİLERİN KARŞILAŞTIRILMASI
Authors: YILDIZ Duran , KANSU Aydan , KULOGLU Zarife , ŞAHAN ÜSTÜNDAĞ Gonca Handan
Published: August 2022

AMAÇ: Çocuklarda Helicobacter pylori (HP) enfeksiyonuna optimal terapötik yaklaşım ve süre ile ilgili araştırmalar devam etmektedir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, çocuklarda 7 günlük ve 14 günlük üçlü tedavilerin HP eradikasyonundaki etkinliğini karşılaştırmaktır.

GEREÇ VE YÖNTEMLER: Çalışmamıza hastanemizin, Çocuk Sağlığı ve Hastalıkları Anabilim Dalı, Çocuk Gastroenteroloji Bilim Dalına dispeptik yakınmalar ile başvuran ve endoskopik biyopsi sonrasında histopatolojik olarak HP enfeksiyonu tanısı alan, 6-18 yaş arasındaki hastalar dahil edildi. Bir gruba amoksisilin ve klaritromisin 14 gün, omeprazol 1 ay, diğer gruba amoksisilin ve klaritromisin 7 gün, omeprazol 14 gün verildi. Her iki gruba tedavi bitiminden 4-6 hafta sonra eradikasyon başarısını değerlendirmek üzere her hastaya üre nefes testi yapıldı.

BULGULAR: Ondört gün tedavi verilen 30 hasta ve 7 gün tedavi verilen 29 hasta olmak üzere çalışmaya toplam 59 hasta dahil edildi. Yedi gün üçlü tedavi alan hastaların % 55,2’sinde, 14 gün üçlü tedavi alan hastaların % 60,0’ında HP’nin eradike edildiği tespit edildi ve gruplar arasında sonuçlar istatistiksel olarak benzer bulundu (p=0,708).

SONUÇ: Yedi ve 14 günlük üçlü HP eradikasyon tedavileri ile istatistiksel olarak benzer eradikasyon oranları elde edilmiş olsa da her iki tedavi süresi ile de önerilen başarı oranına ulaşılamamıştır. Özellikle çocukluk yaş grubunda HP için birinci basamak eradikasyon tedavisinde daha kısa sürede yüksek başarı sağlayacak yeni kombinasyon rejimleri geliştirilmelidir.
Uzmanlıkta ilk 600 gün: Devlet Hizmeti Yükümlülüğü Döneminde Rekonstrüktif Mikrocerrahi
Authors: ÜSTÜN Galip Gencay , AKDUMAN Burkay , KOÇER Uğur
Published: August 2022

Amaç: Serbest doku aktarımları özel eğitim gerektiren, teknik olarak zor, uzun süren ve mortalite riski olan cerrahilerdir. Öğrenme eğrisi dik olan bu işlemlerde cerrahların deneyimsiz olmasının sonuçları kötü yönde etkileyebileceği savunulmaktadır. Çalışmanın amacı uzmanlık eğitiminin hemen sonrasında yapılan serbest doku aktarımlarının analizini yapmak, bu dönemde karşılaşılabilecek zorluklara ve bunları aşmaya yönelik çözüm önerilerine ışık tutmaktır.

Gereç ve Yöntem: 2018 Mayıs – 2020 Ocak ayları arasındaki süreçte serbest flep cerrahisi ameliyatı yapılan tüm hastalar çalışmaya dahil edildi. Yaş, cinsiyet, demografik bilgiler, sistemik hastalıklar, doku defektinin yerleşimi, rekonstrüksiyonda kullanılan flep, ameliyat süresi, kan transfüzyon durumu ve miktarı, yoğun bakım ve servis yatış süresi, ameliyat sonrası cerrahi ve sistemik komplikasyonlar, flep başarısı ve revizyon oranları incelendi. Sonrasında aynı klinikte görev yapan ve uzmanlığının ilk 5 yılındaki doktorlara ve tüm asistanlara serbest doku aktarımı cerrahisi esnasında karşılaşılan zorluklara ilişkin çoktan seçmeli bir anket uygulandı.

Bulgular: Bahsedilen dönemde 13 hastaya (8 erkek, 5 kadın) serbest doku aktarımı yapıldığı görüldü. Hastaların yaş ortalaması 40,1, ortalama ameliyat süresi 402 dakika olarak ölçüldü. Ortalama yatış süresi ise 14,5 gün olarak hesaplandı. Dört hastada (%30,8) ameliyat sonrası kısa süreli yoğun bakıma yatış ihtiyacı görüldüğü saptandı. Yine dört hastada (%30,8) transfüzyon ihtiyacı görüldüğü, bu hastalara ise ortalama 562,5 cc eritrosit transfüzyonu yapıldığı belirlendi. Sistemik komplikasyon olarak bir hastada postoperatif hipertansif atak gözlendi. Flep başarısı toplamdaki 13 vakada %100 iken revizyon oranının %7,7 (1 vaka) olduğu görüldü. Mortalite saptanmadı. Uzman doktorların serbest flep cerrahisi uygulamada en sık karşılaştığı zorluk yardımcı personelin yetersiz eğitime sahip olması iken, asistan doktorlar yapılan işin maddi karşılığının yetersiz olması ve cerrahi alet eksikliğinden rahatsız olduklarını belirttiler.

Sonuç: Rekonstrüktif mikrocerrahi işlemler, asistanlık döneminde gerekli eğitimin alınması önkoşuluyla, uzmanlığın erken döneminde de başarıyla uygulanabilmektedir. Cerrahi ekibin konu hakkında deneyimli olması ve gerekli ekipmana sahip olunması durumunda doğru planlama ile bu başarılı sonuç elde etmek mümkündür.
OPTIMALISASI PENGGUNAAN PASIR BESI SEBAGAI PENGGANTI AGREGAT HALUS DALAM CAMPURAN BETON MUTU TINGGI
Authors: Bangkit Aryoputro Firjatullah , Teguh Mochammad , Saputra Elvis
Published: August 2022

Infrastructure progress needs to be supported by the development of research on construction material technology, one of which is concrete technology. With its various advantages, concrete is continuously used to solve infrastructure problems. However, it also has impact on the use of large-scale materials and has the potential to deplete natural resources if not handled properly. One material that can be used as an alternative is iron sand. Iron sand is a mineral resource with magnesium content and has characteristics as a substitute for fine aggregate in concrete mixes. This study aimed to determine the effect of iron sand as a substitute for fine aggregate in high-strength concrete mixtures. This research method was a laboratory experiment by testing the characteristics of high strength concrete, namely compressive strength, tensile strength, and modulus of elasticity. This study found that the optimum concrete compressive strength occurred in the V-02 sample with a result of 51.71 MPa from the design compressive strength (fcr) = 45 MPa. The optimum tensile strength test occurred in the V-02 sample with a result of 4.13 MPa, and the optimum elasticity modulus test occurred in the V-02 sample producing 28684.37 MPa
Profiles of GPs with High and Low self-reported Physician Empathy - Personal, Professional, and Antibiotic Prescribing Characteristics
Authors: Kristensen Troels , Ejersted Charlotte , Søndergaard Jens , Ahnfeldt-Mollerup Peder , Charles Justin
Published: August 2022

Background
General Practitioners’ (GPs) professional empathy has been hypothesized to have substantial impact on their healthcare delivery and medication prescribing patterns. This study compares profiles of personal, professional, and antibiotic prescribing characteristics of GPs with high and low empathy.
Methods
We apply an extreme group approach to a unique combined set of survey and drug register data. The survey included questions about demographic, professional, and antibiotic prescribing characteristics, as well as the Jefferson Scale of Empathy for Health Professionals (JSE-HP) to assess self-reported physician empathy. It was sent to a stratified sample of 1,196 GPs comprising 30% of the Danish GP population of whom 464 (38.8%) GPs responded. GPs in the top and bottom decile of empathy levels were identified. All intra- and inter-profile descriptive statistics and differences were bootstrapped to estimate the variability and related confidence intervals.
Results
61% of GPs in the top decile of the empathy score were female. GPs in this decile reported the following person-centered factors as more important for their job satisfaction than the bottom decile: The Patient-physician relationship, interaction with colleagues, and intellectual stimulation. High-empathy scoring GPs prescribed significantly less penicillin than the low-empathy GPs. This was true for most penicillin subcategories. There were no significant differences in age, practice setting (urban vs. rural), practice type (partnership vs. single-handed), overall job satisfaction, or GP’s value of prestige and economic profit for their job satisfaction. The intra profile variation index and confidence intervals show less prescribing uncertainty among GPs with high empathy.
Conclusions
This study reveals that high empathy GPs may have different personal, professional, and antibiotic prescribing characteristics than low empathy GPs and have less variable empathy levels as a group. Furthermore, person-centered high empathy GPs on average seem to prescribe less penicillins than low empathy GPs.
Model Centre for Sustainability Studies with Partnership to Achieve SDGs in the sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Nwachukwu MICHAEL , Nwachukwu Joseph , Anyanwu Jonathan , Ulor Emeka , Okorondu Josh. , Acholonu Chidinma.
Published: August 2022

Actualization of the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) as presented by the United Nations in 2015 is a global challenge that may not be feasible in the sub-Saharan Africa by year 2030, except universities play a committed role. This is because; there is greater need for training and awareness creation about the concepts of sustainability and sustainable development in the region to make the desired change. This paper presents a model Centre for Sustainability Studies perspective for institutions in the sub-Saharan Africa. The model center perspective will enable partnership with institutions in Africa and one advanced nation or United Nations team, thereby creating a global network for collaborative research in the region. The model center for sustainability studies will train and certify public servants, government agencies, policy makers, entrepreneurs and personnel from organizations, and students on aspects of the SDGs and sustainability science. There is urgent need to add sustainability knowledge into environmental education and make environmental education a 200 Level compulsory course in higher institutions, and a secondary school certificate exam subject in sub-Saharan Africa. The innovative center for sustainability studies model has 11 training modules designed for disseminating knowledge of SDGs, projected to 2040 in the sub-Saharan Africa.
High Percentage of Cancer Stem Cells in Metastatic Locations: Upregulation of circBIRC6 in Highly Metastatic Breast Cancer Subline
Authors: Farahani Mohammad Kamalabadi , Karimi Roqaye , Atashi Amir
Published: August 2022

Metastasis is a devastating complication in breast cancer. Cancer relapse and metastasis are associated with cancer stem cells. CircBIRC6 is a circular RNA that proposed to be involved in stemness of stem cells. In breast cancer, metastatic tumor cells have higher stem cell properties. In the present study we evaluate the expression of circBIRC6 in these cells. After development of syngenic animal model of TNBC, primary breast cancer cells named 4T1T were isolated from tumor mass. Highly metastatic tumor cells named 4T1B and 4T1L were isolated and expanded from brain metastasis lesions and lung of cancerous mice respectively. Sphere formation ability in metastatic and primary tumor cells was evaluated separately. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to analyze the expression of circBIRC6 in primary and metastatic tumor cells. Our data revealed that, sphere formation ability among metastatic tumor cells was significantly higher. Surprisingly expression of circBIRC6 was significantly upregulated in these metastatic tumor cells. In comparison with 4T1T, circBIRC6 was upregulated 5.7 and 3.5 time in 4T1B and 4T1L respectively. These findings provided important insights regarding the molecular properties of metastatic tumor cells and can be used to design targeted therapeutic strategies to combat these cells.
The proposal of boundary setting for the posterior to level V region and the theoretical feasibility of prophylactic irradiation dose reduction of level Va in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A retrospective study in a single-center
Authors: Jiang Chaoyang , Li Xiaokai , Zhang Ling , Gong Baolin , Gao Hui , Li Zhihui , Zhang Tao , Wang Juan
Published: August 2022

Background:
The lymph node involvement in the posterior to level V (PLV) region is mainly observed in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Recently, we have reported the distribution of metastatic lymph nodes in the PLV region and there are correlations between the neck node levels (NNL) of NPC, but what is the boundary of the PLV region and how to delineate it remains unclear, and we further to elaborate whether the bilateral level Va should be covered as intermediate-risk clinical target volumes (CTVn2, about 60 Gy equivalent) for all T and N categories based on these correlations.
Methods:
A total of 1021 consecutive NPC patients with N1-3 stage from January 2012 to December 2020 were reviewed. The lymph node metastasis level of each patient was evaluated according to the updated guidelines proposed in 2013. According to the distribution pattern of lymph node metastasis and the anatomical structure in the PLV region, the boundaries of PLV region was delineated, and whether it is appropriate to cover the bilateral level Va as CTVn2 for all the NPC patients was further discussed.
Results:
The cranial boundary of PLV region is the caudal border of cricoid cartilage, the caudal boundary is the plane serratus anterior muscle begins to appear, the anterior boundary is the anterior border of trapezius, and the posterior boundary is the convergence of levator scapulae and trapezius. Laterally, the PLV region is limited by the medial edge of trapezius and medially by the lateral surface of levator scapulae. The nodal spread in level Va is based on the lymph node metastasis of level IIb in NPC.
Conclusions:
The PLV region is a missing NNL of head and neck tumors, especially in NPC. The proposed boundaries of the PLV region can provide a preliminary proposal for the further revision of NNL in head and neck tumors. It is theoretically feasible to reduce the prophylactic irradiation dose of the bilateral level Va in patients with N0 stage or with isolated metastases in level VIIa.
A multi-label classification approach via hierarchical multi-label classification
Authors: Ferrandin Mauri , Cerri Ricardo
Published: August 2022

Multi-label classification (MLC) is a very explored field in recent years. The most common approaches that deal with MLC problems are classified into two groups: (i) problem transformation which aims to adapt the multi-label data, making the use of traditional binary or multiclass classification algorithms feasible, and (ii) algorithm adaptation which focuses on modifying algorithms used into binary or multiclass classification, enabling them to make multi-label predictions. Several approaches have been proposed aiming to explore the relationships among the labels, with some of them through the transformation of a flat multi-label label space into a hierarchical multi-label label space, creating a tree-structured label taxonomy and inducing a hierarchical multi-label classifier to solve the classification problem. This paper presents a novel method in which a label hierarchy structured as a directed acyclic graph (DAG) is created from the multi-label label space, taking into account the label co-occurrences using the notion of closed frequent labelset. With this, it is possible to solve an MLC task as if it was a hierarchical multi-label classification (HMC) task. Global and local HMC approaches were tested with the obtained label hierarchies and compared with the approaches using tree-structured label hierarchies showing very competitive results. The main advantage of the proposed approach is better exploration and representation of the relationships between labels through the use of DAG-structured taxonomies, improving the results. Experimental results over 32 multi-label datasets from different domains showed that the proposed approach is better than related approaches in most of the multi-label evaluation measures. Moreover, we found that both tree and in specially DAG-structured label hierarchies combined with a local hierarchical classifier are more suitable to deal with imbalanced multi-label datasets.
Enhanced removal of phosphorus in sludge dewatering filtrate with steel slag: Using surface modification and carbon dioxide stripping
Authors: Kim Kyougnwoo , Kim Junghyeon , Choi Hyoyoung , Lee Sojeong , Byun Imgyu
Published: August 2022

The objective of this study was to enhance the phosphorus (P) removal performance of raw steel slag (RS) using surface modification and CO2 stripping methods. To reduce the alkalinity of the wastewater, CO2 stripping was performed through pH adjustment. To reduce the effect of the crystal barrier, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was used for increase in the specific surface area of RS. As the alkalinity was reduced through CO2 stripping, the P removal efficiency (PRE) improved by approximately 40%. It was shown that slag surface modification using CNTs PRE by approximately 25%. RS to which both methods, CO2 stripping and surface modification, were applied had a P removal capacity approximately 2.1 times higher than that of RS. When sludge dewatering filtrate was treated using RS, PRE was found to be approximately 34% higher than that of RS. In addition, it could be applied in a continuous process because surface modification has a sustainable effect in batch series tests. The P removal performance of the RS filter is mainly influenced by alkalinity and chemical clogging. Few studies have simultaneously considered these two factors to improve the performance of P removal. In this study, improved methods were suggested through CO2 stripping and surface modification using CNTs, and their applicability to sludge dewatering filtrate was confirmed.
Comparison of parental and practitioner’s acceptance for dental treatment under general anaesthesia in paediatric patients
Authors: Talab Yassamin Djalali , Geibel Margrit-Ann
Published: August 2022

AIM Practitioner`s knowledge and parental perspectives on dental general anaesthesia (GA) have been surveyed separately in the past. But in daily routine both need to collaborate for the benefit of the child. The aim of this paper was to compare parental and practitioner’s acceptance of GA with special focus on identifying factors which influence their differences in decision making. MATERIAL AND METHODS Questionnaires were conducted among 142 participants in a specialized paediatric dental clinic in Germany from February 2020 to February 2021. Data collection included: age, gender, experience with GA, fear of GA, risk evaluation and indications for GA. RESULTS There were no gender related differences in decision making. Emotional factors are present in parents of younger children. Parents are more likely to express fear and uncertainty regarding GA than dentists. Prior experience with GA significantly decreases fears in GA for parents. Both agree that extent of the treatment and low compliance are a suitable indication for GA. Dentists are more likely to accept GA due to a mental disability than parents. Parents were more likely to accept GA than dentists when multiple extractions were needed (regardless of compliance) or acute pain was present. CONCLUSION Practitioners should discuss the actual risks of GA as well as alternatives when educating about GA to help parents in their decision making. Emotional aspects in their pre-treatment consultation should be considered. To improve decision-making reliability, guidelines provided by health authorities are a reasonable aid.
Clinical outcomes of concomitant use of proton pump inhibitors and regorafenib in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: a multicenter study
Authors: Yekedüz Emre , Özbay Mehmet Fatih , Çağlayan Dilek , Yıldırım Atila , Erol Cihan , Yıldırım Hasan Çağrı , Tunç Sezai , Özyurt Neslihan , Özdemir Feyyaz , Şendur Mehmet Ali Nahit , Işıkdoğan Abdurrahman , Kılıçkap Saadettin , Ürün Yüksel , Yalçın Şuayib , Artaç Mehmet , Coşkun Hasan Şenol , Utkan Güngör
Published: August 2022

AimTo compare survival outcomes, response rates, and adverse events (AEs) in proton pump inhibitor (PPI) user and non-user patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treated with regorafenib.MethodsWe included 272 patients with mCRC treated with regorafenib in this study. Patientswere divided into two categories according to their status of PPI use. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). The secondary endpoints were time to treatment failure (TTF), response rates, and safety. To exclude immortal time bias in survival analyses, we compared PPI non-user patients and all patients.ResultsThere were 141 and 131 patients in the PPI non-user and user groups. Baseline characteristics were similar in each group. Pantoprazole was the most used PPI. At the median 35.2 (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 32.6-37.9) months follow-up, the median OS was similar in PPI non-user and all patients (6.9 months (95% CI: 5.3-8.5) and 7.7 months (95% CI:6.6-8.8), p = 0.913). TTF was also similar in PPI non-user and all patients (3.3 months (95% CI:2.7-3.9) and 3.5 months (95% CI:3.0-4.0), p = 0.661). In multivariable analysis, no statistically significant difference was observed between PPI user and non-user groups in OS and TTF (Hazard Ratio (HR):0.99, 95% CI:0.77-1.28, p =0.963 for OS; HR:0.93, 0.77-1.20, p=0.598 for TTF). The objective response rates (ORR) were similar in the PPI non-user and user groups (19.8% and 16.8%, p=0.455). The rates of any grade AEs were also similar in each group.ConclusionThis study showed that PPI was not associated with worse survival outcomes and safety profile in patients with mCRC treated with regorafenib.
Whole-exome sequencing identified a novel missense variant in the connexin 46 (GJA3) gene causing congenital cataract in an Iranian pedigree
Authors: Ranjbarrad Sanaz , Jebelli Asiyeh , Sadeghi Faegheh , Sehrig Fatemeh Zeinali , Fallah Mohammad-Sadegh , Bagherian Hamideh , Shirzadeh Tina , Motlagh Fatemeh Zafarghandi , Emrahi Leila
Published: August 2022

Background: Congenital cataract (CC) is the most common reason for visual loss and blindness at birth or early childhood worldwide. The autosomal dominant (AD) inheritance is reported as the most frequent transmission pattern for CC. Connexin 46 (Cx46 coded by GJA3 gene) belongs to the gap junction proteins family which has the main function in the cell communication system of the eye lens. Methods: In the present research, whole-exome sequencing (WES) was done for proband diagnosed by CC, and Co-segregation analysis using Sanger sequencing was performed for the candidate variant on healthy and affected family members. The candidate variant was analyzed with appropriate bioinformatics software and then classified according to the ACMG guideline. Results: WES analysis of proband recognized a novel heterozygous c.146 A>C (p.Q49P) variant in the exon 2 of the GJA3 gene leading to the substitution of a highly conserved Glutamine by Proline at codon 49. The linkage of CC with this variant was observed for three generations in a proband family with AD inheritance. This variant is located on phylogenetically conserved extracellular loop E1 of protein. Extracellular loops play the main role to mediate hemichannel docking between connexons and regulating voltage gating of the channel. Conclusion: Our finding emphasized the role of Cx46 in the pathogenesis of ADCC and the extended mutation spectrum of the GJA3 gene in association with CC.
The prevalence of mental ill-health in women during pregnancy and after childbirth during the Covid-19 pandemic: a Systematic Review and Meta- analysis
Authors: Delanerolle Gayathri , McCauley Mary , Hirsch Martin , Zheng Yutian , Cong Xu , Cavalini Heitor , Sajid Sana , Shetty Ashish , Rathod Shanaya , Shi Jian Qing , Hapangama Dharani K , Phiri Peter
Published: August 2022

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is a respiratory disease which causes coronavirus and has given rise to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), SARS-CoV in Hong Kong and SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). COVID-19, to date, has had the highest morbidity and mortality rates globally, thus reaching the pandemic status. Whilst research has explored the impact of pandemic on general wellbeing, there appears to be a paucity on its association with women’s mental health, with many pregnant women reporting the pandemic negatively impacted their mental health. This study aims to explore the prevalence of the impact of the COVID-19, MERS and SARS pandemics on the mental health of pregnant women. A study protocol was developed and published in PROSPERO (CRD42021235356) to explore several key objectives. A literature search was carried out and identified 316 studies. A meta-analysis was conducted to report the findings. There were no studies reporting the mental health impact due to MERS and SARS. Results showed that women who were pregnant or had just given birth displayed various symptoms of poor mental health including those relating to depression (24.9%), anxiety (32.8%), stress (29.44%), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (27.93%), and sleep disorders (24.38%) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The importance of managing mental health during pregnancy and after-delivery improves the quality of life and wellbeing of mothers hence developing an evidence-based approached as part of pandemic preparedness would improve mental health during challenging times.
Comparison of gastric reactance with commonly used perfusion markers in a swine hypovolemic shock model.
Authors: Godinez-Garcia Maria de Montserrat , Soto-Mota Adrian , Catrip Jorge , Gaitan Ruben , Lespron Ma del C. , Molina Francisco J. , Falcón Miguel A. , Aranda Alberto , Tena Carlos A. , Zamudio Pedro , Briseño Ivan , Alvarez Rolando , Guillen Yazmin
Published: August 2022

Background: The gut has been hypothesized to be a protagonist tissue in multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) for the past three decades. Gastric reactance (XL) is a potential perfusion marker derived from gastric impedance spectroscopy (GIS), which is an emerging tool through which living tissue can be continuously measured to determine its pathophysiological evolution. This study aimed to compare the performance of XL (positive predictive values (PPV), negative predictive values (NPV), and area-under-the-curve (AUC)) against commonly-used perfusion markers before and during hypovolemic shock in swine subjects. Methods: Prospective, controlled animal trial with two groups, control group (CG) N=5 and shock (MAP ≤ 48 mmHg) group (SG) N= 16. Comparison time points were defined as T-2 (two hours before shock), T-1 (one hour before shock), T0 (shock), T1 (one hour after shock), T2 (two hours after shock). Shock severity was assessed through blood gases, systemic and hemodynamic variables, and via histological examination for assessing inflammation-oedema, and detachment in the gastric mucosa. Macroscopic assessment of the gastric mucosa was defined in five levels (0 - normal mucosa, 1 -stippling or epithelial haemorrhage, 2 - pale mucosa, 3 - violet mucosa, and 4 - marmoreal mucosa). Receiver Operating Curves (ROC) of perfusion markers and XL were calculated to identify optimal cut-off values and their individual ability to predict hypovolemic shock. Results: Comparison among CG and SG shows statistically significant differences in XL measurements at T-1, T0, T1 and T2, while lactate showed statistically significant differences until T1 and T2. Statistically significant differences were detected in mucosa class p<0.001 and in inflammation-oedema in the gastric body and fundus (p=0.021 and p=0.043). The performance of the minimum XL value per event and subject (XL_Min) was better (0.81 ≤ AUC ≤ 0.96, 0.93 ≤ PPV ≤ 1.00, 0.45 ≤ NPV ≤ 0.83) than maximum lactate value (Lac_Max) per event and subject (0.29 ≤ AUC ≤ 0.82, 0.82 ≤ PPV ≤ 0.91, 0.24 ≤ NPV ≤ 0.82). The optimal cut-off values of XL_Min show a progressive increase at each timepoint, while Lac_Max increases only at T2. Conclusions: XL proved to be an indirect and consistent marker of inadequate gastric mucosal perfusion, which shows significant and detectable changes before commonly-used markers of global perfusion under the hypovolemic shock conditions outlined in this work.
MicroRNA-543 controls pancreatic cancer development by LINC00847-microRNA-543-STK31 axis
Authors: Liu Yan , Wei Jun , Wang Chao , Luo Duqiang , Zhao Xiaoling , hou ruizhi
Published: August 2022

Background
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most malignant cancers of the gastro-intestinal tract. However, the study of targeted immunity in pancreatic cancer is not very thorough. Therefore, targeted molecular markers are needed to solve the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer.
Methods
In our research, we investigated the biological functions and molecular mechanism of microRNA-543 in PC. qRT-PCR and western blotting (WB) was utilized to test the transcription of microRNA-543, STK31, and LINC00847 in BxPC-3 as well as PANC-1cells. Then CCK-8, Trans-well, colony formation assay and flow cytometry assay were utilized to detect cell growth in cell number, migration, invasion and apoptosis, WB and FISH were utilized to evaluate the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) process and cellular subcellular localization. RIP, double luciferase report and RNA-pull down assay were utilized to determine targeting relationship between microRNA-543 and STK31 or microRNA-543-LINC00847.
Results
While microRNA-543 transcription was discovered to be low in PC, LINC00847 and STK31 were overexpressed at significant levels. MicroRNA-543 knockdown dramatically increased PC cell growth in cell number, invasion, metastasis, and EMT, as well as decreased apoptosis, in functional research. Furthermore, microRNA-543 and STK31 are mutually targeted. LINC00847 worked as a molecular absorbent for microRNA-543, and a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) for STK31, increasing STK-31 transcription.
Conclusions
We believe that microRNA-543, through the LINC00847-microRNA-543-STK31 axis, plays a role in the development of PC and that it is a tumor suppressor as well. As a result, MicroRNA-543 may prove to be an impactive diagnostic and therapeutic target in this illness.
Real-time three-dimensional fluoroscopy-navigated percutaneous pelvic screw placement for fragility fractures of the pelvis in the hybrid operating room
Authors: Takaesu Mika , Nakasone Satoshi , Miyata Yoshihide , Nishida Kotaro
Published: August 2022

Background:
The prognosis of conservative treatment for fragility fractures of the pelvis (FFP) among the elderly remains poor. However, the percutaneous pelvic screw placement (PPSP) in FFP is close to the neuroforamen and blood vessels, making the procedure under fluoroscopy difficult and unsafe. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the accuracy and clinical outcomes of PPSP using real-time 3D fluoroscopic navigation for FFP in the hybrid operating room.
Methods:
This study included 41 patients with FFP who underwent PPSP in a hybrid operating room between April 2016 and December 2020. Intraoperative C-arm cone-beam CT was performed under general anesthesia. Guidewire trajectory was planned using needle guidance system. The guidewire was inserted along the overlaid trajectory using 3Dfluoroscopic navigation, and a 6.5 mm CCS was placed. The clinical outcomes and accuracy of the screw placement were then investigated.
Results:
A total of 121 screws were placed. The mean operative time was 84 ± 38.7 minutes, and the mean blood loss was 7.6 ± 3.8 mL. The mean time to wheelchair transfer was 2 days postoperatively. Pain was relieved in 34 patients. Gait ability from preoperative and latest follow-up after surgery was maintained in 30 (73%) patients. all 41 patients achieved bone union. Of the 121 screws, 119 were grade 0 with no misplacement; only 2 patients had grade 1 perforations.
Conclusion:
PPSP using real-time 3D fluoroscopic navigation in a hybrid operating room was accurate and useful for early mobilization and pain relief among elderly patients with FFP without necessary of an additional navigational system.
Development of a chub mackerel with less-aggressive fry stage by genome editing of arginine vasotocin receptor V1a2
Authors: Ohga Hirofumi , Koki Shibata , Sakanoue Ryo , Ogawa Takuma , Kitano Hajime , Kai Satoshi , Ohta Kohei , Nagano Naoki , Nagasako Tomoya , Uchida Seiichi , Sakuma Tetsushi , Yamamoto Takashi , Kim Sangwan , Tashiro Kosuke , Kuhara Satoru , Gen Koichiro , Fujiwara Atushi , Kazeto Yukinori , Kobayashi Takanori , Matsuyama Michiya
Published: August 2022

Genome editing is a technology that can remarkably accelerate crop and animal breeding via artificial induction of desired traits with high accuracy. This study aimed to develop a chub mackerel variety with reduced aggression using an experimental system that enables stable genome editing. Sexual maturation and control of spawning season and time were technologically facilitated by controlling the photoperiod and water temperature of the rearing tank. In addition, appropriate low-temperature treatment conditions for delaying cleavage, shape of the glass capillary, and injection site were examined in detail in order to develop an efficient and robust microinjection system for the study. An arginine vasotocin receptor V1a2 (V1a2) knockout (KO) strain of chub mackerel was developed in order to reduce the frequency of cannibalistic behavior at the fry stage. Video data analysis using bioimage informatics quantified the frequency of aggressive behavior, indicating a significant 46% reduction (P = 0.0229) in the frequency of cannibalistic behavior than in wild type. Furthermore, in the V1a2 KO strain, the frequency of collisions with the wall and oxygen consumption also decreased. Overall, the manageable and calm phenotype reported here can potentially contribute to the development of a stable and sustainable marine product.
The burden and trends of multiple myeloma worldwide from 1990 to 2019
Authors: Ou Zejin , Gao Yunxia , Yu Danfeng , Jiang Diwei , Cui Jiaxin , Zhang Yuxia , Tang Shihao , Duan Danping , Wang Zhi
Published: August 2022

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a common malignant disease of the bone marrow. The burden and trends of MM were systematically analyzed globally, which would inform health strategies.Methods: Data of the MM burden was explored from the Global Burden of Disease 2019. Trends in the age-standardized rate (ASR) of the MM burden were calculated using estimated annual percentage change (EAPC). Results: Globally, the incident cases of MM increased 136.10% since 1990, and reached 1556.88×102 in 2019. The overall incident ASR (/100,000 population) increased from 1.73 in 1990 to 1.92 in 2019, by an annual average 0.25% increase over the past thirty years (EAPC = 0.25, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.15 to 0.35). Increasing incident trends also occurred in most regions and countries, particularly Jamaica and Belarus, in which the respective EAPCs were 4.15 (95%CI: 3.41 to 4.90) and 3.25 (95%CI: 2.99 to 3.51). In 2019, MM caused 1134.74×102 deaths, and 24972.05×102 disability adjusted-life years (DALYs) globally. Trends in the overall ASR of DALYs minorly declined from 1990 to 2019 (EAPC = -0.16, 95%CI: -0.23 to -0.09), whereas that of death was relatively stable. Increasing trends in ASR of death and DALYs were observed in most regions and countries, except in high sociodemographic index (SDI) settings. Conclusions: The MM burden was heterogeneous across regions and countries and its changing trends were associated with sociodemographic factors. Cost-effective measures will still be needed to reduce the MM burden.
Effect of ATG12–ATG5-ATG16L1 autophagy E3 complex on the ability of LC3/GABARAP proteins to induce vesicle tethering and fusion
Authors: Iriondo Marina N. , Etxaniz Asier , Varela Yaiza R. , Ballesteros Uxue , Lázaro Melisa , Valle Mikel , Fracchiolla Dorotea , Martens Sascha , Montes L. Ruth , Goni Felix M , Alonso Alicia
Published: August 2022

In macroautophagy, the autophagosome (AP) engulfs portions of cytoplasm to allow their lysosomal degradation. AP formation in humans requires the concerted action of the ATG12 and LC3/GABARAP conjugation systems. The ATG12–ATG5-ATG16L1 (E3) complex acts as a ubiquitin-like E3 ligase enzyme, promoting LC3/GABARAP protein anchoring to the AP membrane. The role of the various proteins in the AP expansion process is still unclear, in part because there are no studies comparing LC3/GABARAP-family member roles under the same conditions, and also because the full human E3 complex was only recently available. In the present study, the lipidation of six members of the LC3/GABARAP family has been reconstituted in the presence and absence of E3, and the mechanisms by which E3 and LC3/GABARAP proteins participate in vesicle tethering and fusion have been investigated. In the absence of E3, GABARAP and GABARAPL1 showed the highest activities. Differences found within LC3/GABARAP proteins suggest the existence of a lipidation threshold, lower for the GABARAP subfamily, as a requisite for tethering and inter-vesicular lipid mixing. E3 increases and speeds up lipidation and LC3/GABARAP-promoted tethering. However E3 hampers LC3/GABARAP capacity to induce inter-vesicular lipid mixing or subsequent fusion, presumably through formation of a rigid scaffold on the vesicle surface. Our results suggest a model of AP expansion in which the growing regions would be areas where the LC3/GABARAP proteins involved should be susceptible to lipidation in the absence of E3, or else a regulatory mechanism would allow vesicle incorporation and phagophore growth when E3 is present.
Comparison between azacitidine and decitabine as front-line therapy in elderly treatment naïve Acute Myeloid Leukemia not eligible for intensive chemotherapy
Authors: Maurillo Luca , Spagnoli Alessandra , Candoni Anna , Papayannidis Cristina , Borlenghi Erika , Lazzarotto Davide , Fianchi Luana , Sciumè Maria Rita , Zannier Maria Elena , Buccisano Francesco , Principe Maria Ilaria Del , Mancini Valentina , Breccia Massimo , Fanin Renato , Todisco Elisabetta , Lunghi Monia , Palmieri Raffaele , Fracchiolla Nicola , Musto Pellegrino , Rossi Giuseppe , Venditti Adriano
Published: August 2022

We compared the efficacy of azacitidine (AZA) and decitabine (DEC) in elderly patients with untreated AML, diagnosed according to WHO criteria. In the two groups, we evaluated complete remission (CR), overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS). The AZA and DEC groups included 139 and 186 patients, respectively. To minimize the effects of treatment selection bias, adjustments were made using the propensity-score matching method, which yielded 136 patient pairs. In the AZA and DEC cohort, median age was 75 years in both, (IQR, 71–78 and 71–77), median WBCc at treatment onset 2.5x109/L (IQR, 1.6–5.8 ) and 2.9x 109/L (IQR, 1.5–8.1), median bone marrow (BM) blast count 30% (IQR, 24–41%) and 49% (IQR, 30–67%), 59 (43%) and 63 (46%) patients had a secondary AML, respectively. Karyotype was evaluable in 115 and 120 patients: 80 (59%) and 87 (64%) had intermediate-risk, 35 (26%) and 33 (24%) an adverse risk karyotype, respectively. Median number of cycles delivered was 6 (IQR, 3.0–11.0) and 4 (IQR, 2.0–9.0), CR rate was 24% vs 29%, median OS and 2-year OS rates 11.3 (95% CI 9.5–13.8) vs 12.0 (95% CI 7.1–16.5) months and 20% vs 24%, respectively. No differences in CR and OS were found within the following subgroup: intermediate- and adverse-risk cytogenetic, frequency of WBCc at treatment ≥ 5x10^9L and < 5x10^9/L, de novo and secondary AML, BM blast count < and ≥ 30%. Median DFS for AZA and DEC treated patients was 9.2 vs 12 months, respectively. Our analysis indicates similar outcomes with AZA compared to DEC.
Evaluation of the coordination between China’s marine ecological environment and marine economic development
Authors: Cai Ling , Liang Junlang , Guo Zhouhua , Ouyang Yurong , Yang Ming , Dai Juanjuan
Published: August 2022

Since the 21st century, rapid development of marine economies has contributed considerably to economic growth. The problem of coordinated development of marine ecological environmental protection and economies have become increasingly prominent. This study establishes a set of index evaluation systems for coordinated development of marine ecology and economies and uses the Analytic Hierarchy Process to analyze the coordination of marine ecology and marine economic development in China. The results show that more attention has been paid to the protection of marine ecological environment during marine economic development in China since the year 2012; Furthermore, the coordination of marine economic development and marine ecological protection in coastal provinces was analyzed. Results show that Shanghai and Shandong Province better coordinate marine economic development and marine ecological protection in 2016. The results of the index evaluation system suggest that China marine ecological protection should further increase the protection of marine ecological environments by preventing and controlling marine pollution and carrying out ecological restoration.
Fully Verifiable Outsourcing of Single and Composite Modular Exponentiation with Single Untrusted Cloud Server
Authors: Torki Omid , Mala Hamid , Ashouri-Talouki Maede , Alkhzaimi Hoda
Published: August 2022

Modular exponentiation is considered one of the most widely used, yet costly operations in public-key cryptography, especially for resource-constrained devices in a peer-to-peer networks such as net of IoT or sensor devices. However, it can be computed at a relatively low cost with the help of outsourcing. The first contribution of this paper is investigating the security of the Su et al.’s scheme which, our first attack confirms that the verifiability of this scheme is less than the authors’ claim and our second attack reveals that a malicious server is able to forge user signature. The second contribution of this paper is investigating the verifiability of Ding’s scheme, a scheme previously claimed to provide high verifiability, and we shows that this scheme is not verifiable. The third contribution is centered around proposing two practical and secure outsourcing schemes for outsourc-ing computations of single and composite modular exponentiation, in the single-server model. It is worth noting that both of our proposed schemes offer higher efficiency and security than the previous schemes as their verifiability are equal to one, while the recorded verifiability of the previous schemes decreases by the number of exponentiations utilized.
A Novel Method to Develop Nanocomposite Bimodal Foams Containing Expandable Polymeric Microballoons: Microstructural Characteristics
Authors: Mohammadian Zahra , Azdast Taher
Published: August 2022

This study aims to develop a novel technique in manufacturing nanocomposite bimodal foams containing expandable polymeric microballoons. Low density polyethylene (LDPE) syntactic foams were prepared via injection molding process, afterwards, a batch refoaming method was utilized to create bimodal structure. The effects of microballoon and nanoclay content and foaming time and temperature on microstructure and physical properties of foams were investigated. The results revealed that refoaming leads to a considerable decrease in density due to nucleation of microcells along with re-expansion of microballoons, as well as CO2 diffusion in voids between the matrix and microballoon surfaces. Microballoon content has no significant effect on cell size of bimodal foams, while a great growth in cell density was observed as its content increased. Results also indicated that at low and high foaming process parameters, melt strength and gas loss are the overcoming phenomena, respectively leading to an optimal processing temperature and time.
Efficacy and safety of double balloon catheter and dinoprostone for labor induction in multipara at term
Authors: Yuan Lu , Peng Jing , Yang Lijun , Zhao Yun
Published: August 2022

Background: The aim of this study was to comparatively assess the efficacy and safety of double balloon catheter (DBC) and dinoprostone and as labor-inducing agents for multipara at term. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted among multipara at term with a Bishop score <6 who needed planned labor induction from January 1, 2020, to December 30, 2020 in Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei province, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. They were divided into DBC group and dinoprostone group respectively according to the method of labor induction. Baseline maternal data and perinatal outcomes were recorded for statistical analysis. Total vaginal delivery rate, rate of vaginal delivery within 24 h, rate of uterine hyperstimulation combined with abnormal fetal heart rate(FHR) and rate of fetal distress were regarded as the primary outcome variables. The diffrerence between groups was considered statistically significant when p value <0.05. Results: A total of 202 pregnant women was included for analysis (95 women in DBC group vs 107 women in dinoprostone group). There were no significant differences in total vaginal delivery rate and rate of vaginal delivery within 24 h between groups (93.7% vs 86.9% and 75.8% vs 71%, p＞0.05). Uterine hyperstimulation combined with abnormal FHR occurred exclusively in dinoprostone group (0% vs 5.6%, p＜0.05). The rate of amniotic fluid fecal staining and prenatal fever in dinoprostone group was higher than in DBC group (p＜0.05). There was no significant difference in the rate of fetal distress between in the two groups (4.2% vs 10.3%, p＞0.05). Both groups were similar in neonatal outcomes including birth weight, neonatal asphyxia and neonatal intensive care unit admission (NICU). Conclusions: DBC and dinoprostone seem to be equally effective in labor induction for multipara at term, and DBC seems to be safer than dinoprostone during induction in multipara at term as it causes lower rate of uterine hyperstimulation combined with abnormal FHR.