bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plant-based traditional foods and beverages of Gumare Village, Botswana
Authors: Tselaesele Nelson , Bultosa Geremew , Molapisi Moenyane , Makhabu Shimane , Kobue-Lekalake Rosemary , Haki Gulelat Desse , Sekwati-Monang Bonno , Seifu Eyassu , Mokhawa Gaone , Sonno Kethabile
Published: April 2023

The consumption of traditional and indigenous foods and beverages varies across different ethnic communities and is often influenced by geographical location. However, the diversity of edible plants is rapidly declining due to climate change, leading to a loss of knowledge about useful plants used by different communities before the plant itself becomes extinct. This research investigated the edible plant types and investigated the processing steps of plant-based traditional foods/dishes and beverages of Gumare village, located in the catchment area of the Okavango Delta in the northwest of Botswana. Questionnaire interviews and focus group discussions (FGD) were used to collect data. The study identified 52 wild and 19 domesticated edible plants used in the preparation of traditional foods/dishes and beverages of Gumare village. Maize, sorghum, millets, beans, melon, watermelon, pumpkin, bottle gourd and sweet potato are widely used domesticated crops. The wild edible plants are either directly used after minor processing or as recipes in traditional dishes and/or as an inoculum in the fermentation, as a substrate in traditional beverages and some as medicinal plants. However, some taboos and food safety challenges were observed in the use of certain plants. The study highlighted a decline in the use of traditional foods/dishes and beverages, particularly among the young generation. The youth indicated that they have a low interest in gathering traditional foods and beverages due to the time-consuming nature during harvesting and the labour-intensive processing. In addition, they indicated the dangers of attacks by wild animals from veld by reptiles (for example snakes and pythons) and alligators (crocodiles) from rivers during the harvesting of raw materials used in traditional foods and dishes. For the communities, the diverse edible wild plants documented are a source of nutrients and bioactive compounds such as dietary fibers, phenolics, terpenes, essential oils, carotenoids, and alkaloids that help to combat malnutrition and for use as traditional medicines to support health and wellness. In conclusion, the significant diversity of wild edible plants and domesticated crops in Gumare village, likely due to its location in the catchment area of the Okavango Delta, plays a crucial role in diet diversification and can contribute to food and nutrition security. However, for most wild edible plants of Botswana, information on their nutrient and bioactive compounds are still limited. This study provides baseline information for further chemical investigation and development of resources in the formulation of functional foods and nutraceuticals.

Graphical Abstract
Molecular patterns of egyptian patients with non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancers: a clinicopathological study
Authors: Ismail Mohamed Said , Kassem Loay , Ali Ahmed Al-Husseiny , Ahmed Fatma Elzahraa , Shalaby Mohamed , Magdy Sally
Published: April 2023

Background

Driver molecular aberrations, such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangement, play an important role in the oncogenesis and progression of non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLC). Therefore, this study aimed to detect the incidence of driver mutations among non-squamous NSCLC.

Patients and methods

This was a retrospective-prospective cohort study on 131 patients with non-squamous NSCLC. Data on age, smoking status, chest symptoms, method of lung cancer diagnosis, molecular testing, including EGFR mutations in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissue and serum circulating tumor DNA using next-generation sequencing and ALK gene rearrangement by FFPE tumor tissue, and follow-up data regarding treatment modalities and outcomes were collected.

Results

The median age of the patients was 57 years (range: 32–79 years). Out of 131 patients, 97 were males (74%), and 90 (68.7%) were smokers. Among 128 patients tested, 16 (12.5%) had EGFR mutations detected with either technique by formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissue or/and serum circulating tumor DNA using next-generation sequencing, and 6 (4.7%) had ALK rearrangement by FFPE tumor tissue. The majority (62.6%) presented with metastatic disease. Among the 102 patients who received first-line systemic therapy, the objective response rate was 50.0% in mutated NSCLC versus 14.6% in non-mutated (p < 0.001). Among the eight mutated patients who received first-line tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), 7 patients achieved either complete response or partial response. Among the 22 mutated patients, the median overall survival was 3 months in those who did not receive targeted therapy versus not reached in those who received any type of targeted therapy (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Screening patients with newly diagnosed non-squamous NSCLC for driver mutations is essential for major prognostic and therapeutic implications. Early administration of TKIs in mutated patients significantly improves disease outcomes.
Long-term use of colchicine: “The time to guard against chronic toxicity among patients of familial Mediterranean fever”
Authors: Emara Mohamed H. , Abdelkader Abeer Hussein , Radwan Mohamed Said , Elbatae Hassan E. , Saeed Maysaa A.
Published: April 2023

Colchicine is a cheap easily available and accessible drug that has been tried in different diseases which are not limited to gout, familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), Behcet’s disease, and constipation, and has recently been tried for the treatment of COVID-19 and heart diseases. There are many emerging reports of toxicity related to colchicine use. Patients with FMF are using this drug lifelong. We are sounding the alarm for monitoring patients with FMF to guard against chronic colchicine toxicity.
Three-dimensional nanoscale reduced-angle ptycho-tomographic imaging with deep learning (RAPID)
Authors: Wu Ziling , Kang Iksung , Yao Yudong , Jiang Yi , Deng Junjing , Klug Jeffrey , Vogt Stefan , Barbastathis George
Published: April 2023

X-ray ptychographic tomography is a nondestructive method for three dimensional (3D) imaging with nanometer-sized resolvable features. The size of the volume that can be imaged is almost arbitrary, limited only by the penetration depth and the available scanning time. Here we present a method that rapidly accelerates the imaging operation over a given volume through acquiring a limited set of data via large angular reduction and compensating for the resulting ill-posedness through deeply learned priors. The proposed 3D reconstruction method “RAPID” relies initially on a subset of the object measured with the nominal number of required illumination angles and treats the reconstructions from the conventional two-step approach as ground truth. It is then trained to reproduce equal fidelity from much fewer angles. After training, it performs with similar fidelity on the hitherto unexamined portions of the object, previously not shown during training, with a limited set of acquisitions. In our experimental demonstration, the nominal number of angles was 349 and the reduced number of angles was 21, resulting in a $$\times 140$$

×
140

aggregate speedup over a volume of $$4.48\times 93.18\times 3.92\, \upmu \text {m}^3$$

4.48
×
93.18
×
3.92

μ

m
3

and with $$(14\,\text {nm})^3$$

(
14

nm
)

3

feature size, i.e. $$\sim 10^8$$

∼

10
8

voxels. RAPID’s key distinguishing feature over earlier attempts is the incorporation of atrous spatial pyramid pooling modules into the deep neural network framework in an anisotropic way. We found that adjusting the atrous rate improves reconstruction fidelity because it expands the convolutional kernels’ range to match the physics of multi-slice ptychography without significantly increasing the number of parameters.
Maternal and Infant Outcomes in GCK-MODY Complicated by Pregnancy
Authors: Ren Qian , Wang Zhihui , Yang Wenjia , Han Xueyao , Ji Linong
Published: April 2023

Context

Challenges exist in the management of Glucokinase–maturity-onset diabetes of the young (GCK-MODY), especially during pregnancy.

Objective

This work aimed to evaluate the prevalence of congenital anomaly in newborns from GCK-MODY mothers, and the relationship between fetus genotype and the risk of congenital malformation as well as other adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Methods

Electronic databases including PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane database last updated July 16, 2022, were searched. We included observational studies conducted in GCK-MODY complicated by pregnancy, and reporting at least one pregnancy outcome. We extracted data in duplicate, and the risk of bias was evaluated by the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale (NOS). All statistical analysis was performed by Cochrane Review Manager.

Results

Eight studies were selected in the meta-analysis. Five were of high quality and 3 were of medium quality evaluated by NOS. A total of 257 GCK-MODY mothers and 499 offspring were enrolled. Among them, 370 offspring were divided into 2 groups: GCK-affected offspring (GCK+, n = 238) and GCK-unaffected offspring (GCK−, n = 132). The percentage of congenital malformations in GCK pregnant women's offspring was 2.4%. The risk of congenital malformations was similar between the GCK+ and GCK− group (odds ratio = 0.56; 95% CI, 0.07-4.51; I2 = 0%; P = .59). The risk of macrosomia/large for gestational age, neonatal hypoglycemia, and combined adverse neonatal outcome was significantly lower in offspring with the GCK mutation compared with non–GCK mutation carriers.

Conclusion

The percentage of congenital malformations was 2.4% in GCK-MODY pregnant women's offspring, and newborns with the GCK mutation have lower birth complication than non–GCK mutation carriers.
Perioperative Management and Outcomes in Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: O’Brien Elizabeth M. , Stricker Paul A. , Harris Kathleen A. , Liu Hongyan , Griffis Heather , Muhly Wallis T.
Published: April 2023

BACKGROUND:

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurocognitive disorder characterized by impairments in communication and socialization. There are little data comparing the differences in perioperative outcomes in children with and without ASD. We hypothesized that children with ASD would have higher postoperative pain scores than those without ASD.

METHODS:

Pediatric patients undergoing ambulatory tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy, ophthalmological surgery, general surgery, and urologic procedures between 2016 and 2021 were included in this retrospective cohort study. ASD patients, defined by International Classification of Diseases-9/10 codes, were compared to controls utilizing inverse probability of treatment weighting based on surgical category/duration, age, sex, race and ethnicity, anesthetizing location, American Society of Anesthesiology physical status, intraoperative opioid dose, and intraoperative dexmedetomidine dose. The primary outcome was the maximum postanesthesia care unit (PACU) pain score, and secondary outcomes included premedication administration, behavior at induction, PACU opioid administration, postoperative vomiting, emergence delirium, and PACU length of stay.

RESULTS:

Three hundred thirty-five children with ASD and 11,551 non-ASD controls were included. Maximum PACU pain scores in the ASD group were not significantly higher than controls (median, 5; interquartile range [IQR], 0–8; ASD versus median, 5; IQR, 0–8 controls; median difference [95% confidence interval {CI}] of 0 [−1.1 to 1.1]; P = .66). There was no significant difference in the use of premedication (96% ASD versus 95% controls; odds ratio [OR], 1.5; [95% CI, 0.9–2.7]; P = .12), but the ASD cohort had significantly higher odds of receiving an intranasal premedication (4.2% ASD versus 1.2% controls; OR, 3.5 [95% CI, 1.8–6.8]; P < .001) and received ketamine significantly more frequently (0.3% ASD versus <0.1% controls; P < .001). Children with ASD were more likely to have parental (4.9% ASD versus 1.0% controls; OR, 5 [95% CI, 2.1–12]; P < .001) and child life specialist (1.3% ASD versus 0.1% controls; OR, 9.9 [95% CI, 2.3–43]; P < .001) presence at induction, but were more likely to have a difficult induction (11% ASD versus 3.4% controls; OR, 3.42 [95% CI, 1.7–6.7]; P < .001). There were no significant differences in postoperative opioid administration, emergence delirium, vomiting, or PACU length of stay between cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS:

We found no difference in maximum PACU pain scores in children with ASD compared to a similarly weighted cohort without ASD. Children with ASD had higher odds of a difficult induction despite similar rates of premedication administration, and significantly higher parental and child life specialist presence at induction. These findings highlight the need for future research to develop evidence-based interventions to optimize the perioperative care of this population.
Anesthetic Management and Deep Sedation After Emergence From General Anesthesia: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Deljou Atousa , Soleimani Jalal , Martin David P. , Schroeder Darrell R. , Sprung Juraj , Weingarten Toby N.
Published: April 2023

BACKGROUND:

Residual deep sedation during anesthesia recovery may predict postoperative complications. We examined the incidence and risk factors for deep sedation after general anesthesia.

METHODS:

We retrospectively reviewed health records of adults who underwent procedures with general anesthesia and were admitted to the postanesthesia care unit from May 2018 to December 2020. Patients were dichotomized by Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) score: ≤−4 (deeply sedated/unarousable) or ≥−3 (not deeply sedated). Anesthesia risk factors for deep sedation were assessed with multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS:

Of the 56,275 patients included, 2003 had a RASS ≤−4 (35.6 [95% CI, 34.1–37.2] cases per 1000 anesthetics administered). On adjusted analyses, the likelihood of a RASS ≤−4 increased when more soluble halogenated anesthetics were used. Compared with desflurane without propofol, the odds ratio (OR [95% CI]) for a RASS ≤−4 was higher with sevoflurane (1.85 [1.45–2.37]) and isoflurane (4.21 [3.29–5.38]) without propofol. Compared with desflurane without propofol, the odds of a RASS ≤−4 further increased with use of desflurane-propofol (2.61 [1.99–3.42]), sevoflurane-propofol (4.20 [3.28–5.39]), isoflurane-propofol (6.39 [4.90–8.34]), and total intravenous anesthesia (2.98 [2.22–3.98]). A RASS ≤−4 was also more likely with the use of dexmedetomidine (2.47 [2.10–2.89]), gabapentinoids (2.17 [1.90–2.48]), and midazolam (1.34 [1.21–1.49]). Deeply sedated patients discharged to general care wards had higher odds of opioid-induced respiratory complications (2.59 [1.32–5.10]) and higher odds of naloxone administration (2.93 [1.42–6.03]).

CONCLUSIONS:

Likelihood of deep sedation after recovery increased with intraoperative use of halogenated agents with higher solubility and increased further when propofol was concomitantly used. Patients who experience deep sedation during anesthesia recovery have an increased risk of opioid-induced respiratory complications on general care wards. These findings may be useful for tailoring anesthetic management to reduce postoperative oversedation.
Occult Epidemics
Authors: Moore Taylor M.
Published: April 2023

In the 1903 text Madar al-Zar (The Damages of Zar), Egyptian writer Muhammad Hilmi Zayn al-Din decried the growing popularity of zar rituals and the superstitious women who participated in them as an epidemic ravaging his country. This article employs Anjuli Fatima Raza Kolb’s method of “epidemiological reading” to reveal and analyze the racial and imperial anxieties that underlie this understudied text. The article begins with a summary of Madar al-Zar and an account of the sociopolitical context in which it was published. It then pulls back the surface layers of the text to reveal that the “disease” running rampant in early twentieth-century Egypt was not zar, but the scourge of African enslavement and the ever-looming specter of Egypt’s imperial desires in Sudan. The article concludes with a meditation on zar as an archive of African dispossession, displacement, and resilience.
Time-Dependent Changes in Stiffness-Related Functional Disability After Long Segmental Fusion in Elderly Patients With Adult Spinal Deformity—Minimum 2-Year Follow-up Results
Authors: Park Jin-Sung , Lee Chong-Suh , Kang Byeong-Jik , Raj Aditya , Shin Tae-Soo , Park Se-Jun
Published: April 2023

BACKGROUND:

Although several studies were performed to measure stiffness-related functional disability (SRFD) after long segmental fusion for adult spinal deformity, the evaluation of SRFD was done at a single point in time. We do not know whether the disability will stay the same, worsen, or improve over time.

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the time-dependent changes of SRFD and any factors affecting these changes.

METHODS:

Patients who had ≥4-segment fusion with the sacrum were reviewed retrospectively. Specific Functional Disability Index (SFDI), consisting of a 12-item tool with 4 categories (sitting on the floor, sanitation activities, lower body activities, and moving activities), was used to assess the severity of SRFD. The SFDI taken at 3 months, 1 year, and 2 years postoperatively and at the last follow-up were used for evaluating the changes in SRFD. The presumed factors affecting these changes were analyzed.

RESULTS:

This study included 116 patients. Total SFDI scores significantly improved from 3-month to the last follow-up. Among the 4-category of SFDI, sitting on the floor showed the highest scores followed by lower body activities, sanitation activities, and moving activities at all time points. All categories except for sitting on the floor showed significant improvement from 3 months until the last follow-up. This improvement was most pronounced between 3 months and 1 year. American Society of Anaesthesiologists grade was identified as the only factor affecting time-dependent changes.

CONCLUSION:

SRFD was highest at 3 months, but it improved over time except for sitting on the floor. The improvement was observed greatest between 3 months and 1 year. Patients with less American Society of Anaesthesiologists grade experienced more improvement in SRFD.
Transitions in development – an interview with Jingli Cao
Authors: Routledge Daniel
Published: April 2023

Jingli Cao is an Assistant Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology at Weill Cornell Medical College, USA, where he started his own lab in 2018. Jingli's research focuses on uncovering the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underpin the regenerative capacity of the zebrafish heart. We spoke with Jingli over Zoom to find out more about his career path, his experience of becoming a group leader and his love for astronomy.
Four-Year Increase in Step Cadence Is Associated with Improved Cardiometabolic Health in People with a History of Prediabetes
Authors: MCBRIDE PHILIP , HENSON JOSEPH , EDWARDSON CHARLOTTE L. , MAYLOR BENJAMIN , DEMPSEY PADDY C. , ROWLANDS ALEX V. , DAVIES MELANIE J. , KHUNTI KAMLESH , YATES THOMAS
Published: April 2023

Purpose

To investigate associations between 4-yr change in step cadence and markers of cardiometabolic health in people with a history of prediabetes and to explore whether these associations are modified by demographic factors.

Methods

In this prospective cohort study, adults, with a history of prediabetes, were assessed for markers of cardiometabolic health (body mass index, waist circumference, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], triglycerides, and glycated hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c]), and free-living stepping activity (activPAL3™) at baseline, 1 yr, and 4 yr. Brisk steps per day were defined as the number of steps accumulated at ≥100 steps per minute and slow steps per day as those accumulated at <100 steps per minute; the mean peak stepping cadence during the most active 10 minutes of the day was also derived. Generalized estimating equations examined associations between 4-yr change in step cadence and change in cardiometabolic risk factors, with interactions by sex and ethnicity.

Results

Seven hundred ninety-four participants were included (age, 59.8 ± 8.9 yr; 48.7% women; 27.1% ethnic minority; total steps per day, 8445 ± 3364; brisk steps per day, 4794 ± 2865; peak 10-min step cadence, 128 ± 10 steps per minute). Beneficial associations were observed between change in brisk steps per day and change in body mass index, waist circumference, HDL-C, and HbA1c. Similar associations were found between peak 10-min step cadence and HDL-C and waist circumference. Interactions by ethnicity revealed change in brisk steps per day and change in peak 10-min step cadence had a stronger association with HbA1c in White Europeans, whereas associations between change in 10-min peak step cadence with measures of adiposity were stronger in South Asians.

Conclusions

Change in the number of daily steps accumulated at a brisk pace was associated with beneficial change in adiposity, HDL-C, and HbA1c; however, potential benefits may be dependent on ethnicity for outcomes related to HbA1c and adiposity.
Concatenated 16S rRNA sequence analysis improves bacterial taxonomy
Authors: Paul Bobby
Published: April 2023

Background: Microscopic, biochemical, molecular, and computer-based approaches are extensively used to identify and classify bacterial populations. Advances in DNA sequencing and bioinformatics workflows have facilitated sophisticated genome-based methods for microbial taxonomy although sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene is widely employed to identify and classify bacterial communities as a cost-effective and single-gene approach. However, the 16S rRNA sequence-based species identification accuracy is limited because of the occurrence of multiple copies of the 16S rRNA gene and higher sequence identity between closely related species. The availability of the genomes of several bacterial species provided an opportunity to develop comprehensive species-specific 16S rRNA reference libraries.

Methods: Sequences of the 16S rRNA genes were retrieved from the whole genomes available in the Genome databases. With defined criteria, four 16S rRNA gene copy variants were concatenated to develop a species-specific reference library. The sequence similarity search was performed with a web-based BLAST program, and MEGA software was used to construct the phylogenetic tree.

Results: Using this approach, species-specific 16S rRNA gene libraries were developed for four closely related Streptococcus species (S. gordonii, S. mitis, S. oralis, and S. pneumoniae). Sequence similarity and phylogenetic analysis using concatenated 16S rRNA copies yielded better resolution than single gene copy approaches.

Conclusions: The approach is very effective in classifying genetically closely related bacterial species and may reduce misclassification of bacterial species and genome assemblies.
Increased growth temperature and vitamin B12 supplementation reduces the lag time for rapid pathogen identification in BHI agar and blood cultures
Authors: Ali Jawad , Joshi Mukund , Ahmadi Asal , Strætkvern Knut Olav , Ahmad Rafi
Published: April 2023

Background: Rapid diagnostics of pathogens is essential to prescribe appropriate antibiotic therapy. The current methods for pathogen detection require the bacteria to grow in a culture medium, which is time-consuming. This increases the mortality rate and global burden of antimicrobial resistance. Culture-free detection methods are still under development and are not common in the clinical routine. Therefore, decreasing the culture time for accurately detecting infection and resistance is vital for diagnosis.

Methods: This study investigated easy-to-implement factors (in a minimal laboratory set-up), including inoculum size, incubation temperature, and additional supplementation (e.g., vitamin B12 and trace metals), that can significantly reduce the bacterial lag time (tlag). These factors were arranged in simple two-level factorial designs using Gram-positive cocci (Staphylococcus aureus), Gram-positive bacilli (Bacillus subtilis), and Gram-negative bacilli (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria, including clinical isolates with known antimicrobial resistance profiles. Blood samples spiked with a clinical isolate of E. coli CCUG 17620 (Culture Collection University of Gothenburg) were also tested to see the effect of elevated incubation temperature on bacterial growth in blood cultures.

Results: We observed that increased incubation temperature (42°C) along with vitamin B12 supplementation significantly reduced the tlag (10 – 115 minutes or 4% - 49%) in pure clinical isolates and blood samples spiked with E. coli CCUG17620. In the case of the blood sample, PCR results also detected bacterial DNA after only 3h of incubation and at three times the CFU/mL.

Conclusion: Enrichment of bacterial culture media with growth supplements such as vitamin B12 and increased incubation temperature can be a cheap and rapid method for the early detection of pathogens. This proof-of-concept study is restricted to a few bacterial strains and growth conditions. In the future, the effect of other growth conditions and difficult-to-culture bacteria should be explored to shorten the lag phase.
Monkeypox (mpox) in immunosuppressed patients
Authors: Ahmed Sirwan Khalid , Mohamed Mona Gamal , Dabou Eman Abdelaziz , Abuijlan Israa , Chandran Deepak , El-Shall Nahed A. , Chopra Hitesh , Dhama Kuldeep
Published: April 2023

The World Health Organization (WHO) proclaimed a public health emergency in July 2022 due to the emergence of Mpox (formerly monkeypox) while the globe was still dealing with the COVID-19 epidemic. The characteristics of mpox in immunocompetent individuals are well-characterized, despite difficulties in diagnostics, immunization, and access to treatment that persist in low-income countries. Patients with weakened immune systems are more likely to spread an illness and die from it than healthy people because they cannot mount a protective immune response against it, such as a neutralizing IgG and poxvirus-specific Th1 response. A health warning on severe mpox in people who are immunocompromised due to Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other illnesses was released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on September 29, 2022. The advice does not specifically include primary immunodeficiency, but it does define other immunocompromising disorders as “having autoimmune disease with immunodeficiency as a clinical component”. Both those with healthy immune systems and those with weakened immune systems, such as those who are immunosuppressed, older people, children, etc., have encountered serious health issues, but the latter group is more likely to do so. According to the advisory, “of the people with severe mpox manifestations for whom CDC has been consulted, the majority have had HIV with CD4 counts 200 cells/ml, indicating substantial immunosuppression”. However, new cases are still expected to be discovered, especially in low-income countries with limited access to diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, and where a large percentage of the mpox-infected population also has advanced HIV infection. Thus, further research is always needed to determine the best way to treat mpox in immunocompromised people. In this context, we discussed /reviewed the mpox clinical presentation, available treatment options and current preventive guidelines in immunocompromised patients.
Toward esthetically and biomechanically reliable anterior resin composite restorations: Current clinical experiences among dental practitioners in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Almulhim Khalid S. , AlSheikh Rasha , Abdalla Moamen , Haridy Rasha , Bugshan Amr , Smith Stephen , Zeeshan Mohammed , Elgezawi Moataz
Published: April 2023

Background: Esthetic anterior composite restorations are very challenging. They constitute a main part of the clinical practice of restoring teeth with resin composites. Distinctive variations in composite material selection and technique of application in anterior teeth exist when compared to the practice of restoring posterior teeth with resin composites. In a continuation of a previous assessment of class II resin composite practice,  a cross-sectional survey study was performed to determine the awareness of general dental practitioners in Saudi Arabia about resin composite restorations in anterior teeth and to provide evidence-based recommendations to improve their practice.

Methods: A total of 500 dental practitioners from different provinces in Saudi Arabia were invited to participate in an online questionnaire which comprised four domains and included a total of sixteen questions addressing aspects regarding the selection of resin composites, cavity configuration, etching protocol, light-curing technique, liner application, application of poly-chromatic composite, as well as finishing and polishing procedures. Chi square testing and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the attained data.

Results: From 250 respondents, the greatest participation was from the Eastern and Middle provinces of Saudi Arabia. Female dentists participated less than males. There was no general agreement between participants regarding the resin composite material or the employed technique of application in restoring anterior tooth defects. Respondents indicated that discoloration and hypersensitivity were the most common reasons for patient’s dissatisfaction with resin composites in anterior teeth.

Conclusions: Dental practitioners are highly encouraged to improve their clinical practice of restoring anterior teeth using resin composites with the focus upon continuous education programs, online webinars, and workshops.
Knowledge, attitude and practices towards COVID-19 among Indian medical undergraduates: a questionnaire-based study
Authors: Rai Sharada , Nayak Rakshatha , Bhatt Anusha S , Vatsala Kudurugundi Basavaraju , Venkataramana Chaithra Gowthuvalli , Jain Animesh
Published: April 2023

Background: The Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) infection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-Cov-2) has emerged as a recent pandemic, increasing the need for epidemiological studies and studies on public health. Only some studies have evaluated the awareness of medical undergraduates in India and other countries, leading to a lack of literature.

Methods: This study is a descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire-based study conducted in Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, India, between June to August 2020. An online survey using google forms was circulated among undergraduate medical students in India by a convenient sampling method for data collection. Descriptive analysis was derived based on frequencies and percentages, and the association with age, gender, and year of undergraduate training medical course was derived using the chi-square test.

Results: Altogether, 630 students from India responded to the survey, with a maximum response from students studying in the second year (38.7%). Nearly 63.85% of responders identified themselves as females. Knowledge regarding the human-to-human transmission of the virus, symptoms, complications, definition of "close contact, quarantine, and its indications was adequate among the students, with more than 70% correct responses. However, one-fourth of the students needed to gain more knowledge about masks. Respiratory hygiene was poor among 24.8%. Nearly 40% of students were unaware of the management of patients with COVID-19.

Conclusion: There is a need for regular quality training and institutional programs on infection control of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases across all Indian medical colleges to educate undergraduate medical students, who are future healthcare professionals, thus minimizing the risk of transmission and providing optimal care for patients.
Experiences of violence among female and male grade eight learners: baseline findings from the Girls Achieve Power (GAP Year) trial across three South African townships
Authors: Kutywayo Alison , Frade Sasha , Chidumwa Glory , Mahuma Tshepo , Naidoo Nicolette P. , Mullick Saiqa
Published: April 2023

Background: South African adolescents experience disproportionally high rates of violence, with lifelong health, social and economic impacts. Few papers present risk factors associated with experiences of adolescent violence.

Methods: A baseline cross-sectional survey was done (April 2017 – Sept 2018) with 3432 grade 8 learners in the Girls Achieve Power (GAP Year) trial from 26 high schools in three townships (Soweto and Tembisa, Gauteng and Khayelitsha, Western Cape). Collected data on lifetime experiences of different types of violence, perpetrators, and place of violence. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to enumerate experiences of, and factors associated with violence.

Results: A total of 2383 respondents are included. Most (63.1%) were girls, 81.5% aged 12-14. In total 25.9% had ever experienced violence, higher among boys (p=<0.001). Physical violence was most common (35.7%), then psychological (21.8%), sexual (13.1%), neglect (10.6%), cyberbullying (7.6%), corporal punishment (6.5%) and economic abuse (4.8%). Boys experienced more physical violence (36.0%); girls experienced more psychological violence (22.2%). Gauteng had double the reports of sexual violence (18.4% vs 7.6%, p<0.001). Violence happened most at school (27.4%), followed by the park (19.8%) or their friends’ home (12.9%).

Multivariate analysis showed that boys (aOR 1.68; 95% CV 1.32-2.14; p<0.001), those aged 15-17 years (aOR 1.41; 95% CV 1.04-1.89; p=0.025), those who ever used substances (aOR 1.90; 95% CI 1.9-2.28; p<0.001), and those who sometimes feel worthless (aOR 1.33; 95% CI 1.09-1.63, p=0.005) were at higher odds of ever experiencing violence. Those who had ever had sex were more likely to have ever experienced violence (aOR 1.42; 95% CI 1.10-1.83; p=0.008).

Conclusion: Urgently need wider adoption, scaling, and sustaining of evidence-based primary violence prevention and structural interventions are required to reduce the high burden of adolescent violence. Stakeholders across the ecological model are needed to tackle harmful cultural norms that perpetuate violence.
Defective iron homeostasis and hematological abnormalities in Niemann-Pick disease type C1
Authors: Chen Oscar C W , Siebel Stephan , Colaco Alexandria , Nicoli Elena-Raluca , Platt Nick , Shepherd Dawn , Newman Stephanie , Armitage Andrew E , Farhat Nicole Y , Seligmann George , Smith Claire , Smith David A , Abdul-Sada Alaa , Jeyakumar Mylvaganam , Drakesmith Hal , Porter Forbes D , Platt Frances M
Published: April 2023

Background: Niemann-Pick disease type C1 (NPC1) is a neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorder characterized by the accumulation of multiple lipids in the late endosome/lysosomal system and reduced acidic store calcium. The lysosomal system regulates key aspects of iron homeostasis, which prompted us to investigate whether there are hematological abnormalities and iron metabolism defects in NPC1.

Methods: Iron-related hematological parameters, systemic and tissue metal ion and relevant hormonal and proteins levels, expression of specific pro-inflammatory mediators and erythrophagocytosis were evaluated in an authentic mouse model and in a large cohort of NPC patients.

Results: Significant changes in mean corpuscular volume and corpuscular hemoglobin were detected in Npc1-/- mice from an early age. Hematocrit, red cell distribution width and hemoglobin changes were observed in late-stage disease animals. Systemic iron deficiency, increased circulating hepcidin, decreased ferritin and abnormal pro-inflammatory cytokine levels were also found. Furthermore, there is evidence of defective erythrophagocytosis in Npc1-/- mice and in an in vitro NPC1 cellular model. Comparable hematological changes, including low normal serum iron and transferrin saturation and low cerebrospinal fluid ferritin were confirmed in NPC1 patients.

Conclusions: These data suggest loss of iron homeostasis and hematological abnormalities in NPC1 may contribute to the pathophysiology of this disease.
Assessment of gestational age at antenatal care visits among Kenyan women to inform delivery of a maternal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine in low- and middle-income countries
Authors: Nyiro Joyce U. , Nyawanda Bryan O. , Bukusi Elizabeth , Mureithi Marianne W. , Murunga Nickson , Nokes D. James , Bigogo Godfrey , Otieno Nancy A. , Opere Victor A. , Ouma Alice , Pecenka Clint , Munywoki Patrick K.
Published: April 2023

Background: Maternal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines that are likely to be implementable in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are in final stages of clinical trials. Data on the number of women presenting for antenatal care (ANC) per day and proportion attending within the proposed gestational window for vaccine delivery, is a prerequisite to guide development of vaccine vial size and inform vaccine uptake in this setting.

Methods: We undertook administrative review and abstraction of ANC attendance records from 2019 registers of 24 selected health facilities, stratified by the level of care, from Kilifi, Siaya and Nairobi counties in Kenya. Additional data were obtained from Mother and Child Health (MCH) booklets of women in each of the Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) areas of Kilifi, Nairobi and Siaya. Data analysis involved descriptive summaries of the number (mean, median) and proportion of women attending ANC within the gestational window period of 28-32 weeks and 24-36 weeks.

Results: A total of 62,153 ANC records were abstracted, 33,872 from Kilifi, 19,438 from Siaya and 8,943 from Nairobi Counties. The median (Interquartile range, IQR) number of women attending ANC per day at a gestational age window of 28-32 and 24-36 weeks, respectively, were: 4 (2-6) and 7 (4-12) in dispensaries, 5 (2-9) and 10 (4-19) in health centres and 6 (4-11) and 16 (10-26) in county referral hospitals. In the HDSS areas of Kilifi, Siaya and Nairobi, pregnant women attending at least one ANC visit, within a window of 28-32 weeks, were: 77% (360/470), 75% (590/791) and 67% (547/821), respectively.

Conclusions: About 70% of pregnant women across three distinct geographical regions in Kenya, attend ANC within 28-32 weeks of gestation. A multidose vial size with about five doses per vial, approximates daily ANC attendance and would not incur possible wastage in similar settings.
Diagnostic value of serum procalcitonin and C-reactive protein in discriminating between bacterial and nonbacterial colitis: a retrospective study
Authors: Lee Jae Yong , Lee So Yeon , Lee Yoo Jin , Lee Jin Wook , Kim Jeong Seok , Lee Ju Yup , Jang Byoung Kuk , Chung Woo Jin , Cho Kwang Bum , Hwang Jae Seok
Published: April 2023

Background: Differentiating between bacterial and nonbacterial colitis remains a challenge. We aimed to evaluate the value of serum procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in differentiating between bacterial and nonbacterial colitis.Methods: Adult patients with three or more episodes of watery diarrhea and colitis symptoms within 14 days of a hospital visit were eligible for this study. The patients’ stool pathogen polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing results, serum PCT levels, and serum CRP levels were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were divided into bacterial and nonbacterial colitis groups according to their PCR. The laboratory data were compared between the two groups. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to evaluate diagnostic accuracy.Results: In total, 636 patients were included; 186 in the bacterial colitis group and 450 in the nonbacterial colitis group. In the bacterial colitis group, Clostridium perfringens was the commonest pathogen (n=70), followed by Clostridium difficile toxin B (n=60). The AUC for PCT and CRP was 0.557 and 0.567, respectively, indicating poor discrimination. The sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing bacterial colitis were 54.8% and 52.6% for PCT, and 52.2% and 54.2% for CRP, respectively. Combining PCT and CRP measurements did not increase the discrimination performance (AUC, 0.522; 95% confidence interval, 0.474–0.571). Conclusion: Neither PCT nor CRP helped discriminate bacterial colitis from nonbacterial colitis.
STATE, PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF PROFESSIONAL TRAINING IN THE FIELD OF HR MANAGEMENT: OPINION OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
Authors: Konovalova Valeriya , Fedotova M.
Published: April 2023

The article presents the generalized results of a survey of universities as part of the regular labor market monitoring conducted by the Council for Professional Qualifications in the field of HR management. The survey data made it possible to draw a number of conclusions about the current state and quality of training in the field of HR management (current educational programs, forms and level of interaction between universities and employers, the demand for graduates and the compliance of their qualifications with the requirements of employers and professional standards), to identify the most significant problems and their causes, as well as assess the prospects (including the future of professional and public accreditation of educational programs, independent assessment of the qualifications of graduates, as well as the feasibility of maintaining HR management as an independent area of professional training) and the conditions for their implementation.
Polish Adaption of Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire – Revised 2 (PRAQ-R2)
Authors: Mikolajkow Agata , Fuchs Tomasz , Małyszczak Krzysztof
Published: April 2023

Cel pracy

Zaburzenia Lękowe Specyficzne dla Ciąży występują ze znaczną częstością i związane są z powikłaniami u matek i ich dzieci. Jest to schorzenie odrębne od innych zaburzeń lękowych, stąd stosowanie standardowych testów przesiewowych nie jest wystarczające. Brak jest polskiej wersji testu przesiewowego specyficznego dla tego zaburzenia. Naszym celem jest stworzenie polskiej adaptacji Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire Revised 2 (PRAQ-R2), który jest szeroko stosowany za granicą.

Metoda

PRAQ-R2 został przetłumaczony na język polski przez niezależne osoby, mówiące biegle po polsku i angielsku. Czterdzieści osiem ciężarnych wypełniło ankietę zawierającą polską wersję PRAQ-R2, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale Modified (HADS-M) oraz krótki Kwestionariusz Socjodemograficzny. Po tygodniu uczestniczki badania zostały poproszone o ponowne wypełnienie kwestionariusza PRAQ-R2. Do oceny właściwości psychometrycznych wykorzystano statystyki parametryczne.

Wyniki

Nasze badanie wykazało dobrą korelację test-retest na poziomie 0,70. Współczynnik alfa Cronbacha wynosił 0,847 w t1 i 0,895 w t2. Wykazano umiarkowaną korelację pomiędzy PRAQ-R2 w obu punktach czasowych a skalą HADS-M i jej podskalami.

Wnioski

Badanie adaptacyjne PRAQ-R2 wykazało jego satysfakcjonującą trafność i rzetelność. Umiarkowana korelacja z HADS-M dowodzi, że lęk związany z ciążą jest zaburzeniem odrębnym od lęku uogólnionego i zaburzeń depresyjnych. Biorąc pod uwagę dużą częstotliwość i poważne powikłania PrA, uważamy, że PRAQ-R2 powinien być rutynowo stosowany wśród lekarzy pracujących z pacjentkami w ciąży.
The state of knowledge of people up to 40 years of age on risk factors and prevention of colorectal cancer
Authors: Belcarz Maria
Published: April 2023

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignant tumor in men and the second in women. This disease is a significant civilization and social problem. So far, the highest incidence has been among people over 60 years of age. However, nowadays, more and more cases of colorectal cancer are recorded in patients under 40 years of age. This is a very worrying phenomenon and a public health challenge.
The aim : of the study was to asses the knowledge of people aged 18 to 40 on risk factors and prevention of colorectal cancer
Material and method The research was conducted from November 2022 to January 2023. The research used the diagnostic survey method, while the research tool was a proprietary questionnaire. The online questionnaire concerned issues related to risk factors and prevention of colorectal cancer. The study was conducted among 185 people under 40 years of age.
Results: The vast majority of respondents had heard of CRC (88.7%). According to 68.1% of respondents, the risk of CRC increases with age. Only 42.2% of the respondents were aware that colorectal cancer can develop in young people. The main predisposing factors were the presence of adenoma-type polyps in the large intestine (95.1%), excessive body weight (83.8%), incorrect diet (92.4%). Only 31.9% of the respondents correctly indicated the definition of primary prevention.
Conclusions Knowledge about colorectal cancer prevention was unsatisfactory Full knowledge about preventive examinations can reduce barriers to screening. Nationwide public health efforts are needed to raise awareness of colorectal cancer among young people.
STUDY ON THE OPERATION AND COUNTERMEASURES OF PARTY MEMBERS' SINKING COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE MECHANISM—TAKING THE COMMUNITY B IN WUHAN CITY AS AN EXAMPLE
Authors: TAO YUE
Published: April 2023

With the continuous deepening of the CPC’s leadership, the integration of grassroots collaborative governance theory of practice and the development of digital information technology, the original governance model of communities can no longer meet the needs of grassroots society. Under the background of the normalization of the COVID-19, the development of the sinking mechanism for party members should strengthen the overall leadership of the party, expand the synergy of governance, and realize digital governance, so as to promote the consolidation and improvement on the long-term mechanism for sinking party members, accelerate the modernization of grassroots governance capabilities and governance systems under the leadership of party organizations, and provide a strong guarantee of the efficient operation of national governance.
Supermodularity in Two-Stage Distributionally Robust Optimization
Authors: Long Daniel Zhuoyu , Qi Jin , Zhang Aiqi
Published: April 2023

In this paper, we solve a class of two-stage distributionally robust optimization problems that have the property of supermodularity. We exploit the explicit worst case expectation of supermodular functions and derive the worst case distribution for the robust counterpart. This enables us to develop an efficient method to obtain an exact optimal solution to these two-stage problems. Further, we provide a necessary and sufficient condition for checking whether any given two-stage optimization problem has the supermodularity property. We also investigate the optimality of the segregated affine decision rules when problems have the property of supermodularity. We apply this framework to several classic problems, including the multi-item newsvendor problem, the facility location problem, the lot-sizing problem on a network, the appointment-scheduling problem, and the assemble-to-order problem. Whereas these problems are typically computationally challenging, they can be solved efficiently under our assumptions. Finally, numerical examples are conducted to illustrate the effectiveness of our approach.

This paper was accepted by Chung Piaw Teo, optimization.

Funding: This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant 71971187], and Hong Kong Research Grants Council [Collaborative Research Fund (C6103-20GF), General Research Fund (14210821, 16204521, 16212419)].

Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4748 .