bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bullous pemphigoid secondary to an orf nodule: A still unrecognized complication
Authors: Zeggwagh Zineb , Kerroum Sara , Ismaili Nadia , Benzekri Laila , Meziane Mariame , Senouci Karima
Published: July 2023

Orf is a rare viral zoonosis due to Parapoxvirus infection. Transmission to humans occurs through contact with infected goats and sheep. It may be complicated by fever, lymphangitis, lymphadenopathy, bacterial infection, and erythema multiforme. Only several cases of autoimmune bullous dermatoses have been described. Bullous pemphigoid secondary to an orf was found in ten patients. Herein, we report one case of a human orf complicated by bullous pemphigoid. This is an occasional complication following an orf. Knowledge of co-occurrence allows for the better management of the affected patient. This case is reported for its rare association. Key words: Bullous Pemphigoid; Orf; Orf-Induced Immunobullous Disease
Comedonal variant of chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus on the nose
Authors: Khabba Chaimae Ait , Karrakchou Basma , Asermouh Marwa , Berbich Laila , Znati Kaoutar , Senouci Karima
Published: July 2023

A thirty-year-old patient presented with an erythematous papule on the left nostril evolving for ten months. A clinical examination revealed an infiltrated, erythematous, well-limited plaque with a raised border, covered with multiple open and closed comedones. On dermoscopy, there was an erythematous background with some fine telangiectasias and horny plugs at the follicular orifices. A skin biopsy was performed, revealing orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis sinking into the follicular orifices dilated by sebum clumps with basal vacuolation associated with a subepidermal and periadnexal/perivascular lymphocyte band infiltrate. Direct immunofluorescence staining for immunoglobulin M was positive. The diagnosis of lupus comedones was retained, and the patient was put on topical tacrolimus 0.1% twice a day. A systemic damage assessment was negative. Our case highlighted, the importance of recognizing this rare variant of cutaneous lupus, confused with acne vulgaris, hence the delayed diagnosis, which may also be an early sign of a concomitant systemic involvement. Key words: Acne; Chronic Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus; Comedonal Variant; Discoid Lupus Erythematosus
Multiple non-familial trichoepitheliomas: A rare case and a review of the literature
Authors: Amaaoune Fatima , Zidane Wassima , Aksim Mohamed , Aboudourib Maryem , Hocar Ouafa , Amal Said
Published: July 2023

Trichoepitheliomas are benign tumors of follicular origin often appearing in childhood or early adolescence. They present as small, firm papulonodular lesions of normal skin color or translucent. The lesions gradually increase in size and then stabilize. They sit electively on the face, mainly on the nasolabial folds, forehead, chin, and cheeks, and sometimes on the scalp and neck. Trichoepitheliomas may be divided into three subgroups: multiple familial trichoepitheliomas, solitary non-hereditary trichoepitheliomas, and desmoplastic trichoepitheliomas. Non-familial multiple trichoepitheliomas are rarely described. Herein, we report the case of a twelve-year-old child whose clinical history and clinicopathologic correlation allowed us to retain the diagnosis of multiple non-familial trichoepitheliomas. Key words: Trichoepitheliomas; Sporadic; Genodermatosis; Cyld Gene; Anatomopathology
Lipid profile and carotid intima–media thickness in xanthelasma palpebrarum: A case–control study in Northeast India
Authors:   Agartala Government Medical College &, Suchanda Das ,   G.B. Pant Hospital, Agartala, India,, Deepa Yumnam ,   Manipur Health Services, Manipur, India,, Umes Chandolia ,   Swastik Hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Published: July 2023

Background: Xanthelasma palpebrarum (XP) is a common cutaneous xanthoma often associated with dyslipidemia. Carotid intima–media thickness (CIMT) is a non-invasive method of monitoring subclinical atherosclerotic plaque formation and its progression. This study was conducted to assess the cardiovascular comorbidities in patients with XP by measuring the CIMT and serum lipid profile. Materials and Methods: A total of eighty patients aged between 18 and 80 years diagnosed clinically with XP and the same number of apparently healthy, age- and sex-matched controls were included in the study after giving informed consent. Detailed history taking, examinations, and investigations were performed for all patients. Results: Significantly raised triglycerides and LDL levels were seen in 56.3% and 66.3% of the cases, respectively. HDL levels were elevated in 63.8% of the cases and 95% of the controls, which was statistically significant. The mean levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, and HDL were 169.68 ± 39.91 mg/dL, 159.68 ± 28.61 mg/dL, 121.23 ± 30.13 mg/dL, and 43.09 ± 8.76 mg/dL, respectively. Elevated CCAIMT and ICAIMT were seen in 87.4% and 72.8% of the cases, respectively, which was significant. Conclusions: There was a significant elevation of triglyceride and LDL and a decrease in HDL among the patients with XP when compared to the controls, thus making lipid profile testing compulsory for all patients with xanthelasma. They also have an increased risk of subclinical atherosclerosis, as assessed by the significantly higher values of CCAIMT and ICAIMT. Hence, all xanthelasma patients should undergo CIMT as a screening procedure for the early detection and primary prevention of cardiovascular complications. Key words: Xanthoma; Xanthelasma palpebrarum; Dyslipidemia; CIMT; Cardiovascular morbidity
DRESS syndrome: A descriptive series of 62 cases
Authors:   Department of Dermatology and Venereology, CHU Ibn Sina, Mohamed V University of Rabat, Morocco, Mehsas Zoubida , Boubnane Ibtissam ,   Department of Dermatology and Venereology, CHU Ibn Sina, Mohamed V University of Rabat, Morocco, Sektaoui Soukaina ,   Department of Dermatology and Venereology, CHU Ibn Sina, Mohamed V University of Rabat, Morocco, Meziane Meriame Meziane ,   Department of Dermatology and Venereology, CHU Ibn Sina, Mohamed V University of Rabat, Morocco, Ismaili Nadia ,   Department of Dermatology and Venereology, CHU Ibn Sina, Mohamed V University of Rabat, Morocco, Benzekri Leila ,   Department of Dermatology and Venereology, CHU Ibn Sina, Mohamed V University of Rabat, Morocco, Senouci Karima ,   Department of Dermatology and Venereology, CHU Ibn Sina, Mohamed V University of Rabat, Morocco
Published: July 2023

Background: Drug reactions with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) are rare, yet potentially life-threatening, adverse drug reactions. This retrospective study aimed to analyze the epidemiological, etiological, therapeutic, and evolutionary characteristics of DRESS in the context of the dermatology department of Ibn Sina Hospital in Rabat, Morocco. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted over a period of fourteen years (January 2009 thru December 2022). All archived records of patients hospitalized for DRESS syndrome at the dermatology department of Ibn Sina University Hospital were collected. Cases were identified with the RegiSCAR criteria and, for each patient, epidemiological, anamnestic, clinical, paraclinical, therapeutic, and evolutionary data was collected. Results: The study included 62 patients, with a female predominance (67.7%). The average age was 48.59 years. The average time to onset of symptoms after drug intake was 27 days, and the duration of symptoms after the discontinuation of the suspected drug was more than two weeks in 80% of the cases. Clinically, all patients had pruritus and maculopapular rash, and 78% had erythroderma. Facial swelling was found in 66.1% of the cases, and 56.4% presented with at least one mucosal involvement. Hematological abnormalities consisted of hypereosinophilia in 85.36%. The most commonly implicated drugs were allopurinol, phenobarbital, and Salazopyrine. Conclusion: This study provides important epidemiological, etiological, clinical, therapeutic, and evolutionary data of patients hospitalized for DRESS syndrome in the context of the dermatology department of Ibn Sina Hospital in Rabat. The results of the study may be used to improve the diagnosis and management of DRESS syndrome in similar settings. Key words: Toxidermia; Dress Syndrome; Epidemiology
Clinical and onychoscopic evaluation of nail changes in psoriasis at a tertiary-care hospital: A cross-sectional study
Authors:   Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Sardar Patel Medical College, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India, Khokhar Rajesh , Mehta Rajesh Dutt , Ghiya Bhikam Chand , Soni Prasoon , Dhaka Chitralekha , Yadav Manoj Kumar , Jangir Vishnu , Arora Aakanksha , Pareek Sumiti , Mohta Alpana , Dhaka Chitralekha ,   Department of Pathology, Sardar Patel Medical College, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India
Published: July 2023

Background: Up to 30–50% of cases of psoriasis experience nail involvement, while 5–10% may have only isolated nail disease. Recently, the use of onychoscopy, a non-invasive technology, has emerged as a promising tool that may eliminate the necessity of a nail biopsy in most cases. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the onychoscopic characteristics of the nail unit in individuals with nail psoriasis. Materials and Methods: The study recruited fifty patients with a clinical diagnosis of nail psoriasis. Each nail underwent onychoscopic assessment. The clinical degree of cutaneous and nail involvement was evaluated with the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and the Nail Psoriasis Severity Index (NAPSI), respectively. Results: The following findings were observed significantly more often on onychoscopy than with the naked eye: pitting (p = 0.03), leukonychia (p = 0.04), onycholysis (p = 0.04), and splinted hemorrhage (p = 0.05). The other novel findings included fuzzy lunula, which was only onychoscopically (8%), We also encountered 4% of cases of triangular onychomadesis and 6% of non-traumatic Median canaliform dystrophy of Heller. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that, even before clinical symptoms become obvious, onychoscopy may help with nail lesion diagnosis. Key words: Onychoscopy; Nail Psoriasis; Psoriasis; Nail Pitting; Fuzzy Lunula; Triangular Onychomadesis
Cutaneous adverse reactions to antiepileptic drugs: 17 cases at the Dermatology Department of the Arrazi Hospital in Marrakech
Authors: Amakha Fatima Ezzahra , Khatem Soukaina , Aboudourib Maryem , Hocar Ouafa , Zaoui Sanaa , Amal Said
Published: July 2023

Cutaneous adverse reactions to antiepileptic drugs: 17 cases at the Dermatology Department of the Arrazi Hospital in Marrakech
Toward Ecofriendly Piezoelectric Ceramics—Reduction of Energy and Environmental Footprint from Conceptualization to Deployment
Authors: Anandakrishnan Sivagnana Sundaram , Yadav Suhas , Tabeshfar Mohadeseh , Balanov Vasilii , Kaushalya Tharaka , Nelo Mikko , Peräntie Jani , Juuti Jari , Bai Yang
Published: July 2023

Piezoelectric materials are widely used in electromechanical coupling components including actuators, kinetic sensors, and transducers, as well as in kinetic energy harvesters that convert mechanical energy into electricity and thus can power wireless sensing networks and the Internet of Things (IoT). Because the number of deployed energy harvesting powered systems is projected to explode, the supply of piezoelectric energy harvesters is also expected to be boosted. However, despite being able to produce green electricity from the ambient environment, high‐performance piezoelectrics (i.e., piezoelectric ceramics) are energy intensive in research and manufacturing. For instance, the design of new piezoceramics relies on experimental trials, which need high process temperatures and thus cause high consumption and waste of energy. Also, the dominant element in high‐performance piezoceramics is hazardous Pb, but substituting Pb with other nonhazardous elements may lead to a compromise of performance, extending the energy payback time and imposing a question of trade‐offs between energy and environmental benefits. Meanwhile, piezoceramics are not well recycled, raising even more issues in terms of energy saving and environmental protection. This paper discusses these issues and then proposes solutions and provides perspectives to the future development of different aspects of piezoceramic research and industry.
Short‐term effects on Unionid mussel density and distribution before and after low‐head dam removal in northern New York
Authors: Cooper John E.
Published: July 2023

Unionid mussel populations have declined in many environments, particularly those that were altered by human activities such as dam construction and removal. The Fort Covington Dam blocked the Salmon River in northern New York upriver of its confluence with a smaller tributary, the Little Salmon River. This dam was removed in 2009. My study compared the mean ranked density of mussels in both rivers for the pre‐removal period (2005–2008) to the post‐removal period (2009–2012) with special attention to Lampsilis cariosa and Margaritifera margaritifera. Systematic sampling was used at six riffles and double sampling at four glides divided between the Salmon and Little Salmon rivers from 2005 through 2012. The Little Salmon River served as a control. Mean ranked adult mussel density was not significantly different between the two rivers in the pre‐removal period but was significantly greater in the Little Salmon River after dam removal. Living mussels of 13 species were collected dominated by Elliptio complanata. Dam removal did not affect sediment sorting, porosity, water chemistry, or mussel species distribution. Rapid dewatering of the reservoir led to stranding and death of mussels in the reservoir and in the adjacent ponds. Increased water velocity, exacerbated by rain, mobilized sediment that buried a potentially large mussel bed downstream of the dam where Lampsilis cardium and L. cariosa were abundant, which showed little recovery by 2013.
High‐Dimensional Chemostratigraphy of Pelagic Clay in the Western North Pacific Ocean Revealed via an Unsupervised Clustering Approach
Authors: Yasukawa Kazutaka , Tanaka Erika , Miyazaki Takashi , Vaglarov Bogdan S. , Chang Qing , Nakamura Kentaro , Ohta Junichiro , Fujinaga Koichiro , Iwamori Hikaru , Kato Yasuhiro
Published: July 2023

Pelagic clay constitutes massive and apparently uniform lithology that limits the stratigraphic correlation between neighboring sediment core samples. Recent studies on the pelagic clay in the western North Pacific Ocean demonstrated that the bulk chemical composition of sediments constitutes multielemental chemostratigraphy, deducing the correlation between visibly featureless pelagic clay layers across several cores. However, this heuristic approach utilized only a few elements. Therefore, this study employed multivariate statistical techniques, includingk‐means cluster analysis, to analyze the chemical composition data set of 1,646 samples × 41 elements of the western North Pacific pelagic clay. The pelagic clay was classified into 10 clusters systematically aligned from the seafloor to the depth in a specific order, constituting stratigraphic units that reflected the high‐dimensional geochemical features of these 41 elements. This finding strongly supports the statistical robustness of the latent chemostratigraphy in the western North Pacific pelagic clay. Additionally, we performed Sr–Nd–Pb isotope analyses of the detrital silicate fractions of the centroid samples representing each cluster. The multi‐isotopic features of the detrital fraction varied from a mixture of North American and Asian dusts to a predominance of Asian dust superimposed by volcanic inputs. This secular variation in the matrix components is attributable to the northwestward motion of the Pacific Plate and the time‐varying influence of arc volcanism throughout sedimentary history. The proposed integrated approach of multivariate statistical and isotopic analyses effectively extracted the essential information hidden in the pelagic clay, which may postulate a new protocol for paleoceanographic reconstructions targeting the pelagic realm.
Sources, seasonal cycling, and fate of plutonium in a seasonally stratified and radiologically contaminated pond
Authors: Wasserman Naomi L. , Merino Nancy , Coutelot Fanny , Kaplan Daniel I. , Powell Brian A. , Kersting Annie B. , Zavarin Mavrik
Published: July 2023

Unlike short-term laboratory experiments, studies at sites historically contaminated with radionuclides can provide insight into contaminant migration behavior at environmentally-relevant decadal timescales. One such site is Pond B, a seasonally stratified reservoir within Savannah River Site (SC, USA) has low levels (μBq L−1) of plutonium in the water column. Here, we evaluate the origin of plutonium using high-precision isotope measurements, investigate the impact of water column geochemistry on plutonium cycling during different stratification periods, and re-evaluate long-term mass balance of plutonium in the pond. New isotopic data confirm that reactor-derived plutonium overwhelms input from Northern Hemisphere fallout at this site. Two suggested mechanisms for observed plutonium cycling in the water column include: (1) reductive dissolution of sediment-derived Fe(III)-(oxyhydr)oxides during seasonal stratification and (2) plutonium stabilization complexed strongly to Fe(III)-particulate organic matter (POM) complexes. While plutonium may be mobilized to a limited extent by stratification and reductive dissolution, peak plutonium concentrations are in shallow waters and associated with Fe(III)-POM at the inception of stratification. This suggests that plutonium release from sediments during stratification is not the dominant mechanism driving plutonium cycling in the pond. Importantly, our analysis suggests that the majority is retained in shallow sediments and may become increasingly recalcitrant.
Codelivery of resveratrol melatonin utilizing pH responsive sericin based nanocarriers inhibits the proliferation of breast cancer cell line at the different pH
Authors: Aghaz Faranak , Asadi Zahra , Sajadimajd Soraya , Kashfi Khosrow , Arkan Elham , Rahimi Zohreh
Published: July 2023

Protein-based nanocarriers have demonstrated good potential for cancer drug delivery. Silk sericin nano-particle is arguably one of the best in this field. In this study, we developed a surface charge reversal sericin-based nanocarrier to co-deliver resveratrol and melatonin (MR-SNC) to MCF-7 breast cancer cells as combination therapy. MR-SNC was fabricated with various sericin concentrations via flash-nanoprecipitation as a simple and reproducible method without complicated equipment. The nanoparticles were subsequently characterized for their size, charge, morphology and shape by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Nanocarriers chemical and conformational analysis were done by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and circular dichroism (CD) respectively. In vitro drug release was determined at different pH values (7.45, 6.5 and 6). The cellular uptake and cytotoxicity were studies using breast cancer MCF-7 cells. MR-SNC fabricated with the lowest sericin concentration (0.1%), showed a desirable 127 nm size, with a net negative charge at physiological pH. Sericin structure was preserved entirely in the form of nano-particles. Among the three pH values we applied, the maximum in vitro drug release was at pH 6, 6.5, and 7.4, respectively. This pH dependency showed the charge reversal property of our smart nanocarrier via changing the surface charge from negative to positive in mildly acidic pH, destructing the electrostatic interactions between sericin surface amino acids. Cell viability studies demonstrated the significant toxicity of MR-SNC in MCF-7 cells at all pH values after 48 h, suggesting a synergistic effect of combination therapy with the two antioxidants. The efficient cellular uptake of MR-SNC, DNA fragmentation and chromatin condensation was found at pH 6. Nutshell, our result indicated proficient release of the entrapped drug combination from MR-SNC in an acidic environment leading to cell apoptosis. This work introduces a smart pH-responsive nano-platform for anti-breast cancer drug delivery.
Optimization of neural-network model using a meta-heuristic algorithm for the estimation of dynamic Poisson’s ratio of selected rock types
Authors: Waqas Umer , Ahmed Muhammad Farooq , Rashid Hafiz Muhammad Awais , Al-Atroush Mohamed Ezzat
Published: July 2023

This research focuses on the predictive modeling between rocks' dynamic properties and the optimization of neural network models. For this purpose, the rocks' dynamic properties were measured in terms of quality factor (Q), resonance frequency (FR), acoustic impedance (Z), oscillation decay factor (α), and dynamic Poisson’s ratio (v). Rock samples were tested in both longitudinal and torsion modes. Their ratios were taken to reduce data variability and make them dimensionless for analysis. Results showed that with the increase in excitation frequencies, the stiffness of the rocks got increased because of the plastic deformation of pre-existing cracks and then started to decrease due to the development of new microcracks. After the evaluation of the rocks’ dynamic behavior, the v was estimated by the prediction modeling. Overall, 15 models were developed by using the backpropagation neural network algorithms including feed-forward, cascade-forward, and Elman. Among all models, the feed-forward model with 40 neurons was considered as best one due to its comparatively good performance in the learning and validation phases. The value of the coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.797) for the feed-forward model was found higher than the rest of the models. To further improve its quality, the model was optimized using the meta-heuristic algorithm (i.e. particle swarm optimizer). The optimizer ameliorated its R2 values from 0.797 to 0.954. The outcomes of this study exhibit the effective utilization of a meta-heuristic algorithm to improve model quality that can be used as a reference to solve several problems regarding data modeling, pattern recognition, data classification, etc.
Modeling and experimental investigation of the effect of carbon source on the performance of tubular microbial fuel cell
Authors: Karamzadeh Masoud , Kadivarian Milad , Mahmoodi Peyman , Asefi Seyedeh Sajedeh , Taghipour Amirhossein
Published: July 2023

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) serve two main purposes: clean energy production and wastewater treatment. This study examines the impact of different carbon sources on MFC performance and develops a mathematical model to replicate the polarization curve. The biological reactor employed three types of carbon sources: glucose as a simple feed, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), and a slurry of the organic component of municipal solid waste (SOMSW) as complex feeds. The MFCs were operated in both open and closed circuit modes. The maximum open circuit voltages achieved were 695 mV for glucose, 550 mV for MCC, and 520 mV for SOMSW as substrates. The influence of the substrate in closed circuit mode was also investigated, resulting in maximum power densities of 172 mW/m2, 55.5 mW/m2, and 47.9 mW/m2 for glucose, MCC, and SOMSW as substrates, respectively. In the second section, a mathematical model was developed to depict the polarization curve while considering voltage losses, namely activation, ohmic, and concentration loss, with an average relative error (ARE) of less than 10%. The mathematical models demonstrated that the activation loss of voltage increased with the complexity of the substrate and reached its peak value when SOMSW was used as the substrate.
Congenital toxoplasmosis among hospitalized infants in Poland in the years 2007–2021: study based on the national hospital registry
Authors: Rząd Michał , Kanecki Krzysztof , Lewtak Katarzyna , Goryński Paweł , Tyszko Piotr , Lewandowska-Andruszuk Izabela , Nitsch-Osuch Aneta
Published: July 2023

Congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) is a rare entity and it may pose a life-threatening risk for the newborns. The aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence and other selected factors of CT in Poland. Our study is a population-based study on CT patients in 2007–2021. The study was based on 1504 hospitalization records of first-time diagnosis of CT in newborns. In the study group, we observed 763 males (50.7%) and 741 females (49.3%). The mean and median age was 31 days and 10 days, respectively. Based on the hospital registry, the mean annual CT incidence was estimated to be 2.6 per 10,000 live births (95% CI 2.0–3.2 per 10,000 live births). The incidence of CT cases fluctuated over the years 2007–2021, with the highest incidence in 2010 and the lowest one in 2014. There were no statistically significant differences between the incidence of CT in relation to sex or place of residence. The periodic fluctuations in the number of cases of congenital toxoplasmosis indicates the need to develop effective prevention programs to effectively counteract the disease and its consequences.
African ancestryAPOEe4 non-carriers with higher educational attainment are resilient to Alzheimer disease pathology-specific blood biomarker pTau181
Authors: Rajabli Farid , Seixas Azizi A. , Akgun Bilcag , Adams Larry D. , Inciute Jovita , Starks Takiyah , Laux Renee , Byrd Goldie S , Haines Jonathan L , Beecham Gary W , Vance Jeffery M , Cuccaro Michael L , Pericak-Vance Margaret A.
Published: July 2023

Cognitive and functional abilities in individuals with Alzheimer disease (AD) pathology (ADP) show greater than expected variability. While most individuals show substantial impairments in these abilities, a considerable number show little or no impairments. Factors contributing to this variability are not well understood. For instance, multiple studies have shown that higher levels of education are associated with reduced cognitive impairments among those with ADP. However, it remains unclear whether higher levels of education are associated with functional impairments among those with ADP.

We studied 410 AA individuals with advanced levels of pTau181 (a biomarker for ADP; individuals as those having log10(pTau181) level greater than one standard deviation above the mean) to determine whether EA (categorized as low EA for individuals with ≤ 8 years of education and high EA for those with >8 years) promotes functional resilience and whether this effect varies between APOE ε4 carriers and non-carriers. We used the four non-memory components of the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) to create a composite score (CDR-FUNC) to evaluate functional difficulties (scored from 0=no impairment to 12=severe). We employed the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test to assess the relationship between EA and CDR-FUNC in advanced levels of pTau181 individuals.

The results showed that EA promotes resilience to functional problems in AA individuals with advanced levels of pTau181, such that individuals with high EA are more likely to have better functional ability compared to those with lower EA (W=730.5, p=0.0007). Additionally, we found that the effect of high EA on functional resilience was stronger in ε4 non-carriers compared to ε4 carriers (W=555.5, p=0.022).

This study extends the role of cognitive reserve and EA to functional performance showing that cognitive reserve influences the association between ADP burden and functional difficulties. Interestingly, this protective effect seems less pronounced in carriers of the strong genetic risk allele ε4. The results highlight the intricate interplay of genetic and non-genetic factors in AD progression, suggesting a need for more personalized strategies to manage functional decline in AD.
Characterization and contextualization of transgender women population and condom use in the HIV syndemic framework: Scoping review
Authors: Moncayo-Quevedo Jorge Eduardo , Pérez-Arizabaleta María Del Mar , Rodríguez-Ortiz Alejandra Rocio , Villegas-Trujillo Lina María
Published: July 2023

Objective

To characterize and contextualize condom use in the transgender women (TW) population utilizing the HIV syndemic framework.

Methods

Studies reported condom-use frequency and syndemic factors associated with HIV risk in the TW population were searched in databases. We followed the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews checklist.

Results

Social factors have a proven relationship with using condoms and HIV among TW. Syndemic factors, and how some of them reinforce others, deserve a specific analysis to develop strategies to face HIV among TW.

Conclusions

Analyzing a syndemic perspective allows to generate specific health intervention and prevention policies to protect the TW.
The effectiveness of social norms in promoting green consumption
Authors: Do Van Thi Hong , Do Long Thanh
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Given the seriousness of environmental issues, academic research has proposed social norms as an effective policy tool to encourage a wide range of pro-environmental behaviors, including green consumption. However, tangible evidence of the effectiveness of the social norm approach for green consumption behaviors is unreconciled, raising controversy about such a strategy. Considering that social norm interventions are only effective when targeted at the right consumers, this study aims to focus on exploring the role of individual difference factors, namely, social power value-, social face value- and independence orientations, in clarifying the effects of social norms on green consumption behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses hierarchical ordinary least squares regression to test the hypotheses with survey data from 269 consumers in Southeast Asia.

Findings

The study reveals that perceived social norms positively predict green consumption behaviors, providing additional evidence for the effectiveness of the social norms. It also finds that the perceived social norms have a stronger impact on the green consumption behaviors of consumers who value social power and social face. However, the effect becomes weaker for consumers with a strong tendency toward independence.

Originality/value

This study highlights the importance of individual difference factors in explaining the effectiveness of social norms. The current findings also offer insightful implications for designing more effective social influence approaches for constructing green consumption culture.
Understanding the demand for and value of pathogen‐free amphibians to US pet owners
Authors: Cavasos Kevin , Adhikari Ram K. , Poudyal Neelam C. , Brunner Jesse L. , Warwick Alexa R. , Gray Matthew J.
Published: July 2023

Pathogen transmission through wildlife trade has become a significant One Health issue, but businesses involved in trade can take actions to minimize pathogen spread within and beyond trade networks. Such actions could include an industry‐led clean‐trade certification program whereby retailer costs for enhanced biosecurity and disease‐free product certification are offset by increased prices to consumers. However, we currently know little about the demand for, and value of such a program to consumers. With the case of pet amphibian owners in the United States, we assessed what characteristics make people more likely to demand certified wild animals and how much more in price premium they are willing to pay for such animals. Findings suggested that the demand for pathogen‐free amphibians was driven by the perceived risk of pathogen spillover to wild populations, behavioral control in preventing transmission, and other characteristics related to pet ownership and demographics. On average, respondents were willing to pay $38.65 per animal more for certified pathogen‐free amphibians than non‐certified amphibians. Findings lend support for the viability of an industry‐led clean‐trade program aimed at enhancing animal well‐being, increasing customer satisfaction, and reducing the risk of pathogen transmission within and beyond the pet trade network.
A computational approach for the identification of key genes and biological pathways of chronic lung diseases: a systems biology approach
Authors: Rezaeeyan Hadi , Nobakht M. Gh B. Fatemeh , Arabfard Masoud
Published: July 2023

Background

Chronic lung diseases are characterized by impaired lung function. Given that many diseases have shared clinical symptoms and pathogenesis, identifying shared pathogenesis can help the design of preventive and therapeutic strategies. This study aimed to evaluate the proteins and pathways of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and mustard lung disease (MLD).

Methods and results

After collecting the data and determining the gene list of each disease, gene expression changes were examined in comparison to healthy individuals. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) and pathway enrichment analysis were used to evaluate genes and shared pathways of the four diseases. There were 22 shared genes, including ACTB, AHSG, ALB, APO, A1, APO C3, FTH1, GAPDH, GC, GSTP1, HP, HSPB1, IGKC, KRT10, KRT9, LCN1, PSMA2, RBP4, 100A8, S100A9, TF, and UBE2N. The major biological pathways in which these genes are involved are inflammatory pathways. Some of these genes activate different pathways in each disease, leading to the induction or inhibition of inflammation.

Conclusion

Identification of the genes and shared pathways of diseases can contribute to identifying pathogenesis pathways and designing preventive and therapeutic strategies.
Effect, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of ultrasonic assessment of axillary lymph node-negative breast cancer
Authors: Hong Chun-Tian , Yan Yong-Hao , Su Li-Yang , Chen De-Bo
Published: July 2023

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic value of ultrasound for patients with axillary lymph node-negative breast cancer (ALNNBC).

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 204 breast cancer patients who were admitted by Quanzhou First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University between October 2020 and May 2022. According to the results of axillary lymph node (ALN) examination, the patients were assigned to a positive group(n=102) and a negative group(n=102). All patients underwent diagnosis with color Doppler ultrasound, with pathological diagnosis as the “gold standard” to determine the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonic diagnosis. A receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve was established to analyze the efficiency of ultrasonic diagnosis and compare the ultrasonographic features and flow grades between the two groups.

Results: Differences were statistically significant between the two groups in ultrasonographic features of lesions(negative vs positive, all p<0.05), including morphological irregularity(59.8% vs 85.3%), spiky margins(19.6% vs 63.7%), posterior echo attenuation(19.6% vs 44.1%) and microcalcification(40.2% vs 55.89%). The negative group had a lower proportion of patients with grade 2-3 ultrasound blood flow when compared with the positive group(32.4% vs 56.86%), and the difference was statistically significant(p<0.05). Ultrasonic diagnosis of ALNNBC had a sensitivity of 88.24%(90/102), a specificity of 92.16%(94/102), a coincidence rate of 90.20% (184/204), a 95% CI of 0.845-0.928, and an AUC of 0.879.

Conclusions: Ultrasonic diagnosis of ALNNBC is relatively efficient as ultrasonographic features and ultrasound blood flow signals can provide a scientific basis for the diagnosis of ALNNBC.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.5.7260

How to cite this: Hong C, Yan Y, Su L, Chen D. Effect, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of ultrasonic assessment of axillary lymph node-negative breast cancer. Pak J Med Sci. 2023;39(5):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.5.7260

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Communication culture of regional PDAM Sleman during the Covid-19 pandemic
Authors: Meylasari Meylasari Ratna Pradipta , Sugiantoro Hari Akbar Sugiantoro
Published: July 2023

The presence of Corona Virus Desease (Covid-19) as a new variant virus brings many changes in the system and policies of a country. Various prevention efforts are carried out by the government.  The Covid-19 pandemic had a significant influence on an  organization's communication culture in a company. With theCovid-19  pandemic making the communication culture of organizations in a company change drastically, Anggota organization must learn the communication culture with new adaptations. This study uses descriptive qualitative research methods, Metode is related between researchers and  informants  directly. The purpose of this study is to find out how the communication of PDAM Sleman organization in the pandemic period is dissected using 4 organizational communication functions. And the result of this study is that PDAM Sleman has been effective in using 4 organizational communication functions even in pandemic times like now.
Ethnicity as a Resource for Anti-War Resistance
Authors: Zibrova Ekaterina
Published: July 2023

Since 24 February 2022, about four ethnic minority groups have united around a call to stop the war: Buryats, Sakha, Tuvans, Kalmyks and some representatives of Indigenous groups. Indigenous Peoples in the country have started to question their association with Russia and to assert the old pain and struggle of their people. With the outbreak of the war, many non-ethnic Russians started projecting the multicultural identities to make themselves visible. The question is how has ethnicity become a resource for anti-war resistance? This commentary reflects on the ways in which ethnic identity is becoming the source of resilience and resistance against the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. Reflections are based on the short stories published in the “voices of national minorities” by the society “Feminist Anti-War Resistance” on the Telegram channel in 2022 (Feminist Anti-War Resistance [FAS], 2022).
Photothermal Heterodyne Imaging of Micron Sized Objects
Authors: Hartland Gregory , Bhandari Janak , Brown Brendan , Huffman John
Published: July 2023

Micron sized dye-doped polymer beads were imaged using transmitted/reflected light microscopy and photothermal heterodyne imaging (PHI) measurements. The transmitted/reflected light images show distinct ring patterns that are attributed to diffraction effects and/or internal reflections within the beads. In the PHI experiments pump laser induced heating changes the refractive index and size of the bead, which causes changes in the diffraction pattern and internal reflections. This creates an analogous ring pattern in the PHI images. When the beads are imaged in an organic medium heat transfer changes the refractive index of the environment, and gives rise to a ring pattern external to the beads in the PHI images. This causes the beads to appear larger than their physical dimensions in the PHI experiments. This external signal does not appear when the beads are imaged in air, because the refractive index changes in air are very small.
Variantes genéticas recurrentes y priorización de variantes de significado clínico desconocido asociadas al síndrome de cáncer de mama y ovario hereditario en familias de la Región de Murcia
Authors: Rosado-Jiménez Laura , Mestre-Terkemani Younes , García-Aliaga Ángeles , Marín-Vera Miguel , Macías-Cerrolaza José Antonio , Sarabia-Meseguer María Desamparados , García-Hernández María Rosario , Zafra-Poves Marta , Sánchez-Henarejos Pilar , Ayala de la Peña Francisco , Alonso-Romero José Luis , Noguera-Velasco José Antonio , Ruiz-Espejo Francisco
Published: July 2023

Objetivos

El síndrome de cáncer de mama y ovario hereditario (SCMOH) presenta un patrón de herencia autosómica dominante en genes de susceptibilidad al cáncer y su riesgo está principalmente vinculado a mutaciones germinales en BRCA1 y BRCA2. Sin embargo, la implementación de paneles genéticos mediante secuenciación masiva en la práctica asistencial, ha ampliado el espectro mutacional de este síndrome hereditario y el número de variantes de significado clínico desconocido (VUS) detectadas en los estudios genéticos.

Métodos

El estudio de prevalencia del SCMOH realizado en 2928 familias de la Región de Murcia ha permitido identificar las variantes patogénicas recurrentes y mutaciones fundadoras, principalmente asociadas a genes BRCA1 y BRCA2. En el estudio de VUS destaca la aplicación de un algoritmo de priorización diseñado por nuestro grupo de trabajo.

Resultados

Las variantes c.68_69del, c.212+1G>A, y c.5123C>A fueron detectadas en un 30 % de los portadores de BRCA1 mientras que la deleción del exón 2 junto con c.3264dupT, c.3455T>G y c.9117G>A se han encontrado en un 30 % de los portadores de BRCA2. Un total de 16 VUS (15 %) fueron priorizadas.

Conclusiones

La correlación genotipo-fenotipo resultó compatible con lo reportado previamente en la literatura científica. Además, se ha constatado el efecto fundador de c.1918C>T (BRCA1) y c.8251_8254del (ATM) en población murciana y la deleción del exon2 (BRCA2) como mutación fundadora española. La implementación del algoritmo ha permitido priorizar aquellas VUS susceptibles de patogenicidad en las que sería recomendable realizar estudios complementarios para así, poder determinar su efecto clínico y su posible implicación en el SCMOH.
El árabe marroquí: Una lengua y no un dialecto. Educar en la lengua materna
Authors: Moscoso García Francisco
Published: July 2023

La lengua materna del 60 % de la población marroquí es el árabe marroquí y no el árabe clásico, mientras que el resto habla alguna de las tres variantes del amacige. El uso de la lengua materna en la educación es una de las recomendaciones de la Unesco, algo que no ocurre en el país vecino y que ayudaría a que el sistema educativo se desarrollara aún más y descendiera el índice de analfabetismo. En este artículo reflexionamos sobre la necesidad de que se reconozca al árabe marroquí como lengua y que ésta sirva de instrumento para la educación.AbstractThe mother tongue of 60% of the Moroccan population is Moroccan Arabic and classical Arabic, while the rest speak any of the three variants of amacige. The use of mother tongue in the educational system is one of the recommendations of Unesco, which doesn´t happen in the neighbor country and would help to be developed further the educational system and could help to decreased the illiteracy rate. In this article we reflect the need of recognition of the Moroccan Arabic as a language and as a tool for education.
Fractal parameterization of the inclusion distribution density in the welded joint metal structure
Authors:   E.O. Paton Electric Welding Institute of NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine, Holovko V.V. , Shtofel O.O. ,   E.O. Paton Electric Welding Institute of NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine,   National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, Kyiv, Ukraine, Chyzhska T.G. ,   National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, Kyiv, Ukraine
Published: July 2023

One of the modern proposed methods actively used for diagnosing metal structures is the method of fractal analysis. This method seeks to find the conjunction between the fractal dimension of individual components of the metal structure and its mechanical properties. The comprehensive use of microanalysis and fractal analysis allows not only for comparing structural characteristics but also for finding a numerical parameterization of the elements of this structure. The problem of advance the mechanical properties of welded joints in metal structures remains relevant due to the constant increase in high-strength low-alloy steels used in welded structures. As known, the mechanical properties of welded joints are determined by their structural components, including non-metallic inclusions. A purely qualitative assessment based on the DSTU 8966:2019 standard does not provide an opportunity for a thorough analysis of such an important characteristic as the distribution of inclusions by size and the character of their distribution in the metal matrix. Existing knowledge is based on the peculiarities of the influence of non-metallic inclusions on the mechanical properties of steel welded joints, which requires constant expansion and deepening cognitions, as this work aims to do. The method of fractal analysis allows considering non-metallic inclusions as voids in the metal matrix, which enables parameterization of the inclusion characteristics in the metal structure. The paper describes a methodology that takes into account the distance between inclusions as well as the size of inclusions, which differently affect the mechanical characteristics of the samples. In particular, this article is a continuation of the work [1], which describes an approach to finding relationships between fractal dimensions and mechanical properties. This work focuses on the impact of proposed inoculants on mechanical properties through the distribution of inclusions throughout the metal sample. Keywords: fractal, inclusion, microstructure, inoculants, distribution
Vascular factors and their role in the development of obstetric and perinatal complications in women with hepatitis B virus
Authors:   Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine, Kyiv, Zhdanovych O.I. , Savchenko S.Ye. ,   Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine, Kyiv, Mudra Yu.S. ,   Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine, Kyiv, Kolomiichenko T.V. ,   Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine, Kyiv
Published: July 2023

Purpose - to assess the role of vascular factors in the development of obstetric and perinatal complications in women with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Materials and methods. The serum parameters of peripheral venous blood were studied in 86 pregnant women with HBV (the main group, which was divided into 2 subgroups: HBV1 - 38 women with obstetric and perinatal complications; HBV2 - 48 pregnant women without significant gestational complications) and in 50 women without infectious liver disease (the control group). The state of the platelet and coagulation links of the haemostasis system and the main indicators of endothelial function (nitric oxide and endothelin-1) were determined. Results. In the vascular platelet system of pregnant women with HBV, a relative decrease in the number of platelets with an increase in their aggregation capacity and von Willebrand factor concentration was found, in the coagulation system - a decrease in fibrinogen with a slight decrease in the prothrombin index, recalcification time, international normalized ratio and an increase in activated partial thromboplastin time. The detected changes are even more pronounced in women with obstetric and perinatal complications (HBV1 subgroup): against the background of relative thrombocytopenia, the indicators of anisocytosis increase and the aggregation ability of platelets, the level of D-dimer and von Willebrand factor increase significantly. Endothelial dysfunction was found in women of the HBV1 subgroup (a decrease in the concentration of nitric oxide with an increase in endothelin-1). Conclusions. The state of the haemostatic system in pregnant women with HBV can be characterized as an unstable equilibrium, which can be easily disturbed by various exo- and endogenous factors, which is observed in women with obstetric and perinatal complications and is manifested by prothrombotic changes. Established endothelial dysfunction in pregnant women with HBV is a leading link in the pathogenesis of obstetric and perinatal complications in this category of patients. The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the participating institution. The informed consent of the patient was obtained for conducting the studies. No conflict of interests was declared by the authors.