bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Propofol-Associated Urine Discoloration: Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Lasica Ana , Cortesi Cinzia , Milani Gregorio P. , Bianchetti Mario G. , Schera Federica M. , Camozzi Pietro , Lava Sebastiano A.G.
Published: September 2023

Introduction: Propofol occasionally induces a green or pink-cloudy urine discoloration. A lesser-known effect is green discoloration of hair, milk, liver, or stool. We aimed to gain insight into the features of these disturbances. Methods: The terms (“propofol” OR “fospropofol”) AND (“green” OR “pink” OR “cloudy” OR “pink-cloudy”) were searched in Excerpta Medica, MEDLINE/PubMed®, and Web of Sciences databases, with no language limit, from inception up to February 2023 (CRD4202236804). Articles reporting individually documented cases were retained, and data were extracted using a checklist. Results: Seventy-seven original reports documented 95 cases (including 13 subjects ≤18 years of age). Completeness of reporting was satisfactory in 33, good in 35, and excellent in 27 cases. Propofol-associated green urine discoloration was observed in 54 patients. In most instances (n = 21, 39%), propofol was given for ≥24 h. Sometimes, however, the urine discoloration developed after propofol for ≤3 h (n = 12, 22%). Propofol-associated urine discoloration was usually observed during the administration of this agent, but it was at times (n = 11) first recognized ≥3 h after propofol discontinuation. The duration of green urine discoloration was usually ≤24 h after stopping propofol. Propofol-associated green urine discoloration was never associated with worsening kidney function. A pink-cloudy urine discoloration was observed in 32 subjects with an acidic urine pH and increased uric acid excretion given propofol for ≤24 h. A stage I acute kidney injury was observed in 2 cases (6.3%) of propofol-associated pink-cloudy urine discoloration. Nine cases of non-urinary green discoloration were observed: hair (n = 4), breast milk (n = 1), liver (n = 1), stool (n = 1). Conclusion: Propofol is sometimes associated with a green (benign) or pink-cloudy (occasionally associated with mild acute kidney injury) urine discoloration. Rarely, non-urinary green discoloration has been reported.
Amphibian Diversity: Where everything starts to flood, Cáceres Municipality, North Pantanal, Central-West Brazil
Authors: Silva-Alves Vancleber Divino , Neves Matheus Oliveira , Seba Mariany de Fatima Rocha , Santos Filho Manoel dos , Silva Dionei José da
Published: September 2023

Faunal inventories contribute to our understanding of regional diversity, and are fundamental for policy and decision-making regarding the management and conservation of large natural areas. This study aimed to inventory and compile information on amphibian species occurring in the North Pantanal region, in the municipal limits of Cáceres, Mato Grosso, Brazil. We used three methods to inventory amphibian species: (1) fieldwork, (2) analysis of specimens deposited in scientific collections, and (3) literature reviews. We registered 49 amphibian species in Cáceres. Of them, 48 species belonged to the Anura order and were distributed across eight families and 20 genera, and one species belonged to the Gymnophiona order (Siphonops paulensis). The families Leptodactylidae (20 spp.) and Hylidae (17 spp.) were dominant in terms of richness, accounting for 75.5% of all species found in Cáceres. The remaining families had between four and one species each. The municipality is strongly influenced by non-forested formations (e.g., the Cerrado and Pantanal) and presents a high species richness for a non-forested location in Brazil. Our findings highlight Cáceres as one of the richest areas in amphibian species in the North Pantanal region, expanding our knowledge regarding frog diversity. This study provides a foundation for future conservation strategies and additional assessments of amphibian species in light of potential population declines and other emerging threats.
Hybrid Closure of Postinfarction Apical Ventricular Septal Defect Using Septal Occluder Device and Right Ventricular Free Wall: The Apical BASSINET Concept
Authors: Ueyama Hiroki A. , Leshnower Bradley G. , Inci Errol K. , Keeling W. Brent , Tully Andy , Guyton Robert A. , Xie Joe X. , Gleason Patrick T. , Byku Isida , Devireddy Chandan M. , Hanzel George S. , Block Peter C. , Lederman Robert J. , Greenbaum Adam B. , Babaliaros Vasilis C.
Published: September 2023

BACKGROUND:

Postinfarction ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a catastrophic complication of myocardial infarction. Surgical repair still has poor outcomes. This report describes clinical outcomes after a novel hybrid transcatheter/surgical repair in patients with apical VSD.

METHODS:

Seven patients with postmyocardial infarction apical VSD underwent hybrid transcatheter repair via subxiphoid surgical access. A transcatheter occluder (Amplatzer Septal Occluder) with a trailing premounted suture was deployed through the right ventricular wall and through the ventricular septum into the left ventricular apex. The trailing suture was used to connect an anchor external to the right ventricular wall. Tension on the suture then collapses the right ventricular free wall against the septum and left ventricular occluder, thereby obliterating the VSD. Outcomes were compared with 9 patients who underwent surgical repair using either patch or primary suture closure.

RESULTS:

All patients had significant left-to-right shunt (Qp:Qs 2.5:1; interquartile range [IQR, 2.1–2.6] hybrid repair versus 2.0:1 [IQR, 2.0–2.5] surgical repair), and elevated right ventricular systolic pressure (62 [IQR, 46–71] versus 49 [IQR, 43–54] mm Hg, respectively). All had severely depressed stroke volume index (22 versus 21 mL/m
2
) with ≈45% in each group requiring mechanical support preprocedurally. The procedure was done 15 (IQR, 10–50) versus 24 (IQR, 10–134) days postmyocardial infarction, respectively. Both groups of patients underwent repair with technical success and without intraprocedural death. One patient in the hybrid group and 4 in the surgical group developed multiorgan failure. The hybrid group had a higher survival at discharge (86% versus 56%) and at 30 days (71% versus 56%), but similar at 1 year (57% versus 56%). During follow-up, 1 patient in each group required reintervention for residual VSD (hybrid: 9 months versus surgical: 5 days).

CONCLUSIONS:

Early intervention with a hybrid transcatheter/surgical repair may be a viable alternative to traditional surgery for postinfarction apical VSD.
Mental Activity in Connection with Person’s Gender Identity
Authors: Arestova Olga N. , Gorshkova Anastasia S.
Published: September 2023

Background. The article deals with the problem of gender differences in the organization of cognitive processes, which is extremely relevant in theoretical and practical terms. The problem is considered on the example of interpretation and generalization of gender-relevant material by representatives of different gender identity and sex. Objective. The aim is to identify the features of thinking activity which are based on different gender identities, as well as to study the content of such features in case they are found. Methods. To form a sample, a test method for diagnosing gender identity was used (S. Bem, modified by V.A. Labunskaya and M.V. Burakova). Experimental methods were used to study thinking. The method «Interpretation of Proverbs» analyzed the results of interpretations of metaphorical sayings. The method «The Extra Fourth» analyzed the results of generalization of the images’ meaning. Sample. 78 people with at least an incomplete higher education, 39 female and 39 male subjects took part in the study. Results. Androgynous subjects demonstrate the least semantic, evaluative and aggressive distortions of the meaning of gender-relevant proverbs and the highest metaphorical level of their interpretation. Masculine subjects show a decrease in the level of generalization and the predominance of situational interpretations of proverbs based on their personal experience. Masculine women are more likely to have a misunderstanding of the meaning of the proverb. Masculine men are more likely to show aggressive distortions of meaning and evaluations. Conclusions. There are features of mental activity associated with the GI of the subjects. They are selective in nature and are associated exclusively with the understanding and interpretation of gender-relevant material. The tendency to violate the objectivity of thinking is most clearly manifested in masculine subjects, especially in women ⸻ due to their discovery of clearer contradictions between their own social situation and the content of the material. A smaller percentage of selective distortions in feminine subjects may be explained by possible conformity, which reduces the importance of gender material, and in androgynous subjects it may be a sign of their internal non-conflict, meaningful harmony of this topic for them.
Dynamics of Intellectual Confidence in Problem Solving
Authors: Kunashenko Marina I. , Matyushkina Anna A.
Published: September 2023

Background. The problem of criteria for evaluating solution success is one of the most important for psychology of creative thinking. Evaluation of the solution by the subject during the process of thinking in the form of «confidence / doubt» can be criteria and basis for subject's experiencing potential success or failure, which leads to continuation or stop in solving. The objective. The study was to research the dynamics of intellectual confidence / doubt at different stages of problem-solving process. Sample. The study involved 66 university students, specialists and non- specialists in relation to the content of the tasks. Methods. The subjects solved 8 problematic tasks of scientific and artistic content with hints and estimate interest and confidence at different stages of solving with subjective scales. The following methods were used for intellectual characteristics: "Raven's Progressive Matrices", "Complex Analogies". Results. 6 types of dynamics of intellectual confidence were identified, which correlated in various ways with the success of the solution. Successful solution of problematic scientific situations for specialists is associated with confidence at every stage, for non-specialists it is associated with doubts at the stages of understanding the problem and the formulation of solution. For problematic situations of artistic content solved by non-specialist, the following types of dynamics are associated with successful solution: «doubt — doubt — confidence», «confidence at all stages»; the latter was also observed with an unsuccessful solution. For this reason 2 types of confidence were identified: (1) reasonable, based on hints, leading to a successful solution, and (2) non- reasonable, without relying on a hint, not leading to a successful solution. Conclusion. The procedural criteria to evaluate solution are the intellectual emotions of confidence or doubt that regulate the process of thinking. Depending on the stage of solution and the content of the task, intellectual confidence changes in different ways for specialists and non-specialists, performing the function of a preliminary assessment and regulation of solving process.
On the play of a child and an actor: to the question of the transformations in experience
Authors: Ryabkova Irina A. , Sheina Elena G.
Published: September 2023

Background. Many authors note the similarity of children's role play and the actor’s play, however, this similarity is usually limited to external features: the presence of a plot, roles, subject attributes, etc. Upon closer examination, it turns out that these are two completely different activities, significantly different from each other. However, they have one deep common property: they are able to evoke and change feelings. Despite the fact that L. Vygotsky attached great importance to the affect not only in connection with art, but also in connection with play, these issues are not sufficiently investigated in Russian psychology. Objective. To consider the transformation of feeling in a child's play and compare it with the play of an actor. Results. The basis for children's play is emotive, understood as the connection of an event with emotional reactions. The similarity of the current situation with the emotive leads to the appearance and embodiment of the play image. The play image contributes to the transformation of experience: inhibition of spontaneous emotions, splitting of emotional reactions and the appearance of a specific state of playfulness, the emergence of new feelings and joint experiences with other participants of the play. Similar processes occur in society due to stage art. L. Vygotsky believed that the actor’s play has special functions in society: it appears as a response to the mood in society, to the events that people are concerned about. Actor’s play causes viewers to have general emotional reactions, to change and enrich their experience. Conclusion. Actor’s and children’s play are similar not only in common terminology and imaginary situation of action. They have a deep similarity: both these types of play are connected with work on experience, with its transformation. These are extremely important areas of human culture, since the culture of dealing with feelings has a special meaning for a person as a social being. Play is an instrument of emotional regulation for a child, just as art is a social technique of feelings for humanity.
Educational value of theatre practices
Authors: Klimova Tatiana A.
Published: September 2023

Relevance. The Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation has issued guidelines for ensuring a school theatre operating in every school. The task arising out of these guidelines for the researches of theatre practices in education is to find sociocultural deficits which can be eliminated by the means of theatre projects and to provide practical theatrical forms for solving the issues. The relevance of the study is defined by the need for clear directions on how to implement drama in education. The aim of the article is to provide psychological and pedagogical analysis of theatre practices in education as well as to highlight their educational value. Objective. The purpose of the work is to present a psychological and pedagogical analysis of the educational resource of theatrical and pedagogical practices. To achieve this goal, the article provides a phenomenological description and analysis of three implemented theatrical educational projects. Sample. The material for the analysis was the graduation qualification projects of undergraduates of the programme ‘Theater Pedagogy and Directing the Educational Environment’ of Moscow City University. In this analysis, particular attention was given to the description of the goals and results of the projects. Graduates of 2022 whose works belong to three different types of educational situations were selected as respondents. Projects of the three types were involved: a project implemented in general education, a project of extra education, and an educational project implemented in professional theater Methods. In preparing the work, the method of free interview was used, which made it possible to collect information about the projects implemented by undergraduates. It is important that this type of interview allows you to use not only the researcher's own conclusions, but also the experience of people directly related to the subject of research. Results. The results of this work are presented in the form of case studies considered in the advanced training courses for teachers and in the master's classes in the profile: ‘Theater Pedagogy and Directing the Educational Environment’ of Moscow City University. It is planned to further formalize the results of the study in the form of methodological recommendations for teaching staff. Conclusions. The article presents a general analysis that allows us to draw a conclusion about the existing socio-cultural deficits that impede the development of personal and meta-subject competencies of students of different ages, as well as a description of specific areas of possible psychological and pedagogical work of theatre practices in education.
Literature and theater in logopsychotherapy
Authors: Karpova Nataliya L.
Published: September 2023

Background. Fiction and art therapy methods are applied to increase the effectiveness of therapy for speech disorders. Objective. The article aims to show the use of bibliotherapy and performing arts in the restoration of impaired speech communication in stuttering on the example of family group speech therapy. Methods. Theoretical analysis of sources on the topic; analysis, comparison, generalization of research conducted in logopsychotherapy; dynamic psychotherapeutic diagnostics of Yu.B. Nekrasova; bibliotherapy; art therapy; family group logopsychotherapy. Results. A comparative analysis of approaches to the definitions of bibliotherapy and drama therapy in Russian and foreign studies is carried out. The forms of appeal to works of fiction and the art of theater in the process of social rehabilitation for a person with a stutter are considered. The role of stage speech in the normalization of speech mechanism and the specifics of methods of bibliotherapy and art therapy in family group logopsychotherapy are demonstrated. Logopsychotherapy is a system applied to restore impaired speech communication in stuttering children, adolescents and adults with the active participation of their parents and relatives. The forms of application of bibliotherapy (individual, individual-group, group) at different stages of logopsychotherapy are analyzed. The use of theatrical techniques in active group speech therapy is shown. Conclusion. Methods of bibliotherapy and art therapy in relation to the therapy of any mental disorder are adapted in order to solve a specific problem. In family group logopsychotherapy, when referring to bibliotherapy and theatrical art techniques, attention is directed to the word in the text and spoken communication of actors in order to achieve the freedom of stuttering to change mental states in different situations of spoken communication. Methods of bibliotherapy and art therapy contribute to the organization of intragenic behavior of all participants in logopsychotherapy to achieve results in speech and communication.
In the Garden of Xerxes’ Palace
Authors: Hess Richard S.
Published: September 2023

Esther 1 tells us that Xerxes had a special garden that he used for his weeklong celebration given on behalf of the residents of the citadel of Susa. The description of the pavement in verse 6 indicates that this provided a foundation for an opulent decorated garden, drawing upon the many cultures over which the Persian empire of the fifth century BCE ruled. The purpose of this study will be to examine the material composition of that pavement, in particular the bahaṭ, a noun often translated as “porphyry.” Following a review of proposals and analyses of this term, a new suggestion will apply both comparative philology, place name analysis, and the archaeology of Persian period northeastern Africa to argue an alternative understanding of the noun bahaṭ, “colorful granite.” The goal of this study will be to provide a more accurate perspective on the overall composition of the pavement and its garden.
Sheshbazzar and Nehemiah
Authors: Ganzel Tova
Published: September 2023

This article explores the roles of Sheshbazzar and Nehemiah in the Jerusalem Temple against the fabric of the Persian imperial rule and points to links between biblical and Mesopotamian temple portrayals. Within this context Sheshbazzar, the peḥā, characterizes a first phase, in which the empire accommodated and embraced local forms of leadership. In the second phase, Nehemiah, the royal cupbearer who initiated and coordinated the building of the Jerusalem wall, represents a form of leadership that was subject to more intensive imperial authority.
Big Data and Compounding Injustice
Authors: Hellman Deborah
Published: September 2023

This article argues that the fact that an action will compound a prior injustice counts as a reason against doing the action. I call this reason The Anti-Compounding Injustice principle or aci. Compounding injustice and the aci principle are likely to be relevant when analyzing the moral issues raised by “big data” and its combination with the computational power of machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Past injustice can infect the data used in algorithmic decisions in two distinct ways. Sometimes prior injustice undermines the accuracy of the data itself. In these contexts, improving accuracy will also help to avoid compounding injustice. Other times, past injustice produces real-world differences among people with regard to skills, health, wealth, and other traits that employers, lenders, and others seek to measure. When decisions are based on accurate data that itself results from prior injustice, these decisions can also compound injustice. This second dynamic has received less attention than the first but is especially important because improving the accuracy of data will not mitigate this unfairness.
Religious Diversity in the Early Medieval Middle East through the Lens of the Syriac Chronicle of Zuqnin
Authors: Durmaz Reyhan
Published: September 2023

The medieval Middle East is often described as a multiconfessional place inhabited by Christians, Muslims, Jews, Manichaeans, Zoroastrians, pagans, and others. These groups, scholars demonstrate, manifested complex modes of cohabitation, exchange, negotiations with law, conflict, and resilience under Islamic governance. The ways this religious diversity was perceived by non-Muslim communities, however, need further study. Considering the voluminous theological, apologetic, and debate literature, some scholars argue that the religious diversity in the medieval Middle East was construed especially by Christians as a mix of one form of orthodoxy and many heresies. Others point at the possibility of some early steps in the development of religious pluralism–harmonious co-existence of different religions. The current article revisits the question of religious diversity in the medieval Middle East. Through a detailed reading of the Syriac Chronicle of Zuqnin (8th c.), it highlights the role licit and illicit practice played in the articulations of religious diversity in the medieval Middle Eastern countryside.
Augustine and the Jews
Authors: van Oort Johannes
Published: September 2023

The essay discusses the main topics of ‘Augustine and the Jews.’ It opens with the question where, according to Augustine, the name ‘Jew’ comes from. It then proceeds to his use of the designations ‘Hebrew’ and ‘Israelite’ parallel (and partly in contrast) to ‘Jew.’ Mainly according to The City of God a brief biblical history of the Jews is outlined. Augustine’s theological valuation of the Jews turns out to be partly positive, but mainly negative. The same applies to the (rather often discussed, but frequently misunderstood) ‘sign of Cain.’ The analysis of Aduersus Iudaeos shows Augustine’s ‘provocation’ of the Jews. By and then in the course of the overview, the question of Augustine’s (likely) ‘anti-Judaism’ is briefly dealt with. Finally, the essay discusses Augustine’s acquaintance with ‘real’ i.e. contemporary Jews, draws some conclusions, and presents a concise overview of subjects requiring further research.
Systematic review with meta-analysis: effects of probiotic fungi on irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Qing Q. , Chen Y. , Zheng D.K. , Sun M.L. , Xie Y. , Zhang S.H.
Published: September 2023

Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) remains challenging for clinicians. Probiotic fungi may act as candidate options for IBS treatment, but systematic evaluation of their clinical value remains scarce. This study is aimed to assess the efficacy and the safety of probiotic fungi for IBS treatment by means of systematic review and meta-analysis. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, were searched up to June 2022. Randomised controlled trials recruited subjects with prescriptions of probiotic fungi were eligible. Efficacy and safety of probiotic fungi were re-evaluated. Continuous data were pooled to obtain standardised difference in means (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval. The search strategy identified 120 articles of which 7 trial assessing 883 subjects were included in the analysis. Systematic data support that Saccharomyces helps to relieve abdominal pain/discomfort (SMD = −0.205, ), and presented potential improvements on psychological outcomes, stool form for IBS patients. It is hard to demonstrate favourable effects on other symptoms (including distension, mucus passage, sense of incomplete evacuation, urgency, straining). The incidence of mild complications ranged from 0 to 51.4%, but no serious complications were observed in the included trials. Therefore, the partial response and the relative safe of probiotic fungi for IBS treatment have been demonstrated from the existing trials. However, it is premature to eventually declare the practical effects of probiotic fungi. Conducting more high-quality and large-scale trials and real-world studies, or even developing new fungal strains, is still necessary.
Developing a New Oxygen Atlas of the World’s Oceans Using Data Interpolating Variational Analysis
Authors: Roach Christopher J. , Bindoff Nathaniel L.
Published: September 2023

We present a new global oxygen atlas. This atlas uses all of the available full water column profiles of oxygen, salinity, and temperature available as part of the World Ocean Database released in 2018. Instead of optimal interpolation, we use the Data Interpolating Variational Analysis (DIVA) approach to map the available profiles onto 108 depth levels between the surface and 6800 m, covering more than 99% of ocean volume. This 1/2° × 1/2° atlas covers the period 1955–2018 in 1-yr intervals. The DIVA method has significant benefits over traditional optimal interpolation. It allows the explicit inclusion of advection and boundary constraints, thus offering improvements in the representations of oxygen, salinity, and temperature in regions of strong flow and near coastal boundaries. We demonstrate these benefits of this mapping approach with some examples from this atlas. We can explore the regional and temporal variations of oxygen in the global oceans. Preliminary analyses confirm earlier analyses that the oxygen minimum zone in the eastern Pacific Ocean has expanded and intensified. Oxygen inventory changes between 1970 and 2010 are assessed and compared against prior studies. We find that the full ocean oxygen inventory decreased by 0.84% ± 0.42%. For this period, temperature-driven solubility changes explain about 21% of the oxygen decline over the full water column; in the upper 100 m, solubility changes can explain all of the oxygen decrease; for the 100–600 m depth range, it can explain only 29%, 19% between 600 and 1000 m, and just 11% in the deep ocean.

Significance Statement

The purpose of this study is to create a new oxygen atlas of the world’s oceans using a technique that better represents the effects of ocean currents and topographic boundaries, and to investigate how oxygen in the ocean has changed over recent decades. We find the total quantity of oxygen in the world’s oceans has decreased by 0.84% since 1970, similar to previous studies. We also examine how much of this change can be explained by changes in water temperature; we find that this can explain all the changes in the upper 100 m but only 21% of the oxygen decline over the whole water column.
Technical Overview of the TexMesonet—A Network of Networks for Improved Water Management and Prediction in Texas
Authors: Wyatt Briana M. , Leber Nathan , Olden Mark
Published: September 2023

Accurate, timely, and accessible meteorological and soil moisture measurements are essential for a number of applications including weather forecasting, agricultural decision-making, and flood and drought prediction. Such data are becoming increasingly available globally, but the large number of networks and various data reporting formats often make utilization of such data difficult. The TexMesonet is a “network of networks” developed within the state of Texas to collect, process, and make public data collected from more than 1700 monitoring stations throughout the state. This paper describes the TexMesonet, with special attention paid to monitoring sites installed and managed by the Texas Water Development Board. It also provides a case study exemplifying how these data may be used and gives recommendations for future data applications.
Visualization of concrete internal defects based on unsupervised domain adaptation algorithm for transfer learning of experiment-simulation hybrid dataset of impact echo signals
Authors: Shang Gao , Chen Jun
Published: September 2023

Detecting concrete internal defects through deep learning analysis of impact echo signals faces two challenges: (1) the traditional signal processing method such as wavelet transform (WT) fails to reflect data-sensitive damage characteristics due to the uncertainty principle and (2) the limited labeled data acquired from real structures impedes network training. To address the first challenge, this paper proposes the WT-based synchrosqueezing transform (WT-SST) for the conversion of time-series data to the time-frequency spectrogram, which can provide effective features for the network in time and frequency domains simultaneously. To overcome the second challenge, numerical simulation data are supplemented for the augment of labeled data. To minimize the effect of data variance between experiments and simulations, this paper uses an unsupervised domain adaptation (DA) network for the transfer training of labeled simulation data (original domain) and unlabeled experimental data (target domain). The DA network extracts domain-invariant features by maximizing the domain recognition error and minimizing the probability distribution distance. The damage probability is calculated by the trained model to produce a 2D defect contour image of concrete specimens, and the three-dimensional visualization of internal defects by estimating the defect depth based on the defect area of contour image. Finally, the recognition precision, recall, F1-score, and accuracy of the model of unsupervised DA network trained by a hybrid dataset reaches 89.4%, 88.4%, 88.9%, and 94.7%, respectively.
A novel N95 respirator with chitosan nanoparticles: mechanical, antiviral, microbiological and cytotoxicity evaluations
Authors: Landim Marcela Guimarães , Carneiro Marcella Lemos Brettas , Joanitti Graziella Anselmo , Anflor Carla Tatiana Mota , Marinho David Dobkowski , Rodrigues José Filipe Bacalhau , de Sousa Wladymyr Jefferson Bacalhau , Fernandes Daniel de Oliveira , Souza Beatriz Ferreira , Ombredane Alicia Simalie , do Nascimento Jessica Catarine Frutuoso , Felice Gisela de Jesus , Kubota Aline Midori Adati , Barbosa Juliana Simas Coutinho , Ohno John Hideki , Amoah Solomon Kweku Sagoe , Pena Lindomar José , Luz Glécia Virgolino da Silva , de Andrade Laise Rodrigues , Pinheiro Willie Oliveira , Ribeiro Bergmann Morais , Formiga Fábio Rocha , Fook Marcus Vinícius Lia , Rosa Mário Fabrício Fleury , Peixoto Henry Maia , Luiz Carregaro Rodrigo , Rosa Suélia de Siqueira Rodrigues Fleury
Published: September 2023

Background

It is known that some sectors of hospitals have high bacteria and virus loads that can remain as aerosols in the air and represent a significant health threat for patients and mainly professionals that work in the place daily. Therefore, the need for a respirator able to improve the filtration barrier of N95 masks and even inactivating airborne virus and bacteria becomes apparent. Such a fact motivated the creation of a new N95 respirator which employs chitosan nanoparticles on its intermediate layer (SN95 + CNP).

Results

The average chitosan nanoparticle size obtained was 165.20 ± 35.00 nm, with a polydispersity index of 0.36 ± 0.03 and a zeta potential of 47.50 ± 1.70 mV. Mechanical tests demonstrate that the SN95 + CNP respirator is more resistant and meets the safety requisites of aerosol penetration, resistance to breath and flammability, presenting higher potential to filtrate microbial and viral particles when compared to conventional SN95 respirators. Furthermore, biological in vitro tests on bacteria, fungi and mammalian cell lines (HaCat, Vero E6 and CCL-81) corroborate the hypothesis that our SN95 + CNP respirator presents strong antimicrobial activity and is safe for human use. There was a reduction of 96.83% of the alphacoronavirus virus and 99% of H1N1 virus and MHV-3 betacoronavirus after 120 min of contact compared to the conventional respirator (SN95), demonstrating that SN95 + CNP have a relevant potential as personal protection equipment.

Conclusions

Due to chitosan nanotechnology, our novel N95 respirator presents improved mechanical, antimicrobial and antiviral characteristics.
Patient-reported vision impairment in low luminance predicts multiple falls
Authors: Terheyden Jan Henrik , Gerhards Johanna , Ost Reglind A. D. , Wintergerst Maximilian W. M. , Holz Frank G. , Finger Robert P.
Published: September 2023

Background

Visual impairment is an independent risk factor for falling. Whether this extends to patient-reported visual difficulties has not been assessed to date. We have evaluated whether patient-reported visual difficulties in low-contrast and low luminance situations are a risk factor for falls and concerns about falling.

Methods

Baseline assessments in outpatients with varying degrees of visual impairment aged ≥ 60 years included the Vision Impairment in Low Luminance (VILL) questionnaire and socio-demographic data; prospective follow-up assessments included falls over 12 months, the Falls Efficacy Scale (FES-I) and the VILL. The VILL was scored using Rasch models, and the FES-I was categorized following published guidelines. Associations were investigated using logistic regression analysis, controlling for age, visual acuity and known risk factors of falling.

Results

We included 112 participants (74 women, mean age 70 ± 7 years). Twenty-seven participants recalled any falls and eleven recalled multiple falls at follow-up. Higher VILL reading subscale and mobility subscale scores at baseline were significantly associated with reporting less multiple falls at follow-up (OR 0.559 [0.333–0.936], p = 0.027 and OR 0.595 [0.377–0.940], p = 0.026). VILL scores were significantly associated with concerns about falling (high versus low: p ≤ 0.004, reading, mobility and emotional subscales; high versus moderate: p = 0.004, emotional subscale).

Conclusions

Patient-reported visual difficulties under low illumination and in low-contrast conditions are predictive of multiple falls in the future, have an additional predictive value over established risk scores, and are associated with concerns to fall. Current fall risk assessments may benefit from the inclusion of such assessments, e.g. the VILL questionnaire.
Immune and cytokine alterations and RNA-sequencing analysis in gestational tissues from pregnant women after recovery from COVID-19
Authors: Xin Xing , Yao Weiqi , Zhang Zijing , Yang Xin , Li Shufang , Zhu Ying , Zhang Cong , Zhang Long , Huang Hailong , Dong Tengyun , Dong Haibo , Feng Ling , Wang Shaoshuai
Published: September 2023

Background

COVID-19 is a global pandemic. Understanding the immune responses in pregnant women recovering from COVID-19 may suggest new therapeutic approaches.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional study between March 1, 2020, and September 1, 2020. Participants were assigned into the convalescent COVID-19 group if they had a previous COVID-19 infection during pregnancy or the healthy control group. RNA-Seq was performed on human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUMSCs) and human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs). Immunohistochemical staining, cytokine testing, lymphocyte subset analysis, RNA-Seq, and functional analyses were performed on the placental and umbilical cord blood (UCB) and compared between the two groups.

Results

A total of 40 pregnant women were enrolled, with 13 in the convalescent group and 27 in the control group. There were 1024, 46, and 32 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified in the placental tissue, hUMSCs, and hAMSCs between the convalescent and control groups, respectively. Enrichment analysis showed those DEGs were associated with immune homeostasis, antiviral activity, cell proliferation, and tissue repair. Levels of IL-6, TNF-α, total lymphocyte counts, B lymphocytes, Tregs percentages, and IFN-γ expressing CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were statistically different between two groups (p ≤ 0.05). ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expressed on the placenta were not different between the two groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Multiple changes in immune responses occurred in the placental tissue, hUMSCs, and hAMSCs after maternal recovery from COVID-19, which might imply their protective roles against COVID-19 infection.
Clinical characteristics and prognosis of temporary miller fisher syndrome following COVID-19 vaccination: a systematic review of case studies
Authors: Alijanzadeh Dorsa , Soltani Afsaneh , Afra Fatemeh , Salmanpour Fardis , Loghman Amir Hossein , Samieefar Noosha , Rezaei Nima
Published: September 2023

Background

Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS) is a subtype of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) which is characterized by the three components of ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, and areflexia. Some studies reported MFS as an adverse effect of the COVID-19 vaccination. We aimed to have a detailed evaluation on demographic, clinical, and para-clinical characteristics of subjects with MFS after receiving COVID-19 vaccines.

Materials and methods

A thorough search strategy was designed, and PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were searched to find relevant articles. Each screening step was done by twice, and in case of disagreement, another author was consulted. Data on different characteristics of the patients and types of the vaccines were extracted. The risk of bias of the studies was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) tools.

Results

In this study, 15 patients were identified from 15 case studies. The median age of the patients was 64, ranging from 24 to 84 years. Ten patients (66.6%) were men and Pfizer made up 46.7% of the injected vaccines. The median time from vaccination to symptoms onset was 14 days and varied from 7 to 35 days. Furthermore,14 patients had ocular signs, and 78.3% (11/14) of ocular manifestations were bilateral. Among neurological conditions, other than MFS triad, facial weakness or facial nerve palsy was the most frequently reported side effect that was in seven (46.7%) subjects. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) was the most frequently used treatment (13/15, 86.7%). Six patients received 0.4 g/kg and the four had 2 g/kg. Patients stayed at the hospital from five to 51 days. No fatal outcomes were reported. Finally, 40.0% (4/15) of patients completely recovered, and the rest experienced improvement.

Conclusion

MFS after COVID-19 immunization has favorable outcomes and good prognosis. However, long interval from disease presentation to treatment in some studies indicates that more attention should be paid to MFS as the adverse effect of the vaccination. Due to the challenging diagnosis, MFS must be considered in list of the differential diagnosis in patients with a history of recent COVID-19 vaccination and any of the ocular complaints, ataxia, or loss of reflexes, specially for male patients in their 60s and 70s.
Mortality and years of life lost due to pancreatic cancer in China, its provinces, urban and rural areas from 2005 to 2020: results from the national mortality surveillance system
Authors: Xu Yangyang , Liu Wei , Long Zheng , Wang Lijun , Zhou Maigeng , Yin Peng
Published: September 2023

Background

Pancreatic cancer is a growing public health concern in China, and depicting it from different perspectives would provide a comprehensive understanding of its epidemiological characteristics.

Methods

Data from the National Mortality Surveillance System (NMSS) in China was used to estimate the number of deaths, years of life lost (YLL), age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) and age-standardized YLL rate in China, its provinces and urban-rural areas from 2005 to 2020. Joinpoint regression analysis was employed to explore the temporal trends of ASMR and age-standardized YLL rate. Decomposition analysis was conducted to assess the contribution of population growth, population aging and cause-specific mortality rate to the increment of pancreatic cancer deaths.

Results

A total of 100,427 pancreatic cancer deaths and 2,166,355 pancreatic cancer related YLL were estimated in China in 2020. The overall ASMR significantly increased from 6.6/100 000 in 2005 to 7.4/100 000 in 2020, and was higher in men than that in women. Age-standardized YLL rate showed a similar trend. The mortality rates of pancreatic cancer were generally higher in northeast China than in southwest China. The highest ASMRs were found in Jilin, Zhejiang, Inner Mongolia and Anhui, and the lowest ones in Guangxi, Yunnan, Tibet, and Hainan. The disease burden due to pancreatic cancer presented a significant upward trend in rural areas and a downward trend in urban areas.

Conclusions

The burden associated with pancreatic cancer had been increasing in China from 2005 to 2020. The escalating disease burden of pancreatic cancer in rural areas necessitates the implementation of effective control and prevention measures. Relevant provinces should pay greater attention to the prevailing of pancreatic cancer, particularly those exhibiting higher mortality rates.
Freeze-dried amniotic membrane graft with a spongy layer in bilateral peripheral ulcerative keratitis: a case report
Authors: Bertret Clara , Leveziel Loïc , Knoeri Juliette , Georgeon Cristina , Jamart Céline , Bouheraoua Nacim , Borderie Vincent
Published: September 2023

Background

Peripheral ulcerative keratitis (PUK) is a group of inflammatory corneal ulcers with stromal thinning and peripheral localization. Amniotic membranes (AM) are used for their anti-inflammatory and healing properties. A freeze-drying process now allows maintaining the AM viable for a long time at room temperature without altering its physical, biological, and morphologic characteristics. The effectiveness of spongy freeze-dried amniotic membrane (FD-AM) graft with multimodal imaging in the management of severe corneal thinning PUK has not been reported.

Case presentation

A 67-year-old Caribbean man histologically diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, was referred to our tertiary eye care center for a deep nasal juxtalimbal ulcer of the left eye. He was treated with topical steroids and antibiotics, methylprednisolone pulses, and oral prednisone. Due to continuous stromal thinning with 100 μm of residual corneal thickness, the decision was made to perform surgery. Conjunctival resection, inlay and overlay spongy FD-AM (Visio Amtrix® S, Tissue Bank of France, FR) were performed to preserve globe integrity. Despite tapering off oral steroids, PUK developed in the fellow eye on the 2 months follow-up. Treatment with human monoclonal antibody against tumor necrosis factor-alpha was initiated to control the active underlying inflammation. Six months following surgery, the ulcer was healed and corneal thickness in front of the former ulceration was measured at 525 μm on anterior segment-optical coherence tomography. Confocal microscopy confirmed the integration of the amniotic membrane between the corneal epithelium and the anterior stroma.

Conclusion

Transplantation of FD-AM with a spongy layer was associated with restoration of normal corneal thickness in the PUK area. It seems to be a safe, effective, and easily accessible solution for the surgical management of PUK with impending perforation.
Prevalence and risk factors of disabilities among Egyptian preschool children: a community-based population study
Authors: Metwally Ammal M. , Aboulghate Ahmed , Elshaarawy Ghada A. , Abdallah Ali M. , Abdel Raouf Ehab R. , El-Din Ebtissam M. Salah , Khadr Zeinab , El-Saied Mostafa M. , Elabd Mona A. , Nassar Maysa S. , Abouelnaga Marwa W. , Ashaat Engy A. , El-Sonbaty Mohamed M. , Badawy Hala Y. , Dewdar Eman M. , Salama Somia I. , Abdelrahman Mohamed , Abdelmohsen Aida M. , Eldeeb Sherif E. , Naga Maie M. , Elshamy Nada H. , Shaaban Fatma A. , ElRifay Amira S.
Published: September 2023

Background

Child disability has significant implications on their well-being and healthcare systems. Aim: This survey aimed to assess the magnitude of seven types of disability among Egyptian children aged 1 < 6 years and their socio-demographic, epidemiological, and perinatal predictors.

Methods

A national population-based cross-sectional household survey targeting 21,316 children from eight governorates was conducted. The screening questionnaire was derived from the WHO ten-question survey tool validated for identifying seven disability categories.

Results

The percentage of children with at least one disability was 8.1% as follows: speech/communication (4.4%), Mobility/physical (2.5%), Seizures (2.2%), Comprehension (1.7%), Intellectual impairment (1.4%), Visual (0.3%) and Hearing (0.2%). Age was not found to affect the odds of disability except for visual disability (significantly increased with age (AOR = 1.4, 95% CI:1.1–1.7). Male sex also increased the odds of all disabilities except visual, hearing, and seizures. Convulsions after birth significantly increased the odds of disability as follows: hearing (AOR = 8.1, 95% CI: 2.2–30.5), intellectual impairment (AOR = 4.2, 95% CI: 2.5–6.9), and mobility/physical (AOR = 3.4, 95% CI: 2.3–5.0). Preterm delivery and being kept in an incubator for more than two days after birth increased the odds for visual disability (AOR = 3.7, 95% CI: 1.1–12.1 & AOR = 3.7, 95% CI: 1.7–7.9 respectively). Cyanosis increased the odds of seizures (AOR = 4.7, 95% CI: 2.2–10.3). Low birth weight also increased the odds for all disability domains except for visual and hearing. Maternal health problems during pregnancy increased the odds for all types of disability except hearing and seizures. Higher paternal education decreased the odds for all disabilities by at least 30% except for vision and hearing.

Conclusion

The study found a high prevalence of disability among Egyptian children aged 1–6 years. It identified a number of modifiable risk factors for disability. The practice of early screening for disability is encouraged to provide early interventions when needed.
The association between sexual function, quality of marital relationship and associated factors in women with a history of ectopic pregnancy: a cross-sectional study in Iran
Authors: Khajoei Nejad Fateme , Rafati Foozieh , Rafati Shideh , Dastyar Neda
Published: September 2023

Background

Ectopic pregnancy (EP) has many adverse effects on the relationship between couples. The present study aims to assess the association between sexual function (SF), quality of marital relationship (QMR) and associated factors in women with a history of EP.

Method

This cross-sectional study was performed on 220 women with a history of EP in Kerman in 2022. Convenience sampling method was applied. Data were collected using the female sexual function index (FSFI) and the perceived relationship quality components scale (PRQC) questionnaires and were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics (median regression) in Stata software version 17. AP-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Of the female participants, 20.4% had sexual dysfunction (SD). Longer duration of marriage (P = 0.045) and increase in the number of EPs (P < 0.001) were associated with a decrease in SF. A quarter of women experienced poor QMR. Increase in spouse age (P = 0.047), longer duration of marriage (P = 0.028), and increase in the number of EPs (P < 0.001) were associated with a decrease in QMR. There was a significant direct relationship between SF and the QMR (r = 0.857;P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The present study showed a significant relationship between SF and the QMR in women with a history of EP. Therefore, SF and the QMR are necessary to be considered in future health promotion programs of these women.