bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ethanol Leaf Extract of Buchholzia coriacea Ameliorates Biochemical Dysregulations Due to Rheumatoid Arthritis in Wistar Albino Rats
Authors: Alum Esther Ugo , Krishnamoorthy Rajapandiyan , Gatasheh Mansour K. , Subbarayan Shanthi , Vijayalakshmi Periyasamy , Awoke Joshua N.
Published: July 2024

Background
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease that involves many body organs. In this study, we examined the anti-rheumatoid arthritis effect of ethanol leaf extract of Buchholzia coriacea (ELEBC).
Methods
Firstly, the chemical compositions of ELEBC were investigated. The in vivo study was further done using 90 female rats weighing 121–146 g. Rats were appropriated into 6 groups (n = 15). Group 1 was provided with normal saline (1 ml/kg) only. Group 2 was induced with RA and untreated. Group 3 was induced and treated with 5 mg/kg indomethacin™ while Groups 4–6 were induced with RA and treated with ELEBC at varied doses of 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg body weight, respectively. Induction of RA was done using Freund’s adjuvant, whereas the route of administration of the standard drug and the extract was via oral intubation. The study period was 31 days.
Results
The chemical composition analysis revealed that ELEBC has a high level of various chemical constituents. The adjuvant injection caused a significant increase in paw sizes plus a reduction in body weight. Levels of creatinine, uric acid, total protein, white blood cell, and total and conjugated bilirubin were significantly elevated in the arthritic rats. There were significant elevations in alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase activities while the levels of red blood cells, packed cell volume, and hemoglobin were lowered significantly. Treatment with ELEBC markedly reduced the paw sizes and caused weight gain.
Conclusion
Other biochemical dysregulations were also ameliorated. Thus, ELEBC may be useful in the control of RA.
RETRACTED: Biofluorescence imaging system (BIS) Guided surgery for MRONJ: A Case Series on the Preservation of Teeth and Implants
Authors: Park Sang-Hee , Jee Hyouk Keun , Yoon Hong-Cheol , Yun Pil-Young , Ku Jeong-Kui
Published: July 2024

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests: very low prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 (pfhrp2) deletion in the Brazil-Venezuela-Guyana tri-border
Authors: Mascarenhas Maria Eduarda Pereira , Louzada Jaime , Rosa Renato Amorim , Assis Gabriela Maíra Pereira , Kano Flora Satiko , Ferreira Joseli Oliveira , de Sousa Tais Nobrega
Published: July 2024

Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) have been an important diagnostic tool for detecting P. falciparum malaria in resource-limited settings. Most tests are designed to detect the Histidine-rich Protein 2 (HRP2). Parasites lacking pfhrp2 and its homologous pfhrp3 have been reported in several regions, with prevalence reaching 100% in certain areas. To better characterize P. falciparum isolates circulating in the Brazil-Venezuela-Guyana tri-border region, we performed a comprehensive analysis of 365 samples collected between 2016 and 2018. Molecular and immunological methods were employed to detect HRP2 and confirm pfhrp2/3 deletion. Our findings point to a low prevalence (1%) of pfhrp2-deleted parasites confirmed by the lack of HRP2 detection. Among false-negative HRP2-RDT tests (6%), most were attributed to low parasite densities. A merozoite surface protein 2 (msp2)-based intra-host diversity analysis suggested overall low genetic diversity. The pattern of HRP2 sequences resembled that has been previously described in areas along the Brazil and French Guiana border. In conclusion, we have found a low prevalence of pfhrp2-deleted parasites in the north-central Guiana Shield, which contrasts with the findings reported at the Peru border. Continued surveys are necessary to monitor the prevalence of pfhrp2 deletion in this area characterized by a high number of cross-border malaria cases.
Mouthwashes used in patients with oral and oropharyngeal mucositis: A systematic review
Authors: Costa Fernanda Pereira Delgado , Dias Maria Luisa Leandro Souza , Rodrigues Karla Emília , Abreu Lucas Guimarães , Silva Tarcília Aparecida , Travassos Denise Vieira
Published: July 2024

Purpose
The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of randomized clinical trials in order to assess the efficacy of the following mouthwashes recommended for the prevention and treatment of OM and OPM in patients undergoing cancer treatment: chlorhexidine, allopurinol, benzydamine, and propolis.
Methods
The following research question was formulated based on the PICOS strategy: “Are chlorhexidine, allopurinol, benzydamine and propolis mouthwashes effective in preventing and treating OM and OPM in patients undergoing cancer treatment?” Searches were performed in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science, without publication year or language restrictions. Randomized clinical trials comparing the use of chlorhexidine, allopurinol, benzydamine and propolis with a control group not submitted to any intervention were included. The retrieved articles were analyzed and selected by two reviewers and disagreements were resolved by consultation with a third reviewer. After data extraction, two evaluators independently analyzed the methodological quality of the studies using the Cochrane tool.
Results
After evaluation of the works, 13 of 1183 articles were selected. mouthwashes containing propolis and benzydamine mouthwashes were promising and effective while chlorhexidine or allopurinol did not provide satisfactory results.
Conclusion
Mouthwashes could be an alternative for treatment or preventing oral mucositis in cancer patients Services could consider the possibility of incorporating these medications since, in most cases, they are low cost and donot require specialized staff in their use.
Predicting MGMT Methylation in Glioblastoma for Informed Clinical Decisions: An AI-Driven Approach in Resource-Limited Settings
Authors: Restini Felipe Cicci Farinha , Torfeh Tarraf , Aouadi Souha , Hammoud Rabih , Al-Hammadi Noora , Starling Maria Thereza Mansur , Souza Cecília Felix Penido Mendes , Mancini Anselmo , Brito Leticia Hernandes , Yoshimoto Fernanda Hayashida , Lima-Júnior Nildevande Firmino , Queiroz Marcelo Moro , Passos Ula Lindoso , Amancio Camila Trolez , Takahashi Jorge Tomio , Delgado Daniel De Souza , Hanna Samir Abdallah , Marta Gustavo Nader , Neves-Junior Wellington Furtado Pimenta
Published: July 2024

Background
Glioblastoma is an aggressive brain cancer with a poor prognosis. MGMT (O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase) gene methylation status is crucial for treatment stratification, yet economic constraints often limit access. This study aims to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) framework for predicting MGMT methylation status.
Methods
Machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) techniques were applied to diagnostic MR images from the NIH and a private institution. The images were segmented according to ESTRO-ACROP 2016 guidelines for radiotherapy treatment volumes and combined, with clinical evaluations from neuroradiology experts. Radiomic features (quantitative) and clinical impressions (qualitative) were extracted for ML models. Feature selection methods were used to identify relevant phenotypes for training and validation with ML classifiers.
Results
We evaluated 100 patients from the NIH and 46 patients from a local institution. A total of 343 features were extracted. Eight feature selection methods produced seven independent predictive frameworks. The top-performing ML models included Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE) combined with Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) (accuracy of 0.75). DL performance achieved an accuracy of 0.74 using convolutional networks.
Conclusion
This study demonstrates that integrating clinical and radiotherapy-derived AI-driven phenotypes can accurately predict MGMT methylation. The framework also addresses constraints that limit molecular diagnosis access.
Diagnosis of Renal Tumors in Birt-Hogg-Dube Syndrome: Clinical Presentation and Risk Factors in a Single-center Retrospective Cohort
Authors: Kijlertsuphasri Supiya , Petnak Tananchai , Moua Teng
Published: July 2024

Background: Birt-Hogg-Dube (BHD) syndrome is a rare genetic condition associated with the development of renal tumors. This study aims to determine typical age ranges for detecting renal abnormalities, risk factors for tumor development, and long-term outcomes based on current surveillance strategies.
Methods: A single-center multi-site retrospective cohort study was performed on all patients with BHD diagnosed from 2000 to 2023. Baseline demographics, pulmonary function, laboratory, radiologic, and histopathologic findings were collected. Logistic regression was used to assess predictor variables for the development of renal tumors with survival analysis evaluated from the date of BHD diagnosis to date of death or last known follow-up.
Results: The study included 149 patients with BHD, 39 (26%) with diagnosed renal tumors, of which 28 had histopathologic confirmation. Mean age at renal tumor detection was 53.61 years. Older age and male sex were predictive of renal tumor development ((odds ratio 1.05; 95% CI, 1.01-1.08, P = 0.002) and (odds ratio 2.59; 95% CI, 1.17-5.73, P=0.02), respectively). Time to all-cause mortality appeared shorter in those with renal tumors (Log-rank P = 0.02), though no deaths were from cancer or cancer-related complications.
Conclusions: Current screening protocols for renal tumors in BHD suggest the most common presenting age range for presentation is late 40s to early 50s, with older age and male sex as risk factors for tumor development.
Health Education Programs for Hearing and Vision Impaired Individuals: A Scoping Review
Authors: Jin Sohyun , Ko Geumbo , Song Youngshin
Published: July 2024

Background
Individuals with disabilities encounter several challenges such as limited educational opportunities, restricted access to academic resources, and delays or shortages of support services. These challenges impede their access to medical services, a critical aspect of their well-being. This study aims to examine the current status of health education by selecting and analyzing health education programs for the visually and hearing impaired using the scoping review method.
Methods
Research questions were organized into population groups, concepts, and contexts following the established guidelines. Data comprised research papers on health education programs for individuals with visual and hearing impairments. Databases searched included Cochrane, Ovid MEDLINE, and Google Scholar for gray literature. The search strategy employed specific keywords and key phrases. Selection criteria focused on literature evaluating the educational impact in intervention studies (experimental and quasi-experimental) of health education programs for visually and hearing impaired individuals, sourced globally. Two independent researchers reviewed Eligible full-text articles and extracted data into a standardized table. The analysis results were summarized using descriptive statistics, including frequency and percentage.
Results
The literature search identified 3,168 articles, 34 of which were selected for analysis. Among these, 19 pertained to the visually impaired, while 15 focused on hearing impaired. Interventions for the visually impaired predominantly addressed acquisition and development, primarily through face-to-face sessions. Healthcare providers predominantly facilitated these interventions, primarily within healthcare institutions. Similarly, interventions for the hearing impaired primarily concentrated on acquisition and development, mainly through face-to-face interactions. The dropout rates averaged approximately 25.7% for the visually impaired and 23% for the hearing impaired. Outcome variables included physical function, psychosocial factors, behavior-related variables, and knowledge-related variables in both cohorts.
Conclusions
This scoping review undertaken in this study presents an exhaustive examination of tailored health education programs for individuals with visual and auditory impairments. The findings provide new insights into the effects of specific intervention types and the challenges faced by individuals with visual and hearing impairments. This underscores the necessity for continuous innovation and research directed toward enhancing health education strategies.
Development of machine learning-based differential diagnosis model and risk prediction model of organ damage for severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children
Authors: He Bing , Li Xuewen , Dong Rongrong , Yao Han , Zhou Qi , Xu Changyan , Shang Chengming , Zhao Bo , Zhou Huiling , Yu Xinqiao , Xu Jiancheng
Published: July 2024

Objective Severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (SMPP) poses significant diagnostic challenges due to its clinical features overlapping with those of other common respiratory diseases. This study aims to develop and validate machine learning (ML) models for the early identification of SMPP and the risk prediction for liver and heart damage in SMPP using accessible laboratory indicators.
Methods Cohort 1 was divided into SMPP group and other respiratory diseases group. Cohort 2 was divided into myocardial damage, liver damage, and non-damage groups. The models built using five ML algorithms were compared to screen the best algorithm and model. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves, accuracy, sensitivity, and other performance indicators were utilized to evaluate the performance of each model. Feature importance and Shapley Additive Explanation (SHAP) values were introduced to enhance the interpretability of models. Cohort 3 was used for external validation.
Results In Cohort 1, the SMPP differential diagnostic model developed using the LightGBM algorithm achieved the highest performance with AUCROC=0.968. In Cohort 2, the LightGBM model demonstrated superior performance in distinguishing myocardial damage, liver damage, and non-damage in SMPP patients (accuracy=0.818). Feature importance and SHAP values indicated that Age and CK-MB emerged as pivotal contributors significantly influencing Model 2’s output magnitude. The diagnostic and predictive abilities of the ML models were validated in Cohort 3, demonstrating the models had some clinical generalizability.
Conclusion The Model 1 and Model 2 constructed by LightGBM algorithm showed excellent ability in differential diagnosis of SMPP and risk prediction of organ damage in children.
The association between 24-hour movement behaviours and adiposity among Australian preschoolers: a compositional data analysis
Authors: Decraene Marga , Chong Kar Hau , Stanford Ty , Dumuid Dorothea , Cross Penny , Cardon Greet , Verbestel Vera , De Craemer Marieke , Okely Anthony
Published: July 2024

Introduction
The relationship between 24-hour movement behaviours (i.e. physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep) and adiposity in preschoolers remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the associations between 24-hour movement behaviours and adiposity in preschoolers making use of compositional data-analysis (CoDA).
Methods
Australian preschoolers (3–5 years) from the Early Start Baseline Study wore an ActiGraph accelerometer to assess sedentary behaviour (SB), light physical activity (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Their weight and height were measured using standardizes protocols and converted to Body Mass Index (BMI) z-scores using the World Health Organisation growth references. Their parents completed a questionnaire to assess their level of education and the child’s sleep duration, age and sex. CoDA was employed to investigate the association between 24-hour movement behaviours and adiposity in R.
Results
This study included 174 preschoolers and their overall 24-hour movement behaviour composition was associated with BMI z-scores (F = 4.09, p = 0.008). When examining the association between each movement behaviour relative to the others and BMI z-scores, we observed a statistically significant association for MVPA (p = 0.023), but not for the other behaviours. For example, reallocating 10 min from MVPA, proportionally to the other behaviours resulted in a difference of + 0.069 in BMI z-score.
Conclusion
Despite the association between more time spent in MVPA and higher BMI z-scores, a healthy amount of time spent in each of the 24-hour movement behaviours should be stimulated. Future studies should address methodological challenges, use larger and more diverse samples, and consider longitudinal designs. Additionally, a focus on sex- and age-specific adiposity indicators beyond BMI z-scores could enhance understanding of these relationships.
Completion of Maternal and Child Health Continuum of Care and Associated Factors in West Gondar Zone, North West Ethiopia, 2023: A Community Based Cross Sectional Study
Authors: Tegegne Asrat Mekonnen , Habitu Yohannes Ayanaw , Ferede Yeshiwas Ayale , Fentie Elsa Awoke
Published: July 2024

Background
The maternal and child health continuum of care encompasses integrated service delivery spanning prepregnancy through childhood, aiming to enhance maternal and child health outcomes. Recognized as pivotal in reducing maternal and newborn mortality rates, it focuses on improving maternal and neonatal health and well-being. Despite its importance, there remains a scarcity of comprehensive studies on maternal and child health continuums of care. This study aimed to assess the completion of the maternal and child health continuum of care and its influencing factors among mothers with index children aged 12–23 months in the West Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia, in 2023.
Methods
A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 1–30, 2023, by interviewing mothers of 12-23-month-old index children living in the West Gondar zone. A simple random sampling method was used to select 1019 mothers whose index child was 12–23 months old. The data were collected through KoboCollect android v2022 4.4 and imported to Stata version 14.0 for analysis. Binary logistic regression was used to examine the associations between the independent variables and continuum of care. Variables with a p value < 0.2 in the bivariable logistic regression analysis were chosen for the multivariable logistic regression model. Finally, an adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval and a p value < 0.05 were used to determine the statistical significance of the associations. The Hosmer and Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test was computed.
Results
The overall rate of completion of the maternal and child health continuum of care was 6.19% (95% CI: 4.69–7.68). Associated factors were first ANC visit before 16 weeks of pregnancy [AOR:4.25(2.14–8.47)], mothers well prepared for birth preparedness and complication readiness [AOR: 3.02(1.41–6.46)], history of modern contraceptive utilization [AOR:2.34 (CI: 1.16–4.73)], intended pregnancy [AOR: 3.25 (CI; 1.63–6.48)], maternal services during their ANC visit [AOR: 2.69(1.07–6.80)] and health facility that took less than an hour from home [AOR: 2.53 (CI; 1.06–6.03)].
Conclusions
The maternal and child health continuum of care in West Gondar was low. Birth preparedness and complication readiness, early initiation of ANC visits, planned pregnancy, family planning utilization, nearest health facility and maternal health service provision during ANC were factors affecting mothers’ ability to stay along the path of the MCH continuum of care. Efforts should be focused on those factors to improve the completion of maternal and child health care and to provide appropriate services at each level of the continuum.
Epoxy Resin Curing Using Solid Hardener in the Solution Phase: Study on Effect of the Presence of the Amino Group in Solvent on Epoxy Curing
Authors: BHALERAO PRAVIN , BALOCH MUSKANBANU , Soni Mital R , Mayani Suranjana V. , KAVAR TEJAS , Jadeja Poojaba , Jadeja Riddhi , Khorajiya Suzanabanu , Gandhi Brijesh , Ranpara Prince
Published: July 2024

Epoxy curing is crucial in many applications, including paint, reinforced composites, and material coating. In this work, 2–4 dinitro phenyl hydrazine is used as a solid hardener as a curing agent for epoxy curing. Curing was performed on a glass petri dish and in a beaker, at high temperature using a hot air oven as well as a sand bath. Solid hardner were used for curing epoxy with different percentages hydrazine, in acetone and acetone/aniline as a solvent. Epoxy resin curing analysis was confirmed by FTIR, and UV-visible spectroscopic analysis. The thermal stability of cured epoxy material has been studied using DSC. The coating of epoxy resin was stable in different organic solvents and dissolved in acetone. This coating shows chemical resistance to saturated solution of strong base (NaOH), and also showed stability in strong acids (HCl, HNO3) this suggests anti-corrosion behavior in acidic and basic mediums. A short curing time (5–10 minutes), a small amount of curing agent, and a conventional heating source in a sand bath and hot air oven in solution with organic solvents (acetone/aniline) are key features of our curing approach.
Development and validation of a nomogram to predict pathological complete response following neoadjuvant chemotherapy in luminal breast cancer based on clinicopathological features
Authors: Safi Sarah Al , Kim Hee Jeong , Kim Jisun , Yoo Tae-Kyung , Chung Il Yong , Ko Beom Seok , Lee Jong Won , Son Byung Ho , Lee Sae Byul
Published: July 2024

Purpose:
Luminal breast cancer is the most common subtype of breast cancer with a favorable prognosis but shows the lowest response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT), with most patients not achieving pathological complete response (pCR). Because pCR is a crucial predictor of treatment success, this study developed a nomogram to predict pCR following NACT in luminal breast cancer based on clinicopathological features.
Methods:
This retrospective study included patients diagnosed with luminal breast cancer at Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea, who received NACT and underwent breast cancer surgery between August 2008 and December 2021. Logistic regression multivariate analysis was used to identify independent predictors of pCR. The receiver operating characteristic analysis was applied to determine the nomogram accuracy.
Results:
Data from 1,574 patients were collected; 22.2% achieved a complete response, while 77.8% did not. The sample was divided into a training group (2008 to 2018, n = 1,244) and a validation group (2019 to 2021, n = 330). Multivariate logistic regression showed clinical tumor stage, estrogen receptor (ER) Allred score, progesterone receptor (PR) Allred score, and Ki67 index as independent predictors of pCR in the primary cohort. These variables were used to develop a nomogram predicting pCR in luminal breast cancer patients receiving NACT. The area under the ROC curve was 0.663 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.623–0.703). For the validation group, the nomogram’s accuracy was confirmed with an area under the curve = 0.637 (95% CI, 0.572–0.702).
Conclusion:
Our study suggested that this nomogram, incorporating clinical tumor stage, ER Allred score, PR Allred score, and Ki67 index, can be effectively used to NACT in luminal breast cancer.
Exploration of High School Student-Athletes’ 24-Hour Movement Behaviors and Their Impact on Positive Mental Health
Authors: Sabourin Camille , Turgeon Stéphanie , Camiré Martin
Published: July 2024

Research indicates that movement behaviors are intricately linked to mental health outcomes. Although previous research has generally focused on the detrimental effects of poor movement behaviors, the present study took a closer look at how adherence to movement behavior guidelines may contribute to positive mental health outcomes among high school student-athletes. The Canadian 24-Hour Movement Behavior Guidelines (24-HMBG) were used to frame our assessment of movement behaviors, being respectively ≥ 60 minutes per day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, ≤ two hours per day of recreational screentime, and eight to ten hours of sleep per night for adolescents. Participants’ physical activity, screentime, and sleep time were assessed using self-reported survey data collected during the 2019-2020 school year. The Mental Health Continuum-Short Form was used to measure positive mental health. Although most participants met the physical activity guidelines, findings highlighted how only 1.56% of participants met all three 24-HMBG, demonstrating significant challenges in aligning daily behaviors with current recommendations. Furthermore, hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that screentime positively and sleep time negatively predicted positive mental health. Physical activity showed no significant association. The present study sheds light on the (mis)alignment of movement behaviors with recommended guidelines and suggests future research be conducted on how to best promote healthy behaviors and enhance mental well-being among high school student-athletes.
Retrospective investigation of medulloblastoma under three years of age based on methylation molecule type
Authors: Deng Kaiwen , Liu Hailong , Feng Jin , Chen Li , Liu Fei , Chen Xuan , Li Jiankang , Jiang Tao , Qiu Xiaoguang
Published: July 2024

Background
Medulloblastoma (MB), a prevalent malignant pediatric brain tumor, typically necessitates a comprehensive treatment regimen. However, the standard treatment paradigm is often not viable for infants (< 3 years old) incomplete, which contraindicates traditional radiotherapy. This study retrospectively analyzed the efficacy of chemotherapy with deferred radiotherapy in infants.
Methods
The cohort consisted of 23 infants who receiving surgical resection of MB, which has been categorized into SHH, Group_3, and Group_4 subgroups and received postoperative chemotherapy. Molecular subgroups were identified using DNA methylation sequencing. This study analyzed the overall survival and recurrence rates based on molecular subgroup and evaluated the effects of treatment strategies.
Results
SHH accounted for 48%, Group_3 for 40%, and Group_4 for 12%. The follow-up period ranged from 1 to 131 months, with a median of 51 months. The overall survival rate was 60%, with survival rates for SHH, Group_3, and Group_4 at 66.7%, 50.0%, and 66.7%, respectively. The survival rates at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years were 92%, 80%, 48%, and 12%, respectively. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses indicated that recurrence and treatment modalities significantly impacted survival times, with a hazard ratio of 10.28 for recurrence (95% CI: 1.99–53.03, p = 0.005) and 4.59 for chemotherapy alone (95% CI: 1.11–18.93, p = 0.035). The findings suggest that for infants with MB, a combined treatment approach of postoperative chemotherapy followed by delayed radiotherapy significantly improves overall survival compared to chemotherapy alone.
Conclusion
The findings suggest that infants with MB benefit substantially from postoperative chemotherapy followed by delayed radiotherapy.
Prospective, Single-blind, Randomized Controlled Study of "Jetting Sutures" under Microendoscopic Discectomy Surgery in the Treatment of Single-segment Lumbar Disc Herniation with Four-year Follow-up
Authors: Li Kunpeng , Wang Chongyi , Hu Bingtao , Zhou Xin , Fu Qingyang , Lin Xiangyu , Wang Kaibin , Feng Yunze , Li Le , Si Haipeng
Published: July 2024

Study design: Prospective, single-blind, randomized controlled trial
Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare and contrast the outcomes of microendoscopic discectomy (MED) surgery with and without "jetting sutures".
Methods: Forty-eight cases underwent MED, of which 24 cases had annular jetting sutures applied, and all cases were followed up. The clinical data of the patients were assessed using the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), visual analog scale (VAS), and MacNab score to determine the level of lumbar function improvement.
Results: All operations were completed, which included 24 cases in the control group and 24 cases in the repair group. In both groups, the patients' VAS scores were significantly reduced, and their ODI scores and JOA scores were significantly improved (P <.05). At the four-year follow-up, the sensitivity of the injured nerve root, muscular strength, and achilles tendon reflex had all significantly recovered (P<.05), but the patellar reflex had not (P >.05). Overall, 95.8% of the repair group had excellent or good MacNab scores compared with 87.5% of the control group (P >.05).
Conclusion: The jetting suture technique can be performed safely and effectively in MED surgery. This study demonstrated that considering the efficacy of annular repair, jetting sutures applied to the treatment of lumbar disc herniation to prevent recurrence are safe, effective and worth promoting.
Trial registration: This prospective clinical trial was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Qilu Hospital of Shandong University (ethics approval number: 2013061) and registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (registration number: ChiCTR-TRC-14004332).
Warthin tumor concomitant with mantle cell lymphoma: a case report and review of literature
Authors: Tong Hai-Chao , Ma Shuang , Chen Lan , Meng Xiangyun , Li Ying-Chun , Li Le-Yao , Dong Lingyun , Zhang Wan-Lin , Wildes Tyler , Yang Lian-He , Wang Endi
Published: July 2024

Rationale:
Warthin tumor (WT) is the second most common benign tumor in salivary gland. It has a slow growth rate and most frequently occurs in parotid gland. Most patients present with incidental finding of painless masses inferior/anterior to the ear. Besides the epithelial component of the tumor, WT is characteristic of associated lymphoid stroma that is considered benign. While there have been few reports of malignant transformation of lymphoid components in WT, cases of WT concomitant with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) are extremely rare. To the best of our knowledge two cases have described in English literature. Herein, we report a case of WT concomitant with MCL in a 70-year-old female patient, and emphasize the importance of careful examination of lymphoid stroma in WT so that the possibility of concurrent lymphoma would not be missed.
Patient concerns:
A 70-year-old Chinese woman with a 40-year history of cigarette smoking presented with a right submaxillary mass for the past year with recent enlargement.
Diagnosis:
Cervical ultrasound (US) and computed tomography (CT) scans of the neck revealed a well circumscribed mass lesion in the right parotid with a maximum diameter of 3.1 cm. Surgical resection of the mass was performed. Histopathological examination revealed a characteristic double-layers of neoplastic epithelium with prominent lymphoid stroma, suggesting WT. In addition, morphology and immunohistochemistry study confirmed the coexistance of MCL. Thereafter, the final diagnosis of this case was WT concomitant with MCL.
Interventions:
The patient was staged as stage IVa after clinical assessment. Due to the slow growth of parotid lesions, close observation was decided with periodic clinical and radiological monitoring.
Outcomes:
Currently, the patient demonstrates a stable disease by clinical evaluation
Lessons:
To the best of our knowledge, reported cases of WT concomitant with MCL are very rare. This case highlights the importance of a comprehensive assessment of the lymphoid stroma of WT to avoid missed diagnosis of lymphoma component in a collision tumor.
Aerothermal characterization of the CALLISTO vehicle during descent
Authors: Ecker Tobias , Ertl Moritz , Klevanski Josef , Krummen Sven , Dumont Etienne
Published: July 2024

Aerothermal loads are a design driving factor during launcher development as the thermal loads directly influence TPS design and trajectory. Recent developments in reusable launch vehicles (RLV) (e.g. SpaceX, Blue Origin) have added the dimension of refurbishment to the challenges the thermal design must consider. For disposable launchers the heat flux due to base heating during ascent needs to be considered for aft thermal protections system (TPS) and structural design. With the current European long term strategy moving towards a reusable first stage - aerothermal loads may significantly change. The CALLISTO vehicle is a flight demonstrator for future reusable launcher stages and their technologies. The program involves three countries and their space organizations: CNES for France, DLR for Germany and JAXA for Japan. The first tests will be conducted in 2024 from CSG, Europe's Spaceport. The challenge is to develop, all along the project, the skills of the partners. This know-how includes products and vehicle design, ground segment set up, and post-flight operations for vehicle recovery then reuse. For the CALLISTO vehicle the highest heat fluxes are mainly due to heating from hot exhaust gases and heated air in proximity of the aft bay and on the exposed structures like legs and fins. The development of the plume extension is different for the considered re-entry, when compared to Falcon 9, or other studies presented in the past. As shown in previous studies the plume remains relatively concentrated at the aft end of the vehicle due to high atmospheric pressure and only very low fractions of actual exhaust gas species enclosing the vehicle. In the current study we conducted computational fluid dynamics (CFD) studies in order to determine the aerothermal loads on the vehicle during descent through the landing approach corridor for both phase B and phase C aeroshapes. The database development for vehicle phase B and phase C are described in detail and analyzed for some of the most prominent interfaces. The final phase C database presented allows interpolation of interface heatfluxes for the entire flight domain (M, $\rho)$ at varying angle of attack (between 180 deg and 160 deg). Further the sensitivity of the plume-vehicle interaction to angle of attack, chemistry, thrust vector deflection and engine throttling are investigated for a critical Mach number indicating further area of improvement for future databases.
A Multisite Inventory Study of Neonatal Syringe Pumps in Zambia
Authors: Norton Oliver , Jha Prashant , Kazuma Seke , Lupupa Mumbi , Mmwamba Esther
Published: July 2024

Background: The global neonatal mortality rate is due to miss the third Sustainable Development Goal of 12 deaths per 100 live births by 2030. However, medical devices can play a crucial role in improving the quality of care given to neonates, helping to reduce the rate further.
Methods: This study focuses on quantifying the availability of syringe pumps to newborns at key hospital locations in Zambia. Inventories of syringe pumps on neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) were conducted at 7 different hospitals.
Results: Syringe pumps were only available on 3 of the 8 NICUs. Only 1 of the 13 syringe pumps were found in the Copperbelt region, despite 5 of the hospitals being located there. The largest syringe pump-to-bed ratio was 0.17 at Livingstone University Teaching Hospital.
Conclusions: In Zambia, there is a disproportionate availability of syringe pumps, for neonatal care, in the Lusaka and Southern regions compared to the Copperbelt region in the north.
Taming the chaos gently: a Predictive Alignment learning rule in recurrent neural networks
Authors: Asabuki Toshitake , Clopath Claudia
Published: July 2024

Recurrent neural circuits often face inherent complexities in learning and generating their desired outputs, especially when they initially exhibit chaotic spontaneous activity. While the celebrated FORCE learning rule can train chaotic recurrent networks to produce coherent patterns by suppressing chaos, it requires non-local plasticity rules and extremely quick plasticity, raising the question of how synapses adapt on local, biologically plausible timescales to handle potential chaotic dynamics. We propose a novel framework called "Predictive Alignment", which tames the chaotic recurrent dynamics to generate a variety of patterned activities via a biologically plausible plasticity rule. Unlike most recurrent learning rules, predictive alignment does not aim to directly minimize output error to train recurrent connections, but rather it tries to efficiently suppress chaos by aligning recurrent prediction with chaotic activity. We show that the proposed learning rule can perform supervised learning of multiple target signals, including complex low-dimensional attractors, delay matching tasks that require short-term temporal memory, and finally even dynamic movie clips with high-dimensional pixels. Our findings shed light on how predictions in recurrent circuits can support learning.
Сomprehensive Secondary School of Kemerovo During the Great Patriotic War
Authors: Blinov Alexey V. ,   Kemerovo State University
Published: July 2024

The Great Patriotic War was a test both for the country and for individual regions, localities, organizations and people. Addressing the historical experience is necessary to preserve memory and search for identity. In the modern research projection, aspects of state policy and wartime practices, including the rear regions of the country, have been studied, but there are gaps. Educational practices in the city of Kemerovo, which became the administrative center of the formed region during the war years, the city that was awarded the honorary title of the Russian Federation “City of Labor Valour” in 2021, are poorly studied. In the article, on the basis of historiographical and historical sources, with reliance on general scientific and general historical principles, the theory of “modernization of education” and approaches used in historical and pedagogical research, the tendency of development of general education school of Kemerovo during the Great Patriotic War is shown. The study presents the restored cadre of the heads of the city and district education departments, who were entrusted with solving administrative, organizational, personnel and welfare issues of wartime. The spectrum of priority directions in the work of wartime urban schools aimed, on the one hand, at the implementation of pre-war plans (completion of the fight against illiteracy) and, on the other hand, at finding answers to the challenges of the time (strengthening patriotic education and discipline among students, involvement of urban youth organizations in the educational process, formation of a positive emotional background in the teaching corps, combating homelessness, organization of assistance to the front and home front, etc.) was identified and considered. It has been established that during the Great Patriotic War, thanks to the adoption of balanced decisions, it was possible to preserve the quantitative and improve the qualitative potential of urban schools.
Second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors in chronic myeloid leukemia today: efficacy and safety
Authors: Tsyba N. N. , Turkina A. G.
Published: July 2024

The prognosis of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) has changed during the past two decades from a disease with an overall survival of 5 years only to one in which patients can enjoy a near normal life-expectancy. Such remarkable improvement in the patients’ outcome is mainly due to the introduction of imatinib into the clinic (the first approved tyrosine kinase inhibitor [TKI]), but also to the approvals of others TKIs. Currently, there are six TKIs available for CML treatment in clinical practice. The article discusses the effectiveness and safety of only the 2nd generation of ITCs, each of which has its own range of both adverse events and advantages when prescribed in the first or subsequent lines of CML therapy. Although a proportion of patients (around 25%) will be able to successfully discontinue TKI treatment after achieving a deep molecular remission, most of them will require to keep on treatment indefinitely. In such a situation, it is crucial for doctors caring for CML patients to be aware of which TKIs are available for each particular clinical situation, what can be expected from them, and how to manage their potential side effects. In the present review, we will briefly address these issues from a practical point of view.
Ceritinib as a long-term disease control: Clinical observation
Authors: Reutova E. V. , Laktionov K. K. , Ardzinba M. A.
Published: July 2024

ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer is an excellent model demonstrating the success of precision medicine. A rare genetic disorder – a rearrangement of the anaplastic large cell lymphoma gene, occurring with a frequency of 5–7%, forms a certain clinical and morphological portrait of the patient. In ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer, the brain is a frequent target for metastasis. But despite this negative prognosis factor, it is in this cohort of non-small cell lung cancer patients that the achievements of drug antitumor therapy are especially significant – the consistent use of ALK inhibitors of several generations allows to achieve a median overall survival of about 80 months. In the Russian Federation, 4 drugs have been approved for the treatment of ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer. One of them is a second–generation ALK inhibitor – ceritinib is actively used both in the first line of therapy and after progression on crizotinib. In the ASCEND-4 registration study, the median time to progression on ceritinib was twice as long as on standard polychemotherapy. However, the initial daily dose of the drug 750 mg was associated with severe gastrointestinal and hepatotoxicity. Subsequently, the dose of the drug was reduced to 450 mg, which significantly improved the tolerability of treatment without reducing its effectiveness. The clinical case presented below demonstrates the possibility of modern targeted therapy to provide long-term disease control in metastatic ALK-positive nonsmall cell lung cancer.
Fourth-line Trastuzumab deruxtecan in HER2-positive metastatic gastric cancer
Authors: Kornietskaya A. L. , Evdokimova S. F. , Bolotina L. V. , Fedenko A. A.
Published: July 2024

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most aggressive and unfavorably ongoing malignant neoplasms, occupying the fifth and fourth places in the structure of oncological morbidity and mortality, respectively. Overexpression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2-neu) is detected in about 20% of patients with advanced GC, which made it possible to successfully use trastuzumab in combination with chemotherapy (CT) in this cohort of patients. The development of resistance to trastuzumab is a serious problem that requires research and development of new therapy targeted to blockHER2-neu. Trastuzumab deruxtecan is an antibody–drug conjugate consisting of an antibody to the HER2-neu receptor and a topoisomerase inhibitor linked by a cleavable tetrapeptide-based linker. The drug has proven its effectiveness as a monotherapy for the treatment of patients with metastatic or locally advanced HER2-positive gastric adenocarcinoma or cardio esophageal junction in the 2nd and subsequent lines of treatment. In the above clinical case a 57-year-old patient with CEС adenocarcinoma with metastatic liver damage, distant lymphnodes and the presence of HER2-neu overexpression is presented. After the standard first-line drug treatment according to the XELOX scheme with trastuzumab, the patient underwent surgical treatment followed by postoperative chemotherapy according to the FOLFOX scheme in combination with trastuzumab. Given the negative dynamics, the next step was 3 injections of nivolumab immunotherapy, which eventually led to the development of autoimmune hepatitis and rapid progression of the disease. Almost the last hope for the patient was the introduction of trastuzumab deruxtecan, which allowed for an objective response, as well as an improvement in the patient’s clinical condition, which led to the achievement of the longest possible progression-free survival (PFS).
Assessment of groundwater hydrogeological processes, isotopic composition, and associated health risks of the Banaz (Usak) Basin, Turkey
Authors: Aksever Fatma
Published: July 2024

The study area covers the Banaz (Usak) basin located in the Aegean Region in the western part of Turkey. Metamorphic, sedimentary, ultramafic, and volcanic rocks are dominant in the basin. The groundwaters in the study area are used for domestic, irrigational, and industrial purposes. Hence, the groundwater chemistry and major geochemical processes in the region were determined. The dominance of major elements was of the order of Ca2+ > Mg2+ > Na+ > K+ and HCO3− > CO3− > Cl− > SO42−. Piper, Durov, Chadha, and Radial plots identified generally Ca2+-Mg2+-HCO3− type waters as the dominant types of water in this area. In terms of physical parameters in the basin, the waters are suitable for drinking. However, arsenic content in Yesilyurt and Corum settlements exceeds the limit values of drinking water standards. In addition, the ammonium value is high in the water sample in the Corum region. Isotope contents in water samples from 2008 to 2023 were evaluated in the study area. The waters in the basin are of meteoric origin according to their stable isotope content. Tritium content in the plain waters indicates recent recharge. Additionally, for children, As and U elements were identified as risky with oral intake and As with dermal contact.
The performance of encoder–decoder neural networks for leak detection in water distribution networks
Authors: Mohan Doss Prasanna , Rokstad Marius Møller , Tscheikner-Gratl Franz
Published: July 2024

This work outlines the performance of three variants of deep neural networks for leak detection in water distribution networks, namely – autoencoders (AEs), variational autoencoders (VAEs), and long short-term memory autoencoders (LSTM-AEs). The multivariate pressure signals reconstructed from these models are analysed for leakage identification. The leak onset time is estimated using a fast approximation sliding window technique, which computes statistical discrepancies in prediction errors. The performance of all three variants is validated using the widely studied L-Town benchmark network. Furthermore, their feasibility for real-world application is studied by applying them to a real-world case study representing the data availability and network design often found in smaller- and medium-sized utilities in Norway. The results for the benchmark network showed that AE and LSTM-AE showed comparable detection performance for abrupt leaks with VAE performing the least. For incipient leaks, the LSTM-AE showed better detection performance with few false-positives. For the real-world dataset, the performance was significantly lower due to the quantity and quality of data available, and the contradiction of inherent requirements of data-driven models. In addition, the analysis revealed that the positioning of pressure sensors in the network is critical for the leak detection performance of these models.
Progress of metal-loaded biochar-activated persulfate for degradation of emerging organic contaminants
Authors: Zhou Tianhong , Shi Chao , Wang Yangyang , Wang Xiaoshu , Lei Zhenle , Liu Xunjie , Wu Jinyu , Luo Fengxiang , Wang Lei
Published: July 2024

In recent years, studies on the degradation of emerging organic contaminants by sulfate radical (SO4−·) based advanced oxidation processes (SR-AOPs) have triggered increasing attention. Metal-loaded biochar (Me-BC) can effectively prevent the agglomeration and leaching of transition metals, and its good physicochemical properties and abundant active sites induce outstanding in activating persulfate (PS) for pollutant degradation, which is of great significance in the field of advanced oxidation. In this paper, we reviewed the preparation method and stability of Me-BC, the effect of metal loading on the physicochemical properties of biochar, the pathways of pollutant degradation by Me-BC-activated PS (including free radical pathways: SO4−·, hydroxyl radical (·OH), superoxide radicals (O2–·); non-free radical pathways: singlet oxygen (1O2), direct electron transfer), and discussed the activation of different active sites (including metal ions, persistent free radicals, oxygen-containing functional groups, defective structures, etc.) in the SR-AOPs system. Finally, the prospect was presented for the current research progress of Me-BC in SR-AOPs technology.