bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationships between consumption patterns, health beliefs, and subjective wellbeing in Chinese Baijiu consumers
Authors: Metcalf Debra Ann , Saliba Anthony , McKenzie Kirsty , Gao Appy
Published: April 2021

Background

Alcohol consumption in China has increased rapidly, and there have been calls for policies and programs to address the issue. Alcohol plays a complex and important role in Chinese culture, where it is considered a symbol of happiness and is associated with wellbeing. Alcohol reduction policies may fail unless they take these cultural and social meanings of alcohol, and its relationship to wellbeing into consideration. Baijiu is a clear fermented spirit that is widely consumed in China and has strong cultural associations with health, wellbeing and prosperity. There is a lack of research on how consumption patterns relate to cultural beliefs and subjective wellbeing.

Methods

An online survey ofn = 1992 Chinese adults was conducted to determine frequency and volume of baijiu consumed; beliefs about health benefits and traditional importance; and associations with subjective wellbeing.

Results

Higher frequency and volume consumed were associated with higher subjective wellbeing, controlling for age and income. We also found small to medium significant associations between consumption frequency and volume and: belief that baijiu is healthy; and that tradition dictated they should drink baijiu.

Conclusions

The traditional and health values placed on baijiu, and its association with wellbeing, may help inform policy developments and alcohol reduction campaigns.
The prognosis of recurrent low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Dai Qianwen , Xu Baolin , Wu Huanwen , You Yan , Wu Ming , Li Lei
Published: April 2021

Background

The prognosis of recurrent low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (LGESS) is little known. This study was to investigate the survival outcomes of a cohort of patients with recurrent LGESS.

Methods

Patients with primary LGESS diagnosed and treated for first recurrence confirmed by histology in the study center from February 2012 to June 2019 were retrospectively included. The progression-free interval (PFI) after the last treatment for first recurrence and overall survival (OS) since the diagnosis of first recurrence, which were followed up to June 1, 2020, were compared between groups of various therapy modalities.

Results

Fifty-six patients were included, and 43 patients (76.8%) had definite follow-up outcomes. The 5-year PFI and OS rates were 30.0% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 29.2–30.8) and 75.0% (68.0–82.0), respectively. In univariate analysis, only fertility-sparing treatment, ovarian preservation and surgical treatment had a significant impact on the PFI (hazard ratio [HR] 4.5, 3.1, and 0.2; 95% CI 1.5–13.1, 1.3–7.3, and 0.1–0.7; andp = 0.006, 0.009 and 0.006, respectively), but no factor was found to be associated with increased mortality risk. After adjusted with hormone treatment or chemotherapy, surgical treatment had significant effectiveness on OS (HR 0.3 and 0.3, 95% CI 0.1–1.0 and 0.1–1.0,p = 0.045 and 0.049, respectively). None of the patients with fertility-sparing treatment had successful conception, and all experienced repeated relapse.

Conclusion

For patients with recurrent LGESS, fertility-sparing treatment or ovarian preservation should not be provided. Surgery is the treatment of choice, and hormone treatment and/or chemotherapy was effective for the survival benefits of surgical treatment.
The epidemiology of Moebius syndrome in Italy
Authors: Carta Arturo , Favilla Stefania , Calzetti Giacomo , Casalini Maria Cristina , Ferrari Pier Francesco , Bianchi Bernardo , Simonelli Maria Beatrice , Farci Roberta , Gandolfi Stefano , Mora Paolo
Published: April 2021

Background

The epidemiology of Moebius syndrome (MBS) is difficult to assess. In the present study, we investigated the epidemiology of MBS in a well-defined population within a precise geographical area.

Materials and methods

Our university hospital is the only national referral center for the diagnosis and treatment of MBS. Participants in this cross-sectional study were patients affected by MBS who had been periodically followed by our medical staff since 1998. Most of the patients were referred to our hospital by the Italian Association of Moebius Syndrome (AISMO). Demographic data necessary for study purposes were made available in the AISMO database, updated to April 2018. Subjects were assigned to geographical macroareas that are conventionally used in surveys and epidemiological investigations by the Italian National Institute of Statistics. The rates and prevalence of MBS cases were calculated on the basis of the last available survey of the Italian population. Each study parameter was then calculated with reference to the whole country and macroarea partition. The sex rate and the corresponding prevalence were calculated with respect to the weighted whole population and to the respective sex population. Chi-square analysis was adopted to investigate possible differences among geographical regions and/or sexes. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

One hundred and sixty-four out of 212 MBS patients fulfilled our inclusion criteria. All cases occurred in Caucasian patients and were sporadic. The median age at diagnosis was 3.6 years, ranging from 0 to 55 years; this range was significantly reduced to 0–5 years (median age at diagnosis: 2.2 years) in patients included after 2007. The calculated prevalence at birth was 0.06 cases per 10,000 live births, with an overall prevalence of 0.27/100,000, without any sex or geographical predominance.

Conclusions

The prevalence of MBS observed herein, rounded for possible underestimation, was 0.3/100,000 people, without any regional difference in the distribution of cases. Our data confirm the rarity of the disease on a national level.
Sexual and reproductive health self-care in humanitarian and fragile settings: where should we start?
Authors: Tran Nguyen Toan , Tappis Hannah , Moon Pierre , Christofield Megan , Dawson Angela
Published: April 2021

Recent crises have accelerated global interest in self-care interventions. This debate paper aims to raise the issue of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) self-care and invites members of the global community operating in crisis-affected settings to look at potential avenues in mainstreaming SRH self-care interventions. We start by exploring self-care interventions that could align with well-established humanitarian standards, such as the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for Sexual and Reproductive Health in Crises, point to the potential of digital health support for SRH self-care in crisis-affected settings, and discuss related policy, programmatic, and research considerations. These considerations underscore the importance of self-care as part of the care continuum and within a whole-system approach. Equally critical is the need for self-care in crisis-affected settings to complement other live-saving SRH interventions—it does not eliminate the need for provider-led services in health facilities. Further research on SRH self-care interventions focusing distinctively on humanitarian and fragile settings is needed to inform context-specific policies and practice guidance.
Acupuncture for the treatment of diarrheal-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial
Authors: Qi Ling-Yu , Wang Yu , Wang Li-Qiong , She Yan-Fen , Shi Guang-Xia , Li Ying , Chi Li-Li , Wu Bang-Qi , Tu Jian-Feng , Lin Ying , Yu Fang-Ting , Yang Jing-Wen , Liu Cun-Zhi
Published: April 2021

Background

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal diseases. Although acupuncture has become a common alternative therapy for IBS, there is insufficient evidence for its effectiveness. This study was designed to assess the efficacy and feasibility of acupuncture in the treatment of IBS.

Methods/design

This is a multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial. According to the ratio of 1:1:1, 90 patients with irritable bowel syndrome will be randomly divided into specific acupoints (SA) group, non-specific acupoints (NSA) group, and non-acupoints (NA) group. All patients will be treated with acupuncture 12 times within 4 weeks and followed up for 8 weeks. The primary outcome is the response rate, the percentage of patients whose average value of worst abdominal pain is 30% better and the days of loose stool is 50% less than the baseline, at week 4 after randomization. The secondary outcomes include the response rates at other time points, IBS Symptom Severity Scale (IBS-SSS), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 depression scale (PHQ-9), IBS-Quality of Life scale (IBS-QOL), IBS Adequate Relief (IBS-AR), Abdominal Pain Score, Abdominal Bloating Score, Bristol Stool Score (BBS), blinding assessment, and credibility evaluation. Adverse events will be monitored and recorded during the trial.

Trial registration

Chictr.org.cn ChiCTR2000030670. Registered on 9 March 2020.
The effects of a high-intensity exercise bout on landing biomechanics post anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a quasi-experimental study
Authors: Alanazi Ahmad Dhahawi , Mitchell Katy , Roddey Toni , Alenazi Aqeel M. , Alzhrani Msaad M. , Almansour Ahmed M. , Ortiz-Rodriguez Alexis
Published: April 2021

Background

We aimed to examine the effect of a high-intensity exercise bout on landing biomechanics in soccer players who underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) and non-injured soccer players during a soccer-specific landing maneuver.

Methods

Eighteen soccer players who underwent ACLR and 18 normal soccer players were enrolled in this investigation (ACLR group; age, 26.11 ± 3.95 years; body mass index, 23.52 ± 2.69 kg/m2; surgery time, 5 ± 3.30 years: control group; age, 25.83 ± 3.51 years; body mass index, 24.09 ± 3.73 kg/m2, respectively). Participants were evaluated during the landing maneuver before and after carrying out the high-intensity exercise bout using the Wingate test. The intensity of the exercise was defined as a blood lactate accumulation of at least 4 mmol/L. The dependent variables included sagittal-plane kinematics and kinetics of the ankle, knee and hip joints, and electromyography activity of the gastrocnemius, hamstrings, quadriceps, and gluteus maximus.

Results

On 2 × 2 analysis of variance, none of the dependent variable showed significant exercise×group interactions. Regardless of group, significant main effects of exercise were found. Post-exercise landing was characterized by increased flexion of hip (p = 0.01), knee (p = 0.001), and ankle joints (p = 0.002); increased extension moments of hip (p = 0.009), knee (p = 0.012), and ankle joints (p = 0.003), as well as decreased quadriceps activity (p = 0.007).

Conclusion

At 1 year or more post-ACLR, the effect of the high-intensity exercise bout on landing biomechanics is not expected to differ from that experienced by healthy soccer players.
Evolutionary divergence in tail regeneration between Xenopus laevis and Xenopus tropicalis
Authors: Wang Shouhong , Shi Yun-Bo
Published: April 2021

Tissue regeneration is of fast growing importance in the development of biomedicine, particularly organ replacement therapies. Unfortunately, many human organs cannot regenerate. Anuran Xenopus laevis has been used as a model to study regeneration as many tadpole organs can regenerate. In particular, the tail, which consists of many axial and paraxial tissues, such as spinal cord, dorsal aorta and muscle, commonly present in vertebrates, can fully regenerate when amputated at late embryonic stages and most of the tadpole stages. Interestingly, between stage 45 when feeding begins to stage 47, the Xenopus laevis tail cannot regenerate after amputation. This period, termed “refractory period”, has been known for about 20 years. The underlying molecular and genetic basis is unclear in part due to the difficult to carry out genetic studies in this pseudo-tetraploid species. Here we compared tail regeneration between Xenopus laevis and the highly related diploid anuran Xenopus tropicalis and found surprisingly that Xenopus tropicalis lacks the refractory period. Further molecular and genetic studies, more feasible in this diploid species, should reveal the basis for this evolutionary divergence in tail regeneration between two related species and facilitate the understanding how tissue regenerative capacity is controlled, thus with important implications for human regenerative medicine.
Effects of remote ischemic conditioning on microcirculatory alterations in patients with sepsis: a single-arm clinical trial
Authors: Kiudulaite Inga , Belousoviene Egle , Vitkauskiene Astra , Pranskunas Andrius
Published: April 2021

Background

Remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) is a promising technique that may protect organs and tissues from the effects of additional ischemic episodes. However, the therapeutic efficacy of RIC in humans with sepsis remains unknown. We hypothesized that RIC might improve sublingual microcirculation in patients with sepsis.

Methods

This prospective single-arm trial was performed in a mixed ICU at a tertiary teaching hospital. We included patients with sepsis or septic shock within 24 h of ICU admission. The RIC procedure comprised 3 cycles of brachial cuff inflation to 200 mmHg for 5 min followed by deflation to 0 mmHg for another 5 min. The procedure took 30 min. RIC was performed at the time of study inclusion and repeated after 12 and 24 h. Sublingual microcirculatory measurements were obtained before and after each RIC procedure using a Cytocam®-incident dark-field (IDF) device (Braedius Medical, Huizen, The Netherlands). The microcirculatory data were compared with a historical control. Data are reported as the medians along with the 25th and 75th percentiles.

Results

Twenty-six septic patients with a median age of 65 (57–81) years were enrolled in this study. The median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores at admission were 20 (13–23) and 10 (9–12), respectively. All patients were receiving vasopressors. After the 1st RIC procedure, the microvascular flow index (MFI) and the proportion of perfused vessels (PPV) among small vessels were significantly higher than before the procedure, with pre- and post-treatment values of 2.17 (1.81–2.69) and 2.59 (2.21–2.83), respectively, for MFI (p = 0.003) and 87.9 (82.4–93.8) and 92.5 (87.9–96.1) %, respectively, for PPV (p = 0.026). This result was confirmed by comparison with a historical control group. We found no change in microcirculatory flow or density parameters during repeated RIC after 12 h and 24 h.

Conclusion

In patients with sepsis, the first remote ischemic conditioning procedure improved microcirculatory flow, whereas later procedures did not affect sublingual microcirculation.

Trial registration NCT04644926, http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Date of registration: 25 November 2020. Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04644926.
On solutions of fractional multi-term sequential problems via some special categories of functions and (AEP)-property
Authors: Baleanu Dumitru , Iqbal Muhammad Qamar , Hussain Azhar , Etemad Sina , Rezapour Shahram
Published: April 2021

The main intention of this article is that new techniques of existence theory are used to derive some required criteria pertinent to a given fractional multi-term problem and its inclusion version. In such an approach, we do our research on a fractional integral equation corresponding to the mentioned BVPs. In more precise words, by virtue of this integral equation, we construct new operators which belong to a special category of functions named α-admissible and α-ψ-contraction maps coupled with operators having (AEP)-property. Next, by considering some new properties on the existing Banach space having properties (B) and $(C_{\alpha })$
(

C
α

)
, our argument for ensuring the existence of solutions is completed. In addition, we also add two simulative examples to review our findings by a numerical view.
Are radiomics features universally applicable to different organs?
Authors: Lee Seung-Hak , Cho Hwan-ho , Kwon Junmo , Lee Ho Yun , Park Hyunjin
Published: April 2021

Background

Many studies have successfully identified radiomics features reflecting macroscale tumor features and tumor microenvironment for various organs. There is an increased interest in applying these radiomics features found in a given organ to other organs. Here, we explored whether common radiomics features could be identified over target organs in vastly different environments.

Methods

Four datasets of three organs were analyzed. One radiomics model was constructed from the training set (lungs, n = 401), and was further evaluated in three independent test sets spanning three organs (lungs, n = 59; kidneys, n = 48; and brains, n = 43). Intensity histograms derived from the whole organ were compared to establish organ-level differences. We constructed a radiomics score based on selected features using training lung data over the tumor region. A total of 143 features were computed for each tumor. We adopted a feature selection approach that favored stable features, which can also capture survival. The radiomics score was applied to three independent test data from lung, kidney, and brain tumors, and whether the score could be used to separate high- and low-risk groups, was evaluated.

Results

Each organ showed a distinct pattern in the histogram and the derived parameters (mean and median) at the organ-level. The radiomics score trained from the lung data of the tumor region included seven features, and the score was only effective in stratifying survival for other lung data, not in other organs such as the kidney and brain. Eliminating the lung-specific feature (2.5 percentile) from the radiomics score led to similar results. There were no common features between training and test sets, but a common category of features (texture category) was identified.

Conclusion

Although the possibility of a generally applicable model cannot be excluded, we suggest that radiomics score models for survival were mostly specific for a given organ; applying them to other organs would require careful consideration of organ-specific properties.
Multiple pleural nodules diagnosed as IgG4-related disease: a case report
Authors: Iijima Yoshihito , Iwai Shun , Motono Nozomu , Usuda Katsuo , Shioya Akihiro , Takeuchi Shingo , Yamagishi Shigeki , Koizumi Kiyoshi , Yamada Sohsuke , Uramoto Hidetaka
Published: April 2021

Background

Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related diseases are characterized by abnormal IgG4 levels, swelling, and marked infiltration and fibrosis of the lymphocytes and IgG4-positive plasma cells, causing hypertrophic lesions or nodules. The cause is currently not well understood. IgG4-related diseases involving lesions limited to the pleura are extremely rare. Herein, we report an IgG4-related disease presenting with multiple pleural nodules confirmed by thoracoscopic surgical biopsy.

Case presentation

A 74 year-old man was referred to our department for definitive diagnosis of multiple pleural nodules after 1 year of follow-up. Computed tomography of the chest revealed multiple pleural nodules, while 2-deoxy-2-(18F)-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography imaging exhibited tracer accumulation in the nodules. A thoracoscopic surgical biopsy was performed. Histopathological examination revealed hyalinized fibrous tissue with a high degree of plasma cell-based inflammatory cell infiltration. Immunohistochemically, IgG4-positive cells were conspicuous, accounting for 70.5% of the plasma cells. The postoperative serum IgG4 concentration was 289 mg/dL. We diagnosed the patient with an IgG4-related disease with multiple pleural nodules. The postoperative course was good, and the patient is currently being followed up.

Conclusion

IgG4-related disease should be considered in cases presenting with multiple pleural nodules.
Efficacy and safety of plasma hemodiafiltration (PHDF) in pediatric patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome with shock and DIC: a preliminary study
Authors: Nagafuchi Hiroyuki , Shimizu Hiroyuki , Yamada Kaori , Shono Kenta , Ogawa Tetsuya
Published: April 2021

Background

Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome is the leading cause of death in pediatric intensive care units and can be very critical when combined with shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Currently, there is no effective treatment. We developed a new hemodiafiltration (HDF) method called plasma HDF (PHDF) that uses fresh frozen plasma as replacement fluid and investigated the safety and efficacy of this treatment.

Methods

We enrolled critically ill children with (1) a Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction 2 (PELOD-2) score ≥ 14, (2) a Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare (JMHW) DIC score ≥ 7, (3) a vasoactive inotropic score (VIS) ≥ 10, and (4) a serum total protein concentration ≤ 5.0 g/dL. PHDF was performed for 5 h and then switched to continuous HDF. The primary endpoint was the 28-day mortality rate. Secondary endpoints included assessment of vital signs, blood test data, and fluid balance from PHDF start to day 7.

Results

Nine patients (four males and five females) between 3 days and 40 months of age, weighing 2.1–13 kg, met the inclusion criteria. Although the median PMR was 0.94 (0.71–0.96), the 28-day mortality rate was 22.2% (2/9). One hour after the start of PHDF, there was an increase in mean arterial pressure and central venous pressure and a decrease in heart rate; by day 7, there was a significant decrease in the PELOD-2 score, the JMHW DIC score, and the VIS. Hypoproteinemia also improved the day after PHDF. Water balance was able to remain negative after day 2.

Conclusions

PHDF was found to be effective in the treatment of DIC and circulatory failure by supplementing coagulation and antithrombotic factors as well as by raising colloid osmotic pressure to increase circulating blood volume. PHDF has been shown to be a safe and useful treatment for critically ill children and has the potential to improve 28-day survival.
Spatially and temporally distributed data foraging decisions in disciplinary field science
Authors: Wilson Cristina G. , Qian Feifei , Jerolmack Douglas J. , Roberts Sonia , Ham Jonathan , Koditschek Daniel , Shipley Thomas F.
Published: April 2021

How do scientists generate and weight candidate queries for hypothesis testing, and how does learning from observations or experimental data impact query selection? Field sciences offer a compelling context to ask these questions because query selection and adaptation involves consideration of the spatiotemporal arrangement of data, and therefore closely parallels classic search and foraging behavior. Here we conduct a novel simulated data foraging study—and a complementary real-world case study—to determine how spatiotemporal data collection decisions are made in field sciences, and how search is adapted in response to in-situ data. Expert geoscientists evaluated a hypothesis by collecting environmental data using a mobile robot. At any point, participants were able to stop the robot and change their search strategy or make a conclusion about the hypothesis. We identified spatiotemporal reasoning heuristics, to which scientists strongly anchored, displaying limited adaptation to new data. We analyzed two key decision factors: variable-space coverage, and fitting error to the hypothesis. We found that, despite varied search strategies, the majority of scientists made a conclusion as the fitting error converged. Scientists who made premature conclusions, due to insufficient variable-space coverage or before the fitting error stabilized, were more prone to incorrect conclusions. We found that novice undergraduates used the same heuristics as expert geoscientists in a simplified version of the scenario. We believe the findings from this study could be used to improve field science training in data foraging, and aid in the development of technologies to support data collection decisions.
Guillain-Barre syndrome after coronary artery bypass graft surgery: a case report and literature review
Authors: Hameed Sajid , Jafri Lubna Ashraf , Kanwar Dureshahwar
Published: April 2021

Background

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is an acute polyradiculoneuropathy, often preceded by an infection. Rarely, it is preceded by a surgical procedure. Most of the postsurgical GBS cases are reported with the neurosurgical, gastrointestinal, orthopedic, and cardiac procedures. GBS is rarely reported after a coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). To date, only 12 cases have been reported in the literature. Our case is 13th in number and the first case from Pakistan.

Case presentation

We report a case of a 54-year-old man presented with acute flaccid quadriparesis and areflexia after a CABG procedure. He was subsequently diagnosed with an acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP) variant of GBS and underwent five sessions of plasmapheresis. His weakness improved and could ambulate unassisted on follow-up visits.

Conclusion

GBS is a potentially treatable condition if timely diagnosed and managed. It should be considered in every patient presenting with an acute-onset weakness after surgery.
New technique for false lumen coiling of spontaneous isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection
Authors: Yamaguchi Hidenori , Murata Satoru , Ueda Tatsuo , Mine Takahiko , Onozawa Shiro , Hayashi Hiromitsu , Kumita Shin-ichiro
Published: April 2021

Background

Spontaneous isolated visceral artery dissection is rarely encountered. Endovascular intervention with good outcomes has become popular for patients with persistent symptoms or developing ischemia. We could perform life-saving treatment for a spontaneous isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection with a unique endovascular intervention.

Case presentation

We describe the case of an 80-year-old man who presented with acute abdominal pain and a spontaneous isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection measuring 35 mm in major diameter and 6.6 mm in minor diameter on abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography. After admission, abdominal pain was progressive, and a repeated scan revealed progression of the dissection. As an endovascular intervention, via the bilateral femoral approach, detachable coils were placed in the false lumen of the superior mesenteric artery dissection through the false lumen under the micro-balloon occlusion at the point of re-entry and entry through the true lumen to prevent coil migration. Technical and clinical success was achieved without serious adverse events.

Conclusion

Coil embolization using micro-balloon assistance combined with the double-catheter technique for a large entry and re-entry false lumen of a spontaneous isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection was useful and feasible.
The growth response of rice (Oryza sativa L. var. FARO 44) in vitro after inoculation with bacterial isolates from a typical ferruginous ultisol
Authors: Ibrahim Musa Saheed , Ikhajiagbe Beckley
Published: April 2021

Background

Rice forms a significant portion of food consumed in most household worldwide. Rice production has been hampered by soil factors such as ferruginousity which has limited phosphorus availability; an important mineral component for the growth and yield of rice. The presence of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) in soils has been reported to enhance phosphate availability. In view of this, the present study employed three bacteria species (BCAC2, EMBF2 and BCAF1) that were previously isolated and proved P solubilization capacities as inocula to investigate the growth response of rice germinants in an in vitro setup. The bacteria isolates were first identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and then applied as inoculum. The inolula were prepared in three concentrations (10, 7.5 and 5.0 ml) following McFarland standard. Viable rice (var. FARO 44) seeds were sown in petri dishes and then inoculated with the three inocula at the different concentrations. The setup was studied for 28 days.

Results

16S rRNA gene sequencing identified the isolates as: isolate BCAC2= Bacillus cereus strain GGBSU-1, isolate BCAF1= Proteus mirabilis strain TL14-1 and isolate EMBF2= Klebsiella variicola strain AUH-KAM-9. Significant improvement in rice germination, morphology, physiology and biomass parameters in the bacteria-inoculated setups was observed compared to the control. Germination percentage after 4 days was 100 % in the inoculated rice germinants compared to 65% in the control (NiS). Similarly, inoculation with the test isolates enhanced water-use efficiency by over 40%. The rice seedlings inoculated with Bacillus cereus strain GGBSU-1 (BiS) showed no signs of chlorosis and necrosis throughout the study period as against those inoculated with Proteus mirabilis strain TL14-1 (PiS) and Klebsiella variicola strain AUH-KAM-9 (KiS). Significant increase in chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b and alpha amylase was observed in the rice seedlings inoculated with BiS as against the NiS.

Conclusion

Inoculating rice seeds with Bacillus cereus strain GGBSU-1, Proteus mirabilis strain TL14-1 and Klebsiella variicola strain AUH-KAM-9 in an in vitro media significantly improved growth parameters of the test plant. Bacillus cereus strain GGBSU-1 showed higher efficiency due to a more improved growth properties observed.
Heavy metal levels in cattle egrets (Bubulcus ibis) foraging in some abattoirs in Lagos State metropolis
Authors: Adegbe Elijah Abakpa , Babajide Oluwaseyi Oluwabukola , Maina Lois Riyo , Adeniji Shola Elijah
Published: April 2021

Background

Heavy metal accumulation in the ecosystem constitutes a potential toxic effect which is hazardous to human health. Increasing environmental pollution has necessitated the use of cattle egrets to evaluate the levels of heavy metal contamination, to establish their use in biomonitoring of heavy metals and to provide data for monitoring pollution in the environment.

Results

The present study assessed the utilization of Bubulcus ibis in monitoring pollution in five abattoirs, namely Agege, Bariga, Kara, Itire and Idi-Araba, all situated in Lagos State. The concentration of five (5) heavy metals, cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) was determined in the liver, muscle and feather of Bubulcus ibis using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The trend of metal accumulation was in the order: Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd > Ni for all the sampled tissues. The mean tissue concentrations of the metals were significantly different (p < 0.05) among the sites. The highest levels of metal concentration were reported in the liver in all the locations. Mean concentration of Cd in Kara (0.003 ± 0.00058) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those found at Agege (0.0013 ± 0.00058) and Idi-Araba (0.001 ± 0.001). A significant difference (p < 0.05) was also observed between the mean concentrations of Cu in Bariga (0.01 ± 0.001) and Idi-Araba (0.003 ± 0.001).

Conclusion

All the studied heavy metals were present in the liver, muscle and feathers of the cattle egrets. The contamination levels were ascertained from the study which indicated that cattle egrets are useful in biomonitoring studies and the generated data will serve as baseline data which could be compared with data from other locations for monitoring heavy metal pollution.
Authorship trends in the Egyptian orthopedic journal (from 2012 to 2020), as an example of a specialized Egyptian medical journals
Authors: Khalifa Ahmed A. , El-Hawary Ahmed S. , Sadek Ahmed E.
Published: April 2021

Background

Authorship trends in medical journals were studied in many disciplines, mostly in western countries' journals. We aimed at studying the authorship trends in the Egyptian Orthopaedic Journal as an example of a specialized Egyptian medical journal.

Results

A total of 397 articles were eligible for analysis. The mean number of authors per article was 2 ± 1 (range from 1 to 6), 161 (40.6%) articles were single authorship. The degree of the first author was reported in 305 (76.6%), the first author carried an M.D. degree in 302 (99%) articles, and in three (1%), the first author carried a master’s degree. No authors with a bachelor's degree were reported. Forty-two institutions contributed to the publications, 14 (33.3%) international and 28 (66.7%) Egyptian national institutions. In 368 (92.7%) articles, all the authors were from the same institution, and 29 (7.3%) articles were published as a cooperation between different institutions with a mean 1.1 ± 0.3 institution per article. International contribution to the journal was found in 21 (5.3%) articles. The orthopedic department from Cairo university was the most contributing department to the journal publications.

Conclusions

The old trend of single authorship prevails in the journal publications with a notable deficiency in young researchers’ contribution to the journal and low incidence of international contribution and poor national institution cooperation.
Computer-assisted evaluation of plant-derived β-secretase inhibitors in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Ullah Md. Asad , Johora Fatema Tuz , Sarkar Bishajit , Araf Yusha , Ahmed Nafisa , Nahar Abida Nurun , Akter Tanzina
Published: April 2021

Background

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative age-related dementia that results in memory loss of elderly people. Many hypotheses have been formally articulated till now to decipher the pathogenesis of this disease. According to the compelling amyloidogenic hypothesis, β-secretase is a key regulatory enzyme in AD development and is therefore considered as one of the major targets for the development of drugs to treat AD. In this study, 40 plant-derived phytocompounds, proven to have β-secretase inhibitory activity in different laboratory experiments, were evaluated using computational approaches in order to identify the best possible β-secretase inhibitor(s).

Results

Amentoflavone (IFD score: − 7.842 Kcal/mol), Bilobetin (IFD score: − 7.417 Kcal/mol), and Ellagic acid (IFD score: − 6.923 Kcal/mol) showed highest β-secretase inhibitory activities with high binding affinity among all the selected phytocompounds and interacted with key amino acids, i.e., Asp32, Tyr71, and Asp228 in the catalytic site of β-secretase. Moreover, these three molecules exhibited promising results in different drug potential assessment experiments and displayed signs of correlation with significant pharmacological and biological activities.

Conclusion

Amentoflavone, Biolbetin, and Ellagic acid could be investigated further in developing β-secretase-dependent drug for the effective treatment of AD. However, additional in vivo and in vitro experiments might be required to strengthen the findings of this experiment.
Retrospective study of Dana Farber Consortium Protocol in newly diagnosed Egyptian adolescents and young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Tanta experience
Authors: Elashtokhy Hossam Eldin A. , Elgohary Heba E. , Eldeep Basant B. , Gaber Sally M. , Elbedewy Tamer A.
Published: April 2021

Background

Intensive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) regimens in children improve the 5-year event-free survival (EFS) to reach ~ 90%. Adolescents and young adults (AYA) have EFS (30% to 45%). Young AYA ALL patients treated with pediatric chemotherapy protocols such as Dana Farber Consortium Protocol (DFCP) experience a better prognosis. This study aimed to assess the efficacy [EFS and overall survival (OS)] and the toxicity of DFCP in the treatment of Egyptian AYA with newly diagnosed ALL. A retrospective study was performed on 41 patients with newly diagnosed ALL (15 and 39 years) who were treated with DFCP. EFS and OS were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Results

Thirty-eight patients (92.68%) achieved complete remission (CR). Eleven patients (26.83%) relapsed. Ten (24.39%) patients died. One, two, and three years of EFS were 75.61%, 72.91%, and 67.51% respectively. One, two, and three years OS were 85.3%, 77.26%, and 74.39% respectively. Neutropenia was the most common adverse event observed in 100% of patients.

Conclusion

DFCP can be considered as an effective ALL protocol for the AYA group of patients with good CR, EFS, and OS rates. DFCP seemed to be feasible in AYA despite the toxicities experienced.
The additive role of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging to axillary nodal status evaluation in cases of newly diagnosed breast cancer
Authors: Elmesidy Dalia Salaheldin , Badawy Eman Ahmed Mohammed Omar , Kamal Rasha Mohammed , Khallaf Emad Salah Eldin , AbdelRahman Rasha Wessam
Published: April 2021

Background

Axillary nodal status is crucial for the management of cases with recently diagnosed breast cancer; usually addressed via axillary ultrasonography (US) along with tissue sampling in case of suspicion. Axillary nodal dissection and sentinel biopsy may be done, but are rather invasive, carrying a potential complication risk, which raises the need for non-invasive, reliable, pre-operative axillary imaging. We aimed at evaluating the performance of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) regarding preoperative axillary evaluation, using functional information derived from diffusion capacity differences between benign and malignant tissue. We included 77 axillary nodes from 77 patients (age range 20–78 years, mean 50 ± 12.6 SD) in our prospective study, presenting with variable clinical breast complaints, all scoring BIRADS 4/5 on sonomammography (SM). They underwent axillary evaluation by both US and DW-MRI where US classified nodes into benign, indeterminate, or malignant by evaluating nodal size, shape, cortical thickness, and hilar fat. Qualitative DWI classified them into either restricted or not and a cut-off apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value was calculated to differentiate benign and malignant nodal involvement. Results for each modality were correlated to those of final histopathology, which served as the standard of reference.

Results

The calculated sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV, and NPV for US was 100%, 36.6%, 75.3%, 71.2%, and 100%, respectively. Statistical indices for qualitative DWI were 76.6%, 63.3%, 76.6%, 63.3%, and 71.4%, respectively (P value < 0.001). The calculated cut off value for ADC between infiltrated and non-infiltrated nodes was 0.95 × 10−3 mm2/s concluding statistical indices of 76.6%, 63.3%, 76.6%, 63.3%, and 71.4%, respectively (P value < 0.001).

Conclusion

Combining DW-MRI to conventional US improves diagnostic specificity and overall accuracy of preoperative axillary evaluation of patients with recently discovered breast cancer.
The Need for Patient-centered Education Among Patients Newly Diagnosed With a Pituitary Tumor
Authors: Donegan Diane , Gowan Tayler , Gruber Rachel , Cottingham Ann , Flanagan Mindy , Erickson Dana , Imperiale Thomas F
Published: April 2021

Objectives

Brain tumors, including pituitary adenomas (PA), cause anxiety and distress, with a high unmet need for information correlating with increased anxiety. Condition-specific education may alleviate anxiety. We explored patients’ experience around the diagnosis of a PA and piloted a patient education intervention to address peridiagnostic anxiety in adults diagnosed with PA.

Methods

Anxiety, patient satisfaction, patient knowledge, and need for information were measured prior to, immediately after, and 1 month following the appointment in this multimethods study. A phone interview to explore patient diagnostic and intervention experiences was analyzed using qualitative methods.

Results

A total of 17 patients participated in the study; 15 completed the interview. The baseline need for information was high. Disease-specific anxiety decreased, and patient knowledge and satisfaction increased significantly after the initial visit. Interview analysis identified 3 main themes: (1) the importance of communication; (2) the need for information; and (3) the impact of the diagnosis on patient experience.

Conclusions

For patients with newly diagnosed PA, the diagnostic experience was associated with high levels of anxiety. Patients expressed a need for information. Information delivery reduced anxiety and had a positive impact on patient satisfaction.

Practice Implications

The study findings suggest a need for a streamlined diagnostic process with readily accessible information.
Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 and Prolactin Levels in Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) Across the Lifespan
Authors: Ben-Shlomo Anat , McLachlan Sandra M , Hwe Jennifer , Aliesky Holly , Hasselschwert Dana , Mirocha James , Melmed Shlomo
Published: April 2021

As human and chimpanzee genomes show high homology for IGF1 and PRL, we analyzed the sera of 367 healthy chimpanzees obtained during routine physical examinations in a single colony and measured chimpanzee insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and prolactin (PRL) levels across the lifespan using standard human immunoassays. Assuming chimpanzee IGF-1 levels peak during puberty as in humans, we randomly defined puberty as the age at which most IGF-1 levels were equal to or above the 90th percentile for each sex (males, ages ≥7.00 but <9.20 years; females, ≥5.00 but <8.00 years). IGF-1 levels steadily increased at a similar rate in juvenile males and females and peaked in puberty, strongly correlating with age, then slowly decreased faster in adult males than in adult females. As a group, males had a higher mean IGF-1 level than did females, but comparison by age category showed similar mean IGF-1 levels in males and females. PRL levels increased with age in females more than in males and levels were twice as high in females than in males. One pubertal male reported to have short stature had lower IGF-1 and weight compared with other males in the age group, confirming suspected growth hormone deficiency; a second male of normal height but low IGF-1 may have had delayed puberty. Overall, results show that differences in IGF-1 levels over the lifespan in this cohort of chimpanzees largely mimic those seen in humans, while patterns of PRL changes are less similar.
Eye Movement, I. A. Richards, and the Limits of Embodied Reading
Authors: Kossak Benjamin
Published: April 2021

I. A. Richards is often remembered as a father of close reading and New Criticism, but his work was also deeply indebted to experimental psychology. That cross-disciplinary foundation introduces not only a reader but also a reading body. This article traces Richards’s continual invocation and deferral of the body, with particular attention to the eyes, which for Richards stand at the beginning and outside of the literary experience. The author argues that this deferral exists in Richards’s work and persists into embodied cognitive science’s research into eye movement in reading today because in both cases the movement is filtered down to what is meaningful for cognition or experience. Turning to recent literary criticism that engages with eye movement, the article suggests a path forward that uses the body of research built over 140 years in psychology and cognitive sciences to open new ground for criticism, disrupt our understanding of reading, and develop new bodily poetics.
A Critique of Control and Black Boxes
Authors: Seiça Álvaro
Published: April 2021

This article analyzes Ian Hatcher’s online and kinetic poem “⌰ (Total Runout)” (2015) from a point of view of a critique of corporate and governmental black boxing, at the level of its code, text, visual output, sound, and live performance. The multimodal poem is part of the Drone Pilot suite, and it is presented in different versions: as a web-based work, sound piece, and performance. It remixes appropriated text from a WikiLeaked manual by the UK Ministry of Defence, essays on artificial intelligence, and Hatcher’s own text. The overall versions of the work, understood as variable events, boldly problematize communication and cognitive processes in networks—whether they are implemented in computer systems by secret agencies or corporations. Hatcher’s critique of black boxes entails re-creating issues of security, control and surveillance, as digital systems are increasingly paving the way for less privacy and less knowledge about their inner workings. As a result, the poem questions the essence of privacy, redaction, and systemic violence, when access is a privileged asset of agents with security clearances or those with a deep knowledge of programming. This article presents “⌰ (Total Runout)” in the scope of the poet’s aesthetic program. Then, it analyzes its Web version’s interface and source code. The kinetic poem’s spatial and temporal dimensions are discussed via experiments that modify the source code. The methods here presented deform the poem’s temporal display, by means of modifications, or what are called in the article lit mods. Thus, the article proposes an approach for a more informed reading and understanding of digital kinetic poems, since they are ever-changing events. Finally, it locates the work’s aural and performative versions in a cultural and political context.
Economic Benefits of Changes in Active Transportation Behavior Associated with a New Urban Trail
Authors: Anderson Christopher E. , Izadi Maryam , Tian Guang , Gustat Jeanette
Published: April 2021

Insufficient physical activity (PA) is a highly prevalent behavior and confers heightened risk of many chronic health conditions. Infrastructure for PA, including urban trails, represents a way of increasing PA at a population level. This study was conducted to determine the impact of an urban trail on PA, motor vehicle use, and to assess the benefit–expenditure ratio of mitigating the high public health burden of physical inactivity with bicycle and pedestrian trails. Intercept surveys were conducted, from December 2018 through March 2019, to assess PA, transportation mode, and travel distances among trail users before (2015) and after the trail opened in New Orleans, Louisiana. Statewide measures from 2015 to 2017 were used for comparison. Changes in PA and motor vehicle use were simulated based on survey data and monetized over a 30-yr period. Trail users who responded to the survey reported changes in PA (17.7-min weekly increase), nonactive transportation (3.1-mile weekly decrease), and motor vehicle ownership (6.5% decrease) from before the trail was opened to the present. Cumulative economic benefits (health care, mortality, and motor vehicle) exceeded trail-related expenditures in 2032, reaching a ratio of 1.51 in 2045. The urban trail in this study contributed to increased PA and reduced motor vehicle use and may reduce health care, mortality, and motor vehicle–related costs. Personal and social economic benefits from the increases in PA and reduction in motor vehicle ownership and ownership exceeded expenditures over the 30-yr simulation period. PA infrastructure can be a prudent investment of public resources.
Anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of cannabidiol: a systematic review
Authors: Honório Júnior José Eduardo Ribeiro , Barriga Jessica Rodrigues de Morais , Mesquita Dara da Silva , Pinto Joel Porfírio
Published: April 2021

Objetctive: Realize a systematic review on articles about cannabidiol (CBD) as an anxiolytic and antidepressant drug. Methodology: A systematic review in PubMed, Science Direct and PsycINFO databases taking into consideration articles published in English and Portuguese from 2008 to 2018 with animal experimentation. Results: Eleven articles with experimental studies on animals were included. All studies exhibited anxiolytic and antidepressant activities after CBD use. Conclusion: It was proven by several experiments the anxiolytic and antidepressant activity of CBD, however there is still a need of more preclinicals and clinicals studies to elucidate its mechanisms.