bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationship between sleep pattern dysfunction with psychological stress, anxiety and depression among pregnant women
Authors: Tariq Afshan , Farooqui Waqas Ahmed , Jabbar Khan Shazia , Shafique Kashif
Published: December 2024

Objective: To determine the relationship between sleep pattern dysfunction with stress, anxiety and depression among pregnant women in a tertiary care hospital.
Method: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at Dr. Ruth K. M. Pfau at Civil Hospital, Karachi from December, 2021 till January, 2022 in which total three hundred pregnant women were included. The association between maternal psychiatric symptoms with the sleep pattern was explored using the Chi- square test. The multivariable logistic regression technique was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and to estimate the association of sleep pattern dysfunction with psychiatric illnesses.
Results: Sleep disorder was found in 49.3% of the pregnant women. Among these women, 54.0% had antepartum depression, 31.3% had stress and 44% reported anxiety. Women with sleep pattern dysfunction were nine times more likely to develop antepartum depression as compared to women without sleep pattern dysfunction (OR: 9.25, 95% CI: 5.45-15.70). Similarly, stress was five times more likely to develop in women with sleep pattern dysfunction (OR: 5.06, 95% CI: 2.92-8.76). Furthermore, Anxiety is also four times likely to develop in women with sleep pattern dysfunction (OR: 4.76, 95% CI: 2.91-7.80) compared to women without any sleep disturbances.
Conclusions: During pregnancy, sleep disturbances were related to the increased risk of developing psychiatric illnesses. It was found that women with disturbed sleep patterns had high rates of antepartum depression followed by stress and anxiety as compared to women without disturbed sleep patterns.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.1.9413
How to cite this: Tariq A, Farooqui WA, Khan SJ, Shafique K. Relationship between sleep pattern dysfunction with psychological stress, anxiety and depression among pregnant women. Pak J Med Sci. 2025;41(1):242-246. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.1.9413
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Clinical efficacy of bladder function training combined with pelvic floor biofeedback electrical stimulation on neurogenic bladder and its impact on urodynamics
Authors: Gu Jiawei , Zang Jun
Published: December 2024

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of bladder function training combined with pelvic floor biofeedback electrical stimulation in the treatment of neurogenic bladder and its impact on urodynamics.
Methods: This was a clinical comparative study. A total of 120 patients with neurogenic bladder after spinal cord injury admitted to Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital of Capital Medical University and Beijing Shijingshan Hospital from January 2023 to December 2023 were randomly divided into two groups (n= 60/group). The study group treated with bladder function training combined with pelvic floor biofeedback electrical stimulation and the control group receiving conventional treatment and bladder function training. The differences in the clinical efficacy, voiding diary, voiding symptom score, urodynamics parameters, etc. were between the two groups were compared and analyzed.
Results: The difference of the efficacy in the study and control groups was statistically significant (p=0.02). After treatment, the study group showed significant improvement compared to the control group in terms of daily mean voiding frequency, daily mean single urine volume, daily maximum single urine volume, and catheterization frequency (P=0.00). Meanwhile, the study group also saw significantly lower residual urine volume (RUV) than the control group, with statistically significant differences (p=0.00), while MBC, Qmax, and BP were significantly higher in the study group than in the control group, with statistically significant differences (p=0.00).
Conclusion: The application of bladder function training combined with pelvic floor biofeedback electrical stimulation is significantly effective for treating neurogenic bladder, which can significantly improve the storage and voiding functions of patients, alleviate lower urinary tract symptoms, and improve patients’ quality of life.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.1.9655
How to cite this: Gu J, Zang J. Clinical efficacy of bladder function training combined with pelvic floor biofeedback electrical stimulation on neurogenic bladder and its impact on urodynamics. Pak J Med Sci. 2025;41(1):251-256. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.1.9655
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Wrist ganglion cyst enveloping radial artery
Authors: Zhu Jia-Fu , Chen Kai
Published: December 2024

Wrist ganglion cysts typically do not show noticeable symptoms but can affect aesthetics and even compress adjacent blood vessels and nerves. Compression therapy can eliminate cysts. However, caution is needed when treating cysts around the radial artery. This study examined a rare case of a wrist ganglion cyst that, after repeated compression and recurrence, enveloped the radial artery. This not only caused wrist swelling and pain but also increased the difficulty and risk of surgical treatment.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.1.9776
How to cite this: Zhu JF, Chen K. Wrist ganglion cyst enveloping radial artery. Pak J Med Sci. 2025;41(1):338-340. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.1.9776
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Sex differences in the prevalence of common comorbidities in autism:
a narrative review
Authors: Hong Yoo Hwa , Song Da-Yea , Yoo Heejeong
Published: December 2024

Autism spectrum disorder involves challenges in social communication and
restricted, repetitive behaviors. Historically, males have received autism
diagnoses at comparatively high rates, prompting an underrepresentation of
females in research and an incomplete understanding of sex-specific symptom
presentations and comorbidities. This review examines sex differences in the
prevalence of common comorbidities of autism to inform tailored clinical
practices. These conditions include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,
anxiety disorders, conduct disorder, depression, epilepsy, intellectual
disability, and tic disorders. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is
prevalent in both sexes; however, females may more frequently exhibit the
inattentive subtype. Anxiety disorders display inconsistent sex differences,
while conduct disorder more frequently impacts males. Depression becomes more
common with age; some studies indicate more pronounced symptoms in adolescent
girls, while others suggest greater severity in males. Epilepsy is more
prevalent in females, especially those with intellectual disabilities. Despite
displaying a male predominance, intellectual disability may exacerbate the
severity of autism to a greater degree in females. No clear sex differences have
been found regarding tic disorders. Overall, contributors to sex-based
differences include biases stemming from male-centric diagnostic tools,
compensatory behaviors like camouflaging in females, genetic and neurobiological
differences, and the developmental trajectories of comorbidities. Recognizing
these factors is crucial for developing sensitive diagnostics and sex-specific
interventions. Inconsistencies in the literature highlight the need for
longitudinal studies with large, diverse samples to investigate autism
comorbidities across the lifespan. Understanding sex differences could
facilitate earlier identification, improved care, and personalized
interventions, thus enhancing quality of life for individuals with autism.
Tadeusz Andrzejewski (1923–1961) and His Contribution to Polish Egyptology
Authors: Laube Kacper
Published: December 2024

When studying the history of Polish Egyptology, it is difficult to ignore the various references to Tadeusz Andrzejewski (1923–1961), who is, in fact, still a poorly-known scholar. Yet, despite his premature death, he has left numerous Egyptological publications. In this paper, I would like to shed some light on Andrzejewski and his contribution to Polish Egyptology with the help of some previously unpublished documents.
A vueltas con el concepto de vulnerabilidad socio-laboral en las estrategias de transición justa. Estudio desde la perspectiva internacional, comunitaria y nacional.
Authors: Salas Porras María
Published: December 2024

La vulnerabilidad socio-laboral es la clave de bóveda sobre la que se asientan
los instrumentos internacionales que orientan la transición desde un
paradigma productivo despreocupado por el medio ambiente hacia otro en
el que se le coloca en el centro. De ahí la trascendencia de reflexionar acerca
de su posible mensurabilidad e identificar cuáles habría de ser los elementos
de medición sobre los que pudiera asentarse. Descender al nivel nacional
de tales instrumentos nos permite comprobar si el Estado español hubiera
implementado y en qué modo el “test de vulnerabilidad socio-laboral” como
mecanismo para garantizar un proceso de descarbonización justo
Arte sonoro, espacio público y datos: adaptándose a La crisis climática desde el arte-ciencia.
Authors: Jaramillo Arango Julián
Published: December 2024

La convergencia entre el espacio público y las nuevas tecnologías, como preocupación
fundacional del arte sonoro, suscita un análisis crítico de tópicos recientes sobre cómo las
prácticas artísticas interactúan con el sonido. Tras reconocer los atributos socializantes del
sonido como fuerza creadora, se abordan repertorios de arte sonoro que han reflexionado
sobre la experiencia urbana. El concepto de ciudades inteligentes nos ayuda a pensar la
emergencia de una cultura de escucha móvil, que moldea un sentido de territorialidad
informacional y construye nuevos modos de ciudadanía digital. Desde el punto de vista del
arte sonoro, los temas medioambientales también se analizan, reconociendo en la
problemática de la contaminación del aire una estrategia de adaptación a la crisis climática.
La práctica interdisciplinar de la sonificación será discutida en detalle, analizando las
diferentes vertientes y potenciales desdoblamientos tanto en el campo artístico como en el
científico. Además, se reconocerán escenarios de pertinencia de la sonificación bajo lógicas
determinadas en una economía del conocimiento. Como complemento a la presentación de
las discusiones teóricas y de los ejemplos de problemas abordados, en el texto se reportarán
trabajos artísticos realizados durante procesos de investigación-creación. Estas piezas fueron
creadas junto a estudiantes como producto de actividades académicas y sintetizan las
preocupaciones y determinaciones forjadas en el plano teórico.
Jóvenes, empleo, mercado de trabajo y expectativas laborales, una aproximación cualitativa.
Authors: Gutiérrez Barbarrusa Virginia , Pozo Cuevas Federico , Botía-Morillas Carmen
Published: December 2024

Esta nota de investigación parte del análisis del discurso de ocho de
los once grupos de discusión, los formados por jóvenes mujeres y varones de 18 a 34
años, del Estudio cualitativo 11003 del Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (CIS)
«Condiciones de vida de los jóvenes: formación, empleo, emancipación y participación» (2023). Nuestro objetivo se centra en comprender las manifestaciones alusivas
al impacto en sus expectativas de vida de ámbitos como la educación, el empleo, el
salario o la vivienda-residencia. Específicamente, nos centramos en el constructo de «huida o distanciamiento del mercado de trabajo» explorando hasta qué punto y en
qué términos discursivos la experiencias y estrategias de participación sociolaboral de
las personas jóvenes permiten ser interpretadas desde los supuestos de la existencia en
el caso español de un «trabexit», como práctica de resistencia de las personas jóvenes a
condiciones laborales cada vez más precarizadas. Los resultados del análisis secundario de estos datos del CIS permiten hablar, aunque con ciertas ambivalencias discursivas, de nuevas predisposiciones entre las personas jóvenes hacia el papel del trabajo
en la sociedad y en sus vidas. Además, permiten considerar las consecuencias de las
posibilidades, percibidas o experimentadas, de las condiciones de acceso y del deterioro de la calidad de los empleos que les es posible desempeñar
Locally Employed Doctors and International Medical Graduates in the NHS: Current and Evolving Trends
Authors: Burnham Victoria , Varughese George I
Published: December 2024

Locally Employed Doctors (LEDs) are defined as any doctor below consultant grade, appointed within a UK National Health Service (NHS) Trust, who are not working within a national training scheme. They are a cohort significantly increasing in numbers. International Medical Graduates (IMGs) are overseas-qualified doctors who contribute to more than 30% of the workforce-related deficit in the number of UK-qualified doctors required to meet NHS requirements. These doctors can face difficulties when they start to work in the UK, such as inexperience of the UK medicolegal and ethical standards. The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) recently produced new guidance stating the basic principle that all doctors should be considered as being in training. LEDs are junior doctors with educational needs, yet they do not receive the same opportunities as their training-grade equivalents. Moving forward, we would advocate a UK-wide process which will help the NHS develop a strong and cohesive workforce, whether they are locally or nationally employed.
Threading The Loop
Authors: Bradshaw Mellisa
Published: December 2024

Businesses in engineering and manufacturing are utilising the digital thread to underpin their circular economy efforts and wider sustainability ambitions.
LC-HRMS profiling, antibacterial activities, and in silico study of ethyl acetate extract from Dracaena angustifolia root bark
Authors: KARTA I WAYAN , WARSITO WARSITO , MASRURI MASRURI , MUDIANTA I WAYAN
Published: December 2024

Abstract. Karta IW, Warsito W, Masruri M, Mudianta IW. 2024. LC-HRMS profiling, antibacterial activities, and in silico study of ethyl acetate extract from Dracaena angustifolia root bark. Biodiversitas 25: 3555-3567. The escalating resistance of bacteria to conventional antibiotics has spurred new sources of exploration of natural antibacterial agents. This study aimed to unveil the antibacterial potential of Dracaena angustifolia Roxb. root bark extract through a comprehensive approach of in vitro assays, LC-HRMS analysis, in silico, and molecular dynamics simulations. The root bark, extracted with ethyl acetate, was identified using LC-HRMS and tested for antibacterial activity using the diffusion method. The extract demonstrated the ability to inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella typhi. Of 37 annotated compounds, four (Arbutin, (-)-Caryophyllene oxide, Ruscoponticoside C, and Striatisporolide A) were predicted by PASS to exhibit antibacterial potential. Molecular docking revealed differences in the binding interactions between amino acid residues and ligands of the target protein (PDB ID: 3HUN). Ruscoponticoside C shares binding site similarities with the native ligand Ampicillioic acid. Molecular dynamics simulations showed that the ligand-protein complexes of Arbutin, Ruscoponticoside C, Striatisporolide A, and Ampicillioic acid were more stable compared to Chloramphenicol. This study suggests that this plant’s root bark extract has potential as an antibacterial agent, inspiring further in-depth research into the isolation of its secondary metabolites and their potential impact on drug discovery.
Effect of school environment on the dropout rate of enrolled students: focus of the department of dental hygiene
Authors: Lee Seung-Hun
Published: December 2024

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the impact of school environment indicators on the dropout rates of dental hygiene students. Methods: A correlation was established between dropout rates and several key variables, and hierarchical regression analysis was employed to identify the factors that influence dropout rates. Results: Schools with fewer students exhibited higher dropout rates than those of larger institutions. High dropout rates were negatively correlated with employment rates, research grants, tuition fees, and the total number of dental students. Among these variables, graduate employment rate was the only significant factor affecting attrition rates. Conclusions: To reduce the dropout rates among dental hygiene students, it is essential to enhance their employability skills and foster a strong collaboration between educational institutions and employers.
Effects of binge drinking and smoking status on oral healthrelated indicators among Korean adults: a cross-sectional study for 10 years (2013–2022) using Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data
Authors: Kim Yu-Rin
Published: December 2024

Objectives: We aimed to determine the impact of binge drinking and smoking on oral health among Korean adults based on their specific habits. Methods: This study used national health and nutrition data from the past 10 years and divided the participants into four groups: Group 1, who never binge drink and quit smoking (No_Sm+Dr); Group 2, who binge drink daily and quit smoking (Drinks); Group 3, who quit drinking and only smoked daily (Smokes); and Group 4, who binge drank and smoked daily (Sm+Dr). Results: Chewing difficulty was more severe in the Drinks (0.195), Smokes (0.340), and Sm+Dr (0.399) groups than in the No_Sm+Dr group. Speech impairment was higher by 0.095 for the Drinks, 0.266 for Smokes, and 0.241 for Sm+Dr groups than for the No_Sm+Dr group, indicating a more serious problem (p<0.05). Conclusions: As oral health problems are most prevalent in individuals who simultaneously engage in binge drinking and smoking than in those who only binge drink or daily smoking, the dental community should prioritize more active and effective guidance on smoking and drinking cessation.
High-sensitivity hot-wire anemometer using cobalt-doped fiber-based long-period gratings
Authors: Du Langzhe , Dong Xinyong , Tang Yuhan , Gao Zhensen , Xu Pengbai , Yang Jun , Wang Yuncai , Qin Yuwen
Published: December 2024

A high-sensitivity hot-wire anemometer is proposed for use with a cobalt-doped fiber (CDF) based long-period grating (LPG) heated optically by a 1480 nm laser. The CDF-LPG absorbs laser power and generates heat inherently, thereby eliminating the need for both metal coating and mode coupling devices that are usually required in optical fiber grating anemometers. The dip wavelength of the CDF-LPG shifts with airflow velocity due to the cooling effect of the airflow. Airflow velocity is therefore measured by detecting the wavelength shift of the CDF-LPG. The measurement sensitivity is significantly enhanced by the high-temperature sensitivity of the LPG. In the experiment, high sensitivity up to -8.70 nm/(m/s) is achieved at an airflow velocity of 0.1 m/s, which is several times higher than that of fiber Bragg grating (FBG) based anemometers. The measurement range is 0-8.0 m/s. The response and recovery time are 0.4 and 0.3 seconds, respectively. The scheme of inscribing LPG on the CDF not only simplifies the production of hot-wire anemometers but also greatly improves the measurement sensitivity, making it a promising solution for high-precision airflow velocity measurement in practical applications.
Optical properties of InGaN-based red quantum well and microcavity
Authors: Hou Xin , Guo Jia-Cong , Ma Li-Long , Yang Tao , Iida Daisuke , Su Zhan , Mei Yang , Ying Lei-Ying , Weng Guo-En , Chen Shao-Qiang , Zhang Bao-Ping , Ohkawa Kazuhiro
Published: December 2024

Optical properties of InGaN/GaN red quantum well(QW) and their microcavities were studied and compared under optical pumping. Incidence of the excitation laser from the p-side was employed for both structures in order to acquire better emission characteristics. The QW structure was grown on sapphire substrate by metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy(MOVPE) with a blue pre-layer QW. X-ray and scanning transmission electron microscopy(STEM) measurements demonstrate the good crystalline quality. Emissions from both blue and red QWs were observed and demonstrated to be dominated by radiative recombination. For red InGaN microcavity with two dielectric distributed Bragg reflector(DBR) mirrors, a high Q factor of 2355 at the longitudinal mode of 612.3 nm was achieved. Discrete higher-order modes were also clearly observed, being attributed to the lateral confinement on the photons in the microcavity caused by change in the refractive index of the laser-irradiation area because of the increase of carrier density. The Purcell effect accelerates the radiation recombination rate, leading to the fast decay process in the red InGaN microcavity which does exist for QWs only. Compared with the red QW sample, the emission of red microcavities is much purer and more stable. The above results lay a foundation for the realization of InGaN-based red vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers(VCSELs) in the future.
Continuously focus tunable 2D/3D switchable cylindrical liquid crystal microlens arrays for autostereoscopic displays
Authors: Li Shixiao , Yang Chengliang , Peng Zenghui , Liu Yonggang , Diao Zhihui , Lu Xinghai , Yu Yang , Wang Qidong , Mu Quanquan
Published: December 2024

Cylindrical microlens arrays are important optical elements for autostereoscopic display. Conventional fixed focal length cylindrical microlens arrays do not allow switching between 2D mode and 3D mode when constructing a 3D viewing zone. In contrast, cylindrical liquid crystal microlens arrays with zoom characteristics allow switching between 2D and 3D states, as well as adjusting the width of the sub-viewing zone. Therefore, based on the quantitative analysis of the geometrical structure of the viewing zone in different states, this paper proposes a continuous zoom type cylindrical liquid crystal microlens array structure, which is a liquid crystal cell composed of an array of plano-concave glass substrates and planar glass substrates. Theory and experiments show that it is close to a favorable parabolic phase profile at different driving voltages, and at the same time, it can realize a zoom range of 1.6mm-36 mm at a smaller driving voltage. The wide zoom range and excellent zoom effect make this structure particularly suitable for autostereoscopic display, and this characteristic can achieve the effect of switching between 2D and 3D by adjusting the shape of the central viewing zone.
Development and evaluation of a low-cost database solution for the Community Paramedicine at Clinic (CP@clinic) database
Authors: Angeles Ricardo , Adamczyk Krzysztof , Marzanek Francine , Pirrie Melissa , Plishka Mikayla , Agarwal Gina
Published: December 2024

The Community Paramedicine at Clinic (CP@clinic) program is a community program that utilizes community paramedics to support older adults in assessing their risk factors, managing their chronic conditions, and linking them to community resources. The aim of this project is to design a low-cost, portable, secure, user-friendly database for CP@clinic sessions and pilot test the database with paramedics and older adult volunteers. The CP@clinic program database using the Microsoft Access software was first developed through consultation with the CP@clinic research team. Next, the database was pilot tested with two sets of older adults and one set of paramedics to assess user experience. Volunteers completed a survey regarding their perceptions of the level of difficulty when using the database. A computer-based database was the best option as it provided flexibility while reducing costs. The final database should perform calculations and summarize risk assessment data, provide recommended resources, generate automated reports, capture changes in medical and medication history, and ensure that the sensitive information is secure. During pilot testing, the older adult participants and the paramedics indicated that the database was easy to use. This low-cost, user-friendly and secure database captures initial and follow-up data, incorporates algorithms that guide the paramedics, and calculates risk factor scores for the participants. This solution to a healthcare database is translatable to other health research studies in which ongoing patient data is collected electronically and longitudinally.
Potential use of salivary TNF-α as a vaccine-induced pain biomarker in people with cerebral palsy and communication disorders
Authors: Sabater-Gárriz Álvaro , Cerón José Joaquín , Montoya Pedro , Riquelme Inmaculada
Published: December 2024

Background

Pain in people with cerebral palsy (CP) has been classically underestimated and poorly treated, particularly in individuals with impaired communication skills.

Objective

To analyze changes in different salivary metabolites and pain behavior scales after a painful procedure in adults with CP and adults with typical development.

Methods

Salivary levels of sTNF-α, sIgA, Cortisol, FRAP, ADA and Alpha Amylase, as well as 3 observational pain scales (Wong-Baker, Non-Communicating Adults Pain Checklist and Facial Action Coding System) were assessed before and after an intramuscular injection in 30 Individuals with CP and 30 healthy controls. Video recording of face expression was performed during the procedure for offline analysis.

Results

Pain in subjects with CP was higher than in healthy controls after the intramuscular injection as displayed by observational scales. sTNF-α experienced a significant post-stimulus increase in both groups and that increase shows a tendency to correlate with the observational scales scores. Other biomarkers classically associated with stress (cortisol, Alpha Amylase) remain stable.

Conclusion

sTNF-α might be a promising pain indicator. Further research using controlled painful stimuli of greater intensity and pain self-reports, would be necessary to better understand its use as a pain biomarker.
Maintaining essential healthcare services in Addis Ababa during COVID-19: A qualitative study
Authors: Fenta Esete Habtemariam , Tassew Berhan , Abera Admas , Wolde Firmaye Bogale , Legesse Meseret , Pulford Justin , Mor Siobhan , Kaba Mirgissa
Published: December 2024

Background

Worldwide, health systems have been challenged by the overwhelming demands of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Ethiopia, maintaining essential health services during the COVID-19 pandemic is critical to preventing severe outcomes and protecting the gains made over the past years in the health sector. This project aims to explore the health system’s response to maintaining essential healthcare services in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Methods

A total of 60 key informant interviews were conducted by purposively selecting key stakeholders from Federal Ministry of Health, Addis Ababa Regional Health Bureau, Sub-city Health Offices, and frontline healthcare providers. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded using Open Code. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data.

Result

COVID-19 affected the delivery of essential health services in several ways, namely: decline in health service utilization, fear of infection among healthcare providers, stigma towards healthcare providers, and perceived decrease in quality-of-service provision. However, the health system actors made efforts to sustain services while responding to the pandemic by enacting changes in the service delivery modality. The most significant service delivery changes included repurposing health centers and prolonged prescriptions (multi-month medication dispensing). The primary challenges encountered were burnout of the health workforce and a shortage of personal protective equipment.

Conclusion

COVID-19 has affected the delivery of essential health services in multifaceted ways. System actors have accordingly made efforts to sustain services while responding to the pandemic.
Role of Toll-like receptor 2 during infection of Leptospira spp: A systematic review
Authors: Kappagoda Chamila , Senavirathna Indika , Agampodi Thilini , Agampodi Suneth Buddhika
Published: December 2024

The involvement of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) in leptospirosis is poorly understood. Our systematic review examined its role across in-vitro, in-vivo, ex-vivo, and human studies. Original articles published in English up to January 2024, exploring the role of TLR2 during leptospirosis, were selected from databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Trip, and Google Scholar. Cochrane guidelines and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses were followed by this systematic review. The National Institute of Health Quality Assessment tool, Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation risk of bias tool, and Office of Health Assessment and Translation extended tool were used to assess the risk of bias of the studies. Out of 2458 studies retrieved, 35 were selected for the systematic review. These comprised 3 human, 17 in-vitro, 5 in-vivo, 3 ex-vivo, and 7 studies with combined experimental models. We assessed the direct TLR2 expression and indirect TLR2 involvement via the secretion/mRNA expression of immune effectors during leptospirosis. Notably, we observed the secretion/mRNA expression of several cytokines (IL6, IL8, IL-1β, TNFα, IFNγ, IL10, CCL2/MCP-1, CCL10, COX2, CXCL1/KC, CXCL2/MIP2) and immune effectors (hBD2, iNOS, Fibronectin, Oxygen, and Nitrogen reactive species) as key aspects of host TLR2 responses during leptospirosis. Even though increased TLR2 expression in in-vivo and in-vitro studies was evident, human studies reported mixed results showing that the postulated effect of TLR2 response based on other studies may not be valid for human leptospirosis. Besides the role of TLR2 in response to leptospirosis, the involvement of TLR4 and TLR5 was identified in in-vitro and in-vivo studies. TLR2 expression is inconclusive during human leptospirosis and further studies are needed to examine the immune effector regulation, through TLR2 for mitigating the harmful effects and promoting effective immune responses.
Peripheral lncRNA NEAT-1, miR374b-5p, and IL6 panel to guide in COVID-19 patients’ diagnosis and prognosis
Authors: Ali Marwa A. , Shaker Olfat G. , Ezzat Eman M. , Ali El Shaimaa Gomaa , Aboelor Mahmoud I. , Ahmed Mona I. , Hassan Essam A. , Ali Doaa Y. , Ahmed Heba Mostafa , Khalefa Abeer A. , Hussein Rasha A. , Elkhateeb Ahmed Fathy , Mohamed Esam Ali
Published: December 2024

Background

The SARS-CoV-2 virus’s frequent mutations have made disease control with vaccines and antiviral drugs difficult; as a result, there is a need for more effective coronavirus drugs. Therefore, detecting the expression of various diagnostic biomarkers, including ncRNA in SARS-CoV2, implies new therapeutic strategies for the disease.

Aim

Our study aimed to measure NEAT-1, miR-374b-5p, and IL6 in the serum of COVID-19 patients, demonstrating the correlation between target genes to explore the possible relationship between them. Also, the association between target genes and patients’ clinical findings and radiological severity indices will be explored.

Patients and methods

The current study included 48 COVID-19-infected individuals and 40 controls. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was performed to detect lncRNA NEAT-1 and miRNA374b-5p fold change (FC) in the participants’ sera. Enzyme-Linked Immune Sorbent Assay (ELISA) is used to detect IL6.

Results

Our results showed statistical significance with lower levels of (NEAT-1) [ median (range) = 0.08 (0.001-0.602)], and (miR374b-5p) [ median (range) = 0.14 (.01-7.16)] while higher IL-6 levels [ median (range) = 41.3 (7.2-654) pg/ml] when compared to controls with p-value <0.001. Serum level of NEAT-1 correlates negatively with IL-6 level (r = -.317, P = .008). ROC curve analysis revealed that sensitivity and specificity tests for NEAT-1 and IL-6 levels in the diagnosis of cases illustrated a sensitivity of (100% and 97.9%) and a specificity of (85% and 100%) at cut-off values (0.985 and 12.55), respectively. In comparison, miR374b-5p showed sensitivity and specificity of around 85% in distinguishing COVID-19 patients from controls. No significant association was detected between target genes and radiological severity indices.

Conclusions

Our study is the first to detect decreased NEAT-1 and miR374b-5p expression in COVID-19 patients’ serum. There was also an increase in IL6 levels. There is a negative correlation between NEAT-1 and IL6 in COVID-19 patients.
Factors associated with essential newborn care practice among obstetric care providers in public hospitals in Gamo, Gofa, and Wolayta zones, southern Ethiopia: A facility-based cross-sectional study, 2022
Authors: Salo Samuel Shanko , Ukumo Eshetu Yisihak , Teshale Manaye Yihune
Published: December 2024

Background

Almost everywhere, neonatal mortality can be decreased with ease if competent obstetricians give the necessary treatment. Unfortunately, observational techniques were not used to examine basic essential newborn care practice among obstetric care providers in Ethiopia. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate factors related to essential newborn care practice using observational techniques among obstetric care providers in public hospitals in the Gamo, Gofa, and Wolayta zones, southern Ethiopia.

Methods

An institutional-based cross-sectional study carried out from May 15 to June 30, 2022. A simple random sampling method was used. Structured self-administered questionnaires with a clinical observational checklist were used to collect data. Data imported into Epidata version 4.6 and analyzed using the SPSS Version 25. Bivariable and multivariable analyses were used to identify factors associated with essential newborn care practices. An odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was used to assess the direction and strength of the association.

Results

The overall magnitude of good essential newborn care practice among obstetric care providers was 53.5% (95% CI = 49, 58). Factors positively associated with the practice of essential newborn care were having interest on working in delivery room (AOR = 3.16, 95% CI = 1.71,5.83), having no work load (AOR = 2.96, 95% CI = 1.78,4.49), received in-service training (AOR = 3.09, 95% CI = 1.75,5.45), having supportive supervision (AOR = 3.41, 95% CI = 1.25, 9.24), and having good knowledge on essential newborn care (AOR = 3.04, 95% CI = 1.89,4.90).

Conclusion

The observed level of essential newborn care practices among obstetric care providers underscores the necessity for targeted interventions that stimulate interest in delivery room work, effectively manage workloads, and offer comprehensive training along with supportive supervision. By concentrating on these aspects and enhancing providers’ knowledge, we can significantly improve essential newborn care practices.
The prevalence and associated factors of the minimum acceptable diet among children aged 6–23 months in Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Bikila Girma Cheru , Arero Godana , Kalu Sultan , Roba Kedir Teji , Charkos Tesfaye Getachew
Published: December 2024

Background

A minimum acceptable diet for children aged 6–23 months is limited globally, with Ethiopia’s proportion reducing to one in nine. This study was aimed to assess the prevalence of the minimum acceptable diet and associated factors among children aged 6–23 months in Dera town, Oromia, Ethiopia.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted. Systematic random sampling techniques were used to select the study subjects. The data was coded, entered into Epi-Info version 7, and then exported to SPSS version 24 for analysis. The variance inflation factor and tolerance test are used to check multicollinearity. Descriptive statistics of frequency (%) were used. Hosmer and Lemeshow’s goodness-of-fit test at a P-value > 0.05 is considered the model fit. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were computed with a 95% confidence interval, and a P-value < 0.05 was, considered statistically significant.

Results

A total of 430 study subjects were included in this study. The prevalence of a minimum acceptable diet was 36.5% (95% confidence interval (CI): 32, 41%). In the adjusted model, mothers attaining a primary school (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.7, 95%CI: 1.3, 4.8), college and above education (AOR = 4.3, 95%CI: 1.4, 13), child age between 12–17 months (AOR = 6.2, 95%CI: 2.80, 13.50) and 18–23 months (AOR = 4.61, 95%CI: 2.04, 10.40), ANC visit four or more (AOR = 2.0, 95%CI: 1.2, 3.4), and not feeding breast (AOR = 0.15, 95% CI: 0.07, 0.31) were significantly associated with meeting the minimum acceptable diet.

Conclusion

This study showed that the practice of a minimum acceptable diet was low, according to the World Food Program target. Mothers’ educational status, antenatal care visits, age of the child, and breastfeeding were the predictors of the minimum acceptable diet.
Determining an optimal case definition using mid-upper arm circumference with or without weight for age to identify childhood wasting in the Philippines
Authors: Casas Lyle Daryll Dimaano , Uy Jhanna , Ferrer Eldridge , Duante Charmaine , Bahwere Paluku , Galera Rene Gerard , Nkoroi Alice , Noubary Behzad , Mutunga Mueni , Nkomani Sanele , Kupka Roland , Ulep Valerie Gilbert
Published: December 2024

In resource-limited areas, where accurate weight-for-height Z-scores are hard to obtain, Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) is a simple tool to identify wasted children. MUAC alone, however, may miss identification of many wasted children, leading to untimely intervention and potentially death. Our study aimed to identify the best-performing case definition to detect wasting by Weight-for-Height z-scores (WHZ) in Filipino children aged 6–59 months. We analyzed the 2018–2019 Expanded National Nutrition Survey to assess the diagnostic performance of MUAC cutoffs and a case definition combining MUAC and weight-for-age z-score (WAZ) in identifying moderate and severe wasting compared to the WHZ criterion. The optimal cutoff and case definition was identified as having the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). Our findings showed that the current MUAC cutoffs poorly identify severe (sensitivity: 13%; specificity: 99%; AUROC: 0.558) and moderate (sensitivity: 22%; specificity: 96%; AUROC: 0.586) wasting (N = 30,522) in Filipino children. Instead, the optimal MUAC cutoff for severe and moderate wasting were <13.6cm (sensitivity: 62%; specificity: 76%; AUROC: 0.690) and 14.0cm (sensitivity: 80%; specificity: 67%; AUROC: 0.737). There was no effect of sex on MUAC cutoffs, but cutoffs increased with age. We found that the combination of WAZ < -2 or MUAC ≤ 11.7cm (Sensitivity: 80%; Specificity: 80%; AUROC: 0.800) for severe wasting and WAZ < -2 or MUAC ≤ 12.7cm (Sensitivity: 84%; Specificity: 78%; AUROC: 0.810) for moderate wasting significantly improved sensitivity for acceptable decreases in specificity. In summary, implementing alternative case definitions solely based on expanding MUAC insufficiently improves diagnostic accuracy for identifying wasted children by WHZ criteria. Combining WAZ with MUAC could increase the number of eligible children identified and treated by the Philippine Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition. Further studies are advised to understand the practicality and cost-effectiveness of using the proposed alternative case definitions in the Philippines.
The role of government in helping SMEs to access finance: An evolutionary game modeling and simulation approach
Authors: Mei Zhu , Zhang Jingjing , Zhou QiaoMei
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This study aims to delineate the operating system of a strategic game model involving three core financial actors—government, banks, and guarantee institutions, with a focus on their collective impact on system evolution towards sustainable SME financing.

Methodology

Utilizing numerical simulations informed by dynamic equation constraints and optimal equilibrium states, this paper abstracts the strategic behaviors of system constituents, constructing a game model to predict and analyze system evolution within various operational contexts.

Results

The simulation experiments reveal the critical role of quality risk information and responsible actor behavior in maintaining low default rates and fostering a sustainable financial system. System trajectories under various scenarios highlight the fragility of the equilibrium and the necessity of concerted, strategic cooperation among all stakeholders.

Conclusions

Findings underscore the importance of a cooperative, conscientious approach by government, banks, and guarantee institutions to ensure a robust and sustainable SME financing environment. The study advocates for strategic policy guidance, emphasizing the interconnectedness of institutional roles and their cumulative effect on system stability.
The combined use of scRNA-seq and network propagation highlights key features of pan-cancer Tumor-Infiltrating T cells
Authors: Mangelinck Adèle , Molitor Elodie , Marchiq Ibtissam , Alaoui Lamine , Bouaziz Matthieu , Andrade-Pereira Renan , Darville Hélène , Becht Etienne , Lefebvre Céline
Published: December 2024

Improving the selectivity and effectiveness of drugs represents a crucial issue for future therapeutic developments in immuno-oncology. Traditional bulk transcriptomics faces limitations in this context for the early phase of target discovery as resulting gene expression levels represent the average measure from multiple cell populations. Alternatively, single cell RNA sequencing can dive into unique cell populations transcriptome, facilitating the identification of specific targets. Here, we generated Tumor-Infiltrating regulatory T cells (TI-Tregs) and exhausted T cells (Tex) gene signatures from a single cell RNA-seq pan-cancer T cell atlas. To overcome noise and sparsity inherent to single cell transcriptomics, we then propagated the gene signatures by diffusion in a protein-protein interaction network using the Patrimony high-throughput computing platform. This methodology enabled the refining of signatures by rescoring genes based on their biological connectivity and shed light not only on processes characteristics of TI-Treg and Tex development and functions but also on their immunometabolic specificities. The combined use of single cell transcriptomics and network propagation may thus represent an innovative and effective methodology for the characterization of cell populations of interest and eventually the development of new therapeutic strategies in immuno-oncology.
Determinants and prevalence of metabolic syndrome among the adult population in Hargeisa, Somaliland: A community-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Ahmed Abdeta Muktar , Ahmed Ayanle Suleiman , Abdilahi Mohamed Mussa , Nuh Abdulkadir Mohamed
Published: December 2024

Background

Metabolic syndrome (met-s) is a medical condition that includes abdominal obesity, hyperlipidemia, high blood glucose, and high blood pressure. It is associated with a high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The condition was believed to be a challenge mostly faced by developed nations. A few studies conducted showed that met-s is increasing and becoming more common in Africa, where it was considered rare. The study aimed to assess the determinants and prevalence of met-s among the adult population in Hargeisa town, Somaliland, in 2023.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study among 498 adults living in all eight districts of Hargeisa, was carried out from August to September 2023. The sample size was divided proportionally by the number of households in selected sub-districts. Systematic random sampling was employed to select the households in the sub-districts. One adult from each household was selected and assessed. Data were collected using the STEPwise approach of the World Health Organization. The data were analysed using International Diabetic Federation (IDF) criteria for metabolic syndrome with SPSS version 25. Bivariate and multivariate analyses using logistic regression were performed.

Result

In total, 498 adults participated in the study. The prevalence of met-s was 26.7% in IDF (males 11% vs. females 38.9%). Being of an advanced age of 45–54 years (AOR = 3.6, CI 1.17–11.27), 55–64 years (AOR = 6.1, CI 1.88–19.83), >64 (AOR = 9.1 CI 2.41–34.92), being a woman (AOR = 10.8, CI 5.3–21.8), being overweight or obese (AOR = 4.5, CI 2.5–8), sedentary behavior (AOR = 3.5, CI 1.6–7.5), and lack of physical exercise (AOR = 0.39, CI 0.17–0.88) were significantly associated with met-s.

Conclusion

The met-s was predominant in our findings. Community-based prevention strategies and actions are necessary if the met-s and its potential consequences are needed to be mitigated.
Investigating the effects of home-based rehabilitation after intensive inpatient rehabilitation on motor function, activities of daily living, and caregiver burden
Authors: Sato Kenji , Otaka Eri , Ozaki Kenichi , Shiramoto Kenta , Narukawa Rie , Kamiya Takeshi , Kamiya Masaki , Shimotori Daiki , Kamizato Chiaki , Itoh Naoki , Kagaya Hitoshi , Kondo Izumi
Published: December 2024

Background

Home-based rehabilitation involves professional rehabilitation care and guidance offered by physical, occupational, and speech therapists to patients in their homes to help them recuperate in a familiar living environment. The effects on the patient’s motor function and activities of daily living (ADLs), and caregiver burden for community-dwelling patients are well-documented; however, little is known about the immediate benefits in patients discharged from the hospital. Therefore, we examined the effects of continuous home-based rehabilitation immediately after discharge to patients who received intensive rehabilitation during hospitalization.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 150 patients [mean (standard deviation, SD) = 81 (9) years] discharged from the convalescent rehabilitation and community-based integrated care wards undergoing tailored home-based rehabilitation for 6 months (provided by physical or occupational therapists: 1–2 sessions of 40–60 min each per week). The outcome measures at baseline and after 3 and 6 months were compared.

Results

The participants included in this study had orthopedic (n = 76), cerebrovascular (n = 50), neuromuscular (n = 11), cardiovascular (n = 5), respiratory (n = 3), cancer (n = 3) and other diseases (n = 2). The mean (SD) time from discharge to the start of rehabilitation was 4 (4) days. One-way analysis of variance and post-hoc comparisons showed significant improvements at 3 months from baseline in grip strength (p = 0.002), 5-repetition sit-to-stand test (p < 0.001), Standing test for Imbalance and Disequilibrium test (p = 0.025), Functional Independence Measure (p < 0.001), modified Frenchay Activities Index (p < 0.001). Additionally, a statistically significant improvement was observed in the Japanese Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview score at 6 months from baseline (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Home-based rehabilitation improves motor function, ADLs, and instrumental ADLs even after intensive inpatient rehabilitation and decreases the burden of the caregiver in the long term. Hence, tailored home-based rehabilitation should be continuously implemented after the completion of intensive inpatient rehabilitation.