bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical case of tuberculous otitis media in an adolescent with generalised tuberculosis
Authors: Piskunova O. A. , Panova L. V. , Ovsyankina E. S. , Poluektova F. G. , Samokhin A. A. , Garov E. V.
Published: July 2023

Since the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) of the middle ear is low, alertness to this condition among physicians is decreased. The absence of specific clinical signs of the disease results in the late diagnosis of tuberculous otitis media, the development of irreversible changes and extracranial or intracranial complications, which leads to patients' disabilities. The clinical example has demonstrated the development of tuberculous otitis media in the patient with chronic nonspecific inflammation in the middle ear and infiltrative pulmonary TB. The absence of pathognomonic signs led to the late diagnosis of tuberculous otitis media and, consequently, the development of bilateral mesotympanitis. Tuberculous etiology of the disease was suspected based on the case history analysis (drug-refractory chronic otitis media and exposure to TB), clinical and laboratory data (the absence of expressed pain syndrome and normal hemogram values along with expressed changes in the middle ear), active long-lasting pulmonary TB, positive immunological skin test results. The diagnosis was verified by microbiological detection of M. tuberculosis in the ear discharge. Complex treatment of the patient resulted in clinical cure of tuberculous otitis media after 18 months; infiltrative TB led to the development of a tuberculoma after 8 months. The late diagnosis of the disease resulted in surgical treatment (bilateral tympanoplasty, resection of two segments of the left lung).
Analysis of the regional clinical use of CDK4/6 inhibitor ribociclib as a mechanism of integration of a research approach in drug provision
Authors: Goryainova A. Yu. , Murashko R. A. , Sharov S. V. , Stukan A. I. , Kugaevsky D. N. , Lymar E. V.
Published: July 2023

Introduction. Implementation of data from registration studies into clinical practice often presents a number of problems due to the heterogeneity of the patient population, the lack of uniformity of thinking among clinicians, and organizational difficulties. Using the example of studying the algorithm for prescribing ribociclib in a cohort of patients from one region in modern realities and the possibilities of drug provision, we have shown the main controversial points in the implementation of the results of clinical trials in the daily practice of an oncologist.Aim. The purpose of this study was to analyze our own preliminary results of the treatment of patients with hormone-receptorpositive Her-2-negative metastatic breast cancer using ribociclib in the routine practice of prescribing CDK4/6 inhibitors outside of clinical trials, taking into account the peculiarities of regional drug supply.Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of the results of treatment of patients (n = 56) who took ribociclib in terms of combined hormone therapy for metastatic hormone-dependent Her-2 negative breast cancer in the practice of oncologists in the Krasnodar Territory from 2019 to 2022 was carried out.Results. At the time of data collection and analysis, with a total follow-up time of 29 months, the median overall survival was not achieved, 52 patients (92.9%) were alive and continued to follow up. The median progression-free survival was also not reached: disease progression was recorded in 19 patients (33.9%), 37 patients (66.1%) continued treatment. A total of 14 out of 56 patients (25.1%) received ribociclib therapy in combination with drugs for endocrine therapy in the first and second lines. The best results were demonstrated by patients with a high level of expression of progesterone receptors in the tumor (p = 0.005), a low level of Ki67 proliferative activity index (p = 0.035), without metastatic visceral lesions (p = 0.034), who received the minimum number of lines of therapy before the appointment of ribociclib (p = 0.029). The results of the clinical part of the study became available due to the timely optimization of regional drug supply processes with the creation and constant monitoring by clinicians of a stable cohort of patients in the form of updated registers.Conclusions. The introduction of the experience and knowledge of clinical oncologists into the process of drug supply management and its optimization, taking into account the understanding of data on drug efficacy and toxicity, is a promising direction and requires further discussion.
Experience of using talazoparib in the aggressive course of BRCA2-associated triple-negative breast cancer: a clinical observation
Authors: Tsareva A. S. , Lubennikova E. V. , Rumyantsev A. A. , Glazkova E. V. , Ganshina I. P.
Published: July 2023

The median overall survival for patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer is about 12-14 months. Chemotherapy has been the only treatment option for this tumour subtype for a long time, irrespective of immunological and genetic characteristics. Straightforward therapy algorithms have not been defined, and the optimum sequencing of chemotherapy regimens is left to the discretion of the attending physician. Today, impressive findings from clinical studies on the use of immunotherapy and targeted therapy for cancer using PARP inhibitors reflect in current guidelines, raising the chances of patients to prolong life and maintain its high quality. Thus, the use of immunotherapy as first-line treatment of PD-L1-positive tumours allowed to significantly increase the overall survival of patients for the first time in many years. And the use of PARP inhibitors in carriers of BRCA1/2 germline mutations not only significantly prolongs progression-free survival, but also improves quality of life versus standard chemotherapy regimens. The benefit is also observed in patients with an aggressive course of the disease such as damage to the visceral organs and the central nervous system. The presence of BRCA1/2 germline mutations in the genes, damage to the CNS and visceral organs is associated with an extremely unfavourable prognosis and a significant decline in life expectancy. However, a high-quality diagnosis before initiation of treatment, creating proper treatment plans and the use of modern opportunities can improve the outcomes of treatment. The article discusses possible treatment options for metastatic TNBC, reflects current guidelines on the use of immuno- and targeted therapy. A clinical case report of the treatment of a patient with a significantly aggravated history and an aggressive course of TNBC is presented. The patient with visceral metastases, brain damage and early progression after primary treatment has been receiving therapy for two years, while maintaining a satisfactory quality of life.
Postwar Remnants in the Periurban Forest of Thessaloniki, Greece
Authors: Tsiouri Aphrodite
Published: July 2023

Wars, in the classical sense of term, have negative effects on the landscape and leave various traces above or below the ground surface or in the bottom of the sea. Today, many of the postwar landscapes are the result of natural ecological succession, while others, after an appropriate landscape design, present touristic and educational interest. Tourism in the postwar landscapes can be considered as cultural tourism, appealing mainly to tourists-pilgrims. Thessaloniki, during its long history, has been a field of military operations. Some of them, especially the most recent ones, have left their remnants on the surrounding forest landscape. During the First World War, the allied powers (Entente) for example, built various infrastructures such as trenches, concrete fortifications etc. Many of these installations, despite their deterioration over time, can still be seen today. The postwar landscape in the periurban forest of Thessaloniki has partially recovered. However, heavy constructions remain in their original place and can be a pole of attraction for visitors. This paper recommends two paths, 2,500 m and 2,200 m long respectively, connecting visible elements from the First World War, which are located in the northeastern part of the periurban forest of Thessaloniki. These paths can connect a military cemetery, with four cylindrical concrete fortifications (pill boxes) of this war, scattered in the forest. In this cemetery soldiers of the Commonwealth Nations have been buried, during the War. This postwar landscape could contribute to the development of battlefield tourism or tourism related to the postwar landscapes and it can also be used in the implementation of relevant environmental education programs. Postwar landscapes require very careful planning and proper management in order to be functional and effective.
Carbon constraints, industrial structure upgrading, and green total factor productivity: an empirical study based on the Yangtze River Economic Belt
Authors: You Xiaoyue , Li Zhenqiang , Yi Ying
Published: July 2023

Reducing carbon emissions, upgrading industrial structure, and promoting green total factor productivity are important ways to tackle global climate change. The Yangtze River Economic Belt is an important economic region and industrial corridor in China. Using the panel data of 11 provinces in the Yangtze River Economic Belt from 2006 to 2020, this study calculates industrial green total factor productivity using the super-efficient SBM model, and analyzes its evolution trends in time and space. This study discusses how carbon constraints and industrial structure upgrading affect green total factor productivity by using benchmark regression and the intermediary effect model. The results show that green total factor productivity is fluctuating and rising over time, and is in a gradient decreasing spatial distribution from the Yangtze River Delta to Urban Agglomeration in the Middle Reaches to Chengdu–Chongqing Economic Zone; carbon constraints, industrial structure upgrading, and their synergy have a positive effect on the industrial green total factor productivity; industrial structure upgrading has partial intermediary effects, and can help carbon constraints positively impact on industrial green development. Based on the above results, reducing carbon emission and accelerating industrial structure upgrading are important for achieving economic and ecological sustainability.
A diverse influence of dissolved natural organic matter on light irradiance measurements in lakes
Authors: Haaland Ståle , Haga Jonatan , Wien Øivind
Published: July 2023

Light penetration plays a vital role in lakes and drinking water reservoirs, influencing fundamental processes such as primary production and thermal budgets. The Secchi depth (ZSD) and the compensation depth (ZCD) are commonly used measurements in this context. ZSD is determined through visual inspection using a Secchi disc, while ZCD represents the depth at which photosynthetic activity balances respiration and can be measured using a quantum irradiance sensor. Through in situ water-core samples from 23 lakes within a lake district in Southeastern Norway, we observed that DNOM exerts a diverse influence on these light irradiance measurements. If DNOM concentrations are reduced to half or a quarter of the current concentration, similar to what was measured during the 1980s, the median ZCD:ZSD ratios are estimated to have decreased by approximately 30 and 60% since then, respectively. Conversely, a plausible future climate-driven doubling or quadrupling of the present DNOM concentrations are estimated to further decrease the median ZCD:ZSD ratios in the lake district with approximately 10 and 25%, respectively. From this, the ZCD:ZSD ratios seem to have experienced a considerable long-term decline attributed to both climate change and the recovery from acid rain, and a further climate-driven decrease is expected.
Exploring the nexus of water insecurity and psychological distress in Windhoek's informal settlements, Namibia
Authors: Shinyemba Tobias Willem , Cloete Khanyisile
Published: July 2023

Water insecurity has long been a pressing issue, particularly in the informal settlements of Windhoek. The current study aims to investigate the relationship between water insecurity and residents' psychological distress in Windhoek's informal settlements. The study draws upon secondary data collected by Future Resilience for African Cities and Lands in 2017. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to establish the relationship between water insecurity, psychological distress, and three manifest variables (source of income, housing type, and household structure). The study findings revealed a positive association between housing type and psychological distress (β = 0.056, p < 0.001). Household structure was negatively associated with psychological distress (β = −0.035, p < 0.001) and water insecurity (β = −0.054, p < 0.001). In addition, a positive association (β = 0.595, p < 0.001) was found between water insecurity and psychological distress, suggesting that water scarcity negatively impacts residents' mental well-being. The study highlights the need to address the issue of water insecurity in informal settlements across Windhoek. This can be achieved by setting measures to make water and essential sanitation services more accessible and affordable to residents in these communities. Such approaches would help mitigate the effect of water insecurity on the psychological distress of persons living in informal settlements and create more resilient and sustainable settlements.
Culturable mycobiota of drinking water in Göteborg (Sweden) in comparison to Ljubljana (Slovenia) with implications on human health
Authors: Babič Monika Novak , Gunde-Cimerman Nina
Published: July 2023

The European Union currently has no specific regulations on fungi in water. The only country where fungi are listed as the parameter is Sweden, with the maximal number of 100 CFU per 100 mL. The present study thus compared culturable mycobiota from Swedish drinking water with Slovenian, which has no specific requirements for fungi. Fungi were isolated with up to 38 CFU/L from 75% of Swedish samples. The most common were the genera Varicosporellopsis (27.3%), Paracremonium (14.5%), and black yeasts Cadophora, Cyphellophora, and Exophiala (18.2%). Using the same sampling and isolation methods, 90% of tap water samples in Slovenia were positive for fungi, with Aspergillus spp. (46%), Aureobasidium melanogenum (36%), and Exophiala spp. (24%) being the most common. The observed differences between countries are likely the consequence of geographical location, the use of different raw water sources, and water treatment methods. However, the core species and emerging fungi Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto, Exophiala phaeomuriformis, Bisifusarium dimerum, and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa were isolated in both studies. These findings point out the relevance of tracking the presence of emerging fungi with known effects on health in drinking water and encourage further studies on their transmission from raw water sources to the end-users.
Surfaces with modified morphology and wettability arrangement: a potential medium for water harvesting in desertification areas
Authors: Zhang Tongqian , Xi Yan , Wang Han , Zhang ZengZhi
Published: July 2023

The cost of water transport for irrigating drought-endurable plants in desertification areas makes it important to develop other water sources. Research shows that freshwater produced by dewing could satisfy the water requirement during germination of desert plants, therefore, functional materials that promote dew formation provide solutions for reduction of plant irrigation costs in desertification regions. In this review, feasibility of utilizing trace irrigation for ensuring survival of desert plants has been demonstrated. The technologies of preparing water harvesting materials with modified microstructure and wettability arrangement have been introduced, it has been shown that surface embedded with a bump array which has counter wettability compared with its plane section is a common morphology adopted by current works. After comparing climates in desertification regions with those in dewing chambers, it has been found that currently, the expected values of dew productivities of most water harvesting materials in deserted areas will not be as efficient as they performed in experiments due to low relative humidity. However, hydrophobic surface with submicron scale hydrophilic spherical cavity array produced by nanosphere lithography has shown reliable prospects in reducing the energy barrier of heterogeneous nucleation and thus become a more potential medium in dew water production.
Research on the application of BIM-based green construction management in the whole life cycle of hydraulic engineering
Authors: Yang Zhen , Li Meihong , Chen En dian , Li Hao , Cheng Shi Cong , Zhao Fang
Published: July 2023

Taking the construction management of green water conservancy projects combined with BIM as the research background, we analyzed the application of BIM technology in green construction management. The results also showed that the overall trend of green construction management research is on the rise, the research on green construction management at home and abroad is relatively close, and the research directions tend to be intelligent and informative, but there is relatively little research on water conservancy engineering. Combining the current green construction standards of water conservancy projects, the related literature, and the current situation of the application of BIM technology in water conservancy project construction management, the concept of green construction of water conservancy projects and the core requirements of BIM technology for whole-life-cycle green construction are proposed. The new green construction technology was applied in combination with BIM to form a collaborative and scaled multiparty management structure map for the whole process area, build a framework system for green construction management of water conservancy projects, and design a specific implementation process for the application of real-time green construction simulation systems in BIM.
Sewage phosphorus recovery through sachets loaded with water treatment plant sludge
Authors: Coelho Miriam Gabrielle , Franco Débora de Melo , Siqueira Juliano Curi de , Ribeiro Ivan Célio Andrade , Crippa Rodolfo Appoloni , Fia Ronaldo , Matos Mateus Pimentel de
Published: July 2023

Conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) present low phosphorus (P) removal capacity. Conversely, water treatment plants (WTPs) produce sludge with great P sorption from wastewater; however, directly adding the sludge into the wastewater treatment system could increase the effluent turbidity. As a novel approach, the present study evaluated the performance of WTP sludge within paper sachets for P removal from treated sewage. Different sludge concentrations (2–30 g L−1) and contact times (1–27 d) were applied to treat sewage from a university WWTP outlet. The sludge was characterized by P, Fe, and Al content. Larger sludge masses showed higher P removal efficiencies due to their high Fe content, especially at longer contact times (up to 100% at the final of the experiment). However, there is a more significant P reduction in the first 10 d (more than 90% in the most efficient treatment – 30 mg L−1). Based on the kinetic and isotherm analyses and the sludge chemical composition, precipitation proved to be a mechanism of great importance in P removal. Therefore, WTP sludge sachets can be a promising way to remove P from sewage, and the formed solid waste might be reused as an alternative fertilizer.
Prediction of the roughness coefficient for drainage pipelines with sediments using GA-BPNN
Authors: Sun Bin , Zheng Wei , Tong An , Di Danyang , Li Zhiwei
Published: July 2023

Accurate prediction of the roughness coefficient of sediment-containing drainage pipes can help engineers optimize urban drainage systems. In this paper, the variation of the roughness coefficient of circular drainage pipes containing different thicknesses of sediments under different flows and slopes was studied by experimental measurements. Back Propagation Neural Network (BPNN) and Genetic Algorithm-Back Propagation Neural Network (GA-BPNN) were used to predict the roughness coefficient. To explore the potential of artificial neural networks to predict the roughness coefficient, a formula based on drag segmentation was established to calculate the roughness coefficient. The results show that the variation trend of the roughness coefficient with flow, hydraulic radius, and Reynolds number is consistent. With the increase of the three parameters, the roughness coefficient decreases overall. Compared to the traditional empirical formula, the BPNN model and the GA-BPNN model increased the determination factors in the testing stage by 3.47 and 3.99%, respectively, and reduced the mean absolute errors by 41.18 and 47.06%, respectively. The study provides an intelligent method for accurate prediction of sediment-containing drainage pipes roughness coefficient.
Особенности цифрового досуга учащихся школ, различающихся условиями обучения и воспитания, в период пандемии Covid-19
Authors: Каменская Валентина Г. , Татьянина Елена В.
Published: July 2023

Introduction. There are a large number of facts in the scientific literature demonstrating the increasing influence of digital technologies on the involvement of adolescents in Internet activity. However, contradictions in the experimental material and the heterogeneity of research methods make it difficult to formulate certain conclusions about the nature of the impact of the Internet on adolescents. The peculiarity of our study is to study the behavior on the Internet of school students who are characterized by different learning and upbringing conditions using the same methodology in similar conditions of social restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We relied on the fact that every teenager has certain preferences for virtual leisure, and the choice of online activities is characterized by certain similarities in different educational institutions, but at the same time it may be related to the quality of physical and social activity in a real environment.
Methods. The approved author's questionnaire "Digital preferences of modern teenagers" was used, which allows quantifying the features of different types of students' activities in a virtual environment. 96 students from three schools in Lipetsk took part in the survey, differing in learning conditions, different contributions of additional education (sports classes in sections) and active participation in public life of the city.
Results. The activity of students in social networks is characterized by differences in preferred leisure activities and time spent on communication on the Internet. For the first time, it was established that overly enthusiastic visiting of social networks, which means using the Internet for 4 or more hours a day, is due to both the humanitarian specifics of the school's educational program and the neglect of students outside of school life.
Discussion. The article establishes the fundamental features of the activity of Russian teenagers on the Internet during the Covid-19 pandemic in comparison with their peers from other countries: Russians prefer communication in social networks to all other types of leisure in the virtual space. The practical and significant role of teenagers' activity in real social life, passion for sports and physical culture as ways to prevent the formation of Internet addiction is discussed.
Current Developments in Synthetic Protocols for Pyrazolines and Analogs
Authors: Kumar Rajnish , Singh Himanshu , Mazumder Avijit , Salahuddin  , Yadav Ranjeet Kumar
Published: July 2023

The pyrazoline moiety is present in several commercialized molecules with a wide
range of applications, which has established their importance in the pharmaceutical, agricultural
and industrial sectors. A large number of patents have been granted on research related
to pyrazolines. Due to its broad-spectrum usefulness, scientists are continuously captivated by
pyrazolines and their derivatives to study their chemistry. Several synthesis strategies can
prepare pyrazolines or their analogs, and the focus will always be on new greener and more
economical ways for its synthesis. Among all the methods, chalcones, hydrazines, diazo compounds,
and hydrazones have been most commonly applied in different reaction conditions
for the synthesis of pyrazoline and its analogs synthesis. However, there are a lot of scopes for
other molecules like Huisgen zwitter ions, different metal catalysts, and nitrile imine to be
used as starting reagents. The presented article consists of recently reported synthetic protocols of pyrazoline and
its derivatives, which will be very useful to the researchers.
Synthesis, Characterization, Acute Dermal Toxicity, Anti-inflammatory, and Wound Healing Potential of Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles in Balb C Mice
Authors: Andleeb Saiqa , Iqbal epub , Gulzar Nazia , Raza Abida , Ahmad Ashfaq
Published: July 2023

Aim:

The current study aimed to develop an economic plant-based therapeutic agent to improve the treatment strategies for diseases at the nano-scale.

Method:

In the current research, silver nanoparticles were synthesized using Trillium govanianum aqueous extract. Characterizations were done using UV–visible spectrophotometer, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. In vivo biological activities such as acute dermal toxicity, wound healing, and anti-inflammatory were done on Balb C mice. Absorbance at 295 nm corresponds to the out-of-plane quadrupole Plasmonresonance while at 350 nm corresponds to in-plane dipole resonance. SEM images showed the morphology of TGAgNPs is not exactly spherical while XRD analysis shows that highly crystalline TGAgNPs with an average size of 27.94 nm. The FTIR spectrum represents sharp peaks of aldehyde, amide I, aromatic rings, and polysaccharides. The microscopic assessment did not find any epidermal and dermal layer abnormalities in Blab C mice when exposed to TGAgNPs during acute dermal toxicity.

Result & Discussion:

Results revealed that 1000 mg/kg is not a lethal dose. In the wound healing activity, no mortality and no abnormal signs were observed when petroleum jelly, nitrofuranose, TGaqu, and TGAgNPs-based ointments were applied. Enhanced epithelization was recorded in TGaqu and TGAgNPs treated mice (p≤0.001). The wound contraction percentage was higher in nitrofuranose-treated mice (74%) followed by TGAgNPs (71%), and TGaqu (69%) compared to vehicle-treated and open-wounded mice. The paw edema model proved the potential use of TGAgNPs and TGaqu as anti-inflammatory agents.

Conclusion:

Hence, the results proved that both TGaqu and TGAgNPs are not toxic and possessed strong anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effects due to the presence of phytochemical constituents and could be used in various drug production as a therapeutic agent.
Microtubules and Cell Division: Potential Pharmacological Targets in
Cancer Therapy
Authors: Sebastian Jomon , Rathinasamy Krishnan
Published: July 2023

Microtubules are a well-known target in cancer chemotherapy because of their critical
role in cell division. Chromosome segregation during mitosis depends on the establishment of the
mitotic spindle apparatus through microtubule dynamics. The disruption of microtubule dynamics
through the stabilization or destabilization of microtubules results in the mitotic arrest of the cells.
Microtubule-targeted drugs, which interfere with microtubule dynamics, inhibit the growth of cells
at the mitotic phase and induce apoptotic cell death. The principle of microtubule-targeted drugs is
to arrest the cells at mitosis and reduce their growth because cancer is a disease of unchecked cell
proliferation. Many anti-microtubule agents produce significant inhibition of cancer cell growth
and are widely used as chemotherapeutic drugs for the treatment of cancer. The drugs that interact
with microtubules generally bind at one of the three sites vinblastine site, taxol site, or colchicine
site. Colchicine binds to the interface of tubulin heterodimer and induces the depolymerization of
microtubules. The colchicine binding site on microtubules is a much sought-after target in the history
of anti-microtubule drug discovery. Many colchicine-binding site inhibitors have been discovered,
but their use in the treatment of cancer is limited due to their dose-limiting toxicity and resistance
in humans. Combination therapy can be a new treatment strategy to overcome these drawbacks
of currently available microtubule-targeted anticancer drugs. This review discusses the significance
of microtubules as a potential pharmacological target for cancer and stresses the necessity of
finding new microtubule inhibitors to fight the disease.
Genome-wide Association Studies of REST Gene Associated Neurological
Diseases/traits with Related Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms
Authors: Wang Jingjing , Roy Sagor Kumar , Richard Seidu A. , Xu Yuming
Published: July 2023

Background:

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been used to explore the
connections between genotypes and phenotypes by comparing the genotype frequencies of genetic
changes in individuals with similar origins but distinct traits.

Objectives:

The aim is to employ the GWAS catalog to identify and investigate the various correlations
between genotypes and phenotypes of the REST gene.

Methods:

In this study, we utilized a large dataset of GWAS comprising 62,218,976 individuals in
112 studies and 122 associations with 122 traits (www.ebi.ac.uk/gwas/genes/REST) from European,
Asian, Hispanic, African ancestry up to 28 February 2023. Protein-association network evaluation
and gene ontology enrichment study was utilized to evaluate the biological function of the
discovered gene modules.

Results:

We identified several associations for both neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative
disorders linked to REST, as well as its mapped gene modules and their functional relationship
networks.

Conclusion:

This work offers fresh insights into identifying risk loci of neurological disorders
caused by REST.
Phytochemical, Geographical, and Pharmacological Retrospect of Genus Torilis
Authors: Nasreen Noshin , Semmar Nabil , Farman Muhammad , Lacaille-Dubois Marie-Aleth , Ahmed Naseem Saud
Published: July 2023

Background:

Genus Torilis (Apiaceae) known as hedge parsley, encompasses 11-13 species distributed worldwide and shows potential pharmacological uses. Its phytochemical pattern is highly diversified including many phenolic and terpenic compounds.

Objective:

This research-review provides new highlighting of structural organizations, structure-activity trends, taxonomical, tissue and geographical distribution of phytocompounds of Torilis ge-nus from extensive statistical analyses of available data.

Method:

In extenso, exploration of documented literature and statistical data analyses were applied to update the phytochemical pool of the genus under several aspects including structural diversity, geographical distribution, biological compartmentations and pharmacological activities.

Results:

Phytoconstituents were classified into homogeneous clusters that revealed to be associated with chemical constitutions (aglycone types, chemical groups) and distributions (through species, tissues, geographical). About bioactivities, terpenes were studied from a pharmacological point of view with relatively high frequencies for antifungal, antibacterial, cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities. Preliminary structure-activity relationships were highlighted implying opposite effects between hydroxylation and methylation in favor of different activities. Crude extracts and isolated compounds have shown several biological activities (antibacterial, anticancer, antiangiogenic, anti-proliferative, etc.), thus providing authentic scientific proof for their diverse uses in folk medicines.

Conclusion:

The phytochemistry of the genus Torilis promises important perspectives in matters of pharmacological activities. These perspectives call for further investments in pharmacology because of (i) unbalance between phenolic and terpenic compounds according to the countries and (ii) more advanced current states of structural elucidations compared to biological evaluations.
Physicochemical Significance of Topological Indices: Importance in Drug
Discovery Research
Authors: Bhatia Karanpreet Singh , Gupta Ankit Kumar , Saxena Anil Kumar
Published: July 2023

Background:

Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) studies describing the correlations between biological activity as dependent parameters and physicochemical and structural descriptors, including topological indices (TIs) as independent parameters, play an important role in drug discovery research. The emergence of graph theory in exploring the structural attributes of the chemical space has led to the evolution of various TIs, which have made their way into drug discovery. The TIs are easy to compute compared to the empirical parameters, but they lack physiochemical interpretation, which is essential in understanding the mechanism of action

Objective:

Hence, efforts have been made to review the work on the advances in topological indices, their physicochemical significance, and their role in developing QSAR models.

Methods:

A literature search has been carried out, and the research article providing evidence of the physicochemical significance of the topological parameters as well as some recent studies utilizing these parameters in the development of QSAR models, have been evaluated.

Result:

In this review, the physicochemical significance of TIs have been described through their correlations between empirical parameters in terms of explainable physicochemical properties, along with their application in the development of predictive QSAR models.

Conclusion:

Most of these findings suggest a common trend of TIs correlation with MR rather than logP or other parameters; nevertheless, the developed models may be useful in both drug and vaccine development.
Untangling Breast Cancer: Trailing Towards Nanoformulations-based Drug Development
Authors: Verma Ravinder , Kumar Kuldeep , Bhatt Shailendra , Yadav Manish , Kumar Manish , Tagde Priti , Rajinikanth P.S. , Tiwari Abhishek , Tiwari Varsha , Nagpal Diksha , Mittal Vineet , Kaushik Deepak
Published: July 2023

All over the world, cancer death and prevalence are increasing. Breast cancer (BC) is the major
cause of cancer mortality (15%) which makes it the most common cancer in women. BC is defined
as the furious progression and quick division of breast cells. Novel nanotechnology-based approaches
helped in improving survival rate, metastatic BC is still facing obstacles to treat with an expected overall
23% survival rate. This paper represents epidemiology, classification (non-invasive, invasive and
metastatic), risk factors (genetic and non-genetic) and treatment challenges of breast cancer in brief.
This review paper focus on the importance of nanotechnology-based nanoformulations for treatment of
BC. This review aims to deliver elementary insight and understanding of the novel nanoformulations in
BC treatment and to explain to the readers for enduring designing novel nanomedicine. Later, we elaborate
on several types of nanoformulations used in tumor therapeutics such as liposomes, dendrimers,
polymeric nanomaterials and many others. Potential research opportunities for clinical application and
current challenges related to nanoformulations utility for the treatment of BC are also highlighted in this
review. The role of artificial intelligence is elaborated in detail. We also confer the existing challenges
and perspectives of nanoformulations in effective tumor management, with emphasis on the various patented
nanoformulations approved or progression of clinical trials retrieved from various search engines.
Efficacy of Auditory Spatial Training with Real-Life Environmental Noise on Speech-in-Noise Intelligibility of Children with Hearing Loss
Authors: Choi Euna , Lee Jae Hee
Published: July 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to determine whether auditory spatial training with real-life environmental noise would improve the speech-in-noise intelligibility of hearing-impaired children. Methods: Thirteen children with hearing loss participated in this study. We conducted an 8-week in-laboratory auditory spatial training. During the training, the target sentence and pre-recorded real-life environmental noise were spatially separated by 90°, and uncertainty about the location of the target and noise was given. To evaluate the efficacy of the training, sentence recognition with fluctuating and non-fluctuating noises was measured in a free sound-field condition, where the speech and noise sources were spatially separated and also co-located. The pre-training tests of sentence-in-noise recognition were performed twice with an interval of 6 weeks. The sentence-in-noise recognition test was also measured right after the 8-week training (post-training test) as well as 1 month after the completion of the training (retention test). In addition to the objective tests, the parents completed a subjective questionnaire on auditory behavior in everyday life before and after training. Results: There were no significant differences between the results of the two pre-training tests. The auditory spatial training significantly enhanced sentence-in-noise recognition in both spatially separated and co-located conditions at all signal-to-noise ratios, and the training efficacy was maintained until 1 month after the completion of the training. The parental subjective responses also showed positive changes after the training. Conclusion: An 8-week auditory spatial training could effectively enhance the speech-in-noise intelligibility of hearing-impaired children in spatialized as well as non-spatialized conditions.
Patient and Clinician Perceptions of the Pulse Oximeter in a Remote Monitoring Setting for COVID-19: Qualitative Study
Authors: Torres-Robles Andrea , Allison Karen , Poon Simon K , Shaw Miranda , Hutchings Owen , Britton Warwick J , Wilson Andrew , Baysari Melissa
Published: July 2023

Background

As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sydney Local Health District in New South Wales, Australia, launched the rpavirtual program, the first full-scale virtual hospital in Australia, to remotely monitor and follow up stable patients with COVID-19. As part of the intervention, a pulse oximeter wearable device was delivered to patients to monitor their oxygen saturation levels, a critical indicator of COVID-19 patient deterioration. Understanding users’ perceptions toward the device is fundamental to assessing its usability and acceptability and contributing to the effectiveness of the intervention, but no research to date has explored the user experience of the pulse oximeter for remote monitoring in this setting.

Objective

This study aimed to explore the use, performance, and acceptability of the pulse oximeter by clinicians and patients in rpavirtual during COVID-19.

Methods

Semistructured interviews and usability testing were conducted. Stable adult patients with COVID-19 (aged ≥18 years) who used the pulse oximeter and were monitored by rpavirtual, and rpavirtual clinicians monitoring these patients were interviewed. Clinicians could be nurses, doctors, or staff who were part of the team that assisted patients with the use of the pulse oximeter. Usability testing was conducted with patients who had the pulse oximeter when they were contacted. Interviews were coded using the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability. Usability testing was conducted using a think-aloud protocol. Data were collected until saturation was reached.

Results

Twenty-one patients (average age 51, SD 13 years) and 15 clinicians (average age 41, SD 11 years) completed the interview. Eight patients (average age 51, SD 13 years) completed the usability testing. All participants liked the device and thought it was easy to use. They also had a good understanding of how to use the device and the device’s purpose. Patients’ age and device use–related characteristics (eg, the warmth of hands and hand steadiness) were identified by users as factors negatively impacting the accurate use of the pulse oximeter.

Conclusions

Patients and clinicians had very positive perceptions of the pulse oximeter for COVID-19 remote monitoring, indicating high acceptability and usability of the device. However, factors that may impact the accuracy of the device should be considered when delivering interventions using the pulse oximeter for remote monitoring. Targeted instructions about the use of the device may be necessary for specific populations (eg, older people and patients unfamiliar with technology). Further research should focus on the integration of the pulse oximeter data into electronic medical records for real-time and secure patient monitoring.
Digital Phenotyping for Monitoring Mental Disorders: Systematic Review
Authors: Bufano Pasquale , Laurino Marco , Said Sara , Tognetti Alessandro , Menicucci Danilo
Published: July 2023

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the impact and spread of mental illness and made health services difficult to access; therefore, there is a need for remote, pervasive forms of mental health monitoring. Digital phenotyping is a new approach that uses measures extracted from spontaneous interactions with smartphones (eg, screen touches or movements) or other digital devices as markers of mental status.

Objective

This review aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using digital phenotyping for predicting relapse or exacerbation of symptoms in patients with mental disorders through a systematic review of the scientific literature.

Methods

Our research was carried out using 2 bibliographic databases (PubMed and Scopus) by searching articles published up to January 2023. By following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis) guidelines, we started from an initial pool of 1150 scientific papers and screened and extracted a final sample of 29 papers, including studies concerning clinical populations in the field of mental health, which were aimed at predicting relapse or exacerbation of symptoms. The systematic review has been registered on the web registry Open Science Framework.

Results

We divided the results into 4 groups according to mental disorder: schizophrenia (9/29, 31%), mood disorders (15/29, 52%), anxiety disorders (4/29, 14%), and substance use disorder (1/29, 3%). The results for the first 3 groups showed that several features (ie, mobility, location, phone use, call log, heart rate, sleep, head movements, facial and vocal characteristics, sociability, social rhythms, conversations, number of steps, screen on or screen off status, SMS text message logs, peripheral skin temperature, electrodermal activity, light exposure, and physical activity), extracted from data collected via the smartphone and wearable wristbands, can be used to create digital phenotypes that could support gold-standard assessment and could be used to predict relapse or symptom exacerbations.

Conclusions

Thus, as the data were consistent for almost all the mental disorders considered (mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and schizophrenia), the feasibility of this approach was confirmed. In the future, a new model of health care management using digital devices should be integrated with the digital phenotyping approach and tailored mobile interventions (managing crises during relapse or exacerbation).
Mediterranean Diet Information on TikTok and Implications for Digital Health Promotion Research: Social Media Content Analysis (Preprint)
Authors: Raber Margaret , Allen Haley , Huang Sophia , Vazquez Maria , Warner Echo , Thompson Debbe
Published: July 2023

BACKGROUND

The Mediterranean diet has been linked to reduced risk for several cardiometabolic diseases. The lack of a clear definition of the Mediterranean diet in the scientific literature and the documented proliferation of nutrition misinformation on the internet suggest the potential for confusion among consumers seeking web-based Mediterranean diet information.

OBJECTIVE

We conducted a social media content analysis of information about the Mediterranean diet on the influential social media platform, TikTok, to examine public discourse about the diet and identify potential areas of misinformation. We then analyzed these findings in the context of health promotion to identify potential challenges and opportunities for the use of TikTok in promoting the Mediterranean diet for healthy living.

METHODS

The first-appearing 202 TikTok posts that resulted from a search of the hashtag #mediterraneandiet were downloaded and qualitatively examined. Post features and characteristics, poster information, and engagement metrics were extracted and synthesized across posts. Posts were categorized as those created by health professionals and those created by nonhealth professionals based on poster-reported credentials. In addition to descriptive statistics of the entire sample, we compared posts created by professionals and nonprofessionals for content using chi-square tests.

RESULTS

TikTok posts varied in content, but posts that were developed by health professionals versus nonprofessionals were more likely to offer a definition of the Mediterranean diet (16/106, 15.1% vs 2/96, 2.1%; P=.001), use scientific citations to support claims (26/106, 24.5% vs 0/96, 0%; P<.001), and discuss specific nutrients (33/106, 31.1% vs 6/96, 6.3%; P<.001) and diseases related to the diet (27/106, 25.5% vs 5/96, 5.2%; P<.001) compared to posts created by nonhealth professionals.

CONCLUSIONS

Social media holds promise as a venue to promote the Mediterranean diet, but the variability in information found in this study highlights the need to create clear definitions about the diet and its components when developing Mediterranean diet interventions that use new media structures.
Hacia revisiones de la literatura más eficientes potenciadas por inteligencia artificial
Authors: Carbajal-Degante Erik , Hernández Gutiérrez Myrna , Sánchez-Mendiola Melchor
Published: July 2023

Las revisiones de la literatura para tareas de investigación y docencia se enfrentan cada vez más a nuevos retos, debido principalmente al crecimiento considerable del material bibliográfico en todas las disciplinas. Esencialmente, la búsqueda y selección de información se tornan exhaustivas y agotadoras debido a la falta de organización en la recopilación sistemática de documentos, así como el manejo incorrecto de los metadatos y la gran variabilidad en los resultados que ofrecen los mecanismos automáticos de consulta. En este sentido, la inteligencia artificial (IA) está revolucionando la revisión de la literatura al emplear sistemas capaces de analizar e interpretar el contenido de muchos documentos en una forma rápida, así como ofrecer resultados con un nivel de precisión mayor que los motores de búsqueda tradicionales. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo describir los avances recientes en la etapa de acoplamiento inteligente de los métodos para la revisión de la literatura académica, refiriendo al uso de herramientas de aprendizaje automático y aprendizaje profundo asociadas a la optimización en el procesamiento del lenguaje natural. Finalmente se abordan las implicaciones que conlleva emplear sistemas capaces de omitir juicios y tomar decisiones con respecto a la utilidad y relevancia de los datos analizados.