bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Background Analysis of Community Acquired Pneumonia: Environmental Bio contamination in Residential Spaces
Authors: Nakamoto Kembu , Kawamoto Sadahiro , Kawamura Yuko , Tahara Nobuyasu , Fujii Toshiyuki , Hashiyada Hiroshi
Published: February 2022

Objective: The cause of the prevalence increase in community-acquired pneumonia is unclear. The environmental bio contamination of residential spaces was investigated. Patients and Methods: A retrospective analysis of 146 pneumonia patients admitted between January 2019 and December 2019 was performed. Age, living status, smoking status, and nursing care status were assessed. Bio contamination in residential spaces and the bactericidal effects of tobacco, incense-stick smoke and electrolyzed saline (ES) were examined using Koch’s method. Results: The patients were quite old (mean age: 80.9 ± 12.6 y.o.). Living in a private residence, where smoking tobacco, pesticide and incense-stick use might be allowed, carried a low risk of pneumonia (OR: 0.026, 95% CI: 0.003–0.190). Current smokers had a low risk of pneumonia (OR: 0.348, 95%CI: 0.143–0.844). Patients that did not require nursing care had a low risk of pneumonia (OR: 0.004, 95%CI: 0.001–0.026). Significantly more colony-forming units (CFU) were detected in communal spaces than in private spaces (5.85 ± 1.41 vs 0.30 ± 0.24 CFU/5 min). Significantly more CFU were detected in places where smoking was restricted than in spaces where smoking was allowed (5.90 ± 1.49 vs 1.24 ± 0.79 CFU/5 min). However, the examined residential spaces were generally clean. The number of CFU in vocalized droplets was very high (thousands). Both tobacco and incensestick smoke had bactericidal effects on droplet-borne bio contamination; i.e., they reduced the number of CFU by >90%, as did ES solution, which also suppressed oropharyngeal bio contamination. Conclusions: Smokeless residential environment might be responsible to the prevalence increase of communityacquired pneumonia. ES might contribute to preventing pneumonia epidemics.
Surgical Site Infections in General Surgery at the Regional Hospital of Thies (Senegal): Epidemiological, Bacteriological Aspects and Risk Factors
Authors: Rokhaya Diagne , Codou Niang Ndeye , Mbar Wade Thomas Marcel , Aminata Sow , Roughyatou Ka , Abdoulaye Seck , Abdoulaye Ba Papa
Published: February 2022

Introduction: Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) are frequent and lead to serious consequences and in terms of morbidity and mortality, with an increase in the length of hospitalization and health costs. Developing countries are the most affected. The aim of our study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical, and bacteriological aspects of SSIs in general surgery at the RH of Thies. Methods: This is a prospective study over a period of seven months (7 months) from September 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019 at the level of the general surgery department of the Regional Hospital of Thies. Bacteriological studies were carried out at the level of the Bacteriology unit of the National Public Health Laboratory of Senegal. Results: The incidence of SSIs in our study was 9.9%. The SSIs rate was 15.3% among resident surgeons, 10% among junior surgeons, 6.8% among senior ones. The surgical intervention was classified as Altemeier stage 1 in 3.4% of cases (n = 1), stage 2 in 27.6% of cases (n = 8), stage 3 in 24.1% of cases (n = 7) and stage 4 in 44.8% of cases (n = 13). Twenty-two of the isolated stems (73.3% of cases) were multidrug-resistant bacilli. The extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) phenotype was found in 22 isolates and 1 stem of K. pneumoniae was resistant to all antibiotics. Conclusion: SSIs constitute a challenge because of their high frequency and the high resistance of germs to common antibiotics. Currently, the main mode of resistance of bacteria in SSIs is the secretion of ESBL. This phenomenon seems to be major in our regions where it is urgent to review the therapeutic protocols in practice in the services.
Evaluation of Antibacterial Efficacy of Randomly Selected Alcohol Based Hand Sanitizers Sourced from Grocery Shops within Lagos Metropolis on Some Local Bacterial Strains in COVID-19 Era
Authors: Enwuru Christian A. , Awoderu Oluwatoyin O. , E Emelda , C Chukwu , Afocha Ebelechukwu E. , Raman Lawal G , Gogwan Peter L. , Igbasi Uche T. , Audu Rosemary A.
Published: February 2022

Background: Health experts promote the use of alcohol based hand rubs to contain the spread of microbes. The emergence of novel SARS-CoV-2 virus has brought a worsening public health challenge that re-enacted the importance of hand hygiene globally. Objective: This study evaluated the antimicrobial efficacy of locally made alcohol-based hand rubes sourced from grocery shops within Lagos metropolis, Nigeria. Methods: We conducted a laboratory based in vitro experiment, using 20 randomly sourced hand sanitizers against standard Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) and three locally characterized Multi-drug-Resistant bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus (NIMR/NTCC/GP056), Klebsiella pneumonia (NIMR/NTCC/GN065) and Proteus stutzin - (NIMR/NTCC/ GN029). Reference standard, 60 % isopropanol was used as positive control. Test suspension method as per European standard PrEN12054 was employed. The Colony Forming Unit/mL (CFU/mL) at base line and after each contact time (15, 30 & 45 seconds) with samples was recorded. The Logarithmic reduction factor (RF) and percent reduction were computed and expressed using descriptive statistics. Results: Out of the 20 solutions tested (10 sprays and 10 gels), 11 (55%) had standard efficacy of 5-Log10 reduction factor (6.7- 6.8) recommended at 15 seconds exposure time on the 4 bacteria. Out of such 7 (64%) were spray solution (L1, L3, L5, L10, L11, L12 & L16), while 4 (36%) were gel solutions (L9, L15, L18 & L20). Another 2 (10%) had relative time based efficacy at between 30 to 45 seconds exposure (L2 spray and L14 gel). Seven (35%) (L7 & L17 spray; L4, L6, L8, L13 & L19 gel solutions) failed the test. Escherichia coli and Proteus stutzin were more susceptible to the samples tested and produced higher RF. Conclusion: About 45 % of the hand sanitizers had poor efficacy and this is quite high, especially in this era of pandemic. This report underscores the need for production policy review by the regulatory body. It is imperative to enforce quality management regime, particularly, internal and external production quality control. Periodic batch efficacy validation is necessary to ensure precision. Poor quality products must be actionable. We recommend this experiment be scaled up to national level and to cover major microbial pathogens.
Current Control Measures for SARS-CoV-2 the Aetiological Agent of COVID-19
Authors: Meade Elaine , Savage Micheal , Garvey Mary
Published: February 2022

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the aetiological agent of COVID-19 continues to be a threat to public health globally. Viral transmission is horizontal from person-to-person via cough, sneeze and droplets with surface spreading also possible. Disease can progress to severe or life-threatening requiring hospitalisation and oxygen therapy with acute respiratory distress syndrome and multiple organ failure often evident. While non-therapeutic controls measure such as restricting the movement of people and recurrent lockdowns have proven vital to preventing disease transmission, such action has had substantial impact on economies across the globe with a global recession to be expected. Disease prevention measures implemented to curtail the pandemic is heavily reliant on effective biocide control measures with the EPA listing suitable viricidal disinfectants for use. The unprecedented demand for PPE has led to supply shortages with efforts to establish suitable sterilisation methods for re-purposing PPE materials. As variants of concern emerge globally, concern has arisen relating to the efficacy of current vaccination programmes to protect against each new strain displaying increased transmissibility. This review discusses the epidemiology of COVID-19 highlighting viral virulence factors promoting pathogenicity and current control measures therapeutic and non-therapeutic in use as best practice preventative measures.
Investigation of Seroprevalence of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in Samsun Region
Authors: MA Gun , Hamza Kadi
Published: February 2022

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is a highly deadly infection transmitted to humans by ticks, has an acute course, and progresses with bleeding. The disease entered Turkey for the first time in 2002 and has continued until today. The primary source of transmission of the disease to humans is ticked and contact with the body fluids of infected animals or humans. Since animals have the subclinical disease, they have an important place, especially in human transmission. In this study, serum of people living in the urban and rural areas of Vezirkopru district and the rural areas of Kavak district are endemic in terms of CCHF disease in Samsun, without a history of tick bite and who came to the hospital for health check-ups were used. While serums were collected from the district urban and rural areas in Vezirkopru, only rural areas in the Kavak district were collected between January 2020 and March 2020. A total of 336 (168 Vezirkopru, 168 Kavak) serums were tested for CCHF Virus IgG antibodies. As a test result, 15 (8.9%) serum collected from Vezirkopru and 12 (7.1%) serum collected from Kavak were positive. When the studies conducted throughout Turkey are examined, the seroprevalence rate determined in the region was found to be close to the endemic regions.
Manage Communication in Handover for Risk Prevention and Improvement of the Quality of Assistance. Systematic Review of the Literature on the Different Types of Nursing Deliveries
Authors: Elsa Vitale , Michele Massaro , Alessia Matteucci , Cosimo Della Pietà , Attilio Gualano , Francesco Germini
Published: February 2022

Handover is a part of the activities that are learned in the course of clinical practice, from the observation of expert colleagues, first as students and then as new hires, becoming a teaching tool for communicating nursing care data. The present literature of review aimed to verify the effectiveness of the methods of transmission of information of nursing interest, published in the literature, to guarantee the continuity of care of the patient, recognizing its limits and the advantages in their application. The strategy used to identify the studies included consulting the following electronic databases: PubMed, Cinahl, Scopus, Google Scholar. A total of 27 studies, of which 14 were included in the bibliographic review and 13 were considered excluded. From the systemic analysis of the articles, it is highlighted that there is still no evidence available to support the effectiveness of one style of handover over another. However, it is of fundamental importance to systematically apply the guiding principles for a safe handover; use a “face to face” system; make use of information technology to support the communication process and implement the co-participation of the hospitalized person. To improve clinical practice, the various methods of handover must be influenced by each other, thus limiting the negative characteristics of the same if taken individually. It also emerged that most systems are characterized by a greater demand for working time, entailing the risk of losing information, not involving the patient, the fulcrum of the nursing care process. Bedside handover is the modality with the lowest risk of error among those analyzed as it reduces the time required for the transfer of information, analyzes the patient holistically, is the transparency and trust of the patients towards the health professionals is guaranteed and the clinical risk is reduced; all fundamental elements to allow a safe care process. However, the bedside handover is not a perfect system; in fact, a contrasting element is the patient’s privacy issue, which is omitted when the nurse transfers the information to the patient’s bed. Therefore, it emerges the need to carry out further studies that analyze each type of handover, evaluating the benefits and limits and comparing them with an objective system that allows to determine which is the best method in order to standardize a precise method and adopt it in each department.
Case Report: Complications in ECT due to Fmr1-Premutation?
Authors: Lenz Anna Julia , Philipsen Alexandra , Degenhardt Franziska , Rohner Henrik
Published: February 2022

After a short summary on Fragile-X-Syndrome and fmr1-premutation, we present a case report on a patient pre diagnosed with fmr1-premutation undergoing a series of 14 ECTs because of a treatment resistant major depressive episode. In the course of the series, several unexpected adverse incidents occurred. According to a literature research we did on PubMed, we concluded that these adverse incidents may be related to fmr1-premutation and associated abnormities in cerebral and other physical features.
The Effects of Educational Video on Preoperative Anxiety Level among Surgical Patients of a Private Hospital
Authors: Hwee Lee Soo , Ahmad Aini , Yusuf Puziah , Kunjukunju Annamma
Published: February 2022

Surgical patients usually demonstrate fear towards anaesthesia and surgery throughout the hospitalisation. The management and assessment of anxious surgical patients are considered challenging tasks and require constant attention and reassurance from healthcare providers. Preoperative patient education has been a gold standard of nursing practice to reduce patients' anxiety for the past few decades. The study aims to assess the effectiveness of preoperative educational videos in reducing the patient preoperative anxiety level. A quantitative, quasi-experimental research design was used, and a purposive sample of 152 participants was recruited and divided equally into intervention and control groups. The selection of patients fulfilled inclusion criteria of adult patients who undergo general anaesthesia or spinal anaesthesia with elective surgery and can read English or Malay. The researcher developed a validated preoperative educational video. The intervention group had access to preoperative educational video for the preoperative education, and the control group used the existing preoperative counselling checklist. Upon admission, both groups were assessed for preoperative anxiety level using the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS) as a pre-test to record the baseline preoperative anxiety level. The same group of patients had a post-test rating of anxiety level before sending to the operation theatre. The researcher used descriptive and inferential statistics to analyse the result. Results revealed that 47.4% (72) patients experienced preoperative anxiety (M= 14.13). The female presented more anxiety (M=11.05) compared to the male patients (M=10.07). The patients showed their need for information (M=5.71). The study revealed that patients' preoperative anxiety levels reduced after the preoperative educational video. The provision of preoperative educational video can reduce the patient preoperative anxiety level. The enhancement of improvising the video to Multilanguage and extended to an application will benefit more patients.
The Effect of Education Program on Registered Nurse Perceptions, Satisfaction and Compliance towards Bedside Handover in a Private Hospital, Malaysia
Authors: Arumugam Thilagavathy A/P , Ahmad Aini , Yusof Puziah , Kunjukunju Annamma
Published: February 2022

A nursing handover involves one nurse handing over the responsibility of care for a patient to another nurse. Failure of ineffective nursing handover is associated with medication errors, delayed diagnostic testing, adverse reactions, and sentinel events. Critical information related to patient care must be efficiently communicated among registered nurses during bedside handover. This study examined registered nurses' perception, satisfaction, and compliance with bedside handovers in a private hospital in Malaysia. A quasi-experimental study using one group pre and post was conducted. A purposive sampling of 154 registered nurses who had experienced practising bedside report handover participated in the study. Compliance of registered nurses with clinical bedside handover practices was assessed using the bedside handover audit tool. The researchers used the handover evaluation scale to assess the perception of nurses regarding bedside handover. A researcher self-developed questionnaire with seven items on a 5-point Likert scale was used to assess satisfaction among registered nurses. Data was collected from 1st July 2020 to 30th December 2020. The researcher organised a bedside handover training program for the participants, and data was collected pre and post-training. The result shows the perception mean score of the pre-intervention phase as M= 5.68 (SD =.58) and post-intervention phase as M = 5.71 (SD =.38). Satisfaction level before the intervention was M = 4.13 (SD =.47) and after M = 4.31(SD =.41). This study confirmed that compliance with bedside handover (M = 66.69, SD = 5.95) was greater than in the post-intervention phase (M = 99.06, SD = 1.96). Data demonstrated an increase in perception, satisfaction, and compliance after the bedside handover education program. In conclusion, the handover practice of bedside reports and education training promotes positive working conditions, employee satisfaction, and a safe work environment, resulting in significantly increased efficiency, patient outcomes, and preservation of a safe workplace.
One Land Reform, Two Groups of Farmers in One Sugar Estate: A Case of Mkwasine
Authors: Muromo Francis
Published: February 2022

This study highlights how redistributive land reform in Mkwasine Sugar Estate created two groups of farmers in the same estate. The first group-the Chipiwa Settlement Scheme (CSS) was introduced in 1982 and the second groupthe ‘A2 sugarcane farmers’ scheme, in the year 2005 and beyond. This creation has culminated into tensions and conflict between the two groups to this day. Using both primary and secondary data the study explores how the two groups of farmers were established in the estate. Study findings indicate that the CSS was more ordered than the A2 scheme which was introduced in response to the restlessness of war veterans and landless peasants over the slow pace of land reform in the first decade of independence. Findings furher indicate that the CSS farmers had sugarcane farming skills as well as experience as compared to some of the beneficiaries of the A2 scheme. The study recommends fair treatment by the government of both groups of farmers and that the former be allocated the same sizes of land or more than was given to the latter.
The Allelopathic Efficacy of Neem Seed Cake on the Germination and Growth Vigour of Some Leguminous and Oil Seeds
Authors: K.A Bashir , U Yusuf , D.D Musa , S.S Jibia
Published: February 2022

Neem (Azadirachta indica A.) tree has been known to be useful in soil enrichment and for insect, pest and disease control. Thus, it is of benefit to study the allelopathic efficacy of powdered neem seed cake on the germination and seedling growth vigour of cowpea, groundnut, sesame, soya beans and Bambara groundnut. A field research work was conducted at college of Agriculture, Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic during the 2008 raining season using split plot design with three replication and six main plot treatment 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 8 tons/ha and the tested seeds as main subplot treatments. The result showed that powdered neem seed cake was found to have no allelopathic effect on the germination of cowpea, sesame, Bambara ground nut, ground nut at 0-2 tons/ha and soya beans at 0-4 tons/ha and have no allelopathic effect on the seedling growth vigour of cowpea, sesame, soya beans, Bambara ground nut and ground nut at 0-4 tons/ha. Further research is required on the allelopathic effect of powdered neem seed cake on the germination, growth and yield of these tested crops.
Cancer Patients Have Necessary Been COVID-19 Vaccinated
Authors: Cheepsattayakorn Attapon , Cheepsattayakorn Ruangrong , Siriwanarangsun Porntep
Published: February 2022

Hypothetically, mRNA-vaccine-encapsulated-small liposomes and lipid carriers may accumulate through the permeation retention and enhanced effect in tumor tissues. The recommendation that have been suggested administering COVID-19 vaccines one to two weeks prior to a chemotherapy dose by many key-professional organizations has not been practical with COVID-19 administration schedules (for examples; two doses of mRNA1273 (Moderna) are recommended to be given 28 days apart, whereas two doses of BNT162b2 (Pfizer/BioNTech) are given 21 days apart, efficacy > 94 %), variable chemotherapeutic regimens, and limited COVID-19 vaccination slot availability, contributing to allowing the most rapid COVID-19 vaccination of these immunosuppressed cancer patients and due to lacking COVID-19- vaccine safety and the information immunogenicity in the context of immune-system-stimulated immunotherapies (for examples; immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy) and general exclusion of malignancy-diagnosed patients in the clinical trials of currently approved COVID-19 vaccines.
Uji Toksistas Subkronik 28 Hari Ekstrak Metanolik kombinasi Daun Benalu Teh dan Benalu Mangga terhadap fungsi Hepar Pada Tikus (Rattus norvegicus) Betina
Authors: Nida' Hatif Khusnin , Sjakoer Nour Athiroh Abdoes , Mubarakati Nurul Jadid
Published: February 2022

ABSTRACT

Flavonoids and quercetin are metabolite compounds contained in parasite plants. The role of the compounds is as an antioxidant that can protect cell damage from free radicals,for example liver. The presence of antioxidant can neutralize and protect the liver from free radicals. Liver is an organ that is vulnerable to damage caused by drugs or toxic chemicals because the liver is the center of metabolism in the body. Can be known with indicators of increasing level of SGOT, SGPT total bilirubin and histopathologic liver. The purpose of this study to determine the effect of the combination of extracts of tea parasite and mango parasite (EMBTBM) on levels of liver function in female rats (Rattus norvegicus) for 28 days. Data were analyzed using ANOVA version Jamovi 1.0.1.0.. The number of test animals is 20 female rats were divided into four groups, group 1 as a control, group 2,3,4 as a treatment. The treatment groups was given EMBTBM with different doses of 250 mg/kgBW, 500 mg/kgBW and 1000 mg/kgBW. Based on the research results show that a significant value difference between the group was p> 0,05. Therefore EMBTBM given to female rats for 28 days with a dose of 250 mg/BW, 500 mg/kgBW and 1000 mg/kgBW in the treatment group all dose were not significantly different compared with controls. So that the level of liver function in female rats was safe (not toxic) and has no effect on liver histopathology of female wistar rats.

Keyword: Subchronic, Extract and liver function
PELATIHAN RETORIKA DAN MENULIS TEKS CERAMAH KELAS XI SMK NUSANTARA 02 KESEHATAN (KORELASI MENULIS TEKS CERAMAH DAN PRAKTIK RETORIKA)
Authors: Septiani Dwi , Maulinda Rerin , Saragih Desi Karolina , Aryani Aryani
Published: February 2022

Writing skills are an important aspect of academic performance as well as performance related to active skills that must be mastered, including in class XI SMK students. However, there are still many students who are not good at it, including writing lecture texts. Apart from the lack of skill in writing lecture texts, advanced stages such as rhetoric practice (lectures) are still low. Thus, this study focuses on examining the correlation between lecture text writing skills and achievement in rhetorical practice (lecture). The method used in this research is descriptive quantitative method with 50 participants of class XI SMK 02 Nusantara Kesehatan who have previously participated in online Community Service (PKM) activities carried out by the Indonesian Literature Study Program at Pamulang University with the theme "Rhetorical Practical Online Training in Writing Skills. Text of the Class XI Student Lecture at SMK Nusantara 02 Kesehatan "which was held 7—1 September 2020 with Google Meet media. The result of this study is a very significant influence between the skill of writing lecture texts (X) on the achievement of rhetoric practice (Y), which is 0.926. In addition, there is a contribution made by the skill of writing lecture texts (X) to the achievement of rhetoric practice (Y), which is 85.8%.
PEMBERDAYAAN BUDIKUNGDAMPER SEBAGAI BENTUK STRATEGI KETAHANAN PANGAN DAN EKONOMI DALAM MASA PANDEMI DI DESA ARYOJEDING TULUNGAGUNG
Authors: Umami Nailariza , Muliawati Novita Eka
Published: February 2022

During the Covid-19 pandemic, which has been running for almost 1 year, of course it has had a profound impact on all aspects of community life, especially the economy, which automatically creates another problem, namely the ability to provide family food. In terms of food security, people still lack knowledge and information. This also affects the level of creativity in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic to innovate in an effort to stabilize economic activity, especially in terms of food security. The aim of this service is to increase food security during the Covid-19 pandemic through Budikungdamper (Cultivating Fish and Water Spinach in Buckets). The methods used in this community service activity are lectures, discussions, demonstrations and hands-on practice. The work plan is programmed within 1 month.
PENYULUHAN DAN PELATIHAN KOMUNIKASI TENTANG PENDIDIKAN SEKS UNTUK ANAK USIA DINI
Authors: Fitriani Enis , Yahmun Yahmun , Sumarti Endang
Published: February 2022

The rise of cases of violence against minors causes concern for parents. Sexual violence against children is not only perpetrated by people we do not know, but can occur from those closest to us. Therefore, it is very important for parents to teach sex education to their children from a young age. The objectives of this program were to provide information, understand, and provide experiences about sex education for children at PAUD Al-Ihsan Malang Regency with the parents as the target. This program ran through socialization and training where parents got information about communicating simple sex education for early childhood with materials: seven aspects of children's education in Islam and modern education, the concept of "where do I come from?", and apply simple sex education in daily life. This program had been successfully proven by the parents’ enthusiasm in asking questions, sharing experiences, discussing, and practicing communication
Impaired hatching exacerbates the high CO2 sensitivity of embryonic sand lance Ammodytes dubius
Authors: Baumann H , Jones LF , Murray CS , Siedlecki SA , Alexander M , Cross EL
Published: February 2022

Rising oceanic partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) could affect many traits in fish early life stages, but only few species to date have shown direct CO2-induced survival reductions. This might partly be because species from less CO2-variable, offshore environments in higher latitudes are currently underrepresented in the literature. We conducted new experimental work on northern sand lance Ammodytes dubius, a key forage fish on offshore Northwest Atlantic sand banks, which was recently suggested to be highly CO2-sensitive. In 2 complementary trials, we produced embryos from wild, Gulf of Maine spawners and reared them at several pCO2 levels (~400-2000 µatm) in combination with static (6, 7, 10°C) and dynamic (10→5°C) temperature treatments. Again, we consistently observed large, CO2-induced reductions in hatching success (-23% at 1000 µatm, -61% at ~2000 µatm), and the effects were temperature-independent. To distinguish pCO2 effects during development from potential impacts on hatching itself, some embryos were switched between high and control pCO2 treatments just prior to hatch. This indeed altered hatching patterns, consistent with the CO2-impaired hatching hypothesis. High CO2 also delayed the day of first hatch in one trial and peak hatch in the other, where later-hatched larvae were of similar size but with progressively less endogenous energy reserves. For context, we extracted seasonal pCO2 projections for Stellwagen Bank (Gulf of Maine) from regional ensemble simulations, which indicated a CO2-induced reduction in sand lance hatching success to 71% of contemporary levels by 2100. The species’ unusual CO2 sensitivity has large ecological and scientific ramifications that warrant future in-depth research.
The explosive basaltic Katla eruptionin 1918, south Iceland, I: Course of events, tephra fall and flood routes
Authors: Larsen Guðrún , Janebo Maria H. , Gudmundsson Magnús T.
Published: February 2022

The 23-day long eruption of the ice-covered Katla volcano in 1918 began on October 12 and was over by November 4. Seismicity preceding and accompanying the onset had already started by 11:30 on October 12, while the eruption broke through the glacier around 3 PM. The plume rose to 14–15 km on the first day. The eruption caused widespread tephra fall, accompanied by lightning and thunder. Tephra fall from the intense first phase (October 12–14) was reported from Höfn, 200 km east of Katla, Reykjavík, 150 km to the west and Akureyri, 240 km to the north. The initial phase was followed by more sporadic activity for a week, and a second intense phase (October 22–24), with heavy tephra fall in populated areas east and south of the volcano. Skaftártunga (25–35 km east of Katla), was the worst hit farming district, with reported tephra thickness of 6.5–10 cm in total, collecting into drifts tens of cm thick. The Vík village suffered almost continuous tephra fall for 13 hours on October 24 and 25, leaving a 2 to 4 cm thick tephra layer on the ground. Tephra reached Reykjavík four times but minor tephra fallout («1 mm) occurred. Tephra also reached northern, western and eastern Iceland. In addition to producing the 0.9–1.0 km3 tephra layer, which may as freshly fallen have been 1.1–1.2 km³, the eruption was accompanied by a jökulhlaup that flooded the Mýrdalssandur plain and neighbouring areas. The jökulhlaup on October 12 had two separate phases. The first phase is considered to have flowed supraglacially down the lower parts of the Kötlujökull outlet glacier into the Leirá, Hólmsá and Skálm rivers (northern fork), and the Sandvatn and Múlakvísl rivers (southern fork). It was much more widespread than the second phase which emerged from below the glacier snout and was confined to the western part of Mýrdalssandur. That phase carried huge icebergs and massive sediment load onto the sandur plain.
The explosive, basaltic Katla eruption in 1918, south Iceland, II: Isopach map, ice cap deposition of tephra and layer volume
Authors: Gudmundsson Magnús T. , Janebo Maria H. , Larsen Guðrún , Högnadóttir Thórdís , Thordarson Thorvaldur , Gudnason Jónas , Jónsdóttir Tinna
Published: February 2022

Due to poor preservation and lack of proximal tephra thickness data, no comprehensive isopach map has existed for the tephra layer from the major eruption of the Katla volcano in 1918. We present such a map obtained by combining existing data on the thickness of the 1918 tephra in soil profiles with newly acquired data from the 590 km² Mýrdalsjökull ice cap which covers the Katla caldera and its outer slopes. A tephra thickness of 20–30 m on the ice surface proximal to the vents is inferred from photos taken in 1919. The greatest thicknesses presently observed, 30–35 cm, occur where the layer outcrops in the lowermost parts of the ablation areas of the Kötlujökull and Sólheimajökull outlet glaciers. A fallout location within the Katla caldera is inferred for the presently exposed tephra in both outlet glaciers, as estimates of balance velocities imply lateral transport since 1918 of ∼15 km for Kötlujökull, ∼11 km for Sólheimajökull and about 2 km for Sléttjökull. Calculations of thinning of the tephra layer during this lateral transport indicate that the presently exposed tephra layers in Kötlujökull and Sólheimajökull were respectively over 2 m and about 1.2 m thick where they fell while insignificant thinning is inferred for the broad northern lobe of Sléttjökull. The K1918 layer has an estimated volume of 0.95±0.25 km³ (corresponding to 1.15±0.30×1012 kg) whereof about 50\% fell on Mýrdalsjökull. About 90\% of the tephra fell on land and 10\% in the sea to the south and southeast of the volcano. The volume estimate obtained contains only a part of the total volume erupted as it excludes water-transported pyroclasts and any material that may have been left on the glacier bed at the vents. While three main dispersal axes can be defined (N, NE and SE), the distribution map is complex in shape reflecting tephra dispersal over a period of variable wind directions and eruption intensity. In terms of airborne tephra, Katla 1918 is the largest explosive eruption in Iceland since the silicic eruption of Askja in 1875.
An Insight to Brain Targeting Utilizing Polymeric Nanoparticles: Effective Treatment Modalities for Neurological Disorders and Brain Tumor
Authors: Annu  , Sartaj Ali , Qamar Zufika , Md Shadab , Alhakamy Nabil A. , Baboota Sanjula , Ali Javed
Published: February 2022

The delivery of therapeutic molecules to the brain remains an unsolved problem to the researchers due to the existence of the blood–brain barrier (BBB), which halts the entry of unwanted substances to the brain. Central nervous system (CNS) disorders, mainly Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, brain tumors, and stroke, are highly prevalent globally and are a growing concern for researchers due to restricting the delivery of pharmaceutical drugs to the brain. So effective treatment modalities are essential to combat the growing epidemic of CNS diseases. Recently, the growing attention in the field of nanotechnology has gained the faith of researchers for the delivery of therapeutics to the brain by targeting them to the specific target site. Polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) emerge out to be an instrumental approach in drug targeting to the brain by overcoming the physiological barrier, biomedical barrier, and BBB. Preclinical discovery has shown the tremendous potential and versatility of PNPs in encapsulating several drugs and their targeting to the deepest regions of the brain, thus improving therapeutic intervention of CNS disorders. The current review will summarize advances in the development of PNPs for targeting therapeutics to the brain and the functional and molecular effects obtained in the preclinical model of most common CNS diseases. The advancement of PNPs in clinical practice and their prospect in brain targeting will also be discussed briefly.
Thy-1 (CD90), Integrins and Syndecan 4 are Key Regulators of Skin Wound Healing
Authors: Pérez Leonardo A. , Leyton Lisette , Valdivia Alejandra
Published: February 2022

Acute skin wound healing is a multistage process consisting of a plethora of tightly regulated signaling events in specialized cells. The Thy-1 (CD90) glycoprotein interacts with integrins and the heparan sulfate proteoglycan syndecan 4, generating a trimolecular complex that triggers bi-directional signaling to regulate diverse aspects of the wound healing process. These proteins can act either as ligands or receptors, and they are critical for the successful progression of wound healing. The expression of Thy-1, integrins, and syndecan 4 is controlled during the healing process, and the lack of expression of any of these proteins results in delayed wound healing. Here, we review and discuss the roles and regulatory events along the stages of wound healing that support the relevance of Thy-1, integrins, and syndecan 4 as crucial regulators of skin wound healing.
Ferroptosis due to Cystathionine γ Lyase/Hydrogen Sulfide Downregulation Under High Hydrostatic Pressure Exacerbates VSMC Dysfunction
Authors: Jin Ruxi , Yang Ruixue , Cui Changting , Zhang Haizeng , Cai Jun , Geng Bin , Chen Zhenzhen
Published: February 2022

Hydrostatic pressure, stretch, and shear are major biomechanical forces of vessels and play critical roles in genesis and development of hypertension. Our previous work demonstrated that high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) promoted vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) two novel subsets: inflammatory and endothelial function inhibitory VSMCs and then exacerbated VSMC dysfunction. However, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Here, we first identified that aortic GPX4 (a core regulator of ferroptosis) significantly downregulated association with VSMC novel phenotype elevation in SHR rats and hypertension patients. In primary VSMCs, HHP (200 mmHg) increased iron accumulation, ROS production, and lipid peroxidation compared with normal pressure (100 mmHg). Consistently, the ferroptosis-related gene (COX-2, TFRC, ACSL4, and NOX-1) expression was also upregulated. The ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) administration blocked HHP-induced VSMC inflammatory (CXCL2 expression) and endothelial function inhibitory (AKR1C2 expression) phenotyping switch association with elevation in the GPX4 expression, reduction in the reactive oxygen species (ROS), and lipid peroxidation production. In contrast, the ferroptosis inducer RLS3 increased HHP-induced CXCL2 and AKR1C2 expressions. These data indicate HHP-triggering ferroptosis contributes to VSMC inflammatory and endothelial function inhibitory phenotyping switch. In mechanism, HHP reduced the VSMC GSH content and cystathionine gamma-lyase (CSE)/hydrogen sulfide (H2S)—an essential system for GSH generation. Supplementation of the H2S donor-NaHS increased the VSMC GSH level, alleviated iron deposit, ROS and lipid peroxidation production. NaHS administration rescues both HHP- and RLS3-induced ferroptosis. Collectively, HHP downregulated VSMC CSE/H2S triggering GSH level reduction, resulting in ferroptosis, which contributed to the genesis of VSMC inflammation and endothelial function inhibitory phenotypes.
Associations of Visceral Adipose Tissue, Circulating Protein Biomarkers, and Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases: A Mendelian Randomization Analysis
Authors: Huang Yunying , Liu Yaozhong , Ma Yingxu , Tu Tao , Liu Na , Bai Fan , Xiao Yichao , Liu Chan , Hu Zhengang , Lin Qiuzhen , Li Mohan , Ning Zuodong , Zhou Yong , Mao Xiquan , Liu Qiming
Published: February 2022

Aim: To evaluate the genetic associations of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) mass with metabolic risk factors and cardiovascular disease (CVD) endpoints and to construct a network analysis about the underlying mechanism using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Methods and Results: Using summary statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWAS), we conducted the two-sample MR to assess the effects of VAT mass on 10 metabolic risk factors and 53 CVD endpoints. Genetically predicted VAT mass was associated with metabolic risk factors, including triglyceride (odds ratio, OR, 1.263 [95% confidence interval, CI, 1.203–1.326]), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR, 0.719 [95% CI, 0.678–0.763]), type 2 diabetes (OR, 2.397 [95% CI, 1.965–2.923]), fasting glucose (OR, 1.079 [95% CI, 1.046–1.113]), fasting insulin (OR, 1.194 [95% CI, 1.16–1.229]), and insulin resistance (OR, 1.204 [95% CI, 1.16–1.25]). Genetically predicted VAT mass was associated with CVD endpoints, including atrial fibrillation (OR, 1.414 [95% CI, 1.332 = 1.5]), coronary artery disease (OR, 1.573 [95% CI, 1.439 = 1.72]), myocardial infarction (OR, 1.633 [95% CI, 1.484 =1.796]), heart failure (OR, 1.711 [95% CI, 1.599–1.832]), any stroke (OR, 1.29 [1.193–1.394]), ischemic stroke (OR, 1.292 [1.189–1.404]), large artery stroke (OR, 1.483 [1.206–1.823]), cardioembolic stroke (OR, 1.261 [1.096–1.452]), and intracranial aneurysm (OR, 1.475 [1.235–1.762]). In the FinnGen study, the relevance of VAT mass to coronary heart disease, stroke, cardiac arrhythmia, vascular diseases, hypertensive heart disease, and cardiac death was found. In network analysis to identify the underlying mechanism between VAT and CVDs, VAT mass was positively associated with 23 cardiovascular-related proteins (e.g., Leptin, Hepatocyte growth factor, interleukin-16), and inversely with 6 proteins (e.g., Galanin peptides, Endothelial cell-specific molecule 1). These proteins were further associated with 32 CVD outcomes.

Conclusion: Mendelian randomization analysis has shown that VAT mass was associated with a wide range of CVD outcomes including coronary heart disease, cardiac arrhythmia, vascular diseases, and stroke. A few circulating proteins may be the mediators between VAT and CVDs.
Adrenal Hemorrhage in a Cortisol-Secreting Adenoma Caused by Antiphospholipid Syndrome Revealed by Clinical and Pathological Investigations: A Case Report
Authors: Ochi Kentaro , Abe Ichiro , Yamazaki Yuto , Nagata Mai , Senda Yuki , Takeshita Kaori , Koga Midori , Yamao Yuka , Shigeoka Toru , Kudo Tadachika , Fukuhara Yuichiro , Miyajima Shigero , Taira Hiroshi , Haraoka Shoji , Ishii Tatsu , Takashi Yuichi , Lam Alfred K. , Sasano Hironobu , Kobayashi Kunihisa
Published: February 2022

Due to its rarity, adrenal hemorrhage is difficult to diagnose, and its precise etiology has remained unknown. One of the pivotal mechanisms of adrenal hemorrhage is the thrombosis of the adrenal vein, which could be due to thrombophilia. However, detailed pathological evaluation of resected adrenal glands is usually required for definitive diagnosis. Here, we report a case of a cortisol-secreting adenoma with concomitant foci of hemorrhage due to antiphospholipid syndrome diagnosed both clinically and pathologically. In addition, the tumor in this case was pathologically diagnosed as cortisol-secreting adenoma, although the patient did not necessarily fulfill the clinical diagnostic criteria of full-blown Cushing or sub-clinical Cushing syndrome during the clinical course, which also did highlight the importance of detailed histopathological investigations of resected adrenocortical lesions.
Identifying Potential Biomarkers of Prognostic Value in Colorectal Cancer via Tumor Microenvironment Data Mining
Authors: Li Lei , Du Xiao , Fan Guangyi
Published: February 2022

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common cancer that has increased rapidly worldwide in the past decades with a relatively high mortality rate. An increasing body of evidence has highlighted the importance of infiltrating immune and stromal cells in CRC. In this study, based on gene expression data of CRC patients in TCGA database we evaluated immune and stromal scores in tumor microenvironment using ESTIMATE method. Results showed there was potential correlation between these scores and the prognosis, and that patients with higher immune score and lower stromal score had longer survival time. We found that immune score was correlated with clinical characteristics including tumor location, tumor stage, and survival time. Specifically, the right-sided colon cancer had markedly elevated immune score, compared to left-sided colon cancer and rectal cancer. These results might be useful for understanding tumor microenvironment in colorectal cancer. Through the differential analysis we got a list of genes significantly associated with immune and stromal scores. Gene Set Enrichment and protein-protein interaction network analysis were used to further illustrate these differentially expressed genes. Finally, 15 hub genes were identified, and three (CXCL9, CXCL10 and SELL) of them were validated with favorable outcomes in CRC patients. Our result suggested that these tumor microenvironment related genes might be potential biomarkers for the prognosis of CRC.
The Predictive Value of PAK7 Mutation for Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Therapy in Non-Small Cell Cancer
Authors: Zeng Hao , Tong Fan , Bin Yawen , Peng Ling , Gao Xuan , Xia Xuefeng , Yi Xin , Dong Xiaorong
Published: February 2022

Background

To date, immunotherapy has improved the 5-year survival rate of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from 4% to 15%. However, only 30%-50% of the NSCLC patients respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) immunotherapy. Therefore, screening patients for potential benefit with precise biomarkers may be of great value.

Methods

First, an immunotherapy NSCLC cohort was analyzed to identify the gene mutations associated with the prognosis of ICI treatment. Further analyses were conducted using NSCLC cohort in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project to validate the correlations between the specific gene mutations and tumor immunogenicity, antitumor immunity, and alterations in the tumor-related pathways using Cell-type Identification By Estimating Relative Subsets Of RNA Transcripts (CIBERSORT) and Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA).

Results

In the immunotherapy NSCLC cohort (n = 266), significantly longer overall survival (OS) rates were observed in the PAK7-mutant type (PAK7-MT) group (n = 13) than the PAK7-wild type (PAK7-WT) group (n = 253) (P = 0.049, HR = 0.43, 95%CI = 0.23-0.79). In the TCGA cohort, PAK7 mutations were correlated with the higher tumor mutation burden (TMB) (14.18 vs. 7.13, P <0.001), increased neoantigen load (NAL) (7.52 vs. 4.30, P <0.001), lower copy number variation (CNV), and higher mutation rate in the DNA damage response (DDR)-related pathways. In addition, PAK7 mutations were also positively correlated with immune-related genes expressions and infiltrating CD8+ T cells (0.079 vs. 0.054, P = 0.005). GSEA results showed that several tumor-related pathways varied in the PAK7-MT group, suggesting the potential mechanisms that regulate the tumor immune-microenvironment.

Conclusions

This study suggested that the PAK7 mutations might be a potential biomarker to predict the efficacy of immunotherapy for NSCLC patients. Considering the heterogeneity among the patients and other confounding factors, a prospective clinical trial is proposed to further validate the impact of PAK7 mutation on the immunotherapy outcomes in NSCLC.