bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Health-Related Quality of Life Between Japanese and American Patients with Bladder Cancer as Measured by a Newly Developed Japanese Version of the Bladder Cancer Index
Authors: Osawa Takahiro , Wei John T. , Abe Takashige , Honda Michitaka , Rew Karl T. , Dunn Rod , Yamada Shuhei , Furumido Jun , Kikuchi Hiroshi , Matsumoto Ryuji , Sato Yasuyuki , Harabayashi Toru , Takada Norikata , Minami Keita , Morita Ken , Kashiwagi Akira , Fukuhara Shunichi , Murai Sachiyo , Ito Yoichi M. , Ogasawara Katsuhiko , Shinohara Nobuo
Published: December 2020

INTRODUCTION:

The aim of this study is to characterize health related quality of life (HRQOL) in Japanese patients after bladder cancer surgery and to perform cross-cultural comparison between Japanese and American patients.

METHODS:

Firstly, we cross-sectionally assessed HRQOL of 371 patients in Japan using the Bladder Cancer Index (BCI-Japanese). HRQOL of the four groups of patients (native bladder without intravesical therapy, native bladder with intravesical therapy, cystectomy with ileal conduit, and cystectomy with neobladder) were assessed. Secondly, we compared the Japanese with the American cohort ( n = 315) from the original BCI paper. After adjusting for age and gender, the differences in each BCI subdomain score was analyzed.

RESULTS:

Among Japanese patients, the urinary domain function score was significantly lower among the cystectomy with neobladder group, compared to the cystectomy with ileal conduit group ( p < 0. 01). Despite this, the urinary bother was comparable between the two groups. Although there were apparent differences between Japanese and American patients, there were few differences in Urinary and Bowel HRQOL. In three of the four treatment groups (other than native bladder with intravesical therapy), Japanese patients were more likely than Americans to report poor sexual function ( p < 0.05). However, Japanese patients were less likely than Americans to be bothered by their lower sexual function, regardless of treatment ( p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS:

HRQOL outcomes following treatment of bladder cancer in Japan are comparable to those in the USA, except for sexual functioning and sexual bother. The BCI can be used for cross-cultural assessments of HRQOL in bladder cancer patients.
Raman spectroscopy applications for the diagnosis and follow-up of type 2 diabetes mellitus. A brief review
Authors: Loyola-Leyva Alejandra , Hernández-Vidales Karen , Loyola-Rodríguez Juan Pablo , González Francisco Javier
Published: December 2020

Background: There is considerable interest in developing faster, less invasive, and more objective techniques to diagnose type 2 diabetes mellits (T2DM). Optical techniques like Raman spectroscopy and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) are efficient, precise, low-cost, portable, and easy to handle, which seem to overcome most of the present difficulties of actual tests for T2DM diagnosis. However, the use of both Raman spectroscopy and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has been limited for T2DM diagnosis or follow-up. Objective: To gather information regarding the use of Raman spectroscopy and SERS to evaluate the spectra of biofluids (blood components, saliva, and urine) and tissues (skin) as an early diagnostic tool or follow-up for T2DM. Results: Skin and biofluids provide a great amount of information that can be analyzed by Raman spectroscopy and SERS. These optical techniques are excellent for clinical applications and can differentiate people with T2DM from healthy individuals, predict complications arising from T2DM (chronic kidney disease), and might be used to monitor glucose (glycemic control). Conclusion: Raman spectroscopy and SERS are good optical techniques for the diagnosis of T2DM in which sample preparation is not necessary or very simple, non-destructive, non-invasive, relatively fast to acquire, and low-cost.
OGA Inhibition Alters Energetics and Nutrient Sensing in Alzheimer’s Disease Cytoplasmic Hybrids
Authors: Flax Jarrod , Wilkins Heather M. , Miller Reegan , Griffith Sarah , Cork Gentry K. , Qiang Amy , Thompson Jeffrey , Swerdlow Russell H. , Slawson Chad
Published: December 2020

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) features reductions in key bioenergetic fluxes and perturbed mitochondrial function. Cytoplasmic hybrids (cybrids) generated through the transfer of AD subject mitochondria to mtDNA-depleted SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells recapitulate some of these features in an in vitro setting. Objective: For this study, we used the AD cybrid model to assess the impact of a nutrient-excess like-state via increasing O-GlcNAcylation on whole cell and mitochondrial homeostasis. Methods: We induced increased O-GlcNAc by treating AD and control cybrid cell lines with Thiamet G (TMG), an inhibitor of the O-GlcNAcase enzyme that mediates removal of the nutrient-dependent O-GlcNAc modification. Results: Relative to control cybrid cell lines, AD cybrid lines showed a blunted response to TMG-induced O-GlcNAcylation. At baseline, AD cybrid cell line mitochondria showed partial activation of several proteins that help maintain bioenergetic homeostasis such as AMP-Regulated Kinase suggesting that AD mitochondria initiate a state of nutrient stress promoting energetic compensation; however, this compensation reduces the capacity of cells to respond to additional nutrient-related stresses such as TMG treatment. Also, TMG caused disruptions in acetylation and Sirtuin 3 expression, while lowing total energetic output of the cell. Conclusion: Together, these findings suggest that modulation of O-GlcNAc is essential for proper energetic function of the mitochondria, and AD mitochondrial capacity to handle nutrient-excess is limited.
Consumption of milk and dairy products as dominant factor of underweight among children aged 24–59 months in Java Island, Indonesia (IFLS 2014)
Authors: Qirani Ida Ayu Devi , Ningsih Winda Mulia , Sartika Ratu Ayu Dewi
Published: December 2020

INTRODUCTION:

Underweight is one of the most common forms of undernutrition suffered by children and has implications for both short and long term health problems. Characteristics of children, parents, and environment are factors affecting underweight in children, especially aged 24–59 months.

OBJECTIVES:

This study aimed to find out the dominant factors affecting underweight in children aged 24–59 months in Java Island.

METHODS:

This cross-sectional study used secondary data from Indonesia Family Life Survey (IFLS) 2014. There were 1,270 children aged 24–59 months who were involved in this study. We conducted univariate analysis, bivariate analysis using chi-square, and multivariate analysis using binary logistic regression.

RESULTS:

This study found that 20.2% of children in Java were underweight. Based on bivariate analysis, variables that significantly associated ( p < 0.05) with underweight were low birth weight (LBW), acute respiratory infection (ARI), diarrhoea, frequency of eating milk and dairy products, parental education level, and underweight father. Furthermore, based on multivariate analysis, low consumption of milk and dairy products was the dominant factor in this study (OR = 1.80).

CONCLUSION:

Factors related to underweight can be used to determine appropriate prevention and treatment in community levels, such as by promoting a balanced nutrition program and healthy behaviour.
Development status as a measure of development
Authors: Hoffmeister Onno
Published: December 2020

This study analyses to which extent the classification of countries as developing corresponds with their actual development level. It tracks the evolution of the development status classification schemes (DSCSs) of international organisations over time, identifies three broad concepts of a developing country, based on the social sciences literature, and analyses the degree of correspondence between classifications and concepts, based on eight indicators. The results suggest that development status is a fairly accurate measure of development. All DSCSs strongly correspond with all indicators analysed. Over time, the outcomes of DSCSs have become increasingly heterogeneous. As a result, different classification schemes match different concepts. Schemes of a first generation, which emerged before the 1990s, and which nominate countries for classes, correspond mainly with concepts focusing on difficult starting points or an early stage in systemic transition, whereas schemes of a second generation, set up in the 1990, which classify countries based on specified criteria, typically reflect a welfare-based concept. The paper argues that the growing heterogeneity of DSCSs and deficits in their documentation negatively impact on the quality of international official statistics. It makes proposals for the further development of DSCSs, also in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Using e-surveys in Malaysia to modernise data collection in short-term economic surveys1
Authors: Lee Chee You , Mohamad Ab. Rahman bin , Misran Rozita binti , Hamid Halina binti Abdul
Published: December 2020

Response rates, data quality and data confidentiality were identified as the critical success factors in Malaysia’s short-term economic survey. According to the facts, the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) has outlined a few initiatives in its strategic plan (2011–2015) and transformation plan (2016–2020) over the past ten years to improve and modernise data collection, processing and dissemination methods. This paper presents the practices of two DOSM short-term economic surveys i.e the monthly manufacturing survey (MM) and the quarterly construction survey (QCS) to raise the response rate, enhance data quality and manage data confidentiality by e-survey. The factors influences the participation of the MM and QCS e-survey are discussed. This empirical study shows that the response rates of the both short-term surveys have improved through the e-survey. Comparison of data received by various survey modes also indicated that the e-survey provides the best prospects for reducing non-sampling error and protecting data against unintentional disclosure.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on California farmworkers: Better local data collection and reporting will improve strategic response
Authors: Kissam Edward
Published: December 2020

Providing the public with relevant and reliable statistical information about the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable populations is a crucial weapon in effective public health system response. This article examines the reporting challenges confronted by local public health agencies based on a case study of farmworker communities of the San Joaquin Valley, Eastern Coachella Valley, and Salinas Valley. The analysis includes a quantitative estimate of the impact COVID-19 has on farmworker households and highlights how socioeconomic factors and housing conditions give rise to health disparities. The importance of local data collection and reporting as the foundation for a national epidemiological tracking system is emphasized. Current shortcomings stemming from flawed national guidance and local political pressures are noted. The discussion includes detailed recommendation for improved reporting including: more systematic tabulations of available data, an expanded set of indicators to monitor public health system response, promising approaches to improve representativeness of test-derived data on COVID-19 by making it easier to access testing and support services, coupled with messaging to broaden farmworkers’ and other socio-politically marginalized populations’ willingness to seek testing. Understanding the challenges faced and lessons learned in the San Joaquin Valley region have practical implications for a wide range of countries.
Comparison of spectral computed tomography imaging parameters between squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma at the gastroesophageal junction
Authors: Ma Yi-Chuan , Zhang Shun-Hua , Xie Zong-Yu , Guo Fei , Chen Ai-Qi
Published: December 2020

OBJECTIVE: To compare the spectral computed tomography (CT) imaging parameters between squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma (AC) at the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ). METHODS: A total of 80 patients were enrolled in this retrospective study. Among them, 35 were diagnosed with SCC (SCC group) and 45 were diagnosed with AC (AC group). All patients underwent an enhanced scan with spectral CT. The following CT imaging parameters were evaluated: iodine concentration (IC), water content (WC), effective atomic number (Eff-Z) and slope of the spectral HU curve (λHU) of lesions. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the predictive value of spectral CT imaging parameters for diagnosis of SCC and AC. RESULTS: Patients with SCC had lower IC, Eff-Z, and λHU in arterial phase and venous phase compared with AC (p< 0.05). There were no significant differences in WC between the two groups. ROC curve analyses revealed that IC, Eff-Z, and λHU in arterial phase and venous phase were predictors for diagnosis of SCC and AC (AUC > 0.5). Moreover, the IC, Eff-Z and λHU in venous phase had better differential diagnostic performances than that in arterial phase. CONCLUSIONS: Spectral CT could be useful in the differential diagnosis of SCC and AC at the GEJ. Therefore, a routine spectral CT scan is recommended for patients with carcinoma of the GEJ.
Nystagmus characteristics of healthy controls
Authors: Young Allison S. , Rosengren Sally M. , D’Souza Mario , Bradshaw Andrew P. , Welgampola Miriam S.
Published: December 2020

BACKGROUND: Healthy controls exhibit spontaneous and positional nystagmus which needs to be distinguished from pathological nystagmus. OBJECTIVE: Define nystagmus characteristics of healthy controls using portable video-oculography. METHODS: One-hundred and one asymptomatic community-dwelling adults were prospectively recruited. Participants answered questions regarding their audio-vestibular and headache history and were sub-categorized into migraine/non-migraine groups. Portable video-oculography was conducted in the upright, supine, left- and right-lateral positions, using miniature take-home video glasses. RESULTS: Upright position spontaneous nystagmus was found in 30.7% of subjects (slow-phase velocity (SPV)), mean 1.1±2.2 degrees per second (°/s) (range 0.0 – 9.3). Upright position spontaneous nystagmus was horizontal, up-beating or down-beating in 16.7, 7.9 and 5.9% of subjects. Nystagmus in at least one lying position was found in 70.3% of subjects with 56.4% showing nystagmus while supine, and 63.4% in at least one lateral position. While supine, 20.8% of subjects showed up-beating nystagmus, 8.9% showed down-beating, and 26.7% had horizontal nystagmus. In the lateral positions combined, 37.1% displayed horizontal nystagmus on at least one side, while 6.4% showed up-beating, 6.4% showed down-beating. Mean nystagmus SPVs in the supine, right and left lateral positions were 2.2±2.8, 2.7±3.4, and 2.1±3.2°/s. No significant difference was found between migraine and non-migraine groups for nystagmus SPVs, prevalence, vertical vs horizontal fast-phase, or low- vs high-velocity nystagmus (<5 vs > 5°/s). CONCLUSIONS: Healthy controls without a history of spontaneous vertigo show low velocity spontaneous and positional nystagmus, highlighting the importance of interictal nystagmus measures when assessing the acutely symptomatic patient.
Relationship between calcium metabolism and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in north Sardinia population
Authors: Melis Andrea , Rizzo Davide , Gallus Roberto , Leo Maria Eleonora , Turra Nicola , Masnaghetti Davide , De Luca Laura Maria , Piras Antonio , Bussu Francesco
Published: December 2020

BACKGROUND: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) has a reported recurrence ranging from 26.8 to 50%. Osteoporosis and Vitamin D deficiency seems to have an impact on recurrence of BPPV. OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the impact of osteoporosis and Vitamin D deficiency on recurrence of BPPV. METHODS: 73 consecutive patients were divided in two groups according to the presence (group 1) or absence (group 0) of a recurrent episode. BMD, femoral and lumbar T-scores and Vitamin D levels were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed to investigate correlations. RESULTS: patients in group 1 had statistically significant lower values of both femoral (–1,62±1,06 vs. –0,53±1,51; p = 0,001), lumbar T-score (–2,10±1,19 vs –0, 53±1.51, p = 0.001) and Vitamin D (19.53±15.33). The values of femoral T-score and Vitamin D could be combined in a model able to properly classify 65.8% of the cases (p = 0.002) as isolated or recurrent BPPV, with high accuracy (AUC 0.710 [0.590 –0.830]). CONCLUSION: present data show a probable correlation between osteoporosis and Vitamin D with recurrent BPPV.
Neutrophil-mediated immune response as a possible mechanism of acute unilateral vestibulopathy
Authors: Oh Eun Hye , Rhee Je-Keun , Shin Jin-Hong , Cho Jae Wook , Kim Dae-Seong , Park Ji-Yun , Choi Seo Young , Choi Kwang-Dong , Choi Jae-Hwan
Published: December 2020

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the underlying pathogenesis of acute unilateral vestibulopathy (AUV) using gene expression profiling combined with bioinformatics analysis. METHODS: Total RNA was extracted from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of ten AUV patients in the acute phase and from ten controls. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between these two groups were screened using microarray analysis with the cut-off criteria (|fold changes| > 1.5 and p-value < 0.05). Functional enrichment analysis of DEGs was performed using Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis, and the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using the STRING (Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes) database. RESULTS: There were 57 DEGs (50 up-regulated and 7 down-regulated) identified in the AUV group. Functional enrichment analysis showed that most of the up-regulated DEGs were significantly enriched in terms related to the neutrophil-mediated immune pathway. From the PPI network, the top ten hub genes were extracted by calculating four topological properties, and most of them were related to the innate immune system, inflammatory processes and vascular disorders. The complete blood count tests showed that the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was significantly higher in the 72 AUV patients than in the age-matched controls (2.93±2.25 vs 1.54±0.61, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the neutrophil-mediated immune pathway may contribute to the development of AUV by mediating inflammatory and thrombotic changes in the vestibular organ.
Evaluation of the postural balance and visual perception in young adults with acute sleep deprivation
Authors: Batuk Isa Tuncay , Batuk Merve Ozbal , Aksoy Songul
Published: December 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Few studies have suggested a relationship between vestibular system and sleep deprivation. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of acute sleep deprivation lasting 24 hours or more on the postural balance and the visual abilities related to the vestibular system in healthy young adults. METHODS: Thirty-one healthy young adults (8 males, 23 female; ages 18– 36 years) who had experienced at least 24 hours of sleep deprivation were included in the study. Subjects made two visits to the test laboratory. One visit was scheduled during a sleep deprivation (SD) condition, and the other was scheduled during a daily life (DL) condition. Five tests— the Sensory Organization Test (SOT), Static Visual Acuity Test (SVA), Minimum Perception Time Test (mPT), Dynamic Visual Acuity Test (DVA), and Gaze Stabilization Test (GST)— were performed using a Computerized Dynamic Posturography System. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was found between SD and DL measurements in somatosensorial (p = 0.003), visual (p = 0.037), vestibular (p = 0.008) ratios, and composite scores (p = 0.001) in SOT. The mPT results showed a statistically significant difference between SD and DL conditions (p = 0.001). No significant difference was found between SD and DL conditions in the comparison of the mean SVA (p = 0.466), DVA (p = 0.192), and GST head velocity values (p = 0.160). CONCLUSIONS: Sleep deprivation has a considerable impact on the vestibular system and visual perception time in young adults. Increased risk of accidents and performance loss after SD were thought to be due to the postural control and visual processing parameters rather than dynamic visual parameters of the vestibular system.
The economic burden of vertigo and dizziness in the United States
Authors: Ruthberg Jeremy S. , Rasendran Chandruganesh , Kocharyan Armine , Mowry Sarah E. , Otteson Todd D.
Published: December 2020

BACKGROUND: Vertigo and dizziness are extremely common conditions in the adult population and therefore place a significant social and economic burden on both patients and the healthcare system. However, limited information is available for the economic burden of vertigo and dizziness across various health care settings. OBJECTIVE: Estimate the economic burden of vertigo and dizziness, controlling for demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical comorbidities. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of data from the Medical Expenditures Panel Survey (2007–2015) was performed to analyze individuals with vertigo or dizziness from a nationally representative sample of the United States. Participants were included via self-reported data and International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision Clinical Modification codes. A cross-validated 2-component generalized linear model was utilized to assess vertigo and dizziness expenditures across demographic, socioeconomic and clinical characteristics while controlling for covariates. Costs and utilization across various health care service sectors, including inpatient, outpatient, emergency department, home health, and prescription medications were evaluated. RESULTS: Of 221,273 patients over 18 years, 5,275 (66% female, 34% male) reported either vertigo or dizziness during 2007–2015. More patients with vertigo or dizziness were female, older, non-Hispanic Caucasian, publicly insured, and had significant clinical comorbidities compared to patients without either condition. Furthermore, each of these demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical characteristics lead to significantly elevated costs due to having these conditions for patients. Significantly higher medical expenditures and utilization across various healthcare sectors were associated with vertigo or dizziness (p < 0.001). The mean incremental annual healthcare expenditure directly associated with vertigo or dizziness was $2,658.73 (95% CI: 1868.79, 3385.66) after controlling for socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. Total annual medical expenditures for patients with dizziness or vertigo was $48.1 billion. CONCLUSION: Vertigo and dizziness lead to substantial expenses for patients across various healthcare settings. Determining how to limit costs and improve the delivery of care for these patients is of the utmost importance given the severe morbidity, disruption to daily living, and major socioeconomic burden associated with these conditions.
Monotherapy with valproic acid for newly diagnosed epilepsy in adults
Authors:   Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russian Federation, Kozhokaru A.B. ,   Central State Medical Academy of the Administrative Department of the President of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation, Orlova A.S. ,   Sechenov University, Moscow, Russian Federation, Shmyrev V.I. ,   Central State Medical Academy of the Administrative Department of the President of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation, Akarachkova E.S. ,   International Society of Stress «Stress Under Control», Moscow, Russian Federation, Lebedeva D.I. ,   Tumen State Medical University, Tumen, Russian Federation
Published: December 2020

Background: valproic acid (VA) is a classic, well-proven medication for the epilepsy treatment, but there have not been enough studies to evaluate its effecacy and tolerability in correlation with the epileptiform activity index (EAI) during initial monotherapy. Aim: to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of monotherapy with VA medications in patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy. Patients and Methods: 63 patients (including 37 (58.7%) men) with focal epilepsy (FE; 24 (38.1%)) and idiopathic (genetic) generalized epilepsy (IGE; 39) over the age of 18 years (average age — 31.49±12.29 years) were included in the single-arm study (61.9%)). All patients at each visit (initially, after 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of therapy) had EEG-video monitoring with an evaluation of EAI (total; before sleep; during sleep; during fragmented awakenings; after sleep). Therapy efficacy was evaluated considering the frequency of seizures: no seizures (medically induced remission); reduced frequency by more than 50% (responders) / less than 50% (lack of effect); therapy retention; increased frequency of seizures relative to the basic level; emergence of a new seizure type (aggravation). Total duration of the study was 12 months. Results: total EAI in patients with IGE before treatment was 2.7 times higher than in patients with FE (37.41 and 13.69, respectively). 1 month after the treatment initiation, it decreased to 4.08 and 2.56 in IGE and FE, respectively (p<0.001), and continued to decrease during the entire follow-up period. Monotherapy retention was achieved in 51 (81%) patients, including 15 (62.5%) with FE and 36 (92.3%) with IGE. Intolerable adverse events developed in only 6 (9.8%) patients. Conclusion: VA is an effective medicine for the initial treatment of FE and IGE in monotherapy. KEYWORDS: idiopathic epilepsy, genetic generalized epilepsy, focal epilepsy, epileptiform activity index, valproic acid, monotherapy, adverse events. FOR CITATION: Kozhokaru A.B., Orlova A.S., Shmyrev V.I. et al. Monotherapy with valproic acid for newly diagnosed epilepsy in adults. Russian Medical Inquiry. 2020;4(9):552–559. DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2020-4-9-552-559.
Trigeminal trophic syndrome
Authors:   Astrakhan State Medical University, Astrakhan, Russian Federation, Belopasov V.V.
Published: December 2020

Trigeminal trophic syndrome is a rare nosological pathology form of the face. Based on the literature data and 11 own observations, the article discusses the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of skin sensations, ulcerative and other cosmetic defects that occur after injury of the peripheral branches, Gasser's node, root, and the upper sensitive trigeminal nerve nucleus in the dorsolateral part of the pons Varolii upper section in the brain stem. The clinical disease manifestations are described in detail with the characteristics of the lesions, their localization, course dynamics, and mental status patterns of patients. The article presents a detailed list of pathological conditions with which trigeminal trophic syndrome should be differentiated (malignant epithelioma, mycoses, focal fibrosing alopecia, leprosy, syphilis, diabetes mellitus, cutaneous manifestations in diseases of internal organs and connective tissue (scleroderma, temporal arteritis, Wegener's granulomatosis), central and peripheral nervous system, substance abuse, psychosomatic disorders, somatopsychosis, autoaggression, Munchausen syndrome, etc.). KEYWORDS: skin ulcers, neurotrophic disorders, trigeminal trophic syndrome, deafferentation, iatrogenic complications. FOR CITATION: Belopasov V.V. Trigeminal trophic syndrome. Russian Medical Inquiry. 2020;4(9):566–572. DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2020- 4-9-566-572.
Neurotropic vitamins use in the patient management with various lesions of the peripheral nervous system
Authors:   Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russian Federation, Chugunov A.V. , Kazakov K.A. ,   Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russian Federation, Kazakov A.Yu. ,   Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russian Federation
Published: December 2020

Peripheral nervous system (PNS) disorders are a common cause of total permanent disability, which can be caused by disorders in the metabolism of neurotropic vitamins (thiamine, pyridoxine, cyanocobalamin). Treatment of PNS disorders commonly requires long-term treatment associated with the occurrence of side effects. The article discusses the use of neurotropic vitamins for patient management with various forms of PNS disorders. Data concerning experimental and clinical studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the results of patient treatment with poly- and mononeuropathies, peripheral nerve injury, dorsalgia, tunnel syndromes using vitamins of group B are presented. It is shown that the use of a vitamin complex of group B is more effective than the use of placebo, as well as their use separately. In most patients, clinical improvement (reduction of the neurologic deficits severity, pain management) is accompanied by the recovery of electroneuromyography indices, reduction in the need of analgesic drugs in dorsalgia, decrease in the treatment duration, and decrease in the incidence of side effects. The use of neurotropic vitamins has been noted for the good tolerability, in particular, there was a rare occurrence of adverse events during their use. KEYWORDS: thiamine, pyridoxine, cyanocobalamin, methylcobalamin, neuropathy, nerve injury, polyneuropathy, dorsalgia, treatment, side effects, clinical study. FOR CITATION: Chugunov A.V., Kazakov K.A., Kazakov A.Yu. Neurotropic vitamins use in the patient management with various lesions of the peripheral nervous system. Russian Medical Inquiry. 2020;4(9):606–611. DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2020-4-9-606-611.
Processing of Underground Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Data for Underground River Detection: A Case Study in Doumo Tunnel, Guizhou, China
Authors: Zhang Yang , Yu Sijia , Wan Ling , Lin Tingting
Published: December 2020

Underground nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is introduced to detect the risk of groundwater-induced disasters in the underground engineering such as tunnels and mines. However, underground NMR is in practice often limited to the extremely low signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). On the one hand, small coils are necessary to be used to detect water in the narrow underground space, which decreases the amplitude of the excited signal. On the other hand, the weak signal is submerged in quite serious electromagnetic noise which is generated from the electrical installations. The low SNRs emphasize the importance of using an optimal post-processing strategy to obtain the reliable underground NMR data. The objective of this paper is to explain the processing of underground NMR data taking the detection of the underground river in Doumo Tunnel as an example. We have evaluated the noise condition in Doumo Tunnel and the noise level of 0.6760 nV/m2 was found in this area. At such a high noise level, the reliable underground NMR signal is difficult to be extracted and the credible depth profile of water content is unable to be provided. Then, we have analyzed the noise interference. Although de-spiking algorithm and reference-based noise cancellation method were applied to remove the major noise sources, the underground NMR signal is still invisible. There is still a lot of additive noise remained, so time-frequency peak filtering method is further used to suppress the remaining noise. The performance of the proposed post-processing strategy is tested on the underground NMR data from the underground river. The result was consistent with the geological structure, which is demonstrated to be able to directly provide a security pre-warning of the underground engineering.
Magnetic and Geo-electrical Geophysical Techniques for Subsurface Delineation and Groundwater Assessment in Ras Matarma, Sinai
Authors: Hassan Noha A. , Khalil Mohamed H. , Ghaleb Mahmoud
Published: December 2020

Groundwater constitutes the main source of the freshwater in Ras-Matarma, Sinai, which necessitates optimized management of it. In this context, geophysical ground magnetic, Schlumberger resistivity inversion, remote sensing (RS), geographic information system (GIS), and pumping tests were conducted. The magnetic survey comprised 56 profiles, whereas, Schlumberger resistivity survey were 27 VES. GIS and RS were implemented for watershed analyses in the area. Interpretation of the magnetic data separated significantly the shallow and deep structures with depths ranged from 300 to 1400 m. Qualitative and quantitative modelling of the inverted resistivity data demarcated effectively the fresh aquifer with true resistivity and thickness ranged from 22 to 210 ohm.m and 2 to 80 m, respectively. GIS aggregated all the aforementioned results along with electric and hydraulic parameters of the fresh aquifer.
Integration of Multi-geophysical Approaches to Identify Potential Pathways of Heavy Metals Contamination - A Case Study in Zeida, Morocco
Authors: Lachhab Ahmed , Benyassine El Mehdi , Rouai Mohamed , Dekayir Abdelilah , Parisot Jean C. , Boujamaoui Mustapha
Published: December 2020

The tailings of Zeida's abandoned mine are found near the city of Midelt, in the middle of the high Moulouya watershed between the Middle and the High Atlas of Morocco. The tailings occupy an area of about 100 ha and are stored either in large mining pit lakes with clay-marl substratum or directly on a heavily fractured granite bedrock. The high contents of lead and arsenic in these tailings have transformed them into sources of pollution that disperse by wind, runoff, and seepage to the aquifer through faults and fractures. In this work, the main goal is to identify the pathways of contaminated water with heavy metals and arsenic to the local aquifers, water ponds, and Moulouya River. For this reason, geophysical surveys including electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), seismic refraction tomography (SRT) and very low-frequency electromagnetic (VLF-EM) methods were carried out over the tailings, and directly on the substratum outside the tailings. The result obtained from combining these methods has shown that pollutants were funneled through fractures, faults, and subsurface paleochannels and contaminated the hydrological system connecting groundwater, ponds, and the river. The ERT profiles have successfully shown the location of fractures, some of which extend throughout the upper formation to depths reaching the granite. The ERT was not successful in identifying fractures directly beneath the tailings due to their low resistivity which inhibits electrical current from propagating deeper. The seismic refraction surveys have provided valuable details on the local geology, and clearly identified the thickness of the tailings and explicitly marked the boundary between the Triassic formation and the granite. It also aided in the identification of paleochannels. The tailings materials were easily identified by both their low resistivity and low P-wave velocity values. Also, both resistivity and seismic velocity values rapidly increased beneath the tailings due to the compaction of the material and lack of moisture and have proven to be effective in identifying the upper limit of the granite. Faults were found to lie along the bottom of paleochannels, which suggest that the locations of these channels were caused by these same faults. The VLF-EM surveys have shown tilt angle anomalies over fractured areas which were also evinced by low resistivity area in ERT profiles. Finally, this study showed that the three geophysical methods were complementary and in good agreement in revealing the pathways of contamination from the tailings to the local aquifer, nearby ponds and Moulouya River.
What Makes Life Grievable? Discursive Distribution of Vulnerability in the Pandemic
Authors: Maďarová Zuzana , Hardoš Pavol , Ostertágová Alexandra
Published: December 2020

This article examines Judith Butler’s concepts of vulnerability andgrievability in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and biopowerpractices introduced in the name of the protection of the people. Ananalysis of the elite political discourse in Czechia, Germany, Great Britain,and Slovakia in the first three months of the pandemic explores howvulnerability was constructed and distributed among the respectivepopulations. We identified two prevailing discursive frames – science andsecurity. Within the first, vulnerability was constructed in terms of biologicalcharacteristics, rendering elderly, disabled, and chronically ill bodies asalready lost and ungrievable. Within the security frame, Roma or migrantpopulations’ vulnerability to the virus has been discursively shifted intobeing seen as a threat, while vulnerability itself was recognized more as afeature of institutions or society. Thus, despite the claims that ‘we are all inthis together’, the pandemic has exposed how our vulnerability andinterdependency are embedded within existing social structures.
Demographic Characteristics and Common Complaints of People Seeking Telephone Consulting Services for Anxiety and Stress Caused by COVID-19
Authors:   Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran., Hoseinian Sarajloo Faraj , Rashedi Roza ,   Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran., Fateh Haleh ,   Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran., Shahbazpour Hamidreza ,   Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran., Kashani Movahhed Bahareh ,   Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Published: December 2020

Background: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and imposed quarantine have had different effects on the social and psychological aspects of people. The lack of any definitive treatment or preventive method for COVID-19 has caused a great deal of stress and anxiety in people. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the demographic characteristics and common complaints of callers to the telephone counseling helpline to receive services for anxiety and stress caused by COVID-19. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. The study samples were 1978 callers to the telephone counseling helpline of the Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR) in Iran. Data collection was done by a checklist made by researchers and provided to the consultants. Findings: Most of callers (65.8%) were women and married (77.7%) with a mean age of 44.14 years; 41.5% of callers with no any symptoms were afraid and worried about getting infected; 26.6% stated their anxiety was due to worry that their first-degree relatives may get infected, and 8.5% reported that their anxiety was because of fear of economic problems and loss of job or income . Conclusion: The main users of the telephone counseling helpline was married women aged 30-39 years. Considering the anxiety and stress caused by COVID-19 outbreak, it seems necessary to provide counseling services.
Investigating the Mechanism of Action of SARS-CoV-2 Virus for Drug Designing: A Review
Authors:   Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Science, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran., Shabani Fatemeh , Farasat Alireza ,   Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran., Namdar Peyman ,   Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran., Gheibi Nematollah ,   Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran.
Published: December 2020

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral pneumonia emerged in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. Its cause is a new virus from the coronavirus family scientifically named Coronavirus Acute Respiratory Syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In this review study, articles published in English until March 23, 2020 on new coronavirus infection were reviewed. These articles are obtained by searching in PubMed, Scopus and Google scholar databases using keywords "SARS-CoV-2", "COVID-19" and "Coronavirus". The latest COVID-19 statistics and information were extracted from the websites of World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. we investigated the effect of different compounds on the key macromolecules in promoting SARS-COV-2 infection using computational methods and bioinformatics analysis that can be considered as the best targets for designing inhibitory drugs. The most important macromolecules were Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) and Transmembrane Protease Serine 2 (TMPRSS2) receptors of the host cell surface and the structural and non-structural proteins of the virus. The most important structural protein was Spike, playing an important role in binding the virus to the ACE2 receptor of the host cell and the entery of the virus genome into it, while the key non-structural proteins were 3-Chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), Papain-like cysteine proteinase (PLpro), and non-structural protein 13 (nsp13) helicase which are involved in viral genome replication and the virus’ release from the host cell.
Psychological TV-series as a Phenomenon of the Consumer Society of the XXI Century
Authors: Prokofieva D. V.
Published: December 2020

Introduction. The article examines modern psychological television series as one of the ways to satisfy the thirst for consumption and the desire to find meaning. The author considers the consumer society and the thirst for consumption as its integral characteristic and habit of a person in modern society. To analyze this phenomenon, the author turns to the works of philosophers, finding confirmation of their concepts in modern reality. The emphasis is on the fact that the objects of consumption are “objects” belonging to both material and spiritual culture, with the peculiarity that in the consumer choice itself there is no reflection as its basis. The subject of the research is the phenomenon of modern psychological TV-series.

Methodology and sources. To analyze the phenomenon of psychological television series in the context of modern mass and popular culture, the author uses the method of phenomenological analysis, the method of historical parallels, the value method, the dialectical method. The article uses an interdisciplinary and comparative approach. The author relies on the work of representatives of these philosophical trends – Karl Marx, Erich Fromm, Alvin Toffler, Jean Baudrillard, Victor Frankl and others.

Results and discussion. We can name many reasons why people can watch TV-series, for example, taking a break from routine, a desire to relax, this is a certain way of spending leisure time. Our goal was to analyze TV-series as a phenomenon of a consumer society, and the situation when watching the series is a goal in itself and a kind of escapism, a way to escape from reality and filling your time. The task was to identify the natural and social reasons for the popularity of modern psychological series.

Conclusion. As a result of the analysis, the author concluded that modern high-quality television series perform a triune task. On the one hand, they captivate the plot and allow you to relax and relieve stress, avoiding strong concentration. On the other hand, they involve a claim to be intelligent. And the third point – they distract from routine and everyday life while eliminating the need for a daily choice of a way of spending leisure time. TV-series are a product of the consumer society, and therefore the prerequisite for reflection contained in them is far from always being realized. As a result, the series itself becomes for a person just another way to spend their own time and fill the inner emptiness.
The Space of an Image Existence. What do the Internet the Ancient City and the Medieval Temple Have in Common?
Authors: Vasilyeva M. A.
Published: December 2020

Introduction.The article discusses various historical examples of symbolic spaces – spaces of the existence of an image – to consider how representation systems are arranged in them and how they set the tone for the complex process of creating an image of a person. The author does not consider the image as a conscious construct, which is completely dependent on this external system, but supposes that it is important to research it for a deeper understanding of the modern version of symbolic space and all complex and interrelated processes in it. Thus, the article provides theoretical grounds for a legitimate comparison of practices of the Internet and social media representation with the practices of the past which unfolded in specific, semiotic toposes: Egyptian murals in tombs, the ancient city, a medieval temple, and a European text of the Modernity.

Methodologyandsources.The theoretical basis of this research is on the contact of a number of approaches to the analysis of the image and image systems: representationst, phenomenological, philosophical-anthropological, (post)structuralist. The author uses works in historical, cultural and art studies in the respective eras as soursces of information on individual spaces of representation of the past (B. Manley, M. Bird, D. Yu. Dorofeev, V. Svetlov, S. Zotov, M. Maizuls, M. Foucault and others). The author relies on detailed descriptions of public spaces, identifies and compares their characteristic features.   

Resultsanddiscussion.Having examined the main features of a number of symbolic spaces of the past, the author shows how they inevitably affect the process of building an image, creating the system of representation. In this sense, both “city” and “text” are presented in the article as concepts, semantic fields and structures, and not as physical objects. The author comes to the conclusion that there is no so much novelty of the modern processes of symbolic exchange on the Internet, as it is usually declared. Most of the actual space`s features which today are called new are found in other spaces and other times. Polyphony, the visual component, one-to-many and many-to-many message addressing, active use of “ready-made” markers and symbolic “blanks”, the iconic character of the signs used – these features of modern communication in the Internet space seem to be new only in comparison with communication within the framework of the New European text. These features are quite applicable to the ancient city and to the medieval temple.

Conclusion.The author shows a strong similarity of the modern Internet precisely with an ancient city and a medieval temple, while the text of the Modernity differs from them, and that creates the “novelty” of the current situation. This does not diminish interest in modern practices of representation since their specificity does not necessarily have to be built through the position of innovation which was valuable in the culture of the Modernity.