bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adaptation of a standard extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) protocol for rural re-entering offenders with OUD
Authors: Staton Michele , Knudsen Hannah K. , Walsh Sharon L. , Oser Carrie , Pike Erika , Lofwall Michelle
Published: February 2021

Background

Despite a growing body of empirical support for the effectiveness of extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) to reduce opioid relapse among people with opioid use disorder (OUD) transitioning from a correctional facility to the community, continuity of care following release remains challenging. This paper describes a research-based adaptation of a state’s standard of care XR-NTX protocol using the ADAPT-ITT framework for delivery in a non-traditional, non-treatment, community criminal justice setting (P&P office), as well as the expansion of services by a local Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) provider who would, for the first time, be going to the jail and P&P office to provide XR-NTX and related treatment.

Method

The present study focuses on the first seven phases (Assessment through Training) of the ADAPT-ITT framework in the adaptation of the Department of Corrections (DOC) protocol in preparation for a pilot trial for induction in a rural jail and during the transition to a rural community. Expert clinical review and focus groups with key stakeholders in criminal justice supervision and the local providers in the FQHC informed the needed adaptations to the existing XR-NTX protocol for initiation at the jail and ongoing administrations in the community.

Results

Findings from stakeholder focus groups, study team review, topical expert review, and a theater test suggested that there were critical adaptations needed in both content and context at the patient and clinic level.

Conclusion

Health and justice officials should consider the need to tailor and adapt evidence-based approaches for real-world locations that high-risk, justice-involved individuals visit in order to reduce barriers and increase access to critically needed treatment for OUD.
Oxygen administration for patients with ARDS
Authors: Ohshimo Shinichiro
Published: February 2021

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a fatal condition with insufficiently clarified etiology. Supportive care for severe hypoxemia remains the mainstay of essential interventions for ARDS. In recent years, adequate ventilation to prevent ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) and patient self-inflicted lung injury (P-SILI) as well as lung-protective mechanical ventilation has an increasing attention in ARDS.

Ventilation-perfusion mismatch may augment severe hypoxemia and inspiratory drive and consequently induce P-SILI. Respiratory drive and effort must also be carefully monitored to prevent P-SILI. Airway occlusion pressure (P0.1) and airway pressure deflection during an end-expiratory airway occlusion (Pocc) could be easy indicators to evaluate the respiratory drive and effort. Patient-ventilator dyssynchrony is a time mismatching between patient’s effort and ventilator drive. Although it is frequently unrecognized, dyssynchrony can be associated with poor clinical outcomes. Dyssynchrony includes trigger asynchrony, cycling asynchrony, and flow delivery mismatch. Ventilator-induced diaphragm dysfunction (VIDD) is a form of iatrogenic injury from inadequate use of mechanical ventilation. Excessive spontaneous breathing can lead to P-SILI, while excessive rest can lead to VIDD. Optimal balance between these two manifestations is probably associated with the etiology and severity of the underlying pulmonary disease.

High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) and non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) are non-invasive techniques for supporting hypoxemia. While they are beneficial as respiratory supports in mild ARDS, there can be a risk of delaying needed intubation. Mechanical ventilation and ECMO are applied for more severe ARDS. However, as with HFNC/NPPV, inappropriate assessment of breathing workload potentially has a risk of delaying the timing of shifting from ventilator to ECMO. Various methods of oxygen administration in ARDS are important. However, it is also important to evaluate whether they adequately reduce the breathing workload and help to improve ARDS.
Seamless integration of above- and under-canopy unmanned aerial vehicle laser scanning for forest investigation
Authors: Wang Yunsheng , Kukko Antero , Hyyppä Eric , Hakala Teemu , Pyörälä Jiri , Lehtomäki Matti , El Issaoui Aimad , Yu Xiaowei , Kaartinen Harri , Liang Xinlian , Hyyppä Juha
Published: February 2021

Background

Current automated forest investigation is facing a dilemma over how to achieve high tree- and plot-level completeness while maintaining a high cost and labor efficiency. This study tackles the challenge by exploring a new concept that enables an efficient fusion of aerial and terrestrial perspectives for digitizing and characterizing individual trees in forests through an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) that flies above and under canopies in a single operation. The advantage of such concept is that the aerial perspective from the above-canopy UAV and the terrestrial perspective from the under-canopy UAV can be seamlessly integrated in one flight, thus grants the access to simultaneous high completeness, high efficiency, and low cost.

Results

In the experiment, an approximately 0.5 ha forest was covered in ca. 10 min from takeoff to landing. The GNSS-IMU based positioning supports a geometric accuracy of the produced point cloud that is equivalent to that of the mobile mapping systems, which leads to a 2–4 cm RMSE of the diameter at the breast height estimates, and a 4–7 cm RMSE of the stem curve estimates.

Conclusions

Results of the experiment suggested that the integrated flight is capable of combining the high completeness of upper canopies from the above-canopy perspective and the high completeness of stems from the terrestrial perspective. Thus, it is a solution to combine the advantages of the terrestrial static, the mobile, and the above-canopy UAV observations, which is a promising step forward to achieve a fully autonomous in situ forest inventory. Future studies should be aimed to further improve the platform positioning, and to automatize the UAV operation.
Bleeding from jejunal varices formed at the Roux-en-Y jejunum site caused by the compression of the left renal vein after living donor liver transplantation with renoportal anastomosis
Authors: Nakanishi Wataru , Miyagi Shigehito , Tokodai Kazuaki , Fujio Atsushi , Kashiwadate Toshiaki , Sasaki Kengo , Shono Yoshihiro , Ohta Mineto , Saitoh Yoshikatsu , Unno Michiaki , Kamei Takashi
Published: February 2021

Background

Renoportal anastomosis is an option for the portal vein reconstruction of a liver transplantation with grade 4 portal vein thrombosis and a splenorenal shunt. Here, we report the case of gastrointestinal bleeding who underwent living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) with renoportal anastomosis.

Case presentation

Six-year-old female patient who underwent LDLT with renoportal anastomosis at 1 year of age had severe anemia with normal liver function during the follow-up period. The varices at the Roux-en-Y jejunum were considered the source of bleeding, and the compression of the left renal vein, which is known as a cause of Nutcracker syndrome, seemed to induce venous hypertension through the splenorenal shunt, which might induce the formation of the varices. She underwent percutaneous transhepatic sclerotherapy of the varices, and the anemia improved at her last follow-up, 6 months after sclerotherapy. This is the first reported case of Roux-en-Y jejunal varices bleeding related to the compression of the left renal vein after LDLT was performed with renoportal anastomosis.

Conclusions

Although renoportal anastomosis should be cautiously performed when there are no options for severe portal vein thrombosis, the status of the left renal vein and new collateral formation should be observed carefully during the follow-up period in pediatric cases of renoportal anastomosis.
Phytodentistry in Africa: prospects for head and neck cancers
Authors: Adeola Henry A. , Sabiu Saheed , Aruleba Raphael T. , Adekiya Tayo A. , Adefuye Anthonio O. , Adefuye Ogheneochuko J. , Oyinloye Babatunji E.
Published: February 2021

Background

Orthodox dentistry has undergone significant changes in recent times with the introduction of various omics and molecular targeted therapies both at the experimental/trial and clinical implementation level. Although, significant milestones have been achieved in the molecular dentistry field in the past decade, there remains a dearth of application of phytopharmacological innovation in personalized and targeted therapies for dental diseases.

Main body

From time immemorial, plant products have long been an integral aspect of dental practice ranging from chewing sticks/herbal kinds of toothpaste to dental/impression materials. The current era of precision medicine seeks to apply a multipronged molecular and bio-computational approaches to solve fundamental medical problems that have hitherto remained difficult. Remarkable changes in the molecular/omics era, have transformed empirical therapies into personalized/individualized ones. Furthermore, the combinatorial application and the widespread introduction of high-throughput molecular tools such as pharmacogenomics, phytopharmacology, metabolomics, mathematical modelling, and genetic engineering inter alia, has tremendously improved the diagnostic and therapeutic landscape of medicine. Additionally, the variable molecular epidemiology of diseases among different population and emerging molecular evidence warrants the use of customized novel theranostic techniques. Unfortunately, the footprint of such emerging application is sparse in dental diseases such as maxillofacial cancers.

Conclusion

Hence, this review seeks to evaluate the potential application of phytopharmacological approaches to head and neck cancers in a resource-limited environment, such as Africa.
Disaggregation of official demographic projections in sub-groups by education level: the neglected “composition effect” in the future path of life expectancy
Authors: Ginebri Sergio , Lallo Carlo
Published: February 2021

We developed an innovative method to break down official population forecasts by educational level. The mortality rates of the high education group and low education group were projected using an iterative procedure, whose starting point was the life tables by education level for Italy, based on the year 2012. We provide a set of different scenarios on the convergence/divergence of the mortality differential between the high and low education groups. In each scenario, the demographic size and the life expectancy of the two sub-groups were projected annually over the period 2018–2065. We compared the life expectancy paths in the whole population and in the sub-groups. We found that in all of our projections, population life expectancy converges to the life expectancy of the high education group. We call this feature of our outcomes the “composition effect”, and we show how highly persistent it is, even in scenarios where the mortality differential between social groups is assumed to decrease over time. In a midway scenario, where the mortality differential is assumed to follow an intermediate path between complete disappearance in year 2065 and stability at the 2012 level, and in all the scenarios with a milder convergence hypothesis, our “composition effect” prevails over the effect of convergence for men and women. For instance, assuming stability in the mortality differential, we estimated a life expectancy increase at age 65 of 2.9 and 2.6 years for men, and 3.2 and 3.1 for women, in the low and high education groups, respectively, over the whole projection period. Over the same period, Italian official projections estimate an increase of 3.7 years in life expectancy at age 65 for the whole population. Our results have relevant implications for retirement and ageing policies, in particular for those European countries that have linked statutory retirement age to variations in population life expectancies. In all the scenarios where the composition effect is not offset by a strong convergence of mortality differentials, we show that the statutory retirement age increases faster than the group-specific life expectancies, and this finding implies that the expected time spent in retirement will shrink for the whole population. This potential future outcome seems to be an unintended consequence of the indexation rule.
Screening and enhancement of the antimicrobial activity of some plant oils using liposomes as nanoscale carrier
Authors: Haggag Maha G. , Shafaa Medhat W. , Kareem Hossam S. , El-Gamil Amir M. , El-Hendawy Hoda H.
Published: February 2021

Background

Liposomes have the ability to enclose hydrophilic or lipophilic materials. Bioactive macromolecules become more stable when they are entrapped within liposomes resisting environmental changes, allowing maintenance of the antimicrobial molecules and increasing their effectiveness and constancy thus can be used for food preservation. The aim of this study was to screen food samples for microbial contamination and to examine the antimicrobial activity of selected six ready-made plant oils which were; clove, black seed, thyme, garlic, rosemary and green tea against the isolated microbes from food samples and other selected microbes. Also to examine the possible enhancement of the antibacterial property of clove oil and tetracycline versus Escherichia coli when they were encapsulated into distearoyl phosphatidylcholine (DSPC) liposomes as a nanoscale carriers. Results of the antimicrobial action measured by minimum inhibitory concentration revealed that all six oils had antimicrobial action when facing at least one of the tested microbes. However only clove oil could inhibit the growth of all tested microbes. Moreover encapsulation of clove oil into DSPC liposomes enhanced its antibacterial action by 10 times when examined to inhibit the growth of E. coli. Also the antibacterial activity of liposome encapsulated tetracycline was improved by 8 times. Results of characterization of formulated clove oil liposomes by measuring their Zeta potential and their sizes implying that clove oil might be enclosed within the hydrophobic portion of the two layers of the liposome. Analyzing data of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy showed that clove oil was detected in the interfacial area of the liposome. Analyzing results of Differential scanning calorimetry and measuring phase transitions suggested that liposomes encapsulating clove oil had a membrane fluidization effect.

Conclusion

Some plant oils like clove has antimicrobial activity which enhanced with liposomal encapsulation and thus reduces the needed concentration to give the desired actions.
Progress of discrete unified gas-kinetic scheme for multiscale flows
Authors: Guo Zhaoli , Xu Kun
Published: February 2021

Multiscale gas flows appear in many fields and have received particular attention in recent years. It is challenging to model and simulate such processes due to the large span of temporal and spatial scales. The discrete unified gas kinetic scheme (DUGKS) is a recently developed numerical approach for simulating multiscale flows based on kinetic models. The finite-volume DUGKS differs from the classical kinetic methods in the modeling of gas evolution and the reconstruction of interface flux. Particularly, the distribution function at a cell interface is reconstructed from the characteristic solution of the kinetic equation in space and time, such that the particle transport and collision effects are coupled, accumulated, and evaluated in a numerical time step scale. Consequently, the cell size and time step of DUGKS are not passively limited by the particle mean-free-path and relaxation time. As a result, the DUGKS can capture the flow behaviors in all regimes without resolving the kinetic scale. Particularly, with the variation of the ratio between numerical mesh size scale and kinetic mean free path scale, the DUGKS can serve as a self-adaptive multiscale method. The DUGKS has been successfully applied to a number of flow problems with multiple flow regimes. This paper presents a brief review of the progress of this method.
The implications of a pathological complete response of the primary tumour after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer on axillary surgery
Authors: Youssef Mina M. G. , Metwally Ahmed A. , Manie Tamer M.
Published: February 2021

Background

Management of the node-positive axilla after neoadjuvant chemotherapy is controversial. The aim of this study is to predict the group of patients who may require a less invasive approach for axillary management. One possible group are patients with pathological complete response of the primary after chemotherapy.

Results

A unicentral retrospective cohort study including all breast cancer patients with axillary node metastases at presentation who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy resulting in pathological complete response. Pathological complete response in the axillary lymph nodes was recorded. A correlation between the response in the primary tumour and the lymph nodes was assessed. A subgroup analysis was conducted for different biological groups.

Complete response was seen in the axillary nodes in 80.5% of patients. Patients with lobular cancer were less likely to show a similar response in the axilla as the primary tumour (p = 0.077). A higher incidence of axillary response was observed in HER2-positive tumours (p = 0.082). All patients with grade 3 tumours achieved complete response in the axilla (p = 0.094). Patients with negative or weak positive hormone receptor status had a significantly higher rate of complete response in the axilla compared to strongly positive hormone receptor status (OR, 7.8; 95% CI, 1.7–34.5; p = 0.007).

Conclusion

A less invasive axillary surgery may be safely recommended in selected group of node-positive patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy when the primary tumour shows complete response. This group may include HER2-positive, ER-negative and grade 3 tumours. Less response is expected in ER-positive and lobular carcinoma even with complete response in the primary.
Impact of eradication therapy of Helicobacter pylori in children with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura
Authors: Hodeib Mahmoud M. , Ali Ahmed G. , Kamel Nsreen M. , Senosy Shaimaa A. , Fahmy Ehab M. , Abdelsadik Ahmed , Maebed Mohamed H.
Published: February 2021

Background

Although some investigators have confirmed the association between H. pylori and chronic ITP in adults, studies in pediatric patients are still few and have produced conflicting results. The study was carried out to detect the prevalence of H. pylori among chronic ITP children and to investigate the impact of treatment of H. pylori infection on platelet count response.

Results

The prevalence of H. pylori in chronic ITP children was 63%. The platelet count was statistically significantly higher among H. pylori stool antigen (HpSA)-negative children. A significant difference was reported in which platelet count increased from 70.55 ± 4.788 million/μL before H. pylori eradication therapy to 110.78 ± 15.128 million/μL after therapy.

Conclusion

We concluded that H. pylori eradication therapy was effective in increasing platelet count in H. pylori-positive chronic ITP patients.
Pharmacodynamic findings for the usefulness of Luffa cylindrica (L.) leaves in atherosclerosis therapy with supporting antioxidant potential
Authors: Raut Poonam , Dhawale Shashikant , Kulkarni Deepak , Pekamwar Sanjay , Shelke Santosh , Panzade Prabhakar , Paliwal Ankit
Published: February 2021

Background

Luffa cylindrica (L.) is a commonly used vegetable in different parts of Asia. Its fruits are generally used as a vegetable, but pharmacological activities of the leaves were unrevealed. The study evaluated the antihyperlipidemic activity and in vitro antioxidant potential of methanolic extract of Luffa cylindrica (L.) leaves (MELCL). The antihyperlipidemic potential was investigated in Triton X-100-induced hyperlipidemic rats. Animals were pre-treated with Triton X-100 (400 mg/kg). The Triton X-100-treated animals were then treated with MELCL at the doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg using 5% CMC, as a vehicle, per oral (p.o) for 7 days. Antioxidant activity was studied by examining the DPPH and hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging potential of the extract.

Results

The plasma sample of rats was analyzed, and it was found that MELCL shows significant (p < 0.05) antihyperlipidemic activity at 200 mg/kg of MELCL. Serum analysis showed a marked reduction in the level of multiple biochemicals like total cholesterol (TC) (85.48 ± 3.230 mg/dl), triglycerides (TG) (74.62 ± 8.764 mg/dl), low-density lipoproteins (LDL) (31.97 ± 3.475 mg/dl), very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) (14.92 ± 1.635 mg/dl), and an increase in the level of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) (40.58 ± 1.625 mg/dl). MELCL also showed significant scavenging of DPPH radical (46.66 ± 0.002%) at concentration and hydrogen peroxide radical (47.55 ± 0.001%) at 100 μg/ml.

Conclusion

Quantitative results of the study showed that MELCL has considerable antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant potential and could be the option for the treatment of atherosclerosis.
Efficiency of modified Goldman’s technique in open pediatric septoplasty
Authors: Sabry Omar , Dewidar Hazem , Aziz Mosaad abdel , Elemam Amr , Nassar Ahmed
Published: February 2021

Background

Performing nasal surgery on children has been the subject of controversy among surgeons. Specifically, the indications for and timing of septoplasty in children have been debated for the last several decades.

In this study, we access the efficacy of the modified Goldman’s technique in dealing with caudal septal deviation in pediatric population suffering from severe nasal obstruction and its effect on nasal functions postoperatively.

In this study, 30 pediatric patients suffering from deviated nasal septum who are candidate for septoplasty were included and underwent open septoplasty using modified Goldman’s technique.

They were subjected to detailed assessment protocol preoperatively including NOSE scale, anterior rhinomanometry, and CT scans. Follow-up assessment was done at second week postoperative including anterior rhinoscopy and nasal endoscopy and 3 months postoperative including NOSE scale and anterior rhinomanometry.

Results

There was a statistically significant decrease of the NOSE scale severity to none in 90% of cases. Three months postoperative, all of the patients performed postoperative anterior active rhinomanometry with statistically significant decrease in the postoperative total nasal resistance values with inspiratory values ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 Pa/cm3/s with mean of 0.26 Pa/cm3/s and expiratory nasal resistance values ranging from 0.1 to 0.6 Pa/cm3/s with mean of 0.31 Pa/cm3/s.

Conclusions

Open septoplasty in children using the modified Goldman’s technique has enabled accurate and conservative approach for correction of nasal septal deviation especially those located in the caudal septal region. The technique also offers a significant reduction of the nasal symptoms postoperatively with marked improvement of the nasal resistance and quality of life in severe cases of deviated nasal septum.
Randomized Phase III Study of FOLFOX Alone or With Pegilodecakin as Second-Line Therapy in Patients With Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer That Progressed After Gemcitabine (SEQUOIA)
Authors: Hecht J. Randolph , Lonardi Sara , Bendell Johanna , Sim Hao-Wen , Macarulla Teresa , Lopez Charles D. , Van Cutsem Eric , Muñoz Martin Andres J. , Park Joon Oh , Greil Richard , Wang Hong , Hozak Rebecca R. , Gueorguieva Ivelina , Lin Yong , Rao Sujata , Ryoo Baek-Yeol
Published: February 2021

PURPOSE

SEQUOIA compared efficacy and safety of adding pegilodecakin (PEG), a pegylated recombinant human interleukin (IL)-10, with folinic acid, fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) in patients following progression on first-line gemcitabine-containing therapy with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

SEQUOIA, a randomized, global phase III study, compared FOLFOX with PEG + FOLFOX as second line in gemcitabine-refractory PDAC. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 (PEG + FOLFOX:FOLFOX) and stratified by prior gemcitabine and region. Eligible patients had only one prior gemcitabine-containing treatment. Primary end point was overall survival (OS). Secondary end points included progression-free survival (PFS), response evaluation per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumor (RECIST) 1.1, and safety. Exploratory analyses included biomarkers related to immune activation.

RESULTS

Between March 1, 2017, and September 9, 2019, 567 patients were randomly assigned PEG + FOLFOX (n = 283) or FOLFOX (n = 284). Most (94.7%) patients received prior gemcitabine plus nab paclitaxel. OS was similar comparing PEG + FOLFOX versus FOLFOX (median: 5.8 v 6.3 months; hazard ratio = 1.045; 95% CI, 0.863 to 1.265). Also, PFS (median 2.1 v 2.1 months; hazard ratio = 0.981; 95% CI, 0.808 to 1.190) and objective response rate (4.6% v 5.6%) were similar between the treatment arms. Most common (≥ 35%) treatment-emergent adverse events in PEG + FOLFOX versus FOLFOX were thrombocytopenia (55% v 20%), anemia (40% v 16%), fatigue (61% v 45%), neutropenia (39% v 28%), abdominal pain (37% v 29%), nausea (45% v 41%), neuropathy (37% v 38%), and decreased appetite (35% v 31%). Exploratory analyses revealed increases in total IL-18, interferon (IFN)-γ, and granzyme B and decreases in transforming growth factor (TGF)-β with the addition of PEG.

CONCLUSION

PEG added to FOLFOX did not improve efficacy in advanced gemcitabine-refractory PDAC. Safety findings were consistent as previously observed from PEG with chemotherapy; toxicity was manageable and tolerable. Exploratory pharmacodynamic results were consistent with immunostimulatory signals of the IL-10R pathway.
Η πολυπολιτισμική διάσταση της ενσυναίσθησης
Authors: Μαλικιώση-Λοΐζου Μαρία
Published: February 2021

The abstract is available in the PDF
Πολυπολιτισμική συμβουλευτική και θεραπεία σε γυναίκες μετανάστριες. Ψυχοκοινωνικοί παράγοντες και δεξιότητες
Authors: Παπαστυλιανού Αντωνία
Published: February 2021

The abstract is available in the PDF
Ο αισθητικοκινητικός ηθμός: η σημασία του στη λειτουργία του κεντρικού νευρικού συστήματος και η συμβολή του στην παθογένεια της ψύχωσης
Authors: Γιακουμάκη Στέλλα , Μπίτσιος Παναγιώτης
Published: February 2021

The abstract is available in the PDF
Ψυχομετρικά δεδομένα της Διαγνωστικής Δοκιμασίας της Βοστώνης για την αφασία σε υγιή πληθυσμό ενηλίκων: ο ρόλος της ηλικίας και του φύλου
Authors: Παπαθανασίου Ηλίας , Παπαδημητρίου Δήμητρα , Γαβρίλου Βασιλική , Μίχου Ασημίνα
Published: February 2021

The abstract is available in the PDF
Επίδραση δημογραφικών χαρακτηριστικών στη "σύγκρουση" τύπου Stroop
Authors: Ζαφείρη Μαρία , Κοσμίδου Μαίρη
Published: February 2021

The abstract is available in the PDF
Metformin as adjunctive therapy for dengue in overweight and obese patients: a protocol for an open-label clinical trial (MeDO)
Authors: Nguyen Nguyet Minh , Chanh Ho Quang , Tam Dong Thi Hoai , Vuong Nguyen Lam , Chau Nguyen Thi Xuan , Chau Nguyen Van Vinh , Phong Nguyen Thanh , Trieu Huynh Trung , Luong Thi Hue Tai , Cao Thi Tam , Dinh The Trung , Duyen Huynh Thi Le , Van Ninh Thi Thanh , Nguyen Than Ha Quyen , Rivino Laura , Gallagher Peter , Jones Nick K. , Geskus Ronald B. , Kestelyn Evelyne , Yacoub Sophie
Published: February 2021

Background:  Dengue is a disease of major global importance. While most symptomatic infections are mild, a small proportion of patients progress to severe disease with risk of hypovolaemic shock, organ dysfunction and death.  In the absence of effective antiviral or disease modifying drugs, clinical management is solely reliant on supportive measures. Obesity is a growing problem among young people in Vietnam and is increasingly recognised as an important risk factor for severe dengue, likely due to alterations in host immune and inflammatory pathways. Metformin, a widely used anti-hyperglycaemic agent with excellent safety profile, has demonstrated potential as a dengue therapeutic in vitro and in a retrospective observational study of adult dengue patients with type 2 diabetes.  This study aims to assess the safety and tolerability of metformin treatment in overweight and obese dengue patients, and investigate its effects on several clinical, immunological and virological markers of disease severity.

Methods: This open label trial of 120 obese/overweight dengue patients will be performed in two phases, with a metformin dose escalation if no safety concerns arise in phase one. The primary endpoint is identification of clinical and laboratory adverse events.  Sixty overweight and obese dengue patients aged 10-30 years will be enrolled at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Participants will complete a 5-day course of metformin therapy and be compared to a non-treated group of 60 age-matched overweight and obese dengue patients.

Discussion:  Previously observed antiviral and immunomodulatory effects of metformin make it a promising dengue therapeutic candidate in appropriately selected patients. This study will assess the safety and tolerability of adjunctive metformin in the management of overweight and obese young dengue patients, as well as its effects on markers of viral replication, endothelial dysfunction and host immune responses. 

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04377451 (May 6th 2020).
АНАЛИЗ ПОДХОДОВ К ОЦЕНКЕ РАСПРЕДЕЛЕНИЯ ТРАНСПОРТНОГО СПРОСА МЕЖДУ СПОСОБАМИ ПЕРЕДВИЖЕНИЯ В ГОРОДАХ
Authors: Litvinov Alexander Vladimirovich
Published: February 2021

Для поддержки принятия решений при городском транспортном планировании, в том числе при разработке мероприятий по управлению транспортным спросом, необходимо применение эффективных методов оценки распределения транспортного спроса между различными способами передвижения.Цель исследования – анализ подходов к оценке распределения транспортного спроса между способами передвижения в городах.Материалы и методы исследования: анализ и систематизация информации о применяемых подходах к оценке распределения транспортного спроса между способами передвижения в городах России и за рубежом (на примере США и Великобритании). Особое внимание уделено источникам, имеющим высокий уровень цитирования и описывающим подходы, получившие широкое практическое применение.Результаты: выделены два базовых подхода: прямая оценка на основе данных исследования подвижности населения и оценка на основе использования моделей. Разработана классификация применяемых моделей. Проведенные исследования показали, что современные подходы основываются на применении моделей дискретного выбора. Наиболее перспективными являются модели, описывающие индивидуальное транспортное поведение. На основе проведенного анализа даны рекомендации по развитию подходов к оценке распределения транспортного спроса между способами передвижения и их применению в практике транспортного планирования в российских городах.Применение результатов исследования: результаты исследования могут применяться при определении и обосновании подходов к оценке транспортного спроса в рамках городского транспортного планирования.
Substance P blockade effects on peripheral blood leukocytic reaction in secondary chronic inflammation
Authors: Shevchenko O. M. , Sych V. O.
Published: February 2021

In an experimental prospective controlled study the leukocyte response of peripheral blood on the background of blockade of receptors of substance P was studied on the carrageenan model of secondary chronic inflammation in 132 rats. Compared with the natural course of inflammation, at 6 hours there was a significant decrease in total white blood cells count by 1.28 (p<0.05), as well as a significant decrease in the number of polymorphonuclear neutrophils by 4 times (p<0.05) and the number of eosinophils by 3 times (p<0.05) by 10 days. On day 28, there was a significant increase in the number of monocytes in 2 times (p<0,01). The results of the study indicate that in natural conditions of inflammation, substance P stimulates blood leukocytes, as well as prolongs the inflammatory response, and its blocking helps to reduce the inflammatory response.
Urogenital pathology, herpetic infection and the state of immunity
Authors: Novikov M. V. , Goydyk V. S.
Published: February 2021

The main indexes of immune status have been learnt in 150 patients with urogenital infection. The results obtained were compared with those of 30 healthy volonteers.  The disturbanses of immunity and formation of the secondary immunodeficiency in the group of patients with virus damage of urogenital system had been revealed. To correct timely therapeutic schemes and increase the treatment’s efficacy additional researches are necessary.
Prognostic potential of proliferative activity index in assessing the effectiveness of complex neoadjuvant treatment of locally advanced breast cancer
Authors: Bondar O. V.
Published: February 2021

In recent years, breast cancer (breast cancer) has been the most common cancer and the most common cause of disability among women in developed countries. The aim of the study - determination of the role of Ki-67 and PCNA nuclear markers for the evaluation and prediction of the effectiveness of neoadjuvant antitumor treatment with the use of polychemotherapy in systemic (SPHT), endolymphatic (ELPHT) and selective intra-arterial (SIAPHT) variants in patients with breast cancer.The study was conducted on the basis of materials from 90 histories of in patients with LABC luminal type B Т4А-DN0-2М0. The total sample was divided into three subgroups by parameter of route of neoadjuvant polychemotherapy (PCT): first control group, 22 patients - systemic PCT; the second control group (27 patients) - endolymphatic PCT; study group (41 patients) - selective intra-arterial PCT.Clinical effect with qualitative changes of local status and transfer of patients to the category of those with resectable tumors appeared in 46% of women of the first control group after 6 courses of SPCT, in 59% of the second control group after 4 courses of ELPCT and in 90% of the studied group after 3 courses SIAPCT.After systemic and endolymphatic PCT, reductions in Ki-67 and PCNA levels were determined to be insignificant (p>0.05) by the Mac-Nemar criterion χ2. For selective intra-arterial techniques, the dynamics were considered significant (p <0.05). Intergroup comparisons revealed a statistical advantage in favor of the third group for Pearson's χ2 compared to the first and second ones. In the study of the association between the fact of radical surgery and the initial marker levels, a strong prognostic property of Ki-67 and PCNA was determined up to 25% with respect to the outcome of future comprehensive treatment.With the use of SIAPCT in the non-adjuvant treatment of breast cancer by Ki-67 and PCNA in the range of up to 25%, the tumor responds significantly better to the therapy and reaches a resectable status in a statistically significantly greater proportion in patients with LABC.
Peculiarities of blood formation from bone marrow in secondary chronic inflammation on the background of mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Shevchenko O. , Petrуk N.
Published: February 2021

The use of MSCs reduces the chronicity of inflammation due to greater activation of hematopoiesis, and, consequently, the entry of leukocytes into the blood and the focus in the initial stages of inflammation. The study of bone marrow hematopoiesis in the dynamics of secondary chronic inflammation shows that the use of MSCs reduces the chronicity of the process. This proves the possibility of using MSCs to prevent chronic inflammation.Thus, inflammation on the background of the application of MSCs compared with the natural course of the process in the early stages of inflammation in the cell emigrates more leukocytes, compared with more distant terms, as they are less. In the early stages, there is more release of cells from the bone marrow into the blood, hematopoiesis is more significantly stimulated, and in the later stages, corresponding to the period of chronic inflammation - less activation of hematopoiesis.This is probably because the increased migration of leukocytes into the site of inflammation in the early stages of the process provides a more effective fight against inflammation and, consequently, less likely to chronicle the process.The use of MSCs leads to a decrease in the chronicity of inflammation due to greater activation of hematopoiesis, and, consequently, the entry of leukocytes into the blood and hearth in the initial stages of inflammation.The results of our studies of bone marrow hematopoiesis in the dynamics of secondary chronic inflammation show that the use of MSCs reduces the chronicity of the process.The prospect of further research is related to the improvement of pathogenetic therapy and the prevention of chronic inflammation. Further additional research should be conducted to study not only the local effect of MSCs on the course of inflammation but also the systemic administration of MSCs.
Implementation of the pedagogical experiment on the issues of formation of the readiness of teachers of natural specialties to the development of entrepreneurial enterprise
Authors: Kurysh Natalia Kostiantynivna
Published: February 2021

Institutions of postgraduate pedagogical education provide the formation of readiness of teachers, including natural sciences, to develop entrepreneurial competence of high school students, which became the basis of experimental pedagogical research.The author defines the task: to identify the conceptual principles of the organization of experimental and pedagogical research to determine the readiness of teachers of natural specialties to develop entrepreneurial competence of high school students; to characterize the stages of implementation and analyze the methodological tools of pedagogical experiment.Experimental pedagogical research "Formation of readiness of teachers of natural specialties in the system of postgraduate pedagogical education for the development of entrepreneurial competence of high school students" involves establishing patterns of professional growth of teachers and identifying their readiness to implement entrepreneurial competence in practice.This pedagogical experiment was implemented from August 2015 to June 2019 and included the following stages: ascertaining, formative and generalizing.Based on the theoretical research, we have developed the stages, content and methods of experimental work performed within the dissertation research.The results of the pedagogical experiment testify to the positive dynamics of the formation of the readiness of teachers of natural specialties of experimental groups for the development of entrepreneurial competence of high school students in the system of postgraduate pedagogical education.
Optimization of complex therapy and rehabilitation of the musculoskeletal system in osteosarcopenia and vitamin D deficiency in postmenopausal women
Authors: Turchin N. I.
Published: February 2021

Osteosarcopenia, i.e. combination of low muscle mass and reduced bone mineral density, is associated with aging and recognised as public health burden. The objective: to determine the possibility of treatment and rehabilitation to increase the functional capabilities of the musculoskeletal system in OSP and vitamin D deficiency in postmenopausal women. Materials and methods. 178 women aged 55.7 ± 0.6 years old, among them 148 OSP patients. Densitometry was performed, 25 (OH) D level in blood serum, C - terminal telopeptide, degradation product of type 1 collagen (CTx) were determined, functional tests were used. Results and conclusions. Complex use of physical rehabilitation (multifunctional trainer "HUBER") in combination with drug therapy (vitamin D, denosumab) promotes more effective increase of the functional capabilities of the musculoskeletal system: muscle strength, stability, coordination of movements, reduces functional limitations; promotes more effective treatment of structural and functional changes in bone tissue, increase BMD. Functional tests of the state of musculoskeletal tissue falls and are highly informative in terms of predicting the risk of fractures (impaired coordination and FraxAll, stability and FraxAl,  risk of falls and FraxAll, dynamometry and FraxAll.
Physiological peculiarities of dog’ blood erythrocytes in conditions of the Northern Black sea coast
Authors: Broshkov M. M. , Danchuk O. V. , Anferova M. V. , Dzygal O. F. , Yermuraki P. P.
Published: February 2021

Erythrocyte microscopy is an important step in the study of blood smears, which gives the researcher a lot of information and under certain conditions allows one to make a reliable diagnosis. This article presents new scientific data on the physiological characteristics of erythrocytes in dogs, the variability of their size and shape depending on age, sex and season of the year. The experiment was performed on 147 clinically healthy dogs of different ages, breeds and genders. Blood smears were stained by the Romanowski-Gimse method and subjected to light microscopy with oil immersion. It was found that physiological anisocytosis occurs in 34% of dogs, and 86% are unknown poikilocytosis, 10% – moderate and only 4% – severe. If we analyze the changes in cell size, macrocytic anisocytosis was observed more often in the blood smear of dogs (in 19% of cases), slightly less – macrocytic (14%) and only in one case megalocytic anisocytosis was detected. Every third case of anisocytosis was reported in dogs under 6 months of age. In spring, changes in the size of erythrocytes were detected in 59% of cases (in 10 dogs out of 17), in summer and autumn – 17-18% and in winter in 8% of the studied animals. Only 60% of the studied dogs were found to have normochromia by laboratory analysis. Moreover, hypochromia is 4.7 times more common than hyperchromia. Hyperchromia in dogs was more often recorded in spring (18%), hypochromia in autumn and spring (41–45%), and polychromia in summer (24% of the total number of studied dogs). Inclusions in the erythrocytes of dogs were found in 32% of experimental blood smears, with 85% of cases being Jolie bodies, 7.5% – Kebot rings, 5.6% – Heinz bodies and 1.9% – pseudo-inclusions. Physiological poikilocytosis was detected in 47.6% of blood smears of dogs, out of which in 35.4% of samples there was a slight poikilocytosis, in 11.6% – moderate and up to 1% – severe. The ones that were more frequently encountered were target cells and stomatocytes (14% each), acanthocytes (11%), echinocytes (5%), dacrinocytes (4%), spherocytes (3%), keratocytes (2%), schistocytes (2%), crescent-shaped cells (1% of the total number of studied smears). Poikilocytosis in dogs is more common in spring (82% of smears), slightly less in summer (up to 35%) and autumn (21%).
Working posture as a basis of technical preparation of those practicing sportive types of gymnastics
Authors: Maksymova Yuliya , Omelianchyk-Ziurkalova Oksana
Published: February 2021

Each kind of sport formulates ODA of the young sportsman in correlation with its goals. Sportive types of gymnastics containcharacteristic to their type placements, positions, stands and movements, on the basis of which sportive elements are constructed, and the “school of movement” is built. These characteristic positions, the position of the body, formulate the foundation of the school of movement - the working posture. In other words, the entire culture of movement in sportive types of gymnastics is in fact contained in the spine, in its position, in the position of the hip joint and in muscle tone condition/The article considers the technology aimed at the adaptation of the spine, ligaments and joints, as well as the muscles of the body of acrobats to specific loads, as a factor in preventingspecific diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
Retrospective analysis of treatment outcomes in polytrauma patients with multiple long bone fractures of lower extremities
Authors: Dubrov Sergii , Burianov Olexandr , Omelchenko Taras , Vakulych Myroslav , Miasnikov Dmytro , Lianskorunskyi Volodymyr
Published: February 2021

The aim: to conduct retrospective analysis of treatment outcomes in polytrauma patients with multiple long bone fractures of lower extremities.Materials and methods: retrospective study of treatment results in patients hospitalized to the polytrauma department of Kyiv City Clinical Hospital №17 from January 2013 to December 2016.Results: among patients with polytrauma and multiple long bone fractures of lower extremities, males dominated (67.9%) and the main cause of injury was a road accident (73.3%). The most common localizations of injuries were chest trauma (82.4%), traumatic brain injury (74.8%). The severity of injury was 29.2 ± 10.5 points according to the Injury Severity Score (ISS), degree of consciousness disorders was 9.1 ± 3.3 points in conformity with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). Patients developed complications, including nosocomial pneumonia (40.5%), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (19.1%) and fat embolism syndrome (10.7%), as well as sepsis (28.2%) and multiple organ failure (MOF) (16.0%). Mortality rate was 24.4%.Conclusion: It was found that among patients with polytrauma and multiple long bone fractures of lower extremities males dominated on the basis of gender, the main cause of injury was a road accident. The most common localizations of injuries were chest trauma and traumatic brain injury. Among controversial issues of treatment and diagnostic process are low frequency of pelvic binder application, ultrasound according to focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) protocol and whole body multispiral computed tomography (WBMCT), which should be performed in 100.0% of patients with high-energy trauma at the time of admission to the hospital. In addition, frequency of Early Total Care (ETC) tactics application was too low, and definitive osteosynthesis in some cases was performed unreasonably late, using conservative fixation methods, which is a cause of complications and treatment prolongation in patients with polytrauma.The most common complications were pulmonary: nosocomial pneumonia, ARDS and fat embolism syndrome. Mortality rate was 24.4%.
Substance P blockade effects on bone marrow hematopoiesis in secondary chronic inflammation
Authors: Shevchenko O. M. , Sych V. O.
Published: February 2021

Inflammation is defined by the features of bone marrow hematopoiesis. Thus, an objective of the study was to determine the substance P inhibition effects on bone marrow hematopoiesis in secondary chronic carrageenan-induced inflammation in experimental prospective controlled study on 132 white male WAG rats. On the background of blockade of substance P, the course of inflammation was characterized by a less intense neutrophilic reaction and the development of the lymphocyte component at earlier stages of inflammation. Given the peculiarities of bone marrow hematopoiesis in carrageenan secondary chronic inflammation on the background of its suppression, the influence of substance P on the course of chronic inflammation is certain.