bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aloe immaculata and A. affinis (Asphodelaceae subfam. Alooideae), two endemics from northern and eastern South Africa, are different maculate aloe species
Authors: SMITH GIDEON F. , KLOPPER RONELL R.
Published: November 2022

We show that Aloe immaculata and A. affinis (Asphodelaceae subfam. Alooideae) are two different species. Aloe immaculata, a Limpopo province, South Africa, endemic, is therefore reinstated and treated as distinct from A. affinis, an endemic of the eastern, mainly Drakensberg escarpment in Mpumalanga, South Africa, and southeastern Limpopo, and northwestern Eswatini. Vegetatively, the two species mainly differ in terms of leaf colour (dull green to brownish green in the case of A. immaculata and brighter green in the case of A. affinis). Reproductively, the species differ in inflorescence structure (subcapitate to conical and round-topped racemes in the case of A. immaculata and cylindric-acuminate ones in the case of A. affinis) and flower size and colour (pale flesh pink and 28–33 mm long in A. immaculata and scarlet red and 40–45 mm long in A. affinis). The two species are compared and illustrated, and descriptions for both species and a combined distribution map are provided.
Rediscovery of Perlodinella microlobata Wu, 1938, with notes on Tibetisoperla sclerotica Yan, Chen, Bozdogan & Li, 2022 (Plecoptera: Perlodidae)
Authors: HUO QING-BO , REHMAN ABDUR , DU YU-ZHOU , CHEN ZHEN-NING
Published: November 2022

Perlodinella microlobata Wu, 1938 is rediscovered in Qinghai and Sichuan provinces with a supplementary description in this paper. Another species collected from Qinghai at the same time, Tibetisoperla sclerotica Yan, Chen, Bozdogan & Li, 2022, is partially revised because the adult female belongs to the chloroperlid genus Sweltsa Ricker, 1943.
Taxonomic review of the Afrotropical genus Birketsmithiola Krüger with descriptions of five new species (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae)
Authors: VOLYNKIN ANTON V.
Published: November 2022

The footman moth genus Birketsmithiola Krüger, 2015 is reviewed and five new species are described: B. kruegeri sp. n. (eastern D.R. Congo), B. kingstoni sp. n. (Malawi), B. smithi sp. n. (Zambia and Malawi), B. nakuru sp. n. (Kenya), and B. bvumba sp. n. (Zimbabwe). Eilema sanguicosta var. nyassana Strand, 1912 previously considered as an unavailable name is restored and upgraded to species level: B. nyassana (Strand, 1912), stat. rev. Lectotypes for Ilema sanguicosta Hampson, 1901 and Eilema sanguicosta var. nyassana Strand, 1912 are designated. Adults together with male and female genitalia of all Birketsmithiola species are illustrated.
Christians in the Political Arena: Some Sociological and Theological Learnings from the Philippines
Authors: Maggay Melba
Published: November 2022

This article clarifies the ambiguities in church and state relations, defines the role of the church as framed by the offices of prophet, priest and king, and shares learnings on political engagement from the Philippine experience of People Power.
Swadisth Company Pvt Ltd: A Survival Plan during COVID-19
Authors: Pandey Peeyush , Gupta Sukriti , Sonu Atul Kumar , Agarwal Aanchal , Budhiraja Ayushi
Published: November 2022

The case highlights a problem faced by Swadisth: a confectionary manufacturing firm. The company could barely sell its products through the traditional distribution network during the nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19. In just 30 days, there was a 90% decline in sales. The manufacturing plants closed, the workers were sitting idle and the costs associated with inventory, workforce and machinery were piling up. The people were not leaving their houses because of the government guidelines and relied on online platforms for purchases. Many competitors shifted their businesses online, and the rest were planning to launch soon. It was time for Swadisth to quickly respond to the market changes to survive the pandemic. Previously, Swadisth distributed its products through a network of manufacturing plants, distributors and retailers located in multiple places. Entry into e-commerce would require changing their supply chain structure and distribution strategies. For this purpose, Mr Keshav Rao (Chief Operating Officer) was tasked to evaluate alternative distribution strategies and present a report to Mr Chaudhary (Managing Director).
A structured approach for functional analysis of context-aware systems
Authors: Gui Fajun , Chen Yong , Li Haomin , Tang Chao
Published: November 2022

With the popularity of IoT (Internet of Things) technology, more and more engineering systems are integrated with context-aware functionalities. It is self-evident that functional analysis is a critical process for successful development of such context-aware systems (CASs). Since existing functional analysis approaches are primarily for developing traditional engineering systems, this paper aims at developing a structured approach for assisting engineers in carrying out functional analysis of CASs. Based on the concept of context from an interactive perspective, this research analyzes what constitutes the context of a CAS and its basic features. Then a structured approach for functional analysis is proposed, which systematically elaborates how to define and analyze the context of a CAS, how to identify functionalities from the context, and how to develop the functional structure of a CAS. A case study of the functional analysis of a self-service checkout system is employed to demonstrate the proposed approach, which shows that the proposed approach can help designers carry out functional analysis of CASs in an effective manner.
Association of Mammary Gland Disease With Metabolic Syndrome Factors in Japanese Women—Case-Control Study Based on Health Screening Results
Authors: Sumida Sakika , Iida Tadayuki , Yoshikawa Masao , Nagaoka Kaoru
Published: November 2022

Background:

The association of obesity with breast cancer is clear. Although body mass index (BMI) is used as an indicator of obesity, its accuracy remains questionable. Although, there factors for diagnosing metabolic syndrome are caused by obesity, the association with breast cancer has not been clarified.

Methods:

Women who underwent breast cancer screening with mammography and measurements of metabolic syndrome factors, including waist circumference, blood glucose, triglycerides, HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels, and systolic and diastolic pressure, twice within a 2-year period were enrolled (n = 314), with a final sample size of 256. To determine the presence of mammary gland disease, 2 expert physicians interpreted radiogram findings, with category 3 or higher shown by mammography considered to indicate an abnormality.

Results and Conclusions:

Waist circumference at the initial measurement was marginally significant as a risk factor for onset of mammary gland disease (odds ratio [OR] = 1.036, P = .045) and thus was concluded to be a risk factor for disease onset. Although not significant, a 2-year increase in systolic and diastolic blood pressure has been presumed to be risk factors (systolic: OR = 1.020, P = .085, diastolic: OR = 1.040, P = .065), while high levels of HDL cholesterol have been presumed to protect against the disease (OR = 0.982, P = .064). Based on these results, waist circumference and blood pressure are speculated to be related to development of mammary gland disease.
In vitro models of soft tissue damage by implant-associated frictional shear stresses
Authors: Rosas Jonah M. , Atkins Dixon J. , Chau Allison L. , Chen Yen-Tsung , Bae Rachel , Cavanaugh Megan K. , Espinosa Lima Ricardo I. , Bordeos Andrew , Bryant Michael G. , Pitenis Angela A.
Published: November 2022

Silicone elastomer medical implants are ubiquitous in medicine, particularly for breast augmentation. However, when these devices are placed within the body, disruption of the natural biological interfaces occurs, which significantly changes the native energy-dissipation mechanisms of living systems. These new interfaces can introduce non-physiological contact pressures and tribological conditions that provoke inflammation and soft tissue damage. Despite their significance, the biotribological properties of implant-tissue and implant-extracellular matrix (ECM) interfaces remain poorly understood. Here, we developed an in vitro model of soft tissue damage using a custom-built in situ biotribometer mounted onto a confocal microscope. Sections of commercially-available silicone breast implants with distinct and clinically relevant surface roughness ([Formula: see text]m, [Formula: see text]m, and [Formula: see text]m) were mounted to spherically-capped hydrogel probes and slid against collagen-coated hydrogel surfaces as well as healthy breast epithelial (MCF10A) cell monolayers to model implant-ECM and implant-tissue interfaces. In contrast to the “smooth” silicone implants ([Formula: see text]m), we demonstrate that the “microtextured” silicone implant ([Formula: see text]m) induced higher frictional shear stress ([Formula: see text]  Pa), which led to greater collagen removal and cell rupture/delamination. Our studies may provide insights into post-implantation tribological interactions between silicone breast implants and soft tissues.
Short-term efficacy of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor treatment in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction with reduced ejection fraction after primary percutaneous coronary intervention: a propensity score matching study
Authors: Zhang Qun , Qiao Bao , Han Yu , Sun Shukun , Wang Bailu , Wei Shujian
Published: November 2022

Background

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) causes a series of pathophysiological changes, including myocardial necrosis, myocardial edema, and microvascular damage. These changes eventually lead to severe cardiovascular events, such as ventricular remodeling, heart failure, and papillary dysfunction. Impaired cardiac function after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) often manifests as a decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Clinical trials have shown that angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) treatment has the potential to improve LVEF in patients with STEMI after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI).

Objective

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term efficacy of ARNI versus angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) treatment in patients with STEMI who exhibit reduced LVEF after PPCI.

Methods

A total of 169 patients with STEMI exhibiting post-PPCI LVEF below 50% who were orally treated with ARNI between December 2017 and August 2020 were selected as the experimental group. A total of 136 patients with STEMI exhibiting post-PPCI LVEF below 50% who were orally treated with an ACEI between January 2016 and August 2020 were selected as the control group. LVEF was measured using cardiac ultrasonography during hospitalization and 3 months after discharge. Linear and logistic regression analyses were performed to compare patient demographics and hospitalization variables to evaluate the risk factors for change and rate of improvement in LVEF. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to account for confounding factors.

Results

After PSM, the study cohort consisted of 81 patients in the ARNI group and 123 in the ACEI group. After an average follow-up period of 3 months, no significant difference was noted in the LVEF improvement rate between the experimental and control groups (P = 0.475, 95% CI: -0.062 to 0.134). Multivariate logistic regression analysis also indicated no significant correlation between the change in LVEF and oral ARNI treatment in patients with STEMI exhibiting reduced LVEF after PPCI (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

The short-term effect of ARNI treatment on the cardiac function of patients with STEMI and reduced LVEF after PPCI is not superior to that of ACEI treatment.
Circulating CD8+CD122+ T cells as a prognostic indicator of pancreatic cancer
Authors: Teramatsu Katsuhito , Oono Takamasa , Oyama Koki , Fujimori Nao , Murakami Masatoshi , Yasumori Sho , Ohno Akihisa , Matsumoto Kazuhide , Takeno Ayumu , Nakata Kohei , Nakamura Masafumi , Ogawa Yoshihiro
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The distribution of tissue infiltrating lymphocytes has been shown to affect the prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer in some previous studies. However, the role of peripheral lymphocytes in pancreatic cancer remains debated. The purpose of this study was to analyze the peripheral subtypes of T lymphocytes, and establish their association with the prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer.

Methods

Blood and tissue samples were collected from patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer (n = 54), resectable pancreatic cancer (n = 12), and benign pancreatic cysts (n = 52) between April 2019 and January 2022 and analyzed.

Results

Patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer had a larger proportion of both tumor-suppressive and tumor-promoting cells than those with benign pancreatic cysts. In addition, the proportion of peripheral CD4+ T cells positively correlated with the survival of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer, and the proportion of peripheral CD8+CD122+ T cells was associated with early mortality (< 90 days). After chemotherapy, CD8+CD122+ T cells decreased in patients who had a partial response or stable disease. Moreover, by analyzing resected specimens, we first proved that the existence of CD8+CD122+ T cells in a tumor microenvironment (TME) depends on their proportion in peripheral blood.

Conclusion

Circulating CD8+CD122+ T cells can be a prognostic indicator in patients with pancreatic cancer.
Occupational risk variation of nasopharyngeal cancer in the Nordic countries
Authors: Carpén Timo , Gille Evelina , Hammarstedt-Nordenvall Lalle , Hansen Johnni , Heikkinen Sanna , Lynge Elsebeth , Selander Jenny , Mehlum Ingrid Sivesind , Torfadottir Jóhanna Eyrún , Mäkitie Antti , Pukkala Eero
Published: November 2022

Background

The aim of this study was to estimate occupational risk variation in the incidence of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) in a large population-based cohort of the Nordic Occupational Cancer (NOCCA) study.

Methods

This study is based on a cohort of almost 15 million persons from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, with 2898 nasopharyngeal cancer cases diagnosed in 1961–2005. The data on occupations were gathered from population censuses and cancer data from the national cancer registries. Standardized incidence ratios (SIR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using the national NPC incidence rates as the reference.

Results

There were 1980 male and 918 female NPC patients. The highest SIRs of NPC were observed among male waiters (SIR 3.69, 95% CI 1.91–6.45) and cooks and stewards (SIR 2.24, 95% CI 1.16–3.91). Among women, launderers had the highest SIR of NPC (2.04, 95% CI 1.02–3.65). Significantly decreased SIRs were found among male farmers (SIR 0.79, 95% CI 0.68–0.92) and male textile workers (SIR 0.49, 95% CI 0.22–0.93).

Conclusions

This study suggests that NPC may be associated with several work-related exposure agents such as smoking, kitchen air pollution and solvents. In future, occupational exposure-risk relations should be studied to understand more about causality and to assess effective prevention strategies.
Contextual factors influencing the implementation of a new midwife education programme in India: a qualitative study
Authors: Erlandsson Kerstin , Jha Paridhi , Sharma Bharati , Bogren Malin
Published: November 2022

The Indian Government has committed to educate 90,000 midwives in accordance with international norms. This goal is critical as midwives provide evidence-based, high-quality midwifery care. There is a need to explore the contextual factors influencing this new midwifery education programme. Hence, the aim of this study is to explore contextual factors influencing the implementation of the national midwifery education programme for midwifery educators and the future Nurse Practitioners in Midwifery (NPMs) in India. A qualitative research design was used, with data collected through focus group discussions (n = 8) with a total of 27 participants representing seven national and international organisations supporting the Indian Government in its midwifery initiative. Transcribed interviews were analysed using content analysis. This study on contextual factors influencing the implementation of the new midwifery education programme in India showed that organisational and administrative processes are complex and the development of midwifery educators and nurse practitioners in midwifery needs to be fast tracked. The education of educators and future midwives in India, and elsewhere in similar settings, could benefit from efforts to simplify the organisational and administration processes and, in parallel, mobilize innovative teaching and learning approaches to bridge theory and practice.
Effect of up to 30-days of storage at different temperatures on detection of feline kidney injury molecule-1 in urine
Authors: Milaszewska Aleksandra , Defarges Alice , Oblak Michelle , Brisson Brigitte , Monteith Gabrielle , Bienzle Dorothee
Published: November 2022

Background

In humans, kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) is a biomarker of acute kidney injury that can be quantified in urine. Preliminary investigation in cats with experimentally induced acute kidney injury showed that KIM-1 urine concentration correlated with kidney injury histopathology scores. A lateral flow assay (LFA) has recently become available for patient-side feline KIM-1 measurement. In vitro parameters of the assay have not yet been determined. The objectives of this study were to determine detection of KIM-1 in urine stored at different temperatures over time, to establish the linear range of the LFA, and to assess the intra-assay repeatability of measurements. 

Results

Ten urine samples with a range of KIM-1 concentrations were stored at room temperature (22o C), 4o C or -20o C, and tested with the LFA on days 0, 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, and 30. The concentration of KIM-1 in samples was not significantly different from the day 0 value, except one sample that had been stored for 30 days at room temperature yielded a significantly higher value. The assay results had a correlation coefficient of 0.922. The mean coefficient of variation for all samples was 15.7%. The slope of the curve of expected versus measured values in samples diluted two-fold nine times was 0.908, and results were linear over all dilutions.

Conclusions

The LFA for feline KIM-1 yields consistent results from stored urine samples. These characteristics will allow for KIM-1 to be measured retrospectively if immediate testing is not feasible. Within assay precision was high, and linearity over 9 logs of dilution suggests suitability for a range of subclinical and clinical kidney injuries.
Intermittent preventive treatment and malaria amongst pregnant women who give birth at the Centre Hospitalier Régional Paul Moukambi de Koula-Moutou in southeastern Gabon
Authors: Biteghe-Bi-Essone Jean Claude , Imboumy-Limoukou Roméo Karl , Ekogha-Ovono Jean Jordan , Maghendji-Nzondo Sydney , Sir-Ondo-Enguier Pater Noster , Oyegue Lydie Sandrine , Lekana-Douki Jean Bernard
Published: November 2022

Background

Evaluating malaria control strategies for pregnant women is essential. The objective of this study was to determine the factors influencing antenatal care (ANC) visit attendance, complete intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) and its impact on the health of pregnant women and their newborn babies living in semi-urban and rural areas of southeastern Gabon.

Methods

This transversal study was performed at the Centre Hospitalier Régional Paul Moukambi de Koula-Moutou (CHRPMK). Information regarding age, frequency of prenatal consultations, obstetric history, use of malaria control measures, use of IPTp-SP, malaria diagnostic of women and their newborns, were collected: (i): from birth registers from 1 January, 2018 to 31 December, 2019 and, (ii): a questionnaire from January to April 2020.

Results

In total, 1,851 and 323 pregnant women were included during the first and the second sub-set of study, respectively. In the first sub-set of data, the mean age was 26.18 ± 7.02 years and 96.54% (1,787/1,851) of pregnant women had attended ANC service but 54.45% had complete ANC visit attendance (at least 4 ANC). The complete ANC visit was linked with age (p < 0.001) and profession (p < 0.001). The complete IPTp-SP (at least 3 doses) was 58.87%. Complete IPTp-SP was linked to profession (aOR = 1.49, 95% CI [1.04–2.18], p < 0.001), ANC visit (aOR = 0.176, 95% CI [0.14–0.22], p < 0.034) and age (p = 0.03). Birth weight was higher for babies whose mothers had received complete IPTp-SP (p < 0,001) but the Apgar score was not influenced by the use of IPTp-SP (p = 0.71). In the second sub-set of data, the prevalence of plasmodial infection was 3.10% (95% IC [1.21–5]) and Plasmodium falciparum was responsible for 100% of infections. The prevalence of plasmodial infection was the same for all age groups (p = 0.69), gravidity (p = 0.13) and domestic control measures (p > 0.05). A low birth weight was statistically linked to the mother’s plasmodial infection (p < 0.01). Furthermore, plasmodial infection was statistically linked to premature birth (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

It was observed that attendance of women to ANC service and a complete IPTp-SP course is insufficient.
How a thrombectomy service can reduce hospital deficit: a cost-effectiveness study
Authors: Grunwald Iris Q. , Wagner Viola , Podlasek Anna , Koduri Gouri , Guyler Paul , Gerry Stephen , Shah Sweni , Sievert Horst , Sharma Aarti , Mathur Shrey , Fassbender Klaus , Shariat Kaveh , Houston Graeme , Kanodia Avinash , Walter Silke
Published: November 2022

Background

There is level 1 evidence for cerebral thrombectomy with thrombolysis in acute large vessel occlusion. Many hospitals are now contemplating setting up this life-saving service. For the hospital, however, the first treatment is associated with an initial high cost to cover the procedure. Whilst the health economic benefit of treating stroke is documented, this is the only study to date performing matched-pair, patient-level costing to determine treatment cost within the first hospital episode and up to 90 days post-event.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective coarsened exact matched-pair analysis of 50 acute stroke patients eligible for thrombectomy.

Results

Thrombectomy resulted in significantly more good outcomes (mRS 0–2) compared to matched controls (56% vs 8%, p = 0.001). More patients in the thrombectomy group could be discharged home (60% vs 28%), fewer were discharged to nursing homes (4% vs 16%), residential homes (0% vs 12%) or rehabilitation centres (8% vs 20%). Thrombectomy patients had fewer serious adverse events (n = 30 vs 86) and were, on average, discharged 36 days earlier. They required significantly fewer physiotherapy sessions (18.72 vs 46.49, p = 0.0009) resulting in a median reduction in total rehabilitation cost of £4982 (p = 0.0002) per patient. The total cost of additional investigations was £227 lower (p = 0.0369). Overall, the median cost without thrombectomy was £39,664 per case vs £22,444, resulting in median savings of £17,221 (p = 0.0489).

Conclusions

Mechanical thrombectomy improved patient outcome, reduced length of hospitalisation and, even without procedural reimbursement, significantly reduced cost to the thrombectomy providing hospital.
Personality-related and psychosocial correlates of sick leave days in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic: findings of a representative survey
Authors: Hajek André , König Hans-Helmut
Published: November 2022

Background

The aim of our study was to assess the personality-related and psychosocial correlates of sick leave days in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

We used data from a representative online-survey covering the general German adult population (data collection: mid-March 2022). We restricted our sample to full-time employed individuals aged 18 to 64 years (n = 1,342 individuals). Sick leave days in the preceding 12 months served as outcome measure. Validated and established tools were used to quantify personality characteristics and psychosocial factors (such as the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale or the De Jong Gierveld loneliness tool). Negative binomial regression models were used.

Results

After adjusting for various sociodemographic and health-related factors, regressions showed that a higher number of sick leave days was associated with lower levels of conscientiousness (IRR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.73-0.97), higher levels of openness to experience (IRR: 1.19, 1.04–1.35), less coronavirus anxiety (IRR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.86-0.93), and more depressive symptoms (IRR: 1.06, 1.02–1.11).

Conclusion

After adjusting for various sociodemographic and health-related factors, our study showed an association between personality-related and psychosocial factors with sick leave days. More research is required to clarify the underlying pathways.
In the presence of non-neutralising maternally derived antibodies, intradermal and intramuscular vaccination with a modified live vaccine against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus 1 (PRRSV-1) induce similar levels of neutralising antibodies or interferon-gamma secreting cells
Authors: Aguirre Laia , Li Yanli , Baratelli Massimiliano , Martín-Valls Gerard , Cortey Martí , Miranda Joel , Martín Marga , Mateu Enric
Published: November 2022

The purpose of this study was to compare the immune response generated by the intramuscular and the intradermal vaccination route against the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). Piglets from a seronegative and a seropositive farm were selected (n = 28 piglets per farm), and each group was divided into two groups and vaccinated after weaning with modified live vaccine Unistrain® PRRS (Laboratorios Hipra Amer, Spain) by the intramuscular (IM) or the intradermic (ID) route. For the following 6 weeks, animals were weekly bled to assess the humoral response by PRRSV-specific antibody ELISA and viral neutralisation test. At 0-, 3-, 4- and 6 weeks post-vaccination, peripheral mononuclear blood cells (PBMC) from eight animals per group were recovered to analyse cellular response by IFN-γ ELISPOT and lymphoproliferation. Serum IL-12 was also quantified by ELISA. Seroconversion was first detected 14 days post-vaccination (dpv) for both IM and ID routes, and peaked at 35 dpv (both IM groups and ID seropositive) or 42 dpv (ID seronegative). At 3 weeks after vaccination, 6/27 (22.22%) animals from negative origin had not seroconverted, and neutralising titres were significantly lower at 35 dpv compared to the seropositive origin (mean log2titres of 1.36 and 4.25 respectively) Also, it was 10 times more probable for them to have high levels of IL-12 a week after vaccination than for animals of seropositive origin. Cellular immune response analysed by lymphoproliferation and IFN-γ ELISPOT was already present at 21 dpv and until 42 dpv, with no significant differences between groups except for a higher lymphoproliferation at 35 dpv in the IM seropositive group (Kruskal-Wallis, p < 0.05). These results indicate that the intradermal route induces an immune response equivalent to the classical intramuscular route even in presence of non-neutralising maternal immunity, which in this study has proven to facilitate seroconversion after vaccination with an heterologous strain.
Optimizing osteoporosis management: targeting to treat — an initiative by the Egyptian Academy of Bone Health
Authors: El Miedany Yasser , Gadallah Naglaa Ali , Toth Mathias
Published: November 2022

The overarching goal of treating osteoporotic patients is to reduce the incidence of fractures, yet interventions that support early detection of osteoporosis and prevention of osteoporotic fractures are underutilized. Osteoporosis and, specifically, the associated burden of fractures call for a screening strategy offering an opportunity to intervene early. Such strategy should be clinically feasible and cost-effective, aiming to identify and treat subjects at high or very high risk of fragility fracture.

The low sensitivity of bone mineral density measurements in identifying high-risk patients is evidenced by the high number of osteoporotic fractures occurring in subjects with BMD values above threshold required for a diagnosis of osteoporosis. Consequently, DXA scanning is not considered appropriate as a public screening tool identifying patients at risk of sustaining fragility fractures and current efforts focus on identifying non-BMD-related risk factors.

In Egypt, we are fortunate in having all modalities of osteoporosis therapy and assessment tools available, yet there remains a significant treatment gap in osteoporosis management. Furthermore, screening for fracture risk is not currently advocated nationally. This manuscript describes a national initiative for a population screening intervention to identify patients at risk of developing a fragility fracture aiming to reduce fragility fractures especially in older adults.
Digital literacy in contemporary mental healthcare: electronic patient records, outcome measurements and social media
Authors: Tracy Derek K. , Gadelrab Romayne , Rahim Ayesha , Pendlebury Gabrielle , Reza Hashim , Bhattacharya Rahul , Bachlani Asif , Worlley Katherine , Rigby David , Scott Jonathan , Dave Subodh
Published: November 2022

Digital psychiatry has become increasingly important and understanding of certain aspects is essential for practising clinicians. This article discusses electronic patient records (EPRs), from their origins to current and future use, the growth and embedding of outcome measurements, the use of social media, and learning and research in virtual arenas.
Mediators of quality of life change in people with severe psychotic disorders treated in integrated care: ACCESS II study
Authors: Schröter Romy , Lambert Martin , Rohenkohl Anja , Kraft Vivien , Rühl Friederike , Luedecke Daniel , Gallinat Jürgen , Karow Anne , Schmidt Stefanie J.
Published: November 2022

Background

Patients with severe psychotic disorders exhibit a severely reduced quality of life (QoL) at all stages of the disease. Integrated care often led to an improvement in QoL. However, the specific mediators of QoL change are not yet well understood.

Methods

The ACCESS II study is a prospective, long-term study investigating the effectiveness of an integrated care program for people with severe psychotic disorders (IC-TACT) that includes Therapeutic Assertive Community Treatment within a care network of in- and outpatient services at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany. We examined longitudinal associations between QoL and the hypothesized mediators of change (i.e., negative symptoms, depression, and anxiety), using cross-lagged panel models.

Results

The sample includes 418 severely ill patients treated in IC-TACT for at least 1 year. QoL increased, whereas symptom severity decreased significantly from baseline to 6-month follow-up (p-values ≤ 0.001), and remained stable until 12-month follow-up. QoL and symptom severity demonstrated significant auto-correlated effects and significant cross-lagged effects from QoL at baseline to negative symptoms (6 months, β = −0.20, p < 0.001) to QoL (12 months, β = −0.19, p < 0.01) resulting in a significant indirect, mediated effect. Additionally, negative symptoms after 6 months had a significant effect on the severity of depression after 12 months (β = 0.13, p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Negative symptoms appear to represent an important mechanism of change in IC-TACT indicating that improvement of QoL could potentially be achieved through optimized intervention on negative symptoms. Moreover, this may lead to a reduction in the severity of depression after 12 months.
Patterns of Treatment and Outcomes in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: A Retrospective North Indian Single-Institution Experience
Authors: Meena Rajendra Kumar , Syed Nisar Ahmad , Sheikh Zahoor Ahmad , Guru Faisal Rashid , Mir Mohmad Hussain , Banday Saquib Zaffar , MP Arun Krishnan , Parveen Shaheena , Dar Nazir Ahmad , Bhat Gull Mohammad
Published: November 2022

PURPOSE

Ovarian cancer (OC) is ranked as the third most common gynecologic cancer in various Indian cancer registries. In India, OC is seen in the younger age group, with a median age < 55 years being reported by most of the studies. The majority of patients are diagnosed in advanced stage (70%-80%), where the long-term (10-year) survival rate is poor, estimated at 15%-30%. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical epidemiology, treatment patterns, and survival outcomes in patients with epithelial OC.

METHODS

This was a retrospective analysis of patients with epithelial OC who were treated at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, over a period of 9 years, from January 2010 to December 2018.

RESULTS

OC constituted 2.94% of all cancers registered. Epithelial OC constituted 88.4% of all OCs, with a median age 50 years. More than two third of patients belonged to rural background and the majority (76.9%) of the patients were in stage III or IV at the time of diagnosis. The main presenting symptoms were abdominal distension/bloating (46.5%) and gastrointestinal disturbances (35.2%). The most common histologic types were serous (65.9%) followed by mucinous carcinoma (15%). Median overall survival for the whole study cohort was 30 months (95% CI, 28.0 to 31.9). Median overall survival for stage I, II, III, and IV was 72, 60, 30, and 20 months, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Most of the patients presented in advanced stage of the disease and have poor outcome. Delay in diagnosis and improper management before registering in tertiary cancer center and lack of tertiary care facilities are the root causes of poor outcomes. The general population and primary care physicians need to be made aware of OC symptoms.
Juyong Gate
Authors: Cho Yong
Published: November 2022

In 1345 the Mongol ruling house of the Yuan (1271–1368) built Juyong Gate along China's Great Wall. The gate stood on a road connecting the empire's twin capitals, Dadu and Shangdu. Those two cities possessed vastly different built environments. Dadu, the emperor's winter residence, evoked the tradition of Chinese imperial-city building. It provided the ruler with wooden and stone buildings laid out on an orthogonal grid. Shangdu, the emperor's summer residence, delivered a space for grassland containing pastures, where the ruler could set up collapsible tents filled with wall hangings. In other words, the seasonal movement between the two capitals entailed a shift in the habit of seeing and visual representation. To reflect that shift, Juyong Gate's passageway was carved with imagery that could simultaneously belong to the two visual worlds: planar reliefs that could be perceived as both stone carvings and wall hangings. Juyong Gate thus became a site where two major visual systems in constant negotiation in the Mongols' China could come together and coexist as one.
Digital Juneteenth: Territorializing the Freedom Colony Diaspora
Authors: Roberts Andrea , Aduen Valentina , Blanks Jennifer , Carter Schuyler , Girault Kendall
Published: November 2022

After Juneteenth, formerly enslaved African Americans in Texas founded hundreds of historic Black settlements known as freedom colonies. Later, freedom colonies’ populations dispersed, physical traces disappeared, and memories of locations vanished as descendants passed away. In the absence of buildings and legally recognized borders, intangible heritage—stories, ephemeral traditions—define a sense of place. Betraying the perception that these places have disappeared, founders’ descendants express commitments to freedom colonies by returning periodically to plan commemorative events, rehabilitate historic structures, and steward cemeteries. The Texas Freedom Colonies Project (The TXFC Project), a team of faculty and student researchers, documents settlements while supporting descendant communities’ historic preservation aims. By making diasporic publics legible and increasing the visibility of communities’ settlement patterns and remaining extant features, The TXFC Project elevates stakeholders’ concerns in urban planning domains. In 2020, COVID-19’s social distancing requirements challenged diasporic descendants’ efforts to foster social cohesion. Consequently, The TXFC Project hosted a Facebook Live “talk show,” leveraging social media platforms to amplify freedom colony descendants’ work. The team analyzed event transcripts revealing cultural adaptations to socially restrictive conditions during Juneteenth commemorations and indicating that virtual storytelling helped territorialize widely dispersed, unbounded places for stakeholders facing natural and human-made disruptions.
“Housing Is a Human Right”
Authors: Overholt M. C.
Published: November 2022

In the midst of the global SARS-CoV-2 epidemiological crisis unfolds another contagion: the eviction epidemic. This essay attends to the work of Moms for Housing, an organization of formerly homeless and marginally housed Black mothers in Oakland, California who have organized to confront dispossession, real-estate speculation, and the privatization of housing. Using Black feminist and queer of color intellectual frameworks as ciphers through which to interpret and properly attribute weight to the organization's activism, the essay argues that Moms for Housing not only offers potential flightlines toward a post-property future—one in which housing is positioned as a basic human right—but also a generative critique of the home as a site of racialized and gendered subject formation. Indeed, through their work, the reconception of kinship formation and territorial formation are understood to be mutually constitutive, abolitionist projects.
Governance Interface: The Index in Modi's India
Authors: Samdub Mila
Published: November 2022

In Modi's India, a host of indices perform transparency, efficiency, and good governance but leave undeclared the political shifts they are bringing about. Dramatized in real-time dashboards, policy briefs, press reports, and social media posts, these technocratic numbers arbitrarily rank administrative units and place them in a competitive relation with each other within Indian federalism. As technical device, aesthetic projection, and mediating interface, the index is a node in “maximum governance,” an emergent apparatus of governance that renders development as the site of a pernicious combination of centralizing state power and neoliberal entrepreneurship.
Data analysis methods for inference on chromatin configuration on the basis of 4C-seq experiments
Authors: Ζήσης Δημήτρης
Published: November 2022

Η τεχνική σύλληψης κυκλικής διαμόρφωσης χρωμοσώματος ακολουθούμενη από προσδιορισμό αλληλουχίας υψηλής απόδοσης (4C-seq) έχει χρησιμοποιηθεί σε διάφορες μελέτες για τη διερεύνηση της δομής της χρωματίνης με τον εντοπισμό αλληλεπιδράσεων μεταξύ θραυσμάτων DNA. Θεωρείται ως μια οικονομικά αποδοτική και ισχυρή μέθοδος υψηλής ανάλυσης που μπορεί να μελετήσει όλες τις αλληλεπιδράσεις που πραγματοποιούνται σε όλο το γονιδίωμα από μια δεδομένη τοποθεσία ενδιαφέροντος. Αυτή η διατριβή περιγράφει μια μεθοδολογία ανάλυσης δεδομένων που είναι αφιερωμένη στην εύρεση, βάσει δεδομένων αλληλουχίας επόμενης γενιάς, γονιδιωματικών περιοχών που χαρακτηρίζονται από αυξημένη συχνότητα αλληλεπιδράσεων. Ο κύριος στόχος αυτής της διπλωματικής εργασίας είναι να παρουσιάσει λεπτομερώς αυτό το νέο σχήμα ανάλυσης, το οποίο αναπτύχθηκε ακολουθώντας δύο βασικές απαιτήσεις: την τήρηση των γενικά αποδεκτών κανόνων πειραματισμού και την προσπάθεια για μια ολοκληρωμένη περιγραφή των μελετημένων γονιδιωματικών γεγονότων και σημάτων.Αρχικά, περιγράφουμε την προετοιμασία, τα χαρακτηριστικά και τον σχεδιασμό ενός πειράματος 4C-seq. Στη συνέχεια, παρουσιάζουμε τις πιο σημαντικές μεθόδους ανάλυσης δεδομένων 4C-seq. Σε αυτό το πλαίσιο, προτείνουμε τη νέα μέθοδο ανάλυσης δεδομένων 4C-seq που ονομάζεται 4CseqR. Περιγράφουμε όλα τα στοιχεία του, δηλαδή τις επιλεγμένες υπολογιστικές και στατιστικές μεθόδους. Όλα τα βήματα της προτεινόμενης ανάλυσης μελετώνται και συζητούνται. Προχωρούν από την προεπεξεργασία των αναγνώσεων αλληλουχίας επόμενης γενιάς, μέσω της χαρτογράφησης και επεξεργασίας των χαρτογραφημένων αναγνώσεων, της κανονικοποίησης της κάλυψης ανάγνωσης, μέχρι την κλήση σημαντικών επαφών και τη συγκριτική στατιστική ανάλυση πειραματικών παραλλαγών. Το τελευταίο βήμα βασίζεται σε δύο στατιστικές προσεγγίσεις: ανάλυση μεταβλητών συνεχούς απόκρισης με γραμμικά μικτά μοντέλα και ανάλυση διακριτών αποκρίσεων σε πίνακες έκτακτης ανάγκης. Τέλος, παρουσιάζεται μια σύγκριση μεταξύ των αποτελεσμάτων που προέκυψαν από την προτεινόμενη μέθοδο 4CseqR και μιας από τις υπάρχουσες μεθόδους, το fourSig.Προκειμένου να απεικονιστεί η ροή εργασίας και τα αποτελέσματα της ανάλυσης δεδομένων, χρησιμοποιήθηκαν σύνολα δεδομένων που αφορούν δύο διαφορετικά είδη, ένα από μια μελέτη αφιερωμένη στον έλεγχο της εαρνοποίησης στο Arabidopsis thaliana από το γονίδιο FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) και ένα άλλο από μια μελέτη αλληλεπιδράσεις χρωματίνης μακράς εμβέλειας σε εμβρυϊκά βλαστοκύτταρα Mus musculus.
Διεθνείς Οργανισμοί, Μ.Κ.Ο. και Δημόσια Υγεία
Authors: Σιδηρόπουλος Συμεών
Published: November 2022

Με την υγεία να συνιστά ένα επαπειλούμενο αγαθό, μέσα σε ένα άκρως παγκοσμιοποιημένο περιβάλλον, και τις περιβαλλοντικές συνθήκες συνεχώς μεταβαλλόμενες, η μελέτη των πολιτικών και των οικονομικών της υγείας αναδεικνύονται στον ακρογωνιαίο λίθο για την εφαρμογή όσων οι αμιγώς υγειονομικές επιστήμες ανακαλύπτουν και ερευνούν. Η παγκόσμια υγεία, υπό το πρίσμα της «μίας υγείας» δεν είναι υπόθεση μόνο των ισχυρών κρατών. Οι επιδημικές και πανδημικές κρίσεις δεν περιορίζονται σε σύνορα, υπενθυμίζοντάς μας πως η επίτευξη της καθολικής κάλυψης στην υγεία είναι μία διαδικασία δαπανηρή, και η σωστή εφαρμογή της προϋποθέτει μηχανισμούς ελέγχου και αξιολόγησης, αφενός για να αποφεύγονται ζητήματα κακοδιαχείρισης, αφετέρου για να μπορούμε να προσεγγίζουμε αποδοτικά, υπό όρους κόστους και αποτελεσματικότητας, τις παρεμβάσεις για την επίτευξή της. Η Αναπτυξιακή Βοήθεια για την Υγεία, ειδικά για την περιοχή αναφοράς της παρούσας μελέτης (Υποσαχάρια Αφρική), λόγω των πολύ χαμηλών κρατικών προϋπολογισμών υγείας και αναλόγως κρατικών δαπανών, λαμβάνει χαρακτήρα υποκατάστασης του κρατικού μηχανισμού. Ειδικά για τις μεταδιδόμενες ασθένειες και τις νόσους αναφοράς (HIV, Φυματίωση και Μαλάρια) κρίνεται αναγκαία, και μάλιστα, ακόμα και στις περιπτώσεις μη καλής απόδοσης, αφενός διότι δίχως αύξηση των κρατικών δαπανών δεν υπάρχουν εναλλακτικές, αφετέρου διότι οποιαδήποτε μείωση ή τερματισμός τους θα είχε καταστροφικά αποτελέσματα. Για την εξαγωγή αποτελεσμάτων και συμπερασμάτων χρησιμοποιείται για πρώτη φορά μία τρισδιάστατη καινοτόμα προσέγγιση ως προς την ομαδοποίηση - οπτική των δεδομένων (χώρες, ομάδες χωρών, νοσήματα) και αντίστοιχη τριπλή προσέγγιση ανάλυσης (στατιστική ανάλυση, χαρτογράφηση και ανάλυση κόστους-αποτελεσματικότητας). Ανάλογη είναι και η εικόνα των μηχανισμών οικονομικής ενίσχυσης των φορέων της κοινωνίας των πολιτών, που επιχειρούν στο χώρο της υγείας, από την ιδιωτική πρωτοβουλία, η οποία αντλείται από την παρούσα μελέτη, και η οποία αποτελεί την πρώτη για την περίπτωση της Ελλάδας. Για την αποφυγή μη αποδοτικών πρακτικών, εμπορευματοποίησης είναι αναγκαία η αξιολόγηση και η θέσπιση νέων μέτρων διαφάνειας ως προς τις συναλλαγές μεταξύ των συμβαλλομένων.
Διαφοροποιήσεις κατά την εφαρμογή των εκπαιδευτικών αλλαγών: Απόψεις εκπαιδευτικών
Authors: Μάνεσης Νικόλαος , Θεοδώρου Φωτεινή
Published: November 2022

Οι εκπαιδευτικές αλλαγές, συχνά δεν εφαρμόζονται όπως σχεδιάζονται και προτείνονται από τα Υπουργεία Παιδείας των διαφόρων κρατών. Η θεωρία της αλλαγής και η θεωρία της δράσης, που αποτελεί απόδειξη της εφαρμογής της θεωρίας της αλλαγής, συνιστούν τα θεωρητικά εργαλεία για την κατανόηση της πορείας υλοποίησης μιας αλλαγής. Οι πρακτικές των εκπαιδευτικών συχνά αναδεικνύουν τη διάσταση ανάμεσα στις υποστηριζόμενες θεωρίες δράσης και τις θεωρίες κατά την εφαρμογή. Η απόκλιση δημιουργεί δύο μοντέλα εφαρμογής, του μονού και του διπλού βρόγχου. Στην εξίσωση της αλλαγής, αρκετοί παράγοντες αποτελούν εμπόδια στην προσπάθεια εφαρμογής των εκπαιδευτικών αλλαγών, ενώ αντιστοίχως υπάρχουν και διευκολυντικοί παράγοντες. Πραγματοποιήθηκε έρευνα με ηλεκτρονικό ερωτηματολόγιο σε πανελλήνιο δείγμα 513 εκπαιδευτικών που εργάζονται σε σχολεία πρωτοβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης (προσχολική και δημοτική εκπαίδευση). Στόχος της έρευνας ήταν να διερευνηθούν οι απόψεις των εκπαιδευτικών για την υλοποίηση των εκπαιδευτικών αλλαγών. Από τα ευρήματα προκύπτει ότι οι εκπαιδευτικοί δηλώνουν ρητά ότι δεν εφαρμόζουν τις εκπαιδευτικές αλλαγές, όπως αυτές προτείνονται από το Υπουργείο Παιδείας, καθώς υποστηρίζουν ότι είναι συχνές, σχεδιάζονται πρόχειρα, χωρίς να έχει προηγηθεί προηγουμένως η απαραίτητη ενημέρωση και επιμόρφωσή τους, δεν λαμβάνουν υπόψη την πραγματικότητα των σχολικών μονάδων, τις ανάγκες των μαθητών/μαθητριών και των ιδίων, ενώ δεν παραλείπουν να τονίσουν και τις δικές τους ευθύνες. Τα ευρήματα είναι χρήσιμα για την εκπαιδευτική πολιτική, καθώς αναδεικνύεται ότι δεν αρνούνται απλώς, αλλά προσαρμόζουν τις αλλαγές στα πιστεύω τους και την εκπαιδευτική θεωρία που ακολουθούν.
Penile fracture with urethral rupture - case report
Authors: Radomska Martyna , Handzlik Iwona , Ostrowska Magdalena , Ostrowski Adam
Published: November 2022

Introduction
Penile fracture is a rupture of the tunica albuginea of the corpus cavernosum caused by an erect penis injury. It is noticed that hematomas always accompany penile fractures. We present a rare case of penile fracture between corpus cavernosus and urethra without hematoma formation.
Case Presentation:
A 41-year-old male patient presented to the emergency department due to a continuous flow of blood from his urethra, which started an hour earlier due to a penile injury during vigorous sexual intercourse. There was no audible 'snap' sound, but the incident was followed by severe pain and immediate loss of tumescence. His bleeding continued until surgery. No hematoma was observed – Figure 1. A urethrography was performed, and afterward, an experienced urologist inserted a catheter without encountering any resistance. The patient was diagnosed with rupturing the tunica albuginea of the corpus cavernosum and the urethra. No hematoma was found, and primary revision was performed. Urethra and tunica albuginea was sutured. After four weeks catheter was removed. The patient recovered with good uroflowmetry results and did not report erectile dysfunction.
Conclusions
Rapture of tunica albuginea to the urethra may cause severe bleeding without formation of the hematoma and "eggplant deformity." Therefore, early intervention is crucial to sustain erectile function and avoid urethral stricture.