bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regulatory T cells participate in the recovery of ischemic stroke patients
Authors: Santamaría-Cadavid María , Rodríguez-Castro Emilio , Rodríguez-Yáñez Manuel , Arias-Rivas Susana , López-Dequidt Iria , Pérez-Mato María , Rodríguez-Pérez Manuel , López-Loureiro Ignacio , Hervella Pablo , Campos Francisco , Castillo José , Iglesias-Rey Ramón , Sobrino Tomás
Published: December 2019

Background: Recent preclinical studies have shown that regulatory T cells (Treg) play a key role in the immune response after ischemic stroke (IS). However, the role of Treg in human acute IS has been poorly investigated. Our aim was to study the relationship between circulating Treg and outcome in human IS patients.
Methods: A total of 204 IS patients and 22 control subjects were recruited. The main study variable was good functional outcome at 3 months (modified Rankin scale ≤2) considering infarct volume, Early Neurological Deterioration (END) and risk of infections as secondary variables. The percentage of circulating Treg was measured at admission, 48, 72h and at day 7 after stroke onset.
Results: Circulating Treg levels were higher in IS patients compared to control subjects. Treg at 48h were independently associated with good functional outcome (OR, 3.5; CI: 1.9-7.8) after adjusting by confounding factors. Patients with lower Treg at 48h showed higher frequency of END and risk of infections. In addition, a negative correlation was found between circulating Treg at 48h (r=-0.414) and 72h (r=-0.418) and infarct volume.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that Treg may participate in the recovery of IS patients. Therefore, Treg may be considered a potential therapeutic target in acute ischemic stroke.
Crosslinked hyaluronic acid with liposomes and crocin for management symptoms of dry eye disease caused by moderate meibomian gland dysfunction
Authors: Sánchez-González José-María , De-Hita-Cantalejo Concepción , Sánchez-González María Carmen
Published: December 2019

Background: To study the effect of uncrosslinked and crosslinked hyaluronic acid combined with other artificial tear components in patients with dry eye caused by moderate meibomian gland dysfunction.Method: Prospective, single-blind, contralateral eye study. Fifty eyes were analyzed (25 patients). Eye selection for each tear type was random, and the eye drop formulations Aquoral Forte® (artificial tear A) and Aquoral Lipo® (artificial tear B) were used. The determined dosing schedule was three times a day for six weeks, and the study participants underwent a clinical examination before and 45 days after lubricant treatment. The Schirmer test, tear breakup time (TBUT) test, and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire were applied before and after instillation period with both types of artificial tears. Results: On the Schirmer test, a significant improvement was obtained with both tear A (p < 0.01) and tear B (p < 0.01). On the TBUT test, a significant improvement was obtained with tear A (p < 0.01) and tear B (p < 0.01). The OSDI score significantly decreased after instillation period with both artificial tear types (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Uncrosslinked hyaluronic acid combined with other components, such as tamarind seed polysaccharide, and crosslinked hyaluronic acid combined with liposomes and crocin are effective for management symptoms of dry eye disease.
Evaluation of choroidal thickness, macular thickness, and aqueous flare after cataract surgery in patients with and without diabetes: a prospective randomized study
Authors: Ikegami Yasuko , Takahashi Miyuki , Amino Kana
Published: December 2019

Background In diabetic eyes, various choroidal abnormalities are noted in addition to changes in the retinal circulation, and the risk of increased aqueous flare and retinal thickening after cataract surgery is higher in diabetic eyes. Inflammation caused by surgery induces breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier and affects the retina, although the influence on the choroid is unknown. Several researchers have evaluated the choroidal thickness (CT) after cataract surgery in patients with diabetes; however, the results are inconsistent. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of uneventful small-incision phacoemulsification cataract surgery on the subfoveal choroidal thickness (SCT), the central macular thickness (CMT), and aqueous flare in patients with diabetes.Methods This study included 59 randomly selected eyes (33 eyes of patients with diabetes and 26 eyes of control patients without diabetes) undergoing small-incision cataract surgery. Among the diabetic eyes, 26 were without diabetic retinopathy, and the remaining eyes had non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Aqueous flare, CMT, and SCT measurements were performed before and at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery.Results The postoperative CMT continued to increase significantly until 3 months in both groups. Although the CMT was more in patients with diabetes than in patients without diabetes during the follow-up period, there was no significant difference between the two groups. The aqueous flare value increased until 3 months after surgery in both groups. Although the increase was significant at 3 months after surgery in patients with diabetes, the increase in controls was not significant. The aqueous flare values differed significantly between the two groups before and at 3 months after surgery. There was no significant within-group or between-group difference in pre- and postoperative SCT values.Conclusion In diabetic eyes with early stage of retinopathy, even small-incision cataract surgery can induce increased aqueous flare and macular thickening until 3 months, although there is no significant change in the choroidal thickness. Further studies are essential to evaluate choroidal changes after the cataract surgery in diabetic eyes.
Changes in body composition with a hypocaloric diet combined with sedentary, moderate and high-intense physical activity: a randomized controlled trial.
Authors: Hernández-Reyes Alberto , Cámara-Martos F. , Molina-Luque R. , Romero-Saldaña M. , Molina-Recio G. , Moreno-Rojas R.
Published: December 2019

Background

There is evidence showing the effectiveness of a hypocaloric diet and the increase in physical activity on weight loss. However, the combined role of these factors, not only on weight loss but also body composition, remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a hypocaloric diet on the body composition of obese adult women throughout different degrees of physical activity during a weight loss program.

Methods

One hundred and seventeen healthy female volunteers were randomly assigned to one of the experimental groups: a control group with a low-level prescription of physical activity (1-4 METs), moderate physical activity group that performed 10.000 steps walking (5-8 METs) and intense physical activity group that trained exercises by at least 70% of VO2max three times a week (>8 METs). All subjects followed a hypocaloric diet designed with a reduction of 500 kcal/day. Nutritional counseling was provided throughout the study period to help ensure dietary adherence.

Results

We found no differences in body weight compared to moderate and intense physical activity (ßstand. = -0.138 vs. ßstand. = -0.139). Body fat was lower in women following an intense activity (ßstand. = -0.436) than those with moderate exercise (ßstand. = -0.231). The high-intense activity also increased muscle mass at the end of the intervention, standing out above the moderate activity (ßstand. = 0.182 vs. ßstand. = 0.008).

Conclusions

These findings indicate that a hypocaloric diet, without prescription of physical activity, is adequate to lose weight in the short term (12 weeks), but physical activity is vital to modify the body composition in women with obesity. Body fat was lower when women practiced a moderate exercise compared to hypocaloric diet only, but an intense physical activity was the most effective protocol to obtain a reduction of body fat and maintain muscle mass.

Trial registration
The study protocol complied with the Declaration of Helsinki for medical studies, it was approved by the bioethical committee of Córdoba University, in the Department of Health at the Regional Government of Andalusia (Act nº284, ref.4156) and retrospectively registered in clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03833791). Registered 2 January 2019
Factors influencing desired number of children among Ethiopian women: Application of count regression models.
Authors: Molla Habitu Liyew , Muluneh Essey Kebede
Published: December 2019

Background: Desired family size, the number of children wanted in one’s lifetime, is one of the major factors influencing the population dynamics. Knowledge of factors influencing the desired family size is crucial in regulating the population growth. This study assesses the desired family size and its determinants among Ethiopian women. Methods: The study was based on the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) data. A total of 13,941 women with complete information were considered in the study. Count regression models, a family of generalized linear models, were used to identify determinant factors for the desired number of children among women in Ethiopia. Results: Results showed that the average number of children per women was 4.5. The highest average was recorded in Somali region (10.58) and the lowest in Addis Ababa city administration (3.56). The random intercept negative binomial regression model was found to be the most appropriate model for the data. Women’s age, household head, contraception using, wealth index, women’s education, religion, marital status, husband’s work, family size and age at first marriage were significantly associated with the desired number of children by women at reproductive age. The study also showed that there was significant regional variation in desired number of children among Ethiopian women. Conclusions: Variables such as women’s age and family size were positively associated with the desired number of children by women at reproductive age while age at first marriage, contraception using, wealth index and women’s education were negatively associated with the desired number of children by women. Women who attained higher level of education preferred small family size compared to women with no formal education. Desire for children was high among mothers from rural areas, women in the poorest economic level and woman having no work. Keywords: Desired number of children, statistical weight, EDHS, Count regression models, multilevel analysis.
Up-regulating autophagy by targeting the mTOR-4EBP1 pathway: a possible mechanism for improving cardiac function in mice with experimental dilated cardiomyopathy
Authors: Jin Bo , Shi Haiming , Jun Zhu , Wu Bangwei , Geshang Quzhen
Published: December 2019

Background: Autophagy plays a crucial role in the pathological process of cardiovascular diseases. However, little is known about the pathological mechanism underlying autophagy regulation in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).Methods: We explored whether up-regulating autophagy could improve cardiac function in mice with experimental DCM through the mTOR-4EBP1 pathway. Animal model of DCM was established in BALB/c mice by immunization with porcine cardiac myosin. Both up- or down-regulation of autophagy were studied by administration of rapamycin or 3-MA in parallel. Morphology, Western blotting, and echocardiography were applied to confirm the pathological mechanisms.Results: Autophagy was activated and autophagosomes were significantly increased in the rapamycin group. The collagen volume fraction (CVF) was decreased in the rapamycin group compared with the DCM group (9.21 ± 0.82 % vs 14.38 ± 1.24 %, P<0.01). The expression of p-mTOR and p-4EBP1 were significantly decreased in rapamycin-induced autophagy activation, while the levels were increased by down-regulating autophagy with 3-MA. In the rapamycin group, the LVEF and FS were significantly increased compared with the DCM group (54.12 ± 6.48 % vs 45.29 ± 6.68 %, P<0.01; 26.89 ± 4.04 % vs 22.17 ± 2.82 %, P<0.05). As the inhibitor of autophagy, 3-MA aggravated the progress of maladaptive cardiac remodeling and declined cardiac function in DCM mice.Conclusions: The study indicated a possible mechanism for improving cardiac function in mice with experimental DCM by up-regulating autophagy via the mTOR-4EBP1 pathway, which could be a promising therapeutic strategy for DCM.
Confirmatory Factor Analysis of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) among a Community-Based Sample of Parents and Adolescents
Authors: Afifi Tracie , Salmon Samantha , Davila Isabel Garcés , Struck Shannon , Fortier Janique , Taillieu Tamara , Stewart-Tufescu Ashley , Asmundson Gordon J.G. , Sareen Jitender , MacMillan Harriet L.
Published: December 2019

Background Despite increased understanding of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), very little advancement has been made in how ACEs are defined and conceptualized. The current objectives were to determine: 1) the factor structure of the original ACEs and possible expanded ACEs, and 2) the association of all individual ACEs and the confirmed factors with poor self-rated mental and physical health.Methods Data were obtained from the Well-Being and Experiences Study, survey data of adolescents aged 14 to 17 years (n = 1002) and their parents (n = 1000) in Manitoba, Canada collected from 2017 to 2018. Statistical methods included confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and logistic regression models.Results The study findings indicated a two-factor solution for both the adolescent and parent sample, confirming the categorization of the child maltreatment and household challenges ACEs. All original and expanded ACEs loaded on one of these two factors and all individual ACEs were associated with poor self-rated mental and/or physical health (Adjusted Odds Ratios ranged from 1.16-3.25 among parents and 1.12-8.02 among adolescents). Additionally, both factors were associated with poor mental and physical health.Conclusions Findings confirm a two-factor structure (i.e., child maltreatment and peer victimization and household challenges) and indicate that the ACEs list should include original ACEs (i.e., physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, emotional neglect, physical neglect, exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV), household substance use, household mental health problems, parental separation or divorce, parental problems with police) and expanded ACEs (i.e., spanking, peer victimization, household gambling problems, foster care placement or child protective organization (CPO) contact, poverty, and neighborhood safety).
The state of child nutrition in Ethiopia: an umbrella review of systematic review and meta-analysis reports
Authors: Mohammed Shimels Hussien , Habtewold Tesfa Dejenie , Arero Amanuel Godana , Esmaillzadeh Ahmad
Published: December 2019

Background Various systematic review and meta-analysis (SRM) studies were done on nutritional statuses of children in Ethiopia, but no summary of the findings was done on the topic. Thus, this umbrella review was done to summarize the evidence from SRM studies on the magnitude and determinants of malnutrition and poor feeding practices among under-5 children in Ethiopia. Methods PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Sciences, and Google Scholar were searched for SRM studies on the magnitude and risk factors of malnutrition and child feeding practice indicators in Ethiopia. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) tool. The estimates of the included SRM studies on the prevalence and determinants of stunting, wasting, underweight, and poor child feeding practices were pooled and summarized with random-effects meta-analysis models. Result We included nine SRM studies, containing a total of 214,458 under-5 children from 255 observation studies. The summary estimates of prevalence of stunting, underweight, and wasting were 42% (95%CI=37-46%), 33% (95%CI=27-39%), and 15% (95%CI=12-19%). The proportion of children who met the recommendations for timely initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months, and timely initiation of complementary feeding were 65%, 60%, and 62%, respectively. The proportion of children who met the recommendations for dietary diversity and meal frequency were 20%, and 56.0%, respectively. Only 10% of children fulfilled the minimum criteria of acceptable diet. There was a strong relationship between poor feeding practices and the state of malnutrition, and both conditions were related to various health, socio-economic, and environmental factors. Conclusion Child malnutrition and poor feeding practices are highly prevalent and of significant public health concern in Ethiopia. Only few children are getting proper complementary feeding. Multi-sectoral efforts are needed to improve children’s feeding practices and reduce the high burden of malnutrition in the country.
Influence of trends in hospital volume over time on patient outcomes for high-risk surgery
Authors: Payet Cécile , Polazzi Stéphanie , Lifante Jean-Christophe , Cotte Eddy , Grinberg Daniel , Carty Matthew J , Sanchez Stéphane , Rabilloud Muriel , Duclos Antoine
Published: December 2019

Background The more frequent a hospital performs a procedure, the better the outcome of the procedure; however, the mechanisms of this volume-outcome relationship have not been deeply elucidated to date. We aimed to determine whether patient outcomes improve in hospitals with a significantly increased volume of high-risk surgery over time and whether a learning effect existed at the individual hospital level. Methods We included all patients who underwent one of ten digestive, cardiovascular and orthopaedic procedures between 2010 and 2014 from the French nationwide hospitals database. For each procedure, we identified three groups of hospitals according to volume trend (increased, decreased, or no change). In-hospital mortality, reoperation, and unplanned hospital readmission within 30 days were compared between groups using Cox regressions, taking into account clustering of patients within hospitals and potential confounders. Learning effect was investigated by considering the interaction between hospital groups and procedure year. Results Over 5 years, 759,928 patients from 694 hospitals were analysed. Patients’ mortality in hospitals with procedure volume increase or decrease over time did not clearly differ from those in hospitals with unchanged volume across the studied procedures (e.g., Hazard Ratios [95%] of 1.04 [0.93-1.17] and 1.08 [0.97-1.21] respectively for colectomy). Furthermore, patient outcomes did not improve or deteriorate in hospitals with increased or decreased volume of procedures over time (e.g., 1.01 [0.95-1.08] and 0.99 [0.92-1.05] respectively for colectomy). Conclusions Trend in hospital volume over time does not appear to influence patient outcomes, which puts the relevance of the "practice-makes-perfect" dogma in question.
Factors influencing the sustained utilization of child welfare services among children 18 to 59 months in a low-income rural community.
Authors: Konlan Kennedy Diema , Amoah Roberta Mensima , Doat Abdul Razak , Japiong Milipaak , Abdulai Juliana Asibi
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT
Background: Despite substantial progress in reducing child mortality, concerted efforts remain necessary to avoid preventable deaths in children under-5 years and to accelerate progress in improving child survival further. The patronage of child welfare services therefore remains paramount to the attainment of these goals. This study identified the factors that influence the patronage of child welfare services in a rural community in the Ho West District of the Volta region.
Methodology: The study employed a quantitative descriptive cross-sectional design. Systematic sampling method was used to select 310 caregivers of children less than 60 months in the catchment area of the Abutia kloe sub district. Questionnaire was used to collect data from study respondents. The data was entered into a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet and cleaned and subsequently exported to SPSS (version 22.0) for the data analysis. Data was analysed into simple descriptive statistics
Results: The results showed that a significant number of respondents (44.2%) had defaulted at a point during the continued growth monitoring process. The reasons for the default included children had completed major immunization (72.3%), children had started school (57.4%), and poor staff attitude (3.2%). Noteworthy, It depicts that majority of mothers have an idea about the purpose of Growth chart (68%). It is also worth noting that 86.5% of mothers are able to access a Child Welfare Clinic in less than thirty minutes. In addition, the results pointed out that there is a strong association between the level of caregivers’ education and CWC attendance with a chi-square test of 3 and a P-value less than 0.05.
Conclusion: Healthcare providers should intensify education on the need to continue growth monitoring up to 59 months even after the completion of major immunization. This goal can be attained if growth monitoring is incorporated into school health activities while policy implementers ensure the full implementation.
Modified Therapy Concepts for Fragility Fractures of the Pelvis after additional MRI
Authors: Graul Isabel , Marintschev Ivan , Hackenbroch Carsten , Palm Hans-Georg , Friemert Benedikt , Lang Patricia
Published: December 2019

Background Fractures of the pelvic ring in elderly patients have increased in frequency over time. These injuries are associated with a high morbidity and have a socio-economic impact. The diagnostic procedures and their influence of therapy decisions are still controversial.Methods In a retrospective study, we investigate the value of additional MRI examination on therapy decision of fragility fractures of the pelvis. The evaluation of all patients with pelvic fractures without adequate trauma and with performed CT and MRI from 2010 to 2017 was conducted at three large German hospitals. The imaging procedure took place within a maximum interval of 4 weeks. After evaluation of the imaging, the resulting therapeutic consequences either based on CT alone or on CT and MRI were reviewed by experienced pelvic surgeons. Furthermore, a measurement of Hounsfield units as an indicator of reduced bone density was recorded in the L5 vertebra.Results Of 754 patients with pelvic injuries, 67 (age 80 +/- 9.7 years, f: m 54:13) could be included in the study. The detection of vertical fractures in CT (n = 40 unilateral, n = 11 bilateral) could be increased by the additional MRI (n = 44 unilateral, n = 23 bilateral). A horizontal fracture component was identified in CT in 9.0% (n = 6) vs. MRI in 25.4% (n = 17) of the cases. An anterior pelvic ring injury was detected in 71.6% (n = 44; 4x bilateral) in CT, in 80.6% in MRI (n = 50, 4 bilateral). Additive MRI imaging increased the decision rate for surgical therapy from 20.9% (n = 14) to 31.3% (n = 21). In 90.0% of the patients (n = 60) a reduced bone density in the L5 vertebra was measured.Conclusions The results of this study further support the value of bone marrow detection by MRI diagnostics (or dual source CT which showed promising initial results) for the detection of pelvic ring fractures. For the first time, the study identifies an additional therapeutic consequence by an increased rate of surgical procedures.
Feasibility and behavioral effects of prolonged static and dynamic standing as compared to sitting in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Marusic Uros , Muller Martijn , Alexander Neil , Bohnen Nicolaas
Published: December 2019

Background: Physical inactivity is prevalent in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and may exacerbate their clinical symptoms. The aim of this study was to examine the feasibility of 4-hour regular versus more dynamic standing sessions while performing routine desktop activities as a non-exercise physical activity intervention in older adults with T2DM to increase non-exercise activity.Methods: Twelve older adult patients with T2DM (3 female; age 71 ± 4 years; BMI 34 ± 5 kg/m2) completed three sessions (baseline sitting followed by "static" or "dynamic" desktop standing sessions). Participants stood behind a regular height-adjustable desk in the "static" standing session. An upright dynamic standing desk, which provides cues to make small weight-shifting movements, was used for the "dynamic" standing session. Oxygen consumption, cognitive performance, as well as net standing duration, total movement activity, and musculoskeletal discomfort were assessed during all three sessions.Results: All participants were able to complete all sessions. Oxygen consumption and overall movements progressively increased from sitting to static and dynamic standing, respectively (p<0.001). The duration of breaks during standing (p=0.024) and rate of total musculoskeletal discomfort development (p=0.043) were lower in the dynamic standing compared to static standing sessions. There was no evidence of executive cognitive worsening during either standing session compared to sitting.Conclusions: Prolonged 4-hour standing as a simple non-exercise physical intervention is feasible in older adults with T2DM and may have metabolic (VO2 consumption) benefits. Increasing movement during desktop standing may offer incremental benefits compared to regular standing. Prolonged desktop standing might provide an effective intervention in T2DM older participants to target sedentariness.
Correlation between Peripheral Blood Neutrophil-lymphocyte Ratio and CD34 Expression in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Wang Yiyang , Dong Xiaofei , Qu Zhaokui , Peng Kang , Sun Xiaolei , Chen Renfu
Published: December 2019

Backgrounds The association of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and CD34 expression level with PSA level, Gleason score, and clinical stage was investigated in patients with prostate cancer. The correlation between NLR and CD34 expression was also investigated to provide evidence supporting the use of NLR for predicting the prognosis of prostate cancer patients. Methods Clinical data of 75 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer by prostate aspiration biopsy were retrospectively analyzed. The correlation between NLR, CD34 expression, and clinicopathological characteristics was analyzed using the χ2 test and one-way analysis of variance. The correlation between NLR and CD34 was determined using the Pearson coefficient. Disease free survival was estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results Both NLR and CD34 expression were significantly positively correlated with PSA, Gleason score, and clinical stage (P<0.05 both). Patients in the NLRHigh/CD34High group were characterized by high PSA level and Gleason score and late clinical stage. NLR was positively correlated with CD34 expression (r=0.529, P<0.001). Conclusions Pretreatment NLR was a valuable marker of prognosis in prostate cancer. NLR is positively correlated with CD34 expression.
Strategy using a new antigenic test for rapid diagnosis of Streptococcus pneumoniae infection in respiratory samples from children consulting at hospital
Authors: Haddar Cyrille H , J Johan MD , Carricajo Anne , Verhoeven Paul O , Grattard Florence , Mory Olivier , Begaud Evelyne , Germani Yves , Cantais Aymeric , Pozzetto Bruno
Published: December 2019

Background. Despite vaccination programs, Streptococcus pneumoniae remains among the main microorganisms involved in bacterial pneumonia, notably in terms of severity. The prognosis of pneumococcal infections is conditioned in part by the precocity of the diagnosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) targeting cell wall polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae and performed directly in respiratory samples, on the strategy of diagnosis of respiratory pneumococcal infections in children. Results. Upper-respiratory tract samples from 196 children consulting at hospital for respiratory infection were tested for detecting S. pneumoniae using a newly-designed RDT (PneumoResp, Biospeedia), a semi-quantitative culture and two PCR assays. If positive on fluidized undiluted specimen, the RDT was repeated on 1:100-diluted sample. The RDT was found highly specific when tested on non- S. pneumoniae strains. By comparison to culture and PCR assays, the RDT on undiluted secretions exhibited a sensitivity (Se) and negative predictive value (NPV) of more than 98%. By comparison to criteria of S. pneumoniae pneumonia combining typical symptoms, X-ray image, and culture ≥ 10 7 CFU/ml, the Se and NPV of RDT on diluted specimens were 100% in both cases. Conclusions. In case of negative result, the excellent NPV of RDT on undiluted secretions allows excluding S. pneumoniae pneumonia. In case of positive result, the excellent sensitivity of RDT on diluted secretions for the diagnosis of S. pneumoniae pneumonia allows proposing a suitable antimicrobial treatment at day 0.
Prevention and Control of Tuberculosis Relying on a Tuberculosis Dynamic Model Based on the Cases of American
Authors: Wu Yan , Li Yong
Published: December 2019

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) which is a preventable and curable disease, is claimed as the second largest number of fatalities and there are 9,029 cases of American in 2018. Many researches have done many study to control TB and had evident e_ects, but TB is also a serious problem for human being. So the study is always improving. Methods: In the paper, we propose a new dynamic model to study the transmission dynamic and prevalence of TB, then use global di_erential evolution and local sequential quadratic programming (DESQP) optimization algorithm to estimate parameters of the model. Next, we use Latin hypercube sampling (LHS) to sample and partial rank correlation coe_cients (PRCC) to analyze the inuence of parameters on the basic reproduction number (R0) and the total infectious (including the diagnosed, undiagnosed and incomplete treatment infectious), respectively. Results: With the PRCC and p-value of the parameters, we _nd how the factors a_ect the outbreaks of TB. Chemoprophylaxis, treatment and vaccination have positive e_ects, relatively, the vaccine expiry date, diagnostic techniques and the contact ratio have negative e_ects. Especially, chemoprophylaxis is the most sensitive factors controlling TB. Conclusion: With results, we give some suggestions to control the prevalence of TB, such as prolonging the duration of the vaccine by researching new and better vaccines to prevent TB, persuading people infected with TB in the latent stage to use chemoprophylaxis to treat and do not contact with the infected and instructing people take care of themselves and be treated in time when they are infected with TB. By doing these, we can e_ectively control and prevent the prevalence of TB according to the epidemiological characteristics of tuberculosis transmission.
The Characteristics of Influenza-Like Illness Management in Japan
Authors: Tsuzuki Shinya , Yoshihara Keisuke
Published: December 2019

Background: This study aimed to make a quantitative assessment of the management of influenza-like illnesses in Japanese healthcare settings. Methods: We analysed participants’ healthcare-seeking behaviour and physicians’ practice in January 2019 using an online survey of 200 households in Japan. Quality of life score, quality-adjusted life years lost, the duration of symptoms, and the duration of absence from work were compared between influenza group and influenza-like illness group with one-to-one propensity score matching. Missing data were imputed using multiple imputation. Results: In total, 261 of the 600 (43.5%) participants had at least one episode of influenza-like illness during January 2019. Of these, 194 (75.5%) visited healthcare facilities, 167 (86.1%) within 2 days of onset of symptoms. A total of 169 out of 191 (88.5%) received a rapid influenza diagnostic test and 101 were diagnosed with influenza, of whom 92.2% were treated with antivirals. The median quality-adjusted life-years lost was 0.0055 (interquartile range, IQR 0.0040–0.0072) and median absence from work for a single episode of influenza-like illness was 2 days (IQR 1–5 days). Conclusions: In Japan, most people with influenza-like illnesses visit healthcare facilities soon after symptoms first occur and receive a diagnostic test. Those with influenza are usually treated with antivirals. Absence from work was longer for influenza than other similar illnesses.
Reference values of fat mass index and fat-free mass index in healthy Spanish adolescents.
Authors: Durá-Travé Teodoro , Gallinas-Victoriano Fidel , Chueca-Guindulain María , Berrade-Zubiri Sara , Malumbres-Chacón María , Moreno-González Paula
Published: December 2019

Background. Body mass index (BMI) does not allow to discriminate the composition of the different body compartments. The aim of this study is to elaborate reference values ​of the fat mass index (FMI) and fat-free mass index (FFMI) in healthy adolescents using anthropometric techniques in order to be available as reference standards in daily clinical practice. Methods. Transversal study in 940 healthy Caucasian adolescents (370 males and 570 females), aged 10.1 to 14.9 years. Weight, height and skinfold thickness were registered, and BMI, percentage of total boy fat, FMI and FFMI, and FMI and FFMI percentiles were calculated. Results. In males a significant increase in the FFMI is observed, and the percentage of total body fat and FMI significantly decreased. In contrast, in females the percentage of body fat mass, FMI and FFMI significantly increased. Except for the 10 years, FMI was higher (p<0.05) in females in all ages. FFMI was higher (p<0.05) in males in all ages. FFMI and FMI percentiles for healthy adolescents (both sexes) categorized by age are displayed. Conclusions. Reference values of FMI and FFMI would be a very useful instrument for the diagnosis and analysis of body composition changes during the treatment of childhood obesity.
Efficacy, safety, and tolerability of combined pirfenidone and N-acetylcysteine therapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Author) Hanyu Shi(Former Corresponding , Yin Dawei , Bonella Francesco , Kreuter Michael , Oltmanns Ute , Li Xuren , Peng Shouchun , Author) Luqing Wei(New Corresponding
Published: December 2019

Background: While antifibrotic drugs significantly decrease lung function decline in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), there is still an unmet need to halt disease progression. Antioxidative therapy with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is considered a potential additional therapy that can be combined with antifibrotics in some patients in clinical practice. However, data on the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of this combination are scarce. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to appraise the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of the combination compared to treatment with pirfenidone alone.
Methods: We systematically reviewed all the published studies with combined pirfenidone (PFD) and NAC (PFD+NAC) treatment in IPF patients. The primary outcomes referred to decline in pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and the rates of IPF patients with side effects.
Results: In the meta-analysis, 6 studies with 319 total IPF patients were included. The PFD+NAC group was comparable to the PFD alone group in terms of the predicted forced vital capacity (FVC%) and predicted diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLco%) from treatment start to week 24. Side effects and treatment discontinuation rates were also comparable in both groups.
Conclusion: This systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that combination with NAC does not alter the efficacy, safety, or tolerability of PFD in comparison to PFD alone in IPF patients.
Virtual Reality Social Prediction Improvement and Rehabilitation Intensive Training (VR-SPIRIT) for paediatric patients with congenital cerebellar diseases: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial.
Authors: Butti Niccolò , Biffi Emilia , Genova Chiara , Romaniello Romina , Redaelli Davide Felice , Reni Gianluigi , Borgatti Renato , Urgesi Cosimo
Published: December 2019

Background: Patients with cerebellar malformations exhibit not only movement problems, but also important deficits in social cognition. Thus, rehabilitation approaches should not only involve the recovery of motor function but also of higher-order abilities, such as processing of social stimuli. In keeping with the general role of the cerebellum in anticipating and predicting events, we used a VR-based rehabilitation system to implement a social cognition intensive training specifically tailored to improve predictive abilities in social scenarios (VR-Spirit). Methods: The study is an interventional randomized controlled trial that aims to recruit 42 children, adolescents and young adults with congenital cerebellar malformations, randomly allocated to the experimental or active control group. The experimental group is administered the VR-Spirit, requiring the participants to compete with different avatars in the reaching of recreational equipment and implicitly prompting them to form expectations about their playing preference. The active control group participates to a VR-training with standard games currently adopted for motor rehabilitation. Both trainings are composed by 8 45-minute sessions and are administered in the GRAIL VR-Lab (Motekforce Link, NL), an integrated platform that allows patients to move in natural and attractive VR environments. An evaluation session in VR with the same paradigm used in the VR-Spirit but implemented in a different scenario is administered at the beginning (T0) and at the end (T1) of the two trainings. Moreover, a battery of neurocognitive tests spanning different domains are administered to all participants at T0, T1 and in a follow-up session after two months from the end of the two trainings (T2). Discussion: This study offers a novel approach for rehabilitation based on specific neural mechanisms of the cerebellum. We aim to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of a new intensive social cognition training in a sample of Italian patients aged 7-25 years with congenital cerebellar malformations. We expect that VR-Spirit could enhance social prediction ability and indirectly improve cognitive performance in diverse domains. Moreover, through the comparison with a VR-active control training we aim to verify the specificity of VR-Spirit in improving social perception skills.
THE HONORING OF PETRO KALNYSHEVSKY MEMORY IN UKRAINE
Authors: V. O. Olitskyi
Published: December 2019

The article analyzes the memory of the last leader of Zaporozka Sich in Ukraine Petro
Kalnyshevsky, through the prism of formation the Ukrainian’s national memory. The process of leader memorialization is investigated and determined that the first attempts in Ukraine were plans to open a museum of Cossack’s glory in the village Pustovytivka, Romny district in 1990.
But such plans were only realized at the beginning of the 21st century from the opening of special exhibitions dedicated to Petro Kalnyshevsky in the Romny Museum of Local Lore and Khortytsia. Analyzed creating places of memory and formation appropriate place’s names. It’s established that the first places of memory were the cemetery monuments in Romny and Pustovytivka, Romny district, were opened in 1990 and 1991.The first streets in honor of Petro Kalnyshevsky are named in Zaporozhya and Pustovytovka at the beggining of 1990s, today in Ukraine there are 30 streets have names of Petro Kalnyshevsky. Science events and festivals are analyzed separately, as the ways of immortalization.
Announced events of honoring at the place of exile and the burial of the leader - in the
territory of the Solovetsky monastery. Traceable the role of state and local government, public associations in honoring the memory of Petro Kalnyshevsky. It is noted that it has been increasing the state’s attention to this issue since 2000s . However, such role is enhanced when the anniversaries of this historical figure are approaching and are falling into other periods. It is stated that a new stage in honoring came after 2008, when Kalnichevsky was canonized by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyiv Patriarchate. It has begun the building of temples and monasteries in his honor. It is established that Petro Kalnyshevsky holds an important place in the Ukrainian national memory being the unite power for population of different regions and the diaspora.
Key words: chieftain, Zaporizhzhya Sich, national memory, places of memory,
canonization.
RAILWAY VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS OF SUMY REGION DURING THE PERIOD OF
ECONOMY RECOVERY (1943-1950)
Authors: Korol V. M. , Slyusareva Ye. O.
Published: December 2019

The article is devoted to the study of the railway vocational schools activities in the
context of the restoration processes of 1943-1950. Railway vocational schools belonged to the Labour Reserves (LR) of the USSR. During World War II and the post-war reconstruction LR system was a centralized structure performed the task of ensuring the strategic sectors of Soviet economy by young workers. It was semimilitary and also largely provided the function of social protection of juvenile. Konotop ZU № 1 and Bilopillya ZU № 2 are in the center of researchers’ attention. In particular, the features of the educational process, the recruting of the students contingent, and the material and household provision of the learners during their training are analysed in the article.
Components of the education in railway vocational schools were: industrial training,
especially technical and general education subjects, political classes and physical or military training. The main emphasis was placed on gaining practical experience by students through industrial training, to which the largest share of the time was assigned. Organizing of extracurricular life of young people was based on the paramilitary training principles. State standards of the free food supply and material conditions in LR were perceived as satisfactory under the postwar hunger and deficiency of goods. Most students lived in hostels while studying. The barracks regime reigned in hostels. Students lived on a very strict and clear daily time-table. The research is based on materials from the State Archive of Sumy Region.
Key words: post-war recovery, vocational education, Labour Reserves, railway vocational schools, Sumy region.
Cross-Cultural Communication: Communication Accommodation Experiences of Pattani Students with Javanese Students at IAIN Tulungagung
Authors: Jazeri Mohamad , Nurhayati Dwi Astuti Wahyu
Published: December 2019

Cultural differences between native and Indonesian culture makes foreign students in Indonesia experience a culture shock. Such case occurs on students from Pattani, South Thailand, who study in IAIN Tulungagung. To overcome that culture shock, Pattani students do communication accommodation to make them feel comfortable in a new environment, and thus can be accepted by Javanese students from Indonesia. This research was a kind of qualitative study. The data were collected by using observation and interview techniques. To find out the forms of communication accommodation performed by Pattani students, the researchers adopted communication accommodation theory by Giles. The results of this research revealed that there were two forms of communication accommodation performed by Pattani student. Firstly, convergence, was performed when Pattani students tried to level communication behavior with their speech partners. Convergence done by Pattani students can be classified into pre-convergence, convergence process, and post convergence. Secondly, divergence, is defending Pattani identity when communicating with Javanese students. Divergence accommodation were performed in two forms namely verbal and non-verbal.
Hopeful Acts in Troubled Times: Thinking as interruption and the poetics of nonconforming criticism
Authors: Damian Martin Diana
Published: December 2019

In his work titled ‘Dance Curves: On the Dances of Palucca’ (1926), Wassily Kandisky translates two postures of the German Expressionist choreographer Gret Palucca from photographs into line drawings. The drawings are a study, but they are neither pictorial, nor straightforwardly representational. Staging an encounter between Dance Curves and Hannah Arendt’s investigation into thinking as both an interrupted and interruptive activity, this essay argues for a poetics of appearance as it is constituted by nonconforming acts of critique.Negotiating conflicts that shape a politics of recognition for criticism which deliberately or implicitly refutes utility, I articulate a process of appearance of meaning with differential relation to modernist concerns for interpretation, dissenting from rationalist and objectivist traditions that have dominated theatre and performance criticism since the Enlightenment.  What happens when I disavow the drawings from the images, remove them from the source? Perhaps in such a place, we might find critique as a process of deliberately mishandled translation, as an occupation of an idea shifted elsewhere, as a displacement of meaning. Appearance shapes itself around slippages of attention that depart from the work of performance.In this essay, I turn to how these slippages fold outwards from the encounter, to the political nexus between performance and its world. In Arendt, I locate a means through which forms of thinking rendered as criticism constitute a resistant poetics to normative modes of paying attention, operating beyond what Bojana Kunst calls ‘the ready-made possibilities of discourse’ (2015, 13) under neoliberalism, that is, the ‘pre-established models of criticality and reflexivity’ to which art and artistic subjectivity often partake (ibid.)
Diseño, simulación y construcción de un equipo de lixiviación en columnas, estática y automatizada, orientada a las prácticas de los alumnos de la Escuela Profesional de Ingeniería Metalúrgica - Laboratorio - UNDAC
Authors: Palomino Isidro Rubén Edgar , Condor Hildebrando Anival
Published: December 2019

El presente proyecto cubre una gran necesidad de contar con un equipo que permita el desarrollo de las prácticas de laboratorio de los alumnos, especialmente de aquellos que desarrollan el curso de hidrometalurgia, para así comprobar los conocimientos teóricos en el campo de la lixiviación de los metales tales como el cobre, la plata y el oro, principalmente, empleando como agente lixiviante al cianuro de sodio en las cantidades requeridas únicamente.El equipo construido a nivel de laboratorio consta de accesorios de PVC, instrumentos electrónicos para el funcionamiento automatizado, cálculos matemáticos de densidad, masa, volumen, tiempo y un software para simular la operación que también ayuda en su construcción.La utilización de este equipo, así como la manipulación del mineral a tratar, la acción de la solución disolvente de cianuro, es fácil y ligera, pero se recomienda tomar las medidas de seguridad necesarias, por tratarse de una solución de cianuro que es contaminante para el medio ambiente.