bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative Study of Cardiac Output Measurement by Regional Impedance Cardiography and Thermodilution Method in Patients Undergoing off Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery
Authors: Guha Amrita , Arora Dheeraj , Mehta Yatin
Published: July 2022

Background:

An ideal CO monitor should be noninvasive, cost effective, reproducible, reliable during various physiological states. Limited literature is available regarding the noninvasive CO monitoring in open chest surgeries.

Aim:

The aim of this study was to compare the CO measurement by Regional Impedance Cardiography (RIC) and Thermodilution (TD) method in patients undergoing off pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery (OPCAB).

Settings and Design:

We conducted a prospective observational comparative study of CO measurement by the noninvasive RIC method using the NICaS Hemodynamic Navigator system and the gold standard TD method using pulmonary artery catheter in patients undergoing OPCAB. A total of 150 data pair from the two CO monitoring techniques were taken from 15 patients between 40-70 years at various predefined time intervals of the surgery.

Patients and Methods:

We have tried to find out the accuracy, precision and cost effectiveness of the newer RIC technique. Mean CO, bias and precision were compared for each pair i.e. TD-CO and RIC-CO as recommended by Bland and Altman. The Sensitivity and specificity of cutoff value to predict change in TD-CO was used to create a Receiver operating characteristic or ROC curve.

Results:

Mean TD-CO values were around 4.52 ± 1.09 L/min, while mean RIC- CO values were around 4.77± 1.84 L/min. The difference in CO change was found to be statistically not significant (p value 0.667). The bias was small (-0.25). The Bland Altman plot revealed a mean difference of -0.25 litres. The RIC method had a sensitivity of 55.56 % and specificity of 33.33 % in predicting 15% change in CO of TD method and the total diagnostic accuracy was 46.67%.

Conclusion:

A fair correlation was found between the two techniques. The RIC method may be considered as a promising noninvasive, potentially low cost alternative to the TD technique of hemodynamic measurement.
Effect of Perioperative Use of Oral Triidothyronine for Infants Undergoing Complex Congenital Cardiac Surgeries Under Cardiopulmonary Bypass
Authors: Karri Sujithareddy , Mandal Banashree , Kumar Bhupesh , Puri Goverdandutt , Thingnam Shyam , Kumar Hemant , Unnikrishnan VS
Published: July 2022

Background:

Thyroid hormone metabolism disrupts after cardiopulmonary bypass both in adults and pediatric patients. This is known as Euthyroid sick syndrome, and it is more evident in pediatric patients who were undergoing complex cardiac surgeries compared to adults. This decrease in serum T3 levels increases the incidence of low cardiac output, requirement of inotropes, prolonged mechanical ventilation, and prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stay.

Aims and Objectives:

The primary objective was to compare the mean Vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS) at 72 hours postoperatively between T3 and Placebo groups.

Materials and Methods:

One hundred patients were screened, and 88 patients were included in the study. Triidothyronine 1 mic/kg 10 doses 8th hourly was given orally postoperatively to cases and sugar sachets to controls. The blood samples for analysis of FT3, FT4, and TSH were taken every 24 hours postoperatively, and baseline values were taken after induction. Mean VIS scores, ejection Fraction (EF), Left ventricular outflow tract velocity time integral (LVOT VTi), hemodynamics and partial pressure of oxygen/ fraction of inspired oxygen(PaO2/FiO2) were recorded daily.

Results:

The Mean VIS scores at 72 Hours postoperatively were significantly less in the T3 group (5.49 ± 6.2) compared to the Placebo group (13.6 ± 11.7). The PaO2/FiO2 ratios were comparatively more in the T3 group than the Placebo group. The serum levels of FT3 FT4 were significantly higher in the T3-supplemented group than the Placebo group. The VIS scores were significantly lower from 48 hours postoperatively in children < 6 months of age.

Conclusion:

In this study, we observed that supplementing T3 postoperatively decreases the ionotropic requirement from 72 hours postoperatively. This is more useful in children <6 months of age undergoing complex cardiac surgeries.
Is Continuous Erector Spinae Plane Block (ESPB) Better than Continuous Serratus Anterior Plane Block (SAPB) for Mitral Valve Surgery via Mini-Thoracotomy? Results from a Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Toscano Antonio , Capuano Paolo , Costamagna Andrea , Canavosio Federico G. , Ferrero Daniele , Alessandrini Elisabetta M. , Giunta Matteo , Rinaldi Mauro , Brazzi Luca
Published: July 2022

Aims:

Chest wall blocks are effective alternatives for postoperative pain control in mitral valve surgery in right mini-thoracotomy (mini-MVS). We compared the efficacy of Serratus Anterior plane block (SAPB) and Erector Spinae plane block (ESPB) on postoperative pain relief after mini-MVS.

Settings and Design:

It is a prospective, observational study.

Material and Methods:

A total of 85 consecutive patients undergoing continuous SAPB and continuous ESPB for mini-MVS from March 2019 to October 2020 were included. The primary outcome was the assessment of postoperative pain evaluated as absolute value of NRS at 12, 24 and 48 h. Secondary outcomes were assessment of salvage analgesia (both opioids and NSAIDs), incidence of mild adverse effects (i.e. nausea, vomiting, and incorrect catheter placement) and timing of postoperative course (ICU and hospital length of stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, ventilator-free days).

Results:

The median NRS was 0.00 (0.00–3.00) at 12 h and 0.00 (0.00–2.00) at 24 and 48 h. No significant differences were observed between groups. Postoperative morphine consumption in the first 24 h was similar in both groups (P = 0.76), whereas between 24 and 48 h was significantly less in the ESPB group compared with SAPB group, P = 0.013. NSAIDs median consumption and Metoclopramide consumption were significantly lower in the ESPB group compared to SAPB group (P = 0.002 and P = 0.048, respectively).

Conclusions:

ESPB, even more than SAPB, appears to be a feasible and effective strategy for the management of postoperative pain, allowing good quality analgesia with low consumption of opioids, NSAIDs and antiemetic drugs.
Preoperative Anxiety Among Cardiac Surgery Patients and Its Impact on Major Adverse Cardiac Events and Mortality– A Randomized, Parallel-Group Study
Authors: Mudgalkar Nikhil , Kandi Venkataramana , Baviskar Aashish , Kasturi Ravinder Reddy , Bandurapalli Bindusha
Published: July 2022

Background:

Patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery often experience pre-operative anxiety. Preoperative anxiety influences surgical outcome. There are very few studies which have assessed the impact of clonidine and Gabapentin in the treatment of anxiety especially in Indian populations and its implications on major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and 30 days mortality.

Materials and Methods:

Adult patients aged 18 to 80 years old who were scheduled to have an elective coronary artery by-pass graft (CABG) were included in the study. Those who satisfied the inclusion criteria were given either Gabapentin (800 mg) or Clonidine (300 mcg) 90-120 minutes before the induction. State trait anxiety inventory (STAI) was used to assess anxiety in baseline and taking just before operating room. The primary endpoint was a reduction in the STAI associated with the study drug, while the secondary endpoint was the incidence of MACE in the perioperative period (30 days), which included composite episodes of non-fatal cardiac arrest, chaotic rhythm, acute myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, cardiac arrhythmia, angina, and death.

Results:

A total of 75 patients were considered for the statistical analysis. The demographic and clinical features of the study participants were similar in both groups. Nearly 75-80% of participants had severe anxiety in the preoperative period while 10-20% had moderate anxiety. While both the drugs showed a reduction in the anxiety levels, the clonidine group fared better (statistically insignificant). The incidence of MACE was similar in both groups.

Conclusion:

The preoperative anxiety levels were high among cardiac surgery patients. Both clonidine and gabapentin were equally effective in reducing the levels of preoperative anxiety. Preoperative STAI scores in the range of 32-53 is not associated with MACE and 30-day mortality among cardiac surgery patients.
Perioperative Cardiovascular Outcome in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease Undergoing Major Vascular Surgery
Authors: Thomas Diana , Sharmila S , Babu MS Saravana , Raman Suneel Puthuvassery , Gadhinglajkar Shrinivas Vitthal , Koshy Thomas
Published: July 2022

Background:

Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) are a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing major vascular surgeries. We aim to assess the incidence, risk factors, and outcome of MACE in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing aortic surgeries.

Methods:

In this retrospective observational study, we included patients with CAD who underwent elective major vascular surgery, namely, thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repairs and vascular bypass surgeries for aorto-occlusive disease, in our institute from January 2010 to December 2019. The association of preoperative risk factors including revised cardiac risk index factors, functional status of patients, severity of CAD, and its treatment status and technique of anesthesia with occurrence of MACE was analyzed.

Results:

Medical records of 141 patients were studied. The incidence of perioperative MACE was 11.3% (16/141) and overall in-hospital mortality was 6.4% (9/141), all of them related to MACE; implicating a 56.2% mortality in patients who develop MACE. The odds of a patient who had undergone preoperative coronary revascularization to develop a MACE was higher than a nonrevascularized patient (odds ratio: 3.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.34–11.34). There was found to be no benefit in the addition of epidural analgesia to general anesthesia in reducing perioperative MACE.

Conclusions:

Major vascular surgeries in patients with CAD are a highly morbid procedure and a perioperative MACE places them at a significantly high risk of mortality. Early detection of CAD and preoperative medical optimization can play a major role in reducing the risk of MACE.
Clinical Characteristics, Outcomes, and Genetic Findings of Patients with Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia in Hong Kong
Authors: Ho Hui Jeremy Man , Athena Lee Yan Hiu , Hui Kyle , Zhou Jiandong , Satti Danish Iltaf , Chung Cheuk To , Radford Danny , Lakhani Ishan , Behnoush Amir Hossein , Roever Leonardo , Waleed Khalid Bin , Lee Sharen , Tse Gary
Published: July 2022

Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is a rare cardiac ion channelopathy. This was the first systematic review of published works on the clinical characteristics, outcomes, and genetic findings of patients with CPVT from Hong Kong. PubMed and Embase were searched electronically from their inception until February 2022. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist was used to critically appraise included studies. Studies written in English describing at least one patient with CPVT were included. Studies describing overlapping CPVT patients from previous reports were excluded. Two studies describing 17 patients with CPVT were included. All included studies were rated of acceptable quality. The largest case series evaluated 16 CPVT patients with a mean presentation age of 11 ± 4 years. Of these, 15 patients (93.8%) were symptomatic at initial presentation. Ten patients presented with both premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) and ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF), whereas one had PVCs without VT/VF. Among the 14 patients (87.5%) who underwent genetic testing, eight (57.1%) tested positive for the ryanodine receptor 2 (RyR2) gene. Over a mean follow-up duration of 116 ± 36 months, six patients (37.5%) had incident VT/VF. In a 5-year review of autopsy data retrieved from public mortuaries for 289 sudden cardiac death patients, one CPVT patient (0.03%) was identified. All patients with CPVT in Hong Kong presented at or below 19 years old, of whom a majority were initially symptomatic or had incident VT/VF events. Novel genetic variants in the RyR2 gene not reported beyond our locality were identified.
Fecal Microbiota in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Premkumar Kalpana , Ramadass Balamurugan , Ramakrishna Balakrishnan S.
Published: July 2022

Background:

Diversity of microbial species is a hallmark of dysbiosis in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study was undertaken to determine whether the diversity of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, two regulatory microbial genera, is altered in patients with IBD.

Methods:

DNA from fecal samples of 20 healthy volunteers, 20 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), and 25 patients with Crohn's disease (CD) was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences specific to genus Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Real-time PCR was done to quantitate bacterial abundance. Amplified DNA was also bar coded and sequenced on the Roche 454 platform. Individual operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were taken as sequences with at least 97% similarity.

Results:

Abundance of Lactobacillus was significantly increased in UC compared to controls; no other difference in Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium abundance was found between the three groups. Median reads for genus Lactobacillus was similar between control (940), UC (994), and CD (960) groups. The median number of OTUs per sample was not significantly different between controls (6), UC (5.5) and CD (7). The Shannon index of community diversity was similar between controls (median 1.12), UC (median 1.13) and CD (median 1.11). The Simpson D index was also similar between controls (median 0.393), UC (median 0.439) and CD (median 0.409). Median reads for genus Bifidobacterium was similar between control (846), UC (1052), and CD (964) groups. The median number of Bifidobacteria OTUs per sample was similar for controls (6), UC (7) and CD (8.5). The Shannon index of community diversity was similar between controls (median 0.75), UC (median 1.0) and CD (median 1.14). The Simpson D index was also similar between controls (median 0.570), UC (median 0.422) and CD (median 0.409).

Conclusion:

The abundance of Lactobacillus was increased in UC. Diversity of genus Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium was not altered in either UC or CD.
Effectiveness of Awareness Programme Regarding Breastfeeding Techniques on the Prevention of Nipple Soreness amongst Primipara Mothers in a Selected Hospital at Mangaluru, Karnataka
Authors: Crasta Sangeetha , D'Souza Pramila , Frank Reena Wilma
Published: July 2022

Breastfeeding is a crucial and unrivalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants. Exclusive breastfeeding in the 6 months of life plays a pivotal role in child health. Faulty technique of latching causes nipple soreness or trauma. The WHO estimated that 33% of all women experienced breastfeeding problems in the first 2 weeks of post-partum. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of awareness programme regarding breastfeeding techniques on the prevention of nipple soreness amongst primipara mothers. A non-equivalent, post-test only control group design was adopted on 60 primipara mothers who were selected using the purposive sampling technique. Awareness programme regarding breastfeeding techniques was given to the intervention group. A demographic pro forma and Nipple Soreness Rating Scale were used to collect the data. In the intervention group, the post-test nipple soreness mean score was 0.2, and in the control group, the post-test nipple soreness mean score was 2.2, and the mean difference was statistically significant. The calculated Mann–Whitney U-test P = 0.001 showed that there was a statistically significant difference in mean post-test nipple soreness scores between the intervention and control groups. There was no significant association between the mean post-test nipple soreness score and demographic variables in both intervention and control groups. The awareness programme regarding breastfeeding technique was effective in the prevention of nipple soreness amongst primipara mothers.
Effectiveness of Quality-of-Life Counselling with Hatha Yoga among Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Adolescents
Authors: Sakthivel Rajathi , Rajendran Shankar Shanmugam
Published: July 2022

Adolescents are high risk and underserved group in the international and national response to acquired human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemics. Children with HIV infection may experience more difficulties in their daily life because of parental death from acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and social stigmatisation may worsen their quality of life (QOL). The therapeutic practice of Hatha Yoga and QOL counselling promotes healthy practices, develops positive attitudes and enhances well-being of adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of QOL counselling with Hatha Yoga in HIV-infected adolescents. A randomised control trial design was adopted for the study. A total of 388 HIV-infected adolescents were randomised into experimental (195) and control groups (193) by the simple random technique. Data were collected from HIV-infected adolescents/caregivers from four main antiretroviral therapy Centres in Chennai, India, through Health Related QOL Assessment Questionnaire. QOL counselling was provided only to the experimental group and Asanas were demonstrated by the researcher. At the end of data collection, cursory instructions regarding QOL counselling and yoga were also given to the control group. Data were collected from both groups in 3-month intervals from the time of allotment ('0', 3rd and 6th months). In both groups, mean QOL score in pre- and post-test score was 163.6 versus162.9 at '0' month and 215.6 versus166.0 at '6' month, respectively. The mean difference in QOL gain score was 51.97 in the experimental and only 3.09 in control group. There were significant changes in QOL score in the experimental group. The factors such as age and gender of ALHIV and caregiver's age, gender, relationship with adolescents and residence are significantly associated with increased QOL. The motivational QOL counselling along with yoga has effectiveness to increase QOL among HIV-infected adolescents in the experimental group.
A Comparison of Clinical Profile and Treatment Outcomes of Phacomorphic and Phacolytic Glaucoma in a Tertiary Eye Care Hospital of India
Authors: Khan Sardar , Roy Avik Kumar , Rao Aparna
Published: July 2022

Objective:

To compare the clinical features, and treatment outcomes of phacomorphic glaucoma (PMG) versus phacolytic glaucoma (PLG) in a tertiary care eye hospital in India.

Methods:

A retrospective review of electronic medical record data of all patients operated for phacolytic and PMGs, between March 2013 and March 2020, was performed. Patients with a history of trauma pre-existing glaucoma or who were blind at presentation were excluded. Patients’ demographic data, clinical features, visual and surgical outcomes were analyzed.

Results:

There were 78 and 86 eyes with a mean age of 69.0 and 70.3 years for PMG and PLG, respectively. Time from onset of symptoms to presentation in the clinic was longer in PMG group of patients (30.7 ± 53.2 days) compared to the PLG group (15 ± 17.5 days). Visual acuities and/or intraocular pressures (IOPs) at presentation were comparable in the two groups. Corneal decompensation or scarring was 3.8% in PMG versus 2.8% in PLG. About 24.4% patients in PMG group were initially misdiagnosed and treated as either primary open angle or closed angle glaucoma, whereas there was no misdiagnosis in the PLG group. Small incisional cataract surgery (SICS) with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation was performed in 65.4% of phacomorphic and 68.6% of phacolytic groups. Combined cataract and trabeculectomy were carried out in 8.9% of phacomorphic and 4.6% of phacolytic. Vitrectomy was required in 17.9% in phacomorphic and 12.8% in PLG, statistically significant improvement in overall mean logMAR visual acuity improved from 1.5 to 1.4, and IOP reduced by 53% by postoperative 1 week.

Conclusion:

Both PMG and PLG respond favorably to standard SICS, irrespective of their duration of symptoms. The final visual acuity gain and control of IOPs were comparable in the two groups.
Assessment of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Nigerian Adults Using Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography
Authors: Daromosu Habibat Y. , Babalola Olufemi E. , Morgan Regina E. , Adewara Bolajoko A.
Published: July 2022

Objective:

To measure the circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in normal eyes of Nigerian adults using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).

Materials and methods:

This was a cross-sectional study of normal eyes of Nigerian adults between July and September 2016 at the eye clinic of a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. Sociodemographic data, clinical history, and examination findings were obtained. Dipstick urinalysis and blood pressure measurements were performed. Circumpapillary RNFL thickness was measured with the Topcon 3D OCT-1 Maestro version 8.30 (Topcon Medical Systems, Inc., Oakland, NJ, USA), using the 3D optic nerve head analysis. Data were analyzed using the International Business Machine (IBM) Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Statistics, version 25.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) and the level of significance was set at P ≤ 0.05.

Results:

The study included 120 participants (240 eyes) with an age range of 18 to 53 years and a mean age of 34.06 ± 7.64 years. There were 59 (49.17%) males and 61 (50.83%) females. The average RNFL thickness in the right and left eyes was 112.26 ± 9.6 and 110.53 ± 9.14 μm, respectively. The average RNFL thickness for the Igbo ethnic group was 117.5 ± 7.69 and 115.04 ± 7.18 μm in the right and left eyes, respectively. The mean RNFL thickness for the inferior, superior, nasal, and temporal quadrants was 148.92 ± 15.77, 142.59 ± 16.48, 85.3 ± 15.39, and 71.89 ± 9.35 μm in the right eyes and 149.28 ± 16.03, 141.69 ± 13.33, 81.82 ± 13.59, and 68.8 ± 10.17 μm in the left eyes, respectively.

Conclusion:

This study showed the normal circumpapillary RNFL thickness values in Nigerian adults using SD-OCT. There were variations based on ethnicity that suggest it may be important to use ethnic-specific benchmarks when interpreting OCT results for the management of glaucoma.
Implant guides
Authors: Kusum Chandan Kumar , Varshney Niyati , Trivedi Anshul
Published: July 2022

In spite of significant developments in technologies and techniques, the correct positioning of dental implants remains an arduous task. Diagnostic casts and orthopantomogram do not provide the three-dimensional radiographic information essential for proper placing and orientation of the dental implant, which might lead to unforeseen results. Prosthetically guided implantology became the need for successful outcomes. In this concept, the ideal placement of an implant is determined by the final restoration and its correlation with adjoining structures. Three-dimensional radiography, considered to be the gold standard in implant planning in terms of accuracy, fails in meeting its objectives unless the data acquired are transferred with any guide or template. Various designs and sorts of implant guides have been described, ranging from basic designs that just indicate the appropriate implant site to extremely complicated designs that, while requiring a significant amount of time and money, guide the entire surgical procedure. This review article seeks to discuss the recent advancements in implant guides.
How has COVID-19 affected dentistry practice? The perspective of future changes in a comprehensive literature review
Authors: Soheilifar Sanaz , Soheilifar Sara , Fahimipour Farahnaz , Soheilifar Jafar , Soheilifar Sepideh , Bidgoli Mohsen , Ghaedi Fatemeh Baharak
Published: July 2022

Background:

During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, new guidelines were provided for dental offices to prevent the disease transmission. Dentists suffered a lot of financial and psychological damage as a result of the pandemic.

Aim:

In this article, the authors reviewed the guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the prevalence of the disease among dentists and their patients, COVID-19 vaccination, emerging new variants of the virus, and future perspective.

Methods:

PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases were used to find the publications published from December 2019 to the end of December 2021, discussing the challenges that dentists encountered in the COVID-19 pandemic. Interventional, observational, and review articles in any language were included. The contents were analyzed, and results of the original papers were obtained.

Results:

A total of 94 articles were found through electronic and hand searching. From them, 59 studies were excluded and 35 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Publications on the prevalence of COVID-19 cross-infection in dental settings reported a low incidence of the disease while adhering to the CDC guidelines.

Conclusion:

This shows that the special precautions released for the preventive transmission of COVID-19 in dental clinics are effective measures and while high transmissible variants are circulating in the populations, the guidelines should be followed by dental health-care workers, even in communities with high vaccination rates.
Imputing missing data using grey system theory and the biplot method to forecast groundwater levels and yields
Authors:   Faculty of Mining and Geology, University of Belgrade, Serbia, Ratković Jelena , Polomčić Dušan ,   Faculty of Mining and Geology, University of Belgrade, Serbia, Gligorić Zoran ,   Faculty of Mining and Geology, University of Belgrade, Serbia, Bajić Dragoljub ,   Faculty of Mining and Geology, University of Belgrade, Serbia
Published: July 2022

Groundwater management is one of today’s important tasks. It has become necessary to seek out increasingly reliable methods to conserve groundwater resources. Dependable forecasting of the amounts of groundwater that can be abstracted in a sustainable manner requires longterm monitoring of the groundwater regime (rate of abstraction and groundwater levels). Monitoring of the groundwater source for the town of Bečej, Serbia had been disrupted for multiple years. The objective of the paper is to assess the possibility of reinterpreting the missing data or, in other words, to reconstruct the operation of the groundwater source and its effect on groundwater levels. At the Bečej source, groundwater is withdrawn from three water-bearing strata comprised of fine- to coarse-grained sands. Historic data are used to reconstruct the operation of the Bečej source between 1st of October 1980 to 1st of May 2010. The monitored parameters are total source yield and piezometric head at seven observation wells and 14 pumping wells. A data reconstruction methodology was developed, which included the use of an autoregressive (AR) model, a grey model (GM), and the biplot method. The methodology is applied to fill the data gaps during the considered period. The paper also describes the criteria for evaluating the accuracy of the AR model, GM, and biplot method. The proposed data reconstruction approach yielded satisfactory results and the methodology is deemed useful for the Bečej source data, as well as other historic data not necessarily associated with groundwater sources, but also groundwater control and protection systems, as well as hydrometeorological, hydrological and similar uses.
The New flora from the Permian of the Intrasudetic Basin, Poland
Authors:   Czech Geological Survey, Prague, Czech Republic, Šimunek Zbynek , Ploch Izabela ,   Regional Geology Department, Polish Geological Institute - National Research Institute, Warszawa, Poland
Published: July 2022

A floral assemblage was collected from a new Polish locality (Janików) situated on the Czech- Polish border in the Intrasudetic Basin. It was found in the lower Permian (Asselian) Ruprechtice Horizon, of the Olivětín Member, Broumov Formation. The plant fossils were usually fragmentary, and the following taxa were determined: Alloiopteris aff. erosa, Nemejcopteris feminaeformis, Senftenbergia sp., Lobatopteris sp., Sphenopteris sp., Cyathocarpus cf. densifolius, Lobatopteris cf. geinitzii, Lobatopteris nov. sp., Dicksoniites cf. plukenetii, Autunia conferta, Cordaites sp. and seeds. Alloiopteris was first recorded in the Permian. The assemblage is composed predominantly of ferns and pteridosperms that tend to be hygrophilous to mesophilous floral elements. The flora from the Otovice and Ruprechtice horizons is usually rich in walchian conifers and peltasperms (Autunia conferta), and so the Janików flora is quite different with its hygrophilous elements. The fragmentary preservation suggests long transport distances, and probably only the remains of flora growing on the lakeshore were deposited in the calcareous bituminous shales. This coastal vegetation probably formed a barrier to mesophilous plants growing further from the lake, so their fragments are more sporadic.
Dating and geochemistry of zircon and apatite from rhyolite at the UNESCO geosite Rupnica (Mt. Papuk, northern Croatia) and the relationship to the Sava Zone
Authors:   Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia, Schneider Petra , Balen Dražen ,   Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia, Opitz Joachim ,   Institut für Mineralogie und Kristallchemie, Universität Stuttgart, Germany, Massonne Hans-Joachim ,   Institut für Mineralogie und Kristallchemie, Universität Stuttgart, Germany
Published: July 2022

The Rupnica geosite, a key locality of the UNESCO-protected Papuk Geopark in northern Croatia, is well-known for an excellent exposure of columnar jointing in volcanic rock. This rock is defined as an albite rhyolite that comprises almost pure albite phenocrysts within a fine-grained matrix composed of microphenocrysts of albite, quartz and devitrified volcanic glass. Primary accessory minerals are clinopyroxene, apatite, zircon and magnetite. Haematite, apatite and anatase were found as inclusions in zircon. The albite rhyolite is characterized by a highly siliceous, peraluminous, oxidized (ferroan), dry, alkali-calcic to alkalic composition, with low CaO, MgO, and MnO contents and high FeOT/(FeOT+MgO) ratios. Normalized trace element contents display positive anomalies of K, Pb, and Zr as well as negative anomalies of Nb, P, Ti, Ba and Eu, together with an enrichment of light rare-earth elements (REE) relative to heavy REE. Zircon from the rhyolite of Rupnica is characterized by ratios of Th/U=1.13 and Zr/Hf=55 and contents of HfO2=1.04 wt. % typical for an early-stage igneous zircon crystallized from a dry high-temperature magma in a deep magma chamber. Apatite REE patterns show enrichment of light REE over heavy REE and a pronounced Eu anomaly, typical for apatite from granitoids formed in an oxidizing environment. The magma is of A-type and was generated at high temperatures at 800–900 °C by partial melting of lower- to mid-crustal rocks. The age of the albite rhyolite of Rupnica is Late Cretaceous at 80.8±1.8 (2σ) Ma, according to U-Pb dating of zircon, coeval with geochemically similar igneous rocks of Mt. Požeška Gora and Mt. Kozara within the Sava Zone.
New Genotypes and Diversity of Orientia tsutsugamushi DNA samples from Patients with Scrub Typhus in South Korea as Determined by Multilocus Sequence Typing
Authors: Hwang Joo-Hee , Kim Jeongsik , Sun In O. , Lee Tae Hee , Chung Kyung Min , Lee Chang-Seop
Published: July 2022

Orientia tsutsugamushi, an obligate intracellular organism, is the causative agent of scrub typhus. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) is a genetic typing method that provides a unified bacterial isolate characterization approach. However, there are no comparative studies in South Korea on the genotypic properties of O. tsutsugamushi based on MLST. To conduct a comparative analysis with previous data collected from Thailand, Laos, and Japan, we investigated the genetic diversity of O. tsutsugamushi from 51 patients with scrub typhus in South Korea by using MLST. The MLST analysis revealed 10 new alleles in the housekeeping genes: gpsA, n = 2; mdh, n = 1; nrdB, n = 1; nuoF, n = 1; ppdK, n = 1; sucB, n = 2; and sucD, n = 2. These novel alleles led to the assignment of six new sequence types (STs) (ST93–98). The 51 samples corresponded to seven different STs (ST48 and ST93–98), with ST48 accounting for the largest proportion (49.0%) of O. tsutsugamushi STs in South Korea. Interestingly, O. tsutsugamushi from patients with scrub typhus in South Korea were clustered in two different clades, and the five Korean STs (ST48, ST93, ST94, ST95, and ST98) were close genetically to ST80, which was isolated from Laos. The remaining two STs (ST96 and ST97) were close genetically to ST49 (Ikeda, Japan). Overall, our results suggest that the relative genetic stability and the clonal populations of O. tsutsugamushi strains in South Korea have remained mostly conserved.
Call for Consensus in the Evaluation of Circulating Matrix Metalloproteinases in Chagas Disease
Authors: Bautista-López Norma L. , Schulz Richard
Published: July 2022

Infection with the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite is endemic in parts of America. Approximately 30% of people infected develop Chagas cardiomyopathy, the most common cause of heart failure in these regions. No suitable biomarker that reflects the evolution of the disease has been widely accepted as of yet. There is substantial evidence, however, of a strong inflammatory reaction following infection with T. cruzi that could activate matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Emerging research suggests the involvement of MMPs in Chagas cardiomyopathy and there is a growing interest in measuring the blood levels of MMPs as diagnostic and/or prognostic indicators of heart damage in Chagas patients. This perspective discusses the lack of consensus on the best method for MMP evaluation. Some studies are based on MMP concentrations and activities in serum whereas others use plasma. We believe that these different methods of evaluation have led to incongruent and poorly comparable data on the blood levels of MMPs in Chagas patients. A standard for the preparation of blood samples needs to be adopted for the study of MMPs as markers of Chagas cardiomyopathy to ensure better comparability of research results.
Sensitive and Stable Molecular Detection of Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika Viruses from Dried Blood Spots
Authors: Cardona-Ospina Jaime A. , Stittleburg Victoria , Millan-Benavidez Natalia , Restrepo-Chica Juliana , Key Autum , Rojas-Gallardo Diana Marcela , Piantadosi Anne , Collins Matthew H. , Waggoner Jesse J.
Published: July 2022

Standard molecular detection of many pathogens, in particular RNA viruses, requires appropriate handling in the field for preserving the quality of the sample until processing. This could be challenging in remote tropical areas. Dengue virus (DENV), chikungunya virus (CHIKV), and Zika virus (ZIKV) are RNA viruses, prominent among the causes of fever in the tropics. We aimed to test the stability of arboviral RNA in contrived dried blood spots prepared on Whatman 903 Protein saver cards as a means of sample collection and storage. We were able to detect DENV, CHIKV, and ZIKV by real-time RT-PCR up to 180 days after card inoculation with stable Ct values across the study period. Our study supports dried blood spots (DBS) on protein saver cards as a platform for stable detection of arboviral RNA of sufficient quality to be used in diagnostic RT-PCR assays and next generation sequencing.
High Prevalence of Intestinal Capillariasis in Chronic Diarrhea Patients in Thailand: Serological Screening Using a Rapid Lateral-Flow Immunochromatographic Assay
Authors: Prasongdee Thidarat K. , Seesui Krongkaew , Sadee Phuangphaka , Sadaow Lakkhana , Sukeepaisarnjaroen Wattana , Kraiklang Ratthaphol , Sanpool Oranuch , Maleewong Wanchai , Intapan Pewpan M.
Published: July 2022

Intestinal capillariasis is an emerging fish-borne helminthic disease caused by the round worm Capillaria philippinensis. Chronic infection may lead to death if the disease is misdiagnosed and inappropriate treatment is given. We used a rapid lateral-flow immunochromatographic test for screening of intestinal capillariasis in patients with chronic diarrhea. We screened 292 chronic diarrhea patients who had visited hospitals in Thailand. Sixty-six (22.6%) cases were positive according to the kit. All positive patients received mebendazole at 200 mg twice per day for 30 consecutive days or albendazole at 200 mg twice per day for 10 consecutive days. Later, stool concentration techniques, used to examine stool samples from all serologically positive individuals on three consecutive days, revealed C. philippinensis eggs, larvae, and/or adults. The kit is useful for screening and rapid diagnosis of intestinal capillariasis in chronic diarrhea patients in an endemic area for prevention of serious disease and facilitates treatment.
Performance of Field’s Stain Compared with Conventional Giemsa Stain for the Rapid Detection of Blood Microfilariae in Gabon
Authors: Ekoka Mbassi Franck-A. , Mombo-Ngoma Ghyslain , Ndoumba Wilfrid Ndzebe , Yovo Emmanuel K. , Eberhardt Kirsten A. , Ekoka Mbassi Dorothea , Adegnika Ayôla A. , Agnandji Selidji T. , Bouyou-Akotet Marielle K. , Ramharter Michael , Zoleko-Manego Rella
Published: July 2022

Filarial infections caused by Loa loa and Mansonella perstans are a considerable public health burden in rural regions of Central Africa. Rapid diagnostic tools for the detection of microfilariae in the blood are needed. Field’s stain is a rapid staining technique for microscopic slides originally established for malaria diagnostics. It requires less than 1 minute of staining compared with conventional staining protocols requiring at least 15 to 20 minutes for staining and could thus significantly accelerate diagnostics for human filariasis. Here we evaluated Field’s stain as a rapid staining technique in comparison to Giemsa stain for the detection of microfilariae in peripheral blood. Blood smears were collected from 175 participants residing in the region of Lambaréné and Fougamou, Gabon. Each participant’s samples were stained in parallel with Field’s stain and conventional Giemsa stain. Slides were then microscopically assessed and compared for qualitative and quantitative results by a blinded assessor for the two endemic filarial blood pathogens M. perstans and L. loa. Field’s stain shows excellent diagnostic performance characteristics for L. loa microfilariae compared with Giemsa staining. Concordance was favorable for M. perstans although lower than for L. loa. Field’s stain offers a rapid alternative to Giemsa stain for detection of L. loa microfilariae in thick blood smears. This could help accelerate diagnostics of blood filarial pathogens in mass screening programs or resource constrained health care institutions with high patient load.
Survival of Escherichia coli O157, Salmonella, and Listeria monocytogenes in Ethanol and Juice Mixtures at Ambient Temperature
Authors:   Dept. of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Science, Utah State University, 8700 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322-8700, USA, Nummer Brian
Published: July 2022

Some bars and restaurants have begun displaying alcoholic fruit and vegetable cocktail mixes at ambient temperature. Operators often believe that ethanol makes this practice safe, and conversely, some regulators question the safety. It has been reported that ethanol may inhibit the growth of some bacteria at concentrations starting at 8–10% and may be biocidal at concentrations ≥30%. In this study, Escherichia coli O157, Salmonella,and Listeria monocytogenes did not grow in bananapuree, pear puree, orange juice, and apple juice cocktailmixtures prepared with ethanol concentrations from 10to 50% at 25°C. Inoculated pathogens were not detectedin juice plus ethanol at 40 or 50% after 48 h. Juices withethanol concentrations of 10–30% exhibited different logreductions over time for each of the pathogens introduced.This study has implications for how regulators assess therisk of ethanol juice mixtures held at ambient temperatureunder the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) FoodCode. Operators that desire to display ethanol and fruitjuice mixtures at room temperature need to ensure a pH< 4.2 or a combination of pH and water activity values based on Table B of the FDA Food Code, or they must keep the product under refrigeration at a temperature ≤ 41°F.
Survey of Consumers’ Knowledge of Food Safety of Perishable Foods Purchased at Local Farmers’ Markets
Authors:   Division of Animal and Nutritional Sciences, Davis College, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA, Shen Cangliang
Published: July 2022

This study was conducted to determine the knowledge and practices of consumers who frequent local farmers’ markets (FMs). A total of 270 consumers at six FMs in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Michigan were interviewed. Eleven questions were asked in face-to-face interviews or by self-reported questionnaire. Questions covered basic information, purchasing frequency, food handling practices, food safety concerns, and food safety responsibilities. Data from surveys were analyzed using chi-square tests for significant differences in responses (P = 0.05). Results revealed that 24.3 to 34.7% of participants purchased fresh vegetables and fruits once every week per season. Most participants (93.5 to 97.5%, P < 0.05) thought “availability,” “freshness,” and “flavor and taste” were “very” to “extremely important” in their decision regarding which perishable foods to purchase. More than 80% of participants reported that they always washed their hands and produce before preparing foods at home. Fewer than 50% of the participants reported refrigerating their purchased foods within 30 min. Most of the participants (>85%) never checked the thermometer of the vendor’s booth. Over half of the participants (64.8%) believed that farmers and vendors should take the greatest responsibility for the microbial safety of products at FMs. These results emphasized the need for consumer education regarding safe food handling practices at FMs, especially temperature control of perishable foods.
Development of an automatic system for cultivating the bioluminescent heterotrophic dinoflagellate Noctiluca scintillans on a 100-liter scale
Authors: You Ji Hyun , Jeong Hae Jin , Park Sang Ah , Ok Jin Hee , Kang Hee Chang , Eom Se Hee , Lim An Suk
Published: July 2022

Noctiluca scintillans is a heterotrophic dinoflagellate that causes red-colored oceans during the day (red tides) and glowing oceans at night (bioluminescence). This species feeds on diverse prey, including phytoplankton, heterotrophic protists, and eggs of metazoans. Thus, many scientists have conducted studies on the ecophysiology of this species. It is easy to cultivate N. scintillans at a scale of <1 L, but it is difficult to cultivate them at a scale of >100 L because N. scintillans cells usually stay near the surface, while prey cells stay below the surface in large water tanks. To obtain mass-cultured N. scintillans cells, we developed an automatic system for cultivating N. scintillans on a scale of 100 L. The system consisted of four tanks containing fresh nutrients, the chlorophyte Dunaliella salina as prey, N. scintillans for growth, and N. scintillans for storage, respectively. The light intensities supporting the high growth rates of D. salina and N. scintillans were 300 and 20 μmol photons m-2 s-1, respectively. Twenty liters of D. salina culture from the prey culture tank were transferred to the predator culture tank, and subsequently 20 L of nutrients from the nutrient tank were transferred to the prey culture tank every 2 d. When the volume of N. scintillans in the predator culture tank reached 90 L 6 d later, 70 L of the culture were transferred to the predator storage tank. To prevent N. scintillans cells from being separated from D. salina cells in the predator culture tank, the culture was mixed using an air pump, a sparger, and a stirrer. The highest abundance of N. scintillans in the predator culture tank was 45 cells mL-1, which was more than twice the highest abundance when this dinoflagellate was cultivated manually. This automatic system supplies 100 L of N. scintillans pure culture with a high density every 10 d for diverse experiments on N. scintillans.
Dalla Ladinia dolomitica fino a Roma. Un tragitto dialettometrico con 30 stazioni. Per festeggiare il sedicesimo lustro del professor Gerhard Ernst
Authors:   , Goebl Hans
Published: July 2022

Sequenza PowerPoint presentata in occasione della giornata di studio in onore dell'80esimo compleanno di Gerhard Ernst.
Pamela G. Reed’in Öz Aşkınlık Kuramı Analiz ve Değerlendirmesi
Authors: KUBLAY Yelda , HALLAÇ Saliha
Published: July 2022

Hemşirelik kuramlarının birçoğu test edilmiş; sağlık bakımında kaliteyi artırma, hemşirelik araştırmalarında anlamayı genişletme ve biyopsikososyal yaklaşımlara dayalı profesyonel uygulamalarla toplumların gelişimini sağlama konusunda büyük katkıları olduğu araştırmalarla kanıtlanmıştır. Bu bağlamda bu derleme makalesinde, hemşirelik kuramlarından Pamela G. Reed’ in “Öz Aşkınlık Kuramı” nın analiz edilmesi ve değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Bunun için Fawcett’ in “Hemşirelik kuramlarının analizi ve değerlendirilmesi için çerçeve” si kullanılmıştır. Bu yapıya göre analiz “kuramın kapsamı, kuramın bağlamı ve kuramın içeriği” dahil olmak üzere kuramın yargılayıcı olmayan, ayrıntılı bir incelemesini içermektedir. Değerlendirme “kuramın önem, iç tutarlılık, sadelik, test edilebilirlik, ampirik yeterlilik ve pragmatik yeterlilikleri” kapsamında olup; her bir kapsamın altında yer alan sorulara yanıt oluşturacak şekilde yapılmıştır. Kuramın teorisyeni psikiyatri hemşiresi olup, kuramın uygulanmasına ilişkin beceriler psikiyatri hemşireliğinin doğasına uygundur. Alanyazın incelendiğinde ülkemizde, Öz Aşkınlık Kuramı’ nı tanımlayan, analiz eden ve değerlendiren herhangi bir makaleye rastlanmamıştır. Bu anlamda alandaki bu boşluğun doldurulması, kuramın tanınması, anlaşılması ve kullanımını kolaylaştırmak amacıyla bu makalenin yararlı ve hemşirelik kuramlarına temellendirilmiş modellerin oluşturulmasında katkı sağlayacağı düşünülmektedir.