bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients out of Wuhan from China: a case control study
Authors: Zhang Hua , Du Feng , Cao Xiao-jun , Feng Xia-long , Zhang He-ping , Wu Zheng-xia , Wang Bao-Feng , Zhang Hong-juan , Liu Rui , Yang Jian-jun , Ning Bo , Chen Kai , Huang Zhen-peng
Published: February 2021

Background

A large-scale global outbreak of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) out of Wuhan, from China, occurred in January 2020. To examine the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in infected patients out of Wuhan, from China.

Methods

Thirteen patients were confirmed to be infected with novel coronavirus-2019 (2019-nCoV) between January 27 and February 8, 2020, in Baoji city, Shannxi, northwestern China. Epidemiological and clinical information, and computed to morphology imaging data from all COVID-19 patients were collected; cases were divided into two groups according to the severity of infection (mild or severe).

Results

Nine (9/13) COVID-19 patients exhibited mild disease severity, and defined as second-generation human-to-human transmission cases. Most patients (11/13) had a history of travel to or from Wuhan. There were no differences in sex and age between the mild and severe cases (all P > 0.05). A moderate degree of fever (11/13), cough (13/13), and fatigue (8/13) were common symptoms; however, there was no statistical difference between mild and severe cases in this regard (all P > 0.05). Oxyhemoglobin saturation and oxygenation index decreased, and C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A (SAA) levels were elevated in all patients with COVID-19 infection, with statistically significant differences between those with severe disease and mild infection (all P < 0.05). Twelve of 13 COVID-19 patients exhibited changes in chest CT imaging features, and time course changes were different between mild and severe cases (all P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Most cases of COVID-19 infection were second-generation human-to-human transmissions from Wuhan and were mild in severity. The clinical characteristics of COVID-19 varied. Oxyhemoglobin saturation, oxygenation index, CRP and SAA levels, and CT features were reliable parameters to evaluate the severity of COVID-19 infection. However, a few patients with mild COVID-19 disease lacked typical characteristics such as fever and changes in CT imaging features.
Is the evidence on the effectiveness of pay for performance schemes in healthcare changing? Evidence from a meta-regression analysis
Authors: Zaresani Arezou , Scott Anthony
Published: February 2021

Background

This study investigated if the evidence on the success of the Pay for Performance (P4P) schemes in healthcare is changing as the schemes continue to evolve by updating a previous systematic review.

Methods

A meta-regression analysis using 116 studies evaluating P4P schemes published between January 2010 to February 2018. The effects of the research design, incentive schemes, use of incentives, and the size of the payment to revenue ratio on the proportion of statically significant effects in each study were examined.

Results

There was evidence of an increase in the range of countries adopting P4P schemes and weak evidence that the proportion of studies with statistically significant effects have increased. Factors hypothesized to influence the success of schemes have not changed. Studies evaluating P4P schemes which made payments for improvement over time, were associated with a lower proportion of statistically significant effects. There was weak evidence of a positive association between the incentives’ size and the proportion of statistically significant effects.

Conclusion

The evidence on the effectiveness of P4P schemes is evolving slowly, with little evidence that lessons are being learned concerning the design and evaluation of P4P schemes.
Comparison of the modified Smith-Petersen (S-P) and ilioinguinal (I-I) approaches for periacetabular osteotomy in adult developmental dysplasia of the hip: a retrospective study
Authors: Luo Rui , Li Guomin , Li Bo , Hu Ruyin , Li Yankun
Published: February 2021

Background

Adult developmental dysplasia of the hip is an untreated congenital hip dysplasia that results in adult hip pain. One of the usual and effective methods for the treatment of this condition is periacetabular osteotomy. However, which approach is better between the modified S-P and the I-I approaches is still unclear and controversial.

Method and materials

We retrospectively assessed our experience with the modified S-P and the I-I approaches by inquiring and evaluating intraoperative blood loss, postoperative radiographic material, postoperative function of the hip, and related complications from July 2014 to January 2019.

Results

A total of 61 patients with adult developmental dysplasia of the hip were enrolled, and 33 patients were divided into a modified S-P group and 28 patients were divided into I-I group. The operation time and blood loss of group I-I were higher than that of group modified S-P. Other clinical and radiographic indexes showed no statistical significance between group the modified S-P and I-I groups.

Conclusion

There is no significant difference in the improvement of the function of the hip at the post-operation stage, but group I-I may require more operation time and blood loss at the intra-operation stage.
Value of 3D preoperative planning for primary total hip arthroplasty based on artificial intelligence technology
Authors: Huo Jiabang , Huang Guangxin , Han Dong , Wang Xinjie , Bu Yufan , Chen Ya , Cai Daozhang , Zhao Chang
Published: February 2021

Background

Accurate preoperative planning is an important step for accurate reconstruction in total hip arthroplasty (THA). Presently, preoperative planning is completed using either a two-dimensional (2D) template or three-dimensional (3D) mimics software. With the development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, AI HIP, a planning software based on AI technology, can quickly and automatically identify acetabular and femur morphology, and automatically match the optimal prosthesis size. However, the accuracy and feasibility of its clinical application still needs to be further verified. The purposes of this study were to investigate the accuracy and time efficiency of AI HIP in preoperative planning for primary THA, compared with 3D mimics software and 2D digital template, and further analyze the factors that influence the accuracy of AI HIP.

Methods

A prospective study was conducted on 53 consecutive patients (59 hips) undergoing primary THA with cementless prostheses in our department. All preoperative planning was completed using AI HIP as well as 3D mimics and 2D digital template. The predicted component size and the actual implantation results were compared to determine the accuracy. The templating time was compared to determine the efficiency. Furthermore, the potential factors influencing the accuracy of AI HIP were analyzed including sex, body mass index (BMI), and hip dysplasia.

Results

The accuracy of predicting the size of acetabular cup and femoral stem was 74.58% and 71.19%, respectively, for AI HIP; 71.19% (P = 0.743) and 76.27% (P = 0.468), respectively, for 3D mimics; and 40.68% (P < 0.001) and 49.15% (P = 0.021), respectively, for 2D digital templating. The templating time using AI HIP was 3.91 ± 0.64 min, which was equivalent to 2D digital templates (2.96 ± 0.48 min, P < 0.001), but shorter than 3D mimics (32.07 ± 2.41 min, P < 0.001). Acetabular dysplasia (P = 0.021), rather than sex and BMI, was an influential factor in the accuracy of AI HIP templating. Compared to patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), the accuracy of acetabular cup in the non-DDH group was better (P = 0.021), but the difference in the accuracy of the femoral stem between the two groups was statistically insignificant (P = 0.062).

Conclusion

AI HIP showed excellent reliability for component size in THA. Acetabular dysplasia may affect the accuracy of AI HIP templating.
French recommendations for the management of Behçet’s disease
Authors:   Collaborators, Kone-Paut Isabelle , Barete Stéphane , Bodaghi Bahram , Deiva Kumaran , Desbois Anne-Claire , Galeotti Caroline , Gaudric Julien , Kaplanski Gilles , Mahr Alfred , Noel Nicolas , Piram Maryam , Tran Tu-Anh , Wechsler Bertrand , Saadoun David
Published: February 2021

Behçet’s disease (BD) is a systemic variable vessel vasculitis that involves the skin, mucosa, joints, eyes, arteries, veins, nervous system and gastrointestinal system, presenting with remissions and exacerbations. It is a multifactorial disease, and several triggering factors including oral cavity infections and viruses may induce inflammatory attacks in genetically susceptible individuals. BD vasculitis involves different vessel types and sizes of the vascular tree with mixed-cellular perivascular infiltrates and is often complicated by recurrent thrombosis, particularly in the venous compartment. Several new therapeutic modalities with different mechanisms of action have been studied in patients with BD. A substantial amount of new data have been published on the management of BD, especially with biologics, over the last years. These important therapeutic advances in BD have led us to propose French recommendations for the management of Behçet’s disease [Protocole National de Diagnostic et de Soins de la maladie de Behçet (PNDS)]. These recommendations are divided into two parts: (1) the diagnostic process and initial assessment; (2) the therapeutic management. Thirty key points summarize the essence of the recommendations. We highlighted the main differential diagnosis of BD according to the type of clinical involvement; the role of genetics is also discussed, and we indicate the clinical presentations that must lead to the search for a genetic cause.
Correction to: Molecular analyses of triple-negative breast cancer in the young and elderly
Authors: Aine Mattias , Boyaci Ceren , Hartman Johan , Häkkinen Jari , Mitra Shamik , Campos Ana Bosch , Nimeus Emma , Ehinger Anna , Vallon-Christersson Johan , Borg Åke , Staaf Johan
Published: February 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
A long-lasting emerging epidemic of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in southeastern Iran: population movement and peri-urban settlements as a major risk factor
Authors: Karimi Taiebeh , Sharifi Iraj , Aflatoonian Mohammad Reza , Aflatoonian Behnaz , Mohammadi Mohammad Ali , Salarkia Ehsan , Babaei Zahra , Zarinkar Farzaneh , Sharifi Fatemeh , Hatami Nima , Khosravi Ahmad , Eskandari Arsalan , Solimani Elyas , Shafiee Mehdi , Mozaffari Masoumeh , Heshmatkhah Amireh , Amiri Rezvan , Farajzadeh Saeideh , Kyhani Alireza , Aghaei Afshar Abbas , Jafarzadeh Abdollah , Bamorovat Mehdi
Published: February 2021

Background

Epidemics of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) are occurring more frequently and spreading faster and farther than before in many areas of the world. The present study aimed to assess a long-lasting emerging epidemic (2005–2019) of 5532 cases with anthroponotic CL (ACL) in peri-urban areas of Kerman city in southeastern Iran.

Methods

This descriptive-analytical study was carried out for 15 years in Kerman province, southeastern Iran. The data were passively obtained through the health surveillance system and the Kerman Leishmaniasis Research Center. Every subject was diagnosed using direct smear microscopy. The representative causative agent was further examined by ITS1-PCR, PCR-RFLP, 7SL RNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. For each subject, a case report form designating demographic and clinical data was recorded.

Results

A different pattern of ACL incidence was found in peri-urban areas compared to that in the city of Kerman. The incidence rate of ACL cases has significantly increased (P < 0.001) from 2005 to 2016 in new settlements with a gradual decline after that. The overall average risk of contracting the disease was 7.6 times higher in peri-urban areas compared to Kerman city, an old endemic focus. All isolates consisting of six variants were confirmed to be Leishmania tropica. The overall pattern of the ACL infection indicates that the etiological agent of ACL is propagated and transmitted by the bite of female Phlebotomus sergenti sandflies from person to person from dissimilar clones as reflected by the complexity of the migrants’ backgrounds in the province.

Conclusions

The movement of populations and establishment of new settlements in peri-urban areas close to endemic areas are major risk factors for and are directly linked to CL. The underlying factors of this emerging ACL epidemic caused by L. tropica were disasters and droughts, among others. A robust commitment to a multilateral approach is crucial to make improvements in this area. This will require decisive coordinated actions through all governmental factions and non-governmental organizations. Furthermore, active and passive case detection strategies, early diagnosis, and effective treatment could help control the disease.

Graphical Abstract
CT imaging findings of epiploic appendagitis: an unusual cause of abdominal pain
Authors: Giambelluca Dario , Cannella Roberto , Caruana Giovanni , Salvaggio Leonardo , Grassedonio Emanuele , Galia Massimo , Midiri Massimo , Salvaggio Giuseppe
Published: February 2021

Epiploic appendagitis is a rare cause of acute abdominal pain, determined by a benign self-limiting inflammation of the epiploic appendages. It may manifest with heterogeneous clinical presentations, mimicking other more severe entities responsible of acute abdominal pain, such as acute diverticulitis or appendicitis. Given its importance as clinical mimicker, imaging plays a crucial role to avoid inaccurate diagnosis that may lead to unnecessary hospitalization, antibiotic therapy, and surgery. CT represents the gold standard technique for the evaluation of patients with indeterminate acute abdominal pain. Imaging findings include the presence of an oval lesion with fat-attenuation surrounded by a thin hyperdense rim on CT (“hyperattenuating ring sign”) abutting anteriorly the large bowel, usually associated with inflammation of the adjacent mesentery. A central high-attenuation focus within the fatty lesion (“central dot sign”) can sometimes be observed and is indicative of a central thrombosed vein within the inflamed epiploic appendage. Rarely, epiploic appendagitis may be located within a hernia sac or attached to the vermiform appendix. Chronically infarcted epiploic appendage may detach, appearing as an intraperitoneal loose calcified body in the abdominal cavity. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of the clinical presentation and key imaging features that may help the radiologist to make an accurate diagnosis and guide the clinical management of those patients.
The use of integrative therapy based on Yoga and Ayurveda in the treatment of a high-risk case of COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 with multiple comorbidities: a case report
Authors: Mishra Alka , Bentur Sumitra A. , Thakral Sonika , Garg Rahul , Duggal Bhanu
Published: February 2021

Background

We report a high-risk case of a coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19)-positive patient with comorbidities including diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HTN), hypothyroidism and chronic kidney disease (CKD), treated successfully using an integrative therapy plan based on Ayurveda and Yoga, along with government-mandated compulsory modern western medicine (MWM) treatment. Recently, some evidence has been emerging on the use of Ayurveda for treatment of COVID-19. The classical texts of Ayurvedic medicine such asCharaka SamhitaandSushruta Samhitacontain descriptions of pandemics of similar proportions and describe them asJanapadoddhvansa, meaning the destruction of communities, along with their causes and treatment.

Case presentation

The case reported herein is a 55-year-old man from Delhi, India, with confirmed (tested) COVID-19, who first took MWM for 7 days before seeking integrative therapy. The patient has comorbidities including DM, HTN, hypothyroidism and CKD and had developed symptoms including fever (which was resolved by the time integrative therapy was started), sore throat, dry cough, body aches, weakness, bad taste and smell, and heaviness in the abdomen. Based on the patient’s symptoms and comorbidities, a treatment plan including Ayurvedic medicines, Yoga protocol, dietary recommendations and lifestyle modifications was prescribed by a registered Ayurveda doctor and a Yoga consultant. The patient started experiencing improvement in all the symptoms within 2 days after starting the treatment; he reported approximately$$75\%$$75%relief from the symptoms after 5 days, and almost complete relief within 9 days. Also, the blood sugar levels (both fasting blood sugar [FBS] and postprandial blood sugar [PPBS]) exhibited significant improvement after 5 days, and decreased to within the normal range within 12 days. Besides relief in symptoms, the patient’s real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test done on the 19th day returned negative results.

Conclusions

Integrative therapy was found to be effective in mitigating the symptoms of COVID-19 in this patient with multiple comorbidities. Moreover, a significant improvement in blood sugar levels (not under control with modern medicine) was also achieved. Integrative therapy based on the classical texts of Ayurveda and Yoga may offer a promising and scalable treatment option for COVID-19 patients. A case series or a suitably designed randomized controlled trial is needed to assess its efficacy.
The roles of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria in sustainable vegetable production in Ethiopia
Authors: Mekonnen Habtamu , Kibret Mulugeta
Published: February 2021

Vegetable production is an important economic activity and a major source of vitamins, minerals, and income in Ethiopia. However, the production of vegetables is much less developed than the production of food grains in the country. Vegetable production still needs improvement in combating biotic and abiotic threats with innovative technologies. Nowadays, excess use of chemical fertilizers to satisfy the increasing demand for food exerts deadly effects on soil microorganisms and contribute to the deterioration of soil fertility and an increase in atmospheric pollution. Several types of research are still going on to understand the diversity and importance of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and their role in the betterment of vegetable production. PGPR facilitate plant growth directly by either assisting in the acquisition of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and other essential nutrients) or regulation of the levels of hormones. Indirectly PGPR decrease the inhibitory effects of various pathogens on vegetable growth and development in the forms of biocontrol agents. Some of the notable PGPR capable of facilitating the growth of vegetables such as potato, tomato, pepper, onion belong to genera of Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Azotobacter, Enterobacter, and Azospirillum. Hence, to optimize vegetable production with reduced input of mineral fertilizers and pesticides, the use of PGPR in vegetable cultivation is recommended.
Geospatial analysis of distribution of community pharmacies and other health care facilities providing minor ailments services in Malaysia
Authors: Tew Mei Mei , Hatah Ernieda , Arif Faiz , Abdul Wahid Muhammad Aqiff , Makmor-Bakry Mohd , Abdul Maulad Khairul Nizam
Published: February 2021

Background

Minor ailments are defined as common, self-limiting, or uncomplicated conditions that may be diagnosed and managed without a medical intervention. Previous studies reported that pharmacists were able to help patients self-manage minor ailments that led to a reduction of health care burden in other facilities. Nevertheless, public access to community pharmacy and other health care facilities offering services for minor ailments has not yet been explored in Malaysia. Hence, this study aims to determine population access to the above-mentioned services.

Method

According to the reported practice address in 2018, the spatial distribution of health care facilities was mapped and explored using the GIS mapping techniques. The density of health care facilities was analyzed using thematic maps with hot spot analysis. Population to facility ratio was calculated using the projection of the population growth based on 2010 census data, which was the latest available in the year of analysis.

Results

The study included geographical mapping of 7051 general practitioner clinics (GPC), 3084 community pharmacies (CP), 139 public general hospitals (GHs) and 990 public primary health clinics (PHC). The health care facilities were found to be highly dense in urban areas than in the rural ones. There were six districts that had no CP, 2 had no GPC, and 11 did not have both. The overall ratio of GPC, CP, GH, and PHC to the population was 1:4228, 1:10,200, 1:223,619 and 1:31,397, respectively. Should the coverage for minor ailment services in public health care clinics be extended to community pharmacies, the ratio of facilities to population for each district would be better with 1:4000–8000.

Conclusions

The distribution of health care facilities for minor ailment management in Malaysia is relatively good. However, if the scheme for minor ailments were available to community pharmacies, then the patients’ access to minor ailments services would be further improved.
Strain heterogeneity, cooccurrence network, taxonomic composition and functional profile of the healthy ocular surface microbiome
Authors: Kang Yutong , Lin Shudan , Ma Xueli , Che Yanlin , Chen Yiju , Wan Tian , Zhang Die , Shao Jiao , Xu Jie , Xu Yi , Lou Yongliang , Zheng Meiqin
Published: February 2021

Background

There is growing evidence indicating that the microbial communities that dwell on the human ocular surface are crucially important for ocular surface health and disease. Little is known about interspecies interactions, functional profiles, and strain heterogeneity across individuals in healthy ocular surface microbiomes.

Methods

To comprehensively characterize the strain heterogeneity, cooccurrence network, taxonomic composition and functional profile of the healthy ocular surface microbiome, we performed shotgun metagenomics sequencing on ocular surface mucosal membrane swabs of 17 healthy volunteers.

Results

The healthy ocular surface microbiome was classified into 12 phyla, 70 genera, and 140 species. The number of species in each healthy ocular surface microbiome ranged from 6 to 47, indicating differences in microbial diversity among individuals. The species with high relative abundances and high positivity rates were Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Propionibacterium acnes, Corynebacterium accolens, and Enhydrobacter aerosaccus. A correlation network analysis revealed a competitive interaction of Staphylococcus epidermidis with Streptococcus pyogenes in ocular surface microbial ecosystems. Staphylococcus epidermidis and Streptococcus pyogenes revealed phylogenetic diversity among different individuals. At the functional level, the pathways related to transcription were the most abundant. We also found that there were abundant lipid and amino acid metabolism pathways in the healthy ocular surface microbiome.

Conclusion

This study explored the strain heterogeneity, cooccurrence network, taxonomic composition, and functional profile of the healthy ocular surface microbiome. These findings have important significance for the future development of probiotic-based eye therapeutic drugs.
Synthesis, characterization, and biological studies of some biometal complexes
Authors: Srivastava Vinay Kumar
Published: February 2021

Background

Metal complexes Cu[C13H8O4N]22,Ni[Cl3H8O4N]23,and Co[C13H8O4N]24of bioinorganic relevance have been synthesized with the Schiff base ligand 2-furylglyoxal–anthranilic acid (FGAA) [C13H9O4N]1.

All the complexes are well characterized by various spectral and physical methods. The antimicrobial activity of the complexes has been studied against some of the pathogenic bacteria and fungi.

Results

Results indicate that complexes have higher antimicrobial activity than the free ligand. This would suggest that chelation reduces considerably the polarity of the metal ions in the complexes which in turn increases the hydrophobic character of the chelate and thus enables permeation, through the lipid layer of microorganisms. All the complexes were assessed for their anticancer studies against a panel of selected cancer cells HOP62 and BT474 respectively. Results showed that the complexes are promising chemotherapeutic alternatives in the search of anticancer agents. The fluorescence quenching phenomenon is observed in the Schiff base metal complexes.

Conclusion

The octahedral transition metal complexes2, 3,and4have been obtained by treatment of ligand 2-furylglyoxal-anthranilic acid (FGAA)1with metal acetate. Complexes under investigations have shown antimicrobial, potential anticancer, and the DNA binding studies.

Graphical abstract
Level of asthma control and mental health of asthma patients during lockdown for COVID-19: a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Sheha Dina S. , Abdel-Rehim Asmaa S. , Abdel-Latif Osama M. , Abdelkader Maryam A. , Raafat Riham H. , Sallam Sarah A. , Mostafa Nayera S.
Published: February 2021

Background

Lockdown has been enforced globally to curb the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Patients with uncontrolled asthma are at risk of severe illness from COVID-19, highlighting the priority of adequate asthma control during the pandemic. Staying indoors exposes asthmatics to indoor asthma triggers, including disinfectants used for limiting the virus spread, in addition to psychological stresses of the pandemic which represent crucial contributors to loss of asthma control. Elective medical care, curtailed by the lockdown procedures, compromises adequate asthma follow up. The current study evaluated the effect of COVID-19 lockdown on the level of asthma control and mental health of bronchial asthma patients. The study included 264 bronchial asthma patients, aged 12 years and older, who responded to an online questionnaire including the asthma control test to evaluate asthma control in the preceding 4 weeks. Anxiety and depression scores and the impact of event scale were also provided.

Results

Seventy percent of asthmatics had uncontrolled asthma, and disinfectant use was associated with perceived increase in asthma symptoms in 77.7%. Anxiety and depression were associated with uncontrolled asthma in 50% of participants, suggesting a possible psychological impact on asthma patients.

Conclusions

During lockdown, asthma patients participating in the study had significantly uncontrolled disease and associated anxiety and depression. Since regular follow-up of asthma patients is cornerstone to adequate asthma control, alternative methods of medical care for asthma patients during lockdown are warranted, and particular need for mental health support ought to be provided as a continuum to adequate asthma control.
Learnings From Precision Clinical Trial Matching for Oncology Patients Who Received NGS Testing
Authors: Jain Neha M. , Culley Alison , Micheel Christine M. , Osterman Travis J. , Levy Mia A.
Published: February 2021

PURPOSE

Tumor next-generation sequencing reports typically generate trial recommendations for patients based on their diagnosis and genomic profile. However, these require additional refinement and prescreening, which can add to physician burden. We wanted to use human prescreening efforts to efficiently refine these trial options and also elucidate the high-value parameters that have a major impact on efficient trial matching.

METHODS

Clinical trial recommendations were generated based on diagnosis and biomarker criteria using an informatics platform and were further refined by manual prescreening. The refined results were then compared with the initial trial recommendations and the reasons for false-positive matches were evaluated.

RESULTS

Manual prescreening significantly reduced the number of false positives from the informatics generated trial recommendations, as expected. We found that trial-specific criteria, especially recruiting status for individual trial arms, were a high value parameter and led to the largest number of automated false-positive matches.

CONCLUSION

Reflex clinical trial matching approaches that refine trial recommendations based on the clinical details as well as trial-specific criteria have the potential to help alleviate physician burden for selecting the most appropriate trial for their patient. Investing in publicly available resources that capture the recruiting status of a trial at the cohort or arm level would, therefore, allow us to make meaningful contributions to increase the clinical trial enrollments by eliminating false positives.
Endobronchial Blocker Placement for Lung Isolation in Children: A Simple Head Turn Technique
Authors: Choudhry Dinesh K. , Brenn B. Randall , DiSilvio Gregory M.
Published: February 2021

Endobronchial blockers are frequently used for lung isolation in children <8 years of age. The aim of our report is to highlight the problem that we have encountered with the wire-guided endobronchial blocker (WEB), where the wire loop used to couple the blocker and the fiberoptic scope (FOS) may straddle the carina. We describe the “uncoupled head turn technique” that we have adopted to avoid this problem. If the coupled technique is deemed necessary, a method to keep the wire loop snug around the FOS is described to avoid the straddling problem.
Costs of Inaccurate Anesthesia Start Time Documentation Within a Health System
Authors: Stone Alexander B. , Dangerfield Stratton , Preiss David A. , Urman Richard D.
Published: February 2021

Inaccurate anesthesia start time (AST) documentation can result in lost revenue. Using a retrospective analysis, we estimated lost revenue from inaccurate documentation of the AST within a single health care system, including academic and community-based facilities. We used differences in nursing documentation of “in-room” time and AST to calculate lost billable revenue. Of the 282,432 cases included, 25.6% had a documented “in-room” time before the documented AST, resulting in an estimated loss of $703,522 within 30-month study period. Through educational interventions and feedback, anesthesia clinicians have the potential to significantly increase revenue through more accurate documentation of AST.
“South Africa Is the Land of Pet Animals”; or, The Racializing Assemblages of Colonial Pet-Keeping
Authors: Feuerstein Anna
Published: February 2021

This essay analyzes two late Victorian texts by white women colonists in South Africa—F. Clinton Parry’s children’s book African Pets (1880) and Annie Martin’s memoir Home Life on an Ostrich Farm (1890)—to nuance understandings of animality as racialization. By reading representations of colonial pet-keeping, the essay shows how the racializing tendencies of Western humanism—especially within slavery and colonialism—manifest within gendered animal-human relationships and help construct both Blackness and whiteness. It focuses on pet-keeping in the colonies to explore understandings of animal-human relationships within the Victorian empire and thus revises Achille Mbembe’s taxonomy of colonial animality. Moving beyond comparison and the tendency to group multiple kinds of dehumanizing practices within slavery and colonialism under the term animalization, the essay suggests that the assemblage is a more productive way to read the many layers of dehumanization taking place within colonial contexts. By analyzing constructions of Blackness, whiteness, and the animal together, it argues that within the animalization and dehumanization projected from the white colonist, we can move beyond reading only for anti-Blackness and locate significant moments of Black fugitivity, wherein Blackness escapes the racializing logics of Western humanism.
Multidisciplinary approach to L3/L4 lumbar disc prolapse masquerading as focal limb myositis-a radiological challenge
Authors: Saini Ramandeep Singh , Hurry Daniel , Singh Rasvin , Dapaah Andrew , Sharma Chetna , Calthorpe Denis , Jain Virendra , Kothari Ravi
Published: February 2021

Prolapsed intervertebral discs are commonly associated with back ache and sciatica. Management is often conservative with analgesia and physiotherapy. Nerve root injections and discectomy procedures are used where conservative measures fail. Majority of patients present with symptoms of pain and motor weakness; however, a few can present as focal myositis of lower limb muscles in the distribution of radiculopathy. MRI scans of limbs are rarely done in these cases but if done can confound the radiologist. Our case report emphasize the importance of multidisciplinary approach for a L3 nerve radiculopathy with confounding clinical presentation of focal lower limb myositis of unknown etiology.
A prospective cohort study of shock index as a reliable marker to predict the patient’s need for blood transfusion due to postpartum hemorrhage
Authors: Oğlak Süleyman Cemil , Obut Mehmet , Tahaoğlu Ali Emre , Uğur Demirel Neslihan , Kahveci Bekir , Bağlı İhsan
Published: February 2021

Objective: This study was aimed to compare the shock index (SI) values between patients who required blood transfusion due to postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) and patients who received no blood transfusion.

Methods: We conducted this cross-sectional study at a tertiary center between January 2019 and June 2019. A total of 2534 patients who underwent vaginal delivery were included in this study. We measured SI values upon admission, 30 minutes, 1-hour, and 2-hours after delivery. We identified women who required blood transfusion as the study group. Control patients who delivered in the same period and received no blood transfusion were identified in the medical record system and randomly selected. Age, parity, BMI, and SI values at each one prepartum and three postpartum periods of the groups were analyzed.

Results: A total of 2534 patients were included in the study. A varying amount of blood transfusion was performed in 54 patients (2.13%). When we compared with patients who did not receive blood transfusion after delivery, patients who received any amount of blood transfusion after vaginal delivery had significantly higher SI values 30 minutes after delivery (0.99±0.20, and 085±0.11, p=0.0001), at 1-hour (1.00±0.18, and 0.85±0.11, p=0.0001), and 2-hours (1.09±0.16, and 0.87±0.11, p=0.0001).

Conclusion: SI value could be a reliable and consistent marker to predict the requirement for any amount of blood transfusion due to PPH.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.3.3444

How to cite this:Oglak SC, Obut M, Tahaoglu AE, Ugur Demirel N, Kahveci B, Bagli I. A prospective cohort study of shock index as a reliable marker to predict the patient’s need for blood transfusion due to postpartum hemorrhage. Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(3):863-868.  doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.3.3444

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Crystal-structural regularities for crystal hydrates with infinite motifs H2O...OH2
Authors: Banaru Aleksandr , Banaru Darya
Published: February 2021

Монография посвящена структурным закономерностям в кристаллах молекулярных кристаллогидратов с бесконечными мотивами H-связей, образованных молекулами воды. По самым последним данным за 2021 г., на водные слои, сформированные такими связями, приходится более половины всей энергии кристалла. Это указывает на исключительную значимость этих мотивов для формирования итоговой структуры кристаллогидрата. Отдельное внимание уделено структурным данным, полученным в мире за последнее десятилетие (2010-2020 гг.). Работа одного из соавторов (Д.А. Банару) в части разработки топологической модели кристаллических структур выполнена в рамках госбюджетной темы №АААА-А19-119030690063-6.
Physical activity and sedentary behavior in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Santos Daniela Lopes dos , Azambuja Cati Reckelberg
Published: February 2021

The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the study routine and physical activity of Physical Education students. The study included, by convenience sampling, 721 undergraduate Physical Education students from the state of Rio Grande do Sul. For data collection, a questionnaire containing questions about sample characterization, study routine and characteristics of physical activity before and during social distancing/isolation was used. This instrument was made available by Google Forms, between April 13th and May 31st of 2020. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. It was found that 35% of the students had their studies completely interrupted and 27.9% of them reported an increase in their load of study routine activities. The time spent on television went from one to two hours a day (47.7%) to up to four hours (63.7%), with women having greater screen time for television (> 3h / day; p = 0.027) during the pandemic period. There was an increase from 3.1% to 18.7% of students who were not practicing any physical activity. Those who remained active decreased the number of days of weekly practice and the average time per session (p < 0.001). Thus, it is necessary to think about strategies to increase and maintain the levels of physical activity, as means of protection and reduction of health damages, caused by the infection of the new coronavirus and by the social distancing/isolation imposed to reduce the transmission of the virus.
Media Platforms’ Content Provision Strategies and Sources of Profits
Authors: Amaldoss Wilfred , Du Jinzhao , Shin Woochoel
Published: February 2021

This paper examines media platforms’ content provision strategies and their implications for the profits of media platforms and content suppliers.
Organizational Form and Trade Liberalization: Plant-Level Evidence
Authors: Bai John (Jianqiu)
Published: February 2021

This paper studies how firms’ internal organization shapes the impact of international trade. Using establishment-level data from the U.S. Census and a difference-in-difference specification, I find that, relative to standalone firms, conglomerates are more likely to restructure after trade liberalization episodes, focusing on their core competency and improving firm productivity and product market performance. Adjustments through the extensive margin account for the majority of the productivity growth differential between conglomerates and standalones experiencing trade shocks. Aggregate industry productivity remains relatively unchanged in industries dominated by conglomerates’ core business but decreases significantly in others. My findings suggest that firms’ internal organization has important consequences on the effects of trade policies.

This paper was accepted by Gustavo Manso, finance.
Bank Dependence and Bank Financing in Corporate M&A
Authors: Huang Sheng , Lu Ruichang , Srinivasan Anand
Published: February 2021

We examine the valuation impact of bank-financed mergers and acquisitions (M&As) and the loan contracts used to finance M&A transactions, focusing on the difference between bank-dependent acquirers and other acquirers. We find that bank-financed deals have higher acquirer’s cumulative abnormal returns relative to other cash M&A deals, but this certification effect exists only for bank-dependent acquirers. Despite bank-dependent acquirers being more susceptible to hold-up, banks do not impose higher loan pricing or more stringent nonprice terms on them. After completion of the acquisition, bank-dependent acquirers retain the M&A financing banks for a much larger share of their borrowing needs, suggesting the importance of repeat business for lack of hold-up. Our findings highlight the positive aspects of bank dependence and the importance of implicit contracting for the lack of hold-up in lending markets.

This paper was accepted by David Simchi-Levi, finance.
Duopoly Competition with Network Effects in Discrete Choice Models
Authors: Chen Ningyuan , Chen Ying-Ju
Published: February 2021

It has been realized for a long time that network effects play an important role in how market participants compete with each other. Arguably, companies like Facebook and Google are able to gain immense market power by leveraging the network effects of their consumers, despite potential competitors. This paper investigates how the dynamics play out in duopoly competition. We find that when the network effects per unit of consumption are weak, the competitors can co-exist and gain even market shares. As network effects become stronger, it is unstable, and even impossible, for the firms to coexist, and one firm emerges victorious, taking the majority of the market. The study provides a theoretical analysis for commonly observed market phenomena. It may also have implications for antitrust legislation: Special policies need to be created to maintain a competitive market structure for products and services with strong network effects.
Estudo Fenomenológico sobre o Tempo: A leitura de Heidegger sobre Aristóteles e Agostinho
Authors: Silva André De Sousa
Published: February 2021

O presente texto tem como principal objetivo analisar como Heidegger interpreta e avalia a noção de tempo nas obras de Aristóteles e Agostinho. Veremos, portanto, que Aristóteles considera o tempo como aquilo que surge junto ao movimento, ou seja, que surge exteriormente ao sujeito e assim pode ser observado. Agostinho por outro lado, corta o fio condutor da compreensão do tempo a partir dos fenômenos fora do observador, e aponta que o tempo é inerente à existência humana. Destare, Heidegger apresenta a noção de tempo em Aristóteles como pré-científica, enquanto a visão de Agostinho se aproxima com maior acuidade de uma visada fenomenológica. Com efeito, ao apresentarmos e analisarmos o debate sobre o tempo nos referidos autores, possuímos como pano de fundo a gênese e a evolução do estudo sobre o tema nos primeiros anos de carreira de Heidegger (nomeadamente o período de Freiburg no início da década de 1920), apontando mesmo que de antevisão o caminho percorrido pelo filósofo até chegar à noção de temporalidade do ser-aí apresentada e profundamente debatida em sua obra capital, Ser e Tempo.
Da intersubjetividade husserliana à solidariedade gadameriana: considerações sobre a vida compartilhada
Authors: Lindenmeyer Luciane Luisa
Published: February 2021

Este artigo investiga as correspondências filosóficas entre as noções de intersubjetividade husserliana e solidariedade gadameriana. Esses conceitos representam a dimensão de experiências compartilhadas que constituem tanto a fenomenologia de Husserl quanto a hermenêutica filosófica de Gadamer. É possível mapearmos as influências de Husserl no projeto gadameriano através da tradição que hoje conhecemos como filosofia fenomenológico-hermenêutica. A intersubjetividade e a solidariedade representam o momento em que o outro é integrado seja nas nossas experiências imediatas e fenomenológicas do mundo, seja na nossa relação cotidiana com as outras consciências, compartilhando responsabilidades mútuas a fim de que as relações coletivas sejam efetivadas na prática. Assim, podemos considerar também que a solidariedade está diretamente ligada à intersubjetividade fenomenológica. Sob essas condições, consideraremos a intersubjetividade como um nível filosófico para o estabelecimento da solidariedade. Essas duas dimensões são, antes de tudo, condições para pensarmos a vida compartilhada.
Filosofia do cuidado e vulnerabilidade
Authors: Martines Paulo Ricardo
Published: February 2021

A pandemia do coronavírus trouxe à tona uma crise de saúde pública e econômica de nível mundial sem precedentes, que em nosso país aprofundou a desigualdade social e acentuou a vulnerabilidade dos grupos mais pobres. Alguns países agiram prontamente logo no início do ciclo pandêmico e conseguiram minimizar suas consequências, como a Coreia do Sul ou a Alemanha; outros, sofreram bastante com os números elevados de contaminados e de óbitos, como Espanha e Itália. Mas nada igual com aquilo que se verificou nos EUA e Brasil, cujos presidentes ignoraram e minoraram o contágio, desautorizando o discurso científico e pouco agindo na esfera pública para resistir à pandemia.  A crise brasileira vai de par com o desmonte das instituições públicas, sejam elas ligadas à saúde, à ciência ou à educação.   O objetivo deste artigo é considerar a noção filosófica de cuidado como uma tentativa de resposta efetiva à situação pela qual passamos, a fim de estabelecer um horizonte que amplie a nossa visão e nos permita ver além do que está próximo, não para se afastar o olhar, mas para ver melhor. A noção filosófica de cuidado tal como a entendo é devedora tanto da reflexão de Hans Jonas sobre a responsabilidade, enquanto expressão de um compromisso autêntico com a dignidade da vida humana, como da reflexão de Paul Ricoeur sobre a noção de sabedoria prática, demarcada pela solicitude enquanto uma preocupação com o outro.
The association of follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) gene polymorphism of on egg productivity in hybrid chicken (Gallus gallus gallus, Linnaeus 1758)
Authors: LESMANA INDRA , ERNANTO ADITYA RAHMAN , Perdamaian Ayudha Bahana Ilham , TRIJOKO TRIJOKO , DARYONO BUDI SETIADI
Published: February 2021

Abstract. Kurnia RR, Lesmana I, Ernanto AR, Perdamaian ABI, Trijoko, Daryono BS. 2021. The association of follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) gene polymorphism of on egg productivity in hybrid chicken (Gallus gallus gallus, Linnaeus 1758). Biodiversitas 22: 1221-1226. Pelung chicken genetics Improvement by selective breeding to Layer Lohmann Brown was successfully developed F1 which yielded 140 eggs for 300 days of production. BC1 chicken derived from ♀ Layer and ♂ F1 (♀ Layer vs ♂ Pelung chicken). Polymorphism on cFSHR gene promoter was potential genetic marker candidate to assist the selection. This research aims to study the BC1 chicken egg-related traits performance for 16 weeks and study the correlation of cFSHR polymorphism to egg productivity. FSHR gene promoter was showed using sanger sequencing. Chicken were grouped based on their haplotype. Chicken were maintained in battery cage for observation of egg production. The results show that there is a difference of BC1 chicken DOC weight from different egg weight. The six SNP polymorphisms exist on cFSHR gene promoter fragments on 10, 51, 59, 121, 233, 331 nucleotides and conducted 7 haplotype group. The highest egg production in BC1 chicken on TTGCYA and lowest egg production on TTGYYG haplotype. Based on the correlation test there was a positive correlation at p> 0.05 between BC1 chicken TTGCYA haplotype with egg production and positive correlation at p <0.05 between BC1 TAGTTA haplotype with egg length.
Short Communication: Cremanthodium indica (Asteraceae, Senecioneae), a new species from the Eastern Himalaya, India
Authors: Borah Dipankar , Singh Rajeev Kumar , Thungon Lobsang Tashi
Published: February 2021

Abstract. Borah D, Singh RK, Thungon LT. 2021. Short Communication: Cremanthodium indica (Asteraceae, Senecioneae), a new species from the Eastern Himalaya, India. Biodiversitas 22: 1268-1272. Cremanthodium indica D.Borah, R.Kr. Singh & Thungon (Asteraceae, Senecioneae), a new species from Eastern Himalayan state Arunachal Pradesh, India is described and illustrated. The new species is allied to Cremanthodium nobile (Franch.) Diels ex H.Lév. in having elliptic-obovate basal leaves, solitary, nodding capitula and hemispheric involucre, but differs by densely pale yellow tomentose stem, stem leaves 5–9, 1.6–2.1 cm distant, outer phyllaries 2.3–2.8 mm wide, inner phyllaries elliptic, 3–5 mm wide, apex acute, ray lamina creamy, oblong, 2–2.3 cm long, apex truncate, distinctly 3-dentate, ray tube 1.5–2 mm long, tubular florets creamy, 8–9 mm long and pappus 6–8 mm long.