bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The International Society for the Systems Sciences: Contributions to the Future World
Authors: Mobus George , Sankaran Shankar , Smith Gary
Published: October 2021

The International Society for the System Sciences (ISSS) is a microcosm model of the global human social system (HSS, our species). The unprecedented crisis presented by the COVID-19 pandemic is causing major disruptions to the ‘normal’ processes and has triggered a spasm of self-reflection and self-realization that what had been thought of as “the normal” was not sustainable, both for the larger HSS and for the ISSS. Both the greater HSS and the ISSS have had their capacity for resilience in the face of the crisis challenged. Under the proposition that complex adaptive systems are resilient, and evolvable systems are sustainable, members of the ISSS have set out to use our knowledge of systems theory and practice to renew the society, to make it more systemic in structure and function. We are proposing to create a new core working group that will find purpose in doing a dual level deep systems analysis of the ISSS itself and then, using the insights gained in that process, turn to doing the same for the HSS. Deep systems analysis can expose the dysfunctions in subsystems as well as identify missing subsystems and requisite communications. All societies share certain systemic properties since all involve the interactions among groups of human actors. And all long-term sustainable systems have been shown to operate in specific fashions to be self-sustaining (autopoietic) and produce products or services to the larger embedding supra-system. For the HSS this is the Earth as a whole. For the ISSS this is the HSS. Key questions that the ISSS needs to consider as context for its place in the HSS: What product(s)/service(s) should the HSS produce that would benefit the rest of our planet? How should the HSS be structured/organized? The turning that question on the ISSS, what products/services should the ISSS produce that would benefit the HSS. Since the knowledge that is represented within the ISSS pool of expertise is system knowledge, if follows that how the HSS should be structured/organized after the pandemic crisis is in the rearview mirror could be answered by deep systems analysis of what the HSS should be in the future. Key questions to be addressed in this report: With all humbleness how should the ISSS and system societies in general come together to effectively meet the purpose of system science? Indeed, should they and to what purpose? What product(s)/service(s) would the enterprise of system science produce that would benefit the HSS and broader, life on this planet? We report on the plan and the effort undertaken to find answers to these and related questions. This is part of our mission to bring greater unity to the field of systems science and reach out to the wider field of systems thinkers; it is an invitation to participate.
The development of genealogy in Europe, based on the examples of Poland, Italy, Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina
Authors: Romanowska Ewa Jurczyk , Tufekčić Adnan
Published: October 2021

Amateur genealogy is becoming more and more popular in many countries. Thanks to the development of information and communication technologies, national genealogy has also acquired an international dimension, and websites presenting genealogical data contribute to an exchange of experiences between people from different countries. In this article, the authors traced the development of genealogy in four different countries: Italy, Poland, Turkey, as well as in Bosnia and Hercegovina, focusing primarily on sources of information regarding origin, methods of presentation, genealogy organizations, information exchange portals, and support in genealogical searches. As a result of the analysis, it can be concluded that these four  countries - despite numerous differences - developed genealogical activities in a similar way.
The Use of Public Space as Urban Regeneration Tool: A Case Study in Residential Block “1 Maji” in Tirana, Albania
Authors: Manehasa Klaud , Çoniku Xhesi
Published: October 2021

As the urban regeneration process is mostly focused on upgrading the existing urban spaces by improving their physical qualities in order to be more attractive to people, and to generate more life or community life, the use of the concept of public space in this process is very adequate. At this extend, by noticing the difference between urban and public space, an important issue might be raised: whether public space concept can be used as an effective tool for urban regeneration process of existing residential areas? Elaborating briefly the urban regeneration as a process of improving of the qualities of life of urban space in order to meet the social objectives of the people, this paper focuses on a discussion on the role of public space concept as a tool in this process, arguing that are the public life qualities of urban spaces that matters. Based on this approach, this paper takes as case study the residential area in Tirana, built in the early ‘50s, experiencing, recently, some loss of urban space qualities because of new buildings and car invasion, keeping still its traditional urban identity. Analyzing the exiting urban spaces by using the criteria of public space it argues that converting urban spaces to public spaces by improving their public qualities, increasing their accessibility to pedestrians, releasing them from car use, introducing services that generate public interaction and cohesion, could be seen as a crucial tool of urban regeneration process, creating more sociable and enjoyable environment, leading to more sustainable or long term solution. The paper concludes that public space concept, in its core, should be seen as an important and effective designing tool for restructuring the urban space in the urban regeneration process.
The Novel Use of Mitraclip in a Patient with Combined Multiple Myeloma and Heart Failure with Severe Mitral Regurgitation
Authors:   Heart Institute, Hadassah - Hebrew University Medical Center, Hadassah, Ein-Kerem, Jerusalem, Israel, Z Abu Ghosh , R Beeri ,   Heart Institute, Hadassah - Hebrew University Medical Center, Hadassah, Ein-Kerem, Jerusalem, Israel, B Falah ,   Heart Institute, Hadassah - Hebrew University Medical Center, Hadassah, Ein-Kerem, Jerusalem, Israel, A Pertz ,   Heart Institute, Hadassah - Hebrew University Medical Center, Hadassah, Ein-Kerem, Jerusalem, Israel, M Shuvy ,   Heart Institute, Hadassah - Hebrew University Medical Center, Hadassah, Ein-Kerem, Jerusalem, Israel, D Gilon ,   Heart Institute, Hadassah - Hebrew University Medical Center, Hadassah, Ein-Kerem, Jerusalem, Israel
Published: October 2021

Oncology patients with Heart Failure (HF) and severe Mitral Regurgitation (MR) are often considered to have a prohibitive risk for surgical mitral valve repair/replacement. We describe a patient with active multiple myeloma and significant HF and MR who was treated with MitraClip, which improved symptoms and allowed delivery of optimal oncological treatment.
Measurement of a World-Wide Transfer Function for Marine Cloud Brightening
Authors:   Institute for Energy Systems, School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, SH Salter
Published: October 2021

Marine cloud brightening with a sub-micron spray of filtered sea water can exploit the Twomey effect to enhance planetary cooling. Several previous climate model results show that it can also affect precipitation in both directions in different places. Modulating the climate model settings for the concentration of cloud condensation nuclei with separate coded sequences in a number of spray regions round the world and correlating each sequence with the resulting weather patterns in observing stations round the world can give an everywhereto- everywhere transfer function of spray from each region to each observing station. The short life of spray allows the best choices of spray regions and seasons. Spray patterns can be modified tactically to suit real-time weather observations.
The Effect of Chicken Spleen Transfer Factor on Intestinal Mucosa Immunity Barrier of Laying Hens
Authors:   Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China, J Yu , B Ma ,   China Animal Husbandry Group, Beijing, China, J Li ,   Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China, Y Chen ,   Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China, Z Wang ,   Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China, J Cao ,   Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China, Y Dong ,   Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
Published: October 2021

Chicken spleen Transfer Factor (TF) is a low-molecular-weight lymphocyte extract composed of polypeptide and nucleotide. However, its role in regulating intestinal structure and function in laying hens has remained largely unknown. 100 one-day-old laying hens were randomly divided into five groups and administered with different doses of TF (0.00 [control], 0.05mL, 0.10mL, 0.25mL and 1.00mL). The results showed that the high dose of TF (1.00mL) improved the intestinal mucosa morphology and strengthened the digestive and absorption function. Furthermore, the histology analysis revealed an increase in the number of intraepithelial lymphocytes and goblet cells. Similarly, the results from ELISA demonstrated an increase in the content of IL-10 in the intestinal tract, while the content of TNF-a showed a decrease in this regard. The RT-PCR assay also demonstrated the upregulation of the relative mRNA expressions of Muc2, TLR-2, and TLR-4 genes. The intestinal antioxidant function was significantly enhanced. In conclusion, high-dose of TF can improve the intestinal mucosa morphology and structure, enhance digestion and absorption functions, enhance the intestinal mucosal barrier immune function and antioxidant function, and up-regulate Muc2, TLR-2 and TLR-4 gene relative expression.
Oligoclonal IgGs against DNA, Histones, and Myelin Basic Protein in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis
Authors:   nstitute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia, IA Kostrikina , E Granieri ,   Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, Ferrara University, Italy, GA Nevinsky ,   nstitute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
Published: October 2021

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is known as a chronic demyelinating pathology of the central nervous system. The most accepted MS pathogenesis theory assigns the main role to demyelination of myelin-proteolipid shells due to inflammationrelated with autoimmune reactions. One of the features of MS patients is the enhanced synthesis of oligoclonal IgGs in the bone marrow Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF). By antigen-specific immunoblotting after isoelectrofocusing of IgGs, oligoclonal IgGs in CSF of MS patients were revealed only against the components of Epstein-Barr virus and Chlamydia. However, there was still unknown to which human auto-antigens in MS patients oligoclonal IgGs may be produced. Here it was first shown that in the CSF of a narrow percentage of MS patients, oligoclonal IgGs are produced against their own antigens: DNA (24% patients), histones (20%), and myelin basic protein (12%). At the same time, the CSF of MS patients contains a very large amount of auto-IgGs-abzymes that hydrolyze DNA, histones, and myelin basic protein, which during isofocusing, are distributed throughout the gel from pH 3 to 10. It is concluded that these multiple IgGs-abzymes, which are dangerous to humans since stimulate development of MS, in the main are non-oligoclonal antibodies.
Pulmonary Amyloidosis with Multiple Cystic Lesions with Central Calcifications
Authors:   Service of Thoracic Surgery, Hospital of Sion, Av. Grand-Champsec 80, 1951 Sion, Switzerland, C Forster , C Bénière ,   Service of Pathology, Hospital of Sion, Av. Grand-Champsec 80, 1951 Sion, Switzerland, JY Perentes ,   Service of Thoracic Surgery, Hospital of Sion, Av. Grand-Champsec 80, 1951 Sion, Switzerland, M Christodoulou ,   Service of Thoracic Surgery, Hospital of Sion, Av. Grand-Champsec 80, 1951 Sion, Switzerland
Published: October 2021

A non-smoker 80-year old woman with a past medical history of inactive and untreated systemic lupus erythematous diagnosed in 1983 and polymyalgia rheumatica treated with prednisone (3 mg once daily) since 2018, was referred to our emergency department because of left-sided chest pain and dyspnoea. She presented no cough, weight loss or fever and there was no history of Sjogren’s syndrome. Complete blood count was unremarkable and no inflammatory syndrome was observed. A chest CT-scan revealed multiple diffuse cystic parenchymal lesions with thin walls and central nodular calcifications in both lungs (Figure 1A). The sputum culture was negative for mycobacterium tuberculosis, legionella pneumophilia, mycoplasma pneumonia, chlamydia pneumonia, coronavirus, echinococcosis and aspergillus. Anti-Nuclear Antibody (ANA) and anti-Ku tests were positive whereas anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) and anti-nucleoprotein tests were negative. The preoperative pulmonary function tests showed a FEV1 of 78% and a DLCO of 73% of the predicted values.
Palliative Care in SARS-CoV-2: A Systematic Review
Authors:   Bioethics Faculty, Anáhuac University, México, AL González-Botello , KI Elías-Pérez ,   Bioethics Faculty, Anáhuac University, México, AA Caballero-Martínez ,   Bioethics Faculty, Anáhuac University, México, M Martínez-Del Campo-Cerrilla ,   Bioethics Faculty, Anáhuac University, México, E Llaca-García ,   Bioethics Faculty, Anáhuac University, México
Published: October 2021

Objective: Gather information about an important aspect of SARS-CoV-2 disease, regard to palliative care. Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 disease started by the ending of 2019 in Wuhan-China and given the lack of a specific treatment, the role of palliative care in SARS-CoV-2 infection has been drawn to the spotlight. Method: A systematic review was carried out between June and October of 2020. A total of 25 articles were totally reviewed. Results: The management of symptoms, is the main objective of palliative care in SARS-CoV-2. We find ourselves with the interrogant of when to start palliative care and with what medications and measures it is preferred to do so. Discussion: As SARS-CoV-2 currently does not have a curative treatment, palliative care is the centerpiece of its management. Conclusion: Palliative care should be considered as a protocol in any disease with no curative treatment at the moment, just like SARS-CoV-2.
Distractibility When Suffering from Mental Fatigue after a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors:   Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, B Johansson
Published: October 2021

Most Traumatic Brain Injuries are mild (mTBI) yet many people suffer from long-term mental fatigue and cognitive impairment. Despite comments from patients, cognitive difficulties can go undetected. Distractibility is commonly reported but is seldom included in standard neuropsychological assessment. This study was designed to investigate the effect distraction may induce in topdown and bottom-up attention among people who suffer from mental fatigue after mTBI. Thirty mTBI patients suffering from mental fatigue and 30 healthy controls performed a computerized test, including Simple Reaction Time, Choice Reaction Time and Attentional Capture tasks with a salient distractor. A slower processing speed was found in all subtests for the mTBI group and was particularly noticeable for the decision-making task. The distraction stimulus reduced processing speed for both groups, while the mTBI group made more omissions when a distractor emerged, indicating increased distractibility. However, no effect in top-down and bottom-up attention was found. Response time in the presence of a distractor was a predictor for mental fatigue, while depression and anxiety were not, showing the importance to carefully distinguish between emotional distress and mental fatigue. In conclusion, it is suggested that people suffering from mental fatigue after mTBI are slower at processing information, and this is more pronounced when a cognitive demand is added to the task. Distractibility was indicated with more omissions during distraction, but a distinction between top-down and bottom-up systems was not found. Further research is needed to better understand the link between distractibility and mental fatigue after a brain injury.
Long-Term Quality of Life after Decompressive Craniectomy in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury and Stroke
Authors:   Neurology Service, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland, A Vicino , P Vuadens ,   Department of Neurorehabilitation, Clinique Romande de Réadaptation, Sion, Switzerland, B Léger ,   Department of Medical Research, Clinique Romande de Réadaptation, Sion, Switzerland, C Benaim ,   Department of Medical Research, Clinique Romande de Réadaptation, Sion, Switzerland
Published: October 2021

Purpose: Decompressive Craniectomy (DC) can rapidly reduce intracranial pressure and save lives in the acute phase of severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or stroke, but little is known about the long-term outcome after DC. We evaluated Quality of Life (QoL) a few years after DC for severe TBI/stroke. Methods: The following data were collected for stroke/TBI patients hospitalized for neurorehabilitation after DC: 1) at discharge, motor and cognitive sub-scores of the Functional Independence Measure (motor-FIM (score 13-91) and cognitive-FIM (score 5-35)) and 2) more than 4 years after discharge, the QOLIBRI health-related QoL (HR-QoL) score (0-100; <60 representing low or impaired QoL) and the return to work (RTW: 0%, partial, 100%). Results: We included 88 patients (66 males, median age 38 (interquartile range 26.3-51.0), 65 with TBI/23 stroke); 46 responded to the HR-QoL questionnaire. Responders and non-responders had similar characteristics (age, sex, functional levels upon discharge). Median motor-FIM and cognitive- FIM scores were 85/91 and 27/35, with no significant difference between TBI and stroke patients. Long-term QoL was borderline low for TBI patients and within normal values for stroke patients (score 58.0 (42.0-69.0) vs. 67.0 (54.0- 81.5), p=0.052). RTW was comparable between the groups (62% full time). Conclusion: We already knew that DC can save the lives of TBI or stroke patients in the acute phase and this study suggests that their long-term quality of life is generally quite acceptable.
Clinical features and course of arterial hypertension in patients with its various forms
Authors: Denisova Anastasiia R. , Esaulova Tatiana E. , Solntseva Tatiana D. , Sivakova Olga A. , Chazova Irina E.
Published: October 2021

Aim. To study the main risk factors, clinical, laboratory and instrumental data, concomitant cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and associated clinical conditions in patients with controlled and uncontrolled hypertension, controlled resistant and uncontrolled resistant hypertension, refractory hypertension, and probably resistant and probably refractory hypertension based on retrospective analysis.
Materials and methods. The study included 455 patients with hypertension. All patients were divided into 7 groups. The group of controlled hypertension included 240 patients (52.75%), controlled resistant hypertension 61 (13.4%), uncontrolled hypertension 10 (2.2%), uncontrolled resistant hypertension 53 (11.65%), refractory hypertension 63 (13.8%), probably resistant hypertension 15 (3.3%), probably refractory hypertension 13 (2.9%). Anamnesis (assessment of the duration and age of the onset of arterial hypertension, assessment of the presence of CVD), risk factors for the development of hypertension (obesity, dyslipidemia, impaired glucose tolerance and fasting glycemia, hyperuricemia, family history of CVD, early menopause in women; heart rate 80 beats/min, smoking), laboratory parameters (creatinine, glucose, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid) and instrumental methods of examination (ECG, echocardiography, clinic mean 24h BP, Holter monitoring, duplex BCA scanning) were assessed in all groups of patients based on the analysis of the medical history.
Results. In this article we presented the results of a comparative analysis of patients with controlled hypertension, uncontrolled resistant hypertension, refractory and probably refractory hypertension. Patients with refractory hypertension were significantly more young, non-smokers and females compared with patients with uncontrolled resistant hypertension and controlled hypertension. Patients with refractory hypertension had greater prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy according to ECG and echocardiography (p0.05). Fundus lesions were found exclusively in patients with uncontrolled hypertension, 55% of cases were found in the group of refractory hypertension (p0.05). There were no significant differences in the presence of BCA atherosclerosis between the groups. Patients with refractory hypertension were significantly more likely to have heart failure, a history of stroke and transient ischemic attack compared with patients from the group of controlled hypertension (p0.05). There was no significant difference in the presence of chronic kidney disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, atrial fibrillation between the groups.
Conclusion. Patients with refractory hypertension are significantly more likely to have target organ damage and concomitant cardiovascular, cerebrovascular diseases than patients with controlled hypertension.
Confident but Lacking Support: School Librarians and Students with Autism
Authors: Anderson Amelia , Layden Selena
Published: October 2021

School librarians work with students across their organizations, including those with disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, little is known about how prepared school librarians are to serve these students. Using a mixed-methods survey, this study sought to explore training school librarians have taken about ASD and students with disabilities, as well as the effects of training on librarian confidence and library services. Based on results, librarians who received training through their school district or professional development outside of coursework reported being more confident in supporting students with ASD in the school library.
Editorial Introduction
Authors:   Editors of the JIOWS
Published: October 2021

The editors of the Journal of Indian Ocean World Studies (JIOWS) are proud to present the first of two special issues organised by anthropologists Iain Walker and Martin Slama on diasporas and transnationalism in the Indian Ocean World (IOW). This first special issue challenges scholars to refocus our understandings of the meaning of ‘diaspora,’ a term whose wide usage in recent years has diminished its analytical utility, by conceiving the IOW as a macro-region in which diasporas ‘come into being, endure, and sustain themselves.’ Building on both classic and more recent works, the contributors to this issue examine the ways in which the development of diasporas has facilitated the maintenance of networks – commercial, religious, kinship, and more – around the IOW. They do so partly through the conceptualisation of the ‘diaspora for others.’ This concept rejects recent approaches that conflate ‘groups of migrants’ with diasporas. Instead, it conceives the diaspora as a ‘spatially dispersed community’ that functions ‘as a community,’ despite the sometimes large distances between its members. The emphasis is not merely on what diasporas are as an abstract phenomenon, but what they do for the people within them. This enables the contributors to incorporate communities whose ‘diasporic’ identity might be brought into question if the focus on the ‘group of migrants’ in diaspora studies were to continue. They additionally do this from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds, including anthropology, literary studies, history, ethnography, and cultural heritage studies. They thus both refine and expand how the concept of ‘diaspora’ should be understood, highlight the interdisciplinary focus of the JIOWS, and show the ‘diaspora for others’ as a potentially ground-breaking feature of diaspora studies in the IOW and beyond.
The Askari Monument in Mombasa
Authors:   Editors of the JIOWS
Published: October 2021

The Askari Monument, like similar versions in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, was built in the 1920s to acknowledge the role of African soldiers in the First World War. At the same time, the construction of bronze statues on plinths in colonial centres represented an imposing and domineering feature of colonial rule. Such tensions of empire in port cities form a key thread of some of the articles of this issue, especially that of Daniel Steinbach, whose article discusses the paradoxes of colonial social engineering and racial categorisation in Mombasa during the First World War. 
Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Askari_monument_Mombasa.jpg
Editorial Introduction
Authors:   Editors of the JIOWS
Published: October 2021

The Editors are proud to present the first issue of the fifth volume of the JIOWS. This issue represents a number of innovations in IOW studies and for our journal.Firstly, we present a special feature on port-towns in the IOW, organized and guest edited by Vidhya Raveendranathan and Duane Corpis. This special feature stems from an interdisciplinary conference held at NYU Shanghai in 2019 and adds perspectives focusing on labour and infrastructure to our understanding of the IOW’s port-towns, past and present. Raveendranathan has written a historiographical primer and has introduced the four articles contained within the feature in the Guest Editors’ Introduction. We are also thrilled to announce that she has agreed to join the permanent editorial team as a Managing Editor following the publication of this issue. We look forward to continuing our work together moving forwards.Secondly, we present two articles dealing with separate issues in IOW studies. Nancy Wright engages the work of Lindsey Collen, a Mauritian novelist, to challenge the thematic paradigms of ‘centre’ and ‘margins’ in the literature of the IOW. She argues that, through using the English language and folklore in her writing, Collen brings the margins to the centre, thereby obliviating an assumed analytical dichotomy. Collen’s work transforms this and other dichotomies by narrating the human condition across gender, class, and nation. Meanwhile, Heena Mistry re-visits the repatriation debate in India following the abolition of indenture in 1917. By drawing on the work of an ‘ocean-crossing activist’ and a journalist with significant links to South Africa, she sheds new light on Indian diasporic perspectives of late colonial India and the IOW. Here, the IOW perspective challenges better-known histories of Indian Nationalism and anticolonialism that focus largely on developments occurring within India itself.Finally, we are proud to launch the Book Reviews section of the JIOWS with Zozan Pehlivan as Book Reviews’ Editor. As Pehlivan is a former postdoctoral fellow at the IOWC, we are especially excited to renew our formal collaboration with her in this new role. In this issue, we present reviews of two exciting publications in IOW studies: Wilson Chacko Jacob’s For God or Empire and Laleh Khalili’s Sinews of War and Trade. We hope to build on and expand our book reviews section moving forwards, making the JIOWS the prime location in which scholarship pertaining to the IOW is discussed and analysed.
Radiofrequency Ablation Impact on the Morpho-Functional State of the Heart in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Chronic Heart Failure
Authors:   V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University. 4, Svobody Sq., Kharkiv 61022, Ukraine, Zolotarova T. V.
Published: October 2021

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the radiofrequency ablation impact on the morpho-functional state of the heart in patients with atrial fibrillation and chronic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction based on 2-year follow-up. Materials and methods. The study included 194 patients with an average age of 59.3±8.5 years with atrial fibrillation and concomitant heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction of I-III functional class of New York Heart Association. Patients were divided into 2 groups: 136 patients who underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation and 58 patients in the control group who did not undergo intervention and continued antiarrhythmic pharmacotherapy. Patients were comparable in terms of basic clinical and demographic indicators. In order to assess the morpho-functional state of the heart, transthoracic echocardiography was performed at the stage of inclusion in the study and 2 years after. Results and discussion. According to the results of the analysis in the radiofrequency catheter ablation group 2 years after the intervention revealed: a statistically significant decrease in the mean end-systolic diameter of the left ventricle (3.3±0.48 cm versus 3.2±0.41cm, p <0.001); decreased size of the left atrium (4.3±0.71 cm versus 4.2±0.30 cm, p <0.001); left ventricular ejection fraction increased significantly (61.9±7.14% versus 63.9±5.65%, p <0.001); the E/e' ratio decreased statistically significantly (11.9±1.65 versus 9.4±1.48; p <0.001) and the left ventricular myocardial mass index (118.3±25.04 g/m2 versus 116.4±18.04 g/m2; p=0.045). In the pharmacotherapy group there were: a statistically significant increase in the average end-systolic size of the left ventricle (3.61±0.45 cm versus 3.63±0.41, p=0.007); statistically significant increased left atrium (4.3±0.61 cm versus 4.4±0.36; p <0.001) and the right atrium (4.1±0.52 cm versus 4.2±0.26; p <0.001); decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (58.1±6.12% versus 56.6±6.11; p <0.001); increased values of the ratio E/e' (12.1±1.63 versus 12.7±1.27; p=0.002) and decreased level of the left ventricular myocardial mass index (120.5±24.05 g/m2 versus 118.3±20.13 g/m2; p=0.044). Conclusion. Radiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction to control sinus rhythm is associated with improved morpho-functional state of the heart at the 2-year follow-up compared with antiarrhythmic pharmacotherapy strategy: the left ventricular ejection fraction increases, the left ventricular diastolic function improves according to the E/e' value, the size of the left atrium decreases
Relationship of Risk Factors for Metabolic-Associated Diseases with Biological Age
Authors:   LT Malaya National Institute of Therapy National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine. 2-a, Lyubov Malaya Pr., Kharkiv 61039, Ukraine, Kolesnikova O. V. , Zaprovalna O. E. , Potapenko A. V.
Published: October 2021

Assessment of the rate of aging is of great importance in modern medicine, since people of middle age may have a discrepancy between the calendar and biological age. Biological age is a measure of biological capabilities, which determines not only the past, but also the measures of the forthcoming life expectancy, as well as the risk of certain age-dependent diseases. Metabolic disorders, including hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia induce interrelated processes in the vascular wall as well as increase oxidative stress, apoptosis, and vascular permeability therefore contributing to the development of premature aging. The purpose of the study was to establish the relationship between risk factors for metabolic-associated diseases and biological age. Materials and methods. The study involved 119 patients who were divided into 2 groups: 1 group (n = 67) – patients with moderate risk of cardiovascular disease in combination with metabolic-associated diseases (insulin resistance, obesity, hyperuricemia), group 2 (n = 52) – comparison group. Each group was divided into subgroups, depending on age categories: up to 45 years, from 45 years to 60 years (middle-aged patients according to the World Health Organization recommendations), from 60 to 75 years, over 75 years. Results and discussion. Premature aging is diagnosed on the basis of determining the biological age as an indicator of conformity (inconsistency) of the morphofunctional status of the individual to some statistical average development value of this age and sex group. Determination of risk factors for metabolic-associated diseases will effectively counteract the occurrence of pathological conditions and increase life expectancy in these patients. The article presents its own data on the association of risk factors for metabolic-associated diseases, such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, body mass index, elevated insulin levels and high levels of proatherogenic lipids, stress level with increasing biological age, both in the study and in the control groups, thus accelerating the rate of aging. Conclusion. Preventive strategies aimed at preventing the impact of risk factors for metabolic-associated diseases will effectively counteract the occurrence of pathological conditions, prevent cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular accident), thereby increasing life expectancy in these patients
Microbiocenoses and the State of Local Mucosal Immunity of the Oral Cavity of Children and Adolescents with Liver Diseases
Authors:   Poltava State Medical University. 23, Shevchenko St., Poltava 36000, Ukraine, Khmil O. V. , Khmil D. O. , Kaskova L. F. , Silkova O. V. , Novikova S. Ch.
Published: October 2021

The purpose of the study was to study the relationship between the state of the oral cavity microbiocenosis and the level of local immunity in children and adolescents with chronic liver diseases. Materials and methods. 45 children aged 10 to 16 years, who were treated in the public utility "City Children's Clinical Dental Hospital of the Poltava City Council" were examined. All children were divided into 2 groups: the main group – children and adolescents with chronic hepatitis (n = 26) with diseases of concomitant oral mucosa and periodontal disease; control group – children of the same age without concomitant somatic pathology (n = 20). In all observation groups, the state of oral hygiene was recorded using the simplified oral hygiene index (Green-Vermillion, 1964) and the intensity of the inflammatory process in the periodontal tissues, which was assessed by the papillary-marginal-alveolar index modified by Parma (1960). The degree of dysbiosis in the oral cavity was determined using the enzymatic method of A. P. Levitsky by the ratio of the relative activity of urease and lysozyme. The state of local immunity was investigated by the level of immunoglobulins IgA, IgM, IgG and secretory immunoglobulin sIgA. Results and discussion. It was found that the majority of patients with chronic hepatitis had an unsatisfactory and even poor state of oral hygiene, according to the Green-Vermillion simplified oral hygiene index, in combination with moderate and severe gingivitis (according to the papillary-marginal-alveolar index). The most negative results were registered in children 9-13 years old. The effect of the low level of oral hygiene in children and adolescents with chronic liver diseases, which is accompanied by increased dysbiosis, was studied, which indicates a drop in the level of antimicrobial protection, suppression of local mucosal immunity, a decrease in lysozyme activity and a decrease in the content of secretory sIgA in the oral fluid. The mediated mechanism of sIgA action through the phagocyte activation system with subsequent lysis of pathogenic microorganisms is considered. Conclusion. Chronic liver diseases reliably lead to changes in the body's immunobiological reactivity, and also cause suppression of the protective mechanisms of the oral cavity and its local immunity, characterized by a decrease in the activity of lysozyme and secretory IgA in the oral fluid of sick children and adolescents
Morphological Features of the Structure of the Root Canals of Premolars and Molars of the Upper Jaw on the Basis of Cone-Beam Computed Tomography
Authors:   Belarusian State Medical University. 83, Dzerzhinski Ave., Minsk 220116, Republic of Belarus, Shott E. V. , Pohodenko-Chudakova I. O. ,   Association of oral and maxillofacial surgeons of the Republic of Belarus. 83, Dzerzhinski Ave., Minsk 220116, Republic of Belarus
Published: October 2021

The key issue for dentists of all specialties is the fight against foci of chronic odontogenic infection. Much attention is paid to the introduction of operations that preserve teeth performed at an outpatient surgical appointment, but specialists rarely use them and often remove teeth. The purpose of the study is to determine the morphological features of the structure of the root canals of the premolars and molars of the upper jaw on the basis of cone-beam computed tomography of the jaws, to assess the quality of previously performed endodontic treatment and the frequency of destructive processes in the long-term follow-up. Materials and methods. Anatomical features of the structure of the premolars and molars of the upper jaw were retrospectively studied on the basis of cone-beam computed tomography data in 97 patients aged 26-71 years. 97 teeth (premolars and molars) of the upper jaw were examined in this number of patients. Depending on the belonging to the jaw segments, all the teeth of patients whose anatomical features of the root canals were analyzed, were divided into 4 groups: the first premolars – n=6; the second premolars – n=15; the first molars – n=54; the second molars – n=22. Results and discussion. The study of the morphology of the root canals of the first and second premolars of the upper jaw did not reveal statistically significant differences in the angle of inclination of the root canals, the number of roots and root canals. The analysis of the morphology of the root canals of the first and second molars of the upper jaw also found no significant differences in the angle of inclination of the root canals. At the same time, the share of unsatisfactory endodontic treatment in the analyzed groups of teeth was 82.5%. In addition, destructive bone processes in the periapical region were detected in all molars and premolars of the upper jaw, regardless of the quality of endodontic treatment. Conclusion. Each of the above results as well as all of them together, convincingly demonstrate: 1) insufficient effectiveness of the use of endodontic treatment alone in order to sanitize the foci of chronic odontogenic infection located in the apices of the roots of the molars and premolars of the upper jaw which is largely justified by the features of the anatomical structure of the latter; 2) the need to develop a system of differentiated use of surgical methods of treatment for the rehabilitation of foci of chronic odontogenic infection of the specified localization, taking into account the variant anatomy of the root canals of the premolars and molars of the upper jaw
Theoretical Substantiation of the Complex Application of Vacuum Therapy and Kinesiotherapy in Chronic Wound Process
Authors:   Kharkiv Institute of Medicine and Biomedical Sciencesю 11, Sadova St., Kharkiv 61002, Ukraine, Нnatiuk V. V. , Ocheredko L. V. ,   National University of Pharmacyю 53, Pushkinska St., Kharkiv 61002, Ukraine
Published: October 2021

The purpose of the study was to substantiate theoretically the possibility of complex application of vacuum therapy and kinesiotherapy in elderly people with chronic wound healing. Materials and methods. The methodological approach was used in the study: an analysis of literary sources and Internet resources; analysis of advanced foreign and domestic experience, system analysis method, comparison method, organizational analysis. Results and discussion. Vacuum therapy of wounds is considered as an additional method of treatment in patients with chronic wounds and wounds that heal for a long time, which is especially important for the elderly people because of the slowed metabolism and reduced immunological resistance of the body. Vacuum therapy stimulates wound healing by using localized negative pressure on the surface of the wound, and helps to remove excess of exudate around and within the wound. Another method of physical therapy which has a positive effect on the processes of recovery or recuperation of motor function, reducing the risk of complications (thromboembolism, respiratory diseases, pressure ulcers, contractures) and maintaining the patient's overall physical ability is kinesiotherapy. Kinesiotherapy, the main meaning of which is physical exercise, is aimed at improving aerobic performance, muscle performance of strength and endurance, stretching and lengthening of muscles, mechanisms of neuro-muscular control of inhibition and excitation. Any exercise activates not only the musculoskeletal system, but also all body systems, including nervous, hormonal, immune, which significantly accelerates the healing process. The main meaning of physical exercise, along with the use of vacuum therapy, is the dosed performance of physical activity with a healthy limb or a segment of the body to improve trophicity in tissues to achieve a general tonic and trophic effect caused by physical exercise for a faster resorption of inflammation products, preventing the appearance of hyperproliferative processes in wounds. Conclusion. It was theoretically substantiated that the combined use of negative pressure therapy and kinesiotherapy can lead to a reduction in the time of complete wound healing and a decrease in the time of temporary disability / inability to self-care, as well as contribute to an earlier restoration of daily activity. Exercise for the elderly may include: aerobic exercise to improve endurance and recovery; body mechanics training; breathing exercises for the prevention of congestion in the lungs; exercises to develop coordination of movements; self-care skills training; ideomotor exercises; perception training; exercises for the amplitude of movements and stretching of soft tissues; relaxation exercises; exercises for general strengthening, strength and endurance
Historical Development, Comparing and Using Activity-Oriented Models of Occupational Therapy
Authors:   Drohobych Ivan Franko State Pedagogical University. 24, Ivan Franko St., Drohobych 82100, Ukraine, Ivanikiv N. M. , Hrybok N. M.
Published: October 2021

The purpose of the study is to make a comparative analysis of occupational therapy models based on Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance Model, Canadian Model of Occupational Performance, and competent environmental activities (Care of People with dementia in their Environments), as well as to provide a brief historical review of the development and formation of models in occupational therapy. Materials and methods. The main research method is the method of analysis, which is used to comprehensively consider and describe the historical development, comparison and using activity-oriented models in occupational therapy. Results and discussion. Selecting more effective activity-oriented models requires comparing occupation models, making recommendations for selecting and combining these models in practice, and providing a systematic approach to integrating occupational engagement models with reference systems for guidance, evaluation, and intervention. All models follow a common line of thinking, and this reinforces theories. The choice of model to be used to support the practice will ultimately depend on the therapist's knowledge. Understanding these models will provide the therapist with the knowledge to view the individual as a person and to guide the therapist to clinical considerations. Models are not identified with a specific group of customers, but Canadian Model of Occupational Performance is suitable for situations where a client-oriented approach is required. The Care of People with dementia in their Environments model with a flexible approach will support the therapist's reasoning in situations where clients are unable to solve the problem or the therapist requires more guidance. It is worth noting that at the moment, a very popular practice, which is focused primarily on the client, is the basis for interaction with people in all countries. During occupational therapy, the therapist should move smoothly from one section to another to provide adjustment and improvement. In fact, success in occupational therapy is seen as an important element, because it is believed that it increases self-esteem and motivation to accept new challenges. Conclusion. The analysed models of occupational therapy are based on humanistic values, indicating that occupational therapy distinguishes classes as a positive interaction between man and the environment to influence the general well-being. All three discussed models provide a clear structure of the occupational therapy process. The practical value of the research in this area is to identify and explain opportunities for the most effective use of occupation-focused models