bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessment of childbirth preparation classes: a parallel convergent mixed study
Authors: Hassanzadeh Robab , Abbas-Alizadeh Fatemeh , Meedya Shahla , Mohammad-Alizadeh-Charandabi Sakineh , Mirghafourvand Mojgan 
Published: November 2019

Abstract

Background
Women’s fear from childbirth has been associated with increased medical interventions and traumatized birth experience. Although antenatal education is a crucial factor to empower and prepare women for their birth journey, it is not clear how Iranian childbirth classes can influence women’s fear and prepare them positively towards childbirth. This research is designed to evaluate childbirth preparation classes and their impact on women’s perception on their childbirth experiences.

Methods/design
This mixed method study with the parallel convergent design has two phases. The first phase will be a quantitative cohort study with 204 primiparous pregnant women at the gestational age of 35–37 weeks. The participants will be divided into three groups based on the number of their attendance into the childbirth preparation classes: a) regular participation (4 to 8 sessions), b) irregular participation (1 to 3 sessions), and c) no-participation. Participant will be followed-up to 1 month after birth. Antenatal data will be collected by using a demographic survey questionnaire, the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ, version A), the Van den Bergh Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire, the Satisfaction with Childbirth Preparation Classes Questionnaire, the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) and Knowledge regarding pregnancy and childbirth Questionnaire. Postnatal data will be collected by using an Obstetric and Labor Characteristics Questionnaire, EPDS, and Childbirth experience questionnaire (CEQ). The quantitative data will be analyzed using one-way ANOVA and the multivariate linear regression. The second phase of the study will be a qualitative study that will explore the women’s perceptions on the impact of participation in childbirth preparation classes on their childbirth experience. The sampling in this phase will be purposeful and the participants will be studied individually by using in-depth, semi-structured interviews. The qualitative data will be analyzed through content analysis with conventional approach.

Discussion
Assessing the impact of childbirth preparation classes on women’s childbirth experience in Iran will lead to developing recommendations about the content and quality of the childbirth classes that can improve women’s’ preparation towards positive childbirth.
Offline effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on reaction times of lower extremity movements in people after stroke: a pilot cross-over study
Authors: Coppens Milou J. M. , Staring Wouter H. A. , Nonnekes Jorik , Geurts Alexander C. H. , Weerdesteyn Vivian 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundTranscranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that has shown promise for rehabilitation after stroke. Ipsilesional anodal tDCS (a-tDCS) over the motor cortex increases corticospinal excitability, while contralesional cathodal tDCS (c-tDCS) restores interhemispheric balance, both resulting in offline improved reaction times of delayed voluntary upper-extremity movements. We aimed to investigate whether tDCS would also have a beneficial effect on delayed leg motor responses after stroke. In addition, we identified whether variability in tDCS effects was associated with the level of leg motor function.MethodsIn a cross-over design, 13 people with chronic stroke completed three 15-min sessions of anodal, cathodal and sham stimulation over the primary motor cortex on separate days in an order balanced across participants. Directly after stimulation, participants performed a comprehensive set of lower-extremity tasks involving the paretic tibialis anterior (TA): voluntary ankle-dorsiflexion, gait initiation, and backward balance perturbation. For all tasks, TA onset latencies were determined. In addition, leg motor function was determined by the Fugl-Meyer Assessment – leg score (FMA-L). Repeated measures ANOVA was used to reveal tDCS effects on reaction times. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to establish the relation between tDCS effects and leg motor function.ResultsFor all tasks, TA reaction times did not differ across tDCS sessions. For gait initiation and backward balance perturbation, differences between sham and active stimulation (a-tDCS or c-tDCS) did not correlate with leg motor function. Yet, for ankle dorsiflexion, individual reaction time differences between c-tDCS and sham were strongly associated with FMA-L, with more severely impaired patients exhibiting slower paretic reaction times following c-tDCS.ConclusionWe found no evidence for offline tDCS-induced benefits. Interestingly, we found that c-tDCS may have unfavorable effects on voluntary control of the paretic leg in severely impaired patients with chronic stroke. This finding points at potential vicarious control from the unaffected hemisphere to the paretic leg. The absence of tDCS-induced effects on gait and balance, two functionally relevant tasks, shows that such motor behavior is inadequately stimulated by currently used tDCS applications.Trial registrationThe study is registered in the Netherlands Trial Register (NL5684; April 13th, 2016).
Silicon dioxide nanoparticles induce insulin resistance through endoplasmic reticulum stress and generation of reactive oxygen species
Authors: Hu Hailong , Fan Xingpei , Guo Qian , Wei Xiangjuan , Yang Daqian , Zhang Boya , Liu Jing , Wu Qiong , Oh Yuri , Feng Yujie , Chen Kun , Hou Liping , Gu Ning 
Published: November 2019

Abstract

Background
Silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) are one of the most widely utilized NPs in various food sectors. However, the potential endocrine toxicity of SiO2 NPs has not been characterized.

Results
In the present study, mice were orally administered a series of doses of SiO2 NPs. All doses of SiO2 NPs were absorbed into the blood, liver, and pancreas of the mice. Administration of 100 mg/kg bw (body weight) of SiO2 NPs significantly increased blood glucose levels in mice. However, the same dose of SiO2 fine-particles (FPs) did not result in altered blood glucose. Whole-genome analysis showed that SiO2 NPs affected the expression of genes associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. In addition, we showed that SiO2 NPs activated xenobiotic metabolism, resulting in ER stress. Endoplasmic reticulum stress resulted in increased ROS production, which activated the NF-κB pathway leading to expression of inflammatory cytokines. Increased inflammatory cytokine expression resulted in serine phosphorylation of IRS1, which induced insulin resistance (IR). Furthermore these inflammatory cytokines activated the MAPK pathway, which further promoted the serine phosphorylation of IRS1. Insulin resistance resulted in elevated blood glucose. The ER stress inhibitor 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA) inhibited SiO2 NP-induced ROS production. The ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine (NAC) did not affect SiO2 NP-induced ER stress, but inhibited SiO2 NP-induced activation of the NF-κB and MAPK pathways, expression of inflammatory cytokines, SiO2 NP-induced serine phosphorylation of IRS1, and SiO2 NP-induced elevations of blood glucose.

Conclusion
Silicon dioxide NPs induced IR through ER stress and generation of ROS, but SiO2 FPs did not. Therefore, lifelong exposure of humans to SiO2 NPs may result in detrimental effects on blood glucose. The results of this study strongly suggested that non-nanoformed SiO2 should be used as food additives.
Vulvar Paget disease secondary to high-grade urothelial carcinoma with underlying massive vascular embolization and cervical involvement: case report of unusual presentation
Authors: Primo Walquiria Quida Salles Pereira , Primo Guttenberg Rodrigues Pereira , Basilio Dunya Bachour , Machado Karime Kalil , Carvalho Jesus Paula , Carvalho Filomena M. 
Published: November 2019

Abstract

Background
Vulvar extramammary Paget disease is a rare chronic condition, that presents with non-specific symptoms such as pruritus and eczematous lesions. Because most of these lesions are noninvasive, the distinction between primary and secondary Paget disease is crucial to management.

Case presentation
We report an unusual case of vulvar Paget disease associated with massive dermal vascular embolization, cervicovaginal involvement and metastasis to inguinal and retroperitoneal lymph nodes. The intraepithelial vulvar lesion had a classical appearance and was accompanied by extensive component of dermal lymphovascular tumor emboli, similar to those observed in inflammatory breast carcinoma. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the lesion was secondary to high-grade urothelial cell carcinoma. The patient had a history of superficial low-grade papillary urothelial carcinoma of the bladder, which had appeared 2 years before the onset of vulvar symptoms.

Conclusions
Eczematoid vulvar lesions merit careful clinical examination and biopsy, including vulva mapping and immunohistochemistry. The information obtained may help to define and classify a particular presentation of Paget disease. Noninvasive primary lesions do not require the same aggressive approaches required for the treatment of invasive and secondary disease.
Signet ring cell variant of follicular thyroid carcinoma: Report of two cases with focus on morphological, expressional and genetic characteristics
Authors: Hysek Martin , Jatta Kenbugul , Stenman Adam , Darai-Ramqvist Eva , Zedenius Jan , Höög Anders , Juhlin C. Christofer 
Published: November 2019

Abstract

Background
Follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) is a neoplasm that presents with a micro-follicular growth pattern and a neutrally stained cytoplasm. Seldom, FTCs display unusual morphological characteristics – but given the rarity of these histological subtypes, little is known regarding the underlying genetics and the coupling to patient outcome.

Case presentation
We present two extremely rare cases of minimally invasive FTC with signet ring cell morphology (SRC-FTC) and describe the cytological, microscopic, immunohistochemical and molecular features for both tumors. Both were male patients, age 71 and 51 respectively. The preoperative cytology for both cases could not pinpoint a clear-cut signet ring cell morphology, but a tendency towards nuclear marginalization was seen. The tumors were 38 mm and 22 mm respectively and displayed evident signet ring cell features in subsets of tumor cells as well as degenerative stromal changes. The tumor cells were positive for TTF1, PAX8 and thyroglobulin, and the proliferation indexes were 4% and 1,9% respectively. Both tumors displayed capsular invasion, but not lymphovascular invasion. The tumors were sequenced for mutations in the TERT promoter and 22 additional cancer-related genes, interestingly; one patient was shown to carry a deleterious intronic variant in PTEN, a tumor suppressor gene coupled to thyroid tumorigenesis and Cowden syndrome. Both patients are alive and well awaiting postoperative radioiodine treatment.

Conclusions
The SRC-FTCs described herein were small, TERT promoter wildtype tumors exhibiting low proliferation, thereby suggesting that these exceedingly rare lesions probably carry a favorable prognosis – although the scarce availability regarding descriptions of this tumor entity nevertheless might justify careful clinical monitoring and mandate investigations in larger case series.
Instantaneous and non-destructive relative water content estimation from deep learning applied to resonant ultrasonic spectra of plant leaves
Authors: Fariñas María Dolores , Jimenez-Carretero Daniel , Sancho-Knapik Domingo , Peguero-Pina José Javier , Gil-Pelegrín Eustaquio , Gómez Álvarez-Arenas Tomás 
Published: November 2019

Abstract

Background
Non-contact resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (NC-RUS) has been proven as a reliable technique for the dynamic determination of leaf water status. It has been already tested in more than 50 plant species. In parallel, relative water content (RWC) is highly used in the ecophysiological field to describe the degree of water saturation in plant leaves. Obtaining RWC implies a cumbersome and destructive process that can introduce artefacts and cannot be determined instantaneously.

Results
Here, we present a method for the estimation of RWC in plant leaves from non-contact resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (NC-RUS) data. This technique enables to collect transmission coefficient in a [0.15–1.6] MHz frequency range from plant leaves in a non-invasive, non-destructive and rapid way. Two different approaches for the proposed method are evaluated: convolutional neural networks (CNN) and random forest (RF). While CNN takes the entire ultrasonic spectra acquired from the leaves, RF only uses four relevant parameters resulted from the transmission coefficient data. Both methods were tested successfully in Viburnum tinus leaf samples with Pearson’s correlations between 0.92 and 0.84.

Conclusions
This study showed that the combination of NC-RUS technique with deep learning algorithms is a robust tool for the instantaneous, accurate and non-destructive determination of RWC in plant leaves.
Combined use of intravenous and topical tranexamic acid in patients aged over 70 years old undergoing total hip arthroplasty
Authors: Jia Junqing 
Published: November 2019

Abstract

Purpose
The present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combined use of intravenous (IV) TXA administration and topical intraarticular tranexamic acid (TXA) strategy in patients aged over 70 undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Methods
One hundred eighty patients were randomized into three groups, including an IV group, a local group, and a combined group. Patients were administrated with 15 mg/kg of IV-TXA in the IV group, 2 g TXA in the topical group, or 15 mg/kg IV-TXA combined with 2 g TXA in the combined group. Total blood loss (TBL), maximum hemoglobin drop, the transfusion rate and the number of allogeneic blood units, and the incidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), and pulmonary embolism (PE) were recorded and analyzed.

Results
TBL was 757.75 ± 188.95 mL in the combined group, which was significantly lower than in the IV group (892.75 ± 218.47) or the topical group (1015.75 ± 288.71) (p = 0.015, p = 0.001 respectively). The mean values of maximum hemoglobin drop in the combined, IV, and topical groups were 2.67 ± 0.42, 3.28 ± 0.52, and 3.75 ± 0.62 g/dL, respectively, with a significant intergroup difference (p < 0.001 for all). PE was not detected within 1 month after the surgery. Asymptomatic DVT was reported in 1 patient of the IV group, and in 2 patients from the combined group, while the difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusions
Compared to intravenous or topical use of TXA, the combined therapy effectively decreased total blood loss and reduced the transfusion rate, simultaneously possessed the same degree of safety in primary THA patients aged over 70.
Successful management of cutaneous lymphangitis carcinomatosa arising from cervical cancer with paclitaxel-cisplatin and bevacizumab combination therapy: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Nakamura Fumihiro , Seino Manabu , Suzuki Yuriko , Sakaki Hirotsugu , Sudo Takeshi , Ohta Tsuyoshi , Tsutsumi Seiji , Nagase Satoru 
Published: November 2019

Abstract

Background
Globally, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women. Here, we report a case of cutaneous lymphangitis carcinomatosa arising from cervical cancer, an extremely rare and treatment-resistant condition.

Case presentation
A 64-year-old Japanese woman presented with genital bleeding. She was diagnosed as having stage IB1 squamous cell cervical cancer and subsequently treated with radiotherapy. Approximately 2 years after the curative radiotherapy, she developed itching, skin rash, and small nodules on her left femoral and pubic area. Slight 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake was detected at her left femoral skin on positron emission tomography with computed tomography. A histopathological examination was performed on a biopsy sample from an erythematous macule on her left femoral skin and vulva. Consequently, she was diagnosed as having cutaneous lymphangitis carcinomatosa arising from cervical cancer. Paclitaxel (135 mg/m2), cisplatin (50 mg/m2), and bevacizumab (15 mg/kg) combination therapy was administered every 21 days. Both itching and rash improved after three treatment cycles. After the completion of six cycles, skin erythema in the femoral and vulval area disappeared completely. Our patient experienced a 25-month symptom-free interval after the last chemotherapy session.

Conclusion
Our findings suggest that combination chemotherapy plus bevacizumab is an effective therapeutic option in patients with cutaneous lymphangitis carcinomatosa arising from cervical cancer.
Adult validation of a self-administered tablet audiometer
Authors: Bastianelli Mark , Mark Amy E. , McAfee Arran , Schramm David , Lefrançois Renée , Bromwich Matthew 
Published: November 2019

Background There is evidence to suggest that rates of hearing loss are increasing more rapidly than the capacity of traditional audiometry resources for screening. A novel innovation in tablet, self-administered portable audiometry has been proposed as a solution to this discordance. The primary objective of this study was to validate a tablet audiometer with adult patients in a clinical setting. Secondarily, word recognition with a tablet audiometer was compared against conventional audiometry. Methods Three distinct prospective adult cohorts underwent testing. In group 1 and group 2 testing with the automated tablet audiometer was compared to standard sound booth audiometry. In Group 1, participants’ pure tone thresholds were measured with an automated tablet audiometer in a quiet clinic exam room. In Group 2, participants completed monosyllabic word recognition testing using the NU-6 word lists. In Group 3, internal reliability was tested by having participants perform two automated tablet audiometric evaluation in sequence. Results Group 1 included 40 patients mean age was 54.7 ± 18.4 years old and 60% female; Group 2 included 44 participants mean age was 55.2 ± 14.8 years old and 68.2% female; Group 3 included 40 participants with mean age of 39.4 + 15.9 years old and 60.5% female. In Group 1, compared to standard audiometry, 95.7% (95% CI: 92.6–98.9%) of thresholds were within 10 dB. In Group 2, comparing word recognition results, 96.2% (95% CI: 89.5–98.7%) were clinically equivalent and within a critical difference range. In Group 3, One-way Intraclass Correlation for agreement for the both left- and right-ear pure tone average was 0.98. The mean difference between repeat assessments was 0 (SD = 2.1) in the left ear, and 0.1 (SD = 1.1) in the right ear. Conclusion Puretone audiometry and word recognition testing appears valid when performed by non-healthcare experts using a tablet audiometer outside a sound booth in a quiet environment. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02761798. Registered April, 2016 < https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02761798>
Imaging of polar cap patches with a low-cost airglow camera: pilot observations in Svalbard, Norway
Authors: Hosokawa Keisuke , Ogawa Yasunobu , Taguchi Satoshi 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
We evaluate the capability of a low-cost all-sky imager (ASI), which has been operative in Longyearbyen (78.1° N, 15.5° E), Norway, to detect 630.0 nm airglow signatures of polar cap patches. The ASI is composed of a small camera, with a charge-coupled device (CCD), manufactured by Watec Co. Ltd., a fish-eye lens, and an optical filter whose central wavelength is 632.0 nm and full-width half maximum (FWHM) is 10 nm. In Longyearbyen, another ASI equipped with a cooled electron-multiplying charge-coupled device (EMCCD) camera has been operative for observations of polar cap patches. We compare the images from the two systems and investigate the performance of the low-cost ASI. On the night of December 4, 2013, a series of polar cap patches were observed by the EMCCD ASI. The low-cost ASI also detected regions of enhanced 630.0 nm airglow passing through the fields-of-view. The quality of the raw images from the low-cost ASI obtained every 4 s were visibly much worse than that of the EMCCD ASI. However, an integration of 7–15 consecutive images made it possible to capture the temporal evolution and spatial structure of the patches, for example, their anti-sunward propagation and finger-like structures along the trailing edge. The estimated values of the absolute optical intensity from the low-cost ASI were found to be consistent with those from the EMCCD ASI, whereby the offset was < 100 R. This offset can be explained by the contribution of the background continuum emission to the low-cost ASI images, because the band width of the optical filter used for the low-cost ASI is ~ 3 times wider than that used for the EMCCD ASI. The results indicate that the airglow measurement with the low-cost ASI is feasible even for quantitative studies of F-region phenomena such as the dynamics of polar cap patches.
Teachers’ beliefs about developmentally appropriate practices in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alghamdi Ahlam A. , Ernest James M. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractSince the first release of NAEYC’s guidelines, DAP has received a lot of attention from childhood professionals in the United States. Internationally, many countries have also shown a growing interest regarding DAP, yet interest in DAP is new to the Saudi educators. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore preschool teachers’ subjective beliefs toward NAEYC’s guidelines of DAP in Saudi Arabia, one of the most conservative Middle Eastern countries. Q Methodology, as a mixed methods approach, was used to study 37 preschool teachers randomly selected from five preschools in Mecca city. The participants sorted 50 cards with examples of DAP and developmentally inappropriate practice (DIP) or “In Contrast” statements which represented perceived importance of the practice to the sorter. To analyze the data, a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with Varimax rotation indicated four main components regarding the beliefs of Saudi preschool teachers as they relate to DAP’s guidelines. Each component represents a unique perspective (viewpoint) on how Saudi preschool teachers view DAP and contrasting items based on their subjective points of view. The four main perspectives that emerged from the analysis show a dominance consensus among perspectives that fit equitably within the DAP framework regarding the best practice of early childhood education. Findings from this study provide evidence that many aspects of developmentally appropriate practice can be appropriate in different cultures and countries.