bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An assessment of surgical curriculum on “practical year” by students of Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin
Authors: Żyluk Andrzej , Szlosser Zbigniew , Puchalski Piotr 
Published: June 2020

Abstract

Introduction: Modifications to teaching medicine introduced 5 years ago consisted of abolishing the internship, changing the surgical curriculum in the last year of studies by introduction of a so called “practical year”. The objective of this study was investigating how the practical year was undertaken at the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin in the academic year 2017/2018.

Materials and methods: A study was carried in a group of 154 students of the 6th year of Faculty of Medicine, just before the final test-exam in surgery. The questionnaire used in the study consisted of 11 closed questions concerning the organization, course, and accomplishment of the provided program.

Results: The questionnaire results show that the assumed aim of the curriculum, which was a skill/competency-oriented teaching of surgery, was half executed. Students were insufficiently engaged in typical doctor’s activities. One-half of them considered their practical-year as no different from classes practiced in the previous years. Ward-round teaching and the performance of manual skills was considered the most valuable portion of the surgical curriculum. Seminars were scored the lowest, as the least useful. Organization of the classes and the engagement of tutors were evaluated positively by the majority of students. The results of this survey show the grade of accomplishment of the assumed educative aims in teaching surgery in the practical year, and have revealed some drawbacks, which should translate into an improvement of teaching in the forthcoming years.
Cumulative evidence of helmet effects on bicycle injuries
Authors: Chen Siyu , Ou Shan , Cui Huijie , Tang Mingshuang , Wang Yutong , Zhang Min , Bai Ye , Song Bing , Gu Dongqing , Wang Xin , Yin Zhiyong , Liu Guodong 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background: With the wide use of bicycles, studies of helmet effects on bicycle injuries were intensively conducted after the problem of bicycle injuries emerged. This study aims to justify whether current evidence is sufficient to support the effects of helmets.Methods：We exhaustively searched the articles in the databases of Medline, Scopus, and Embase by the term of (helmet* AND (cycl* OR bicycle* OR bike*)) AND injur* by the time of April 10, 2019. The meta-analysis and SSA (study sequential analysis) were conducted. The protocol was registered in Prospero (www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, ID: CRD42019131751). Results: A total of 55 studies were eligible for meta-analysis. The OR (odds ratio) of helmet effect on head injuries compared with other injuries was 0·50 (0·43, 0·59) and effects of helmets on serious head injuries compared with other injuries were protective with an OR of 0·34 (0·28, 0·43). Compared with control injuries, the OR of helmets’ effects on facial injuries is 0·63 (0·45, 0·88). Helmets were not associated with protective effects with regards to neck injuries and the OR was 0·98 (0·82, 1·17). SSA results of head injuries, serious head injuries, and face injuries showed the cumulative Z-curve crossed both the conventional and the trial sequential monitoring boundary. SSA results of neck injuries showed the cumulative Z-curve does not cross both the conventional and the trial sequential monitoring boundary.Conclusions: The helmet has protection effects on head injuries, serious head injuries, and face injuries. The SSA showed the current evidence was sufficient to support the results. More studies of helmet promotion are warranted in the future.
HIR V2: a human interactome resource for the biological interpretation of differentially expressed genes via gene set linkage analysis
Authors: Tao Yu-Tian , Ding Xiao-Bao , Jin Jie , Zhang Hai-bo , Yang Qiao-lei , Chen Peng-Cheng , Yao Heng , Guo Wen-Ping , Ruan Li , Chen Xin 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background

To facilitate biomedical studies of disease mechanisms, a high-quality interactome that connects functionally related genes is needed to help investigators formulate pathway hypotheses and to interpret the biological logic of a phenotype at the biological process level.

Results

Interactions in the updated version of the human interactome resource (HIR V2) were inferred from 36 mathematical characterizations of 6 types of data that suggest functional associations between genes. This update of the HIR consists of 88,069 pairs of genes representing functional associations that are of strengths similar to those between well-studied protein interactions. Among these functional interactions, 57.04% may represent protein interactions, which are expected to cover 32.48% of the true human protein interactome. The gene set linkage analysis (GSLA) tool is developed based on the high-quality HIR V2 to identify the potential functional impacts of observed transcriptomic changes, helping to elucidate their biological significance and complementing the currently widely used enrichment-based gene set interpretation tools.

Conclusions

We present the HIR V2, a high-quality functional interactome of human genes, along with the gene set linkage analysis (GSLA) webtool, which utilizes the HIR V2 to interpret the biological significance of transcriptionally changed genes. A case study shows that the annotations reported by the HIR V2/GSLA system are more comprehensive and concise compared to those obtained by widely used gene set annotation tools such as PANTHER and DAVID. The HIR V2 and GSLA are available at http://human.biomedtzc.cn .
Effect of transcutaneous electrical stimulation on morphological characteristics of women with stress urinary incontinence
Authors: Kim Ji-hyun , Park Eun Young , Kwon Oh-yun , Hwang Ui-jae , Kim Su-jin , Yoon Hyeo-bin , Jeon Hyeseon 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background: Stress urinary incontinence is an involuntary leakage of urine due to a weak pelvic floor and weak sphincter when the intra-abdominal pressure increases. Its symptoms are known to improve upon electrical stimulation of the pelvic floor. This study aimed to determine the effects of transcutaneous electrical stimulation on ultrasonography variables, such as the bladder neck position (BNP), length of the urethra (LU), funneling index (FI), and posterior (PRT) and anterior rhabdosphincter thickness (ART), and the Incontinence Quality of Life scores. It also investigated the association between the relative changes in the two.Methods: Twenty-one patients with stress urinary continence were included and subjected to transcutaneous electrical stimulation for eight weeks. Ultrasonography was used to measure the BNP, LU, FI, ART, and PRT. Data were analyzed at rest and during the Valsalva maneuver and the difference (△) between them was evaluated.Results: The BNP during the Valsalva maneuver and the △BNP decreased significantly. The LU during the Valsalva maneuver increased after eight weeks. The FI during the Valsalva maneuver and the △FI changed significantly. The ART and PRT and the total quality of life score significantly increased after eight weeks (p<.05). The LU during the Valsalva maneuver positively correlated with the total quality of life (r=0.630; p=.002), psychosocial impact subscale (r=0.705; p=.000), and social embarrassment subscale (r=0.488; p=.025) scores. The correlations between the PRT and the avoidance and limiting behavior subscale score (r=0.624; p=.002) and between the △FI and the social embarrassment subscale score (r=-0.515; p=.0.20) were significant.Conclusions: Transcutaneous electrical stimulation can improve the BNP, ART, and PRT, along with the subjective indicators, in women with stress urinary continence. Improving stress urinary continence symptoms can ameliorate women’s social and psychological self-esteem.
Is Selective Mediolateral Episiotomy Protective Against Spontaneous Perineal Trauma and OASIS in Malaysian Tertiary hospitals? A Cross Sectional Study from the National Obstetrics Registry.
Authors: Karalasingam Shamala Devi , Jeganathan Ravichandran , Jegasothy Ravindran , Soelar Sharul Aiman , Reidpath Daniel 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Introduction: Perineal trauma has short- and long-term debilitating effects on women. This study aimed to determine if selective episiotomy is protective against spontaneous perineal trauma and Obstetric anal sphincter injury following singleton vaginal birth in Malaysian tertiary hospitals and to identify the contributing factors.Methods: This study used data from the Malaysian National Obstetrics Registry (NOR)which collects data from 11 tertiary hospitals in Peninsular Malaysia, 1 hospital in the Federal Territory Kuala Lumpur and in 2 from East Malaysia from 2010 to 2017. A total of 1,109,856 deliveries were analyzed of which 731,475 singleton vaginal deliveries with complete variables were included in this study. The primary objective were to identify contributing factors to spontaneous perineal trauma and Obstetric anal splinter injury (OASIS) and if selective episiotomy was effective in reducing perineal trauma.Results: Prevalence of spontaneous perineal trauma in primiparous women was 23% while in multiparous women was 49.7%. First and second-degree perineal tears were the commonest perineal injury followed by vaginal wall tears and labial tears. Less than 0.5% of the subjects had OASIS. Average episiotomy rate was 33.3%. In both primiparous (OR = 0.06; 95% CI; 0.06) and multiparous women (OR 0.08; 95% CI: 0.03), selective episiotomy significantly reduces the risk spontaneous perineal trauma. The risk of OASIS, is reduced by episiotomy in primiparous women (OR 0.06; 95% CI: 0.05–0.07) and in multiparous women (OR 0.19; 95% CI: 0.14–0.26).Conclusion: Women have a higher risk of spontaneous perineal trauma when the accoucheur is a medical officer with less than 6 months’ experience. In primiparous women spontaneous vaginal delivery is a risk for vaginal trauma and selective episiotomy appears to reduce the risk. All women with instrumental delivery are at risk of OASIS and selective episiotomy appears to reduce risk.
Gene co-expression analysis and tissue-specific gene identification in Liriodendron chinense via hybrid sequencing
Authors: tu zhonghua , Shen Yufang , Wen Shaoying , Liu Huanhuan , Wei Lingmin , Li Huogen 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background

Liriodendron chinense (Hemsl.) Sarg. is an economically and ecologically important deciduous tree species that has been studied for many years. Although the complete L. chinense genome has been sequenced, the gene co-expression modules and tissue-specific genes of L. chinense remain unknown.

Results

Here, we used the bracts, petals, sepals, stamens, pistils, leaves, and the shoot apex of L. chinense as materials and analysed their gene co-expression modules and tissue-specific genes via hybrid sequencing. We identified 3,032 DEGs between the floral and vegetative tissues and 2,126 tissue-specific genes. By using WGCNA analysis, we identified 13 gene co-expression modules, and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed that tissue-specific genes and genes from different modules were enriched in different pathways. Genes associated with plant defence were highly expressed in the bracts, genes participating in plant hormone signal transduction were highly expressed in the shoot apex, and genes participating in photosynthesis were highly expressed in the leaves, petals and sepals. Moreover, we identified 10 MIKC-type MADS-box genes that were classified as member of the AP3/PI, SVP, SEP, AG/SHP/STK, AGL12, SOC1 and TM8 subfamily. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the expression profiles of these ten genes were consistent with those reported in Arabidopsis and Populus , indicating that these genes are highly conserved evolutionarily and related to floral and vegetative tissue development. The small number of MIKC-type MADS-box genes in L. chinense was probably owing to its incomplete genome annotation.

Conclusions

In this work, we provided a reference transcriptome for L. chinense research by using hybrid sequencing. We identified 2,126 tissue-specific genes and 3,032 DEGs that contributed greatly to the functional differences between vegetative organs and floral organs. By using WGCNA analysis, 13 gene co-expression modules and 52 hub genes from six co-expression modules of interest were identified. Moreover, we identified 10 MIKC-type MADS-box genes that might be related to the development and growth regulation of floral and vegetative organs. These findings will improve our understanding of gene co-expression, tissue specific genes and flower development model of L. chinense .
Evaluating the long-term impact of Female Community Health Volunteer involvement in a postpartum family planning intervention in Nepal: a mixed-method study at 1 year post-intervention
Authors: Dhital Rolina , Siwal Ram Chandra , Pokhrel Khem Narayan , Pokhrel Sabina , Tuladhar Heera , Bright Suzanna , Tunnacliffe EmilyAnne , Thapa Kusum , Makins Anita 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background

This is a 1-year post-intervention study following an initiative to provide orientation to female community health volunteers (FCHVs) on postpartum family planning (PPFP) in Nepal implemented in December 2018. Despite positive results in the earlier post-intervention study, this study was designed to provide a more long-term perspective on sustainability by assessing the effect at 1-year post-intervention.
Methods

This mixed-methods study was conducted in January 2020 in Morang district, Nepal. We collected quantitative data from a knowledge assessment of FCHVs who had participated in the intervention on PPFP; data on their community-based counseling coverage and through interviews with postpartum mothers in two selected hospitals. Qualitative data was collected through six key informant interviews with health providers working on PPFP and four focus group discussions with FCHVs involved in the intervention. We performed descriptive and multivariable analyses for quantitative data and thematic analysis for qualitative data. Results of 1-year post-intervention were compared with pre-intervention and earlier evaluation study results.
Results

In total, 206 FCHVs participated in the 1-year post-intervention knowledge assessment with a 15-fold [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 14.9, p < 0.001] increase in knowledge when compared with the pre-intervention phase. A 20-fold increase in knowledge (AOR = 20.4, P < 0.001) had been reported in the post-test conducted immediately after the orientation. The FCHVs counseled 71% of the pregnant women within their communities at 1-year post-intervention. The postpartum mothers in hospitals had 2 times higher odds than in pre-intervention phase of being counseled by FCHVs during their pregnancy at 1-year post-intervention (AOR = 1.9, P = 0.036) as compared to a 3-fold higher odds of being counseled at 2-months post-intervention (AOR = 2.9, P < 0.001). The qualitative findings suggested a positive impression regarding the FCHV's involvement in PPFP counseling in the communities, however, supervision and monitoring over the longer term was identified as a key challenge and may influence sustainability of community-based and hospital-based PPFP services.
Conclusion

The FCHVs’ knowledge and community-based activities on PPFP remained higher than in the pre-intervention phase. They had however declined when compared to the 2-months post-intervention period. We propose regular supervision and monitoring of the work of the FCHVs in order to sustain progress.
Application of a novel lung protective drug formulated by silver nanoparticles containing Curcuma longa L leaf aqueous extract on α-Guttiferin-induced DNA fragmentation and apoptosis in lung HEL 299, MRC-5, IMR-90, CCD-19Lu, WI-38, and BEAS-2B cell lines
Authors: Han Yi , Gao Yuan , Cao Xiaoqing , Zangeneh Akram , Zangeneh Mohammad Mahdi , Liu Shuku , Li Jie 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Recently, scientists have understood that metallic nanoparticles green-synthesized by medicinal plants have significant anti-cancer effects in the in vitro, in vivo, and clinical trial conditions. Also, the anti-lung cancer properties of metallic nanoparticles containing natural compounds have been indicated in many studies. In the recent research, we tried to investigate the application of a novel lung protective drug formulated by silver nanoparticles containing Curcuma longa L leaf aqueous extract on α-Guttiferin-induced DNA fragmentation and apoptosis in HEL 299, MRC-5, IMR-90, CCD-19Lu, WI-38, and BEAS-2B cell lines. Also, we assessed the concentrations of inflammatory cytokines, activity of caspase-3, and potential of mitochondrial membrane in the in vitro condition. Silver nanoparticles were characterized and analyzed by common physicochemical techniques including Transmission Electron Microscopy, Ultraviolet–Visible Spectroscopy, Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, and Field Emission-Scanning Electron Microscopy. In the biological part of the present research, the cell viability of HEL 299, MRC-5, IMR-90, CCD-19Lu, WI-38, and BEAS-2B cell lines was measured by trypan blue assay. Caspase-3 activity was assessed by the caspase activity colorimetric assay kit and mitochondrial membrane potential was studied by Rhodamine123 fluorescence dye. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) test was used to show DNA fragmentation and apoptosis. Also, the Rat inflammatory cytokine assay kit was used to measure the concentrations of inflammatory cytokines. Silver nanoparticles-treated cell cutlers significantly (p ≤ 0.01) reduced the DNA fragmentation, caspase-3 activity, and inflammatory cytokines concentrations, and raised the mitochondrial membrane potential and cell viability in the high concentration of α-Guttiferin-treated HEL 299, MRC-5, IMR-90, CCD-19Lu, WI-38, and BEAS-2B cells. The best result of lung protective and antioxidant properties of silver nanoparticles containing Curcuma longa L leaf aqueous extract was seen in the high dose of silver nanoparticles i.e., 4 µg. Assessment of the antioxidant properties of silver nanoparticles was done with the common free radical scavenging test i.e., DPPH in the presence of butylated hydroxytoluene as the positive control. The nanoparticles inhibited half of the DPPH molecules in the concentration of 149 µg/mL. According to the above results, silver nanoparticles containing Curcuma longa L leaf aqueous extract can be administrated as a lung protective drug for the treatment of lung diseases after approving in the clinical trial studies in humans.
Measuring spatiotemporal accessibility for pediatric clinical services with multimodal transport modes: an exploratory analysis in Nanjing, China
Authors: Zhou Xinxin , Yuan LinWang , Wu Changbin , Yu Zhaoyuan , Wang Lei 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background: Healthcare accessibility research is developing towards a focus on multimodal transport modes (MTM) and spatiotemporal variation. Dynamic traffic conditions lead residents to make distinct traveling decisions in different timepoints, which has an impact on the spatiotemporal accessibility of healthcare. Pediatric clinic services (PCS) are one of the typical healthcare services that require a diagnosis through a professional physician clinic.Results: This paper aims to examine a methodological framework for the spatiotemporal accessibility of PCS (STA-PCS) and obtains its spatiotemporal variation characteristics. We design a spatial time impedance of multimodal transport modes (STI-MTM) model, which considers residential transport mode choices and adopt a gravity model based on web mapping data and population spatial distribution data to measure STA-PCS. We selected Nanjing, China, as the study area to estimate the STA-PCS value at four timepoints. The results indicate that the spatial aggregate of PCS is evident, and dynamic traffic factors influence the volatility of STA-PCS.Conclusions: This work holds pragmatic implications for policymakers on the STA-PCS considered travel characteristics based on georeferenced social media data.
WITHDRAWN: Quantitative assessment of middle deltoid elasticity during different shoulder abduction using shear wave elastography: A preliminary study
Authors: Wang Lei , Xiang Xi , Zhu Bihui , Qiu Li 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background: To measure the middle deltoid (MD) muscle elasticity during different shoulder abduction in healthy participants using shear wave elastography (SWE) and analyze the factors that may affect the MD elasticity, and then to establish the reference ranges of the normal MD elasticity during different shoulder abduction. Methods: Mean shear wave velocity (SWV) of the MD in 70 healthy participants were evaluated at left and right shoulder 0° and 90° abduction (L0°, R0°, L90°, R90°) using SWE, and potential factors that may affect MD elasticity including gender, MD thickness, age, body mass index were analyzed. Normal reference ranges of MD elasticity were calculated using normal distribution method. Results: Mean SWV was statistically significantly higher at L90° than L0°, higher at R90° than R0°, higher at R0° than L0°, and higher at R90° than L90° (all p< 0.0001). Mean SWV was significantly higher in males at both L0° (p< 0.05) and R0° (p< 0.01) than in females. Neither MD thickness, age nor body mass index influenced MD elasticity. Normal reference ranges of the MD elasticity were 2.4-3.1 m/s in males and 2.2-2.9 m/s in females at L0° and 2.5-3.3 m/s in males and 2.4-3.2 m/s in females at R0°, and were 4.9-6.7 m/s at L90°, 5.2-7.1 m/s at R90° for both males and females. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the normal MD elasticity at L0°, R0°, L90°, R90° are different and gender should be considered when determining the reference ranges of normal MD elasticity at L0° and R0° with SWE. These values may provide quantitative baseline measurements for assessment of the normal MD elasticity.
Comparison of Clinical, Laboratory and Radiological Findings in Iranian Smokers and non- Smokers Patients with COVID-19: A Case Control Study
Authors: Nikpouraghdam Mohamad , Bahramifar Ali , Ahmadi Ali , Oliya Dariuosh Ghasemi Vanegh , Jahangiri Abolfazl , Babaei Masour , Gholian Ali Mehdi , Zijoud Seyed Reza Hosseini , Aghamollaei Hossein 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Objective: The current study compared the clinical, laboratory and radiological findings between groups of smokers and non- smokers Iranian patients with COVID-19. Methods: This was a case-control study done on 120 patients with COVID-19 that were admitted to Baqiyatallah hospital, Tehran, Iran during March to May 2020. Our patients were categorized into two groups: smokers (40 patients) and non-smokers (80 age and sex matched controls). Demographic and clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, imaging manifestations, and outcomes were compared between two age groups. Results: Regarding the comorbidities, no significant difference was observed between the smoker and non-smoker patients. The distribution of COVID-19 symptoms was not significantly different between smokers and non-smokers, except for chest pain and weakness, which were significantly more common in smokers with COVID-19. A significantly lower white blood cell count and neutrophils in peripheral blood sample of smokers however, no difference was found concerning lymphocyte count. Moreover, the RDW of smokers was significantly lower. Regarding the findings on CT scan of COVID-19 patients, no significant difference was found between smoker and non-smoker COVID-19 patients. One (2.5%) of deaths occurred in the smoker and 3 (3.8%) occurred in the non- smoker groups.Conclusion: Current findings showed that the clinical picture of smoker and non-smoker COVID-19 patients does not differ significantly.