bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
What is the Prevalence of Use of Herbal Medicine When Compared to Prescribed Medications in Diabetic Patients at Enmore Polyclinic?
Authors: Moore Aneisha , Daniels-Williams Tamica 
Published: November 2019

Objective: To investigative the prevalence of herbal products used among Diabetic patients of Enmore Polyclinic and correlate with socio - demographic data and to find out the various types of herbal medicines used.
Methods: A cross sectional study conducted at Enmore Polyclinic from April to June, 2019. Data were collected using a preset data collection sheet and analyzed using Microsoft Excel.
Results: From a sample size of three hundred and eleven (311) participants, two hundred and thirty (230) - 74.2% used herbal medicine to control Diabetes; which was used predominantly by females. East Indians used more herbal products. The 51 – 60 years age group recorded the highest use of herbal medicine, with corilla being the most widely used herbal product was corilla.
Conclusion: The Use of Herbal Medicine in the control of Diabetic patients at Enmore Polyclinic is similar to that of the United States and Dubai, but slightly higher than that of tropical Sub-Saharan Africa and Trinidad.
Recommendation: Similar studies should be carried out in other areas of Guyana so as to ascertain the country’s prevalence of the use of Herbal Medicine in the control of Diabetes. Additionally, the adherence to prescribed medication should be enforced: while the effects of these herbal products should be investigated.
Outcomes of Breast Cancer Receptor Testing at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation from December 2016 to December 2018
Authors: Solomon Sandy , Motilall Ravi 
Published: November 2019

Objectives: To review the outcomes of oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in breast cancer patients at GPHC over a 2 year period from December 2016-December 2018.
Hypothesis: There is a higher incidence triple negative(ER (-), PR (-), HER2 (-)) breast cancer among patients in Guyana when compared to the Caribbean.
Secondary Objectives: To identify the patients who had hormone receptor testing done at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
To specify the current trends of ER, PR and HER2 in patients at GPHC from December 2016- December 2018.
To enumerate the percentage of BC diagnosed in the patients under 40 years.
Design and Methods: Retrospective cohort study of 90 BC patients with known receptor status from December 2016-Dcember 2018.
Results: In this study of 90 patients 46% of the patients are triple negative BC, while 38% are hormone receptor positive. Of least frequency are the triple positive BC representing 3%.
The persons 40years and under represent 16% of the population.
Conclusion: There in a high percentage of breast cancer in patients under 40 years representing 16% of the study population.
There is a higher percentage of triple negative or non-hormonal receptive breast cancer at GPHC of approximately 46% which supersedes 20% when compared to the Caribbean population.
Recommendations: Further study is needed, with screening and development of protocols. Breast receptor testing in all patients need to routinely done and a formal cancer registry and Digital database established.
Non-operative Management of High-grade Renal Injuries in Children: A Review of Two Cases Seen at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation
Authors: Kissoon Andrea , Seepersaud Marisa , Ramkoomar Pradeep 
Published: November 2019

Purpose: Blunt abdominal trauma in children results in renal injury in approximately 10 to 20% of cases. In about 20% of these patients, significant complications may arise; for example urinoma (1%) and post trauma extravasation (2-18%). Urinomas and persistent hematuria were traditionally managed surgically by partial or total nephrectomy. Today, nonoperative management is well accepted for the majority of high grade renal injuries, as organ preservation is highly desirable due to patients’ projected lifespan. We present a retrospective review of two cases of high renal injuries seen at GPHC’s Paediatric Surgical Department.
Methods: In February and April 2019, two patients met the criteria for grade four renal injury. All medical records were reviewed. Cause of injury, complications, interventions and hospital stay were analyzed. These patients were followed up post discharge, clinically and radiologically.
Results: Two males, ages 11 and 10 years, sustained blunt abdominal trauma and presented to GPHC with hematuria and abdominal tenderness. On initial assessment, they were hemodynamically stable and were diagnosed with grade four renal injuries by computed tomography. Complications developed after one week of hospitalization. One patient had persistent hematuria lasting over a week, requiring blood transfusions in excess of 4 units, and the other developed a urinoma, urinary tract infection and deep vein thrombosis. Both patients had paralytic ileus and acute hypertension. These complications were all managed non operatively. The very large urinoma was successfully treated with percutaneous drainage after 25 days. Average hospital stay was 35 days and both patients had complete resolution of their renal injuries within 90 days post trauma.
Conclusion: Non operative management of high-grade renal injury is highly successful and safe in children. Even in the presence of significant complications, preservation of renal tissue should be considered.
Evaluation of Outcomes after Implementation of Induction of Labour Protocol at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation
Authors: Hardyal Ravindra , Biala Ademola , Derkenne Ruth 
Published: November 2019

Objective: To evaluate the incidence of failed induction of labour (FIOL), and determined whether this resulted from non-adherence to the induction of labour protocol.
Design and Methods: This study was a retrospective cohort analysis of all term patients who underwent induction of labour from 1st January to 30th June 2018.
Materials: GPHC IOL protocol, inpatient charts, nurses and theatre log books, electronic handing over records, Microsoft Excel, Word and www.medcalc.org/calc/odds_ratio.php.
Results: They were 388 patients induced that met the eligibility criteria outlined, 298 were included in the study while 90 were excluded because of failure to locate the patient records.
77,5% of the term patients induced achieved spontaneous vaginal delivery and 21,8% delivered by cesarean section, the nulliparous patients had a higher incidence of cesarean delivery at 33,1% (P=0,0514), compared with the multiparous patients 10,6% (P=0,0158). The rate of FIOL was 10,4% (31 patients). 48,4% of these diagnosis were not in accordance with the labour induction protocol (P=<0,0001).
Conclusions: The incidence of FIOL was 10,4%, of which 48,4% was not in accordance to the protocol.
Standardization of management and adherence to the labour induction protocol decreases the time to delivery and cesarean section rate.
Recommendations: The diagnosis of FIOL should be made in accordance with the international guidelines adapted by GPHC’s induction protocol.
Degree of Adherence to Contact Precautions by Healthcare Workers in the Medical Laboratory
Authors: Panday Chandanie , Raghubir Karishma , Van-Veen Davon 
Published: November 2019

Objective: To determine adherence to contact precautions, and trends in knowledge, attitudes, and adherence by healthcare workers in a selected medical laboratory.
Methods: The study design was quantitative, cross-sectional, and observational. Medical technologists and laboratory aides of one laboratory operating by the GYS 170 Standard were studied for twenty-four days. Firstly, compliance and supply availability were discretely observed and recorded on standardized tally charts. Secondly, thirty questionnaires were randomly distributed to determine knowledge of, attitudes to, and self-perceived compliance with contact precautions; twenty-four were returned. Data was analyzed in Microsoft Excel 2007 via percentages for observational results and averages for questionnaire results. Actual and perceived adherences were compared. Pearson’s χ2 test was used to determine association between variables.
Results: Of 2,564 events, compliance (72.4%) was greater than non-compliance (27.4%). Medical technologists were more non-compliant (74.1%) than laboratory aides (37.7%). Staff were more likely to practice hand hygiene upon leaving (84.1%) than entering (39.9%). Laboratory coats were most used (86.2%) and gloves the least (69.9%). Also, gloving was associated with hand hygiene and with laboratory coat usage. The questionnaires revealed low knowledge, positive attitudes and low perceived compliance among workers. Finally, perceived adherence was larger than actual adherence. A p-value of less than 0.05 was determined to be statistically significant.
Conclusion: Although supplies and guidelines exist and are positively received by workers, implementation is a challenge. Low knowledge and actual compliance, especially among medical technologists, is risky. Therefore, stricter initiatives and educational training are necessary.
Update on Laparoscopic Surgery at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation
Authors: Bhudial Joshua , Ramcharran Hemraj , Rambarran Navindranauth , Ramnarine Delon 
Published: November 2019

Background: Laparoscopic surgery is a pioneering technique that has metamorphosed the field of surgery in the past and is now considered the recommended surgical approach for many procedures. 1 The last published data showed an average of eight cases per month. 5 The purpose of this study was to assess an increase or decrease in the number of Laparoscopic surgeries at GPHC and if there were more advanced cases as compared to the last published data.
Methods: Data of the laparoscopic surgeries done at GPHC for the year 2018 was obtained from the records in the Main Operating theatre. Data collected will focus on the number and type of Laparoscopic surgeries.
Results: An audit of GPHC operating register shows a total of 180 cases for 2018 representing an average of 15 cases per month. There was a significant difference in the first six months of 2018 (5 cases per month) versus the last six months of 2018 (25 cases per month). A total of 19 cases were converted. Most of the advanced cases were done in latter half of 2018 and included 27 diagnostic laparoscopy, 9 inguinal hernias, 2 AP resections, 2 Graham’s patch, 2 ventral hernias, 2 rectopexy and 1 Heller’s myotomy.
Conclusion: The number of laparoscopic surgeries at GPHC has increased significantly especially in the latter half of 2018. This number has risen to three times the number in the last published data. While the majority of cases continued to be cholecystectomy and appendectomies, a greater variety of advanced cases were done in 2018 as compared to the last published data.
3D Printed Neural Regeneration Devices
Authors: Joung Daeha , Lavoie Nicolas S. , Guo Shuang‐Zhuang , Park Sung Hyun , Parr Ann M. , McAlpine Michael C. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractNeural regeneration devices interface with the nervous system and can provide flexibility in material choice, implantation without the need for additional surgeries, and the ability to serve as guides augmented with physical, biological (e.g., cellular), and biochemical functionalities. Given the complexity and challenges associated with neural regeneration, a 3D printing approach to the design and manufacturing of neural devices can provide next‐generation opportunities for advanced neural regeneration via the production of anatomically accurate geometries, spatial distributions of cellular components, and incorporation of therapeutic biomolecules. A 3D printing‐based approach offers compatibility with 3D scanning, computer modeling, choice of input material, and increasing control over hierarchical integration. Therefore, a 3D printed implantable platform can ultimately be used to prepare novel biomimetic scaffolds and model complex tissue architectures for clinical implants in order to treat neurological diseases and injuries. Further, the flexibility and specificity offered by 3D printed in vitro platforms have the potential to be a significant foundational breakthrough with broad research implications in cell signaling and drug screening for personalized healthcare. This progress report examines recent advances in 3D printing strategies for neural regeneration as well as insight into how these approaches can be improved in future studies.
Asymmetric Strain‐Introduced Interface Effect on the Electronic and Optical Properties of the CsPbI3/SnS van der Waals Heterostructure
Authors: Cao Yong‐Hua , Li Yong‐Feng , He Jia‐Wei , Qian Chong‐Xin , Zhang Qiang , Bai Jin‐Tao , Feng Hong‐Jian 
Published: November 2019

AbstractDifferent 2D materials can be stacked by the weak van der Waals (vdW) force, forming the vdW heterostructures and devices, which opens a new field of engineering regulation of electronic and optical properties at the atomic level. The asymmetric strain‐introduced interface effect is studied on the electronic and optical properties of CsPbI3/SnS vdW heterostructure by employing first‐principles calculations. The biaxial strains deriving from the interface mismatch reduce the work function of the monolayer SnS to a low‐energy level, and lead to monolayer SnS an indirect‐to‐direct bandgap transition. The different charge transfer behaviors in the PbI2‐ (CsI‐) surface indicate that monolayer SnS can act as the promising hole‐ (electron‐) transport material of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Moreover, the interface effect causes the absorption spectrum of the CsPbI3/SnS heterostructure an obvious redshift and enhances its absorption ability, which is more suitable for photovoltaic devices. This work suggests that the strain‐introduced interface effect plays a significant role in the interface engineering of the vdW heterostructure between perovskite and 2D materials, which provides a new way to fabricate the high performance perovskite/2D materials heterostructure‐based solar cells and optoelectronic devices.
Mn Nanoparticles Encapsulated within Mesoporous Helical N‐Doped Carbon Nanotubes as Highly Active Air Cathode for Zinc–Air Batteries
Authors: Dong Qing , Wang Hui , Ji Shan , Wang Xuyun , Liu Quanbing , Brett Daniel J. L. , Linkov Vladimir , Wang Rongfang 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe practical application of clean energy conversion and storage technologies, such as fuel cells and metal–air batteries, have been significantly impeded by the high cost and scarcity of precious metal catalysts used for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Transitional metal/carbon compounds are a promising alternative to precious metal catalysts for the ORR. Herein, Mn nanoparticles encapsulated within mesoporous helical N‐doped carbon nanotubes (Mn@HNCNTs) are developed as highly active ORR catalysts. In terms of the onset potential and half‐wave potential for ORR, the optimized Mn@HNCNTs exhibit an excellent ORR performance, which is comparable to Pt/C. When the Mn@HNCNTs are assembled as air cathodes, with zinc foil as the anode in primary zinc–air cells, the obtained cell delivers a higher cell voltage and capacity than the zinc–air cell using Pt/C as the air cathode, as well as many reported cells using TM/CNT‐based air cathodes. The electrocatalytic performance in the zinc–air cell demonstrates that Mn@HNCNTs have great potential for use as ORR catalysts in metal–air batteries.
Paclitaxel‐Loaded Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Targeted Breast Cancer Therapy
Authors: Jeon Mike , Lin Guanyou , Stephen Zachary R. , Kato Frances L. , Zhang Miqin 
Published: November 2019

AbstractPaclitaxel (PTX) is a potent drug for treating advanced solid carcinomas; however, its clinical utility is limited by its poor water solubility. Despite the promise of using nanoparticles to deliver hydrophobic PTX, achieving sufficient drug loading while maintaining small particle size and stability in biological media remains a challenge. Here, a PTX nanoparticle (NP) formulation with small size and great stability is presented that targets breast cancer cells and enables controlled release of PTX. This NP formulation (NP‐PTX‐FA) comprises a superparamagnetic iron oxide core coated with short‐ and long‐chain polyethylene glycol: the former for conjugation of hydrophobic PTX and folic acid (FA), and the latter as an outer layer for improved hydrophilicity. The NP‐PTX‐FA has a uniform size distribution (averaging 28.2 ± 0.64 nm) and high drug loading capacity of 22.8 wt% (vs <10 wt% normally). NP‐PTX‐FA releases the drug under conditions mimicking the acidic intracellular pH of breast cancer cells and the FA conjugation leads to higher NP uptake by target cells, enhancing the cytotoxicity to target cells compared to free PTX. This NP formulation holds great promise to improve breast cancer therapy and potential to deliver other hydrophobic drugs for treating various cancer types.
Multi‐objective optimization of injection molding parameters, based on the Gkriging‐NSGA‐vague method
Authors: Li Sai , Fan Xiying , Huang Haiyue , Cao Yanli 
Published: November 2019

ABSTRACTPlastic production quality, manufacturing cost, and molding efficiency are three important indices for a new product development. In addition to injection molding process parameters (IMPP), runner system also has an important role in the injection molding process. In this study, the plastic production quality, manufacturing costs, and molding efficiency are considered as the optimized objectives. The design parameters include runner diameters and IMPP. The improved Kriging surrogate model (Gkriging), nondominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA‐II), and multicriteria fuzzy decision‐making approach (vague sets) are combined, and the Gkriging‐NSGA‐vague scheme is proposed to optimize the runner diameters and the IMPP. Firstly, the Gkriging model is established to map the correlation between design parameters and optimized objectives. Based on the Gkriging model, the NSGA‐II is combined with predictive models to obtain the Pareto‐optimal solutions. Then, the optimal Pareto‐optimal solution is obtained by the vague approach. A multicavity mold with two different plastic parts is utilized as the design case. The optimization results indicate that the Gkriging‐NSGA‐vague method is a powerful method for solving the multi‐objective optimization problems. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 137, 48659.
SIMEX for correction of dietary exposure effects with Box‐Cox transformed data
Authors: Intemann Timm , Mehlig Kirsten , De Henauw Stefaan , Siani Alfonso , Constantinou Tassos , Moreno Luis A. , Molnár Dénes , Veidebaum Toomas , Pigeot Iris ,   on behalf of the I.Family consortium
Published: November 2019

AbstractModelling dietary data, and especially 24‐hr dietary recall (24HDR) data, is a challenge. Ignoring the inherent measurement error (ME) leads to biased effect estimates when the association between an exposure and an outcome is investigated. We propose an adapted simulation extrapolation (SIMEX) algorithm for modelling dietary exposures. For this purpose, we exploit the ME model of the NCI method where we assume the assumption of normally distributed errors of the reported intake on the Box‐Cox transformed scale and of unbiased recalls on the original scale. According to the SIMEX algorithm, remeasurements of the observed data with additional ME are generated in order to estimate the association between the level of ME and the resulting effect estimate. Subsequently, this association is extrapolated to the case of zero ME to obtain the corrected estimate. We show that the proposed method fulfils the key property of the SIMEX approach, that is, that the MSE of the generated data will converge to zero if the ME variance converges to zero. Furthermore, the method is applied to real 24HDR data of the I.Family study to correct the effects of salt and alcohol intake on blood pressure. In a simulation study, the method is compared with the NCI method resulting in effect estimates with either smaller MSE or smaller bias in certain situations. In addition, we found our method to be more informative and easier to implement. Therefore, we conclude that the proposed method is useful to promote the dissemination of ME correction methods in nutritional epidemiology.
Do the ecoinnovation and ecodesign strategies generate value added in munificent environments?
Authors: García‐Sánchez Isabel‐María , Gallego‐Álvarez Isabel , Zafra‐Gómez José‐Luis 
Published: November 2019

AbstractWithin innovation strategies, ecodesign and ecoinnovation are becoming very relevant in recent years as they seek to reduce the environmental impact of both products and production processes by using new technologies and ways of working that contribute to sustainable development and at the same time help to promote the competitiveness of companies. In this framework, the objective of this paper is to analyze the impact that the strategies of environmental innovation in products and processes have on the profitability and the market value of the companies, considering the moderating role that the munificence of the industry has in this relationship. Using the generalized method of moments, the results obtained from a sample of 6,454 international companies during the period 2002–2017 show that although environmental innovation strategies do not entail higher returns, they are well valued by the capital market. This was especially true in environments with greater economic growth and availability of resources, that is, in munificent environments.
miR‐802 inhibits the proliferation, invasion, and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition of glioblastoma multiforme cells by directly targeting SIX4
Authors: Huang Wu , Shi Yu , Han Bin , Wang Qilong , Zhang Bin , Qi Chunjian , Liu Fang 
Published: November 2019

AbstractIt is well known that the sine oculis homeobox 4 (SIX4) expression is very relevant to the progression of multiple cancers. Moreover, we found that miR‐802 could directly target the SIX4. However, the precise mechanism of miR‐802 in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is still unknown. The aim of this study is to investigate the roles of miR‐802/SIX4 axis in GBM. Here, our results showed that the SIX4 expression was obviously increased in GBM tissues and cell lines, and the miR‐802 level was distinctly decreased. What is more, the SIX4 expression was negatively related to the miR‐802 level in GBM tissues. Furthermore, increased miR‐802 level evidently restrained the proliferation, invasion, and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) of GBM cells. Next, we confirmed that miR‐802 could directly target SIX4 by using luciferase reporter assay. Besides, the knockdown of SIX4 had the similar effects with miR‐802 overexpression on GBM cells. The inhibitory effects of miR‐802 mimic were partially blocked by SIX4 overexpression. Altogether, the overexpression of miR‐802 restrained cell proliferation, invasion, and EMT of GBM cells via the regulation of SIX4.Significance of the studyAn elevated expression of SIX4 has been observed in colorectal cancer and nonsmall cell lung cancer. However, the precise roles of SIX4 in GBM have not been elucidated. Our study for the first time demonstrated that SIX4 level was significantly upregulated in GBM. Additionally, the knockdown of SIX4 inhibited cell growth, invasion, and the EMT of GBM. Moreover, our data suggested a significant negative correlation between miR‐802 and SIX4 expression in GBM. MiR‐802 suppressed GBM cell proliferation, invasion, and EMT by directly targeting SIX4, which suggested important roles for miR‐802/SIX4 axis in the GBM pathogenesis and its potential application in cancer therapy.