bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reflecting on tuberculosis case notification and treatment outcomes in the Volta region of Ghana: a retrospective pool analysis of a multicentre cohort from 2013 to 2017
Authors: Osei Eric , Oppong Samuel , Adanfo Daniel , Doepe Bless Ativor , Owusu Andrews , Kupour Augustine Goma , Der Joyce 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Background
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a petrified condition with a huge economic and health impact on families and health systems in Ghana. Monitoring of TB programme performance indicators can provide reliable data for direct measurement of TB incidence and mortality. This study reflects on the trends of TB case notification and treatment outcomes and makes comparison among 10 districts of the Volta region of Ghana.

Methods
This was a retrospective analysis of surveillance data of a cohort of TB cases from 2013 to 2017. Trends of case notification and treatment outcomes were examined and compared. Logistic regression was used to determine the independent relationship between patients and disease characteristics and unsuccessful treatment outcomes. Odds ratios, 95% confidence intervals and p-values were estimated.

Results
A gradual declining trend of case notification of all forms of TB was noticed, with an overall case notification rate (CNR) of 65 cases per 100,000 population during the period. A wide variation of case notification of TB was observed among the districts, ranging from 32 to 124 cases per 100,000 population. Similarly, treatment success rate decreased slightly from 83.1% during the first year to 80.2% in 2017, with an overall treatment success rate of 82.5% (95% CI: 81.3–83.8%). Treatment failure, death, and lost to follow up rates were 0.8% (range 0.5–1.2%), 13.5% (range 12.4–14.7%), and 3.1% (range 2.6–3.8%) respectively. The treatment success rate among districts ranged from 70.5% in South Tongu to 90.8% in Krachi West district. Returned after treatment interruption (Adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 3.62; 95% CI: 1.66–7.91; P < 0.001) and TB/HIV co-infection (AOR: 1.94; 95% CI: 1.57–2.40; P < 0.001) predicts poor treatment outcomes.

Conclusion
Over the past five years, TB case notification and successful treatment outcomes did not significantly improve. Wide district variations in CNR was observed. The overall treatment success rate observed in this study is below the target of > 90% set by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) end TB strategy. Additionally, patients who returned to continue treatment after interruption and those who were co-infected with HIV strongly predict unsuccessful treatment outcomes. Sustained interventions to prevent treatment interruptions and improved management of co-morbidities can enhance treatment outcomes, as required to achieve the elimination goal.
Where to spot: individual identification of leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus) in South Korea
Authors: Park Heebok , Lim Anya , Choi Tae-Young , Baek Seung-Yoon , Song Eui-Geun , Park Yung Chul 
Published: December 2019

AbstractKnowledge of abundance, or population size, is fundamental in wildlife conservation and management. Camera-trapping, in combination with capture-recapture methods, has been extensively applied to estimate abundance and density of individually identifiable animals due to the advantages of being non-invasive, effective to survey wide-ranging, elusive, or nocturnal species, operating in inhospitable environment, and taking low labor. We assessed the possibility of using coat patterns from images to identify an individual leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), a Class II endangered species in South Korea. We analyzed leopard cat images taken from Digital Single-Lense Relfex camera (high resolution, 18Mpxl) and camera traps (low resolution, 3.1Mpxl) using HotSpotter, an image matching algorithm. HotSpotter accurately top-ranked an image of the same individual leopard cat with the reference leopard cat image 100% by matching facial and ventral parts. This confirms that facial and ventral fur patterns of the Amur leopard cat are good matching points to be used reliably to identify an individual. We anticipate that the study results will be useful to researchers interested in studying behavior or population parameter estimates of Amur leopard cats based on capture-recapture models.
Electron beam irradiation induced crystallization behavior of amorphous Ge2Sb2Te5 chalcogenide material
Authors: An Byeong-Seon 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe crystallization of amorphous Ge2Sb2Te5 phase change material induced by electron beam irradiation was investigated by in-situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Amorphous matrix transformed into a partially crystalline state after being irradiated with a 200-keV electron beam for a long time. Real-time observation revealed that the crystallization of amorphous Ge2Sb2Te5 film occurs through a nucleation and growth mechanism under electron beam irradiation in TEM. While uncertainty from the 2D projection remains, the nuclei have been observed to grow preferentially along the < 100> direction.
Application of the WRF/Chem v.3.6.1 on the reanalysis of criteria pollutants over Metro Manila
Authors: Garcia Jacob Alberto , Vallar Edgar , Galvez Maria Cecilia , Bagtasa Gerry 
Published: December 2019

AbstractMetro Manila, Philippines and other urban areas have reached internationally known unacceptable levels of pollution where about 80% can be attributed to vehicular emissions. The Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry v.3.6.1 was used in the reanalysis of pollutant concentrations for the year 2013. Initial results from the planetary boundary layer study suggested that the Yonsei University scheme provides a good estimate of the atmosphere’s condition; hence, this setting was used for the succeeding simulations. The land coverage over Sangley point was not properly resolved by the model. This caused a cold bias for the station. Further evaluation of the model’s sea level pressure output for all sites returned high correlations showing that modeled values are in phase with the observed time series; however, wind speed values did not correlate well with the observed values and were all overestimated. The low correlations found were a result of the incapability of the model to detect the urban canopy layer over Metro Manila. Pollutant concentrations were overestimated. The pollutant time series suggests that the model overestimates concentration values for PM10, PM2.5, and SO2, while underestimating NO2 and O3 values. However, it does capture a significant 24-hourly cycle as seen in the time series’ spectra in the frequency domain. Furthermore, through a student’s t-test, the model also captures a significant difference in daytime and nighttime concentrations.
Screening potential plant species for arresting particulates in Jharia coalfield, India
Authors: Singh Shailendra K. , Singh Ranjeet K. , Singh Raj S. , Pal Debjit , Singh Krishnakant K. , Singh Pradeep K. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractMining and related activities cause severe degradation of ambient air quality. A study of particulate matter (PM) across transportation, mining and control (C) sites for dust attenuation capacity (DAC) in selected tree species were carried out in Jharia coalfield (JCF) to estimate the menace of dust pollution and also to measure air pollution tolerance index (APTI). Results indicated that the maximum value of PM10 and PM2.5 ranged from 54 to 174 and 29 to 78 μg m− 3 respectively across all the sites. The maximum values occurred in transportation and the minimum at C for both the particulates. Mining and transportation resulted in an increase in PM10 values by 161 and 200% and PM2.5 values by 100 and 136% respectively as compared to those in C. The mean concentration of PM10 and PM2.5 across the sites exceeded the permissible limit of 100 and 60 μg m− 3 respectively. Transportation was worse than mining due to the high proportion of hazardous fine (PM2.5) particulates. DAC indicated that Tectona grandis (TG) captured maximum dust (2.15 mg cm− 2) with 85% and Peltophorum inerme (PI) the minimum (0.15 mg cm− 2) with 5% efficiency. The trend for DAC showed TG > Ficus glomerata (FG) > Psidium guajava (PG) > Ficus benghalensis (FB) > Ficus religiosa (FR) > Alstonia scholaris (AS) > Aegle marmelos (AM) > Gmelina arborea (GA) > Dalbergia sissoo (DS) > Syzyzium cumini (SC) > Azadirachta indica (AI) > Terminalia arjuna (TA) > Mangifera indica (MI) > Albizia lebbeck (AL) > PI in descending order. APTI based on pH, total chlorophyll, ascorbic acid and relative water content indicated maximum values for TG (17) with 90% and minimum for PI (10) with 57% of the total and is a measure of the sustainability of plants in JCF. The descending order for APTI was TG > PG > FG > FR > FB > AI > MI > SC > DS > GA > AM > AS > AL > TA > PI. Thus, TG is the most suitable and PI the least. Stomatal density is negatively related to DAC and positively related to APTI. DAC therefore, cannot be attributed to a single factor but a mix of complex factors such as morphological and anatomical characteristics of the leaf, particle size, species type, metabolism, location, meteorology and stress conditions. Based on the findings a greenbelt design was proposed to improve the air quality of the mining and transportation areas.
The bio-mechanical properties of coco wood applied with Neem extracts: a potential preservative for sustainable building in Marinduque, Philippines
Authors: Ney Froilan P. , Malco Dannielle Claudette L. , Senoro Delia B. , Catajay-Mani Merian 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to develop an organic wood preservative from the liquid extract of Neem tree (Azadirachta indica). This product has the potential in controlling the fast deterioration of coco wood by extracting liquid from fruits with seeds and leaves of Neem tree. Effectiveness as wood preservative was investigated for termite repellency, water absorption, and tangential swelling following American Society for Testing and Materials methods such as D-3345–74, D-4442-92, and D-4446-06, respectively. The study revealed that wood samples with Neem extracts have favorable effects in preserving coco wood. It was also observed that extract from Neem leaves and fruits with seeds has no significant difference in terms of effectiveness on wood preservation displayed and coco wood physical characterization. The majority of the results were commensurate to gear on an affirmative finding to conclude that the liquid extract from Neem can be used and further explored as an effective material for wood preservation.
Diagnostic role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in recurrence detection of surgically treated gastric cancer: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Elfattah Hassan Gadalla Amr A. , Elmansy Noha , Elsayed Nahla Dessoki , Sarhan Mohamed Diaa , Osman Mohamed Fouad 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Background
Radical surgery of gastric cancer is considered as the only curative treatment; however, its poor long-term survival is often occurred due to its recurrence either local and/or distant metastasis. Thus, early detection of recurrence helps in improving the prognosis. Our aim is to assess the diagnostic role of 18F-FDG PET/CT for detecting postoperative recurrence in gastric cancer patients who have a radiological and/or clinical suspicion of recurrence.

Results
The study was carried over 31 males (62%) and 19 females (38%) pathologically proven with gastric carcinoma and underwent surgical intervention. All patients underwent PET/CT scan where the site and number of positive FDG activity analyzed. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for locoregional recurrence were 75%, 81.58%, and 85% with p value 0.001; for regional lymph node recurrence were 100%, 100%, and 100% with p value < 0.001; for liver metastasis were 100%, 100%, and 100% with p value < 0.001; for peritoneum metastasis were 100%, 97.38%, and 98% with p value < 0.001; and for distant metastasis were 100%, 85.7%, and 94% with p value < 0.001.

Conclusion
With agreements to many studies, this study confirms that FDG PET/CT is a highly effective modality for postoperative surveillance detection of recurrent gastric cancer, especially in patients with clinically manifested disease, elevated tumor markers, and an indication of distant metastasis at diagnostic CT.
Thymus vulgaris extract modulates dexamethasone induced liver injury and restores the hepatic antioxidant redox system
Authors: Abou-Seif Howida Sayed , Hozayen Walaa Gamal , Hashem Khalid Shaaban 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe liver is the largest important organ and the site for essential biochemical reactions and detoxifying toxic substances in the human body. Long-term, high-dose dexamethasone administration can cause severe alterations in liver function. Therefore,Thymus vulgarisleave extract possess a modulatory role on dexamethasone-induced hepatotoxicity by attenuating antioxidant defense system.By subcutaneous route, animals will receive three doses per week for 8 weeks of dexamethasone (0.1 mg/kg. b. wt.) concomitant with oral administration of thyme aqueous extract (500 mg/kg b.wt.).ResultsDXM treatment led to a marked increase in the liver function enzyme activities that are successfully ameliorated by thyme aqueous extract. Thyme natural antioxidants augmented the antioxidant defense system that overcomes oxidative stress caused by dexamethasone. Conversely, although dexamethasone-treated animals rose lipid peroxidation, thyme extract pretreatment did the reverse.ConclusionHepatotoxicity and oxidative stress caused by dexamethasone might improve by thyme natural antioxidants.
Sotagliflozin Decreases Postprandial Glucose and Insulin Concentrations by Delaying Intestinal Glucose Absorption
Authors: Powell David R , Zambrowicz Brian , Morrow Linda , Beysen Carine , Hompesch Marcus , Turner Scott , Hellerstein Marc , Banks Phillip , Strumph Paul , Lapuerta Pablo 
Published: December 2019

Abstract

Context
The effect of sotagliflozin (a dual sodium–glucose cotransporter [SGLT] 2 and SGLT1 inhibitor) on intestinal glucose absorption has not been investigated in humans.

Objective
To measure rate of appearance of oral glucose (RaO) using a dual glucose tracer method following standardized mixed meals taken after single sotagliflozin or canagliflozin doses.

Setting
Clinical research organization

Design and participants
In a double-blind, 3-period crossover study (NCT01916863), 24 healthy participants were randomized to 2 cohorts of 12 participants. Within each cohort, participants were randomly assigned single oral doses of either sotagliflozin 400 mg, canagliflozin 300 mg, or placebo on each of test days 1, 8, and 15. On test days, Cohort 1 had breakfast containing [6,6-2H2] glucose 0.25 hours postdose and lunch containing [1-2H1] glucose 5.25 hours postdose; Cohort 2 had breakfast containing no labeled glucose 0.25 hours postdose and lunch containing [6,6-2H2] glucose 4.25 hours postdose. All participants received a 10- to 15-hour continuous [U-13C6] glucose infusion starting 5 hours before their first [6,6-2H2] glucose-containing meal.

Main Outcome
RaO, postprandial glucose (PPG), and postprandial insulin.

Results
Sotagliflozin and canagliflozin decreased area under the curve (AUC)0–1 hour and/or AUC0–2 hours for RaO, PPG, and insulin after breakfast and/or the 4.25-hour postdose lunch (P &lt; .05 versus placebo). After the 5.25-hour postdose lunch, sotagliflozin lowered RaO AUC0–1 hour and PPG AUC0–5 hours versus both placebo and canagliflozin (P &lt; .05).

Conclusions
Sotagliflozin delayed and blunted intestinal glucose absorption after meals, resulting in lower PPG and insulin levels, likely due to prolonged local inhibition of intestinal SGLT1 that persisted for ≥5 hours after dosing.
Comparative study on the curative effect of laparoscopic nephron sparing surgery and renal functions under selective segmental renal artery clamping and main renal artery clamping
Authors: Liu Yuan-hua , Dai Hai-tao , Liu Chang-mao , Wang Zhong-yu , Zheng Jiang 
Published: December 2019

Objective: To discuss the clinical effect and safety evaluation of laparoscopic nephron sparing surgery (LNSS) under selective segmental renal artery clamping (SSRAC) and main renal artery clamping (MRAC).
Methods: Eighty-four patients with T1 localized renal tumors who were admitted and treated from October 2017 to October 2018 were retrospectively analyzed, and they were classified into the S group (42 patients) and M group (42 patients). The patients in the S group received LNSS under SSRAC, while the patients in the M group received LNSS under MRAC. The duration of the operation, amount of intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative warm ischemia time, duration of postoperative hospital stay and positive rate of incisal edge; the serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen values before and after the operation; and the occurrence rates of intraoperative and postoperative complications were compared.
Results: All operations were completed smoothly. No patients had a positive incisal edge, and no patients were converted to MRAC during the operation. The duration of the operation and the amount of intraoperative blood loss increased in the S group compared with the M group. The differences were statistically significant (P <0.05). The differences in the intraoperative warm ischemia time, postoperative drainage and duration of postoperative hospital stay in both groups had no statistical significance (P >0.05). The differences in serum creatinine (SCr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in both groups before the operation had no statistical significance (P >0.05). The SCr and BUN levels significantly increased 1 d and 1 m after the operation. The SCr and BUN levels 1 d and 1 m after the operation were significantly lower in the S group than in the M group, and the differences were statistically significant (P <0.05). The differences in the occurrence rates of intraoperative and postoperative complications in both groups had no statistical significance (P >0.05).
Conclusion: SSRAC is a new renal artery clamping technology, and its curative effect on LNSS patients is significant. In addition, SSRAC has high safety and little influence on renal functions.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.2.1505
How to cite this:Liu YH, Dai HT, Liu CM, Wang ZY, Zheng J. Comparative study on the curative effect of laparoscopic nephron sparing surgery and renal functions under selective segmental renal artery clamping and main renal artery clamping. Pak J Med Sci. 2020;36(2):121-125. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.2.1505
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
The protective effects of antigen-specific IgY on pyocyanin-treated human lymphoma Raji cells
Authors: Susilowati Heni , Artanto Sidna , Yulianto Heribertus Dedy Kusuma , Sosroseno Wihaskoro , Hutomo Suryani 
Published: December 2019

Background: Pyocyanin (PCN), a highly pathogenic pigment produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, induces caspase 3-dependent human B cell (Raji cells) death. The aim of the present study, therefore, was to assess whether antigen-specific IgY antibodies may be protective on PCN-induced Raji cell death. Methods: Chickens were subcutaneously immunized with Freund's complete adjuvant containing PCN, and then given two boosted immunizations. Anti-PCN IgY antibodies were purified from egg yolk and detected using an agar gel precipitation test (AGPT) and ELISA. Protective effects of antigen-specific IgY on Raji cells were tested using a cell viability assay. Results: AGPT results showed the formation of strong immune complex precipitates, whilst ELISA further confirmed the presence of IgY antibodies specific to PCN at significant concentration. Further experiments showed that anti-PCN IgY antibodies significantly increased PCN-treated Raji cell viability in a dose-dependent fashion (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that anti-PCN IgY antibodies may be protective on PCN-induced Raji cell death.
Of Circulatory Disorders in the Lungs with the Development of Chronic Respiratory Failure in Patients with Common Interstitial Pneumonia
Authors: Zolotnitskaia V , Amosov V. , Speranskaia A. , Tishkov Artem , Ratnikov V. 
Published: December 2019

Purpose: To determine the features of circulatory disorders in the lungs in patients with ordinary interstitial pneumonia (OIP) at different stages of the pathological process and with the development of comorbid conditions.
Material and methods: The analysis of the results of radiation research methods: computer tomography, computed angiography and single photon emission computed tomography in 64 patients with common interstitial pneumonia. The selection criteria were the presence of respiratory failure and pulmonary hypertension.
Results: The combination of interstitial and alveolar changes, their distribution in the lower parts of both lungs with subpleural localization are mainly pathognomonic for IPI. In 85 % of patients with OIP and the formation of a “cellular lung”, local perfusion disorders of various forms, of small size, subsegmental level, located symmetrically in the diaphragm regions were determined. The main distinctive CT signs of adherence to vascular pathology: pulmonary pattern mosaic; subpleural infiltration sites of the lung tissue of heterogeneous structure; defects in filling the pulmonary artery with a contrast agent during CT angiography; triangular subpleurally located areas of perfusion disturbance on SPECT (when SPECT/CT is combined), localized in the area of lung infarction, or in the zone of no changes on CT.
Conclusion: The development of pulmonary hypertension and chronic respiratory failure in OIP is determined by several factors that have an active or passive effect on pulmonary hemodynamics. Worsening of the patient’s condition and an increase in the degree of respiratory failure and pulmonary hypertension, contributes to complication of the pulmonary vascular system – pulmonary thromboembolism and (or) thrombosis in situ, as well as persistent infectious inflammatory processes. In the presence of irreversible morphological changes in the lung parenchyma therapeutic measures do not affect the state of microcirculation in the lungs.
VARIATIONS OF IONOSPHERIC PARAMETERS OVER ALMATY (KAZAKHSTAN) IN 1999–2013
Authors: Mukasheva Saule , Kapytin Vitaliy , Malimbaev Andrey 
Published: December 2019

The paper presents the results of a study of the behavior of ionospheric parameters of the total electron content, I(t), and electron density in the maximum F2 layer, Nm, over Almaty (Kazakhstan) [43.25° N; 76.92° E] in 1999–2013. The time interval under study covers different solar activity levels. We have shown that at F10.7>175 in summer and at F10.7>225 in winter there is a saturation effect, i.e. with increasing solar activity level values of I(t) do not increase. The observed nonlinear relationship between the total electron content of the ionosphere and the solar radiation flux F10.7 results from the nonlinear relationship between the solar ultraviolet radiation and the solar radiation flux.
The study of the variability of the mid-latitude ionosphere parameters during different solar and geomagnetic activity levels has shown that the standard deviation ç(x) and average shift Xave of I(t) and Nm fluctuations relative to the quiet level weakly depend on solar activity, but greatly depend on geomagnetic activity when F10.7<100.