bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of gamma-mangostin on testosterone levels in Leydig cell culture of Sprague-Dawley rat induced by advanced glycation end products: a preliminary study
Authors: Rizal Dicky Moch , Fauzi Aditya Rifqi , Rustamaji  
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Background
Advanced glycation end products (AGE) is a toxic compound in the human body that can deteriorate health and induce an inflammatory response. One of the type of cells affected is Leydig cells, cells that produce testosterone and located in interstitial areas of the testes. Pericarp extract of Garcinia mangostana contains an antioxidant compound called gamma-mangostin that can decrease inflammatory responses and toxic effects of AGE. We aimed to compare the testosterone levels in Leydig cell culture of Sprague-Dawley rat induced by AGE only and following gamma-mangostin.

Methods
An experimental laboratory study was conducted on testosterone level in Leydig cell culture of Sprague-Dawley rats induced by advanced glycation end products 200 μg/mL and given gamma-mangostin 5 μM compared to cell cultures that were not given gamma-mangostin.

Results
Nine Leydig cell cultures were ascertained and divided into three groups. No significant difference was found in the testosterone level of Leydig cell culture given AGE only (1.33 ng/105 cells/24 h) compared to the group given AGE and gamma-mangostin (1.30 ng/105 cells/24 h) (p = 0.535).

Conclusion
The testosterone level in Leydig cell cultures induced by AGE were lower than those not given, but similar in the AGE-only group and group given gamma-mangostin. The mean testosterone levels in all groups were in the range of expected levels (0.025–15 ng/105 cells/24 h). Further study with larger samples is important to clarify and confirm our findings.
Risk factors of grade ≥ 2 radiation pneumonitis after gemcitabine induction chemotherapy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Sheng Liming , Cui Xiaoying , Cheng Lei , Chen Ying , Du Xianghui 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Objectives
To observe the risk factors affecting the occurrence of RP after gemcitabine-based induction chemotherapy.

Methods
Between January 2010 and December 2017, patients with NSCLC received gemcitabine or docetaxel chemotherapy, followed by radiotherapy at Zhejiang cancer hospital were enrolled in this study. Patients were treated with gemcitabine or docetaxel induction chemotherapy, followed by radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Acute radiation pneumonitis was scored post chemoradiotherapy.

Results
One hundred and eighty-four patients with NSCLC were included in the gemcitabine group and 144 in the docetaxel group. The gemcitabine group experienced a higher incidence of grade ≥ 2 RP, compared with docetaxel group (25.5% Vs. 13.2%, P = 0.005). The optimal cutoff values of lung V5, V20, V30 and MLD were set at 44% (AUC [area under the curve] = 0.593), 24% (AUC = 0.607), 14.2% (AUC = 0.622) and 1226 cGy (AUC = 0.626). On multivariate analysis, only lung V30 was identified as a predictor for grade ≥ 2 RP (P = 0.03). The grade ≥ 2 RP rate was only 9.4% for the low-risk group (Lung V5 ≤ 44%, V20 ≤ 24%, V30 ≤ 14.2%, and MLD ≤ 1226 cGy) in patients received gemcitabine induction chemotherapy.

Conclusions
Gemcitabine chemotherapy before thoracic radiotherapy in NSCLC patients was related to a higher incidence of grade ≥ 2 RP, compared with docetaxel chemotherapy. The Lung dose-volume variable V30 was the best predictor of grade ≥ 2 RP.
deSALT: fast and accurate long transcriptomic read alignment with de Bruijn graph-based index
Authors: Liu Bo , Liu Yadong , Li Junyi , Guo Hongzhe , Zang Tianyi , Wang Yadong 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe alignment of long-read RNA sequencing reads is non-trivial due to high sequencing errors and complicated gene structures. We propose deSALT, a tailored two-pass alignment approach, which constructs graph-based alignment skeletons to infer exons and uses them to generate spliced reference sequences to produce refined alignments. deSALT addresses several difficult technical issues, such as small exons and sequencing errors, which break through bottlenecks of long RNA-seq read alignment. Benchmarks demonstrate that deSALT has a greater ability to produce accurate and homogeneous full-length alignments. deSALT is available at: https://github.com/hitbc/deSALT.
Serum levels of reactive oxygen metabolites at 12 weeks during tocilizumab therapy are predictive of 52 weeks-disease activity score-remission in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Nakajima Arata , Terayama Keiichiro , Sonobe Masato , Aoki Yasuchika , Takahashi Hiroshi , Akatsu Yorikazu , Saito Junya , Taniguchi Shinji , Yamada Manabu , Kubota Ayako , Nakagawa Koichi 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Background
To verify whether serum levels of reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) are predictive of future clinical remission in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receiving tocilizumab (TCZ) therapy.

Methods
A total of 46 patients with RA receiving TCZ therapy were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into remission and non-remission groups based on disease activity score 28 (DAS28)-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) or clinical disease activity index (CDAI) at 52 weeks. Associations between serum levels of ROM, C-reactive protein (CRP), and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) at 4 and 12 weeks and the remission by DAS28-ESR and CDAI at 52 weeks were investigated.

Results
There were no significant differences in CRP and MMP-3 between DAS- or CDAI-remission and non-remission groups at 12 weeks. However, ROM in DAS-remission group were significantly lower than those in the non-remission group. For ROM, the area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.735 and the cut-off value that distinguished DAS-remission group from non-remission group was 305.5 U. Carr (sensitivity: 70.0%, specificity: 72.2%). A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that ROM at 12 weeks was associated with DAS-remission at 52 weeks (odds ratio: 6.067, 95% confidence interval: 1.305–28.203).

Conclusion
Serum levels of ROM at 12 weeks during TCZ therapy may be predictive of DAS-remission at 52 weeks in patients with RA.
Response of Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranean L.) and Maize (Zea mays L.) to heavy metal stress
Authors: Oladele E. O. , Adewumi O. O. , Yahaya T. , Taiwo I. A. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackgroundPlants are usually the target of environmental pollution. This study, therefore, investigates the effects of Zinc (Zn) and lead Pb on Bambara nut (Vigna subterranean) and Maize (Zea mays) at different concentrations, as well as the possible ameliorating effect of the chelant; ethylene diamine acetate (EDTA) and farmyard manure, on the enzymatic activities, the chlorophyll, total protein, and carbohydrate contents.ResultsFindings revealed that Pb and Zn increased the superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase, glutathione synthetase (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and catalase levels with increased concentrations from 100 mg/kg to 200 mg/kg significantly (p< 0.05) compared to the control Maize plants. While in Bambara nut, the superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase, glutathione synthetase (GSH), and catalase levels decreased with increased concentrations from 100 mg/kg to 200 mg/kg compared to control except for the malondialdehyde (MDA) which was increased. For Bambara groundnut, with increased Pb concentrations, the chlorophyll content reduced from 2.94 to 2.00 mg/g. However, there was an increase (up to 4.918 mg/g) in the chlorophyll content with increased zinc nitrate concentrations augmented with EDTA at the highest concentration. Maize plants treated with Pb augmented with farmyard manure showed an increase in chlorophyll content with increased concentrations while those assisted with EDTA still experienced a decrease as metal concentrations increased. Bambara groundnut plant had a mean carbohydrate (%) of 14.79 (control), 17.60 (100 mg/kg of Pb concentration) and 11.20 (200 mg/kg of Pb concentration), indicating a decrease in carbohydrate content with increased Pb concentrations. The same trend was observed for the different Zn and Pb concentrations on the mean total proteins and carbohydrates of both test plants. Generally, Pb and Zn induced oxidative stress in treated plants.ConclusionsElevated activity of anti-oxidative enzymes can assist as important components of antioxidative defense mechanism against oxidative damage. The results of this study could be beneficial in the understanding of the role of the defense system as well as the detoxification mechanism ofVigna subterraneanandZea maysin efficient tolerance and response to Pb and Zn. This signifies that these plants can act as bioindicators in environmental quality assessment.
Transition of Patients to and from Insulin Degludec: A Clinical Challenge
Authors: Hirsch Irl B , Draznin Boris 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
With appearance of new insulins on the market, new clinical challenges, much like unintended consequences, came into light in our daily practice. One of the most pressing issues has become an issue of switching patients to and from newer insulins in various clinical situations. A proper switch from 1 medication to another requires understanding of pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of both drugs. Unfortunately, there is no research in this area and, as a result, there are no guidelines nor is there even a consensus. We present 5 clinical scenarios in which the patients were transitioned to or from insulin degludec. Because there are no data and no current consensus, we have polled 200 diabetes care providers soliciting their opinion as to how they would handle these clinical situations. Our poll of endocrinologists revealed multiple approaches as well as elements of confusion among providers. Even though all answers, summarized following each case, might be reasonable, and there might not be a single correct answer, we wish to express our opinion that is based on PK and PD of these insulins. Because there is more than 1 correct way of implementing these transitions, we urge our colleagues to institute a very close follow-up of these patients with frequent adjustments of insulin dose to avoid stacking with potential hypoglycemia.
Effect of pre-endoscopy intake of simethicone solution on endoscopic mucosal visibility: A single blinded, placebo control, randomized trial
Authors: Zuberi Bader Faiyaz , Shaikh Majid Ahmed , Ali Faiza Sadaqat , Rasheed Tazeen , Nawaz Zunaira 
Published: December 2019

Objective: To determine effect of pre-endoscopy intake of simethicone solution on endoscopic mucosal visibility.
Methods: A randomized, single blinded placebo control trial was done in patients undergoing oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy for any indication at DOTs Endoscopy Suite, CHK during the period of April to June 2019. Informed consent was taken. Patients were randomly allocated in two groups. Group-A received placebo while Group-B received Simethicone. Evaluation of mucosal visibility was assessed at 4 sites (oesophagus, fundus, antrum & duodenum) by previously validated scoring. Mean of visibility scores were compared in two groups.
Results: Two hundred and forty-eight patients were inducted and randomly allocate to two groups of 124 each. Mean of total sum of scores in Group-A was 8.14 ±2.44 and that of Group-B was 5.80 ±1.75 (p<0.001). Adequate visibility in Group-A was seen in 41.1% and that in Group-B was 78.2% (p<0.001).Conclusion: Use of Simethicone significantly improves mucosal visibility during OGD.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.2.1241
How to cite this:Zuberi BF, Shaikh MA, Ali FS, Rasheed T, Nawaz Z. Effect of pre-endoscopy intake of simethicone solution on endoscopic mucosal visibility: A single blinded, placebo control, randomized trial. Pak J Med Sci. 2020;36(2):172-176. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.2.1241
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.
Kawasaki disease: Clinico-laboratory spectrum and outcome in a cohort of children treated at a tertiary care hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan
Authors: Sakina Seema , Owais Syeda Sobya , Khan Ejaz Ahmed , Sheikh Abdul Malik 
Published: December 2019

Objective: To describe the demographics; clinical, laboratory, echocardiographic findings; treatment and outcome in a cohort of children with Kawasaki disease in a tertiary care hospital.
Methods: This is a descriptive, observational, retrospective cohort study conducted at Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, from January 2013-June 2019. Children who met the criteria for Kawasaki disease according to the American Heart Association and American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines were included.
Results: A total of 25 children who met the criteria of Kawasaki disease were included. Their mean age was 43 months (4-150 months). Majority (76%) were males. Eighteen (72%) had complete Kawasaki disease and 7 (28%) had incomplete Kawasaki disease. Fever (> five days) was present in 20 (80%) patients. Eight patients (32%) had echocardiographic changes, out of which two patients (25%) had complete Kawasaki disease and six patients (75%) had incomplete Kawasaki disease. Intravenous immunoglobulin was given to all patients. Fifteen children (60%) received intravenous immunoglobulin within 10 days of fever. None required a second dose. All patients received high dose aspirin at diagnosis which was reduced to antiplatelet dose after resolution of fever for ≥48hrs. Eighteen patients (72%) came for regular follow up. Follow up at 6 months showed complete resolution of echocardiographic changes in six patients (75%), 1 (12.5%) was lost to follow up and one (12.5%) child had persistent coronary artery dilatation.
Conclusion: Complete KD was present in 72% of our cohort of children. Coronary artery abnormalities were present in one third of these children, at younger age and more common in those with incomplete KD but recovered in most.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.2.910
How to cite this:Sakina S, Owais SS, Khan EA, Sheikh AM. Kawasaki disease: Clinico-laboratory spectrum & outcome in a cohort of children treated at a tertiary care hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan. Pak J Med Sci. 2020;36(2):260-264. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.2.910
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.
Clinical Guideline Highlights for the Hospitalist: Diagnosis and Management of Measles
Authors: Wang Marie E , Ratner Adam J 
Published: December 2019

GUIDELINE TITLE(1) Measles (Rubeola): For Healthcare Professionals and (2) Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Measles in Healthcare SettingsRELEASE DATE(1) February 5, 2018, and (2) July 2019PRIOR VERSION(s)n/aDEVELOPERCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)FUNDING SOURCECDCTARGET POPULATIONChildren and adults with suspected or confirmed measles
RESENHA: BERTAZZO, IVALDO. FASES DA VIDA: DA GESTAÇÃO À PUBERDADE. SÃO PAULO: EDIÇÕES SESC SÃO PAULO, 2018, 224P.IL.
Authors: Ziroldo Pedro José Freitas 
Published: December 2019

A experiência do corpo é motriz de criações e significados, e é através do corpo que se aprende os sentidos das coisas. O livro Fases da Vida: da gestação à puberdade, de Ivaldo Bertazzo, trata-se de uma obra acessível e destinada a todos os profissionais e cuidadores, desejosos em conhecer as fases do desenvolvimento psicomotor humano. Esta atitude reflexiva e perceptiva nos faz assumir um lugar no processo educacional e convida a nos comprometermos corporalmente no caminho da aprendizagem: nós, educadores e educandos. Repensar (desta vez com o corpo todo) pedagogias a partir da redescoberta da importância do desenvolvimento psicomotor no processo de aprendizagem, faz-nos assumir uma pedagogia “do e para o movimento”, imediatamente, também, para a autonomia, o autoconhecimento e a cidadania.
Hydraulic Performance and Jet Breakup Characteristics of the Impact Sprinkler with Circular and Non-circular Nozzles
Authors: Jiang Yue , Li Hong , Chen Chao , Hua Lin , Zhang Daming 
Published: December 2019

HighlightsThe hydraulic performance of the impact sprinkler with circular and non-circular nozzles were measured.A High-Speed Photography (HSP) technique was employed to extract the jet breakup process of the impact sprinkler.Two index equations of jet characteristic lengths and equivalent diameters of non-circular nozzles were fitted. Abstract. An experiment was carried out to investigate the hydraulic performance of an impact sprinkler by using circular and non-circular nozzles. A High-Speed Photography (HSP) technique was employed to extract the breakup process and flow behavior of low-intermediate pressure water jets issued from the different types of orifices. These orifices were selected by the principle of equal flowrate with the same pressure. Moreover, two characteristic lengths: the jet breakup length and the initial amplitude of surface wave were measured. It was found that the sprinkler with circular nozzles produced the largest radius of throw followed by square nozzles and regular triangular nozzles when the cone angle of nozzle and pressure were unchanged, while the sprinkler with regular triangular nozzle had the best variation trend of water distribution and combination uniformity coefficient. Regular triangular jets exhibited a higher degree in breakup and the shortest breakup length compared with the square jets and the circular jets. The initial amplitudes of surface waves of regular triangular jets were larger than the square jets and the circular jets with the same cone angle. Two index equations of jet characteristic lengths and equivalent diameters of both circular and non-circular orifices were fitted with a relative error of less than 10%, which means the fitting formulas were accurate. Keywords: Breakup length, Fitting formula, Hydraulic performance, Initial amplitude, Non-circular jets.
Radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy on calcaneal spurs: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Tandiyo Desy Kurniawati , Haryadi Ratna Darjanti , Probandari Ari , Tamtomo Didik Gunawan 
Published: December 2019

BACKGROUND The effectiveness of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) in handling pain and calcaneal spurs is still controversial, whereas research on the effectiveness of ESWT in the reactive ossification process of calcaneal spurs, involving osteoprotegerin (OPG) and the receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B (RANK), does not exist. This study was aimed to assess the effect of ESWT on pain, the length of the spur, plasma OPG and RANK level on the calcaneal spur.
METHODS This study was a randomized controlled trial in patients with calcaneal spurs. ESWT was administered at the pain point by applying 2,000 shocks, at an intensity of 2 bars, given six times with a 7–10-day interval. The visual analog scale (VAS) data, plasma OPG and RANK level were analyzed using Mann–Whitney U test, whereas spur size was analyzed using chi-square test.
RESULTS One month after therapy at rest (p < 0.001) and when walking after getting up (p = 0.020), the VAS was lower than that in the control group. The plasma OPG level was lower than control group shortly after therapy (p < 0.001). The plasma RANK level was higher than control group shortly after therapy (p < 0.001). ESWT did not affect the reduction of spur measurement (p = 0.382).
CONCLUSIONS ESWT reduced pain, decreased plasma OPG level, and increased plasma RANK level. Although ESWT did not have any effect on spur reduction, it affected plasma OPG and RANK level that play a role in the activity of osteoblasts and osteoclasts.
Provision of Contraception in New York City School‐Based Health Centers: Impact on Teenage Pregnancy and Avoided Costs, 2008–2017
Authors: Fisher Rebecca , Danza Phoebe , McCarthy James , Tiezzi Lorraine 
Published: December 2019

CONTEXTSince 2008, the School‐Based Health Center Reproductive Health Project (SBHC RHP) has supported SBHCs in New York City (NYC) to increase the availability of effective contraception; however, its impact on teenage pregnancy and avoided costs has not been estimated.METHODSThe impact of the SBHC RHP on patterns of contraceptive use and on the numbers of pregnancies, abortions and births averted in 2008–2017 was estimated using program data and public data from the NYC Bureau of Vital Statistics and Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Data from the Guttmacher Institute on the cost of publicly funded births and abortions were used to estimate costs avoided; NYC–specific teenage pregnancy outcome data were employed to estimate the proportion of overall declines attributable to the SBHC RHP.RESULTSBetween 2008 and 2017, the SBHC RHP supported a substantial increase in the proportion of sexually active female clients using effective contraceptives. Most dramatically, 14% of clients in the SBHC RHP method mix used LARCs in 2017, compared with 2% in the non–SBHC RHP mix. The project averted an estimated 5,376 pregnancies, 2,104 births and 3,085 abortions, leading to an estimated $30,360,352 in avoided one‐time costs of publicly funded births and abortions. These averted events accounted for 26–28% of the decline in teenage pregnancies, births and abortions in NYC.CONCLUSIONSWhen comprehensive reproductive health services are available in SBHCs, teenagers use them, resulting in substantially fewer pregnancies, abortions and births, and lower costs to public health systems.
Flexible pulse shaping for sum frequency microspectroscopies
Authors: Müller Niklas , Buckup Tiago , Motzkus Marcus 
Published: December 2019

The complexity of experimental schemes still challenges the broad application of multimodal microscopy beyond fundamental research. Pulse shaping has been a promising candidate to assist in the implementation of flexible and compact schemes. In this work, its application is demonstrated for vibrational resonant sum frequency (SF) spectroscopy in a nonlinear Raman microscope. The mixing of an ultrabroadband NIR laser pulse with a difference-frequency-generated MIR spectrum provides spectral access from

1750

c
m

−
1

to beyond

3000

c
m

−
1

via two shaping methods: (i) homodyne MIR scanning and (ii) heterodyne multiplex. The versatility of shaper-based SF is demonstrated in the spectroscopy and microscopy of crystalline cholesterol and cysteine.
A Matter of Apostrophe? Founder’s Day, Founders’ Day, and Holiday Politics in Contemporary Ghana
Authors: Adotey Edem 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
In Ghana, when the NDC government declared September 21, the birthday of Kwame Nkrumah, to be Founder’s Day in 2009, and again in 2017 when the NPP government proposed August 4 the founding of the UGCC as Founders’ Day, a debate was sparked over the placement of the apostrophe in the name—should it be Founder’s or Founders’? An analysis of this debate highlights the importance of the independence history and its production in contemporary Ghana. This article examines how the independence narrative has been shaped by post-independence governments, particularly the NDC and the NPP, through commemorative acts such as holidays to understand the motivations and the influence of political leaders in the production of history. It argues that embedded in this apostrophe war is legitimacy, which party has the pedigree to lead the country in the competition for political power. The article further shows the parochialism of the NDC and NPP narratives on the founding of Ghana.