bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sand fly identification and screening for Leishmania spp. in six provinces of Thailand
Authors: Phuphisut Orawan , Nitatsukprasert Chanyapat , Pathawong Nattaphol , Jaichapor Boonsong , Pongsiri Arissara , Adisakwattana Poom , Ponlawat Alongkot 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBackgroundPhlebotomine sand flies are vectors ofLeishmaniaspp. At least 27 species of sand flies have been recorded in Thailand. Although human leishmaniasis cases in Thailand are mainly imported, autochthonous leishmaniasis has been increasingly reported in several regions of the country since 1999. Few studies have detectedLeishmaniainfection in wild-caught sand flies, although these studies were carried out only in those areas reporting human leishmaniasis cases. The aim of this study was therefore to identity sand fly species and to investigateLeishmaniainfection across six provinces of Thailand.MethodsSpecies of wild-caught sand flies were initially identified based on morphological characters. However, problems identifying cryptic species complexes necessitated molecular identification using DNA barcoding in parallel with identification based on morphological characters. The wild-caught sand flies were pooled and the DNA isolated prior to the detection ofLeishmaniainfection by a TaqMan real-time PCR assay.ResultsA total of 4498 sand flies (1158 males and 3340 females) were caught by trapping in six provinces in four regions of Thailand. The sand flies were morphologically classified into eight species belonging to three genera (Sergentomyia,PhlebotomusandIdiophlebotomus).Sergentomyia iyengariwas found at all collection sites and was the dominant species at most of these, followed in frequency bySergentomyia barraudiandPhlebotomus stantoni, respectively. DNA barcodes generated from 68 sand flies allowed sorting into 14 distinct species with 25 operational taxonomic units, indicating a higher diversity (by 75%) than that based on morphological identification. Twelve barcoding sequences could not be assigned to any species for which cytochromecoxidase subunit I sequences are available. All tested sand flies were negative forLeishmaniaDNA.ConclusionsOur results confirm the presence of several sand fly species in different provinces of Thailand, highlighting the importance of using DNA barcoding as a tool to study sand fly species diversity. While all female sand flies tested in this study were negative forLeishmania, the circulation ofLeishmaniaspp. in the investigated areas cannot be ruled out.Graphical abstract
MAYGEN: an open-source chemical structure generator for constitutional isomers based on the orderly generation principle
Authors: Yirik Mehmet Aziz , Sorokina Maria , Steinbeck Christoph 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe generation of constitutional isomer chemical spaces has been a subject of cheminformatics since the early 1960s, with applications in structure elucidation and elsewhere. In order to perform such a generation efficiently, exhaustively and isomorphism-free, the structure generator needs to ensure the building of canonical graphs already during the generation step and not by subsequent filtering. Here we present MAYGEN, an open-source, pure-Java development of a constitutional isomer molecular generator. The principles of MAYGEN’s architecture and algorithm are outlined and the software is benchmarked in single-threaded mode against the state-of-the-art, but closed-source solution MOLGEN, as well as against the best open-source solution PMG. Based on the benchmarking, MAYGEN is on average 47 times faster than PMG and on average three times slower than MOLGEN in performance.
Research on enterprise business model and technology innovation based on artificial intelligence
Authors: Qu Sunping , Shi Hongwei , Zhao Huanhuan , Yu Lin , Yu Yunbo 
Published: July 2021

AbstractSmall- and medium-sized enterprises (SEMs) are the important part of economic society whose innovation activities are of great significance for building innovative country. In order to investigate how technological innovation (TI) and business model design (BMD) affect the business performance of SMEs, samples of 268 SMEs in the artificial intelligence industry and hierarchical regression models are used in the analysis. The results indicate that TI, BMD, and the matching of them have different effects on the innovation of SMEs of different sizes. These findings are helpful for enriching the theory of the fit between TI and BMD and providing theoretical guidance for the innovation activities in SEMs.
Beam characterization of a microfading tester: evaluation of several methods
Authors: Świt Paweł , Gargano Marco , del Hoyo-Meléndez Julio M. 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Microfading testing allows to evaluate the sensitivity to light of a specific artwork. Characterization of the illumination spot is important to determine its shape, dimensions, light distribution, and intensity in order to limit and account for possible damage. In this research the advantages and disadvantages of several methods used to determine the beam shape and intensity profiles are described with the aim of providing various options to microfading researchers interested in characterizing their irradiation spots. Conventional and imaging methods were employed and are compared in terms of their accuracy, cost, reliability, and technical features. Conventional methods consisted of an aperture technique using aluminium foil and four different materials namely stainless steel, silicon, muscovite, and Teflon used as sharp edges. The imaging methods consisted of digital photography of illumination spot, direct beam measurement using a CMOS camera, and direct beam measurement using a laser beam profiler. The results show that both conventional and imaging methods provide beam width measurements, which are in satisfactory agreement within experimental error. The two best methods were direct measurement of the beam using a CMOS camera and sharp-edge procedure. MFT illumination beam with a CMOS camera followed by a determination of the beam diameter using a direct method, more specifically one involving a sharp-edge technique.
Aneurysmal degeneration of fluoropolymer-coated paclitaxel-eluting stent in the superficial femoral artery: a rising concern
Authors: Tsujimura Takuya , Iida Osamu , Asai Mitsutoshi , Masuda Masaharu , Okamoto Shin , Ishihara Takayuki , Nanto Kiyonori , Kanda Takashi , Matsuda Yasuhiro , Hata Yosuke , Uematsu Hiroyuki , Toyoshima Taku , Higashino Naoko , Mano Toshiaki 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
Although several clinical reports demonstrated a durable patency rate after a novel fluoropolymer-coated paclitaxel-eluting stent (Eluvia; Boston Scientific, Marlborough, MA, USA) placement, aneurysmal degeneration after drug-eluting stent (Eluvia) placement has raised clinical concerns. Here, we report a case with progressive aneurysm formation on serial angiography and intravascular ultrasound over 50 months after drug-eluting stent (Eluvia) placement for a superficial femoral artery atheromatous plaque.

Case presentation
A 79-year-old woman with right leg intermittent claudication at 100 m distance was referred to our hospital. Pre-procedural angiography showed long-segment severe stenosis from the middle-to-distal part of the right superficial femoral artery, and a 7 mm wide drug-eluting stent (Eluvia) was placed. However, the patient had a recurrence of intermittent claudication in the right lower extremity 25 months thereafter. Angiography revealed de novo stenosis in the distal part of the popliteal artery and proximal superficial femoral artery in-stent restenosis. Subsequently, the patient underwent endovascular therapy for these lesions. In addition, intravascular ultrasound at the time of endovascular therapy revealed femoral artery enlargement with a maximum vessel diameter of 10.0 mm at the distal edge of the stent. Intermittent claudication on the right side recurred again 50 months after drug-eluting stent (Eluvia). Angiography demonstrated de novo severe stenosis from the distal part of the superficial femoral artery to the middle part of the popliteal artery. Peri-stent contrast staining was found at the distal part of the drug-eluting stent (Eluvia) site. Intravascular ultrasound showed a further enlargement of maximum vessel diameter to 12.0 mm at the distal edge of the stent.

Conclusions
We report a case with progressive aneurysm degeneration on serial angiography and intravascular ultrasound over 50 months after drug-eluting stent (Eluvia) placement for a superficial femoral artery stenosis.
Comparison of the effectiveness of novel intervention on restricted range of motion of shoulder in young healthy subjects
Authors: Ullah Keramat Keramat , Babur M. Naveed 
Published: July 2021

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of four novel and pragmatic interventions on the restricted range of motion (ROM) of shoulder joint in healthy subjects.
Methods: The study was conducted at Helping Hand Institute of Rehabilitation Sciences, Mansehra, in 6-months duration. This quasi-experimental study recruited 120 young subjects with an equal proportion of males and females for four novel intervention groups (n=30 each group) including pragmatic posterior capsular stretch, Serratus anterior stretch, rotator cuff facilitation and acromioclavicular joint mobilization. Study variables included measurement of Reaching up behind the back (RUBTB), Reaching down behind the neck (RDBTN), and shoulder range of motion (flexion, abduction, external rotation, internal rotation). The paired t-test was used for the change in pretest and posttest variables and the Kruskal Wallis test was used to compare the change in each group of interventions.
Results: All the variables improved significantly (p<0.05) from their baseline scores for the interventions. The mean difference among the intervention groups for the variables was statistically significant (p<0.001) on the Kruskal Wallis test. Pragmatic posterior capsular stretch (PPCS) and serratus anterior stretch (SAS) improved the RUBTB and RDBTN more than the other interventions. Rotator cuff facilitation (RFC) improved shoulder rotation more than the rest of the intervention. Acromioclavicular joint mobilization (ACJM) was effective in improving the abduction and flexion ROM.
Conclusion: Pragmatic interventions are effective in improving shoulder ROM in young healthy adults and recommended for the trials on prevention and rehabilitation of shoulder pathologies.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.5.3465
How to cite this:Keramat KU, Babur MN. Comparison of the effectiveness of novel intervention on restricted range of motion of shoulder in young healthy subjects. Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(5):1491-1498. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.5.3465
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 effect of Thyroid Autoimmunity on Dyslipidemia in patients with Euthyroid Hashimoto Thyroiditis
Authors: Cengiz Hasret , Demirci Taner , Varım Ceyhun , Tamer Ali 
Published: July 2021

Background & Objective: The relationship between thyroid disorders and dyslipidemia has now been clearly demonstrated, but the relationship between thyroid autoimmunity and dyslipidemia in euthyroid patients is still controversial. Our aim in this study was to determine whether there is a risk of dyslipidemia in our patients with euthyroid hashimoto thyroiditis.
Methods: Fifty-five autoantibody positive hashimoto patients and 55 antibody negative control groups who came to Sakarya University Medicine Faculty Endocrinology Outpatient Clinics between January 2018 and November 2019 were included in our case control study. The groups were similar in terms of age, cardiovascular risk factors and BMI. Both groups were compared according to the lipid profile results.
Results: All type of lipids; including LDL (p = 0.008), HDL (p = 0.041), triglyceride (p = 0.045) and total cholesterol (p = 0.002), were higher in the patient group, and these differences were statistically significant. Anti-TPO and Anti-TG antibody titers and lipid levels were evaluated by separate correlation analysis. There was a significant positive correlation between Anti-TPO and LDL (r = 0.331, p <0.001), triglyceride (r = 0.267, p = 0.005) and total cholesterol (r = 0.316, p = 0.001), however no significant correlation was observed between Anti-TPO and HDL. Similarly, there was a significant positive correlation between Anti-TG and LDL (r = 0.318, p = 0.001), triglyceride (r = 0.218, p = 0.022), and total cholesterol (r = 0.301, p = 0.001), but HDL correlation relationship was not detected.
Conclusion: The relationship between thyroid autoimmunity and dyslipidemia has been demonstrated in our study even in the euthyroid phase. Whether antibody positive patients should be followed more closely for dyslipidemia and cardiovascular events is still controversial. This question will be answered with larger randomized controlled trials.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.5.3883
How to cite this:Cengiz H, Demirci T, Varim C, Tamer A. The effect of Thyroid Autoimmunity on Dyslipidemia in patients with Euthyroid Hashimoto Thyroiditis. Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(5):1365-1370. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.5.3883
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 outcomes of Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: An observational study from Pakistan
Authors: Das Bhagwan , Sheikh Aisha , Ahmed Bilal , Islam Najmul 
Published: July 2021

Objective: To determine the efficacy and safety of Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) use in the Pakistani population.
Methods: Retrospective review of initial 100 patients who were prescribed with any agent of the SGLT2i group from July 1, 2018 to January 2019 at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. SGLT2i was offered to patients of above 18 years of age with inadequate glycemic control on existing antidiabetic agents. Changes in HbA1c, the Body Mass Index (BMI), serum creatinine, any decrease in the requirement of insulin and sulphonylurea dose along with any side effects reported by the patients on follow-up visits.
Results: Most study participants were females (56%) with the mean age of 52±10 years. Substantial changes were observed in the HbA1c (7.5±1.1%, 7.9±1.2% from 8.7±1.5%, p < 0.01), BMI (31.4±5.8, 31.8±5.8 from 32.4±5.9kg/m2, p < 0.01) and in creatinine (0.71±0.1, 0.75±0.1 from 0.79±0.1 mg/dl, p < 0.01) at three and six months of follow up visits. The reduction in insulin and sulphonylurea doses was also significant. Adverse drug events that led to drug discontinuation in 14 individuals were, Urinary tract infection (UTI) (seven patients), Genital infection (three patients), nausea +UTI, abdominal pain +UTI, mild Diabetic Ketoacidosis, and polyuria (one patient each). None reported Fournier’s gangrene, limb amputation, or fracture.
Conclusion: SGLT2i significantly improved glycemic control, BMI, and serum creatinine in the Pakistani population with a very low number of observed adverse events.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.5.3901
How to cite this:Das B, Sheikh A, Ahmed B, Islam N. Clinical outcomes of Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: An observational study from Pakistan. Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(5):1342-1346. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.5.3901
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.
Optical Coherence Tomography based indices in predicting functional outcomeof macular hole surgery: A retrospective chart review
Authors: Tayyab Haroon , Siddiqui Rehman , Jahangir Sana , Hashmi Shiraz 
Published: July 2021

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the utility of novel macular hole indices of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and predicting the functional outcome of surgery.
Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of 28 eyes who underwent surgery for idiopathic Full Thickness Macular Hole (FTMH) at The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi from January 2016 to March 2020. Data of preoperative OCTs were recovered from data server of OCT machine. Measurements of the pre-operative OCTs were calculated using caliper function of OCT software by two independent technicians. Parameters included Macular Hole Index (MHI), Traction Hole Index (THI), Hole Form Factor (HFF) and Diameter Hole Index (DHI) were recorded. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the performance of DHI, THI, HFF and MHI for improved BCVA after surgery, by looking at sensitivity, specificity and area under curve (AUC). P-value of <0.05 was considered significant.
Results: Out of 30 eyes, final data analysis was done for 28 eyes. Mean age was 61.5 ± 6.2 years. Mean pre-operative and 6 months post-operative LogMAR best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.84 ± 0.23 and 0.32 ± 0.30 (p-value <0.001). Area under the curve with 95% confidence interval estimated for DHI, THI, HFF, and MHI was [0.750 (0.559 to 0.889)], [0.827 (0.637 to 0.943)], [0.846 (0.660 to 0.954)], [0.827 (0.637 to 0.943)]. Cut off values for predicting good functional outcome (post-op BCVA equal or better that 0.4) for DHI, THI, HFF and MHI were 0.454, 1.086, 0.856 and 0.501 respectively. All ROC value of less than 0.5 were considered unlikely to predict functional outcomes with macular hole indices.
Conclusion: Novel macular hole indices can be used as a tool to predict the functional outcomes of macular hole surgery. Larger studies may be required to assess their wider effectiveness.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.5.4126
How to cite this:Tayyab H, Siddiqui R, Jahangir S, Hashmi S. Optical Coherence Tomography based indices in predicting functional outcome of macular hole surgery: A retrospective chart review. Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(5):1504-1508. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.5.4126
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.
Study on the correlation between Left Ventricular Hypertrophy and Coronary Artery disease in the very elderly patients with hypertension
Authors: Sun Jian-hua , Liu Xiao-kun , Zhang Qi , Zhang Qing-hua 
Published: July 2021

Objective: To investigate the relationship between left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and coronary artery disease in the very elderly (over 80 years old) patients with hypertension.
Methods: One hundred twenty cases of very elderly patients with hypertension admitted to our hospital from March 2018 to December 2020 were selected and divided into two groups: the LVH group and the non-LVH group, all of whom were older aged over 80 years, including 62 patients in the LVH group and 58 patients in the non-LVH group. All patients underwent cardiac color Doppler ultrasound examination, 24-hour dynamic ECG examination, and coronary angiography or coronary CTA examination. The clinical data of the two groups were analyzed statistically.
Results: There were significant differences in the number of diseased vessels, degree of coronary stenosis and vascular calcification between the two groups (P<0.05). Moreover, the results of risk factors for the degree of coronary artery disease in the two groups showed that the history of diabetes, 2hPG and LVH were independent risk factors for the three-vessel disease, while the history of LVH, FPG and alcohol intake were independent risk factors for diffuse lesions, but there was no statistical difference in the correlation between them and the degree of coronary stenosis.
Conclusion: LVH is an independent risk factor for coronary artery stenosis and calcification in the very elderly patients with hypertension, but there is no statistical difference in the correlation between LVH and the degree of coronary stenosis.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.5.4135
How to cite this:Sun JH, Liu XK, Zhang Q, Zhang QH. Study on the correlation between Left Ventricular Hypertrophy and Coronary Artery disease in the very elderly patients with hypertension. Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(5):1382-1386. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.5.4135
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.
Effectiveness of Chlorhexidine and Metronidazole Gels in the management of gingivitis. A clinical trial
Authors: Panhwar Maryam , Rajpur Shazia Perveen , Abrar Eisha , Alqutub Mansour , Abduljabbar Tariq 
Published: July 2021

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to compare the topical application of chlorohexidine (CHX) and Metronidazole (MTZ) gels, individually and in combination in patients with gingivitis for up to 12 weeks follow-up.
Methods: The clinical trial was conducted at Liaquat University of Medical Health Sciences (LUMHS) Jamshoro and Hyderabad, Institute of Dentistry from 1st March 2019 to 1st March 2020. Patients were selected based on inclusion criteria. Out of 125 screened patients, ninety-nine patients agreed to participate in the study. At the beginning of study all patients were assessed for gingival inflammation by using gingival index (GI) (Loe and silness, 1963). Scaling root planning (SRP) was performed in all patients. Subjects were randomly selected in three groups (n=33 each). In Group-A CHX gel was applied, Group-B Metronidazole gel was applied and the combination of two was applied to patients of Group-C. Patient follow up was done and gingival parameters were assessed at baseline, fourth week and twelve weeks. Apart from the clinical evaluation, a subjective evaluation was also undertaken. Significance level of 0.05 and a desired study power of at least 80% was estimated. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test for comparison was used within groups.
Results: A significant improvement in gingival scores was noted in all groups from baseline. At 4 weeks CHX (1.25±0.21) MTZ (1.81±0.38) CHX+MTZ (1.29±0.34) compared to baseline CHX (2.77±0.24) MTZ (2.84±0.54) CHX+MTZ (2.74±0.31) demonstrated substantial improvement (p<0.001). However, gingival scores showed inclination at 12 weeks CHX (1.18±0.41) MTZ (1.21±0.48) CHX+MTZ (1.11±0.14) with no significant difference to week 4 (p>0.001).
Conclusion: Local MTZ gel and MTZ+CHX gel showed effectiveness similar to CHX gel application adjunct to scaling and root planning in the treatment of gingivitis.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.5.4236
How to cite this:Panhwar M, Rajpar SP, Abrar E, Alqutub M, Abduljabbar T. Effectiveness of Chlorhexidine and Metronidazole Gels in the management of gingivitis. A clinical trial. Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(5):1425-1429. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.5.4236
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.
How can medical schools improve students’ perceptions towards e-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Authors: Young Francesca Naomi , Subhaskaran Kajani 
Published: July 2021

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.5.4409
How to cite this:Young FN, Subhaskaran K. How can medical schools improve students’ perceptions towards e-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic?. Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(5):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.5.4409