bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Glucocorticoid agonists enhance retinal stem cell self-renewal and proliferation
Authors: Grisé Kenneth N. , Bautista Nelson X. , Jacques Krystal , Coles Brenda L. K. , van der Kooy Derek 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background
Adult mammalian retinal stem cells (RSCs) readily proliferate, self-renew, and generate progeny that differentiate into all retinal cell types in vitro. RSC-derived progeny can be induced to differentiate into photoreceptors, making them a potential source for retinal cell transplant therapies. Despite their proliferative propensity in vitro, RSCs in the adult mammalian eye do not proliferate and do not have a regenerative response to injury. Thus, identifying and modulating the mechanisms that regulate RSC proliferation may enhance the capacity to produce RSC-derived progeny in vitro and enable RSC activation in vivo.

Methods
Here, we used medium-throughput screening to identify small molecules that can expand the number of RSCs and their progeny in culture. In vitro differentiation assays were used to assess the effects of synthetic glucocorticoid agonist dexamethasone on RSC-derived progenitor cell fate. Intravitreal injections of dexamethasone into adult mouse eyes were used to investigate the effects on endogenous RSCs.

Results
We discovered that high-affinity synthetic glucocorticoid agonists increase RSC self-renewal and increase retinal progenitor proliferation up to 6-fold without influencing their differentiation in vitro. Intravitreal injection of synthetic glucocorticoid agonist dexamethasone induced in vivo proliferation in the ciliary epithelium—the niche in which adult RSCs reside.

Conclusions
Together, our results identify glucocorticoids as novel regulators of retinal stem and progenitor cell proliferation in culture and provide evidence that GCs may activate endogenous RSCs.
Enhancing engagement beyond the conference walls: analysis of Twitter use at #ICPIC2019 infection prevention and control conference
Authors: Martischang Romain , Tartari Ermira , Kilpatrick Claire , Mackenzie Graham , Carter Vanessa , Castro-Sánchez Enrique , Márquez-Villarreal Hilda , Otter Jonathan A. , Perencevich Eli , Silber Denise , Storr Julie , Tetro Jason , Voss Andreas , Pittet Didier 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background
Social media may provide a tool, when coupled with a patient-included™ conference, to enhance the engagement among the general public. We describe authors and potential readers of Twitter content surrounding a patient-included™ scientific congress, the International Consortium for Prevention and Infection Control (ICPIC) 2019.

Methods
Retrospective observational analysis of Twitter users posting with the #ICPIC2019 hashtag during the conference. Tweet authors, overall followers, and active followers were categorized according to their Twitter biographies using unsupervised learning. Diversity of professional backgrounds of Tweet authors and their followers was explored. Network analysis explored connectedness between the reach of authors.

Results
In total, 1264 participants attended ICPIC 2019, of which 28 were patients. From September 7 to 16, 2019, we were able to categorize 235′620 (41%) followers linked to 474 (76%) authors. Among authors and followers, respectively 34% and 14% were healthcare workers, 11% and 15% were from industry representatives, 8% and 7% were academic researchers. On average, 23% (range 9–39%) followers belonged to the same categories as authors. Among all followers categorized, only 582/235 620 (0.25%) interacted with original messages, including healthcare workers (37%), global and public health (12%), academic research (11%) and those from industry (11%). Though the similarity between Tweet authors and followers was supported by network analysis, we also observed that non-healthcare workers (including patients) appeared to have more diverse followers.

Conclusions
We observed the participation of numerous Tweet authors and followers from diverse professional backgrounds potentially supporting the benefit of including patients in conferences to reach a more general, non-specialized public.
Screening of disease-related biomarkers related to neuropathic pain (NP) after spinal cord injury (SCI)
Authors: Zhao Jia , Yang Li , Huang Limin , Li Zinan 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background
Based on the molecular expression level, this paper compares lncRNA and mRNA expressions respectively in peripheral blood samples of the patients after SCI with NP and without NP, and screens disease-related biomarkers related to NP after SCI in peripheral blood samples of patients.

Method
The expression spectrum of 25 human peripheral blood samples (12 samples of refractory NP patients after SCI) was downloaded and data were normalized. Screening of GO annotations significantly associated with significant differentially expressed mRNAs and significant involvement of the KEGG pathway. The WGCNA algorithm was used to screen for modules and RNAs that were significantly associated with disease characterization. A co-expression network was constructed to extract the genes involved in the disease pathway from the co-expression network, construct a network of SCI pain-related pathways, and screen important disease-related biomarkers. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of hub genes.

Results
Data were normalized and re-annotated by detection of platform information, resulting in a total of 289 lncRNA and 18197 mRNAs. Screening resulted in 338 significant differentially expressed RNAs that met the threshold requirements. Differentially expressed RNAs were significantly enriched with the brown and magenta modules. Six KEGG signaling pathways were screened in the co-expression network, and three KEGG pathways with direct neuropathic pain were identified. The expression levels of E2F1, MAX, MITF, CTNNA1, and ADORA2B in the disease group were all significantly upregulated (p < 0.01). Compared with the normal group, the expression of OXTR was upregulated.

Conclusion
We speculate that there are 7 genes and 2 lncRNAs directly involved in the pain pathway: E2F1, MAX, MITF, CTNNA1, ADORA2B, GRIK3, OXTR, LINC01119, and LINC02447. These molecules may be important for NP after SCI.
Investigating the contributing factors to HIV/AIDS infection from the perspective of HIV-infected patients
Authors: Mehraeen Morteza , Heydari Mohammadreza , Lankarani Kamran B. , Joulaei Hassan , Faghih Marjan 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBackgroundPeople with HIV have always faced stigma and discrimination. Given the numerous papers that have addressed the psychological and social risk factors in spreading HIV, a pressing question is whether individuals’ mere careless and behavioural flaws can still account for the spread of HIV. Barriers and opposing politic made a hard position for HIV and sex education in Iran.MethodsThe present study investigated the causes of contracting HIV/AIDS from the perspective of HIV-infected patients. To accomplish this, 150 patients referring to the voluntary counseling and testing Center, Shiraz were convenient selected based on the convenient sampling method and responded to a researcher-made questionnaire From June to August 2019. The data were analyzed through descriptive statistics (mean, SD, frequency tables) and inferential statistics (chi-square).ResultsResults revealed that the main cause of HIV infection amongst males was the injection of narcotics, and in the females it was sexual intercourse with an infected individual. Meanwhile, 57% of the females and 66% of the males blamed themselves for contracting and transmitting the disease. The patients stated that if they could return to pre-infection period, they would use one of the following ways to prevent the disease: (a) they would pay attention to hygienic/sanitary principles; (b) they would not get married; and (c) they would prevent drug addiction. Also only 44% of the individuals had successful siblings (those who were neither addicts nor HIV/AIDS-infected individuals), which was an observation that emphasizes on the epidemic of high-risk behaviors in the patients’ families.ConclusionsAccording to participants' statements collected in our study, weakness in governmental public health education, along with family-related and individual factors, are important causes of HIV spread
Improving conceptual understanding of gas behavior through the use of screencasts and simulations
Authors: Martinez Brianna L. , Sweeder Ryan D. , VandenPlas Jessica R. , Herrington Deborah G. 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background
Engagement with particle-level simulations can help students visualize the motion and interactions of gas particles, thus helping them develop a more scientifically accurate mental model. Such engagement outside of class prior to formal instruction can help meet the needs of students from diverse backgrounds and provide instructors with a common experience upon which to build with further instruction. Yet, even with well-designed scaffolds, students may not attend to the most salient aspects of the simulation. In this case, a screencast where an instructor provides narrated use of the simulation and points students towards the important observations may provide additional benefits. This study, which is part of the larger ChemSims project, investigates the use of simulations and screencasts to support students’ developing understanding of gas properties by examining student learning gains.

Results
This study indicates that both students manipulating the simulation on their own and those observing a screencast exhibited significant learning gains from pre- to post-assessment. However, students who observed the screencast were more than twice as likely to transition from a macroscopic explanation to a particle-level explanation of gas behavior in answering matched pre- and post-test questions. Eye-tracking studies indicated very similar viewing and usage patterns for both groups of students overall, including when using the simulation to answer follow-up questions.

Conclusion
Significant learning gains by both groups across all learning objectives indicate that either scaffolded screencast or simulation assignments can be used to support student understanding of gas particle behavior and serve as a first experience upon which to build subsequent instruction. There is some indication that the initial use of the screencast may better help students build correct mental models of gas particle behavior. Further, for this simulation, watching the instructor manipulate the simulation in the screencast allowed students to subsequently use the simulation on their own at a level comparable to those students who had manipulated the simulation on their own throughout the assignment, suggesting that the screencast students were not disadvantaged by not initially manipulating the simulation on their own.
Macular edema after rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair: risk factors, OCT analysis, and treatment responses
Authors: Pole Cameron , Chehaibou Ismael , Govetto Andrea , Garrity Sean , Schwartz Steven D. , Hubschman Jean-Pierre 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Purpose
To investigate risk factors, imaging characteristics, and treatment responses of cystoid macular edema (CME) after rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) repair.

Methods
Consecutive, retrospective case–control series of patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and/or scleral buckling (SB) for RRD, with at least six months of follow-up. Clinical and surgical parameters of patients with and without CME (nCME), based on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT), were compared.

Results
Of 99 eyes enrolled, 25 had CME while 74 had nCME. Patients with CME underwent greater numbers of surgeries (P < 0.0001). After adjusting for number of surgeries, macula-off RRD (P = 0.06), proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) (P = 0.09), surgical approach (PPV and/or SB, P = 0.21), and tamponade type (P = 0.10) were not statistically significant, although they all achieved significance on univariate analysis (P = 0.001 or less). Intraoperative retinectomy (P = 0.009) and postoperative pseudophakia or aphakia (P = 0.008) were more frequent in the CME group, even after adjustment. Characteristics of cCME on OCT included diffuse distribution, confluent cysts, and absence of subretinal fluid or intraretinal hyperreflective foci. Macular thickness improved significantly with intravitreal triamcinolone (P = 0.016), but not with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents (P = 0.828) or dexamethasone implant (P = 0.125). After adjusting for number of surgeries and macular detachment, final visual acuities remained significantly lower in the CME vs nCME group (P = 0.012).

Conclusion
Risk factors of CME include complex retinal detachment repairs requiring multiple surgeries, and pseudophakic or aphakic lens status. Although this cCME was associated with poor therapeutic response, corticosteroids were the most effective studied treatments.
Statins in patients with COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study in Iranian COVID-19 patients
Authors: Peymani Payam , Dehesh Tania , Aligolighasemabadi Farnaz , Sadeghdoust Mohammadamin , Kotfis Katarzyna , Ahmadi Mazaher , Mehrbod Parvaneh , Iranpour Pooya , Dastghaib Sanaz , Nasimian Ahmad , Ravandi Amir , Kidane Biniam , Ahmed Naseer , Sharma Pawan , Shojaei Shahla , Bagheri Lankarani Kamran , Madej Andrzej , Rezaei Nima , Madrakian Tayyebeh , Los Marek J. , Labouta Hagar Ibrahim , Mokarram Pooneh , Ghavami Saeid 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has profoundly affected the lives of millions of people. To date, there is no approved vaccine or specific drug to prevent or treat COVID-19, while the infection is globally spreading at an alarming rate. Because the development of effective vaccines or novel drugs could take several months (if not years), repurposing existing drugs is considered a more efficient strategy that could save lives now. Statins constitute a class of lipid-lowering drugs with proven safety profiles and various known beneficial pleiotropic effects. Our previous investigations showed that statins have antiviral effects and are involved in the process of wound healing in the lung. This triggered us to evaluate if statin use reduces mortality in COVID-19 patients.

Results
After initial recruitment of 459 patients with COVID-19 (Shiraz province, Iran) and careful consideration of the exclusion criteria, a total of 150 patients, of which 75 received statins, were included in our retrospective study. Cox proportional-hazards regression models were used to estimate the association between statin use and rate of death. After propensity score matching, we found that statin use appeared to be associated with a lower risk of morbidity [HR = 0.85, 95% CI = (0.02, 3.93), P = 0.762] and lower risk of death [(HR = 0.76; 95% CI = (0.16, 3.72), P = 0.735)]; however, these associations did not reach statistical significance. Furthermore, statin use reduced the chance of being subjected to mechanical ventilation [OR = 0.96, 95% CI = (0.61–2.99), P = 0.942] and patients on statins showed a more normal computed tomography (CT) scan result [OR = 0.41, 95% CI = (0.07–2.33), P = 0.312].

Conclusions
Although we could not demonstrate a significant association between statin use and a reduction in mortality in patients with COVID19, we do feel that our results are promising and of clinical relevance and warrant the need for prospective randomized controlled trials and extensive retrospective studies to further evaluate and validate the potential beneficial effects of statin treatment on clinical symptoms and mortality rates associated with COVID-19.
Role of MRI evaluation in acute secondary inability to walk in children
Authors: Sedeek K. H. , Aboualfotouh K. , Hassanein S. M. , Osman N. M. , Shalaby M. H. 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background
Acute bilateral lower limb weakness is a common problem in children which necessitates a rapid method for diagnosis. MRI is a non-invasive imaging technique that produces high-quality images of the internal structure of the brain and spinal cord.

Results
MRI was very helpful in reaching rapid and prompt diagnosis in children with acute inability to walk. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS), and acute transverse myelitis (ATM) were the most common causes in our study. MRI proved to be of high sensitivity in detecting the lesions and reaching the diagnosis in ADEM and GBS; however, there was no significant relation between the lesions’ size, enhancement pattern, and severity of the disease or prognosis, yet in ATM the site of the lesion and number of cord segment affection were significantly related to the severity of the disease and prognosis.

Conclusion
MRI is a quick tool to reach the diagnosis of children with acute secondary inability to walk, and to eliminate other differential diagnosis which is essential for proper treatment and rapid full recovery. It is highly sensitive in detecting the lesions, their site and size.
Intracapsular coblation tonsillotomy versus extracapsular coblation tonsillectomy
Authors: Abdelmaksoud Aida A. , Abdelreheem Ahmed G. , Tayee Usama K 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background
Recently, coblation technique is used in many neck surgeries; there are few studies dealing with coblation in the field of tonsillectomy either intracapsular or extracapsular tonsillectomy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of using coblation in extracapsular tonsillectomy (preserving the capsule) over using it in intracapsular tonsillectomy (total).

Results
There is statistically difference between results of extracapsular tonsillectomy and intracapsular tonsillectomy as regards postoperative pain according VAS scale (4.36 ± 2.413 vs 3.6 ± 2.041 with p value 0.0001). Also postoperative dietary intake and daily activity all are significantly different in extracapsular tonsillectomy and these differences were recorded after the fifth day.

Conclusion
Extracapsular coblation tonsillectomy has less morbidity than intracapsular coblation tonsillectomy.
A laboratory study of the effect of clay, silt, and sand content on low-field nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation time distributions
Authors: Peng Yonghui , Keating Kristina 
Published: January 2021

We have developed a laboratory nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) study to investigate the effect of clay, silt, and sand content on the NMR relaxation time distribution. Transverse NMR relaxation times ([Formula: see text]) are determined for water-saturated unconsolidated sediment mixtures of 1%–60% kaolinite clay, 5%–85% silt-size glass beads, and 8%–94% quartz sand by mass. Nearly all of the mixtures are characterized by a unimodal [Formula: see text] distribution. When clay is present in quantities greater than 10%, the clay content dominates the response. For these samples, the mean-log relaxation times ([Formula: see text]) range from 0.03 to 0.06 s, regardless of silt or sand content. For mixtures with [Formula: see text] clay, [Formula: see text] decreases with increasing clay content. When the clay content is kept the same, [Formula: see text] decreases with increasing silt content and increases with the increasing sand content. The strong effect of the clay content on the NMR response is due to the high specific surface area of the clay and the distribution of clay throughout the samples. These results will help improve the interpretation of NMR field data in soils and unconsolidated sediments.
Evaluating Mental Health–Related Symptoms Among Cancer Survivors During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis of the COVID Impact Survey
Authors: Islam Jessica Yasmine , Vidot Denise C. , Camacho-Rivera Marlene 
Published: January 2021

PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the mental health of adults in the United States because of recommended preventive behaviors such as physical distancing. Our objective was to evaluate mental health symptoms and identify associated determinants among cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. METHODS: We used nationally representative data of 10,760 US adults from the COVID-19 Impact Survey. We defined cancer survivors as adults with a self-reported diagnosis of cancer (n = 854, 7.6%). We estimated associations of mental health symptoms among cancer survivors using multinomial logistic regression. We estimated determinants of reporting at least one mental health symptom 3-7 times in the 7 days before survey administration among cancer survivors using multivariable Poisson regression. RESULTS: Cancer survivors were more likely to report feeling nervous, anxious, or on edge (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.42; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.90); depressed (aOR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.18 to 2.09); lonely (aOR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.91); and hopeless (aOR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.11 to 2.06) 3-7 days per week in the last 7 days when compared with adults without cancer. Among cancer survivors, adults of age 30-44 years (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR], 1.87; 95% CI, 1.18 to 2.95), females (aPR, 1.55, 95% CI, 1.12 to 2.13), adults without a high school degree (aPR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.05 to 3.04), and adults with limited social interaction (aPR, 1.40, 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.95) were more likely to report at least one mental health–related symptom in the last 7 days (3-7 days/week). CONCLUSION: Cancer survivors are reporting mental health symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly young adults, adults without a high school degree, women, and survivors with limited social support.
Impact of pregnancy on cancer survival: Experience at a tertiary care hospital
Authors: Shahwar Dur-e- , Ahmed Sheikh Irfan , Islam Zaheena Shamsul , Sheikh Lumaan 
Published: January 2021

Objectives: To assess the overall survival of pregnant women diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy or became pregnant thereafter.
Methods: A retrospective medical record review of 90 patients who were diagnosed with cancer when pregnant or who became pregnant thereafter between 1996 and 2015 in Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
Results: A total of 90 patients were analyzed. The malignancies that expectant mothers had were, breast cancer 38 (42.2%), hematological cancers 29 (32.2%), brain cancer 10 (11.1%), and other malignancies 13 (14.4%) that included thyroid cancers, gestational trophoblastic disease and synovial tumor of foot. We observed only four deaths out of 90 patients and mean survival time in pregnant patients with malignancies was 17.98 years [CI 16.35-19.31].
Conclusions: The diagnosis of most cancer types before or during pregnancy does not influence on overall survival of patients.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.2.3525
How to cite this:Dur-e-Shahwar, Irfan S, Islam ZS, Sheikh L. Impact of pregnancy on cancer survival: Experience at a tertiary care hospital. Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(2):335-338. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.2.3525
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.
Figures of Chance and Contingency in Albert Kahn's Planetary Project
Authors: Picker Marion 
Published: January 2021

The Archives de la Planète is a collection of visual material – about 100 hours of film, 72000 autochromes and 4000 stereoscopic images – established between 1908 androughly 1932. While the project was of Kahn’s inspiration (and also financed by him),the human geographer Jean Brunhes served as its scientific director. Its purpose was to document the diversity, but even more so, the underlying unity of human life and activity all over the globe. It seems thus fitting that Brunhes used a cartographic logicin mapping the “positive facts” of his science, relying on visual documentation. Thisarticle examines some of the temporal complexities and contingencies of representation inherent in the autochrome part of the collections. As archives within the archive, they upset the cartographic logic of the project.