bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Role of optical coherence tomography angiography in detecting possible retinal vascular complications of sofosbuvir and daclatasvir in patients with hepatitis C virus infection
Authors: Elmekkawy Hany E. , Emam Mohamed S. , Abdelaziz Magda S. , Mehrez Mai I. , Alahmadawy Yomna A. 
Published: July 2021

Purpose
The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in the detection of any suspected retinal complications associated with the use of combined therapy (sofosbuvir ‘Sovaldi’ and daclatasvir ‘Daklinza’) in patients with hepatitis C virus infection.

Patients and methods
This is a prospective cohort study that enrolled patients with chronic hepatitis C who did not receive any previous antiviral treatment and who were candidates for the dual therapy. During a 3-month duration (the treatment course duration), OCTA was performed for documented chronic hepatitis C-infected patients before and after receiving the dual therapy (daclatasvir–sofosbuvir). The minimum outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity and vascular density by OCTA macula.

Results
There was a statistically significant reduction in the deep capillary plexus (P≤0.05). The whole macular vessel density was reduced from 51.56 to 47.68% after the treatment course (P=0.04). These vascular density changes were associated with statistically insignificant increase in thickness. In addition, the choriocapillaris had a statistically significant reduction in flow area from 2.145 to 2.063 mm2 (P=0.0001). The superficial capillary plexus changes in vessel density were statistically insignificant except at the temporal parafoveal area. There was also a statistically significant reduction in the foveal avascular zone flow density from 54.42% before starting the dual therapy course to 51.85% after finishing it (P=0.022). These changes were associated with a statistically significant reduction in best-corrected visual acuity from 0.83 to 0.63 (P<0.001) and a statistically significant development of macular drusen (P=0.004).

Conclusions
Hepatitis C virus dual treatment (sofosbuvir and daclatasvir) may result in significant changes affecting the retinal microvasculature.
Clinical outcome of femtosecond laser flap formation versus mechanical microkeratome in laser in situ keratomileusis for treatment of myopia
Authors: Rashad Dina F. , Khallaf Magdy E. , Khalil Adel M.A. , Aly Mona M. 
Published: July 2021

Purpose
The aim of this study was to evaluate and to compare the thickness and morphology of femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK) and mechanical microkeratome flaps using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT).

Patients and methods
This prospective, interventional, comparative clinical study was performed on 60 eyes of 30 patients. Flaps were created in 30 eyes using the WaveLight FS200 FS laser and in 30 eyes using the Moria M2 microkeratome. AS-OCT was used at 1 month postoperatively to evaluate the thickness of each flap at four points, which were 1 and 2 mm from the corneal vertex on the horizontal meridian.

Results
At the sixth month postoperatively, the uncorrected visual acuity was 0.98±0.10 in the FS-LASIK group and 0.98±0.11 in the microkeratome group, which denotes the efficacy of both procedures. No vision-threatening complications occurred in either group. The average flap thickness at 1 mm was 114.93±3.04 µm in the FS-LASIK group compared with 128.57±3.98 µm in the microkeratome group, with a statistically significant difference (P=0.000). The difference between the achieved and intended flap thickness at 1 mm (accuracy) was 4.93±3.04 µm in the FS-LASIK group compared with 18.57±3.98 µm in the microkeratome group, with a statistically significant difference (P=0.000). At 2 mm, the average flap thickness was 115.22±3.34 µm in the FS-LASIK group compared with 139.00±4.75 µm in the microkeratome group (P=0.000). The flap accuracy at 2 mm was 5.22±3.34 µm and 29.00±4.75 µm in the FS-LASIK group and the microkeratome group, respectively (P=0.000). Flap morphology showed a planar shape (uniform) in the FS-LASIK group and a meniscus shape in the microkeratome group.

Conclusion
Both FS-LASIK and microkeratome techniques were safe and efficient in correcting myopia and myopic astigmatism, achieving good visual outcome. AS-OCT showed that flaps created by the FS laser were more accurate and uniform than those created by the Moria M2 microkeratome.
Photo-activated chromophore for keratitis (PACK-CXL) window absorption (WA) alone versus combined PACK-CXL window absorption and standard anti-microbial therapy (SAT) for treatment of infectious keratitis
Authors: Tawfeek Mohammed M.M. 
Published: July 2021

Objective
The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of photo-activated chromophore for keratitis cross-linking (PACK-CXL) window absorption (WA) alone with combined PACK-CXL WA and standard antimicrobial therapy (SAT) for treatment of infectious keratitis.

Patients and methods
This is a randomized prospective comparative clinical trial that enrolled 30 eyes with clinically suspected infectious keratitis. They were randomly assigned into 2 equal groups of 15 eyes each: Group A was treated by PACK-CXL WA alone and group B was treated by PACK-CXL WA combined with SAT. Identification of organisms was done by laboratory study before treatment. Corneal healing was evaluated by corneal examination and anterior segment OCT (AS-OCT).

Results
Complete healing and resolution (successful treatment) was observed in 10 eyes (66.7%) of group A and in 14 eyes (93.3%) of group B, a statistically significant difference (P=0.042). Complications were absent in 12 eyes (80%) in group A and in 14 eyes (93.3%) of group B. However, perforation and impending perforation were found in 3 patients of group A and in only 1 patient of group B, a statistically insignificant difference (P=0.123).

Conclusion
PACK-CXL is a promising, non-invasive treatment option for superficial infectious keratitis, especially when performed with WA technique, either alone or combined with SAT. However, combined PACK-CXL WA with SAT was more effective for treatment of infectious keratitis than PACK-CXL WA alone with shorter resolution period.
Effect of parity on the serum calcium in the pregnancy
Authors: Wu Nan-Nan , Cao Bin , Lang Jia-Nan , Zhao Dong 
Published: July 2021

Background:
Maternal hypocalcaemia has adverse outcomes on pregnant women and offspring development. The objective of this study is to test whether parity number is associated with maternal calcium level.

Materials and Methods:
According to parity numbers, the pregnant women were divided into never parturition group (NPG) and previous parturition group (PPG). Association between parity number and serum calcium was tested in multivariate linear regression models controlling for age, body mass index (BMI), Vitamin D, and Homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). The subjects were also subgrouped by recruitment in four seasons and their development of gestational hypertension (GH) and diabetes.

Results:
Mean serum calcium was lower in the PPG than that in the NPG (2.15 vs. 2.20 mmol/L, P < 0.001). After adjusted for albumin, adjusted serum calcium was still lower in PPG than that in NPG (2.20 vs. 2.23 mmol/L, P < 0.001). Interestingly, adjusted serum calcium level is consistently lower in the PPG in both the diabetic and hypertension subgroups compared to NPG (2.20 vs. 2.23 mmol/L, P < 0.001). In different seasons, the serum calcium level and adjusted serum calcium level in the PPG were significantly lower than the NPG (P < 0.001). Importantly, adjusted calcium correlated negatively with the parity number (r = −0.044, P < 0.001), when adjusting for age, BMI, Vitamin D, and HOMA-IR. In addition, there was a significant increase in the PPG compared to the NPG including age (29.61 vs. 33.39 years old), BMI (22.80 vs. 23.55), triglyceride (2.27 vs. 2.43 mmol/L), and fasting basal blood glucose (4.73 vs. 4.81 mmol/L), and a significant decrease regarding the albumin (38.72 vs. 37.65 g/L) and Vitamin D (20.98 vs. 18.62 ng/ml). There was no difference in the onset of GH and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) between the two groups.

Conclusion:
Parity negatively correlated with the serum calcium level. The small but significant difference in the calcium levels indicated that parity may play an intricate role in calcium homeostasis. Timely monitoring of maternal calcium could be clinically beneficial to the multiparous women.
Direct, non-Vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants compared with warfarin for stroke with atrial fibrillation and cerebral small vessel disease
Authors: Cai Lipeng , Duan Honglian , Saymuah Sara , Xin Ruiqiang , Geng Xiaokun , Ding Yuchuan 
Published: July 2021

Background:
Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is not only associated with an increased risk of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in patients on oral anticoagulation, but also associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke. Limited data support the benefits of direct, non-Vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (direct oral anticoagulants [DOACs]) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) and CSVD. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of DOACs in AIS or TIA with AF and CSVD.

Patients and Methods:
We conducted a retrospective study with consecutive patients who experienced AIS or TIA with AF and CSVD from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2019 in the Stroke Center at Beijing Luhe Hospital, Capital Medical University. Patients are followed for 12 months by outpatient visits or telephone interviews. The safety endpoint of this study was symptomatic ICH (sICH), while the efficacy endpoint was recurrent ischemic events (AIS or TIA). Patients in the DOACs group were compared with patients in the warfarin group using Chi-square tests or the continuity correction Chi-square tests. The safety and efficacy endpoint was progression-free survival assessed by the log-rank test.

Results:
A total of 542 patients were finally included in this study (353 in the DOACs group and 189 in the warfarin group). There were no significant differences in vascular risk factors, NIH Stroke Scale score at baseline, and CHA2DS2-VASc score between the two groups. There were no significant differences in recurrent events between the two groups (P = 0.68). Patients in the DOACs group showed lower risks of sICH (P = 0.03) and a shorter hospital stay (P = 0.03) compared to patients in the warfarin group followed over 12 months.

Conclusion:
DOACs were associated with lower risks of sICH and similar risks of the recurrent ischemic event as compared to the warfarin group with AF and CSVD. Patients in the DOACs group had shorter hospital stay when compared to patients in the warfarin group. DOACs may be a better option than warfarin for AIS or TIA patients with AF and CSVD for secondary prevention.
Data Analysis of Autism Disorder and Micronutrition using PubMed Abstracts
Authors: Choe Seo-Yeong , Lee Dong-Wook , Jeong Hwee-Soo 
Published: July 2021

Aim:
This study was conducted to identify the notable nutrients mentioned in abstracts of articles about autism disorder using the big data analysis method.

Methods and Materials:
Abstracts of articles on nutrients related to autism disorder were extracted from MEDLINE using PubMed. Text mining was performed to extract nutrient-related words from collected research abstracts. Network analysis was performed using nutrients keywords and showed more than 100 occurrences among extracted words.

Results:
As a result of text mining 932 abstracts, the top 10 Nutrients that appeared more than 100 times were vitamin D omega 3, zinc, iron, copper, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folate, calcium, and probiotics, in decreasing order. Folate and copper were central nutrients in the central analysis of the network made by 10 nutrients. Grouping the 10 nutrients showed folic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, omega 3 in group 1, probiotics in group 2, and vitamin D in group 3.

Conclusions:
A variety of nutrients, including vitamin D, folate, and copper, were found to be related to autism disorder by big data analysis of abstracts of nutrition research studies related to this disorder.
Effect of Methanol Extract of Polygonum minus on Neuropathic Pain and Cognitive Dysfunction in Rats
Authors: Christapher Parayil Varghese , Muthuraman Arunachalam , Zhang Liew Shi , Jordon Koh Sing Yap , Jonathan Koay Hean Huat 
Published: July 2021

Introduction:

Polygonum minus is one of the traditional medicinal plants. It contains various bioactive ingredients such as flavonoids and essential oil. It possesses the potential pharmacological actions, cytotoxicity, and antiproliferative actions. The role of Polygonum minus on neuropathic pain and cognitive functions remains to be explored. The present study was designed to evaluate the role of methanolic extract of Polygonum minus (PM) in paclitaxel (PT) and scopolamine (SCO) induced neuropathic pain and cognitive dysfunction in rats respectively.

Methods:
The PT (2 mg/kg; i.p. for 10 days) and SCO (1 mg/kg; i.p. for 4 days) were used for the induction of neuropathic pain and cognitive dysfunction in rats. The PM (200 and 400 mg/kg; for 10 days) was used for testing neuro-analgesic effect and the PM (150 mg/kg; for 4 days) was used for cognitive function study. The neuropathic pain was assessed by plantar, tail immersion, and pinprick tests. The cognitive function was assessed by the Morris water maze test. The reference drugs, that is, pregabalin (10 mg/kg) and donepezil (1 mg/kg) used for the assessment of neuropathic pain and cognitive function. Besides, the hippocampal tissue samples were used for the estimation of acetylcholinesterase activity, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, reduced glutathione, and total protein levels.

Results:
The administration of PM ameliorated the PT- and SCO-induced neuropathic pain and cognitive dysfunctions in a dose-dependent manner.

Conclusion:
The PM possesses the potential neuroprotective actions due to its potential antioxidant, lipid peroxidation inhibition, and regulation of cholinergic neurotransmitter functions.
A Hidden Gem in the World of Natural Syrup Market
Authors: Al-Belushi Maha Khamis , Butt Irfan , Ali Amanat , Bhuian Shahid 
Published: July 2021

Background:
Understanding consumer’s preferences in the development and marketing of date syrup is crucial for developing its global market. Limited studies have attempted to understand the issues related to consumer’s preferences for date syrup, even though such understandings are essentials for its effective marketing as a promising alternative natural syrup. The present study was therefore conducted to investigate the sensory properties, purchase attributes, and usages of date-syrup among the consumers in Pakistan.

Design, Methodology, and Approach:
A total of 135 consumers, comprising students, faculty, and staff from three different universities in Pakistan, participated in this study. The study questionnaire included sensory tests, rank order of brands tests, and rating of purchase-related attribute tests to evaluate the consumer preferences for date-syrup.

Findings and Implications:
The results showed that consumers prefer a great taste, least sweet, least thick, smoothest, most soluble, medium dark in color, and mouthfeel date syrup. Additionally, a reasonable price, good packaging, and no added sugar were the purchase-important attributes of date syrup. The purchase attributes did not differ across varying demographics. These findings indicate that the enterprises striving to promote date syrup as an alternative sweetener should pay greater attention to customer-preferred sensory properties, usages, and purchase-related attributes.

Conclusion:
This is the first study that evaluated the consumer’s preferences for date syrup in Pakistan. The results suggest that consumers prefer the great taste, smoothness, reasonable price, good packaging, and no added sugar as purchase-important attributes for date syrup. Therefore, enterprises promoting the use of date syrup as an alternate sweetener must concentrate on these aspects for its effective marketing.
A Prospective Observational Study of the Outcome of Treatment with Kabasura Kudineer among Patients with SARS-nCOV-2 Infection
Authors: Ramya J. Ezhil , Chandran G. Subash , Alagesan S. , Ravichandran M. , Victoria S. , Devi M. Rathi , Antony S. Justus , Shantaraman K. 
Published: July 2021

Introduction:
The novel Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been considered a major life-threatening danger to the human population worldwide. The traditional Indian medicines also play an important role as possible novel therapeutic approaches, exclusively targeting SARS-CoV-2 and its pathways. Among the Siddha medicines, Kabasura kudineer is a formulation composed of 15 ingredients used against fever caused by respiratory infections.

Aim:
To determine the outcome of Kabasura kudineer, among SARS CoV-2 patients admitted in a tertiary care hospital of Tamil Nadu with mild to moderate symptoms or asymptomatic patients.

Methods:
A prospective observational study was carried out in Covid care Hospital, Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital, Tirunelveli after the approval of Institutional Ethics Committee. Written informed consent forms were obtained from the patients. A total of 100 patients with positive Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) for SARS-nCov-2 with asymptomatic and mild to moderate symptoms were included in this study. Among them, 50 patients were included in the control group and the other 50 patients were provided with 60 mL Kabasura kudineer for 5 days. Again on the sixth day, RT-PCR was repeated.

Results:
Among 50 participants in each group, by the sixth day, RT-PCR converted into negative for 27 patients in group B, by 10th day 25 in group A and 22 in group B, by 14th day 25 in group A and remaining 1 in group B became negative.

Conclusion:
The present study showed Kabasura kudineer was effective when compared with the control group against SARS-nCoV-2 patients with no symptoms and mild symptoms and also the conversion of RT-PCR.
Identification and Prevalence of Food Colors in Candies Commonly Consumed by Children in Muscat, Oman
Authors: AbuKhader Majed , UM Dhanalekshmi , Nazmi Abdulsalam 
Published: July 2021

Background:
A food color, or a color additive, is any dye, pigment, or a chemical substance that imparts colors to food. There have been several concerns about the safety of food colors reported in the literature that require further evaluation.

Purpose:
The aim of this study was to identify the type, synthetic and natural, frequency, and prevalence of food colors in candy confectionary items commonly consumed by children.

Methods:
A random cross-sectional product survey approach was followed in selected supermarkets and convenience stores in Muscat, Oman. The ingredient label was utilized as a reliable source of information about food colors used in the selected candy confectionery items.

Results:
A greater variety of natural food colors were used in candy confectionery when compared with the synthetic ones. It seems, however, that synthetic food colors were more frequently used. Brilliant Blue FCF (E133) and Allura Red AC (E129) are synthetic food colors used more frequently in the studied sample. Although a general observation of the collected data highlights some variation in the frequency of food colors used in candy confectionery sold in supermarkets and convenience stores, statistical analysis has revealed an insignificant correlation.

Conclusion:
Both synthetic and natural food colors were found to be used in the studied sample. There was no correlation between the type of food colors used in candies and the outlets where these items were sold. This research encourages further exploration of consumption patterns among young children and the actual levels of food colors in food items including candy confectionery marketed in Oman.
Machine Learning Approaches for Prognostication of Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma
Authors: Tunthanathip Thara , Oearsakul Thakul 
Published: July 2021

Background:
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the poorest prognosis in glioma. Although Temozolomide (TMZ) with radiotherapy following tumor resection is currently the standard treatment, the high cost has become an economic burden in a limited-resource setting. In an era of disruptive innovation, machine learning (ML) has been recently performed to be the clinical prediction tool for prognostication, especially GBM. The aim of the study was to assess the predictability of ML algorithms for 2-year survival in patients with GBM.

Methods:
A retrospective cohort study was performed in patients with GBM. Various clinical, radiological, and treatment variables were collected, and the outcome was a 2-year living status as bi-classifiers. The candidate variables, which had a P<0.1, were performed to train the ML model. For training the ML model, random forest (RF), logistic regression (LR), and support vector machines were used for training the model and testing the predictive performance.

Results:
There were 190 GBM patients in the cohort. Four candidate variables were used for building the ML model and testing the performance of each algorithm. The LR and RF algorithms had an acceptable performance for predicting a 2-year survival with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve at 0.82 and 0.81, respectively.

Conclusion:
ML-based algorithms had an acceptable performance for the prognostication of 2-year survival in GBM patients that could be implicated in real-world practice for selecting patients with a favorable prognosis and developing treatment strategies for resource allocation in a limited-resource setting.
In-vivo Clinical Validation of Perpendicular to Superior Articular Process as Thoracic Pedicle Trajectory
Authors: Ahmad Aziz , Ali Chadi , Stokes Oliver 
Published: July 2021

Study Design:
This is a retrospective case series study.

Objective:
Thoracic pedicle screw insertion can be technically challenging because of narrow pedicles. Placement of thoracic pedicle screws in pediatric scoliosis and adult deformity surgeries, due to three-dimensional rotation of vertebrae, is even more challenging because the usual landmarks are less evident, and the sagittal trajectory is more difficult to correctly orientate due to the vertebral rotation. We describe a variation of freehand technique to guide sagittal trajectory of thoracic pedicle screw.

Materials and Methods:
The inferior articular process of cranially adjacent vertebrae is osteotomized using a Capener Gouge to expose the superior articular process (SAP) of the thoracic vertebrae to be instrumented. An O’Connell dissector is then placed flush on the SAP. The main shaft of the dissector is at right angle to the base plate; pedicle finder is placed parallel to the shaft and follows the same sagittal trajectory as the shaft.

Results:
A total of 390 pedicle screws were identified in a consecutive series of 60 scoliosis patients inserted using this technique. Only one screw was revised for lateral breach. There was no intra-operative complication or neurological sequelae in any of our patients.

Conclusion:
Freehand pedicle screw placement remains a very common technique, used particularly by pediatric scoliosis surgeons. One of the drawbacks of previous reports of the freehand technique is that the sagittal trajectory is not clearly defined. Our technique fills this gap, and this series demonstrates that the technique produces a reliable and consistent result.