bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of antipsychotic medication on IL‐6/STAT3 signaling axis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of drug‐naive schizophrenia patients
Authors: Subbanna Manjula , Shivakumar Venkataram , Venugopal Deepthi , Narayanaswamy Janardhanan C. , Berk Michael , Varambally Shivarama , Venkatasubramanian Ganesan , Debnath Monojit 
Published: October 2019

AimImmunopathogenesis remains a widely appreciated etiopathological model of schizophrenia. Persistent efforts have aimed to identify schizophrenia biomarkers indexing immune system abnormalities and also immuno‐dampening effects of antipsychotic medications. Although data arising from published reports are encouraging, such studies are limited to a few immune parameters and not focused on a specific pathway. Th17 cells‐mediated immuno‐inflammatory responses have emerged as a potential mechanism in various neuropsychiatric conditions, including schizophrenia. The Th17 pathway is distinctly regulated through a coordinated action of multiple cytokines and transcription factors. In this study, we explored whether antipsychotic medication has any effect on the cytokines and transcription factors of the Th17 pathway.MethodsA total of 27 drug‐naive schizophrenia patients were recruited and followed up for 3 months after initiation of antipsychotic medication. Lymphocyte gene expression levels of two transcription factors (STAT3 and RORC) and one of their upstream regulators, IL6, were quantified before and after treatment. Plasma levels of cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐17A, IL‐23, and IL‐33, were also analyzed before and after treatment.ResultsTreatment with antipsychotic medication for 3 months resulted in significant downregulation of STAT3 gene expression as well as reduction in plasma levels of IL‐1β, IL‐6, and IL‐17A. Significant reduction in total scores for the Scale for Assessment of Positive Symptoms and the Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms was also observed in schizophrenia patients after 3 months of antipsychotic treatment.ConclusionOur findings suggest possible immuno‐modulatory effects of antipsychotic medication on the critical regulators, such as IL‐6 and STAT3, of the Th17 pathway in schizophrenia patients. The IL‐6/STAT3 signaling axis involved in the transcriptional regulation of Th17 cells might appear as an important target of antipsychotic treatment in schizophrenia patients. Alternatively, irrespective of the effect of antipsychotic drugs, the IL‐6/STAT3 signaling axis might be crucially involved in ameliorating psychotic symptoms.
Induction of superovulation using inhibin antiserum and competence of embryo development in wild large Japanese field mice (Apodemus speciosus)
Authors: Meguro Kanna , Komatsu Kazuki , Ohdaira Takuya , Nakagata Naomi , Nakata Akifumi , Fukumoto Manabu , Miura Tomisato , Yamashiro Hideaki 
Published: October 2019

AbstractSeasonally, bred wild mice provide a unique bioresource, with high genetic diversity that differs from wild‐derived mice and laboratory mice. This study aimed to establish an alternative superovulation method using wild large Japanese field mice (Apodemus speciosus) as the model species. Specifically, we investigated how the application of inhibin antiserum and equine chorionic gonadotropin (IASe) during both the reproductive and non‐reproductive seasons impact the ovulation rate and competence of embryo development after in vitro fertilization (IVF) with fresh and cryopreserved sperm. When the wild mice were superovulated by injecting eCG followed by human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), few oocytes were collected during the reproductive and non‐reproductive seasons. In comparison, the number of ovulated oocytes was dramatically enhanced by the administration of IASe, followed by isolation of ovulated oocytes 24 hr after 30 IU hCG administration. The IVF oocytes that were in vitro cultured (IVC) with medium containing serum further developed to the 2‐ and/or 4‐cell stage using both fresh and frozen‐thawed sperm. In conclusion, we successfully established an alternative protocol for collecting ovulated oocytes from wild large Japanese field mice by administering IASe and hCG during both the reproductive and non‐reproductive seasons. This study is the first to develop IVF–IVC wild large Japanese field mice beyond the 2‐ and/or 4‐cell stage in vitro using fresh and cryopreserved sperm. This approach could be used in other species of wild or endangered mice to reduce the number of animals used for experiments, or in maintaining stocks of germ cells or embryos.
Use and safety of riboflavin and UV light‐treated platelet transfusions in children over a five‐year period: focusing on neonates
Authors: Jimenez‐Marco Teresa , Garcia‐Recio Marta , Girona‐Llobera Enrique 
Published: October 2019

BACKGROUNDThere are very few published reports about the use and safety of pathogen reduction technology (PRT) based on riboflavin and UV light for platelet (PLT) transfusion in children.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSA two‐part study was conducted: 1) a study investigating the safety of PLTs treated with riboflavin and UV light‐PRT transfused to 379 children and 1,980 adults over a 5‐year period; 2) an observational study evaluating the efficacy of PLT use in 132 neonates transfused with PRT‐treated PLT compared with 99 neonates receiving standard PLTs over two 5‐year periods.RESULTSThe rate of adverse reactions related to transfusions with PRT‐treated PLTs was found to be slightly higher in adults than in children, although not statistically significant (0.19% vs. 0.12%; p = 0.85). All PLT transfusion events in children were mild.From 2013 to 2017, 379 children received 4,236 riboflavin and UV light‐treated PLTs. Hemato‐oncology patients received the most PLT transfusions (61.2%), followed by critically ill children in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) (24.6%), and neonates in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) (10.5%). A significant increase in PLT transfusions was found in 132 neonates transfused with 458 PRT‐treated PLTs compared with 99 neonates receiving 176 standard PLTs, measuring PLT use/patient (p = 0.031) and total PLT dose/patient (p = 0.041).CONCLUSIONSRiboflavin and UV light‐based PRT for PLTs seems to be safe for children. Neonates required a higher number of PLT transfusions when these were PRT‐treated rather than standard. A long‐term follow‐up for chronically transfused children and randomized clinical trials are needed.
Sensitivity and specificity of passive immune‐basophil activation test to detect allergic transfusion reactions
Authors: Yasui Kazuta , Takihara Yoshihiro , Matsuyama Nobuki , Kato Hidefumi , Oka Kazuhiko , Imada Kazunori , Ueyama Atsuko , Kimura Takafumi , Hirayama Fumiya 
Published: October 2019

BACKGROUNDThe basophil activation test (BAT), performed with patient blood samples and supernatants from transfused blood, was developed to elucidate the mechanistic relationship between transfusion and the resultant allergic transfusion reactions (ATRs). This test cannot be performed on myelosuppressed patients and neonates because of the absence of basophils. Therefore, we devised the passive immune basophil activation test (pi‐BAT) using patients’ plasma and residual transfused blood as sources of immunoglobulin E and allergen, respectively, and the basophils of healthy volunteers served as a source of the responder cells. The sensitivity and specificity of the pi‐BAT, however, remained largely unknown.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSIn this study, the pi‐BAT was performed on 31 patients with nonhemolytic transfusion reactions including nine non‐ATR and 22 ATR (12 mild and 10 moderate‐to‐severe) cases to examine its sensitivity and specificity.RESULTSNine of the 10 cases with moderate‐to‐severe ATR tested positive, whereas all the non‐ATR cases negative, strongly indicating immunoglobulin E and allergens are involved in the pathogenesis underlying the blood transfusion‐triggered adverse effects.CONCLUSIONThus, we propose that pi‐BAT can be used to detect moderate‐to‐severe ATRs and their underlying mechanisms.
Er:YAG laser vs. sharp debridement in management of chronic wounds: Effects on pain and bacterial load
Authors: Hajhosseini Babak , Chiou Grace J. , Dori Gretchen , Fukaya Eri , Chandra Venita , Meyer Shannon , Gurtner Geoffrey C. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractChronic wounds affect roughly 6.5 million patients in the US annually. Current standard of therapy entails weekly sharp debridement. However, the sharp technique is associated with significant pain, while having minimal impact on the bioburden. Our study proposes the Er:YAG laser as an alternative method of debridement that may decrease procedural pain, reduce bioburden, and potentially improve overall healing. This pilot study was performed as a prospective, randomized, controlled, crossover clinical trial, containing two groups: (1) one group underwent single laser debridement session first, followed by single sharp debridement session one week later; and (2) the other group underwent single sharp debridement session first, followed by single laser debridement session one week later. Variables analyzed included pain during debridement, pre‐ and post‐debridement wound sizes, pre‐ and post‐debridement bacterial loads and patient preference. Twenty‐two patients were enrolled (12 patients in Group 1, plus 10 patients in Group 2). The mean pain score for patients undergoing laser debridement was 3.0 ± 1.7 vs. 4.8 ± 2.6 for those undergoing sharp debridement (p = 0.003). The mean percent change in wound size 1‐week post‐laser debridement was −20.8% ± 80.1%, as compared with −36.7% ± 54.3% 1‐week post‐sharp debridement (p = 0.6). The percentage of patients who had a bacterial load in the low/negative category increased from 27.3% to 59.1% immediately after laser debridement (p = 0.04), vs. 54.5% to 68.2% immediately after sharp debridement (p = 0.38). Moreover, there was a sustained decrease in bacterial load 1‐week post‐laser debridement, as compared with no sustained decrease 1‐week post‐sharp debridement (p < 0.02). Overall, 52.9% of patients preferred laser debridement vs. 35.3% for sharp debridement. We believe that Er:YAG laser serves as a promising technology in chronic wounds, functioning as a potentially superior alternative to sharp debridement, the current standard of therapy.
Total‐evidence phylogeny of the owlflies (Neuroptera, Ascalaphidae) supports a new higher‐level classification
Authors: Jones Joshua R. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractThe first large‐scale, total‐evidence phylogeny of the owlflies (Neuroptera, Ascalaphidae) is presented. A combined morphological and molecular dataset was analysed under several analytical regimes for 76 exemplars of Myrmeleontiformia (Psychopsidae, Nymphidae, Nemopteridae, Myrmeleontidae, Ascalaphidae), including 57 of Ascalaphidae. At the subordinal level, the families were recovered in all analyses in the form Psychopsidae + (Nymphidae + (Nemopteridae + (Myrmeleontidae + Ascalaphidae). In the DNA‐only maximum‐likelihood analysis, Ascalaphidae were recovered as paraphyletic with respect to the Myrmeleontidae and the tribe Ululodini. In both the parsimony and Bayesian total‐evidence analyses, however, the latter with strong support, traditional Ascalaphidae were recovered as monophyletic, and in the latter, Stilbopteryginae were placed as the immediate sister group. The long‐standing subfamilies Haplogleniinae and Ascalaphinae were not recovered as monophyletic in any analysis, nor were several of the included tribes of non‐ululodine Ascalaphinae. The Ululodini were monophyletic and well supported in all analyses, as were the New World Haplogleniinae and, separately, the African/Malagasy Haplogleniinae. The remaining Ascalaphidae, collectively, were also consistently cohesive, but included a genus that until now has been placed in the Haplogleniinae, Protidricerus. Protidricerus was discovered to express a well‐developed pleurostoma, a feature previously only encountered in divided‐eye owlflies. The feature traditionally used to differentiate the Haplogleniinae and Ascalaphinae, the entire or divided eye, can no longer be regarded as a spot‐diagnostic synapomorphy to separate these groups within the family. A new subfamilial classification based on these results is proposed and includes the following five subfamilies: Albardiinae, Ululodinae, Haplogleniinae, Melambrotinae and Ascalaphinae. In addition, the monophyletic containing group (Myrmeleontidae + (Palparidae + (Stilbopterygidae + Ascalaphidae))) is elevated to the rank of superfamily, as Myrmeleontoidea, in order to accommodate much‐needed taxonomic and nomenclatural restructuring anticipated to occur within the Ascalaphidae in the future. A list of genera included in each subfamily of Ascalaphidae is provided.
Where do patients with MRI-confirmed single-level radiculopathy experience pain, and what is the clinical interpretability of these pain patterns? A cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy study
Authors: Albert Hanne B. , Hansen Jeanette Kaae , Søgaard Helle , Kent Peter 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackgroundClinicians nominate the distribution of leg pain as being important in diagnosing nerve root involvement. This study aimed to identify: (i) common unisegmental radicular pain patterns and whether they were dermatomal, and (ii) whether these radicular pain patterns assisted clinician discrimination of the nerve root level involved.MethodsA cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy study of adult patients with radicular leg pain at a hospital in Denmark. All patients had positive neurological signs (average 2.8 signs - hypoalgesia, diminished reflexes, muscle weakness, positive Straight Leg Raise test).Part 1 (pain patterns) was a secondary analysis of baseline pain pattern data collected during a clinical trial. The pain charts of 93 patients with an MRI and clinically confirmed single-level disc herniation with nerve root compression were digitised and layered to form a composite picture of the radicular patterns for the L5 and S1 nerve roots, which were then compared to published dermatomes.In Part 2 (clinical utility) we prospectively measured the discriminative ability of the identified pain patterns. The accuracy was calculated of three groups of six clinicians at classifying the nerve root affected in a randomized sequence of 53 patients, when not shown, briefly shown or continuously shown the composite pain patterns. In each group were two chiropractors, two medical doctors and two physiotherapists.ResultsThere was a wide overlap in pain patterns from compromised L5 and S1 nerve roots but some distinguishing features. These pain patterns had approximately 50 to 80% overlap with published dermatomes. Clinicians were unable to determine with any accuracy above chance whether an individual pain drawing was from a person with a compromised L5 or S1 nerve root, and use of the composite pain drawings did not improve that accuracy.ConclusionsWhile pain distribution may be an indication of radiculopathy, pain patterns from L5 or S1 nerve root compression only approximated those of sensory dermatomes, and level-specific knowledge about radicular pain patterns did not assist clinicians’ diagnostic accuracy of the nerve root impinged. These results indicate that, on their own, pain patterns provide very limited additional diagnostic information about which individual nerve root is affected.
Correlates of stunting among under-five children in Bangladesh: a multilevel approach
Authors: Sultana Papia , Rahman Md. Mahfuzur , Akter Jahanara 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
Child malnutrition still remains a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in Bangladesh. This study aims to determine the prevalence and identify the associated risk factors of child malnutrition in Bangladesh using multilevel logistic regression model on data from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS), 2014.

Methods
A total sample of 6965 children aged 0–59 months was extracted from BDHS 2014. We performed descriptive analysis and multilevel generalized linear regression analysis with clustered data structure.

Results
Our findings show that among children the prevalence of moderate and severe values was respectively: 25 and 12% for stunting; 11 and 3.1% for wasting; 25 and 7.9% for underweight. The probability of stunting increased with age, with highest rate among children aged 36–47 months, which was significantly higher than children aged less than 6 months (OR = 6.71, 95% CI = 4.46, 10.10). Female children are found to be 11% less likely to be stunted than male children (OR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.78, 1.02). Children with birth interval less than 24 months were significantly more likely to be stunted than children of first birth by 36% (OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.11, 1.67). Mothers with a normal BMI were 16% less likely to have children with stunting compared to mothers who are underweight (OR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.76, 0.93). Other factors which were associated with a higher risk of stunting included parents with lower educational levels, children from the poorest wealth index, and mothers aged less than 20 years as first birth.

Conclusion
Government and non-government organization should generate effective program to aware women of reproductive age about adverse effect of short birth interval, and to aware parents about standard height and weight according to age and gender of children. Overall, necessary steps may be taken to make people educated and to reduce household wealth inequality to improve nutritional status of children.
Diffuse uveitis and chorioretinal changes after yellow fever vaccination: a re-emerging epidemic
Authors: Marinho Paula M. , Nascimento Heloisa , Romano Andre , Muccioli Cristina , Belfort Rubens 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
With increasing incidence of yellow fever, mass campaign vaccinations are underway and little ophthalmological alterations have been reported in literature, specially regarding non-combined vaccines.

Case presentation
We report the case of a patient with no previous ocular or systemic diseases whom received a single dose of yellow fever vaccination and developed haematological, hepatic and renal alterations progressing with a later onset bilateral asymmetric diffuse uveitis. Ophthalmological findings included fine keratic precipitates scattered throughout the cornea and mild vitritis. Multimodal evaluation showed subtle puntiform choriocapillaris changes with decreased vascular density associated. The patient had a good visual outcome after mild oral prednisone dose, but the image findings have not presented remission.

Conclusions
Clinicians should be aware of clinical and subclinical ocular manifestations such as subtle puntiform choriocapillaris changes as possible vaccine-related adverse events with potential to impact vision.
Factors associated with irritable bowel syndrome among medical students at Ain Shams University
Authors: Elhosseiny Doaa , Mahmoud Nehal Elfawy , Manzour Ayat F. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackgroundIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common and potentially disabling gastrointestinal disorders. The pathogenesis of this disorder remains obscure. However, many etiological explanations point toward bacterial etiology. Also, several studies have documented that psychological and social factors may play a role. Medical education is among the most challenging and stressful education, and this may predispose to high rates of IBS.ObjectivesThe aims of this study are to estimate the frequency of IBS in a selected sample of students of Faculty of Medicine in Ain Shams University and to find out the determinants associated with this disorder.Study designA cross-sectional study was carried out among medical students from October 2017 to February 2018 at Faculty of Medicine—Ain Shams University. All participants were asked to complete a confidential self-administered questionnaire. An interview questionnaire was used for diagnosis of IBS according to Rome III criteria, while morbid anxiety and depression were diagnosed by using the Arabic version of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).ResultsThree hundred eighty-two students completed the questionnaire. The frequency of IBS was 31.7% with higher proportion among females and among students with positive family history of IBS. However, IBS was significantly less prevalent among students practicing regular exercise. Lastly, based on (HADS), there was a statistical significant relationship between IBS and anxiety (p < 0.05), but not depression.ConclusionThe study revealed that around 31% of the studied group was suffering from IBS. Female gender, suffering from anxiety, and positive family history of IBS were the main associated factors for IBS. Screening of all medical students in the faculty for IBS is suggested. Providing psychological and emotional support along with stress management is highly recommended.
Efficacy of probiotic in perennial allergic rhinitis under five year children: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Ahmed Mubashir , Billoo Abdul Gaffar , Iqbal Khalid 
Published: October 2019

Objective: To determine the efficacy of probiotic (Lactobacillus Paracasei, LP-33) and compare it with cetirizine for the treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis in under five year’s children.
Methods: The randomised clinical trial was conducted at Kharadar General Hospital, Karachi, from Dec 2016 to Nov 2017. Children aged 6 to 60 months, clinically presented with allergic rhinitis were included in the study. Total 212 children, randomized into intervention group A (received probiotic LP-33) and control group B (received cetirizine) for six weeks, were included in the analysis. Baseline allergic rhinitis symptoms (rhinorrhea, sneezing, nasal blocking, coughing, feeding & sleeping difficulties) were assessed after two and six weeks follow up and correlated both groups by using Pearson chi-square test. A p value of <0.05 were considered statistically significant.
Results: Total 212 children were analysed, out of them 113 (53.3%) were male. Mean age of study participant was 26 ± 16.64 months and mean body weight was 10.1 ± 3.26 Kg. More than 95% cases have shown significant improvement in their baseline symptoms (rhinorrhea, sneezing, nasal blocking, coughing, feeding difficulties and sleeping difficulties) in both intervention (L-33 Probiotic) and control (Cetirizine) groups. Statistically there was no difference in effectiveness of probiotic and cetirizine treatment for perennial allergic rhinitis (P > 0.05).
Conclusions: Probiotic (LP-33) was equally effective as cetirizine in under five year’s children for the treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis. Probiotic has additional benefit to treat allergic rhinitis without causing any major side effect in children reported by the study.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.6.744
How to cite this:Ahmed M, Billoo AG, Iqbal K. Efficacy of probiotic in perennial allergic rhinitis under five year children: A randomized controlled trial. Pak J Med Sci. 2019;35(6):1538-1543. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.6.744
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.