bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of efficacy and safety of spironolactone on clinical, metabolic and insulin sensitivity parameters among vitamin D replete women with PCOS: An observational study
Authors: Wani Sobia Nisar , Wani Imtiyaz Ahmad , Wani Ishfaq Ahmad , Sofi Aafia Rashid 
Published: March 2019

Objective: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the commonest endocrine disorders affecting 5-10% women in the reproductive age. PCOS is characterized by irregular menstrual cycles, chronic an-ovulation and hyperandrogenism in addition to many metabolic manifestations and some cancers. The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of spironolactone among PCOS women supplemented with vitamin D to make them vitamin D replete.
Material & methods: Sixty eligible women who qualified Rotterdam 2003 criteria and satisfied inclusion /exclusion criteria and had been assigned two groups: Group I: spironolactone (50 mg daily) and cholecalciferol 60000 IU every two weeks and group II: spironolactone 50 mg daily. All women were assessed for clinical, laboratory, and safety parameters before, 3 and 6 months after the treatment.
Results: Mean age, number of menstrual cycles per year, anthropometric parameters; FG score, metabolic parameters and hormonal profiles were comparable in the groups at baseline. Menstrual cycle frequency improved (8.2±4.6 to 14±4.5 cycles/year vs. 7.9 ± 3.2 to 12.9 ± 6.214.0 ± 4.5) significantly at 6 months after therapy with combination of spironolactone and cholecalciferol vs. spironolactone alone while as FG score decreased significantly (12.4±4.3 to 8.6±1.4 6 vs. 12 ± 3.88 to 10.7 ± 2.9 at 6 months) in the combination. Serum total testosterone levels also showed a significant decline (56.5±20.3 to 38.7±13.6 vs. 57.4 ± 52.1 to 43.8 ± 29.7 at 6 months in the combination. Insulin sensitivity showed a non-significant favorable trend in the combination. There was no significant effect on weight, BMI, BP, LH and FSH levels.
Conclusion: The results of the observational study that women with PCOS rendered vitamin D replete have better efficacy of spironolactone on clinical, metabolic and insulin sensitivity parameters among women with PCOS without increasing adverse event rate.
Inter & Active Effect of Tillage and Nitrogen Fertilizer on Maize (Zea mays L.) Performance on a Humid Alfisol Southwestern, Nigeria
Authors: Olojugba Michael Rotimi , Olufemi Ibiloye, John 
Published: March 2019

A field trial was conducted in 2017 to investigate the interactive effect of the land preparation methods and different rates of nitrogenous fertilizer on maize performance and yield southwestern Nigeria. The experiment was a 3 by 3 factorial; conducted in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in a split plot management with tillage systems (T): Convectional tillage (CT), Reduced tillage (RT) and No-tillage (NT) as the main plot while nutrient amendments (N) rates (0, 50, and 120 Kg N.Ha-1) as sub-plots factor and all treatments were replicated three times. Growth and yield parameters were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). No tillage had the least plant height, stem diameter and stover weight but had the highest grains yield. Grain yield were not statistically different in all the tillage practices at different N rates applied but 60 kg N ha-1 seems best for maize production in the study area.
Integrated Nutrient Management of Rice Soil in Hilly Region of Meghalaya, India
Authors: C. Warjri Rupabakor , Majumder Sayan , Kumar Ghosh Gautam , Saha Dipankar 
Published: March 2019

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of integrated use of inorganic fertilizers (S and Zn coupled with recommended doses of NPK) in conjunction with organic manure (FYM) on availability of different macro and micro elements including organic carbon in a hilly soil of Meghalaya, India. Two Field trials were conducted consecutively for 2 years (2013-14 and 2014-15) with Rice variety Arize-6444 at Nongpoh village in Ri-Bhoi District of Meghalaya to fulfil the objectives of the experiment. The field experiment was conducted following Randomized Block Design. Altogether 11 treatments with 3 replications were included in the experiment. Results revealed that irrespective of treatments, exchangeable NH4+, soluble NO3‑, available P2O5 and K2O decreased with the period of crop growth. However, changes in organic C in soil showed an opposite trend of results. Regardless of treatments, organic C content enhanced with increment in the age of rice crop. Among the treatment combinations, significantly higher amount of exchangeable NH4+, soluble NO3-, available P2O5 and K2O is accumulated in the soil which received recommended doses of N, P and K along with FYM at 10 tonnes ha-1 as well as 40 kg S ha-1 and 5 kg Zn ha-1 (T8). Results further pointed out that balanced fertilization increased the availability of nutrients (particularly N, P and K) which maintained throughout the cropping season of rice. However, SO4-2-S content reduced with crop duration. No drastic variation is observed in DTPA-extractable Zn content in soil over the whole cropping season of rice. Incorporation of FYM in the treatment combinations improved and maintained available nutrients including organic C in soil particularly in the 2nd season of rice cultivation.
Anti-Hyperglycemic and Anti-Hyperlipidemic Potentials of Methanol Leaf Extracts of Aframomum melegueta and Piper guineense
Authors: Elizabeth Morakinyo Adetoun , Adenike Oyedepo Temitope , Babarinde S. O. , Adelowo J. M. , Oluokun Oyedapo Oluboade 
Published: March 2019

Aim: The study investigated the anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic potentials of methanol extracts of Piper guineense and Aframomum melegueta leaves with a view to utilizing the plants in the treatment and management of cardiovascular disorders.
Methodology: Twenty-eight healthy albino rats were randomly divided into seven equal groups: Group I received normal saline (2 ml/kg bwt); Group II received a single dose of alloxan(150 mg/kg bwt) intraperitoneally; Group III received alloxan (150 mg/kg bwt) + glibenclamide (5 mg/kg bwt);Group IV received alloxan (150 mg/kg bwt) +PG (200 mg/kg bwt); Group V received alloxan (150 mg/kg bwt) + PG (400 mg/kg bwt); Group VI received alloxan (150 mg/kg bwt) + AM 200 (mg/kg bwt); Group VII received alloxan (150 mg/kg bwt) + AM (400 mg/kg bwt). The blood glucose level was determined before and after treatment with the extracts. The lipid: (total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) were estimated using the Randox diagnostic kits.
Results: The results revealed that alloxan was able to induce hyperglycemia at 150 mg/kg bwt and post-treatment with P. guineense and A. melegueta at 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/ kg bwt were able to significantly lower the blood glucose level which was quite apparent in AM treated groups. Also, the extracts at 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg were able to bring a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in TC, TG and LDL concentrations when compared to the alloxan treated group with the highest reduction in AM treated groups.
Conclusion: These results revealed that the methanol extract of P. guineense and A. melegueta elicited anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic potentials of the extracts with the highest effect observed in A. melegueta treated rats.
Age Related Pattern of Awareness and Basic Knowledge on Zika Virus Disease among Women Visiting Children Immunization Unit in Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Southeast Nigeria
Authors: Ndibuagu Edmund O. , Okafor Innocent I. , Arinze-Onyia Sussan U. 
Published: March 2019

Background: Zika virus is an infective agent of significant Public Health importance, which re-emerged in 2015. It is transmitted through mosquito bite, and associated with microcephaly and some other neurological malformations in some babies of infected mothers.
Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the age-related pattern of the awareness and basic knowledge of Zika virus infection among women who bring children for immunization, in a teaching hospital, southeast Nigeria.
Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in the Immunization unit of a Teaching Hospital, Southeast Nigeria, between November 2016 and February 2017. It was a quantitative, observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study, involving randomly selected 256 women who brought children for immunization. Pre-tested, interviewer-administered, structured questionnaire was used; and data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 for windows.
Results: Highest number of respondents [112 (43.8%)] were from 30 to 39 age group, followed by those aged 20 to 29 years [108(42.2%)]. Up to 38.3% of respondents had never heard about Zika virus, though this was not statistically significant when compared to the 61.7% that were aware of Zika Virus Disease (P = 0.92). Highest number heard it through television [57(36.1%)]. Overall, respondents that were 20 to 29 years of age recorded mean percentage basic knowledge score of 54.6%, while those in the 30 to 39 years age range recorded 49.8%.
Conclusions: Many respondents either had never heard about Zika virus, and also many exhibited poor basic knowledge on Zika virus disease. It is therefore important to develop good strategies aimed at addressing these awareness and knowledge gaps among women of child-bearing age, who are mostly affected by Zika virus disease.
The Effect of Benniseed Oil (Sesamum indicum Linn) on Induced Hypercholesterolemia in Albino Rats
Authors: Olasunkanmi Tomisin Karen , Bolanle Ajayi Olubunmi , James Braimoh 
Published: March 2019

The study was designed to investigate the antioxidant and antitoxicological potential of Sesamum indicum Linn seed (benni seed) oil on hypercholesterolemic rat. Albino rats weighing between 120-130 g were divided into two groups, group 1, was fed with normal rat diet(normal control), groups 2 was fed 1% cholesterol and 20% soya bean oil for 3 weeks to induce hypercholesterolemic state. Group 2 was later divided into groups 2, 3 and 4, group 2 was untreated, groups 3 and 4 were later fed with 5% and 10% Sesamum indicum L. seed oil incorporated in normal rat diet for another 6 weeks respectively. Significant (P<0.05) increase in lipid peroxidation (TBARs) and reduction in superoxide dismutate (SOD) and catalase (CAT) was observed in the liver of the hypercholesterolemic rats as compared to the normal control. At the same time, the oxidative stress causes significant (P<0.05) increase in serum level of Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) of hypercholesterolemic rats.
Administering Sesamum indicum Linn seed oil significantly reduced (P<0.05), serum ALT, AST, ALP and lipid peroxidation, elevated the level of SOD and CAT in the liver of Sesamum oil treated hypercholesterolemic rats.
These findings indicate that Sesamum indicum Linn seed oil show possible prevention of hepatic stress by high cholesterol and free radical mediated oxidative stress in cells of experimental hypercholesterolemic rats.
Neopterin and Biochemical Parameters as Indicators of Predicting HIV Disease Progression and Treatment Response: A Cross-sectional Study in Ghana
Authors: Kwantwi Louis Boafo , Obirikorang Christian , Agyei Frempong Margaret , Quansah Dan Yedu 
Published: March 2019

Background: Surrogate markers have been identified to play significant role in the pathogenesis and prognosis of HIV infection. However, there is limited data on the utility of neopterin estimation in HIV infection. Therefore, the study sought to measure and ascertains the trends of serum neopterin and other biochemical parameters as indicators of predicting HIV disease progression and treatment response among HIV seropositive individuals.
Methods: A cross-sectional study with 298 HIV seropositive individuals consisting of 165 HIV on highly active antiretroviral treatment and 136 naïve highly active antiretroviral patients. Venous blood was drawn for the assay of neopterin and the other biochemical parameters.
Results: Neopterin was significantly lower (P<0.0001) in patients in the highly active antiretroviral therapy than those in the naïve highly active antiretroviral therapy group. Serum neopterin increased as the disease progresses and decreased as the duration of the therapy treatment increased (p=0.0001). At a cut of point of 54.5 nmol/L, neopterin gave a sensitivity of 97.5%, specificity of 95.9% and an area under the curve of 0.99.
Conclusion: Neopterin has shown to be to be good marker in predicting HIV disease progression especially in patients with CD4 counts less than 200mm-3 and a useful indicator of patient’s response to therapy treatment.
Attachment Styles, Marital Conflicts, Coping Strategies, and Sexual Satisfaction in Spouse Abused and Non- Abused Women
Authors: Fallah Maryam Yekeh , Talemi Abouzar Nouri , Bagheri Maedeh , Allameh Yasaman , Mazloumirad Mohammad , Zandnia Fatemeh , Gheitarani Bahram , Ghahari Shahrbanoo 
Published: March 2019

Introduction: Intimate partner violence refers to any behaviour within an intimate relationship that causes emotional, physical and sexual problems to victims. Coping strategy as significant factors in mental health is defined as behavioral and psychological attempts to control stress and confront stressful situations.
Aims: This study aimed to compare spouse abused and non- abused women in attachment styles, marital conflicts, coping strategies and sexual satisfaction.
Methods: This is a comparative study. Statistical population of study consisted of all women who had referred to healthcare centers in Alborz province during February-May 2017. All of women filled spouse abuse questionnaire and 300 c spouse abused women compared with 300 non- abused women. Both groups were similar in terms of age, education level, number of children, and living place using convenience sampling method. Sample members filled out Sanaee’s Marital Conflict Questionnaire, Endler and Parker (1990) Coping Strategies Inventory, Hudson et al. (1981) Sexual Satisfaction Scale, and Collins and Reid (1990) Attachment Scale. Data analyzed by t test, Pearson correlation coefficient, MANCOVA and Levin test through SPSS-21 Software.
Results: Results showed that spouse women had more marital conflicts, insecure attachment, dysfunctional coping strategies and less sexual satisfaction than non-abused women (0/000).
Conclusion: There were insecure attachment style, more marital conflicts, and dysfunctional coping strategies, less sexual satisfaction in spouse abused women.
Clinico-epidemiological and Socio-demographic Profile of HIV/AIDS Patients Diagnosed at a Tertiary Care Centre in Kashmir
Authors: Bashir Yousuf Ul , Farhana Anjum , Ahmed Junaid , Saleem Sheikh Mohammad , Shafi Huda 
Published: March 2019

Objectives: To study the Clinico-epidemiological and Socio-demographic profile of HIV/AIDS patients diagnosed at HIV clinic of Government Medical College and associated hospitals, Srinagar.
Methods: A total of 50220 individuals visited the said clinic and were enrolled for the study. The Screening was done using different Elisa's as advised by NACO and those confirmed as HIV positive were studied for their clinical spectrum and different demographic parameters.
Results: Out of a total of 50220 patients tested for HIV 1 and/or HIV 2 infection, 173 were detected seropositive for HIV 1. The mean age of presentation of the participants was 30.04 ± 7.1 years. Among the seropositive patients, 138 (79.7%) were married, 70(40.4%) were security personnel’s, 123 (71.09%) were from non-local population and 150 (86.7%) belonged to rural areas. The commonest mode of transmission was heterosexual route 126 (72.8%). Majority of the participants 91(52.6%) who were detected positive for HIV/AIDS were having CD4 count at presentation between 150-250/µl. The commonest symptoms among HIV/AIDS seropositive patients was fever. Furthermore, sero-positive patients also had secondary opportunistic infections among which pulmonary tuberculosis was most common.
Conclusion: The clinical and demographic profile of HIV/AIDS patients in Kashmir is largely similar to the rest of India. Kashmir no longer stands immune to the menace of HIV/AIDS. With increasing globalization, frequent travel and change in social values the state is likely to witness an alarming rise in new cases unless a multipronged approach is undertaken to control the spread.
Nonlinearities in transmission dynamics and efficient management of vector‐borne pathogens
Authors: Ginsberg Howard S. , Couret Jannelle 
Published: March 2019

AbstractIntegrated Pest Management (IPM) is an approach to minimizing economic and environmental harm caused by pests, and Integrated Vector Management (IVM) uses similar methods to minimize pathogen transmission by vectors. The risk of acquiring a vector‐borne infection is often quantified using the density of infected vectors. The relationship between vector numbers and risk of human infection is more or less linear when both vector numbers and pathogen prevalence in vectors are low, but the relationship is nonlinear when vector density and/or infection prevalence are high. Therefore, the density of infected vectors often does not accurately predict risk of human exposure to pathogens, and traditional estimates of the percent control often overestimate the level of protection from infection resulting from management programs. We suggest a modified estimator, percent protection, which more accurately quantifies protection against human infection resulting from a management intervention. Cost‐effectiveness of a management program is critical to protection of both public health and the environment, because the more efficiently available resources and funding are used, the fewer people get sick, and well‐targeted efficient management programs minimize the need for poorly targeted, expensive environmental interventions (e.g., broadscale pesticide applications) that tend to damage nontarget organisms and natural systems. Design of an efficient, cost‐effective IVM program requires knowledge of the cost‐effectiveness functions (the effectiveness of control methods at lowering vector bites and/or infection prevalence with different levels of application) of the various control methods to be applied. Alternative programs can be designed that optimize percent protection by integrating different control methods at different levels of investment, and environmental effects of these alternatives can be compared, allowing environmental considerations to be included explicitly in the decision process. IPM, IVM, and Adaptive Management share the characteristic that management decisions must be made with incomplete knowledge of the functioning of natural systems or the efficacies of interventions. IVM surveillance programs that assess the effects of individual control methods and of combinations of control methods on the numbers of vector bites and on infection prevalence in vectors can increase knowledge of pathogen transmission dynamics and provide information to improve program effectiveness in subsequent applications.
Response of net primary production to land use and climate changes in the middle‐reaches of the Heihe River Basin
Authors: Xiao Xingyuan , Li Xiubin , Jiang Tao , Tan Minghong , Hu Minyue , Liu Yaqun , Zeng Wen 
Published: March 2019

AbstractNet primary production (NPP) supplies matter, energy, and services to facilitate the sustainable development of human society and ecosystem. The response mechanism of NPP to land use and climate changes is essential for food security and biodiversity conservation but lacks a comprehensive understanding, especially in arid and semi‐arid regions. To this end, taking the middle‐reaches of the Heihe River Basin (MHRB) as an example, we uncovered the NPP responses to land use and climate changes by integrating multisource data (e.g., MOD17A3 NPP, land use, temperature, and precipitation) and multiple methods. The results showed that (a) land use intensity (LUI) increased, and climate warming and wetting promoted NPP. From 2000 to 2014, the LUI, temperature, and precipitation of MHRB increased by 1.46, 0.58°C, and 15.76 mm, respectively, resulting in an increase of 14.62 gC/m2 in annual average NPP. (b) The conversion of low‐yield cropland to forest and grassland increased NPP. Although the widespread conversion of unused land and grassland to cropland boosted both LUI and NPP, it was not conducive to ecosystem sustainability and stability due to huge water consumption and human‐appropriated NPP. Urban sprawl occupied cropland, forest, and grassland and reduced NPP. (c) Increase in temperature and precipitation generally improved NPP. The temperature decreasing <1.2°C also promoted the NPP of hardy vegetation due to the simultaneous precipitation increase. However, warming‐induced water stress compromised the NPP in arid sparse grassland and deserts. Cropland had greater NPP and NPP increase than natural vegetation due to the irrigation, fertilizers, and other artificial inputs it received. The decrease in both temperature and precipitation generally reduced NPP, but the NPP in the well‐protection or less‐disturbance areas still increased slightly.
Test and analysis of mechanics and permeation properties of raw coal
Authors: Yang Yu‐Shun , Zhang Dong‐Ming , Li Shu‐Jian , Chu Ya‐Pei , Yang Han 
Published: March 2019

AbstractIn this paper, we investigated the mechanics and permeation properties of the raw coal sample during loading and unloading process, and come to some conclusions: the permeability of the sample increases nonlinearly during the unloading confining pressure process. The larger the gas pressure is, the greater the increase range of the permeability will be. The larger the confining pressure unloading amplitude is, the greater the increase range of the permeability will be. In the loading process, the permeability and the axial strain of the specimen change in a “V” shape. As the gas pressure increases, the peak strength of the specimen gradually decreases, and fitted the gas pressure and the peak strength are accordance with the linear relationship. As the confining pressure increase, the peak strength of the sample gradually increases, and fitted the confining pressure and the peak strength are accordance with the exponential function. The internal friction angle of the coal sample was 43.22°, and the cohesion was 3.77 MPa. The relationship between the fitted gas pressure and internal friction angle, gas pressure and cohesion is in line with linear functions. Maintain an axial stress constant, unloaded confining pressure to a constant state of target value, the permeability of specimen shows a constant pressure boosting flow zone, the relationship between permeability and deviatoric stress is accordance with the ExpDec1 function during the process of unloading confining pressure and prepeak loading axial stress.