bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Diabetes Mellitus and Other Comorbidities: Outcome among Covid-19 Patients in Kerala: A Retrospective Observational Study
Authors: Abraham Rahael , Biju Asha , Ittyachen Abraham M. 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACT

Background:
Covid-19 was declared by the WHO as a pandemic in 2020; India was also severely affected. Diabetes, a major lifestyle disorder, has seen its prevalence rate rising in developing countries. India is home to the world’s second-largest population of diabetes. Several studies have reported greater severity and mortality of Covid-19 in diabetic patients.

Methodology:
This was a hospital-based retrospective study done in a rural-based medical college in Kerala State. Data was collected using a semi-structured proforma and analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences software version 25. The study was part of the STS research program of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Results:
There were 567 patients in the study. Those with pre-existing diabetes had a worse outcome compared to those with newly detected diabetes. The presence of CKD was associated with a poor outcome. Patients admitted to the ICU, and those on assisted ventilation also had a lower survival rate; within the subgroup, those on non-invasive ventilation had a better outcome.

Conclusion:
Mortality in Covid-19 is multifactorial. Those with diabetes have a poor outcome. Comorbidities have been reported to confer a high mortality rate in Covid-19 but this was not so in our study (except for CKD). Variability in outcome with respect to comorbidities and better outcomes in those who were non-invasively ventilated calls for more research to establish the relationship between pre-existing conditions and severity of disease. The use of non-invasive ventilation could also provide succor to resource-limited communities.
Depression and its role in adherence to anti-retroviral treatment in people living with HIV and AIDS in Chennai
Authors: Kanakaraj Ranjani , Umamaheswari R , Subramaniam Sudharshini 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACT

Context:
The AIDS epidemic has drastically reduced in India since it was first identified in 1986, largely due to the widespread availability of anti-retroviral treatment (ART). Management of HIV is currently more focussed on long term morbidities, including mental health. Depression is the most common co-morbidity seen in people living with HIV. Depression is found to negatively affect patient adherence to ART. Poor adherence to ART leads to drug resistance and susceptibility to opportunistic infections.

Aims:
The purpose of this study is to find the prevalence of depression among people living with HIV and to study the correlation between depression and adherence to ART.

Setting and Design:
The study was conducted in the ART centre at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai, between August and October 2022.

Methods and Materials:
Patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used to identify depression, and the Adult AIDS clinical trials group (AACTG) questionnaire was used to identify adherence.

Statistical Analysis Used:
Data were entered in MS Excel and were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Version 16. The association between categorical data were analysed using Chi-square and Fisher exact test. The correlation between adherence and depression was done using the Spearman correlation.

Results:
The prevalence of depression was found to be 20.2%. A mild negative correlation was found between depression and adherence. Depression was found to have a significant correlation with women, unemployed, widowed, divorced individuals, and those with diabetes mellitus and tuberculosis.

Conclusion:
Depression is an important risk factor for adherence to ART. Though severe depression was not found in this study, mild and moderate depression was associated with reduced adherence to ART. Treating depression is likely to improve adherence and the overall wellbeing of patients with HIV and AIDS.
Correlation of Serum Calcium with Severity and Outcomes in Patients of COVID-19 Pneumonia
Authors: Fatima Jalees , Shukla Vaibhav , Siddiqi Zeba , Kumar Devendra , Mateen Saboor , Gupta Akhilesh Bandhu 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACT

Background:
Calcium is an essential electrolyte with critical physiological functions. Recently, it has been implicated in the pathogenesis and outcomes of COVID-19. This retrospective study was conducted to estimate serum ionic calcium and its correlation with clinical severity, inflammatory markers, and in-hospital outcomes in moderate to severe COVID-19 patients.

Methods:
We retrospectively analyzed data from 377 COVID-19 patients, aged between 23 and 79 years, with a mean age of 54.17±11.53 years. Severity of the disease was determined using ICMR criteria. Parameters including age, gender, inflammatory markers, calcium levels, and clinical outcomes were assessed.

Results:
The study showed a prevalence of moderate and severe COVID-19 in 58.1% and 41.9% patients, respectively. Severity was significantly associated with younger age, higher mean inflammatory markers, notably IL-6, procalcitonin, D-Dimer, and lower ionic and total calcium levels, as well as vitamin D levels. Mortality and referral rate were significantly higher in the severe group. Hypocalcemia was prevalent in 39% of the patients and was significantly associated with disease severity, ARDS, and mortality. On multivariate assessment, only age and ionic calcium were significantly associated with COVID-19 severity.

Conclusion:
Lower serum ionic calcium levels are associated with increased severity and poor outcomes, including higher mortality in COVID-19 patients, underscoring the potential role of calcium as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in COVID-19 pneumonia and may be an important factor in various other forms of pneumonia.
Perception, practices and understanding of teenage pregnancy among the adolescent girls in India: A scoping review protocol
Authors: Panda Arpita , Parida Jayashree , Jena Susangita , Pradhan Abinash , Pati Sanghamitra , Kaur Harpreet , Acharya Subhendu Kumar 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACT

Introduction:
Teenage pregnancy is a subject of concern among adolescents. Inadequate knowledge and misperceptions about pregnancy are major contributing factors to teenage pregnancy. Without a proper understanding, adolescents are involved in unsafe sexual practices, which results in pregnancy. So, perception and understanding are important aspects to explore among adolescents. In this planned scope review, all eligible studies will be identified around the perception, practices, and understanding of teenage pregnancy among married and unmarried adolescent girls.

Methods:
The Arksey and O’Malley (2005) scoping review framework and the Joanna Briggs Institute Reviewers’ Manual (2015) will be used for the planned scoping review. The population, concept, and context strategy (PCC) will be used to develop the research question, search strategy, and eligibility criteria. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA ScR) will be used for the findings of the study. For the literature search, authors will use Google Scholar, PubMed, and ResearchGate electronic databases with specific words such as “teenage”, “adolescence”, “pregnancy”, “perception”, “knowledge”, “awareness” and “abortion”.

Result:
The planned scoping review will be helpful in addressing the lack of adolescent misperception, malpractices, and misunderstandings regarding teenage pregnancy. It can provide detailed information about teenage pregnancy in the Indian context.

Conclusion:
The evidence synthesis and gap analysis will be helpful in suggesting insights into the issue of teenage pregnancy, which will be helpful in future policies and programs.
Genital ulcer disease: Study of factors associated and utility of rapid diagnostic methods in current pandemic
Authors: Inamdar Dhanashree P. , Kulkarni Arun , Basavaraju Anuradha 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACT

Background:
Genital ulcer disease (GUD) is regarded as the most difficult conundrum for clinicians, as valid and rapid methods to diagnose them are limited, especially in India. The sexual behavior of an individual plays a role in the causation of GUD, and it depends on psychological, behavioral, and social well-being, which was significantly affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, the present study was undertaken to determine the etiology of genital ulcers by using simple, rapid microbiological methods and to study various factors associated with them.

Materials and Methods:
Various rapid tests like staining (Giemsa, Gram, and Diff Quick) and serology for antibody detection were used to diagnose agents causing genital ulcers among 71 suspected patients during the study period of 1 year. After due informed consent, sociodemographic and behavioral factors were recorded in proforma and analyzed.

Results:
Rapid tests could aid in diagnosing 47.9% of cases of GUD. Turnaround time was less than 60 minutes for all tests carried out. Genital herpes was the most common GUD followed by syphilis. Male gender (74.6%), age group of more than 34 years old (62%), literate (71.8%), and earning (70.4%) constituted most of the population presenting with GUD. Behavioral factors like promiscuity with a known person (83.1%) had a significant association (P 0.04) with GUD.

Conclusion:
Rapid diagnostic tests could assist in the early treatment of GUD cases. Factors like literacy, financial independence, and promiscuity with known individuals were associated with GUD in our study during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Care seeking behavior of the victims of unintentional injuries: A community-based study in a community development block of Purba Bardhaman District, West Bengal
Authors: Jha Sankar Nath , Das Soumyaneel , Chandra Archi , Dey Anwesha , Roy Ramaprasad 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACT

Background:
Care-seeking after injury episodes is generally associated with major uncertainties concerning its incidence, care, and cure/disappearance, and the price of care. Though the utilization pattern of the population is shaped by social, economic, cultural and political factors, it varies widely for the rich and the poor. With this background, a community-based epidemiological study was conducted to determine the care-seeking behavior of victims of unintentional injuries.

Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2023–September 2023 in the Bhatar block of Purba Bardhaman district, West Bengal. Cluster random sampling was applied to select a required sample of 555 individuals from 24 villages. Study tools used were predesigned and pretested schedules developed by the researchers with the help of guidelines for conducting community surveys on injuries provided by the World Health Organization (WHO). The study had approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee. Descriptive statistics were performed using SPSS V16.

Results:
Out of 49 injury episodes, 51.0% had received first aid. Out of 39 injury episodes seeking medical attention, a traditional practitioner, healer or bone setter was the type of first medical contact in the case of the majority of injury episodes (38.5%), followed by a hospital (35.9%).

Conclusion:
Low utilization of government healthcare facilities is a cause for concern. Reliance on unqualified informal healthcare providers is also a cause for concern. Our findings will help design community interventions to increase the provision of appropriate first aid in unintentional injuries.
Bridging the gap: Differences in hand hygiene compliance between parents and observers
Authors: Gilman Margaret , March Peter B. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Hand hygiene is critical in preventing health-care-acquired infections and is an element in patient satisfaction surveys. Programme managers identified discrepancies between compliance documented by hospital observers and parent satisfaction surveys. In 2021, programme managers set out to close the gap. The hand hygiene survey question was too specific. This question was changed to include all staff and methods of performing hand hygiene. Associate education was performed. Within 4 months, the gap between patient survey and observer-reported compliance was approximately 12%. This 12% discrepancy remained steady through 2022. The hand hygiene family engagement educational campaign was minimally successful.
Correlation between recurrent epistaxis and atherosclerotic retinal changes in hypertensive patients
Authors: Aboelazm Emadeldin I , Behery Abobakr M , El-Bradey Mohamed H , Saafan Magdy E 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Background
Hypertension has long been considered as the most common factor associated with epistaxis. However, the relation between epistaxis and hypertension is a matter of longstanding controversy.

Aim
This study investigated atherosclerosis as a potential risk factor in hypertensive patients presented with recurrent attacks of epistaxis, through fundoscopic examination and identification of the degree of hypertensive retinopathy in these patients.

Patients and methods
Observational cross-sectional study of 100 patients presented with epistaxis was conducted. These patients were divided into two groups; Group A with 50 known hypertensive patients with recurrent attacks of epistaxis and group B (the control group) with other 50 patients presented with epistaxis due to causes other than hypertension. All patients underwent monitoring of blood pressure, and rhinoscopic and fundoscopic examination.

Results
There was no correlation between the number of previous episodes of epistaxis the patients had and the finding of their fundoscopic examination, despite being a correlation between the elevated blood pressure and the frequency of epistaxis they had.

Conclusion
This study showed that the relation between recurrent hypertensive epistaxis and hypertensive atherosclerotic retinal changes was insignificant.
A comparative histopathological study of benign laryngeal lesions in smoker versus nonsmoker patients
Authors: Abdalla Mostafa M A , El Naggar Ahmed A , Shareef Mohamed M , Hegazy Hassan M 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Background
Benign vocal fold lesions are nonmalignant growths of abnormal tissue on the vocal folds. The most prevalent benign lesions are polyps, Singer’s nodules, papilloma, and cysts.

Aim
The aim of this study was to compare the histopathological changes in benign vocal fold lesions in smoker versus nonsmoker patients.

Patients and methods
This study was performed at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Tanta University Hospital. It was carried out from July 2020 to July 2021 on 40 patients, who were divided into two main groups: group 1, nonsmoker patients, and group 2, smoker patients.

Results
This is a cross-sectional study that was carried out on 40 patients in the 20–70-year age range, of either sex. Using clinical diagnosis and indirect laryngoscopy, all patients were chosen if they had benign vocal fold lesions done at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Tanta University Hospital.

Conclusion
A comparative analysis of the vocal fold polyps in smokers and nonsmokers was done in the current study. In comparison with nonsmokers, smokers’ polyps had a higher incidence of keratinization and edema, according to histopathological analysis. Additionally, smokers’ polyps had more hyaline degeneration than nonsmokers’ polyps fold. These changes most likely reflect the damage that cigarette smoke did to the vocal polyps’ epithelium and lamina propria.
Intraoperative dexmedetomidine infusion might preserve cognitive functions of elderly patients undergoing spinal surgeries under general anesthesia
Authors: Khashaba Mohamed A , Salman Samar A 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Background
Elderly patients are more vulnerable to anesthesia-related cognitive dysfunction. Spinal surgery consumes long theater time that may affect patients’ outcome especially the elderly ones. Anesthetic manipulations were supposed to modulate cognitive outcomes of patients.

Aims
Evaluation of the effect of intraoperative (IO) dexmedetomidine (DEX) infusion during spinal surgery on the incidence and severity of postoperative cognitive disorders (POCD).

Patients and methods
152 patients were divided into Group P received a placebo infusion and Group D DEX infusion (0.5 µg/kg/h) with induction of anesthesia until wound closure. Cognitive function (CF) was assessed using Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) pre- and postoperatively. The median value of CF deficit in 4-week PO was calculated, and its correlation to the type of IO infusions and patients’ data were evaluated. The effect of DEX infusion on the incidence and severity of POCD is the study outcome.

Results
DEX infusion significantly decreased the incidence and severity of POCD with a significantly lower deficit in the MMSE score of patients of group D. The MMES deficit was positively correlated to age, body mass index (BMI), presence of systemic diseases, and infusion type. The use of DEX, young age, and low BMI are significant predictors for normal CF.

Conclusion
DEX infusion for elderly patients undergoing major surgeries of long operative time and predicted blood loss significantly reduced the incidence and severity of POCD. The used dose of DEX was appropriate for preserving CF without hemodynamic effects.
Experimental Study on Turbine Blade Material
Authors: Jessy Michla J.R  , Yugatheeswaran S  , Mohamed Nihaj M.B  
Published: April 2024

This experimental study investigates the nitriding effects on microstructure of wrought 17-4 PH stainless steel. Nitriding was carried out at 560 °C for 2 hours, resulting in significant improvements in hardness. Nitriding improves the hardness on the surface of the 17-4 PH steel and remains constant in the core. As a result of nitriding the harness increased 3.5 times the hardness of the wrought alloy. Microstructural analysis of both untreated and nitrided samples using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) revealed the formation of a nitride layer. The results show a relationship between nitriding temperature and nitride layer thickness, with higher temperatures leading to thicker layers.
Wuchernde Wurzeln
Authors: Schaal René 
Published: April 2024

Frankfurt a.M. Die Kohlhernie gilt als die am stärksten ertragsmindernde Krankheit im intensiven Rapsanbau. Die Bodenverseuchung durch den Pilz Plasmodiophora brassicae kann bis zu 20 Jahre anhalten. Rund 8 Prozent der deutschen Rapsanbauflächen, insbesondere in Schleswig-Holstein und Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, sind von der bodenbürtigen Krankheit betroffen.
A INTEGRAÇÃO DA TECNOLOGIA NO ESPAÇO ESCOLAR: DESAFIOS E OPORTUNIDADES
Authors: Felix Henrique da Silva , Felix Alana Mirela Cunha , Corrêa Edson José dos Santos , Coutinho Diogenes José Gusmão 
Published: April 2024

O uso da tecnologia, bem como seu avanço, tem moldado nossa sociedade, impactando não apenas a forma como vivemos, mas também como aprendemos. Este artigo explora os desafios enfrentados e as oportunidades oferecidas pela introdução das tecnologias no espaço escolar, destacando a importância de uma integração cuidadosa da tecnologia na educação, reconhecendo seu potencial transformador para o processo de ensino/aprendizagem. Para atingir tal objetivo, utilizamos o método qualitativo de revisão bibliográfica de artigos acadêmicos, livros e documentos relacionados à integração da tecnologia na educação. Como resultado, propomos que ao superar os desafios enfrentados, surgem oportunidades valiosas na educação.
Bottom fishery impact generates tracer peaks easily confused with bioturbation traces in marine sediments
Authors: Forster Stefan , Runkel Claudia , Lemke Josephin , Pülm Laura , Powilleit Martin 
Published: April 2024

Abstract. In the process of reworking sediments and thus shaping biogeochemical processes, marine bottom-dwelling animals are thought to play a pivotal role in many benthic environments. Bioturbation (particle reworking) includes the downward transport of particles into the sediment as a major process and is sometimes detected as subsurface maxima (peaks) of specific particulate substances (tracers). Here, we document the fact that subsurface peaks, such as those typically attributed to biological particle transport in sediments, may equally be generated by otter boards in bottom-trawling fishery. Boards can generate tracer peaks whereby they scoop sediment from the surface, flip it over, and deposit it onto the adjacent seafloor. These peaks are indistinguishable from those generated by benthic fauna burying surface material at sediment depth. We demonstrate this for the particle tracer chlorophyll a in silty sand from the western Baltic Sea with fauna that generally do not burrow deep in a global comparison. Our inability to distinguish the driving processes generating the peaks indicates limits to our understanding of the magnitude and spatial extent of bioturbation traces in this environment. It also poses a problem for the assessment of fishery resource use and benthic processes. However, based on natural fauna abundance, behavioral information, and fishery intensity data, we identify macrofauna and not otter boards as the dominant cause of peaks at the sites investigated here.
Unraveling phenological and stomatal responses to flash drought and implications for water and carbon budgets
Authors: Corak Nicholas K. , Otkin Jason A. , Ford Trent W. , Lowman Lauren E. L. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract. In recent years, extreme droughts in the United States have increased in frequency and severity, underlining a need to improve our understanding of vegetation resilience and adaptation. Flash droughts are extreme events marked by the rapid dry down of soils due to lack of precipitation, high temperatures, and dry air. These events are also associated with reduced preparation, response, and management time windows before and during drought, exacerbating their detrimental impacts on people and food systems. Improvements in actionable information for flash drought management are informed by atmospheric and land surface processes, including responses and feedbacks from vegetation. Phenologic state, or growth stage, is an important metric for modeling how vegetation modulates land–atmosphere interactions. Reduced stomatal conductance during drought leads to cascading effects on carbon and water fluxes. We investigate how uncertainty in vegetation phenology and stomatal regulation propagates through vegetation responses during drought and non-drought periods by coupling a land surface hydrology model to a predictive phenology model. We assess the role of vegetation in the partitioning of carbon, water, and energy fluxes during flash drought and carry out a comparison against drought and non-drought periods. We selected study sites in Kansas, USA, that were impacted by the flash drought of 2012 and that have AmeriFlux eddy covariance towers which provide ground observations to compare against model estimates. Results show that the compounding effects of reduced precipitation and high vapor pressure deficit (VPD) on vegetation distinguish flash drought from other drought and non-drought periods. High VPD during flash drought shuts down modeled stomatal conductance, resulting in rates of evapotranspiration (ET), gross primary productivity (GPP), and water use efficiency (WUE) that fall below those of average drought conditions. Model estimates of GPP and ET during flash drought decrease to rates similar to what is observed during the winter, indicating that plant function during drought periods is similar to that of dormant months. These results have implications for improving predictions of drought impacts on vegetation.