bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Comparative Study of Psychiatric Comorbidities in Patients of Head-and-Neck Cancer at Tertiary Care Hospital in North India
Authors: Meena Parth Singh , Jilowa Charan Sigh , Arora Jitendra , Prakash Prem , Jain Mahendra , Mahich Sushma , Rohilla Jitendra 
Published: May 2024

Objectives:
Head-and-neck cancer (HNC) is a collective term for cancers of the oral cavity, paranasal sinuses, pharynx, larynx, skin, and salivary glands. HNC is the most common cancer in males and the third-most common cancer in females in India. It is associated with various psychiatric comorbidities; depression, anxiety, and substance abuse being the most common, so the study was planned to assess psychiatric comorbidities in hydrogen cyanide (HCN) patients in comparison to healthy controls.

Materials and Methods:
After getting approval from the institutional ethics committee, a cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care center in North India. Participants recruited in the study after informed consent were of age 18 years and above, of either gender, undergoing treatment for HCN (198); their diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological examination as the study group and (140) sociodemographically matched participants as healthy controls. Participants with a history of organic brain disease, recent head trauma, or neurodegenerative disorders were excluded from the study. Sociodemographic profiles of participants were noted. For the assessment of psychiatric comorbidities, Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview-6 was used. The psychiatric diagnosis was confirmed by two consultants in accordance with International classifications of diseases (ICD)-10.

Results:
Most of the participants were males in their fifth decade. The most common psychiatric comorbidity in HCN patients was depression (27.3%), followed by adjustment disorder (14%). Tobacco was used by around half of patients with HNC, followed by alcohol use (16.1%).

Conclusions:
Psychiatric comorbidities were highly prevalent in HCN patients. Psychiatric disorders are known to affect both the prognosis, hospital stay, cost of treatment, and overall quality of life of cancer patients.
Epidemiological and Clinical Features of COVID-19 Confirmed Cases in Babel Governorate, Iraq
Authors: Baiee Hasan Alwan , Hussein Kahtan Hadi , Ismail Issam Salim , Abbas Mustafa Khudhair , Hammadi Ali Talib Abd 
Published: May 2024

Background:
SARS-CoV-2, a newly emergent virus which is related to SARS-CoV, caused the pandemic of COVID-19 in China to the world.

Objective:
The aim of this study was to describe the basic epidemiological and clinical features of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Babel Governorate and to find out the comorbidities and risk factors of severity of COVID-19 infection.

Materials and Methods:
This is an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study, conducted on a convenient sample of 222 participants selected from five referral district hospitals in Babel Governorate, over the period from May 12, 2020 to August 22, 2020. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data and to interview patients. Data were analyzed by using SPSS version 23.

Results:
The mean age ± SD was (49.92 ± 14.062 years) ranged between 10 and 89 years (median 50 years) with male predominance. The majority of the participants had comorbid conditions, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, and asthma. Fever constituted (85%) of symptoms followed mainly by persistent cough, loss of appetite, breathing difficulty, and diarrhea [(81%), (56.9%), (55%), and (42.3%)], respectively. In addition, 33.34% of the patients have SpO2 ≤ 92%, and two of the three patients have mild-to-moderate symptoms, and one-third considered either severe or critically ill cases of COVID-19.

Conclusion:
Elderly people with comorbidities are the most vulnerable to the infection of COVID-19. Smoking, obesity, traveling history, and working in healthcare facilities that contain cases of COVID-19 are risk factors leading to the occurrence of and exposure to COVID-19. People who have low level of education and are living in rural areas with big families tend to get infected mainly, and this may be due to their poor knowledge about the route of transmission and the importance of prevention measures.
A Clinicoepidemiological Study of Cerebral Palsy among Children Attending Medical Rehabilitation and Rheumatology Center
Authors: Khaleel Raed Farooq , Abdul-Aziz Rana Moayad , Katea Samah Sabar 
Published: May 2024

Background:
Cerebral palsy (CP) is an umbrella term used to accurately describe a group of permanent movement and posture disorders that cause activity limitations and are caused by nonprogressive disturbances in the developing fetal or infant’s brain.

Objective:
This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors, comorbidities, and associated clinical problems with CP.

Materials and Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted among children with CP who attended the Medical Rehabilitation and Rheumatology Center for the first time. A random sample of 76 children aged ≤1 to 5 years who were clinically diagnosed with CP was enrolled in this study. The data were collected between January 2021 and December 2021. Sociodemographics, etiology, risk factors associated with the neonatal period, factors related to obstetric histories, and CP classification were typically gathered from a questionnaire designed for this purpose.

Results:
The majority of participants were males, 63.2%, compared with females; 47.3% of infants were born at a low birth weight <2500 g. Two-thirds of children, 64.5%, were diagnosed with CP before 1 year. Neonatal jaundice was present in 56.6% of newborns. Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, 47.4%, is the most significant perinatal risk factor for CP. First-degree consanguineous marriage was observed in 35.5% of the studied sample. The mothers of 70, 92.2%, children with CP were multiparous. Most of the patients, 72.4%, had spastic CP, and quadriplegia was primarily reported in 51.3% of them.

Conclusions:
CP cannot be prevented in most cases, but the risk factors can be reduced. Early diagnosis gives the multidisciplinary team the opportunity for early intervention and rehabilitation.
Gene Expression of TNF-α among Iraqi COVID-19 Patients with a Different Severity Status
Authors: Farhan Siham Sahib , Tahmasebi Parisa , Al-Dahmoshi Hussein O. M. , Gatea Hayder Saeed 
Published: May 2024

Background:
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) individuals with varied severity group are affected by the cytokine storm brought on by SARS-CoV2 infection, which is a significant cause of acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Objective:
The goal of the current study was to examine tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) gene expression in COVID-19 at various severity levels.

Materials and Methods:
The study includes 140 divided into 105 COVID-19-positive patients (35 for each mild, moderate, and severe group) and 35 COVID-19-negative healthy people as control. COVID-19 positive patients had 46 males and 59 females, while COVID-19-negative healthy people included 16 males and 19 females. The separation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was achieved using Ficoll, and then Ribonucleic acid was extracted and converted to cDNA and the gene expression using glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase as the housekeeping gene.

Results:
The results revealed non-significant differences at P < 0.05 in age among different COVID-19 groups and control (F-ratio value is 0.54257 and P-value is 0.65397). The results revealed over-expression of TNF-α gene among COVID-19 patients and the relative quantification (fold change) (mean ± standard deviation) values were 6.542 ± 7.29, 5.740 ± 6.41, 7.306 ± 8.85, and 6.580 ± 6.47 for all, mild, moderate, and severe COVID-19 patients, respectively. One-way analysis of variance test relative quantification (fold change) TNF-α (mean ± standard deviation) for mild, moderate, and severe groups revealed non-significant at P < 0.05, the F-ratio value is 0.39889 and the P-value is 0.672109.

Conclusion:
The present study concludes upregulation of TNF-α gene in PBMC of COVID-19-positive patients without significant differences among different severity groups.
Phytochemical Screening and Antioxidant Activity of Uncaria tomentosa Extract
Authors: Oubaid Enass Najem , Abu-Raghif Ahmed Rahmah , Al-Sudani Israa Mahdi 
Published: May 2024

Background:

Uncaria tomentosa is a traditional medicinal herb with antiviral, antioxidant, immunostimulating, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects.

Objective:
The present study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant capacity in vitro and in vivo and the phytochemical analysis of Uncaria tomentosa.

Materials and Methods:
The plant extract was screened for phytochemical compounds and antioxidant capacity in vitro using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method and in vivo using acetic acid-induced colitis. Colitis was induced in rats by transrectal administration (5 mL/kg) of 4% (v/v) acetic acid. Forty adult albino rats were divided into four groups: control group, acetic acid group, acetic acid + sulfasalazine (100 mg/kg/day) group, and acetic acid + Uncaria tomentosa extract (250 mg/kg/day) group. After inducing colitis, sulfasalazine and Uncaria tomentosa extract were given orally for 10 days. Data were statistically analyzed, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant throughout the study.

Results:
Preliminary phytochemical study showed that Uncaria tomentosa extract contains flavonoids, phenols alkaloids, saponin, and terpenoids. In the DPPH assay, the extract exhibited considerable antioxidant capacity in a dose-dependent manner. Also, Uncaria tomentosa extract dramatically decreased oxidative stress parameters, such as myeloperoxidase enzyme activity and malondialdehyde in colonic tissue. Moreover, Uncaria tomentosa treatment attenuated macroscopic colonic scores and histopathological changes induced by acetic acid.

Conclusion:
The findings of this study show that Uncaria tomentosa extract could be a source of natural antioxidants and may have a therapeutic effect on ulcerative colitis.
Molecular investigation of quinolone-resistant genes among clinical Staphylococcus aureus isolates in Babylon hospitals
Authors: Hamza Emad Noman Hassan , Fazaa Suaad Abid 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background:

Staphylococcus aureus is considered an essential etiological factor in several human infections. Although fluoroquinolones are typically used to treat these illnesses, a growing average level of resistance to these medications has been found globally in recent years.

Objective:

S. aureus is considered a main etiological agent of many human infections. Fluoroquinolones are routinely used in the drugs for these infections; however, in latest years, a growing rate of resistance to these drugs has been reported worldwide. The current study aimed to investigate the molecular resistance of quinolone (qnrA and qnrS) genes among clinical S. aureus isolates in Babylon.

Materials and Methods:
During the research, 431 clinical samples were collected from hospitals in the Babylon Health Directorate between August 2022 and January 2023. Standard laboratory procedures and biochemical tests were used to identify the bacterial isolates. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by the standard disk diffusion method. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for detecting the qnrA and qnrS genes.

Results:
From a total of 78 S. aureus isolates, 18 (23.77%) and 19 (24.35%) isolates of S. aureus bacteria were sensitive and intermediate to quinolone compounds, respectively, whereas 41 (52.56%) isolates showed high-level quinolone resistance. The findings revealed that the majority of them were antibiotic-resistant. Most frequently, high resistance was noted for ciprofloxacin with a ratio of 75%, followed by levofloxacin with a ratio of 72%, and high sensitivity was shown for norfloxacin with an 85% and chloramphenicol with an 80%. From a total of 41 quinolones resistance S. aureus, the qnrA gene was identified in 10 (24.39%) and qnrS in 8 (19.51%).

Conclusion:
The results showed a high rate of qnr gene resistance among the isolates of S. aureus in the Babylon hospitals, which emphasizes the need for establishing careful policies. From a total of 41 quinolones resistance S. aureus, the qnrA gene was identified in 10 (24.39%) and qnrS in 8 (19.51%).
Impact of nonsurgical and antibiotics treatment on periodontitis
Authors: Imran Azhar Abdullah , Al-Talib Zeyad Nazar M , Malik Fatima Al-Rubea 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background:
Periodontitis is one of the most prevalent chronic inflammatory noncommunicable and multifactorial diseases.

Objectives:
The present study was aimed to detect the effect of systemic antibiotics as disjunctive to nonsurgical treatment of generalized periodontitis (grade I and grade II) on the bacterial count and clinical periodontal parameters.

Materials and Methods:
Subgingival plaque samples were collected from 40 patients with generalized periodontitis, 20 patients were treated with scaling and root planning only, and 20 patients were treated with a combination of ciprofloxacin 500 mg and metronidazole 500 mg with scaling and root planning. Moreover, 20 samples were collected from healthy patients as a control group. Specific periodontal pathogen genes for Tannerella forsythia (BspA, CIpB genes) were identified using real time polymerase reaction (RT-PCR).

Results:
In this study, 120 samples were detected for the presence of T. forsythia by RT-PCR technique, and the specific ClpB, and BspA primers’ genes were used for the amplification of a fragment of these genes for the identification of T. forsythia. The results showed that the presence of ClpB and BspA in all (100%). BspA and ClpB showed a decrease but non-significant differences before and after treatment, whereas the periodontal parameter, probing pocket depth, plaque score, and bleeding on probing showed a significant decrease after treatment except clinical attachment lose showing a non-significant difference.

Conclusion:
Clinical treatment (scaling and root planning) is often helpful in the treatment of generalized periodontal disease (grade I and grade II) without the need for antimicrobial therapy as soon as possible.
Effect of small-interfering RNA (As1974) and HFq-binding proteins on resistance gene and host microRNA (miR-30C) expression in Pseudomonas aeruginosa-infected patients from Iraq
Authors: Al fatlah Bashaer Saad Jabbar , Bunyan Ilham Abbass , Al Husseini Rafid Fakher Hussein 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background:
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small RNAs encoded by the genome that regulate the production of cellular mRNAs that include either incomplete or complete miRNA-binding sites.

Objectives:
To evaluate the impact of sRNA (As1974) and HFq-binding proteins on the expression of resistance gene and host miRNA (miR-30C) in Iraqi urinary tract infections (UTIs) patients infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Materials and Methods:
Patients with UTIs from Baghdad, Iraq’s Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Ghazi Hariri Hospital, Central Laboratories in Medical City, and Al-Yarmouk Hospital were recruited during June 2022 and October 2022 to provide 200 clinical samples.

Results:
Out of 200 patients with UTIs, only 56 (38.14%) were diagnosed as P. aeruginosa from positive urine samples. Urine samples were analyzed for HFQ gene expression, and the results showed that HFQ is overexpressed in P. aeruginosa-resistant samples compared to sensitive clinical samples, as measured by fold change after normalization with housekeeping gene 16sRNA by folding (21.4971.241 vs. 1.92142 0.04598). Furthermore, normalization of As1974 gene expression in urine samples using 16sRNA revealed a downregulation of As1974 in resistance, with a fold change of 0.66220.0465 versus 2.0121.0243. The miR-30 gene was shown to be downregulated in urine and blood samples (1.360.34, 0.478210.03678) as compared to those of healthy subjects.

Conclusions:
All ages were susceptible to the UTIs, also females suffered from UTIs more than males. A significant over expression of HFQ-binding protein in P. aeruginosa compared to sensitive clinical samples. Downregulation of As1974 in resistance.
Assessment of parents' perception regarding electronic device use among children following COVID-19 lockdown in the field practice area of Urban Health Center of a Medical College in Anantapuramu
Authors: Krishna V. Kumari , Kishore Mathi Babu , Pradeep B. , Sowmithri M. L. 
Published: May 2024

Background:
The outcome of eLearning is being studied comprehensively. Parents' perception toward e-devices is the financial burden during the lockdown and the outcome of education by remote learning. Receptive adaptation had to be made with inexperience. The new indefinite pandemic had psychological, social, emotional, and financial stress on parents as education of the child is always a priority.

Introduction:
Lockdown following the COVID-19 pandemic introduced a concept of eLearning as schools were shut. This increases access to electronic devices and Internet among the children.

Objective:
The objective of this study was to assess parents' perception regarding electronic device use among children following the COVID-19 lockdown.

Materials and Methods:
It is a cross-sectional study conducted in the field practice area of Urban Health Centre of a Medical College in Anantapur. The calculated sample size was 178 and the sampling method was convenience sampling. People living in the study area having at least one child of attending school were the study population. Required ethical clearance and individual informed consent was taken. Data were collected using a predesigned, prevalidated, and self-administered questionnaire. It had two scales 10-itemed “perceived demerits of eLearning by parents” and 4-itemed “perceived merits of eLearning by parents.” Statistical analysis was done using descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests.

Results:
Out of the total 180 participants, 154 (85.6%) were stressed about the extra cost imposed to facilitate online classes. Perceived demerits of eLearning by parent's scale had a median score of 8 out of 10. However, 167 (92.8%) agreed that eLearning was the only viable option for schooling during the lockdown.

Conclusion:
Most of the parents in the study agree with the benefits of eLearning; however, they are aware and weary of its ill effects and stressed due to added costs related to it.
Role of serum and pleural adenosine deaminase activity compared to pleural fluid analysis in patients with pleural effusion of various etiology
Authors: Ali Mubasheer , Janjal Prashant , Raghavendra Rao M. V. 
Published: May 2024

Background:
Numerous tests are available for determining the cause of exudate, but all these tests lack sensitivity and specificity, and they are not generally available. Adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity in pleural or peritoneal fluid is simple and useful investigation in diagnosis of exudate effusion, particularly in differentiating tuberculous from nontuberculous exudative effusion.

Objectives:
To estimate the diagnostic utility of pleural and peritoneal fluid ADA/serum ADA ratio, in the diagnosis of tubercular pleural effusion.

Materials and Methods:
A hospital-based cross-sectional diagnostic evaluation study was carried out among 50 patients with pleural effusions selected to assay ADA activity in pleural fluid and serum along with pleural fluid analysis. Effusions were classified into transudative and exudative after careful evaluation of all biochemical parameters of pleural fluid. Cutoff value for pleural ADA was taken as 60 U/L and for pleural/serum ADA was taken as 2.5.

Results:
Forty-three patients had exudative effusions among which 38 were tubercular and five were nontubercular, seven cases were transudative. Mean pleural ADA levels in tuberculous group (80.31 ± 24.84 U/L) were higher (P < 0.01) than nontubercular group (23.00 ± 5.22 U/L). Serum ADA levels in tubercular group (27.23 ± 7.32 U/L) were significantly higher (P < 0.0l) as compared to nontubercular group (14.95 ± 7.04 U/L). Serum ADA levels in tubercular group (27.23 ± 7.32 U/L) were also significantly higher as compared to the control group of healthy individuals (13.00 ± 2.75 U/L). Pleural ADA cutoff at 60 U/L gave a sensitivity and specificity of 81% and 100%, respectively, whereas pleural serum ADA ratio at a cutoff of 2.5 gave a sensitivity and specificity of 71% and 81%, respectively.

Conclusion:
The measurement of ADA in tubercular pleural effusion is not only relevant, but also of a high diagnostic value when other clinical and laboratory tests are either negative or inconclusive.
Symptomatic assessment in patients undergoing full-house functional endoscopic sinus surgery for pansinusitis using nonpowered instruments through the Sinonasal Outcome Test-22 Questionnaire in the rural population
Authors: Thejas Saai Ram , Prashanth Nampally , Yogesh Tekuru , Nilavan S. B. , Raj Madhamshetty Ritesh , Vipanchi Samudrala 
Published: May 2024

Background:
Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is a powerful method to achieve good clearance of sinus disease and is being practiced for the better part of the last three decades. The Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT)-22 Questionnaire was developed as a modification of the SNOT – 20 in 2009 and helps in better understanding of the disease process before and after surgery as it includes the functioning of special senses.

Objective:
The objective of this study was to assess the role and reliability of SNOT-22 in pansinusitis undergoing full-house FESS.

Materials and Methods:
The study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in rural South India from July 2021 to December 2021. Two hundred and thirteen patients were evaluated, and out of these, only 69 patients met the inclusion criteria. Surgery was performed under general anesthesia using cold steel instruments. SNOT-22 was administered 1 day before surgery and after 12 weeks postsurgery.

Observations and Results:
The average preoperative score in the SNOT-22 scale was 46.16 out of a maximum of 110 and the average postoperative score was 18.70 (an improvement of 59.50%, P < 0.05). Forty-two males and 27 females made it to the final study. The most common age of the patient at the time of presentation was between 21 and 30.

Conclusion:
Performing a full-house FESS for pansinusitis in cases with improper follow-up can be done without any side effects provided they are monitored with the SNOT-22 Questionnaire. This study can help practitioners achieve good success rates with lower revision surgery requirements.