bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A prospective study on indications for tonsillectomy in childhood in Kirkuk
Authors: Bayraktar Tunjai Namiq Faiq , Ghareeb Ozdan Akram 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBackground:Childhood tonsillectomy is a common surgery with a risk of life-threatening perioperative complications. Although the appropriate decision of its indications necessitates considerable practical experience, physicians in different medical specialties tend to base their decisions about surgery on various clinical expertise and perspectives.Objectives:This study was conducted to draw attention to the prevalence and actual indications for tonsil surgeries in children.Materials and Methods:This prospective study included 600 children with tonsillitis of both genders, ages ranging from 5 to 15 years old, during the period from October 2020 to August 2022 in Kirkuk, Iraq. Initially, they were divided into two categories: the first included 525 patients (88%) without the need for surgery, while the other category included 75 patients (12%) who underwent tonsil surgery. Patients with tonsillitis undergoing tonsil surgery, 43 (57%) of them had undergone adenotonsillectomy, compared to 32 (43%) children who underwent tonsillectomy. Patients with recurrent tonsillitis amounted to 20 (62%), while patients with tonsillar hypertrophy reached 12 (38%) among those undergoing tonsillectomy.Results:Final obtained data showed that recurrent tonsillitis was significantly more in the age group from 11 to 15 than in the group from 5 to 10 years old. On the contrary, the tonsillar hypertrophy was significantly more in the 5–10 age group than in the other group.Conclusion:This study concluded that a high proportion of children with tonsillitis were cured without surgery, compared to a few frequencies that underwent tonsillectomy due to actual indications. Thus, surgery is not performed for all children with tonsillitis except when really needed to avoid consequences during and after surgery in pediatric patients.
Early identification of cow’s milk protein allergy in infants in Kirkuk, Iraq, using milk-related symptom scores
Authors: Rasheed Amal Adnan 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Background:
Milk is related to many gastrointestinal disorders from the cradle to the grave due to the many milk ingredients that can trigger gastrointestinal discomfort and disorders. Cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) is the most common food allergy, especially in infancy and childhood, which may persist into adulthood.

Objectives:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) in infants in its early identification using CMPA scoring system.

Materials and Methods:
We carried out an observational study at Azadi teaching Children’s Hospital’s pediatric gastrointestinal clinic from March to December 2021. Children seen in our pediatric GI clinic between the ages of 1 and 12 months were included. Infants with suspected CMPA were evaluated by cow’s milk-related symptom score (CoMiSS) tool. An allergic reaction, a gastrointestinal, respiratory, or dermatologic presentation, excluding an acute infectious disease, and at least one of the following conditions were required for a diagnosis of suspected CMPA. All participating doctors received the required training on CoMiSS, the oral challenge test procedure, and CMPA diagnosis and treatment guidelines before subject recruitment.

Results:
In this study, most of studied infants were men, and no significant difference between CMPA and non-CMPA infants regarding sex, age, and weight was found. In this study, 17.85% of infants with CMPA score suffered from occult blood in their fecal samples compared with 11.15% of non-CMPA infants (P < 0.05). In this study, most of infants with CMPA have score 12, and the mean was 13.65 and the maximum value was 18.

Conclusions:
The CMPA score system provides primary healthcare clinicians with a simple, fast, and easy-to-use awareness tool for cow’s milk-related symptoms.
Evaluate the hematologic parameters, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with autoimmune hypothyroidism from Amara City, Southern Iraq
Authors: Hashim Nidhal Abdullah , Abdullah Younus Jasim , Sayhood Ali Abdullah 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Background:
Thyroid diseases are affecting 3%–5% of the women general population. Autoimmune thyroid diseases such as Graves’ disease (GD) and Hashimoto’s disease were detected to be the commonest disorders affecting thyroid function.

Objectives:
This study is a case–control study that aimed to estimate the effect of HT on hematological parameters.

Materials and Methods:
A total of 100 persons (50 HT patients and 50 euthyroid groups) of both sexes aged between 15 and 50 years were included in this study during the period April 2021–April 2022. Samples of venous blood (5 mL) were obtained from the study participants and used for the estimation of serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), FT3, and FT4 levels, as well as anti-thyroid peroxidase (TPO), anti-thyroglobulin (TG) concentration, as well as hematologic parameters.

Results:
The results of this study showed that HT patients had significantly higher levels of TSH as well as thyroid autoantibodies (anti-TPO and anti-TG) and significantly lower levels of FT3 and FT4. A considerable decrease was found in the hematocrit, hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular volume among HT patients, whereas no significant differences were found between the HT patients and the euthyroid group in total red blood cell count, total white blood cell count, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils, platelet counts, MPV, mean distribution width, plateletcrit, and PLCR. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) values were significantly higher in the HT patients compared with the euthyroid group.

Conclusions:
The current study concluded that Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is associated with significant elevation in the serum concentrations of anti-TPO and anti-TG antibodies, high TSH levels, and decreased FT3 and FT4 levels. Hashimoto’s disease resulted in a significant decrease in the hemoglobin concentration; hence, patients with HT could be at risk to have anemia. Also, HT was associated with elevated NLR and PLR values; therefore, NLR and PLR ratios could be used as routine, inexpensive, easily accessible markers at the clinical course or the severity of autoimmune diseases that progress with chronic inflammation.
Detection of antimicrobial susceptibility and virulence factors for some bacterial species caused urinary tract infection among type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus patients
Authors: Hamad Musaab Obaid , Maaroof Mohammed Nadhir 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Background:
Diabetes mellitus (DM), is a metabolic illness caused by a deficiency in insulin production, action, or both, it is characterized by hyperglycemia and disruptions of the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Urinary tracts infections (UTIs) are conditions when one or more urinary tract structures become contaminated after germs get past the body’s robust natural defenses. The most prevalent illness, UTIs can happen at any moment during a person’s lifetime. UTIs and DM have been linked for many years. Owing to a shift in the host defense mechanism, a micro-vascular illness in the kidney, and the existence of diabetic cystopathy, the incidence of UTIs is significant in DM. Urinary colonization by bacteria is made possible by high glucose concentrations in urine flow.

Objective:
Detection of antimicrobial susceptibility and virulence factors among bacteria causing UTIs isolated from type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients.

Materials and Methods:
Between April and July 2022, 178 patients with diabetes who had signs of a UTI had their urine samples taken. Midstream urine samples from DM patients were inoculated into blood agar and MacConkey agar using a calibrated loop (0.001 mL). For 24 h, cultures were incubated at 37°C in an aerobic environment. To determine whether there had been any considerable growth, colonies were counted. Diagnostic microorganisms were tested for their susceptibility to various antibiotics, and virulence factors were found.

Results:
Significant bacteriuria was observed in 28 of 69 (40.5%) and 52 of 109 (47.7%) urine samples cultured from patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes, respectively. Sensitivity to isolates which isolated from patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes was highest for meropenem as 90% and 100%, respectively. With regard to virulence factor, it was investigated of biofilm formation, hemolysin production, protease production, urease production, and β-lactamase production. The highest ratio of these factors production in bacteria which isolated from patients with type 1 diabetes was β-lactamase (75.8%). As for patients with type 2 diabetes, the highest ratio was for biofilm formation (79.0%).

Conclusion:
According to this study, common antimicrobials are very resistant to many different drugs. UTIs are more common than previously thought, and type of diabetes was discovered to be one of the key contributing factors. We found an association between virulence factors of pathogens and type of diabetes.
Detection the severity of COVID-19: Pneumonia infection by a computerized tomography scan assay in Kirkuk City
Authors: Raoof Abdullah Adil , Jabbar Assad Mubarak , KHalaf Mohammed Ali 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Background:
Novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the virus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which was for the first time detected in China, Wuhan city, on December 2019. Then, a rapid spread of the virus occurred. World Health Organization declared this disease as a pandemic disease on March 2020.

Objective:
The purpose of this study was to find a relation between the severity of COVID-19 pneumonia and chest-computed tomography (CT) scan findings.

Materials and Methods:
This is an observational, cross-sectional study, conducted on 202 infected patients with COVID-19 selected from referral cases to Azadi Teaching Hospital in Kirkuk Governorate during the period from November 12, 2020 to October 2, 2021. Evaluation of basic clinical character and detailed CT-imaging features were performed and a structured questionnaire had been used to collect the data as well as to interview the patients. The data were analyzed using chi-square or Fisher’s exact test.

Results:
A total of 202 patients had been included in this study. Most of our patients infected by coronavirus pneumonia had a typical chest CT finding, such as ground glass opacities (GGOs) (176 [87.1%]) or a mix of consolidation and GGO (130 [65%]), enlargement of the vessel in the lesion account (144 [72%]), and traction bronchiectasis (106 [53%]). Presence of three parameters (bronchiectasis of traction type, the architectural distortion, and score of severity in CT) is helpful in assessing the severity and extension of pneumonia.

Conclusion:
Confirmed cases of COVID-19 pneumonia possess typical chest CT-imaging findings which can help the clinician screen for infection in highly suspected patients and evaluate the extent and severity of the disease.
The cultural differences in transition assessment: Evaluation of TRANSITION-Q and STARx scales on Turkish rheumatic patients
Authors: Emre Yiğit Ramazan , Çağlayan Şengül , Sözeri Betül 
Published: March 2024

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the readiness of our patient population for the transfer to adult care and the applicability of the TRANSITION-Q and STARx scales to the Turkish adolescent patient population.
Patients and methods: A total of 153 patients (92 males, 61 females; mean age: 15.5±1.9 years; range, 12 to 18 years) were included in the study between September 15, 2021, and December 15, 2021. The patients were divided into two groups according to age groups: 12 to 15 years old and 16 to 18 years old. The patients were also divided into four groups according to their diagnosis: connective tissue diseases, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, vasculitis, and autoinflammatory diseases. The TRANSITION-Q and STARx scales were administered face-to-face by a nurse and a doctor. The transition readiness of the patients was evaluated according to their scores.
Results: Sixty-nine (45%) patients were in the 12 to 15 age group, and 84 (55%) were in the 16 to 18 age group. Eight-four (54.9%) patients had juvenile idiopathic arthritis, 47 (30.7%) patients had an autoinflammatory disease, 14 (9.2%) patients had vasculitis, and eight (5.2%) patients had a connective tissue disease. There was no significant difference in the scale scores according to disease groups and sexes in both scales. Considering the age of the patients, the mean scores of the patients in the 16 to 18 age group were found to be significantly higher compared to the 12 to 15 age group for both the TRANSITION-Q (74.3±13.3 vs. 65.4±9.6, p<0.001) and STARx scales (51.8±8.1 vs. 44.8±9.1, p<0.001). Cronbach's alpha score was 0.71 for the STARx scale and 0.79 for the TRANSITION-Q scale.
Conclusion: TRANSITION-Q and STARx scales could guide the Turkish patient population in determining the pretransition needs of patients in planning individualized transition processes.
Alarming serum antiprotease levels in axial spondyloarthritis
Authors: Kul Ayhan , Tüzün Zeynep , Çelik Muhammet 
Published: March 2024

Objectives: The objective was to assess the serum levels of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) and elafin in individuals diagnosed with axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA) and analyze their diagnostic significance and correlation with disease activity.
Patients and methods: The case-controlled, cross-sectional study was conducted between August 2021 and April 2023. Sixty patients diagnosed with AxSpA (n=60) were classified according to imaging results as nonradiographic AxSpA (nr-AxSpA [n=30]; 15 males, 15 females; median age: 30 years; range, 27.6 to 34.1 years) and radiographic AxSpA (r-AxSpA [n=30]; 19 males, 11 females; median age: 33 years; range, 30.6 to 38.1 years), forming two patient groups (the nr-axSpA and r-axSpA groups). A total of 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (16 females, 14 males; median age: 33 years; range, 29.2 to 37.1 years) were included. Demographic data, laboratory, and clinical characteristics of the participants were recorded.
Results: There was no significant difference between SLPI and elafin serum levels in the disease groups. SLPI and elafin levels in AxSpA and nr-AxSpA groups were significantly higher compared to the control group (p<0.05). Based on receiver operating characteristic analysis, the diagnostic values of both parameters were found to be significant in the Ax-SpA and nr-AxSpA groups (p<0.05). There was no significant correlation between serum levels of SLPI and elafin and disease activity parameters. Significant positive correlations were found between SLPI and elafin in both the nr-AxSpA (p<0.05, r=0.870) and r-AxSpA (p<0.05, r=0.725) groups.
Conclusion: The levels of SLPI and elafin were found to be significantly elevated in patients with AxSpA, particularly in those with nr-AxSpA, compared to the control group. Therefore, SLPI and elafin can be used as therapeutic biomarkers for the diagnosis of AxSpA and nr-AxSpA. However, no relationship was found with disease activity.
Does roasting temperature and storage options of Macadamia nuts (Macadamia intergrifolia) affect nutritional and sensorial properties?
Authors: Ngwenyama Patrick , Nyamuronda Ottilia , Majachani Kudzai , Benhura Chakare , Mubayiwa Macdonald 
Published: March 2024

Macadamia nuts are a largely untapped potential source of nutrients, income, and livelihoods. There is low utilisation of this crop due to palatability issues and storability challenges. There is limited information on the effects of different processing methods such as roasting on palatability, nutrient retention and subsequent stability during storage of the nuts. This study investigated the effects of dry roasting macadamia nuts at different temperatures and their subsequent storage using different storage options on the nutritional and sensorial properties. The nuts were dry-roasted for 25 minutes at three different temperature regimes: 150, 160and 170 oC, and were tested for nutritional content, antioxidant activity and peroxide value. Sensorial evaluation was conducted to determine the acceptability of the dry-roasted nuts. The nuts roasted at 160 oC were the most acceptable in terms of sensorial qualities. These were then stored under three different storage conditions, [open storage (control); plastic containers and glass containers] for 3 months. Samples were collected at 2-week intervals and analysed for proximate composition, peroxide value, and sensorial properties. Results showed that an increase in roasting temperature of macadamia nuts from 150 to 170 oC resulted in a significant increase (p<0.05) in ash, crude fat, peroxide value, and moisture content, while crude protein and carbohydrates significantly decreased. Roasting macadamia nuts at 170 °C significantly reduced their nutritional quality, while roasting at 150 and 160 °C retained the nutrients. Glass jars retained nutrients and organoleptic properties as compared to open storage and plastic containers where deterioration started after two and six weeks, respectively. Dry roasting of macadamia nuts is a viable way of value addition, and storage in glass jars is recommended for long-term storage.
Basics of artistic image in rock paintings (using the example of the petroglyphs Baga Oigur and Tsagaan Salaa)
Authors: Амарсанаа Г. 
Published: March 2024

Статья посвящена исследованию образцов доисторического искусства на территории Монголии, где находятся археологические памятники, свидетельствующие о том, что предки современного человека жили здесь 3,7 миллиона лет назад. Зарождение духовной культуры и художественного мышления древних людей связано с мифологией, а наскальные рисунки являются важным материалом для изучения культурных пластов того времени. Древние формы мышления, свойственные центральноазиатским кочевым сообществам, наиболее полно отражены в памятниках наскального искусства. Целью данной работы является выявление механизмов формирования художественного образа на основе анализа наскальных рисунков. Материалом исследования послужили петроглифы, зафиксированные в сомоне Улаанхус аймака Баян-Улгий в бассейнах рек Байга-Ойгур и Цагаан-Салаа в районе горного массива Алтай-Богдо-Уул. В результате применения феноменологического и герменевтического методов выявлены и интерпретированы образы, их общие и особенные черты, связанные с региональными традициями и культурной спецификой.
The article examines prehistoric art samples found in Mongolia, where archaeological sites suggest that the ancestors of modern humans inhabited the area 3.7 million years ago.The spiritual and artistic culture of ancient people is related to mythology, and rock paintings are important material for studying the cultural layers of that time. The rock art monuments reflect the ancient forms of thinking that were unique to Central Asian nomadic communities. The aim of this work is to identify the mechanisms of artistic image formation based on the analysis of rock paintings. The study material consists of petroglyphs recorded in Ulaankhus somon of Bayan-Ulgii Aimag in the basins of the Baiga Oigor and Tsagaan Salaa rivers in the Altai Bogdo Uul mountain range. The author identified and interpreted the images, their common and special features related to regional traditions and cultural specifics by applying phenomenological and hermeneutic methods.
On the question of how to form a model range of “cabinet casting” at the Kasli factory in the second half of the 19th – early 20th centuries
Authors: Малаева З.А. 
Published: March 2024

Пути поступления на Каслинский завод моделей для «кабинетного литья» из чугуна во второй половине XIX – начала XX века в научной литературе практически мало изучены. Монографическая выставка «Каслинское художественное литье» во Всероссийском музее декоративно-прикладного и народного искусства в Москве в 1984 году с активным участием в ней завода, его администрации, главного скульптора и рабочих цеха художественного литья дала сильную мотивацию музейным специалистам для целенаправленного изучения истории этого предприятия, имеющего прямое отношение к русской художественной промышленности. До конца невыясненным обстоятельством в каслинском художественном производстве остается степень легитимности поступления авторских моделей и готовых промышленных образцов изделий для ассортиментного тиражного литья на заводе. В исследовании подняты следующие вопросы: каковы пути и способы формирования заводского модельного кабинета; была ли у владельцев предприятия и управленческой администрации продуманная стратегия и тактика действия по получению нужных и актуальных моделей для ассортиментного литья; как предметы русского и европейского прикладного искусства попадали на уральское предприятие в качестве образцов-прототипов для тиражного воспроизводства в чугуне, изготовления редукций и заводских шеф-моделей.
The ways in which the Kasli factory received models for “cabinet casting” from cast iron in the second half of the 19th – early 20th centuries have been little studied in the scientific literature. The All-Russian Museum of Decorative Applied and Folk Art in Moscow held the “Kasli Art Casting” exhibition in 1984, with active participation from the factory's administration, chief sculptor, and art casting workshop workers. This event motivated museum specialists to study the history of the enterprise, which has direct ties to the Russian art industry. The degree of legitimacy of the receipt of author's models and finished industrial samples of the products for the assortment mass casting at the factory remains an unexplained circumstance in the Kasli art production. This study raises the following questions: what are the ways and means of forming a factory model cabinet; whether the owners of the enterprise and the management administration had a well-considered strategy and tactics to obtain the necessary and relevant models for assortment casting; how the objects of Russian and European applied art came to the Ural enterprise as prototype samples for mass reproduction in cast iron, manufacture of reductions and factory chief models.
The Icon of Saint John the Baptist with Selected Saints in prayer to the Icon of Our Lady of the Sign in collection of Ekaterinburg Museum of Fine Arts
Authors: Хионина А.Ю. 
Published: March 2024

Статья посвящена исследованию иконы избранных святых из собрания Екатеринбургского музея изобразительных искусств, выполненной в 1914 году, согласно датирующей вкладной надписи, и представляющей собой образец поздней старообрядческой иконописи. Рассматривается исторический контекст вкладной иконы: мобилизация ратников на Первую мировую войну, указ «Об укреплении начал веротерпимости», культурная традиция русского старообрядчества в целом и уральских старообрядцев в частности. Автор статьи подробно останавливается на выборе избранных святых и иконографии их образов в рамках старообрядческой иконописной традиции и круге памятников уральской иконописи. Подбор святых и выбор иконографии образов демонстрируют комплексное отношение к функциональному назначению икон со святыми молитвенниками.The article examines the Icon of Saint John the Baptist with Selected Saints from the collection of the Ekaterinburg Museum of Fine Arts. The icon was created in 1914, as indicated by the dating inscription, and represents a late example of Old Believer iconography. The inscribed icon's historical context is taken into consideration, including the mobilisation of soldiers for the First World War, the emperor’s act of religious freedom of 1905, and the cultural tradition of Russian Old Believers, particularly those in the Ural region. The article discusses the selection of saints and their iconography within the Old Believer icon-painting tradition and the range of Ural icon-painting monuments. Selection of saints and chosen types of iconography demonstrate a complex attitude to the functional purpose of icons with saint patrons.