bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Endometrial stromal tumors: A clinico-histomorphological spectrum of endometrial stromal tumors with review of literature
Authors: Verma Ankita , Tomar Reena , Chaturvedi Anubhuti , Dhankar Nimisha , Mallya Varuna , Khurana Nita 
Published: March 2024

Background:
Endometrial stromal tumors (ESTs) are rare subset of mesenchymal uterine neoplasms. There are heterogeneous morphological, immunohistochemical, and genetic features. Approximately 50% of ESTs occur in perimenopausal women. In 2020, WHO sub-categorized ESTs into four groups: endometrial stromal nodule (ESN), low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (LGESS), high-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (HGESS), and undifferentiated uterine sarcoma (UUS).

Objective:
To review the morphological spectrum of endometrial stromal tumors.

Method:
This retrospective study reviewed the histomorphological features of 15 endometrial stromal tumors with respect to atypia, necrosis, mitosis, collagen bands, whorling around vessels, myometrial invasion, and inflammatory cells. Immunohistochemistry markers (CD10, SMA, and ER) along with special stains (Masson’s trichrome, toluidine blue) were also studied.

Results:
The age of the patients ranged from 32 to 60 years. Three patients were postmenopausal. The most common presenting symptom was vaginal bleeding. Five patients were operated with a clinical diagnosis of uterine fibroid. One patient presented with prolapse with no other complaint. All the 15 patients had total abdominal hysterectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy. One case showed necrosis, eight cases showed collagen bands, all the 15 cases showed whorling around vessels, one case showed vascular emboli, and seven cases showed inflammatory cells. In low-grade cases, one case showed focal atypia and one case showed focal coagulative necrosis indicating infarction. Thirteen cases were LGESS, and one case of ESN and HGESS. All cases were positive for ER and CD10.

Conclusion:
Endometrial stromal tumors demonstrate extensive permeation of the myometrium as irregular islands with frequent vascular invasion, whorling around vessels, collagen bands, and inflammatory cells. All these features should be observed thoroughly on microscopy by pathologists to clearly differentiate the low-grade and high-grade endometrial stromal tumors, and to understand the overlapping gray areas morphologically as it affects the prognosis of the patient.
Dosimetric Evaluation of Semiflex Three-dimensional Chamber under Unflatten Beam in Comparison among Different Detectors
Authors: Kandasamy Kanakavel , Samuel E. James Jebaseelan 
Published: March 2024

Purpose:
The goal of this study is to investigate the dosimetric properties of a Semiflex three-dimensional (3D) chamber in an unflatten beam and compare its data from a small to a large field flattening filter-free (FFF) beam with different radiation detectors.

Methods:
The sensitivity, linearity, reproducibility, dose rate dependency, and energy dependence of a Semiflex 3D detector in flattening filter and filter-free beam were fully investigated. The minimum radiation observed field widths for all detectors were calculated using lateral electronic charged particle equilibrium to investigate dosimetric characteristics such as percentage depth doses (PDDs), profiles, and output factors (OPFs) for Semiflex 3D detector under 6FFF Beam. The Semiflex 3D measured data were compared to that of other detectors employed in this study.

Results:
The ion chamber has a dosage linearity deviation of +1.2% for <10 MU, a dose-rate dependency deviation of +0.5%, and significantly poorer sensitivity due to its small volume. There is a difference in field sizes between manufacturer specs and derived field sizes. The measured PDD, profiles, and OPFs of the Semiflex 3D chamber were within 1% of each other for all square field sizes set under linac for the 6FFF beam.

Conclusion:
It was discovered to be an appropriate detector for relative dose measurements for 6 FFF beams with higher dose rates for field sizes more than or equal to 3 cm × 3 cm.
Detection of antibiotic susceptibility pattern and biofilm production in multidrug resistance Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from COVID-19 patients in Kirkuk City
Authors: Sader AL-Deen Dunya Isam , Obaid Siham Shkoor , Jasim Wafa Mahmood 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Background:
The spread of multidrug-resistant pathogens is a serious problem and challenge for the whole medical community. Multidrug resistance Klebsiella pneumoniae (MDRKP) infections in COVID-19 patients have a severe course and may be fatal. Increasingly, these bacteria show resistance to more than one antibiotic category, which have been used to decrease the risk and severity of secondary bacterial infection caused by this pathogen.

Aim:
The study aimed to determine the prevalence of MDRKP among COVID-19 patients and antibiotic susceptibility pattern with biofilm formation of isolate.

Materials and Methods:
A cross-sectional study was done on 330 sputum sample collected from five hospitals and cultured. Antibiotic resistance pattern of K. pneumoniae isolates and their molecular characterization were studied using disk diffusion, vitek-2 AST-N222. The biofilm production was detected by microtiter plate method (MTP).

Results:
Of 49 isolates from 330 patients, 20 identified as K. pneumoniae; all K. pneumoniae isolates are MDR had varying levels of resistance to antibiotics 20 (100%) for ampicillin, 18 (90%) piperacillin, 16 (80%) for cefazolin, ceftazidime and cefepime, ceftriaxone, aztreonam, 7 (35%) for tetracycline, and 3 (15%), 2 (10%) for ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin, respectively. MTP method showed that eight (40%) of isolates were biofilm producers, and 60% of isolates were nonbiofilm producers and had more resistance than biofilm producers.

Conclusion:
MDRKP was prevalent among gram-negative bacteria isolated from COVID-19 patients and cause increased fatality rate.
The prevalence of multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from different clinical samples
Authors: Ghareeb Noor Hasan , Obaid Siham Shakoor , Muhammed Jumaah Israa Anwar 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBackground:Antibiotic resistance is a major global issue, withStaphylococcus aureusbeing one of the most common resistant bacterial forms.Objective:The study’s goal was to determine the prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR)S. aureusisolated from clinical specimens.Materials and Methods:The standard microbiological techniques used for isolates identification were subsequently validated by the VITEK-2 system. Antibiotic susceptibility was assessed using the disc diffusion technique. MDR bacteria were those that were resistant to three or more antibiotics.Results:S. aureusprevalence in clinical isolates was 27.9%. There was significant resistance toward all antibiotics used in the study except for tetracycline. About 98.2% of the isolates were MDR.Conclusion:Our results underscore the need for continued antibiotic resistance monitoring inS. aureusisolates associated with hospital-acquired infections.
Plasma cholesterol level reduction in albino rats by β-d glucan (pleuran) from Plurotus ostreatus
Authors: Sultan Safaa Mahmood , Mula Abed Faten N 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Background:
The progression of atherosclerotic lesions and coronary artery disease is known to be accelerated by hypercholesterolemia.

Objective:
This study investigated at the effects of adding an extract of oyster mushroom fruiting bodies to rats with high and normal cholesterol levels on their biochemical and histological changes. This study was aimed to assess the effect of Pleurotus ostreatus extraction on hypercholesterolemia in albino rats and show the revelation of the relationship of these with some biochemical parameters.

Materials and Methods:
Three sets of ten albino rats each were formed from 6-week-old rats. To lower plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total lipid, phospholipids, and LDL/high-density lipoprotein, extracts of P. ostreatus fruiting bodies were fed to hypercholesterolemic rats.

Results:
In rats with high cholesterol, feeding oyster mushrooms drastically lowered body weight. The excretion of total lipids and cholesterol in feces was enhanced by feeding mushrooms.

Conclusion:
These findings imply that P. ostreatus food supplement improved health by altering hypercholesterolemic rats’ atherogenic lipid profiles.
Translation, cross-cultural adaptation, reliability, and convergent and known-group validity of the Turkish full version of the Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score in patients with hip osteoarthritis
Authors: Gökşen Ayşenur , Çaylak Remzi , Kübra Çekok Fatma , Kahraman Turhan 
Published: March 2024

Objectives: The study aimed to culturally adapt the full version of the Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS) into Turkish and evaluate its reliability and validity.
Patients and methods: Patients with hip osteoarthritis were included in the methodological crosscultural adaptation study between May 2022 and December 2022. We translated and adapted the HOOS into a Turkish version and validated it in a cohort of native Turkish-speaking patients with hip osteoarthritis. The HOOS includes five subscales named symptoms, pain, activities of daily living (ADL), sport and recreation (Sport/Rec), and quality of life (QoL). The psychometric properties of the Turkish HOOS were assessed. The reliability was investigated using test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient; ICC) and internal consistency methods (Cronbach’s alpha). The convergent validity of the Turkish HOOS was evaluated by testing the predefined hypotheses using the correlations with the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and the European Quality of Life Scale (EQ-5D-3L), a generic QoL scale.
Results: A total of 202 patients (131 females, 71 males; mean age: 55.2±9.7 years; range, 50 to 70 years) were recruited for the study. Cronbach’s alpha values for each subscale of the HOOS were as follows: symptoms=0.76, pain=0.94, ADL=0.96, Sport/Rec=0.87, QoL=0.78, and total score=0.98, indicating it has high internal consistency. For all subscales and total score of the HOOS, the ICC values were between 0.77 and 0.86, indicating good to excellent test-retest reliability. All correlations between each subscale and total score of the Turkish HOOS, WOMAC, and EQ-5D-3L were moderate to strong. Therefore, 23 predefined hypotheses out of 24 were confirmed with a confirmation rate of 96%, indicating the Turkish version of the HOOS had adequate convergent validity.
Conclusion: This study shows that the Turkish version of the HOOS has a convergent and knowngroup validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability. It can be used to assess the patient's perception of their hip and associated difficulties, as well as their symptoms and functional limitations.
Pandemic of the century: COVID-19 in inflammatory rheumatic diseases of a national cohort with 3,532 patients
Authors: Yurdakul Fatma , Bodur Hatice , Kıvanç Cengiz Ahmet , Durmaz Yunus , Tuncay Duruöz Mehmet , Kaya Taciser , Ketenci Sertaç , Cüzdan Nihan , Güler Tuba , Günendi Zafer , Sarıkaya Selda , Çapkın Erhan , Erkut Önder Mustafa , Alkan Melikoğlu Meltem , Güzel Rengin , Şen Nesrin , Bora Ayna Ata , Akgül Özgür , Eser Erhan , Ataman Şebnem 
Published: March 2024

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the clinical outcomes and risk factors for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients with inflammatory rheumatic disease (IRD) of a national cohort.
Patients and methods: The multicenter cross-sectional study was carried out between July 15, 2020, and February 28, 2021. Data collection was provided from a national network database system, and 3,532 IRD patients (2,359 males, 1,173 females; mean age: 48.7±13.9 years; range; 18 to 90 years) were analyzed. Demographics, clinics about rheumatic disease, comorbidities, smoking status, being infected with COVID-19, and the course of the infection were questioned by rheumatology specialists.
Results: One hundred seventeen patients were infected with COVID-19, the hospitalization rate due to COVID-19 was 58.9%, and the mortality rate was 1.7%. There was no difference between the COVID-19 positive and negative groups in terms of rheumatic disease activities and receiving drugs. It was observed that patients with COVID-19 had worse compliance with isolation rules, and bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination was less common. The mean age and the rate of smoking of hospitalized COVID-19 patients were higher than those without hospitalization.
Conclusion: In this cohort, in which real-life data were analyzed, COVID-19 rates in IRD patients were similar to the general population for the same period. Compliance with the isolation rules and BCG vaccination attracted attention as components that reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection. The risk factors for hospitalization were older age and smoking.
Prevalence and characteristics of bronchiectasis in ANCA-associated vasculitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Gu Yu , Zhang Ting , Zhu Wenyan , Han Yang , Shi Juhong 
Published: March 2024

Objectives: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the prevalence of bronchiectasis (BR) in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), the association of BR with manifestations of AAV, and the features of BR in AAV.
Materials and methods: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched for publications related to AAV and BR in English from January 1, 1994, until December 7, 2022. The prevalence of BR was synthesized using random-effects models, and sources of heterogeneity were assessed by sensitivity and subgroup analyses. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using fixed-effects models to evaluate the association of BR with manifestations of AAV. Only qualitative synthesis was performed on the features of BR.
Results: Studies that reported on the prevalence (n=24), the association (n=6), and the features (n=8) of BR were identified. The pooled overall prevalence of BR among AAV was 19% (95% confidence interval [CI] 13-27%). The prevalence of patients with myeloperoxidase (MPO)-ANCA was significantly higher than those with proteinase 3-ANCA (28% vs. 13%, p=0.01). The female sex (OR=2.41), peripheral neuropathy (OR=4.58), MPO-ANCA (OR=4.73), and microscopic polyangiitis (OR=2.72) were associated with BR in AAV. Compared to individuals without BR, AAV-BR patients exhibited relatively lower levels of proteinuria. The diagnosis of BR could follow, be concomitant to, or precede that of AAV. However, BR usually did not respond to immunosuppressive therapy.
Conclusion: AAV with BR is a common condition with special manifestations. The association of BR with AAV may not be accidental; however, the underlying pathogenesis remains to be clarified.
Can serum granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and CCL17 levels be a marker of disease activation in spondyloarthritis?
Authors: Koçak Ulucaköy Rezan , Kılıç Ayza , Batıbay Sevilay , Melis Çobanoğlu İdil , Nur Yıldırım Öztürk Elif , Günendi Zafer , Sepici Dinçel Aylin , Nur Göğüş Feride 
Published: March 2024

Objectives: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate if serum levels of granulocytemacrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and CC chemokine ligand 17 (CCL17) correlate with disease activity in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and peripheral spondyloarthritis (pSpA) patients.
Patients and methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted with 80 individuals (48 females, 32 males; mean age: 47.7±11.5) between March 2021 and September 2021. Of the participants, 20 were axSpA, 20 were pSpA, and 20 were active rheumatoid arthritis patients, and the remaining 20 were healthy controls. Age, sex, body mass index, disease duration, comorbid diseases, smoking status, medical treatments, C-reactive protein (CRP) level and human leukocyte antigen B27 (HLA-B27) positivity were recorded. Serum GM-CSF and CCL17 levels were analyzed by ELISA. Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score with CRP (ASDAS-CRP) was used to evaluate the disease activity of patients with spondyloarthritis. Functional status of spondyloarthritis patients was evaluated by Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI).
Results: While the serum GM-CSF levels were similar in the axSpA and pSpA groups, they were significantly higher than the healthy control group (p=0.021 and p=0.009, respectively). There was a significant correlation between GM-CSF levels and ASDAS-CRP (r=0.545, p=0.013) and BASFI (r=0.546, p=0.013) in the axSpA group. In active axSpA patients, the cut-off value for GM-CSF was 15.89 pg/mL (sensitivity 50%, specificity 100%). No differences were detected in serum CCL17 levels among the groups.
Conclusion: The results suggest that serum GM-CSF levels may be used as a new marker for the evaluation of disease activity in axSpA, and GM-CSF might be a therapeutic target.
Diagnostic values of different musculoskeletal ultrasound signs, serum uric acid, and their combined detection for gouty arthritis
Authors: Wu Jinyu , Yan Junliang , Chang Jie , Li Chang , Xia Bin , Liu Shanna , Zhu Xinjian , Zhou Qingli 
Published: March 2024

Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the diagnostic values of different musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) signs, serum uric acid (SUA), and their combined detection for gouty arthritis (GA).
Patients and methods: In this retrospective study, 70 patients (62 males, 8 females; mean age: 46.1±14.1 years; range, 25 to 86 years) diagnosed with GA (the GA group) between August 2022 and March 2023 and 70 patients (54 females, 16 males; mean age: 49.0±14.1 years; range, 21 to 75 years) diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis during the same period (the non-GA group) were included. The positive rate of MSUS signs and SUA in both groups was recorded to compare the differences. The correlations of MSUS signs and SUA with GA were analyzed using Spearman’s rank correlation analysis. The diagnostic values of different MSUS signs, SUA, and their combined detection for GA were analyzed using a receiver operating characteristic, the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and the Youden index.
Results: The positive rate of the double contour (DC) sign (chi-squared [χ2 ]=102.935, p<0.001), hyperechoic spots (χ2=56.395, p<0.001), bone erosions (χ2 =10.080, p<0.001), and SUA (χ2 =41.117, p< 0.001) were higher in the GA group than in the non-GA group. The positive rate of the DC sign (rs=0.829, p=0.001), hyperechoic spots (rs=0.631, p<0.001), bone erosion (rs=0.268, p=0.001), and SUA (rs=0.542, p<0.001) were positively correlated with GA. Among the single-indicator measures, the DC sign exhibited the highest diagnostic value (AUC=0.907, sensitivity=81.4%, specificity=100%, p<0.001). Among the combined-indicator measures, the DC sign combined with SUA exhibited the highest diagnostic value (AUC=0.929, sensitivity=91.4%, specificity=94.3%, p<0.001), higher than DC sign detection alone.
Conclusion: The DC sign combined with SUA yielded a high diagnostic value and can thus provide a reliable basis for effectively and efficiently diagnosing GA.
BIOTECHNOLOGICAL IMPROVEMENT OF CASSAVA YIELD AND PROCESSING FOR FOOD SUSTAINABILITY IN NIGERIA
Authors: Udebuani Angela Chika , Ukachukwu Chidinma Ogochukwu 
Published: March 2024

Cassava (Manihot esculenta) was introduced into Nigeria by Portuguese merchants in 1501. Since then, it has become a major source of food and raw materials leading to an increase in demand. In Nigeria, two-thirds of the States, mainly in the southern region, produce cassava. Malnutrition among the rural populace, especially children and women has led scientists to device means of increasing the nutritional content and varieties of cassava for food sustainability in Nigeria. Many genetically modified cassava species are produced and marketed in Nigeria. Today we have varieties with vitamin A, reduced carbohydrate content, disease resistance to mention but a few.
Khorchin embroidery of Inner Mongolia
Authors: Линжи Б. , Ульзийбаяр Д. 
Published: March 2024

В статье рассматривается традиция вышивок, получившая развитие у монгольского племени хорчинов и представляющая собой уникальный образец ремесла средневековых и современных монголов. На протяжении длительного периода своего существования она вобрала в себя уникальные особенности среды обитания и образа жизни, а также исторические традиции, культуру и обычаи этого народа. Изучение творческого наследия хорчинов имеет огромное значение для развития и модернизации традиционного искусства монгольской вышивки в современной жизни. Исследуются основные техники выполнения вышивок, типы узоров и их семантика, а также принципы колористической организации, позволяющие достичь редкой по красоте цветовой гармонии изображения ткани. Показано, что традиции, некогда сложившиеся в среде хорчинов, получают развитие в современных народных промыслах, существующих во Внутренней Монголии.
The article considers the tradition of embroidery developed by the Mongolian Khorchyn tribe. This is a unique example of the craft of the medieval and modern Mongols. Over the long period of its existence, it has incorporated the unique features of their habitat and way of life, as well as historical traditions, culture, and customs. The study of the artistic heritage of the Khorchins is of great importance for the development and modernization of the traditional art of Mongolian embroidery in modern life. The text discusses the study of embroidery techniques, types of patterns and their semantics, as well as the principles of colouristic organization to achieve a rare beauty colour harmony of the image. It highlights the development of Khorchins' traditions in modern Inner Mongolian folk crafts.