bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical Audit of Radiofrequency Electrocautery Procedure at Dermatology Department of a Tertiary Care Teaching Center
Authors: Patel Dhruv Ramanbhai , Tandel Jinal Jainendrabhai , Shah Juhi Devyangbhai , Polra Rutoo Vipulkumar , Nair Pragya Ashok 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Background:
Radiofrequency (RF) surgery is an office-based procedure in the treatment of various skin conditions. It has the advantage of having both cut and coagulation modes, making the surgery easy, fast, effective, and cheaper, and causes minimal collateral thermal damage, resulting in rapid healing and esthetically pleasant scars.

Objective:
The present study was a clinical audit done with the aim to improve the quality of practice for RF electrocautery in the outpatient department (OPD) setup.

Materials and Methods:
This was a prospective clinical audit of patients coming to skin OPD requiring electrocauterization from August 2019 to October 2019. To assess and monitor the patients going for electrocautery, a pro forma was filled about the indication of electrocautery. Requirements and guidelines followed or not during pre- and postoperative preparation were also tabulated. During the procedure, details such as type of electrode, mode and power of electrocautery, wiping of electrode between each use, continuous activation of foot switch, and waiting period between two passages were also noted. Ratios, proportions, and percentages were used to describe the data.

Results:
A total of 30 patients were enrolled of which 24 were male (80%) and 6 were female (20%). The most common indication was skin tags seen in 21 participants (70%), followed by warts in 6 (20%) and seborrheic keratosis in 3 (10%) patients. Proper counseling and explanation were done in all the patients (100%). Each cautery was performed with clean surroundings (100%). During the procedure, 24 patients (80%) were given injectable local anesthetics. The electrode used was a long sharp tip electrode in all the procedures and the most common power of instrument used was 0.5 (70%). After each use, wiping of electrode was done in 24 (80%) patients. Three patients were on aspirin (10%) and one had a keloidal tendency (3.33%) which was missed while taking history.

Conclusion:
Educational interventions among doctors as well as students should be carried out to sensitize them about the standard guidelines of using electrocautery for better results.
Comparative Study of Intravenous Methylprednisolone Pulse Therapy versus Oral Prednisolone Minipulse Therapy in Progressive Vitiligo
Authors: Rajeshwari KA , Rajagopal Ramachandran 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Background:
Vitiligo is an idiopathic acquired illness characterized by limited depigmented macules and patches. We aim to compare intravenous (IV) methylprednisolone pulse therapy with oral prednisolone minipulse therapy in the treatment of progressive vitiligo.

Objective:
The assessment of the efficacy of both treatment methods in the arrest of the progression of vitiligo and repigmentation of the existing lesions.

Materials and Methods:
A total of 60 patients, 30 in each group, were enrolled for the study. Each patient underwent a detailed clinical, general physical, systemic, and thorough dermatological examination. A set of routine investigations, consisting of hemoglobin%, total leukocyte count, differential leukocyte count, urine routine examination, blood sugar (fasting and postprandial), liver function tests, renal function test, serum electrolytes, Montoux test, chest X-ray posteroanterior view, and thyroid profile were carried out before the analysis. Clinical photographs were taken before the start of therapy and after each month thereafter were used for the analysis after taking written consent.

Results:
The age of vitiligo patients considered for the study ranged from 13 to 70 years. The ratio of male-to-female patients considered for the study was 22:38 (36.6%: 63.3%). The duration of instability in vitiligo cases studied varied from 6 months to 2 years. In both Group A and Group B, the maximum number of patients (66.7% and 86.7%, respectively) had unstable vitiligo for 6 months to 1 year. Percentage repigmentation was better in Group A (IV) than Group B (OMP). In Group A, 17 out of 20 (85%) patients had shown different degrees of repigmentation, while 20 out of 30 (66.7%) patients of Group B had shown the same. This was statistically insignificant. Types of repigmentation observed in patients were of the following types: perifollicular, marginal, and combined. In both groups, all patients showed perifollicular regimentation.

Conclusions:
In progressive vitiligo, it was observed that oral mini pulse with prednisolone is superior to IV methylprednisolone pulse therapy for the arrest of progression. Considering the cost, mode of administration, hospital admission, loss of man-hours, and patients’ compliance, OMP was considered simpler and cost-effective.
Atypical Presentations of Cutaneous Tuberculosis: A Series of Four Cases
Authors: Atluri Swetha Chowdary , Arepalli Santhosh Kumar , Manchala Divya , Talari Vamshi Chetan , Haritha S 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium TB, is one of the leading causes of major illness and death worldwide. Although cutaneous TB constitutes a small proportion of extrapulmonary TB burden, awareness regarding varied clinical presentations is necessary as early diagnosis and treatment are keys to reduce the morbidity of the disease. Here, we present a series of four rare cases of cutaneous TB presenting as vulval elephantiasis, Poncet’s disease, disseminated TB, and anterior chest wall TB. These cases posed diagnostic difficulty due to unusual presentations. However, all the cases responded well to antitubercular treatment.
Abnormal Presentation of Common Sexually Transmitted Diseases in HIV-Positive Patients: A Case Series
Authors: Saxena Animesh , Sharma Harsh , Sharma Prerna , Srivastava Prachi 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Mucocutaneous diseases are the most common manifestation of human immunodeficiency virus and because of abnormal presentation, diagnosis and management is a challenge for clinicians. Here, we present three cases of unusual and severe presentation of common sexually transmitted diseases, out of which two patients had ulcerative lesions in genitals and one patient had cauliflower-like growth involving the pubic and anal region.
I Am Anxious, I Bleed – A Rare Clinical Case of Facial Hematohidrosis
Authors: Srihari Sahana , Revathi T N 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Hematohidrosis is a rare clinical condition in which an individual sweats blood from intact, unbroken skin. Psychogenic cause is found to be the most frequent among other causes such as vicarious menstruation and systemic disease. We report a case of a 9-year-old boy who had bloody sweat discharge from the face and pinna of the ears while going to school. Pharmacotherapy with oral propranolol and psychotherapy were followed by a complete remission.
The Effect of Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio and Platelet-to-lymphocyte Ratio on the Severity of Diabetes Mellitus Type II and Air and Bone Conduction Hearing Threshold at Speech Frequency
Authors: Novita Khuznita Dasa , Hasanah Dian , Bharasaba Thareq 
Published: October 2023

Background:
Diabetes Mellitus Type II (DMT II) is a metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia resulting from relative or absolute insulin deficiency. It can cause various complications, including hearing loss (HL). NLR and PLR can determine the severity of DMT II but are not yet known for HL.

Methods:
This research was quantitative, analytically observational, and cross-sectional, using medical record data from July-November 2022. The variables were age, NLR, PLR, FBG, the duration and severity of DMT II, the air and bone conduction thresholds at speech frequencies (500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz).

Results:
43 respondents (86 ears) met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The mean age was 61.63 + 8.64 years, with more women (60.5%, 26/43) than men (39.5%, 17/43). The mean duration of DM was 10.45 + 8.77 years. The average severity level was 2.63 + 1.77, which means that respondents in this study had more than two complications on average. DM in the elderly > 60 years old has a risk of HL 9.839 times compared to those < 60. DM with a high NLR can increase the risk of HL by increasing the incidence of HL, bilateral sides, type and degree of HL, and air and bone conduction threshold. DM with NLR > 2.76 is more at risk of experiencing HL as much as 6.83 times compared to DM with NLR < 2.76. Factors that predict HL in DM are age, NLR, and FBG, which are 33.1%, while other factors determine 66.7%. The age, FBG, and NLR variables can predict hearing loss in DM with moderate accuracy (AUC 76.7%).

Conclusion:
Hearing loss needs to be added to the screening program for complications of diabetes mellitus. A hearing screening program is needed for DM aged > 60 years, FGB > 126 mg/dl and NLR > 2,76. NLR could be used to predict hearing loss incidents in DMT II.
Congenital sternal cleft with ventricular septal defect: A case report of a rare condition
Authors: Folayan Olumuyiwa Shola , Omachi Paul , Abdullahi Usman Shehu , Bello Afeez Oyesola 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Sternal cleft is a rare congenital abnormality with an incidence of 2:100,000 live births. It could occur in isolation or along with defects of the abdominal wall, diaphragm, pericardium, and heart. Surgical correction in the neonatal period is required to protect the underlying structures as the risk of cardiac compression at this period is still minimal. We report a case of an 8-day-old term male neonate with congenital superior sternal cleft associated with a ventricular septal defect. He was evaluated and referred to a facility where he could access surgical reconstruction.
Infiltrating cardiomyopathy presenting with recurrent ventricular tachycardia
Authors: Majumder Biswajit , Sarkar Shibsankar , Biswas Pallab , Sinha Prajjal Kumar 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Infiltrative cardiomyopathy (ICM) refers to a heterogeneous group of myocardial disorders mainly cardiac amyloidosis, sarcoidosis, and hemochromatosis with characteristic deposition of abnormal substances within cellular and intercellular spaces, which leads to the development of ventricular diastolic dysfunction, systolic dysfunction, or both. Sarcoidosis is a multisystem, granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. Accumulating evidence suggests that it is caused by an immunological response to an unidentified antigenic trigger in genetically susceptible persons. Cardiac sarcoidosis is a manifestation of sarcoidosis that is challenging to diagnose due to its clinical silence. The consequences of cardiac sarcoidosis include conduction defects, arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, and sudden cardiac death (SCD). This case describes a 45-year-old female with a history of recurrent ventricular tachycardia in a patient previously diagnosed as dilated nonischemic cardiomyopathy. Who was later diagnosed as ICM, most probably cardiac sarcoidosis with the help of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Initial testing for infiltrating cardiomyopathy should include echocardiography, cardiac MRI, and fluorodeoxyglucose–positron emission tomography study. Treatment focuses on optimizing heart failure therapy and placement of a biventricular implantable cardioverter-defibrillator for primary prevention of SCD.
Challenges and recommendations for addressing under-five pneumonia morbidity and mortality in Nigeria
Authors: Okafor Chidi , Olaniran Abimbola , Darj Elisabeth 
Published: October 2023

Background: Pneumonia is a severe infection and one of the most common causes of mortality among children under five years of age, when not appropriately managed. Infection of the lungs by bacteria, viruses, or fungi and consequent inflammation may lead to cough and difficult breathing. Some of the key predisposing factors are malnutrition and air pollution. WHO reports that Africa has the highest burden of global child mortality, and 16% of all deaths in pneumonia, were children under five years of age in 2016.
Objectives: This study aimed to explore how health providers perceive pneumonia as a cause of under-five mortality in Nigeria.
Methods: A qualitative study design with in-depth interviews and focus group discussions was used to explore and understand nurses and pediatricians' views regarding the pneumonia situation, vaccinations, and preventive suggestions to reduce under five pneumonia deaths in Nigeria.
Results: Two themes and four categories emerged: participant’s anxiety over the situation, their views on impediments, current policies and strategies, and suggestions on addressing severe pneumonia.
Conclusions: The results from this study highlight contextual issues playing major roles in pneumonia mortality among childrenin Nigeria, which will need approaches on several levels to address them.
Keywords: Pneumonia; children; under five mortality; Nigeria; vaccinations; barriers.
Effects of ozone combined with articular injection of sodium hyaluronate on patients with knee osteoarthritis and their inflammatory factors and hemorheological indices
Authors: Yang Chengyong , Chen Qun 
Published: October 2023

Objective: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common chronic progressive disease. We aimed to evaluate the effects of ozone combined with articular injection of sodium hyaluronate on KOA patients and their inflammatory factors and hemorheological indices.
Methods: A total of 292 KOA patients treated from October 2020 to October 2021 were randomly divided into observation and control groups (n=146). Observation group was treated with ozone combined with articular injection of sodium hyaluronate, while control group was routinely given glucosamine hydrochloride tablets and articular injection of sodium hyaluronate. The treatment was performed once a week for 5 consecutive weeks. Their general data, treatment outcomes, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee score, inflammatory factor levels and hemorheological indices were compared.
Results: After treatment, observation group had significantly lower VAS score and higher HSS score than those of control group (P<0.05). The total response rate of observation group was higher than that of control group (P<0.05). The levels of inflammatory factors in the joint fluid were significantly lower in observation group than those in control group (P<0.05). The hemorheological indices were improved in both groups, especially in observation group (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Ozone combined with articular injection of sodium hyaluronate has obvious therapeutic effects on KOA.
Keywords: Ozone; sodium hyaluronate; knee osteoarthritis; inflammatory factor; hemorheological index.
Effect of Pro-kin visual feedback balance training on balance function of individuals with early Parkinson's disease: a randomized controlled pilot trial
Authors: Han Tingting , Liu Qian , Hu Yaguang , Wang Yuxia , Xue Kangying 
Published: October 2023

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease. Patients often present with balancedysfunction. Several studies have applied visual feedback training to stroke patients and demonstrated significant improvement.However, the application of visual feedback balance training in PD patients has not been reported.
Objective: To observe the effects of visual feedback balance training combined with conventional rehabilitation training on thebalance function of patients with early PD.
Methods: Fifty patients with early PD were randomly divided into control group and observation group. The control group received conventional rehabilitation training, including body position transfer, weight shifting, movement in all directions and gait training. The observation group were added with visual feedback balance training on the basis of the training above. All patients were trained 5 times per week for 4 weeks. Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Time Up-and-Go test (TUG) and Pro-Kin balance training instrument were used to evaluate the balance function of patients before and after treatment, and the balance function were compared between the two groups.
Results: The BBS and TUG scores of the observation group and the control group were improved significantly (P<0.01), and the BBS and TUG scores of the observation group were improved more obviously than control group (P<0.01). The length and area of eye open and closed condition in the observation group and the control group were significantly reduced compared with those before training (P<0.01), and the degree of reduction in the observation group was more obvious (P<0.01). The length and area of the observation group and the control group before and after training when eye open were smaller than those when eye closed (P<0.01).
Conclusion: The conventional rehabilitation therapy can improve the balance function of PD patients, but the combination of visual feedback balance training and conventional rehabilitation therapy can improve the balance function more significantly.
Keywords: Balance; parkinson; rehabilitation; visual feedback.
Undergraduate research- a tale of three African institutions
Authors: Delport Rhena , Dreyer Abigail , Maart Ronel , Mohamed Sharif Asma , Nekaka Rebecca , Turner Astrid , Wolvaardt Jacqueline 
Published: October 2023

Background: The inclusion of research in undergraduate medical curricula benefits students as well as the scientific community. Multiple studies report the presence of one or more barriers to research training in these curricula.
Objectives: This paper presents and compares three studies done regarding the teaching of research in undergraduate medical curricula in South Africa, Sudan and Uganda.
Methods: Two cross-sectional study designs (South Africa and Sudan) and one interventional study design (Uganda) were conducted. Both cross-sectional studies used mixed methods while the Ugandan study used a quantitative method. A total of 41 faculty members and 554 students participated. The studies used a combination of surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and document analysis.
Results: Participants from all three studies valued research and considered it useful and relevant to their studies. The findings from the South African and Sudanese studies align with the ‘Four I’s’ framework that summarise the barriers to research training as lack of initiative, impulse, incentive and idols. The Ugandan study demonstrated improved self-reported knowledge and attitude (specifically anxiety) among participants after completion of a short course on research.
Keywords: Research; medical students; undergraduate; Africa; competencies.
Risk factors influencing chemotherapy compliance and survival of elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Bing Zhongxing , Zheng Zhibo , Zhang Jiaqi 
Published: October 2023

Objective: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has high degree of malignance and proneness to recurrence and metastasis. The aim of this study was to analyse the risk factors influencing the chemotherapy compliance and survival status of elderly NSCLC patients.
Methods: The clinical data of 110 patients admitted from January 2014 to March 2018 were retrospectively analysed. They were assigned to non-chemotherapy (n=25), partial chemotherapy (n=30) and complete chemotherapy (n=55) groups according to chemotherapy compliance, and followed up until March 2021. Their clinicopathological characteristics were investigated by univariate analysis and then multivariate Cox regression analysis. The survival rates were compared by Kaplan-Meier survival curve and log-rank test.
Results: Among the 110 NSCLC patients, 25 did not receive chemotherapy, 30 underwent partial chemotherapy and 55 received complete chemotherapy. Educational level, pathological tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, pathological type, surgical approach, place of residence, payment mode and chemotherapy stage were independent risk factors influencing the chemotherapy compliance (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Particular attention should be paid to improving the chemotherapy compliance of patients with low educational level, late TNM stage, medical history of squamous cell carcinoma, history of thoracotomy, living in rural areas and no medical insurance, and those in the recurrence period or consolidation period of chemotherapy.
Keywords: Chemotherapy compliance; elderly; non-small cell lung cancer; risk factor; survival analysis.
OS IMPACTOS DO ISOLAMENTO SOCIAL NA VIDA DO IDOSO COM FOCO NA SAÚDE MENTAL
Authors: Silva Larissa Martins da , Barreto Maria Helena Brizido Marinho , Oliveira Alexsandro Narciso de 
Published: October 2023

O trabalho teve como objetivo identificar e analisar os prejuízos na saúde mental dos idosos, ocasionadas pelo isolamento social durante o período de pandemia de COVID -19, levantando dados que elucidem esses fatores. Foi realizada uma pesquisa qualitativa de revisão bibliográfica sobre o impacto da pandemia na saúde mental do idoso, onde teve como instrumentos de pesquisas, trabalhos realizados seguindo a escolha do tema do estudo, com a finalidade de adquirir conhecimento a partir do assunto. Foi observado que a pandemia do coronavírus afetou todo o tecido social, não poupando praticamente nenhuma área da vida coletiva ou individual, com repercussões na esfera da saúde mental. Foi identificado que a rápida disseminação do novo coronavírus por todo o mundo trouxe consigo as incertezas sobre o controle da doença assim como sua gravidade, além da imprevisibilidade acerca do tempo de duração da pandemia e dos seus desdobramentos como fatores de risco à saúde mental da população idosa. Por tanto, podemos identificar que por meio de uma abordagem humanizada, a princípios de precaução cientificamente baseados nas restrições sociais que foram aplicadas, devido à disseminação do coronavírus (SARSCoV-2), teve como foco principal proteger individual e coletivamente a saúde da população, além de informar sobre os riscos e aumentar a conscientização sobre as medidas de prevenção, visando reduzir a propagação do vírus.

Palavras-Chave: Isolamentos social, Covid-19, Saúde mental, Idoso.
A mulher nos documentos oficiais curriculares que regulamentam e constroem o livro didático de Geografia
Authors: Brockes Mariana 
Published: October 2023

Este trabalho visa a análise das discussões de gênero dentro dos documentos curriculares oficiais que regulamentam a educação e que contribuem para a elaboração dos livros didáticos de Geografia, aprovados e distribuídos pelo Programa Nacional do Livro e do Material Didático (PNLD). Buscou-se investigar, portanto, a qualidade destas discussões de gênero e problematizar a ausência, quando necessário, tentando também compreender os processos para a construção dos discursos presentes nesses documentos curriculares oficiais.
Palavras-chave
Documentos curriculares, Gênero, Livro Didático, Geografia.

Women in the official curriculum documents that regulate and build the Geography textbook
Abstract
This article aims to analyze gender discussions within the official curricular documents that regulate education and contribute to the elaboration of Geography textbooks approved and distributed by the National Program for Books and Didactic Material (PNLD). We sought to investigate, therefore, the quality of these gender discussions and problematizing the absence, when necessary, also trying to understand the processes for the construction of the discourses present in these official curriculum documents.
Keywords
Curricular documents, Genre, Textbook, Geography.