bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of Tocilizumab in Terms of Hospital Stay and Mortality Pattern Among Patients with Severe Versus Critically-ill COVID-19 Patients: A Comparative Analytic Study
Authors: Anjum Hameed  , Asif mehmood  , Muhammad Younus  , Shahid Mahmood  , Qamar Rafique  , Maqsood Cheema  , Rao Hashim Idress  , Amber Riaz  
Published: March 2023

Background and Objectives: Most patients with mild and moderate COVID-19 infection recover with standard care therapy. Mortality in patients with severe illness and those critically ill is high. Tocilizumab acts by blocking interleukin-6 receptors and shows promising results in severe disease. Aim of this study was to assess the effect of Tocilizumab in severe and critically ill COVID-19 patients in terms hospital stay and reducing the risk of death.
Methods: In this comparative analytical, single-center study undertaken in DHQ university teaching hospital Gujranwala, forty-four patients were enrolled after an informed consent through non-probability consecutive sampling. The patients were categorized based on oxygen requirement as severe (oxygen requirement 10 L/min) and critically ill patients (oxygen requirement 15 L/min). All patients were treated with injection Tocilizumab (8mg per kg body weight) using criteria based on oxygen requirement (10L/min or more) and increased levels of any two of the laboratory investigations including CRP, D-Dimers, serum ferritin and LDH. Sociodemographic and clinical profile were collected using a semi-structured proforma. Outcome of interest was hospital stay and mortality. Comparison of effect of Tocilizumab was analyzed in regards to age, sex, laboratory investigations and stated outcome using Pearson's Chi-squared test. P-value of ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 24.0.
Results: Of 44 COVID-19 patients, 26 (59.1%) had severe disease and 18 (40.9%) were critically ill. We did not observe any statistical difference between these two categories as regards age, sex, hospital stay or presence of co-morbid conditions. However, there were 17 (94%) deaths observed among critically ill patients, while one patient died with severe disease. This mortality difference was found statistically significant (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Tocillizumab has shown significant effect to reduce mortality and minimizing hospital stay amongst COVID-19 patients with severe disease only with minimal effect in critically ill patients. Tocilizumab may be introduced early in treatment plan for severe COVID-19 patients.
A Retrospective Study of Antibiogram in One of the Largest Burn Center in Pakistan
Authors: Junaid Ahmad  , Farrukh Aslam Khalid  , Imran Shahzad  , Ghazala Tabassum  , Qurat ul ain khan  , Shamila Ashraf  , Moazzam Nazeer Tarar  
Published: March 2023

Background and Objective: Jinnah Burn and Reconstructive Surgery Center, Lahore, Pakistan is one of largest burn patients management center in country. We evaluated our latest antibiogram of burn wounds to help patients and improve the healthcare.
Methods: Retrospective observational study of burn patients. Our study included all kinds of burns and all admitted patients with all ages, total burn surface area 01-80%. Wound cultures and sensitivity done on wounds swabs by culture and disc diffusion methods.
Results: There were 175 cases. Total six bacteria were found in all 175 cases. The Acinetobacter species were 9 (5.1%), Klebsiella species were 110 (62.8%) and these were most common ones, Proteus species were 12 (6.8%), Pseudomonas species were 30 (17.1%), Staphylococcus aureus were 12 (6.8%) and Staphylococcus coagulase negative were 2 (1.1%). Klebsiella was most sensitive to Colistin. All 105 out of 105 were sensitive (100.0%), followed by Tigercyclin; 39 out of 65 were sensitive (60.0%) and then Meropenum 47 out of 88 were sensitive (53.4%).
Conclusion: Klebsiella is the most common organism found in cultures of burn wounds and Colistin shows best sensitivity results against all bacteria found in our reports including Klebsiella.
Frequency of Pregnant Females with Adequate Knowledge Regarding Gestational Diabetes Visiting Public and Private Sector Hospital of Lahore
Authors: Sariya Tul Tahira  , Iram Inam  , Faisal Ashraf  , Nimra Abid  , Memuna Kanwal  , Mizrah Mehreen  
Published: March 2023

Background & Objective: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a perfect window of opportunity for the prevention of DM in two generations, and its incidence is increasing in the world. Awareness of the condition among antenatal women may translate into prevention and early diagnosis of the disease. This study aims to assess the frequency of female with good knowledge regarding GDM during pregnancy, as only few females are aware of it. There is no local evidence available in this regard which could help us in determining the level of awareness in females belonging to local population regarding GDM.
Methods: Overall, 230 females fulfilling the selection criteria were enrolled in the study from OPD of Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology of both hospitals. Informed consent was obtained. Demographic information (name, age, gestational age, parity, education level and socioeconomic status) was also noted. Then females were interviewed with researcher herself regarding their knowledge about GDM during pregnancy and adequate knowledge was noted (as per operational definition). All this information was recorded through pre-designed proforma.
Results: In our study, out of 230 cases, mean age was calculated as 28.38+3.71 years; mean gestational age was 28.84+3.38 weeks, frequency of adequate knowledge regarding gestational diabetes in pregnant females was recorded in 15.65%(n=36).
Conclusion: We concluded that the frequency of pregnant females with adequate knowledge regarding gestational diabetes is not high and needs some emergent steps to improve it for prevention of associated morbidities.
REASONS OF REFUSING POLIO VACCINATION AMONG PARENTS OF UNDER-5 YEARS CHILDREN IN DISTRICT MULTAN, PAKISTAN
Authors: Nabeel Saleem  , Saima Zafar  , Muhammad Anwar  , Aftab Iqbal  , Hafiz.M.Dawood  , Hummira Rashid  , M. Bilal Anwar  
Published: March 2023

Background and Objective: Polio is still endemic in Pakistan and Afghanistan. In Pakistan, transmission of polio virus is high due to poor political environment and internal security threats especially in war against terrorism in Swat and FATA. Meanwhile, some groups tried to create misconception about polio vaccine. The objective of the study was to describe the reasons underpinning the refusals to polio vaccine in District Multan.
Methods:- This descriptive, cross sectional study was conducted in a District Multan. A closed ended pre- tested questionnaire in Urdu language was used to collect data from 34 parents of under five year children, who refused polio vaccaniation during polio compaign.
Results:- Out of 34 polio vaccine refusal parents, 15 did not respond or either locked the doors as researcher tried to interview them. About 29% refusing parents mentioned religious reasons, about 42% have apprehensions on polio vaccine contents. One third reported that it was a western world conspricy against mullims. 45% states that government vaccine supply is of poor quality, as the main factor for refusal.
Conclusion: Majority of refusing parents were uncomfortable in responding to the survey or either they were never counseled for Polio and now they are habitual refusals or may be perception about polio vaccine is negative. In District Multan, religious reasons and misconception that vaccine causes sterility in male children were main reasons of polio vaccine refusal. Efforts will be required in changing the perception of parents.
PREDICTIVE VALUE OF NEUTROPHIL TO LYMPHOCYTE RATIO (NLR) IN EARLY DETECTION OF GESTATIONAL DIABETES MELLITUS (GDM) AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN FIRST TRIMESTER OF PREGNANCY
Authors: Neha Tanveer  , Rehana Kanwal  , Jawairiah Liaqat  , Faisal Ashraf  , Muhammad Abdullah Rashid  , Qurratulain Mushtaq  
Published: March 2023

Background & Objective: A substantial number of pregnant women develop gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Various biomarkers are being used to diagnose gestational diabetes mellitus. Early detection of GDM can done by using inflammatory markers like neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the platelet- to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) that are rapid, inexpensive and easy to use in different clinical setting. The objective of this study was to evaluate diagnostic accuracy of raised neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio for detection of gestational diabetes mellitus taking OGTT as gold standard.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study held in Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology CMH Lahore from November, 2018 –May, 2020. After approval from hospital ethical review committee and taking an informed consent, 473 pregnant women enrolled in first trimester between age 18-35 years, fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included whereas known diabetics, patients with cardiovascular disorders, previous history of GDM were excluded. Blood samples in sterilized manner were drawn and sent to hospital laboratory for analysis of NLR. Then they were screened during 24-28 weeks of gestation for diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus on OGGT. The females were labelled for positive NLR and GDM as per operational definition. Diagnostic accuracy of NLR was calculated for development of gestational diabetes mellitus.
Results: Mean age of females was 26.72 ± 4.90 years and mean gestational age was 15.50 ± 1.67 weeks. 94(19.9%) females who had raised neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio while 397(80.1%) females had normal neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and there were 90(19%) females who had gestational diabetes mellitus while rests of 383(81%) did not have gestational diabetes mellitus. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and overall diagnostic accuracy of NRL was 95.56%, 97.91%, 91.49%, 98.94% and 97.46%, respectively.
Conclusion: The study concluded that raised neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio is significantly high among gestational diabetes mellitus and NLR has a high diagnostic accuracy for predicting gestational diabetes mellitus.
FREQUENCY OF NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE (NAFLD) AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH DIABETES MELLITUS, HYPERTENSION AND CHOLELITHIASIS AMONG PATIENTS UNDERGOING ROUTINE ULTRASONOGRAPHY
Authors: Zaeem Sohail Jafar  , Aniq Ahmed  , Muhammad Nauman Akram  , Muhammad Junaid Mirza  , Khalida Ahtesham  
Published: March 2023

Objective: To find the frequency of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its association with diabetes mellitus, hypertension and cholelithiasis.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in department of radiology, Sughra Shafi Medical Complex, Narowal. About 545 subjects who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included through nonprobability/ convenient sampling technique. Abdominal ultrasound of every participant was conducted to determine frequency of NAFLD among sample size. A structured questionnaire consisting of demographic details and comorbidities was designed. Diabetic, and hypertensive status was determined on patient’s history and choleli-thiasis was assessed on ultrasonography. Data were entered in SPSS 21 software and presented as frequency and percentages.
Results: Among 545 patients there were 282 (51.7%) male and 263 (48.3%) female participants with mean age of 48.56 ± 3.67 years SD. The overall frequency of NAFLD in the sample size was 39.8%. Diabetes was found in 115 (21.1%) participants, NAFLD was present in 44(64.7%) diabetic males and 29 (25.2%) diabetic females. Hypertension was found in 92 (16.9%) participants, NAFLD was present in 30(32.6%) hypertensive males and 24 (61.5%) hypertensive females. Cholelithiasis was found in 18 (8.0%) patients NAFLD was present in 30(32.6%) hypertensive males and 24 (61.5%) hypertensive females. There was no statistical significant difference among gender and presence of NAFLD. (P>0.05)
Conclusion: It is concluded that on ultrasound NAFLD is a common finding and it is associated with diabetes mellitus, hypertension and cholelithiasis.
EVALUATION OF DIAGNOSTIC VALIDITY OF PIVKA-II FOR DIAGNOSIS OF HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA IN PATIENTS OF CIRRHOSIS WITH LIVER NODULES PRESENTED IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF LAHORE
Authors: Attique Abou Bakr  , Tayyab Shahzad  , Naeem Aslam  
Published: March 2023

Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic validity of PIVKA-II for Hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients with uncertain liver nodules on Ultrasound.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 01-11-2020 and 31-12-2021 at Hepatitis clinic at Jinnah Hospital Lahore. Patients who fulfilled the selection criteria(n=100) were enlisted for this study. Blood samples were obtained to test for PVKA-11 and AFP in cirrhotic patients who had liver nodules that had been previously verified by ultrasound imaging. Data were entered and analyzed in SPSS ver: 21.0. Sensitivity, specificity and predictive values were calculated using CT imaging and biopsy as gold standard. ROC curve evaluating AFP, PIVKA-II, and a combination as indicators for Hepatocellular carcinoma at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated with a p < .05 value was taken as statistical significant.
Results: HCC was confirmed in 45 of the 100 instances, and it was invariably at an early or very early stage. At a threshold of 62.5 mAU/mL, PIVKA-II and HCC were significantly correlated (P =.015 and P =.036, respectively) in univariate and multivariate analyses. For AFP, 7.5 ng/mL was the ideal cut-off. For PIVKA- II, sensitivity was 62% and specificity was 91% , while for AFP, they are 66% and 69% respectively. The positive and negative predictive values for PIVKA-II were 81% and 74%, respectively, while for AFP sensitivity was 63% and specificity was 72%. The combination of both biomarkers improved the precision of diagnosing HCC (sensitivity = 74%, specificity = 95.5%, NPV = 81%, PPV = 92%, and AUC = 0.781).
Conclusion: PIVKA-II is a valid indicator for defining the characteristics of liver nodules in cirrhosis and when combined with AFP, it signifies superior accuracy for HCC diagnosis.
MONKEY POX - AN EMERGING PUBLIC HEALTH GLOBAL EMERGENCY
Authors: Syed Nazim Hussain Gardezi  , Sana Abbasi  
Published: March 2023

On 23 July 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the monkeypox outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). From May to July 2022, a multi-country outbreak of monkeypox was reported in both endemic and non-endemic regions (almost 35,000 including sexual contact are pivotal in transmission in humans during recent outbreak.4 There could be vertical transmission from mother to fetus or at birth from mother to newborn.3 The cardinal features of monkeypox are high-grade fever, headache, malaise, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes and a cases in 92 countries with 12 deaths).1 There has general sense of unwellness.4,5 It is pertinent to note been no case reported in Pakistan yet, but there were some rumors of cases identified in a public sector hospital of Lahore, which were later found to be unrelated to monkeypox infection.Monkeypox is a rare zoonotic disease caused by a DNA virus from Orthopoxviridae family of viruses, which also includes viruses such as cowpox,that lymphadenopathy or enlarged lymph nodes are not seen in smallpox patients. After 1-3 days of these symptoms, the infection heralds itself by a vesicular and pustular rash similar to small pox, primarily beginning on the face and then spreading to other parts of the body involving palms and soles as well.5,6 Eventually rash progresses from vesicular stage to vaccinia and variola.2 It is endemic in rainforest crusting of lesions. However all stages of the rash are countries of the central and West Africa, exists in two main strains with variable case fatality: Congo Basin strain having 10% case fatality, and West African strain with 1% mortality among those contracted the visible in same patient. The face is affected in 95% of cases, while palm and soles in 75% cases; oral mucous membranes in 70%, genitalia 30% and conjunctiva and cornea in about 20% or less number disease.1,2 The manifestations of monkeypox are of cases.7 Interestingly the lesions in conjunctivae similar to that of smallpox infection, though less severe than the later. The first case of monkeypox was diagnosed in 1970 in Democratic Republic of Congo, but an evidence of the disease was observed in laboratory held monkeys as early as in 1958.1 Human beings are the incidental hosts, where rodents are identified to be the natural reservoir of this virus.3
МУЗЕИ АЛМАТЫ И АЛМАТИНСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ И ПОСЕТИТЕЛИ: ОЖИДАНИЯ И РЕАЛЬНОСТЬ
Authors: Файзуллина Галия 
Published: March 2023

Аннотация. В статье представлены музеи Алматы и Алматинской области в контексте оценок представителями «будущего поколения», для которого они традиционно хранят наследие. Участвовали 54 студента. Автором проанализировано 48 анкет. Сделан вывод о том, что создание условий для реализации потребностей в самосознании и самопознании возможно в диалоге с посетителем и в процессе проведения внутреннего аудита своей деятельности с помощью поиска ответов на вопросы, связанные с оценкой музея с точки зрения посетителя. Кроме того, представлена эмоциональная оценка трех литературно-мемориальных музеев Алматинской области в формате публикаций в социальных сетях.
Материалы и методы исследования: Объектом комплексного социологического исследования являются посетители различного возраста, образования и социального положения. Для создания полноценного диалога музея с посетителями, понимания их потребности, проанализированы анкеты-задания профессиональных фокус-групп, исследованы их интересы и предпочтения. Результаты проведенных исследований позволили выявить особые интересы целевой аудитории.
НАУРЫЗ – ВЕЛИКИЙ ДЕНЬ УЛУСА
Authors: Уали Нургелди 
Published: March 2023

Аннотация. В статье описаны историко-культурные аспекты традиционного праздника казахского народа, особенности, связанные с традициями. Говорят, что праздник Наурыз связан с природой, ее летним равноденствием, а согласно народной астрономии онтологической основой праздника считается расположение звезд Сумбиле, Уш Аркар-Тараз, Уркер, Сулу Сары по линии на западном горизонте. Великого Равноденствия.
Будет раскрыта встреча традиций, верований, обрядов и их суть, связанная с идеей ладить с природой (экологической), избавляться от старого, обновлять и омолаживать.
Также показано, что единство и мир в обществе, этические принципы, относящиеся к гуманизму, в конечном счете связаны с целью прославления пути предков, сохранения самобытности и единства страны. Определено, что казахстанская модель явления Наурыз формируется на основе идеи Процветания, Обновления, Созидания.
Associations of ABO and Rhesus D blood groups with phenome-wide disease incidence: A 41-year retrospective cohort study of 482,914 patients
Authors: Bruun-Rasmussen Peter , Hanefeld Dziegiel Morten , Banasik Karina , Johansson Pär Ingemar , Brunak Søren 
Published: March 2023

Background:Whether natural selection may have attributed to the observed blood group frequency differences between populations remains debatable. The ABO system has been associated with several diseases and recently also with susceptibility to COVID-19 infection. Associative studies of the RhD system and diseases are sparser. A large disease-wide risk analysis may further elucidate the relationship between the ABO/RhD blood groups and disease incidence.Methods:We performed a systematic log-linear quasi-Poisson regression analysis of the ABO/RhD blood groups across 1,312 phecode diagnoses. Unlike prior studies, we determined the incidence rate ratio for each individual ABO blood group relative to all other ABO blood groups as opposed to using blood group O as the reference. Moreover, we used up to 41 years of nationwide Danish follow-up data, and a disease categorization scheme specifically developed for diagnosis-wide analysis. Further, we determined associations between the ABO/RhD blood groups and the age at the first diagnosis. Estimates were adjusted for multiple testing.Results:The retrospective cohort included 482,914 Danish patients (60.4% females). The incidence rate ratios (IRRs) of 101 phecodes were found statistically significant between the ABO blood groups, while the IRRs of 28 phecodes were found statistically significant for the RhD blood group. The associations included cancers and musculoskeletal-, genitourinary-, endocrinal-, infectious-, cardiovascular-, and gastrointestinal diseases.Conclusions:We found associations of disease-wide susceptibility differences between the blood groups of the ABO and RhD systems, including cancer of the tongue, monocytic leukemia, cervical cancer, osteoarthrosis, asthma, and HIV- and hepatitis B infection. We found marginal evidence of associations between the blood groups and the age at first diagnosis.Funding:Novo Nordisk Foundation and the Innovation Fund Denmark
Stabilization of a Pickering Emulsion by Nanoparticles of Eudragit RSPO and Pol-epsilon Caprolactone: Contact Angle Measurement and Surface Tension Studies
Authors: Dieng Sidy Mouhamed , Sy Papa Mady , Soumboundou Mamadou , Djiboune Alphone Rodrigue , Fall Ahmédou Bamba Koueimel , Niass Mamadou , Diop Moussa , Diouf Louis Augustin Diagua , Mbaye Gora , Diarra Mounibé 
Published: March 2023

The use of colloidal particles to prepare and stabilize emulsions, known as "Pickering emulsions “, has aroused growing interest in recent years. Pickering and Ramsden demonstrated at the beginning of the last century the feasibility of surfactant-free emulsions, in presence of these emulsions is called "Pickering Emulsions". This concept of emulsions stabilized by solid particles is experiencing renewed interest nowadays given the many advantages it offers good stability, environmental protection, user safety, and particle varieties.
The first part is devoted to the synthesis of Eudragit RSPO and pol epsilon-caprolactone nanoparticles and their characterization. The characterization of the nanoparticles is performed by dynamic light scattering and geometry. The understanding of the interfacial behavior of these nanoparticles and their associated stabilization mechanisms for emulsions was carried out. The second part of the study investigated the formulation and stabilization of the emulsion using the washed suspension containing the nanoparticles as the only stabilizer. The objective of this part is to stabilize and characterize the formulated emulsions. Droplet size determination and microscopy were performed using a Zeiss optical microscope. The direction of the formulated emulsions was determined by conductimetry. In conclusion, Pickering emulsions stabilized solely by Eudragit RSPO and Poly-epsilon Caprolactone nanoparticles appear to be highly effective innovative drug carriers, opening new doors as potential drug delivery systems.
X‐Ray Fluorescence Elemental Imaging
Authors: Tsuji Kouichi 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) imaging is a valuable analytical technique that provides elemental distribution maps. XRF imaging can be categorized as scanning‐type and non‐scanning‐type, that is full‐filed XRF imaging using a two‐dimensional X‐ray detector. Advanced X‐ray focusing optics produce a micro X‐ray beam in the laboratory, leading to scanning micro‐XRF analysis and XRF imaging. A confocal micro‐XRF technique has been applied to visualize the elemental distributions in the samples. The fundamentals and applications of the scanning‐type XRF imaging techniques are also introduced. Thereafter, two full‐field XRF imaging techniques are explained, that is, wavelength‐dispersive XRF (WDXRF) imaging and energy‐dispersive XRF (EDXRF) imaging. In addition, the characteristics of these XRF imaging techniques are compared.