bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and safety profile of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist in obese Type-2 diabetes patients from a private institution in Karachi
Authors: Qasim Saeeda Fouzia , Ahsan Tasnim , Ghaus Saima , Imran Paras 
Published: May 2023

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of GLP-1RAs in managing obese T2DM patients.
Methods: This prospective cohort analysis was conducted at Medicell Institute of Diabetes, Karachi, Pakistan; from July 2019 to July 2021. A total of 97 obese individuals >16 years of age with T2DM and IGT were initially enrolled, and 81 patients who showed up for the follow-up were prescribed one of the three GLP-1RAs available in Pakistan.
Results: Out of 81 patients who showed up for the follow-up visit, 43 had received Liraglutide, 25 were taking Dulaglutide, and 13 had been prescribed IDegLira supplemented with oral hypoglycemic medications ± insulin. The mean age of the enrolled patients was 49.21(12.44) years, and there was female predominance (55.6%). Overall, there was a significant weight and BMI reduction among the patients treated with either of the GLP-1RAs (P<.01). Furthermore, significant glycemic control was observed in all three groups after the treatment. The Dulaglutide group demonstrated a more significant reduction of HbA1c compared to Liraglutide group, which showed more pronounced weight and BMI reduction. Nevertheless, this class of medications was well-tolerated, with nausea being the most often reported side effect.
Conclusion: GLP-1RAs showed favorable weight and HbA1c reduction among patients of all three treatment groups.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.4.7353
How to cite this: Qasim SF, Ahsan T, Ghaus S, Imran P. Efficacy and safety profile of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist in obese Type-2 diabetes patients from a private institution in Karachi. Pak J Med Sci. 2023;39(4):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.4.7353
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Model predictive control of solar-coupled innovative heat pump: a comparison of economic and environmental optimizations in Latvia
Authors: Roure Robin , Chèze David , Vallée Mathieu 
Published: May 2023

Background Heating and cooling in buildings represents a significant amount of the energy demand in the EU, but the market penetration of renewable solutions is still marginal. The SunHorizon project aims at proving the viability and benefits of innovative coupling between heat pumps and various advanced solar panels. Methods This study focuses on the optimal operation strategies of a technological package located in Latvia, and composed of hybrid photovoltaic thermal (PVT) panels, a gas driven heat pump and a hot water storage tank. In this work, a model predictive control is developed, based on mixed integer linear programming (MILP) optimization. This model uses innovative elements compared to traditional model predictive control (MPC), with environmental indicators for the Latvian electricity grid accounting for imports, co-simulation with TRNSYS using the transmission control protocol (TCP) and modelling of long-term storage for long and short-term decisions. The usual minimization of costs is compared to two new optimization approaches, which aim to minimize greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or maximize renewable use and self-consumption. Results and conclusions The results of the optimization of costs and GHG emissions show that gains can be found within the variations in time series related to the electricity grid, but the overall operation strategies remain similar. Optimization of renewable share and self-consumption is another path for control strategy, but with less economic and environmental performance.
Sleep duration and cardiovascular outcomes
Authors: Lichman Martyna , Przeradzki Jakub , Borycka Aleksandra , Jędrzejewska Barbara , Kotulska Maria , Laskus Paulina , Lubczyńska Zuzanna , Potocka Zofia , Rząd Katarzyna , Kochanowska Julia 
Published: May 2023

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death worldwide, causing approximately 17.9 deaths annually. Their risk factors are mainly related to an inappropriate lifestyle and include, among others, low physical activity, obesity, hypertension or type 2 diabetes. Nowadays, there is an increase in the incidence of CVD as well as sleeping disorders, so many studies have focused on finding the connection between these phenomena.
The impact of sleep duration on the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors was analyzed based on a systematic analysis of the literature. The review was carried out using keywords, based on data contained in the Google Scholar search engine database, in the PubMed scientific database and medical electronic journals.
The analyzed studies indicate that sleep duration, its both excessive shortening and lengthening, as well as poor quality, may be associated with CVD, their risk factors and increased overall mortality. Researchers point to the connection between sleep duration and development of hypertension, obesity and type 2 diabetes, with short sleep identified as a stronger risk factor. In addition long sleep was associated with poor health and overall worse results of the subjects more often than short sleep. This suggests that long sleep may not be the cause, but a consequence of yet undiagnosed, coexisting chronic diseases.
The results indicate the need to assess sleep disorders as a goal for primary and secondary prevention of CVD and reduction of their risk factors. The importance of long sleep remains ambiguous, whether it is the reason for health deterioration or results from it and requires further research. Large intervention studies are also still needed to assess whether improvements in sleep duration and its quality can reduce cardiovascular risk and improve long-term health outcomes.
Gaussian optics optimization of an optical particle counter for measurement in high-pressure gas
Authors: Wang Deyu , Ji Zhongli , Liu Zhen , Lin Guangyao 
Published: May 2023

An optimization model for the parameters of the pressure-resistant lens of an optical particle counter, based on Gaussian optics theory, was established to increase the measurement accuracy of the counter for high-pressure natural gas. Comparing the experimental and calculated values of the calibrated model, when the pressure-resistant lens is displaced by 2 mm under atmospheric pressure, the relative error of the measured body deformation is 0.15%. When the air pressure varies in the range 0.10–5.09 MPa, the maximum relative error of optical measurement volume deformation with the change of refractive index is 0.13%, which shows that the model has high reliability and accuracy.
School-based preventive chemotherapy program for schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminth control in Angola: 6-year impact assessment
Authors: Bartlett Adam W. , Mendes Elsa P. , Dahmash Latifeh , Palmeirim Marta S. , de Almeida Maria C. , Peliganga Luis B. , Lufunda Luis M. M. , Direito Ana , Ramirez Julio , Mwinzi Pauline N. , Lopes Sergio , Vaz Nery Susana 
Published: May 2023

Background
A school preventive chemotherapy (PC) program for soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) and schistosomiasis has operated in Huambo, Uige and Zaire provinces, Angola, since 2013 and 2014, respectively; complemented by a school water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) program in a subset of schools from 2016. Conducted in 2021, this is the first impact assessment of the school program for the control of schistosomiasis and STHs.

Methodology/Principal findings
A two-stage cluster design was used to select schools and schoolchildren for parasitological and WASH surveys. The rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), point of care circulating cathodic antigen (POC-CCA) and Hemastix, were used to estimate Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma haematobium prevalence, respectively. Kato Katz was used to detect STHs, and quantify STH and S. mansoni infections. Urine filtration was used to quantify S. haematobium infections. Prevalence, infection intensity, relative prevalence reduction and egg reduction rates were calculated for schistosomiasis and STHs. Cohen’s Kappa co-efficient was used to assess agreement between RDTs and microscopy. Chi-square or Fisher’s exact test was used to compare WASH indicators in WASH-supported and WASH-unsupported schools.
Overall, 17,880 schoolchildren (599 schools) and 6,461 schoolchildren (214 schools) participated in the schistosomiasis and STH surveys, respectively. Prevalence of any schistosomiasis in Huambo was 29.6%, Uige 35.4%, and Zaire 28.2%. Relative reduction in schistosomiasis prevalence from 2014 for Huambo was 18.8% (95% confidence interval (CI) 8.6, 29.0), Uige -92.3% (95%CI -162.2, -58.3), and Zaire -14.0% (95%CI -48.6, 20.6). Prevalence of any STH in Huambo was 16.3%, Uige 65.1%, and Zaire 28.2%. Relative reduction in STH prevalence for Huambo was -28.4% (95%CI -92.1, 35.2), Uige -10.7% (95%CI -30.2, 8.8), and Zaire -20.9% (95%CI -79.5, 37.8). A higher proportion of WASH-supported schools had improved water sources, and toilet and handwashing facilities compared to WASH-unsupported schools.

Conclusions/Significance
The limited impact this school program has had in controlling schistosomiasis and STHs identifies the need for a comprehensive understanding of individual, community, and environmental factors associated with transmission, and consideration for a community-wide control program.
Extravascular optical coherence tomography of cerebral vessel walls in vivo
Authors: Hartmann Karl , Neyazi Belal , Dumitru Claudia A. , Haghikia Aiden , Sandalcioglu I. Erol , Stein Klaus-Peter 
Published: May 2023

PurposeEvaluation of extravascular, microscope integrated OCT (iOCT) as an in vivo imaging modality of cerebral blood vessels and as an intraoperative imaging method.MethodsMicroscope integrated optical coherence tomography of major cerebral arteries (n = 13) and superficial sylvian veins (n = 5) and one incidental cerebral vasospasm (n = 1) in (n = 10) patients. Post procedural analysis of OCT volume scans, microscopic images and videos during the time of scan as well as measurements of the diameter of vessel walls and its layers with an accuracy of 7.5 μm.ResultsiOCT was feasible during vascular microsurgical procedures. In all scanned arteries a clear delineation of the physiological three layered vessel wall composition could be achieved. Pathological arteriosclerotic alterations of cerebral artery walls could precisely be demonstrated. Major superficial cortical veins conversely presented a mono layered composition. First in vivo measurements of vascular mean diameters were possible. Cerebral artery walls showed a diameter of 296 μm, tunica externa 78 μm, media 134 μm and interna 84 μm.ConclusionFor the first time the microstructural composition of cerebral blood vessels could be illustrated in vivo. Due to an outstanding spatial resolution a clear definition of physiological and pathological characteristics was possible. Therefore, microscope integrated optical coherence tomography holds promise for basic research in the field of cerebrovascular arteriosclerotic diseases and for intraoperative guidance during microvascular surgery.
Impact of valganciclovir therapy on severe IRIS-Kaposi Sarcoma mortality: An open-label, parallel, randomized controlled trial
Authors: Volkow Patricia , Chavez Galan Leslie , Ramon-Luing Lucero , Cruz-Velazquez Judith , Cornejo-Juarez Patricia , Sada-Ovalle Isabel , Perez-Padilla Rogelio , Islas-Muñoz Beda ,   on behalf of the Kaposi Sarcoma Study Group
Published: May 2023

Introduction
High HHV-8 viral load (VL) in Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) has been associated with Severe Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome (Severe-IRIS-KS), which can occur after initiating cART, and leads to high mortality, particularly in patients with pulmonary involvement. We investigate if valganciclovir (as an anti-HHV-8 agent) initiated before cART reduces the mortality associated with Severe-IRIS-KS and the incidence of Severe-IRIS-KS.

Methods
Open-label parallel-group randomized clinical trial in AIDS cART naïve patients with disseminated KS (DKS) as defined by at least two of the following: pulmonary, lymph-node, or gastrointestinal involvement, lymphedema, or ≥30 skin lesions. In the experimental group (EG), patients received valganciclovir 900 mg BID four weeks before cART and continued until week 48; in the control group (CG), cART was initiated on week 0. Non-severe-IRIS-KS was defined as: an increase in the number of lesions plus a decrease of ≥one log10 HIV-VL, or an increase of ≥50cells/mm3 or ≥2-fold in baseline CD4+cells. Severe-IRIS-KS was defined as abrupt clinical worsening of KS lesions and/or fever after ruling out another infection following cART initiation, and at least three of the following: thrombocytopenia, anemia, hyponatremia, or hypoalbuminemia.

Results
40 patients were randomized and 37 completed the study. In the ITT analysis, at 48 weeks, total mortality was the same in both groups (3/20), severe-IRIS-KS attributable mortality was 0/20 in the EG, compared with 3/20 in the CG (p = 0.09), similar to the per-protocol analysis: 0/18 in the EG, and 3/19 in the control group (p = 0.09). The crude incidence rate of severe-IRIS-KS was four patients developed a total of 12 episodes of Severe-IRIS-KS in the CG and two patients developed one episode each in the EG. Mortality in patients with pulmonary KS was nil in the EG (0/5) compared with 3/4 in the CG (P = 0.048). No difference was found between groups in the number of non-S-IRIS-KS events. Among survivors at week 48, 82% achieved >80% remission.

Conclusions
Although mortality attributable to KS was lower in the EG the difference was not statistically significant.
Biologic targets of prescription medications and risk of neurodegenerative disease in United States Medicare beneficiaries
Authors: Song Yizhe , Racette Brad A. , Camacho-Soto Alejandra , Searles Nielsen Susan 
Published: May 2023

Objective
To identify prescription medications associated with a lower risk of three neurodegenerative diseases: Parkinson disease, Alzheimer disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Methods
We conducted a population-based, case-control study of U.S. Medicare beneficiaries in 2009 (42,885 incident neurodegenerative disease cases, 334,387 randomly selected controls). Using medication data from 2006–2007, we categorized all filled medications according to their biological targets and mechanisms of action on those targets. We used multinomial logistic regression models, while accounting for demographics, indicators of smoking, and health care utilization, to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for 141 target-action pairs and each neurodegenerative disease. For target-action pairs inversely associated with all three diseases, we attempted replication in a cohort study that included an active comparator group. We constructed the cohort by following controls forward for incident neurodegenerative disease from the beginning of 2010 until death or end of 2014, i.e., up to five years after the two-year exposure lag. We used Cox proportional hazards regression while accounting for the same covariates.

Results
The most consistent inverse association across both studies and all three neurodegenerative diseases was for xanthine dehydrogenase/oxidase blockers, represented by the gout medication, allopurinol. Allopurinol was associated with a 13–34% lower risk for each neurodegenerative disease group in multinomial regression, and a mean reduction of 23% overall, as compared to individuals who did not use allopurinol. In the replication cohort we observed a significant 23% reduction for neurodegenerative disease in the fifth year of follow-up, when comparing allopurinol users to non-users, and more marked associations with an active comparator group. We observed parallel associations for a related target-action pair unique to carvedilol.

Discussion/Conclusion
Xanthine dehydrogenase/oxidase blockade might reduce risk of neurodegenerative disease. However, further research will be necessary to confirm that the associations related to this pathway are causal or to examine whether this mechanism slows progression.
A cohort study on the association between changing occupational stress, hair cortisol concentration, and hypertension
Authors: Wang Jin , Zhu Lejia , Song Lin , Zhou Ziqi , Chan Weiling , Li Geyang , Zhou Li , Xiao Jing , Lian Yulong 
Published: May 2023

Objective
To explore the relationship between changing occupational stress levels, hair cortisol concentration (HCC), and hypertension.

Methods
Baseline blood pressure of 2520 workers was measured in 2015. The Occupational Stress Inventory—Revised Edition (OSI-R) was used to assess changes in occupational stress. Occupational stress and blood pressure were followed up annually from January 2016 to December 2017. The final cohort numbered 1784 workers. The mean age of the cohort was 37.77±7.53 years and the percentage male was 46.52%. At baseline, 423 eligible subjects were randomly selected for hair sample collection to determine cortisol levels.

Results
Increased occupational stress was a risk factor for hypertension [risk ratio (RR) = 4.200, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.734–10.172]. The HCC of workers with elevated occupational stress was higher than that of workers with constant occupational stress [(ORQ score ≥70: geometric mean±geometric standard deviation = 5.25±3.59 ng/g hair; 60–90: 5.02±4.00; 40–59: 3.45±3.41; <40: 2.73±3.40) x2 = 5.261]. High HCC increased the risk of hypertension (RR = 5.270, 95% CI: 2.375–11.692) and high HCC was associated with higher rates of elevated diastolic and systolic blood pressure. The mediating effect of HCC was 0.51[(95% CI: 0.23–0.79, odds ratio(OR) = 1.67] and accounted for 36.83% of the total effect.

Conclusions
Increased occupational stress could lead to an increase in hypertension incidence. High HCC could increase the risk of hypertension. HCC acts as a mediator between occupational stress and hypertension.
Vancomycin prescribing and therapeutic drug monitoring: Challenges of real clinical practice
Authors: Abdel Jalil Mariam Hantash , Ηijazeen Rima , Khaled Abu-Mahfouz Farah , Abu Hammour Khawla , Hasan Matalqah Maria , Saleh Khaleel Albadaineh Jwan , Khaled AlOmoush Shrouq , Al-Iede Montaha 
Published: May 2023

Background
Vancomycin prescription and monitoring guidelines have been reported to be poorly followed by various centers.

Aims
Identifying barriers to compliance with vancomycin dosing and therapeutic drug monitoring guidelines (TDM) and possible ways to enhance compliance based on the healthcare providers’ (HCPs) perspective.

Methods
A qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews with HCP (physicians, pharmacists, and nurses) was conducted at two Jordanian Teaching Hospitals. Interviews were audio-recorded and analyzed through thematic analysis. The COREQ criteria for qualitative research were utilized to report the study findings.

Results
A total of 34 HCPs were interviewed. HCP perceived several factors as barriers to guideline recommendation compliance. Such factors included negative perception towards prescription guidelines, lack of knowledge regarding TDM guidelines, the hierarchy of medication management, work pressure, and ineffective communication among healthcare providers. Potential strategies to optimize guidelines adaptation included providing HCPs with more training and decision support tools in addition to activating the role of clinical pharmacists.

Conclusions
The main barriers to guideline recommendations uptake were identified. Interventions should address those barriers related to the clinical environment, including enhancing interprofessional communication related to vancomycin prescription and TDM, reducing workload and providing support systems, promoting educational and training programs, in addition to adopting guidelines suitable for the local environment.
OBTAINING AND RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF PECTIN ISOLATED USING MICROWAVE RADIATION
Authors: Azimova Luiza Bakhtiyarovna , Filatova Al'bina Vasil'yevna , Mukhamedzhanova Muyassarhon Yusufdzhanovna , Turaev Abbaskhan Sabirkhanovich 
Published: May 2023

А method has been developed for extracting modified pectin from plant raw materials by using microwave radiation at the stage of washing. The rheological properties of 5.0% aqueous solutions of apple PV obtained by exposure to microwave radiation of various powers: 300, 450 and 600 W, as well as PV obtained by the traditional method at temperatures of 25, 40, 55, 70 °C were investigated. It is shown that the use of microwave radiation makes it possible to improve the method of obtaining pectins with the possibility of increasing the yield of pectin substances and regulating their structure and properties. The rheological properties of concentrated aqueous solutions of pectins obtained by exposure to microwave radiation of various powers have been studied. It is shown, that all the studied systems of PV solutions are non-Newtonian fluids with a pseudoplastic type of viscous flow anomaly, determined by the values of the microwave energy. The values of the apparent activation energies of the viscous flow of solutions, which are an indirect characteristic of the strength of the structures of the system, have been estimated. Information was obtained on the structure and changes in the structure of their concentrated solutions under the action of external forces and temperature in the course of a viscous flow. It is shown that the power values оf microwave radiation are the main factor determining the structure of molecular matrices of pectin substances and the structure of their concentrated aqueous solutions.
STUDY OF LIPIDS AND PHENOL COMPOUNDS OF MELILOTUS OFFICINALIS (L.) PALL, GROWING IN UZBEKISTAN
Authors: Usmanova Nargiza Kudiratullaevna , Yuldasheva Nigora Karimovna , Gusakova Svetlana Dmitriyevna , Botirov Erkin Khozhiakbarovich 
Published: May 2023

Lipids and phenolic compounds of seeds with an admixture of the leaf mass of Melilotus officinalis (L.) Pall, Fabaceae family, have been studied. It was found that the content of neutral lipids (NL) in seeds is 2.93%, polar lipids (PL) – 3.15%. triacylglycerides and free fatty acids (LC) dominate in NL, which are accompanied by hydrocarbons, carotenoids, esters of phytosterols with LC, triterpenols, phytosterols and modified chlorophylls. Phytosterols were the main component of unsaponifiable substances isolated from NL, and hydrocarbons, carotenoids, phytosterols, aliphatic alcohols and triterpenols were also found. Glycolipids (GL), consisting of esters of sterylglycosides, sterylglycosides, monohalactosyl- and digalactosyldiglycerides, predominate in PL. Phospholipids (FL) include phosphatidylethanolamines, phosphatidylcholines, and phosphatidylinosites.
Twelve components were identified in the composition of fatty acids (LC) of NL, in GL and FL – 13 components with a significant predominance of saturated fatty acids (52.95–85.73%), mainly palmitic 16:0. A feature of fatty acids of NL is the high (16.67%) content of lauric 12:0 acid, which is also present in GL (3.87%), and in FL (1.62%).
Three individual phenolic compounds were isolated from various fractions of the 75% alcohol extract of the aboveground part, which, based on the study of spectral data, were identified with p-hydroxybenzoic, p-hydroxycoric acids and androsin.