bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Lacey Assessment of Preterm Infants
Authors: Naushad Thanooja , Natarajan Meena 
Published: May 2023

Background and Aim:
The Lacey Assessment of Preterm Infants (LAPI) is reported to have low sensitivity but high specificity to predict neurological function. The study objective was to find the predictive validity of the LAPI of preterm infants (LAPIs) to predict neuromotor outcomes of infants born preterm at the corrected age of 3–4 months.

Materials and Methods:
In this prospective cohort study, infants born below 35 weeks' gestation were assessed using the LAPI before their discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit. Data were collected from Latifa Hospital, Dubai. Outcome assessment was done between 3 and 4 months corrected age using Prechtl's general movement assessment (GMA) and the Test of infant motor performance (TIMP).

Results:
A total of 125 infants completed the tests (45.6% females); their mean gestational age was 30.28 (standard deviation 2.59) weeks. LAPI showed 87.50% sensitivity (95% confidence interval [CI] =47.35%–99.68%), 96.58% specificity (95% CI = 91.48%–99.06%), and 99.12% negative predictive value (95% CI = 94.75%–99.86%) in predicting fidgety movements in the GMA. The specificity and negative predictive value of the LAPI to predict the motor outcome in the TIMP was 98.06% (95% CI = 93.16%–99.76%) and 88.60% (95% CI = 84.57%–91.67%) respectively whereas sensitivity was 40.91% (95% CI = 20.71%–63.65%). Developmental score in the LAPI showed a weak correlation (P = 0.02, r = 0.20) with the TIMP score.

Conclusion:
The results suggest that the LAPI can be used to reliably predict neurological function for infants born preterm at 3–4 months corrected age. LAPI can be used as a discharge assessment tool in neonatal units to identify candidates for early intervention services.
Evaluation of Normal Range of Maximum Mouth Opening for Pune Maharashtra Adult Population
Authors: Koranne Vaishali Vasant , Joshi Samir Achyut , Patankar Amod Pramod , Patankar Swapna Amod 
Published: May 2023

Background and Aim:
Maximal mouth opening (MMO) is used as a marker of masticatory pathology. MMO varies with age, height, gender, and race. The current study is an attempt to calculate the normal range of maximum mouth opening in an adult Pune Maharashtra population.

Materials and Methods:
A total of 800 individuals, 400 males and 400 females, in the age group of 18–60 years attending outpatient department in Bharati Dental College and Hospital, Pune were randomly selected and divided into four groups according to their age ranges. In addition to the basic demographic data, MMO was measured in these individuals. The subjects were asked to open their mouth maximally until no further opening was possible. The distance from the incisal edge of the upper incisor teeth to the incisal edge of the lower incisor teeth was measured using a calibrated fiber ruler. Statistical analysis was performed.

Results:
The mean MMO for males was 50.58 (standard deviation [SD] ± 2.16) mm (Range 37–56 mm) and for females was 48.29 (SD ± 3.12) mm (Range 36–53 mm). There was a statistically significant difference between the mouth opening of male and female in all the age groups with P < 0.05 A linear relationship was observed between the mouth opening and age in both males and females and the mouth opening decreased as the age increased. In the age group of 18–29 years, the mean MMO was 54.34 (SD ± 1.84) mm. The range was 39–56 mm for males and 51.63 (SD ± 2.33) mm. with range 38–53 mm for females. In the age group of 30–39 years, the mean MMO was 52.09 (SD ± 1.72) (range 38–53 mm) and 50.07 (SD ± 2.09) (range 38–51 mm) for males and females, respectively. For the age group 40–49 years, the mean MMO was 48.94 (SD ± 1.66) mm (range 39–54 mm) for males and 46.73 (SD ± 2.84) mm (range 38–50 mm) for females. In the age group of 50–60 years, the corresponding values for males and females were 46.98 (SD ± 2.04) (range 36–50 mm) and 44.76 (SD ± 2.59) mm (range 36–49 mm).

Conclusion:
The MMO range for different age groups is established for normal adult Pune Maharashtra population.
Study on risk of hypercoagulation in patients with obstructive sleep apnea
Authors: Omar Amany , Elfadl Abd-Elazim Abo , Ahmed Yousef , Mahmoud Marwa A. 
Published: May 2023

Background
Studies propose that lack of oxygen in the blood experienced by patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) during sleep leads to the liberation of several inflammatory mediators that modify the blood and produce hypercoagulable status.

Objective
The objective of this research was to evaluate the risk of hypercoagulability in individuals with OSA.

Patients and methods
The current study was conducted as a case–control study during the period from January 2018 to July 2019 at Assiut University Hospital. Markers measured for assessing the risk of hypercoagulability in OSA were red cell distribution width, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width (PDW), and platelet count (PC).

Results
Our findings indicate a statistically significant difference between patients with OSA and healthy controls regarding red cell distribution width, mean platelet volume, PDW, and PC. However, there was no significant difference between patients with moderate and severe degree of OSA regarding these indices. A positive statistically significant correlation of apnea/hypopnea index was found with PC and PDW.

Conclusion
Our results suggest that patients with OSA are risky for hypercoagulability; however, further larger studies are required to confirm this conclusion.
Value of oxidative stress biomarkers in patients with obstructive sleep apnea
Authors: Mohamed Nezar R. , Shaaban Lamiaa H. , Abd El Hakim Mohamed A.E. , Refaat Hadeer E.E. , Saeed Zainab H. 
Published: May 2023

Background
A few investigations have recommended that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is related with expanded degrees of oxidative pressure markers or decreased antioxidant defense. The aim of this study was to assess the value of oxidative pressure biomarkers in OSA and correlate their levels with disease severity.

Patients and methods
This case–control study was carried out on 35 patients with OSA recruited from Minia University Hospital in the period from August 2018 to August 2019. The study was approved by the hospital research committee of Minia University. All patients gave informed consent. Complete history, Epworth sleepiness score, STOP-BANG score, pulmonary function tests, and arterial blood gas oxidative stress biomarkers such as thioredoxin, superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, C-receptive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were done.

Results
All oxidative stress markers were significantly elevated in the case group, and there was a good correlation between all of them and polysomnography results such as apnea/hypopnea index, RDI, minimal oxygen saturation, number of desaturations less than 90, and oxygen desaturation index.

Conclusion
There was a rise in all oxidative stress markers in the case group versus the control group.
Assessment of serum levels of adiponectin and resistin in adult patients with asthma
Authors: Hosny Salwa S. , Farres Mohamed N. , Melek Nermine A. , Kamal Sylvia T. , El Najjar Marwa R. , Abou El Fotoh Radwa H. , Abd ElGwad Asmaa M. , Elmahdi Amira R. 
Published: May 2023

Introduction
The mechanisms connecting obesity and asthma are complex. Mechanical and inflammatory factors have been proposed. Adipose tissues secrete various adipokines. Some are proinflammatory such as resistin, whereas others are anti-inflammatory such as adiponectin. We aimed to assess the serum levels of adiponectin and resistin in patients with asthma and correlate them with asthma control and severity as well as obesity parameters of the participants.

Patients and methods
This case–control study included 64 patients with asthma and 24 healthy controls. They were all subjected to anthropometric measurements, asthma control test, pulmonary function tests, skin prick test, and total serum immunoglobulin E levels. Serum adiponectin and resistin concentrations were measured.

Results
Adiponectin and resistin levels were significantly higher among patients with asthma than controls (P<0.001). Serum resistin levels were significantly higher in obese patients with asthma than nonobese (P<0.001), whereas adiponectin levels were not different between the two subgroups. Serum adiponectin level was positively correlated with the duration of asthma, forced expiratory volume in 1 s /forced vital capacity ratio, and resistin level, whereas resistin level was positively correlated with age, sex, and body fat percentage. Resistin/adiponectin ratio was positively correlated with body fat percentage.

Conclusion
Adiponectin and resistin levels were higher in patients with asthma. Moreover, resistin was higher in obese than nonobese patients with asthma. These findings could provide novel insights into their role in asthma and their potential use as therapeutic targets.
Predictors of residual sleepiness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome on continuous positive airway pressure
Authors: Dongol Eptehal M. , Drakatos Panagis , Muza Rexford , Badawy Ahmed Y. , Badawy Mohammed S. , Williams Adrian J. 
Published: May 2023

Context
Excessive daytime sleepiness is a common symptom of obstructive sleep apnea, which improves with the application of the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). However, it is not unusual that some patients continue to complain of residual excessive sleepiness (RES).

Aims
We aimed in this study to evaluate the predictors of residual sleepiness in these patients.

Settings and design
This is a retrospective study done in a tertiary center, and data for the years 2010–2015 were collected.

Materials and methods
The inclusion of patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and compliant on CPAP was done. We included the pretreatment apnea-hypopnea index and epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) in addition to the CPAP using parameters. Comparison between the compliant obstructive sleep apnea syndrome with RES and without RES was done.

Statistical analysis
We compared between the patients with RES and without. Regression analysis was used to detect the predictors for RES.

Results
The mean age of the compliant patients with RES was significantly younger than compliant patients without RES (54.15±10.1 vs. 59.23±10.7; P=0.001). All the patients used the CPAP adequately (≥4 h per night for ≥70% of the nights); the patients with RES used the CPAP significantly lower than the patients without RES. As for the predictors for residual sleepiness on CPAP for those patients, we found that the pretreatment ESS was a predictor as well as the CPAP-use parameters.

Conclusion
Residual excessive daytime sleepiness is common in compliant patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome on CPAP, and the predictors for the occurrence of residual sleepiness on CPAP are younger age, higher baseline ESS, and lower CPAP usage percent.
Clinical usefulness of Mycobacterium tuberculosis/NTM real-time polymerase chain reaction in diagnosis of tuberculosis
Authors: Rashad Alaa , Rashed Hebat-Allah G. , Zakaria Mohammed , Omar Asmaa , Hosni Amal , Nafady-Hego Hanaa 
Published: May 2023

Background
Tuberculosis (TB) management and prevention of further spread is crucially based on early and prompt diagnosis. Even though conventional methods are the gold standard for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), they are time consuming and do not detect nontuberculous mycobacteria in most cases. The present study evaluated Anyplex MTB/NTM real-time (RT)-PCR assay (Seegene) for TB diagnosis in pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB cases in comparison with culture on Lowenstein–Jensen as a gold standard for diagnosis of MTB.

Patients and methods
The study included 100 patients with suspected TB: pulmonary TB represented 68 patients and extrapulmonary TB represented 32 patients. All pathological samples were stained by Ziehl–Neelsen staining (ZNS), cultured on Lowenstein–Jensen media and processed for PCR by the Anyplex MTB/NTM RT-PCR.

Results
Anyplex MTB/NTM RT-PCR showed a sensitivity and specificity of 100 and 65.5%, respectively, when compared with the sensitivity and specificity of ZNS, which were 87.2 and 79.3%, respectively, in the clinically suspected pulmonary TB group. However, in the clinically suspected extrapulmonary TB group, Anyplex MTB/NTM RT-PCR had sensitivity and specificity of 100 and 79.2%, respectively, when compared with those of ZNS, which were 75 and 100%, respectively.

Conclusion
The use of Seegene Anyplex MTB/NTM assay for detection and differentiation of pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB in our area is more convenient and accurate compared with ZNS.
Usefulness of serum adenosine deaminase for diagnosing pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis
Authors: Ahmed Yousef , Farghly Sahar , Abdellatif HebatAllah 
Published: May 2023

Background
Serum adenosine deaminase (ADA) measurement is a biochemical test that is believed to play a role in diagnosing tuberculosis (TB). However, few studies have been conducted in this area and there have been contradictory reports on the diagnostic value of serum ADA in TB.

Objective
The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of ADA measurement in the serum for diagnosing TB.

Materials and methods
In all, 97 participants were included in this study; 28 with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), 20 with extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB), 32 with non-TB lung disease, and 17 heathy individuals. Serum ADA activity was determined in all participants using the semiautomated biochemistry analyzer ERMA AE600N (ERMA Inc.).

Results
We found that serum ADA levels were significantly high in patients with TB (PTB and EPTB) compared with non-TB lung disease cases and healthy control. The best cutoff value in this study of serum ADA in diagnosing TB was more than 21.1 IU/l for PTB and more than 21.2 IU/l for EPTB as obtained by the receiver operating characteristic curve with high sensitivity and specificity.

Conclusion
According to the results indicating high sensitivity for serum ADA level, this test is a helpful tool for the diagnosis of TB. On the basis of high specificity for serum ADA level, this test is also a useful test to rule out TB in questionable cases.
Comparative study between microscopic observation drug susceptibility and MTB/RIF Gene Xpert in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in a specialized Egyptian hospital
Authors: Mourad Sahar M. , Baess Ayman I. , Abdullah Reham E. , Ragab Nadia M. 
Published: May 2023

Background
Diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is usually problematic regarding time and accuracy.

Aim
To compare between the microscopic observation drug susceptibility (MODS) and MTB/RIF Gene Xpert in sputum samples of PTB-suspect patients regarding sensitivity, specificity, timing to positivity, and drug susceptibility compared with the gold standard Löwenstein–Jensen (LJ) mycobacterial culture.

Patients and methods
This is a retrospective clinical study. Records of patients who were PTB suspect and who presented to El Maamoura Chest Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt, were reviewed between May 2016 and March 2018.

Results
MODS showed variable significance in prognostic performance compared with Gene Xpert regarding sensitivity (71.7 vs. 80.0%, respectively) and specificity (93.33 vs. 64.44%, respectively) compared with LJ culture. After exclusion of 29 patients who were at risk of having dead bacilli in their sputa, results showed near-similar prognostic performance between MODS and Gene Xpert regarding specificity (90.32% for both techniques) and sensitivity (72.88 vs. 79.66%, respectively). Gene Xpert showed overall superiority in time to positivity (within 3 h). MODS showed significant difference than LJ medium with timing to positivity from 7 to 22 days with mean±SD of 19.11±4.0 days.

Conclusion
For diagnosis of PTB, MODS was found to be more specific and relatively less sensitive compared with MTB/RIF Gene Xpert. With exclusion of sputum samples from patients who are at risk of having dead bacilli in their sputa, no significant difference was found between both techniques regarding sensitivity and specificity. MTB/RIF Gene Xpert has superiority in timing to positivity.
Gender-based epidemiological study of lung cancer patients
Authors: Abdelwahab Heba W. , Farrag Nesrine S. , Akl Fatma M. , Radi Ahmad A. 
Published: May 2023

Background
In Egypt, lung cancer represents 5.0–7.0% of all cancers and ranks the fifth in males and both sexes, and ninth among females. The current study aims to characterize a cohort of patients with lung cancer based on their sex regarding risk factors, clinical presentation, and results of investigations.

Patients and methods
A retrospective comparative cross-sectional study was conducted that included all female lung cancer cases that were referred to the Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Department from year 2014 to year 2018. An equal number of males were randomly selected within the same year interval (as a comparative group). Data (included epidemiological data, relevant medical history, and the histopathologic type of cancer) were retrieved from the electronic database.

Results
The family history of malignancy was higher among females (8.8 vs. 0%), but the difference was not significant. There were no significant differences in performance status between male and female group. Apart from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the prevalence of most chronic diseases was significantly higher among females than males. Adenocarcinoma is the most common histologic subtype regardless of sex, whereas squamous cell carcinoma represented 18.5% among males and 1.9% among females, with significant difference (P=0.001). Bone was the most common site of metastasis. Overall, 14% of males had suprarenal metastasis, compared with 3.5% of females, with significant difference (P=0.047).

Conclusion
This 4-year single-center analysis concluded that both male and female present at a late stage of lung cancer. Suprarenal metastasis was more common in males than females. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common among males. There were no sex differences regarding age of diagnosis, performance status, presenting symptoms, and radiological site of tumor.
Expression level of micro-RNA-1, IL-5, IFNγ, and TNFα in adult-onset asthmatic patients
Authors: Abo-Youssef Shaimaa M. , Allam Amira H. , Mustafa Mysa S. , Abd el Hamid Hasnaa S. , Shahat Amany K. , Moussa Hany H. 
Published: May 2023

Background and objective
Asthma is an inflammatory process, where T lymphocytes cells, mainly the Th1/Th2 cells, participate in bronchial asthma’s pathogenesis and progression. Studying the inflammatory and genetic mediators’ expression levels, which control this inflammatory process like microRNAs, is essential to illustrate this disease’s pathogenesis. This work aimed to evaluate the levels of miRNA-1 and inflammatory mediators interleukin (IL)-5, interferon-γ (IFNγ), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in the peripheral blood of adult-onset asthmatic patients and their correlation to the disease severity.

Patients and methods
A case–control study was carried out on 69 participants, divided over two groups: group I was the asthmatic group, which included 49 patients with adult-onset bronchial asthma more than 18 years old, subdivided to group IA, with mild asthma (10 patients), group IB, with moderate asthma (19 patients), and group IC, with severe asthma (20 patients). Group II was the control group, which included 20 healthy individuals. IL-5, TNFα, and IFNγ were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and relative quantification of MiRNA-1 expression was done by PCR.

Results
miRNA-1 decreased significantly in asthmatics and decreased more with increasing severity of the disease, with a significant positive correlation between miRNA-1 and both forced expiratory volume in first second and IFNγ, and meaningful negative relationship between miRNA-1 and both IL-5 and TNFα. The sensitivity and specificity of miRNA-1 in diagnosing asthma and detecting its severity were 100%.

Conclusion
miRNA-1 expression level is significantly decreased in adult-onset asthmatic patients. It decreases with increasing severity of the disease, with a positive correlation between miRNA-1 and plasma IFNγ but a negative relationship between miRNA-1 and both plasma IL-5 and TNFα.
Irrational Fear of Being Away from Smartphone Among Health-Care Workers
Authors: Gokani Nikunj Satish , Deshmukh Deepanjali Dilip , Godara Praveen , Marwale Arun Vishwambhar , Bhise Manik Changoji , Jadhav Shraddha Shivaji , Murambikar Gaurav Pradeep 
Published: May 2023

Introduction:
Nomophobia, i.e., No mobile phone phobia, is the irrational fear of being out of mobile phone contact. Mostly youth get very anxious on not being able to use their smartphone. Thus, identification of the extent of the problem in this population might be helpful.

Aims:
The aims of this study were to find the presence of nomophobia and its severity among the medical students, postgraduate residents, and faculty and to assess the association with certain demographic factors, mobile phone use-related factors, and nomophobia among them.

Settings and Design:
This observational, cross-sectional study was conducted in a medical college and tertiary care hospital.

Materials and Methods:
An online survey was conducted by using Google Forms and utilizing validated No Mo Nomophobia- Questionnaires. A self-reported questionnaire inclusive of demographic data, information regarding smartphone use, and factors of nomophobia was administered. A total of 446 people participated in this survey. SPSS version 20 of the institute was used. Levene's test for equality of variances, independent t-test for equality of means, and analysis of variance were used for statistical analysis. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results:
The mean NMP-Q score was found to be 79.08. The mean age of the study participants was 22.83 years (±4.68). Majority (62%) of the participants reported moderate level of nomophobia. Factors such as female gender, MBBS students, single relationship status, and age <25 years were found to be significantly associated with higher levels of nomophobia. Participants with >50 applications in smartphone showed higher scores of nomophobia. Living arrangements, number of phones and SIM cards, and duration of cell phone use had no significant impact on nomophobia scores.

Conclusion:
A significant prevalence of nomophobia was noted among medical graduates, which highlights the need for early identification and intervention.