bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The joint use of ABC/VEN analysis and the Beers criteria for optimizing expenditure of funds and rational prescribing of medications to elderly patients
Authors: Makhmudova O. A. , Avkhadieva G. F. , Bagdanova O. G. , Khaziakhmetova V. N. 
Published: February 2025

Objective: to conduct a pharmacoeconomic evaluation of the rationality of prescribing medications and to analyze the frequency of prescribing potentially inappropriate medications to patients over 65 years old using the example of additional preferential drug provision.Material and methods. The analysis was based on registers of medications dispensed within the framework of additional drug provision over 2019–2021 period. We conducted an integrated study combining ABC/VEN analysis and the Beers criteria to assess the rationality of pharmacotherapy.Results. The analysis of the cost structure for medicines showed a positive trend in the distribution of categories V, E, N (vital, essential, nonessential) in A, B, C groups. In 2019, 13.7% of the budget was spent on the procurements of drugs of N category; in 2020, this indicator was 10.6%; and in 2021, the costs for the procurements of drugs of N category decreased to 2.6%. Expenditures for drugs in V and E categories increased from 86.3% to 97.4%. The prevalence of polypragmasy (prescription frequency of 5 or more drugs with different international nonproprietary names per patient for month) among patients over 65 years old reached 11% in 2019, 13% in 2020, and 1% in 2021. According to the Beers criteria, patients over 65 years old were prescribed potentially inappropriate drugs according to the Beers criteria in 12.03% of cases in 2019, in 10.84% of cases in 2020, and in 9.7% of cases in 2021.Conclusion. Due to comprehensive ABC/VEN analysis and the Beers criteria tool it was possible to evaluate the rationality of expenditures on additional drug provision over the period from 2019 to 2021, as well as the rationality of prescribing medications to patients over 65 years old. The use of Beers criteria enables to optimize pharmacotherapy in elderly patients.
Dynamics of anticancer drug use in Russian hospitals: a five-year retrospective analysis
Authors: Agafonova J. A. , Omelyanovskiy V. V. 
Published: February 2025

Background. Pharmaceutical provision for oncology patients involves complex and controversial issues, particularly the use of oral anticancer drugs (ACDs) in day hospitals. These facilities often distribute oral medications for outpatient use, leading to frequent legal disputes with territorial Compulsory Health Insurance funds. To determine whether this practice changes over time, it is necessary to analyze trends in the use of ACDs.Objective: to identify trends in the use of different forms of ACDs in both inpatient and day hospital settings over a 5-year period.Material and methods. The study analyzed medical care provided in inpatient and day hospital settings using depersonalized hospitalization records from oncology-focused medical organizations. The data from 2019 to 2023 were categorized into three groups: regimens with only oral administration, including combinations of multiple oral drugs; regimens with only injectable forms, including intravenous and subcutaneous administration; and combined regimens, including oral and other forms of administration. The annual distribution and trends in the use of different forms of ACDs were analyzed for both inpatient and day hospital settings over the 5-year period. A time series analysis was carried out to assess the dynamics, including the calculation of absolute and relative growth (or decline) rates. Time series smoothing was performed using aggregation and moving average methods.Results. From 2019 to 2023, day hospitals in Russia exhibited an increase in the use of all ACD forms. The highest growth rate (79.9%) was observed for the use of oral therapy in 2020, with an overall increase from 9.25% to 29.09% over the study period. The combined regimens used in day hospitals demonstrated an increase in the proportion of oral therapy from 10.54% to 29.46%. However, inpatient settings exhibited a rise in the use of only injectable regimens from 17.65% to 23.32%. Conversely, the role of inpatient oral therapy significantly declined, with the proportion of oral-only and combined regimens decreasing from 43.59% to 1.18% and 30.47% to 12.95%, respectively.Conclusion. The results provide an evaluation of the trends in ACDs use in Russian hospitals. Despite an overall increase in the use of all ACD forms in day hospitals, oral medications exhibited the highest growth rate.
Reorganization of public procurement of biosimilars and its economic effect on the monoclonal antibody market in Russia
Authors: Efremov A. Yu. , Vlasov A. M. , Gegechkori V. I. , Gorpinchenko N. V. , Ramenskaya G. V. , Litvinova T. M. 
Published: February 2025

Background. The increasing number of registered biosimilarsof monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) is altering the structure of the pharmaceutical market by amplifying the share of domestic manufacturers. Therefore, investigating their economic effect appears highly relevant.Objective: To examine the impact of biosimilars on the market for public procurement of medicinal products based mAbs during the period 2022–2023.Material and methods. A list of registered drugs based on mAbs was compiled from the State Register of Medicines and the Unified Information System for Procurement databases. The study involved statistical and marketing methods, including normalization of drug costs to weighted average prices (rub/mg), ABC analysis to identify key positions based on expenditure, and competitive analysis to categorize drugs as either original or biosimilars.Results. The analysis of weighted average prices for original drugs and biosimilars, as well as their procurement volumes, demonstrated a significant economic effect on the health care system. The greatest savings were achieved through the procurement of bevacizumab and pembrolizumab biosimilars, resulting in savings of 15.1 and 3.8 billion rubles, respectively. In the group of rituximab drugs, procurement of biosimilars led to savings of approximately 2 billion rubles.Conclusion. The introduction of biosimilars into the public procurement market has significantly optimized costs, thereby increasing patient access to life-saving medicines. The results emphasize the necessity for further development of biosimilars market to enhance the efficiency of public procurement and improve drug accessibility. However, a comprehensive understanding of their economic advantages require clinical studies that confirm the efficacy and safety of biosimilars in real-world clinical practice.
A study on ocular and systemic manifestations of retinitis pigmentosa
Authors: Hariharan Rakshanda , Madduru Satyanarayana Reddy , Bommana Ugandhar Reddy 
Published: February 2025

To study the pattern of ocular and systemic manifestations associated with retinitis pigmentosa and syndromic correlation and preventive strategies for the same.: A prospective study on patients visiting blindness camp at our hospital, done over a period of 1 year. Each patient, age, sex, complaints, visual acuity, anterior segment findings and dilated fundus examination, B scan and Visual field analysis were done.: A total of 50 eyes in 25 patients were investigated, of which 56% females and 44% males, 40% had a history of consanguinous marriage, positive family history of retinitis pigmentosa was noted in 20%. Night blindness (58.2%) and blurred vision (27.1%) were the main visual complaints. The BCVA showed that 03 patients had complete loss of vision, and 22 patients had low vision, among ocular findings most common was maculopathy (26.3%) followed by vitreous degenerations, other findings like nystagmus, microcornea, optic atrophy and posterior subcapsular cataract (most common anterior segment finding) were also present, and 4 patients had associated mental retardation, polydactyly and hypogonadism suggestive of Bardet Biedl syndrome. Thus from our study we bring to light the common ocular and syndromic associations of retinitis pigmentosa to provide awareness about the disease and genetic counselling and its benefits to the patient and their families and the use of low vision aids to improving the quality of life. There is no known prescription practice cure for the disease at present, we can help in rehablitation of such patients and prevent the disease by proper genetic counselling.
Clinicoepidemiological study of penetrating ocular injuries and factors affecting visual outcome
Authors: Kushwaha Nitin , Som Vivek , Dubey Aditi , Maravi Pooja , Sharma Pankaj Kumar 
Published: February 2025

Blindness among young adults due to ocular trauma has a huge socioeconomic cost and impact on the lives of such patients and their families. Thus, we evaluate the epidemiology and etiological factors and the factors affecting the outcome in penetrating eye injuries.This one-year descriptive observational study was conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal, involving 50 patients. The Ocular Trauma Score (OTS) was used to estimate final visual acuity. The epidemiological, etiological factors and risk factors were analyzed using the chi-square test with a significance level of 5%. Among the 50 patients, Majority of participants were found to be males (78%). 50% participants were less than 30 years of age, Majority (26%) of participants belonged to the age-group of 10-19 years. Among the participants, we found age and zone of injury are the factors which were significantly associated with the visual outcome of the patients whereas gender, mechanism of injury of the ocular trauma and the time elapsed between injury and primary repair were the factors which were significantly associated with the final structural outcome.A nationwide online database for ocular injuries should be established. Legislation should be implemented to hold employers accountable for providing protective equipment to their employees. The NPCB should incorporate provisions for the physical, mental, social, and vocational rehabilitation of patients affected by ocular trauma.
Prevalence of dry eye disease among medical students in a tertiary care center: A cross sectional study
Authors: Pradeep Pakalapati , Radhika Kasilanka 
Published: February 2025

Dry eye disease is a multifactorial disease of the tears and ocular surface that results in symptoms of discomfort, visual disturbance, and tear film instability with potential damage to the ocular surface, it is accompanied by increased osmolarity of the tear film and inflammation of the ocular surface. Aim is to estimate the prevalence of Dry eye disease (DED) among medical students.In this prospective, cross-sectional study, after getting informed consent 100 medical students were evaluated using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, average daily screen time and routine ophthalmological examination, Schirmer's test, and tear film break-up time (TBUT) as a screening method for identifying DED. The Data thus collected is entered in Microsoft excel sheet & analyzed using SPSS 20.0 version. Descriptive statistics were applied to summarize the demographic data, comparisons between categorical variables analyzed using Fisher's exact test.The prevalence of DED among study participants was 43%, with 30% of students having mild DED. There is a significant association between screen time and DED (p&#60;0.05).The prevalence of DED among medical students is rising as a result of an increase in screen usage.
Comparative assessment of angiogenic and cytokine profiles in vitreous samples from patients with diabetic retinopathy and controls
Authors: Misra Smriti , Gangwar Saurabh , Agarwal Gargi , Mehfooz Samreen 
Published: February 2025

To evaluate and compare the levels of key cytokines and angiogenic factors in the vitreous fluid of patients with clinically confirmed and staged diabetic retinopathy (DR) to those of non-DR controls, with the aim of identifying potential targets for novel therapeutic interventions.Vitreous specimens were collected during 23-gauge vitrectomy from patients diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy (n = 17, at advanced stages requiring surgical intervention) and from control patients (n = 17) undergoing surgery for retinal holes or epiretinal membranes. The samples were analyzed for cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-13, IL-1β, IL-6, and IFN-γ) using ELISA. Angiogenic factors, including placental growth factor (PGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and VEGF-A, were also measured. Statistical comparisons between the DR and control groups were performed.In the DR group, pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β (p = 0.04) and IFN-γ (p = 0.06) showed elevated levels compared to controls, indicating an ongoing inflammatory response. No statistically significant differences were observed in IL-6 levels (p = 0.59). The immunomodulatory cytokine IL-13 appeared decreased in the DR group (p = 0.48), although this change was not statistically significant. Similarly, IL-2 (p = 0.74) and IL-4 (p = 0.80) levels did not differ significantly between groups. Angiogenic factors, including PGF, VEGF, and VEGF-A—already well known to be increased in DR—were found to be significantly elevated in DR patients (p &#60; 0.05, p = 0.004), reinforcing their role in the pathophysiology of the disease.These findings highlight an interplay between elevated angiogenic factors and a persistent pro-inflammatory cytokine milieu within the vitreous of patients with advanced DR. While endogenous immunomodulatory mechanisms such as IL-13 are present, they appear insufficient to counteract the active inflammatory and angiogenic processes. Augmenting anti-inflammatory responses or targeting angiogenic mediators may represent a viable therapeutic strategy to improve treatment outcomes in diabetic retinopathy.
Optimizing Wastewater Treatment with PVA Gel Beads and Pumice Stones: A Multi-Stage Reactor Approach
Authors: Chorey N. W. , Pawar Shantanu N. 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Wastewater treatment is critical for public health and environmental protection, with materials and methods chosen based on wastewater layout, regulations, and treatment goals. PVA gel beads, a critical ingredient, are porous hydrogels with 95–98% water content and a specific gravity of 1.025 ± 0.01, which makes them perfect for immobilizing microorganisms needed to undergo pollutant breakdown. PVA gel beads' high porosity enhances oxygen and nutrient permeability, encouraging bacterial growth underneath the beads, decreasing biomass sloughing, and creating less extra sludge than older approaches. These beads, which may be used in both nitrification and denitrification operations, are non-biodegradable and effective in treating a variety of industrial pollutants. The manufacturing method includes creating a PVA solution, adding a crosslinking agent, emulsifying, inducing gelation, and filtering the beads. To restore function, the beads are swollen, rinsed, deswelled, crosslinked, and dried. PVA gel beads have several advantages, including successful mixing due to their near-water specific gravity, reduced sludge generation, and compatibility for a wide range of contaminants. However, they do have limits, such as low specificity for contaminants and the requirement for proper disposal after use. Artificial pumice stones, manufactured from cement, silica sand, and aluminium powder, are lightweight and porous, making them useful in building and water filtering. The experimental setup for this wastewater treatment system incorporates both attached and suspended growth techniques, with a lab-scale model using glass sheets for transparency. The system consists of an intake tank, aeration unit, PVA bioreactor, and sedimentation unit. The first research uses PVA gel beads as a biocarrier in the second reactor, with aeration promoting microorganism growth. In the second trial, pumice stones replaced PVA gel beads in the bioreactor. The third research uses PVA gel beads and pumice stones in the aeration and bioreactor units, respectively, to increase treatment efficiency by using both moving bed and fixed bed bioreactor procedures.
Implication for Nursing Approaches: Developing an Theoretical Framework for Patient-Centered Symptom Management in Hemodialysis Patients from the Perspective of Dual-Dimension to Enhancing and Mitigating Coping Strategies: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: ZHENG Xutong , XU Linyu , WANG Aiping 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Background
Symptom burden among hemodialysis patients significantly impacts their quality of life. Effective symptom management, supported by social support and coping strategies, is critical to improve patient outcomes. However, the role of social support, self-regulatory fatigue, and different coping mechanisms in patient-centered symptom management is not well understood.
Methods
A cross-sectional study using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Data were collected from multiple hemodialysis centers in various regions across China, ensuring a representative sample of diverse geographical areas. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling across different regions, ensuring broad demographic representation. This study used PLS-SEM to develop and validate a theoretical model that describes the relationships among social support, self-regulatory fatigue, adaptation, patient activation, and symptom burden.
Results
A total of 1,120 patients participated, with a mean age of 51.6 years (SD = 13.8), and 59.1% were male. The Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) results showed that social support had a significant positive effect on both patient activation (β = 0.209, p < 0.001) and adaptation (β = 0.472, p < 0.001), indicating higher levels of social support were associated with increased patient activation and adaptation. Self-regulatory fatigue had a significant negative effect on adaptation (β = -0.131, p < 0.001) but no significant effect on patient activation (β = -0.026, p = 0.455). Patient activation (β = -0.024, p = 0.019) and adaptation (β = -0.023, p = 0.011) both had significant negative effects on symptom burden, indicating that higher levels of activation and adaptation were linked to lower symptom burden. Mediation analysis revealed that social support indirectly reduced symptom burden through both adaptation (β = -0.011, p = 0.011) and patient activation (β = -0.005, p = 0,032). Patient activation demonstrated greater importance in symptom management compared to adaptation based on the importance-performance analysis.
Conclusions
This study reveals that social support significantly enhances both patient activation and adaptation, leading to a reduction in symptom burden among hemodialysis patients. Self-regulatory fatigue, however, negatively affects adaptation but does not have a significant impact on patient activation. The dual coping strategies—adaptation (passive) and patient activation (proactive)—mediate the relationship between social support and symptom burden, with patient activation showing greater importance in symptom management. These findings emphasize the importance of enhancing social support, reducing self-regulatory fatigue, and fostering duel coping strategies to effectively alleviate the symptom burden in hemodialysis patients.
Exploring Rwandan Fathers' Attitudes and Perceptions Toward Parenting Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Study of the Rwanda Parents Initiative on Autism (RPIA)
Authors: Mutoni Alice Muhoza , Gashugi Yves 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

This study examines the experiences of fathers raising children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), focusing on the influence of cultural gender norms on parenting roles in Rwanda. Given traditional expectations of fatherhood, the research explores fathers' challenges, coping strategies, and caregiving contributions, aiming to inform policies and interventions that foster inclusive family support systems. A qualitative, cross-sectional study employing a phenomenological approach was conducted under the Rwanda Parents Initiative on Autism (RPIA). Twenty participants (10 fathers and 10 mothers) were selected through purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in Kinyarwanda, and thematic analysis was performed using MAXQDA software. Ethical considerations included informed consent, confidentiality, and creating a supportive environment for participants. The findings revealed a spectrum of fathers' engagement, from denial and emotional detachment to active caregiving involvement. Rural fathers with lower education levels were more likely to exhibit denial, whereas urban and educated fathers displayed greater acceptance. Key challenges included societal stigma, financial strain, and emotional distress, particularly acute in rural areas with limited ASD-related resources. Coping mechanisms ranged from prayer and family support to maladaptive strategies like blame and substance use, further straining family dynamics. The study highlights the urgent need for culturally sensitive interventions to support fathers in ASD caregiving. Recommendations include awareness campaigns, father-inclusive counseling, and improved service access, especially in rural settings. These findings contribute to policy development aimed at reducing stigma, encouraging shared caregiving, and enhancing the resilience of families affected by ASD in Rwanda and similar contexts.
Bmi1 represses HLF to drive the formation and development of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Guo Jun , Shi Xiabing , Long Ruitao , Wu Hua , Ye Feng , Xu Chuanrui 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Background
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is the second most prevalent type of primary liver cancer and lacks effective targeted therapy. Previously, we reported that B-cell-specific Moloney murine leukemia virus insertion site 1 (Bmi1) drives the formation and development of ICC independent of Ink4a/Arf; however the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we report that hepatic leukemia factor (HLF) acts as a tumor suppressor gene in ICC and Bmi1 represses HLF to drive ICC initiation and progression.
Results
In ICC, HLF expression levels were inversely correlated with Bmi1. Overexpression of HLF inhibited the growth of ICC both in vitro and in vivo, whereas HLF knockout promoted ICC development in ICC mouse models. Importantly, HLF repression reversed the inhibitory effects of Bmi1 knockdown on cell survival, proliferation and colony formation. Luciferase reporter assay results indicated that Bmi1 represses HLF by directly binding to its promoter.
Conclusion
These findings revealed the molecular mechanism through which Bmi1 promotes ICC formation and development and uncovered the role of HLF as a tumor suppressor in ICC.
Laser illumination nighttime image Dark Channel Prior dehazing algorithm
Authors: Hou Mingxuan , Liu Xia , Hou Changlun , Zhang Dongbiao , Yu Ying , Fu LU , Zhu weijie , shi zhen , zhao jufeng , Cui Guangmang 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

The dehazing algorithm based on the dark channel prior theory is a widely used dehazing method. Despite successfully enhancing clarity in foggy images, it still has some limitations such as its effectiveness diminishes when images turn grayscale, indicating an indistinct dark channel in the scene. Based on the fundamentals of the dark channel prior dehazing algorithm, an improved dehaze algorithm called LINTI-DCP, tailored for laser illumination nighttime images was developed. LINTI-DCP can overcome the inaccurate estimation of atmospheric light and transmission rates in foggy infrared laser night vision. Experimental results demonstrated that LINTI-DCP is an effective dehazing algorithm for laser illumination nighttime images.