bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Pediatricians Towards Digit Sucking Habit among Children in Pune, India
Authors: Shetty Samiksha Shivanand , Mathur Aditi , Khan Hania Ali , Nankar Meenakshi Y 
Published: January 2022

Introduction:
Prolonged digit sucking habits can have deleterious effects on facial growth, oral function, occlusion and aesthetics, leading to dental and skeletal deformities. Early identification and intervention can result in a vast difference in treatment outcomes and avoid a complex, expensive, and time-consuming treatment in the future. Pediatricians are in a key position to identify these habits in children. The present study evaluated the knowledge, attitude and practice among pediatricians about digit sucking habits in children in Pune city, India.

Materials and Methods:
A pre-validated questionnaire was mailed to the study subjects. The filled 303 questionnaires were then statistically analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results:
This study showed that although the number of pediatricians performing routine oral examinations was high (92.7%), the referral to dentists was low. 67.5% of pediatricians referred their patients to a dentist only when they had an explicit dental complaint. Only 20.5% of pediatricians referred children with digit sucking habits to a dentist. 95.7% of participants agreed that treatment of digit sucking is important, but only 7% of pediatricians recognized the use of habit-breaking appliances as a treatment modality.

Conclusion:
We found that although the pediatricians had sufficient knowledge regarding thumb-sucking habits in children, the involvement and collaboration with dentists was very low. The majority of pediatricians felt there was a need for more awareness programs on oral habits. We conclude that more collaborations should be encouraged between medical and dental professionals.
Possible risk factors that may play a role in augmenting the liability and intensity of coronavirus disease 2019 infection in obese and nonobese Egyptian children
Authors: Hassan Nayera E. , El-Masry Sahar Abd El-Raufe , El Hussieny Mohamed S. , ElKhayat Samer H. , Ahmed Nihad H. , Aboud Heba T. , Mostafa Mohammed I. , Kamal Ayat N. 
Published: January 2022

Background/aim
Obesity, insulin resistance (IR), dyslipidemia, and decreased consumption of essential micronutrients are factors that can compromise the immune response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, leading to increased morbidity and mortality among children. The aim of this study was a detection of possible risk factors that may play a role in augmenting the liability and intensity of COVID-19 infection in Egyptian obese and normal-weight children.

Patients and methods
This study was a retrospective observational cross-sectional review including 120 obese children (group 1), in addition to 61 age-matched and sex-matched controls (group 2) from children attending ‘the Management of Visceral Obesity and Growth Disturbances Unit’ at the Medical Research Excellence Center (MERC), National Research Centre, Egypt. All children were exposed to medical assessment, anthropometric evaluation, and a three 24-h dietary recall for assessment of micronutrient intake. Laboratory assessment of fasting serum blood glucose, insulin, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein was done and IR was calculated.

Results
Obese children showed higher significant values than the control group regarding all anthropometric measurements with increased blood pressure, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio. Laboratory assessment revealed elevated fasting levels of glucose and Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance denoting IR together with the presence of triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein levels within the high-risk range showing tendency toward dyslipidemia. The intake of vitamins A, D, folic acid, and calcium was lower than the recommended dietary allowances in both groups.

Conclusion
Obesity and its consequent complications, including dyslipidemia and IR together with decreased consumption of vitamins A, D, folic acid, and calcium, were the most prominent risk factors found among the studied sample of Egyptian children that can affect their immune response and predispose to increased severity of COVID-19 infection.
Biological and chemophysical features of specially designed microwave-cured acrylic denture resin
Authors: Eissa Sherihan M. , ElGabry Hisham S. , Dehis Wessam M. , Ramzy Magda I. 
Published: January 2022

Background/aim
Assortment of denture-based materials and their various curing methods have a great impact on their physical and biological properties. However, esthetics is the most significant parameter in prosthodontics, which is highly deteriorated by water sorption, solubility, and porosity. Moreover, porosity has a great effect on both bacterial and fungus colonization on its surface. This study aimed to assess and compare some physical and biological properties of both heat-cured and microwave-cured acrylic denture-based resins.

Patients and methods
This study was divided into two parts, in vitro and in vivo parts. The heat-cured and microwave-cured acrylic resin materials were used. Both were utilized for specimens’ fabrication in different dimensions according to ADA specifications to assess their physical and biological criteria. Stereo light microscope aided in determining porosity, while both water sorption and solubility were calibrated by employing an electronic-balance device, besides a specific formula for every test individually. In addition, complete dentures were fabricated for 12 edentulous patients from both materials (n=6). Candida albicans colonization was assessed by employing both chromogenic candida agar and laboratory-incubator device.

Results
The microwave-cured acrylic denture resin exhibited the lower significant mean value than the conventional heat-cured one in water sorption, corrected water sorption and porosity tests as P value more than or equal to 0.05. Furthermore, it had a significant lower mean value in C. albicans colonization during all visits as P value less than 0.05.

Conclusion
The microwave-cured acrylic resin proved to be better as compared with conventional heat-cured denture resin a regarding porosity, water sorption, and solubility, and it had the least affinity to C. albicans colonization.
Effect of cap micro-movement on the selection of implants’ attachment type
Authors: ElGabry Hisham S. , Moubarak Amal H. , Eltaftazani Iman A. , El-Anwar Mohamad , El-Zawahry Mohamed M. 
Published: January 2022

Background/aim
Cap micro-movement may affect load transfer to the osseointegrated implant/bone interface, which in turn may affect the selection of attachment type to ensure the least amount of bone loss, fewer maintenance periods, and longer lifetime of the entire implant/attachment system. This study aimed to evaluate the cap micro-movement effect using various implant angulations on the selection of the best attachment system for each individual case.

Materials and methods
Six finite element models were prepared and were equally divided between locator attachment and ball attachment. Every three models simulate vertical implant and inclined implants by 10° and 20° of angulation, respectively. Meanwhile, frictional contact enabling cap micro-movement at the cap/attachment interface was implemented.

Results
Nonlinear static analysis results showed that implant and locator attachment body received very low stresses in comparison to the ball attachment. Nylon cap life expected to be longer in the case of 20° angulated implant with ball attachment, while all other cases indicated locator attachment superiority. Cortical bone received less stresses under locator attachment, while the gap in stress values in comparison to ball attachment will be reduced by increasing implant angulation.

Conclusions
Locator attachment seems to be more superior to ball attachment. However, increasing implant angulation up to 20° may result in showing a similar behavior with both attachment types.
Development of an easy-to-use prediction equation for waist circumference based on BMI and body weight among a sample of Egyptian women
Authors: Hassan Nayera E. , El-Masry Sahar A. , Elwakeel Khaled H. , El Hussieny Mohamed S. 
Published: January 2022

Background/aim
Although both BMI and waist circumference (WC) estimate the level of fatness, WC may be more crucial because of its deep relationship to cardiovascular diseases. As WC is not ascertained regularly in clinical practice, this study intended to develop and substantiate an easy to use WC prognostic equation based on either BMI or body weight, appropriate for Egyptian women.

Patients and methods
A cross-sectional study included 505 Egyptian women, aged 20–60 years. Anthropometric measurements (body weight, height, and WC) were evaluated and BMI was estimated. A total of 329 women were used for construction of simplified prediction equations (learning sample) and another 176 women for assessing their legality (validation sample). Pearson's correlation coefficient, the calibration slope, and R
2 for the regression of the measured WC versus the predicted WC were used to assess execution of the equations in the validation sample.

Results
There were insignificant differences between the two samples in the measurements and BMI classification. The preponderance of the two samples were suffering from obesity (84.5 vs. 79.5%) and overweight (11.9 vs. 17.0%), respectively. The following simple equations were obtained to predict WC of Egyptian women: WC=48.44+(1.471×BMI) or WC=57.53+(0.487×weight). There were insignificant differences in means±SD of the measured versus predicted WC among both samples.

Conclusions
These equations precisely estimate WC. It should be helpful for medical care practitioners and public health personnel who like to detect persons and populations at risk for cardiovascular disease when the WC data are unobtainable.
Evaluation of interleukin-35 and interleukin-27 in allergic conjunctivitis and associated allergies before and after allergen-specific immunotherapy
Authors: Haggag Maha G. , Al-Kaffas Mai A. , Kassem Tahany M. 
Published: January 2022

Background/aim
While interleukin (IL)-35 has been identified as a novel immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-27 has both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory functions. Allergen-specific immunotherapy is the most excellent form for custom-tailored treatment of allergic diseases. The aim of this study is to determine the role of IL-35 and IL-27 and the protective role of allergen-specific immunotherapy in allergic conjunctivitis alone or associated with other allergies.

Patients and methods
The present study enrolled 30 patients who were referred to the Allergy Lab, at the Research Institute of Ophthalmology, Giza, Cairo, Egypt. Patients were divided into two groups (15 each); patients complaining of allergic conjunctivitis alone (group 1) and patients who were suffering from allergic conjunctivitis associated with allergic rhinitis and/or allergic bronchitis (group 2). In addition, 15 healthy individuals served as a control group (group 3). Allergen SIT was prepared from natural allergenic extracts from some different crude materials causing allergy, such as pollens, animal hairs, house dust, molds, nicotine, and feathers. Group 1 was treated with local conjunctival immunotherapy as eye drops, while group 2 was treated with subcutaneous immunotherapy for 36 months. Serum levels of IL-35 and IL-27 were measured using the enzyme-linked immunoassay technique before and after immunotherapy.

Results
The present results showed significant decreases in serum levels of IL-35 and IL-27 (146.4 and 13.2 pg/ml, respectively) in all 30 allergic patients before immunotherapy than controls (235.0 and 50.4 pg/ml). However, IL-35 and IL-27 showed a significant increase (478.8 and 42.6 pg/ml, respectively) in all patients after receiving their immunotherapy either as eye drops or as subcutaneous injections when compared before starting immunotherapy. Moreover, insignificant changes were obtained between local and subcutaneous immunotherapy in the level of IL-35, while IL-27 showed a significant increase (P<0.05) in the subcutaneous group than the eye drops group. The present results showed a positive excellent correlation between IL-35 and IL-27 after immunotherapy (r=0.709, P<0.001), while no correlation before immunotherapy (r=0.334, P=0.063).

Conclusions
Allergic diseases are associated with significant lowered serum levels of IL-35 and IL-27. Allergen-specific immunotherapy significantly increases serum levels of IL-35 and IL-27 confirming the role of IL-35 and IL-27 in allergic diseases and proved that allergen-specific immunotherapy increases their induction.
Chronic lung sepsis in a sample of Egyptian patients with type II diabetes mellitus
Authors: El Hussini Manal S.H. , El Hussieny Mohamed S. , Bilal Dalia 
Published: January 2022

Background/aim
Chronic lung sepsis is one of the major causes of chronic respiratory symptoms such as chronic cough and pus formation. It has received very little attention over recent decades. In addition, failure of its characterization in immunocompromised patients such as diabetics has led to under-recognition and lack of early management.

Patients and methods
In this study, 61 patients with symptoms and signs of chronic lung disease were enrolled from Ahmed Maher Teaching Hospital in Egypt. Of them, 32 fulfilling the criteria of chronic lung sepsis were classified into two groups: diabetic (17 patients) and nondiabetic (15 patients). All of the patients were subjected to detailed medical history, thorough clinical examination, laboratory investigations, sputum culture and sensitivity, and high-resolution computed tomography of the chest.

Results
A total of 23 cases were diagnosed as bronchiectasis, four cases were diagnosed as lung abscess, two cases were pyopneumothorax, whereas there was one case each of infected cyst, empyema, and infected emphysematous bullous. Sputum culture showed that gram-negative organisms were more evident in the diabetic group. The management of cases of chronic lung sepsis showed the use of double or triple antimicrobial therapy in the diabetic group.

Conclusion
Targeting good control of pneumonia in patients with type II diabetes mellitus using double or triple antimicrobial therapy is essential to inhibit the progression of pulmonary infections to chronic lung sepsis.
Clinical evaluation of the wireless JSPH-2 esophageal pH capsule
Authors: Hamed Amr , Elswait Raed , Al-Kandari Asma , Bahbahani Aly , Ibraheem Mahmoud F.M. , Mapkar Othman , Farag Mahmoud , Susaine Hassan , Ibraheem Mustafa , Shuman Hala , Amer Hoda , Nagy Ahmed , Elbaz Ahmed 
Published: January 2022

Background/aim
JSPH pH wireless capsule is a radio-telemetric capsule that attaches to the lower end of esophageal mucosa and measures pH and sends data to a wireless receiver. The aim of the study was to assess the clinical efficacy and safety of the JSPH pH wireless capsule in Kuwaiti patients with symptoms suggestive of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Patients and methods
Patients with symptoms suggestive of GERD were included in the study. The JSPH-2 pH wireless capsule-recorded data were automatically analyzed by pH capsule data analyze software with pH tracings of day 1, day 2, and total 48-h test periods.

Results
A total of 63 patients from Jahra Hospital, Kuwait, were included in this study. A total of 43 (68.2%) patients had recorded parameters suggestive of GERD, whereas 20 (31.8%) patients were defined as non-GERD. On comparison of different recorded parameters suggestive of GERD between day 1 and day 2, the number of refluxes (P=0.048), total fraction time pH less than 4 (P=0.042), meal fraction time pH less than 4 (P=0.047), and DeMeester score (P=0.047) were statistically significant on day 1. On day 2, only five (11.6%) patients with GERD had been identified with abnormal pH data, whereas nine (20.9%) patients had been identified with an abnormal DeMeester score. A total of 14 (22.2%) patients reported mild to moderate disturbance of normal daily activities, diet, and sleeping during the monitoring period. A total of 32 (57.1%) patients experienced foreign body sensation, 15 (23.8%) showed chest discomfort, and seven (11.1%) had nausea.

Conclusion
The JSPH pH monitoring system is safe and well tolerated and can be used in clinical practice for diagnosis and monitoring of patients with GERD.
Evaluation of the efficacy of gallium-aluminum-arsenide laser acupuncture in the management of knee osteoarthritis
Authors: Elgendy Aliaa , Zikri Emad N. , Shafei Heba F. , Monir Rasha , Elwahidy Ahmad G. , Ali Maha Abdelhadi , Abdel-Wahhab Khaled G. 
Published: January 2022

Background/aim
Knee osteoarthritis is a common degenerative disease affecting the joint, causing progressive loss of cartilage and inflammation. Its main symptoms are pain and stiffness. Medications such as NSAIDs have little benefit and are usually accompanied by serious adverse effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of laser acupuncture in the management of stage 2 or 3 knee osteoarthritis.

Patients and methods
The study was carried out on 30 patients (24 females and six males) diagnosed as having stage 2 or 3 knee osteoarthritis. The patients were recruited from the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Clinic at the Medical Centre of Excellence, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt. The patients were subjected to low-power laser (gallium-aluminum-arsenide 905 nm) with touch sensor guide light, power output of 100 mill watts, beam area of 1 cm2, 1-min irradiation time, frequency 10 000 Hz, duty cycle 100%, total energy per point 6 J, energy density 6 J/cm2, and irradiance 0.1 W/cm2, for 3 days/week for a duration of 4 weeks (12 session), directed at various acupuncture points (ST 35, ST 36, Sp 9, Sp 10, GB 34, Sp 6, and liv3). Clinical and laboratory parameters were assessed before and after laser therapy.

Results
Pain on visual analog scale, number of tender points, tenderness score, angle of knee flexion, heel to hip distance, Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index scale score, and Lequesne Index showed significant improvement after treatment (P<0.05). Timed up and go test result was decreased after laser sessions, but its improvement was insignificant statistically. Significant improvement and increase of enkephalin and immunoglobulin (IL-4) were recorded after treatment.

Conclusion
Laser acupuncture showed efficacy in the management of stage 2 or 3 knee osteoarthritis.
Outcome Analysis of Reduction and Nonreduction Dismembered Pyeloplasty in Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction
Authors: Yhoshu Enono , Menon Prema , Rao Katragadda Lakshmi Narasimha , Bhattacharya Anish 
Published: January 2022

Objectives:
The objective of this study is to compare the changes in renal function and drainage following open dismembered pyeloplasty with and without renal pelvis reduction.

Materials and Methods:
Randomized prospective study of children with ureteropelvic junction obstruction undergoing pyeloplasty with (Group 1) and without (Group 2) pelvis reduction over an 18-month period. Postoperative function and drainage were assessed by ethylene dicysteine (EC) scan and intravenous urography (IVU) and renal pelvis size by ultrasonography.

Results:
Forty-two patients (2 months-11 years) participated. The mean preoperative EC scan function was Group 1: 45.88% ± 14.42% (5%–80%) and Group 2: 39.22% ± 9.75% (21%–53%). (P = 0.117). The mean postoperative EC scan function of Group 1 was 42.64% ± 9.62% (17%–54%) and 43.75% ± 9.88% (17%–58%) and of Group 2 was 44.77% ± 12.82% (20%–68%) and 42.25% ± 8.56% (23%–58%) at 3 months (P = 0.584) and ≥ 1year (P = 0.385), respectively, with no significant difference. None required re-do pyeloplasty. The number of patients with slow drainage, especially at 3 months and also at ≥1-year postoperative period on EC scan was slightly higher in Group 2 compared to Group 1 but did not attain statistical significance. There was postoperative improvement in function and drainage on IVU with no significant difference between the two groups, (P = 0.214; P = 0.99, respectively). At a mean follow-up of 45.5 months, Group 2 also showed significant reduction in pelvis size on ultrasound (P = 0.011).

Conclusion:
Postoperative function remained stable in both groups. More number of patients achieved unobstructed drainage by 3 mo postoperative after reduction pyeloplasty but drainage patterns were mostly similar between reduction and nonreduction of pelvis group in late follow-up.
Primary Acquired Cicatrizing Gastric Outlet Obstruction in Children
Authors: Pathak Manish , Saxena Rahul , Patel Hardik , Sinha Arvind 
Published: January 2022

Background:
Gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) is a very rare condition in children, when infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis is excluded as a cause. Five cases of pediatric GOO were successfully managed at our institute.

Materials and Methods:
We retrospectively evaluated children with idiopathic GOO from 2009 to 2016. Medical records were reviewed for demographic data including age, sex, presenting symptoms, diagnostic investigations, treatment methods, complications, and long-term follow-up.

Results:
During 7 year period (2009–2016), 5 cases of GOO admitted to our hospital with a history of persistent vomiting. The vomiting used to occur 12–18 h after meal and vomitus contained foul-smelling undigested meal. There was no history of any caustic ingestion. Their age ranged from 2 to 10 years, with a median age of 6 years. Out of 5 cases, 2 were females and the rest were males. The diagnosis of idiopathic GOO was confirmed by history, clinical examination, contrast study, endoscopy, and endoscopic mucosal biopsy. The remarkable finding was the cicatrization causing stricture of the pyloric region in all cases. Out of 5 cases; we have done Heineke-Mikulicz pyloroplasty in 1 case, V-Y advancement antropyloroplasty in 2 cases and Kimura's Diamond-shaped Gastroduodenostomy in 2 cases. The length of the strictured segment determined the type of surgical procedure. All cases did well postoperatively with no mortality.

Conclusions:
Length of the stricture determines the procedure to be done. In long and narrow stricture V-Y advancement antropyloroplasty and in small stricture Kimura's diamond-shaped Gastroduodenostomy are better procedures to be done. Heineke-Mikulicz pyloroplasty should be avoided as it is difficult to suture transversely after vertical incision because of the presence of fibrosis in the strictured segment.