Acta Informatica Medica最新文献

Background: The In online learning, more responsibility is shifted towards students in learning according to their needs. However there is a need to assess which component of teaching can be shifted online for future hybrid teachings.

Objective: This study aims to compare the students' performance in difference components of the exams and compare them in online vs offline.

Methods: It was a quantitative study comparing onsite and online groups academic performance in individual components of assessment for a duration of 6 months. Estimates were reported per standard deviation (SD) increase or decrease. Taking absenteeism rate as a predictor, models with group and gender on their own was fitted in univariable models, before including all three predictors (absenteeism rate, group and gender) in the final model.

Results: Students who studied online, had a 0.49SD higher grade than their counterparts who attended physically (p < 0.001), each SD increase in the absenteeism rate was associated with a 0.26SD lower overall score, and this was significant, p < 0.001. While comparing both groups in MCQ part students who studied online, had a 0.6SD higher grade than their counterparts (p < 0.001), also in continuous assessment students who studied online, had a 0.49 SD higher grade than their counterparts who attended physically (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Positive effect of the online teaching was clear in the (MCQs) and the final result, while no significant gender variation detected in this study.

Background: Dural sinus thrombosis is considered as a one of the clinical and radiological emergencies that require special attention and high index of suspicion and needs combined effort of both the treating physician and the radiologist to obtain proper diagnosis and subsequently proper management.

Objective: The aim of this article was to compare the accuracy of MRV TOF and post contrast MP-RAGE sequences in diagnosis of cerebral sinus venous thrombosis.

Methods: After all informed consents were obtained and upon ethical committee approval from the ethical committee in Joradanian Royal medical services in Amman we perform this study as a retrospective study done on 50 patients with cerebral sinus venous thrombosis with 50 pateints control group done at king Hussein medical center in Amman Jordan.

Results: The guidelines and regulations of studies conducted in Royal medical services were followed. 68 females and 32 males with age range between 19 and 52 years. All patients underwent brain MRI for evaluation of cerebral sinus thrombosis, all studies were done on seimens skyra 3 Tesla machine with standardized protocol including 2 D TOF MRV, axial T2WI, axial FLAIR, Axial T1, SWI and diffusion weighted images along with 3D MP-RAGE post contrast. Images were reviewed by two well experienced neuroradiologists (Maysoon and Qamar) in separate sessions, each MRI sequence was reported separately without knowing patients name or clinical history. Conclusion: The results for T2 WI, SWI, MRV TOF and MP-RAGE post contrast were reported. We used a confidence level score to standardize the results. Then the results were analyzed using simple statistical methods.

Background: An application of a novel method of a quantifier elimination in epidemiology was presented in this paper.

Objective: We investigated the existence of the endemic equilibrium for the SEIRS model by QE method and gave a short review of the epidemic prediction models for covid-19.

Methods: A new method for quantifier elimination for the theory of real closed fields.

Results: Obtained value of a reproduction number and endemic equilibrium for the SEIRS model by QEAnalysis of the SEIR model with the concrete values through the example of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) (a critical value of a transmission rate is evaluated in the example).

Conclusion: The main result of this paper is the obtained value of the endemic equilibrium for the SEIRS model (similar result is obtained for the SEIR model). Also, we have analysed the SEIR model through the examle of SARS and we reviewed several epidemic prediction models for covid-19.

Background: Evidence for the efficacy of surgical stabilization of rib fractures in patients with rib fractures is controversial.

Objective: We aim to compare the clinical outcomes of surgical rib fixation for rib fracture with non-operative treatment.

Methods: Our institutional database from three general hospitals (Viet Duc Hospital, Viet Tiep Friendship Hospital & Cho Ray Hospital) was queried to identify patients with flail chest treated with locked plate fixation between December 2021 and February 2023. A medical record review for demographic, injury, hospital, and surgical data was also retrospectively performed for all patients. Characteristics and outcomes of the patients receiving the surgical rib fixation for rib fracture were compared with those without surgery.

Results: A total of 166 patients with thoracic trauma were included. The majority of patients were male, and the age range was from 18 to 80 years old, with a mean age of 51.6 years. 52 (31.3%) underwent surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF). The highest combined injuries were limb injuries, followed by traumatic brain injury, and maxillofacial trauma. While 1 patient died in the non-surgical group, there was no significant difference in the mortality between the two groups. The surgical group had a slightly shorter hospital stay than the non-surgical group (8.6 days vs. 10.0 days, p-value: 0.038). SSRF group tended toward a lower incidence of pneumonia compared to the non-surgical group (SSRF: 3.8% vs. non-surgical: 7%), but this difference was not statistically significant (p-value: 0.426). SSRF group also had a lower incidence of tracheostomy than the non-operative group (SSRF: 0% vs. non-surgical: 1.8%, p-value: 0.337).

Conclusion: Operative fixation of a rib fracture in trauma patients resulted in a lower incidence of pneumonia, fewer days of mechanical ventilation, and a shorter hospital stay compared to non-operative treatment group.

Background: The pathophysiology and therapy of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), are a dilemma for scientists and health professionals, and the fact that patients show different symptoms and severity of the clinical picture also contributes to that.

Objective: This paper aims to evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic protocols (the use of immunomodulators) in the treatment of COVID-19 patients of various severity of the clinical picture by monitoring inflammatory markers (ESR and CRP), as well as the impact of the type and number of comorbidities patients had on these markers.

Methods: A total of 200 patients with a mild (n=76), moderate (n=70) or severe (n=54) clinical picture was included. Inflammatory markers [ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate), CRP (C-reactive protein)] were examined on three occasions: twice during hospitalization and once after hospital discharge. Immunomodulators used intrahospital were corticosteroids (methylprednisolone, dexamethasone, methylprednisolone + dexamethasone), tocilizumab or metenkefalin/tridecactide. Posthospital, patients were taking either methylprednisolone or did not use any immunomodulators. For statistical analysis, SPSS 26.0 and Microsoft Excel 2019 were used, with a level of significance of α=0.05. Nonparametric tests (Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon Signed-Rank) were applied and effect size (ES) was calculated.

Results: Three corticosteroid therapies used intrahospital caused a significant decrease in both inflammatory markers, especially in patients with a severe clinical picture, but the ES was the biggest with methylprednisolone + dexamethasone, then dexamethasone, and lastly methylprednisolone. Posthospital, methylprednisolone caused a significant decrease in both inflammatory markers, especially in patients with a severe clinical picture. The most common comorbidity in all patients, as well as in patients with a severe clinical picture, was hypertension. There was no statistically significant impact of the number of comorbidities patients had on ESR and CRP, but the highest number of comorbidities was in patients with a severe clinical picture.

Conclusion: The use of immunomodulators, especially methylprednisolone + dexamethasone intrahospital and methylprednisolone posthospital, is justified in most COVID-19 cases as there is a significant correlation between this disease's pathophysiology and the immune response. There is also a positive correlation between the number of comorbidities patients have and the severity of the clinical picture.

Background: Heart attack, acute myocardial infarction, are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Western countries and are rapidly pandemic in developing and underdeveloped countries. Periostin concentration increases in the blood of patients after acute myocardial infarction and affects the process of cardiac remodeling leading to myocardial fibrosis.

Objective: To evaluate the correlation between serum periostin levels and cardiac function and acute myocardial infarction patients' short-term prognosis (three months after onset).

Methods: Fifty-two acute myocardial infarction patients were prospectively enrolled in the present study, and 52 controls were established. The levels of periostin of acute myocardial infarction patients at 5-7 days after the onset were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Other blood tests and echocardiography were performed during the patient's hospital stay. The correlation between periostin and TIMI, GRACE scores, body mass index, laboratory findings, and 3-month post- acute myocardial infarction data, including pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and echocardiographic parameters, were investigated.

Results: Serum periostin levels increased significantly in acute myocardial infarction patients compared with normal controls. There was an association between serum periostin at diagnosis and cardiac function three months after acute myocardial infarction: serum periostin was in negative correlation with ejection fraction (r = - 0.31, p = 0.028); positive association was found between serum periostin level and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (r = 0.38, p = 0.006).

Conclusion: Serum periostin levels increase in acute myocardial infarction, and serum periostin can be used to predict cardiac function three months after acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a pregnancy-related myocardial disease. PPCM has a high morbidity and mortality rate, but neither partial nor complete recovery is highly probable.

Objective: To analyze global scientific production and identify research hotspots related to PPCM.

Methods: The keyword "peripartum cardiomyopathy" was used to retrieved articles from Scopus database. A total of 509 articles were extracted. We used Scopus database analysis report and VOSviewer (version 1.6.18) to analyze annual publication number, country, citation and H-index, authors, institution, source journal, reference, and research hotspot.

Results: The trend of annual publication numbers has increased significantly, with the United States leading the amounts of publication and H-index in PPCM study. Hilfiker-Kleiner, D. contributed the most publications and the most active institution was Medizinische Hochschule Hannover MHH. By employing an overlay visualization, we shed light on the evolving research emphases, wherein prominent topics such as "diagnostic imaging" and "practical guidelines" have emerged as major areas of focus in recent years.

Conclusion: From 1971 to 2022, numbers of publications in PPCM research have increased gradually, and this trend is predicted to keep arising. Recent studies are becoming more focused on diagnostic imaging and practical guidelines. In the future, expanding global collaboration and conducting more in-depth studies are needed.

Background: Cavernous angiomas (CAs) are abnormal, congenital, vascular malformations, which often grow in size over the course of life. Conservative treatment, microsurgical resection, and stereotactic radiosurgery are the three main options for treatment of CA. Radiological studies play a key role in diagnosis, with magnetic resonance (MR) being the method of choice.

Objective: The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of cavernous angiomas, the size, appearance, that is, the type of CAs and to determine visualization of cavernous angiomas by magnetic resonance.

Methods: The study included all patients who underwent an MR of the brain in the period from January 2011 to the end of December 2017 at the Radiology Clinic of Tuzla University Clinical Centre, and in whom MR examination verified one or more CAs.

Results: The prevalence of cavernous angioma in the study was 0.57%, and men and women were equally represented. The number of cavernous angiomas per patient was between 1 and 79 ; the average diameter was 11mm, and the most common type at ≥ 3mm was equivalent to Type II, whilst the largest number of cavernous angiomas, regardless of the size and visualization on individual sequences, were equivalent to Type IV. No significant difference was found in sensitivity between spin echo sequence and T2W gradient echo sequence in the group comprised of cavernous angiomas ≥ 3mm, whilst in the group comprised of punctiform cavernomas < 3mm, T2W* was a significantly more sensitive sequence than spin echo, that is, spin echo sequence had significantly lower sensitivity in the detection of punctiform CAs.

Conclusion: The prevalence of CAs was in line with the results of other studies. T2W* sequence is significantly more sensitive in comparison with spin echo only in the detection of punctiform CAs, and is important in the detection of multiple familiar CAs.

Background: Immunosuppression in sepsis is hypothesized to result from the increased expression of the immune checkpoint molecules programmed death-1 (PD-1) and programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1). PD-1 and PD-L1 blockade therapies have been reported to increase survival in septic animals. Currently, the interleukin (IL)-10 within mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) secretome is known for its immunomodulatory capacity.

Objective: To study the effect of IL-10 within MSC secretome on the expression of immune checkpoints in the rat model of sepsis. Methods: We used 48 male Rattus norvegicus rats in this research and divided them into four groups: sham (rats without sepsis induction and treatment), control (sepsis-induced rats without treatment), T1 (sepsis-induced rats treated with 150 μL of secreted IL-10 from MSC), and T2 (sepsis-induced rats treated with 300 μL of secreted IL-10 from MSC). Forty-eight hours after sepsis induction, we terminated the rats and collected the blood to examine the PD-1 and PD-L1 expression levels.

Results: We found a decrease in the relative expression of PD-1 in the septic rat group given 150 μL and 300 μL of secreted IL-10 from MSC compared to the control group, but the decrease was not significant. We also found a decrease in the relative expression of PD-L1 mRNA in the septic rat group given 150 μL and 300 μL of secreted IL-10 from MSC compared to the control group.

Conclusion: Administering secreted IL-10 from MSC reduces the expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 in sepsis. These findings suggest that MSC secretome can improve the immunosuppression in sepsis.

Background: Artocarpus heterophyllus (A. heterophyllus) leaves and Olea europea (OE) fruit oil are natural sources that have been traditionally used for health and skin care purpose.

Objective: To assess the potential synergistic effect of combining ethanol extract of A. heterophyllus leaves (AHLE) and OE fruit oil in the formulation of clay masks, specifically in terms of their effect on facial skin.

Methods: AHLE was obtained by the maceration method, while OE was purchased commercially. Total phenol and flavonoid content were calculated and a DPPH assay was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant properties. Furthermore, the four formulas prepared were F1 (AHLE 5%), F2 (OE 10%), F3 (AHLE 5% + OE 10%), and F4 (AHLE 2.5% + OE 5%). Adult women received weekly facial treatments with the formulated mask for one month. The effect of these treatments was evaluated based on several skin parameters, including moisture, oiliness, texture, collagen levels, pigmentation, sensitivity, and the presence of wrinkles. Furthermore, the data obtained were analyzed using the Wilcoxon sign-ranked test.

Results: AHLE contained total phenolic, flavonoid, and antioxidant activity higher than OE. Clay masks in all formulations showed homogeneity and do not contain coarse grain. After four weeks of treatment, the efficacy of the formulations demonstrated a significant effect. F1 exhibited a reduction in wrinkles by 36.27%, while F3 improved oily skin by 21.39%, enhanced skin texture by 44.32%, reduced pigmentation by 30.30%, and decreased skin sensitivity by 49.18%. Furthermore, F4 demonstrated an increase in skin moisture levels by 27.89% and a boost in collagen production by 32.00%.

Conclusion: The combination of AHLE and OE at 5% and 10% demonstrated superior effectiveness compared to their individual use.