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Olfactory dysfunction (hyposmia, anosmia) is a well-recognized symptom in patients with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). Studies of olfactory dysfunction in asymptomatic patients have not been reported. We conducted a study looking for the presence of olfactory dysfunction with an objective assessment tool in asymptomatic Covid 19 and compared it with patients with mild COVID-19 and age-matched controls. We recruited 57 male patients each of Mild COVID-19, asymptomatic Covid 19, and healthy controls for the study. All participants underwent evaluation of smell threshold by Butanol Threshold test (BTT) and ability to distinguish common odors by Smell identification test. The scores of each test were recorded on a numerical scale. The participants in all three arms were matched for age, history of smoking, and pre-existing medical conditions. The mean scores of the Butanol Threshold test in Mild COVID-19, asymptomatic Covid 19 and controls were 2.95 ± 2.25 (0–7.5), 3.42 ± 2.23 (0–7.5), and 4.82 ± 1.86 (0–8), respectively. A one-way ANOVA showed a significant difference between groups (df 2, MS 53.78, F 11.94, p

This study uses NHANES data to compare estimated glomerular filtration rate from serum creatinine (eGFRcr) values calculated with vs without race as a variable, and to estimate the number of patients for whom nephrologist referrals and drug and renal replacement recommendations would change as a result according to KDIGO guidelines and Medicare benefit policies.

The environment plays an important role in mediating human health. In this session we consider research addressing ways to overcome the challenges associated with studying the multifaceted and ever-changing environment. Environmental health research has a need for technological and methodological advances which will further our knowledge of how exposures precipitate complex phenotypes and exacerbate disease.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly metastatic breast cancer subtype and due to the lack of hormone receptors and HER2 expression, TNBC has limited therapeutic options with chemotherapy being the primary choice for systemic therapy. LIM Domain Kinase 2 (LIMK2) is a serine/threonine kinase that plays an important role in the regulation of actin filament dynamics. Here, we show that LIM domain kinase 2 (LIMK2) is overexpressed in TNBC, and short-hairpin RNA (shRNA)-mediated LIMK2 knockdown or its pharmacological inhibition blocks metastatic attributes of TNBC cells. To determine the mechanism by which LIMK2 promotes TNBC metastatic progression, we performed stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) based unbiased large-scale phosphoproteomics analysis. This analysis identified 258 proteins whose phosphorylation was significantly reduced due to LIMK2 inhibition. Among these proteins, we identified SRSF protein kinase 1 (SRPK1), which encodes for a serine/arginine protein kinase specific for the SR (serine/arginine-rich domain) family of splicing factors. We show that LIMK2 inhibition blocked SRPK1 phosphorylation and consequentially its activity. Furthermore, similar to LIMK2, genetic inhibition of SRPK1 by shRNAs or its pharmacological inhibition blocked the metastatic attributes of TNBC cells. Moreover, the pharmacological inhibition of LIMK2 blocked metastatic progression in mice without affecting primary tumor growth. In sum, these results identified LIMK2 as a facilitator of distal TNBC metastasis and a potential target for preventing TNBC metastatic progression.

Background With the increase in internet use, new forms of child victimization like Online Sexual Abuse (OSA) have emerged. Children and adolescents rarely disclose these incidents and most disclosure happens around peers. Objective This research addresses the perspective of adolescents (not victims of OSA), potential recipients of the disclosure, within the context of disclosure of OSA committed by either adult or peer perpetrators. Methods The study was performed in two stages. We interviewed adolescents in Scotland and then conducted focus groups with adolescents from Chile. Participants and setting 51 adolescents (6 from Scotland and 45 from Chile) aged 15–20 years participated. Results Despite differences in age and cultural contexts, there were similarities in responses. Obstacles of disclosure included lack of clarity of OSA, prior levels of personal vulnerability, and gender factors (stereotypes and stigmatization). On the other hand, the disclosure process would be easier for adolescents with more personal resources (e.g. self-confidence) and when they have a supportive social environment, which includes parents, but especially peers. Conclusion Disclosure of OSA is considered similar to the disclosure of offline sexual abuse. However, differences such as a lack of clarity regarding the boundaries of the relationships on the Internet, and presence of a generational gap between adolescents and their parents or tutors in the use of internet makes early disclosure of OSA highly challenging. Plans to facilitate disclosure should consider different components: behavioral (risky behaviors), emotional (feelings of fear and shame) and cognitive (lack of information, self-blame, stigma). This should be focused on adolescents, potential recipients of disclosure (parents, authorities and peers) and society, where the prejudices and practices that prevent disclosure begin.

This study investigates the factors affecting behavioral intentions to adopt mobile payment services by Indian citizens. The proposed model integrated factors from the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) along with other important factors like perceived benefits and trust. This research model was empirically tested in New Delhi—the capital city of India, using 341 responses from a field survey. Data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis (MRA). The results showed that behavioral intention to adopt mobile payments is significantly and positively influenced by facilitating conditions, effort expectancy, performance expectancy, perceived benefits, and trust. Theoretically, this study significantly contributes to the existing knowledge specifically related to mobile payment channels and technology acceptance area in general. Practically, the study looks forward to provide the mobile payment service providers in India with suitable guidelines for effectively implementing and designing mobile payment services.

As with all diagnostic tests, PCR and serology tests are imperfect, sometimes producing false negatives and sometimes false positives While the sensitivity and

Objective:To study the outcome of acute collections occurring in patients with acute pancreatitisBackground:There are limited data on natural history of acute collections arising after acute pancreatitis (AP).Methods:Consecutive patients of AP admitted between July 2011 and December 2012 were evalua

Purpose Integrating genomic sequencing in clinical care requires standardization of variant interpretation practices. The Clinical Genome Resource has established expert panels to adapt the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics/Association for Molecular Pathology classification framework for specific genes and diseases. The Cardiomyopathy Expert Panel selected MYH7, a key contributor to inherited cardiomyopathies, as a pilot gene to develop a broadly applicable approach. Methods Expert revisions were tested with 60 variants using a structured double review by pairs of clinical and diagnostic laboratory experts. Final consensus rules were established via iterative discussions. Results Adjustments represented disease-/gene-informed specifications (12) or strength adjustments of existing rules (5). Nine rules were deemed not applicable. Key specifications included quantitative frameworks for minor allele frequency thresholds, the use of segregation data, and a semiquantitative approach to counting multiple independent variant occurrences where fully controlled case-control studies are lacking. Initial inter-expert classification concordance was 93%. Internal data from participating diagnostic laboratories changed the classification of 20% of the variants (n = 12), highlighting the critical importance of data sharing. Conclusion These adapted rules provide increased specificity for use in MYH7-associated disorders in combination with expert review and clinical judgment and serve as a stepping stone for genes and disorders with similar genetic and clinical characteristics.

The special issue titled “Digital Marketing and Online Consumer Behavior in China” was guest edited by Qin Sun, California State University at Northridge, CA, USA. The guest editor did a terrific j...

Artificial intelligence (AI) involves computational networks (neural networks) that simulate human intelligence. The incorporation of AI in radiology will help in dealing with the tedious, repetitive, time-consuming job of detecting relevant findings in diagnostic imaging and segmenting the detected images into smaller data. It would also help in identifying details that are oblivious to the human eye. AI will have an immense impact in populations with deficiency of radiologists and in screening programmes. By correlating imaging data from millions of patients and their clinico-demographic-therapy-morbidity-mortality profiles, AI could lead to identification of new imaging biomarkers. This would change therapy and direct new research. However, issues of standardisation, transparency, ethics, regulations, training, accreditation and safety are the challenges ahead. The Armed Forces Medical Services has widely dispersed units, medical echelons and roles ranging from small field units to large static tertiary care centres. They can incorporate AI-enabled radiological services to subserve small remotely located hospitals and detachments without posted radiologists and ease the load of radiologists in larger hospitals. Early widespread incorporation of information technology and enabled services in our hospitals, adequate funding, regular upgradation of software and hardware, dedicated trained manpower to manage the information technology services and train staff, and cyber security are issues that need to be addressed.

Tourism is truly an international/global industry. Tourism is vital to the economy of a country and sustainable tourism development requires an understanding of the complex interrelationships and interactions among a multitude of environmental factors and interdisciplinary forces that play a critical role in tourism development. While overall the field of tourism has been abundantly researched, there are certain areas where there is a paucity of research, namely, competition analysis, branding and positioning. Our research contributes to this extremely important but relatively less researched subject. Specifically, we study the relationship between destination development and its brand image. We develop a conceptual model which identifies various constructs, processes and linkages involved in the relationship between destination development and its brand image. We propose that the brand image has three components corresponding to the three stages of consumption/travel, namely, pre-travel, during travel, and post-travel. In developing this model we draw upon the interdisciplinary nature of tourism and discuss a variety of influences, such as, economic, social, cultural, political and psychological factors.El turismo es un sector internacional/global. Es esencial para la economía de un país, y la sostenibilidad de su desarrollo demanda la comprensión de las complejas interrelaciones e interacciones que se producen entre la multitud de factores ambientales y fuerzas interdisciplinarias que desempenan una misión ˜ fundamental en el desarrollo de esta industria. Aunque en general la cuestión del turismo se ha investigado abundantemente, existen ciertas áreas que no han sido convenientemente estudiadas, tales como el análisis de la competencia, la gestión de marcas y el posicionamiento. Nuestro análisis contribuye a esta cuestión extremadamente importante, pero relativamente menos estudiada. En concreto, estudiamos la relación entre el desarrollo del destino y su imagen de marca. Desarrollamos un modelo conceptual que identifica diversos constructos, procesos y contextos implicados en la relación entre el desarrollo del destino y su imagen de marca. Nuestra propuesta es que la imagen de marca tiene tres componentes que se corresponden con las tres etapas del consumo/viaje; es decir, el previaje, el viaje en sí mismo. El turismo es un sector internacional/global. Es esencial para la economía de un país, y la sostenibilidad de su desarrollo demanda la comprensión de las complejas interrelaciones e interacciones que se producen entre la multitud de factores ambientales y fuerzas interdisciplinarias que desempenan una misión fundamental en el desarrollo de esta industria. Aunque en general la cuestión del turismo se ha investigado abundantemente, existen ciertas áreas que no han sido convenientemente estudiadas, tales como el análisis de la competencia, la gestión de marcas y el posicionamiento. Nuestro análisis contribuye a esta cuestión extremadamente importante, pero relativamente menos estudiada. En concreto, estudiamos la relación entre el desarrollo del destino y su imagen de marca. Desarrollamos un modelo conceptual que identifica diversos constructos, procesos y contextos implicados en la relación entre el desarrollo del destino y su imagen de marca. Nuestra propuesta es que la imagen de marca tiene tres componentes que se corresponden con las tres etapas del consumo/viaje; es decir, el previaje, el viaje en sí mismo, y el postviaje. En el desarrollo de este modelo recurrimos a la naturaleza interdisciplinaria del turismo, y tratamos una serie de influencias tales como los factores económicos, sociales, culturales, políticos y psicológicos.