Search

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This review article examines the localization of market socialism in China and its impact. The historical review traces the adoption of market socialism in the 1970s as a guiding ideology for China's socialist market economy reforms, contributing significantly to economic development. However, these reforms have concurrently led to a surge in individualism, materialism, and inequality. The article explores the theoretical mechanisms and empirical manifestations of this trend in China's ecological, cultural, social, and educational domains. The research carries implications for comprehending market socialism as a global ideology and investigating its localization in China, along with the ensuing consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facilitation and alleviation are among the greatest characteristics of Islamic Sharia, which distinguish it from the laws of other religions. There is no chapter of this religion, whether related to worship or transactions, except that it took its share of alleviation and facilitation. Since the obligation of Hajj, one of the pillars of Islam and its great foundations, has gathered in it types of giving and drawing closer to Allah that have not gathered in other religions, it was among the greatest acts of worship in which the characteristic of facilitation and removal of hardship appeared. In this humble research, which bears the title “Facilitation in Hajj: models and Rulings”. I used an inductive and deductive approach. I have tried to highlight the apparent issues in which the mitigation of Hajj issues has been mentioned, from the viewpoint of the texts at the Book and the Sunnah, explicitly or by inference, and I have divided it in a way that shows the occurrence of this characteristic in all its issues, whether related to spatial or temporal matters, or what is from the fundamentals of Hajj issues that do not have a direct connection to place or time, or what is not from them, but it has taken its share of alleviation and facilitation, and from the aspect of its comprehensiveness of all its aspects, from the physical, financial and spiritual aspect, with the diversity of these aspects, in addition to the harmony and consistency, as facilitation did not eliminate the duties and obligations, and the latter, despite their abundance in Hajj, were not devoid of facilitation and alleviation. Rather, it became clear through the current research that whenever the religious duties increase in worship, they are necessarily accompanied by manifestations of facilitation and removal of hardship, which makes this consistency and direct proportionality from the evidence of the divine nature of the Sharia, and with it, we reach a definitive conclusion, that a religion that takes into account all these aspects and conditions, with this comprehensiveness and precision, cannot be except the Creator - Glory be to Him - Who says in His decisive Book: {Does He who created not know, while He is the Subtle, the Acquainted?}, and which will be - Allah Almighty willing - a source of inspiration, For other research that highlights aspects of facilitation and removing embarrassment in matters of worship and transactions other than this obligation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vestibular schwannoma (VS) is a benign peripheral nerve sheath tumor involving the vestibulocochlear nerve. Affected patients typically experience a gradual emergence of episodic imbalance and unilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and headache. Less often, VS may be associated with facial pain; ocular, otic, and taste disturbance; paresthesia of the tongue and face; and temporomandibular disorder-like presentations. There is limited information in the dental literature relating the myriad of oral and maxillofacial manifestations of VS. The objective of this article is to underscore the importance for dental clinicians to seek clinicopathologic correlations with VS-related symptomatology, potentially resulting in a timelier diagnosis and improved patient outcomes. To convey this clinical challenge, a detailed narrative of a 45-year-old patient with an 11-year delay in diagnosis has been reported. In addition, the typical radiographic appearance of an implanted cranial device placed following VS resection has been provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Babylon Center for Humanities Studies is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Babylon Center for Humanities Studies is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with multiple factors that influence bone metabolism. This study aimed to compare the clinical manifestations and diagnostic parameters of patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) at the time of diagnosis, as well as to assess their relationship with subsequent bone disorders. Methods: Blood tests (including calcium–phosphate metabolism) and fecal tests (including calprotectin) were performed in eighty children recently diagnosed with IBD. Additionally, the bone densitometry results were evaluated in 25 of them. Results: Diarrhea (p = 0.02) and bloody stools (p < 0.001) were more frequent in patients with UC, whereas fever was more common in patients with CD (p = 0.003). Laboratory tests revealed anemia in 62.5% (50/80) and thrombocytosis in 36.3% (29/80). Higher calprotectin levels in the feces were found in girls at the time of diagnosis (p = 0.02). Osteopenia was detected in almost half of the examined patients (12/25), and 20% (5/25) met the criteria for osteoporosis. Low calcium levels at diagnosis were correlated with subsequent bone disorders (p = 0.005). Insufficient levels of vitamin D were detected in 77.8% (56/80). Conclusions: Early disease detection and the appropriate monitoring of children with IBD may decrease the risk of serious consequences, including osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children figure prominently in far‐right movements, ideologies, and conspiracy theories as innocent targets of nefarious and decadent forces, unwitting symbols of social and political decay, and potentially dangerous objects of moral panic. Far‐right movements thus map a wide‐ranging network of concerns about immigration, race, public health, education, and globalization onto children's bodies and spaces. Yet children and youth also actively participate in these movements or are otherwise socialized into them, inhabiting and making the everyday geographies of the far right in numerous ways. Children's presence at and participation in a series of protests and occupations in Canada in early 2022 demonstrates well their place in far‐right movements as symbols and agents, and connects the Canadian far right to broader spatial and temporal perspectives shared across the transnational landscape of such movements. These protests, dubbed the "Freedom Convoy" by participants and ostensibly aiming to end vaccine mandates in the Canadian trucking industry, quickly turned to more general antigovernment demands and became far‐right networking events. This paper examines more closely children's presence at and participation in the Canadian protests and how the movements behind them position children as object, audience, and agent in the spatiality of the far right's current transnational resurgence. Key messages: Children figure prominently in far‐right political movements and rhetoric as objects of social anxieties and moral panic, an audience for political lessons and events, and agents of emerging spatialities.Children's presence at and participation in the Freedom Convoy protests across Canada in early 2022 demonstrates how far‐right movements frame children in their spatial imaginaries.Organizers and supporters argued that the convoy protests built safe and joyous spaces for children, even as they were driven by culture war grievances and anxieties over global economic change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Al-Adab / Al-ādāb is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Human immunodeficiency virus/Acquired immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS) is well known to be a major public health problem globally. On the other hand, HIV/AIDS is associated with various otorhinolaryngological manifestations. On the other hand, there has been a global reduction in the burden of otorhinolaryngological manifestations since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy though there are limited studies on otorhinolaryngological manifestations among HIV/AIDS patients in Tanzania. A hospital based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Ilala District in Dar es Salaam from November 2022 to March 2023 where 380 study participants were recruited using convenience sampling technique. Data was collected using pre-tested semi-structured questionnaires and analysis was done by means of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. Of all the 380 patients recruited in this study, 22 (5.8%) had otorhinolaryngological manifestations. Most of the patients with otorhinolaryngological manifestations were males (6.1%) in the age group 0–9 years (23.1%) followed by those aged 10–19 years (18.8%). The commonest otorhinolaryngological manifestations were allergic rhinitis (22.7%) and otitis externa (22.7%) followed by hearing loss (18.2%), Kaposi's sarcoma (13.7%), tonsillitis (9.1%), chronic suppurative otitis media, (4.5%) sinusitis (4.5%) and adenoid hypertrophy (4.5%). Otitis externa predominated in males (23.1%) while allergic rhinitis predominated in females (33.3%). Similarly, a significant association was found between the occurrence of otorhinolaryngological manifestations with CD4 counts (p-value = 0.001) and viral load (p-value = 0.000). Otorhinolaryngological manifestations among patients living with HIV/AIDS and on highly active antiretroviral therapy were less prevalent. Males outnumbered females in terms of being affected by otorhinolaryngological manifestations. Allergic rhinitis and otitis externa were the commonest otorhinolaryngological manifestations and most of participants with otorhinolaryngological manifestations had viral load of greater than 100 copies and CD4 counts of less than 200cells/mm3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Healthcare corruption poses a significant threat to individuals, institutions, sectors, and states. Combating corruption is paramount for protecting patients, maintaining the healthcare system's integrity, and preserving public trust. As corruption evolves, takes new forms, and adapts to changing socio-political landscapes, understanding its manifestations is critical to developing effective anti-corruption strategies at individual and institutional levels. Objective The aim was to comprehensively collate the manifestations of different types of corruption in healthcare to illustrate prevailing patterns and trends and to provide policymakers, practitioners, and researchers with practical insights to inform research agendas, regulatory and governance strategies, and accountability measures. Method We conducted a narrative review of scientific articles published between 2013 and 2022 using keyword searches in SCOPUS and EBSCO. We utilized the corruption typology proposed by the European Union and Thompson's Institutional Corruption Framework to systematically identify manifestations across different corruption types. The Prisma scheme was employed to document the selection process and ensure reproducibility. Findings Bribery in medical service provision was the most frequently investigated form of corruption, revealing rather uniform manifestations. Misuse of high-level positions and networks and institutional corruption also received considerable attention, with a wide range of misconduct identified in institutional corruption. Extending the analysis to institutional corruption also deepened the understanding of misconduct in the context of improper marketing relations and highlighted the involvement of various stakeholders, including academia. The pandemic exacerbated the vulnerability of the healthcare sector to procurement corruption. Also, it fostered new types of misconduct related to the misuse of high-level positions and networks and fraud and embezzlement of medical drugs, devices, and services. Conclusions The review spotlights criminal actions by individuals and networks and marks a notable shift towards systemic misconduct within specific types of corruption. The findings highlight the necessity of customized anti-corruption strategies throughout the healthcare sector. These insights are crucial for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers in guiding the formulation of legal frameworks at local and global levels, governance strategies, and research priorities.

This narrative review delves into the intricacies of hemangiomas and vascular malformations (VMs), exploring their characteristics, diagnostic approaches, and therapeutic interventions. Hemangiomas, characterized by an abnormal growth of blood vessels, and VMs, arising from developmental abnormalities in blood vessels, present multifaceted challenges in clinical practice. The review navigates through the clinical manifestations and classifications of these vascular anomalies, emphasizing the importance of accurate diagnosis based on clinical evaluation, imaging techniques, and histopathological assessment. Variations in presentation, ranging from asymptomatic lesions to severe complications impacting vital organs, underscore the necessity for comprehensive understanding and tailored management strategies. Moreover, this review examines current therapeutic modalities encompassing medical, interventional, and surgical interventions. It synthesizes the evolving landscape of treatment options and highlighting the benefits, limitations, and potential adverse effects associated with each approach. In addition, the review underscores the significance of a multidisciplinary approach, integrating expertise from dermatology, radiology, and surgery, to optimize patient care and outcomes. The challenges posed by these vascular anomalies necessitate ongoing research endeavors aimed at refining diagnostic criteria and advancing therapeutic innovations. This review amalgamates existing knowledge and providing clinicians and researchers with a comprehensive understanding of hemangiomas and VMs, thereby fostering continued exploration and innovation in this complex field.

Background: Healthcare corruption poses a significant threat to individuals, institutions, sectors, and states. Combating corruption is paramount for protecting patients, maintaining the healthcare system's integrity, and preserving public trust. As corruption evolves, takes new forms, and adapts to changing socio-political landscapes, understanding its manifestations is critical to developing effective anti-corruption strategies at individual and institutional levels. Objective: The aim was to comprehensively collate the manifestations of different types of corruption in healthcare to illustrate prevailing patterns and trends and to provide policymakers, practitioners, and researchers with practical insights to inform research agendas, regulatory and governance strategies, and accountability measures. Method: We conducted a narrative review of scientific articles published between 2013 and 2022 using keyword searches in SCOPUS and EBSCO. We utilized the corruption typology proposed by the European Union and Thompson's Institutional Corruption Framework to systematically identify manifestations across different corruption types. The Prisma scheme was employed to document the selection process and ensure reproducibility. Findings: Bribery in medical service provision was the most frequently investigated form of corruption, revealing rather uniform manifestations. Misuse of high-level positions and networks and institutional corruption also received considerable attention, with a wide range of misconduct identified in institutional corruption. Extending the analysis to institutional corruption also deepened the understanding of misconduct in the context of improper marketing relations and highlighted the involvement of various stakeholders, including academia. The pandemic exacerbated the vulnerability of the healthcare sector to procurement corruption. Also, it fostered new types of misconduct related to the misuse of high-level positions and networks and fraud and embezzlement of medical drugs, devices, and services. Conclusions: The review spotlights criminal actions by individuals and networks and marks a notable shift towards systemic misconduct within specific types of corruption. The findings highlight the necessity of customized anti-corruption strategies throughout the healthcare sector. These insights are crucial for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers in guiding the formulation of legal frameworks at local and global levels, governance strategies, and research priorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article addresses the "Song of the Daisies", sung at the 7th March of the Daisies of 2023, an important movement of women rural workers in Brazil. Over the years, these marches have consolidated themselves as a fundamental means of expressing demands related to gender, land, work, and socio-environmental justice. The movement seeks to promote fairer conditions for rural women, expanding their causes with the use of songs and shouts of warning. The "Song of the Daisies" is analyzed as a way to denounce issues and challenges faced by the participants in their search for a more equitable and sustainable society. For this, a qualitative approach is used, and, based on the contributions of Pêcheux and Maingueneau, the discourse analysis of the verses chanted was applied. To enrich this analysis, the article dialogues with theorists such as bell hooks, Angela Davis, Judith Butler, as well as Franz Fanon and Paulo Freire. These theoretical perspectives provide a critical basis for understanding the intersections between gender, race, class, and colonialism, as well as the emancipatory and critical pedagogies that inform the struggle of women farmworkers in the marches. The analysis highlights the struggle for agrarian public policies, with an emphasis on the gender issue, highlighting its relevance in the discussions held in the Brazilian Congress in 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This narrative review delves into the intricacies of hemangiomas and vascular malformations (VMs), exploring their characteristics, diagnostic approaches, and therapeutic interventions. Hemangiomas, characterized by an abnormal growth of blood vessels, and VMs, arising from developmental abnormalities in blood vessels, present multifaceted challenges in clinical practice. The review navigates through the clinical manifestations and classifications of these vascular anomalies, emphasizing the importance of accurate diagnosis based on clinical evaluation, imaging techniques, and histopathological assessment. Variations in presentation, ranging from asymptomatic lesions to severe complications impacting vital organs, underscore the necessity for comprehensive understanding and tailored management strategies. Moreover, this review examines current therapeutic modalities encompassing medical, interventional, and surgical interventions. It synthesizes the evolving landscape of treatment options and highlighting the benefits, limitations, and potential adverse effects associated with each approach. In addition, the review underscores the significance of a multidisciplinary approach, integrating expertise from dermatology, radiology, and surgery, to optimize patient care and outcomes. The challenges posed by these vascular anomalies necessitate ongoing research endeavors aimed at refining diagnostic criteria and advancing therapeutic innovations. This review amalgamates existing knowledge and providing clinicians and researchers with a comprehensive understanding of hemangiomas and VMs, thereby fostering continued exploration and innovation in this complex field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Nursing Notes. Notas de Enfermería is the property of Sanatorio Allende and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Al-Academy is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Social Affairs is the property of Journal of Social Affairs and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to provide a holistic view of the emergence of shareholder activism (SA) in India. However, specifically, this study aims at fulfilling the research gap by discussing the policy and legal advancement in the area of SA and investigating the chronological evolution of SA, manifestations of SA, motives of SA, outcome of SAs and impact of SA on the financial performance of the firm. Design/methodology/approach: This study used a mixed methodology (both qualitative and quantitative) to draw inferences, including content analysis, descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test and paired sample t-test. The data has been collected from the annual reports of the sample companies and the Prowess database. Return on assets and return on equity have been used as measures of financial performance while investigating the difference in financial performance between firms subjected to SA and firms not subjected to SA. Findings: The findings of this study suggest that there has been significant growth in the occurrence of SA incidents in India in the past decade, with shareholders prominently manifesting by opposing the proposals at annual general meetings/extraordinary general meetings, mostly involving governance-related demands. The findings from the independent sample t-tests revealed that there has been a significant difference in the financial performance of the sample subjected to SA and firms not subjected to SA. Furthermore, the results of the paired sample t-test provide strong evidence of significant improvement in the financial performance of firms' post-SA. Practical implications: The findings of this study have implications for various stakeholders. The findings of this study suggest that SA has been relatively more successful in the Indian context and may encourage minority shareholders to follow active participation through shareholder proposals and votes rather than a passive strategy to trade and exit. For firms, it can provide valuable inferences about the emergence of SA and how it has a positive impact on the financial performance of the firm, which can lead to a change in the perception of investors and promoters who perceive SA as a threat (Gillan and Starks 2000; Hartzell and Starks, 2003). For policymakers, it can act as a tool to investigate whether the regulatory changes have been able to bring the intended transparency, accountability and enhanced shareholder participation. This will encourage policymakers to be more agile, as their efforts are bearing fruit. This will also act as a guide to formulating future policies and regulations. Originality/value: This study is an effort to provide a holistic view of SA scenarios in a developing economy setting like India, where SA is a very recent phenomenon. Although there are studies in the area of SA, there is a dearth of studies that have investigated the various dimensions of SA in the Indian context in a very systematic and extensive manner, investigating all the different dimensions of SA. Furthermore, this study also intends to investigate the impact of SA, which is normally perceived as a threat to financial performance and provide valuable contrasting evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Kufa Studies Center Journal is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Varicella zoster virus (VZV) causes infection of the central nervous system, which manifests as various neurological syndromes. In this case series, we discuss three different clinical presentations of VZV reactivation (herpes zoster). The main clinical feature of herpes zoster is a pruritic vesicular rash, present in a dermatomal distribution, which occurs after reactivation of the virus because of immunosuppression. Patients presentation: We report on three individual cases of complicated herpes zoster that resulted in various neurological pathologies. The patients described in this case series each received a lumbar puncture with cerebrospinal fluid analysis, which showed a positive varicella zoster polymerase chain reaction test (VZV PCR). Management and outcome: All three patients received intravenous acyclovir as their core component of treatment. In addition to this, some received other adjunctive treatments, mainly corticosteroids. Two patients achieved disease resolution while one patient demised. Conclusion: The case series highlights the various ways in which VZV can affect the central nervous system (CNS) such as meningitis, encephalitis, myelitis and arteritis. Contribution: This is a brief overview of the clinical manifestations of VZV affecting the CNS in patients presenting to a regional hospital within the Western Cape province in South Africa.

Freezing of gait (FOG) is an episodic and highly disabling symptom of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Although described as a single phenomenon, FOG is heterogeneous and can express as different manifestations, such as trembling in place or complete akinesia. We aimed to analyze the efficacy of deep learning (DL) trained on inertial measurement unit data to classify FOG into both manifestations. We adapted and compared four state-of-the-art FOG detection algorithms for this task and investigated the advantages of incorporating a refinement model to address oversegmentation errors. We evaluated the model’s performance in distinguishing between trembling and akinesia, as well as other forms of movement cessation (e.g., stopping and sitting), against gold-standard video annotations. Experiments were conducted on a dataset of eighteen PD patients completing a FOG-provoking protocol in a gait laboratory. Results showed our model achieved an F1 score of 0.78 and segment F1@50 of 0.75 in detecting FOG manifestations. Assessment of FOG severity was strong for trembling (ICC=0.86, [0.66,0.95]) and moderately strong for akinesia (ICC=0.78, [0.51,0.91]). Importantly, our model successfully differentiated FOG from other forms of movement cessation during 360-degree turning-in-place tasks. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that DL can accurately assess different types of FOG manifestations, warranting further investigation in larger and more diverse verification cohorts.

Introduction. Since May 2022, an unusually large number of new monkeypox infections-a previously rare viral zoonotic disease, mainly reported from central and western Africa has been reported globally, and the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global health emergency in July 2022. We aimed to systematically review the monkeypox virus epidemiology, pathogenesis, transmission, presentations, and outcomes. Materials and methods. Our aim is to systematically review the epidemiology, pathogenesis, manifestations, and outcomes of Monkeypox disease. We searched the keywords in the online databases of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science and investigated all English articles until December 2022. In order to ascertain the findings, this study adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist. In order to optimize the quality, this review study benefits from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist. To minimize any probable bias risk, we utilized the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) risk assessment tool. Results. The most prevalent symptoms were rash and fever. The infection was accompanied by different complications such as, but not limited to, encephalitis (mainly in children), septicemia, bacterial cellulitis, retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal abscesses, etc. A wide range of hospitalization from 3.7% to 100% has been reported. The mortality rate ranged from 0% to 23%, which mainly occurred in infants and children. High mortality of the monkeypox rate was reported among pregnant women. The mortality rate of monkeypox is lower among women and those who received the smallpox vaccine compared to men and those who did not receive the vaccine. A wide range of the overall second-rate attack was reported, which is more pronounced in unvaccinated patients. Conclusion. In our systematic review of 35 studies on monkeypox, we cast light on the existing evidence on its epidemiology, pathogenesis, manifestation, and outcomes. Further studies are needed to elucidate the natural history of the disease in various patients’ population, as well as detailing the monkeypox attack rate.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with multiple factors that influence bone metabolism. This study aimed to compare the clinical manifestations and diagnostic parameters of patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) at the time of diagnosis, as well as to assess their relationship with subsequent bone disorders. Methods: Blood tests (including calcium–phosphate metabolism) and fecal tests (including calprotectin) were performed in eighty children recently diagnosed with IBD. Additionally, the bone densitometry results were evaluated in 25 of them. Results: Diarrhea (p = 0.02) and bloody stools (p < 0.001) were more frequent in patients with UC, whereas fever was more common in patients with CD (p = 0.003). Laboratory tests revealed anemia in 62.5% (50/80) and thrombocytosis in 36.3% (29/80). Higher calprotectin levels in the feces were found in girls at the time of diagnosis (p = 0.02). Osteopenia was detected in almost half of the examined patients (12/25), and 20% (5/25) met the criteria for osteoporosis. Low calcium levels at diagnosis were correlated with subsequent bone disorders (p = 0.005). Insufficient levels of vitamin D were detected in 77.8% (56/80). Conclusions: Early disease detection and the appropriate monitoring of children with IBD may decrease the risk of serious consequences, including osteoporosis.

Defects in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cause mtDNA depletion syndrome (MTDPS), a subclass of mitochondrial disorders that are genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous. MTDPS is a rare autosomal recessive disease caused by a mutation of a nuclear gene named FBXL4 (F-box and leucine-rich repeat protein 4), located on chromosome 6. This nuclear-encoded mitochondrial protein plays a vital role in mitochondrial bioenergetics, mtDNA maintenance, and mitochondrial dynamics. Pathogenic variants in the FBXL4 gene reduce mtDNA synthesis, resulting in a large decrease in the mtDNA content in cells, which is essential for normal energy production. These pathogenic variants in the FBXL4 gene are associated with an encephalomyopathy MTDPS type 13 (MTDPS13), a rare and severe mul­tisystemic disorder mainly characterized by infant-onset encephalomyopathy and lactic acidosis, developmental delay, hypotonia with feeding difficulties and failure to thrive. Other features may include the central nervous system and the ophthalmologic, cardiac, gastrointestinal, genito­urinary, and immunological systems. Herein, we report the case of an infant born to consanguineous Pakistani parents with an early onset of severe lactic acidosis, hypotonia, feeding difficulties, hypertro­phic cardiomyopathy, supraventricular tachycardia, and transient neutro­penia harboring a homozygous variant in the FBXL4 (c.370C>T [p.Q124*]) gene. This variant was identified in the patient’s parents in heterozygosity. He started medical treatment (with coenzyme Q10, propranolol, and sodium bicarbonate) and multidisciplinary support. As a result, a progressive improvement in postural tone and feeding autonomy was observed during the first months of life. Therefore, encephalomyopathy MTDPS13 should be suspected when dealing with patients with severe congenital lactic acidosis and developmental impairment.

Freezing of gait (FOG) is an episodic and highly disabling symptom of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Although described as a single phenomenon, FOG is heterogeneous and can express as different manifestations, such as trembling in place or complete akinesia. We aimed to analyze the efficacy of deep learning (DL) trained on inertial measurement unit data to classify FOG into both manifestations. We adapted and compared four state-of-the-art FOG detection algorithms for this task and investigated the advantages of incorporating a refinement model to address oversegmentation errors. We evaluated the model’s performance in distinguishing between trembling and akinesia, as well as other forms of movement cessation (e.g., stopping and sitting), against gold-standard video annotations. Experiments were conducted on a dataset of eighteen PD patients completing a FOG-provoking protocol in a gait laboratory. Results showed our model achieved an F1 score of 0.78 and segment F1@50 of 0.75 in detecting FOG manifestations. Assessment of FOG severity was strong for trembling (ICC=0.86, [0.66,0.95]) and moderately strong for akinesia (ICC=0.78, [0.51,0.91]). Importantly, our model successfully differentiated FOG from other forms of movement cessation during 360-degree turning-in-place tasks. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that DL can accurately assess different types of FOG manifestations, warranting further investigation in larger and more diverse verification cohorts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Babylon Center for Humanities Studies is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Babylon Center for Humanities Studies is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: We aimed to study the ocular manifestations in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients and the correlation of posterior segment lesions with CD4+ counts. Methods: This hospital-based, cross-sectional study enrolled HIV-positive patients attending the ophthalmology department of a tertiary care hospital in Eastern India. Complete demographic information was obtained for each patient. Comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation was done in each case. Results: A total of 184 HIV-positive patients were enrolled in the study. Ocular manifestations were detected in 62 cases. The prevalence of ocular manifestations in the present study was 33.69%. Mean age of patients included in the study was 34.8 ± 10.77 years. Prevalence of ocular manifestations was highest in the age group of 30–39 years (41.93%). Highest prevalence of ocular manifestations was noted in patients with low level of education and poor socioeconomic status. Sexual transmission was the major route of HIV transmission (in 92% of cases). Posterior segment lesions were seen in 69.35% of cases. HIV retinopathy was the most common posterior segment manifestation noted in 25 eyes. Significant positive correlation was noted between severities of posterior segment findings and CD4+ counts, which we found to increase with decrease in CD4+ counts (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Detailed ophthalmic evaluation including fundus examination is must in all cases of HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients as it may help in early diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of sight-threatening complications due to opportunistic infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Adab Al-Kufa is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19), has caused, nearly 18 million deaths worldwide, many more hospitalisations, and severe economic and social disruption, as of March 2022. Malnutrition and electrolyte imbalance can lead to immune system dysfunction, which can increase the risk of infection. Aim: To evaluate the electrolyte imbalance and other biomarkers in COVID-19 patients and also, to compare these parameters with healthy individuals. Materials and Methods: A retrospective case-control study was conducted in the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences at European Gaza Hospital, Southern Gaza Strip, Palestine. The duration of the study was four months, from February 2022 to May 2022. A total of 200 participants were included in the study, out of which 100 patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 infection by Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test and 100 healthy individuals were recruited from blood bank donors and comprehensive Screening Department. Biochemical profile; Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG), urea, Creatinine (Cr), Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), total Creatinine Kinase (CK-total), Creatine Kinase (CK) isoenzyme CK and electrolytes (Na, K, phosphorous, and Mg, ionised calcium, total calcium, and Cl) were assayed. Data were statistically analysed using Student’s t-test and Chi-square test. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 54.1±12.2 years for cases and 54.3±12.4 years for controls. A total of 200 subjects, both the groups had 34 (34.0%) males and 66 (66.0%) females, which was not statistically significant (p-value>0.05). COVID-19 patients had significantly higher values of Na (141.9±4.6 vs 139.7±3.1; p