SPG biomed最新文献

{"title":"Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of BioMed in 2022","authors":"","doi":"10.3390/biomed3010008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/biomed3010008","url":null,"abstract":"High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]","PeriodicalId":93816,"journal":{"name":"SPG biomed","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89886995","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterization of Microarchitectures, Stiffness and Strength of Human Trabecular Bone Using Micro-Computed Tomography (Micro-CT) Scans","authors":"A. El-Gizawy, Xuewei Ma, F. Pfeiffer, J. Schiffbauer, T. Selly","doi":"10.3390/biomed3010007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/biomed3010007","url":null,"abstract":"The present work presents evaluation and experimental verification of the use of X-ray computed tomographic microscopy (micro-CT) for accurate characterization of geometry, microarchitecture, and stiffness properties of bones. These properties are crucial for designing and building optimized implants for joint and dental reconstruction applications. High-resolution micro-CT scans would provide more detailed and accurate information about the microarchitecture and density distribution across patient bones. Nevertheless, micro-CT applications on live patients require invasive procedures involving small bone biopsy specimens. Alternatively, micro-CT could be used on samples collected from selected cadavers of different age, gender, and race groups to establish a database that could be used for providing useful microarchitecture information. The micro-CT scans of investigated bone samples reveal that the trabecular bone is anisotropic and heterogeneous. The results also showed considerable degree of parametric variability and uncertainty on microarchitecture and stiffness properties of patient’s trabecular bone.","PeriodicalId":93816,"journal":{"name":"SPG biomed","volume":"53 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90977955","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phenotypic Characterization and Prevalence of Carbapenemase-Producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates in Six Health Facilities in Cameroon","authors":"Cecile Ingrid Djuikoué, P. D. Djouela Djoulako, Hélène Valérie Same Njanjo, Christiane Possi Kiyang, Feline Leina Djantou Biankeu, C. Guegang, Andrea Sheisley Didi Tchouotou, Kamga Wouambo Rodrigue, Benjamin D. Thumamo Pokam, T. Apalata, K. Jeannot","doi":"10.3390/biomed3010006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/biomed3010006","url":null,"abstract":"Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen with a great ability to adapt to stress, in particular, to the selective pressure of antibiotics in the hospital environment. This pathogen constitutes a real public health concern, especially in low- and middle-income countries. In Cameroon, little is known about the drug resistance patterns of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This study sought to determine the prevalence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains producing carbapenemases in six health facilities in the center, littoral, and west regions of Cameroon. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted over a four-month period from July to October 2021. All Pseudomonas aeruginosa or suspected strains isolated from pathological products at the bacteriology laboratory of different health facilities were systematically collected and underwent a re-identification. After growing on cetrimide agar and successfully subculturing on nutrient agar, an oxidase test was performed on pure colonies, followed by biochemical identification (API 20NE system) of the bacterial suspension (0.5McFarland standard). Drug susceptibility testing for the detection of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases of overproduced inducible cephalosporinases and carbapenemases was performed according to adequate standard procedures. Of the 468 isolates collected, 347 (74.14%) were confirmed Pseudomonas aeruginosa after re-identification, of which 34.49% (120/347) produced inducible cephalosporinases (CAZR and C/TS) and 32.26% (112/347) extended-spectrum beta-lactamases. The prevalence of carbapenemase-producing P. aeruginosa (IMPR and C/TR) was 25.07% (87/347), with 17.24% (15/87) class A and 82.76% (72/87) class B. A high rate of resistance to penicillin (piperacillin: 70.58% and ticarcillin: 60.24%) was observed. We also noted a 34.49% resistance to ceftazidime, 30.22% to imipenem against 37.02% to meropenem, and 25.1% to ceftolozane/tazobactam (C/T). These strains also exhibited 79.57% resistance to quinolones and about 26% to aminoglycoside families. Multivariate analysis revealed that carbapenemase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa-related infections were significantly associated with hospitalization (p = 0.04), maternity (p = 0.03), surgery (p = 0.04), and intensive care wards (p = 0.04). This study highlighted a high burden of resistant strains of carbapenemase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Surveillance should be intensified to prevent the dissemination and spread of these strains.","PeriodicalId":93816,"journal":{"name":"SPG biomed","volume":"20 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86631036","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"COVID-19 and Thymoquinone: Clinical Benefits, Cure, and Challenges","authors":"S. El-Sayed, M. Rizk","doi":"10.3390/biomed3010005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/biomed3010005","url":null,"abstract":"In today’s world, the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread throughout the world, causing severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and several associated complications in various organs (heart, liver, kidney, and gastrointestinal tract), as well as significant multiple organ dysfunction, shock, and even death. In order to overcome the serious complications associated with this pandemic virus and to prevent SARS-CoV-2 entry into the host cell, it is necessary to repurpose currently available drugs with a broad medicinal application as soon as they become available. There are several therapeutics under investigation for improving the overall prognosis of COVID-19 patients, but none of them has demonstrated clinical efficacy to date, which is disappointing. It is in this pattern that Nigella sativa seeds manifest their extensive therapeutic effects, which have been reported to be particularly effective in the treatment of skin diseases, jaundice, and gastrointestinal problems. One important component of these seeds is thymoquinone (TQ), which has a wide range of beneficial properties, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as antibacterial and parasitic properties, in addition to anticarcinogenic, antiallergic, and antiviral properties. This comprehensive review discussed the possibility of an emerging natural drug with a wide range of medical applications; the use of TQ to overcome the complications of COVID-19 infection; and the challenges that are impeding the commercialization of this promising phytochemical compound. TQ is recommended as a highly effective weapon in the fight against the novel coronavirus because of its dual antiviral action, in addition to its capacity to lessen the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 penetration into cells. However, future clinical trials are required to confirm the role of TQ in overcoming the complications of COVID-19 infection.","PeriodicalId":93816,"journal":{"name":"SPG biomed","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73553756","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Intravascular Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Two Cases Observed at a Single Institution","authors":"R. Miccolis, G. De santis, C. Buquicchio, T. M. Santeramo, M. Leo, C. Germano, G. Lerario, Vera Carluccio, Sonia Mallano, Lina Cardisciani, Luisa Di Sciascio, G. Tarantini","doi":"10.3390/biomed3010004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/biomed3010004","url":null,"abstract":"Intravascular large B-cell Lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a rare subtype of extranodal non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that is challenging to diagnose and has a poor prognosis. Here, we describe two patients newly diagnosed with IVLBCL at our institution: an African man with hemophagocytic-syndrome-associated IVLBCL and an Italian woman with a cutaneous variant of IVLBCL. They presented with very different clinical manifestations. Both cases were diagnosed in a timely manner, successfully treated, and achieved long-lasting remissions.","PeriodicalId":93816,"journal":{"name":"SPG biomed","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73086444","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Chlamydia trachomatis: The Long Road to Describe Its Association with Disease in the Amazon Region of Brazil","authors":"R. Ishak, A. Vallinoto, I. Cayres-Vallinoto, M. A. F. Queiroz, Glenda Roberta Ferreira Naiff, L. Machado, M. O. G. Guimarães Ishak","doi":"10.3390/biomed3010002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/biomed3010002","url":null,"abstract":"Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) represent a worldwide public health burden, but many infections and diseases continue to be neglected. Areas with a low human development index, including the northern areas of Brazil, particularly the immense geographic Amazon region, present a high frequency of STIs because of variables that contribute to disseminate the infection, including lack of access to education, prevention measures and treatment to these vulnerable population groups. This review describes the chronological investigation of the etiology of pathologies associated with infection by Chlamydia trachomatis, including its prevalence, distribution, and clinical, descriptive and molecular epidemiology in regard to STIs, trachoma and heart disease. Long-term investigations among urban and nonurban populations are discussed and show the need for and effects of continuous surveillance to diminish the burden among vulnerable populations (female sex workers, quilombos and indigenous peoples) and to define new etiological associations of diseases with infections by C. trachomatis.","PeriodicalId":93816,"journal":{"name":"SPG biomed","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74186716","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development and Usability of a Prototype Upper Extremities Lever-Driven Exercise System","authors":"Themistoklis Tsatalas, George Bellis, Evangeli Karampina, Charalampos Krommidas, Fotios Tsilfoglou, Athanasios Patas, Christos Fotos, Christos Kokkotis, A. Jamurtas, G. Giakas","doi":"10.3390/biomed3010003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/biomed3010003","url":null,"abstract":"The purpose of this paper is to present the design, construction, and technical aspects of a prototype upper extremities lever-driven exercise system, called FIT-WHEEL (Functional and Intelligent Training system for WHEELchair users), as well as the preliminary experimental measurements conducted to test the device’s usability in healthy individuals. FIT-WHEEL was developed to provide a training modality that combines the known benefits of eccentric exercise and lever-propelled wheelchairs. Eleven healthy male participants performed, seven days apart, a moderate intensity concentric and eccentric exercise protocol on FIT-WHEEL consisting of 30 trials of both upper extremities at 30% of peak concentric and peak eccentric force, respectively. At the end of each exercise bout, participants completed a number of valid and reliable instruments examining attitudes, intention and enjoyment during concentric or eccentric exercise on the FIT-WHEEL system as well as the usability of the two exercise protocols on the novel lever-driven exercise system. Statistical analyses revealed high scores in all the examined parameters (attitudes, intention, enjoyment, and usability) in both eccentric and concentric exercise protocols, without any significant differences emerging between them. Moreover, total mechanical work during eccentric exercise was 18.3% higher compared to concentric exercise performed on the FIT-WHEEL training system (p = 0.001). The preliminary experimental results discussed serve as an initial step to implement lever-driven eccentric exercise in wheelchair dependent populations in the future and evaluate the potential long-term benefits and limitations.","PeriodicalId":93816,"journal":{"name":"SPG biomed","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83432746","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Machine Learning Techniques for the Prediction of Functional Outcomes in the Rehabilitation of Post-Stroke Patients: A Scoping Review","authors":"Christos Kokkotis, S. Moustakidis, G. Giarmatzis, E. Giannakou, E. Makri, Paraskevi Sakellari, D. Tsiptsios, Stella Karatzetzou, F. Christidi, K. Vadikolias, N. Aggelousis","doi":"10.3390/biomed3010001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/biomed3010001","url":null,"abstract":"Stroke is one of the main causes of long-term disabilities, increasing the cost of national healthcare systems due to the elevated costs of rigorous treatment that is required, as well as personal cost because of the decreased ability of the patient to work. Traditional rehabilitation strategies rely heavily on individual clinical data and the caregiver’s experience to evaluate the patient and not in data extracted from population data. The use of machine learning (ML) algorithms can offer evaluation tools that will lead to new personalized interventions. The aim of this scoping review is to introduce the reader to key directions of ML techniques for the prediction of functional outcomes in stroke rehabilitation and identify future scientific research directions. The search of the relevant literature was performed using PubMed and Semantic Scholar online databases. Full-text articles were included if they focused on ML in predicting the functional outcome of stroke rehabilitation. A total of 26 out of the 265 articles met our inclusion criteria. The selected studies included ML approaches and were directly related to the inclusion criteria. ML can play a key role in supporting decision making during pre- and post-treatment interventions for post-stroke survivors, by utilizing multidisciplinary data sources.","PeriodicalId":93816,"journal":{"name":"SPG biomed","volume":"16 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84732203","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Acute Vessel Closure or Major Adverse Cardiac Events of Drug-Coated Balloons and Stents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis","authors":"T. Gunawardena, N. Corballis, I. Merinopoulos, V. Tsampasian, J. Reinhold, S. Eccleshall, V. Vassiliou","doi":"10.3390/biomed2040035","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/biomed2040035","url":null,"abstract":"While the use of drug-eluting stents (DES) has become the first-line strategy for treating coronary artery disease, there are still drawbacks with their use. As our understanding of coronary artery anatomy and physiology evolves, growing evidence supports the use of drug-coated balloons (DCB) not only in the treatment of in-stent restenosis but also in de novo lesions. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to determine if there is a difference in outcomes when DCBs are used versus when stents are used. PubMed, Cochrane and Web of Science databases were systematically searched. The primary outcome of the meta-analysis was acute vessel closure and the secondary outcomes were stent complications including major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and all-cause mortality. Eleven studies with a total of 2349 patients were included. No significant difference was found in terms of acute vessel closure between DCBs and all stents (2.6% vs. 1.0%, OR: 2.13 (0.74–6.44), I2: 4%, p = 0.16). Furthermore, there was no difference in MACE (6.8% vs. 10.1%, OR: 0.53 (0.27–1.04), I2: 48%, p = 0.06), all-cause mortality and target lesion revascularisation. This meta-analysis suggests that the use of DCBs is a safe alternative to stents when treating coronary artery disease.","PeriodicalId":93816,"journal":{"name":"SPG biomed","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72718171","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An Exploratory Quantitative Study of Factors Associated with Dissatisfaction with Japanese Healthcare among Highly Skilled Foreign Professionals Living in Japan","authors":"Tomoari Mori, Yoko Deasy, K. Mori, E. Nakazawa, A. Akabayashi","doi":"10.3390/biomed2040034","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/biomed2040034","url":null,"abstract":"Background: To identify factors necessary for the proper inclusion of foreigners in Japanese healthcare, we conducted a survey to determine whether foreign residents, even those with high socioeconomic status, referred to as “Highly Skilled Foreign Professionals”, experience difficulties when visiting medical institutions in Japan, using satisfaction level as an indicator. Method: A five-point Likert-scale, anonymous, online questionnaire was administered to faculty and doctoral students enrolled at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST). The respondents’ demographics and their opinions on what they found difficult or important during medical examinations, their impression of Japanese medical personnel, their requirements for language support and interpretation, and their opinions about local healthcare delivery systems were collected. The questionnaires were distributed and collected using Microsoft Forms. Results: Responses were obtained from 90 respondents (response rate: 20.7%). The percentage of respondents who were dissatisfied (bottom two of five Likert scales) with medical care in Japan was 23.4%. In univariate logistic regression analysis, 11 of 35 questions were significantly correlated with dissatisfaction with medical care (p < 0.1). Duration of stay, presence of family members living with the patient, satisfaction with life, and perceived usefulness of language support were negatively correlated with dissatisfaction with medical care, while communication problems with medical personnel, need for medical personnel to respect patients’ culture, religion, and privacy, and difficulty in getting to medical facilities were positively correlated with dissatisfaction with medical care. No significant correlations were found with age, gender, or Japanese language level. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of family members living with the subject (AOR = 0.092, p = 0.010), the desire for multilingual documentation (AOR = 0.177, p = 0.046), the physician’s concern for the patient’s culture and religion (AOR = 8.347, p = 0.029), and difficulty in communication with healthcare providers (AOR = 6.54, p = 0.036) were significantly correlated with overall dissatisfaction with medical care. Discussion: On average, the targeted Highly Skilled Foreign Professionals did not have strong levels of dissatisfaction with Japanese healthcare, but when they did have dissatisfaction, it was related to language barriers, lack of cultural and religious considerations, and difficulty in communication with healthcare providers. We believe that the results indicate the focus points of support necessary for the inclusion of foreigners. We also believe that the finding that family cohabitation is associated with satisfaction with medical care is a useful insight into effective reciprocal support on the part of patients.","PeriodicalId":93816,"journal":{"name":"SPG biomed","volume":"43 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-11-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88879430","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}