Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Ann Palliat Med 2021 Mar;10(3):3483-3490

Panzhihua University, Affiliated Hospital of Panzhihua University, Panzhihua, China.

Immune thrombocytopenia is a common complication in patients in a minimally conscious state (MCS). MCS patients are prone to pulmonary infection for the reasons of long-term bed rest and tracheotomy etc., which leads to frequent immune thrombocytopenia. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2021 Apr;100(15):e25572

Department of Emergency Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.

Background: Essential hypertension is a risk factor for early cardiovascular disease and is a major preventable risk factor for premature death and disability worldwide. However, some antihypertensive drugs cannot be used for treatment because of their cost-effectiveness or side effects. Non-drug treatments for hypertension include weight loss, salt restriction, smoking cessation, alcohol withdrawal, and exercise, although these methods are difficult to maintain and to achieve. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2021 Apr;100(15):e25206

Health Policy and Leadership, School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, Los Angeles CA.

Abstract: Primarily we aimed to examine the crude and standardized schizophrenia hospitalization trend from 2005 to 2014. We hypothesized that there will be a statistically significant linear trend in hospitalization rates for schizophrenia from 2005 to 2014. Secondarily we also examined trends in hospitalization by race/ethnicity, age, gender, as well as trends in hospitalization Length of Stay (LOS) and inflation adjusted cost. Read More

J Patient Rep Outcomes 2021 Apr 12;5(1):34. Epub 2021 Apr 12.

Department of Sociology, Loyola University Maryland, 4501 Charles St., Baltimore, MD, 21210, USA.

Purpose: The International FD/MAS Consortium recently encouraged using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PEDS-QL) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scales (HADS) in clinical care. This study examines scores on these measures among pediatric fibrous dysplasia and McCune Albright (FD/MAS) patients to initiate consideration of their use in clinical treatment.

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of pediatric data from 39 minors, ages 2-17, entered in the Fibrous Dysplasia Foundation Patient Registry from July 2016 to December 2018. Read More

Sci Rep 2021 Apr 12;11(1):7946. Epub 2021 Apr 12.

Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia.

Metabarcoding has the potential to revolutionise insect surveillance by providing high-throughput and cost-effective species identification of all specimens within mixed trap catches. Nevertheless, incorporation of metabarcoding into insect diagnostic laboratories will first require the development and evaluation of protocols that adhere to the specialised regulatory requirements of invasive species surveillance. In this study, we develop a multi-locus non-destructive metabarcoding protocol that allows sensitive detection of agricultural pests, and subsequent confirmation using traditional diagnostic techniques. Read More

Indian J Tuberc 2021 Apr 22;68(2):255-260. Epub 2020 Sep 22.

Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, India. Electronic address:

Background: Early case detection by sputum smear microscopy is a crucial step in the control of pulmonary tuberculosis in high burden countries. Due to low sensitivity of this rapid and cost effective method, culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is considered as the gold standard. Modified Petroff's method using 2%-4% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and N-acetyl- l-cysteine (NALC) to digest and at the same time to decontaminate the specimen is widely used in developing countries prior to culture. Read More

BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2021 Apr 12;22(1):344. Epub 2021 Apr 12.

Department of Ultrasound, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Binsheng Road 3333#, Hangzhou, 310052, China.

Background: DDH (Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip) screening can potentially avert many morbidities and reduce costs. The debate about universal vs. selective DDH ultrasonography screening in different countries revolves to a large extent around effectiveness, cost, and the possibility of overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Read More

Mo Med 2021 Mar-Apr;118(2):113-115

Head of the South African Headache Society, the South African affiliate of the International Headache Society. He is founder and practices at The Headache Clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The factors contributing to increased morbidity and mortality in SARS-CoV-2 infection are diverse, and include diabetes, obesity, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), advanced age, and male sex. Although there is no obvious connection between these, they do have one common denominator-they all have a tendency towards lower urine pH, which may indicate a lower-than-normal tissue pH. Furthermore, it has been shown that lower pH has two important negative influences: 1) it enhances viral fusion via the endosomal route, thereby facilitating viral multiplication; and 2) it facilitates increased production of inflammatory cytokines, thereby exacerbating the cytokine storm. Read More

Ann Vasc Surg 2021 Apr 7. Epub 2021 Apr 7.

Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO. Electronic address:

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the cancellation of in-person testing across the country. We sought to understand the feasibility of conducting virtual oral examinations as well as solicit opinions of vascular surgery program directors regarding the use of virtual platforms to conduct both low stakes mock oral examinations with their trainees and potentially "real" high stakes certifying examinations (CE) moving forward.

Methods: Forty-four senior vascular surgery trainees from 17 institutions took part in a virtual mock oral examination conducted by 38 practicing vascular surgeons via Zoom. Read More

Br J Dermatol 2021 Apr;184(4):e126-e147

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare, slow-growing skin cancer that is primarily treated with surgery. Because this cancer can spread deep into the skin and surrounding tissue in an irregular way, it is notoriously difficult to ensure that it has been completely removed after conventional surgery and histological examination. Standard treatment in the UK is either wide local excision (WLE) or Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS). Read More

Ugeskr Laeger 2021 Mar;183(12)

The screening programme for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) in Denmark is based on clinical examination and selective ultrasound examination of children with established risk factors for DDH. This method of screening may not reduce the proportion of lately diagnosed cases. Universal screening for DDH is cost-efficient and may eliminate late diagnosis of DDH and minimise the need for corrective surgery. Read More

Front Vet Sci 2021 22;8:616865. Epub 2021 Mar 22.

Infection Medicine, Deanery of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

The endemic vector-borne diseases transmitted by tsetse and ticks impose heavy burdens on the livestock keepers in Africa. Applying deltamethrin to the belly, legs, and ears of cattle offers a possibility of mitigating these losses at a cost affordable to livestock keepers. Although studies have quantified the impacts of individual diseases on livestock productivity, little is known about the dual economic benefits of controlling both tsetse and ticks, nor about the number of cattle that need to be treated to confer these benefits. Read More

Sleep Med Rev 2021 Mar 17;57:101465. Epub 2021 Mar 17.

The Center for Pediatric Clinical Effectiveness, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, USA; PolicyLab, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, USA; Sleep Center, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, USA; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.

Understanding salient environmental determinants of pediatric sleep is essential for informing interventions and public health initiatives. Emerging evidence suggests that the neighborhood environment can impact pediatric sleep, but this evidence has not yet been systematically reviewed. We conducted a systematic review of the scientific literature on associations between neighborhood environments and sleep in young children (0-5 y), school-aged children (6-12 y) and adolescents (13-18 y). Read More

Am J Ophthalmol 2021 Apr 4. Epub 2021 Apr 4.

From the Department of Ophthalmology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel, affiliated to the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel. Electronic address:

Purpose: To assess the additive value of foveal swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) based biometry to the preoperative fundus examinations for diagnosing macular abnormalities in patients scheduled for cataract surgery.

Design: Diagnostic testing evaluation.

Methods: Consecutive patients 50 years of age and older planned for cataract surgery from one institution were retrospectively enrolled. Read More