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BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies Jun 2024This study explores the medicinal plant knowledge of the Baiku Yao, a unique ethnic group in China. Despite existing research on their ethnobotanical practices, a...
BACKGROUND
This study explores the medicinal plant knowledge of the Baiku Yao, a unique ethnic group in China. Despite existing research on their ethnobotanical practices, a comprehensive understanding of their medicinal flora remains lacking. This study aims to document and analyze the species distribution, utilization, and traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used by Baiku Yao.
METHODS
Ethnobotanical surveys were conducted in various Baiku Yao villages across different seasons from 2019 to 2023. Informants were interviewed, and plant specimens were collected and identified. Statistical analyses, including the Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), were employed to understand plant importance in Baiku Yao culture.
RESULTS
In an ethnobotanical survey conducted in the Baiku Yao region, 434 medicinal plant species were documented, highlighting significant ethnobotanical diversity and a deep cultural integration of traditional medicinal practices. The study revealed pronounced geographical variations in plant knowledge among villages, with a notable reliance on wild plants, as 85.48% were sourced from the wild, reflecting unique local ethnobotanical knowledge. Predominantly herbs and shrubs were used due to their accessibility and abundance in the local environment. High Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) values for certain species underscored their importance for local health needs and additional economic value. The utilization of various plant parts, particularly whole plants, roots, and leaves, indicates a holistic approach to medicinal applications, adapted to combat prevalent health issues such as skin and infectious diseases. The study also uncovered the Baiku Yao's cultural practices for countering "Gu" afflictions-a range of pathogenic conditions-with 18 diverse antidote plants used for skin, digestive, and musculoskeletal disorders. The study underscores the imperative of preserving this rich medicinal heritage through innovative models that engage youth and leverage new media, ensuring the inheritance and evolution of Baiku Yao's traditional knowledge.
CONCLUSIONS
Baiku Yao's medicinal plant use reflects a deep, culturally ingrained knowledge, closely tied to local ecology. The study highlights the importance of preserving this unique ethnobotanical heritage and suggests interdisciplinary approaches for future research.
Topics: Humans; China; Ethnicity; Ethnobotany; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Plants, Medicinal; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 38907195
DOI: 10.1186/s12906-024-04545-8 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024This paper explores the complex interplay between topological indices and structural patterns in networks of iron telluride (FeTe). We want to analyses and characterize...
This paper explores the complex interplay between topological indices and structural patterns in networks of iron telluride (FeTe). We want to analyses and characterize the distinct topological features of (FeTe) by utilizing an extensive set of topological indices. We investigate the relationship that these indicators have with the network's physical characteristics by employing sophisticated statistical techniques and curve fitting models. Our results show important trends that contribute to our knowledge of the architecture of the (FeTe) network and shed light on its physiochemical properties. This study advances the area of material science by providing a solid foundation for using topological indices to predict and analyses the behavior of intricate network systems. More preciously, we study the topological indices of iron telluride networks, an artificial substance widely used with unique properties due to its crystal structure. We construct a series of topological indices for iron telluride networks with exact mathematical analysis and determine their distributions and correlations using statistical methods. Our results reveal significant patterns and trends in the network structure when the number of constituent atoms increases. These results shed new light on the fundamental factors that influence material behavior, thus offering a deeper understanding of the iron telluride network and may contribute to future research and engineering of these materials.
PubMed: 38906950
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65205-y -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024Well-known continuous distributions such as Beta and Kumaraswamy distribution are useful for modeling the datasets which are based on unit interval [0,1]. But every...
Well-known continuous distributions such as Beta and Kumaraswamy distribution are useful for modeling the datasets which are based on unit interval [0,1]. But every distribution is not always useful for all types of data sets, rather it depends on the shapes of data as well. In this research, a three-parameter new distribution named bounded exponentiated Weibull (BEW) distribution is defined to model the data set with the support of unit interval [0,1]. Some fundamental distributional properties for the BEW distribution have been investigated. For modeling dependence between measures in a dataset, a bivariate extension of the BEW distribution is developed, and graphical shapes for the bivariate BEW distribution have been shown. Several estimation methods have been discussed to estimate the parameters of the BEW distribution and to check the performance of the estimator, a Monte Carlo simulation study has been done. Afterward, the applications of the BEW distribution are illustrated using COVID-19 data sets. The proposed distribution shows a better fit than many well-known distributions. Lastly, a quantile regression model from bounded exponentiated Weibull distribution is developed, and its graphical shapes for the probability density function (PDF) and hazard function have been shown.
Topics: COVID-19; Humans; Monte Carlo Method; Models, Statistical; SARS-CoV-2; Survival Rate; Regression Analysis; Computer Simulation
PubMed: 38906935
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65057-6 -
Alternative Therapies in Health and... Jun 2024To analyze the manifestations of infectious mononucleosis and its impact on liver function in children.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the manifestations of infectious mononucleosis and its impact on liver function in children.
METHODS
This retrospective study analyzed clinical data from 695 children with infectious mononucleosis (IM) who were hospitalized at the Department of Pediatrics, Chengdu First People's Hospital between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2022. They were analyzed into two groups according to whether their ALT was greater than 40 U/L. Demographic variables, clinical features, and laboratory findings were collected from medical records. Statistical analyses were performed using the Statistic Package for Social Science (SPSS) 26.
RESULTS
A total of 695 children with infectious mononucleosis (IM)(409 males and 286 females) were included in the study. The age distribution was 161 infants (<3 years), 357 preschoolers (3-7 years), and 177 school-aged children (≥7 years). After clinical recovery, 61 cases had elevated liver enzymes. Asynchronous changes in AST and ALT were present in 18 children. The highest proportion of fever onset (75.2%) occurred in infancy (P = .00). Elevated AST, lymphocyte percentage and WBCs, age in school age, uncomplicated myocardial injury these were the risk factors for the development of liver injury in children with infectious mononucleosis. P values were .00, .048, .021, .000 and .002, respectively. 95% CIs were 65., 2-315.52, 1.01-3.48, 1.18- 7.37, 2.57-13.52 and 1.79-13.35, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
The clinical features vary with sex and age. Children with IM who are school-aged, without myocardial injury, and have elevated WBC, lymphocyte percentage, and AST should be monitored for potential liver damage. Careful evaluation is necessary following clinical recovery to determine if vaccination is appropriate.
PubMed: 38904624
DOI: No ID Found -
Frontiers in Public Health 2024Limited attention has been given to oral health challenges faced by older Indigenous populations, especially in rural settings, where disparities exist. This study aims...
BACKGROUND
Limited attention has been given to oral health challenges faced by older Indigenous populations, especially in rural settings, where disparities exist. This study aims to assess oral health in a rural Mapuche community in southern Chile, utilizing geriatric technology support, and exploring the connection between geriatric health and oral well-being to fill a gap in this context.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 76 independent older adults from a rural Mapuche community who required dental care. Assessments were in a remote care setting gathering extensive data including comprehensive geriatric assessments, medical and dental conditions using a geriatric teledentistry platform (TEGO). Statistical analysis involved descriptive analysis, logistic regression, and both multiple correspondence analysis and k-means cluster analysis.
RESULTS
The sample comprised individuals with limited formal education and a high degree of vulnerability. Geriatric assessments unveiled cognitive deterioration, frailty, depression risk, and multimorbidity. A distribution of the DMFT index, number of remaining teeth, number of occluding pairs, number of teeth with restorative needs and other relevant clinical findings was conducted based on sociodemographic, and medical-geriatric-dental characteristics, and additionally, a Multinomial Logistic Regression Analysis of Dentition Variables in Relation to Geriatric Assessments was performed. The dental burden was substantial, with an average DMFT index of 25.96 (SD 4.38), high prevalence of non-functional dentition (89.3%), periodontal disease (83%), xerostomia (63.2%) and oral mucosal lesions (31.5%). Age, lower education, depression, daily medication number and sugary consumption frequency were associated with a decreased average number of teeth ( < 0.05). Multiple correspondence analysis and k-means cluster analysis identified 4 clusters, with the edentulous and functional dentition groups being the most distinct.
CONCLUSION
This study uncovers a substantial dental burden and intricate medical-geriatric conditions interlinked among Indigenous older adults in a rural Chilean Mapuche community. The implementation of a geriatric technological ecosystem in the community enabled the resolution of less complex oral health issues and facilitated remote consultations with specialists, reducing the necessity for travel to health centers. This underscores the need for innovative dental public health initiatives to address health disparities and improve the overall well-being of older Indigenous adults.
Topics: Humans; Chile; Aged; Female; Male; Cross-Sectional Studies; Oral Health; Rural Population; Geriatric Assessment; Aged, 80 and over; Telemedicine
PubMed: 38903581
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1356622 -
Cureus May 2024Background The malrotation of a femur and tibial fracture after surgery has been described in many articles. However, these studies have not considered individual...
Background The malrotation of a femur and tibial fracture after surgery has been described in many articles. However, these studies have not considered individual bilateral differences (IBDs). The IBD of femur and tibial rotation has been identified via computed tomography (CT) in recent American studies. The IBD in rotation should be considered during femur and tibial surgery. However, IBDs in femur and tibial rotation remain unknown in the Japanese population. This study aimed to evaluate the rotation of the femur, knee, tibia, and leg, sex differences, and IBD in rotation among Japanese individuals with healthy bones by using CT analysis. Materials and methods In total,141 patients who underwent CT angiography or venography were included (70 men, 71 women; mean age, 44.7 years). The bilateral axial femur, knee, tibia, and leg rotation alignment were independently measured. The distribution, sex, and IBD were analyzed. The IBD in rotation had two statistical factors: absolute bilateral difference (ABD) and relative bilateral difference (RBD). Results The mean ABD of femur rotation was 6.5°, and the distribution of ABD of femur rotation ≤15° was 95%. The mean ABD of tibia rotation was 5.1°, and the distribution of ABD of tibia rotation ≤10° was 89%. The RBD of femur rotation was not significantly different between the right and left sides. The RBD of tibia rotation showed a higher mean external rotation of 3.3° on the right side (<0.001). The Pearson correlation coefficients of the femur, knee, tibia, and leg rotation between the right and left sides were high (r= 0.702-0.81; all, p<0.001). All elements of rotation showed significant differences between men and women, whereas the ABD and RBD of all elements showed no significant difference. Conclusion The distributions of ABD in femur and tibia rotation supported the previous definition of an acceptable rotation difference between the normal and fractured femur and tibia of ≤15°and ≤10°, respectively. The possibility of higher external rotation on the right side needs to be taken into account during tibial surgery.
PubMed: 38903376
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.60750 -
Cureus May 2024Introduction Considering the scarcity of research that directly investigates the differences between genders in their response to applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy...
Introduction Considering the scarcity of research that directly investigates the differences between genders in their response to applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy for individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the objective of this study is twofold. First, it aims to reinforce the male-to-female ratio reported in existing scientific literature, thereby contributing to a broader understanding of gender distribution in ABA therapy for ASD. Second, it seeks to identify gender-based differences in aggregate target behaviors at various time intervals using three distinct datasets. The goal is to determine if gender influences the effectiveness of ABA therapy for ASD, which could inform future therapeutic strategies. Ultimately, this study strives to enhance our understanding of gender disparities in ABA therapy response among ASD individuals and hopes to improve therapeutic outcomes for all, regardless of gender. Materials and methods Three to five behavioral technicians per child collected daily general target mastery data for 263 individuals with autism. This data was gathered using a large N design through retrospective chart reviews within the "Catalyst" tracking software (DataFinch Technologies, Atlanta, USA). Three separate datasets were collected from June 7, 2023 to January 7, 2024. Behavior analysts employed a mixed model of discrete trial training, mass trials, and naturalistic environment treatment over seven months. General target mastery data was assembled for 259 children and four adults, with seven data instances missing. Descriptive statistics encompassed central tendency and dispersion measures, including the data distribution's mean, standard deviation, median, and range. Non-parametric inferential analysis was performed with the Mann-Whitney U test. Results Mann-Whitney U computations resulted in non-significant gender differences on all gender comparisons for the three datasets covering the seven-month timeframe. Dataset #1: Time 1-(U=727.5, p=0.846, ή2=0.0002, Time 2-(U=736, p=0.910, ή2=0.00005), Time 3-(U=687.5, p=0.569, ή2=0.001) Dataset #2: Time 1-(U=781, p=0.383, ή2=0.003), Time 2-(U=819.5, p=0.585, ή2=0.001), Time 3-(U=825, p=0.618, ή2=0.001) Dataset #3: Time 1-(U=395, p=0.198, ή2=0.007), Time 2-(U=373.5, p=0.365, ή2 =0.003), Time 3-(U=363, p=0.471, ή2=0.002), Time 4-(U=366.5, p=0.436, ή2 =0.003), Time 5-(U=371, p=0.391, ή2=0.003), Time 6-(U=394, p=0.208, ή2=0.007), Time 7-(U=373, p=0.373, ή2=0.003), Time 8-(U=371.5, p=0.387, ή2=0.003), Time 9-(U=464.5, p=0.512, ή2=0.002), Time 10-(U=356.5, p=0.546, ή2=0.002), Time 11-(U=357.5, p=0.535, ή2=0.002), Time 12-(U=350.5, p=0.346, ή2=0.004) Conclusions This study suggests no significant gender differences in response to ABA therapy among individuals with autism, indicating its potential effectiveness for both genders. However, these findings should be interpreted cautiously due to statistical uncertainties reflected in the broad confidence intervals as they hint at possible substantial gender differences. Further research, including an extension study, must confirm these results and understand potential gender nuances in ABA therapy response. This could help tailor more effective, personalized therapeutic strategies for individuals with autism.
PubMed: 38903347
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.60794 -
Cureus May 2024Background Managing intertrochanteric fractures presents challenges for orthopedic surgeons, not only in fixing the fracture but also in preventing and managing...
Background Managing intertrochanteric fractures presents challenges for orthopedic surgeons, not only in fixing the fracture but also in preventing and managing associated complications, especially in the vulnerable geriatric population. Cephalomedullary nails are commonly used for surgical fixation due to their favorable functional profile, which preserves the hip's abductor lever arm and proximal femur anatomy. However, there's a lack of data comparing two major options: proximal femoral nail (PFN) and proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (PFNA). This study aimed to compare the radiological fracture reduction and fixation as well as functional outcomes of these two implants in treating intertrochanteric fractures. Methods The study, spanning 24 months, involved a prospective comparative design. Participants included patients diagnosed with intertrochanteric femur fractures classified as AO Type 31 A1, AO Type 31 A2, and AO Type 31 A3. Fifty patients were evenly distributed into PFN and PFNA groups. Preoperatively, clinical and radiological assessments were conducted, along with serum vitamin D level measurements. Surgeries, performed under anesthesia with image intensifier guidance, followed defined reduction and implant insertion protocols for each group. Postoperatively, evaluations were conducted up to six months, examining parameters such as tip-apex distance (TAD), Cleveland index, and modified Harris hip score, while documenting intraoperative duration and blood loss. Data analysis utilized the statistical software Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 22.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY), employing descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, independent t-tests, and paired t-tests, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results In our study, 50 patients were enrolled, with equal gender distribution (64.0% male, 36.0% female, p=1.000). The mean ages in the PFN and PFNA groups were 66.2 ± 9.8 years and 66.4 ± 11.3 years, respectively (p=0.936). All fractures united by six months, with no implant-related complications reported. PFNA showed significantly lower blood loss and shorter surgery durations (p<0.001). TAD and neck shaft angle were similar between groups (p=0.826, p=0.555). Cleveland index placement and modified Harris hip score improvement were comparable (p=0.836, p<0.001). Predominant vitamin D deficiency was observed in both groups. Conclusion PFNA offers measurable intraoperative benefits over conventional PFN in terms of operative time, blood loss, and need for fluoroscopic imaging. However, no statistically observable benefits were noted in postoperative functional outcomes or complications between the two implants.
PubMed: 38903304
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.60639 -
NPJ Vaccines Jun 2024Analysis of virus-like particles (VLPs) is an essential task in optimizing their implementation as vaccine antigens for virus-initiated diseases. Interrogating VLP...
Analysis of virus-like particles (VLPs) is an essential task in optimizing their implementation as vaccine antigens for virus-initiated diseases. Interrogating VLP collections for elasticity by probing with a rigid atomic force microscopy (AFM) tip is a potential method for determining VLP morphological changes. During VLP morphological change, it is not expected that all VLPs would be in the same state. This leads to the open question of whether VLPs may change in a continuous or stepwise fashion. For continuous change, the statistical distribution of observed VLP properties would be expected as a single distribution, while stepwise change would lead to a multimodal distribution of properties. This study presents the application of a Gaussian mixture model (GMM), fit by the Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm, to identify different states of VLP morphological change observed by AFM imaging.
PubMed: 38902288
DOI: 10.1038/s41541-024-00871-7 -
Journal of Infection and Public Health Jun 2024Syphilis and human papillomavirus (HPV) are sexually transmitted infections affecting women in the same risk group. Thus, the main objective of the present study was to...
BACKGROUND
Syphilis and human papillomavirus (HPV) are sexually transmitted infections affecting women in the same risk group. Thus, the main objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of HPV in a population of women with and without syphilis and observe the characteristics of HPV cervical lesions when coinfection occurs. Sociodemographic factors associated with coinfection were also evaluated.
METHODS
This case-control study was conducted at a Brazilian HIV/STD testing and training center. Study groups were composed of women with (case) and without syphilis (control), paired by age. The presence of HPV, HPV subtype, and lesion severity were investigated. All women were subjected to a sociodemographic interview, clinical data collection, cell collection for cytopathological analysis, and a hybrid capture test for HPV diagnosis. The chi-square test was used for statistical analysis.
RESULTS
The sample consisted of 176 women, 88 in each group. The prevalence of HPV was 14.8 % in the case (n = 13) and 18.1 % in the control group (n = 16), and there was no statistically significant difference between them. Illiterate individuals were more prevalent in the control group (p = 0.023). Considering women with suggestive signs of STIs, 30 % (6) of the patients and controls had high-risk HPV, and 15 % (3) had coinfection. The cytopathological assessment showed no differences between the groups concerning cellular atypia. However, ASC-US and ASC-H (atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance and high-grade) were only found in women with coinfections, with 75 % of these patients testing positive for high-risk HPV. Considering the distribution of lesions on the cervix, the HSIL (high-grade intraepithelial lesion) was assessed in high-risk HPV patients, both cases and controls.
CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of HPV was not increased in patients infected with syphilis. In addition, coinfection does not seem to be an aggravating factor for the presence of precursor lesions of cervical cancer.
PubMed: 38901118
DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2024.102472