The state of cancer care in Russia: malignant tumors of the skin (C44). Prevalence, index of accuracy, localization and histological structure. Population-based research at the federal district level

Malignant tumors of the skin — visual localization, with a low mortality rate. Despite the fact that malignant tumors of the skin (C44) belong to the group of malignant tumors in many countries, cancer registries did not keep its records, the same attitude to this tumor was developed by doctors, which makes it difficult to conduct comparative studies between countries. When selecting data for the analysis of the prevalence of malignant tumors of the skin, in addition to the heading C44, a part of the heading ICD-10 — C46 — Kaposi's sarcoma — its part C46.0 — Kaposi's sarcoma of the skin is added. In many cases, it is not taken into account, due to its extremely rare occurrence, which does not have any practical impact on all the main analytical indicators. The purpose of this study is: for the first time in Russia, to consider not only the patterns of the prevalence of malignant tumors of the skin, but also to study the specifics of the localization and histological structure of this tumor localization, based on the newly created database of the population cancer Registry (PCR) of the North-Western Federal District of the Russian Federation (NWFD of the Russian Federation).

Prevalence and Temporal Trends Analysis of Instruments in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder using Text Mining (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Various instruments have been developed and applied in posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSD) for patients screening and diagnosis. OBJECTIVE The study comprehensively investigates prevalence and temporal trends of the majority instruments used in PTSD related studies. METHODS A total of 1345 clinical trials registered files from ClinicalTrials.gov and 9422 abstracts from PubMed database ranging from year 2005 to year 2020 were downloaded for this study. The instruments applied in clinical trials were manually annotated, and instruments in abstracts were recognized with exact string matching. The prevalence score of one instrument in a certain period is calculated as the number of studies divided by the number of appearance of the instrument. With the yearly prevalence index of each instrument calculated, we conducted a trends analysis and compared the index change trends between instruments. RESULTS A total of 4178 instrument synonyms were annotated, which were mapped to 1423 unique instruments. In the 16 years from 2005 to 2020, only 10 instruments were used more than once per year, the top 4 most used instruments were PTSD Checklist (PCL), Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). There were 18 instruments whose yearly prevalence index score exceeded 0.1 at least once during the 16 years. The changes in trends and time points of partial instruments in clinical trials and PubMed abstracts are highly consistent. The average time duration of a PTSD related trial was 1495.5 days or approximately 4 years from submission to Clinicaltrial.gov to publishment on journal. CONCLUSIONS The application of widely accepted and appropriate instruments can help improve the reliability of research results in PTSD clinical studies. With the broad text data from real clinical trials and published articles, we investigated and compared the usage of instruments in PTSD research community. We make the resource of this study available on http://bmtongji.cn:1236/scale/index.

Climatic conditions and the resilience of buildings along Lagos coastline

PurposeThe study investigates the extent to which defects in coastline buildings are influenced by the climatic conditions within the coastal zones.Design/methodology/approachThe study conducted both desk study and field survey. The primary data for the study were collected through a cross-sectional survey of facilities and maintenance managers of randomly selected coastline buildings. Of the 120 self-administered structured questionnaires, 102 were successfully retrieved representing an 85% response rate. Data collected were analysed using charts, relative prevalence index and Spearman's rho correlation visualization technique.FindingsSaltwater intrusion, ocean overflow, extreme rainfall, debris flow, floods and droughts are the prevalent climatic conditions along the coastline. Steel corrosion, foundation settlement, spalling of concrete and fading of finishes are prevalent defects in coastline buildings. The result shows a positive significant correlation between climatic conditions and defects in coastline buildings.Research limitations/implicationsThe study compliments literature on buildings resilience and maintenance management, and also provides a basis for streamlining future research on coastline buildings.Practical implicationsThe results provide information on climatic conditions and prevalent defects that should be considered during the design and construction of coastline buildings. The information provided could assist construction stakeholders in improving the resilience of coastline buildings.Originality/valueThe study established that coastline buildings are vulnerable to a rapid rate of defect and deterioration which threatens the sustainability of coastline cities. It suggests measures that could improve the resilience of the elements and components of coastline buildings and consequently enhance the safety of life and property, and improve the physical and economic performance of coastline buildings.

SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM BY A METALWORKING MEXICAN COMPANY DURING COVID-19 SITUATION. ANALYSIS THROUGH A NEW INDEX (CASE STUDY).

The implications of the COVID-19 pandemic have jeopardized many corporations around the globe, especially those that were centered around what is considered to be a non-essential activity. The objective of this research is to discover what strategies the company in question applied successfully within its diverse areas, leading its system management to an overall positive outcome, despite having to adapt to 7 months of COVID-19. In order to achieve this, the company's data will be examined before the pandemic began to identify the processes within the main areas, where they could find their strengths and weaknesses. For the purpose of this investigation, the PDCA methodology was implemented to identify the different successful strategies related to the main activities at the company, followed by a validated questionnaire applied to main directors where the principal strategies previously identified have been evaluated. Considering all of this, a new index rate is proposed in this paper. By applying the organizational prevalence index, the sales result has a total prevalence of around 100.4%, so that sales remain the same. The prevalence for the stock has been observed to increase significantly, and in the case of personnel, there has been a minimal increase. Despite there being a noticeable decrease in the national context, there has been a decrease in the employment rate. This study was carried out with the goal of being a reference for resilience for companies where strategies are related to the results when applying the index. Because the study was conducted in only one company, the recommendation for the future is to replicate the study in a large number of companies to correlate data and verify that the index shows a more reliable relationship with company performance. Also, it is considered to apply this index in different company categories, but that will depend on confidentiality and data transparency in every organization.

EVALUATION OF FEEDING INDICES TO ANALYSE THE FOOD PREFERENCE AND FEEDING RATE OF MACROBRACHIUM ASSAMENSE PENINSULARE (TIWARI, 1958) FROM RAWASAN STREAM OF GARHWAL, CENTRAL HIMALAYA, INDIA

In this paper the feeding index (FI), Gastro somatic index (GaSI) and Food Prevalence Index (FPI) of freshwater prawn Macrobrachium assamense peninsulare were evaluated to assess the quantity and quality of food preferred by it in the Rawasan stream. A total of 401 prawns were collected during a span of two years from five selected sites in the Rawasan stream of Garhwal in Central Himalaya, India from August 2013 to July 2015. Collected prawns were in the size range of 20-75 mm in males and 24-65 mm in females in total length. The stomach contents of 10 collected specimens were examined monthly and observed that 35% of the stomach was full or semifull and 15% stomach were empty. The highest Gastro somatic value was obtained 2.95±0.80 during June in the male and 3.25±0.44 during May in the female. After that, it gradually decreased in both the sexes and is repeated in cyclic patterns each year. More or less a similar trend was reported in the feeding index value during the study which indicates a significant relationship between feeding intensity and Gastro somatic index. The highest Food Prevalence Index (FPI) was seen as fragments of animal matter in both sexes, which was (88.48) in male and (58.26) in female prawns and the lowest FPI value was sand and debris (7.9 and 5.7) in male and female prawn respectively. The main food items were the fragment of plants as well as animals, diatoms, algae, and sand. Overall, the results show that this prawn is selectively abstemious.

Wetland Vegetation Response to Groundwater Pumping and Hydrologic Recovery

An investigation of wetland vegetation response to groundwater alteration was conducted at the J.B. Starkey Wilderness Park, a large municipal wellfield in the area of west Florida, USA. Decades of historic groundwater withdrawal had created a gradient of impacted wetlands on the wellfield, after which time the groundwater pumping rates were reduced. Nineteen cypress dome wetlands were grouped, based on their hydrologic histories, as either most-altered (least inundation), marginally-altered (intermediate inundation), or least-altered (near-normal inundation). Annual species–level monitoring data were used to evaluate understory plant community response to the hydrologic recovery that resulted from reduced groundwater pumping. Species richness, cover, prevalence index (PI), and species importance percentages were assessed during pre- (2005–2007) and post- (2012–2014) hydrologic recovery periods. The vegetation in marginally- and most-altered wetlands responded to hydrologic recovery with increased species richness and lower PI values (i.e., greater hydrophytic character). However, species importance percentages indicated greater variation in the recovery of most-altered wetlands, where species composition often remained different from least-altered wetlands. Although reductions in groundwater pumping caused sufficient passive hydrologic recovery to elicit a vegetation response, further reductions and/or more time may be needed before the vegetation of some altered wetlands can become comparable to that of least-impacted wetlands.

Emergence and epidemics of a new disease in araguaia valley: anthracnosis of cotton caused by Colletotrichum truncatum, varietal reaction and difficulties of chemical control

Cotton culture (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is trending in an upward expansion amidst Brazilian “cerrado”. Due this growth, new pathosystems are growing in incidence on tropical fields in the region of Araguaia Valley - MT. Surveys and material collection were conducted out in production areas on two counties (Bom Jesus - MT and Canarana – MT), both regions represents a total amount of 50.000 hectares of cultivated area. The region also is characterized by succession areas previously sowed with soybean plants (main cover crop season). Previously surveys revealed the incidence of target spot (Corynespora cassiicola), ramularia spot (Ramularia areola) and cercosporiosis (Cercospora gossypii). Disease incidence is commonly observed on several crop management methods and cultivars. Due to a reduction in efficacy of chemichal control by fungicides spray programs, this disease is increasing and spreading in a faster rate in production areas with previous harvested soybean at the biggest soybean producer group in the world (Bom Futuro). Plants on field were selected due to differences in symptoms, and isolation methods were carried out on PDA (potato-dextrose-agar) before “in vitro” pathogenicity tests conducted on seedlings, detached leaves and bolls (growth chamber conditions of 23°C / photoperiod of 12 hours). After Colletotrichum dextructor sp. pathogenicity confirmation, bioassays were carried out with several different fungicide’s groups (i.e. registered for usage on Brazilian jurisdiction). This test consisted of the employment of a solution with 500 ppm of each different fungicide/a.i. that is applied on infected bolls and detached leaves who were inoculated with the target pathogen (concentration of 104 conidia per mL). This test was followed by an infection (%) evaluation during 10 days of incubation. The incidence/prevalence index (%) was also evaluated at different parts of the plant (lower, middle, and upper canopy) on different cultivars/genotypes (130-150 days after sowing). A standard level of control by different fungicides, ranged between 0 to 100% of control. Two groups of cultivars/genotypes were separated after differences on resistance response, one with susceptible traits (FM 985 GLTP) and other with partial resistance traits. No immunity response was observed. We suggest that new efficacy tests should be carried out with combination of varietal response (resistance or tolerance) combined with other chemical fungicides for better understanding of synergism or positive interaction. Valuable information will highlight the best association for greater varietal response and yield against this necrotrophic pathogen (higher B0 – initial inoculum) survival during successive years of rotation main crop (cotton x soybean). Isolated spray of benzimidazoles, cupric (except cuprous oxide) and triple associations with triazoles or triazolinthione (prothioconazol) combined with strobilurins and carboxamides should be wisely administrated to manage this disease due to low efficiency (below 50%). New field and laboratory essay must be carried out to input data about resistance risk and clarify damage levels on leaves and bolls impacting yield.

Neurophysiological Changes in Patients with Discirculatory Encephalopathy Associated with Ischemic Optic Neuropathy

Background. The most common chronic cerebrovascular pathology is dyscirculatory encephalopathy, in which a decrease in blood supply due to damage to brachiocephalic vessels leads to damage to brain substances and analyzers, including visual, with the possible development of severe damage in the form of ischemic optic neuropathy. Many studies have been devoted to the relationship between atherosclerotic damage to the neck vessels and ischemic damage to the visual organ, but little attention has been paid to the study of the functional activity of the altered visual analyzer in patients with dyscirculatory encephalopathy, and the results are scattered. Aim. To conduct a comparative analysis of changes in neurophysiological parameters of the brain and visual analyzer in patients with dyscirculatory encephalopathy and patients with a combination of dyscirculatory encephalopathy and ischemic optic neuropathy. Materials and methods. 34 patients with the 2nd stage of dyscirculatory encephalopathy were examined and divided into two groups based on the presence/absence of ischemic optic neuropathy of various prescription periods. All patients underwent ultrasound scanning of neck vessels, visual fields determination, electroretinography, visual evoked potentials, and electroencephalogram. Results. The results revealed changes in a number of indicators in the group of patients with a combination of two diseases: more pronounced atherosclerotic lesion of brachiocephalic vessels, a decrease in the amplitude and the alpharhythm prevalence index, a decrease in oscillatory potentials, a change in latency and amplitudes the visual analyzer according, lengthening of time indicators with a simultaneous decrease in amplitudes and depression of retinal sensitivity. Conclusion. Patients with dyscirculatory encephalopathy complicated by ischemic optic neuropathy have a combined lesion of the brain and visual analyzer, which determines the severity of the detected changes and requires a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of these patients.

“House Plasmodial Prevalence Index” Another Relevant Indicator of Evaluating a Malaria Vector Control Operations, Example of Capango Village (Benguela Province, Angola)

The WHO fascicule “Information systems for the evaluation of malaria control programmes” identified as outcome target “the proportion of households targeted for use of nets using at least one impregnated bednet” [1]. The parasitological evaluation of the efficacy of vector control programme is mainly based on the plasmodial prevalence rate evaluated by cross sectional or longitudinal surveys on representative sample of the human population targeted. For the new “House plasmodial” index we decided to combine the 2 indicators: the classical human plasmodial prevalence and house considering as positive any house with “at least one symptomless inhabitant having at least one positive thick film during the survey”. We used this new indicator when analyzing data gained during 24 regularly done parasitological surveys during 5 years in Capango village where a vector control (VC) programme was implemented using both Long Lasting Nets PermaNet© 2.0 and deltamethrin treated wall lining called ZeroFly© inside every house. Surveys were done during 2 years before VC and 3 years after. It appeared that the House Plasmodial positive index showed the same trends and level as the classical human plasmodial prevalence and clearly indicated the impact of vector control in reducing the overall plasmodial prevalence in the targeted village. On the other hand it appeared repeating surveys identified “frequently positive houses” (=found positive in some 50% of surveys) and therefore to be prioritized for control and those “scarcely positive” (20% of surveys). The House Plasmodial Prevalence index appeared relevant and reliable, interesting to be used in vector control programme while easy to get and should be considered in other epidemiological situation.