Notes

Traditional Healing Vegetables throughout North Uganda: An Ethnobotanical Survey.
The decision to outsource an activity is one of the most complex organizational decisions. This decision is also influenced by several factors and components. In order to facilitate and optimize it, for the first time in this study, a decision model for outsourcing medical service delivery in public hospitals has been developed.

We conducted this cross-sectional study in 3 stages 1) We identified the factors affecting the outsourcing decisions, 2) an expert panel identified the influential factors. After standardization, we distributed 220 questionnaires among university staff managers and heads, nursing managers, and managers of the research units, and 3) Structural Equation Model applied to evaluate the relationship between the variables on AMOS22, at 0.05 significant level.

Findings indicated the optimal level of all fit indices. The path coefficient between all identified factors with the outsourcing decision was positive (t > 1.96). Factors ranging from the most effective to least effective included monitoring and control, service type, human resource, economic and financial, executive capability, external environment, and terms and conditions.

The proposed model provides unit evaluation to make the appropriate decision on outsourcing or non-outsourcing. Control and monitoring were the most determining factors. We recommend performing monitoring continuously as a guide and deterrent to error. We also recommend continuous monitoring and control over the quality of outsourced units and stakeholder satisfaction.
The proposed model provides unit evaluation to make the appropriate decision on outsourcing or non-outsourcing. Control and monitoring were the most determining factors. We recommend performing monitoring continuously as a guide and deterrent to error. We also recommend continuous monitoring and control over the quality of outsourced units and stakeholder satisfaction.
Hereditary hearing loss (HHL) is a common heterogeneous disorder affecting all ages, ethnicities, and genders. The most common form of HHL is autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss (ARNSHL), in which there is no genotype-phenotype correlation in the majority of cases. This study aimed to identify the genetic causes of hearing loss (HL) in a family with Iranian Azeri Turkish ethnicity negative for gap junction beta-2 (GJB2), gap junction beta-6 (GJB6), and mitochondrially encoded 12S rRNA (MT-RNR1) deleterious mutations.

Targeted genome sequencing method was applied to detect genetic causes of HL in the family. Sanger sequencing was employed to verify the segregation of the variant. Finally, we used bioinformatics tools and American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics/Association for Molecular Pathology (ACMG/AMP) guidelines to determine whether the detected variant might affect the corresponding protein or not.

A novel homozygous missense mutation, c.499G>A (p.G167R), was identified in exon 5 of the ESRRB (estrogen-related receptor beta) gene. Healthy and affected family members confirmed the co-segregation of the variant with ARNSHL. Eventually, the variant's pathogenicity was confirmed by the in silico analysis and the ACMG/AMP guidelines.

The study suggests that the detected variant, c.499G>A, plays a crucial role in the development of ARNSHL, emphasizing the clinical significance of the ESRRB gene in ARNSHL patients. Additionally, it would be helpful for genetic counseling and clinical management of ARNSHL patients and providing preventive opportunities.
A, plays a crucial role in the development of ARNSHL, emphasizing the clinical significance of the ESRRB gene in ARNSHL patients. Additionally, it would be helpful for genetic counseling and clinical management of ARNSHL patients and providing preventive opportunities.
In Ethiopia, household Out-Of-Pocket healthcare expenditure accounts for one-third of total healthcare expenditure, is one of the highest in the world, and still creates barriers and difficulties for households to healthcare access and may delay or forgo needed healthcare use. Despite the presence of a few highly dispersed and inconsistent studies, no comprehensive study was conducted. Therefore, in this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed at estimating the pooled estimates of the burden of household Out-Of-Pocket healthcare expenditures among Ethiopian households and identifying its determinants.

We systematically searched articles from PubMed / Medline and Google scholar databases and direct Google search engine without restriction on publication period. Cross-sectional and cohort articles and grey literature published in English were included. Data were extracted using Microsoft Excel. Two reviewers screened the titles, reviewed the articles for inclusion, extracted the data, and conducted a alls for the Ministry of Health to improve the challenges and their impact on equity and design better prepayment policies and strengthen financial protection strategies to protect more vulnerable Ethiopian households.

The details of this protocol have been registered on the PROSPERO database with reference number ID CRD42021255977 .
The details of this protocol have been registered on the PROSPERO database with reference number ID CRD42021255977 .
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a risk factor in surgery. MetS can progress to metabolic (dysfunction)-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), a vast-growing etiology of primary liver tumors which are major indications for liver surgery. The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate the impact of MetS on complications and long-term outcomes after hepatectomy.

The protocol for this meta-analysis was registered at PROSPERO prior to data extraction. MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched for publications on liver resections and MetS. Comparative studies were included. Outcomes encompassed postoperative complications, mortality, and long-term oncologic status. Data were pooled as odds ratio (OR) with a random-effects model. Risk of bias was assessed using the Quality in Prognostic Studies tool (QUIPS), and the certainty of the evidence was evaluated with GRADE. Subgroup analyses for patients with histopathologically confirmed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) versus controls were d with significantly higher PHLF rates, yet, survivals of these patients are similar to patients without the MetS. Further studies should focus on identifying the tipping point for increased risk in patients with MetS-associated liver disease, as well as reliable markers of MAFLD stages and early markers of PHLF.

PROSPERO Nr CRD42021253768.
PROSPERO Nr CRD42021253768.
Although miners are a priority population in malaria elimination in Guyana, scant literature exists on the drivers of malaria-related behaviour. This study explores the relationship between gold miners' malaria-related ideation and the adoption of malaria care-seeking and treatment behaviours including prompt care-seeking, malaria testing, and self-medication.

Data are from a cross-sectional quantitative survey of 1685 adult miners between the ages of 18-59years who live in mining camps in Regions 1, 7, and 8. The analysis focused on miners who reported an episode of fever in the past year (n = 745). Malaria care-seeking and treatment ideation was defined as a composite additive score consisting of the following variables general malaria knowledge, perceived severity, perceived susceptibility, beliefs, perceived self-efficacy, perceived norms, interpersonal communication, and perceived response efficacy. Multivariable logistic regressions explored the relationship between ideation on care-seeking/treatmeners of how quick and easy it is to get a malaria test with the community case management initiative. Study findings also have implications for efforts to eliminate malaria across the Guiana Shield.
A national community case management initiative is using study findings as part of its scale-up, using volunteers to make testing and treatment services more accessible to miners. This is complemented by a multi-channel mass media campaign to improve miners' ideation. Communication messages focus on increasing miners' knowledge of malaria transmission and symptoms, encourage positive beliefs about malaria testing and volunteer testers, promote evidence about the effectiveness of testing, and reminders of how quick and easy it is to get a malaria test with the community case management initiative. Study findings also have implications for efforts to eliminate malaria across the Guiana Shield.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignant tumor affecting people worldwide. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) is a crucial factor modulating various cancer progression, including CRC. Long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 665 (LINC00665) has been proven as an oncogene in several cancers, but its function in CRC is still unclear.

QRT-PCR was performed for RNA quantification. Functional assays were designed and carried to test cell phenotype while mechanism experiments were adopted for detecting the interaction of LINC00665, microRNA-138-5p (miR-138-5p) and SIN3 transcription regulator family member A (SIN3A). In vivo experiments were conducted to test LINC00665 function on modulating CRC tumor progression.

LINC00665 displayed high expression in CRC tissues and cells, and promoted tumor progression in vivo. MiR-138-5p displayed abnormally low expression in CRC, and was verified to be sponged by LINC00665. Furthermore, SIN3A, as the downstream mRNA of miR-138-5p, exerted promoting impacts on CRC cells. Rescue experiments certified that overexpressed SIN3A or silenced miR-138-5p could offset the repressed function of LINC00665 knockdown on CRC progression.

LINC00665 could sponge miR-138-5p to up-regulate SIN3A expression, thus accelerating CRC progression.
LINC00665 could sponge miR-138-5p to up-regulate SIN3A expression, thus accelerating CRC progression.Controlled release systems are often integrated into polymeric scaffolds to supply essential biofactors to trigger physiological processes in engineered tissues. Here, we report the modification of chondroitin sulfate (CS) electroactive polymer with gold nanorods (AuNRs) to create hybrid macroporous scaffolds for enhanced on-demand release of growth factors and cytokines. The mechanical properties, porosity and degradation of the hybrid scaffolds were evaluated, and the viability and functionality of seeded cardiac cells were assessed. Following, the ability to control the release of the enzyme lysozyme, and the cytokine, stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) by applying electrical stimulation, was demonstrated. The AuNRs were able to increase the current through the scaffolds, providing an efficient on-off release profile of SDF-1, which resulted in higher migration of cells expressing CXCR4 receptor. Finally, the engineered scaffolds were transplanted in rats and SDF-1 was released daily by electrical stimulation, promoting blood vessel-forming cell infiltration and vascularization. We envision that gold nanoparticles and other conducting nanomaterials can be incorporated into different electroactive materials to improve their capabilities not only for tissue engineering applications, but for a variety of biomedical applications, where enhanced electrical stimulation is needed.
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