bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cohort profile: InTraUterine sampling in early pregnancy (ITU), a prospective pregnancy cohort study in Finland: study design and baseline characteristics
Authors: Kvist Tuomas , Sammallahti Sara , Lahti-Pulkkinen Marius , Cruceanu Cristiana , Czamara Darina , Dieckmann Linda , Tontsch Alina , Röh Simone , Rex-Haffner Monika , Wolford Eiina , Reynolds Rebecca , Eriksson Johan , Suomalainen-König Sanna , Laivuori Hannele , Kajantie Eero , Lahdensuo Eija , Binder Elisabeth , Räikkönen Katri
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The InTraUterine sampling in early pregnancy (ITU) is a prospective pregnancy cohort study. The overarching aim of ITU is to unravel genomic, epigenomic, transcriptomic, endocrine, inflammatory and metabolic maternal-placental-fetal mechanisms involved in the programming of health and disease after exposure to prenatal environmental adversity, such as maternal malnutrition, cardiometabolic disorders, infections, medical interventions, mental disorders and psychosocial stress. This paper describes the study protocol, design and baseline characteristics of the cohort.

Participants

We included 944 pregnant Finnish women, their partners and children born alive between April 2012 and December 2017. The women were recruited through the national, voluntary trisomy 21 screening between 9+0 and 21+6 gestational weeks. Of the participating women, 543 were screen positive and underwent fetal chromosomal testing. Test result of these women suggested no fetal chromosomal abnormality. Further, we recruited 401 women who were screen negative and who did not undergo fetal chromosomal testing.

Findings to date

We have collected chorionic villi and amniotic fluid from the screen-positive women; blood, urine, buccal swabs and diurnal salivary samples from all women; blood and buccal swabs from all partners; and placenta, cord blood and buccal swabs from all newborns for analyses of the genome, epigenome, transcriptome, and endocrine, inflammatory and metabolic markers. These data are coupled with comprehensive phenotypes, including questions on demographic characteristics, health and well-being of the women and their partners during pregnancy and of the women and their children at the child’s age of 1.7 and 3 years. Data also come from patient records and nationwide registers covering health, lifestyle and medication data.

Future plans

Multiple layers of ITU data allow integrative data analyses, which translate to biomarker identification and allow risk stratification and understanding of the biological mechanisms involved in prenatal programming of health and disease.
Is a novel diagnostic pathway for cardiology outpatient clinics in Singapore lower cost than existing practice: a cost modelling study
Authors: Weiting Huang , Karthik Gaya , Chua Terrance , Graves Nicholas
Published: February 2022

Objective

To evaluate the potential for change to costs from a decision to adopt a novel diagnostic pathway for referrals to cardiology outpatients with symptoms of chest pain.

Design

Costs modelling study using existing observational data, with a cost year of 2018.

Setting

Specialist Heart Centre in Singapore.

Participants

All new referrals (n=10 622) to the outpatient clinics for investigation between January 2017 and December 2017.

Interventions

Two competing testing regimes are compared in a decision tree model. Current practice includes classification of patients by their risk and the use of treadmill tests, calcium scores, functional testing and CT angiogram. New practice offers a fundamental difference in use of diagnostics for patients, with some offered angiogram directly and for low-risk patients a calcium score is used to refine risk stratification.

Outcome measures

The expected cost difference between testing alternatives.

Results

The expected cost saving from ‘New Practice’ as compared with ‘Current Practice’ is $S764 per patient. There is a 50% probability the savings per patient range between $S764 and $S824 and a 90% probability they are between $S616 and $S912. The expected savings to Singapore national health services are $S26.8 million annually, with a range of $S16.2 to $S41.1 million.

Conclusions

We find some evidence that using a coronary calcium score, which can be performed with a fraction of the time and cost of a CT coronary angiogram, saves costs to health services.
Vector control strategies in Brazil: a qualitative investigation into community knowledge, attitudes and perceptions following the 2015–2016 Zika virus epidemic
Authors: Bancroft Dani , Power Grace M , Jones Robert T , Massad Eduardo , Iriart Jorge Bernstein , Preet Raman , Kinsman John , Logan James G
Published: February 2022

Objective

The World Health Organization declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern following the rapid emergence of neonatal microcephaly in Brazil during the 2015–2016 Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic. In response, a national campaign sought to control Aedes mosquito populations and reduce ZIKV transmission. Achieving adherence to vector control or mosquito-bite reduction behaviours, including the use of topical mosquito repellents, is challenging. Coproduction of research at the community level is needed to understand and mitigate social determinants of lower engagement with Aedes preventive measures, particularly within disempowered groups.

Design

In 2017, the Zika Preparedness Latin America Network (ZikaPLAN) conducted a qualitative study to understand individual and community level experiences of ZIKV and other mosquito-borne disease outbreaks. Presented here is a thematic analysis of 33 transcripts from community focus groups and semistructured interviews, applying the Health Belief Model (HBM) to elaborate knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of ZIKV and vector control strategies.

Participants

120 purposively sampled adults of approximate reproductive age (18–45); 103 women participated in focus groups and 17 men in semistructured interviews.

Setting

Two sociopolitically and epidemiologically distinct cities in Brazil: Jundiaí (57 km north of São Paolo) and Salvador (Bahia state capital).

Results

Four key and 12 major themes emerged from the analysis: (1) knowledge and cues to action; (2) attitudes and normative beliefs (perceived threat, barriers, benefits and self-efficacy); (3) behaviour change (household prevention and community participation); and (4) community preferences for novel repellent tools, vector control strategies and ZIKV messaging.

Conclusions

Common barriers to repellent adherence were accessibility, appearance and effectiveness. A strong case is made for the transferability of the HBM to inform epidemic preparedness for mosquito-borne disease outbreaks at the community level. Nationally, a health campaign targeting men is recommended, in addition to local mobilisation of funding to strengthen surveillance, risk communication and community engagement.
Protocol of a randomised clinical trial to integrate mental health services into primary care for postconflict populations in Northern Sri Lanka (COMGAP-S)
Authors: Doherty Shannon , Dass Giselle , Edwards Anne , Stewart Robert , Roberts Bayard , Abas Melanie
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Sri Lanka has a long history of armed conflict and natural disasters increasing the risk of mental health disorders in the population. Due to a lack of specialist services, there is a treatment gap between those seeking and those able to access mental health services. The aim of this research programme is to integrate mental health services into primary care to meet the needs of this postconflict population.

Methods and analysis

This is a stepped wedge cluster design randomised clinical trial of the WHO mental health Gap Action Programme primary care mental health training intervention. We will provide a 10-day training to primary care practitioners of 23 randomly selected primary care facilities aimed at increasing their ability to identify, treat and manage common mental health disorders. Public health professionals and community representatives will receive a tailored training intervention to increase mental health awareness. Refresher courses will occur at 3 and 6 months post training. Supervision and monitoring will occur for 1 month pre and post training. Target sample sizes have been calculated separately for each group of participants and for each outcome.

Ethics and dissemination

This trial has received ethical approval from the Faculty of Health, Education, Medicine and Social Care, Anglia Ruskin University, UK (SC/jc/FMFREP/16/17 076) and from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka (J/ERC/17/81/NDR/0170) and non-engagement approval has been received from the funding body, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2018-015). All participants gave written consent. Dissemination of study results will be completed through publication of academic articles, conference presentations, town hall meetings, written pamphlets in plain language, reports to Ministry of Health and other government organisations and through social media outlets.

Trial registration numbers

ISRCTN registry:ISRCTN62598070. SLCTR registration number: SLCTR/2018/008.
What is the community’s knowledge and understanding regarding epilepsy? Epilepsy knowledge and its determinants among residents of Debub Bench District, Bench Sheko Zone, Southwest Ethiopia, 2019: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Legesse Elsabeth , Nigussie Tadesse , Kebede Yohannes , Aman Mamusha , Chaka Mulugeta , Tilahun Dejene
Published: February 2022

Objective

Epilepsy is a neurological condition marked by recurring seizures. People with epilepsy, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries, are stigmatised due to a lack of understanding and a negative attitude towards the disease. Increased public awareness of epilepsy will aid in the search for therapy and the quality of life of the patients. The study aimed to assess knowledge about epilepsy and the associated factors among residents of Debub Bench District, Bench Sheko Zone, Southwest Ethiopia in 2020.

Setting

This community-based, cross-sectional study triangulated with qualitative method was conducted from 25 April 2020 to 20 May 2020. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 601 participants. A structured and interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were entered in EpiData Manager V.4.0.2.101 and exported to SPSS V.23 for analyses. Multivariable logistic regression was carried out to identify the factors associated with knowledge of epilepsy. A p value of <0.05 was taken to indicate statistical significance.

Results

A total of 601 respondents participated, of whom 340 (56.6%) were male. The mean age of the respondents was 34.84±11.42 years. The proportion with good knowledge of epilepsy was 55.1%. Factors associated with good knowledge of epilepsy were attending primary education (adjusted OR (AOR)=2.06, 95% CI 1.27 to 3.34), secondary education (AOR=5.01, 95% CI 2.62 to 9.58), above secondary education (AOR=5.67, 95% CI 2.35 to 13.69), being in high wealth index (AOR=1.74, 95% CI 1.09 to 2.78), being a government employee (AOR=3.69, 95% CI 1.39 to 9.83), being a merchant (AOR=3.16, 95% CI 1.80 to 5.54) and being an urban resident (AOR=2.15, 95% CI 1.36 to 3.42).

Conclusion

Only 55% of the residents have sufficient knowledge about epilepsy. Factors associated with knowledge of epilepsy were educational status, wealth index, occupation and residence.
Deprescribing montelukast in children with asthma: a systematic review
Authors: Dixon Eleanor Grace , King Charlotte , Lilley Andrew , Sinha Ian P , Hawcutt Daniel B
Published: February 2022

Background

National and international asthma guidelines recommend adjusting asthma treatment based on levels of control, yet no guidance is given regarding the stepping-down of montelukast in children and young people (CYP).

Objective

To systematically review evidence regarding deprescribing montelukast in CYP with established asthma.

Design

Systematic review.

Data sources

Embase, Medline, PubMed and CINAHL were searched up to October 2020.

Study selection

Eligible studies contained patients aged 0–18 years with a diagnosis of asthma, who had been administering montelukast before it was withdrawn. All reasons for withdrawal were included.

Results

The search identified 197 papers. After deduplication, five papers were included (three randomised control studies and two cohort studies). Four studies observed the impact of montelukast withdrawal for 2 weeks, and one study for 8 weeks. The impact of withdrawal was measured in the studies using a combination of lung tests (eg, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO)), asthma scoring methods and exercise challenges. Of the 17 domains in the Core Outcome Set for Clinical Trials in Childhood Asthma, eight outcomes were measured in at least one of the five studies, with all five studies measuring the outcome of ‘Lung Function’. No significant differences were found between the montelukast and placebo groups following montelukast withdrawal. Significant differences between the comparator points within the test group were found in nine outcomes across four studies; FEV1/forced vital capacity, FEV1, forced expiratory flows (25%–75%), asthma score (study specific), maximum % fall in FEV1 and time to recovery (post exercise) significantly decreased whereas FEV1/bronchodilator response, FeNO and eNO significantly increased.

Conclusion

Only limited, contradictory and short-term effects of deprescribing montelukast in CYP with established asthma are presented in literature. Definitive studies determining clinical stability, and impact of deprescribing montelukast in CYP are imperative to improve the safety of asthma treatment in CYP.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42020213971.
Eliciting willingness-to-pay to prevent hospital medication administration errors in the UK: a contingent valuation survey
Authors: Hill Sarah R , Bhattarai Nawaraj , Tolley Clare L , Slight Sarah P , Vale Luke
Published: February 2022

Medication errors are common in hospitals. These errors can result in adverse drug events (ADEs), which can reduce the health and well-being of patients’, and their relatives and caregivers. Interventions have been developed to reduce medication errors, including those that occur at the administration stage.

Objective

We aimed to elicit willingness-to-pay (WTP) values to prevent hospital medication administration errors.

Design and setting

An online, contingent valuation (CV) survey was conducted, using the random card-sort elicitation method, to elicit WTP to prevent medication errors.

Participants

A representative sample of the UK public.

Methods

Seven medication error scenarios, varying in the potential for harm and the severity of harm, were valued. Scenarios were developed with input from: clinical experts, focus groups with members of the public and piloting. Mean and median WTP values were calculated, excluding protest responses or those that failed a logic test. A two-part model (logit, generalised linear model) regression analysis was conducted to explore predictive characteristics of WTP.

Results

Responses were collected from 1001 individuals. The proportion of respondents willing to pay to prevent a medication error increased as the severity of the ADE increased and was highest for scenarios that described actual harm occurring. Mean WTP across the scenarios ranged from £45 (95% CI £36 to £54) to £278 (95% CI £200 to £355). Several factors influenced both the value and likelihood of WTP, such as: income, known experience of medication errors, sex, field of work, marriage status, education level and employment status. Predictors of WTP were not, however, consistent across scenarios.

Conclusions

This CV study highlights how the UK public value preventing medication errors. The findings from this study could be used to carry out a cost–benefit analysis which could inform implementation decisions on the use of technology to reduce medication administration errors in UK hospitals.
Systematic review of process evaluations of interventions in trials investigating sedentary behaviour in adults
Authors: Johansson Jessica Faye , Lam Natalie , Ozer Seline , Hall Jennifer , Morton Sarah , English Coralie , Fitzsimons Claire F , Lawton Rebecca , Forster Anne , Clarke David
Published: February 2022

Objectives

To systematically review and synthesise findings from process evaluations of interventions in trials which measured sedentary behaviour as an outcome in adults to explore: (1) how intervention content, implementation, mechanisms of impact and context influence outcomes and (2) how these interventions are experienced from different perspectives (participants, carers, staff).

Design

Systematic review and narrative synthesis underpinned by the Medical Research Council process evaluation framework.

Data sources

Databases searches were conducted in March 2019 then updated in May 2020 and October 2021 in: CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, AMED; EMBASE, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Web of Science and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses.

Eligibility criteria

We included: Process evaluations of trials including interventions where sedentary behaviour was measured as an outcome in adults aged 16 or over from clinical or non-clinical populations. We excluded studies if interventions were delivered in educational or workplace settings, or if they were laboratory studies focused on immediate effects of breaking sitting.

Data extraction and synthesis

Two independent reviewers extracted and coded data into a framework and assessed the quality of studies using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. We synthesised findings using a narrative approach.

Results

17 process evaluations were included. Five interventions focused on reducing sedentary behaviour or sitting time, 12 aimed to increase physical activity or promote healthier lifestyles. Process evaluations indicated changes in sedentary behaviour outcomes were shaped by numerous factors including: barriers (eg, staffing difficulties and scheduling problems) and facilitators (eg, allowing for flexibility) to intervention delivery; contextual factors (eg, usual lifestyle and religious events) and individual factors (eg, pain, tiredness, illness, age and individual preferences).

Discussion

Intervention requires careful consideration of different factors that could influence changes in sedentary behaviour outcomes to ensure that interventions can be tailored to suit different individuals and groups.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42018087403.
Impact of newly constructed primary healthcare centres on antenatal care attendance, facility delivery and all-cause mortality: quasi-experimental evidence from Taabo health and demographic surveillance system, Côte d’Ivoire
Authors: Koné Siaka , Bonfoh Bassirou , Probst-Hensch Nicole , Utzinger Jürg , N'Goran Eliézer K , Fink Günther
Published: February 2022

Objectives

Access to quality care remains limited, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries. Although better health outcomes for families living in close proximity to healthcare facilities have been documented in cross-sectional studies, evidence on the extent to which additional health facilities can contribute to improved population health remains scanty. We aimed to estimate the causal impact of newly constructed primary healthcare facilities within a health and demographic surveillance (HDSS) site in Côte d’Ivoire.

Design

We conducted a quasi-experimental study. Logistic and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the impact of new healthcare facilities on healthcare-seeking behaviour and all-cause mortality.

Setting

Data were collected prospectively through the Taabo HDSS located in south-central Côte d’Ivoire between 2010 and 2018.

Participants

We analysed 2957 deaths across 440 973 person-year observations as well as 14 132 live births.

Primary outcome measures

The primary outcomes were antenatal care (ANC) attendance, facility delivery and mortality. Logistic and Cox proportional hazards models were employed to estimate the impact of the new health facilities on ANC attendance, facility delivery and child as well as adult mortality.

Results

Average distance to the nearest healthcare facility declined from 5.5 km before to 2.8 km after opening of four new healthcare facilities in targeted villages. No improvement was observed for ANC attendance, institutional deliveries and adult mortality. New facilities reduced the risk of post-neonatal infant mortality by 46% (HR 0.54, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.94, p<0.05), suggesting a mortality gradient of 2 deaths per 1000 for each additional km (Coef=0.002, 95% CI 0.000 to 0.004, p<0.05).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that new facilities do not necessarily improve healthcare utilisation and health outcomes. Further research is needed to identify the best ways to ensure access to quality care in resource-constrained settings.
Determinants of accessing healthcare in Sub-Saharan Africa: a mixed-effect analysis of recent Demographic and Health Surveys from 36 countries
Authors: Tessema Zemenu Tadesse , Worku Misganaw Gebrie , Tesema Getayeneh Antehunegn , Alamneh Tesfa Sewunet , Teshale Achamyeleh Birhanu , Yeshaw Yigizie , Alem Adugnaw Zeleke , Ayalew Hiwotie Getaneh , Liyew Alemneh Mekuriaw
Published: February 2022

Objective

This study aimed to assess the determinants of accessing healthcare among reproductive-age women in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Design, setting and analysis

Cross-sectional data were sourced from recent Demographic and Health Surveys in 36 SSA countries. We employed mixed-effect analysis to identify the determinants of accessing healthcare in SSA. OR and its 95% CI were reported for determinants associated with accessing healthcare.

Outcome

The outcome for this study was whether accessing healthcare was a ‘big problem’ or ‘not a big problem’. Responses to these questions were categorised as a big problem and not a big problem.

Participants

A total weighted sample of 500 439 reproductive-age (15–49 years) women from each country’s recent Demographic and Health Surveys from 2006 to 2018 were included in this study.

Results

The pooled prevalence of healthcare access among reproductive-age women in SSA was 42.56% (95% CI 42.43% to 42.69%). The results of the mixed-effect analysis revealed that the determinants of accessing healthcare were urban residence (adjusted OR (AOR)=1.25, 95% CI 1.34 to 1.73), ability to read and write (AOR=1.15, 95% CI 1.22 to 1.28), primary education (AOR=1.08, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.12), secondary education and above (AOR=1.12, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.14), husband with primary education (AOR=1.06, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.1.12), husband with secondary education and above (AOR=1.22, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.27), middle wealth index (AOR=1.43, 95% CI 1.40 to 1.47), rich wealth index (AOR=2.19, 95% CI 2.13 to 2.24) and wanted pregnancy (AOR=1.27, 95% CI 1.19 to 1.29).

Conclusion

Healthcare access in SSA was found at 42.56%, which is very low even if Sustainable Development Goal 3.8 targeted universal health coverage for everyone so they can obtain the health services they need. The major determinants of healthcare access among reproductive-age women in SSA were urban residence, higher educational level, higher wealth index and wanted pregnancy. The findings of this study suggest and recommend strengthening and improving healthcare access for women who reside in the countryside, women with low level of education and women of low socioeconomic status.
What long-term care interventions have been published between 2010 and 2020? Results of a WHO scoping review identifying long-term care interventions for older people around the world
Authors: Arias-Casais Natalia , Amuthavalli Thiyagarajan Jotheeswaran , Rodrigues Perracini Monica , Park Eunok , Van den Block Lieve , Sumi Yuka , Sadana Ritu , Banerjee Anshu , Han Zee-A
Published: February 2022

Objective

The global population is rapidly ageing. To tackle the increasing prevalence of older adults’ chronic conditions, loss of intrinsic capacity and functional ability, long-term care interventions are required. The study aim was to identify long-term care interventions reported in scientific literature from 2010 to 2020 and categorise them in relation to WHO’s public health framework of healthy ageing.

Design

Scoping review conducted on PubMed, CINHAL, Cochrane and Google Advanced targeting studies reporting on long-term care interventions for older and frail adults. An internal validated Excel matrix was used for charting.

Setting nursing homes, assisted care homes, long-term care facilities, home, residential houses for the elderly and at the community.

Inclusion criteria

Studies published in peer-reviewed journals between 1 January 2010 to 1 February 2020 on implemented interventions with outcome measures provided in the settings mentioned above for subjects older than 60 years old in English, Spanish, German, Portuguese or French.

Results

305 studies were included. Fifty clustered interventions were identified and organised into four WHO Healthy Ageing domains and 20 subdomains. All interventions delved from high-income settings; no interventions from low-resource settings were identified. The most frequently reported interventions were multimodal exercise (n=68 reports, person-centred assessment and care plan development (n=22), case management for continuum care (n=16), multicomponent interventions (n=15), psychoeducational interventions for caregivers (n=13) and interventions mitigating cognitive decline (n=13).

Conclusion

The identified interventions are diverse overarching multiple settings and areas seeking to prevent, treat and improve loss of functional ability and intrinsic capacity. Interventions from low-resource settings were not identified.
Preoperative stereotactic body radiotherapy combined with surgical treatment for renal cell carcinoma and inferior vena cava tumour thrombus: study protocol for a single-arm cohort trial
Authors: Liu Yunchong , Liu Zhuo , Peng Ran , Xiao Ruotao , Wang Junjie , Wang Hao , Ma Lulin
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Although surgery is currently the first choice for patients with renal cell carcinoma and vena cava tumour thrombus, the surgery is difficult, with many complications, and the prognosis of patients is not ideal. Renal cell carcinoma is not sensitive to traditional radiotherapy, but the development of stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) technology with the characteristics of high precision, dose and conformity has made the radiotherapy of renal cell carcinoma reexamined.

Methods and analysis

Study design

This trial is a single-arm cohort study sponsored by Peking University Third Hospital.

Study treatment

Preoperative stereotactic ablative radiotherapy combined with surgical treatment.

Primary endpoints

(1) Adverse reactions after 4–6 weeks of SABR. (2) Mayo staging of tumour thrombus. (3) The length of the tumour thrombus from the corresponding anatomical mark. (4) Invasion of the inferior vena cava wall. (5) Recurrent-free survival rate of the tumour. (6) Cancer-specific survival rate. (7) Overall survival rate. (8) Perioperative indicators including operation time, intraoperative bleeding volume and postoperative complications.

Secondary endpoints

(1) The longest diameter of the tumour and (2) Lymph node condition.

Main inclusion criteria

Patients with renal cell carcinoma and inferior vena cava tumour thrombus graded from Mayo II to IV and eligible for radical nephrectomy and inferior vena cava thrombectomy.

Main exclusion criteria

Patients with previous targeted therapy, chemotherapy or other interventions, or who cannot tolerate SABR or surgery.

Planned sample size

20 patients.

Ethics and dissemination

The trial protocol and the informed consent of the subjects were submitted and approved by the Peking University Biomedical Ethics Committee.

Trial registration number

ChiCTR1800015118.
Prevalence and associated factors of perceived stigma among medically ill patients on follow-up screened positive for depression in Ethiopia: facility-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Alemu Wondale Getinet , Tilahun Sewbesew Yitayih , Bekele Endale , Eshitu Behailu , Kerebih Habtamu
Published: February 2022

Background

Many people are familiar with the issues of stigma in mental health or HIV, but feeling stigma as an underlying factor for many medically ill-health conditions has not been examined.

Methods

Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on patients followed for medical illnesses and having depression. We recruited 384 participants and who were interviewed by nurses using face-to-face interviews and a systematic random sampling technique applied. We used a perceived devaluation and discrimination, a 12-item tool that is used to measure outcome perceived stigma. Variables were coded and entered Epi Info V.3.5.3 and exported to SPSS V.20 for analysis. Statistical analysis parameters, such as descriptive and multivariate logistic regression, were used for data analysis. Adjusted ORs (AORs) with a 95% CI and p value <0.05 were declared significance.

Result

The prevalence of perceived stigma on a patient who followed for medical illness screened positive for depression was found to be around 66.3%. In the multivariate logistic regression, patients with hypertension 61% less likely ((AOR=0.39, 95% CI (0.17 to 0.89)) to have perceived stigma than with asthma and cardiac patients, patients completed higher education 2.15 times ((AOR=2.15; 95% CI 1.05 to 4.40)) more likely to have perceived stigma than which cannot read and write. Patients who had the previous admission with medical illness 1–2 times were 3.52 more likely (AOR=3.52, 95% CI (2.14 to 5.78)) perceived stigma than those who had no hospital admission. Patients who had the previous admission three times with medical illness were 6.1 more likely (AOR=6.1, 95% CI (2.32 to 16.07)) to have perceived stigma than those who had no previous hospital admission.

Conclusion

The prevalence of perceived stigma among patients who had on follow-up for medical illnesses was high. Educational status, history of previous hospital admission were considerably associated with higher perceived stigma.
Tissue Kallikrein Protects Rat Prostate against the Inflammatory Damage in a Chronic Autoimmune Prostatitis Model via Restoring Endothelial Function in a Bradykinin Receptor B2-Dependent Way
Authors: Zhang Mengyang , Lin Dongxu , Luo Changcheng , Wei Pengyu , Cui Kai , Chen Zhong
Published: February 2022

Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate whether tissue kallikrein (KLK1) can protect the prostate from inflammatory damage and the mechanism involved in it. Methods. A total of 50 male Wistar rats were used in this study. Initially, 20 rats were sacrificed to obtain the prostate antigen to induce experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP), and the remaining 30 rats were randomly divided into 5 experimental groups (normal control group (NC group), NC+KLK1 group (NCK group), EAP group, EAP+KLK1 group (EAPK group), and EAP+KLK1+HOE140 group (EAPKH group);

n
=
6

). It should be explained that KLK1 mainly exerts its biological effects through bradykinin, and HOE140 is a potent and selective bradykinin receptor B2 (BDKRB2) antagonist. EAP was induced by intradermal injection of 15 mg/ml prostate antigen and complete Freund’s adjuvant on days 0, 14, and 28. KLK1 was injected via tail vein at a dose of

1.5
×

10

−
3

PAN U/kg once a day, and HOE140 was administered by intraperitoneal injection at 20 μg/kg once every two days. Rats were sacrificed on day 42. The RNA and protein of the rat prostate were extracted to analyze the expression differences of KLK1, as well as the inflammation-, fibrosis-, and oxidative stress-related genes. The inflammatory cell infiltration and microvessel density of the prostate were also analyzed by pathological examination. In addition, pathological analysis was performed on prostate samples from patients undergoing benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) surgery. Results. The expression of KLK1 in the prostate decreased in the EAP group as well as BPH patients with obvious inflammation. KLK1 administration significantly inhibited inflammatory cell infiltration and reduced the production of inflammatory cytokines in the EAPK group. Prostate samples from the EAP group showed increased infiltration of T cells and macrophages, as well as gland atrophy, hypoxia, fibrosis, and angiogenesis. KLK1 administration upregulated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression and suppressed oxidative stress, as well as transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β) signaling pathways and the proangiogenic vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the EAPK group. However, in the EAPKH group in which HOE140 blocked BDKRB2, the beneficial effects of KLK1 were all cancelled. In addition, KLK1 intervention in normal rats had no obvious side effects. Conclusion. The KLK1 expression is inhibited in the inflamed prostates of humans and rats. Exogenous KLK1 restored endothelial function via a BDKRB2-dependent way and then played a role in improving microcirculation and exerted anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, and antioxidative stress effects in the rat chronic-inflamed prostate.
Research on Smart City Environment Design and Planning Based on Internet of Things
Authors: Wang Zijia
Published: February 2022

With the economic construction of human cities entering the era of Internet of Things, people can better build cities, make better use of information resources, and put forward high requirements for smart city environmental design. However, there are serious problems in the construction of smart cities due to the problems of talents, technology, energy, and capital in urban construction. Therefore, in the era of Internet of Things, urban construction needs to take the Internet of Things as the foundation of intelligent construction and constantly form an optimized processing model of urban construction through intelligent excellent methods and the association of all things. In this paper, the smart city of Internet of Things is taken as the research point, and the urban population density and public infrastructure are taken as the optimization objects. The population of four districts in the city is taken as the research object. The population density under 18 years old accounts for 25% of the whole city, the population density between 18 and 65 years old accounts for 41%, the population density over 65 years old accounts for 34%, and the population density over 18 years old accounts for about 80% of the population density in the East District and South District. The research results show that under the premise of population and infrastructure, adding medical and recreational resources can rationally allocate and optimize resources, thus improving the utilization rate of public resources.
Research on Quality Evaluation of Product Interactive Aging Design Based on Kano Model
Authors: Liu Yin , Wang Weiwei
Published: February 2022

At present, China’s population aging presents the characteristics of large base, fast aging process, and old age, but the research and development of product aging design in China is relatively late, which brings additional pressure to the daily life of the elderly. In such an environment, higher requirements are put forward for product aging design and service provision. Only products or services that timely meet the personalized and diversified needs of different customers can attract customers and improve customer satisfaction. How to design aging products with satisfactory appearance and humanized function is the focus of current research. Based on the product quality division of Kano model, this paper summarizes the domestic mainstream products and their functions. The designed questionnaire data are summarized; reliability and validity analysis, as well as descriptive statistical analysis, is performed on this basis for the constructed product service quality evaluation system. The service quality indicators are divided into three categories according to the Kano model: overall one-dimensional quality, charm quality, and necessary quality.
Preexisting Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Coronary Artery Atherosclerosis in Patients with and without Cancer
Authors: Guo Junyi , Fang Peng , Shi Wei , Luo Pengcheng , Huo Shengqi , Yan Dan , Wang Moran , Peng Dewei , Men Lintong , Li Sheng , Lv Jiagao , Lin Li
Published: February 2022

Cancer survivors suffer a higher risk of coronary artery atherosclerosis (CAA). Whether cancer patients had increased baseline CAA burden prior to cardiotoxic therapy remains unclear. We conducted a case-control study, and 286 consecutive patients were finally included. Among these patients, 181 had newly diagnosed cancer and 105 had nonmalignant diseases. Cancer was confirmed by biopsy. The severity of CAA was determined by coronary angiography and evaluated using the percentage of stenosis or Gensini scoring (GS). Patients with cancer versus cancer-free controls were older (OR = 1.052, 95% CI: 1.021–1.084,

p
<
0.001

), more commonly male (OR = 0.048, 95% CI: 1.004–2.676,

p
=
0.048

), and more severely exposed to smoking (OR = 1.020, 95% CI: 1.007–1.033,

p
=
0.003

). Cancer patients were significantly more commonly complicated by ≥90% coronary stenosis than the gender- and age-matched cancer-free controls (9/93 versus 1/93, OR = 4.875, 95% CI: 1.024–23.213,

p
=
0.047

). After adjustment for age, gender, hypertension, diabetes, smoking history, blood glucose, and total cholesterol, cancer was significantly associated with high GS (adjusted OR = 2.208, 95% CI: 1.077–4.524,

p
=
0.031

). Our study demonstrated that cancer patients had increased CAA burden prior to cardiotoxic therapy. Further study is necessary to investigate the link between CAA and cancer.
[Retracted] Research on the Integration of Preschool Language Education Resources Based on Metadata Storage
Authors: Weiwei Sun
Published: February 2022

Aiming at the problems of high redundancy and slow integration speed in the existing education resource data integration methods, a new preschool language education resource integration method based on metadata warehouse is designed. The metadata warehouse is designed, and the advantages of the integrated database are analyzed. On this basis, the sample data of preschool language education resources are classified with the help of cost matrix, and the constraints of different types of classification are set. The data collector of preschool language education resources is set up by using random forest algorithm to complete the data collection of preschool language education resources. The data of preschool language education resources are processed consistently, and the convergence of the data is calculated by edge function. On this basis, the redundant data in preschool language education data resources are characterized with the help of discourse, and the redundant data are removed to complete the data preprocessing of preschool language education resources. We determine the dimension distance between preschool language education resource data and complete the clustering integration of preschool language education resource data with the help of fuzzy mean clustering algorithm. The experimental results show that the integration method designed in this paper can reduce the redundancy in the integrated data, and the integration speed is fast.
Mission-Oriented Missile Equipment Support System Modeling: Considering the Failure and Health State
Authors: Guo Lu , Liu Xiaodong
Published: February 2022

Missile equipment support system is a complex system involving mission profile, operating environment, support personnel, resource scheduling, and other factors, and most of the equipment failures are a process of continuous evolution over time. Based on the characteristics of equipment functions or performance parameters and current detection methods, only part of equipment health degradation trend can be monitored. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out the support system simulation considering the equipment failure and health state comprehensively. In this paper, a mission-oriented modeling framework of missile equipment support system based on agent is proposed. Agents of equipment, support, management, and environment are abstracted. The behavior logic, information transmission link, and interaction mechanism among agents are explained. The failure occurrence handling mechanism and health state degradation handling mechanism are determined. The equipment recovery behavior model, including equipment health state control model, corrective maintenance behavior model, and system reconstruction behavior model, are constructed, and the simulation process and implementation method are explained. Finally, a certain type of missile equipment is taken as an example for simulation. The results show that the mean time between failures can be extended and the times of corrective maintenance can be reduced by maintenance support with integrated consideration of equipment failure and health deterioration. In addition, the simulation results show the variation trend of equipment availability, which can lay a solid foundation for the optimization design of equipment support resources in the future, so as to improve the availability of equipment in the whole life cycle.
Smart Management Platform for Landfilling of Waste after Mechanical Biological Treatment
Authors: Wang Qiaona , Zhang Zhenying , Wang Min , Wang Bang
Published: February 2022

With the rapid development of the economy and society, the production of municipal solid waste is continuously increasing worldwide. Therefore, harmless treatments and the disposal of municipal solid waste should be improved. This study combined the concept of Internet of things and smart environment protection with a “cloud, network, end” platform architecture to construct a smart management platform for the planning and management of landfills. The platform was developed for the mechanical biological treatment (MBT) of landfills and was divided into seven modules, landfill design, municipal solid waste production prediction, MBT waste microbial volume reduction, stability analysis, result analysis, remote monitoring, and sharing and communication, which can effectively improve the operation and management of waste, enhance the effective storage volume of a landfill, extend its service life, and thereby improve the sustainable development of the city. This study can be used as a reference for applications in similar projects worldwide.
Discontinuous Track Recognition System Based on PolyLaneNet for Darwin-op2 Robot
Authors: Wu Xi-Bao , Lv Si-Chuan , Wang Xiao-Hao , Zhang Shi-Zhuo , Liu Qiong , Wang Yi-Qun , Chen Wen-bai
Published: February 2022

This paper proposes and demonstrates a single-line discontinuous track recognition system by associating the track recognition problem of a humanoid robot with the lane detection problem. The proposal enables the robot to achieve stable running on the single-line discontinuous track. The system consists of two parts: the robot end and the graphics computing end. The robot end is responsible for collecting track information and the graphics computing end is responsible for high-performance computing. These two parts use the TCP for communication. The graphics computing side uses PolyLaneNet lane detection algorithm to train the track image captured from the first perspective of the darwin-op2 robot as the data set. In the inference, the robot end sends the collected tracking images to the graphics calculation end and uses the graphics processor to accelerate the calculation. After obtaining the motion vector, it is transmitted back to the robot end. The robot end parses the motion vector to obtain the motion information of the robot so that the robot can achieve stable running on the single-line discontinuous track. The proposed system realizes the direct recognition of the first perspective image of the robot and avoids the problems of poor stability, inability of identifying curves and discontinuous lines, and other problems in the traditional line detection method. At the same time, this system adopts the method of cooperative work between the PC side and the robot by deploying the algorithm with high computational requirements on the PC side. The data transmission is carried out by stable TCP communication, which makes it possible for the robot equipped with weak computational controllers to use deep-learning-related algorithms. It also provides ideas and solutions for deploying deep-learning-related algorithms on similar low computational robots.
Evaluating the Effect of Cultivars and Seeding Rates on the Yield of Lentil Grown under the Vertisols Production System
Authors: Woldeselassie Mebrate Tamrat , Gizaw Abel , Aniley Simegnew
Published: February 2022

Lentil is the second leading pulse crop grown in the central highland Vertisols of Ethiopia. However, waterlogging and the lack of situation-specific seed rate recommendations are among the problems that constrain its productivity. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted during 2017 and 2018 to determine the economically optimum seed rate for broadcast sowing of lentil varieties on Vertisols of North Shewa. Factorial combinations of two varieties of lentils (“Derash,” large-seeded and “Local cultivar,” small-seeded) and six seed rates (40, 60, 80, 100, 120, and 140 kg/ha) were tested in RCBD. According to the ANOVA results, the main effects of the environment, variety, and seed rate showed a significant effect on most parameters considered, except hundred seed weight for the environment, the number of seeds per pod for variety and plant height, and hundred seed weight for the main effect of seed rate. Lower yields were obtained in the second year due to the occurrence of sporadic unidentified disease, which might have created a confounding effect with variations due to the environment. The grain yield of variety “Derash” was best fitted to a power function, whereas “Local cultivar” showed a quadratic response with increasing seed rates ranging from 40 to 140 kg/ha. There was a positive and significant

p
<
0.001

correlation between grain yield and each of the following: plant height, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, and 100-seed weight. Based on ANOVA and economic analysis results, a seed rate of 100 kg/ha was found to be optimum for both varieties under the broad bed and furrow production systems on Vertisols.
Luteolin Protects Chondrocytes from H2O2-Induced Oxidative Injury and Attenuates Osteoarthritis Progression by Activating AMPK-Nrf2 Signaling
Authors: Zhou Zhiqiang , Zhang Linlin , Liu Yang , Huang Chaoming , Xia Wei , Zhou Haibin , Zhou Zhengyu , Zhou Xiaozhong
Published: February 2022

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative disease featured by cartilage erosion and inflammation. Luteolin, a member of the flavonoid family, has been shown to exert anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activities. However, the potential biological effects and underlying mechanism of luteolin on chondrocytes and OA progression remain largely elusive. In this study, the potential effect and mechanism of luteolin on OA were investigated in vitro and in vivo. Our data revealed that luteolin inhibited H2O2-induced cell death, apoptosis, oxidative stress, programmed necrosis, and inflammatory mediator production in primary murine chondrocytes. In addition, luteolin could activate the AMPK and Nrf2 pathways, and AMPK serves as a positive upstream regulator of Nrf2. In vivo results demonstrated the therapeutic effects of luteolin on OA in the DMM mouse model. Collectively, our findings showed that luteolin might serve as a novel and effective treatment for OA and provided a new research direction for clinical OA therapies.