bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanism of Shugan Yidan fang, a Chinese herbal formula, in rat model of premature ejaculation
Authors: Han Qiang , Guo Jun , Wang Renyuan , Li Jiangminzi , Wang Fu , Gao Qinghe , Zhang Jiwei , Wang Hetian , Zeng Yin
Published: October 2023

Background

Premature ejaculation (PE) is one of the most common forms of sexual dysfunction in men, and multimodal therapeutic regimens should be considered to treat the condition. We developed a Chinese medicine herbal medicine, Shugan Yidan fang that had a significant clinical effect on PE patients, extending the time between penetration and ejaculation. However, the mechanism of this formula remains unclear. There is evidence that PE is associated with peripheral neuropathology, and the actions of dopamine (DA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of Shugan Yidan fang’s effect on PE through the relationship between sexual behavioristics and the level of neurotransmitters and dopamine receptors (DARs).

Results

We showed that the male PE groups had a significant PE phenotype compared to healthy rats. Treatment with Shugan Yidan fang improved the behavioristics of the PE rats, and reduced the expression of DAR mRNA and protein while improving dopamine transporter levels.

Conclusions

Our study provided evidence for the beneficial effect of Shugan Yidan fang in PE therapy, and proposed a preliminary potential mechanism for the clinical application of the formula.
HoCoRT: host contamination removal tool
Authors: Rumbavicius Ignas , Rounge Trine B. , Rognes Torbjørn
Published: October 2023

Background

Shotgun metagenome sequencing data obtained from a host environment will usually be contaminated with sequences from the host organism. Host sequences should be removed before further analysis to avoid biases, reduce downstream computational load, or ensure privacy in the case of a human host. The tools that we identified, as designed specifically to perform host contamination sequence removal, were either outdated, not maintained, or complicated to use. Consequently, we have developed HoCoRT, a fast and user-friendly tool that implements several methods for optimised host sequence removal. We have evaluated the speed and accuracy of these methods.

Results

HoCoRT is an open-source command-line tool for host contamination removal. It is designed to be easy to install and use, offering a one-step option for genome indexing. HoCoRT employs a variety of well-known mapping, classification, and alignment methods to classify reads. The user can select the underlying classification method and its parameters, allowing adaptation to different scenarios. Based on our investigation of various methods and parameters using synthetic human gut and oral microbiomes, and on assessment of publicly available data, we provide recommendations for typical datasets with short and long reads.

Conclusions

To decontaminate a human gut microbiome with short reads using HoCoRT, we found the optimal combination of speed and accuracy with BioBloom, Bowtie2 in end-to-end mode, and HISAT2. Kraken2 consistently demonstrated the highest speed, albeit with a trade-off in accuracy. The same applies to an oral microbiome, but here Bowtie2 was notably slower than the other tools. For long reads, the detection of human host reads is more difficult. In this case, a combination of Kraken2 and Minimap2 achieved the highest accuracy and detected 59% of human reads. In comparison to the dedicated DeconSeq tool, HoCoRT using Bowtie2 in end-to-end mode proved considerably faster and slightly more accurate. HoCoRT is available as a Bioconda package, and the source code can be accessed at https://github.com/ignasrum/hocort along with the documentation. It is released under the MIT licence and is compatible with Linux and macOS (except for the BioBloom module).
Transcriptomic landscape of posterior regeneration in the annelid Platynereis dumerilii
Authors: Paré Louis , Bideau Loïc , Baduel Loeiza , Dalle Caroline , Benchouaia Médine , Schneider Stephan Q. , Laplane Lucie , Clément Yves , Vervoort Michel , Gazave Eve
Published: October 2023

Background

Restorative regeneration, the capacity to reform a lost body part following amputation or injury, is an important and still poorly understood process in animals. Annelids, or segmented worms, show amazing regenerative capabilities, and as such are a crucial group to investigate. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms that underpin regeneration in this major group remains a key goal. Among annelids, the nereididae Platynereis dumerilii (re)emerged recently as a front-line regeneration model. Following amputation of its posterior part, Platynereis worms can regenerate both differentiated tissues of their terminal part as well as a growth zone that contains putative stem cells. While this regeneration process follows specific and reproducible stages that have been well characterized, the transcriptomic landscape of these stages remains to be uncovered.

Results

We generated a high-quality de novo Reference transcriptome for the annelid Platynereis dumerilii. We produced and analyzed three RNA-sequencing datasets, encompassing five stages of posterior regeneration, along with blastema stages and non-amputated tissues as controls. We included two of these regeneration RNA-seq datasets, as well as embryonic and tissue-specific datasets from the literature to produce a Reference transcriptome. We used this Reference transcriptome to perform in depth analyzes of RNA-seq data during the course of regeneration to reveal the important dynamics of the gene expression, process with thousands of genes differentially expressed between stages, as well as unique and specific gene expression at each regeneration stage. The study of these genes highlighted the importance of the nervous system at both early and late stages of regeneration, as well as the enrichment of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) during almost the entire regeneration process.

Conclusions

In this study, we provided a high-quality de novo Reference transcriptome for the annelid Platynereis that is useful for investigating various developmental processes, including regeneration. Our extensive stage-specific transcriptional analysis during the course of posterior regeneration sheds light upon major molecular mechanisms and pathways, and will foster many specific studies in the future.
Next-generation fungal identification using target enrichment and Nanopore sequencing
Authors: Yu Pei-Ling , Fulton James C. , Hudson Owen H. , Huguet-Tapia Jose C. , Brawner Jeremy T.
Published: October 2023

Background

Rapid and accurate pathogen identification is required for disease management. Compared to sequencing entire genomes, targeted sequencing may be used to direct sequencing resources to genes of interest for microbe identification and mitigate the low resolution that single-locus molecular identification provides. This work describes a broad-spectrum fungal identification tool developed to focus high-throughput Nanopore sequencing on genes commonly employed for disease diagnostics and phylogenetic inference.

Results

Orthologs of targeted genes were extracted from 386 reference genomes of fungal species spanning six phyla to identify homologous regions that were used to design the baits used for enrichment. To reduce the cost of producing probes without diminishing the phylogenetic power, DNA sequences were first clustered, and then consensus sequences within each cluster were identified to produce 26,000 probes that targeted 114 genes. To test the efficacy of our probes, we applied the technique to three species representing Ascomycota and Basidiomycota fungi. The efficiency of enrichment, quantified as mean target coverage over the mean genome-wide coverage, ranged from 200 to 300. Furthermore, enrichment of long reads increased the depth of coverage across the targeted genes and into non-coding flanking sequence. The assemblies generated from enriched samples provided well-resolved phylogenetic trees for taxonomic assignment and molecular identification.

Conclusions

Our work provides data to support the utility of targeted Nanopore sequencing for fungal identification and provides a platform that may be extended for use with other phytopathogens.
The influence of oxygen and oxidative stress on de novo acquisition of antibiotic resistance in E. coli and Lactobacillus lactis
Authors: Qi Wenxi , Jonker Martijs J. , Teichmann Lisa , Wortel Meike , ter Kuile Benno H.
Published: October 2023

Background

Bacteria can acquire resistance through DNA mutations in response to exposure to sub-lethal concentrations of antibiotics. According to the radical-based theory, reactive oxygen species (ROS), a byproduct of the respiratory pathway, and oxidative stress caused by reactive metabolic byproducts, play a role in cell death as secondary killing mechanism. In this study we address the question whether ROS also affects development of resistance, in the conditions that the cells is not killed by the antibiotic.

Results

To investigate whether oxygen and ROS affect de novo acquisition of antibiotic resistance, evolution of resistance due to exposure to non-lethal levels of antimicrobials was compared in E. coli wildtype and ΔoxyR strains under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Since Lactococcus lactis (L. lactis) does not have an active electron transport chain (ETC) even in the presence of oxygen, and thus forms much less ROS, resistance development in L. lactis was used to distinguish between oxygen and ROS. The resistance acquisition in E. coli wildtype under aerobic and anaerobic conditions did not differ much. However, the aerobically grown ΔoxyR strain gained resistance faster than the wildtype or anaerobic ΔoxyR. Inducing an ETC by adding heme increased the rate at which L. lactis acquired resistance. Whole genome sequencing identified specific mutations involved in the acquisition of resistance. These mutations were specific for each antibiotic. The lexA mutation in ΔoxyR strain under aerobic conditions indicated that the SOS response was involved in resistance acquisition.

Conclusions

The concept of hormesis can explain the beneficial effects of low levels of ROS and reactive metabolic byproducts, while high levels are lethal. DNA repair and mutagenesis may therefore expedite development of resistance. Taken together, the results suggest that oxygen as such barely affects resistance development. Nevertheless, non-lethal levels of ROS stimulate de novo acquisition of antibiotic resistance.
Dexmedetomidine modulates neuronal activity of horizontal limbs of diagonal band via α2 adrenergic receptor in mice
Authors: Zhang Xia-wei , Chen Lei , Chen Chang-feng , Cheng Juan , Zhang Ping-ping , Wang Lie-cheng
Published: October 2023

Background and objectives

Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is widely used in clinical sedation which has little effect on cardiopulmonary inhibition, however the mechanism remains to be elucidated. The basal forebrain (BF) is a key nucleus that controls sleep-wake cycle. The horizontal limbs of diagonal bundle (HDB) is one subregions of the BF. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the possible mechanism of DEX is through the α2 adrenergic receptor of BF (HDB).

Methods

In this study, we investigated the effects of DEX on the BF (HDB) by using whole cell patch clamp recordings. The threshold stimulus intensity, the inter-spike-intervals (ISIs) and the frequency of action potential firing in the BF (HDB) neurons were recorded by application of DEX (2 µM) and co-application of a α2 adrenergic receptor antagonist phentolamine (PHEN) (10 µM).

Results

DEX (2 µM) increased the threshold stimulus intensity, inhibited the frequency of action potential firing and enlarged the inter-spike-interval (ISI) in the BF (HDB) neurons. These effects were reversed by co-application of PHEN (10 µM).

Conclusion

Taken together, our findings revealed DEX decreased the discharge activity of BF (HDB) neuron via α2 adrenergic receptors.
Selective optogenetic modulation of the PBN terminals in the lateral hypothalamic area and basal forebrain regulates emergence from isoflurane anesthesia in mice
Authors: Lu Kai , Wang Zhenhuan , Bai Ning , Zhao Ziyu , Zhao Xinrong , He Yun
Published: October 2023

While the mechanism of general anesthesia has been extensively studied, the underlying neural circuitry has yet to be fully understood. The parabrachial nucleus (PBN) plays a crucial role in modulating wakefulness and promoting arousal from general anesthesia. However, the specific role of PBN projections in the process of general anesthesia remains unclear. In this study, we bilaterally injected AAV-associated viruses encoding excitatory or inhibitory optogenetic probes into the PBN and implanted optical fibers in the LH or BF area. After four weeks, we optogenetically activated or inhibited the PBN-LH and PBN-BF pathways under 1.5 vol% isoflurane. We calculated the time it took for anesthesia induction and emergence, simultaneously monitoring changes in the burst-suppression ratio using electroencephalogram recording. Our findings indicate that optogenetic activation of the PBN-LH and PBN-BF projections plays a significant role in promoting both cortical and behavioral emergence from isoflurane inhalation, without significantly affecting the induction time. Conversely, photoinhibition of these pathways prolonged the recovery time, with no notable difference observed during the induction phase.

In summary, our results demonstrate that the PBN-LH and PBN-BF pathways are crucial for promoting arousal from isoflurane general anesthesia, but do not have a pronounced impact on the induction phase.
Learning from the covid-19 outbreaks in long-term care facilities: a systematic review
Authors: Henriques Helga Rafael , Sousa Diana , Faria José , Pinto Joana , Costa Andreia , Henriques Maria Adriana , Durão Maria Cândida
Published: October 2023

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has devastatingly affected Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCF), exposing aging people, staff members, and visitors. The world has learned through the pandemic and lessons can be taken to adopt effective measures to deal with COVID-19 outbreaks in LTCF. We aimed to systematically review the available evidence on the effect of measures to minimize the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in LTCs during outbreaks since 2021.

Methods

The search method was guided by the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews (PRISMA) and the reporting guideline synthesis without meta-analysis (SWiM) in systematic reviews. The search was performed in April 2023. Observational and interventional studies from the databases of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Systematic Reviews, CINAHL, and Academic Search were systematically reviewed. We included studies conducted in the LTCF with outbreaks that quantitatively assess the effect of non-pharmacological measures on cases of COVID-19. Two review authors independently reviewed titles for inclusion, extracted data, and undertook the risk of bias according to pre-specified criteria. The quality of studies was analyzed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal.

Results

Thirteen studies were included, with 8442 LTCF experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks and 598 thousand participants (residents and staff members). Prevention and control of COVID-19 infection interventions were grouped into three themes: strategic, tactical, and operational measures. The strategic measures reveal the importance of COVID-19 prevention and control as LTCF structural characteristics, namely the LTCF size, new admissions, infection control surveillance, and architectural structure. At the tactical level, the lack of personal and long staff shifts is related to COVID-19's spread. Operational measures with a favorable effect on preventing COVID-19 transmission are sufficient. Personal protective equipment stock, correct mask use, signaling, social distancing, and resident cohorting.

Conclusions

Operational, tactical, and strategic approaches may have a favorable effect on preventing the spread of COVID-19 in LTCFs experiencing outbreaks. Given the heterogeneous nature of the measures, performing a meta-analysis was not possible. Future research should use more robust study designs to explore similar infection control measures in LTCFs during endemic situations with comparable outbreaks.

Trial registration

The protocol of this systematic review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020214566).
Diagnosis and treatment of “chronic Lyme”: primum non nocere
Authors: Sébastien Prat , Jacques Dalbin , Catherine Plotton , Xavier Gocko
Published: October 2023

Background

Approximately 10% of patients experience prolonged symptoms after Lyme disease. PTLDS (post treatment Lyme disease syndrome) is a controversial topic. It has been described as a source of overdiagnosis and off-label treatment. This review aims to describe the diagnostic errors and adverse events associated with the diagnosis and treatment of PTLDS.

Methods

systematic review of the literature in the Medline and Cochrane Library databases, according to PRISMA criteria, including randomized clinical trials (RCT), observational studies, and case reports addressing diagnostic errors and adverse events published between January 2010 and November 2020 in English or French. Selection used a quadruple reading process on the basis of the titles and abstracts of the different articles, followed by a full reading.

Results

17 studies were included: 1 RCT, 6 observational studies and 10 case reports. In the 6 observational studies, overdiagnosis rates were very high, ranging from 80 to 100%. The new diagnoses were often psychiatric, rheumatological and neurological. Disorders with somatic symptoms were often cited. Diagnostic delays were identified for cancers and frontoparietal dementia. In the RCT and observational studies, prolonged anti-infective treatments were also responsible for adverse events, with emergency room visits and/or hospitalization. The most common adverse events were diarrhea, sometimes with Clostridium difficile colitis, electrolyte abnormalities, sepsis, bacterial and fungal infections, and anaphylactic reactions.

Conclusion

This review highlights the risks of prolonged anti-infective treatments that have not been proven to be beneficial in PTLDS. It emphasizes the ethical imperative of the “primum non nocere” principle, which underscores the importance of not causing harm to patients. Physicians should exercise caution in diagnosing PTLDS and consider the potential risks associated with off-label treatments.
Radiomics analysis based on CT for the prediction of pulmonary metastases in ewing sarcoma
Authors: Liu Ying , Yin Ping , Cui Jingjing , Sun Chao , Chen Lei , Hong Nan , Li Zhentao
Published: October 2023

Objectives

This study aimed to develop and validate radiomics models on the basis of computed tomography (CT) and clinical features for the prediction of pulmonary metastases (MT) in patients with Ewing sarcoma (ES) within 2 years after diagnosis.

Materials and methods

A total of 143 patients with a histopathological diagnosis of ES were enrolled in this study (114 in the training cohort and 29 in the validation cohort). The regions of interest (ROIs) were handcrafted along the boundary of each tumor on the CT and CT-enhanced (CTE) images, and radiomic features were extracted. Six different models were built, including three radiomics models (CT, CTE and ComB models) and three clinical-radiomics models (CT_clinical, CTE_clinical and ComB_clinical models). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), and accuracy were calculated to evaluate the different models, and DeLong test was used to compare the AUCs of the models.

Results

Among the clinical risk factors, the therapeutic method had significant differences between the MT and non-MT groups (P＜0.01). The six models performed well in predicting pulmonary metastases in patients with ES, and the ComB model (AUC: 0.866/0.852 in training/validation cohort) achieved the highest AUC among the six models. However, no statistically significant difference was observed between the AUC of the models.

Conclusions

In patients with ES, clinical-radiomics model created using radiomics signature and clinical features provided favorable ability and accuracy for pulmonary metastases prediction.
Idiopathic multicentric castleman’s disease mimicking immunoglobulin G4-related disease responding well to Bortezomib: a case report
Authors: Peng Qian , Wu Fan , Shi Yuting , Wang Juan , Zhai Zhimin , Wang Zhitao
Published: October 2023

Background

Castleman’s disease (CD) is a rare disease that has clinical and pathological similarities to lymphoma and is characterized by a high frequency of associated immunological dysfunction. ImmunoglobulinG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a collection of systemic disorders that affect numerous organs and are also referred to as IgG4-associated sclerosing diseases. CD and IgG4-RD are difficult to separate because they may manifest similar commin clinical features.

Case presentation

This case describes a 53-year-old female who, during routine medical check-up, exhibited a progressive increase in serum globulin levels and a simultaneous worsening of anemia symptoms, raising concern for a clonal plasma cell disease such as myeloma. However, bone marrow punctures did not reveal any abnormal plasma cells. Also, serum and urine immunofixation electrophoresis demonstrated no abnormal monoclonal protein bands. In addition, several laboratory findings excluded chronic liver disease, chronic infections caused by bacteria or viruses. Later, we found elevated serum IgG4 levels (10,700 mg/L), and identified multiple enlarged lymph nodes throughout the patient’s body. Axillary lymph node aspiration revealed no abnormal lymphocytes, ruling out the possibility of lymphoma. Pathological morphology of the axillary lymph revealed a large number of plasma cells in the lymphatic follicles. In addition, there was a reduction in lymphatic follicle size and apoptosis of the germinal centres. Immunohistochemistry revealed IgG4+/IgG + in > 40% of cells, and more than 100 IgG4 + cells per high powered field (HPF) of specimen. As of now, finding strongly suggested IgG4-RD. This patient was treated with glucocorticoids and various immunosuppressive drugs, such as prednisone, cyclosporine, methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine and hydroxychloroquine. Unfortunately, the patient did not recover. Ultimately, idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD) was diagnosed in relation to the patient’s clinical presentation and laboratory tests, and after combination chemotherapy (VCD: Bortezomib, Cyclophosphamide and Dexamethasone), durable remission was achieved without serious adverse effects. During the follow-up period of one year and ten months, the patient remained stable.

Conclusion

The diagnosis of Castleman must be distinguished from other disorders such as IgG4-RD, malignant lymphoma, reactive hyperplasia of various lymph nodes (mostly caused by viral infections), plasmacytoma, advanced HIV and rheumatic diseases. Besides observing systemic symptoms, laboratory tests such as immunoglobulin levels, complement levels, interleukin levels, and C-reactive protein levels should also be performed in order to determine a diagnosis.
GBP2 is a prognostic biomarker and associated with immunotherapeutic responses in gastric cancer
Authors: Wang Yunfei , Pan Jiadong , An Fangmei , Chen Ke , Chen Jiawei , Nie He , Zhu Yanping , Qian Zhengtao , Zhan Qiang
Published: October 2023

Background

The interferon-induced protein known as guanylate-binding protein 2 (GBP2) has been linked to multiple different cancer types as an oncogenic gene. Although the role of GBP2 in cancer has been preliminarily explored, it is unclear how this protein interacts with tumor immunity in gastric cancer.

Methods

The expression, prognostic value, immune-correlations of GBP2 in gastric cancer was explored in multiple public and in-house cohorts. In addition, the pan-cancer analysis was performed to investigate the immunological role of GBP2 based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset, and the predictive value of GBP2 for immunotherapy was also examined in multiple public cohorts.

Results

GBP2 was highly expressed in tumor tissues and associated with poor prognosis in gastric cancer. In addition, GBP2 was associated with the immune-hot phenotype. To be more specific, GBP2 was positively related to immuno-modulators, tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs), immunotherapy biomarkers, and even well immunotherapeutic response. In addition to gastric cancer, GBP2 was expected to be an indicator of high immunogenicity in most cancer types. Importantly, GBP2 could predict the immunotherapeutic responses in at least four different cancer types, including melanoma, urothelial carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and breast cancer.

Conclusions

To sum up, GBP2 expression is a promising pan-cancer biomarker for estimating the immunological characteristics of tumors and may be utilized to detect immuno-hot tumors in gastric cancer.
EDOF intraocular lens design: shift in image plane vs object vergence
Authors: Omidi Pooria , Cayless Alan , Langenbucher Achim
Published: October 2023

Background

To compare 2 different design scenarios of EDOF-IOLs inserted in the Liou-Brennan schematic model eye using raytracing simulation as a function of pupil size.

Methods

Two EDOF IOL designs were created and optimized for the Liou-Brennan schematic model eye using Zemax ray tracing software. Each lens was optimized to achieve a maximum Strehl ratio for intermediate and far vision. In the first scenario, the object was located at infinity (O1), and the image plane was positioned at far focus (I1) and intermediate focus (I2) to emulate far and intermediate distance vision, respectively. In the second scenario, the image plane was fixed at I1 according to the first scenario. The object plane was set to infinity (O1) for far-distance vision and then shifted closer to the eye (O2) to reproduce the corresponding intermediate vision. The performance of both IOLs was simulated for the following 3 test conditions as a function of pupil size: a) O1 to I1, b) O1 to I2, and c) O2 to I1. To evaluate the imaging performance, we used the Strehl ratio, the root-mean-square (rms) of the spot radius, and the spherical aberration of the wavefront for various pupil sizes.

Results

Evaluating the imaging performance of the IOLs shows that the imaging performance of the IOLs is essentially identical for object/image at O1/I1. Designed IOLs perform dissimilarly to each other in near-vision scenarios, and the simulations confirm that there is a slight difference in their optical performance.

Conclusion

Our simulation study recommends considering the difference between object shift and image plane shift in design and test conditions to achieve more accurate pseudoaccommodation after cataract surgery.
Medication-free mental health treatment: a focus group study of milieu therapeutic settings
Authors: Beyene Lise Saestad , Hem Marit Helene , Strand Elin Bolle
Published: October 2023

Background

Medication-free treatment within mental health care aims to offer therapeutic support as an alternative to psychotropic medication. Introducing milieu therapy for severely mentally ill persons in a medication-free unit requires significant changes to the traditional medication-based psychiatric setting. The present study examines how milieu therapists experience working with medication-free treatment for people with severe mental health challenges. The research question was “What may be required to succeed with medication-free treatment in milieu therapeutic settings?”

Methods

A qualitative study with four focus groups were conducted with 23 milieu therapists from three inpatient units in two mental health institutions. Thematic analysis was performed.

Results

One main theme was identified: medication-free treatment involves therapists and patients working together on holistic and personal health promotion. This common thread links the four themes: helping patients to make changes in their life; having time to focus on the individual patient; being a professional companion; and working together as a team with the patient.

Conclusions

A holistic approach is necessary for medication-free treatment to succeed. This requires working together in multidisciplinary teams with a focus on the individual patient. Milieu therapists must engage and take more responsibility in the patient’s process of health promotion. A change from a medical to a humanistic paradigm within mental health care is needed.
Mental Health Information Reporting Assistant (MHIRA)—an open-source software facilitating evidence-based assessment for clinical services
Authors: Zimmermann Ronan , Konjufca Jon , Sakejo Peter , Kilonzo Mrema , Quevedo Yamil , Blum Kathrin , Biba Edison , Mosha Tumaini , Cottin Marianne , Hernández Cristóbal , Kaaya Sylvia , Arenliu Aliriza , Behn Alex
Published: October 2023

Evidence-based assessment (EBA) in mental health is a critical aspect of improving patient outcomes and addressing the gaps in mental health care. EBA involves the use of psychometric instruments to gather data that can inform clinical decision-making, inform policymakers, and serve as a basis for research and quality management. Despite its potential, EBA is often hindered by barriers such as workload and cost, leading to its underutilization. Regarding low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), the implementation of EBA is recognized as a key strategy to address and close the prevalent mental health treatment gap.

To simplify the application of EBA including in LMIC, an international team of researchers and practitioners from Tanzania, Kosovo, Chile, and Switzerland developed the Mental Health Information Reporting Assistant (MHIRA). MHIRA is an open-source electronic health record that streamlines EBA by digitising psychometric instruments and organising patient data in a user-friendly manner. It provides immediate and convenient reports to inform clinical decision-making.

The current article provides a comprehensive overview of the features and technical details of MHIRA, as well as insights from four implementation scenarios. The experience gained during the implementations as well as the user-feedback suggests that MHIRA has the potential to be successfully implemented in a variety of clinical contexts and simplify the use of EBA. However, further research is necessary to establish its potential to sustainably transform healthcare services and impact patient outcomes.

In conclusion, MHIRA represents an important step in promoting the widespread adoption of EBA in mental health. It offers a promising solution to the barriers that have limited the use of EBA in the past and holds the potential to improve patient outcomes and support the ongoing efforts to address gaps in mental health care.
Results from “Live Well”, a randomized controlled community-based participatory intervention to prevent obesity in new immigrant mother–child dyads
Authors: Economos Christina D. , Tovar Alison , Choumenkovitch Silvina , Boulos Rebecca , Chui Kenneth , Gute David M. , Hyatt Raymond R. , Metayer Nesly , Pirie Alex , Must Aviva
Published: October 2023

Background

Upon arrival, the prevalence of overweight and obesity is lower in new immigrants than their native counterparts in the U.S. With longer residency in the U.S., these differences converge over time, followed by higher prevalence among immigrants than native U.S. residents. Results from the Live Well project in the Greater Boston area demonstrate the viability of utilizing a culturally adapted, community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to reduce weight gain among newly immigrated mother–child dyads.

Methods

Haitian, Latina, and Brazilian mother–child dyads (n = 390), new to the U.S. (fewer than 10 years) were enrolled in a one- to two-year long CBPR lifestyle intervention that targeted dietary and physical activity behaviors. Attendance was recorded to establish dose. Demographics, anthropometrics, and relevant covariates were collected from participants at baseline, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated using objectively measured height and weight. Linear mixed regression models were used to assess change in BMI and BMI z-score of mothers and children respectively.

Results

At baseline, nearly 75% of mothers and 50% of children were either overweight or obese (BMI ≥ 25.0 and BMI z-score ≥ 85th percentile, respectively). Only 20% of mothers attended all 12 intervention sessions in year 1. Using intent-to-treat analyses, no significant time, intervention, or time × intervention effects were observed for weight change of mothers or children at follow-up. Mothers in the highest quantile (those who attended all 12 intervention sessions) had significant reductions in BMI at 18 months (1.76 units lower, 95%CI: -3.14, -0.37) and 24 months (2.61 units, 95%CI -3.92, -1.29) compared to mothers in the lower quantiles, including those with no exposure. Such dose effects on BMI z-scores were not noted for children.

Conclusions

Findings from Live Well demonstrate the viability of utilizing a CBPR approach to address overweight and obesity among immigrant mothers. Given the higher-than-expected prevalence of overweight and obesity among mother–child dyads by ~ 6 years of U.S. residency, and lower maternal participation rates in the intervention, additional research is necessary to identify the optimal intervention length, retention strategies, and approach to jointly support healthy maternal and child weight.
A pre-market interventional, single-arm clinical investigation of a new topical lotion based on hyaluronic acid and peptides, EGYFILTM, for the treatment of pain and stiffness in soft tissues
Authors: Picotti Stefano , Forte Luca , Serrentino Jo
Published: October 2023

Background

Muscle pain and stiffness are strictly interconnected. Injuries frequently occur during sport activities, causing muscle pain, with or without stiffness, and require effective as well as fast-acting treatments. Topical products can be ideal for the treatment of such physical alterations as they are convenient and simple to use. In this study, it was investigated the application of a novel topical formulation, EGYFIL™, for the treatment of pain and stiffness due to muscle contracture, trauma, and/or overtraining. The lotion is composed of hyaluronic acid, a well-known ingredient for the pain alleviation, mixed with skin conditioning SH-Polypeptide-6 and SH-Oligopeptide-1, embedded in it.

Methods

Twenty-six patients with pain and/or stiffness were enrolled. After a screening visit (Time 0, t0), patients were treated for the first time with the IP. The treatment consisted of topical application of the pain lotion. Level of pain and stiffness were measured with Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). Patients’ pain and/or stiffness were evaluated at t0 (prior to using the product), after three hours (t1), and after three days (t2) of treatment. Participants were free to apply and re-apply the product ad libitum over the course of the study period (3 days). Potential adverse events (AE) and tolerance were evaluated during each visit.

Results

There was a 22% decrease in pain in the first three hours (p < 0.001), followed by an additional 20% decrease after three days (p=0.0873). Overall, there was a 42% decrease in pain over the three days of the study (p =0.001). Furthermore, a 24% reduction in stiffness in the first three hours (p=0.025) and a 38% decrease in stiffness over three days (p < 0.001) were observed. Reduction in pain and stiffness were neither age, nor sex dependent. No adverse effects were reported during the study.

Conclusion

EGYFIL™ is safe and seems to reduce pain and stiffness in patients during the 3 days of treatment, already after 3 h from the first application.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05711953. This trial was registered on 03/02/2023.
Socioeconomic differences in the utilization of diagnostic imaging and non-pharmaceutical conservative therapies for spinal diseases
Authors: Tesch Falko , Schmitt Jochen , Dröge Patrik , Günster Christian , Seidler Andreas , Flechtenmacher Johannes , Lembeck Burkhard , Kladny Bernd , Wirtz Dieter Christian , Niethard Fritz-Uwe , Lange Toni
Published: October 2023

Background

A different utilization of health care services due to socioeconomic status on the same health plan contradicts the principle of equal treatment. We investigated the presence and magnitude of socioeconomic differences in utilization of diagnostic imaging and non-pharmaceutical conservative therapies for patients with spinal diseases.

Methods

The cohort study based on routine healthcare data from Germany with 11.7 million patient-years between 2012 and 2016 for patients with physician-confirmed spinal diseases (ICD-10: M40-M54), occupation and age 20 to 64 years. A Poisson model estimated the effects of the socioeconomic status (school education, professional education and occupational position) for the risk ratio of receiving diagnostic imaging (radiography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging) and non-pharmaceutical conservative therapies (physical therapy including exercise therapy, manual therapy and massage, spinal manipulative therapy, acupuncture).

Results

Patients received diagnostic imaging in 26%, physical therapy in 32%, spinal manipulative therapy in 25%, and acupuncture in 4% of all patient-years. Similar to previous survey-based studies higher rates of utilization were associated with higher socioeconomic status. These differences were most pronounced for manual therapy, exercise therapy, and magnetic resonance imaging.

Conclusions

The observed differences in health care utilization were highly related to socioeconomic status. Socioeconomic differences were higher for more expensive health services. Further research is necessary to identify barriers to equitable access to health services and to take appropriate action to decrease existing social disparities.
Work immersion and perceived stress among clinical nurses: a latent profile analysis and moderated mediation analysis
Authors: Liao Yuan , Wei Wanting , Fang Sujuan , Wu Lihua , Gao Jing , Wu Xinyu , Huang Lijun , Li Chun , Li Yu
Published: October 2023

Background

Exploration of the relationship between individual work immersion and perceived stress is critical for clinical nurses’ effective psychological interventions and human resource management, as well as to alleviate nursing staff shortages. In order to further dissect the influencing factors of perceived stress among nursing staff, our study introduces the concepts of perfectionism and social connectedness to analyze the specific pathways that influence perceived stress in terms of an individual’s intrinsic and external personality traits. This study provides relevant recommendations for the development of stress management measures for nursing staff.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional survey. 993 registered clinical nurses were included from four hospitals in Guangzhou through a convenience sampling method. Clinical nurses’ work immersion, perceived stress, perfectionism, and social connectedness were investigated using questionnaires based on latent profile analysis. The relationships between variables were analyzed using t-tests, analysis of variance, Pearson’s correlation analysis, latent profile analysis, and moderated mediation analysis.

Results

The results showed that (1) general influences on nurses’ perceived stress included only child, labor relationship, labor allowance, and family support; (2) nurses’ work immersion contained four subgroups: lowest (12.6%), medium-low (39.8%), medium-high (39.9%), and highest (7.7%); (3) positive and negative perfectionism played a mediating role between the association of work immersion and perceived stress; (4) social connectedness played a moderating role in the mediation model of perceived stress.

Conclusions

Work immersion, perfectionism, and social connectedness have an important impact on clinical nurses’ perceived stress. Nursing managers or leaders should pay attention to the differences of individual work immersion status, adopt reasonable stress management strategies, accurately identify positive perfectionist groups and strengthen the relationship between groups, so as to ensure the quality of nursing care, and reduce nursing turnover and alleviate the problem of staff shortage.
Early cardiovascular prevention: the crucial role of nurse-led intervention
Authors: Mattioli Anna Vittoria , Gallina Sabina
Published: October 2023

The present comment on Qiu’s work intends to emphasize two points: (1) Cardiovascular prevention must start early due to the progressive nature of atherosclerosis. (2) growing evidence that coaching performed by nurses leads to effective results. Nurses can intercept the young population who must be sensitized and educated about prevention.
Investigating the tendency to use COVID-19 vaccine booster dose in Iran
Authors: Askarian Mehrdad , Kazerooni AmirAli Rastegar , Shayan zahra , Karimzadeh Parisa , Movahedi Mohammad , Hatam Nahid
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Vaccine hesitancy is recognized as a significant public health threats, characterized by delays, refusals, or reluctance to accept vaccinations despite their availability. This study, aimed to investigate the willingness of Iranians to receive booster shots, refusal rate, and their preferred type of COVID-19 vaccine.

Materials and methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted over a month from August 23 to September 22, 2022 using an online questionnaire distributed through WhatsApp and Telegram online communities. The questionnaire assessed participants’ intent to accept COVID-19 booster vaccination and had no exclusion criteria. Data analysis involved using SPSS version 16.0, with t-tests and chi-square tests used to assess the bivariate association of continuous and categorical variables. A multivariate logistic regression model was built to examine the association between Health Belief Model (HBM) tenets and COVID-19 vaccination intent. The Hosmer Lemeshow Goodness of Fit statistic was used to assess the model’s fit, with a p-value > 0.05 indicating a good fit.

Results

The survey was disseminated to 1041 adults and the findings revealed that 82.5% of participants expressed a desire to receive the booster dose. Participants who intended to be vaccinated were generally older (46.4 ± 10.9), mostly female (53.3%), single (78.9%), had received a flu vaccine (45.8%). The findings indicated that the HBM items, including perception of COVID-19 disease, perceived benefits of COVID-19 vaccines, COVID-19 safety/cost concerns, preference of COVID-19 vaccine alternatives, and prosocial norms for COVID-19 vaccination, received higher scores among individuals intending to be vaccinated compared to vaccine-hesitant individuals, with statistical significance (p < 0.05). However, the “COVID-19 risk-reduction habits” item had a higher score but did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.167).

Conclusion

Factors such as lack of trust in the effectiveness of the vaccine, trust in specific vaccine manufacturers, and concerns about side effects of COVID-19 vaccine are among the most important factors. These findings have implications for national vaccination policies, emphasizing the need for policymakers in the health sector to address these factors as vital considerations to ensure the continuity of vaccination as one of the most important strategies for controlling the pandemic.
Understanding the difference, makes the difference: perceptions of Black and Minoritised ethnic occupational therapists on mentoring
Authors: Atwal Anita , McKay Elizabeth , Sriram Vimal
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Black and Minoritised Ethnicity (BME) occupational therapists face lower career progression opportunities and mentoring is one possible intervention that may offer support. BME persons may have different expectations and experiences from their mentor, and research exploring their perceptions of mentoring is important. In Occupational Therapy there is a growing awareness of the need to be true to the values of social justice. The aim of this research is to learn about BME occupational therapists’ experiences and perceptions of mentoring for career progression.

Methods

Four online focus groups involving 19 participants from the UK were held, discussions were facilitated by researchers using a topic guide. Participants responses were analysed, and codes were brought together to create Themes including career progression and role models, mentoring relationship, similarity with the mentor and outcomes from mentoring.

Results

The study highlighted that trust is integral to effective mentoring relationships and BME occupational therapists want mentors who they can trust with their experiences and stories. Compatibility between mentors and mentees in terms of personality, values, and working styles is crucial for effective mentoring relationships. Providing opportunities for networking, acknowledging good work and giving permission were all seen as outcomes from good mentoring. The absence of BME role models and ingroup bias were also reported as issues to be addressed.

Conclusion

This study explores the perception of mentorship as a mechanism for career advancement in occupational therapists from BME backgrounds, with these results transferable to other health and care professional groups. We recommend the creation of a mentoring charter for BME healthcare workers in the United Kingdom to ensure that those from BME backgrounds feel supported, mentored, and provided with equitable access to resources, including adequate mentoring and networking opportunities.
Healthcare professionals’ views on the accessibility and acceptability of perinatal mental health services for South Asian and Black women: a qualitative study
Authors: Bains Kiren , Bicknell Sarah , Jovanović Nikolina , Conneely Maev , McCabe Rosemarie , Copello Alex , Fletcher-Rogers Jessica , Priebe Stefan , Janković Jelena
Published: October 2023

Background

Perinatal mental illness affects one third of new and expectant mothers. Individuals from ethnic minority groups experience higher rates of mental health problems and higher suicide rates. Despite this, women from ethnic minorities—Black and South Asian women in particular—are less likely to receive support from mental health services in the perinatal period. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) who have contact with women during this period have a unique perspective, and their views may provide insights to understand and remedy this health inequality. This study aimed to identify healthcare professionals’ views on the current accessibility and acceptability of perinatal mental health services, and ways of improving services by addressing the barriers for these women.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty-four healthcare professionals who work with patients in the perinatal period. Purposive sampling was used to select HCPs from a range of different professions (including mental health staff, midwifery, primary care, social care). The data were analysed using Framework Analysis.

Results

Three main themes were identified from the data: (1) lack of awareness and understanding of perinatal mental illness and service structure in both healthcare professionals and patients; (2) patients’ relationships with family, friends and healthcare professionals can both hinder and facilitate access to services; (3) healthcare professionals encourage raising awareness, flexibility, developing shared understandings and questioning assumptions to improve the accessibility and acceptability of services.

Conclusion

Key insights into explaining and remedying the health inequalities observed between ethnic groups were proposed by healthcare professionals. Recommendations included sharing information; taking steps to ensure each woman was considered as an individual in her relationship with her culture, ethnicity and childrearing practices; and healthcare professionals addressing their possible unconscious biases through engaging in personal reflexive practices. Reasons these are currently not being implemented deserve further research, and the potential of novel roles such as peer support workers in bridging the space between ideals and practice needs further investigation.