bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Probiotic supplementation in healthy pre‐school‐aged children: What, why, how and when?
Authors: Irwin Nicola , Currie Marian J , Davis Deborah
Published: October 2022

Aim

We previously published the prevalence and predictors of probiotic use among a cohort of healthy 4 and 5‐year‐old children. Here we explore the species and strains most commonly used, the reasons probiotics are used, perceptions of the impact on children's health and parental behaviours around probiotic supplementation in children.

Methods

Parents of 4 and 5‐year‐old children living in the Australian Capital Territory were invited to participate in an observational, cross‐sectional study by completing a web‐based survey between February and May 2020. Data concerning 481 children were eligible for analysis. Results are presented as simple proportions, with odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals where appropriate.

Results

Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis were the most frequently reported species, and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG was the most frequently reported strain. The most common reason for administering probiotics to the 228 (47.4%) of 481 children ever exposed was to promote general health (54%). Half (51%) of parents perceived probiotics had improved their child's general health, although this was more likely for children who had recently (odds ratio (OR): 2.69, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.47–4.93) or regularly (OR: 2.92, CI: 1.46–5.85) used probiotics or whose parent had recently used probiotics (OR: 2.47, CI: 1.34–4.55). Initial exposure to probiotics occurred before the age of 2 years in 65% of the cohort.

Conclusion

This community‐based study suggests that parents use probiotics primarily to improve children's general health and with modest perceived effect. The long‐term effects of early and prolonged exposure to probiotics are not well understood.
Actigraphy in studies on insomnia: Worth the effort?
Authors: Rösler Lara , van der Lande Glenn , Leerssen Jeanne , Cox Roy , Ramautar Jennifer R. , van Someren Eus J. W.
Published: October 2022

In the past decades, actigraphy has emerged as a promising, cost‐effective, and easy‐to‐use tool for ambulatory sleep recording. Polysomnography (PSG) validation studies showed that actigraphic sleep estimates fare relatively well in healthy sleepers. Additionally, round‐the‐clock actigraphy recording has been used to study circadian rhythms in various populations. To this date, however, there is little evidence that the diagnosis, monitoring, or treatment of insomnia can significantly benefit from actigraphy recordings. Using a case–control design, we therefore critically examined whether mean or within‐subject variability of actigraphy sleep estimates or circadian patterns add to the understanding of sleep complaints in insomnia. We acquired actigraphy recordings and sleep diaries of 37 controls and 167 patients with varying degrees of insomnia severity for up to 9 consecutive days in their home environment. Additionally, the participants spent one night in the laboratory, where actigraphy was recorded alongside PSG to check whether sleep, in principle, is well estimated. Despite moderate to strong agreement between actigraphy and PSG sleep scoring in the laboratory, ambulatory actigraphic estimates of average sleep and circadian rhythm variables failed to successfully differentiate patients with insomnia from controls in the home environment. Only total sleep time differed between the groups. Additionally, within‐subject variability of sleep efficiency and wake after sleep onset was higher in patients. Insomnia research may therefore benefit from shifting attention from average sleep variables to day‐to‐day variability or from the development of non‐motor home‐assessed indicators of sleep quality.
Size spectra, biomass, and trophic groups of free‐living marine nematodes along a water‐depth gradient in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico
Authors: de Jesús‐Navarrete Alberto , Armenteros Maickel , Espositos Abel Vargas , Rocha‐Olivares Axayacatl
Published: October 2022

Water depth can affect the size spectra (SS) and biomass of free‐living nematodes, but these relationships are largely unknown for the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). Here, we examined the SS and biomass of meiofaunal nematode assemblages at 27 sites along a water‐depth gradient from 44 to 3466 m in the Perdido belt, northwestern GoM. Nematodes were identified to species level, measured (length and width), and assigned to shape morphotypes and trophic groups. Nematode SS were defined by a median length of 951 μm (range: 223–4289 μm) and a median width of 33 μm (range: 12–109 μm). SS revealed a dominant long/slender morphotype (e.g., Paramicrolaimus sp., Filoncholaimus sp., and Ledovitia sp.), better adapted to the very fine sediments of the deep sea, whereas stout/short nematodes (mostly Desmoscolex sp., Greeffiella sp., and Quadricoma sp.) were less abundant. Water‐depth gradient significantly influenced mean individual (IB) and total biomasses likely because reduced availability of organic carbon with depth. The two deepest sites had particularly high mean IB suggesting local sources of organic carbon in the abyssal region related to the Perdido belt oil field. The most abundant trophic group was microbial feeder sucker (56%), followed by microbial feeder scraper (23%), and predator ingester (20%). The mean IB of predator nematodes was significantly larger than that of nematode preys. However, the logarithm of ratio IBpredator/IBprey was rather low (0.34) and in agreement with the empiric consumer‐resource body‐size relationship calculated for marine invertebrates. Our study provides novel insights about the structure of benthic nematode assemblages in the western Gulf of Mexico across a wide depth gradient.
Involvement of the p53‐p16/RB pathway control mechanism in early‐stage carcinogenesis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Mori Taisuke
Published: October 2022

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma develops through a heterogeneous process involving human papillomavirus infection, smoking, and alcohol consumption. A comprehensive genomic analysis of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas to date has identified a few single driver gene mutations, the most frequent of which involve TP53 and CDKN2A/p16. To investigate the involvement of the tumorigenesis mechanism in early‐stage carcinogenesis, HPV‐derived genomes E6 and E7, which are carcinogens, and stem/progenitor‐associated, polycomb (PcG) genes Bmi1 and TERT were induced into human stromal cells and immortalized as the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma model. We found that Bmi1 suppressed both the p16INK4a and p16/Rb‐p53 pathway cross‐talks. The E7 group showed that endogenous p53 is highly expressed and eludes chromosome number aberration, even on long‐term observation. Bmi1 was predominantly expressed in early head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, and PcG was essential in early cancer development. Additionally, TP53 whole exon analysis revealed categories useful for estimating malignant potential, such as poor prognosis and high recurrence at the transection site. Therefore, understanding the p53‐p16/RB pathway in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is an essential factor to elucidate the early carcinogenesis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Drought and social conflict in rural Zimbabwe: Does the burden fall on women and girls?
Authors: Chigusiwa Lloyd , Kembo George , Kairiza Terrence
Published: October 2022

Climate change–induced extreme weather events such as drought have occurred with increasing frequency and intensity in Zimbabwe over the past 30 years bringing about pressure on communally owned water resources. Using the Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee 2020 survey of rural households in Zimbabwe, this study assesses the impact of drought shock on the occurrence of water point violence. The impact of self‐reported drought shock on the likelihood of occurrence of social conflict in the form of water point violence is subject to confounding due to selection bias. Using the doubly robust inverse probability weighted regression adjustment to account for confounding, we investigate gender dimensions of the impact of drought on inducing water point violence in rural Zimbabwe. The study offers three major findings. First, drought shock is associated with increased household propensity to experience water point violence. Second, the severity of the drought shock impact increases the probability of the household experiencing water point violence. Third, drought shock–induced water point violence is only statistically valid for households where the water‐fetcher is a woman or girl. The results suggest that the impact of drought shocks on water point violence is gendered and disadvantages women and girls more than men and boys.
The impact of Hodgkin–Huxley models on dendritic research
Authors: Petousakis Konstantinos‐Evangelos , Apostolopoulou Anthi A. , Poirazi Panayiota
Published: October 2022

For the past seven decades, the Hodgkin–Huxley (HH) formalism has been an invaluable tool in the arsenal of neuroscientists, allowing for robust and reproducible modelling of ionic conductances and the electrophysiological phenomena they underlie. Despite its apparent age, its role as a cornerstone of computational neuroscience has not waned. The discovery of dendritic regenerative events mediated by ionic and synaptic conductances has solidified the importance of HH‐based models further, yielding new predictions concerning dendritic integration, synaptic plasticity and neuronal computation. These predictions are often validated through in vivo and in vitro experiments, advancing our understanding of the neuron as a biological system and emphasizing the importance of HH‐based detailed computational models as an instrument of dendritic research. In this article, we discuss recent studies in which the HH formalism is used to shed new light on dendritic function and its role in neuronal phenomena.

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Investigation Into Hybridization of the Two-Fluid Model and Phase-Field Model for Multi-Scale Two-Phase Flow Simulations
Authors: Tamura Akinori , Katono Kenichi
Published: October 2022

To simulate heterogeneous bubbly flows, a hybrid method has been developed in several studies by combining the two-fluid model and the interface tracking method. Since this original hybrid method is based on the one-pressure modeling, which is a common approach for the two-fluid model, unphysical flow would occur in the flow where the surface tension is dominant. To resolve this inherent weakness of one-pressure modeling, we proposed a new formulation of the hybrid method in this study. The proposed hybrid method includes no pressure term in the dispersed phase because we regarded the dispersed phase as a group of discrete particles. The phase-field method is employed as the interface-tracking method. The proposed hybrid method was validated in several numerical simulations. Using the static bubble problem, we confirmed that in the proposed hybrid method simulation, there is no unphysical flow that is observed in the original hybrid method. In the bubble plume problem, we compared the bubble plume behavior and the time-averaged void fraction of the simulation results with those of previously reported experiments and found good agreement between them. From these validations, we confirmed that the proposed hybrid method was applicable to heterogeneous bubbly flow simulation, and it avoided the weakness which the original hybrid method has.
Involvement of Flagellin in Kin Recognition between Bacillus velezensis Strains
Authors: Liu Yan , Huang Rong , Chen Yuqi , Miao Youzhi , Štefanič Polonca , Mandic-Mulec Ines , Zhang Ruifu , Shen Qirong , Xu Zhihui
Published: October 2022

Kin selection plays an important role in stabilizing population cooperation and maintaining the progeny benefits for bacteria in nature. However, to date, the role of flagellin in kin recognition in
Bacillus
has not been reported.
Use of oral diabetes medications and the risk of incident dementia in US veterans aged ≥60 years with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Tang Xin , Brinton Roberta Diaz , Chen Zhao , Farland Leslie V , Klimentidis Yann , Migrino Raymond , Reaven Peter , Rodgers Kathleen , Zhou Jin J
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Studies have reported that antidiabetic medications (ADMs) were associated with lower risk of dementia, but current findings are inconsistent. This study compared the risk of dementia onset in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) treated with sulfonylurea (SU) or thiazolidinedione (TZD) to patients with T2D treated with metformin (MET).

Research design and methods

This is a prospective observational study within a T2D population using electronic medical records from all sites of the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System. Patients with T2D who initiated ADM from January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2017, were aged ≥60 years at the initiation, and were dementia-free were identified. A SU monotherapy group, a TZD monotherapy group, and a control group (MET monotherapy) were assembled based on prescription records. Participants were required to take the assigned treatment for at least 1 year. The primary outcome was all-cause dementia, and the two secondary outcomes were Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, defined by International Classification of Diseases (ICD), 9th Revision, or ICD, 10th Revision, codes. The risks of developing outcomes were compared using propensity score weighted Cox proportional hazard models.

Results

Among 559 106 eligible veterans (mean age 65.7 (SD 8.7) years), the all-cause dementia rate was 8.2 cases per 1000 person-years (95% CI 6.0 to 13.7). After at least 1 year of treatment, TZD monotherapy was associated with a 22% lower risk of all-cause dementia onset (HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.75 to 0.81), compared with MET monotherapy, and 11% lower for MET and TZD dual therapy (HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.86 to 0.93), whereas the risk was 12% higher for SU monotherapy (HR 1.12 95% CI 1.09 to 1.15).

Conclusions

Among patients with T2D, TZD use was associated with a lower risk of dementia, and SU use was associated with a higher risk compared with MET use. Supplementing SU with either MET or TZD may partially offset its prodementia effects. These findings may help inform medication selection for elderly patients with T2D at high risk of dementia.
Past, present and future of living systematic review: a bibliometrics analysis
Authors: Zheng Qingyong , Xu Jianguo , Gao Ya , Liu Ming , Cheng Luying , Xiong Lu , Cheng Jie , Yuan Mengyuan , OuYang Guoyuan , Huang Hengyi , Wu Jiarui , Zhang Junhua , Tian Jinhui
Published: October 2022

Introduction

In recent years, the concept of living systematic review (LSR) has attracted the attention of many scholars and institutions. A growing number of studies have been conducted based on LSR methodology, but their focus direction is unclear. The objective of this study was to provide a comprehensive review of existing LSR-related studies and to analyse their whole picture and future trends with bibliometrics.

Methods

A comprehensive search strategy was used to construct a representative dataset of LSRs up to October 2021. GraphPad V.8.2.1 and Mindmaster Pro presented the basic information of the included studies and the timeline of LSR development, respectively. The author and country cooperation network, hotspot distribution clustering, historical citation network and future development trend prediction related to LSR were visualised by VOSviewer V.1.6.16 and R-Studio V.1.4.

Results

A total of 213 studies were eventually included. The concept of LSR was first proposed in 2014, and the number of studies has proliferated since 2020. There was a closer collaboration between author teams and more frequent LSR research development and collaboration in Europe, North America and Australia. Numerous LSR studies have been published in high-impact journals. COVID-19 is the predominant disease of concern at this stage, and the rehabilitation of its patients and virological studies are possible directions of research in LSR for a long time to come. A review of existing studies found that more than half of the LSR series had not yet been updated and that the method needed to be more standardised in practice.

Conclusion

Although LSR has a relatively short history, it has received much attention and currently has a high overall acceptance. The LSR methodology was further practised in COVID-19, and we look forward to seeing it applied in more areas.
Exertional heat stroke: pathophysiology and risk factors
Authors: Garcia Christian K , Renteria Liliana I , Leite-Santos Gabriel , Leon Lisa R , Laitano Orlando
Published: October 2022

Exertional heat stroke, the third leading cause of mortality in athletes during physical activity, is the most severe manifestation of exertional heat illnesses. Exertional heat stroke is characterised by central nervous system dysfunction in people with hyperthermia during physical activity and can be influenced by environmental factors such as heatwaves, which extend the incidence of exertional heat stroke beyond athletics only. Epidemiological data indicate mortality rates of about 27%, and survivors display long term negative health consequences ranging from neurological to cardiovascular dysfunction. The pathophysiology of exertional heat stroke involves thermoregulatory and cardiovascular overload, resulting in severe hyperthermia and subsequent multiorgan injury due to a systemic inflammatory response syndrome and coagulopathy. Research about risk factors for exertional heat stroke remains limited, but dehydration, sex differences, ageing, body composition, and previous illness are thought to increase risk. Immediate cooling remains the most effective treatment strategy. In this review, we provide an overview of the current literature emphasising the pathophysiology and risk factors of exertional heat stroke, highlighting gaps in knowledge with the objective to stimulate future research.
Service provision and utilisation in German paediatric primary care practices during public health crises: Protocol of the mixed-methods COVID-19 PedCare Study
Authors: Falkenstein Lina , Eckel Nathalie , Kadel Simone B , Koenig Jochem , Litaker David , Eichinger Michael
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Public health crises such as pandemics can cause serious disruptions to the utilisation and provision of healthcare services with negative effects on morbidity and mortality. Despite the important role of paediatric primary care in maintaining high-quality healthcare services during crises, evidence about service utilisation and provision remains limited especially in Germany. This study, therefore, explores the utilisation and provision of paediatric primary care services during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and their barriers and facilitators.

Methods and analysis

The study uses a convergent mixed-methods design and comprises online surveys to parents, adolescents and primary care paediatricians (PCPs) and semistructured interviews with parents and PCPs. We recruit parents and adolescents from paediatric primary care practices and PCPs via email using mailing lists of the German Professional Association of Paediatricians and the German Society of Ambulatory Primary Care Paediatrics. The parent and adolescent surveys assess, inter alia, the utilisation of paediatric primary care services and its correlates, aspects of parental and child health as well as socioeconomic characteristics. The PCP survey investigates the provision of paediatric primary care services and its correlates, aspects of PCP health as well as sociodemographic and practice characteristics. The semistructured interviews with parents and PCPs explore several aspects of the online surveys in more detail. We use descriptive statistics and generalised linear mixed models to assess service utilisation and provision and specific correlates covered in the online surveys and apply qualitative content analysis to explore barriers and facilitators of service utilisation and provision more broadly in the semistructured interviews. We will integrate findings from the quantitative and qualitative analyses at the interpretation stage.

Ethics and dissemination

The study was approved by the Medical Ethics Review Board of the Medical Faculty Mannheim at Heidelberg University (2020–650N). Study results will be published in journals with external peer-review.
Epidemiology of physical–mental multimorbidity and its impact among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander in Australia: a cross-sectional analysis of a nationally representative sample
Authors: Carman William , Ishida Marie , Trounson Justin S , Mercer Stewart W , Anindya Kanya , Sum Grace , Armstrong Gregory , Oldenburg Brian , McPake Barbara , Lee John Tayu
Published: October 2022

Objectives

This study aimed to examine the differences in multimorbidity between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians, and the effect of multimorbidity on health service use and work productivity.

Setting

Cross-sectional sample of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia wave 17.

Participants

A nationally representative sample of 16 749 respondents aged 18 years and above.

Outcome measures

Multimorbidity prevalence and pattern, self-reported health, health service use and employment productivity by Indigenous status.

Results

Aboriginal respondents reported a higher prevalence of multimorbidity (24.2%) compared with non-Indigenous Australians (20.7%), and the prevalence of mental–physical multimorbidity was almost twice as high (16.1% vs 8.1%). Multimorbidity pattern varies significantly among the Aboriginal and non-Indigenous Australians. Multimorbidity was associated with higher health service use (any overnight admission: adjusted OR=1.52, 95% CI=1.46 to 1.58), reduced employment productivity (days of sick leave: coefficient=0.25, 95% CI=0.19 to 0.31) and lower perceived health status (SF6D score: coefficient=−0.04, 95% CI=−0.05 to −0.04). These associations were found to be comparable in both Aboriginal and non-Indigenous populations.

Conclusions

Multimorbidity prevalence was significantly greater among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders compared with the non-Indigenous population, especially mental–physical multimorbidity. Strategies are required for better prevention and management of multimorbidity for the aboriginal population to reduce health inequalities in Australia.
Clinical effectiveness of tenotomy versus tenodesis for long head of biceps pathology: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Hartland Alexander William , Islam Raisa , Teoh Kar Hao , Rashid Mustafa Saad
Published: October 2022

Objectives

The comparative clinical effectiveness of common surgical techniques to address long head of biceps (LHB) pathology is unclear. We synthesised the evidence to compare the clinical effectiveness of tenotomy versus tenodesis.

Design

A systematic review and meta-analysis using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach.

Data sources

EMBASE, Medline, PsycINFO and the Cochrane Library of randomised controlled trials were searched through 31 October 2021.

Eligibility criteria

We included randomised controlled trials, reporting patient reported outcome measures, comparing LHB tenotomy with tenodesis for LHB pathology, with or without concomitant rotator cuff pathology. Studies including patients treated for superior labral anterior–posterior tears were excluded. No language limits were employed. All publications from database inception to 31 October 2021 were included.

Data extraction and synthesis

Screening was performed by two authors independently. A third author reviewed the article, where consensus for inclusion was required. Data were extracted by two authors. Data were synthesised using RevMan. Inverse variance statistics and a random effects model were used.

Results

860 patients from 11 RCTs (426 tenotomy vs 434 tenodesis) were included. Pooled analysis of patient-reported functional outcome measures data demonstrated comparable outcomes (n=10 studies; 403 tenotomy vs 416 tenodesis; standardised mean difference (SMD): 0.14, 95% CI −0.04 to 0.32, p=0.13). There was no significant difference for pain (Visual Analogue Scale) (n=8 studies; 345 tenotomy vs 350 tenodesis; MD: −0.11, 95% CI −0.28 to 0.06, p=0.21). Tenodesis resulted in a lower rate of Popeye deformity (n=10 studies; 401 tenotomy vs 410 tenodesis; OR: 0.29, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.45, p<0.00001). Tenotomy demonstrated shorter operative time (n=4 studies; 204 tenotomy vs 201 tenodesis; MD 15.2, 95% CI 1.06 to 29.36, p<0.00001).

Conclusions

Aside from a lower rate of cosmetic deformity, tenodesis yielded no significant clinical benefit to tenotomy for addressing LHB pathology.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42020198658.
CaRegiving frOm A Distance (ROAD): home care in the future—flexible and nearby – multimethod qualitative study protocol
Authors: Budnick Andrea , Bünning Farina , Kuhlmey Adelheid
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Demographic change in Germany is accompanied by a birth rate deficit and increasing life expectancy. One effect of the ageing population is an increase in people needing care, most of whom want to grow old in their homes and to be cared for there. At the same time, informal caregivers are a core resource in the German care system, but due to social changes, this resource is not endless. Processes of social change in German society will cause further erosion in the potential number of informal local caregivers. Therefore, it will be increasingly important to provide conditions so that individuals at a distance who support people needing care are actually able to do so.Distance caregivingis a broad field, posing questions of intergenerational and intragenerational solidarity and the balance between work, family and caring responsibilities. Systematic research is required into opportunities and limitations, including innovative technology, in the whole field of care arrangements over a distance. The demands of the different actors in the distance caregiving arrangement are not yet known and are the subject of our study.

Methods and analysis

This study will develop a model for distance caregiving. A qualitative multimethod research design (non-interventional study) will be adopted. The study will take place between September 2021 and August 2024. Participants will be selected by a purposeful sampling process. Phenomenological analysis will guide our data analysis. Data collected in this study will allow for triangulation, thereby increasing the trustworthiness of findings.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval for this study has been granted by the ethics committee of the Faculty of Medicine of the Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin (ID: EA1/371/21). Dissemination of the results will take place among the scientific community. Results will also be disseminated among the public and actors involved in healthcare and nursing care.
Physical fitness in children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease: protocol for a case–control study
Authors: Vanhelst Jérémy , Beghin Laurent , Coopman Stéphanie , Labreuche Julien , Djeddi Djamal , Gottrand Frédéric , Turck Dominique , Ley Delphine
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, associated with adverse health consequences that may adversely influence physical activity and body composition in youth. These effects may lead to changes in physical fitness, which is positively associated with health-related outcomes. The aim is to assess health-related physical fitness levels in paediatric patients with IBD and to compare these levels with those in healthy matched controls.

Methods and analysis

This trial is a bicentric case–control study. Fifty paediatric patients with IBD and 50 matched healthy controls will be recruited (1:1), and physical fitness levels (cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, speed/agility and flexibility) will be assessed. The primary outcome is cardiorespiratory fitness, which will be compared between children and adolescents with IBD and healthy controls matched for age, sex and body mass index class. We will assess whether the two groups differ with respect to other physical fitness components and cardiovascular risk in adulthood according to sex-specific cut-offs for a healthy cardiorespiratory fitness level in adolescents. We will identify relationships between physical fitness and characteristics of IBD, quality of life and daily physical activity.

Ethics and dissemination

This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee (Comité de Protection des Personnes, Centre-Ouest I, Tours, France; No 2019-A02651-56) and was declared to the Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés. All procedures will be performed according to the ethical standards of the 1975 Declaration of Helsinki, as revised in 2008, and the European Union’s Guidelines for Good Clinical Practice. Written informed consent will be obtained from the youths and their parents. Research findings will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and scientific meetings, as well as in social media and IBD family support groups.

Trial registration number

NCT04647578.
Value of the systemic immune-inflammation index in predicting poor postoperative outcomes and the short-term prognosis of heart valve diseases: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Xiang Jun , He Ling , Li Donglin , Wei Shuliang , Wu Zhong
Published: October 2022

Objective

Systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) is a novel biomarker that can predict poor outcomes in tumours, nervous system diseases and chronic heart failure. Here, we investigated the predictive value of SII on the poor postoperative outcomes and short-term prognosis of heart valve diseases (HVDs).

Design, setting and participants

This retrospective cohort study enrolled all consecutive patients with HVDs (aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, mitral stenosis and mitral regurgitation) who underwent surgery (valve replacement or valve repair) at the Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College between 2017 and 2020.

Main outcomes and measures

Major complications in the perioperative period, all-cause mortality within 30 days and readmission within 30 days.

Results

A total of 431 patients with HVDs were enrolled in this study, including 202 males and 229 females, aged 58.9±27.3 years. SII levels of patients in the poor outcomes group were significantly higher than those of patients in the favourable outcomes group (658.40±436.29 vs 335.72±174.76, respectively; p<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age (OR 1.064, 95% CI 1.026 to 1.104, p=0.025), SII (OR 1.034, 95% CI 1.012 to 1.631, p=0.008) and aortic cross-clamping time (OR 1.013, 95% CI 1.004 to 1.023, p=0.006) were independent risk factors for poor outcomes and short-term prognosis in patients with HVD. The area under the curve of poor outcomes predicted by SII in patients with HVD was 0.806 (95% CI 0.763 to 0.848) and the optimised cut-off value 423.8×109 /L, with a sensitivity of 70.3% and specificity of 81.1%. The incidence of poor outcomes (p<0.001), 30-day mortality (p<0.001) and 30-day readmission rate (p=0.026) in the high SII group was significantly higher than that in the low SII group.

Conclusions

SII is closely related to poor postoperative outcomes and short-term prognosis of HVD and can serve as an independent predictive factor.
Surgical mask wearing behaviour in COVID-19 pandemic and influenza seasons: a cross-sectional study on healthcare professional students and staff’s perspective in Southern California
Authors: Lui Kin Long , Daher Noha , López David , Kim Veronica , Tan Laren , Cohen Pamela Monterroso , Alismail Abdullah
Published: October 2022

Objective

To investigate healthcare professional staff and students’ perception of wearing surgical masks before and after their experience with the COVID-19 pandemic, and to evaluate the impact on mask wearing behaviour in future influenza seasons.

Design

Cross-sectional study using anonymous survey.

Setting and participants

Healthcare students and staff from a healthcare academic institution in Southern California participated in the mask survey study. Survey results were collected from June to November 2021. A total of 305 respondents responded to the survey, with 173 being healthcare students and 132 being working healthcare staff.

Outcomes

The study examined respondents’ perceptions and hospital mask wearing behaviour before and after their COVID-19 pandemic experience, as well as during previous and future influenza seasons.

Results

Two hundred and sixty-four (86.6%) respondents agreed that wearing a surgical mask reduces infection and limits transmission of infectious disease, yet prior to the pandemic, only a small proportion wore a mask in the hospital or during patient care. After experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic, more respondents indicated that they would continue to wear a mask when they are in a hospital in general (n=145, 47.5%), during patient care (n=262, 85.9%), during influenza seasons throughout the hospital (n=205, 67.2%) and during influenza seasons during patient care (n=270, 88.5%).

Conclusion

The pandemic experience has greatly influenced the health prevention behaviours of healthcare students and staff. After the pandemic, many respondents will continue to practice surgical mask wearing behaviour in the hospital, especially during face-to-face patient care. This demonstrates a significant change in health prevention perceptions among the current and the future generation of healthcare professionals.
Effect of USAID-funded obstetric ultrasound service interventions on maternal and perinatal health outcomes at primary healthcare facilities in Ethiopia: a propensity score matching analysis
Authors: Yitbarek Kiddus , Tuji Alemu , Alemayehu Yibeltal Kiflie , Tadesse Derebe , Tadele Afework , Tsegaye Sentayehu , Abera Yared , Abrar Mohammed , Ibrahim Ahmed , Esmael Salah , Belete Mebrie , Mohammed Abdella , Shekabdulahi Muktar , Olani Hundessa , Selamu Arab , Medhin Girmay , Gerbaba Mulusew J
Published: October 2022

Objective

A dimensional shift in the health service delivery in the primary healthcare setting is required to raise maternal and child well-being. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of US Agency for International Development-funded obstetric ultrasound service on maternal and perinatal health outcomes at Ethiopia’s primary healthcare facilities.

Design

We employed a quasi-experimental study design.

Setting

The study was conducted in primary health centres located in four regions of Ethiopia.

Participants

We used 2 years’ data of 1568 mothers from 13 intervention and 13 control primary health centres. Data were obtained from Vscan, antenatal care (ANC), delivery and postnatal care registers.

Intervention

Use of portable obstetric ultrasound service during pregnancy.

Outcome measures

The primary outcome variables include complete four ANC visits, referral during ANC, delivery in a health facility and having postnatal care and continuum of care. The secondary outcome variable was perinatal death.

Results

With the kernel matching approach, we have found that having four or more ANC visits was decreased after the intervention (average treatment effect (ATE): −0.20; 95% CI: −0.23 to –0.09), and the rest of the indicators, including referral during ANC (ATE: 0.01; 95% CI: 0.15 to 0.34), institutional delivery (ATE: 0.24; 95% CI: 0.15 to 0.34) and postnatal care (ATE: 0.26; 95% CI: 0.10 to 0.37), were significantly raised because of the intervention. Similarly, we have found that perinatal death dropped considerably due to the intervention.

Conclusion

The findings show a consistent increase in maternal health service use because of the introduction of obstetric ultrasound services at the primary health centre level. Furthermore, early detection of complications and following referral for specialty care were found to be high. The consistent rise in maternal health service use indicators calls for additional trial to test the effect of obstetric ultrasound service in other locations of the country. Furthermore, evaluating the predictive values, sensitivity and specificity of the obstetric ultrasound service is important.
Learning Geometry by Using Virtual Reality
Authors: Moral-Sanchez Silvia-Natividad , Siller Hans-Stefan
Published: October 2022

With the rapid change in the society, education must evolve to adapt to the digital native students of the 21st century. A change in the current educational paradigm is thus necessary. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is a vehicle to achieve this objective of paradigm shift in education [ 2 ]. In this paper, we propose gamification approach [ 3 ] via a virtual reality (VR) through a report of a didactic experience. A mixed method research design was adopted for this study in which students’ classification of polyhedral will be reported for the two different learning experiences using either wooden polyhedral or a VR tool within an immersive learning environment. The VR environment allows the learning of geometry in three-dimensional with a friendly interface that offers a multitude of options. It is worth highlighting the benefits of this VR tool in the teaching-learning process of geometry, making explicit the fundamental role played by ICT in meaningful learning of mathematics.
Simultaneous Determination of Catechol and Hydroquinone using Gold Nanoparticles/Poly(p-aminobenzenesulfonic acid)/Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode
Authors: Li Zhiguo , Zhou Wanling , Zhang Lingling , Jia Yongmei , Liu Yuge
Published: October 2022

Gold nanoparticles/poly(p-aminobenzenesulfonic acid)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified glassy carbon electrode (NanoAu/Poly(ABSA)/MWCNTs/GCE) was prepared for electrochemically determining catechol (CAT) and hydroquinone (HQ) by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Results showed that CAT and HQ were electrochemically seperated well, and the difference between oxidation peak potentials of CAT and HQ was 111 mV. The redox currents of CAT and HQ were significantly enhanced on NanoAu/PABSA/MWCNTs/GCE, as compared with on bare GCE. The oxidation peak current (I
pa) of 10 μM CAT was 0.24 μA, and there was almost no detected oxidation current response for 10 μM HQ on bare GCE. The I
pa values on NanoAu/Poly(ABSA)/MWCNTs/GCE increased to 11.3 times for CAT as compared with on GCE, 1.5 times for CAT and 2.5 times for HQ as compared with on MWCNTs/GCE. The linear range of CAT and HQ measurments on NanoAu/Poly(ABSA)/MWCNTs/GCE was 2 ∼ 200 μM, and the limit of detection (LOD, S/N = 3) was 1.5 μM for CAT and 1.0 μM for HQ. This sensor showed high detection sensitivity for CAT (16.53 μA·μM–1·cm–2) and HQ (17.68 μA·μM–1·cm–2). The sensor had been applied for CAT and HQ measurement in lake water with satisfactory results.
Composite Porous Structure Formation by Platinum-Particle-Assisted Etching of a Highly-Doped p-Type Silicon: Evaluation of Charge Flow in Silicon
Authors: Matsumoto Ayumu , Azuma Kyohei , Furukawa Kyohei , Nishinaka Rin , Yae Shinji
Published: October 2022

Electroless deposition of metal particles on silicon (Si) followed by the metal-assisted etching (metal-assisted chemical etching) is a simple way to fabricate Si nanostructures. A composite porous structure consisting of straight macropores and a mesoporous layer can be created by platinum (Pt)-particle-assisted etching. In this work, we studied the composite structure formation on a highly-doped p-Si (ca. 5 × 1018 cm−3) in comparison with a moderately-doped p-Si (ca. 1 × 1015 cm−3). The composite structure drastically changed: the ratio of mesoporous layer thickness to macropore depth increased to 1.1 from 0.16 by using the highly-doped Si instead of the moderately-doped Si. The open circuit potential of Si in the etching solution shifted to the positive direction by the Pt deposition. The potential shift of highly-doped Si was smaller than that of moderately-doped Si, which can be explained by the polarization characteristics. We calculated the band bending in Si by using a device simulator that reproduced the conditions of Pt-particle-assisted etching. The results indicated that, in the case of highly-doped Si, the consumption rate of positive holes at the Si surface away from the Pt particles increases due to the tunneling effect, which is consistent with the thick mesoporous layer formation.
E-cigarette vapor exposure in utero causes long-term pulmonary effects in offspring
Authors: Aslaner David M. , Alghothani Omar , Saldana Ty A. , Ezell Katie G. , Yallourakis Michael D. , MacKenzie Duncan M. , Miller Roy A. , Wold Loren E. , Gorr Matthew W.
Published: October 2022

The in utero environment is sensitive to toxicant exposure, altering the health and growth of the fetus, and thus sensitive to contaminant exposure. Though recent clinical data suggest that e-cigarette use does no further harm to birth outcomes than a nicotine patch, this does not account for the effects of vaping during pregnancy on the long-term health of offspring. Pregnant mice were exposed to: 1) e-cigarette vapor with nicotine (PV + Nic; 2% Nic in 50:50 propylene glycol: vegetable glycerin), 2) e-cigarette vapor without nicotine [PV; (50:50 propylene glycol:vegetable glycerin)], or 3) HEPA filtered air (FA). Dams were removed from exposure upon giving birth. At 5 mo of age, pulmonary function tests on the offspring revealed female and male mice from the PV group had greater lung stiffness (Ers) and alveolar stiffness (H) compared with the FA group. Furthermore, baseline compliance (Crs) was reduced in female mice from the PV group and in male mice from the PV and PV + Nic groups. Lastly, female mice had decreased forced expiratory volume (FEV0.1) in the PV group, but not in the male groups, compared with the FA group. Lung histology revealed increased collagen deposition around the vessels/airways and in alveolar tissue in PV and PV + Nic groups. Furthermore, goblet hyperplasia was observed in PV male and PV/PV + Nic female mice. Our work shows that in utero exposure to e-cigarette vapor, regardless of nicotine presence, causes lung dysfunction and structural impairments that persist in the offspring to adulthood.
On Computing Techniques for Sombor Index of Some Graphs
Authors: Naz Kiran , Ahmad Sarfraz , Bashier Eihab
Published: October 2022

In all types of topological indicators, degree-based indicators play a major role in chemical graph theory. The topological index is a fixed numeric value associated with graph isomerism. Firstly, in 1972, the concept of degree-based index was developed by Gutman and Trinajstic. These degree-based indices are divided into two ways, namely, degree and connection number. These degree-based graph indices are positive-valued for non-regular graphs and zero for regular graphs. In this article, we discussed the degree-based Sombor, reduced Sombor, and average Sombor indices for wheel graph, gear graph, helm graph, flower graph, sunflower graph, and lobster graph.
Seismic Facies Analysis Using the Multiattribute SOM-K-Means Clustering
Authors: Zhu Zhaolin , Chen Xin , Ren Haoran , Tao Liurong , Jiang Jinsheng , Wang Tong , Cheng Mingxin , Ding Shuaimin , Du Rui
Published: October 2022

An accurate seismic facies analysis (SFA) can provide insight into the subsurface sedimentary facies and has guiding significance for geological exploration. Many machine learning algorithms, including unsupervised, supervised, and deep learning algorithms, have been developed successfully for SFA over the past decades. However, SFA and facies classification are still challenging tasks due to the complex characteristics of geological and seismic data. A multiattribute SOM-K-means clustering algorithm, which implements a two-stage clustering by using multiple geological attributes, is proposed and applied for SFA. The proposed algorithm can effectively extract complementary features from the multiple attribute volumes and comprehensively use the different attributes to improve the recognition ability of seismic facies. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm improves clustering accuracy and can be used as an effective and powerful tool for SFA.
Applying Imaging Technique to Investigate Effects of Solute Concentrations and Gas Injection Rates on Gas Bubble Generation
Authors: Yan Guanxi , Cheng Zhixin , Ma Ye , Scheuermann Alexander , Li Ling
Published: October 2022

This work investigated the bubble size variation under various aqueous conditions, including saline and surfactant solutions, with different gas injection rates using a commercial bubble analyzer. The results show that salt and surfactant can minimize bubble size with increasing solute concentration, and the surfactant outperforms salt. In addition, the critical coalescence concentrations (CCC) of salt and surfactant could be determined at 20 g/l and 20 mg/l, respectively, over which bubble mean size cannot be further reduced. On the other hand, the gas injection rate, compared to the solute concentration, has minor effects on bubble size variation. Nonetheless, there is a critical coalescence injection rate (CCIR) of 30 ml/min for surfactant solution, over which the standard deviation of the bubble size distribution (BSD) cannot be further increased. In principle, this work improves the accuracy and efficiency of the bubble analyzer. It also presents a sound understanding of two influential factors rather than a single-factor controlling bubble size. Most importantly, it is the first time to observe and propose the concept of CCIR to describe how the gas injection rate influences the standard deviation of BSD. Based on those results and findings, it is able to conclude that bubble size control, whose mechanism has been previously identified as the bubble collision and coalescence rather than the surface tension of water solutions, is actually dominated by not only the solute concentration but also the gas injection rate when a porous air sparger is used to generate bubbles. It is expected that this work could contribute to laboratory modeling bubbly flow in a porous medium in order to bring more insights into the mechanism of soil gas leaking through soil strata.
Study of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms Associated with Breast Cancer Patients among Arab Ancestries
Authors: Osman Yasser , Elsharkawy Tarek , Hashim Tariq Mohammad , Alratroot Jumana Abdulwahab , Aljindan Fatima , Almulla Liqa , Alsuwat Hind Saleh , Al Otaibi Waad Mohammed , Hegazi Fatma Mohammed , Ibrahim Abdallah M. , Borgio J. Francis , AbdulAzeez Sayed
Published: October 2022

The aim of this study is to investigate the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with breast cancer in our population of Arab patients. We investigated 26 breast cancer patients and an equal number of healthy age- and sex-matched control volunteers. We examined the exome wide microarray-based biomarkers and screened 243,345 SNPs for their possible significant association with our breast cancer patients. Successfully, we identified the most significant (

p

value

≤
9.14
×

10

−
09

) four associated SNPs [SNRK and SNRK-AS1-rs202018563G; BRCA2-rs2227943C; ZNF484-rs199826847C; and DCPS-rs1695739G] among persons with breast cancer versus the healthy controls even after Bonferroni corrections (

p

value

<
2.05
×

10

−
07

). Although our patients’ numbers were limited, the identified SNPs might shed some light on certain breast cancer-associated functional multigenic variations in Arab patients. We assert on the importance of more extensive large-scale analysis to confirm the candidate biomarkers and possible target genes of breast cancer among Arab ancestries.