bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characteristics and outcomes of patients admitted to a tertiary academic hospital in Pretoria with HIV and severe pneumonia: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Ueckermann Veronica , Janse van Rensburg Luricke , Pannell Nicolette , Ehlers Marthie
Published: June 2022

Background

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality in South Africa. Pneumonia and opportunistic infections remain a major cause for hospital admission among those living with HIV, even in the era of the widespread availability of antiretroviral therapy.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, the records of patients admitted with HIV and severe pneumonia, requiring high care/intensive care admission, during a period of 12 months (February 2018 to January 2019) were reviewed. Demographic details, antiretroviral use, HIV viral load, CD4 count, sputum culture results and radiological imaging of patients were recorded. Data was analysed to determine variables associated with mortality.

Results

One hundred and seventeen patient records were reviewed for this study. The patients were young (mean age 38.3 years), had advanced disease with low CD4 counts (mean 120.2 cells/mm3) and high HIV viral loads (mean 594,973.7 copies/mL). Only 36.9% (42/117) were on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on presentation to the hospital.Mycobacterium tuberculosis(M. tuberculosis) was found to be the cause for pneumonia in 35% (41/117), whilstPneumocystis jirovecii(P. jirovecii) was found in 21.4% (25/117). Bacterial pneumonia was the cause in 17.1% (20/117) of patients while no specific aetiology was found in 26.6% (31/117) of patients in the cohort. Mortality among the cohort studied was high (40.1%) and the average length of stay in hospital in excess of two weeks. The need for ICU admission, ventilation and CMV viremia was associated with increased mortality. Chest X-ray findings did not correlate with the aetiology of pneumonia, but multiple B-lines on lung ultrasound correlated withP. jiroveciias an aetiology and there was a signal that pleural effusion with fibrin stranding predicts tuberculosis.

Conclusions

Patients studied presented with advanced HIV and were often naïve to antiretroviral therapy. Mortality in this cohort of young patients was high, which emphasis the need for earlier diagnosis and treatment of HIV at a primary care level. Lung ultrasound may have clinical utility in the management of patients with HIV and pneumonia, particularly to diagnoseP. jiroveciias an aetiology.
High miR-200a-3p expression has high diagnostic values for hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy and predicts adverse pregnancy outcomes
Authors: He Xin , Ding Danni
Published: June 2022

Background

Hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy (HDCP) are various heterogeneous conditions. microRNA (miR)-200a-3p is involved in HDCP diagnosis. This study explored the effects of miR-200a-3p on HDCP patients.

Methods

A total of 126 singleton HDCP patients including 50 cases of gestation hypertension (GH), 42 cases of mild preeclampsia (MP) and 34 cases of severe preeclampsia (SP), were enrolled as study subjects, and 50 normal pregnant women were selected as the control. Serum miR-200a-3p expression was detected and its efficacy in HDCP diagnosis and grading was evaluated. GH, MP and SP patients were allocated to high/low miR-200a-3p expression groups. The correlation between miR-200a-3p expression and general clinical indexes was analyzed. HDCP patients were allocated to high/low miR-200a-3p expression group and maternal and fetal outcomes were followed up. Effects of miR-200a-3p expression on adverse pregnancy outcome incidence were analyzed.

Results

miR-200a-3p expression in the serum of HDCP patients was upregulated. The sensitivity and specificity of serum miR-200a-3p level > 1.201 were 87.3% and 96.0%, respectively. Serum miR-200a-3p level in GH, MP and SP patients was increased with the aggravation of the disease. The cut-off value and area under the curve (AUC) of miR-200a-3p for GH, MP and SP diagnosis were 1.145 and 0.9094 (82.0% sensitivity and 88.0% specificity), 1.541 and 0.8126 (73.8% sensitivity and 76.0% specificity), and 1.866 and 0.7367 (64.7% sensitivity and 76.2% specificity), respectively. Serum miR-200a-3p level was correlated with general clinical indexes, fetal birth weight, systolic to diastolic ratio, and fetal growth restriction incidence. High serum miR-200a-3p expression in HDCP patients was associated with increased adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Conclusion

High miR-200a-3p expression could help to diagnose HDCP, judge severity and was associated with increased adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Morphine versus methadone for neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome: a randomized controlled pilot study
Authors: Sutter Mary Beth , Watson Hannah , Yonke Nicole , Weitzen Sherry , Leeman Lawrence
Published: June 2022

Background

Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS) is a significant public health issue and while millions of neonates are affected each year, an optimal pharmacologic weaning protocol has yet to be demonstrated. In this study, we compare hospital length of stay (LOS) and length of treatment (LOT) for treatment of neonatal opioid withdrawal (NOWS) with morphine versus methadone.

Methods

This was a single-site, open-label, randomized controlled pilot study conducted from October 2016-September 2018. Infants were eligible if their primary in-utero drug exposure was heroin, oral opioids, or methadone and they were born at greater than or equal to 34 weeks gestation. Infants were excluded for serious medical comorbidities and primary in-utero exposure to buprenorphine.

Results

Sixty-one infants were enrolled; 30 were randomized to methadone treatment, and 31 to morphine treatment. Overall 46% of infants required treatment for NOWS. LOS and LOT for infants treated with morphine was 17.9 days and 14.7 days respectively, compared to 16.1 days and 12.8 days for babies treated with methadone (p = 0.5, p = 0.54). Infants treated with morphine received lower total morphine equivalents than those treated with methadone (9.7 vs. 33, p < 0.01). Three treated infants in the methadone group required transfer to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, versus no infants in the morphine group.

Conclusions

Infants treated with morphine versus methadone had no significant differences in LOS or LOT in this pilot study. Infants treated with methadone received up to 3 times the opioid based on morphine equivalents as infants treated with morphine and had more transfers to the NICU for over sedation.

Clinical trial registration

Morphine Versus Methadone for Opiate Exposed Infants With Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome NCT02851303, initiated 01/08/2016.
Counting on U training to enhance trusting relationships and mental health literacy among business advisors: protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Saxon L. , Bromfield S. , Leow-Taylor S. H. , Vega C. E. , Berk M. , LaMontagne A. D. , Martin A. J. , Mohebbi M. , Nielsen K. , Reavley N. J. , Walker A. , Conway A. , de Silva A. , Memish K. , Rossetto A. , Tanewski G. , Noblet A.
Published: June 2022

Background

Financial distress is thought to be a key reason why small-medium enterprise (SME) owners experience higher levels of mental health conditions compared with the broader population. Business advisors who form trusting, high-quality relationships with their SME clients, are therefore well placed to: (1) help prevent/reduce key sources of financial distress, (2) better understand the business and personal needs of their clients and, (3) recognise the signs and symptoms of mental health conditions and encourage help-seeking where appropriate. The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of relationship building training (RBT) combined with mental health first aid (MHFA) training for business advisors with MHFA alone, on the financial and mental health of their SME-owner clients.

Methods

This is a single blind, two-arm randomised controlled trial. Participants will be business advisors who provide information, guidance and/or assistance to SME owner clients and are in contact with them at least 3 times a year. The business advisors will invite their SME-owner clients to complete 3 online surveys at baseline, 6- and 12-months. Business advisors will be randomised to one of two conditions, using a 1:1 allocation ratio: (1) MHFA with RBT; or (2) MHFA alone, and complete 3 online surveys at baseline, 2- and 6-months. Primary outcomes will be measured in the business advisors and consist of the quality of the relationship, stigmatizing attitude, confidence to offer mental health first aid, quality of life and provision of mental health first aid. Secondary outcomes will be measured in the SME owners and includes trust in their business advisors, the quality of this relationship, financial wellbeing, financial distress, psychological distress, help-seeking behaviour, and quality of life. To complement the quantitative data, we will include a qualitative process evaluation to examine what contextual factors impacted the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance of the training.

Discussion

As there is evidence for the connections between client trust, quality of relationship and financial and mental wellbeing, we hypothesise that the combined RBT and MHFA training will lead to greater improvements in these outcomes in SME owners compared with MHFA alone.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov:NCT04982094. Retrospectively registered 29/07/2021. The study started in February 2021 and the recruitment is ongoing.
COVID-19 and mental health in Australia – a scoping review
Authors: Zhao Yixuan , Leach Liana S. , Walsh Erin , Batterham Philip J. , Calear Alison L. , Phillips Christine , Olsen Anna , Doan Tinh , LaBond Christine , Banwell Cathy
Published: June 2022

Background

The COVID-19 outbreak has spread to almost every country around the world and caused more than 3 million deaths. The pandemic has triggered enormous disruption in people’s daily lives with profound impacts globally. This has also been the case in Australia, despite the country’s comparative low mortality and physical morbidity due to the virus. This scoping review aims to provide a broad summary of the research activity focused on mental health during the first 10 months of the pandemic in Australia.

Results

A search of the Australian literature was conducted between August-November 2020 to capture published scientific papers, online reports and pre-prints, as well as gaps in research activities. The search identified 228 unique records in total. Twelve general population and 30 subpopulation group studies were included in the review.

Conclusions

Few studies were able to confidently report changes in mental health driven by the COVID-19 context (at the population or sub-group level) due to a lack of pre-COVID comparative data and non-representative sampling. Never-the-less, in aggregate, the findings show an increase in poor mental health over the early period of 2020. Results suggest that young people, those with pre-existing mental health conditions, and the financially disadvantaged, experienced greater declines in mental health. The need for rapid research appears to have left some groups under-researched (e.g. Culturally and Linguistically Diverse populations and Indigenous peoples were not studied), and some research methods under-employed (e.g. there was a lack of qualitative and mixed-methods studies). There is a need for further reviews as the follow-up results of longitudinal studies emerge and understandings of the impact of the pandemic are refined.
Poor implementation of tobacco control measures and lack of education influences the intention to quit tobacco: a structural equation modelling approach
Authors: Quadri Mir Faeq Ali , John Tenny , Kaur Damanpreet , Nayeem Maryam , Ahmed Mohammed Khaleel , Kamel Ahmed M. , Tadakamadla Santosh Kumar , Caponio Vito Carlo Alberto , Muzio Lorenzo Lo
Published: June 2022

Background

Tobacco consumption remains a public health issue and is one of the major causes of death in India. This study presents a validated conceptual model to assess the interaction between education, perceived application of tobacco control measures, type of tobacco and their effects on the intention to quit tobacco. Additionally, the direct and mediating roles of tobacco use -frequency, -duration, and -dependency on the intention to quit is also investigated.

Methods

An analytical cross-sectional study was carried out, and data from tobacco users of six randomly selected states in India was collected via face-to-face interviews. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed using R v 3.6.3 to test the model fit and to explore the association between tobacco control measures and the intention to quit tobacco.

Results

From 1962 tobacco users, 43.7% wanted to quit tobacco immediately. Tambakoo (57.7%) was the most common type of tobacco used and 68.9% said that minors could buy tobacco. Findings from SEM showed that that one standard deviation (SD) increase in the perceived application of tobacco control measures is directly associated with a 0.181 SD increase in the intention to quit tobacco (B = 0.181, P < 0.001), and this effect was partially mediated by frequency of tobacco consumption (B = 0.06, P < 0.05). Also, a better education level was associated with a higher intention to quit tobacco (B = 0.14, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

To conclude, the application of tobacco control measures and a better education level may positively affect the intention to quit tobacco. The frequency of tobacco use and the number of influencers play an essential role in deciding to quit. In future, longitudinal studies are recommended to further substantiate the evidence.
Pattern of contraceptive use among reproductive-aged women with diabetes and/or hypertension: findings from Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey
Authors: Khan Md Nuruzzaman , Islam M. Mofizul , Islam Rakibul M.
Published: June 2022

Background

The prevalence of chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension is increasing among reproductive-aged women in Bangladesh. However, the pattern of contraceptive use among this population remains unknown. We, therefore, explored the pattern of contraceptive use among reproductive-aged women with diabetes and/or hypertension in Bangladesh.

Methods

We extracted and analysed data of 3,947 women from the 2017/18 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey. Women’s pattern of contraceptive use was our outcome variable. We first classified the contraceptive using status as no method use, traditional method use (periodic abstinence, withdrawal, other traditional) and modern method use (pill, intra-uterine device, injections, male condom, female sterilization, male sterilization). We later classified these as (i) no contraceptive use vs any contraceptive use, (ii) traditional method or no use vs modern method use, (iii) traditional method vs modern method use. The explanatory variables were diagnosis of diabetes only, hypertension only or both diabetes and hypertension. The multilevel Poisson regression with robust variance was used to explore the associations.

Results

The overall prevalence of contraceptive use was 68.0% (95% CI 66.3–69.7). The corresponding prevalences were 69.4% (95% CI 61.8–76.1) in women with diabetes only, 67.3% (95% CI 63.5–70.9) with hypertension only, and 62.0% (95% CI 52.8–70.4) in women having both diabetes and hypertension. The prevalence of modern methods of contraceptive use was lower (46.4%, 95% CI 37.4–55.6) and traditional methods use was higher (16.6%, 95% CI 13.8–16.8) in women who had both diabetes and hypertension than in women who did not have these conditions. The fully adjusted regression model showed that the prevalence of traditional method use was 31% (Prevalence ratio: 1.31, 95% CI 1.02–2.01) higher in women having both diabetes and hypertension compared with their counterparts who had none of these conditions.

Conclusion

In Bangladesh, women with both diabetes and hypertension were more likely to use traditional contraception methods. These women are likely to experience increased risks of unwanted pregnancies and associated adverse maternal and child health outcomes. Targeted policies and programs should be undertaken to promote modern contraceptive use among women living with both chronic conditions.
Qualitative study of the learning and studying process of resident physicians in China
Authors: Pan Gui Chang , Zheng Wei , Liao Shih-Chieh
Published: June 2022

Background

Clinical medical education is essential in physician training. This study developed recommendations for medical residency course design on the basis of the perspectives of learners in China and how they interact with their environment. The central research topic was the professional development and learning process of residents, including the obstacles that hinder and factors that promote their learning, their views on existing teaching methods, interaction between teachers and medical teams, and suggestions for designing future residency training programs.

Methods

This study had a qualitative research design. Interviews were conducted between July and October 2019 with 17 specialist residents and 12 assistant general practitioner residents from the department of education of the hospital. The participants were recruited from Qingyuan People’s Hospital in Guangdong Province, China. The interview outlines focused on the following four themes: clinical learning experiences and reflections on learning, experience of interaction with patients, experience of working with other medical personnel, and future learning directions.

Results

To overcome challenges in clinical learning, the residents mainly learned from their teachers and focused specifically on their own experiences. Regarding teaching methods and designs in clinical medicine, the residents preferred large-group, small-group, and bedside teaching and reported that bedside teaching enables the resolution of clinical problems, initiates self-learning, and improves diagnostic thinking. They disliked teachers with low teaching motivation or who were reluctant to interact with them and favored teachers who had strong teaching skills and respect for their students.

Conclusions

The residents suggested that clinical and active learning must be the main learning method for developing general medical competencies. Residency training must be conducted in an environment that facilitates residents’ learning and meaningful learning activities. The interdependent symbiotic relationships in the education ecosystem can serve as a reference for designing residency courses.
DUSP3 regulates phosphorylation-mediated degradation of occludin and is required for maintaining epithelial tight junction
Authors: Chou Hsiao-Chin , Cheng Chun-Mei , Yang Chi-Hwa , Lin Tzu-Yin , Liu Ya-Wen , Tan Tse-Hua , Chen Yi-Rong
Published: June 2022

Background

Tight junctions (TJ) are multi-protein complexes that hold epithelial cells together and form structural and functional barriers for maintaining proper biological activities. Dual specificity phosphatase 3 (DUSP3), a suppressor of multiple protein tyrosine (Tyr) kinases, is decreased in lung cancer tissues. Here we demonstrated the role of DUSP3 in regulation of epithelial TJ.

Methods

Barrier functions of TJ were examined in wild-type or DUSP3-deficient lung epithelial cells. Animal and clinical data were analyzed for the association between DUSP3 deficiency and lung cancer progression. Proximity ligation assay, immunoblotting, and phosphatase assay were performed to study the effect of DUSP3 on the TJ protein occludin (OCLN). Mutations of Tyr residues on OCLN showed the role of Tyr phosphorylation in regulating OCLN.

Results

Compared to those of the DUSP3-expressing cells, we found the expression and distribution of ZO-1, a TJ-anchoring molecule, were abnormal in DUSP3-deficient cells. OCLN had an increased phosphorylation level in DUSP3-deficient cells. We identified that OCLN is a direct substrate of DUSP3. DUSP3 regulated OCLN ubiquitination and degradation through decreasing OCLN tyrosine phosphorylation directly or through suppressing focal adhesion kinase, the OCLN kinase.

Conclusion

Our study revealed that DUSP3 is an important TJ regulatory protein and its decrease may be involved in progression of epithelial cancers.
PCSK9 inhibitors for secondary prevention in patients with cardiovascular diseases: a bayesian network meta-analysis
Authors: Wang Xing , Wen Dingke , Chen Yuqi , Ma Lu , You Chao
Published: June 2022

Background

The Food and Drug Administration has approved Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors for the treatment of dyslipidemia. However, evidence of the optimal PCSK9 agents targeting PCSK9 for secondary prevention in patients with high-risk of cardiovascular events is lacking. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the benefit and safety of different types of PCSK9 inhibitors.

Methods

Several databases including Cochrane Central, Ovid Medline, and Ovid Embase were searched from inception until March 30, 2022 without language restriction. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing administration of PCSK9 inhibitors with placebo or ezetimibe for secondary prevention of cardiovascular events in patients with statin-background therapy were identified. The primary efficacy outcome was all-cause mortality. The primary safety outcome was serious adverse events.

Results

Overall, nine trials totaling 54,311 patients were identified. Three types of PCSK9 inhibitors were evaluated. The use of alirocumab was associated with reductions in all-cause mortality compared with control (RR 0.83, 95% CrI 0.72–0.95). Moreover, evolocumab was associated with increased all-cause mortality compared with alirocumab (RR 1.26, 95% CrI 1.04–1.52). We also found alirocumab was associated with decreased risk of serious adverse events (RR 0.94, 95% CrI 0.90–0.99).

Conclusions

In consideration of the fact that both PCSK9 monoclonal antibody and inclisiran enable patients to achieve recommended LDL-C target, the findings in this meta-analysis suggest that alirocumab might provide the optimal benefits regarding all-cause mortality with relatively lower SAE risks, and evolocumab might provide the optimal benefits regarding myocardial infarction for secondary prevention in patients with high-risk of cardiovascular events. Further head-to-head trials with longer follow-up and high methodologic quality are warranted to help inform subsequent guidelines for the management of these patients.
Validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System adult profile-57 (PROMIS-57)
Authors: Cai Tingting , Wu Fulei , Huang Qingmei , Yu Chunfang , Yang Yang , Ni Feixia , Yuan Changrong
Published: June 2022

Background

The PROMIS-57 is a commonly used self-reported instrument to solve the lack of generalizable and universal measures required to evaluate common symptoms and functions from patients’ perspectives. This study aimed to translate the PROMIS-57 into Chinese and psychometrically test the translated instrument on patients with breast cancer.

Methods

Translation, cross‑cultural adaptation, and psychometric evaluation of the instrument were performed from June 2020 to June 2021. Eligible patients were recruited and completed the PROMIS-57, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B), and a sociodemographic questionnaire.

Results

Data from 602 patients with a mean age of 48.83 years were analyzed. Most domains in the PROMIS-57 showed an absence of floor and ceiling effects. Multi-trait scaling analysis demonstrated acceptable convergent and discriminant validity. The correlations between the PROMIS-57 scores and the selected FACT-B scores supported the criterion validity via the Pearson correlation test. Measurement invariance was supported by the absence of differential item functioning for most items. Cronbach’s α of the domains ranged from 0.85–0.95. The unidimensional factor structure of all domains was supported using confirmatory factor analyses. Additionally, most items showed acceptable item information curves and item characteristics curve matrices.

Conclusion

The Chinese version of the PROMIS-57 was found to be a reliable and valid tool for assessing common symptoms and functions among patients with breast cancer.
Factors influencing warm ischemia time in robot-assisted partial nephrectomy change depending on the surgeon’s experience
Authors: Numakura Kazuyuki , Kobayashi Mizuki , Koizumi Atsushi , Kashima Soki , Yamamoto Ryohei , Nara Taketoshi , Saito Mitsuru , Narita Shintaro , Inoue Takamitsu , Habuchi Tomonori
Published: June 2022

Introduction

Warm ischemia time (WIT) is a primary concern for robot-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (RALPN) patients because longer WIT is significantly associated with postoperative deteriorating kidney function. Tumor complexity, determined by the RENAL nephrometry score (RENAL score), can help predict surgical outcomes, but it is unclear what RENAL score and clinical factors affect WIT. This study explored the clinical factors predicting long WIT in experienced surgeon to RALPN.

Materials and methods

In our institute, 174 RALPNs were performed between November 2013 and February 2021, of which 114 were performed by a single surgeon and included in this study. Clinical staging and the total RENAL score were determined based on preoperative CT scans. The cases were divided into three groups based on experience: period 1: 1–38, period 2: 39–76, and period 3: 77–114. The clinical factors associated with longer WIT were analyzed per period.

Results

The overall median tumor diameter was 32 mm, and one patient had a positive surgical margin, but there were no cancer-related deaths. In total, there were 18 complications (15.8%). Periods 2 and 3 had larger tumor diameters (p < 0.01) and worse preoperative kidney function (p = 0.029) than period 1. A RENAL L-component score of 3 was associated with longer WIT in period 3 (odds ratio: 3.900; 95% confidence interval: 1.004–15.276; p = 0.044), but the tumor diameter and the total RENAL score were not.

Conclusions

A large tumor in the central lesion indicated by the RENAL L-component score was associated with increased WIT in RALPN.
Effects of platelet-rich fibrin on osteogenic differentiation of Schneiderian membrane derived mesenchymal stem cells and bone formation in maxillary sinus
Authors: Wang Jia , Sun Yue , Liu Yiping , Yu Jize , Sun Xiaolin , Wang Lin , Zhou Yanmin
Published: June 2022

Background

The existence of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in Schneiderian membrane has not been determined. The aim of this study is to investigate whether there are MSCs in Schneiderian membrane, and the effect of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) on osteogenic differentiation of these cells and on new bone formation in maxillary sinus after maxillary sinus floor elevation.

Methods

Schneiderian membrane derived mesenchymal stem cells (SM-MSCs) were isolated from rabbit maxillary sinus. Cells were identified by flow cytometry and multipotential differentiation. Real-time cell analysis assay, fluorescence staining, transwell assay, and wound healing assay were used to determine the effects of PRF stimulation on cell proliferation and migration. The osteogenic differentiation ability of cells stimulated by PRF or osteoinductive medium was evaluated by alkaline phosphatase staining, alizarin red staining, PCR and Western blot. Equivalent volume Bio-oss and the mixture of Bio-oss and PRF were used as bone graft materials for maxillary sinus floor elevation. Micro-CT, bone double-staining, HE staining, Masson staining, and toluidine blue staining were used to evaluate the osteogenic effect in 8 and 12 weeks after surgery.

Results

The cell surface markers were positive for expression of CD90, CD105, and negative for expression of CD34, CD45. SM-MSCs had the ability of osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic differentiation. PRF could stimulate proliferation, migration and osteogenic differentiation of SM-MSCs, which was achieved by up-regulating ERK 1/2 signaling pathway. PRF could accelerate the formation of new bone in maxillary sinus and increase the amount of new bone formation.

Conclusions

MSCs existed in Schneiderian membrane, and PRF stimulation could promote cell proliferation, migration and osteogenic differentiation. The application of PRF in maxillary sinus floor elevation could accelerate bone healing and increase the quantity and quality of new bone. PRF, as autologous graft materials, might offer a promising strategy for the clinical bone formation during MSFE procedure.

Graphical abstract
Multimodal data analysis reveals that pancreatobiliary-type ampullary adenocarcinoma resembles pancreatic adenocarcinoma and differs from cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Cheng Jun , Mao Yize , Hong Wenhui , Hu Wanming , Shu Peng , Huang Kun , Yu Jingjing , Jiang Maofen , Li Liqin , Wang Wei , Ni Dong , Li Shengping
Published: June 2022

Background

Ampullary adenocarcinoma (AAC) arises from the ampulla of Vater where the pancreatic duct and bile duct join and empty into the duodenum. It can be classified into intestinal and pancreatobiliary types based on histopathology or immunohistochemistry. However, there are no biomarkers for further classification of pancreatobiliary-type AAC which has important implications for its treatment. We aimed to identify the tumor origin of pancreatobiliary-type AAC by systematically analyzing whole-slide images (WSIs), survival data, and genome sequencing data collected from multiple centers.

Methods

This study involved three experiments. First, we extracted quantitative and highly interpretable features from the tumor region in WSIs and constructed a histologic classifier to differentiate between pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAC) and cholangiocarcinoma. The histologic classifier was then applied to patients with pancreatobiliary-type AAC to infer the tumor origin. Secondly, we compared the overall survival of patients with pancreatobiliary-type AAC stratified by the adjuvant chemotherapy regimens designed for PAC or cholangiocarcinoma. Finally, we compared the mutation landscape of pancreatobiliary-type AAC with those of PAC and cholangiocarcinoma.

Results

The histologic classifier accurately classified PAC and cholangiocarcinoma in both the internal and external validation sets (AUC > 0.99). All pancreatobiliary-type AACs (n = 45) were classified as PAC. The patients with pancreatobiliary-type AAC receiving regimens designed for PAC showed more favorable overall survival than those receiving regimens designed for cholangiocarcinoma in a multivariable Cox regression (hazard ratio = 7.24, 95% confidence interval: 1.28–40.78,P = 0.025). The results of mutation analysis showed that the mutation landscape of AAC was very similar to that of PAC but distinct from that of cholangiocarcinoma.

Conclusions

This multi-center study provides compelling evidence that pancreatobiliary-type AAC resembles PAC instead of cholangiocarcinoma in different aspects, which can guide the treatment selection and clinical trials planning for pancreatobiliary-type AAC.
Socioeconomic factors influencing knowledge and consumption of food plants by a human group in a mountainous environment in the semiarid region of Bahia, Northeast Brazil
Authors: da Silva Souza Luciana Vitor , Marques Juracy , de Oliveira Campos Letícia Zenóbia , de Freitas Lins Neto Ernani Machado
Published: June 2022

Background

The relationship of people with natural resources is guided by different sociocultural, ecological and evolutionary factors. Regarding food plants, it is not different. Studies around the world have evaluated the effects of socioeconomic factors, such as age, gender, income, profession, education level, time of residence, ethnic diversity, religion, festive rituals, access to urban areas and migrations. In this sense, the objective of the present study was to characterize the diversity of knowledge and use of food plants by people from Serra dos Morgados and evaluate if the socioeconomic factors influence knowledge and consumption of food plants in the community.

Methodology

This research was conducted in the village of Serra dos Morgados, municipality of Jaguarari, Bahia, with the purpose of evaluating the factors that influence in the knowledge and use of food plants. Socioeconomic data such as age, gender, time of residence, and monthly income were collected. The free list technique was applied during the collection of ethnobotanical data in order to analyze the preference of the plants based on the salience index (SI). To analyze the factors that influence knowledge and use forms, we used GLM Lasso.

Results

A total of 33 people were interviewed, 8 men and 25 women; their age ranged from 30 to 82 years. People cited 98 species of plants, 41 species being identified of spontaneous occurrence. The plant with the highest salience index (SI) was “cheirosa” (Psidium ganevii) (SI = 0.5679), followed by “massaranduba” (Micropholis sp.) (SI = 0.4323); “araça” (Campomanesia guazumifolia) (SI = 0.3320); and “cambuí” (Siphoneugena sp.) (SI = 0.3144).

Conclusions

The main factors that influence knowledge and use forms in the locality were family income and the collection site, with homegardens cited as the preferred area for collection of food plants. This study provided an overview related to potentially important species for a community located in a region where there are few ethnobiological studies. The results presented here can be used in future studies, providing clues for investigations. Also, there is a contribution to the conservation of biocultural aspects related to the use of food plants in a community living in mountainous regions.
The E6 and E7 proteins of beta3 human papillomavirus 49 can deregulate both cellular and extracellular vesicles-carried microRNAs
Authors: Chiantore Maria Vincenza , Iuliano Marco , Mongiovì Roberta Maria , Dutta Sankhadeep , Tommasino Massimo , Di Bonito Paola , Accardi Luisa , Mangino Giorgio , Romeo Giovanna
Published: June 2022

Background

The β3 human papillomavirus (HPV)49 induces immortalization of primary keratinocytes through the action of E6 and E7 oncoproteins with an efficiency similar to alpha high risk (HR)-HPV16. Since HR-HPV oncoproteins are known to alter microRNA (miRNA) expression and extracellular vesicle (EV) production, we investigated the impact of HPV49 E6 and E7 proteins on miRNA profile and EV expression, and their involvement in the control of cell proliferation.

Methods

The miRNA expression was evaluated by a miRNA array and validated by RT-qPCR in primary human keratinocytes immortalized by β3 HPV49 (K49) or α9 HR-HPV16 (K16), and in EVs from K49 and K16. The modulation of miRNA target proteins was investigated by immunoblotting analyses.

Results

By comparing miRNA expression in K49 and K16 and the derived EVs, six miRNAs involved in HPV tumorigenesis were selected and validated. MiR-19a and -99a were found to be upregulated and miR-34a downregulated in both cell lines; miR-17 and -590-5p were upregulated in K49 and downmodulated in K16; miR-21 was downregulated only in K16. As for EV-carried miRNAs, the expression of miR-17, -19a, -21 and -99a was decreased and miR-34a was increased in K49 EVs. In K16 EVs, we revealed the same modulation of miR-19a, -34a, and -99a observed in producing cells, while miR-21 was upregulated. Cyclin D1, a common target of the selected miRNAs, was downmodulated in both cell lines, whereas cyclin-dependent kinase 4 was down-modulated in K49 but upregulated in K16.

Conclusion

These data suggest that E6 and E7 proteins of β3 HPV49 and α9 HR-HPV16 affect key factors of cell cycle control by indirect mechanisms based on miRNA modulation.
Crisis upon crisis: a qualitative study exploring the joint effect of the political, economic, and pandemic challenges in Lebanon on Syrian refugee women’s fertility preferences and behaviour
Authors: Mourtada Rima , Melnikas Andrea J.
Published: June 2022

Background

Starting in October 2019, Lebanon experienced overlapping crises that caused a significant deterioration of the living conditions for Syrian refugees and the host community. Previous studies have shown that difficult living conditions and refugee status alone do not impact the fertility preferences of Syrian refugees. This study seeks to explore the effect of the overlapping crises on the fertility preferences and behaviour of Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

Methods

In this qualitative study, we carried out focus group discussions (FGDs) with married female Syrian refugees recruited purposively from two cities in West Bekaa (Bar Elias and Saad Nayel) and from inside and outside the Informal Tented Settlements (ITS). Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

The overlapping crises (political, economic, and Covid-19) in Lebanon influence Syrian refugee women’s reported desire for fewer children. Two themes emerged that explained the change in Syrian refugees’ fertility preferences towards limiting their number of children or delaying having children, and potentially a change in their fertility practices: the sudden deterioration in their living conditions triggered by the effect of inflation on their daily needs, and decreased support and changes in the job market that led to more women working to support their families. Consequently, refugees expressed a preference towards limiting their number of children due to concern about the consequences of the crisis on their children’s physical and mental well-being. This was combined with decreased pressure on women from men and in-laws to have (additional) children and concern over the effect of Covid-19 on pregnant women.

Conclusions

The sudden deterioration in living conditions due to the overlapping crises may have influenced Syrian refugees’ preferences towards limiting their number of children or delaying having children until the situation improves. The potential shift in power dynamics in households caused by more women working outside the home also may have increased women’s autonomy in making decisions regarding family size and use of modern contraception. These findings have implications for developing programs that focus on female livelihoods and engagement in work outside the home to influence family size and other reproductive health outcomes and gender equity indicators.
Gene fusion as an important mechanism to generate new genes in the genus Oryza
Authors: Zhou Yanli , Zhang Chengjun , Zhang Li , Ye Qiannan , Liu Ningyawen , Wang Muhua , Long Guangqiang , Fan Wei , Long Manyuan , Wing Rod A.
Published: June 2022

Background

Events of gene fusion have been reported in several organisms. However, the general role of gene fusion as part of new gene origination remains unknown.

Results

We conduct genome-wide interrogations of four Oryza genomes by designing and implementing novel pipelines to detect fusion genes. Based on the phylogeny of ten plant species, we detect 310 fusion genes across four Oryza species. The estimated rate of origination of fusion genes in the Oryza genus is as high as 63 fusion genes per species per million years, which is fixed at 16 fusion genes per species per million years and much higher than that in flies. By RNA sequencing analysis, we find more than 44% of the fusion genes are expressed and 90% of gene pairs show strong signals of purifying selection. Further analysis of CRISPR/Cas9 knockout lines indicates that newly formed fusion genes regulate phenotype traits including seed germination, shoot length and root length, suggesting the functional significance of these genes.

Conclusions

We detect new fusion genes that may drive phenotype evolution in Oryza. This study provides novel insights into the genome evolution of Oryza.
French youth trends in prevalence of overweight, obesity and underweight from 2008 to 2018
Authors: Vanhelst Jérémy , Baudelet Jean-Benoît , Thivel David , Ovigneur Hervé , Deschamps Thibault
Published: June 2022

Objective

Because the prevalence overweight and obesity remains high during adolescence in Europe, tracking weight status in children and adolescents is needed. We aimed to estimate French trends in the prevalence of weight status in children and adolescent from 2008 to 2018.

Results

The prevalence of overweight and obesity were higher in boys (P < 0.0001). Underweight was more prevalent in girls (P < 0.0001). In adolescents aged 16–17 years old, a stabilization was observed for overweight and obesity whereas the prevalence of underweight increased significantly in boys (P < 0.0001). For children and adolescents aged to 10–12 and 13–15 years old, the obesity and overweight decreased significantly while the underweight was increased for both sexes aged 10–12 years (P < 0.0001). Underweight increased in boys aged 13–15 years (P < 0.0001) while that a stagnation was observed in girls. These encouraging results show the permanent need to develop preventive strategies promoting an healthy active living in order to modify the lifestyle for adolescents with underweight, overweight or obesity.
Sex and race define the effects of adverse childhood experiences on self-reported BMI and metabolic health biomarkers
Authors: Leachman Jacqueline R. , Heier Kory , Lei Feitong , Ahmed Nermin , Dalmasso Carolina , Duncan Meredith S. , Loria Analia S.
Published: June 2022

Background

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are an independent risk factor for chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, stroke and ischemic heart disease. However, the effect of ACEs considering sex and race are not often reported in cohorts showing multiracial composition, with power to evaluate effects on underrepresented populations.

Aim

To determine how sex and race affected the association of combined and individual ACEs with metabolic health biomarkers in the Southern Community Cohort Study (2012–2015).

Methods

Self-reported data were analyzed from ACE surveys performed during the second follow-up of a cohort comprised by over 60% of Black subjects and with an overall mean age of 60 years.

Results

BMI steadily increased with cumulative ACEs among Black and White women, but remained relatively stable in White men with ≥ 4 ACEs. Contrary, Black men showed an inverse association between ACE and BMI. Secondary analysis of metabolic outcomes showed that physical abuse was correlated with a 4.85 cm increase in waist circumference in Black subjects. Total cholesterol increased among individuals with more than 4 ACEs. In addition, increases in HbA1c were associated with emotional and maternal abuse in Black women and sexual abuse in White women.

Conclusions

BMI is strongly associated with cumulative ACEs in women regardless the race, while waist circumference is strongly associated with ACEs in Black individuals, which combined with reduced BMI may indicate increased central adiposity in Black men. Our study suggests that sex and race influence the contribution of certain ACEs to impair metabolic health.
Inverse analysis of material parameters in coupled multi-physics biofilm models
Authors: Willmann Harald , Wall Wolfgang A.
Published: June 2022

In this article we propose an inverse analysis algorithm to find the best fit of multiple material parameters in different coupled multi-physics biofilm models. We use a nonlinear continuum mechanical approach to model biofilm deformation that occurs in flow cell experiments. The objective function is based on a simple geometrical measurement of the distance of the fluid biofilm interface between model and experiments. A Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm based on finite difference approximation is used as an optimizer. The proposed method uses a moderate to low amount of model evaluations. For a first presentation and evaluation the algorithm is applied and tested on different numerical examples based on generated numerical results and the addition of Gaussian noise. Achieved numerical results show that the proposed method serves well for different physical effects investigated and numerical approaches chosen for the model. Presented examples show the inverse analysis for multiple parameters in biofilm models including fluid-solid interaction effects, poroelasticity, heterogeneous material properties and growth.
L-shape triple defects in a phononic crystal for broadband piezoelectric energy harvesting
Authors: Jo Soo-Ho , Yoon Heonjun , Shin Yong Chang , Choi Wonjae , Youn Byeng D. , Kim Miso
Published: June 2022

This study proposes a phononic crystal (PnC) with triple defects in an L-shape arrangement for broadband piezoelectric energy harvesting (PEH). The incorporation of defects in PnCs has attracted significant attention in PEH fields owing to properties such as energy localization and amplification near the defect. Several studies have been conducted to enhance output electric power of PnC-based PEH systems with single defects. However, it is susceptible to the limitations of narrow bandwidth. Recently, double-defect-incorporated systems have been proposed to widen the PEH bandwidth via defect-band splitting. Nevertheless, the PEH performance rapidly decreases in the frequency range between the split defect bands. The limitations of single- and double-defect-incorporated systems can be resolved by the incorporation of the proposed design concept, called the L-shape triple defects in a PnC. The isolated single defect at the top vertex of the letter ‘L’ compensates for the limitations of double-defect-incorporated systems, whereas the double defects at the bottom vertices compensate for the limitations of the single-defect-incorporated systems. Hence, the proposed design can effectively confine and harvest elastic-wave energy over broadband frequencies while enhancing the application of single and double defects. The effectiveness of the proposed design concept is numerically validated using the finite element method. In the case of a circular hole-type PnC, it is verified that the PnC with L-shape triple defects broadens the bandwidth, and improves the output voltage and electric power compared with those of single- and double-defect-incorporated systems. This study expands the design space of defect-incorporated PnCs and might shed light on other engineering applications of the frequency detector and elastic wave power transfer.