bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Insurance Status, Comorbidity Diagnosis, and Hepatitis C Diagnosis Among Antibody-Positive Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Goodman Sara H. , Zahn Matthew , Boden-Albala Bernadette , Lakon Cynthia M.
Published: May 2023

Background

In California, laboratories report all hepatitis C (HCV)-positive antibody tests to the state; however, that does not accurately reflect active infection among those patients without a viral load test confirming a patient's HCV diagnosis. These public health surveillance disease incident records do not include patient details such as comorbidities or insurance status found in electronic medical records (EMRs).

Objective

This research seeks to understand how insurance type, insurance status, patient comorbidities, and other sociodemographic factors related to HCV diagnosis as defined by a positive viral load test among HCV antibody-positive persons from January 1, 2010 to March 1, 2020.

Methods

HCV antibody-positive individuals reported to the California Reportable Disease Information Exchange (CalREDIE), with a medical record number associated with the University of California, Irvine Medical Center, and an unrestricted EMR (n = 521) were extracted using manual chart review.

Main Outcomes and measures

HCV diagnosis as indicated in a patient's EMR in the problem list or disease registry.

Results

Less than a quarter of patients in this sample were diagnosed as having HCV in their EMR, with 0.4% of those diagnosed (5/116) patients with indicated HCV treatment in the medication field of their charts. After adjusting for multiple comorbidities, a multinomial logistic regression found that the relative risk ratios (RRRs) of HCV diagnosis found that patients with insurance were more likely to be diagnosed compared to those without insurance. When comparing uninsured patients to those with government insurance at the P < .05 level (RRR = 10.61 (95% confidence interval (CI): 4.14-27.22)) and those uninsured to private insurance (RRR = 6.79 (95% CI: 2.31-19.92).

Conclusions

These low frequencies of HCV diagnosis among the study population, particularly among the uninsured, indicate a need for increased viral load testing and linkage to care. Reflex testing on existing samples and improving HCV screening and diagnosis can help increase linkage to care and work towards eliminating this disease.
High karyotypic complexity is an independent prognostic factor in patients with CLL treated with venetoclax combinations
Authors: Fürstenau Moritz , Thus Yvonne J. , Robrecht Sandra , Mellink Clemens H. M. , van der Kevie-Kersemaekers Anne-Marie , Dubois Julie , von Tresckow Julia , Patz Michaela , Gregor Michael , Thornton Patrick , Staber Philipp B. , Tadmor Tamar , Levin Mark-David , da Cunha-Bang Caspar , Schneider Christof , Poulsen Christian Bjoern , Illmer Thomas , Schöttker Björn , Janssens Ann , Christiansen Ilse , Nösslinger Thomas , Baumann Michael , Hebart Holger , Gaska Tobias , Regelink Josien C. , Dompeling Ellen C. , Lindström Vesa , Juliusson Gunnar , Widmer Anouk , Goede Jeroen , Goldschmidt Neta , Simon Florian , De Silva Nisha , Fink Anna-Maria , Fischer Kirsten , Wendtner Clemens-Martin , Ritgen Matthias , Brüggemann Monika , Tausch Eugen , Spaargaren Marcel , Eldering Eric , Stilgenbauer Stephan , Niemann Carsten U. , Hallek Michael , Eichhorst Barbara , Kreuzer Karl-Anton , Kater Arnon P.
Published: May 2023

Complex karyotypes have been associated with inferior outcomes in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) treated with chemoimmunotherapy (CIT), whereas their prognostic impact in the context of venetoclax-based treatments is still debated. In this prospective analysis on karyotype complexity in CLL, we evaluated the impact of complex (≥3 chromosomal aberrations [CAs], CKTs) and highly complex karyotypes (≥5 CAs; hCKTs) as well as specific aberrations in previously untreated patients without TP53 aberrations undergoing either CIT or time-limited venetoclax-based therapies in the phase 3 GAIA/CLL13 trial. Karyotype analyses were available for 895 of 926 patients (96.7%), of whom 153 (17%) had a CKT and 43 (5%) hCKT. In the CIT arm, CKT was associated with shorter progression-free survival (PFS) (hazard ratio [HR] 2.58; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.54-4.32; P < .001) and overall survival (HR, 3.25; 95% CI, 1.03-10.26; P = .044). In the pooled venetoclax arms, a multivariable analysis identified hCKTs (HR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.03-3.72; P = .041), but not CKTs, as independent adverse prognosticators for PFS. The presence of translocations (unbalanced and/or balanced) was also independently associated with shorter PFSs in the venetoclax arms. CIT led to the acquisition of additional CAs (mean CAs, 2.0-3.4; from baseline to CLL progression), whereas karyotype complexity remained stable after venetoclax-based treatments (2.0, both time points). This analysis establishes highly complex karyotypes and translocations as adverse prognostic factors in the context of venetoclax-based combination treatments. The findings of this study support the incorporation of karyotyping into the standard diagnostic workup of CLL, because it identifies patients at high risk of poor treatment outcomes and thereby improves prognostication. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02950051.
Nonnegative matrix factorization analysis and multiple machine learning methods identified IL17C and ACOXL as novel diagnostic biomarkers for atherosclerosis
Authors: Rao Li , Peng Bo , Li Tao
Published: May 2023

Background

Atherosclerosis is the common pathological basis for many cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The purpose of this study is to identify the diagnostic biomarkers related to atherosclerosis through machine learning algorithm.

Methods

Clinicopathological parameters and transcriptomics data were obtained from 4 datasets (GSE21545, GSE20129, GSE43292, GSE100927). A nonnegative matrix factorization algorithm was used to classify arteriosclerosis patients in GSE21545 dataset. Then, we identified prognosis-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the subtypes. Multiple machine learning methods to detect pivotal markers. Discrimination, calibration and clinical usefulness of the predicting model were assessed using area under curve, calibration plot and decision curve analysis respectively. The expression level of the feature genes was validated in GSE20129, GSE43292, GSE100927.

Results

2 molecular subtypes of atherosclerosis was identified, and 223 prognosis-related DEGs between the 2 subtypes were identified. These genes are not only related to epithelial cell proliferation, mitochondrial dysfunction, but also to immune related pathways. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, random forest, support vector machine- recursive feature elimination show that IL17C and ACOXL were identified as diagnostic markers of atherosclerosis. The prediction model displayed good discrimination and good calibration. Decision curve analysis showed that this model was clinically useful. Moreover, IL17C and ACOXL were verified in other 3 GEO datasets, and also have good predictive performance.

Conclusion

IL17C and ACOXL were diagnostic genes of atherosclerosis and associated with higher incidence of ischemic events.
A statistical approach for identifying primary substrates of ZSWIM8-mediated microRNA degradation in small-RNA sequencing data
Authors: Wang Peter Y. , Bartel David P.
Published: May 2023

Background

One strategy for identifying targets of a regulatory factor is to perturb the factor and use high-throughput RNA sequencing to examine the consequences. However, distinguishing direct targets from secondary effects and experimental noise can be challenging when confounding signal is present in the background at varying levels.

Results

Here, we present a statistical modeling strategy to identify microRNAs that are primary substrates of target-directed miRNA degradation (TDMD) mediated by ZSWIM8. This method uses a bi-beta-uniform mixture (BBUM) model to separate primary from background signal components, leveraging the expectation that primary signal is restricted to upregulation and not downregulation upon loss of ZSWIM8. The BBUM model strategy retained the apparent sensitivity and specificity of the previous ad hoc approach but was more robust against outliers, achieved a more consistent stringency, and could be performed using a single cutoff of false discovery rate (FDR).

Conclusions

We developed the BBUM model, a robust statistical modeling strategy to account for background secondary signal in differential expression data. It performed well for identifying primary substrates of TDMD and should be useful for other applications in which the primary regulatory targets are only upregulated or only downregulated. The BBUM model, FDR-correction algorithm, and significance-testing methods are available as an R package athttps://github.com/wyppeter/bbum.
Comprehensive meta-QTL analysis for dissecting the genetic architecture of stripe rust resistance in bread wheat
Authors: Kumar Sandeep , Saini Dinesh Kumar , Jan Farkhandah , Jan Sofora , Tahir Mohd , Djalovic Ivica , Latkovic Dragana , Khan Mohd Anwar , Kumar Sundeep , Vikas V. K. , Kumar Upendra , Kumar Sundip , Dhaka Narendra Singh , Dhankher Om Parkash , Rustgi Sachin , Mir Reyazul Rouf
Published: May 2023

Background

Yellow or stripe rust, caused by the fungusPuccinia striiformis f. sp.tritici (Pst) is an important disease of wheat that threatens wheat production. Since developing resistant cultivars offers a viable solution for disease management, it is essential to understand the genetic basis of stripe rust resistance. In recent years, meta-QTL analysis of identified QTLs has gained popularity as a way to dissect the genetic architecture underpinning quantitative traits, including disease resistance.

Results

Systematic meta-QTL analysis involving 505 QTLs from 101 linkage-based interval mapping studies was conducted for stripe rust resistance in wheat. For this purpose, publicly available high-quality genetic maps were used to create a consensus linkage map involving 138,574 markers. This map was used to project the QTLs and conduct meta-QTL analysis. A total of 67 important meta-QTLs (MQTLs) were identified which were refined to 29 high-confidence MQTLs. The confidence interval (CI) of MQTLs ranged from 0 to 11.68 cM with a mean of 1.97 cM. The mean physical CI of MQTLs was 24.01 Mb, ranging from 0.0749 to 216.23 Mb per MQTL. As many as 44 MQTLs colocalized with marker–trait associations or SNP peaks associated with stripe rust resistance in wheat. Some MQTLs also included the following major genes-Yr5,Yr7,Yr16,Yr26,Yr30,Yr43,Yr44,Yr64,YrCH52, andYrH52. Candidate gene mining in high-confidence MQTLs identified 1,562 gene models. Examining these gene models for differential expressions yielded 123 differentially expressed genes, including the 59 most promising CGs. We also studied how these genes were expressed in wheat tissues at different phases of development.

Conclusion

The most promising MQTLs identified in this study may facilitate marker-assisted breeding for stripe rust resistance in wheat. Information on markers flanking the MQTLs can be utilized in genomic selection models to increase the prediction accuracy for stripe rust resistance. The candidate genes identified can also be utilized for enhancing the wheat resistance against stripe rust after in vivo confirmation/validation using one or more of the following methods: gene cloning, reverse genetic methods, and omics approaches.
Novel soil-less potting mixes for the mycorrhization of Quercus pubescens Willd. seedlings with Tuber melanosporum Vittad.
Authors: Pagliarani Sofia , Vannini Andrea , Kuzminsky Elena , Morales-Rodríguez Carmen
Published: May 2023

Truffle cultivation has quickly grown in Europe and elsewhere as a consequence of the increase in the demand of the market. Thus the optimization of the protocols for the production of elite mycorrhized plants are also needed, keeping in consideration the economic and environmental sustainability. The suitability of two compost-based potting mixes to produceQuercus pubescensWilld. plants mycorrhized with the black Périgord truffleT. melanosporumVittad. was tested as an alternative to the traditional potting mix used. The effects on mycorrhizal development and the morphometric assessment of the root and shoot system of theQ. pubescensseedlings were investigated eight months after the spore slurry inoculation in a glasshouse experiment. From the results obtained, the compost mix containing green organic residues from pruning and mowing (Mix 2) achieved better performance than the control and the potting mix based on composted municipal organic wastes, showing significantly higher mycorrhization percentage, root length, number of root tips, and root forks. In conclusion, a potting mix containing recycled green organic matter, which is readily available, cheap, and environmentally sustainable, can offer excellent mycorrhization performances and may be included in the mycorrhization process of downy oak seedlings withT. melanosporumunder controlled conditions.
Comparative transcriptomic and evolutionary analysis of FAD-like genes of Brassica species revealed their role in fatty acid biosynthesis and stress tolerance
Authors: Shaheen Nabeel , Khan Uzair Muhammad , Farooq Ayesha , Zafar Ummul Buneen , Khan Sultan Habibullah , Ahmad Shakeel , Azhar Muhammad Tehseen , Atif Rana Muhammad , Rana Iqrar Ahmad , Seo Hyojin
Published: May 2023

Background

Fatty acid desaturases (FADs) are involved in regulating plant fatty acid composition by adding double bonds to growing hydrocarbon chain. Apart from regulating fatty acid composition FADs are of great importance, and are involved in stress responsiveness, plant development, and defense mechanisms. FADs have been extensively studied in crop plants, and are broadly classed into soluble and non-soluble fatty acids. However, FADs have not yet been characterized in Brassica carinata and its progenitors.

Results

Here we have performed comparative genome-wide identification of FADs and have identified 131 soluble and 28 non-soluble FADs in allotetraploid B. carinata and its diploid parents. Most soluble FAD proteins are predicted to be resided in endomembrane system, whereas FAB proteins were found to be localized in chloroplast. Phylogenetic analysis classed the soluble and non-soluble FAD proteins into seven and four clusters, respectively. Positive type of selection seemed to be dominant in both FADs suggesting the impact of evolution on these gene families. Upstream regions of both FADs were enriched in stress related cis-regulatory elements and among them ABRE type of elements were in abundance. Comparative transcriptomic data analysis output highlighted that FADs expression reduced gradually in mature seed and embryonic tissues. Moreover, under heat stress during seed and embryo development seven genes remained up-regulated regardless of external stress. Three FADs were only induced under elevated temperature whereas five genes were upregulated under Xanthomonas campestris stress suggesting their involvement in abiotic and biotic stress response.

Conclusions

The current study provides insights into the evolution of FADs and their role in B. carinata under stress conditions. Moreover, the functional characterization of stress-related genes would exploit their utilization in future breeding programs of B. carinata and its progenitors.
The effect of catheter-based sham renal denervation in hypertension: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Fernandes Adriana , David Cláudio , Pinto Fausto J , Costa João , Ferreira Joaquim J , Caldeira Daniel
Published: May 2023

Background

Renal denervation (RDN) has emerged in recent years as a possible treatment for hypertension. The first sham-controlled trial showed a small magnitude and non-significant in the blood pressure (BP) lowering effect, also due to a substantial decrease of BP in sham arm. Considering this, we aimed to quantify the magnitude of BP decrease within the sham arm of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT) with RDN in patients with hypertension.

Methods

Electronic databases were searched since inception until January 2022 for randomized sham-controlled trials which assessed the efficacy in lowering BP of the sham intervention for catheter-based RDN in adult patients with hypertension. The outcomes were change in ambulatory/office systolic and diastolic BP.

Results

A total of 9 RCT were included in the analysis enrolling a total of 674 patients. Sham intervention showed a decrease in all evaluated outcomes. Office systolic BP had a reduction of -5.52 mmHg [95%CI -7.91, -3.13] and office diastolic BP of -2.13 mmHg [95%CI -3.08, -1.17]. Sham procedure for RDN also showed a reduction of -3.41 mmHg [95%CI -5.08, -1.75] in ambulatory systolic BP and − 2.44 mmHg [95%CI -3.31, -1.57] in ambulatory diastolic BP.

Conclusion

Despite recent data indicating that RDN might be an effective treatment for patients with resistant hypertension when compared to a sham intervention, our results indicate that the sham intervention for RDN also has a significant effect on lowering Office and Ambulatory (24-h) Blood Pressure in adult patients with hypertension. This highlights that BP itself might be sensitive to placebo-like effect and also brings further difficulties in establishing the BP lowering efficacy of invasive interventions due to the magnitude of the sham effect.
Effect of emergency physician-operated emergency short-stay ward on emergency department stay length and clinical outcomes: a case-control study
Authors: Moon Sean , Kim Taegyun , Park Heesu , Kim Hayoung , Shin Jieun , Park Yun Seong , Wang Gaonsorae
Published: May 2023

Background

We hypothesized that an emergency short-stay ward (ESSW) mainly operated by emergency medicine physicians may reduce the length of patient stay in emergency department without expense of clinical outcomes.

Methods

We retrospectively analysed adult patients who visited the emergency department of the study hospital and were subsequently admitted to wards from 2017 to 2019. We divided study participants into three groups: patients admitted to ESSW and treated by the department of emergency medicine (ESSW-EM), patients admitted to ESSW and treated by other departments (ESSW-Other) and patients admitted to general wards (GW). The co-primary outcomes were ED length of stay and 28-day hospital mortality.

Results

In total, 29,596 patients were included in the study, and 8,328 (31.3%), 2,356 (8.9%), and 15,912 (59.8%) of them were classified as ESSW-EM, ESSW-Other and GW groups, respectively. The ED length of stay of the ESSW-EM (7.1 h ± 5.4) was shorter than those of the ESSW-Other (8.0 ± 6.2, P < 0.001) and the GW (10.2 ± 9.8, P < 0.001 for both). Hospital mortality of ESSW-EM (1.9%) was lower than that of GW (4.1%, P < 0.001). In the multivariable linear regression analysis, the ESSW-EM was independently associated with shorter ED length of stay compared with the both ESSW-Other (coefficient, 1.08; 95% confidence interval, 0.70–1.46; P < 0.001) and GW (coefficient, 3.35; 95% confidence interval, 3.12–3.57; P < 0.001). In the multivariable logistic regression analyses, the ESSW-EM was independently associated with lower hospital mortality compared with both the ESSW-Other group (adjusted P = 0.030) and the GW group (adjusted P < 0.001).

Conclusions

In conclusion, the ESSW-EM was independently associated with shorter ED length of stay compared with both the ESSW-Other and the GW in the adult ED patients. Independent association was found between the ESSW-EM and lower hospital mortality compared with the GW.
Risk stratification based on acute-on-chronic liver failure in cirrhotic patients hospitalized for acute variceal bleeding
Authors: Zhu Zongyi , Jiang Huiqing
Published: May 2023

Background and aims

Acute variceal bleeding (AVB) is a life-threatening complication of cirrhosis. Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a syndrome characterized by acute decompensation of cirrhosis, multiple organ failures and high short-term mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the role of ACLF in the risk stratification of cirrhotic patients with AVB.

Methods

Prospective data of 335 cirrhotic patients hospitalized for AVB were retrospectively extracted from Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC)-IV database. ACLF was defined by European Association for the Study of Liver-Chronic Liver Failure Consortium and diagnosed/graded with chronic liver failure-organ failure (CLIF-OF) score. Cox-proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors for 6-week morality in AVB patients. Discrimination and calibration of prognostic scores were evaluated by plotting the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve and calibration curve, respectively. Overall performance was assessed by calculating the Brier score and R2 value.

Results

A total of 181 (54.0%) patients were diagnosed with ACLF (grade 1: 18.2%, grade 2: 33.7%, grade 3: 48.1%) at admission. The 6-week mortality in patients with ACLF was significantly higher than that in patients without ACLF (43.6% vs. 8.4%, P < 0.001) and increased in line with the severity of ACLF (22.5%, 34.2% and 63.8% for ACLF grade 1, 2 and 3, P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, presence of ACLF remained as an independent risk factor for 6-week mortality after adjusting for confounding factors (HR = 2.12, P = 0.03). The discrimination, calibration and overall performance of CLIF-C ACLF and CLIF-C AD were superior to the traditional prognostic scores (CTP, MELD and MELD-Na) in the prediction of 6-week mortality of patients with and without ACLF, respectively.

Conclusion

The prognosis of cirrhotic patients with AVB is poor when accompanied by ACLF. ACLF at admission is an independent predictor for the 6-week mortality in cirrhotic patients with AVB. CLIF-C ACLF and CLIF-C AD are the best prognostic scores in AVB patients with and without ACLF, respectively, and can be used for the risk stratification of these two distinct entities.
Anti-ganglioside antibody positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders with peripheral neuropathy: a case report
Authors: Li Yangchun , Tang Man , Yu Lu , He Ying , Liang Lisong , Qu Hao , Si Wei , Hu Xiao
Published: May 2023

Background

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) is a group of autoimmune-mediated disorders of the central nervous system primarily involving the optic nerve and spinal cord. There are limited reports of NMOSD associated with peripheral nerve damage.

Case presentation

We report a 57-year-old female patient who met the diagnostic criteria for aquaporin 4 (AQP4)-IgG positive NMOSD with undifferentiated connective tissue disease and multiple peripheral neuropathy. In addition, the patient was positive for multiple anti-ganglioside antibodies (anti-GD1a IgG antibodies and anti-GD3 IgM antibodies) and anti-sulfatide IgG antibodies in serum and cerebrospinal fluid. After treatment with methylprednisolone, gamma globulin, plasma exchange, and rituximab, the patient’s status improved and was subsequently discharged from our hospital.

Conclusions

The neurologist should be aware of the unusual association between NMOSD and immune-mediated peripheral neuropathy undifferentiated connective tissue disease and nerve damage mediated by multiple antibodies may have combined to cause peripheral nerve damage in this patient.
A case of spontaneous basal ganglia hemorrhage with contralateral extension utilizing the canal of Gratiolet
Authors: Ismail Rahim , George Derek D. , Kohli Gurkirat S. , Khan Muhammad W. , Wang Henry Z. , Mattingly Thomas K.
Published: May 2023

Background

Intracranial hemorrhage accounts for 10–20% of stroke etiologies annually. Basal ganglia is the most common site for intracranial hemorrhage accounting for 50% of all cases. Bilateral spontaneous basal ganglia hemorrhages (BGH) are rare with few reported cases.

Case presentation

We report an unusual case of a 69-year-old female who presented with a spontaneous bilateral basal ganglia hemorrhage secondary to a right BGH with contralateral extension through the anterior commissure (AC) utilizing the Canal of Gratiolet. Clinical course and imaging findings are discussed.

Conclusions

To our knowledge, this is the first case to specifically detail the extension of spontaneous hemorrhage across the AC via the Canal of Gratiolet, and imaging findings provide a novel depiction of AC anatomy and fiber distribution in a clinical context. These findings may explain the mechanism behind this rare clinical entity.
Altered local RAS in the liver increased the risk of NAFLD in male mouse offspring produced by in vitro fertilization
Authors: Bo Le , Wei Lun , Shi Linling , Luo Chao , Gao Shasha , Zhou Anwen , Mao Caiping
Published: May 2023

Background

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is associated with an increased risk of adverse metabolic health in offspring, and these findings have been demonstrated in animal models without parental infertility issues. However, it is unclear what changes lead to abnormal metabolism. The activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has been related to various aspects of metabolic syndrome. Thus, we focused on the local RAS of the liver, which is the central organ for glucose and lipid metabolism in offspring conceived by in vitro fertilization (IVF), and studied the role of local liver RAS in metabolic diseases.

Methods

Male C57BL/6 mouse offspring obtained by natural pregnancy and IVF were fed a standard chow diet or a high-fat diet (HFD) from 4 weeks of age through 16 weeks of age. We assessed glucose and lipid metabolism, hepatic histopathology, and the gene and protein expression of key RAS components. In addition, the blocker losartan was used from 4 weeks of age through 16 weeks of age to investigate the regulatory mechanisms of abnormal local RAS on metabolic activity in the IVF offspring liver.

Results

The growth trajectories of IVF offspring body and liver weights were different from those of naturally pregnant offspring. Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and insulin resistance (IR) occurred in IVF-conceived male offspring. After continuous HFD feeding, male offspring in the IVF group underwent earlier and more severe IR. Furthermore, there was a trend of lipid accumulation in the livers of chow-fed IVF offspring. Hepatic steatosis was also more serious in the IVF offspring after HFD treatment. Type 1 receptor (AT1R), which is the primary receptor mediating the action of angiotensin (Ang) II, has been confirmed to be upregulated in IVF offspring livers. Losartan reduced or even eliminated most of the significant differences between the IVF and NC groups after HFD consumption.

Conclusions

The upregulation of AT1R expression in the liver increased the activity of the local RAS, resulting in abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism and lipid accumulation in the liver, significantly increasing the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in IVF offspring.
The standardization of the Polish version of the Alberta Infant Motor Scale
Authors: Eliks Małgorzata , Anna Sowińska , Barbara Steinborn , Gajewska Ewa
Published: May 2023

Background

The Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) is a standardized tool for assessing gross motor development from birth through independent walking (0–18 months). The AIMS was developed, validated and standardized in the Canadian population. Results of previous studies on the standardization of the AIMS have discerned differences in some samples in comparison with Canadian norms. This study aimed to establish reference values of the AIMS for the Polish population and compare them to Canadian norms.

Methods

The research involved 431 infants (219 girls, 212 boys, aged 0-<19 months), divided into nineteen age groups. The translated into Polish and validated version of the AIMS was used. The mean AIMS total scores and percentiles for every age group were calculated and compared with the Canadian reference values. Raw total AIMS scores were converted to 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles. A one sample t-test was used to compare the AIMS total scores between Polish and Canadian infants (p-value < 0.05). A binomial test was performed to compare percentiles (p-value < 0.05).

Results

The mean AIMS total scores in the Polish population were significantly lower in the seven age groups: 0-<1, 1-<2, 4-<5, 5-<6, 6-<7, 13-<14, and 15-<16 months of age (with small to large effect size). A few significant differences were found in the comparison of percentile ranks, mostly in the 75th percentile.

Conclusion

Our study provides the norms for the Polish AIMS version. According to differences in the mean AIMS total scores and percentiles, the original Canadian reference values are not congruent for Polish infants.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT05264064. URL https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05264064. Date of registration: 03/03/2022.
Trends in energy and macronutrient intake among Taiwanese older adults in 1999–2000, 2005–2008 and 2013–2016 periods
Authors: Lin Chih-Hsueh , Chang Hsing-Yi , Li Tsai-Chung , Liu Chiu-Shong , Lin Wen-Yuan , Lee Meng-Chih , Liao Li-Na , Li Chia-Ing , Hsiao Chih-Yi , Fang Hsin-Ling , Wu Wen-Tzu , Lin Cheng-Chieh
Published: May 2023

Background

This study aimed to explore trends, in 3 periods, in the intake of energy and macronutrients among Taiwanese older adults.

Methods

Study subjects were those aged ≥65 years in the Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan 1999–2000 as well as the surveys in 2005–2008 and 2013–2016. Twenty-four-hour dietary recall data were obtained. This study used the 3 nutrition survey datasets for 1999–2000, 2005–2008, and 2013–2016, including data on the questionnaire, physical examination, and dietary intakes. Each nutrition survey involved the face-to-face household interview, and individual’s dietary intake of carbohydrate, fat, and protein (% of energy) was estimated. Subsequently, intake statuses of the three macronutrients were classified into below, meeting, and above intake categories.

Results

In the 2013–2016 survey, approximately 40% of the older adults had a low intake of energy. The prevalence of older adults with a meeting intake of carbohydrate, fat, and protein have increased from the 1999–2000 to 2013–2016 periods. The prevalence of people having a low intake of carbohydrate declined from the 1999–2000 period to the 2013–2016 period. The prevalence of high fat intake in 2013–2016 was approximately 5% higher than that in 1999–2000. In the 2013–2016 period, the prevalence of low intake of carbohydrate, fat, and protein were 25.9, 24.5, and 4.9%, respectively; moreover, the prevalence of high intake of the aforementioned macronutrients were 38.7, 36.2, and 17.6%, respectively.

Conclusions

Our study provides important evidence on the dietary patterns, as well as their changes over time among Taiwanese older adults. Such information would be useful for health policy makers about the burden of unbalanced diet and for nutrition educators on planning nutrition promotion interventions about well-balanced dietary for the older persons.
Impact of a digital web-based asthma platform, a real-life study
Authors: Genberg Emma M. , Viitanen Hilkka T. , Mäkelä Mika J. , Kautiainen Hannu J. , Kauppi Paula M.
Published: May 2023

Background

Digital health technology (DHT) is a growing area in the treatment of chronic diseases. Study results on DHT’s effect on asthma control have been mixed, but benefits have been seen for adherence, self-management, symptoms, and quality of life. The aim was to evaluate the impact of an interactive web-based asthma treatment platform on asthma exacerbations and health care visits.

Methods

In this real-life study, we retrospectively collected data on adult patients registered on a web-based interactive asthma treatment platform between December 2018 and May 2021. Patients who activated their accounts were active users, and patients who did not were inactive users and considered as controls. We compared the number of exacerbations, total number of exacerbation events defined as the sum of oral corticosteroid (OCS) and antimicrobial courses, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and asthma-related health care visits before and one year after the registration on the platform. Statistical tests used included the t-test, Pearson’s chi-square test and Poisson regression models.

Results

Of 147 patients registered on the platform, 106 activated their accounts and 41 did not. The active users had significantly fewer total number of exacerbation events (2.56 per person years, relative decline 0.78, 95% CI 0.6 to 1.0) and asthma-related health care visits (2.38 per person years, relative decline 0.84, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.96) than before registration to the platform, whereas the reductions in health care visits and the total number of exacerbation events were not significant in the inactive users.

Conclusions

An interactive web-based asthma platform can reduce asthma-related health care visits and exacerbations when used actively.
Demographic and radiographic factors for knee symptoms and range of motion in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a cross-sectional study in Beijing, China
Authors: Zhou Ge , Zhao Minwei , Wang Xinguang , Geng Xiao , Tian Hua
Published: May 2023

Background

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) causes not only pain, stiffness, and dysfunction of the knee, but also the reduction of the joint range of motion (ROM). This study explored the demographic and radiographic factors for knee symptoms and ROM in patients with symptomatic KOA.

Methods

The demographic variables, Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grade, and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) of patients with symptomatic KOA recruited in Beijing were collected. The knee ROM of all patients were also measured. We analyzed the influencing factors for WOMAC and ROM using a generalize linear model, respectively.

Results

This study included a total of 2034 patients with symptomatic KOA, including 530 males (26.1%) and 1504 females (73.0%), with a mean age of 59.17 (± 10.22) years. Patients with advanced age, overweight or obesity, a family history of KOA, a moderate-to-heavy manual labor job and use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) had significantly higher WOMAC and lower ROM (all P < 0.05). The more the comorbidities, the higher the WOMAC (all P < 0.05). Patients with higher education had better ROM than those with only an elementary education(β = 4.905, P < 0.05). Compared with those KL = 0/1, the WOMAC of patients whose KL = 4 were higher (β = 0.069, P < 0.05), but the WOMAC of those KL = 2 were lower (β = -0.068, P < 0.05). ROM decreased with the increase of KL grade (all P < 0.05).

Conclusions

KOA patients with advanced age, overweight or obesity, a family history of KOA in first-degree relatives, a moderate-to-heavy manual labor job tended to have more severe clinical symptoms and worse ROM. Patients with more severe imaging lesions tend to have poorer ROM. Symptom management measures and regular ROM screening should be taken early to these people.
Correlation between the morphological features of the biceps groove and injuries to the biceps pulley and the long head tendon of the biceps
Authors: Tang Xiaoye , Zhang Jialu , Zhang Jiechao , He Yong
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The morphometric features of the biceps groove were measured to investigate their correlation with the injury of the pulley and the long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT).

Methods

A total of 126 patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair surgery had their morphological features of bicipital groove evaluated on a 3D reconstruction model of the humeral head. The groove width, groove depth, opening angle, medial wall angle, and inclination angle of the bicipital groove were measured for each patient. During the surgery, the type of injury to the biceps pulley and the degree of long head of biceps tendon injury were assessed. The correlations of these injury assessments with bicipital groove measurements were analyzed.

Results

The average groove width was(12.3 ± 2.1) mm. The average groove depth was(4.9 ± 1.4) mm. The average groove inclination angle was 26.3° ± 8.1°. The average opening angle was 89.8° ± 18.4°. The average medial groove wall angle was 40.6° ± 7.9°.Sixty six patients had injury of the biceps pulley structure, and their Martetschläger classifications were as follows: type I injury in 12 patients, type II injury in 18 patients, and type III injury in 36 patients. The Lafosse grades of Lesions of LHBT were as follows: 72 cases were grade 0 injury, 30 cases were grade I injury, and 24 cases were grade II injury. We found no significant correlation between the opening width, depth, inclination angle, opening angle, and medial wall angle of the morphological features of bicipital groove and injuries of the pulley and the LHBT. The correlation between pulley structure injury and lesions of LHBT was statistically significant.

Conclusion

Lesions of LHBT show strong correlation with pulley injuries.This study does not find a correlation between the injury of the pulley or the LHBT and bicipital groove morphology.
Associations between dietary patterns and an array of inflammation biomarkers and plasma lipid profile in postmenopausal women
Authors: Ilesanmi-Oyelere Bolaji L. , Kruger Marlena C.
Published: May 2023

Objective and design

In this cross-sectional study, evaluation of the association between four dietary patterns, nutrients and food intakes and an array of systemic inflammation biomarkers and lipid profile among 80 New Zealand postmenopausal women were conducted.

Materials

Eighty postmenopausal women participated in the study. A validated food frequency questionnaire was used to collect nutrients and food intake. Four dietary patterns were identified by principal component analysis (PCA) and plasma samples collected for inflammatory biomarkers and lipid profile measures.

Results

There were negative correlations between intake of dietary fibre, soluble and insoluble non-starch polysaccharides (NSP), vitamin C and niacin and with almost all the inflammatory markers for the whole group. Vegetables, tea/coffee and especially fruit intake were negatively correlated with the inflammatory biomarkers in the whole group. A high intake of Pattern 1 (potato, bread, and fruit pattern) was associated with a low risk of high interferon (IFN)-α2, IFN-λ, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 levels while a high intake of Pattern 3 (fast-food pattern) was associated high risk of IFN-α2 levels. Multiple linear regression showed a negative correlation between Pattern 2 (soups and vegetables pattern) and levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) as well as ferritin. A positive association was observed between Pattern 3 (fast-food pattern) and CRP levels. Positive correlation was also observed between Pattern 2 and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and total cholesterol (TC) levels, Pattern 4 (meat and vegetables pattern) was however negatively correlated with TC, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and TC/HDL ratio.

Conclusions

The result of this study reinforces the contribution and role of diet in modifying inflammation in postmenopausal women.
Age and gender patterns in health service utilisation: Age-Period-Cohort modelling of linked health service usage records
Authors: Simons Koen , Bradfield Owen , Spittal Matthew J. , King Tania
Published: May 2023

Background

Health service utilisation changes across the life-course and may be influenced by contextual factors at different times. There is some evidence that men engage less with preventive health services, including attending doctors’ clinics, however the extent to which this varies temporally and across different age groups is unclear. This study aimed to describe age or cohort effects on engagement with GPs among employed mothers and fathers in Australia, and differences in these trends between men and women.

Methods

We linked data from the ‘Growing up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children’ with administrative health service records from Medicare. We used a small-domain estimation Age-Period-Cohort method to describe patterns in health service use among working-age male and female parents in Australia while adjusting for employment status and controlling for time-invariant factors. Our small-domain method assumes a smooth response surface of Age, Period and Cohort.

Results

Male parents have lower health service engagement than women of the same age at the same time period. Men’s pattern of health service use across time is likely explained entirely by ageing. That is, we find that patterns in health service utilisation among men are largely driven by age effects, with no evidence of periods or cohort effects in health service engagement for men between 2002 and 2016.

Conclusions

Differences in health service utilisation between male and female parents at all age-period-cohort combinations highlight a need for more research to examine the extent to which this level of health service use among Australian men meets men’s health needs, as well as barriers and enablers of health service engagement for men. Absence of evidence for period effects suggests that there is little shift in gendered patterns of health service utilisation during the observed period.
The association between municipal pandemic response and COVID-19 contacts to emergency primary health care services: an observational study
Authors: Midtbø Vivian , Johansen Ingrid Hjulstad , Hunskaar Steinar
Published: May 2023

Background

Norwegian municipalities had diverse strategies for handling tasks related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The emergency primary health care services were involved to different extents. The aim of this study was to describe how contacts with the emergency primary health care service were affected by the pandemic, in terms of patient contacts related to COVID-19, prioritisation and first actions taken, and to analyse differences between the services.

Methods

In this observational study, patient contacts to seven emergency primary health care services, from January 2020 to June 2021, were analysed. Descriptive analyses were applied. Data on the seven services’ involvement in the municipal pandemic response, in relation to testing the inhabitants for COVID-19, were collected.

Results

There were 145 685 registered patient contacts within the study period. In total, 24% (n = 35,563) of the contacts were related to COVID-19, varying from 16 to 40% between the seven services. Of the COVID-19 related contacts, 96% (n = 34,069) were triaged to the lowest urgency level (range 76–99%) and 66% (n = 23,519) were patients contacting the services in order to be tested for COVID-19 (range 5–88%). The number of COVID-19 related contacts were unrelated to the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases among the inhabitants of the respective municipalities. The burden of COVID-19-related contacts mainly reflected the services’ involvement in COVID-19 testing as part of the municipal pandemic response.

Conclusions

During the COVID-19 pandemic, several of the emergency primary health care services were assigned new tasks, such as being part of the municipalities’ system for carrying out testing for COVID-19. This had a major impact on their activity level. In the preparation for future pandemics, it should be discussed to which extent such use of the emergency primary health care system is appropriate, as additional tasks might affect the services’ preparedness to provide urgent medical care among the inhabitants.
The influence of immune challenges on the mean and variance in reproductive investment: a meta-analysis of the terminal investment hypothesis
Authors: Foo Yong Zhi , Lagisz Malgorzata , O’Dea Rose E. , Nakagawa Shinichi
Published: May 2023

Finding the optimal balance between survival and reproduction is a central puzzle in life-history theory. The terminal investment hypothesis predicts that when individuals encounter a survival threat that compromises future reproductive potential, they will increase immediate reproductive investment to maximise fitness. Despite decades of research on the terminal investment hypothesis, findings remain mixed. We examined the terminal investment hypothesis with a meta-analysis of studies that measured reproductive investment of multicellular iteroparous animals after a non-lethal immune challenge. We had two main aims. The first was to investigate whether individuals, on average, increase reproductive investment in response to an immune threat, as predicted by the terminal investment hypothesis. We also examined whether such responses vary adaptively on factors associated with the amount of reproductive opportunities left (residual reproductive value) in the individuals, as predicted by the terminal investment hypothesis. The second was to provide a quantitative test of a novel prediction based on the dynamic threshold model: that an immune threat increases between-individual variance in reproductive investment. Our results provided some support for our hypotheses. Older individuals, who are expected to have lower residual reproductive values, showed stronger mean terminal investment response than younger individuals. In terms of variance, individuals showed a divergence in responses, leading to an increase in variance. This increase in variance was especially amplified in longer-living species, which was consistent with our prediction that individuals in longer-living species should respond with greater individual variation due to increased phenotypic plasticity. We find little statistical evidence of publication bias. Together, our results highlight the need for a more nuanced view on the terminal investment hypothesis and a greater focus on the factors that drive individual responses.
Epigenetic inactivation of the 5-methylcytosine RNA methyltransferase NSUN7 is associated with clinical outcome and therapeutic vulnerability in liver cancer
Authors: Ortiz-Barahona Vanessa , Soler Marta , Davalos Veronica , García-Prieto Carlos A. , Janin Maxime , Setien Fernando , Fernández-Rebollo Irene , Bech-Serra Joan J. , De La Torre Carolina , Guil Sonia , Villanueva Alberto , Zhang Pei-Hong , Yang Li , Guarnacci Marco , Schumann Ulrike , Preiss Thomas , Balaseviciute Ugne , Montal Robert , Llovet Josep M. , Esteller Manel
Published: May 2023

Background

RNA modifications are important regulators of transcript activity and an increasingly emerging body of data suggests that the epitranscriptome and its associated enzymes are altered in human tumors.

Methods

Combining data mining and conventional experimental procedures, NSUN7 methylation and expression status was assessed in liver cancer cell lines and primary tumors. Loss-of-function and transfection-mediated recovery experiments coupled with RNA bisulfite sequencing and proteomics determined the activity of NSUN7 in downstream targets and drug sensitivity.

Results

In this study, the initial screening for genetic and epigenetic defects of 5-methylcytosine RNA methyltransferases in transformed cell lines, identified that the NOL1/NOP2/Sun domain family member 7 (NSUN7) undergoes promoter CpG island hypermethylation-associated with transcriptional silencing in a cancer-specific manner. NSUN7 epigenetic inactivation was common in liver malignant cells and we coupled bisulfite conversion of cellular RNA with next-generation sequencing (bsRNA-seq) to find the RNA targets of this poorly characterized putative RNA methyltransferase. Using knock-out and restoration-of-function models, we observed that the mRNA of the coiled-coil domain containing 9B (CCDC9B) gene required NSUN7-mediated methylation for transcript stability. Most importantly, proteomic analyses determined that CCDC9B loss impaired protein levels of its partner, the MYC-regulator Influenza Virus NS1A Binding Protein (IVNS1ABP), creating sensitivity to bromodomain inhibitors in liver cancer cells exhibiting NSUN7 epigenetic silencing. The DNA methylation-associated loss of NSUN7 was also observed in primary liver tumors where it was associated with poor overall survival. Interestingly, NSUN7 unmethylated status was enriched in the immune active subclass of liver tumors.

Conclusion

The 5-methylcytosine RNA methyltransferase NSUN7 undergoes epigenetic inactivation in liver cancer that prevents correct mRNA methylation. Furthermore, NSUN7 DNA methylation-associated silencing is associated with clinical outcome and distinct therapeutic vulnerability.