bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Resource mobilization combined with motivational interviewing to promote healthy behaviors and healthy weight in low-income families: An intervention feasibility study
Authors: Laroche Helena H , Park-Mroch Jennifer , O’Shea Amy , Rice Sarai , Cintron Yolanda , Engebretsen Bery
Published: June 2022

Objectives:

This non-randomized pilot trial examined the feasibility and acceptability of an intervention for low-income families with one parent with obesity, glucose intolerance and/or diabetes.

Methods:

The 12-month intervention combined health coaching using motivational interviewing to promote lifestyle behavior change and community resource mobilization to assist with basic needs plus diet quality and physical activity. Outcome measures included process measures, open-ended questions, and the Family Nutrition and Physical Activity scale.

Results:

Forty-five families completed an average of 2.1 health coach in-person visits, including 15 families lost to follow-up. Parents who stayed in the intervention reported the intervention was helpful. Some families and the health coach had difficulties contacting one another, and some of these families reported they would have liked more sessions with the coach. The Family Nutrition and Physical Activity scores improved significantly for all children (6 months: 2.9; p < .01; 12 months: 3.2; p < .05) and at 6 months for index children (6 months: 3.5; p < .01; 12 months: 2.9; p = .09). There was variation in the FNPA and other outcome changes between families.

Conclusion:

This intervention was feasible in terms of recruitment and delivery of family sessions and community referrals and acceptable to participants, but maintaining contact with participants was difficult. Findings warrant improvements to help retention and logistical aspects of communication between families and coaches and testing in a randomized, controlled trial.
Nighttime as Experiences: The Influence of Perceived Value on Urban Waterfront Night Cruise Loyalty
Authors: Yu Gouxiong , Tang Jinwen (Jimmy) , Na Junli , Ma Tiancheng
Published: June 2022

Urban river tourism can benefit considerably from nighttime business; however, few studies have examined tourist loyalty in the context of urban waterfront night cruises (UWNCs). This study aims to investigate how perceived value influences UWNC loyalty by conducting a fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis of 372 questionnaires collected from cruise patrons. This study reveals that the loyalty of nighttime tourists is influenced by seven experience variables: nighttime architecture, lighting, nighttime cruising, urban development and image, urban atmosphere, function, and emotion. Five different combinations of the seven variables were found to influence tourist loyalty at various levels. The findings of the present research will improve the general understanding of the urban river tourism experience and contribute to the literature on nighttime tourism, helping destination managers and policymakers with the design, management, and development of nighttime tourism.
Newspaper Coverage of Paralympic Athletes: A Multimodal Discourse Analysis
Authors: Ismail Habibah , Khoo Selina , Idrus Mohd Muzhafar , Cheong Jadeera Phaik Geok , Razman Rizal
Published: June 2022

This study examines representations of athletes with impairments who competed at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Paralympic Games. Discourse analysis from a linguistic perspective was employed to investigate gendered descriptions of disabled persons and the emotional expressions of Paralympic athletes, as printed in verbal and visual texts found in Malaysian English Language newspapers. Emotional expressions displayed in visual texts were analyzed through visual semiotics. Additionally, corpus assisted analysis was employed to triangulate the findings where necessary. Findings indicated that disability sport had little in common with non-disability sport in terms of coverage volume. Written depictions of perceived impairment most frequently used medical terms to describe both female and male athletes and were concentrated in the lead paragraphs. There were more pictures of athletes that focused on faces rather than on impairments. Finally, analyses prominently revealed that emotional elements were an integral part of the Paralympic sports news narrative, with all positive emotion words for males, and facial affect for both females and males also positive. Many pictures depicted smiles and happy expressions at medal award ceremonies.
International English Learners’ Perspectives on Multimodal Composing and Identity Representation Via Multimodal Texts
Authors: Wang Huan
Published: June 2022

Multimodal composing is the construction of meanings through a combination of semiotic modes such as visual, audio, and textual to create multimodal texts. Studies have investigated the application of multimodal composing in the English language, in content area classrooms, and within various educational ESL and EFL contexts. However, the examination of international English learners’ (ELs) perspectives on multimodal composing and identity representation via multimodal texts at post-secondary level has not been fully explored. This study aims to investigate how a group of six international multilingual ELs in a university Intensive English Program (IEP) use multimodal semiotic resources to express ideas and how they reveal their social and literate identities through the processes and products of multimodal composing in a workshop. The study was situated in the framework of sociocultural and literate identities theory. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, workshop observation notes, video-recorded workshop sessions, participants’ multimodal compositions, and the researcher’s logs. Social semiotic multimodal discourse analysis (MDA) and grounded theory were the primary data analysis methods. Participants revealed a variety of perspectives on multimodal composing. They were found to use a combination of words and images to compose paper-based and computer-based multimodal texts constructed from their personal journey learning English regardless of their age, gender, nationality, and social context. Various identities such as those of an international student, an English learner, a writer, a researcher, and a goal-achiever were observed in the data analysis process.
Seeing Risks or Solutions: Psychological Distance and Ecological Worldview Moderated the Effect of Disgust Images on Attention to Environmental Messages
Authors: Gong Zijian Harrison , Chu Haoran
Published: June 2022

Disgust imageries often shun readers away from attending to important environmental messages. Based on the Limited Capacity Model and Construal Level Theory, an eye-tracking experiment was conducted to test the influence of psychological distance and disgust images on attention to environmental messages. Results indicated that psychological distance moderated disgust images’ influence on attention to environmental communication messages. Disgust images increased attention to environmental messages only under the far distance condition. Additionally, disgust images increased attention to risk information but not efficacy information under the far distance condition, whereas non-disgust images increased attention to efficacy information under the close distance condition. All effects reported above were more salient among participants holding a more pro-environment worldview. Theoretical advances include the use of far psychological distance to reduce defensive reactions and the differential impact of disgust images on risk and efficacy information at the close or far psychological distance. Applied implications highlight the potentials of disgusting/non-disgusting images in emphasizing risk or efficacy information and reducing message avoidance.
Quality of life in Barth syndrome
Authors: Kim Alexander Y. , Vernon Hilary , Manuel Ryan , Almuqbil Mohammed , Hornby Brittany
Published: June 2022

Introduction:

Barth syndrome (BTHS) is a rare X-linked disorder characterized by cardiomyopathy, neutropenia, growth abnormalities, and skeletal myopathy. There have been few studies investigating health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in this population. This study investigated the impact of BTHS on HRQoL and select physiologic measures in affected boys and men.

Methods:

In this study, we characterize HRQoL in boys and men with BTHS through cross-sectional analysis of a variety of outcome measures including the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQLTM) Version 4.0 Generic Core Scales, PedsQLTM Multidimensional Fatigue Scale, Barth Syndrome Symptom Assessment, the PROMISTM Fatigue Short Form, the EuroQol Group EQ-5DTM, the Patient Global Impression of Symptoms (PGIS), and the Caregiver Global Impression of Symptoms (CaGIS). For a specific subset of participants, physiologic data were available in addition to HRQoL data.

Results:

For the PedsQLTM questionnaires, 18 unique child and parent reports were analyzed for children aged 5–18 years, and nine unique parent reports were analyzed for children aged 2–4 years. For the other HRQoL outcome measures and physiologic measurements, the data from 12 subjects (age range 12–35 years) were analyzed. Based on parent and child reports, HRQoL is significantly impaired in boys and men with BTHS, especially in school functioning and physical functioning. Parent and child reports of more severe fatigue are significantly correlated with more impaired HRQoL. When exploring the potential relationship between physiology and HRQoL, the CaGIS as a whole for pediatric subjects and individual questionnaire items from the PGIS and CaGIS for pediatric subjects assessing tiredness, muscle weakness, and muscle pain showed the strongest correlations.

Conclusion:

This study provides a unique characterization of the HRQoL in boys and men with BTHS using a variety of outcome measures, and it highlights the negative impact of fatigue and muscle weakness on HRQoL in BTHS.

Trial registry name::

A Trial to Evaluate Safety, Tolerability and Efficacy of Elamipretide in Subjects with Barth Syndrome (TAZPOWER). https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03098797 . Registration Number: NCT03098797
BNIP3 mediates the different adaptive responses of fibroblast-like synovial cells to hypoxia in patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Deng Ran , Wang Yan , Bu Yanhong , Wu Hong
Published: June 2022

Background

Hypoxia is one of the important characteristics of synovial microenvironment in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and plays an important role in synovial hyperplasia. In terms of cell survival, fibroblast-like synovial cells (FLSs) are relatively affected by hypoxia. In contrast, fibroblast-like synovial cells from patients with RA (RA-FLSs) are particularly resistant to hypoxia-induced cell death. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether fibroblast-like synovial cells in patients with osteoarthritis (OA-FLSs) and RA-FLSs have the same adaptation to hypoxia.

Methods

CCK-8, flow cytometry and BrdU were used to detect the proliferation of OA-FLSs and RA-FLSs under different oxygen concentrations. Apoptosis was detected by AV/PI, TUNEL and Western blot, mitophagy was observed by electron microscope, laser confocal microscope and Western blot, the state of mitochondria was detected by ROS and mitochondrial membrane potential by flow cytometry, BNIP3 and HIF-1α were detected by Western blot and RT-qPCR. The silencing of BNIP3 was achieved by stealth RNA system technology.

Results

After hypoxia, the survival rate of OA-FLSs decreased, while the proliferation activity of RA-FLSs further increased. Hypoxia induced an increase in apoptosis and inhibition of mitophagy in OA-FLSs, but not in RA-FLSs. Hypoxia led to a more lasting adaptive response. RA-FLSs displayed a more significant increase in the expression of genes transcriptionally regulated by HIF-1α. Interestingly, they showed higher BNIP3 expression than OA-FLSs, and showed stronger mitophagy and proliferation activities. BNIP3 siRNA experiment confirmed the potential role of BNIP3 in the survival of RA-FLSs. Inhibition of BNIP3 resulted in the decrease of cell proliferation, mitophagy and the increase of apoptosis.

Conclusion

In summary, RA-FLSs maintained intracellular redox balance through mitophagy to promote cell survival under hypoxia. The mitophagy of OA-FLSs was too little to maintain the redox balance of mitochondria, resulting in apoptosis. The difference of mitophagy between OA-FLSs and RA-FLSs under hypoxia is mediated by the level of BNIP3 expression.
Lane-Exchanging Driving Strategy for Autonomous Vehicle via Trajectory Prediction and Model Predictive Control
Authors: Chen Yimin , Yu Huilong , Zhang Jinwei , Cao Dongpu
Published: June 2022

The cooperation between an autonomous vehicle and a nearby vehicle is critical to ensure driving safety in the lane-exchanging scenario. The nearby vehicle trajectory needs to be predicted, from which the autonomous vehicle is controlled to prevent possible collisions. This paper proposes a lane-exchanging driving strategy for the autonomous vehicle to cooperate with the nearby vehicle by integrating vehicle trajectory prediction and motion control. A trajectory prediction method is developed to anticipate the nearby vehicle trajectory. The Gaussian mixture model (GMM), together with the vehicle kinematic model, are synthesized to predict the nearby vehicle trajectory. A potential-field-based model predictive control (MPC) approach is utilized by the autonomous vehicle to conduct the lane-exchanging maneuver. The potential field of the nearby vehicle is considered in the controller design for collision avoidance. On-road driving data verification shows that the nearby vehicle trajectory can be predicted by the proposed method. CarSim® simulations validate that the autonomous vehicle can perform the lane-exchanging maneuver and avoid the nearby vehicle using the proposed driving strategy. The autonomous vehicle can thus safely perform the lane-exchanging maneuver and avoid the nearby vehicle.
Study on the Formation and Separation Process of Droplets in the Medical Piezoelectric Atomization Device Induced by Intra-hole Fluctuation
Authors: Yan Qiufeng , Sun Wanting , Zhang Jianhui
Published: June 2022

Traditional atomization devices always exhibit many drawbacks, such as non-uniform atomization particle sizes, instability of transient atomization quantity and uncontrollability of precise energy, which seriously restrict further practical application of atomization inhalation therapy. The formation and separation process of droplets belongs to a microphenomenon of atomization. The investigation of the droplet formation and separation process will be favorable for understanding the atomization mechanism. In present work, the Conservative Level Set Method (CLSM) is successfully applied on the simulation of the formation and separation of droplets in a medical piezoelectric atomization device induced by intra-hole fluctuation. The intra-hole fluctuation mechanism is systematically explored and analyzed, and also the expression of the volume change in the micro cone hole is built and evaluated. Both the control equation and simulation model of droplet formation and separation process have been well established by meshing the simulation model, and thereby the process of droplet formation and separation is simulated. The corresponding results demonstrate that the breaking time of droplets is decreased with the inlet velocity and liquid temperature rising, while enhanced with the liquid concentration increasing. Meanwhile, the volume of droplet is decreased with the inlet velocity and liquid concentration increasing, but increased with the liquid temperature rising. The velocity of droplet is enhanced with the inlet velocity and liquid temperature rising, and reduced with the increase of liquid concentration. When the large side diameter of micro-cone hole is set as 79 μm, the breaking time of the droplet reaches a minimum value of 38.7 μs, whereas the volume and the velocity of droplet reach a maximum value of 79.8 pL and 4.46 m/s, respectively. This study provides theoretical guidance for the design of medical piezoelectric atomization devices and contributes to the promotion of inhalation therapy in practical use.
Label-free quantitative proteomic analysis of serum exosomes from patients of renal anemia: The Good and the Bad of Roxadustat
Authors: You Xiaoe , Guo Baochun , Wang Zhen , Ma Hualin , Zhang Xinzhou
Published: June 2022

Background

Roxadustat is a new oral anti-renal anemia medication that works by stabilizing hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) which can activate the expression of more than 100 genes in addition to genes related to anemia. However, the more potential molecular targets of roxadustat are not completely clear. Therefore, it is essential to further reveal its molecular targets to guide its clinical applications.

Methods

We performed label-free quantification and LC-MS/MS to study the proteomic alterations in serum exosome of renal anemia patients before and after roxadustat therapy. Results were validated by PRM.

Results

A total of 30 proteins were significantly changed after treatment with roxadustat. Among these proteins, 18 proteins were up-regulated (and 12 were down-regulated). The results are statistically significant (P < 0.05). Then, we validated the result by PRM, the results confirmed that TFRC, HSPA8, ITGB3, COL1A2, and YWHAZ were markedly upregulated, while ITIH2 and CFH were significantly downregulated upon treatment with roxadustat.

Conclusions

TFRC and HSPA8 could be an important target of the action of roxadustat, and roxadustat may increase cardiovascular risk through its influence on platelet activation. Our results provide a theoretical basis for its wider clinical application and preventing expected side effects.
Determination of thyroidal endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) activities using a human cell-based transactivation assay
Authors: Lee Seok-Hee , Seo Hyeyeong , Byrd Nick , Willett Catherine , Lee Hee-Seok , Park Yooheon
Published: June 2022

Background

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) interfere with physiological function by mimicking or blocking hormones; these chemicals enter the human body through various materials used in food packaging, among other routes. Thyroid hormones (THs) are very important hormones that control various basic physiological functions.

Results

In a previous study, we developed a TH agonist transactivation (TA) assay based on the A549 cell line. However, the assay using A549 showed some limitations, since it required 4 days to yield results and showed low sensitivity to the natural form of human triiodothyronine (T3). Therefore, in this study, we have developed a more sensitive TH TA assay based on a HeLa cell line to screen potential TH agonists. We evaluated the TH agonist activity of 17 chemicals, 5 of which showed TH agonist activity.

Conclusions

In conclusion, in comparison with the previously developed TA assay, the assay using HeLa cells provided greater accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity, yielding more detailed results for TH agonist chemicals in less time.
Spatiotemporal analysis of multi-pesticide residues in the largest Central European shallow lake, Lake Balaton, and its sub-catchment area
Authors: Tóth Gergő , Háhn Judit , Szoboszlay Sándor , Harkai Péter , Farkas Milán , Radó Júlia , Göbölös Balázs , Kaszab Edit , Szabó István , Urbányi Béla , Kriszt Balázs
Published: June 2022

Background

The present study aimed to gain a comprehensive knowledge of the presence and environmental risks of pesticide and repellent residues in Lake Balaton and its sub-catchment area (Hungary). A unique analysis of 439 active substances and 17 metabolites was carried out on surface waters and one effluent wastewater as the only direct discharge into Lake Balaton from June 2017 until August 2020. Altogether 203 water- and 85 sediment samples were collected and analysed during the 3-year monitoring period. To determine the environmental risks of the detected pesticides to aquatic ecosystems, environmental risk assessment (ERA) was carried out using two approaches (worst- and general-case scenarios).

Results

Fifty-two pesticides and one insect repellent were detected, of which 26 belonged to herbicides (24 active substances and two metabolites), 15 to fungicides (15 active substances), and 11 to insecticides (eight active substances and three metabolites), of which only nine of the total analysed compounds are listed to be monitored in surface waters with threshold limit values (TLVs). The most frequently detected compounds were terbuthylazine, diethyltoluamide (DEET), desethyl-atrazine, and metolachlor. Glyphosate, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), and DEET were found with the highest concentrations of 3.0, 2.0, and 1.57 µg/L, respectively. The pesticide exposures were higher during the summer periods indicating a stable seasonal pattern. According to the performed ERA, the calculated Risk Quotients (RQs) indicated 18 compounds with a high level of risk including nine that had been banned for at least a decade.

Discussion

This study expands knowledge on the spatiotemporal occurrence of pesticides in inland surface waters and highlights the need to consider widening the number of analysed pesticides beyond the European Water Framework Directive (EWFD). According to our results, additional authority and legislation procedures should come into force for pesticides not indexed in the priority European Union Watch List.
Organic mulch can suppress litchi downy blight through modification of soil microbial community structure and functional potentials
Authors: Xu Dandan , Ling Jinfeng , Qiao Fang , Xi Pinggen , Zeng Yani , Zhang Jianfan , Lan Cuizhen , Jiang Zide , Peng Aitian , Li Pingdong
Published: June 2022

Background

Organic mulch is an important management practice in agricultural production to improve soil quality, control crop pests and diseases and increase the biodiversity of soil microecosystem. However, the information about soil microbial diversity and composition in litchi plantation response to organic mulch and its attribution to litchi downy blight severity was limited. This study aimed to investigate the effect of organic mulch on litchi downy blight, and evaluate the biodiversity and antimicrobial potential of soil microbial community of litchi plantation soils under organic mulch.

Results

Organic mulch could significantly suppress the disease incidence in the litchi plantation, and with a reduction of 37.74% to 85.66%. As a result of high-throughput 16S rRNA and ITS rDNA gene illumine sequencing, significantly higher bacterial and fungal community diversity indexes were found in organic mulch soils, the relative abundance of norank f norank o Vicinamibacterales, norank f Vicinamibacteraceae, norank f Xanthobacteraceae, Unclassified c sordariomycetes, Aspergillus and Thermomyces were significant more than that in control soils. Isolation and analysis of antagonistic microorganism showed that 29 antagonistic bacteria strains and 37 antagonistic fungi strains were unique for mulching soils.

Conclusions

Thus, we believe that organic mulch has a positive regulatory effect on the litchi downy blight and the soil microbial communities, and so, is more suitable for litchi plantation.
Does the rubella immunoglobulin G affect the severity of COVID- 19?
Authors: Sahebi Leyla , Hosseini Mohsen , Abdollahi Alireza , Farrokhzad Nahid , Fattah Ghazi Samrand , Samaei Noroozi Farzaneh , Ghiasvand Fereshteh
Published: June 2022

Objective & aim

The coronavirus disease, so far (COVID-19) has brought about millions of infections and fatalities throughout the world. Our aim was to determine the correlation between rubella IGG titers with the severity COVID-19. 

Materials & methods

This study was conducted among COVID-19 confirmed patients over 18 years of age. The disease severity levels were categorized by WHO interim guidance. The rubella-specific IgG antibody-titer spectrum was measured (within first 48 h of hospitalization) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Result

In a study of 46 inpatients with varying COVID-19 disease severity (mild, moderate, severe, and critical), we observed a negative correlation between rubella IgG antibody titers and COVID‐19 severity (P-Value = 0.017), There was an interaction between COVID-19 vaccination history and rubella IGG on severity COVID-19 (P-Value = 0.0015). There was an interaction between age group under 44 years (including national measles- rubella (MR) vaccination in Iran) and rubella IGG titers on severity COVID-19 too (p-value = 0.014).

Conclusion

In conclusion, MR vaccination seems to have a positive effect in reducing the severity of the disease, emphasizing that, the important and separate effect of the IGG rubella (due to natural or extrinsic immunity) titers is determining.
Real-time PCR using atpE, conventional PCR targeting different regions of difference, and flow cytometry for confirmation of Mycobacterium bovis in buffaloes and cattle from the Delta area of Egypt
Authors: Elsayed Mohamed Sabry Abd Elraheam , Salah Ahmed , Elbadee Ahmed Abd , Roshdy Tamer
Published: June 2022

Background

Mycobacterium bovis notoriously causes detrimental infections in bovines and humans. In this study, 1500 buffaloes and 2200 cattle were tested by single intradermal comparative cervical tuberculin test and compared with the detection rates of M. bovis isolation, real-time and simplex PCR, and flow Cytometry.

Results

The tuberculin test is the reference test in Egypt, the positive rate was 54/3700 (1.5%) composed of 18/1500 (1.2%) buffaloes and 36/2200 (1.6%) cattle which were mandatorily slaughtered under the Egyptian legislation, after postmortem examination the non-visible-lesion proportion was 39/54 (72.2%) which surpassed the visible-lesion rate 15/54 (27.8%) with (p < 0.0001). The samples from each case were pooled into one sample representing the case, and the isolation rate of M. bovis was 25/54 (46.3%). Real-time PCR using atpE was positive for mycobacteria on the genus level in 18/18 (100%) and 5/5 (100%) of tissue samples and isolates, respectively; simplex PCR detected M. bovis in 44/54 (81.5%) and 25/25 (100%) of tissue samples and isolates, respectively. Flow Cytometry evaluation of the CD4+, CD8+, WC1+δγ, and CD2+ cell phenotypes showed increased counts in the tuberculin-positive cases compared with negative cases (p < 0.0001), and these phenotypes in the tuberculin-positive cases increased after antigen stimulation than in the negative cases (p < 0.0001). Detection rates of PCR techniques and flow Cytometry exceeded that of bacterial isolation (p < 0.0001) and exhibited a strong correlation.

Conclusions

The skin test suffers from interference from non-tuberculous mycobacteria able to cause false-positive reactions in cattle and other species. Real-time PCR using atpE, conventional PCR targeting RDs, and flow Cytometry are rapid and accurate methods that correlate with the isolation and can be promising for detection and confirmation of infected live and slaughtered cases.
Effects on community composition and function Pinus massoniana infected by Bursaphelenchus xylophilus
Authors: Hao Xin , Liu Xuefeng , Chen Jie , Wang Bowen , Li Yang , Ye Yi , Ma Wei , Ma Ling
Published: June 2022

Pine wilt disease (PWD) is a worldwide forest disease caused by pine wood nematode (PWN). In this article, we investigated the composition, organization, correlation, and function of the endophytic microbial community in Pinus massoniana field with and without PWN. Samples were taken from branches, upper, middle, and lower trunks, as well as soil, from both healthy and infected trees. The results showed that the fungal diversity of healthy pines is around 1.1 times that of infected pines, while the bacterial diversity is about 0.75 times that of infected pines at the OTUs level. An increase of the abundance of pathogenic fungus such as Saitozyma, Graphilbum, Diplodia, Candida, Pseudoxanthomonas, Dyella and Pantoea was witnessed in infected pines according to the result of LEfSe. Furthermore, Ophiostoma and saprophytic fungus such as Entomocorticium, ganoderma, tomentella, entomocorticium were exclusively prominent in infected pines, which were substantially and highly connected with other species (p < 0.05), indicating the trees’ vulnerability and making the wood blue. In healthy pines, the top three functional guilds are parasites, plant pathogens, and saprotrophs. Parasites (36.52%) are primarily found in the branches, plant pathogens (29.12%) are primarily found in the lower trunk, and saprotrophs (67.88%) are primarily found in the upper trunk of disease trees. Pines’ immunity is being eroded due to an increase in the quantity and types of diseases. PICRUSt2 research revealed that NADH or NADPH, as well as carbon-nitrogen bonds, were more abundant in healthy pines, but acid anhydrides and transferring phosphorus-containing groups were more abundant in infected pines. The shift in resin secretion lowers the tree’s potential and encourages pine wilt and mortality. In total, PWN may have disrupted the microbiological ecology and worked with the community to hasten the demise of pines.
Epicardial adipose tissue is associated with higher recurrence risk after catheter ablation in atrial fibrillation patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Chen Jun , Mei Ziwei , Yang Yang , Dai Chuxing , Wang Yimin , Zeng Rui , Liu Qiang
Published: June 2022

Objective

Our study aimed to investigate the association between epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence risk after catheter ablation.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases up to November 30, 2021 without language restrictions. Outcome was the relative risk (RR) of EAT contributes to AF recurrence after catheter ablation. The RR and 95% confidence interval (CI) was pooled by the random-effect model.

Results

10 studies that contained 1840 AF patients were included in our study. The result of this study showed that EAT amount was associated with higher risk of AF recurrence after catheter ablation (RR = 1.06, 95% CI 1.02–1.11, P = 0.005) and EAT related thickness was a risk factor for AF recurrence after catheter ablation (RR = 1.73, 95% CI 1.04–2.87, P = 0.040). Sub-analysis showed that EAT was strongly associated with higher risk of AF recurrence common in Asian population (RR = 1.25, 95% CI 1.10–1.43, P < 0.001), patients aged ≤ 60 years old (RR = 2.01, 95% CI 1.18–3.44, P = 0.010), and follow-up more than 1 year (RR = 1.06, 95% CI 1.01–1.11, P = 0.020).

Conclusion

The meta-analysis demonstrated that EAT related thickness seems to be the marker most strongly associated with a greater risk of AF recurrences after catheter ablation. It should be included into risk stratification for predicting AF recurrent before catheter ablation.
Redirecting emergency medical services patients with unmet primary care needs: the perspective of paramedics on feasibility and acceptance of an alternative care path in a qualitative investigation from Berlin, Germany
Authors: Oslislo Sarah , Kümpel Lisa , Resendiz Cantu Rebecca , Heintze Christoph , Möckel Martin , Holzinger Felix
Published: June 2022

Background

Against the backdrop of emergency department (ED) overcrowding, patients’ potential redirection to outpatient care structures is a subject of current political debate in Germany. It was suggested in this context that suitable lower-urgency cases could be transported directly to primary care practices by emergency medical services (EMS), thus bypassing the ED. However, practicality is discussed controversially. This qualitative study aimed to capture the perspective of EMS personnel on potential patient redirection concepts.

Methods

We conducted qualitative, semi-structured phone interviews with 24 paramedics. Interviews were concluded after attainment of thematic saturation. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and qualitative content analysis was performed.

Results

Technical and organizational feasibility of patients’ redirection was predominantly seen as limited (theme: “feasible, but only under certain conditions”) or even impossible (theme: “actually not feasible”), based on a wide spectrum of potential barriers. Prominently voiced reasons were restrictions in personnel resources in both EMS and ambulatory care, as well as concerns for patient safety ascribed to a restricted diagnostic scope. Concerning logistics, alternative transport options were assessed as preferable. Regarding acceptance by stakeholders, the potential for releasing ED caseload was described as a factor potentially promoting adoption, while doubt was raised regarding acceptance by EMS personnel, as their workload was expected to conversely increase. Paramedics predominantly did not consider transporting lower-urgency cases as their responsibility, or even as necessary. Participants were markedly concerned of EMS being misused for taxi services in this context and worried about negative impact for critically ill patients, as to vehicles and personnel being potentially tied up in unnecessary transports. As to acceptance on the patients’ side, interview participants surmised a potential openness to redirection if this would be associated with benefits like shorter wait times and accompanied by proper explanation.

Conclusions

Interviews with EMS staff highlighted considerable doubts about the general possibility of a direct redirection to primary care as to considerable logistic challenges in a situation of strained EMS resources, as well as patient safety concerns. Plans for redirection schemes should consider paramedics’ perspective and ensure a provision of EMS with the resources required to function in a changing care environment.
Effect of inpatient rehabilitation treatment ingredients on functioning, quality of life, length of stay, discharge destination, and mortality among older adults with unplanned admission: an overview review
Authors: Lambe K. , Guerra S. , Salazar de Pablo G. , Ayis S. , Cameron I. D. , Foster N. E. , Godfrey E. , Gregson C. L. , Martin F. C. , Sackley C. , Walsh N. , Sheehan K. J.
Published: June 2022

Background

To synthesise the evidence for the effectiveness of inpatient rehabilitation treatment ingredients (versus any comparison) on functioning, quality of life, length of stay, discharge destination, and mortality among older adults with an unplanned hospital admission.

Methods

A systematic search of Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Embase, PsychInfo, PEDro, BASE, and OpenGrey for published and unpublished systematic reviews of inpatient rehabilitation interventions for older adults following an unplanned admission to hospital from database inception to December 2020. Duplicate screening for eligibility, quality assessment, and data extraction including extraction of treatment components and their respective ingredients employing the Treatment Theory framework. Random effects meta-analyses were completed overall and by treatment ingredient. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed with the inconsistency-value (I2).

Results

Systematic reviews (n = 12) of moderate to low quality, including 44 non-overlapping relevant RCTs were included. When incorporated in a rehabilitation intervention, there was a large effect of endurance exercise, early intervention and shaping knowledge on walking endurance after the inpatient stay versus comparison. Early intervention, repeated practice activities, goals and planning, increased medical care and/or discharge planning increased the likelihood of discharge home versus comparison. The evidence for activities of daily living (ADL) was conflicting. Rehabilitation interventions were not effective for functional mobility, strength, or quality of life, or reduce length of stay or mortality. Therefore, we did not explore the potential role of treatment ingredients for these outcomes.

Conclusion

Benefits observed were often for subgroups of the older adult population e.g., endurance exercise was effective for endurance in older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and early intervention was effective for endurance for those with hip fracture. Future research should determine whether the effectiveness of these treatment ingredients observed in subgroups, are generalisable to older adults more broadly. There is a need for more transparent reporting of intervention components and ingredients according to established frameworks to enable future synthesis and/or replication.

Trial registration

PROSPERO Registration CRD42018114323.
Adult Computed Tomography examinations in Uganda: Towards determining the National Diagnostic Reference Levels
Authors: Erem Geoffrey , Ameda Faith , Otike Caroline , Olwit William , Mubuuke Aloysius G. , Schandorf Cyril , Kisolo Akisophel , Kawooya Michael G.
Published: June 2022

Introduction

Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRLs), typically set at the 75th percentile of the dose distribution from surveys conducted across a broad user base using a specified dose-measurement protocol, are recommended for radiological examinations. There is a need to develop and implement DRLs as a standardisation and optimisation tool for the radiological protection of patients at Computed Tomography (CT) facilities.

Methods

This was a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted in seven (7) different CT scan facilities in which participants were recruited by systematic random sampling. The study variables were dose length product (DLP) and volume-weighted CTDI (CTDIvol) for the radiation doses for head, chest, abdomen and lumbar spine CT examinations. The DRLs for CTDIvol and DLP were obtained by calculating the 3rd quartiles of the radiation doses per study site by anatomical region. The national diagnostic reference levels were determined by computation of DRLs using the 75th centile of the median values.

Results

A total of 574 patients were examined with an average age of 47.1 years. For CTDIvol estimates; there was a strong positive significant relationship between the CTDIvol and examination mAs (rs = 0.9017, p-value < 0.001), and reference mAs (rs = 0.0.7708, p-value < 0.001). For DLP estimates; there was a moderate positive significant relationships between DLP and total mAs (rs = 0.6812, p-value < 0.001), reference mAs (rs = 0.5493, p-value < 0.001). The DRLs were as follows; for head CT scan – the average median CTDIvol was 56.02 mGy and the DLP was 1260.3 mGy.cm; for Chest CT, the CTDI volume was 7.82 mGy and the DLP was 377.0 mGy.cm; for the abdomen CT, the CTDI volume 12.54 mGy and DLP 1418.3 mGy.cm and for the lumbar spine 19.48 mGy and the DLP was 843 mGy.cm, respectively.

Conclusion

This study confirmed the need to optimize the CT scan parameters in order to lower the national DRLs. This can be achieved by extensive training of all the CT scan radiographers on optimizing the CT scan acquisition parameters. Continuous dose audits are also advised with new equipment or after every three years to ensure that values out of range are either justified or further investigated.
Incidence and Risk Factors Associated with Technique Failure in the First Year of Peritoneal Dialysis: A Single Center Retrospective Cohort Study in Southern China
Authors: Dong Xiao , Wu Haishan , Ye Hongjian , Yi Chunyan , Diao Xiangwen , Liu Ruihua , Mao Haiping , Huang Fengxian , Yu Xueqing , Yang Xiao
Published: June 2022

Background

Technique failure is more likely to occur during the first 12 months after peritoneal dialysis (PD) initiation, which is a great challenge encountered in PD patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and risk factors associated with technique failure within the first year of PD patients in Southern China.

Methods

Incident PD patients who were followed up for at least one year at The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2015 were included. Technique failure was defined as transferring to hemodialysis (HD) for more than 30 days or death within the first year after start of PD. A competitive risk regression analysis was used to explore the incidence and risk factors of the technique failure.

Results

Overall, 2,290 incident PD patients were included in this study, with a mean age of 48.2 ± 15.7 years, 40.9% female and 25.2% with diabetes. A total of 173 patients (7.5%) had technique failure during the first year of PD. Among them, the patient death account for 62.4% (n = 108) and transferring to HD account for 37.6% (n = 65). The main reasons for death were cardiovascular diseases (n = 32, 29.6%), infection (n = 15, 13.8%) and for conversion to HD were mechanical cause (n = 28, 43.1%), infection cause (n = 22, 33.8%). The risk factors for the technique failure included advanced age (HR 2.78, 95%CI 1.82–4.30), low body mass index (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2: HR 1.77, 95%CI 1.17–2.67), history of congestive heart failure (HR 2.81, 95%CI 1.58–4.98), or time on HD before PD ≤ 3 months (HR 1.49, 95%CI 1.05–2.10), peritonitis (HR 2.02, 95%CI 1.36–3.01);while higher serum albumin (HR 0.93, 95%CI 0.89–0.96) and using employee medical insurance to pay expenses (HR 0.47, 95%CI 0.32–0.69) were associated with reduced risk.

Conclusions

Advanced age, poor nutritional status, history of HD or congestive heart failure, and peritonitis are related factors that increase the risk of technique failure in the first year of PD, while patients' type of medical insurance may also have an influence on early technique failure.
Central fibrous area in the glomerular vascular pole consists of fibrous collagens and is associated with advanced age: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Hara Satoshi , Yamaguchi Yutaka , Zoshima Takeshi , Mizushima Ichiro , Yamada Kazunori , Inoue Ryo , Muto Hisao , Mizutomi Kazuaki , Hirata Masayoshi , Araki Hideo , Miyazaki Ryoichi , Kawano Mitsuhiro
Published: June 2022

Background

For the optimal management of patients with both allograft kidneys and native kidney diseases, the recognition of the histological features associated with older age is important. This is because most pathological findings are non-specific. Central fibrous areas (CFAs) have recently been proposed to be age-related. However, the components of CFAs and whether CFAs are observed in various kidney diseases remain undetermined. This cross-sectional study was undertaken to clarify the histological features, epidemiology, and clinicopathological features of CFAs.

Methods

One hundred and one consecutive kidney needle biopsy specimens were retrospectively collected from seven facilities in the Hokuriku region and diagnosed at the Kanazawa University Hospital in 2015. First, the components of CFAs were analyzed using normal histostaining, immunostaining, and electron microscopy. Second, the patients were divided into two groups (CFA [+] or CFA [−]) according to the presence of CFA in the obtained samples. Clinical and histological features were compared between the two groups, and factors associated with CFA formation were determined using univariate and multivariate analyses. The number of CFAs per specimen was counted in the CFA (+) group. Third, the presence of myofibroblasts in CFA was examined by immunostaining.

Results

CFAs were observed in 56 of 101 patients (55.4%) with various kidney diseases. CFAs consist of fibrillar collagens (collagen I and III) in addition to non-fibrillar collagens (collagen IV and VI), as confirmed by electron microscopy. Clinically, the CFA (+) group was older and had a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension and hyperlipidemia than the CFA (−) group. Histologically, elastofibrosis of the interlobular artery, arteriolar hyalinosis, and membranous nephropathy were significantly more evident in the CFA (+) group than in the CFA (−) group. Multivariate analysis revealed that older age was the sole factor associated with CFA formation. Finally, 27 of 58 (46.6%) CFA-containing glomeruli in 26 cases included alpha-smooth muscle actin-positive cells in or adjacent to the CFA.

Conclusions

CFAs consist of fibrous collagens in addition to matrix collagens. CFA formation is associated with older age and was observed in various kidney diseases.
Selective versus routine use of episiotomy for vaginal births in Shanghai hospitals, China: a comparison of policies
Authors: Gu Shengyi , Pei Jindan , Zhou Chenchen , Zhao Xiaobo , Wan Sheng , Zhang Jun , Adanlawo Adewumi , Luo Zhongcheng , Wu Guizhu , Hua Xiaolin
Published: June 2022

Background

To assess the effects of policy of selective versus routine episiotomy on mother and baby for women delivering vaginally in Shanghai and whether the hospital type has any effect on the outcomes.

Method

This was a multi-center retrospective cohort study in Shanghai between March 2015 and May 2017. The study population were vaginal births with selective or routine episiotomy (n = 5478) in 20 secondary or tertiary hospitals. Main Outcome Measure was the incidence of severe perineal lacerations. The adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated by logistic regression and presented as the effect sizes. All models were stratified by the utilization of level (secondary and tertiary) and type (general and Obstetric) of hospital.

Results

The primary outcome was not significantly different between vaginal births with routine and selective episiotomy. Patients with selective episiotomy had a lower risk of postpartum hemorrhage, and newborns in the selective episiotomy group had a lower risk of shoulder dystocia and Neonatal Ward compared to those with routine episiotomy. Newborns in selective episiotomy group had a lower risk of birth injury in tertiary hospital. However, newborns in selective episiotomy group had a higher risk of birth injury in general hospitals.

Conclusion

Selective episiotomy is safe and can be recommended over routine episiotomy in obstetric and tertiary hospital settings in China.