bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Personality Factors Crucial in Internalized Stigma Understanding in Psychiatry
Authors: Szcześniak Dorota , Kobyłko Agnieszka , Lenart Marta , Karczewski Maciej , Cyran Agnieszka , Musiał Piotr , Rymaszewska Joanna
Published: April 2021

Objective: The main purpose of this research was to establish the relationship between personality traits and internalized stigma in individuals living with severe mental illness. Additionally, the study aimed to identify individual differences that could be used to develop the theoretical socio-cognitive-behavioral equation model of internalized stigma. Methods: A total of 114 patients with diagnosis of nonorganic psychotic disorder or uni- or bipolar affective disorder took part in this study. The Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) scale, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Revised (EPQ-R) and NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) were administrated among all participants. Results: Patients presenting higher levels of neuroticism scored higher on the ISMI scale. Otherwise, those with higher levels of extraversion, openness to experience and conscientiousness had lower ISMI scores. With the use of multivariate linear regression, neuroticism, openness to experience and conscientiousness showed the strongest associations with internalized stigma. Conclusions: Intrapersonal factors such as personality traits might explain individual differences in responses to the stigmatization process. Moreover, sociodemographic conditions such as the place of residence and level of education can play a mediating role in reducing the level of internalized stigma. Adequate psychosocial interventions should consider demographics and personality traits when engaging patients with mental illnesses in activities aimed at understanding and accepting the disorders.
Otitis Media and Obesity—An Unusual Relationship in Children
Authors: Gavrilovici Cristina , Spoială Elena-Lia , Ivanov Anca-Viorica , Mocanu Adriana , Ștreangă Violeta , Alecsa Mirabela-Smaranda , Miron Ingrith
Published: April 2021

Otitis media (OM) represents a public health matter, being the main cause of preventable hearing loss in pediatric patients. Besides well-established risk factors for developing OM, such as craniofacial abnormalities, prematurity, low birth weight, or tobacco exposure, there is evidence that obesity could be associated with a high incidence of OM. Our aim is to perform a literature review on the state of current published research on the relationship between OM and obesity and to discuss the interconnectivity between these two entities. We conducted an electronic search in PubMed and EMBASE databases. Out of 176 references, 15 articles were included in our study. Our findings suggest that obesity and overweight might be risk factors for developing OM, and vice versa. The main mechanisms for developing OM in obese patients include alteration in cytokine profile, increased gastroesophageal reflux, and/or fat accumulation. Conversely, ear infections exposure might increase the risk of obesity, mostly by taste changes through middle ear cavity inflammation.
Why Do Patients with Mental Disorders Default Treatment? A Qualitative Enquiry in Rural Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
Authors: Mokwena Kebogile Elizabeth , Ndlovu Jabulile
Published: April 2021

Although treatment default by psychiatric patients or mental health care users is a global challenge, this behavior is reported to be higher in South Africa. The Manguzi District Hospital in rural Kwa-Zulu Natal Province, South Africa, experiences high rates of treatment default by psychiatric patients. The objective of this study was to determine the reasons for treatment defaulting at Manguzi Hospital, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. An explorative qualitative design, using in-depth interviews, was conducted with mental health care users who had defaulted out-patient psychiatric treatment. Twenty-one mental health care users were interviewed before data saturation was reached. Nvivo version 11 was used to analyze the qualitative data. Major themes that emerged confirmed that social factors are key contributions to treatment defaulting, and these include denial of the mental disorders; belief that they are cured; lack of, or disintegration of social support; preference for traditional medicine; and flaws in the health care system. Social determinants of treatment outcomes for mental disorders require tailor-made support systems for patients in these rural communities, which include increase in health literacy and attention to the cultural understanding of mental disorders.
Sources of Care Stress of Nursing Staff for Patients with Infectious Diseases during the Prevalence of COVID-19: A Case Study of Some Regional Teaching Hospitals in Southern Taiwan
Authors: Huang Yichao , Yu Lichen
Published: April 2021

(1) Background: The COVID-19 epidemic had caused more than 100 million confirmed cases worldwide by the end of January 2021. The focus of this study was to explore which stress was felt the most by nursing staff in isolation wards in the face of dangerous infectious diseases. (2) Methods: Nursing staff in negative pressure isolation wards were taken as the research objects. The sources of stress were divided into 14 items in three categories, namely, patient care, infection protection, and support system, and the questionnaire results were ranked by a Gaussian curve. (3) Results: Even during the COVID-19 epidemic, nurses in isolation wards still consider that the clinical symptoms of patients in isolation wards cannot be closely tracked as the primary consideration. (4) Conclusions: During the epidemic period, the ability and confidence of nursing staff were strengthened through education and training, and their chances of infection were reduced through comprehensive vaccination and the improvement of protective equipment. In the face of the unstable mood of patients and their families due to isolation, more protective measures should be prepared for nursing staff. In order to relieve the stress, supervisors can adjust the nursing manpower timely according to the difficulty and risk of patient care to reduce the care stress.
Electromyographic Assessment of the Lower Leg Muscles during Concentric and Eccentric Phases of Standing Heel Raise
Authors: Ugbolue Ukadike C. , Yates Emma L. , Ferguson Kerensa , Wearing Scott C. , Gu Yaodong , Lam Wing-Kai , Baker Julien S. , Dutheil Frédéric , Sculthorpe Nicholas F. , Dias Tilak
Published: April 2021

Only a small number of muscle activation patterns from lower limbs have been reported and simultaneous muscle activation from several lower limb muscles have not yet been investigated. The purpose of this study was to examine any gender differences in surface electromyography (EMG) activity from six recorded lower limb muscles of the dominant limb at baseline (i.e., with the foot placed flat on the floor and in the neutral position), and during concentric and eccentric phases when performing a heel raise task. In total, 10 females and 10 males performed a standing heel raise task comprising of three continuous phases: baseline, unloading (concentric muscle action), and loading (eccentric muscle action) phases. Muscle activation from six muscles (gastrocnemius medialis, gastrocnemius lateralis, soleus, tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, and peroneus brevis) were measured using the Myon 320 EMG System. Root mean squared values of each muscle were calculated for each phase. Descriptive and inferential statistics were incorporated into the study. Statistically significant p values were set at 0.05. The results showed no significant differences between baseline, concentric, and eccentric phases with respect to each of the muscles investigated. Except for the gastrocnemius medialis at baseline and concentric phases, no significant differences were observed between genders or contractions. The data suggests that gender does not significantly influence the eccentric phase during the standing heel raise task.
Short-Term Associations of Ambient Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) with All-Cause Hospital Admissions and Total Charges in 12 Japanese Cities
Authors: Hasegawa Kohei , Toubou Hirokazu , Tsukahara Teruomi , Nomiyama Tetsuo
Published: April 2021

The short-term association between ambient particulate matter ≤2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5) and hospital admissions is not fully understood. Studies of this association with hospital admission costs are also scarce, especially in entire hospitalized populations. We examined the association between ambient PM2.5 and all-cause hospital admissions, the corresponding total charges, and the total charges per patient by analyzing the hospital admission data of 2 years from 628 hospitals in 12 cities in Japan. We used generalized additive models with quasi-Poisson regression for hospital admissions and generalized additive models with log-linear regression for total charges and total charges per patient. We first estimated city-specific results and the combined results by random-effect models. A total of 2,017,750 hospital admissions were identified. A 10 µg/m3 increase in the 2 day moving average was associated with a 0.56% (95% CI: 0.14–0.99%) increase in all-cause hospital admissions and a 1.17% (95% CI: 0.44–1.90%) increase in total charges, and a 10 µg/m3 increase in the prior 2 days was associated with a 0.75% (95% CI: 0.34–1.16%) increase in total charges per patient. Short-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 was associated with increased all-cause hospital admissions, total charges, and total charges per patient.
Pediatric Asthma Attack and Home Paint Exposure
Authors: Saif Nadia T. , Janecki Julia M. , Wanner Adam , Colin Andrew A. , Kumar Naresh
Published: April 2021

Although asthma mortality has been declining for the past several decades, asthma morbidity is on the rise, largely due to deteriorating indoor air quality and comorbidities, such as allergies. Consumer products and building materials including paints emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as propylene glycol (PG), which is shown to dehydrate respiratory tracts and can contributor to airway remodeling. We hypothesize that paint exposure increases the risk of asthma attacks among children because high levels of VOCs persist indoors for many weeks after painting. Children 1–15 years old visiting two of the University of Miami general pediatric clinics were screened for their history of asthma and paint exposure by interviewing their parents and/or guardians accompanying them to the clinic. They were also asked questions about asthma diagnosis, severity of asthma and allergies and their sociodemographics. The risk of asthma attack among asthmatic children was modeled with respect to paint exposure adjusting for potential confounders using multivariate logistic regressions. Of 163 children, 36 (22%) reported physician-diagnosed asthma and of these, 13 (33%) had an asthma attack during the last one year. Paint exposure was marginally significant in the univariate analysis (OR = 4.04; 95% CI = 0.90–18.87; p < 0.1). However, exposed asthmatic children were 10 times more likely to experience an asthma attack than unexposed asthmatic children (OR = 10.49; CI = 1.16–94.85, p < 0.05) when adjusted for other risk factors. Given paint is one of the sources of indoor VOCs, multiple strategies are warranted to manage the health effects of VOC exposure from paint, including the use of zero-VOC water-based paint, exposure avoidance and clinical interventions.
The Use of Psychotropic Medication in Iranian Children with Developmental Disabilities
Authors: McConkey Roy , Samadi Sayyed Ali , Mahmoodizadeh Ameneh , Taggart Laurence
Published: April 2021

The use of psychotropic medication in children is increasing worldwide. Children with developmental disabilities seem to be prescribed these medications at a higher rate compared to their non-disabled peers. Little is known about prescribing in non-Western, middle-income studies. In Iran, the file records of 1133 children, aged 2 to 17 years, assessed as having autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or an intellectual disability (ID) in Tehran City and Province from 2005 to 2019 were collated, and information from parental reports of medications was extracted. Upwards of 80% of children with ASD and 56% of those with ID were prescribed a psychotropic medication with around one quarter in each group taking two or more medications. The rates were higher among male children showing difficult-to-manage behaviors such as hyperactivity, but less so for children of fathers with higher levels of education. The lack of alternative management strategies may be a significant driver for the use of psychotropic medications in Iran and other Low and Middle Income countries, despite their known side effects, and their failure to address the developmental needs of the children. Rather, multi-disciplinary, behavioral, therapeutic, and educational interventions are required, but these are not available widely in Iran, although a start has been made.
Health Promotion Behavior among Older Korean Family Caregivers of People with Dementia
Authors: Cho Aram , Cha Chiyoung
Published: April 2021

People adopt health promotion behaviors to promote their health as they interact within the environment. The purpose of this study was to examine factors influencing health promotion behaviors among older adults caring for family members with dementia. For this cross-sectional study, data from 135 older adults who were the main caregivers were collected at an outpatient clinic at a university hospital in the capital city of South Korea between September and October in 2020. Sociodemographic characteristics, caregiver-related characteristics, dementia knowledge, fear of dementia, and health promotion behaviors were measured. Univariate analysis revealed that the level of health promotion behaviors differed by age, sex, educational level, monthly income, relationship with the family member with dementia, and cohabitation with family members with dementia. In the multivariate analysis, a hierarchical multiple regression model explained 33.9% of the variance. Sex, duration of caregiving, use of long-term care service, and fear of dementia predicted health promotion behavior. A strategic tailored care plan for target population is needed to improve the health promotion behavior of older adults caring for family members with dementia.
Preliminary Evaluation of Filtration Efficiency and Differential Pressure ASTM F3502 Testing Methods of Non-Medical Masks Using a Face Filtration Mount
Authors: Freeman Charles , Burch Reuben , Strawderman Lesley , Black Catherine , Saucier David , Rickert Jaime , Wilson John , Bealor Sarah Ashley , Ratledge Madison , Fava Sydney , Smith Brian , Waggoner Charlie , Taylor Courtney , Nichols Abigail , Skaggs Gregory , Callans Thomas
Published: April 2021

Research surrounding the mandated use of non-medical fabric masks is inconsistent and often confusing when compared to the standard N95. A recently published standard from ASTM International and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention attempts to normalize evaluation procedures. The purpose of this study is to conduct a preliminary evaluation of the new methods for testing filtration efficiency of masks outlined by ASTM International F3502, where results can be directly compared to standards outlined for non-medical fabric masks. Eleven consumer non-medical fabric masks were tested for filtration efficiency and airflow resistance using a face filtration mount in accordance with the newly released ASTM International standard for facial barriers. The mean FE% (SD) ranged from 0.46% (0.44) to 11.80% (2.76) with the 3-layer athletic mesh having the highest performance and the highest deviations. All the masks tested following the procedure failed to meet to minimum FE of 20%; however all masks performed below the minimum upper limits for airflow resistance. Using a non-medical fabric masks as the sole mitigation strategy may not be as effective, as previously reported. With efforts to standardize and regulate the non-medical fabric mask market, this study demonstrates a variety of currently available consumer mask products do not meet the minimum standards nor are these remotely close to the standards of surgical or N95 masks.
Immediate Loading of Implants Placed by Guided Surgery in Geriatric Edentulous Mandible Patients
Authors: Velasco-Ortega Eugenio , Jiménez-Guerra Alvaro , Ortiz-Garcia Ivan , Moreno-Muñoz Jesús , Núñez-Márquez Enrique , Cabanillas-Balsera Daniel , López-López José , Monsalve-Guil Loreto
Published: April 2021

The aim of this study was to show the clinical outcomes of the immediate loading of implants inserted by guided surgery in edentulous mandible patients. Edentulous mandible patients were diagnosed with oral examination, cone beam computerized tomography and diagnostic casts for intermaxillary relations and treated with 8–10 implants for rehabilitation with guided surgery and immediate loading. After flapless surgery, implants were loaded with an immediate acrylic temporary prosthesis. After a period of six months, a ceramic definitive full-arch prosthesis was placed. A total of 22 patients (12 females and 10 males) were treated with 198 implants. Eleven patients (50%) had a previous history of periodontitis. Six patients (27.3%) were smokers. The follow-up was 84.2 ± 4.9 months. Clinical outcomes showed a global success rate of 97.5% of implants. Five implants were lost during the healing phase with provisional prosthesis. Twenty-two fixed full-arch rehabilitations were placed in the patients over the 193 remaining implants. Mean marginal bone loss was 1.44 mm ± 0.45 mm. Six patients (27.3%) showed some kind of mechanical prosthodontic complication. Eighteen (9.3%) of the 193 remaining implants were associated with peri-implantitis. The antecedents of peri-implantitis are critical elements for the survival of the implants. The loss of implants was significant in patients who smoked up to 10 cigarettes, compared to non-smokers. Peri-implantitis is one of the key elements in the long-term follow-up of implants and it was more manifest in smoking patients, and in those with a history of peri-implantitis. Marginal bone loss was more significant in smokers. Full-arch rehabilitation is presented as a predictable alternative with minor fatigue problems that are easily solvable.
Partial-Body Cryostimulation Increases Resting Energy Expenditure in Lean and Obese Women
Authors: De Nardi Massimo , Bisio Ambra , Della Guardia Lucio , Facheris Carlo , Faelli Emanuela , La Torre Antonio , Luzi Livio , Ruggeri Piero , Codella Roberto
Published: April 2021

Cryostimulation is currently seen as a potential adjuvant strategy to tackle obesity and dysmetabolism by triggering cold-induced thermogenesis. Although suggestive, the underlying mechanisms are still poorly elucidated. We tested whether single or repeated applications of partial-body cryostimulation (PBC) could influence resting energy expenditure (REE) in exposed individuals. Fifteen middle-aged obese and sixteen control lean women (body mass index 31 ± 1.6 kg/m2 and 22 ± 1.7 kg/m2) underwent a daily PBC (−130 °C × 150 s) for five consecutive days. Resting energy metabolism (REE) was assessed by indirect calorimetry pre- and post-PBC on day 1 and day 5. As concerns REE, the linear mixed model revealed that REE changes were explained by session and time (F1,29 = 5.58; p = 0.02; ƞp2 = 0.16) independent of the group (F1,29 = 2.9; p = 0.09; ƞp2 = 0.09). REE pre-PBC increased from day 1 to day 5 either in leans (by 8.2%, from 1538 ± 111 to 1665 ± 106 kcal/day) or in obese women (by 5.5%, from 1610 ± 110 to 1698 ± 142 vs kcal/day). Respiratory quotient was significantly affected by the time (F1,29 = 51.61; p < 0.000001, ƞp2 = 0.64), as it increased from pre- to post-PBC, suggesting a shift in substrate oxidation. According to these preliminary data, cold-induced thermogenesis could be explored as a strategy to elevate REE in obese subjects. Longitudinal studies could test whether chronic PBC effects may entail favorable metabolic adaptations.
Impact of Olive Oil Supplement Intake on Dendritic Cell Maturation after Strenuous Physical Exercise: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Esquius Laura , Javierre Casimiro , Llaudó Inés , Rama Inés , Oviedo Guillermo R. , Massip-Salcedo Marta , Aguilar-Martínez Alicia , Niño Oscar , Lloberas Núria
Published: April 2021

Physical exercise is known to have a dose-dependent effect on the immune system and can result in an inflammatory process in athletes that is proportional to the intensity and duration of exertion. This inflammatory process can be measured by cell markers such as dendritic cells (DCs), which, in humans, consist of the myeloid DC (mDCs) and plasmacytoid DC (pDCs) subpopulations. The aim of this study was to measure DC differentiation to determine the possible anti-inflammatory effects, after intense aerobic effort, of the intake of a 25 mL extra-virgin olive oil supplement. Three healthy sports-trained subjects went through resistance exercise loads on two days separated by a week: on one day after active supplement intake and on the other day after placebo supplement intake. The results show that the highest increase (77%) in the percentage of mDCs as a proportion of pDCs was immediately after testing. Independently of the supplement taken, mature mDCs showed a decreasing trend between the test one hour after and 24 h after testing ended. Nevertheless, measured in terms of the coefficient of variation, only the decrease (46%) for extra-virgin olive oil supplementation was statistically significant (95% CI: 30–62%; p = 0.05). In conclusion, an extra-virgin olive oil supplement could reduce the inflammatory impact of intense aerobic effort and improve recovery at 24 h.
Prevalence of Childhood Asthma and Allergies and Their Associations with Perinatal Exposure to Home Environmental Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study in Tianjin, China
Authors: Ellie Agnes S. , Sun Yuexia , Hou Jing , Wang Pan , Zhang Qingnan , Sundell Jan
Published: April 2021

Asthma, rhinitis, and eczema are becoming increasingly prevalent among children in China. Studies have shown that the perinatal period is critical and impacts children’s health. However, research on the associations between perinatal factors and childhood allergic diseases in China are few. We investigated 7366 children of ages 0–8 years old. The childhood asthma and allergies were surveyed by distributing questionnaires, modelled after Dampness in Buildings and Health (DBH) study in Sweden and had been validated. To determine the prevalence of the allergic conditions, explore for potential confounders, and analyze the associations between the allergies and the home environmental factors, chi-square test and binary logistic regression models (enter method) were employed. The prevalence of children’s doctor-diagnosed asthma, rhinitis, and eczema were 4.4%, 9.5%, and 39.1%, respectively. After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, the negative effect of dampness/humidity on children’s health became more obvious, with odd ratios (aORs) of up to 1.70 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.12–2.57) for doctor-diagnosed asthma (DDA), 2.12 (95% CI: 1.38–3.25) for doctor-diagnosed rhinitis (DDR) and 1.79 (95% CI: 1.46–2.21) for doctor-diagnosed eczema (DDE). With parental smoking, aORs of up to 4.66 (95% CI: 1.99–10.92) for DDA and 1.74 (95%: 1.00–3.02) for DDE. Renovation exhibited aORs of up to 1.67 (95% CI: 1.13–2.47) for DDR. Although they showed no significant associations with some of the health outcomes, contact with animals, in general, were risk factors for the allergic conditions. Generally, the indoor environmental factors around the perinatal period were significant risk factors for the doctor-diagnosed allergic conditions discussed in this study.
Subjective Wellbeing in Rural China: How Social Environments Influence the Diurnal Rhythms of Affect
Authors: Sun Jiyao , Zhang Nan , Vanhoutte Bram , Wang Jian , Chandola Tarani
Published: April 2021

Although the diurnal rhythms of affect influence people’s health and behavior, there is a lack of evidence from rural China, where the types and timing of social activities may differ from Western contexts. In this study, a total of 2847 Chinese rural residents from three provinces of China are interviewed using the abbreviated Day Reconstruction Method (DRM) questionnaire. Diurnal rhythms of three affective subjective wellbeing (SWB) indicators—positive affect (PoA), negative affect (NeA), and net affect are analyzed by multilevel models. Our results show PoA and net affect generally increase in magnitude throughout the day with two peaks around noon and in the evening, respectively; whereas, there is an overall decline in NeA as the day passes with two troughs occurring at lunchtime and in the evening. These patterns, however, flatten considerably, with the lunchtime peaks in PoA and net affect (and trough in NeA) disappearing entirely, after further controlling for two social environmental factors—activity type and the quality of social interaction. This study, set in rural China, corroborates the diurnal rhythms of affect from prior Western research to some extent, and highlights that social environmental factors have a significant effect on diurnal rhythms of affect in the rural Chinese context. It is possible that the diurnal rhythms of affect could change in response to stimulation from the environment. Improving some social environmental factors, such as organizing pleasant activities and creating a friendly interactive environment, could contribute to the increase in positive affect and decline in negative affect, thereby enhancing the quality of life.
Feasibility and Acceptability of a Tailored Infant Safe Sleep Coaching Intervention for African American Families
Authors: Salm Ward Trina C. , McPherson Jane , Kogan Steven M.
Published: April 2021

Background: Approximately 3600 infants die suddenly and unexpectedly annually in the United States. Research suggests limitations of current behavioral interventions to reduce the risk for sleep-related deaths among African American families living in under-resourced neighborhoods. Guided by the theory of planned behavior and the socio-ecological model, the My Baby’s Sleep (MBS) intervention intends to reduce the risk for sleep-related infant deaths while addressing complex needs of African American families living in under-resourced neighborhoods. Objective: To assess feasibility and acceptability of MBS, a 7-month intervention that includes four home visits and multiple check-ins via phone and text message. Methods: This was a single-arm feasibility and acceptability study with quantitative and qualitive measures. African American families were recruited from community agencies that served an under-resourced metropolitan area. Results: Eight families (eight mothers, nine co-caregivers) completed the intervention. Families reported high acceptability of MBS content, process, and format, as evidenced by qualitative data and mean evaluation scores. Conclusion: MBS is feasible and acceptable among African American families living in under-resourced neighborhoods. These results suggest further investigation of MBS intervention efficacy in a large-scale randomized controlled trial.
Mother’s Own Milk Feeding in Preterm Newborns Admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or Special-Care Nursery: Obstacles, Interventions, Risk Calculation
Authors: Heller Nadja , Rüdiger Mario , Hoffmeister Vanessa , Mense Lars
Published: April 2021

Early nutrition of newborns significantly influences their long-term health. Mother’s own milk (MOM) feeding lowers the incidence of complications in preterm infants and improves long-term health. Unfortunately, prematurity raises barriers for the initiation of MOM feeding and its continuation. Mother and child are separated in most institutions, sucking and swallowing is immature, and respiratory support hinders breastfeeding. As part of a quality-improvement project, we review the published evidence on risk factors of sustained MOM feeding in preterm neonates. Modifiable factors such as timing of skin-to-skin contact, strategies of milk expression, and infant feeding or mode of delivery have been described. Other factors such as gestational age or neonatal complications are unmodifiable, but their recognition allows targeted interventions to improve MOM feeding. All preterm newborns below 34 weeks gestational age discharged over a two-year period from our large German level III neonatal center were reviewed to compare institutional data with the published evidence regarding MOM feeding at discharge from hospital. Based on local data, a risk score for non-MOM feeding can be calculated that helps to identify mother–baby dyads at risk of non-MOM feeding.
The Factors Affecting Volunteers’ Willingness to Participate in Disaster Preparedness
Authors: Ma Yingnan , Zhu Wei , Zhang Huan , Zhao Pengxia , Wang Yafei , Zhang Qiujie
Published: April 2021

Disaster preparedness is crucial for providing an effective response to, and reducing the possible impacts of, disasters. Although volunteers’ participation plays an important role in disaster preparedness, their actual participation in disaster preparedness activities is still low. To find ways to encourage more volunteers to participate, this study analyzed the social background and organizational and attitudinal factors affecting the volunteers’ willingness to participate. Questionnaires were distributed to 990 registered disaster volunteers across Beijing and the data were analyzed using linear regression models. Results revealed a weak willingness to participate in disaster preparedness. Only 28.08% of the respondents indicated that they were “very ready” to participate in voluntary disaster preparedness, and 14.65% showed “a little bit” of interest. The following was concluded: (1) Disaster volunteers’ social background variables were related to their willingness to participate in disaster preparedness. Compared to male volunteers, female volunteers were more willing to participate. Chinese Communist Party members were more willing to participate than non-members. (2) Providing accidental life insurance for the volunteers had a positive effect on their willingness to participate in disaster preparedness. Provision of more training had a negative effect on the volunteers’ willingness to participate, indicating a low quality of training. (3) Organizational identification was positively related to the volunteers’ willingness to participate. According to these results, we suggest that volunteer organizations should improve their standards and procedures for disaster volunteer recruitment and selection, and gain a deeper understanding of the needs of the disaster volunteers in order to better motivate them to participate.
How to Provide Sexual Education: Lessons from a Pandemic on Masculinity, Individualism, and the Neoliberal Agenda
Authors: Lamb Sharon , Pagán-Ortiz Marta , Bonilla Sara
Published: April 2021

Sex education in the United States is often approached through an individual lens that focuses on personal protection, safety, and rights. This focus on personal responsibility and care-for-self reflects national values and permeates governmental systems and actions, including generalized public health approaches. This issue has been most recently highlighted in the individual and systemic attitudes, beliefs, and responses towards the recent, ongoing crisis following the global surge of COVID-19. In this paper, we provide examples and discuss lessons gleaned from the public health response to this crisis, particularly in the areas and intersections of gender, individualism, and neoliberalism, and the parallels of these issues in sex education. We make an appeal for a collectivist and community-oriented approach to sex education, which would focus not only on prevention and protection, but on inequities, ethics, and care for others.
First Data in the Process of Validating a Tool to Evaluate Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Healthcare Providers in Oral Care of Institutionalized Elderly Residents: Content Validity, Reliability and Pilot Study
Authors: Wong Florence M. F.
Published: April 2021

Background: Oral health of elderly people is a global concern. Poor oral health in institutionalized elderly people has been attributed to poor knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of healthcare providers. However, no validated KAP tool is available yet. Objective: To develop and validate a tool to measure knowledge, attitude, and practice of healthcare providers in oral care of institutionalized elderly people. Methods: The development and validation of the tool was based on literature reviews, comments from professional experts, and statistical analytic methods. Content validity in the instrument psychometric property and its relevance with reliability are essential. Content validity ratio and content validity index were performed. Then, a pilot study was conducted in 20 institutionalized healthcare providers for testing applicability, feasibility, and reliability. Results: A total of 43 items were developed in three domains, knowledge (19 items), attitude (13 items), and practice (11 items). Content validity analysis revealed the KAP tool with high values of the I-CVI (score 1.00) and S-CVI (S-CVI/UA result 1.00). The test-retest reliability with Cronbach’s alphas of knowledge, attitude, practice, and overall KAP were 0.67, 0.93, 0.92, and 0.94, respectively. Conclusions: The developed and validated tool is appropriate to measure KAP of healthcare providers in oral care of institutionalized elderly people. It can be used to measure KAP of institutionalized healthcare providers in order to develop appropriate strategies to improve KAP of healthcare providers.
Influence of Active and Healthy Ageing on Quality of Life Changes: Insights from the Comparison of Three European Countries
Authors: Ayala Alba , Rodríguez-Blázquez Carmen , Calderón-Larrañaga Amaia , Beridze Giorgi , Teixeira Laetitia , Araújo Lia , Rojo-Pérez Fermina , Fernández-Mayoralas Gloria , Rodríguez-Rodríguez Vicente , Quirós-González Víctor , Zorrilla-Muñoz Vanessa , Agulló-Tomás María Silveria , Ribeiro Oscar , Forjaz Maria João
Published: April 2021

This study aimed to analyze the determinants of quality of life (QoL) in older people in three European countries (Portugal, Spain and Sweden). A sample of 7589 participants in waves 4 (2011) and 6 (2015) of the Survey on Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) project, aged 50 and over and living in Portugal, Spain and Sweden, was included. The CASP-12 scale was used to measure QoL. A principal component analysis was performed to group preselected variables related to active and healthy ageing into the dimensions of health, social participation, and lifelong learning. A linear regression model was built using the change in CASP-12 scores over the 4-year follow-up as the dependent variable, including the interactions between country and each independent variable in the model. After four years, the average QoL increased in Portugal (difference = 0.8, p < 0.001), decreased in Spain (−0.8, p < 0.001), and remained constant in Sweden (0.1, p = 0.408). A significant country-participation component interaction (p = 0.039) was found. In Spain, a higher participation (β = 0.031, p = 0.002) was related to a higher QoL improvement at 4 years, but not in Sweden or Portugal. Physical health and emotional components (β = 0.099, p < 0.001), functional ability (β = 0.044, p = 0.023), and cognitive and sensory ability (β = 0.021, p = 0.026) were associated with QoL changes over time in all countries. The country-specific associations between health, social participation and QoL should be taken into account when developing public health policies to promote QoL among European older people.
The Incidence and Nature of Claims against Dentists Related to Periodontal Treatment in Israel during the Years 2005–2019
Authors: Nassar Dima , Tagger-Green Nirit , Tal Haim , Nemcovsky Carlos , Mijiritsky Eitan , Beitlitum Ilan , Barnea Eitan , Kolerman Roni
Published: April 2021

Background: In recent years, worldwide dental malpractice claims have dramatically increased. The purpose of the present study is to analyze periodontal therapy related claims in Israel that led to legal decisions. Methods: This retrospective cohort study includes malpractice claims against dental practitioners related to periodontology between 2005 and 2019. Only closed cases where a final decision was made were included. The chi-square test or Fisher exact test for categorical variables were performed and a p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: During the study period there were 508 legal claims related to periodontal disease. Most plaintiffs were women (63.4%), and 71.3% of the patients were >35 years old. Most claims (82.8%) were settled out of court and ended in compromise. Claims concerning the treatment of periodontal disease by periodontists accounted only for 4.5% (23/508) of the cases while 95.5% (485/508) of the claims were for complications secondary to another treatment. Prosthodontic treatment was involved with the highest number 54.5%, followed by dental implants 17.7%, and endodontics 11.6%. The allegations were related to pain and distress (84.8%), aggravation of existent periodontal disease (83.3%), tooth loss (78.1%), and violation of autonomy (47%). Conclusions: The main cause for lawsuits was related to aggravation of periodontal disease during prosthetic or implant therapy and related to suspected faulty or inexistent preoperative diagnosis and planning. Practical implications: Periodontal consultation before dental treatment may reduce malpractice risks, adverse events, and un-necessary changes of treatment plans.
Workplace Healthy Lifestyle Determinants and Wellbeing Needs across the Preconception and Pregnancy Periods: A Qualitative Study Informed by the COM-B Model
Authors: Madden Seonad K. , Blewitt Claire A. , Ahuja Kiran D. K. , Skouteris Helen , Bailey Cate M. , Hills Andrew P. , Hill Briony
Published: April 2021

Overweight and obesity present health risks for mothers and their children. Reaching women during the key life stages of preconception and pregnancy in community settings, such as workplaces, is an ideal opportunity to enable health behavior change. We conducted five focus groups with 25 women aged between 25 and 62 years in order to investigate the determinants of healthy lifestyle behaviors, weight management, and wellbeing needs during the preconception and pregnancy periods in an Australian university workplace. Discussions explored women’s health and wellbeing needs with specific reference to workplace impact. An abductive analytical approach incorporated the capability, opportunity, and motivation of behavior (COM-B) model, and four themes were identified: hierarchy of needs and values, social interactions, a support scaffold, and control. Findings highlight the requirement for greater organization-level support, including top-down coordination of wellbeing opportunities and facilitation of education and support for preconception healthy lifestyle behaviors in the workplace. Interventionists and organizational policy makers could incorporate these higher-level changes into workplace processes and intervention development, which may increase intervention capacity for success.
“If You Can’t Control the Wind, Adjust Your Sail”: Tips for Post-Pandemic Benefit Finding from Young Adults Living with Multiple Sclerosis. A Qualitative Study
Authors: Poli Silvia , Rimondini Michela , Gajofatto Alberto , Mazzi Maria Angela , Busch Isolde Martina , Gobbin Francesca , Schena Federico , Del Piccolo Lidia , Donisi Valeria
Published: April 2021

The COVID-19 outbreak has impacted the wellbeing of people worldwide, potentially increasing maladaptive psychological responses of vulnerable populations. Although young adults with multiple sclerosis (yawMS) might be at greater risk of developing psychological distress linked to the pandemic, they might also be able to adapt to stress and find meaning in adverse life events. The aim of the present study was to explore benefit finding in response to the pandemic in a sample of yawMS. As part of a larger project, data were collected using a cross-sectional, web-based survey. Benefit finding was analysed using a qualitative thematic approach; descriptive and inferential statistics were performed to describe the sample and compare sub-groups. Out of 247 respondents with mostly relapsing-remitting MS, 199 (31.9 ± 6.97 years) reported at least one benefit. Qualitative analysis showed that during the pandemic yawMS found benefits related to three themes: personal growth, relational growth, and existential growth. No differences in benefit finding were found between age sub-groups (18–30 vs. 31–45). Participants reported a wide range of benefits, some of which seem to be specific to MS or the pandemic. Results have been transformed into tips to be introduced in clinical practice to promote resilience in yawMS through meaning making.
The Endothelial Glycocalyx and Organ Preservation—From Physiology to Possible Clinical Implications for Solid Organ Transplantation
Authors: Mathis Simon , Putzer Gabriel , Schneeberger Stefan , Martini Judith
Published: April 2021

The endothelial glycocalyx is a thin layer consisting of proteoglycans, glycoproteins and glycosaminoglycans that lines the luminal side of vascular endothelial cells. It acts as a barrier and contributes to the maintenance of vascular homeostasis and microperfusion. During solid organ transplantation, the endothelial glycocalyx of the graft is damaged as part of Ischemia Reperfusion Injury (IRI), which is associated with impaired organ function. Although several substances are known to mitigate glycocalyx damage, it has not been possible to use these substances during graft storage on ice. Normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) emerges as an alternative technology for organ preservation and allows for organ evaluation, but also offers the possibility to treat and thus improve organ quality during storage. This review highlights the current knowledge on glycocalyx injury during organ transplantation, presents ways to protect the endothelial glycocalyx and discusses potential glycocalyx protection strategies during normothermic machine perfusion.
A Cascade Graph Convolutional Network for Predicting Protein–Ligand Binding Affinity
Authors: Shen Huimin , Zhang Youzhi , Zheng Chunhou , Wang Bing , Chen Peng
Published: April 2021

Accurate prediction of binding affinity between protein and ligand is a very important step in the field of drug discovery. Although there are many methods based on different assumptions and rules do exist, prediction performance of protein–ligand binding affinity is not satisfactory so far. This paper proposes a new cascade graph-based convolutional neural network architecture by dealing with non-Euclidean irregular data. We represent the molecule as a graph, and use a simple linear transformation to deal with the sparsity problem of the one-hot encoding of original data. The first stage adopts ARMA graph convolutional neural network to learn the characteristics of atomic space in the protein–ligand complex. In the second stage, one variant of the MPNN graph convolutional neural network is introduced with chemical bond information and interactive atomic features. Finally, the architecture passes through the global add pool and the fully connected layer, and outputs a constant value as the predicted binding affinity. Experiments on the PDBbind v2016 data set showed that our method is better than most of the current methods. Our method is also comparable to the state-of-the-art method on the data set, and is more intuitive and simple.
The Epstein-Barr Virus Lytic Protein BMLF1 Induces Upregulation of GRP78 Expression through ATF6 Activation
Authors: Chen Lee-Wen , Wang Shie-Shan , Hung Chien-Hui , Hung Ya-Hui , Lin Chun-Liang , Chang Pey-Jium
Published: April 2021

The unfolded protein response (UPR) is an intracellular signaling pathway essential for alleviating the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. To support the productive infection, many viruses are known to use different strategies to manipulate the UPR signaling network. However, it remains largely unclear whether the UPR signaling pathways are modulated in the lytic cycle of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a widely distributed human pathogen. Herein, we show that the expression of GRP78, a central UPR regulator, is up-regulated during the EBV lytic cycle. Our data further revealed that knockdown of GRP78 in EBV-infected cell lines did not substantially affect lytic gene expression; however, GRP78 knockdown in these cells markedly reduced the production of virus particles. Importantly, we identified that the early lytic protein BMLF1 is the key regulator critically contributing to the activation of the grp78 gene promoter. Mechanistically, we found that BMLF1 can trigger the proteolytic cleavage and activation of the UPR senor ATF6, which then transcriptionally activates the grp78 promoter through the ER stress response elements. Our findings therefore provide evidence for the connection between the EBV lytic cycle and the UPR, and implicate that the BMLF1-mediated ATF6 activation may play critical roles in EBV lytic replication.
A Photoresponsive Artificial Viral Capsid Self-Assembled from an Azobenzene-Containing β-Annulus Peptide
Authors: Matsuura Kazunori , Fujita Seiya
Published: April 2021

Photoinduced structural changes in peptides can dynamically control the formation and dissociation of supramolecular peptide materials. However, the existence of photoresponsive viral capsids in nature remains unknown. In this study, we constructed an artificial viral capsid possessing a photochromic azobenzene moiety on the peptide backbone. An azobenzene-containing β-annulus peptide derived from the tomato bushy stunt virus was prepared through solid-phase synthesis using Fmoc-3-[(3-aminomethyl)-phenylazo]phenylacetic acid. The azobenzene-containing β-annulus (β-Annulus-Azo) peptide showed a reversible trans/cis isomerization property. The β-annulus-azo peptide self-assembled at 25 μM into capsids with the diameters of 30–50 nm before UV irradiation (trans-form rich), whereas micrometer-sized aggregates were formed after UV irradiation (cis-form rich). The artificial viral capsid possessing azobenzene facilitated the encapsulation of fluorescent-labeled dextrans and their photoinduced release from the capsid.