bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Features, Pharmacological Chemistry, Molecular Mechanism and Health Benefits of Lemon
Authors: Singh Nitika , Yarla Nagendra Sastry , Siddiqi Nikhat Jamal , de Lourdes Pereira Maria , Sharma Bechan
Published: September 2020

Background:

Citrus limon, a Mediterranean-grown citrus species of plants belonging to
the Rutaceae family, occupies a place of an impressive range of food and medicinal uses with considerable
value in the economy of the fruit of the country. Citrus fruits are economically important with
large-scale production of both the fresh fruits and industrially processed products. The extracts and
phytochemicals obtained from all parts of C. limon have shown immense therapeutic potential because
of their anticancer, anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory nature, and also serve as an important
ingredient in the formulation of several ethnic herbal medicines. These properties are mediated by the
presence of different phytochemicals, vitamins and nutrients in the citrus fruits.

Material and Methods:

The methods involved in the preparation of the present article included the
collection of information from various scientific databases, indexed periodicals, and search engines
such as Medline Scopus google scholar PubMed, PubMed central web of science, and science direct.

Results:

This communication presents an updated account of different pharmacological aspects of C.
limon associated with its anti-oxidative, antiulcer, antihelmintic, insecticidal, anticancer, cytotoxic,
and estrogenic activities. In addition, C. limon extracts possess hepatoprotective, anti-hyperglycemic,
and antimicrobial properties. The present article includes the structure and function of different key
chemical constituents from different parts of C. limon. Also, the possible molecular mechanisms of
actions of bioactive compounds from C. limon are displayed.

Conclusion:

The traditional and ethno-medicinal literature revealed that C. limon is very effective in
different pathologies. Most of these compounds possessing antioxidant properties would be implicated
in offering health benefits by acting as potential nutraceuticals to humans with special reference to
disease management of health and disease.
Fluorinated-NHC Transition Metal Complexes: Leading Characters as Potential Anticancer Metallodrugs
Authors: Rufino-Felipe Ernesto , Colorado-Peralta Raúl , Reyes-Márquez Viviana , Valdés Hugo , Morales-Morales David
Published: September 2020

:

In the last 20 years, N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) ligands have been ubiquitous in biological and
medicinal chemistry. Part of their success lies in the tremendous number of topologies that can be synthesized
and thus finely tuned that have been described so far. This is particularly true in the case of those derivatives,
including fluorine or fluorinated fragments on their NHC moieties, gaining much attention due to their enhanced
biological properties and turning them into excellent candidates for the development of novel metallodrugs.
Thus, this review summarizes the development that fluorinated-NHC transition metal complexes have had and
their impact on cancer treatment.
Role of Inflammation in the Development of Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Muthusami Sridhar , Ramachandran Ileng Kumaran , Babu Kokelavani Nampalli , Krishnamoorthy Sneha , Guruswamy Akash , Queimado Lurdes , Chaudhuri Gautam , Ramachandran Ilangovan
Published: September 2020

Chronic inflammation can lead to the development of many diseases, including cancer.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that includes both ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease
(CD) are risk factors for the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). Many cytokines produced
primarily by the gut immune cells either during or in response to localized inflammation in the
colon and rectum are known to stimulate the complex interactions between the different cell types
in the gut environment resulting in acute inflammation. Subsequently, chronic inflammation, together
with genetic and epigenetic changes, have been shown to lead to the development and progression
of CRC. Various cell types present in the colon, such as enterocytes, Paneth cells, goblet
cells, and macrophages, express receptors for inflammatory cytokines and respond to tumor necrosis
factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), IL-6, and other cytokines. Among the several
cytokines produced, TNF-α and IL-1β are the key pro-inflammatory molecules that play critical
roles in the development of CRC. The current review is intended to consolidate the published findings
to focus on the role of pro-inflammatory cytokines, namely TNF-α and IL-1β, on inflammation
(and the altered immune response) in the gut, to better understand the development of CRC in
IBD, using various experimental model systems, preclinical and clinical studies. Moreover, this review
also highlights the current therapeutic strategies available (monotherapy and combination therapy)
to alleviate the symptoms or treat inflammation-associated CRC by using monoclonal antibodies
or aptamers to block pro-inflammatory molecules, inhibitors of tyrosine kinases in the inflammatory
signaling cascade, competitive inhibitors of pro-inflammatory molecules, and the nucleic
acid drugs like small activating RNAs (saRNAs) or microRNA (miRNA) mimics to activate tumor
suppressor or repress oncogene/pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression.
Vasorelaxant and Antihypertensive Effects of Mentha pulegium L. in Rats: An In vitro and In vivo Approach
Authors: Ajebli Mohammed , Eddouks Mohamed
Published: September 2020

Aims:

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of aqueous aerial part extract of
Mentha pulegium L. (Pennyrile) (MPAE) on arterial pressure parameters in rats.

Background:

Mentha pulegium is a medicinal plant used to treat hypertension in the Moroccon
population.

Methods:

In the current study, MPAE was prepared and its antihypertensive activity was pharmacologically
investigated. L-NAME-hypertensive and normotensive rats received MPAE (180 and 300
mg/kg) orally for six hours for acute experiment and during seven days for the sub-chronic treatment.
Thereafter, systolic, diastolic, mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate were evaluated. In
the in vitro experiment, isolated denuded and intact thoracic aortic rings were suspended in a tissue
bath system and the tension changes were recorded.

Results:

A fall in blood pressure was observed in L-NAME-induced hypertensive treated with
MPAE. The extract also produced a dose-dependent relaxation of aorta pre-contracted with NE and
KCl. The study showed that the vasorelaxant ability of MPAE seems to be exerted through the
blockage of extracellular Ca2+ entry.

Conclusion:

The results demonstrate that the extract of pennyrile exhibits antihypertensive activity.
In addition, the effect may be, at least in part, due to the dilation of blood vessels via blockage
of Ca2+ channels.
Simulation Analysis on Genomic Selection of Grouper (Epinephelus coioides) Breeding for Categorical Traits
Authors: Ma Zhiyuan , You Xinxin
Published: September 2020

Background:

The basic principle of genome selection (GS) is to establish a model of genome
estimated breeding value (GEBV) by using single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) covering
the entire genome. Despite the decreasing cost of high-throughput genotyping, the GS strategy remains
expensive due to the need for phenotyping and genotyping for a large number of samples.
Simulation analysis of genome selection is a popular, lower-cost method to determine an optimal
breeding program of GS.

Objective:

To evaluate the utility of simulation data to study the influence of different factors on
algorithms. This could be helpful for developing genome selection breeding strategies, especially
for stress and resistance traits of fish.

Methods:

Real data of orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides) were obtained from a previous
genome-wide association study. Ammonia tolerance, different population sizes, SNP density,
QTL number, kinship (base mutation rate), and heritability were considered. All of the phenotypes
and genotypes were generated by AlphaSimR simulation software. Four genome selection algorithms
(gBLUP, rrBLUP, BayesA, and BayesC) were tested to derive GEBV, and their accuracies
(area under the curve, AUC) were compared.

Results:

In different scenarios, the AUC ranges from 0.4237 to 0.6895 for BayesA, 0.4282 to
0.6878 for BayesC, 0.4278 to 0.6798 for gBLUP, and 0.4346 to 0.6834 for rrBLUP. The mean AUC
of these four algorithms was not significantly different (0.547–0.548). The accuracies of the four
genome selection algorithms were similar but had different predictive performances in specific scenarios.
The gBLUP was most stable, and the rrBLUP was slightly better at predicting low heritability
traits. When the number of individuals was small, the BayesA and BayesC algorithms were more
robust.

Conclusion:

A practical GS scheme should be optimized in accordance with marker density, heritability,
and reference population size. Adequate preliminary research is necessary. The results provide
a framework for the design of genomic selection schemes in E. coioides breeding.
Microsatellite Marker: Importance and Implications of Cross-genome Analysis for Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn)
Authors: Krishna Thumadath P.A. , Theivanayagam Maharajan , Roch Gurusunathan V. , Duraipandiyan Veeramuthu , Ignacimuthu Savarimuthu
Published: September 2020

Finger millet is a superior staple food for human beings. Microsatellite or Simple Sequence
Repeat (SSR) marker is a powerful tool for genetic mapping, diversity analysis and plant
breeding. In finger millet, microsatellites show a higher level of polymorphism than other molecular
marker systems. The identification and development of microsatellite markers are extremely expensive
and time-consuming. Only less than 50% of SSR markers have been developed from microsatellite
sequences for finger millet. Therefore, it is important to transfer SSR markers developed
for related species/genus to finger millet. Cross-genome transferability is the easiest and
cheapest method to develop SSR markers. Many comparative mapping studies using microsatellite
markers clearly revealed the presence of synteny within the genomes of closely related species/
genus. Sufficient homology exists among several crop plant genomes in the sequences flanking the
SSR loci. Thus, the SSR markers are beneficial to amplify the target regions in the finger millet
genome. Many SSR markers were used for the analysis of cross-genome amplification in various
plants such as Setaria italica, Pennisetum glaucum, Oryza sativa, Triticum aestivum, Zea mays and
Hordeum vulgare. However, there is very little information available about cross-genome amplification
of these markers in finger millet. The only limited report is available for the utilization of
cross-genome amplified microsatellite markers in genetic analysis, gene mapping and other applications
in finger millet. This review highlights the importance and implication of microsatellite markers
such as genomic SSR (gSSR) and Expressed Sequence Tag (EST)-SSR in cross-genome analysis
in finger millet. Nowadays, crop improvement has been one of the major priority areas of research
in agriculture. The genome assisted breeding and genetic engineering plays a very crucial
role in enhancing crop productivity. The rapid advance in molecular marker technology is helpful
for crop improvement. Therefore, this review will be very helpful to the researchers for understanding
the importance and implication of SSR markers in closely related species.
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder and its Impact on Rates of Bipolar Disorder among Children and Adolescents
Authors: Alghamdi Waleed A.
Published: September 2020

Background:

In 2013, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD) was introduced
in the DSM-5 in part to curb the rapid rise in the rates of bipolar diagnosis among children
and adolescents during the decade before the DSM-5 publication. DMDD proved to be a controversial
diagnosis for many reasons.

Objective:

This brief review aims to provide an overview of the DMDD diagnosis and its origins
and summarize available data on the impact of the introduction of the DMDD diagnosis on the rates
of bipolar disorder among children and adolescents.

Methods:

Multiple scientific databases were searched using the related terms “DMDD”, “Disruptive
Mood Dysregulation”, and “pediatric bipolar disorder” in combination with the terms “diagnosis”
and “impact”. The retrieved articles were reviewed carefully.

Results:

The DMDD diagnosis rates have steadily increased since its introduction. Furthermore,
available data show a decrease in the rates of bipolar disorder diagnosis among children and adolescents
over the past few years.

Conclusion:

The very limited available data since 2013 show a decline in the diagnosis of bipolar
disorder among children and adolescents. More time and further research are needed to more accurately
determine the impact of the DMDD diagnosis on the rates of bipolar disorder in this population.
Beş Yaş Altı Çocuğu Olan Annelerin Akılcı İlaç Kullanım Durumu ve Etkileyen Etmenler
Authors: ÇINAR Ayça , MERCAN Yeliz
Published: September 2020

Giriş: Bu çalışmada, beş yaş altı çocuğu olan annelerin akılcı ilaç kullanım (AİK) durumunun belirlemesi ve etkileyen faktörlerin saptanması amaçlanmıştır. Yöntem: Tanımlayıcı ve kesitsel tipte olan bu araştırma, Haziran 2015- Mart 2016 tarihleri arasında Pınarhisar’da yürütülmüştür. Araştırmanın örneğini, Aile Sağlığı Merkezlerine kayıtlı 0-59 aylık çocuğu olan 320 kadın oluşturmuştur. Veriler, araştırmacılar tarafından geliştirilen anket formu yardımıyla yüz yüze toplanmıştır. Bulgular: Katılımcıların AİK prevalansı %30,0 saptanmıştır. Kadınların reçetesiz ilaç ve reçetesiz antibiyotik kullanım prevalansı sırasıyla %90,0 ve %19,1 idi. Kadınların çocuklarına yönelik reçetesiz ilaç ve reçetesiz antibiyotik kullanım prevalansı sırasıyla %66,3 ve %6,3 bulunmuştur. Grubun %38,4’ünün evde ilaç bulundurduğu, %33,4’ünün tavsiye ile ilaç kullandığı saptanmıştır. Annelerin %18,8-%52,2’si antibiyotik kullanımına yönelik doğru bilgiye sahip olduğu görülmüştür. Çok değişkenli lojistik regresyon analizinde; geniş veya parçalanmış aile yapısına sahip olanlara göre çekirdek ailede yaşayanların, asgari ücretin altında (<1400 TL) geliri olanlara göre 1400-2800 TL geliri olanların, ilaç fiyatı arttıkça ilacın etkinliğinin artmadığını bilenlerin ve ilaçların akılcı kullanımı ile ilgili farkındalığı olanların, ilaçları akılcı kullanma olasılığı yüksek saptanmıştır. Sonuç: Beş yaş altı çocuğu olan yaklaşık üç anneden biri ilaçları akılcı kullanmaktadır. Annelerin kendilerine yönelik reçetesiz ilaç kullanımı ve reçetesiz antibiyotik kullanımı çocuklarına kıyasla yüksek düzeydedir. İlaçların akılcı kullanımında aile tipi, gelir düzeyi, AİK bilgi veya farkındalık düzeyi belirleyici olarak saptanmıştır. Beş yaş altı çocuğu olan annelerin sağlık kuruluşlarına başvurularında, görüşme süreçleri iyi değerlendirilmeli, eğitim çalışmaları planlanmalı ve katılımları sağlanmalıdır.
Mathematical models of characteristics of timely response to penetration into a protected area by blocking information in physical protection complexes
Authors: Skryl S. V. , Vinokurov S. A. , Khodyrev T. B. , Mazin A. V. , Kholod D. A.
Published: September 2020

This article is the first in a series of articles devoted to the issues of physical protection of ships and other watercraft with nuclear power plants and radiation sources during their stay in ports. The principles of construction and functioning of mobile complexes of physical protection of seaports as a new class of integrated automated security systems are considered. The blocking of information in the complex is determined as the most serious vulnerability of such systems. A small amount of data on information protection from blocking in complex and integrated security systems and their absence in systems of the class under consideration is stated. The main reason for the current state of the theory and practice of information protection against blocking in the complexes of physical protection of seaports is determined, which is the lack of a methodological apparatus for mathematical modeling that adequately evaluates the effectiveness of countering penetration into protected areas by blocking information in such security systems. A formal interpretation of the processes under study is given. A conceptual model of violation of the protection regime of the port territory and water area is considered. Mathematical models of particular indicators of the timeliness of response to the actions of violators at individual stages of the penetration into the protected area threat are presented. An integral indicator of timeliness of response to penetration into a protected area by blocking information in the complexes of physical protection of seaports is substantiated.
Conditional spatial interpolation method for detecting minimally polluted areas with selective aerosol emissions to the city atmosphere
Authors: Asadov H. H. , Mammadli R. Sh.
Published: September 2020

Continuous surface interpolation is an important aspect of spatial analysis. A number of methods are used to interpolate a continuous surface, one of which is the spatial interpolation method with the Inverse Distance Weight (IDW) ratio. The purpose of this article is to develop a method of conditional spatial interpolation for finding such spatial points in the urban zone where the impact of selective accidental aerosol emissions into the city atmosphere is minimal. Conditional spatial interpolation refers to the case when the distances to the interpolated points are set by a certain condition, and it is necessary to determine the interpolated point where the above influence is minimal. In this case, spatial samples or base points used for interpolation are formed when a single powerful aerosol source is exposed to individual channels (distances). It is shown that there is an optimal relationship between the distances from the sampling point to the interpolation point and from the sampling point to the powerful aerosol source, at which the total effect of the powerful source on the interpolated point is minimal.
Real-World Implications of a Rapidly Responsive COVID-19 Spread Model with Time-Dependent Parameters via Deep Learning: Model Development and Validation (Preprint)
Authors: Jung Se Young , Jo Hyeontae , Son Hwijae , Hwang Hyung Ju
Published: September 2020

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused major disruptions worldwide since March 2020. The experience of the 1918 influenza pandemic demonstrated that decreases in the infection rates of COVID-19 do not guarantee continuity of the trend.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to develop a precise spread model of COVID-19 with time-dependent parameters via deep learning to respond promptly to the dynamic situation of the outbreak and proactively minimize damage.

METHODS

In this study, we investigated a mathematical model with time-dependent parameters via deep learning based on forward-inverse problems. We used data from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) and the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University for Korea and the other countries, respectively. Because the data consist of confirmed, recovered, and deceased cases, we selected the susceptible-infected-recovered (SIR) model and found approximated solutions as well as model parameters. Specifically, we applied fully connected neural networks to the solutions and parameters and designed suitable loss functions.

RESULTS

We developed an entirely new SIR model with time-dependent parameters via deep learning methods. Furthermore, we validated the model with the conventional Runge-Kutta fourth order model to confirm its convergent nature. In addition, we evaluated our model based on the real-world situation reported from the KCDC, the Korean government, and news media. We also crossvalidated our model using data from the CSSE for Italy, Sweden, and the United States.

CONCLUSIONS

The methodology and new model of this study could be employed for short-term prediction of COVID-19, which could help the government prepare for a new outbreak. In addition, from the perspective of measuring medical resources, our model has powerful strength because it assumes all the parameters as time-dependent, which reflects the exact status of viral spread.
Development and Implementation of a Multidisciplinary Electronic Discharge Readiness Tool: User-Centered Design Approach (Preprint)
Authors: Keniston Angela , McBeth Lauren , Pell Sr Jonathan , Bowden Kasey , Ball Stephen , Stoebner Kristin , Scherzberg Elaina , Moore Susan L , Nordhagen Jamie , Anthony Amanda , Burden Marisha
Published: September 2020

BACKGROUND

Typical solutions for improving discharge planning often rely on one-way communication mechanisms, static data entry into the electronic health record (EHR), or in-person meetings. Lack of timely and effective communication can adversely affect patients and their care teams.

OBJECTIVE

Applying robust user-centered design strategies, we aimed to design an innovative EHR-based discharge readiness communication tool (the Discharge Today tool) to enable care teams to communicate any barriers to discharge, the status of patient discharge readiness, and patient discharge needs in real time across hospital settings.

METHODS

We employed multiple user-centered design strategies, including exploration of the current state for documenting discharge readiness and directing discharge planning, iterative low-fidelity prototypes, multidisciplinary stakeholder meetings, a brainwriting premortem exercise, and preproduction user testing. We iteratively collected feedback from users via meetings and surveys.

RESULTS

We conducted 28 meetings with 20 different stakeholder groups. From these stakeholder meetings, we developed 14 low-fidelity prototypes prior to deploying the Discharge Today tool for our pilot study. During the pilot study, stakeholders requested 46 modifications, of which 25 (54%) were successfully executed. We found that most providers who responded to the survey reported that the tool either saved time or did not change the amount of time required to complete their discharge workflow (21/24, 88%). Responses to open-ended questions offered both positive feedback and opportunities for improvement in the domains of efficiency, integration into workflow, avoidance of redundancies, expedited communication, and patient-centeredness.

CONCLUSIONS

Survey data suggest that this electronic discharge readiness tool has been successfully adopted by providers and clinical staff. Frequent stakeholder engagement and iterative user-centered design were critical to the successful implementation of this tool.
Couples’ Empathy as a Predictor of Sensitive Responsiveness towards Infant Crying - Mediational Role of Oxytocin and Vasopressin levels (the HEART study): an experimental study protocol (Preprint)
Authors: Kaźmierczak Maria , Pawlicka Paulina , Anikiej Paulina , Łada Ariadna B , Kiełbratowska Bogumiła , Rybicka Magda , Kotłowska Alicja , Bakermans-Kranenburg Marian J , van IJzendoorn Marinus H.
Published: September 2020

UNSTRUCTURED

Background: Sensitive responsiveness refers to parents’ ability to recognize and respond to infants’ cues and is one of the central aspects of early parenting.
Sensitivity to infant cry supports child’s survival and is the most apparent early attachment behavior. Sensitive responsiveness to child’s needs has been linked to parental empathy. Additionally, oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) are hormones important for sensitivity and empathy. Research on parental responsiveness indicates focus on mothers, and studies on parents-to-be are lacking. The aim of the HEART study is to test the direct and indirect (through OT and AVP levels) links between dispositional empathy and responsiveness to a life-like doll crying in couples and to verify whether these factors are predictors of responsiveness to own ’child’s cues. Exploratory analyses include predictors of sensitive responsiveness: polymorphisms of OXTR, AVPR1a and CD38 genes, personal characteristics (attachment style, temperament) and relational factors (perception of partners and own parents).
Methods: The HEART project employs standardized experimental settings that can be used with nonparents and – the assessment of parental sensitive responsiveness towards their child. The participants are couples becoming parents for the first time (111) and childless couples (110) in Poland. The procedure involves the caretaking of a life-like doll (three 10-min episodes: each partner individually and a couple), which cries as programmed during the interaction. Salivary samples and questionnaire data are collected in a planned manner. In the second part of the project’, the expectant couples are invited for the assessment of the parental sensitivity to own child (free play episodes with each parent). Parental sensitivity is assessed using the observational Ainsworth Sensitivity Scale.
Discussion: This paper presents an interdisciplinary research project that analyses the roots of the role of empathy in displaying parental sensitive responsiveness. HEART methodologically reaches beyond the questionnaire measurement, controls many factors influencing the dynamics of adult-infant interaction and focuses on the crying signal. By examining parental sensitive responsiveness of expectant couples towards their own ’child’s cues we uniquely explore the validity of the experimental design with a life-like doll.
Trial registration: osf.io/ Identifier: osf.io/z5682.
Characterizing Weibo Social Media Posts From Wuhan, China During the Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Qualitative Content Analysis (Preprint)
Authors: Xu Qing , Shen Ziyi , Shah Neal , Cuomo Raphael , Cai Mingxiang , Brown Matthew , Li Jiawei , Mackey Tim
Published: September 2020

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has reached 40 million confirmed cases worldwide. Given its rapid progression, it is important to examine its origins to better understand how people’s knowledge, attitudes, and reactions have evolved over time. One method is to use data mining of social media conversations related to information exposure and self-reported user experiences.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to characterize the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of social media users located at the initial epicenter of the outbreak by analyzing data from the Sina Weibo platform in Chinese.

METHODS

We used web scraping to collect public Weibo posts from December 31, 2019, to January 20, 2020, from users located in Wuhan City that contained COVID-19–related keywords. We then manually annotated all posts using an inductive content coding approach to identify specific information sources and key themes including news and knowledge about the outbreak, public sentiment, and public reaction to control and response measures.

RESULTS

We identified 10,159 COVID-19 posts from 8703 unique Weibo users. Among our three parent classification areas, 67.22% (n=6829) included news and knowledge posts, 69.72% (n=7083) included public sentiment, and 47.87% (n=4863) included public reaction and self-reported behavior. Many of these themes were expressed concurrently in the same Weibo post. Subtopics for news and knowledge posts followed four distinct timelines and evidenced an escalation of the outbreak’s seriousness as more information became available. Public sentiment primarily focused on expressions of anxiety, though some expressions of anger and even positive sentiment were also detected. Public reaction included both protective and elevated health risk behavior.

CONCLUSIONS

Between the announcement of pneumonia and respiratory illness of unknown origin in late December 2019 and the discovery of human-to-human transmission on January 20, 2020, we observed a high volume of public anxiety and confusion about COVID-19, including different reactions to the news by users, negative sentiment after being exposed to information, and public reaction that translated to self-reported behavior. These findings provide early insight into changing knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors about COVID-19, and have the potential to inform future outbreak communication, response, and policy making in China and beyond.
eHealth Practices in Cancer Survivors With BMI in Overweight or Obese Categories: Latent Class Analysis Study (Preprint)
Authors: Lin Annie Wen , Baik Sharon H , Aaby David , Tello Leslie , Linville Twila , Alshurafa Nabil , Spring Bonnie
Published: September 2020

BACKGROUND

eHealth technologies have been found to facilitate health-promoting practices among cancer survivors with BMI in overweight or obese categories; however, little is known about their engagement with eHealth to promote weight management and facilitate patient-clinician communication.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to determine whether eHealth use was associated with sociodemographic characteristics, as well as medical history and experiences (ie, patient-related factors) among cancer survivors with BMI in overweight or obese categories.

METHODS

Data were analyzed from a nationally representative cross-sectional survey (National Cancer Institute’s Health Information National Trends Survey). Latent class analysis was used to derive distinct classes among cancer survivors based on sociodemographic characteristics, medical attributes, and medical experiences. Logistic regression was used to examine whether class membership was associated with different eHealth practices.

RESULTS

Three distinct classes of cancer survivors with BMI in overweight or obese categories emerged: younger with no comorbidities, younger with comorbidities, and older with comorbidities. Compared to the other classes, the younger with comorbidities class had the highest probability of identifying as female (73%) and Hispanic (46%) and feeling that clinicians did not address their concerns (75%). The older with comorbidities class was 6.5 times more likely than the younger with comorbidities class to share eHealth data with a clinician (odds ratio [OR] 6.53, 95% CI 1.08-39.43). In contrast, the younger with no comorbidities class had a higher likelihood of using a computer to look for health information (OR 1.93, 95% CI 1.10-3.38), using an electronic device to track progress toward a health-related goal (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.08-3.79), and using the internet to watch health-related YouTube videos (OR 2.70, 95% CI 1.52-4.81) than the older with comorbidities class.

CONCLUSIONS

Class membership was associated with different patterns of eHealth engagement, indicating the importance of tailored digital strategies for delivering effective care. Future eHealth weight loss interventions should investigate strategies to engage younger cancer survivors with comorbidities and address racial and ethnic disparities in eHealth use.
Diagnostic Model of in-Hospital Mortality in Patient with Acute ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Algorithm Development and Validation (Preprint)
Authors: Li Yong
Published: September 2020

BACKGROUND

Coronary heart disease, including ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), is still the leading cause of death.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of our study was to develop and externally validate a diagnostic model of in-hospital mortality in the patients with acute STEMI .

METHODS

We performed multivariate logistic regression of a cohort for hospitalized patients with acute STEMI in the emergency department of a university hospital. Participants: The model development data set was obtained from 2,183 hospitalized patients with acute STEMI from January 2002 to December 2011. A set of 7,485 hospitalized patients with acute STEMI from January 2012 to August 2019 were used for external validation. We used logistic regression analysis to analyze the risk factors of in-hospital mortality in the development data set. We developed a diagnostic model of in-hospital mortality and constructed a nomogram. We assessed the predictive performance of the diagnostic model in the validation data sets by examining measures of discrimination, calibration, and decision curve analysis (DCA).

RESULTS

In-hospital mortality occurred in 61 of 2,183 participants (2.8%) in the development data set. The strongest predictors of in-hospital mortality were advanced age and high Killip classification. Logistic regression analysis showed differences between the groups with and without in-hospital mortality in age (odds ratio [OR] 1.058, 95% CI 1.029-1.088; P<.001), Killip III (OR 8.249, 95% CI 3.502-19.433; P<.001), and Killip IV (OR 39.234, 95% CI 18.178-84.679; P<.001). We developed a diagnostic model of in-hospital mortality. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0. 9126 (SD 0. 0166, 95% CI 0. 88015-0. 94504). We constructed a nomogram based on age and Killip classification. In-hospital mortality occurred in 127 of 7,485 participants (1.7%) in the validation data set. The AUC was 0 .9305 (SD 0.0113, 95% CI 0. 90827-0. 95264).

CONCLUSIONS

We developed and externally validated a diagnostic model of in-hospital mortality in patient with acute STEMI . The discrimination, calibration, and DCA of the model were found to be satisfactory.

CLINICALTRIAL

Trial Registration: ChiCTR.org ChiCTR1900027129; http://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=44888&htm=4.
eHealth Literacy and Beliefs About Medicines Among Taiwanese College Students: Cross-sectional Study (Preprint)
Authors: Huang Chiao Ling , Chiang Chia-Hsun , Yang Shu Ching
Published: September 2020

BACKGROUND

Good eHealth literacy and correct beliefs about medicines are beneficial for making good health care decisions and may further influence an individual's quality of life. However, few studies have discussed these two factors simultaneously. Moreover, gender differences are associated with health literacy and beliefs about medicines. Therefore, it is important to examine the multiple relationships between college students’ eHealth literacy and beliefs about medicines, as well as gender differences.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to (1) examine the multiple relationships between eHealth literacy and beliefs about medicines and (2) analyze gender differences in eHealth literacy and beliefs about medicines with Taiwanese college students.

METHODS

We used a paper-and-pencil questionnaire that included age, gender, 3-level eHealth literacy, and beliefs about medicines to collect data. In total, 475 data points were obtained and analyzed through independent t tests and canonical correlation analyses.

RESULTS

The t test (t473=3.73; P<.001; t473=–2.10; P=.04) showed that women had lower functional eHealth literacy and more specific concerns about medicines than men. Canonical correlation analyses indicated that the first and second canonical correlation coefficients between eHealth literacy and beliefs about medicines reached a significant level, implying that a multivariate relationship indeed existed.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings reveal that women in Taiwan have lower functional eHealth literacy and stronger concerns about medicines than men. In addition, students with higher eHealth literacy have more positive perceptions of and beliefs about medicines.
The Impact of a Mobile App on Participation in Cardiac Rehabilitation and Understanding Barriers to Success: Comparative Cohort Study (Preprint)
Authors: Rivers John T , Smith Carla , Smith Ian , Cameron James
Published: September 2020

BACKGROUND

Poor patient uptake of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) remains a challenge for multiple reasons including geographic, time, cultural, cost, and psychological constraints.

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated the impact on CR participation rates associated with the addition of the option of mobile app–based CR (Cardihab) for patients declining conventional CR.

METHODS

A total of 204 consecutive patients were offered CR following angioplasty; of these, 99 were in cohort 1 (offered conventional CR only) and 105 were in cohort 2 (app-based CR offered to those declining conventional CR). Patients in each cohort were followed throughout a 6-week CR program and participation rates were compared for both groups. Patients in cohort 2 declining both forms of CR were interviewed to assess reasons for nonparticipation.

RESULTS

CR participation improved from 21% (95% CI 14%-30%) to 63% (95% CI 53%-71%) with the addition of the app (P<.001). Approximately 25% (9/39) of the group declining the app-based program identified technology issues as the reason for nonparticipation. The remainder declined both CR programs or were ineligible due to frailty or comorbidities.

CONCLUSIONS

Providing patients with the additional option of an app-based CR program substantially improved CR participation. Technology and psychological barriers can limit CR participation. Further innovation in CR delivery systems is required to improve uptake.
Human–Computer Agreement of Electrocardiogram Interpretation for Patients Referred to and Declined for Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Retrospective Data Analysis Study (Preprint)
Authors: Iftikhar Aleeha , Bond Raymond , Mcgilligan Victoria , Leslie Stephen J , Knoery Charles , Shand James , Ramsewak Adesh , Sharma Divyesh , McShane Anne , Rjoob Khaled , Peace Aaron
Published: September 2020

BACKGROUND

When a patient is suspected of having an acute myocardial infarction, they are accepted or declined for primary percutaneous coronary intervention partly based on clinical assessment of their 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) and ST-elevation myocardial infarction criteria.

OBJECTIVE

We retrospectively determined the agreement rate between human (specialists called activator nurses) and computer interpretations of ECGs of patients who were declined for primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

METHODS

Various features of patients who were referred for primary percutaneous coronary intervention were analyzed. Both the human and computer ECG interpretations were simplified to either “suggesting” or “not suggesting” acute myocardial infarction to avoid analysis of complex heterogeneous and synonymous diagnostic terms. Analyses, to measure agreement, and logistic regression, to determine if these ECG interpretations (and other variables such as patient age, chest pain) could predict patient mortality, were carried out.

RESULTS

Of a total of 1464 patients referred to and declined for primary percutaneous coronary intervention, 722 (49.3%) computer diagnoses suggested acute myocardial infarction, whereas 634 (43.3%) of the human interpretations suggested acute myocardial infarction (P<.001). The human and computer agreed that there was a possible acute myocardial infarction for 342 out of 1464 (23.3%) patients. However, there was a higher rate of human–computer agreement for patients not having acute myocardial infarctions (450/1464, 30.7%). The overall agreement rate was 54.1% (792/1464). Cohen κ showed poor agreement (κ=0.08, P=.001). Only the age (odds ratio [OR] 1.07, 95% CI 1.05-1.09) and chest pain (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.39-0.89) independent variables were statistically significant (P=.008) in predicting mortality after 30 days and 1 year. The odds for mortality within 1 year of referral were lower in patients with chest pain compared to those patients without chest pain. A referral being out of hours was a trending variable (OR 1.41, 95% CI 0.95-2.11, P=.09) for predicting the odds of 1-year mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Mortality in patients who were declined for primary percutaneous coronary intervention was higher than the reported mortality for ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients at 1 year. Agreement between computerized and human ECG interpretation is poor, perhaps leading to a high rate of inappropriate referrals. Work is needed to improve computer and human decision making when reading ECGs to ensure that patients are referred to the correct treatment facility for time-critical therapy.
On the Nexus Between CSR Practices, ESG Performance, and Asymmetric information
Authors: Usman Berto , Bernardes Oscar Tiago Fontes , Kananlua Paulus Sulluk
Published: September 2020

The purpose of this paper is to test the relationship of CSR practice­–asymmetry information and ESG performance–asymmetry information. We conjecture that there might be a particular role where the disclosure of non-financial information is deemed useful in truncating the level of asymmetry information. Using the data from two different countries, Indonesia (Asia) and Portugal (Europe), we extracted 37 companies with time period of observation ranges from 2012 to 2016. To manifest the empirical test, we use CSR report (CSR_Rep), CSR committee (CSR_com), CSR assurance (CSR_ass) and GRI adoption as the proxies of CSR practice, while the proxies of ESG performance are represented by Environmental (ENVscr), Social (SOCscr), and Governance (GOVscr) pillar scores as obtained from Thomson Reuters ASSET4 database. Bid-ask spread is used as the surrogate indicator of asymmetry information. The empirical test reveals that only variable GRI and SOCscr show negative and significant association with bid-ask spread. Whilst, the remaining variables of CSR practice (CSR_rep, CSR_com, CSR_ass), and ESG performance (ENVscr and GOVscr) are negatively associated with asymmetry information (Spread) but statistically insignificant. Our results suggest that CSR practice and ESG performance are weakly associated with asymmetry information, in which most of CSR practices and ESG performance need a time lag to allow them to be value relevant information in mitigating the level of asymmetry information.
IgE-Mediated Immune Response and Antibody-Mediated Rejection
Authors: Rascio Federica , Pontrelli Paola , Netti Giuseppe Stefano , Manno Elisabetta , Infante Barbara , Simone Simona , Castellano Giuseppe , Ranieri Elena , Seveso Michela , Cozzi Emanuele , Gesualdo Loreto , Stallone Giovanni , Grandaliano Giuseppe
Published: September 2020

Background and objectives

Active antibody-mediated rejection is the main cause of kidney transplant loss, sharing with SLE the alloimmune response and the systemic activation of the IFN-α pathway. IgE-mediated immune response plays a key role in the development of SLE nephritis and is associated with IFN-α secretion. The aim of our study was to investigate IgE-mediated immune response in antibody-mediated rejection.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

This was a cross-sectional study of 56 biopsy-proven antibody-mediated rejection study participants, 80 recipients with normal graft function/histology (control), 16 study participants with interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy, and six participants with SLE. We evaluated graft IgE deposition, tryptase (a mast cell marker), and CD203 (a specific marker of activated basophils) by immunofluorescence/confocal microscopy. In addition, we measured serum concentration of human myxovirus resistance protein 1, an IFN-α–induced protein, and anti-HLA IgE.

Results

We observed a significantly higher IgE deposition in tubules and glomeruli in antibody-mediated rejection (1766±79 pixels) and SLE (1495±43 pixels) compared with interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy (582±122 pixels) and control (253±50 pixels). Patients with antibody-mediated rejection, but not control patients and patients with interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy, presented circulating anti-HLA IgE antibodies, although with a low mean fluorescence intensity. In addition, immunofluorescence revealed the presence of both mast cells and activated basophils in antibody-mediated rejection but not in control and interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy. The concentration of circulating basophils was significantly higher in antibody-mediated rejection compared with control and interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy. MxA serum levels were significantly higher in antibody-mediated rejection compared with control and correlated with the extent of IgE deposition.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that IgE deposition and the subsequent recruitment of basophils and mast cells within the kidney transplant might play a role in antibody-mediated rejection.
La política en Norbert Elias: visión general e implicaciones
Authors: Ampudia de Haro Fernando
Published: September 2020

El artículo tiene un doble objetivo. Por un lado, analiza la concepción de la política que se desgaja de la sociología de Norbert Elias. Por otro, considera el potencial de crítica que contiene esa sociología frente a determinadas corrientes de pensamiento político. En el primer caso, se reconstruye esa concepción a partir de las reflexiones eliasianas sobre el conocimiento y la dicotomía compromiso-distanciamiento. En el segundo caso, aquel potencial de crítica se dirige a postulados centrales del pensamiento liberal, específicamente, los relativos a las nociones de libertad, individuo y privacidad. Metodológicamente, este trabajo se apoya en una exploración crítica de obras centrales de Norbert Elias complementadas con trabajos en la órbita de la sociología figuracional-procesual y aportaciones genéricas en el terreno del pensamiento político liberal.
Algunas reflexiones sobre la situación del grado en Sociología en España
Authors: Valdés Fernández Manuel Tomás
Published: September 2020

l grado en Sociología adolece de tres problemas interconectados. Primero, la sociología apenas forma parte de la educación preuniversitaria, lo que da lugar a dos importantes consecuencias: quien se matricula en Sociología dispone de escasa información sobre la disciplina y no habrá desarrollado las habilidades necesarias para un adecuado desempeño durante el grado. Si, a pesar de ello, encontramos un número elevado de alumnos en Sociología, es porque muchos sienten mayor interés por finalizar el nivel universitario que por el aprendizaje del oficio de sociólogo, lo que significará tanto un elevado abandono de la titulación, como un nivel de competencias desarrolladas a la finalización del grado presumiblemente bajo. Finalmente, si el grado atrae una alta proporción de estudiantes sin una auténtica vocación sociológica y poco dispuestos a la realización de esfuerzos significativos, es poco probable que el egresado medio se encuentre en disposición de dedicarse profesionalmente a la sociología.
Élites parlamentarias de América Latina: ¿Cómo ha evolucionado el perfil de la representación?
Authors: Barragán Mélany , Rivas Cristina , Bohigues García Asbel
Published: September 2020

Este artículo aborda cómo ha evolucionado el perfil de la representación y las actitudes de los legisladores latinoamericanos en las tres últimas décadas. Con datos del Proyecto de Élites Parlamentarias de América Latina de la Universidad de Salamanca (PELA), se describen las características y opiniones de los legisladores, subrayando las principales diferencias y similitudes en función de los países y períodos temporales. A partir de una reconstrucción de los principales cambios socioeconómicos y políticos acontecidos en la región, esta investigación muestra cómo los diferentes ciclos económicos han influido en el perfil de la representación. Este se estudia desde una perspectiva amplia atendiendo tanto a las características de los representantes desde el punto de vista sociodemográfico como a cómo piensan y valoran el escenario en el que se desenvuelven.
Presentación del debate: Impactos sociales de COVID-19: un nuevo reto para la sociología
Authors: García Calavia Miguel Ángel
Published: September 2020

La pandemia COVID-19 ha convulsionado el mundo, y la sociología debe ser protagonista en la lectura e interpretación de estos movimientos, contribuyendo, además, a la construcción de propuestas a los problemas que se vislumbran. Más allá de un fenómeno epidemiológico y sanitario, la pandemia es también un fenómeno sociológico, y las medidas que se propongan también han de serlo. Esto supone que no solo hay que indagar el agente causante de la pandemia de naturaleza biológica, sino también los determinantes sociales de la salud, y los efectos de las medidas adoptadas en la vida social.