bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Postpartum Green Star family planning decision aid for pregnant adolescents in Tanzania: a qualitative feasibility study
Authors: Mushy Stella E. , Shishido Eri , Leshabari Sebalda , Horiuchi Shigeko
Published: August 2021

Background

The use of a decision aid in clinical settings has been beneficial. It informs and educates patients about the available treatment options that can help them reduce decision-making conflicts related to feeling uninformed compared with routine care. There is a scarcity of published data about using a decision aid during family planning counseling with postpartum women focusing on long-acting reversible contraception in Tanzania. Therefore, we developed a“postpartum Green Star family planning decision aid”and assessed its feasibility. The study outcomes were practicality, usefulness, and acceptability perceived by pregnant adolescents and nurses/midwives.

Methods

We used an exploratory qualitative in-depth interview involving six nurses/midwives with three or more years of experience in family planning services and 12 pregnant adolescents aged 15–19 years. Purposive sampling was used to select the participants, and selection relied on the saturation principle of data collection. We used a semi-structured interview guide translated into the Kiswahili language. Data were transcribed and analyzed following inductive content analysis.

Results

The amount of information presented was just right, with the time of reading the data ranging from 20 min to 1 h. The study participants perceived the flow of information to be good, with small significant changes suggested. Kiswahili language was used and reported to be appropriate and well elaborated. However, a few words were told to be rephrased to reduce ambiguity. The nurses/midwives said that the decision aid included most of the vital information the participants wanted to know during their family planning counseling. Pregnant adolescents stated that the decision aid improved their knowledge and provided new details on the long-acting reversible contraception methods (intrauterine copper devices and implants) offered immediately after childbirth. The participants stated that the decision aid addressed long-acting reversible contraception methods’ benefits and side effects and dispelled myths and misconceptions. The study participants considered the decision aid helpful in complementing the family planning counseling offered and improving pregnant adolescents’ knowledge.

Conclusion

The postpartum Green Star family planning decision aidwas practical, useful, and acceptable in enhancing the objectivity of counseling about long-acting reversible contraception methods. It improved the knowledge of pregnant adolescents in Tanzania about the available contraception methods (i.e., the use of intrauterine copper devices and implants), which can be immediately used postpartum. Further research is needed to assess the effects of the decision aid on long-acting reversible contraception postpartum uptake among pregnant adolescents in Tanzania.
The link between knowledge of the maternal diet and breastfeeding practices in mothers and health workers in Poland
Authors: Karcz Karolina , Lehman Izabela , Królak-Olejnik Barbara
Published: August 2021

Background

There are multiple misconceptions concerning the breastfeeding mother’s diet and its adverse impact on breast milk composition and the breastfed child’s health, which might lead to breastfeeding cessation. Although prophylactic maternal dietary restrictions are not recommended, mothers all over the world are often recommended to avoid certain foods, due to cultural beliefs, social pressure and even outdated or ambiguous medical recommendations. In Poland, there is no systematic approach to breastfeeding education in the form of nationwide educational programs for particular social groups. It was estimated that in 2017 only 3–4% of Polish infants were exclusively breastfed at 6 months of age. The aim of this study was to recognize the scale of common dietary misconceptions among lactating mothers in Poland and to compare knowledge and opinions between medical staff and mothers who have ever breastfed a child. In addition, the paper is an attempt to identify factors contributing to the still current practice of recommending prophylactic dietary restrictions to breastfeeding mothers by medical staff.

Methods

The study was conducted in Poland, in January – February 2019. The study used a diagnostic poll method and was conducted mainly in an electronic form. A total of 1159 completed questionnaires data were analyzed: 35.1% completed by medical staff and 64.9% by mothers in non-medical professions. Statistical calculations were conducted with Chi-square test, logistic regression and U Mann Whitney test (level of significance set at 0.05).

Results

The respondents presented a good level of knowledge and predominantly assessed the questioned statements correctly. Duration of breastfeeding was found to be the main factor determining respondents’ knowledge (p <  0.05). Concerning medical staff, the parity (p <  0.001) and applying an elimination diet when themselves breastfeeding (p <  0.001) had a significant impact on recommendation of prophylactic dietetic restrictions to the lactating women.

Conclusions

Regardless of a resonably good level of knowledge on maternal nutrition in the lactation period, both breastfeeding mothers and medical staff are still convinced of the beneficial effect of preventive dietary restrictions, which affects further lactational counselling and lactational performance.
Risky sexual behaviour among Russian adolescents: association with internalizing and externalizing symptoms
Authors: Isaksson Johan , Westermark Caroline , Koposov Roman A. , Stickley Andrew , Ruchkin Vladislav
Published: August 2021

Background

Risky sexual behaviour (RSB) is regarded as a major health problem during adolescence. Russia has one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy, abortion and newly diagnosed HIV infections in the world, but research on RSB in Russian youth has been limited. To address this deficit, this study examined the role of several factors, including internalizing and externalizing symptoms, in RSB among Russian adolescents.

Methods

Self-reported data were collected from 2573 Russian adolescents aged 13–17 years old (59.4 % girls; Mean age = 14.89) regarding RSB (unprotected sex, early pregnancy, multiple sexual partners and substance use during sexual encounters). Information was also obtained on externalizing (conduct problems and delinquent behaviour) and internalizing (depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress) symptoms, as well as interpersonal risk and protective factors (affiliation with delinquent peers, parental involvement and teacher support). Hierarchical multiple binary logistic regression analysis was used to examine the associations between these variables and RSB.

Results

Boys reported engaging in more RSB than girls. Externalizing symptoms and affiliation with delinquent peers were most strongly associated with RSB, whereas symptoms of anxiety were negatively associated with RSB. There was an interaction effect for sex and affiliation with delinquent peers on RSB with boys reporting RSB when having more delinquent peers. Neither parental involvement nor teacher support were protective against RSB.

Conclusions

Early detection of and interventions for RSB and associated externalizing symptoms may be important for adolescent physical and mental wellbeing. Affiliation with delinquent peers should, especially among boys, be regarded as a risk marker for RSB.
Genome-wide sequencing as a first-tier screening test for short tandem repeat expansions
Authors: Rajan-Babu Indhu-Shree , Peng Junran J. , Chiu Readman ,   IMAGINE Study, Birch Patricia , Couse Madeline , Guimond Colleen , Lehman Anna , Mwenifumbo Jill , van Karnebeek Clara , Friedman Jan ,   CAUSES Study, Adam Shelin , Souich Christele Du , Elliott Alison , Lehman Anna , Mwenifumbo Jill , Nelson Tanya , van Karnebeek Clara , Friedman Jan , Li Chenkai , Mohajeri Arezoo , Dolzhenko Egor , Eberle Michael A. , Birol Inanc , Friedman Jan M.
Published: August 2021

Background

Screening for short tandem repeat (STR) expansions in next-generation sequencing data can enable diagnosis, optimal clinical management/treatment, and accurate genetic counseling of patients with repeat expansion disorders. We aimed to develop an efficient computational workflow for reliable detection of STR expansions in next-generation sequencing data and demonstrate its clinical utility.

Methods

We characterized the performance of eight STR analysis methods (lobSTR, HipSTR, RepeatSeq, ExpansionHunter, TREDPARSE, GangSTR, STRetch, and exSTRa) on next-generation sequencing datasets of samples with known disease-causing full-mutation STR expansions and genomes simulated to harbor repeat expansions at selected loci and optimized their sensitivity. We then used a machine learning decision tree classifier to identify an optimal combination of methods for full-mutation detection. In Burrows-Wheeler Aligner (BWA)-aligned genomes, the ensemble approach of using ExpansionHunter, STRetch, and exSTRa performed the best (precision = 82%, recall = 100%, F1-score = 90%). We applied this pipeline to screen 301 families of children with suspected genetic disorders.

Results

We identified 10 individuals with full-mutations in the AR, ATXN1, ATXN8, DMPK, FXN, or HTT disease STR locus in the analyzed families. Additional candidates identified in our analysis include two probands with borderline ATXN2 expansions between the established repeat size range for reduced-penetrance and full-penetrance full-mutation and seven individuals with FMR1 CGG repeats in the intermediate/premutation repeat size range. In 67 probands with a prior negative clinical PCR test for the FMR1, FXN, or DMPK disease STR locus, or the spinocerebellar ataxia disease STR panel, our pipeline did not falsely identify aberrant expansion. We performed clinical PCR tests on seven (out of 10) full-mutation samples identified by our pipeline and confirmed the expansion status in all, showing absolute concordance between our bioinformatics and molecular findings.

Conclusions

We have successfully demonstrated the application of a well-optimized bioinformatics pipeline that promotes the utility of genome-wide sequencing as a first-tier screening test to detect expansions of known disease STRs. Interrogating clinical next-generation sequencing data for pathogenic STR expansions using our ensemble pipeline can improve diagnostic yield and enhance clinical outcomes for patients with repeat expansion disorders.
Whole genome resequencing data for rock pigeon (Columba livia)
Authors: Esmailizadeh Ali , Kharrati-Koopaee Hamed , Nanaei Hojjat Assadoullahpour
Published: August 2021

Objective

Navigation is the most important feature of homing pigeons, however no integrated response to genetic mechanism of navigation has been reported. The generated data herein represent whole-genome resequencing data for homing pigeon and three other breeds of rock pigeons. Selective sweep analysis between homing pigeon and other breeds of rock pigeon can provide new insight about identification of candidate genes and biological pathways for homing pigeon ability.

Data description

Whole-genomes sequence data related to 95 birds from four breeds of rock pigeons including, 29 feral pigeons, 24 Shiraz tumblers, 24 Persian high flyers and 18 homing pigeons were provided. More than 6.94 billion short reads with coverage (average ≈7.50 x) and 407.1 Gb data were produced. Whole genome sequencing was carried out on the Illumina Hiseq 2000 platform using a 350 bp library size and 150 bp paired-end read lengths. The whole genome sequencing data have been submitted at the NCBI SRA Database (PRJNA532675). The presented data set can provide useful genomic information to explain the genetic mechanism of navigation ability of homing pigeons and also testing other genetic hypothesis by genomic analysis.
Evaluation of global and intragenic hypomethylation in colorectal adenomas improves patient stratification and colorectal cancer risk prediction
Authors: Debernardi Carla , Libera Laura , Berrino Enrico , Sahnane Nora , Chiaravalli Anna Maria , Laudi Cristiana , Berselli Mattia , Sapino Anna , Sessa Fausto , Venesio Tiziana , Furlan Daniela
Published: August 2021

Background

Aberrant DNA hypomethylation of the long interspersed nuclear elements (LINE-1 or L1) has been recognized as an early event of colorectal transformation. Simultaneous genetic and epigenetic analysis of colorectal adenomas may be an effective and rapid strategy to identify key biological features leading to accelerated colorectal tumorigenesis. In particular, global and/or intragenic LINE-1 hypomethylation of adenomas may represent a helpful tool for improving colorectal cancer (CRC) risk stratification of patients after surgical removal of polyps. To verify this hypothesis, we analyzed a cohort of 102 adenomas derived from 40 high-risk patients (who developed CRC in a post-polypectomy of at least one year) and 43 low-risk patients (who did not develop CRC in a post-polypectomy of at least 5 years) for their main pathological features, the presence of hotspot variants in driver oncogenes (KRAS, NRAS, BRAF and PIK3CA), global (LINE-1) and intragenic (L1-MET) methylation status.

Results

In addition to a significantly higher adenoma size and an older patients’ age, adenomas from high-risk patients were more hypomethylated than those from low-risk patients for both global and intragenic LINE-1 assays. DNA hypomethylation, measured by pyrosequencing, was independent from other parameters, including the presence of oncogenic hotspot variants detected by mass spectrometry. Combining LINE-1 and L1-MET analyses and profiling the samples according to the presence of at least one hypomethylated assay improved the discrimination between high and low risk lesions (p = 0.005). Remarkably, adenomas with at least one hypomethylated assay identified the patients with a significantly (p < 0.001) higher risk of developing CRC. Multivariable analysis and logistic regression evaluated by the ROC curves proved that methylation status was an independent variable improving cancer risk prediction (p = 0.02).

Conclusions

LINE-1 and L1-MET hypomethylation in colorectal adenomas are associated with a higher risk of developing CRC. DNA global and intragenic hypomethylation are independent markers that could be used in combination to successfully improve the stratification of patients who enter a colonoscopy surveillance program.

Graphic abstract
Childhood growth and development and DNA methylation age in mid-life
Authors: Maddock Jane , Castillo-Fernandez Juan , Wong Andrew , Ploubidis George B. , Kuh Diana , Bell Jordana T. , Hardy Rebecca
Published: August 2021

Background

In the first study of its kind, we examine the association between growth and development in early life and DNAm age biomarkers in mid-life.

Methods

Participants were from the Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development (n = 1376). Four DNAm age acceleration (AgeAccel) biomarkers were measured when participants were aged 53 years: AgeAccelHannum; AgeAccelHorvath; AgeAccelLevine; and AgeAccelGrim. Exposure variables included: relative weight gain (standardised residuals from models of current weight z-score on current height, and previous weight and height z-scores); and linear growth (standardised residuals from models of current height z-score on previous height and weight z-scores) during infancy (0–2 years, weight gain only), early childhood (2–4 years), middle childhood (4–7 years) and late childhood to adolescence (7–15 years); age at menarche; and pubertal stage for men at 14–15 years. The relationship between relative weight gain and linear growth and AgeAccel was investigated using conditional growth models. We replicated analyses from the late childhood to adolescence period and pubertal timing among 240 participants from The National Child and Development Study (NCDS).

Results

A 1SD increase in relative weight gain in late childhood to adolescence was associated with 0.50 years (95% CI 0.20, 0.79) higher AgeAccelGrim. Although the CI includes the null, the estimate was similar in NCDS [0.57 years (95% CI − 0.01, 1.16)] There was no strong evidence that relative weight gain and linear growth in childhood was associated with any other AgeAccel biomarker. There was no relationship between pubertal timing in men and AgeAccel biomarkers. Women who reached menarche ≥ 12 years had 1.20 years (95% CI 0.15, 2.24) higher AgeAccelGrim on average than women who reached menarche < 12 years; however, this was not replicated in NCDS and was not statistically significant after Bonferroni correction.

Conclusions

Our findings generally do not support an association between growth and AgeAccel biomarkers in mid-life. However, we found rapid weight gain during pubertal development, previously related to higher cardiovascular disease risk, to be associated with older AgeAccelGrim. Given this is an exploratory study, this finding requires replication.
Adipose-derived stem cells alleviate radiation-induced dermatitis by suppressing apoptosis and downregulating cathepsin F expression
Authors: Yao Chaoling , Zhou Yue , Wang Hui , Deng Feiyan , Chen Yongyi , Zhu Xiaomei , Kong Yu , Pan Lijun , Xue Lei , Zhou Xiao , Shi Chunmeng , Sheng Xiaowu
Published: August 2021

Background

Radiation-induced dermatitis is a serious side effect of radiotherapy, and very few effective treatments are currently available for this condition. We previously demonstrated that apoptosis is an important feature of radiation-induced dermatitis and adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are one of the most promising types of stem cells that have a protective effect on acute radiation-induced dermatitis. Cathepsin F (CTSF) is a recently discovered protein that plays an important role in apoptosis. In this study, we investigated whether ADSCs affect chronic radiation-induced dermatitis, and the underlying mechanisms involved.

Methods

ADSCs were isolated from male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and characterized. For in vivo studies, rats were randomly divided into control and ADSC-treated groups, and cultured ADSCs were transplanted into radiation-induced dermatitis model rats. The effects of ADSC transplantation were determined by skin damage scoring, histopathological analysis, electron microscopy, immunohistochemical staining, and western blotting analysis of apoptosis-related proteins. To evaluate the effects of ADSCs in vitro, radiation-induced apoptotic cells were treated with ADSC culture supernatant, and apoptosis-related protein expression was investigated by TUNEL staining, flow cytometry, and western blotting.

Results

In the in vivo studies, skin damage, inflammation, fibrosis, and apoptosis were reduced and hair follicle and sebaceous gland regeneration were enhanced in the ADSC group compared with the control group. Further, CTSF and downstream pro-apoptotic proteins (Bid, BAX, and caspase 9) were downregulated, while anti-apoptotic proteins (Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL) were upregulated. In vitro, ADSCs markedly attenuated radiation-induced apoptosis, downregulated CTSF and downstream pro-apoptotic proteins, and upregulated anti-apoptotic proteins.

Conclusion

ADSCs protect against radiation-induced dermatitis by exerting an anti-apoptotic effect through inhibition of CTSF expression. ADSCs may be a good therapeutic candidate to prevent the development of radiation-induced dermatitis.
QPHAR: quantitative pharmacophore activity relationship: method and validation
Authors: Kohlbacher Stefan M. , Langer Thierry , Seidel Thomas
Published: August 2021

QSAR methods are widely applied in the drug discovery process, both in the hit‐to‐lead and lead optimization phase, as well as in the drug-approval process. Most QSAR algorithms are limited to using molecules as input and disregard pharmacophores or pharmacophoric features entirely. However, due to the high level of abstraction, pharmacophore representations provide some advantageous properties for building quantitative SAR models. The abstract depiction of molecular interactions avoids a bias towards overrepresented functional groups in small datasets. Furthermore, a well‐crafted quantitative pharmacophore model can generalise to underrepresented or even missing molecular features in the training set by using pharmacophoric interaction patterns only. This paper presents a novel method to construct quantitative pharmacophore models and demonstrates its applicability and robustness on more than 250 diverse datasets. fivefold cross-validation on these datasets with default settings yielded an average RMSE of 0.62, with an average standard deviation of 0.18. Additional cross-validation studies on datasets with 15–20 training samples showed that robust quantitative pharmacophore models could be obtained. These low requirements for dataset sizes render quantitative pharmacophores a viable go-tomethod for medicinal chemists, especially in the lead-optimisation stage of drug discovery projects.
Hermite–Hadamard-type inequalities for geometrically r-convex functions in terms of Stolarsky’s mean with applications to means
Authors: Latif Muhammad Amer
Published: August 2021

In this paper, we obtain new Hermite–Hadamard-type inequalities for r-convex and geometrically convex functions and, additionally, some new Hermite–Hadamard-type inequalities by using the Hölder–İşcan integral inequality and an improved power-mean inequality.
Impact of vaccine supplies and delays on optimal control of the COVID-19 pandemic: mapping interventions for the Philippines
Authors: Estadilla Carlo Delfin S. , Uyheng Joshua , de Lara-Tuprio Elvira P. , Teng Timothy Robin , Macalalag Jay Michael R. , Estuar Maria Regina Justina E.
Published: August 2021

Background

Around the world, controlling the COVID-19 pandemic requires national coordination of multiple intervention strategies. As vaccinations are globally introduced into the repertoire of available interventions, it is important to consider how changes in the local supply of vaccines, including delays in administration, may be addressed through existing policy levers. This study aims to identify the optimal level of interventions for COVID-19 from 2021 to 2022 in the Philippines, which as a developing country is particularly vulnerable to shifting assumptions around vaccine availability. Furthermore, we explore optimal strategies in scenarios featuring delays in vaccine administration, expansions of vaccine supply, and limited combinations of interventions.

Methods

Embedding our work within the local policy landscape, we apply optimal control theory to the compartmental model of COVID-19 used by the Philippine government’s pandemic surveillance platform and introduce four controls: (a) precautionary measures like community quarantines, (b) detection of asymptomatic cases, (c) detection of symptomatic cases, and (d) vaccinations. The model is fitted to local data using an L-BFGS minimization procedure. Optimality conditions are identified using Pontryagin’s minimum principle and numerically solved using the forward–backward sweep method.

Results

Simulation results indicate that early and effective implementation of both precautionary measures and symptomatic case detection is vital for averting the most infections at an efficient cost, resulting in $$>99\%$$

>
99
%

reduction of infections compared to the no-control scenario. Expanding vaccine administration capacity to 440,000 full immunizations daily will reduce the overall cost of optimal strategy by $$25\%$$

25
%

, while allowing for a faster relaxation of more resource-intensive interventions. Furthermore, delays in vaccine administration require compensatory increases in the remaining policy levers to maintain a minimal number of infections. For example, delaying the vaccines by 180 days (6 months) will result in an $$18\%$$

18
%

increase in the cost of the optimal strategy.

Conclusion

We conclude with practical insights regarding policy priorities particularly attuned to the Philippine context, but also applicable more broadly in similar resource-constrained settings. We emphasize three key takeaways of (a) sustaining efficient case detection, isolation, and treatment strategies; (b) expanding not only vaccine supply but also the capacity to administer them, and; (c) timeliness and consistency in adopting policy measures.

Graphic Abstract
Preliminary Evidence for the Clinical Utility of Tactile Somatosensory Assessments of Sport-Related mTBI
Authors: McGeown Joshua P. , Hume Patria A. , Kara Stephen , King Doug , Theadom Alice
Published: August 2021

Objectives

To evaluate the clinical utility of tactile somatosensory assessments to assist clinicians in diagnosing sport-related mild traumatic brain injury (SR-mTBI), classifying recovery trajectory based on performance at initial clinical assessment, and determining if neurophysiological recovery coincided with clinical recovery.

Research Design

Prospective cohort study with normative controls.

Methods

At admission (n = 79) and discharge (n = 45/79), SR-mTBI patients completed the SCAT-5 symptom scale, along with the following three components from the Cortical Metrics Brain Gauge somatosensory assessment (BG-SA): temporal order judgement (TOJ), TOJ with confounding condition (TOJc), and duration discrimination (DUR). To assist SR-mTBI diagnosis on admission, BG-SA performance was used in logistic regression to discriminate cases belonging to the SR-mTBI sample or a healthy reference sample (pooled BG-SA data for healthy participants in previous studies). Decision trees evaluated how accurately BG-SA performance classified SR-mTBI recovery trajectories.

Results

BG-SA TOJ, TOJc, and DUR poorly discriminated between cases belonging to the SR-mTBI sample or a healthy reference sample (0.54–0.70 AUC, 47.46–64.71 PPV, 48.48–61.11 NPV). The BG-SA evaluated did not accurately classify SR-mTBI recovery trajectories (> 14-day resolution 48%, ≤14–day resolution 54%, lost to referral/follow-up 45%). Mann-Whitney U tests revealed differences in BG-SA TOJc performance between SR-mTBI participants and the healthy reference sample at initial clinical assessment and at clinical recovery (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

BG-SA TOJ, TOJc, and DUR appear to have limited clinical utility to assist clinicians with diagnosing SR-mTBI or predicting recovery trajectories under ecologically valid conditions. Neurophysiological abnormalities persisted beyond clinical recovery given abnormal BG-SA TOJc performance observed when SR-mTBI patients achieved clinical recovery.
Lee Silverman Voice Treatment versus standard speech and language therapy versus control in Parkinson’s disease: preliminary cost-consequence analysis of the PD COMM pilot randomised controlled trial
Authors: Scobie Sarah , Jowett Sue , Lambe Tosin , Patel Smitaa , Woolley Rebecca , Ives Natalie , Rick Caroline , Smith Christina , Brady Marion C , Clarke Carl , Sackley Cath
Published: August 2021

Background

The PD COMM pilot randomised controlled trial compared Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT® LOUD) with standard NHS speech and language therapy (SLT) and a control arm in people with Parkinson’s disease (PwPD) with self-reported problems with voice or speech. This analysis compares costs and quality of life outcomes between the trial arms, and considers the validity of the alternative outcome measures for economic evaluations.

Methods

A comparison of costs and outcomes was undertaken alongside the PD COMM pilot trial involving three arms: LSVT® LOUD treatment (n = 30); standard NHS SLT (n = 30); and a control arm (n = 29) excluded from receiving therapy for at least 6 months after randomisation unless deemed medically necessary. For all trial arms, resource use and NHS, social care and patient costs and quality of life were collected prospectively at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. Total economic costs and outcomes (EQ-5D-3L, ICECAP-O) were considered over the 12-month follow-up period from an NHS payer perspective. Quality of life measures for economic evaluation of SLT for people with Parkinson’s disease were compared.

Results

Whilst there was no difference between arms in voice or quality of life outcomes at 12 months, there were indications of differences at 3 months in favour of SLT, which need to be confirmed in the main trial. The estimated mean cost of NHS care was £3288 per patient per year for the LSVT® LOUD arm, £2033 for NHS SLT, and £1788 for the control arm. EQ-5D-3L was more strongly correlated to voice impairment than ICECAP-O, and was sensitive to differences in voice impairment between arms.

Conclusions

The pilot did not identify an effect of SLT on disease-specific or economic outcomes for PwPD at 12 months; however, there appeared to be improvements at 3 months. In addition to the sample size not powered to detect difference in cost-consequence analysis, many patients in the control arm started SLT during the 12-month period used for economic analysis, in line with the study protocol. The LSVT® LOUD intervention was more intense and therefore more costly. Early indications suggest that the preferred economic outcome measure for the full trial is EQ-5D-3L; however, the ICECAP-O should still be included to capture a broader measure of wellbeing.

Trial registration

International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number Register: ISRCTN75223808. Registered 22 March 2012.
Long noncoding RNA SNHG12 is a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in various tumors
Authors: Wang Xinzhuang , Jiang Qiuyi , Zhang Cheng , Yang Quan , Wang Lixiang , Zhang Jian , Wang Ligang , Chen Xin , Hou Xu , Han Dayong , Wu Jianing , Zhao Shiguang
Published: August 2021

Background

Tumors are the second most common cause of death in humans worldwide, second only to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Although methods and techniques for the treatment of tumors continue to improve, the effect is not satisfactory. These may lack effective therapeutic targets. This study aimed to evaluate the value of SNHG12 as a biomarker in the prognosis and clinical characteristics of various cancer patients.

Methods

We analyzed SNHG12 expression and plotted the survival curves of all cancer samples in the TCGA database using the GEPIA tool. Then, we searched for eligible papers up to April 1, 2019, in databases. Next, the data were extracted from studies examining SNHG12 expression, overall survival and clinicopathological features in patients with malignant tumors. We used Review Manager 5.3 and Stata 15 software to analyze the statistical data.

Results

In the TCGA database, abnormally high expression of SNHG12 in tumor samples indicates that the patient has a poor prognosis. Results of meta-analysis is that SNHG12 high expression is related to low overall survival (HR = 2.72, 95% CI = 1.95–3.8, P < 0.00001), high tumor stage (OR = 3.94, 95% CI = 2.80–5.53, P < 0.00001), high grade (OR = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.18–3.51, P = 0.01), distant metastasis (OR = 2.20, 95% CI = 1.40–3.46, P = 0.0006), tumor size (OR = 2.79, 95% CI = 1.89–4.14, P < 0.00001), and lymph node metastasis (OR = 2.66, 95% CI = 1.65–4.29, P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Our study confirmed that the high expression level of SNHG12 is closely related to the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of patients and is a new predictive biomarker for various cancer patients.
Patent foramen ovale closure review: decades of research and the evolution of the evidence
Authors: Oguntade Ayodipupo S , Oguntade Mayowa Sefiu
Published: August 2021

Background

A quarter of the population suffers from patent foramen ovale, a form of interatrial shunt. It has been linked to cryptogenic strokes and is a common cause of paradoxical embolism.

Main text

The benefit of closing the patent foramen ovale in cryptogenic stroke patients aged 18-60 years to prevent recurrent strokes, particularly in those with large shunts or associated atrial septal aneurysms, was recently demonstrated. It is a relatively safe procedure that necessitates post-operative anticoagulation, but it has been linked to new-onset atrial fibrillation of uncertain significance. The effectiveness of patent foramen closure depends on patient selection, and prediction scores such as the Risk of Paradoxical Embolism (RoPE) score should be used. Newer closure devices, such as bioabsorbable devices like the Biostar system and ‘device-less’ devices like the Noble Stitch, are becoming more common due to their lower operative risks. The use of such devices in future trials, as well as careful case selection, could improve the acceptability of patent foramen ovale closure in the general population, removing the need for perioperative anticoagulation.

Conclusion

Individuals aged 18-60 years with cryptogenic stroke who have adverse patent foramen ovale morphology on imaging should be offered patent foramen ovale closure, preferably using the newer closure devices. More studies are needed to determine the significance of periprocedural atrial fibrillation after device closure.
The impact of COVID-19 in the attendance of patients to the otolaryngology clinic: a retrospective review
Authors: Boonpiraks Kanachai , Nawachartkosit Yanin , Setabutr Dhave
Published: August 2021

Background

To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on patient management at an Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Department at a tertiary care center in Southeast Asia. This is a retrospective review. Patient load and diagnosis at the Outpatient Division of the Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Department were reviewed at the height of the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Patient-specific data was then compared during the same timeframe one year prior. Patients were then grouped into an additional subspecialty subgroup based upon their diagnosis. Descriptive statistics were analyzed.

Results

A total of 819 cases were identified in 2019 during the study period. At the peak of the first wave, cases fell to 483, constituting a 41% decrease between the years (p value = 0.083). The largest decrease was in Otology cases with a drop by 53% (p value = 0.047), with the smallest decrease noted in General cases. Laryngology visits overall showed an increase in cases by 41.7%. Moreover, new visits decreased by 35.5%, with the largest decrease in new Laryngology visits and new Head and Neck Oncology cases. New visits for general issues had the smallest drop in patients, decreasing by only 21% (p value = 0.006)

Conclusions

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant decrease in overall cases in the Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery outpatient department. Thus, in anticipation of future outbreaks, interventions may be tailored according to these trends.
Long-Term Trends and Ethnoracial Inequality in U.S. Foster Care: A Research Note
Authors: Roehrkasse Alexander F.
Published: August 2021

This study combines and standardizes multiple sources of administrative data to calculate rates of children in foster care in the United States from 1961 to 2018, more than tripling the length of previously available time series. Results yield novel insights about historical, geographic, and ethnoracial variation in children's experience of living without parents under state supervision. National rates of children in foster care rose from 3 per 1,000 in 1963 to a peak of almost 8 per 1,000 in 1997 before declining to just under 6 per 1,000 in 2018. After stable or increasing racial inequality in the late twentieth century, disparities between Black/African American and White children began to decrease in the twenty-first century in nearly every state, closing entirely in several Southern states but remaining wide outside the South. In many Midwestern and Western states, the extreme overrepresentation of American Indian/Alaska Native children in foster care persisted or intensified.
The Changing Association Between Homeownership and the Transition to Parenthood
Authors: Tocchioni Valentina , Berrington Ann , Vignoli Daniele , Vitali Agnese
Published: August 2021

The literature suggests a positive link between homeownership and the transition to parenthood. However, in recent decades, couples' preference for becoming homeowners before having their first child has been undermined by rising housing unaffordability and housing uncertainty. An archetypal example is Britain, where homeownership rates among young adults have fallen substantially as a result of low wages, unemployment, reductions in the availability of mortgage credit, and rising house prices. This situation has produced a housing crisis. Using longitudinal data from the British Household Panel Survey (1991–2008) and the United Kingdom Household Longitudinal Study (2009–2016), we apply multilevel, discrete-time event-history techniques to a sample of women aged 18–42. We investigate whether and how the link between homeownership and entering parenthood has changed in Britain in recent decades. Our findings reveal that in comparison with the 1990s, the likelihood of becoming a parent has declined among homeowners, whereas childbearing rates among private renters have remained stable. Thus, owner-occupiers and private renters have become more similar in terms of their likelihood of entering parenthood. Overall, our findings question the classical micro-level assumption of a positive link between homeownership and transition to parenthood, at least among Britain's “Generation Rent.” These findings are subsequently interpreted in terms of increased housing uncertainty.
Live imaging of the Drosophila ovarian niche shows spectrosome and centrosome dynamics during asymmetric germline stem cell division
Authors: Villa-Fombuena Gema , Lobo-Pecellín María , Marín-Menguiano Miriam , Rojas-Ríos Patricia , González-Reyes Acaimo
Published: August 2021

Drosophila female germline stem cells (GSCs) are found inside the cellular niche at the tip of the ovary. They undergo asymmetric divisions to renew the stem cell lineage and to produce sibling cystoblasts that will in turn enter differentiation. GSCs and cystoblasts contain spectrosomes, membranous structures essential for orientation of the mitotic spindle and that, particularly in GSCs, change shape depending on the cell cycle phase. Using live imaging and a fusion protein of GFP and the spectrosome component Par-1, we follow the complete spectrosome cycle throughout GSC division and quantify the relative duration of the different spectrosome shapes. We also determine that the Par-1 kinase shuttles between the spectrosome and the cytoplasm during mitosis and observe the continuous addition of new material to the GSC and cystoblast spectrosomes. Next, we use the Fly-FUCCI tool to define, in live and fixed tissues, that GSCs have a shorter G1 compared with the G2 phase. The observation of centrosomes in dividing GSCs allowed us to determine that centrosomes separate very early in G1, before centriole duplication. Furthermore, we show that the anterior centrosome associates with the spectrosome only during mitosis and that, upon mitotic spindle assembly, it translocates to the cell cortex, where it remains anchored until centrosome separation. Finally, we demonstrate that the asymmetric division of GSCs is not an intrinsic property of these cells, as the spectrosome of GSC-like cells located outside of the niche can divide symmetrically. Thus, GSCs display unique properties during division, a behaviour influenced by the surrounding niche.
A mouse model of brittle cornea syndrome caused by mutation in Zfp469
Authors: Stanton Chloe M. , Findlay Amy S. , Drake Camilla , Mustafa Mohammad Z. , Gautier Philippe , McKie Lisa , Jackson Ian J. , Vitart Veronique
Published: August 2021

Brittle cornea syndrome (BCS) is a rare recessive condition characterised by extreme thinning of the cornea and sclera. BCS results from loss-of-function mutations in the poorly understood genes ZNF469 or PRDM5. In order to determine the function of ZNF469 and to elucidate pathogenic mechanisms, we used genome editing to recapitulate a human ZNF469 BCS mutation in the orthologous mouse gene Zfp469. Ophthalmic phenotyping showed that homozygous Zfp469 mutation causes significant central and peripheral corneal thinning arising from reduced stromal thickness. Expression of key components of the corneal stroma in primary keratocytes from Zfp469BCS/BCS mice is affected, including decreased Col1a1 and Col1a2 expression. This alters the collagen type I/collagen type V ratio and results in collagen fibrils with smaller diameter and increased fibril density in homozygous mutant corneas, correlating with decreased biomechanical strength in the cornea. Cell-derived matrices generated by primary keratocytes show reduced deposition of collagen type I, offering an in vitro model for stromal dysfunction. Work remains to determine whether modulating ZNF469 activity will have therapeutic benefit in BCS or in conditions such as keratoconus in which the cornea thins progressively.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Investigação de surto de Histoplasmose pulmonar aguda entre bombeiros em Brazlândia, Distrito Federal, 2017
Authors: E Alves Ana Julia Silva e , Figueiredo Josivânia Arrais , Millington Maria Adelaide , Segatto Teresa Cristina Vieira , Cardoso Alessandra Viana , Von Glehn Mateus de Paula , Correia Amabel Fernandes , Wanke Bodo , Trilles Luciana , Oliveira Rosely Maria Zancope , Muniz Mauro de Medeiros , Almeida Marcos de Abreu , Junior José Evoide de Moura , Wada Marcelo Yoshito
Published: August 2021

Objetivos: Investigar o surto de histoplasmose em bombeiros no Distrito federal/DF, ocorrido em junho de 2017. Métodos: Realizou-se um estudo de coorte por meio das entrevistas realizadas com os bombeiros mediante um questionário semiestruturado. Considerou-se infectado o bombeiro que apresentou tomografia de tórax sugestiva de histoplasmose ou reagente nos testes de imunodifusão e/ou Western blot. Coletou-se amostra ambiental e realizou-se Nested PCR específico para Histoplasma capsulatum. Resultados: Entre 35 bombeiros, 94,3% eram homens; com a mediana de idade de 37 (24-45) anos, 28 foram classificados como infectados. A média de permanência dentro da caverna foi 25 minutos. O fator de risco associado à infecção foi o ato de entrar na caverna (RR=3,86; RA=71,6; p<0,02). Entre 14 amostras ambientais, 50% foram positivas para H. capsulatum. Conclusão: Confirmou-se o surto de histoplasmose de bombeiros em Brazlândia-DF, e foram tomadas ações como a interdição da caverna e o tratamento dos bombeiros.
Augmented ustekinumab dosing is needed to achieve clinical response in patients with anti-TNF refractory pediatric Crohn’s disease: a retrospective chart review
Authors: Do Phinga , Andersen John , Patel Ashish , Semrin Gaith , Sifuentes-Dominguez Luis , Luu Phuong , Gurram Bhaskar
Published: August 2021

Background: Ustekinumab is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits interleukins 12 and 23. It is approved for treatment of Crohn’s disease (CD) in adults; however, there is a paucity of data regarding its use in pediatric CD. We describe our experience using ustekinumab in anti-TNF refractory CD pediatric patients.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review on pediatric patients with CD who were started on ustekinumab from January 2016 to November 2018. We collected patient’s clinical history, previous treatment history, surgeries related to CD, disease severity, as measured by abbrPCDAI, and endoscopic severity as recorded by SES-CD before and after ustekinumab.

Results: We identified 10 patients with CD who were started on ustekinumab due to non-response to currently approved agents. Seven patients needed augmented maintenance dosing every 4-6 weeks to achieve clinical response or remission. Six of these seven patients had therapeutic drug monitoring during the course of treatment, with five patients showing subtherapeutic drug levels of <4.5 μg/mL while on standard maintenance dosing every 8 weeks, and four patients showing therapeutic drug levels of >4.5 μg/mL on augmented dosing interval. The remaining three patients were on standard maintenance dosing for the duration of treatment.

Conclusion: In this retrospective chart review, 7 out of 10 patients with anti-TNF refractory pediatric-onset CD required augmented maintenance doses of ustekinumab to achieve clinical response or remission. A prospective study is needed to define appropriate ustekinumab dosing and interval in management of pediatric CD.
Case Report: Metachronous bilateral upper tract and bladder urothelial carcinoma: a long-term follow-up
Authors: Hamid Agus Rizal Ardy Hariandy , Nasher Fakhri Zuhdian , Saraswati Meilania , Matondang Sahat , Arif Mochtar Chaidir
Published: August 2021

Background: Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is a malignant disease of the urothelial cell lining the upper urinary tract from renal calyces, pelvises, and ureter down to the ureteral orifice. Urothelial carcinoma is a multifocal malignant tumor which tends to reoccur after treatment. Radical cystectomy shows that upper tract recurrence occurs in 0.75% to 6.4% of patients. The occurrence of contralateral UTUC after nephroureterectomy is rarer with a prevalence of 0.5%.

Case presentation: The case of a 43-year-old male with metachronous bilateral UTUC was reported. The patient had undergone gemcitabine-cysplatine neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical cystectomy and orthotopic neobladder for urothelial carcinoma of the bladder cT2N0M0. Left hydronephrosis was discovered three months after the procedure. The patient was diagnosed with left UTUC cT4N0M0 of renal pyelum after a series of examinations. A left open radical nephroureterectomy was conducted to remove the mass followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. This was followed up with routine ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) every three months with a “tumor-free” period of 26 months. Meanwhile, the patient was re-admitted with fever and an increase in creatinine value of 4.3. After further workups, the patient was diagnosed with UTUC cT2N0M0 of the right renal pyelum. A kidney sparring approach with laser evaporation of the tumor was conducted followed by eight cycles of Gemcitabine intracavity antegrade per nephrostomy. After the regimen was finished, an MRI evaluation was conducted to assess treatment results, and the mass had decreased.

Conclusions: This report showed a rare case of urothelial cell carcinoma recurrences. From bladder urothelial carcinoma to left UTUC and then to contralateral UTUC. It is important to evaluate the upper tract to reduce the risk of recurrence.
ORIENTAÇÃO ESPACIAL E RENDIMENTO ESCOLAR
Authors: Cruz Matheus Ramos da , Vianna José Antonio
Published: August 2021

O estudo se propõe a identificar a orientação espacial direita-esquerda (OE) de alunos no primeiro segmento do ensino fundamental de uma escola publica situada em uma favela do Rio de Janeiro e verificar as possíveis associações entre a OE, a idade cronológica e a idade escolar dos investigados. Foram submetidos ao piaget-head 164 sujeitos entre 6 e 13 anos de idade (m = 9,7) - 92 do sexo masculino e 72 do sexo feminino - 93,9% dos sujeitos apresentaram orientação espacial inferior à idade cronológica. O desempenho motor deficiente parece ter colaborado para dificuldades de aprendizagem e o baixo rendimento escolar.
ESCOLA É… ESPAÇOTEMPO DE CIÊNCIA, PESQUISA, ENSINO E EXPERIÊNCIAS COMPARTILHADAS
Authors: Silva Lincoln Tavares
Published: August 2021

Em tempos marcados pela crise mundial associada à Pandemia (COVID-19) trazemos o desafio de lidar com a Educação e com o Ensino na perspectiva que valoriza diferentes pesquisas e experiências desenvolvidas nestes campos. A ciência e sua apropriação social, associadas têm se mostrado como caminhos fundamentais no combate a ignorâncias, discriminações e exclusões de todas as ordens. Quando do lançamento deste número, nosso país havia perdido mais de 400 mil vidas. Todavia, junto à devida solidariedade que prestamos, resolvemos não sucumbir e afirmar a importância do conhecimento socialmente construído por meio da educação. Os espaçostempos educativos são aqui explicitados nos diferentes trabalhos voltados ao ensino.