bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Awareness among Women with a History of Preeclampsia in Jordan
Authors: Kassab Manal , Sabrah Evan Fadel , Smadi Ahmad , Rayan Ahmad , Baqeas Manal Hassan , R. AlOsta Mohammad , Othman Elham H. , Hamadneh Shereen
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific hypertensive disease that affects 3–5% of pregnant women all over the world and 1.3% of pregnancies among Jordanian women.

Objectives

This study aims to assess the cardiovascular disease risk factors awareness among women with a recent history of preeclampsia in Jordan and assess the role of healthcare providers in providing counseling about cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional design was used to recruit 180 women with a recent history of preeclampsia during the last 12 months. Data were obtained from patients’ medical records and the Attitude and Beliefs about Cardiovascular Disease Risk Questionnaires.

Results

The results revealed that 43.9% of women with a recent history of preeclampsia have hypertension, 6.7% have diabetes mellitus, 16.1% have dyslipidemia, 28.9% have a family history of cardiovascular disease, 66.1% are overweight or obese, and 7.2% are smokers. The mean total score of knowledge subscale was 5.5 (SD  =  1.21) out of 8. Only 20% of the participants had good cardiovascular disease knowledge. The mean total score of risk perception was 15.47 (SD  =  7.8). The mean score of perceived benefits and intention to change behaviors was 2.30 (SD  =  0.62). The mean score of healthy eating intentions was 2.54 (SD  =  0.81). Income, having diabetes mellitus, and receiving counseling about preeclampsia as cardiovascular disease risk factor were associated with some dimensions of cardiovascular disease risk factors awareness.

Conclusion

The prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors was relatively high among the study participants. The majority of participants had inadequate cardiovascular disease knowledge. In addition, the role of healthcare providers in providing counseling about cardiovascular disease and related risk factors, including PE was limited. Providing more counseling related to cardiovascular disease by nurses and doctors is essential to enhance women's cardiovascular disease knowledge and intention to change lifestyle.
Sharing the Same Reality, Healthy Relations Between Colleagues at Work: A Meta-Synthesis
Authors: Arakelian Erebouni , Rudolfsson Gudrun
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Good relations are important at work, leading to well-being among coworkers. Since the latest research in nursing is mostly about bullying, and lateral violence, it was important to study what healthy relations mean.

Objectives

The aim was to identify and synthesize qualitative studies that describe healthy relations, creating health and well-being between colleagues at work.

Methods

A meta-synthesis approach, inspired by Sherwood's steps of analysis, was chosen for this study. Ten articles from three continents, comprising 230 participants, were included.

Results

Two themes were identified as follows: (a) creating a mutual bond on a personal level and a permissive atmosphere through the human warmth; and (b) sharing togetherness in a greater whole, offering unconditional help and devoting themselves to taking care of each other. An overarching metaphor implicating the home/homeness was abstracted from the two themes: “Healthy relations between colleagues at work constitute the community as a common world, containing feelings of being at home, implying acting in an expression of the ethos and dignity, a culture created that makes the ideal form of healthy relations visible.”

Conclusion

Nurses find their meaning when they work in a permissive environment, and when they are allowed to be themselves. Such meaning can be found through their engagement with one another, by offering each other unconditional help. Good relationships lead to a place they call their home, where there is trust and friendship.
Exploring the Effect of Adding an Interactive Lecture to a Standardized Patient Curriculum on the Attitudes of Third-Year Medical Students About Patients With Obesity: A Quasi-Experimental Study
Authors: Grunvald Eduardo , Wei Jennie , Lin Tuo , Yang Kun , Tu Xin M , Lunde Ottar , Ross Evelyn , Cheng Jessica , DeConde Jennifer , Farber Neil
Published: October 2023

OBJECTIVES

Anti-obesity bias is pervasive among medical professionals, students, and trainees. Stigmatization of patients leads to suboptimal care and clinical outcomes. Educational strategies in medical training are needed to reverse these attitudes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an innovative didactic intervention and a standardized patient (SP) exercise on attitudes towards patients with obesity among medical students.

METHODS

In 2016, a quasi-experimental study design was used at a US medical school. The class was divided into 2 groups according to a pre-determined protocol based on their clinical schedule, one assessed after exposure to a SP group and the other after exposure to the SP and an interactive lecture (IL + SP group) with real patients. The Attitudes about Treating Patients with Obesity and The Perceived Causes of Obesity questionnaires measured changes in several domains. A generalized estimating equations model was used to estimate the effect of the interventions both within and between groups.

RESULTS

Both groups showed improvements in negative and positive attitudes, although the reduction in scores for the negative attitude domain did not reach statistical significance in the IL + SP group (for the SP group, P = .01 and  < .001, respectively; for the IL + SP group, P = .15 and .01, respectively). For perceived causes of obesity, there were no statistically significant changes for pre–post survey measures within each group, except for the physiologic causes domain in the SP group ( P = .03). The addition of an IL to a SP curriculum did not result in any changes for any domain in between-group analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

Although adding a novel intervention utilizing real patients to a SP curriculum failed to show an additional educational benefit, our study showed that it is possible to influence attitudes of medical students regarding patients with obesity.
Multi-breed genomic evaluation for tropical beef cattle when no pedigree information is available
Authors: Hayes Ben J. , Copley James , Dodd Elsie , Ross Elizabeth M. , Speight Shannon , Fordyce Geoffry
Published: October 2023

Background

It has been challenging to implement genomic selection in multi-breed tropical beef cattle populations. If commercial (often crossbred) animals could be used in the reference population for these genomic evaluations, this could allow for very large reference populations. In tropical beef systems, such animals often have no pedigree information. Here we investigate potential models for such data, using marker heterozygosity (to model heterosis) and breed composition derived from genetic markers, as covariates in the model. Models treated breed effects as either fixed or random, and included genomic best linear unbiased prediction (GBLUP) and BayesR. A tropically-adapted beef cattle dataset of 29,391 purebred, crossbred and composite commercial animals was used to evaluate the models.

Results

Treating breed effects as random, in an approach analogous to genetic groups allowed partitioning of the genetic variance into within-breed and across breed-components (even with a large number of breeds), and estimation of within-breed and across-breed genomic estimated breeding values (GEBV). We demonstrate that moderately-accurate (0.30–0.43) GEBV can be calculated using these models. Treating breed effects as random gave more accurate GEBV than treating breed as fixed. A simple GBLUP model where no breed effects were fitted gave the same accuracy (and correlations of GEBV very close to 1) as a model where GEBV for within-breed and the GEBV for (random) across-breed effects were included. When GEBV were predicted for herds with no data in the reference population, BayesR resulted in the highest accuracy, with 3% accuracy improvement averaged across traits, especially when the validation population was less related to the reference population. Estimates of heterosis from our models were in line with previous estimates from beef cattle. A method for estimating the number of effective breed comparisons for each breed combination accumulated across contemporary groups is presented.

Conclusions

When no pedigree is available, breed composition and heterosis for inclusion in multi-breed genomic evaluation can be estimated from genotypes. When GEBV were predicted for herds with no data in the reference population, BayesR resulted in the highest accuracy.
A novel, nurse-led ‘one stop’ clinic for patients with liver cirrhosis results in fewer liver-related unplanned readmissions and improved survival
Authors: Kalo Eric , Baig Asma , Gregg Emily , George Jacob , Read Scott , Ma Wai-See , Ahlenstiel Golo
Published: October 2023

Objective

Delivering effective secondary preventive and integrated care has the potential to break the revolving-door phenomenon of frequent readmissions in patients with advanced chronic liver disease. To address this, we launched the Care Coordination of Liver Disease (CCoLD) pilot, a novel nurse-led cirrhosis clinic in Western Sydney.

Methods and analysis

Following an index presentation to Blacktown or Mount Druitt hospitals (BMDH), patients (n = 89, matched by age, sex, and MELD-NA) were consecutively either followed up by the CCoLD clinical nurse consultant (intervention cohort) or received standard care (control cohort). Controlled evaluation of the impact of the nurse-led clinic was carried out for a 3-month period including readmission rates, survival, and cost effectiveness.

Results

The inaugural nurse-led clinic led to improvement in patient-level outcomes including a reduction in unplanned liver-related readmissions (2.08% for intervention cohort vs 12.2% for control cohort, p < 0.01), and mortality at 30 days (0% for intervention cohort vs 7.3% for control cohort, p = 0.03). Similar trends were observed at 90 days from index discharge. No deaths were observed in the intervention cohort as compared to the control cohort at 90 days (0% versus 7.3%, p = 0.03), while unplanned liver-related readmissions were 10.41% for the intervention cohort vs 19.5% for the control cohort (p = 0.115). Moreover, time to readmission was significantly longer in the intervention cohort, resulting in an overall cost-effective intervention.

Conclusion

These findings highlight the significant impact of optimised care-coordination. A nurse-led clinic can deliver patient-centred, goal-directed, and cost-effective secondary prevention and care. A multicentre randomised trial for wider evaluation of these findings is warranted.
EuCARE-hospitalised study protocol: a cohort study of patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the EuCARE project
Authors: Hedberg Pontus , Varisco Benedetta , Bai Francesca , Sönnerborg Anders , Naucler Pontus , Pfeifer Nico , Cozzi-Lepri Alessandro , Ceccherini-Silberstein Francesca , Naumovas Daniel , Drobniewski Francis , Jensen Björn-Erik Ole , Toscano Cristina , Parczewski Miłosz , Quintanares Gibran Horemheb Rubio , Mwau Matilu , Pinto Jorge A. , Incardona Francesca , Mommo Chiara , Marchetti Giulia
Published: October 2023

Background

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2), the virus responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), can lead to hospitalisation, particularly in elderly, immunocompromised, and non-vaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals. Although vaccination provides protection, the duration of this protection wanes over time. Additional doses can restore immunity, but the influence of viral variants, specific sequences, and vaccine-induced immune responses on disease severity remains unclear. Moreover, the efficacy of therapeutic interventions during hospitalisation requires further investigation. The study aims to analyse the clinical course of COVID-19 in hospitalised patients, taking into account SARS-CoV-2 variants, viral sequences, and the impact of different vaccines. The primary outcome is all-cause in-hospital mortality, while secondary outcomes include admission to intensive care unit and length of stay, duration of hospitalisation, and the level of respiratory support required.

Methods

This ongoing multicentre study observes hospitalised adult patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, utilising a combination of retrospective and prospective data collection. It aims to gather clinical and laboratory variables from around 35,000 patients, with potential for a larger sample size. Data analysis will involve biostatistical and machine-learning techniques. Selected patients will provide biological material. The study started on October 14, 2021 and is scheduled to end on October 13, 2026.

Discussion

The analysis of a large sample of retrospective and prospective data about the acute phase of SARS CoV-2 infection in hospitalised patients, viral variants and vaccination in several European and non-European countries will help us to better understand risk factors for disease severity and the interplay between SARS CoV-2 variants, immune responses and vaccine efficacy. The main strengths of this study are the large sample size, the long study duration covering different waves of COVID-19 and the collection of biological samples that allows future research.

Trial registration

The trial has been registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. The unique identifier assigned to this trial is NCT05463380.
Impact of COVID-19 Disease Control Committee (CDCC) policies on prevention of the disease using Bayes network inference in west of Iran
Authors: Soltanian Ali Reza , Ahmaddoost-razdari Roya , Mahjub Hossein , Poorolajal Jalal
Published: October 2023

Background

The start of the COVID-19 pandemic was an emergency situation that led each country to adopt specific regional strategies to control it. Given the spread of COVID-19 disease, it is crucial to evaluate which policy is more effective in reducing disease transmission. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of policies made by COVID-19 Disease Control Committee (CDCC) to reduce the risk of the disease in Hamadan province.

Methods

In the observational study, the data were extracted from three sources in Hamadan, west of Iran; first, the session reports of CDCC; second, information on periodic evaluations conducted by the primary health care directory in Hamadan from April to August 2021 and third, expert panel opinion. Bayes network analysis was used to determine the effect of each policy on mortality rate by GeNIe software version 2.2.

Results

Among the policies adopted by CDCC in Hamadan, seven policies, i.e., vaccination, limiting gatherings, social distancing, wearing a mask, job closure, travel restriction, and personal hygiene had the most impact to prevent the spread of COVID-19, respectively. In this study, the prevalence of the disease was 17.64% with the implementation of these policies. Now, if all these policies are observed 30% more, the prevalence will decrease to 14.18%.

Conclusion

This study showed that if the seven policies (i.e., vaccination, limiting gatherings, social distancing, wearing a mask, job closure, travel restriction, and personal hygiene) are followed simultaneously in the community, the risk of contracting the disease will be greatly reduced. Therefore, in the pandemic of infectious diseases, such policies can help prevent the spread of the disease.
Which behaviour change techniques are associated with interventions that increase physical activity in pre-school children? A systematic review
Authors: Al-walah Mosfer A. , Donnelly Michael , Cunningham Conor , Heron Neil
Published: October 2023

Background

Insufficient physical activity (PA) is a significant risk factor that contributes to several health problems and there is a need to improve our understanding of how to increase PA, particularly among young children. This review (PROSPERO registration: CRD42022328841) investigated the relationship between behaviour change techniques (BCTs) and interventions that increased PA among pre-school children aged < 6 years old.

Methods

Systematic searches of six databases were undertaken from inception to July 2022, updated in December 2022, to locate studies that evaluated interventions and reported a positive change in PA levels in children aged < 6 years old.

Results

A total of 5,304 studies were screened, and 28 studies involving 10,605 subjects aged 2.5 to 5.9 years met the eligibility criteria. Each eligible study (n = 28) was independently appraised by two researchers using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The BCT Taxonomy v1 and the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) guided the extraction and analysis of data, and this process led to the identification of 27 BCTs.

Conclusions

Potentially promising BCTs for increasing PA among young children included ‘shaping knowledge,’ ‘antecedents,’ ‘goals and planning,’ and ‘comparison of behaviour.’ Future PA interventions that target young children should consider integrating these promising BCTs into their programmes. However, such consideration needs to be tempered by the fact that most of the reviewed studies were deemed to have a high or unclear risk of bias and/or were limited with respect to the populations that they targeted. Further research using rigorous methodologies is required to establish a higher standard that addresses the needs of young children who are expected to have insufficient levels of physical activity.
Mapping the stability of febrile illness hotspots in Punjab from 2012 to 2019- a spatial clustering and regression analysis
Authors: Verma Madhur , Panwar Shweta , Sahoo Soumya Swaroop , Grover Gagandeep Singh , Aggarwal Seema , Tripathy Jaya Prasad , Shah Jitendra , Kakkar Rakesh
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Febrile illnesses (FI) represent a typical spectrum of diseases in low-resource settings, either in isolation or with other common symptoms. They contribute substantially to morbidity and mortality in India. The primary objective was to study the burden of FI based on Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) data in Punjab, analyze geospatial and temporal trends and patterns, and identify the potential hotspots for effective intervention.

Methods

A retrospective ecological study used the district-level IDSP reports between 2012 and 2019. Diseases responsible for FI on a large scale, like Dengue, Chikungunya, Malaria (PlasmodiumFalciparum, P.Vivax), Enteric fever, and Pyrexia of Unknown Origin (PUO), were included in the analysis. The digital map of Punjab was obtained from GitHub. Spatial autocorrelation and cluster analysis were done using Moran’s I and Getis-Ord G* to determine hotspots of FI using the incidence and crude disease numbers reported under IDSP. Further, negative binomial regression was used to determine the association between Spatio-temporal and population variables per the census 2011. Stable hotspots were depicted using heat maps generated from district-wise yearly data.

Results

PUO was the highest reported FI. We observed a rising trend in the incidence of Dengue, Chikungunya, and Enteric fever, which depicted occasional spikes during the study period. FI expressed significant inter-district variations and clustering during the start of the study period, with more dispersion in the latter part of the study period. P.Vivaxmalaria depicted stable hotspots in southern districts of Punjab. In contrast, P.Falciparummalaria, Chikungunya, and PUO expressed no spatial patterns. Enteric Fever incidence was high in central and northeastern districts but depicted no stable spatial patterns. Certain districts were common incidence hotspots for multiple diseases. The number of cases in each district has shown over-dispersion for each disease and has little dependence on population, gender, or residence as per regression analysis.

Conclusions

The study demonstrates that information obtained through IDSP can describe the spatial epidemiology of FI at crude spatial scales and drive concerted efforts against FI by identifying actionable points.
Long-term exposure to ambient ozone at workplace is positively and non-linearly associated with incident hypertension and blood pressure: longitudinal evidence from the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei medical examination cohort
Authors: Hu Songhua , Xu Ximing , Li Chunjun , Zhang Li , Xing Xiaolong , He Jiangshan , Guo Pei , Zhang Jingbo , Niu Yujie , Chen Shuo , Zhang Rong , Liu Feng , Ma Shitao , Zhang Mianzhi , Guo Fenghua , Zhang Minying
Published: October 2023

Background

There is limited longitudinal evidence on the hypertensive effects of long-term exposure to ambient O3. We investigated the association between long-term O3 exposure at workplace and incident hypertension, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), systolic blood pressure (SBP), pulse pressure (PP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) in general working adults.

Methods

We conducted a cohort study by recruiting over 30,000 medical examination attendees through multistage stratified cluster sampling. Participants completed a standard questionnaire and comprehensive medical examination. Three-year ambient O3 concentrations at each employed participant’s workplace were estimated using a two-stage machine learning model. Mixed-effects Cox proportional hazards models and linear mixed-effects models were used to examine the effect of O3 concentrations on incident hypertension and blood pressure parameters, respectively. Generalized additive mixed models were used to explore non-linear concentration-response relationships.

Results

A total of 16,630 hypertension-free working participants at baseline finished the follow-up. The mean (SD) O3 exposure was 45.26 (2.70) ppb. The cumulative incidence of hypertension was 7.11 (95% CI: 6.76, 7.47) per 100 person-years. Long-term O3 exposure was independently, positively and non-linearly associated with incident hypertension (Hazard ratios (95% CI) for Q2, Q3, and Q4 were 1.77 (1.34, 2.36), 2.06 (1.42, 3.00) and 3.43 (2.46, 4.79), respectively, as compared with the first quartile (Q1)), DBP (β (95% CI) was 0.65 (0.01, 1.30) for Q2, as compared to Q1), SBP (β (95% CI) was 2.88 (2.00, 3.77), 2.49 (1.36, 3.61) and 2.61 (1.64, 3.58) for Q2, Q3, and Q4, respectively), PP (β (95% CI) was 2.12 (1.36, 2.87), 2.03 (1.18, 2.87) and 2.14 (1.38, 2.90) for Q2, Q3, and Q4, respectively), and MAP (β (95% CI) was 1.39 (0.76, 2.02), 1.04 (0.24, 1.84) and 1.12 (0.43, 1.82) for Q2, Q3, and Q4, respectively). The associations were robust across sex, age, BMI, and when considering PM2.5 and NO2.

Conclusions

To our knowledge, this is the first cohort study in the general population that demonstrates the non-linear hypertensive effects of long-term O3 exposure. The findings are particularly relevant for policymakers and researchers involved in ambient pollution and public health, supporting the integration of reduction of ambient O3 into public health interventions.
Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 on the journey of high-risk colon cancer patients within the scope of the Unified Health System in Brazil
Authors: de Oliveira Raquel Pucci , de Moraes Pedro Henrique Rezende , Drummond-Lage Ana Paula
Published: October 2023

Background

Colon cancer is an important cause of mortality related to cancer. During the COVID-19 pandemic, an important reallotment of assistance resources was necessary to tackle the crisis, directly impacting medical practice all over the globe.

Objective

To assess the impact of the Sars-Cov-2 pandemic on the time between diagnosis and the beginning of systemic treatment in patients diagnosed with high-risk colon neoplasia.

Methods

This is a retrospective study based on the analysis of medical records of patients diagnosed with colon neoplasia who required systemic treatment and were treated between March 2019 and March 2022, in a reference Oncology unit of the Brazilian Unified Health System. The study’s population was divided into two groups: (I) Pre-COVID-19: diagnoses made between March 2019 and February 2020, (II) COVID-19: diagnoses made between March 2020 and March 2022.

Results

The sample consisted of 228 patients, 108 (47.97%) of whom were diagnosed during pre-COVID-19 and 118 (52.21%) diagnosed during the two years-period of COVID-19. Regarding the time between colonoscopy and surgery, the time between surgery and first consultation in clinical oncology, and the time between requesting and beginning of systemic treatment, a statistically significant reduction was observed during the COVID-19 period.

Conclusion

A decrease in time between diagnosis and systemic treatment of patients with colorectal cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic was observed. Yet, even with this improvement, the time to begin treatment remains greater than the recommended by the current guidelines, regardless of the time of diagnosis (before or after the pandemic), which negatively impacts the disease outcome.
Curcumin-infused nanostructured lipid carriers: a promising strategy for enhancing skin regeneration and combating microbial infection
Authors: Elkhateeb Ola , Badawy Mohamed E. I. , Tohamy Hossam G. , Abou-Ahmed Howaida , El-Kammar Mahmoud , Elkhenany Hoda
Published: October 2023

Background

Curcumin is a biomolecule that can be extracted from the Curcuma longa that has been shown to have the potential to aid skin wound healing. It has been studied for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which may help to reduce swelling and promote tissue repair. However, curcumin has low solubility in water, which can limit its absorption and bioavailability. Encapsulating it in lipid nanoparticles may help to increase its absorption, leading to improved bioavailability.

Methods

Curcumin-loaded nanostructure lipid nanocarriers (CURC-NLCs) were prepared and characterized. Also, the phenolic, flavonoid contents, antioxidant and antimicrobial efficacy against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria were investigated. Furthermore, in vivo rabbit animal model was used to test its regenerative capacity and wound-healing efficiency.

Results

The CURC-NLCs significantly increased the content of phenolic and flavonoid compounds compared to curcumin, resulting in a dramatic increase in antioxidant activity. CURC-NLCs also showed a potent inhibitory effect on Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and fungi, two times higher than curcumin. CURC-NLCs showed a higher potential to fasten the wound healing of full-thickness skin injuries as it resulted in 1.15- and 1.9-fold higher wound closure at the first week of injury compared to curcumin and control, respectively (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

These results suggest that CURC-NLCs have an excellent potential to promote skin regeneration, which could be attributed to its antioxidant and broad-spectrum antimicrobial effect.
Schoolchildren with asymptomatic malaria are potential hotspot for malaria reservoir in Ethiopia: implications for malaria control and elimination efforts
Authors: Biruksew Abdissa , Demeke Ashenafi , Birhanu Zewdie , Golassa Lemu , Getnet Masrie , Yewhalaw Delenasaw
Published: October 2023

Background

Schoolchildren with asymptomatic malaria infections often go undiagnosed and untreated, serving as reservoirs for infection that hamper malaria control and elimination efforts. In this context, little is known about the magnitude of asymptomatic malaria infections in apparently healthy schoolchildren in Ethiopia. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria infection and its associated factors in apparently healthy schoolchildren in Ethiopia.

Methods

From September 2021 to January 2022, a school-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 994 apparently healthy schoolchildren (aged 6–15 years) selected from 21 primary schools in the Gomma district, of Jimma zone, southwestern Oromia, Ethiopia. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select schools and participants. After allocating the total sample proportionally to each school and then to each grade, participants were selected using the lottery method from a list of student records (rosters). Finger-pricked blood samples were collected for microscopy blood film preparation and malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT) (SD Bioline Malaria Ag Pf/Pv). Moreover, dry blood spots (DBSs) were prepared onto filter papers for quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis.

Results

As determined by RDT and microscopy, the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria was 2.20% and 1.51%, respectively. Using qPCR, the overall prevalence was 5.03% (50/994). Of this, Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax and mixed infections accounted for 90%, 6% and 4%, respectively. Submicroscopic asymptomatic malaria infection was also accounted for 70% (35/50) of the overall prevalence. Household head age, nighttime outdoor activities of household heads, family history of malaria, absence of insecticide-treated nets (ITN), and presence of stagnant water around the houses are all significantly associated with asymptomatic malaria infections among schoolchildren.

Conclusions

This study found that both RDT and microscopy underestimated the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria in schoolchildren. However, qPCR was able to detect even low levels of parasitaemia and revealed a higher prevalence of asymptomatic submicroscopic malaria infections. The findings imply that schoolchildren with asymptomatic malaria infection are potential hotspot for malaria reservoir that fuels ongoing transmission. Therefore, it is imperative to include schoolchildren and schools in malaria intervention package and equally important is the adoption of more advanced and sensitive diagnostic tools, which would be crucial for successful malaria control and elimination efforts. Targeted interventions for asymptomatic malaria-infected schoolchildren can provide invaluable support to the National Malaria Control Programme in controlling and eventually eliminating the disease.
Cellular crosstalk of mesangial cells and tubular epithelial cells in diabetic kidney disease
Authors: Jiang Shan , Su Hua
Published: October 2023

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a major cause of end-stage renal disease and imposes a heavy global economic burden; however, little is known about its complicated pathophysiology. Investigating the cellular crosstalk involved in DKD is a promising avenue for gaining a better understanding of its pathogenesis. Nonetheless, the cellular crosstalk of podocytes and endothelial cells in DKD is better understood than that of mesangial cells (MCs) and renal tubular epithelial cells (TECs). As the significance of MCs and TECs in DKD pathophysiology has recently become more apparent, we reviewed the existing literature on the cellular crosstalk of MCs and TECs in the context of DKD to acquire a comprehensive understanding of their cellular communication. Insights into the complicated mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of DKD would improve its early detection, care, and prognosis.
Harnessing large language models (LLMs) for candidate gene prioritization and selection
Authors: Toufiq Mohammed , Rinchai Darawan , Bettacchioli Eleonore , Kabeer Basirudeen Syed Ahamed , Khan Taushif , Subba Bishesh , White Olivia , Yurieva Marina , George Joshy , Jourde-Chiche Noemie , Chiche Laurent , Palucka Karolina , Chaussabel Damien
Published: October 2023

Background

Feature selection is a critical step for translating advances afforded by systems-scale molecular profiling into actionable clinical insights. While data-driven methods are commonly utilized for selecting candidate genes, knowledge-driven methods must contend with the challenge of efficiently sifting through extensive volumes of biomedical information. This work aimed to assess the utility of large language models (LLMs) for knowledge-driven gene prioritization and selection.

Methods

In this proof of concept, we focused on 11 blood transcriptional modules associated with an Erythroid cells signature. We evaluated four leading LLMs across multiple tasks. Next, we established a workflow leveraging LLMs. The steps consisted of: (1) Selecting one of the 11 modules; (2) Identifying functional convergences among constituent genes using the LLMs; (3) Scoring candidate genes across six criteria capturing the gene’s biological and clinical relevance; (4) Prioritizing candidate genes and summarizing justifications; (5) Fact-checking justifications and identifying supporting references; (6) Selecting a top candidate gene based on validated scoring justifications; and (7) Factoring in transcriptome profiling data to finalize the selection of the top candidate gene.

Results

Of the four LLMs evaluated, OpenAI's GPT-4 and Anthropic's Claude demonstrated the best performance and were chosen for the implementation of the candidate gene prioritization and selection workflow. This workflow was run in parallel for each of the 11 erythroid cell modules by participants in a data mining workshop. Module M9.2 served as an illustrative use case. The 30 candidate genes forming this module were assessed, and the top five scoring genes were identified as BCL2L1, ALAS2, SLC4A1, CA1, and FECH. Researchers carefully fact-checked the summarized scoring justifications, after which the LLMs were prompted to select a top candidate based on this information. GPT-4 initially chose BCL2L1, while Claude selected ALAS2. When transcriptional profiling data from three reference datasets were provided for additional context, GPT-4 revised its initial choice to ALAS2, whereas Claude reaffirmed its original selection for this module.

Conclusions

Taken together, our findings highlight the ability of LLMs to prioritize candidate genes with minimal human intervention. This suggests the potential of this technology to boost productivity, especially for tasks that require leveraging extensive biomedical knowledge.
Outcomes of viral coinfections in infants hospitalized for acute bronchiolitis
Authors: Bermúdez-Barrezueta Lorena , López-Casillas Pablo , Rojo-Rello Silvia , Sáez-García Laura , Marugán-Miguelsanz José Manuel , Pino-Vázquez María de la Asunción
Published: October 2023

Background and Objective

The clinical relevance of the detection of multiple respiratory viruses in acute bronchiolitis (AB) has not been established. Our goal was to evaluate the effect of viral coinfections on the progression and severity of AB.

Methods

A retrospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Spain from September 2012 to March 2020. Infants admitted for AB with at least one respiratory virus identified by molecular diagnostic techniques were included. A comparison was made between single-virus infections and viral coinfections. The evolution and severity of AB were determined based on the days of hospitalization and admission to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

Results

Four hundred forty-five patients were included (58.4% male). The median weight was 5.2 kg (IQR 4.2–6.5), and the median age was 2.5 months (IQR 1.4–4.6). A total of 105 patients (23.6%) were admitted to the PICU. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was the most frequent etiological agent (77.1%). A single virus was detected in 270 patients (60.7%), and viral coinfections were detected in 175 (39.3%), of which 126 (28.3%) had two viruses and 49 (11%) had three or more viruses. Hospital length of stay (LOS) increased in proportion to the number of viruses detected, with a median of 6 days (IQR 4–8) for single infections, 7 days (IQR 4–9) for coinfections with two viruses and 8 days (IQR 5–11) for coinfections with ≥ 3 viruses (p = 0.003). The adjusted Cox regression model showed that the detection of ≥ 3 viruses was an independent risk factor for a longer hospital LOS (HR 0.568, 95% CI 0.410–0.785). No significant association was observed between viral coinfections and the need for PICU admission (OR 1.151; 95% CI 0.737–1.797).

Conclusions

Viral coinfections modified the natural history of AB, prolonging the hospital LOS in proportion to the number of viruses detected without increasing the need for admission to the PICU.
A massive immature mediastinal teratoma treated with chemotherapy and surgical resection: a case report
Authors: Mardani Parviz , Kamran Hooman , Ghaderpanah Rezvan , Geramizadeh Bita , Fouladi Damoun , Shahriarirad Reza , Amirian Armin
Published: October 2023

Background

Teratoma is a type of germ cell tumor consisting of one or multiple tissues derived from germinal layers. The location and size of the tumor can cause various presentations. Here we report one of the largest ever cases of immature cystic teratoma.

Case Presentation

In this report, we presented a 24-year-old patient with dyspnea, chest pain, nausea, and anorexia. A computed tomography scan revealed a giant, right-sided mass measuring about 190 × 150 × 140 mm. Chemotherapy was initiated for the patient, followed by thoracotomy. Histopathological evaluation revealed the nature of the mass to be an immature mediastinal teratoma.

Conclusion

the incidence of immature mediastinal teratoma is uncommon, and due to its rarity, the diagnosis needs more profound evaluation studies such as radiological and pathological assessments. Immature teratomas are optimally treated by a combination of chemotherapy and complete resection.
Maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and DNA methylation of newborns in cord blood
Authors: Collender Phillip , Bozack Anne K. , Veazie Stephanie , Nwanaji-Enwerem Jamaji C. , Van Der Laan Lars , Kogut Katherine , Riddell Corinne , Eskenazi Brenda , Holland Nina , Deardorff Julianna , Cardenas Andres
Published: October 2023

Background

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) increase the risk of poor health outcomes later in life. Psychosocial stressors may also have intergenerational health effects by which parental ACEs are associated with mental and physical health of children. Epigenetic programming may be one mechanism linking parental ACEs to child health. This study aimed to investigate epigenome-wide associations of maternal preconception ACEs with DNA methylation patterns of children. In the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas study, cord blood DNA methylation was measured using the Illumina HumanMethylation450 BeadChip. Preconception ACEs, which occurred during the mothers’ childhoods, were collected using a standard ACE questionnaire including 10 ACE indicators. Maternal ACE exposures were defined in this study as (1) the total number of ACEs; (2) the total number of ACEs categorized as 0, 1–3, and > 4; and (3) individual ACEs. Associations of ACE exposures with differential methylated positions, regions, and CpG modules determined using weighted gene co-expression network analysis were evaluated adjusting for covariates.

Results

Data on maternal ACEs and cord blood DNA methylation were available for 196 mother/newborn pairs. One differential methylated position was associated with maternal experience of emotional abuse (cg05486260/FAM135Bgene;qvalue < 0.05). Five differential methylated regions were significantly associated with the total number of ACEs, and 36 unique differential methylated regions were associated with individual ACEs (Šidákpvalue < 0.05). Fifteen CpG modules were significantly correlated with the total number of ACEs or individual ACEs, of which 8 remained significant in fully adjusted models (pvalue < 0.05). Significant modules were enriched for pathways related to neurological and immune development and function.

Conclusions

Maternal ACEs prior to conception were associated with cord blood DNA methylation of offspring at birth. Although there was limited overlap between differential methylated regions and CpGs in modules associated with ACE exposures, statistically significant regions and networks were related to genes involved in neurological and immune function. Findings may provide insights to pathways linking psychosocial stressors to health. Further research is needed to understand the relationship between changes in DNA methylation and child health.
Modelling in vitro gametogenesis using induced pluripotent stem cells: a review
Authors: Romualdez-Tan Maria Victoria
Published: October 2023

In vitro gametogenesis (IVG) has been a topic of great interest in recent years not only because it allows for further exploration of mechanisms of germ cell development, but also because of its prospect for innovative medical applications especially for the treatment of infertility. Elucidation of the mechanisms underlying gamete development in vivo has inspired scientists to attempt to recapitulate the entire process of gametogenesis in vitro. While earlier studies have established IVG methods largely using pluripotent stem cells of embryonic origin, the scarcity of sources for these cells and the ethical issues involved in their use are serious limitations to the progress of IVG research especially in humans. However, with the emergence of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) due to the revolutionary discovery of dedifferentiation and reprogramming factors, IVG research has progressed remarkably in the last decade. This paper extensively reviews developments in IVG using iPSCs. First, the paper presents key concepts from groundwork studies on IVG including earlier researches demonstrating that IVG methods using embryonic stem cells (ESCs) also apply when using iPSCs. Techniques for the derivation of iPSCs are briefly discussed, highlighting the importance of generating transgene-free iPSCs with a high capacity for germline transmission to improve efficacy when used for IVG. The main part of the paper discusses recent advances in IVG research using iPSCs in various stages of gametogenesis. In addition, current clinical applications of IVG are presented, and potential future applications are discussed. Although IVG is still faced with many challenges in terms of technical issues, as well as efficacy and safety, novel IVG methodologies are emerging, and IVG using iPSCs may usher in the next era of reproductive medicine sooner than expected. This raises both ethical and social concerns and calls for the scientific community to cautiously develop IVG technology to ensure it is not only efficacious but also safe and adheres to social and ethical norms.
Angiotensin(1-7) attenuates tooth movement and regulates alveolar bone response during orthodontic force application in experimental animal model
Authors: Abuohashish Hatem , Shahin Suliman , Alamri Abdulaziz , Salloot Zainah , Alhawaj Hussain , Omar Omar
Published: October 2023

Background

Renin–angiotensin system and its ACE2/Ang(1-7)/Mas receptor axis regulates skeletal response to multiple physiological and pathological conditions. Recent research suggested a vital role of Ang(1-7) in regulating alveolar bone metabolism and remodeling. In this context, this study evaluated the effects of the Ang(1-7)/Mas receptor axis on orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) and the alveolar bone response to mechanical load.

Methods

A coil spring was placed between the right maxillary first molar and the anterior tooth of Wistar rats to apply bidirectional mechanical force. Ang(1-7) with or without a specific Mas receptor antagonist (A779) was infused using subcutaneous osmotic pumps (200 and 400 ng/kg/min: respectively). Animals were killed after 5 and 14 days from the OTM procedure after the clinical evaluation of tooth movement and mobility. Morphometric analysis of alveolar bone structure was conducted using micro-CT and the histological picture was evaluated after H&E staining. Moreover, collagen fiber distribution was assessed using Picro-Sirius red stain. In addition, bone samples were collected from the pressure and tension sites around the anterior tooth for gene expression analysis.

Results

Ang(1-7) infusion suppressed the tooth movement and mobility after 14 days of the orthodontic force application. Additionally, Ang(1-7) infusion preserved the morphometric and histological structure of the alveolar bone at pressure and tension sides. These effects were abolished by adding A779 infusion. Collagen fiber distribution was dysregulated mainly by the A779 Mas receptor blockage. Ang(1-7) affected the bone formation, remodeling- and vascularity-related genes in the pressure and tension sides, suggesting a prominent suppression of osteoclastogenesis. Ang(1-7) also improved osteoblasts-related genes on the tension side, whereas the osteoclasts-related genes were augmented by A779 on the pressure side.

Conclusion

Collectively, the activation of Ang(1-7)/Mas receptor axis appears to hinder tooth movement and regulates alveolar bone remodeling in response to mechanical force.

Graphical abstract
Potential of algal-based products for the management of potato brown rot disease
Authors: Hamed Seham M. , Kamal Marwa , Messiha Nevein A. S.
Published: October 2023

Background

Ralstonia solanacearum causes potato brown rot disease, resulting in lower crop’s production and quality. A sustainable and eco-friendly method for controlling the disease is required. Algae’s bioactive chemicals have shown the potential to enhance plant defenses. For the first time, the efficacy of foliar application of Acanthophora spicifera and Spirulina platensis seaweed extracts, along with the utilization of dried algal biomasses (DABs) of Turbinaria ornata and a mixture of Caulerpa racemosa and Cystoseira myrica (1:1)on potato yield and brown rot suppression were investigated under field conditions. Field experiments were conducted in three locations: Location 1 (Kafr Shukr district, Kaliobeya governorate), Location 2 (Moneira district, Kaliobeya governorate), and Location 3 (Talia district, Minufyia governorate). Locations 1 and 2 were naturally infested with the pathogen, while location 3 was not. The study evaluated potato yield, plant nutritive status and antioxidants, soil available nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (N-P-K), and organic matter percentage. Additionally, the shift in soil microbial diversity related to R. solanacearum suppression was examined for the most effective treatment.

Results

The results revealed that seaweed extracts significantly increased potato yield at all locations, which correlated with higher phosphorus absorption, while T. ornate DAB increased potato yield only at location 2, accompanied by noticeable increases in soil nitrogen and plant phosphorus. The mixed DABs of C. racemosa and C. myrica demonstrated greater disease suppression than foliar applications. The disease-suppressive effect of the mixed DABs was accompanied by significant increases in flavonoids and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Moreover, the application of mixed DABs increased soil bacterial biodiversity, with a higher abundance of oligotrophic marine bacterial species such as Sphingopyxis alaskensis and growth-promoting species like Glutamicibacter arilaitensis, Promicromonospora sp., and Paenarthrobacter nitroguajacolicus in all three locations compared to the untreated control. Klebsiella sp., Pseudomonas putida, and P. brassicacearum abundances were increased by the mixed DABs in Location 1. These species were less abundant in locations 2 and 3, where Streptomyces sp., Bacillus sp., and Sphingobium vermicomposti were prevalent.

Conclusions

The results demonstrated that the used seaweed extracts improved potato yield and phosphorous absorption, while the mixed DABs potentially contributed in disease suppression and improved soil microbial diversity.