bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
General practitioners’ perceptions of compassionate communities: a qualitative study
Authors: Abbey E. , Craig C. , Mayland C. R.
Published: July 2020

Background

General Practitioners (GPs) face challenges when providing palliative care, including an ageing, multimorbid population, and falling GP numbers. A ‘public health palliative care’ approach, defined as “working with communities to improve people’s experience of death, dying and bereavement”, is gaining momentum. ‘Compassionate communities’ is one example, with a focus on linking professional health carers with supportive community networks. Primary care is central to the approach, which has been incorporated into United Kingdom GP palliative care guidance. No research to date, however, has investigated GP perspectives of these approaches. Our aim, therefore, was to explore GP perceptions of a public health approach to palliative care, and compassionate communities.

Methods

GPs working in the United Kingdom were recruited through university teaching and research networks using snowball sampling. Purposive sampling ensured wide representation of gender, level of experience and practice populations. Semi-structured, digitally audio-recorded interviews were conducted with nine GPs. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and thematic analysis was undertaken, informed by a qualitative descriptive methodology. Interviews continued until data saturation was reached.

Results

Most participants were unfamiliar with the term ‘compassionate communities’, but recognised examples within their practice. Three major themes with seven subthemes were identified: 1) Perceived potential of compassionate communities, including: ‘maximising use of existing community services’; ‘influencing health outside of healthcare’; and ‘combatting taboo’, 2) Perceived challenges of compassionate communities, including: ‘patient safety’; ‘limited capacity of the community’; ‘limited capacity of general practice’, and ‘applicability of public health to palliative care’, and 3) The role of the GP in compassionate communities.

Conclusions

GPs recognised the importance of the wider community in caring for palliative care patients, however most were unfamiliar with the compassionate community approach. Participants held differing views regarding the application of the model, and the position of general practice within this. Further research into the approach’s practical implementation, and exploring the views of other key stakeholders, would help establish the feasibility of compassionate communities in practice, and guide its future application.
Qualitative assessment of knowledge and attitudes towards cervical cancer screening among male Latino immigrants in Houston, Texas
Authors: Read Susan H. , Valverde Ivan , Montealegre Jane R. , Rutherford Thomas J. , Anderson Matthew L.
Published: July 2020

Background

Male spouses and partners play an important role in determining a woman’s willingness to participate in cervical cancer screening. However, the attitudes and behaviors by which they influence a woman’s decision to undergo Pap testing remain poorly understood.

Methods

A series of semi-structured, qualitative interviews were conducted in Spanish with 19 recent Latino immigrants in Houston, Texas. The interview format was designed to establish each individual’s pattern of engagement with the United States healthcare system, assess baseline knowledge of cervical cancer screening and evaluate attitudes and patterns of communication with their female partners regarding health care. Interview questions were constructed using principles of the Theory of Reasoned Action. All interviews were conducted in Spanish. After translation, responses were coded and scored with the goal of identifying themes and key observations.

Results

Most subjects reported few, if any, interactions with the healthcare system since their arrival in the United States. Although most participants reported being aware that women should be seen by their doctors regularly, fewer than half could clearly indicate the purpose of a Pap test or could state with certainty the last time their female partner had undergone screening. Multiple subjects expressed a general distrust of the health care system and concern for its costs. Approximately half of subjects reported that they accompanied their female partner to the health care provider’s office and none of the participants reported that they were present in examination rooms at the time their partner underwent screening. Multiple participants endorsed that there may be some concerns within their community regarding women receiving frequent gynecologic care and distrust of the healthcare system. Almost all interviewed subjects stated that while they would allow their female partners to see male physicians, they also expressed the opinion that other men might be uncomfortable with this and that women would likely be more comfortable with female physicians.

Conclusions

Strategies to enhance knowledge of HPV and cancer screening and improve trust in the health care system among male spouses or partners should be explored with the goal of promoting cervical cancer screening among immigrant Latinx populations.
Barriers to accessing health care services: a qualitative study of migrant construction workers in a southwestern Indian city
Authors: Santalahti Maija , Sumit Kumar , Perkiö Mikko
Published: July 2020

Background

This study examined access to health care in an occupational context in an urban city of India. Many people migrate from rural areas to cities, often across Indian states, for employment prospects. The purpose of the study is to explore the barriers to accessing health care among a vulnerable group – internal migrants working in the construction sector in Manipal, Karnataka. Understanding the lay workers’ accounts of access to health services can help to comprehend the diversity of factors that hinder access to health care.

Methods

Individual semi-structured interviews involving 15 migrant construction workers were conducted. The study applied theory-guided content analysis to investigate access to health services among the construction workers. The adductive analysis combined deductive and inductive approaches with the aim of verifying the existing barrier theory in a vulnerable context and further developing the health care access barrier theory.

Results

This study’s result is a revised version of the health care access barriers model, including the dimension of trust. Three known health care access barriers – financial, cognitive and structural, as well as the new barrier (distrust in public health care services), were identified among migrant construction workers in a city context in Karnataka, India.

Conclusions

Further qualitative research on vulnerable groups would produce a more comprehensive account of access to health care. The socioeconomic status behind access to health care, as well as distrust in public health services, forms focal challenges for any policymaker hoping to improve health services to match people’s needs.
Hepatitis C virus vaccine design: focus on the humoral immune response
Authors: Sepulveda-Crespo Daniel , Resino Salvador , Martinez Isidoro
Published: July 2020

Despite the recent development of safe and highly effective direct-acting antivirals, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a significant health problem. In 2016, the World Health Organization set out to reduce the rate of new HCV infections by 90% by 2030. Still, global control of the virus does not seem to be achievable in the absence of an effective vaccine. Current approaches to the development of a vaccine against HCV include the production of recombinant proteins, synthetic peptides, DNA vaccines, virus-like particles, and viral vectors expressing various antigens. In this review, we focus on the development of vaccines targeting the humoral immune response against HCV based on the cumulative evidence supporting the important role of neutralizing antibodies in protection against HCV infection. The main targets of HCV-specific neutralizing antibodies are the glycoproteins E1 and E2. Recent advances in the knowledge of HCV glycoprotein structure and their epitopes, as well as the possibility of getting detailed information on the human antibody repertoire generated by the infection, will allow rational structure-based antigen design to target specific germline antibodies. Although obtaining a vaccine capable of inducing sterilizing immunity will be a difficult task, a vaccine that prevents chronic hepatitis C infections, a more realistic goal in the short term, would have a considerable health impact.
Liraglutide in the treatment of heart failure: insight from FIGHT and LIVE
Authors: Liang Bo , Gu Ning
Published: July 2020

There are many glucose-lowering agents used in patients with heart failure, showing mixed results, this study was conducted to determine the effect of liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 analogue, on the treatment of patients with heart failure. Patients from the FIGHT and LIVE trials were included, all overlapped data were summarized and described. No significant changes from baseline in left ventricular ejection fraction, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, hemoglobin A1c, heart rate, left ventricular end-systolic volume index, left ventricular end-diastolic volume index, and 6 min walk test were observed in FIGHT. In LIVE, liraglutide significantly decreased hemoglobin A1c and inceased 6 min walk test and increased heart rate and serious cardiac adverse events, and there were no statistical differences in left ventricular ejection fraction, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, left ventricular end-systolic volume index, and left ventricular end-diastolic volume index. In this study, we found that there is not enough reason to support the use of liraglutide in patients with heart failure, and importantly, the safety of liraglutide in this particular population remains uncertain. Enhanced recognition the risks and benefits of liraglutide would help guide therapeutic decisions in patients with heart failure.
Developing and refining behaviour-change messages based on the Brazilian dietary guidelines: use of a sequential, mixed-methods approach
Authors: Khandpur Neha , de Morais Sato Priscila , Neto Jose Ribeiro Gouveia , Scagliusi Fernanda , Jaime Patricia Constante
Published: July 2020

Background

Dietary Guidelines are an important tool for population health promotion efforts. However, current surveillance data suggest that only a small minority of the population meet the 2014 Brazilian Dietary Guidelines (BDG) recommendations. Translating recommendations into practice may not be immediately clear and behavior-change messages guiding the behaviors that need to be changed and identifying substitute practices to meet a specific recommendation, are required. This study details the methods undertaken to develop and refine messages supporting the adoption of healthy dietary choices and behaviors in adults, as outlined in the BDG.

Methods

A sequential, five-step, mixed-methods approach, determined a priori, was followed for designing and refining messages. These included: (1) content extraction; (2) audience analysis; (3) input from an expert review panel; (4) message development and message refinement; and a (5) test of content validity.

Results

The content extraction process led to the identification of 63 excerpts from the BDG, organized into themes. The audience analysis highlighted barriers to healthy eating that included lack of time (to eat, to cook), difficulty in accessing healthy food, the convenience and the ubiquitous marketing of ultra-processed foods. Twenty of the 63 DG excerpts reviewed by the expert panel were identified as being a priority for message development and total of 111 messages were developed. Messages were short, structured to be one-sided, conveyed the most important information at the beginning (anticlimactic), used simple language and were explicit in the information they relayed. They were positive and gain-framed and used an empathetic, solution- or substitution-based tone and were presented in the active voice. The messages focused on goals and skill development, behavior regulation, incentivized positive practices as time and/or cost saving. Content validity testing helped further messages and reduced the number of messages from 111 to 40.

Conclusions

This study provides the blue-print for the phase-wise development of messages that synthesize the key recommendations of the food-based BDG and communicate the adoption of behaviors and goals that are consistent with it’s message. It details methods which could be adapted and replicated for message development in other contexts.
Multimorbidity and chronic diseases among undocumented migrants: evidence to contradict the myths
Authors: Gimeno-Feliu Luis Andrés , Pastor-Sanz Marta , Poblador-Plou Beatriz , Calderón-Larrañaga Amaia , Díaz Esperanza , Prados-Torres Alexandra
Published: July 2020

Background

There is little verified information on the global health status of undocumented migrants (UMs). Our aim is to compare the prevalence of the main chronic diseases and of multimorbidity in undocumented migrants, documented migrants, and Spanish nationals in a Spanish autonomous community.

Methods

Retrospective observational study of all users of the public health system of the region of Aragon over 1 year (2011): 930,131 Spanish nationals; 123,432 documented migrants (DMs); and 17,152 UMs. Binary logistic regression was performed to examine the association between migrant status (Spanish nationals versus DMs and UMs) and both multimorbidity and individual chronic diseases, adjusting for age and sex.

Results

The prevalence of individual chronic diseases in UMs was lower than in DMs and much lower than in Spanish nationals. Comparison with the corresponding group of Spanish nationals revealed odds ratios (OR) of 0.1–0.3 and 0.3–0.5 for male and female UMs, respectively (p < 0.05 in all cases). The risk of multimorbidity was lower for UMs than DMs, both for men (OR, 0.12; 95%CI 0.11–0.13 versus OR, 0.53; 95%CI 0.51–0.54) and women (OR, 0.18; 95%CI 0.16–0.20 versus OR, 0.74; 95%CI 0.72–0.75).

Conclusions

Analysis of data from a health system that offers universal coverage to all immigrants, irrespective of legal status, reveals that the prevalence of chronic disease and multimorbidity is lower in UMs as compared with both DMs and Spanish nationals. These findings refute previous claims that the morbidity burden in UM populations is higher than that of the native population of the host country.
Assessing mobile phone access, usage, and willingness among women to receive voice message-based mobile health intervention to improve antenatal care attendance in district Thatta, Sindh, Pakistan
Authors: Feroz Anam Shahil , Ali Naureen Akber , Saleem Sarah
Published: July 2020

Background

Pakistan has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios worldwide at 276/100,000 live births and only 51% percent of women receive four or more ANC visits. This means that there are missed opportunities for almost half of the women who were not able to seek the recommended antenatal visits. In Thatta district, the maternal mortality ratio is estimated at 313/100,000 live births. Various studies reported that mHealth interventions have proven to be effective to improve antenatal care and postnatal care services. However, the feasibility and effectiveness of mobile health interventions to increase uptake of preventive maternal healthcare services among pregnant women in different settings may be different due to differing patient demographics, cultural diversity, environmental and behavioral factors, availability and accessibility to mobile phones, and budgetary constraints. Prior to implementing a similar intervention in Thatta District, it is crucially important to assess the mobile phone access, usage and willingness among women to receive voice-message based mHealth intervention to improve antenatal care attendance.

Methods

A cross-sectional quantitative study will be used to assess mobile phone access, usage and willingness among women to receive voice-message based mHealth intervention to improve antenatal care attendance in district Thatta. The study will be conducted in Thatta district of Sindh province. Married women of reproductive age (MWRA), who are residing in selected villages of Mirpur Sakro and willing to participate will be included in the study. Multistage sampling technique will be used to recruit the 415 study participants. A structured questionnaire has been designed on Epicollect to collect data from 415 women. Data will be analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 23, with a level of significance as < 0.05.

Discussion

This research project will provide invaluable information on the current access, usage of mobile phones among women of district Thatta and their willingness to receive voice messages to improve the antenatal care services. The study will also highlight demographic, sociocultural and economic factors associated with women willingness and readiness to receive voice messages regarding antenatal care.
Gateway-compatible vectors for functional analysis of proteins in cell type specific manner
Authors: Zhang Liu , Zhao Yang , Liang Haiyan , Li Xugang , Gallagher Kimberly L. , Wu Shuang
Published: July 2020

Background

Genetically encoded fluorescent proteins are often used to label proteins and study protein function and localization in vivo. Traditional cloning methods mediated by restriction digestion and ligation are time-consuming and sometimes difficult due to the lack of suitable restriction sites. Invitrogen developed the Gateway cloning system based on the site-specific DNA recombination, which allows for digestion-free cloning. Most gateway destination vectors available for use in plants employ either the 35S or ubiquitin promoters, which confer high-level, ubiquitous expression. There are far fewer options for moderate, cell-type specific expression.

Results

Here we report on the construction of a Gateway-compatible cloning system (SWU vectors) to rapidly tag various proteins and express them in a cell-type specific manner in plants. We tested the SWU vectors using the HISTONE (H2B) coding sequence in stable transgenic plants.

Conclusions

The SWU vectors are a valuable tool for low cost, high efficiency functional analysis of proteins of interest in specific cell types in the Arabidopsis root.
Study on the ability of 3D gamma analysis and bio-mathematical model in detecting dose changes caused by dose-calculation-grid-size (DCGS)
Authors: Bai Han , Zhu Sijin , Wu Xingrao , Liu Xuhong , Chen Feihu , Yan Jiawen
Published: July 2020

Objective

To explore the efficacy and sensitivity of 3D gamma analysis and bio-mathematical model for cervical cancer in detecting dose changes caused by dose-calculation-grid-size (DCGS).

Methods

17 patients’ plans for cervical cancer were enrolled (Pinnacle TPS, VMAT), and the DCGS was changed from 2.0 mm to 5.0 mm to calculate the planned dose respectively. The dose distribution calculated by DCGS = 2.0 mm as the “reference” data set (RDS), the dose distribution calculated by the rest DCGS as the“measurement”data set (MDS), the 3D gamma passing rates and the (N) TCPs of the all structures under different DCGS were obtained, and then analyze the ability of 3D gamma analysis and (N) TCP model in detecting dose changes and what factors affect this ability.

Results

The effect of DCGS on planned dose was obvious. When the gamma standard was 1.0 mm, 1.0 and 10.0%, the difference of the results of the DCGS on dose-effect could be detected by 3D gamma analysis (all p value < 0.05). With the decline of the standard, 3D gamma analysis’ ability to detect this difference shows weaker. When the standard was 1.0 mm, 3.0 and 10.0%, the p value of > 0.05 accounted for the majority. With DCGS = 2.0 mm being RDS, ∆gamma-passing-rate presented the same trend with ∆(N) TCPs of all structures except for the femurs only when the 1.0 mm, 1.0 and 10.0% standards were adopted for the 3D gamma analysis.

Conclusions

The 3D gamma analysis and bio-mathematical model can be used to analyze the effect of DCGS on the planned dose. For comparison, the former’s detection ability has a lot to do with the designed standard, and the latter’s capability is related to the parameters and calculated accuracy instrinsically.
The feasibility of non-contrast enhanced plus contrast-enhanced computed tomography in discriminating invasive pure ground-glass opacity from pre-invasive pure ground-glass opacity
Authors: Li Shanshan , Yu Jinming , Meng Xue , Liu Lingfei , Xu Liang , Liu Liheng , Yu Haiying , Gao Yongsheng , Zhang Zhen
Published: July 2020

Background

Invasive pure ground-glass opacity and pre-invasive pure ground-glass opacity have different 5-year overall survival rate and risk of lymph node metastasis and the extent of resection. It is difficult to discriminate these nodules since they share similar CT features and may occur concurrently. The objectives of this study were to investigate the feasibility of non-contrast enhanced plus contrast-enhanced computed tomography in discriminating invasive pure ground-glass opacity from pre-invasive pure ground-glass opacity.

Methods

We retrospectively examined 90 patients with pure ground-glass opacity who underwent non-contrast enhanced and contrast-enhanced CT according to a simplified protocol (one non-contrast enhanced measurement and two contrast-enhanced measurements at 30 s and 60 s after contrast injection) from 2015 to 2019. All imaging examinations were analyzed using three-dimensional computer-aided volume. Two independent samples t tests, one-way analysis of variance, chi-square test and logistic regression were used for analysis. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the optimal cut-off value of mean CT attenuation for differentiation of groups and to obtain diagnostic value.

Results

(1) The CT values of one non-contrast-enhanced, two contrast-enhanced and volume measurements between two groups had statistically significant differences (P < 0.001). (2) At the 30-s scan, there were more nodules in the pre-invasive group with no enhancement than in the pre-invasive group, which was statistically significant. (3) The CT value of 60-s scan was independent predictor of invasive adenocarcinoma (P = 0.019).

Conclusions

Non-contrast enhanced plus two contrast-enhanced CT based on volume measurements can differentiate invasive pGGO from pre-invasive pGGO.
Correction to: Downregulation of GLYR1 contributes to microsatellite instability colorectal cancer by targeting p21 via the p38MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathways
Authors: Hu Zhiyan , Long Ting , Ma Yidan , Zhu Jiaxian , Gao Lingfang , Zhong Yan , Wang Xia , Wang Xiaoyan , Li Zuguo
Published: July 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
Dysregulation of cancer genes by recurrent intergenic fusions
Authors: Yun Jae Won , Yang Lixing , Park Hye-Young , Lee Chang-Woo , Cha Hongui , Shin Hyun-Tae , Noh Ka-Won , Choi Yoon-La , Park Woong-Yang , Park Peter J.
Published: July 2020

Background

Gene fusions have been studied extensively, as frequent drivers of tumorigenesis as well as potential therapeutic targets. In many well-known cases, breakpoints occur at two intragenic positions, leading to in-frame gene-gene fusions that generate chimeric mRNAs. However, fusions often occur with intergenic breakpoints, and the role of such fusions has not been carefully examined.

Results

We analyze whole-genome sequencing data from 268 patients to catalog gene-intergenic and intergenic-intergenic fusions and characterize their impact. First, we discover that, in contrast to the common assumption, chimeric oncogenic transcripts—such as those involving ETV4, ERG, RSPO3, and PIK3CA—can be generated by gene-intergenic fusions through splicing of the intervening region. Second, we find that over-expression of an upstream or downstream gene by a fusion-mediated repositioning of a regulatory sequence is much more common than previously suspected, with enhancers sometimes located megabases away. We detect a number of recurrent fusions, such as those involving ANO3, RGS9, FUT5, CHI3L1, OR1D4, and LIPG in breast; IGF2 in colon; ETV1 in prostate; and IGF2BP3 and SIX2 in thyroid cancers.

Conclusion

Our findings elucidate the potential oncogenic function of intergenic fusions and highlight the wide-ranging consequences of structural rearrangements in cancer genomes.
Eurythmy therapy versus slow movement fitness in the treatment of fatigue in metastatic breast cancer patients: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Meier-Girard Delphine , Ribi Karin , Gerstenberg Gisa , Ruhstaller Thomas , Wolf Ursula
Published: July 2020

Background

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is the most taxing symptom for many breast cancer patients during and after therapy. In patients with metastatic disease, the prevalence of CRF exceeds 75%. Currently, there is no gold standard for the treatment of CRF. Physical activity can reduce CRF and is recommended during and after cancer treatment, but may be too burdensome for patients with metastatic breast cancer. The aim of this study is to assess the effect on fatigue of eurythmy therapy (ERYT) compared to slow movement fitness (CoordiFit) in metastatic breast cancer patients.

Methods

The ERYT/CoordiFit study is a randomized controlled, open-label, two-arm, multi-center Swiss clinical trial. A sample of 196 patients presenting with CRF will be recruited by oncologists from the departments of clinical oncology at each local study site. All participants will be randomly allocated to the intervention or control group in a 1:1 ratio. The control group is an active control intervention (CoordiFit) in order to control for potential non-intended effects such as therapist-patient interaction and participation in a program. Both ERYT and CoordiFit exercises are easy to learn, and the training sessions will follow the same frequency and duration schedule, i.e., 13 standardized therapy sessions of 45 min (once a week for 6 weeks and then once every second week) during the total intervention period of 20 weeks. The primary endpoint of the study is the change from baseline over the whole intervention period (i.e., including measurements at baseline, weeks 8, 14, and 20) in the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy – Fatigue (FACIT-F) subscale score.

Discussion

This study is the first-known randomized clinical trial assessing eurythmy therapy in the treatment of fatigue in metastatic breast cancer patients. Given the distress that fatigue causes patients, it is important to validate treatment options. If eurythmy therapy proves beneficial in CRF as part of this randomized controlled clinical trial, the study may be very impactful with implications not only for metastatic breast cancer patients but also for other cancer patients, health care personnel, scientists, and funding and regulatory bodies.

Trial registration

The ERYT/CoordiFit trial was registered at the US National Institutes of Health (ClinicalTrials.gov) on July 18, 2019, #NCT04024267, and in the portal for human research in Switzerland on December 3, 2019, #SNCTP000003525.
Reduced DNA methylation of the oxytocin receptor gene is associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder
Authors: Park Chun Il , Kim Hae Won , Jeon Sumoa , Kang Jee In , Kim Se Joo
Published: July 2020

Background

Oxytocin is an important neuromodulator involved in cognition and socio-emotional processing that exerts its central activities via oxytocin receptors. Epigenetic alterations in the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) may be a molecular mechanism in the pathogenesis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This study investigated the association between OXTR DNA methylation and the OCD status of a Korean population.

Results

Quantitative leukocyte DNA methylation levels of three cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) sites in the 5′ untranslated region (UTR) of OXTR exon 2 and eight CpG sites within OXTR exon 3 were analyzed using the pyrosequencing method in 151 patients with OCD (including 45 drug-naïve patients) and 108 healthy controls. DNA methylation levels were compared between the groups using multiple analyses of covariance separately by sex after controlling for age and educational level. Patients with OCD showed significantly lower methylation levels at CpG1 and CpG2 sites on the UTR of OXTR exon 2 than those of healthy controls for both sexes. In a subset of 45 drug-naïve patients with OCD, the DNA methylation levels also remained significantly lower than those in the controls and their CpG1 methylation levels were significantly negatively associated with the ordering symptom dimension.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that epigenetic OXTR alterations may affect the pathophysiology of OCD. The potential role of the oxytocin system in OCD development and treatment warrants further investigation.
iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomic analysis of peripheral blood serum in piglets infected with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae
Authors: Zhu Rining , Bao Chuntong , Liu Baijun , Xiao Jiameng , Sun Changjiang , Feng Xin , Langford P. R. , Li Yang , Lei Liancheng
Published: July 2020

Porcine pleuropneumonia caused byActinobacillus pleuropneumoniae(APP) is a swine respiratory disease with an important impact around the world either as a single infection or part of the porcine respiratory disease complex. The data of interaction between hosts and pathogens has becoming more crucial for exploration of the mechanism. However, up to now, comparatively little information is available on the systemic and dynamic changes that occur in pig serum in response to APP infection. This study used iTRAQ to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in pig serum in response to APP infection. Compared with the APP un-infected group (S0),there were 137 up-regulated and 68 down-regulated proteins at 24 h (S24), and 81 up-regulated and 107 down-regulated proteins at 120 h (S120). At 24 h, the immune response was not significantly enriched, but cell adhesion, cytosol, Golgi apparatus, GTP and ATP binding and regulation of cell cycle were extremely active, implying host preparation of immune response starting. Subsequently, innate immune response, negative regulation of apoptotic process, immunological synapse, adaptive immune response, the regulation of inflammatory response, positive regulation of T cell proliferation were more enhanced at 120 h then that of 24 h, representing innate immunity transferring to the adaptive, while endocytosis, cell adhesion and platelet aggregation showed obvious decline. The pathways of T cell receptor signaling pathway, cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction, complement and coagulation cascades, leukocyte transendothelial migration were active remarkably during all infection period, and more pathways could connect to form innate immune defense networks. Surprisingly, the pathways like amoebiasis, rheumatoid arthritis and malaria had been found up-regulated. As a conclusion, APP could delay host inflammatory response to the infection at early stage, and induced innate immunity to convert from adhesion, interaction into complement activation, proteasome digestion, bacterial invasion at later stage. This would increase our understanding of the porcine distinct response to APP infection.
The ill-posedness of derivative interpolation and regularized derivative interpolation for band-limited functions by sampling
Authors: Chen Weidong
Published: July 2020

In this paper, the ill-posedness of derivative interpolation is discussed, and a regularized derivative interpolation for band-limited signals is presented. The ill-posedness is analyzed by the Shannon sampling theorem. The convergence of the regularized derivative interpolation is studied by the combination of a regularized Fourier transform and the Shannon sampling theorem. The error estimation is given, and high-order derivatives are also considered. The algorithm of the regularized derivative interpolation is compared with derivative interpolation using some other algorithms.
Approximate controllability of noninstantaneous impulsive Hilfer fractional integrodifferential equations with fractional Brownian motion
Authors: Ahmed Hamdy M. , El-Borai Mahmoud M. , El Bab A. S. Okb , Ramadan M. Elsaid
Published: July 2020

We introduce the investigation of approximate controllability for a new class of nonlocal and noninstantaneous impulsive Hilfer fractional neutral stochastic integrodifferential equations with fractional Brownian motion. An appropriate set of sufficient conditions is derived for the considered system to be approximately controllable. For the main results, we use fractional calculus, stochastic analysis, fractional power of operators and Sadovskii’s fixed point theorem. At the end, an example is also given to show the applicability of our obtained theory.
Optimal control for cancer treatment mathematical model using Atangana–Baleanu–Caputo fractional derivative
Authors: Sweilam Nasser Hassan , Al-Mekhlafi Seham Mahyoub , Assiri Taghreed , Atangana Abdon
Published: July 2020

In this work, optimal control for a fractional-order nonlinear mathematical model of cancer treatment is presented. The suggested model is determined by a system of eighteen fractional differential equations. The fractional derivative is defined in the Atangana–Baleanu Caputo sense. Necessary conditions for the control problem are derived. Two control variables are suggested to minimize the number of cancer cells. Two numerical methods are used for simulating the proposed optimal system. The methods are the iterative optimal control method and the nonstandard two-step Lagrange interpolation method. In order to validate the theoretical results, numerical simulations and comparative studies are given.
Growth of solutions for a coupled nonlinear Klein–Gordon system with strong damping, source, and distributed delay terms
Authors: Rahmoune Abdelaziz , Ouchenane Djamel , Boulaaras Salah , Agarwal Praveen
Published: July 2020

In this work, the exponential growth of solutions for a coupled nonlinear Klein–Gordon system with distributed delay, strong damping, and source terms is proved. Take into consideration some suitable assumptions.
Transmission patterns of COVID-19 in the mainland of China and the efficacy of different control strategies: a data- and model-driven study
Authors: Zu Jian , Li Miao-Lei , Li Zong-Fang , Shen Ming-Wang , Xiao Yan-Ni , Ji Fan-Pu
Published: July 2020

Background

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has seriously endangered the health and lives of Chinese people. In this study, we predicted the COVID-19 epidemic trend and estimated the efficacy of several intervention strategies in the mainland of China.

Methods

According to the COVID-19 epidemic status, we constructed a compartmental model. Based on reported data from the National Health Commission of People’s Republic of China during January 10–February 17, 2020, we estimated the model parameters. We then predicted the epidemic trend and transmission risk of COVID-19. Using a sensitivity analysis method, we estimated the efficacy of several intervention strategies.

Results

The cumulative number of confirmed cases in the mainland of China will be 86 763 (95% CI: 86 067–87 460) on May 2, 2020. Up until March 15, 2020, the case fatality rate increased to 6.42% (95% CI: 6.16–6.68%). On February 23, 2020, the existing confirmed cases reached its peak, with 60 890 cases (95% CI: 60 350–61 431). On January 23, 2020, the effective reproduction number was 2.620 (95% CI: 2.567–2.676) and had dropped below 1.0 since February 5, 2020. Due to governmental intervention, the total number of confirmed cases was reduced by 99.85% on May 2, 2020. Had the isolation been relaxed from February 24, 2020, there might have been a second peak of infection. However, relaxing the isolation after March 16, 2020 greatly reduced the number of existing confirmed cases and deaths. The total number of confirmed cases and deaths would increase by 8.72 and 9.44%, respectively, due to a 1-day delayed diagnosis in non-isolated infected patients. Moreover, if the coverage of close contact tracing was increased to 100%, the cumulative number of confirmed cases would be decreased by 88.26% on May 2, 2020.

Conclusions

The quarantine measures adopted by the Chinese government since January 23, 2020 were necessary and effective. Postponing the relaxation of isolation, early diagnosis, patient isolation, broad close-contact tracing, and strict monitoring of infected persons could effectively control the COVID-19 epidemic. April 1, 2020 would be a reasonable date to lift quarantine in Hubei and Wuhan.
Utilization and predictors of long acting reversible contraceptive methods among reproductive age women in Hawassa city, South Ethiopia: a community based mixed methods
Authors: Tilahun Aklilu , Yoseph Amanuel , Dangisso Mesay Hailu
Published: July 2020

Background

Long acting reversible contraceptive methods are highly effective, safe and provide uninterrupted protection to women for 3 to 12 years, yet are little used in the Ethiopia. Assessment of the utilization and predictors of long acting reversible contraceptive methods assist health planners to prioritize promotion strategies, and is a fundamental step for intervention. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the utilization and predictors of long acting reversible contraceptives among reproductive age women in Hawassa city, South Ethiopia; 2019.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted using a mixed method among the sample of 660 reproductive age women in Hawassa city, South Ethiopia from January 1–30, 2019. We have used a systematic and purposive sampling technique to select the study participants. A structured interview-administrated questionnaire and focus group discussion were used to collect the data. The data were entered using Epi data version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Chi-square (X2) test was used to determine the overall association between explanatory and outcome variables. The variables were entered into the multivariable model using the backward stepwise regression approach. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted. The qualitative data were analyzed using a manual thematic analysis technique.

Results

The overall utilization of long acting reversible contraceptive methods was 22% (95% CI = 19.50–25.50%). Among this, 17.5 and 4.5% of women utilized the implants and IUCD, respectively. Good knowledge (AOR = 4.0; 95% CI = 1.66–9.60; P = 0.001) and positive attitude (AOR = 7.9; 95% CI = 3.84–16.10; P = 0.001) of women about LARC methods were positively associated with utilization of LARC methods. The odds of utilizing LARC methods increased 8.2 times for women who have no desire to have a child (AOR = 8.2, 95% CI = 3.13–21.30) as compared to those who have the desire to have a child. The discussion of women about LARC methods with providers (AOR = 4.1; 95% CI = 1.24–5.24) and husbands (AOR = 2.7; 95% CI =1.02–7.20) were positively associated with utilization of LARC methods. These findings were supported by the individual, institutional and socio-cultural qualitative findings.

Conclusions

The utilization of LARC methods far below the national target (22 V 40%) in the study area. Good knowledge and positive attitude about LARC methods, no desire to have a child, discussion with husbands and providers were major predictors of the LARC methods utilization. Increasing knowledge and positive attitude of the women about LARC methods using various methods of health education should be considered.
Changes of fat-mass and obesity-associated protein expression in the hippocampus in animal models of high-fat diet-induced obesity and D-galactose-induced aging
Authors: Kang Min Soo , Kim Woosuk , Kim Tae Hyeong , Jung Hyo Young , Kwon Hyun Jung , Kim Dae Won , Hwang In Koo , Choi Jung Hoon
Published: July 2020

Fat-mass and obesity-associated protein (Fto) is highly expressed in the brain including, the hippocampus, and its expression is significantly decreased in the brain of Alzheimer’s disease patients. In the present study, we measured Fto immunoreactivity and protein levels in the hippocampus of obese and aged mice, which were induced by high-fat diet for 12 weeks and D-galactose treatment for 10 weeks, respectively. The obesity and aging phenotypes were assessed by physiological parameters and Morris water maze test, respectively. High fat diet fed mice showed significant increases in body weight and blood glucose levels compared to that in the control or D-galactose-induced aged mice. In addition, treatment with D-galactose significantly decreased the spatial memory. Fto immunoreactivity in the control group was mainly detected in the pyramidal cells of the CA1 and CA3 regions and in the granule cells of the dentate gyrus. In the hippocampus of high-fat diet-fed mice, Fto immunoreactive structures were similarly found in the hippocampus compared to that in the control group, but Fto immunoreactivity in high-fat diet-fed mice was also found in the stratum oriens and radiatum of the CA1 and CA3 regions and the polymorphic layer of the dentate gyrus. In the hippocampus of D-galactose-induced aged mice, fewer Fto immunoreactive structures were detected in the granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus compared to the control group. Fto mRNA and protein levels based on quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot assays were slightly increased in the hippocampus of high-fat diet-fed mice compared to that in control mice. In addition, Fto mRNA and protein levels were significantly decreased in the aged hippocampus compared to that in the control group. Fto protein levels are susceptible to the aging process, but not in the hippocampus of high-fat diet-induced obesity. The reduction of Fto in aged mice may be associated with reduced memory impairment in mice.
Catatonic features in children and adolescents with N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antibody encephalitis
Authors: Eyre Michael , Kaushik Anya , Barrett Elizabeth , King Mary D. , Pollak Thomas , Dale Russell C. , Byrne Susan , Lim Ming
Published: July 2020

Catatonia is a psychomotor dysregulation syndrome of diverse aetiology, increasingly recognised as a prominent feature of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antibody encephalitis (NMDARE) in adults. No study to date has systematically assessed the prevalence and symptomatology of catatonia in children with NMDARE. We analysed 57 paediatric patients with NMDARE from the literature using the Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale. Catatonia was common (occurring in 86% of patients), manifesting as complex clusters of positive and negative features within individual patients. It was both underrecognised and undertreated. Immunotherapy was the only effective intervention, highlighting the importance of prompt recognition and treatment of the underlying cause of catatonia.
Comparison of clinical outcomes following 2 years of treatment of first-episode psychosis in urban early intervention services in Canada and India
Authors: Malla Ashok , Iyer Srividya N. , Rangaswamy Thara , Ramachandran Padmavati , Mohan Greeshma , Taksal Aarati , Margolese Howard C. , Schmitz Norbert , Joober Ridha
Published: July 2020

Background

Purported superior outcomes for treatment of psychosis in low- and middle-income (LMICs) compared with high-income (HICs) countries have not been examined in the context of early intervention services (EIS).

Aims

To compare 2-year clinical outcomes in first-episode psychosis (FEP) treated in EIS in Chennai (LMIC) and Montreal (HIC) using a similar EIS treatment protocol and to identify factors associated with any outcome differences.

Method

Patients with FEP treated in EIS in Chennai (n = 168) and Montreal (n = 165) were compared on change in level of symptoms and rate and duration of positive and negative symptom remission over a 2-year period. Repeated-measures analysis of variance, and logistic and linear regression analyses were conducted.

Results

Four patients died in Chennai compared with none in Montreal. Family support was higher for Chennai patients (F = 14.05, d.f. = 1, P < 0.001, ƞp2 = 0.061) and increased over time at both sites (F = 7.0, d.f. = 1.915, P < 0.001, ƞp2 = 0.03). Negative symptom outcomes were significantly better in Chennai for level of symptoms (time × site interaction F = 7.36, d.f. = 1.49, P = 0.002, ƞp2 = 0.03), duration of remission (mean 16.1 v. 9.78 months, t = −7.35, d.f. = 331, P < 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.80) and the proportion of patients in remission (81.5% v. 60.3%, χ2 = 16.12, d.f. = 1, P < 0.001). The site differences in outcome remained robust after adjusting for inter-site differences in other characteristics. Early remission and family support facilitated better outcome on negative symptoms. No significant differences were observed in positive symptom outcomes.

Conclusions

Patients with FEP treated in EIS in LMIC contexts are likely to show better outcome on negative symptoms compared with those in HIC contexts. Early remission and family support may benefit patients across both contexts.
Frailty in Patients With Mild Autonomous Cortisol Secretion is Higher Than in Patients with Nonfunctioning Adrenal Tumors
Authors: Singh Sumitabh , Atkinson Elizabeth J , Achenbach Sara J , LeBrasseur Nathan , Bancos Irina
Published: July 2020

Context

Mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS) affects up to 50% of patients with adrenal adenomas. Frailty is a syndrome characterized by the loss of physiological reserves and an increase in vulnerability, and it serves as a marker of declining health.

Objective

To compare frailty in patients with MACS versus patients with nonfunctioning adrenal tumors (NFAT).

Design

Retrospective study, 2003-2018

Setting

Referral center

Patients

Patients >20 years of age with adrenal adenoma and MACS (1 mg overnight dexamethasone suppression (DST) of 1.9-5 µg/dL) and NFAT (DST <1.9 µg/dL).

Main outcome measure

Frailty index (range 0-1), calculated using a 47-variable deficit model.

Results

Patients with MACS (n = 168) demonstrated a higher age-, sex-, and body mass index–adjusted prevalence of hypertension (71% vs 60%), cardiac arrhythmias (50% vs 40%), and chronic kidney disease (25% vs 17%), but a lower prevalence of asthma (5% vs 14%) than patients with NFAT (n = 275). Patients with MACS reported more symptoms of weakness (21% vs 11%), falls (7% vs 2%), and sleep difficulty (26% vs 15%) as compared with NFAT. Age-, sex- and BMI-adjusted frailty index was higher in patients with MACS vs patients with NFAT (0.17 vs 0.15; P = 0.009). Using a frailty index cutoff of 0.25, 24% of patients with MACS were frail, versus 18% of patients with NFAT (P = 0.028).

Conclusion

Patients with MACS exhibit a greater burden of comorbid conditions, adverse symptoms, and frailty than patients with NFAT. Future prospective studies are needed to further characterize frailty, examine its responsiveness to adrenalectomy, and assess its influence on health outcomes in patients with MACS.