bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic and Epigenetic Etiology of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: An Update
Authors: Jarmakiewicz-Czaja Sara , Zielińska Magdalena , Sokal Aneta , Filip Rafał
Published: December 2022

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disease with periods of exacerbation and remission of the disease. The etiology of IBD is not fully understood. Many studies point to the presence of genetic, immunological, environmental, and microbiological factors and the interactions between them in the occurrence of IBD. The review looks at genetic factors in the context of both IBD predisposition and pharmacogenetics.
53BP1: Keeping It under Control, Even at a Distance from DNA Damage
Authors: Rass Emilie , Willaume Simon , Bertrand Pascale
Published: December 2022

Double-strand breaks (DSBs) are toxic lesions that can be generated by exposure to genotoxic agents or during physiological processes, such as during V(D)J recombination. The repair of these DSBs is crucial to prevent genomic instability and to maintain cellular homeostasis. Two main pathways participate in repairing DSBs, namely, non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination (HR). The P53-binding protein 1 (53BP1) plays a pivotal role in the choice of DSB repair mechanism, promotes checkpoint activation and preserves genome stability upon DSBs. By preventing DSB end resection, 53BP1 promotes NHEJ over HR. Nonetheless, the balance between DSB repair pathways remains crucial, as unscheduled NHEJ or HR events at different phases of the cell cycle may lead to genomic instability. Therefore, the recruitment of 53BP1 to chromatin is tightly regulated and has been widely studied. However, less is known about the mechanism regulating 53BP1 recruitment at a distance from the DNA damage. The present review focuses on the mechanism of 53BP1 recruitment to damage and on recent studies describing novel mechanisms keeping 53BP1 at a distance from DSBs.
Genome-Wide Identification of Common Bean PvLTP Family Genes and Expression Profiling Analysis in Response to Drought Stress
Authors: Dong Xue , Zhu Huijun , Hao Xiaopeng , Wang Yan , Ma Xiaolei , Zhao Jiandong , Chang Jianwu
Published: December 2022

Common bean is one of the most important legume crops for human consumption. Its yield is adversely affected by environmental stress. Plant non-specific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs) are essential for plant growth, development, and resistance to abiotic stress, such as salt, drought, and alkali. However, changes in nsLTP family genes responding to drought stress are less known. The PvLTP gene family in the common bean was identified by a comprehensive genome-wide analysis. Molecular weights, theoretical isoelectric points, phylogenetic tree, conserved motifs, gene structures, gene duplications, chromosome localization, and expression profiles were analyzed by SignalP 5.0, ExPASy, ClustalX 2.1, MEGA 7.0, NCBI-CDD, MEME, Weblogo, and TBtools 1.09876, respectively. Heatmap and qRT-PCR analyses were performed to validate the expression profiles of PvLTP genes in different organs. In addition, the expression patterns of nine PvLTP genes in common beans treated with drought stress were investigated by qRT-PCR. We obtained 58 putative PvLTP genes in the common bean genome via genome-wide analyses. Based on the diversity of the eight-cysteine motif (ECM), these genes were categorized into five types (I, II, IV, V, and VIII). The signal peptides of the PvLTP precursors were predicted to be from 16 to 42 amino acid residues. PvLTPs had a predicated theoretical isoelectric point of 3.94–10.34 and a molecular weight of 7.15–12.17 kDa. The phylogenetic analysis showed that PvLTPs were closer to AtLTPs than OsLTPs. Conserved motif and gene structure analyses indicated that PvLTPs were randomly distributed on all chromosomes except chromosome 9. In addition, 23 tandem duplicates of PvLTP genes were arranged in 10 gene clusters on chromosomes 1 and 2. The heatmap and qRT-PCR showed that PvLTP expression significantly varied in different tissues. Moreover, 9 PvLTP genes were up-regulated under drought treatment. Our results reveal that PvLTPs play potentially vital roles in plants and provide a comprehensive reference for studies on PvLTP genes and a theoretical basis for further analysis of regulatory mechanisms influencing drought tolerance in the common bean.
Cloning and Functional Characterization of SpZIP2
Authors: Han Tian-Long , Tang Ting-Wei , Zhang Pei-Hong , Liu Min , Zhao Jing , Peng Jia-Shi , Meng Shuan
Published: December 2022

Zinc (Zn)-regulated and iron (Fe)-regulated transporter-like proteins (ZIP) are key players involved in the accumulation of cadmium (Cd) and Zn in plants. Sedum plumbizincicola X.H. Guo et S.B. Zhou ex L.H. Wu (S. plumbizincicola) is a Crassulaceae Cd/Zn hyperaccumulator found in China, but the role of ZIPs in S. plumbizincicola remains largely unexplored. Here, we identified 12 members of ZIP family genes by transcriptome analysis in S. plumbizincicola and cloned the SpZIP2 gene with functional analysis. The expression of SpZIP2 in roots was higher than that in the shoots, and Cd stress significantly decreased its expression in the roots but increased its expression in leaves. Protein sequence characteristics and structural analysis showed that the content of alanine and leucine residues in the SpZIP2 sequence was higher than other residues, and several serine, threonine and tyrosine sites can be phosphorylated. Transmembrane domain analysis showed that SpZIP2 has the classic eight transmembrane regions. The evolutionary analysis found that SpZIP2 is closely related to OsZIP2, followed by AtZIP11, OsZIP1 and AtZIP2. Sequence alignment showed that most of the conserved sequences among these members were located in the transmembrane regions. A further metal sensitivity assay using yeast mutant Δyap1 showed that the expression of SpZIP2 increased the sensitivity of the transformants to Cd but failed to change the resistance to Zn. The subsequent ion content determination showed that the expression of SpZIP2 increased the accumulation of Cd in yeast. Subcellular localization showed that SpZIP2 was localized to membrane systems, including the plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum. The above results indicate that ZIP member SpZIP2 participates in the uptake and accumulation of Cd into cells and might contribute to Cd hyperaccumulation in S. plumbizincicola.
Identification of Reliable Reference Genes under Different Stresses and in Different Tissues of Toxicodendron succedaneum
Authors: Ma Dongxiao , Zhang Qin , Zhou Jintao , Lu Yu , Duan Xiaomeng , He Chengzhong , Yu Jinde
Published: December 2022

Toxicodendron succedaneum (L.) Kuntze (T. succedaneum) is an economic tree species that produces urushiol and urushi wax, and it is of great value in industry and medicine. However, the stability of reference genes (RGs) has not been systematically reported in T. succedaneum to date. In this study, the expression of 10 candidate RGs was analyzed by RT-qPCR in different tissues (roots, stems, leaves), stress treatments (high/low temperature, drought), and hormone stimulation (jasmonic acid, JA). Then, the stability ranking of 10 candidate genes was evaluated by ∆Ct analysis and three software programs: geNorm, NormFinder, and BestKeeper. Finally, RefFinder was used to comprehensively analyze the expression stability of 10 candidate genes. The comprehensive analysis showed that TsRG05/06, TsRG01/06, and TsRG03/ACT were stable under high/low-temperature stress, drought stress, and JA treatment, respectively. TsRG03 and ACT had stable expression in different tissues. While the TsRG03 and ACT were recommended as the suitable RGs for T. succedaneum in all samples. Meanwhile, UBQ was the least suitable as a reference gene for T. succedaneum. In addition, the results of geNorm showed that the combination of two stable RGs could make the results of gene expression more accurate. These results provide alternative RGs for the study of gene function, correction, and normalization of target gene expression and directed molecular breeding in T. succedaneum.
Fragile X-Associated Neuropsychiatric Disorders (FXAND) in Young Fragile X Premutation Carriers
Authors: Aishworiya Ramkumar , Protic Dragana , Tang Si Jie , Schneider Andrea , Tassone Flora , Hagerman Randi
Published: December 2022

Background: The fragile X premutation carrier state (PM) (55–200 CGG repeats in the fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein 1, FMR1 gene) is associated with several conditions, including fragile X-associated primary ovarian insufficiency (FXPOI) and fragile X-associated tremor ataxia (FXTAS), with current literature largely primarily investigating older PM individuals. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of fragile X-associated neurodevelopmental disorders (FXAND) in a sample of young PM individuals. Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted through a medical record review of PM individuals who were seen either for clinical concerns (probands, 45.9%) or identified through the cascade testing (non-probands, 54.1%) of an affected sibling with fragile X syndrome. Information on the presence of autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, depression, long-term psychiatric medication intake, and cognitive function, based on standardized assessments, was obtained. Molecular data, including CGG repeat number and FMR1 mRNA levels, were also available for a subset of participants. Analysis included descriptive statistics and a test of comparison to describe the clinical profile of PM individuals pertinent to FXAND. Results: Participants included 61 individuals (52 males and 9 females) aged 7.8 to 20.0 years (mean 12.6 ± 3.4) with a mean full-scale IQ of 90.9 ± 22.7. The majority (N = 52; 85.2%) had at least one mental health disorder, with anxiety being the most common (82.0% of subjects), followed by ADHD (66.5%), and ASD (32.8%). Twenty-seven (87.1%) of non-probands also had at least one mental health condition, with probands having lower cognitive and adaptive skills than non-probands. ASD was present in 20 participants (17/52 males and 3/9 females; 15 probands) with significantly lower FSIQ in those with ASD (mean 73.5 vs. 98.0, p < 0.001). Participants with ASD had a higher number of long-term medications compared to those without (2.32 vs. 1.3, p = 0.002). Conclusions: Our findings indicate a high rate of FXAND diagnoses within a cohort of young PM individuals, including those identified via cascade testing, although this was not a population sample. An awareness of the entity of FXAND and the early recognition of the symptoms of associated conditions may facilitate timely and appropriate care for PM individuals.
The Complete Chloroplast Genome Sequence of Machilus chuanchienensis (Lauraceae): Genome Structure and Phylogenetic Analysis
Authors: Bai Xue , Peng Juan , Yang Yongyi , Xiong Biao
Published: December 2022

Machilus chuanchienensis is an ecological tree distributed in southwestern China. It has a significant valuation with making Hawk tea using its leaves, an ethnic traditional tea-like beverage with a long history in Chinese tea culture. The whole chloroplast (cp) genome is an ideal model for the phylogenetic study of Lauraceae because of its simple structure and highly conserved features. There have been numerous reports of complete cp genome sequences in Lauraceae, but little is known about M. chuanchienensis. Here, the next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to sequence the M. chuanchienensis cp genome. Then, a comprehensive comparative genome analysis was performed. The results revealed that the M. chuanchienensis’s cp genome measured 152,748 base pairs (bp) with a GC content of 39.15% and coded 126 genes annotated, including comprising eight ribosomal RNA (rRNA), 36 transporter RNA (tRNA), and 82 protein-coding genes. In addition, the cp genome presented a typical quadripartite structure comprising a large single-copy (LSC; 93,811) region, a small single-copy (SSC; 18,803) region, and the inverted repeats (IRs; 20,067) region and contained 92 simple sequence repeat (SSR) locus in total. Phylogenetic relationships of 37 species indicated that M. chuanchienensis was a sister to M. balansae, M. melanophylla, and M. minutiflora. Further research on this crucial species may benefit significantly from these findings.
Analysis of Copy Number Variation in the Whole Genome of Normal-Haired and Long-Haired Tianzhu White Yaks
Authors: Meng Guangyao , Bao Qi , Ma Xiaoming , Chu Min , Huang Chun , Guo Xian , Liang Chunnian , Yan Ping
Published: December 2022

Long-haired individuals in the Tianzhu white yak population are a unique genetic resource, and have important landscape value. Copy number variation (CNV) is an important source of phenotypic variation in mammals. In this study, we used resequencing technology to detect the whole genome of 10 long-haired Tianzhu white yaks (LTWY) and 10 normal-haired Tianzhu white yaks (NTWY), and analyzed the differences of CNV in the genome of LTWYs and NTWYs. A total of 110268 CNVs were identified, 2006 CNVRs were defined, and the distribution map of these CNVRs on chromosomes was constructed. The comparison of LTWYs and NTWYs identified 80 differential CNVR-harbored genes, which were enriched in lipid metabolism, cell migration and other functions. Notably, some differential genes were identified as associated with hair growth and hair-follicle development (e.g., ASTN2, ATM, COL22A1, GK5, SLIT3, PM20D1, and SGCZ). In general, we present the first genome-wide analysis of CNV in LTWYs and NTWYs. Our results can provide new insights into the phenotypic variation of different hair lengths in Tianzhu white yaks.
Association of Inherited Copy Number Variation in ADAM3A and ADAM5 Pseudogenes with Oropharynx Cancer Risk and Outcome
Authors: Carron Juliana , Torricelli Caroline , Silva Janet Keller , Liu Yichuan , Pellegrino Renata , Lima Carmen Silvia Passos , Lourenço Gustavo Jacob
Published: December 2022

Inherited copy number variations (CNVs) can provide valuable information for cancer susceptibility and prognosis. However, their association with oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is still poorly studied. Using microarrays analysis, we identified three inherited CNVs associated with OPSCC risk, of which one was validated in 152 OPSCC patients and 155 controls and related to pseudogene-microRNA-mRNA interaction. Individuals with three or more copies of ADAM3A and ADAM5 pseudogenes (8p11.22 chromosome region) were under 6.49-fold increased risk of OPSCC. ADAM5 shared a highly homologous sequence with the ADAM9 3′-UTR, predicted to be a binding site for miR-122b-5p. Individuals carrying more than three copies of ADAM3A and ADAM5 presented higher ADAM9 expression levels. Moreover, patients with total deletion or one copy of pseudogenes and with higher expression of miR-122b-5p presented worse prognoses. Our data suggest, for the first time, that ADAM3A and ADAM5 pseudogene-inherited CNV could modulate OPSCC occurrence and prognosis, possibly through the interaction of ADAM5 pseudogene transcript, miR-122b-5p, and ADAM9.
Chromosomal Location of Pm12—A Novel Powdery Mildew Resistance Gene from Avena sterilis
Authors: Ociepa Tomasz , Okoń Sylwia
Published: December 2022

Identification of new, effective disease resistance genes is a very important aspect of plant breeding. Also important is the precise location of individual loci and tagging them with DNA markers for marker assisted selection. The aim of the present study was identification of the molecular markers linked with Pm12, a new effective resistance gene to powdery mildew, and their location in the oat genome. The analysis was performed on 167 F2 individuals from a hybrid of Fuchs × CN67383, with the status of the locus in each individual verified by progeny test in F3. Segregation ratios confirmed the monogenic nature of resistance. Making use of the sequence data of DNA markers and the oat OT3098 v2 genome reference assembly, Pm12 is located on chromosome 7C. A comparison was also made with the reference consensus map, to which there are more reports of mapped genes to date. The mapping results suggest that Pm12 is located in the interval 103.8–111.7 cM on this map. No powdery mildew resistance locus has been identified in this region so far, suggesting that Avena sterilis CN67383 carries a novel locus offering effective resistance in oat breeding. The information included in the oat genome annotation allowed for the identification of candidate genes in the close region of the marker cluster for Pm12. This information may provide an interesting source of further analysis of the pathways of various genes in response to the stress of powdery mildew infection.
Heterologous Expression of Human Metallothionein Gene HsMT1L Can Enhance the Tolerance of Tobacco (Nicotiana nudicaulis Watson) to Zinc and Cadmium
Authors: Zheng Yilin , Cui Meng , Ni Lei , Qin Yafei , Li Jinhua , Pan Yu , Zhang Xingguo
Published: December 2022

Metallothionein (MT) is a multifunctional inducible protein in animals, plants, and microorganisms. MT is rich in cysteine residues (10−30%), can combine with metal ions, has a low molecular weight, and plays an essential biological role in various stages of the growth and development of organisms. Due to its strong ability to bind metal ions and scavenge free radicals, metallothionein has been used in medicine, health care, and other areas. Zinc is essential for plant growth, but excessive zinc (Zn) is bound to poison plants, and cadmium (Cd) is a significant environmental pollutant. A high concentration of cadmium can significantly affect the growth and development of plants and even lead to plant death. In this study, the human metallothionein gene HsMT1L under the control of the CaMV 35S constitutive promoter was transformed into tobacco, and the tolerance and accumulation capacity of transgenic tobacco plants to Zn and Cd were explored. The results showed that the high-level expression of HsMT1L in tobacco could significantly enhance the accumulation of Zn2+ and Cd2+ in both the aboveground parts and the roots compared to wild-type tobacco plants and conferred a greater tolerance to Zn and Cd in transgenic tobacco. Subcellular localization showed that HsMT1L was localized to the nucleus and cytoplasm in the tobacco. Our study suggests that HsMT1L can be used for the phytoremediation of soil for heavy metal removal.
Editorial of Special Issue “Advances and Applications in Computational Geosciences”
Authors: Lee Eun , D’Addabbo Annarita , Piretzidis Dimitrios
Published: December 2022

In geoscientific fields, mathematical modelling, numerical analysis, visualization, simulation, and other computational techniques have become necessary to improve our understanding of phenomena and evolution of the Earth [...]
COVID-19 Era and the Constantly Reemerging Novel SARS-CoV-2 Variants Calls for Special Attention for the Geriatrics: A Real Challenge
Authors: Kutikuppala L. V. Simhachalam , Kandi Venkataramana , Sarangi Ashish K. , Mishra Snehasish , Mohapatra Ranjan K.
Published: December 2022

Global public health is significantly challenged due to the continuing COrona VIrus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak brought forth by the severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) [...]
Exercised-Induced Hypoalgesia following An Elbow Flexion Low-Load Resistance Exercise with Blood Flow Restriction: A Sham-Controlled Randomized Trial in Healthy Adults
Authors: Karanasios Stefanos , Sozeri Alexia , Koumantakis George A. , Gioftsos George
Published: December 2022

We aimed to evaluate the hypoalgesic effect of an elbow flexion low-load resistance exercise with blood flow restriction (LLRE–BFR) when compared to high-load resistance exercise (HLRE) with sham-BFR in healthy individuals. Forty healthy young adults (17 women), with a mean age ± SD: 26.6 ± 6.8 years, and mean body mass index ± SD: 23.6 ± 2.7 were randomly assigned to either an LLRE–BFR (30% 1 repetition maximum, RM) or an HLRE with sham-BFR group (70% of 1 RM). Blood pressure and pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) were measured pre- and post-exercise intervention. The rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was recorded after each set. There were non-significant between-group changes in PPT at the dominant biceps (−0.61, 95%CI: −1.92 to 0.68) with statistically significant reductions between pre- and post-exercise in LLRE–BFR (effect size, d = 0.88) and HLRE-BFR (effect size, d = 0.52). No within- or between-group differences were recorded in PPT at non-exercising sites of measurement. No mediating effects of changes in blood pressure or RPE on the changes in pressure pain threshold were observed. LLRE–BFR produced a similar hypoalgesic effect locally compared to HLRE and can be used as an alternative intervention to decrease pain sensitivity when HLRE is contraindicated or should be avoided.
Preventive Medicine via Lifestyle Medicine Implementation Practices Should Consider Individuals’ Complex Psychosocial Profile
Authors: Papadakis Zacharias , Stamatis Andreas , Manierre Matthew , Boolani Ali
Published: December 2022

Noncommunicable chronic diseases are associated with lifestyle behaviors. Psychological and social factors may influence the adoption of such behaviors. Being mentally and physically energized or fatigued may influence the intention–behavior gap of healthy lifestyle adoption accordingly. We investigated the associations of age, sex, lifestyle behaviors, mood, and mental and physical energy and fatigue at both the trait and state levels. The participants (N = 670) completed questionnaires assessing their sleep, mood, mental and physical state energy and fatigue, physical activity, mental workload, and diet. The ordinary least squares regression models revealed an overlap between the mental state and trait energy levels for males who consume polyphenols, have a high mental workload, and sleep well. Being younger, having a high stress level, bad sleep habits, and being confused and depressed were associated with high mental fatigue. Physical energy and fatigue shared the same commonalities with the previous results, with greater discrepancies observed between the state and trait indicators compared to that between mental energy and fatigue. Diet and stress management seem to be predictors of high physical energy, and females report higher physical fatigue levels. Health care professionals should consider this psychosocial complex profiling in their differential diagnosis and when one is implementing lifestyle behavioral changes to address the facets of preventive medicine, wellness, and health promotion.
Evaluation of the Impact of Catheter Ablation Procedure on Outcomes and Economic Burden in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: Real-World Data from Italian Administrative Databases
Authors: Degli Esposti Luca , Dovizio Melania , Leogrande Melania , Perrone Valentina , De Ponti Roberto
Published: December 2022

A real-world analysis among the Italian population has been carried out to estimate the number of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients undergoing catheter ablation and to evaluate their clinical outcome and economic burden. A retrospective analysis on administrative Italian databases has been performed. Between January 2011 and December 2019, all patients diagnosed with AF were considered and those undergoing catheter ablation were identified. Overall, 3084 (3.54%) of AF patients with at least one catheter ablation were included (mean age 63.2, 67.3% males). A significant decrease in the use of AF-related medications and in hospitalizations, mainly related to AF and heart failure, was observed during the 3-year post-ablation period. The average total cost per patient during the 1-year before ablation period was significantly higher compared to the 1-year post-ablation cost (EUR 5248 vs. 4008, respectively; p < 0.001). After propensity score matching, the overall mortality of patients who underwent ablation was significantly lower compared to that assessed in patients not treated with the procedure (9.386/1000 vs. 23.032/1000 person-year, respectively; p < 0.001). Moreover, the mean total costs were significantly higher in patients who did not undergo ablation compared to those who received ablation (EUR 5516 vs. 4008, respectively; p < 0.001). This real-world data analysis shows that in Italy, although catheter ablation is performed in a minority of AF patients, it is associated with significantly better post-procedure clinical outcomes and a significant reduction in healthcare-related costs.
Rubella Virus Infections: A Bibliometric Analysis of the Scientific Literature from 2000 to 2021
Authors: Ejaz Hasan , Zeeshan Hafiz Muhammad , Iqbal Abid , Ahmad Shakil , Ahmad Fahad , Abdalla Abualgasim Elgaili , Anwar Naeem , Junaid Kashaf , Younas Sonia , Sadiq Ashina , Atif Muhammad , Bukhari Syed Nasir Abbas
Published: December 2022

Rubella virus (RuV) generally causes a mild infection, but it can sometimes lead to systemic abnormalities. This study aimed to conduct a bibliometric analysis of over two decades of RuV research. Medical studies published from 2000 to 2021 were analyzed to gain insights into and identify research trends and outputs in RuV. R and VOSviewer were used to conduct a bibliometric investigation to determine the globally indexed RuV research output. The Dimensions database was searched with RuV selected as the subject, and 2500 published documents from the preceding two decades were reviewed. The number of publications on RuV has increased since 2003, reaching its peak in 2020. There were 12,072 authors and 16,769 author appearances; 88 publications were single-authored and 11,984 were multi-authored. The United States was the most influential contributor to RuV research, in terms of publications and author numbers. The number of RuV-related articles has continued to increase over the past few years due to the significant rubella burden in low-income nations. This study will aid in formulating plans and policies to control and prevent RuV infections.
Oral Anticoagulation in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease and Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation: The FAERC Study
Authors: Montomoli Marco , Roca Lourdes , Rivera Mariana , Fernandez-Prado Raul , Redondo Beatriz , Camacho Rosa , Moyano Cayetana , Pampa Saul , Gonzalez Angela , Casas Juan , Kislikova Maria , Sanchez Horrillo Ana , Cabrera Cárdena Alicia , Quiroga Borja , Rabasco Cristina , Piqueras Sara , Suso Andrea , Reque Javier , Villa Juan , Ojeda Raquel , Arroyo David
Published: December 2022

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and its presence is associated with a higher risk of stroke and mortality. Material and Methods: The FAERC study performed a retrospective multicentre analysis of historical cohorts in which data were collected from arrhythmia diagnosis onwards. Results: We analysed a Spanish cohort of 4749 patients with CKD (mean eGFR 33.9 mL/min) followed up in the nephrology clinic, observing a 12.2% prevalence of non-valvular AF. In total, 98.6% of these patients were receiving anticoagulant treatment, mainly with coumarins (79.7%). Using direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) was associated with fewer cerebrovascular events than using acenocoumarol, but in contrast with other studies, we could not corroborate the association of risk of bleeding, coronary events, or death with a type of anticoagulant prescribed. Conclusions: Atrial fibrillation is highly prevalent in renal patients. Direct-acting anticoagulants seem to be associated with fewer ischemic-embolic complications, with no differences in bleeding, coronary events, or mortality rates.
Persistence to Medications for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia/Benign Prostatic Obstruction-Associated Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in the ASL TO4 Regione Piemonte (Italy)
Authors: Armando Lucrezia Greta , Baroetto Parisi Raffaella , Remani Elisa , Esiliato Mariangela , Rolando Cristina , Vinciguerra Valeria , Diarassouba Abdoulaye , Cena Clara , Miglio Gianluca
Published: December 2022

Background: Pharmacological treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)/benign prostatic obstruction (BPO)-associated lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) aims at improving patients’ quality of life by managing urinary symptoms and preventing complications and disease progression. However, continuous use of drugs to treat BPH/BPO-associated LUTS decreases over time. The aim of this retrospective observational study was to describe use of α1-adrenoceptor antagonists (ABs) and steroid 5α-reductase inhibitors (5ARIs) by adult (age ≥ 40 years) men in the ASL TO4, a Local Health Authority in the northern area of the city of Turin (Italy). Methods: Persistence measures were adopted as a robust, informative, and feasible way to understand medication-taking behavior and to assess patient compliance. Results: A total of 4309 men (median age 71 years) were enrolled. Monotherapy was the treatment option prescribed to the largest part of the study population. However, ≥two drugs were prescribed to a substantial proportion of men (23%). Men prescribed alfuzosin or dutasteride had significantly greater persistence, which decreased over time. Conclusions: Unmet needs and areas of intervention for healthcare systems aimed at improving the use of drugs for BHP/BPO-associated LUTS in the ASL TO4 Regione Piemonte were identified.
Implementation of the Flipped Classroom Combined with Problem-Based Learning in a Medical Nursing Course: A Quasi-Experimental Design
Authors: Chi Meixuan , Wang Naijuan , Wu Qing , Cheng Ming , Zhu Chenya , Wang Xiaohua , Hou Yunying
Published: December 2022

Background: Medical Nursing is one of the most important core courses in nursing education, and the emergence of the flipped classroom has made up for the shortcomings of traditional teaching and improved the effectiveness of teaching. However, it is worth exploring how to maximize the effect of students’ self-study before class while making full use of classroom teaching to promote the cultivation of students’ abilities, so that the flipped classroom can have a maximal teaching effect. Therefore, this study explored the effect of a flipped-classroom teaching mode based on a small private online course (SPOC) combined with problem-based learning (PBL) in a course of Medical Nursing. Methods: Nursing undergraduates from the years 2018 (control group) and 2019 (experimental group), respectively, used the traditional lecture method and the flipped-classroom teaching mode based on a SPOC combined with PBL. The teaching effect was evaluated by teaching-mode-recognition evaluation, critical thinking measurement, and academic achievement. Results: The scores of teaching-mode recognition evaluated by the students in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group in the following five aspects: “helping to improve learning interest” (p = 0.003), “helping to improve autonomous learning ability” (p = 0.002), “helping to improve communication and cooperation ability” (p < 0.001), “helping to cultivate clinical thinking” (p = 0.012), and “helping to promote self-perfection and sense of achievement” (p = 0.001). Compared with the control group, the score on the “analytical ability” dimension of the Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory in the experimental group was higher (p = 0.030). The excellent rates of the final theoretical examination (p = 0.046) and comprehensive case analysis (p = 0.046) in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group. Conclusions: The flipped-classroom teaching mode based on a SPOC combined with PBL can promote students’ abilities of autonomous learning, communication and cooperation, and clinical and critical thinking; improves their academic performance; and is recognized and welcomed by them. However, to extend the flipped-classroom teaching model of a SPOC combined with PBL to other nursing education courses, more optimization and evaluation are required.
Body Mass Index and Clinical Outcomes in Adult COVID-19 Patients of Diverse Ethnicities
Authors: Hafez Wael , Abdelshakor Mahmoud , Kishk Samy , Gebril Amr , Gador Muneir , Osman Sana , Abuelsaoud Hesham Mohamed , Abdelrahman Ahmed
Published: December 2022

(1) Background: Body mass index (BMI) was observed to affect COVID-19 outcomes; however, the complete spectrum of clinical outcomes concerning BMI remains unexplored. The current study aimed to investigate the correlation between BMI and the severity and mortality of COVID-19, as well as ICU admission, radiological findings, clinical presentation, and time to viral clearance. (2) Methods: This retrospective study included 1796 multiethnic patients with COVID-19 treated at NMC Royal Hospital, Abu Dhabi, UAE. (3) Results: COVID-19’s adjusted odds of severity increased by 3.7- and 21.5-fold in classes I and III, respectively (p = 0.001). The odds of mortality were not significantly different after adjustment for age, sex, and race. The adjusted odds of ICU admission increased significantly by 3-fold and non-significantly by 4-fold in obesity classes I and II, respectively. Pneumonia was significantly higher in patients who were overweight and class I, II, and III obese. Furthermore, class III obese patients had a greater risk of presenting with combined respiratory and gastrointestinal manifestations (p < 0.001). The median time to viral clearance with a BMI > 40 kg/m2 was moderately higher than that with a BMI < 40 kg/m2. (4) Conclusions: High BMI was associated with pneumonia, ICU admission, severity, and mortality due to COVID-19.
The Analysis of Blood Inflammation Markers as Prognostic Factors in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Stanca Iulia-Diana , Criciotoiu Oana , Neamtu Simona-Daniela , Vasile Ramona-Constantina , Berceanu-Bora Nicoleta-Madalina , Minca Teodora-Nicoleta , Pirici Ionica , Rosu Gabriela-Camelia , Bondari Simona
Published: December 2022

Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive, and neurodegenerative disease, and yet with an imprecise etiopathogenesis. Although neuroinflammation was initially thought to be a secondary condition, it is now believed that microglia-induced inflammation could also contribute to the degeneration of the nigrostriatal pathway. Here, we aimed to establish the feasibility of basic inflammatory biomarkers as prognostic factors in PD. The study was based on retrospective analyses of blood samples taken from patients diagnosed with PD, as well as from healthy subjects. Complete medical records, total leukocyte count with subpopulations, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were analyzed. We calculated the serum neutrophils-to-lymphocytes ratio (NLR) and platelet-to lymphocytes ratio (PLR), and also compared the laboratory data between the PD group and the control group. Only PLR and NLR showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.001 and 0.04, respectively). In our study, ESR did not show statistically significant correlations with motor score or with disability. In our research, ESR was correlated with the disease duration (p = 0.04), and PLR showed a significant correlation with disease stage (p = 0.027) and disease duration (p = 0.001), but not with motor state. These biomarkers could prove to be effective tools for a primary evaluation of inflammation in PD, but further tests are required to properly investigate the neuroinflammatory status of these patients.
Cataract Surgery in Low-Income Countries: A Good Deal!
Authors: Flessa Steffen
Published: December 2022

Cataract is a major cause of blindness worldwide. In particular, in low-income countries, the burden of disease as well as its direct and indirect economic cost are a major challenge for the population and economy. In many cases, it would be possible to prevent or cure blindness with a comparably simple cataract surgery, but many countries lack the resources to strengthen healthcare systems and implement broad cataract surgery programs reaching, in particular, the rural poor. In this paper, we analyse whether such an intervention could be cost-effective or even cost-saving for the respective health systems. We calculate the net value of the lifelong costs of cataract with and without surgery. This calculation includes direct costs (e.g., treatment, glasses, surgery) as well as indirect cost of the caregiver and the patient. We total all costs from the year of onset of cataract until death and discount the respective values to the year of onset. We define the surgery as cost-saving if the net-value of costs with surgery is lower than without surgery. If the cost per quality adjusted life year is lower than one gross national product per capita, we define the intervention as highly cost-effective. We find that the cost-effectiveness of cataract surgery depends on the age of onset of the disease and the age of surgery. If the surgery is performed with the beginning of severe impairment, even surgery of a 78-year-old patient is still cost-saving. Almost all possible constellations are highly cost-effective, only for the very old it is questionable whether the surgery should be performed. The simulations show that cataract surgery is one of the most cost-effective interventions. However, millions of people in low-income countries still have no chance to prevent or cure blindness due to limited resources. The findings of this paper clearly call for a stronger effort to reach poor and rural populations with this cost-effective service.
Heritage and Repeat Photography: Techniques, Management, Applications, and Publications
Authors: Schaffland Axel , Heidemann Gunther
Published: December 2022

Repeat photography, the process of locating the camera position of an old photo and taking a new photo from this position, is utilized to protect our natural heritage, by measuring landscape changes between old and new image, and to conserve and recover our architectural and archaeological heritage, by observing changes between images taken before, during, and after conservation efforts or destructive events. Most importantly, repeat photography—in short, rephotography—is connecting us to our heritage on all levels from personal to global: while rephotographing, we connect with the old image and its creator and—when viewing and comparing the old image and the rephotograph—we connect with the tangible, intangible, and natural heritage shown in the images by observing changes and continuities. In this paper, we review publications and applications employing rephotography. We discuss the organization, retrieval, and presentation of rephotographic compilations, their generation by different image registration techniques, and their conservation as rephotographic heritage. Further, we describe challenges in rephotography, discuss how they differ from standard challenges in photography, computer vision, and image registration and present both analog and digital solutions and tools used in practice by rephotographers to address said challenges.
The Colors of the Butterfly Wings: Non-Invasive Microanalytical Studies of Hand-Coloring Materials in 19th-Century Daguerreotypes
Authors: Quintero Balbas Diego , Cattaneo Barbara , Cagnini Andrea , Belluzzo Paolo , Innocenti Silvia , Rossi Sandra , Fontana Raffaella , Striova Jana
Published: December 2022

The public expected color from the early photographic images, yet, daguerreotypes—the first commercially available photographic process—failed to register the natural colors. Daguerreotypists developed several coloring methods to solve this inconvenience after 1840. Scientific analyses of the hand-colored daguerreotypes are limited, and the primary information sources available are manuals and patents. This study aims to contribute to the knowledge of hand-coloring techniques, which impacts conservation practices, mainly the cleaning procedures and complements technical art history investigations. We studied nine colored daguerreotypes with a non-invasive methodology based on three spectroscopic techniques: X-ray fluorescence (XRF), micro-Raman spectroscopy (μ-Raman), and micro-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy in reflection mode (μ-rFTIR). The results revealed the different colorants and some of their mixtures employed by the colorist. It also adds information regarding the photographic production of three studios: Désiré François Millet, active in Paris between 1840 and 1868; Antoine Claudet (1797–1867), active in London; and the James E. McClees and Washington Lafayette Germon studio, operative between 1846 and 1855 in Philadelphia, USA. These technical details constitute a helpful comparison to future studies on Daguerreian studios and colored daguerreotypes.
Using Competency Maps for Embedding and Assessing Sustainability in Engineering Degrees
Authors: Sánchez-Carracedo Fermín , Segalas Jordi , Busquets Pere , Camacho Sara , Climent Joan , Lazzarini Boris , Martín Carme , Miñano Rafael , De Cámara Estíbaliz Sáez , Sureda Bárbara , Tejedor Gemma , Vidal Eva
Published: December 2022

This paper features a methodology for embedding and assessing a competency in an academic curriculum using competency maps. This methodology enables embedding and assessment of any competency in any curriculum, regardless of the educational level, as long as the competency is correctly described by means of a competency map. As an example of the application of this methodology, a proposal for embedding and assessing sustainability in engineering degrees is presented. A competency map embodies the set of learning outcomes of the competency that students should have acquired upon completion of their studies. This information allows the designers of the curriculum to determine the learning outcomes that should be developed in the degree and to distribute them appropriately among the subjects. The presence map can be constructed from the competency map. It contains information regarding the extent to which each learning outcome of the competency map is being developed in the degree. This paper proposes the construction of a presence map in two steps: (1) perform a survey and (2) conduct a semi-structured interview with professors. The interview, which is conducted by one or several experts in the competency, allows the different criteria used by the professors when filling out the questionnaire to be unified, whereas the presence map shows whether a particular competency is correctly embedded in the curriculum and the aspects that could be improved. Finally, to validate that the students are achieving the learning outcomes of the competency map, we propose a survey to measure the students’ perception about their own learning in the competency. These results can be compared with the presence map to help determine whether, from the students’ point of view, the expected learning outcomes are being achieved in the corresponding subjects. The aim of this process is to provide the information necessary to indicate any changes in the curriculum that may improve the embedding of the competency.
Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic in Nursing Homes: A Systematic Review
Authors: Martínez-Payá Marina , Carrillo Irene , Guilabert Mercedes
Published: December 2022

Nursing homes are one of the hardest-hit environments in terms of mortality from COVID-19. Given the reactive management of the pandemic, it is necessary to reflect on, and answer, the question as to which good practices (interventions) were implemented in care homes (population) to improve management and care quality (outcomes). This systematic review aimed to identify and describe good practices adopted in care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic or other recent epidemics. We conducted searches in Embase, PubMed, ScienceDirect, ProQuest Central, and Scopus over the period 1–30 November, 2021, using the descriptors “nursing homes”, “long-term care”, “long-term care facilities” and “COVID-19”; and the keywords “learnings”, “lessons”, “positive learnings”, “positive lessons”, “SARS”, “MERS”, “COVID-19” and “pandemic”. We identified 15 papers describing 14 best practices and 26 specific actions taken for COVID-19 management in long-term care facilities. Following the IDEF methodology, the practices were classified into strategic processes (staff training, communication with the national health system, person-centered care, and protocols), operational processes (cohorts, diagnostic testing, case monitoring, personal protective equipment, staff reinforcement, restriction of visits, social distancing, and alternative means for communication with families) and support processes (provision of equipment and hygiene reinforcement). Fifty percent of practices were likely to be maintained beyond the outbreak to improve the operation and quality of the long-term care facilities. This review summarizes the most common measures adopted to manage the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of increased vulnerability and highlights the deficiencies that must be addressed.
Improving Surveillance and Epidemic Response in Ohio Childcare Settings
Authors: Freedman Darcy A. , Ciesielski Timothy H. , Yamoah Owusua , Borawski Elaine A. , Ross Kristie R. , Nock Nora L. , Lee Eun Kyung , Dimitropoulos Anastasia , Minnes Sonia , Burkhart Kimberly , Ogland-Hand Callie , Tisch Daniel J.
Published: December 2022

At the start of the Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the risk of cases in childcare programs was unknown. Thus, a rapid-response research approach was launched in Ohio childcare settings. Passive surveillance data from a state-operated incident reporting system were evaluated to estimate the number of COVID-19 cases from 15 August 2020 to 1 January 2021. Additionally, active surveillance with self-administered reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests were conducted among staff at 46 childcare programs. Finally, six zoom-based focus groups with program administrators were used to gain feedback. Staff and children in childcare settings contributed 0.38% and 0.15% of the COVID-19 cases in Ohio during this timeframe, respectively. RT-PCR testing identified 3 unrecognized cases (0.88% of tests), and all occurred when the statewide positivity rate was >5%. Focus groups revealed that access to affordable cleaning supplies, masks, and reliable staffing were critical. Perhaps most importantly, we conclude that expanding the incident reporting system to include a childcare census would allow for the tracking of future health problems with highly valuable incidence rate estimations.
Study of Ageing in Complex Interface Interaction Tasks: Based on Combined Eye-Movement and HRV Bioinformatic Feedback
Authors: Huang Ting , Zhou Chengmin , Luo Xin , Kaner Jake
Published: December 2022

Human–computer interaction tends to be intelligent and driven by technological innovation. However, there is a digital divide caused by usage barriers for older users when interacting with complex tasks. To better help elderly users efficiently complete complex interactions, a smart home’s operating system’s interface is used as an example to explore the usage characteristics of elderly users of different genders. This study uses multi-signal physiological acquisition as a criterion. The results of the study showed that: (1) Older users are more attracted to iconic information than textual information. (2) When searching for complex tasks, female users are more likely to browse the whole page before locating the job. (3) Female users are more likely to browse from top to bottom when searching for complex tasks. (4) Female users are more likely to concentrate when performing complex tasks than male users. (5) Males are more likely to be nervous than females when performing complex tasks.