bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and safety of treatments for REM sleep behaviour disorder in Parkinson’s disease: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis protocol
Authors: Lin Fabin , Weng Yanhong , Lin Xiaofeng , Wu Dihang , Su Yixiao , Cai Guoen
Published: December 2021

Introduction

Sleep disorders are the main non-motor characteristics of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The quality of life is significantly impacted by rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder (RBD). It is not clearly evidenced in the literature that some medications can reduce the dream activities of patients with PD and RBD and improve sleep quality. And, they have side effects that may increase the severity of this disease. To further understand which medication has better efficacy and fewer adverse effects for patients with PD and RBD, it is necessary to perform a network meta-analysis.

Methods and analysis

This protocol is performed accordingly to the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols and the Cochrane Collaboration Handbook.

A thorough literature selection will be conducted up to September 2021 using PubMed, Cochrane Library (The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews) and Embase. We will not only include randomised controlled trials, but prospective, retrospective cohort, case–control, nested case–control, case–cohort, cross-sectional and case series. We will use the Cochrane Collaboration tool to assess the risk of bias. Pairwise and network meta-analyses will be conducted using the R netmeta package and Stata V.14.0. The relative ranking probability of the best intervention will be estimated using the surface under the cumulative ranking curve. Additionally, sensitivity analysis, subgroup analysis, quality assessment and publication bias analysis will be performed.

Ethics and dissemination

No research ethics approval is required for this systematic review, as no confidential patient data will be used. We will disseminate our findings through publication in a peer-reviewed journal and conference presentations, and our review will support development of a BMJ Rapid Recommendations providing contextualised clinical guidance based on this body of evidence.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42020206958.
Brazilian network of COVID-19 during pregnancy (REBRACO: a multicentre study protocol)
Authors: Costa Maria Laura , Souza Renato T , Pacagnella Rodolfo C , Bento Silvana F , Ribeiro-do-Valle Carolina C , Luz Adriana G , Lajos Giuliane J , Mazon Silvia B , Bahamondes Luis , Surita Fernanda G , Nobrega Guilherme M , Griggio Thayna B , Charles Charles M'poca , Miele Maria J , Tedesco Ricardo P , Fernandes Karayna G , Martins-Costa Sergio , Peret Frederico JA , Feitosa Francisco E , Mattar Rosiane , Traina Evelyn , Cunha Filho Edson V , Vettorazzi Janete , Haddad Samira M , Andreucci Carla B , Guida José Paulo , Correa Junior Mario D , Dias Marcos Augusto Bastos , Oliveira Leandro G , Melo Junior Elias F , Menezes Carlos AS , Luz Marília GQ , Cecatti Jose Guilherme
Published: December 2021

Introduction

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical, epidemiological and laboratory aspects of SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy and postpartum in 16 maternity hospitals.

Methods and analysis

A prospective multicentre study, with five axes. First, the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among women admitted for childbirth will be described in a cross-sectional study. Second, maternal and perinatal outcomes will be assessed in a prospective cohort study including pregnant or postpartum women with suspected COVID-19. Third, a cohort of positive COVID-19 cases with sampling of a variety of biological material. Histopathological and viral analysis of biological maternal and neonatal samples will be performed, and the assessment of nutritional variables to evaluate the association between vitamin D and severity of infection. Fourth, a monitoring and evaluation committee to collect relevant healthcare information and plan actions in centres facing the pandemic. Furthermore, qualitative studies will be performed to study pregnant women, their families and health professionals. Fifth, an ecological study will monitor the number of live births, stillbirths and other outcomes to explore any trend among the periods before, during and after the pandemic. Data will systematically be collected in an electronic platform following standardised operational procedures. For quantitative study components, an appropriate statistical approach will be used for each analysis. For qualitative data, in-depth interviews recorded in audio will be transcribed, checking the text obtained with the recording. Subsequently, thematic analysis with the aid of the NVivo programme will be performed.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval was obtained (letters of approval numbers 4.047.168, 4.179.679 and 4.083.988). All women will be fully informed to sign the consent form before enrolment in the study. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences.
Prevalence of left atrial appendage thrombus in patients with acute ischaemic stroke and sinus rhythm: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Nguyen Huan Thanh , Nguyen Hai Van Be , Nguyen Huy Quang , Le Hung Quoc
Published: December 2021

Objective

Thrombi originating in the left atrial appendage (LAA) mainly form because of atrial fibrillation (AF) and are a known cause of cardioembolic stroke. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of LAA thrombus in patients with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) and sinus rhythm on 12-lead ECG.

Methods

From June 2019 to February 2021, we conducted a cross-sectional study wherein we performed transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in patients with AIS and sinus rhythm on 12-lead ECG who were referred for detection of LAA thrombus. After TEE, all patients underwent 24-hour ECG monitoring to screen for paroxysmal AF. Predictors of LAA thrombus were determined using logistic regression analysis.

Results

Overall, 223 patients (age: 66.2±11.3 years, men: 61.4%) were included in the study. LAA thrombus was detected in 15 patients (6.7%). Paroxysmal AF was detected in 14 of the 15 patients during 24-hour ECG monitoring. Compared with the non-thrombus group, the thrombus group had a statistically significant higher rate of spontaneous echo contrast (SEC), longer LAA, lower peak LAA emptying velocity and predominantly bilateral stroke. In the adjusted model, the presence of SEC increased the probability of LAA thrombus (OR 9.04; 95% CI 2.12 to 38.54; p=0.003).

Conclusions

In patients with AIS and sinus rhythm on 12-lead ECG, our study revealed that the prevalence of LAA thrombus was 6.7% with the most prevalent aetiology being paroxysmal AF. The presence of SEC can be a predictor of LAA thrombus in these patients.
Transmission of COVID-19 from community to healthcare agencies and back to community: a retrospective study of data from Wuhan, China
Authors: Yang Mei , Li Anshu , Xie Gengchen , Pang Yanhui , Zhou Xiaoqi , Jin Qiman , Dai Juan , Yan Yaqiong , Guo Yan , Liu Xinghua
Published: December 2021

Background

The early spatiotemporal transmission of COVID-19 remains unclear. The community to healthcare agencies and back to community (CHC) model was tested in our study to simulate the early phase of COVID-19 transmission in Wuhan, China.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study. COVID-19 case series reported to the Municipal Notifiable Disease Report System of Wuhan from December 2019 to March 2020 from 17 communities were collected. Cases from healthcare workers (HW) and from community members (CM) were distinguished by documented occupations. Overall spatial and temporal relationships between HW and CM COVID-19 cases were visualised. The CHC model was then simulated. The turning point separating phase 1 and phase 2 was determined using a quadratic model. For phases 1 and 2, linear regression was used to quantify the relationship between HW and CM COVID-19 cases.

Results

The spatial and temporal distributions of COVID-19 cases between HWs and CMs were closely correlated. The turning point was 36.85±18.37 (range 15–70). The linear model fitted well for phase 1 (mean R2=0.98) and phase 2 (mean R2=0.93). In phase 1, the estimatedα^s were positive (from 18.03 to 94.99), with smallerβ^s (from 2.98 to 15.14); in phase 2, the estimatedα^s were negative (from −4.22 to −81.87), with largerβ^s (from 5.37 to 78.12).

Conclusion

Transmission of COVID-19 from the community to healthcare agencies and back to the community was confirmed in Wuhan. Prevention and control measures for COVID-19 in hospitals and among HWs are crucial and warrant further attention.
Comparison of cerebral blood flow in subjects with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from the population-based Rotterdam Study
Authors: Wijnant Sara R A , Bos Daniel , Brusselle Guy , Grymonprez Maxim , Rietzschel Ernst , Vernooij Meike W , Terzikhan Natalie , Lahousse Lies
Published: December 2021

Objectives

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at increased risk of cerebrovascular disease, which might be associated with decreases in cerebral blood flow. Since studies examining cerebral blood flow in COPD remain scarce and are limited by sample size, we aimed to study cerebral blood flow in participants with and without COPD.

Design

Observational cohort study.

Setting

Population-based Rotterdam Study.

Participants

4177 participants (age 68.0±8.5 years; 53% females) with and without COPD.

Predictor variable

Spirometry and pulmonary diffusing capacity.

Outcome measures

Cerebral blood flow by two-dimensional phase-contrast cerebral MRI.

Results

Compared with subjects with normal spirometry (forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ≥0.7 and FEV1≥80%), multivariable adjusted cerebral blood flow (mL/min) was preserved in subjects with COPD Global initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD1) (FEV1/FVC <0.7 and FEV1≥80%), but significantly lower in subjects with COPD GOLD2-3 (FEV1/FVC <0.7 and FEV1<80%), even after adjustment for cardiovascular comorbidities. In sex-stratified analyses, this difference in cerebral blood flow was statistically significant in women but not in men. Cerebral blood flow was lowest in subjects with FEV1, FVC and diffusion lung capacity for carbon monoxide % predicted values in the lowest quintile, even after adjustment for cardiovascular comorbidities and cardiac function.

Conclusion

We observed a lowered cerebral blood flow in subjects with COPD GOLD2-3.
Burden and impact of chronic cough in UK primary care: a dataset analysis
Authors: Hull James H , Langerman Haya , Ul-Haq Zia , Kamalati Tahereh , Lucas Amanda , Levy Mark L
Published: December 2021

Objective

Chronic cough (CC) is a debilitating respiratory symptom, now increasingly recognised as a discrete disease entity. This study evaluated the burden of CC in a primary care setting.

Design

Cross-sectional, retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Discover dataset from North West London, which links coded data from primary and secondary care. The index date depicted CC persisting for ≥8 weeks and was taken as a surrogate for date of CC diagnosis.

Participants

Data were extracted for individuals aged ≥18 years with a cough persisting ≥8 weeks or cough remedy prescription, between Jan 2015 and Sep 2019.

Main outcome measures

Demographic characteristics, comorbidities and service utilisation cost, including investigations performed and treatments prescribed were determined.

Results

CC was identified in 43 453 patients from a total cohort of 2 109 430 (2%). Median (IQR) age was 64 years (41–87). Among the cohort, 31% had no recorded comorbidities, 26% had been given a diagnosis of asthma, 17% chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 12% rhinitis and 15% reflux. Prevalence of CC was greater in women (57%) and highest in the 65–74 year age range. There was an increase in the number of all investigations performed in the 12 months before and after the index date of CC diagnosis, and in particular for primary care chest X-ray and spirometry which increased from 6535 to 12 880 and from 5791 to 8720, respectively. This was accompanied by an increase in CC-associated healthcare utilisation costs.

Conclusion

One-third of individuals had CC in the absence of associated comorbidities, highlighting the importance of recognising CC as a condition in its own right. Overall outpatient costs increased in the year after the CC index date for all comorbidities, but varied significantly with age. Linked primary-care datasets may enable earlier detection of individuals with CC for specialist clinic referral and targeted treatment.
Development of an index system for evaluating the organisational capabilities of primary medical institutions: a modified Delphi study in China
Authors: Cui Chengsen , Meng Kai
Published: December 2021

Objective

The low performance of primary medical institutions (PMIs) in China is a significant issue. The WHO proposed that the main reason for the failure of the healthcare system in developing countries is poor organisational capabilities. However, there is no international tool for evaluating the organisational capabilities of PMIs. Therefore, this study aimed to develop an index system for evaluating the organisational capabilities of PMIs.

Design

We searched the literature (English and Chinese) published before June 2020 in the PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wanfang databases to conduct a literature review and develop a preliminary indicator pool. Then, two rounds of Delphi expert consultations were conducted by email from June to September 2020, followed by screening, revision and supplementation of the indicators using the boundary value method. Finally, the analytic hierarchy process was used to determine the weight of the indicators.

Setting

The Delphi consultation questionnaire was distributed to the leaders of PMIs in districts D, F and S in Beijing, China.

Participants

Nineteen leaders of PMIs who had a profound understanding of PMI operations and management and were able to participate in Delphi research from a professional and comprehensive perspective were included in this study.

Results

The Cr values were 0.76 (first-level indicators) and 0.78 (second-level indicators), indicating that the expert consultation results were accurate and reliable. The result of the expert coordination coefficient test was significant at the p<0.01 level, suggesting that the experts’ views were consistent. The organisational capability index system includes 3 first-level indicators, 9 second-level indicators and 37 third-level indicators.

Conclusions

An index system for the organisational capabilities of PMIs was developed. This index system is a scoring system that focuses on basic service capabilities, management capabilities and sustainable development capabilities, and it can determine the priority of improvement areas for PMIs.
Antenatal care processes in rural Southern Nepal: gaps in and quality of service provision—a cohort study
Authors: Bryce Emily , Katz Joanne , Pema Lama Tsering , Khatry Subarna K , LeClerq Steven C , Munos Melinda
Published: December 2021

Objectives

This study aimed to compare a standard quality of care definition to one that reflected focused antenatal care (FANC) guidelines and examine associations with receipt of good quality of care.

Design

This study was a longitudinal cohort study.

Settings

Five government health posts in the Sarlahi district of Southern Nepal

Participants

Pregnant women between the ages of 15 and 49 who presented for their first antenatal care (ANC) visit at the study health posts.

Main outcomes

There were two quality of care definitions: (1) provision of seven services at least once during pregnancy (QOC1) and (2) provision of services to reflect the FANC guidelines by incorporating a frequency of care dimension for certain services (QOC4+).

Results

There was variation in service provision both in terms of frequency of provision and by gestational age at the visit. There were 213 women (49.1%) that received good quality care by the first definition, but when the frequency of service provision was included for the second definition the percentage dropped to 6.2%. There were significant differences in provision of quality care by health post for both definitions. The number of visits (QOC1 adjusted risk ratio (aRR) 1.18, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.23; QOC4+ aRR 1.46, 95% CI 1.11 to 2.80) and care during the first trimester (QOC1 aRR 1.22, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.49) and maternal age (QOC1 aRR 1.27, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.58) were associated with greater likelihood of good quality ANC.

Conclusion

This analysis demonstrated that measuring quality of care by receipt of services at least once during pregnancy may overestimate the true coverage of quality of ANC. Future efforts should improve feasibility of including frequency of care in quality of care definitions.
Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in urban settings in three sub-Saharan African countries (SeroCoV): a study protocol for a household-based cross-sectional prevalence study using two-stage cluster sampling
Authors: Lorenz Eva , Souares Aurélia , Amuasi John , Loag Wibke , Deschermeier Christina , Fusco Daniela , Benke Dominik , A Rakotoarivelo Rivo , Rasamoelina Mandranto Tahinamandranto , Rakotozandrindrainy Raphael , Sie Ali , Afum-Adjei Awuah Anthony , May Jürgen , Eibach Daniel , Struck Nicole
Published: December 2021

Introduction

The current COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the entire world with increasing morbidity and mortality and has resulted in serious economic and social consequences. Assessing the burden of COVID-19 is essential for developing efficient pandemic preparedness and response strategies and for determining the impact of implemented control measures. Population-based seroprevalence surveys are critical to estimate infection rates, monitor the progression of the epidemic and to allow for the identification of persons exposed to the infection who may either have been asymptomatic or were never tested. This is especially important for countries where effective testing and tracking systems could not be established and where non-severe cases or under-reported deaths might have blurred the true burden of COVID-19. Most seroprevalence surveys performed in sub-Saharan Africa have targeted specific high risk or more easily accessible populations such as healthcare workers or blood donors, and household-based estimates are rarely available. Here, we present the study protocol for a SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence estimation in the general population of Burkina Faso, Ghana and Madagascar in 2021.

Methods and analysis

The SeroCoV study is a household-based cross-sectional prevalence investigation in persons aged 10 years and older living in urban areas in six cities using a two-stage geographical cluster sampling method stratified by age and sex. The presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies will be determined using a sensitive and specific SARS-CoV-2 IgG ELISA. In addition, questionnaires will cover sociodemographic information, episodes of diseases and history of testing and treatment for COVID-like symptoms, travel history and safety measures. We will estimate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2, taking into account test performance and adjusting for the age and sex of the respective populations.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval was received for all participating countries. Results will be disseminated through reports and presentations at the country level as well as peer-reviewed publications and international scientific conferences presentations.
Influenza and morbidity and mortality risk in patients in Mexico with systemic arterial hypertension alone or with comorbidities: a retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study from 2014 to 2020
Authors: Malacara-Villaseñor Alejandrina , Ilaraza-Lomeli Hermes , Tapia-Conyer Roberto , Sarti Elsa
Published: December 2021

Objectives

In Mexico, patients with systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) are excluded from the influenza vaccination programme despite their risk of cardiovascular events as influenza-related complications. We investigated the impact of influenza on morbidity and mortality in patients with SAH.

Design

This was a retrospective cross-sectional study that analysed data from early 2014 to mid-2020.

Setting

Data were obtained from the Influenza Epidemiological Surveillance System in Mexico database.

Participants

32 663 cases of influenza in people aged ≥20 years with a confirmed case of influenza-like illness, severe respiratory infection and/or influenza death were investigated.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Influenza deaths, hospitalisation frequency and the impact on hospitalisation and/or death due to influenza by the SAH variate alone and in combination with diabetes, obesity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease and/or smoking, and by vaccination status were assessed.

Results

The hospitalisation frequency increased with age. Notably, 46.0% (15 033/32 663) of confirmed influenza cases had at least one comorbidity, with SAH (19.2%; 6260/32 663) and obesity (18.7%; 6106/32 663) being the most prevalent. Most confirmed SAH cases (80.8%; 5057/6260) were in those who had not been vaccinated against influenza. There were 3496 deaths due to influenza (mortality rate, 0.69×1 00 000 inhabitants), with the highest rates seen in those aged ≥80 years (80–89 years, 2.0%; ≥90 years, 3.6%). The case fatality rate due to influenza and SAH was significantly higher than those due to influenza without SAH in those aged <50 years, but not in the other age groups (20–29 years, 9.8%, p<0.0005; 30–39 years, 8.2%, p<0.035; 40–49 years, 17.8%, p<0.0005; vs 15.1%–20.0%, p=0.31–0.99 for those aged ≥50 years).

Conclusions

Our findings support the need to include SAH in public policies of influenza vaccination as a secondary prevention measure to avoid fatal outcomes.
A feed-centric hypoglycaemia pathway ensures appropriate care escalation in at-risk infants
Authors: Chandran Suresh , Siew Jia Xuan , Rajadurai Victor Samuel , Lim Rachel Wei Shan , Chua Mei Chien , Yap Fabian
Published: December 2021

Background

There is a lack of clarity of what constitutes the starting point of a clinical pathway for infants at-risk of hypoglycaemia. Glucose-centric pathways (GCP) identify low glucose in the first 2 hours of life that may not represent clinical hypoglycaemia and can lead to inappropriate glucose management with infusions and medications.

Objective

To study the impact of a feed-centric pathway (FCP) on the number of admissions for hypoglycaemia to level 2 special care nursery (SCN) and the need for parenteral glucose/medications, compared to GCP.

Methods

This project was conducted over 2 years, before and after switching from a GCP to FCP in our institution. FCP involves skin-to-skin care, early breast feeding, checking glucose at 2 hours and use of buccal glucose. The primary outcome was the number of SCN admissions for hypoglycaemia. Secondary outcomes include the number of infants needing intravenous glucose, medications and length of SCN stay.

Results

Of 23 786 live births, 4438 newborns were screened. We screened more infants at-risk for hypoglycaemia using the FCP (GCP:1462/11969, 12.2% vs FCP:2976/11817, 25.1%) but significantly reduced SCN admissions (GCP:246/1462, 16.8% vs FCP:102/2976, 3.4%; p<0.0001). Fewer but proportionally more FCP newborns required intravenous glucose (GCP: 136/246, 55% vs FCP: 88/102, 86%; p=0.000). Compared with GCP, FCP reduced the total duration of stay in SCN by 104 days per annum, reducing the cost of care. However, the mean length of SCN stay for FCP was higher (GCP:2.43 days vs FCP:3.49 days; p=0.001). There were no readmissions for neonatal hypoglycaemia to our institution.

Conclusion

The use of FCP safely reduced SCN admissions, averted avoidable escalation of care and helped identify infants who genuinely required intravenous glucose and SCN care, allowing more efficient utilisation of healthcare resources.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the life of Bissau-Guinean religious (Quranic) schoolboys during a state of emergency: a qualitative study
Authors: Boiro Hamadou , Einarsdóttir Jónína , Gunnlaugsson Geir
Published: December 2021

Background

COVID-19 is mainly a disease of adults but can affect vulnerable children indirectly through social containment measures. The study aimed to explore the impact of the pandemic on the lives of Quranic schoolboys,almudos, who beg on behalf of their teachers,chernos,in Guinea-Bissau.

Methods

Data were collected in July 2020 during a state of emergency. Data rest on semistructured interviews with 14almudosand observations. Thealmudos, aged 12–16 years, were identified in the capital Bissau and the regional centre Gabú.

Results

Four interconnected themes were found. The first, hardship, was brought by the COVID-19 pandemic and caused by lockdown and police threats, resulting in a decrease in alms and hunger. The second, circumvention of calamity, included preventive measures the boys undertook and concerns with crowdedness impeding social distancing. Relations with others is the third theme. These had changed with sharply reduced contacts with neighbours and other providers of alms. The parents had more frequent telephone contact with their sons, and encouraged them to continue their studies. At the same time, thechernosandalmudospassed more time together, and they dedicated more time than earlier to the studies and prayers. The fourth theme has to do with the boys’ concerns about their long-term aspirations—to complete their studies and become respectedchernos, for which begging was seen as an integral part.

Conclusion

Thealmudossuffered from decreased alms, resulting in hunger. COVID-19 was only an additional burden to the boys, who are used to facing challenges while begging to complete their religious education. According to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, children have a right to develop their capabilities in line with their future aspirations. Governments and child rights organisations need to address the specific needs ofalmudosin respectful collaboration with them, their parents, thechernosand their communities.
Symptom clusters in patients receiving chemotherapy: A systematic review
Authors: Harris Carolyn S. , Kober Kord M. , Conley Yvette P. , Dhruva Anand A. , Hammer Marilyn J. , Miaskowski Christine A
Published: December 2021

Background and purpose

Since 2001, symptom cluster research has grown considerably. However, because multiple methodological considerations remain, ongoing synthesis of the literature is needed to identify gaps in this area of symptom science. This systematic review evaluated the progress in symptom clusters research in adults receiving primary or adjuvant chemotherapy since 2016.

Methods

Eligible studies were published in English between 1 January 2017 and 17 May 2021; evaluated for and identified symptom clusters ‘de novo;’ and included only adults being treated with primary or adjuvant chemotherapy. Studies were excluded if patients had advanced cancer or were receiving palliative chemotherapy; symptoms were measured after treatment; symptom clusters were pre-specified or a patient-centred analytic approach was used. For each study, symptom instrument(s); statistical methods and symptom dimension(s) used to create the clusters; whether symptoms were allowed to load on more than one factor; method used to assess for stability of symptom clusters and associations with secondary outcomes and biomarkers were extracted.

Results

Twenty-three studies were included. Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale was the most common instrument and exploratory factor analysis was the most common statistical method used to identify symptom clusters. Psychological, gastrointestinal, and nutritional clusters were the most commonly identified clusters. Only the psychological cluster remained relatively stable over time. Only five studies evaluated for secondary outcomes.

Discussion

While symptom cluster research has evolved, clear criteria to evaluate the stability of symptom clusters and standardised nomenclature for naming clusters are needed. Additional research is needed to evaluate the biological mechanism(s) for symptom clusters.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42021240216.
Comparison of doses of heparin for venous thromboembolism and bleeding in pregnant women
Authors: Xiao Sha , Luo Yuancai , Guo Lu , Zhang Jing , Mu Liping , Ye Zhao
Published: December 2021

The evaluation criteria for dosage of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) for pregnant women at high risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) remain unclear. A retrospective study was performed to investigate the relative appropriate LMWH administration strategy and dosage for pregnant women at risk of VTE. 219 pregnant women with perinatal and postpartum VTE were reviewed and divided into group A (fixed dose group: n=73, 5000 IU dalteparin daily for all women), group B (weight group: n=73, 2500 IU dalteparin daily for women less than 50 kg; 5000 IU dalteparin daily for women more than 50 kg), and group C (anti-factor Xa (FXa) + weight group: n=73, 5000 IU once daily for women less than 50 kg; 7500 IU once daily for women weighing 50–80 kg; 10,000 IU once daily for women weighing over 80 kg). Further dose administration was adjusted according to peak anti-FXa level, maintaining the peak at the 0.5–1.0 IU/mL range. Women in group C presented lower incidence of VTE and other pregnancy complications than group A and group B. Adjusting the dosage of LMWH according to both weight and anti-FXa level of pregnant women not only prevented VTE but also reduced the risk of postpartum hemorrhage induced by LMWH administration. In addition, adjusting the dose of LMWH according to anti-FXa level and body weight also affected the recurrence of VTE and the occurrence of postpartum hemorrhage in pregnant women.
Cardiovascular risk management in antiphospholipid syndrome: trends over time and comparison with rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes mellitus
Authors: Bolla Eleana , Tentolouris Nikolas , Sfikakis Petros P , Tektonidou Maria G
Published: December 2021

Objective

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is characterised by increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, related to thrombo-inflammatory and atherogenic mechanisms. We examined the achievement of traditional cardiovascular risk factor (CVRF) therapeutic goals in APS versus other high cardiovascular risk disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and diabetes mellitus (DM), and trends over time.

Methods

122 patients with APS (74 primary APS, female 68%, mean age 44.5±11.3) were classified according to their first visit (2011–2015 and 2016–2020 APS subgroups, 61 patients in each subgroup) and matched 1:1 for age/sex with patients with RA and DM. Cardiovascular risk was estimated by the Systemic Coronary Risk Evaluation, and the CVRF therapeutic targets were defined according to the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines. Individual and multiple CVRF control was compared between APS subgroups, and in APS versus RA and DM.

Results

We found a comparable or higher prevalence of CVRFs between APS and age-matched/sex-matched patients with RA and DM but low CVRF target attainment in APS according to the ESC guidelines. Despite improving trends between 2011–2015 and 2016–2020, CVRF control in high/very high-risk patients with APS was 12%, 18%, 24% and 35% for low-density lipoprotein, waist circumference, exercise and body mass index, respectively, and 59%–65% for triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and blood pressure, in 2016–2020 subgroup. CVRF control was worse in APS versus RA for smoking (p=0.014), HDL (p<0.001), waist circumference (p=0.042) and five CVRFs (p=0.030), and versus DM for exercise (p=0.077). Similar results were found in the sensitivity analysis.

Conclusions

Comparable prevalence of modifiable CVRFs to RA and DM but suboptimal CVRF target achievement was observed in APS, especially in high/very high-risk patients, highlighting the need for CVRF management strategies.
Empirical optimization of molecular simulation force fields by Bayesian inference
Authors: Köfinger Jürgen , Hummer Gerhard
Published: December 2021

The demands on the accuracy of force fields for classical molecular dynamics simulations are steadily growing as larger and more complex systems are studied over longer times. One way to meet these growing demands is to hand over the learning of force fields and their parameters to machines in a systematic (semi)automatic manner. Doing so, we can take full advantage of exascale computing, the increasing availability of experimental data, and advances in quantum mechanical computations and the calculation of experimental observables from molecular ensembles. Here, we discuss and illustrate the challenges one faces in this endeavor and explore a way forward by adapting the Bayesian inference of ensembles (BioEn) method [Hummer and Köfinger, J. Chem. Phys. (2015)] for force field parameterization. In the Bayesian inference of force fields (BioFF) method developed here, the optimization problem is regularized by a simplified prior on the force field parameters and an entropic prior acting on the ensemble. The latter compensates for the unavoidable over simplifications in the parameter prior. We determine optimal force field parameters using an iterative predictor–corrector approach, in which we run simulations, determine the reference ensemble using the weighted histogram analysis method (WHAM), and update the force field according to the BioFF posterior. We illustrate this approach for a simple polymer model, using the distance between two labeled sites as the experimental observable. By systematically resolving force field issues, instead of just reweighting a structural ensemble, the BioFF corrections extend to observables not included in ensemble reweighting. We envision future force field optimization as a formalized, systematic, and (semi)automatic machine-learning effort that incorporates a wide range of data from experiment and high-level quantum chemical calculations, and takes advantage of exascale computing resources.

Graphic abstract
Stability and phase transition of rotating Kaluza–Klein black holes
Authors: Hendi Seyed Hossein , Hajkhalili Somayeh , Jamil Mubasher , Momennia Mehrab
Published: December 2021

In this paper, we investigate the thermodynamics and phase transitions of a four-dimensional rotating Kaluza–Klein black hole solution in the presence of Maxwell electrodynamics. Calculating the conserved and thermodynamic quantities shows that the first law of thermodynamics is satisfied. To find the stable black hole’s criteria, we check the stability in the canonical ensemble by analyzing the behavior of the heat capacity. We also consider a massive scalar perturbation minimally coupled to the background geometry of the four-dimensional static Kaluza–Klein black hole and investigate the quasinormal modes by employing the Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin (WKB) approximation. The anomalous decay rate of the quasinormal modes spectrum is investigated by using the sixth-order WKB formula and quasi-resonance modes of the black hole are studied with averaging of Padé approximations as well.
The long road ahead to transition to post-quantum cryptography
Authors: LaMacchia Brian
Published: December 2021

Anticipating the output of the competition for new cryptographic algorithms.
An assessment of thermoneutral housing conditions on murine cardiometabolic function
Authors: Chen Xian , Bollinger Eliza , Cunio Teresa , Damilano Federico , Stansfield John C. , Pinkus Cynthia A. , Kreuser Steven , Hirenallur-Shanthappa Dinesh , Roth Flach Rachel J.
Published: December 2021

Thermoneutral housing conditions cause rapid and reversible changes in mouse heart rate and blood pressure. Despite dramatic reductions in heart rate and blood pressure, thermoneutrality reduced the compensatory hypertrophic response in a pressure overload heart failure model compared with room temperature housing, and ACE inhibitors were still efficacious to prevent pressure overload-induced cardiac remodeling. The effects of thermoneutrality on heart rate and blood pressure are abrogated in the context of diet-induced obesity.
Discoidin Domain‐Containing Receptor 2 Is Present in Human Atherosclerotic Plaques and Involved in the Expression and Activity of MMP‐2
Authors: Yu Qi , Liu Ruihan , Chen Ying , Waqar Ahmed Bilal , Liu Fuqiang , Yang Juan , Lian Ting , Zhang Guangwei , Guan Hua , Cui Yuanyuan , Xu Cangbao
Published: December 2021

Discoidin domain‐containing receptor 2 (DDR2) has been suggested to be involved in atherosclerotic progression, but its pathological role remains unknown. Using immunochemical staining, we located and compared the expression of DDR2 in the atherosclerotic plaques of humans and various animal models. Then, siRNA was applied to knock down the expression of DDR2 in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), and the migration, proliferation, and collagen Ι‐induced expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were evaluated. We found that an abundance of DDR2 was present in the atherosclerotic plaques of humans and various animal models and was distributed around fatty and necrotic cores. After incubation of oxidized low‐density lipoprotein (ox‐LDL), DDR2 was upregulated in VSMCs in response to such a proatherosclerotic condition. Next, we found that decreased DDR2 expression in VSMCs inhibited the migration, proliferation, and collagen Ι‐induced expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Moreover, we found that DDR2 is strongly associated with the protein expression and activity of MMP‐2, suggesting that DDR2 might play a role in the etiology of unstable plaques. Considering that DDR2 is present in the atherosclerotic plaques of humans and is associated with collagen Ι‐induced secretion of MMP‐2, the clinical role of DDR2 in cardiovascular disease should be elucidated in further experiments.
Designing Compact Convolutional Filters for Lightweight Human Pose Estimation
Authors: Niu Shili , Ou Weihua , Feng Shihua , Gou Jianping , Long Fei , Zhang Wenchuan , Zeng Wu
Published: December 2021

Existing methods for human pose estimation usually use a large intermediate tensor, leading to a high computational load, which is detrimental to resource‐limited devices. To solve this problem, we propose a low computational cost pose estimation network, MobilePoseNet, which includes encoder, decoder, and parallel nonmaximum suppression operation. Specifically, we design a lightweight upsampling block instead of transposing the convolution as the decoder and use the lightweight network as our downsampling part. Then, we choose the high‐resolution features as the input for upsampling to reduce the number of model parameters. Finally, we propose a parallel OKS‐NMS, which significantly outperforms the conventional NMS in terms of accuracy and speed. Experimental results on the benchmark datasets show that MobilePoseNet obtains almost comparable results to state‐of‐the‐art methods with a low compilation load. Compared to SimpleBaseline, the parameter of MobilePoseNet is only 4%, while the estimation accuracy reaches 98%.
Bioactivity and Biotechnological Overview of Naturally Occurring Compounds from the Dinoflagellate Family Symbiodiniaceae: A Systematic Review
Authors: Sánchez-Suárez Jeysson , Garnica-Agudelo Mariana , Villamil Luisa , Díaz Luis , Coy-Barrera Ericsson
Published: December 2021

Marine invertebrates are a significant source of biologically active compounds. Recent studies have highlighted the role of microbiota associated with marine invertebrates in the production of bioactive compounds. Corals and sponges are the main marine invertebrates producing bioactive substances, and Symbiodiniaceae dinoflagellates are well-recognized endosymbionts with corals and sponges playing vital functions. The biological properties of Symbiodiniaceae-derived compounds have garnered attention in the past decades owing to their ecological implications and potentiality for bioprospecting initiatives. This study aims to systematically review studies on bioactivities and potential biotechnological applications of Symbiodiniaceae-derived compounds. The PRISMA guidelines were followed. Our study showed that anti-inflammatory and vasoconstrictive activities of Symbiodiniaceae-derived compounds have been the most investigated. However, very few studies have been published, with in vitro culturing of Symbiodiniaceae being the most significant challenge. Therefore, we surveyed for the metabolites reported so far, analyzed their chemodiversity, and discussed approaches to overcome culturing-related limitations.
Sexual and Reproductive Health Services Utilization among Wolaita Sodo University Students, Ethiopia: A Mixed Method Approach
Authors: Gunta Muluken , Tantu Temesgen , Wolka Sintayehu , Meskele Mengistu , Ayza Asaminew , Duko Bereket
Published: December 2021

Background. Youths have been facing different sexual and reproductive health problems such as HIV infections and unplanned pregnancies. Therefore, this study aimed to assess reproductive health services utilization and their associated factors among Wolaita Sodo University students in Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia. Methods. We conducted an institutionally-based mixed-method study among 759 regular undergraduate university students. Multistage random sampling and purposive sampling techniques have been used to recruit students for the quantitative and qualitative studies, respectively. A pretested self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. A logistic regression model was used for quantitative data analysis, whereas thematic analysis was used for qualitative data. We used open-code software-assisted qualitative data analysis. The statistical significance was declared at a

P

value less than 0.05. Results. We found that 378 (49.8%) (95% CI: 46.20–53.34) of respondents had utilized sexual and reproductive health services within the 12 months preceding the current survey. Being a first-year student (AOR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.01–2.46), having ever had sexual intercourse (AOR = 5.12, 95% CI: 3.31, 7.96), participating in peer-to-peer discussion (AOR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.02–2.02), and having ever had sexual transmitted infection syndrome (AOR = 3.91, 95% CI: 1.41–10.85) have increased the odds of using sexual and reproductive health services. Conclusion. Sexual and reproductive health services utilization among university students was inadequate and affected by several factors. Therefore, strengthening peer support networks and addressing the gap in services were highly recommended.
Research on Human Motion Analysis in Moving Scene Based on Timing Detection and Video Description Algorithm
Authors: Shen Quanping , Ye Songzhong
Published: December 2021

Technical movement analysis requires specialized domain knowledge and processing a large amount of data, and the advantages of AI in processing data can improve the efficiency of data analysis. In this paper, we propose a feature pyramid network-based temporal action detection (FPN-TAD) algorithm, which is used to solve the problem that the action proposal module has a low recall rate for small-scale temporal target action regions in the current video temporal action detection algorithm research. This paper is divided into three parts. The first part is an overview of the algorithm; the second part elaborates the network structure and the working principle of the FPN-TAD algorithm; and the third part gives the experimental results and analysis of the algorithm.
The Influence of Information Interaction Behavior on Value Co-Creation Business Model of Online Education Enterprises Performances from the Perspective of Supply Chain
Authors: Lv Jingjing , Wang Nan , Xiang Shaoxin
Published: December 2021

This paper analyzes the impact of information interaction ability on the value co-creation business model of online education enterprises from the perspective of supply chain. Integrate the perspective of supply chain and summarize the content of supply chain capability and performance. This paper analyzes the connotation and shortcomings of information interaction ability, combines the connotation of value co-creation to maximize the advantages of information interaction, assumes the impact of information interaction on value co-creation through questionnaire survey method, uses software to analyze the reliability and validity of data, and proves that the data are reasonable. Information interaction has a positive impact on the value co-creation business model of online education enterprises.
IoT‐Enabled Big Data Analytics Architecture for Multimedia Data Communications
Authors: Babar Muhammad , Alshehri Mohammad Dahman , Tariq Muhammad Usman , Ullah Fasee , Khan Atif , Uddin M. Irfan , Almasoud Ahmed S.
Published: December 2021

The present spreading out of the Internet of Things (IoT) originated the realization of millions of IoT devices connected to the Internet. With the increase of allied devices, the gigantic multimedia big data (MMBD) vision is also gaining eminence and has been broadly acknowledged. MMBD management offers computation, exploration, storage, and control to resolve the QoS issues for multimedia data communications. However, it becomes challenging for multimedia systems to tackle the diverse multimedia‐enabled IoT settings including healthcare, traffic videos, automation, society parking images, and surveillance that produce a massive amount of big multimedia data to be processed and analyzed efficiently. There are several challenges in the existing structural design of the IoT‐enabled data management systems to handle MMBD including high‐volume storage and processing of data, data heterogeneity due to various multimedia sources, and intelligent decision‐making. In this article, an architecture is proposed to process and store MMBD efficiently in an IoT‐enabled environment. The proposed architecture is a layered architecture integrated with a parallel and distributed module to accomplish big data analytics for multimedia data. A preprocessing module is also integrated with the proposed architecture to prepare the MMBD and speed up the processing mechanism. The proposed system is realized and experimentally tested using real‐time multimedia big data sets from athentic sources that discloses the effectiveness of the proposed architecture.
Relationship between Maternal Mood Disorders and Dietary Intake of 3-Year-Olds
Authors: Kobayashi Minatsu , Ogawa Kohei , Morisaki Naho , Tanaka Hisako , Horikawa Reiko , Urayama Kevin Y.
Published: December 2021

Maternal depression affects parenting and children’s early development, but its effect on dietary intake is unknown. While husbands’ involvement in parenting and having friends to talk to may reduce childcare stress, this has not been thoroughly studied. In this study, mothers were stratified by the presence or absence of mood disorders, and the effects of support from their husbands and friends on the dietary intake of their 3-year-old children were examined. This cross-sectional analysis included 920 mother-child pairs examined at the National Center for Child Health and Development in Japan. Dietary intake was assessed using a brief dietary history questionnaire, and physical measurements were taken when the children were 3 years old. The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale was used to screen for maternal mood disorders, 3 years after delivery. The presence or absence of the husband’s assistance with housework and childcare, mental support, and friends was obtained from a self-administered questionnaire when the child was 3 years old. Differences in the children’s physical measurements, energy, and food intake with the presence or absence of support for subjects with or without mood disorders were compared. Mothers with support from husbands or friends had significantly fewer mood disorders. Support from friends and family did not affect the children’s physical development and whether or not mothers had mood disorder symptoms. However, children’s vegetable intake was higher if mothers were supported. Children of mothers with mood disorders had a significantly higher vegetable intake and fruit intake, depending on the support from friends (

P
=
0.046
,
 
P
=
0.037

); thus, such support may increase children’s vegetable and fruit intake. The results of this study revealed the importance of supportive friends and family regarding childcare.