bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CKM Gene rs8111989 Polymorphism and Power Athlete Status
Authors: Ginevičienė Valentina , Jakaitienė Audronė , Utkus Algirdas , Hall Elliott C. R. , Semenova Ekaterina A. , Andryushchenko Liliya B. , Larin Andrey K. , Moreland Ethan , Generozov Edward V. , Ahmetov Ildus I.
Published: September 2021

Multiple genetic variants are known to influence athletic performance. These include polymorphisms of the muscle-specific creatine kinase (CKM) gene, which have been associated with endurance and/or power phenotypes. However, independent replication is required to support those findings. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the CKM (rs8111989, c.*800A>G) polymorphism is associated with power athlete status in professional Russian and Lithuanian competitors. Genomic DNA was collected from 693 national and international standard athletes from Russia (n = 458) and Lithuania (n = 235), and 500 healthy non-athlete subjects from Russia (n = 291) and Lithuania (n = 209). Genotyping for the CKM rs8111989 (A/G) polymorphism was performed using PCR or micro-array analysis. Genotype and allele frequencies were compared between all athletes and non-athletes, and between non-athletes and athletes, segregated according to population and sporting discipline (from anaerobic-type events). No statistically significant differences in genotype or allele frequencies were observed between non-athletes and power athletes (strength-, sprint- and speed/strength-oriented) athletes. The present study reports the non-association of the CKM rs8111989 with elite status in athletes from sports in which anaerobic energy pathways determine success.
Machine Learning: An Overview and Applications in Pharmacogenetics
Authors: Cilluffo Giovanna , Fasola Salvatore , Ferrante Giuliana , Malizia Velia , Montalbano Laura , La Grutta Stefania
Published: September 2021

This narrative review aims to provide an overview of the main Machine Learning (ML) techniques and their applications in pharmacogenetics (such as antidepressant, anti-cancer and warfarin drugs) over the past 10 years. ML deals with the study, the design and the development of algorithms that give computers capability to learn without being explicitly programmed. ML is a sub-field of artificial intelligence, and to date, it has demonstrated satisfactory performance on a wide range of tasks in biomedicine. According to the final goal, ML can be defined as Supervised (SML) or as Unsupervised (UML). SML techniques are applied when prediction is the focus of the research. On the other hand, UML techniques are used when the outcome is not known, and the goal of the research is unveiling the underlying structure of the data. The increasing use of sophisticated ML algorithms will likely be instrumental in improving knowledge in pharmacogenetics.
Knobloch Syndrome Associated with Novel COL18A1 Variants in Chinese Population
Authors: Li Songshan , Wang You , Sun Limei , Yan Wenjia , Huang Li , Zhang Zhaotian , Zhang Ting , Ding Xiaoyan
Published: September 2021

Knobloch syndrome is an inherited disorder characterized by high myopia, retinal detachment, and occipital defects. Disease-causing mutations have been identified in the COL18A1 gene. This study aimed to investigate novel variants of COL18A1 in Knobloch syndrome and describe the associated phenotypes in Chinese patients. We reported six patients with Knobloch syndrome from four unrelated families in whom we identified five novel COL18A1 mutations. Clinical examination showed that all probands presented with high myopia, chorioretinal atrophy, and macular defects; one exhibited rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in one eye. Occipital defects were detected in one patient.
Modeling-Based Estimate of the Vaccination Rate, Lockdown Rules and COVID-19
Authors: Guo Chinlin , Chang Wei-Chiao
Published: September 2021

COVID-19 has become a severe infectious disease and has caused high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Restriction rules such as quarantine and city lockdown have been implemented to mitigate the spread of infection, leading to significant economic impacts. Fortunately, development and inoculation of COVID-19 vaccines are being conducted on an unprecedented scale. The effectiveness of vaccines raises a hope that city lockdown might not be necessary in the presence of ongoing vaccination, thereby minimizing economic loss. The question, however, is how fast and what type of vaccines should be inoculated to control the disease without limiting economic activity. Here, we set up a simulation scenario of COVID-19 outbreak in a modest city with a population of 2.5 million. The basic reproduction number (R0) was ranging from 1.0 to 5.5. Vaccination rates at 1000/day, 10,000/day and 100,000/day with two types of vaccine (effectiveness v = 51% and 89%) were given. The results indicated that R0 was a critical factor. Neither high vaccination rate (10,000 persons/day) nor high-end vaccine (v = 89%) could control the disease when the scenario was at R0 = 5.5. Unless an extremely high vaccination rate was given (>4% of the entire population/per day), no significant difference was found between two types of vaccine. With the population scaled to 25 million, the required vaccination rate was >1,000,000/day, a quite unrealistic number. Nevertheless, with a slight reduction of R0 from 5 to 3.5, a significant impact of vaccine inoculation on disease control was observed. Thus, our study raised the importance of estimating transmission dynamics of COVID-19 in a city before determining the subsequent policy.
Readability Assessment of HPV Vaccination and Cervical Cancer Information: A Systematic Scoping Review
Authors: Okuhara Tsuyoshi , Okada Hiroko , Goto Eiko , Kiuchi Takahiro
Published: September 2021

It is important to provide information on HPV vaccination and on early detection and early treatment for cervical cancer. Readability is a key aspect in the success of cancer communication using written health information. We reviewed studies assessing the readability of information on HPV vaccination and cervical cancer. We conducted a systematic literature search in June 2021 using four online databases (Medline, CINAHL, PsycArticles, and PsycINFO). Studies that assessed the readability level of online and offline information regarding HPV vaccination and cervical cancer were included in the review. Twelve articles were deemed fit for study inclusion. Our results showed that most of the materials assessed were difficult to read and higher than eighth-grade reading level. Few of the materials assessed were at the recommended grade 5–6 level or below. Readability assessments of HPV vaccination and cervical cancer information are scarce. Additional studies on the readability of information regarding HPV vaccination and cervical cancer are recommended. Health professionals should develop health information on HPV vaccination and cervical cancer that is easy to read.
Analysis of Reproduction Number R0 of COVID-19 Using Current Health Expenditure as Gross Domestic Product Percentage (CHE/GDP) across Countries
Authors: Oshinubi Kayode , Rachdi Mustapha , Demongeot Jacques
Published: September 2021

(1) Background: Impact and severity of coronavirus pandemic on health infrastructure vary across countries. We examine the role percentage health expenditure plays in various countries in terms of their preparedness and see how countries improved their public health policy in the first and second wave of the coronavirus pandemic; (2) Methods: We considered the infectious period during the first and second wave of 195 countries with their current health expenditure as gross domestic product percentage (CHE/GDP). An exponential model was used to calculate the slope of the regression line while the ARIMA model was used to calculate the initial autocorrelation slope and also to forecast new cases for both waves. The relationship between epidemiologic and CHE/GDP data was used for processing ordinary least square multivariate modeling and classifying countries into different groups using PC analysis, K-means and hierarchical clustering; (3) Results: Results show that some countries with high CHE/GDP improved their public health strategy against virus during the second wave of the pandemic; (4) Conclusions: Results revealed that countries who spend more on health infrastructure improved in the tackling of the pandemic in the second wave as they were worst hit in the first wave. This research will help countries to decide on how to increase their CHE/GDP in order to properly tackle other pandemic waves of the present COVID-19 outbreak and future diseases that may occur. We are also opening up a debate on the crucial role socio-economic determinants play during the exponential phase of the pandemic modelling.
Are Spaniards Happier When the Bars Are Open? Using Life Satisfaction to Evaluate COVID-19 Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs)
Authors: Pedraza Pablo de , Vicente María Rosalía
Published: September 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged governments worldwide with the design of appropriate policies that maximize health outcomes while minimizing economic and mental health consequences. This paper explores sources of individuals’ life satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic, paying special attention to the effects of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). We studied the specific case of Spanish regions and focused on bar and restaurant closures using data from a continuous voluntary web survey that we merged with information about region-specific policies that identified when and where bars and restaurants were closed. We estimated an endogenous binary-treatment-regression model and found that closing bars and restaurants had a significant negative impact on happiness. The results were statistically significant after controlling for the pandemic context, health, income, work, and other personal characteristics and circumstances. We interpreted the results in terms of the positive effect of socialization, individuals’ feelings of freedom, and the comparative nature of life satisfaction.
Identification of the Prodromal Symptoms and Pre-Ataxic Stage in Cerebellar Disorders: The Next Challenge
Authors: Manto Mario , Shaikh Aasef G. , Mitoma Hiroshi
Published: September 2021

Cerebellar ataxias (CAs) manifest with a combination of motor incoordination, cognitive, affective and recently identified social symptoms. Novel therapies aim to stop the progression of the subgroup of the degenerative ataxias, or even to cure the disease with a functional and anatomical restoration of the cerebellar circuitry in the near future. The goal of stopping the progression of the disease is particularly relevant if applied at a very early stage of the disease, when the cerebellar reserve is only slightly impaired. Therefore, the search of the prodromal phase or pre-ataxic stage of CAs represents a very important challenge for the scientific community. The identification of pre-manifest individuals and the recruitment of individuals at risk has become a key-challenge to address neuroprotective therapies. The feasibility is high due to the recent progress in the biological and morphological biomarkers of CAs.
Why Do Citizens Share COVID-19 Fact-Checks Posted by Chinese Government Social Media Accounts? The Elaboration Likelihood Model
Authors: Chen Qiang , Zhang Yangyi , Evans Richard , Min Chen
Published: September 2021

Widespread misinformation about COVID-19 poses a significant threat to citizens long-term health and the combating of the disease. To fight the spread of misinformation, Chinese governments have used official social media accounts to participate in fact-checking activities. This study aims to investigate why citizens share fact-checks about COVID-19 and how to promote this activity. Based on the elaboration likelihood model, we explore the effects of peripheral cues (social media capital, social media strategy, media richness, and source credibility) and central cues (content theme and content importance) on the number of shares of fact-checks posted by official Chinese Government social media accounts. In total, 820 COVID-19 fact-checks from 413 Chinese Government Sina Weibo accounts were obtained and evaluated. Results show that both peripheral and central cues play important roles in the sharing of fact-checks. For peripheral cues, social media capital and media richness significantly promote the number of shares. Compared with the push strategy, both the pull strategy and networking strategy facilitate greater fact-check sharing. Fact-checks posted by Central Government social media accounts receive more shares than local government accounts. For central cues, content importance positively predicts the number of shares. In comparison to fact-checks about the latest COVID-19 news, government actions received fewer shares, while social conditions received more shares.
Revising “Nutritional Reference Values for Feeding at Evacuation Shelters” According to Nutrition Assistance by Public Health Dietitians Based on Past Major Natural Disasters in Japan: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Sudo Noriko , Shimada Ikuko , Tsuboyama-Kasaoka Nobuyo , Sato Keiichi
Published: September 2021

It is important to provide nutritionally adequate food in shelters to maintain the health of evacuees. Since the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has released the “Nutritional Reference Values for Evacuation Shelters” (Reference Values) after every major natural disaster. There is clear evidence, however, that the Reference Values have only been used infrequently. This study aims to revise these guidelines to include the actual situation in the affected areas and the feasibility of the endeavor. This qualitative study uses group interviews with local government dietitians to propose revisions to Japan’s Reference Values. These revisions include the following: issuing Reference Values within 1 week of a disaster, showing one type of values for meal planning for each age group, showing the minimum values of vitamins, upgrading salt to basic components, creating three phases of nutrition (Day 1, Days 1–3, and After Day 4), stipulating food amounts rather than nutrient values, and creating a manual. Local government officials could use the Reference Values as guidelines for choosing food reserves, and dietitians could use them while formulating supplementary nutrition strategies for a model menu in preparation for disasters.
Training Effects and Intelligent Evaluated Pattern of the Holistic Music Educational Approach for Children with Developmental Delay
Authors: Lee Liza , Liu Ying-Sing
Published: September 2021

This study focuses on the holistic music educational approach for young children developed by music therapists and experts, which combines technology with music, integrates it into the local culture, and frameworks it for holistic education. This method includes 231 children in Taiwan’s early intervention education system for children with developmental delay. The learning occurs twice a week for 40 min over 32 weeks. The results show that implementing the holistic music educational approach can significantly improve children’s ability with developmental delay and that supportive training has a positive effect. In addition, the decision tree explores and develops an intelligently evaluated pattern with highly effective learning. This model has a sensitivity rate of 90.6% on the in-sample, and the comprehensive indicator F is 79.9%, so it has a high reference value. In the future, those involved in education will be able to use the data mining to use the auxiliary decision-making system as an assessment tool for young children participating in education pre- and midterm of the course, to prejudge its continued implementation and learning effectiveness, to decide whether to continue to invest in and adjust the curriculum, and to make more effective use of educational resources.
Patient Safety in the Process of Pharmacotherapy Carried Out by Nurses—A Polish–Slovak Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Witczak Izabela , Rypicz Łukasz , Šupínová Mária , Janiczeková Elena , Pobrotyn Piotr , Młynarska Agnieszka , Fedorowicz Olga
Published: September 2021

Pharmacotherapy, i.e., the use of medicines for combating a disease or its symptoms, is one of the crucial elements of patient care. Nursing workloads in the pharmacotherapy process prove that nurses spend 40% of their work on the management of medications. This study was aimed at the determination and comparison of safety levels at the nurse-managed stage of the pharmacotherapy process in Poland and Slovakia by identifying the key risk factors which directly affect patient safety. The study involved a group of 1774 nurses, of whom 1412 were from Poland and 362 were from Slovakia. The original Nursing Risk in Pharmacotherapy (acronym: NURIPH) tool was used. The survey questionnaire was made available online and distributed to nurses. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.832. Nurses from Slovakia most often, i.e., for six out of nine factors (items: one, five, six, seven, eight, and nine), assessed the risk factors as “significant risk (3)”, and Polish nurses most often, i.e., for as many as eight out of nine risk factors (items: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, and nine), assessed the risk factors as “very significant (5)”. It has been found that the safety of the pharmacotherapy process is assessed by Polish nurses to be much lower than by Slovak nurses.
Presence and Maturation Dynamics of Mandibular Third Molars and Their Influence on Late Mandibular Incisor Crowding: A Longitudinal Study
Authors: Zigante Martina , Pavlic Andrej , Morelato Luka , Vandevska-Radunovic Vaska , Spalj Stjepan
Published: September 2021

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between the absence, presence and dynamics of mandibular third molar development and the occurrence and amount of late mandibular incisor crowding. Dental plaster casts and panoramic radiographs of 72 orthodontically untreated subjects from the Nittedal growth study, Norway were analyzed. The subjects were recalled for a checkup at 12, 15, 18 and 21 years of age. Mandibular incisor crowding was assessed using Little’s irregularity index and dental maturation of the third molars by the Cameriere’s index. The majority of the subjects (64%) had ≥1 mm increase in irregularity; 22% experienced an increase of 0.1–0.9 mm and 14% had unchanged or decreased irregularity. Incisor irregularity increased with age, regardless of absence or presence of third molars. The amount of change in incisor irregularity from 12 to 21 years did not differ significantly between subjects with hypodontia of third molars, extraction and those with third molars present. No differences were observed between erupted, unerupted or impacted third molars. No correlation was found between the amount of change in irregularity and maturation of the third molars. In conclusion, occurrence and amount of mandibular late incisor crowding is not significantly influenced by the presence of mandibular third molars or their development dynamics.
Path Analysis to Assess Socio-Economic and Mitigation Measure Determinants for Daily Coronavirus Infections
Authors: Yammine Elie , Rammal Abbas
Published: September 2021

(1) Background: With the rapid global spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the relatively high daily cases recorded in a short time compared to other types of seasonal flu, the world remains under continuous threat unless we identify the key factors that contribute to these unexpected records. This identification is important for developing effective criteria and plans to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and can guide national authorities to tighten or reduce mitigation measures, in addition to spreading awareness of the important factors that contribute to the propagation of the disease. (2) Methods: The data represents the daily infections (210 days) in four different countries (China, Italy, Iran, and Lebanon) taken approximately in the same duration, between January and March 2020. Path analysis was implemented on the data to detect the significant factors that affect the daily COVID-19 infections. (3) Results: The path coefficients show that quarantine commitment (β = −0.823) and full lockdown measures (β = −0.775) have the largest direct effect on COVID-19 daily infections. The results also show that more experience (β = −0.35), density in society (β = −0.288), medical resources (β = 0.136), and economic resources (β = 0.142) have indirect effects on daily COVID-19 infections. (4) Conclusions: The COVID-19 daily infections directly decrease with complete lockdown measures, quarantine commitment, wearing masks, and social distancing. COVID-19 daily cases are indirectly associated with population density, special events, previous experience, technology used, economic resources, and medical resources.
Could Physical Fitness Be Considered as a Protective Social Factor Associated with Bridging the Cognitive Gap Related to School Vulnerability in Adolescents? The Cogni-Action Project
Authors: Cristi-Montero Carlos , Ibarra-Mora Jessica , Gaya Anelise , Castro-Piñero Jose , Solis-Urra Patricio , Aguilar-Farias Nicolas , Ferrari Gerson , Rodriguez-Rodriguez Fernando , Sadarangani Kabir P.
Published: September 2021

The first aim was to compare differences between school vulnerability groups, fitness levels, and their combination in adolescent cognitive performance. The second aim was to determine the mediation role of fitness in the association between school vulnerability and cognitive performance. A total of 912 Chilean adolescents aged 10–14 years participated in this study. The school vulnerability index (SVI) assigned by the Chilean Government was categorized into high-, mid-, or low-SVI. Adolescents were classified as fit or unfit according to their global fitness z-score computed from their cardiorespiratory (CRF), muscular (MF), and speed/agility fitness (SAF) adjusted for age and sex. A global cognitive score was estimated through eight tasks based on a neurocognitive battery. Covariance and mediation analyses were performed, adjusted for sex, schools, body mass index, and peak high velocity. Independent analyses showed that the higher SVI, the lower the cognitive performance (F(6,905) = 18.5; p < 0.001). Conversely, fit adolescents presented a higher cognitive performance than their unfit peers (F(5,906) = 8.93; p < 0.001). The combined analysis found cognitive differences between fit and unfit adolescents in both the high- and mid-SVI levels (Cohen’s d = 0.32). No differences were found between fit participants belonging to higher SVI groups and unfit participants belonging to lower SVI groups. Mediation percentages of 9.0%, 5.6%, 7.1%, and 2.8% were observed for the global fitness score, CRF, MF, and SAF, respectively. The mediation effect was significant between low- with mid-high-SVI levels but not between mid- and high-SVI levels. These findings suggest that an adequate physical fitness level should be deemed a protective social factor associated with bridging the cognitive gap linked to school vulnerability in adolescents. This favourable influence seems to be most significant in adolescents belonging to a more adverse social background.
Influence of Work on Andropause and Menopause: A Systematic Review
Authors: Martelli Margherita , Zingaretti Laura , Salvio Gianmaria , Bracci Massimo , Santarelli Lory
Published: September 2021

Aging is associated with gender-specific hormonal changes that progressively lead to gonadal insufficiency, a condition which characterizes a minority of men and all women. Work-related factors, such as stress and pollutant exposure, affect gonadal function and can interfere with reproduction in both genders. A systematic review of the PubMed, SCOPUS and EMBASE databases was conducted, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement to investigate the effect of occupational factors on andropause and menopause. A total of 26 studies met the inclusion and exclusion criteria: 9 studies evaluated the effects of work on andropause symptoms, 8 studies examined its effects on age at menopause onset, and 9 studies addressed its effects on menopausal symptoms. Work-related factors, such as psychological stress, physical effort, and sleep disorders, showed a significant correlation with andropause manifestations, whereas age at menopause and severity of menopausal symptoms were both influenced by factors such as pesticide exposure, high job strain, and repetitive work. Since work accompanies men and women for most of their lives, it is essential to identify and prevent the risk factors that may affect reproductive health.
The Role of Social Context in Physiological and Psychological Restoration in a Forest: Case Study of a Guided Forest Therapy Program in Taiwan
Authors: Yu Chia-Pin , Chen Heng-Ting , Chao Pei-Hua , Yin Jie , Tsai Ming-Jer
Published: September 2021

Existing studies have demonstrated the restorative benefits of being in forests. However, most studies have designed participants to engage individually in forest walking and viewing, which neglects the social aspect of conversation. Researchers suggested that social context should be studied in order to have a better understanding how forests foster human health. To this end, we examined the role of social context using three types of forest therapy programs: a guided program, a self-guided program, and a walk alone program. A between-subject, pretest–posttest field experimental design was employed to evaluate restorative effects by measuring the physiological responses and mood states incurred in different forest therapy programs. Our findings showed, that the walk alone group exhibited a significant systolic blood pressure decrease and a significant increase in sympathetic nervous activity; the self-guided group showed a significant increase in heart rate values and significant decreases in systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure; and the guided group revealed a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure. Further, the three forest therapy programs had positive effects on improving mood states, except a nonsignificant vigor–activity increase in the walk alone group. The three programs did not exhibit significant differences in changes of restorative benefits in physiological and psychological measures except for a significant difference in changes in sympathetic nervous activity between the walk alone group and guided group. The results showed the restorative benefits of forest therapy are apparent regardless of the program type. The management team should continue promoting forest therapy for public health by providing different types of forest therapy programs and experiences.
Linking the Flint Food Store Survey: Is Objective or Perceived Access to Healthy Foods Associated with Glycemic Control in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes?
Authors: Sadler Richard Casey , Kong Amanda Y. , Buchalski Zachary , Chanderraj Erika Renee , Carravallah Laura A.
Published: September 2021

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM-2) remains a significant public health concern, particularly in low-income neighborhoods where healthy foods may be scarcer. Despite the well-known relationship between diet and diabetes, little evidence exists on the connections among the objectively measured community and consumer food environment, perception of food access, and diabetes management or outcomes. This cross-sectional, ecological study represents the first example of combining a GIS-based, objectively measured food store audit considering quality, variety, and price of foods in stores with a clinical survey of patients with DM-2 (n = 126). In this way, we offer evidence on the relationship between healthy food access—measured more robustly than proximity to or density of certain store types—and diabetes management knowledge, medication adherence, and glycemic control. Better glycemic control was not correlated with better overall food store score, meaning that people in neighborhoods with better access to healthy foods are not necessarily more likely to manage their diabetes. While perceived healthy food access was not correlated with glycemic control, it was strongly correlated with objective healthy food access at shorter distances from home. These results have great importance both for clinical understanding of the persistence of poor diabetes management outcomes and for the understanding of the influence of the food environment on health behaviors.
Prevalence and Trends of Physical Activity in Thai Children and Young People: Pooled Panel Data Analysis from Thailand’s Surveillance on Physical Activity 2012–2020
Authors: Widyastari Dyah Anantalia , Saonuam Pairoj , Rasri Niramon , Pongpradit Kornkanok , Katewongsa Piyawat
Published: September 2021

This study aims to describe the level and trends of physical activity (PA) in Thai children and young people and examine PA changes during transitional periods. Employing nine rounds of Thailand’s Surveillance on Physical Activity (SPA) 2012–2020, this study pooled three sets of data and included children and young people aged 6–17 years in the analysis: 1595 in SPA2012–2016, 1287 in SPA2017–2019, and 853 persons in SPA2020. Face-to-face interviews were conducted in five regions, 13 provinces, and 36 villages in SPA2012–2019, whereas an online survey was administered in all provinces in SPA2020. The prevalence of sufficient moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) among Thais aged 6–17 years ranged from 19.0 percent to 27.6 percent, with a significant drop during the period of COVID-19 spread in 2020. The average daily MVPA ranged from 46 to 57 min and dropped to 36 min during the pandemic. Boys were consistently more active than girls in all nine rounds of the SPA, and girls had more difficulty in maintaining or improving their PA level. A significant increase in the proportion of Thai children and young people with sufficient MVPA was observed during their transition from late primary to early secondary school grades.
Mental Health during COVID-19 Pandemic among Caregivers of Young Children in Kenya’s Urban Informal Settlements. A Cross-Sectional Telephone Survey
Authors: Angwenyi Vibian , Kabue Margaret , Chongwo Esther , Mabrouk Adam , Too Ezra Kipngetich , Odhiambo Rachel , Nasambu Carophine , Marangu Joyce , Ssewanyana Derrick , Njoroge Eunice , Ombech Eunice , Mokaya Mercy Moraa , Obulemire Emmanuel Kepha , Khamis Anil , Abubakar Amina
Published: September 2021

The emergence of COVID-19 has profoundly affected mental health, especially among highly vulnerable populations. This study describes mental health issues among caregivers of young children and pregnant women in three urban informal settlements in Kenya during the first pandemic year, and factors associated with poor mental health. A cross-sectional telephone survey was administered to 845 participants. Survey instruments included the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, General Anxiety Disorder-7 scale, COVID-19 Anxiety Scale, and questions on the perceived COVID-19 effects on caregiver wellbeing and livelihood. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and univariate and multivariate analysis. Caregivers perceived COVID-19 as a threatening condition (94.54%), affecting employment and income activities (>80%). Caregivers experienced discrimination (15.27%) and violence (12.6%) during the pandemic. Levels of depression (34%), general anxiety (20%), and COVID-19 related anxiety (14%) were highly prevalent. There were significant associations between mental health outcomes and economic and socio-demographic factors, violence and discrimination experiences, residency, and perceptions of COVID-19 as a threatening condition. Caregivers high burden of mental health problems highlights the urgent need to provide accessible mental health support. Innovative and multi-sectoral approaches will be required to maximize reach to underserved communities in informal settlements and tackle the root causes of mental health problems in this population.
Social Prescribing and Lifestyle Medicine—A Remedy to Chronic Health Problems?
Authors: Baska Alicja , Kurpas Donata , Kenkre Joyce , Vidal-Alaball Josep , Petrazzuoli Ferdinando , Dolan Miriam , Śliż Daniel , Robins Joanne
Published: September 2021

Social prescribing has been identified as a chance to take a holistic approach to people’s health and wellbeing, especially for people with one or more long-term conditions. Its systemic implementation was a part of the recent United Kingdom National Health Service Long Term Plan. With a lifestyle medicine focus on equipping patients in tools necessary for self-care and self-management of their lifestyle-related health problems that coexists with the need for creating an environment supporting healthy choices, a social prescribing model seems to offer a promising strategy for advancing lifestyle medicine. This idea was discussed during a meeting hosted by the Polish Society of Lifestyle Medicine in collaboration with European Rural and Isolated Practitioners Association, Polish Society of Young Family Doctors (“Młodzi Lekarze Rodzinni”), British Society of Lifestyle Medicine and European Lifestyle Medicine Council in June 2020. The aftermath—this position statement is an Authors’ attempt at summarizing the common ground for social prescribing and lifestyle medicine. It collects experiences of practitioners and researchers from five European countries as well as making recommendations for applying this model in Poland. Despite referring to local conditions, it might provide universal takeaway messages for any healthcare providers interested in combining social prescribing with lifestyle medicine practice.
Urinary Concentrations of Bisphenol Mixtures during Pregnancy and Birth Outcomes: The MAKE Study
Authors: Kim Seyoung , Park Eunjung , Park Eun-Kyo , Lee Seulbi , Kwon Jeoung-A , Shin Bo-Hye , Kang Sora , Park Eun-Young , Kim Byungmi
Published: September 2021

Bisphenols are endocrine disruptors that may be associated with altered fetal growth in humans, and they have similar biological functions to mimic hormones. In addition, aggregated chemicals showed an adverse effect although individual concentration was at a low level. However, most studies between bisphenols and birth outcomes have focused on the effect of individual bisphenol. Thus, we explored the associations of urinary bisphenol mixtures with birth outcomes. We conducted a prospective birth cohort study in South Korea. One hundred eighty mother-infant pairs were recruited from 2017 to 2019. Bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol F (BPF), and bisphenol S (BPS) in one spot urine were analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. We used two statistical approaches to examine potential associations of BPA, BPF, and BPS with birth weight and gestational age: (1) multivariable linear regression; (2) Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR). The geometric means of BPA, BPF, and BPS were 2.1, 0.2, and 0.1 μg/L, respectively. In stratified linear analyses by each median value, a higher BPF was positively associated with birth weight (g) (β = 125.5; 95% CI: 45.0 to 205.9). Mixture analyses using BKMR suggested an inverse association between bisphenol mixtures and birth weight. Our findings suggest that in utero bisphenol exposure may influence birth weight and that such relationships may differ considering non-linearity and the combined effect.
Long-Term Care Facilities and Nursing Homes during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review of the Perspectives of Professionals, Families and Residents
Authors: Palacios-Ceña Domingo , Fernández-Peña Rosario , Ortega-López Angela , Fernández-Feito Ana , Bautista-Villaécija Oscar , Rodrigo-Pedrosa Olga , Arnau-Sánchez José , Lizcano-Álvarez Ángel
Published: September 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant repercussions for nursing home residents, their families, and professionals. The objective was to describe the perspectives of residents, their families, and nursing home employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. A scoping review was carried out using the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews. The inclusion criteria were: qualitative and/or mixed methods studies in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. The review covers studies published from 11 March 2020 to 15 February 2021. CINAHL, PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus, British Nursing Index, Proquest, PsycInfo, and Google Scholar databases were used. We conducted a systematic narrative synthesis, presenting the results narratively and showing descriptive statistics on the studies reviewed. Sixteen documents were obtained from 175 results. Two studies focused on residents and one on their families. The remaining studies looked at professionals. Nursing homes had great difficulty managing resources, which was exacerbated by emotional exhaustion among residents, employees, and family members. In nursing homes, creative initiatives and new forms of leadership appeared to meet emerging needs during the pandemic. The results of the study show the impact of the pandemic on nursing homes and the response capacity present among residents, family members, and professionals.
Sella Turcica Abnormalities, Dental Age and Dental Abnormalities in Polish Children
Authors: Jankowski Tomasz , Jedliński Maciej , Schmeidl Krzysztof , Grocholewicz Katarzyna , Janiszewska-Olszowska Joanna
Published: September 2021

The frequency of some sella turcica abnormalities on cephalometric radiographs is age related. Chronological age might not overlap with growth; however, no studies could be found on the association between sellar morphology and dental age. Although an association exists between sella turcica bridging and dental abnormalities, no studies have been found correlating sellar abnormalities other than bridging with dental abnormalities. The aim of this study was to find any correlations between sella turcica abnormalities and dental age or dental abnormalities. Methods: Lateral cephalograms and panoramic radiographs of 206 children aged 6–15 years were analyzed for sela turcica abnormalities, Demirijan dental age, and dental abnormalities. Results: The prevalence of dental abnormalities in patients with sela turcica abnormalities was 16.98%, while in those with normal sella, it was 3%. The differences between dental and chronological age were higher in patients with sella turcica abnormalities (p = 0.002). Dental abnormalities were more prevalent (p = 0.001) in patients with sellar abnormalities other than sellar bridging than in those with sellar bridging or normal sella. Conclusions: Sella turcica abnormalities are correlated with delayed dental age. Dental abnormalities are more frequent in patients with sellar abnormalities. Dental abnormalities are less frequent in subjects with sellar bridges compared to those with other sellar abnormalities.
Insights into the Pollutant Removal Performance of Stormwater Green Infrastructures: A Case Study of Detention Basins and Retention Ponds
Authors: Jeon Seol , Kim Siyeon , Lee Moonyoung , An Heejin , Jung Kichul , Um Myoung-Jin , An Kyungjin , Park Daeryong
Published: September 2021

The quality of water has deteriorated due to urbanization and the occurrence of urban stormwater runoff. To solve this problem, this study investigated the pollutant reduction effects from the geometric and hydrological factors of green infrastructures (GIs) to more accurately design GI models, and evaluated the factors that are required for such a design. Among several GIs, detention basins and retention ponds were evaluated. This study chose the inflow, outflow, total suspended solids (TSS), total phosphorus (TP), watershed area, GI area (bottom area in detention basins and permanent pool surface area in retention ponds), and GI volume (in both detention basins and retention ponds) for analysis and applied both ordinary least squares (OLS) regression and multiple linear regression (MLR). The geometric factors do not vary within each GI, but there may be a bias due to the number of stormwater events. To solve this problem, three methods that involved randomly extracting data with a certain range and excluding outliers were applied to the models. The accuracies of these OLS and MLR models were analyzed through the percentage bias (PBIAS), Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), and RMSE-observations standard deviation ratio (RSR). The results of this study suggest that models which consider the influent concentration combined with the hydrological and GI geometric parameters have better correlations than models that consider only a single parameter.
Narcissism and Social Media: The Role of Communal Narcissism
Authors: Kristinsdottir Kolbrun Harpa , Gylfason Haukur Freyr , Sigurvinsdottir Rannveig
Published: September 2021

Agentic narcissism and vulnerable narcissism have been widely studied in relation to social media use. However, with research on communal narcissism in its early stages, the current study examines communal narcissism in relation to social media use. Specifically, the current study investigates whether communal narcissism is related to use and frequency of use of the popular social networking sites Instagram, Reddit and Twitter, and if communal narcissism relates to the importance of receiving feedback and to the quality-rating of self-presented content on those platforms. A total of 334 individuals were recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk, with two-thirds being male (66.7%). A regression analysis showed that communal narcissism was related to increased use of Instagram and Twitter but not Reddit. Sharing content, the importance of feedback and better than average ratings had positive associations with communal narcissism. The relationship between communal narcissism and sharing on social media was fully mediated by wanting validation on social media and higher ratings of self-presented content. Communal narcissism had a notably strong relationship with wanting validation on all platforms and our results suggest that communal narcissism might be especially relevant in the context of social media use.
The Polish Version of the Nursing Delirium Screening Scale (NuDESC PL)-Experience of Using in Nursing Practice in Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Krupa Sabina , Dorota Ozga , Friganovic Adriano , Mędrzycka-Dąbrowska Wioletta , Jurek Krzysztof
Published: September 2021

Introduction: Delirium is a common complication of patients hospitalized in Intensive care units (ICU). The risk of delirium is estimated at approximately 80% in intensive care units. In the case of cardiac surgery ICU, the risk of delirium increases due to the type of procedures performed with the use of extracorporeal circulation. The aim of this study was to provide an official translation and evaluation of Nursing Delirium Screening Scale (NuDESC) into Polish. The NuDESC scale is a scale used by nurses around the world to detect delirium at an early stage in treatment. Methods: The method used in the study was the NuDESC tool, which was translated into Polish. The study was conducted by Cardiac ICU nurses during day shift (at 8 a.m.), night shift (at 8 p.m.) and in other situations where the patients showed delirium-like symptoms. Results: Statistically significant differences were observed between the first and second day in the studied group of patients in the case of illusions/hallucinations. Delirium occurred more frequently during the night, but statistical significance was demonstrated for both daytime and nighttime shifts. It was not demonstrated in relation to the NuDESC scale in the case of insomnia disorders. The diagnosis of delirium and disorientation was the most common diagnosis observed in patients on the first day of their stay in the ICU, followed by problems with communication. Delirium occurred on the first day, mainly at night. On the second day, delirium was much less frequent during the night; the biggest problem was disorientation and problems with communication. Conclusion: This study contributed to the development of the Polish version of the scale (NuDESC PL) which is now used as the Polish screening tool for delirium detection. The availability of an easy-to-use nurse-based delirium instrument is a prerequisite for widespread implementation.
Immediate Effect of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Protective Knee Taping on Knee Landing Mechanics and Muscle Activations during Side Hops
Authors: Huang Yu-Lun , Lin Kuang-Wei , Chou Li-Wei , Chang Eunwook
Published: September 2021

Athletic taping is widely used in sports to prevent injury. However, the effect of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) protective taping on neuromuscular control during dynamic tasks remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the immediate effect of ACL protective taping on landing mechanics and muscle activations during side hops in healthy individuals. Fifteen healthy individuals (11 males and 4 females; age, 23.1 ± 1.4 years; height, 175.1 ± 10.4 cm; weight, 66.3 ± 11.2 kg) volunteered to participate in this study. Landing mechanics and muscle activations were measured while each participant performed single-leg hops side-to-side for ten repetitions with and without taping. An optical motion capture system and two force plates were used to collect the kinematic and kinetic data during the side hops. Surface electromyogram recordings were performed using a wireless electromyography system. Paired t-tests were performed to determine the differences in landing mechanics and muscle activations between the two conditions (taping and non-taping). The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Compared with the non-taping condition, participants landed with a smaller knee abduction angle, greater knee external rotation angle, and smaller knee extensor moment in the taping condition. Given that greater knee abduction, internal rotation, and knee extension moment are associated with a greater risk of ACL injury, our findings suggest that ACL protective taping can have an immediate effect on dynamic knee stability. Clinicians should consider using ACL protective taping to facilitate the use of favorable landing mechanics for ACL injuries.