bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of Weak Banks Using Machine Learning Techniques: Evidence from the Indian Banking Sector
Authors: Meitei A. Jiran , Arora Padmasai , Mohapatra B. B. , Arora Hitesh
Published: August 2022

Early identification of ‘weak’ banks is essential for safety and soundness of the banking sector. Longer the delay in such identification, heavier the cost on an economy. In this article, we apply multiclass classification to classify banks operating in the Indian banking sector as ‘strong’ and ‘weak’ banks. Such classification is expected to provide direction to bankers for bank management. Using average return on equity (ROE) as basis for classification, we apply five machine learning models to the bank data set, namely Naïve Bayes, support vector machine, k-nearest neighbours, random forest and average neural networks. We find that all five models are able to predict the bank classes with a very high degree of accuracy. Ratio of non-performing assets to net advances turned out to be the most important variable in classifying banks as ‘weak’, followed by inflation and real exchange rate. The study is the first of its kind that successfully applies machine learning models in the Indian banking sector.
Effects of Social Work Licensure Exemptions: Theoretical Propositions, Evidence, and Research Agendas
Authors: Kim Joy Jeounghee
Published: August 2022

Purpose: This article intends to review the literature to address the concern that prevalent licensure exemptions in social work undermine public safety. Methods: It reviews (1) the rationales for licensure exemptions, (2) the effects of exemptions on the public and the social work workforce, and (3) critical gaps in the extant evidence to recommend future research agendas to fill the gaps. Results: A review of the literature revealed that concerns about duplicated regulations and potential labor shortages justified licensure exemptions but with little empirical evidence. Limited evidence was found to support the claim that exemptions minimize the effects of licensure. Extant evidence, albeit scant, implies that licensure may not eliminate lower-quality services but benefit incumbent social workers with higher earnings. Conclusions: Recognizing the gaps in the literature, it recommends empirical research and discusses available data to assess the effects of exemptions on public safety and socioeconomic (in)equity within the workforce.
“It's Like a Drive by Misogyny”: Sexual Violence at UK Music Festivals
Authors: Bows Hannah , Day Aviah , Dhir Alishya
Published: August 2022

Despite increasing scholarly and media attention on sexual violence in public spaces, including those associated with the night-time economy and licensed venues, music festivals have been largely absent from research and policy. This paper presents the findings from the first UK study of sexual violence at music festivals, drawing on data from interviews with 13 women who have experienced some form of sexual harassment or assault at a festival. Analysis reveals that sexual violence at festivals occurs on a continuum and represents an extension of rape culture through which sexual violence is culturally condoned and normalized, enabled through a number of environmental and culture features that are unique to festivals.
Multi-Disciplinary Management and Surgical Resection of Intracardiac Fibromas Causing Bilateral Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstructions in an Infant
Authors: Stone Matthew L. , Albertz Megan L. , Galambos Csaba , Twite Mark D. , Campbell David N. , Di Maria Michael , Fonseca Brian , Miyamoto Shelley D. , Ing Richard J.
Published: August 2022

Cardiac tumors remain rare in children with benign pathologies predominating. Indications for surgical management often result from compromised ventricular chamber size, biventricular outflow tract obstruction, impaired ventricular function, or the presence of medically refractory dysrhythmias. We present a case of a six-month-old infant with two intracardiac fibromas originating in the interventricular septum. The fibromas were causing significant biventricular outflow obstruction. The patient successfully underwent tumor resection on cardiopulmonary bypass The literature on pediatric cardiac tumors is reviewed. Multi-disciplinary medical planning is necessary for successful anesthetic and surgical treatment of this high-risk patient population.
Feline Fertility Consequences of inbreeding and implications for reproductive fitness
Authors: Casal Margret L
Published: August 2022

Practical relevance:

When compared with the number of individuals that make up a dog breed, the population within a given cat breed is very small. Therefore, to maintain a breed standard, a certain degree of inbreeding is necessary. However, when inbreeding reaches a certain threshold, it can lead to decreased fertility, which manifests as failure to conceive, smaller litter size, increased neonatal illness and neonatal mortality. Breeders should be encouraged to keep comprehensive records on breeding outcomes, including number of kittens born, neonatal vitality, daily kitten weights and kitten health at weaning. Commercially available DNA panels are available to inform and facilitate excellent breeding choices and can estimate the coefficient of inbreeding. Clinicians should include a review of the degree of inbreeding in the work-up for any cattery or cat colony experiencing decreased fertility.

Aim:

The objective of this article is to provide clinicians, especially those working with cat breeders, with an easy-to-understand guide to genetics and to demonstrate how inbreeding influences fertility and neonatal survival.

Equipment and technical skills:

Medical records and the pedigree of the cats in question are required to investigate cases of infertility that may be related to inbreeding. A DNA analysis kit that measures genetic diversity and health parameters can also be helpful; those that have been developed by geneticists and veterinarians at universities are preferable, as they include access to highly skilled genetic counselors and researchers who are open to working up newly discovered genetic diseases.

Evidence base:

The material provided is based on current literature and the author’s own studies examining outcomes in a closed cattery.
Linking the taniwha and dragon: Māori primary exports into China and culturally aligned value chains
Authors: Rout Matthew , Zhao Xiaoli , Castka Pavel , Reid John
Published: August 2022

Māori primary producers have focused their export attention to China, with many seeking to turn supply chains into value chains. Little attention is paid to the role of culture in value chain literature yet much has been made of the cultural similarities between Māori and Chinese in a business context. In this article, the concept of culturally aligned value chains is developed and explored, specifically examining how business cultures can help with chain governance and relationships, audit and authentication cultures can help with chain tracing, verification, and provenance, and food cultures can help with consumer-orientation of the chain. While the analysis is focused on Māori and Chinese cultures, the findings have a wider applicability for Indigenous and East Asian cultures, and more generally, the concept of culturally aligned value chains is viewed as an important insight for the value chain concept.
International school accreditation: An isomorphic force against creativity in a growing competitive market
Authors: Coutet Karl
Published: August 2022

Despite the large number of new international schools opening each year, very little innovation is evident in the market. DiMaggio and Powell (1983) use institutional isomorphism to explain the phenomenon of organisations in a field being similar and this paper investigates the extent to which accreditation contributes to that phenomenon. By reviewing the handbook, standards, and lesson observation tool of one large, global accreditor, a picture is built in this paper of the ‘ideal school’ that would perform well in an accreditation review. Accreditation was found to restrict how the school is managed, narrow the learning philosophy of the school, and prescribe the practices that take place in the classroom. Opportunities for limited creativity were found in teachers’ design of learning activities, with the caveat that those activities must be aligned to prescribed curriculum standards.
Assessment of neonatal resuscitation skills among healthcare workers in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya
Authors: Kamau Pauline T , Koech Myra , Hecht Shaina M , McHenry Megan S , Songok Julia
Published: August 2022

Objective:

Neonatal resuscitation is key in preventing neonatal mortality. The objective of this study was to assess the competence of healthcare workers in basic neonatal resuscitation at six hospitals in Uasin Gishu County in Kenya.

Methods:

This was a cross-sectional study of healthcare workers based on the labor and delivery wards.

Results:

Of the 46 healthcare workers who were assessed with a written examination and skills assessment, 85% were nurses. While 46% were able to pass the written examination, none demonstrated all required steps of newborn resuscitation during the skills assessment by simulation. No significant associations were present between the pass rate of the written examination and years of experience, role, or prior in-service training. All of the hospitals had the basic equipment required for neonatal resuscitation.

Conclusion:

There is a need to further develop the neonatal resuscitation skills among healthcare workers in the labor and delivery wards in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya.
Predictors of parental stress and family function one year after rapid unprepared return: A preliminary analysis from five nations
Authors: Howard Amanda H , Forber-Pratt Ian , Wilke Nicole G
Published: August 2022

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, some governments issued mandates requiring that residential care providers rapidly return children and youth to family. The goal of the present study was to assess outcomes in a sample of families experiencing rapid unprepared return. Specifically, we sought to evaluate the placement stability, assess support services provided to families, and examine how services received impacted parental stress and family functioning. Participants and Setting: 115 families who had experienced rapid unprepared return across five nations, including Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Mexico, and Uganda. Using a quantitative design, results examined (1) placement stability, (2) services received, and (3) the impact of services on family wellbeing. Data revealed the majority of families were still intact after 1 year. More robust support services were associated with lower parental stress and better family functioning. Occupational/financial support, such as financial assistance and job training, and material support, such as home repairs and food assistance, were vital to family wellbeing 1 year following rapid unprepared return. Rapid unprepared return creates risks to families and children, and should not be continued or repeated. However, emergency situations, government mandates or unexpected crises may force conditions for rapid unprepared return. For families that have experienced rapid unprepared return, intensive support and appropriate case management can improve the likelihood of positive outcomes and improve family wellbeing.
Evolution of transcriptional regulation of histidine metabolism in Gram-positive bacteria
Authors: Ashniev German A. , Sernova Natalia V. , Shevkoplias Aleksei E. , Rodionov Ivan D. , Rodionova Irina A. , Vitreschak Alexey G. , Gelfand Mikhail S. , Rodionov Dmitry A.
Published: August 2022

Background

The histidine metabolism and transport (his) genes are controlled by a variety of RNA-dependent regulatory systems among diverse taxonomic groups of bacteria including T-box riboswitches in Firmicutes and Actinobacteria and RNA attenuators in Proteobacteria. Using a comparative genomic approach, we previously identified a novel DNA-binding transcription factor (named HisR) that controls the histidine metabolism genes in diverse Gram-positive bacteria from the Firmicutes phylum.

Results

Here we report the identification of HisR-binding sites within the regulatory regions of the histidine metabolism and transport genes in 395 genomes representing the Bacilli, Clostridia, Negativicutes, and Tissierellia classes of Firmicutes, as well as in 97 other HisR-encoding genomes from the Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Synergistetes phyla. HisR belongs to the TrpR family of transcription factors, and their predicted DNA binding motifs have a similar 20-bp palindromic structure but distinct lineage-specific consensus sequences. The predicted HisR-binding motif was validated in vitro using DNA binding assays with purified protein from the human gut bacteriumRuminococcus gnavus. To fill a knowledge gap in the regulation of histidine metabolism genes in Firmicutes genomes that lack ahisRrepressor gene, we systematically searched their upstream regions for potential RNA regulatory elements. As result, we identified 158 T-box riboswitches preceding the histidine biosynthesis and/or transport genes in 129 Firmicutes genomes. Finally, novel candidate RNA attenuators were identified upstream of the histidine biosynthesis operons in six species from theBacillus cereusgroup, as well as in five Eubacteriales and six Erysipelotrichales species.

Conclusions

The obtained distribution of the HisR transcription factor and two RNA-mediated regulatory mechanisms for histidine metabolism genes across over 600 species of Firmicutes is discussed from functional and evolutionary points of view.
Comparative genome analysis of Vagococcus fluvialis reveals abundance of mobile genetic elements in sponge-isolated strains
Authors: Rodriguez Jimenez Ana , Guiglielmoni Nadège , Goetghebuer Lise , Dechamps Etienne , George Isabelle F. , Flot Jean-François
Published: August 2022

Background

Vagococcus fluvialisis a species of lactic acid bacteria found both free-living in river and seawater and associated to hosts, such as marine sponges. This species has been greatly understudied, with no complete genome assembly available to date, which is essential for the characterisation of the mobilome.

Results

We sequenced and assembled de novo the complete genome sequences of fiveV. fluvialisisolates recovered from marine sponges. Pangenome analysis of theV. fluvialisspecies (total of 17 genomes) showed a high intraspecific diversity, with 45.5% of orthologous genes found to be strain specific. Despite this diversity, analyses of gene functions clustered allV. fluvialisspecies together and separated them from other sequencedVagococcusspecies.V. fluvialisstrains from different habitats were highly similar in terms of functional diversity but the sponge-isolated strains were enriched in several functions related to the marine environment. Furthermore, sponge-isolated strains carried a significantly higher number of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) compared to previously sequencedV. fluvialisstrains from other environments. Sponge-isolated strains carried up to 4 circular plasmids each, including a 48-kb conjugative plasmid. Three of the five strains carried an additional circular extrachromosomal sequence, assumed to be an excised prophage as it contained mainly viral genes and lacked plasmid replication genes. Insertion sequences (ISs) were up to five times more abundant in the genomes of sponge-isolated strains compared to the others, including several IS families found exclusively in these genomes.

Conclusions

Our findings highlight the dynamics and plasticity of theV. fluvialisgenome. The abundance of mobile genetic elements in the genomes of sponge-isolatedV. fluvialisstrains suggests that the mobilome might be key to understanding the genomic signatures of symbiosis in bacteria.
Structural mutations of small single copy (SSC) region in the plastid genomes of five Cistanche species and inter-species identification
Authors: Miao Yujing , Chen Haimei , Xu Wanqi , Yang Qiaoqiao , Liu Chang , Huang Linfang
Published: August 2022

Background

Cistanche is an important genus of Orobanchaceae, with critical medicinal, economic, and desertification control values. However, the phylogenetic relationships of Cistanche genus remained obscure. To date, no effective molecular markers have been reported to discriminate effectively the Cistanche closely related species reported here. In this study, we obtained and characterized the plastomes of four Cistanche species from China, to clarify the phylogenetic relationship within the genus, and to develop molecular markers for species discrimination. 

Results

Four Cistanche species (Cistanche deserticola, Cistanche salsa, Cistanche tubulosa and Cistanche sinensis), were deep-sequenced with Illumina. Their plastomes were assembled using SPAdes and annotated using CPGAVAS2. The plastic genomes were analyzed in detail, finding that all showed the conserved quadripartite structure (LSC-IR-SSC-IR) and with full sizes ranging from 75 to 111 Kbp. We observed a significant contraction of small single copy region (SSC, ranging from 0.4–29 Kbp) and expansion of inverted repeat region (IR, ranging from 6–30 Kbp), with C. deserticola and C. salsa showing the smallest SSCs with only one gene (rpl32). Compared with other Orobanchaceae species, Cistanche species showed extremely high rates of gene loss and pseudogenization, as reported for other parasitic Orobanchaceae species. Furthermore, analysis of sequence divergence on protein-coding genes showed the three genes (rpl22, clpP and ycf2) had undergone positive selection in the Cistanche species under study. In addition, by comparison of all available Cistanche plastomes we found 25 highly divergent intergenic spacer (IGS) regions that were used to predict two DNA barcode markers (Cis-mk01 and Cis-mk02 based on IGS region trnR-ACG-trnN-GUU) and eleven specific DNA barcode markers using Ecoprimer software. Experimental validation showed 100% species discrimination success rate with both type of markers.

Conclusion

Our findings have shown that Cistanche species are an ideal model to investigate the structure variation, gene loss and pseudogenization during the process of plastome evolution in parasitic species, providing new insights into the evolutionary relationships among the Cistanche species. In addition, the developed DNA barcodes markers allow the proper species identification, ensuring the effective and safe use of Cistanche species as medicinal products.
Effects of dexmedetomidine on cardiac electrophysiology in patients undergoing general anesthesia during perioperative period: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Tan Chao , Yan Shiting , Shen Jie , Wu Hao , Yu Leyang , Wang Ying , Tian Shunping , Zhou Wei , Wu Yong , Zhang Zhuan
Published: August 2022

Background

Dexmedetomidine has controversial influence on cardiac electrophysiology. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of dexmedetomidine on perioperative cardiac electrophysiology in patients undergoing general anesthesia.

Methods

Eighty-one patients were randomly divided into four groups: groups D1, D2, D3 receiving dexmedetomidine 1, 1, 0.5 μg/kg over 10 min and 1, 0.5, 0.5 μg/kg/h continuous infusion respectively, and control group (group C) receiving normal saline. Twelve-lead electrocardiograms were recorded at the time before dexmedetomidine/normal saline infusion (T1), loading dose finish (T2), surgery ending (T6), 1 h (T7) after entering PACU, 24 h (T8), 48 h (T9), 72 h (T10) and 1 month (T11) postoperatively. Cardiac circulation efficiency (CCE) were also recorded.

Results

Compared with group C, QTc were significantly increased at T2 in groups D1 and D2 while decreased at T7 and T8 in group D3 (P < 0.05), iCEB were decreased at T8 (P < 0.05). Compared with group D1, QTc at T2, T6, T7, T9 and T10 and iCEB at T8 were decreased, and CCE at T2-T4 were increased in group D3 significantly (P < 0.05). Compared with group D2, QTc at T2 and iCEB at T8 were decreased and CCE at T2 and T3 were increased in group D3 significantly (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Dexmedetomidine at a loading dose of 0.5 μg/kg and a maintenance dose of 0.5 μg/kg/h can maintain stability of cardiac electrophysiology during perioperative period and has no significant adverse effects on CCE.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04577430 (Date of registration: 06/10/2020).
Impaired functional exercise capacity and greater cardiovascular response to the 6-min walk test in congenital generalized lipodystrophy
Authors: Dantas de Medeiros Jorge Luiz , Carneiro Bezerra Bruno , Araújo Cruz Helen Rainara , Azevedo de Medeiros Katarina , Cardoso de Melo Maria Eduarda , Sales Craveiro Sarmento Aquiles , Abbott Galvão Ururahy Marcela , Fassarella Agnez Lima Lucymara , dos Santos Neto Alcebíades José , Gomes Lima Josivan , Resqueti Vanessa , Peroni Gualdi Lucien , Fregonezi Guilherme , Araújo de Melo Campos Julliane Tamara
Published: August 2022

Background

Congenital Generalized Lipodystrophy (CGL) is an ultra-rare disease characterized by metabolic disorders. However, the evaluation of functional exercise capacity, cardiovascular (CV) response to exercise, and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in CGL is scarce. Here we evaluated the performance and CV response to exercise and their association with PAD in CGL compared to healthy individuals.

Methods

Twelve CGL and 12 healthy subjects matched for age and gender were included. Functional exercise capacity, CV response, and PAD were measured using the six-minute walk test (6MWT) and ankle-brachial index (ABI), respectively.

Results

At baseline, CGL subjects showed reduced predicted walked distance (6MWD) (p = 0.009) and increased heart rate (HR), systolic (SBP), and diastolic (DBP) pressures compared to healthy subjects (p < 0.05). Most CGL subjects presented normal ABI values (1.0 ≤ ABI ≤ 1.4). Only 25% (n = 3) had ABI ≤ 0.9. CGL subjects did not present changes in ABI and blood pressure 12 months after metreleptin (MLP) replacement, but they walked a greater 6MWD than baseline (p = 0.04). Further, 6MWD and right ABI measurements were positively correlated in CGL subjects (p = 0.03). Right ABI negatively correlated with glucose, triglycerides, and VLDL-c (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

We observed that CGL subjects had lower functional exercise capacity and higher cardiovascular effort for similar performance of 6MWT, suggesting that strategies for decreasing exercise effort in this population should be essential. Furthermore, better physical performance was associated with high ABI in CGL. Additional studies are needed to clarify leptin's role in preserving functional exercise capacity in CGL.
What influences communication about retention in randomised trials: a multi-trial, theory-based analysis exploring trial staff perspectives
Authors: Coffey Taylor , Duncan Eilidh , Morgan Heather , Gillies Katie
Published: August 2022

Background

Retention (participants completing a trial) is a persistent, and often under-studied, challenge within clinical trials. Research on retention has focussed on understanding the actions of participants who decide to remain or withdraw from trial participation and developing interventions to target improvements. To better understand how trial staff may influence participants to remain or withdraw from trials, it is important to explore the experiences of staff that recruit and retain said participants and how the process of recruitment impacts retention.

Methods

Two qualitative interview studies informed by the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) were conducted with staff involved in various stages of clinical trials. The first set of interviews were focussed on staff perceptions about why participants failed to be retained and what helped to keep others engaged in trials, but also explored more generally what strategies or factors contributed to retention in trials. The second set of interviews were focussed on staff perceptions specifically about the recruitment and informed consent process and how that may influence trial retention. All interviews were analysed using the TDF and assigned to relevant behavioural domains according to perceived barriers/facilitators of the target behaviour. Belief statements were generated, summarising the narrative content of related responses within these behavioural domains. These belief statements were further analysed for themes that captured higher order relationships between separate beliefs within and between behavioural domains.

Results

Twenty-five participants (9 retention staff and 16 recruitment staff) were interviewed. Themes describing the barriers/facilitators to retention broadly, and to communication of retention information at consent, were generated. Four themes on retention broadly and six themes on communication of retention information at consent were identified. Overall, beliefs within all fourteen TDF domains populated these themes.

Conclusions

This study explored staff perspectives on retention and how they interpret their behaviour as contributing to retention success. Perspectives varied considerably but several key themes regarding communication were seen consistently. Specific barriers and facilitators within these findings will serve to guide the design of a behavioural intervention aimed at addressing issues within retention. Findings contribute to a notable gap in the literature on staff behaviour in trials and on retention generally.
Sinus pericranii associated with syntelencephaly: a case report
Authors: Fujino Shuhei , Enokizono Mikako , Ihara Satoshi , Kono Tatsuo , Miyama Sahoko
Published: August 2022

Background

Sinus pericranii is a rare cranial venous malformation resulting in a subcutaneous mass due to abnormal communication between intracranial and subperiosteal/interperiosteal veins. To date, to the best of our knowledge, there are no reports of sinus pericranii associated with syntelencephaly, a subtype of lobar holoprosencephaly. We herein report a case of sinus pericranii associated with syntelencephaly. This report can provide us better understanding of the etiology of sinus pericranii, the potential risks, and the treatment options for these patients.

Case presentation

A 2-year-4-month old female patient who received the diagnosis of syntelencephaly as a neonate presented with a subcutaneous mass in the parietal region. The mass was soft, nonpulsatile, 3 × 2 cm in size, and showed enlargement in the lying position. Color cranial Doppler ultrasound, head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and cerebral angiography revealed a dilated vessel passing through the parietal bone and forming a communication between the superior sagittal sinus and scalp veins. Based on these findings, sinus pericranii was diagnosed. The head MRI also showed coronal craniosynostosis, a tight posterior fossa. At age 2 years and 7 months, the patient underwent a transection of the sinus pericranii and the mass resolved without any complications or recurrences for more than 2.5 years to date.

Conclusion

Sinus pericranii is a rare cranial and venous malformation sometimes accompanied by brain malformations or craniosynostosis that may become more apparent as the brain and skull develop. Since this condition can be complicated by intracranial hemorrhage and sinus thrombosis, early detection is necessary to determine the treatment options. Physicians should be alert to the possibility of this condition if they observe a soft cranial mass that appears to decrease in size in the sitting position and bulge in the lying position.
Developing a training programme for midwives and maternity support workers facilitating a novel intervention to support women with anxiety in pregnancy
Authors: Evans Kerry , Moya Helen , Lambert Marissa , Spiby Helen
Published: August 2022

Background

The RAPID-2 intervention has been developed to support women with symptoms of mild-to-moderate anxiety in pregnancy. The intervention consists of supportive discussions with midwives, facilitated discussion groups and access to self-management materials. This paper reports the development of a training programme to prepare midwives and maternity support workers to facilitate the intervention.

Methods

Kern’s six-step approach for curriculum development was used to identify midwives and maternity support workers training needs to help support pregnant women with anxiety and facilitate a supportive intervention. The stages of development included feedback from a preliminary study, stakeholder engagement, a review of the literature surrounding midwives’ learning and support needs and identifying and supporting the essential process and functions of the RAPID intervention.

Results

Midwives’ reported training needs were mapped against perinatal mental health competency frameworks to identify areas of skills and training needed to facilitate specific intervention mechanisms and components. A training plan was developed which considered the need to provide training with minimal additional resources and within midwives’ scope of practice. The training plan consists of two workshop teaching sessions and a training manual.

Conclusion

Future implementation is planned to include a post-training evaluation of the skills and competencies required to fully evaluate the comprehensive programme and deliver the RAPID-2 intervention as planned. In addition, the RAPID-2 study protocol includes a qualitative evaluation of facilitators’ views of the usefulness of the training programme.
Lentinan enhances the antitumor effects of Delta-like 1 via neutrophils
Authors: Xu Haiyan , Qi Ziwei , Zhao Qi , Xue Jiao , Zhu Jiaxing , He Yan , Liu Guirong , Qin Songbing
Published: August 2022

Background

Selective activation of Delta-like 1 (DLL1)-Notch signaling is a new approach to activate CD8+ T cell and suppress tumor growth, while the efficacy remains modest. Lentinan (LNT) is a clinically used immunomodulation agent. Thus, we hypothesized that LNT could improve the efficacy of DLL1.

Methods

The effects of LNT combined with DLL1 on tumor growth were evaluated by growth curve and tumor weight in EO771 breast and LAP0297 lung tumor models. The impacts on immune cells and gene expression in tumor tissues were determined by flow cytometry, qPCR. Neutrophil depletion was used to investigate the mechanism of the combination therapy on tumor growth. The data sets were compared using unpaired student’s t-test or ordinary one-way ANOVA.

Results

 LNT treatments additively improved the antitumor effects of DLL1 in EO771 breast tumor growth. Remarkably, LNT treatments synergistically enhanced the suppression of DLL1 on LAP0297 lung tumor growth, resulting in tumor regression. Mechanically, the combination of LNT and DLL1 interventions not only promoted the accumulation and activation of CD8+ T cells, but also increased intratumoral CD45+CD11b+Ly6G+ neutrophils. Reduced neutrophils by anti-Gr1 antibody administrations reversed the improved antitumor effects by LNT treatments in LAP0297 lung tumor. These results suggest that LNT treatments improve the inhibition of DLL1 on tumor growth via neutrophils.

Conclusions

Our findings indicates that LNT and DLL1 may induce synergistical antitumor immunity via simultaneous modulating lymphoid and myeloid cell populations regardless of the type of tumor, providing a potential new strategy to potentiate cancer immunotherapy.
Evaluation of the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on BMI in children and adolescents with or without obesity
Authors: Maggio Albane B. R. , Gal-Dudding Claudine , Martin Xavier , Chamay-Weber Catherine
Published: August 2022

Background

In Switzerland, from March 15th to May 11th 2020, schools and most shops were closed nationwide due to the COVID-19-related lockdown. This cessation of activities may have impacted weight gain in children and adolescents. The aims of our study were to evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on the BMI of children and adolescents in treatment for obesity, and to compare its evolution to that of the previous year at the same time, as well as to that of normal-weight children.

Methods

This retrospective study gathered demographic and anthropometric data from subjects aged 6–18 years both with normal weight and with obesity, who attended our hospital clinics at four time points: before and after the lockdown period in 2020, and at the same times of the year in 2019. We used paired t-tests to assess weight, BMI and BMI z-score changes, linear and standard multiple regressions, independent Student’s t-tests or Chi-square tests to compare groups, and Pearson correlation coefficient when appropriate.

Results

Forty-seven children with obesity and 18 normal-weight subjects had complete data for the 4 visits. The mean BMI increased in both groups during the lockdown (obese: + 0.96 ± 1.5 vs. control: + 0.51 ± 0.1), however the increase was significantly more important in the subjects with obesity compared to the same period in 2019 (2019: + 0.33 ± 1.0; mean difference between 2019 and 2020: + 0.63 ± 2.0 p = 0.034).

Conclusion

The COVID-19 lockdown had a negative impact on the BMI of youth with obesity. Interestingly we observed extreme changes in this population, which was not the case in normal-weight children. Therefore, families with a child with obesity must be actively supported during these stressful and obesogenic periods of confinement.
Fourteen-year change in activities of daily living of a quadriplegic, ventilator-managed patient injured by high cervical spinal cord injury during infancy: a case report
Authors: Yasuoka Yoshinori , Nishimura Yukihide , Kinoshita Tokio , Koike Yumi , Umemoto Yasunori , Tajima Fumihiro
Published: August 2022

Background

Rehabilitation of patients with high cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) to improve activities of daily living (ADL) is challenging due to severe paralysis. In addition, pediatric patients with CSCI are rare, and literature describing ADL changes as the patient grows are limited. In this case report, we present the long-term change in ADL over time in a girl with severe high CSCI from an injury during infancy.

Case presentation

A 2 years and 6 months old girl, who was injured in a traffic accident, was diagnosed with C3 CSCI, resulting in complete quadriplegia and respiratory paralysis below C3. Thus, she was managed with a ventilator. Rehabilitation for quadriplegia, respiratory dysfunction, and autonomic neuropathy was started on the fifth day after the injury while she was in the intensive care unit. Six months after the injury, the patient was transferred to a hospital. Thereafter, she was discharged with nursing and care guidance provided to her family and environmental changes at home. Afterwards, she continued to acquire skills through writing training using a mouse stick, computer operation training, and electric wheelchair operation training, which enabled her to improve her ADL despite her severe disability. In terms of education, she was able to go through a regular elementary school, a regular junior high school, and then to a senior high school of a support school.

Conclusions

We believe that training that utilizes current technology and changes in the environment that are appropriate for daily life are important for improving the ADL of children with severe CSCI.
Perceptions of employees with a low and medium level of education towards workplace health promotion programmes: a mixed-methods study
Authors: Sponselee Hanne C. S. , Kroeze Willemieke , Robroek Suzan J. W. , Renders Carry M. , Steenhuis Ingrid H. M.
Published: August 2022

Background

Understanding the perceptions of lower socioeconomic groups towards workplace health promotion is important because they are underrepresented in workplace health promotion activities and generally engage in unhealthier lifestyle behaviour than high SEP groups. This study aims to explore interest in workplace health promotion programmes (WHPPs) among employees with a low and medium level of education regarding participation and desired programme characteristics (i.e. the employer’s role, the source, the channel, the involvement of the social environment and conditions of participation).

Methods

A mixed-methods design was used, consisting of a questionnaire study (n = 475) and a sequential focus group study (n = 27) to enrich the questionnaire’s results. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to analyse the associations between subgroups (i.e. demographics, weight status) and interest in a WHPP. The focus group data were analysed deductively through thematic analysis, using MAXQDA 2018 for qualitative data analysis.

Results

The questionnaire study showed that 36.8% of respondents were interested in an employer-provided WHPP, while 45.1% expressed no interest. Regarding subgroup differences, respondents with a low level of education were less likely to express interest in a WHPP than those with a medium level of education (OR = .54, 95%, CI = .35–.85). No significant differences were found concerning gender, age and weight status. The overall themes discussed in the focus groups were similar to the questionnaires (i.e. the employer’s role, the source, the channel, the involvement of the social environment and conditions of participation). The qualitative data showed that participants’ perceptions were often related to their jobs and working conditions.

Conclusions

Employees with a medium level of education were more inclined to be interested in a WHPP than those with a low level of education. Focus groups suggested preferences varied depending on job type and related tasks. Recommendations are to allow WHPP design to adapt to this variation and facilitate flexible participation. Future research investigating employers’ perceptions of WHPPs is needed to enable a mutual understanding of an effective programme design, possibly contributing to sustainable WHPP implementation.
Children mirror adults for the worse: evidence of suicide rates due to air pollution and unemployment
Authors: Okuyama Akihiro , Yoo Sunbin , Managi Shunsuke
Published: August 2022

Background

Every year, more than 700,000 people die due to suicide, one of the most common reasons for youth death. While many studies have revealed two main factors for suicidal behavior: impulsive suicidal behavior due to mental illness and financial stress, it is not clear what happens if individuals face deterioration of mental health and economic recession. This paper attempts to answer this question and how suicide rates are correlated with these factors.

Methods

We empirically investigate whether economic recessions and air pollution trigger suicides by examining Japan, a country with one of the highest suicide rates, from 2014 to 2021. We take advantage of the characteristics of the COVID-19 pandemic and the periods before the pandemic, when both economic recessions and reductions in air pollution occurred simultaneously. Using monthly and municipal- level data, we construct a triple difference model that takes air pollution and unemployment as treatments.

Results

Our findings show that high (upper half of each period) levels of air pollution and unemployment have substantial impacts on the suicide rates of adults (22.9% in the short term) and children (42.7% in the short term, 36.0% in the long term), indicating that the increase in suicide rates among children is almost twice as high as that among adults. Our study finds that unemployment and air pollution alone are not associated with increased suicide rates but their simultaneous occurrence triggers suicides during the pandemic.

Conclusions

Our study urges suicide prevention, particularly among children, as an essential consideration for public health. Furthermore, our results indicate the need for the government to allocate resources to recover air quality and the economy simultaneously during a recession to reduce suicide mortality of both child and adults.
Associations between depression, domain-specific physical activity, and BMI among US adults: NHANES 2011-2014 cross-sectional data
Authors: Rutherford Emily R. , Vandelanotte Corneel , Chapman Janine , To Quyen G.
Published: August 2022

Background

Physical activity is associated with depression. However, benefits of physical activity on depression may differ for specific domains of physical activity (i.e., leisure-time, work, and travel). Moreover, the relationship between physical activity and depression could also differ for people in different Body Mass Index (BMI) categories. This study investigated the relationship between domain-specific physical activity and BMI with depression, and the moderation effects of BMI on the relationship between domain physical activity and depression.

Methods

Complex survey data from the NHANES 2011-2014 was used (N=10,047). Depression was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Participants reported physical activity minutes in each domain using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Demographic characteristics were self-reported. Weight and height were objectively measured and used for calculating BMI. Survey procedures were used to account for complex survey design. As two survey cycles were used, sampling weights were re-calculated and used for analyses. Taylor series linearisation was chosen as a variance estimation method.

Results

Participants who engaged in ≥150 minutes/week of total moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (adjusted B = 0.83, 95% CI [0.50, 1.16]) and leisure-time MVPA (adjusted B = 0.84, 95% CI [0.57, 1.11]) experienced lower levels of depression compared to those engaging in <150 MVPA minutes/week. Work and travel-related physical activity were not associated with depression. Overweight (adjusted B = -0.40, 95% CI [-0.76, -0.04]) and underweight/normal weight participants (adjusted B = -0.60, 95%CI [-0.96, -0.25]) experienced less depressive symptoms compared to obese participants. BMI did not moderate the relationship between domain-specific physical activity and depression.

Conclusions

Interventions that focus on leisure-time physical activity appear to be best suited to improve depression, however, this needs to be confirmed in purposefully designed intervention studies. Future studies may also examine ways to improve the effectiveness of work and travel physical activity for reducing depression.
Periacetabular osteotomy with or without femoral osteotomy for the treatment of hip subluxation in children and young adults with cerebral palsy
Authors: Chen Kangming , Wu Jinyan , Shen Chao , Zhu Junfeng , Chen Xiaodong , Xia Jun
Published: August 2022

Background

This study is aimed to investigate retrospectively the radiographic and clinical outcomes in children and young adults with cerebral palsy (CP) undergoing periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) with or without femoral osteotomy (FO) for hip subluxation.

Methods

A consecutive cohort of twenty-one patients (23 hips) with symptomatic CP hip subluxation were treated with PAO with or without FO and reviewed retrospectively. Two patients (2 hips) were excluded due to insufficient follow-up and lost to follow-up, respectively. The Reimers migration percentage, lateral center-edge angle (LCEA), Sharp angle, neck-shaft angle (NSA), femoral anteversion (FNA), Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and hip pain were assessed.

Results

Twenty-one hips (19 patients) with CP treated with PAO with or without FO were included. Five hips received PAO. Sixteen hips underwent PAO with FO. Mean age at surgery was 19 ± 6 and 15 ± 4 years for PAO and PAO plus FO, respectively. Mean follow-up was 44.0 ± 28.3 months for PAO and 41.5 ± 17.2 months for PAO + FO. All hips were painful before surgery and painless at final visits. The GMFCS improved by one level in 10 of 19 patients. There was significant increase in LCEA (p < 0.001) and decrease in the Reimer’s MP (p < 0.001), NSA (p < 0.001) and Tonnis angle(p < 0.001) postoperatively. Resubluxation occurred in 7 hips (30%) due to insufficient correction and loosening of fixation. Nervus cutaneus femoris lateralis was impaired in 4 patients after surgery. There was no avascular necrosis of the femoral head, resubluxation or infection.

Conclusion

PAO with or without FO can be effective for children and young adults with concomitant hip subluxation and CP.
Characteristics of gene expression in frozen shoulder
Authors: Nishimoto Hiroaki , Fukuta Shoji , Fukui Naoshi , Sairyo Koichi , Yamaguchi Tetsuo
Published: August 2022

Background

Severe frozen shoulder (FS) is often resistant to treatment and can thus result in long-term functional impairment. However, its etiology remains unknown. We hypothesized that gene expression of FS would vary by synovial location.

Methods

The synovial tissues of patients with FS were collected prospectively and analyzed for the expression of 19 genes. Synovial tissues from patients with rotator cuff tear (RCT) or shoulder instability (SI) were also analyzed as controls. A total of 10 samples were analyzed from each group. The specimens were arthroscopically taken from three different locations: rotator interval (RI), axillary recess (AX), and subacromial bursa (SAB). Total RNA was extracted from the collected tissues and was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction for the following genes: matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs); tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs); inflammatory cytokines (IL1B, TNF, and IL6); type I and II procollagen (COL1A1 and COL2A1); growth factors (IGF1 and TGFB1); neural factors (NGF and NGFR); SOX9; and ACTA2.

Results

Site-specific analysis showed that MMP13, IL-6, SOX9, and COL1A1 were increased in all three sites. Four genes (MMP3, MMP9, COL2A1, and NGFR) were increased in the AX, MMP3 in the RI, and NGFR in the SAB were increased in the FS group than in the RCT and SI groups. In the FS group, there was a correlation between the expression of genes related to chondrogenesis (MMP2, IGF1, SOX9, COL2A1, NGF, and NGFR) or fibrosis (MMP9, TGFB1, and COL1A1).

Conclusion

The expression levels of numerous MMPs, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and collagen-related genes were increased in the FS group, suggesting that catabolic and anabolic changes have simultaneously occurred. In addition, genes related to chondrogenesis or fibrosis were highly expressed in the FS group, which might have affected the range of motion limitation of the shoulder. Compared to RI and SAB, the AX was the most common site of increased expression in FS. Analyzing the lower region of the shoulder joint may lead to the elucidation of the pathogenesis of FS.