bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Risk factors for incomplete telehealth appointments among patients with inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Stone Katherine L. , Kulekofsky Emma , Hudesman David , Kozloff Samuel , Remzi Feza , Axelrad Jordan E. , Katz Seymour , Hong Simon J. , Holmer Ariela , McAdams-DeMarco Mara A. , Segev Dorry L. , Dodson John , Shaukat Aasma , Faye Adam S.
Published: April 2023

Background:

The COVID-19 pandemic led to the urgent implementation of telehealth visits in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) care; however, data assessing feasibility remain limited.

Objectives:

We looked to determine the completion rate of telehealth appointments for adults with IBD, as well as to evaluate demographic, clinical, and social predictors of incomplete appointments.

Design:

We conducted a retrospective analysis of all patients with IBD who had at least one scheduled telehealth visit at the NYU IBD Center between 1 March 2020 and 31 August 2021, with only the first scheduled telehealth appointment considered.

Methods:

Medical records were parsed for relevant covariables, and multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the adjusted association between demographic factors and an incomplete telehealth appointment.

Results:

From 1 March 2020 to 31 August 2021, there were 2508 patients with IBD who had at least one telehealth appointment, with 1088 (43%) having Crohn’s disease (CD), 1037 (41%) having ulcerative colitis (UC), and 383 (15%) having indeterminate colitis. Of the initial telehealth visits, 519 (21%) were not completed, including 435 (20%) among patients <60 years as compared to 84 (23%) among patients ⩾60 years ( p = 0.22). After adjustment, patients with CD had higher odds of an incomplete appointment as compared to patients with UC [adjusted odds ratio (adjOR): 1.37, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.10–1.69], as did females (adjOR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.04–1.54), and patients who had a non-first-degree relative listed as an emergency contact (adjOR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.16–2.44). While age ⩾60 years was not associated with appointment completion status, we did find that age >80 years was an independent predictor of missed telehealth appointments (adjOR: 2.92, 95% CI: 1.12–7.63) when compared to individuals aged 60–70 years.

Conclusion:

Patients with CD, females, and those with less social support were at higher risk for missed telehealth appointments, as were adults >80 years. Engaging older adults via telehealth, particularly those aged 60–80 years, may therefore provide an additional venue to complement in-person care.
Valuing Versus Having: The Contrary Roles of Valuing and Having Money and Prestige on Well-Being
Authors: Pfund Gabrielle N. , Willroth Emily C. , Mroczek Daniel K. , Hill Patrick L.
Published: April 2023

Using data from Midlife in the United States ( N = 3,767), this study investigates how believing having money or occupational prestige is important for a good life is associated with different aspects of well-being. Actual income was positively associated with sense of purpose, personal growth, self-acceptance, environmental mastery, and life satisfaction; negatively associated with negative affect; and was not associated with autonomy, positive relations with others, or positive affect. Meanwhile, perceiving having enough money or extra money as important for a good life predicted poorer well-being across all nine well-being indicators. Occupational prestige was positively associated with sense of purpose, autonomy, personal growth, self-acceptance, environmental mastery, and life satisfaction, whereas perceiving having occupational prestige as important was negatively associated with autonomy, personal growth, self-acceptance, positive relations with others, and positively with negative affect. The discussion focuses on how desiring money or prestige can influence well-being beyond having—or not having—those desires.
Birth attendants’ attitudes and practice of companionship during facility-based childbirth and associated factors in the West Shoa Zone, central Ethiopia: A mixed method design
Authors: Doba Yonas Sagni , Bulto Gizachew Abdissa , Tefera Eden Girmaye , Wakgari Negash , Daksisa Temesgen , Muda Tura , Daba Dina Gurmessa , Moti Berhanu Ejara
Published: April 2023

Objectives:

The World Health Organization strongly recommends companion of choice for all women during health facility delivery. However, in the developing countries, it is low and not well studied in Ethiopia. Thus, the study aimed to assess the birth attendants’ attitude and practice of companionship during health facility-based childbirth and associated factors in the West Shoa Zone, Ethiopia.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study design with a concurrent mixed method approach was employed from 17 August to 23 September 2021. A simple random sampling was used to collect data from 422 birth attendants using a pretested structured self-administered questionnaire. The data was entered into Epi-data 3.1 and exported to the Statistical Package for Social Sciences for analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were done. The qualitative data was analyzed manually using thematic analysis, and the result was triangulated with the quantitative data.

Results:

About, 208 (51.2%) of birth attendants had favorable attitude, and only 79 (19.5%) of them reported that they practice companion presence during childbirth. Reported job satisfaction (adjusted odds ratio = 5.29, 95% confidence interval: 3.08, 9.1), presence of a screen (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.4, 95% confidence interval: 1.94, 5.99), and wideness of the delivery room (adjusted odds ratio = 4.74, 95% confidence interval: 2.48, 9.04) were factors associated with the attitude of birth attendants. The number of deliveries per month (adjusted odds ratio = 3.34, 95% confidence interval: 1.37, 8.13), having had training (adjusted odds ratio = 3.286, 95% confidence interval: 1.52, 7.08), and presence of a screen (adjusted odds ratio = 2.88, 95% confidence interval: 1.42, 5.85) were statistically associated with practice of companion presence during childbirth. The main themes that emerged as the key barriers to the practice of companion presence during childbirth include structural factors, societal norms and culture, lack of interest, birth attendant-related barriers, unsupportive administration protocol, and companions’ awareness.

Conclusion:

The magnitude of favorable attitudes and reported practice of birth attendants regarding companion presence during childbirth is low. Structural related factors were the main barriers. Training of birth attendants and structural interventions are needed to ensure that delivery rooms are designed in ways that facilitate the presence of companions during childbirth.
Using machine learning to modify and enhance the daily living questionnaire
Authors: Panovka Peleg , Salman Yaron , Hel-Or Hagit , Rosenblum Sara , Toglia Joan , Josman Naomi , Adamit Tal
Published: April 2023

The Daily Living Questionnaire (DLQ) constitutes one of a number of functional cognitive measures, commonly employed in a range of medical and rehabilitation settings. One of the drawbacks of the DLQ is its length which poses an obstacle to conducting efficient and widespread screening of the public and which incurs inaccuracies due to the length and fatigue of the subjects.

Objective

This study aims to use Machine Learning (ML) to modify and abridge the DLQ without compromising its fidelity and accuracy.

Method

Participants were interviewed in two separate research studies conducted in the United States of America and Israel, and one unified file was created for ML analysis. An ML-based Computerized Adaptive Testing (ML-CAT) algorithm was applied to the DLQ database to create an adaptive testing instrument—with a shortened test form adapted to individual test scores.

Results

The ML-CAT approach was shown to reduce the number of tests required on average by 25% per individual when predicting each of the seven DLQ output scores independently and reduce by over 50% when predicting all seven scores concurrently using a single model. These results maintained an accuracy of 95% (5% error) across subject scores. The study pinpoints which DLQ items are more informative in predicting DLQ scores.

Conclusions

Applying the ML-CAT model can thus serve to modify, refine and even abridge the current DLQ, thereby enabling wider community screening while also enhancing clinical and research utility.
Sex Differences in Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and Mindfulness Among Patients With Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: Lee Jong-Young , Yoo Young Suk , Song Yeoungsuk
Published: April 2023

An in-depth understanding of psychological symptoms and mindfulness of men and women with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) may help develop sex-specific treatments and outcomes. This study aimed to examine differences in depression, anxiety, stress, and mindfulness between men and women undergoing PCI using a convenience sample of 114 participants (81 men and 33 women) with PCI at a university hospital in 2013. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales and the Korean version of the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale were administered. The depression, anxiety, and stress scores of women were higher than those of men, with no significant differences in mindfulness between the two sexes. The comparison of cutoff scores for severity (normal scores vs. ≥ mild) of depression, anxiety, and stress for men versus women revealed a higher proportion of women in the ≥ mild categories for the three components. Women who received PCI showed greater psychological distress than men. Therefore, awareness of these differences may alert cardiovascular nurses to employ systematic vigilance in assessing and mitigating this distress among cardiac patients, particularly women.
Students’ Satisfaction of Nursing Education: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Vanaki Zohreh , Hakim Ashrafalsadat
Published: April 2023

Because students are important elements and the main audience of higher education, their satisfaction with how nursing education can be provided can be considered an indicator of student satisfaction. In this regard, a study has been conducted on the satisfaction of undergraduate nursing students with how-to education. This study is a qualitative study conducted with the participation of ten nursing students (second to the fourth year). Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, and the contractual content analysis method was used to analyze the data. The findings of the study showed that the students were dissatisfied with how provided nursing education. The most important causes of student dissatisfaction are academics/educators and educational environments. According to the findings of the study, to reform and upgrade the educational system, the quality of educational environments and professors must be constantly reviewed and evaluated.
Evaluation of Reading Level of Result Letters Sent to Patients from an Academic Primary Care Practice
Authors: Lee Brian , Dixon Emily , Wales Danielle P.
Published: April 2023

Background

In primary care, low health literacy, particularly reading ability, is associated with worse health outcomes. Most physicians do not receive feedback on the reading levels of written communication that they may provide to patients, including result letters.

Objective

Our study compares the readability of result letters, written by resident versus attending physicians, to patients with positive or negative screens for reading ability, as determined by the single-item literacy screener (SILS).

Methods

Result letters to 50 patients at high risk and 50 patients at low risk of low reading ability were randomly selected starting from January 1st, 2020 at Albany Medical Center. Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), Gunning Fog Index (GFI), Coleman–Liau Index (CLI), Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG), and Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) were used to compare the readability of resident versus attending result letters.

Results

For all SILS levels, attending physicians wrote result letters at a lower grade level than resident physicians based on the FKGL, GFI, and SMOG indices. The FKGL, GFI, and SMOG readability scores of result letters written to patients with SILS 3–5 were also lower when written by attending physicians compared to resident physicians.

Conclusions

Result letters written by attending physicians may be easier to read than result letters written by resident physicians, especially for patients with low reading ability. Future electronic health record (EHR) software should give physicians and providers feedback on the reading level of their written communication.
Physical Activity Patterns, Satisfaction, and Quality of Life Among Nursing and non-Nursing Staff in an Office-Based Care Coordination Program
Authors: Oreskovic Nicolas M. , Li Celina , Erwin Ann E.
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Sedentary work is associated with poor health outcomes. Many healthcare occupations, including office-based care coordination, are largely sedentary. Many nurses do not achieve the recommended levels of daily physical activity, however, the physical activity levels among nurses working in care coordination are not known.

Objective

To assess the physical activity levels, self-reported health and well-being, overall quality of life, and work-related satisfaction of office-based care coordinators, and compare these among nursing and non-nursing staff.

Methods

This study collected objective physical activity data using accelerometry along with self-reported information on work-related quality of life and satisfaction from 42 healthcare staff working in a hospital-affiliated office-based care coordination program. Results were compared among nursing and non-nursing staff.

Results

Nurses had lower moderate-to-vigorous physical activity levels compared to non-nursing staff (25 min/day vs. 45, p  =  .007). There were no differences in daily sedentary time, light activity, or steps between nursing and non-nursing staff. Nurses reported high quality of life scores compared to non-nursing staff (4.4 vs. 4.1, p  =  .02), but similar levels of work-related quality of life, happiness, self-rated health, and well-being.

Conclusion

Nurses working in an office-based care coordination program had lower levels of physical activity but reported a higher overall quality of life than non-nurse work colleagues working in a similar environment. Given known health risks associated with sedentary occupational work and the growing number of care coordination programs, health policies and initiatives aimed at increasing the physical activity levels of care coordination workers is of prime importance.
Etiology and risk factors of ischemic stroke during pregnancy and puerperium: A population-based study
Authors: Richardt Anna , Aarnio Karoliina , Korhonen Aino , Rantanen Kirsi , Verho Liisa , Laivuori Hannele , Gissler Mika , Tikkanen Minna , Ijäs Petra
Published: April 2023

Introduction:

Ischemic stroke (IS) is an uncommon, but potentially life-changing, complication of pregnancy. The aim of this study was to analyze the etiology and risk factors of pregnancy-associated IS.

Patients and methods:

We collected a population-based retrospective cohort of patients diagnosed with IS during pregnancy or puerperium in Finland from 1987 to 2016. These women were identified by linking the Medical Birth Register (MBR) with the Hospital Discharge Register. Three matched controls were selected from MBR for each case. The diagnosis and temporal relationship of IS to pregnancy, and clinical details were verified from patient records.

Results:

A total of 97 women (median age 30.7 years) were identified as having pregnancy-associated IS. The most common etiologies based on TOAST classification were cardioembolism in 13 (13.4%), other determined in 27 (27.8%) and undetermined in 55 (56.7%) patients. Fifteen patients (15.5%) had embolic strokes of undetermined sources. The most important risk factors were pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, gestational hypertension, and migraine. IS patients had more frequently traditional and pregnancy-related stroke risk factors than the controls (OR 2.38, 95% CI 1.48–3.84) and the risk of IS multiplied with the number of risk factors (4–5 risk factors: OR 14.21, 95% CI 1.12–180.48).

Discussion and conclusion:

Rare causes and cardioembolism were frequent etiologies for pregnancy-associated IS, but in half of the women, the etiology remained undetermined. The risk of IS increased with the number of risk factors. Surveillance and counseling of pregnant women, especially with multiple risk factors, is crucial for the prevention of pregnancy-associated IS.
A survey on social-physical sensing: An emerging sensing paradigm that explores the collective intelligence of humans and machines
Authors: Rashid Md Tahmid , Wei Na , Wang Dong
Published: April 2023

Propelled by the omnipresence of versatile data capture, communication, and computing technologies, physical sensing has revolutionized the avenue for decisively interpreting the real world. However, various limitations hinder physical sensing’s effectiveness in critical scenarios such as disaster response and urban anomaly detection. Meanwhile, social sensing is contriving as a pervasive sensing paradigm leveraging observations from human participants equipped with portable devices and ubiquitous Internet connectivity to perceive the environment. Despite its virtues, social sensing also inherently suffers from a few drawbacks (e.g., inconsistent reliability and uncertain data provenance). Motivated by the complementary strengths of the two sensing modes, social-physical sensing (SPS) is protruding as an emerging sensing paradigm that explores the collective intelligence of humans and machines to reconstruct the “state of the world,” both physically and socially. While a good number of interesting SPS applications have been studied, several critical unsolved challenges still exist in SPS. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive survey of SPS, emphasizing its definition, key enablers, state-of-the-art applications, potential research challenges, and roadmap for future work. This paper intends to bridge the knowledge gap of existing sensing-focused survey papers by thoroughly examining the various aspects of SPS crucial for building potent SPS systems.
Human retinal endothelial cells express functional interleukin-6 receptor
Authors: Ferreira Lisia Barros , Ashander Liam M. , Appukuttan Binoy , Ma Yuefang , Williams Keryn A. , Best Giles , Smith Justine R.
Published: April 2023

Background

Interleukin (IL)-6 is an inflammatory cytokine present in the eye during non-infectious uveitis, where it contributes to the progression of inflammation. There are two major IL-6 signaling pathways: classic signaling and trans-signaling. Classic signaling requires cellular expression of the IL-6 receptor (IL-6R), which exists in membrane-bound (mIL-6R) and soluble (sIL-6R) forms. Prevailing dogma is that vascular endothelial cells do not produce IL-6R, relying on trans-signaling during inflammation. However, the literature is inconsistent, including with respect to human retinal endothelial cells.

Findings

We examined IL-6R transcript and protein expression in multiple primary human retinal endothelial cell isolates, and assessed the effect of IL-6 on the transcellular electrical resistance of monolayers. Using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, IL-6R, mIL-6R and sIL-6R transcripts were amplified in 6  primary human retinal endothelial isolates. Flow cytometry on 5 primary human retinal endothelial cell isolates under non-permeabilizing conditions and following permeabilization demonstrated intracellular stores of IL-6R and the presence of mIL-6R. When measured in real-time, transcellular electrical resistance of an expanded human retinal endothelial cell isolate, also shown to express IL-6R, decreased significantly on treatment with recombinant IL-6 in comparison to non-treated cells across 5 independent experiments.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that human retinal endothelial cells produce IL-6R transcript and functional IL-6R protein. The potential for classic signaling in human retinal endothelial cells has implications for the development of therapeutics targeted against IL-6-mediated pathology in non-infectious uveitis.
Incidence and clinical characteristic of ocular surface manifestation: an evaluation of conjunctival swab results in Corona Virus 2019 (COVID-19) patients in Jakarta, Indonesia
Authors: Susiyanti Made , Daniel Hisar , Faridah Diah , Devona Dinda Arken , Pramitha Pradnya , Bela Budiman , Haryanto Budi , Barliana Julie Dewi , Estu Dian , Victor Andi Arus , Putri Nina Dwi , Candra Julius , Sutandi Nathania , Sitorus Rita S.
Published: April 2023

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the spectrum of ocular characteristics and viral presence in the conjunctival swab of patients with COVID-19.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, fifty-three patients were recruited from two COVID-19 referral hospitals in Jakarta (Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital and Persahabatan Hospital) from July 2020 to March 2021. The inclusion criteria were patients who were suspected of or confirmed cases of COVID-19 with or without ocular symptoms. Demographic data, history of COVID-19 exposure, underlying medical condition, systemic symptoms, ocular symptoms, supporting laboratory results, reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of naso-oropharyngeal (NOP) swab and conjunctival swab were collected.

Results

Fifty-three patients who were suspected, probable or confirmed cases of Covid-19 were included. Forty-six out of 53 patients (86.79%) tested positive for either Covid-19 antibody rapid test or naso-oropharyngeal (NOP) swab. Forty-two patients tested positive for NOP swab. Fourteen out of 42 patients (33.33%) experienced symptoms of ocular infection including red eye, epiphora, itchy eyes, and eye discharge. None of these patients were tested positive for conjunctival swab. Two out of 42 patients (4.76%), who were tested positive for conjunctival swab, did not experience any ocular symptoms.

Conclusions

Establishing the relationship between Covid-19 infection, ocular symptoms, and presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus on the ocular surface proves to be challenging. In Covid-19 patients, ocular symptoms did not warrant a positive conjunctival swab result. On the contrary, a patient without ocular symptoms can also have detectable presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus on the ocular surface.
Targeting nano-regulator based on metal–organic frameworks for enhanced immunotherapy of bone metastatic prostate cancer
Authors: Huang Shu , Yuan Jun , Xie Yong , Qing Kai , Shi Zeya , Chen Guanyu , Gao Jie , Tan Haoxiang , Zhou Wenhu
Published: April 2023

Bone metastasis is the main cause of death in patients with prostate cancer (PCa), but there lacks effective treatment method. Immunotherapy shows new hopes for bone metastatic PCa patients, while the efficacy is still unsatisfactory and limited by the unique immunosuppressive microenvironment in metastatic bone site. Here, we developed a bone-targeted nano-delivery system as a nano-regulator to enhance the immunotherapy of bone metastatic PCa. The nanosystem was assembled via coordination between phytic acid (PA) and Fe3+ to form nano-sized metal–organic framework (MOF), through which mitoxantrone (MTO) was encapsulated. At cellular level, the nanosystem showed selective cytotoxicity towards RM-1 PCa cells over immune cells, and could induce tumor cells immunogenic cell death (ICD) to improve the immunogenicity of the tumor. Moreover, the nanosystem was able to induce ubiquitination of TGFβ receptor (TβR) on immune cells to promote its degradation, thus serving as a nano-regulator to block the functions of TGF-β, an abundant cytokine that has a systematically immunosuppressive effect in the tumor microenvironment. Upon intravenous injection, the nanoparticle showed pro-longed blood circulation and targeting accumulation into bone metastatic site, and imposed robust anti-tumor effect in combination with αCTLA-4. In addition, bone destruction was significantly alleviated after treatment to reduce the skeletal-related events. Overall, this work provides a biocompatible nanomedicine to restore immune sensitivity of bone metastatic tumor for enhanced immunotherapy by blocking TGF-β signaling pathway.
Robust classification of wound healing stages in both mice and humans for acute and burn wounds based on transcriptomic data
Authors: Zlobina Ksenia , Malekos Eric , Chen Han , Gomez Marcella
Published: April 2023

Background

Wound healing involves careful coordination among various cell types carrying out unique or even multifaceted functions. The abstraction of this complex dynamic process into four primary wound stages is essential to the study of wound care for timing treatment and tracking wound progression. For example, a treatment that may promote healing in the inflammatory stage may prove detrimental in the proliferative stage. Additionally, the time scale of individual responses varies widely across and within the same species. Therefore, a robust method to assess wound stages can help advance translational work from animals to humans.

Results

In this work, we present a data-driven model that robustly identifies the dominant wound healing stage using transcriptomic data from biopsies gathered from mouse and human wounds, both burn and surgical. A training dataset composed of publicly available transcriptomic arrays is used to derive 58 shared genes that are commonly differentially expressed. They are divided into 5 clusters based on temporal gene expression dynamics. The clusters represent a 5-dimensional parametric space containing the wound healing trajectory. We then create a mathematical classification algorithm in the 5-dimensional space and demonstrate that it can distinguish between the four stages of wound healing: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling.

Conclusions

In this work, we present an algorithm for wound stage detection based on gene expression. This work suggests that there are universal characteristics of gene expression in wound healing stages despite the seeming disparities across species and wounds. Our algorithm performs well for human and mouse wounds of both burn and surgical types. The algorithm has the potential to serve as a diagnostic tool that can advance precision wound care by providing a way of tracking wound healing progression with more accuracy and finer temporal resolution compared to visual indicators. This increases the potential for preventive action.
CRISPR-Cas-Docker: web-based in silico docking and machine learning-based classification of crRNAs with Cas proteins
Authors: Park Ho-min , Won Jongbum , Park Yunseol , Anzaku Esla Timothy , Vankerschaver Joris , Van Messem Arnout , De Neve Wesley , Shim Hyunjin
Published: April 2023

Background

CRISPR-Cas-Docker is a web server for in silico docking experiments with CRISPR RNAs (crRNAs) and Cas proteins. This web server aims at providing experimentalists with the optimal crRNA-Cas pair predicted computationally when prokaryotic genomes have multiple CRISPR arrays and Cas systems, as frequently observed in metagenomic data.

Results

CRISPR-Cas-Docker provides two methods to predict the optimal Cas protein given a particular crRNA sequence: a structure-based method (in silico docking) and a sequence-based method (machine learning classification). For the structure-based method, users can either provide experimentally determined 3D structures of these macromolecules or use an integrated pipeline to generate 3D-predicted structures for in silico docking experiments.

Conclusion

CRISPR-Cas-Docker addresses the need of the CRISPR-Cas community to predict RNA–protein interactions in silico by optimizing multiple stages of computation and evaluation, specifically for CRISPR-Cas systems. CRISPR-Cas-Docker is available at www.crisprcasdocker.org as a web server, and at https://github.com/hshimlab/CRISPR-Cas-Docker as an open-source tool.
Identification of lncRNA, miRNA and mRNA expression profiles and ceRNA Networks in small cell lung cancer
Authors: Zhang Chenxi , Zhou Ying , Zhang Bin , Sheng Zhihong , Sun Nan , Yuan Baiyin , Wu Xiaoyuan
Published: April 2023

Background

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly lethal malignant tumor. It accounts for approximately 15% of newly diagnosed lung cancers. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can regulate gene expression and contribute to tumorigenesis through interactions with microRNAs (miRNAs). However, there are only a few studies reporting the expression profiles of lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs in SCLC. Also, the role of differentially expressed lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs in relation to competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) network in SCLC remain unclear.

Results

In the present study, we first performed next generation sequencing (NGS) with six pairs of SCLC tumors and adjacent non-cancerous tissues obtained from SCLC patients. Overall, 29 lncRNAs, 48 miRNAs, and 510 mRNAs were found to be differentially expressed in SCLC samples (|log2[fold change] |> 1; P < 0.05). Bioinformatics analysis was performed to predict and construct a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network, which included 9 lncRNAs, 11 miRNAs, and 392 mRNAs. Four up-regulated lncRNAs and related mRNAs in the ceRNA regulatory pathways were selected and validated by quantitative PCR. In addition, we examined the role of the most upregulated lncRNA, TCONS_00020615, in SCLC cells. We found that TCONS_00020615 may regulate SCLC tumorigenesis through the TCONS_00020615–hsa-miR-26b-5p–TPD52 pathway.

Conclusions

Our study provided the comprehensive analysis of the expression profiles of lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs of SCLC tumors and adjacent non-cancerous tissues. We constructed the ceRNA networks which may provide new evidence for the underlying regulatory mechanism of SCLC. We also found that the lncRNA TCONS_00020615 may regulate the carcinogenesis of SCLC.
Identification of key transcription factors and their functional role involved in Salmonella typhimurium infection in chicken using integrated transcriptome analysis and bioinformatics approach
Authors: Ahmad Syed Mudasir , Bhat Sahar Saleem , Shafi Shaista , Dar Mashooq Ahmad , Saleem Afnan , Haq Zulfqarul , Farooq Nida , Nazir Junaid , Bhat Basharat
Published: April 2023

Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium is the cause of significant morbidity and mortality worldwide that causes economic losses to poultry and is able to cause infection in humans. Indigenous chicken breeds are a potential source of animal protein and have the added advantage of being disease resistant. An indigenous chicken, Kashmir favorella and commercial broiler were selected for understanding the mechanism of disease resistance. Following infection in Kashmir favorella, three differentially expressed genes Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-κB1), Forkhead Box Protein O3 (FOXO3) and Paired box 5 (Pax5) were identified. FOXO3, a transcriptional activator, is the potential marker of host resistance in Salmonella infection. NF-κB1 is an inducible transcription factor which lays the foundation for studying gene network of the innate immune response of Salmonella infection in chicken. Pax5 is essential for differentiation of pre-B cells into mature B cell. The real time PCR analysis showed that in response to Salmonella Typhimurium infection a remarkable increase of NF-κB1 (P˂0.01), FOXO3 (P˂0.01) gene expression in liver and Pax5 (P˂0.01) gene expression in spleen of Kashmir favorella was observed. The protein–protein interaction (PPI) and protein-TF interaction network by STRINGDB analysis suggests that FOXO3 is a hub gene in the network and is closely related to Salmonella infection along with NF-κB1. All the three differentially expressed genes (NF-κB1, FOXO3 and PaX5) showed their influence on 12 interacting proteins and 16 TFs, where cyclic adenosine monophosphate Response Element Binding protein (CREBBP), erythroblast transformation-specific (ETSI), Tumour-protein 53(TP53I), IKKBK, lymphoid enhancer-binding factor-1 (LEF1), and interferon regulatory factor-4 (IRF4) play role in immune responses. This study shall pave the way for newer strategies for treatment and prevention of Salmonella infection and may help in increasing the innate disease resistance.
A cysteine-rich secretory protein involves in phytohormone melatonin mediated plant resistance to CGMMV
Authors: Yang Ling-Ling , Li Qing-Lun , Han Xiao-Yu , Jiang Xing-Lin , Wang He , Shi Ya-Juan , Chen Lin-Lin , Li Hong-Lian , Liu Yi-Qing , Yang Xue , Shi Yan
Published: April 2023

Background

Melatonin is considered to be a polyfunctional master regulator in animals and higher plants. Exogenous melatonin inhibits plant infection by multiple diseases; however, the role of melatonin in Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) infection remains unknown.

Results

In this study, we demonstrated that exogenous melatonin treatment can effectively control CGMMV infection. The greatest control effect was achieved by 3 days of root irrigation at a melatonin concentration of 50 μM. Exogenous melatonin showed preventive and therapeutic effects against CGMMV infection at early stage in tobacco and cucumber. We utilized RNA sequencing technology to compare the expression profiles of mock-inoculated, CGMMV-infected, and melatonin+CGMMV-infected tobacco leaves. Defense-related gene CRISP1 was specifically upregulated in response to melatonin, but not to salicylic acid (SA). Silencing CRISP1 enhanced the preventive effects of melatonin on CGMMV infection, but had no effect on CGMMV infection. We also found exogenous melatonin has preventive effects against another Tobamovirus, Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) infection.

Conclusions

Together, these results indicate that exogenous melatonin controls two Tobamovirus infections and inhibition of CRISP1 enhanced melatonin control effects against CGMMV infection, which may lead to the development of a novel melatonin treatment for Tobamovirus control.
The effect of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) on psychological distress among older adults in Ukraine
Authors: Avery Jennifer , Thomas David , Myshakivska Olha
Published: April 2023

Objectives

Understanding the negative consequences of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) in Ukraine among a population who have collectively experienced difficult life events, provided the impetus for the current study which analyzed whether the perception of psychological distress differed among older adults with two types of MCI (amnestic MCI [aMCI] & nonamnestic MCI [naMCI]) compared to their cognitively intact peers.

Method

A sample of 132 older adults were selected from an outpatient regional hospital in Lviv, Ukraine and assigned into either an MCI or non-MCI control group. A demographic survey, and the Symptom Questionnaire (SQ) were administered to both groups.

Results

Results of an ANOVA comparing the SQ sub-scales between the Ukrainian MCI and control groups were analyzed. A multiple hierarchical regression analysis assessed the predictive value of MoCA scores on the SQ sub-scales. Compared to adults in the MCI group, adults in the control group reported significantly lower rates of anxiety, somatic, depressive symptoms, and total psychological distress.

Discussion

While the level of cognitive impairment was a significant predictor for each sub-type of distress, the explained variance was minimal suggesting that other factors also played a role. Reference was made to a similar MCI sample in the U.S. which had lower SQ psychological distress scores than the Ukraine sample, further suggesting possible environmental effects on symptoms. The importance of depression and anxiety screening and treatment for older adults with MCI was also discussed.
Proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal IgG deposits: a unique case with a clinical course of over 46 years
Authors: James Tyler , Afrouzian Marjan , Truong Luan , Aleter Omar , Badalamenti John , Kassem Hania
Published: April 2023

Background

Proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal IgG deposits (PGNMID) is a rare entity first described in 2004. We present a case of PGNMID with recurrent hematuria and nephrotic range proteinuria with three biopsies over 46 years.

Case presentation

A 79-year-old Caucasian female presents with a history of two separate episodes of biopsy-proven recurrent GN over a course of 46 years. Both biopsies from 1974, and 1987 were reported as membranoproliferative GN (MPGN). The patient presented in 2016 for the third time with symptoms of fluid overload, slight worsening in renal function, and proteinuria along with glomerular hematuria. A third kidney biopsy was performed, and the final diagnosis was proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal IgG/κ deposits.

Conclusion

With three renal biopsies obtained over 46 years, our case opens a unique window into the natural history of PGNMID. The three biopsies demonstrate the immunologic and morphologic evolution of PGNMID in the kidney.
The relationship between women’s breastfeeding empowerment and conformity to feminine norms
Authors: Dehghani Maryam , Kazemi Ashraf , Heidari Zeinab , Mohammadi Fatemeh
Published: April 2023

Background

Women empowerment is effective in successful breastfeeding. Hence,identifying the relationship between psychosocial factors, such as acceptance of feminine norms, and empowerment can be beneficial in designing interventions.. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the relationship between breastfeeding empowerment and conformity to feminine norms.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 288 primiparous mothers in the postpartum period using validated questionnaires of conformity to gender norms and breastfeeding empowerment in the following domains: “sufficient knowledge and skills for breastfeeding,” “a sense of breastfeeding competence,” “conscious belief in the value of breastfeeding,” “overcoming breastfeeding problems,” “negotiation and obtaining family support” and “self-efficacy in breastfeeding” which were completed through the self-report method. Data were analyzed using the multivariate linear regression test.

Results

The mean score of ‘conformity to feminine norms’ and ‘breastfeeding empowerment’ were 142.39 and 144.14, respectively. The score of breastfeeding empowerment was positively related to conformity to feminine norms (p = 0.003). Among the dimensions of breastfeeding empowerment, ‘mothers’ adequate knowledge and skills for breastfeeding’ (p = 0.001), ‘belief in the value of breastfeeding’ (p = 0.008), and ‘negotiation and obtaining family support’ (p = 0.01) were positively related to conformity to feminine norms.

Conclusions

The results indicate a positive relationship between the level of conformity to feminine norms and breastfeeding empowerment. Accordingly, it is recommended that supporting breastfeeding as a valuable role of women be considered in programs designed to improve breastfeeding empowerment.
SNRPD1 conveys prognostic value on breast cancer survival and is required for anthracycline sensitivity
Authors: Dai Xiaofeng , Cai Linhan , Zhang Zhifa , Li Jitian
Published: April 2023

Background

Cancers harboring spliceosome mutations are highly sensitive to additional perturbations on the spliceosome that leads to the development of onco-therapeutics targeting the spliceosome and opens novel opportunities for managing aggressive tumors lacking effective treatment options such as triple negative breast cancers. Being the core spliceosome associated proteins, SNRPD1 and SNRPE have been both proposed as therapeutic targets for breast cancer management. Yet, their differences regarding their prognostic and therapeutic use as well as roles during carcinogenesis are largely unreported.

Methods

We conducted in silico analysis at gene expression and genetic levels to differentiate the clinical relevance of SNRPD1 and SNRPE, and explored their differential functionalities and molecular mechanistic associations with cancer in vitro.

Results

We showed
that high SNRPD1 gene expression was prognostic of poor breast cancer survival whereas
SNRPE was not. The SNRPD1 expression quantitative trait loci, rs6733100, was found
independently prognostic of breast cancer survival using TCGA data. Silencing either
SNRPD1 or SNRPE independently suppressed the growth of breast cancer cells, but
decreased migration was only observed in SNRPD1-silenced cells. Knocking down SNRPD1
but not SNRPE triggers doxorubicin resistance in triple negative breast cancer cells.
Gene enrichment and network analyses revealed the dynamic regulatory role of SNRPD1
on cell cycle and genome stability, and the preventive role of SNRPE against cancer
stemness that may neutralize its promotive role on cancer cell proliferation.

Conclusion

Our results differentiated the functionalities of SNRPD1 and SNRPE at both prognostic and therapeutic levels, and preliminarily explained the driving mechanism that requires additional explorations and validations.
Time course study of optical coherence tomography angiography in patients with methanol induced optic neuropathy
Authors: Jafarizadeh Ali , Homaie Mina , Abdollahi Mirsaeed , Niyousha Mohamadreza
Published: April 2023

Introduction

In countries where alcoholic beverages are legally prohibited, methanol toxicity usually occurs due to ingesting homemade alcoholic drinks. The initial ophthalmologic symptoms of methanol toxicity typically appear 6–48 h after ingestion, and the severity of symptoms varies widely from mild and painless decreased vision to no-light perception vision.

Methods

This prospective study examines 20 patients with acute methanol poisoning within 10 days of use. Patients underwent ocular examinations, BCVA (Best Corrected Visual Acuity) recording, and OCTA (Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography) of the macula and optic disc. BCVA measurement and imaging were repeated one month and three months after intoxication.

Results

There was a statistically significant reduction in superficial parafoveal vascular density (P-value = 0.026), inner retinal thickness (P-value = 0.022), RNFL (Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer) thickness (P-value = 0.031), and an increase in cup to disc ratio (P-value < 0.001), and central visual acuity (P-value = 0.002) in this time course. However, there was no statistically significant difference in FAZ (Foveal Avascular Zone) area (P-value = 0.309), FAZ perimeter (P-value = 0.504), FD-300 (Foveal density, vascular density within a 300 μm wide region of the FAZ) (P-value = 0.541), superficial vascular density (P-value = 0.187), deep foveal vascular density (P-value = 0.889), deep parafoveal vascular density (P-value = 0.830), choroidal flow area (P-value = 0.464), total retinal thickness (P-value = 0.597), outer retinal thickness (P-value = 0.067), optic disc whole image vascular density (P-value = 0.146), vascular density inside the disc (P-value = 0.864), or peripapillary vascular density (P-value = 0.680) at different times.

Conclusion

Over time, methanol poisoning can cause changes in retinal layers thickness, vasculature, and optic nerve head. The most important changes include cupping of the optic nerve head, reduction in RNFL thickness, and inner retinal thickness.
Decreased gray matter volume and dynamic functional alterations in medicine-free obsessive-compulsive disorder
Authors: Ding Zhenning , Ding Zhipeng , Chen Yunhui , Lv Dan , Li Tong , Shang Tinghuizi , Ma Jidong , Zhan Chuang , Yang Xu , Xiao Jian , Sun Zhenghai , Wang Na , Guo Wenbin , Li Chengchong , Yu Zengyan , Li Ping
Published: April 2023

Background

Previous studies discovered the presence of abnormal structures and functions in the brain regions of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Nevertheless, whether structural changes in brain regions are coupled with alterations in dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) at rest in medicine-free patients with OCD remains vague.

Methods

Three-dimensional T1-weighed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and resting-state functional MRI were performed on 50 medicine-free OCD and 50 healthy controls (HCs). Firstly, the differences in gray matter volume (GMV) between OCD and HCs were compared. Then, brain regions with aberrant GMV were used as seeds for dFC analysis. The relationship of altered GMV and dFC with clinical parameters in OCD was explored using partial correlation analysis. Finally, support vector machine was applied to examine whether altered multimodal imaging data might be adopted to distinguish OCD from HCs.

Results

Our findings indicated that GMV in the left superior temporal gyrus (STG) and right supplementary motor area (SMA) was reduced in OCD, and the dFC between the left STG and the left cerebellum Crus I and left thalamus, and between the right SMA and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and left precuneus was decreased at rest in OCD. The brain regions both with altered GMV and dFC values could discriminate OCD from HCs with the accuracy of 0.85, sensitivity of 0.90 and specificity of 0.80.

Conclusion

The decreased gray matter structure coupling with dynamic function in the left STG and right SMA at rest may be crucial in the pathophysiology of OCD.

Trial registration

Study on the mechanism of brain network in obsessive-compulsive disorder with multi-model magnetic resonance imaging (registration date: 08/11/2017; registration number: ChiCTR-COC-17,013,301).
The association between risk perceptions, anxiety, and self-reported changes in tobacco and nicotine product use due to COVID-19 in May-June 2020 in Israel
Authors: Rubinson Noah G. , Fong Geoffrey T. , Gravely Shannon , Quah Anne C. K. , Bitan Michal , Lev Ari Shahar , Rosen Laura J.
Published: April 2023

Background

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, reports about a possible protective effect of nicotine on COVID-19 conflicted with messaging by public health organizations about increased risks of COVID-19 due to smoking. The ambiguous information the public received, combined with COVID-19-induced anxiety, may have led to changes in tobacco or other nicotine product use. This study examined changes in use of combustible cigarettes (CCs), nargila (hookah/waterpipe), e-cigarettes, and IQOS and home-smoking behaviors. We also assessed COVID-19 related anxiety and perceptions regarding changes in risk of COVID-19 severity due to smoking.

Methods

We used cross-sectional data from a population telephone survey that was conducted in Israel in the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic (May–June 2020) and included 420 adult (age 18+) individuals who reported having ever used CCs (n = 391), nargila (n = 193), and/or electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes)/heated tobacco products (e.g., IQOS) (n = 52). Respondents were asked about the effect that COVID-19 had on their nicotine product use (quit/reduced use, no change, increased use). We assessed changes in product use, risk perceptions, and anxiety using adjusted multinomial logistic regression analyses.

Results

Most respondents did not change their frequency of product use (CCs: 81.0%, nargila: 88.2%, e-cigarettes/IQOS: 96.8%). A small percentage either decreased use (CCs: 7.2%, nargila: 3.2%, e-cigarettes/IQOS:2.4%) or increased use (CCs:11.8%, nargila:8.6%, e-cigarettes/IQOS:+ 0.9%). 55.6% of respondents used a product in the home prior to COVID-19; but during the first lockdown COVID-19 period, a greater percentage increased (12.6%) than decreased (4.0%) their home use. Higher levels of anxiety due to COVID-19 were associated with increased home smoking (aOR = 1.59, 95% CI:1.04–2.42,p = 0.02). Many respondents believed that increased severity of COVID-19 illness was associated with CCs (62.0%) and e-cigarettes/vaping (45.3%), with uncertainty about the association being lower for CCs (20.5%) than for vaping (41.3%).

Conclusions

While many respondents believed that nicotine product use (particularly CCs and e-cigarettes) was associated with increased risk of COVID-19 disease severity, the majority of users did not change their tobacco/nicotine use. The confusion about the relationship between tobacco use and COVID-19 calls for clear evidence-based messaging from governments. The association between home smoking and increased COVID-19-related stress suggests the need for campaigns and resources to prevent smoking in the home, particularly during times of stress.