bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Annotation of genes involved in high level of dihydromyricetin production in vine tea (Ampelopsis grossedentata) by transcriptome analysis
Authors: Li Xiaohua , Cao Minhui , Ma Weibo , Jia Caihua , Li Jinghuan , Zhang Mingxing , Liu Changchun , Cao Zhenzhen , Faruque Mohammad Omar , Hu Xuebo
Published: March 2020

Background

Leaves of the medicinal plantAmpelopsis grossedentata, which is commonly known as vine tea, are used widely in the traditional Chinese beverage in southwest China. The leaves contain a large amount of dihydromyricetin, a compound with various biological activities. However, the transcript profiles involved in its biosynthetic pathway in this plant are unknown.

Results

We conducted a transcriptome analysis of both young and old leaves of the vine tea plant using Illumina sequencing. Of the transcriptome datasets, a total of 52.47 million and 47.25 million clean reads were obtained from young and old leaves, respectively. Among 471,658 transcripts and 177,422 genes generated, 7768 differentially expressed genes were identified in leaves at these two stages of development. The phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway of vine tea was investigated according to the transcriptome profiling analysis. Most of the genes encoding phenylpropanoid biosynthesis enzymes were identified and found to be differentially expressed in different tissues and leaf stages of vine tea and also greatly contributed to the biosynthesis of dihydromyricetin in vine tea.

Conclusions

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first formal study to explore the transcriptome ofA. grossedentata.The study provides an insight into the expression patterns and differential distribution of genes related to dihydromyricetin biosynthesis in vine tea. The information may pave the way to metabolically engineering plants with higher flavonoid content.
Physicians’ abilities to obtain and interpret focused cardiac ultrasound images from critically ill patients after a 2-day training course
Authors: Zhang Hongmin , He Wei , Lian Hui , Chen Xiukai , Wang Xiaoting , Chao Yangong , Liu Dawei
Published: March 2020

Background

This study aimed to determine whether a focused 2-day cardiac ultrasound training course could enable physicians to obtain and interpret focused cardiac ultrasound (FCU) images from critically ill patients.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the FCU images submitted by the physicians who attended a 2-day FCU training courses. Three experienced trainers reviewed the images separately. They determined whether the images were assessable and scored the images on an 8-point scale. They also decided whether the physicians provided correct responses for visual estimations of the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and right ventricle (RV) dilatation and septal motion.

Results

Among the 327 physicians, 291 obtained images that were considered assessable (89%). The scores for parasternal short-axis view were lower than those obtained for other transthoracic echocardiographic views, p < 0.001. More physicians provided incorrect appraisals of LVEF than of RV dilatation and septal motion (19.9% vs. 3.1%, p < 0.001). The percentages of incorrect answers by LVEF category were as follows: 34.8% on images of LVEF < 30, 24.7% on images of LVEF 30–54, and 16.4% on images of LVEF ≥55%, p < 0.001. A logistic regression analysis showed that patients with abnormal LVEF were associated with physicians’ incorrect assessment of LVEF, with an odds ratio of 1.923 (95% confidence interval (CI):1.071–3.456, p = 0.029).

Conclusions

A large proportion of physicians could obtain and interpret FCU images from critically ill patients after a 2-day training course. However, they still scored low on the parasternal short-axis view and were more likely to make an incorrect assessment of LVEF in patients with abnormal left ventricular systolic function.
Retraction Note: Severe Viperidae envenomation complicated by a state of shock, acute kidney injury, and gangrene presenting late at the emergency department: a case report
Authors: Esiéné Agnès , Etoundi Paul Owono , Tochie Joel Noutakdie , Metogo Arlette Junette Mbengono , Minkande Jacqueline Ze
Published: March 2020

The authors have retracted this case report [1] because the head of the snake shown in Figure 1 and described as being that of a viper (Echis occellatus) is identical to the head of a snake shown in Figure 1 of a different case report [2] where it was identified as being Naja melanoleuca, a member of the Elapidae family.
Capacity building for dementia care in community care services: a mixed methods approach
Authors: Chan Helen Y. L. , Ho Florence K. Y. , Chui Kenny C. M. , Hui Eunice Y. S. , Wong Bel , Chong Yuen-yu , Bowes Alison , Kwok Timothy C. Y.
Published: March 2020

Background

The prevalence of dementia is surging that results in huge service demand in the community care services. Dementia care competence of staff working in these settings is fundamental of the care quality. This project aims to examine the effects of staff training on their competence for the anticipated challenges in dementia care and explore how the training influence their care practices.

Methods

This study adopted a mixed methods triangulation design, including a prospective multi-center study with pre-test post-test evaluations and a narrative analysis of the participants’ reflective essays. Seventeen experienced health and social care professionals were trained as trainers at the Dementia Services Development Centre of the University of Stirling, UK. The trainers provided local facilitator training to staff members by using training materials that were culturally adapted to the local context. The facilitators were required to deliver 12 two-hour in-service training sessions for 6 months to their colleagues in a small group format in their respective workplace. Eventually a total of 1347 staff members from community care centers, day care centers, outreach teams and care homes of 70 non-government organizations in Hong Kong participated in the study between April 2017 and December 2018. Validated instruments were used to measure knowledge, attitude, sense of competence in dementia care and job satisfaction at the baseline and at 12-month follow-up. All participants were required to write a reflective essay to describe their experiences in dementia care by the end of the training.

Results

A total of 1264 participants, including 195 facilitators and 1069 learners, completed all assessment were included for analysis. Significant improvements were observed in all outcomes at the 12-month follow-up assessment (Ps ≤ .001). The magnitude of improvements in attitudes was the largest. The findings also showed that the effects of the training program significantly varied across different groups of learners in terms of age, occupation, work and training experience.

Conclusions

This community-wide large-scale project provided evidence that the train-the-trainer model and reflective learning are effective means to facilitate situated learning that promote awareness and understanding of dementia, and consequently enhance sustainability of changes in care practices.
The importance of a good therapeutic alliance in promoting exercise motivation in a group of older Norwegians in the subacute phase of hip fracture; a qualitative study
Authors: Vestøl Irene , Debesay Jonas , Pajalic Zada , Bergland Astrid
Published: March 2020

Background

Hip fractures represent a global public health issue that demands high cost both from the patient and from the society. Functional exercise in the subacute phase of a hip fracture is essential in reducing these costs. To the best of our knowledge, no qualitative study has explored the patients’ experiences in participating in an exercise program during the first month after surgery. Thus, this study aims to explore how older people who had participated in an evidence-based exercise intervention describe their relationship with their therapists and how this relationship might contribute to their motivation for exercise.

Methods

Thirteen women and six men, who all had experienced a hip fracture and were staying in the same short-term rehabilitation unit, were interviewed by the last author. The interviews lasted from 30 to 70 min. The participants’ mean age was 86 years and they had all participated in a High Intensity Functional Exercise (HIFE) program in one-on-one sessions for 2 weeks, a total of 10 sessions. The recruitment was done by therapists involved in an RCT evaluating the HIFE-program with the attempt to obtain maximum variation. Data were analyzed through systematic text condensation in collaboration between all authors.

Results

The analysis yielded three main themes integrated in the core theme “Therapeutic alliance is an interpretative filter for the participants’ experiences.” The three themes were “The feeling of mutuality and respect in the alliance”; “A trusting and motivating relationship” and “Tailoring of the instruction and program to make the task understandable”. These themes concerned basic needs in the relationship between the participants and the therapists which brought forward a feeling of mutual respect. The most prominent finding was the experience of trust in the therapists’ abilities, and how this contributed to the participants’ motivation to fulfil the program and achieve meaningful changes.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that therapeutic alliance is an indispensable aspect of a therapy, and relational knowledge and competence are prerequisites in the transfer of professional knowledge in a therapy. Our findings can be useful to therapists involved in clinical practice, especially to those working with vulnerable groups.
Association of Frailty with recovery from disability among community-dwelling Chinese older adults: China health and retirement longitudinal study
Authors: Xu Weihao , Li Ya-Xi , Hu Yixin , Wu Chenkai
Published: March 2020

Backgrounds

Little is known about the role of frailty in the recovery process of disability among older adults. We examined the association between frailty and recovery from activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL (IADL) disability among community-dwelling Chinese older adults.

Methods

Data were from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Three waves were used. Participants ≥60 years, had frailty assessment at baseline, and had incident disability in ADL or IADL in 2013, and had disability assessment in 2015 were included. Recovery from ADL and IADL disability were used as outcome measure. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the potential association between frailty and recovery from ADL or IADL.

Results

We included 516 and 598 participants in the ADL and IADL analysis, respectively. In total, 237 participants recovered from ADL disability and 293 recovered from IADL disability. Nearly half of the non-frail persons recovered from ADL disability, while less than one-quarter of the frail persons had recovery. Over half of the non-frail persons had IADL disability recovery, while only 30% of the frail recovered. After adjustment, the odds of recovery from ADL disability were 59% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1, 83%) lower among frail participants than those who were non-frail; the odds of recovery from IADL disability were 52% lower among frail persons than those who were non-frail and the association did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusions

Frailty is an independent predictor of poor recovery from disability among nondisabled community-dwelling older adults in China.
Gait speed, cognition and falls in people living with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer disease: data from NILVAD
Authors:   for the NILVAD Study Group, Dyer Adam H. , Lawlor Brian , Kennelly Sean P.
Published: March 2020

Background

Previous evidence suggests that slower gait speed is longitudinally associated with cognitive impairment, dementia and falls in older adults. Despite this, the longitudinal relationship between gait speed, cognition and falls in those with a diagnosis of dementia remains poorly explored. We sought to assess this longitudinal relationship in a cohort of older adults with mild to-moderate Alzheimer Disease (AD).

Methods

Analysis of data from NILVAD, an 18-month randomised-controlled trial of Nilvadipine in mild to moderate AD. We examined: (i) the cross-sectional (baseline) association between slow gait speed and cognitive function, (ii) the relationship between baseline slow gait speed and cognitive function at 18 months (Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale, Cognitive Subsection: ADAS-Cog), (iii) the relationship between baseline cognitive function and incident slow gait speed at 18 months and finally (iv) the relationship of baseline slow gait speed and incident falls over the study period.

Results

Overall, one-tenth (10.03%, N = 37/369) of participants with mild-to-moderate AD met criteria for slow gait speed at baseline and a further 14.09% (N = 52/369) developed incident slow gait speed at 18 months. At baseline, there was a significant association between poorer cognition and slow gait speed (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01–1.09, p = 0.025). Whilst there was no association between baseline slow gait speed and change in ADAS-Cog score at 18 months, a greater cognitive severity at baseline predicted incident slow gait speed over 18 months (OR 1.04, 1.01–1.08, p = 0.011). Further, slow gait speed at baseline was associated with a significant risk of incident falls over the study period, which persisted after covariate adjustment (IRR 3.48, 2.05–5.92, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Poorer baseline cognition was associated with both baseline and incident slow gait speed. Slow gait speed was associated with a significantly increased risk of falls over the study period. Our study adds further evidence to the complex relationship between gait and cognition in this vulnerable group and highlights increased falls risk in older adults with AD and slow gait speed.

Trial registration

Secondary analysis of the NILVAD trial (Clincaltrials.gov NCT02017340; EudraCT number 2012–002764-27). First registered: 20/12/2013.
Can metagenomic next-generation sequencing identify the pathogens responsible for culture-negative prosthetic joint infection?
Authors: Wang Chaoxin , Huang Zida , Li Wenbo , Fang Xinyu , Zhang Wenming
Published: March 2020

Background

The aims of this study were to (1) evaluate the efficacy and safety of targeted antibiotics for the treatment of culture-negative prosthetic joint infection based on metagenomic next-generation sequencing results and (2) verify the accuracy and reliability of metagenomic next-generation sequencing for identifying pathogens related to culture-negative prosthetic joint infection.

Methods

Ninety-seven consecutive PJI patients, including 27 patients with culture-negative prosthetic joint infection, were treated surgically at our center. Thirteen of the 27 culture-negative prosthetic joint infection patients, who were admitted before June 2017 and treated with empirical antibiotics, comprised the empirical antibiotic group (EA group), and the other 14 patients, who were admitted after June 2017 and treated with targeted antibiotics according to their metagenomic next-generation sequencing results, were classified as the targeted antibiotic group (TA group). The short-term infection control rate, incidence of antibiotic-related complications and costs were compared between the two groups.

Results

Two of the patients in the EA group experienced debridement and prolonged antimicrobial therapy due to wound infection after the initial revision surgery. No recurrent infections were observed in the TA group; however, no significant difference in the infection control rate was found between the two groups (83.33% vs 100%,P = 0.217). More cases of antibiotic-related complications were recorded in the EA group (6 cases) than in the TA group (1 case), but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.0697). The cost of antibiotics obtained for the EA group was 20,168.37 Yuan (3236.38–45,297.16), which was higher than that found for the TA group (10,164.16 Yuan, 2959.54–16,661.04,P = 0.04).

Conclusions

Targeted antibiotic treatment for culture-negative prosthetic joint infection based on metagenomic next-generation sequencing results is associated with a favorable outcome, and metagenomic next-generation sequencing is a reliable tool for identifying pathogens related to culture-negative prosthetic joint infection.
Cryptosporidiosis after treatment with fingolimod: a case report and pharmacovigilance review
Authors: Martinot M. , Abou-Bacar A. , Lamothe M. , Tebacher M. Alt , Zadeh M. Mohseni , Dalle F. , Favennec L. , Costa D. , Brunet J. , Sellal F.
Published: March 2020

Background

Cryptosporidium sp. are common intracellular parasites responsible of severe diarrhea in T-cell-immunocompromised patients. We report the first case of a woman who contracted cryptosporidiosis after treatment with fingolimod, a drug labeled for multiple sclerosis and responsible for marked lymphopenia.

Case presentation

A 60-year-old woman was admitted for abdominal pain diarrhea and fever. The patient suffered from multiple sclerosis and had been treated with fingolimod from august 2017 to september 2018 time of occurrence of the first digestive symptoms. Stool culture was negative but parasitological examination was positive for Cryptosporidium sp. Blood biological examination profound lymphopenia of 240/mm3 [17 CD4/mm3 (7%) and 32 CD8/mm3 (14%)]. Fingolimod was stopped, and the patient was put on nitazoxanide 500 mg bid for 7 days. The diarrhea resolved and no relapse was observed. Six other cases were found in the Pharmacovigilance database.

Conclusion

Physicians should be aware of this association and screen for Cryptosporidium in cases of diarrhea in patients treated with fingolimod. Patients should be aware of this risk and advise to take appropriate measures to avoid such contamination.
Is perinatal asphyxia predictable?
Authors: Locatelli Anna , Lambicchi Laura , Incerti Maddalena , Bonati Francesca , Ferdico Massimo , Malguzzi Silvia , Torcasio Ferruccio , Calzi Patrizia , Varisco Tiziana , Paterlini Giuseppe
Published: March 2020

Background

The objective of our study was to evaluate the association between perinatal asphyxia and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) with the presence of ante and intrapartum risk factors and/or abnormal fetal heart rate (FHR) findings, in order to improve maternal and neonatal management.

Methods

We did a prospective observational cohort study from a network of four hospitals (one Hub center with neonatal intensive care unit and three level I Spoke centers) between 2014 and 2016. Neonates of gestational age ≥ 35 weeks, birthweight ≥1800 g, without lethal malformations were included if diagnosed with perinatal asphyxia, defined as pH ≤7.0 or Base Excess (BE) ≤ − 12 mMol/L in Umbical Artery (UA) or within 1 h, 10 min Apgar < 5, or need for resuscitation > 10 min.

FHR monitoring was classified in three categories according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Pregnancies were divided into four classes: 1) low risk; 2) antepartum risk; 3) intrapartum risk; 4) and both ante and intrapartum risk.

In the first six hours of life asphyxiated neonates were evaluated using the Thomson score (TS): if TS ≥ 5 neonates were transferred to Hub for further assessment; if TS ≥ 7 hypothermia was indicated.

Results

Perinatal asphyxia occurred in 21.5‰ cases (321/14,896) and HIE in 1.1‰ (16/14,896). The total study population was composed of 281 asphyxiated neonates: 68/5152 (1.3%) born at Hub and 213/9744 (2.2%) at Spokes (p < 0.001, OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.45–0.79). 32/213 (15%) neonates were transferred from Spokes to Hub. Overall, 12/281 were treated with hypothermia. HIE occurred in 16/281 (5.7%) neonates: four grade I, eight grade II and four grade III. Incidence of HIE was not different between Hub and Spokes.

Pregnancies resulting in asphyxiated neonates were classified as class 1) 1.1%, 2) 52.3%, 3) 3.2%, and 4) 43.4%. Sentinel events occurred in 23.5% of the cases and FHR was category II or III in 50.5% of the cases. 40.2% cases of asphyxia and 18.8% cases of HIE were not preceded by sentinel events or abnormal FHR.

Conclusions

We identified at least one risk factor associated with all cases of HIE and with most cases of perinatal asphyxia. In absence of risk factors, the probability of developing perinatal asphyxia resulted extremely low. FHR monitoring alone is not a reliable tool for detecting the probability of eventual asphyxia.
Risk factors during pregnancy and delivery for the development of Perthes’ disease, a nationwide Swedish study of 2.1 million individuals
Authors: Lindblad Maria , Josefsson Ann , Bladh Marie , Sydsjö Gunilla , Johansson Torsten
Published: March 2020

Background

To ascertain or disprove a correlation between suboptimal birth characteristics, breech position at delivery and development of Perthes’ disease.

Methods

Study material was collected from nationwide registers regarding diagnoses, birth statistics and delivery data. As study population were included children with a diagnosis code for Perthes’ disease who were alive and living in Sweden at age 13. Children with missing birth statistics were excluded. All children with no Perthes’ disease diagnosis were used as control group. Both single and multiple logistical regression analyses were used to calculate OR for the included characteristics.

Results

Children in breech position had a higher risk for developing Perthes’ disease. Children with Perthes’ disease had also a higher probability of having been born pre-term, very pre-term or post-term. Lower than normal birth weight and a lower Apgar-score were also associated with Perthes’ disease.

Conclusions

There is a correlation between breech birth and development of Perthes’ disease. There is also correlation to suboptimal birth characteristics. Despite our findings this should not be used for screening of Perthes’ disease as the percentage of children who actually develop it is very low. Also, as of yet there is no possibility to diagnose Perthes’ disease before the presence of skeletal changes. Our findings could be important in finding the cause of Perthes’ disease and therefore developing better diagnostics, treatment and prevention.
The first pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor in Li-Fraumeni syndrome: a case report
Authors: Aversa John G. , De Abreu Francine Blumental , Yano Sho , Xi Liqiang , Hadley Donald W. , Manoli Irini , Raffeld Mark , Sadowski Samira M. , Nilubol Naris
Published: March 2020

Background

Li-Fraumeni syndrome is a cancer predisposition syndrome caused by germline TP53 tumor suppressor gene mutations, with no previous association with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs). Here we present the first case of PNET associated with Li-Fraumeni syndrome.

Case presentation

This is a 43-year-old female who underwent laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy at age 39 for a well-differentiated grade 2 cystic PNET. When the patient was 41 years old, her seven-year-old daughter was found to have an astrocytoma and a germline TP53 mutation. While undergoing surveillance with 68Gallium-DOTATATE positron emission tomography/computed tomography for her PNET, the patient was found to have a large choroid plexus papilloma in her right temporal lobe. She underwent genetic counseling and testing that identified a germline pathogenic variant in TP53, leading to the diagnosis of Li-Fraumeni syndrome. Her PNET had a hemizygous pathogenic TP53 mutation with loss of the wild-type alternate allele, consistent with loss of heterozygosity and the two-hit hypothesis. She was enrolled in a Li-Fraumeni syndrome protocol and continues surveillance screening with our service.

Conclusions

This is the first PNET reported in association with Li-Fraumeni syndrome. Pancreatic cancer risk is elevated in this syndrome, and our case highlights the need for vigilance in screening for pancreatic neoplasms in these patients.
In silico analysis of the immune microenvironment in bladder cancer
Authors: Zhang Ye , Ou De-hua , Zhuang Dong-wu , Zheng Ze-feng , Lin Ming-en
Published: March 2020

Background

Infiltrating immune and stromal cells are vital components of the bladder cancer (BC) microenvironment, which can significantly affect BC progression and outcome. However, the contribution of each subset of tumour-infiltrating immune cells is unclear. The objective of this study was to perform cell phenotyping and transcriptional profiling of the tumour immune microenvironment and analyse the association of distinct cell subsets and genes with BC prognosis.

Methods

Clinical data of 412 patients with BC and 433 transcription files for normal and cancer tissues were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas. The CIBERSORT algorithm was used to determine the relative abundance of 22 immune cell types in each sample and the ESTIMATE algorithm was used to identify differentially expressed genes within the tumour microenvironment of BC, which were subjected to functional enrichment and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analyses. The association of cell subsets and differentially expressed genes with patient survival and clinical parameters was examined by Cox regression analysis and the Kaplan-Meier method.

Results

Resting natural killer cells and activated memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were associated with favourable patient outcome, whereas resting memory CD4+ T cells were associated with poor outcome. Differential expression analysis revealed 1334 genes influencing both immune and stromal cell scores; of them, 97 were predictive of overall survival in patients with BC. Among the top 10 statistically significant hub genes in the PPI network, CXCL12, FN1, LCK, and CXCR4 were found to be associated with BC prognosis.

Conclusion

Tumour-infiltrating immune cells and cancer microenvironment-related genes can affect the outcomes of patients and are likely to be important determinants of both prognosis and response to immunotherapy in BC.
CD8-positive memory T cells in tumor-draining lymph nodes of patients with breast cancer
Authors: Vahidi Yasmin , Bagheri Mandana , Ghaderi Abbas , Faghih Zahra
Published: March 2020

Background

Human immunological memory is a hallmark of the adaptive immune system and plays an important role in the development of effective immune responses against tumors. In the present study, we aimed to determine the frequencies of CD8+ memory T cell subsets including T stem cell memory (TSCM) in tumor-draining lymph nodes of patients with breast cancer (BC).

Methods

Mononuclear cells were obtained from axillary lymph nodes of 52 untreated patients with BC and stained for CD8, CCR7, CD45RO, CD95 markers to detect different subtypes of memory cells in the CD8+ lymphocyte population. Data were acquired on four-color flow cytometer and analyzed with CellQuest Pro software.

Results

We observed that 47.65 ± 2.66% of CD8+ lymphocytes expressed the CD45RO, a marker for memory T cells. Statistical analysis showed that the total frequency of central memory T cells (TCM) and their subset with low CD45RO expression was significantly higher in tumor-involved nodes compared to tumor-free ones (P = 0.024 and P = 0.017, respectively). The level of CD95 expression (based on mean fluorescence intensity) on the surface of TCM, their CD45ROhi and CD45ROlow subsets, and TSCM was higher in patients with stage II compared to those in stage I (P < 0.05). In addition, the percentage of naive CD8+ T cells was significantly lower in tumor-involved lymph nodes compared to tumor-free ones (P = 0.025).

Conclusions

Our data collectively indicate no significant differences in the frequencies of CD8+ lymphocytes or their memory subsets in tumor-draining lymph nodes of patients with BC. However, the frequency of CD45low TCM was higher in tumor-involved nodes. Along with a decrease in the frequency of naive T cells, the higher frequency of CD45low TCM suggests that despite the immune reaction to provide a pool of effective memory cells, it is blocked in early-stage of memory cells’ differentiation (CD45ROlow), probably by tumor-derived suppressive factors. Identifying the molecular and cellular mechanisms behind this suppression can provide invaluable tools for adoptive T cell therapies in cancer.
Actor and partner effects of parenting stress and co-parenting on marital conflict among parents of children with atopic dermatitis
Authors: Han Jeong Won , Lee Hanna
Published: March 2020

Background

It is important for healthcare providers to pay attention to parents’ rearing style and children’s physical symptoms to promote a healthy quality of life among children with atopic dermatitis. We aimed to identify effects of parenting stress and co-parenting on marital conflict among parents of children with atopic dermatitis.

Methods

Participants were 161 fathers and 161 mothers raising seven-year-old children treated for atopic dermatitis. To confirm the effects of parenting stress and co-parenting on marital conflict, the “actor-partner interdependence mediation model” was used. To verify goodness-of-fit, maximum likelihood method was used, and a confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to confirm the validity of latent variables for model analysis.

Results

Fathers’ parenting stress had actor (β = −.46, p < .001) and partner (β = −.22, p < .001) effects on co-parenting, and mothers’ parenting stress had actor (β = −.20, p < .001) and partner (β = −.36, p < .001) effects on co-parenting. Fathers’ parenting stress only had an actor effect on marital conflict (β = .32, p < .001). Father’s co-parenting had actor (β = −.29, p < .001) and partner (β = −.22, p < .001) effects on marital conflict, and mothers’ co-parenting had actor (β = −.39, p < .001) and partner (β = −.19, p < .001) effects on marital conflict. There were significant differences between the two groups concerning three path coefficients: fathers’ parenting stress affected fathers’ marital conflict, fathers’ co-parenting affected fathers’ marital conflict, and mothers’ co-parenting affected fathers’ marital conflict.

Conclusions

It is vital for healthcare providers to seek ways to reduce the marital conflicts of parents of children with atopic dermatitis, including further examination of the role of co-parenting, to address children’s physical symptoms and promote their health. Our findings inform management and intervention programs for the families of children with atopic dermatitis.
Recognizing states of psychological vulnerability to suicidal behavior: a Bayesian network of artificial intelligence applied to a clinical sample
Authors: Barros Jorge , Morales Susana , García Arnol , Echávarri Orietta , Fischman Ronit , Szmulewicz Marta , Moya Claudia , Núñez Catalina , Tomicic Alemka
Published: March 2020

Background

This study aimed to determine conditional dependence relationships of variables that contribute to psychological vulnerability associated with suicide risk. A Bayesian network (BN) was developed and applied to establish conditional dependence relationships among variables for each individual subject studied. These conditional dependencies represented the different states that patients could experience in relation to suicidal behavior (SB). The clinical sample included 650 mental health patients with mood and anxiety symptomatology.

Results

Mainly indicated that variables within the Bayesian network are part of each patient’s state of psychological vulnerability and have the potential to impact such states and that these variables coexist and are relatively stable over time. These results have enabled us to offer a tool to detect states of psychological vulnerability associated with suicide risk.

Conclusion

If we accept that suicidal behaviors (vulnerability, ideation, and suicidal attempts) exist in constant change and are unstable, we can investigate what individuals experience at specific moments to become better able to intervene in a timely manner to prevent such behaviors. Future testing of the tool developed in this study is needed, not only in specialized mental health environments but also in other environments with high rates of mental illness, such as primary healthcare facilities and educational institutions.
Breast cancer incidence and mammography screening among resettlers in Germany
Authors: Kaucher Simone , Khil Laura , Kajüter Hiltraud , Becher Heiko , Reder Maren , Kolip Petra , Spallek Jacob , Winkler Volker , Berens Eva-Maria
Published: March 2020

Background

European studies showed that women with a migration background are less likely to participate in mammography screenings than autochthonous women. However, the participation in the German mammography screening programme (MSP) among ethnic German migrants from countries of the former Soviet Union (called resettlers) is unclear so far. The aim of this study was to identify possible differences regarding MSP participation between resettlers from the FSU and the general German population.

Methods

Data from two independent, complementary studies from North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany (a retrospective cohort study 1994–2013; a cross-sectional study 2013/14) were used for comparisons between resettlers and the general population: Odds Ratios (ORs) for MSP participation utilizing the cross-sectional data and time trends of breast cancer incidence rates as well as Chi-Square tests for breast cancer stages utilizing the cohort data.

Results

Resettlers showed higher Odds to participate in the MSP than the general population (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.08–5.42). Among resettlers, a large increase in incidence rates was observed during the MSP implementation (2005–2009), resulting in stable and comparable incidence rates after the implementation. Furthermore, pre-MSP implementation, the proportion of advanced breast cancer stages was higher among resettlers than in the German population, post-MSP implementation the proportion was comparable.

Conclusions

MSP participating seems surprisingly high among resettlers. An explanation for the increased willingness to participate might be the structured invitation procedure of the MSP. However, the exact reasons remain unclear and future research is needed to confirm this hypothesis and rule out the possibility of selection bias in the cross-sectional study.
HIV care continuum characteristics among people with opioid use disorder and HIV in Vietnam: baseline results from the BRAVO study
Authors: King Caroline , Giang Le Minh , Bart Gavin , Kunkel Lynn , Korthuis P. Todd
Published: March 2020

Background

Little is known about patient characteristics that contribute to initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) and achieving viral suppression among HIV people with opioid use disorder in Vietnam. The primary objective of this analysis was to evaluate associations between participant characteristics and the critical steps in the HIV care continuum of ART initiation and HIV viral suppression among people with opioid use disorder and HIV in Vietnam.

Methods

We assessed baseline participant characteristics, ART status, and HIV viral suppression (HIV RNA PCR < 200 copies/mL) enrolled in a clinical trial of HIV clinic-based buprenorphine versus referral for methadone among people with opioid use disorder in Vietnam. We developed logistic regression models to identify characteristics associated with ART status and HIV viral suppression.

Results

Among 283 study participants, 191 (67.5%) were prescribed ART at baseline, and 168 of those on ART (90%) were virally suppressed. Years since HIV diagnosis (aOR = 1.12, 95% CI 1.06, 1.19) and being married (aOR = 2.83, 95% CI 1.51, 5.34) were associated with an increased likelihood of current prescription for ART at baseline. Greater depression symptoms were negatively associated with receipt of ART (aOR = 0.97, 95% CI = (0.94, 0.9963)). In the HIV suppression model, once adjusting for all included covariates, only receipt of ART was associated with viral suppression (aOR = 25.9, 95% CI = (12.5, 53.8). In bivariate analyses, methamphetamine was negatively correlated with ART prescription (p = 0.07) and viral suppression (p = 0.08).

Conclusion

While fewer than 90% of participants had received ART, 90% of those on ART had achieved HIV viral suppression at baseline, suggesting that interventions to improve uptake of ART in Vietnam are essential for achieving UNAIDS 90–90-90 goals in people who use heroin in Vietnam. Social determinants of health associated with ART and HIV viral suppression suggest that social support may be a key to facilitating both of these steps in the HIV care continuum.
Caries experience and oral health related quality of life in a cohort of Ugandan HIV-1 exposed uninfected children compared with a matched cohort of HIV unexposed uninfected children
Authors:   for the ANRS 12174 and 12341 study groups, Birungi Nancy , Fadnes Lars T. , Engebretsen Ingunn M. S. , Lie Stein Atle , Tumwine James K. , Åstrøm Anne Nordrehaug
Published: March 2020

Background

Very few studies consider the oral health status and quality of life in HIV-1 exposed uninfected (HEU) children. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of caries in primary teeth and its oral health related quality of life impacts in HEU children compared to HIV-unexposed-uninfected (HUU) children, whilst adjusting for confounding covariates.

Methods

This study uses data from the Ugandan site of the ANRS 121741 PROMISE- PEP trial (ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00640263) conducted in 2009–2013 that recruited mothers with HIV-1 and their uninfected children. Of 244 HEU-children-caretaker pairs available at the end of the one-year trial, 166 were re-enrolled in the ANRS 12341 PROMISE-PEP M&S study at 5–7 years and 164 were included in this study. These were age and sex-matched with 181 HUU children-caretaker comparators. Caries experience was recorded using World Health Organization’s Decayed, Missed and Filled teeth (dmft/DMFT) indices. The Early Childhood Oral health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) was used for assessment of oral health related quality of life. Mixed effects logistic regression was conducted with dmft and ECOHIS scores as outcomes and HIV-1 exposure status as the main exposure.

Results

Forty-eight percent of HEU children and 60% of HUU had dmft> 0. Corresponding figures for ECOHIS> 0 were 12% of HEU and 22% of HUU. The crude analysis showed differences related to HIV-1 exposure in caries experience and oral health related quality of life. Mixed effect logistic regression analyses were not significant when adjusted for use of dental care and toothache. If caregivers’ DMFT> 0, the adjusted odds ratio for caries experience (dmft> 0) was 1.6 (95% CI: 1.0–2.8) while if dmft> 0 the adjusted odds ratio for quality of life impacts (ECOHIS> 0) was 4.6 (95% CI: 2.0–10.6).

Conclusion

The prevalence of untreated caries in primary teeth and quality of life impacts was high in this study population. HIV-1 exposed uninfected children were not more likely than HUU children to experience dental caries or have impaired oral health related quality of life. Given the global expansion of the HEU child population, the present findings indicating no adverse effect of pre- and post-natal HIV-1 exposure on caries in deciduous teeth are reassuring.
The impact of health vs. non-health goals on individuals’ lifestyle program choices: a discrete choice experiment approach
Authors: Benning Tim M. , Dellaert Benedict G. C. , Arentze Theo A.
Published: March 2020

Background

Goals play an important role in the choices that individuals make. Yet, there is no clear approach of how to incorporate goals in discrete choice experiments. In this paper, we present such an approach and illustrate it in the context of lifestyle programs. Furthermore, we investigate how non-health vs. health goals affect individuals’ choices via non-goal attributes.

Methods

We used an unlabeled discrete choice experiment about lifestyle programs based on two experimental conditions in which either a non-health goal (i.e., looking better) or a health goal (i.e., increasing life expectancy) was presented to respondents as a fixed attribute level for the goal attribute. Respondents were randomly distributed over the experimental conditions. Eventually, we used data from 407 Dutch adults who reported to be overweight (n = 212 for the non-health goal, and n = 195 for the health goal).

Results

Random parameter logit model estimates show that the type of goal significantly (p < 0.05) moderates the effect that the attribute diet has on lifestyle program choice, but that this is not the case for the attributes exercise per week and expected weight loss.

Conclusions

A flexible diet is more important for individuals with a non-health goal than for individuals with a health goal. Therefore, we advise policy makers to use information on goal interactions for developing new policies and communication strategies to target population segments that have different goals. Furthermore, we recommend researchers to consider the impact of goals when designing discrete choice experiments.
Barriers of effective health insurance coverage for rural-to-urban migrant workers in China: a systematic review and policy gap analysis
Authors: Chen Shanquan , Chen Yingyao , Feng Zhanchun , Chen Xi , Wang Zheng , Zhu Jianfeng , Jin Jun , Yao Qiang , Xiang Li , Yao Lan , Sun Ju , Zhao Lu , Fung Hong , Wong Eliza Lai-yi , Dong Dong
Published: March 2020

Background

More than 90% of the Chinese population was covered by its three basic social health insurances. However, the Chinese rural-to-urban migrant workers (RUMWs), accounting for about one-fifth of China’s total population, seem to be put on a disadvantaged position under the current health insurance schemes. The purpose of this study is to identify the current barriers and to provide policy suggestions to the ineffective health insurance coverage of RUMWs in China.

Methods

A systematic review guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The searched databases included PubMed, Embase, Medline, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Maternity and Infant Care Database MIDIRS, the Cochrane Library, WHO Library Database (WHOLIS), WHO Global Health Library, World Bank eLibrary, OpenGrey, CNKI, and Wanfang. In total, 70 articles were reviewed.

Results

(1) Chinese RUMWs have high work mobility and low job stability; (2) Barriers faced by RUMWs in obtaining effective health insurance coverage are primarily due to the reluctance of employers to provide insurance for all employees and the disadvantaged position held by RUMWs when negotiating with their employers; (3) Fissures among existing health insurance schemes leaves no room for RUMWs to meet their primary needs; and (4) Recent efforts in improving the portability and transferability of insurance across borders and schemes are not enough to solve the barriers.

Conclusion

It is argued that the Chinese central government must deal with the fragmentation of healthcare system in China and promote effective coverage by: (1) playing a more active role in coordinating different healthcare and social welfare schemes across the country, (2) increasing the health insurance portability, (3) making the healthcare policies more compatible with RUMW’s characteristics to meet their primary health needs, (4) strengthening supervision of employers, and (5) providing more vocational training and other support to increase RUMW’s job stability.
LncRNA MIR17HG inhibits non-small cell lung cancer by upregulating miR-142-3p to downregulate Bach-1
Authors: Wei Sen , Liu Jinghao , Li Xin , Liu Xingyu
Published: March 2020

Background

This study aimed to investigate the role of MIR17HG in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

Differential expression of MIR17HG in NSCLC was first detected by exploring the TCGA dataset. Expression levels of miR-142-3p in both NSCLC and non-tumor tissues were determined by qPCR. The effects of overexpressing MIR17HG on the methylation of miR-142 were assessed by MSP. The effects of overexpressing MIR17HG, miR-142-3p and Bach-1 on the invasion and migration of NSCLC cells were assessed by Trasnwell invasion or migration assay.

Results

Analysis of TCGA dataset revealed slightly downregulated expression of MIR17HG in NSCLC. This downregulation was further confirmed by measuring the expression levels of MIR17HG in NSCLC and non-tumor tissues from NSCLC patients. MIR17HG was found to decrease the methylation of miR-142-3p, and overexpression of MIR17HG led to upregulated miR-142-3p. Moreover, overexpression of MIR17HG also led to downregulated Bach-1, the downstream target of miR-142-3p. Cell invasion and migration analysis showed that overexpression of MIR17HG and miR-142-3p led to inhibited cancer cell invasion and migration. In contrast, overexpression of Bach-1 played an opposite role and attenuated the effects of overexpressing MIR17HG and miR-142-3p.

Conclusion

MIR17HG inhibits NSCLC by upregulating miR-142-3p to downregulate Bach-1.

Trial registration

TJ-MU-2012-0148594, registered January 2, 2012
When do defecation function and quality of life recover for patients with non-ostomy and ostomy surgery of rectal cancer?
Authors: Tong Guojun , Zhang Guiyang , Liu Jian , Zheng Zhaozheng , Chen Yan , Li Min , Zhong Yan , Niu Pingping , Xu Xuting
Published: March 2020

Background

Rectal cancer (RC) surgery often results in permanent colostomy, seriously limiting the quality of life (QOL) in patients in terms of bowel function. This study aimed to examine defecation function and QOL in RC patients who underwent non-ostomy or ostomy surgery, at different time-points after surgery.

Methods

In total, 82 patients who underwent an ostomy and 141 who did not undergo an ostomy for the treatment of RC at our colorectal surgery department between January 2013 and January 2015 were enrolled. Surgical methods, tumor distance from the anal margin (TD), anastomosis distance from the anal margin (AD) and complications were compered between the non-ostomy and ostomy surgery groups. QOL was compared between the two groups at years 2, 3, and 4 after surgery. The Wexner score and the validated cancer-specific European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC QLQ-CR30) questionnaire scores were assessed for all patients in January 2017. SPSS 21.0 was utilized for all data analyses.

Results

Surgical methods, TD, and AD significantly differed between the non-ostomy and ostomy surgery groups (all P < .001). However, no differences were found in the number of complications between the groups (P = .483). For the 192 patients undergoing Dixon surgery, role function (RF), global QOL (GQOL), sleep disturbance, and the incidence of constipation showed significant differences between the two groups (P = .012, P = .025, P = .036, and P = .015, respectively). In the 31 cases of permanent ostomy, we observed significant differences in GQOL scores, dyspnea incidence, and financial difficulties across the different years (P = .002, P = .036, and P < .01, respectively). Across all 223 cases, there were significant differences in social function and GQOL scores in the second year after surgery (P = .014 and P < .001, respectively). However, no differences were observed in the other indices across the three time-points.

Conclusions

RC patients undergoing ostomy surgery, especially those with low and super-low RC, revealed poorer defecation function and QOL in the present study. However, 2 years after surgery, most of the defecation and QOL indicators showed recovery.