bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sarcopenia and its association with objectively measured life-space mobility and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in the oldest-old amid the COVID-19 pandemic when a physical distancing policy is in force
Authors: Kwan Rick Yiu Cho , Liu Justina Yat Wa , Yin Yue-Heng , Lee Paul Hong , Ng Siu Ying , Cheung Daphne Sze Ki , Kor Patrick Pui Kin , Lam Simon Ching , Lo Shirley Ka Lai , Yang Lin , Chan Siu Kay , Chiang Vico Chung Lim
Published: March 2022

Introduction

The oldest-old are highly vulnerable to sarcopenia. Physical distancing remains a common and effective infection-control policy to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission during the pandemic. Sarcopenia is known to be associated with impaired immunity. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and life-space mobility (LSM) are potential strategies for minimizing the risk of sarcopenia. However, a physical distancing policy might jeopardize the practice of MVPA and LSM. The purposes of this study were to identify the prevalence of sarcopenia and examine the association between MVPA and LSM with sarcopenia in the community-dwelling oldest-old during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

This study employed a cross-sectional and observational design. The study was conducted in 10 community centres for older people in Hong Kong during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic (September to December 2020). Eligible participants were the oldest-old people aged ≥85 years, who were community-dwelling and had no overt symptoms of cognitive impairment or depression. Key variables included sarcopenia as measured by SARC-F, LSM as measured by a GPS built into smartphones, and MVPA as measured by a wrist-worn ActiGraph GT3X+. Variables were described by mean and frequency. A multiple linear regression was employed to test the hypotheses. The dependent variable was sarcopenia and the independent variables included LSM and MVPA.

Results

This study recruited 151 eligible participants. Their mean age was 89.8 years and the majority of them were female (n = 93/151, 61.6%). The prevalence of sarcopenia was 24.5% (n = 37/151) with a margin of error of 6.86%. MVPA was negatively associated with sarcopenia in older people (β = − 0.002, SE = 0.001, p = 0.029). However, LSM was not associated with sarcopenia.

Conclusion

The prevalence of sarcopenia in the community-dwelling oldest-old population is high. MVPA is negatively associated with sarcopenia. LSM is unrelated to sarcopenia. Sarcopenia should be recognized and the oldest-old with sarcopenia should be accorded priority treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Age-modified factors associated with placental malaria in rural Burkina Faso
Authors: Bihoun Biébo , Zango Serge Henri , Traoré-Coulibaly Maminata , Valea Innocent , Ravinetto Raffaella , Van Geertruyden Jean Pierre , D’Alessandro Umberto , Tinto Halidou , Robert Annie
Published: March 2022

Background

Malaria in pregnancy can result in placental infection with fetal implications. This study aimed at assessing placental malaria (PM) prevalence and its associated factors in a cohort of pregnant women with peripheral malaria and their offspring.

Method

The data were collected in the framework of a clinical trial on treatments for malaria in pregnant women . Placental malaria (PM) was diagnosed by histopathological detection of parasites and/or malaria pigment on placenta biopsies taken at delivery. Factors associated with PM were assessed using logistic regression.

Results

Out of 745 biopsies examined, PM was diagnosed in 86.8 % of women. Acute, chronic and past PM were retrieved in 11 (1.5 %), 170 (22.8 %), and 466 (62.6 %) women, respectively. A modifying effect was observed in the association of gravidity or anemia at the study start with pooled PM (presence of parasites and/or malaria pigment). In women under 30, gravidity ≤ 2 was associated with an increased prevalence of pooled PM but in women aged 30 years or more, gravidity was no more associated with pooled PM (OR 6.81, 95 % CI 3.18 – 14.60; and OR 0.52, 95 % CI 0.10 – 2.76, respectively). Anemia was associated with pooled PM in women under 30 (OR 1.96, 95 % CI 1.03 – 3.72) but not in women aged 30 years or more (OR 0.68, 95 % CI 0.31 – 1.49). Similarly, the association of gravidity with past-chronic PM depended also on age. A higher prevalence of active PM was observed in women under 30 presenting with symptomatic malaria (OR 3.79, 95 % CI 1.55 – 9.27), while there was no significant increase in the prevalence of active PM (presence of parasites only) in women with symptomatic malaria when aged 30 years or more (OR 0.42, 95 % CI 0.10 – 1.75). In women with chronic PM, the prevalence of low birth weight or prematurity was the highest (31.2 %) as compared with past PM or no PM.

Conclusion

Despite the rapid diagnosis and efficacious treatment of peripheral infection, the prevalence of placental malaria remained high in women with P. falciparum peripheral infection in Nanoro, especially in younger women This underlines the importance of preventive measures in this specific group.
The ‘new normal’ includes online prenatal exercise: exploring pregnant women’s experiences during the pandemic and the role of virtual group fitness on maternal mental health
Authors: Silva-Jose Cristina , Nagpal Taniya S. , Coterón Javier , Barakat Ruben , Mottola Michelle F.
Published: March 2022

Background

Prenatal anxiety and depressive symptoms have significantly increased since the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic In addition, home confinement regulations have caused a drastic increase in time spent sedentary. Online group fitness classes may be an effective strategy that can increase maternal physical activity levels and improve mental health outcomes by providing an opportunity for social connectedness. The present study explores the experiences of pregnant women who participated in an online group exercise program during the pandemic and identifies relationships with maternal mental health and well-being. In addition, we present person-informed recommendations on how to improve the delivery of future online prenatal exercise programs.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with pregnant women (8-39 weeks of pregnancy) who participated in an online group exercise program, from March to October 2020 in Spain. A phenomenological approach was taken, and open-ended questions were asked to understand women’s experiences throughout the pandemic and the role the online exercise classes may have had on their physical activity levels, mental health, and other health behaviours such as diet. A thematic analysis was performed to evaluate data. In addition, women completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and these data supplemented qualitative findings.

Results

Twenty-four women were interviewed, and the anxiety scores were on average 32.23 ± 9.31, ranging from low to moderate levels. Thematic analysis revealed that women felt safe exercising from home, an increased availability of time to schedule a structured exercise class, and consequently an improvement in their adherence to the program and other behaviours (i.e., healthier diet). Women emphasized feeling connected to other pregnant women when they exercised online together, and overall, this had a positive effect on their mental well-being. Women suggested that future online exercise programs should include flexible options, detailed instructions and facilitation by a qualified exercise professional.

Conclusion

Pregnant women are receptive to online group exercise classes and expressed that they are an accessible option to accommodating physical activity during the pandemic. In addition, the online group environment provides an important sense of connectivity among pregnant women exercising together and this may mitigate the detrimental effect of COVID-19 on maternal mental health.
Survival past five years with advanced, EGFR-mutated or ALK-rearranged non-small cell lung cancer—is there a “tail plateau” in the survival curve of these patients?
Authors: Shimamura Shoko Sonobe , Shukuya Takehito , Asao Tetsuhiko , Hayakawa Daisuke , Kurokawa Kana , Xu Shiting , Miura Keita , Mitsuishi Yoichiro , Tajima Ken , Shibayama Rina , Shimada Naoko , Takahashi Fumiyuki , Takahashi Kazuhisa
Published: March 2022

Background

The prognosis of patients with NSCLC harboring oncogenic driver gene alterations, such as EGFR gene mutations or ALK fusion, has improved dramatically with the advent of corresponding molecularly targeted drugs. As patients were followed up for about five years in most clinical trials, the long-term outcomes beyond 5 years are unclear. The objectives of this study are to explore the clinical course beyond five years of chemotherapy initiation and to investigate factors that lead to long-term survival.

Methods

One hundred and seventy-seven patients with advanced, EGFR-mutated or ALK-rearranged NSCLC who received their first chemotherapy between December 2008 and September 2015 were included. Kaplan Meier curves were drawn for the total cohort and according to subgroups of patients’ characteristics.

Results

Median OS in the total cohort was 40.6 months, the one-year survival rate was 89%, the three-year survival rate was 54%, and the five-year survival rate was 28%. Median OS was 36.9 months in EGFR-mutated patients and 55.4 months in ALK-rearranged patients. The OS curve seemed to plateau after 72 months, and most of the patients who were still alive after more than five years are on treatment. Female sex, age under 75 years, an ECOG PS of 0 to 1, ALK rearrangement, postoperative recurrence, and presence of brain metastasis were significantly associated with longer OS.

Conclusions

A tail plateau was found in the survival curves of patients with advanced, EGFR-mutated and ALK-rearranged NSCLC, but most were on treatment, especially with EGFR-mutated NSCLC.
Anti-angiogenic properties of rapamycin on human retinal pericytes in an in vitro model of neovascular AMD via inhibition of the mTOR pathway
Authors: Asani Ben , Siedlecki Jakob , Wertheimer Christian , Liegl Raffael , Wolf Armin , Ohlmann Andreas , Priglinger Siegfried , Priglinger Claudia
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Choroidal neovascularizations (CNV) are partially stabilized through a coverage of pericytes leading to a partial anti-VEGF resistence. Drugs licensed for neovascular AMD (nAMD) do not take this mechanical and growth factor-driven CNV stability into account. The purpose of this work was to see if inhibiting the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) may successfully block angiogenic cellular pathways in primary human retinal pericytes in an in vitro model of nAMD.

Methods

The mTOR inhibitor rapamycin was used to treat human retinal pericytes (HRP) at doses ranging from 0.005 to 15 g/ml. A modified metabolism-based XTT-Assay was used to assess toxicity and anti-proliferative effects. A scratch wound experiment showed the effects on migration. On Cultrex basement membrane gels, the influence of rapamycin on the development of endothelial cell capillary-like structures by human umbilical vein vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC) in the absence and presence of pericytes was investigated.

Results

Rapamycin showed no signs of toxicity within its range of solubility. The drug showed dose dependent anti-proliferative activity and inhibited migration into the scratch wound. Endothelial cell tube formation in a HUVEC monoculture was effectively inhibited at 45%. A co-culture of HUVEC with pericytes on Cultrex induced endothelial tube stabilization but was disrupted by the addition of rapamycin leading to degradation of 94% of the tubes.

Conclusions

Rapamycin allows for an efficient modulation of aspects of angiogenesis in pericytes via mTOR-modulation in vitro. Further studies are needed to elucidate whether rapamycin may have an impact on CNV in nAMD in vivo.
Evaluation of the meibomian glands using the tear interferometer wearing orthokeratology lenses
Authors: Lee Jiyoung , Hwang Gyudeok , Ha Minji , Kim Hyun-Seung , Han Kyungdo , Na Kyung-Sun
Published: March 2022

Background

To investigate the impact of orthokeratology wear on meibomian glands in Korean pediatric population using the tear interferometer.

Methods

Fifty-three orthokeratology wearers and 79 non-lens wearers were evaluated using the LipiView® II ocular surface interferometer which shows incomplete blink rate, average lipid layer thickness, and meiboscores.

Results

No significant differences in the incomplete blink rate and meiboscores for upper eyelids, but the lipid layer thickness and meiboscores for lower eyelids were significantly higher in the Ortho-K group than in the control group (p = 0.024 and 0.007, respectively). Correlation analysis showed no significant correlation between the duration of orthokeratology wear and the parameters measured by LipiView® (p > 0.05 for all). Among subgroups based on average duration of lens wear, the longer duration (≥ 24 months) subgroup showed higher meiboscores of lower eyelids (p = 0.011), but no other significant differences.

Conclusions

Ortho-K wearers showed no significant differences in the incomplete blink rate and meiboscores of upper eyelids, but they were associated with increased LLT and higher meiboscores of lower eyelids. Thorough examination and close monitoring of orthokeratology wearers is necessary. Prospective and observational studies are needed to further elucidate the relationship between Orthokeratology and meibomian glands.
Antipsychotic drugs increase Neuregulin1β1 serum levels in first-episode drug-naïve patients and chronic schizophrenia with suggestions for improving the treatment of psychotic symptoms
Authors: Yang Haidong , Pan Wen , Xiao Wenhuan , Yang Man , Xu Jianchun , Li Jin , Zhang Xiaobin
Published: March 2022

Background

Neuregulin1 (NRG1) plays a role in neuronal migration, regulation of synaptic plasticity, and neural survival, and has been considered to be among the candidate genes for schizophrenia. This study focused on the variations in serum NRG1β1 levels following antipsychotic treatment and the relationship between NRG1β1 levels and improvements in psychotic symptoms among first-episode drug-naïve (FEDN) patients and patients with chronic schizophrenia.

Methods

A total of 100 patients with schizophrenia were recruited and compared with 79 matched healthy controls. All patients had been drug-naïve for at least four weeks. Serum NRG1β1 levels and positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) scores were measured at baseline and after four weeks. Serum NRG1β1 levels were measured using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs).

Results

Baseline NRG1β1 levels were significantly lower in patients with schizophrenia than in healthy controls. NRG1β1 levels increased significantly following antipsychotic treatment. NRG1β1 levels gradually increased with declining PANSS scores and its three subscales during antipsychotic therapy. The levels of NRG1β1 increased significantly in responders after four weeks of treatment, although nonresponders showed no such effect. Correlation analyses showed that the levels of NRG1β1 were negatively correlated with the duration of illness and positively correlated with improvement in symptoms.

Conclusion

The levels of serum NRG1β1 and the therapeutic effects gradually increased following treatment, indicating that NRG1β1 may be an indicator of therapy, and that it may also be associated with the pathophysiological mechanism causing schizophrenia, although this possible pathway requires further investigation.
An evaluation of a short film promoting kindness in Wales during COVID-19 restrictions #TimeToBeKind
Authors: Ford Kat , Bellis Mark A , Hill Rebecca , Hughes Karen
Published: March 2022

Background

In response to successive COVID-19 restrictions in Wales, the Welsh ACE Support Hub launched the #TimeToBeKind campaign in March 2021. The campaign used a short film broadcast on national television and promoted on social media to encourage behaviour change for kindness. We evaluated the #TimeToBeKind campaign film to identify whether watching the film would result in increased intention to act in ways that promote kindness to others and if intentions were associated with being emotionally affected by the film.

Methods

A mixed methods evaluation was employed, using a short online survey and interaction with the film on the Twitter social media platform. The online survey measured public (n = 390) attitudes towards the film including feelings invoked, and behavioural intentions for acts of kindness as a result of viewing the film. Tweets which interacted with the film (n = 59; likes, re-tweets or comments), and tweet sentiment (positive, negative, or neutral) towards the film were also explored.

Results

The majority of participants reported positive attitudes to the film and agreed that they understood the campaign message (91.8%). 67.9% reported that the film made them feel upset or sad and for 22.6% the film resonated with their lockdown experience. As a result of seeing the film, 63.6% reported intentions to be kinder to others, 65.6% intended to try and help other members of their community, and 70.5% were more likely to check in on friends, family and neighbours. A higher proportion of individuals who were emotionally affected by the film (e.g. upset or sad, hopeful or encouraged, gained something positive) and those for whom the film resonated with their lockdown experience reported increased kindness behavioural intentions as a result of seeing the film.

Conclusions

Film can be an effective tool to promote behaviour change for kindness. Films that provoke strong emotional reactions can still be perceived positively and lead to behaviour change. With the COVID-19 pandemic accelerating a move online for many, the findings of the present evaluation are relevant to how public health messaging can adapt and utilise this space to target individuals and promote behaviour change.
Development and validation of assessments of adolescent health literacy: a Rasch measurement model approach
Authors: Fleary Sasha A. , Freund Karen M. , Nigg Claudio R.
Published: March 2022

Background

Health literacy (HL) is implicated in improved health decision-making and health promotion, and reduced racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic health disparities. Three major areas of HL include functional, interactive, and critical HL. HL skills develop throughout the lifespan as individuals’ psychosocial and cognitive capacities develop and as they accumulate experiences with navigating health systems. Though adolescence is marked by increased involvement in health decision-making, most HL studies and measures of HL have focused on adults. Both the adult and adolescent HL literature are also limited by the paucity of validated test-based measures for assessing HL. The existing test-based validated HL measures for adolescents were originally designed for adults. However, adolescents are at an earlier phase of developing their HL skills (e.g., fewer experiences navigating the health system) compared to adults and measures originally designed for adults may assume prior knowledge that adolescents may lack therein underestimating adolescents’ HL. This study developed and validated test-based assessments of adolescents’ functional, interactive, and critical HL.

Methods

Items were generated in an iterative process: focus groups with adolescents informed item content, cognitive interviews with adolescents and expert consultation established content and face validity of the initial items, and items were revised or removed where indicated. High school students (n = 355) completed a measurement battery including the revised HL items. The items were evaluated and validated using Rasch measurement models.

Results

The final 6-item functional, 10-item interactive, and 7-item critical HL assessments and their composite (23 items) fit their respective Rasch models. Item-level invariance was established for gender (male vs. female), age (12–15-year-olds vs. 16–18-year-olds), and ethnicity in all assessments. The assessments had good convergent validity with an established measure of functional HL and scores on the assessments were positively related to reading instructions before taking medicine and questioning the truthfulness of health information found online.

Conclusions

These assessments are the first test-based measures of adolescents’ interactive and critical HL, the first test-based measure of functional HL designed for adolescents, and the first composite test-based assessment of all three major areas of HL. These assessments should be used to inform strategies for improving adolescents’ HL, decision-making, and behaviors.
More food for thought: a follow-up qualitative study on experiences of food bank access and food insecurity in Ottawa, Canada
Authors: Rizvi Anita , Enns Aganeta , Gergyek Lucas , Kristjansson Elizabeth
Published: March 2022

Background

Despite the widespread proliferation of food banks in high-income countries over the past several decades, there is a paucity of data regarding the long-term experiences of the people who rely on food banks. We were unable to find any other studies with follow-up interviews later than 6 months after baseline.

Objective

This study examined the changes in the lived experiences of people who accessed food banks over a period of 18 months.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 people who accessed food banks in Ottawa, Canada and who had participated in a 6-month study that ended one full year before this follow-up study was done. Transcripts of the interviews were analyzed through a general inductive approach involving repeated readings and coding of relevant segments of text with NVivo software according to themes that emerged iteratively. Code reports were then used to discuss and reach consensus on a final set of themes.

Results

Three main themes emerged: (1) chronic physical and mental health issues intersecting with food bank access; (2) psychosocial impact of relying on food banks; and (3) living on a low income and dealing with poverty. Chronic physical and mental health conditions were prevalent among the participants. As well, 10 of the 11 participants in this 18-month follow-up continued to rely on food banks as a regular resource – not as an emergency relief measure – to supplement their nutritional needs. While most of the participants reported that food banks helped them in some way, many shortcomings were also noted regarding food amounts, quality and choice. Overall, there was little change reported since the 6-month follow-up.

Conclusions

The shortcomings reported by participants can mostly be attributed to the dependence of food banks on charitable donations; thus, despite the commendable work of food bank staff and volunteers, participants described the food assistance as inadequate. Additionally, long-term food bank usage was a common denominator in the lived experiences of all our participants; therefore, our findings reinforce the need for assistance programs that target long-term food insecurity and its underlying causes, to replace or supplement charity-based food bank programs.
Productivity in relation to organization of a surgical department: a retrospective observational study
Authors: Eriksson Johan , Fowler Philip , Appelblad Micael , Lindholm Lena , Sund Malin
Published: March 2022

Background

Responsible and efficient resource utilization are important factors in healthcare. The aim of this study was to investigate how total case time differs between two differently organized surgical departments.

Methods

This is a retrospective observational study of a cohort of patients undergoing elective surgery for breast cancer or malignant melanoma in a university hospital setting in Sweden. All patients were operated on by the same set of surgeons but in two different surgical departments: a general surgery (GS) and a cardiothoracic (CT) surgery department. Patients were selected to the two departments from a waiting list in the order of referral for surgery. The effect of being operated on at the CT department compared to the GS department was estimated by linear regression.

Results

The final study cohort comprised 349 patients in the GS department and 177 patients in the CT department. Both groups were similar regarding surgical procedures, American Society of Anesthesiologists’ score, body mass index, age, sex, and the skill level of the operating surgeon. These covariates were included in the linear regression model. The total case time, defined by the Procedural Time Glossary as room set-up start to room clean-up finish, was significantly shorter for the patients who underwent a surgical procedure at the CT department compared to the GS department, even after adjusting for the background characteristics of the patients and surgeon. After adjusting for the selected covariates, the average difference in total case time between the two departments was − 30.67 min (p = 0.001).

Conclusions

A significantly shorter total case time was measured for operations in the CT department. Plausible explanations may be more beneficial organizational factors, such as staffing ratio, skill mix in the operating room team, and working behavioral aspects regarding resource utilization.
Serum and gene expression profile of cytokines following combination of yoga training and vitamin D supplementation in breast cancer survivors: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Naderi Mahdi , Kordestani Hajar , Sahebi Zahra , Khedmati Zare Vahid , Amani-Shalamzari Sadegh , Kaviani Mojtaba , Wiskemann Joachim , Molanouri Shamsi Mahdieh
Published: March 2022

Background

This study aimed to examine the effect of the combination of yoga training with high vitamin D dose supplementation on the expression and systemic levels of inflammatory cytokines and psychophysical status of breast cancer survivors.

Methods

Thirty volunteered breast cancer survivors (48 ± 8 years) were randomly allocated to a high dose (4000 IU) of vitamin D supplementation (HD) group (n = 10), yoga with a high dose of vitamin D (YHD) group (n = 10), and yoga with a low dose (2000 IU) of vitamin D (YLD) group (n = 10). Participants performed the Hatha yoga style for 12 weeks, twice a week. Blood samples, quality of life (QoL) questionnaire, and physical performance tests were taken before and after the intervention.

Results

Body fat percentage (ηp2 = 0.36), handgrip strength (ηp2 = 0.41) and QoL indicators include global health (ηp2 = 0.54), functional scales (ηp2 = 0.49), and symptoms scales (ηp2 = 0.50) were significantly improved in the both YHD and YLD groups compared to the HD group (p < 0.05). Also, interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels were markedly increased in the Y-HVD group compared to the Y-LVD and HVD groups. Moreover, there were significant decreases in tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 levels in the Y-HVD group after the intervention. The anti-inflammatory index (IL-10/TNF-α) was significantly increased in both the yoga groups (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Yoga promotes physical and psychological fitness and, in combination with a high dose of vitamin D, improves the cytokine profile, which can effectively manage the side effects associated with cancer.

Trial registration IRCT20210726051993N2. Registration date: 2022/02/27. URL: https://www.irct.ir/trial/62079
Young women’s food consumption and mental health: the role of employment
Authors: Lee Jaewon , Allen Jennifer
Published: March 2022

Objectives

This study explores the relationship between young women’s consumption of healthy and unhealthy food and depression and examines the moderating effect of their employment status on the relationship.

Methods

The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 79 for Children and Young Adults (NLSY79 CY) was used for this study. The final sample included a total of 1524 young women aged from 18 to 35 years. Multiple Linear Regression was conducted to answer the research questions.

Results

Fast food consumption was related to higher levels of depression among young women while fruit intake was associated with lower levels of depression. Employment status moderated the relationship between young women’s fruit consumption and depression.

Conclusions

Young women are encouraged to consume more fruit and less fast food in order to ameliorate depression. Programs that target young women’s mental health should consider addressing their nutritional needs, through, for example, vouchers for fresh, nutritious foods; nutrition or cooking education; or having a certified nutrition specialist on staff.
Effects of auricular acupressure on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in breast cancer patients: a preliminary randomized controlled trial
Authors: Tan Jing-Yu , Molassiotis Alex , Suen Lorna K. P. , Liu Jian , Wang Tao , Huang Hui-Rong
Published: March 2022

Background

Auricular acupressure (AA) has been viewed as a promising approach to managing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) but relevant research evidence has been inconclusive. This study aimed to examine the effects of AA on CINV in breast cancer (BC) patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Methods

A preliminary randomized controlled trial was conducted in 114 BC patients. Participants were randomly allocated to a true AA group (n = 38), a sham AA group (n = 38), and a standard care group (n = 38). All the participants were provided with standard antiemetic treatment and care, while the true AA group and the sham AA group received an additional 5-day true AA and a 5-day sham AA, respectively. Acute and delayed CINV were assessed by using the MASCC Antiemesis Tool (MAT), anticipatory nausea and vomiting were measured by the Index of Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching (INVR), and patients’ quality of life (QoL) was evaluated by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B).

Results

Both the true and sham AA groups reported improved CINV outcomes than the standard care group, with the true AA demonstrating larger effects than the sham comparison. The true and sham AA groups had higher complete response (CR) rates of CINV when compared with the standard care group, with the difference in the CR of acute CINV achieving statistical significance (p = 0.03). Both the true and sham AA groups demonstrated lower incidence and severity of acute CINV compared with the standard care group with the among-group difference reaching statistical significance for the occurrence (p = 0.04) and severity (p = 0.001) of acute nausea. No significant differences in anticipatory CINV and QoL were found among the groups.

Conclusion

The use of AA plus standard antiemetic treatment and care was superior to the use of standard antiemetic treatment and care alone in managing CINV among BC patients receiving chemotherapy. The antiemetic effects of AA were identified to be more profound in improving acute CINV, particularly acute nausea. The antiemetic effects of AA were deemed to be a mixture of specific treatment effects and placebo effects, and the placebo effects were very large and even reached clinical significance.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT02403037; Registered March 31, 2015.
Comparative study of virtual and face-to-face training methods on the quality of healthcare services provided by Kermanshah pre-hospital emergency staff (EMS): randomized educational Intervention trial
Authors: Rad Reza Farahmand , Sadrabad Akram Zolfaghari , Nouraei Reza , Khatony Alireza , Bashiri Homayoon , Bozorgomid Arezoo , Rezaeian Shahab
Published: March 2022

Background

Emergency medical centers are globally one of the most important pillars of pre-hospital care. The most important purpose of this system is to provide satisfactory services in the shortest possible time and in accordance with the modern scientific standards of the world. The present study aimed to compare the effect of virtual and face-to-face training methods on the quality of service provided by Kermanshah pre-hospital emergency personnel, Iran.

Methods

This was a randomized educational intervention trial performed among the staff of Kermanshah Emergency Medical Center. Individuals were randomly divided into two training groups of virtual and face-to-face. Participants in the face-to-face group received slides, lectures, and practical work with moulage for 6 h a day. Subjects were taught the four skills of intubation, laryngeal mask airway (LMA), cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and attenuated electrical device (AED). Participants in the virtual group received the same content in the form of a training video on CD with a full explanation of the project's objectives. Pre- and post-test scores of participants were compared within and between the groups by Stata 14.0 software.

Results

Eighty-seven individuals were participated in the study, 43 of whom were assigned to the face-to-face training group and 44 to the virtual training group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of work experience and educational level (P > 0.05). Post-training scores in both groups were significantly higher than pre-training in the four skills (P ≤ 0.005). After adjusting for educational level and work experience, however, the quality of CPR, intubation, and AED was higher in the face-to-face training group than in the virtual group. However, the increase in the mean score of LMA in the virtual training was not significantly different than that of the face-to-face training group.

Conclusion

The results of our study showed the same efficacy of both face-to-face and virtual methods in improving the performance of personnel in tracheal intubation, LMA, CPR and AED shock skills. E-learning methods can be used as a complement to face-to-face methods in education.
Which features of patients are morally relevant in ventilator triage? A survey of the UK public
Authors: Chan Lok , Schaich Borg Jana , Conitzer Vincent , Wilkinson Dominic , Savulescu Julian , Zohny Hazem , Sinnott-Armstrong Walter
Published: March 2022

Background

In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, many health systems, including those in the UK, developed triage guidelines to manage severe shortages of ventilators. At present, there is an insufficient understanding of how the public views these guidelines, and little evidence on which features of a patient the public believe should and should not be considered in ventilator triage.

Methods

Two surveys were conducted with representative UK samples. In the first survey, 525 participants were asked in an open-ended format to provide features they thought should and should not be considered in allocating ventilators for COVID-19 patients when not enough ventilators are available. In the second survey, 505 participants were presented with 30 features identified from the first study, and were asked if these features should count in favour of a patient with the feature getting a ventilator, count against the patient, or neither. Statistical tests were conducted to determine if a feature was generally considered by participants as morally relevant and whether its mean was non-neutral.

Results

In Survey 1, the features of a patient most frequently cited as being morally relevant to determining who would receive access to ventilators were age, general health, prospect of recovery, having dependents, and the severity of COVID symptoms. The features most frequently cited as being morally irrelevant to determining who would receive access to ventilators are race, gender, economic status, religion, social status, age, sexual orientation, and career. In Survey 2, the top three features that participants thought should count in favour of receiving a ventilator were pregnancy, having a chance of dying soon, and having waited for a long time. The top three features that participants thought should count against a patient receiving a ventilator were having committed violent crimes in the past, having unnecessarily engaged in activities with a high risk of COVID-19 infection, and a low chance of survival.

Conclusions

The public generally agreed with existing UK guidelines that allocate ventilators according to medical benefits and that aim to avoid discrimination based on demographic features such as race and gender. However, many participants expressed potentially non-utilitarian concerns, such as inclining to deprioritise ventilator allocation to those who had a criminal history or who contracted the virus by needlessly engaging in high-risk activities.
Psychosocial care responses to terrorist attacks: a country case study of Norway, France and Belgium
Authors: Stene Lise Eilin , Vuillermoz Cécile , Overmeire Roel Van , Bilsen Johan , Dückers Michel , Nilsen Lisa Govasli , Vandentorren Stéphanie
Published: March 2022

Background

The international terrorism threat urges societies to invest in the planning and organization of psychosocial care. With the aim to contribute to cross-national learning, this study describes the content, target populations and providers of psychosocial care to civilians after terrorist attacks in Norway, France and Belgium.

Methods

We identified and reviewed pre- and post-attack policy documents, guidelines, reports and other relevant grey literature addressing the psychosocial care response to terrorist attacks in Oslo/Utøya, Norway on 22 July 2011; in Paris, France on 13 November 2015; and in Brussels, Belgium on 22 March 2016.

Results

In Norway, there was a primary care based approach with multidisciplinary crisis teams in the local municipalities. In response to the terrorist attacks, there were proactive follow-up programs within primary care and occupational health services with screenings of target groups throughout a year. In France, there was a national network of specialized emergency psychosocial units primarily consisting of psychiatrists, psychologists and psychiatric nurses organized by the regional health agencies. They provided psychological support the first month including guidance for long-term healthcare, but there were no systematic screening programs after the acute phase. In Belgium, there were psychosocial intervention networks in the local municipalities, yet the acute psychosocial care was coordinated at a federal level. A reception centre was organized to provide acute psychosocial care, but there were no reported public long-term psychosocial care initiatives in response to the attacks.

Conclusions

Psychosocial care responses, especially long-term follow-up activities, differed substantially between countries. Models for registration of affected individuals, monitoring of their health and continuous evaluation of countries’ psychosocial care provision incorporated in international guidelines may strengthen public health responses to mass-casualty incidents.
Sorting and packaging of RNA into extracellular vesicles shape intracellular transcript levels
Authors: O’Grady Tina , Njock Makon-Sébastien , Lion Michelle , Bruyr Jonathan , Mariavelle Emeline , Galvan Bartimée , Boeckx Amandine , Struman Ingrid , Dequiedt Franck
Published: March 2022

Background

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are released by nearly every cell type and have attracted much attention for their ability to transfer protein and diverse RNA species from donor to recipient cells. Much attention has been given so far to the features of EV short RNAs such as miRNAs. However, while the presence of mRNA and long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) transcripts in EVs has also been reported by multiple different groups, the properties and function of these longer transcripts have been less thoroughly explored than EV miRNA. Additionally, the impact of EV export on the transcriptome of exporting cells has remained almost completely unexamined. Here, we globally investigate mRNA and lncRNA transcripts in endothelial EVs in multiple different conditions.

Results

In basal conditions, long RNA transcripts enriched in EVs have longer than average half-lives and distinctive stability-related sequence and structure characteristics including shorter transcript length, higher exon density, and fewer 3′ UTR A/U-rich elements. EV-enriched long RNA transcripts are also enriched in HNRNPA2B1 binding motifs and are impacted by HNRNPA2B1 depletion, implicating this RNA-binding protein in the sorting of long RNA to EVs. After signaling-dependent modification of the cellular transcriptome, we observed that, unexpectedly, the rate of EV enrichment relative to cells was altered for many mRNA and lncRNA transcripts. This change in EV enrichment was negatively correlated with intracellular abundance, with transcripts whose export to EVs increased showing decreased abundance in cells and vice versa. Correspondingly, after treatment with inhibitors of EV secretion, levels of mRNA and lncRNA transcripts that are normally highly exported to EVs increased in cells, indicating a measurable impact of EV export on the long RNA transcriptome of the exporting cells. Compounds with different mechanisms of inhibition of EV secretion affected the cellular transcriptome differently, suggesting the existence of multiple EV subtypes with different long RNA profiles.

Conclusions

We present evidence for an impact of EV physiology on the characteristics of EV-producing cell transcriptomes. Our work suggests a new paradigm in which the sorting and packaging of transcripts into EVs participate, together with transcription and RNA decay, in controlling RNA homeostasis and shape the cellular long RNA abundance profile.
MinION, a portable long-read sequencer, enables rapid vaginal microbiota analysis in a clinical setting
Authors: Komiya Shinnosuke , Matsuo Yoshiyuki , Nakagawa So , Morimoto Yoshiharu , Kryukov Kirill , Okada Hidetaka , Hirota Kiichi
Published: March 2022

Background

It has been suggested that the local microbiota in the reproductive organs is relevant to women's health and may also affect pregnancy outcomes. Analysis of partial 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequences generated by short-read sequencers has been used to identify vaginal and endometrial microbiota, but it requires a long time to obtain the results, making it unsuitable for rapid bacterial identification from a small specimen amount in a clinical context.

Methods

We developed a simple workflow using the nanopore sequencer MinION that allows high-resolution and rapid differentiation of vaginal microbiota. Vaginal samples collected from 18 participants were subjected to DNA extraction and full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing with MinION.

Results

The principal coordinate analysis showed no differences in the bacterial compositions regardless of the sample collection method. The analysis of vaginal microbiota could be completed with a total analysis time of approximately four hours, allowing same-day results. Taxonomic profiling by MinION sequencing revealed relatively low diversity of the vaginal bacterial community, identifying the prevailing Lactobacillus species and several causative agents of bacterial vaginosis.

Conclusions

Full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis with MinION provides a rapid means for identifying vaginal bacteria with higher resolution. Species-level profiling of human vaginal microbiota by MinION sequencing can allow the analysis of associations with conditions such as genital infections, endometritis, and threatened miscarriage.
Impaired AT2 to AT1 cell transition in PM2.5-induced mouse model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Yu Hongjiao , Lin Yingnan , Zhong Yue , Guo Xiaolan , Lin Yuyin , Yang Siqi , Liu Jinglin , Xie Xinran , Sun Yaowei , Wang Dong , Li Bing , Ran Pixin , Dai Jianwei
Published: March 2022

Background

Particular matter 2.5 (PM2.5) is one of the most important air pollutant, and it is positively associated with the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the precise underlying mechanisms through which PM2.5 promotes the development of COPD remains largely unknown.

Methods

Mouse alveolar destruction were determined by histological analysis of lung tissues and lung function test. Alveolar type II cells (AT2) to alveolar type I cells (AT1) transition in PM2.5-induced COPD mouse model was confirmed via immunofluorescence staining and qPCR analysis. The differentially expressed genes in PM2.5-induced COPD mouse model were identified by RNA-sequencing of alveolar epithelial organoids and generated by bioinformatics analysis.

Results

In this study, we found that 6 months exposure of PM2.5 induced a significantly decreased pulmonary compliance and resulted in pulmonary emphysema in mice. We showed that PM2.5 exposure significantly reduced the AT2 to AT1 cell transition in vitro and in vivo. In addition, we found a reduced expression of the intermediate AT2-AT1 cell process marker claudin 4 (CLDN4) at day 4 of differentiation in mouse alveolar organoids treated with PM2.5, suggesting that PM2.5 exposure inhibited AT2 cells from entering the transdifferentiation process. RNA-sequencing of mouse alveolar organoids showed that several key signaling pathways that involved in the AT2 to AT1 cell transition were significantly altered including the Wnt signaling, MAPK signaling and signaling pathways regulating pluripotency of stem cells following PM2.5 exposure.

Conclusions

In summary, these data demonstrate a critical role of AT2 to AT1 cell transition in PM2.5-induced COPD mouse model and reveal the signaling pathways that potentially regulate AT2 to AT1 cell transition during this process. Our findings therefore advance the current knowledge of PM2.5-induced COPD and may lead to a novel therapeutic strategy to treat this disease.
Malaria chemoprevention and drug resistance: a review of the literature and policy implications
Authors: Plowe Christopher V.
Published: March 2022

Chemoprevention strategies reduce malaria disease and death, but the efficacy of anti-malarial drugs used for chemoprevention is perennially threatened by drug resistance. This review examines the current impact of chemoprevention on the emergence and spread of drug resistant malaria, and the impact of drug resistance on the efficacy of each of the chemoprevention strategies currently recommended by the World Health Organization, namely, intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp); intermittent preventive treatment in infants (IPTi); seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC); and mass drug administration (MDA) for the reduction of disease burden in emergency situations. While the use of drugs to prevent malaria often results in increased prevalence of genetic mutations associated with resistance, malaria chemoprevention interventions do not inevitably lead to meaningful increases in resistance, and even high rates of resistance do not necessarily impair chemoprevention efficacy. At the same time, it can reasonably be anticipated that, over time, as drugs are widely used, resistance will generally increase and efficacy will eventually be lost. Decisions about whether, where and when chemoprevention strategies should be deployed or changed will continue to need to be made on the basis of imperfect evidence, but practical considerations such as prevalence patterns of resistance markers can help guide policy recommendations.