bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Incidence and Predictors of HBsAg Loss in Paediatric Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B Undergoing Antiviral Treatment
Authors: Li Shuangjie , Ouyang Wenxian , Yao Zhenzhen , Lai Xin , Gu Yingping , Peng Songxu
Published: October 2024

Background and Aims

Achieving HBsAg loss is a critical clinical milestone in the management of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) towards the eradication of hepatitis B. However, there are limited researches on the incidence and determinants of HBsAg loss in paediatric CHB patients undergoing antiviral treatment. Therefore, we aimed to analyse the incidence and potential determinants of HBsAg loss in children who suffered from CHB and received antiviral treatment.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study was performed on paediatric patients with progressive CHB who initiated either monotherapy or combination therapy using interferon/peg‐interferon and entecavir. We utilised Cox regression models to evaluate the relationships between HBsAg loss and various determining factors.

Results

In total of 306 subjects with an average age of 4.99 years (range 1–15) were identified in this study, of whom 200 (65.4%) were male. After a median follow‐up of 26 months, HBsAg loss occurred in 135 participants. The accumulated rate of HBsAg loss was 67.8% at the end of the follow‐up evaluation. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that older age (HR = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.79–0.90), female sex (HR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.13–2.30), baseline HBsAg levels (HR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.62–0.84), HBsAb positivity (HR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.20–2.59) and serum bilirubin levels (HR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.92–0.99) were statistically significant predictors of HBsAg loss.

Conclusion

The incidence of HBsAg loss continues to increase in paediatric patients with CHB after antiviral treatment. Age, sex, baseline HBsAg and bilirubin levels and HBsAb positivity are found to be associated with sustained HBsAg loss.
RETINOBLASTOMA‐RELATED Has Both Canonical and Noncanonical Regulatory Functions During Thermo‐Morphogenic Responses in Arabidopsis Seedlings
Authors: Hamid Rasik Shiekh Bin , Nagy Fruzsina , Kaszler Nikolett , Domonkos Ildikó , Gombos Magdolna , Marton Annamária , Vizler Csaba , Molnár Eszter , Pettkó‐Szandtner Aladár , Bögre László , Fehér Attila , Magyar Zoltán
Published: October 2024

Warm temperatures accelerate plant growth, but the underlying molecular mechanism is not fully understood. Here, we show that increasing the temperature from 22°C to 28°C rapidly activates proliferation in the apical shoot and root meristems of wild‐type Arabidopsis seedlings. We found that one of the central regulators of cell proliferation, the cell cycle inhibitor RETINOBLASTOMA‐RELATED (RBR), is suppressed by warm temperatures. RBR became hyper‐phosphorylated at a conserved CYCLIN‐DEPENDENT KINASE (CDK) site in young seedlings growing at 28°C, in parallel with the stimulation of the expressions of the regulatory CYCLIN D/A subunits of CDK(s). Interestingly, while under warm temperatures ectopic RBR slowed down the acceleration of cell proliferation, it triggered elongation growth of post‐mitotic cells in the hypocotyl. In agreement, the central regulatory genes of thermomorphogenic response, including PIF4 and PIF7, as well as their downstream auxin biosynthetic YUCCA genes (YUC1‐2 and YUC8‐9) were all up‐regulated in the ectopic RBR expressing line but down‐regulated in a mutant line with reduced RBR level. We suggest that RBR has both canonical and non‐canonical functions under warm temperatures to control proliferative and elongation growth, respectively.
Peptide Signals Regulate Nitrogen Deficiency Adaptation of Dicotyledonous Model Plants
Authors: Luo Li , Yu Liangliang , Yang Jun , Wang Ertao
Published: October 2024

Nitrogen is a crucial macroelement essential for plant growth and development. In Arabidopsis Thaliana, classical phytohormones such as auxin and cytokinin orchestrate local and systemic signalling networks coordinate plant growth and development in response to nitrogen deficiency. Nowadays, emerging signalling pathways involving small peptides like CLAVATA3/EMBRYO SURROUNDINGR REGION (CLE) and C‐TERMINALLY ENCODED PEPTIDE (CEP) and their corresponding kinase receptors, also regulate Arabidopsis' adaptation to nitrogen scarcity. Unlike Arabidopsis, which adapts to nitrogen deficiency by changing root development, legumes have the unique ability to form nitrogen‐fixing root nodules through symbiotic interactions with soil rhizobia. During the symbiotic nodulation in Medicago, CLE and CEP peptides and their receptors consist of an autoregulatory network governing the number of nodules in accordance with the soil nitrogen level. Additionally, other plant peptides, such as phytosulfokine (PSK) and root meristem growth factors (RGF), have been identified as new regulators of leguminous root nodule development under nitrogen‐limited condition. However, the precise mechanism by which these peptides coordinate nitrogen deficiency response and the development of nitrogen‐fixing organs remains to be fully elucidated. This review summarises the adaptive strategies of dicotyledons to nitrogen deficiency, with a particular focus on the regulation of Medicago nitrogen‐fixing nodule development by the peptides.
Microbial Inoculants Drive Changes in Soil and Plant Microbiomes and Improve Plant Functions in Abandoned Mine Restoration
Authors: Li Chong , Sun Lianhao , Jia Zhaohui , Tang Yingzhou , Liu Xin , Zhang Jinchi , Müller Christoph
Published: October 2024

The application of microbial inoculants holds promise for the sustainable restoration of abandoned mine sites by affecting soil nutrients and microbial communities. However, the responses of plant microbial communities to microbial inoculants in mine restoration remain largely unknown. To bridge this knowledge gap, we conducted a 4‐year field experiment at an abandoned carbonate mine site to assess the impacts of microbial inoculants on the soil–plant microbiome. Our findings revealed that microbial inoculants significantly changed roots, fine root bacterial and fungal communities. Further, no significant correlations were observed between the soil–plant nutrient content (Z‐score) and microbial alpha diversity. However, a significantly positive correlation was found between the relative abundance of the keystone ecological cluster (Module #1) and soil–plant nutrient content. The application of microbial inoculants also increased complexity, albeit decreased stability of plant microbiome networks, alongside a reduction in stochastic assembly. Conversely, they decreased the complexity but increased the stability of soil microbiome networks, accompanied by an increase in stochastic assembly. Notably, the number of specifically enriched microbiome functional traits of roots and root nodules under the microbial inoculant treatments surpassed that of the control. In summary, our findings underscored the potential of microbial inoculants to enhance soil–plant functionality at abandoned mine restoration sites.
Constructing a Competency Training Index System in Public Health Emergencies for Community Nurses
Authors: Wan Hui , Ma Jiahui , Liu Guolian , Yao Wenlian , Xu Zhirong
Published: October 2024

Objective

A competency training index system was designed in public health emergencies for community nurses. The purpose of this approach is to provide community nurses with guidelines for standardized training programs on how to respond to public health emergencies.

Methods

Through semi‐structured interviews, a literature review, and team discussion, the first draft of competency training index system in public health emergencies for community nurses was formed. The Delphi method was used for two rounds of expert consultation to screen, modify and determine indicators. Finally, the analytic hierarchy process was utilized to calculate the weights of indicators at all levels.

Results

A total of 15 expert consultants were included. The effective recovery rate of the two rounds of expert consultation questionnaire was 100%, the expert authority coefficient was 0.880, 0.887, and the Kendall coordination coefficient was 0.172 and 0.171 (p < 0.001). Expert opinions have determined that the final revised competency index system in public health emergencies for community nurses training consists of 2 primary indicators, 10 secondary indicators, and 46 tertiary indicators.

Conclusion

The study has developed a competency training index system in public health emergencies for community nurses. This system can serve as a foundation for standardized training in community health service institutions. It is characterized by its high demand, scientific approach, reliability, and rationality.
How Culture and Musical Engagement Shape Musical Reward Sensitivity in Danish Teens: A Validation Study of the Danish Barcelona Musical Reward Questionnaire With 4641 Adolescents
Authors: Lippolis Mariangela , Derdau Sørensen Stine , Petersen Bjørn , Vuust Peter , Brattico Elvira
Published: October 2024

The ability to convey emotions and induce pleasure is one of the most important aspects of the way that music becomes meaningful to humans. Affective responses to music are specific to both cultural and personal preferences, but little is known about the individual variability in adolescence. The Barcelona Music Reward Questionnaire (BMRQ) is a psychometric measure that identifies five factors associated with musical pleasure: Musical Seeking, Emotional Evocation, Mood Regulation, Social Reward, and Sensory‐Motor. With this study, we aimed to validate the BMRQ in Danish teens and to explore the differences in music reward experiences in relation to the amount of musical activity, between genders and over ages. Approximately 30,000 Danish adolescents participated in a mass experiment with a subset (N = 4641, 51.2% girls, age range = 13–19 years old) responding to (1) a Danish adaptation of the BMRQ and (2) the Concurrent Musical Activities (CCM) Questionnaire. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were applied, and a seven‐factor model of the BMRQ was found to fit the Danish adolescent population. The seven‐factor version of the Danish BMRQ was due to the split of the dimensions “Sensory‐Motor” and “Social Reward” into two further subfactors. The students with a higher amount of musical engagement scored higher across all dimensions. In particular, the higher the musical engagement, the higher scores were found for the facet of musical pleasure related to the sharing of musical activities, especially in the earliest stages of adolescence. Furthermore, we found that sensitivity to music generally tends to increase with age, and that girls reported overall to be more sensitive to music than boys in the dimension related to evocation of emotions. A slightly different model of the BMRQ has to be taken into account when testing the Danish adolescent population. In addition to utilizing the Danish version of the BMRQ on a large sample of adolescents, this study may provide insight into the relationship between changes in the level of musical reward depending on amount of musical engagement and how musical reward unfolds within and between genders and across age groups during this developmental stage.
3D-BIOPRINTING OF BONE TISSUE IN VITRO И IN SITU
Authors: Sultanova D. , Batpen A. , Saginova D. , Akilbekova D.
Published: October 2024

Advanced techniques in bone tissue regeneration include innovative achievements in the field of tissue engineering, among which 3D bioprinting technology holds a special place. This method demonstrates significant progress, driven by its numerous advantages, confirmed through extensive scientific research. 3D bioprinting offers the capability of precise printing of bone transplants with specified geometry, incorporating necessary biomaterials such as cells and growth factors, which facilitates effective osteoinduction, osteoconduction, and vascularization.
This review article analyzes various modern methods of bone tissue restoration, including the use of autotransplants, allotransplants, and synthetic bone transplants. Particular attention is paid to the latest innovations in 3D bioprinting, opening prospects for creating individualized bone tissues characterized by a high degree of biocompatibility and minimizing the need for invasive procedures.
Additionally, the article presents the concept of in situ bioprinting, developed by Weiss and his colleagues in 2007, as a method of direct printing of bio-inks directly in the area of damage in a living organism. This progressive approach provides high precision in the restoration of tissue defects, regardless of their complexity and geometric features.
Over the last decade, several successful clinical cases of using printed structures have been registered, demonstrating the significance of 3D bioprinting in treating life-threatening diseases, as well as in accelerating the regeneration process and creating tissue transplants for subsequent implantation.
Cuerpo, género y cultura en la medicalización de la hipertrofia labial. De la elongación de labios menores a la labioplastia
Authors: Ortega Sánchez Isabel
Published: October 2024

Los genitales femeninos atraen gran diversidad de discursos culturales relacionados con la salud, la higiene, el honor, el decoro, la belleza, el placer o el éxito sexual. Estos discursos reflejan y refuerzan la estructura social y contribuyen a la socialización de la sexualidad. Las asociaciones que (re)producen cambian en el tiempo y en el espacio, mostrando explicaciones a menudo opuestas. En algunas culturas, los labios menores alargados representan la belleza, la salud y se asocian al placer, mientras que la sociedad occidental históricamente ha descalificado los labios menores protuberantes, convirtiéndolos en un signo de depravación, de sexualidad excesiva, de falta de civilización, estigmatizando a las mujeres de culturas que practican la elongación labial. Desde la década de los 70, tras los mismos argumentos de belleza, salud y placer, nuestra biomedicina califica como «hipertróficos» los labios menores que sobresalen de los mayores, recomendando muchas veces su reducción quirúrgica a través de una intervención denominada «labioplastia» cada vez más demandada en las sociedades occidentales. Desde un análisis comparativo cultural, con la Antropología del Cuerpo, la Antropología de Género y el modelo crítico de la Antropología Médica, este artículo profundiza en las concepciones culturales en torno al sexo, género y sexualidad presentes en la práctica de la elongación labial en algunas sociedades del Este y Sur de África; en la interpretación occidental de las mismas en Europa, principalmente en el siglo XIX; y en el discurso biomédico actual en torno a la hipertrofia de labios menores y la cirugía de labioplastia.
Mujeres p´urhépecha frente a las violencias machistas: Acuerpar la memoria y defender el territorio
Authors: Linares Sánchez Malely , Postigo Gómez Inmaculada
Published: October 2024

Esta propuesta tiene como objetivo la construcción de una tipología que permita analizar las violencias históricas infringidas hacia las mujeres p´urhépechas en Cherán y cómo estas se vinculan con las disputas presentes en el territorio, especialmente por la apropiación del bosque. Haremos hincapié en las diversas estrategias de lucha y resistencia que ellas han erigido para paliarlas y para defender las distintas formas de vida. Esta construcción analítica se realizó a través de los talleres de cartografías cuerpo-territorio que se llevaron a cabo en diferentes periodos temporales durante los seis años de trabajo de campo que contemplan esta investigación (2016-2022) y de los cuales participaron mujeres de la comunidad en diferentes rangos de edad.
Adsorption of Staphylococcus aureus biofilm associated compounds on silica probed with molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Lee Kelly M. , Jaeger Vance W.
Published: October 2024

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a potentially pathogenic bacterium that commonly colonizes surfaces through the formation of biofilms. Silica glass is a common material in the built environment, especially in laboratory and medical spaces. The chemical and physical mechanisms by which S. aureus initially adheres to surfaces are unclear. In this study, the adsorption of several S. aureus biofilm associated compounds on silica is probed using molecular dynamics simulations. Model compounds containing a phosphorylated backbone, N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), or D-alanine (D-Ala) were simulated across a range of pH. GlcNAc adsorption is unfavorable and insensitive to pH. D-Ala adsorption is unfavorable across the range of tested pH. Phosphorylated backbone adsorption is unfavorable at low pH but favorable at high pH. Adsorbate titration and solution salt concentration were probed to establish effects of molecular charge and charge screening. Hydrogen bonding between compounds and the silica surface is a key factor for stronger adsorption. The findings of this study are important for the rational design of improved silica surfaces through chemical functionalization or through the application of optimal chemical disinfectants that discourage the initial stages of biofilm growth.
Atomic layer deposition of transition metal chalcogenide TaSx using Ta[N(CH3)2]3[NC(CH3)3] precursor and H2S plasma
Authors: Deijkers J. H. , Thepass H. , Verheijen M. A. , Sprey H. , Maes J. W. , Kessels W. M. M. , Mackus A. J. M.
Published: October 2024

As a transition metal chalcogenide, tantalum sulfide (TaSx) is of interest for semiconductor device applications, for example, as a diffusion barrier in Cu interconnects. For deposition of ultrathin nanolayers in such demanding 3D structures, a synthesis method with optimal control is required, and therefore, an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process for TaSx was developed. ALD using (tert)-butylimidotris(dimethylamido)tantalum (Ta[N(CH3)2]3[NC(CH3)3]) as the precursor and an H2S-based plasma as the coreactant results in linear growth of TaSx films as a function of the number of cycles for all temperatures in the range 150–400 °C with growth per cycle values between 1.17±0.03 Å and 0.87±0.08 Å. Saturation of the precursor and plasma dose times, established at 300 °C, was reached after 20 and 10 s, respectively. Variation of the table temperature or the plasma composition offers the possibility to tune the film properties. At 300 °C, amorphous TaS3 films were grown, while addition of H2 to the plasma led to polycrystalline TaS2 films. The difference in sulfur content in the films correlates to a change in resistivity, where the least resistive film had the lowest S content.
Abolishing Amateurism: Reimagining the Future of U.S. College Football
Authors: Hextrum Kirsten , Croom III Howard
Published: October 2024

Recently, college athletes have won new rights to their name, image, and likeness; to educational benefits; to transfer; and to earn compensation based on the revenue their labor produces. Using critical race theories, we review the desegregation of college football alongside the legal protections for National Collegiate Athletic Association amateurism, as it was practiced from the 1950s through recent days. We argue that such amateurism still structures a racialized property relationship that grants ontological, monetary, and educational benefits to white stakeholders at the expense of Black football players. Throughout, we offer legal and historical insights about the limitations of the law for social change. We conclude with suggestions to dismantle amateurism and establish a labor market for college football players through which athletes can secure just compensation and workplace protections.
The
Candida auris
Hog1 MAP kinase is essential for the colonization of murine skin and intradermal persistence
Authors: Shivarathri Raju , Chauhan Manju , Datta Abhishek , Das Diprasom , Karuli Adela , Aptekmann Ariel , Jenull Sabrina , Kuchler Karl , Thangamani Shankar , Chowdhary Anuradha , Desai Jigar V. , Chauhan Neeraj
Published: October 2024

Candida auris
, a multidrug-resistant human fungal pathogen, was first identified in 2009 in Japan. Since then, systemic
C. auris
infections have now been reported in more than 50 countries, with mortality rates of 30%–60%. A major contributing factor to its high inter- and intrahospital clonal transmission is that
C. auris,
unlike most
Candida
species, displays unique skin tropism and can stay on human skin for a prolonged period. However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for
C. auris
skin colonization, intradermal persistence, and systemic virulence are poorly understood. Here, we report that
C. auris
Hog1 mitogen-activated protein kinase is essential for efficient skin colonization, intradermal persistence as well as systemic virulence. RNA-seq analysis of wild-type parental and
hog1
Δ mutant strains revealed marked downregulation of genes involved in processes such as cell adhesion, cell wall rearrangement, and pathogenesis in
hog1
Δ mutant compared to the wild-type parent. Consistent with these data, we found a prominent role for Hog1 in maintaining cell wall architecture, as the
hog1
Δ mutant demonstrated a significant increase in cell-surface β-glucan exposure and a concomitant reduction in chitin content. Additionally, we observed that Hog1 was required for biofilm formation
in vitro
and fungal survival when challenged with primary murine macrophages and neutrophils
ex vivo
. Collectively, these findings have important implications for understanding the
C. auris
skin adherence mechanisms and penetration of skin epithelial layers preceding bloodstream infections.

IMPORTANCE

Candida auris
is a World Health Organization fungal priority pathogen and an urgent public health threat recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
C. auris
has a unique ability to colonize human skin. It also persists on abiotic surfaces in healthcare environments for an extended period of time. These attributes facilitate the inter- and intrahospital clonal transmission of
C. auris
. Therefore, understanding
C. auris
skin colonization mechanisms is critical for infection control, especially in hospitals and nursing homes. However, despite its profound clinical relevance, the molecular and genetic basis of
C. auris
skin colonization mechanisms are poorly understood. Herein, we present data on the identification of the Hog1 MAP kinase as a key regulator of
C. auris
skin colonization. These findings lay the foundation for further characterization of unique mechanisms that promote fungal persistence on human skin.
Evaluation of a near-patient SARS-CoV-2 novel rapid diagnostic platform
Authors: Botha Johannes C. , Zafilaza Karen , Soulie Cathia , Yin Nicolas , Spyer Moira , Balaska Sofia , Chatziioannidou Stella , Tsiakalou Vaia , Papadakis George , Skoura Lemonia , Zafiropoulos Alexandros , Sourvinos George , Vandenberg Olivier , Marcelin Anne-Geneviève , Gizeli Electra , Nastouli Eleni
Published: October 2024

The goal of this study is to test a novel device and methodology based on the “Pebble” platform and real-time quantitative colorimetric loop-mediated isothermal amplification (qcLAMP) during SARS-CoV-2 detection using crude samples and extracted RNA. The new method employs an inexpensive lightweight device aimed toward rapid point-of-care testing. An extensive evaluation was performed consisting of 1,693 clinical samples across five independent clinical testing centers. Positive colorimetric results were observed within 20 minutes of testing. At a 20-minute time-to-positive cut-off, the specificity is 98.5% with a diagnostic accuracy of 91.9%, compared to qPCR assays. Our findings indicate that the SARS-CoV-2 qcLAMP diagnostic assay in conjunction with the Pebble device is ideal for point-of-care/near-patient testing.

IMPORTANCE

Here, we describe our analyses and validation of a novel real-time quantitative colorimetric loop-mediated isothermal amplification (qcLAMP) device, available under the name “Pebble” and associated SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic qcLAMP assay for clinical diagnostic use. The analyses were performed in five independent testing sites across Europe using clinical samples from the associated clinical sites and support the use of “pebble” and associated kit in the diagnostic environment.
The South Purulia Shear Zone, eastern India: Its anatomy and implication for timing the Rodinia-age collision in the eastern part of the Central Indian Tectonic Zone
Authors: Banerjee Anwesa , Sequeira Nicole , Cogné Nathan , Naraga Prabhakar , Bhattacharya Abhijit
Published: October 2024

The Proterozoic Central Indian Tectonic Zone (CITZ) is an ~1500-km-long collision zone between the North India and the South India blocks. The age of collision is debated, but constraining the age of collision is crucial for reconstructing the paleogeographic position of India in the Precambrian. In this study, mesoscale structures, metamorphic pressure-temperature path, U-Pb zircon dates, and monazite chemical dates are combined to constrain the collision age. In the eastern part of the CITZ, the North Singhbhum Mobile Belt (NSMB) comprising 1.5–1.3 Ga low-grade phyllites and schists and the 1.88 Ga Ranibandh granitoid are juxtaposed with the Chottanagpur Gneiss Complex (CGC; eastern CITZ) dominated by 1.76 Ga anatectic basement gneisses intruded by 1.67 Ga, 1.57 Ga, and pre-collisional 1.02 Ga felsic intrusives. The juxtaposition of the disparately evolved crustal domains along the South Purulia Shear Zone (SPSZ) involved top-to-the-south thrusting consistent with amphibolite facies loading. Continued oblique N-S shortening of the thickened crust led to nucleation of ESE-striking, steeply dipping left-lateral transpressional shear zones tens of kilometers wide that obliterated pre-collisional structures in the rheologically weak NSMB phyllites and schists but are weakly developed in the rheologically strong CGC rocks. The 1.02–0.91 Ga oblique collision between the North India and South India blocks along the SPSZ suggests the paleopole data pre-dating the collision are unlikely to ascertain the paleogeographic position of the Indian landmass because the landmass did not exist in its entirety before 1.02–0.91 Ga. But the paleopole data may help locate the North India and South India blocks independent of each other.
Antenatal anti-D prophylaxis and D antigen negativity in pregnant women of the UAE: a cross-sectional analysis from the Mutaba’ah Study
Authors: Khair Howaida , Muhallab Saad , Al Nuaimi Maitha , Hilary Serene , Awar Shamsa Al , Zaręba Kornelia Teresa , Maki Sara , Sayed Sallam Gehan , Ahmed Luai A
Published: October 2024

Objective

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of the negative D antigen phenotype, adherence to routine antenatal anti-D immunoglobulin prophylaxis (RAADP) administration and D antigen sensitisation among pregnant women in the UAE.

Design

Data was collected from pregnant women enrolled in the Mutaba’ah Study. The Mutaba’ah Study is an ongoing prospective mother and child cohort study in the UAE. Data were extracted from the medical records and baseline questionnaire administered to the participants between May 2017 and January 2021.

Setting

The study was conducted in Al Ain city of the UAE.

Participants

A total of 5080 pregnant women residing in Al Ain participated in the study.

Outcome measures

The study estimated the prevalence of negative D antigen phenotype and the provision of RAADP in this population.

Results

Of the 5080 pregnant women analysed, 4651 (91.6%) had D antigen positive status, while 429 (8.4%) were D-negative. D antigen sensitisation was low at 0.5%, and there was a high uptake of RAADP in the population at 88.8%.

Conclusions

The adherence to RAADP is consistent with published data from other healthcare settings. Knowledge of the prevalence of D antigen negative mothers is crucial to the financial and resource consideration for implementing antenatal foetal cell-free DNA screening to determine foetal D antigen status.
Validity and reliability of chemical-based disinfectant use questionnaire in a sample of the Lebanese public community
Authors: Aridi Mona , Ghach Wissam , Alwan Nisreen
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Worldwide, people heavily use chemical-based disinfectants to prevent the spread of COVID-19 with limited or no safety instructions. Awareness about the safe use of chemical-based disinfectants is highly recommended to limit the spread of COVID-19 and to avoid any health risks when misused, especially in developing countries where a poor healthcare system is prominent. Awareness in this context refers to the understanding and knowledge of proper usage, safety protocols and potential health risks associated with chemical disinfectants. Practices refer to the actual behaviours and actions taken when using disinfectants, including frequency of use, methods of application and adherence to safety guidelines.

Objective

The purpose of this paper is to develop a valid and reliable questionnaire to assess the community level of awareness and practice concerning chemical-based disinfectant use during COVID-19 in Lebanon.

Design

The questionnaire was adapted and modified from a previous study held in Iran, in which the questions were generated and developed with content validity ratio and index (CVR and CVI). The study design was divided into the qualitative phase/development of the Disinfectants Use Questionnaire (DUQ) and the quantitative phase/psychometric properties of the DUQ. The questionnaire was subjected to face and content validity tests through expert reviews. Data validation, for 130 participants (80.8% females, 85.5% bachelor’s degree and above, 80.8% students and 70.8% aged within 30 years), was examined through psychometric properties at the final stage of the validation. CVI for items (I-CVI), scale-level CVI (S-CVI), universal agreement calculation (S-CVI/UA), S-CVI and the average calculation method (S-CVI/Ave), based on I-CVI and based on proportion relevance, were calculated to determine the content validity.

Results

23 items of the 28-item scale had an I-CVI of 1, and the I-CVI of the remaining five ranged between 0.75 and 0.88. The S-CVI/UA was 0.82 and the S-CVI/Ave was 0.96, which meant that the items were good for the underlying construct. For the psychometric measures, principal axis factoring was performed and the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure of sampling adequacy, Bartlett’s test, eigenvalues and total variances were quite accepted and satisfactory.

Conclusion

This study showed that DUQ is a valid and reliable tool for evaluating the community level of awareness and practice concerning chemical-based disinfectant use during COVID-19.
NEARER SCAN (LENO BESIK) evaluation of a task-sharing echocardiographic active case finding programme for rheumatic heart disease in Australia and Timor-Leste: protocol for a hybrid type II effectiveness-implementation study
Authors: Jones Benjamin , Marangou James , Yan Jennifer , Ralph Anna , Mitchell Alice , Kaethner Alex , Remenyi Bo , Wade Vicki , Katzenellenbogen Judith M , Monteiro Anferida Fernandes , Cannon Jeffrey W , Howard Natasha J , Gilles Marisa , Haynes Emma , Seixas Herculano , Maurays Joaquina , Neave Jade , Pears Chantelle , Engelman Daniel , Canuto Karla , Steer Andrew , Unger Holger , Bailey Meghan , Tanesi Maria , Amaral Salvador , Neto Helder , Stewart Maida , Burgess Paul , Brown Alex , Currie Bart J , Hillis Graham , Morris Peter , Simon David , Wheaton Gavin , Williamson Jacqui , de Dassel Jessica , Slota-Kan Simon , Carapetis Jonathan , English Mike , Nagraj Shobhana , Francis Joshua R
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is underdiagnosed globally resulting in missed treatment opportunities and adverse clinical outcomes. We describe the protocol for a study which aims to co-design, implement and conduct an evaluation of a task-sharing approach to echocardiographic active case finding for early detection and management of RHD in high-risk settings in Australia and Timor-Leste.

Methods and analysis

Echocardiograms will be obtained by trained local staff using hand-held echocardiographic devices employing the ‘Single Parasternal Long Axis view with a Sweep of the Heart’ (SPLASH) technique and interpreted by experts remote from the site of acquisition. Approximately 1500 children and pregnant women will be screened across high-risk communities in Australia and Timor-Leste over an 18-month period. The study will use a type II effectiveness-implementation hybrid design. A tailored package of implementation strategies will be co-designed with communities and health services and mapped onto a Theory of Change framework. The clinical effectiveness will be assessed as the change in the proportion of the target population that are prescribed secondary prophylaxis for RHD by the end of the study compared with baseline. The implementation will be assessed as the adoption, penetration, sustainability, fidelity and cost of the programme with a mixed-methods theory-based and economic evaluation. Data will include numbers of normal, abnormal and uninterpretable SPLASH echocardiograms obtained, numbers of participants progressing through the cascade of care, interviews with staff and programme costs.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval has been obtained from the Human Research Ethics Committee of the NT Department of Health and Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin (HREC-2022-4479), the Western Australian Aboriginal Health Ethics Committee (HREC-1237) and the Instituto Nasional Saude Publika Timor-Leste Ethics and Technical Committee (03-UEPD/INSP-TL/V/2023). Informed consent is required to be enrolled. Study findings will be disseminated in the communities involved and submitted for publication.

Trial registration number

NCT06002243.
Impact of dual sensory impairment on the risk of incident dementia: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Giannoni-Luza Stefano , Urso Daniele , Alaoui Ahmed Amine , Ting Jeremy , Jabbour Samir , Fuente Adrian
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Strong evidence supports the importance of potentially modifiable risk factors for dementia, with sensory loss, particularly visual and hearing impairment, being prominent among them. While single sensory impairment has been widely investigated, the influence of concomitant visual and hearing impairment is still not clear. Thus, in this systematic review, we aim to evaluate the risk of developing all-cause dementia due to dual sensory (visual and hearing) impairment and to comprehensively explore possible sources of heterogeneity.

Methods and analysis

This protocol follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols 2015 statement and has been registered on the PROSPERO international prospective register of systematic reviews. Our literature search will include two databases: MEDLINE-PubMed and Embase. The search strategy will consist of terms tailored for each database. We will include peer-reviewed longitudinal cohort studies reporting HRs. Screening and selection of articles will be performed independently by at least two reviewers using the Covidence systematic review manager. Discrepancies will be resolved by consensus. Data will be collected on study design, location, study setting, follow-up years, baseline demographics, sensory impairment and dementia diagnosis ascertainment, and number of adjusted covariates. The quality of the included studies will be evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for cohort studies. If meta-analysis is possible, we will perform DerSimonian-Laird random-effects models of HRs using the most adjusted model from each study. Subgroup analyses and meta-regressions are planned as a function of study setting, geographical location, sensory impairment and dementia diagnosis ascertainment, follow-up years and number of adjusted covariates.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval is not required because this study involves data already published by other authors. Our findings will be disseminated by a peer-reviewed publication and presentations at relevant scientific conferences. The results will support the understanding of dementia’s modifiable risk factors and may motivate the development of screening interventions to prevent dementia.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42023493401.
Social media influencers in the space of pregnancy and parenting: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Hives Lucy , Bray Emma P , Nowland Rebecca , Thomson Gill
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Social media influencers (SMIs) are popular sources of online information on various topics, including many aspects of health. Recently, there has been an upsurge in SMIs creating content about pregnancy and parenting, including from midwives, pregnant women and parents. Despite its popularity, SMI content on pregnancy and parenting is not currently regulated, which allows for misinformation and potential harm to women and their children. Research has also found that most women do not discuss the information they access online with their healthcare providers.

This is the first scoping review to map the existing evidence on SMIs in the context of pregnancy and early parenting.

Methods and analysis

The scoping review will be conducted from May to December 2024 and reported using guidance from Arksey and O’Malley and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews checklist. 10 academic databases will be searched for relevant studies, using keywords and subject headings for the concepts of “social media”, “influencers”, “pregnancy” and “parenting.” All primary and secondary research studies of pregnancy and early parenting SMIs will be included. Two authors will screen the identified studies for eligibility. The risk of bias of the included studies will not be assessed. Extracted data will be presented in tables and will be described narratively.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval was not needed for this scoping review. Results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal, presented at conferences, posted on social media and presented to relevant groups.

Registration details

The review is registered with the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/7v4qbhttps://osf.io/7v4qb)
Exploring the application status of qualitative studies in the research area of acupuncture: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Xie Yana , Ji Bo , Liu Cuiting , Fang Yang , Guo Tingting , Quan Ye , Xie Yixuan , Dai Jian
Published: October 2024

Introduction

With the wide development of acupuncture clinical practice, acupuncture research has been conducted worldwide, of which the most common method is quantitative study. However, research questions around acupuncture cannot always be addressed by quantitative studies due to their intrinsic characteristics. Qualitative studies can perfectly complement this knowledge gap in acupuncture research. To date, few qualitative studies on acupuncture research have been summarised. The objective of this scoping review is to review the application status of qualitative studies in the field of acupuncture research.

Methods

In accordance with the framework put forward by Arksey and O'Malley, this proposed scoping review (registration DOI:https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/VYBMT) will be applied as the following steps: (1) identifying the research questions, (2) identifying relevant studies, (3) study selection, (4) charting the data and (5) collating, summarising and reporting the results. Six databases with Google Scholar and Baidu Scholar will be searched with a comprehensive searching strategy, and two reviewers finishing uniform training and pilot test will independently screen the potential literature to include eligible ones. Endnote 20 will be used to manage the literature; a predesigned, standardised Excel sheet will be used to load all information extracted. Findings of this scoping review will be reported and described in a narrative manner. Tables, charts or figures will be used to present the results and qualitative content analysis and thematic analysis based on grounded theory will be adopted to analyse the data. We initiated our search on 13 March 2024.

Ethics and dissemination

As scoping reviews are a form of secondary data analysis, ethical review is not required. Our research results will provide future research direction for qualitative studies of acupuncture and be disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication and related scientific conferences.
Embedding the ‘CoolCuddle’ intervention for infants undergoing therapeutic hypothermia for hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy in NICU: an evaluation using normalisation process theory
Authors: Beasant Lucy , Chakkarapani Ela , Horwood Jeremy , Odd David , Stocks Stephanie , Parker Denise , Ingram Jenny
Published: October 2024

Objectives

Newborn infants exposed to lack of oxygen and blood flow to the brain around birth may develop brain dysfunction (hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy—HIE). These infants undergo 72 hours of cooling therapy and most are not held by their parents in the UK. We examined the implementation of ‘CoolCuddle’, identifying factors that impact embedding of this complex intervention in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) across England.

Design

Process evaluation and qualitative study using a standard questionnaire and interviews. Normalisation Process Theory (NPT) core constructs were used to assess relevant issues to staff embedding ‘CoolCuddle’, to discern change over time and different settings. Qualitative interviews provided valuable contextual exploration of implementation.

Setting and participants

Six tertiary NICUs in England. Thirty-seven families with a newborn baby undergoing cooling therapy for HIE were recruited from September 2022 to August 2023; 17 NICU staff Normalisation MeAsure Development (NoMADs) at six NICUs over 6 months were included; 14 neonatal/research nurses from three participating NICUs were interviewed.

Intervention

The family-centred intervention ‘CoolCuddle’ was developed to enable parents to hold their infant during cooling, without affecting the cooling therapy or intensive care.

Outcome measures

NoMAD questionnaires at three timepoints over 6 months and NPT informed qualitative interviews.

Results

NoMAD questionnaires at baseline showed more variation between units, for intervention acceptability, than those at 3 and 6 months. Qualitative data highlighted that staff understood the benefits of CoolCuddle but were apprehensive due to perceived risks involved in moving cooling babies. A rigorous standard operating procedure was flexible enough to incorporate the use of local processes and equipment and provided the relevant procedural knowledge to deliver CoolCuddle safely.

Conclusions

The CoolCuddle intervention can be implemented safely under the supervision of standard neonatal teams as part of usual practice in diverse NICU settings in England. The importance of having a rigorous standard operating procedure, which can be adapted to support local settings, is highlighted.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN10018542; Results: registered on 30 August 2022.
Evaluation of an electronic clinical decision support algorithm to improve primary care management of acute febrile illness in rural Cambodia: protocol for a cluster-randomised trial
Authors: Chew Rusheng , Wynberg Elke , Liverani Marco , Rekol Huy , Nguon Chea , Dysoley Lek , Vanna Moul , Callery James John , Mishra Abhijit , Adhikari Bipin , Tripura Rupam , Chandna Arjun , Fegan Greg , Waithira Naomi , Maude Richard James , Day Nicholas P J , Peto Thomas Julian , Lubell Yoel
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Acute febrile illness (AFI), traditionally attributed to malaria, is a common reason for seeking primary healthcare in rural South and Southeast Asia. However, malaria transmission has declined while health workers are often poorly equipped to manage non-malarial AFIs. This results in indiscriminate antibiotic prescribing and care escalation, which promotes antibiotic resistance and may increase healthcare costs. To address this problem, an electronic clinical decision support algorithm (eCDSA) called ‘Electronic clinical Decision support for Acute fever Management (EDAM)’ has been developed for primary health workers which integrates clinical, epidemiological and vital sign data with simple point-of-care tests to produce a diagnosis and management plan.

Methods and analysis

This is a pragmatic cluster-randomised trial aiming to assess the effect of EDAM and related training on antibiotic prescribing rates in rural Cambodian primary health centres (PHCs) as the primary outcome, along with a range of secondary outcomes including safety. Patients with AFI are eligible for recruitment if they are aged ≥1 year. A cluster is defined as a PHC and PHCs will be randomised to control (standard of care) and intervention (EDAM and associated training) arms, with 15 PHCs per arm. Patients will be followed up after 7 days to ascertain the safety profile of EDAM. Each PHC will recruit 152 patients (total 4560), based on a baseline antibiotic prescription rate of 25% and expected reduction to 17.5% with EDAM.

Ethics and dissemination

Results will be published in international peer-reviewed journals to inform the design of future versions of EDAM and of future trials of similar eCDSAs and other digital health interventions targeted towards rural populations. This study was approved by the Oxford University Tropical Research Ethics Committee (550-23) and the Cambodian National Ethics Committee for Health Research (395-NECHR).

Trial registration number

International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number Registry (ISRCTN15157105).