bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of a psychoeducational intervention compared with education in people with Parkinson's disease and their informal caregivers: a quasi‐experimental study
Authors: Navarta‐Sánchez María Victoria , Ambrosio Leire , Portillo Mari Carmen , Ursúa Maria Eugenia , Senosiain Juana M. , Riverol Mario 
Published: August 2020

AbstractAimTo evaluate the effects of a psychoeducational intervention compared with an education programme to strengthen quality of life, psychosocial adjustment, and coping in people with Parkinson's disease and their informal caregivers.DesignA quasi‐experimental study was performed with repeated measures at baseline, after the intervention and 6 months post‐intervention.MethodsThe study was carried out at seven primary care centres from 2015‐2017. A total of 140 people with Parkinson's and 127 informal caregivers were allocated to the experimental and the control groups. The experimental group received a 9‐week psychoeducational intervention, whereas the control group received a 5‐week education programme. Repeated measures ANOVA were used to test differences in quality of life, psychosocial adjustment, and coping between the experimental and control groups and over time.ResultsPatients and informal caregivers in both the experimental and control groups showed significantly better psychosocial adjustment at the post‐intervention measurement compared with baseline data. We also found significantly greater quality of life in patients and coping skills in caregivers after the end of the interventions in the experimental and control groups. Nevertheless, no significant differences were identified on the outcomes at the 6‐month post‐intervention measurement.ConclusionThe effect of the psychoeducational intervention was not different from the effect of the education programme. The strategies applied in both interventions followed a group approach led by a multidisciplinary team covering information about PD, healthy lifestyles, and social resources. They might be easily sustained in Primary Care to improve care for people with Parkinson's and informal caregivers.
Low levels of awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in Andean communities of Ecuador
Authors: Felix Camilo , Baldeon Manuel E. , Zertuche Federico , Fornasini Marco , Paucar Maria Jose , Ponce Liz , Rangarajan Sumathy , Yusuf Salim , Lopez‐Jaramillo Patricio 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe major burden of hypertension (HTN) occurs in low‐middle‐income countries (LMIC) and it is the main modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Few population studies on HTN prevalence have been carried out in Ecuador where there is limited information regarding its prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control. Thus, the aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of HTN and its association with socio‐economic, nutritional, and lifestyle habits in urban and rural Andean communities of Pichincha province in Ecuador. The authors studied 2020 individuals aged 35‐70 years (mean age 50.8 years, 72% women), included in the Ecuadorian cohort of the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study, from February to December 2018. The hypertension prevalence (>140/90 mmHg) was 27% and was greater in urban than in rural communities, more common in men, in individuals older than 50 years of age, in people with low monthly income and low level of education. Higher prevalence was also observed in subjects with obesity, and among former smokers and those who consumed alcohol. Only 49% of those with HTN were aware of their condition, 40% were using antihypertensive medications, and 19% had their blood pressure under control (<140/90 mmHg). These results showed low levels of awareness, treatment, and control of HTN in the Andean region of Ecuador, suggesting the urgent necessity of implementing programs to improve the diagnosis and management of HTN.
Body mass index trajectory across childhood and subsequent risk of elevated blood pressure
Authors: Fan Hui , Zhang Xingyu 
Published: August 2020

AbstractWe investigated the relationship between the body mass index (BMI) trajectory across childhood and the subsequent occurrence of elevated blood pressure (BP) in the Chinese pediatric population. The study cohort from the China Health and Nutrition Survey comprised 1484 children, each of whom underwent three BP and BMI assessments during childhood and had a non‐elevated BP during the first childhood assessment. A group‐based trajectory model was used to identify four distinct BMI trajectories across childhood: lean‐stable increase, medium‐marked increase, heavy marked decrease, and heavy marked increase. Elevated BP in childhood was as defined in the China's national BP reference for children. Covariate‐adjusted logistic regression models were used to assess the associations of BMI trajectories with elevated BP. Overall, 27.6% of all participants between 3 and 13 years of age during the first childhood assessment developed elevated BP during a mean 6.5‐year follow‐up. Compared with participants in the lean‐stable increase group, those in the medium‐marked increase and heavy marked increase groups were more likely to have elevated BP (odds ratio [95% confidence interval], OR [95% CI]: 1.46 [1.08, 1.96] and 5.29 [2.44, 11.48], respectively; Ps < .05). The OR for the heavy marked decrease group was not statistically significant (OR [95% CI]: 1.58 [0.80, 3.13]; P = .192). In summary, distinct BMI trajectories conferred significantly different odds of elevated BP upon children, thus underscoring the importance of weight management in early life.
Comparison between unattended automated office blood pressure and conventional office blood pressure under the environment of health checkup among Japanese general population
Authors: Sakuma Hirofumi , Nakagawa Naoki , Horiuchi Kiwamu , Hayasaka Taiki , Maruyama Keisuke , Sawada Jun , Minoshima Akiho , Fujino Takayuki , Takeuchi Toshiharu , Sato Nobuyuki , Osanai Shinobu , Hasebe Naoyuki 
Published: August 2020

AbstractUnattended automated office blood pressure (AOBP) measurement has been endorsed as the preferred in‐office measurement modality in recent Canadian and American clinical practice guidelines. However, the difference between AOBP and conventional office blood pressure (CBP) under the environment of a health checkup remains unclear. We aimed to identify the clinical significance of AOBP as compared to CBP under the environment of a health checkup. There were 491 participants (333 females, mean age of 62.5 years) who were at least 20 years old, including 179 participants who were previously diagnosed with hypertension. Mean AOBPs were 131.8 ± 20.9/76.6 ± 11.7 mm Hg, and CBPs were 135.6 ± 21.6/77.3 ± 11.5 mm Hg. There was a difference of 3.9 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and 0.8 mm Hg in diastolic BP between AOBP and CBP. In all participants, SBP and pulse pressure, as well as the white coat effect (WCE), increased with age. The cutoff value used was 140/90 mm Hg for CBP and 135/85 mm Hg for AOBP, and the prevalence of WCE and masked hypertension effect (MHE) was 12.4% and 14.1%, respectively. Even in a health checkup environment of the general population, there was a difference between the AOBP and CBP, and the WCE was observed more strongly in the elderly with a history of hypertension, suggesting that a combination of AOBP with CBP may be useful in detecting WCE and MHE in all clinical scenarios including health checkups, and help solve the “hypertension paradox” not only in Japan but in all over the world.
Human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells inhibit hepatocellular carcinoma in tumour‐bearing mice
Authors: Liu Quan‐Wen , Li Jing‐Yuan , Zhang Xiang‐Cheng , Liu Yu , Liu Qian‐Yu , Xiao Ling , Zhang Wen‐Jie , Wu Han‐You , Deng Ke‐Yu , Xin Hong‐Bo 
Published: August 2020

AbstractHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of the cancer‐related death in the world. Human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) have been characterized with a pluripotency, low immunogenicity and no tumorigenicity. Especially, the immunosuppressive and anti‐inflammatory effects of hAMSCs make them suitable for treating HCC. Here, we reported that hAMSCs administrated by intravenous injection significantly inhibited HCC through suppressing cell proliferation and inducing cell apoptosis in tumour‐bearing mice with Hepg2 cells. Cell tracking experiments with GFP‐labelled hAMSCs showed that the stem cells possessed the ability of migrating to the tumorigenic sites for suppressing tumour growth. Importantly, both hAMSCs and the conditional media (hAMSC‐CM) have the similar antitumour effects in vitro, suggesting that hAMSCs‐derived cytokines might be involved in their antitumour effects. Antibody array assay showed that hAMSCs highly expressed dickkopf‐3 (DKK‐3), dickkopf‐1 (DKK‐1) and insulin‐like growth factor‐binding protein 3 (IGFBP‐3). Furthermore, the antitumour effects of hAMSCs were further confirmed by applications of the antibodies or the specific siRNAs of DKK‐3, DKK‐1 and IGFBP‐3 in vitro. Mechanically, hAMSCs‐derived DKK‐3, DKK‐1 and IGFBP‐3 markedly inhibited cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis of Hepg2 cells through suppressing the Wnt/β‐catenin signalling pathway and IGF‐1R‐mediated PI3K/AKT signalling pathway, respectively. Taken together, our study demonstrated that hAMSCs possess significant antitumour effects in vivo and in vitro and might provide a novel strategy for HCC treatment clinically.
Cardioprotection by isosteviol derivate JC105: A unique drug property to activate ERK1/2 only when cells are exposed to hypoxia‐reoxygenation
Authors: Mohammed Abdul Khaja Shameem , Rayadurgam Jayachandra , Faiz Neha , Jovanović Aleksandar , Tan Wen 
Published: August 2020

AbstractIn the present study, we have investigated potential cardioprotective properties of Isosteviol analogue we recently synthesized and named JC105. Treatment of heart embryonic H9c2 cells with JC105 (10 μM) significantly increased survival of cells exposed to hypoxia‐reoxygenation. JC105 (10 μM) activated ERK1/2, DRP1 and increased levels of cardioprotective SUR2A in hypoxia‐reoxygenation, but did not have any effects on ERK1/2, DRP1 and/or SUR2A in normoxia. U0126 (10 μM) inhibited JC105‐mediated phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and DRP1 without affecting AKT or AMPK, which were also not regulated by JC105. Seahorse bioenergetic analysis demonstrated that JC105 (10 μM) did not affect mitochondria at rest, but it counteracted all mitochondrial effects of hypoxia‐reoxygenation. Cytoprotection afforded by JC105 was inhibited by U0126 (10 μM). Taken all together, these demonstrate that (a) JC105 protects H9c2 cells against hypoxia‐reoxygenation and that (b) this effect is mediated via ERK1/2. The unique property of JC105 is that selectively activates ERK1/2 in cells exposed to stress, but not in cells under non‐stress conditions.
Ubiquitin‐specific protease 19 blunts pathological cardiac hypertrophy via inhibition of the TAK1‐dependent pathway
Authors: Miao Rujia , Lu Yao , He Xue , Liu Xuelian , Chen Zhiheng , Wang Jiangang 
Published: August 2020

AbstractUbiquitin‐specific protease 19 (USP19) belongs to USP family and is involved in promoting skeletal muscle atrophy. Although USP19 is expressed in the heart, the role of USP19 in the heart disease remains unknown. The present study provides in vivo and in vitro data to reveal the role of USP19 in preventing pathological cardiac hypertrophy. We generated USP19‐knockout mice and isolated neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) that overexpressed or were deficient in USP19 to investigate the effect of USP19 on transverse aortic constriction (TAC) or phenylephrine (PE)‐mediated cardiac hypertrophy. Echocardiography, pathological and molecular analysis were used to determine the extent of cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, dysfunction and inflammation. USP19 expression was markedly increased in rodent hypertrophic heart or cardiomyocytes underwent TAC or PE culturing, the increase was mediated by the reduction of Seven In Absentia Homolog‐2. The extent of TAC‐induced cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, dysfunction and inflammation in USP19‐knockout mice was exacerbated. Consistently, gain‐of‐function and loss‐of‐function approaches that involved USP19 in cardiomyocytes suggested that the down‐regulation of USP19 promoted the hypertrophic phenotype, while the up‐regulation of USP19 improved the worsened phenotype. Mechanistically, the USP19‐elicited cardiac hypertrophy improvement was attributed to the abrogation of the transforming growth factor beta‐activated kinase 1 (TAK1)‐p38/JNK1/2 transduction. Furthermore, the inhibition of TAK1 abolished the aggravated hypertrophy induced by the loss of USP19. In conclusion, the present study revealed that USP19 and the downstream of TAK1‐p38/JNK1/2 signalling pathway might be a potential target to attenuate pathological cardiac hypertrophy.
Body size and climate as predictors of plumage colouration and sexual dichromatism in parrots
Authors: Carballo Luisana , Delhey Kaspar , Valcu Mihai , Kempenaers Bart 
Published: August 2020

AbstractPsittaciformes (parrots, cockatoos and lorikeets) comprise one of the most colourful clades of birds. Their unique pigments and safe cavity nesting habits are two potential explanations for their colourful character. However, plumage colour varies substantially between parrot species and sometimes also between males and females of the same species. Here, we use comparative analyses to evaluate what factors correlate with colour elaboration, colour diversity and sexual dichromatism. Specifically, we test the association between different aspects of parrot colouration and (a) the intensity of sexual selection and social interactions, (b) variation along the slow‐fast life‐history continuum and (c) climatic variation. We show that larger species and species that live in warm environments display more elaborated colours, yet smaller species have higher levels of sexual dichromatism. Larger parrots tend to have darker and more blue and red colours. Parrots that live in wetter environments are darker and redder, whereas species inhabiting warm regions have more blue plumage colours. In general, each of the variables we considered explain small to moderate amounts of variation in parrot colouration (up to 15%). Our data suggest that sexual selection may be acting more strongly on males in small, short‐lived parrots leading to sexual dichromatism. More elaborate colouration in both males and females of the larger, long‐lived species with slow tropical life histories suggests that mutual mate choice, social selection and reduced selection for crypsis may be important in these species, as has been shown for passerines.
Environmental DNA metabarcoding provides enhanced detection of the European eel Anguilla anguilla and fish community structure in pumped river catchments
Authors: Griffiths Nathan P. , Bolland Jonathan D. , Wright Rosalind M. , Murphy Leona A. , Donnelly Robert K. , Watson Hayley V. , Hänfling Bernd 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe European eel Anguilla anguilla (eel hereafter) is critically endangered and has a catadromous life cycle, which means adult eels that live in pumped catchments must pass through pumps during their downstream spawning migration. Policy makers are currently lacking detailed site‐by‐site eel distribution information to estimate the overall impact of individual pumping stations on eel escapement, and as such lack the data to enable informed prioritisation of pumping station management and targeted mitigation. This study investigated whether environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding can provide increased detection sensitivity for eel and fish community structure in highly regulated pumped catchments, when compared directly to current standard practice fish survey protocols (seine netting/electric fishing). Eels were detected in 14 of 17 sites (82.4%) using eDNA metabarcoding in contrast to 3 of 17 sites (17.6%) using traditional catch methods. In addition, when using eDNA monitoring, species richness was higher in 16 of 17 sites (94.1%), and site occupancy was greater than or equal to traditional methods for 23 of 26 of the fish species detected (88.5%). Although eDNA methods presented significantly higher average species richness and species site occupancy overall, eDNA and catch methods were positively correlated in terms of species richness and site occupancy. It was therefore found that eDNA metabarcoding was a high‐sensitivity method for detecting eels in pumped catchments while also increasing the detection of overall fish community structure compared to traditional catch methods. In addition, this study highlights how eDNA monitoring is especially suited to increase the detection of particular species, with traditional methods sufficient for others. This high sensitivity, coupled with the ability to sample multiple sites in a short time frame, suggests that eDNA metabarcoding workflows could be invaluable tools when prioritising pumping station management.
Long‐term retention of dummy acoustic transmitters in adult brown trout
Authors: Kennedy Richard J. , Evans Derek , Allen Michelle 
Published: August 2020

AbstractA group of 36 1+ age class Salmo trutta were surgically implanted with dummy acoustic tags and monitored for 370 days. In total 13 tags were expelled throughout the experiment with an overall tag loss rate of c. 0.035 tags per day. Fish length was the only explanatory variable which had a significant association with subsequent tag expulsion. The estimated probability of retaining a tag for a year for a fish of length 32 cm was 0.76, 34 cm was 0.60 and 36 cm was 0.38. The long‐term tag loss patterns were examined and discussed.
Overlapping niches between two co‐occurring invasive fish: the topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva and the common bleak Alburnus alburnus
Authors: Balzani Paride , Gozlan Rodolphe E. , Haubrock Phillip J. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractInvasive fish species impact aquatic ecosystems and modify native communities, often leading to a decline in local species. These ecological impacts include the transmission of pathogens, predation, competition as well as hybridization. Two invasive fish species, the common bleak Alburnus alburnus and the topmouth gudgeon Pseudorabora parva, have both been recently found co‐occurring in several regions of southern Europe, such as the Italian Arno River. Nonetheless, the trophic relationships among invasive fish species, especially cyprinids, remain poorly understood, and no studies have reported the trophic interaction between these two species. This study compared length–weight relationship and used stomach content and stable isotope analysis of two co‐occurring populations in the Arno River to characterize the growth and overlap of potential trophic niches. It also found similar allometric growth in both species, a wider generalist trophic niche for P. parva and a more specialized niche for A. alburnus. A considerable niche overlap was found, suggesting that feeding competition can occur if resources were to be limited. Moreover, the niche of P. parva was more likely to overlap with that of A. alburnus than vice versa, suggesting that P. parva can be considered as a potential over competitor. Nonetheless, the authors found in the overlapping populations no evidence of realized competition, probably avoided through a combination of fine‐scale mechanisms. They also highlighted that these two invasive species can co‐exist and share resources, at least in an open ecosystem like a river, thus potentially doubling up their trophic impact on local communities.
Fall‐Related Hospitalizations in Nursing Home Residents Co‐Prescribed a Cholinesterase Inhibitor and Beta‐Blocker
Authors: Watt Jennifer A. , Campitelli Michael A. , Maxwell Colleen J. , Guan Jun , Maclagan Laura C. , Gomes Tara , Bokhari Mahmoud , Straus Sharon E. , Bronskill Susan E. 
Published: August 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVESTo examine the association between hospitalization for a fall‐related injury and the co‐prescription of a cholinesterase inhibitor (ChEI) among persons with dementia receiving a beta‐blocker, and whether this potential drug‐drug interaction is modified by frailty.DESIGNNested case‐control study using population‐based administrative databases.SETTINGAll nursing homes in Ontario, Canada.PARTICIPANTSPersons with dementia aged 66 and older who received at least one beta‐blocker between April 2013 and March 2018 following nursing home admission (n = 19,060).MEASUREMENTSCases were persons with dementia with a hospitalization (emergency department visit or acute care admission) for a fall‐related injury with concurrent beta‐blocker use. Each case (n = 3,038) was matched 1:1 to a control by age (±1 year), sex, cohort entry year, frailty, and history of fall‐related injuries. The association between fall‐related injury and exposure to a ChEI in the 90 days prior was examined using multivariable conditional logistic regression. Secondary exposures included ChEI type, daily dose, incident versus prevalent use, and use in the prior 30 days. Subgroup analyses considered frailty, age group, sex, and history of hospitalization for fall‐related injuries.RESULTSExposure to a ChEI in the prior 90 days occurred among 947 (31.2%) cases and 940 (30.9%) controls. In multivariable models, no association was found between hospitalization for a fall‐related injury and prior exposure to a ChEI in persons with dementia dispensed beta‐blockers (adjusted odds ratio = .96, 95% confidence interval = .85–1.08). Findings were consistent across secondary exposures and subgroup analyses.CONCLUSIONAmong nursing home residents with dementia receiving beta‐blockers, co‐prescription of a ChEI was not associated with an increased risk of hospitalization for a fall‐related injury. However, we did not assess for its association with falls not leading to hospitalization. This finding could inform clinical guidelines and shared decision making between persons with dementia, caregivers, and clinicians concerning ChEI initiation and/or discontinuation.
Decrease of Anticholinergic Drug Use in Nursing Home Residents in the United States, 2009 to 2017
Authors: Malagaris Ioannis , Mehta Hemalkumar B. , Li Shuang , Goodwin James S. 
Published: August 2020

OBJECTIVETo investigate the time course of anticholinergic drug use in nursing home residents and assess if any temporal change in anticholinergic use varied by nursing home quality rating.DESIGNRetrospective repeated cross‐sectional analysis of Medicare enrollment, Parts A, B, and D, claims data linked to the Minimum Data Set from 2009 to 2017.SETTINGMedicare‐certified nursing homes.PARTICIPANTSLong‐term residents 65 years or older with nursing home stay of at least 100 consecutive days within a given calendar year.MEASUREMENTSEstimates of anticholinergic drug prescription rates between 2009 and 2017 were based on a binary variable indicating whether a resident received a drug with high anticholinergic activity, as defined by the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden scale, for at least 1 day during the initial 100 consecutive days of nursing home stay in a given calendar year. We used mixed effects logistic regression models to determine adjusted rates of anticholinergic use each year and test the interaction between nursing home quality rating and year, while adjusting for patient and nursing home characteristics.RESULTSThe cohort included 786,858 100‐day nursing home stays (299,354 unique residents) in 6,703 nursing homes for the years 2009 to 2017. Prescription rates were stable at approximately 34% to 35% between 2009 and 2011, then gradually decreased to 24.3% in 2017 (P < .0001), with the decline being more pronounced in nursing homes having high quality ratings (P < .0001). Rates for anticholinergic drugs in nursing homes with 4 to 5 star quality rating (33.7% in 2011 to 23.3% in 2017) showed a steeper decline over time relative to nursing homes with 1 to 2 star quality rating (34.2% in 2011 to 25.2% in 2017) (P < .0001).CONCLUSIONSThe use of drugs with high anticholinergic activity has declined from 2009 to 2017, with a greater decline in higher‐quality nursing homes.