bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Intestinal permeability and small intestine bacterial overgrowth in excess weight adolescents
Authors: Cortez Ana Paula Bidutte , Fisberg Mauro , de Morais Mauro Batista 
Published: October 2020

SummaryBackgroundIncreased intestinal permeability may be associated with certain disorders, such as obesity and small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate intestinal permeability and SIBO in excess weight adolescents.MethodsThis cross‐sectional study included 67 adolescents with excess weight and 66 normal weight adolescents. Excess weight was defined as a body mass index for age (BMI/age) > +1 SD, which includes having excess body weight and obesity. SIBO was diagnosed by a breath test after the ingestion of lactulose according to the production of hydrogen and methane. Zonulin (haptoglobin) was considered an indicator of intestinal permeability.ResultsAdolescents with excess weight had a higher height/age Z‐score (median [25th; 75th percentile]: +0.6 [−0.4; +1.0]) than those in the normal weight group (−0.1 [−0.6; +0.7]; P = .014). Zonulin (mg/mL) in the excess weight (2.3 [1.5; 3.8]) adolescents was higher than that in the normal weight (1.6 [1.0; 2.2]) adolescents (P < .001). SIBO was diagnosed in 23.3% (31/133) of the adolescents. The adolescents with SIBO had a lower (P < .05) BMI/age (+0.6 [−0.6; +1.9]) and height/age (−0.3 [−0.7; +0.3]) than the adolescents without SIBO (+1.3 [+0.1; +2.6] and +0.2 [−0.5; +1.0], respectively). No association was found between zonulin and SIBO.ConclusionExcess weight is associated with increased intestinal permeability. No relationship was found between SIBO and intestinal permeability; however, SIBO was related to lower BMI and height for age Z‐scores.
Do Austrian Programmes Facilitate Labour Market Integration of Refugees?
Authors: Ortlieb Renate , Eggenhofer‐Rehart Petra , Leitner Sandra , Hosner Roland , Landesmann Michael 
Published: October 2020

ABSTRACTThis study examines two programmes aimed at integrating refugees into the Austrian labour market: a short‐term Skills Assessment and a longer‐term Integration Year that includes an internship and training. The theoretical framework draws on the concepts of social field and forms of capital proposed by Pierre Bourdieu. Using data from a large‐scale refugee survey in early 2019, we find that Austria’s short‐term Skills Assessment fails to increase refugees’ employment chances. The Integration Year positively helps employment, but this outcome is limited to refugee women. We conclude that integration programmes only help if they provide refugees with both cultural and social capital. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
The state of nursing research from 2000 to 2019: A global analysis
Authors: Yanbing Su , Hua Liu , Chao Liu , Fenglan Wang , Zhiguang Duan 
Published: October 2020

AbstractAimThis study aims to present a general bibliometric overview of the development status of global nursing research from 2000 to 2019.DesignA longitudinal bibliometric analysis of nursing research was conducted.MethodsNursing research publications (N = 88,665) were obtained from Web of Science. Bibliometric method was used to map the output and citation impact trends of countries/regions, institutions, disciplines, and journals and analyse the research collaboration among countries/regions and institutions.ResultsThe global paper output in nursing research increased steadily over the past two decades and it varied in different countries/regions with the USA being far ahead of the others. The paper output and cross‐border collaboration are mainly distributed in several developed countries like the USA, the UK, Australia, and Canada. The University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University, University of Toronto, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have high academic influence in the field of nursing. Increasing attention from academic fields has been paid to research on nursing. Journal of Advanced Nursing is the most prolific and most cited journal in nursing field.ConclusionNursing research has developed steadily over the last two decades. Both the scientific output and research collaboration are disproportionally distributed between high‐income countries/regions and low‐ and middle‐income countries/regions. Most research and collaboration have taken place in a few developed countries across North America, Europe, and Oceania.ImpactThe study highlighted the need for policy makers and funding agencies, especially those from low‐ and middle‐income countries/regions, to allocate research funding that supports the nursing higher education and international cooperation so as to promote the development of high‐quality nursing research in those countries/regions. At the same time, researchers from non‐English‐speaking countries/regions should attach more importance to publishing papers in English, strengthening the academic exchanges with international nursing colleagues and better integrating into the international academic community.
A self‐management support intervention on knee functional status and health‐related quality of life among middle‐age women: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Bunsanong Thippawan , Chaimongkol Nujjaree 
Published: October 2020

AbstractAimTo determine the effectiveness of a self‐management support intervention on knee functional status and health‐related quality of life among middle‐age women with knee osteoarthritis.DesignRandomized controlled trial.MethodsThe participants were 40 middle‐aged women who had been clinically diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis for more than 3 months and randomly assigned into intervention and control groups equally. After IRB approval code 02‐05‐2562 was obtained, data collection was carried out from July – November 2019 at the Outpatient Department of Orthorpedics, Thasala Hospital, Thailand. The modified Thai version of the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and the Short Form Survey (SF‐36) were used to measure knee functional status and health‐related quality of life at baseline (T1), immediately after completing the intervention (T2) and 4 weeks after the intervention (T3). The participants in the intervention group received a self‐management support program developed by the researcher based on the Individual and Family Self‐Management Theory and a review of related literature plus routine care. The implementation consisted of eight sessions over 4 weeks. The control group received only routine care from the hospital. Two‐way repeated measure ANOVAs were used to analyze the data.ResultsThe findings revealed that the participants in the intervention group had better knee functional status and HRQOL than those in the control group at follow‐up. Additionally, in the intervention group, both knee functional status and HRQOL significantly improved from pre‐ to post‐intervention and follow‐up.ConclusionsThe findings indicate that this self‐management support intervention is effective.ImpactFor women, the prevalence rate of knee OA rises dramatically post‐menopause due to lower oestrogen levels. Policy makers and healthcare providers could obtain and promote this intervention as part of standard practice. This should lead to improved knee functional status and HRQOL among middle‐aged women.Thai Trial Registration number: TCTR20191223003. on February 5th, 2019
Generalized evidence for Bergmann’s rule: body size variation in a cosmopolitan owl genus
Authors: Romano Andrea , Séchaud Robin , Roulin Alexandre 
Published: October 2020

AbstractAimThe eco‐geographical Bergmann's rule predicts that animals have smaller body size in warmer regions than in cold environments because of thermoregulatory reasons. Although this rule has been widely investigated, intraspecific analyses on cosmopolitan taxa are rare. We examined whether geographical variation in wing length, a proxy of body size, shows a Bergmannian pattern and can be explained by three mechanisms known to affect animal body size (heat conservation, resource availability and starvation resistance) in seven species of nocturnal raptors of the genus Tyto.LocationWorld.TaxonGenus Tyto.MethodsWe measured wing length of 9,033 museum specimens covering the entire distributional range of each species and linked it with geographical (absolute latitude, elevation) and climatic predictors associated with heat conservation, resource availability and starvation resistance hypotheses of spatial variation in body size.ResultsAll the species show a trend of increasing wing length with increasing latitude and/or elevation, and in five of them either or both geographical predictors are statistically significant. In all the species showing a Bergmannian pattern, wing length significantly decreases with temperature, thus supporting the heat conservation hypothesis. Conversely, we found less generalized support for the other hypotheses, although in some species significant trends between wing length and proxies of climatic seasonality and/or primary productivity emerged.Main conclusionsConsistent clines in body shrinking in warm environments are observed in species living in different continents at different latitudinal and temperature ranges, as well as exploiting different habitats. These findings thus support the hypothesis that body size is, at least partly, selected for heat maintenance depending on the thermal environment, even in nocturnal species which are not directly exposed to solar radiation. However, different selective pressures may also have concomitantly acted to promote body size evolution in this bird group.
Relationship between dominant frequency, organization index, and left atrial size in patients with atrial fibrillation
Authors: Choi You‐jung , Sohn Jang J. , Kwon Soonil , Lee So‐Ryoung , Cha Myung‐Jin , Choi Eue‐Keun , Kim Hee C. , Oh Seil 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIntroductionFrequency domain analysis is a methodology for quantifying the organization of atrial fibrillation (AF) pattern to understand the pathophysiology of the electrical mechanism. We aimed to investigate whether the dominant frequency (DF) and organization index (OI) can indicate left atrial (LA) dilatation in patients with AF.Methods and ResultsThis observational, retrospective, single‐center cohort study assessed 100 patients with persistent AF. The study population was divided into two groups based on an anterior–posterior LA dimension (LAD of 50 mm) measured by transthoracic echocardiography. The groups were one‐to‐one propensity score‐matched. Frequency domain analysis was performed using signals at leads II and V1 on surface electrocardiogram to calculate the DF and OI. In all patients, the DF was shown to have an inverse relationship with LAD (R = –.369, p < .001 in lead II; R = –.330, p = .001 in lead V1), while the OI was directly associated with LAD (R = .234, p = .190 in lead II; R = .283, p = .004 in lead V1). However, no significant relationship between the signal amplitude and LAD was observed. Compared to patients with LAD ≤ 50 mm, those with LAD > 50 mm had a lower DF (5.057 ± 0.740 vs. 4.542 ± 0.898, p = .002) and higher OI (0.261 ± 0.104 vs. 0.322 ± 0.116, p = .007) in lead V1. These findings were consistent with those found in lead II.ConclusionPatients with persistent AF and a larger LA size had a significantly higher OI and lower DF than those with a smaller LA size. Atrial electrical properties of structural remodeling are associated with increased organization of atrial signals.
Melatonin synergizes BRAF‐targeting agent dabrafenib for the treatment of anaplastic thyroid cancer by inhibiting AKT/hTERT signalling
Authors: Liao Yina , Gao Yao , Chang An , Li Zongjuan , Wang Huayu , Cao Jing , Gu Wei , Tang Ranran 
Published: October 2020

AbstractAs a selective inhibitor of BRAF kinase, dabrafenib has shown potent anti‐tumour activities in patients with BRAFV600E mutant anaplastic thyroid cancer. However, the resistance of thyroid cancer cells to dabrafenib limited its therapeutic effect. The effects of melatonin and dabrafenib as monotherapy or in combination on the proliferation, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, migration and invasion of anaplastic thyroid cancer cells were examined. The molecular mechanism involved in drug combinations was also revealed. Melatonin enhanced dabrafenib‐mediated inhibition of cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and promoted dabrafenib‐induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in anaplastic thyroid cancer cells. Molecular mechanistic studies further uncovered that melatonin synergized with dabrafenib to inhibit AKT and EMT signalling pathways. Furthermore, melatonin and dabrafenib synergistically inhibited the expression of hTERT, and the inhibition of cell viability and the induction of cell cycle arrest mediated by the combination of these two drugs were reversed by hTERT overexpression. Taken together, our results demonstrated that melatonin synergized the anti‐tumour effect of dabrafenib in human anaplastic thyroid cancer cells by inhibiting multiple signalling pathways, and provided new insights in exploring the potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of anaplastic thyroid cancer.
Neurotrophin‐3 stimulates stem Leydig cell proliferation during regeneration in rats
Authors: Yu Yige , Li Zengqiang , Ma Feifei , Chen Quanxu , Lin Liben , Xu Qiang , Li Yang , Xin Xiu , Pan Peipei , Huang Tongliang , Wang Yiyan , Fei Qianjin , Ge Ren‐Shan 
Published: October 2020

AbstractNeurotrophin‐3 (NT‐3) acts as an important growth factor to stimulate and control tissue development. The NT‐3 receptor, TRKC, is expressed in rat testis. Its function in regulation of stem Leydig cell development and its underlying mechanism remain unknown. Here, we reported the role of NT‐3 to regulate stem Leydig cell development in vivo and in vitro. Ethane dimethane sulphonate was used to kill all Leydig cells in adult testis, and NT‐3 (10 and 100 ng/testis) was injected intratesticularly from the 14th day after ethane dimethane sulphonate injection for 14 days. NT‐3 significantly reduced serum testosterone levels at doses of 10 and 100 ng/testis without affecting serum luteinizing hormone and follicle‐stimulating hormone levels. NT‐3 increased CYP11A1‐positive Leydig cell number at 100 ng/testis and lowered Leydig cell size and cytoplasmic size at doses of 10 and 100 ng/testis. After adjustment by the Leydig cell number, NT‐3 significantly down‐regulated the expression of Leydig cell genes (Lhcgr, Scarb1, Star, Cyp11a1, Hsd3b1, Cyp17a1, Hsd17b3, Hsd11b1, Insl3, Trkc and Nr5a1) and the proteins. NT‐3 increased the phosphorylation of AKT1 and mTOR, decreased the phosphorylation of 4EBP, thereby increasing ATP5O. In vitro study showed that NT‐3 dose‐dependently stimulated EdU incorporation into stem Leydig cells and inhibited stem Leydig cell differentiation into Leydig cells, thus leading to lower medium testosterone levels and lower expression of Lhcgr, Scarb1, Trkc and Nr5a1 and their protein levels. NT‐3 antagonist Celitinib can antagonize NT‐3 action in vitro. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that NT‐3 stimulates stem Leydig cell proliferation but blocks the differentiation via TRKC receptor.
Alpha‐fetoprotein accelerates the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma by promoting Bcl‐2 gene expression through an RA‐RAR signalling pathway
Authors: Zhang Chao , Zhang Jiangtao , Wang Jing , Yan Ying , Zhang Chuanbao 
Published: October 2020

AbstractPrevious studies have found that alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) can promote the proliferation of hepatoma cells and accelerate the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the exact mechanism of action remains unclear. Recent bioinformatics studies have predicted the possible interaction between AFP and retinoic acid receptors (RARs). Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanism through which AFP promotes tumour cell proliferation by interfering with the RA‐RAR signal pathway. Our data indicated that AFP could significantly promote the proliferation and weaken ATRA‐induced apoptosis of hepatoma cells. Besides, cytoplasmic AFP interacts with RAR, disrupting its entrance into the nucleus, which in turn affects the expression of the Bcl‐2 gene. In addition, knockdown of AFP in HepG2 cells was synchronously associated with an incremental increase of RAR binding to DNA, as well as down‐regulation of Bcl‐2; the opposite effect was observed in AFP gene‐transfected HLE cells. Moreover, a similar effect of AFP was detected in tumour tissues with high serum AFP, but not in adjacent non‐cancerous liver tissues, or HCC tissues with low serum AFP levels. These results indicate that AFP acts as signalling molecule and prevents RAR from entering into the nucleus by interacting with RAR, thereby promoting the expression of Bcl‐2. Our data reveal a novel mechanism through which AFP regulates Bcl‐2 expression and further suggest that AFP may be used as a novel target for treating HCC.
Administration of mircoRNA‐135b‐reinforced exosomes derived from MSCs ameliorates glucocorticoid‐induced osteonecrosis of femoral head (ONFH) in rats
Authors: Zhang Xiang , You Jiong‐ming , Dong Xiao‐jun , Wu Yang 
Published: October 2020

AbstractExosomes were found to exert a therapeutic effect in the treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH), while miR‐135b was shown to play an important role in the development of ONFH. In this study, we investigated the effects of concomitant administration of exosomes and miR‐135b on the treatment of ONFH. A rat mode of ONFH was established. TEM, Western blotting and nanoparticle analysis were used to characterize the exosomes collected from human‐induced pluripotent stem cell–derived mesenchymal stem cells (hiPS‐MSC‐Exos). Micro‐CT was used to observe the trabecular bone structure of the femoral head. Real‐time PCR, Western blot analysis, IHC assay, TUNEL assay, MTT assay and flow cytometry were performed to detect the effect of hiPS‐MSC‐Exos and miR‐135b on cell apoptosis and the expression of PDCD4/caspase‐3/OCN. Moreover, computational analysis and luciferase assay were conducted to identify the regulatory relationship between PDCD4 mRNA and miR‐135b. The hiPS‐MSC‐Exos collected in this study displayed a spheroidal morphology with sizes ranging from 20 to 100 nm and a mean concentration of 1 × 1012 particles/mL. During the treatment of ONFH, the administration of hiPS‐MSC‐Exos and miR‐135b alleviated the magnitude of bone loss. Furthermore, the treatment of MG‐63 and U‐2 cells with hiPS‐MSC‐Exos and miR‐135b could promote cell proliferation and inhibit cell apoptosis. Moreover, PDCD4 mRNA was identified as a virtual target gene of miR‐135b. HiPS‐MSC‐Exos exerted positive effects during the treatment of ONFH, and the administration of miR‐135b could reinforce the effect of hiPS‐MSC‐Exos by inhibiting the expression of PDCD4.
‘I have been all in, I have been all out and I have been everything in‐between’: A 2‐year longitudinal qualitative study of weight loss maintenance
Authors: Thom G. , Lean M. E. J. , Brosnahan N. , Algindan Y. Y. , Malkova D. , Dombrowski S. U. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackgroundQualitative studies investigating weight management experiences are usually cross‐sectional or of short duration, which limits understanding of the long‐term challenges.MethodsEleven women [mean (SD) age 44.9 (9.8) years; body mass index 40.3 (4.0) kg m−2] participated in this longitudinal qualitative study, which included up to 20 weeks of total diet replacement (825–853 kcal day−1) and ongoing support for weight loss maintenance (WLM), to 2 years. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted at baseline and programme end, as well as at key intervals during the intervention. Questions examined five theoretical themes: motivation, self‐regulation, habits, psychological resources and social/environmental influences. Data were coded and analysed in nvivo (https://qsrinternational.com/nvivo) using the framework method.ResultsIn total, 64 interviews were completed (median, n = 6 per participant). Mean (SD) weight loss was 15.7 (9.6) kg (14.6% body weight) at 6 months and 9.6 (9.9) kg (8.8% body weight) at 2 years. The prespecified theoretical model offered a useful framework to capture the variability of experiences. Negative aspects of obesity were strong motivations for weight loss and maintenance. Perceiving new routines as sustainable and developing a ‘maintenance mindset’ was characteristic of ‘Maintainers’, whereas meeting emotional needs at the expense of WLM goals during periods of stress and negative mood states was reported more often by ‘Regainers’. Optimistic beliefs about maintaining weight losses appeared to interfere with barrier identification and coping planning for most participants.ConclusionsPeople tended to be very optimistic about WLM without acknowledging barriers and this may undermine longer‐term outcomes. The potential for regain remained over time, mainly as a result of emotion‐triggered eating to alleviate stress and negative feelings. More active self‐regulation during these circumstances may improve WLM, and these situations represent important targets for intervention.
Rapid and longer‐term effects of selective breeding for voluntary exercise behavior on skeletal morphology in house mice
Authors: Castro Alberto A. , Rabitoy Hannah , Claghorn Gerald C. , Garland Theodore 
Published: October 2020

AbstractSelection experiments can elucidate the varying course of adaptive changes across generations. We examined the appendicular skeleton of house mice from four replicate High Runner (HR) lines bred for physical activity on wheels and four non‐selected Control (C) lines. HR mice reached apparent selection limits between generations 17 and 27, running ~3‐fold more than C. Studies at generations 11, 16, and 21 found that HR mice had evolved thicker hindlimb bones, heavier feet, and larger articular surface areas of the knee and hip joint. Based on biomechanical theory, any or all of these evolved differences may be beneficial for endurance running. Here, we studied mice from generation 68, plus a limited sample from generation 58, to test whether the skeleton continued to evolve after selection limits were reached. Contrary to our expectations, we found few differences between HR and C mice for these later generations, and some of the differences in bone dimensions identified in earlier generations were no longer statistically significant. We hypothesize that the loss of apparently coadapted lower‐level traits reflects (1) deterioration related to a gradual increase in inbreeding and/or (2) additional adaptive changes that replace the functional benefits of some skeletal changes.