bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Association Between Subjective Age and Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome: Results From a Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Stephan Yannick , Sutin Angelina R , Canada Brice , Terracciano Antonio 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Objectives
The motoric cognitive risk (MCR) syndrome, characterized by cognitive complaints and slower gait speed, is a predementia syndrome associated with dementia and mortality risk. The present study examined whether subjective age, that is, how old or young individuals feel relative to their chronological age, is related to concurrent and incident MCR syndrome. A relation between subjective age and MCR will inform knowledge on psychological factors related to dementia risk, identify who is at greater risk, and suggest a potential target of intervention.

Methods
The study sample was composed of 6,341 individuals aged 65–107 years without dementia from the Health and Retirement Study, a longitudinal study of adults aged 50 years and older. Participants completed measures of subjective age, cognitive complaints, and gait speed and provided information on demographic factors, cognition, physical activity, depressive symptoms, and body mass index (BMI) at baseline in 2008/2010. Incident MCR was assessed 4 and 8 years later.

Results
Controlling for demographic factors, an older subjective age was related to more than 60% higher likelihood of MCR at baseline and to around 50% higher risk of incident MCR over time. These associations remained significant when cognition, physical inactivity, depressive symptoms, and BMI were included in the analytic models.

Discussion
This study provides evidence that how old individuals feel is related to concurrent and incident MCR beyond the effect of chronological age, other demographic factors, physical inactivity, depressive symptoms, BMI, and cognitive functioning.
Early-onset developmental impairments among infants attending the routine immunization clinic at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria
Authors: Adeniyi Y C , Asinobi A , Idowu O O , Adelaja A A , Lagunju I A 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Developmental disorders are frequently overlooked in the developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Early identification of developmental delays (DDs) is critical to optimal outcomes. This study set out to determine the proportion of children who are at risk of DDs among infants attending immunization clinics at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Infants 6 weeks to 12 months of age (median age 6 months) who presented for routine immunization were screened for DDs using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire. A total of 587 infants [312 (53.2%) males] were enrolled. A total of 198 (33.7%) children showed signs of DDs. For the domains of communication skills, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, problem solving/cognition skills and personal/social skills, the prevalences of DDs were 7.5%, 15.0%, 10.7%, 14.1% and 14.8%, respectively, and 14.3% had global DDs. Factors that significantly predicted DDs included prematurity (odds ratio [OR] 2.64 [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.45 to 2.05]) and a history of perinatal asphyxia (OR 1.74 [95% CI 1.77 to 2.49]). There is a need to incorporate routine developmental screening into the Nigerian healthcare system for timely recognition of DDs and prompt interventions.
A Multicenter Evaluation of a Point-of-Care Blood Glucose Meter System in Critically Ill Patients
Authors: Nichols James H , Brandler Ethan S , Fantz Corinne R , Fisher Kimberley , Goodman Michael D , Headden Gary , Hoppensteadt Debra , Matika Ryan , Peacock W Frank , Rodrigo John , Schützenmeister Andre , Swanson Jonathan R , Canada-Vilalta Cristina , Miles Gabrielle , Tran Nam 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Background
Our purpose was to evaluate the performance of the ACCU-CHEK® Inform II blood glucose monitoring system (Roche Diagnostics GmbH) compared with the perchloric acid hexokinase (PCA-HK) comparator method on the cobas® 6000 analyzer (Roche Diagnostics International Ltd) in critically ill patients.

Methods
Overall, 476 arterial (376 pediatric/adult, 100 neonate), 375 venous, and 100 neonatal heel-stick whole-blood samples were collected and evaluated from critical care settings at 10 US hospitals, including the emergency department, medical and surgical intensive care units (ICUs), and neonatal and pediatric ICUs. The ACCU-CHEK Inform II system was evaluated at 2 cutoff boundaries: boundary 1 was ≥95% of results within ±12 mg/dL of the reference (samples with blood glucose &lt;75 mg/dL) or ±12% of the reference (glucose ≥75 mg/dL), and boundary 2 was ≥98% of results within ±15 mg/dL or ±15% of the reference. Clinical performance was assessed by evaluating sample data using Parkes error grid, Monte Carlo simulation, and sensitivity and specificity analyses to estimate clinical accuracy and implications for insulin dosing when using the ACCU-CHEK Inform II system.

Results
Proportions of results within evaluation boundaries 1 and 2, respectively, were 96% and 98% for venous samples, 94% and 97% for pediatric and adult arterial samples, 84% and 98% for neonatal arterial samples, and 96% and 100% for neonatal heel-stick samples. Clinical evaluation demonstrated high specificity and sensitivity, with low risk of potential insulin-dosing errors.

Conclusions
The ACCU-CHEK Inform II system demonstrated clinically acceptable performance against the PCA-HK reference method for blood glucose monitoring in a diverse population of critically ill patients in US care settings.
Dynamics of D-amino acid oxidase ain kidney epithelial cells under amino acid starvation
Authors: Sogabe Hirofumi , Shishido Yuji , Miyazaki Hayato , Kim Soo Hyeon , Rachadech Wanitcha , Fukui Kiyoshi 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
D-amino acid oxidase (DAO) is a flavoenzyme catalyzing the oxidation of D-amino acid (AA)s. In the kidney, its expression is detected in proximal tubules, and DAO is considered to play a role in the conversion of D-form AAs to α-keto acids. LLC-PK1 cells, a pig renal proximal tubule cell line, were used to elucidate the regulation of DAO protein synthesis and degradation. In this study, we showed that trypsinization of LLC-PK1 cells in culture system rapidly reduced the intracellular DAO protein level to ∼33.9% of that before treatment, even within 30 min. Furthermore, we observed that the DAO protein level was decreased when LLC-PK1 cells were subjected to AA starvation. To determine the degradation pathway, we treated the cells with chloroquine and MG132. DAO degradation was found to be inhibited by chloroquine, but not by MG132 treatment. We next examined whether or not DAO was degraded by autophagy. We found that AA starvation led to an increased accumulation of LC3-II, suggesting that DAO protein is degraded by autophagy due to AA starvation conditions. Furthermore, treatment with cycloheximide inhibited DAO protein degradation. Taken together, DAO protein is degraded by autophagy under starvation. The present study revealed the potential dynamics of DAO correlated with renal pathophysiology.
Sarcopenia and obesity in long-term survivors of childhood leukemia/lymphoma: a report from a single institution
Authors: Nakayama Hideki , Noguchi Maiko , Fukano Reiji , Ueda Tamaki , Taguchi Shizu , Yoshimaru Kenichi , Namie Michiko , Shimokawa Mototsugu , Okamura Jun 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Background
The incidence and background factors of sarcopenia and obesity in long-term survivors of childhood leukemia/lymphoma were not clear in Japan.

Methods
Between August 2018 and September 2019, we recruited adults aged ≥18 years who had childhood leukemia/lymphoma. Blood sampling, body composition measurement by bioelectrical impedance analysis and grip strength test were performed.

Results
Among 81 adult survivors (34 men and 47 women) with a median age of 25.0 years, 9 (11%) had sarcopenia and 10 (12%) had obesity, of whom, 3 had metabolic syndrome. Sarcopenia was observed in 7 (21%) of 33 survivors with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and 2 (4%) of 48 survivors without hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (P = 0.012). The incidence of obesity was significantly higher in the cranial radiotherapy (P = 0.021) and non-transplanted cases (P = 0.042). Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for sarcopenia (odds ratio, 6.19; 95% confidence interval, 1.2–32.0; P = 0.03) and cranial radiotherapy for obesity (odds ratio, 5.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.4–22.4; P = 0.015) were significantly associated. Hypertension was more prevalent among the obese survivors, and higher transaminase levels were found more in both the sarcopenia and obese survivors than in others.

Conclusions
Young adult survivors of childhood leukemia/lymphoma could be at risk of developing sarcopenia after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and obesity after cranial radiotherapy. Further studies are required to assess the body composition of long-term survivors to find detailed risk factors of sarcopenia and metabolic syndrome.
The HelQ human DNA repair helicase utilizes a PWI-like domain for DNA loading through interaction with RPA, triggering DNA unwinding by the HelQ helicase core
Authors: Jenkins Tabitha , Northall Sarah J , Ptchelkine Denis , Lever Rebecca , Cubbon Andrew , Betts Hannah , Taresco Vincenzo , Cooper Christopher D O , McHugh Peter J , Soultanas Panos , Bolt Edward L 
Published: March 2021

AbstractGenome instability is a characteristic enabling factor for carcinogenesis. HelQ helicase is a component of human DNA maintenance systems that prevent or reverse genome instability arising during DNA replication. Here, we provide details of the molecular mechanisms that underpin HelQ function—its recruitment onto ssDNA through interaction with replication protein A (RPA), and subsequent translocation of HelQ along ssDNA. We describe for the first time a functional role for the non-catalytic N-terminal region of HelQ, by identifying and characterizing its PWI-like domain. We present evidence that this domain of HelQ mediates interaction with RPA that orchestrates loading of the helicase domains onto ssDNA. Once HelQ is loaded onto the ssDNA, ATP-Mg2+ binding in the catalytic site activates the helicase core and triggers translocation along ssDNA as a dimer. Furthermore, we identify HelQ-ssDNA interactions that are critical for the translocation mechanism. Our data are novel and detailed insights into the mechanisms of HelQ function relevant for understanding how human cells avoid genome instability provoking cancers, and also how cells can gain resistance to treatments that rely on DNA crosslinking agents.
Defining and timing of palliative opportunities in children with central nervous system tumors
Authors: Massie A McCauley , Ebelhar Jonathan , Allen Kristen E , DeGroote Nicholas P , Wasilewski-Masker Karen , Brock Katharine E 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Background
Children with brain and central nervous system (CNS) tumors experience substantial challenges to their quality of life during their disease course. These challenges are opportunities for increased subspecialty palliative care (PC) involvement. Palliative opportunities have been defined in the pediatric oncology population, but the frequency, timing, and factors associated with palliative opportunities in pediatric patients with CNS tumors are unknown.

Methods
A single-institution retrospective review was performed on children ages 0-18 diagnosed with a CNS tumor who died between January 1, 2012 and November 30, 2017. Nine palliative opportunities were defined prior to data collection (progression, relapse, admission for severe symptoms, intensive care admission, bone marrow transplant, phase 1 trial, hospice, do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order). Demographic, disease, treatment, palliative opportunity, and end-of-life data were collected. Opportunities were evaluated over quartiles from diagnosis to death.

Results
Amongst 101 patients with a median age at death of eight years (interquartile range [IQR] = 8.0, range 0-22), there was a median of seven (IQR = 6) palliative opportunities per patient, which increased closer to death. PC consultation occurred in 34 (33.7%) patients, at a median of 2.2 months before death, and was associated with having a DNR order (P = .0028). Hospice was involved for 72 (71.3%) patients.

Conclusion
Children with CNS tumors suffered repeated events warranting PC yet received PC support only one-third of the time. Mapping palliative opportunities over the cancer course promotes earlier timing of PC consultation which can decrease suffering and resuscitation attempts at the end-of-life.
Depressive Symptoms and Cigarette Smoking in Adolescents and Young Adults: Mediating Role of Friends Smoking
Authors: Mendo Christian W , Maurel Marine , Doré Isabelle , O’Loughlin Jennifer , Sylvestre Marie-Pierre 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Introduction
We examined the mediating role of friends smoking in the association between depressive symptoms and daily/weekly cigarette smoking from adolescence into adulthood.

Methods
Data were drawn from the Nicotine Dependence In Teens study (NDIT, Canada) and the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC, UK) studies. Three age groups were investigated in NDIT: age 13–14 (n = 1189), 15–16 (n = 1107), and 17–18 (n = 1075), and one in ALSPAC (n = 4482, age 18–21). Multivariable mediation models decomposed the total effect (TE) of depressive symptoms on smoking into a natural direct effect (NDE) and natural indirect effect (NIE) through friends smoking.

Results
The odds ratios (ORs) for the TE were relatively constant over time with estimates ranging from 1.12 to 1.35. Friends smoking mediated the association between depressive symptoms and smoking in the two youngest samples (OR [95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09 [1.01,1.17] in 13- to 14-year-olds; 1.10 [1.03,1.18] in 15- to 16-year-olds). In the two older samples, NDE of depressive symptoms was close to the TE, suggestive that mediation was absent or too small to detect.

Conclusion
Friends smoking mediates the association between depressive symptoms and daily/weekly cigarette smoking in young adolescents.

Implications
If young adolescents use cigarettes to self-medicate depressive symptoms, then interventions targeting smoking that ignore depressive symptoms may be ineffective. Our results also underscore the importance of the influence of friends in younger adolescents, suggestive that preventive intervention should target the social environment, including social relationships.
Unraveling a Nosocomial Outbreak of COVID-19: The Role of Whole-Genome Sequence Analysis
Authors: Meijer Suzy E , Harel Noam , Ben-Ami Ronen , Nahari Meital , Yakubovsky Michal , Oster Howard S , Kolomansky Albert , Halutz Ora , Laskar Orly , Henig Oryan , Stern Adi , Paran Yael 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Background
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic poses many epidemiological challenges. The investigation of nosocomial transmission is usually performed via thorough investigation of an index case and subsequent contact tracing. Notably, this approach has a subjective component, and there is accumulating evidence that whole-genome sequencing of the virus may provide more objective insight.

Methods
We report a large nosocomial outbreak in 1 of the medicine departments in our institution. Following intensive epidemiological investigation, we discovered that 1 of the patients involved was suffering from persistent COVID-19 while initially thought to be a recovering patient. She was therefore deemed to be the most likely source of the outbreak. We then performed whole-genome sequencing of the virus of 14 infected individuals involved in the outbreak.

Results
Surprisingly, the results of whole-genome sequencing refuted our initial hypothesis. A phylogenetic tree of the samples showed multiple introductions of the virus into the ward, 1 of which led to a cluster of 10 of the infected individuals. Importantly, the results pointed in the direction of a specific index patient that was different from the 1 that arose from our initial investigation.

Conclusions
These results underscore the important added value of using whole-genome sequencing in epidemiological investigations as it may reveal unexpected connections between cases and aid in understanding transmission dynamics, especially in the setting of a pandemic where multiple possible index cases exist simultaneously.
Is positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging a reliable tool for detecting vascular activity in treated childhood-onset Takayasu’s arteritis? A multicentre study
Authors: Clemente Gleice , Pereira Rosa M R , Aikawa Nadia , Silva Clovis A , Campos Lucia M A , Alves Gabriel , Buchpiguel Carlos , Lima Marcos , Carneiro Camila , Filho Hilton L , Morbeck Fernando , Neto Guilherme , Filho Vicente O , Souza Alexandre W D , Terreri Maria Teresa 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Objectives
Toassess whether 18F-fluordeoxiglucose (18F-FDG) PET/MRI) with angiographic sequences can contribute to detecting vessel wall inflammation in patients with childhood-onset Takayasu’s arteritis (c-TA) under immunosuppressive therapy.

Methods
A three-centre cross-sectional study was conducted. 18F-FDG PET/MRI scans were performed in c-TA patients and in oncologic patients, who served as the control group. Clinical and laboratory characteristics were also analysed.

Results
Seventeen c-TA patients (65% females) between the ages of 6 and 21 years with a mean disease duration of 9.4 years were recruited. Only one patient presented clinical disease activity and six (35.6%) had increased ESR and/or CRP levels. The most frequent magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) findings were stenosis and thickening, observed in 82.4 and 70.6% of c-TA patients, respectively. 18F-FDG PET revealed 18F-FDG uptake greater than the liver in at least one arterial segment in 15 (88.2%) patients in a qualitative analysis and a median maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of 3.22 (interquartile range 2.76–3.69) in a semi-quantitative analysis. c-TA patients presented significantly higher SUVmax values than oncologic patients (P &lt; 0.001). A positive correlation between SUVmax and CRP levels (ρ = 0.528, P = 0.029) was seen.

Conclusion
A state-of-the-art imaging modality was used in c-TA patients and revealed a strong arterial FDG uptake even in patients in apparent remission. We suppose that this finding may represent silent activity in the vessel wall; however, we cannot exclude the possibility of arterial remodelling. Importantly, a negative imaging scan may help in immunosuppression withdrawal in daily clinical practice.
Investigating the link between subjective sleep quality, symptoms of PTSD, and level of functioning in a sample of trauma-affected refugees
Authors: Sandahl Hinuga , Carlsson Jessica , Sonne Charlotte , Mortensen Erik Lykke , Jennum Poul , Baandrup Lone 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Study Objectives
To examine whether baseline sleep quality is associated with baseline symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and level of functioning and whether baseline sleep quality and improvement of sleep quality are specific predictors of change in PTSD symptoms and level of functioning.

Methods
Data were derived from a four-armed randomized controlled superiority trial (N = 219 trauma-affected refugees). All four groups received treatment as usual consisting of a 10–12 months bio-psycho-social treatment program with an additional differential treatment component added to each arm. We performed bivariate correlation analyses, multiple linear regression analyses, and mediation analyses to examine associations between baseline sleep quality, change in sleep quality, and treatment response for PTSD symptoms and level of functioning.

Results
Baseline sleep quality correlated with symptoms of PTSD (r = 0.33) and level of functioning (r = 0.15). Baseline sleep quality, improvement of sleep quality, and improvement of general well-being were predictors of treatment response for symptoms of PTSD and level of functioning when controlling for age, gender, and baseline symptoms of PTSD and depression.

Conclusions
We found that good sleep quality at baseline and improvement of sleep quality were predictors of PTSD treatment response. However, treatment response was more closely associated with improvement in general well-being. The results indicate that the effect of improved sleep quality was partly mediated by a more general mental state improvement. Further research is needed to differentiate if a selected subgroup of patients may profit from sleep-enhancing treatment.

ClinicalTrials.gov registration
NCT02761161.
Facebook usage, participation patterns, and social support from Facebook activity among smokers with mobility impairments
Authors: Borrelli Belinda , Endrighi Romano , Quintiliani Lisa M , Hughes Rosemary B , Pagoto Sherry 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
People with mobility impairments (MIs; use assistive devices to ambulate) have twice the smoking prevalence versus the general population. A Facebook intervention could improve reach to smokers with MIs, but use and patterns of use are unknown. The study examined: (a) Facebook use and relationship with Facebook-based social support and (b) whether Facebook use differs by motivation to quit smoking. Participants (N = 510; 56.3% female, mean age = 42.4 years) were recruited via a recruitment company to complete a one-time online survey assessing motivation to quit within 30 days, Facebook use (Facebook Activities Scale), reasons for use (Facebook Motives Scale), attitudes (Facebook Intensity Scale), and social support (Facebook Measure of Social Support). The vast majority said that Facebook is part of their daily routine (92.9%), 83% checked Facebook &gt;once a day, and 69% spent &gt;30 min/day on Facebook. Facebook was used to connect with similar others (68.4%), participate in groups (72.9%), decrease loneliness (69.2%), and obtain health information (62.5%); 88% said that they would join a Facebook program to help them quit smoking. A greater number of Facebook friends (rs = .18–.22, p &lt; .001) and greater Facebook use (rs = .20 to rs = .59; p &lt; .001) were correlated with greater perceived social and emotional support. Those motivated to quit posted more frequently (odds ratio [OR] = 1.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.10, 2.22) and were more likely to indicate that they would join a Facebook group for smoking cessation (OR = 4.15, 95% CI = 2.05, 8.38) than those not motivated. Facebook could circumvent disability and environmental barriers to accessing cessation among this health disparity population.