bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Perceptions of adolescent pregnancy in the rural context and the Colombian armed conflict: a qualitative approach based on social determination of health
Authors: Palacios-Perdomo Herlan , Acosta-Ramírez Naydú 
Published: October 2021

AbstractBackgroundAdolescent pregnancy in rural areas is a persistent health problem that has still not properly been understood. Studies with qualitative perspectives that address this phenomenon as a complex social process, which involves the recognition of the voices of the actors involved and the analysis of the specific context in which it takes place, are limited.ObjectiveThis research explored the perceptions of young people and other social actors (municipalities of Palmira and El Cerrito in Colombia) of the social forces and dimensions of the social determination of adolescent pregnancy in the Amaime river basin. These geographic areas have been scenes of armed violence with various groups in combat within the context of a long-standing political conflict in Colombia. After the 2016 Havana agreements were signed, peacebuilding has been underway in its territories.MethodsA qualitative study that implemented focus groups and semi-structured interviews was conducted. The theoretical approach of social determination of health proposed by Breilh was used to study the social process entailed in adolescent pregnancy. Perceptions about social conditions, specific ways of life, and lifestyles were addressed. Galtung and Fischer’s theoretical approach on violence and peacebuilding was also incorporated to enrich the understanding of the Colombian context. The analysis was conducted with approaches from phenomenology.ResultsLiving conditions with strong social stigma and demand for social, political, and cultural opportunities were found. Regarding ways of life, little communication and information about sex education was perceived. As for lifestyles, there are youthful behaviors infused by sociocultural traditions that affect life projects and sexual behavior. Gender relations are precarious, and there are various types of violence that limit effective peacebuilding.ConclusionsThis study contributes to a priority issue in sexual and reproductive health, with an approach that generates analytical elements to comprehensively expand the social and health interventions required.
Double jeopardy from the COVID-19 pandemic: risk of exposure and income loss in Portugal
Authors: Gama Ana , Alves Joana , Costa Daniela , Laires Pedro A. , Soares Patrícia , Pedro Ana Rita , Moniz Marta , Solinho Luísa , Nunes Carla , Dias Sónia 
Published: October 2021

AbstractBackgroundIncreasing evidence indicates that the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic had immediate health and social impact, disproportionately affecting certain socioeconomic groups. Assessing inequalities in risk of exposure and in adversities faced during the pandemic is critical to inform targeted actions that effectively prevent disproportionate spread and reduce social and health inequities. This study examines i) the socioeconomic and mental health characteristics of individuals working in the workplace, thus at increased risk of COVID-19 exposure, and ii) individual income losses resulting from the pandemic across socioeconomic subgroups of a working population, during the first confinement in Portugal.MethodsThis study uses data from ‘COVID-19 Barometer: Social Opinion’, a community-based online survey in Portugal. The sample for analysis comprisedn = 129,078 workers. Logistic regressions were performed to estimate the adjusted odds ratios (AOR) of factors associated with working in the workplace during the confinement period and with having lost income due to the pandemic.ResultsOver a third of the participants reported working in the workplace during the first confinement. This was more likely among those with lower income [AOR = 2.93 (2.64-3.25)], lower education [AOR = 3.17 (3.04-3.30)] and working as employee [AOR = 1.09 (1.04-1.15)]. Working in the workplace was positively associated with frequent feelings of agitation, anxiety or sadness [AOR = 1.14 (1.09-1.20)] and perception of high risk of infection [AOR = 11.06 (10.53-11.61)]. About 43% of the respondents reported having lost income due to the pandemic. The economic consequences affected greatly the groups at increased risk of COVID-19 exposure, namely those with lower education [AOR = 1.36 (1.19-1.56)] and lower income [AOR = 3.13 (2.47-3.96)].ConclusionsThe social gradient in risk of exposure and in economic impact of the pandemic can result in an accumulated vulnerability for socioeconomic deprived populations. The COVID-19 pandemic seems to have a double effect in these groups, contributing to heightened disparities and poor health outcomes, including in mental health. Protecting the most vulnerable populations is key to prevent the spread of the disease and mitigate the deepening of social and health disparities. Action is needed to develop policies and more extensive measures for reducing disproportionate experiences of adversity from the COVID-19 pandemic among most vulnerable populations.
Experimental and computational modeling for signature and biomarker discovery of renal cell carcinoma progression
Authors: Cooley Lindsay S. , Rudewicz Justine , Souleyreau Wilfried , Emanuelli Andrea , Alvarez-Arenas Arturo , Clarke Kim , Falciani Francesco , Dufies Maeva , Lambrechts Diether , Modave Elodie , Chalopin-Fillot Domitille , Pineau Raphael , Ambrosetti Damien , Bernhard Jean-Christophe , Ravaud Alain , Négrier Sylvie , Ferrero Jean-Marc , Pagès Gilles , Benzekry Sebastien , Nikolski Macha , Bikfalvi Andreas 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Background
Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) is difficult to treat with 5-year survival rate of 10% in metastatic patients. Main reasons of therapy failure are lack of validated biomarkers and scarce knowledge of the biological processes occurring during RCC progression. Thus, the investigation of mechanisms regulating RCC progression is fundamental to improve RCC therapy.

Methods
In order to identify molecular markers and gene processes involved in the steps of RCC progression, we generated several cell lines of higher aggressiveness by serially passaging mouse renal cancer RENCA cells in mice and, concomitantly, performed functional genomics analysis of the cells. Multiple cell lines depicting the major steps of tumor progression (including primary tumor growth, survival in the blood circulation and metastatic spread) were generated and analyzed by large-scale transcriptome, genome and methylome analyses. Furthermore, we performed clinical correlations of our datasets. Finally we conducted a computational analysis for predicting the time to relapse based on our molecular data.

Results
Through in vivo passaging, RENCA cells showed increased aggressiveness by reducing mice survival, enhancing primary tumor growth and lung metastases formation. In addition, transcriptome and methylome analyses showed distinct clustering of the cell lines without genomic variation. Distinct signatures of tumor aggressiveness were revealed and validated in different patient cohorts. In particular, we identified SAA2 and CFB as soluble prognostic and predictive biomarkers of the therapeutic response. Machine learning and mathematical modeling confirmed the importance of CFB and SAA2 together, which had the highest impact on distant metastasis-free survival. From these data sets, a computational model predicting tumor progression and relapse was developed and validated. These results are of great translational significance.

Conclusion
A combination of experimental and mathematical modeling was able to generate meaningful data for the prediction of the clinical evolution of RCC.
Early definitive internal fixation for infected nonunion of the lower limb
Authors: Yoon Yong-Cheol , Oh Chang-Wug , Cho Jae-Woo , Oh Jong-Keon 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Background
The management of an infected nonunion of long bones is difficult and challenging. A staged procedure comprising radical debridement followed by definitive internal fixation was favored. However, no standard treatment has been established to determine the appropriate waiting period between initial debridement and definitive internal fixation. We propose a management method that incorporates early definitive internal fixation in infected nonunion of the lower limb.

Methods
Thirty-four patients (28 men and 6 women; mean age 46.09 years; range 25–74 years) with infected nonunion of the tibia or femur were included. Initial infected bone resection and radical debridement were performed in each patient in accordance with the preoperative plans. Definitive surgery was performed 2–3 weeks after the resection (4 weeks after flap surgery was required), and a third surgery was performed to fill the bone defect through bone grafting or transport (three-stage surgery). In cases of unplanned additional surgery, the reason for the requirement was analyzed, and radiological and functional results were investigated in accordance with the Association for the Study and Application of the Method of Ilizarov criteria.

Results
Bone union was achieved in all patients, and treatment was conducted as planned preoperatively in 28 patients (28/34, 82.35%). The mean interval between primary debridement and secondary definitive fixation was 2.76 weeks (range 2–4 weeks). Six unplanned additional surgeries were performed, and the infection relapsed in two cases. The radiological and functional outcomes were good or better in 32 and 31 patients, respectively.

Conclusions
Early definitive surgery can be performed to treat infected nonunion by thorough planning and implementation of radical resection, active response to infection, restoration of defective bones, and soft tissue healing through a systemic approach.
Assessing antibody decline after chemotherapy of early chronic Chagas disease patients
Authors: Murphy Niamh , Cardinal M. Victoria , Bhattacharyya Tapan , Enriquez Gustavo F. , Macchiaverna Natalia P. , Alvedro Alejandra , Freilij Héctor , Martinez de Salazar Pablo , Molina Israel , Mertens Pascal , Gilleman Quentin , Gürtler Ricardo E. , Miles Michael A. 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Background
Chagas disease remains a significant public health problem in Latin America. There are only two chemotherapy drugs, nifurtimox and benznidazole, and both may have severe side effects. After complete chemotherapy of acute cases, seropositive diagnosis may revert to negative. However, there are no definitive parasitological or serological biomarkers of cure.

Methods
Following a pilot study with seven Bolivian migrants to Spain, we tested 71 serum samples from chronic patients (mean age 12.6 years) inhabiting the Argentine Chaco region. Benznidazole chemotherapy (5–8 mg/kg day, twice daily for 60 days) was administered during 2011–2016. Subsequently, pre-and post-chemotherapy serum samples were analysed in pairs by IgG1 and IgG ELISA using two different antigens and Chagas Sero K-SeT rapid diagnostic tests (RDT). Molecular diagnosis by kDNA-PCR was applied to post-treatment samples.

Results
Pilot data demonstrated IgG1 antibody decline in three of seven patients from Bolivia 1 year post-treatment. All Argentine patients in 2017 (averaging 5 years post-treatment), except one, were positive by conventional serology. All were kDNA-PCR-negative. Most (91.5%) pre-treatment samples were positive by the Chagas Sero K-SeT RDT, confirming the predominance of TcII/V/VI. IgG1 and IgG of Argentine patients showed significant decline in antibody titres post-chemotherapy, with either lysate (IgG, P = 0.0001, IgG1, P = 0.0001) or TcII/V/VI peptide antigen (IgG, P = 0.0001, IgG1, P = 0.0001). IgG1 decline was more discriminative than IgG. Antibody decline after treatment was also detected by the RDT. Incomplete treatment was associated with high IgG1 post-treatment titres against lysate (P = 0.013), as were IgG post-treatment titres to TcII/V/VI peptide (P = 0.0001). High pre-treatment IgG1 with lysate was associated with Qom ethnicity (P = 0.045). No associations were found between gender, age, body mass index and pre- or post-treatment antibody titres.

Conclusions
We show that following chemotherapy of early chronic Chagas disease, significant decline in IgG1 antibody suggests cure, whereas sustained or increased IgG1 is a potential indicator of treatment failure. Due to restricted sensitivity, IgG1 should not be used as a diagnostic marker but has promise, with further development, as a biomarker of cure.

Graphical abstract
We show that following chemotherapy of early chronic Chagas disease, a significant decline in IgG1 antibody suggests cure, whereas sustained or increased IgG1 is a potential indicator of treatment failure. Due to restricted sensitivity, IgG1 should not be used as a diagnostic marker but has promise, with further development, as a biomarker of cure.
Impact of BMI and waist circumference on epigenome-wide DNA methylation and identification of epigenetic biomarkers in blood: an EWAS in multi-ethnic Asian individuals
Authors: Chen Yuqing , Kassam Irfahan , Lau Suk Hiang , Kooner Jaspal S. , Wilson Rory , Peters Annette , Winkelmann Juliane , Chambers John C. , Chow Vincent T. , Khor Chiea Chuen , van Dam Rob M. , Teo Yik-Ying , Loh Marie , Sim Xueling 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Background
The prevalence of obesity and its related chronic diseases have been increasing especially in Asian countries. Obesity-related genetic variants have been identified, but these explain little of the variation in BMI. Recent studies reported associations between DNA methylation and obesity, mostly in non-Asian populations.

Methods
We performed an epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) on general adiposity (body mass index, BMI) and abdominal adiposity (waist circumference, WC) in 409 multi-ethnic Asian individuals and replicated BMI and waist-associated DNA methylation CpGs identified in other populations. The cross-lagged panel model and Mendelian randomization were used to assess the temporal relationship between methylation and BMI. The temporal relationship between the identified CpGs and inflammation and metabolic markers was also examined.

Results
EWAS identified 116 DNA methylation CpGs independently associated with BMI and eight independently associated with WC at false discovery rate PFDR < 0.05 in 409 Asian samples. We replicated 110 BMI-associated CpGs previously reported in Europeans and identified six novel BMI-associated CpGs and two novel WC-associated CpGs. We observed high consistency in association direction of effect compared to studies in other populations. Causal relationship analyses indicated that BMI was more likely to be the cause of DNA methylation alteration, rather than the consequence. The causal analyses using BMI-associated methylation risk score also suggested that higher levels of the inflammation marker IL-6 were likely the consequence of methylation change.

Conclusion
Our study provides evidence of an association between obesity and DNA methylation in multi-ethnic Asians and suggests that obesity can drive methylation change. The results also suggested possible causal influence that obesity-related methylation changes might have on inflammation and lipoprotein levels.
Refractory ineffective triggering during pressure support ventilation: effect of proportional assist ventilation with load-adjustable gain factors
Authors: Haudebourg Anne-Fleur , Maraffi Tommaso , Tuffet Samuel , Perier François , de Prost Nicolas , Razazi Keyvan , Mekontso Dessap Armand , Carteaux Guillaume 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Background
Ineffective triggering is frequent during pressure support ventilation (PSV) and may persist despite ventilator adjustment, leading to refractory asynchrony. We aimed to assess the effect of proportional assist ventilation with load-adjustable gain factors (PAV+) on the occurrence of refractory ineffective triggering.

Design
Observational assessment followed by prospective cross-over physiological study.

Setting
Academic medical ICU.

Patients
Ineffective triggering was detected during PSV by a twice-daily inspection of the ventilator’s screen. The impact of pressure support level (PSL) adjustments on the occurrence of asynchrony was recorded. Patients experiencing refractory ineffective triggering, defined as persisting asynchrony at the lowest tolerated PSL, were included in the physiological study.

Interventions
Physiological study: Flow, airway, and esophageal pressures were continuously recorded during 10 min under PSV with the lowest tolerated PSL, and then under PAV+ with the gain adjusted to target a muscle pressure between 5 and 10 cmH2O.

Measurements
Primary endpoint was the comparison of asynchrony index between PSV and PAV+ after PSL and gain adjustments.

Results
Among 36 patients identified having ineffective triggering under PSV, 21 (58%) exhibited refractory ineffective triggering. The lowest tolerated PSL was higher in patients with refractory asynchrony as compared to patients with non-refractory ineffective triggering. Twelve out of the 21 patients with refractory ineffective triggering were included in the physiological study. The median lowest tolerated PSL was 17 cmH2O [12–18] with a PEEP of 7 cmH2O [5–8] and FiO2 of 40% [39–42]. The median gain during PAV+ was 73% [65–80]. The asynchrony index was significantly lower during PAV+ than PSV (2.7% [1.0–5.4] vs. 22.7% [10.3–40.1], p < 0.001) and consistently decreased in every patient with PAV+. Esophageal pressure–time product (PTPes) did not significantly differ between the two modes (107 cmH2O/s/min [79–131] under PSV vs. 149 cmH2O/s/min [129–170] under PAV+, p = 0.092), but the proportion of PTPes lost in ineffective triggering was significantly lower with PAV+ (2 cmH2O/s/min [1–6] vs. 8 cmH2O/s/min [3–30], p = 0.012).

Conclusions
Among patients with ineffective triggering under PSV, PSL adjustment failed to eliminate asynchrony in 58% of them (21 of 36 patients). In these patients with refractory ineffective triggering, switching from PSV to PAV+ significantly reduced or even suppressed the incidence of asynchrony.
Examining employees creativity in commercial bank of Ethiopia Woldia branches
Authors: Kassa Erstu Tarko 
Published: October 2021

AbstractCreativity is the ability to combine unique ideas, identifying new ways, systems and products in the organization. Creative workers in the organization can transform their organization to higher level by inventing new systems. This study tried to examine employees’ creativity in the bank at commercial bank of Ethiopia Woldia branches. The researcher used an institutional-based cross-sectional design and followed a mixed research approach. The researcher applied a census method to participate in respondents from four branches, which were on duty 182 employees in commercial bank of Ethiopia. The collected data were analyzed by using multiple regression method after proving the quality of the data. The study finding revealed that autonomy, supervisors’ support and role ambiguity significantly affects the creativity of employees in the workplace. The remaining variables self-efficacy and job complexity have no statistically significant effect on employees’ creativity in the bank.
Colorado’s first year of extreme risk protection orders
Authors: Barnard Leslie M. , McCarthy Megan , Knoepke Christopher E. , Kaplan Sabrina , Engeln James , Betz Marian E. 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Background
Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) are a relatively new type of law that are being considered or implemented in many states in the United States. Colorado’s law went into effect on January 1, 2020, after significant controversy and concern over potential misuse of the law to confiscate weapons; many (n = 37 of 64) counties declared themselves “2nd Amendment (2A) sanctuaries” and said they would not enforce the law. Here, reviewed the patterns of use of the law during its first year.

Methods
We obtained all court records for ERPO petitions filed between January 1 and December 31, 2020. Data elements were abstracted by trained staff using a standardized guide. We calculated the proportion of petitions that were approved or denied/dismissed, identified cases of obvious misuse, and examined patterns by 2A county status.

Finding and results
In 2020, 109 ERPO petitions were filed in Colorado; of these, 61 were granted for a temporary ERPO and 49 for a full (year-long) ERPO. Most petitions filed by law enforcement officers were granted (85%), compared to only 15% of petitions filed by family or household members. Of the 37 2A sanctuary counties, 24% had at least one petition filed, versus 48% of non-2A sanctuary counties. Across the 2A counties, there were 1.52 ERPOs filed per 100,000 population, compared to 2.05 ERPOs filed per 100,000 in non-2A counties. There were 4 cases of obvious law misuse; none of those petitions resulted in an ERPO or firearm confiscation.

Conclusion
State-level studies suggest ERPOs may prevent firearm injuries. Robust implementation, however, is critical for maximal effect. Understanding ERPO experiences and challenges can inform policy creation and enaction in other states, including identifying how best to address concerns and facilitate evaluation.
A case of thymoma-associated multiorgan autoimmunity including polymyositis and myocarditis
Authors: Furuta Chihiro , Yano Motoki , Numanami Hiroki , Yamaji Masayuki , Taguchi Rumiko , Haniuda Masayuki 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Background
Polymyositis and myocarditis associated with thymoma are exceptionally rare conditions and usually accompanied by myasthenia gravis (MG) and have been recognized as critical conditions. Thymoma-associated multiorgan autoimmunity was reported recently with skin, liver, and intestinal manifestations similar to those seen in graft-versus-host disease.

Case presentation
A 77-year-old female presented to our department with exacerbation of ptosis and local recurrence of thymoma. Chest computed tomography revealed local recurrence of thymoma. Following 6 month observation, erythema on the extremities and body trunk suddenly appeared. Afterwards, the patient developed progressive muscle weakness and fatigue. We diagnosed as myocarditis and polymyositis. She was transferred to the intensive-care unit and received artificial ventilation. Steroid pulse therapy was induced immediately. The blood test findings were markedly improved, but the symptoms of MG and weakness of the muscles persisted. Various treatment including eculizumab was induced, and the symptoms of MG and weakness of the muscles were improved. On the 136th day of hospitalization, she was discharged.

Conclusion
We were able to cure this patient, as we were able to start treatment immediately after the appearance of severe symptoms. An early diagnosis and treatment are important for curing such patients.