bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genomic and Epigenomic Evaluation of Electrically Induced Exercise in People With Spinal Cord Injury: Application to Precision Rehabilitation
Authors: Petrie Michael A , Taylor Eric B , Suneja Manish , Shields Richard K 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Objective
Physical therapists develop patient-centered exercise prescriptions to help overcome the physical, emotional, psychosocial, and environmental stressors that undermine a person’s health. Optimally prescribing muscle activity for people with disability, such as a spinal cord injury, is challenging because of their loss of volitional movement control and the deterioration of their underlying skeletal systems. This report summarizes spinal cord injury–specific factors that should be considered in patient-centered, precision prescription of muscle activity for people with spinal cord injury. This report also presents a muscle genomic and epigenomic analysis to examine the regulation of the proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) (oxidative) and myostatin (hypertrophy) signaling pathways in skeletal muscle during low-frequency (lower-force) electrically induced exercise versus higher-frequency (higher-force) electrically induced exercise under constant muscle recruitment (intensity).

Methods
Seventeen people with spinal cord injury participated in 1 or more unilateral electrically induced exercise sessions using a lower-force (1-, 3-, or 5-Hz) or higher-force (20-Hz) protocol. Three hours after the exercise session, percutaneous muscle biopsies were performed on exercised and nonexercised muscles for genomic and epigenomic analysis.

Results
We found that low-frequency (low-force) electrically induced exercise significantly increased the expression of PGC-1α and decreased the expression of myostatin, consistent with the expression changes observed with high-frequency (higher-force) electrically induced exercise. Further, we found that low-frequency (lower-force) electrically induced exercise significantly demethylated, or epigenetically promoted, the PGC-1α signaling pathway. A global epigenetic analysis showed that &gt;70 pathways were regulated with low-frequency (lower-force) electrically induced exercise.

Conclusion
These novel results support the notion that low-frequency (low-force) electrically induced exercise may offer a more precise rehabilitation strategy for people with chronic paralysis and severe osteoporosis. Future clinical trials are warranted to explore whether low-frequency (lower-force) electrically induced exercise training affects the overall health of people with chronic spinal cord injury.
Establishment of prediction models for COVID-19 patients in different age groups based on Random Forest algorithm
Authors: Cui X , Wang S , Jiang N , Li Z , Li X , Jin M , Yang B , Jia N , Hu G , Liu Y , He Y , Liu Y , Zhao S , Yu Q 
Published: October 2021

Summary

Background
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly become a global pandemic. Age is an independent factor in death from the disease, and predictive models to stratify patients according to their mortality risk are needed.

Aim
To compare the laboratory parameters of the younger (≤70) and the elderly (&gt;70) groups, and develop death prediction models for the two groups according to age stratification.

Design
A retrospective, single-center observational study.

Methods
This study included 437 hospitalized patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 from Tongji Hospital in Wuhan, China, 2020. Epidemiological information, laboratory data and outcomes were extracted from electronic medical records and compared between elderly patients and younger patients. First, recursive feature elimination (RFE) was used to select the optimal subset. Then, two random forest (RF) algorithms models were built to predict the prognoses of COVID-19 patients and identify the optimal diagnostic predictors for patients’ clinical prognoses.

Results
Comparisons of the laboratory data of the two age groups revealed many different laboratory indicators. RFE was used to select the optimal subset for analysis, from which 11 variables were screened out for the two groups. The RF algorithm were built to predict the prognoses of COVID-19 patients based on the best subset, and the area under ROC curve (AUC) of the two groups is 0.874 (95% CI: 0.833–0.915) and 0.842 (95% CI: 0.765–0.920).

Conclusion
Two prediction models for COVID-19 were developed in the patients with COVID-19 based on random forest algorithm, which provides a simple tool for the early prediction of COVID-19 mortality.
Repertoire of Resilience: Black Women’s Social Resistance to Suicide
Authors: Spates Kamesha , Slatton Brittany C 
Published: October 2021

AbstractAfrican American women contend with multiple overlapping oppressions yet are less likely to commit suicide than other racial/gender groups. Most studies on Black women and suicide are quantitative and focus on the protective factors in their lives that act as buffers against suicide. While protective factors are a useful concept for understanding suicide protection, they address only moderators of risks for suicidal behavior instead of how people effectively cope with risks and stress (Werner 2000). More recently, researchers have begun studying resilience to suicide to ascertain how people cope and thrive in the face of adverse situations. We analyzed Black women’s social resilience to suicide. After analyzing 33 interviews with African American women, we found that they employ a repertoire of resilience that is made up of interrelated scripts that value Black women’s (1) shared experiences of struggle, (2) centuries of strength building, and (3) the counter-evaluation of privilege. We argue that by counter-framing marginalizing experiences of poverty, discrimination, and low social status, this cultural repertoire provides Black women with an empowering self-conceptualization that fosters their resistance to suicide.
Evaluation of different cooling management strategies for lactating Holstein × Gir dairy cows
Authors: Lourenço João Paulo de A , Cappellozza Bruno I , Bertin Rafaela D , Miranda Victor F B , Junior Wilson M C , de Sousa Osvaldo A , Vasconcelos José Luiz M 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Heat stress negatively impacts production, reproduction, and health of ruminants and strategies to alleviate these losses are warranted. Therefore, four experiments evaluated different cooling strategies on vaginal temperature (VT) of Holstein × Gir cows. Experiment 1 compared different amounts of water (2- or 4-L) over a 1-hour period from 1000 to 1100 h and 1600 to 1700 h. Experiment 2 evaluated the effects of sprinkling duration (in hours; 1- or 2-H), whereas Experiment 3 evaluated the effects of water amount (4- or 8-L) applied for 1- or 2-H. Lastly, the effects of a cooling strategy on specific hours of the day, starting at either 0700 (T-1) or 1100 h (T-2; Experiment 4), were evaluated. In all experiments, 12 Holstein × Gir cows were used in a 2 × 2 Latin Square Design containing two periods of 6 days each. Temperature and humidity index (THI) were recorded hourly and VT was recorded every 10-min throughout the experiments. As expected, an hour effect was observed for THI (P &lt; 0.0001), which peaked early in the afternoon. In Experiment 1, a treatment × hour interaction was observed (P &lt; 0.0001) for VT, as animals assigned to receive 4-L had a reduced VT at 1100, 1600, 1700, and 2300 h (P ≤ 0.03). During the cooling applications, cows receiving 4-L for 1 h had a reduced VT from 60 to 150 min (P ≤ 0.04). In Experiment 2, a treatment × hour interaction was observed (P &lt; 0.0001) for VT, as animals assigned to receive 4-L of water for 2-H had a reduced VT at 1200 h (P = 0.05). Moreover, during the cooling process, VT was reduced for 2-H cows from 140 to 170 min after the beginning of the cooling process (P ≤ 0.05). In Experiment 3, animals assigned to receive 4-L + 2H had a reduced VT at 1200, 1700, 1800, and 1900 h (P &lt; 0.001). A treatment × hour interaction was observed (P &lt; 0.0001), as VT was reduced for 4-L + 2-H cows from 130 to 180 min after the beginning of the cooling process (P ≤ 0.05). In Experiment 4, by the time when the first cooling cycle of T-1 was applied (0700 h), T-1 cows consistently had (P ≤ 0.05) a reduced VT up to the hottest hours and greatest THI of the day (1400 and 1500 h). This pattern was maintained until the end of the last cooling cycle, whereas T-2 cows had a reduced VT. In summary, 4 L of water over a 5-min cycle for a period of 2 hours twice a day maintained VT of Holstein × Gir cows at lower levels. Moreover, the hour at which the first cooling cycle starts also should be considered when evaluating the efficacy of a cooling strategy for an entire day.
Transcatheter interatrial shunt device for the treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
Authors: Fukuta Hidekatsu , Goto Toshihiko , Kamiya Takeshi 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Background:
Nearly half of patients with heart failure (HF) have preserved ejection fraction and the mortality and morbidity of patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) are high. However, there is no established therapy to improve survival in these patients. HFpEF patients are often elderly and their primary chronic symptom is severe exercise intolerance. Thus, improvement of exercise capacity presents another important clinical outcome in HFpEF patients. A steep increase in left atrial pressure during exercise is an important cause of exertional dyspnea in HFpEF patients. The creation of a left-to-right interatrial shunt to decompress the left atrium may improve symptoms in patients with HFpEF. A novel transcatheter interatrial shunt device (IASD) has been developed and evaluated in patients with HFpEF in several clinical trials. However, there is insufficient evidence regarding the benefit of transcatheter IASD in these patients.

Methods:
This meta-analysis will include randomized controlled trials and single-arm trials on the effects of transcatheter IASD on exercise capacity, HF symptoms, and health-related quality of life in HFpEF patients. Information of studies will be collected from PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov. The primary outcome will be exercise capacity (6-minute walking distance). The secondary outcomes will be HF symptoms, health-related quality of life, and mortality and hospitalization rates.

Discussion:
This meta-analysis will evaluate the effect of transcatheter IASD in HFpEF patients, providing evidence to the clinical use of transcatheter IASD in these patients.

Systematic review registration:
INPLASY202120025
Genetics of human sexual development and related disorders
Authors: Martinez de LaPiscina Idoia , Flück Christa E. 
Published: October 2021

Purpose of review
The aim of this study was to provide a basic overview on human sex development with a focus on involved genes and pathways, and also to discuss recent advances in the molecular diagnostic approaches applied to clinical workup of individuals with a difference/disorder of sex development (DSD).

Recent findings
Rapid developments in genetic technologies and bioinformatics analyses have helped to identify novel genes and genomic pathways associated with sex development, and have improved diagnostic algorithms to integrate clinical, hormonal and genetic data. Recently, massive parallel sequencing approaches revealed that the phenotype of some DSDs might be only explained by oligogenic inheritance.

Summary
Typical sex development relies on very complex biological events, which involve specific interactions of a large number of genes and pathways in a defined spatiotemporal sequence. Any perturbation in these genetic and hormonal processes may result in atypical sex development leading to a wide range of DSDs in humans. Despite the huge progress in the understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying DSDs in recent years, in less than 50% of DSD individuals, the genetic cause is currently solved at the molecular level.
Risk Factors for Distal Radius Osteotomy Nonunion
Authors: Clark DesRaj M. , Hoyt Benjamin W. , Piscoya Andres S. , Daniels Christopher M. , Tintle Scott M. 
Published: October 2021

Background:
Osteotomy-site nonunion after distal radius corrective osteotomy is a detrimental complication. This retrospective study aims to identify patient and surgical factors associated with nonunion risk to help mitigate this. The authors hypothesize that patient factors and potentially modifiable surgical factors are contributory.

Methods:
Thirty-three patients who underwent corrective osteotomy of the distal radius for prior fracture malunion were identified. Radiographs and patient records were reviewed for demographics, comorbidities, nutritional status, plate position, angle and length of osteotomy correction, and graft used. The primary study outcome was osteotomy nonunion. Descriptive and bivariate statistics were used to identify covariates relevant to nonunion. Backward, stepwise logistic regression was applied to investigate the multivariate effects on outcome, and regression analysis was adjusted for confounders.

Results:
Seven patients (21 percent) experienced nonunion after initial corrective osteotomy. Risk factors associated with nonunion included correction length of osteotomy of 5 mm or greater and prior treatment with open reduction and internal fixation. Autograft use was protective against nonunion. History of osteoporosis showed a trend toward increased risk. Angle of osteotomy correction, nutritional deficit, age, diabetes, smoking status, and obesity were not identified as risk factors by the multivariate model.

Conclusions:
Distraction length at the osteotomy site, graft selection, and prior internal fixation were significant risk factors for distal radius osteotomy nonunion, but other factors traditionally associated with nonunion did not appear to impact risk. The authors recommend using autograft bone augmentation, particularly when distracting the osteotomy beyond 5 mm or after prior internal fixation.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:
Risk, III.
Perceived stress by students of the medical sciences in Cuba toward the COVID-19 pandemic: results of an online survey
Authors: Hernández-García Frank , Gómez Onelis Góngora , González-Velázquez Victor Ernesto , Pedraza-Rodríguez Elys María , Zamora-Fung Rolando , Lazo Herrera Luis Alberto 
Published: October 2021

AbstractIntroductionThe aims of this study were to determine the usefulness of the Modified (10-items) Scale of Perceived Stress related to COVID-19 (EEP-10-C by its acronym in Spanish) and to identify the levels of stress perceived by students of the medical sciences in Cuba toward the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted, with self-reported data of students from fourteen Cuban Universities of Medical Sciences (n = 200), through an online survey. The EEP-10-C was used as an instrument to identify stress. Its validity was determined through a confirmatory factor analysis and its internal consistency and reliability was measured by the Cronbach’ alph. A cluster analysis was performed to establish as cut-off point the center of the cluster with the highest values of stress perceived by the scale.ResultsThe average age of the sample was 23.30 ± 1.91 years, with observed scores of the EEP-10-C between 0 and 29 points (13.25 ± 5,404). When applying the cut-off point ≥25, only two students had high rates of stress perceived. The confirmatory factor analysis supported the validity of the instrument; with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.755. The cutoff point ≥20 was proposed as a reference of high stress perceived for the study population, when applying this one, 14% of students presented high rates of stress.DiscussionIn Cuba, students of the medical sciences have participated in research and supporting health care, despite which they have presented low levels of stress. The main contribution of the research was the validation of the EEP-10-C for its use in assessing levels of stress in Cuban medical students, proposing the cut-off point ≥20 as a reference of high stress perceived.
Structural Variants Are a Major Component of the Missing Heritability of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Kainer David , Templeton Alan , Prates Erica T. , Allan Euan , Climer Sharlee , Jacobson Daniel A. , Garvin Michael R. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractThe heritability of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), based on 680,000 families and five countries, is estimated to be nearly 80%, yet we lack genetic markers that adequately explain it. It is increasingly clear that genomic structural variants (SVs) are a major component of the “missing heritability” for many complex phenotypes. Here we use a novel method to identify SVs based on non-Mendelian inheritance patterns in pedigrees using parent-child genotypes from ASD families and demonstrate that the genes that the ASD-specific SVs overlap recapitulate the known molecular biology of ASD including dendritic spinogenesis, axon guidance, and chromatin modification. We further define fine-grained biological pathways that strongly implicate aberrant early development of the cerebellum. Importantly, using these previously excluded variants, we identify theACMSDgene in the kynurenine pathway as significantly associated with non-verbal cases of ASD and we then use an explainable artificial intelligence approach to define subgroups for future diagnosis and deployment of personalized medicine.
Genome Recombination between Delta and Alpha Variants of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
Authors: Sekizuka Tsuyoshi , Itokawa Kentaro , Saito Masumichi , Shimatani Michitsugu , Matsuyama Shutoku , Hasegawa Hideki , Saito Tomoya , Kuroda Makoto ,   COVID-19 Genomic Surveillance Network in Japan (COG-JP)
Published: October 2021

AbstractProminent genomic recombination has been observed between the Delta and Alpha variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) isolated from clinical specimens in Japan. It is necessary to intensively study such marked genetic variations and characterize the emerging variants after careful verification of their lineage and clade assignment.
Preserved T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 in anti-CD20 treated multiple sclerosis
Authors: Schwarz Tatjana , Otto Carolin , Jones Terry C. , Pache Florence , Schindler Patrick , Niederschweiberer Moritz , Schmidt Felix A. , Drosten Christian , Corman Victor M. , Ruprecht Klemens 
Published: October 2021

AbstractObjectiveTo analyze humoral and cellular immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations and infections in anti-CD20 treated patients with multiple sclerosis (pwMS).Methods181 pwMS on anti-CD20 therapy and 41 pwMS who began anti-CD20 therapy were included in a prospective, observational, single-center cohort study between March 2020 and August 2021. 51 pwMS under anti-CD20 treatment, 14 anti-CD20 therapy-naïve pwMS and 19 healthy controls (HC) were vaccinated twice against SARS-CoV-2. We measured SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (full-length, S1 domain and receptor binding domain) immunoglobulin (Ig)G and S1 IgA and virus neutralizing capacity and avidity of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. SARS-CoV-2 specific T cells were determined by interferon-γ release assays.ResultsFollowing two SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations, levels of IgG and IgA antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein as well as neutralizing capacity and avidity of SARS-CoV-2 IgG were lower in anti-CD20 treated pwMS than in anti-CD20 therapy-naïve pwMS and in HC (p<0.003 for all pairwise comparisons). However, in all anti-CD20 treated pwMS vaccinated twice (n=26) or infected with SARS-CoV-2 (n=2), in whom SARS-CoV-2 specific T cells could be measured, SARS-CoV-2 specific T cells were detectable, at levels similar to those of twice-vaccinated anti-CD20 therapy-naïve pwMS (n=7) and HC (n=19). SARS-CoV-2 S1 IgG levels (r=0.42, p=0.002), antibody avidity (r=0.7, p<0.001) and neutralizing capacity (r=0.44, p=0.03) increased with time between anti-CD20 infusion and second vaccination. Based on detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, SARS-CoV-2 infections occurred in 4/175 (2.3%) anti-CD20 treated pwMS, all of whom recovered fully.InterpretationThese findings should inform treatment decisions and SARS-CoV-2 vaccination management in pwMS.
Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 associated with cruise ship travel: protocol for a systematic review (Version 1)
Authors: Rosca Elena C , Heneghan Carl , Spencer Elizabeth A , Brassey Jon , Plüddemann Annette , Onakpoya Igho J , Evans David H , Conly John M , Jefferson Tom 
Published: October 2021

AbstractBackgroundMaritime and river travel, including cruise ships, have been implicated with spreading viruses through infected passengers and crew. Given the novelty of the SARS-CoV-2 infection, early cruise ship travel transmission models of spread are based on what is known of the dynamics of other respiratory viral infections. Our objective is to provide a rapid summary and evaluation of relevant data on SARS-CoV-2 transmission aboard cruise ships, report policy implications, and highlight research gaps requiring attention.MethodsWe will search LitCovid, medRxiv, Google Scholar, and the WHO Covid-19 database using COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, transmission, and cruise ship appropriate synonyms. We will also search the reference lists of included studies for additional relevant studies. We will include studies reporting onboard SARS-CoV-2 transmission from passengers and/or crew to passengers and/or crew. We will consider any potential transmission mode. We will assess study quality based on five criteria and report important findings. The outcome will consist of the onboard cruise ships’ transmission of SARS-CoV-2. We will provide a narrative summary of the data and report the outcomes, including quantitative estimates where feasible and relevant. Where possible, compatible datasets may be pooled for meta-analysis.Expected resultsWe will present the evidence in three distinct packages: study description, methodological quality assessment and data extracted. We will summarize the evidence and will draw conclusions as to the quality of the evidence.
Young women’s knowledge and attitudes towards cervical cancer screening at a selected higher education institution in Lesotho
Authors: Nyangu Isabel , Moteane Tanki 
Published: October 2021

AbstractBackgroundIn Lesotho, cervical cancer is the most common female cancer and leading cause of death amongst women. In 2019, the annual number of new cancer cases was 477 and 346 women died from cancer related complications in Lesotho.AimThe aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitudes of young women towards cervical cancer screening at a selected higher education institution in Lesotho.MethodsA quantitative cross-sectional research design was used to collect data using an interviewer administered semi-structured questionnaire from 80 young women who were randomly selected. Permission to conduct the study was sought and granted from relevant authorities. Informed consent was sought from the respondents who were identified using codes and participated voluntarily.ResultsFifty percent (n=40) of the women did not know cervical cancer screening tests, 70% (n=56) did not know about the frequency of screening, whilst 75% (n=60) knew that human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine is be used to prevent cervical cancer. Additionally, 95% (n=76) had not screened for cervical cancer, 65% (n=52) perceived cervical cancer screening as painful, and 95% (n=76) needed more information on cervical cancer screening.ConclusionsThe practice of cervical cancer screening is low and there is a high need for health education and incorporating regular cervical cancer screening in health care services to increase the uptake amongst young women. Many participants were hesitant to screen as they perceived the procedure to be painful and this suggests the need for reassurance and counselling on cervical cancer screening techniques.