bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Differential effects of the formin inhibitor SMIFH2 on contractility and Ca2+ handling in frog and mouse cardiomyocytes
Authors: Sakata Koji , Matsuyama Sho , Kurebayashi Nagomi , Hayamizu Kengo , Murayama Takashi , Nakamura Kunihide , Kitamura Kazuo , Morimoto Sachio , Takeya Ryu 
Published: June 2021

AbstractGenetic mutations in actin regulators have been emerging as a cause of cardiomyopathy, although the functional link between actin dynamics and cardiac contraction remains largely unknown. To obtain insight into this issue, we examined the effects of pharmacological inhibition of formins, a major class of actin‐assembling proteins. The formin inhibitor SMIFH2 significantly enhanced the cardiac contractility of isolated frog hearts, thereby augmenting cardiac performance. SMIFH2 treatment had no significant effects on the Ca2+ sensitivity of frog muscle fibers. Instead, it unexpectedly increased Ca2+ concentrations of isolated frog cardiomyocytes, suggesting that the inotropic effect is due to enhanced Ca2+ transients. In contrast to frog hearts, the contractility of mouse cardiomyocytes was attenuated by SMIFH2 treatment with decreasing Ca2+ transients. Thus, SMIFH2 has opposing effects on the Ca2+ transient and contractility between frog and mouse cardiomyocytes. We further found that SMIFH2 suppressed Ca2+‐release via type 2 ryanodine receptor (RyR2); this inhibitory effect may explain the species differences, since RyR2 is critical for Ca2+ transients in mouse myocardium but absent in frog myocardium. Although the mechanisms underlying the enhancement of Ca2+ transients in frog cardiomyocytes remain unclear, SMIFH2 differentially affects the cardiac contraction of amphibian and mammalian by differentially modulating their Ca2+ handling.
Late thrombotic complications after SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in hemodialysis patients
Authors: Shabaka Amir , Gruss Enrique , Landaluce‐Triska Eugenia , Gallego‐Valcarce Eduardo , Cases‐Corona Clara , Ocaña Javier , Tato‐Ribera Ana , Lopez‐Revuelta Katia , Furaz‐Czerpak Karina R. , Fernández‐Juárez Gema 
Published: June 2021

AbstractIntroductionThere is an increased risk of thrombotic complications in patients with COVID‐19. Hemodialysis patients are already at an increased risk for thromboembolic events such as stroke and pulmonary embolism. The aim of our study was to determine the incidence of late thrombotic complications (deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, stroke, new‐onset vascular access thrombosis) in maintenance hemodialysis patients after recovery from COVID‐19.MethodsWe performed a retrospective cohort study of 200 prevalent hemodialysis patients in our center at the start of the pandemic. We excluded incident patients after the cohort entry date and those who required hemodialysis for acute kidney injury, and excluded patients with less than 1 month follow‐up due to kidney transplantation or death from non‐thrombotic causes.FindingsOne‐hundred and eighty five prevalent hemodialysis patients finally met the inclusion criteria; 37 patients (17.6%) had SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, out of which 10 (27%) died during the acute phase of disease without evidence of thrombotic events. There was an increased risk of thrombotic events in COVID‐19 survivors compared to the non‐infected cohort (18.5% vs. 1.9%, p = 0.002) after a median follow‐up of 7 months. Multivariate regression analysis showed that COVID‐19 infection increased risk for late thrombotic events adjusted for age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, antithrombotic treatment, and previous thrombotic events (Odds Ratio (OR) 26.4, 95% confidence interval 2.5–280.6, p = 0.01). Clinical and laboratory markers did not predict thrombotic events.ConclusionsThere is an increased risk of late thrombotic complications in hemodialysis patients after infection with COVID‐19. Further studies should evaluate the benefit of prolonged prophylactic anticoagulation in hemodialysis patients after recovery from COVID‐19.
Conceptualizing patient participation in psychiatry: A survey describing the voice of patients in outpatient care
Authors: Wärdig Rikard , Olofsson Fredrik , Eldh Ann Catrine 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBackgroundWhile increasingly discussed in somatic care, the concept of patient participation remains unsettled in psychiatric care, potentially impeding person‐centred experiences.ObjectiveTo describe outpatient psychiatric care patients’ conceptualization of patient participation.DesignAn exploratory survey.Setting and participantsPatients in four psychiatric outpatient care units.VariablesPatients conceptualized patient participation by completing a semi‐structured questionnaire, including optional attributes and free text. Data were analysed using statistics for ordinal data and content analysis for free text.ResultsIn total, 137 patients (69% of potential respondents) completed the questionnaire. The discrete items were favoured for conceptualizing patient participation, indicating a primary connotation that participation means being listened to, being in a reciprocal dialogue, learning about one's health care and managing one's symptoms. Additional free‐text responses acknowledged the attributes previously recognized, and provided supplementary notions, including that patient participation is about mutual respect and shared trust.DiscussionWhat patient participation is and how it can be facilitated needs to be agreed in order to enable preference‐based patient participation. Patients in outpatient psychiatric care conceptualize participation in terms of both sharing of and sharing in, including taking part in joint and solo activities, such as a reciprocal dialogue and managing symptoms by yourself.ConclusionWhile being a patient in psychiatric care has been associated with a lack of voice, an increased understanding of patient participation enables person‐centred care, with the benefits of collaboration, co‐production and enhanced quality of care.Patient contributionPatients provided their conceptualization of patient participation in accordance with their lived experience.
Does patient empowerment matter in building loyalty?
Authors: Mohd‐Any Amrul Asraf , Sundramohana Meenatharisni , Sarker Moniruzzaman 
Published: June 2021

AbstractPatient empowerment is becoming an essential tool for improving patient–doctor relationships in the healthcare sector. Past research on empowerment within this sector has focused primarily on hospital staff such as nurses and practitioners, whereas very few studies have focused on patients. Moreover, even less attention has been paid to exploring the effect of patient empowerment on patients' trust in doctors, patient–doctor relationship commitment and patient loyalty. Hence, we investigate the relationships between patient empowerment components (patient education, patient perceived control, doctor support and patient participation), patients' trust in doctors and patient–doctor relationship commitment, which leads to the desired state of patient loyalty. Using hospital‐intercept surveys, 234 responses were obtained from patients at a private healthcare facility in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Using partial least‐squares structural equation modelling (PLS‐SEM) techniques, the results demonstrated that patients who were empowered through education and doctor support were more trusting and that such empowerment also fostered relationship commitment towards their doctor. Patient participation and patients' perceived control did not produce similar outcomes. Consequently, relationship commitment was found to be the dominant predictor in building patient loyalty. This study broadens the dimension of patient empowerment by adding patient education, which is shown to have a positive impact on patient–doctor relationships and to promote patient loyalty. In an increasingly competitive healthcare market where patient loyalty is highly sought after, these findings suggest that empowering patients during healthcare consultation is conducive to the building of long‐term relationships between patients and their doctors.
Comparing the effectiveness of three pain relief methods for inserting a needle into the implanted venous access chemoport: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Shin Jinhee , Kim Gwang Suk , Sim Hyebeen 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAimsEffective methods for relieving pain in inserting a needle for chemotherapy in cancer patients have been studied. This study examined the pain relief effects during needle insertion into the implanted venous access chemoport by comparing three methods.MethodsThis randomized controlled trial included 120 cancer patients who were randomly assigned. The experimental groups received applications of lidocaine cream (n = 30), cryotherapy (n = 30) and cutaneous stimulation therapy (n = 30); the control group (n = 30) received routine care. Premeasurements and postmeasurements were evaluated using a visual analogue pain scale and nurses' careful observations of patients' pain behaviour checklists during needle insertion.ResultsPain levels were reduced by all three interventions, with the level of relief depending on the type of application. All experimental groups showed significant reduction in pain compared with the control group. Lidocaine cream had the strongest effect, followed by cryotherapy and then cutaneous stimulation.ConclusionLidocaine cream, cryotherapy and cutaneous stimulation therapy all reduced cancer patients' pain levels during insertion of an implanted central venous access chemoport needle. Nurses can apply cryotherapy and cutaneous stimulation therapy independently to reduce the pain associated with this procedure. Future studies should consider using these methods to control for any individual differences that may exist.
B cell/stromal cell crosstalk in health, disease, and treatment: Follicular lymphoma as a paradigm
Authors: Lamaison Claire , Tarte Karin 
Published: June 2021

AbstractStromal cells organize specific anatomic compartments within bone marrow (BM) and secondary lymphoid organs where they finely regulate the behavior of mature normal B cells. In particular, lymphoid stromal cells (LSCs) form a phenotypically heterogeneous compartment including various cell subsets variably supporting B‐cell survival, activation, proliferation, and differentiation. In turn, activated B cells trigger in‐depth remodeling of LSC networks within lymph nodes (LN) and BM. Follicular lymphoma (FL) is one of the best paradigms of a B‐cell neoplasia depending on a specific tumor microenvironment (TME), including cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs) emerging from the reprogramming of LN LSCs or poorly characterized local BM precursors. FL‐CAFs support directly malignant B‐cell growth and orchestrate FL permissive cell niche by contributing, through a bidirectional crosstalk, to the recruitment and polarization of immune TME subsets. Recent studies have highlighted a previously unexpected level of heterogeneity of both FL B cells and FL TME, underlined by FL‐CAF plasticity. A better understanding of the signaling pathways, molecular mechanisms, and kinetic of stromal cell remodeling in FL would be useful to delineate new predictive markers and new therapeutic approaches in this still fatal malignancy.
Consensus on a conversation aid for shared decision making with people with intellectual disabilities in the palliative phase
Authors: Noorlandt Hanna W. , Korfage Ida J. , Tuffrey‐Wijne Irene , Festen Dederieke , Vrijmoeth Cis , van der Heide Agnes , Echteld Michael 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBackgroundLittle is known about how to involve people with intellectual disabilities in making decisions about treatment and care in their palliative phase. We aimed to reach a consensus about a shared decision‐making (SDM) conversation aid for people with intellectual disabilities, relatives, and healthcare professionals.MethodsIn a Delphi process, an expert panel of 11 people with intellectual disabilities, 14 relatives, and 65 healthcare professionals completed online questionnaires about the relevance and feasibility of a draft conversation aid.ResultsIn Round 1, components were rated as (very) relevant by 70–98% of participants (M = 87%). In Round 2, after amending the aid in response to feedback, relevance ratings were 67–97% (M = 90%) and feasibility ratings 66–86% (M = 77%). The final version consists of four themes: who are you; illness/end‐of‐life; making decisions; and evaluating the decision.ConclusionThe consensus‐based conversation aid is considered sufficiently relevant and feasible to be implemented in practice.
Pathogen‐mediated selection favours the maintenance of innate immunity gene polymorphism in a widespread wild ungulate
Authors: Quéméré Erwan , Hessenauer Pauline , Galan Maxime , Fernandez Marie , Merlet Joël , Chaval Yannick , Morellet Nicolas , Verheyden Hélène , Gilot‐Fromont Emmanuelle , Charbonnel Nathalie 
Published: June 2021

AbstractToll‐like receptors (TLR) play a central role in recognition and host frontline defence against a wide range of pathogens. A number of recent studies have shown that TLR genes (Tlrs) often exhibit large polymorphism in natural populations. Yet, there is little knowledge on how this polymorphism is maintained and how it influences disease susceptibility in the wild. In previous work, we showed that some Tlrs exhibit similarly high levels of genetic diversity as genes of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC), and signatures of contemporary balancing selection in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), the most abundant cervid species in Europe. Here, we investigated the evolutionary mechanisms by which pathogen‐mediated selection could shape this innate immunity genetic diversity by examining the relationships between Tlr (Tlr2, Tlr4 and Tlr5) genotypes (heterozygosity status and presence of specific alleles) and infections with Toxoplasma and Chlamydia, two widespread intracellular pathogens known to cause reproductive failure in ungulates. We showed that Toxoplasma and Chlamydia exposures vary significantly across years and landscape features with few co‐infection events detected and that the two pathogens exert antagonistic selection on Tlr2 polymorphism. By contrast, we found limited support for Tlr heterozygote advantage. Our study confirmed the importance of looking beyond Mhc genes in wildlife immunogenetic studies. It also emphasized the necessity to consider multiple pathogen challenges and their spatiotemporal variation to improve our understanding of vertebrate defence evolution against pathogens.
A systematic review of food waste audit methods in hospital foodservices: development of a consensus pathway food waste audit tool
Authors: Cook Nathan , Collins Jorja , Goodwin Denise , Porter Judi 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBackgroundTo understand, monitor and compare the scope of food waste in hospital foodservices, it is essential to measure food waste using a standardised method. The aims of this systematic review were to: (i) describe and critique the methodological features of waste audits used in hospital foodservice settings that measure aggregate food and food‐related waste and (ii) develop a consensus tool for conducting a food waste audit in a hospital foodservice setting.MethodsSeven electronic databases were searched for peer reviewed literature, and 17 Google Advanced searches located grey literature that described food waste audit methods previously used or developed for hospital foodservices. Study selection and quality assessment occurred in duplicate. Data describing the audit method, its feasibility, and strengths and limitations were extracted and synthesised to develop a consensus tool.ResultsEight peer reviewed and nine grey literature documents describing a variety of food waste audit methods were found. The most common practices were 2‐week data collection (n = 5), foodservice staff collecting data (n = 6), measuring food waste only (n = 11), measuring food waste at main meals (n = 5) and using electronic scales to measure waste (n = 12). A consensus tool was developed that proposes a method for preparing, conducting and analysing data from a food waste audit.ConclusionsThis review used published evidence to develop the first ever food waste audit consensus tool for hospital foodservices to use and measure food and food‐related waste. Future research is needed to apply and test this tool in practice.
Association of occupational stress, period circadian regulator 3 (PER3) gene polymorphism and their interaction with poor sleep quality
Authors: Peng Xiaoli , Li Ju , Han Bin , Zhu Yanfeng , Cheng Daomei , Li Qiyu , Du Jingchang 
Published: June 2021

SummaryOccupational stress is associated with sleep quality among workers and the human variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism of the period circadian regulator 3 (PER3) gene relates to sleep–wake regulation. The main aims of the present study were to examine the effects ofPER3VNTR genotypes, occupational stress, and their interactions on sleep quality. A cross‐sectional study was conducted and 729 workers were recruited in Sichuan. Sleep quality were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Occupational stress was measured using the Generic Job Stress Questionnaire.PER3genotypes were determined with polymerase chain reaction. High and medium occupational stress were linked to a higher risk of poor sleep quality than low levels. Unconditional logistic regression indicated thatPER3genotype was significantly associated with sleep quality, and an increased risk of poor sleep of >1.5‐times was observed in those with the allele 5 compared to allele 4. The 5/5 genotype was associated with both sleep latency and sleep duration. Crossover analysis showed an occupational stress × PER3interaction. Compared to subjects with both low and medium occupational stress and 4/4 + 4/5 genotype, those with both high occupational stress and 5/5 genotype had a higher risk of poor sleep quality. Stratified logistic analyses found that compared with low and medium occupational stress, high occupational stress increased the risk of poor sleep by more than five‐times in 5/5 genotype carriers. Occupational stress andPER3genotype had both separate and combined effects on poor sleep quality of workers. The results suggest that occupational stress may increase the risk of poor sleep quality through interaction with thePER3gene polymorphism.
Notes on the accumulation and utilization of capital: Some empirical issues
Authors: Nikiforos Michalis 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe paper makes three contributions. First, it provides an in‐depth examination of the Federal Reserve measure of capacity utilization and shows that it is closer to a cyclical indicator than a measure of long‐run variations of normal utilization. Other measures, such as the Average Workweek of Capital or the National Emergency Utilization Rate are more appropriate for examining long‐run changes in utilization. Second, and related to that, it argues that a relatively stationary measure of utilization is not consistent with any theory of the determination of utilization. Third, based on data on the lifetime of fixed assets it shows that for the issues around the “utilization controversy” the long run is a period after thirty years or more. This makes it a platonic idea for some economic problems.
Medical educators’ views and experiences of trigger warnings in teaching sensitive content
Authors: Nolan Helen Anne , Roberts Lesley 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBackgroundTrigger warnings—prior notification of topics so recipients may prepare for ensuing distress—are encountered widely in contemporary culture. Students at some universities have expressed expectations for trigger warnings. Medical education routinely exposes students to numerous potentially distressing topics. However, this topic remains understudied in medical education. Little is understood about educators’ views or practice relating to warnings in the context of medical education.MethodsTwenty medical educators from a medical degree programme in the UK participated in a semi‐structured qualitative interview study, exploring medical educators’ views and experiences of managing distressing situations and, specifically, their use of warnings. We analysed interview transcripts by thematic coding and identified themes.ResultsAnalysis identified themes relating to educators’ conceptualisation of trigger warnings and rationale for use, concerns about the use of warnings and the critical purpose of medical school in ensuring preparedness for clinical practice.Participants shared that warnings were given to empower students in approaching distressing topics and to enable engagement with learning. Warnings acknowledged that some experiences would be distressing and normalised and signalled acceptability of emotional responses. Decisions to use warnings were influenced by the nature of content and, reactively, in response to experiences of student distress. Terminology regarding trigger warnings was interpreted varyingly by participants. A broad variety of topics were identified as potentially sensitive. A number of concerns were noted regarding the use of warnings.DiscussionWarnings alone did not fulfil educators’ responsibility in supporting students’ professional development, but may be a useful adjunct, signalling that self‐care is valued and should be prioritised. Despite frequent use of warnings, individual educator practice was shaped by varying rationale. A framework that addresses competing tensions of preventing distress and supporting professional development is needed as part of a trauma‐informed approach to medical education.
Funding of health professional education: China’s 20‐year process and a global comparison
Authors: Wu Hongbin , Li Wenzhuo , Xie A’na , Kang Le , Ke Yang , Wang Weimin 
Published: June 2021

AbstractContextFunding is an essential requirement for ensuring the quality of health professional education worldwide. Adequate funding is of immense significance in training health professionals. Due to the difficulty of accessing relevant data, quantitative research of the kind is scarce.ObjectivesThis study aims at analysing the trends of funding levels and funding sources for health professional institutions in China spanning the past 20 years and making a global comparison.MethodsWe used data from Ministry of Education (MOE) of the People's Republic of China to analyse its funding level and structure of funding sources of health professional education in China during 1998‐2017. When analysing funding level, we used two indicators: total funding and funding per student. We chose the United States, and analysed its funding level and structure to allow easy comparison to the situation in China. The data from a Lancet report (Lancet, 376, 2010, 1923) were also used to analyse global funding status to make an international comparison.ResultsFunding levels of health professional institutions in China has increased significantly in the past 20 years, while the average annual growth rate of funding per student (4.5%) is lower than that of total funding (19.9%). In terms of the structure of funding sources, fiscal appropriation accounts for 51.1% on average, and tuition, fees and scientific research income explains 37.0%.ConclusionFrom 1998 to 2017, the total funding and funding per student of HPE in China increased continuously, and the total funding increased at a faster rate. The increase in funding of HPE in China is closely related to the efforts of the Chinese government and the implementation of relevant policies. Even so, funding of HPE in China is likely to remain relatively low compared to other countries.