bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and associated factors of soil transmitted helminthiasis among school-age children in wetland and non-wetland areas of Blue Nile Basins, northwest Ethiopia: A community-based comparative study
Authors: Genet Almaw , Motbainor Achenef , Samuel Tsion , Azage Muluken 
Published: December 2021

Introduction: Different interventions have been done to reduce the burden of soil-transmitted helminths (STH). The available evidences in Ethiopia in either school or community-based school-aged children (SAC) have limitation in wetland areas. This study assessed the prevalence and associated factors of STH infection among SAC in wetland and non-wetland areas of Blue Nile Basins, Amhara Region, Northwest Ethiopia. Method: A community-based comparative study was conducted from October to November, 2019. Multistage stratified random sampling technique used to select 716 SAC. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and observational checklist. Stool samples were collected from children using tight-fitting plastic cups following the standard procedures. Data were coded and entered into Epi data version 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 20 software. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to identify factors associated with STH. Results: The overall prevalence of STH was 30.30% (95% CI: 26.90, 33.90) and did not show significant variation between wetland (33.60% (95% CI: 28.80, 39.60%)) and non-wetland (27.0% (95% CI: (21.90, 31.60)) areas. Presence of human feces near the house and certain habits such as nail trimming and playing with mud/soil was not different between wetland and non-wetlands. Nonetheless, the presence of human feces near the house of respondents was found to be significantly associated with STH infection (p value < 0.001). Moreover, other factors significantly associated with STH infection were lack of nail trimming (p value < 0.001) and playing with mud/soil (p value < 0.01). Conclusions: The prevalence of STH was high and did not show significant variation between the two areas. Emphasis needs to be given for hygiene and lifestyle-related factors.
Use of an Individualized Development Plan to Identify Career Development Needs in Prospective Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Fellows
Authors: Cheah Jonathan W. , Cabell Grant H. , Bonazza Nicholas A. , Taylor Dean C. 
Published: December 2021

Background: Mentorship is a key aspect of leadership development for orthopaedic surgeons, but there are few formalized mentorship programs in medical training. The individualized development plan (IDP) is a tool that potentially improves mentorship opportunities through identifying specific competency deficiencies and facilitating communication with mentors. Purpose: To assess the views of prospective orthopaedic surgery sports medicine fellows on the skills necessary for career development and the utility of an IDP for longitudinal career mentorship during a sports medicine fellowship. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Candidates who interviewed for an orthopaedic surgery sports medicine fellowship voluntarily completed an anonymous IDP as well as a survey to assess their perceptions of the IDP tool to define their career goals and its use for longitudinal mentorship. The IDP included quantitative and qualitative responses for the self-assessment of multiple skill domains (general research, teaching, professional, interpersonal, leadership, and management) using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = needs improvement, 5 = highly proficient). Quantitative results were analyzed using analysis of variance and Student t test. Results: A total of 25 candidates completed the IDP and survey. The mean ± standard deviation composite score of all skill domains was 3.62 ± 0.91. The candidates’ greatest deficit was in grant writing (2.28 ± 0.94; P < .01), while their greatest strength was getting along with others (4.52 ± 0.65; P < .01). Candidates identified, as short-term goals, obtaining a fellowship training position, completion of research/academic projects, and improvement of surgical skills; their common long-term goals included having a role in an academic institution, professional society, and/or research and innovation environment. The majority of participants agreed that the IDP is a valuable tool to characterize career and personal goals (74%) and facilitate longitudinal fellowship mentorship (83.3%). Conclusion: The majority of candidates valued the IDP for their short- and long-term goals. Program implementation of an IDP could be beneficial in allowing trainees to effectively identify areas of weakness and strengths while facilitating efficient communication of these needs to mentors.
Neutrophil cathepsin G proteolysis of protease-activated receptor 4 generates a novel, functional tethered ligand
Authors: Stoller Michelle L. , Basak Indranil , Denorme Frederik , Rowley Jesse W. , Alsobrooks James , Parsawar Krishna , Nieman Marvin T. , Yost Christian Con , Hamilton Justin R. , Bray Paul F. , Campbell Robert A. 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Platelet-neutrophil interactions regulate ischemic vascular injury. Platelets are activated by serine proteases that cleave protease-activated receptor (PAR) amino termini, resulting in an activating tethered ligand. Neutrophils release cathepsin G (CatG) at sites of injury and inflammation, which activates PAR4 but not PAR1, although the molecular mechanism of CatG-induced PAR4 activation is unknown. We show that blockade of the canonical PAR4 thrombin cleavage site did not alter CatG-induced platelet aggregation, suggesting CatG cleaves a different site than thrombin. Mass spectrometry analysis using PAR4 N-terminus peptides revealed CatG cleavage at Ser67-Arg68. A synthetic peptide, RALLLGWVPTR, representing the tethered ligand resulting from CatG proteolyzed PAR4, induced PAR4-dependent calcium flux and greater platelet aggregation than the thrombin-generated GYPGQV peptide. Mutating PAR4 Ser67or Arg68 reduced CatG-induced calcium flux without affecting thrombin-induced calcium flux. Dog platelets, which contain a conserved CatG PAR4 Ser-Arg cleavage site, aggregated in response to human CatG and RALLLGWVPTR, while mouse (Ser-Gln) and rat (Ser-Glu) platelets were unresponsive. Thus, CatG amputates the PAR4 thrombin cleavage site by cleavage at Ser67-Arg68 and activates PAR4 by generating a new functional tethered ligand. These findings support PAR4 as an important CatG signaling receptor and suggest a novel therapeutic approach for blocking platelet-neutrophil-mediated pathophysiologies.
Long terminal repeats (LTR) and transcription factors regulate PHRE1 and PHRE2 activity in Moso bamboo under heat stress
Authors: Papolu Pradeep K. , Ramakrishnan Muthusamy , Wei Qiang , Vinod Kunnummal Kurungara , Zou Long-Hai , Yrjala Kim , Kalendar Ruslan , Zhou Mingbing 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background
LTR retrotransposons play a significant role in plant growth, genome evolution, and environmental stress response, but their regulatory response to heat stress remains unclear. We have investigated the activities of two LTR retrotransposons, PHRE1 and PHRE2, of moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) in response to heat stress.

Results
The differential overexpression of PHRE1 and PHRE2 with or without CaMV35s promoter showed enhanced expression under heat stress in transgenic plants. The transcriptional activity studies showed an increase in transposition activity and copy number among moso bamboo wild type and Arabidopsis transgenic plants under heat stress. Comparison of promoter activity in transgenic plants indicated that 5’LTR promoter activity was higher than CaMV35s promoter. Additionally, yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) system and in planta biomolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assay revealed interactions of heat-dependent transcription factors (TFs) with 5’LTR sequence and direct interactions of TFs with pol and gag.

Conclusions
Our results conclude that the 5’LTR acts as a promoter and could regulate the LTR retrotransposons in moso bamboo under heat stress.
Prognostic value of the SYNTAX score on myocardial injury and salvage in STEMI patients after primary percutaneous coronary intervention: a single-center retrospective observational study
Authors: Gao Guangren , Feng Lianrong , Fu Jinguo , Li Yi , Huo Zhaoyang , Zhang Lei , Wang Lei , Niu Heping , Kang Liqing , Zhang Jun 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background
SYNTAX score (SS) was shown to positively correlate with postprocedural myocardial injury in patients after elective coronary artery intervention, but evidence about the association of SS with myocardial salvage in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients is still needed. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of SS for myocardial injury and salvage assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in STEMI patients.

Methods
This single-center retrospective study consecutively enrolled STEMI patients who had undergone primary PCI within 12 h from symptom onset. Both angiography and CMR were performed during hospitalization, and patients were divided into low SS (SS ≤ 22), mediate-high SS (SS > 22) groups. Correlation and multivariable analyses were performed.

Results
A total of 149 STEMI patients (96 low SS, 53 mediate-high SS) were included. In terms of myocardial injury parameters, there was a positive correlation (p < 0.001, Spearman r = 0.292) between SS and infarct size (IS), and a negative correlation (p < 0.001, Spearman r =  − 0.314) between SS and myocardial salvage index (MSI). In the multivariable model, SS (> 22 as categorical variable, OR = 2.245, 95% CI [1.002–5.053], p = 0.048; as continuous variable, OR = 1.053, 95% CI [1.014–1.095], p = 0.008) was significantly associated with high IS (≥ mean 35.43). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of SS for high IS and low MSI (≤ median 28.01) were 0.664 and 0.610.

Conclusions
In STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI, SYNTAX score positively correlated with infarct size and negatively with myocardial salvage, indicating an independent predictive value of the myocardial injury.
Characteristics of peripheral white blood cells in COVID-19 patients revealed by a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Tong Xunliang , Cheng Anqi , Yuan Xueting , Zhong Xuefeng , Wang He , Zhou Wei , Xu Xiaomao , Li Yanming 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background
Peripheral hematological changes in severe COVID-19 patients may reflect the immune response during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Characteristics of peripheral white blood cells as early signals were needed to be investigated for clarifying its associations with the fatal outcomes in COVID-19 patients.

Methods
A retrospective cohort study was performed and the hospitalized COVID-19 patients were recruited in wards of Sino-French New City Branch of Tongji Hospital in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. Characteristics of peripheral white blood cells in survivors and non-survivors were analyzed. Comparison among patients with different level of eosinophils was performed.

Results
Of 198 patients included in this study, 185 were discharged and 13 died. Levels of eosinophils, lymphocytes and basophils in non-survivors were significantly lower than those in survivors. Death rate in low eosinophils group was higher and no patient died in normal eosinophils group (16.7% vs 0, P < 0.001). The proportion of patients in low eosinophils group who used glucocorticoids was higher than in normal eosinophils group, but glucocorticoids usage was not an indicator for death in subgroup analysis in low eosinophils patients. Moreover, positive correlation was found between the counts of lymphocytes and eosinophils in patients with glucocorticoids use but not in patients without the treatment.

Conclusions
Hematological changes differed between survivors and non-survivors with COVID-19. Lymphopenia and eosinopenia could be predictors for poor prognosis of COVID-19 patients. Initial counts of eosinophils may guide us in usage of glucocorticoids for COVID-19 treatment.
Number of doses of Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccine applied in Brazil before and during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: da Silva Tércia Moreira Ribeiro , de Sá Ana Carolina Micheletti Gomide Nogu , Vieira Ed Wilson Rodrigues , Prates Elton Junio Sady , Beinner Mark Anthony , Matozinhos Fernanda Penido 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background
Due to the social isolation measures adopted in an attempt to mitigate the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2, there has been a reduction in vaccination coverage of children and adolescents in several countries and regions of the world.

Objective
Analyze the number of doses of vaccine against Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) applied before and after the beginning of mitigation measures due to COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.

Methods
The data collected refer to the number of doses of the MMR vaccine applied monthly to the target population residing in Brazil: cahildren, aged 12 months (first dose) and children, aged 9 years (second dose), from April 2019 to December 2020. Differences in MMR vaccine doses from April 2019 to March 2020 (before the start of mitigation measures) and April 2020 to September 2020 (after the start of the mitigation measures) were evaluated. Spatial analysis identified clusters with a high percentage of reduction in the median of applied doses no Brazil.

Results
There was a reduction in the median of doses applied in the Regions North (− 33.03%), Northeast (− 43.49%) and South (− 39.01%) e nos Estados Acre (− 48.46%), Amazonas (− 28.96%), Roraima (− 61.91%), Paraíba (− 41.58%), Sergipe (− 47.52%), Rio de Janeiro (-59.31%) and Santa Catarina (− 49.32) (p < 0.05). High-high type spatial clusters (reduction between 34.00 and 90.00%) were formed in the five regions of Brazil (Moran’s I = 0.055; p = 0.01).

Conclusion
A reduction in the number of MMR vaccine doses was evidenced as a possible effect by the restrictive actions of COVID-19 in Brazil.
Liver fibrosis indices associated with substantial hematoma expansion in Chinese patients with primary intracerebral hemorrhage
Authors: Wang Huan , Wu Jiongxing , Yang Xue , Liu Junfeng , Tao Wendan , Hao Zilong , Wu Bo , Liu Ming , Zhang Shihong , Wang Deren 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background
Whether liver fibrosis is associated with increased risk for substantial hematoma expansion (HE) after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is still uncertain. We evaluated the association between various liver fibrosis indices and substantial HE in a Chinese population with primary ICH.

Methods
Primary ICH patients admitted to West China Hospital within 24 h of onset between January 2015 and June 2018 were consecutively enrolled. Six liver fibrosis indices were calculated, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST)-platelet ratio index (APRI), AST/alanine aminotransferase ratio-platelet ratio index (AARPRI), fibrosis-4 (FIB-4), modified fibrosis-4 (mFIB-4), fibrosis quotient (FibroQ) and Forns index. Substantial HE was defined as an increase of more than 33% or 6 mL from baseline ICH volume. The association of each fibrosis index with substantial HE was analyzed using binary logistic regression.

Results
Of 436 patients enrolled, about 85% showed largely normal results on standard hepatic assays and coagulation parameters. Substantial HE occurred in 115 (26.4%) patients. After adjustment, AARPRI (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.00-1.57) and FIB-4 (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.02-1.30) were independently associated with substantial HE in ICH patients within 24 h of onset, respectively. In ICH patients within 6 h of onset, each of the following indices was independently associated with substantial HE: APRI (OR 2.64, 95% CI 1.30-5,36), AARPRI (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.09-2.21), FIB-4 (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.08-1.68), mFIB-4 (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.01-1.18), FibroQ (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.00-1.16) and Forns index (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.10-1.69).

Conclusions
Liver fibrosis indices are independently associated with higher risk of substantial HE in Chinese patients with primary ICH, which suggesting that subclinical liver fibrosis could be routinely assessed in such patients to identify those at high risk of substantial HE.
Mirogabalin vs pregabalin for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in pancreatic cancer patients
Authors: Sugimoto Mitsuru , Takagi Tadayuki , Suzuki Rei , Konno Naoki , Asama Hiroyuki , Sato Yuki , Irie Hiroki , Okubo Yoshinori , Nakamura Jun , Takasumi Mika , Hashimoto Minami , Kato Tsunetaka , Kobashi Ryoichiro , Hikichi Takuto , Ohira Hiromasa 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background
The prognosis of pancreatic cancer (PC) has been improved by new chemotherapy regimens (combination of 5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, irinotecan, and leucovorin (FOLFIRINOX) or gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (GnP)). Unfortunately, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common adverse event of these two regimens. The efficacy of pregabalin for CIPN has been reported in previous studies. However, the efficacy of mirogabalin for CIPN remains unknown. Thus, in this study, we aimed to clarify which drug (mirogabalin or pregabalin) was more valuable for improving CIPN.

Methods
A total of 163 PC patients who underwent FOLFIRINOX or GnP between May 2014 and January 2021 were enrolled. Among them, 34 patients were diagnosed with CIPN. Thirteen patients were treated with mirogabalin (mirogabalin group), and twenty-one patients were treated with pregabalin (pregabalin group). Treatment efficacy was compared between the two groups.

Results
In both the mirogabalin group and the pregabalin group, the grade of patients with CIPN at 2, 4, and 6 weeks after the initiation of treatment showed significant improvement compared to the pretreatment grade. Notably, the rate of CIPN improvement was higher in the mirogabalin group than in the pregabalin group (2 weeks: 84.6% (11/13) vs 33.3% (7/21), P value = 0.005; 4 weeks, 6 weeks: 92.3% (12/13) vs 33.3% (7/21), P value = 0.001).

Conclusions
Although both mirogabalin and pregabalin were effective at improving CIPN, mirogabalin might be a suitable first choice for CIPN in PC patients.

Trial registration
Not applicable
Knowledge, attitude, and associated factors towards mental illness among residents of Dessie town, northeast, Ethiopia, a cross-sectional study
Authors: Birkie Mengesha , Anbesaw Tamrat 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background
Knowledge and attitude towards mental illness are poor and neglected as compared to medical illness. However, there is an increasing burden of mental illness in the community. As per the knowledge of the investigators, studies are scarce and not done in the study area about knowledge and attitudes of mental illness. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and associated factors towards mental illness among, Dessie town residents.

Methods
A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Dessie town, Northeast, Ethiopia from October 27 to November 29/2020. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed. The data were collected from 477 study participants using a standard structured questionnaire, which were Mental Health Knowledge Schedule (MAKS) and Community Attitude to Mental Illness Inventory (CAMI) respectively. Data were entered using Epi-data version 3.1 and, then exported to SPSS version 26 for analyses. Bivariable and Multivariable logistic regression analyses was employed.

Results
From 477 study participants the prevalence of poor knowledge and unfavorable attitude towards mental illness were 55.3% (95% CI: 50.9, 60.0) and 45.1% (95% CI: 40.7,49.5) respectively. Being female [AOR = 1.62 (95% CI:1.06,2.47)], could not read and write [AOR = 6.28 (95% CI: 2.56, 15.39)], lack of information about mental illness [AOR = 5.82 (95% CI: 3.78,8.94)] and unfavorable attitude [AOR =1.73 (95% CI: 1.12,2.66)] were variables found statistical significant with poor knowledge. Whereas, income < 2166 [AOR = 1.64, (95% CI: 1.12, 2.41)], poor social support [AOR = 2.04, (95% CI: 1.13, 3.68)], moderate social support [AOR = 2.44, (95% CI: 1.45, 3.97)] and poor knowledge [AOR = 1.66, (95% CI: 1.13,2.43)] were variables significantly associated with unfavorable attitude toward mental illness.

Conclusion
In this study about half of the community have poor knowledge, and less than half of the participants have an unfavorable attitude to wards mental illness. There are many factors associated with poor knowledge and unfavorable attitudes. This having poor knowledge and unfavorable attitude may cause certain problems like a decrease in health care of a person with mental illness. Therefore, we recommend practice-based awareness in the community regarding mental health problems needs to be addressed.
15-year survivorship analysis of an interspinous device in surgery for single-level lumbar disc herniation
Authors: Cho Yoon Joo , Park Jong-Beom , Chang Dong-Gune , Kim Hong Jin 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackgroundInterspinous devices have been introduced as alternatives to decompression or fusion in surgery for degenerative lumbar diseases. This study aimed to investigate 15-year survivorship and risk factors for reoperation of a Device for Intervertebral Assisted Motion (DIAM) in surgery for 1-level lumbar disc herniation (LDH).MethodsA total of 94 patients (54 men and 40 women) underwent discectomy and DIAM implantation for 1-level LDH, with a mean follow-up of 12.9 years (range, 6.3–15.3 years). The mean age was 46.2 years (range, 21–65 years). Sixty-two patients underwent DIAM implantation for L4–5, 27 for L5–6, and 5 for L3–4. Reoperations due to any reason associated with DIAM implantation level or adjacent levels were defined as failure and used as the end point of determining survivorship.ResultsDuring the 15-year follow-up, 8 patients (4 men and 4 women) underwent reoperation due to recurrence of LDH at the DIAM implantation level, a reoperation rate of 8.5%. The mean time to reoperation was 6.5 years (range, 0.8–13.9 years). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a cumulative survival rate of the DIAM implantation of 97% at 5 years, 93% at 10 years, and 92% at 15 years after surgery; the cumulative reoperation rate of the DIAM implantation was 3% at 5 years, 7% at 10 years, and 8% at 15 years after surgery. Mean survival time was predicted to be 14.5 years (95% CI, 13.97–15.07). The log-rank test and Cox proportional hazard model showed that age, sex, and location did not significantly affect the reoperation rate of DIAM implantation.ConclusionsOur results showed that DIAM implantation significantly decreased reoperation rate for LDH in the 15-year survivorship analysis. We suggest that DIAM implantation could be considered a useful intermediate step procedure for LDH surgery. To the best of our knowledge, this is the longest follow-up study in which surgical outcomes of interspinous device surgery were reported.