bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Improved levels of physical activity in patients over 75 years following total knee arthroplasty
Authors: Matsunaga-Myoji Yuriko , Fujita Kimie , Ide Shuya , Tabuchi Yasuko , Mawatari Masaaki 
Published: September 2019

Purpose: There is insufficient evidence regarding the precise levels of physical activity (PA) in older patients following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The aims of this study were (1) to describe the changes in the amount and intensity of PA before and after TKA with an accelerometer in older patients, compared with age- and sex-matched healthy participants and (2) to assess the effect of TKA on PA depending on age. Methods: Sixty-six primary TKA patients aged 60 years or over (mean age, 73.3 years) wore an accelerometer (Lifecorder EX) for 10 consecutive days and completed the Oxford Knee Score (OKS) before and at 6 months after TKA. PA was evaluated by mean step count and time spent (min) engaged in PA per day. PA intensity was classified as light (1.5–3 metabolic equivalents (METs)), moderate to vigorous (≥3 METs), and total (≥1.5 METs). Sixty-four healthy participants completed a single assessment of PA. Results: Each of the PA measures and OKS increased significantly after TKA. Compared with healthy controls, light and total PA improved to 100% at 6 months after TKA in patients 75 years or older. By contrast, moderate-to-vigorous PA was 32% of that of the controls and rose to 78% after TKA. PA intensity in patients aged 60–74 years was 31–74% of the controls but did not reach the same level after TKA. Conclusion: TKA in older patients increases the amount of PA, with light and total PA suitable parameters for assessing PA.
Patient experiences of access to NCD medicines in Sri Lanka: Evidence of the success story towards universal coverage
Authors: Fernandopulle BMR , Gunawardena Nalika , de Silva SHP , Abayawardana Chinta , Hirimuthugoda LK 
Published: September 2019

Introduction: In Sri Lanka in 2013, 16 medicines were identified as priority to manage non-communicable disease (NCD), and in 2017, 48 NCD medicines were price-regulated. Objective: The aim of the present study was to describe the experiences on availability of drugs and out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) for drugs among patients with NCDs in Sri Lanka. Methods: This community-based, household survey was conducted in nine districts of the country. The survey included 1100 adults (aged 50 years and above) with a diagnosis of NCD for 5 years. They were interviewed by trained pharmacy students. Results: Approximately 66%, 49% and 21.6% suffering from hypertension, diabetes and ischaemic heart disease, respectively, with a majority having more than one NCD. The evidence showed that prescribers align to drugs that have been recognized to be made more available and more affordable. Of all, 14% had prescriptions with all NCD medicines classified in the list, while 40% had only one or two of the drugs prescribed which are not in the list. Most of the prescribed drugs were also included in the price regulation – with 29% having all medicines included, while 31.6% having only one or two drugs prescribed out of the list. Approximately, two-thirds (64.2%) had exclusively used government hospitals for NCD care during the past 5 years. A majority (58.3%) had all prescribed drugs available at the last visit to the state sector clinic, while almost all of the others (35.7%) had some of the drugs available. Conclusion: The study concluded that patient experiences in Sri Lanka showed good availability and access to NCD medicines in Sri Lanka.
Microenvironmental agonists generate de novo phenotypic resistance to combined ibrutinib plus venetoclax in CLL and MCL
Authors: Jayappa Kallesh D. , Portell Craig A. , Gordon Vicki L. , Capaldo Brian J. , Bekiranov Stefan , Axelrod Mark J. , Brett L. Kyle , Wulfkuhle Julia D. , Gallagher Rosa I. , Petricoin Emanuel F. , Bender Timothy P. , Williams Michael E. , Weber Michael J. 
Published: September 2019

Key Points
IBR+VEN combination was designed to overcome resistance to IBR, but CLL and MCL samples ex vivo show resistance even to this combination. Microenvironmental agonists (IL-10, soluble CD40L, CpG-ODN) generate resistance via NF-κB–dependent expression of Mcl-1/Bcl-xL/survivin.
RetSynth: determining all optimal and sub-optimal synthetic pathways that facilitate synthesis of target compounds in chassis organisms
Authors: Whitmore Leanne S. , Nguyen Bernard , Pinar Ali , George Anthe , Hudson Corey M. 
Published: September 2019

Abstract

Background
The efficient biological production of industrially and economically important compounds is a challenging problem. Brute-force determination of the optimal pathways to efficient production of a target chemical in a chassis organism is computationally intractable. Many current methods provide a single solution to this problem, but fail to provide all optimal pathways, optional sub-optimal solutions or hybrid biological/non-biological solutions.

Results
Here we present RetSynth, software with a novel algorithm for determining all optimal biological pathways given a starting biological chassis and target chemical. By dynamically selecting constraints, the number of potential pathways scales by the number of fully independent pathways and not by the number of overall reactions or size of the metabolic network. This feature allows all optimal pathways to be determined for a large number of chemicals and for a large corpus of potential chassis organisms. Additionally, this software contains other features including the ability to collect data from metabolic repositories, perform flux balance analysis, and to view optimal pathways identified by our algorithm using a built-in visualization module. This software also identifies sub-optimal pathways and allows incorporation of non-biological chemical reactions, which may be performed after metabolic production of precursor molecules.

Conclusions
The novel algorithm designed for RetSynth streamlines an arduous and complex process in metabolic engineering. Our stand-alone software allows the identification of candidate optimal and additional sub-optimal pathways, and provides the user with necessary ranking criteria such as target yield to decide which route to select for target production. Furthermore, the ability to incorporate non-biological reactions into the final steps allows determination of pathways to production for targets that cannot be solely produced biologically. With this comprehensive suite of features RetSynth exceeds any open-source software or webservice currently available for identifying optimal pathways for target production.
Proper evaluation of chemical cross-linking-based spatial restraints improves the precision of modeling homo-oligomeric protein complexes
Authors: Gaber Aljaž , Gunčar Gregor , Pavšič Miha 
Published: September 2019

Abstract

Background
The function of oligomeric proteins is inherently linked to their quaternary structure. In the absence of high-resolution data, low-resolution information in the form of spatial restraints can significantly contribute to the precision and accuracy of structural models obtained using computational approaches. To obtain such restraints, chemical cross-linking coupled with mass spectrometry (XL-MS) is commonly used. However, the use of XL-MS in the modeling of protein complexes comprised of identical subunits (homo-oligomers) is often hindered by the inherent ambiguity of intra- and inter-subunit connection assignment.

Results
We present a comprehensive evaluation of (1) different methods for inter-residue distance calculations, and (2) different approaches for the scoring of spatial restraints. Our results show that using Solvent Accessible Surface distances (SASDs) instead of Euclidean distances (EUCs) greatly reduces the assignation ambiguity and delivers better modeling precision. Furthermore, ambiguous connections should be considered as inter-subunit only when the intra-subunit alternative exceeds the distance threshold. Modeling performance can also be improved if symmetry, characteristic for most homo-oligomers, is explicitly defined in the scoring function.

Conclusions
Our findings provide guidelines for proper evaluation of chemical cross-linking-based spatial restraints in modeling homo-oligomeric protein complexes, which could facilitate structural characterization of this important group of proteins.
‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ interferes with the distribution and uptake of iron in tomato
Authors: Buoso Sara , Pagliari Laura , Musetti Rita , Martini Marta , Marroni Fabio , Schmidt Wolfgang , Santi Simonetta 
Published: September 2019

Abstract

Background
‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ is endemic in Europe and infects a wide range of weeds and cultivated plants. Phytoplasmas are prokaryotic plant pathogens that colonize the sieve elements of their host plant, causing severe alterations in phloem function and impairment of assimilate translocation. Typical symptoms of infected plants include yellowing of leaves or shoots, leaf curling, and general stunting, but the molecular mechanisms underlying most of the reported changes remain largely enigmatic. To infer a possible involvement of Fe in the host-phytoplasma interaction, we investigated the effects of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ infection on tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum cv. Micro-Tom) grown under different Fe regimes.

Results
Both phytoplasma infection and Fe starvation led to the development of chlorotic leaves and altered thylakoid organization. In infected plants, Fe accumulated in phloem tissue, altering the local distribution of Fe. In infected plants, Fe starvation had additive effects on chlorophyll content and leaf chlorosis, suggesting that the two conditions affected the phenotypic readout via separate routes. To gain insights into the transcriptional response to phytoplasma infection, or Fe deficiency, transcriptome profiling was performed on midrib-enriched leaves. RNA-seq analysis revealed that both stress conditions altered the expression of a large (> 800) subset of common genes involved in photosynthetic light reactions, porphyrin / chlorophyll metabolism, and in flowering control. In Fe-deficient plants, phytoplasma infection perturbed the Fe deficiency response in roots, possibly by interference with the synthesis or transport of a promotive signal transmitted from the leaves to the roots.

Conclusions
‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ infection changes the Fe distribution in tomato leaves, affects the photosynthetic machinery and perturbs the orchestration of root-mediated transport processes by compromising shoot-to-root communication.
Construction of a high-resolution genetic map and identification of quantitative trait loci for salt tolerance in jute (Corchous spp.)
Authors: Yang Zemao , Yang Youxin , Dai Zhigang , Xie Dongwei , Tang Qing , Cheng Chaohua , Xu Ying , Liu Chan , Deng Canhui , Chen Jiquan , Su Jianguang 
Published: September 2019

Abstract

Background
Jute (Corchorus spp.) is the most important natural fiber crop after cotton in terms of cultivation area and production. Salt stress greatly restricts plant development and growth. A high-density genetic linkage map is the basis of quantitative trait locus (QTLs) mapping. Several high-density genetic maps and QTLs mapping related to salt tolerance have been developed through next-generation sequencing in many crop species. However, such studies are rare for jute. Only several low-density genetic maps have been constructed and no salt tolerance-related QTL has been mapped in jute to date.

Results
We developed a high-density genetic map with 4839 single nucleotide polymorphism markers spanning 1375.41 cM and an average distance of 0.28 cM between adjacent markers on seven linkage groups (LGs) using an F2 jute population, LGs ranged from LG2 with 299 markers spanning 113.66 cM to LG7 with 1542 markers spanning 350.18 cM. In addition, 99.57% of gaps between adjacent markers were less than 5 cM. Three obvious and 13 minor QTLs involved in salt tolerance were identified on four LGs explaining 0.58–19.61% of the phenotypic variance. The interval length of QTL mapping varied from 1.3 to 20.2 cM. The major QTL, qJST-1, was detected under two salt stress conditions that explained 11.81 and 19.61% of the phenotypic variation, respectively, and peaked at 19.3 cM on LG4.

Conclusions
We developed the first high-density and the most complete genetic map of jute to date using a genotyping-by-sequencing approach. The first QTL mapping related to salt tolerance was also carried out in jute. These results should provide useful resources for marker-assisted selection and transgenic breeding for salt tolerance at the germination stage in jute.
Capturing pharmacists’ impact in general practice: an e-Delphi study to attempt to reach consensus amongst experts about what activities to record
Authors: Karampatakis Georgios Dimitrios , Ryan Kath , Patel Nilesh , Stretch Graham 
Published: September 2019

AbstractBackgroundIn the UK, there is ongoing integration of pharmacists into general practice as a new healthcare service in primary care. Evaluation of the service involves national measures that require pharmacists to record their work, on the general practice clinical computer systems, using electronic activity codes. No national agreement, however, has been established on what activities to record. The purpose of this study was to attempt to reach consensus on what activities general practice-based pharmacists should record.MethodsThe e-Delphi method was chosen as it is an excellent technique for achieving consensus. The study began with an initial stage in which screening of a general practice clinical computer system and discussion groups with pharmacists from two ‘pharmacists in general practice’ sites identified 81 codes potentially relevant to general practice-based pharmacists’ work. Twenty-nine experts (pharmacists and pharmacy technicians from the two sites along with experts recruited through national committees) were then invited by e-mail to participate as a panel in three e-Delphi questionnaire rounds. In each round, panellists were asked to grade or rank codes and justify their choices. In every round, panellists were provided with anonymised feedback from the previous round which included their individual choices along with their co-panellists’ views. Final consensus (in Round 3) was defined as at least 80% agreement. Commentaries on the codes from all e-Delphi rounds were pooled together and analysed thematically.ResultsTwenty-one individual panellists took part in the study (there were 12 responses in Round 1, 18 in Round 2 and 16 in Round 3). Commentaries on the codes included three themes: challenges and facilitators; level of detail; and activities related to funding. Consensus was achieved for ten codes, eight of which related to activities (general and disease specific medication reviews, monitoring of high-risk drugs and medicines reconciliation) and two to patient outcomes (presence of side effects and satisfactory understanding of medication).ConclusionsA formal consensus method revealed general practice-based pharmacists’ preferences for activity coding. Findings will inform policy so that any future shaping of activity coding for general practice-based pharmacists takes account of pharmacists’ actual needs and preferences.
Time to move? Factors associated with burden of care among informal caregivers of cognitively impaired older people facing housing decisions: secondary analysis of a cluster randomized trial
Authors: Boucher Alexandrine , Haesebaert Julie , Freitas Adriana , Adekpedjou Rhéda , Landry Marjolaine , Bourassa Henriette , Stacey Dawn , Croteau Jordie , Geneviève Painchaud-Guérard , Légaré France 
Published: September 2019

AbstractBackgroundMaking health-related decisions about loved ones with cognitive impairment may contribute to caregiver burden of care. We sought to explore factors associated with burden of care among informal caregivers who had made housing decisions on behalf of a cognitively impaired older person.MethodsWe conducted a secondary analysis within a cluster randomized trial (cRT) conducted in 16 publicly-funded home care service points across the Province of Quebec. The cRT assessed the impact of training home care teams in interprofessional shared decision making (IP-SDM). We assessed burden of care with the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) scale. We adapted Pallett’s framework to inform our data analysis. This framework posits that factors influencing burden of care among caregivers fall within four domains: (a) characteristics of the caregiver, (b) characteristics of the cognitively impaired older person, (c) characteristics of the relationship between the caregiver and the cognitively impaired older person, and (d) the caregiver’s perception of their social support resources. We computed the ZBI score and performed multilevel linear regression modelling.ResultsAmong 296 caregivers included in the dataset, the mean ZBI score was 29.8 (SD = 17.5) out of 88. The typical participant was 62.6 years old (SD = 11.7), female(74.7%), and caring for a mother or father (61.2%). Using multivariate analysis, factors significantly associated with caregiver burden mapped onto: caregiver characteristics (caregivers with higher burden were female, experienced higher decision regret and decisional conflict, preferred that their loved one move into the caregiver’s home, into a private nursing home or a mixed private-public nursing home, and had made the decision more recently); relationship characteristics (spouses and children experienced higher burden); and caregiver’s perception of social support resources (caregivers who perceived that a joint decision making process had occurred had higher burden).ConclusionIn line with the proposed framework used, we found that caregiver characteristics, relationship characteristics and caregiver’s perception of social support resources were associated with burden of care. Our results will help design interventions to prevent and/or reduce caregivers’ burden of care.Trial registrationNCT02244359. Date of registration: September 18, 2014.
Blood pressure and hypertension prevalence among oldest-old in China for 16 year: based on CLHLS
Authors: Du Jiajun , Zhu Guoning , Yue Yanhong , Liu Miao , He Yao 
Published: September 2019

Abstract

Background
There were little national data on hypertension based on the oldest-old, and lack of information on chronological changes. This study aimed to describe trends of blood pressure (BP) levels and hypertension prevalence for the past 16 years among the oldest-old in China.

Methods
All the oldest-old who had participated in the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) 1998 to 2014 with information about BP levels and hypertension were included in the analysis.

Results
There was fluctuation over the past 16 years for both SBP and DBP levels. The mean SBP level decreased from 148.4 ± 24.4 mmHg in 1998 to 130.8 ± 18.7 mmHg in 2005, and then increased to 139.7 ± 22.0 mmHg in 2014. The mean DBP level decreased from 84.3 ± 13.4 mmHg in 1998 to 78.9 ± 11.7 mmHg in 2008, and then increased to 79.7 ± 11.8 mmHg in 2014. The hypertension prevalence increased from 43.1 to 56.5% for the 16 years. The prevalence of isolated systolic hypertension was lowest in 2002–2005 (14.3%), and then increased to 30.7% in 2014. Multivariate logistic regression showed that older age, lower education and economic level, without health insurance were associated with higher hypertension prevalence.

Conclusions
There was a significant increase in hypertension prevalence among the Chinese oldest-old from 1998 to 2014. Greater efforts are needed for hypertension prevention among this specific population.
‘It’s what you do that makes a difference’ An interpretative phenomenological analysis of health care professionals and home care workers experiences of nutritional care for people living with dementia at home
Authors: Mole Louise , Kent Bridie , Hickson Mary , Abbott Rebecca 
Published: September 2019

AbstractBackgroundPeople living with dementia at home are a group who are at increased risk of malnutrition. Health care professionals and home care workers, are ideally placed to support nutritional care in this vulnerable group. Yet, few, if any studies, have captured the experiences of these workers in respect of treating and managing nutritional issues. This interpretative phenomenological study aimed to explore the experiences and perceptions of the nutritional care of people living with dementia at home from the perspectives of health care professionals and home care workers.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted between December 2017 and March 2018, and supplemented with the use of a vignette outlining a scenario of a husband caring for his wife with dementia. Health care professionals and home care workers were purposively recruited from local care providers in the south west of England, who had experience of working with people with dementia. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach was used throughout.ResultsSeven participants took part including two home care workers, a general practitioner, dietitian, occupational therapist, nurse and social worker. The time in their professions ranged from 3 to 15 years (mean = 8.9 years). Following analysis, four superordinate themes were identified: ‘responsibility to care’, ‘practice restrained by policy’, ‘in it together’, and ‘improving nutritional care’. This group of health care professionals and home care workers recognised the importance of improving nutritional care for people living with dementia at home, and felt a responsibility for it. However they felt that they were restricted by time and/or knowledge. The importance of supporting the family carer and working collaboratively was highlighted.ConclusionsHealth care professionals and home care workers require further training to better equip them to provide nutritional care for people living with dementia at home. Models of care may also need to be adapted to enable a more flexible and tailored approach to incorporate nutritional care. Future work in this area should focus on how health care professionals and home care workers can be better equipped to screen for malnutrition, and support changes to nutritional intake to mitigate malnutrition risk.
HLA-B*57:01 allele prevalence in treatment-Naïve HIV-infected patients from Colombia
Authors: Martínez Buitrago Ernesto , Oñate José Millán , García-Goez José Fernando , Álvarez Jorge , Lenis William , Sañudo Luz Marina , Rubiano Luisa Consuelo 
Published: September 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe HLA-B*57:01 allele is associated with a hypersensitivity reaction to abacavir. Due to the lack of knowledge of HLA-B*57:01 prevalence in Colombia, routine screening is not performed and is not recommended by the national guidelines. We aimed to determine the prevalence of HLA-B*57:01 in HIV population from Colombia.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included naïve HIV-infected adults from 13 cities of the country. The presence of HLA-B*57:01 was determined by using SSP-PCR in blood samples. Prevalence rates were stratified by sex, race, and region of origin.ResultsHLA-B*57:01 allele prevalence in Colombian HIV-infected individuals was 2.7%. When stratifying for the race, the prevalence was 4% for whites, 2.6% for other race (mainly mestizo), and 1.9% for Afro-Colombians. The prevalence varied from 0% up to 11.4% depending on the department of origin. The highest prevalence rates were found in Caldas (11.4%), Antioquia (5%), Risaralda (4.8%), and Valle del Cauca (4.3%). When distributed by country zones, the central, with a racial predominance of Caucasians and mestizos, was the highest (6.0%, 0R = 4.1, CI 1.2–12.8,p = 0,016).ConclusionsThe overall prevalence of HLA-B*57:01 in Colombia was lower than the reported rates for other Latin American countries such as Brazil, Costa Rica, and Argentina, but similar in comparison to Chile and Mexico. The diversity in the racial and ethnic heritage shown in our data supports the recommendation to implement routine screening for the HLA-B*57:01 allele before initiation of abacavir-containing antiretroviral therapy in the Colombian HIV management guidelines.