bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Explorations on the antiviral potential of zinc and magnesium salts against chikungunya virus: implications for therapeutics
Authors: Davuluri Kusuma Sai , Shukla Shridhar , Kakade Mahadeo , Cherian Sarah , Alagarasu Kalichamy , Parashar Deepti 
Published: June 2024

BackgroundChikungunya virus (CHIKV), which causes chikungunya fever, is an arbovirus of public health concern with no approved antiviral therapies. A significant proportion of patients develop chronic arthritis after an infection. Zinc and magnesium salts help the immune system respond effectively against viral infections. This study explored the antiviral potential of zinc sulphate, zinc acetate, and magnesium sulphate against CHIKV infection.MethodsThe highest non-toxic concentration of the salts (100 µM) was used to assess the prophylactic, virucidal, and therapeutic anti-CHIKV activities. Dose-dependent antiviral effects were investigated to find out the 50% inhibitory concentration of the salts. Entry bypass assay was conducted to find out whether the salts affect virus entry or post entry stages. Virus output in all these experiments was estimated using a focus-forming unit assay, real-time RT-PCR, and immunofluorescence assay.ResultsDifferent time- and temperature-dependent assays revealed the therapeutic antiviral activity of zinc and magnesium salts against CHIKV. A minimum exposure of 4 hours and treatment initiation within 1 to 2 hours of infection are required for inhibition of CHIKV. Entry assays revealed that zinc salt affected virus-entry. Entry bypass assays suggested that both salts affected post-entry stages of CHIKV. In infected C57BL6 mice orally fed with zinc and magnesium salts, a reduction in viral RNA copy number was observed.ConclusionThe study results suggest zinc salts exert anti-CHIKV activity at entry and post entry stages of the virus life cycle, while magnesium salt affect CHIKV at post entry stages. Overall, the study highlights the significant antiviral potential of zinc sulphate, zinc acetate, and magnesium sulphate against CHIKV, which can be exploited in designing potential therapeutic strategies for early treatment of chikungunya patients, thereby reducing the virus-associated persistent arthritis.
The association between hepatitis C virus infection status and blood pressure in adults in the United States: NHANES 1999–2012
Authors: Yang Feng , Luo Jianping 
Published: June 2024

BackgroundThe Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is strongly associated with cardiovascular disease risk factors, but the relationship with blood pressure (BP) remains unclear.ObjectivesTo assess the association between HCV infection status and BP in US adults.MethodsData for the study were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 1999 and 2012. The association of HCV infection status (including HCV infection, current HCV infection, and past HCV infection) with hypertension, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were explored using logistic or linear regression analyses respectively.ResultsA total of 25,850 participants (age≥18 years) were enrolled in the current study, including 14,162 participants with hypertension. After adjusting for all covariates, HCV infection/current HCV infection was not associated with hypertension and SBP compared to participants with non-HCV infection (OR: 1.34,95% CI 0.96–1.87/1.31 95% CI 0.91,1.91, β: -0.92, 95% CI -2.7–0.86/-0.35 95% CI -2.51,1.81, respectively). HCV infection/current HCV infection was only associated with elevated DBP (β: 4.1,95% CI 2.57–5.63/4.24,95% CI 2.27–6.21). However, there was no correlation with past HCV infection in participants with hypertension, SBP, and DBP compared to those with non-HCV infection (OR: 1.23,95% CI 0.59–2.54; β: -3.79, 95% CI -7.67–0.08 and 2.28 95% CI -0.36–4.92, respectively).ConclusionIn a representative sample of US adults, it was found that both HCV infection and current HCV infection were independently linked to higher DBP. However, there was no association between past HCV infection and DBP.
Building national patient registries in Mexico: insights from the MexOMICS Consortium
Authors: Reyes-Pérez Paula , Hernández-Ledesma Ana Laura , Román-López Talía V. , García-Vilchis Brisa , Ramírez-González Diego , Lázaro-Figueroa Alejandra , Martinez Domingo , Flores-Ocampo Victor , Espinosa-Méndez Ian M. , Tinajero-Nieto Lizbet , Peña-Ayala Angélica , Morelos-Figaredo Eugenia , Guerra-Galicia Carlos M. , Torres-Valdez Estefania , Gordillo-Huerta María Vanessa , Gandarilla-Martínez Nadia A , Salinas-Barboza Karla , Félix-Rodríguez Guillermo , Frontana-Vázquez Gabriel , Matuk-Pérez Yamil , Estrada-Bellmann Ingrid , Alpizar-Rodríguez Deshiré , Rodríguez-Violante Mayela , Rentería Miguel E. , Ruíz-Contreras Alejandra E. , Alcauter Sarael , Medina-Rivera Alejandra 
Published: June 2024

ObjectiveTo introduce MexOMICS, a Mexican Consortium focused on establishing electronic databases to collect, cross-reference, and share health-related and omics data on the Mexican population.MethodsSince 2019, the MexOMICS Consortium has established three electronic-based registries: the Mexican Twin Registry (TwinsMX), Mexican Lupus Registry (LupusRGMX), and the Mexican Parkinson's Research Network (MEX-PD), designed and implemented using the Research Electronic Data Capture web-based application. Participants were enrolled through voluntary participation and on-site engagement with medical specialists. We also acquired DNA samples and Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans in subsets of participants.ResultsThe registries have successfully enrolled a large number of participants from a variety of regions within Mexico: TwinsMX (n = 2,915), LupusRGMX (n = 1,761) and MEX-PD (n = 750). In addition to sociodemographic, psychosocial, and clinical data, MexOMICS has collected DNA samples to study the genetic biomarkers across the three registries. Cognitive function has been assessed with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment in a subset of 376 MEX-PD participants. Furthermore, a subset of 267 twins have participated in cognitive evaluations with the Creyos platform and in MRI sessions acquiring structural, functional, and spectroscopy brain imaging; comparable evaluations are planned for LupusRGMX and MEX-PD.ConclusionsThe MexOMICS registries offer a valuable repository of information concerning the potential interplay of genetic and environmental factors in health conditions among the Mexican population.
Understanding the use of CATI and web-based data collection methods during the pandemic among digitally challenged groups at FQHCs: data from the All of Us Research Program
Authors: Kini Soumya , Cawi Kimberly Marie , Duluk Dave , Yamazaki Katrina , McQueen Matthew B. 
Published: June 2024

IntroductionThe All of Us Research Program (Program) is an ongoing epidemiologic cohort study focused on collecting lifestyle, health, socioeconomic, environmental, and biological data from 1 million US-based participants. The Program has a focus on enrolling populations that are underrepresented in biomedical research (UBR). Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are a key recruitment stream of UBR participants. The Program is digital by design where participants complete surveys via web-based platform. As many FQHC participants are not digitally ready, recruitment and retention is a challenge, requiring high-touch methods. However, high-touch methods ceased as an option in March 2020 when the Program paused in-person activities because of the pandemic. In January 2021, the Program introduced Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) to help participants complete surveys remotely. This paper aims to understand the association between digital readiness and mode of survey completion (CATI vs. web-based platform) by participants at FQHCs.MethodsThis study included 2,089 participants who completed one or more surveys via CATI and/or web-based platform between January 28, 2021 (when CATI was introduced) and January 27, 2022 (1 year since CATI introduction).Results and discussionResults show that among the 700 not-digitally ready participants, 51% used CATI; and of the 1,053 digitally ready participants, 30% used CATI for completing retention surveys. The remaining 336 participants had “Unknown/Missing” digital readiness of which, 34% used CATI. CATI allowed survey completion over the phone with a trained staff member who entered responses on the participant's behalf. Regardless of participants' digital readiness, median time to complete retention surveys was longer with CATI compared to web. CATI resulted in fewer skipped responses than the web-based platform highlighting better data completeness. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of using CATI for improving response rates in online surveys, especially among populations that are digitally challenged. Analyses provide insights for NIH, healthcare providers, and researchers on the adoption of virtual tools for data collection, telehealth, telemedicine, or patient portals by digitally challenged groups even when in-person assistance continues to remain as an option. It also provides insights on the investment of staff time and support required for virtual administration of tools for health data collection.
A proposed guide to reducing bias and improving assessments of decolonization in global health research
Authors: Ngaruiya Christine , Muhammad Muzzammil Imran , Sam-Agudu Nadia A. 
Published: June 2024

IntroductionThe movement to decolonize global health encompasses efforts to dismantle historically inequitable structures and processes in global health research, education, and practice. However, despite increasing literature on the decolonization of global health, gaps between action and knowledge exist in assessments of knowledge production. In this Perspective, we will outline potential biases in current approaches to assessing knowledge production and propose a systems-focused guide to improve the interrogation of knowledge production in this field.MethodsWe leverage the “Inner Setting” and “Outer Setting” domains of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), a well-established, commonly-used implementation science framework to critically assess the status quo of decolonization and to develop criteria to help guide decolonization efforts in academic contexts. We defined the Inner Setting as academic and research institutions leading and participating in global health research collaborations, and the Outer Setting as the funding, editorial, and peer review policies and practices that influence knowledge production in global health. Research institutions in the Inner organizational domain continually interact with the Outer policy domains. We categorize the levels at which decolonization may occur and where action should be focused as follows: (1) North–South, (2) South–South, (3) Local South, and (4) Local North. Using CFIR domains and the levels of action for decolonization, we propose a multi-level guide to improve on the standardization, granularity, and accuracy of decolonization assessments in global health research.Conclusion and expected impactThe proposed guide is informed by our global health research expertise and experiences as African scientists with extensive exposure in both global North and global South research contexts. We expect that the proposed guide will help to identify and address the biases identified and will lead to better knowledge-driven action in the process of decolonizing global health research.
A multi-tiered mentoring community approach to research experiences for local students from disadvantaged and underrepresented minority backgrounds
Authors: McKean Thomas , Bates LaShall , Bates Gary , Wiersma-Mosley Jacquelyn D. , Wickramasinghe S. Ranil 
Published: June 2024

IntroductionA research and mentoring program was developed to provide local first-generation students, students returning to school after a professional experience, and underrepresented minority students resources and relationships to guide them toward a STEM degree from a four-year university.MethodsA multi-tiered mentoring community was formed including direct mentoring from graduate students and faculty advisors, peer mentoring among undergraduate students from different colleges and universities, and high school students to increase the accessibility of research opportunities for this demographic. Local students were recruited from Northwest Arkansas Community College and Upward Bound to combine community college and high school students in a novel manner. The programs were integrated whenever possible to emphasize peer mentoring, including mentoring lunches, research meetings, presentation sessions, conference presentations, and professional development mentoring sessions.ResultsOn the post-program survey, students indicated the community formed in the program supported their STEM identity development, provided them with quality relationships, and developed skills valuable to completion of a STEM degree. This identity development was further evidenced by the students presenting their work at a conference and obtaining additional research positions after the summer program ended.ConclusionThe post-program scores and continued efforts of different demographics of students to pursue STEM highlight the versatility of the multi-tiered mentoring community model to serve students from different ages, backgrounds, and demographics.
Temporal trend of age at menarche in Korean females born between 1927 and 2004: a population-based study
Authors: Lee Da Hye , Kim Jaehyun , Kim Hwa Young 
Published: June 2024

BackgroundsThe age at menarche has decreased worldwide. Previous studies on Korean adolescents have reported a downward trend in age at menarche. This study aimed to investigate the current trends in age at menarche among Korean adolescents using nationally representative data.Materials and methodsThe study used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–2021. A total of 50,730 females born between 1927 and 2004 with information on age at menarche were included. The trend in age at menarche was analyzed according to 15 birth-year groups (with 5-year intervals) using quantile regression analysis.ResultsThe mean age at menarche decreased from 16.92 ± 0.06 years for females born before 1935 to 12.45 ± 0.04 years for females born between 2000 and 2004 (p &lt;.001). According to the percentile group of age at menarche, mean menarche age decreased by –0.071 years per year (95% confidence interval [CI], –0.072 to –0.070) in total, –0.050 years per year (95% CI, –0.052 to –0.048) in the 3rd percentile group, –0.088 years per year (95% CI, –0.091 to –0.085) in the 97th percentile group (p &lt;.001 for all). A decreasing trend of age at menarche was more prominent in the obesity group (–0.080 years per year, 95% CI, –0.082 to –0.078) compared to the non-obesity group (–0.069 years per year, 95% CI, –0.071 to –0.068) (p &lt;.001 for both).ConclusionOngoing downward trend in age at menarche was observed in Korean females born until 2004, decreasing by 0.71 years per decade. The downward trend was faster in individuals with a higher percentile of age at menarche and in those with obesity.
Dependency of mitochondrial quantity on blastocyst timeline obscures its actual effect to pregnancy outcomes
Authors: Chuang Tzu-Hsuan , Chou Hsin-Hua , Kuan Chin-Sheng , Liu Shu-Cheng , Kao Chia-Wei , Wu Yi-Hsin , Lai Hsing-Hua , Hsieh Chia-Lin , Liang Yi-Ting , Chen Chien-Yu , Chen Shee-Uan 
Published: June 2024

ObjectivesTo explore the correlation between mitochondrial quantity and the blastocyst development timeline as well as their respective contributions to early pregnancy.MethodsA retrospective study was conducted using a dataset comprising 2,633 embryos that underwent preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) between January 2016 and December 2023. The study was divided into three subsets to address distinct aspects: the representativeness of a single trophectoderm (TE) biopsy for mitochondrial quantity (n=43), the correlation between morphokinetic features and mitochondrial quantity (n=307), and the association analysis among mitochondrial quantity, blastocyst timeline factor, and reproductive outcomes (n=2,283). Distribution assessment of mitochondrial quantity across an individual blastocyst involved the identification within multiple biopsies and spent culture media. Timeline evaluation included correlating mitochondrial quantity with time-lapse datasets. Finally, multivariate logistic regression models, incorporating potential effectors alongside mitochondrial quantity, were employed to analyze their respective contributions to early pregnancy endpoints.ResultsOf distribution assessment, mitochondrial quantity exhibited an even distribution across the entire trophectoderm (Spearman’s ρ=0.82), while no detectable mtDNAs in the corresponding spent culture media. Then the timeline correlation study revealed significant association between mitochondrial quantity and blastocyst features of both the day of expanded blastocyst formation (95% Confidence intervals, CIs: 0.27~4.89, p=0.03) and the timing of expanded blastocyst formation (tEB) (95% CIs: -0.24~-0.01, p=0.04) in the regression model, indicating a strong dependency between mitochondrial quantity and the blastocyst development timeline. For the contribution to early pregnancy, multivariate logistic regression models showed that the day of expanded blastocyst formation contributed to four endpoints persistently: positive for HCG (odd ratio, OR: 0.71, p=0.006), gestational sac (OR: 0.78, p=0.04), fetal heartbeat (OR: 0.71, p=0.004), and progression to 14 weeks (OR: 0.69, p=0.002). Contrastingly, no notable correlation was observed between the mitochondrial quantity and these endpoints.ConclusionsStrong interaction was observed between mitochondrial quantity and the blastocyst timeline, particularly the timing of expanded blastocyst formation. It suggests that the primary determinant influencing pregnancy outcomes lies in the time-dependent parameter of blastocyst rather than in the specific mitochondrial quantity.
Mitochondrial genome complexity in Stemona sessilifolia: nanopore sequencing reveals chloroplast gene transfer and DNA rearrangements
Authors: Xie Yuning , Liu Wenqiong , Guo Liwen , Zhang Xuemei 
Published: June 2024

Mitochondria are semi-autonomous organelles in eukaryotic cells with their own genome. Plant mitogenomes differ from animal mitogenomes in size, structure, and repetitive DNA sequences. Despite larger sizes, plant mitogenomes do not have significantly more genes. They exhibit diverse structures due to variations in size, repetitive DNA, recombination frequencies, low gene densities, and reduced nucleotide substitution rates. In this study, we analyzed the mitochondrial genome of Stemona sessilifolia using Nanopore and Illumina sequencing. De-novo assembly and annotation were conducted using Unicycler, Geseq, tRNAscan-SE and BLASTN, followed by codon usage, repeat sequence, RNA-editing, synteny, and phylogenetic analyses. S. sessilifolia’s mitogenome consisted of one linear contig and six circular contigs totaling 724,751 bp. It had 39 protein-coding genes, 27 tRNA genes, and 3 rRNA genes. Transfer of chloroplast sequences accounted for 13.14% of the mitogenome. Various analyses provided insights into genetic characteristics, evolutionary dynamics, and phylogenetic placement. Further investigations can explore transferred genes’ functions and RNA-editing’s role in mitochondrial gene expression in S. sessilifolia.
Health care and contraceptive decision-making autonomy and use of female sterilisation among married women in Malawi
Authors: Alhassan Nurudeen 
Published: June 2024

IntroductionFemale sterilisation is the most common contraceptive method used globally. The use of female sterilisation is disproportionately low in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) at just 1%. Nonetheless, the prevalence of sterilisation among married women in Malawi is quite high at about 11%. While a few recent studies in SSA have examined the relationship between women's decision-making autonomy and use of long-acting contraceptives, very few have investigated whether different dimensions of decision-making autonomy predict the use of female sterilisation differently. The objective of this study was therefore to examine the relationship between health care and contraceptive decision-making autonomy and the use of female sterilisation in Malawi.Data and methodsThe study relied on secondary data from the 2015–16 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey. The sample comprised 9,164 married women in Malawi that were using a modern contraceptive. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between health care and contraceptive decision-making autonomy and the use of female sterilisation, controlling for key socio-demographic characteristics.ResultsThe study revealed that the percentage of married women that made health care and contraceptive decisions independently was quite low. The main finding of this study was that contraceptive decision-making autonomy increased the relative likelihood of using female sterilisation while health care autonomy was associated with a lower likelihood of being sterilized. The socio- demographic characteristics that significantly predicted the use of female sterilisation included age, place of residence, household wealth and the number of children a woman had.ConclusionThis study demonstrates that health care and contraceptive decision making have different effects on the use of female sterilisation among married women in Malawi. Specifically, women with autonomy in health care decision making had a relatively lower likelihood of using female sterilisation while those with contraceptive decision-making autonomy had a higher likelihood of using female sterilisation. This suggests that intervention aimed at increasing the uptake of female sterilisation in Malawi need to focus on empowering women in the contraceptive decision-making domain.