bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The function of CozE proteins is linked to lipoteichoic acid biosynthesis in
Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Barbuti Maria Disen , Lambert Elisabeth , Myrbråten Ine Storaker , Ducret Adrien , Stamsås Gro Anita , Wilhelm Linus , Liu Xue , Salehian Zhian , Veening Jan-Willem , Straume Daniel , Grangeasse Christophe , Perez Camilo , Kjos Morten 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT

Coordinated membrane and cell wall synthesis is vital for maintaining cell integrity and facilitating cell division in bacteria. However, the molecular mechanisms that underpin such coordination are poorly understood. Here we uncover the pivotal roles of the staphylococcal proteins CozEa and CozEb, members of a conserved family of membrane proteins previously implicated in bacterial cell division, in the biosynthesis of lipoteichoic acids (LTA) and maintenance of membrane homeostasis in
Staphylococcus aureus
. We establish that there is a synthetic lethal relationship between CozE and UgtP, the enzyme synthesizing the LTA glycolipid anchor Glc
2
DAG. By contrast, in cells lacking LtaA, the flippase of Glc
2
DAG, the essentiality of CozE proteins was alleviated, suggesting that the function of CozE proteins is linked to the synthesis and flipping of the glycolipid anchor. CozE proteins were indeed found to modulate the flipping activity of LtaA
in vitro
. Furthermore, CozEb was shown to control LTA polymer length and stability. Together, these findings establish CozE proteins as novel players in membrane homeostasis and LTA biosynthesis in
S. aureus
.

IMPORTANCE

Lipoteichoic acids are major constituents of the cell wall of Gram-positive bacteria. These anionic polymers are important virulence factors and modulators of antibiotic susceptibility in the important pathogen
Staphylococcus aureus
. They are also critical for maintaining cell integrity and facilitating proper cell division. In this work, we discover that a family of membrane proteins named CozE is involved in the biosynthesis of lipoteichoic acids (LTAs) in
S. aureus
. CozE proteins have previously been shown to affect bacterial cell division, but we here show that these proteins affect LTA length and stability, as well as the flipping of glycolipids between membrane leaflets. This new mechanism of LTA control may thus have implications for the virulence and antibiotic susceptibility of
S. aureus
.
Higher odds of meniscectomy compared with meniscus repair in a young patient population with increased neighbourhood disadvantage
Authors: Dadoo Sahil , Keeling Laura E , Engler Ian D , Chang Audrey Y , Runer Armin , Kaarre Janina , Irrgang James J , Hughes Jonathan D , Musahl Volker 
Published: May 2024

ObjectivesTo investigate the impact of demographic and socioeconomic factors on the management of isolated meniscus tears in young patients and to identify trends in surgical management of meniscus tears based on surgeon volume.MethodsData from a large healthcare system on patients aged 14–44 years who underwent isolated meniscus surgery between 2016 and 2022 were analysed. Patient demographics, socioeconomic factors and surgeon volume were recorded. Patient age was categorised as 14–29 years and 30–44 years old. Area Deprivation Index (ADI), a measure of neighbourhood disadvantage with increased ADI corresponding to more disadvantage, was grouped as <25th, 25–75th and >75th percentile. Multivariate comparisons were made between procedure groups while univariate comparisons were made between surgeon groups.ResultsThe study included 1552 patients treated by 84 orthopaedic surgeons. Older age and higher ADI were associated with higher odds of undergoing meniscectomy. Patients of older age and with non-private insurance were more likely to undergo treatment by a lower-volume knee surgeon. Apart from the year 2022, higher-volume knee surgeons performed significantly higher rates of meniscus repair compared with lower-volume knee surgeons. When controlling for surgeon volume, higher ADI remained a significant predictor of undergoing meniscectomy over meniscus repair.ConclusionSignificant associations exist between patient factors and surgical choices for isolated meniscus tears in younger patients. Patients of older age and with increased neighbourhood disadvantage were more likely to undergo meniscectomy versus meniscus repair. While higher-volume knee surgeons favoured meniscus repair, a growing trend of meniscus repair rates was observed among lower-volume knee surgeons.Level of evidenceRetrospective cohort study, level III.
Early versus Late Application of Subthalamic deep brain Stimulation to Parkinson’s disease patients with motor complications (ELASS): protocol of a multicentre, prospective and observational study
Authors: Jiang Lulu , Poon Wai Sang , Moro Elena , Xian Wenbiao , Yang Chao , Zhu Xian Lun , Gu Jing , Cai Xiaodong , Liu Jinlong , Mok Vincent , Liu Yanmei , Xu Shaohua , Guo Qiyu , Chen Wanru , Chen Ling 
Published: May 2024

IntroductionDeep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is a well-established surgical treatment for Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, there is currently no consensus on the best timing for this surgery. The aim of our study is to compare the therapeutic efficacy of bilateral STN DBS in patients with PD with early and late motor complications.Methods and analysis200 patients with PD will be enrolled in this multicentre, prospective, observational study, and will be followed up for 4 years. Patients with PD who meet the criteria for STN DBS surgery will be allocated to either the early stimulation group or the late stimulation group based on the duration of their motor complications. The primary outcome will be changes in quality of life from baseline to 4 years, measured using the 39-item Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire Summary Index. The secondary outcomes include changes in motor function measured using Movement Disorder Society-revised Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) Part III, self-reported experiences of daily living measured using MDS-UPDRS Part I B and Part II, good ’on' time recorded by the patients using a diary and safety profile of both groups.Ethics and disseminationThe study received ethical approval from the Medical Ethical Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University. The results of this study will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at international conferences.Trial registration numberNCT01922388; Pre-results.
Changing physical activity behaviour for people with multiple sclerosis: protocol of a randomised controlled feasibility trial (iStep-MS)
Authors: Ryan Jennifer M , Fortune Jennifer , Stennett Andrea , Kilbride Cherry , Anokye Nana , Victor Christina , Hendrie Wendy , Abdul Mohamed , DeSouza Lorraine , Lavelle Grace , Brewin Debbie , David Lee , Norris Meriel 
Published: May 2024

IntroductionAlthough physical activity may reduce disease burden, fatigue and disability, and improve quality of life among people with multiple sclerosis (MS), many people with MS are physically inactive and spend significant time in sedentary behaviour. Behaviour change interventions may assist people with MS to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour. However, few studies have investigated their effectiveness using objective measures of physical activity, particularly in the long term. Further, interventions that have proven effective in the short term may not be feasible in clinical practice because of the large amount of support provided. The iStep-MS trial aims to determine the safety, feasibility and acceptability of a behaviour change intervention to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour among people with MS.Methods and analysisSixty people with MS will be randomised (1:1 ratio) to receive a 12-week intervention or usual care only. The intervention consists of four physical activity consultations with a physiotherapist supported by a handbook and pedometer. Outcomes assessed at baseline, 12 weeks and 9 months are physical activity (ActiGraph wGT3X-BT accelerometer), sedentary behaviour (activPAL3µ), self-reported activity and sitting time, walking capability, fatigue, self-efficacy, participation, quality of life and health service use. The safety of the intervention will be determined by assessing change in pain and fatigue and the incidence of adverse events during the follow-up period. A parallel process evaluation will assess the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention through assessment of fidelity to the programme and semistructured interviews exploring participants’ and therapists’ experiences of the intervention. The feasibility of conducting an economic evaluation will be determined by collecting data on quality of life and resource use.Ethics and disseminationResearch ethics committee approval has been granted from Brunel University London. Results of the trial will be submitted for publication in journals and distributed to people with MS and physiotherapists.Trial registration numberISRCTN15343862(doi 10.1186/ISRCTN15343862). Protocol version: 1.0; Pre-results.
Psychological, behavioural and physiological effects of three long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) methods: protocol for an ancillary study of the ECHO randomised trial
Authors: Singata-Madliki Mandisa , Hofmeyr G Justus , Carayon-Lefebvre d’Hellencourt Florence , Lawrie Theresa Anne 
Published: May 2024

IntroductionThis is the protocol for an ancillary study to the multicentre Evidence for Contraceptive Options and HIV Outcomes (ECHO) Trial, a three-arm randomised trial comparing the effects of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), the levonorgestrel (LNG) implant and the copper intrauterine device (IUD) on HIV incidence (NCT02550067pre-results). The ancillary study will compare other non-contraceptive effects of these three long-acting, reversible contraceptions about which there is little existing comparative evidence.Methods and analysisWomen randomised to IUD, DMPA and LNG implant (1:1:1) at one of the ECHO trial sites will be asked to participate in the ancillary study at the 1-month follow-up visit. Research staff will interview women that consent to participate at the 3-month follow-up visit. Primary outcomes are depression, sexual dysfunction and menstrual disturbances. The Beck Depression Inventory will be used to assess depression and the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale to assess sexual dysfunction. Participants will also be asked to prospectively complete a 28-day symptom diary. The required sample size is 522 participants. Depression scores will be analysed as continuous and categorical variables. Analysis will be by intention to treat.Ethics and disseminationThe ancillary study protocol received ethical approval from the University of the Witwatersrand Committee for Research on Human Subjects on 17 February 2016 (reference no. 14112). The results will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed open-access journal.Trial registration numberPACTR201706001651380.
What are the barriers towards cervical cancer screening for vulnerable women? A qualitative comparative analysis of stakeholder perspectives in seven European countries
Authors: Bøje Rikke Buus , Bardou Marc , Mensah Keitly , Rico Berrocal Raquel , Giorgi Rossi Paolo , Bonvicini Laura , Auzzi Noemi , Taut Diana , Jiboc Nicoleta , Tisler Anna , Reintamm Kerli , Uusküla Anneli , Teixeira Margarida , Firmino-Machado João , Amorim Mariana , Baia Ines , Lunet Nuno , Michaylova Raya , Panayotova Yulia , Kotzeva Tatyana , Andersen Berit , Kirkegaard Pia 
Published: May 2024

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to map and compare stakeholders’ perceptions of barriers towards cervical cancer screening for vulnerable women in seven European countries.DesignIn Collaborative User Boards, stakeholders were invited to participate to identify barriers towards participation in cervical cancer screening.SettingThe study is nested in the European Union-funded project CBIG-SCREEN which aims to tackle inequity in cervical cancer screening for vulnerable women (www.cbig-screen.eu). Data collection took place in Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, France, Italy, Portugal and Romania.ParticipantsParticipants represented micro-level stakeholders covering representatives of users, that is, vulnerable women, meso-level stakeholders covering healthcare professionals and social workers, and macro-level stakeholders covering programme managers and decision-makers.MethodsAcross the seven countries, 25 meetings in Collaborative User Boards with a duration of 2 hours took place between October 2021 and June 2022. The meetings were video recorded or audio recorded, transcribed and translated into English for a qualitative framework analysis.Results120 participants took part in the Collaborative User Boards. Context-specific barriers were related to different healthcare systems and characteristics of vulnerable populations. In Romania and Bulgaria, the lack of a continuous screening effort and lack of ways to identify eligible women were identified as barriers for all women rather than being specific for women in vulnerable situations. The participants in Denmark, Estonia, France, Italy and Portugal identified providers’ lack of cultural and social sensitivity towards vulnerable women as barriers. In all countries, vulnerable women’s fear, shame and lack of priority to preventive healthcare were identified as psychological barriers.ConclusionThe study provides an overview of stakeholders’ perceived barriers towards vulnerable women’s cervical cancer screening participation in seven European countries. The organisation of healthcare systems and the maturity of screening programmes differ between countries, while vulnerable women’s psychological barriers had several similarities.
Association between hypertensive disorders and Bell’s palsy in pregnancy: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Ya-Na , Yang Lin-Yi , Xue Zhi-Wei , Zhou Shu 
Published: May 2024

BackgroundBell’s palsy is an idiopathic peripheral nerve palsy involving the facial nerve. Pregnancy, diabetes mellitus and hypertension are the risk factors for Bell’s palsy. However, the association between hypertensive disorders and Bell’s palsy during pregnancy or the puerperium remains unclear. This systematic review will comprehensively summarise the literature and evaluate the association between Bell’s palsy and hypertensive disorders during pregnancy or the puerperium.Methods and analysisSystematic searches of PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials will be undertaken using prespecified search strategies. Observational studies (cross-sectional studies, cohort studies, case reports and series case reports) written in English that investigate the association between hypertensive disorders of late pregnancy and Bell’s palsy during pregnancy or the puerperium will be included. Different authors will independently conduct the eligible study selection, perform data extraction and appraise the quality of included studies. Subgroup analysis will be carried out based on the age of pregnant women (≤35 years old, >35 years old), parity (primipara, multipara) and fetus number (singleton or multiple-gestation pregnancy).Ethics and disseminationThis review will be based on published literature, and thus there is no requirement for ethics approval. The results of this study will aid in the knowledge of the relationship between Bell’s palsy during pregnancy or the puerperium and hypertensive disorders of late pregnancy. The results of this systematic review will be shared through publication in a peer-reviewed journal with good visibility for the field of obstetrics and presentations at academic conferences.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42023422902.
Time to first birth and its predictors among reproductive-age women in Ethiopia: multilevel analysis using shared frailty model
Authors: Feyisa Bikila Regassa , Shiferaw Desalegn , Yesse Mubarek , Shama Adisu Tafari , Duressa Lemessa Terefe , Biru Bayise 
Published: May 2024

ObjectiveTo determine the time to first birth and its predictors among reproductive-age women in Ethiopia.Design, setting and participantsNationwide secondary data analysis using mini Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey, 2019. A stratified, two-stage cluster sampling technique was used to select the sample. Among 9012 women of age 15–49 years, 8885 completed the interview yielding a response rate of 99%.Main outcomes measuredTime to first birth was determined. Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the time to first birth. The lognormal inverse Gaussian shared frailty model was used to model the data at a 95% CI. CI and adjusted time ratio (ATR) were reported as effect size. Statistical significance was declared at p-value<0.05.ResultsThe overall median time to give first birth was 18 years (IQR: 15, 21). Age 20–29 (ATR=1.08; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.12), Age>29 years (ATR=1.08; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.11), northern regions (ATR=1.06; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.08), rural residence (ATR=0.95; 95% CI, 0.93 to 0.98), never using contraceptive methods (ATR=0.98; 95% CI, 0.96 to 0.99), sex of household head (ATR=1.01; 95% CI, 1 to 1.03), poorest wealth index (ATR=1.04; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.06) and richest wealth index (ATR=1.07; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.1) were the significant predictors of time to first birth among reproductive-age women.ConclusionIn Ethiopia, women often gave birth to their first child at a younger age than what is recommended. Explicitly, women aged 20–29 and over 29, living in the northern region, leading a household as females, and belonging to the poorest or wealthiest wealth index tended to have a slightly delayed first childbirth. On the other hand, women in rural areas and those who had never used contraception were more likely to have an early first birth. The findings indicated the necessity of implementing targeted measures for rural Ethiopian women, especially those lacking knowledge about contraception.
Prevalence of neural tube defect and its identification during antenatal period: a cross-sectional study in eastern Indian state
Authors: Mahalik Santosh Kumar , Singh Arvind Kumar , Pati Akash Bihari , Rout Lipipuspa , Mallisha Subhra 
Published: May 2024

ObjectiveTo estimate the prevalence of neural tube defects among all birth outcomes in Odisha during 2016–2022. Additionally, to estimate the identification rate of neural tube defects during Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan sessions.DesignA population-based cross-sectional study with a household survey for neural tube defects using pictorial card as well as a hospital-based study for antenatal ultrasonography data.SettingThe sample population was selected through multistage random sampling. In the first stage, one district from each zone was selected randomly. In the second stage, using simple random sampling, one community health centre and one urban primary health centre were selected from each district. In the third stage, the population from a block and ward were picked from the selected rural and urban settings, respectively.ParticipantsAll married women in the reproductive age group (18–49 years) residing in these cluster villages in the selected districts were enrolled.ResultsThe study surveyed 49 215 women and recorded 50 196 birth outcomes, including 49 174 live births, 890 stillbirths and 132 medical terminations of pregnancy. A total of 30 neural tube defect cases were detected. The overall prevalence rate of neural tube defect was 0.59 per 1000 birth outcomes. Spina bifida was the most prevalent neural tube defect with the prevalence of, followed by anencephaly and encephalocele. Despite 26 860 mothers receiving antenatal ultrasonography Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan session, data on neural tube defects and other birth defects detected through these scans is unavailable.ConclusionThis study found a low prevalence of neural tube defect in Odisha, which is far lower compared with the older studies from India. There is an urgent need to strengthen the quality of antenatal care services provided under Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan through better training regarding anomaly scans and better data keeping at public healthcare facilities.Trial registration numberCTRI/2021/06/034487.
Coproduced, arts interventions for nurturing care (0–5 years) in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs): a realist review
Authors: Gale Nicola Kay , Ahmed Kalim , Diarra Niélé Hawa , Manaseki-Holland Semira , Asamane Evans , Sidibé Cheick Sidya , Touré Ousmane , Wilson Michael , Griffiths Paula 
Published: May 2024

ObjectivesCommunity-based arts interventions have the potential to support contextually relevant nurturing care programmes and policies that adapt to different settings. Understanding the distinctive features of using the arts in local, culturally specific ways in low/middle-income countries (LMICs); how this varies by context; and gaining a better understanding of the perspectives on desirable outcomes for communities is important evidence that this review generates.DesignWe conducted a realist review of papers that covered outcomes related to child health or development (0–5 years) AND arts-based approaches AND community-based, participatory approaches AND based in LMICs using a range of databases and other networks. A coding framework was developed covering context, intervention, outcomes, mechanisms, study, sustainability, transferability and scalability.ResultsThe included papers reported 18 unique interventions. Interventions covered 14 countries, with evidence lacking for South America, Arab countries and parts of Africa. Lead authors came from mostly clinical science-based disciplines and from institutions in a different country to the country/countries studied. Intended outcomes from interventions included clinical, health systems/organisation, changes in practices/behaviours/knowledge/attitudes, and wider social and educational goals. We identified three demi-regularities (semi-predictable patterns or pathways of programme functioning): participatory design based on valuing different sources of expertise; dynamic adaptation of intervention to context; and community participation in arts-based approaches.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that arts-based, nurturing care interventions have greater potential when they include local knowledge, embed into existing infrastructures and there is a clear plan for ongoing resourcing of the intervention. Studies with better documentation of the lessons learnt, regarding the intervention delivery process and the power dynamics involved, are needed to better understand what works, for whom and in which contexts.