bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of paracetamol/acetaminophen on the expression of solute carriers (SLCs) in late‐gestation fetal rat brain, choroid plexus and the placenta
Authors: Huang Yifan , Qiu Fiona , Dziegielewska Katarzyna M. , Koehn Liam M. , Habgood Mark D. , Saunders Norman R. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractSolute carriers (SLCs) regulate transfer of a wide range of molecules across cell membranes using facilitative or secondary active transport. In pregnancy, these transporters, expressed at the placental barrier, are important for delivery of nutrients to the fetus, whilst also limiting entry of potentially harmful substances, such as drugs. In the present study, RNA‐sequencing analysis was used to investigate expression of SLCs in the fetal (embryonic day 19) rat brain, choroid plexus and placenta in untreated control animals and following maternal paracetamol treatment. In the treated group, paracetamol (15 mg/kg) was administered to dams twice daily for 5 days (from embryonic day 15 to 19). In untreated animals, overall expression of SLCs was highest in the placenta. In the paracetamol treatment group, expression of several SLCs was significantly different compared with control animals, with ion, amino acid, neurotransmitter and sugar transporters most affected. The number of SLC transcripts that changed significantly following treatment was the highest in the choroid plexus and lowest in the brain. All SLC transcripts that changed in the placenta following paracetamol treatment were downregulated. These results suggest that administration of paracetamol during pregnancy could potentially disrupt fetal nutrient homeostasis and affect brain development, resulting in major consequences for the neonate and extending into childhood.
Experiments on Tuned UHBR Open-Test-Case Fan ECL5/CATANA: Performance and Aerodynamics
Authors: Schneider Alexandra P. , Fiquet Anne-Lise , Paoletti Benoit , Ottavy Xavier , Brandstetter Christoph 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
With the advancement of modern fan architectures, the lack of experimental benchmarks for the research community became apparent in the recent years. Enormous effort in the method development could not be validated on representative geometries and motivated the development of the open-test-case ECL5/CATANA. A carbon fiber fan stage has been designed by Ecole Centrale de Lyon and shared with the community in 2021. The fan is representative of a modern ultra high bypass ratio (UHBR) architecture with sonic design speed. The reference configuration has been investigated experimentally on a novel test facility with multiphysical instrumentation. In this publication, the results of the first experimental campaign are presented with a detailed analysis of the aerodynamic performance and system symmetry. The presented results comprise full stage mappings across the whole operating range for three main speedlines (55%, 80%, and 100%) using performance rakes, unsteady wall pressure arrays, tip clearance, and stagger angle measurements. Radial profiles of intake boundary layer and rotor exit conditions at selected conditions complete the full validation dataset for steady and unsteady aerodynamic simulations. Results are discussed in comparison to blind-test Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) simulations of different international institutes. Significant prediction inaccuracies of the tip flow and corner separations of the stator are observed and reveal the requirement of real blade geometry measurements at running conditions. This article is accompanied by a publication with a focus on aeroelastic instabilities observed near the stability limit. The results represent a comprehensive dimensional benchmark dataset and allow method validation on multiple levels of fidelity for the aerodynamic and aeroelastic research community.
Genome sequence of
Clostridium septicum
strain WW106, isolated from influent wastewater at a research center with multiple-species research animal facilities
Authors: Wang Sharon X. , Park Miseon , Summage-West Christine V. , Reyna Mariela , Kim Sung Guk 
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT

Clostridium septicum
is an anaerobic Gram-positive rod-shaped bacterial pathogen known as a lethal causative agent of progressive gas gangrene in animals and humans. We report the 3.43-Mbp genome sequence of
C. septicum
strain WW106, isolated from influent wastewater at a research center with multiple-species laboratory animal facilities.
No extraction? No problem. Direct to PCR processing of tongue swabs for diagnosis of tuberculosis disease as an alternative to sputum collection
Authors: Ahls Charlotte L. , Emsweller Duncan , Helfers Seth J. , Niu Xin , Wilson Douglas , Padgett Leah R. , Drain Paul K. 
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT

Sputum collection and testing for tuberculosis (TB) have been problematic due to the potential for aerosolization, difficulty in generating a quality sample, and complex DNA extraction methods. Tongue swabs are inexpensive, minimally invasive, and a promising alternative to sputum collection. We investigated the diagnostic accuracy of tongue swabs for TB diagnosis using the Truenat MTB Plus assay from Molbio Diagnostics with a direct to PCR processing method. Four tongue swabs were collected per participant using two nylon-flocked swabs and two spun polyester swabs. Following tongue swab sample collection, participants also provided two sputum samples, which were tested by Cepheid Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra or culture. Of the 81 participants enrolled, 24 (30%) were positive for TB disease by sputum Ultra. Using the Truenat MTB Plus test, tongue swabs had 54% (52/96) sensitivity and 99% (218/220) specificity compared to sputum Ultra. Crude lysate was also tested using an in-house qPCR assay, which allowed for increased sample input. Using this method, tongue swabs had 70% (67/96) sensitivity and 94% (216/224) specificity.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
(MTB) sample quantification using digital PCR yielded between 20 copies (minimum) and 34,000 copies (maximum) of MTB per swab. In addition, serially collected tongue swabs resulted in similar levels of detected MTB, and spun polyester swabs performed equivalently to nylon-flocked swabs. Overall, this study demonstrates that tongue swab samples are compatible with the Truenat MTB testing platform and that a direct to PCR method is a viable diagnostic solution.

IMPORTANCE
Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the world’s leading infectious disease killers, despite available treatments. Although highly sensitive molecular diagnostics are available, expensive equipment and poor infrastructure have hindered their implementation in low-resource settings. Furthermore, the collection of sputum poses challenges as it is difficult for patients to produce and creates dangerous aerosols. This manuscript explores tongue swabs as a promising alternative to sputum collection. While previous studies have explored the sensitivity of tongue swabs as compared to sputum, existing literature has not addressed the need to standardize and simplify laboratory processing for easy implementation in high TB burden areas. This manuscript provides the first evidence that detection of TB from a tongue swab is possible without the use of DNA extraction or purification steps. The data provided in this manuscript will improve the collection and testing of tongue swabs for the diagnosis of TB disease.
The effect of changing diagnostic method from culture to PCR on the number of episodes of human campylobacteriosis in Denmark: a retrospective study (2015–2022)
Authors: Benedetti Guido , Holm Hansen Christian , Tølbøll Svendsen Anna , Grimstrup Joensen Katrine , Sørensen Gitte , Engsbro Anne Line , Torpdahl Mia , Møller Nielsen Eva , Ethelberg Steen 
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT

We investigated whether the introduction of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to replace culture as the primary diagnostic method for
Campylobacter
species in the Danish Departments of Clinical Microbiology (DCMs) was associated with a systematic change in the number of reported episodes of human campylobacteriosis from 2015 to 2022. We described a hypothetical scenario where PCR was solely used from 2018 to 2021. We analyzed the effect of primary diagnostic methods (culture or PCR) on the number of weekly episodes of human campylobacteriosis in a negative binomial regression adjusting for time, seasonality, COVID-19 restrictions, and DCMs. Furthermore, we applied the estimated PCR effect to the number of episodes that was identified using culture. Overall, PCR was associated with a 43% estimated increase of weekly campylobacteriosis episodes [rate ratio (RR) 1.43, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.34–1.53]. Up to 17%–25% additional episodes would have been reported yearly from 2018 to 2021, had PCR been solely used. Through the lens of laboratory diagnostic methods, we described a systematic change in the number of reported episodes of human campylobacteriosis in Denmark. This is operationally relevant as considerably more episodes would have been identified had PCR been solely used. Changes in diagnostic methods should be considered in the epidemiological analysis of historical data.

IMPORTANCE
This study is important because it shows the potential epidemiological silence associated with the use of culture as the primary diagnostic method for the laboratory identification of human campylobacteriosis. Also, we show how polymerase chain reaction methods are associated with a systematic increase in the number of human campylobacteriosis episodes as reported by routine disease surveillance. These findings are operationally relevant and have public health implications because they tell how crucial it is to consider changes in diagnostic methods, e.g., in the epidemiological analysis of historical data and in the interpretation of future data in light of the past. We also believe that this study highlights how the synergy between microbiology and epidemiology is essential for disease surveillance.
Interaction of mRNA with the C-Terminal Domain of PCID2, a Subunit of the TREX-2 Complex, Is Required for Its Export from the Nucleus to the Cytoplasm in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Vdovina Yu. A. , Georgieva S. G. , Kopytova D. V. 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Following the transcription step, the newly synthesized mRNA is exported from the nucleus to the cytoplasm and further to the translation site. The TREX-2 complex is involved in the step of mRNA export from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. This complex in Drosophila melanogaster consists of four proteins: Xmas-2, PCID2, ENY2, and Sem1p. In our work, we have shown that deletion of the C-terminal sequence of PCID2 leads to a decrease in the interaction of the protein with RNA and to impaired mRNA export from the nucleus to the cytoplasm in D. melanogaster.
Mortality and healthcare assessment among patients with chronic disease over 2 years of COVID-19: a population-based study in a large hard-hit Italian region
Authors: Fortuna Daniela , Caselli Luana , Berti Elena , Moro Maria Luisa 
Published: December 2023

ObjectivesWe aimed to provide a region-wide comprehensive account of the indirect effects of COVID-19 on patients with chronic disease, in terms of non-COVID-19 mortality, and access to both inpatient and outpatient health services over a 2-year pandemic period.DesignPopulation-based retrospective study.SettingAdult patients, affected by at least 1 of 32 prevalent chronic conditions, residing in the Emilia-Romagna Region in Italy, during the years 2020 (N=1 791 189, 47.7% of the overall adult regional population) and 2021 (N=1 801 071, 47.8%).ResultsOverall, non-COVID-19 mortality among patients with chronic disease during the pandemic (2.7%) did not differ substantially from the expected mortality (2.5%), based on a 3 years prepandemic period (2017–2019) and adjusting for the demographic and clinical characteristics of the population under study. Indeed, while the first pandemic wave was characterised by a significant non-COVID-19 excess mortality (March: +35%), the subsequent phases did not show such disruptive variations in non-COVID-19 deaths, which remained around or even below the excess mortality threshold. End-of-life care of patients with chronic disease, especially for non-COVID-19 cases, significantly shifted from hospitalisations (−19%), to homecare (ADI: +7%; w/o ADI: +9%). Overall, healthcare of patients without COVID-19 chronic disease decreased, with similar negative trends in hospitalisations (−15.5%), major procedures (−19.6%) and ER accesses (−23.7%). Homecare was the least affected by the pandemic, with an overall reduction of −9.8%. COVID-19 outbreak also impacted on different types of outpatient care. Rehabilitation therapies, specialist visits, diagnostic and lab tests were considerably reduced during the first pandemic wave and consequent lockdown, with access rates of patients without COVID-19 chronic disease below −60%.ConclusionsThis work thoroughly describes how a large and well-defined population of patients without COVID-19 chronic disease has been affected by the changes and reorganisation in the healthcare system during 2 years of the pandemic, highlighting health priorities and challenges in chronic disease management under conditions of limited resources.
Understanding the national evidence on the double burden of malnutrition in Ethiopia for the implications of research gap identifications: a scoping review
Authors: Getacher Lemma , Ademe Beyene Wondafrash , Belachew Tefera 
Published: December 2023

BackgroundOwing to the unavoidable consequences of nutritional transition, the double burden of malnutrition (DBM) is an emerging public health problem. An increasing number of studies have found that Ethiopians face a DBM. However, country-level evidence has not yet been summarised using a scoping review study design.ObjectiveThe main objective of this review was to map the national evidence on DBM in Ethiopia for the implications of research gap identifications.Eligibility criteriaThe population, concept and context approach was used. All age groups, box sexes, all dates of publication and articles in English language focused on DBM conducted in Ethiopia were included.Sources of evidencePrimary research articles, systematic reviews, meta-analyses and scoping reviews searched from electronic databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, Wiley Online Library, Google Scholar and Google were the sources of evidence.Charting methodsThe Joanna Briggs Institute Reviewer’s manual was used as a review methodology. The authors, publication year, region, study design, sample size, population group, measured outcomes and main findings were charted in a table.ResultsA total of 35 articles met the inclusion criteria among 124 426 participants. The average summarised prevalence of DBM was 33.6%, with the average proportions of undernutrition and overnutrition at 21.5% and 12.1%, respectively. The major factors that influenced the DBM were categorised as child, maternal, adolescent, household and adult-related factors.ConclusionIn Ethiopia, the overall prevalence of DBM is high, which makes one-third of the population affected by DBM. The foremost determinant factors that influenced the DBM were characterised as child, maternal, adolescent, household and adult-related factors. Therefore, a double-duty interventions should be used to address DBM, considering multilevel factors at the individual, community and societal levels.Protocol registrationThis review was registered on the figshare website on 28 February 2021, with DOI numberhttps://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.14131874. The review protocol was published with a DOI numberhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050805.
Randomised controlled trial of automated VR therapy to improve positive self-beliefs and psychological well-being in young people diagnosed with psychosis: a study protocol for the Phoenix VR self-confidence therapy trial
Authors: Freeman Daniel , Freeman Jason , Rovira Aitor , Miguel Andre Lages , Ward Rupert , Bousfield Matthew , Riffiod Ludovic , Leal Jose , Kabir Thomas , Yu Ly-Mee , Beckwith Helen , Waite Felicity , Rosebrock Laina 
Published: December 2023

IntroductionThe confidence of young people diagnosed with psychosis is often low. Positive self-beliefs may be few and negative self-beliefs many. A sense of defeat and failure is common. Young people often withdraw from many aspects of everyday life. Psychological well-being is lowered. Psychological techniques can improve self-confidence, but a shortage of therapists means that very few patients ever receive such help. Virtual reality (VR) offers a potential route out of this impasse. By including a virtual coach, treatment can be automated. As such, delivery of effective therapy is no longer reliant on the availability of therapists. With young people with lived experience, we have developed a staff-assisted automated VR therapy to improve positive self-beliefs (Phoenix). The treatment is based on established cognitive behavioural therapy and positive psychology techniques. A case series indicates that this approach may lead to large improvements in positive self-beliefs and psychological well-being. We now aim to conduct the first randomised controlled evaluation of Phoenix VR.Methods and analysis80 patients with psychosis, aged between 16 and 30 years old and with low levels of positive self-beliefs, will be recruited from National Health Service (NHS) secondary care services. They will be randomised (1:1) to the Phoenix VR self-confidence therapy added to treatment as usual or treatment as usual. Assessments will be conducted at 0, 6 (post-treatment) and 12 weeks by a researcher blind to allocation. The primary outcome is positive self-beliefs at 6 weeks rated with the Oxford Positive Self Scale. The secondary outcomes are psychiatric symptoms, activity levels and quality of life. All main analyses will be intention to treat.Ethics and disseminationThe trial has received ethical approval from the NHS Health Research Authority (22/LO/0273). A key output will be a high-quality VR treatment for patients to improve self-confidence and psychological well-being.Trial registration numberISRCTN10250113.
Protocol for a realist evaluation of Recovery College dementia courses: understanding coproduction through ethnography
Authors: Birt Linda , West Juniper , Poland Fiona , Wong Geoff , Handley Melanie , Litherland Rachael , Hackmann Corinna , Moniz-Cook Esme , Wolverson Emma , Teague Bonnie , Mills Ruth , Sams Kathryn , Duddy Claire , Fox Chris 
Published: December 2023

IntroductionSupport following a dementia diagnosis in the UK is variable. Attending a Recovery College course with and for people with dementia, their supporters and healthcare professionals (staff), may enable people to explore and enact ways to live well with dementia. Recovery Colleges are established within mental health services worldwide, offering peer-supported short courses coproduced in partnership between staff and people with lived experience of mental illness. The concept of recovery is challenging in dementia narratives, with little evidence of how the Recovery College model could work as a method of postdiagnostic dementia support.Methods and analysisUsing a realist evaluation approach, this research will examine and define what works, for whom, in what circumstances and why, in Recovery College dementia courses. The ethnographic study will recruit five case studies from National Health Service Mental Health Trusts across England. Sampling will seek diversity in new or long-standing courses, delivery methods and demographics of population served. Participant observations will examine course coproduction. Interviews will be undertaken with people with dementia, family and friend supporters and staff involved in coproducing and commissioning the courses, as well as people attending. Documentary materials will be reviewed. Analysis will use a realist logic of analysis to develop a programme theory containing causal explanations for outcomes, in the form of context-mechanism-outcome-configurations, at play in each case.Ethics and disseminationThe study received approval from Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee (22/WM/0215). Ethical concerns include not privileging any voice, consent for embedded observational fieldwork with people who may experience fluctuating mental capacity and balancing researcher ‘embedded participant’ roles in publicly accessible learning events. Drawing on the realist programme theory, two stakeholder groups, one people living with dementia and one staff will work with researchers to coproduce resources to support coproducing Recovery College dementia courses aligned with postdiagnostic services.
Hypochlorous acid hygiene solution in patients affected by blepharitis: a prospective randomised study
Authors: Mencucci Rita , Morelli Alberto , Favuzza Eleonora , Galano Angelo , Roszkowska Anna Maria , Cennamo Michela 
Published: December 2023

Background/aimsTo investigate the clinical outcomes and antimicrobial activity of an hypochlorous acid hygiene solution compared with hyaluronic acid wipes for blepharitis treatment in patients with dry eye disease (DED).MethodsThis study involved 48 eyes of 48 patients affected by blepharitis with mild to moderate DED. 24 patients were treated with a hypochlorous acid hygiene solution (HOCL group) and 24 patients were treated with hyaluronic acid wipes (HYAL group) for a period of 4 weeks. The following clinical outcomes were assessed before (V0) and after the treatment period (V1): non-invasive keratograph break up time (NIK-BUT), tear film BUT (TF-BUT) tear meniscus height (TMH), Keratograph meibography, Meibomian Gland Yield Secretion Score (MGYSS), Corneal Staining Score (CSS), Schirmer test I, Keratograph conjunctival redness score and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI). Moreover, microbiological analysis of upper and lower eyelid margins was performed at V0 both before and 5 min after treatment.ResultsAfter 1-month NIK-BUT and TF-BUT significantly increased in HOCL group, while they did not show a statistically significant difference in HYAL group compared with baseline. OSDI, TMH and MGYSS showed a significant difference in both groups, while Schirmer test, meibography, CSS and conjunctival redness score did not significantly change in both groups. Bacterial load showed a significant reduction in both groups, more pronounced in HOCL group compared with HYAL group.ConclusionsHypochlorous acid hygiene solution can be securely employed in blepharitis treatment considering the satisfying clinical outcomes and antimicrobial activity compared with hyaluronic acid wipes.