bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and risk factors of suicide attempts among Chinese elderly patients over 50 years with schizophrenia
Authors: Fu Zejin , Zhang Xiangyang , Xiao Jing 
Published: February 2024

AbstractBackgroundSeveral research efforts have found that older schizophrenia patients are at higher risk for suicide. Related risk factors for suicide attempts in the elderly with schizophrenia are poorly understood. This study sought to assess the prevalence of suicide attempts and related risk variables in schizophrenia patients over the age of 50.MethodsWe recruited 591 elderly patients over the age of 50. Demographic, clinical and blood parameters of all patients were collected. Patients with schizophrenia were evaluated for psychopathological symptoms using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).ResultsThe rate of suicide attempts among elderly Chinese schizophrenia patients was 15.2%. In these elderly schizophrenia patients, those who with suicide attempts had significantly higher scores for insomnia, depression and smoking addiction, and higher levels of red blood cells, Hc1 glycosylated hemoglobin and free T3, but significantly lower levels of hypersensitive C‐reactive protein and ‐globulin. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that higher depression scores and smoking addiction were risk factors for suicide attempts in these patients. Additionally, multiple regression analyses showed that higher BMI and insomnia scores were associated with suicide risk scores in elderly schizophrenia patients.ConclusionsOur research shows that there is a high incidence of suicide attempts in people over 50 years of age with schizophrenia. A number of clinically relevant factors and metabolic markers are associated with suicide attempts among elderly patients with schizophrenia.
The effects of unsupervised home‐based exercise training during pregnancy: A systematic review
Authors: Weng Min‐Hsueh , Chou Hung‐Chieh , Liaw Jen‐Jiuan 
Published: February 2024

AbstractBackgroundPregnant women may experience physical and emotional distress. Exercise is recommended for healthy pregnant women and is beneficial for their mental and physical health. Unsupervised home‐based exercise is cost‐effective for pregnant women as an occasional solution for their discomfort. However, no synthesis of randomized trials on this topic has been conducted.AimsThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of unsupervised home‐based exercise during pregnancy.MethodsA systematic search for randomized controlled trials was performed in electronic databases. The review extracted eligibility criteria based on unsupervised home‐based exercise intervention. The quality of the included studies was performed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool 2.0. This review was registered a priori in PROSPERO (CRD42023452966).ResultsIn total, seven studies were selected for systematic review. Participant adherence rates for the three reported studies varied considerably, ranging from 33% to 75%. Two studies revealed that unsupervised home‐based exercise improved symptom severity in relation to long‐term adherence to exercise. Two studies suggested that maternal aerobic fitness increased due to exercise. One study revealed improved sleep quality. However, none of the studies supported the positive effects of exercise on fatigue, maternal insulin sensitivity, prenatal weight gain, postnatal weight loss, birth pain, and cesarean section.Linking evidence to actionUnsupervised home‐based exercise improves discomfort symptoms during pregnancy but requires a long intervention period. This finding suggests that the evaluation period needs to be longer to identify the effects of exercise. In addition, a theoretical‐based integrity exercise plan should be considered to promote the effectiveness of unsupervised home‐based exercise.
Exploring 24-Hour Movement Behaviors in Early Years: Findings From the SUNRISE Pilot Study in Tunisia
Authors: Ltifi Mohamed Amine , Turki Olfa , Ben-Bouzaiene Ghaith , Pagaduan Jeffrey Cayaban , Okely Anthony , Chelly Mohamed Souhaiel 
Published: February 2024

Purpose: The International Study of Movement Behaviors in the Early Years (SUNRISE) was conducted in Tunisia to assess the proportion of preschoolers who met the World Health Organization guidelines for physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep. The study also evaluated the feasibility of the methods for the SUNRISE study. Methods: Five kindergartens were recruited from urban and rural areas in Tunisia. Physical activity and sleep duration were assessed using a waist-worn ActiGraph. Screen time and sleep quality were assessed via an interview-administered parent questionnaire. The NIH Toolbox was used. Results: A total of 112 preschoolers were assessed (50 boys, age = 4.1 [0.58]). Only 18% of children met all recommendations of the World Health Organization guidelines, while 53% met the sedentary screen time (in minutes per day), and 41% met physical activity recommendation (in minutes per day). Eighty-one percent of children met the sleep duration recommendation (in minutes per day). There was good compliance with the ActiGraph protocol. Conclusions: This pilot study provided important insights into the feasibility of the study and the movement behaviors of Tunisian preschool children. The results suggest there is a need to promote healthy levels of physical activity and sedentary screen time in children, which should be a priority in public health initiatives, including preschool curricula, in Tunisia.
Antibacterial activity of ibezapolstat against antimicrobial-resistant clinical strains of
Clostridioides difficile
Authors: Bassères Eugénie , Eubank Taryn A. , Begum Khurshida , Alam M. Jahangir , Jo Jinhee , Le Thanh M. , Lancaster Chris K. , Gonzales-Luna Anne J. , Garey Kevin W. 
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACT

Antimicrobial resistance is emerging in clinical strains of
Clostridioides difficile
. Ibezapolstat (IBZ) is a DNA polymerase IIIC inhibitor that has completed phase II clinical trials. IBZ has potent
in vitro
activity against wild-type, susceptible strains but its effect on
C. difficile
strains with reduced susceptibility to metronidazole (MTZ), vancomycin (VAN), or fidaxomicin (FDX) has not been tested. The primary objective of this study was to test the antibacterial properties of IBZ against multidrug-resistant
C. difficile
strains. The
in vitro
activity, bactericidal, and time-kill activity of IBZ versus comparators were evaluated against 100 clinical strains of which 59 had reduced susceptibility to other
C. difficile
antibiotics. Morphologic changes against a multidrug resistance strain were visualized by light and scanning electron microscopy. The overall IBZ MIC
50/90
values (µg/mL) for evaluated
C. difficile
strains were 4/8, compared with 2/4 for VAN, 0.5/1 for FDX, and 0.25/4 for MTZ. IBZ MIC
50/90
values did not differ based on non-susceptibility to antibiotic class or number of classes to which strains were non-susceptible. IBZ bactericidal activity was similar to the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and maintained in wild-type and non-susceptible strains. Time-kill assays against two laboratory wild-type and two clinical non-susceptible strains demonstrated sustained IBZ activity despite reduced killing by comparator antibiotics for IBZ and VAN non-susceptible strains. Microscopy visualized increased cell lengthening and cellular damage in multidrug-resistant strains exposed to IBZ sub-MIC concentrations. This study demonstrated the potent antibacterial activity of IBZ against a large collection of
C. difficile
strains including multidrug-resistant strains. This study highlights the therapeutic potential of IBZ against multidrug-resistant strains of
C. difficile
.
Drug-induced stress mediates
Plasmodium falciparum
ring-stage growth arrest and reduces
in vitro
parasite susceptibility to artemisinin
Authors: Platon Lucien , Leroy Didier , Fidock David A. , Ménard Didier 
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACT

During blood-stage infection,
Plasmodium falciparum
parasites are constantly exposed to a range of extracellular stimuli, including host molecules and drugs such as artemisinin derivatives, the mainstay of artemisinin-based combination therapies currently used as first-line treatment worldwide. Partial resistance of
P. falciparum
to artemisinin has been associated with mutations in the propeller domain of the
Pfkelch13
gene, resulting in a fraction of ring stages that are able to survive exposure to artemisinin through a temporary growth arrest. Here, we investigated whether the growth arrest in ring-stage parasites reflects a general response to stress. We mimicked a stressful environment
in vitro
by exposing parasites to chloroquine or dihydroartemisinin (DHA). We observed that early ring-stage parasites pre-exposed to a stressed culture supernatant exhibited a temporary growth arrest and a reduced susceptibility to DHA, as assessed by the ring-stage survival assay, irrespective of their
Pfkelch13
genotype. These data suggest that temporary growth arrest of early ring stages may be a constitutive,
Pfkelch13
-independent survival mechanism in
P. falciparum
.

IMPORTANCE

Plasmodium falciparum
ring stages have the ability to sense the extracellular environment, regulate their growth, and enter a temporary growth arrest state in response to adverse conditions such as drug exposure. This temporary growth arrest results in reduced susceptibility to artemisinin
in vitro
. The signal responsible for this process is thought to be small molecules (less than 3 kDa) released by stressed mature-stage parasites. These data suggest that Pfkelch13-dependent artemisinin resistance and the growth arrest phenotype are two complementary but unrelated mechanisms of ring-stage survival in
P. falciparum
. This finding provides new insights into the field of
P. falciparum
antimalarial drug resistance by highlighting the extracellular compartment and cellular communication as an understudied mechanism.
Cultivar was more influential than bacterial strain and other experimental factors in recovery of
Escherichia coli
O157:H7 populations from inoculated live Romaine lettuce plants
Authors: Ding Qiao , Gu Ganyu , Nou Xiangwu , Micallef Shirley A. 
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACT

The varied choice of bacterial strain, plant cultivar, and method used to inoculate, retrieve, and enumerate
Escherichia coli
O157:H7 from live plants could affect comparability among studies evaluating lettuce–enterobacterial interactions. Cultivar, bacterial strain, incubation time, leaf side inoculated, and sample processing method were assessed for their influence in recovering and quantifying
E. coli
O157:H7 from live Romaine lettuce. Cultivar exerted the strongest effect on
E. coli
O157:H7 counts, which held up even when cultivar was considered in interactions with other factors. Recovery from the popularly grown green Romaine “Rio Bravo” was higher than from the red variety “Outredgeous.” Other modulating variables were incubation time, strain, and leaf side inoculated. Sample processing method was not significant. Incubation for 24 hours post-lettuce inoculation yielded greater counts than 48 hours, but was affected by lettuce cultivar, bacterial strain, and leaf side inoculated. Higher counts obtained for strain EDL933 compared to a lettuce outbreak strain 2705C emphasized the importance of selecting relevant strains for the system being studied. Inoculating the abaxial side of leaves gave higher counts than adaxial surface inoculation, although this factor interacted with strain and incubation period. Our findings highlight the importance of studying interactions between appropriate bacterial strains and plant cultivars for more relevant research results, and of standardizing inoculation and incubation procedures. The strong effect of cultivar exerted on the
E. coli
O157:H7-lettuce association supports the need to start reporting cultivar information for illness outbreaks to facilitate the identification and study of plant traits that impact food safety risk.

IMPORTANCE

The contamination of Romaine lettuce with
Escherichia coli
O157:H7 has been linked to multiple foodborne disease outbreaks, but variability in the methods used to evaluate
E. coli
O157:H7 association with live lettuce plants complicates the comparability of different studies. In this study, various experimental variables and sample processing methods for recovering and quantifying
E. coli
O157:H7 from live Romaine lettuce were assessed. Cultivar was found to exert the strongest influence on
E. coli
O157:H7 retrieval from lettuce. Other modulating factors were bacterial incubation time on plants, strain, and leaf side inoculated, while sample processing method had no impact. Our findings highlight the importance of selecting relevant cultivars and strains, and of standardizing inoculation and incubation procedures, in these types of assessments. Moreover, results support the need to start reporting cultivars implicated in foodborne illness outbreaks to facilitate the identification and study of plant traits that impact food safety risk.
Nanobody engineering for SARS-CoV-2 neutralization and detection
Authors: Hannula Liina , Kuivanen Suvi , Lasham Jonathan , Kant Ravi , Kareinen Lauri , Bogacheva Mariia , Strandin Tomas , Sironen Tarja , Hepojoki Jussi , Sharma Vivek , Saviranta Petri , Kipar Anja , Vapalahti Olli , Huiskonen Juha T. , Rissanen Ilona 
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACT

In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the quest for coronavirus inhibitors has inspired research on a variety of small proteins beyond conventional antibodies, including robust single-domain antibody fragments, i.e., “nanobodies.” Here, we explore the potential of nanobody engineering in the development of antivirals and diagnostic tools. Through fusion of nanobody domains that target distinct binding sites, we engineered multimodular nanobody constructs that neutralize wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and the Alpha and Delta variants at high potency, with IC
50
values as low as 50 pM. Despite simultaneous binding to distinct epitopes, Beta and Omicron variants were more resistant to neutralization by the multimodular nanobodies, which highlights the importance of accounting for antigenic drift in the design of biologics. To further explore the applications of nanobody engineering in outbreak management, we present an assay based on fusions of nanobodies with fragments of NanoLuc luciferase that can detect sub-nanomolar quantities of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in a single step. Our work showcases the potential of nanobody engineering to combat emerging infectious diseases.

IMPORTANCE
Nanobodies, small protein binders derived from the camelid antibody, are highly potent inhibitors of respiratory viruses that offer several advantages over conventional antibodies as candidates for specific therapies, including high stability and low production costs. In this work, we leverage the unique properties of nanobodies and apply them as building blocks for new therapeutic and diagnostic tools. We report ultra-potent SARS-CoV-2 inhibition by engineered nanobodies comprising multiple modules in structure-guided combinations and develop nanobodies that carry signal molecules, allowing rapid detection of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Our results highlight the potential of engineered nanobodies in the development of effective countermeasures, both therapeutic and diagnostic, to manage outbreaks of emerging viruses.
Post-COVID-19 condition at 6 months and COVID-19 vaccination in non-hospitalised children and young people
Authors: Pinto Pereira Snehal M , Nugawela Manjula D , Rojas Natalia K , Shafran Roz , McOwat Kelsey , Simmons Ruth , Ford Tamsin , Heyman Isobel , Ladhani Shamez N , Cheung Emily Y , Fox-Smith Lana , Dalrymple Emma , Stephenson Terence 
Published: February 2024

ObjectivesTo describe the physical and mental health of children and young people (CYP) 6 months after infection with SARS-CoV-2 and explore whether this varies by COVID-19 vaccination.DesignA non-hospitalised, national cohort of people aged 11–17 years old with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and PCR negatives matched at study invitation, by age, sex, region and date of testing who completed questionnaires 6 months after PCR testing. The questionnaire included 21 symptoms and standardised scales (eg, EQ-5D-Y and Chalder Fatigue Scale).Results6407 test-positive and 6542 test-negative CYP completed the 6-month questionnaire: 60.9% of test-positive vs 43.2% of test-negative CYP reported at least one symptom 6 months post-test; 27.6% of test-positive vs 15.9% of test-negative CYP reported 3+ symptoms. Common symptoms at 6 months were tiredness and shortness of breath among both test-positive and test-negative CYP; however, the prevalence of both was higher in test-positive (38.4% and 22.8%, respectively) compared with test-negative CYP (26.7% and 10.9%, respectively). 24.5% test-positive vs 17.8% test-negative CYP met the Delphi research definition of long COVID. Mental health, well-being, fatigue and health-related quality of life scores were similar among test-positive and test-negative CYP 6 months post-test. Similarly, symptomatology was similar among COVID-19-vaccinated and COVID-19-unvaccinated test-positive and test-negative CYP.ConclusionsSix-months post-PCR testing, CYP who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 had similar symptoms to those who tested negative, but test-positive CYP had higher symptom prevalence. Mental health, well-being, fatigue and health-related quality of life were similar among test-positive and test-negative CYP, and symptoms at 6 months were similar in COVID-19 vaccinated and unvaccinated.Trial registration numberISRCTN 34804192.
Continuous 24-hour intraocular pressure monitoring in normal Chinese adults using a novel contact lens sensor system
Authors: Zhang Yuning , Wei Yifan , Lee Ching Hymn Christopher , OR Ping Wai , Karunaratne Isuru Kaweendra , Deng Mingjie , Yang Wenxin , Chong Iok Tong , Yang Yangfan , Chen Zidong , Fan Yanmei , Lam David C C , Yu Minbin 
Published: February 2024

Aims
To investigate the physiological nyctohemeral intraocular pressure (IOP) rhythms of normal Chinese adults using a novel contact lens sensor system (CLS) that can output IOP in millimetres of mercury (mm Hg) continuously.

Methods
Fifty-nine eyes of 59 normal Chinese adults completed 24-hour IOP monitoring using the novel CLS. A descriptive analysis was conducted on the 24-hour IOP mean, peak and acrophase, trough and bathyphase, fluctuation, and mean amplitude of intraocular pressure excursion (MAPE). The continuous data were analysed at several periods (diurnal period, 08:00–20:00 hours; nocturnal period, 22:00–06:00 hours; sleep time, 0:00–06:00 hours), and compared between right and left eyes, males and females, and different age ranges (<30, and ≥30), respectively.

Results
Normal adults had a lower peak, higher trough, smaller fluctuation and smaller MAPE (p<0.05 for all comparisons) but non-significantly different mean (p=0.695) in the nocturnal period or sleep time compared with the diurnal period. The 24-hour IOP peak and trough showed the frequency of occurrence ranging from 1.69% to 15.25% at an interval of 2 hours. No IOP parameter showed significant difference between right and left eyes (p>0.1 for all comparisons). The male group had larger 24-hour and diurnal IOP fluctuation and MAPE (p<0.05 for all comparisons). Subjects aged 30 or over had higher 24-hour and diurnal mean, higher peak, and larger MAPE (p<0.05 for all comparisons).

Conclusion
Continuous 24-hour IOP output from the CLS in normal Chinese was stable with a comparable mean level between day and night, as well as scattered acrophase and bathyphase. The 24-hour IOP mean increased with age, and IOP variations were positively correlated to age and male sex.
Increased incidence of adult gonococcal keratoconjunctivitis at two tertiary eye hospitals in Western Europe: clinical features, complications and antimicrobial susceptibility
Authors: Milligan Alice L , Randag Anna C , Lekkerkerk Sybren , Fifer Helen 
Published: February 2024

BackgroundGonorrhoea is on the rise: between 2021 and 2022, a 50% and a 33% increase in diagnoses was seen, respectively, in England and the Netherlands. A concurrent rise in gonococcal keratoconjunctivitis (GKC) is a serious concern due to the potentially devastating visual complications.MethodsThis is a retrospective case series of adult GKC from two Western European tertiary ophthalmology centres between 2017 and July 2023. The clinical features, ocular complications and antimicrobial susceptibilities are reported within.ResultsAn increased incidence was recorded at both centres, with 11 confirmed cases in the first 7 months of 2023, compared with ≤3 per year in 2017–2022.ConclusionThe notable increase of GKC cases in our centres in 2023 may indicate a rise across Western Europe. Enhanced, sustained, national surveillance of GKC is essential to establish incidence and antimicrobial susceptibility, to inform treatment guidelines and guide appropriate public health response.
Characteristics and outcomes of patients with COVID-19 who return to the emergency department: a multicentre observational study by the Canadian COVID-19 Emergency Department Rapid Response Network (CCEDRRN)
Authors: Rosychuk Rhonda J , Khangura Jaspreet K , Ortiz Sylvia S , Cheng Ivy , Bielska Iwona A , Yan Justin , Morrison Laurie J , Hayward Jake , Grant Lars , Hohl Corinne M 
Published: February 2024

ObjectiveUnplanned return emergency department (ED) visits can reflect clinical deterioration or unmet need from the original visit. We determined the characteristics and outcomes of patients with COVID-19 who return to the ED for COVID-19-related revisits.MethodsThis retrospective observational study used data for all adult patients visiting 47 Canadian EDs with COVID-19 between 1 March 2020 and 31 March 2022. Multivariable logistic regression assessed the characteristics associated with having a no return visit (SV=single visit group) versus at least one return visit (MV=return visit group) after being discharged alive at the first ED visit.Results39 809 patients with COVID-19 had 44 862 COVID-19-related ED visits: 35 468 patients (89%) had one visit (SV group) and 4341 (11%) returned to the ED (MV group) within 30 days (mean 2.2, SD=0.5 ED visit). 40% of SV patients and 16% of MV patients were admitted at their first visit, and 41% of MV patients not admitted at their first ED visit were admitted on their second visit. In the MV group, the median time to return was 4 days, 49% returned within 72 hours. In multivariable modelling, a repeat visit was associated with a variety of factors including older age (OR=1.25 per 10 years, 95% CI (1.22 to 1.28)), pregnancy (1.86 (1.46 to 2.36)) and presence of comorbidities (eg, 1.72 (1.40 to 2.10) for cancer, 2.01 (1.52 to 2.66) for obesity, 2.18 (1.42 to 3.36) for organ transplant), current/prior substance use, higher temperature or WHO severe disease (1.41 (1.29 to 1.54)). Return was less likely for females (0.82 (0.77 to 0.88)) and those boosted or fully vaccinated (0.48 (0.34 to 0.70)).ConclusionsReturn ED visits by patients with COVID-19 within 30 days were common during the first two pandemic years and were associated with multiple factors, many of which reflect known risk for worse outcomes. Future studies should assess reasons for revisit and opportunities to improve ED care and reduce resource use.Trial registration numberClinicalTrials.gov,NCT04702945.