bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
“Entre Nosotras:” A qualitative evaluation of a peer-led PrEP project for transgender Latinas
Authors: Zamudio-Haas Sophia , Koester Kim , Venegas Luz , Salinas Ariana , Herrera Cinthya , Gutierrez-Mock Luis , Welborn Layla , Sevelius Jae 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Background: Uptake of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) remains low among transgender people as compared to other subgroups, despite high rates of HIV acquisition. In California, Latinx people comprise 40% of the population and Latina transgender women experience some of the highest burden of HIV of any subgroup, indicating a critical need for appropriate services. With funding from the California HIV Research Programs, this academic-community partnership developed, implemented, and evaluated a PrEP project that co-located HIV services with gender affirming care in a Federally Qualified Heath Center (FQHC). Trans and Latinx project staff led intervention development, which aimed to increase access to HIV prevention services, including PrEP.
Methods: This paper engages qualitative methods to describe and evaluate how a PrEP demonstration project- Triunfo- successfully engaged Spanish-speaking transgender Latinas in services. We conducted 13 in-depth interviews with project participants and five interviews with providers and clinic staff. Interviews were conducted in Spanish or English. We conducted six months of participant observation of intervention activities and recorded field notes. We analyzed qualitative data engaging a content analysis approach and used Dedoose to code transcripts.
Results: Beneficial elements of the intervention centered around three intertwined themes: creating trusted space, providing comprehensive patient navigation, and offering social support “entre nosotras” (“between us women/girls”). The combination of these factors contributed to the intervention’s success supporting participants to initiate and persist on PrEP, many of whom had previously never received healthcare. Participants shared past experiences with transphobia and concerns around discrimination in a healthcare setting. Developing trust proved foundational to making participants feel welcomed and “en casa/ at home” in the healthcare setting, which began from the moment participants entered the clinic and continued throughout their interactions with staff and providers. Peer health educators (PHE) played a critical part in intervention development, participant recruitment, and patient navigation.
Conclusions: Our research adds nuance to the existing literature on peer support services and navigation by profiling the multifaced roles that PHE served for participants. PHE proved instrumental to empowering participants to overcome structural and other barriers to healthcare, successfully engaging a group who previously avoided healthcare in clinical settings.
The “Growth Instant Feedback Tool (GIFTool)” Workplace-Based Assessment of Entrustable Professional Activity Performance: Preliminary Evidence for Validity
Authors: Osman Cynthia , Bradshaw Chanda , Reinstein Ilan , Gillespie Colleen , Tewksbury Linda 
Published: January 2023

Abstract

Background
Prior validity studies of workplace-based assessments for use with Entrustable Professional Activities have largely adopted a framework of supervision. We created a digital workplace-based assessment, the Growth-promoting Instant Feedback Tool (GIFTool), which utilizes a coaching framework and prompts supervisors with pre-determined feedback options so students can easily receive substantive real-time feedback. Our objectives were to assess the feasibility and validity evidence of the GIFTool.
Methods
With input from the literature and content experts, we created a digital application where supervisors assess the level of coaching required, one strength and one area for improvement in eight Entrustable Professional Activity-related domains. We explored data from one year through descriptive statistics and analyses focused on relations to other variables and fairness.
Results
Our development process contributed to the tool’s content validity. Students on average completed 28.8 assessments with 100% completion rate. We found the tool discriminated between learners within and between domains, with no differences by gender for all domains and for under-represented-in-medicine status for six domains. We found strengths and areas for improvement that were consistent with typical student trajectories. There were statistically significant correlations between the GIFTool and end-of-clerkship assessments (R values 0.27–0.51).
Conclusions
We found the GIFTool is a feasible tool with some promising evidence of validity.
Recombinant SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein and its Receptor Binding Domain stimulate release of different pro-inflammatory mediators via activation of distinct receptors on human microglia cells
Authors: Tsilioni Irene , Theoharides Theoharis C. 
Published: January 2023

AbstractSARS-CoV-2 infects cells via its spike (S) protein binding to its surface receptor Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) on target cells and results in acute symptoms involving especially the lungs known as COVID-19. However, increasing evidence indicates that SARS-CoV-2 infection produces neuroinflammation associated with neurological, neuropsychiatric, and cognitive symptoms persists well past the resolution of the infection, known as post-COVID-19 sequalae or Long-COVID. The neuroimmune mechanism(s) involved in Long-COVID have not been adequately characterized. In this study, we show that recombinant SARS-CoV-2 full-length S protein stimulates release of pro-inflammatory IL-1b, CXCL8, IL-6 and MMP-9 from cultured human microglia via TLR4 receptor activation. Instead, recombinant receptor-binding domain (RBD) stimulates release of TNF-α, IL-18 and S100B via ACE2 signaling. These results provide evidence that SARS-CoV-2 spike protein contributes to neuroinflammation through different mechanisms that may be involved in CNS pathologies associated with Long-COVID.
Decision support techniques in public health policy formulation: bibliometric analysis
Authors: JERVIS-JALABE DAVID SCOTT , Olivares-Cerpa Fanika De Jesús , Jervis-Pinzon Christinne Alexandra , Arteta-Olivares Nebalis Xerelis 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Decision-makers are under increasing pressure to ensure that their decisions are evidence-based, which involves overcoming major obstacles, most notably the lack of tools to make a technical choice among several options with similar weight of evidence. Objective. To perform a bibliometric analysis of the development and use of decision support techniques in the formulation of public health policies. Method. An exhaustive search was carried out in the Scopus database of original articles, review articles and book chapters published between 2012 and 2021. Bibliometric analysis techniques were applied to the results using the bibliometrix and VOSviewer applications. Results. We obtained 1,014 publications, from 431 sources, written by 4,545 authors affiliated with 160 institutions from 99 countries or regions. The average citation per document was 27.87 out of 49,681 references. Conclusions. There is a growing interest in the use of decision support techniques in the formulation of public health policies as a field of study. There is evidence of a significant increase in the number of articles on the subject studied during the study period.
Regression fitting megavoltage depth dose curves to determine material relative electron density in radiotherapy.
Authors: Karl Anthony Simon , Steel Jared G , Warr George B 
Published: January 2023

Abstract

The relative electron density (RED) parameter is ubiquitous throughout radiotherapy for clinical dosimetry and treatment planning purposes as it provides a more accurate description of the relevant radiological properties over mass density alone [1]. RED is theoretically derived and in practice determined indirectly from calibrated CT Hounsfield Units (HU) [1]. While CT images provide useful 3D information, the spectral differences between CT and clinical LINAC beams may impact the validity of the CT-ED calibration, especially in the context of novel tissue-mimicking materials where deviations from biologically typical atomic number to atomic weight ratios < Z/A > occur and/or high-Z materials are present [2]. A theoretical basis for determining material properties directly in a clinical beam spectrum via an electron-density equivalent pathlength (eEPL) method has been previously established [2]. An experimental implementation of this approach is introduced whereby material-specific measured percentage depth dose curves (PDDs) are regressed to a PDD measured in a reference material (water), providing an inference of < Z/A>, which when combined with the physical density provides a determination of RED. This method was validated over a range of tissue-mimicking materials and compared against the standard CT output, as well as compositional information obtained from the manufacturer's specifications. The measured PDD regression method showed consistent results against both manufacturer-provided values and CT-derived within 0.9 and 1.15 RED. Outside of this soft-tissue range a trend was observed whereby the < Z/A > determined becomes unrealistic indicating the method is no longer reporting RED alone and the assumptions around the eEPL model are constrained. Within a range of validity, the regression method provides a practical and robust characterisation for unknown materials in the clinical setting and may be used to improve on the CT output where high Z material components are suspected.
Characteristics of microbiome-derived metabolomics according to the progression of alcoholic liver disease
Authors: Ganesan Raja , Gupta Haripriya , Jeong Jin-Ju , Sharma Satya Priya , Won Sung-Min , Oh Ki-Kwang , Yoon Sang Jun , Han Sang Hak , Yang Young Joo , Baik Gwang Ho , Bang Chang Seok , Kim Dong Joon , Suk Ki Tae 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Background: Due to the global increase in alcoholic liver disease (ALD) rates, interest in gut-derived bacterial products is growing in targeted therapies. Identifying microbiome-derived metabolite signatures is challenging due to the complex patterns that have long-term effects on the development of ALD. We evaluated a feature of the gut-microbiota-derived metabolite signatures in patients with ALD.
Methods: A prospective cohort study was carried out between April 2017 and March 2022. Stool samples (healthy control [HC, n = 62], alcoholic fatty liver [AFL, n = 25], alcoholic hepatitis [AH, n = 80], and alcoholic cirrhosis [AC, n = 80]) were collected for the microbiota analysis by 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolite profiles by using GC-MS and LC-MS methods.
Results: Proteobacteria relative abundance increased in ALD, while Bacteroides decreased (p = 0.001). Fusobacteria levels were found to be higher in AH (p = 0.0001). A total of 103 metabolites were quantified and screened. 3-Indole propionic acid levels are significantly lower in AH and AC (p = 0.001). Surprisingly, AC increases indole-3-lactic acid (p = 0.04). AC had significantly lower levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and bile acids (BAs). The levels of stercobilin, hexadecanedioic acid, and 3-methyladipic acid were significantly decreased in ALD. The pathways of linoleic acid metabolism, indole compounds, histidine metabolism, fatty acid degradation, and glutamate metabolism were closely related to ALD metabolism.
Conclusions: Short-chain fatty acids, bile acids, and indole metabolites were depleted according to the ALD progression. Microbial dysbiosis is associated with a shift in metabolite changes in ALD.
Clinicaltrials.gov, number NCT04339725.
DDX3X deficiency attenuates pyroptosis induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation in N2a cells
Authors: Liu Yong , Gui Yanlin , Tang Hao , Yu Jianping , Yuan Zhengzhou , Liu Lei , Ma Xuntai , Li Changqing 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Background: NOD‑like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome‑mediated pyroptosis is strongly related to cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. DDX3X, an ATPase/RNA helicase of the DEAD-box family, promotes NLRP3 inflammasome activation. However, whether DDX3X deficiency attenuates NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis induced by cerebral I/R injury is still uncertain.
Methods: In vitro model of cerebral I/R injury, mouse neuro2a (N2a) cells subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) were treated with the knockdown of DDX3X. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) cytotoxicity assay were conducted for measuring cell viability and membrane permeability. Double immunofluorescence was performed to determine the pyroptotic cells. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe morphological changes of pyroptosis. Pyroptosis-associated proteins were analyzed by Western blotting.
Results: The OGD/R treatment reduced cell viability, increased pyroptotic cells and released LDH compared to the control group. TEM showed membrane pore formation of pyroptosis. Immunofluorescence showed that GSDMD was translocated from cytoplasm to membrane after OGD/R treatment. Western blotting showed that the expression of DDX3X, and pyroptosis-related proteins (NLRP3, cleaved-Caspase1, and GSDMD-N) were increased after OGD/R treatment. Nevertheless, DDX3X knockdown markedly improved cell viability and reduced LDH release, expression of pyroptosis-related proteins, and N2a cells pyroptosis. Interestingly, DDX3X knockdown significantly inhibited membrane pore formation and GSDMD translocation from cytoplasm to membrane.
Conclusions: This research demonstrates for the first time that DDX3X knockdown attenuates OGD/R‑induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis, which implies that DDX3X may become a potential therapeutic target for cerebral I/R injury.
Phosphorus Recovery from Aqueous Solutions using Bioclastic Granules (Lithothamnium calcareum)
Authors: Veneu Diego Macedo , Silva Gabriel Gonçalves Amaral , Nascentes Alexandre Lioi , Mauad Cristiane Ribeiro , Yokoyama Lídia , Monte Marisa Bezerra de Mello , de Campos David Villas Boas 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Against of the growing world demand for food and the possibility of recovering some nutrients, this work focused on the evaluation of the use of Bioclastic Granules (BG) from the algae Lithothamnium calcareum as sorbent material for the removal/recovery of phosphorus from aqueous solutions. The main variables that affect the sorption process, such as pH, initial concentration of phosphate and GB, as well as the contact time were evaluated. The effect of pH was very significant, obtaining the best results of PO4 removal at pH 5. In the coarser granulometric fractions (+106 -150 and +210 -300 µm) the best removals were observed (around 75%). Regarding the initial PO4 concentration in the solutions, the highest removal (in the range of 74 to 78%) was observed in the lowest concentrations (5 to 70 mg L-1) and the best uptake (10 to 14 mg g-1) at higher concentrations (200 to 420 mg L-1). The PO4 sorption data fitted the Freundlich model well, with kF of 1.35 L mg-1 and n of 2.43. Using the Langmuir model, a qmax of 14.35 mg g-1 was obtained. Regarding the sorption data over time, a better fit to the pseudo-first order kinetic model was observed, obtaining a calculated qeq of 6.56 mg g-1 and a k1 of 0.0073 min-1. The incorporation of PO4 ions in the GB structure was confirmed through the characterization results before and after the sorption experiments using X-ray fluorescence (FRX) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques.
Vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy and the risk of preterm birth: a nested case-control study
Authors: Tahsin Tashnia , Khanam Rasheda , Chowdhury Nabidul Haque , Hasan ASM Tarik , Hosen Md. Biplob , Rahman Sayedur , Roy Anjan Kumar , Ahmed Salahuddin , Raqib Rubhana , Baqui Abdullah H 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Background: Each year, an estimated 15 million babies are born preterm. Micronutrient deficiencies, including vitamin D deficiency, are common in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and these conditions are often associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Bangladesh experiences a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency. The country also has a high preterm birth (PTB) rate. Using data from a population-based pregnancy cohort, we estimated the burden of vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy and its effect on PTB.
Methods: Pregnant women (N=3,000) were enrolled after ultrasound confirmation of gestational age at 8-19 weeks of gestation. Trained health workers prospectively collected detailed phenotypic and epidemiological data at scheduled home visits. Trained phlebotomists collected maternal blood samples at enrollment and at 24 -28 weeks of gestation. Aliquots of serum were stored at -800 C. We conducted a nested case-control study, with all PTB (n=262) and a random sample of term births (n=668). We used the following data: vitamin D concentrations of 24-28 weeks maternal blood samples, ultrasound-determined gestational age, data on pregnancy outcomes, and other PTB risk factors data. PTB was defined as the birth of a baby <37 weeks of gestation. Women were categorized as vitamin D deficient (lowest quartile of 25(OH)D; <=30.18 nmol/L) or not deficient (upper-three quartiles of 25(OH)D; >30.18 nmol/L). We used logistic regression to determine the effect of vitamin D deficiency on PTB, adjusting for potential confounders.
Results: The median and interquartile range of serum 25(OH)D was 38.0 nmol/L; 30.18 to 48.52 (nmol/L). After adjusting for co-variates, serum 25(OH)D deficiency was significantly associated with PTB [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.06 – 2.04]. The risk of PTB was also higher in primiparous women (aOR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.12 – 2.12), passive smokers (aOR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.06 – 2.26), and those who didn’t receive iron supplementation during pregnancy (aOR, 95% CI: 0.59, 0.41- 0.83).
Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is common in Bangladeshi pregnant women, and these women experience an increased risk of PTB. Improving maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy may significantly reduce the risk of PTB.
Alone Against Bleeding. Active or Mechanical Hemostatic in Severe Hemorrhage?
Authors: Valle Francisco José Sánchez Del , De Nicolás Luis , Fernández Guillermo , Fernández Pedro , Gomez Esther 
Published: January 2023

Abstract

Background and objective: There are many surgical maneuvers (Packing, Pringle maneuver, etc.), hemostatics with many forms of application (Flowable, Powder, Patch, etc.), coagulation activity (active, mechanical, etc.), or chemical structure (fibrin, thrombin, Modified Absorbable Polymers (MAP)) to manage hepatic bleeding in trauma surgery. In addition, both can always work together at the same time; however, could a single medicine be effective as a unique hemostatic surgical technique? Which could be better?
Methods: Twenty swine were prospectively randomized to receive either active or passive hemostatics (Floseal TM or Perclot TM). We used a novel severe liver injury model that caused exsanguinating hemorrhage. The main outcome measure was total blood loss volume.
Results: The total volume of blood loss, from injury to minute 120, was significantly lower in the Flowable group (407.5 cc; IqR:195.0 cc to 805.0 cc) than in the novel modified absorbable polymer group (1,107.5 cc; IqR:822.5 cc to 1,544.5 cc) (Hodges-Lehmann median difference: -645.0 cc; 95% CI: -1,144.0 cc to -280.0 cc; p=0.0087). With the exception of 6 min measurements (p=0.1136), the volume of blood lost was significantly lower in the flowable group than in the MAP group from injury to minutes 3, 9, 12, and 120. The mean arterial pressure gradually recovered in the flowable group up to 24 h, whereas in the MAP group, the mean arterial pressure was always below the baseline values. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis indicated similar rates of death between study groups (Logrank test p=0.3395)
Conclusions: Both the flowable and the MAP hemostatic agents were able to effectively control surgical bleeding in this severe liver injury model, although the flowable gelatin-thrombin agent provided quick and better bleeding control
Prevalence of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and the Related Risk Factors in Chongqing, Southwest China
Authors: Yan Jianhua , Li Fei , Yang Yang , Li HaiDong , Wang Xin , Shan Youlan , Kong Lingxi , Shan Xuefeng 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Backgound.
Prevalence of Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in China is increasing recently, and the prevalence rate and the related risk factors of it are significantly different among regions in China. Epidemiological characteristics of NAFLD in Chongqing, a southwest city of China has not been fully revealed up to now. We conducted the present study to investigate the prevalence of NAFLD and its risk factors among the population in Chongqing.
Methods.
A total of 74,870 healthy adults(38,952 men and 35,918 women, mean age: 38.69 ± 14.38 years) from a grade 3 hospital in Chongqing, China were included in the present study. All of the participants underwent anthropometric measurements, liver ultrasonography and serum examinations. Student-T test, chi-square test and logistic regression were used for statistical analysis.
Results.
The prevalence rate of NAFLD was 13.1% (9,752/74,870) with an increasing trend with age (P for trend < 0.001). Prevalence of NAFLD for men was estimated to be 3.0 times higher than women(19.1% for men and 6.3% for women,χ2 = 2726.65, P < 0.001). Gender, age, hypertension, fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and alanine transarninase (ALT) were independently correlated with the risk of NAFLD in the overall population. Among these factors, age, hypertension, FBG, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C and ALT were significantly associated with NAFLD both in male and female population. HDL-C was an independent risk factor of NAFLD for men,but not for women. Age(> 50 years) is the strongest associated factor both for male(OR 3.46) and female(OR 15.08).
Conclusions.
The prevalence of NAFLD among healthy adults in Chongqing,China was relatively high. Our results suggest that individuals in this region with higher BMI, higher FBG, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and elevated ALT should pay high attention to NAFLD.