bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Kuhuang alleviates liver fibrosis by modulating gut microbiota-mediated hepatic IFN signaling and bile acid synthesis
Authors: Shen Bo , Zhou Cui , Gu Tianyi , Shen Zhenyang , Guo Yuecheng , Dai Weiming , Liu Yang , Zhang Jie , Lu Lungen , Dong Hui 
Published: December 2022

Background: Liver fibrosis is a common outcome of the pathological progression of chronic liver disease; however, no specific and effective therapeutic agent has been approved for its treatment. We investigated the effects of Kuhuang on liver fibrosis and the underlying mechanisms of action.Materials and methods: To induce hepatic fibrosis, either 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydro-collidine (DDC) diet was administered, or bile duct ligation (BDL) surgery was performed on C57BL/6 mice. Kuhuang was orally administered to mice for 7 days before and after bile duct ligation or 4 weeks with a DDC diet. Hematoxylin and eosin, Sirius red staining, and immunohistochemical analyses were performed to evaluate hepatic pathology. Hepatic interferon-β (IFN-β) levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RNA sequencing was performed to examine the gene expression profiles of liver tissues. The mRNA expression of inflammatory, profibrotic, and bile acid (BA)-related genes was further validated by qRT-PCR. A targeted metabolomics assay revealed the alteration of the hepatic bile acid (BA) composition. The composition of the gut microbiota was determined via 16S rRNA sequencing.Results: Treatment with Kuhuang attenuated liver fibrosis and reduced the inflammatory response in bile duct ligation and DDC mouse models. In addition, the hepatic IFN signaling pathway was activated following Kuhuang treatment. Kuhuang treatment also significantly decreased hepatic levels of both primary and secondary BAs. In addition, Kuhuang treatment altered gut microbiota composition, with an increased abundance of interferon-inducing Akkermansia and decreased abundance of bile salt hydrolase-producing Lactobacillus, Clostridium, and Bifidobacterium. Furthermore, the abundance of Akkermansia was positively correlated with the hepatic mRNA expression levels of Ifna4, Ifnb, and Isg15, whereas that of Lactobacillus, Clostridium-sensu-stricto-1, and Bifidobacterium was positively correlated with levels of bile acid synthesis-related genes.Conclusion: Our results suggest that Kuhuang plays a protective role during the progression of liver fibrosis, potentially by altering the composition of the gut microbiota, which consequently activates interferon signaling and inhibits bile acid synthesis in the liver.
Be optimistic or be cautious? Affective forecasting bias in allocation decisions and its effect
Authors: Liu Lei , Sun Wujun , Fang Ping , Jiang Yuan , Tian Li 
Published: December 2022

IntroductionPeople’s forecasts of their future emotions play an essential role in their behavior and experience of well-being. However, their emotional reactions may fall short of what they expect, which has implications for subsequent decision making. The current paper investigated the accuracy of affective forecasting about resource allocations and how this (in)accuracy predicts future allocation decisions.MethodsTwo experimental studies were conducted. Study 1 (N = 84) examined the extent to which people can accurately predict how allocation decisions will feel using an ultimatum game on the part of the allocator. Study 2 tested whether the affective forecasting bias affects future allocation decisions, with 192 participants playing a two-round ultimatum game on the part of allocators.ResultsStudy 1 found an affective forecasting bias, and people anticipated more powerful emotional reactions to both positive and negative allocation events than they actually experienced when the events occurred. Study 2 found that increased affective forecasting bias resulted in less generous decisions in positive event conditions and more generous decisions in negative event conditions.DiscussionThese results extend previous findings concerning affective forecasting bias and the feelings-as-information model in resource allocation interactions and show that the difference between anticipated and experienced emotion is also informative in allocation decisions. The results suggest that being more cautious when forecasting positive outcomes and more optimistic when forecasting negative outcomes can be beneficial to one’s well-being.
Mindfulness for mediating the relationship between self-control and alexithymia among Chinese medical students: A structural equation modeling analysis
Authors: Liu Chong , Cui Can , Sznajder Kristin K. , Wang Jiana , Zuo Xiaoxuan , Yang Xiaoshi 
Published: December 2022

BackgroundsMedical students are prone to experience alexithymia due to academic work overload, which could increase the prevalence of mental illness such as anxiety and depression. The purpose of our study was to estimate the levels of alexithymia and to explore the relationships between alexithymia, self-control, and mindfulness among medical students.Materials and methodsFrom March 18th, 2021 to April 9th, 2021, a cross-sectional study with stratified sampling was carried out in China Medical University, Liaoning Province, China. A total of 1,013 medical students participated in this study. The questionnaires pertaining to the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-26), the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), and the Self-control Scale (SCS) were used to assess the levels of alexithymia, mindfulness and self-control. We used Hierarchical Multiple Regression (HMR) and structural equation modeling to explore the mediating role of mindfulness between self-control and alexithymia.ResultsThe mean score of alexithymia in medical students was 69.39 ± 9.9. After controlling for confounders, males were more likely to experience alexithymia. Self-control, acting with awareness, describing, and observing in mindfulness were negatively associated with alexithymia (P &lt; 0.01). Mindfulness mediated the relationship between self-control and alexithymia (a*b = −0.06, BCa 95% CI: −0.09 to −0.031, Percentile 95% CI: −0.089 to −0.031).ConclusionChinese medical students experienced high levels of alexithymia. Self-control could directly attenuate alexithymia for medical students and indirectly affect alexithymia through the mediating path of mindfulness. Initiatives for self-control ability enhancement should be provided to medical students to combat alexithymia. And interventions on mindfulness training should be developed to prevent from alexithymia and promote their mental health.
Prescribed opioid use is associated with increased all-purpose emergency department visits and hospitalizations in community-dwelling older adults in the United States
Authors: Ge Song , Tian Chong , Wu Liang , Liu Minhui , Lu Haidong 
Published: December 2022

BackgroundThe geriatric and health characteristics of older adults make them more susceptible to the effects of opioids than younger groups. The number of older adults in the United States visiting the emergency department (ED) and overusing opioids has increased in recent years. Research examining their relationship is, however, limited.MethodsUsing information from the 2020 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), we included older adults aged 65 and older. To investigate the relationship between prescribed opioid use and 12-months ED visits and hospitalizations, linear regression and logistic regression models were built while adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, education, employment, general health status, history of depression, and living arrangement.ResultsOur study population consisted of 8,631 participants (mean age 74.3). Most of them were females (58.3%) and Caucasian (81.6%). About 16% of the participants used prescribed opioids over the past 12 months. Of the participants with prescribed opioid use, 65.1% of them did so to treat chronic pain. The adjusted regression models revealed that prescribed opioid use was independently and positively associated with 12-months ED visits (β = 0.22, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.18, 0.26) and hospitalizations (Odds ratio [OR] = 3.78, 95% CI 3.29, 4.35). Other risk factors for 12-months ED visits and/or hospitalizations included advanced age, male gender, unemployment/retirement, African American ethnicity, living alone, fair or poor general health status, and history of depression.DiscussionsClinicians should screen older adults at high risk for ED visits and hospitalizations and explore multimodal pain management with them to help them reduce/stop using opioids. These efforts may decrease their chronic pain, opioid use, opioid use-related adverse health outcomes, ED visits, as well as hospitalizations.
Accuracy of steps measured by smartphones-based WeRun compared with ActiGraph-GT3X accelerometer in free-living conditions
Authors: Yao Qinqin , Wang Jing , Sun Yucong , Zhang Li , Sun Shuangyuan , Cheng Minna , Yang Qinping , Wang Siyuan , Huang Ling , Lin Tao , Jia Yingnan 
Published: December 2022

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of steps tracked by smartphone-based WeChat app compared with Actigraph-GT3X accelerometer in free-living conditions.DesignA cross-sectional study and repeated measures.MethodsA total of 103 employees in the Pudong New Area of Shanghai, China, participated in this study. The participants wore an ActiGraph-GT3X accelerometer during the period of August to September 2019 (Time 1), December 2019 (Time 2) and September 2020 (Time 3). Each time, they wore the ActiGraph-GT3X accelerometer continuously for 7 days to assess their 7-day step counts. The smartphone-based WeRun step counts were collected in the corresponding period when subjects wore accelerometers. The subjects were invited to complete basic demographic characteristics questionnaires and to perform physical examination to obtain health-related results such as height, body weight, body fat percentage, waist circumference, hip circumference, and blood pressure.ResultsBased on 103 participants' 21 days of data, we found that the Spearman correlation coefficient between them was 0.733 (P &lt; 0.01). The average number of WeRun steps measured by smartphones was 8,975 (4,059) per day, which was higher than those measured by accelerometers (8,462 ± 3,486 per day, P &lt; 0.01). Demographic characteristics and different conditions can affect the consistency of measurements. The consistency was higher in those who were male, older, master's degree and above educated, and traveled by walking. Steps measured by smartphone and accelerometer in working days and August showed stronger correlation than other working conditions and time. Mean absolute percent error (MAPE) for step counts ranged from 0.5 to 15.9%. The test-retest reliability coefficients of WeRun steps ranged from 0.392 to 0.646. A multiple regression analysis adjusted for age, gender, and MVPA/step counts measured during Time 1 showed that body composition (body weight, BMI, body fat percentage, waist circumference, and hip circumference) was correlated with moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity, but it was not correlated with WeRun step counts.ConclusionsThe smartphone-based WeChat app can be used to assess physical activity step counts and is a reliable tool for measuring steps in free-living conditions. However, WeRun step counts' utilization is potentially limited in predicting body composition.
Association of migration status with quality of life among rural and urban adults with rare diseases: A cross-sectional study from China
Authors: Zhang Huanyu , Chen Shanquan , Dong Dong 
Published: December 2022

BackgroundA considerable proportion of rare disease patients decide to migrate to access a definitive diagnosis or appropriate care, which could affect their quality of life in a long term.ObjectiveTo compare quality of life (QoL) between migrants and residents and explore the possible mechanism of how migration influence the QoL among rural and urban adults with rare diseases, respectively.MethodsA cross-sectional study at national level was conducted in a study sample of 1,150 adult patients in China. Migration was defined as being away from one's original place of residence for at least 12 months. Patients who remained in their place of residence in the past 12 months (“resident”) were treated as a comparison group for “migrants”. Original area of residence (rural vs. urban) for both residents and migrants was used for comparison. The brief version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument was used to measure QoL. Multiple linear regression analyses were adopted to assess the direct association between migration status and QoL after controlling for the confounders that affect QoL. The indirect associations between migration status and QoL, mediated by potential mediators including number of family members living together, individual income, catastrophic health expenditure, and social support, were estimated using the mediation model.ResultsAmong the group of rural participants, migration was directly associated with physical QoL (β = 5.07, 95% CI 2.01–8.13) and environmental QoL (3.95, 1.37–6.53), indirectly associated with physical QoL (0.58, 0.05–1.28) and social QoL (0.50, 0.01–1.16) via individual income, and also indirectly associated with environmental QoL (−0.47, −1.12 to −0.50) via tangible support. On the other hand, neither direct nor indirect associations of migration with four domain scores of QoL were significant among the group of urban participants.ConclusionAmong rural adults with rare diseases, migration was found to have positive direct effect on physical and environmental QoL, positive indirect effect on physical and social QoL through increased individual income, and negative indirect effect on environmental QoL via reduced tangible support. By contrast, neither direct nor indirect associations of migration with QoL were significant among the group of urban participants.
Accelerated ageing is associated with increased COVID-19 severity and differences across ethnic groups may exist
Authors: Reeves Joshua , Kooner Jaspal S. , Zhang Weihua 
Published: December 2022

BackgroundWhile increased age is an established risk factor for COVID-19, there is great heterogeneity in outcomes within age groups. This is because chronological age does not reflect health, unlike biological age. We intend to investigate the association between accelerated ageing and COVID-19 outcomes through the lens of three measures, namely phenotypic age acceleration (PhenoAgeAccel), telomere length (Adjusted T/S Ratio) and facial ageing, and to examine whether there are differences across ethnic groups.MethodsTaking participants from the UK Biobank, we associated accelerated ageing with severe COVID-19 outcomes, defined as COVID-related hospitalisation or death. Separate logistic regressions models were created for age and the three accelerated ageing-related variables, adjusting for a variety of covariates in each model. Multivariable logistic regression models were also created within White, Black, Asian and Other ethnic groups to assess for potential differing associations. Forward likelihood ratio logistic regression models were created to evaluate importance of the variables and to assess for patterns of association across the total population and ethnic groups.ResultsAfter adjusting for all covariates, the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of COVID-19 severe outcomes for age was 1.080 (1.074–1.086). After further adjusting age for the accelerated ageing variables, the ORs were 1.029 (1.020–1.039) for PhenoAgeAccel and 0.847 (0.772–0.929) for Facial Ageing's “Younger Than You Are” while Adjusted T/S ratio and “Older Than You Are” were statistically insignificant. The OR for age remained similar across ethnic groups. Both PhenoAgeAccel and younger facial ages in the White population and PhenoAgeAccel in the Black population had ORs of 1.031 (1.021–1.042), 0.853 (0.774–0.939), and 1.049 (1.001–1.100), respectively. Both Adjusted T/S Ratio and older facial ages showed statistical insignificance in all ethnicities. In forward logistic regression, age and PhenoAgeAccel were the age-related variables selected most frequently in all models.InterpretationAccelerated ageing is associated with increased COVID-19 severity. The mechanisms at work here are likely immunosenescence and inflamaging. This association indicates that anti-ageing treatment may improve COVID-19 outcome. The results within ethnic groups and that of telomere length were inconclusive, but point to a need for future, more focused research on the topic.
The impact of Muslim and Christian religious leaders responding to COVID-19 in Israel
Authors: Essa-Hadad Jumanah , Abed Elhadi Shahbari Nour , Roth Daniel , Gesser-Edelsburg Anat 
Published: December 2022

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most significant public health emergencies in decades and has affected all countries worldwide. Religious leaders have been recognized as playing a pivotal role in health promotion during times of crisis. This study explored the role that Muslim and Christian religious leaders played in Israel during the pandemic, and the impact that their activities had on the community.MethodsA qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews was conducted with Muslim and Christian religious leaders and health policy makers from the Arab community. Intensive purposeful sampling was used to locate the two target audiences. Interview protocols were developed and included questions about the role they played during the pandemic, challenges they faced, and dialogue and partnerships they had. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic content analysis.ResultsTen Muslim Sheikhs, three Christian clergy, and four health policy makers were interviewed. Religious leaders played a predominant role in promoting health during the COVID-19 crisis. Both religious leaders and health policy makers reported similar challenges including dealing with fake news and the conspiracy theory, social events and gatherings, frustrations about gaps in policy toward religious institutions, and lack of trust toward State. Health policy makers recognized the key role religious leaders played and emphasized the importance of engaging religious leaders.ConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic has been a catalyst for partnership between health policy makers and religious leaders. Religious leaders should play an integral and integrated role in promoting health during future health crises, not only in implementation of guidelines but also in development of policy so that the guidelines are tailored and sensitive to specific communities to avoid conflicts. As trusted authorities, religious leaders serve as a bridge between health authorities and communities and can be mediators who reconcile science, policy and religious perspectives. The routine cooperation between decision makers, opinion leaders, and religious leaders as social gatekeepers can increase the public's level of trust in the system.
Experiências interculturais e decoloniais de ensino-aprendizagem de Português como Língua Adicional durante uma escola virtual de verão
Authors: Leroy Henrique , De Sousa Figueiredo Freitas André , Sousa Bernardes Anna Karolina , Araújo Marcos Paulo , De Abreu Gomes Mileny 
Published: December 2022

A partir de dois cursos de Português como Língua Adicional (elementar e intermediário) ofertados durante a Summer School on Brazilian Studies (SSBS), promovida pela Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG) e destinados a alunos internacionais durante o ensino remoto decorrente da pandemia de covid-19, procuramos descrever a construção dos cursos, bem como analisar marcas de interculturalidade (MAHER, 2007), decolonialidade (QUIJANO, 2000; CANDAU; RUSSO, 2010; MALDONADO-TORRES, 2019) e Letramento Crítico (FREIRE, 1989; STREET, 2001; 2013; CASTANHEIRA; DIXON, 2007) nas atividades finais dos educandos. Verificamos que a noção de Brasil foi ampliada através dos eventos de letramentos propostos e que existem ecos coloniais que rodeiam não só o imaginário brasileiro, mas também o dos países de origem dos participantes.

Palavras-chave: Ensino-aprendizagem de Português como Língua Adicional; Ensino remoto; Interculturalidade; Estudos Decoloniais; Letramento Crítico.
A apresentação oral em contexto politécnico: práticas, géneros e textos em interação
Authors: Teixeira Carla 
Published: December 2022

Este trabalho pretende i) mostrar um percurso de ensino do género textual apresentação oral e ii) descrever as ações dos alunos durante apresentações de um álbum infantil de um Curso Técnico Superior e Profissional que forma técnicos de ação educativa. Privilegiando o quadro de trabalhos do interacionismo sociodiscursivo e as práticas de ensino preconizadas neste contexto, este texto expõe uma experiência formativa de uma unidade curricular de língua portuguesa do ensino superior em que se pretende dotar os alunos de estratégias linguísticas que lhes permitam construir um percurso académico e profissional com sucesso. O estudo foca-se na descrição do agir dos alunos e no modo como se apropriam das orientações da docente, dos conteúdos informativos e na sua transposição para a apresentação oral, em tempos da pandemia de COVID-19.
Avaliação da perda de massa muscular em pacientes críticos: utilizando a ultrassonografia como ferramenta
Authors: Silva Tauâna Mara da , Chagas Patrícia de Souza , Nogueira Emanuelle Negreiros , Boone Dayane Krauze 
Published: December 2022

Trata-se de um estudo prospectivo, de investigação observacional, quantitativo, realizado em um Hospital da rede pública no Município de Cacoal no Estado de Rondônia. O objetivo desse estudo é analisar a perda de massa muscular em pacientes críticos, utilizando o Ultrassonografia (USG) como ferramenta de avaliação do quadríceps femoral. Foram incluídos na pesquisa os pacientes com idade superior a 19 anos que estivessem internados na UTI, não entraram para pesquisa as gestantes, pacientes com doenças neurológicas prévias, indivíduos com lesões onde seria feito a USG, amputação de membro inferior, IMC>35, fraturas de membro inferior e pacientes paliativos. A espessura muscular do quadríceps femoral (EMQF) foi quantificada com o aparelho portátil de Ultrassom Philips CX50 CompactXtreme ultrassound system com transdutor linear de 5 a 10 MHz. Os resultados desse estudo foi que em 7 dias internação houve uma redução significativa de 15% na massa muscular dos pacientes avaliados. Concluiu-se que utilizar a Ultrassonografia como método de avaliação corporal é fortemente útil, podendo identificar piores desfechos, com isso intervenções nutricionais podem ser implantadas precocemente.