bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
On the Provision of Health Services and Protection of Health Workers in War: A Review of Leonard Rubenstein’s Perilous Medicine
Authors: Boetig Bradley 
Published: April 2022

ABSTRACT
This review critiques Johns Hopkins professor Leonard Rubenstein’s Perilous Medicine: The Struggle to Protect Health Care from the Violence of War, and offers the reader a military medical officer’s perspective on these important concepts. Rubenstein’s tome is essential reading for military officers who must understand how the laws of armed conflict and the ideals of humanitarian protection apply in twenty-first-century conflict. This review adds that military officers may, at times, need to also consider a less ideal but more consequential framework.
Hispanic/Latinx Ethnic Subgroup Differences in Sociodemographic, Sociocultural, and Smoking Characteristics in a Cessation Trial: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Medina-Ramirez Patricia , Casas Laura , Sutton Steven K , Calixte-Civil Patricia , Brandon Karen O , Martinez Ursula , Meade Cathy D , Byrne Margaret M , Brandon Thomas H , Simmons Vani N 
Published: April 2022

Abstract

Introduction
Hispanic/Latinx smokers in the United States are often treated as a homogeneous group. However, population-based studies suggest that cigarette use differs among Hispanic/Latinx subgroups by sociodemographic or sociocultural characteristics. This secondary analysis aimed to advance the limited literature by examining differences in smoking-related variables.

Aims and Methods
We used baseline data from a randomized controlled trial testing a self-help Spanish-language smoking cessation intervention. Puerto Rican (PR), Mexican, and Cuban, the three largest Hispanic/Latinx subgroups in the sample (N = 1028), were first compared on sociodemographic and sociocultural variables (acculturation and familism). Primary analyses assessed subgroup differences in cigarette use variables (eg, cigarettes per day [CPD], nicotine dependence [Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence], and daily smoking) and smoking-related cognitive constructs (motivation to quit, smoking outcome expectancies, and abstinence self-efficacy) controlling for sociodemographic and sociocultural variables. Additional analyses explored differences between men and women within subgroups.

Results
Mexicans exhibited the lowest levels of daily smoking (90% vs. 95% Cubans and 96% PR; p = .001), CPD (M = 13.5, SD = 9.5 vs. M = 20.1, SD = 9.9 Cubans and M = 16.7, SD = 10.1 PR; p = .016), and nicotine dependence (M = 4.2, SD = 2.3 vs. M = 6.0, SD = 2.1 Cubans and M = 5.7, SD = 2.2 PR; p &lt; .001), with no differences between PRs and Cubans. Within-subgroup comparisons between men and women showed the most differences among PRs (eg, men were more nicotine dependent [M = 6.0, SD = 1.9] than women [M = 5.4, SD = 2.3; p = .041]) and Cubans (eg, men smoked more CPD [M = 22.2, SD = 12.2] than women [M = 19.3, SD = 12.0; p = .042]), and the fewest among Mexicans.

Conclusions
Findings support heterogeneity within Hispanic/Latinx smokers and highlight the potential utility of examining sociodemographic, sociocultural, and smoking characteristics important for developing salient cessation interventions.

Implications
Findings demonstrate that treatment-seeking Hispanic/Latinx smokers in the United States differ in sociodemographic, sociocultural, and smoking-related variables (cigarette use and smoking-related cognitive constructs) by subgroup (ie, PR, Mexican, and Cuban) and within subgroups by sex. These differences suggest that heterogeneity among subgroups should be considered when developing cessation interventions for Hispanics/Latinxs. Future research should examine how differences in sociodemographic and smoking-related variables impact intervention outcomes and explore the role of sociocultural factors (eg, acculturation and familism) as determinants of cessation.
Proteome-Wide Response of Dormant Caryopses of the Weed, Avena fatua, After Colonization by a Seed-Decay Isolate of Fusarium avenaceum
Authors: Lewis Ricky W. , Okubara Patricia A. , Sullivan Tarah S. , Madden Benjamin J. , Johnson Kenneth L. , Charlesworth M. Cristine , Fuerst E. Patrick 
Published: April 2022

Promoting seed decay is an ecological approach to reducing weed persistence in the soil seedbank. Previous work demonstrated that Fusarium avenaceum F.a.1 decays dormant Avena fatua (wild oat) caryopses and induces several defense enzyme activities in vitro. The objectives of this study were to obtain a global perspective of proteins expressed after F.a.1-caryopsis colonization by conducting proteomic evaluations on (i) leachates, soluble extrinsic (seed-surface) proteins released upon washing caryopses in buffer and (ii) proteins extracted from whole caryopses; interactions with aluminum (Al) were also evaluated in the latter study because soil acidification and associated metal toxicity are growing problems. Of the 119 leachate proteins classified as defense/stress, 80 were induced or repressed. Defense/stress proteins were far more abundant in A. fatua (35%) than in F.a.1 (12%). Avena defense/stress proteins were also the most highly regulated category, with 30% induced and 35% repressed by F.a.1. Antifungal proteins represented 36% of Avena defense proteins and were the most highly regulated, with 36% induced and 37% repressed by F.a.1. These results implicate selective regulation of Avena defense proteins by F.a.1. Fusarium proteins were also highly abundant in the leachates, with 10% related to pathogenicity, 45% of which were associated with host cell wall degradation. In whole caryopsis extracts, fungal colonization generally resulted in induction of a similar set of Avena proteins in the presence and absence of Al. Results advance the hypothesis that seed decay pathogens elicit intricate and dynamic biochemical responses in dormant seeds.
Acceptability and associated factors of indoor residual spraying for Malaria control by households in Luangwa district of Zambia: A multilevel analysis
Authors: Aongola Maureen , Kaonga Patrick , Michelo Charles , Zgambo Jessy , Lupenga Joseph , Jacobs Choolwe 
Published: April 2022

AbstractBackgroundThe global burden of malaria has increased from 227 million cases in 2019 to 247 million cases in 2020. Indoor residual spraying (IRS) remains one of the most effective control strategies for malaria. The current study sought to measure the acceptability level and associated factors of indoor residual spraying.MethodsA cross sectional study was conducted from October to November 2020 in sixteen urban and rural communities of Luangwa district using a cluster sampling method, Multilevel analysis was used to account for the hierarchical structure of the data.ResultsThe acceptability level of indoor residual spraying among household heads was relatively high at 87%. Individuals who felt the timing was not appropriate were associated with decreased odds of accepting IRS (AOR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.20 - 0.86). Positive attitude was associated with increased odds of accepting IRS (AOR = 29.34, 95% CI: 11.14 - 77.30). High acceptability level was associated with unemployment (AOR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.07 - 3.44). There were no associations found between acceptability levels and community-level factors such as information, education, communication dissemination, awareness achieved through door-to-door sensitization, and public address system.ConclusionAcceptability level of indoor residual spraying was relatively high among households of Luangwa District suggesting that the interventions are more acceptable which is essential in reaching malaria elimination by 2030. Finding that community factors known to influence acceptability such as information, education and communication as well as awareness were not important to influencing acceptability suggests need for reinforcing messages related to indoor residual spraying and redefining the community sensitization approaches to make indoor residual spraying more acceptable.
Declining Course of Humoral Immune Response in Initially Responding Kidney Transplant Recipients after Repeated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination
Authors: Ronicke Simon , Osmanodja Bilgin , Budde Klemens , Jens Annika , Hammett Charlotte , Koch Nadine , Zukunft Bianca , Bachmann Friederike , Choi Mira , Weber Ulrike , Eberspächer Bettina , Hofmann Jörg , Grunow Fritz , Mikhailov Michael , Halleck Fabian , Schrezenmeier Eva 
Published: April 2022

AbstractImmunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in kidney transplant recipients is limited, resulting in inadequately low serological response rates and low immunoglobulin (Ig) levels, correlating with reduced protection against death and hospitalization from COVID-19. We retrospectively examined the time course of anti-SARS-CoV-2 Ig antibody levels after up to five repeated vaccinations in 644 previously nonresponding kidney transplant recipients. Using anti SARS-CoV-2 IgG/IgA ELISA and the total Ig ECLIA assays, we compare antibody levels at 1 month with levels at 2 and 4 months, respectively. Additionally, we correlate the measurements of the used assays.Between 1 and 2 months, and between 1 and 4 months, mean anti-SARS-CoV-2 Ig levels in responders decreased by 14% and 25%, respectively, depending on the assay. Absolute Ig values and time course of antibody levels and showed high interindividual variability. Ig levels decreased by at least 20% in 77 of 148 paired samples with loss of sufficient serological protection over time occurring in 18 out of 148 (12.2%).IgG ELISA and total Ig ECLIA assays showed a strong positive correlation (Kendall’s tau=0.78), yet the two assays determined divergent results in 99 of 751 (13.2%) measurements. IgG and IgA assays showed overall strong correlation but divergent results in 270 of 1.173 (23.0%) cases and only weak correlation of antibody levels in positive samples.Large interindividual variability and significant loss of serological protection after 4 months supports repeated serological sampling and consideration of shorter vaccination intervals in kidney transplant recipients.
Impact of Total Hip Replacements on the Incidence of Hip Fractures in Norway During 1999–2019. A NOREPOS Study
Authors: Kjeldgaard Helena Kames , Meyer Haakon E , O’Flaherty Martin , Apalset Ellen M , Dahl Cecilie , Emaus Nina , Fenstad Anne Marie , Furnes Ove , Gjertsen Jan-Erik , Hoff Mari , Schei Berit , Søgaard Anne Johanne , Tell Grethe S , Holvik Kristin 
Published: April 2022

ABSTRACTThe knowledge about why hip fracture rates in Norway have declined is sparse. Concurrent with decreasing hip fracture rates, the rates of total hip replacements (THRs) have increased. We wanted to investigate if hip fracture rates continued to decline, and whether the increase in THRs had any influence on this decline, assuming that living with a hip prosthesis precludes fracture of the operated hip. Information on hip fractures in Norway 1999-2019 was available from the Norwegian Epidemiologic Osteoporosis Studies (NOREPOS) hip fracture database and population size were available in official population tables from Statistics Norway. Primary THRs (for any cause except hip fracture) 1989-2019 were obtained from the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register. We calculated the annual age-standardized incidence rates of hip fracture by sex for the period 1999–2019. The hip fracture rates in a scenario with no hip prostheses were calculated by subtracting 0.5 persons from the population at risk for each prevalent hip prosthesis, considering that each person has two hips at risk of fracture. We estimated how much of the decline could be attributed to the increased prevalence of hip prostheses. From 1999 to 2019, age-standardized incidence rates of hip fracture decreased by 27% in women and 20% in men. The rates remained stable in those under 70 years and decreased in those 70 years and above. Excluding replaced hips from the population at risk led to higher incidence rates, and this impact was considerably larger at higher ages. The increased prevalence of hip prostheses over the period accounted for approximately 18% (20% in women and 11% in men) of the observed decline in hip fracture rates. In conclusion, the incidence of hip fractures continued to decline, and the increasing number of people living with hip prostheses contributed significantly to the observed declining time trends.
VentRa. Validation study of the ventricle feature estimation and classification tool to differentiate behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia from psychiatric disorders and other degenerative diseases
Authors: Manera Ana L. , Dadar Mahsa , Ducharme Simon , Collins D. Louis 
Published: April 2022

ABSTRACTIntroductionLateral ventricles are reliable and sensitive indicators of brain atrophy and disease progression in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). Here we validate our previously developed automated tool using ventricular features (known as VentRa) for the classification of bvFTD vs a mixed cohort of neurodegenerative, vascular, and psychiatric disorders from a clinically representative independent dataset.MethodsLateral ventricles were segmented for 1110 subjects - 14 bvFTD, 30 other Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), 70 Lewy Body Disease (LBD), 898 Alzheimer Disease (AD), 62 Vascular Brain Injury (VBI) and 36 Primary Psychiatric Disorder (PPD) from the publicly accessible National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center dataset to assess the performance of VentRa.ResultsUsing ventricular features to discriminate bvFTD subjects from PPD, VentRa achieved an accuracy of 84%, 71% sensitivity and 89% specificity. VentRa was able to identify bvFTD from a mixed age-matched cohort (i.e., Other FTD, LBD, AD, VBI and PPD) and to correctly classify other disorders as ‘not compatible with bvFTD’ with a specificity of 83%. The specificity against each of the other individual cohorts were 80% for other FTD, 83% for LBD, 83% for AD and 84% for VBI.DiscussionVentRa is a robust and generalizable tool with potential usefulness for improving the diagnostic certainty of bvFTD, particularly for the differential diagnosis with PPD.
Effect ofMAOADNA methylation on humanin vivoprotein expression measured by [11C]harmine PET in healthy and depressed individuals
Authors: Handschuh Patricia A. , Murgaš Matej , Vraka Chrysoula , Nics Lukas , Hartmann Annette M. , Winkler-Pjrek Edda , Baldinger-Melich Pia , Wadsak Wolfgang , Winkler Dietmar , Hacker Marcus , Rujescu Dan , Domschke Katharina , Lanzenberger Rupert , Spies Marie 
Published: April 2022

AbstractEpigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, are understood as an intermediary between environmental factors affecting disease risk and pathophysiologic changes to brain structure and function. Cerebral monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) levels are altered in depression, as are DNA methylation levels within theMAOAgene, particularly in the promoter / exon I / intron I region. An effect ofMAOAmethylation on peripheral protein expression was shown, but the extent to which methylation affects brain MAO-A levels is not fully understood. Here, the influence of average and CpG site-specificMAOApromoter / exon I / intron I region DNA methylation on global MAO-A distribution volume (VT), an index of MAO-A density, was assessed via [11C]harmine positron emission tomography in 22 patients suffering from winter-type seasonal affective disorder and 30 healthy controls. No significant influence ofMAOADNA methylation on global MAO-A VTwas found, despite correction for health status (patients vs. controls), sex, season (methylation analysis in spring / summer vs. fall / winter) andMAOAvariable number of tandem repeat genotype (VNTR; high vs. low expression groups). However, in female subjects, season affected average DNA methylation, with higher levels in spring and summer (puncorr= 0.03). We thus did not find evidence for an effect ofMAOADNA methylation on brain MAO-A VT. In contrast to a previous study that demonstrated an effect of the methylation of aMAOApromoter region located further 5’ on brain MAO-A, in the present studyMAOAmethylation appears to affect brain protein levels to a limited extent. The observed effect of season on methylation levels is in accordance with extensive evidence for seasonal effects within the serotonergic system.Clinicaltrials.govIdentifierNCT02582398EUDAMED NumberCIV-AT-13-01-009583
No woman should be left behind: A decomposition analysis of socioeconomic inequalities in unsafe abortion among women presenting for abortion care services in Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces of Zambia
Authors: Kaonga Patrick , Mukosha Moses , Jacobs Choolwe , Munakampe Margarate Nzala , Sichone Victor , Phiri Christabel Chigwe , Makasa Musonda , Vwalika Bellington , Lubeya Mwansa Ketty 
Published: April 2022

AbstractThis study measured socioeconomic-related unsafe abortion inequality among women presenting for abortion care services in Lusaka and the Copperbelt provinces of Zambia and decompose its causes. We conducted a cross-sectional study between August and September 2021. Unsafe abortion inequalities were assessed using corrected concentration index and Erreygers-type decomposition analysis was conducted to assess causes of unsafe abortion inequalities. Out of 362 women, the magnitude of unsafe abortion was 77(21.3%, [95% CI: 17.8, 24.9]). The corrected concentration index was -0.231 (95% CI: -0.309, -0.154), implying pro-poor inequality in unsafe abortion among women. Decomposition analysis showed that the major contributors of the unsafe abortion inequality were socioeconomic status (66.6%), marital status (6.3%), education (10.2%) and employment (3.7%). Also, history of unwanted pregnancy (5.1%), awareness of whether abortion is legal in Zambia (8.9%) and awareness that hospitals offered free abortion services (11.3%). The findings suggest that the unsafe abortion is a problem in Zambia and substantial inequality mainly due to socioeconomic factors. Stakeholders and policymakers should consider socioeconomic strategies to reduce unsafe abortion inequality promoting advocacy to increased access to legal safe abortion and use of modern contraceptives so that no woman is left behind in the prevention of unsafe abortion.
Double burden of malnutrition and its social disparities among rural Sri Lankan adolescents
Authors: Goonapienuwala B. L. , Kalupahana N. S. , Agampodi S. B. , Siribaddana S. 
Published: April 2022

AbstractIn Sri Lanka, the double burden of nutrition is often neglected, and increase of adolescent obesity is not well investigated. This study determines the double burden of malnutrition among adolescents in Anuradhapura district exploring the differences of prevalence based on different definitions. Students aged 13 to 16 years were selected from 74 schools using probability proportionate to size sampling. Anthropometry was done according to WHO guidelines. Obesity was defined according to body mass index (BMI) based definitions of WHO, International Obesity Task Force and Indian growth references. Central obesity was defined using Indian and British waist circumference cut-offs. Prevalence estimates from different definitions were compared using McNemar’s test. Socio-demographic determinants of nutritional issues were assessed using Chi-square test for independence. A total of 3105 students (47.7% boys) were studied (mean age 14.8+ 0.8 years). According to WHO definitions, 73 (2.4%, 95% CI; 1.9–2.9) were obese, 222 (7.2%, 95% CI; 6.3–8.1) were overweight, 673 (21.7%, 95% CI; 20.2–23.1,) were thin and 396 (12.8%, 95% CI; 11.6–14.0) were stunted. More boys (3.1%) than girls (1.7%) were obese as well as thin (29.0% compared to 15.0%). Prevalence of overweight/obesity was higher among students in larger, urban schools, and belonging to high social class and more educated parents. Prevalence of overweight/obesity estimated using IOTF-Asian and Indian thresholds were significantly higher than that from WHO and IOTF-international thresholds. Double burden of malnutrition is affecting the adolescents in rural Sri Lanka. Prevalence estimates of obesity largely depend on the definition used.
Adapted “Break The Cycle for Avant Garde” Intervention to Reduce Injection Assisting and Promoting Behaviours in People Who Inject Drugs in Tallinn, Estonia: A Pre- Post Trial
Authors: Uusküla A , Raag M , Barnes DM , Tross S , Talu A , Des Jarlais D 
Published: April 2022

AbstractIn the context of established and emerging injection drug use epidemics, there is a need to prevent and avert injection drug use. We tested the hypothesis that an individual motivation and skills building counselling, adapted and enhanced from Hunt’s Break the Cycle intervention targeting persons currently injecting drugs would lead to reduction in injection initiation-related behaviours among PWID in Tallinn, Estonia. For this quasi-experimental study, pre-post outcome measures included self-reported promoting behaviours (speaking positively about injecting to non-injectors, injecting in front of non-injectors, offering to give a first injection) and injection initiation behaviours (assisting with or giving a first injection) during the previous 6 months. Of 214 PWID recruited, 189 were retained (88.3%) for the follow-up at 6 months. The proportion of those who had injected in front of non-PWID significantly declined from 15.9% to 8.5%, and reporting assisting with 1st injection from 6.4% to 1.06%. Of the current injectors retained in the study, 17.5% reported not injecting drugs at the follow up. The intervention adapted for the use in the setting of high prevalence of HIV and relatively low prevalence of injection assisting, tested proved to be effective and safe.
Delineating the heterogeneity of preimplantation development via unsupervised clustering of embryo candidates for transfer using automated, accurate and standardized morphokinetic annotation
Authors: Zabari Nir , Kan-Tor Yoav , Or Yuval , Shoham Zeev , Shofaro Yoel , Richter Dganit , Har-Vardi Iris , Ben-Meir Assaf , Srebnik Naama , Buxboim Amnon 
Published: April 2022

AbstractThe majority of human embryos, whether naturally or in vitro fertilized (IVF), do not poses the capacity to implant within the uterus and reach live birth. Hence, selecting the embryos with the highest developmental potential to implant is imperative for improving pregnancy rates without prolonging time to pregnancy. The developmental potential of embryos can be assessed based on temporal profiling of the discrete morphokinetic events of preimplantation development. However, manual morphokinetic annotation introduces intra- and inter-observer variation and is time-consuming. Using a large clinically-labeled multicenter dataset of video recordings of preimplantation embryo development by time-lapse incubators, we trained a convolutional neural network and developed a classifier that performs fully automated, robust, and standardized annotation of the morphokinetic events with R-square 0.994 accuracy. To delineate the morphokinetic heterogeneity of preimplantation development, we performed unsupervised clustering of high-quality embryo candidates for transfer, which was independent of maternal age and blastulation rate. Retrospective comparative analysis of transfer versus implantation rates reveals differences between embryo clusters that are distinctively marked by poor synchronization of the third meiotic cell-cleavage cycle. We expect this work to advance the integration of morphokinetic-based decision support tools in IVF treatments and deepen our understanding of preimplantation heterogeneity.