bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Therapy-resistant nature of cancer stem cells in view of iron metabolism
Authors: Wang Wenqian , Tabu Kouichi , Aimaitijiang Alapati , Taga Tetsuya 
Published: November 2022

AbstractDue to increased resistance to standard chemo/radiotherapies and relapse, highly tumorigenic cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been proposed as a promising target for the development of effective cancer treatments. In order to develop innovative cancer therapies that target CSCs, much attention has focused on the iron metabolism of CSCs, which has been considered to contribute to self-renewal of CSCs. Here, we review recent advances in iron metabolism and conventional iron metabolism-targeted cancer therapies, as well as therapy resistance of CSCs and potential treatment options to overcome them, which provide important insights into therapeutic strategies against intractable cancers. Potential treatment options targeting iron homeostasis, including small-molecule inhibitors, nanotechnology platforms, ferroptosis, and 5-ALA-PDT, might be a focus of future research for the development of innovative cancer therapies that tackle CSCs.
Psychotic relapse in people with schizophrenia within 12 months of discharge from acute inpatient care: protocol for development and validation of a prediction model based on a retrospective cohort study in three psychiatric hospitals in Japan
Authors: Sato Akira , Watanabe Norio , Maruo Kazushi , Moriyama Toshihiro , Furukawa Toshi A. 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
Background
Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness characterized by recurrent psychoses that typically waxes and wanes through its prodromal, acute, and chronic phases. A large amount of research on individual prognostic factors for relapse in people with schizophrenia has been published, and a few logistic models exist to predict psychotic prognosis for people in the prodromal phase or after the first episode of psychosis. However, research on prediction models for people with schizophrenia, including those in the chronic phase and after multiple recurrences, is scarce. We aim to develop and validate a prediction model for this population.

Methods
This is a retrospective cohort study to be undertaken in Japan. We will include participants aged 18 years or above, diagnosed with schizophrenia or related disorders, and discharged between January 2014 and December 2018 from one of the acute inpatient care wards of three geographically distinct psychiatric hospitals. We will collect pre-specified nine predictors at the time of recruitment, follow up the participants for 12 months after discharge, and observe whether our primary outcome of a relapse occurs. Relapse will be considered to have occurred in one of the following circumstances: (1) hospitalization; (2) psychiatrist’s judgment that the person needs hospitalization; (3) increasing doses of antipsychotics; or (4) suicidal or homicidal ideation or behavior resulting from such ideation. We will develop a Cox regression model and avoid overfitting by penalizing coefficients using the elastic net. The model will be validated both internally and externally by bootstrapping and “leave-one-hospital-out” cross-validation, respectively. We will evaluate the model’s performance in terms of discrimination and calibration. Decision curve analysis will be presented to aid decision-making. We will present a web application to visualize the model for ease of use in daily practice.

Discussion
This will be the first prediction modeling study of relapse after discharge among people with both first and multiple episodes of schizophrenia using routinely collected data.

Trial registration
This study was registered in the UMIN-CTR (UMIN000043345) on February 20, 2021.
Neural stem cell research in Africa: current realities and future prospects
Authors: Azeez Idris A. , Awogbindin Ifeoluwa O. , Olayinka Juliet N. , Folarin Royhaan O. , Adamu Abubakar S. , Ior Lydia D. , Shehu Asmau M. , Mukhtar Abubakar I. , Ajeigbe Olufunke F. , Emokpae Aghariagbonse O. , Usende Ifukibot L. , Babatunde Bamidele R. , Yusha'u Yusuf , Olateju Oladiran I. , Kamoga Ronald , Benson Ayoola I. O. , Oparaji Kenneth C. , Owemidu Idowu O. , Iliyasu Musa O. , Imam Maryam I. , Olopade James O. 
Published: November 2022

ABSTRACT
Neural stem cells (NSCs) are immature progenitor cells that are found in developing and adult brains that have the potential of dividing actively and renewing themselves, with a complex form of gene expression. The generation of new brain cells in adult individuals was initially considered impossible, however, the landmark discovery of human neural stem cells in the hippocampus has been followed by further discoveries in other discreet regions of the brain. Investigation into the current state in Africa of the research and use of NSCs shows relatively limited activities on the continent. Information on the African application of NSCs for modelling disease mechanisms, drug discovery, and therapeutics is still limited. The International Brain Research Organization (IBRO)-African Regional Committee (ARC), with support from the Company of Biologists, and the Movement Disorder Society, sponsored the first African Basic School on NSC in Ibadan, Nigeria, with the vision of bringing together young neuroscientists and physicians across different fields in neuroscience to learn from leaders who have applied NSCs in stem cell research, the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases, neuroanatomy, and neurotherapeutics. Twenty early-career researchers in academic institutions at junior and senior faculty cadres were selected from South Africa, Uganda and Nigeria. The students and organizer of the school, who wrote this review on the state of NSCs research in Africa, recommended the following: (1) other African countries can take a cue from South Africa and Nigeria in probing the phenomena of adult neurogenesis in unique animal species on the continent; (2) Africa should leverage the expertise and facilities of South African scientists and international collaborators in scaling up NSC research into these unique species and (3) Centers of Excellence should be established on the continent to serve as research hubs for training postgraduate students, and facilities for African scientists who trained overseas on NSCs.
Zebrafish parental progeny investment in response to cycling thermal stress and hypoxia: deposition of heat shock proteins but not cortisol
Authors: Lim Michael Y.-T. , Bernier Nicholas J. 
Published: November 2022

ABSTRACT
The maternal match hypothesis predicts that maternal exposure to a stressor may help prepare offspring to cope with the same disturbance in later life. Although there is support for this hypothesis, the signals involved in non-genetic inheritance are unclear. In this study, we tested how adult zebrafish exposure to diel cycles of thermal stress (27–36°C), hypoxia (20–85% dissolved oxygen) or the combined treatment affects maternal and embryonic levels of cortisol and heat shock proteins (HSPs). While parental exposure to the thermal, hypoxic or combined treatment for 2 weeks did not affect whole-body cortisol levels, the combined exposure increased ovarian cortisol levels by 4-fold and reduced embryonic cortisol content by 60%. The combined treatment also elicited 3- and 19-fold increases in embryo transcripts involved in cortisol breakdown (11bhsd2) and export (abcb4), respectively. The thermal stress and combined exposure also elicited marked increases in ovary and embryo hsp70a (20- to 45-fold) and HSP70 (3- to 7-fold), and smaller increases in ovary and embryo hsp90aa and hsp47 (2- to 4-fold) and in embryo HSP90 and HSP47 (2- to 6-fold). In contrast, except for increases in ovary hsp90aa (2-fold) and embryo HSP90 (3-fold), the hypoxia treatment had little effect on HSP expression and transfer. Overall, while the embryonic deposition of HSPs largely paralleled the ovarian cellular stress response, the inverse relationship between ovary and embryo cortisol levels suggests the existence of barriers against cortisol deposition in response to environmental stressors. We conclude that the endocrine and cellular stress responses make stressor-specific and distinct contributions to non-genetic inheritance.
Prevalence, causes and impacts of human trafficking in Asian countries: A scoping review
Authors: Khan Zeeshan , Kamaluddin Mohammad Rahim , Meyappan Saravanan , Manap Jamiah , Rajamanickam Ramalinggam 
Published: November 2022

Background: In Asian countries, human trafficking is often encountered as forced labor, forced marriage, sex trafficking, men, women, and children exploitation. This review points out how human trafficking activities are prevalent in Asian countries and also reveals different causes that are the basis of increasingly human trafficking in Asian countries such as poverty, unemployment, political uncertainty, war, natural disaster, corruption and weak policies. Human trafficking also creates huge health, physical, psychological and social implications on individuals and the overall society. Methods: The purpose of this study is to collect evidence on human trafficking in Asian countries. A scoping review methodology was used to systematically search online databases including Sage Journals Online, Wiley Online, Hein Online, Taylor & Francis Online, Web of Science, and Scopus literature to amalgamate information on this issue. For the purposes of this article, 64 studies met the inclusion criteria after searching and screening a total number of 1,278 studies. Results: The findings of this study were classified under three categories: prevalence of human trafficking in Asia, causes of human trafficking in Asia (poverty and unemployment, environmental and manmade disaster, weak policies and corruption), and impacts of human trafficking including social, health, physical, psychological impacts. Conclusion: Keeping in mind the prevalence and impacts of human trafficking, the author also recommends some meaningful and practical steps for policymakers and researchers to effectively tackle human trafficking in Asian countries.
Regular antenatal care visits were associated with low risk of low birth weight among newborns in Rwanda: Evidence from the 2014/2015 Rwanda Demographic Health Survey (RDHS) Data
Authors: Biracyaza Emmanuel , Habimana Samuel , Rusengamihigo Donat , Evans Heather 
Published: November 2022

Background: Low birth weight (LBW) remains the global unfinished agenda in most countries of the world especially in low- and middle-income countries. LBW subsequently has harmful effects on the lifestyle, psychosocial and physiological development of the child. Although it is known that antenatal care (ANC) visits are important interventions contributing to prediction of newborn birth weight, little has been conducted on effect of ANC visits on birth weight in Rwanda. This study aimed at determining the association between regular ANC visits and risk of LBW among newborns in Rwanda. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was conducted to analyse the effects of ANC on LBW using the 2014/2015 Rwanda Demographic Health Survey. Associations of socio-demographic, socio-economic, and individual factors of the mother with LBW newborns were performed using bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses. Results: Prevalences of LBW and macrosomia were 5.8% and 17.6%, respectively. Newborns delivered from mothers attending fewer than four ANC visits were at almost three-times greater risk of having LBW [aOR=2.8; 95%CI (1.5–5.4), p=0.002] compared to those whose mothers attending four or more ANC visits. Residing in a rural area for pregnant women was significantly associated with LBW [aOR=1.1; 95%CI (0.7–1.6), p=0.008]. Maternal characteristics, such as anemia, predicted an increase in LBW [aOR=3.5; 95%CI (1.5–5.4),p<0.001]. Those who received no nutritional counseling [aOR=2.5; 95%CI (2–8.5), p<0.001] and who were not told about maternal complications [aOR=3.3; 95%CI (1.5–6.6), p=0.003] were more prone to deliver newborns with LBW than those who received them. Pregnant women who received iron and folic acid were less likely to have LBW newborns [aOR=0.5; 95%CI (0.3–0.9), p=0.015]. Conclusion: ANC visits significantly contributed to reducing the incidence of LBW. This study underscores the need for early, comprehensive, and high-quality ANC services to prevent LBW in Rwanda.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and associated risk in rural South Africa: a population-based cohort study
Authors: Fabian June , Gondwe Mwawi , Mayindi Nokthula , Chipungu Shingirai , Khoza Bongekile , Gaylard Petra , Wade Alisha N , Gómez-Olivé F. Xavier , Tomlinson Laurie A , Ramsay Michele , Tollman Stephen , Winkler Cheryl , George Jaya A , Naicker Saraladevi 
Published: November 2022

Background: In Africa, true prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is unknown, and associated clinical and genetic risk factors remain understudied. This population-based cohort study aimed to investigate CKD prevalence and associated risk factors in rural South Africa. Methods: A total 2021 adults aged 20-79 years were recruited between 2017-2018 from the Agincourt Health and Socio-Demographic Surveillance System in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, South Africa. The following were collected: sociodemographic, anthropometric, and clinical data; venous blood samples for creatinine, hepatitis B serology; DNA extraction; spot urine samples for dipstick testing and urine albumin: creatinine ratio (UACR) measurement. Point-of-care screening determined prevalent HIV infection, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia. DNA was used to test for apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) kidney risk variants. Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria were used to diagnose CKD as low eGFR (<60mL/min/1.73m2) and /or albuminuria (UACR ≥ 3.0mg/mmol) confirmed with follow up screening after at least three months. eGFR was calculated using the CKD-EPI(creatinine) equation 2009 with no ethnicity adjustment. Multivariable logistic regression was used to model CKD risk. Results: The WHO age-adjusted population prevalence of CKD was 6.7% (95% CI 5.4 - 7.9), mostly from persistent albuminuria. In the fully adjusted model, APOL1 high-risk genotypes (OR 2.1; 95% CI 1.3 - 3.4); HIV infection (OR 1.8; 1.1 - 2.8); hypertension (OR 2.8; 95% CI 1.8 - 4.3), and diabetes (OR 4.1; 95% CI 2.0 - 8.4) were risk factors. There was no association with age, sex, level of education, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, or hepatitis B infection. Sensitivity analyses showed that CKD risk factor associations were driven by persistent albuminuria, and not low eGFR. One third of those with CKD did not have any of these risk factors. Conclusions: In rural South Africa, CKD is prevalent, dominated by persistent albuminuria, and associated with APOL1 high-risk genotypes, hypertension, diabetes, and HIV infection.
DESAFIOS DOS ANOS INICIAIS DO ENSINO FUNDAMENTAL NO ENSINO REMOTO: EXPERIÊNCIAS EDUCATIVAS MEDIADAS POR TECNOLOGIAS DIGITAIS
Authors: Faria Denilda Caetano , Neves Francisca Antônia Dos Santos , Gonçalves Lorena Morganna , Damasceno Fernanda Franco 
Published: November 2022

O distanciamento e o isolamento social impostos pelo Coronavírus, fizeram com que mudanças em diversos aspectos e na Educação fossem necessárias e urgentes. Na Educação, a principal mudança foi a transição do ensino presencial para o ensino remoto. O estudo em questão teve como objetivo, compreender os desafios da alfabetização mediada por tecnologias entre os professores e os estudantes no ensino remoto, revelar os resultados de uma revisão sistemática de literatura em que são apresentados trabalhos científicos, que tratam dos desafios do ensino remoto no ensino fundamental I , no contexto da pandemia, pelos professores de diferentes instituições brasileiras e, por fim, as experiências pessoais das professoras autoras deste estudo em suas práticas educativas, mediadas pelas tecnologias digitais, no âmbito das escolas. Os dados foram coletados por meio da base de dados do Google Acadêmico e em relato de experiências das professoras pesquisadoras. Os resultados do estudo evidenciaram que a integração das ferramentas tecnológicas, no ensino aprendizagem, promove novos desafios a serem superados pelos docentes. Contudo, há de se reconhecer os esforços dos educadores em mediar a produção do conhecimento nas salas de aulas do ensino remoto. Entretanto, se faz necessário uma formação com capacitações que promovam novas possibilidades de ensinar e aprender com o suporte das tecnologias digitais. PALAVRAS-CHAVE:
Game-Based Learning in Higher Education: The Pedagogical Effect of Genially Games in English as a Foreign Language Instruction
Authors: Cabrera-Solano Paola 
Published: November 2022

<p style="text-align:justify">This study aimed to analyze the effect of game-based learning (GBL) through the use of Genially in English as a foreign language (EFL) online instruction. The participants were 61 EFL undergraduate students, who were distributed into an experimental group (32 students), and a control group (29 students). Their ages ranged from 22 to 56 years old, and their English proficiency level was B1, according to the Common European Framework of References (CEFR). The students were enrolled in two pre-intermediate courses that are part of an EFL Teaching program at a private university in southern Ecuador. The courses were delivered in an online remote learning environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study followed a quasi-experimental approach and it took place over a sixteen-week period. The instruments included a diagnostic survey, a pre-test, a post-test, a students’ perceptions survey, and a semi-structured interview. The main findings revealed that Genially games have the potential to enhance EFL learners’ academic performance in online instruction, particularly in aspects related to students’ knowledge of grammar and vocabulary in context. Besides, it was found that according to students’ perceptions, the implementation of games based on their real learning needs increases their motivation, especially when feedback is effectively provided. </p>
Ultra-Structure of the Leaf Surfaces of the Family Bignoniaceae Juss. in Nigeria
Authors: Ugbabe G.E. , Ayodele A.E. , Kalpana S.J. , Okogun J.I. 
Published: November 2022

The leaf surfaces of the Nigerian Bignoniaceae were studied using the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The species in this study were: Crescentia cujete Linn. Jacaranda mimosifolia D. Don., Kigelia africana (Lam) Benth. Markhamia tomentosa (Benth) K. Schum., Newbuldia laevis (P. Beauv.) Seemann ex Bureau. Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv. Stereospermum acuminatissimum K. Schum. Stereospermum kunthianum Cham. Tabebuia rosea (Berthol) D. C. Tecoma stans (Linn) H, B &K. and Tecoma capensis. The study was conducted using anatomical characters to identify and delimit the Nigerian taxa at the tribal level. Stomata were observed on the abaxial surfaces of all the species studied. Sunken stomata were found in K. africana while the others had raised stomata. Peltate trichomes were found on some species like the abaxial surfaces of C. cujete, J. mimosifolia, M. tomentosa, N. laevis T. stans and T. rosea and on the adaxial surfaces of C. cujete, M. tomentosa, N. laevis, S.acuminatissimum and T. rosea. M. tomentosa had both glandular and non-glandular trichomes on the abaxial surface while T. capensis had only non-glandular trichome on the adaxial surface. The non-glandular trichomes of M. tomentosa were long and with blunt tip while those of T. capensis were short and with pointed tips. Striae were found on the abaxial surfaces of J. mimosifolia and T. stans and on both the abaxial and adaxial surfaces of T. capensis. The genera Tabebuia and Tecoma are suggested to be retained in the tribe Tecomeae based on striations on their epidermal cells. While other members be assigned to a new tribe ‘Spathodeae’.
Die Generation Alpha der Digital Health Innovationen – Eine Fallstudie aus der Multiple Sklerose Versorgung
Authors: Schlieter Hannes , Susky Marcel , Richter Peggy , Hickmann Emily , Scheplitz Tim , Burwitz Martin , Ziemssen Tjalf 
Published: November 2022

ZusammenfassungDie digitale Transformation im Gesundheitswesen ermöglicht durch die Entwicklung zahlreicher neuer Technologien und Standards eine zunehmend individualisierte, bedarfsgerechte und berufsgruppenübergreifende Versorgung von Patienten. Diese neue Generation von Digital Health Innovationen – die Digital Health Generation Alpha (in Anlehnung an die korrespondierende Alterskohorte) – erfüllt Informations‑, Kommunikations- und Interoperabilitätsanforderungen entlang des gesamten Versorgungsprozesses, die aufgrund von abgegrenzten Leistungs- und Zuständigkeitsbereichen sowie Vergütungsregelungen oft eine unüberwindbare Hürde dargestellt haben. Im Beitrag werden mit der i) Pfadorientierung, ii) Patientenorientierung und -einbeziehung, iii) Qualitätsorientierung und iv) Integrationsfähigkeit vier zentrale Gestaltungsdimensionen von Digital Health Innovationen der Generation Alpha vorgestellt. Diese werden literaturgestützt aufgearbeitet und deren praktische Umsetzung anhand einer Fallstudie im Bereich der Versorgung von Patienten mit Multipler Sklerose aufgezeigt. Zentrale Leitfragen, konkrete Umsetzungsmaßnahmen und literaturgestützte Gestaltungsziele werden anhand eines prototypischen Vorgehensmodells beschrieben. Anhand der Fallstudie werden anschließend Implikationen für die zukünftige Digital Health Agenda abgeleitet, welche insbesondere für die Realisierung innovativer Werteversprechen und deren Integration in komplexe Zielumgebungen des Gesundheitswesens notwendig sind.
Estimating the potential overdiagnosis and overtreatment of acute appendicitis in Thailand using a secondary data analysis of service utilization before, during and after the COVID-19 lockdown policy
Authors: Sukmanee Jarawee , Butchon Rukmanee , Sarajan Myka Harun , Saeraneesopon Thanayut , Boonma Chulathip , Karunayawong Picharee , Teerawattananon Yot , Isaranuwatchai Wanrudee 
Published: November 2022

IntroductionAcute appendicitis is one of the most common surgical emergencies; however, optimal diagnosis and treatment of acute appendicitis remains challenging. We used the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown policy as a natural experiment to explore potential overdiagnosis and overtreatment of acute appendicitis in Thailand. The aim of this study was to estimate the potential overdiagnosis and overtreatment of acute appendicitis in Thailand by examining service utilization before, during, and after the COVID-19 lockdown policy.MethodsA secondary data analysis of patients admitted with acute appendicitis under the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) in Thailand over a 6-year period between 2016 and 2021 was conducted. The trend of acute appendicitis was plotted using a 14-day rolling average of daily cases. Patient characteristics, clinical management, and outcomes were descriptively presented and compared among three study periods, namely pre-pandemic, lockdown, and post-lockdown.ResultsThe number of overall acute appendicitis cases decreased from 25,407 during pre-pandemic to 22,006 during lockdown (13.4% reduction) and 21,245 during post-lockdown (16.4% reduction). This reduction was mostly due to a lower incidence of uncomplicated acute appendicitis, whereas cases of generalized peritonitis were scarcely affected by the pandemic. There was an increasing trend towards the usage of diagnostic computerized tomography for acute appendicitis but no significant difference in treatment modalities and complication rates.ConclusionThe stable rates of generalized peritonitis and complications during the COVID-19 lockdown, despite fewer admissions overall, suggest that there may have been overdiagnosis and overtreatment of acute appendicitis in Thailand. Policy makers could use these findings to improve clinical practice for acute appendicitis in Thailand and support the efficient utilization of surgical services in the future, especially during pandemics.