bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High parasitaemia correlates with malaria episodes and the socioeconomic impact of recurrent malaria infection in high-transmission zone of Nigeria
Authors: Babamale Abdulkareem Olarewaju , Abdulkareem Adam Olaitan , Yinka Oyewole Jamiu , Folasade Kolawole , Olatundun Babawale Oluwapelumi , Ayodipo Onitayo Faith , Uddin Mohammad Mosleh , Ugbomoiko Uade Samuel 
Published: May 2022

AbstractBackgroundRecurrent malaria infection is a major phenomenon in a hightransmission zone with deplorable health and socioeconomic consequences on individuals and the public. However, the association between parasitaemia, repeated episodes of the infection, and its socioeconomic impact is less studied. Therefore, this study aimed at bridging this research gap by conducting an epidemiological survey in selected malaria-endemic settings of Kwara state, Nigeria.ResultsHigh prevalence and intensity of infection were observed, 56.6% of 572 study participants were infected with average parasitaemia of 3022.25 ± 1001.51 per µl of blood and the majority of heavy infection was due toPlasmodium falciparum. The heavily asymptomatic infected participants were among the younger age group particularly ≤ 20 years, and infection decreases with increasing age. Parasitaemia and the number of episodes of malaria attacks were positively correlated (R2 = 0.2388,p < 0.0001). Highrecurrent malaria was associated with male (p = 0.001), younger age (p = 0.0012), low-income status (p = 0.0004), bush around habitation (0.0014), and unavoidability of preventive strategies and treatment (p < 0.0001) of malaria. Our study further revealed socioeconomic factors as cause and/or consequence of recurrent malaria infection. Low income individuals (aOR 1.948 95%CI 0.945–2.512) and illiterates (aOR 1.920 95%CI 1.470–2.149), those living close to bush (aOR 2.501 95%CI 2.033–3.714) and dumpsite (aOR 2.718 95%CI 1.661–3.118) are at least twice likely to have recurrent infection. The socioeconomic consequence of recurrent malaria episodes includes reduced economic activities, personal savings, and change of lifestyle in adults, while infected children suffered declined academic performance and sports activities.ConclusionsThis study underscores high malaria intensity as a prevalent health problem in our study location and demonstrates a positive correlation between malaria episodes and parasitaemia which can be explored in the clinic for the screening of suitable antimalarial drugs that cure beyond a single infection. Our finding also advocates for mass distribution of insecticide-treated nets, provision of socio-infrastructural amenities such as medical centers, good drainage system and highly subsidized malaria treatment in endemic endemic rural communities
Effect of biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs on body composition in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: de Souza Mariana Peixoto Guimarães Ubirajara , Guimarães Nathalia Sernizon , de Resende Guimarães Maria Fernanda Brandão , de Souza Viviane Angelina , Kakehasi Adriana Maria 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
Background
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) generates an inflammatory profile that predisposes to total and visceral fatty accumulation and reduced fat free mass (FFM). This metabolic disorder contributes to poor functionality, increased cardiovascular risk and higher mortality. This study aimed to address a systematic review with meta-analysis to determine the effect of biological and targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs and tsDMARDs) on body composition (BC) of patients with RA.

Methods
The search was conducted at the electronic databases PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Lilacs and grey literature. This investigation was carried until July 2021. Outcomes of interest were total weight, body mass index (BMI), fat mass (FM) and FFM. A meta-analysis comparing these outcomes in RA patients under bDMARD treatment versus controls was performed.

Results
Out of 137 studies reviewed, 18 were selected: fifteen prospective cohorts, two retrospective cohorts, and one cross-sectional study. The studies comprised 1221 patients, 778 on bDMARD treatment and 443 controls, which included RA patients under conventional synthetic DMARD (csDMARD). No study addressing BC analysis in patients using tsDMARD was found. The mean age and duration of the disease was 56.7 years and 6.77 years, respectively. Ten studies demonstrated a significant increase of total weight in 88.2% of patients and 42.3% for BMI. In studies that analyzed BC by double X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), the increase in total weight and BMI correlated positively to the increase in FFM. The meta-analysis carried out in five studies showed no significant difference of the mean difference for total weight 0.12 kg (95% CI − 5.58, 5.82), BMI 0.08 kg/m2 (95% CI − 1.76, 1.92), FM − 0.08 kg (95% IC − 5.31, 5.14), and FFM − 2.08 kg (95% CI − 7.37, 3.21).

Conclusion
This systematic review suggests a possible impact of bDMARDs on BC of RA patients, even though, the meta-analysis carried out in a small part of these studies was not able to confirm significant variation in BC components.
Trial registration: PROSPERO code: CRD42020206949.
Fine scale transitions of the microbiota and metabolome along the gastrointestinal tract of herbivorous fishes
Authors: Sparagon Wesley J. , Gentry Emily C. , Minich Jeremiah J. , Vollbrecht Lisa , Laurens Lieve M. L. , Allen Eric E. , Sims Neil A. , Dorrestein Pieter C. , Kelly Linda Wegley , Nelson Craig E. 
Published: May 2022

AbstractBackgroundGut microorganisms aid in the digestion of food by providing exogenous metabolic pathways to break down organic compounds. An integration of longitudinal microbial and chemical data is necessary to illuminate how gut microorganisms supplement the energetic and nutritional requirements of animals. Although mammalian gut systems are well-studied in this capacity, the role of microbes in the breakdown and utilization of recalcitrant marine macroalgae in herbivorous fish is relatively understudied and an emerging priority for bioproduct extraction. Here we use a comprehensive survey of the marine herbivorous fish gut microbial ecosystem via parallel 16S rRNA gene amplicon profiling (microbiota) and untargeted tandem mass spectrometry (metabolomes) to demonstrate consistent transitions among 8 gut subsections across five fish of the genus ofKyphosus.ResultsIntegration of microbial phylogenetic and chemical diversity data reveals that microbial communities and metabolomes covaried and differentiated continuously from stomach to hindgut, with the midgut containing multiple distinct and previously uncharacterized microenvironments and a distinct hindgut community dominated by obligate anaerobes. This differentiation was driven primarily by anaerobic gut endosymbionts of the classesBacteroidiaandClostridiachanging in concert with bile acids, small peptides, and phospholipids: bile acid deconjugation associated with early midgut microbiota, small peptide production associated with midgut microbiota, and phospholipid production associated with hindgut microbiota.ConclusionsThe combination of microbial and untargeted metabolomic data at high spatial resolution provides a new view of the diverse fish gut microenvironment and serves as a foundation to understand functional partitioning of microbial activities that contribute to the digestion of complex macroalgae in herbivorous marine fish.
Advancing understanding of maternal age: correlating epigenetic clocks in blood and myometrium
Authors: Erickson Elise N. , Knight Anna K. , Smith Alicia K. , Myatt Leslie 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
Background
Advanced maternal age is currently a term defined by chronological age. However, a group of biomarkers known as epigenetic clocks, which can predict morbidity and mortality, has been used to estimate measures of biological aging. Uterine myometrial function during the process of parturition may be influenced by aging, as labor dystocia, unplanned intrapartum cesarean birth, and postpartum hemorrhage are more common in older individuals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of epigenetic clocks in maternal myometrium and blood for predicting age and to evaluate the correlation of epigenetic age between the tissues.

Results
We compared epigenetic age in blood and myometrial samples provided by women undergoing planned cesarean birth at term gestation. Chronological age ranged from 20 to 50 with a median (IQR) age of 35.5(8) years. The MethylationEPIC BeadChip was used to obtain DNA methylation data, and then epigenetic age was calculated using the Horvath, Hannum, GrimAge, and PhenoAge clocks. Spearman correlations of epigenetic age with chronological age were calculated. We tested the relationship of epigenetic age in maternal blood to epigenetic age in myometrium. Age acceleration, for each clock, was also correlated between tissues. Twenty-seven participants provided samples, and 21 matched specimens were included in the final analysis after quality control. Spearman correlation between maternal chronological age and epigenetic age were significant in three of the four clocks (pan-tissue Horvath, Hannum, and GrimAge), for both myometrium and blood samples. Correlations between blood epigenetic age and maternal age ranged from 0.72 to 0.87 (all p < 0.001). Correlations between myometrial epigenetic age and maternal age were also significant (0.62–0.70, p = 0.002), though lower than correlations seen in blood. Maternal blood epigenetic age also correlated with epigenetic age in myometrium with each of these three clocks 0.60 (p = 0.004, Horvath), 0.63 (p = 0.003, Hannum), and 0.80 (p < 0.001, GrimAge). GrimAge age acceleration had the highest correlation between tissues among the clocks (0.49, p = 0.02).

Conclusions
Given the limited sample, this study provides insight into the potential use of epigenetic age derived from blood as a proxy for myometrial epigenetic age, which may be a useful biomarker in estimating myometrial biological age in relationship to myometrial dysfunction. GrimAge outperformed the other tested clocks in terms of concordance of epigenetic age and age acceleration between tissues; however, the Horvath and Hannum clocks may be useful depending on the outcome of interest in pregnancy.
Promising role for pleural vent in pneumothorax following CT-guided biopsy of lung lesions
Authors: Ball Michael , Babu Suresh , Wallis Adam , Asciak Rachelle 
Published: May 2022

Objectives To evaluate the safety, effectiveness and cost-benefit of ambulatory pleural vent compared to conventional chest drain for pneumothorax following CT-guided biopsy of lung lesions (CTGB). Methods We retrospectively analysed electronic hospital records of patients requiring intervention for pneumothorax following CTGB. All patients treated with pleural vent over a 2-year period (August 2017–July 2019) were included and compared to a control group of all patients treated with chest drain over a previous 2-year period (August 2014–July 2016). Results Patients managed with a pleural vent had a shorter length of hospital stay compared to the chest drain group (median 0 days vs 4.5 days, p < 0.01). The mean cost of follow-up in the pleural vent group was £530.36 per patient compared to a mean of £2699.38 per patient in the chest drain group (p-value < 0.01). Conclusion Pleural vent can be a safe and effective alternative to conventional chest drain for the management of CTGB-related pneumothorax which allows patients to be managed on an outpatient basis with reduced hospital stays and lower associated healthcare costs. Advances in knowledge To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating the safety and effectiveness of pleural vent for CTGB-related pneumothorax.
MRI radiomics combined with clinicopathologic features to predict disease-free survival in patients with early-stage cervical cancer
Authors: Jiang Xiaoting , Song Jiacheng , Duan Shaofeng , Cheng Wenjun , Chen Ting , Liu Xisheng 
Published: May 2022

Objective
To establish a comprehensive model including MRI radiomics and clinicopathological features to predict post-operative disease-free survival (DFS) in early-stage (pre-operative FIGO Stage IB-IIA) cervical cancer.

Methods
A total of 183 patients with early-stage cervical cancer admitted to our Jiangsu Province Hospital underwent radical hysterectomy were enrolled in this retrospective study from January 2013 to June 2018 and their clinicopathology and MRI information were collected. They were then divided into training cohort (n = 129) and internal validation cohort (n = 54). The radiomic features were extracted from the pre-operative T1 contrast-enhanced (T1CE) and T 2 weighted image of each patient. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression and multivariate Cox proportional hazard model were used for feature selection, and the rad-score (RS) of each patient were evaluated individually. The clinicopathology model, T1CE_RS model, T1CE + T2_RS model, and clinicopathology combined with T1CE_RS model were established and compared. Patients were divided into high- and low-risk groups according to the optimum cut-off values of four models.

Results
T1CE_RS model showed better performance on DFS prediction of early-stage cervical cancer than clinicopathological model (C-index: 0.724 vs 0.659). T1CE+T2_RS model did not improve predictive performance (C-index: 0.671). The combination of T1CE_RS and clinicopathology features showed more accurate predictive ability (C-index=0.773).

Conclusion
The combination of T1CE_RS and clinicopathology features showed more accurate predictive performance for DFS of patients with early-stage (pre-operative IB-IIA) cervical cancer which can aid in the design of individualised treatment strategies and regular follow-up.

Advances in knowledge
A radiomics signature composed of T1CE radiomic features combined with clinicopathology features allowed differentiating patients at high or low risk of recurrence.
ACE2 expression in saliva of patients with COVID-19 and its association with Candida albicans and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans
Authors: Bachtiar Endang W , Bachtiar Boy M , Kusumaningrum Ardiana , Sunarto Hari , Soeroso Yuniarti , Sulijaya Benso , Apriyanti Efa , Theodorea Citra Fragrantia , Pratomo Irandi Putra , . Yudhistira , Efendi Defi , Razak Fathilah Abdul 
Published: May 2022

Background: A relationship between oral microbiota and susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection has been extensively studied. However, the relationship between oral commensal flora and expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) remains to be established. In this observational study, we collected saliva from patients with COVID-19 and evaluated the relationship between ACE2 expression and Candida albicans as well as with selected gram-negative bacteria (Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Veillonella parvula). We investigated how this may be directly or indirectly involved in oral dysbiosis in patients with COVID-19. Methods: We included 23 hospitalized patients admitted to Universitas Indonesia Hospital with PCR-confirmed COVID-19, with six healthy participants serving as controls. Saliva and tongue surface swabs were collected from patients with diabetes (DG) and without diabetes (NDG) and subject controls. Using quantitative PCR (qPCR) we assessed the mRNA expression of ACE2, the abundance of C. albicans, and the transcription levels of its biofilm-associated genes, agglutinin-like protein 3 (ALS3), hyphal wall protein 1 (HWP1), and yeast-form wall protein 1 (YWP1). We also counted the relative proportion of the three selected gram-negative oral bacteria in saliva. All analyses were performed to determine the relationship between ACE2 expression and C. albicans and gram-negative bacteria. Results: ACE2 mRNA expression was significantly higher in tongue swab samples than in saliva. However, no significant difference was observed between the patient groups. Conversely, DG patients had a significantly higher abundance of C. albicans in saliva compared to NDG patients and control group patients. The correlation and sensitivity/specificity relationship between ACE2 expression and C. albicans or the selected oral bacteria were also observed. Conclusions: The data show that ACE2 expression can be detected in saliva of patients with COVID-19 and its association with C. albicans and gram-negative oral bacteria might contribute toward developing an oral dysbiosis based predictor for prognosis of COVID-19 severity.
Modelling computer assisted audit techniques (CAATs) in enhancing the Indonesian public sector
Authors: Purnamasari Pupung , Amran Noor Afza , Hartanto Rudy 
Published: May 2022

Background: This study aims to examine public sector auditors' tendency to use somputer assisted audit techniques (CAATs) in managing their audit works. Methods: A total of 400 questionnaires were distributed to auditors working in the public sectors in Central Java, West Java, and East Java. From the total, 225 questionnaires were returned and completed. The Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) and Partial Least Square (PLS) were used to analyze the data. Results: The empirical findings reveal that performance expectation and facilitating conditions have encouraged auditors to use CAATs in their works. Further, there is a positive influence between the intention to use and CAATs audit. This implies that auditors with an intention will be more open to using the CAATs optimally in achieving effective and efficient work. The utilization of CAATs in public services needs to have strong support from the government and positive attitudes from the auditors as the users of the system. Conclusion: This study covers broad areas of Central Java, West Java, and East Java. Further, the findings add to the literature on emerging markets specifically for Indonesian government auditors' intention and appropriateness of using CAATs. The use of CAATs help to provide auditors information on the highest number of auditees involved in corruption.
An empirical examination of customer advocacy influenced by engagement behaviour and predispositions of FinTech customers in India
Authors: Nayak Kini Archana , Basri Savitha 
Published: May 2022

Background: The extensive adoption and usage of emerging technologies furthered by the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, has reduced direct face to face communications. New FinTech (financial technology) apps and technologies are flooding the Indian digital payments market and competitors are striving hard to attract and retain their customers. Especially when customer engagement behaviours (CEBs) are digital in nature, it is essential to gauge the intrinsically driven customer motivations which drive a positive CEB. The objective of this paper was to empirically test the influence of customer-based antecedents such as emotions, moral identity, self-concept, communal focus, perceived cost and perceived benefits on non-transactional experiential customer engagement behaviours (CEBs) and CEB’s effect on customer advocacy in the FinTech industry. Methods: Data from 380 financial app users in south India were gathered by administering a survey that captured customer predispositions, CEBs, and customer advocacy. Structural equation modelling (SEM) using smart PLS (partial least squares) 3.0 was applied to test the theoretical model. Results: Results indicate that CEB fully mediates the relationship between self-concept and customer advocacy. The positive CEBs get formed through customer predispositions leading to referral/advocacy behaviours. Conclusions: This paper provides directions for FinTech practitioners, marketers, technologists, and academicians to devise marketing strategies customized to customer needs and factors. This is one of the first research studies to demonstrate and empirically validate the CEB model for the FinTech industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Accounting for complexity – Intervention design in the context of studying social accountability for reproductive health
Authors: McMullen Heather , Boydell Victoria , Cordero Joanna Paula , Steyn Petrus S. , Kiarie James , Kinemo Patrick , Monyo Alice , Addah Mary Awelana , Ahuno Jacob Tetteh , Gyamfi Osei-Bonsu 
Published: May 2022

Background: Social accountability interventions aim to propel change by raising community voices and holding duty bearers accountable for delivering on rights and entitlements. Evidence on the role of such interventions for improving community health outcomes is steadily emerging, including for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). However, these interventions are complex social processes with numerous actors, multiple components, and a highly influential local context. Unsurprisingly, determining the mechanisms of change and what outcomes may be transferable to other similar settings can be a challenge. We report our methodological considerations to account for complexity in a social accountability intervention exploring contraceptive uptake and use in Ghana and Tanzania. Main Body: The Community and Provider driven Social Accountability Intervention (CaPSAI) study explores the relationship between a health facility-focused social accountability intervention and contraceptive service provision in two countries. This 24-month mixed-method quasi-experimental study, using an interrupted time series with a parallel control group, is being undertaken in 16 sites across Ghana and Tanzania in collaboration with local research and implementation partners. The primary outcomes include changes in contraceptive uptake and use. We also measure outcomes related to current social accountability theories of change and undertake a process evaluation. We present three design components: aspects of co-design, ‘conceptual’ fidelity, and how we aim to track the intervention as ‘intended vs. implemented’ to explore how the intervention could be responsive to the embedded routines, local contextual realities, and the processual nature of the social accountability intervention. Conclusions: Through a discussion of these design components and their rationale, we conclude by suggesting approaches to intervention design that may go some way in responding to recent challenges in accounting for social accountability interventions, bearing relevance for evaluating health system interventions.