bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Strontium Regulates the Proliferation and Differentiation of Isolated Primary Bovine Chondrocytes via the TGFβ/SMAD Pathway
Authors: Liu Siqi , Shen Bingyu , Loor Juan J. , Jiang Qianming , Yuan Yang , Kong Yezi , Tan Panpan , Zeng Fangyuan , Zhao Chenxu , Zhu Xiaoyan , Wang Jianguo 
Published: June 2022

The present study evaluated the effects of strontium (Sr) on proliferation and differentiation of chondrocytes isolated from dairy cows, and whether Sr exerts its effects via transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling. The chondrocytes were isolated from patellar cartilage from newborn Holstein bull calves (n = 3, 1 day old, 38.0 ± 2.8 kg, fasting) within 15 min after euthanasia, and treated with different concentrations of Sr (0, 0.1, 1, and 10 μg/ml, as SrCl2·6H2O). After pretreatment with or without activin receptor-like kinase 5 (ALK5) inhibitor (10 μM SB-505124) for 4 h, chondrocytes were incubated with Sr for another 4 h. Overall effects of Sr were evaluated relative to NaCl as the control. In contrast, the 1 μg/ml Sr-treated group served as the control to determine effects of preincubating with SB-505124. Western blot and qRT-PCR were used for measuring expression of proliferation-, differentiation-, and TGFβ1-responsive factors. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA in GraphPad Prism 7.0. Incubation with all doses of Sr increased TGFβ1/ALK5-induced SMAD3 phosphorylation, and at 10 μg/ml it inhibited ALK1-induced SMAD1/5/9 phosphorylation. Expression of mRNA and protein of the proliferation-responsive factors type Ⅱ Collagen α1 (COL2A1) and aggrecan (ACAN) was induced by Sr at 1 μg/ml. In contrast, Sr at 10 μg/ml inhibited the expression of differentiation-responsive factors type Ⅹ Collagen α1 (COL10A1) and secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1), and at 1 μg/ml it had the same effect on alkaline phosphatase (ALPL) mRNA and protein levels. Cells were stained with PI/RNase Staining buffer to assess cell cycle activity using flow-cytometry. Incubation with Sr at 1 and 10 μg/ml induced an increase in the number of cells in the S-phase, leading to an increase in the proliferation index. Incubation with SB-505124 inhibited phosphorylation of SMAD3. Abundance of ACAN and COL2A1 mRNA and protein was lower when cells were pre-incubated with SB-505124. Overall, data indicated that Sr promotes proliferation and inhibits differentiation of primary chondrocytes by directing TGFβ1 signaling towards SMAD3 phosphorylation rather than SMAD1/5/9 phosphorylation. Whether these effects occur in vivo remains to be determined and could impact future application of Sr as an experimental tool in livestock.
Multiple Laser Doppler Flowmetry Probes Increase the Reproducibility of Skin Blood Flow Measurements
Authors: Luck J. Carter , Kunselman Allen R. , Herr Michael D. , Blaha Cheryl A. , Sinoway Lawrence I. , Cui Jian 
Published: June 2022

Cutaneous microcirculatory perfusion is commonly measured using laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) probes, which provide a continuous, non-invasive quantification of skin blood flow (SkBF). However, inhomogeneities in the skin’s microvasculature density contribute to a decrease in reproducibility whenever an LDF probe is removed and replaced, as is the case during pre- and post-intervention or between-day measurements. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether increasing the total number of individual LDF probes in a localized area improves the reproducibility of the measurement. Seven laser Doppler probes were secured in a custom-made acrylic holder designed to attach to the skin’s surface easily. SkBF, local skin temperature (Tsk), and blood pressure (BP) were assessed in 11 participants (6 M, 5 F, 42 ± 15 years). SkBF and Tsk were measured from the dorsal forearm (arm trial) for 5 min. Next, the multi-laser device was moved to the lateral side of the calf (leg trial), and measurements were obtained for 5 min. Each arm and leg trial was cyclically repeated three times, and all trials were separated by intermissions lasting 10–15 min. The average SkBF and the cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) from all possible LDF probe combinations were not statistically different across the three arm and leg trials. Two-way mixed-effects models with absolute agreement were used to compute the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for CVC, and the minimum ICC increased with the addition of LDF probes. The ICC of the average CVC from seven LDF probes was 0.96 between the arm trials and 0.91 between the leg trials, which suggests that there is excellent reliability and little difference between trials following the removal and replacement of the device. Moreover, all individual ICC values from ≥3 LDF probe combinations were greater than 0.70 (i.e., good reliability). These data suggest that SkBF measurements with multiple laser Doppler probes in a custom-made holder have excellent reproducibility after replacing the probes within the same participant. Therefore, this application could provide more reproducible assessments between repeated measurements (e.g., before and after exercise or clinical procedures) where the LDF probes must be removed and replaced within the same location.
Prevalence of Anti-neural Autoantibodies in a Psychiatric Patient Cohort-Paradigmatic Application of Criteria for Autoimmune-Based Psychiatric Syndromes
Authors: Hansen Niels , Juhl Aaron Levin , Grenzer Insa Maria , Rentzsch Kristin , Wiltfang Jens , Fitzner Dirk 
Published: June 2022

BackgroundAnti-neural autoantibodies associated with psychiatric syndromes is an increasing phenomenon in psychiatry. Our investigation aimed to assess the frequency and type of neural autoantibodies associated with distinct psychiatric syndromes in a mixed cohort of psychiatric patients.MethodsWe recruited 167 patients retrospectively from the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen for this study. Clinical features including the assessment of psychopathology via the Manual for Assessment and Documentation of Psychopathology in Psychiatry (AMDP), neurological examination, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) analysis were done in patients. Serum and or CSF anti- neural autoantibodies were measured in all patients for differential diagnostic reasons.ResultsWe divided patients in three different groups: (1) psychiatric patients with CSF and/or serum autoantibodies [PSYCH-AB+, n = 25 (14.9%)], (2) psychiatric patients with CSF autoantibodies [PSYCH-AB CSF+, n = 13 (7.8%)] and (3) those psychiatric patients without autoantibodies in serum and/or CSF [PSYCH-AB-, n = 131]. The prevalence of serum neural autoantibodies was 14.9% (PSYCH-AB+), whereas 7.2% had CSF autoantibodies (PSYCH-AB CSF+) in our psychiatric cohort. The most prevalent psychiatric diagnoses were neurocognitive disorders (61–67%) and mood disorders (25–36%) in the patients presenting neural autoantibodies (PSYCH-AB+ and PSYCH-AB CSF+). However, psychiatric diagnoses, neurological deficits, and laboratory results from CSF, EEG or MRI did not differ between the three groups. To evaluate the relevance of neural autoantibody findings, we applied recent criteria for possible, probable, or definitive autoimmune based psychiatric syndromes in an paradigmatic patient with delirium and in the PSYCH-AB+ cohort. Applying criteria for any autoimmune-based psychiatric syndromes, we detected a probable autoimmune-based psychiatric syndrome in 13 of 167 patients (7.8%) and a definitive autoimmune-based psychiatric syndrome in 11 of 167 patients (6.6%).ConclusionsNeural autoantibodies were detected mainly in patients presenting neurocognitive and mood disorders in our psychiatric cohort. The phenotypical appearance of psychiatric syndromes in conjunction with neural autoantibodies did not differ from those without neural autoantibodies. More research is therefore warranted to optimize biomarker research to help clinicians differentiate patients with potential neural autoantibodies when a rapid clinical response is required as in delirium states.
Sex Specific Sleep Parameters Among People With Substance Use Disorder
Authors: Martin Caitlin E. , Dzierzewski Joseph M. , Keyser-Marcus Lori , Donovan Emily K. , Ramey Tatiana , Svikis Dace S. , Moeller F. Gerard 
Published: June 2022

IntroductionSleep can have substantial impacts in substance use disorder (SUD) pathogenesis, treatment, and recovery. Sex differences exist in both sleep and SUD, but how sleep is uniquely associated with SUD by sex is not known. The study objective was to compare, within sex, sleep parameters between individuals with SUD and non-substance misusing controls.MethodsSecondary analyses of a parent cross-sectional study examining the feasibility and acceptability of a novel neurocognitive phenotyping assessment battery were completed. SUD and control subjects were recruited through local advertising and an established research registry. Subjects with SUD were also recruited through a university-based outpatient SUD treatment clinic. Self-reported sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Sex-stratified t-tests compared sleep between SUD and control subjects while Crosstab analyses explored group differences in the proportion of individuals reporting poor sleep (defined as PSQI ≥ 5).ResultsData from 162 males (44 controls, 118 SUD) and 146 females (64 controls, 82 SUD) were included in the present study. For females only, a significantly lower proportion of controls reported PSQI-defined poor sleep than individuals with any SUD or specifically with opioid use disorder. Male, but not female, controls reported shorter sleep latency, longer sleep duration, and less sleep disturbance than males with each SUD type.Discussion/ImplicationsSleep holds promise as an avenue to address SUD within a biopsychosocial model. Future work at the intersection of SUD and sleep should prioritize investigations of their interplay with sex to identify targets for tailored SUD interventions.
Compliance With Tobacco Control Policy and Visibility of Cigarette Retailers Around Educational Facilities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Authors: AlJishi Hala , Kusuma Dian , AlQurashi Alaa , AlFaiz Ali , AlSaad Abdulaziz , Aljishi Maha 
Published: June 2022

BackgroundIn Saudi Arabia, cardiovascular diseases are among the top causes of death and disability, and smoking is one of the leading risk factors, particularly among males.ObjectiveOur study aims to evaluate the compliance with the anti-smoking law among cigarette retailers and examine the visibility of cigarette retailers around educational facilities in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia.MethodsWe conducted a mapping survey and geospatial analysis of cigarette retailers around educational facilities from February to March 2020 (before the COVID-19 restriction) in Al-Olaya municipality in Riyadh city as a pilot study. We found 249 retailers, of which 152 sold cigarettes. Data analyses in ArcMap 10.6 compared the visibility within 250 and 500 meters from educational facilities.ResultsWe found many retailers were not compliant with the tobacco control regulation: 57.1% of minimarkets sell cigarettes, 15.8% of cigarette retailers display the products openly, and 12.5% of cigarette retailers sold cigarettes by the stick. Moreover, 71% of the total cigarette retailers were within 500 m from schools, and 62% of all schools had at least one cigarette retailer within 500 m buffer (5-min walking or 2–3-min driving distance).ConclusionThere is non-compliance with the anti-smoking law among cigarette retailers and high visibility of cigarette retailers around educational facilities in Saudi Arabia. Monitoring is needed for the effective implementation of tobacco control policies.
Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Engagement in Algeria: A Population-Based Study With Systematic Review of Studies From Arab Countries of the MENA Region
Authors: Kacimi Salah Eddine Oussama , Klouche-Djedid Selma Nihel , Riffi Omar , Belaouni Hadj Ahmed , Yasmin Farah , Essar Mohammad Yasir , Taouza Fatma Asma , Belakhdar Yasmine , Fellah Saliha Chiboub , Benmelouka Amira Yasmine , Ahmed Shoaib , Aloulou Mohammad , Bendelhoum Abdellah , Merzouk Hafida , Ghozy Sherief , Shah Jaffer , Haireche Mohamed Amine 
Published: June 2022

BackgroundThe Algerian COVID-19 vaccination campaign, which started at the end of January 2021, is marked by a slowly ascending curve despite the deployed resources. To tackle the issue, we assessed the levels and explored determinants of engagement toward the COVID-19 vaccine among the Algerian population.MethodsA nationwide, online-based cross-sectional study was conducted between March 27 and April 30, 2021. A two-stage stratified snowball sampling method was used to include an equivalent number of participants from the four cardinal regions of the country. A vaccine engagement scale was developed, defining vaccine engagement as a multidimensional parameter (5 items) that combined self-stated acceptance and willingness with perceived safety and efficacy of the vaccine. An Engagement score was calculated and the median was used to define engagement vs. non-engagement. Sociodemographic and clinical data, perceptions about COVID-19, and levels of adherence to preventive measures were analyzed as predictors for non-engagement.ResultsWe included 1,019 participants, 54% were female and 64% were aged 18–29 years. Overall, there were low rates of self-declared acceptance (26%) and willingness (21%) to take the vaccine, as well as low levels of agreement regarding vaccine safety (21%) and efficacy (30%). Thus, the vaccine engagement rate was estimated at 33.5%, and ranged between 29.6-38.5% depending on the region (p &gt; 0.05). Non-engagement was independently associated with female gender (OR = 2.31, p &lt; 0.001), low adherence level to preventive measures (OR = 6.93, p &lt; 0.001), private-sector jobs (OR = 0.53, p = 0.038), perceived COVID-19 severity (OR = 0.66, p = 0.014), and fear from contracting the disease (OR = 0.56, p = 0.018). Concern about vaccine side effects (72.0%) and exigence for more efficacy and safety studies (48.3%) were the most commonly reported barrier and enabler for vaccine acceptance respectively; whereas beliefs in the conspiracy theory were reported by 23.4%.ConclusionsThe very low rates of vaccine engagement among the Algerian population probably explain the slow ascension of the vaccination curve in the country. Vaccine awareness campaigns should be implemented to address the multiple misconceptions and enhance the levels of knowledge and perception both about the disease and the vaccine, by prioritizing target populations and engaging both healthcare workers and the general population.
Cannabis Use Increases the Risk of Sickness Absence: Longitudinal Analyses From the CONSTANCES Cohort
Authors: Déguilhem Amélia , Leclerc Annette , Goldberg Marcel , Lemogne Cédric , Roquelaure Yves , Zins Marie , Airagnes Guillaume 
Published: June 2022

AimsTo examine the longitudinal associations between cannabis use and risks of short (&lt;7 days), medium (7-28 days), and long (&gt;28 days) sickness absences at one-year follow-up.Methods87,273 participants aged 18-65 years from the French CONSTANCES cohort reported their frequency of cannabis use at inclusion between 2012 and 2018. Sickness absences occurring during one year of follow-up were collected from national medico-administrative registries. Multivariable generalized linear regressions were used to compute the Odds Ratios (OR) with their 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) of having at least one sickness absence at follow-up compared to no sickness absence, while controlling for sociodemographic factors, chronic conditions and occupational factors.ResultsCannabis use more than once a month was associated with an increased risk of short (OR, [95% CI]: 1.56 [1.32–1.83]) and medium (1.29 [1.07–1.54]) sickness absences at one-year follow-up, with dose-dependent relationships for short sickness absences (1.13 [1.08–1.18], p-for-trend &lt;0.001). In stratified analyses, cannabis use was associated with an increased risk of sickness absences in older individuals, men, participants with good self-rated health, living or having lived as a couple, and having an open-ended contract.ConclusionsCannabis use prospectively increased the risk of short and medium sickness absences, even from once a month and with a dose-dependent relationship for short sickness absences. These findings should be considered in information and prevention public health campaigns to alert the general population and workers to this increased risk.
Salivary miRNA Expression in Children With Persistent Post-concussive Symptoms
Authors: Miller Katherine E. , MacDonald James P. , Sullivan Lindsay , Venkata Lakshmi Prakruthi Rao , Shi Junxin , Yeates Keith Owen , Chen Su , Alshaikh Enas , Taylor H. Gerry , Hautmann Amanda , Asa Nicole , Cohen Daniel M. , Pommering Thomas L. , Mardis Elaine R. , Yang Jingzhen ,   the NCH Concussion Research Group
Published: June 2022

BackgroundUp to one-third of concussed children develop persistent post-concussive symptoms (PPCS). The identification of biomarkers such as salivary miRNAs that detect concussed children at increased risk of PPCS has received growing attention in recent years. However, whether and how salivary miRNA expression levels differ over time between concussed children with and without PPCS is unknown.AimTo identify salivary MicroRNAs (miRNAs) whose expression levels differ over time post-concussion in children with vs. without PPCS.MethodsWe conducted a prospective cohort study with saliva collection at up to three timepoints: (1) within one week of injury; (2) one to two weeks post-injury; and (3) 4-weeks post-injury. Participants were children (ages 11 to 17 years) with a physician-diagnosed concussion from a single hospital center. We collected participants' daily post-concussion symptom ratings throughout their enrollment using the Post-concussion Symptom Scale, and defined PPCS as a total symptom score of ≥ 5 at 28 days post-concussion. We extracted salivary RNA from the saliva samples and measured expression levels of 827 salivary miRNAs. We then compared the longitudinal expression levels of salivary miRNAs in children with vs. without PPCS using linear models with repeated measures.ResultsA total of 135 saliva samples were collected from 60 children. Of the 827 miRNAs analyzed, 91 had expression levels above the calculated background threshold and were included in the differential gene expression analyses. Of these 91 miRNAs, 13 had expression levels that differed significantly across the three timepoints post-concussion between children with and without PPCS (i.e., hsa-miR-95-3p, hsa-miR-301a-5p, hsa-miR-626, hsa-miR-548y, hsa-miR-203a-5p, hsa-miR-548e-5p, hsa-miR-585-3p, hsa-miR-378h, hsa-miR-1323, hsa-miR-183-5p, hsa-miR-200a-3p, hsa-miR-888-5p, hsa-miR-199a-3p+hsa-miR-199b-3p). Among these 13 miRNAs, one (i.e., hsa-miR-203a-5p) was also identified in a prior study, with significantly different expression levels between children with and without PPCS.ConclusionOur results from the longitudinal assessment of miRNAs indicate that the expression levels of 13 salivary miRNAs differ over time post-injury in concussed children with vs. without PPCS. Salivary miRNAs may be a promising biomarker for PPCS in children, although replication studies are needed.
Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics of Low Back Pain among Operating Room Personnel: A Cross-Sectional Study in South of Iran
Authors: Fayzi Reza , Karimi Ashkan , Fereidouni Armin , Salavatian Armin , Imani Behzad , Tavakkol Reza 
Published: June 2022

BackgroundLow back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders and the most common cause of activity restriction in people younger than 45 years. Nurses have a high incidence and prevalence of low back pain in terms of physical and emotional factors among healthcare workers. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of low back pain.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was performed on 385 operating room personnel of the hospitals affiliated with Shiraz (the largest city in southern Iran) University of Medical Sciences. The data were collected via a research-made developed questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of two parts, including the demographic information and prevalence and dimensions of low back pain.ResultsThe results showed that the prevalence of low back pain was 74% among operating room personnel. There was a significant relationship among low back pain, education level, and marital status (p &lt; 0.05).ConclusionHospital managers should reduce the prevalence of this disorder among operating room staff by teaching preventative patient handling techniques via training courses.
Clinical Efficacy of Modified Small Incision Thyroidectomy and Analysis of Influencing Factors of Postoperative Hypocalcemia
Authors: Zhou Jian , Ju Hongqing , Ma Hongyan , Diao Qixian 
Published: June 2022

ObjectiveAnalyze the clinical effect of modified small incision thyroidectomy and evaluate the influencing factors of hypocalcemia (EH) in patients after operation.MethodsA total of 220 patients with thyroid cancer in our hospital from October 2019 to October 2021 were selected. The patients were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group, with 110 patients in each group. The control group were treated with traditional thyroidectomy, while the observation group were treated with modified small incision surgery. The perioperative indicators of the two groups were compared. The thyroid hormone indexes of the two groups were meansured before operation and 7 days after operation, and the incidence of complications was compared between the two groups. Serum calcium was detected 7 days after operation in both groups. According to the level of blood calcium, patients were divided into EH group and normal group. The data of two groups were compared, and the related factors affecting the occurrence of EH after operation were analyzed.ResultsThe operation time, incision length and intraoperative bleeding volume of patients in the observation group were significantly lower than those of patients in the control group (p &lt; 0.05). There was no significant difference in drainage time and postoperative drainage volume between the two groups (p &gt; 0.05). The postoperative PTH level of patients in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (p &lt; 0.05), but there was no significant difference in FT3, FT4 and TSH levels (p &gt; 0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications in the observation group (11.82%) was significantly lower than that in the control group (34.55%). Logistic regression analysis showed that bilateral lymph node dissection, parathyroidectomy and decreased PTH were the independent risk factors for EH in our patient after operation (p &lt; 0.05).ConclusionThe modified small incision operation can effectively reduce the occurrence of surgical trauma and related complications. Bilateral lymph node dissection, parathyroidectomy and PTH decrease are the risk factors for postoperative EH in patients with thyroid cancer. Taking corresponding measures to improve the metabolic function of patients during perioperative period will help to reduce the incidence of postoperative EH in patients with thyroid cancer.