Displaying publications 21 - 40 of 315 in total

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  1. Jeyaraj EJ, Han ML, Li J, Choo WS
    Access Microbiol, 2023;5(6).
    PMID: 37424541 DOI: 10.1099/acmi.0.000535.v5
    Clitoria ternatea flowers are rich in anthocyanins and possess various biological activities. Specifically, the antibacterial mechanism of action of C. ternatea anthocyanins remains unknown and was investigated in Escherichia coli . A time-kill assay was used to assess the antibacterial activity and the metabolic perturbations in E. coli were investigated utilizing liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based metabolomics. Pathway analyses were carried out for metabolites showing ≥2-fold changes. The anthocyanin fraction remarkably reduced the growth of E. coli at 4 h by 95.8 and 99.9 % at minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and 2× MIC, respectively. The anthocyanin fraction (MIC) had a bacteriostatic effect and was shown to have perturbed glycerophospholipids (1-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diacylglycerol and cardiolipin), amino acids (valine, tyrosine and isoleucine) and energy (ubiquinone and NAD) metabolites at 1 and 4 h. This study demonstrated significant metabolic perturbations of the glycerophospholipid, amino acid and energy metabolism, with these being the key pathways involved in the bacteriostatic activity of anthocyanins from C. ternatea, which may have promise as bacteriostatic agents for E. coli -related infections.
  2. Li J, Zhan JC, Xie CH, Han SY
    Front Public Health, 2023;11:1237241.
    PMID: 38074766 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1237241
    OBJECTIVES: The willingness of family members to take care of older relatives directly affects the quality of life of disabled older adults, so it is necessary to understand the status quo of willingness to care and its influencing factors. This has been extensively studied in other countries, but, it is rarely studied in China. Based on the theory of altruism, employing a unique sample from Shanghai, China in 2017 and 2022, we attempt to reveal the influencing factors of the care willingness of family caregivers during the transition period.

    METHODS: To measure caregiver burden and functional disability of the care recipient, we employ the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) and the Barthel Index, respectively. Then we utilized the ordinary least squares (OLS) methodology and estimated four regression models. Models 1, 2, and 3 examined the impact of the variables of the caregiver burden, responsibility and love, and the quality of the caregiver-caregiver recipient relationship, respectively, on family caregivers' willingness to care. Model 4 was the full model. To testify whether the caregiver burden is likely to act as a mediator, path analysis was used, and the path was adjusted and verified.

    RESULTS: According to the survey, in Shanghai, only half of the caregivers had a very high care willingness to care for disabled older relatives, while nearly one-tenth of the caregivers had a low willingness. It was the caregiver burden rather than the functional disability of older adults that harms family caregivers' willingness to care. Responsibility and caring out of love were positively related to care willingness. Relationship quality was the most important influencing factor, explaining 10.2% of the variance in care willingness. Path analysis demonstrated that responsibility, caring out of love, and relationship quality directly and through the mediation of caregiver burden indirectly affected care willingness.

    CONCLUSION: Our results revealed that reciprocal altruism presented by the quality of the caregiver-care recipient relationship had a significantly positive impact on family caregivers' willingness to care. In addition, the caregiver burden was found not only directly affected care willingness, but also acted as a mediator. To promote the perfection of laws and policies, comprehensive samples of different types of cities should be included and the measurement of key variables could be further improved in future studies.

  3. Li J, Guo X, Cai D, Xu Y, Wang Y
    PeerJ, 2023;11:e15925.
    PMID: 37641595 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15925
    Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is a highly nutritious food product with a comprehensive development prospect. Here, we discussed the effect of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 11B91 on the growth, development and salt tolerance (salt concentrations: 0, 150, 300 mmol·L-1) of quinoa and highlighted a positive role for the application of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria bacteria in quinoa. In this artical, the growth-promoting effect of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 11B91 on quinoa (Longli No.1) and the changes in biomass, chlorophyll content, root activity and total phosphorus content under salt stress were measured. The results revealed that plants inoculated with 11B91 exhibited increased maximum shoot fresh weight (73.95%), root fresh weight (75.36%), root dry weight (136%), chlorophyll a (65.32%) contents and chlorophyll b (58.5%) contents, root activity (54.44%) and total phosphorus content (16.66%). Additionally, plants inoculated with 11B91 under salt stress plants showed significantly improved, fresh weight (107%), dry weight (133%), chlorophyll a (162%) contents and chlorophyll b (76.37%) contents, root activity (33.07%), and total phosphorus content (42.73%).
  4. Li X, Peng B, Li J, Tian M, He L
    Protein Pept Lett, 2023;30(12):992-1000.
    PMID: 38013437 DOI: 10.2174/0109298665245603231106050224
    OBJECTIVES: We aim to investigate the regulatory mechanisms of miR-455-5p/SOCS3 pathway that underlie the proliferation, migration, and invasion of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells.

    METHODS: Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to detect miR-455-5p expression in breast cancer tissues and cell lines. CCK8 and Transwell assays were conducted to assess the effects of miR-455-5p on breast cancer line proliferation, migration, and invasion. SOCS3 expression level in breast cancer tissues and cell lines was determined by qPCR and western blotting. The targeting relationship between miR-455-5p and SOCS3 was determined by dual luciferase reporter gene assay in different breast cancer cell lines. Finally, the upstream and downstream regulatory association between miR-455-5p and SOCS3 was confirmed in breast cancer cells by CCK8, western blot, and Transwell assays.

    RESULTS: MiR-455-5p expression was up-regulated in breast cancer tissues; miR-455-5p regulates TNBC proliferation, migration, and invasion of TNBC. SOCS3 was the direct target of miR-455-5p and was down-regulated in breast cancer. Interference with SOCS3 reversed the inhibitory effect of the miR-455-5p inhibitor on breast cancer cells' malignant potential.

    CONCLUSION: MiR-455-5p promotes breast cancer progression by targeting the SOCS3 pathway and may be a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer.

  5. Zelenev A, Michael L, Li J, Altice FL
    Int J Drug Policy, 2024 Jan;123:104250.
    PMID: 38088004 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2023.104250
    BACKGROUND: Opioid agonist therapies (OAT) and  harm reduction such as syringe service programs (SSP) have been shown to be effective in preventing adverse outcomes such as overdose deaths, HIV and Hepatitis C infections among people who inject drugs (PWID). The importance of social network influence on disease transmission is well established, yet the interplay between harm reduction and network structures is, generally, not well understood. This study aims to analyze how social networks can mediate the harm reduction effects associated with secondary exchange through syringe service programs (SSP) and opioid agonist therapies (OAT) among injection network members.

    METHODS: Sociometric data on networks on people who inject drugs from Hartford, CT, which were collected in 2012-2013, provided assessment of risk behaviors among 1574 injection network members, including participation in OAT and SSP. Subject's network characteristics were examined in relation to retention in OAT, as well as secondary syringe exchange using exponential random graph model (ERGM) and regression.

    RESULTS: Based on the analysis, we found that probability of individuals being retained in OAT was positively associated with the OAT retention status of their peers within the network. Using simulations, we found that higher levels of positive correlation of OAT retention among network members can result in reduced risk of transmission of HIV to network partners on OAT. In addition, we found that secondary syringe exchange engagement was associated with higher probability of sharing of paraphernalia and unsterile needles at the network level.

    CONCLUSIONS: Understanding how networks mediate risk behaviors is crucial for making progress toward ending the HIV epidemic.

  6. Zhou B, Mui LG, Li J, Yang Y, Hu J
    Nurse Educ Pract, 2024 Feb;75:103874.
    PMID: 38244336 DOI: 10.1016/j.nepr.2024.103874
    AIM: To delineate the prevalence of smartphone addiction among nursing students. Further, to identify associated harms and underlying risk factors based on established theoretical models.

    BACKGROUND: Smartphones have become indispensable tools for students. However, excessive use can lead to smartphone addiction, causing physiological, psychological and social harm. Nursing students represent a unique population whose smartphone use may differ from other disciplines due to clinical training demands.

    METHODS: A scoping review was conducted following the Arksey and O'Malley framework. Seven databases were systematically searched from inception to August 2023. Inclusion criteria encompassed original research on smartphone addiction, harms and risks among nursing students. Data were extracted and thematically synthesized.

    RESULTS: Studies (n=39) met inclusion criteria, representing 15 countries. Rates of smartphone addiction among nursing students ranged from 19% to 72%, averaging 40-50%. Incorporated into Engel's biopsychosocial models, the harm is emphasized across individual inclinations, emotional aspects, cognitive processes and executive functions. Physiological harms include sleep disruption, vision concerns,other physiological concerns. psychologically, addiction correlated with increased anxiety and depression,decline in self-esteem, learning and attention and other psychological concerns. socially, it encompasses harms such as interpersonal relationships challenges, career development and decline in social abilities. The I-PACE model identifies various risk factors for smartphone addiction among nursing students, including personal factors such as interpersonal relationship anxiety and perceived academic pressure, affective factors like high stress and learning burnout, cognitive factors such as the need for online social interaction and low perception of social support, as well as executive factors like extended usage duration, poor self-control and usage before sleep.

    CONCLUSION: Smartphone addiction among nursing students presents tangible harms. A proposed theoretical model integrating established frameworks provides avenues to better comprehend addiction genesis and potential intervention strategies. Given addiction's multi-factorial nature, future research investigating harm mitigation through optimizing predisposing, precipitating and perpetuating factors is warranted.

  7. Mo W, Saibon JB, Li Y, Li J, He Y
    BMC Public Health, 2024 Feb 19;24(1):517.
    PMID: 38373997 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18043-6
    OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review to summarize and assess the advancements lately made on the enjoyable impacts of game-based physical education interventions on children and adolescents. Additionally, it attempted to identify the effects and variables influencing the enjoyable outcomes of children and adolescents' engagement in physical education games, through meta-analysis.

    METHODS: This study involves a comprehensive search of different databases like Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, EBSCOhost, Cochrane, and Scopus. Specific criteria are established for the selection process to make sure the relevant literature included. The quality assessment of the included researches is conducted based on the guidelines outlined in the Cochrane 5.1 handbook. Review Manager 5.3 software is employed to synthesis the effect sizes. Additionally, bias is assessed using funnel plots, and to identify potential sources of heterogeneity, subgroup analyses are performed.

    RESULTS: A total of 1907 academic papers, out of which 2 articles were identified via other data sources. The present study examined the impact of a pedagogical intervention involving physical education games on the enjoyment experienced by children and adolescents. The results indicated a significant positive effect (MD = 0.53, 95%CI:[0.27,0.79], P 

  8. Zelenev A, Li J, Shea P, Hecht R, Altice FL
    Clin Infect Dis, 2021 Mar 01;72(5):755-763.
    PMID: 32060534 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa142
    BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment as prevention (TasP) strategies can contribute to HCV microelimination, yet complimentary interventions such as opioid agonist therapies (OAT) with methadone or buprenorphine and syringe services programs (SSPs) may improve the prevention impact. This modeling study estimates the impact of scaling up the combination of OAT and SSPs with HCV TasP in a network of people who inject drugs (PWID) in the United States.

    METHODS: Using empirical data from Hartford, Connecticut, we deployed a stochastic block model to simulate an injection network of 1574 PWID. We used a susceptible-infected model for HCV and human immunodeficiency virus to evaluate the effectiveness of several HCV TasP strategies, including in combination with OAT and SSP scale-up, over 20 years.

    RESULTS: At the highest HCV prevalence (75%), when OAT coverage is increased from 10% to 40%, combined with HCV treatment of 10% per year and SSP scale up to 40%, the time to achieve microelimination is reduced from 18.4 to 11.6 years. At the current HCV prevalence (60%), HCV TasP strategies as low as 10% coverage per year may achieve HCV microelimination within 10 years, with minimal impact from additional OAT scale-up. Strategies based on mass initial HCV treatment (50 per 100 PWID the first year followed by 5 per 100 PWID thereafter) were most effective in settings with HCV prevalence of 60% or lower.

    CONCLUSIONS: Scale-up of HCV TasP is the most effective strategy for microelimination of HCV. OAT scale-up, however, scale-up may be synergistic toward achieving microelimination goals when HCV prevalence exceeds 60% and when HCV treatment coverage is 10 per 100 PWID per year or lower.

  9. Zhang SX, Looi KH, Li N, Wan X, Li J
    Am J Trop Med Hyg, 2021 Aug 09;105(6):1516-1518.
    PMID: 34370702 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-0566
    Wearing a face mask has been a key approach to contain or slow down the spread of COVID-19 in the ongoing pandemic. However, there is huge heterogeneity among individuals in their willingness to wear face masks during an epidemic. This research aims to investigate the individual heterogeneity to wear face masks and its associated predictors during the COVID-19 pandemic when mask-wearing was not mandatory. Based on a survey of 708 Malaysian adults and a multivariate least-squares fitting analysis, the results reveal a significant variance among individuals in wearing masks, as 34% of the individual adults did not always wear masks in public places. Female individuals, individuals who wash their hands more frequently, and those who reported more availability of personal protective equipment were more likely to practice mask-wearing. The identification of less-compliant groups of mask wearing has critical implications by enabling more specific health communication campaigns.
  10. Li X, Liu X, Huang Y, Zhang Y, Li J
    J Environ Qual, 2024 Apr 10.
    PMID: 38595076 DOI: 10.1002/jeq2.20561
    The primary drivers of eutrophication in lakes following the reduction of external nutrient inputs are the release of N and P from sediments. Constructed wetlands play a pivotal role in ameliorating N, P, and other biogenic element levels. However, the presence of large vegetation in these wetlands also substantially contributes to nutrient accumulation in sediments, a phenomenon influenced by seasonal variations. In this study, a typical constructed wetland was selected as the research site. The research aimed to analyze the forms of N and P in sediments during both summer and winter. Simultaneously, a comprehensive pollution assessment and analysis were conducted within the study area. The findings indicate that elevated summer temperatures, together with the presence of wetland vegetation, promote the release of N through the nitrification process. Additionally, seasonal variations exert a significant impact on the distribution of P storage. Furthermore, the role of constructed wetlands in the absorption and release of N and P is primarily controlled by the influence of organic matter on nitrate-nitrogen, nitrite-nitrogen, and available phosphorus, and is also subject to seasonal fluctuations. In summary, under the comprehensive influence of constructed wetlands, vegetation types, and seasons, sediments within the lake generally exhibit a state of mild or moderate pollution. Therefore, targeted measures should be adopted to optimally adjust vegetation types, and human intervention is necessary, involving timely sediment harvesting during the summer to reduce N and P loads, and enhancing sediment adsorption and retention capacity for N and P during the winter.
  11. Su C, Wei J, Lei Y, Xuan H, Li J
    PLoS One, 2024;19(4):e0298261.
    PMID: 38598458 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298261
    In the realm of targeted advertising, the demand for precision is paramount, and the traditional centralized machine learning paradigm fails to address this necessity effectively. Two critical challenges persist in the current advertising ecosystem: the data privacy concerns leading to isolated data islands and the complexity in handling non-Independent and Identically Distributed (non-IID) data and concept drift due to the specificity and diversity in user behavior data. Current federated learning frameworks struggle to overcome these hurdles satisfactorily. This paper introduces Fed-GANCC, an innovative federated learning framework that synergizes Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) and Group Clustering. The framework incorporates a user data augmentation algorithm predicated on adversarial generative networks to enrich user behavior data, curtail the impact of non-uniform data distribution, and enhance the applicability of the global machine learning model. Unlike traditional approaches, our framework offers user data augmentation algorithms based on adversarial generative networks, which not only enriches user behavior data but also reduces the challenges posed by non-uniform data distribution, thereby enhancing the applicability of the global machine learning (ML) model. The effectiveness of Fed-GANCC is distinctly showcased through experimental results, outperforming contemporary methods like FED-AVG and FED-SGD in terms of accuracy, loss value, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) indicators within the same computing time. Experimental results vindicate the effectiveness of Fed-GANCC, revealing substantial enhancements in accuracy, loss value, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) metrics compared to FED-AVG and FED-SGD given the same computational time. These outcomes underline Fed-GANCC's exceptional prowess in mitigating issues such as isolated data islands, non-IID data, and concept drift. With its novel approach to addressing the prevailing challenges in targeted advertising such as isolated data islands, non-IID data, and concept drift, the Fed-GANCC framework stands as a benchmark, paving the way for future advancements in federated learning solutions tailored for the advertising domain. The Fed-GANCC framework promises to offer pivotal insights for the future development of efficient and advanced federated learning solutions for targeted advertising.
  12. Mariapun S, Ho WK, Kang PC, Li J, Lindström S, Yip CH, et al.
    Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 2016 Feb;25(2):327-33.
    PMID: 26677210 DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-15-0746
    Mammographic density is an established risk factor for breast cancer and has a strong heritable component. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for mammographic density conducted in women of European descent have identified several genetic associations, but none of the studies have been tested in Asians. We sought to investigate whether these genetic loci, and loci associated with breast cancer risk and breast size, are associated with mammographic density in an Asian cohort.
  13. Mariapun S, Li J, Yip CH, Taib NA, Teo SH
    PLoS One, 2015;10(2):e0117568.
    PMID: 25659139 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0117568
    BACKGROUND: Mammographic density is a strong risk factor for breast cancer and is highly variable, but, to date, few studies have examined density in Asian women, particularly those in low and middle-income Asian countries where genetic and lifestyle determinants may be significantly different.
    METHODS: A total of 1,240 women who attended an opportunistic mammogram screening programme were eligible for analysis. Mammographic density was estimated using a fully-automated thresholding method and differences across ethnic groups were examined using linear regression in 205 randomly selected Chinese women, 138 Malay and 199 Indian women.
    RESULTS: Percent density was significantly higher in Chinese women (28.5%; 95% CI 27.0%, 30.0%) compared to Malay (24.2%; 95% CI 22.5%, 26.0%) and Indian (24.3%; 95% CI 22.8%, 25.7%) women (p<0.001), after adjustment for age, BMI, menopausal status, parity and age at first full term pregnancy. Correspondingly, adjusted nondense area was significantly lower in Chinese (72.2cm2; 95% CI 67.9cm2, 76.5cm2) women compared to Malay (92.1cm2; 95% CI 86.9cm2, 97.2cm2) and Indian (97.7cm2; 95% CI 93.4cm2, 101.9cm2) women (p<0.001), but dense area did not differ across the three ethnic groups.
    CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that higher percent density and lower nondense area reflect the higher incidence of breast cancer in Chinese compared to Malay and Indian women in Malaysia. Known lifestyle determinants of mammographic density do not fully account for the ethnic variations observed in mammographic density in this Asian cohort.
  14. Li J, Shimizu K, Akasako H, Lu Z, Akiyama S, Goto M, et al.
    Bioresour Technol, 2015 Jan;175:463-72.
    PMID: 25459856 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.10.047
    This study revealed the biotic and abiotic parameters driving the variations in microcystins (MCs) biodegradability of a practical biological treatment facility (BTF). Results showed that similar trends of seasonal variation were seen for microcystin-LR (MCLR) biodegradability of biofilms on the BTF and indigenous MCLR-degrader population, where both peaks co-occurred in October, following the peaks of natural MCLR concentration and water temperature observed in August. The lag period might be required for accumulation of MCLR-degraders and MCLR-degrading enzyme activity. The MCLR-degrader population was correlated to temperature, MCLR and chlorophyll-a concentration in water where the biofilms submerged, indicating that these abiotic and biotic parameters exerted direct and/or indirect influences on seasonal variation in MCLR-biodegradability. In comparison, no effect of other co-existing MCs on biodegradation of one MC was observed. However, proliferation of MC-degraders along biodegradation processes positively responded to total amount of MCs, suggesting that multiple MCs contributed additively to MC-degrader proliferation.
  15. Huang Y, Xu Y, Li J, Xu W, Zhang G, Cheng Z, et al.
    Environ Sci Technol, 2013;47(23):13395-403.
    PMID: 24251554 DOI: 10.1021/es403138p
    Nineteen pairs of gaseous and surface seawater samples were collected along the cruise from Malaysia to the south of Bay of Bengal passing by Sri Lanka between April 12 and May 4, 2011 on the Chinese research vessel Shiyan I to investigate the latest OCP pollution status over the equatorial Indian Ocean. Significant decrease of α-HCH and γ-HCH was found in the air and dissolved water phase owing to global restriction for decades. Substantially high levels of p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDT, trans-chlordane (TC), and cis-chlordane (CC) were observed in the water samples collected near Sri Lanka, indicating fresh continental riverine input of these compounds. Fugacity fractions suggest equilibrium of α-HCH at most sampling sites, while net volatilization for DDT isomers, TC and CC in most cases. Enantiomer fractions (EFs) of α-HCH and o,p'-DDT in the air and water samples were determined to trace the source of these compounds in the air. Racemic or close to racemic composition was found for atmospheric α-HCH and o,p'-DDT, while significant depletion of (+) enantiomer was found in the water phase, especially for o,p'-DDT (EFs = 0.310 ± 0.178). 24% of α-HCH in the lower air over the open sea of the equatorial Indian Ocean is estimated to be volatilized from local seawater, indicating that long-range transport is the main source.
  16. Xu J, Jiang H, Li J, Cheng KK, Dong J, Chen Z
    PLoS One, 2015;10(4):e0119654.
    PMID: 25849323 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0119654
    Wilson's disease (WD), also known as hepatoleticular degeneration (HLD), is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder of copper metabolism, which causes copper to accumulate in body tissues. In this study, rats fed with copper-laden diet are used to render the clinical manifestations of WD, and their copper toxicity-induced organ lesions are studied. To investigate metabolic behaviors of 'decoppering' process, penicillamine (PA) was used for treating copper-laden rats as this chelating agent could eliminate excess copper through the urine. To date, there has been limited metabolomics study on WD, while metabolic impacts of copper accumulation and PA administration have yet to be established.
  17. Tao H, Rahman MA, Jing W, Li Y, Li J, Al-Saffar A, et al.
    Work, 2021;68(3):903-912.
    PMID: 33720867 DOI: 10.3233/WOR-203424
    BACKGROUND: Human-robot interaction (HRI) is becoming a current research field for providing granular real-time applications and services through physical observation. Robotic systems are designed to handle the roles of humans and assist them through intrinsic sensing and commutative interactions. These systems handle inputs from multiple sources, process them, and deliver reliable responses to the users without delay. Input analysis and processing is the prime concern for the robotic systems to understand and resolve the queries of the users.

    OBJECTIVES: In this manuscript, the Interaction Modeling and Classification Scheme (IMCS) is introduced to improve the accuracy of HRI. This scheme consists of two phases, namely error classification and input mapping. In the error classification process, the input is analyzed for its events and conditional discrepancies to assign appropriate responses in the input mapping phase. The joint process is aided by a linear learning model to analyze the different conditions in the event and input detection.

    RESULTS: The performance of the proposed scheme shows that it is capable of improving the interaction accuracy by reducing the ratio of errors and interaction response by leveraging the information extraction from the discrete and successive human inputs.

    CONCLUSION: The fetched data are analyzed by classifying the errors at the initial stage to achieve reliable responses.

  18. Zhang SX, Graf-Vlachy L, Looi KH, Su R, Li J
    Epidemiol Infect, 2020 10 23;148:e261.
    PMID: 33092675 DOI: 10.1017/S0950268820002575
    Although handwashing is an effective way to prevent infections, there is scarce evidence on predictors of handwashing during a pandemic. This paper aims to identify behavioural and demographic predictors of handwashing. The study surveyed 674 adults in Malaysia in May 2020 regarding whether the time spent on social media predicted handwashing contingent on gender and number of children. More time spent on social media was positively associated with handwashing for males with three or more children. However, for males without children, social media use was negatively associated with handwashing. The association was not significant for males with one or two children. For females, more time spent on social media was significantly linked to more handwashing only for females with one child. Gender, a traditional predictor of handwashing, was a useful predictor only for those who spent more than three hours per day on social media and had at most one child. Number of children was a novel negative predictor for males who did not use social media and who averaged one hour per day on social media, a positive predictor for males who spent lots of time on social media, but not a predictor for females. In sum, social media use predicts handwashing, and is thus a helpful variable for use in targeted health communication during a pandemic - particularly through social media. Further, more conventional predictors like gender and number of children exhibit contingency effects with social media use.
  19. Ooi MH, Ngu SJ, Chor YK, Li J, Landersdorfer CB, Nation RL
    Clin Infect Dis, 2019 11 13;69(11):1962-1968.
    PMID: 30722017 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciz067
    BACKGROUND: Intravenous colistin is widely used to treat infections in pediatric patients. Unfortunately, there is a paucity of pharmacological information to guide the selection of dosage regimens. The daily dose recommended by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) is the same body weight-based dose traditionally used in adults. The aim was to increase our understanding of the patient factors that influence the plasma concentration of colistin, and assess the likely appropriateness of the FDA and EMA dosage recommendations.

    METHODS: There were 5 patients, with a median age of 1.75 (range 0.1-6.25) years, a median weight of 10.7 (2.9-21.5) kg, and a median creatinine clearance of 179 (44-384) mL/min/1.73m2, who received intravenous infusions of colistimethate each 8 hours. The median daily dose was 0.21 (0.20-0.21) million international units/kg, equivalent to 6.8 (6.5-6.9) mg of colistin base activity per kg/day. Plasma concentrations of colistimethate and formed colistin were subjected to population pharmacokinetic modeling to explore the patient factors influencing the concentration of colistin.

    RESULTS: The median, average, steady-state plasma concentration of colistin (Css,avg) was 0.88 mg/L; individual values ranged widely (0.41-3.50 mg/L), even though all patients received the same body weight-based daily dose. Although the daily doses were ~33% above the upper limit of the FDA- and EMA-recommended dose range, only 2 patients achieved Css,avg ≥2mg/L; the remaining 3 patients had Css,avg <1mg/L. The pharmacokinetic covariate analysis revealed that clearances of colistimethate and colistin were related to creatinine clearance.

    CONCLUSIONS: The FDA and EMA dosage recommendations may be suboptimal for many pediatric patients. Renal functioning is an important determinant of dosing in these patients.

  20. Jin Y, Wang H, Li J, Dang M, Zhang W, Lei Y, et al.
    Korean J. Physiol. Pharmacol., 2020 Jul 01;24(4):311-317.
    PMID: 32587125 DOI: 10.4196/kjpp.2020.24.4.311
    In the present experimental study, cecal ligation and puncture significantly increased the myocardial injury assessed in terms of excess release of creative kinase-MB (CK-MB), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), interleukin (IL)-6 and decrease of IL-10 in the blood following 12 h of laparotomy procedure as compared to normal control. Also, a significant increase in protein expression levels of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and decreased phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) was observed in the myocardial tissue as compared to normal control. A single independent administration of telmisartan (2 and 4 mg/kg) and AR-A014418 (1 and 2 mg/kg) substantially reduced sepsis-induced myocardial injury in terms of decrease levels of CK-MB, cTnI and IL-6, HMGB1, GSK-3β and increase in IL-10 and p-GSK-3β in the blood in sepsis- subjected rats. The effects of telmisartan at dose 4 mg/kg and AR-A014418 at a dose of 2 mg/kg were significantly higher than the telmisartan at a dose of 2 mg/kg and AR-A014418 1 mg/kg respectively. Further, no significant effects on different parameters were observed in the sham control group in comparison to normal. Therefore it is plausible to suggest that sepsis may increase the levels of angiotensin II to trigger GSK-3β-dependent signaling to activate the HMGB1/receptors for advanced glycation end products, which may promote inflammation and myocardial injury in sepsis-subjected rats.
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