bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Incidence of von Willebrand disease in Denmark, 1995‐2016: A cohort study
Authors: Laursen Anne Sofie Dam , Rasmussen Thomas Bøjer , Chiu Gretchen R. , Brouwer Emily S. , Poulsen Lone Hvitfeldt , Mikkelsen Ellen Margrethe
Published: February 2021

Introduction

Information about temporal development of von Willebrand disease (VWD) incidence at a population level is scarce. To our knowledge, no study has described the incidence of VWD at a population level.

Aim

To estimate overall and annual incidence rates of hospital diagnosed VWD in Denmark between 1995 and 2016 as well as the frequency of hospital treated bleeding episodes before and after VWD diagnosis.

Methods

A registry‐based cohort study that included all Danish patients with a first diagnosis of VWD in Denmark, identified in the Danish National Patient Registry through 1995‐2016.

Results

We identified 1,035 patients with a diagnosis of VWD. The overall incidence rate of VWD in 1995‐2016 was 8.6 (95% CI: 8.1‐9.2). The annual age‐standardized incidence rate per 100 000 person‐years varied between 4.1 (95% CI: 2.4‐5.9) in 1998 and 16.7 (95% CI: 13.1‐20.3) in 2005. A prominent peak in rates appeared from 2002 to 2008. One and five years before VWD diagnosis, 6% and 11.5% of the patients had at least one hospital treated bleeding episode. One and five years after diagnosis, the corresponding percentages were 7.9% and 13.4%.

Conclusion

These results are the first population‐based estimates of VWD incidence. The incidence may be underestimated because asymptomatic individuals may not be diagnosed. The observed peak in incidence from 2002‐2008 may be explained by increased medical attention, leading to more patients being diagnosed, rather than an actual increase in VWD incidence. However, overall, we observed no systematic changes in VWD incidence over the study period.
Real‐world efficacy, tolerability, and safety of ubrogepant
Authors: Chiang Chia‐Chun , Arca Karissa N. , Dunn Rachel B. , Girardo Marlene E. , Quillen Jaxon K. , Dodick David W. , Starling Amaal J.
Published: February 2021

Objective

To assess the real‐world efficacy, tolerability, and safety of ubrogepant in a tertiary headache center.

Background

The efficacy and safety of ubrogepant for the acute treatment of migraine were established in phase 3 randomized controlled trials. However, there is no real‐world data of patient experience with ubrogepant in a population in which the majority of patients have chronic migraine, multiple prior unsuccessful treatments, complex medical comorbidities, and concurrent use of other migraine‐specific medications.

Method

This was a post‐market cohort study conducted at Mayo Clinic Arizona. All patients prescribed ubrogepant were tracked and contacted 1–3 months after the prescription to answer a list of standardized questions. Demographic information and additional headache history were obtained from chart review.

Results

We obtained eligible questionnaire responses from 106 patients. Chronic migraine accounted for 92/106 (86.8%) of the population. Complete headache freedom (from mild/moderate/severe to no pain) and headache relief (from moderate/severe to mild/no pain or mild to no pain) for ≥75% of all treated attacks at 2 hours after taking ubrogepant were achieved in 20/105 (19.0%) and 50/105 (47.6%) patients, respectively. A total of 33/106 (31.1%) patients reported being “very satisfied” with ubrogepant. Adverse events were reported in 42/106 (39.6%) patients, including fatigue in 29/106 (27.4%), dry mouth in 8/106 (7.5%), nausea/vomiting in 7/106 (6.6%), constipation in 5/106 (4.7%), dizziness in 3/106 (2.8%), and other adverse events in 7/106 (6.6%). Predictive factors for being a “good responder” to ubrogepant, defined as headache relief for ≥75% of all treated attacks at 2 hours after taking ubrogepant, included migraine with aura, episodic migraine, <5 prior unsuccessful preventive or acute treatment trials. Additionally, prior treatment responses to a CGRP monoclonal antibody and onabotulinumtoxinA injections are predictive of treatment responses and patient satisfaction to ubrogepant. For the 62/106 (58.5%) patients concurrently using a CGRP monoclonal antibody, there was no difference in the “good responder” rate or adverse event rate compared to those who were not on a CGRP monoclonal antibody, though the rate of moderate, as opposed to mild adverse events was higher, 11/62 (47.8%) versus 3/44 (17.6%),p = 0.048. Additionally, 16 patients had a history of significant cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases. No severe adverse events were reported in any patient.

Conclusion

Our study confirms and extends the efficacy profile and tolerability of ubrogepant in a real‐world tertiary headache clinic and identifies factors that may predict efficacy. Adverse event rates were higher than reported in clinical trials. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and to evaluate the long‐term efficacy and safety of ubrogepant.
Biological conclusions about importance of order in mobbing calls vary with the reproductive context in Great Tits (Parus major)
Authors: Salis Ambre , Lengagne Thierry , Lena Jean‐Paul , Dutour Mylene
Published: February 2021

Currently, there is considerable debate surrounding the presence of some human language‐specific characteristics in non‐human animals, such as the use of compositional syntax (i.e. meaning of a sequence determined both by meaning of its individual parts and in the way they are combined). Compositional syntax has been investigated in mobbing calls of two closely related tit species, the Japanese Tit Parus minor and the Great Tit Parus major, but with one contrasting result: hearing calls in the reversed order diminished the behavioural responses of Japanese Tits but only partially those of Great Tits. This difference may have been due to an external factor such as the season in which the experiment was undertaken, as the Japanese Tits were tested in winter and Great Tits in spring. Here, we studied the responses of Great Tits towards natural and reversed mobbing sequences during spring and winter by investigating two behaviours: approaching and vigilance behaviours. We found that sensitivity to syntax reversal was impacted by the season. The birds were vigilant but less likely to approach reversed calls in winter. However, the opposite occurred in spring, with the birds scanning less but still approaching. This study suggests that the perception of combinatorial calls in Great Tits is influenced by the season, emphasizing the importance of context in studies investigating complex cognitive processing in animals.
Nursing diagnoses focused on universal self‐care requisites
Authors: Queirós Carmen , Silva Maria Antónia Taveira Cruz Paiva , Cruz Inês , Cardoso Alexandrina , Morais Ernesto J.
Published: February 2021

Aims

(1) To identify and analyse diagnoses documented by nurses in Portugal within the scope of universal self‐care requisites; (2) to determine the main problems with nursing diagnoses syntaxes for semantic interoperability purposes; and (3) to suggest unified nursing diagnoses syntaxes within the scope of universal self‐care requisites.

Background/Introduction

Ageing societies and the increase in chronic diseases have led to significant concern regarding individuals' dependence to ensure self‐care. ICNP is widely used by Portuguese nurses in electronic health records for documentation of nursing diagnoses and interventions.

Methods

A qualitative study using inductive content analysis and focus group: 1. nursing e‐documentation content analysis and 2. focus group to explore implicit criteria or insights from content analysis results.

Results

From a corpus of analysis with 1793 nursing diagnoses, 432 nursing diagnoses centred on universal self‐care requisites emerged from the content analysis. One hundred ten nursing diagnoses resulted from the application of new encoding criteria that emerged after a focus group meeting.

Conclusion

Results reveal that nursing diagnoses related to universal self‐care requisites can emphasize the impairment or potentialities of the individuals performing self‐care. It also shows a lack of consensus on nominating the nursing diagnoses of people with a deficit in universal self‐care requisites, resulting in different diagnoses to express the same needs.

Implications for nursing practice

Representation of most relevant nursing diagnoses within the scope of universal self‐care requisites.

Implications for health policy

Incorporating standardized language into electronic health records is not enough for improving quality and continuity of care and semantic interoperability achievement. Electronic health records need to work with a nursing ontology in the backend to meet these requirements.
A kernel search heuristic for the multivehicle inventory routing problem
Authors: Archetti Claudia , Guastaroba Gianfranco , Huerta‐Muñoz Diana L. , Speranza M. Grazia
Published: February 2021

In this paper an inventory routing problem is studied in which the goal is to determine an optimal distribution plan to replenish a set of customers by routing a limited fleet of capacitated vehicles over a discrete planning horizon. Each customer consumes a per period quantity of product and has a maximum inventory capacity. The goal is to minimize the total distribution cost that comprises the routing and the inventory holding costs. A matheuristic is presented, which uses the information gathered by a tabu search to build a sequence of mixed‐integer linear programming problems of small size. Extensive computational experiments are conducted on a large set of benchmark instances. The results show that the matheuristic outperforms other state‐of‐the‐art algorithms in terms of average solution quality.
A double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial on the antihypertensive treatment effect of a quadruple single‐pill combination
Authors: Hu Lei‐Xiao , Wang Dian , Liu Hua‐Ling , Zhang Qing‐Tao , Sun Dong‐Sheng , Zhang Li , Chen Xin , Chang Gui‐Li , Wang Ji‐Guang
Published: February 2021

In a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial, we investigated antihypertensive treatment effect of a quadruple single‐pill combination of reserpine 0.1 mg, dihydralazine 12.5 mg, hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg, and triamterene 12.5 mg, and changes in plasma levels of monoamine neurotransmitters (serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine) in patients with grade 1 hypertension. Eligible patients with a systolic/diastolic blood pressure (BP, average of six readings at two clinic visits during a 4‐week run‐in period) of 140‐159/90–99 mmHg were randomly assigned to the quadruple combination (n = 30) or placebo (n = 30). The randomized patients were instructed to take a pill of the combination or placebo once daily and followed up at 4, 8, and 12 weeks, respectively. Monoamine neurotransmitters were measured at baseline and 12 weeks of follow‐up. After 12‐week treatment, systolic/diastolic BP significantly (p ≤ .0001) decreased from 140.8 ± 7.9/89.5 ± 7.5 mmHg at baseline by 9.8 ± 1.8/6.4 ± 1.3 mmHg in the combination group. The corresponding values in the placebo group were 141.3 ± 7.9/90.3 ± 7.3 mmHg and 5.2 ± 1.8/0.4 ± 1.3 mmHg, respectively. The between‐group differences in systolic/diastolic BP changes were −4.6/−6.0 mmHg (95% CI, −9.7 to 0.6/−9.7 to −2.2 mmHg, p ≤ .08). The control rate of hypertension was higher in the combination than placebo group (63.3% vs. 16.7%, p = .0002). Plasma serotonin, but not norepinephrine or dopamine, changed in both treatment and placebo groups (p ≤ .01). Nonetheless, plasma norepinephrine tended to decrease in the treatment group (−34.4 pg/ml, p = .09). Adverse events occurred in 5 (16.7%) and 3 (10.0%) patients in the combination and placebo groups, respectively. Our study showed that the quadruple combination reduced BP and caused some changes in plasma neurotransmitters.
Kir6.1 improves cardiac dysfunction in diabetic cardiomyopathy via the AKT‐FoxO1 signalling pathway
Authors: Wang Jinxin , Bai Jing , Duan Peng , Wang Hao , Li Yang , Zhu Qinglei
Published: February 2021

Previous studies have shown that the expression of inwardly rectifying potassium channel 6.1 (Kir6.1) in heart mitochondria is significantly reduced in type 1 diabetes. However, whether its expression and function are changed and what role it plays in type 2 diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) have not been reported. This study investigated the role and mechanism of Kir6.1 in DCM. We found that the cardiac function and the Kir6.1 expression in DCM mice were decreased. We generated mice overexpressing or lacking Kir6.1 gene specifically in the heart. Kir6.1 overexpression improved cardiac dysfunction in DCM. Cardiac‐specific Kir6.1 knockout aggravated cardiac dysfunction. Kir6.1 regulated the phosphorylation of AKT and Foxo1 in DCM. We further found that Kir6.1 overexpression also improved cardiomyocyte dysfunction and up‐regulated the phosphorylation of AKT and FoxO1 in neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes with insulin resistance. Furthermore, FoxO1 activation down‐regulated the expression of Kir6.1 and decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) in cardiomyocytes. FoxO1 inactivation up‐regulated the expression of Kir6.1 and increased the ΔΨm in cardiomyocytes. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated that the Kir6.1 promoter region contains a functional FoxO1‐binding site. In conclusion, Kir6.1 improves cardiac dysfunction in DCM, probably through the AKT‐FoxO1 signalling pathway.
The Politics of Labour that Underlies European Monetary Integration
Authors: Scholz‐Alvarado Christian
Published: February 2021

The dominant literature on the development of the EU's new economic governance regime suggests that it constitutes another step towards integration in the European fiscal policy framework. However, I argue that this limited view neglects the politics of labour that underlies European monetary integration. In the euro area competitiveness adjustment is promoted, which means in practice fostering and facilitating the confrontation of workers by employers in order to keep unit labour costs down. The new economic governance reforms consistently reinforced this policy‐making logic. Its central innovation was the systematization and 'hardening' of the macroeconomic surveillance framework beyond fiscal policy, which created new competences at the EU level to intervene in national labour market policies, including wages. This is what is actually new about the new economic governance; marking a recent key moment in European monetary integration and reinforcing the politics of labour underlying it.
From clinical decision support to clinical reasoning support systems
Authors: van Baalen Sophie , Boon Mieke , Verhoef Petra
Published: February 2021

Despite the great promises that artificial intelligence (AI) holds for health care, the uptake of such technologies into medical practice is slow. In this paper, we focus on the epistemological issues arising from the development and implementation of a class of AI for clinical practice, namely clinical decision support systems (CDSS). We will first provide an overview of the epistemic tasks of medical professionals, and then analyse which of these tasks can be supported by CDSS, while also explaining why some of them should remain the territory of human experts. Clinical decision making involves a reasoning process in which clinicians combine different types of information into a coherent and adequate ‘picture of the patient’ that enables them to draw explainable and justifiable conclusions for which they bear epistemological responsibility. Therefore, we suggest that it is more appropriate to think of a CDSS as clinical reasoning support systems (CRSS). Developing CRSS that support clinicians' reasoning process therefore requires that: (a) CRSSs are developed on the basis of relevant and well‐processed data; and (b) the system facilitates an interaction with the clinician. Therefore, medical experts must collaborate closely with AI experts developing the CRSS. In addition, responsible use of an CRSS requires that the data generated by the CRSS is empirically justified through an empirical link with the individual patient. In practice, this means that the system indicates what factors contributed to arriving at an advice, allowing the user (clinician) to evaluate whether these factors are medically plausible and applicable to the patient. Finally, we defend that proper implementation of CRSS allows combining human and artificial intelligence into hybrid intelligence, were both perform clearly delineated and complementary empirical tasks. Whereas CRSSs can assist with statistical reasoning and finding patterns in complex data, it is the clinicians' task to interpret, integrate and contextualize.
Effect of pulsed‐vacuum, hot‐air, infrared, and freeze‐drying on drying kinetics, energy efficiency, and physicochemical properties of Ginkgo biloba L. seed
Authors: Boateng Isaac Duah , Soetanto Desy Anggraini , Yang Xiao‐Ming , Zhou Cunshan , Saalia Firibu Kwesi , Li Fengnan
Published: February 2021

In this research, Ginkgo biloba L. seeds (GBS) were freeze‐dried, infrared‐dried, hot‐air dried, and pulsed‐vacuum dried. A detailed analysis of their drying kinetics (drying curve, drying rate curve, effective moisture diffusivity, mathematical modeling), shrinkage and energy efficiency (specific moisture extraction, specific energy consumption), and physicochemical properties (soluble solids, total sugar, reducing sugar, ascorbic acid, phenolics, and tannins) were performed. Results showed drying methods had various effects on different indexes and were confirmed by principal component analysis. The drying process occurred in the falling‐rate period. The effective moisture diffusivity values amongst various drying methods ranged from 3.5 × 10−8 to 7.6 × 10−8 m2/s, which were within the normally expected range for food materials. The exponential model best fitted the experimental results for drying with coefficient of determination (R2 ) > .981 and root mean square error, sum of square error, and reduced chi‐square closer to zero than the parabolic and inverse‐logarithmic (Log3p1) models. The freeze‐dried GBS had the highest nutritional (statistically the same with the fresh GBS) and lower shrinkage; nevertheless, it had the lowest moisture extraction rate and the highest energy consumption. Hot‐air dried GBS had the highest shrinkage and lowest nutritional retention. Infrared‐dried GBS was superior with the highest non‐tannic phenolic, proanthocyanidins content, effective moisture diffusivity, drying rates, and energy efficiency. The current findings indicate that infrared drying is a promising drying technology for GBS and has the potential to be applied on a commercial scale.

Practical application

Ginkgo seeds (GBS) are utilized as functional food across Asia. In China, ginkgo trees' extensive cultivation has surpassed market requirements, as GBS production could reach 60,000 tons per year. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find new opportunities to take advantage of the availability and usage of GBS regardless of the season and overcome the situation that GBS usage only remains at incipient phases of home‐cooked recipes. Drying is a common approach to preserve foods'. Nonetheless, there are some drawbacks to conventional drying method, such as low energy efficiency, lengthy process periods, and a decline in quality attributes. The infrared dryer provided a reduced drying time, highest drying rate, energy efficiency, and good quality; thus, it could be applied in the food industry to hot air and freeze‐drying, allowing the drying method for GBS faster. The research provided a predictive mathematical model for the parameter control GBS drying process.
Uncovered Interest Parity, Forward Guidance and the Exchange Rate
Authors: GALí JORDI
Published: February 2021

Under uncovered interest parity (UIP), the size of the effect on the real exchange rate of an anticipated change in real interest rate differentials is invariant to the horizon at which the change is expected. Empirical evidence using U.S., euro area and UK data points to a substantial deviation from that invariance prediction: expectations of interest rate differentials in the near (distant) future are shown to have much larger (smaller) effects on the real exchange rate than is implied by UIP. Some possible explanations are discussed.
A Classical View of the Business Cycle
Authors: BELONGIA MICHAEL T. , IRELAND PETER N.
Published: February 2021

In the 1920s, Irving Fisher described how variations in the price level, presumably caused by changes in the money stock, were associated with cyclical movements in output and employment. At the same time, Holbrook Working designed a rule for achieving price stability through control of the money supply. This paper develops a structural vector autoregression that allows these “classical” channels of monetary transmission to operate alongside the modern New Keynesian interest rate channel. Even with Bayesian priors favoring the New Keynesian view, the U.S. data produce posterior distributions for the model's parameters consistent with the ideas of Fisher and Working.
Urothelial carcinoma in the urinary bladder of a Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata)
Authors: Johnson Amanda L. , Dozier Brandy L. , Colgin Lois M. A.
Published: February 2021

Tumors of urinary origin are infrequently reported in non‐human primates. Urothelial carcinoma involving the urinary bladder was diagnosed in an adult female Japanese macaque that extended transmurally to the uterus and cervix. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a primary cystic urothelial carcinoma in a Japanese macaque.
A ketogenic diet differentially affects neuron and astrocyte transcription
Authors: Koppel Scott J. , Pei Dong , Wilkins Heather M. , Weidling Ian W. , Wang Xiaowan , Menta Blaise W. , Perez‐Ortiz Judit , Kalani Anuradha , Manley Sharon , Novikova Lesya , Koestler Devin C. , Swerdlow Russell H.
Published: February 2021

Ketogenic diets (KDs) alter brain metabolism. Multiple mechanisms may account for their effects, and different brain regions may variably respond. Here, we considered how a KD affects brain neuron and astrocyte transcription. We placed male C57Bl6/N mice on either a 3‐month KD or chow diet, generated enriched neuron and astrocyte fractions, and used RNA‐Seq to assess transcription. Neurons from KD‐treated mice generally showed transcriptional pathway activation while their astrocytes showed a mix of transcriptional pathway suppression and activation. The KD especially affected pathways implicated in mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum function, insulin signaling, and inflammation. An unbiased analysis of KD‐associated expression changes strongly implicated transcriptional pathways altered in AD, which prompted us to explore in more detail the potential molecular relevance of a KD to AD. Our results indicate a KD differently affects neurons and astrocytes, and provide unbiased evidence that KD‐induced brain effects are potentially relevant to neurodegenerative diseases such as AD.

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Clinical and serological prognostic factors in childhoodGuillain‐Barrésyndrome: A prospective cohort study in Bangladesh
Authors: Hasan Imran , Papri Nowshin , Hayat Shoma , Jahan Israt , Ara Gulshan , Islam Badrul , Islam Zhahirul
Published: February 2021

Guillain‐Barré syndrome (GBS) is the most common cause of acute flaccid paralysis in children. The objective of this study was to investigate the preceding infections, clinical, serological and electrophysiological characteristics and outcome of childhood GBS in Bangladesh. We included 174 patients with GBS aged <18 years from a prospective cohort in Bangladesh between 2010 and 2018. We performed multivariate logistic regression to determine the risk factors for poor outcome. Among 174 children with GBS, 74% (n = 129) were male. Around half of the patients (49%, n = 86) had severe muscle weakness, 65% (n = 113) were bedbound (GBS disability score 4) and 17% (n = 29) patients required mechanical ventilation at admission.Campylobacter jejuniserology and anti‐GM1 IgG antibody were positive in 66% and 21% of the patients respectively. One hundred and forty‐three (82%) patients did not receive standard treatment and half of them recovered fully or with minor deficits at 6‐month. Twenty patients (11%) died throughout the study period. At 3‐month of onset of weakness, complete recovery or recovery with minor deficit was significantly higher in demyelinating GBS patients compared to axonal GBS patients (86% vs 51%,P= .001). Cranial nerve palsy (OR = 4.00, 95%CI = 1.55‐10.30,P= .004) and severe muscle weakness (OR = 0.16, 95%CI = 0.06‐0.45,P= .001) were the important risk factors of poor outcome in children with GBS. Further large‐scale studies are required for better understanding of factors associated with mortality and morbidity in childhood GBS.
Aspiration: I don't do it and neither should you
Authors: Rivkin Alexander Z.
Published: February 2021

Aspiration is a safety maneuver prior to filler injection in widespread use throughout the world, despite an absence of scientific evidence to its efficacy. This editorial questions the practice from a logical as well as a scientific point of view.
Coping in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and motor neuron disease: Systematic review
Authors: Oh Juyeon , An Jiwon , Park Kyongok
Published: February 2021

Aims and objectives

To systematically review previous studies on the variables associated with coping strategies in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and motor neuron disease (ALS/MND), such as demographics, clinical features and patient‐reported outcomes.

Background

Coping strategies are important factors for adjustment and quality of life (QOL) in patients with long‐term conditions, and this topic in people with ALS/MND has not yet been the subject of a systematic review.

Design

A systematic review was performed based on the PRISMA checklist.

Methods

Electronic databases, including CINAHL, MEDLINE and EMBASE, were systemically searched from their inception to December 2019 for articles meeting the following inclusion criteria: (1) written in English, (2) published in peer‐reviewed journals, (3) included subjects with ALS/MND and (4) used quantitative measurements of coping strategies in people with ALS/MND.

Results

Twenty‐one articles were included. Significant relationships between participants’ demographics (age and sex) and any coping strategy aspect were shown in six studies. Eight studies found significant relationships between clinical characteristics (disease duration and physical functional status) and coping strategies, and ten studies reported coping strategies that were associated with patients’ QOL and mental health outcomes.

Conclusion

Younger people used relatively more problem‐focused, emotion‐focused and social support coping strategies, and women used relatively more social support coping strategies. Problem‐focused coping was generally related to better QOL and mental health, and emotion‐focused coping was generally related to less depression.

Relevance to clinical practice

As the pattern of coping strategies is related to demographic and clinical characteristics, this study could be used to inform the provision of patient‐centred nursing in clinical care. Coping patterns are related to mental health and QOL; thus, in clinical care, it is recommended that people with ALS be encouraged to develop skills that enable them to cope more effectively and that their coping strategies be assessed.
The effects of facility dogs on burnout, job‐related well‐being, and mental health in paediatric hospital professionals
Authors: Jensen Clare L. , Bibbo Jessica , Rodriguez Kerri E. , O’Haire Marguerite E.
Published: February 2021

Aims and objectives

To examine the effect of working with a facility dog on paediatric healthcare professionals’ work‐related burnout, job perceptions and mental health.

Background

Due to their roles caring for ill children and distressed families, paediatric healthcare professionals often experience substantial depression and burnout. According to prior research, facility dogs in children's hospitals may provide significant benefits to paediatric patients. However, their potential effects on healthcare professionals have been minimally explored.

Design

A cross‐sectional design was used in adherence to the STROBE checklist.

Method

Among 130 participants, n = 65 paediatric healthcare professionals working with a facility dog were compared to n = 65 control participants matched on age, gender identity, job position category and pet ownership. Hierarchical regression assessed the effect of working with a facility dog on standardised self‐report measures of work‐related burnout, job perceptions and mental health.

Results

For work‐related burnout, working with a facility dog was associated with higher perceived personal accomplishment, but had no effect on emotional exhaustion. With respect to job perceptions, working with a facility dog was associated with more positive job descriptions and lower intention to quit, but not with perceptions about co‐workers or workplace social support. Finally, in relation to mental health, working with a facility dog was associated with more positive emotions, better perceived mental health and less depression, but had no effect on anxiety.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that facility dogs may be related to several benefits for healthcare professionals’ work‐related burnout, job perceptions and mental health, but that they do not influence all components of these areas.

Relevance to clinical practice

The present research functions to inform personnel in paediatric hospitals with existing facility dog programmes on the scope of their effects, in addition to shaping the expectations of hospitals considering the addition of a facility dog programme.
Patients with COPD: Exploring patients’ coping ability during an interdisciplinary pulmonary rehabilitation programme: A qualitative focus group study
Authors: Abrahamsen Caroline Steen , Lang‐Ree Heidi Mandt , Halvorsen Kristin , Stenbakken Cesilie Meling
Published: February 2021

Aims and objectives

To investigate experiences that contribute to enhancing patients’ ability to cope with COPD during interdisciplinary in‐hospital pulmonary rehabilitation programmes.

Background

Patients with COPD often experience difficulties accepting their life situation as well as reduced levels of activity and social interaction. Despite the large body of research conducted on interdisciplinary collaboration and coping, few studies have examined patient perspectives of why and how pulmonary rehabilitation actually contributes to helping patients with COPD to cope with their illness.

Design

Qualitative design.

Methods

The data consist of qualitative focus group interviews with 17 participants, divided into three focus groups. The data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist was used.

Results

The patients described a lack of knowledge and understanding of their illness. In addition, they felt that their illness imposed limitations on their lifestyle and social interaction. Support from healthcare professionals during pulmonary rehabilitation proved to be vital, yet the lectures and consultations they received were described as general and sometimes rushed. The patients reported a positive effect from undergoing pulmonary rehabilitation, but a loss of motivation after returning home.

Conclusion

The findings indicate that gaining better health competence during pulmonary rehabilitation contributes to enhancing patients’ coping ability. Moreover, patients found it valuable to meet people in a comparable situation and to feel respected by healthcare professionals. Nevertheless, taking an individual empowerment‐oriented approach and focusing on the return home seem to be significant aspects of the patients’ improved and lasting ability to cope after pulmonary rehabilitation.

Relevance to clinical practice

Patients with COPD should be offered pulmonary rehabilitation because it has proven to have a positive effect on coping ability. Different follow‐up measures are vital after pulmonary rehabilitation to maintain motivation after returning home.
Exploring Informed–Design Services during the Project–Defining Phases in Commercial Interior Design
Authors: Huber Amy M.
Published: February 2021

Given the growing recognition of design's influence on a range of performative outcomes, interior designers stand to capitalize on new opportunities—if they adeptly respond to new responsibilities. These responsibilities often begin by formulating well–defined problems, which, in turn, serve as the basis for informed–design solutions. However, the extent to which commercial interior designers offer informed–design services has yet to be identified. This study sought to understand the knowledge acquisition and knowledge application practices of commercial interior designers during the project–defining phases of the design process. It investigated these tactics by first identifying designers’ perceptions of their clients’ priorities and then comparing the delivery of informed–design services across contextual factors and individual characteristics. Finally, the study examined the communication processes involved in providing these services. Survey results from 165 commercial interior designers suggest that the provision of informed–design services is influenced by client priorities, market sector, and firm characteristics. Differences were also revealed among individual factors of professional preparation, title, and experience level, with senior–level staff more inclined to perform informed–design services. Moreover, while designers seemingly value services that employ dynamic, diachronic communication processes, they most often perform those involving two–way communication. Findings point to disparities between the most frequently provided services and those designers perceive to offer the most project insight. Taken together, results suggest that designers value a range of voices, but may not always invite these voices to the table.
Accuracy of Intraoral Scanners for Recording the Denture Bearing Areas: A Systematic Review
Authors: Rasaie Vanya , Abduo Jaafar , Hashemi Saloumeh
Published: February 2021

Purpose

To systematically review clinical and laboratory studies that investigated the accuracy of intraoral scanners in recording denture bearing areas.

Materials and methods

Electronic and manual searches were conducted to identify all the available clinical and laboratory studies reporting the accuracy of digital impressions for recording denture related soft tissues. After the application of predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria, the final list of articles was reviewed to meet the objective of this study.

Results

The inclusion criteria were met by 18 studies out of which 8 were clinical and the rest were laboratory investigations. The eligible studies assessed the accuracy of intraoral scanners in recording both the denture supporting structures and the peripheral mobile tissues. The accuracy results were different among the various intraoral scanners. Likewise, the effect of several influencing factors, such as artificial markers, scanner head size, scanning strategy, and the operator's experience, were evaluated.

Conclusion

While the accuracy of intraoral scanners was comparable to the conventional techniques in recording bony structures with attached mucosa, they were not capable of accurately registering the mobile tissues. In addition, factors such as presence of a marker, larger scanner head size and specific scanning techniques appeared to improve the accuracy of the digital impression.
A reverse transcription loop‐mediated isothermal amplification assay for the detection of strawberry mottle virus
Authors: Ren Junda , Wang Jia , Zhu Yadong , Han Chenggui , Shang Qiaoxia
Published: February 2021

Strawberry mottle virus (SMoV) is one of the most important viruses infecting strawberry all over the world, seriously affecting the yield and quality of strawberry especially in the occasion of compound infection. Loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) as a new method of nucleic acid amplification has the advantages of rapid detection, simple operation and high sensitivity. Therefore, four specific LAMP primers using the 3′ end conservative coat protein (CP) gene were selected and designed according to the RNA2 sequence of SMoV obtained in NCBI GenBank. Results showed that the optimized RT‐LAMP reaction conditions including 1.0 µmol/L1 primers FIP/BIP, 0.1 µmol/L1 primers F3/B3, 2 mmol/L1 Mg2+, 1.2 mmol/L1 dNTPs, 1.0 mol/L1 Betaine and 2 mol/L1 DTT, with an optimal temperature set at 62°C for 45 min. The amplicons were successfully inspected by visual assessment using SYBR Green I as well as electrophoresis on agarose gel. The sensitivity of the LAMP was 100 times higher than the RT‐PCR method. Furthermore, it was highly specific for SMoV and showed no cross‐reaction with several other strawberry viruses. This assay will provide a practical method for rapid detection of large quantities of field samples and be useful in reducing the virus incidence through production of virus‐free planting material.
The Vietnamese Version of the Gratitude Questionnaire (GQ) and the Revised Short Gratitude, Resentment, and Appreciation Test (S‐GRAT): Psychometric Properties Among Adolescents
Authors: Tran Tu Anh Thi , Nguyen Phuoc Cat Tuong , Dinh Hong Van Thi , Nguyen Vinh Tuan
Published: February 2021

There is a lack of validated instruments to measure gratitude in Vietnamese adolescents; this issue is regarded as a significant impediment to progress in implementing empirical research on the gratitude of Vietnamese adolescents. The aim of this study, therefore, was to validate the Vietnamese translation of the Gratitude Questionnaire (GQ) and the Revised Short Gratitude, Resentment, and Appreciation Test (S‐GRAT), using two independent samples of Vietnamese adolescents in two studies. In Study 1, Sample 1 (N = 365, female n = 173) completed the Vietnamese GQ (GQ‐VN) and S‐GRAT (S‐GRAT‐VN). Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the 5‐item version of the GQ‐VN and the 15‐item version of the S‐GRAT‐VN fitted the data adequately. Both instruments showed satisfactory internal consistency. In Study 2, Sample 2 (N = 202, female n = 93) completed the GQ‐VN and S‐GRAT‐VN, along with the Satisfaction With Life Scale. The GQ‐VN and S‐GRAT‐VN were found to be positively correlated with each other and with the construct of life satisfaction, confirming the convergent and predictive validity of the two questionnaires. All the findings support the validity and reliability of the Vietnamese GQ and S‐GRAT in a sample of Vietnamese adolescents. These two instruments, therefore, may facilitate the evaluation of factors associated with adolescent dispositional gratitude in Vietnamese settings.
Use of healthcare resources and drug expenditure before and after treatment of chronic hepatitis C with direct antiviral agents
Authors: Vergara Mercedes , Miquel Mireia , Vela Emili , Cleries Montserrat , Pontes Caridad , Prat Alba , Rué Montse
Published: February 2021

The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of treating chronic hepatitis C (CHC) with direct‐acting agents (DAA) on the use of healthcare resources. We included all patients treated with DAA for CHC from January 2015 to December 2017 in Catalonia whose medical records from 12 months before to 24 months after treatment were available. Data were obtained from the Catalan Health Surveillance System. A total of 12,199 patients in Catalonia were treated with DAA for CHC. Of these, 11.3% had no‐minimal fibrosis (F0‐F1), 24.0% had moderate fibrosis (F2), 50.3% had significant fibrosis or cirrhosis (F3‐F4), and 14.4% had decompensated cirrhosis. Use of healthcare resources decreased from the pre‐treatment period to the post‐treatment period for the following: hospital admissions due to complications of cirrhosis, from 0.19 to 0.12 per month per 100 patients (RR 0.57; 95% CI 0.47–0.68); length of hospital stay, from 12.9 to 12.2 days (RR 0.93; 95% CI 0.91–0.94); outpatient visits, from 65.0 to 49.2 (RR 0.75; 95% CI 0.74–0.75); and number of medication containers per patient per month, from 13.9 to 12.5 (RR 0.837; 95% CI 0.835–0.838). However, the number of invoices for antineoplastic treatment increased after DAA treatment, especially for patients with high morbidity or advanced fibrosis stage. In conclusion, a decrease in health resource use was seen in CHC patients treated with DAA, as measured by length of hospital stay, number of admissions due to cirrhosis complications, outpatient visits and overall drug invoicing. However, use of antineoplastic drugs increased significantly, especially in patients with cirrhosis and high morbidity.
Clinical outcomes of systemic therapy in patients with unresectable or metastatic combined hepatocellular‐cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Kim Eo Jin , Yoo Changhoon , Kang Hyo Jeong , Kim Kyu‐Pyo , Ryu Min‐Hee , Park Sook Ryun , Lee Danbi , Choi Jonggi , Shim Ju Hyun , Kim Kang Mo , Lim Young‐Suk , Lee Han Chu , Ryoo Baek‐Yeol
Published: February 2021

Background & Aims

The optimal systemic chemotherapy for combined hepatocellular‐cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC‐CCA) has not yet been defined. The definition and classification of cHCC‐CCA has changed recently in the 5th edition of WHO classification. We reviewed the pathological findings with the new classification and analysed the efficacy of systemic chemotherapy in patients with unresectable/metastatic cHCC‐CCA.

Methods

Among 254 patients with histologically confirmed cHCC‐CCA from 1999 to 2015 in Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea, 99 patients who received systemic chemotherapy for unresectable/metastatic disease were included. Overall response rate (ORR), progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were retrospectively evaluated.

Results

Sorafenib (n = 62) and cytotoxic chemotherapy (n = 37) were administered as first‐line chemotherapies; the ORR was 14.1%, and the median PFS and OS were 3.8 and 10.6 months, respectively, with a median follow‐up duration of 39.6 months. The efficacy outcomes were not significantly different between patients who received sorafenib and those who received cytotoxic chemotherapy (ORR, 9.7% vs 21.6%, P = .14; median PFS, 4.2 vs 2.9 months, P = .52; median OS, 10.7 vs 10.6 months, P = .34). In multivariate analysis, large intrahepatic tumour burden (≥30% of liver volume), elevated serum bilirubin and non‐platinum containing first‐line chemotherapy remained as significant prognostic factors for poorer OS.

Conclusions

The efficacy outcomes according to first‐line treatment were not significantly different between sorafenib and cytotoxic chemotherapy, and pathological findings were not found to help for determining appropriate therapeutic agent or assessing the prognosis. To overcome the poor treatment outcomes, further studies are needed to find proper treatment targets, biomarkers and the best treatment strategies.
Twelve‐month post‐treatment parameters are superior in predicting hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Ahn Sang Bong , Choi Jun , Jun Dae Won , Oh Hyunwoo , Yoon Eileen L. , Kim Hyoung Su , Jeong Soung Won , Kim Sung Eun , Shim Jae‐Jun , Cho Yong Kyun , Lee Hyo Young , Han Sung Won , Nguyen Mindie H. ,   SAINT cohort
Published: February 2021

Background & Aims

There are currently several prediction models for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) receiving oral antiviral therapy. However, most models are based on pre‐treatment clinical parameters. The current study aimed to develop a novel and practical prediction model for HCC by using both pre‐ and post‐treatment parameters in this population.

Methods

We included two treatment‐naïve CHB cohorts who were initiated on oral antiviral therapies: the derivation cohort (n = 1480, Korea prospective SAINT cohort) and the validation cohort (n = 426, the US retrospective Stanford Bay cohort). We employed logistic regression, decision tree, lasso regression, support vector machine and random forest algorithms to develop the HCC prediction model and selected the most optimal method.

Results

We evaluated both pre‐treatment and the 12‐month clinical parameters on‐treatment and found the 12‐month on‐treatment values to have superior HCC prediction performance. The lasso logistic regression algorithm using the presence of cirrhosis at baseline and alpha‐foetoprotein and platelet at 12 months showed the best performance (AUROC = 0.843 in the derivation cohort. The model performed well in the external validation cohort (AUROC = 0.844) and better than other existing prediction models including the APA, PAGE‐B and GAG models (AUROC = 0.769 to 0.818).

Conclusions

We provided a simple‐to‐use HCC prediction model based on presence of cirrhosis at baseline and two objective laboratory markers (AFP and platelets) measured 12 months after antiviral initiation. The model is highly accurate with excellent validation in an external cohort from a different country (AUROC 0.844) (Clinical trial number: KCT0003487).
Virus‐induced phytohormone dynamics and their effects on plant–insect interactions
Authors: Pan Li‐Long , Miao Huiying , Wang Qiaomei , Walling Linda L. , Liu Shu‐Sheng
Published: February 2021

Attacks on plants by both viruses and their vectors is common in nature. Yet the dynamics of the plant–virus–vector tripartite system, in particular the effects of viral infection on plant–insect interactions, have only begun to emerge in the last decade. Viruses can modulate the interactions between insect vectors and plants via the jasmonate, salicylic acid and ethylene phytohormone pathways, resulting in changes in fitness and viral transmission capacity of their insect vectors. Virus infection of plants may also modulate other phytohormones, such as auxin, gibberellins, cytokinins, brassinosteroids and abscisic acid, with yet undefined consequences on plant–insect interactions. Moreover, virus infection in plants may incur changes to other plant traits, such as nutrition and secondary metabolites, that potentially contribute to virus‐associated, phytohormone‐mediated manipulation of plant–insect interactions. In this article, we review the research progress, discuss issues related to the complexity and variability of the viral modulation of plant interactions with insect vectors, and suggest future directions of research in this field.
The impact of surgical cancellations on children, families, and the health system in an Australian paediatric tertiary referral hospital
Authors: Drake‐Brockman Thomas F. E. , Chambers Neil A. , Sommerfield David , von Ungern‐Sternberg Britta S.
Published: February 2021

Background

Reasons for elective surgery cancelations and their impact vary from one institution to another. Cancelations have emotional and financial implications for patients and their families. Our service has a particularly broad and geographically diverse patient population; hence, we sought to examine these impacts in our service.

Methods

We identified families with procedural cancelations and administered a telephone questionnaire. Survey items included the reason for and timing of cancelation, how the family was informed, the mode of transport and distance traveled to the hospital, associated leave from work, expenses, whether the child was required to fast, missed school, as well as the child's and parent's emotional responses to the cancelation, along with overall parental satisfaction with how the cancelation was handled.

Results

During our study period, a total of 7870 procedures were booked. 6734 (86%) of these were completed and 1136 (14%) were canceled, with 6% canceled on the day of surgery. In 750 (66%) of these cancelations, families were successfully contacted by telephone and agreed to participate. Of these 305 (41%) cancelations were family‐initiated and 444 (59%) were hospital‐initiated, with these hospital‐initiated cancelations occurring closer to scheduled surgery. The most common cause of cancelation was that the child could not undergo the procedure due to illness (22%) or being unable attend the hospital (14%). The greatest disruption to families and children occurred when procedures were canceled late, particularly when the cancelation occurred on the day of the planned procedure.