bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acne in pregnancy: A prospective multicenter, cross‐sectional study of 295 patients in Turkey
Authors: Kutlu Ömer , Karadağ Ayşe Serap , Ünal Emine , Kelekçi Kıymet Handan , Yalçınkaya İyidal Ayşegül , Topaloğlu Demir Filiz , Aksoy Berna , Çölgeçen Emine , Tosun Mustafa , Emre Selma , Tatlıparmak Aslı , Demirseren Düriye Deniz , Kaya Özden Hatice , Öztürk Murat , Özlü Emin , Chen Wenchieh
Published: June 2020

Background

There are only a few studies on acne in pregnancy. This study was aimed to investigate the demographic, clinical, and familial characteristics of acne in pregnancy, triggering factors including endocrine diseases, and association of these findings with acne in different trimesters of pregnancy.

Methods

Pregnant women aged 18 years and older with acne at any stage of pregnancy were consecutively interviewed at the participating centers during the study period from 2016 to 2019. Acne severity was evaluated using the Comprehensive Acne Severity Scale.

Results

A total of 295 pregnant women with acne were included, with 167 (56.6%) patients showing mild, 87 (29.5%) moderate, six (12.2%) severe, and five (1.7%) very severe acne. Truncal acne was significantly higher in the third trimester than in the other stages (P < 0.001). Onset of acne before pregnancy, prepubertal, pubertal or adult onset, or acne history in previous pregnancies did not influence acne severity in pregnancy. Women with irregular menstruation before pregnancy, polycystic ovary syndrome, hirsutism, and higher body weight index tended to show severe acne in pregnancy.

Conclusions

Severe acne during pregnancy is generally uncommon, while severity of facial acne, truncal acne, and hirsutism is higher in the third trimester than in other trimesters. Acne in pregnancy shares many characteristics with female adult acne. Substantial changes in different kinds of hormones play a more complex role in acne during pregnancy, but the pathogenesis remains to be determined.
Using artificial intelligence classification of videos to examine the environmental, evolutionary and physiological constraints on provisioning behavior
Authors: Williams Heather M. , DeLeon Robert L.
Published: June 2020

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies can revolutionize how we approach data collection and analysis in behavioral ecology. One such example is in provisioning behavior. Parents of altricial species are selected to provide parental care (such as food provisioning) for their offspring, but there is substantial variation in the level of this care. Provisioning rate may be determined environmentally, by the physiological ability of parents and needs of nestlings, or by evolutionary incentives. We quantified provisioning rate in 20 purple martinProgne subisnests in the context of an experimental reduction of nest ectoparasites. 10 nests had a parasite reduction treatment, and 10 nests were controls. By using AI to automate the analysis of nest camera videos we were able to obtain nearly‐continuous provisioning rate information at a high temporal resolution for the first half of the nestling period. We used random forest modeling to assess the factors determining provisioning rate and found evidence for environmental, evolutionary and physiological constraints and incentives on provisioning. Birds appeared to be environmentally limited in their provisioning in cool, wet conditions, especially later in the breeding season; but adjusted their provisioning according to the changing physiological needs of nestlings. We found evidence for a compensatory response to increased parasite load, in which parents increased provisioning to more heavily parasitized nests.
The efficacy of left bundle branch area pacing compared with biventricular pacing in patients with heart failure: A matched case–control study
Authors: Wang Yao , Gu Kai , Qian Zhiyong , Hou Xiaofeng , Chen Xing , Qiu Yuanhao , Jiang Zeyu , Zhang Xinwei , Wu Hongping , Chen Minglong , Zou Jiangang
Published: June 2020

Background

Left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) was reported to improve cardiac function by correcting complete left bundle branch block (CLBBB). Our study aimed to compare the efficacy of LBBAP and biventricular pacing (BIVP) in heart failure patients with CLBBB.

Methods

Ten patients prospectively underwent LBBAP (LBB‐CRT group) and 30 patients received BIVP (BIV‐CRT group) were matched using propensity score matching. LBBAP was achieved by the trans‐interventricular septum method. Echocardiography, electrocardiogram, NYHA classification, and blood B‐type natriuretic peptide concentration were evaluated at preimplantation and at 6‐month follow up. CRT response was defined as at least 15% decrease in left ventricular end‐systolic volume.

Results

In the LBB‐CRT group, CLBBB were successfully corrected by LBBAP with no complications. QRS duration (QRSd) significantly decreased after implantation in both groups, and the decrease of QRSd in the LBB‐CRT group was significantly greater than that in the BIV‐CRT group (60.80 ± 20.09 vs. 33.00 ± 21.48 ms, p = .0009). The echocardiographic measurements including left ventricular end‐diastolic diameter, left ventricular end‐systolic diameter, and left ventricular ejection fraction significantly improved after 6 months in both groups. The response rate was significantly higher in LBB‐CRT group than BIV‐CRT group (100.00% vs. 63.33%, p = .038). The percentage of patients in New York Heart Association classification Grades I and II was significantly higher in the LBB‐CRT group compared with that in the BIV‐CRT group (median 1.5 vs. 2.0, p = .029) at 6‐month follow‐up.

Conclusions

It is effective and safe to correct CLBBB with LBBAP in heart failure patients. Compared with BIVP, LBBAP can better optimize electrical synchrony and improve cardiac function.
Serum miR‐92a‐1 is a novel diagnostic biomarker for colorectal cancer
Authors: Shi Ying , Liu Zhibao
Published: June 2020

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide, with high mortality. Abnormally expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) are considered novel biomarkers in cancer diagnosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic value of miR‐92a‐1 in patients with CRC. Serum samples were collected from 148 patients pathologically diagnosed with CRC and 68 gender‐ and age‐matched healthy volunteers. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) was used to measure serum miR‐92a‐1 level. Relationship between miR‐92a‐1 and clinicopathological features of CRC cases was analysed via chi‐square test. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to estimate the diagnostic value of miR‐92a‐1 in CRC. Serum miR‐92a‐1 was significantly up‐regulated in CRC patients compared with healthy individuals (P < .001). Moreover, miR‐92a‐1 expression was correlated with TNM stage (P = .02), histological stage (P = .003), lymph node metastasis (P = .003) and distant metastasis (P < .001). ROC analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.914, suggesting high diagnostic accuracy of miR‐92a‐1 in ROC. The optimal cut‐off value was 1.485, with a sensitivity of 81.8% and a specificity of 95.6%. MiR‐92a‐1 is increased in CRC patients and correlated with aggressive clinical characteristics. Serum miR‐92a‐1 may be a potential diagnostic biomarker for CRC.
Alpinetin inhibits breast cancer growth by ROS/NF‐κB/HIF‐1α axis
Authors: Zhang Tao , Guo Shuai , Zhu Xinying , Qiu Jinxia , Deng Ganzhen , Qiu Changwei
Published: June 2020

Alpinetin, the main active ingredient in the Chinese medicinal herb Alpinia katsumadai Hayata, has been found to have anticancer activity. However, the therapeutic efficacy of signalling cascades modulated by alpinetin remains unknown. Here, we showed that alpinetin provoked mitochondria‐associated apoptosis in a dose‐dependent manner in breast cancer cells. Mechanistic investigations revealed that alpinetin dampens hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α) signalling due to a lack of NF‐κB activation through reduced mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, decreasing HIF‐1α transcription. In vivo, we also found alpinetin led to significant tumour regression by inhibiting NF‐κB pathway. Overall, our work uncovers a ROS/NF‐κB/HIF‐1α axis‐dependent mechanism underlying the anticancer effects of alpinetin and suggests that alpinetin could act as a novel therapeutic agent against breast cancer.
MiR‐155 promotes interleukin‐1β‐induced chondrocyte apoptosis and catabolic activity by targeting PIK3R1‐mediated PI3K/Akt pathway
Authors: Fan Zhiyong , Liu Yinghui , Shi Zhengliang , Deng Kai , Zhang Hua , Li Qiutong , Cao Shuxing , Li Shentai , Zhang Hongliang
Published: June 2020

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common joint disease characterized by progressive cartilage degradation, in which elevated chondrocyte apoptosis and catabolic activity play an important role. MicroRNA‐155 (miR‐155) has recently been shown to regulate apoptosis and catabolic activity in some pathological circumstances, yet, whether and how miR‐155 is associated with OA pathology remain unexplored. We report here that miR‐155 level is significantly up‐regulated in human OA cartilage biopsies and also in primary chondrocytes stimulated by interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), a pivotal pro‐catabolic factor promoting cartilage degradation. Moreover, miR‐155 inhibition attenuates and its overexpression promotes IL‐1β‐induced apoptosis and catabolic activity in chondrocytes in vitro. We also demonstrate that the PIK3R1 (p85α regulatory subunit of phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K)) is a target of miR‐155 in chondrocytes, and more importantly, PIK3R1 restoration abrogates miR‐155 effects on chondrocyte apoptosis and catabolic activity. Mechanistically, PIK3R1 positively regulates the transduction of PI3K/Akt pathway, and a specific Akt inhibitor reverses miR‐155 effects on promoting chondrocyte apoptosis and catabolic activity, phenocopying the results obtained via PIK3R1 knockdown, hence establishing that miR‐155 promotes chondrocyte apoptosis and catabolic activity through targeting PIK3R1‐mediated PI3K/Akt pathway activation. Altogether, our study discovers novel roles and mechanisms of miR‐155 in regulating chondrocyte apoptosis and catabolic activity, providing an implication for therapeutically intervening cartilage degradation and OA progression.
Clinical features of subungual melanoma according to the extent of Hutchinson’s nail sign: a retrospective single‐centre study
Authors: Sohng C. , Han M.H. , Park D. , Park K.D. , Jang Y.H. , Lee W.J. , Lee S.J. , Kim J.Y.
Published: June 2020

Background

Hutchinson’s nail sign (HS) is among the diagnostic criteria for subungual melanoma (SUM). However, there is minimal evidence supporting the overall clinical significance of HS in SUM.

Objectives

To identify clinicopathological features of SUM according to the extent of HS.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study was performed with consecutive SUM patients at a single centre from January 2006 to December 2017. The extent of HS was defined by the number of affected nail folds (range 0–4). Comparison groups were organized as follows: patients with HS (affecting ≥1 nail folds) vs. without HS; patients with HS affecting ≥2 nail folds vs. HS affecting <2 nail folds; patients with HS affecting ≥3 nail folds vs. HS affecting <3 nail folds. Clinicopathological characteristics of SUM were compared between the groups.

Results

Sixty‐one SUM patients were included. Forty‐six (75.4%) exhibited HS; 22 (47.8%) on a toe and 24 (52.2%) on a finger. In multivariate analysis, nail destruction [hazard ratio (HR), 10.00; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.61–38.30; P = 0.001] was significantly associated with the presence of HS and amputation was significantly associated with HS affecting ≥2 nail folds (HR, 4.75; 95% CI, 1.36–16.61; P = 0.015). High T stage (HR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.20–2.85; P = 0.005, Fig. 2) was significantly associated with HS appearing in ≥3 nail folds.

Conclusion

Besides its value of detecting SUM, HS provides useful clinical information. The number of nail folds exhibiting HS could be a useful clinical clue for planning therapeutic strategies for SUM.
Color determination with no‐match‐templates using two different tooth color scales—An in vitro evaluation
Authors: Bratner Siegfried , Hannak Wolfgang , Boening Klaus , Klinke Thomas
Published: June 2020

Objectives

Visual shade selection is the most commonly used method in dentistry and a challenge for every dentist. However, differences to natural tooth color and the differences of each shade guide are well known. The aim of this paper is to investigate the suitability of two different color scales for determining the color of no‐match templates.

Materials and methods

Volunteers (N = 76) selected a shade color of a no‐match template with two shade guides (VITA Classical shade guide (VC) and VITA Linearguide 3D‐Master (V3D LG), both Vita Zahnfabrik). The neutral grey background was laterally illuminated with a color differentiation lamp (Dialite, Eickhorst GmbH). For the volunteers’ accuracy, the triangle's area was used which are emerge by the color coordinates of a template (LTaTbT) and the color coordinates of the two decisions (L1a1b1 and L2a2b2). Statistical software was used to evaluate the differences in ΔE00 with α = .01.

Results

A deviation in the median of ΔE00 of 7.6 (V3D LG, first choice) to 6.6 (VC, second choice) was detected, while U test showed no significant differences in the median for both color scales. But the triangle's area generated by both shade decisions and tooth color with V3D LG was significant smaller (14.2) then VC (19.2) (P ≤ .001).

Conclusions

When comparing both results no significant difference in the subject's shade selection and the shade guides was detected. The new evaluation strategy using the size of the triangle's areas proves the superiority of the V3D LG due to a better distribution of the tooth color shades within the color space.
Remarkably Complex Microbial Community Composition in Bromeliad Tank Waters Revealed by eDNA Metabarcoding
Authors: Simão Taiz L.L. , Utz Laura R.P. , Dias Raquel , Giongo Adriana , Triplett Eric W. , Eizirik Eduardo
Published: June 2020

To investigate patterns of biotic community composition at different spatial scales and biological contexts, we used environmental DNA metabarcoding to characterize eukaryotic and prokaryotic assemblages present in the phytotelmata of three bromeliad species (Aechmea gamosepala, Vriesea friburgensis, and Vriesea platynema) at a single Atlantic Forest site in southern Brazil. We sampled multiple individuals per species and multiple tanks from each individual, totalizing 30 samples. We observed very high levels of diversity in these communities, and remarkable variation across individuals and even among tanks from the same individual. The alpha diversity was higher for prokaryotes than eukaryotes, especially for A. gamosepala and V. platynema samples. Some biotic components appeared to be species‐specific, while most of the biota was shared among species, but varied substantially in frequency among samples. Interestingly, V. friburgensis communities (which were sampled at nearby locations) tended to be more heterogeneous across samples, for both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. The opposite was true for V. platynema, whose samples were more broadly spaced but whose communities were more similar to each other. Our results indicate that additional attention should be devoted to within‐individual heterogeneity when assessing bromeliad phytotelmata biodiversity, and highlight the complexity of the biotic assemblages gathered in these unique habitats.
Effect of pulsed electric fields processing on physiochemical properties and bioactive compounds of apricot juice
Authors: Rahaman Abdul , Zeng Xin‐An , Farooq Muhammad Adil , Kumari Ankita , Murtaza Mian Anjum , Ahmad Nabeel , Manzoor Muhammad Faisal , Hassan Sadia , Ahmad Zahoor , Bo‐Ru Chen , Jinjing Zhan , Siddeeg Azhari
Published: June 2020

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of pulsed electric fields (PEF) on bioactive compounds and physiochemical properties present in apricot juice. In which 0, 7, and 14 kV/cm of PEF intensity were applied to treat the juices with a flow rate of 40 ml/min, frequency of 1 kHz at 25 ± 2°C for 500 μs. Thereafter the phenolics, flavonoids, antioxidant volatile compounds, and physiochemical properties of juice were analyzed. Furthermore, the change in functional groups of biological compounds was investigated by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy. Results indicated no significant change in pH, °Brix, and color in PEF treated sample even at increased PEF intensities as compared to untreated. A significant increase in cloud value, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity of the PEF treated sample was observed. A decrease in the browning index was observed as compared to unprocessed samples. The little variation in biological compounds was observed in PEF treated sample.

Practical Applications

Nowadays, researchers are paying more attention to non‐thermal techniques for the processing of food products, which could enhance the nutritional profile and shelf life stability of food products. PEF retains the heat‐sensitive bioactive constituents, extends the shelf life in order to achieve the fresh like quality of liquid products. This research proved that PEF treatment significantly increased the cloud value, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, antioxidant activity, and helps to retain the bioactive compounds present in apricot juice. Furthermore, this present research would also provide valuable data that can be helpful for food industries to design and select PEF technology to process the liquid‐based food product like fruit juice.
Endocuff‐assisted colonoscopy versus cap‐assisted colonoscopy for adenoma detection rate: A meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Li Ai , Yang Jing‐Ze , Yang Xiao‐Xiao , Feng Bing‐Cheng , Zhang Ming‐Ming , Qu Jun‐Yan , Zhou Ru‐Chen , Wang Peng , Li Li‐Xiang , Zuo Xiu‐Li , Li Yan‐Qing
Published: June 2020

Background and Aims

Add‐on devices have been widely used in clinical practice. The aim of this meta‐analysis was to compare the adenoma detection rate between Endocuff‐assisted colonoscopy (EAC) and cap‐assisted colonoscopy (CAC).

Methods

PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and Cochrane databases were searched. Outcomes included adenoma detection rate, cecal intubation rate, cecal intubation time, and withdrawal time. Dichotomous data were pooled to obtain the odds ratio or risk ratio. Continuous data were pooled using the mean difference.

Results

Of the 240 articles reviewed, six randomized controlled trials were included, with a total of 1994 patients. In the meta‐analysis, no statistical difference in adenoma detection rate was detected between EAC and CAC (47.0% vs 45.1%; P = 0.33). EAC significantly improved detection rate of diminutive adenomas/polyps compared with CAC (P = 0.01). Cecal intubation was achieved in 96.5% in EAC group and 97.9% in CAC group (P = 0.04). Besides, no statistical difference was found in cecal intubation time (P = 0.86), withdrawal time (P = 0.88), small adenomas/polyps (P = 0.60), or large adenomas/polyps (P = 0.95).

Conclusion

EAC and CAC have their respective merits. EAC significantly improve the detection of diminutive adenomas/polyps. CAC was better in cecal intubation rate.
Trends in Older Adultsʼ Knowledge of Medicare Advantage Benefits, 2010 to 2016
Authors: Ankuda Claire K. , Moreno Jaison , McKendrick Karen , Aldridge Melissa D.
Published: June 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

The Medicare Advantage (MA) program insures a rapidly growing proportion of older adults, and may be more appealing due to lower cost sharing. However, the extent to which older adults are informed of their plan benefits and how plan knowledge has changed over time is unclear. We evaluated temporal trends and characteristics associated with not knowing MA coverage for dental, vision, and nursing home (NH) services.

DESIGN

Longitudinal cohort study.

SETTING

Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS), 2010 to 2016.

PARTICIPANTS

Adults aged 65 years or older enrolled in MA plans and not in Medicaid.

MEASUREMENTS

Insurance knowledge was determined from separate items asking if individuals had coverage through their MA plan for dental, vision, and NH care. Responses were dichotomized between responding yes/no and not knowing. Demographic, clinical, and functional characteristics were assessed from the MCBS.

RESULTS

The proportion of older adults in MA who did not know if their plan covered NH care increased from 38.0% in 2010 to 45.5% in 2016. However, proportions of not knowing dental benefits decreased from 6.4% in 2010 to 3.4% in 2016 and not knowing vision benefits decreased from 8.2% in 2010 to 5.9% in 2016. We found significant associations of race, education, income, region, and disability with knowledge of MA benefits.

CONCLUSIONS

As enrollment in MA plans has grown, older adults in MA plans increasingly report that they know their plan’s vision and dental benefits, although they decreasingly know about NH care. Older adults from racial and ethnic minority groups, with lower levels of education and income and who reside in certain regions or have functional disability, are less likely to know their plan benefits. This may imply decreasing preparedness for future long‐term care needs. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:2343–2347, 2020.
Linking service provision to material cycles: A new framework for studying the resource efficiency–climate change (RECC) nexus
Authors: Pauliuk Stefan , Fishman Tomer , Heeren Niko , Berrill Peter , Tu Qingshi , Wolfram Paul , Hertwich Edgar G.
Published: June 2020

Material production accounts for 23% of all greenhouse gas emissions. More efficient use of materials—through decoupling of services that support human well‐being from material use—is imperative as other emission mitigation options are expensive. An interdisciplinary scientific assessment of material efficiency and its links to service provision, material cycle management, and climate policy is needed to identify effective strategies and help design the policy framework required for their implementation. We present the resource efficiency–climate change (RECC) mitigation framework, a first step toward such a comprehensive assessment. RECC is based on dynamic material flow analysis and links the services provided (individual motorized transport and shelter) to the operation of in‐use stocks of products (passenger vehicles and residential buildings), to their expansion and maintenance, and to their material cycles to model mitigation strategies and analyze trade‐offs for environmental impacts along the products’ life cycle. A key innovation of RECC is the upscaling of product archetypes with different degrees of material and energy efficiency, which are simulated with engineering tools. We utilize RECC with augmented storylines of the shared socioeconomic pathways to describe future service demand and associated material requirements. Ten material efficiency strategies at different stages of the material cycle can be assessed by ramping up their implementation rates to the identified technical potentials. RECC provides scenario results for the life cycle impacts of ambitious service–material decoupling concurrent with energy system decarbonization, giving detailed insights on the RECC mitigation nexus to policy‐makers worldwide.
Ecological network analysis of urban–industrial ecosystems
Authors: Morris Zackery B. , Weissburg Marc , Bras Bert
Published: June 2020

Sustainability of urban areas is paramount in the coming years as cities continue to grow in population and resource consumption. A number of methods to model cities have been developed, including material flow analysis and urban metabolism, but these accounting methods do not fully analyze the complex network dynamics present within cities. Ecological network analysis (ENA) provides a new perspective into these urban areas by using metrics designed for analysis of natural ecosystems. This study analyzes 29 urban–industrial ecosystems using ENA, comparing the networks to each other as well as comparing them to previously analyzed eco‐industrial parks and natural food webs. It is found that these systems perform similar to other human‐designed systems, which consistently lack in ecological performance when compared with the natural ecosystems. Additionally, the impact of specific actor types within these networks is shown indicating the importance of industry, agriculture, and the natural environment. Finally, the types of networks are determined to affect the ecological metrics, with the more linear‐based energy networks having the worst performance. This new dataset of ecologically analyzed networks provides a deeper understanding of urban networks and their infrastructure, while providing useful information on how to potentially improve their sustainability.
Insulin restores the neurochemical effects of nicotine in the mesolimbic pathway of diabetic rats
Authors: Cruz Bryan , Carcoba Luis M. , Flores Rodolfo J. , Espinoza Evangelina J. , Nazarian Arbi , O’Dell Laura E.
Published: June 2020

This study examined whether insulin modulates the neurochemical effects of nicotine in the mesolimbic pathway of diabetic rats. The rats received vehicle or streptozotocin (STZ) to induce hypoinsulinemia. A subset of STZ‐treated rats was implanted with insulin pellets that rapidly normalized glucose levels. Two‐weeks later, dialysis probes were implanted into the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and ipsilateral ventral tegmental area (VTA). The next day, dialysate samples were collected during baseline and then following systemic administration of nicotine. Samples were also collected following intra‐VTA administration of the gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptor antagonist, bicuculline. Dopamine, GABA, glutamate, and acetylcholine (ACh) levels were assessed using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). The results revealed that vehicle‐treated rats displayed a nicotine‐induced increase in NAc dopamine levels. In contrast, STZ‐treated rats did not display any changes in NAc dopamine following nicotine administration, an effect that was likely related to a concomitant increase in GABA and decrease in glutamate levels in both the NAc and VTA. Intra‐VTA administration of bicuculline increased NAc dopamine in vehicle‐treated rats, and this effect was absent in STZ‐treated rats. Vehicle‐treated rats displayed a nicotine‐induced increase in ACh levels in the NAc (but not VTA), an effect that was lower in the NAc of STZ‐treated rats. Insulin supplementation normalized the neurochemical effects of nicotine in the NAc and VTA of STZ‐treated rats, suggesting that insulin modulates the neurochemical effects of nicotine in the mesolimbic pathway of diabetic rats.

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Financial capability and investment management of Chinese households: An application of hybrid item response theory
Authors: Chiang Tsun‐Feng
Published: June 2020

This study estimates Chinese individuals' financial capability and analyzes the association between financial capability and household investment management. By applying a novel hybrid item response theory to data from the China Family Panel Studies, this study finds that more than 70% of Chinese individuals have financial capability around the average level, and less than 12% of individuals have financial capability far below the average. For two of the components of financial capability, desirable behaviors and perceived financial knowledge, however, more than half of Chinese individuals are below the average. The primary finding on whether financial capability predicts investment management is that individuals with higher financial capability are more likely to take control of household investment alone than to share investment decisions with spouses.
Privacy and the quantified self: A review of U.S. health information policy limitations related to wearable technologies
Authors: Brinson Nancy H. , Rutherford Danielle N.
Published: June 2020

As Americans increasingly integrate quantified self‐health and fitness tracking (QSHFT) technologies into their lives, the data collected by these devices offer to not only help users to live healthier lives, but also present opportunities for interested parties to identify and target them based on their health‐related behaviors. Clinicians, employers, health insurers, data brokers, marketers, and litigators have all expressed interest in accessing individuals' QSHFT data for a variety of purposes. Existing policies related to the collection, aggregation, and use of these data do not consistently address and protect individual health privacy concerns. Indeed, U.S. lawmakers recently proposed two separate bills designed to correct this deficiency. The purpose of this review is to examine current motivations, practices, policies, and regulations related to QSHFT data, identify areas where individuals' health information privacy is currently being compromised, and propose specific solutions to address this escalating area of privacy concern.
Low molecular weight heparan sulfate containing facial skin care for reducing inflammation and restoring aged‐skin homeostasis
Authors: Bucay Vivian , Gold Michael H. , Andriessen Anneke
Published: June 2020

Background

Chronic exposure of the skin to environmental factors, including solar radiation and air pollution, promotes skin aging by inducing inflammation which damages the skin. Heparan sulfate (HS) is one of the glycosaminoglycans, which has a central role in modulating skin repair. In its appearance in the skin, HS is large and highly polar and therefore unable to penetrate the skin. As a component in a topical formulation, the modified to a low molecular weight heparan sulfate analog (LMW‐HS) showed biological modulation activity.

Aims

This review discusses the potential role of topical formulations containing LMW‐HS in restoring aged‐skin homeostasis and skin health.

Methods

An expert panel of dermatologists who regularly treat clinical signs of facial photoaging explored the role of LMW‐HS containing formulations for reducing inflammation and facial‐aging signs. For this purpose, evidence from the conducted literature searches was used together with expert opinion and experience of the panel.

Results

Extrinsic factors contribute to skin aging through oxidative stress, stimulating inflammation involved in extracellular matrix degradation. Evidence showed that chemokines require heparan sulfate for their full range of functional activities during innate immunity. Studies showed the LMW‐HS containing topical formulation to penetrate the skin within 48 hours of once‐daily application. LMW‐HS used in the periorbital area improved discoloration and wrinkles at Week 2 with continuous improvement up to Week 12.

Conclusion

The LMW‐HS containing formulation showed improvements in skin condition when applied on photo‐damaged skin, indicating its therapeutic potential.
Micro‐needling versus fractional carbon dioxide laser for delivery of tranexamic acid in the treatment of melasma: A split‐face study
Authors: Mekawy Khaled M. M. , Sadek Ahmed , Seddeik Abdel‐Hameed Ahmad K.
Published: June 2020

Background

Tranexamic acid (TXA) in oral, topical, and intra‐dermal injection routes showed efficacy in melasma treatment. Micro‐needling and fractional carbon dioxide (CO2) laser were reported to enhance the drug delivery of TXA.

Aims

This study aimed at comparing the use of micro‐needling and fractional CO2 laser for drug delivery of TXA in the treatment of facial melasma.

Patients/Methods

Thirty female patients with bilateral symmetrical facial melasma were subjected to micro‐needling, for one side of the face, and fractional CO2 laser, for the other, followed by an immediate topical application of TXA solution 4 mg/mL. Patients received six biweekly sessions.

Results

Two weeks after the last session, a significant reduction in baseline modified melasma area and severity index (mMASI) score was observed on both sides. The mean ± SD baseline mMASI dropped from 3.43 ± 1.84 to 1.59 ± 1.51 (mean reduction 57.73%, P < .001) and from 3.51 ± 1.84 to 1.78 ± 1.51 (mean reduction 55.82%, P < .001) in the micro‐needling–treated side and in the fractional CO2 laser–treated side, respectively. However, no statistically significant differences were found between the two sides (P = .81).

Conclusions

Micro‐needling and fractional CO2 laser are equally safe and effective for the delivery of TXA in the treatment of facial melasma.
The relationship between personality traits, caring characteristics and abuse tendency among professional caregivers of older people with dementia in long‐term care facilities
Authors: Chen Weichen , Fang Fan , Chen Yu , Wang Jin , Gao Yuanmin , Xiao Julan
Published: June 2020

Aims and objectives

To explore the relationship between personality traits, caring characteristics and abuse tendency among professional caregivers of older people with dementia in long‐term care facilities in China.

Background

Elder abuse is a serious global health problem and human right violation with high incidence among older people with dementia. There are many investigations about impact factors of risk of abuse among family caregivers of older people with dementia. However, in long‐term care facilities, the situation of abuse tendency needs further investigation.

Design

Cross‐sectional study.

Methods

An observational survey was conducted according to the STROBE checklist. We investigated 156 professional caregivers of older people with dementia in three long‐term care facilities in Guangzhou, China. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Caregiver Abuse Screen (CASE) and the Neuroticism Extraversion Openness Five‐Factor Inventory (NEO‐FFI). Data were analysed using Mann–Whitney U tests, Kruskal–Wallis tests, Spearman's rank correlation and logistic regression analyses.

Results

Over half of the participants (51.9%) reported abuse tendency to the older people with dementia. There was a significant negative correlation between the caregivers' agreeableness scores of NEO‐FFI and their CASE scores. Multivariate logistic regression analyses highlighted that protective factors of abuse tendency were caregivers' agreeableness, care recipients' source of finances and their duration of dementia while higher care difficulty and presence of older people's behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) were the risk factors.

Conclusion

Caregivers' agreeableness personality trait and the caring characteristics of older people with dementia may be relevant to abuse tendency in long‐term care facilities. Further study with a larger sample size is needed to validate such a correlation.

Relevance to clinical practice

Older people with dementia are at high risk for abuse. Prospective caregivers could pay more attention to developing their own agreeableness. The managers might establish monitoring system for reducing the abuse.
Using the Nursing Interventions Classification to identify nursing interventions in free‐text nursing documentation in adult psychiatric outpatient care setting
Authors: Ameel Maria , Leino Hanna , Kontio Raija , van Achterberg Theo , Junttila Kristiina
Published: June 2020

Aims and objectives

To identify and describe nursing interventions in patient documentation in adult psychiatric outpatient setting and to explore the potential for using the Nursing Interventions Classification in documentation in this setting.

Background

Documentation is an important part of nurses’ work, and in the psychiatric outpatient care setting, it can be time‐consuming. Only very few research reports are available on nursing documentation in this care setting.

Methods

A qualitative analysis of secondary data consisting of nursing documentation for 79 patients in four outpatient units (years 2016–2017). The data consisted of 1,150 free‐text entries describing a contact or an attempted contact with 79 patients, their family members or supporting networks and 17 nursing care summaries. Deductive and inductive content analysis was used. SRQR guideline was used for reporting.

Results

We identified 71 different nursing interventions, 64 of which are described in the Nursing Interventions Classification. Surveillance and Care Coordination were the most common interventions. The analysis revealed two perspectives which challenge the use of the classification: the problem of overlapping interventions and the difficulty of naming group‐based interventions.

Conclusion

There is an urgent need to improve patient documentation in the adult psychiatric outpatient care setting, and standardised nursing terminologies such as the Nursing Interventions Classification could be a solution to this. However, the problems of overlapping interventions and naming group‐based interventions suggest that the classification needs to be further developed before it can fully support the systematic documentation of nursing interventions in the psychiatric outpatient care setting.

Relevance to clinical practice

This study describes possibilities of using a systematic nursing language to describe the interventions nurses use in the adult psychiatric outpatient setting. It also describes problems in the current free text‐based documentation.
Effects of illness representation‐focused patient education on illness representations and self‐care in patients with heart failure: A randomised clinical trial
Authors: Chang Wan‐Tzu , Wang Shan‐Tair , Hsu Chih‐Hsin , Tsai Liang‐Miin , Chan Shih‐Hung , Chen Hsing‐Mei
Published: June 2020

Aims and objectives

To examine the effect of an illness representation‐focused patient education intervention on illness representations and self‐care behaviours in patients with heart failure 3 months after discharge from the hospital.

Background

Few intervention studies have examined the effect of illness representation‐focused interventions on illness representations and self‐care in patients with heart failure.

Design

A randomised clinical trial based on the Consolidated Standard of Reporting Trials—CONSORT 2010—guidelines was employed. The Clinical Trial Registry number is TCTR20190903002.

Methods

One hundred and seven participants were randomly assigned to 2 groups, and 62 participants (n = 30 in the intervention group and n = 32 in the usual care group) completed the baseline and one‐ and three‐month postdischarge follow‐up assessments. The instruments included the Survey of Illness Beliefs in Heart Failure and the Self‐care of Heart Failure Index. The intervention group received illness representation‐focused patient education while hospitalised and telephone follow‐ups after discharge. Data were analysed with linear mixed‐effects model analysis.

Results

The 107 participants had a mean age of 62.17 years and a mean left ventricular ejection of 53.03%. At baseline, the two groups tended to have accurate illness beliefs but insufficient self‐care confidence and self‐care maintenance. The analysis showed no significant differences between groups in the illness representation total scores, dimension scores or self‐care maintenance scores but did show a significant difference in the self‐care confidence scores (F = 3.42, p < .05) over the three months.

Conclusion

The study did not show an effect of the intervention on illness representations or self‐care maintenance behaviours. However, the intervention did maintain participants' self‐care confidence three months after discharge.

Relevance to clinical practice

It is necessary to conduct long‐term follow‐ups of patients' illness representations, discuss the implementation of self‐care behaviours with patients, enhance patients' self‐care confidence, and involve family members or caregivers in self‐care practices when needed.
An evaluation of the impact of advanced nurse practitioner triage and clinical intervention for medically expected patients referred to an acute National Health Service hospital
Authors: Moxham Lucy , McMahon‐Parkes Kate
Published: June 2020

Aims and objectives

To evaluate the impact of advanced nurse practitioner triage on the management of medically expected patients referred to an acute National Health Service hospital. The objectives of the study were to determine whether advanced nurse practitioner triage reduced waiting times and hospital admissions and expedited essential investigations and treatments.

Background

The effectiveness of employing advanced nurse practitioners to meet service demands has been widely studied in emergency departments and critical care units. However, no studies have evaluated the impact advanced nurse practitioners can have on the management of medically expected patients, who have been referred to hospital because they are acutely unwell and require immediate medical intervention.

Design

A pre‐ and postimplementation evaluation.

Method

The Revised Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence guidelines were used as a framework to guide the triaging role of advanced nurse practitioners. The charts of patients attending before and after the implementation of the advanced nurse practitioner triage role were retrospectively analysed.

Results

The implementation of advanced nurse practitioner triage for medically expected patients saw a statistically significant reduction in the length of time patients have to wait to be seen. There were also significant improvements in timings to diagnosis and treatment of patients presenting with conditions such as sepsis or community‐acquired pneumonia. Additionally, patient admissions to hospital were reduced, as advanced nurse practitioners instead streamed a number of patients to ambulatory care for same day treatment and/or medical follow‐up.

Conclusions

Advanced nurse practitioner triage has made significant improvements to the efficiency and effectiveness of care and management of medically expected patients who were referred to acute hospital settings.

Relevance to practice

Utilisation of advanced nurse practitioner triage in the ambulatory care setting is an effective method by which to streamline and improve the management of medically expected patients.
MORE THAN A FEELING: CONFIDENCE, UNCERTAINTY, AND MACROECONOMIC FLUCTUATIONS
Authors: Nowzohour Laura , Stracca Livio
Published: June 2020

Economists, observers, and policy‐makers often emphasize the role of sentiment as a potential driver of the business cycle. In this paper, we provide three contributions to this debate. First, we give an overview of the recent literature on the nexus between sentiment (considering both confidence and uncertainty) and economic activity. Second, we review existing empirical measures of sentiment, in particular consumer confidence, stock market volatility (SMV) and Economic Policy Uncertainty (EPU), on monthly data for 27 countries, 1985–2016. Third, we identify some new stylized facts based on international evidence. While different measures are surprisingly lowly correlated on average in each country, they are typically highly positively correlated across countries, suggesting the existence of a global factor or sizeable international spillovers of sentiment. Consumer confidence has the closest co‐movement with economic and financial variables, and most of the correlations are contemporaneous or forward‐looking, consistent with the view that economic sentiment is indeed a driver of activity.
Global research trends in complex oral sensitivity disorder: A systematic bibliometric analysis of the framework
Authors: Fortuna Giulio , Aria Massimo , Iorio Carmela , Mignogna Michele D. , Klasser Gary D.
Published: June 2020

Objectives

A systematic bibliometric analysis was performed to investigate trends in complex oral sensitivity disorder (COSD) research worldwide and compare the contributions of different countries/institutions, scientific journals, authors, keywords, and citations.

Methods

Web of Science database from 1985 to 2018 was systematically searched to identify all relevant articles using the MeSH terms “complex oral sensitivity disorder” and all synonyms used in the literature. We included original articles, review articles, letters to the editor, and book chapters in the English language and in 27 different ISI categories of medical sciences. Several bibliometric indicators were used.

Results

We identified 10 633 articles, of which only 3349 were eligible with only 443 being included for quantitative analyses. The annual percentage growth rate for article publication was 9.16 fractionalized articles with the most productive countries (reported only in 428 out of 443 articles) being Italy (n = 66, 15.42%) followed by USA (n = 61, 14.25%) and with Italy achieving the greatest number of citations (n = 1415). Similarly, the most productive institution for article publication was the University of Turku, Finland, with 39 (8.8%) published articles. Among the top 20 departments, 15 were affiliated with dental institutions. The most productive source was “Journal of Oral Pathology and Medicine” with 38 (8.58%) articles, whereas the most productive author was “Lopez‐Jornet P” with 19 articles (6.52 fractionalized articles).

Conclusions

There is an increasing trend for publications on COSD. Collaboration among different countries must improve in order to implement research on this disorder, which seems to be mainly a condition for the dental discipline.
ORGANIC GEOCHEMISTRY OF MIDDLE MIOCENE (BADENIAN – SARMATIAN) SOURCE ROCKS AND MATURATION MODELLING IN THE POLISH AND UKRAINIAN SECTORS OF THE EXTERNAL CARPATHIAN FOREDEEP
Authors: Kosakowski P. , Machowski G. , Kowalski A. , Koltun Y. V. , Zakrzewski A. , Sowiżdżał A. , Stadtmuller M.
Published: June 2020

The Carpathian Foredeep to the north and NE of the Carpathian orogenic belt in SE Poland and NW Ukraine is divided into internal and external sectors. In the narrow internal foredeep, Lower and Middle Miocene shales, sandstones and interbedded evaporites are tightly folded. By contrast the external foredeep is characterized by the presence of a thick, unfolded Middle Miocene molasse succession. This ranges in thickness from a few hundred metres in the north of the external foredeep to >5000 m in the south, near the Carpathian thrust front. Middle Miocene sandstones in the external foredeep form a major reservoir for biogenic gas at fields in Poland and Ukraine.

The Middle Miocene molasse succession in the external Carpathian Foredeep also contains organic‐rich intervals which have source rock potential. For this paper, core samples (n = 670) of Badenian and Sarmatian mudstones from 43 boreholes in the Polish sector of the external foredeep were analysed to investigate their organic geochemistry and hydrocarbon potential. Results show that the samples analysed in general have low to fair (but locally high) total organic carbon (TOC) contents which range up 4.6 wt.% although the average is only 0.7 wt.%. Rock‐Eval (S1+S2) values are poor to fair and the hydrogen index is also low with a mean value of less than 100 mg/g TOC. The samples analysed are dominated by gas‐prone Type III kerogen and this is consistent with previous studies of time‐equivalent samples from the Ukrainian part of the external foredeep. The organic matter is in general thermally immature and is interpreted to have been deposited in anoxic and/or sub‐oxic conditions. However in the Polish part of the external foredeep, thermal maturities may locally reach the initial phase of the oil window where the Middle Miocene source rocks have been buried deeply beneath the Carpathian thrust front.

The burial history and thermal evolution of the Middle Miocene succession were reconstructed by means of 1‐D modelling at nine boreholes located in both the Polish and Ukrainian parts of the external Carpathian foredeep. The modelling indicated that Middle Miocene source rocks have only entered the initial phase of the oil window locally where they are buried beneath the flysch nappes of the Carpathian foldbelt. At these locations the generation of thermogenic gas may have begun at depths of more than 3 km. However, Middle Miocene source rocks are still immature at depths of >4000 m in some boreholes in the Ukrainian part of the study area. The absence of accumulations of thermogenic natural gas is consistent with the observed low levels of source rock maturity.