bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cyber Laws and Media Censorship in Pakistan: An Investigation of Governmental Tactics to Curtail Freedom of Expression and Right to Privacy
Authors: Abbas Zafar , Khan Robina , Khan Muhammad Zubair , Imran Muhammad
Published: December 2023

All the democracies in the world have universally recognised the right to privacy and freedom of expression as fundamental human rights. It is fundamental to the preservation of all human rights, a basic element of democracy and a vital part of human dignity. Governments and governmental agencies frequently violate internationally accepted human rights, norms and standards under the cover of legislation. Media censorship is a worldwide issue that has existed for centuries. Censorship is often justified on the grounds of maintaining public order, but the underlying motive is to keep the people uninformed of governmental activities. It is argued that civil society, media personnel and the common people are working under pressure in Pakistan due to cyber and media laws. In the name of national security, the state has been working, intentionally, to put in place the best possible surveillance systems to establish a sort of watchdog over activists, bloggers, journalists and the general public.
Laughing Online: Indian Stand-up Comedy as Spectator Sport
Authors: Saju Maria , Balakrishnan Vinod
Published: December 2023

This paper investigates spectator dynamics in the offline and online performances of stand-up comedians, Vir Das and Kenny Sebastian. It studies the performer–comedian relationship through the media theory of John Fiske and John Hartley, the Rasa Box of Richard Schechner and Group Phenomenon of psychology. Media and performance aspects, such as stage setting, lighting, script, identity, complaisance and techniques, are theorised to arrive at insights into spectatorship in stand-up comedy.
The Development of the Strengths and Risks Matching Tool for Adoption in the United Kingdom
Authors: McGuire-Snieckus Rebecca
Published: December 2023

Identifying the strengths and risks of prospective matches in adoption is crucial to adoption placement stability. With the aim to deliver a consistent and service-led approach to matching children in care with prospective adopters, a tool to identify strengths and risks related to adoption placement was developed. Using a mixed-methods approach, this tool was developed in line with the psychometric theory of test construction, from item generation using semi-structured interviews and survey methods, and exploratory factor analysis to determine the factor structure of the assessment-to-assessment of retest reliability and finalization. Comprising three main components (adopter capabilities and skills, adopter profiles and characteristics, and adoption plans, preparations, and transitions), this tool can be used by practitioners to identify strengths and risks in proposed matches at any point during the linking and matching process.
Care Recipient Factors That Predict Caregiver Burden in Older Adult Dyads
Authors: Hallinan Sean , Sobering Juliet , Cardona-Martell Ixsia , Girardin Melinda , Gohagon Katherine , O’Leary Donna , Stewart Gail
Published: December 2023

As individuals age, changes in their health status and functional level may begin to require caregiving from family caregivers. The role of caregiver can be taxing, a well-established phenomenon known as caregiver burden. While many studies have examined the factors within the caregiver that can be predictive of caregiver burden (or burnout), relatively few have examined the factors of the care recipient that predict caregiver burden. Using a sample of individuals enrolled in the Department of Veteran’s Affairs Home Based Primary Care program, we collected data on demographic, psychological (i.e. mood and cognitive) and nursing (e.g. ADL/IADL, fall risk, etc.) factors. Using stepwise regression modeling, we discovered that only care recipient’s age, IADL impairment, and gender predicted caregiver burden. We discuss possible causes of the relationships and implications for nursing and homecare practice.
Contemporary outcomes of distal radial artery ligation for access related hand ischemia
Authors: Fitzgibbon James J , Heindel Patrick , Hentschel Dirk M , Ozaki Charles Keith , Hussain Mohamad A
Published: December 2023

Objectives:

Access related hand ischemia (ARHI) is a rare albeit morbid complication of hemodialysis access creation. Distal radial artery ligation (DRAL) has been described as a strategy to improve perfusion to the hand while maintaining the access. The objective of this study was to report longitudinal outcomes of DRAL for ARHI.

Methods:

Retrospective cohort study (2015–2021) of all patients who underwent DRAL for ARHI at a tertiary care vascular center. Subjects were identified using the Mass General Brigham clinical data warehouse and data collection was supplemented with chart adjudication. Outcomes captured included 30-day complications and improvement in ARHI-related symptoms at 1 year.

Results:

Thirty-one patients were included. Mean (SD) age was 59.9 (14.5) and 67.7% were male. Wrist radial-cephalic (74.2%) and proximal radial-cephalic (9.7%) configurations were most common. ARHI severity was: 9.7% stage 1 (retrograde flow without symptoms); 38.7% stage 2 (pain during exercise or dialysis); 41.9% stage 3 (pain at rest); and 9.7% stage 4 (tissue loss). High flow was present in 35.5% of patients at baseline with median (IQR) flow of 1670 ml/min (1478–1954). After DRAL, median (IQR) flow reduction in the high flow group was 953 ml/min (645–993); concurrent precision banding was performed in 29% to reduce flow. The 30-day risk of complication was 3.2% ( n = 1 access thrombosis). During follow-up, 82.1% showed improvement in symptoms and 3.6% of patients needed an additional procedure for ARHI. Carpal tunnel surgery was required for improvement in 7.1% of patients and was suspected as the culprit of symptoms in 7.1%.

Conclusion:

Distal radial artery ligation for ARHI is safe and can improve ischemic symptoms in most patients while salvaging access function. Precision banding can serve as a useful adjunct in high flow accesses. Carpal tunnel syndrome should be considered as part of the differential diagnosis of hand pain in this population.
‘Vulnerability’ at Work: Instrumental Vulnerabilities Among Software Professionals
Authors: Ciccone Vanessa
Published: December 2023

As a self-improvement discourse, ‘vulnerability’ brings a compelling promise for software workplaces around engendering productivity, innovation and creativity among employees. While critical studies have interrogated various self-improvement discourses, less is known about how workers respond to and negotiate these discourses in professional contexts. This article asks how workers of North American software companies construct vulnerability. It finds that constructions instrumentalize vulnerability in the workplace as the exposure of failures, mistakes and knowledge gaps to enact organizational resilience. Drawing from interviews, the article discusses the implications of these constructions.
Transnational Affect and the Making of a Moral Public: The War on Drugs in the Philippines
Authors: Tremlett Paul-François
Published: December 2023

In 2019, IBON International and the Campaign for Human Rights in the Philippines UK (CHRP-UK) made preparations for some relatives of some of the victims of former Philippine President Duterte’s war on drugs to travel to meet members of the European Parliament as well as diasporic and other publics in Europe and the UK. At the same time, the play Tao Po! – ‘Is Anybody There?’ – a dramatic monologue exploring different perspectives of those involved in Duterte’s drug war including those of victims and perpetrators, was touring Europe. These affectively saturated actions and performances were accompanied by social media posts on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, among other platforms, using hashtags such as #Stopthekillingsph and #Warondrugsph. I juxtapose two very different interpretations of these actions and performances. On the one hand, I frame them as elements of a political strategy performed to solicit particular affective responses as a means of assembling a transnational public that could bring international political pressure to bear on the Duterte regime. On the other hand, I suggest that these actions were performed to cultivate a sense of belonging to a moral public. I conclude by arguing that the enactment of affects such as grief and loss – affects which are constitutive of the war on drugs – suggests a model of social and political change that works from the bottom-up, with affective experience as the primary catalyst.
The Persistence of the University Dream: Class and Social Mobility as Projected by Students at a Chilean University
Authors: Rojo-Mendoza Félix , Sepúlveda Sánchez Denisse , Baeza Rivas Fernando
Published: December 2023

Higher education is considered an important dimension for building more egalitarian societies. However, despite the social value assigned to it, international evidence indicates that the social status of students’ families continues to prevent significant mobility in the social structure. In Chile, despite policies to increase access to higher education, the university system continues to reproduce inequalities of origin through selection, separating elite students from low-income students. In this context, little is known about the perception that university students have of the role that these institutions play in social mobility, especially for those of more disadvantaged social origins. This article explores and describes the persistence of the university dream among Chilean’s students at the Catholic University of Temuco, the Chilean educational institution with the highest percentage of poor students in the country, analyzing it on the understanding that aspirations represent idealist targets of the desired social class, while expectations represent realistic goals regarding the expected social class. Based on a statistical analysis of survey data from 209 students, results show that students’ family origin does not prevent them from projecting themselves as part of a higher class, with the university acting as an agent that dynamizes positions to favor greater homogeneity in the future social structure. In addition, postgraduate degrees are defined as a catalyst for future social mobility. Finally, the future tensions between the still-hegemonic meritocratic discourse and the reality of the social space that these students will occupy are discussed.
Listening to autistic voices regarding competing for social status
Authors: Caldwell-Harris Catherine , Schwartz Anna M
Published: December 2023

Autistic atypicality sociality has been historically attributed to mentalizing deficits. Examination of specific domains of social functioning could broaden the explanatory possibilities. We illustrate this for the domain of navigating social hierarchies. We review writings by autistic people, including advice books, memoirs, book reviews, online discussion posts, and the mission-statement of an autistic-led organization. These suggest that autistic people find status-seeking illogical, and prefer egalitarian relationships. Researchers are urged to study status seeking (and its avoidance) in autistic individuals, an approach that could illuminate autistic ethical strengths.

Lay abstract

Human social organizations are complex. Yet little research exists on autistic people’s attitudes about social hierarchies. Clinicians and the medical establishment regard social deficits as a key aspect of autism. If social deficits are paramount, then we expect autistic people to have difficulty navigating social hierarchies. We reject the premise of social deficits (while acknowledging that social misunderstandings interfere in the daily life of autistics) but suggest that researchers learn by listening to what autistic adults say about social hierarchies. We review writings by autistic people, including advice books, memoirs, book reviews, online discussion posts, and the mission-statement of an autistic-led organization. These suggest that autistic people find status-seeking illogical and prefer egalitarian relationships. The consistency of these themes across different types of writings is a reason for researchers to systematically study reduced status-seeking in autistic individuals.
Comprehension of who- and which-questions in monolingual and bilingual acquisition: Explicating the difficulty of set restriction
Authors: Harel Efrat , Armon-Lotem Sharon , Botwinik Irena
Published: December 2023

Objectives:

Object wh-questions are more difficult for monolingual children to comprehend than subject questions. Especially difficult are object- which questions that appear to be significantly more difficult than both (object/subject) who and subject- which questions. Our research examines the manifestation of this difficulty among bilingual preschool children (L1-English, L2-Hebrew) as compared with their Hebrew monolingual peers, exploring the two languages of the bilinguals.

Approach:

Using a character selection task, the empirical goal of the study is to analyze the differences between monolinguals and bilinguals and between the languages of the bilinguals. The theoretical goal is to explain the difficulty which cuts across the two populations, namely, the comprehension of object- which questions.

Data and Analysis:

A total of A total of 55 preschool children, aged 4.4–6.4, participated in the study: 20 monolinguals and 35 bilinguals. A mixed linear model analysis, a general linear model, multiple linear regression analyses, and chi-square tests were used to analyze the data.

Findings:

(1) Monolingual and bilingual children (in their L2) have similar trajectories: object- which questions present difficulties to all participants, and their comprehension systematically follows the comprehension of object- who questions; (2) similar trajectories are also found in the two languages of the bilingual children, with L1-English object- which questions lagging behind L2-Hebrew object- which questions.

Originality:

The comparison between the two populations, and especially between the two languages of the bilinguals, led us to take a closer look at the syntactic processing of which-questions. We explored the possibility that the set restriction computation is the source of children’s difficulty, overloading their working memory resources.

Significance:

Our research demonstrates that monolingual and bilingual (syntactic) development is essentially the same. However, when syntactic processes interact with additional factors, such as working memory resources and language-specific properties, as is the case in object- which questions in Hebrew versus English, the gap between the two populations might widen.
Stuck inside: Context, precarity and the effect of COVID-19 on Romanian performers
Authors: Pavelea Alina Maria , Neamțu Bogdana
Published: December 2023

The coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 pandemic was expected to be particularly detrimental for performing artists, given the nature of their work. The scarce literature on the precarity experiences of performers following the COVID-19 pandemic has predominantly focused on Western and Central Europe. The present article contributes to the literature by investigating the experience of Romanian performers before and after the COVID-19 outbreak through in-depth semi-structured interviews. Romania is a valuable case study, given its peculiarities in terms of cultural policy. After the fall of communism, cultural policy was characterised by a constant dominant strategic focus on (mostly religious) heritage, while the cultural funding model is particularly detrimental to smaller independent artists and organisations. By focusing on it, the study shows that research on precarity needs to be embedded in the local (cultural) policy context, as it shapes the precarity experiences of artists. Without a proper understanding of the policy context, research will likely fail to offer effective policy recommendations.
Beyond ‘reifying whiteness’ in feminist media studies
Authors: Dosekun Simidele
Published: December 2023

In this talk, I turn a Black and transnational feminist reflexive eye on the field of feminist media studies, to surface for critical consideration a certain ‘story that we tell’ about race, more specifically about the visibly dominant whiteness, in the global North, of the kinds of media texts and cultures that commonly comprise our objects of analysis. I show that there is a repeated critical claim to the effect that the texts and cultures ‘reify whiteness’. Interrogating and faulting some of the variously methodological, epistemological and ontological premises and effects of the claim, I argue that it is itself performative: it contributes to the very reification that it decries, not least by seemingly serving to explain and justify why, in a given piece of scholarship, further questions about race cannot really be attended to. I argue that we need to go beyond reifying whiteness in feminist media studies, so that we can attempt to offer more complete and rigorous consideration of the racial politics of what we study and how, and indeed who we are, our various positionalities, as not only scholars of media but also audiences, consumers and users ourselves.
Impacts of temperature and solar radiation changes in northern Europe on key population health behaviors: a scoping review of reviews
Authors: Wennman Heini , Partonen Timo
Published: December 2023

Aim:

Climate change threatens health directly as well as indirectly through impacts on health-related behaviors. Physical activity, nutrition and sleep are key health-related behaviors for population health. We aimed at elucidating the impacts of climate change which emerge gradually on these three key health-related behaviors, particularly focusing on scenarios and projections relevant to people living in the northern Europe.

Methods:

We conducted a systematic literature search in three different databases in January 2023 to identify English language review articles summarizing the effects of climate change on either physical activity, nutrition, sleep, or their combination.

Results:

We identified 15 review articles on the topic. Data on climate change impacts on nutrition and sleep were sparse, and those on physical activity were heterogeneous. The climate in northern Europe will become warmer and sunnier in summer as well as warmer and darker in winter, which will probably increase the level of physical activity, but decrease the consumption of fruits and vegetables, as well as increase the occurrence of sleep disturbances in a population.

Conclusions:

The anticipated changes in physical activity, nutrition and sleep driven by climate change influence population health and call for grass-roots action plans for adaptation.
Cuban Youth: Changing Attitudes Towards Sexual and Reproductive Health
Authors: Samuels Fiona , Molyneux Maxine , Gideon Jasmine
Published: December 2023

Cuba remains one of the few countries still governed by a communist party. Despite its socialist commitments, including to gender equality, these have not been fully achieved and norms concerning gender roles are often at variance with revolutionary values. Focusing on youth and particularly young women, this article draws on primary data collected in Cuba in 2018–19 to explore young people’s sexual and reproductive health decisions. The analysis highlights how despite the family planning services and educational opportunities made available to them, young women’s reproductive and sexual choices are often determined by men and by values that accord primacy to marriage and motherhood, as conservative values are increasingly gaining a foothold.
How Is Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction Progressing in Terms of Development Cooperation? A Portfolio Analysis of DRR Aid
Authors: Lee Suyeon
Published: December 2023

In 2018, the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) created a new policy marker for disaster risk reduction (DRR) to help member states to monitor and report the progress made on the mainstreaming of DRR into their development activities. Drawing on this DRR marker, this study found that DAC members’ DRR mainstreaming remains in the incipient stage, with a significant gap between rhetoric and action. Important areas for improvement include a more comprehensive understanding of disaster risk; increased funding for activities principally targeting DRR, larger scale projects; enhanced financial stability without compromising other development objectives; and further integration of DRR and climate change adaption into development projects.
Planned Parenthood Before and AfterRoe: Historical Lessons for the Current Fight
Authors: Rosen Robyn L. , Furgerson Jessica
Published: December 2023

During the 1970s, Planned Parenthood (PP) went from an established, well-funded birth control provider in the political mainstream to a controversial organization associated with abortion. As abortion rights mobilized both feminists and a conservative opposition, the agenda and rhetoric of PP had to expand and adjust accordingly. This project explores the ways PP’s mission and the political terrain in which it operated became more complicated in this decade, focusing on the strategies it adopted to survive. There is much to be learned from how the organization sought to weather the unique tensions experienced by the legalization of abortion, the energy of the women’s movement, and the emerging backlash against perceived liberal excesses as it navigated the often oppositional demands of being both a service provider and advocate. As abortion access enters a new era of vulnerability and contestation, the role of PP remains uncertain. In exploring a key moment in the organization’s past, we also ponder the role of PP in the Dobbs era and whether it has either the capacity or political will to serve its constituents given its complicated history and still complicated present.
Oral Reading Assessment: Four Conditions Where Caution Is Warranted
Authors: Zipoli Richard P. , Ramachandar Sujini
Published: December 2023

Assessments of oral reading are widely used for screening, progress monitoring, and comprehensive evaluations. Despite the utility and technical adequacy of these tools, there are subgroups of students for whom measures of oral reading may be inappropriate. The first section of this article focuses on how tests of oral reading may underestimate word reading ability and reading fluency among four subgroups of students with speech, language, or learning difficulties. These include school-age students who demonstrate word-finding difficulties (which are common among students with a learning disability or developmental language disorder), developmental stuttering, childhood apraxia of speech, and pediatric dysarthria. The second section offers practical recommendations for more accurate assessment procedures, correct placement decisions, relevant professional learning activities, and strategic interdisciplinary teaming.
Estimating the Prevalence and Identifying the Correlates of Sexting Behaviors Among Cambodian Male Adolescents
Authors: Kim Seonhwa , Yang Youngran
Published: December 2023

Male youths are more likely to experience peer pressure that encourages them to engage in risky behaviors than female youths, and this pressure can lead to an increased risk of sexting among male youths. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of and factors associated with sexting among Cambodian male youths. The correlational cross-sectional study design was utilized. This study surveyed 647 Cambodian male youths aged 15 to 24 years. The measurement included sending or receiving messages (sexts) that contain sexually explicit messages, images, or videos, and affecting factors to sexting. Around 32.5% of participants sent sexts, and 38.9% received them. Open relationships, pornographic website use, perception of friends’ sexual activity, frequent thoughts about sex, higher sexual sensation-seeking tendencies, positive attitudes toward sex, and sexual experience were associated with increased likelihood of sending and receiving sexts. Based on the findings of this study, by offering suitable education, guidance, and intervention programs, we can effectively mitigate the adverse repercussions of sexting while fostering healthy sexual behaviors among youths.
Addressing targeted violence through bystander and gatekeeper intervention: Theoretical background and conceptual model
Authors: Alderden Megan , Weine Stevan , Gleicher Lily
Published: December 2023

The increased frequency of targeted incidents of violence in the United States has heightened awareness around the need for effective interventions. One promising approach to addressing targeted violence is through community-based educational efforts that aim to help residents notice, identify, and act when they see, hear, or learn about concerning behaviors. This article describes the theoretical and empirical basis for using a bystander and gatekeeper intervention approach to preventing targeted violence. The article concludes with a conceptual outline of a targeted violence bystander and gatekeeper curriculum and an associated research agenda for evaluating the effectiveness of this approach.
Whose confidence? Regional leaders’ perspectives on building confidence in a reconfigured probation service
Authors: Robinson Gwen , Annison Harry , Burke Lol , Carr Nicola , Millings Matthew , Surridge Eleanor
Published: December 2023

The idea that the institutions of criminal justice should command the confidence of the public and other stakeholders is a taken for granted ‘good’, but one which has rarely been considered from the perspectives of operational leaders within those institutions. We also know little about what happens at times of crisis, when claims are made about the erosion of confidence and leaders are charged with rebuilding it. In this article, we seek to engage critically with the idea of confidence in one criminal justice institution – the Probation Service in England & Wales – at just such a time. Drawing on original empirical research with the 12 leaders of the recently unified service, this article focuses on the question of whose confidence matters and considers some of the challenges associated with confidence-building work from the perspectives of these leaders. Our research revealed that the stakeholder groups whose confidence most concerned them were sentencers and other partner agencies; government ministers; and their own staff within the unified service. We introduce the idea of ‘domains of confidence’ to highlight the importance of understanding perspectives on confidence (and efforts to strengthen or rebuild it) in a relational space in which the particular positionality of actors in the criminal justice field must be understood.
Challenges and options for management of stones in anomalous kidneys: a review of current literature
Authors: Wani Mudassir , Mohamed Ahmed Haider Abdalla , Brown Gareth , Sriprasad Seshadri , Madaan Sanjeev
Published: December 2023

Introduction:

Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) represent a wide range of disorders that result from developmental abnormalities of the kidneys, urinary collecting tract, and lower urinary tract. There has been extensive development in approaches to the management of stones in normal kidneys with the advent of retrograde intra-renal surgeries (RIRS)/ureteroscopies, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), and minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopy/robotics). However, the management of stones in CAKUT is not straightforward and is often challenging for urologists. There are no clear guidelines available to help navigate stone management in such patients.

Materials and methods:

The aim of this literature review was to focus on stone management in anomalous kidneys. Most common abnormalities were considered. The studies were very heterogeneous with different approaches. The methodology involved evaluating studies looking into individual surgical approaches to the management of stones in these anomalous kidneys as well as looking at different approaches to stone management, in particular renal abnormality.

Results:

We found RIRS is a feasible approach in most stones with sizes <20 mm and PCNL holds the upper hand in stones more than 20 mm. However, ESWL, laparoscopy, and robotics have their places in managing some of these cases.

Conclusion:

We concluded that stones in anomalous kidneys can be challenging but can be managed safely. There is no straightforward answer to the right technique but rather the right planning based on the anatomy of the kidney in terms of vascularity and drainage, stone size and density, and expertise available.
Health indicators in Brazil and Spain: strategies for health promoting universities
Authors: Venturoso Gongora Buckeridge Serra Maysa , Montesanti Adriana P. , Brunherotti Marisa A. A. , Martínez-Riera José R.
Published: December 2023

Aims:

The study aims to identify and compare health indicators collected by national research in Spain and in Brazil that can generate action strategies for health promoting universities.

Methods:

This is an epidemiological, descriptive, cross-sectional study that uses the database of the Secretariat of Health Surveillance of the Brazilian Ministry of Health and the database of the National Statistics Institute of Spain. Based on the National Health Promotion Policy, the analyzer axis prioritizes defined themes; percentage of physical exercise, daily smokers, sedentary lifestyle, obesity and self-perception of health status were evaluated. The data were collected from 2014 to 2020.

Results:

In Brazil, physical exercise is the highest percentage indicator, whereas in Spain, sedentary lifestyle is the highest. Regarding the age group, Brazil presented the lowest prevalence of daily smokers in the age group from 18 to 24, with little increase in older age groups; in Spain, older age groups presented the highest rates of sedentary lifestyle and obesity. In 2020, 4.5% of Brazilians reported a negative self-perception of health and in Spain 6.6%.

Conclusion:

The indicators ‘physical exercise’, ‘daily smokers’ and ‘sedentary lifestyle’ presented better results in Brazil than in Spain. Brazil presents a better perspective on health when compared with Spain, as the results showed that older ages present higher rates of sedentary lifestyle and obesity. Our study results also show that Brazilians report better self-perception in health, which can be interpreted by health promotion strategies.
Using natural language processing to explore characteristics and management of patients with axial spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis treated under real-world conditions in Spain: SpAINET study
Authors: Benavent Diego , Muñoz-Fernández Santiago , De la Morena Isabel , Fernández-Nebro Antonio , Marín-Corral Judith , Castillo Rosa Eva , Taberna Miren , Sanabra Cristina , Sastre Carlos ,   SAVANA Research Group
Published: December 2023

Background:

Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a group of related but phenotypically distinct inflammatory disorders that include axial SpA (axSpA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Information on the characteristics and management of these patients in the real world remains scarce.

Objectives:

To explore the characteristics and management [disease activity assessment and treatment with secukinumab (SEC) or other biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs)] of axSpA and PsA patients using natural language processing (NLP) in Electronic Health Records (EHRs).

Design:

National, multicenter, observational, and retrospective study.

Methods:

We analyzed free-text and structured clinical information from EHR at three hospitals. All adult patients with axSpA, PsA or non-classified SpA from 2018 to 2021 with minimum follow-up of three months were included when starting SEC or other bDMARDs. Clinical variables were extracted using EHRead® technology based on Systemized Nomenclature of Medicine-Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT) terminology.

Results:

Out of 887,735 patients, 758 were included, of which 328 had axSpA [58.5% male; mean (SD) age of 50.7 (12.7) years], 365 PsA [54.8% female, 53.9 (12.4) years], and 65 non-classified SpA. Mean (SD) time since diagnosis was 36.8 (61.0) and 24.1 (35.2) months for axSpA and PsA, respectively. Only 116 axSpA patients (35.3%) had available Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) or Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) at bDMARD onset, of which 61 presented active disease. Disease Activity in PSoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) or Disease Assessment Score - 28 joints (DAS-28) values at bDMARD onset were available for only 61 PsA (16.7%) patients, with 23 of them having active disease. The number of patients with available tender joint count or swollen joint count assessment was 68 (20.7%) and 59 (18%) for axSpA, and 115 (31.5%) and 119 (32.6%) for PsA, respectively. SEC was used in 63 (19.2%) axSpA patients and in 63 (17.3%) PsA patients.

Conclusion:

Using NLP, the study showed that around one-third of axSpA and one-sixth of PsA patients have disease activity assessments with ASDAS/BASDAI or DAPSA/DAS-28, respectively, highlighting an area of improvement in these patients’ management.
Effect of the Pavlik harness used in the treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip on unaided sitting and independent walking age
Authors: Ucpunar Hanifi , Sevencan Ahmet , Erbas Anil , Ozyalvac Osman Nuri , Akpinar Evren , Bayhan Avni Ilhan
Published: December 2023

Background:

Pavlik harness is the most widely used orthosis in the treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the Pavlik harness on the development of “unaided sitting” and “independent walking” in infants with developmental dysplasia of the hip.

Methods:

This prospective study, conducted from 2017 to 2020, included infants undergoing Pavlik harness therapy. Inclusion criteria comprised gestational age > 37 weeks, treatment initiation before 6 months of age, and no prior treatment for developmental dysplasia of the hip. We assessed treatment initiation age, treatment duration, and the age of achieving unaided sitting and independent walking.

Results:

In the patient group, unaided sitting commenced at a mean age of 6.8 ± 1.6 (range: 4–11) months, while independent walking began at a mean age of 12.7 ± 1.8 (range: 9–18) months. By 15 months, 92% of the patients achieved independent walking. In the control group, unaided sitting occurred at a mean age of 6.1 ± 1.1 (range: 4–8) months, and independent walking at 11.8 ± 1.6 (range: 9–18) months. A significant positive correlation was observed between the duration of Pavlik harness usage and the age of unaided sitting (p < 0.001) and independent walking (p < 0.001).

Conclusion:

Our study indicates that Pavlik harness treatment for developmental dysplasia of the hip is generally safe and does not lead to clinically significant delays in unaided sitting and independent walking. However, some minor delays may occur due to extended orthosis use.

Level of evidence:

level III—prospective cohort study.
Design and Usability Assessment of a User-Centered, Modular Platform for Real-World Data Acquisition in Clinical Trials involving Post-bariatric Surgery Patients
Authors: Cossu Luca , Cappon Giacomo , Streicher Olivia , Herzig David , Bally Lia , Facchinetti Andrea
Published: December 2023

Background:

Clinical trials often face challenges in efficient data collection and participant monitoring. To address these issues, we developed the IMPACT platform, comprising a real-time mobile application for data collection and a web-based dashboard for remote monitoring and management.

Methods:

This article presents the design, development, and usability assessment of the IMPACT platform customized for patients with post-bariatric surgery hypoglycemia (PBH). We focus on adapting key IMPACT components, including continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), symptom tracking, and meal logging, as crucial elements for user-friendly and efficient PBH monitoring.

Results:

The adapted IMPACT platform demonstrated effectiveness in data collection and remote participant monitoring. The mobile application allowed patients to easily track their data, while the clinician dashboard provided a comprehensive overview of enrolled patients, featuring filtering options and alert mechanisms for identifying data collection issues. The platform incorporated various visual representations, including time plots and category-based visualizations, which greatly facilitated data interpretation and analysis. The System Usability Scale questionnaire results indicated a high level of usability for the web dashboard, with an average score of 86.3 out of 100. The active involvement of clinicians throughout the development process ensured that the platform allowed for the collection and visualization of clinically meaningful data.

Conclusions:

By leveraging IMPACT’s existing features and infrastructure, the adapted version streamlined data collection, analysis, and trial customization for PBH research. The platform’s high usability underscores its alignment with the requirements for conducting research using continuous real-world data in PBH patients and other populations of interest.
Does It Feel Like Yesterday or Like It’s Been Forever? Subjective Time Since Sex in Romantic Relationships
Authors: Vaccarino Elysia , Raposo Stephanie , Muise Amy
Published: December 2023

Sexual frequency in relationships is associated with satisfaction. Beyond objective reports, the subjective time since sex might also be associated with relationship evaluations. When sex feels further away, do people feel less satisfied? Do they desire sex more? In a cross-sectional study (Study 1), when one’s last sexual experience felt further away, people reported lower sexual satisfaction and desire. In an experimental study (Study 2), women (but not men) who were made to feel that the last sex was further (vs. closer) reported lower desire, but overall, there was limited evidence of causal effects. However, in a 21-day daily experience study (Study 3), within-person lagged models revealed that sex feeling further away was associated with lower sexual satisfaction, but higher desire, tomorrow, and higher desire and satisfaction were associated with sex feeling further away tomorrow. Subjective time since sex has nuanced associations in relationships, especially with desire and satisfaction in daily life.
Self-medication practice and associated factors among pregnant women in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Tassew Worku Chekol , Ferede Yeshiwas Ayal , Sisay Woldie Samson , Yirdaw Berhanu Wale , Fenta Hussien Habiba , Bayuh Yimer Bimrew , Gismie Hailemariam Dawit , Adane Mengistu Banchigizie , Mengistie Zeleke Agerie
Published: December 2023

Background:

In spite of, the need for evidence-based intervention on the potential harmful effects of self-medication practices during pregnancy, there is no systematic review and meta-analysis study regarding self-medication practices in Ethiopia. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine prevalence of self-medication practice and associated factors among pregnant women in Ethiopia.

Method:

We used PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, the Wiley Online Library, and African Journals Online to choose important studies. The I-squared statistic method was used to check for heterogeneity between studies. Random effect model was used to estimate the pool prevalence of self-medication among pregnant women. Publication bias was determined by the funnel plot and Egger’s test.

Result:

A total of 11 studies with 4643 study participants were included in this review. The finding from the current meta-analysis showed that the overall prevalence of self-medication practice among pregnant women is 33.92% (95% CI: 23.15–44.70, I² value = 80.9%). First trimester of pregnancy (OR: 2.24, 95% CI: 1.44–3.47), women who faced health problems during pregnancies at the moment (OR: 5.7, 95% CI: 3.92–8.29), previous self-medication practice (OR: 13.07, 95% CI: 5.14–33.25) and previous pregnancy-related problems (OR: 2.065, 95% CI: 1.44–2.96) were positively associated with self-medication practice among pregnant women.

Conclusion:

The prevalence of self-medication practices among pregnant women is found to be high. Self-medication practices of the pregnant women were significantly higher among women who were in first-trimester pregnancy, encountered illness during pregnancy, previous self-medication history, and previous pregnancy-related problems. Prospero registration number: CRD42023394907.
Frequency and etiological denominators of alveolar osteitis at Northern Province of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia—An observational study
Authors: Khan Zafar Ali , Prabhu Namdeo , Maqsood Afsheen , Issrani Rakhi , Ahmed Naseer , Abbasi Maria Shakoor , Heboyan Artak , Marya Anand
Published: December 2023

Objective:

Alveolar osteitis is a painful complication that often arises after tooth extraction, presenting a significant clinical challenge. It is imperative to gain a comprehensive understanding of both its occurrence and the contributing factors to enhance the quality of dental care. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency and prevalence of alveolar osteitis among patients and compare these variables based on demographic characteristics (age and sex), the number of teeth extractions, operator experience, health status, and smoking habits in the target population.

Methods:

This cross-sectional observational study was conducted from May 2019 to April 2020. It included all patients above 16 years of age, of both genders, who underwent permanent tooth extraction for various reasons. Patient demographics, smoking habits, health status, operating dental surgeon’s clinical experience, extraction technique, and the number of teeth extracted were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25. Chi-square test and regression analysis were used to assess differences between age, sex, smoking habit, dentist category, and the number of teeth extractions in relation to alveolar osteitis.

Results:

A total of 679 permanent tooth extractions were performed in 438 patients. Alveolar osteitis was observed in 107 cases (15.7%) following tooth extractions. Among these, 36 cases (33.6%) occurred in single tooth extraction cases, while 71 cases (66.4%) were present in patients with multiple extractions. Moreover, 67 cases (62.6%) of alveolar osteitis were found in cigarette smokers. In addition, 61 cases (57%) of dry sockets were reported after tooth extractions performed by dental interns, while 46 cases (43.0%) were noted in extractions performed by experienced dental surgeons and specialists.

Conclusion:

The study found a 15.7% incidence of alveolar osteitis in tooth extraction patients in the Al-Jouf region. Alveolar osteitis was more prevalent in males and the age group of 56–77 years. Multiple tooth extractions were associated with higher alveolar osteitis incidence, while operator inexperience increased post-extraction complication risks. In addition, a promising novel protocol and risk assessment scoring system have been devised which require further validation and future research.
Hemianopia: A complication of epidural injection in a patient with arachnoid cyst – case report
Authors: Rendu Venkata S , Eftekhar Behzad
Published: December 2023

Epidural injections are routinely used for short-term management of radicular pain and chronic low back pain. Prescription of this intervention, in the presence of intracranial abnormalities, is a topic of debate. Intracranial arachnoid cysts are cerebrospinal fluid-filled spaces, which are usually asymptomatic despite being a formidable size. As far as the authors know, there have been no cases depicted in indexed literature regarding asymptomatic supratentorial arachnoid cysts becoming symptomatic post undertaking of spinal epidural injections. We depict this phenomenon in a 53-year-old woman, who ultimately required a craniotomy to address their symptoms. Asymptomatic supratentorial arachnoid cysts can become symptomatic post undertaking of spinal epidural injections. In cases of known cranial arachnoid cysts with mass effect, the small risk that the cranial arachnoid cyst may become symptomatic during or after epidural injections should be a consideration and the patients should be informed of the potential associated risks.
Severe polycystic liver disease in a cat
Authors: King Emily M , Pappano Maria , Lorbach Sarah K , Green Eric M , Parker Valerie J , Schreeg Megan E
Published: December 2023

Case summary

Ductal plate malformations (DPMs) are poorly documented in the veterinary literature, particularly those of the polycystic liver disease (PCLD) phenotype. A 13-year-old female spayed cat presented with progressive icterus, abdominal distension, weight loss and elevated liver enzymes. Initial empirical treatment consisting of amoxicillin/clavulanate, ursodiol and later prednisolone was attempted; however, clinical signs progressed. On abdominal ultrasound, numerous large hepatic cystic masses were noted, characterized by an anechoic center with a heterogeneous, hyperechoic wall. A post-mortem examination confirmed numerous hepatic cysts, the larger of which resulted in hemorrhage and subsequent hemoabdomen. Histologically, these cysts were determined to be of biliary origin, and a diagnosis of PCLD was assigned.

Relevance and novel information

Herein, we present a detailed report of clinical, gross and histologic findings in a cat clinically affected by PCLD. This case demonstrates that cysts present in this congenital disease can ultimately lead to hepatobiliary malfunction and clinical decline via marked expansion of cysts, compression of the liver and hemoabdomen from cyst rupture. DPMs, specifically PCLD, should be considered in cats presenting with multifocal large hepatic cysts.