bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patient and carer transition outcomes and experiences at the Westmead Centre for Adolescent and Young Adult Health, Westmead, Australia: protocol for a longitudinal cohort study
Authors: Waller Daniel , Steinbeck Katharine , Zurynski Yvonne , Ho Jane , Towns Susan , Milojevic Jasmine , Milne Bronwyn , Medlow Sharon , De Queiroz Andrade Ediane , Doyle Frances L , Kohn Michael
Published: August 2024

Introduction

The Westmead Centre for Adolescent and Young Adult Health is a purpose-built facility supporting integrated care for young patients with a variety of long-term health conditions transitioning from paediatric services at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead to adult services at Westmead Hospital, Australia.

Methods and analysis

This protocol outlines a prospective, within-subjects, repeated-measures longitudinal cohort study to measure self-reported experiences and outcomes of patients (12–25 years) and carers accessing transition care at the Centre for Adolescent and Young Adult Health. Longitudinal self-report data will be collected using Research Electronic Data Capture surveys at the date of service entry (recruitment baseline), with follow-ups occurring at 6 months, 12 months, 18 months and after transfer to adult services. Surveys include validated demographic, general health and psychosocial questionnaires. Participant survey responses will be linked to routinely recorded data from hospital medical records. Hospital medical records data will be extracted for the 12 months prior to service entry up to 18 months post service entry. All young people accessing services at the Centre for Adolescent and Young Adult Health that meet inclusion criteria will be invited to join the study with research processes to be embedded into routine practices at the site. We expect a sample of approximately 225 patients with a minimum sample of 65 paired responses required to examine pre–post changes in patient distress. Data analysis will include standard descriptive statistics and paired-sample tests. Regression models and Kaplan-Meier method for time-to-event outcomes will be used to analyse data once sample size and test requirements are satisfied.

Ethics and dissemination

The study has ethics approval through the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network Human Research Ethics Committee (2021/ETH11125) and site-specific approvals from the Western Sydney Local Health District (2021/STE03184) and the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network (2039/STE00977). Patients under the age of 18 will require parental/carer consent to participate in the study. Patients over 18 years can provide informed consent for their participation in the research. Dissemination of research will occur through publication of peer-reviewed journal reports and conference presentations using aggregated data that precludes the identification of individuals. Through this work, we hope to develop a digital common that can be shared with other researchers and clinicians wanting to develop a standardised and shared approach to the measurement of patient outcomes and experiences in transition care.
Use of pressure muscle index to guide pressure support ventilation setting: a study protocol and statistical plan for a prospective randomised controlled proof-of-concept trial
Authors: Gao Ran , Yang Yan-Lin , Zhang Linlin , Miao Ming-Yue , Zhou Jian-Xin
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Although pressure support ventilation is one of the most commonly used assisted ventilation modes in intensive care units, there is still a lack of precise strategies for setting pressure support. By performing an end-inspiratory airway occlusion, the difference between the peak and plateau airway pressure, which is defined as pressure muscle index (PMI), can be easily measured on the ventilator screen. Previous studies have shown that PMI is accurate in detecting high and low inspiratory effort. No study has been conducted to investigate the use of PMI as an indicator for setting inspiratory pressure support.

Method and analysis

This is a study protocol for a prospective, single-centre, randomised controlled, pilot trial. Sixty participants undergoing pressure support ventilation will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the control group or intervention group, with pressure support adjusted according to standard care or guided by the PMI strategy for 48 hours, respectively. The feasibility of the PMI-guided strategy will be evaluated. The primary endpoint is the proportion of inspiratory effort measurements within a well-accepted ‘normal’ range, which is predefined as oesophageal pressure–time product per minute between 50 and 200 cmH2O⋅s/min, for each patient during 48 hours of pressure support adjustment.

Ethics and dissemination

The study protocol has been approved by Beijing Tiantan Hospital (KY2023-005-02). The data generated in the present study will be available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. The results of the trial will be submitted to international peer-reviewed journals.

Trial registration number

NCT05963737; ClinicalTrials.org.
Association between maternal multimorbidity and neurodevelopment of offspring: a prospective birth cohort study from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study
Authors: Akagi Takanobu , Saijo Yasuaki , Yoshioka Eiji , Sato Yukihiro , Nakanishi Kentaro , Kato Yasuhito , Nagaya Ken , Takahashi Satoru , Ito Yoshiya , Iwata Hiroyoshi , Yamaguchi Takeshi , Miyashita Chihiro , Ito Sachiko , Kishi Reiko
Published: August 2024

Objectives

To investigate the association between multimorbidity during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental delay in offspring using data from a Japanese nationwide birth cohort study.

Design

This study was a prospective birth cohort study.

Setting

This study population included 104 059 fetal records who participated in The Japan Environment and Children’s Study from 2011 to 2014.

Participants

Pregnant women whose children had undergone developmental testing were included in this analysis.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Neurodevelopment of offspring was assessed using the Japanese version of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, third edition, comprising five developmental domains. The number of comorbidities among the pregnant women was categorised as zero, single disease or multimorbidity (two or more diseases). Maternal chronic conditions included in multimorbidity were defined as conditions with high prevalence among women of reproductive age. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between multimorbidity in pregnant women and offspring development.

Results

Pregnant women with multimorbidity, single disease and no disease accounted for 3.6%, 30.6% and 65.8%, respectively. The ORs for neurodevelopmental impairment during the follow-up period were similar for infants of mothers with no disease comorbidity and those with a single disease comorbidity. However, the ORs for neurodevelopmental impairment were significantly higher for children born to mothers with multimorbidity compared with those born to healthy mothers.

Conclusion

An association was observed between the number of comorbidities in pregnant women and developmental delay in offspring. Multimorbidity in pregnant women may be associated with neurodevelopmental delay in their offspring. Further research is required in this regard in many other regions of the world.
Patient engagement in the development and implementation of navigation services: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Rabi Sarah , Patton Megan , Santana Maria-Jose , Tang Karen L
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Patient navigation, a complex health intervention meant to address widespread fragmentation across the healthcare landscape, has been widely adopted internationally. This rapid uptake in patient navigation has led to a broadening of the service’s reach to include those of different social positions and different health conditions. Despite the popularity and prevalence of patient navigation programmes, the extent of patient involvement and/or partnership in their construction has yet to be articulated. This scoping review will explore and describe the extent to which patients have been engaged in the development and/or implementation of patient navigation programmes to date.

Methods and analysis

This scoping review will adhere to the Arksey and O’Malley framework for conducting scoping reviews. The electronic databases MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, SocINDEX and Scopus were searched in September 2023 using terms related to patient navigation and programme implementation. Inclusion criteria stipulate that the studies must: (1) include an intervention labelled as ‘navigation’ in a healthcare setting and (2) describe patient engagement in the design, development and/or implementation process of said patient navigation programme. To assess study eligibility, two reviewers will independently read through the titles and abstracts, followed by the full texts, of each study identified from the search strategy to determine whether they meet inclusion criteria. Reviewers will then extract data from the included studies, present descriptive study characteristics in tables, and perform qualitative content analysis.

Ethics and dissemination

This review does not require ethics approval as data will be collated exclusively from peer-reviewed articles and thesis dissertations. A manuscript summarising the results of the review will be written and submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication. The review will map aspects of programme development that have repeatedly utilised patient perspectives and areas where engagement has lagged. This review will also depict how patient engagement varies across programme characteristics.
Linguistically responsive learning and teaching for non-native speakers in undergraduate nursing education: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Schimböck Florian , Erichsen Göntje , Petersen Inger , von Gahlen-Hoops Wolfgang
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Non-native-speaking nursing students as well as faculty, preceptors and mentors face specific issues related to language in undergraduate nursing education. A better understanding of the language experiences, needs, requirements, assessments and support activities will guide linguistically responsive learning and teaching and will direct future curriculum development. This scoping review aims to examine and map the extent of literature related to linguistically responsive learning and teaching for non-native speakers in undergraduate nursing education and to describe the lived experiences, barriers and facilitators, language needs, assessment tools and supportive interventions.

Methods and analysis

This scoping review will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). In May 2023, a preliminary search was conducted. The comprehensive search will include MEDLINE (PubMed), CINAHL (EBSCO), ERIC (EBSCO) and MLA (EBSCO). OpenGrey (DANS) and reference lists of the included articles will be searched for grey literature and additional articles. Two independent reviewers will screen titles and abstracts, then review the full texts of articles. Data will be extracted using a data extraction form and will be presented in figures, tables and narrative syntheses, in line with the review questions. This review will include articles that describe the experiences of non-native-speaking nursing students, faculty or preceptors in undergraduate nursing education and clinical practice environment. Articles that report on language requirements, needs and assessment tools will also be considered as well as articles reporting on supportive activities and interventions within the study programmes. Articles related to exchange students or programmes will be excluded.

Ethics and dissemination

No ethical approval is required. The findings of the review will be disseminated through peer-review publication as well as oral and poster presentations at scientific conferences.
Qualitative exploration of uterine cancer care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ+) patients in the UK: shifting from equality to equity
Authors: Millet Nessa , Barnes Rebecca , Darko Natalie , Moss Esther
Published: August 2024

Objective

Patients identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) report significant disparities in cancer care and are disproportionally affected by a cancer diagnosis on a number of health-related indicators. This study aimed to explore uterine cancer (UC) care from the perspectives of LGBTQ+ patients and stakeholders, to identify this population’s care needs, which have been underprioritised thus far.

Methods and analysis

Qualitative interview data were collected from three cohorts of participants: LGBTQ+ UC patients, partners of UC patients and stakeholders who provide advocacy and/or support within the UC care pathway, including healthcare professionals (HCPs). Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted and data were analysed using inductive reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

Fifteen participants (three patients, one partner, eight HCPs and three cancer support charity representatives) were recruited. Data analysis identified themes which represented participants’ reflections on the relevance and opportunities for identity disclosure during the diagnostic pathway; feelings and implications of not fitting into the gynaecological cancer environment and, opportunities and challenges surrounding HCP education, and protocolled sexual and gender identity data collection.

Conclusion

UC patients who identify as LGBTQ+ have specific care needs and considerations, particularly related to transvaginal procedures and survivorship. Opportunities for disclosure of patients’ LGBTQ+ identity during the UC care pathway are essential for these needs to be recognised. Despite this, there are conflicting agendas between HCPs and stakeholders on the best approach to integrate disclosure processes. The current findings highlight the need for public health agendas and clinical services to address the needs of LGBTQ+ UC patients.
Multicentre, retrospective cohort study protocol to identify racial and ethnic differences in acute kidney injuries in children and adolescents with diabetic ketoacidosis
Authors: Bergmann Kelly R , Bjornstad Petter , Abuzzahab M Jennifer , Zhong Ling , Collins-Dippel Elizabeth , Nickel Amanda , Watson Dave , Kharbanda Anupam
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Approximately 40% of children with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) develop acute kidney injury (AKI), which increases the risk of chronic kidney damage. At present, there is limited knowledge of racial or ethnic differences in diabetes-related kidney injury in children with diabetes. Understanding whether such differences exist will provide a foundation for addressing disparities in diabetes care that may continue into adulthood. Further, it is currently unclear which children are at risk to develop worsening or sustained DKA-related AKI. The primary aim is to determine whether race and ethnicity are associated with DKA-related AKI. The secondary aim is to determine factors associated with sustained AKI in children with DKA.

Methods and analysis

This retrospective, multicentre, cross-sectional study of children with type 1 or type 2 diabetes with DKA will be conducted through the Paediatric Emergency Medicine Collaborative Research Committee. Children aged 2�18 years who were treated in a participating emergency department between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2023 will be included. Children with non-ketotic hyperglycaemic-hyperosmolar state or who were transferred from an outside facility will be excluded. The relevant predictor is race and ethnicity. The primary outcome is the presence of AKI, defined by Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes criteria. The secondary outcome is �sustained� AKI, defined as having AKI =48 hours, unresolved AKI at last creatinine measurement or need for renal replacement therapy. Statistical inference of the associations between predictors (ie, race and ethnicity) and outcomes (ie, AKI and sustained AKI) will use random effects regression models, accounting for hospital variation and clustering.

Ethics and dissemination

The Institutional Review Board of Children�s Minnesota approved this study. 12 additional sites have obtained institutional review board approval, and all sites will obtain local approval prior to participation. Results will be presented at local or national conferences and for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
Using a participatory action research approach to explore, understand and evaluate well-being among children living in socially deprived areas in Southern Sweden: a study protocol
Authors: Ramji Rathi , Mangrio Elisabeth , Sterner Therese , Forss Katarina Sjogren , Zdravkovic Slobodan , Kottorp Anders , Burenby-Yxne Louise , Isma Gabriella , Stanikowska Monika , Brandelius Julia , Journiette Talina Marcusson , Rämgård Margareta
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Research suggests that participating in after-school leisure activities has been related to promoting health, well-being and safety among children living in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. The United Nations Child Rights Convention emphasises the inclusion of children in decisions that concern them. However, children seldom are involved in designing implementing and evaluating health promotional environments. The aim of this programme is through a participatory process with children, parents/guardians, and peer-activity leaders explore, measure and evaluate the impact on children’s overall well-being related to the social context in an already established health promotion environments in Southern Sweden.

Methods and analysis

The project is based on a previously implemented unique community-based participatory research (CBPR) model for equal health in three socially disadvantaged areas in Malmö. All activity house (AAH) is a meeting place for children established in schools but after school time by the culture department of the Malmö municipality. In AAH migrant children participate in need-driven after school activities that they themselves create and develop. To increase participation of the children and ensure that these environments are based on their needs, 30 children (10–12 years), parents/guardians (30), peer-activity leaders (15), and researchers create CBPR teams in the areas and engage in a participatory process. The children reflect, analyse and write about their well-being; identify and discuss key factors in an iterative process, which also includes a strategic group of stakeholders. The children then develop and validate (with 100 other children from AAH) the Socioculturally Aligned Survey Instrument for Children survey inspired by the KIDSSCREEN V.27. The survey tool so developed will further be used to evaluate AAH and will be distributed to all children participating in their activities.

Ethics and dissemination

This programme has been approved by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority. The results from this programme will be published as reports and scientific publication.
Hotspot analysis of anaemia among pregnant women in Ethiopia: hotspot analysis of national demographic and health survey data
Authors: Alie Melsew Setegn , Gichew Simegnew , Alemayehu Dereje
Published: August 2024

Background

Anaemia is a significant global health problem, especially, in developing nations like Ethiopia. Despite increasing rates over the past two decades, there is limited research on the specific prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women in the country.

Objective

To identify hotspot areas of anaemia-associated factors among pregnant women in Ethiopia.

Study design

Cross-sectional.

Setting

Ethiopian demographic study from 2005 to 2016.

Participants

This study analysed 3350 pregnant women.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Hotspot area of anaemia among pregnant women, trend of anaemia and associated factors.

Results

The prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women has shown significant fluctuations over the years. Between 2005 and 2011, there was a notable decrease from 30.9% to 21.5% while the prevalence increased from 21.5% in 2011 to 29.58% in 2016. The identified determinants of anaemia among pregnant women were female-headed household, belonging to the highest wealth quintile, being in the second or third trimester of pregnancy, being a working woman and residing in the Somalia region. Hotspot areas, where the prevalence of anaemia was particularly high, were identified in Somalia, Dire Dawa, Afar and Harari regions.

Conclusion

Anaemia during pregnancy is a major public health concern in Ethiopia, with a concerning increase between 2011 and 2016. Hotspot areas like Somali, Dire Dawa, Afar and Harari are particularly affected. Shockingly, nearly one in three pregnant women in Ethiopia suffer from anaemia. To address this issue effectively, targeted interventions prioritising economically disadvantaged households and pregnant women in their second and third trimesters are crucial. Monitoring spatial patterns and contributing factors is vital to develop tailored interventions and improve maternal health outcomes in these high-risk areas. By strategically targeting hotspot areas nationwide, significant progress can be made in reducing anaemia among pregnant women.
An ecological dynamics approach to promote physical literacy and well-being of primary school children: a cluster randomised controlled trial study protocol
Authors: Sum Kim Wai Raymond , Sit Cindy Hui-ping , Rudd James Robert , Chow Jia yi , Zhang Xiao fei
Published: August 2024

Background

Little is known about the impact of an ecological dynamics (ED) intervention (EDI) on primary school children’s physical literacy and well-being in the Hong Kong context. The aim of this project is to introduce a physical literacy and well-being framework through an EDI that allows primary school children to develop good physical activity (PA) and daily behavioural habits.

Methods and analysis

A four-arm (cluster) randomised controlled trial will be conducted to examine the effect of EDI on physical literacy and well-being in primary schools located in each of the 18 administrative districts of Hong Kong. Four classes in senior primary students (grade 4) at each school will be randomly assigned to the four different conditions. These participating schools will be equipped with sit–stand desks, PA recess facility and equipment, and sleep pillows. The research team will adopt both objective measures (aerobic fitness, fundamental movement skills, daily behaviour—physical activity and cognitive function) and self-reported measures (perceived physical literacy, quality of life, sleep quality) covering the elements and domains of physical literacy and well-being to examine the effects of EDIs at four time points, including baseline assessment, 3 months after intervention, postintervention and 3-month follow-up assessment. One-way analyses of variance (ANOVAs) will be used to test for differences in the baseline characteristics of participants between groups. Repeated measure ANOVAs and MANCOVA, with time (baseline, after intervention and follow-up) as within-subjects factor, and intervention group as between-subjects factors, will be used to evaluate the effects of different interventions on the students’ physical literacy and well-being. A Bonferonni correction to the p value will be calculated to adjust for multiple tests.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval was sought from the Joint CUHK-NTEC Clinical Research Ethics Committee in Hong Kong (CREC Ref.No.:2024.027). The finding of this study will be disseminated via peer-reviewed journals, international conference presentations and academic lectures. For secondary analysis of the data, please contact the corresponding author for permission.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN84025914
Rational prescribing and dispensing of oral dosage forms of medicines to children: an observational study
Authors: Kemal Leila Kenzu , Abebe Rahel Belete , Sendekie Ashenafi Kibret , Zeleke Tirsit Ketsela , Mehari Eden Abetu , Mekonnen Gizework Alemnew , Sema Faisel Dula
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Irrational prescribing and dispensing of oral dosage forms of medicines to paediatric patients are major public health issues, especially in low-income and middle-income countries. Many challenges affect the rational use of oral dosage forms of medicines in children; these include a lack of dosage forms appropriate for the age and a lack of dose flexibility in dosage forms.

Objectives

To assess the rational prescribing and dispensing practices of oral dosage forms to children at dispensaries of the University of Gondar Comprehensive and Specialised Hospital (UoGCSH).

Method

A retrospective design for prescribing indicators and a cross-sectional study design to assess rational dispensing were used at the outpatient dispensary units of UoGCSH. A total of 931 oral dosage forms to assess prescribing indicators and 400 for dispensing indicators were used. The data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS V.26.0, IBM Corporation). Descriptive statistics were used to analyse indicators, and the χ2test was used to compare indicators between dispensaries.

Result

Out of a total of 931 oral dosage forms for 700 prescriptions, 56.3% were solid oral dosage forms. An average number of oral dosage forms per child was 1.33±0.62. Only 150 (16.13%) (95% CI: 14% to 18.4%) were adequate for the weight of the child. The percentage of oral dosage forms not suitable for the age was 7.1% (66), (95% CI: 5.6% to 8.8%), and about 0.8% (95% CI: 0% to 1.8%) were adequately labelled. Drugs that needed manipulation before administering a single unit were 81 (39.7%), 95% CI: 33.7% to 47.1%.

Conclusion

The proportion of the prescribed medications that were adequate for the weight of the child was low, although the majority of prescriptions' weights were not recorded. Oral dosage forms not suitable for children were prescribed. The proportion of medications that needed manipulation before being administered as a single unit was high.
Clinical features, biomarkers and diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis of type 1 diabetes among children and adolescents in Sana’a, Yemen
Authors: Gunaid Abdallah Ahmed , Ogle Graham D , Al-Qadasi Farouk Abdulrahman , Al-Radaei Ahmed Nasser , Maniam Jayanthi , El-Shoubaki Hadeel Radwan
Published: August 2024

Introduction

There is little published information on type 1 diabetes (T1D) in children in Yemen. We aimed to identify the clinical characteristics, biomarkers and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at diagnosis of T1D among children and adolescents in a diabetes centre in Sana’a, Yemen.

Methods

A total of 485 children and adolescents aged ≤18 years diagnosed with T1D during the period 2010–2020 were included in the study. The variables investigated were demographic and clinical characteristics, biomarkers, subtypes of T1D, and the risk factors for severe DKA at diagnosis.

Results

At diagnosis, children aged <10 years compared with those aged ≥10 years had higher mean plasma glucose (p<0.001) and mean HbA1c (p=0.026), and lower mean C-peptide (pmol/L) (p=0.019), and a higher frequency of DKA at diagnosis than older children (p<0.001). A majority of the study population (383, 79%) presented in DKA . Children aged <10 years presenting with DKA had significantly longer median appraisal interval (p=0.009) and median total diagnosis interval (p=0.025), and significantly lower mean C-peptide (p=0.001) as compared with their peers without DKA. The prevalence of autoantibody-negative ‘idiopathic’ T1D was 36 (32%) of the total number tested for autoantibody and familial T1D 61 (12.6%) of all the study population.

Conclusion

In Yemen children aged <10 years with new-onset T1D frequently faced the challenge of a delay in diagnosis and treatment initiation, with severe hyperglycaemia and a higher risk of DKA at diagnosis.
“I don’t know the correct way to describe it”: neuropathic pain experiences among athletes with spinal cord injury
Authors: Todd Kendra , Kramer John , Olsen Kenedy , Martin Ginis Kathleen
Published: August 2024

Background

Chronic pain among athletes is often misinterpreted as tissue damage resulting from sport. While researchers have started to examine neuropathic pain among athletes with spinal cord injury (SCI), there is a need to develop a deeper understanding of their neuropathic pain symptoms and experiences, to support the development of evidence-based pain management protocols.

Objectives

The primary purpose of this study was to describe neuropathic pain experienced by athletes with SCI. A secondary purpose was to compare athletes’ neuropathic pain symptoms when measured by two different clinical pain assessment tools and describe their experiences when trying to communicate their neuropathic pain.

Methods

47 athletes with SCI completed the International Spinal Cord Injury Pain Basic Data Set (V.2.0), Douleur Neuropathique 4 (DN4), and two open-ended pain questions over the telephone.

Results

66% of participants reported experiencing moderate-intensity neuropathic pain (Mpain intensity=5.32±1.78) and mild-to-moderate pain interference with activities of daily living (Mpain interference=3.55±2.11) and sleep (Mpain interference4.68±2.92). Overall, participants reported significantly more neuropathic pain symptoms in response to DN4 questions (M=4.62±1.38) versus open-ended pain questions (M=2.13±1.08), p<0.001. Participants reported difficulty with identifying neuropathic pain, describing their pain symptoms and identifying pain locations.

Conclusion

Athletes with SCI reported moderate-intensity neuropathic pain. However, they struggled with communicating their neuropathic pain without being prompted with a list of symptoms. To guide the development of effective pain management strategies among athletes with SCI, future research should focus on developing knowledge products to improve awareness of common neuropathic pain descriptors among athletes with SCI and sports medicine personnel.
Development of sport policy and practice recommendations for pregnant, postpartum and parenting Canadian high-performance athletes
Authors: McHugh Tara-Leigh F , Davenport Margie H
Published: August 2024

Our objective is to describe the development of evidence-based policy and practice recommendations for pregnant, postpartum and parenting Canadian high-performance athletes. A community-based participatory research approach was employed as the study design, and data were generated via a rapid review of existing sport policy for pregnant and postpartum athletes, followed by an extensive consultation and engagement process with key sport stakeholders via survey and one-on-one and group interviews. 102 sport stakeholders participated via the survey (n=56), individual and group interviews (n=33), and follow-up interviews (n=13). Individuals represented a range of summer/winter Olympic and Paralympic athletes, medical and support staff, National Sport Organisations and Sport Canada representatives. Seven evidence-based policy and practice recommendations were developed for Sport Canada decision-makers. Recommendations include the need for Sport Canada to (a) establish two new cards for pregnant and parenting athletes, (b) develop a policy to support pregnant, postpartum and parenting athletes, (c) create new funding sources for facilities that accommodate the needs of pregnant, postpartum and parenting athletes, (d) create new funding source for athletes to train and/or compete during infants’ first year, (e) develop training and educational modules related to pregnant, postpartum and parenting athletes, (f) increase visibility of pregnant, postpartum and parenting athletes and (g) invest in research on high-performance sport participation during and following pregnancy. The collaborative processes employed in this research serve as a model for sports organisations to develop evidence-based policies and practices that can support pregnant, postpartum and parenting athletes.
Qualitative and quantitative return-to-sport test battery and second anterior cruciate ligament injury risk factors
Authors: Butler Lauren , Martinez Alexa , Entessari Mina , Cardenas Gabriel , Wright Margaret , Sugimoto Dai
Published: August 2024

Objective

To determine risk factors for second anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury following primary ACL reconstruction (ACLR) using return-to-sport (RTS) tests consisting of qualitative and quantitative measures in young athletes.

Methods

A case–control study design was used, and a retrospective review of adolescent athletes after primary ACLR was performed. All athletes completed an RTS test consisting of qualitative and quantitative assessments and psychological assessments with the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia. Athlete demographics, surgical characteristics and sports participation were also examined. A binary logistic regression was performed to verify an independent association between risk factors and second ACL injury using adjusted OR (aORs), 95% CI and p<0.05.

Results

In 72 eligible athletes, 12 (16.7%) suffered a second ACL injury. The mean Tegner activity level was 8.4+1.1, and the mean time from ACLR to RTS test completion was 10.4+2.9 months. One variable that showed the lowest p-value in the preliminary analysis was entered into the binary logistic regression model, which resulted in that qualitative assessment of knee valgus during the sidestep cut was associated with second ACL injury (aOR=4.64, 95% CI: 1.18 to 18.23, p=0.03).

Conclusion

Athletes who demonstrated excessive dynamic knee valgus on the involved limb during the sidestep cut were approximately 4.6 times more likely to suffer a second ACL injury.
Non-inferiority study assessing the utility of postcervical and lumbar radiofrequency ablation steroid use
Authors: Williams Mark R , Philip Annie , Sheen Soun , Aujla Saumya , Feng Changyong , Gao Shan , Kralovic Sarah , Poli Joseph , Ortiz Tammy , Stefanos Tatsiana , Pennella-Vaughan Janet , Gewandter Jennifer S
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Many physicians administer steroids after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to mitigate postprocedural inflammation and decrease postprocedural pain. However, robust evidence supporting the benefits of steroids after RFA is lacking and steroids have risks.

Methods

This study was a single-center, prospective, observational study designed to assess whether RFA alone is inferior to RFA with steroids for postprocedure pain. Eligible patients were at least 18 years of age and scheduled to undergo cervical or lumbar RFA. The primary outcome measure was the average pain score on the numeric rating scale (NRS) 7 days after the RFA. The secondary outcome measures included anxiety, depression and physical function, measured via the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System short forms. All outcome measures were completed prior to the procedure and at 7 and 60 days postprocedure.

Results

Out of the 365 participants who completed baseline assessments, 175 received steroids and 190 did not receive steroids. The pain intensity at 7 days postprocedure was similar between the steroid and non-steroid groups (mean difference (steroid−non-steroid): −0.23). The 95% CI of the estimate (−0.76 to 0.30) was within the prespecified non-inferiority margin of 1.5 NRS points. Similar results were obtained for pain at 60 days (mean difference: 0.09; 95% CI −0.48 to 0.65). No significant differences between groups were observed for anxiety, depression or physical function at either 7 or 60 days.

Conclusion

This study suggests that the addition of steroids to the RFA procedure does not provide added benefits and is therefore not worth the additional risks that they pose.
Recommendation Systems for the Healthcare Domain: A Comprehensive Survey of Evaluation Datasets
Authors: Pham Dinh Tai , Seo Yeong-Seok , Phan Huyen Trang
Published: August 2024

Healthcare Recommendation Systems (HRSs) primarily aim to offer advice, recommendations, or suggestions related to human healthcare. Similar to other information systems, datasets affect HRSs’ efficiency. The larger datasets can make the information more diverse and complete. Therefore, the recommendation systems can be more accurate and deliver better performance. In addition, several recent studies have revealed that to enhance the accuracy of systems, there should be a switch from a model-centered method to data-centricity. Therefore, several datasets have been introduced over the past few years to assess the effectiveness of HRSs. However, building new datasets and selecting suitable datasets to evaluate HRSs is an issue. Another problem is that there are presently no articles surveying the datasets that have been published to offer the requirements that a dataset uses to judge the HRSs needs to have. These are the reasons that motivated us to conduct this research. To address these problems, we systematically focus on a comprehensive survey of the datasets used to evaluate HRSs published in recent years. Some of the primary contributions of this study are as follows: (i) Surveying 34 datasets commonly used in methods for building and developing HRSs. (ii) Extracting 10 common characteristics and comparing datasets with those 10 common characteristics. (iii) Providing the 13 requirements regarding a dataset used in HRSs (iv) Comparing surveyed datasets and state-of-the-art HRSs based on 13 constructed requirements (v) Discussing the five main challenges and set out some directions for building new datasets in the future. The results of this research analysis are valuable to many new researchers in choosing or constructing suitable datasets to evaluate how they build their HRSs for the present and future.
Green Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles by Celastrol for Chemotherapy and Photothermal Anticancer Therapy
Authors: Bo Yifan , Wang Yinchuan , Liu Yuan , Liu Jiahui , Shen Heyun , Wang Shihui
Published: August 2024

The green synthesis of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) using extracts or active ingredients from traditional Chinese medicine presents a novel approach characterized by simplicity, environmental friendliness, and independence from specific conditions. This innovative method combines the photothermal conversion properties of Au NPs with the chemotherapeutic effects of traditional Chinese medicine components, significantly enhancing anticancer efficacy. Celastrol (Cel), an effective medicinal ingredient extracted from the traditional Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. (TW), exhibits outstanding anticancer properties. In this study, Cel was successfully employed for the novel green synthesis of gold nanoparticles, forming Cel-Au NPs with a particle size of 50[Formula: see text]nm. Cel-Au NPs demonstrated excellent photothermal responsiveness, thermostability, and biocompatibility. The cytotoxicity of Cel-Au NPs on A549 cells reached approximately 80% upon exposure to 808[Formula: see text]nm near-infrared (NIR) irradiation. The anticancer activity was attributed to the induction of apoptosis and necrosis, achieved by elevating intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and modulating the expression of apoptosis-related proteins. In conclusion, our synthesized Cel-Au NPs exhibited exceptional capabilities in chemotherapy and photothermal therapy, demonstrating excellent therapeutic efficacy and safety for cancer treatment.
A Comprehensive Study of Systems Challenges in Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping Systems
Authors: Semenova Sofiya , Ko Steven , Liu Yu David , Ziarek Lukasz , Dantu Karthik
Published: August 2024

Visual SLAM systems are concurrent, performance-critical systems that respond to real-time environmental conditions and are frequently deployed on resource-constrained hardware. Previous work has identified three interconnected systems challenges to building consistent, accurate, and robust SLAM systems—
timeliness
,
concurrency
, and
context awareness
. In this article, we analyze three popular, state-of-the-art frameworks with varying system designs and optimization techniques, and we quantify the extent to which they are affected by the aforementioned system challenges. We find that all SLAM systems must balance the interconnected nature of
timeliness
and accuracy, and different system designs and optimization techniques uniquely address this tension. Global-map-based SLAM systems typically achieve the best performance but suffer in resource-constrained scenarios with increased
concurrency
. Across all SLAM systems, incorporating
context awareness
into decision-making would mitigate the impact of timeliness and concurrency on accuracy in resource-constrained scenarios.
Target Structure Learning Framework for Unsupervised Multi-Class Domain Adaptation
Authors: Li Jingzheng , Sun Hailong , Chai Lei , Li Jiyi
Published: August 2024

Unsupervised multi-class domain adaptation (multi-class UDA) has recently been proposed to fill the gap between empirically practical methods for multi-class classification and well-founded theory with the setting of binary classification. Nevertheless, the multi-class UDA methods use model predictions to characterize the disagreement of multi-class scoring hypotheses, which is used to optimize the divergence between domain distributions. Such self-training manner may bring inaccurate model predictions, which would damage the target structure due to the absence of labels of the target domain, leading to sub-optimal performance. On the other hand, this disagreement between multi-class scoring hypotheses does not involve the relationships among all of the multiple classes. It causes that multi-class UDA cannot properly connect the advanced practical UDA methods that consider class-conditional distribution alignment. Thus, we propose to exploit the target structure information and then incorporate it into multi-class UDA to achieve class-conditional distribution alignment. We theoretically and experimentally explain the importance of accurate target structure information to reduce the expected error on the target domain. Notably, our method achieves state-of-the-art results on three commonly-used benchmarks with different scales. In addition, using the target structure information, we propose a variant to cope with noisy open-world source domains such as noisy labels and out-of-distribution samples, enhancing the robustness of our method. The source code is available at
https://github.com/jingzhengli/Multi_Class_UDA
.
Sacituzumab Govitecan Demonstrates Efficacy across Tumor Trop-2 Expression Levels in Patients with Advanced Urothelial Cancer
Authors: Loriot Yohann , Balar Arjun V. , Petrylak Daniel P. , Kalebasty Arash R. , Grivas Petros , Fléchon Aude , Jain Rohit K. , Swami Umang , Bupathi Manojkumar , Barthélémy Philippe , Beuzeboc Philippe , Palmbos Phillip , Kyriakopoulos Christos E. , Pouessel Damien , Sternberg Cora N. , Tonelli Julia , Sierecki Mitch , Zavodovskaya Marianna , Elboudwarej Emon , Diehl Lauri , Jürgensmeier Juliane M. , Tagawa Scott T.
Published: August 2024

Purpose:

Human trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (Trop-2) is a protein highly expressed in urothelial cancer (UC). Sacituzumab govitecan (SG) is a Trop-2–directed antibody drug conjugate with a hydrolysable linker and a potent SN-38 payload. This study explored Trop-2 expression in tumors treated with SG in cohorts 1 to 3 (C1–3) from the TROPHY-U-01 study and evaluated whether efficacy was associated with Trop-2 expression.

Patients and Methods:

TROPHY-U-01 (NCT03547973) is an open-label phase II study that assessed the efficacy and safety of SG (alone or in combinations) in patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic UC (mUC). Archival tumor samples collected at enrollment for C1–3 were analyzed for Trop-2 membrane expression by considering histological scores (H-scores; scale 0–300) and the percentage of membrane positive tumor cells at low magnification (4×). The association of Trop-2 with clinical endpoints [objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS)] was evaluated.

Results:

In C1–3, tissue was collected from 158 (82%) of 192 treated patients, and 146 (76%) had evaluable Trop-2 data. Trop-2 was highly expressed in tumor samples. The median [interquartile range (IQR)] Trop-2 H-score was 215 (180–246), and the median (IQR) percentage of membrane positive tumor cells was 91% (80–98). Trop-2 expression at any level was observed in 98% of patients. Furthermore, ORR, PFS, and OS benefits were observed across all Trop-2 expression levels.

Conclusions:

Trop-2 protein is highly expressed in UC, as confirmed by examining tumors from patients enrolled in the TROPHY-U-01 trial. The results indicate that SG demonstrates efficacy in mUC across Trop-2 expression levels.
A collection of Japanese Laphriinae, with description of two new species of Choerades (Diptera: Asilidae)
Authors: de Bree Elias , van den Broek Reinoud
Published: August 2024

A collection of Laphriinae collected by Volkert van der Goot and Jan Lucassen in 1971 in Japan and deposited in the collection of Naturalis Biodiversity Centre, Leiden, including two new species, Choerades hirsuta sp. n. and C. obscura sp. n., is described below.
Analytical Investigation of Magnetohydrodynamic Hybrid Nanofluid Flow Over a Permeable Shrinking Sheet
Authors: Roy Nepal Chandra , Pop Ioan
Published: August 2024

The flow and heat transfer of Cu-Al2O3/water hybrid nanofluid over a shrinking sheet were investigated taking account of the magnetic field, suction, variable heat sink, and thermal radiation. At first, the governing equations were completely changed into ordinary
differential equations (ODEs) with proper transformations. The novelty of this investigation is that the ODEs were analytically solved and the dual characteristics of flow properties and heat transfer were graphically presented. Results revealed that an increase in the volume fraction of Cu
nanoparticles (φ2), magnetic parameter (M), and suction parameter (S) caused an increase in the local skin friction coefficient (Rex1/2Cf), local Nusselt number (Rex-1/2Nux)
and region of the existence of dual solutions. With the increase of φ2, M, and S, fluid velocity increased and temperature decreased. Contrary to this, the converse was observed for increasing the volume fraction of Al2O3 nanoparticles
(φ1). These findings indicated that with proper tuning of these parameters, the cooling rate of a shrinking sheet could be controlled and the possible working conditions of a system might be increased.
The Lattice Boltzmann Simulation of Free Convection Heat Transfer of a Carbon-Nanotube Nanofluid in a Triangular Cavity with a Solar Heater
Authors: Fanaee Sayyed Aboozar , Shahriari Alireza , Nikpour Seyedhassan
Published: August 2024

In this paper, the flow and free convection heat transfer of a multi-walled carbon nanotube/water nanofluid in a triangular cavity with a solar heater is studied using the lattice Boltzmann method. The side walls of the cavity are cold and the bottom wall is partially heated by a solar
heater, which have a non-uniform temperature distribution. It is assumed that the heating energy is provided by an absorber that is directly exposed to sunlight. Because of the limited variations of density, the Boussinesq approximation is used, which causes the coupling of hydrodynamic and
thermal fields. For velocity and temperature distribution functions, a lattice Boltzmann model with two dimensions and nine directions is adopted. The effect of parameters, such as the Rayleigh number, the volume fraction of nanoparticles, and the position of solar heater, on the flow and
heat fields is studied. The results show that, for all Rayleigh numbers studied, the Nusselt number increases as nanoparticles volume fraction increases. The addition of 4% nanoparticles causes the average Nusselt number to increase about 11% at low (Ra = 103) and moderate (Ra =
104) Rayleigh numbers and 217% at the high Rayleigh number (Ra = 105). Furthermore, it is shown that for a fixed Rayleigh number, heat transfer can be optimized by adjusting solar heater’s position. This study can provide a useful insight for utilizing solar heaters
with non-uniform temperature distribution in triangular cavities.