bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is the Symbol Digit Modalities Test a useful outcome in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis?
Authors: Koch Marcus W. , Mostert Jop , Repovic Pavle , Bowen James D. , Uitdehaag Bernard , Cutter Gary
Published: January 2021

Background

It is unclear which cognitive outcome measure is the most useful for clinical trials in multiple sclerosis. To investigate the usefulness of the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) as a clinical outcome measure in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), we describe the frequency of worsening and improvement events in a large randomized controlled trial (RCT) dataset.

Methods

Using original trial data from the ASCEND trial (n = 889), a recent large RCT in SPMS, we describe worsening and similarly defined improvement with and without 3‐month confirmation on the SDMT in the whole trial cohort and unconfirmed worsening and improvement on the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) in a smaller subset (n = 107).

Results

Somewhat unexpectedly, SDMT scores steadily increased throughout the 2 years of follow‐up in this trial. There were overall few SDMT worsening events throughout the trial (generally fewer than 10% of participants), but improvement events steadily increased from around 50% of participants with improvement at 12 weeks to more than 70% at 84 weeks and beyond. PASAT scores followed a similar pattern.

Conclusions

In this well‐characterized clinical trial cohort, the SDMT does not reflect the steady cognitive decline that patients with SPMS experience. Both SDMT and PASAT scores improve throughout follow‐up, possibly due to a practice effect. The SDMT may not be a useful outcome measure of disease progression in 2‐year clinical trials in SPMS.
Expression of select mRNA in Thoroughbreds with catastrophic racing injuries
Authors: Page Allen E. , Adam Emma , Arthur Rick , Barker Virginia , Franklin Forrest , Friedman Ron , Grande Timothy , Hardy Michael , Howard Bruce , Partridge Emma , Rutledge Matthew , Scollay Mary , Stewart John C. , Vale Alina , Horohov David W.
Published: January 2021

Background

The ability to identify horses at risk for catastrophic injuries continues to be a pressing issue for the racing industry, especially given recent events in North America.

Objectives

Since most catastrophic injuries occur in areas of existing pathology and this pathology is likely to elicit an inflammatory response, it was hypothesised that analysis of messenger RNA (mRNA) expression would detect significant changes in select genes in horses at risk for a catastrophic injury.

Study design

Prospective cohort study.

Methods

Five racing jurisdictions across the United States participated in this study. A total of 686 Tempus®RNA Blood Tube samples were collected for mRNA analysis from 107 catastrophically injured horses, as well as from noninjured horses sampled either prerace (n = 374) or postrace (n = 205). A subset of horses (n = 37) were sampled both prerace and postrace for analysis of expression changes during the postrace period.

Results

Of 21 genes analysed via RT‐qPCR, the expression of 12 genes (ALOX5AP, CD14, IL‐10, IL‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐8, MMP1, PTGS2, TLR4, TNFα, TNFSF13BandVEGFA) changed significantly within 45 minutes after a race and were excluded. Of the remaining nine genes (BMP‐2, IGF‐1, IL1RN, MMP2, MMP9, Osteoprotegrin, RANKL, SAA1 and TGFβ), three genes (IGF‐1, IL1RNandMMP2) were found to be significantly different between catastrophically injured and noninjured horses using multiple logistic regression modelling. Receiver operating characteristic analysis of models, which included mRNA expression, demonstrated sensitivities from 76%‐82% (95% CI: 67%‐93%) and specificities from 84%‐88% (95% CI: 71%‐94%) at the Youden Index.

Main limitations

Samples were collected as soon as possible postinjury (within 30 minutes).

Conclusions

Analysis of mRNA expression of specific genes in the future may be considered as an economical, accessible and noninvasive means by which horses at risk for catastrophic injury can be identified.
Itch intensity in prurigo nodularis is closely related to dermal interleukin‐31, oncostatin M, IL‐31 receptor alpha and oncostatin M receptor beta
Authors: Hashimoto Takashi , Nattkemper Leigh A. , Kim Hei Sung , Kursewicz Christina D. , Fowler Emilie , Shah Serena M. , Nanda Sonali , Fayne Rachel A. , Paolini John F. , Romanelli Paolo , Yosipovitch Gil
Published: January 2021

Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a chronic skin dermatosis with hyperkeratotic and intensely pruritic nodules. Managing PN‐associated itch is difficult because its aetiology is still unknown. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between itch intensity in PN and the expression of a pruritogenic cytokine interleukin (IL)‐31, its receptor complex components IL‐31 receptor α (IL‐31RA) and oncostatin M receptor β (OSMRβ), and oncostatin M (OSM), which is a ligand of OSMR β, through immunofluorescence staining examination. Itch intensity in PN was closely correlated with the number of dermal IL‐31(+) cells (Spearman's r = 0.551, p < 0.05), dermal IL‐31RA(+) cells (r = 0.475, p < 0.05) and dermal OSM(+) cells (r = 0.505, p < 0.05). In addition, the number of dermal OSMRβ (+) cells was increased in PN (t test, p < 0.05), despite not being correlated with itch intensity (Spearman's r = 0.375, p > 0.05). Major cellular sources of dermal IL‐31 were T cells (27.0% of total IL‐31–expressing cells) and macrophages (35.0%), while those of OSM were mainly T cells (49.8%) and mast cells (26.8%). IL‐31RA–expressing dermal cells were mostly mast cells (49.3%) and macrophages (36.6%), and OSMRβ was mainly expressed by macrophages (51.8%) in the dermis. These findings indicate that IL‐31 (mainly from macrophages and T cells) and OSM (principally from T cells and mast cells) stimulate dermal cells expressing IL‐31RA and OSMRβ (e.g. macrophages), which may further promote itch and inflammation in PN. This complex dermal milieu of cell/cytokine/receptor network can be a therapeutic target for PN‐associated itch.
Representation of Diverse Populations in Couple and Family Therapy Intervention Studies: A Systematic Review of Race/Ethnicity, Sexual Orientation, Age, and Income in the United States from 2014 to 2019
Authors: Tseng Chi‐Fang , PettyJohn Morgan E. , Huerta Patricia , Miller Debra L. , Agundez Juan Carlos , Fang Meng , Wittenborn Andrea K.
Published: January 2021

Disparities in mental health care among marginalized populations have been well‐documented. Without research designed to study interventions for diverse populations, disparities in the quality of services will persist. A systematic review of articles evaluating couple and family therapy (CFT) interventions was conducted to evaluate the representation of diverse populations. More specifically, researchers sought to examine race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, income level, and age of sample participants. One hundred ninety‐six studies evaluating CFT interventions in the United States in ten journals were included in the analysis. Findings indicate that family therapy research is more representative of racial minority and low‐income participants compared with studies of couple interventions. Couple therapy research is often still conducted with predominately white, middle‐ to high‐income samples. Following whites, African Americans and Hispanic/Latinos were the most common racial/ethnic groups included in both couple therapy research and family therapy research. Participants in same‐sex relationships were absent from family intervention research and under‐researched in couple intervention studies. Only one couple therapy study recruited a sample in which the average age was late adulthood. These findings are cause for concern given the widening mental health disparities in the United States.
New insights into the organization and regulation of the apical polarity network in mammalian epithelial cells
Authors: Martin Eleanor , Girardello Rossana , Dittmar Gunnar , Ludwig Alexander
Published: January 2021

Cell polarity is a fundamental property of most animal cells and is critical during development and for most cell and tissue functions. Epithelial cells are organized into apical and basolateral compartments, and this intrinsic cellular asymmetry is essential for all functions that are carried out by epithelial tissue. The establishment of a polarized epithelial phenotype is orchestrated by major rearrangements of the cell cytoskeleton, polarized membrane trafficking, the formation and maturation of epithelial cell junctions, cell signaling pathways, and the generation of cortical phospholipid asymmetry. These processes need to be coordinated precisely in time and space and integrated with physical and chemical signals from the environment, failure of which leads to severe developmental disorders and various human diseases. At the heart of this regulatory network are the evolutionarily conserved polarity modules Par, Crumbs, and Scribble, whose components engage in complex cooperative and antagonistic interactions to compartmentalize and functionalize the epithelial cell cortex and to control the spatiotemporal activity of downstream polarity effectors. In this review, we will discuss recent insights into the organization and regulation of the mammalian Par and Crumbs modules and outline a hypothetical framework of how these proteins orchestrate epithelial polarity development, HIPPO signaling, and actomyosin activity at the apical–lateral border.
Rationalizing heptadecaphobia: TH17 cells and associated cytokines in cancer and metastasis
Authors: Lücke Jöran , Shiri Ahmad Mustafa , Zhang Tao , Kempski Jan , Giannou Anastasios D. , Huber Samuel
Published: January 2021

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. When cancer patients are diagnosed with metastasis, meaning that the primary tumor has spread to at least one different site, their life expectancy decreases dramatically. In the past decade, the immune system´s role in fighting cancer and metastasis has been studied extensively. Importantly, immune cells and inflammatory reactions generate potent antitumor responses but also contribute to tumor development. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying this dichotomic interaction between the immune system and cancer are still poorly understood. Recently, a spotlight has been cast on the distinct subsets of immune cells and their derived cytokines since evidence has implicated their crucial impact on cancer development. T helper 17 cell (TH17) cells, which express the master transcriptional factor Retinoic acid‐receptor‐related orphan receptor gamma t, are among these critical cell subsets and are defined by their production of type 3 cytokines, such as IL‐17A, IL‐17F, and IL‐22. Depending on the tumor microenvironment, these cytokines can also be produced by other immune cell sources, such as T cytotoxic 17 cell, innate lymphoid cells, NKT cells, or γδ T cells. To date, a lot of data have been collected describing the divergent functions of IL‐17A, IL‐17F, and IL‐22 in malignancies. In this comprehensive review, we discuss the role of these TH17‐ and non‐TH17‐derived type 3 cytokines in different tumor entities. Furthermore, we will provide a structured insight into the strict regulation and subsequent downstream mechanisms of these cytokines in cancer and metastasis.
Wild bees as winners and losers: Relative impacts of landscape composition, quality, and climate
Authors: Kammerer Melanie , Goslee Sarah C. , Douglas Margaret R. , Tooker John F. , Grozinger Christina M.
Published: January 2021

Wild bees, like many other taxa, are threatened by land‐use and climate change, which, in turn, jeopardizes pollination of crops and wild plants. Understanding how land‐use and climate factors interact is critical to predicting and managing pollinator populations and ensuring adequate pollination services, but most studies have evaluated either land‐use or climate effects, not both. Furthermore, bee species are incredibly variable, spanning an array of behavioral, physiological, and life‐history traits that can increase or decrease resilience to land‐use or climate change. Thus, there are likely bee species that benefit, while others suffer, from changing climate and land use, but few studies have documented taxon‐specific trends. To address these critical knowledge gaps, we analyzed a long‐term dataset of wild bee occurrences from Maryland, Delaware, and Washington DC, USA, examining how different bee genera and functional groups respond to landscape composition, quality, and climate factors. Despite a large body of literature documenting land‐use effects on wild bees, in this study, climate factors emerged as the main drivers of wild‐bee abundance and richness. For wild‐bee communities in spring and summer/fall, temperature and precipitation were more important predictors than landscape composition, landscape quality, or topography. However, relationships varied substantially between wild‐bee genera and functional groups. In the Northeast USA, past trends and future predictions show a changing climate with warmer winters, more intense precipitation in winter and spring, and longer growing seasons with higher maximum temperatures. In almost all of our analyses, these conditions were associated with lower abundance of wild bees. Wild‐bee richness results were more mixed, including neutral and positive relationships with predicted temperature and precipitation patterns. Thus, in this region and undoubtedly more broadly, changing climate poses a significant threat to wild‐bee communities.
Estimating the carbon storage potential and greenhouse gas emissions of French arable cropland using high‐resolution modeling
Authors: Launay Camille , Constantin Julie , Chlebowski Florent , Houot Sabine , Graux Anne‐Isabelle , Klumpp Katja , Martin Raphaël , Mary Bruno , Pellerin Sylvain , Therond Olivier
Published: January 2021

Many studies have assessed the potential of agricultural practices to sequester carbon (C). A comprehensive evaluation of impacts of agricultural practices requires not only considering C storage but also direct and indirect emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) and their side effects (e.g., on the water cycle or agricultural production). We used a high‐resolution modeling approach with the Simulateur mulTIdisciplinaire pour les Cultures Standard soil‐crop model to quantify soil organic C (SOC) storage potential, GHG balance, biomass production and nitrogen‐ and water‐related impacts for all arable land in France for current cropping systems (baseline scenario) and three mitigation scenarios: (i) spatial and temporal expansion of cover crops, (ii) spatial insertion and temporal extension of temporary grasslands (two sub‐scenarios) and (iii) improved recycling of organic resources as fertilizer. In the baseline scenario, SOC decreased slightly over 30 years in crop‐only rotations but increased significantly in crop/temporary grassland rotations. Results highlighted a strong trade‐off between the storage rate per unit area (kg C ha−1 year−1) of mitigation scenarios and the areas to which they could be applied. As a result, while the most promising scenario at the field scale was the insertion of temporary grassland (+466 kg C ha−1 year−1 stored to a depth of 0.3 m compared to the baseline, on 0.68 Mha), at the national scale, it was by far the expansion of cover crops (+131 kg C ha−1 year−1, on 17.62 Mha). Side effects on crop production, water irrigation and nitrogen emissions varied greatly depending on the scenario and production situation. At the national scale, combining the three mitigation scenarios could mitigate GHG emissions of current cropping systems by 54% (−11.2 from the current 20.5 Mt CO2e year−1), but the remaining emissions would still lie far from the objective of C‐neutral agriculture.
Iterative model predictions for wildlife populations impacted by rapid climate change
Authors: Marolla Filippo , Henden John‐André , Fuglei Eva , Pedersen Åshild Ø. , Itkin Mikhail , Ims Rolf A.
Published: January 2021

To improve understanding and management of the consequences of current rapid environmental change, ecologists advocate using long‐term monitoring data series to generate iterative near‐term predictions of ecosystem responses. This approach allows scientific evidence to increase rapidly and management strategies to be tailored simultaneously. Iterative near‐term forecasting may therefore be particularly useful for adaptive monitoring of ecosystems subjected to rapid climate change. Here, we show how to implement near‐term forecasting in the case of a harvested population of rock ptarmigan in high‐arctic Svalbard, a region subjected to the largest and most rapid climate change on Earth. We fitted state‐space models to ptarmigan counts from point transect distance sampling during 2005–2019 and developed two types of predictions: (1)explanatory predictionsto quantify the effect of potential drivers of ptarmigan population dynamics, and (2)anticipatory predictionsto assess the ability of candidate models of increasing complexity to forecast next‐year population density. Based on the explanatory predictions, we found that a recent increasing trend in the Svalbard rock ptarmigan population can be attributed to major changes in winter climate. Currently, a strong positive effect of increasing average winter temperature on ptarmigan population growth outweighs the negative impacts of other manifestations of climate change such as rain‐on‐snow events. Moreover, the ptarmigan population may compensate for current harvest levels. Based on the anticipatory predictions, the near‐term forecasting ability of the models improved nonlinearly with the length of the time series, but yielded good forecasts even based on a short time series. The inclusion of ecological predictors improved forecasts of sharp changes in next‐year population density, demonstrating the value of ecosystem‐based monitoring. Overall, our study illustrates the power of integrating near‐term forecasting in monitoring systems to aid understanding and management of wildlife populations exposed to rapid climate change. We provide recommendations for how to improve this approach.
Detecting Colocation Flow Patterns in the Geographical Interaction Data
Authors: Zhang Haiping , Zhou Xingxing , Tang Guoan , Zhang Xueying , Qin Jing , Xiong Liyang
Published: January 2021

The detection of colocation pattern is an important and widely used method to analyze the spatial associations of geographical objects and events. Existing studies primarily focus on discovering colocation patterns and association rules based on point data. A broad range of flow data types, such as population flow, logistics, and information flow, have emerged in recent years. However, colocation patterns and association rules based on flow data are difficult to detect because of their complex structure. This work proposes a colocation pattern detection and spatial association rule discovery approach that treats origin‐destination (OD) flow as Boolean spatial features, while considering the spatial proximity of the origins and destinations of OD flows and its direction similarity. The effectiveness of this approach is verified by an artificial data set. Finally, this work analyzes the data of tourists who are traveling from different countries or regions to diverse cities in China. It also proves the application value of the proposed approach, which has general applicability to the mining of colocation patterns and association rules from any type of OD flow data.
Prevalence of xerostomia in patients on haemodialysis: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: M Nanditha Kumar , K. N. Raghavendra Swamy , H. M. Thippeswamy , Kamath Giridhar , D Devananda
Published: January 2021

Purpose

Haemodialysis is the most popular procedure of treating end‐stage renal disease. But patients on haemodialysis report various symptoms including xerostomia that add to the physical as well as the psychological stress. Xerostomia is also considered to be one of the factors for interdialytic weight gain. This systematic review aims to find out the prevalence of xerostomia in patients on haemodialysis. The results would help the nephrologists to consider xerostomia, treat it appropriately and minimise the risks during haemodialysis.

Methods

The search strategy was in line with the PRISMA guidelines. An online literature search of databases like PUBMED, SCOPUS, Wiley Online Library and the Cochrane library along with journal hand searches and scanning of references was done. The relevant articles were identified based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Full‐text articles were obtained and scrutinised. Risk of bias assessment was carried out for the included articles.

Results

Four articles satisfying the inclusion criteria were finalised. The pooled prevalence of xerostomia in patients on haemodialysis was 52.3%. The assessment of risk bias placed the articles at low risk.

Conclusion

With the limited number and variations of studies, the prevalence of xerostomia in haemodialysis patients was high. Ideal management approaches could be proposed if many more accurate estimates of prevalence of xerostomia in patients on haemodialysis are recorded in future.
Nutritive value and in vitro methane production of Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu under fixed time or variable stocking cycles
Authors: Morais Moura André , Ribeiro Tomich Thierry , Gustavo Ribeiro Pereira Luiz , Sávio Campos Paciullo Domingos , de Miranda Gomide Carlos Augusto , Carlos Gonçalves Lucio
Published: January 2021

The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition, digestibility, gas production kinetics and in vitro methane (CH4) production of Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu under two stocking methods over three consecutive stocking cycles. The stocking methods were (1) a fixed‐time stocking cycle of 33 days (33‐SC) with a 30‐day rest period and a 3‐day grazing period, and (2) a variable stocking cycle, with the end of the rest period when the canopy intercepted 95% of the light and a 3‐day grazing period (95‐LI). The average rest period was 24.5‐day (standard deviation of 5.2‐day) for 95‐LI. The in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) was higher (p < .01) for 95‐LI (646 g/kg) relative to 33‐SC (628 g/kg). Crude protein concentration was higher (p < .01) for 95‐LI (154 g/kg) relative to 33‐SC (136 g/kg). The ADF (303 g/kg DM) and aNDF (623 g/kg) were higher (p < .01) for 33‐SC compared to 95‐LI (287 and 605 g/kg respectively). The gas production potential from non‐fibrous carbohydrates was 9.4% higher for 33‐SC. The in vitro CH4 production per unit of degraded dry matter (DDM) was higher (p < .01) for 33‐SC (19.9 CH4 ml/g), compared to 95‐LI (17.9 CH4 ml/g). The 33‐SC management resulted in rest periods that were too long for the time needed for optimal regrowth. The variable SC based on the 95‐LI was more favourable, because it resulted in maximum yield of dry matter with improved forage nutritive value, while decreasing CH4 yield.
Association of drugs with special caution in the guidelines with falls: A case–control and case–crossover study in Japan
Authors: Ishibashi Yoshiki , Nishitani Rie , Kato Takashi , Chiba Sahoko , Ashidate Keiko , Ishiwata Nobuo , Ichijo Tomoyasu , Sasabe Masataka
Published: January 2021

Aim

To determine the relationship between multiple medications and falls.

Methods

This case–control and case–crossover study was carried out at Kudanzaka Hospital in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. A total of 325 patients who experienced their first falls when hospitalized between January 2016 and November 2018, and 1285 controls matched by sex, age and clinical departments were included in this study. Hospitalization duration and fall risk score were adjusted for in the analyses.

Results

In the case–control study, multivariable logistic regression showed that increasing the intake of oral medications was not significantly associated with the incidence of falls (odds ratio 1.02, 95% confidence interval 0.998–1.049). In contrast, drugs prescribed with special caution in accordance with the Elderly Oral Medication Guidelines were significantly associated with falls (odds ratio 1.17, 95% confidence interval 1.09–1.26). A similar pattern was observed in the case–crossover analysis. Among the drugs to be prescribed with special caution according to the guidelines, atypical antipsychotics, non‐benzodiazepine hypnotics and magnesium oxide were significantly associated with the risk of falls.

Conclusion

The drugs to be prescribed with special caution according to the guidelines were associated with an increased fall risk. The risk of falls in hospitalized older people due to multiple medications varies among medications. Geriatr Gerontol Int ••; ••: ••–•• Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; ••: ••–••.
A Potential New Chalcopyrite Reference Material for LA‐MC‐ICP‐MS Copper Isotope Ratio Measurement
Authors: Bao Zhian , Lv Nan , Chen Kaiyun , Luan Yan , Sun Xiaohui , Zong Chunlei , Yuan Honglin
Published: January 2021

A new natural chalcopyrite reference material TC1725 is prepared for in situ Cu isotope measurement by femtosecond laser ablation multi‐collector inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (fsLA‐MC‐ICP‐MS). Detailed textural examination and major element determination suggest the TC1725 chalcopyrite grains have no growth rim or zoning. The chalcopyrite grain is homogeneous with respect to Cu isotopes based on a large number of measurements performed by bulk solution nebuliser (SN)‐MC‐ICP‐MS, single‐grain SN‐MC‐ICP‐MS and fsLA‐MC‐ICP‐MS. The traditional bulk isotope analyses by SN‐MC‐ICP‐MS yielded a mean δ65Cu value of −0.06 ± 0.03‰ (2s, n = 132). Randomly selected single chalcopyrite grain of TC1725 determined by SN‐MC‐ICP‐MS without column chromatography gave a mean δ65Cu value of −0.06 ± 0.04‰ (2s, n = 188). The intermediate measurement precision for four measurement sessions was better than 0.04‰ (2s), suggesting TC1725 chalcopyrite is suitable as a microanalysis reference material for Cu isotope measurement. The mean δ65Cu value determined by fsLA‐MC‐ICP‐MS analyses on different individual chalcopyrite mounts and strips was −0.06 ± 0.03‰ (2s, n = 393), consistent with the bulk isotope composition within uncertainty. The recommended mean δ65Cu value for this chalcopyrite reference material is −0.06 ± 0.03‰ (2s, n = 132) as determined by bulk SN‐MC‐ICP‐MS.
Researching gender inequalities in academic labor during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Avoiding common problems and asking different questions
Authors: Pereira Maria do Mar
Published: January 2021

As the COVID‐19 pandemic unfolds, a growing body of international literature is analyzing the effects of the pandemic on academic labor and, specifically, on gender inequalities in academia. In that literature, much attention has been devoted to comparing the unequal impacts of COVID‐19 on the research activities of women and men, with studies demonstrating that women's research productivity has been disproportionately disrupted, in ways that are likely to have detrimental effects in the short‐ and long‐term. In this paper, I discuss that emerging literature on gender inequalities in pandemic academic productivity. I reflect on the questions asked, the issues centered and the assumptions made within this literature, devoting particular attention to how authors conceptualize academic labor and productivity, on one hand, and gender, on the other. I show that this literature makes major contributions to exposing old and new gender inequalities in academia, but argue that it also risks reproducing some problematic assumptions about gender and about academic work. Discussing those assumptions and their effects, I identify some important questions for us to consider as we expand this literature and deepen our understanding of the complex gendered effects of COVID‐19 on academic labor.
Measurement properties of the Headache Impact Test (HIT‐6™ Brazil) in primary and secondary headaches
Authors: Pradela Juliana , Bevilaqua‐Grossi Débora , Chaves Thais C. , Dach Fabiola , Carvalho Gabriela F.
Published: January 2021

Background

The Headache Impact Test‐6™ is a widely recommended questionnaire to evaluate the impact of headaches. However, its measurement properties were never evaluated in both primary and secondary headaches, and the Brazilian Portuguese version of the questionnaire was never assessed at all.

Objective

To assess the reliability, and structural and construct validity of the Headache Impact Test‐Brazil™ in patients with primary and secondary headaches.

Methods

In total, 132 patients with primary and secondary headaches were included, screened from a headache tertiary clinic. They completed the Headache Impact Test‐Brazil™ questionnaire, the 12‐Item Short‐Form Survey (SF‐12), and the Headache Disability Inventory—Brazil. Pearson's correlation analysis was performed among the three questionnaires for validity assessment. One to three weeks after the first application, the Headache Impact Test‐Brazil™ was answered again by 67 patients for reliability assessment.

Results

The validity sample consisted of 86/132 (65.1%) patients with primary and 46/132 (34.9%) secondary headaches, with mean age of 39.6 (SD: 12.7) years. The reliability sample consisted of 39/67 (58.2%) patients with primary and 28/67 (41.8%) secondary headaches, with mean age of 36.8 (12.5) years. According to the confirmatory factor analysis, the Headache Impact Test‐Brazil™ consists of single factor. Its internal consistency was α = 0.97 and the question number 3 had the lowest factor loading (0.31). The Headache Impact Test‐Brazil™ exhibited a moderate correlation with both the SF‐12 questionnaire (r = −0.64, 95%CI: −0.72 to −0.52, p = 0.001) and the Headache Disability Inventory‐Brazil (r = 0.67, 95%CI: 0.56 to 0.75, p = 0.001). The correlation between the Headache Impact Test‐Brazil™ and the headache frequency was weak (r = 0.22, 95%CI: 0.04 to 0.39, p = 0.001), and with the headache intensity, moderate (r = 0.44, 95%CI: 0.23 to 0.62, p = 0.001). The Headache Impact Test‐Brazil™ test–retest reliability was excellent (ICC = 0.95) with a standard error of 1.58 and a smallest detectable change of 4.38 points.

Conclusion

The Headache Impact Test‐6‐Brazil™ can be considered as a valid and reliable tool to assess the impact of several headache types. Future studies may revise the questionnaire items to confirm its redundancy.
Hypertension: A new safety risk for patients treated with erenumab
Authors: Saely Suprat , Croteau David , Jawidzik Laura , Brinker Allen , Kortepeter Cindy
Published: January 2021

Objective

To identify and analyze postmarketing case reports of elevated blood pressure (BP) associated with erenumab use.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of postmarketing (spontaneous) case reports of erenumab‐associated elevated BP submitted to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System from May 17, 2018 through April 30, 2020. A case of elevated BP was defined as (a) an initiation of a pharmacological intervention or emergency department visit or hospitalization for emergent de novo or worsening of preexisting hypertension, or (b) BP measurement of ≥140 mm Hg systolic or ≥90 mm Hg diastolic with or without baseline BP measurement reported. Reports of elevated BP associated with erenumab use were analyzed for baseline and demographic information, latency, drug‐event causal association, and clinical outcome.

Results

Sixty‐one cases of elevated BP were identified, 86% (49/57) were women and the median age was 56 [range 24–88] years. Forty‐one cases were associated with a serious outcome per regulatory criteria, including seven that specified hospitalization. No case reported an outcome of death. The median systolic BP increase was 39 (interquartile range (IQR) 32, 59) mm Hg and median diastolic BP increase was 28 (IQR 18, 41) mm Hg. A total of 27/61 (44%) cases reported treatment for elevated BP (i.e., pharmacologic intervention or emergency department visit/hospitalization). Elevated BP occurred most frequently (28/61, 46%) within a week of the first dose of erenumab. Nineteen cases (19/61, 31%) reported a history of preexisting hypertension.

Conclusions

This case series suggest an association between elevated BP and use of erenumab. In light of our findings, the erenumab (Aimovig) prescribing information was amended to include hypertension in the Warnings and Precautions section.
Living beyond the limitation: Rehabilitation, life and productivity of individuals with schizophrenia in South‐West Nigeria
Authors: Oyelade Oyeyemi Olajumoke , Nkosi‐Mafutha Nokuthula Gloria
Published: January 2021

Introduction

Schizophrenia, the most chronic and stigmatized form of mental illness, can be described as a brain disorder that affects an individual's cognition. Individuals with schizophrenia exhibit socially unacceptable symptoms that affect their psychosocial lives. They suffer from reduced productivity due to the debilitating effect of the illness, and the negative symptoms impede their employability; such symptoms and effects aggravate the stigma around mental illness. However, when rehabilitation is successfully achieved, so is productivity, and this decreases the associated stigma. Thus, this study describes the rehabilitation experiences and productivity of individuals with schizophrenia in South‐West Nigeria.

Methods and analysis

A descriptive qualitative approach with semi‐structured interviews was used to gather information from mental health service users. The discharged users in this study received in‐hospital or outpatient rehabilitation care at four outpatient units within two specialist mental health‐care facilities in South‐West Nigeria. These facilities offer vocational training and rehabilitation services for individuals with schizophrenia. Twenty‐nine mental health service users were interviewed. The data from the interviews were independently analysed by two researchers through a content analysis approach using NVIVO version 11. The researchers compared the results of the analysis and reached an agreement on the conclusion.

Findings and recommendations

The rehabilitation services availed by patients in the research setting are of three types. Some attend occupational rehabilitation to learn a trade; they depend on professionals for the choice of skill but at a cost that is not affordable to many. Some stay in rehabilitation units linked to the hospital, rendering their services at a cost, and their living expenses and skill acquisition processes are based on the remuneration they get from the services rendered to the institution. Others depend on their family members' efforts to afford rehabilitation services but set up on job by family or employed in family business. The mental health service users in this study who offered their services to the institutions were able to make informed decisions and showed better performance with their chosen occupation than those who depended on their family or health professionals for the choice of rehabilitation service or vocational career. Therefore, this study concludes that prioritizing mental health facility users' preferences in terms of productive activities (sales, services, vocation) or rehabilitation goals should be encouraged.
Development of a novel gout treatment patient decision aid by patient and physician: A qualitative research study
Authors: Meyappan Meykkumar , Loh Wei Siong Aaron , Tan Li Yen , Tan Sheng Feng Ian , Ho Pey Ying , Poh Yih Jia , Tan Ngiap Chuan
Published: January 2021

Background

Gout treatment is not optimized globally, often due to therapeutic inertia by physicians or poor adherence to urate‐lowering medications by patients. A patient decision aid (PDA) to facilitate shared decision making (SDM) in gout treatment may overcome these physician‐patient barriers.

Objective

The study explored the views of physicians and patients on a novel locally designed gout treatment PDA prototype.

Design

Qualitative descriptive design was used to gather data from in‐depth‐interviews (IDI) and focus group discussions (FGD). Data analysis was via thematic analysis. Emergent themes shaped a revised version of the PDA.

Setting and participants

Adult Asian patients with recent acute gout exacerbations and local Primary Care Physicians (PCP) in Singapore were purposefully chosen. 15 patients with gout and 11 PCPs participated across three IDIs and six FGDs, with the investigators exploring their views of a prototype gout treatment PDA.

Results

Patients and physicians generally concurred with the content and design of the PDA prototype. However, while patients preferred fewer treatment details, the PCPs desired more information. Patients preferred the display of statistics, while PCPs felt that numbers were not relevant to patients. The latter were hesitant to include treatment options that were unavailable in primary care. Both stakeholders indicated that they would use the PDA during a consultation. PCPs would need further training in SDM, given a lack of understanding of it.

Conclusion and patient contribution

Patients will be the prime users of the PDA. While their views differed partially from the physicians, both have jointly developed the novel gout treatment PDA.
Recovery of dung beetle biodiversity and traits in a regenerating rainforest: a case study from Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula
Authors: Whitworth Andrew , Beirne Chris , Flatt Eleanor , Froese Graden , Nuñez Chase , Forsyth Adrian
Published: January 2021

Dung beetles are frequently used to assess tropical biodiversity patterns and recovery in human‐modified forests. We conducted a comprehensive dung beetle survey (coprophagous and necrophagous communities) within five habitat types, across a land‐use gradient, in the ecologically biodiverse Osa Peninsula, located in Costa Rica's south Pacific.

In addition to assessing species richness, abundance, and biomass, we also assessed community level traits and species‐specific responses using a generalised joint attribute modelling approach.

We found that under favourable conditions (40–50 years of regeneration, close proximity to contiguous old‐growth forest and control of poaching), secondary rainforest recovered similar levels of species richness, and key traits of old‐growth forest dung beetle communities. However, at the community‐level, dung beetle abundance, richness, biomass, and diversity varied between habitat types of different anthropogenic disturbance and land‐use.

Generally, the carrion beetle community did not recover as well as the dung beetle community and the abundance of dung beetles was a third lower in naturally regenerating secondary forest compared with old growth. Regenerating secondary growth and plantation forests showed community compositions similar to old growth forests, while open and fragmented habitats had degraded and impoverished levels of dung beetle biodiversity.

Overall, the levels of dung‐beetle biodiversity detected are encouraging for naturally regenerating secondary forest, suggesting a high potential value of these areas to buffer the pressure of deforestation and habitat alteration on remaining old‐growth tropical forests.
Cereal β‐glucan: a promising prebiotic polysaccharide and its impact on the gut health
Authors: Shoukat Mahtab , Sorrentino Angela
Published: January 2021

Recently, polysaccharides dietary fibres have emerged as promised functional and nutraceutical food ingredients due to their several health boosting properties. Cereal β‐glucan is a water‐soluble, prebiotic and bioactive polysaccharide dietary fibre that has a tendency to play a significant role in health regulation. β‐glucans from cereal sources have a number of unique functional properties, that is higher solubility, viscosity and tendency to completely be fermented by gut microbiota. These functional characteristics show promising positive effects on human health, such as cancer prevention, anti‐inflammatory activity, skin protection, antioxidant, immune modulation and reduction of glycaemia and serum cholesterol. The present review primarily focuses on the prophylactic and therapeutic role of cereal β‐glucans on gut health in terms of its barrier permeability, modulation of gut microbiota, the intestinal immune system and intestinal inflammation, colon cancer protection and short‐chain fatty acids production. Cereal β‐glucans principally perform different biological actions through specific cytokines and hormones regulation.
Immigrant–non‐immigrant wage differentials in Canada: A comparison between standard and non‐standard jobs
Authors: Lamb Danielle , Banerjee Rupa , Verma Anil
Published: January 2021

It is well established that recent immigrants earn considerably less than their native‐born counterparts even after adjusting for differences in human capital. Another labour market trend has been the growth in non‐standard forms of employment. Since non‐standard forms of work are generally less desirable than standard jobs on a number of dimensions including earnings, this study examines the nexus between immigrant earnings and non‐standard employment to investigate if there is a systemic connection between the two trends. Consistent with earlier research evidence, we find a substantial earnings disadvantage associated with all forms of non‐standard work relative to full‐time, permanent employment. Conditioning on observable characteristics, immigrants are less likely to be employed in full‐time, permanent work. However, when we examine workers in non‐standard jobs, we find that immigrant–non‐immigrant earnings gaps are smaller than those observed among workers in standard jobs. Moreover, the unadjusted mean earnings of long‐term immigrants in part‐time jobs are actually higher than the earnings of similarly employed Canadian‐born workers. Finally, considering immigrants from Western and non‐Western countries, we find that the earnings disadvantage of non‐Western immigrants in non‐standard jobs is smaller than the earnings disadvantage of non‐Western immigrants in standard jobs. These findings suggest that non‐standard jobs provide a point of entry for many new immigrants into the Canadian labour market. But whether these jobs are a bridge to upward mobility or whether they act as traps from which immigrants are unable to escape is a question that needs to be answered with better longitudinal data that track specific cohorts of workers.
Revisiting the relationship between cross‐border capital flows and credit
Authors: Carvalho Daniel
Published: January 2021

A broad perspective on the sectoral composition of the domestic borrower and recipients of capital flows is needed to deepen the understanding of the mechanisms through which cross‐border capital flows interact with credit provision. Exploring this detail reveals stark differences across (i) credit measures that include only lending by banks and those that encompass all lenders (ii) the sum of all private borrower sectors versus nonfinancial corporation and household credit (iii) advanced economies and emerging markets (iv) instrument and sectoral composition of flows.
Chinese mothers’ experiences of family life when they have a mental illness: A qualitative systematic review
Authors: Chen Lingling , Reupert Andrea , Vivekananda Kitty
Published: January 2021

The challenges experienced by families in western countries, where a parent has a mental illness, are well established. However, research documenting the experiences of Chinese families with parental mental illness appears limited. This study aimed to systematically review qualitative research about the experiences of families, living in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, where parents have a mental illness. Eight databases were comprehensively searched, along with manual search of reference lists. The identified studies were critically appraised and analysed using a thematic synthesis approach. Ten papers were identified, with nine investigating mothers’ experiences, one focusing on children’s experiences, and none reporting on fathers’ experiences. Subsequently, only papers presenting mothers’ experiences were included for thematic synthesis. Five primary themes were identified including managing parenting in the context of mental illness; failure to meet one’s expectations of motherhood; being burdened by others’ expectations; stigma from self, others and service providers; and support obtained and needed. Similar to western mothers, Chinese mothers struggled to balance the demands of parenting and their illness, and experienced stigma associated with being a parent with a mental illness. Western and Chinese mothers’ experiences differ in regard to the influence of parents‐in‐law and the division of domestic labour. Future research might investigate Chinese mothers with various mental health diagnoses, the perspectives of Chinese fathers with a mental illness, and the children in these families.
The requirement of lipids for the formation of immunostimulating complexes (iscoms)
Authors: Lovgren K. , Morein B.
Published: January 2021

The iscom–immunostimulating complex–is a highly immunogenic formulation of microbial membrane antigens. The biochemically analyzed components of the iscom are the protein and the glycoside Quil A. Continued analysis of the iscom showed that the protein moiety–the antigen–does not contribute to the iscom as a construct. Instead, cholesterol and Quil A are the essential structural components assembled together into a typical cage‐like structure. A more “fluid” lipid, such as phosphatidylcholine, is needed to facilitate the incorporation of amphipathic poly‐ or oligopeptides into the iscom matrix.
Creating a Collaboration Framework to Evaluate International University‐led Water Research Partnerships
Authors: Mazer Katy E. , Erwin Anna , Popovici Ruxandra , Bocardo‐Delgado Edwin , Bowling Laura C. , Ma Zhao , Prokopy Linda S. , Zeballos‐Velarde Carlos
Published: January 2021

In a globalized world, universities are forming partnerships to solve today's water‐related challenges, such as increasing water scarcity and diminished water quality. Over the past 20 years, international university‐led water research partnerships have been growing in number, including between the U.S. and countries in the Global South. While there are several examples of guidelines and best practices for executing collaborations, none focus on this type of partnership. Additionally, many international collaborations are formed between universities that have little previous experience in developing these types of partnerships. Often, critiques of partnerships happen after initiation and point to structural barriers and best practices for future collaborations, but few offer practical guidance on overcoming obstacles early on, amid an imperfect partnership. In this paper, we created a flexible collaboration framework which can be used as an evaluative tool. To model this, we conducted an internal evaluation of the Sustainable Water Management team of the Arequipa Nexus Institute, a collaboration designed to build research capacity at the Universidad Nacional de San Agustín to address local issues related to agriculture, natural resource management, and environmental change. Results highlighted project strengths and weaknesses and offered strategies to address challenges that many collaborations face. This strategy identification can serve as a guideline for improving the implementation of new or existing international university‐led water research partnerships and help partners as they confront challenges at every stage of the partnership. The evaluation shows the effectiveness of using a collaboration framework as an assessment tool for international university‐led water research partnerships.