bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Health‐related quality of life of adult and adolescent patients living with alopecia areata in Australia
Authors: Sinclair Rodney , Eisman Samantha , Lee Carol M. Y. , Hitschfeld Maureen , Witcombe David , Pereira Candida da Fonseca
Published: May 2024

Introduction

To understand the experiences of adolescent and adult patients living with alopecia areata (AA) in Australia regarding symptom severity and the impact on psychosocial well‐being and work/classroom productivity.

Materials and Methods

A cross‐sectional online patient survey among adolescent and adult patients diagnosed with AA was recruited via the Australia Alopecia Areata Foundation. Patient‐reported outcomes were also assessed.

Results

A total of 337 patients (49 adolescents; 288 adults), with a mean ± standard deviation age of 14.7 ± 1.55 and 38.9 ± 13.31 years for adolescents and adults, respectively, were included. In the group with extensive hair loss (Scalp Hair Assessment Patient‐Reported Outcome, categories 3 + 4, n = 172), we observed higher emotional symptom and activity limitation scores (Alopecia Areata Patient Priority Outcomes, emotional symptoms: adults 2.5 ± 1.03, adolescents 2.2 ± 1.15; activity limitations: adults 1.4 ± 1.15, adolescents 1.2 ± 0.99). Additionally, in adults, the Alopecia Areata Symptom Impact Scale global score was 4.0 ± 2.10 (symptoms subscale score 4.1 ± 1.91; interference subscale scores 3.8 ± 2.73). Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores were high across participants, irrespective of hair loss extent (adults: anxiety 9.2 ± 3.85, depression 6.6 ± 3.95; adolescents: anxiety 9.7 ± 4.65, depression 5.2 ± 3.59). Work and classroom productivity were substantially impaired due to AA, with 70.5% of adults and 57.1% of adolescents reporting activity impairment, and overall work/classroom impairment reported at 39.2% and 44.9%, respectively.

Conclusions

AA impacts the physical, emotional and psychosocial well‐being of both adult and adolescent patients. More extensive hair loss more profoundly impacts those living with AA. Patients may benefit from patient‐centred care approaches addressing the impact of hair loss on mental and emotional well‐being, daily activities and work productivity.
Resistance against tree encroachment is driven by richness and identity of herbaceous resident species
Authors: Trejo‐Pérez Rolando , Chagnon Pierre‐Luc , Boivin Patrick , Brisson Jacques
Published: May 2024

Aims

Herbaceous plant cover can be used to inhibit tree encroachment in many managed and semi‐natural grasslands. Ideally, herbaceous seed mixtures should reduce the establishment and growth of many invading tree species over several years. Theory predicts that invasion resistance can be maximized by both: (a) increasing the diversity (taxonomic and/or functional) of resident seed mixtures, and (b) including species that are especially efficient at blocking further colonizers. We established an experiment in a regularly mown old field within a deciduous forest region in southeastern Canada. Our overall goal was to examine the relative contribution of old field community composition and diversity (taxonomic and functional) to resistance against encroachment by two undesirable native tree species over time.

Location

Varennes, southern Québec, Canada (45°37′01.24″ N, 73°23′03.57″ W).

Methods

We tested our hypotheses by seeding experimental plots with different levels of taxonomic diversity (from one to nine species) and functional group richness (grasses, legumes, and forbs). Our herbaceous species comprised four native species and five introduced and naturalized species. We then seeded the plots with two model tree colonizers, Acer rubrum and Betula populifolia, during three consecutive years. We also transplanted seedlings of Acer and Betula to determine the effect of herbaceous diversity on post‐emergence growth and seedling survival.

Results

Overall, herbaceous species identity (presence and absence) better predicted the resistance of resident herbaceous seed mixtures to tree encroachment than the other diversity measures assessed in our study. Fast‐growing herbaceous species, such as Lolium, substantially inhibit resistance to woody encroachment in the first year. Achillea millefolium and Solidago canadensis were by far the most efficient in blocking tree seedling establishment and growth, particularly during the second and third years. These effects highlight the potential for a combination of fast‐growing species, along with slower‐growing but highly inhibitive species, as a way to limit tree encroachment in real field applications. Functional group richness was a poor predictor of tree encroachment. Species richness reduced tree encroachment, especially when considering a multidimensional tree encroachment index integrating all aspects of tree establishment and growth over the three years of our experiment.

Conclusions

Seeding highly inhibiting herbaceous species is the most efficient approach against specific tree invaders. However, it is difficult to implement in practice because it relies on a priori knowledge of the species’ inhibitory effects. In the absence of this knowledge, the taxonomic richness of seed mixtures should be increased to prevent tree encroachment.
‘School‐based screen‐and‐treat’: An effective blueprint for expediating access to care in children experiencing PTSD following disasters
Authors: Cobham Vanessa E. , McDermott Brett
Published: May 2024

Objectives

While 5%–10% of children exposed to natural disasters develop PTSD, few children access support. This paper reports on the proactive ‘screen‐and‐treat’ approach deployed following devastating floods in Queensland, Australia, in 2011 and presents results for children in the Lockyer Valley (the most impacted community).

Design

Open treatment study (2011–2012) within a government‐funded post‐disaster service response.

Methods

One hundred and fifty children (7–12 years) completed pencil‐and‐paper screening (PTSD, anxiety and depression) at school. Eighty children endorsing either clinical levels of PTSD, or moderate levels of PTSD and clinical levels of either anxiety or depression, and their parents, completed a structured diagnostic interview. Forty‐eight children were offered a free trauma‐focused CBT intervention. The parents of 19 children accepted this offer. Most clinicians were clinical psychology trainees from local universities. All measures were repeated at post‐treatment, 6‐ and 12‐month follow‐up. Note: The term ‘parents’ is used to refer to the wide variety of people serving as a child's primary caregiver.

Results

Pre‐treatment, all children met diagnostic criteria for full (N = 17) or sub‐clinical PTSD. By post‐treatment, 10.5% met criteria for PTSD, with 0% meeting criteria at the 12‐month follow‐up. The incidence of anxiety and depressive disorders also reduced significantly. There were no differences in outcomes for children seen by trainees compared to experienced clinicians.

Conclusions

A school‐based screen‐and‐treat approach offers potential as a means of identifying and treating children following natural disaster exposure. However, engagement of families at the outset, and when offering intervention was challenging. Postgraduate trainees represent an effective potential workforce in a post‐disaster environment.
Neurocognitive training enhances the outcomes of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A preliminary study
Authors: Buker Nurullah , Karagoz Ezgi , Sengul Yesim Salik , Guney Sevay Alsen , Ozbek Aylin
Published: May 2024

Background

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by diverse clinical manifestations including inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.

Objective

The present study aims to investigate the effects of neurocognitive training (NT), a personalized and specialized exercise programme on symptoms, attention and dynamic balance in treatment‐naïve children diagnosed with ADHD.

Methods

Fourteen treatment‐naïve children aged 7–12 years diagnosed with ADHD were enrolled in the intervention group. The NT intervention was administered weekly for 10 consecutive weeks, supplemented by a structured home exercise programme for 6 days a week over the same 10‐week period. ADHD‐related symptoms, attention and dynamic balance were assessed in pre‐treatment, post‐treatment, 6 months, and 12 months. Fifteen typically developing (TD) children, matched for age, underwent evaluation only once to establish baseline normative values.

Results

Following the NT (post‐treatment), significant improvements were observed in hyperactivity‐impulsivity scores, oppositional‐defiant behaviours and dynamic balance when compared to the TD children (p < 0.05). In the ADHD group, a significant difference was found in the long term (12‐month follow‐up) in hyperactivity–impulsivity, oppositional‐defiant behaviours and dynamic balance (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The findings suggest that the NT yields favourable effects on hyperactivity–impulsivity, oppositional defiant behaviours and dynamic balance in children diagnosed with ADHD, with these improvements appearing to be sustained over the long term.

Clinical trial registration number: NCT04707040.
Metastatic triple‐negative breast carcinoma mimicking melanoma: A potential diagnostic pitfall
Authors: Fliorent Rebecca , Benedetto Conrad , Theroux Zachary
Published: May 2024

Melanoma, with its diverse histopathologic characteristics, can mimic both benign nevi and neoplasms of various cell lineages. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) can play a vital role in melanoma diagnosis, particularly when the cell lineage is unclear on hematoxylin and eosin sections. Commonly utilized IHC stains for melanoma diagnosis include SOX10, Melan‐A, and S100. A relatively novel stain, PReferentially expressed Antigen in MElanoma (PRAME), is also proving useful in accurate melanoma diagnosis. However, none of these stains are completely specific to melanocytes or melanoma, and misinterpretation can lead to incorrect diagnoses. This report presents a unique case of triple‐negative breast carcinoma (TNBC) metastatic to the skin exhibiting histopathologic characteristics similar to melanoma, including positivity for SOX10 and PRAME. Our aim is to highlight TNBC metastatic to the skin as a potential diagnostic pitfall.
Procedural and clinical outcomes of patients undergoing a TAVI in TAVI procedure: Rationale and design of the multicentre, prospective, observational ReTAVI registry
Authors: Parma Radoslaw , Joner Michael , Saia Francesco , Cuisset Thomas , Delgado Victoria , Rodes‐Cabau Josep , Modine Thomas , Van Belle Eric , Fovino Luca Nai , Landes Uri , Alvarez‐Covarrubias Hector Alfonso , Abdel‐Wahab Mohamed , Zamorano Jose Luis , Eden Matthias , Cademartiri Filippo , Skipirzepa Joanna Nawara , Kurucova Jana , Greinert Daniel , Bramlage Peter , Tarantini Giuseppe
Published: May 2024

Background

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is increasingly being used in younger patients and those with lower peri‐procedural risk, meaning more patients will live long enough to experience structural valve deterioration (SVD) of the bioprosthesis, indicating repeated TAVI. Experience of repeated TAVI—transcatheter heart valve (THV) implantation into an index THV is limited. This registry aims to assess the peri‐procedural and short‐term safety, efficacy and durability of repeated TAVI.

Methods

The ReTAVI Prospective observational registry is an investigator‐initiated, multicentre, international, prospective registry of patients undergoing repeated TAVI using balloon‐expandable SAPIEN prosthesis to evaluate procedural and short‐term safety, efficacy and durability as well as anatomical and procedural factors associated with optimal results. The registry will enrol at least 150 patients across 60 high‐volume centres. Patients must be ≥18 years old, have had procedural success with their first TAVI, have index THV device failure, intend to undergo repeated TAVI and be considered suitable candidates by their local Heart Team. All patients will undergo a 30‐day and 12‐month follow‐up. The estimated study completion is 2025.

Conclusions

The registry will collect pre‐, peri‐, postoperative and 12‐months data on patients undergoing repeated TAVI procedures with THVs for failure of the index THV and determine VARC‐3‐defined efficacy and safety at 30 days and functional outcome at 12 months. The registry will expand existing data sets and identify patient characteristics/indicators related to complications and clinical benefits for patients with symptomatic severe calcific degenerative aortic stenosis.
Distinct responses to warming within picoplankton communities across an environmental gradient
Authors: Stevens Bethany L. F. , Peacock Emily E. , Crockford E. Taylor , Shalapyonok Alexi , Neubert Michael G. , Sosik Heidi M.
Published: May 2024

Picophytoplankton are a ubiquitous component of marine plankton communities and are expected to be favored by global increases in seawater temperature and stratification associated with climate change. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic picophytoplankton have distinct ecology, and global models predict that the two groups will respond differently to future climate scenarios. At a nearshore observatory on the Northeast US Shelf, however, decades of year‐round monitoring have shown these two groups to be highly synchronized in their responses to environmental variability. To reconcile the differences between regional and global predictions for picophytoplankton dynamics, we here investigate the picophytoplankton community across the continental shelf gradient from the nearshore observatory to the continental slope. We analyze flow cytometry data from 22 research cruises, comparing the response of picoeukaryote and Synechococcus communities to environmental variability across time and space. We find that the mechanisms controlling picophytoplankton abundance differ across taxa, season, and distance from shore. Like the prokaryote, Synechococcus, picoeukaryote division rates are limited nearshore by low temperatures in winter and spring, and higher temperatures offshore lead to an earlier spring bloom. Unlike Synechococcus, picoeukaryote concentration in summer decreases dramatically in offshore surface waters and exhibits deeper subsurface maxima. The offshore picoeukaryote community appears to be nutrient limited in the summer and subject to much greater loss rates than Synechococcus. This work both produces and demonstrates the necessity of taxon‐ and site‐specific knowledge for accurately predicting the responses of picophytoplankton to ongoing environmental change.
Kierkegaard and Natural Law
Authors: Spinks Casey
Published: May 2024

Abstract: This essay addresses the relationship between Kierkegaard and natural law afresh. First, I exposit Thomas's natural law doctrine in the Summa, particularly its theological emphasis on the God‐human relationship, which often goes underappreciated. Then, I argue that natural law doctrine downstream from Thomas suffers from an acute vulnerability: its natural aspect is emphasised so much that the divine‐human relationship at the heart of natural law falls away. Next, I argue Problema II of Fear and Trembling deals with this same issue and theologically criticises ethics’ secularising tendency. I then argue that Fear and Trembling and other writings of Kierkegaard's corpus claim a universal law similar to Thomas's doctrine: each individual must relate absolutely to God. Thereby, Kierkegaard transforms natural law from a general norm prone to secularisation into a gift and theological task for everyone, grounding the possibility of ethics in the divine‐human relationship. For regular dogmatic purposes, I suggest this shifts natural law to the doctrines of justification and sanctification.
Short (≤6 mm) compared with ≥10‐mm dental implants in different clinical scenarios: A systematic review of randomized clinical trials with meta‐analysis, trial sequential analysis and quality of evidence grading
Authors: Ravidà Andrea , Serroni Matteo , Borgnakke Wenche S. , Romandini Mario , Wang I‐Ching (Izzie) , Arena Claudia , Annunziata Marco , Cecoro Gennaro , Saleh Muhammad H. A.
Published: May 2024

Aim

To systematically identify, synthesize and critically summarize the available scientific evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) regarding whether short (≤6 mm) perform as well as long (≥10 mm) implants regarding implant survival, marginal bone loss, and biologic and prosthetic complications in different clinical scenarios.

Materials and Methods

Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool and the GRADE approach were applied. Results were synthesized using random‐effects meta‐analyses assessed by trial sequential analyses.

Results

Forty reports on 19 RCTs comprising 2214 (1097 short; 1117 long) implants were included. Moderate/high certainty/quality evidence demonstrated similar 5‐year survival rates for ≤6‐mm and ≥10‐mm implants in non‐augmented bone and full‐mouth rehabilitation in either jaw, and for 6‐mm implants in the maxilla instead of sinus lift. Nevertheless, the evidence for 5‐year survival rates remains inconclusive or insufficient for the remaining combinations of implant lengths and clinical scenarios. They include 4‐mm and 5‐mm implants as alternatives to sinus lift as well as placing all implant lengths ≤6 mm instead of vertical ridge augmentation with long implants. Marginal bone level and short‐ and long‐term biologic or prosthetic complications were similar.

Conclusions

Based on moderate/high certainty/quality evidence from 5‐year RCTs, implants ≤6 mm may be viable alternatives to ≥10‐mm implants in either jaw in native bone and full‐arch rehabilitation, and 6‐mm implants may be used as an alternative to sinus lift. Trial registration: PROSPERO ID: CRD42021254365.
Influence of stress resilience in adolescence on long‐term risk of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis among men: A prospective register‐based cohort study in Sweden
Authors: Laskowski M. , Schiöler L. , Åberg M. , Abuabara K. , Wennberg A.‐M. , Gustafsson H. , Torén K.
Published: May 2024

Background

Although stress is considered to be a negative factor for psoriasis, no convincing scientific evidence of this association exists, largely because of difficulties in measuring stress. Stress resilience is the ability to cope with and adapt to stressful events. Stress resilience can be measured in a standardized way and used as a marker for chronic stress.

Objectives

The objective of this study is to investigate whether low stress resilience in adolescence increases the risk for onset of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis later in life.

Methods

A cohort of Swedish men (mean age 18.3 years), enrolled in compulsory military service between 1968 and 2005, was created using data from the Swedish Military Service Conscription Register (n = 1,669,422). Stress resilience at conscription was estimated using standardized semi‐structured interviews, and was divided into three categories: low, medium and high. The men were followed from conscription until new‐onset psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis, death or emigration or at the latest until 31 December 2019. Cox regression models adjusted for confounders at conscription were used to obtain hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for incident psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

Results

Men in the lowest stress resilience category had an increased risk of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (HR 1.31 (95% CI 1.26–1.36) and 1.23 (95% CI 1.15–1.32), respectively), compared with those in the highest stress resilience category. When including only hospitalized patients the HRs for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in the lowest stress resilience group were 1.79 (1.63–1.98) and 1.53 (1.32–1.77), respectively.

Conclusions

This large, prospective register study suggests that low stress resilience in adolescence is associated with an increased risk of incident psoriasis among men. The results indicate that patients with psoriasis have an inherent psychological vulnerability, and highlight the importance of addressing psychological well‐being in the management of psoriasis.
Evaluating ChatGPT's effectiveness and tendencies in Japanese internal medicine
Authors: Kaneda Yudai , Tayuinosho Akari , Tomoyose Rika , Takita Morihito , Hamaki Tamae , Tanimoto Tetsuya , Ozaki Akihiko
Published: May 2024

Introduction

ChatGPT, a large‐scale language model, is a notable example of AI's potential in health care. However, its effectiveness in clinical settings, especially when compared to human physicians, is not fully understood. This study evaluates ChatGPT's capabilities and limitations in answering questions for Japanese internal medicine specialists, aiming to clarify its accuracy and tendencies in both correct and incorrect responses.

Methods

We utilized ChatGPT's answers on four sets of self‐training questions for internal medicine specialists in Japan from 2020 to 2023. We ran three trials for each set to evaluate its overall accuracy and performance on nonimage questions. Subsequently, we categorized the questions into two groups: those ChatGPT consistently answered correctly (Confirmed Correct Answer, CCA) and those it consistently answered incorrectly (Confirmed Incorrect Answer, CIA). For these groups, we calculated the average accuracy rates and 95% confidence intervals based on the actual performance of internal medicine physicians on each question and analyzed the statistical significance between the two groups. This process was then similarly applied to the subset of nonimage CCA and CIA questions.

Results

ChatGPT's overall accuracy rate was 59.05%, increasing to 65.76% for nonimage questions. 24.87% of the questions had answers that varied between correct and incorrect in the three trials. Despite surpassing the passing threshold for nonimage questions, ChatGPT's accuracy was lower than that of human specialists. There was a significant variance in accuracy between CCA and CIA groups, with ChatGPT mirroring human physician patterns in responding to different question types.

Conclusion

This study underscores ChatGPT's potential utility and limitations in internal medicine. While effective in some aspects, its dependence on question type and context suggests that it should supplement, not replace, professional medical judgment. Further research is needed to integrate Artificial Intelligence tools like ChatGPT more effectively into specialized medical practices.
Development of a chemiluminescence detection technique for malachite green
Authors: Sun Yang , Zeng Shuiyu , Guo Chaolin , Zhou Pei , Xu Yinbiao , Jin Kuiqi , Han Feifei , Liu Yupeng , Li Hua , Bai Zhonghu
Published: May 2024

Malachite green (MG), a triphenylmethane dye is often used as a fungicide and preservative in fisheries due to its effectiveness against water molds in fish and fish eggs. However, excessive inhalation can be hazardous to human health. To quantify the MG concentration, we created and evaluated a 96‐well plate‐based chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA). This method used provided readings in <30 min, with an optimal incubation time of 15 min and a limit of detection of 0.20 ng·ml−1. The strong correlation (R2 >0.99) between the measured values of real fish samples examined using the method and the high‐performance liquid chromatography results confirmed the accurate quantitative detection of MG. In this study, CLIA was also used in conjunction with point‐of‐care testing (POCT) to greatly improve the efficiency of the experiments. Thus, a quantitative detection method based on MG plate chemiluminescence was established herein, with performance indexes that meet the requirements of on‐site detection. This approach is also applicable to the detection of small molecule compounds such as chloramphenicol and sulfadiazine pyrimethamine, providing a new direction in the field of food safety detection.
Comment on: Adaptive Care Planning: A paradigm shift
Authors: Tan Li Feng , Cheong Samuel Zhi Quan , Teng Jeremy Junwei , Ng Isaac Kah Siang
Published: May 2024

See related editorial by Moody et al.
Mapping analytical methods between input–output economics and network science
Authors: An Pengli , Qu Shen , Yu Ke , Xu Ming
Published: May 2024

The input–output (IO) model can be used to examine the flow of products and services within an economy, resembling a network with industries as nodes and transactions as links. Diverging significantly from commonly studied networks such as social, protein, and power grids, IO networks exhibit intricate interconnectivity, involving weighted nodes and both directional and weighted links. This uniqueness necessitates careful consideration when applying complex network analysis techniques to IO systems. We critically review current complex network metrics and attempt to link them with existing IO approaches. Based on our assessment, certain network metrics, such as degree centrality and eigenvector centrality, have been explicitly integrated into the IO theory. In contrast, there exist metrics whose definitions and interpretations expand when applied in the context of IO analysis, including closeness and betweenness centrality. Additionally, network metrics are usually used to study topological features, identify key sectors, and construct novel metrics to study related issues. Network metrics used in IO analysis can identify important driver and transmission sectors in resource flow and environmental emission network, facilitating the development of targeted and reliable strategies. Besides, network metrics are used to quantify topological features and structural changes of the IO network which help strengthen the supply chain and mitigate both direct and indirect impacts of disruptions. Our ultimate goal is to establish connections and offer a roadmap for developing network‐based tools in IO analysis.
Does a participatory live music practice support nurses to deliver compassionate care to hospitalised patients? A qualitative study
Authors: van den Berg Nina M. , Paans Wolter , Schroevers Maya J. , van der Wal‐Huisman Hanneke , van Leeuwen Barbara L.
Published: May 2024

Aim

To gain more insight into how nurses experience a participatory live music practice in relation to their ability to deliver compassionate care to medically hospitalised patients.

Design

Qualitative interpretive design.

Methods

Sixteen nurses participating in a live music practice with patients were interviewed using in‐depth interviews with open‐ended questions. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim and subsequently coded. Theory‐driven inductive and deductive approaches were applied in thematic data analysis.

Results

We identified four themes: (1) Nurses' empathy and compassion; (2) The caring nurse–patient relationship; (3) Person‐centred approaches to care and (4) Nurses' subjective wellbeing. By observing patients' reactions to the music, nurses described that they obtained a deeper insight and understanding of patients' emotional wellbeing. These observations led to increased feelings of compassion in patient contact and stimulated informal communication between nurses and patients through a sense of shared humanity. According to nurses, these aspects positively affected collaboration with patients in delivering care and stimulated them to pursue person‐centred approaches to care. Participating in the live music practice also positively affected nurses' wellbeing, enhanced relaxation and created an ambiance in which compassion could be expressed.

Conclusion

A live music practice can positively contribute to the delivery of compassionate care by providing meaningful shared moments that increase feelings of empathy and compassion and strengthen the caring relationship.

Implications for the profession

Offering a live music practice at the ward and bedside offers a unique possibility to enhance engagement in person‐centred, compassionate care.

Impact

While compassion and compassionate care are essential component of nursing, nurses often experience multiple barriers to its provision in daily practice. An innovative way to stimulate compassionate care is through the participation of nurses and patients in a live music practice, providing a meaningful moment shared between them. This stimulates feelings of shared humanity and bonding in the caring relationship.

Reporting Method

The COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative research (COREQ). No Patient or Public Contribution.
Quantitative blood loss measurement methods for early detection of primary postpartum haemorrhage following vaginal birth: A scoping review
Authors: Wang Tong , Li Hong , Liu Ying , Min Xiongkuo
Published: May 2024

Aim

To map the commonly used quantitative blood loss measurement methods in clinical practice and provide a solid foundation for future studies.

Design and Method

This study adhered to the JBI methodology for scoping reviews and preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta‐analyses extension for scoping reviews. We conducted a literature search using five databases to retrieve articles published between January 2012 and September 2022. The search was repeated on 29 February 2024. Data extraction and verification were carried out by two independent researchers using a self‐designed data extraction form.

Results

Ultimately, 26 studies published between 2012 and 2024 were considered eligible for inclusion. Six categories of methods were identified from the 26 articles. Among the included studies, only two involved randomized controlled trials, with the majority being observational studies. The World Health Organization (2012) version of the postpartum haemorrhage diagnostic criteria was predominantly used in most studies. Gravimetric and volumetric methods emerged as the most commonly used methods for quantifying postpartum haemorrhages. The timing of blood collection was inconsistent among the included studies. Only 12 studies mentioned measures for the management of amniotic fluid.

Conclusions

This scoping review supports the replacement of the visual estimation of blood loss with quantitative assessment methods. Supporting a specific assessment approach is not feasible due to the variability of the study. Future research should focus on establishing the best practices for specific quantitative methods to standardize the management of postpartum haemorrhage and reduce the incidence of postpartum haemorrhage‐related adverse outcomes.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

Healthcare professionals need to acknowledge the low accuracy of visual estimation methods and implement quantitative methods to assess postpartum blood loss. Given the limitations inherent in each assessment method, quantification of blood loss should be combined with assessment of maternal vital signs, physiologic indicators and other factors.
Pre‐pregnancy body mass index and low birthweight: Secondary data analysis using health insurance claims data in Japan
Authors: Fukui Kana , Suto Maiko , Kaneko Kayoko , Isayama Tetsuya , Ito Yushi , Takehara Kenji
Published: May 2024

Aim

For women, being underweight increases their susceptibility to osteoporosis, anemia, and other conditions and affects the weight of their infants and the well‐being of future generations. This study examined the association between low pre‐pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and low birthweight using health insurance claims data and health checkup data, including weight measurements.

Methods

We used health insurance claims data and health checkup data (JMDC, Tokyo, Japan) of women and their newborns in Japan between 2006 and 2020. We used checkup data, which included more accurate weight measurements and blood test‐based diagnoses of anemia and hyperlipidemia compared to self‐reported data. Maternal pre‐pregnancy BMI was compared across three groups: underweight (BMI <18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (BMI 18.5–24.9 kg/m2), and overweight (BMI ≥25.0 kg/m2). The primary outcome was low birthweight (<2500 g), and secondary outcome was preterm childbirth. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to compare outcomes in the three groups by BMI. The underweight BMI group was considered as the reference group. A subgroup analysis was performed by maternal age.

Results

In total, 16 363 mothers (underweight, 3418 [21%], normal weight, 11 493 [70%], and overweight, 1452 [8.9%]) were included. The risk of primary outcome (low birthweight) was significantly lower in the normal weight group than in the underweight group (4.6% vs. 5.7%; adjusted odds ratio 0.78 [95% confidence interval: 0.65–0.96]). In the subgroup analyses, no significant differences were noted in the incidences of low birthweight and preterm childbirth between maternal age groups.

Conclusions

Pre‐pregnancy BMI was associated with an increased risk of delivering low‐birthweight infant. Awareness about the importance of women's pre‐pregnancy health and appropriate BMI may reduce the incidence of low birthweight.
Reliability of an intraoral extension for intraoral palpation and assessment of mechanical sensitivity of the temporal tendon
Authors: Renner Nicole , Costa Yuri M. , Castrillon Eduardo E. , Exposto Fernando G.
Published: May 2024

Background

The temporal tendon is a structure often compromised in patients suffering from temporomandibular disorders (TMD), yet its intraoral location makes a standardised assessment difficult.

Objectives

To evaluate the variability and accuracy to target force of a newly designed intraoral extension for a palpometer device (Palpeter, Sunstar Suisse) when compared to manual palpation, in addition to clinically assessing the mechanical sensitivity and referred sensations of the temporal tendon in healthy individuals.

Methods

Experiment 1: 12 individuals were asked to target on a scale 0.5, 1 and 2 kg, for 2 and 5 s by using five different methods (Palpeter, Palpeter with three different extension shapes and manual palpation). Experiment 2: 10 healthy participants were recruited for a randomised double‐blinded assessment by applying pressure of 0.5, 1 and 2 kg to the right temporal tendon with the three extensions and manual palpation. Participants rated the intensity of their sensation/pain on a 0–50–100 numeric rating scale (NRS), unpleasantness on a 0–100 NRS, and if present, they rated and drew the location of referred sensations. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used in both experiments to compare differences between palpation methods. Tukey's HSD tests were used for the post hoc comparisons, and p values below .05 were considered significant.

Results

Experiment 1: The extensions showed no significant differences between them regarding reliability and accuracy for all forces and durations (p > .05). The manual method was significantly less reliable and accurate when compared to the other methods (p < .05). Experiment 2: There were no significant differences between the Palpeter extensions regarding pain intensity or unpleasantness NRS scores (p > .05), but all the extensions had significantly increased pain intensity and unpleasantness when compared to manual palpation (p < .05). Similarly, the frequency of referred sensations was similar between extensions but increased when compared to manual palpation.

Conclusions

The new Palpeter extensions proved to be significantly more accurate and have lower test–retest variability than the manual method in a non‐clinical setting. Clinically, they showed no significant differences in NRS scores for pain intensity nor unpleasantness, with no major differences in referred sensations, making any of the extensions suitable for clinical testing of the temporal tendon in future studies.
Histological evaluation of osseointegration between conventional and novel bone‐level tapered implants in healed bone—A preclinical study
Authors: Imber Jean‐Claude , Roccuzzo Andrea , Irani Delia R. , Bellón Benjamin , Bosshardt Dieter D. , Sculean Anton , Pippenger Benjamin E.
Published: May 2024

Aims

To histologically compare osseointegration and crestal bone healing between newly introduced tapered, self‐cutting bone‐level test implants and tapered bone‐level control implants in sites with fully healed sites.

Methods

Sixty‐six implants (33 test, 33 control) were placed 1 mm subcrestally in a minipig model and underwent qualitative histologic and quantitative histometric analyses after 3, 6 and 12 weeks of submerged healing. The primary and secondary outcomes were the bone‐to‐implant contact (BIC) and first bone‐to‐implant contact (fBIC). Outcomes between the test and control implants were statistically compared.

Results

The BIC values of the test implants were comparable and non‐inferior over the time points studied, except for the 12 weeks time point which showed statistically significantly higher BIC values of the test (88.07 ± 5.35%) compared to the control implants (80.88 ± 7.51%) (p = .010). Similarly comparable and non‐inferior were the fBIC values, except for the 6‐week outcome, which showed statistically higher values for the test (−546.5 ± 450.80 μm) compared to the control implants (−75.7 ± 100.59 μm). fBIC results for the test implants were qualitatively more stable and consistent between test time points.

Conclusion

Novel self‐cutting bone‐level test implants demonstrated superior osseointegration and similar bone levels compared to conventional bone‐level implants after a healing period of 12 weeks in healed ridges.
Medical students', residents', and nurses's feedback to clinical educators in Taiwan: A qualitative study
Authors: Jenq Chang‐Chyi , Lin Jiun‐Ren , Quattri Francesca , Monrouxe Lynn
Published: May 2024

Background

Feedback is a crucial element in learning. While studies in the field of healthcare professions education have highlighted the process of educators feeding back to learners, relatively little investigation exists on learners feeding back to educators in Asian cultures. Studies show that recipients of effective feedback develop educational skills and reflective practice, but the process of giving feedback seems to have been mainly studied through surveys and questionnaires. Such research offers little to no insights on feedback providers' and recipients' experiences of feedback. To fill the gap, in the context of multi‐source feedback, we investigate medical students, residents, and nurses feedback giving to clinical educators (and their receiving of this) following a case presentation training course. We aim to understand the facilitators and inhibitors that encourage and/or prevent feedback provision alongside educators' uptake and reactions.

Methods

We used semi‐structured group interviews. Participants comprised five different categories of participants: year‐4 medical students (n = 6); residents (n = 5); nurses (n = 4); junior clinical educators (n = 9); senior clinical educators (n = 3). We asked them about their experiences of providing feedback to educators and educators receiving of feedback on their teaching. Group interviews were conducted in the largest healthcare institution in Taiwan. Data were analysed using thematic Framework Analysis and managed in ATLAS.ti 8.0.

Results

We identified two major themes with respective sub‐themes: (1) Factors affecting feedback giving (including desire for improvement, feedback content, process of feedback, feedback fears, feedback prevention and medical hierarchy); and (2) Educators' reactions to receiving feedback (including validity of feedback, face‐saving and emotional reactions to receiving feedback).

Conclusions

Feedback provision to educators on their teaching, and educators' receiving of this feedback in an Asian culture brings forth issues around medical hierarchy, in‐person feedback and face‐saving, which have important implications for effective and optimal delivery of feedback. Curricular developers should consider the context of feedback (e.g. anonymously online), facilitating students as active participants for the development of educational quality, and educators' mindful practice when engaging with student feedback.
Meal effects on gastric bioelectrical activity utilizing body surface gastric mapping in healthy subjects
Authors: Huang I‐Hsuan , Calder Stefan , Gharibans Armen A. , Schamberg Gabriel , Varghese Chris , Andrews Christopher N. , Tack Jan , O'Grady Greg
Published: May 2024

Background

Gastric sensorimotor disorders are prevalent. While gastric emptying measurements are commonly used, they may not fully capture the underlying pathophysiology. Body surface gastric mapping (BSGM) recently emerged to assess gastric sensorimotor dysfunction. This study assessed varying meal size on BSGM responses to inform test use in a wider variety of contexts.

Methods

Data from multiple healthy cohorts receiving BSGM were pooled, using four different test meals. A standard BSGM protocol was employed: 30‐min fasting, 4‐h post‐prandial, using Gastric Alimetry® (Alimetry, New Zealand). Meals comprised: (i) nutrient drink + oatmeal bar (482 kcal; ‘standard meal’); (ii) oatmeal bar alone; egg and toast meal, and pancake (all ~250 kcal). Gastric Alimetry metrics included BMI‐adjusted Amplitude, Principal Gastric Frequency, Gastric Alimetry Rhythm Index (GA‐RI) and Fed:Fasted Amplitude Ratio (ff‐AR).

Key Results

238 participants (59.2% female) were included. All meals significantly increased amplitude and frequency during the first postprandial hour (p < 0.05). There were no differences in postprandial frequency across meals (p > 0.05). The amplitude and GA‐RI of the standard meal (n = 110) were significantly higher than the energy bar alone (n = 45) and egg meal (n = 65) (all p < 0.05). All BSGM metrics were comparable across the three smaller meals (p > 0.05). A higher symptom burden was found in the oatmeal bar group versus the standard meal and pancake meal (p = 0.01, 0.003, respectively).

Conclusions & Inferences

The consumption of lower calorie meals elicited different postprandial responses, when compared to the standard Gastric Alimetry meal. These data will guide interpretations of BSGM when applied with lower calorie meals.
Evaluation of different machine learning algorithms for extraction decision in orthodontic treatment
Authors: Köktürk Begüm , Pamukçu Hande , Gözüaçık Ömer
Published: May 2024

Introduction

The extraction decision significantly affects the treatment process and outcome. Therefore, it is crucial to make this decision with a more objective and standardized method. The objectives of this study were (1) to identify the best‐performing model among seven machine learning (ML) models, which will standardize the extraction decision and serve as a guide for inexperienced clinicians, and (2) to determine the important variables for the extraction decision.

Methods

This study included 1000 patients who received orthodontic treatment with or without extraction (500 extraction and 500 non‐extraction). The success criteria of the study were the decisions made by the four experienced orthodontists. Seven ML models were trained using 36 variables; including demographic information, cephalometric and model measurements. First, the extraction decision was performed, and then the extraction type was identified. Accuracy and area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve were used to measure the success of ML models.

Results

The Stacking Classifier model, which consists of Gradient Boosted Trees, Support Vector Machine, and Random Forest models, showed the highest performance in extraction decision with 91.2% AUC. The most important features determining extraction decision were maxillary and mandibular arch length discrepancy, Wits Appraisal, and ANS‐Me length. Likewise, the Stacking Classifier showed the highest performance with 76.3% accuracy in extraction type decisions. The most important variables for the extraction type decision were mandibular arch length discrepancy, Class I molar relationship, cephalometric overbite, Wits Appraisal, and L1‐NB distance.

Conclusion

The Stacking Classifier model exhibited the best performance for the extraction decision. While ML models showed a high performance in extraction decision, they could not able to achieve the same level of performance in extraction type decision.
Immune monitoring in pediatric kidney transplant
Authors: Laroche Camille , Engen Rachel M.
Published: May 2024

Background

Long‐term outcomes in pediatric kidney transplantation remain suboptimal, largely related to chronic rejection. Creatinine is a late marker of renal injury, and more sensitive, early markers of allograft injury are an active area of current research.

Methods

This is an educational review summarizing existing strategies for monitoring for rejection in kidney transplant recipients.

Results

We summarize supporting currently available clinical tests, including surveillance biopsy, donor specific antibodies, and donor‐derived cell free DNA, as well as the potential limitations of these studies. In addition, we review the current avenues of active research, including transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and torque tenovirus levels.

Conclusion

Advancing the use of noninvasive immune monitoring will depend on well‐designed multicenter trials that include patients with stable graft function, include biopsy results on all patients, and can demonstrate both association with a patient‐relevant clinical endpoint such as graft survival or change in glomerular filtration rate and a potential timepoint for intervention.
Using machine learning techniques in inverse problems of acoustical oceanography
Authors: Smaragdakis Costas , Taroudaki Viktoria , Taroudakis Michael I.
Published: May 2024

The goal of the work presented here is to study a novel approach for inverting acoustic signals recorded in the marine environment for the estimation of environmental parameters of the water column and/or the seabed. The proposed approach is based on signal feature extraction using a discrete wavelet packet transform, applied to the measured signal, and hidden Markov models that exploit the sequential patterns of the signals. The signal feature is thereafter used in the framework of a mixture density network, which, after training with sets of simulated signals calculated within a predefined search space, provides conditional posterior distributions of the recoverable parameters. The technique is tested with two test cases corresponding to different types of inverse problems. The first case corresponds to a simple problem of geoacoustic inversion, while the second is referred to a, rather unusual, still interesting problem of recovering the shape of a seamount using long‐range acoustic data. Both test cases are based on simulated experiments. The inversion results obtained using the proposed scheme are compared with inversion results using statistical features of the acoustic signal, which is another inversion approach well documented in the literature and is also based on the wavelet packet transform of the measured signal.
Geopolitical risk, supply chains, and global inflation
Authors: Asadollah Omid , Carmy Linda Schwartz , Hoque Md. Rezwanul , Yilmazkuday Hakan
Published: May 2024

This paper investigates the effects of global geopolitical risks and global supply chain pressures on global inflation for the monthly period of 1999M1–2022M12. The investigation is based on a structural vector autoregression model, where the effects of global oil prices and global monetary policy are controlled for. Four alternative measures of inflation are used, including headline, core, food, and energy inflation. The empirical results show that disruptions in global supply chains are the main drivers of global inflation in the long run as the corresponding shocks explain the lion's share of volatilities in headline inflation (by 32%), core inflation (by 30%), and food inflation (by 22%), followed by oil price shocks and policy rate shocks. In comparison, energy inflation is explained the most by oil price shocks (by 55%) followed by supply chain shocks and policy rate shocks. Positive supply chain pressure and oil price shocks have positive and statistically significant effects on headline inflation even after five years, whereas positive policy rate shocks have negative and statistically significant effects on headline inflation in the long run. In contrast, positive shocks to geopolitical risk result in higher headline inflation only up to one year, with insignificant effects in the long run. Several policy implications follow.