bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of non-cardiovascular comorbidities on the quality of life of patients with chronic heart failure: a scoping review
Authors: Comín-Colet Josep , Martín Lorenzo Teresa , González-Domínguez Almudena , Oliva Juan , Jiménez Merino Silvia 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Purpose
To determine the impact of non-cardiovascular comorbidities on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

Methods
A scoping review of the scientific literature published between 2009 and 2019 was carried out. Observational studies which assessed the HRQoL of patients with CHF using validated questionnaires and its association with non-cardiovascular comorbidities were included.

Results
The search identified 1904 studies, of which 21 fulfilled the inclusion criteria to be included for analysis. HRQoL was measured through specific, generic, or both types of questionnaires in 72.2%, 16.7%, and 11.1% of the studies, respectively. The most common comorbidities studied were diabetes mellitus (12 studies), mental and behavioral disorders (8 studies), anemia and/or iron deficiency (7 studies), and respiratory diseases (6 studies). Across studies, 93 possible associations between non-cardiovascular comorbidities and HRQoL were tested, of which 21.5% regarded anemia or iron deficiency, 20.4% mental and behavioral disorders, 20.4% diabetes mellitus, and 14.0% respiratory diseases. Despite the large heterogeneity across studies, all 21 showed that the presence of a non-cardiovascular comorbidity had a negative impact on the HRQoL of patients with CHF. A statistically significant impact on worse HRQoL was found in 84.2% of associations between mental and behavioral disorders and HRQoL (patients with depression had up to 200% worse HRQoL than patients without depression); 73.7% of associations between diabetes mellitus and HRQoL (patients with diabetes mellitus had up to 21.8% worse HRQoL than patients without diabetes mellitus); 75% of associations between anemia and/or iron deficiency and HRQoL (patients with anemia and/or iron deficiency had up to 25.6% worse HRQoL than between patients without anemia and/or iron deficiency); and 61.5% of associations between respiratory diseases and HRQoL (patients with a respiratory disease had up to 21.3% worse HRQoL than patients without a respiratory disease).

Conclusion
The comprehensive management of patients with CHF should include the management of comorbidities which have been associated with a worse HRQoL, with special emphasis on anemia and iron deficiency, mental and behavioral disorders, diabetes mellitus, and respiratory diseases. An adequate control of these comorbidities may have a positive impact on the HRQoL of patients.
Determinants of health-related quality of life decline in interstitial lung disease
Authors: Maqhuzu Phillen Nozibuyiso , Szentes Boglarka L. , Kreuter Michael , Bahmer Thomas , Kahn Nicolas , Claussen Martin , Holle Rolf , Schwarzkopf Larissa 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background
Health-related quality of life (HRQL) in interstitial lung disease (ILD) patients is impaired. We aimed to identify baseline predictors for HRQL decline within a 12-month observation period.

Methods
We analyzed 194 ILD patients from two German ILD-centers in the observational HILDA study. We employed the disease-specific King’s Brief Interstitial Lung Disease questionnaire (K-BILD) with the subdomains ‘psychological impact’, ‘chest symptoms’ and ‘breathlessness and activities’, and the generic EQ-5D Visual Analog Scale (VAS). We evaluated how many patients experienced a clinically meaningful decline in HRQL. Subsequently, we investigated medical and sociodemographic factors as potential predictors of HRQL deterioration.

Results
Within the study population (34.0% male, Ø age 61.7) mean HRQL scores hardly changed between baseline and follow up (K-BILD: 52.8 vs. 52.5 | VAS: 60.0 vs. 57.3). On the intra-individual level, 30.4% (n = 59) experienced a clinically relevant deterioration in K-BILD total score and 35.4% (n = 68) in VAS. Lower baseline forced vital capacity (FVC) % predicted determined HRQL decline in K-BILD total score (ß-coefficient: − 0.02, p = 0.007), VAS (ß-coefficient: − 0.03, p < 0.0001), and in the subdomain ‘psychological impact’ (ß-coefficient: − 0.02, p = 0.014). Lower baseline diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO) % predicted determined deterioration in ‘breathlessness and activities’ (ß-coefficient: − 0.04, p = 0.003) and ‘chest symptoms’ (ß-coefficient: − 0.04, p = 0.002). Additionally, increasing age predicted decline in ‘psychological impact’ (ß-coefficient: 0.06, p < 0.007).

Conclusion
Around a third of ILD patients experienced a clinically relevant HRQL deterioration in a 12-month period, which was associated with baseline lung function values in all K-BILD domains. As lung function values are time-dependent variables with possible improvements, in contrast to age and ILD subtype, it, thus, seems important to improve lung function and prevent its decline in order to maintain HRQL on the possibly highest level.
Chemotherapy use and quality of life in cancer patients at the end of life: an integrative review
Authors: Akhlaghi Elham , Lehto Rebecca H. , Torabikhah Mohsen , Sharif Nia Hamid , Taheri Ahmad , Zaboli Ehsan , Yaghoobzadeh Ameneh 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background
When curative treatments are no longer available for cancer patients, the aim of treatment is palliative. The emphasis of palliative care is on optimizing quality of life and provided support for patients nearing end of life. However, chemotherapy is often offered as a palliative therapy for patients with advanced cancer nearing death. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the state of the science relative to use of palliative chemotherapy and maintenance of quality of life in patients with advanced cancer who were at end of life.

Materials and methods
Published research from January 2010 to December 2019 was reviewed using PRISMA guidelines using PubMed, Proquest, ISI web of science, Science Direct, and Scopus databases. MeSH keywords including quality of life, health related quality of life, cancer chemotherapy, drug therapy, end of life care, palliative care, palliative therapy, and palliative treatment.

Findings
13 studies were evaluated based on inclusion criteria. Most of these studies identified that reduced quality of life was associated with receipt of palliative chemotherapy in patients with advanced cancer at the end of life.

Conclusion
Studies have primarily been conducted in European and American countries. Cultural background of patients may impact quality of life at end of life. More research is needed in developing countries including Mideastern and Asian countries.
Cross-cultural adaptation, validity, and reliability of the Nepali version of the Exercise Adherence Rating Scale: a methodological study
Authors: Adhikari Shambhu P. , Dev Rubee , Shrestha Jayana N. 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background
The Exercise Adherence Rating Scale (EARS) is a commonly used outcome tool, which helps to identify the adherence rate of exercises and reasons for adherence and non-adherence. There is no evidence of the availability of any measurement tools to assess exercise adherence in the Nepalese context and cultural background. Therefore, we conducted a cross-cultural adaptation of the EARS into the Nepali language and investigated its reliability and validity.

Methods
Cross-cultural adaptation of the EARS was done based on Beaton guidelines. Psychometric properties were evaluated among 18 participants aged 18 years or older with pre-diabetes or confirmed diagnosis of any disease who were prescribed with home exercises by physiotherapists. Any disease that limited participants from doing exercise and individuals unwilling to participate were excluded. Reliability was evaluated through internal consistency, using Cronbach’s alpha. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was performed to explore construct validity and confirm its unidimensionality. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve was analyzed to identify cut-off score, sensitivity and specificity of the tool.

Results
The Cronbach’s alpha was 0.94 for EARS-adherence behavior. The EFA of 6-items adherence behavior revealed the presence of one factor with an eigenvalue exceeding one. The scree-plot suggested for extraction of only one factor with strong loading (75.84%). The Area Under the Curve was 0.91 with 95% confidence interval 0.77–1.00 at p = 0.004. The cutoff score was found 17.5 with 89% sensitivity and 78% specificity.

Conclusions
The EARS was cross-culturally adapted to the Nepali language. The reliability and construct validity of the Nepali version of the EARS were acceptable to assess exercise adherence in Nepali-speaking individuals. This validated tool might facilitate the evaluation of exercise-related interventions. Future studies could investigate other psychometric properties of the Nepali EARS.
Translation, cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Slovenian version of Harris Hip Score
Authors: Josipović Petra , Moharič Metka , Salamon Dea 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Introduction
The Harris Hip Score is the most widely used outcome measure for the assessment of hip pathologies. An official Slovenian version has not been culturally adapted and validated. The aim of this study was to create a Slovenian valid and reliable version of the HHS.

Materials and method
The HHS was translated and modified in Slovenian. The measurement properties of the Slovenian HHS were tested in 42 patients suffering from different hip pathologies. Reliability, responsiveness, construct validity, convergent/divergent validity and content validity of the Slovenian version of the HHS were tested.

Results
Only minor adaptation was required in the translation process. The internal consistency of the HHS expressed by Cronbach’s alpha was 0.94. The test–retest reliability expressed by the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.983. The correlations of the HHS scale with the WOMAC scale (r = − 0.877) and the VAS scale (r = − 0.717) were statistically significant. The highest correlation between the HHS and SF-36 was with the General Health dimension (r = 0.61). while the lowest correlation was with the SF-36 Mental Health dimension (r = 0.43). MDC95% was 10.1. No floor or ceiling effects were found.

Conclusion
Slovenian version of HHS seems to has an acceptable level of reliability and validity. Slovenian HHS is short, comprehensible and easy to administer and interpret.

Trial registration

Approved by the Slovenian National Medical Ethics Committee (0120-46/2019/19).
Clinical benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy with carboplatin and gemcitabine in patients with non-small cell lung cancer: a single-center retrospective study
Authors: Takashima Shinogu , Imai Kazuhiro , Atari Maiko , Matsuo Tsubasa , Nakayama Katsutoshi , Sato Yusuke , Motoyama Satoru , Shibata Hiroyuki , Nomura Kyoko , Minamiya Yoshihiro 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Purpose
In cases of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), surgery remains the best option for cure, but surgery is of benefit only when the disease is localized. Although adjuvant chemotherapy reportedly has a significant beneficial effect on survival, the benefit of a carboplatin (CBDCA) regimen is unclear. We therefore investigated the efficacy and tolerability of CBDCA (area under the curve 5) plus gemcitabine (GEM, 1000 mg/m2) as adjuvant chemotherapy.

Methods
A total of 82 pStage IB-IIIA NSCLC patients who had undergone complete resection and received adjuvant chemotherapy were analyzed retrospectively. Among them, 65 patients received CBDCA + GEM and 17 received CDDP + VNR. Propensity score analysis generated 17 matched pairs of both groups.

Results
Sixty-five patients received CBDCA + GEM. Their 5-year relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival were 47.8% (median, 52.5 months) and 76.9% (median, 90.1 months), respectively. Toxicities, which included neutropenia, nausea/anorexia, fatigue, and vasculitis, were significantly milder than with CDDP + VNR. There were no significant differences in RFS between CBDCA + GEM and CDDP + VNR (p = 0.079) after matching for age, performance status, and pStage.

Conclusion
CBDCA + GEM was effective and well tolerated as adjuvant chemotherapy, with a manageable toxicity profile.
Sensing form - finger gaiting as key to
tactile object exploration - a data glove analysis of a prototypical daily
task
Authors: Krammer Werner , Missimer John H. , Habegger Simon , Pastore-Wapp Manuela , Wiest Roland , Weder Bruno J. 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background
Motor hand skill and associated dexterity is important for meeting
the challenges of daily activity and an important resource post-stroke. In this
context, the present study investigated the finger movements of right-handed
subjects during tactile manipulation of a cuboid, a prototypical task underlying
tactile exploration. During one motor act, the thumb and fingers of one hand
surround the cuboid in a continuous and regular manner. While the object is
moved by the guiding thumb, the opposed supporting fingers are replaced once
they reach their joint limits by free fingers, a mechanism termed finger
gaiting.

Methods
For both hands of 22 subjects, we acquired the time series of
consecutive manipulations of a cuboid at a frequency of 1 Hz, using a digital
data glove consisting of 29 sensors. Using principle component analysis, we
decomposed the short action into motor patterns related to successive
manipulations of the cuboid. The components purport to represent changing grasp
configurations involving the stabilizing fingers and guiding thumb. The temporal
features of the components permits testing whether the distinct configurations
occur at the frequency of 1 Hz, i.e. within the time window of 1 s, and, thus,
taxonomic classification of the manipulation as finger gaiting.

Results
The fraction of variance described by the principal components
indicated that three components described the salient features of the single
motor acts for each hand. Striking in the finger patterns was the prominent and
varying roles of the MCP and PIP joints of the fingers, and the CMC joint of the
thumb. An important aspect of the three components was their representation of
distinct finger configurations within the same motor act. Principal component
and graph theory analysis confirmed modular, functionally synchronous action of
the involved joints. The computation of finger trajectories in one subject
illustrated the workspace of the task, which differed for the right and left
hands.

Conclusion
In this task one complex motor act of 1 s duration could be
described by three elementary and hierarchically ordered grasp configurations
occurring at the prescribed frequency of 1 Hz. Therefore, these configurations
represent finger gaiting, described until now only in artificial systems, as the
principal mechanism underlying this prototypical task.

Trial registration
clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02865642, registered 12 August 2016.
Rhythmic neural activity is comodulated with short-term gait modifications during first-time use of a dummy prosthesis: a pilot study
Authors: Kooiman Vera G. M. , van Keeken Helco G. , Maurits Natasha M. , Weerdesteyn Vivian , Solis-Escalante Teodoro 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background
After transfemoral amputation, many hours of practice are needed to re-learn walking with a prosthesis. The long adaptation process that consolidates a novel gait pattern seems to depend on cerebellar function for reinforcement of specific gait modifications, but the precise, step-by-step gait modifications (e.g., foot placement) most likely rely on top-down commands from the brainstem and cerebral cortex. The aim of this study was to identify, in able-bodied individuals, the specific modulations of cortical rhythms that accompany short-term gait modifications during first-time use of a dummy prosthesis.

Methods
Fourteen naïve participants walked on a treadmill without (one block, 4 min) and with a dummy prosthesis (three blocks, 3 × 4 min), while ground reaction forces and 32-channel EEG were recorded. Gait cycle duration, stance phase duration, step width, maximal ground reaction force and, ground reaction force trace over time were measured to identify gait modifications. Independent component analysis of EEG data isolated brain-related activity from distinct anatomical sources. The source-level data were segmented into gait cycles and analyzed in the time–frequency domain to reveal relative enhancement or suppression of intrinsic cortical oscillations. Differences between walking conditions were evaluated with one-way ANOVA and post-hoc testing (α = 0.05).

Results
Immediate modifications occurred in the gait parameters when participants were introduced to the dummy prosthesis. Except for gait cycle duration, these modifications remained throughout the duration of the experimental session. Power modulations of the theta, mu, beta, and gamma rhythms, of sources presumably from the fronto-central and the parietal cortices, were found across the experimental session. Significant power modulations of the theta, beta, and gamma rhythms within the gait cycle were predominately found around the heel strike of both feet and the swing phase of the right (prosthetic) leg.

Conclusions
The modulations of cortical activity could be related to whole-body coordination, including the swing phase and placing of the prosthesis, and the bodyweight transfer between legs and arms. Reduced power modulation of the gamma rhythm within the experimental session may indicate initial motor memories being formed. Better understanding of the sensorimotor processes behind gait modifications may inform the development of neurofeedback strategies to assist gait rehabilitation.
Oatmeal induced gut microbiota alteration and its relationship with improved lipid profiles: a secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Ye Mengyao , Sun Jianqin , Chen Yanqiu , Ren Qian , Li Zhen , Zhao Yanfang , Pan Yiru , Xue Huijun 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background
In vitro and animal experiments reported a microbiota-regulating ability of oatmeal, however, related in vivo evidences remained limited. Thus, we conducted this study aiming to investigate the oatmeal-induced alteration of gut microbiota and its potential relationship with the improvements of lipid profiles.

Methods and study design
Data of anthropometric measurements and biochemical parameters were extracted from a randomized, controlled clinical trial, in which 62 hypercholesterolemic men and women (18–65 years old) were provided with either treatment of 80 g/day oatmeal or 80 g/day refined white rice for 45 days. Fasting blood samples and fecal samples were collected both at baseline and endpoint of the study for lipid profiling and microbiota 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, respectively.

Results
Totally 28 participants (56 fecal samples) qualified with the new criteria and were thus included in this secondary analysis. The results of microbiota analysis showed that no significant difference was observed in the alteration of its overall α or β diversity between two groups throughout the study. Nor did any notable between-group difference was found in the relative abundance changes of microorganism at different taxonomies. However, results from linear discriminant analysis effect size in the oatmeal group indicated a significant positive response of Firmicutes phylum following oatmeal consumption. Further Procrustes analysis suggested a concordance trend between microorganism alteration and alleviation of hypercholesterolemia phenotypes throughout the study (P = 0.05). The results of within-group comparison from Spearman’s correlation in the oatmeal group demonstrated a significant association between the enrichment of Blautia genus and the reduction of serum total cholesterol (P < 0.05), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P < 0.01), and apolipoprotein B (P < 0.05).

Conclusions
Positive response of Firmicutes phylum might be a critical characteristic of oatmeal-induced alteration of microbiota, whereas, one of the underlying cholesterol-lowering mechanism of oatmeal consumption might be its microbiota-manipulating ability, in which the enrichment of Blautia genus played a potentially significant role. Current results should be taken cautiously and more studies were needed for further verification.
Trial registration: ChiCTR, ChiCTR180001864. Registered 30 September 2018, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=31469.
Health technology assessment and reimbursement policy for oncology orphan drugs in Central and Eastern Europe
Authors: Malinowski Krzysztof Piotr , Kawalec Paweł , Trąbka Wojciech , Sowada Christoph , Petrova Guenka , Manova Manoela , Savova Alexandra , Draganić Pero , Slabý Juraj , Männik Agnes , Márky Kristóf , Rugaja Zinta , Gulbinovic Jolanta , Tesar Tomas , Paveliu Marian Sorin 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background
The reimbursement of orphan drugs (OD) is an increasingly important for country policymakers, and still insufficiently understood, especially in Central and Eastern Europe. The aim of this research was to provide a comprehensive description of country-specific health technology assessment (HTA) policies as well as evaluate the percentage of HTA recommendations and reimbursement decisions for oncology OD. In addition, the study was designed to elucidate the impact of reimbursement of these drugs on the public budget and the agreement between HTA recommendations and reimbursement decisions in the analysed countries. A questionnaire survey was used to collect data on the reimbursement status, HTA recommendation, marketing authorisation, and public expenses on reimbursement in 2014, 2015, and 2016 for all oncology drugs with an orphan designation by the European Medicine Agency in 2017 in Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia. The agreement between the HTA recommendation and reimbursement status was assessed using the kappa coefficient. The Pearson’s correlation was used to analyse the relationship between gross domestic product (GDP) and GDP per capita and reimbursement expenses.

Results
A total of 36 drugs were analysed (25% conditionally approved; 5.56% approved under exceptional circumstances). The share of reimbursed drugs ranged from 11.11% in Latvia to 41.67% in Poland. The highest share of positive recommendations was observed for Bulgaria and Estonia (36.11%), and the lowest, for Latvia (11.11%). The agreement varied from 0.4 for Poland to 1 for Latvia, Hungary, and Slovakia. Expenses were correlated with GDP (0.95 [0.81–0.99]), and not with GDP per capita (0.54 [− 0.136 to 0.873]). Expenses per capita were not correlated with GDP per capita (0.52 [− 0.15 to 0.87]).

Conclusions
In Hungary, Latvia, and Slovakia, a positive recommendation was associated with a reimbursement, and a negative one, with the lack of reimbursement. The reimbursement of oncology OD is associated with a growing burden for public budget, and the expenses are correlated with the total GDP. The highest share of drugs with any recommendation was observed in Poland, and the lowest, in Latvia and Romania. The share of reimbursed drugs was the lowest in Latvia and the highest in Poland.