bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Rehabilitation clinicians’ perspectives of reactive balance training
Authors: Jagroop David , Houvardas Stephanie , Danells Cynthia J , Kochanowski Jennifer , French Esmé , Salbach Nancy M. , Musselman Kristin , Inness Elizabeth L. , Mansfield Avril 
Published: February 2021

ABSTRACTPurposeReactive balance training (RBT) aims to improve reactive balance control. However, because RBT involves clients losing balance, clinicians may view that it is unsafe or not feasible for some clients. We aimed to explore how clinicians are specifically implementing RBT to treat balance and mobility issues.Materials and methodsPhysiotherapists and kinesiologists across Canada who reported that they include RBT in their practices were invited to complete telephone interviews about their experience with RBT. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and analysed using a deductive thematic analysis.ResultsTen participants completed telephone interviews, which lasted between 30-60 minutes. Participants were primarily working in a hospital setting (inpatient rehabilitation (n=3); outpatient rehabilitation (n=2), and were treating those with neurological disorders (n=5). Four main themes were identified: 1) there is variability in RBT approaches; 2) knowledge can be a barrier and facilitator to RBT; 3) reactive balance control is viewed as an advanced skill; and 4) RBT experience builds confidence.ConclusionsOur findings suggest a need for resources to make clinical implementation of RBT more feasible.
Chronic Kidney Disease in Ecuador: An Epidemiological and Health System Analysis of an Emerging Public Health Crisis
Authors: Torres Irene , Sippy Rachel , Bardosh Kevin Louis , Bhargava Ramya , Lotto-Batista Martín , Bideaux Abigail E. , Garcia-Trabanino Ramon , Goldsmith Amelia , Narsipur Sriram S. , Stewart-Ibarra Anna M. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe absence of a chronic kidney disease (CKD) registry in Ecuador makes it difficult to assess the burden of disease, but there is an anticipated increase in the incidence of end-stage kidney disease along with increasing diabetes, hypertension and population age. From 2008, augmented funding for renal replacement treatment expanded dialysis clinics and patient coverage.MethodsWe conducted 73 in-depth interviews with healthcare providers in eight provinces. Findings were analyzed using qualitative methods and triangulated with quantitative data on patients with CKD diagnoses from six national-level databases between 2015 and 2018. We also reviewed grey and scientific literature on CKD and health systems in Ecuador.ResultsDatasets show a total of 17 484 dialysis patients in 2018, or 567 patients per million population (pmp), with an annual cost exceeding 11% of Ecuador’s public health budget. Each year, there were 139—162 pmp new dialysis patients, while doctors report waiting lists. The number of patients on peritoneal dialysis was stable; those on hemodialysis increased over time. Only 13 of 24 provinces have dialysis services, and nephrologists are in major cities, which limits access, delays medical attention, and adds a travel burden on patients. Prevention and screening programs are scarce, while hospitalization is an important reality of CKD patients.ConclusionCKD is an emerging public health crisis that has increased dramatically over the last decade in Ecuador and is expected to continue, making coverage for all patients impossible and the current structure, unsustainable. A patient registry would permit to estimate the demand and progression of patients with consideration for comorbidities, requirements and costs, and mortality, and identify where to focus prevention efforts. Health policy should clearly state CKD definitions and required patient data, including cause, disease stage and follow-up statistics. Organized monitoring of patients would benefit from improvements in patient referral.
Follow-up study in the ski-resort Ischgl: Antibody and T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 persisted for up to 8 months after infection and transmission of virus was low even during the second infection wave in Austria
Authors: Borena Wegene , Bánki Zoltán , Bates Katie , Winner Hannes , Riepler Lydia , Rössler Annika , Pipperger Lisa , Theurl Igor , Falkensammer Barbara , Ulmer Hanno , Walser Andreas , Pichler Daniel , Baumgartner Matthias , Schönherr Sebastian , Forer Lukas , Knabl Ludwig , Würzner Reinhard , Laer Dorothee von , Paetzold Jörg , Kimpel Janine 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundIn early March 2020, a SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in the ski resort Ischgl in Austria initiated the spread of SARS-CoV-2 throughout Austria and Northern Europe. In a cross-sectional study, we found that the seroprevalence in the adult population of Ischgl had reached 45% by the end of April. To answer the question of how long immunity persists and what effect this high-level immunity had on virus transmission, we performed a follow-up study in early November, 2020.MethodsOf the 1259 adults that participated in the baseline study, 801 could be included in the follow-up. The study involved the analysis of binding and neutralizing antibodies and T cell responses. In addition, the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Ischgl was compared to the incidence in similar municipalities in Tyrol throughout 2020.FindingsFor the 801 individuals that participated in both studies, the seroprevalence declined from 51.4% (95% confidence interval (CI) 47.9 - 54.9) to 45.4% (95% CI 42.0 - 49.0). Median antibody concentrations dropped considerably but antibody avidity increased. T cell responses were analysed in 93 cases, including all 4 formerly seropositive cases that had lost antibodies in all assays, three of which still had detectable T cell memory. In addition, the incidence in the second COVID-19 wave that hit Austria in November 2020, was significantly lower in Ischgl than in comparable municipalities in Tyrol or the rest of Austria.InterpretationThis study has important implications as it shows that although antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 declined, T and B cell memory can be detected for up to 8 months. Complemented by infection prevention measures a level of around 40-45% immunity in Ischgl significantly reduced local virus transmission during the second wave in Austria in November 2020.FundingFunding was provided by the government of Tyrol and the FWF Austrian Science Fund.
The Association of Opioid Use Disorder and COVID-19 in Shahroud, Iran
Authors: Jamali Zhaleh , Emamian Mohammad Hassan , Hashemi Hassan , Fotouh Akbar 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundCOVID-19 quickly spread to the world, causing a pandemic. While some studies have found no link between Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and COVID-19, the role of the opioid on COVID-19 is challenging. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between OUD and COVID-19.MethodsThis was a prospective cohort study. We used data from the third phase of the Shahroud eye cohort study on 4394 participants which started in September 2019 and ended before the COVID-19 epidemic in Shahroud in February 2020. The participants were followed for 10.5 months till November 2020. COVID-19 was detected by RT-PCR on swap samples from the oropharynx and nasopharynx. The incidence of COVID-19 compared in OUD and Non-OUD participants, and relative risk was calculated in Log Binomial Regression model.ResultsAmong the 4394 participants with a mean age of 61.1 years, 120 people had OUD. The incidence of COVID-19 in participants with OUD and Non-OUD were 3.3% and 4.5%, respectively. The relative risk of OUD for COVID-19 was 0.75 (95% Confidence intervals: 0.28 – 1.98; P= 0.555).ConclusionsOpioid use disorder was not associated with COVID-19. The claim that people with OUD are less likely to develop COVID-19 is not supported by this data.
Does advance contact with research participants increase response to questionnaires: A Systematic Review and meta-Analysis
Authors: Woolf Benjamin , Edwards Phil 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundQuestionnaires remain one of the most common forms of data collection in epidemiology, psychology and other human-sciences. However, results can be badly affected by non-response. One way to potentially reduce non-response is by sending potential study participants advance communication. The last systematic review to examine the effect of questionnaire pre-notification on response is ten years old, and lacked a risk of bias assessment.ObjectivesUpdate Edwards et al. (2009) to include 1) recently published studies, 2) an assessment of risk of bias.MethodsData sources: Edwards et al. (2009); 13 data-bases; the references in, and citations of included studies. Eligibility criteria: Randomised control trials examining the impact of pre-notification on response. Data extraction: data extraction was done twice by a single unblinded reviewer. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and funnel plots.Results103 trials were included. Over-all pre-notification increased response, OR = 1.38 (95%CI: 1.25-1.53). However, when studies at high or unclear risk of bias were excluded the effect was greatly reduced (OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.01-1.21).ConclusionsThe evidence implies that while pre-notification does increase response rates, this may not be of clinical utility.
Antigen production and development of an indirect ELISA based on the nucleocapsid protein to detect human SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion
Authors: Conzentino Marcelo S. , Forchhammer Karl , Souza Emanuel M , Pedrosa Fábio O. , Nogueira Meri B. , Raboni Sônia M. , Rego Fabiane G. M. , Zanette Dalila L. , Aoki Mateus N. , Nardin Jeanine M. , Fornazari Bruna , Morales Hugo M. P. , Celedon Paola A. F. , Lima Carla V. P. , Mattar Sibelle B. , Lin Vanessa H. , Morello Luis G. , Marchini Fabricio K. , Bueno Lucas Bochnia , Reis Rodrigo A. , Huergo Luciano F. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractSerological assays are important tools to identify previous exposure to SARS-CoV-2, helping to track COVID-19 cases and determine the level of humoral response to SARS-CoV-2 infections and/or immunization to future vaccines. Here the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity and high yield using a single chromatography step. The purified SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein was used to develop an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the identification of human SARS-CoV-2 seroconverts. The assay sensitivity and specificity were determined analyzing sera from 140 PCR-confirmed COVID-19 cases and 210 pre-pandemic controls. The assay operated with 90% sensitivity and 98% specificity; identical accuracies were obtained in head-to-head comparison with a commercial ELISA kit. Antigen coated plates were stable for up to 3 months at 4°C). The ELISA method described is ready to mass production and will be an additional toll to track COVID-19 cases.
Does pre-notification increase questionnaire response rates: a nested randomised control trial
Authors: Woolf Benjamin , Edwards Phil 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundStudy results can be badly affected by non-response. One way to potentially reduce non-response is by sending potential study participants advance communication. During the update of a systematic review examining the effect of pre-notification on response rates, a number of study authors needed to be contacted for further information.ObjectivesTo conduct an RCT to investigate the effect of pre-notification, nested within the request for further information for a systematic review.MethodsStudy authors included in the systematic review, whose studies were at unclear risk of bias, and who were contactable, were randomly sent or not set a pre-notification email prior to being sent the request for further information email.ResultsAt the end of follow up, 14/33 (42.4%) authors in the pre-notification condition had returned responses to the questionnaire, and 18/42 (42.9%). There was not evidence of a difference between these groups.ConclusionsThis study’s results do not support the hypothesis that pre-notification does increase response from participants.
Tissue Stress from Laparoscopic Grasper Use and Bowel Injury in Humans: Establishing Intraoperative Force Boundaries
Authors: Khan Amanda Farah , MacDonald Matthew Kenneth , Streutker Catherine , Rowsell Corwyn , Drake James , Grantcharov Teodor 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundInappropriate force in laparoscopic surgery can lead to inadvertent tissue injury. It is currently unknown however at what magnitude of compressive stress trauma occurs in gastrointestinal tissues.MethodsThis study included 10 small bowel and 10 colon samples. Each was compressed with pressures ranging from 100 kPa to 600 kPa by a novel device to induce compressive “grasps” to simulate those of a laparoscopic grasper. Experimentation was performed ex-vivo, in-vitro. Grasp conditions of 0 to 600 kPa for a duration of 10 seconds were utilized. Two pathologists who were blinded to all study conditions, performed a histological analysis of the tissues. Patients were eligible if their surgery procured healthy tissue margins for experimentation (a convenience sample). 26 patient samples were procured; six samples were unusable. 10 colon and 10 small bowel samples were tested for a total of 120 experimental cases. No patients withdrew their consent. Two metrics of damage were quantified: an intestinal layer thickness calculation where the serosa layer was measured in the area of compression and compared to a local control and a histological scoring scale for tissue trauma.ResultsSmall bowel (10), M:F was 7:3, average age was 54.3 years. Colon (10), M:F was 1:1, average age was 65.2 years. All 20 patients experienced a significant difference (p<0.05) in serosal thickness post-compression at both 500 and 600 kPa for both tissue types. A logistic regression analysis with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 84.6% on a test set of data predicts a safety threshold of 329-330 kPa.ConclusionA threshold was discovered that corresponded to both significant serosal thickness change and a positive histological trauma score rating. This “force limit” could be used in novel sensorized laparoscopic tools to avoid intraoperative tissue injury.
Phased implementation of COVID-19 vaccination: rapid assessment of policy adoption, reach and effectiveness to protect the most vulnerable in the US
Authors: Li Yun , Li Moming , Rice Megan , Su Yanfang , Yang Chaowei 
Published: February 2021

AbstractObjectivesThe US and rest of the world have suffered from the COVID-19 pandemic for over a year. The high transmissibility and severity of this virus have provoked governments to adopt a variety of mitigation strategies. Some of these previous measures, such as social distancing and mask mandates, were effective in reducing the case growth rate yet became economically and administratively difficult to enforce as the pandemic continued. In late December 2020, COVID-19 vaccines were first approved in the US and states began a phased implementation of COVID-19 vaccination. However, there is limited quantitative evidence regarding the effectiveness of the phased COVID-19 vaccination. This study aims to provide a rapid assessment of the adoption, reach, and effectiveness of the phased implementation of COVID-19 vaccination.MethodsWe utilize an event-study analysis to evaluate the effect of vaccination on the state-level, daily COVID-19 case growth rate.ResultsThrough this analysis, we assert that vaccination is effective in reducing the spread of COVID-19 shortly after the first shots were given. Specifically, the case growth rate declined by 0.124, 0.347, 0.345, 0.464, 0.490, and 0.756 percentage points corresponding to the 1-5, 6-10, 11-15, 16-20, 21-25, and 26 or more day periods after the initial shots.ConclusionsThe findings could be insightful for policymakers as they work to optimize vaccine distribution in later phases, and also for the public as the COVID-19 related health risk is a contentious issue.
Synthesizing evidence regarding community-based volunteer facilitated programs supporting integrated care transitions from hospital to home: A scoping review protocol
Authors: Nelson Michelle L. A. , Armas Alana , Thombs Rachel , Singh Hardeep , Fulton Joseph , Cunningham Heather , Munce Sarah , Hitzig Sander L. , Bettger Janet Prvu 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundGiven the risks inherent in care transitions, it is imperative that patients discharged from hospital to home receive the integrated care services necessary to ensure that the transition is successful. Despite efforts by the health care sector to develop health system solutions to improve transitions, problems persist. Research on transitional support has predominantly focused on services delivered by health care professionals; the evidence for services provided by lay navigators or volunteers in supporting people transitioning from hospital to home has not been synthesized to guide practice, policy or future research.AimThis is a protocol for a scoping review that will examine the role and contributions of voluntary sector personnel and services to support transitions from hospital to home.MethodsUsing the well-established scoping review methodology outlined by Arksey and O’Malley, a six-stage study is outlined (1) identifying the research question, (2) identifying relevant studies, (3) selecting studies, (4) charting the data, (5) collating, summarizing and reporting the results, and (6) providing consultation. The search strategy, designed by an information scientist, is applied to ten databases reflecting empirical and grey literature sources. A two-stage screening process will be used to determine eligibility of articles. To be included in the review, articles must report on a community-based program that engages volunteers in the provisions of services that support adults transitioning from hospital to home. All articles will be independently assessed for eligibility, and data from eligible articles will be abstracted and charted using a standardized form. Extracted data will be analyzed using narrative and descriptive analyses. Research ethics approval is not required for this scoping review.DiscussionThis scoping review will map the available literature focused on the contributions of voluntary sector personnel and services to support transitions from hospital to home.
Community Led Testing among People Who Inject Drugs: A community centered model to find new cases of HIV and Hepatitis C in Nepal
Authors: Didhiya Rajesh , Pokhrel Tara Nath , Devkota Sudha , Shedain Purusotam Raj , Sharma Mukunda , Shrestha Madan Kumar , Gyenwali Deepak , Imran Muhammad , Kadirov Zakir , Dahal Bhawani Prasad , Rai Amrit Bikram , Prawachan Kumar KC , Ojha Sabir , Pokhrel Khem Narayan 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundPeople Who Inject Drugs (PWIDs) have sub-optimal HIV and HCV testing as the available testing services are inadequate in low and middle-income countries. We examined a model of Community-Led Testing (CLT) in Nepal, exploring the feasibility of HIV and HCV testing by trained lay service providers who had similar backgrounds to those of PWIDs. We also assessed the prevalence of HIV and HCV within this study population and the associated risk factors among PWIDs.MethodsA mix-method cross-sectional study was conducted among 1029 PWIDs in five major districts of Nepal from July 2019 to February 2020. Trained PWID peers performed the screening for HIV and HCV using Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kits. Acceptability and feasibility of the testing was assessed. The participants’ sociodemographic characteristics and injecting and non-injecting risk characteristics were determined. The association of risk and prevention characteristics with testing results were assessed using multiple logistic regression.ResultsPWIDs shared that the test providers were friendly and competent in counseling and testing. Of total PWIDs (n=1,029), 20.6% were HCV-positive and 0.2% were HIV-positive. HCV positivity was associated with needle sharing (AOR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.27,2.64; p=0.001) and reuse of syringe/needle (AOR: 2.26; 95% CI: 1.34, 3.79; p=0.002). In addition, PWIDs were more likely to be HCV-positive who started opioid substitution therapy (OST) (AOR: 1.88, 95% CI: 1.26, 2.80, p=0.002) and attended the rehabilitation center (AOR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.10, 2.53, p=0.017).ConclusionsThis CLT model was found to be a novel approach of testing of HIV and HCV which was acceptable to PWIDs in Nepal and showed the high prevalence of HCV and its association with injecting-related risk behaviors and being users of OST and rehabilitation. The findings highlight the need of community-led testing in hotspots, OST settings, and rehabilitation centers to screen new HIV and HCV infections.
Telomere shortening as a stress biomarker in children and adolescents affected by natural disasters
Authors: Miranda Débora M. , Magalhães Sabrina S. , Rosa Daniela V. , De Marco Luiz A. , de Paula Jonas J. , Romano-Silva Marco A. 
Published: February 2021

ABSTRACTNatural disasters have a substantial psychosocial impact. A known biological marker of stress is telomere shortening. In this study, we tested the change in behavior symptoms and telomere length and its shortening in two-time points for about fifteen months, in populations that suffered extreme climate events, comprising flood or drought events. As expected, we observed telomere shortening in children and adolescents after a stressful situation which was directly associated with the worsening of externalizing symptoms and post-traumatic symptoms using a reliable change index. Beyond the psychosocial impact, natural events seem to affect the biology of individuals in development. These findings can help to understand vulnerabilities related to stress impact and to point target populations whose mitigation actions should be addressed in case of a disaster.