bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Additional effect of excimer light therapy in patients with psoriasis under other therapies
Authors: Ohtsuka Tsutomu , Kotani Hirohito 
Published: February 2021

AbstractExcimer light is an effective therapy for psoriasis resulting in faster clearance and a longer remission. We studied its additional effect in patients with psoriasis under other therapies. Subjects were composed of 261 patients with psoriasis, all of which were treated with topical application of steroid and vitamin D mixed ointment. Other therapies were composed of apremilast and biologics. PASI 100 rate were evaluated until 12 months after the start of its therapy. PASI 100 rate was elevated from 13 patients (5.0%) to 34 patients (13.0%, P < 0.01). Twenty‐one of 63 patients (33.3%, P < 0.01) not reaching PASI 100 reached it after excimer light therapy. The addition of excimer light therapy in each treatment showed no significant difference compared with that before addition. Irradiation amount in patients with guselkumab (822 ± 259 mJ) was significantly smaller that with excimer only (1370 + 731 mJ) and that with IL‐17 (1747 ± 749 mJ). In addition, irradiation amount in patients reached PASI‐100 in Guselkumab (717 ± 75 mJ) which was significantly smaller that in the excimer only group (1530 ± 450 mJ). Additional effect of excimer light therapy in psoriasis, especially in patients with guselkumab, was speculated.
A nationwide population‐based survey on the prevalence and risk factors of symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse in adult women in China – a pelvic organ prolapse quantification system‐based study
Authors: Pang H , Zhang L , Han S , Li Z , Gong J , Liu Q , Liu X , Wang J , Xia Z , Lang J , Xu T , Zhu L 
Published: February 2021

ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence, risk factors and burden of symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in adult Chinese women.DesignA nationwide cross‐sectional study.SettingSix geographic regions of mainland China.ParticipantsWomen aged ≥20 years old were included using a multistage, stratified, cluster sampling method from February 2014 through March 2016.MethodsWe conducted a nationwide epidemiological survey. ‘Symptomatic POP’ was determined by a screening questionnaire and physical examination.Main outcome measurementsPrevalence, odds ratio (OR).ResultsA total of 55 477 women (response rate, 92.5%; mean age, 45.1 years old) were included. The prevalence of symptomatic POP was 9.6% (95% CI 9.3–9.8%) and it increased with age in each stage (P < 0.05). Symptomatic POP‐Q stage II, which mainly involved anterior compartment prolapse, was the most common (7.52%). Minor/moderate burden of symptomatic POP was the most common, with a prevalence of 9.7% (95% CI 9.5–10.0%). The odds for each type of symptomatic POP increased with age (>50 vs 20‐29 years old in symptomatic POP‐Q stage II or higher, OR increased from 1.34 [95% CI 1.32–1.45] to 7.34 [95% CI 4.34–12.41]) and multiple vaginal deliveries (multiparous [≥3] vs nulliparous in symptomatic POP‐Q stage II or higher, OR increased from 1.91 [1.71–2.13] to 2.78 [2.13–3.64]).ConclusionsWe found a lower prevalence of symptomatic POP than that found in other surveys. The main type of symptomatic POP was anterior compartment prolapse, indicating that it should be considered first. Older age and multiple vaginal deliveries increased the odds of each type of symptomatic POP.Tweetable abstractThe prevalence of female symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse (POP) was 9.6% in China. It is related to old age and multiple vaginal deliveries.
Smoking cessation in head and neck cancer patients: Factors influencing successes and failures
Authors: Smith Justin , Woolley Torres , Brown Amy , Vangaveti Venkat , Chilkuri Madhavi 
Published: February 2021

AbstractIntroductionThis study investigated the smoking behaviours and cessation rates of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients, and their barriers and facilitators to cessation.MethodThe study used a mixed methods, sequential explanatory design. The quantitative data were collected at baseline (around time of cancer diagnosis) via a survey prior to commencement of treatment. Participants identified as current smokers at baseline were then followed up to determine their smoking status after treatment and asked to participate in one‐on‐one, semi‐structured interviews.ResultsSixty‐four participants with HNC were recruited, with 29 classified as current smokers. The 7‐day point prevalence cessation rate for current smokers was 72% at 1‐month follow‐up, and 67% at 3 months, while continuous smoking cessation was 54% at 1 month, and 42% at 3 months. Participants who continued smoking were found to consume more alcohol (P = 0.032), be in a lower stage of change (pre‐contemplation or contemplation stages of the transtheoretical model) at baseline (P = 0.012) and be less confident in being able to cease smoking (P = 0.004). Qualitative analysis revealed 5 key themes associated with smoking cessation: the teachable moment of a cancer diagnosis and treatment, willpower and cessation aids, psychosocial environment, relationship with alcohol and marijuana, and health knowledge and beliefs surrounding smoking and cancer.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that the majority of HNC patients achieve smoking cessation, but relapses are common. Cessation programmes should be developed that are comprehensive, sustained and address factors such as alcohol, marijuana and depression.
Molecular and spatial analyses reveal new insights on Bois noir epidemiology in Franciacorta vineyards
Authors: Quaglino Fabio , Passera Alessandro , Faccincani Monica , Moussa Abdelhameed , Pozzebon Alberto , Sanna Francesco , Casati Paola , Bianco Piero Attilio , Mori Nicola 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBois noir (BN) grapevine disease is associated with ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ (CaPsol), a pathogen with a complex ecology including multiple insect vectors and plant hosts. A key point to improve the effectiveness of BN control strategies consists in determining the epidemiological role of ground‐cover weeds. The present study employed a multidisciplinary approach, based on the application of spatial (spatial analysis by distance indices) and molecular (stamp gene typing) analyses, to identify weeds with a potential role in BN epidemiology in northern Italy. Generated data showed that in addition to Convolvulus arvensis, one of the main CaPsol inoculum sources, Chenopodium album, Polygonum aviculare and Trifolium repens were found associated with BN epidemiology. CaPsol molecular typing highlighted that the strains prevalent in symptomatic grapevines were characterised by stamp sequence variants St19, St11 (nettle‐related) and St5 (bindweed‐related). The latter was prevalent also in Hyalesthes obsoletus and weeds, suggesting their main association with bindweed‐related epidemiology. On the other hand, nettle‐related CaPsol strains were occasionally found in H. obsoletus and weeds. Considering that H. obsoletus‐mediated transmission of CaPsol occurs mainly with young instars, further investigations will confirm if, in addition to bindweed and nettle, weeds associated with BN epidemiology in Franciacorta can represent larval developmental hosts and, consequently, act as CaPsol reservoirs for transmission to grapevine. Moreover, other studies are needed to clarify the relationship between such weeds and CaPsol alternative vectors.
Akt and its phosphorylation in nucleus accumbens mediate heroin‐seeking behavior induced by cues in rats
Authors: Zhu Huaqiang , Zhuang Dingding , Lou Zhongze , Lai Miaojun , Fu Dan , Hong Qingxiao , Liu Huifen , Zhou Wenhua 
Published: February 2021

AbstractAkt is initially identified as one of the downstream targets of phosphatidylinositol‐3 kinase (PI3K) and is involved in morphine reward and tolerance. However, whether phospholyration of Akt (p‐Akt) mediates heroin relapse remains unclear. Here, we aimed to explore the role of p‐Akt in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) in cue‐induced heroin‐seeking behaviors after withdrawal. First, rats were trained to self‐administer heroin for 14 days, after which we assessed heroin‐seeking behaviors induced by a context cue (CC) or by discrete conditioned cues (CS) after 1 day or 14 days of withdrawal. We found that the active responses induced by CC or CS after 14 days of withdrawal were higher than those after 1 day of withdrawal. Meanwhile, the expression of p‐Akt in the NAc was also greatest when rats were exposed to the CS after 14 days of withdrawal. Additionally, a microinjection of LY294002, an inhibitor of PI3K, into the NAc inhibited the CS‐induced heroin‐seeking behaviors after 14 days of withdrawal, paralleling the decreased levels of p‐Akt in the NAc. Finally, Akt1 or β‐arrestin 2 was downregulated via a lentiviral injection to assess the effect on heroin seeking after 14 days of withdrawal. CS‐induced heroin‐seeking behavior was inhibited by downregulation of Akt1, but not β‐arrestin 2, in the NAc. These data demonstrate that Akt phosphorylation in the NAc may play an important role in the incubation of heroin‐seeking behavior, suggesting that the PI3K/Akt pathways may be involved in the process of heroin relapse and addiction.
Impact of cumulative incarceration and the post‐release period on syringe‐sharing among people who inject drugs in Tijuana, Mexico: a longitudinal analysis
Authors: Rivera Saldana Carlos D. , Beletsky Leo , Borquez Annick , Kiene Susan M. , Strathdee Steffanie A. , Zúñiga María Luisa , Martin Natasha K. , Cepeda Javier 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackground and aimsSyringe‐sharing among people who inject drugs, which can occur during incarceration and post‐release, has been linked with increased risk of blood‐borne infections. We aimed to investigate the cumulative effect of repeated incarceration and the post‐release period on receptive syringe‐sharing.DesignOngoing community‐based cohort, recruited through targeted sampling between 2011 and 2012 with 6‐month follow‐ups.SettingTijuana, Mexico.ParticipantsSample of 185 participants (median age 35 years; 67% female) with no history of incarceration at study entry, followed to 2017.MeasurementsCumulative incarceration and post‐release period were constructed from incarceration events reported in the past 6 months for each study visit. Receptive syringe‐sharing in the past 6 months was assessed as a binary variable. We used logistic regression with generalized estimating equations to examine the association between cumulative incarceration events and the post‐release period with receptive syringe‐sharing over time. Missing data were handled through multiple imputation.FindingsAt baseline, 65% of participants engaged in receptive syringe‐sharing in the prior 6 months. At follow‐up, 150 (81%) participants experienced a total of 358 incarceration events [median = 2, interquartile range (IQR) = 1–3]. The risk of receptive syringe‐sharing increased with the number of repeated incarcerations. Compared with never incarcerated, those with one incarceration had 1.28 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.97–1.68] higher adjusted odds of syringe‐sharing; two to three incarcerations, 1.42 (95% CI = 1.02–1.99) and more than three incarcerations, 2.10 (95% CI = 1.15–3.85). Participants released within the past 6 months had 1.53 (95% CI = 1.14–2.05) higher odds of sharing syringes compared with those never incarcerated. This post‐release risk continued up to 1.5 years post‐incarceration (adjusted odds ratio = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.04–1.91), but then waned.ConclusionsA longitudinal community cohort study among people who inject drugs suggested that the effects of incarceration on increased injecting risk, measured through syringe‐sharing, are cumulative and persist during the post‐release period.
Safety of ibogaine administration in detoxification of opioid‐dependent individuals: a descriptive open‐label observational study
Authors: Knuijver Thomas , Schellekens Arnt , Belgers Maarten , Donders Rogier , van Oosteren Toon , Kramers Kees , Verkes Robbert 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackground and aimsIbogaine is an indole alkaloid used in rituals of the African Bwiti tribe. It is also used in non‐medical settings to treat addiction. However, ibogaine has been linked to several deaths, mainly due to cardiac events called torsades des pointes preceded by QTc prolongation as well as other safety concerns. This study aimed to evaluate the cardiac, cerebellar and psychomimetic safety of ibogaine in patients with opioid use disorder.DesignA descriptive open‐label observational study.SettingDepartment of psychiatry in a university medical center, the Netherlands.ParticipantsPatients with opioid use disorder (n = 14) on opioid maintenance treatment with a lasting wish for abstinence, who failed to reach abstinence with standard care.Intervention and measurementsAfter conversion to morphine‐sulphate, a single dose of ibogaine‐HCl 10 mg/kg was administered and patients were monitored at regular intervals for at least 24 hours assessing QTc, blood pressure and heart rate, scale for the assessment and rating of ataxia (SARA) to assess cerebellar side effects and the delirium observation scale (DOS) to assess psychomimetic effects.FindingsThe maximum QTc (Fridericia) prolongation was on average 95ms (range 29‐146ms). Fifty percent of subjects reached a QTc of over 500ms during the observation period. In six out 14 subjects prolongation above 450ms lasted beyond 24 hours after ingestion of ibogaine. No torsades des pointes were observed. Severe transient ataxia with inability to walk without support was seen in all patients. Withdrawal and psychomimetic effects were mostly well‐tolerated and manageable (11/14 did not return to morphine within 24 hours, DOS scores remained below threshold).ConclusionsThis open‐label observational study found that ibogaine treatment of patients with opioid use disorder can induce a clinically relevant but reversible QTc prolongation, bradycardia, and severe ataxia.
A meta‐analysis of problem gambling risk factors in the general adult population
Authors: Allami Youssef , Hodgins David C. , Young Matthew , Brunelle Natacha , Currie Shawn , Dufour Magali , Flores‐Pajot Marie‐Claire , Nadeau Louise 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackground and AimsFew meta‐analyses have been conducted to pool the most constant risk factors for problem gambling. The present meta‐analysis summarizes effect sizes of the most frequently assessed problem gambling risk factors, ranks them according to effect size strength and identifies any differences in effects across genders.MethodA random‐effects meta‐analysis was conducted on jurisdiction‐wide gambling prevalence surveys on the general adult population published until March 2019. One hundred and four studies were eligible for meta‐analysis. The number of participants varied depending on the risk factor analyzed, and ranged from 5327 to 273 946 (52% female). Weighted mean odds ratios were calculated for 57 risk factors (socio‐demographic, psychosocial, gambling activity and substance use correlates), allowing them to be ranked from largest to smallest with regard to their association with problem gambling.ResultsThe highest odds ratio (OR) was for internet gambling [OR = 7.59, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 5.24, 10.99, P < 0.000] and the lowest was for employment status (OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 0.87, 1.22, P = 0.718). The largest effect sizes were generally in the gambling activity category and the smallest were in the socio‐demographic category. No differences were found across genders for age‐associated risk.ConclusionsA meta‐analysis of 104 studies of gambling prevalence indicated that the most frequently assessed problem gambling risk factors with the highest effect sizes are associated with continuous‐play format gambling products.
Cost‐effectiveness of hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination strategies among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Tijuana, Mexico
Authors: Marquez Lara K. , Fleiz Clara , Burgos Jose Luis , Cepeda Javier A. , McIntosh Craig , Garfein Richard S. , Kiene Susan M. , Brodine Stephanie , Strathdee Steffanie A. , Martin Natasha K. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackground and AimsIn Latin America, Mexico was first to launch a hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination strategy, where people who inject drugs (PWID) are a main risk group for transmission. In Tijuana, HCV seroprevalence among PWID is > 90%, with minimal harm reduction (HR). We evaluated cost‐effectiveness of strategies to achieve the incidence elimination target among PWID in Tijuana.MethodsModeling study using a dynamic, cost‐effectiveness model of HCV transmission and progression among active and former PWID in Tijuana, to assess the cost‐effectiveness of incidence elimination strategies from a health‐care provider perspective. The model incorporated PWID transitions between HR stages (no HR, only opioid agonist therapy, only high coverage needle–syringe programs, both). Four strategies that could achieve the incidence target (80% reduction by 2030) were compared with the status quo (no intervention). The strategies incorporated the number of direct‐acting anti‐viral (DAA) treatments required with: (1) no HR scale‐up, (2) HR scale‐up from 2019 to 20% coverage among PWID, (3) HR to 40% coverage and (4) HR to 50% coverage. Costs (2019 US$) and health outcomes [disability‐adjusted life years (DALYs)] were discounted 3% per year. Mean incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios (ICER, $/DALY averted) were compared with one‐time per capita gross domestic product (GDP) ($9698 in 2019) and purchasing power parity‐adjusted per capita GDP ($4842–13 557) willingness‐to‐pay (WTP) thresholds.ResultsDAAs alone were the least costly elimination strategy [$173 million, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 126–238 million], but accrued fewer health benefits compared with strategies with HR. DAAs + 50% HR coverage among PWID averted the most DALYs but cost $265 million, 95% CI = 210–335 million). The optimal strategy was DAAs + 50% HR (ICER $6743/DALY averted compared to DAAs only) under the one‐time per‐capita GDP WTP ($9698).ConclusionsA combination of high‐coverage harm reduction and hepatitis C virus treatment is the optimal cost‐effective strategy to achieve the HCV incidence elimination goal in Mexico.
Estimation of Poisson mean with under‐reported counts: a double sampling approach
Authors: Sengupta Debjit , Banerjee Tathagata , Roy Surupa 
Published: February 2021

SummaryCount data arising in various fields of applications are often under‐reported. Ignoring undercount naturally leads to biased estimators and inaccurate confidence intervals. In the presence of undercount, in this paper, we develop likelihood‐based methodologies for estimation of mean using validation data. The asymptotic distributions of the competing estimators of the mean are derived. The impact of ignoring undercount on the coverage and length of the confidence intervals is investigated using extensive numerical studies. Finally an analysis of heat mortality data is presented.
Bayesian estimation and model comparison for linear dynamic panel models with missing values
Authors: Aßmann Christian , Preising Marcel 
Published: February 2021

SummaryPanel data are collected over several time periods for the same units and hence allow for modelling both latent heterogeneity and dynamics. Since in a dynamic setup, the dependent variable also appears as an explanatory variable in later periods, missing values lead to substantial loss of information and the possibility of inefficient estimation. For linear dynamic panel models with fixed or random effects, we suggest a Bayesian approach to deal with missing values. The Gibbs sampling scheme providing a sample from the posterior distribution is thereby augmented by draws from the full conditional distribution of the missing values. While the full conditional distribution for missing values in the dependent variable is implied by the model setup, we incorporate a flexible non‐parametric approximation to the full conditional posterior distribution of missing values in the explaining variables. Also, we provide accurate non‐nested model comparison in terms of the marginal likelihood from the resulting hybrid Gibbs sampling output. The properties and possible efficiency gains of the suggested approach are illustrated by means of a simulation study and an empirical application using a macroeconomic panel data set.
A classification of woody communities based on biological dissimilarity
Authors: Hao Minhui , von Gadow Klaus , Alavi Seyed Jalil , Álvarez‐González Juan Gabriél , Baluarte‐Vásquez Juan Rommel , Corral‐Rivas Javier , Hui Gangying , Korol Mykola , Kumar Rajesh , Liang Jingjing , Meyer Peter , Remadevi Othumbam Kat , Kakkar Ritu , Liu Wenzhen , Zhao Xiuhai , Zhang Chunyu 
Published: February 2021

AbstractAimsTraditional quantitative approaches to forest classification are based on differences in species abundance or incidence among communities. In these approaches, all species are regarded as biologically equidistant regardless of the biological heterogeneity. The objective of the study is to evaluate the potential of the “Discriminating Avalanche” approach, which integrates species abundance and biological heterogeneity, as a new basis for forest classification.LocationChina, India, Iran, Ukraine, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Peru, and South Africa.MethodWe illustrate our approach using a set of 35 large tree‐mapped forest plots from various regions of the world. Our dissimilarity matrices, which integrate species abundance with biological heterogeneity, are compared with the standard Bray–Curtis and Whittaker dissimilarity indices, and provide the quantitative basis for a hierarchical cluster analysis.ResultsFour distinct groups of forests were identified using the proposed forest dissimilarity matrix. Afro‐montane forests from South Africa constitute a first group. A second group includes temperate deciduous broad‐leaved forests dominated by oak (Quercus) and beech (Fagus) from Europe and China. Conifer‐dominated forests constitute a third group. The remaining forests constitute the fourth group.ConclusionBiological heterogeneity provides a practical basis for vegetation classification. The results of this study, based on a variety of temperate and tropical forests, suggest that a measure of biological dissimilarity based on evolutionary and morphological differences among species is more effective than the traditional species abundance‐based approaches to classify an arbitrary set of plant communities. This approach promises greater refinement and consistency in ecological classification. In particular, it has advantage in classifying forests along large geographic scales in situations of high beta diversity and species turnover.