bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
Authors: Fukuta Hidekatsu , Hagiwara Hiromi , Kamiya Takeshi 
Published: December 2021

Abstract

Background:
Nearly half of patients with heart failure (HF) have preserved ejection fraction (EF) and the mortality and morbidity of patients with HF with preserved EF (HFpEF) are high. Patients with HFpEF are often elderly and their primary chronic symptom is severe exercise intolerance that results in a reduced quality of life. Thus, improvement of exercise capacity presents another important clinical outcome in HFpEF patients. Recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses of RCTs reported that sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors improved cardiovascular outcomes in patients with HF with reduced EF. Although the effects of SGLT-2 inhibitors in HFpEF patients have been examined in multiple RCTs, the results are inconsistent due partly to limited power. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SGLT-2 inhibitors in HFpEF patients.

Methods:
This meta-analysis will include RCTs examining the effects of SGLT-2 inhibitors on HF severity and health-related quality of life in HFpEF patients. Information of studies will be collected from electronic databases. The primary outcome will be HF severity (plasma B-type natriuretic peptide levels and exercise capacity assessed as 6-minute walk distance). The secondary outcome will be health-related quality of life. The safety outcomes will be all-cause death, HF hospitalization, hypotension, acute renal failure, diabetic ketoacidosis, and urinary tract infection.

Discussion:
This meta-analysis will evaluate the efficacy and safety of SGLT-2 inhibitors in HFpEF patients, providing evidence to the clinical use of SGLT-2 inhibitors in these patients.

Systematic review registration:
INPLASY2021120033
Comparison of the effectiveness and safety of unilateral and bilateral percutaneous vertebroplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures
Authors: Chen Yu , Zhang Huang , Chen Huihong , Ou Zhiliang , Fu Yiping , Zhang Jinjun 
Published: December 2021

Abstract

Background:
The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of lateral and bilateral percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in treating osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs).

Methods:
A comprehensive literature search was performed using PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CMB, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP databases between January 2014 and December 2020. The clinical efficacy of the 2 approaches was evaluated by comparing perioperative outcomes (operation time, X-ray exposure time, volume of injected cement), clinical outcomes (degree of vertebral height restoration, improvement of Cobb angle, visual analogue scale score, and Oswestry Disability Index scores), and operation-related complications (rate of cement leakage, adjacent vertebral fracture rate, and nerve root stimulation). Data were analyzed using RevMan 5.3.3 and Stata 15.1.

Results:
A total of 237 related articles were retrieved, and 17 randomized controlled trials were included. Meta-analysis results showed that compared to bilateral PVP, unilateral PVP led to decreased operation times (mean difference [MD] = −15.24, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [−17.77, −12.70], P < .05), decreased X-ray exposure time (MD-8.94, 95% CI[−12.08,−5.80]; P < .01), decreased volumes of injected cement (MD-1.57, 95% CI[−2.00,−1.14]; P < .05), and lower incidence of cement leakage (risk ratio [RR] = 0.6,95% CL[0.48,0.77], P < .01). Patients that underwent unilateral PVP experienced more effective pain relief at the last follow-up (MD-0.09, 95% CI [−0.15,−0.03];P=.006 < .05) and had a low degree of vertebral height restoration (MD-0.38, 95% CL [−0.71, −0.06]; P=.02 < .05). However, no differences in adjacent vertebral fractures (RR 1.19, 95% CI [0.78,1.82]; P = .41 > .01), nerve root stimulation (RR 1.98, 95% CI [0.22, 17.90]; P = .54 > .01), improvement of Cobb angle (MD = −0.18, 95% CI [−0.49, 0.13], P = .26 > .01), and improvement of ODI score (MD = 0.22, 95% CI[−0.37, 0.80], P > .05) were found between the 2 approaches.

Conclusions:
Although both unilateral and bilateral PVP can improve the quality of life of this patient population by managing pain effectively, unilateral PVP offers more benefits, including shorter operation time and less fluoroscopy, and should be recommended in clinical practice for OVCFs.
Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on sleep center operations and sleep apnea treatment in Korea
Authors: Kim Sei Won , Kim Hwan Hee , Kim Kyu Yean , Lee Sang Haak , Kang Hyeon Hui 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has not only changed the lives of people around the world but also affected all areas of the healthcare system, including sleep medicine. However, no studies in Korea have investigated the status of domestic sleep centers and their challenges during the pandemic.
An online survey was performed from December 2020 to January 2021. Hospitals that belonged to sleep-related academic societies and were considered well managed were included in this survey. The questionnaire focused on changes in sleep center operations, infection control policies, and patient treatment since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Telemedicine and future directions for sleep medicine services were also investigated.
Of the 20 sleep centers that responded, 80% were at university hospitals with more than 500 inpatient beds. During the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea (November–December 2020), the routine operating schedule of the sleep study room was reduced in 30% of the sleep centers compared to November–December 2019 (before COVID-19). The number of type 1 polysomnographies performed decreased in 85% of the sleep centers. In contrast, in-lab positive airway pressure (PAP) titrations decreased in 40%, remained unchanged in 35%, and increased in 25%. With respect to prescriptions, 30% of the sleep centers increased the number of prescriptions for auto-titrating continuous PAP. However, 60% of the sleep centers reported no change in the rate of fixed continuous PAP and auto-titrating continuous PAP prescriptions. All sleep centers that participated in this survey agreed that the need for documented infection control regulations will continue after the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 30% of the centers have tried telemedicine. However, respondents expressed concern about telemedicine, citing a number of practical issues.
Compared to countries where the COVID-19 pandemic was severe, Korea had less impact of COVID-19 on the sleep center operations and sleep apnea treatment. Infection and quality control in the sleep study room are important and inevitable issues, and regulation within each institution is necessary. Further research and discussion are needed regarding telemedicine and home sleep apnea test in Korea.
Evaluation of an Employment Intervention for Veterans Transitioning From the Military
Authors: Bond Gary R. , Al-Abdulmunem Monirah , Ressler Daniel R. , Drake Robert E. , Davis Lori L. , Meyer Thomas , Gade Daniel M. , Frueh B. Christopher , Dickman Ross B. 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Military personnel face numerous challenges transitioning from military jobs to meaningful civilian employment. The Independence Project compared an innovative employment program (National Career Coach Program) with standard employment services (Local Community Resources) in a randomized controlled trial. Study participants were transitioning veterans with self-reported service-connected disabilities seeking permanent employment. The primary outcomes were paid employment and disability ratings over 1 year. Secondary outcomes included health and well-being. At 1-year follow-up, National Career Coach Program participants were significantly more likely to work, had significantly greater earnings, and reported significantly greater improvements in physical and mental health compared with participants assigned to Local Community Resources. Both groups increased in disability ratings over 12 months, with no difference between groups. Multifaceted supports delivered by the National Career Coach Program increased employment, earnings, mental health, and physical health over 1 year. These significant differences appeared even though control group participants achieved considerable employment success.
Comparing Firearm and Stabbing Injuries in the Pediatric Trauma Population Using Propensity Matching
Authors: Lumbard Derek C. , Marek Ashley P. , Roetker Nicholas S. , Richardson Chad J. , Nygaard Rachel M. 
Published: December 2021

Objectives
The objective of this study was to compare differences in mortality and nonhome discharge in pediatric patients with firearm and stab injuries, while minimizing bias. Our secondary objective was to assess the influence of insurance on these same outcomes.

Methods
Patients aged 0 to 17 years included in the National Trauma Data Bank (2007–2015) with firearm and stabbing injury were matched by propensity score. Logistic regression was used to assess associations of injury type and insurance with long-term care discharge and death.

Results
The average age was 14.8 years, 19.2% were female, 48% were African American, 58.4% had an injury severity score ≤8, and assaults accounted for 73.1% of cases. Firearm injuries were associated with a higher risk of discharge to long-term care (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.07) compared with propensity-matched patients who were stabbed. Similarly, we found a higher risk of mortality in those with firearm injuries compared with stabbing injuries (aOR, 1.85). Regardless of mechanism, self-pay insurance status was associated with a higher risk of mortality (aOR, 2.41). When compared with stab wound patients with commercial insurance, self-pay firearm-injured patients were found to have an increased risk of mortality (aOR, 5.25).

Conclusions
Pediatric victims of firearm violence were more likely to die or need additional care outside the home than victims of other types of penetrating injury when accounting for confounding characteristics to minimize bias.
Neonatal Fever in the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Mittal Shraddha , Muthusami Sunil , Marlowe Lauren , Knerr Sheila , Prasto Julianne , Cooke Tiffany Anise , Bochenski Jacek , Horst Michael A. 
Published: December 2021

Objectives
A sepsis workup is recommended in young infants 56 days or younger with fever to rule out a serious bacterial infection (SBI). Given the reduction in non–severe acute respiratory syndrome - coronavirus 2 viral infections observed in multiple studies during the coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, we sought to determine if the reduction in viral infections led to a change in the incidence of SBI in this vulnerable patient population.

Methods
We performed a multicenter, retrospective study of infants 56 days or younger presenting with fever to emergency departments of 6 community hospitals. We compared the incidence of SBIs, viral meningitis, and viral bronchiolitis during March 2020 to February 2021 (pandemic year) with the same calendar months in the 2 preceding years (prepandemic years).

Results
From March 2018 to February 2021, 543 febrile infants presented to the emergency departments, 95 during the pandemic year (March 2020 to February 2021) compared with 231 and 217 in the prepandemic years (March 2018 to February 2019 and March 2019 to February 2020, respectively).
During the pandemic year, 28.4% of infants (27 of 95) were diagnosed with an SBI compared with 11.7% and 6.9% (P < 0.001) in the prepandemic years (27 of 231 and 15 of 217, respectively). Five patients were diagnosed with bacterial meningitis over the 3-year period, 4 of them during the pandemic year (4 of 95 [4.2%]). Positivity for viral cerebrospinal fluid polymerase chain reaction during the pandemic year was 6.4% (3 of 47) compared with 20.8% (25 of 120) and 20.4% (23 of 113) in prepandemic years (P = 0.070). During the pandemic year, 2.1% (2 of 95) febrile young infants were admitted with a comorbid diagnosis of bronchiolitis compared with 4.3% and 6.0% in the prepandemic years (P = 0.310).

Conclusions
The COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in the incidence of SBIs in febrile infants 56 days or younger, likely a result of reduction in non–severe acute respiratory syndrome - coronavirus 2 viral infections. Greater vigilance is thus warranted in the evaluation of febrile infants during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Estimating Public Health Workforce Efforts Toward Foundational Public Health Services
Authors: Yeager Valerie A. , Balio Casey P. , Chudgar Reena B. , Hare Bork Rachel , Beitsch Leslie M. 
Published: December 2021

Context:
The Foundational Public Health Services (FPHS) include a core set of activities that every health department should be able to provide in order to ensure that each resident has access to foundational services that protect and preserve health. Estimates of the public health workforce necessary to provide the FPHS are needed.

Objective:
This study assessed the potential use of an FPHS calculator to assess health department workforce needs.

Design and Setting:
Qualitative interviews were conducted via Zoom in December 2020-January 2021.

Participants:
Seventeen state and local public health leaders.

Main Outcome Measures:
Qualitative insights into the potential use of an FPHS calculator.

Results:
Almost all participants expressed that a reliable estimate would help them justify requests for new staff and that a calculator based on the FPHS would help organizations to critically assess whether they are meeting the needs of their communities and the core expectations of public health. Although participants expected that a tool to calculate full-time equivalent needs by the FPHS would be helpful, some participants expressed concerns in regard to using the tool, given ongoing workforce issues such as recruitment challenges, hiring freezes, and funding restrictions. An anticipated positive consequence of using this tool was that it may lead to cross-training the workforce and result in more diverse expertise and skills among existing workers. The other unintended consequences were that an FPHS calculator would require a substantial amount of time assessing the current FPHS efforts of existing staff and the results of the FPHS gap estimate could become the bar rather than the minimum needed.

Conclusions:
The current public and political focus on public health infrastructure as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has created a window of opportunity to create change. An FPHS-based staffing tool may help transform public health and initiate a new era.
Opioid-Prescribing Trends in San Diego County, 2008-2019
Authors: Smith Joshua R. , Salven Sarah , Beÿ Christian K. , Thihalolipavan Sayone , Lev Roneet , Koenig Kristi L. 
Published: December 2021

Context:
In 2019, drug overdoses accounted for 70 630 deaths in the United States, 70.6% of which involved an opioid. Approximately 28% of these deaths involved prescription medications, representing a significant number nationally. Local, state, and national efforts continue to address the impact of prescription medications within the ongoing opioid epidemic.

Objective:
This study examines trends in opioid prescription patterns from 2008 to 2019 in San Diego County, California, a major metropolitan area and the fifth most populous county in the United States. A timeline of events highlighting local, state, and national milestones is included to better contextualize distinct trends.

Design:
Collection and analysis of annual Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) data for San Diego County.

Setting:
San Diego County, California.

Participants:
Prescribing physicians using the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES 2.0), California's PDMP.

Main Outcome Measures:
Prescribing data for all opioids were aggregated by formulation and strength and then converted into morphine milligram equivalents (MME) per person using CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) conversion guidelines and local population estimates. Additional outcomes analyzed include the number of prescriptions dispensed, number of pills per prescription, pill strength, and specific drug.

Results:
Total opioids prescribed increased by 29.7% from 2008 (399 MME per person) to 2012 (517 MME per person) and subsequently decreased by 54.4% from 2012 to 2019 (235 MME per person). The annual decrease in total MME from 2012 to 2019 averaged 5.9%. However, the 2-year decrease in MME from 2017 to 2019 was 35.1%, indicating an accelerated reduction in recent years.

Conclusions:
Opioid-prescribing trends in San Diego County from 2008 to 2019 are defined by 2 distinct periods. These trends may serve as an example of how local, state, and national efforts focusing on prescriber outreach, patient education, and regulatory oversight can address the impact of prescription opioids on the ongoing opioid epidemic.
Enhancing Response to Foodborne Disease Outbreaks: Findings of the Foodborne Diseases Centers for Outbreak Response Enhancement (FoodCORE), 2010-2019
Authors: Tilashalski Frances P. , Sillence Elizabeth M. , Newton Anna E. , Biggerstaff Gwen K. 
Published: December 2021

Context:
Each year, foodborne diseases cause an estimated 48 million illnesses resulting in 128000 hospitalizations and 3000 deaths in the United States. Fast and effective outbreak investigations are needed to identify and remove contaminated food from the market to reduce the number of additional illnesses that occur. Many state and local health departments have insufficient resources to identify, respond to, and control the increasing burden of foodborne illnesses.

Program:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Foodborne Diseases Centers for Outbreak Response Enhancement (FoodCORE) program provides targeted resources to state and local health departments to improve completeness and timeliness of laboratory, epidemiology, and environmental health activities for foodborne disease surveillance and outbreak response.

Implementation:
In 2009, pilot FoodCORE centers were selected through a competitive application process and then implemented work plans to achieve faster and more complete surveillance and outbreak response activities in their jurisdiction. By 2019, 10 centers participated in FoodCORE: Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, New York City, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin.

Evaluation:
CDC and FoodCORE centers collaboratively developed performance metrics to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of FoodCORE activities. Centers used performance metrics to document successes, identify gaps, and set goals for their jurisdiction. CDC used performance metrics to evaluate the implementation of FoodCORE priorities and identify successful strategies to develop replicable model practices. This report provides a description of implementing the FoodCORE program during year 1 (October 2010 to September 2011) through year 9 (January 2019 to December 2019).

Discussion:
FoodCORE centers address gaps in foodborne disease response through enhanced capacity to improve timeliness and completeness of surveillance and outbreak response activities. Strategies resulting in faster, more complete surveillance and response are documented as model practices and are shared with state and local foodborne disease programs across the country.
Postoperative delirium in older patients with cancer: the role of psychological distress and social support
Authors: O’Hanlon Shane , Baxter Mark , Hosie Annmarie 
Published: December 2021

Purpose of review
Delirium is a common and important adverse event in the perioperative period. Older people with cancer are at significant risk, and outcomes are poor. There is increasing awareness of the effect of psychological distress and social support on pathogenesis and outcomes of delirium in this setting. This review aimed to describe recent research in this evolving area.

Recent findings
Across six recent studies of postoperative delirium in older people with cancer, delirium incidence ranged from 8 to 19.8%. Poor social support and high levels of distress are implicated in the development of postoperative delirium. Distress can be related to negative emotional reaction to diagnosis, preconception of cancer diagnosis and interactions with the healthcare system. Prevention of delirium is key, and multicomponent interventions show evidence of effectiveness. ‘Emotional distress’ has been included in a new core outcome set for studies of interventions to prevent and/or treat delirium.

Summary
Postoperative delirium in older adults with cancer is common and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Psychological distress and social support play an important role, but there are many unmet research needs in this area.
Myofibroblast Senescence Promotes Arrhythmogenic Remodeling in the Aged Infarcted Rabbit Heart
Authors: Baggett Brett C. , Murphy Kevin R. , Sengun Elif , Mi Eric , Cao Yueming , Turan Nilufer , Lu Yichun , Scofield Lorraine , Kim Tae Yun , Kabakov Anatoli Y. , Bronk Peter , Qu Zhilin , Camelliti Patrizia , Dubielecka Patrycja , Terentyev Dmitry , Monte Federica Del , Choi Bum-Rak , Sedivy John , Koren Gideon 
Published: December 2021

AbstractProgressive tissue remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI) promotes cardiac arrhythmias. This process is well studied in young animals, but little is known about pro-arrhythmic changes in aged animals. Senescent cells accumulate with age and accelerate age-associated diseases. Senescent cells interfere with cardiac function and outcome post-MI with age, but studies have not been performed in large animals, and the mechanisms are unknown. Here, we investigated the role of senescence in regulating inflammation, fibrosis, and arrhythmogenesis in young and aged infarcted rabbits. Aged rabbits exhibited increased peri-procedural mortality and arrhythmogenic electrophysiological remodeling at the infarct border zone (IBZ) compared to young rabbits. Studies of the aged infarct zone revealed persistent myofibroblast senescence and increased inflammatory signaling over a twelve-week timecourse. Senescent IBZ myofibroblasts in aged rabbits appear to be coupled to myocytes, and our computational modeling showed that senescent myofibroblast- cardiomyocyte coupling prolongs action potential duration (APD) and facilitates conduction block permissive of arrhythmias. Aged infarcted human ventricles show levels of senescence consistent with aged rabbits, and senescent myofibroblasts also couple to IBZ myocytes. Our findings suggest that senolytic drugs may mitigate arrhythmias post-MI.