bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sociocultural context and autistics’ quality of life: A comparison between Québec and France
Authors: Caron Vicky , Jeanneret Nuria , Giroux Mathieu , Guerrero Lucila , Ouimet Mélanie , Forgeot d’Arc Baudouin , Soulières Isabelle , Courcy Isabelle 
Published: July 2021

Quality of life is important for the development and evaluation of interventions for autistic people. It is a multidimensional concept, anchored in a sociocultural context and based on a person’s subjective assessment of their life. The aim of this study is to examine whether the determinants of perceived quality of life vary by country (or culture) by comparing two groups of French-speaking autistic adults ( n = 430), one in France and the other in Québec (Canada). A cross-sectional survey was conducted to provide information on the quality of life (Autism Quality of Life Measure—ASQoL), diagnosis and health conditions, self-evaluation of autistic traits (Autism-Spectrum Quotient—AQ10), and sociodemographic characteristics of these two samples. The results of our comparison of French-speaking autistic adults in France and Québec suggest that sociocultural context has an impact on autistic people’s quality of life ( r2 = 0.280). The Québec group reported a superior quality of life. The social experience of autism-related stigmatization emerges as a strong predictor of lower quality of life in both groups. However, the two groups differ with other predictors. This study demonstrates the importance of considering sociocultural context in measuring quality of life in autistic adults. It emphasizes the need for awareness programs and public campaigns aimed at identifying and countering stigmatization processes. Lay abstract What is already known about the topic? Quality of life refers to how people perceive aspects of their life such as physical health, material security, and interpersonal relationships. Studies have reported lower quality of life among autistic individuals than in the general population. What does this article contribute? This article contributes to a better understanding of quality of life and its measures from the point of view of autistic adults. By comparing two groups of French-speaking autistic adults from two different places (France and Québec—Canada), this research shows that the perception of quality of life and its determining factors differ for autistic adults living in each country. The Québec group reported a superior quality of life, and some quality of life predictors were different in each group. The social experience of autism-related stigmatization, however, was a powerful predictor of quality of life for all. Implications for practice, research, and policy To promote a higher quality of life for autistic people, it is important to consider the sociocultural context and implement awareness programs and public campaigns aimed at identifying and countering stigmatization processes.
Orthodontic treatment consent forms: A readability analysis
Authors: Meade Maurice J , Dreyer Craig W 
Published: July 2021

Objective: To evaluate the readability of orthodontic treatment informed consent forms (ICFs). Design: A cross-sectional observational investigation. Methods: An online search strategy was adopted to identify ICFs for orthodontic treatment. The text of each form that satisfied inclusion criteria was modified to a standardised protocol. The readability was evaluated using three validated instruments. GraphPad Software (GraphPad Software Inc., La Jolla, CA, USA) was used for statistical analyses. Results: A total of 59 ICFs were evaluated. The majority were available on the websites of orthodontists (66.1%) and general dentists (27.1%). The scores recorded from the three instruments indicated that the content of 93.2%–98.3% of ICFs was difficult to read. A strong correlation was observed between the Simple Measure of Gobbledegook (SMOG) and the Flesch Kincaid Grade level (FKGL) instruments (r = 0.9782; P < 0.0001). The mean SMOG score for all assessed forms was 11.19 (95% confidence interval [CI] 10.85−11.54). The ICFs authored by the manufacturers of orthodontic appliances provided by clinicians recorded a mean Flesch Reading (FRE) score of 40.14 (95% CI 33.91−46.37) out of a maximum 100. An analysis of the SMOG scores indicated that the content of ICFs authored by national orthodontic societies was more difficult to read than those written by all other authors ( P=0.01; 95% CI −1.6 to −0.2) Conclusion: The readability of the ICFs was too difficult for a significant number of the population. Many patients will be unable to validly consent to treatment based solely on reading of the content of the evaluated ICFs. A greater effort is required to improve the readability of ICFs to help ensure patient autonomy regarding orthodontic treatment decision-making and management.
Horrors of the Great Banal
Authors: McMain Emma Minke , Edwards-Schuth Brandon 
Published: July 2021

The iPhone 62 has just been released. Political gridlock and the governmentally approved process of locking immigrant children in cages continue ad infinitum. Public schools resort to primarily remote learning as pandemic viruses ebb and flow. University students study post-postmodernism on campuses that remain on stolen Indigenous land. In this year of 2071, where humans remain desperately attached to “normalcy,” suffering continues beneath the fear that transformation would surely be devastating. Unknowns horrify privileged communities, eased only by the comfortability of a level of “bad” with which they are at least familiar. The world has settled into the Great Banal, an age of blind faith that tomorrow’s problems can be answered with solutions of yester-today. Written as an “e-seance” Zoom conversation among “ghost-scholars of the future,” we explore the horrors of a future in which the “normalities” of 2021 all persist. This is not a dystopian nightmare in which climate disasters wreak unparalleled havoc on vulnerable communities and new fascist regimes sink their claws into education, nor is it a utopic imagining of a society that has made great bounds toward social-ecological justice. In this seemingly absurd imaginary of no substantial change at all, we draw from (eco)critical, Indigenous, and feminist frameworks to ask: What might education look like in a world that has adamantly resisted radical transformation for fear of the worst, in exchange for all hopes of the best?
A review of features and characteristics of smart medication adherence products
Authors: Faisal Sadaf , Ivo Jessica , Patel Tejal 
Published: July 2021

Background: Smart medication adherence products (smart MAPs) capture and transmit real-time medication intake by using various means of connectivity, allowing for remote monitoring. Numerous such products with different features are available to address medication nonadherence. A comparison of the features of these products is needed for clinical decision-making. Therefore, the objective of this review was to compare smart MAPs available for in-home use. Methods: We searched grey and published literature and videos to identify smart MAPs. To be considered smart, products required 2 features: connectivity (the ability for collected data to exist outside the physical device) and automaticity (the ability for data to be analyzed or processed automatically). Products were excluded if product descriptions were not available in English, not for in-home use and unable to dispense medications. Results: Of the 51 products identified, 38 commercially available and 13 prototypes met the definition. Of these, 75% ( n = 38) contained alarms, 24% ( n = 12) were unit-dose, 63% ( n = 32) were multidose, 43% ( n = 22) had locking features, 41% ( n = 21) were portable and 88% ( n = 45) sent notifications to patients. The cost of marketed products, excluding subscriptions, ranged from $10 to $1500 USD. Some products required a monthly ( n = 16) or yearly ( n = 1) subscription ranging from $10 to $100 USD. Discussion: There is a growing market of smart MAPs for in-home patient use with variable features. Clinicians can use these features to identify and recommend products according to the specific needs of their patients to address medication adherence. Can Pharm J (Ott) 2021;154:xx-xx.
On the design of early-phase Alzheimer’s disease clinical trials with cerebrospinal fluid tau outcomes
Authors: Nuño Michelle M , Grill Joshua D , Gillen Daniel L ,   for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: July 2021

Background/Aims: The focus of Alzheimer’s disease studies has shifted to earlier disease stages, including mild cognitive impairment. Biomarker inclusion criteria are often incorporated into mild cognitive impairment clinical trials to identify individuals with “prodromal Alzheimer’s disease” to ensure appropriate drug targets and enrich for participants likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease dementia. The use of these eligibility criteria may affect study power. Methods: We investigated outcome variability and study power in the setting of proof-of-concept prodromal Alzheimer’s disease trials that incorporate cerebrospinal fluid levels of total tau (t-tau) and phosphorylated (p-tau) as primary outcomes and how differing biomarker inclusion criteria affect power. We used data from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative to model trial scenarios and to estimate the variance and within-subject correlation of total and phosphorylated tau. These estimates were then used to investigate the differences in study power for trials considering these two surrogate outcomes. Results: Patient characteristics were similar for all eligibility criteria. The lowest outcome variance and highest within-subject correlation were obtained when phosphorylated tau was used as an eligibility criterion, compared to amyloid beta or total tau, regardless of whether total tau or phosphorylated tau were used as primary outcomes. Power increased when eligibility criteria were broadened to allow for enrollment of subjects with either low amyloid beta or high phosphorylated tau. Conclusion: Specific biomarker inclusion criteria may impact statistical power in trials using total tau or phosphorylated tau as the primary outcome. In concert with other important considerations such as treatment target and population of clinical interest, these results may have implications to the integrity and efficiency of prodromal Alzheimer’s disease trial designs.
Virtual Group Appointments Reduce Distress and Improve Care Management in Young Adults with Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Bisno Daniel I. , Reid Mark W. , Fogel Jennifer L. , Pyatak Elizabeth A. , Majidi Shideh , Raymond Jennifer K. 
Published: July 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of virtual group appointments (VGA) on self-reported health-related outcomes and care activities for young adults (YA) with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Methods: Fifty-three YA (ages 18-25 years) with T1D participated in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the Colorado Young Adults with T1D (CoYoT1) Clinic intervention, encompassing telehealth (TH) with or without VGA. Both new patients ( n = 32) and those who participated in a pilot phase ( n = 26) were randomized to CoYoT1 Clinic (TH+VGA; n = 23) or TH-only ( n = 35) and followed for 1 year. YA completed the Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS), Diabetes Strengths and Resilience (D-STAR), Self-Efficacy in Diabetes (SED), Self-Management of Type 1 Diabetes in Adolescence (SMOD-A), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D), and EuroQol (EQ-5D) scales at baseline and study end. Results: YA were 67% female, 84% white, 10% Latinx, and the mean age was 20.4 years old. At study end, participants in CoYoT1 Clinic reported significantly reduced diabetes distress compared to those in TH-only, who reported increased levels [Effect Size (ES) = −0.40, P = .02]. Specifically, CoYoT1 Clinic participants reported relative reductions in Physician (ES = −2.87, P = .02) and Regimen-related distress (ES = −0.35, P = .01). In addition, participants in CoYoT1 Clinic reported improved self-management of T1D-related problem solving (ES = 0.47, P = .051) and communication with care providers (ES = 0.39, P = .07). Conclusions: Virtual group attendance in CoYoT1 Clinic was associated with significant improvements in diabetes-related distress. Long-term exposure to VGA should be investigated in YA with T1D and other pediatric chronic conditions.
Do electronic reminders alter recorded diagnoses in primary care office-hours practices of health centers: A register-based study in a Finnish city
Authors: Lehto Mika , Pitkälä Kaisu , Rahkonen Ossi , Laine Merja K , Raina Marko , Kauppila Timo 
Published: July 2021

Objectives: One purpose of electronic reminders is improvement of the quality of documentation in office-hours primary care. The aim of this study was to evaluate how implementation of electronic reminders alters the rate and/or content of diagnostic data recorded by primary care physicians in office-hours practices in primary care health centers. Methods: The present work is a register-based longitudinal follow-up study with a before-and-after design. An electronic reminder was installed in the electronic health record system of the primary health care of a Finnish city to remind physicians to include the diagnosis code of the visit in the health record. The report generator of the electronic health record system provided monthly figures for the number of various recorded diagnoses by using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition, and the total number of visits to primary care physicians, thus allowing the calculation of the recording rate of diagnoses on a monthly basis. The distribution of diagnoses before and after implementing ERs was also compared. Results: After the introduction of the electronic reminder, the rate of diagnosis recording by primary care physicians increased clearly from 39.7% to 87.2% (p < 0.001). The intervention enhanced the recording rate of symptomatic diagnoses (group R) and some chronic diseases such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes and other soft tissue disorders. Recording rate of diagnoses related to diseases of the respiratory system (group J), injuries, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (group S), and diseases of single body region of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (group M) decreased after the implementation of electronic reminders. Conclusion: Electronic reminders may alter the contents and extent of recorded diagnosis data in office-hours practices of the primary care health centers. They were found to have an influence on the recording rates of diagnoses related to chronic diseases. Electronic reminders may be a useful tool in primary health care when attempting to change the behavior of primary care physicians.
Investigating the relationship between multi-scale perfusion and white matter microstructural integrity in patients with relapsing-remitting MS
Authors: Sisco Nicholas J , Borazanci Aimee , Dortch Richard , Stokes Ashley M 
Published: July 2021

Background Multiple sclerosis is characterized by the formation of central nervous system demyelinating lesions with microvasculature inflammation. Objective Evaluate how lesion cerebral perfusion relates to white matter microstructural integrity in patients with RRMS using perfusion MRI and myelin-related T1-weighted to T2-weighted (T1w/T2w) ratios. Methods Forty-eight patients with RRMS were imaged with dynamic susceptibility contrast imaging using SAGE (spin- and gradient-echo) to calculate global and capillary-sized perfusion parameters, including cerebral blood flow (CBF), volume (CBV), and mean transit time (MTT). T1w/T2w ratios were used to indirectly assess white matter microstructural integrity. Results For global perfusion metrics, CBF was reduced 28.4% in lesion regions of interest (ROIs) compared to normal appearing white matter (NAWM), CBV was reduced 25.9% in lesion ROIs compared to NAWM, and MTT increased 12.9%. For capillary perfusion metrics (via spin-echo (SE)), CBF-SE was reduced 35.7% in lesion ROIs compared to NAWM, CBV-SE was reduced 35.2% in lesion ROIs compared to NAWM, and MTT-SE increased 9.1%. Capillary-level CBF was correlated (ρ = 0.34, p = 0.024) with white matter microstructural integrity in lesion ROIs. Conclusion This study demonstrates that lesion perfusion is reduced at both the global and capillary level and capillary-associated hypoperfusion is associated with reduced white matter microstructural integrity in RRMS.
Is Indoor Air Pollution From Different Fuel Types Associated With the Anemia Status of Pregnant Women in Ethiopia?
Authors: Andarge Sewitemariam Desalegn , Areba Abriham Sheferaw , Kabthymer Robel Hussen , Legesse Miheret Tesfu , Kanno Girum Gebremeskel 
Published: July 2021

Background Indoor air pollution from different fuel types has been linked with different adverse pregnancy outcomes. The study aimed to assess the link between indoor air pollution from different fuel types and anemia during pregnancy in Ethiopia. Method We have used the secondary data from the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey data. The anemia status of the pregnant women was the dichotomous outcome variable and the type of fuel used in the house was classified as high, medium, and low polluting fuels. Logistic regression was employed to determine the association between the exposure and outcome variables. Adjusted Odds Ratio was calculated at 95% Confidence Interval. Result The proportion of anemia in the low, medium, and high polluting fuel type users was 13.6%, 46%, 40.9% respectively. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, the use of either kerosene or charcoal fuel types (AOR 4.6; 95% CI: 1.41-18.35) and being in the third trimester (AOR 1.72; 95% CI: 1.12-2.64) were significant factors associated with the anemia status of the pregnant women in Ethiopia. Conclusion According to our findings, the application of either kerosene or charcoal was associated with the anemia status during pregnancy in Ethiopia. An urgent intervention is needed to reduce the indoor air pollution that is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes such as anemia.
Adipose Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes As a Macrophage-Based Treatment for Chronic Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy: From a Mouse Model to a Study in Human Tissue
Authors: Yu Weilin , song wei , Liu Xudong , He Yaohua , Wang Chongyang 
Published: July 2021

Objectives: Chronic rotator cuff tendinopathy is one of the most prevalent causes of shoulder pain. Growing evidence suggests that macrophages play a significant role in the pathogenesis of tendinopathy. Therefore, a treatment that targets macrophages would be useful for patients with this common musculoskeletal disorder. To investigate whether adipose stem cell-derived exosomes (ASC-Exos) mediate polarization of macrophages and contribute to the healing of chronic rotator cuff tendinopathy. Methods: First, we compared the effects of ASC-Exos on polarization of mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages between a classically activated phenotype (M1φ) and an alternatively activated phenotype (M2φ) in vitro. Seventy-two C57Bl/6 mice were assigned to normal cage activity (n=24) or 5 weeks of treadmill overuse (n=48). The enthesis of supraspinatus in each mouse was then injected with ASC-Exos (ASC-Exos group, n=24) or saline (saline group, n=24). Histological and biomechanical outcomes were assessed 4 weeks after treatment. Finally, tissue samples from human patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy were obtained to determine the effect of ASC-Exos on the M1φ/M2φ balance in tissue-resident macrophages. Results: ASC-Exos inhibited M1φ polarization and augmented M2φ polarization both in mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages, mouse in vivo model and human tissue-resident macrophages. Mice in the ASC-Exos group showed less severe pathological changes than the saline group, including less cellular infiltration, disorganization of collagen, and ground substance deposition. The mean modified Bonar score was significantly lower in the ASC-Exos group than in the saline group (9.81 ± 0.96 vs 7.69 ± 1.03; P<.05). Furthermore, the maximum failure load was significantly higher in the ASC-Exos group than in the saline group (4.23 ± 0.66 N vs 3.86 ± 0.65 N; P<.05) as was stiffness (3.38 ± 0.34 N/m vs. 2.68 ± 0.49 N/m; P<.05). Conclusions: ASC-Exos-mediated balance of M1φ/M2φ contributes to healing of tendinopathy. Regulation of the M1φ/M2φ balance could be a new target for treatment of chronic rotator cuff tendinopathy.
Introducing the Impingement Index: A study of the combined effect of alpha angle and femoral version on outcomes after hip arthroscopy for femoral acetabular impingement
Authors: Swensen Stephanie , Marom Niv , Nwachukwu Benedict , Ranawat Anil , Kelly Bryan , Nawabi Danyal 
Published: July 2021

Objectives: Many studies within the recent literature have sought to identify the effect of femoral version and other morphologic characteristics on outcomes after primary hip arthroscopy for femoral acetabular impingement (FAI). In addition to femoral version and combined version, our group has recently begun to use the impingement index to stratify patients undergoing this procedure. We define the impingement index as the alpha angle minus the femoral version. The purpose of the current study is to determine the impact of femoral version, combined version and impingement index on patient reported outcomes after primary hip arthroscopy for FAI. Methods: A retrospective chart review of a prospectively collected data was conducted from 2010-2016 to identify consecutive patients who underwent primary hip arthroscopy for treatment of FAI. Inclusion criteria are pre-operative CT scan, Results: A total of 456 hips (200 males, 256 females) met the inclusion criteria. The mean age at time of surgery was 28.2 (+/- 10). Average follow-up was 2.6 years (range 23-59 months). The cohort experienced clinical improvement (p<0.001) in all patient-reported outcome measures. The mean improvement was 21.4 points for HHS, 17.4 for HOS ADL, 29.5 for HOS Sport, and 34.3 for QOL. There was no significant difference in outcomes scores when stratified by femoral version (<5°, 5-20°, >20°), including at the extremes of femoral version (<-5°, >30°). There was also no significant difference in outcomes scores when patients were stratified by Mckibbin Index (<25°, 25-40, >40°). The net change in mean HOS Sport for impingement index >75 was significantly lower than any other category (14.5 (>75°) vs. 28.1 (45°-75°) vs. 25.7 (<45°). Conclusions: Clinically significant improvements can be expected for all femoral version values when a thoughtful algorithm is employed for indicating patients for hip arthroscopy with version abnormalities. However, patients with significant femoral retroversion and large cam lesions may experience less overall improvement compared with normal or increased version. The impingement index may be a valuable tool for predicting outcomes of primary hip arthroscopy for FAI. An elevated impingement index in the setting of femoral retroversion may portend less improvement in patient reported outcomes. This finding warrants further investigation and informs the preoperative decision-making process when indicating a patient for hip arthroscopy for FAI.