bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
585Do Australian livestock farmers perceive Q fever prevention differently from animal science and veterinary students?
Authors: Rahaman Rezanur , Burgess Teresa , Milazzo Adriana , Marshall Helen , Chaber Anne-Lise , Crabb Deane , Bi Peng 
Published: September 2021

Abstract

Background/Objective
To identify the issues around the prevention of Q fever as understood by trainee animal health practitioners and livestock farmers and to compare their varying perceptions.

Methods
An online survey with an open question seeking participants’ suggestions about Q fever prevention was distributed among all animal science and veterinary students enrolled at the University of Adelaide and members of Livestock SA representing livestock farmers during March-September 2019. Students were recruited through their University course whilst livestock farmers were recruited by advertisements and direct emails. Thematic analysis of the data followed the Braun and Clarke framework.

Results
Two major themes arose in each group, whilst each group identified similar themes and sub themes, there was a differing emphasis on the importance of these. Both students and farmers viewed Q fever vaccination is important, but barriers included excessive cost for students while access to a vaccine provider and general practitioners’ inadequate knowledge were emphasized by farmers. Awareness was another major theme: students – generalized lack of awareness amongst themselves and the public; farmers – increasing public awareness is crucial.

Conclusions
Both groups recognized the importance of Q fever vaccination and viewed subsidy an enabler, but students’ perceptions were shaped by the high cost of the vaccine while farmers were most concerned with the impacts of the disease. Findings underscore that strengthening targeted and community awareness programs coupled with a subsidy could promote increased uptake of Q fever vaccination.

Key messages
Increasing awareness and subsidized vaccination could merit Q fever prevention approaches including vaccination.
553Stage at diagnosis for six major cancers in China with comparison to the United States
Authors: Ran Xianhui , Zeng Hongmei , Zhang Siwei , An Lan , Zheng Rongshou , Wei Wenqiang , He Jie 
Published: September 2021

Abstract

Background
To explore the distribution and factors associated with cancer stage at diagnosis, we conducted a multi-center hospital-based study in China.

Methods
38 hospitals were selected to set up the Chinese cancer clinical database. Detailed stage information was collected from clinical records and focus on cancers of the lung, stomach, colon-rectum, liver, female breast, and esophagus diagnosed during 2016-2017. We compared the stage distribution with the US by data from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database during the same period.

Results
Overall 69632 first diagnosed cancer cases were analyzed. The proportion of cancer patients in stage I varies by cancer site, with highest in breast (28%) and lowest in liver (13%). The proportion of cancer cases at stage I was generally higher in women (OR:1.7,95%CI:1.6-1.8), in young (&lt;65 years) (OR:1.2,1.1-1.2) and in subjects having Chinese Urban Insurances (OR:1.9,1. 8-2.0). Except for esophageal cancer, the other five major cancers in China had more advanced stage than in the US.

Conclusions
Socio-demographic inequalities exist in stage at diagnosis for major cancer cases in China. Early detection interventions are especially needed to be targeted on patients with higher risk of advance disease diagnosis.

Key messages
Multi-center hospital-based study on cancer stage distribution in China shows that women, young, and those with Chinese Urban Insurance were more likely to be diagnosed with early stage. Stage distribution in China was generally more advanced compared with cancer patients in the US.
355Tuberculosis care cascade in an indigenous population of a Colombian region
Authors: Márquez Iader Alfonso Rodríguez , Hoyos Kelly Yoana Tello , Pereda María del Pilar Torres , Salazar Bertha Leonor Guzmán , Pérez Freddy , Pasaje Jhon Edwin Polanco 
Published: September 2021

Abstract

Background
It is estimated, there are around 370 million indigenous people in the world. For 2017, 5.4% of tuberculosis cases in Colombia occurred in the indigenous population (IP), while in the Cauca region, it was 32% and only 19.3% of new cases were detected. This is the second region with the highest proportion of IP in Colombia. This could affect the fulfillment of the aims of the Colombian Strategic Plan Towards the End of TB. Our aim was to evaluate the pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) care cascade in IP of Cauca and identified gaps in the cascade.

Methods
Mixed methods (explanatory sequential desing). In the quantitative phase, the care cascade was evaluated. In the qualitative phase we sought to explain the gaps in the cascade. Tuberculosis program information and semi-structured interviews were used.

Results
In the care cascade in IP, 202 cases of presumptive PTB (New smear-positive expected) were estimated. A gap of undiagnosed cases of 47.5% was found (n = 96). This gap was explained by poor quality of the Acid-Fast Bacillus Smear, failures in the identification of presumptive tuberculosis, limited access to diagnostic methods, poor training and high turnover of healthcare workers were identified as possible explanations.

Conclusions
The efforts of the tuberculosis control program in the IP should focus on reducing the gap of undiagnosed cases.

Key messages
The PTB in IP could affect the fulfillment of the goals of the program.
Approximately half of the expected cases were not detected during 2016-2017.
1218Estimating the causal effect of mobility on Dengue during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Roster Kirstin , Connaughton Colm , Rodrigues Francisco A 
Published: September 2021

Abstract

Background
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a reduction in human mobility which occurred randomly (in time) and is not linked to any other Dengue risk factors. This gives rise to a quasi-experimental situation to assess the impact of mobility reduction on Dengue Fever in Brazilian cities using propensity score matching.

Methods
We match weeks during the peak pandemic period for 37 cities in São Paulo state with comparable prior periods based on instruments for mosquito population size and human susceptibility. By matching within cities, we also control for city-level characteristics, such as landscape or population density. We compute propensity scores using logistic regression and Random Forests and implement both one-to-one and one-to-many matching with calipers.

Results
We compare the Sample Average Treatment Effect on the Treated (SATT) across models and find variation in the direction of the causal effect. In 12 cities, mobility reductions are linked to more Dengue cases, while fewer cases are reported in 9 cities. The remaining cities are sensitive to the model chosen.

Conclusions
The SATT of mobility on Dengue varies across the cities in our sample, with more cities experiencing an increase in cases during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key messages
A quasi-experimental analysis suggests that there is a a causal effect of mobility on Dengue that varies across cities in São Paulo state.
1032A Critical Assessment of Typologies of Conflict and their Relevance to Public Health Research
Authors: Saad Ghada , Damaj Yara , Tabaja Malak , DeJong Jocelyn 
Published: September 2021

Abstract

Background
Performing multi-country comparisons of the impact of armed conflict on health is not straightforward given the absence of an agreed definition of armed conflict and the multitude of categorizations/typologies identifying conflict-affected settings. Our analysis provides a critical review of available typologies to assess their usefulness for public health research.

Methods
Through a two-step comprehensive literature review, we identified available conflict-related typologies and performed a further multiple-database literature review to identify literature critiquing these typologies. Based on this information and our critical systematic assessment, we recommended optimal typologies for use in public health research.

Results
We identified 28 conflict-related typologies that we evaluated systematically to arrive at four typologies that are most suited for public health researchers examining for example, the effects of conflict on maternal and child health. These are the Uppsala Conflict Data Program, Heidelberg Institute of International Conflict Research (HIIK)-Conflict Barometer, Major Episodes of Political Violence and the Global Peace Index. These typologies are global in scope, address all types of violence, are regularly updated and do not include health/development indicators within their definitions.

Conclusion
All retrieved typologies have limitations, there are critiques of how conflicts and their intensity rankings are defined. Nevertheless, the four selected typologies provide useful tools for researchers aiming to make multi-country comparisons of the impact of armed conflict on health.

Key messages
There is no single agreed typology that provides a comprehensive picture of armed conflict across diverse settings. The most suitable typologies need to be complemented by in-country qualitative situation assessments.
144Identification of non-vaccinated children using decision trees
Authors: Santos Thiago Melo , Cata-Preta Bianca , Victora Cesar G , Barros Aluisio J D 
Published: September 2021

Abstract

Background
Non-vaccinated children are a particularly vulnerable and understudied group. Machine learning algorithms, such as decision trees, might be useful for identifying subgroups with high prevalence of zero dose (neither BCG, polio, DPT nor measles vaccines received).

Methods
We developed Classification and Regression Tree models using data from DHS surveys of India 2015 and Chad 2014 in order to identify risk groups of zero dose.

Results
The first split variable for India was the child’s place of delivery, followed by the mother’s tetanus vaccination status for the higher-risk subgroup of children born in noninstitutional facilities. For Chad, administrative region was selected, and two high zero dose regions were defined. For those regions, children whose mother did not receive any dose of tetanus vaccine were also considered a higher-risk subgroup.

Conclusions
Two trees were created with only two splits each. Subgroups with zero dose prevalence higher than 40% were identified.

Key messages
Decision trees might be valuable tools for exploratory data analysis and risk groups identification in epidemiological research.
771FUCS National Meeting of Colombian Health Research Seedbeds: our history 2004-2019
Authors: Castro Carlos , Segura Omar , Vivas Laura 
Published: September 2021

Abstract

Background
Comparative history applied to health education may be a tool to understand institutional key processes within our national health research evolution. In Colombia, first groups of undergraduates interested in research emerged in 1996, being called seedbeds. Universitary Foundation of Health Sciences (FUCS) developed its own seedbeds and created a National Meeting (NM) to join others as network. Objective here is to describe its evolution and perspectives along a 15-year timespan (2004-2019).

Methods
Ethically approved qualitative hermeneutic-interpretative research using content analysis, compared history and interviews to key figures. Data came from digital files with FUCS policies (statutes, education plans and rules), FUCS High Council meetings acts and audiovisual material directly pertaining the NM; files were condensed using Endnote X9 and NVivo 12 to generate categories, benchmarks and timeline.

Results
Three stages emerged: a) conception (2004-2009), seedbed was an external construct adopted by FUCS since formative research was embedded in its teaching activities; b) blooming (2010-2014), FUCS offices and areas participated in developing regulations and giving administrative/financial support, 19 seedbeds in 4 faculties were created, and first two NMs were advertised and executed, c) growth (2015-onwards) devoted to “maintenance & consolidation”, with three events, country-wide participants from 57 universities and 370 research projects exhibited (2019).

Conclusions
The NM reflect FUCS institutional development and progress in teaching and promoting research through organized, dynamic and productive undergraduate research seedbeds.

Key messages
In Colombia, undergraduate seedbeds are promoted as paramount educational activity; in this endeavour, FUCS national meetings have become centre-piece after 15 years.
1407Erectile dysfunction among type 2 diabetes patients and its correlates
Authors: Shanmugasundaram Vignesh Viswanath 
Published: September 2021

Abstract

Background
Erectile Dysfunction (ED), is a common complication in type 2 diabetic men. Present study was undertaken to investigate the association between demographic factors, metabolic parameters and medication use with ED among type 2 diabetics.

Methods
This was a cross-sectional study. Married men aged 20-60 years with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes attending the outpatient unit of Department of Endocrinology at PSG Hospitals during the months of May and June 2019 were enrolled. The severity of erectile function was assessed using the validated International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire. All subjects were evaluated based on demographic factors, clinical parameters and medications used.

Results
Out of the 204 patients enrolled, 65 (31.86%) were found to have ED. ED was significantly associated with patients who were having less physical activity, hypertension, obesity and diabetic retinopathy. A significant increase in the prevalence of ED with duration of diabetes was observed. In patients with diabetes, for 1-5, 6-10 and 11-30 years, the prevalence was 24.1%, 27.7% and 53.1% respectively.

Conclusions
For type 2 diabetes, increasing duration of diabetes poses a greater risk for ED. Hypertension, less physical activity and some medications increase the prevalence of ED.

Key messages
Our results suggest that health care providers who address sexual dysfunction issues with their diabetic patients early may be able to reduce the severity or delay the onset of ED by implementing intensive lifestyle changes as the first step management for type 2 diabetes.
956Cumulative low-tar exposure was still associated with increased lung cancer risk from Japanese case-control study
Authors: Shimatani Keiichi , Ito Hidemi , Matsuo Keitaro , Tajima Kazuo , Takezaki Toshiro 
Published: September 2021

Abstract

Background
Tar concentration in cigarette brands is chronologically decreasing in the USA and Japan. However, studies investigating lung cancer risk with cumulative tar exposure in Western and Asian countries are insufficient. To investigate the risk of lung cancer with cumulative cigarette tar exposure, we conducted a case-control study among Japanese current smokers.

Methods
This study used data from the US-Japan lung cancer joint study in 1993–1998. The number of the subjects was 282 histologically confirmed lung cancer cases and 162 hospital and 227 community controls, and two control groups were combined. The information regarding tar concentration was obtained from the published documents and additional estimation using the equation of regression. Cumulative tar concentration was calculated by multiplying the annual value of tar concentration by year and brand. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals for lung cancer with cumulative tar exposure were estimated using a logistic model.

Results
The OR with cumulative tar exposure was higher in higher exposed smokers (&gt;45.6 × 105mg, 8.10, 4.74–13.7) than in lower exposed smokers (≤45.6 × 105mg, 3.37, 1.92–5.92), and increasing trend of the ORs was significant (p &lt; 0.001). The stratification analysis showed higher ORs among those with higher cumulative tar exposure regardless of inhalation, duration of smoking filtered cigarettes, and histological type.

Conclusions
This study showed that cumulative tar exposure is a dose-dependent indicator for lung cancer risk, and low-tar exposure was still associated with increased cancer risk.

Key messages
Low-tar tobacco is still associated with increased lung cancer risk.
522Occupational chemical exposures in pregnancy and fetal growth: evidence from the Born in Bradford Study
Authors: Shirangi Adeleh , Wright John , Blair Eve M , McEachan Rosemary RC , Nieuwenhuijsen Mark J 
Published: September 2021

Abstract

Background
Understanding the effect of occupational exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) during pregnancy on inadequate fetal growth as measured by small-for-gestational age (SGA) and as measured by percentage of optimal birth weight (POBW) is not well understood.

Methods
We studied 4142 pregnant women who were in paid employment during pregnancy and participated in a population-based, prospective 2007–2011 birth cohort study, the Born in Bradford Study, with an estimated participation of 80%. Job titles were coded at 26–28 weeks' gestation at a 4-digit level according to 353 unit groups in the 2000 UK Standard Occupational Classification. They were then linked to expert judgment on exposure to each of ten EDC groups as assessed through a job exposure matrix. A modified Poisson regression was used to assess the risk of POBW and SGA associated with an increased risk of chemical exposures.

Results
The frequency of POBW&lt;85 significantly increased for mothers exposed to pesticides [adjusted risk ratio (RRadj) 3.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.40–9.91] and phthalates (RRadj 3.71, 95% CI 1.62–8.51). There was a 5-fold increase risk of SGA for mothers exposed to pesticides (RRadj 5.45, 95% CI 1.59–18.62). Veterinary nurses and horticultural trades were most frequently associated with exposure to pesticides while hairdressers, beauticians, and printing machine minders were associated with phthalates.

Conclusion
Maternal occupational exposure to estimated concentrations of pesticides and phthalates is associated with impaired fetal growth.

Key messages
The POBW is useful in measuring inadequate fetal growth in study of occupational chemical exposures.
977Mechanistic within-host modelling to fast-track the selection of new antimalarial combination therapies
Authors: Simpson Julie , Dini Saber , Zaloumis Sophie , Price David , McCarthy James , Cherkaoui Mohammed , Kummel Anne , Gobeau Nathalie 
Published: September 2021

Abstract

Background
The efficacy of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), currently the first-line antimalarial treatments, is declining due to the emergence of resistance of malaria parasites to these drugs. This has led drug development initiatives to search for novel combination therapies to replace the failing ACTs. We developed a biologically informed within-host model, validated against data from volunteer infection studies, to guide critical drug development decisions.

Methods
A within-host model was developed, linking drug concentrations of two novel antimalarial drugs, OZ439 and DSM265, to their combined killing action and accounting for differential killing of these compounds against stages of the parasite’s lifecycle. Data collected from malaria-infected volunteers treated with OZ439–DSM265 were used to estimate the model parameters in a hierarchical Bayesian framework. Posterior-predictive simulations of the model were used to determine the dosing regimen required to cure &gt;90% patients.

Results
The results showed that 800 mg of OZ439 combined with 450 mg of DSM265, which are within the safe and tolerable dose range, can provide day 42 cure rates &gt;90%, despite the estimated antagonistic interaction between the drugs. The importance of accommodating parasite age specificity of drug action was demonstrated.

Conclusions
The dosing regimens for the combination of OZ439-DSM265 determined from our data-informed in silico model suggest this compound may be a suitable candidate to replace failing ACTs.

Key messages
Assessing various scenarios within a simulation framework allows discovery of robust dosing regimens, accelerating the drug development process and ensuring efficient allocation of resources for phase 2 and 3 clinical trials.
509Healthy-lifestyle-scores associated with lower subsequent fatigue risk in multiple sclerosis using inverse probability treatment weighting
Authors: Weiland Tracey , Simpson-Yap Steve , Nag Nupur , Jelinek George , Taylor Keryn , Neate Sandra , Bevens William , De Livera Alysha 
Published: September 2021

Abstract

Background
Several lifestyle factors have been associated with the onset and progression of multiple sclerosis (MS). Combining these lifestyle factors into scoring indices is an efficient way to assess their collective relationship with clinical outcomes. We examined the association of two lifestyle scores with clinically significant fatigue and change thereof over two years’ follow-up.

Methods
Data on sociodemographic, lifestyle and clinical characteristics surveyed from the international HOLISM cohort of people with MS at baseline and 2.5-year follow-up. Fatigue was defined by Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and healthy lifestyle by the Healthy Lifestyle Index Score (HLIS), and SNAP (Smoking, Nutrition, Alcohol, Physical Activity) score. Analyses by standard logistic and inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW) models adjusted for age, sex, MS type, disability, comorbidity number, immunomodulatory medication use, prescription antifatigue medication use, and ongoing relapse symptoms; change in fatigue models also adjusted for baseline fatigue.

Results
1,160 participants completed the FSS questionnaire at both timepoints, and roughly 62% had fatigue at each timepoint. By logistic regression, baseline HLIS and SNAP were each associated with lower risk of being fatigued at follow-up, persisting on adjustment. Using doubly-robust IPTW these associations were attenuated but high HLIS (OR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.81-0.97) and SNAP (OR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.73-0.90) were each associated with lower risk of fatigue at follow-up. Evaluating change in fatigue, however, there was no consistent association of either HLIS or SNAP score by either statistical method.

Conclusions
In this sample of people with MS, healthy lifestyle scores were associated with less fatigue 2.5 years later, though not with change in fatigue over this interval.