bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Associations between education and need for care among community dwelling older adults in Iceland
Authors: Chang Milan , Geirsdottir Olof G. , Sigurdarsdottir Sigurveig H. , Kåreholt Ingemar , Ramel Alfons 
Published: May 2019

BackgroundOlder adults in Iceland have good access to social services that support them in maintaining an independent life, although receiving informal care is common for community living older adults in Iceland. The aim of this study was to examine whether the need for care as well as receiving formal and informal care is associated with education among older adults in Iceland.MethodsAmong a national sample of 782 Icelandic community dwelling old adults (mean age 76.9 ± 7.4 years, 55% women), a telephone survey was conducted. The survey included questions on: socioeconomic status, social network, health status, activities of daily living and formal/informal care.ResultsA full data set was available for 720 subjects and among these, 349 (48.5%) had no need for care, 197 (27.4%) received informal care only, 31 (4.3%) received formal care only, and 143 (19.9%) received both type of care. Participants with higher education were significantly less likely to need care (OR 0.67, 95% CI, 0.47–0.97, p = 0.031) when compared with those who had primary education. Categorisation by age showed that this difference was only significant in participants younger than 80 years. Education was not related to formal care, but adults with higher education were less likely to receive informal care compared with older adults who had primary education (OR: 0.65, 95%CI: 0.46, 0.93, p = 0.018).ConclusionsPeople with higher education were significantly less likely to need care and this association was mainly present among those aged below 80 years. Further, in participants that needed care, the likelihood of receiving informal care was lower in highly educated participants, but no differences in formal care were observed between educational levels.
Parenting skills after participation in skills‐based training inspired by the New Maudsley Method: a qualitative study in an outpatient eating disorder setting
Authors: Toubøl Annemarie , Koch‐Christensen Helle , Bruun Poul , Nielsen Dorthe S. 
Published: May 2019

BackgroundEating disorders affect the whole family and it is recommended that parents play an important role in their adolescents’ recovery. Being a parent to an adolescent with an eating disorder is often linked to feelings of guilt and hopelessness and at the same time parents often feel left alone with unmet needs when it comes to handling symptoms in family life. Little is known about parents’ perspectives to skills‐based training in adolescent eating disorder treatment. This knowledge is urgently required, since previous research has focused mainly on adult patients showing positive effects of skills‐based training as a promising adjunct in eating disorder treatment.ObjectiveTo examine parents’ perception of their new skills after having participated in skills‐based training inspired by the New Maudsley Method.MethodologyA qualitative study using deductive dominant content analysis.MethodsIn total, 21 parents participated in focus groups.FindingsThree categories were identified (i) Standing outside oneself and realise that one has become entangled in the illness, (ii) Understanding the daughter's inner life with the illness offers new opportunities in the relationship, (iii) Courage to find new ways of parenting. The parents experienced themselves more calm and confident in their ability to recognise and confront the eating disorder symptoms. They expressed increased communication skills, which improved their relationship with their child and gave access to her inner life.ConclusionSkills‐based training serves as an important intervention and it may improve parental skills, reduce high expressed emotions and reduce anxiety, guilt and stress. Skills‐based training may contribute to reinforcing parents to regain parenting authority and enable parents and adolescents to ‘be on the same side’ in the beating the eating disorder.
Insight from focus group interviews: adolescent girls’ well‐being in relation to experiences of winter, nature and seasonal changes in Northern Finland
Authors: Wiens Varpu , Kyngäs Helvi , Pölkki Tarja 
Published: May 2019

BackgroundAccording to previous studies, gender‐related differences have been found in relation to the experience of well‐being. There are also research results indicating that environment and seasonal variation have an influence on the well‐being.AimThe aim of the study was to describe how adolescent girls living in northern Finland experience nature, winter and seasonal changes and meaning of these to their well‐being.MethodsIn this descriptive, qualitative research, 17 girls aged 13–16 who live in northern Finland participated in five focus group interviews where they presented photographs of nature they took themselves. Participation for the girls was voluntary, and the data were analysed by using content analysis.FindingsThree main categories were found: winter which expresses participative and confrontational meanings, natural environment that provides meaningful stimulus and seasonal variations binding experiences. Winter had a dual effect on girls’ well‐being. Nature's healing elements were described by the girls as invigorating, varying and stimulating of a wide range of senses. Nature offered soothing and revitalising experiences for the girls. On the one hand, seasonal changes were seen as a refreshing change, but on the other hand, the changes were described oppressive and burdensome.ConclusionThe girls described how they experienced the multiple elements of nature and environment through different senses. These sensations and feelings seem to transport the girls to a larger experience in which nature and seasonal changes were partially elements that fulfilled the girls’ needs but also required adaptation.Relevance to clinical practiceThis experiential description encourages us to develop new means of promotive actions and brings a novel perspective and understanding about how to incorporate and implement these findings to enhance girls’ well‐being. Findings from this study need to be understood in this particular context in northern Finland among adolescent girls.
Family caregivers’ and professionals’ stigmatic experiences with persons with early‐onset dementia: a qualitative study
Authors: Werner Perla , Shpigelman Carmit‐Noa , Raviv Turgeman Lilach 
Published: May 2019

ObjectivesRecently, research has focused on understanding the needs of persons with early‐onset dementia and their family caregivers who often experience stigmatic beliefs. However, to date, research has not provided a thorough and deep understanding of the stigma formation process and its implications for this population. Thus, the aim of the present study was to explore the stigma formation process as experienced by family members as informal caregivers of persons with early‐onset dementia, and professionals as formal caregivers who are involved in the development, management and provision of services.MethodWe conducted three focus groups with 16 participants, including spouses of a person with early‐onset dementia and professionals. The focus groups’ transcripts were analysed following a thematic analysis procedure.ResultsResults indicated that both family members and professionals encounter stigmatic experiences because of their association with younger persons with dementia. Lack of knowledge emerged as the main antecedent and emotional burden as the main consequence of stigma.ConclusionStigmatic experiences emerged as a pervasive and complex phenomenon among formal and informal caregivers of persons with early‐onset dementia, suggesting the need to developing a comprehensive and integrated approach to reduce them at the individual, professional and societal levels.
Nurses’ self‐assessments of adherence to guidelines on safe medication preparation and administration in long‐term elderly care
Authors: Karttunen Markus , Sneck Sami , Jokelainen Jari , Elo Satu 
Published: May 2019

BackgroundMedication‐related errors are common in elderly care. Most are detected during the preparation and administration stages of the medication process. Nursing staff have a key role in preventing errors, and it is based on adherence to guidelines.AimThe aim was to determine nursing staff's self‐assessments of how they adherence to guidelines on safe medication preparation, administration and asepsis in the medication process in long‐term elderly care and to identify factors affecting this adherence.MethodCross‐sectional study was conducted by total sampling at the communal long‐term elderly care wards of one healthcare district in Finland in November 2016. Data were collected from nursing staff by using a previously developed web‐based questionnaire. The response rate was 39.4% (n = 492).ResultsOne‐third of the nurses stated that they do not always follow guidelines when preparing medication, and around a half deviate from them occasionally, when administering medication. The most serious deviation on preparation stage was crushing of sustained release and enteric‐coated tablets and mixing of crushed tablets together. On administration stage, the deviation of guidelines of giving medicine in recommended time or in relation to food was common. Associations were detected between the adherence to guidelines and the nurses’ experience about the adequacy of their knowledge of pharmacology and infection control, and their skill at performing medication calculations.ConclusionDeviation from guidelines often causes an error. There is a need to review the teaching of pharmacology, infection control and medication calculations during undergraduate and continuing education. In addition, nursing staff must be reminded about the ethical aspects of safe medication processes and the appropriate attitudes to these processes. Nurses must understand why it is important to follow guidelines when preparing and administering medications, in order to avoid errors.
Vitexin alleviates interleukin‐1β‐induced inflammatory responses in chondrocytes from osteoarthritis patients: Involvement of HIF‐1α pathway
Authors: Yang Hongpeng , Huang Jian , Mao Yanfang , Wang Lin , Li Ruodong , Ha Chengzhi 
Published: May 2019

AbstractIt has been reported that vitexin has anti‐inflammatory effects in osteoarthritis (OA) rats. However, the effects of vitexin on interleukins‐1β (IL‐1β)‐stimulated OA patient‐derived chondrocytes have not been reported. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti‐inflammatory effects of vitexin on IL‐1β‐stimulated human osteoarthritis chondrocytes and to reveal the involvement of hypoxia‐inducible factor 1α (HIF‐1α) pathway. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, quantitative real‐time PCR and Western blotting assays were employed. ELISA results demonstrated that the proinflammatory cytokine levels of interleukins‐6 (IL‐6) and tumour necrosis factor α (TNF‐α) in the serum and synovial fluid and HIF‐1α level in the synovial fluid were significantly elevated in OA patients compared to normal healthy subjects. Moreover, the Western blotting results indicated that the protein expression of HIF‐1α was significantly higher in the cartilage tissues of OA patients. OA patient‐derived chondrocytes were stimulated by IL‐1β and treated with different concentration of vitexin for 24 hours. Vitexin showed no cytotoxicity and increased the survival of chondrocytes under IL‐1β stimulation. Vitexin suppressed IL‐1β‐induced production of NO and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in chondrocytes culture. The treatment of vitexin significantly inhibited IL‐1β‐induced expressions of proinflammatory cytokine levels of IL‐6, TNF‐α, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐1, MMP‐3 and MMP‐13. Furthermore, Western blotting results demonstrated that HIF‐1α is involved in vitexin's protective effects on IL‐1β‐stimulated injuries in OA patient‐derived chondrocytes. Our study demonstrates that vitexin alleviates IL‐1β‐induced inflammatory responses in chondrocytes from osteoarthritis patients, which may be attributed partly to the inhibition of HIF‐1α pathway.
Novel vaccination strategies and approaches against human tuberculosis
Authors: Méndez‐Samperio Patricia 
Published: May 2019

AbstractTuberculosis (TB) remains one of a major health problem worldwide. Tuberculosis vaccine research has made an extraordinary progress over the past few years. However, there is still no replacement for the Bacillus Calmette‐Guérin vaccine, the only TB vaccine licensed for human use. Therefore, the discovery and development of new TB vaccines remains a priority. This article discusses current strategies used to diversify TB vaccines and includes discussion of the status of efforts to improve protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M tb) infection or TB disease by developing new and safe TB vaccines. This article also highlights the current research efforts in immune‐enhancing approaches to improve vaccination efficacy. The development of more effective TB vaccines might have significant impact on global TB control.
When Partisan Identification and Economic Evaluations Conflict: A Closer Look at Conflicted Partisans in the United States
Authors: de Geus Roosmarijn A. 
Published: May 2019

ObjectiveMost partisan voters in the United States hold biased perceptions of the state of the national economy. Comparatively little is known, however, about voters who hold economic evaluations that conflict with their partisan identification.MethodsI use the American National Election Studies from 1980 to 2016 to conduct over time regression analyses of the identity and behavior of conflicted partisans.ResultsThe share of conflicted partisans is substantial, especially during economic recessions. Conflict is associated with weak levels of party identification, higher levels of nonvoting, and lower levels of in‐party voting.ConclusionA closer look at conflicted partisans suggests that partisan bias in economic judgments fluctuates over time and varies among party affiliates. The study further shows that conflict between party affiliation and economic judgments is associated with differential voting and turnout patterns among party identifiers.
RHD genotyping of serologic RhD‐negative blood donors in a hospital‐based blood donor center
Authors: Perez‐Alvarez Ingrid , Hayes Chelsea , Hailemariam Tiruneh , Shin Edward , Hutchinson Tyler , Klapper Ellen 
Published: May 2019

BACKGROUNDSerologic RhD‐negative blood donors are tested by a method known to detect weak D antigen expression. Serology does not detect all red blood cells with RhD expression and RHD genotyping has been used to identify variant RHD alleles, which may lead to some RhD expression. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of RHD variant alleles in serologic RhD‐negative blood donors at a hospital‐based donor center in Los Angeles.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS
RHD genotyping of serologic RhD‐negative blood donors over a 20‐month period was performed using the Immucor RHD BeadChip assay. DNA sequencing was performed when the RHD BeadChip assay failed to assign a genotype. For RHD variants known or suspected to result in RhD expression, recipients of previous blood donations were investigated for alloimmunization.RESULTS
RHD genotyping was performed in 1174 RhD‐negative blood donors, and 1122 were genotyped for RHCE variants. Eleven donors (0.94%) harbored mutations predicted to yield RhD expression. The predicted phenotypes were, in decreasing frequency, DEL, partial, and weak D phenotypes. Anti‐D was not detected in 16 patients who had received blood from these donors after an average follow up of 182 days.CONCLUSIONGenotyping can be used to identify donors with the potential to sensitize RhD‐negative recipients. In this limited study, 0.94% of serologic RhD‐negative blood donors were found to have variant RHD alleles that might cause alloimmunization in RhD‐negative recipients. To our knowledge, a study of this nature has not been reported in the United States.
Utility of temperature‐sensitive indicators for temperature monitoring of red‐blood‐cell units
Authors: Park Mikyoung , Hur Mina , Yi Ahram , Kim Hanah , Lee Hyun Kyung , Jeon Eun Young , Oh Kyung‐Mi , Lee Mark Hong 
Published: May 2019

Background and ObjectivesThe 30‐min rule has been used to maintain a core temperature (CT) of red‐blood‐cell (RBC) units below 10°C during transportation. We evaluated the utility of temperature‐sensitive indicators (TIs) to monitor the surface temperature (ST) of RBC units and to explore whether TIs can help with compliance with the 30‐min rule by extrapolating or correlating temperature change with time.Materials and MethodsTwo US FDA‐approved TIs, Safe‐T‐Vue 10 (STV10; Temptime Corporation, Morris Plains, NJ, USA) and Timestrip Blood Temp 10 (BT10; Timestrip UK Ltd, Cambridge, UK), were attached to 50 RBC units. After issue, their colour change indicating 10°C was monitored, and temperature excursions were measured by standard reading. In additional 18 RBC units, both ST and CT were monitored simultaneously.ResultsIn 50 RBC units, 94% of STV10 and 100% of BT10 showed colour change indicating 10°C within 30 min; 4% of STV10 and 18% of BT10 showed it during transportation. The time for colour change indicating 10°C differed significantly between STV10 and BT10 (19·0 vs. 5·6 min, P < 0·001). In additional 18 RBC units, 83·3% of STV10, 100% of BT10 and 88·9% of CT reached 10°C within 30 min, and the time for colour change indicating 10°C was 24·4 min in STV10, 14·6 min in BT 10 and 24·2 min in CT (P < 0·001).ConclusionIn two TIs, the time for colour change indicating 10°C varied considerably. To enhance the utility of TIs, further improvement and standardization would be needed.
Neurological signs and MRI findings in 12 dogs with multiple myeloma
Authors: Wyatt Sophie , De Risio Luisa , Driver Colin , José‐López Roberto , Pivetta Mauro , Beltran Elsa 
Published: May 2019

AbstractVertebral lesions and associated neurological signs occur in dogs with multiple myeloma, however, veterinary literature describing MRI findings is currently lacking. The objective of this multicenter, retrospective, case series study was to describe neurological signs and MRI findings in a group of dogs that presented for spinal pain or other neurological deficits and had multiple myeloma. Electronic records of four veterinary referral hospitals were reviewed. Dogs were included if they had a pathologically confirmed diagnosis of multiple myeloma, had presented for spinal pain or other neurological signs, and had undergone MRI of the vertebral column. The MRI studies were evaluated and the anatomical location of lesion(s), signal intensity, presence of extra‐dural material, degree of spinal cord compression, extent of vertebral lesions, and contrast enhancement were recorded. Twelve dogs met inclusion criteria. Most dogs (n = 8) had a chronic progressive history, with varying degrees of proprioceptive ataxia and paresis (n = 11), and spinal pain was a feature in all dogs. The MRI findings were variable but more consistent features included the presence of multiple expansile vertebral lesions without extension beyond the outer cortical limits of affected vertebrae, and associated extradural material causing spinal cord compression. The majority of lesions were hyper‐ to isointense on T2 (n = 12) and T1‐weighted (n = 8) sequences, with variable but homogeneous contrast‐enhancement (n = 12). These described MRI characteristics of multiple myeloma may be used to aid early identification and guide subsequent confirmatory diagnostic steps, to ultimately improve therapeutic approach and long‐term outcome.
Frailty phenotype and frailty index are associated with distinct neuromuscular electrophysiological characteristics in men
Authors: Swiecicka Agnieszka , Piasecki Mathew , Stashuk Daniel W. , Ireland Alex , Jones David A. , Rutter Martin K. , McPhee Jamie S. 
Published: May 2019

New Findings
What is the central question of this study?
Human frailty is characterized by accumulated health complaints, including medical conditions, low physical and psychological function and social components. It is currently unknown whether the condition is associated with neuromuscular changes detectable by electrophysiology obtained from voluntary and involuntary muscle contractions.

What is the main finding and its importance?
A higher likelihood of frailty was significantly associated with a smaller size of vastus lateralis motor unit potentials during voluntary contractions and smaller compound muscle action potentials generated by electrical stimulation. Importantly, these associations were independent of age and body mass index.

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to determine whether neuromuscular electrophysiological characteristics that are known to underlie sarcopenia are also associated with the more complex frailty syndrome. Eighty‐six men [mean (SD) age, 74 (8) years] were classed as non‐frail (robust), prefrail or frail using criteria from the frailty phenotype (FP) and the frailty index (FI). The femoral nerve was stimulated maximally and the resulting compound muscle action potential amplitude (CMAP) measured over the vastus lateralis. Motor unit potential (MUP) size was assessed during voluntary contractions using intramuscular electromyography (iEMG). Logistic and negative binomial regression models determined relationships between FP and FI with CMAP and MUP sizes before and after adjustments for age and body mass index. Larger CMAP size was associated with a lower likelihood of frailty in fully adjusted models: a 1SD higher level in vastus lateralis CMAP size was associated with a 0.4 (95% confidence interval: 0.2, 0.6; P < 0.01) unit lower FI (40% of the FI range) and more than halving of the odds [odds ratio: 0.43 (95% confidence interval: 0.21, 0.90)] of having a frail/prefrail phenotype. Greater MUP size was also related to lower FI values using unadjusted and fully adjusted models. However, MUP size was not significantly related to FP in any model. Smaller MUPs and a smaller CMAP were significantly associated with a higher likelihood of frailty, independent of age and body mass index. These results relate neuromuscular electrophysiological characteristics to the complex frailty syndrome and identify motor unit remodelling as a possible contributing factor.