bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Using medico‐legal claims for quality improvement in maternity care: application and revision of an NHSLA coding taxonomy
Authors: Nowotny BM , Basnayake S , Lorenz K , Hall J , Ruddock S , Fennessy G , Cox E , Hodges R , Loh E , Wallace EM 
Published: May 2019

ObjectiveTo validate the NHSLA maternity claims taxonomy at the level of a single maternity service and assess its ability to direct quality improvement.DesignQualitative descriptive study.SettingMedico‐legal claims between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2016 from a maternity service in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia.PopulationAll obstetric claims and incident notifications occurring within the date range were included for analysis.MethodsDe‐identified claims and notifications data were derived from the files of the insurer of Victorian public health services. Data included claim date, incident date and summary, and claim cost. All reported issues were coded using the NHSLA taxonomy and the lead issue identified.Main outcome measuresRate of claims and notifications, relative frequency of issues, a revised taxonomy.ResultsA combined total of 265 claims and incidents were reported during the 6 years. Of these 59 were excluded, leaving 198 medico‐legal events for analysis (1.66 events/1000 births). The costs for all claims was $46.7 million. The most common claim issues were related to management of labour (n = 63, $17.7 million), cardiotocographic interpretation (n = 43, $24.4 million), and stillbirth (n = 35, $656,750). The original NHSLA classification was not sufficiently detailed to inform care improvement programmes. A revised taxonomy and coding flowchart is presented.ConclusionsSystematic analysis of obstetric medico‐legal claims data can potentially be used to inform quality and safety improvement.Tweetable abstractNew taxonomy to target health improvement from maternity claims based on NHSLA Ten Years of Maternity Claims.
The effect of different sampling and recall periods in the CAHPS Clinician & Group (CG‐CAHPS) survey
Authors: Hargraves J. Lee , Cosenza Carol , Elliott Marc N. , Cleary Paul D. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the effect of changing the sampling and reference periods for the CAHPS® Clinician & Group Survey from 12 to 6 months.Data Sources/Study SettingAdult patients with a visit in the last 12 months to New England community health centers.Study DesignWe randomly assigned patients to receive a survey with either a 12‐ or 6‐month recall period.Data Collection/Extraction MethodsQuestionnaires were mailed to patients, with a second questionnaire mailed to nonrespondents, followed by six attempts to complete a telephone interview.Principal FindingsIf the sampling criterion was a visit in the last 6 months, 9 percent of those with a visit in the last 12 months would not have been surveyed. A total of 1837 patients completed 6‐month surveys (44.9 percent response rate); 588 completed 12‐month surveys (46.0 percent response rate). Shortening the reference from 12 to 6 months reduced the proportion of respondents reporting a blood test, X‐ray, or other tests. Adjusting for respondent characteristics, the most positive response was selected more often on the 6‐month survey for 12 out of 13 questions, and three of these differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05).ConclusionsSurveys using a 6‐month recall period may yield slightly higher scores than surveys with a 12‐month recall period.
The effects of a schizophrenia pay‐for‐performance program on patient outcomes in Taiwan
Authors: Chen Tsung‐Tai , Yang Jing‐Jung , Hsueh Ya‐seng (Arthur) , Wang Vinchi 
Published: May 2019

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the effects of a schizophrenia pay‐for‐performance (P4P) program on the health outcomes of patients in Taiwan.Data SourcesSeven years (2007‐2013) of data from the National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) databases were examined.Study DesignP4P patients included those who were treated at participating facilities and consecutively included in the regular group (classified by the NHIA). Non‐P4P patients were treated at nonparticipating facilities and never included in the regular group. The caliper matching method and a generalized estimating equation were used to estimate difference‐in‐differences models (baseline year 2009) and examine the short‐ and long‐term effects of the P4P program on adverse outcomes.Principal FindingsThe schizophrenia P4P program was associated with decreases in unscheduled outpatient visits (OR: 0.69, P < 0.001) and compulsory admissions (incidence rate ratio: 0.33, P < 0.05). However, this program was not associated with decreases in other outcomes including emergency department visits for any disease, admissions to an acute psychiatric ward, and readmission within 6 months.ConclusionsAlthough the disease management component of the P4P program can be beneficial for compulsory admissions, more sophisticated activities, such as health promotion targeting disadvantaged patients, could be implemented to reduce the occurrence of complicated adverse outcomes.
The effect of Medicaid waivers on ameliorating racial/ethnic disparities among children with autism
Authors: LaClair Michelle , Mandell David S. , Dick Andrew W. , Iskandarani Khaled , Stein Bradley D. , Leslie Douglas L. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the effects of Medicaid Home and Community‐based Services (HCBS) waivers on reducing racial/ethnic disparities in unmet need for services among families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).Data SourcesData from the 2003, 2007, and 2011 waves of the National Survey of Children's Health and the 2005 and 2010 waves of the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs were used. Data on waiver characteristics were collected from source materials that were submitted in support of each state's waiver application. Waiver characteristics were combined to create a single waiver generosity variable.Study DesignQuasi‐difference‐in‐difference‐in‐difference models were used to determine the effect of waiver generosity on racial/ethnic disparities in unmet need among children with ASD.Principal FindingsIncreased waiver generosity was associated with significantly reduced odds of having unmet need for black children with ASD compared with white children with ASD. Unmet needs among black children with ASD were roughly cut in half, a 13 percentage point decrease, with the implementation of an average generosity waiver. No significant differences were seen for Hispanic ethnicity.ConclusionThese findings suggest that Medicaid HCBS waivers have the potential to ameliorate disparities in unmet need among children with ASD. Future policy development should focus on replicating the most effective characteristics of these waivers.
MicroRNA‐2738 regulates gene expression in the sex determination pathway in Bombyx mori
Authors: Liu Zu‐Lian , Xu Jun , Ling Lin , Yang De‐Hong , Chen Shu‐Qing , Huang Yong‐Ping 
Published: May 2019

AbstractMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of short, non‐coding transcripts that bind to 3′‐untranslated regions to trigger messenger RNA degradation or translational inhibition. Here we explored how miRNAs regulate sex determination in Bombyx mori, a lepidopteran model insect. Genes known to be involved in sex determination, BmPSI, Bmdsx, and BmMasc, are predicted targets of the species‐specific miR‐2738. Using a dual luciferase reporter assay in HEK293T cells, we confirmed that miR‐2738 suppressed transcription of BmPSI, Bmdsx, and BmMasc. The levels of BmPSI and BmMasc were significantly down‐regulated in B. mori miR‐2738 overexpression. In contrast, the genetic disruption of miR‐2738 using the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR‐associated protein 9 transgenic system increased the levels of BmPSI and BmMasc transcripts, whereas splicing of Bmdsx was unaltered by miR‐2738 depletion or overexpression. Taken together, this study implicates miR‐2738 as a minor regulator of sex determination genes in the silkworm.
Expression of multidrug transporter P‐glycoprotein in Pichia pastoris affects the host's methanol metabolism
Authors: Liu Wan‐cang , Zhou Fei , Xia Di , Shiloach Joseph 
Published: May 2019

SummaryPichia pastoris KM71H (MutS) is an efficient producer of hard‐to‐express proteins such as the membrane protein P‐glycoprotein (Pgp), an ATP‐powered efflux pump which is expressed properly, but at very low concentration, using the conventional induction strategy. Evaluation of different induction strategies indicated that it was possible to increase Pgp expression by inducing the culture with 20% media containing 2.5% methanol. By quantifying methanol, formaldehyde, hydrogen peroxide and formate, and by measuring alcohol oxidase, catalase, formaldehyde dehydrogenase, formate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, isocitrate dehydrogenase and α‐ketoglutarate dehydrogenases, it was possible to correlate Pgp expression to the induction strategy. Inducing the culture by adding methanol with fresh media was associated with decreases in formaldehyde and hydrogen peroxide, and increases in formaldehyde dehydrogenase, formate dehydrogenase, isocitrate dehydrogenase and α‐ketoglutarate dehydrogenases. At these conditions, Pgp expression was 1400‐fold higher, an indication that Pgp expression is affected by increases in formaldehyde and hydrogen peroxide. It is possible that Pgp is responsible for this behaviour, since the increased metabolite concentrations and decreased enzymatic activities were not observed when parental Pichia was subjected to the same growth conditions. This report adds information on methanol metabolism during expression of Pgp from P. pastoris MutS strain and suggests an expression procedure for hard‐to‐express proteins from P. pastoris.
18F‐FDG PET/CT imaging: A supplementary understanding of pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma
Authors: Xu Jie , Dong Youwen , Yin Guotao , Jiang Wei , Yang Zhen , Xu Wengui , Zhu Lei 
Published: May 2019

BackgroundWe sought to investigate the clinical features and 18F‐FDG PET/CT characteristics of pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma (PSP).MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed and comparatively analyzed 18F‐FDG PET/CT imaging results of 22 patients with diagnosed PSP in our hospital from November 2009 to September 2015.ResultsThe SUVmax in tumors was positively correlated with tumor size in typical PSPs (R = 0.806, R2 = 0.650, P = 0.001); however, the SUVmax in tumors had no significant correlation with tumor size of atypical PSPs (R = 0.479, R2 = 0.229, P = 0.162), and the degree of correlation between them attenuated when atypical PSPs were included (R = 0.518, R2 = 0.268, P = 0.011). A majority (90%) of atypical PSPs were found in males. Symptomatic patients showed a higher SUVmax than the asymptomatic group (5.68 ± 3.63 vs. 2.76 ± 1.18, respectively, P = 0.002).ConclusionTumor size and clinical features may be associated with increased FDG uptake in PSPs. Morphological differences may affect the correlation between tumor size and SUVmax in PSPs. The atypical form of PSP may be more common in men.
The role of health, experience, and educational attainment in agricultural production: Evidence from smallholders in Burkina Faso
Authors: Wouterse Fleur , Badiane Ousmane 
Published: May 2019

AbstractWe apply parametric and nonparametric methods to data from smallholders in Burkina Faso and assess the role that human capital characteristics play in the agricultural production process. Our results point to the technology‐changing nature of health, education, and experience. However, effects are rather heterogeneous. The productivity elasticity of health is much larger for households in the lowest landholding quintiles, while returns to experience are larger for households in the upper quintile. In terms of policy implications, our results suggest that productivity can be stimulated through the allocation of expenditure to social services that enhance certain types of human capital. Interventions aimed at improving the health status of households with smaller landholdings could have particularly strong welfare effects.
Review: Sex‐Based Differences in Treatment Outcomes for Persons With Opioid Use Disorder
Authors: Huhn Andrew S. , Berry Meredith S. , Dunn Kelly E. 
Published: May 2019

Background and ObjectivesIn order to address the current opioid crisis, research on treatment outcomes for persons with opioid use disorder (OUD) should account for biological factors that could influence individual treatment response. Women and men might have clinically meaningful differences in their experience in OUD treatment and might also have unique challenges in achieving successful, long‐term recovery. This review summarizes and synthesizes the current literature on sex‐based differences in OUD treatment outcomes.MethodsRelevant literature was identified via automated and manual searches using the terms “opioid treatment outcome sex [or gender] differences” and “opiate treatment outcome sex [or gender] differences.” Search methodology was consistent with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA), and were conducted within the PubMed electronic database during March and April of 2018.ResultsThe initial PubMed search yielded 241 manuscripts and 31 original research articles that met inclusion/exclusion criteria were synthesized in this review. Several important trends emerged, including findings that women are more likely than men to present to treatment with co‐occurring mental health conditions such as depression, and that women might respond particularly well to buprenorphine maintenance.Discussion and ConclusionsWhile much of the literature on this topic is subject to potential cohort effects, interventions that address co‐occurring mental health conditions and psychosocial stress might improve treatment outcomes for women with OUD.Scientific SignificanceFunding agencies and researchers should focus attention toward human laboratory studies and clinical trials that are prospectively designed to assess sex‐based differences in OUD recovery. (Am J Addict 2019;28:246–261)
The association between antiphospholipid antibodies and late fetal loss: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Xu Jinfeng , Chen Daijuan , Duan Xia , Li Li , Tang Yuxin , Peng Bing 
Published: May 2019

AbstractIntroductionAntiphospholipid syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disease with a high prevalence in females. Published data have identified that antiphospholipid antibodies (APLA) of antiphospholipid syndrome are risk factors for poor pregnancy outcomes, such as recurrent spontaneous abortion, intrauterine growth restriction and preeclampsia. However, the association between APLA and late fetal loss is not fully understood and remains controversial. The aim of this study is to identify and analyze the recent publications to better understand the association between APLA and late fetal loss.Material and methodsThe literature was searched on 31 January 2019 using Ovid, Medline, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) to evaluate the association between APLA and late fetal loss, with articles published before January 2019, according to the PRISMA statement. Without imposing regional restrictions, referenced articles were selected. Quality assessment was conducted independently by two reviewers, based on the Newcastle‐Ottawa scale. For the meta‐analysis, we used odds ratios (random effects model). The between‐study heterogeneity was assessed by Q test. Publication bias was assessed by funnel plots.ResultsNineteen studies (with 10 265 cases) were included in the final analysis. The odds ratio (OR) for the late fetal loss with lupus anticoagulant was 5.02 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.14‐7.89). Seven included studies reported that lupus anticoagulant had a statistically significant association with late fetal loss. The results did not show a statistically significant association between anticardiolipin antibodies and late fetal loss. The pooled odds ratio for the association of anticardiolipin antibodies with late fetal loss was 3.47 (95% CI 0.68‐6.26). However, we did find the relation between anticardiolipin antibodies and late fetal loss among cohort studies (OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.20‐3.44). Anti‐beta2 glycoprotein 1 antibodies (β2GP1) showed a significant association with late fetal loss (OR 3.13, 95% CI 0.75‐5.50).ConclusionsLupus anticoagulant is strongly associated with late fetal loss in antiphospholipid syndrome patients. However, the association between anticardiolipin antibodies and late fetal loss is inconsistent. There are currently insufficient data to support a significant relation between β2GP1 and late fetal loss.
A Varying-Coefficient Generalized Odds Rate Model With Time-Varying Exposure: An Application to Fitness and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality
Authors: Zhou Jie , Zhang Jiajia , Mclain Alexander C. , Lu Wenbin , Sui Xuemei , Hardin James W. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractVarying-coefficient models have become a common tool to determine whether and how the association between an exposure and an outcome changes over a continuous measure. These models are complicated when the exposure itself is time-varying and subjected to measurement error. For example, it is well known that longitudinal physical fitness has an impact on cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. It is not known, however, how the effect of longitudinal physical fitness on CVD mortality varies with age. In this paper, we propose a varying-coefficient generalized odds rate model that allows flexible estimation of age-modified effects of longitudinal physical fitness on CVD mortality. In our model, the longitudinal physical fitness is measured with error and modeled using a mixed-effects model, and its associated age-varying coefficient function is represented by cubic B-splines. An expectation-maximization algorithm is developed to estimate the parameters in the joint models of longitudinal physical fitness and CVD mortality. A modified pseudoadaptive Gaussian-Hermite quadrature method is adopted to compute the integrals with respect to random effects involved in the E-step. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated through extensive simulation studies and is further illustrated with an application to cohort data from the Aerobic Center Longitudinal Study.
Muscle and Fascia Simulation with Extended Position Based Dynamics
Authors: Romeo M. , Monteagudo C. , Sánchez‐Quirós D. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractRecent research on muscle and fascia simulation for visual effects relies on numerical methods such as the finite element method or finite volume method. These approaches produce realistic results, but require high computational time and are complex to set up. On the other hand, position‐based dynamics offers a fast and controllable solution to simulate surfaces and volumes, but there is no literature on how to implement constraints that could be used to realistically simulate muscles and fascia for digital creatures with this method. In this paper, we extend the current state‐of‐the‐art in Position‐Based Dynamics to efficiently compute realistic skeletal muscle and superficial fascia simulation. In particular, we embed muscle fibres in the solver by adding an anisotropic component to the distance constraints between mesh points and apply overpressure to realistically model muscle volume changes under contraction. In addition, we also define a modified distance constraint for the fascia that allows compression and enables the user to scale the constraint's original distance to gain elastic potential at rest. Finally, we propose a modification of the extended position‐based dynamics algorithm to properly compute different sets of constraints and describe other details for proper simulation of character's muscle and fascia dynamics.
Depot buprenorphine injections for opioid use disorder: Patient information needs and preferences
Authors: Neale Joanne , Tompkins Charlotte N. E. , Strang John 
Published: May 2019

AbstractIntroduction and AimsThere has been significant recent investment in new medications for opioid use disorder, including buprenorphine depot injections. Patients and professionals need good quality, independent information on medications to help them make informed treatment decisions. This paper aims to understand patients’ information needs and preferences in relation to buprenorphine depot injections.Design and MethodsSemi‐structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 36 people using opioids (26 men, 10 women; 24–63 years). Twelve participants were currently prescribed daily oral methadone; 12 were currently prescribed daily oral buprenorphine; and 12 were using heroin and not in treatment. Interviews were transcribed, coded and analysed via Iterative Categorisation.ResultsParticipants asked many questions about depot buprenorphine injections. These related to: (i) medication purpose and availability; (ii) pharmacology; (iii) evidence base and effectiveness; (iv) safety and side effects; (v) administration and dosing; and (vi) reducing and ending treatment. Additionally, participants expressed their information preferences in terms of (i) ‘format’ and (ii) ‘source’. Specifically, they wanted printed, verbal and electronic materials provided by people in authority, particularly patients who had already had the medication.Discussion and ConclusionsAll potential patients should be offered accessible information on depot buprenorphine to enable them to consider their options and participate meaningfully in treatment decision making. We recommend that further qualitative research is undertaken to produce informative video material that describes patient experiences of receiving depot buprenorphine. This should help to balance biomedical knowledge with lay knowledge, so facilitating more informed discussions when decisions about depot buprenorphine treatment are made.
Do New Zealand sexual minorities engage in more hazardous drinking than non‐sexual minorities?
Authors: Surace Anthony , Riordan Benjamin C. , Winter Taylor 
Published: May 2019

AbstractIntroduction and AimsResearch has shown that sexual minorities (SMs) throughout the world display more alcohol use related problems than non‐SMs. To date, however, this research has not been replicated in New Zealand. The aim of the current study is to determine whether SMs in New Zealand drink more hazardously than non‐SMs.Design and MethodsSecondary data analyses were performed using data from the 2015/16 and 2016/17 New Zealand Health Survey.ResultsUsing a Bayesian logistic regression model we tested whether SM status predicted hazardous alcohol consumption. We found that SMs were 2.2 times (95% HDI [1.7–2.7]) more likely to drink hazardously than non‐SMs, but this effect was largely driven by sexual minority women (SMW).Discussion and ConclusionNew Zealand SMs engaged in more hazardous drinking than non‐SMs, an effect driven by SMW. A potential reason for these findings could be that, despite New Zealand's relative acceptance of SMs, structural/social discrimination may persist and have a disproportionate effect on women. More research is needed to determine what factors, such as stigma/discrimination, impact SMs’ alcohol use in New Zealand.