bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Indicators based on registers and administrative data for breast cancer: routine evaluation of oncologic care pathway can be implemented
Authors: Andreano Anita , Anghinoni Emanuela , Autelitano Mariangela , Bellini Aldo , Bersani Maurizio , Bizzoco Sabrina , Cavalieri d'Oro Luca , Decarli Adriano , Lucchi Silvia , Mannino Salvatore , Panciroli Emerico , Rebora Paola , Rognoni Magda , Sampietro Giuseppe , Villa Marco , Zocchetti Carlo , Zucchi Alberto , Valsecchi Maria Grazia , Russo Antonio Giampiero ,   OSSERVA Working Group
Published: August 2015

AbstractRationale, aims and objectivesAssuring the best standards of care – in a sustainable way – in chronic diseases as breast cancer is nowadays an important challenge for any health system. The aim of this study was to present the methodology used to define a set of quality indicators, computable from administrative data for the pathway of care of breast cancer, and its application at a population level.MethodThe cohort of 2007–2009 incident cases of breast cancer was identified through a network of six cancer registers in Northern Italy. Cases of sarcoma and lymphoma, patients with multiple primary cancers and those metastatic at diagnosis were excluded; 9614 women were retained for the analysis. For each indicator, the sub‐cohort of women eligible for the diagnostic/therapeutic procedures was identified and calculations were performed through record linkage between the cohort and sources of health information. Data on potential available confounders or prognostic factors were also collected.ResultsFor a few indicators, such as cyto‐histological assessment before surgery (62%) and intensive follow‐up (79%), deviation from recommendations was evident. Younger patients (≤50 years) more frequently needed a short term re‐intervention, while older patients less frequently underwent reconstructive surgery and received palliative care. Several indicators had a great variability across hospitals. In some cases, this heterogeneity appeared to be related to the hospital size, with high‐volume hospitals being more compliant to guidelines.ConclusionIt is possible to evaluate the quality of cancer care delivered in clinical practice in recent years, in order to implement interventions aimed to improve adherence to international standards of care.
Effect of Nurse‐Implemented Transitional Care for Chinese Individuals with Chronic Heart Failure in Hong Kong: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Yu Doris S. F. , Lee Diana T. F. , Stewart Simon , Thompson David R. , Choi Kai‐Chow , Yu Cheuk‐Man 
Published: August 2015

ObjectivesTo determine the effect of nurse‐implemented transitional care (TC) on readmission and mortality rates in Chinese individuals with chronic heart failure (CHF) in Hong Kong.DesignSingle‐center randomized controlled trial of TC versus usual care (UC).SettingUniversity‐affiliated hospital in Hong Kong.ParticipantsHospitalized Chinese individuals with CHF (N = 178; aged 78.6 ± 6.9, 45% male).Measurements: The TC group received a predischarge visit, two home visits, and then regular telephone calls over 9 months to provide self‐care education and support, optimized health surveillance, and facilitation in use of community services. Primary endpoints were event‐free survival, all‐cause hospital readmission, and mortality during the 9‐month follow‐up. Secondary endpoints were length of hospital stay, self‐care, and health‐related quality of life (HRQL). Data were analyzed using survival analysis and generalized estimating equations, following an intention‐to‐treat principle.ResultsSurvival analysis indicated no significant differences in event‐free survival, hospital readmission, or mortality between the TC and UC groups, although the TC group had a lower hospital readmission rate at 6 weeks (8.1% vs 16.3%, P = .048) and lower mortality at 9 months (4.1% vs 13.8%, P = .03). The TC group also had a shorter hospital stay (P = .006) and significantly better self‐care and HRQL. Because of attrition, sensitivity analyses were conducted to examine whether the intention‐to‐treat assumption affected the results. Per‐protocol population analyses (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.17–0.93) and worst‐case‐scenario analysis (HR = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.25–0.77) suggested a lower mortality risk in the TC group.ConclusionThe translation of individual‐centered nurse‐implemented TC to the Chinese culture and healthcare context of Hong Kong appears beneficial.
Effect of Active Music Therapy and Individualized Listening to Music on Dementia: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Raglio Alfredo , Bellandi Daniele , Baiardi Paola , Gianotti Marta , Ubezio Maria Chiara , Zanacchi Elisa , Granieri Enrico , Imbriani Marcello , Stramba‐Badiale Marco 
Published: August 2015

ObjectivesTo assess the effects of active music therapy (MT) and individualized listening to music (LtM) on behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSDs) in persons with dementia (PWDs).DesignRandomized controlled trial.SettingNine Italian institutions.ParticipantsPersons with moderate to severe dementia and BPSDs (N = 120) were randomized to one of three treatments.InterventionsAll groups received standard care (SC), and two groups attended 20 individualized MT or LtM sessions, twice a week, in addition to SC.MeasurementsThe Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD), and Cornell‐Brown Scale for Quality of Life in Dementia (CBS‐QoL) were administered before treatment, after treatment, and at follow‐up to evaluate behavioral and psychological outcomes. A specific coding scheme (Music Therapy Check List—Dementia) was used to evaluate the MT process.ResultsBehavioral assessment did not show significant differences between groups. All groups showed a reduction over time in NPI global score (P ≤ .001), CSDD (P = .001), and CBS‐QoL (P = .01). The NPI global score fell 28% in the MT group, 12% in the LtM group, and 21% in the SC group at the end of treatment. An exploratory post hoc analysis showed similar within‐group improvements for the NPI Delusion, Anxiety, and Disinhibition subscales. In the MT group, communication and relationships between the music therapists and PWDs showed a positive albeit nonsignificant trend during treatment.ConclusionThe addition of MT or LtM to standard care did not have a significant effect on BPSDs in PWDs. Further studies on the effects of the integration of standard care with different types of music interventions on BPSD in PWD are warranted.
Prescription Opioids and Risk of Dementia or Cognitive Decline: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Dublin Sascha , Walker Rod L. , Gray Shelly L. , Hubbard Rebecca A. , Anderson Melissa L. , Yu Onchee , Crane Paul K. , Larson Eric B. 
Published: August 2015

ObjectivesTo determine whether prescription opioid use is associated with higher dementia risk or greater cognitive decline.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingGroup Health, an integrated healthcare delivery system.ParticipantsCommunity‐dwelling individuals aged 65 and older without dementia with at least 10 years of Group Health enrollment at baseline (N = 3,434; median age 74).MeasurementsThe Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (CASI) was administered every 2 years. Low scores triggered detailed evaluation, and a multidisciplinary committee assigned dementia diagnoses. From computerized pharmacy data, cumulative opioid exposure was defined as total standardized doses (TSDs) dispensed over 10 years (excluding the most recent year because of possible prodromal symptoms). For comparison, use of nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), characterized similarly, was examined. Dementia risk was analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models and CASI trajectory using linear regression models and generalized estimating equations.ResultsSeven hundred ninety‐seven participants (23%) developed dementia over a mean follow‐up of 7.3 years; 637 (19%) had possible or probable Alzheimer's disease. For cumulative opioid use, the hazard ratios (HRs) for dementia were 1.06 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.88–1.26) for 11 to 30 TSDs, 0.88 (95% CI = 0.70–1.09) for 31 to 90 TSDs, and 1.29 (95% CI = 1.02–1.62) for 91 or more TSDs, versus 0 to 10 TSDs. A similar pattern was seen for NSAID use. Heavier opioid use was not associated with more‐rapid cognitive decline.ConclusionPeople with the heaviest opioid or NSAID use had slightly higher dementia risk than people with little or no use. These results may reflect an effect of chronic pain on cognition or residual confounding. Although opioids have other risks, little evidence of long‐term cognitive harm specific to opioids was found.
Image signal‐to‐noise ratio estimation using adaptive slope nearest‐neighbourhood model
Authors: SIM K.S. , TEH V. 
Published: August 2015

SummaryA new technique based on nearest neighbourhood method is proposed. In this paper, considering the noise as Gaussian additive white noise, new technique single‐image‐based estimator is proposed. The performance of this new technique such as adaptive slope nearest neighbourhood is compared with three of the existing method which are original nearest neighbourhood (simple method), first‐order interpolation method and shape‐preserving piecewise cubic hermite autoregressive moving average. In a few cases involving images with different brightness and edges, this adaptive slope nearest neighbourhood is found to deliver an optimum solution for signal‐to‐noise ratio estimation problems. For different values of noise variance, the adaptive slope nearest neighbourhood has highest accuracy and less percentage estimation error. Being more robust with white noise, the new proposed technique estimator has efficiency that is significantly greater than those of the three methods.
AN INVESTIGATIONOF MARKET CONCENTRATIONAND FINANCIAL STABILITYIN PROPERTY–LIABILITY INSURANCE INDUSTRY
Authors: Shim Jeungbo 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThe article investigates whether the market concentration is associated with an insurer's financial stability in the U.S. property–liability insurance industry over the period 1992–2010. We employ two‐stage least squares techniques with instrumental variables to address likely endogeneity problems. The results show that higher market concentration is associated with lower financial stability of insurance firms, consistent with the “concentration‐fragility” view. Our results indicate that firm‐specific characteristics including firm size, underwriting leverage, organizational form, product and geographical diversification, along with the exposure to natural catastrophes and macroeconomic conditions are important determinants in ensuring a safe and sound insurance system. Robustness tests using various estimation methods and alternative measures of financial stability present consistent results.
Interleukin‐4 polymorphism is associated with severity of respiratory syncytial virus infection
Authors: Zhang Mingzhi , Lu Yong , Zhang Xiaobo , Lu Aizhen , Wang Libo , Chen Chao 
Published: August 2015

AimRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is a major health problem in young children. This study aimed to investigate whether the interleukin (IL)‐4 −590C/T and −33 C/T polymorphisms were associated with the susceptibility to RSV infection in Chinese Han children and with the severity of the infection.MethodsThe IL‐4 −590C/T and −33 C/T SNPs were evaluated in 218 inpatients with RSV bronchiolitis and 303 healthy controls. The severity of RSV bronchiolitis was evaluated using a respiratory scoring system.ResultsThe frequencies of IL‐4 −590 CC, CT and TT in the 218 RSV bronchiolitis patients versus the 303 controls were 1.4% versus 1.7%, 21.1% versus 34% and 77.5% versus 64.4%, respectively. The frequencies of IL‐4 −33 CC, CT and TT were 1.4%, 20.6% and 78%, respectively, in RSV bronchiolitis patients and 2.3%, 35.6% and 62%, respectively, in the controls. The frequencies of the IL‐4 −590C/T and −33 C/T polymorphisms were significantly different between the two groups. There was a significant difference in the frequency of the T‐T haplotype formed by −590C/T and −33C/T between the two groups. The respiratory score of the RSV bronchiolitis cases with −590TT was 3.02 ± 0.44, which was significantly higher than those with −590CT (2.80 ± 0.44). The score for patients with −33TT was 3.03 ± 0.43, which was significantly higher than the score of 2.78 ± 0.46 for patients with −33CT.ConclusionsIn Chinese Han children, the IL‐4 −590C/T and −33 C/T polymorphisms were associated with the susceptibility to RSV and the severity of the infection.
Occurrence of Six Begomoviruses Infecting Tomato Fields in Venezuela and Genetic Characterization of Potato Yellow Mosaic Virus Isolates
Authors: Geraud‐Pouey Francis , Chirinos Dorys T. , Galindo‐Castro Iván , Franco María A. , Santana María A. , Gillis Annika , Romay Gustavo 
Published: August 2015

AbstractBegomoviruses are one of the major pathogens in tomato crops worldwide. In Venezuela, six begomovirus species have been described infecting tomato: Potato yellow mosaic virus (PYMV), Euphorbia mosaic Venezuela virus (EuMVV), Merremia mosaic virus (MeMV), Tomato chlorotic leaf distortion virus (ToCLDV), Tomato yellow margin leaf curl virus (TYMLCV) and Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV). In this study, the occurrence of these viruses was analysed by PCR in 338 tomato plants exhibiting virus‐like symptoms. Sixty‐three per cent of the plants were positive at least to one of the begomoviruses tested. PYMV and TYLCV were the most frequent viruses showing 39.6 and 23.7% occurrence, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses revealed two groups of PYMV isolates from several Caribbean Basin countries. The first group clustered isolates from several countries, including Venezuela, and the second group clustered only Colombian isolates. Due to the high prevalence of PYMV and TYLCV in Venezuela, it is suggested that the surveillance and control strategies currently applied in the country should be focused on these two begomoviruses.
Benefits of Customer Codevelopment of New Products: The Moderating Effects of Utilitarian and Hedonic Radicalness
Authors: Candi Marina , van den Ende Jan , Gemser Gerda 
Published: August 2015

There is growing belief in the value of actively involving customers in innovation, commonly referred to as customer codevelopment or cocreation. These strategies are generally believed to be beneficial, although contingent views are prevalent. A widely espoused contingent view is that the positive contribution of customer codevelopment is dependent on the degree of radicalness (or innovativeness) of the products being developed. Some work argues that customer codevelopment is more useful for incremental innovation, whereas other work claims that customer codevelopment is more valuable when innovation is radical.This research makes an important contribution to this discourse by making a distinction between utilitarian radicalness and hedonic radicalness. Utilitarian radicalness refers to the degree to which an innovation is novel in terms of technology and functionality, whereas hedonic radicalness refers to the degree to which an innovation is novel in terms of sensorial, emotional, or symbolic aspects. Hypotheses about the contribution of customer codevelopment to market success depending on levels of utilitarian and hedonic radicalness are tested using dual‐respondent data about a large sample of innovation projects. The findings suggest that the contribution of customer codevelopment to market success is positively moderated by utilitarian radicalness and negatively moderated by hedonic radicalness. This underlines the importance of taking not only the level, but also the nature, of radicalness into account when making decisions about customer codevelopment.
Exercise for adolescents with depression: valued aspects and perceived change
Authors: Carter T. , Morres I. , Repper J. , Callaghan P. 
Published: August 2015

Accessible summary
What is known on the subject?
There is evidence suggesting that exercise may be effective at reducing depression in adults and young people; however, there is no research exploring how adolescents with depression experience exercise interventions.

What the paper adds to existing knowledge?
This study presents the experiences of 26 adolescents with depression who undertook an innovative preferred intensity exercise programme. Important insights relating to benefits and aspects of the preferred intensity exercise emerged. Specifically, the adolescents experienced feelings of improved mood, achievement and enjoyment, alongside numerous benefits.

What are the implications for practice?
Given that mental health nurses are in key positions to promote physical exercise for this target group, this paper suggests that when promoting exercise they should consider that preferred intensity exercise may provide a series of valuable mental health benefits without the need for fixed intensity training.
AbstractIntroductionDespite systematic reviews demonstrating an association between exercise participation and reduced depressive symptoms in young people, there is no qualitative research exploring the experience of depressed adolescents who have engaged in an exercise intervention.AimsTo explore the experience of depressed adolescents who had recently engaged in a preferred intensity exercise intervention.MethodThe participants (n = 26) were recruited through health and social care services, were all in treatment for depression, and were purposefully sampled for interview following engagement in a preferred intensity exercise intervention, which was being evaluated via a pragmatic randomized controlled trial. A thematic approach was undertaken to analyse and organize the data.ResultsNumerous beneficial changes were reported by participants alongside specific aspects of the intervention that were valued.Discussion and implicationsThe findings suggest that preferred intensity exercise can lead to feelings of improved mood, enjoyment and achievement, alongside benefits that transcend depressive symptom reduction. Considering mental health nurses are in key positions to promote exercise in this population, the current findings provide vital information for this purpose.
Association of Factor V Secretion with Protein Kinase B Signaling in Platelets from Horses with Atypical Equine Thrombasthenia
Authors: Norris J.W. , Pombo M. , Shirley E. , Blevins G. , Tablin F. 
Published: August 2015

BackgroundTwo congenital bleeding diatheses have been identified in Thoroughbred horses: Glanzmann thrombasthenia (GT) and a second, novel diathesis associated with abnormal platelet function in response to collagen and thrombin stimulation.Hypothesis/ObjectivesPlatelet dysfunction in horses with this second thrombasthenia results from a secretory defect.AnimalsTwo affected and 6 clinically normal horses.MethodsEx vivo study. Washed platelets were examined for (1) expression of the αIIb‐β3 integrin; (2) fibrinogen binding capacity in response to ADP and thrombin; (3) secretion of dense and α‐granules; (4) activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)‐protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway; and (5) cellular distribution of phosphatidylinositol‐4‐phosphate‐3‐kinase, class 2B (PIK3C2B) and SH2 containing inositol‐5′‐phosphatase 1 (SHIP1).ResultsPlatelets from affected horses expressed normal amounts of αIIb‐β3 integrin and bound fibrinogen normally in response to ADP, but bound 80% less fibrinogen in response to thrombin. α‐granules only released 50% as much Factor V as control platelets, but dense granules released their contents normally. Protein kinase B (AKT) phosphorylation was reduced after thrombin activation, but mTOR Complex 2 (mTORC2) and phosphoinositide‐dependent kinase 1 (PDK1) signaling were normal. SH2‐containing inositol‐5'‐phosphatase 1 (SHIP1) did not localize to the cytoskeleton of affected platelets and was decreased overall consistent with reduced AKT phosphorylation.Conclusions and clinical significanceDefects in fibrinogen binding, granule secretion, and signal transduction are unique to this thrombasthenia, which we designate as atypical equine thrombasthenia.
Infrared Thermography in Dogs with Mammary Tumors and Healthy Dogs
Authors: Pavelski M. , Silva D.M. , Leite N.C. , Junior D.A. , de Sousa R.S , Guérios S.D. , Dornbusch P.T. 
Published: August 2015

BackgroundInfrared thermography is a painless, noninvasive, nonionizing diagnostic imaging exam used in human medicine as an auxiliary tool for breast cancer diagnosis in women.Hypothesis/ObjectivesDefine thermographic mean temperatures of healthy mammary glands and compare these temperatures with those of mammary glands with tumors in dogs.AnimalsFifty client‐owned female dogs were evaluated, including 20 with histopathologically confirmed mammary tumor and 30 clinically healthy (control).MethodsA randomized study using infrared thermography analyzed each mammary gland of the animals from the control group and mammary glands with tumors from the tumor group, then the thermographic temperatures obtained were compared. Thermographic exam was performed in a temperature‐controlled room with a cooled thermographic camera—Flir E‐40 (Flir Systems®)ResultsThere was significantly a higher temperature in the caudal abdominal and inguinal mammary glands than the other glands in the healthy group (P < .05). Dogs with mammary tumors had significantly higher thermographic temperature compared with unaffected glands regardless of the tumor size and the location (P < .05).Conclusions and clinical importanceThe technique seems to be able to assess for the presence of neoplasia within the mammary tissue in bitches. Further investigation is necessary to determine the impact of this technique when adopted clinically.
The effects of body size and climate on post‐weaning survival of elephant seals at Heard Island
Authors: McMahon C. R. , New L. F. , Fairley E. J. , Hindell M. A. , Burton H. R. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThe population size of southern elephant seals in the southern Indian and Pacific Oceans decreased precipitously between the 1950s and 1990s. To investigate the reasons behind this, we studied the population of southern elephant seals at Heard Island between 1949 and 1954, using data collected by the early Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions. Seals were marked and measured (lengths) as weaned pups, and resighted at Heard and Marion islands and in the Vestfold Hills, Antarctica in subsequent years. Bayesian state‐space mark‐recapture models were used to determine post‐weaning survival. Yearling survival was consistently lower (ϕy: 0.28–0.40) than sub‐adult survival (ϕs: 0.79–0.83). We found evidence for constant sub‐adult survival and time‐dependent resight probabilities. Weaning length was an important determinate of yearling survival, with the probability of survival increasing with individual length. There was some suggestion that the Southern Annular Mode influenced yearling survival but this evidence was not strong. Nonetheless, our results provide further support showing that size at independence affects yearling survival. Given the known sensitivity of southern elephant seal populations to survival early in life, it is possible that the decline in population size at Heard Island between the 1950s and 1990s like that at Macquarie Island was due to low yearling survival mediated through maternal ability to produce large pups and the dominant environmental conditions mothers experience during pregnancy.