bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Can the HEMPA method predict musculoskeletal disorders in nurses and caregivers?
Authors: Esmaeili Sayed Vahid , Alboghobeish Ali , Izadi Neda , Azizi Fatemeh , Dorfeshan Fatemeh , Sahlabadi Ali Salehi 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Introduction
Caregivers and nurses perform occupational activities that can lead to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) associated with patient handling. It is also important to predict and assess the WMSDs risk using reliable and trustworthy tools. This study conducted to investigating the ability of the HEMPA technique to predict WMSDs.
Methods
This descriptive and analytical study was conducted on 90 caregivers and nurses working in different wards of a medical teaching hospital in 2023. Data collection was conducted based on a three-part questionnaire that included demographic information, the body map questionnaire, and the HEMPA tool. The ability of the HEMPA tool to predict the prevalence of the WMSDs and to examine the multivariate relationship between the outcome and different variables was determined using logistic regression. The predictive power of the HEMPA technique for different body parts was indicated by the area under the ROC curve values. The study data were analyzed using Stata version 14 software, with a significance level of less than 5% for all tests (P < 0.05).
Result
In this study, 90 caregivers and nurses participated with an age range of 24–60 years and BMI of 27.15 ± 4.02. Most of the participants (52.2%) were male, married (83.3%), and had a high school diploma (81.1%). The risk assessment of 16 different departments of the hospital were at the medium level. The highest prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in the back (93.3%), neck (87.7%) and the highest intensity of pain in the lower back (34.4%) and back (24.4%) were reported. The highest chance of suffering from musculoskeletal disorders was identified in the Left-Thigh (AOR = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.29–0.76) and Right-Thigh (AOR = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.29–0.76) areas. Based on the ROC Curve values, the highest AUC corresponds to Left-Thigh (AUC = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.69–0.89) and Right-Knee (AUC = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.62–0.90) respectively. The lowest AUC was determined for Left-Ankle (AUC = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.57–0.79) and Right-Hand (AUC = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.55–0.78), respectively.
Conclusion
The results indicated that the HEMPA technique can predict and detect different levels of risk of WMSDs in different areas of the body well and with high accuracy. Therefore, emphasis on the ergonomics of patient handling and application of comprehensive and reliable techniques and methods such as HEMPA that follow the workplace ergonomics workplace can be effective in preventing and managing musculoskeletal disorders in these people.
Association of prior to intensive care unit statin use with sepsis-associated delirium: a retrospective propensity score analysis
Authors: Hong Liang , Li Jing , Shen Xiao , Tao Hong , Chen Wenxiu , Zhang Cui , Yang Min 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Background
The association between statin use and sepsis-associated delirium (SAD) remains controversial. This study aimed to determine whether statin use decrease the risk of SAD.
Methods
This retrospective cohort study analyzed data of 6649 adult Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients from the MIMIC-IV database who met inclusion criteria. We examined the association between prior to ICU admission (pre-ICU) statin use and the incidence of SAD by univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis, propensity score matching (PSM), inverse probability weighting (IPW), and subgroup analysis employing propensity score matching and inverse probability weighting to adjust for potential confounders. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) with 95% CI were calculated in corresponding cohorts.
Results
Of the study population, 35.1% patients developed SAD. Patients with pre-ICU statin use showed a lower incidence of SAD compared to those without (27.6% vs. 38.0% in origin cohort, 27.2% vs. 33.9% in the matched cohort). Pre-ICU statin use showed a stable protective effect against SAD across different analyses: in original cohort (OR 0.562, 95% CI 0.491 ~ 0.642, P < 0.001), propensity score matched cohort (OR 0.707, 95% CI 0.630 ~ 0.794, P < 0.001) and inverse probability weighted cohort (OR 0.627, 95% CI 0.573 ~ 0.686, P < 0.001). E-value analysis suggested the robustness to unmeasured confounding.
Conclusion
Pre-ICU statin use is associated with a reduced incidence of SAD, particularly among elderly patients and those receiving lipophilic statins. These findings support the potential role of statins administration in the management of delirium in septic patients and underscore the importance of maintaining statin therapy during critical illness. Future prospective studies are needed to confirm these results and guide clinical practice.
Prevalence of distress and changes over time among patients with progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease
Authors: Yamada Tomoko , Sugano Koji , Matsuno Kei , Hotta Saori , Fujii Mitsuhiro , Ihara Hiroaki , Takahashi Kazuhisa 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Background
Patients with progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease (PF-ILD) frequently experience respiratory symptoms and decline in activities of daily living (ADL) and quality of life (QOL) with disease progression. However, no effective treatment or palliative care strategy has been established for patients with PF-ILD. This study aimed to clarify the degree of physical and psychological distress in patients with PF-ILD and to evaluate symptom changes over a one-year period in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and those with other PF-ILDs (non-IPF).
Methods
Consecutive patients diagnosed with PF-ILD were recruited. The participants were divided into two groups and evaluated at registration (T0), 26 weeks (T1), and 52 weeks (T2) after registration. They were also followed-up for symptoms, ADL, QOL, depressive condition, laboratory findings, and other factors from study registration to 52 weeks (T2).
Results
Of the 70 patients with PF-ILD, 32 had IPF and 38 did not. The IPF and non-IPF groups showed no noticeable differences in clinical symptoms or laboratory findings on multivariate analysis at T0. The repeated-measures analysis of variance used to observe the changes over the course of the year in both groups showed that dyspnea in patients with IPF worsened from T1 to T2. In contrast, cough, which is one of the major symptoms in non-IPF patients, worsened, especially from T0 to T1 and T0 to T2. The QOL of non-IPF patients also declined from T0 to T1.
Conclusions
Patients with PF-ILD demonstrated several clinical signs and symptoms. In this one-year follow-up study, dyspnea tended to be worse in patients with IPF and cough in non-IPF patients, and QOL was temporarily worse in non-IPF patients. Respiratory symptoms are directly related to the patient's daily life and led to reduced QOL. Therefore, further long-term studies in this population are required.
Fat mass index predicts the effect of weight loss and quality of life early after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy
Authors: Jiang Yi-Ming , Zhong Qing , Shang-Guan Zhi-Xin , Lin Guang-Tan , Guo Xiao-Jing , Huang Ze-Ning , Lu Jun , Huang Chang-Ming , Lin Jian-Xian , Zheng Chao-Hui 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Background Fat mass index (FMI) is a body composition indicator that reflects body fat content. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is widely performed in patients with obesity.
Objective This study aimed to evaluated the value of the FMI in predicting weight loss effect and quality of life early after LSG.
Material and Methods From January 2014 to July 2022, the clinical data and computed tomography (CT) images of patients underwent LSG at a tertiary referral teaching hospital were analyzed. Body composition indicators were calculated using the SliceOmatic software. Achieving initial body mass index within 6 months postoperatively was defined as early eligible weight loss (EEWL). The relationship between body composition and EEWL was analyzed.
Results A total of 243 patients were included. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the predictive value of the FMI for EEWL in patients after LSG was higher than that of other indicators (all P<0.05; area under the curve = 0.813). The best FMI cut-off point was 13.662. Accordingly, the patients were divided into the high-FMI group and low-FMI group. The %EWL and BMI of patients in the low-FMI group at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 months after surgery were better than those in the high-FMI group (all P<0.001). Patients in the low-FMI group had higher BAROS (Bariatric Analysis and Reporting Outcome System) scores than those in the high-FMI group (P<0.001).
Conclusion Compared with other body composition indicators, FMI can effectively predict the early effect of weight loss and quality of life after LSG.
Early predictors of induction of remission with exclusive enteral nutrition in pediatric Crohn's disease
Authors: Hu Yudie , Lv Yao , Lou Jingan , Luo Youyou , Yang Gan , Liu Yang , Zhou Jiaying , Zhen Changjun , Yu Jindan , Fang Youhong , Zhao Hong , Peng Kerong , Ni Yan , Chen Jie 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Background Exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) is recommended as the first line therapy for mild to moderate pediatric Crohn's disease (CD) with inducing clinical remission and promoting mucosal healing. However, early factors that could predict the efficacy of EEN in inducing remission of CD is lack.
Methods A total of 56 patients in the derivation cohort and 19 patients in the validation cohort were included in this study. Baseline clinical covariates were compared between the clinical remission group and the no clinical remission group and between the mucosal healing group and the no mucosal healing group. More than 100 laboratory covariates before EEN were analyzed with the Pediatric Crohn’s Disease Activity Index(PCDAI) and the Crohn’s Disease Endoscopic Index of Severity (CDEIS)at the end of the 8-week EEN. Predictive models were developed by forward stepwise (binary likelihood) logistic regression, and the probabilities of clinical remission and mucosal healing were calculated for selected baseline levels of covariates.
Results The clinical remission diagnostic model performed well inboth the training cohort (AUC 0.93; p<0.05) and the validation cohort (AUC 0.72; p=0.19). Indirect bilirubin (IBIL)>4.95 μmol/L, CD3>76.78% and iron>9.025 mmol/L at baseline were associated with a reduced clinical remission rate. The mucosal healing diagnostic model also presented the optimal discrimination in both the derivation cohort (AUC 0.87; p<0.05) and the validation cohort (AUC 0.83; p=0.07). Factors determining a lower mucosal healing rate were human IL-10>4.35 μmol/L and RDW>14.55%.
Conclusion IBIL, CD3 and iron are reliable predictors of the induction of clinical remission with EEN. Human IL-10 and RDW are early predictors of the induction of mucosal healing with EEN.
Trajectory of perceived barriers to healthy eating and exercise and weight change among obese adults in a six-month weight management program
Authors: Ranjan Piyush , Chopra Sakshi , Malhotra Anita , Kaloiya Gauri , Upadhyay Ashish , Siddhu Anupa , VIKRAM NAVAL 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Background Barriers to healthy eating and exercise mediate the odds of weight loss success. To identify the trajectory of barriers to healthy eating and exercise and its association with weight change during obesity management program.Methods Indexed is a mixed-method study. Purposive sampling was used to enroll 250 participants in a six-month obesity management program. The perceived barriers to healthy eating and exercise were quantitatively measured using standardized questionnaires,i.e., Barriers to Healthy Eating and Exercise and qualitatively through in-depth interviews throughout the obesity management program (baseline, 3- and 6-months).Results The sample was middle-aged (41.8 ± 8.5 years) presenting with obesity (31 ± 3.7 kg/m2) and slight female preponderance (70%). At baseline, the scores for barriers to healthy eating (2.7 ± 0.8, out of 5) and exercise (2.7 ± 0.7, out of 5) were low and comparable; and they improved after 6-month participation in the obesity management program. Improvement in knowledge- (amount of exercise, portion size estimation), attitude- (amotivation for diet and physical activity, tiredness for exercise) and practice-related (lack of time for diet and physical activity, and exercise skills) barriers to exercise and healthy eating were positively associated with weight change (P < 0.01). Qualitative analysis identified social (eating out, festivities) and environmental (low neighborhood walkability and safety, food accessibility, culture-centric foods) barriers.Conclusions The trajectory of perceived barriers to healthy eating and exercise indicates improvement throughout the obesity management and is positively associated with weight loss.
Preliminary Application of 3D-Printed Interbody Fusion Devices in the Treatment of Lumbar Degenerative Diseases
Authors: Ji Jingtao , Chen Guangdong , Miao Jun 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the effectiveness, safety, and usability of 3D-printed interbody fusion cages in posterior lumbar fusion surgery.
Methods: This randomized controlled trial included 36 patients with single-stage lumbar degenerative disease undergoing PLIF surgery. The patients were divided into two groups: the control group (17 patients) used PEEK (polyetheretherketone) cages for interbody fusion, while the experimental group (19 patients) used 3D-printed cages. The study aimed to assess the postoperative effectiveness and safety of the surgeries using Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores, and to evaluate the stability and fusion effect of the cages through postoperative imaging.
Results: All patients were followed up for 3 to 26 months. There were statistically significant differences (P<0.01) in VAS and ODI scores before and three months after surgery within both the control and experimental groups. No statistically significant differences (P>0.01) were found between the preoperative VAS and ODI scores of the two groups. However, there were statistically significant differences (P<0.01) in the postoperative VAS and ODI scores between the two groups.
Postoperative X-rays and CT scans showed satisfactory placement of the anterior cages and pedicle screws in all patients. During the follow-up period, 3 out of 17 patients (17.6%) in the PEEK cage group experienced cage migration, and 1 patient (5.9%) showed signs of pedicle screw loosening, while the remaining pedicle screws were stable. In contrast, none of the 19 patients with 3D-printed cages experienced cage migration, and no signs of pedicle screw loosening were observed.
Zuckerkandl’s tubercle and its relation with recurrent laryngeal nerve during thyroid surgery in a tertiary care hospital in Nepal: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Baidhya Rachana , Regmi Deepak , Bhusal Suzit , Bista Apeksha , Shrestha Reshika 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Background:Thyroid surgery occurs frequently in our part of the world, with Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve (RLN) injury being a serious intraoperative complication that affects airway and voice quality. Zuckerkandl’s Tubercle (ZT), present in over 70% of patients, is a reliable landmark for locating the RLN to follow careful dissection and identification. The purpose of this study is to assess Zuckerkandl’s Tubercle (ZT) and its relation with Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve during Thyroid Surgeries.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted prospectively at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and neck surgery, Kathmandu Medical College and Teaching hospital, Sinamangal from December 2019 to November 2020. Forty-four RLNs were evaluated in 34 patients undergoing thyroid surgery. Per-operative documentation on the prevalence of ZT and its relation with RLN was recorded, its size and distance from the RLN measured.
Results: Zuckerkandl’s tubercle was present in 73.7% in the right side and in 76% in the left side. On the right side, 92.9% were unilobed in nature and 7.1% were bilobed, while on the left side, 100% were unilobed in nature. The size of the ZT was graded according to Pelizzo's grading system for ZT into grade 0-3. On the right side, 26.31% was grade 0, 31.57% were grade 1, 36.8% were grade 2 and 5.2% was grade 3. On the left side, 24% were grade 0, 20.0% were grade 1, 44.0% were grade 2 and 12.0% were grade 3. On the right side, RLN was present medial to the ZT in all cases (100%), while on the left side, RLN was present medial to ZT in 84.2% and lateral to ZT in 15.8% cases.
Conclusion:Identification and preservation of RLN is of utmost importance during thyroid surgeries. Zuckerkandl’s tubercle has a consistent relationship with RLN and can be used as an important landmark for identifying RLN during thyroid surgery.
Agreement between manual and automatic ultrasound measurement of the velocity-time integral in the left ventricular outflow tract in intensive care patients: evaluation of the AUTO-VTI® tool
Authors: LOUART Benjamin , MULLER Laurent , EMOND Baptiste , BOULET Nicolas , ROGER Claire 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Background: Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is widely used in intensive care unit (ICU) to manage patients with acute circulatory failure. Recently, automated ultrasound (US) measurement applications have been developed but their clinical performance has not been evaluated yet. The aim of this study was to assess the agreement between automated and manual measurements of the velocity-time integral in the left ventricular outflow tract (VTI-LVOT) using the auto-VTI® tool.
Methods: This prospective, single-center, interventional study included ICU patients with acute circulatory failure. The examination involved two successive manual measurements of VTI-LVOT (mean of 3 consecutive heartbeats in regular sinus rhythm, and 5 heartbeats in irregular rhythm), followed by a measurement using auto-VTI® software. In patients receiving a fluid challenge, trending ability in detecting fluid responsiveness was also evaluated.
Results: Seventy patients were included between January 19, 2020, and September 24, 2020, at the Nîmes University Hospital. The feasibility of the auto-VTI® was 94%. The mean difference between the two methods was 11% with limits of agreement from -19% to 42%. The proportion of agreement at the 15% difference threshold was 68% [58%; 80%]. The precision and least significant change (LSC) measured for the manual measurement of VTI were 7.4 and 10.5%, respectively, and by inference for the automated method 28% and 40%.
Conclusions: The new auto-VTI® tool, despite interesting feasibility, demonstrated an insufficient agreement with a systematic bias and an insufficient precision limiting its implementation in critically ill patients.
Stratified Analysis of the Correlation between Wedged Hepatic Venous Pressure and Portal Venous Pressure in Patients with Portal Hypertension: A Multicenter Study
Authors: Lv Yifan , Zhu Bing , Li Dongze , Tian Hua , You Shaoli , Lv Sa , Wang Fuchuan , Yang Yongping , Ding Huiguo , Wu Yifan , Dong Chengbin , Zhang Yu , Liu Fuquan 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the differences in the agreement between wedged hepatic venous pressure (WHVP) and portal venous pressure (PVP) at different hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) levels to provide new guidance for the clinical diagnosis and management of portal hypertension (PHT).
Methods: A multicenter study of 785 patients with PHT from three centers was stratified into five groups by their HVPG: <12 (group A), 12 ≤ HVPG < 16 mmHg (group B), 16 ≤ HVPG < 20 mmHg (group C), 20 ≤ HVPG < 24 mmHg (group D), ≥24 mmHg (group E). Concordance was analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient (R), the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and Bland‒Altman analysis in each HVPG stratum.
Results: Correlation and agreement between WHVP and PVP varied by HVPG group. Highest agreement was observed in the range of 20 ≤ HVPG < 24 mmHg. (R=0.52, ICC=0.66). The proportion of patients with a discrepancy between WHVP and PVP that was greater than 10% of the PVP value was highest in group A (95.3%) and lowest in group D (51.3%). Overestimation of PVP was more common in group E (48.5%), and underestimation of PVP was more common in group A (93.8%).
Conclusions: The correlation between WHVP and PVP varies significantly across HVPG levels, the highest agreement being in the range of 20 ≤ HVPG < 24 mmHg. WHVP frequently underestimates PVP when HVPG is < 12 mmHg and tends to overestimate PVP when HVPG is ≥ 24 mmHg.
First evidence on occurrence, and risk assessment of EU-regulated mycotoxins along the cassava value chain in Uganda
Authors: Oyesigye Elias , Cervini Carla , Oluwakayode Abimbola , Mahuku George , Medina Angel 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

This study investigated the occurrence and distribution of EU-regulated mycotoxins (aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, G2, fumonisins B1, B2, ochratoxin A (OTA), deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN), and citrinin (CIT) in cassava products, as well as assess the potential risk of Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) exposure among cassava consumers. A total of 192 samples of cassava products (flour and chips) were analysed using LC/MS-MS. All positive samples irrespective of their origin(flour or chips), exhibited AFB1 levels exceeding the EU regulatory threshold of 5 µg/kg. The sum of fumonisins-FB1 + FB2, ZEN and DON were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in cassava flour (14.3 µg/kg; 3.71 µg/kg; 25.1 µg/kg) compared to chips (6.54 µg/kg; 1.25 µg/kg; 0.25 µg/kg), respectively. Aflatoxins G2 was not detected in all the 192 samples analysed. Cassava flour samples from farmers exhibited significantly (P < 0.05) higher mean concentrations of AFB1 (27.1 µg/kg), total aflatoxins (78.2 µg/kg) and ochratoxin A (79.6 µg/kg) in contrast to wholesalers, whose mean levels were notably lower at 8.91, 5.79 µg/kg and 2.44 µg/kg, respectively, pointing the likely critical source of mycotoxin contamination. Cassava consumers in Northern Uganda are at a higher risk of 2.06 cancer cases per 100,000 individuals per year compared to those in Eastern Uganda at 0.25. This study underscores the urgent need for improving storage practices of cassava flour at the household level, especially in Northern Uganda, recognises a shift from the conventional practice of sampling in market areas to household-level samples, and emphasises the need for analytical methods that target more than one mycotoxin.