bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Narratives About Memorable Camp Experiences: Fostering Growth in Youth from Low-Income Backgrounds
Authors: Lubeznik-Warner Robert P. , Froehly Michael , Wycoff Taylor , Povilaitis Victoria , Cloward Luke , Taylor Shannielle , Moon Seunghee 
Published: January 2024

Background Summer camp is an experiential learning setting that supports youth development. Due to high fees, youth from low-income backgrounds often have fewer opportunities to attend. Subsequently, there is little literature about these youth’s camp experiences. Purpose This research examined growth and the characteristics supporting growth in memorable camp experiences shared by youth more than one year after attending camps for youth from low-income backgrounds. Methodology We collected written narratives via an online survey distributed May 2022. A total of 352 youth ( Mage=16.06; SDage=0.88) provided narratives. About 56% of youth identified as female and about 23% of youth identified as a youth of color (36% identified as white; race/ethnicity data was not available for about 40% of youth). Considering the entire narrative as the unit of analysis, we inductively coded narratives for growth and characteristics supporting growth. Findings We identified growth in 33% of youth’s narratives (e.g., adopting new perspectives, discovering passions, value clarification, developing resilience). Growth occurred when youth had opportunities to try new activities, overcome challenges, or felt accepted and connected with peers or staff. Implications These findings provide useful information for practitioners and serve as a foundation for research about youth from low-income backgrounds’ camp experiences.
The Use of Platelet Concentrates in the Reconstruction of the Alveolar Cleft Defect: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Vásquez-Álvarez Mariana , Wang Qian , Zapata Uriel 
Published: January 2024

Objective Evaluate quantitative and qualitative outputs when comparing the incidence of platelet concentrates (PCs) combined with autogenous bone grafts to an autograft control group for the reconstruction of alveolar cleft defects. Design Systematic review and meta-analysis. Patients/Participants Randomized and nonrandomized controlled clinical trials where PCs were used in the reconstruction of alveolar cleft defects. Interventions Use of PCs in combination with autogenous bone graft in the experimental group and autogenous bone graft alone in the control group. Main Outcome Measure(s) Average bone formation and bone density were evaluated, mean differences were calculated and pooled by a meta-analysis technique. Additionally, clinical outcomes such as wound dehiscence, closure of the oronasal fistula, pain, swelling, discharges, infections, and bleeding were considered in the qualitative synthesis. Results After an evaluation of forty-nine articles, nineteen were considered for the review. The qualitative assessment of bone density, bone formation, and clinical outcomes showed no differences between groups in most of the included studies. The meta-analysis showed no statistical differences between PCs groups when compared to the control group in bone density at three months (mean difference 45.67 HU, P = .23) and six months (mean difference 48.57 HU, P = .64). Neither were statistical differences in the percentage of regenerated bone volume at six months (mean difference 6.39%, P = .15) and the volume of newly formed bone at 12 months (mean difference 0.37 mm3, P = .99). Conclusions There were no significant differences in terms of bone formation, bone density, and clinical outputs between groups.
Efficacy and safety of implantable vascular support in the treatment of arteriovenous fistula: A single-arm meta-analyses
Authors: Li Xuanwei , Ma Congyuan , Li Wenlai , Li Yue , Zhang Meng , Zhu Ping 
Published: January 2024

Background and objectives: VasQ (Laminate Medical Technologies, Israel) is an external support device for autologous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) designed to improve anastomotic blood flow and reduce neointimal hyperplasia. However, different studies have shown that the efficacy of the VasQ device in improving AVF is inconsistent. The purpose of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis to further evaluate the efficacy and safety of the VasQ device. Design, setting, participants, and measurements: Two reviewers independently searched studies published in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wan Fang databases from inception to 2023. The Cochrane Systematic Evaluation Bias Risk Tool Version 1 was used to assess the risk of RCTS bias. The ROBINS-I tool was used to assess the risk of bias in non-randomized studies. A Single-arm meta-analysis was performed, and a random effects model was used for all analyses. Results: We identified six trials involving 146 patients and conducted a meta-analysis. The results showed that after 6 months of VasQ device treatment, the primary patency rate of AVF was [76.4% (95%CI: 0.608–0.920), p < 0.01] while the secondary patency rate was [76.5% (95%CI: 0.572–0.958), p < 0.01]. The maturity rate of AVF 1 month after surgery was [88.5% (95%CI: 0.818–0.952), p = 0.46]. The incidence of anastomotic stenosis was [8.9% (95%CI: 0.015–0.163), p = 0.23], and the incidence of anastomotic venous thrombosis was [10% (95%CI: 0.035–0.179), p = 0.38]. Conclusions: Meta-analysis data of this study show that the VasQ device has a good effect in improving the patency rate of AVF and does not increase the occurrence of adverse events. However, due to the limitation of the number and quality of included studies, more high-quality studies are needed to confirm this in the future.
Assessing the time-to-removal of totally implantable venous access devices comparing valved-versus open-ended catheters in patients treated with chemotherapy
Authors: Amroun Koceila , Brugel Mathias , Rhaiem Rami , Teuma Lugdivine , Vannieuwenhuyse Geoffrey , Lipere Audrey , Brenet Esteban , Kianmanesh Reza , Bouché Olivier 
Published: January 2024

Background: Totally IntraVenous Acess Devices (TIVAD) are used to have long-term bloodstream access. The catheter connected to the subcutaneous chamber may be valved (TIVAD-V) or open-ended (TIVAD-O). Infectious and occlusion complications require the removal of the TIVAD. We compared the two types of catheters (TIVAD-V and TIVAD-O) in terms of time-to-removal and complication rates. Methods: A retrospective study of 636 patients treated for any malignancy using a TIVAD were included. TIVAD complication was defined as the occurrence of infection or occlusion requiring TIVAD removal. Risk factors of complications and time-to-removal of TIVAD were assessed by a Cox proportional hazard analysis. Results: A total of 55 TIVADs (8.7%) were removed including 47 for infection and eight for occlusion in 54 months. There was no significant difference in the frequency of complications between TIVAD-V and TIVAD-O. There was no significant difference in time-to-removal between TIVAD-V and TIVAD-O (17.0 months, IQR [10.5–25.0] and 18.4 months, IQR [11.5–22.9], p = 0.345, respectively). Conclusion: There was no difference between TIVAD with valved and open catheter in terms of complications and time-to-removal in patients treated by chemotherapy.
‘Smart reminder’: A feasibility pilot study on the effects of a wearable device treatment on the hemiplegic upper limb in persons with stroke
Authors: Toh Fong Mei , Lam Winnie WT , Gonzalez Pablo Cruz , Fong Kenneth NK 
Published: January 2024

Introduction Emerging literature suggests that wearable devices offer a promising option for self-directed home-based upper limb training for persons with stroke. However, little research is available to explore integrating smartphone applications with wearable devices to provide upper limb telerehabilitation to stroke survivors at home. This study examined the feasibility and potential therapeutic effects of a wearable device integrated with a smartphone-based telerehabilitation system to provide upper limb rehabilitation to stroke survivors at home. Methods Twelve stroke survivors from community support groups participated in a treatment consisting of 4-week telerehabilitation using a wearable device and 4-week conventional therapy successively in a single-blind, randomised crossover study. A 3-week washout period was administered between the two 4-week treatments. The primary outcome measures were the Fugl Meyer Assessment, the Action Research Arm Test, and the active range of motion (ROM) of the upper limb. Secondary outcome measures included the Motor Activity Log and exercise adherence. Results Results showed that the active ROM of participants’ hemiplegic shoulder improved more significantly after 4 weeks of telerehabilitation with the wearable device than with conventional therapy. No significant differences were found in other outcome measures. Conclusions A 4-week telerehabilitation programme using a wearable device improves the hemiplegic upper limb in community-dwelling stroke survivors and may be feasible as an effective intervention for self-directed upper limb rehabilitation at home.
First things first: An exploration of the effects of psychoeducation for older autistic adults
Authors: Lenders Maartje , Ouwens Machteld A , Wilting Rosalien M H J , Videler Arjan C 
Published: January 2024

A psychoeducation program that was originally developed by the Dutch Association for Autism was adjusted for older adults to enhance its feasibility and efficacy in later life. In this study, we explored the effects of this adapted psychoeducation program for older autistic adults in a pre-test–post-test 6-month follow-up design. A total of 61 patients (55–78 years) and 44 proxies (a person close to them) participated in the study; attrition rate was high for the follow-up assessment. As hypothesized, an increase in knowledge and acceptance of the diagnosis was observed, with a strong and positive correlation between patients and proxies for knowledge. Furthermore, ambiguous results were observed on coping with the diagnosis and no positive effects on psychological distress were found. The feedback of participants and proxies about the psychoeducation program was largely positive. Future research with larger group samples and larger time scales is necessary to gain more insight into the effectiveness of the psychoeducation program. It seems worthwhile to further adjust the program to the needs and requirements of older adults, and to help older autistic adults to construct a new narrative of themselves, and the life they have lived, in the light of the recent autism diagnosis. Lay abstract After receiving an autism diagnosis, psychoeducation (i.e. information regarding autism) is a first intervention. We adjusted a psychoeducation program that was originally developed by the Dutch Association for Autism for older adults to enhance its feasibility and efficacy in later life. We expected that participants would report an increase in knowledge and acceptance of the diagnosis and that people close to them would also observe this. Indeed, we found this and participants and those close to them agreed on this. Furthermore, we found some evidence that older autistic adults were better at coping with their autism. We found no positive intervention effects on psychological distress. The feedback of participants and informants about the psychoeducation program was largely positive. In future research, we advise using larger group samples and larger time scales and we also advise to further adjust the program to the needs and requirements of older adults, and to help older autistic adults to construct a new narrative of themselves, and the life they have lived, in the light of the recent autism diagnosis.
Meaningfulness and mortality: exploring the sense of coherence in Eastern Finnish men
Authors: Piiroinen Ilkka , Tuomainen Tomi-Pekka , Tolmunen Tommi , Voutilainen Ari 
Published: January 2024

Aims: The sense of coherence scale has been shown to have an epidemiological relationship with mortality. This study aimed to investigate how the three components of sense of coherence (meaningfulness, comprehensibility and manageability) and the individual items of these components relate to mortality. Methods: Eastern Finnish men ( n=2315) aged 42–60 years at baseline in the 1980s completed a 12-item sense of coherence scale and were followed for 25 years, on average, until death or until the end of 2019. Hazard ratios for mortality were calculated using two models: one adjusted for age and the second for an additional 12 mortality risk factors. Results: Of the three sense of coherence components, only meaningfulness was associated with all-cause mortality, and in the fully adjusted model, those in the weakest tertile had a 1.14 (95% confidence interval 1.01−1.29, P=0.042) times higher hazard ratio for mortality than those in the strongest tertile. Of the individual sense of coherence items, only the first question, ‘How often do you have the feeling that you really don’t care about what is going on around you?’, was associated with all-cause mortality, and in the fully adjusted Cox model, the hazard ratio of weak versus strong was 1.18 (95% confidence interval 1.03−1.36, P=0.020). Conclusions: The sense of coherence component related to meaningfulness, including its first item, ‘Caring about what goes on around you’, plays a significant role in the association with mortality among middle-aged men in Eastern Finland. This item should be considered a noteworthy patient-reported variable when predicting mortality in public health settings.
Thermal comfort and indoor air quality in hospitals in the subtropics: Analysis of operating rooms and waiting rooms conditions
Authors: Santana Elaine Gonçalves Ferreira , Suzuki Eliane Hayashi , Prado Racine Tadeu Araujo , Kurokawa Fernando Akira 
Published: January 2024

The indoor air quality should provide adequate temperature and humidity levels, free from harmful pollution concentration. Proper heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system management is crucial in hospitals to prevent transmission of contaminated air and diseases. To verify whether healthcare facilities meet standard criteria for thermal comfort and indoor air quality, a field investigation in waiting and operating rooms was conducted in six hospitals in Brazil, in the summer. Thermal comfort parameters, carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration and differential air pressure were collected in loco. The results demonstrated that CO2 concentration was over 1,000 ppm in four waiting rooms, and no positive pressure was guaranteed in the operating room. The medical staff showed different thermal sensation variations in zone 1 (around the operating table) and zone 2 (remaining space around zone 1). In conclusion, most operating rooms had significant contamination risks and did not provide thermal comfort conditions to occupants. Due to improper HVAC design or high occupational density, air change rates were insufficient to guarantee adequate air renewal in the waiting rooms. There is an opportunity to improve the operation and maintenance process to provide healthy and comfortable environments in healthcare facilities, reducing nosocomial infections, especially during pandemic times.
Hearing Impairment and Cognitive Function: Mediating Role of Social Isolation and Depression
Authors: Wu Fan , Zhou Chenxi 
Published: January 2024

Objectives To examine the relationship between hearing impairment and cognitive function and the mediating role of social isolation and depression. Methods: Data came from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study wave. A self-reported item, a composite index, the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, and the Mini-Mental State Exam were used to measure hearing impairment, social isolation, depression, and cognitive function, respectively. Mediation analysis was performed. Results: 6799 participants were included. For participants reporting mild hearing impairment and severe hearing impairment, there were significant direct and indirect effects on cognitive function. Social isolation mediated 2.75% and 6.33% of the relationship between mild hearing impairment, severe hearing impairment, and cognitive function, respectively. The direct effect of hearing impairment outweighed the mediation effect of social isolation on cognitive function. Conclusions: Decreased cognitive function linked to hearing impairment might benefit from addressing hearing impairment and social isolation in older adults.
Phytochemical Properties of Crataegus azarolus Berries Decoction Extract and Evaluation of its Protective Activity Against Acetic Acid-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Rats
Authors: Sammari Houcem , Jedidi Saber , Selmi Houcine , Jridi Mourad , Ayari Ala , Sebai Hichem 
Published: January 2024

The present study aims to evaluate the protective effect of Crataegus azarolus berries decoction extract (CAB-DE) against acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis as well as the mechanisms implicated in such protection. Adult male Wistar rats were separated into seven groups: Control (H2O), acetic acid (AA), AA + various doses of CAB-DE (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, b.w.,p.o.), and AA + sulfasalazine (100 mg/kg, b.w.,p.o.) or gallic acid (50 mg/kg, b.w.,p.o.) during 10 days. All rats were kept fasting overnight and ulcerative colitis was induced by rectal infusion of AA (300 mg kg−1, b.w.) (3%, v/v, 5 mL kg−1 b.w), for 30 s. The colon was rapidly excised and macroscopically examined to measure ulcerated surfaces and the ulcer index. In vitro, we found that CAB-DE exhibited a high antioxidant activity against DPPH radical (IC50 = 164.17 ± 4.78 μg/mL). In vivo , pretreatment with CAB-DE significantly protected the colonic mucosa against AA-induced damage by stimulating mucus secretion, reducing ulcer index as well as histopathological changes. Also, CAB-DE limited the oxidative status induced by AA in the colonic mucosa, as assessed by MDA and H2O2 increased levels and the depletion of both enzymatic activities and non-enzymatic levels. In addition, AA intoxication increased iron and calcium levels in colonic mucosa and plasma, while CAB-DE pretreatment regulated all intracellular mediators deregulation and significantly reduced inflammatory markers such as CRP (1.175 ± .04 ─ .734 ± .06 μg/dl) and ALP (161.53 ± 5.02 ─ 98.60 ± 4.21 UI/L) levels. We suggest that CAB-DE protected against AA-induced ulcerative colitis due in part to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Sensitization of human and rat nociceptors by low dose morphine is toll-like receptor 4-dependent
Authors: Khomula Eugen V , Araldi Dionéia , Green Paul G , Levine Jon D 
Published: January 2024

While opioids remain amongst the most effective treatments for moderate-to-severe pain, their substantial side effect profile remains a major limitation to broader clinical use. One such side effect is opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH), which includes a transition from opioid-induced analgesia to pain enhancement. Evidence in rodents supports the suggestion that OIH may be produced by the action of opioids at Toll-like Receptor 4 (TLR4) either on immune cells that, in turn, produce pronociceptive mediators to act on nociceptors, or by a direct action at nociceptor TLR4. And, sub-analgesic doses of several opioids have been shown to induce hyperalgesia in rodents by their action as TLR4 agonists. In the present in vitro patch-clamp electrophysiology experiments, we demonstrate that low dose morphine directly sensitizes human as well as rodent dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, an effect of this opioid analgesic that is antagonized by LPS-RS Ultrapure, a selective TLR4 antagonist. We found that low concentration (100 nM) of morphine reduced rheobase in human (by 36%) and rat (by 26%) putative C-type nociceptors, an effect of morphine that was markedly attenuated by preincubation with LPS-RS Ultrapure. Our findings support the suggestion that in humans, as in rodents, OIH is mediated by the direct action of opioids at TLR4 on nociceptors.
Inadvertent perioperative hypothermia prevention strategies for urology surgical patients who received a blood transfusion: A retrospective analysis
Authors: Humphries Kathryn , Page Tamara , Donaldson Tina , Blaney Sharon 
Published: January 2024

Objectives: This study aimed to establish whether hypothermia was present in patients who required a blood transfusion and underwent a urology procedure, as well as identify staff knowledge and understanding. Patients and methods: A staff survey was conducted with respondents from a range of clinical settings, with some staff working across more than one area. A retrospective review of 46 medical records was conducted between January 2021 and July 2022. All data were exported into an Excel spreadsheet and analysed. Results: Staff (70%) were unaware of guidelines informing thermoregulation practices; however, 90% understood the importance of normothermia in the perioperative environment. Medical record review demonstrated temperature monitoring and intervention implementation varied across the perioperative journey, with 20% of patients hypothermic on admission and 89% of the cohort having two or more risk factors. Conclusion: There is no formal process for the management of inadvertent perioperative hypothermia throughout the patient journey at the hospital. A variety of intrinsic factors (age, patient comorbidities, American Society of Anaesthesiologists score) and external factors (patient waiting times, anaesthetic modality, type of procedure, environmental influences), impact each patient’s risk of inadvertent perioperative hypothermia.
A critical appraisal of perioperative sleep apnoea management after nasal surgery: A review of up-to-date literature supplemented by findings of a retrospective observational study
Authors: Duvekot Anne , Klimek Markus , Datema Frank R 
Published: January 2024

Objective: To review the current recommendations on postoperative precautions for obstructive sleep apnoea patients undergoing elective nasal surgery. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Anesthesiology/Intensive Care, University Teaching Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Participants: The medical charts of 61 patients with sleep apnoea who were admitted to the post-anaesthesia care unit between 2016 and 2020, following nasal surgery were reviewed. Main outcome measures: Number of respiratory events during post-anaesthesia care unit admission that required medical intervention. Results: In all 61 patients, continuous positive airway pressure could not be used. In 13 patients (8%), decreased oxygen saturation levels were registered during the first postoperative night, and in five of these patients, supplemental oxygen was needed. No other respiratory incidents of medical interventions were registered. Conclusions: The number of clinically relevant respiratory events of obstructive sleep apnoea patients with bilateral nasal packing following nasal surgery is low. We suggest that the safety of less expensive and less scarce alternatives of postoperative observation should be explored.