bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Framing, moral foundations and health taxes: interpretive analysis of Ethiopia’s tobacco excise tax policy passage
Authors: Erku Daniel , Yigzaw Nigusse , Tegegn Henok Getachew , Gartner Coral E , Scuffham Paul A , Garedew Yordanos Tegene , Shambel Ehetemariam 
Published: October 2023

BackgroundIn 2019–2020, the Ethiopian government ratified a suite of legislative measures that includes levying a tax on tobacco products. This study aims to examine stakeholders’ involvement, position, power and perception regarding the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA) bill (Proclamation No.1112/2019). This includes their meaning-making and interaction with each other during the bill’s formulation, adoption and implementation stages.MethodsWe employed a mixed-methods design drawing on three sources of data: (1) policy documents and media articles from government and/or civil society groups (n=27), (2) audio and video transcripts of parliamentary debates and (3) qualitative stakeholder interviews.ResultsPolicy actors in both the public health camp and tobacco industry employed several framing moves, engaged in distinctive patterns of moral rhetoric, and strategically invoked moral languages to galvanise support for their policy objectives. Central to this framing debate are issues of public health and the danger of tobacco, and the protection of ‘the economy and personal freedom’. The public health camp’s arguments and persuasiveness—which led to the passage of the EFDA bill—centred around discrediting tobacco industry’s cost–benefit assessments through frame disconnection, or by polarising their own position that the financial, psychological and lost productivity costs incurred by tobacco use outweighs any tax revenue.ConclusionsA successful cultivation of an epistemic community and engagement of policy entrepreneurs—both from government agencies and civil society organisations—was critical in creating a united front and a compelling affirmative policy narrative, thereby influence excise tax policy outcomes.
Considerations for modelling a broad food tax in the Philippines and other low-income and middle-income countries
Authors: Johnson Curtis Christine , Marklund Matti , Saxena Akshar , Goyena Eva , P Desnacido Josie , Koon Adam D , Warren Bethany , Cobb Laura K , E Henry Megan , Appel Lawrence J , Angeles-Agdeppa Imelda 
Published: October 2023

Fiscal policies to improve diet are a promising strategy to address the increasing burden of non-communicable disease, the leading cause of death globally. Sugar-sweetened beverage taxes are the most implemented type of fiscal policy to improve diet. Yet taxes on food, if appropriately structured and applied across the food supply, may support a larger population-level shift towards a healthier diet. Designing these policies and guiding them through the legislative process requires evidence. Equity-oriented cost-effectiveness analyses that estimate the distribution of potential health and economic gains can provide this critical evidence. Taxes on less healthy foods are rarely modelled in low-income and middle-income countries.We describe considerations for modelling the effect of a food tax, which can provide guidance for food tax policy design. This includes describing issues related to the availability, reliability and level of detail of national data on dietary habits, the nutrient content of foods and food prices; the structure of the nutrient profile model; type of tax; tax rate; pass-through rate and price elasticity. Using the Philippines as an example, we discuss considerations for using existing data to model the potential effect of a tax, while also taking into account the political and food policy context. In this way, we provide a modelling framework that can help guide policy-makers and advocates in designing a food policy to improve the health and well-being of future generations in the Philippines and elsewhere.
Efficacy and safety of pyronaridine-artesunate (PYRAMAX) for the treatment ofP. falciparumuncomplicated malaria in African pregnant women (PYRAPREG): study protocol for a phase 3, non-inferiority, randomised open-label clinical trial
Authors: Djimde Moussa , Tshiongo Japhet Kabalu , Muhindo Hypolite Mavoko , Tinto Halidou , Sevene Esperanca , Traore Maminata , Vala Anifa , Macuacua Salesio , Kabore Berenger , Dabira Edgard Diniba , Erhart Annette , Diakite Hamadoun , Keita Mohamed , Piqueras Mireia , González Raquel , Menendez Clara , Dorlo Thomas PC , Sagara Issaka , Mens Petra , Schallig Henk , D'Alessandro Umberto , Kayentao Kassoum 
Published: October 2023

IntroductionMalaria infection during pregnancy increases the risk of low birth weight and infant mortality and should be prevented and treated. Artemisinin-based combination treatments are generally well tolerated, safe and effective; the most used being artemether-lumefantrine (AL) and dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP). Pyronaridine-artesunate (PA) is a new artemisinin-based combination. The main objective of this study is to determine the efficacy and safety of PA versus AL or DP when administered to pregnant women with confirmedPlasmodium falciparuminfection in the second or third trimester. The primary hypothesis is the pairwise non-inferiority of PA as compared with either AL or DP.Methods and analysisA phase 3, non-inferiority, randomised, open-label clinical trial to determine the safety and efficacy of AL, DP and PA in pregnant women with malaria in five sub-Saharan, malaria-endemic countries (Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, Mozambique and the Gambia). A total of 1875 pregnant women will be randomised to one of the treatment arms. Women will be actively monitored until Day 63 post-treatment, at delivery and 4–6 weeks after delivery, and infants’ health will be checked on their first birthday. The primary endpoint is the PCR-adjusted rate of adequate clinical and parasitological response at Day 42 in the per-protocol population.Ethics and disseminationThis protocol has been approved by the Ethics Committee for Health Research in Burkina Faso, the National Health Ethics Committee in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine and Odontostomatology/Faculty of Pharmacy in Mali, the Gambia Government/MRCG Joint Ethics Committee and the National Bioethics Committee for Health in Mozambique. Written informed consent will be obtained from each individual prior to her participation in the study. The results will be published in peer-reviewed open access journals and presented at (inter)national conferences and meetings.Trial registration numberPACTR202011812241529.
Exercise into pain in chronic rotator cuff related shoulder pain: a prospective single-group feasibility study
Authors: Cavaggion Claudia , Juul-Kristensen Birgit , Luque-Suarez Alejandro , Voogt Lennard , Wollants Guy , Ó Conaire Eoin , Struyf Filip 
Published: October 2023

ObjectivesThis study evaluated the feasibility of exercising into pain in rotator cuff related shoulder pain (RCRSP), data collection procedures, feedback from physiotherapists and patients, and clinically important changes in patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).DesignUnblinded non-randomised single-group study.SettingPhysiotherapy clinic in Belgium.ParticipantsTwelve patients with unilateral RCRSP for minimum 3 months, aged 18–65 years.InterventionsTwelve weeks of four individualised exercises, with nine physiotherapist-led sessions with pain ratings 4–7 out of 10 on a verbal Numeric Pain Rating Scale for 9 weeks and then pain ratings 0–2 for 3 weeks. Every physiotherapy session included 15 min of manual therapy. Non-supervised exercises were: 2×/week in weeks with physiotherapy session, 3×/week in weeks without physiotherapy session.Outcome measuresPrimary: adherence, where patients were considered adherent with 78% (7/9 sessions) attendance for supervised sessions and 81% (22/27 sessions) completion for non-supervised exercises, and Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI); secondary: fear-avoidance behaviour, fear of pain, physical outcomes (strength, range of motion, scapular dyskinesis); others: ultrasound (US) imaging outcomes (acromionhumeral distance, supraspinatus tendon thickness, occupation ratio), global perceived effect (GPE). PROMs were collected via online survey, except for the GPE (via closed envelope). US measures were taken after physical measures.ResultsAdherence and adverse effects were analysed in patients who had the possibility to attend minimum seven supervised sessions (n=8): 88% of them adhered to supervised sessions, 50% to non-supervised exercises; none of them withdrew from the study, three of them obtained individual clinically important improvements in SPADI score above 20 points. The measurement protocol of physical and ultrasonographic outcomes took around 60 min.ConclusionsAdherence to supervised sessions was satisfactory, the adherence to non-supervised exercises must be improved. Data collection procedures were feasible to perform, but some changes are recommended.Trial registration numberNCT04154345.
Dose-response relationship between acupuncture time parameters and the effects on chronic non-specific low back pain: a systematic review and Bayesian model-based network meta-analysis protocol
Authors: Luo Qin , Yang Chunyan , Huang Liuyang , Guixing Xu , Hao Tian , Sun Mingsheng , Liang Fan-rong 
Published: October 2023

IntroductionLow back pain (LBP) is a major global public health problem and the majority (nearly 90%) of patients with LBP suffer from non-specific LBP (NSLBP). Acupuncture has been widely used for relieving pain and is recommended as a first-line treatment in LBP guidelines. However, the guidelines do not recommend a specific acupuncture temporal dosage. A Bayesian model-based network meta-analysis (MBNMA) will be conducted to optimise the dosages of time parameters (session, frequency and duration).Methods and analysisThe following databases will be searched from their inception until 1 July 2023: MEDLINE (via PubMed), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), EMBASE, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), alternative health research database (Alt HealthWatch), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals, ClinicalTrials.gov, the WHO’s International Clinical Trial and Chinese Clinical Registry. RCTs assessing the effects of acupuncture on chronic NSLBP will be selected. The primary outcome measure will be the improvement in pain intensity at different acupuncture time points. The MBNMA will be performed using R V.4.2.1 with related R packages. Risk of Bias V.2.0 and Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis will be used to assess the evidence quality.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval is not required for literature-based studies. The results will be published in peer-reviewed journals or conferences.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42022336056.
Smoking cessation and relapse-prevention interventions tailored for expectant and new fathers: protocol of a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Authors: Li Lishan , Wang Jiani , Xia Wei , Li William H C , Weng Xueling , Song Peige 
Published: October 2023

IntroductionExposure of pregnant women and newborns to secondhand smoke (SHS) can lead to adverse maternal and neonatal health outcomes. Among expectant and new fathers, who are the main source of SHS exposure for pregnant women, new mothers and babies, smoking rates remain high. A partner’s pregnancy potentially constitutes a critical period where expectant and new fathers are motivated to quit smoking. However, there is no consensus on the optimal form and delivery of smoking cessation and relapse-prevention interventions. We present a systematic review and network meta-analysis protocol that aims to synthesise and evaluate the effectiveness of smoking cessation and relapse-prevention interventions tailored for this population.Methods and analysisTo identify relevant studies, we will conduct a comprehensive search, in English and Chinese, of 10 electronic databases. The review will include randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials that compare behavioural interventions (tailored and non-tailored) with/without the addition of pharmacotherapy with usual care, a minimal or placebo control for assisting expectant and new fathers to quit smoking and prevent smoking relapse. The primary outcome of interest is the self-reported and/or biochemically verified smoking abstinence at ≥1-month follow-up. Two reviewers will independently screen, select and extract relevant studies, and perform a quality assessment. Disagreements will be resolved by a consensus or third-party adjudication. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool V.2 will be used to assess the risk of bias in the included studies. We will obtain the results of the systematic review through pooled quantitative analyses using a network meta-analysis. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses will be performed.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval is not required for this systematic review of published data. The findings will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publication.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42022340617.
Association between tobacco industry advertising expenses and tobacco advertising exposure among Korean adolescents
Authors: Nam Hee-kyoung , Kim Hana , Chun Hae-ryoung , Kang Heewon 
Published: October 2023

IntroductionMonitoring the activities and impacts of tobacco industries is vital for tobacco control. Based on tobacco industry financial statements and a nationally representative survey of Korean adolescents, we examined the association between tobacco industry commercial advertising expenses and advertising exposure among Korean adolescents.MethodsThe commercial advertising expenses of three major tobacco industries in Korea (KT&G, Philip Morris Korea, and British and American Tobacco Korea) were identified in a repository (Data Analysis Retrieval and Transfer System) established by the Korean Financial Supervisory Service. The yearly advertising expenses were merged with data from the Korean Youth Risk Behavior Survey (2015–2018 and 2021, total N=309 190). We used logistic regression analyses to analyse the associations between tobacco industry advertising expenses and adolescent tobacco advertisement exposure.ResultsIn 2021, the total advertising expenses of the three companies exceeded US$260 million, and the proportion of Korean adolescents exposed to tobacco advertisements ranged from 65.9% to 78.7% during 2015–2018 and 2021. Higher advertising expense sizes were associated with the risk of exposure to tobacco advertisements in both girls and boys, with OR of 1.009 (95% CI (1): 1.008 to 1.010) and 1.010 (95% CI: 1.009 to 1.011), respectively.ConclusionTobacco industry advertising expenses are associated with tobacco marketing exposure among adolescents. We used financial data to identify the reach of tobacco advertising among Korean adolescents. It is essential to increase tobacco industry surveillance using various data sources and to regulate tobacco advertising more strongly.
Non-linear association of baseline viral load with on-treatment hepatocellular carcinoma risk in chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Choi Won-Mook , Kim Gi-Ae , Choi Jonggi , Choi Gwang Hyeon , Lee Yun Bin , Sinn Dong Hyun , Lim Young-Suk 
Published: October 2023

ObjectiveThe association between baseline pretreatment serum HBV DNA levels and on-treatment hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk remains controversial in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). We aimed to investigate the association between baseline HBV viral load and on-treatment HCC risk in CHB patients without cirrhosis.DesignUsing a multicentre historical cohort study including 4693 hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative and HBeAg-positive, adult CHB patients without cirrhosis who initiated antiviral treatment, HCC risk was estimated by baseline HBV viral load as a categorical variable.ResultsDuring a median of 7.6 years of antiviral treatment, 193 patients developed HCC (0.53 per 100 person- years). Baseline HBV DNA level was independently associated with on-treatment HCC risk in a non-linear, parabolic pattern. Patients with moderate baseline viral loads (5.00–7.99 log10IU/mL) exhibited the highest HCC risk (HR, 2.60; p<0.001), followed by those with low viral loads (3.30–4.99 log10IU/mL; HR, 1.66; p=0.11). Patients with high viral loads (≥8.00 log10IU/mL) presented the lowest HCC risk. Particularly, patients with baseline HBV DNA levels 6.00–6.99 log10IU/mL had the highest on-treatment HCC risk (HR, 3.36; p<0.001) compared with those with baseline HBV DNA levels≥8.00 log10IU/mL. These findings were more prominent among HBeAg-positive patients, younger patients, or those with less advanced hepatic fibrosis.ConclusionPatients with moderate baseline viral load, particularly around 6 log10IU/mL, demonstrated the highest on-treatment HCC risk, despite long-term antiviral treatment. Early initiation of antiviral treatment, tailored to viral load, should be considered to minimise HCC risk in adult CHB patients without cirrhosis.
Incidence of mesothelioma in young people and causal exposure to asbestos in the Italian national mesothelioma registry (ReNaM)
Authors: Marinaccio Alessandro , Di Marzio Davide , Mensi Carolina , Consonni Dario , Gioscia Carmela , Migliore Enrica , Genova Carlo , Rossetto Giaccherino Roberta , Eccher Silvia , Murano Stefano , Comiati Vera , Casotto Veronica , Negro Corrado , Mangone Lucia , Miligi Lucia , Piro Sara , Angelini Alessia , Grappasonni Iolanda , Madeo Gabriella , Cozzi Ilaria , Ancona Laura , Staniscia Tommaso , Carrozza Francesco , Cavone Domenica , Vimercati Luigi , Labianca Michele , Tallarigo Federico , Cascone Giuseppe , Melis Massimo , Bonafede Michela , Scarselli Alberto , Binazzi Alessandra 
Published: October 2023

IntroductionThe epidemiological surveillance of mesothelioma incidence is a crucial key for investigating the occupational and environmental sources of asbestos exposure. The median age at diagnosis is generally high, according to the long latency of the disease. The purposes of this study are to analyse the incidence of mesothelioma in young people and to evaluate the modalities of asbestos exposure.MethodsIncident malignant mesothelioma (MM) cases in the period 1993–2018 were retrieved from Italian national mesothelioma registry and analysed for gender, incidence period, morphology and exposure. Age-standardised rates have been calculated and the multiple correspondence analysis has been performed. The association between age and asbestos exposure has been tested by χ2test.ResultsFrom 1993 to 2018, 30 828 incident MM cases have been collected and 1278 (4.1%) presented diagnosis at early age (≤50 years). There is a substantial association between age at diagnosis and the type of asbestos exposure and a significantly lower frequency of cases with occupational exposure to asbestos (497 cases vs 701 expected) in young people has been documented. Paraoccupational and environmental exposure to asbestos have been found more frequent in young MM cases (85 and 93 observed cases vs 52 and 44 expected cases, respectively).ConclusionsMesothelioma incidence surveillance at population level and the anamnestic individual research of asbestos exposure is a fundamental tool for monitoring asbestos exposure health effects, supporting the exposure risks prevention policies. Clusters of mesothelioma incident cases in young people are a significant signal of a potential non-occupational exposure to asbestos.
Topological Bounds on the Price of Anarchy of Clustering Games on Networks
Authors: Kleer Pieter , Schäfer Guido 
Published: October 2023

We consider clustering games in which the players are embedded into a network and want to coordinate (or anti-coordinate) their strategy with their neighbors. The goal of a player is to choose a strategy that maximizes her utility given the strategies of her neighbors. Recent studies show that even very basic variants of these games exhibit a large Price of Anarchy: A large inefficiency between the total utility generated in centralized outcomes and equilibrium outcomes in which players selfishly maximize their utility.

Our main goal is to understand how structural properties of the network topology impact the inefficiency of these games. We derive
topological bounds
on the Price of Anarchy for different classes of clustering games. These topological bounds provide a more informative assessment of the inefficiency of these games than the corresponding worst-case Price of Anarchy bounds. More specifically, depending on the type of clustering game, our bounds reveal that the Price of Anarchy depends on the maximum subgraph density or the maximum degree of the graph. Among others, these bounds enable us to derive bounds on the Price of Anarchy for clustering games on Erdős-Rényi random graphs. Depending on the graph density, these bounds stand in stark contrast to the known worst-case Price of Anarchy bounds.

Additionally, we characterize the set of distribution rules that guarantee the existence of a pure Nash equilibrium or the convergence of best-response dynamics. These results are of a similar spirit as the work of Gopalakrishnan et al. [
19
] and complement work of Anshelevich and Sekar [
4
].
Exploring Hematoma Expansion Shift With Recombinant Factor VIIa: A Pooled Analysis of 4 Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Yogendrakumar Vignan , Mayer Stephan A. , Steiner Thorsten , Broderick Joseph P. , Dowlatshahi Dar 
Published: October 2023

BACKGROUND:
Hematoma expansion shift (HES) analysis can be used to assess the biological effect of a hemostatic therapy for intracerebral hemorrhage. In this study, we applied HES analysis to individual patient data from 4 randomized controlled trials evaluating rFVIIa (recombinant factor VIIa) 80 μg/kg to placebo.

METHODS:
We generated polychotomous strata of HES using absolute growth thresholds (≤0/<6/≥6 mL) and quintiles of percent volume change. The relationship between treatment and HES was assessed using proportional odds models. Differences in subgroups based on baseline volume (≥ or <20 mL), and time from symptom onset to treatment (≤ or >2 hours) were explored with testing for interactions.

RESULTS:

The primary analysis included 721 patients. At 24 hours, 36% (134/369) of rFVIIa-treated patients exhibited no hematoma expansion as compared with 25% of placebo (88/352)-treated patients. Significant expansion (≥6 mL) was reduced by 10% in those treated with rFVIIa-(adjusted common odds ratio [acOR], 0.57 [95% CI, 0.43–0.75]). An examination of percent change similarly showed a shift across the spectrum of expansion (acOR, 0.61 [95% CI, 0.47–0.80]). In both groups, mild-to-moderate expansion was observed in 38% to 47% of patients, depending on the threshold used. Differences in absolute HES between the rFVIIa and placebo groups were more pronounced in patients with baseline hemorrhage volumes ≥20 mL (acOR, 0.48 [95% CI, 0.30–0.76] versus <20 mL: acOR, 0.67 [95% CI, 0.47–0.95];
P
interaction
=0.02). No treatment interaction in patients treated within 2 or after 2 hours from onset was observed (acOR, 0.42 [95% CI, 0.19–0.91 versus >2 hours: acOR, 0.59 [95% CI, 0.44–0.79];
P
interaction
=0.30).

CONCLUSIONS:
The association between rFVIIa and hematoma growth arrest is most pronounced in patients with larger baseline volumes but is evident across the full spectrum of treated patients.