bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Feasibility of conducting a cohort randomized controlled trial assessing the effectiveness of a nurse-led package of care for knee pain
Authors: Fuller Amy , Hall Michelle , Nomikos Polykarpos Angelos , Millar Bonnie , Ogollah Reuben , Valdes Ana , Greenhaff Paul , das Nair Roshan , Doherty Michael , Walsh David A , Abhishek Abhishek 
Published: August 2023

Abstract

Objective
To evaluate the feasibility of conducting a cohort randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a nurse-led package of care for knee pain and determining a treatment sequence for use in a future trial.

Methods
This study was an open-label, three-arm, single-centre, mixed-methods, feasibility cohort RCT. Adults aged ≥40 years with moderate-to-severe knee pain for ≥3 months were eligible. Participants were randomized into group A (non-pharmacological treatment first), group B (pharmacological treatment first), or group C (usual care). The intervention was delivered over 26 weeks. Outcomes were dropout rate, recruitment rate, intervention fidelity, ability to collect outcome data, and treatment acceptability.

Results
Seventeen participants were randomized and enrolled into each of groups A and B (5.2% recruitment rate), and 174 participants were randomized to group C. The participant characteristics at randomization were comparable across the three arms. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) paused the study from March–November 2020. Participants enrolled in groups A and B before March 2020 were withdrawn at the restart. Of the 20 participants enrolled after the restart, 18 completed the study (10% dropout). The nurse reported delivering most aspects of the intervention with high fidelity. The participants viewed the package of care as structured, supportive and holistic, they learnt about self-managing knee pain, and they could engage with and follow the non-pharmacological treatment. Most found the non-pharmacological treatment more useful than the pharmacological treatment, preferring to receive it before or alongside analgesia. Many self-report questionnaires were not fully completed.

Conclusion
The nurse-led package of care for knee pain was acceptable, with low dropout, although the cohort RCT design may not be feasible for a definitive trial.

Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov, https://clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03670706.
The Combined Role of Subsidy and Discussion Intervention in the Demand for a Stigmatized Product
Authors: Shrestha Vinish , Shrestha Rashesh 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
This paper studies the joint role of subsidization and group discussion intervention in increasing the demand for sanitary pads—a product that is widely available but demand for which may be curtailed due to the psychological cost associated with menstrual stigmatization. The study deploys a field experiment in Nepal to randomly allocate discount coupons of various values so that participants face exogenous variation in the effective price of sanitary pads. In addition, a randomly selected group of women in the sample participate in menstrual-health-related group discussion intervention. The findings suggest that an increase in subsidy level increases the probability of adoption across both groups of women—those receiving only a subsidy and those participating in the discussion intervention coupled with a subsidy. Also, women participating in the discussion intervention have a higher adoption rate. The effects of group discussion intervention are concentrated among women with high psychological cost, whose purchase decisions are more likely to be affected by societal stigma. The results suggest that combining a subsidy with group discussion could provide a cost-effective strategy to increase the adoption of health technology, the demand for which is constrained by social norms.
Plasmapheresis Versus Intravenous Immunoglobulin in Patients With Autoimmune Neuromuscular and Neuro-immunological Conditions
Authors: Zubair Adeel S. , Rethana Melissa , Ma Anthony , McAlpine Lindsay S. , Abulaban Ahmad , Munro Bailey Sheldon , Patwa Huned S. , Nowak Richard J. , Roy Bhaskar 
Published: August 2023

Abstract

Objectives:
Plasmapheresis (PLEX) and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) are commonly used to treat autoimmune neuromuscular disorders, including myasthenia gravis, acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, and other autoimmune neurological disorders. The side effect profiles of these therapies vary, and concern has been raised regarding the safety of PLEX in the elderly population. In this study, we have examined the pattern of PLEX and IVIg use for autoimmune neurological disorders at a single facility and in a national database, focusing on the complications in elderly patients.

Methods:
We performed a retrospective chart review of adult patients at our institution receiving PLEX or IVIg for any autoimmune neuromuscular or neuro-immunological disease. Next, we analyzed the National Inpatient Sample database to confirm the trend in IVIg and PLEX use from 2012 to 2018 for a set of neuromuscular and neuro-immunological primary diagnoses.

Results:
IVIg was overall favored over PLEX. The adverse effects were similar among elderly patients (age ≥65 years) compared with younger patients (<65 years) in our institution, even after adequate matching of patients based on age, sex, and medical history. We examined the National Inpatient Sample dataset and noted increasingly higher frequency of IVIg use, consistent with the findings from our institution or facility.

Conclusions:
Both PLEX and IVIg are safe therapeutic choices in adult patients with autoimmune neuromuscular disorders and other neuro-immunological diseases and can be safely administered in the appropriate clinical setting.
Association of senescence-associated secretory phenotype proteins with ovarian reserve among middle-aged/older women
Authors: Shin Ji-Won , Park Hyun Tae , Choe Seung-Ah , Jeon Ok Hee 
Published: August 2023

Abstract

Objective
This study aimed to examine the association of circulating senescence-associated secretory phenotype proteins, secreted by senescent cells, with indicators of women's ovarian reserve.

Methods
This secondary analysis of cross-sectional baseline survey data was undertaken by the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study Cardiovascular Disease Association Study. A total of 223 women (aged 40-82 y), without any history of oophorectomy, hysterectomy, or other medical conditions that could lower the ovarian reserve, were enrolled in this analysis. Chronological age (years), menopausal status, and serum anti-müllerian hormone (ng/mL) level were used to assess the associations among biological aging, accelerated menopausal aging, and ovarian reserve.

Results
Of the 223 women participants (53.4 ± 11.0 y), 147 (46.4 ± 3.9 y) and 76 (67.0 ± 6.9 y) were premenopausal and postmenopausal, respectively. Serum levels of senescence-associated secretory phenotype proteins were generally higher in postmenopausal, than in premenopausal, women. In the analyses adjusted for chronological age and body mass index, 17 senescence-associated secretory phenotype proteins were associated with menopausal status. However, in premenopausal women, no association trends with the level of anti-müllerian hormone were detected for a total of 28 senescence-associated secretory phenotype proteins.

Conclusions
In a cohort of middle-aged/older women, the level of circulating senescence-associated secretory phenotype proteins indicated chronological age and menopausal status. Yet, serum levels of senescence-associated secretory phenotype protein potentially have limited predictive value for ascertaining ovarian reserve in premenopausal women.
Novel approach to Behçet's disease in the era of biologic agents
Authors: Khieu Chansathya , Chanthan David 
Published: August 2023

Purpose
This review aims to provide better understanding of modern modalities to investigate ocular symptoms of Behçet's disease in order to achieve appropriate management protocols and reduce irreversible visual loss.

Relevant findings
Current methods of diagnosing intraocular involvement in Behçet's disease gives clue to early diagnosis. In addition to standard ocular examination and fluorescein angiography, new noninvasive methods include ocular coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography provide early detection of macular and retinal involvement that can be treated early to improve the prognosis.

Summary
Over the last decade, new multimodal imagings are becoming more accessible; therefore, rapid diagnosis can be made. In addition to newer approved biologic agents, ocular Behçet's disease is seen to be in better controlled with fewer complications.
Efficacy of teprotumumab therapy in patients with long-duration thyroid eye disease
Authors: Subramanian Prem S. , Cho Raymond I. , Kahana Alon 
Published: August 2023

Purpose of review
Teprotumumab, an inhibitor of the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R), was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in January 2020 for the treatment of thyroid eye disease (TED). The clinical trials leading to its approval enrolled patients with recent disease onset and significant inflammatory symptoms and signs. Subsequent real-world teprotumumab use in patients with longer duration of disease also may be effective, and there have been several publications reporting on experience in these patient groups.

Recent findings
TED results in disfiguring changes such as ocular proptosis and affects visual function by altering extraocular muscle function, leading to diplopia. Compressive optic neuropathy also may occur, and disease manifestations may persist for years. Teprotumumab treatment in cases of TED in which prior interventions (medical or surgical) had failed, or in treatment-naïve patients whose disease had been stable for years, has been reported to improve both clinical signs and symptoms (proptosis, diplopia) and to reduce the pathologic orbital changes as assessed by orbital imaging.

Summary
Teprotumumab may be an appropriate treatment for TED regardless of disease duration and irrespective of the presence or absence of markers of active inflammation within the orbit.
A simulated pedagogical intervention to educate nurse practitioner students about human trafficking
Authors: Valdes Beatriz , Salani Deborah , Falcon Ashley , McKay Mary , Arrojo Michelle , Quintana Amauri , DeSantis Joseph P. 
Published: August 2023

ABSTRACT
Human trafficking (HT) affects an estimated 40.3 million people globally with 24.9 million people affected in forced labor and 4.8 million in forced sexual exploitation. An estimated 18,000 people are trafficked yearly into the United States. Reports suggest that between 63% and 87% of trafficked persons were seen by health care professionals and were unrecognized while in captivity. The authors designed and implemented an innovative pedagogical intervention for nurse practitioner (NP) students using a 10-min simulation-based education encounter with a standardized patient depicting a potential sex or labor HT clinical presentation. Results demonstrated that simulation-based education is a feasible way to provide HT education to NP students. It is imperative that future NPs receive education/training about HT to recognize potential victims and promote access to appropriate resources.
Chronic daily respiratory care needs in people with cystic fibrosis treated with highly effective cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator modulators
Authors: Wajda Katherine E. , Roesch Erica A. , Gifford Alex H. 
Published: August 2023

Purpose of review
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease that increases risk of death from respiratory failure because of impairment in mucociliary clearance. Complex daily care regimens including medications and airway clearance techniques (ACTs) aim to preserve lung function and alleviate symptoms for people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF). The success of highly effective modulator therapy (HEMT) permits evaluation of treatment simplification. In this review, we evaluate adjustments made in daily respiratory care among pwCF taking HEMT and the feasibility of treatment simplification.

Recent findings
Treatment simplification has been identified as a top priority among pwCF, with recent studies showing pwCF are willing to sacrifice mild to moderate amounts of lung function and longevity to reduce treatment burden. Retrospective studies have shown that patients taking HEMT with better baseline lung function have lower adherence to and prescription of inhaled medications. A randomized, controlled trial found that short-term discontinuation of dornase alfa or hypertonic saline was clinically noninferior to continuation of these medications. Major knowledge gaps remain about withdrawing ACTs.

Summary
This review highlights trials evaluating the feasibility of treatment simplification among pwCF taking HEMT. More data is needed to evaluate approaches to simplification in this phenotypically diverse patient population.
Ménière's disease is a disorder of the inner ear
Authors: Ahmad Jumah G. , Lin Kenny F. 
Published: August 2023

Purpose of review
Ménière's disease is a disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, and pressure in the ear. Its pathogenesis and optimal management continue to be the subject of ongoing debate. Although it is classically believed to be a primary disorder of the inner ear, some clinicians have hypothesized that it is a form of vestibular migraine.

Recent findings
Evidence supporting vestibular migraine in the differential of Ménière's disease includes overlap of symptoms, high prevalence of migraines in patients with Ménière's disease, and the efficacy of migraine treatments for symptoms of Ménière's disease in some patients. However, there is far more evidence to support Ménière's disease as a disorder of the inner ear, including genetic and histologic changes of hydrops, imaging studies showing hydropic changes, predominance of low-frequency hearing loss, clinical efficacy of treatments targeted at inflammatory change/hydrops, and clinical efficacy of ablating the vestibular end-organ.

Summary
Although there is conflicting evidence regarding the cause and treatment of Ménière's disease, current evidence favors it as a disorder of the inner ear. Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms of Ménière's disease and how to improve diagnosis and treatment outcomes.
Implementing a Disease-specific Multidisciplinary Team and Order Set for Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis in a Pediatric Hospital
Authors: Rousset Meaghan , Orr Kaci , Gartstein Evelyn , Anthony Aly , Brady Steven , Rios Ana , Guirola Ricardo , Perez Maria , Eames Gretchen , Howrey Richard , Trinkman Heidi , Chaimowitz Natalia , Diaz Maranda , Ray Anish 
Published: August 2023

Objective:
To improve outcomes of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), prompt recognition and treatment are necessary. A HLH multidisciplinary team was implemented at our institution, and we established an electronic order set to foster uniformity in the diagnostic approach. The goal of this study is to capture the impact of this diagnostic tool.

Methods:
This is a retrospective study analyzing the utilization of a HLH-specific order set since time of implementation in June 2019 through December 2022. The trends in the utilization of the order set by providers were analyzed to evaluate the awareness and effectiveness of this tool.

Results:
The order set was utilized 50 times, most commonly by hematology/oncology (50%) and infectious disease (26%). Utilization by providers on newly presenting patients included 4 times in the year 2019, 12 times in 2020, 16 times in 2021, and 18 times in 2022. Utilization was associated with the diagnosis of HLH in 9 patients (18%).

Conclusion:
Implementation of an HLH-specific order set facilitated a systematic method to approach patients with suspected HLH. The utilization of the order set displayed an upward trend over time, indicating support of this tool among these providers. This tool can increase awareness and early identification of HLH.
The disease burden of respiratory syncytial virus in Infants
Authors: Munro Alasdair P.S. , Martinón-Torres Federico , Drysdale Simon B. , Faust Saul N. 
Published: August 2023

Purpose of review
To describe the current global burden of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in infants and its implications for morbidity, health resources and economic costs.

Recent findings
New prophylactic therapies are on the horizon for RSV in the form of long-acting monoclonal antibodies suitable for healthy infants and maternal immunizations.

Summary
Despite being responsible for significant global infant morbidity and mortality, until recently there have been no effective therapeutics available for healthy infants to protect them from RSV. Several new drugs are likely to be available within the next few years which could help relieve a huge burden on healthcare systems over the coming winters.
Non-pharmaceutical interventions for COVID-19: a systematic review on environmental control measures
Authors: Madhusudanan Anagha , Iddon Christopher , Cevik Muge , Naismith James H. , Fitzgerald Shaun 
Published: August 2023

The purpose of this review was to identify the effectiveness of environmental control (EC) non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) in reducing transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through conducting a systematic review. EC NPIs considered in this review are room ventilation, air filtration/cleaning, room occupancy, surface disinfection, barrier devices,CO2monitoring and one-way-systems. Systematic searches of databases from Web of Science, Medline, EMBASE, preprint servers MedRxiv and BioRxiv were conducted in order to identify studies reported between 1 January 2020 and 1 December 2022. All articles reporting on the effectiveness of ventilation, air filtration/cleaning, room occupancy, surface disinfection, barrier devices,CO2monitoring and one-way systems in reducing transmission of SARS-CoV-2 were retrieved and screened. In total, 13 971 articles were identified for screening. The initial title and abstract screening identified 1328 articles for full text review. Overall, 19 references provided evidence for the effectiveness of NPIs: 12 reported on ventilation, 4 on air cleaning devices, 5 on surface disinfection, 6 on room occupancy and 1 on screens/barriers. No studies were found that considered the effectiveness ofCO2monitoring or the implementation of one-way systems. Many of these studies were assessed to have critical risk of bias in at least one domain, largely due to confounding factors that could have affected the measured outcomes. As a result, there is low confidence in the findings. Evidence suggests that EC NPIs of ventilation, air cleaning devices and reduction in room-occupancy may have a role in reducing transmission in certain settings. However, the evidence was usually of low or very low quality and certainty, and hence the level of confidence ascribed to this conclusion is low. Based on the evidence found, it was not possible to draw any specific conclusions regarding the effectiveness of surface disinfection and the use of barrier devices. From these results, we further conclude that community agreed standards for well-designed epidemiological studies with low risk of bias are needed. Implementation of such standards would enable more confident assessment in the future of the effectiveness of EC NPIs in reducing transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens in real-world settings.This article is part of the theme issue ‘The effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions on the COVID-19 pandemic: the evidence’.
Pontibacterium sinense sp. nov., a nitrate-reducing and thiosulphate-oxidizing bacterium, isolated from coastal sediment
Authors: Chen Rui-Ying , Chen Rui-Jie , Lu De-Chen , Gong Ya , Du Zong-Jun 
Published: August 2023

A novel bacterial strain, N1Y112T, was isolated from coastal sediment collected in Weihai, PR China. This Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic, motile rod-shaped bacterium exhibited the ability to oxidize thiosulphate to sulphate and reduce nitrate to ammonia through its Sox system and nitrate reduction pathway, respectively. The strain grew at 20–35 °C (optimum, 28 °C), pH 6.0–10.0 (optimum, pH 7.5) and in the presence of 1.0–5.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 3.0 %). Major fatty acids present in the strain included summed feature 8 (comprising C18 : 1
ω7c and/or C18 : 1
ω6c), summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1
ω7c and/or C16 : 1
ω6c) and C16 : 0. Its polar lipid profile consisted of one phosphatidylethanolamine, two unknown aminolipids, one aminophosphoglycolipid, one diphosphatidylglycerol, one phosphatidylglycerol, two unknown phospholipids and two unknown lipids. Strain N1Y112T contained ubiquinone-7 and ubiquinone-8 as isoprenoid quinones, with a genomic G+C content of 50.6 mol%. Based on phylogenetic analysis, strain N1Y112T clustered with

Pontibacterium granulatum

JCM 30316T being its closest relative at 97.1 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values were 77.1 and 20.7 %, respectively, which suggest significant differences between genomes of N1Y112T and

P. granulatum

JCM 30316T. Based on the findings from its phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic analyses, N1Y112T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus

Pontibacterium

, for which the name Pontibacterium sinense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is N1Y112T (=KCTC 72927T=MCCC 1H00429T).
Comparison of logistic regression with regularized machine learning methods for the prediction of tuberculosis disease in people living with HIV: cross-sectional hospital-based study in Kisumu County, Kenya
Authors: Orwa James , Oduor Patience , Okelloh Douglas , Gethi Dickson , Agaya Janet , Okumu Albert , Wandiga Steve 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBackgroundTuberculosis (TB) is a major public health concern, particularly among people living with the Human immunodeficiency Virus (PLWH). Accurate prediction of TB disease in this population is crucial for early diagnosis and effective treatment. Logistic regression and regularized machine learning methods have been used to predict TB, but their comparative performance in HIV patients remains unclear. The study aims to compare the predictive performance of logistic regression with that of regularized machine learning methods for TB disease in HIV patients.MethodsRetrospective analysis of data from HIV patients diagnosed with TB in three hospitals in Kisumu County (JOOTRH, Kisumu sub-county hospital, Lumumba health center) between [dates]. Logistic regression, Lasso, Ridge, Elastic net regression were used to develop predictive models for TB disease. Model performance was evaluated using accuracy, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC).ResultsOf the 927 PLWH included in the study, 107 (12.6%) were diagnosed with TB. Being in WHO disease stage III/IV (aOR: 7.13; 95%CI: 3.86-13.33) and having a cough in the last 4 weeks (aOR: 2.34;95%CI: 1.43-3.89) were significant associated with the TB. Logistic regression achieved accuracy of 0.868, and AUC-ROC of 0.744. Elastic net regression also showed good predictive performance with accuracy, and AUC-ROC values of 0.874 and 0.762, respectively.ConclusionsOur results suggest that logistic regression, Lasso, Ridge regression, and Elastic net can all be effective methods for predicting TB disease in HIV patients. These findings may have important implications for the development of accurate and reliable models for TB prediction in HIV patients.