bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis – Association with depressive symptoms and physical disability: A prospective and observational study
Authors: Kołtuniuk Aleksandra , Pawlak Beata , Krówczyńska Dorota , Chojdak-Łukasiewicz Justyna 
Published: January 2023

BackgroundPatients with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience disabilities which significantly affect their quality of life (QOL) and mental health. Mood disorders and depressive symptoms are one of the most common psychiatric conditions in MS patients. This study aimed to evaluate the level of QOL in MS patients and to assess the influence of depressive symptoms and physical disability on QOL.MethodsThis prospective and observational study was conducted among 100 MS patients (mean age of 36.23 ± 11.77) recruited from the Lower Silesian Unit of the Polish Association for Multiple Sclerosis. This study used a questionnaire designed by the authors, which contained questions about sociodemographic and clinical data, as well as the following standardized questionnaires: the Activities of Daily Living questionnaire (ADL), the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living questionnaire (IADL), the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Multiple Sclerosis International Quality of Life Questionnaire (MusiQOL).ResultsThe average EDSS score among patients was 3.13 ± 2.38 points. More than half of the respondents (68%) suffered from depression of varying severity. The univariate linear regression models showed that the independent (p &lt; 0.05) QOL predictors (total MusiQOL) were as follows: the number of complaints, IADL results, BDI results, EDSS score, higher education, and material status &gt;2000 PLN. In addition, the multiple linear regression model showed that the BDI result was a significant predictor of QOL (p &lt; 0.005).ConclusionDepressive symptoms significantly affect the QOL of MS patients.
The executive pay gap and stock price crash risk: Promotion or suppression?
Authors: Liu Qi , Pan Zicheng 
Published: January 2023

BackgroundIn recent years, cases of stock price crash have continued to emerge. However, yet little research to date has investigated the compensation incentives of top management team (TMT) affect the risk of stock price crash. Nor has research considered the impact of the executive pay gap on the stock price crash risk. Especially, as the “egalitarianism” was broken in the compensation system, and the increase of the degree of marketization of salaries, the executive pay gap has shown an expanding trend. Under this circumstance, we would systematically examine the association between the extent of executive pay gap and its future stock price crash risk.Design, methodology, and approachBased on the sample of A-Share non-financial listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchange, we used firm FE regression method to empirically examine the relationship of the internal and external compensation gaps of executives and crash risk, as well as its contigency variables and inner mechanism.FindingsThe empirical results show that there is a U-shaped relationship between the internal and external pay gap of executives and future crash risk. After passing the endogenous test and the robustness test, the conclusion still holds. Further research shows that the U-shaped relationship between the pay gap and crash risk is more pronounced, when firms are affiliated with the non-state-owned enterprise or its compensation fairness is lower. Finally, the quality of information disclosure plays a mediation effect when executive pay gap affects stock price crash risk.Originality and valueAccording to the economic and behavior perspectives, we explored the impact of compensation structure on stock price crash risk from the pay gap of executives for the first time, and extended the emerging literature of forecasting future stock price crash risk and executive pay gap. In addition, a key implication of our findings is that more guidance for firms is provided to design the compensation structures and to reduce stock price crash risk.
Efficacy of school-based interventions for mental health problems in children and adolescents in low and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Grande Antonio Jose , Hoffmann Mauricio Scopel , Evans-Lacko Sara , Ziebold Carolina , de Miranda Claudio Torres , Mcdaid David , Tomasi Cristiane , Ribeiro Wagner Silva 
Published: January 2023

BackgroundImplementation of interventions to treat child and adolescent mental health problems in schools could help fill the mental health care gap in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Most of the evidence available come from systematic reviews on mental health prevention and promotion, and there is less evidence on treatment strategies that can be effectively delivered in schools. The aim of this review was to identify what school-based interventions have been tested to treat children and adolescents in LMICs, and how effective they are.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review including seven electronic databases. The search was carried out in October 2022. We included randomised or non-randomised studies that evaluated school-based interventions for children or adolescents aged 6–18 years living in LMICs and who had, or were at risk of developing, one or more mental health problems.ResultsWe found 39 studies with 43 different pairwise comparisons, treatment for attention-deficit and hyperactivity (ADHD), anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Conduct disorder (CD). Pooled SMD were statistically significant and showed that, overall, interventions were superior to comparators for PTSD (SMD = 0.61; 95% CI = 0.37–0.86), not statistically significant for anxiety (SMD = 0.11; 95% CI = −0.13 to 0.36), ADHD (SMD = 0.36; 95% CI = −0.15 to 0.87), and for depression (SMD = 0.80; 95% CI = −0.47 to 2.07). For CD the sample size was very small, so the results are imprecise.ConclusionA significant effect was found if we add up all interventions compared to control, suggesting that, overall, interventions delivered in the school environment are effective in reducing mental health problems among children and adolescents.Systematic review registration[https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=129376], identifier [CRD42019129376].
Electroacupuncture as a rapid-onset and safer complementary therapy for depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zhang Zhinan , Cai Xiaowen , Liang Yuying , Zhang Rui , Liu Xinyu , Lu Liming , Huang Yong 
Published: January 2023

BackgroundElectroacupuncture (EA) is a promising therapy for depression. However, a comprehensive review of EA for depression is needed.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA 2020) guidelines to evaluate the efficacy and safety of EA for depression. Potentially relevant trials and reviews were searched in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CENTRAL from inception to March 2022. EA alone and combined with other therapy were eligible for inclusion. The severity of depression during and after treatment and the number of adverse events were assessed as outcomes. Risk of bias (ROB) evaluation, subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, reporting bias assessment, and GRADE system evaluation were also conducted.ResultsThirty-four trials were included. The overall ROB was medium. Low-quality evidence showed that the efficacy of EA was not less than that of antidepressants [EA + selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)] and manual acupuncture (MA). EA and EA + SSRIs had better efficacy than SSRIs alone in decreasing the severity of depression during the early treatment. Moderate-quality evidence also showed that EA and EA + SSRIs were safer than SSRIs alone. Sensitivity analysis was mostly not feasible. Major publication bias was unlikely.ConclusionThese results indicate that the efficacy of EA is not less than that of antidepressants and MA. Moreover, EA and EA + SSRI treatments show a more rapid onset and greater safety than SSRIs. More high-quality trials are needed for further confirmation.Systematic review registration[www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_ record.php?RecordID=329143], identifier [CRD42022329143].
Molecular epidemiology of Clostridioides difficile in companion animals: Genetic overlap with human strains and public health concerns
Authors: Alves Frederico , Castro Rita , Pinto Miguel , Nunes Alexandra , Pomba Constança , Oliveira Manuela , Silveira Leonor , Gomes João Paulo , Oleastro Mónica 
Published: January 2023

IntroductionThe changing epidemiology of Clostridioides difficile reflects a well-established and intricate community transmission network. With rising numbers of reported community-acquired infections, recent studies tried to identify the role played by non-human reservoirs in the pathogen's transmission chain. This study aimed at describing the C. difficile strains circulating in canine and feline populations, and to evaluate their genetic overlap with human strains to assess the possibility of interspecies transmission.MethodsFecal samples from dogs (n = 335) and cats (n = 140) were collected from two populations (group A and group B) in Portugal. C. difficile isolates were characterized for toxigenic profile and PCR-ribotyping. The presence of genetic determinants of antimicrobial resistance was assessed in all phenotypically resistant isolates. To evaluate the genetic overlap between companion animals and human isolates from Portugal, RT106 (n = 42) and RT014/020 (n = 41) strains from both sources were subjected to whole genome sequencing and integrated with previously sequenced RT106 (n = 43) and RT014/020 (n = 142) genomes from different countries. The genetic overlap was assessed based on core-single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) using a threshold of 2 SNP.ResultsThe overall positivity rate for C. difficile was 26% (76/292) in group A and 18.6% (34/183) in group B. Toxigenic strains accounted for 50% (38/76) and 52.9% (18/34) of animal carriage rates, respectively. The most prevalent ribotypes (RT) were the toxigenic RT106 and RT014/020, and the non-toxigenic RT010 and RT009. Antimicrobial resistance was found for clindamycin (27.9%), metronidazole (17.1%) and moxifloxacin (12.4%), associated with the presence of the ermB gene, the pCD-METRO plasmid and point mutations in the gyrA gene, respectively. Both RT106 and RT014/020 genetic analysis revealed several clusters integrating isolates from animal and human sources, supporting the possibility of clonal interspecies transmission or a shared environmental contamination source.DiscussionThis study shows that companion animals may constitute a source of infection of toxigenic and antimicrobial resistant human associated C. difficile isolates. Additionally, it contributes with important data on the genetic proximity between C. difficile isolates from both sources, adding new information to guide future work on the role of animal reservoirs in the establishment of community associated transmission networks and alerting for potential public health risk.
Evaluating effect modification by HIV testing history to understand the mechanisms behind the impact of announcing HIV self-testing availability in a clinic system in Kenya
Authors: Kelvin Elizabeth A. , Romo Matthew L. , George Gavin , Mantell Joanne E. , Mwai Eva , Kinyanjui Samuel , Nyaga Eston N. , Odhiambo Jacob O. , Govender Kaymarlin 
Published: January 2023

BackgroundIn sub-Saharan Africa, truckers and female sex workers (FSWs) have high HIV risk and face challenges accessing HIV testing. Adding HIV self-testing (HIVST) to standard of care (SOC) programs increases testing rates. However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. HIVST may decrease barriers (inconvenient clinic hours, confidentiality concerns) and thus we would expect a greater impact among those not accessing SOC testing (barriers prevented previous testing). As a new biomedical technology, HIVST may also be a cue to action (the novelty of a new product motivates people to try it), in which case we might expect the impact to be similar by testing history.MethodsWe used data from two randomized controlled trials evaluating the announcement of HIVST availability via text-message to male truckers (n = 2,260) and FSWs (n = 2,196) in Kenya. Log binomial regression was used to estimate the risk ratio (RR) for testing ≤ 2 months post-announcement in the intervention vs. SOC overall and by having tested in the previous 12-months (12m-tested); and we assessed interaction between the intervention and 12m-tested. We also estimated risk differences (RD) per 100 and tested additive interaction using linear binomial regression.ResultsWe found no evidence that 12m-tested modified the HIVST impact. Among truckers, those in the intervention were 3.1 times more likely to test than the SOC (p &lt; 0.001). Although testing was slightly higher among those not 12m-tested (RR = 3.5, p = 0.001 vs. RR = 2.7, p = 0.020), the interaction was not significant (p = 0.683). Among FSWs, results were similar (unstratified RR = 2.6, p &lt; 0.001; 12m-tested: RR = 2.7, p &lt; 0.001; not 12m-tested: RR = 2.5, p &lt; 0.001; interaction p = 0.795). We also did not find significant interaction on the additive scale (truckers: unstratified RD = 2.8, p &lt; 0.001; 12m-tested RD = 3.8, p = 0.037; not 12m-tested RD = 2.5, p = 0.003; interaction p = 0.496. FSWs: unstratified RD = 9.7, p &lt; 0.001; 12m-tested RD = 10.7, p &lt; 0.001, not 12m-tested RD = 9.1, p &lt; 0.001; interaction p = 0.615).ConclusionThe impact of HIVST was not significantly modified by 12m-tested among truckers and FSWs on the multiplicative or additive scales. Announcing the availability of HIVST likely served primarily as a cue to action and testing clinics might maximize the HIVST benefits by holding periodic HIVST events to maintain the cue to action impact rather than making HIVST continually available.
Socio-demographic indicators of self-reported health based on EQ-5D-3L: A cross-country analysis of population surveys from 18 countries
Authors: Szende Agota , Janssen Mathieu F. , Cabases Juan , Ramos-Goni Juan M. , Burström Kristina 
Published: January 2023

BackgroundGeneric health-related quality of life instruments, such as the EQ-5D, are increasingly used by countries to monitor population health via general population health surveys. Our aim was to demonstrate analytic options to measure socio-demographic differences in self-reported health using the EuroQol Group's archive of EQ-5D-3L population surveys that accumulated over the past two decades.MethodsAnalyses captured self-reported EQ-5D-3L data on over 100,000 individuals from 18 countries with nationally representative population surveys. Socio-demographic indicators employed were age, sex, educational level and income. Logistic regression odds ratios and the health concentration index methodology were used in the socio-demographic analysis of EQ-5D-3L data.ResultsStatistically significant socio-demographic differences existed in all countries (p &lt; 0.01) with the EQ VAS based health concentration index varying from 0.090 to 0.157 across countries. Age had generally the largest contributing share, while educational level also had a consistent role in explaining lower levels of self-reported health. Further analysis in a subset of 7 countries with income data showed that, beyond educational level, income itself had an additional significant impact on self-reported health. Among the 5 dimensions of the EQ-5D-3L descriptive system, problems with usual activities and pain/discomfort had the largest contribution to the concentration of overall self-assessed health measured on the EQ VAS in most countries.ConclusionThe EQ-5D-3L was shown to be a powerful multi-dimensional instrument in the analyses of socio-demographic differences in self-reported health using various analytic methods. It offered a unique insight of inequalities by health dimensions.
Impact of human papillomavirus vaccine on cervical cancer epidemic: Evidence from the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results program
Authors: Pei Jiao , Shu Ting , Wu Chenyao , Li Mandi , Xu Minghan , Jiang Min , Zhu Cairong 
Published: January 2023

IntroductionSince 2006, the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has been recommended for females aged 9–26 years in the United States. Aiming to evaluate the early effect of the HPV vaccine on cervical cancer, this study assessed the incidence of cervical cancer by age and histology before and after the introduction of HPV vaccination.MethodsData on cervical cancer incidence from 1975–2019 were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. Joinpoint regression was used to determine temporal trends over time. Future cervical cancer incidence (2015–2039) was projected using Bayesian age-period-cohort analysis. Age-period-cohort (APC) models were created to evaluate age, period, and cohort effects.ResultsFor overall cervical cancer and cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), incidence rate showed decreasing trends (–0.7%, and –1.0% annually, respectively), whereas cervical adenocarcinoma (AC) incidence continuously increased (2.6% annually). The incidence trends for AC were stable in the 20–24 and 25–29-year age groups, whereas there was an increasing trend in older age groups. Similarly, the projected trend for AC in females aged 20–30 years exhibited a decline, whereas an increase was predicted in the 31–40–year age group, especially in the 35–44 year age group. The birth cohort and period effects in SCC and AC were extracted from APC models.DiscussionDuring the period of 1975–2019, the incidence of cervical AC remained almost unchanged in the age groups receiving HPV vaccines while increased in the age groups not receiving HPV vaccines. The birth cohort effects of SCC and AC of the cervix provided evidence supporting the effectiveness of the HPV vaccine in preventing cervical cancer.
The disparities in clinical trials addressing urologic conditions among lower-income countries
Authors: Choksi Ankur U. , Hayden Christopher S. , Rahman Syed N. , Lokeshwar Soum D. , Kim Isaac Y. 
Published: January 2023

IntroductionGenitourinary pathologies are increasingly common in low and lower-middle Q6 income countries (LMICs) however there is a disproportionate distribution of clinical trials in higher income countries as compared to LMICs. In order for evidence-based practice to be implemented in LMICs with regards to urologic conditions and malignancies, clinical trials need to be performed within LMICs such that the results can be analyzed based on the context of the local environment.MethodsWe queried ClinicalTrials.gov and the ICTRP for active clinical trials that were related to ‘prostatic neoplasms’, ‘urinary bladder neoplasms’, ‘kidney neoplasms’, ‘urolithiasis’, ‘urinary tract infections’ and ‘lower urinary tract symptoms’. The national incidence and DALYs was obtained from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 to analyze for a correlation between the numbers of clinical trials performed in a country with the burden of disease.ResultsA total of 4,169 clinical trials were identified based on the search query terms. Ninety percent of the clinical trials are being conducted in 32 countries. A majority of clinical trials are being performed in HICs. The proportion of non-oncologic urologic clinical trials performed in LMICs is greater than the proportion of urologic oncology clinical trials performed in LMICs (p &lt;0.001). Linear regression models demonstrates a weak relationship between the global burden of disease and the number of clinical trials conducted in each country for the individual urologic conditions.DiscussionA majority of urologic clinical trials are being conducted in high-income countries which does not coincide with the global burden of disease of urologic conditions.
The predictive value of Hounsfield units for titanium mesh cage subsidence after anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion
Authors: Abudouaini Haimiti , Wu Tingkui , Liu Hao , Wang Beiyu , Chen Hua 
Published: January 2023

ObjectiveTo investigate whether bone mineral density (BMD) measured in Hounsfield units (HUs) correlates with titanium mesh cage (TMC) subsidence after anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF).MethodsA total of 64 patients who underwent one or two levels of ACCF with TMC with a mean follow-up of 19.34 ± 7.86 months were analysed. HU values were measured three times in 3 different planes in the upper and lower vertebrae according to published methods. Subsidence was defined as segmental height loss of more than 3 mm. Pearson correlation analysis was performed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to obtain optimal thresholds. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was also conducted.ResultsTwenty-two patients (34.38%) had evidence of TMC subsidence on follow-up x-ray. The mean HU values in the subsidence group (317.34 ± 32.32, n = 22) were significantly lower than those in the nonsubsidence group (363.07 ± 25.23 n = 42, p &lt; 0.001, t test). At last follow-up, mean disc height loss was 4.80 ± 1.16 mm in the subsidence group and 1.85 ± 1.14 mm in the nonsubsidence group (p &lt; 0.001). There was a negative correlation between HU values and disc height loss (Pearson's coefficient −0.494, p &lt; 0.001). HU values decreased gradually from the C3 vertebra to the C7 vertebra, and the HU values of the C5, C6, and C7 vertebrae in the nonsubsidence group were significantly higher than those in the subsidence group (p &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, there were significant differences between the groups in the segmental angle at the last follow-up and the mean changes in segmental angle (p &lt; 0.05). The area under the ROC curve was 0.859, and the most appropriate threshold of the HU value was 330.5 (sensitivity 100%, specificity 72.7%). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that older age (p = 0.033, OR = 0.879), lower LIV HU value (p &lt; 0.001, OR = 1.053) and a greater segmental angle change (p = 0.002, OR 6.442) were significantly associated with a higher incidence of TMC subsidence after ACCF.ConclusionThere are strong correlations between a lower HU value and TMC subsidence after ACCF. More accurate assessment of bone quality may be obtained if HU measurement can be used as a routine preoperative screening method together with DXA. For patients with HU values &lt;330.5, a more comprehensive and cautious preoperative plan should be implemented to reduce TMC subsidence.