bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Integration of exercise prescription into medical provision as a treatment for non-communicable diseases: A scoping review
Authors: Tao Dan , Awan-Scully Roger , Cole Alistair , Gao Yang , Ash Garrett I. , Gu Yaodong , Dutheil Frederic , Sun Yan , Baker Julien S. 
Published: July 2023

BackgroundThe purpose of this scoping review is to stimulate interest and to raise awareness, among researchers, healthcare practitioners, and policymakers regarding the current scientific literature related to exercise prescription for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Exercise prescription is a safe and cost-effective method that enables physicians to use exercise as a complementary addition to NCDs management and treatment.MethodsThis scoping review followed the PRISMA Extension Guidelines for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR): Checklist and Explanation. Using this framework, we considered information from qualitative and quantitative studies to identify research gaps. We provide feasible suggestions to guide future research for the implementation of exercise prescription in the healthcare environment. The literature search was conducted using SPIDER and PICO tools for qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-study designs. Inclusion criteria included articles that investigated patients with NCDs and considered exercise interventions. Systematic searches of PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and ScienceDirect were undertaken on 26 July 2022 and all reference lists were manually searched. Data processing was performed using EndNote 2.0 software and data charts were used for numerical summary and thematic analysis.ResultsThere were 10,951 articles retrieved, of which 28 met the inclusion criteria. Based on the evidence, exercise was a feasible, safe, and acceptable method to prevent and manage non-communicable diseases in inpatient and outpatient settings. Six research directions were identified and discussed. In addition, implementation evidence and suggestions for policy-reconfiguration are also provided.ConclusionThis scoping review summarizes the current evidence for the effectiveness of exercise in the treatment of non-communicable diseases. The review provides key findings supporting exercise prescription for the inpatient and outpatient healthcare service. We suggest that governments and healthcare policymakers globally advocate the inclusion of structured exercise prescription within the NCDs treatment setting.
The feasibility and satisfaction study of 5G-based robotic teleultrasound diagnostic system in health check-ups
Authors: Ren Jia-Yu , Lei Yu-Meng , Lei Bing-Song , Peng Yue-Xiang , Pan Xiao-Fang , Ye Hua-Rong , Cui Xin-Wu 
Published: July 2023

ObjectiveRegular check-up with ultrasound in underserved rural and/or remote areas is hampered due to the limited availability of sonologists and ultrasound devices. This study aimed to assess the feasibility and satisfaction of health check-ups with a 5G-based robotic teleultrasound diagnostic system.MethodsIn this prospective study, sonologists from two hospitals manipulated the telerobotic ultrasound system to perform teleultrasound check-ups of the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, bladder, prostate (male), uterus and ovaries (female) for the subjects. The feasibility and satisfaction of health check-ups with a 5G-based robotic teleultrasound diagnostic system were evaluated in terms of examination results, examination duration, and satisfaction questionnaire survey.ResultsA total of 546 subjects were included with the most frequently diagnosed being abdominal disorders (n = 343) and male reproductive illnesses (n = 97), of which fatty liver (n = 204) and prostatic calcification (n = 54) were the most. The median teleultrasound examination duration (interquartile range) for men and women was 9 (9–11) min and 9 (7–11) min (p = 0.236), respectively. All the subjects were satisfied with this new type of telerobotic ultrasound check-ups and 96% reported no fear of the robotic arm during the examination.ConclusionThe 5G-based teleultrasound robotic diagnostic system in health check-ups is feasible and satisfactory, indicating that this teleultrasound robot system may have significant application value in underserved rural and/or remote areas to mitigate disparity in achieving health equity.
Socioeconomic and geographic variation in coverage of health insurance across India
Authors: Ambade Mayanka , Rajpal Sunil , Kim Rockli , Subramanian S. V. 
Published: July 2023

IntroductionIn India, regular monitoring of health insurance at district levels (the most essential administrative unit) is important for its effective uptake to contain the high out of pocket health expenditures. Given that the last individual data on health insurance coverage at district levels in India was in 2016, we update the evidence using the latest round of the National Family Health Survey conducted in 2019-2021.MethodsWe use the unit records of households from the latest round (2021) of the nationally representative National Family Health Survey to calculate the weighted percentage (and 95% CI) of households with at least one member covered by any form of health insurance and its types across socio-economic characteristics and geographies of India. Further, we used a random intercept logistic regression to measure the variation in coverage across communities, district and state. Such household level study of coverage is helpful as it represents awareness and outreach for at least one member, which can percolate easily to the entire household with further interventions.ResultsWe found that only 2/5th of households in India had insurance coverage for at least one of its members, with vast geographic variation emphasizing need for aggressive expansion. About 15.5% were covered by national schemes, 47.1% by state health scheme, 13.2% by employer provided health insurance, 3.3% had purchased health insurance privately and 25.6% were covered by other health insurance schemes (not covered above). About 30.5% of the total variation in coverage was attributable to state, 2.7% to districts and 9.5% to clusters. Household size, gender, marital status and education of household head show weak gradient for coverage under “any” insurance.DiscussionDespite substantial increase in population eligible for state sponsored health insurance and rise in private health insurance companies, nearly 60% of families do not have a single person covered under any health insurance scheme. Further, the existing coverage is fragmented, with significant rural/urban and geographic variation within districts. It is essential to consider these disparities and adopt rigorous place-based interventions for improving health insurance coverage.
More prevalent and more severe: gender differences of depressive symptoms in Chinese adolescents
Authors: Sun Yue , Zhong Yiwen , Sun Wenzhao , Chu Lingjun , Long Jiang , Fan Xi Wang 
Published: July 2023

BackgroundAdolescent depression has become a leading problem around the world, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic has remained prevalent and heavily influenced people’s mental health. While gender difference has always been a topic in the field of psychiatry, there are cultural differences across the world that must be taken into account. The current study is examining gender differences in symptoms of Chinese adolescents with depression.MethodsThe sample was obtained from a total of 574 adolescent patients (172 males and 402 females) diagnosed with depression following the DSM-IV/ICD-10 diagnostic criteria; patients who also had other severe mental or physical illnesses were excluded. The ages of participants ranged from 10 to 19 years. Additionally, independent t-test and one-way ANOVA were used to examine differences in symptoms between different gender and age groups. The LPA was used to examine whether females and males were having different patterns of symptoms.ResultsOur analysis showed that compared to males, females exhibited higher rates of depression and more severe depressive symptoms across age groups. Likewise, the analysis also revealed an earlier onset of depression among Chinese adolescents compared to that in Western countries in previous studies. Finally, the LPA showed that mild to moderate depression was predominant in male patients, while severe depression was predominant in female patients.ConclusionThis study highlights the gender differences in the prevalence and severity of depressive symptoms in Chinese adolescents. The current study highlighted the importance of gender equality and developing gender-friendly interventions in maintaining the overall mental health of adolescents in China.
Family socioeconomic position and changes in planned health care for children with chronic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
Authors: Moirano Giovenale , Pizzi Costanza , Rusconi Franca , Maule Milena , Richiardi Lorenzo , Popovic Maja 
Published: July 2023

IntroductionIn this study, we aimed at evaluating whether, during the COVID-19 pandemic, children affected by chronic diseases were impacted by the deferral of planned healthcare caused by the restriction measures.DesignThis study was conducted using data from the Italian NINFEA birth cohort, which include children born between 2005 and 2016. Women who completed the 4-year NINFEA follow-up questionnaire before November 2020 (N = 5,307) were invited to complete a questionnaire targeted at evaluating the impacts of the pandemic on their children's health. The questionnaire asked mothers to report whether their children had a chronic disease or condition that required one or more regular health checks by a doctor in 2019 (used as a reference period) and whether the children had problems getting routine health checks after March 2020.ResultsWe obtained information on 3,721 children. Out of 353 children with a chronic disease that required at least one medical visit in 2019, 130 (36.8%) experienced problems during the pandemic. Lower family income was associated with a higher risk of experiencing health access problems. We observed that children living in families at lower income tertiles had more chance of experiencing healthcare access problems than children living in families at the highest income tertiles (prevalence rate ratio for a tertile decrease in family income: 1.22; 95% CIs: 1.02–1.49).ConclusionOur study underlines that the COVID-19 pandemic may have caused healthcare access problems for children with prevalent chronic diseases, especially among those living in households with a low socioeconomic position.
Machine learning models for predicting depression in Korean young employees
Authors: Kim Suk-Sun , Gil Minji , Min Eun Jeong 
Published: July 2023

BackgroundThe incidence of depression among employees has gradually risen. Previous studies have focused on predicting the risk of depression, but most studies were conducted using basic statistical methods. This study used machine learning algorithms to build models that detect and identify the important factors associated with depression in the workplace.MethodsA total of 503 employees completed an online survey that included questionnaires on general characteristics, physical health, job-related factors, psychosocial protective, and risk factors in the workplace. The dataset contained 27 predictor variables and one dependent variable which referred to the status of employees (normal or at the risk of depression). The prediction accuracy of three machine learning models using sparse logistic regression, support vector machine, and random forest was compared with the accuracy, precision, sensitivity, specificity, and AUC. Additionally, the important factors identified via sparse logistic regression and random forest.ResultsAll machine learning models demonstrated similar results, with the lowest accuracy obtained from sparse logistic regression and support vector machine (86.8%) and the highest accuracy from random forest (88.7%). The important factors identified in this study were gender, physical health, job, psychosocial protective factors, and psychosocial risk and protective factors in the workplace.DiscussionThe results of this study indicated the potential of machine learning models to accurately predict the risk of depression among employees. The identified factors that influence the risk of depression can contribute to the development of intelligent mental healthcare systems that can detect early signs of depressive symptoms in the workplace.
The impact of empathy, sensation seeking, anxiety, uncertainty, and mindfulness on the intercultural communication in China during the COVID-19
Authors: Nadeem Muhammad Umar , Kulich Steve J. , Zabrodskaja Anastassia , Bokhari Ijaz Hussain 
Published: July 2023

ObjectiveThis study seeks to explore factors that have shaped the intercultural communication effectiveness (ICE) of international students (IS) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Theoretical predictions of anxiety uncertainty management (AUM) are considered to assess the ICE of IS who stayed in China throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The prime causal factors of AUM theory (anxiety, uncertainty, and mindfulness) are included with empathy and sensation, seeking to examine their impact on ICE among IS in China.MethodsA quantitative research design was designed to survey IS via convenience samples from across China with a total of 261 IS from 42 different cultural backgrounds responding to invitations to participate in a Chinese–English survey. Well-established measurement tools were adopted to measure empathy (Cultural Empathy scale), sensation seeking (Brief Sensation Seeking Scale), anxiety (Intercultural Anxiety scale), uncertainty (Intercultural Uncertainty scale), mindfulness (Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised), and ICE (Perceived Effectiveness of Communication scale).FindingsThe findings revealed that anxiety (t = −3.61, p &lt; 0.05) and uncertainty (t = −2.51, p &lt; 0.05) had a negative impact on ICE. However, mindfulness (t = 3.93, p &lt; 0.05), empathy (t = 3.60, p &lt; 0.05), and sensation seeking (t = 7.93, p &lt; 0.05) had a positive influence on ICE. Furthermore, the moderating effect of mindfulness is affirmed in this study.ConclusionThis study has reconfirmed the theoretical reasonings and applicability of AUM theory with the addition of empathy and sensation seeking by IS in the cultural context of China during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stress, fear, and anxiety among construction workers: a systematic review
Authors: Gómez-Salgado Carlos , Camacho-Vega Juan Carlos , Gómez-Salgado Juan , García-Iglesias Juan Jesús , Fagundo-Rivera Javier , Allande-Cussó Regina , Martín-Pereira Jorge , Ruiz-Frutos Carlos 
Published: July 2023

ObjectivesThe aim of this review was to assess the possible risk factors arising from working conditions, that could have an impact on the stress, fear, and anxiety of construction workers.MethodsA systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA format in the Pubmed, Cochrane, Web of Science, Scopus, and PsycInfo electronic databases on February 3, 2023, using the following key words: anxiety, stress, fear, and construction workers. Methodological quality was assessed using the critical appraisal tools of the Joanna Briggs Institute.ResultsA total of 35 studies were included. The results showed a number of conditioning factors for stress, anxiety, and fear among construction workers such as age, inappropriate safety equipment, safety culture, high workload and long working hours, physical pain, low social support from direct supervisor or co-workers, lack of organizational justice and lack of reward, financial situation, maladaptive coping strategies, and characteristics of the pandemic.ConclusionsThere are a number of risk factors related to working conditions, organizations, and individuals that can affect the levels of stress, anxiety, and fear among construction workers, such as age, work hardship, safety culture and, especially, the long hours that construction professionals work. This may lead to an increase in the number of occupational accidents and higher associated fatality rates.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022367724, identifier: CRD42022367724.
Two-point fixation enhanced the outcome of laparoscopy-assisted ventriculoperitoneal shunt in adult patients with hydrocephalus: a retrospective study
Authors: Wu Jing-Nan , Zhou Yu-Jie , Wang Lei , Gan Jin-Lu , Wang Jian , Zhao Hong-Yang , Lei De-Qiang 
Published: July 2023

ObjectiveIn patients with hydrocephalus, laparoscopy significantly improved ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) outcomes. However, abdominal complications still occur, which require revision surgeries. In this study, we aimed to examine whether laparoscopy-assisted VPS with two-point fixation (LAVPS-TPF) has better outcomes than those of VPS (open-VPS) and laparoscopy-assisted VPS with no fixation (LAVPS-NF).MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed clinical records of 105 open-VPS, 40 LAVPS-NF, and 49 LAVPS-TPF cases from 2015 to 2020. Data including body mass index, etiology, abdominal surgery history, Glasgow coma scale (GCS), operation time, in-hospital days, shunt failure, complications, and modified Rankin scores were analyzed, as well as subgroups of patients with history of abdominal surgery, GCS scores, and revision surgeries.ResultsThe LAVPS-TPF group demonstrated decreased shunt failure rates at 12 months (2.04%) compared to those of the open-VPS group (14.29%, P = 0.020) and reduced abdominal shunt-related complications (P = 0.004 vs. open-VPS and LAVPS-NF) and shunt revisions. In the LAVPS-TPF group with abdominal history (n = 51), 12-month shunt failure rates (P = 0.020 vs. open-VS), repair frequency (P = 0.020 vs. open-VS), and abdominal complications (P = 0.003 and 0.006 vs. open-VS and LAVPS-NF) were reduced. In the LAVPS-TPF group with GCS scores of 13–15 (n = 152), shunt failure rates at 12 months, abdominal complications, and revision frequency were decreased (P &lt; 0.05 vs. other groups). Compared to the LAVPS-NF group, neurological complications were also reduced (P = 0.001). Among revision surgeries (n = 28), fixed shunts resulted in improved shunt survival rates at 12 months, reduced abdominal complications, and secondary revisions (P &lt; 0.05). Moreover, a more optimal recovery without neurological sequelae was achieved by shunt fixation than that by LAVPS-NF (P &lt; 0.01).ConclusionsLAVPS-TPF significantly improved shunt survival rates at 12 months and reduced the incidence of abdominal shunt-related complications compared to open-VPS and LAVPS-NF, especially in patients with history of abdominal surgery, higher GCS scores, and revision surgeries. However, further studies are required to confirm these benefits.
Biomarkers of endothelial activation and inflammation in dogs with organ dysfunction secondary to sepsis
Authors: Gaudette Sarah , Smart Lisa , Woodward Andrew P. , Sharp Claire R. , Hughes Dez , Bailey Simon R. , Dandrieux Julien R. S. , Santos Leilani , Boller Manuel 
Published: July 2023

IntroductionAlteration in endothelial function during sepsis is thought to play a key role in the progression of organ failure. We herein compared plasma concentrations of endothelial activation biomarkers vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), hyaluronan (HA), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and von Willebrand factor (vWF), as well as inflammatory mediator concentrations (IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, C-reactive protein and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1) in dogs with sepsis to healthy dogs.MethodsThis study was a multicenter observational clinical trial conducted at two university teaching hospitals from February 2016 until July 2017. The study included 18 client-owned dogs hospitalized with sepsis and at least one distant organ dysfunction, as well as 20 healthy dogs. Plasma biomarker concentrations were measured using ELISA. Severity of illness in dogs with sepsis was calculated using the 5-variable acute physiologic and laboratory evaluation (APPLEFAST) score. Biomarker concentrations were compared between septic and healthy dogs using linear models.ResultsSeptic peritonitis was the most frequent source of sepsis (11/18; 61%), followed by pneumonia (4/18; 22%). Ten dogs (56%) had only 1 organ dysfunction, whereas 3 dogs (17%) had 2, 3 (17%) had 3, 1 (6%) had 4 and 1 (6%) had 5 organ dysfunctions. The median APPLEFASTscore in the septic dogs was 28.5 (Q1-Q3, 24–31). Mean plasma concentrations of all endothelial and inflammatory biomarkers, except vWF, were higher in the sepsis cohort than in controls. The mean endothelial biomarker concentrations in the septic cohort ranged from ~2.7-fold higher for HA (difference in means; 118.2 ng/mL, 95% credible limit; 44.5–221.7) to ~150-fold for VEGF (difference in means; 76.6 pg./mL, 95% credible limit; 33.0–143.4), compared to the healthy cohort. Fifteen dogs with sepsis (83%) died; 7 (46%) were euthanized and 8 (53%) died during hospitalization.ConclusionDogs with naturally occurring sepsis and organ dysfunction had higher mean concentrations of biomarkers of endothelial activation and inflammation compared to healthy dogs, broadening our understanding of the pathophysiology of sepsis secondary to endothelial dysfunction.
Tick Densities and Infection Prevalence on Coastal Islands in Massachusetts, USA: Establishing a Baseline
Authors: Snow Allison A. , Pearson Patrick , Xu Guang , Allen David N. , Santamaria Roberto , Rich Stephen M. 
Published: July 2023

Tick-borne diseases and a tick-induced red meat allergy have become increasingly common in the northeastern USA and elsewhere. At the scale of local communities, few studies have documented tick densities or infection levels to characterize current conditions and provide a baseline for further monitoring. Using the town of Nantucket, MA, as a case study, we recorded tick densities by drag sampling along hiking trails in nature preserves on two islands. Nymphal blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis Say) were most abundant at shadier sites and least common in grasslands and scrub oak thickets (Quercus ilicifolia). Lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum L.) were common on Tuckernuck Island and rare on Nantucket Island, while both tick species were more numerous in 2021 compared to 2020 and 2022. We tested for pathogens in blacklegged nymphs at five sites over two years. In 2020 and 2021, infection levels among the four Nantucket Island sites averaged 10% vs. 19% for Borrelia burgdorferi, 11% vs. 15% for Babesia microti, and 17% (both years) for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, while corresponding levels were significantly greater on Tuckernuck in 2021. Our site-specific, quantitative approach represents a practical example of how potential exposure to tick-borne diseases can be monitored on a local scale.