bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness and safety of mexiletine in patients at risk for (recurrent) ventricular arrhythmias: a systematic review
Authors: van der Ree Martijn H , van Dussen Laura , Rosenberg Noa , Stolwijk Nina , van den Berg Sibren , van der Wel Vincent , Jacobs Bart A W , Wilde Arthur A M , Hollak Carla E M , Postema Pieter G 
Published: August 2022

AbstractAimsWhile mexiletine has been used for over 40 years for prevention of (recurrent) ventricular arrhythmias and for myotonia, patient access has recently been critically endangered. Here we aim to demonstrate the effectiveness and safety of mexiletine in the treatment of patients with (recurrent) ventricular arrhythmias, emphasizing the absolute necessity of its accessibility.Methods and resultsStudies were included in this systematic review (PROSPERO, CRD42020213434) if the efficacy or safety of mexiletine in any dose was evaluated in patients at risk for (recurrent) ventricular arrhythmias with or without comparison with alternative treatments (e.g. placebo). A systematic search was performed in Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and in the clinical trial registry databases ClinicalTrials.gov and ICTRP. Risk of bias were assessed and tailored to the different study designs. Large heterogeneity in study designs and outcome measures prompted a narrative synthesis approach. In total, 221 studies were included reporting on 8970 patients treated with mexiletine. Age ranged from 0 to 88 years. A decrease in ventricular arrhythmias of &gt;50% was observed in 72% of the studies for pre-mature ventricular complexes, 64% for ventricular tachycardia, and 33% for ventricular fibrillation. Electrocardiographic effects of mexiletine were small; only in a subset of patients with primary arrhythmia syndromes, a relative (desired) QTc decrease was reproducibly observed. As for adverse events, gastrointestinal complaints were most frequently observed (33% of the patients).ConclusionsIn this systematic review, we present all the currently available knowledge of mexiletine in patients at risk for (recurrent) ventricular arrhythmias and show that mexiletine is both effective and safe.
The challenge of managing multimorbid atrial fibrillation: a pan-European European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) member survey of current management practices and clinical priorities
Authors: Lee Geraldine , Baker Edward , Collins Ronan , Merino Jose L , Desteghe Lien , Heidbuchel Hein 
Published: August 2022

AbstractAs part of the EHRS-PATHS study examining comorbidities in atrial fibrillation (AF) across Europe, the aim was (i) to evaluate how multimorbidity is currently addressed by clinicians during AF treatment to characterize the treatment structure and (ii) to assess how the interdisciplinary management of multimorbid AF is currently conducted. An online survey was distributed among European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) members in Europe that included 21 questions and a free-text option for comments on detection, assessment, and management of AF-related comorbidities. A total of 451 responses were received with 339 responses eligible for inclusion. Of these, 221 were male (66%), 300 (91.5%) were physicians, and 196 (57.8%) were working in academic university teaching hospitals. Half of the respondents managed between 20 and 50 patients per month with multimorbid AF. Varying rates of specialist services and referral to these services were available at each location (e.g. heart failure and diabetes), with a greater number of specialist services available at academic university teaching hospitals compared with non-teaching hospitals [e.g. anticoagulation clinic 92 (47%) vs. 50 (35%), P &lt; 0.03]. Barriers to referring to specialist services for AF comorbidities included lack of integrated care model (n = 174, 51%), organizational or institutional issues (n = 145, 43%), and issues with patient adherence (n = 126, 37%), highlighting the need for organizational restructuring and developing an integrated collaborative evidenced-based approach to multimorbid AF care. The survey and analyses of free-text comments demonstrated the need for systematic, integrated management of AF-related comorbidities, and these results will inform the next phases of the EHRA-PATHS study.
P07-02 Prescription of adapted physical activity: expectations of patients consulting general practitioners in the department of Yvelines
Authors: Kanso Christophe , Blanchard Jean-Christophe , Astruc Alexis 
Published: August 2022

Abstract

Background
Since 2016, French law has allowed general practitioners to prescribe adapted physical activity (APA) to patients with long-term health conditions. Studies have demonstrated that physicians are interested in this practice but very few have surveyed patient expectations.

Objective
The objective of this work was to study patients' expectations regarding the prescription of APA.

Methods
This is a quantitative descriptive study treating data obtained from a survey carried out in general practice offices in the department of Yvelines between June and September 2019. The inclusion criteria for patients were: above 18 years old and present in the waiting room.

Results
252 patients were surveyed in 9 doctors' offices. We received 90% of responses. Prescription of APA is a good idea for 95.2% of patients, 80.2% were motivated to join an APA program and 67.4% thought that prescription of APA would increase their motivation. The main constraints to physical activity practice were lack of time (59.9%) and lack of motivation (31.7%). The main practices that would help patients to better adhere to an APA program were group sessions supervised by a professional (64.7%) pursued by a follow up with their doctor (41.7%). 53.2% of patients considered that it would be important to monitor their physical activity through a connected device. Factors independently associated with the motivation to participate in the APA program were a female gender (p &gt; 0.01), a bachelor's degree (p = 0.01), a general opinion that prescription of physical activity is a good idea (p &gt; 0.01).

Conclusion
Our results revealed an enthusiasm with patients for APA prescription, which is interesting for the promotion of PA in general medicine.
Impact of hypothetical improvements in the psychosocial work environment on sickness absence rates: a simulation study
Authors: Mathisen Jimmi , Nguyen Tri-Long , Jensen Johan H , Mehta Amar J , Rugulies Reiner , Rod Naja H 
Published: August 2022

Abstract

Background
The association between psychosocial working environments and sickness absence is well-known. However, the potential for reducing sickness absences of different lengths through improvements in psychosocial work factors is not fully understood. We aim to quantify the potential for reducing short-, intermediate- and long-term sickness absence rates, respectively, through hypothetical improvements in several psychosocial work factors.

Methods
This longitudinal study includes 24 990 public hospital employees from the 2014 wave of the Well-being in Hospital Employees study. The 1-year sickness absence rate was divided into short- (1–3 days), intermediate- (4–28 days) and long-term (29 days or more) periods. We simulated hypothetical scenarios with improvements in 17 psychosocial work factors using the parametric g-formula and estimated resulting changes in sickness absence rate ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).

Results
Setting all 17 psychosocial work factors to their most desirable levels (vs. least desirable levels) was associated with an overall 54% lower rate of sickness absence (95% CI: 48–60%). Reducing bullying (no vs. yes RR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.83–0.90) and perceived stress (low vs. high RR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.87–0.92), and increasing skill discretion (high vs. low RR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.89–0.94) held the largest potential for reducing the total sickness absence rate. Overall, associations were similar for short-, intermediate- and long-term sickness absence.

Conclusions
The psychosocial working environment was strongly associated with sickness absence. Improving the working environment may have a great impact on short-, intermediate- and long-term sickness absence rates.
Ottowia massiliensissp. nov., a new bacterium isolated from a fresh, healthy human fecal sample
Authors: Maaloum Mossaab , Lo Cheikh Ibrahima , Ndongo Sokhna , Meng Marine Makoa , Saile Rachid , Alibar Stéphane , Raoult Didier , Fournier Pierre-Edouard 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThe culturomics method enabled isolation of a new member of the Ottowia genus from the stool sample of a healthy volunteer. Strain Marseille-P4747T exhibited a 96.18% 16S rRNA sequence identity with Ottowia beijingensis strain GCS-AN-3 (NR_133803.1), the closest species with standing in nomenclature. It is a Gram-stain-negative, nonmotile, and aerobic bacterium. It does not possess catalase and oxidase activities. Its genome has a size of 2 830 447 bp and a G + C content of 63.5 mol%. Based on the phylogenic, phenotypic, and genomic analyses, we conclude that Ottowia massiliensis sp. nov. is a new species, represented by Marseille-P4747T ( = CSUR P4747 = CECT 30348) as type strain.
Political Leaders, Economic Hardship, and Foreign Aid Allocation
Authors: Kim Yooneui , Han Kangwook , Han Sung Min 
Published: August 2022

AbstractWhile political leaders’ role in foreign policy choices has received increasing scholarly attention, surprisingly less is known about how they affect the allocation and distribution of official development aid. This study examines how the material background of political leaders influences their aid allocation strategies in donor countries. We contend that leaders with economic hardship experience distribute more foreign aid than those without such experience. Through socialization, leaders with economic hardship experience become more supportive of public good provisions that address problems related to poverty and inequality. Resultantly, they exhibit more favorable attitudes toward development assistance programs targeting developing countries. We find that political leaders who experienced economic difficulty in their youth are likely to provide more foreign aid, especially social and economic infrastructure aid, than leaders without such experience. By introducing the political leaders’ role, this study contributes to the literature on the interaction between domestic politics and foreign aid.
Brain Changes and Fast Cognitive and Motor Decline in Older Adults
Authors: Grande Giulia , Vetrano Davide Liborio , Kalpouzos Grégoria , Welmer Anna-Karin , Laukka Erika J , Marseglia Anna , Fratiglioni Laura , Rizzuto Debora 
Published: August 2022

AbstractBackgroundTo identify brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signatures characterizing people with different patterns of decline in cognition and motor function.MethodsIn the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen, Stockholm, 385 participants had available repeated brain MRI examinations, where markers of brain volumes and white matter integrity were assessed. The speed of cognitive and motor decline was estimated as the rate of a Mini-Mental State Examination and gait speed decline over 12 years (linear mixed models), and further dichotomized into the upper (25% fastest rate of decline) versus the lower quartiles. Participants were grouped in slow/no decliners (reference), isolated motor decliners, isolated cognitive decliners, and cognitive and motor decliners. We estimated the associations between changes in brain markers (linear mixed models) and baseline diffusion tensor imaging measures (linear regression model) and the 4 decline patterns.ResultsIndividuals with concurrent cognitive and motor decline (n = 51) experienced the greatest loss in the total brain (β: −12.3; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −18.2; −6.38) and hippocampal (β: −0.25; 95% CI: −0.34; −0.16) volumes, the steepest accumulation of white matter hyperintensities (β: 1.61; 95% CI: 0.54; 2.68), and the greatest ventricular enlargement (β: 2.07; 95% CI: 0.67; 3.47). Compared to the reference, those only experiencing cognitive decline presented with steeper hippocampal volume loss, whereas those exhibiting only motor decline displayed a greater white matter hyperintensities burden. Lower microstructural white matter integrity was associated with concurrent cognitive and motor decline.ConclusionConcurrent cognitive and motor decline is accompanied by rapidly evolving and complex brain pathology involving both gray and white matter. Isolated cognitive and motor declines seem to exhibit brain damage with different qualitative features.
mecCMRSA in Israel—genomic analysis, prevalence and global perspective
Authors: Baum Moti , Anuka Einav , Treygerman Orit , Prajgrod George , Valinsky Lea , Rokney Assaf 
Published: August 2022

AbstractBackgroundMRSA is a major global healthcare problem. In 2011, a new mec variant designated mecC was described, presenting partial identity at the DNA level, thus undetectable by routine mecA PCR.ObjectivesUntil now, no reliable information regarding mecC MRSA prevalence was available in Israel. In this study, to the best of our knowledge, we describe the first case of mecC MRSA in Israel, with focus on genomic analysis and global context.MethodsThe mecC MRSA isolate was analysed by WGS with focus on phylogeny, global contextualization, virulence and resistance genes. The strain was characterized by antibiotic susceptibility testing, spa typing and presence of mecA/C and pvl genes.ResultsAn MRSA strain (SA10610), isolated from a urine sample of an 83-year old patient, was found negative for the mecA and pvl genes. The MLST and spa type were ST130 and t1736, respectively. SA10610 presented resistance to oxacillin, penicillin and cefoxitin, and susceptibility to all non-β-lactam agents tested. Phylogenetic comparison with a global dataset of 586 mecC MRSA genomes revealed substantial genomic divergence. The nearest genomic relatives were human and animal isolates from Denmark. A screen of 12 761 S. aureus isolates collected during 2011–18 in Israel indicated this is the only mecC-positive strain.ConclusionsA high degree of genetic variability was found between the SA10610 strain and previously sequenced mecC MRSA isolated worldwide. The genomic and phylogenetic analysis suggest that mecC MRSA isolates have evolved independently rather than from a common ancestor.
Digestible indispensable amino acid scores of animal and plant ingredients potentially used in dog diet formulation: how this protein quality metric is affected by ingredient characteristics and reference amino acid profile
Authors: Templeman James R , Shoveller Anna K 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
The ability of a diet or an ingredient to satisfy the indispensable amino acid (IAA) requirements of an individual is a reflection of protein quality (PQ). The concept of PQ is gaining recognition in the pet food industry as a way to identify candidate ingredients for diet formulation. The objective of this report was to use IAA digestibility data from swine and cecectomized rooster assays to generate digestible IAA scores (defined herein as DIAAS-like values) to predict the PQ of ingredients used in dog diets. However, as PQ equation development relies on a reference IAA profile, which is intended to be based on the physiological requirements of a specific population, we sought to generate DIAAS-like values using IAA requirements established by the National Research Council (NRC) as well as practical IAA recommendations presented by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF), to assess how these profiles may affect PQ. In total, 30 animal (75 unique inputs) and 27 plant ingredients (94 unique inputs) satisfied all inclusion criteria to be used in the final data set. Ingredients were initially categorized as animal or plant, and further categorized based on AAFCO Official Common and Usual Names and Definitions of Feed Ingredients to allow for additional, more distinct comparisons to be made. Data were analyzed using PROC GLIMMIX in SAS, with ingredient reference as a random effect, and ingredient category, regulatory body, and life stage as fixed effects. As expected, differences were observed in DIAAS-like values for nearly all ingredients and ingredient categories when determined using NRC, AAFCO, or FEDIAF IAA requirements or recommendations as the reference pattern. Moreover, applying reference patterns based on NRC adult maintenance IAA requirements consistently produced the lowest DIAAS-like values. Ultimately, while future studies assessing PQ should utilize NRC minimal requirements, individual ingredient and ingredient category differences in DIAAS-like values when using AAFCO and FEDIAF recommendations underpin the different regulatory approaches to establishing dietary nutrient recommendations that exist globally and support the need for harmonization of dietary recommendations.
The Evolution and Emergence of Environmental Law Scholarship—A Perspective from Three Journals
Authors: Pedersen Ole W 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
In the attempt to lay the foundations for a better understanding of environmental law scholarship, this article offers a local perspective of environmental law scholarship in the UK. Through a study of more than 1,400 articles published in three leading UK environmental law journals over the course of three decades, the article considers the ways in which environmental law scholarship has changed over time by reference to gender and geographical location of authors. The article also interrogates the ways in which the topics of scholarship have changed over time, as well as the extent to which environmental law scholars make use of empirical methods and external sources of funding for their research. Finally, the article explores the extent to which environmental law scholarship is published in generalist law journals.
Advocating for the Environment, Charity Law and Greenpeace: A New Zealand Perspective
Authors: Chevalier-Watts Juliet 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
In terms of environmental protection (and with reference to the filming location of the Lords of the Rings), New Zealand has been described as ‘a friend to Middle Earth, but no friend of the Earth’, which is in stark contrast to its international image that it seeks to foster of being ‘100% pure New Zealand’. This article considers the tension between New Zealand’s approach to environmental advocacy from a charity law perspective, and in particular, the way in which charitable advocacy for the environment has been impacted by the limitations imposed on environmental charities through the charity law doctrine of political purposes. In carrying out this analysis, the article tracks the legal evolution of this doctrine and considers whether recent legal changes have resulted in charity law enabling New Zealand to become ‘a friend to Middle Earth, and a friend of the Earth’ through the apparent broadening of the actions that can be taken by environmental charity advocates.
Juglans mandshurica Maximowicz as a traditional medicine: review of its phytochemistry and pharmacological activity in East Asia
Authors: Zhao Chengye , Qian Xunjia , Qin Minni , Sun Xinyang , Yu Qingqing , Liu Jianyu , Zhu Qing , Wang Andong 
Published: August 2022

Abstract

Objectives
The conducted search reveals that Juglans mandshurica Maximowicz, called Manchuria walnuts, had many local uses that can be categorized into cancer, dermatosis and acesodyne.

Key findings
Various metabolites including diarylheptanoids, naphthoquinones, and flavonoids (also their glycosides) were reported as bioactive metabolites. The isolated metabolites and extracts from J. mandshurica showed different biological activity including cytotoxicity, anti-inflammation, antimelanotic, anticomplement, anti-HIV, antimicrobial and anti-obesity activity.

Summary
It is indicated that this review will add value to more scientific research on J. mandshurica and enhance the increased interest in the sustainable commercialization of J. mandshurica. It also leads to the validation of unverified ethnobotanical claims. Future studies on J. mandshurica would be focused to establish the links between the pharmacological activity, bioactive metabolites, and traditional uses.
Urban microclimate warming improves overwintering survival of evergreen bagworms
Authors: Dawadi Sujan , Sadof Clifford S 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
In the northernmost latitude of North America, the evergreen bagworm, Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis (Haworth), distribution is limited by overwintering temperatures. Urban impervious surfaces such as roads, buildings and parking lots can warm microclimates and create ecological temperature gradients that have the potential to increase the winter survival of insects. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated survival of bagworms over gradients of microclimatic conditions. Bagworms live within spindle-shaped bags constructed from fragments of foliage. In late summer, adult male bagworms fly to bags containing wingless adult females. Mated neotenous females lay eggs within their pupal case. These eggs hatch into larvae during the late spring of the following year and disperse to hosts by ballooning. A total of 2255 bagworm bags were collected from 119 sites in Indiana and Illinois prior to egg hatch in the spring of 2018 and 2019. The maximum temperature during the coldest days of winter was recorded at each site. Up to 25 bagworms were removed from each host plant to assess the overwintering survival of eggs. Survivorship rose as estimates of impervious surface within a 20-m radius increased. Specifically, 50% of bagworm eggs survived at maximum daily temperatures of −19.4°C, −20°C and −20.6°C when plants were surrounded by 25.7%, 48.39% and 50.75% impervious surface, respectively. Egg mortality was not buffered by impervious surfaces at temperatures at or below −21.67°C. Our findings provide insights about how impervious surface in urban areas can provide refugia for marginally hardy insects and improve their chances of surviving the cold of winter.