bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Impact on Job-Quality of Firm-Level Support to Innovation: Evidence from Natural Experiment Conditions and Linked Employer-Employee Data in Portugal
Authors: Bondonio Daniele , Farinha Teresa , Mamede Ricardo Paes 
Published: March 2022

Public support to firm-level investments in innovation is one of the main mechanisms through which the European Union promotes socioeconomic convergence among regions and the creation of quality jobs is considered a necessary condition for the convergence of disadvantaged regional economies. This paper exploits the availability of natural experiment conditions and linked employer-employee microdata in Portugal to offer empirical evidence on the impact on relevant job-quality outcomes of a large EU-cohesion-policy program to support SMEs’ innovation investments. The analysis is implemented by means of stratification/coarsened exact matching model, combined with a difference in difference scheme, suitable to the specific impact identification conditions. Our results indicate that the policy intervention in Portugal had a positive impact on job-quality outcomes, with each supported firm generating an average of 4.9 additional standard-working-time jobs, +2.9 skilled jobs, and +2.0 permanent-contract jobs, compared to a counterfactual scenario of no public support. These impacts were at a cost of about 16,100€, 27,100€ and 39,400€ in public subsidies per additional job, respectively. We also estimate that the program impact was responsible for a 2.20€ (+17.8%) increase of the per-hour remuneration. These findings are robust to sensitivity analysis, in terms of alternative matching procedures and comparison groups, and they highlight the fact that increasing job-quality is a policy goal that can be pursued, at a reasonable cost, also by means of cohesion-policy support to innovation aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs. JEL classification: O1; R5; C23
Prognostic accuracy and impact of cerebral collateral status on clinical and safety outcomes in acute ischemic stroke patients receiving reperfusion therapy: a systematic meta-analysis
Authors: Sinha Akansha , Stanwell Peter , Killingsworth Murray C , Bhaskar Sonu M M 
Published: March 2022

Background Cerebral collateral status has a potential role in mediating postreperfusion clinical and safety outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Purpose To investigate the prognostic accuracy and impact of collateral status on clinical and safety outcomes in patients with AIS receiving reperfusion therapy. Material and Methods Studies with AIS patients treated with reperfusion therapy, collateral status assessed using Tan, ASITN/SIR, or similar collateral grading methods and data stratified according to collateral status were included. Relevant data on clinical outcomes, such as functional outcome at 90 days, mortality at 90 days, angiographic reperfusion, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) and hemorrhagic transformation (HT), were collated and analyzed. Results A meta-analysis of 18 studies involving 4132 patients with AIS was conducted. Good collateral status was significantly associated with angiographic reperfusion (odds ratio [OR]=1.97, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.38–2.80; P < 0.0001), sICH (OR=0.67, 95% CI=0.46–0.99; P = 0.042), and 90-day functional outcome (OR=3.05, 95% CI=1.78–5.24; P < 0.0001). However, its association with HT (OR=0.76, 95% CI=0.38–1.51; P = 0.425) and three-month mortality (OR=0.53, 95% CI=0.17–1.69; P = 0.280) did not reach statistical significance. The prognostic accuracy of collaterals for predicting angiographic reperfusion, HT, functional outcome (at 90 days), and mortality (at 90 days) were 63%, 49%, 66%, and 48%, respectively. Conclusion Cerebral collaterals are significantly associated with clinical and safety outcomes, albeit with a prognostic accuracy range of 48%–66%; thus, evaluation of their patency is a useful prognostic tool in patients with AIS receiving reperfusion therapy.
Colorectal medullary carcinoma: heterogeneous presentations of a rare clinico-pathological entity. Report of two cases
Authors: Romanzi Andrea , Centonze Giovanni , Sabella Giovanna , Cattaneo Laura , Battiston Carlo , Lorenzo Nadia Di , Milanesi Maria , Putortì Antonella , Rossi Fabrizio , Scolaro Roberta , Zanardo Michel , Vignati Barbara , Vannelli Alberto 
Published: March 2022

Colorectal medullary carcinoma (CMC) is a rare subset of minimally differentiated carcinomas. CMC tend to be right-sided and present at an advanced stage. Despite this, distant metastases are rare at presentation. The liver and the regional lymph nodes represent the most common sites of metastases. Most of the time, CMCs exhibit mismatch repair deficiency and a strong association with high-level microsatellite instability. There is no conspicuous data regarding treatment strategies and short-term outcomes. CMC is supposed to be related to better prognosis compared to poorly-differentiated and undifferentiated colonic adenocarcinomas, but reports are controversial. This lesion, with heterogeneous presentations and unclear prognostic significance, may be unfamiliar to histopathologists and can lead to diagnostic uncertainty and overtreatments. Our aim is to renew the attention to this rare histological subtype through the report of two cases.
Effect of occupational cadmium exposure on the thyroid gland and associated inflammatory markers among workers of the electroplating industry
Authors: Ramadan Mona Abdallah , Saif Eldin Aisha Safwat 
Published: March 2022

Cadmium (Cd) is widespread throughout the environment and is used in the electroplating industry. It has been found to have an effect on the endocrine system. However, its effects and their underlying mechanisms are still not clear. The aim of this study was to evaluate how cadmium exposure at work affected the levels of thyroid hormones and the associated inflammatory and oxidative markers. This study was conducted in an electroplating industry in Cairo, Egypt. Ninety male cadmium-exposed workers were matched with 90 male unexposed participants. A detailed questionnaire was designed and given to every participant in the study, and full clinical examinations were carried out. Blood samples were collected from all participants for determination of levels of serum cadmium, thyroid hormones, anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (anti-TPO), interleukin-6 (IL-6), malondialdehyde (MDA), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Morning midstream urine samples were obtained to measure urine cadmium levels. Results showed that the total blood and urinary cadmium levels were significantly higher in the exposed group (2.38 ± 0.94 μg/L and 5.45 ± 1.92 μg/g creatinine, respectively) than in the unexposed group. The serum levels of anti-TPO antibody, TSH, MDA, IL-6, and TNF-α also were significantly higher in the cadmium-exposed group than in the unexposed group. Significant direct relationships were seen between the biological indices of cadmium exposure and anti-TPO antibodies, TSH, IL-6, TNF-α, and MDA. It was concluded that there is a link between occupational cadmium exposure and autoimmune hypothyroidism, inflammatory, and oxidative stress markers.
Physicochemical stability of PF-06439535 (bevacizumab-bvzr; Zirabev®), a bevacizumab biosimilar, under extended in-use conditions
Authors: Weiser Sarah , Burns Chris , Zartler Edward R. 
Published: March 2022

Introduction PF-06439535 (bevacizumab-bvzr; Zirabev®) is a bevacizumab biosimilar. The stability profile and functional activity of PF-06439535 after dilution for intravenous infusion was evaluated following extended storage conditions. Methods PF-06439535 drug product was diluted in 0.9% sodium chloride to produce final concentrations of 1.4 and 16.5 mg/mL of PF-06439535, representing clinically relevant low and high doses for intravenous infusion. Three drug product lots and three infusion bag types (polyolefin, ethylene vinyl acetate, and polyvinyl chloride) were tested. To simulate the potential preparation and administration conditions encountered in a clinical setting, prepared drug solutions were initially stored at 25 ± 5°C for 24 ± 2 h, and then at 5 ± 3°C for up to 6 weeks. Extended storage was followed by storage at 25 ± 5°C for 24 ± 2 h before testing. Physicochemical and biological stability were evaluated according to visual characteristics and pH, protein concentration, particulate content, the proportions of molecular weight variants and charge variants, and relative potency. A wide range of analytical techniques optimized for PF-06439535 assessment were employed, such as size-exclusion chromatography, non-reducing sodium dodecyl sulfate capillary electrophoresis, cation-exchange chromatography, far-UV circular dichroism spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and an in vitro cell-based bioassay. Results For all concentrations, drug product lots, infusion bag types, and time points tested, there were no significant changes in protein concentration and no notable differences in visual characteristics (color, clarity, and visible particulates). The abundance of molecular weight variants and charge variants remained stable over the 6-week study period. There were no stability concerns with regard to sub-visible particles. There were no significant changes in primary, secondary, or tertiary structure. Finally, the in vitro relative potency of PF-06439535 was maintained throughout the study period. Conclusions The stability and biological activity of PF-06439535 was maintained after dilution and storage for up to 6 weeks at 2–8°C, demonstrating the integrity of diluted PF-06439535 under extended in-use conditions.
Commercial vs Homemade Cat Diets: What you need to know
Authors: Villaverde Cecilia , Chandler Marge 
Published: March 2022

Practical relevance A feeding plan recommendation for cats, both healthy and with disease, should include diet choice, amounts to feed and the feeding method. Diet choice can be complex owing to the abundance of products, sometimes with conflicting marketing messages, and the prevalence of information with no scientific basis. It is important to be aware of the specific challenges of both commercial and homemade diets. Moreover, a nutritional assessment is a prerequisite when recommending a diet to ensure that it is safe, appropriate for the cat’s life stage and nutritious for long-term feeding. Commercial vs homemade diets There are a variety of commercial diets available, allowing considerable customisation. These products are regulated and can be tested to determine nutritional adequacy and safety, although as the industry is partly self-regulated, choice of manufacturer is important. Properly formulated homemade diets can be customised to the patient and are a good option when no commercial product that meets the patient’s needs exists. Homemade diets can be an owner preference. A serious limitation is the lack of testing, potentially affecting safety and also resulting in a reliance on database information to determine nutritional adequacy. Generic homemade diet recipes (eg, sourced from the internet) have additional risks of deficiencies and imbalances, and are not recommended. Homemade diets should be devised by a veterinary nutrition specialist with consideration of both patient and owner factors. Clinical challenges Dietary misinformation, which is all too readily available on the internet, may result in owners making questionable feeding choices for their pets. A homemade diet may be requested by owners based on the perception that there are poor ingredients in commercial foods. The veterinary healthcare team needs to have good evidence-based information to present to owners about diet choice. Evidence base Several decades of research on feline nutrition forms the basis for nutritional requirements and dietary recommendations. There are varying degrees of evidence regarding requirements for each nutrient, and a lack of data on the effects of different types of processing on nutrient needs.
Viral Cardiomyopathies Associated With SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Authors: Almanza-Hurtado Amilkar , Martínez-Ávila María Cristina , Rodríguez-Yánez Tomás , Paternina-Mendoza María Carolina , Gutiérrez-Ariza Juan Camilo , Gómez-Arroyo Gino 
Published: March 2022

Context: Since the end of 2019 with the identification of the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and the disease it produces, named COVID-19, various manifestations have been described, initially pulmonary due to acute and severe respiratory syndromes, now systemic manifestations have been described. Case Report: We report 3 cases of patients with cardiovascular manifestations associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, highlighting the diagnostic approach and variety of presentation, from acute myocardial infarction, myocarditis, heart failure, shock, arrhythmias to sudden death. Conclusions: Every day is more frequent to find reports of patients with cardiovascular compromise during COVID-19 affecting the development and prognosis of this disease.
Spatially resolved transcriptomics for evaluation of intracranial vessels in a rabbit model: Proof of concept
Authors: Zabriskie Matthew S. , Cooke Daniel L. , Wang Chuanzhuo , Alexander Matthew D. 
Published: March 2022

Background Better understanding of vessel biology and vascular pathophysiology is needed to improve understanding of cerebrovascular disorders. Tissue from diseased vessels can offer the best data. Rabbit models can be effective for studying intracranial vessels, filling gaps resulting from difficulties acquiring human tissue. Spatially-resolved transcriptomics (SRT) in particular hold promise for studying such models as they build on RNA sequencing methods, augmenting such data with histopathology. Methods Rabbit brains with intact arteries were flash frozen, cryosectioned, and stained with H&E to confirm adequate inclusion of intracranial vessels before proceeding with tissue optimization and gene expression analysis using the Visium SRT platform. SRT results were analyzed with k-means clustering analysis, and differential gene expression was examined, comparing arteries to veins. Results Cryosections were successfully mounted on Visium proprietary slides. Quality control thresholds were met. Optimum permeabilization was determined to be 24 min for the tissue optimization step. In analysis of SRT data, k-means clustering distinguished vascular tissue from parenchyma. When comparing gene expression traits, the most differentially expressed genes were those found in smooth muscle cells. These genes were more commonly expressed in arteries compared to veins. Conclusions Intracranial vessels from model rabbits can be processed and analyzed with the Visium SRT platform. Face validity is found in the ability of SRT data to distinguish vessels from parenchymal tissue and differential expression analysis accurately distinguishing arteries from veins. SRT should be considered for future animal model investigations into cerebrovascular diseases.
The influence of elevated international normalized ratio on complications following total shoulder arthroplasty
Authors: Wang Kevin Y , Quan Theodore , Kapoor Shrey , Gu Alex , Best Matthew J , Kreulen R Timothy , Srikumaran Uma 
Published: March 2022

Background Identifying preoperative risk factors for complications following total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) has both clinical and financial implications. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of different degrees of preoperative INR elevation on complications following TSA. Methods Patients undergoing primary TSA from 2007 to 2018 were identified in a national database. Patients were stratified into 4 cohorts: INR of <1.0, INR of >1.0 to 1.25, INR of >1.25 to 1.5, and INR of >1.5. Postoperative complications were assessed. Multivariate logistic regressions were performed to adjust for differences in demographics and comorbidities among the INR groups. Results Following adjustment and relative to patients with an INR of <1.0, those with INR of >1.0–1.25, >1.25–1.5, and >1.5 had 1.6-times, 2.4-times, and 2.8-times higher odds of having postoperative bleeding requiring transfusion, respectively (p < 0.05 for all). Relative to patients with INR <1.0, those with INR of > 1.25–1.5 and INR of >1.5 had 7.8-times and 7.0-times higher odds of having pulmonary complications, respectively (p < 0.05 for both). Discussion With increasing INR levels, there is an independent and step-wise increase in odd ratios for postoperative complications. Current guidelines for preoperative INR thresholds may need to be adjusted for more predictive risk-stratification for TSA. Level of Evidence III
Psychosocial predictors of anxiety and depression in a sample of healthcare workers in Botswana during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multicenter cross-sectional study
Authors: Olashore Anthony A , Molebatsi Keneilwe , Musindo Otsetswe , Bojosi Kagiso , Obadia Isaac , Molefe-Baikai Onkabetse Julia , Tshitenge Stephane , Opondo Philip 
Published: March 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the psychological impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on healthcare workers across multiple hospitals in different districts in Botswana. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in five public-funded hospitals from three districts in Botswana from 1 June 2020 to 30 October 2020. We used the neuroticism subscale of the 44-item Big Five Inventory, Patient Health Questionnaire, the Oslo 3-item Social Support Scale, the Anxiety Rating Scale, and the 14-item Resilience Scale to obtain data from 355 healthcare workers. Results: The participants’ mean age (standard deviation) was 33.77 (6.84) years. More females (207, 59%) responded than males (144, 41%). Anxiety and depression were experienced by 14% and 23% of the participants, respectively. After multiple regression analyses, neuroticism predicted depression ( B = 0.22; p < 0.01) and anxiety disorder ( B = 0.31; p < 0.01). Lower educational status ( B = −0.13; p = 0.007) predicted anxiety and younger age ( B = −0.10; p = 0.038) predicted depression, while resilience negatively correlated with both disorders. Conclusion: There is a need to develop and implement interventions targeted at these identified risk and protective factors that can be easily delivered to healthcare workers during this pandemic.
Policy parameters for optimising hospital ePrescribing: An exploratory literature review of selected countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Authors: Perera Uditha T , Heeney Catherine , Sheikh Aziz 
Published: March 2022

Objective Electronic prescribing systems offer considerable opportunities to enhance the safety, effectiveness and efficiency of prescribing and medicines management decisions but, despite considerable investments in health IT infrastructure and healthcare professional training, realising these benefits continues to prove challenging. How systems are customised and configured to achieve optimal functionality is an increasing focus for policymakers. We sought to develop an overview of the policy landscape currently supporting optimisation of hospital ePrescribing systems in economically developed countries with a view to deriving lessons for the United Kingdom (UK). Methods We conducted a review of research literature and policy documents pertaining to optimisation of ePrescribing within hospitals across Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries on Embase, Medline, National Institute for Health (NIH), Google Scholar databases from 2010 to 2020 and the websites of organisations with international and national health policy interests in digital health and ePrescribing. We designed a typology of policies targeting optimisation of ePrescribing systems that provides an overview of evidence relating to the level at which policy is set, the aims and the barriers encountered in enacting these policies. Results Our database searches retrieved 11 relevant articles and other web resources mainly from North America and Western Europe. We identified very few countries with a national level strategy for optimisation of ePrescribing in hospitals. There were hotspots of digital maturity in relation to ePrescribing at institutional, specialisation, regional and national levels in the US and Europe. We noted that such countries with digital maturity fostered innovations such as patient involvement. Conclusions We found that, whilst helpful to achieve certain aims, coordinated strategies within and across countries for optimisation of ePrescribing systems are rare, even in countries with well-established ePrescribing and digital health infrastructures. There is at present little policy focus on maximising the utility of ePrescribing systems.
Patterns of Otorhinolaryngological Manifestations of Covid-19: A Longitudinal Questionnaire-Based Prospective Study in a Tertiary Hospital in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alrusayyis Danah , Aljubran Hussain , Alshaibani Askar , Alsharhan Salma , AlSaied Abdulmalik , ALEnazi Abdulaziz , Alghamdi Amal , Alshahrani Saad , Salam Abdul , Al Bar Mohammed 
Published: March 2022

Objective: Many studied investigated the manifestations of COVID-19, yet few described the pattern and severity of otolaryngological symptoms. We aim to describe the picture of COVID-19-associated otorhinolaryngological manifestations and recovery to explore individualized treatment, onward referral, and complications prevention. Design: Prospective longitudinal questionnaire-based study. Setting: The online questionnaire was filled 3 times through a remote interview over a period of 1 month from June 2020 to July 2020. Participants: Patients with confirmed COVID-19 by RT-PCR who were clinically stable. Main Outcome Measures: Date of diagnosis, sociodemographic data, and the presence of predictive factors, such as nasal and paranasal disease, anosmia and dysgeusia. Validated tools were used, such as Sino-nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22), smell test (medical academy screening tool), Voice Handicap Index (VHI), and Reflux Symptoms Index (RSI). Result: The questionnaire was sent to 363 patients and the response rate was 70.80% (n = 257). The mean age was 34.58 years (SD = 11.22) and the rate of male participants was 60.7%. The most common otorhinolaryngological symptoms at the time of enrollment was fever (48.6%), whilst the commonest severe symptom was cough (57%). After 1 month, only 11 participants had persistent severe symptoms, especially sleep and psychological symptoms (73%), and the majority were female (63.6%). All of them had at least 1 comorbidity. There was a significant difference between the mean age of participants with severe symptoms (mean = 27.45, SD = 8.39) and without severe symptoms (mean = 34.90, SD = 2.53, t(255) = 2.17, P = .031). Conclusion: COVID-19 has a wide-ranged spectrum of presentations, with otorhinolaryngological symptoms being the commonest and most serious. Studying these symptoms is vital to advance management options.