bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Shortening of leucocyte telomere length is independently correlated with high body mass index and subcutaneous obesity (predominantly truncal), in Asian Indian women with abnormal fasting glycemia
Authors: Bhatt Surya Prakash , Misra Anoop , Pandey Ravindra Mohan , Upadhyay Ashish Datt 
Published: July 2022

IntroductionLeucocyte telomere length (LTL) is linked to accelerate aging and premature mortality. In this research, we aimed to explore the relations between biochemical and anthropometry markers and LTL in Asian Indian women with abnormal fasting glycemia (impaired fasting glucose).Research design and methodsIn this study, 797 pre-diabetic women (obese, 492; non-obese, 305) were recruited. Demographic and clinical profiles, anthropometry, and fasting blood glucose were evaluated. LTL was quantified by a quantitative PCR. LTL was expressed as the relative telomere length or telomere repeat:single copy gene (T:S) ratio. The subjects were separated into quartiles according to the LTL.ResultsThe average LTL was significantly decreased with increasing age. The average LTL was significantly shorter in obese women with abnormal fasting glycemia (p<0.05). R-squared (R2) statistic for multivariable linear model after adjusted for age, family income, education and hypertension showed that LTL was inversely correlated with body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumference, waist-hip and waist-to-height ratio, truncal skinfolds (subscapular, and subscapular/triceps ratio, central and total skinfolds), fat mass (kg) and % body fat. The relationship between obesity measures and LTL (using the LTL quartile 1 as reference) identified central skinfolds (R2=0.92, p<0.0001), Σ4SF (R2=0.90, p<0.0001), BMI (R2=0.93, p<0.0001) and % body fat (R2=0.91, p<0.0001) as independent predictors of LTL.ConclusionsBesides age, obesity and subcutaneous adiposity (predominantly truncal) are major contributors to telomere shortening in Asian Indian women with abnormal fasting glycemia (impaired fasting glucose).
Can digitally enabling community health and nutrition workers improve services delivery to pregnant women and mothers of infants? Quasi-experimental evidence from a national-scale nutrition programme in India
Authors: Patil Sumeet R , Nimmagadda Sneha , Gopalakrishnan Lakshmi , Avula Rasmi , Bajaj Sumati , Diamond-Smith Nadia , Paul Anshuman , Fernald Lia , Menon Purnima , Walker Dilys 
Published: July 2022

BackgroundIndia’s 1.4 million community health and nutrition workers (CHNWs) serve 158 million beneficiaries under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme. We assessed the impact of a data capture, decision support, and job-aid mobile app for the CHNWs on two primary outcomes—(1) timeliness of home visits and (2) appropriate counselling specific to the needs of pregnant women and mothers of children <12 months.MethodsWe used a quasi-experimental pair-matched controlled trial using repeated cross-sectional surveys to evaluate the intervention in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh (MP) separately using an intention-to-treat analysis. The study was powered to detect difference of 5–9 percentage points (pp) with type I error of 0.05 and type II error of 0.20 with endline sample of 6635 mothers of children <12 months and 2398 pregnant women from a panel of 841 villages.ResultsAmong pregnant women and mothers of children <12 months, recall of counselling specific to the trimester of pregnancy or age of the child as per ICDS guidelines was higher in both MP (11.5pp (95% CI 7.0pp to 16.0pp)) and Bihar (8.0pp (95% CI 5.3pp to 10.7pp)). Significant differences were observed in the proportion of mothers of children <12 months receiving adequate number of home visits as per ICDS guidelines (MP 8.3pp (95% CI 4.1pp to 12.5pp), Bihar: 7.9pp (95% CI 4.1pp to 11.6pp)). Coverage of children receiving growth monitoring increased in Bihar (22pp (95% CI 0.18 to 0.25)), but not in MP. No effects were observed on infant and young child feeding practices.ConclusionThe at-scale app integrated with ICDS improved provision of services under the purview of CHNWs but not those that depended on systemic factors, and was relatively more effective when baseline levels of services were low. Overall, digitally enabling CHNWs can complement but not substitute efforts for strengthening health systems and addressing structural barriers.Trial registration numberISRCTN83902145.
Management model of the COVID-19 pandemic in socially vulnerable communities
Authors: Marin Gustavo H , Fonseca Jenny , Etchegoyen Graciela , Marin Lupe , Aramburu Itziar Kain , Rodriguez Rocio , Vetere Pablo , Mateo Graciela , Bourgeois Marcelo , Campuzano-Castro Federico , Babbini Ignacio , Marin Gina , Canevari Tomas , Bozzano Horacio 
Published: July 2022

IntroductionSeveral public policies were proposed to reduce the negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic. This work aimed to determine how a management model is capable of strengthening the community network, providing support, healthcare and channelling public government’s aid during COVID-19 pandemic situation.MethodsIt is an intervention study that tested the effectiveness of a management model for both healthcare and essential goods access in a socially vulnerable neighbourhood called ‘Puente de Fierro’ in La Plata the capital of Buenos Aires State, Argentina, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Altos de San Lorenzo suburb area was considered as control group. Variables studied were: level of contagion and death due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus; access to food, medicine and other goods; strengthening of community networks; performance of government programmes in territory.ResultsA new management paradigm was tested by moving essential goods towards the people, instead of making the people move to obtain those benefits. Accessibility to ‘Food Bag’ and ‘Food Bank’ were significantly increased, a reduction of contagion level and mortality rate for COVID-19 was achieved (2.3/100 000 vs 3.6/100 000 inhabitants in control area; and ‘fatality rate’ was 2.8% vs 3.6%, respectively). Support was also provided to installed in local stores virtual payment devices for food cards acceptance.ConclusionThe management model based in healthcare and goods and service supplies during COVID-19 pandemic reduced the negative impact of disease and its measures of isolation in socially vulnerable neighbourhoods.
Predictive value of the New Zealand Early Warning Score for early mortality in low-acuity patients discharged at scene by paramedics: an observational study
Authors: Todd Verity Frances , Moylan Melanie , Howie Graham , Swain Andy , Brett Aroha , Smith Tony , Dicker Bridget 
Published: July 2022

ObjectivesThe utility of New Zealand Early Warning Score (NZEWS) for prediction of adversity in low-acuity patients discharged at scene by paramedics has not been investigated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between the NZEWS risk-assessment tool and adverse outcomes of early mortality or ambulance reattendance within 48 hours in low-acuity, prehospital patients not transported by ambulance.DesignA retrospective cohort study.SettingPrehospital emergency medical service provided by St John New Zealand over a 2-year period (1 July 2016 through 30 June 2018).Participants83 171 low-acuity, adult patients who were attended by an ambulance and discharged at scene. Of these, 41 406 had sufficient recorded data to calculate an NZEWS.Primary and secondary outcome(s) and measure(s)Binary logistic regression modelling was used to investigate the association between the NZEWS and adverse outcomes of reattendance within 48 hours, mortality within 2 days, mortality within 7 days and mortality within 30 days.ResultsAn NZEWS greater than 0 was significantly associated with all adverse outcomes studied (p<0.01), compared with the reference group (NZEWS=0). There was a startling correlation between 2-day, 7-day and 30-day mortality and higher early warning scores; the odds of 2-day mortality in patients with an early warning score>10 was 70 times that of those scoring 0 (adjusted OR 70.64, 95% CI: 30.73 to 162.36). The best predictability for adverse outcome was observed for 2-day and 7-day mortality, with moderate area under the receiver operating characteristic curve scores of 0.78 (95% CI: 0.73 to 0.82) and 0.74 (95% CI: 0.71 to 0.77), respectively.ConclusionsAdverse outcomes in low-acuity non-transported patients show a significant association with risk prediction by the NZEWS. There was a very high association between large early warning scores and 2-day mortality in this patient group. These findings suggest that NZEWS has significant utility for decision support and improving safety when determining the appropriateness of discharging low-acuity patients at the scene.
Women’s experiences and expectations of intimate partner abuse identification in healthcare settings: a qualitative evidence synthesis
Authors: Korab-Chandler Evangelica , Kyei-Onanjiri Minerva , Cameron Jacqueline , Hegarty Kelsey , Tarzia Laura 
Published: July 2022

ObjectivesTo explore women’s experiences and expectations of intimate partner abuse (IPA) disclosure and identification in healthcare settings, focusing on the process of disclosure/identification rather than the healthcare responses that come afterwards.DesignSystematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studiesData sourcesRelevant studies were sourced by using keywords to search the databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsychINFO, SocINDEX and ASSIA in September 2021.Eligibility criteriaStudies needed to focus on women’s views about IPA disclosure and identification in healthcare settings, use qualitative methods and have been published in the last 5 years.Data extraction and synthesisRelevant data were extracted into a customised template. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist for qualitative research was used to assess the methodological quality of included studies. A thematic synthesis approach was applied to the data, and confidence in the findings was appraised using The Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative research methods.ResultsThirty-four studies were included from a range of healthcare settings and countries. Three key themes were generated through analysing their data: (1)Provide universal education,(2)Create a safe and supportive environment for disclosureand (3)It is about how you ask. Included papers were rated overall as being of moderate quality, and moderate-high confidence was placed in the review findings.ConclusionsWomen in the included studies articulated a desire to routinely receive information about IPA, lending support to a universal education approach that equips all women with an understanding of IPA and options for assistance, regardless of disclosure. Women’s suggestions for how to promote an environment conducive to disclosure and how to enquire about IPA have clear implications for clinical practice.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42018091523.
Effects of competition and bundled payment on the performance of hip replacement surgery in Stockholm, Sweden: results from a quasi-experimental study
Authors: Goude Fanny , Garellick Göran , Kittelsen Sverre , Malchau Henrik , Peltola Mikko , Rehnberg Clas 
Published: July 2022

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of competition and a bundled payment model on the performance of hip replacement surgery.DesignA quasi-experimental study where a difference-in-differences analytical framework is applied to analyse routinely collected patient-level data from multiple registers.SettingHospitals providing hip replacement surgery in Sweden.ParticipantsThe study included patients who underwent elective primary total hip replacement due to osteoarthritis from 2005 to 2012. The final study sample consisted of 85 275 hip replacement surgeries, where the exposure group consisted of 14 570 surgeries (n=6380 prereform and n=8190 postreform) and the control group consisted of 70 705 surgeries (n=32 799 prereform and n=37 906 postreform).InterventionA reform involving patient choice, free entry of new providers and a bundled payment model for hip replacement surgery, which came into force in 2009 in Region Stockholm, Sweden.Outcome measuresPerformance is measured as length of stay of the surgical admission, adverse event rate within 90 days following surgery and patient satisfaction 1 year postsurgery.ResultsThe reform successfully improved the adverse event rate (1.6 percentage reduction, p<0.05). Length of stay decreased less in the more competitive market than in the control group (0.7 days lower, p<0.01). These effects were mainly driven by university and central hospitals. No effects of the reform on patient satisfaction were found (no significance).ConclusionsThe study concludes that the incentives of the reform focusing on avoidance of adverse events have a predictable impact. Since the payment for providers is fixed per case, the impact on resource use is limited. Our findings contribute to the general knowledge about the effects of financial incentives and market-oriented reforms.
Has the share of the working life expectancy that is spent receiving a partial or full disability pension changed in Finland over the period 2005–2018? A longitudinal register-based study
Authors: Leinonen Taina , Viikari-Juntura Eira , Solovieva Svetlana 
Published: July 2022

ObjectivesThe share of the overall working careers that is spent receiving disability benefits is unclear. We examined trends in full-time equivalent working life expectancy (FTE-WLE) among those with and without receiving a permanent full or partial disability pension in Finland, where certain amounts of work are allowed while receiving these pensions.DesignLongitudinal register-based study.SettingFinnish population.ParticipantsNationally representative 70% samples of the working-age population.OutcomeUsing the Sullivan method, we examined annual FTE-WLE at age 45, truncated at age 63, in 2005–2018 by disability pension status. Full-time equivalent work participation was based on combined information on annual employment days and work income.ResultsCompared with those with no disability pension, disability pensioners had a larger relative (full and partial pensioners of both genders) and absolute (male partial pensioners) increase in the FTE-WLE between 2005 and 2018. In 2018, the FTE-WLE of both male and female full disability pensioners was around 3.5 months, being 6 months at its highest in musculoskeletal diseases. The FTE-WLE of partial disability pensioners was around 6.5 and 8 years among men and women, respectively, being around half of the corresponding expectancies of non-pensioners. The FTE-WLE of partial disability pensioners was considerable in musculoskeletal diseases and mental disorders and even higher in other diseases. Full disability pensioners spent a disproportionately large time in manual work, increasingly in the private sector, and partial pensioners in the public sector with lower non-manual and manual work, increasingly with the former. At the population level, the share of the FTE-WLE that is spent receiving a disability pension remained relatively small.ConclusionsIncreased work participation while receiving a disability pension is likely to have had important implications for prolonging individual working careers but only minor contribution to the length of working lives at the population level.
Protocol for a living systematic review for the management of concussion in adults
Authors: Lithopoulos Alexander , Bayley Mark , Curran Dorothyann , Fischer Lisa , Knee Christopher , Lauzon Julia , Nevison Margaret , Velikonja Diana , Marshall Shawn 
Published: July 2022

IntroductionConcussion/mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) often presents initially with disabling symptoms that resolve, but for an unfortunate minority some of these symptoms may become prolonged. Although research into diagnosis and interventions for concussion is increasing, study quality overall remains low. A living systematic review that is updated as evidence becomes available is the ideal research activity to inform a living guideline targeting clinicians and patients. The purpose of this paper is to present the protocol of an ongoing living systematic review for the management of adult concussion that will inform living guidelines building off the Guideline for Concussion/Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Persistent Symptoms: third Edition.Methods and analysisThe Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocol guidelines were followed in the reporting of this systematic review protocol. We are including English peer-reviewed observational studies, trials, qualitative studies, systematic reviews and clinical practice guidelines related to diagnosis/assessment or treatment of adult concussion. Future searches will be conducted at minimum every 6 months using the following databases: MEDLINE ALL, EMBASE, Cochrane, PsycInfo and CINAHL. The data are managed in the Covidence website. Screening, data extraction and risk-of-bias assessments are being done through multiple raters working independently. Multiple validated tools are being used to assess risk of bias, and the tool applied matches the document or study design (eg, Downs and Black Scale for healthcare interventions). Many concussion experts in various clinical disciplines from across North America have volunteered to examine the evidence in order to make recommendations for the living guidelines.Ethics and disseminationNo ethical approval is necessary because primary data are not collected. The results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and on the living guidelines website once built.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42022301786.
Exploring the epidemiology of disseminated intravascular coagulation: protocol for the DANish Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DANDIC) Cohort Study
Authors: Flæng Simon , Nygaard Søren , Granfeldt Asger , Hvas Anne-Mette , Sørensen Henrik Toft , Thachil Jecko , Adelborg Kasper 
Published: July 2022

IntroductionSince disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) was first described, it has been considered a serious disease of the coagulation system and a major challenge to clinicians. Currently, several important knowledge gaps remain. The DANish Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DANDIC) Cohort Study will aim to answer questions regarding the incidence and mortality of patients with DIC including time trends. The study will also identify prognostic factors that may guide personalised prevention and treatment. Furthermore, the study will describe treatment patterns and the safety and effectiveness of various treatment modalities.Methods and analysisWe will establish the DANDIC Cohort using data collected in daily clinical practice from the Central Denmark Region, which covers approximately 1.3 million residents. The study period will encompass 1 January 2011 through 1 July 2021. Potential DIC cases will be identified from the hospital laboratory database, based on coagulation biomarkers, and diagnoses will be adjudicated by medical experts. The dataset will be enriched with detailed clinical data from electronic medical charts on aetiologies, bleeding, microthrombus formation, organ failure, thrombosis, treatments and comorbidities. The dataset will also take advantage of in-hospital data with longitudinal information on laboratory records, transfusions, microbiology and treatments. It will be possible to merge this dataset with other unique Danish health registries with more than 10 years of virtually complete follow-up. The project will use state-of-the-art epidemiological and biostatistical methods.Ethics and disseminationThe project has been approved by the Danish Patient Safety Authority (31-1521-452), the Central Denmark Region (1-45-70-83-21), the Danish Data Protection Agency (1-16-02-258-21) and all the hospital chairs. Register-based studies require no ethical approval in Denmark. The results will be disseminated in international peer-reviewed journals.
(Invited) Kinetic Selectivity of Chemical Vapor Deposition Growth of Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Otsuka Keigo , Inoue Taiki , Xiang Rong , Chiashi Shohei , Kato Yuichiro K. , Maruyama Shigeo 
Published: July 2022

Single-walled carbon nanotubes have been a candidate for outperforming silicon in ultrascaled transistors, but the realization of nanotube-based integrated circuits requires dense arrays of purely semiconducting species. In order to directly growth such nanotube arrays on wafers, control over kinetics and thermodynamics in tube-catalyst systems plays a key role, and further progress requires the comprehensive understanding of seemingly contradictory reports on the growth kinetics. Here, we propose a universal kinetic model that decomposes the growth rates of nanotubes into the adsorption and removal of carbon atoms on the catalysts, and provide its quantitative verification by ethanol-based isotope labeling experiments. While the removal of carbon from catalysts dominates the growth kinetics under a low supply of precursors, our kinetic model and experiments demonstrate that chiral angle-dependent growth rates emerge when sufficient amounts of carbon and etching agents are co-supplied. The kinetic maps, as a product of generalizing the model, include several kinetic selectivities that emerge depending on the balance of gases with opposing effects. Our findings not only resolve discrepancies existing in literature, but also offer rational strategies to control chirality, length, and density of nanotube arrays for practical applications.
Part of this work was supported by JSPS (KAKENHI JP20K15137, JP20H00220) and JST (CREST JPMJCR20B5).