Citation classics in systematic reviews and meta-analyses : who wrote the top 100 most cited articles?

Background: Systematic reviews of the literature occupy the highest position in currently proposed hierarchies of evidence. The aims of this study were to assess whether citation classics exist in published systematic review and meta-analysis (SRM), examine the characteristics of the most frequently cited SRM articles, and evaluate the contribution of different world regions. Methods: The 100 most cited SRM were identified in October 2012 using the Science Citation Index database of the Institute for Scientific Information. Data were extracted by one author. Spearman’s correlation was used to assess the association between years since publication, numbers of authors, article length, journal impact factor, and average citations per year. Results: Among the 100 citation classics, published between 1977 and 2008, the most cited article received 7308 citations and the least-cited 675 citations. The average citations per year ranged from 27.8 to 401.6. First authors from the USA produced the highest number of citation classics (n=46), followed by the UK (n=28) and Canada (n=15). The 100 articles were published in 42 journals led by the Journal of the American Medical Association (n=18), followed by the British Medical Journal (n=14) and The Lancet (n=13). There was a statistically significant positive correlation between number of authors (Spearman’s rho=0.320, p=0.001), journal impact factor (rho=0.240, p=0.016) and average citations per year. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between average citations per year and year since publication (rho = -0.636, p=0.0001). The most cited papers identified seminal contributions and originators of landmark methodological aspects of SRM and reflect major advances in the management of and predisposing factors for chronic diseases. Conclusions: Since the late 1970s, the USA, UK, and Canada have taken leadership in the production of citation classic papers. No first author from low or middle-income countries (LMIC) led one of the most cited 100 SRM

Factors that affect the uptake of community-based health insurance in low-income and middle-income countries : a systematic protocol

Many people residing in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) are regularly exposed to catastrophic healthcare expenditure. It is therefore pertinent that LMICs should finance their health systems in ways that ensure that their citizens can use needed healthcare services and are protected from potential impoverishment arising from having to pay for services. Ways of financing health systems include government funding, health insurance schemes and out-of-pocket payment. A health insurance scheme refers to pooling of prepaid funds in a way that allows for risks to be shared. The health insurance scheme particularly suitable for the rural poor and the informal sector in LMICs is community-based health insurance (CBHI), that is, insurance schemes operated by organisations other than governments or private for-profit companies. We plan to search for and summarise currently available evidence on factors associated with the uptake of CBHI, as we are not aware of previous systematic reviews that have looked at this important topic

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in a woman with adult-onset Still's disease: a case report

INTRODUCTION: Adult onset Still's disease is a chronic multisystemic inflammatory disorder characterized by high spiking fever, polyarthralgia and rash. Lymphadenopathy is a prominent feature of adult onset Still's disease and is seen in about 65% of patients. Searching the medical literature using the MEDLINE database from January 1966 through November 2007 we could only find two reported cases of adult onset Still's disease that had progressed to lymphoma. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe a woman who was diagnosed with adult onset Still's disease and developed lymphoma 10 months after the onset of her symptoms. She initially presented with fever and arthritis of the knees, ankles and shoulders, along with a nonpruritic skin rash, myalgia and weight loss. On physical examination she was found to have several enlarged anterior cervical lymph nodes and left posterior auricular lymph nodes all of which were non-tender, immobile and rubbery. Excisional biopsy of the cervical lymph nodes was negative for malignancy. Bone marrow biopsy was also negative for malignancy. She was treated with prednisone. She remained in good health until she presented 10 months later with low back pain, dyspnea and weight loss. Work up revealed malignant lymphoma. She was treated with chemotherapy and was doing well until she presented with abdominal pain. Work up revealed a cirrhotic liver and ascites. She then passed away from hepatorenal syndrome 13 years after the diagnosis of lymphoma. To our knowledge, this is the third reported case of such an occurrence. CONCLUSION: Although the association between adult onset Still's disease and lymphoma has been rarely reported, careful screening for this malignancy in patients suspected to have adult onset Still's disease is warranted

Yield and Yield Attributes of Extra-early Maize (Zea Mays L.) as Affected by Rates of Npk Fertilizer Succeeding Chilli Pepper (Capsicum Frutescens) Supplied with Different Rates Sheep Manure

Field experiment was conducted in 2005 and 2006 to study response of extra-early maize variety (95TZEE-Y1) to rates of NPK (0, 40:20:20, 80:40:40 and 120:60:60 kg N:P2O5:K2O ha-1) and residual FYM (0, 5, 10 and 15 t ha-1 applied to chilli pepper the previous season) in the semi-arid zone of Nigeria. Randomized complete block design with three replicates was used. Higher values for soil physical and chemical properties were obtained in plots supplied with manure the previous season with soil from 2006 experiment more fertile than for the first year, hence produced 21% more grain yield. All the applied NPK rates in 2005 and except 40:20:20 ha1 in 2006 had resulted in early maize crop as compared to control. Husked and de-husked cob and 100-grain weights and grain yield/ha were higher at 120:60:60 kg NPK ha-1. Maize grown in plot supplied with 15 t FYM ha1 the previous year matured earlier. Cobs and 100-grain weights and grain yield were highest in plot supplied with 10 t FYM ha1. The 10t FYM ha-1 had 69% and 68% more grain yield than the control in 2005 and 2006, respectively. Highest maize yield was obtained at 120:60:60 kg NPK ha-1 or 10t FYM ha-1. All the parameters measured significantly and positively related to each other when the two years data were combined

Evaluation of Oxidative Stress and some Biochemical Parameters in Normal Pregnant Women

Pregnancy is associated with many metabolic changes in normal pregnant woman, this leads to change in physiological, biochemical, and hematological parameters drastically. The test subjects were selected among those attending to Maternity Teaching Hospital in Erbil Governorate between March 2017 and August 2017. Four groups of individuals were included in this study, 230 pregnant women divided into three groups (Group 1 first trimester, Group 2 second trimester, and Group 3 third trimester) and Group 4 contained 90 nonpregnant women as control. Full automatic chemical analyzer (Cobas C311, Germany) was used to determine the biochemical parameters. The EL ×800 Absorbance Microplate Reader from BioTek (USA) instruments is used to measure the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum. The results of this study showed a significant increase in serum albumin, glucose, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, urea, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and MDA in pregnant women as compared to the control group, also show significant decrease in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level, SOD activity, and CAT activity in pregnant women as compared to nonpregnant women, and nonsignificant difference in uric acid, and HDL

Relationship between Work Flexibility, Work-from-Home Practices, and Job Satisfaction among Freelancers in Lagos State, Nigeria

This study explores the relationship between work flexibility, work-from-home practices, and job satisfaction among freelancers in Lagos State, Nigeria. Using a descriptive survey design, data were collected from 293 freelancers across various sectors, including graphic design, writing, programming, and consulting. A purposive sampling technique ensured the selection of participants with relevant experiences in flexible work arrangements. Three validated instruments were employed: the Flexible Work Options Questionnaire (FWOQ), the Job Satisfaction Scale (JSS), and the Work from Home Scale, which assessed attitudes toward flexible work practices, job satisfaction levels, and competencies in managing remote work. Statistical analyses, including descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficients, were conducted using SPSS. The findings revealed significant positive correlations between work flexibility and job satisfaction (r = 0.789), as well as between work-from-home practices and job satisfaction (r = 0.831). These results emphasize the vital role of flexible work arrangements in enhancing job satisfaction among freelancers. The study offers original insights into the often-overlooked freelance workforce, indicating that increased flexibility and effective work from home practices can lead to higher job satisfaction and engagement

Assessment of Initial Teacher Preparation: A Tracer Study of Serving NCE Graduates of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto State, Nigeria

The study assessed how adequately prepared serving Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto (SSCOE), Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) graduates were by their Initial Teacher Preparation (ITP) to teach at Basic Education level. It was Mixed method that involved Descriptive Survey and Case Study research design and the population of the study are all the 7, 246 NCE graduates teaching in primary schools across the 23 LGEAs in Sokoto state represented in the multi-stage sampling procedure by 357 serving SSCOE Sokoto NCE graduates as recommended by Research Advisor (2006). Triangulation was used in data collection; the instruments were two Researcher-designed questionnaires for the teachers and Head-teachers of primary schools they teach, Researcher-designed Classroom Observation Checklist for teachers and In-depth Interview guide. All the instruments were validated by team of experts and supervisors from the Department of Educational Foundations, Usmanu Danfodiyo, University, Sokoto. While reliability index (.61, .68 and .63) of Questionnaires and Checklist were obtained through Test-re-test method using Spearman Rank Order Correlation. For the Qualitative interview, a technique of repeating question in a slightly different form during the interview was used. Data was analysed using frequency and mean score as well as thematic analysis. Among the findings of the study were serving SSCOE Sokoto NCE graduates perceived themselves inadequately prepared by their ITP in some pedagogical areas namely Classroom management, application of instructional materials and management of school records and thus one of the recommendations was that Colleges of Education, SSCOE in particular should give extensive ITP to the NCE pre-service teachers on pedagogical aspects of training especially those considered inadequate by the College’s serving graduates

Chemical Information from Proximate and Elemental Composition of Acalypha hispida Leaf

Communication in Physical Sciences 2020, 5(2): 240-245 Authors: Abdulazeez, N. C. Nwokem, I. L. Ibrahim, H. L. Zubairu, A. Uthman and M. Abubakar Received 17 May 2020/Accepted 28 May 2020  Proximate and elemental compositions of plant leaves can provide useful information on the nutritional benefits of the plant. Proximate and elemental analysis of Acalypha hispida leaves were conducted using official and recommended methods. The result obtained indicated that the plant leaf contain moisture (11.02%), crude fat (6.05%), total ash (10.17%), crude protein (13.17%), crude fibre (10.36%) and carbohydrate (48.65%). Analysis for the presence of some elements indicated the presence of essential elements, which included iron, zinc and copper. The toxic lead was also found to be present in the plant leaves as Fe, Zn, Cu and Pb. Iron had the highest mean concentration of 20.7mg/g while concentrations of Zn, Cu, and Pb were 0.230, 0.778 and 1.729 mg/g respectively. Concentration of these metal ions were within the tolerance and safe limits for the human nutrition

Fatty Acids Constitution of Selected Franchised Snacks in Nigeria

There has been an increase in the frequency of consumption of fast foods in Nigeria. This study aimed to investigate the fatty acid composition of franchised snacks available in south-western Nigeria. Five non-meat-based and five meat-based fast foods were selected from ten fast food outlets from South-west Nigeria using systematic random sampling. The samples were analyzed for fatty acids composition using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Saturated fatty acids (SFA) ranged from 0.72 in popcorn to 11.44 g/100g in doughnut, n-3 unsaturated fatty acid [0.30 doughnut to 2.62 g/100g in meat pie], n-6 unsaturated fatty acids[0.55 in doughnut to 2.03 g/100g beef roll], n-9 unsaturated fatty acids [0.21sausage roll to 6.59 g/100g beef roll] and Trans fatty acids (TFAs) content [0.29popcorn to 11.78 g/100g sausage roll]. However, elaidic acid was abundant in almost all non-meat-based snacks (406.60 to 1146.33 mg) and vaccenic acid in almost all meat based samples (324.03 to 2307.60 mg) except in meat pie. The study established that snacks consumed in south-western Nigeria are abundant in SFA, TFA and unsaturated fatty acids and this information will aid in making informed choice during selection of snacks by consumers. Keywords: Fat content, fast foods, lipids, saturated fats, pastries