Customer relationship marketing & enterprise performance

The seeming eternal pursuit of profit by financial institutions and other enterprises have proved to be short-sighted judging from recent studies. Emphases have shifted to securing the goose that lays the golden-egg (the customer) rather than the egg itself. This study focused on the imperative of deploying evolving customer centric platforms such as CRM to manage customer needs satisfactorily to guarantee continued patronage and profit (performance). CRM is revealed as a competitive strategy hotly becoming popular among Nigerian banks - extant literatures on its dynamics were clinically x-rayed. Models of relationship management such as relational benefit, network and relational quality models were discussed in relation to service offerings. Survey research was used in a cross-sectional study to test the nature of association between CRM predictor variables of interactive marketing, service quality and bonding among leading banks in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. These variables were tested to ascertain whether they would become significant predictors of performance among the leading banks sampled. Outcome reveals a positive association and a strongly significant influence at 0.05%. This necessitated the rejection of all two hypotheses tested.

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The Relationships Between Serum DHEA-S and AMH Levels in Infertile Women: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10061211 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 1211

Author(s):

Li-Te Lin ◽

Kuan-Hao Tsui

Keyword(s):

Generalized Linear Models ◽

Large Scale ◽

Linear Models ◽

Positive Association ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulphate ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Infertile Women ◽

The Relationship

The relationship between serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S) and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels has not been fully established. Therefore, we performed a large-scale cross-sectional study to investigate the association between serum DHEA-S and AMH levels. The study included a total of 2155 infertile women aged 20 to 46 years who were divided into four quartile groups (Q1 to Q4) based on serum DHEA-S levels. We found that there was a weak positive association between serum DHEA-S and AMH levels in infertile women (r = 0.190, p < 0.001). After adjusting for potential confounders, serum DHEA-S levels positively correlated with serum AMH levels in infertile women (β = 0.103, p < 0.001). Infertile women in the highest DHEA-S quartile category (Q4) showed significantly higher serum AMH levels (p < 0.001) compared with women in the lowest DHEA-S quartile category (Q1). The serum AMH levels significantly increased across increasing DHEA-S quartile categories in infertile women (p = 0.014) using generalized linear models after adjustment for potential confounders. Our data show that serum DHEA-S levels are positively associated with serum AMH levels.

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Adherence to Therapy, Physical and Mental Quality of Life in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Journal of Personalized Medicine ◽

10.3390/jpm11070672 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 672

Author(s):

Alessandra Buja ◽

Guendalina Graffigna ◽

Simona F. Mafrici ◽

Tatjana Baldovin ◽

Carlo Pinato ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Behavioral Interventions ◽

Positive Association ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Health Index ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Adherence To Therapy

Ensuring multiple sclerosis (MS) patients’ adherence to therapy is often challenging, but it is crucial to their survival and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of the present study was to outline connections between adherence, physical and mental HRQoL, levels of psychological readiness to engage in a treatment, levels of social support, anthropometric, socio-demographic and clinical factors in patients suffering from MS. This cross-sectional study involved a sample of 237 Italian MS patients. A survey was conducted with a structured self-administered online questionnaire using validated measures of quality of life, adherence to therapy and anthropometric, socio-demographic, psychological and clinical variables. A path analysis was used to test the overall structure of the associations between the variables. The pathway indicates a positive association between mental health index and a stronger degree of engagement and being or having been in a long-term relationship. Physical health index was positively associated with age, having an occupation, and having a specific form of MS. Having had relapses in the previous year raised the odds of better adherence to therapy, while an increase in Body Mass Index (BMI) reduced them. Our findings could help in the management of MS patients, promoting behavioral interventions that take the psychological and socio-demographic peculiarities of each patient into account with a view to improving their adherence to therapy.

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Removable denture is a risk indicator for peri-implantitis and facilitates expansion of specific periodontopathogens: a cross-sectional study

BMC Oral Health ◽

10.1186/s12903-021-01529-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jasmin Grischke ◽

Szymon P. Szafrański ◽

Uthayakumar Muthukumarasamy ◽

Susanne Haeussler ◽

Meike Stiesch

Keyword(s):

Bacterial Species ◽

Positive Association ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Risk Indicators ◽

Risk Indicator ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Significant Positive Association ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Linear Discriminant ◽

Removable Denture

Abstract Background The prevalence of peri-implantitis ranges between 7 and 38.4% depending on risk indicators such as smoking, diabetes mellitus, lack of periodontal maintenance program, and history or presence of periodontitis. Currently, the possible effect of the type of superstructure on peri-implant health is unclear. This cross-sectional study aims to investigate the influence of the superstructure on the prevalence of peri-implant mucositis, peri-implantitis and peri-implant dysbiosis. Methods During a 32-month recruitment period dental implants were assessed to diagnose healthy peri-implant tissues, mucositis or peri-implantitis. The study included 1097 implants in 196 patients. Out of all peri-implantitis cases 20 randomly chosen submucosal biofilms from implants with fixed denture (FD) originating from 13 patients and 11 biofilms from implants with removable dentures (RD) originating from 3 patients were studied for microbiome analysis. Composition of transcriptionally active biofilms was revealed by RNAseq. Metatranscriptomic profiles were created for thirty-one peri-implant biofilms suffering from peri-implantitis and microbiome changes associated with superstructure types were identified. Results 16.41% of the implants were diagnosed with peri-implantitis, 25.00% of implants with RD and 12.68% of implants with FD, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed a significant positive association on patient (p = < 0.001) and implant level (p = 0.03) between the prevalence of peri-implantitis and RD. Eight bacterial species were associated either with FD or RD by linear discriminant analysis effect size method. However, significant intergroup confounders (e.g. smoking) were present. Conclusions Within the limitations of the present work, RDs appear to be a risk indicator for peri-implantitis and seem to facilitate expansion of specific periodontopathogens. Potential ecological and pathological consequences of shift in microbiome from RDs towards higher activity of Fusobacterium nucleatum subspecies animalis and Prevotella intermedia require further investigation.

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Wisdom and fluid intelligence are dissociable in healthy older adults

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610221000521 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Cutter A. Lindbergh ◽

Heather Romero-Kornblum ◽

Sophia Weiner-Light ◽

J. Clayton Young ◽

Corrina Fonseca ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Episodic Memory ◽

San Francisco ◽

Fluid Intelligence ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Positive Association ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Self Report ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Healthy Older Adults

ABSTRACT Objectives: The relationship between wisdom and fluid intelligence (Gf) is poorly understood, particularly in older adults. We empirically tested the magnitude of the correlation between wisdom and Gf to help determine the extent of overlap between these two constructs. Design: Cross-sectional study with preregistered hypotheses and well-powered analytic plan (https://osf.io/h3pjx). Setting: Memory and Aging Center at the University of California San Francisco, located in the USA. Participants: 141 healthy older adults (mean age = 76 years; 56% female). Measurements: Wisdom was quantified using a well-validated self-report-based scale (San Diego Wisdom Scale or SD-WISE). Gf was assessed via composite measures of processing speed (Gf-PS) and executive functioning (Gf-EF). The relationships of SD-WISE scores to Gf-PS and Gf-EF were tested in bivariate correlational analyses and multiple regression models adjusted for demographics (age, sex, and education). Exploratory analyses evaluated the relationships between SD-WISE and age, episodic memory performance, and dorsolateral and ventromedial prefrontal cortical volumes on magnetic resonance imaging. Results: Wisdom showed a small, positive association with Gf-EF (r = 0.181 [95% CI 0.016, 0.336], p = .031), which was reduced to nonsignificance upon controlling for demographics, and no association with Gf-PS (r = 0.019 [95% CI −0.179, 0.216], p = .854). Wisdom demonstrated a small, negative correlation with age (r = −0.197 [95% CI −0.351, −0.033], p = .019), but was not significantly related to episodic memory or prefrontal volumes. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that most of the variance in wisdom (>95%) is unaccounted for by Gf. The independence of wisdom from cognitive functions that reliably show age-associated declines suggests that it may hold unique potential to bolster decision-making, interpersonal functioning, and other everyday activities in older adults.

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Incidência de Interações Medicamentosas e Avaliação Clínica nos Pacientes de um Hospital Público Brasileiro

Ensaios e Ciência C Biológicas Agrárias e da Saúde ◽

10.17921/1415-6938.2020v24n3p202-210 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

pp. 202-210

Author(s):

Fabiana Cristina Furquim ◽

Cristina Eunice Okuyama ◽

Sandro Rostelato-Ferreira ◽

Carla Leticia Rivero-Wendt ◽

Helder Oliveira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Positive Association ◽

Signs And Symptoms ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Documentary Evidence ◽

Potential Ddis ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

De Se ◽

Clinical Interactions

Interações droga-droga (IDDs) são responsáveis por problemas terapêuticos e as principais causas de reações adversas a medicamentos que levam a hospitalização. O objetivo do trabalho foi analisar a incidência de IDDs em pacientes admitidos em hospital público no Brasil, em 2015. Em um estudo transversal, 351pacientes foram selecionados com IDDs utilizando-se o banco de dados da Micromedex®, e as interações foram classificadas de acordo com a severidade e documentação. Os potenciais IDDs foram avaliados durante o acompanhamento farmacoterapêutico diário por anamnese farmacêutica e a análise dos exames laboratoriais foi realizada. Um total de 2.937 potenciais IDDs foram identificados e 28,42% deles tinham sinais e sintomas clínicos confirmados em 87 pacientes (29%). Entre os pacientes que apresentaram interações, 62,07% tinham mais que 60 anos. Neste grupo de idade, 61,27% de todos os sinais e sintomas clínicos observados foram também identificados, demonstrando uma associação positiva entre interações clínicas e idade. Além disso, uma correlação positiva entre o número de drogas prescritas e a ocorrência de sinais clínicos também foram observados. Muitos IDDs observados foram de severidade moderada e estavam relacionados a alterações das pressões arteriais e níveis glicêmicos. Este estudo demonstrou que IDDs estão diretamente relacionados a idade e número de drogas prescritas. E a grande frequência de IDDs com documentação fraca alertam para a necessidade de se analisar esse tipo de interação. Sendo assim, este estudo mostrou que potenciais IDDs e sinais e sintomas clínicos significantes em pacientes só reforçam a necessidade de se apoiar a farmácia clínica. Palavras-chave: Interação Droga-Droga (IDD). Pacientes Internados. Farmacoterapia, Poli Farmácia. Sinais e Sintomas. Abstract Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) are responsible for therapeutic problems and the main causes of adverse drug reactions that require hospitalization. The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence of DDIs in patients admitted in a Public Hospital in Brazil, in 2015. In a cross-sectional study, DDIs were screened in 351 patients, using Micromedex® database, that classify interactions according to severity and documentary evidence. Potential DDIs were assessed at the daily pharmacotherapeutic follow-up through pharmaceutical anamnesis and analysis of laboratory tests were performed. A total of 2,937 potential DDIs were identified and 28.42% of these had confirmed signs and symptoms clinical in 87 patients (29%). Among the patients that presented interactions, 62.07% were older than 60 years. In this age group, 61.27% of all signs and symptoms clinical observed in the study were also identified, demonstrating a positive association between the occurrence of clinical interactions and age. In addition, a positive correlation between the number of drugs prescribed and the occurrence of signs clinicals was also observed. Most DDIs observed were of moderate severity and were related to imbalance of blood pressure and glycemic levels. This study demonstrated that DDIs are directly related to the age and number of drugs prescribed. And the greater frequency of DDIs with fair documentary evidence alerts to the need to consider all the possible interactions. Thereafter, this study showed that potential DDIs and sign and clinical symptoms are significant in patients and reinforce the need to support Clinical Pharmacy. Keywords: Drug-Drug Interaction (DDI). Inpatients. Pharmacotherapy. Poly Pharmacy. Sign and Symptom.

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Determinants of corporate voluntary disclosure in a transition economy

Problems and Perspectives in Management ◽

10.21511/ppm.18(4).2020.12 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 130-141

Author(s):

Mofijul Hoq Masum ◽

Ahmed Razman Abdul Latiff ◽

Mohammad Noor Hisham Osman

Keyword(s):

Voluntary Disclosure ◽

Transition Economy ◽

Stock Exchange ◽

Positive Association ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Significant Positive Association ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Regulatory Bodies ◽

International University ◽

Chemical Companies

Corporate voluntary disclosure becomes a burning issue in the literature of accounting throughout the last two decades. The study aims to explore the most crucial determinants that influence corporate voluntary disclosure in a transition economy. A cross-sectional study based on the pharmaceutical and chemical companies listed in the Dhaka Stock Exchange is conducted to reconnoiter the crucial determinants affecting the voluntary disclosure. Based on the agency theory, stakeholder theory, and previous literature, the determinants are selected. An unweighted disclosure index is used to measure the extent of voluntary disclosure; after that, a multivariate analysis is steered to reconnoiter the key determinants of voluntary disclosure. It is found that firm leverage and firm liquidity are the key determinants that significantly influence the corporate voluntary disclosure in a transition economy. In contrast, no significant positive association is found between voluntary disclosure and board size. In additon, it is also found that market category significantly influences voluntary disclosure with an inverse direction. This study has important implications for both the corporate people and the regulatory bodies of the transition economy. The study also helps various stakeholders of the transition economy – Bangladesh, in designing their strategies regarding the most significant determinants of voluntary disclosure. Acknowledgment We are very thankful to the Institute of Advanced Research (IAR), United International University, Bangladesh, to grant us the fund by mobilizing which we generate our required data for the study and complete this empirical study.

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Association of Dietary and Lifestyle Inflammation Score With Metabolic Syndrome in a Sample of Iranian Adults

Frontiers in Nutrition ◽

10.3389/fnut.2021.735174 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Fatemeh Dehghani Firouzabadi ◽

Ahmad Jayedi ◽

Elaheh Asgari ◽

Zahra Akbarzadeh ◽

Nasim Janbozorgi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Adult Population ◽

Positive Association ◽

Population Based ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Significant Positive Association ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

General Adult Population ◽

Education Status ◽

Inflammation Score

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the association between the dietary and lifestyle inflammation score (DLIS) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components in a sample of Iranian adults.Design: Population-based cross-sectional study.Setting: General adult population living in Tehran, Iran.Subjects: We included 827 adult men and women with an age range of 18–59 years who were referred to health centers in different districts of Tehran, Iran. Dietary intake was assessed by a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire with 168 items. The DLIS was calculated based on four components, including dietary inflammation score, physical activity, cigarette smoking, and general obesity. Higher DLIS represents a more proinflammatory diet and lifestyle. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of the MetS across quartiles of the DLIS was calculated by using logistic regression analysis, controlling for age, sex, energy intake, marital status, education status, and occupation.Results: A total of 827 participants (31% men) were included, with a mean age of 44.7 ± 10.7 years. The prevalence of the MetS was 30.5%. The DLIS ranged between −2.35 and +3.19 (mean ± SD: 0.54 ± 1.09). There was a significant positive association between the DLIS and odds of MetS (OR fourthvs.thefirstquartile: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.01–2.45) in the fully adjusted model.Conclusion: Our results showed a significant positive association between the DLIS and odds of MetS. The results of the present crosssectional study suggested that having a more proinflammatory lifestyle can be associated with MetS. More prospective studies are needed to confirm the findings.

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Factors associated with common mental disorder in school teenagers

Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem ◽

10.1590/0034-7167-2019-0847 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 73 (suppl 1) ◽

Author(s):

Deise da Silva Monteiro ◽

Ridalva Dias Martins ◽

Nadirlene Pereira Gomes ◽

Rosana Santos Mota ◽

Marimeire Morais da Conceição ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Disorders ◽

Protective Factor ◽

Common Mental Disorders ◽

Common Mental Disorder ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Positive Association ◽

Female Gender ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Black Race

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify the prevalence of common mental disorders and associated factors in school adolescents. Method: Cross-sectional study with 230 adolescents from a public school in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. We used a questionnaire and an assessment scale for common mental disorders. The data were processed in STATA, version 12. Results: The prevalence of common mental disorders in schoolchildren was 52.2%. Multivariate analysis identified a positive association with statistical significance between the condition and the variables:female gender (PR = 3.06; 95% CI: 1.77-5.4), black race (PR = 2.08; 95% CI: 1.04-4.16),having a boyfriend (PR = 2.07; 95% CI: 1.06-4.03) and smoking cigarettes once in a lifetime (PR = 2.88; 95% CI : 1.31 - 6.31). The school increase (OR = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.29-0.91) was identified as a protective factor. Conclusion: Female gender, black race, having a relationship, and having smoked cigarettes are factors that increase the chances of adolescents having common mental disorders.

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Social participation and self-assessment of health status among older people in Brazil

Ciência & Saúde Coletiva ◽

10.1590/1413-81232021262.20342019 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 581-592

Author(s):

Bruno Luciano Carneiro Alves de Oliveira ◽

Sara Fiterman Lima ◽

Andréa Suzana Vieira Costa ◽

Alécia Maria da Silva ◽

Maria Teresa Seabra Soares de Britto e Alves

Keyword(s):

Health Status ◽

Older People ◽

Social Participation ◽

Public Transportation ◽

Positive Association ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

National Health Survey ◽

Self Assessment ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Crude Model

Abstract To estimate the prevalence of social participation (exposure) and its association with positive self-assessment of overall health status (SAH) (outcome) among 7,712 Brazilian elderly interviewed in the National Health Survey 2013. A cross-sectional study that used Propensity Score (PS) to improve comparability between the group exposed and no exposed to social participation. Poisson regression was performed to determine the prevalence and association of interest using crude and adjusted by inverse probability of selection of PS. Social participation was reported by 25.1% (CI95%: 23.4-26.9) and was lower among poor older people, who depend on public transportation and live in more precarious contexts. Most did not SAH positively, but the proportion was higher when they had social participation (48.0%; CI95%: 46.0-51.0). There was a positive association of social participation with SAH positive. The association using the adjusted model (PR: 1.15; CI95%: 1.08-1.22) attenuated the estimated in the crude model. Elderly exposed were 15% more likely to provide a positive SAH. Despite low levels in Brazil, there was a positive association between of social participation and SAH, confirming that engagement in such activities provides important gains for the health and quality of life.

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PREVALENCE OF HYPERTENSION IN ADULT POPULATION OF HAYATABAD PESHAWAR

Journal of Saidu Medical College, Swat ◽

10.52206/jsmc.2015.5.1.644-647 ◽

1969 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 644-647

Author(s):

SARA GUL ◽

ATIF HUSSAIN ◽

KASHIF UR REHMAN KHALIL ◽

IMRANULLAH ◽

MUHAMMAD ISHTIAQ ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Communicable Disease ◽

Adult Population ◽

Positive Association ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Population Based ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Study Results ◽

History Of ◽

Study Population

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is one of the common non communicable disease and is reported to beprevalent in 20% to 50% of the adult population, hypertension is one of the major contributor ofmortality and morbidity in developing and developed countries. The cross-sectional descriptive studywas formulated to find the prevalence and to assess different etiological factors of hypertension.MATERIAL & METHODS: This cross-sectional study among 400 adults of age 25-75 years wasconducted in months of June to December 2014 in Phase 5, Hayatabad Peshawar. A detailed structuredproforma having important questions was used to collect important data regarding various variables.RESULTS: Our study results showed that 22.75% of the study people were hypertensive i.e. 10.25% ofmales and 12.5% of females; and the prevalence of hypertension showed positive association withadvancing age. Out of all respondents; 60.25% were males while 39.75% were females; 28.5% weresmokers; 5.25% consume predominantly meat; 32.5% were obese & overweight; 36.75% checked theirB.P regularly; and 19.75% had positive history of hypertension in family.CONCLUSION: We conclude that hypertension prevalence was high among our study population andwas associated with various modifiable and non modifiable risk factors thus population based preventivestrategies are needed to control and prevent hypertension.KEY WORDS: Hypertension, Age, Diet, Smokers, Hayatabad, Peshawar.

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