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Background: This paper discusses how collective intelligence (CI) methods can be implemented to improve government data infrastructures, not only to support understanding and primary use of complex national data but also to increase the dissemination and secondary impact of research based on these data. The case study uses the Northern Ireland Longitudinal Study (NILS), a member of the UK family of census/administrative data longitudinal studies (UKLS). Methods: A stakeholder-engaged CI approach was applied to inform the transformation of the NILS Research Support Unit (RSU) infrastructure to support researchers in their use of government data, including collaborative decision-making and better dissemination of research outputs. Results: We provide an overview of NILS RSU infrastructure design changes that have been implemented to date, focusing on a website redesign to meet user information requirements and the formation of better working partnerships between data users and providers within the Northern Ireland data landscape. We also discuss the key challenges faced by the design team during this project of transformation. Conclusion: Our primary objective to improve government data infrastructure and to increase dissemination and the impact of research based on data was a complex and multifaceted challenge due to the number of stakeholders involved and their often conflicting perspectives. Results from this CI approach have been pivotal in highlighting how NILS RSU can work collaboratively with users to maximize the potential of this data, in terms of forming multidisciplinary networks to ensure the research is utilized in policy and in the literature and providing academic support and resources to attract new researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The study aimed to explore the association between early life and life-course exposure to social disadvantage and later life body mass index (BMI) accounting for genetic predisposition and maternal BMI.Methods: We studied participants of Helsinki Birth Cohort Study born in 1934-1944 (HBCS1934-1944, n = 1277) and Northern Finland Birth Cohorts born in 1966 and 1986 (NFBC1966, n = 5807, NFBC1986, n = 6717). Factor analysis produced scores of social disadvantage based on social and economic elements in early life and adulthood/over the life course, and was categorized as high, intermediate and low. BMI was measured at 62 years in HBCS1934-1944, at 46 years in NFBC1966 and at 16 years in NFBC1986. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to explore associations between social disadvantages and BMI after adjustments for polygenic risk score for BMI (PRS BMI), maternal BMI and sex.Results: The association between exposure to high early social disadvantage and increased later life BMI persisted after adjustments (β = 0.79, 95% CI, 0.33, 1.25, p < 0.001) in NFBC1966. In NFBC1986 this association was attenuated by PRS BMI (p = 0.181), and in HBCS1934-1944 there was no association between high early social disadvantage and increased later life BMI (β 0.22, 95% CI -0.91,1.35, p = 0.700). In HBCS1934-1944 and NFBC1966, participants who had reduced their exposure to social disadvantage during the life-course had lower later life BMI than those who had increased their exposure (β - 1.34, [- 2.37,-0.31], p = 0.011; β - 0.46, [- 0.89,-0.03], p = 0.038, respectively).Conclusions: High social disadvantage in early life appears to be associated with higher BMI in later life. Reducing exposure to social disadvantage during the life-course may be a potential pathway for obesity reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To test whether maternal hemoglobin during pregnancy associates with offspring perinatal outcomes in a developed country. Changes in maternal hemoglobin concentration during pregnancy are partly physiological phenomena reflecting alterations of maternal blood volume. Especially hemoglobin measures outside the physiological range may influence maternal health and fetal growth with long-lasting consequences.Study Design: We studied an unselected sample drawn from two regional birth cohorts born 20 years apart: The Northern Finland Birth Cohorts 1966 and 1986. These are two mother-and-child population-based birth cohorts together comprising 21,710 mothers and their children. After exclusions, the sample size of the current study was 20,554. Concentrations of maternal hemoglobin at first and last antenatal visits were categorized as low (lowest 10%), medium (reference) or high (highest 10%). Multinomial logistic regression analyses for categories of maternal hemoglobin and perinatal outcomes such as preterm delivery and full-term small and large for gestational age were conducted with adjustments for maternal cofactors.Results: Low maternal hemoglobin at early pregnancy associated with decreased risk of full-term small for gestational age (adjusted OR 0.73, 95% CI [0.58, 0.93], p = 0.010). At late pregnancy, low maternal hemoglobin associated with increased risk of preterm delivery (adjusted OR 1.60, 95% CI [1.26, 2.02], p < 0.0005) whereas high maternal hemoglobin associated with increased risk of full-term small for gestational age (adjusted OR 1.29, 95% CI [1.07, 1.56], p = 0.009). Maternal hemoglobin did not show constant association with risk of large for gestational age.Conclusion: The results from this study support evidence that both low and high maternal hemoglobin associate with adverse perinatal outcomes. Low maternal hemoglobin associated with preterm delivery and high with full-term small for gestational age. Association was mainly present when maternal hemoglobin was measured during the third trimester. These results indicate that it is important to monitor both extremes of maternal hemoglobin throughout the pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Drug Burden Index (DBI) is associated with poorer physical function in stable, community-dwelling, older people. The authors speculated that a higher DBI is associated with reduced physical function (Barthel Index, primary outcome) and predicts adverse outcomes (length of stay, in-hospital mortality, secondary outcomes) in frail, acutely ill, older hospitalized patients. Clinical and demographic characteristics, Barthel Index, DBI, and full medication exposure were recorded on admission in 362 consecutive patients (84 ± 7 years old) admitted to 2 acute geriatric units between February 1, 2010, and June 30, 2010. A unit increase in DBI was associated with a 29% reduction in the odds of being in a higher Barthel Index quartile than a lower quartile (odds ratio, 0.71; 95% confidence interval, 0.55-0.91; P = .007). The Barthel Index components mostly affected were bathing (P < .001), grooming (P < .001), dressing (P = .001), bladder function (P < .001), transfers (P = .001), mobility (P < .001), and stairs (P < .001). A higher DBI independently predicted length of stay (hazard ratio, 1.23; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-1.42; P = .005) but not in-hospital mortality (hazard ratio, 1.17; 95% confidence interval, 0.72-1.90; P = .52). Higher DBI scores on admission are independently associated with lower scores of the Barthel Index and predict length of stay among older hospitalized patients. The DBI may be useful in the acute setting to improve risk stratification. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objectives: The anticholinergic risk scale (ARS) score is associated with the number of anticholinergic side effects in older outpatients. We tested the hypothesis that high ARS scores are negatively associated with “global” parameters of physical function (Barthel Index, primary outcome) and predict length of stay and in-hospital mortality (secondary outcomes) in older hospitalized patients. Design and Setting: Prospective study in 2 acute geriatric units. Participants: Three hundred sixty-two consecutive patients (age 83.6 ± 6.6 years) admitted between February 1, 2010, and June 30, 2010. Measurements: Clinical and demographic characteristics, Barthel Index, full medication exposure, and ARS score were recorded on admission. Data on length of stay and in-hospital mortality were obtained from electronic records. Results: After adjustment for age, gender, dementia, institutionalization, Charlson Comorbidity Index, admission site, and number of nonanticholinergic drugs, a unit increase in ARS score was associated with a 29% reduction in the odds of being in a higher Barthel quartile than a lower quartile (odds ratio 0.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.59–0.86, P = .001). The Barthel components mostly affected were bathing (P < .001), grooming (P < .001), dressing (P < .001), transfers (P =.005), mobility (P < .001), and stairs (P < .001). Higher ARS scores predicted in-hospital mortality among patients with hyponatremia (hazard ratio [HR] 3.66, 95% CI 1.70–7.89, P = .001) but not those without hyponatremia (HR 1.04, 95% CI 0.70–1.54, P = .86). The ARS score did not significantly predict length of stay (HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.88–1.17, P = .82). Conclusion: High ARS scores are negatively associated with various components of the Barthel Index and predict in-hospital mortality in the presence of hyponatremia among older patients. The ARS score may be useful in the acute setting to improve risk stratification. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights from the article: B Abstract: b Aggressive behavior emerges early in childhood, peaking between the age of two and four, which is considered to be a normal aspect of development (Alink et al. 2006). Life conditions may impact on genetic pathways involved in aggressive behavior by inducing changes to epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, that regulate gene expression (Provencal et al. 2015). The mean age at phenotypic assessment ranges from 6 to 72 and multiple instruments were used to assess aggressive behavior or conduct problems, such as the Child Behavior Check List (CBCL), Strength and Difficulty Questionnaire (SDQ), Multidimensional Peer Nomination Inventory (MNPI), ASEBA adult self-report (ASR), DSM Conduct Disorder Symptom Scale, Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire (MPQ), Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), and the NEO personality questionnaire.