bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Insular seizures and epilepsies: Ictal semiology and minimal invasive surgery
Authors: Ryvlin Philippe , Nguyen Dang Khoa
Published: January 2021

Purpose of review

The increased identification of seizures with insular ictal onset, promoted by the international development of stereo-electroencephalography (SEEG), has led to the recent description of larger cohorts of patients with insular or insulo-opercular epilepsies than those previously available. These new series have consolidated and extended our knowledge of the rich ictal semiology and diverse anatomo-clinical correlations that characterized insular seizures. In parallel, some experiences have been gained in the surgical treatment of insular epilepsies using minimal invasive procedures.

Recent findings

The large majority of patients present with auras (mostly somatosensory and laryngeal) and motor signs (predominantly elementary and orofacial), an underlying focal cortical dysplasia, and an excellent postoperative seizure outcome. Many other subjective and objective ictal signs, known to occur in other forms of epilepsies, are also observed and clustered in five patterns, reflecting the functional anatomy of the insula and its overlying opercula, as well as preferential propagation pathways to frontal or temporal brain regions. A nocturnal predominance of seizure is frequently reported, whereas secondary generalization is infrequent. Some rare ictal signs are highly suggestive of an insular origin, including somatic pain, reflex seizures, choking spells, and vomiting. Minimal invasive surgical techniques have been applied to the treatment of insular epilepsies, including Magnetic Resonance Imaging-guided laser ablation (laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT)), radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFTC), gamma knife radiosurgery, and responsive neurostimulation. Rates of seizure freedom (about 50%) appear lower than that reported with open-surgery (about 80%) with yet a significant proportion of transient neurological deficit for LITT and RFTC.

Significant progress has been made in the identification and surgical treatment of insular and insulo-opercular epilepsies, including more precise anatomo-clinical correlations to optimally plan SEEG investigations, and experience in using minimal invasive surgery to reduce peri-operative morbidity.
Totally Implantable Venous-Access Device in Maintenance Electroconvulsive Therapy
Authors: Macau Elisabet , Valero Ricard , Gil-Badenes Joaquín , Valentí Marc , Baeza Inmaculada , Pacchiarotti Isabella , Bioque Miquel
Published: January 2021

Objectives

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective and safe treatment of certain severe mental disorders, but there are some barriers to the implementation of continuation/maintenance ECT courses in some cases. Repeated difficulties in achieving intravenous access before each session may contribute to premature ECT discontinuation. The placement of a totally implantable venous-access device (TIVAD) could be an alternative to overcome these difficulties in certain subjects.

Methods

For the present study we retrospectively identified all patients treated with continuation/maintenance ECT in our facilities during a 13-year period to which a TIVAD was implanted, paying attention to specific factors related to clinical characteristics, treatment course, and ECT technique.

Results

We identified a TIVAD in 16 (3.33%) of 481 patients receiving ECT in our unit, of whom 87.5% were female. Half of the cases met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition) criteria for schizophrenia, 6 for bipolar disorder, and 2 for major depression disorder. Age of the study cases ranged from 17 to 87 years. A total of 1957 ECT sessions were registered in this group of cases during the observation period. Patients had undergone a mean of 124.06 ± 132.41 ECT sessions before the TIVAD was implanted, with the device mean time of utilization being 5.39 ± 3.46 years. In 2 cases, the device was removed after ECT discontinuation. Few incidents associated with the implantation and operation of the TIVAD were registered, comparable to the use of this device in other clinical contexts.

Conclusions

This case series suggest that a TIVAD placement can be an effective and safe solution for patients in continuation/maintenance ECT courses with difficult intravenous access. Future studies will need to carefully monitor the benefit and the potential complications of TIVAD placement in patients undergoing continuation/maintenance ECT programs.
Black kites of different age and sex show similar avoidance responses to wind turbines during migration
Authors: Santos Carlos David , Ferraz Rafael , Muñoz Antonio-Román , Onrubia Alejandro , Wikelski Martin
Published: January 2021

Populations of soaring birds are often impacted by wind-power generation. Sex and age bias in turbine collisions can exacerbate these impacts through demographic changes that can lead to population decline or collapse. While several studies have reported sex and age differences in the number of soaring birds killed by turbines, it remains unclear if they result from different abundances or group-specific turbine avoidance behaviours, the latter having severer consequences. We investigated sex and age effects on turbine avoidance behaviour of black kites (Milvus migrans) during migration near the Strait of Gibraltar. We tracked the movements of 135 individuals with GPS data loggers in an area with high density of turbines and then modelled the effect of proximity of turbines on bird utilization distribution (UD). Both sexes and age classes showed similar patterns of displacement, with reduced UD values in the proximity of turbines and a clear peak at 700–850 m away, probably marking the distance at which most birds turn direction to avoid approaching the turbines further. The consistency of these patterns indicates that displacement range can be used as an accurate proxy for collision risk and habitat loss, and should be incorporated in environmental impact assessment studies.
Evolution of spray and aerosol from respiratory releases: theoretical estimates for insight on viral transmission
Authors: de Oliveira P. M. , Mesquita L. C. C. , Gkantonas S. , Giusti A. , Mastorakos E.
Published: January 2021

By modelling the evaporation and settling of droplets emitted during respiratory releases and using previous measurements of droplet size distributions and SARS-CoV-2 viral load, estimates of the evolution of the liquid mass and the number of viral copies suspended were performed as a function of time from the release. The settling times of a droplet cloud and its suspended viral dose are significantly affected by the droplet composition. The aerosol (defined as droplets smaller than 5 
μ
m) resulting from 30 s of continued speech has O(1 h) settling time and a viable viral dose an order-of-magnitude higher than in a short cough. The time-of-flight to reach 2 m is only a few seconds resulting in a viral dose above the minimum required for infection, implying that physical distancing in the absence of ventilation is not sufficient to provide safety for long exposure times. The suspended aerosol emitted by continuous speaking for 1 h in a poorly ventilated room gives 0.1–11% infection risk for initial viral loads of

10
8

–

10

10

 

copies ml

l

−

l

, respectively, decreasing to 0.03–3% for 10 air changes per hour by ventilation. The present results provide quantitative estimates useful for the development of physical distancing and ventilation controls.
Complementary roles of mechanotransduction and inflammation in vascular homeostasis
Authors: Latorre Marcos , Spronck Bart , Humphrey Jay D.
Published: January 2021

Arteries are exposed to relentless pulsatile haemodynamic loads, but via mechanical homeostasis they tend to maintain near optimal structure, properties and function over long periods in maturity in health. Numerous insults can compromise such homeostatic tendencies, however, resulting in maladaptations or disease. Chronic inflammation can be counted among the detrimental insults experienced by arteries, yet inflammation can also play important homeostatic roles. In this paper, we present a new theoretical model of complementary mechanobiological and immunobiological control of vascular geometry and composition, and thus properties and function. We motivate and illustrate the model using data for aortic remodelling in a common mouse model of induced hypertension. Predictions match the available data well, noting a need for increased data for further parameter refinement. The overall approach and conclusions are general, however, and help to unify two previously disparate literatures, thus leading to deeper insight into the separate and overlapping roles of mechanobiology and immunobiology in vascular health and disease.
On non-autonomous differential-difference AKP, BKP and CKP equations
Authors: Fu Wei , Nijhoff Frank W.
Published: January 2021

Based on the direct linearization framework of the discrete Kadomtsev–Petviashvili-type equations presented in the work of Fu & Nijhoff (Fu W, Nijhoff FW. 2017 Direct linearizing transform for three-dimensional discrete integrable systems: the lattice AKP, BKP and CKP equations.
Proc. R. Soc. A
473
, 20160915 (
doi:10.1098/rspa.2016.0915
)), six novel non-autonomous differential-difference equations are established, including three in the AKP class, two in the BKP class and one in the CKP class. In particular, one in the BKP class and the one in the CKP class are both in (2 + 2)-dimensional form. All the six models are integrable in the sense of having the same linear integral equation representations as those of their associated discrete Kadomtsev–Petviashvili-type equations, which guarantees the existence of soliton-type solutions and the multi-dimensional consistency of these new equations from the viewpoint of the direct linearization.
Trait–fitness associations do not predict within-species phenotypic evolution over 2 million years
Authors: Di Martino Emanuela , Liow Lee Hsiang
Published: January 2021

Long-term patterns of phenotypic change are the cumulative results of tens of thousands to millions of years of evolution. Yet, empirical and theoretical studies of phenotypic selection are largely based on contemporary populations. The challenges in studying phenotypic evolution, in particular trait–fitness associations in the deep past, are barriers to linking micro- and macroevolution. Here, we capitalize on the unique opportunity offered by a marine colonial organism commonly preserved in the fossil record to investigate trait–fitness associations over 2 Myr. We use the density of female polymorphs in colonies of
Antartothoa tongima
as a proxy for fecundity, a fitness component, and investigate multivariate signals of trait–fitness associations in six time intervals on the backdrop of Pleistocene climatic shifts. We detect negative trait–fitness associations for feeding polymorph (autozooid) sizes, positive associations for autozooid shape but no particular relationship between fecundity and brood chamber size. In addition, we demonstrate that long-term trait patterns are explained by palaeoclimate (as approximated by ∂
18
O), and to a lesser extent by ecological interactions (i.e. overgrowth competition and substrate crowding). Our analyses show that macroevolutionary outcomes of trait evolution are not a simple scaling-up from the trait–fitness associations.
The extensibility of the plantar fascia influences the windlass mechanism during human running
Authors: Welte Lauren , Kelly Luke A. , Kessler Sarah E. , Lieberman Daniel E. , D'Andrea Susan E. , Lichtwark Glen A. , Rainbow Michael J.
Published: January 2021

The arch of the human foot is unique among hominins as it is compliant at ground contact but sufficiently stiff to enable push-off. These behaviours are partly facilitated by the ligamentous plantar fascia whose role is central to two mechanisms. The ideal windlass mechanism assumes that the plantar fascia has a nearly constant length to directly couple toe dorsiflexion with a change in arch shape. However, the plantar fascia also stretches and then shortens throughout gait as the arch-spring stores and releases elastic energy. We aimed to understand how the extensible plantar fascia could behave as an ideal windlass when it has been shown to strain throughout gait, potentially compromising the one-to-one coupling between toe arc length and arch length. We measured foot bone motion and plantar fascia elongation using high-speed X-ray during running. We discovered that toe plantarflexion delays plantar fascia stretching at foot strike, which probably modifies the distribution of the load through other arch tissues. Through a pure windlass effect in propulsion, a quasi-isometric plantar fascia's shortening is delayed to later in stance. The plantar fascia then shortens concurrently to the windlass mechanism, likely enhancing arch recoil at push-off.
Aminopeptidase-N modulation assists lean mass anabolism during refuelling in the white-throated sparrow
Authors: Griego Michael , DeSimone Joely , Ramirez Mariamar Gutierrez , Gerson Alexander R.
Published: January 2021

Songbirds meet the extreme metabolic demands of migration by burning both stored fat and protein. However, catabolizing these endogenous tissues for energy leads to organ atrophy, and reductions in gastrointestinal tissue can be as great as 50% of the pre-flight mass. Remarkably, during stopover refuelling birds quickly regain digestive mass and performance. Aminopeptidase-N (APN) is a brush-border enzyme responsible for late-stage protein digestion and may critically assist tissue reconstruction during the stopover, thus compensating for reduced gut size. We hypothesized that birds recovering from a fast would differentially upregulate APN activity relative to disaccharidases to rapidly process and assimilate dietary protein into lean mass. We fasted 23 wild-caught migratory white-throated sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis) for 48 h to mimic mass reductions experienced during migratory flight and measured intestinal APN activity before the fast, immediately after the fast, and during recovery at 24 h and 48 h post-fast. Total fat mass, lean mass and basal metabolic rate were measured daily. We show that fasted birds maintain APN activity through the fast, despite a 30% reduction in intestine mass, but during refuelling, APN activity increases nearly twofold over pre-fasted individuals. This suggests that dynamically regulating APN may be necessary for rapid protein reconstruction during the stopover.
Functional assessment of morphological homoplasy in stem-gnathostomes
Authors: Ferrón Humberto G. , Martínez-Pérez Carlos , Rahman Imran A. , Selles de Lucas Víctor , Botella Héctor , Donoghue Philip C. J.
Published: January 2021

Osteostraci and Galeaspida are stem-gnathostomes, occupying a key phylogenetic position for resolving the nature of the jawless ancestor from which jawed vertebrates evolved more than 400 million years ago. Both groups are characterized by the presence of rigid headshields that share a number of common morphological traits, in some cases hindering the resolution of their interrelationships and the exact nature of their affinities with jawed vertebrates. Here, we explore the morphological and functional diversity of osteostracan and galeaspid headshields using geometric morphometrics and computational fluid dynamics to constrain the factors that promoted the evolution of their similar morphologies and informing on the ecological scenario under which jawed vertebrates emerged. Phylomorphospace, Mantel analysis and Stayton metrics demonstrate a high degree of homoplasy. Computational fluid dynamics reveals similar hydrodynamic performance among morphologically convergent species, indicating the independent acquisition of the same morphofunctional traits and, potentially, equivalent lifestyles. These results confirm that a number of the characters typically used to infer the evolutionary relationships among galeaspids, osteostracans and jawed vertebrates are convergent in nature, potentially obscuring understanding of the assembly of the gnathostome bodyplan. Ultimately, our results reveal that while the jawless relatives of the earliest jawed vertebrates were ecologically diverse, widespread convergence on the same hydrodynamic adaptations suggests they had reached the limits of their potential ecological diversity—overcome by jawed vertebrates and their later innovations.
Cretophengodidae, a new Cretaceous beetle family, sheds light on the evolution of bioluminescence
Authors: Li Yan-Da , Kundrata Robin , Tihelka Erik , Liu Zhenhua , Huang Diying , Cai Chenyang
Published: January 2021

Bioluminescent beetles of the superfamily Elateroidea (fireflies, fire beetles, glow-worms) are the most speciose group of terrestrial light-producing animals. The evolution of bioluminescence in elateroids is associated with unusual morphological modifications, such as soft-bodiedness and neoteny, but the fragmentary nature of the fossil record discloses little about the origin of these adaptations. We report the discovery of a new bioluminescent elateroid beetle family from the mid-Cretaceous of northern Myanmar (ca99 Ma), Cretophengodidae fam. nov.Cretophengodes azarigen. et sp. nov. belongs to the bioluminescent lampyroid clade, and would appear to represent a transitional fossil linking the soft-bodied Phengodidae + Rhagophthalmidae clade and hard-bodied elateroids. The fossil male possesses a light organ on the abdomen which presumably served a defensive function, documenting a Cretaceous radiation of bioluminescent beetles coinciding with the diversification of major insectivore groups such as frogs and stem-group birds. The discovery adds a key branch to the elateroid tree of life and sheds light on the evolution of soft-bodiedness and the historical biogeography of elateroid beetles.
Evolution of honest reward signal in flowers
Authors: Ito Koichi , Suzuki Miki F. , Mochizuki Ko
Published: January 2021

Some flowering plants signal the abundance of their rewards by changing their flower colour, scent or other floral traits as rewards are depleted. These floral trait changes can be regarded as honest signals of reward states for pollinators. Previous studies have hypothesized that these signals are used to maintain plant-level attractiveness to pollinators, but the evolutionary conditions leading to the development of honest signals have not been well investigated from a theoretical basis. We examined conditions leading to the evolution of honest reward signals in flowers by applying a theoretical model that included pollinator response and signal accuracy. We assumed that pollinators learn floral traits and plant locations in association with reward states and use this information to decide which flowers to visit. While manipulating the level of associative learning, we investigated optimal flower longevity, the proportion of reward and rewardless flowers, and honest- and dishonest-signalling strategies. We found that honest signals are evolutionarily stable only when flowers are visited by pollinators with both high and low learning abilities. These findings imply that behavioural variation in learning within a pollinator community can lead to the evolution of an honest signal even when there is no contribution of rewardless flowers to pollinator attractiveness.
Individual recognition is associated with holistic face processing in
Polistes
paper wasps in a species-specific way
Authors: Tibbetts Elizabeth A. , Pardo-Sanchez Juanita , Ramirez-Matias Julliana , Avarguès-Weber Aurore
Published: January 2021

Most recognition is based on identifying features, but specialization for face recognition in primates relies on a different mechanism, termed ‘holistic processing’ where facial features are bound together into a gestalt which is more than the sum of its parts. Here, we test whether individual face recognition in paper wasps also involved holistic processing using a modification of the classic part-whole test in two related paper wasp species:
Polistes fuscatus
, which use facial patterns to individually identify conspecifics, and
Polistes dominula
, which lacks individual recognition. We show that
P. fuscatus
use holistic processing to discriminate between
P. fuscatus
face images but not
P. dominula
face images. By contrast,
P. dominula
do not rely on holistic processing to discriminate between conspecific or heterospecific face images. Therefore,
P. fuscatus
wasps have evolved holistic face processing, but this ability is highly specific and shaped by species-specific and stimulus-specific selective pressures. Convergence towards holistic face processing in distant taxa (primates, wasps) as well as divergence among closely related taxa with different recognition behaviour (
P. dominula
,
P. fuscatus
) suggests that holistic processing may be a universal adaptive strategy to facilitate expertise in face recognition.
Nocardioides stalactiti sp. nov., isolated from a cave stalactite surface
Authors: Zhou Xing-Kui , Huang Ying , Zhang Ti- Kun , Liu Jian- Jin , Liu Zi- Yi , Zhu Ming-Liang , Ma Li , Liu Tong , Wang Xue-Jian , Mo Ming-He
Published: January 2021

An aerobic, rod-shaped, Gram-stain-positive, actinobacterial strain, designated 1.0914T, was isolated from a stalactite sample collected from a cave located in Guizhou Province, southwest PR China. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain 1.0914T shared highest similarities values with

Nocardioides pelophilus

CGMCC 4.7388T (97.7 %),

Nocardioides immobilis

CCTCC AB 2017083T (97.5 %) and

Nocardioides silvaticus

CCTCC AB 2018079T (97.3 %) and values lower than 97.0 % to other members of the genus

Nocardioides

. Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain 1.0914T formed an isolated branch with

N. pelophilus

CGMCC 4.7388T,

N. immobilis

CCTCC AB 2017083T and

N. silvaticus

CCTCC AB 2018079T. The polar lipids contained phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and one unidentified phospholipid in the cellular membrane. The major fatty acids were identified as iso-C16 : 0, C18 : 1 ω9c, C17 : 1 ω8c and C16 : 0. The predominant respiratory quinone was MK-8(H4) and ll-diaminopimelic acid was the diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The genomic DNA G+C content was 71.1 mol%. The orthologous average nucleotide identiy values between

N. pelophilus

CGMCC 4.7388T,

N. immobilis

CCTCC AB 2017083T,

N. silvaticus

CCTCC 2018079T and strain 1.0914T were 82.3, 81.7 and 81.9 % respectively. DNA–DNA hybridization values between

N. pelophilus

CGMCC 4.7388T,

N. immobilis

CCTCC AB 2017083T,

N. silvaticus

CCTCC 2018079T and strain 1.0914T were 25.2, 24.6 and 24.5 % respectively. The phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data supported the classification of strain 1.0914T as representing a new species of

Nocardioides

, for which the name Nocardioides stalactiti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 1.0914T (=CCTCC AB 2018266T=KCTC 49243T).
Chitinophaga fulva sp. nov., isolated from forest soil
Authors: Dahal Ram Hari , Chaudhary Dhiraj Kumar , Kim Dong-Uk , Kim Jaisoo
Published: January 2021

An aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, oxidase- and catalase-positive, non-motile, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped and yellow-coloured bacterium designated strain G-6-1-13T was isolated from Gwanggyo mountain forest soil. Strain G-6-1-13T could grow at 15–40 °C (optimum, 20–32 °C), pH 4.5–10.5 (optimum, pH 6.0–9.0), at 2 % (w/v) NaCl concentration, and produced flexirubin-type pigments. Phylogenetic analysis based on its 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain G-6-1-13T formed a lineage within the genus

Chitinophaga

that was distinct from other species of the genus. Closest member was

Chitinophaga varians

10–7 W-9003T (98.6 % sequence similarity) followed by

C. eiseniae

DSM 22224T (98.4 %),

C. qingshengii

JN246T (97.6 %) and

C. terrae

KP01T (97.4%). The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 1
 ω5c, and summed feature 3 (iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and/or C16 : 1
 ω6c). MK-7 was the sole respiratory quinone. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified phospholipid. The DNA G+C content of strain G-6-1-13T was 48.7 mol%. Average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA–DNA hybridization were below the species threshold. On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic characterization, G-6-1-13T represents a novel species in the genus

Chitinophaga

, for which the name Chitinophaga fulva sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is G-6-1-13T (=KACC 21624T=NBRC 114361T).
Widespread aberrant alternative splicing despite molecular remission in chronic myeloid leukemia patients
Authors: Schmitz Ulf , Shah Jaynish S. , Dhungel Bijay P. , Monteuuis Geoffray , Luu Phuc-Loi , Petrova Veronika , Metierre Cynthia , Nair Shalima S. , Bailey Charles G. , Saunders Verity A. , Turhan Ali G. , White Deborah L. , Branford Susan , Clark Susan , Hughes Timothy P. , Wong Justin J-L. , Rasko John E.J.
Published: January 2021

Background

Vast transcriptomics and epigenomics changes are characteristic of human cancers including leukemia. At remission, we assume that these changes normalise so that omics-profiles resemble those of healthy individuals. However, an in-depth transcriptomic and epigenomic analysis of cancer remission has not been undertaken. A striking exemplar of targeted remission induction occurs in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) following tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy.

Methods

Using RNA sequencing and whole-genome bisulfite sequencing, we profiled samples from chronic-phase CML patients at diagnosis and remission, and compared these to healthy donors.

Results

Remarkably, our analyses revealed that abnormal splicing distinguishes remission samples from normal controls. This phenomenon is independent of the TKI drug used and in striking contrast to the normalisation of gene expression and DNA methylation patterns. Most remarkable are the high intron retention (IR) levels that even exceed those observed in the diagnosis samples. Increased IR affects cell cycle regulators at diagnosis and splicing regulators at remission. We show that aberrant splicing in CML is associated with reduced expression of specific splicing factors, histone modifications and reduced DNA methylation.

Conclusions

Our results provide novel insights into the changing transcriptomic and epigenomic landscapes of CML patients during remission. The conceptually unanticipated observation of widespread aberrant alternative splicing after remission induction warrants further exploration. These results have broad implications for studying CML relapse and treating minimal residual disease.
Physician Perceptions of Catching COVID-19
Authors: Doraiswamy P. Murali , Chilukuri Mohan , Ariely Dan , Linares Alexandra R.
Published: January 2021

Background

Risk perception, influenced and biased by multiple factors, can affect behavior.

Objective

To assess the variability of physician perceptions of catching COVID-19.

Design

Cross sectional, random stratified sample of physicians registered with Sermo, a global networking platform open to verified and licensed physicians.

Main outcome measures

The survey asked: “What is your likelihood of catching COVID-19 in the next three months?” The physicians were asked to give their best estimate as an exact percentage.

Results

The survey was completed by 1004 physicians (40 countries, 67 specialties, 49% frontline [e.g. ER, infectious disease, internal medicine]) with a mean (SD) age of 49.14 (12) years. Mean (SD) self-risk estimate was 32.3% ± 26% with a range from 0% to 100% (Figure 1a). Risk estimates were higher in younger (<50 years) doctors and in non-US doctors versus their older and US counterparts (p<0.05 for all) (Figure 1b). Risk estimates were higher among front line versus non-frontline doctors (p<0.05). Risk estimates were higher for women than men (p<0.05) among respondents (60%) reporting gender.

Conclusions

To our knowledge, this is the first global study to document physician risk perceptions for catching COVID-19 and how it is impacted by age, gender, practice specialty and geography. Accurate calibration of risk perception is vital since both over- and underestimation of risk could impact physician behavior and have implications for public health.
Regression Tree Modelling to Predict Total Average Extra Costs in Household Spending During COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Lotfy Nesma
Published: January 2021

Background

Prevention of coronavirus (COVID-19) regarding households has many aspects, such as buying masks, hand sanitizer, face shield, and many others. As a result of buying the previous items, the household spending per month will be increase during the COVID-19 pandemic period.

Aims

To calculate the average costs of each extra item involved in households spending during COVID-19 pandemic and to predict the total average extra costs spending by households.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted at High Institute of Public Health (HIPH), University Alexandria. Exponential snowball sampling was used to recruit students at HIPH and their friends. Trimming costs was done to remove extreme low and high values. A regression tree modelling was implemented to predict the total extra costs spending during COVID-19 pandemic.

Results

Most of the respondents were female (81%) and aged between 30 and 40 (56.3%). About 63.1% of families had the same monthly income while 35.4% had a decrease in monthly income. A significant reduction in days of leaving home before and after COVID-19 pandemic was observed (before; mean= 5.86, after; mean = 4.66, P=0.000). The extra spending in grocery was the dominated item compared to other items (mean = 707.2, SD = 530.7). Regarding regression tree, the maximum average extra costs due to COVID-19 pandemic was 1386 L.E/month (around 88.23$/month) while the minimum average extra costs was 217 L.E/month (around 13.81$/month).

Conclusions

The effect of COVID-19 pandemic in households spending varies largely between households, it depends on what they do to prevent COVID-19.

*Hint: Convert form L.E to dollar performed according to price of dollar at 18-12-2020
Race and ethnicity-related differences in neuroimaging markers of neurodegeneration and cerebrovascular disease in middle and older age
Authors: Turney Indira C. , Lao Patrick J. , Arce Rentería Miguel , Igwe Kay , Berroa Joncarlos , Rivera Andres , Benavides Andrea , Morales Clarissa , Schupf Nicole , Mayeux Richard , Gutierrez Jose , Manly Jennifer J. , Brickman Adam M.
Published: January 2021

INTRODUCTION

Numerous neuroimaging studies demonstrated racial and ethnic disparities in brain health at older ages. It remains unclear whether racial and ethnic disparities increase with aging and whether they are already apparent in midlife.

METHODS

We investigated differences in MRI markers of aging and cerebrovascular disease in 969 participants from the Washington Heights-Inwood Columbia Aging Project (WHICAP; mean age: 75 years) and 496 participants from the Offspring study (mean age: 55 years) across race and ethnicity (white, Black, Latinx).

RESULTS

Older whites had greater cortical thickness compared with Latinxs, who also had greater thickness than Blacks. Cortical thickness was similar across race in the middle-aged cohort. Regarding white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume, Blacks had disproportionately greater WMH volume compared to both whites and Latinxs at older ages. Racial disparities are already apparent in midlife, where Blacks have disproportionately greater WMH than whites.

Discussion

These findings suggest that racial disparities in WMH volume are already apparent in midlife.
Simple Laboratory and Clinical Parameters as Predictor for Electrocardiographic Abnormalities Among Hospitalized Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Julario Rerdin , Nugraha Ricardo Adrian , Khrisna Bagus Putra Dharma , Putra Tony Santoso , Mulia Eka Prasetya Budi , Intan Ryan Enast , Alkaff Firas Farisi
Published: January 2021

Background

In developing countries, even electrocardiography (ECG) hasn’t been used widely in most health-care centers. The ability of physicians to refer to chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients for ECG, often collide with several barriers and costs. Therefore, we need to formulate the simplest and most efficient model to predict when CKD patients need to be referred due to potential ECG abnormalities.

Objective

The aim of this study was to develop several clinical and laboratory parameters as a predictor of any ECG abnormalities.

Materials and Methods

A retrospective cross-sectional study design held at Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia. Subjects were hospitalized patients with CKD between 1 January to 31 December 2019. 198 CKD patients (101 males) were enrolled for the study. All patients had demographic information, detailed clinical profile, resting 12-lead ECG recording, complete blood count, serum electrolyte and renal function test profile during admission and results were interpreted blindly by two cardiologists. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS 17.0.

Results

A total of 198 patients were included in this study. Mean ages were 52.2±11.8 years old and fifty-one percent were males. Eighty-eight percent of patients from 198 patients had ECG abnormality. AUC of hemoglobin level to discriminate poor R wave progression, pathological Q wave, non-spesific ST-T changes, and frontal axis deviation were 0.532, 0.641, 0.556 and 0.693, respectively. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, only higher systolic blood pressure was determined as an independent predictor of abnormal ECG finding in CKD patients, as systolic blood pressure increase by one unit, the odds of having abnormal ECG is increased 1.02 times (95% CI: 1.00 – 1.02, p=0.042).

Conclusion

The ECG abnormalities can be found in hospitalized CKD patients. Fragmented QRS and long QTc were the highest prevalent ECG abnormalities in our study. Serum creatinine and hemoglobin could predict peaked T wave and prolonged QTc among hospitalized CKD patients. Systolic blood pressure could predict prolonged QTc and fragmented QRS in CKD patients.
Interferon-regulated genetic programs and JAK/STAT pathway activate the intronic promoter of the short ACE2 isoform in renal proximal tubules
Authors: Jankowski Jakub , Lee Hye Kyung , Wilflingseder Julia , Hennighausen Lothar
Published: January 2021

Recently, a short, interferon-inducible isoform of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2), dACE2 was identified. ACE2 is a SARS-Cov-2 receptor and changes in its renal expression have been linked to several human nephropathies. These changes were never analyzed in context ofdACE2, as its expression was not investigated in the kidney. We used Human Primary Proximal Tubule (HPPT) cells to show genome-wide gene expression patterns after cytokine stimulation, with emphasis on theACE2/dACE2locus. Putative regulatory elements controllingdACE2expression were identified using ChIP-seq and RNA-seq. qRT-PCR differentiating betweenACE2anddACE2revealed 300- and 600-fold upregulation ofdACE2by IFNα and IFNβ, respectively, while full lengthACE2expression was almost unchanged. JAK inhibitor ruxolitinib ablatedSTAT1anddACE2expression after interferon treatment. Finally, with RNA-seq, we identified a set of genes, largely immune-related, induced by cytokine treatment. These gene expression profiles provide new insights into cytokine response of proximal tubule cells.
Greek High Phenolic Early Harvest Extra Virgin Olive Oil Reduces the Over-Excitation of Information Flow based on Dominant Coupling Model in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment: An EEG Resting-State Validation Approach
Authors: Dimitriadis Stavros I. , Lyssoudis Christos , Tsolaki Anthoula C. , Lazarou Eftychia , Kozori Mahi , Tsolaki Magda
Published: January 2021

Objective

The balance of cross-frequency coupling (CFC) over within-frequency coupling (WFC) can build a nonlinearity index (NI) that encapsulates the over-excitation of information flow between brain areas and across experimental time. The present study investigated for the very first time how the Greek High Phenolic Early Harvest Extra Virgin Olive Oil (HP-EH-EVOO) versus Moderate Phenolic (MP-EVOO) and Mediterranean Diet (MeDi) intervention in people with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) could affect their spontaneous EEG dynamic connectivity.

Methods

Fourty three subjects (14 in MeDi, 16 in MP-EVOO and 13 in HP-EH-EVOO) followed an EEG resting-state recording session (eyes-open and closed) before and after the treatment. Following our dominant coupling mode model (DoCM), we built a dynamic integrated dynamic functional connectivity graph (iDFCG) that tabulates both the functional strength and the DoCM of every pair of brain areas.

Results

Signal spectrum within 1-13 Hz and theta/beta ratio have been decreased in the HP-EH-EVOO group in both conditions.FIDoCMhas been improved after the intervention across groups and conditions but was more prominent in HP-EH-EVOO group (p < 0.001). Finally,we revealed a significant higher post-intervention reduction of NI (ΔNITotal and α) for the HP-EH-EVOO compared to the MP-EVOO and MeDi groups (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Long-term intervention with HP-EH-EVOO reduced the over-excitation of information flow in spontaneous brain activity.

Significance

Our study confirms the alteration of signal spectrum of EEG rhythms and dominant coupling mode due to the intervention with HP-EH-EVOO nutrition protocol.

Highlights

Non-pharmaceutical intervention based on HP-EH-EVOO in MCI reduces the over-excitation of information flow

Non-pharmaceutical intervention based on HP-EH-EVOO in MCI increases the human brain flexibility

Reconfiguration of dominant coupling modes in EEG resting-state due to the intervention is modulated by alpha frequency
Gaps in maternal, newborn, and child health research: a scoping review of 72 years in Ethiopia
Authors: Chan Grace J , Daniel Jenna , Getnet Misrak , Kennedy Matthew , Olowojesiku Ronke , Hunegnaw Bezawit M , Unninayar Sarah , Taddesse Lisanu , Bekele Delayehu
Published: January 2021

Objectives

Despite significant reductions in maternal and child mortality over the past few decades, a disproportionate number of global deaths occur in low and middle-income country settings, such as Ethiopia. To prioritize research questions that would generate policy recommendations for better outcomes, we conducted a scoping review that gathers the current knowledge of maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) and illustrates remaining gaps in Ethiopia.

Design

Scoping review.

Methods

We conducted a search strategy from 1946-2018 in PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the WHO African Index Medicus. The study team of reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts, and full-texts; abstracted data; and reconciled differences in pairs. Descriptive analyses were conducted.

Results

We identified 7,829 unique articles of which 2,170 were included. Most MNCH publications in Ethiopia (70.0%) were published in the last decade, 2010-2018. Most studies included children aged one to less than 10 years old (30.5%), women of reproductive age (22.0%), and pregnant women (21.9%); fewer studies included newborns (7.0%), infants (6.6%), and postpartum women (2.9%). Research topics included demographics and social determinants of health (43.4%), nutrition (15.3%), and infectious diseases (13.0%). There were limited studies on violence (1.4%), preterm birth (0.8%), antenatal/postpartum depression (0.7%), stillbirths (0.1%), and accidents (0.1%). Most study designs were cross-sectional (53.6%). A few study designs included prospective cohort studies (5.5%) and randomized control trials (2.3%).

Conclusions

This is the first scoping review to describe the landscape of MNCH research in Ethiopia. Understanding the depth of existing knowledge will support the prioritization and development of future research questions. Additional studies are needed to focus on the neonatal, infant, and postpartum populations as well as preterm and stillbirth outcomes.

STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS OF THIS STUDY

To our knowledge, this is the first published review to have comprehensively described or summarized this body of literature in Ethiopia, allowing for a deeper understanding of the expanse of existing knowledge.

A quality assessment of each study was not feasible due to the broad range of included topics; however, one may be conducted in the future to further refine results.

Although conclusions may not be widely generalizable beyond Ethiopia, this review may inform the need to conduct similar reviews for all sub-Saharan countries to support effective prioritization of future research questions.
Atrans-complementation system for SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Zhang Xianwen , Liu Yang , Liu Jianying , Bailey Adam L. , Plante Kenneth S. , Plante Jessica A. , Zou Jing , Xia Hongjie , Bopp Nathen , Aguilar Patricia , Ren Ping , Menachery Vineet D. , Diamond Michael S. , Weaver Scott C. , Xie Xuping , Shi Pei-Yong
Published: January 2021

The biosafety level-3 (BSL-3) requirement to culture severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a bottleneck for research and countermeasure development. Here we report atrans-complementation system that produces single-round infectious SARS-CoV-2 that recapitulates authentic viral replication. We demonstrate that the single-round infectious SARS-CoV-2 can be used at BSL-2 laboratories for high-throughput neutralization and antiviral testing. Thetrans-complementation system consists of two components: a genomic viral RNA containing a deletion of ORF3 and envelope gene, and a producer cell line expressing the two deleted genes.Trans-complementation of the two components generates virions that can infect naive cells for only one round, but does not produce wild-type SARS-CoV-2. Hamsters and K18-hACE2 transgenic mice inoculated with the complementation-derived virions exhibited no detectable disease, even after intracranial inoculation with the highest possible dose. The results suggest that thetrans-complementation platform can be safely used at BSL-2 laboratories for research and countermeasure development.
Using Adversarial Images to Assess the Stability of Deep Learning Models Trained on Diagnostic Images in Oncology
Authors: Joel Marina Z. , Umrao Sachin , Chang Enoch , Choi Rachel , Yang Daniel X. , Duncan James S. , Omuro Antonio , Herbst Roy , Krumholz Harlan M. , Sanjay Aneja SM
Published: January 2021

Purpose

Deep learning (DL) models have rapidly become a popular and cost-effective tool for image classification within oncology. A major limitation of DL models is output instability, as small perturbations in input data can dramatically alter model output. The purpose of the study is to investigate the robustness of DL models in the oncologic image domain through the application of adversarial images: manipulated images with small pixel-level perturbations designed to assess the stability of DL models.

Experimental Design

We examined the impact of adversarial images on the classification accuracies of DL models trained to classify cancerous lesions across three common oncologic imaging modalities (CT, mammogram, and MRI). The CT model was trained to classify malignant lung nodules using the LIDC dataset. The mammogram model was trained to classify malignant breast lesions using the DDSM dataset. The MRI model was trained to classify brain metastases using an institutional dataset. We also explored the utility of an iterative adversarial training approach to improve the stability of DL models to small pixel-level changes.

Results

Oncologic images showed instability with small pixel-level changes. A pixel-level of perturbation of .004 resulted in a majority of oncologic images to be misclassified by their respective DL models (CT 25.64%, mammogram 23.93%, MRI 6.36%). Adversarial training mitigated improved the stability and robustness of DL models trained on oncologic images compared to naive models [(CT 67.72% vs 26.92%), mammogram (63.39% vs 27.68%), MRI (87.20% vs 24.32%)].

Conclusions

DL models naively trained on oncologic images exhibited dramatic instability to small pixel-level changes resulting in substantial decreases in accuracy. Adversarial training techniques improved the stability and robustness of DL models to such pixel-level changes. Prior to clinical implementation, adversarial training should be considered to proposed DL models to improve overall performance and safety.
NEWS2 and laboratory predictors correlated with clinical deterioration in hospitalised patients with COVID-19
Authors: Tuncer Gulsah , Surme Serkan , Bayramlar Osman Faruk , Karanalbant Hatice Kubra , Copur Betul , Yazla Meltem , Zerdali Esra , Nakir Inci Yilmaz , Cinar Ayse Kurt , Buyukyazgan Ahmet , Balli Hatice , Kurekci Yesim , Yavuz Serap Simsek , Sonmez Mehmet Mesut , Sengoz Gonul , Pehlivanoglu Filiz
Published: January 2021

Background

We aimed to determine prognostic values of NEWS2 and laboratory parameters during the first week of COVID-19.

Methods

All adult patients who were hospitalized for a confirmed COVID-19 between the 11th of March and the 11th of May 2020 were retrospectively included. To evaluate the factors in prognosis which are admission to intensive care unit (ICU) and in-hospital death, univariate logistic regression analysis was performed at admission (D0), at day-3 (D3), day-5 (D5), and day-7 (D7). Additionally, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were performed.

Results

Overall, 611 patients were included. Clinical deterioration was observed in 79 (12.9%) patients during hospitalisation, 36 (5.9%) during the first three days, 54 (8.8%) during the first five days, and 62 (10.1%) during the first week of hospitalisation. Our results showed that NEWS2, procalcitonin, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and albumin were the best predictors for clinical deterioration at D0, D3, D5, and D7. Procalcitonin had the highest odds ratio for clinical deterioration on all days in univariate analysis. ROC analyses showed that NEWS2 at D7, procalcitonin at D5, albumin at D7, and NLR at D5 had highest AUC values. Additionally, we detected a strong correlation between NEWS2 and laboratory parameters including neutrophil, lymphocyte, NLR, platelet/lymphocyte ratio, CRP, procalcitonin, ferritin, and urea on all days.

Conclusion

This study provides a list of several laboratory parameters correlated with NEWS2 and potential predictors for ICU admission or in-hospital death during the clinical course of COVID-19. Dynamic monitoring of NEWS2 and laboratory parameters is vital for improving clinical outcomes.