bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Socioeconomic position and hearing loss: current understanding and recent advances
Authors: Malcolm Kelly A. , Suen Jonathan J. , Nieman Carrie L.
Published: August 2022

Purpose of review

The purpose of this review is to describe recent literature examining the relationship between socioeconomic position (SEP) and hearing loss, including the impact of hearing loss on several socioeconomic outcomes over the life course. Additionally, we highlight current policy advances in recent years and review alternative models of hearing care that aim to address disparities related to SEP and hearing healthcare.

Recent findings

Applying a social epidemiologic lens to hearing health gives insight into the role of material and social contexts in understanding and improving hearing health outcomes. Recent studies investigating the intersection of SEP and hearing health highlight the disparities that exist for individuals with low SEP as well as the influence of hearing loss on SEP. Individuals with hearing loss are more likely to be unemployed, have lower educational attainment, lower income, and are less likely to use hearing aids and access hearing care. Legislation addressing cost and access to hearing care as well as transforming the current landscape of hearing care, is essential to creating equitable care for individuals, especially older adults, with low SEP.

With the expected rise in prevalence of hearing loss over the next 40 years, hearing care that is affordable and accessible is a public health priority. As hearing loss is associated with negative outcomes for individuals with low SEP, advances in legislation and care delivery models are necessary in order to include populations traditionally unserved by current hearing healthcare.
Post COVID-19 ongoing symptoms and health related quality of life: does rehabilitation matter? Preliminary evidence
Authors: Mammi Patrizia , Ranza Elena , Rampello Anais , Ravanetti Daniela , Cavaldonati Annalisa , Moretti Silvia , Gobbi Emanuela , Rodà Francesca , Brianti Rodolfo
Published: August 2022

Objective

Individuals with persisting symptoms after Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) have reported a decrease in health related quality of life. This study explores the outcome of 50 subjects with post COVID-19 ongoing symptoms including “Long COVID”(symptoms lasting over 3 months), after a rehabilitation program focused on three symptoms: fatigue, breathlessness and pain. Aims were:

- assessing the feasibility of the program

-observing a possible change in symptoms and quality of life (null hypothesis: no differences in variables before and after treatment)

-investigating a possible relationship between symptoms and quality of life

Design

Retrospective observational study

Results

Symptoms intensity measured with Numeric Rating Scale decreased. Mean differences: breathlessness: -2,91; fatigue: -2,05; pain: -2,41 (p > .001). Quality of life measured with Euroqol-5D (EQ-5D) improved. Mean differences: EQ-5D index : 0,104; EQ-5D VAS: 19,21 (p < .001). Effect size of these changings is classifiable as large (Cohen’s d > 0,8 and < 1,3) except for EQ-5D index ( Cohen’s d -0,575), resulting medium(>0,5 and < 0,8). Correlation (Pearson’s r) between symptoms and EQ-5D resulted moderate for pain and fatigue (-0,609 and -0,531, p < .001) and low for breathlessness (-0,533, p < .001)

Conclusions

Rehabilitation can be feasible and may improve symptoms and quality of life. Further research is needed.
Nasal Tip and Alar Groove Plasty Through External Nasal Cutting in Asians: A Clinical Study
Authors: Xu Meng-Qiong , Tang Yu-Xi , Yu Bao-Fu , Zeng Qi , Wei Jiao , Dai Chuan-Chang
Published: August 2022

Objective:

Nasal tip hypertrophy is common in Asians, and its reshaping is very critical in rhinoplasty. For patients who refuse any implant placed in the nose, there are limited options for tip reshaping. Herein, we introduce a new procedure of nasal tip and alar groove plasty through external nasal cutting in Asians.

Methods:

A total of 20 patients who had hypertrophic nasal tip and refused to have any implants were included in this study. They were performed this procedure of nasal tip and alar groove plasty through external nasal cutting. The authors carefully reviewed the patients’ medical records and preoperative and postoperative photographs. Self-reported satisfactions of patients with the scar morphology and correction effect were assessed at postoperative every follow-up using a questionnaire survey.

Results:

All of the patients’ procedures were completely successful, and the hypertrophic nasal tip was improved. In the long-term postoperative follow-up, the patients’ wound showed no abnormalities such as scar contracture deformity, scar bumps, and nasal deformation. In 1 patient, the nasal wound developed significant scarring, and we performed reoperation to remove the superficial scar tissue. Surgical scars in the remaining patients were not obvious. Eight patients (8/20) reported “very satisfied” with scar shape and nasal tip shape improvement results, and 10 patients (10/20) reported “satisfied” with the outcomes.

Conclusions:

This procedure of nasal tip and alar groove plasty could be an alternative for making the nasal tip more refined. However, the surgical indications for this procedure need to be strictly limited to specific patients.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV.
A case of Saprochaete capitata pulmonary infection in a neutropenic HIV-infected patient
Authors: Nachate Soumia , Abbassi Saloua , Elfouar Hajar , Zouine Yousra , Cherif Idrissi El Ganouni Najat , Tassi Noura , El Hakkouni Awatif
Published: August 2022

Introduction.
Saprochaete capitata is an emerging opportunistic fungus that is responsible for an uncommon mycosis known as geotrichosis, mainly reported in patients with haematological malignancies. It is a life-threatening condition associated with a high mortality rate of over 52 %. S. capitata may affect any organ, with a predilection for the lungs.

Case presentation. Here we report a case of pulmonary geotrichosis in a neutropenic HIV-infected patient with a prior history of treated tuberculosis. The main risk factor for pulmonary geotrichosis is profound and prolonged neutropenia. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of S. capitata infection occurring on top of probable active miliary tuberculosis.

Conclusion. The clinical and radiological features are non-specific and similar to those of other pulmonary fungal diseases, hence the importance of mycological examination to confirm the diagnosis. Through this report, we urge clinicians to vigilantly consider S. capitata as an aetiological agent in the differential diagnosis of fungal infections in HIV-infected individuals and to routinely screen for associated infections.
Sphingomonas folii sp. nov., Sphingomonas citri sp. nov. and Sphingomonas citricola sp. nov., isolated from citrus phyllosphere
Authors: Feng Guang-Da , Li Jiali , Pan Mingkai , Deng Xiaoqin , Chen Meng , Yao Qing , Zhu Honghui
Published: August 2022

Three novel Gram-stain-negative, aerobic and rod-shaped bacterial strains, designated RHCKR7T, RRHST34T and RHCKR47T, were isolated from phyllosphere of healthy citrus collected in Renhua County, Guangdong Province, PR China. Phylogenetic analyses showed that they belonged to the genus

Sphingomonas

, among which both strains RHCKR7T and RRHST34T showed a close relationship with

Sphingomonas yunnanensis

YIM 003T with 16S rRNA gene similarity of 99.0 and 99.1%, respectively, and the similarity between the two novel strains was 99.2%, meanwhile strain RHCKR47T was most closely related to

Sphingomonas palmae

KACC 17591T (99.5%). Genome-derived average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between closely related novel strains RHCKR7T and RRHST34T were 90.43 and 40.80 %, respectively, and their most closely related type strain,

S. yunnanensis

YIM 003T, showed 90.43 % ANI and 40.7 % dDDH with RHCKR7T and 90.21 % and 42.9 % with RRHST34T, respectively, and the corresponding values between strain RHCKR47T and

S. palmae

KACC 17591T were 85.53 % and 29.30%, respectively. They all took C14 : 0 2-OH and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1
 ω6c and/or C18 : 1
 ω7c) as the major fatty acids, and ubiquinone 10 as the predominant respiratory quinone. The major polar lipids contained sphingoglycolipid, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine and unidentified phospholipids. sym-Homospermidine was the major polyamine. Based on phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic analyses, the new isolates should be considered as representing three novel species of the genus

Sphingomonas

, for which the names Sphingomonas folli sp. nov., Sphingomonas citri sp. nov. and Sphingomonas citricola sp. nov. are proposed with RHCKR7T (=GDMCC 1.2663T=JCM 34794T), RRHST34T (=GDMCC 1.2665T=JCM 34796T) and RHCKR47T (=GDMCC 1.2664T=JCM 34795T) as the type strains, respectively.
Neuroimaging and Cognitive Testing in Healthy Aging Adults using a Portable Low-Field MRI Scanner and Web-Based Assessment
Authors: Deoni Sean CL , Burton Phoebe , Beauchemin Jennifer , Cano-Lorente Rosa , De Both Matthew D. , Johnson Megan , Ryan Lee , Huentelman Matthew J.
Published: August 2022

Consumer wearables and health monitors, internet-based health and cognitive assessments, and at-home biosample (e.g., saliva and capillary blood) collection kits are increasingly used by public health researchers to recruit and follow large study populations without requiring intensive in-person study visits. In addition to reducing participant time and travel burden, remote and virtual data collection allows individuals who live long distances from a hospital or university research center, have limited time or mobility, or who lack access to transportation to participate. Unfortunately, studies that include magnetic resonance neuroimaging can be particularly burdensome given the infrastructure requirements of 1.5, 3, and 7 Tesla scanners. As a result, they often omit socially, economically, and educationally disadvantaged individuals. Portable lower magnetic field strength systems offer the potential to perform neuroimaging at a participant’s home and convenience. In this work, we present the first report of associations between brain morphometry and cognitive performance assessed using a portable low-field MRI “scan van” and an established online assessment (MindCrowd) of paired-associate learning (PAL). In a sample of 67 individuals between 18-93 years of age who were imaged at their home or convenient nearby location, we show expected trends in brain volumes with age and detail associations between learning and memory-related brain region volumes and PAL performance. Results demonstrate the ability to collect reliable neuroimaging and cognitive data outside of traditional imaging research settings with important implications for engaging traditionally underrepresented communities in neuroimaging research.

HIGHLIGHTS

First demonstration of portable neuroimaging with web-based neurocognitive assessments for routine remote assessment of brain changes associated with aging and age-related cognitive changes.

Replication of general brain changes with age and associations with associative learning at low-field strength (64mT) as previously reported at higher routine 1.5T and 3T field strengths.

Results demonstrate the ability to collect reliable remote neuroimaging and cognitive test data with important implications for engaging traditionally underrepresented communities in neuroimaging research.
Younger age of initiation of selling sex and depressive symptoms among female sex workers in Eswatini
Authors: Grosso Ashley , Fielding-Miller Rebecca , Matse Sindy , Sithole Bhekie , Baral Stefan
Published: August 2022

Background

Minors who sell sex are likely to have complex mental health needs that may persist into adulthood. This topic is understudied in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study hypothesized that adult female sex workers in Eswatini who started selling sex as minors have a higher prevalence of depression than those who started as adults. We also examined correlates of depression and underage initiation of selling sex, including stigma and condom-related behaviors.

Methods

From October-December 2014, women aged 18 or older who sold sex in the past 12 months in Eswatini were recruited through venue-based sampling. Participants completed a survey including the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and a question about the age at which they first sold sex for money. T-tests, χ2 tests and multivariable logistic regression were used to assess associations.

Results

Overall, 43.1% of participants (332/770) had probable depression, and 16.6% (128/770) started selling sex as minors under the age of 18. Over half (55.5%, 71/128) of those who started selling sex as minors had depression. This was significantly higher than the 40.7% (261/642) prevalence of depression among participants who started selling sex as adults (p=0.002). After adjusting for confounders, female sex workers who started selling sex as minors had higher odds of depression than those who started as adults (adjusted odds ratio 1.70, 95% confidence interval 1.11-2.60). Both depression and underage initiation of selling sex were associated with anticipating stigma toward sex workers in healthcare settings and the number of times the participant reported a condom slipped off or broke in the past month.

Conclusion

Results highlight the need for trauma-informed and adolescent-friendly mental health services in settings free of stigma toward female sex workers in Eswatini.
Physicians’ Attitudes towards Secondary Use of Clinical Data for Biomedical Research Purposes in Germany. Results of a Quantitative Survey
Authors: Köngeter Anja , Schickhardt Christoph , Jungkunz Martin , Mehlis Katja , Winkler Eva C.
Published: August 2022

Background

For biomedical data-driven research purposes, secondary use of clinical data carries great but largely untapped potential. Physicians’ attitudes and their needs towards secondary data use are essential to inform its practical and ethically sound implementation but are currently understudied.

Objective

Therefore, the objectives of the study are to assess physicians’ (i) general attitudes and concerns, (ii) willingness to adapt workflows and to make data available for secondary use, (iii) group-specific conditions and concerns of physician-scientists and purely clinical physicians.

Methods

We developed an online survey based on a literature review and an expert interview study. Physicians in private practice and at two large German university hospitals were surveyed from May 2021 until January 2022.

Results

In total, 446 physicians participated in the survey. 96% [380/397] of all physicians reported a positive attitude towards secondary use; 87% [31/397] are in-principle willing to support secondary use of clinical data along with a small proportion of physicians with fundamental reservations 8%. Secondly, the most important conditions for adapting workflows was funding of additional time and effort for research-adequate documentation (71% [286/390]) and the most important condition for providing patients’ clinical data was reliable protection of patients’ privacy (67% [254/382]). Thirdly, physician-scientists were more likely to request additional funding for research-adequate documentation as a precondition for support (83% vs 69%, P=.002) and the privilege to conduct research with patient data prior to other researchers (43% vs 11%, P<.001); while purely clinical physicians more frequently require reliable protection of patient privacy (76% vs 62%, P=.007) and monetary compensation (45% vs 25%, P<.001).

Conclusion

Since this study presents high in-principle willingness of physicians to support secondary use along with little general concerns, it seems essential to address physicians’ group-specific conditions toward secondary use in order to gain their support.
Targeting default mode network connectivity with mindfulness-based fMRI neurofeedback: A pilot study among adolescents with affective disorder history
Authors: Zhang Jiahe , Raya Jovicarole , Morfini Francesca , Urban Zoi , Pagliaccio David , Yendiki Anastasia , Auerbach Randy P. , Bauer Clemens C.C. , Whitfield-Gabrieli Susan
Published: August 2022

Adolescents experience alarmingly high rates of major depressive disorder (MDD), however, gold-standard treatments are only effective for ~50% of youth. Accordingly, there is a critical need to develop novel interventions, particularly ones that target neural mechanisms believed to potentiate depressive symptoms. Directly addressing this gap, we developed a mindfulness-based fMRI neurofeedback (mbNF) for adolescents that targets default mode network (DMN) hyperconnectivity, which has been implicated in the onset and maintenance of MDD. In this proof-of-concept study, adolescents (n = 9) with a lifetime history of depression and/or anxiety were administered clinical interviews and self-report questionnaires, and then, each participant’s DMN and central executive network (CEN) were personalized using a resting state fMRI localizer. After the localizer scan, adolescents completed a brief mindfulness training followed by a mbNF session in the scanner wherein they were instructed to volitionally reduce DMN relative to CEN activation by practicing mindfulness meditation. Several promising findings emerged. First, mbNF successfully engaged the target brain state during neurofeedback; participants spent more time in the target state with DMN activation lower than CEN activation. Second, in each of the nine adolescents, mbNF led to significantly reduced within-DMN connectivity, which correlated with post-mbNF increases in state mindfulness. Last, a reduction of within-DMN connectivity mediated the association between better mbNF performance and increased state mindfulness. These findings demonstrate that personalized mbNF can effectively and non-invasively modulate the intrinsic networks known to be associated with the emergence and persistence of depressive symptoms during adolescence.
Ab initio predictions for 3D structure and stability of single- and double-stranded DNAs in ion solutions
Authors: Mu Zi-Chun , Tan Ya-Lan , Zhang Ben-Gong , Liu Jie , Shi Ya-Zhou
Published: August 2022

The three-dimensional (3D) structure and stability of DNA are essential to understand/control their biological functions and aid the development of novel materials. In this work, we present a coarse-grained (CG) model for DNA based on the RNA CG model proposed by us, to predict 3D structures and stability for both dsDNA and ssDNA from the sequence. Combined with a Monte Carlo simulated annealing algorithm and CG force fields involving the sequence-dependent base-pairing/stacking interactions and an implicit electrostatic potential, the present model successfully folds 20 dsDNAs (≤52nt) and 20 ssDNAs (≤74nt) into the corresponding native-like structures just from their sequences, with an overall mean RMSD of 3.4Å from the experimental structures. For DNAs with various lengths and sequences, the present model can make reliable predictions on stability, e.g., for 27 dsDNAs with/without bulge/internal loops and 24 ssDNAs including pseudoknot, the mean deviation of predicted melting temperatures from the corresponding experimental data is only ~2.0℃. Furthermore, the model also quantificationally predicts the effects of monovalent or divalent ions on the structure stability of ssDNAs/dsDNAs.

Author Summary

To determine 3D structures and quantify stability of single- (ss) and double-stranded (ds) DNAs is essential to unveil the mechanisms of their functions and to further guide the production and development of novel materials. Although many DNA models have been proposed to reproduce the basic structural, mechanical, or thermodynamic properties of dsDNAs based on the secondary structure information or preset constraints, there are very few models can be used to investigate the ssDNA folding or dsDNA assembly from the sequence. Furthermore, due to the polyanionic nature of DNAs, metal ions (e.g., Na+ and Mg2+) in solutions can play an essential role in DNA folding and dynamics. Nevertheless, ab initio predictions for DNA folding in ion solutions are still an unresolved problem. In this work, we developed a novel coarse-grained model to predict 3D structures and thermodynamic stabilities for both ssDNAs and dsDNAs in monovalent/divalent ion solutions from their sequences. As compared with the extensive experimental data and available existing models, we showed that the present model can successfully fold simple DNAs into their native-like structures, and can also accurately reproduce the effects of sequence and monovalent/divalent ions on structure stability for ssDNAs including pseudoknot and dsDNAs with/without bulge/internal loops.
Digital maturity and its determinants in General Practice: a cross-sectional study in 20 countries
Authors: Teixeira Fábia , Li Edmond , Laranjo Liliana , Collins Claire , Irving Greg , Fernandez Maria Jose , Car Josip , Ungan Mehmet , Petek Davorina , Hoffman Robert , Majeed Azeem , Nessler Katarzyna , Lingner Heidrun , Jimenez Geronimo , Darzi Ara , Jácome Cristina , Neves Ana Luísa
Published: August 2022

Background

The extension to which digital technologies are employed to promote the delivery of high-quality healthcare is known as Digital Maturity. Individuals’ and systems’ digital maturity are both necessary to ensure a successful, scalable and sustainable digital transformation in healthcare. Digital maturity in primary care has been scarcely evaluated.

Objectives

This study assessed the digital maturity - as a whole and in its dimensions - in General Practice and evaluated how participants’ demographic characteristics, practice characteristics and features of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) use are associated with digital maturity.

Methods

General Practitioners (GPs) across 20 countries completed an online questionnaire between June and September 2020. Demographic data, practice characteristics and features of EHRs use were collected. Digital maturity was evaluated through a framework built upon usage, resources and ability (divided in this study in its collective and individual components), interoperability, general evaluation methods and impact of digital technologies. Each dimension was rated as 1 or 0. The digital maturity score is the sum of the six dimensions and ranges from 0 to 6 (maximum digital maturity). Multivariable linear regression was used to model the total score, while multivariable logistic regression was used to model the probability of meeting each dimension of the score.

Results

1,600 GPs (61% female, 68% Europeans) participated. GPs had a median digital maturity of 4 (P25-P75: 3-5). Positive associations with digital maturity were found for: being male (B=0.18 [95%CI 0.01;0.36]), use of EHRs for longer periods (B=0.45 [95%CI 0.35;0.54]) and higher frequencies of access to EHRs (B=0.33 [95%CI 0.17;0.48]). Practising in a rural setting was negatively associated with digital maturity (B=-0.25 [95%CI −0.43;-0.08]). Usage (90%) was the most acknowledged dimension while interoperability (47%) and use of best practice general evaluation methods (28%) were the least. Shorter durations of EHRs use were negatively associated with all digital maturity dimensions (aOR from 0.09 to 0.77).

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated notable factors that impact digital maturity and exposed discrepancies in digital transformation across healthcare settings. It provides a roadmap for policymakers to develop more efficacious interventions to hasten and take the best advantage of digital transformation in General Practice.
Germline cancer gene expression quantitative trait loci influence local and global tumor mutations
Authors: Liu Yuxi , Gusev Alexander , Kraft Peter
Published: August 2022

Somatic mutations drive cancer development and are relevant to patients’ response to treatment. Emerging evidence shows that variations in the somatic genome can be influenced by the germline genetic background. However, the mechanisms underlying these germline-somatic associations remain largely obscure. We hypothesized that germline variants can influence somatic mutations in a nearby cancer gene (“local impact”) or a set of recurrently mutated cancer genes across the genome (“global impact”) through their regulatory effect on gene expression. We integrated tumor targeted sequencing from 12,413 patients across 11 cancer types in the Dana-Farber Profile cohort with germline cancer gene expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) from the Genotype-Tissue Expression Project. We identified variants that upregulate ATM expression which are also associated with a decreased risk of having somatic ATM mutations across 8 cancer types (P = 3.43 × 10−5). We also identified GLI2, WRN, and CBFB eQTL that are associated with global tumor mutational burden of cancer genes in ovarian cancer, glioma, and esophagogastric carcinoma, respectively (P < 3.45 × 10−6). An EPHA5 eQTL was associated with the number of mutations in cancer genes specific to colorectal cancer, and eQTL associated with expression of APC, WRN, GLI1, FANCA, and TP53 were associated with mutations in genes specific to endometrial cancer (P < 1.73 × 10−5). Our findings provide evidence for the germline-somatic associations mediated through expression of specific cancer genes and open new avenues for research on the underlying biological processes, especially those related to immunotherapy responses.
Immune protection against SARS-CoV-2 re-reinfection and immune imprinting
Authors: Chemaitelly Hiam , Ayoub Houssein H. , Tang Patrick , Hasan Mohammad R. , Coyle Peter , Yassine Hadi M. , Al-Khatib Hebah A. , Smatti Maria K , Al-Kanaani Zaina , Al-Kuwari Einas , Jeremijenko Andrew , Kaleeckal Anvar Hassan , Latif Ali Nizar , Shaik Riyazuddin Mohammad , Abdul-Rahim Hanan F. , Nasrallah Gheyath K. , Al-Kuwari Mohamed Ghaith , Butt Adeel A. , Al-Romaihi Hamad Eid , Al-Thani Mohamed H. , Al-Khal Abdullatif , Bertollini Roberto , Abu-Raddad Laith J.
Published: August 2022

We investigated epidemiological evidence for immune imprinting by comparing incidence of re-reinfection in the national cohort of individuals with a documented Omicron (BA.1/BA.2) reinfection after a pre-Omicron primary infection (designated as the reinfection cohort), to incidence of reinfection in the national cohort of individuals with a documented Omicron (BA.1/BA.2) primary infection (designated as the primary-infection cohort). This was done using a matched, retrospective cohort study that emulated a randomized “target trial”. Vaccinated individuals were excluded. Associations were estimated using Cox proportional-hazard regression models. Cumulative incidence of infection was 1.1% (95% CI: 0.8-1.4%) for the reinfection cohort and 2.1% (95% CI: 1.8-2.3%) for the primary-infection cohort, 135 days after the start of follow-up. The adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) for infection was 0.52 (95% CI: 0.40-0.68), comparing incidence in the reinfection cohort to that in the primary-infection cohort. The aHR was 0.59 (95% CI: 0.40-0.85) in a subgroup analysis in which primary infection in the reinfection cohort was restricted to only the index virus or Alpha variant. In the first 70 days of follow-up, when incidence was dominated by BA.2, the aHR was 0.92 (95% CI: 0.51-1.65). However, cumulative incidence curves diverged when BA.4/BA.5 subvariants dominated incidence (aHR, 0.46 (95% CI: 0.34-0.62)). There was no evidence that immune imprinting compromises protection against Omicron subvariants. However, there was evidence that having two infections, one with a pre-Omicron variant followed by one with an Omicron subvariant, elicits stronger protection against future Omicron-subvariant reinfection than having had only one infection with an Omicron subvariant.
Immune monitoring of pediatric patients co-infected with Rickettsia rickettsii and Ehrlichia canis
Authors: Garcia-Rosales Laura , Escarcega-Avila Angelica , Ramirez-Lopez Moises , Manzanera-Ornelas Diana , Guevara-Macias Enrique , Vaquera-Arteaga Maribel , Alvarado-Gonzlaez Carolina , Estrada Blanca Elisa , Jimenez-Vega Florinda , Donis-Maturano Luis , Espino-Solis Gerardo Pavel
Published: August 2022

In 2021, 273 Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever cases have been reported nationwide. In Chihuahua City, fourteen samples were obtained from children suspected of rickettsial infection. The analysis of samples collected from January to December 2021 showed a prevalence of 28.5%, 43% and 28.5% for Rickettsia rickettsii, Ehrlichia canis, and both pathogens in coinfection, respectively. The analysis of clinical hematological and biochemistry analytes showed alterations such as 100% of the children coursed with elevated liver enzymes and coagulation times, 64% showed leukocytosis due to neutrophilia, 55% of them had thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia and hypoalbuminemia, and 45% showed normocytic normochromic anemia. Statistically significant differences were obtained in the chemokines IL-8, RANTES, CXCL9/MIG, and CXCL10/IP-10 across the coinfected and control groups; the differences in IP-10 were significant for patients infected by R. rickettsii compared to the control group. Also, significant differences were observed for IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17, IFNγ, and TNFα among the R. rickettsii positive group compared to the control group; on the other hand; the coinfected group exhibited modified levels of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 compared with the control group. Finally, significant differences were obtained for CD8 + T lymphocytes subpopulations between positive individuals for R. rickettsii and E. canis.
Design and Analysis of Outcomes following SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Veterans
Authors: Smith Valerie A. , Berkowitz Theodore S. Z. , Hebert Paul , Wong Edwin S. , Niederhausen Meike , Pura John A. , Berry Kristin , Green Pamela , Korpak Anna , Fox Alexandra , Baraff Aaron , Hickok Alex , Shahoumian Troy A , Bohnert Amy S.B. , Hynes Denise , Boyko Edward J. , Ioannou George N. , Iwashyna Theodore J. , Bowling C. Barrett , O’Hare Ann M. , Maciejewski Matthew L.
Published: August 2022

Abstract

Background

Understanding how SARS-CoV-2 infection impacts long-term patient outcomes requires identification of comparable persons with and without infection. We report the design and implementation of a matching strategy employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) COVID-19 Observational Research Collaboratory (CORC) to develop comparable cohorts of SARS-CoV-2 infected and uninfected persons for the purpose of inferring potential causative long-term adverse effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the Veteran population.

Methods

In a retrospective cohort study, we identified VA health care system patients who were and were not infected with SARS-CoV-2 on a rolling monthly basis. We generated matched cohorts utilizing a combination of exact and time-varying propensity score matching based on electronic health record (EHR)-derived covariates that can be confounders or risk factors across a range of outcomes.

Results

From an initial pool of 126,689,864 person-months of observation, we generated final matched cohorts of 208,536 Veterans infected between March 2020-April 2021 and 3,014,091 uninfected Veterans. Matched cohorts were well-balanced on all 38 covariates used in matching after excluding patients for: no VA health care utilization; implausible age, weight, or height; living outside of the 50 states or Washington, D.C.; prior SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis per Medicare claims; or lack of a suitable match. Most Veterans in the matched cohort were male (88.3%), non-Hispanic (87.1%), white (67.2%), and living in urban areas (71.5%), with a mean age of 60.6, BMI of 31.3, Gagne comorbidity score of 1.4 and a mean of 2.3 CDC high-risk conditions. The most common diagnoses were hypertension (61.4%), diabetes (34.3%), major depression (32.2%), coronary heart disease (28.5%), PTSD (25.5%), anxiety (22.5%), and chronic kidney disease (22.5%).

Conclusions

This successful creation of matched SARS-CoV-2 infected and uninfected patient cohorts from the largest integrated health system in the United States will support cohort studies of outcomes derived from EHRs and sample selection for qualitative interviews and patient surveys. These studies will increase our understanding of the long-term outcomes of Veterans who were infected with SARS-CoV-2.
Hospital bed capacity across in Tunisia hospital during the first four waves of the COVID-19 pandemic: A descriptive analysis
Authors: BenMiled Slimane , Borgi Chiraz , Hsairi Mohamed , Somrani Naoufel , Kebir Amira
Published: August 2022

Background

On March 11, 2020, WHO announced that the COVID-19 epidemic had passed the pandemic stage, indicating its spread over several continents. Tunisia’s containment and targeted screening strategy corresponded to the first WHO guidelines. Since then, public health policy has been more flexible and focused on the management of hospital beds.

Objective

Our aims are to analyze bed occupancies for public hospitals and time delay reponse from the health care system in regard to the epidemiological situation.

Methods

We have analyzed the evolution of daily cases in relation to the different NPI actions undertaken by the Tunisian Government between March 2019 and February 2022 using the CoMo model. We have also studied the flexibility of the O2 and ICU public hospital bed occupancies. We have used three distinct indices to assess this flexibility: the Ramp Duration Until the Peak (RDUP), which measures the duration of the wave/bed allocation effort. The Ramp Growth Until the Peak (RGUP), measures the peak height, and Ramp Rate Until the Peak (RRUP) measures the growth rate of the wave. Also, in order to evaluate the government response efficacy, we have calculated the time delay at the start (resp. at peak) of each two waves.

Results

The evolution of the epidemic in Tunisia was divided into two phases, the first of which corresponded to the initial wave, during which the pandemic was controlled due to very strong NPI actions. The second phase was distinguished by a progressive relaxation of measures and an increase in wave intensity.

ICU bed availability has followed the demand for beds, while ICU bed occupancy has always been higher than 85% with a maximum of 97%.

In terms of bed distribution, the government’s response was slow (9.4 days for the 02 beds and 18.2 days for the ICU beds). The same may be said for the reaction in terms of bed reallocation in the original departments (16 days for ICU beds and 10.6 days for O2 beds)..

Conclusion

We were able to examine the responsiveness of the system as a whole for all of Tunisia’s public hospitals by measuring the flexibility and bed margin. With this research, decision makers will be able to assess their response capabilities in the event of current pandemic, as well as a future one.
Using geographic information systems to link population estimates to wastewater surveillance data in New York State, USA
Authors: Hill Dustin T. , Larsen David A.
Published: August 2022

Sewer systems provide many services to communities that have access to them beyond removal of waste and wastewater. Understanding of these systems’ geographic coverage is essential for wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE), which requires accurate estimates for the population contributing wastewater. Reliable estimates for the boundaries of a sewer service area or sewershed can be used to link upstream populations to wastewater samples taken at treatment plants or other locations within a sewer system. These geographic data are usually managed by public utilities, municipal offices, and some government agencies, however, there are no centralized databases for geographic information on sewer systems. We created a database for all municipal sewersheds in New York State for the purpose of supporting statewide wastewater surveillance efforts to support public health. We used a combination of public tax records with sewer access information, physical maps, and municipal records to organize and draw digital boundaries compatible with geographic information systems. The methods we employed to create these data will be useful to inform similar efforts in other jurisdictions and the data have many public health applications as well as being informative for water/environmental research and infrastructure projects.
Tuberculosis severity associates with variants and eQTLs related to vascular biology and infection-induced inflammation
Authors: McHenry Michael L , Simmons Jason , Hong Hyejeong , Malone LaShaunda L , Mayanja-Kizza Harriet , Bush William S. , Boom W. Henry , Hawn Thomas R , Williams Scott M. , Stein Catherine M.
Published: August 2022

Background

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health problem globally, even compared to COVID-19. Genome-wide studies have failed to discover genes that explain a large proportion of genetic risk for adult pulmonary TB, and even fewer have examined genetic factors underlying TB severity, an intermediate trait impacting disease experience, quality of life, and risk of mortality. No prior severity analyses used a genome-wide approach.

Methods and Findings

As part of our ongoing household contact study in Kampala, Uganda, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of TB severity measured by TBScore, in two independent cohorts of culture-confirmed adult TB cases (n=149 and n=179). We identified 3 SNPs (P<1.0 × 10-7) including one on chromosome 5, rs1848553, that was GWAS significant (meta-analysis p=2.97×10-8). All three SNPs are in introns of RGS7BP and have effect sizes corresponding to clinically meaningful reductions in disease severity. RGS7BP is highly expressed in blood vessels and plays a role in infectious disease pathogenesis. Other genes with suggestive associations defined gene sets involved in platelet homeostasis and transport of organic anions. To explore functional implications of the TB severity-associated variants, we conducted eQTL analyses using expression data from Mtb-stimulated monocyte-derived macrophages. A single variant (rs2976562) associated with monocyte SLA expression (p=0.03) and subsequent analyses indicated that SLA downregulation following MTB stimulation associated with increased TB severity. Src Like Adaptor (SLAP-1), encoded by SLA, is highly expressed in immune cells and negatively regulates T cell receptor signaling, providing a potential mechanistic link to TB severity.

Conclusions

These analyses reveal new insights into the genetics of TB severity with regulation of platelet homeostasis and vascular biology being central to consequences for active TB patients. This analysis also reveals genes that regulate inflammation can lead to differences in severity. Our findings provide an important step in improving TB patient outcomes.
Cost-utility analysis comparing ocrelizumab vs rituximab in the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: The Colombian perspective
Authors: Navarro Cristian Eduardo , Betancur John Edison , Porras-Ramírez Alexandra
Published: August 2022

Introduction

Since 2017, the ocrelizumab is available to treat patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), together with rituximab, they have a similar effectiveness but different costs. In this context, the added value provided by cost-effectiveness estimators for decision-making and drug prescription can be considered.

Objective

to determine the cost-utility of ocrelizumab versus rituximab in patients with RRMS, from the perspective of the Colombian health system.

Methodology

cost-utility study based on a Markov model, with a 50-year horizon and payer perspective. The currency was the US Dollar (USD) for the year 2019, with a threshold of $5,180 USD defined for Colombian health system. The model used annual cycles according to the health status determined by the disability scale. Direct costs were considered, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) per 1 quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained was used as the outcome measure. A discount rate of 5% was applied for costs and outcomes. Multiple one-way deterministic sensitivity analyzes and 10,000 modeling through Monte Carlo simulation were performed.

Results

for the treatment of patients with RRMS, ocrelizumab versus rituximab had an ICER of $73,652 USD for each QALY gained. After 50 years, 1 subject treated with ocrelizumab earns 4.8 QALYs more than 1 subject treated with rituximab, but at a higher cost of $521,759 USD vs $168,752 USD, respectively. Ocrelizumab becomes a cost-effective therapy when its price is discounted >86%, or there is a high willingness to pay.

Conclusions

Ocrelizumab was not a cost-effective drug compared with rituximab to treat patients with RRMS in Colombia.
Label-free virus-antibody interaction monitoring in real time by common-path interferometry
Authors: Alhaddad Samer , Bey Houda , Thouvenin Olivier , Boulanger Pascale , Boccara Claude , Izeddin Ignacio , Boccara Martine
Published: August 2022

Viruses can affect all life forms, raising concerns about virus detection and quantification of small nanoparticles. In this paper we use a label-free, full-field, incoherently illuminated common path interferometric method to detect, track, and quantify biotic nanoparticles. The detection consists of amplifying the light scattered by single nanoparticles in the sample solution. Then, the use of single-particle tracking analysis is used to monitor the change in particle diffusive mobility. With this approach, the recognition signature of T5 phages with purified antibodies targeting the major capsid protein is detected in a few minutes. We also tracked the interaction between SPP1 phages and physiological non-purified serum-containing multiples antibodies molecules. The first interactions occur after around one minute, and the recognition signature is detectable after minutes. In addition, we have been able to differentiate two populations of similar size of empty and full (encapsulating DNA) capsids of T5 in a heterogeneous solution demonstrating the robustness of this label-free detection approach. Furthermore, by combining the diffusion coefficient to the number of tracked particles, we were able to estimate the affinity of the virus-antibodies reaction.
Integrated Immunopeptidomics and Proteomics Study Reveals Imbalanced Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses to SARS-Cov-2 Infection
Authors: Chen Rui , Fulton Kelly M. , Tran Anh , Duque Diana , Kovalchik Kevin , Caron Etienne , Twine Susan M. , Li Jianjun
Published: August 2022

We present an integrated immunopeptidomics and proteomics study of SARS-Cov-2 infection to comprehensively decipher the changes in host cells in response to viral infection. Our results indicated that innate immune response in Calu-3 cells was initiated by TLR3, followed by activation of interferon signaling pathway. Host cells also present viral antigens to the cell surface through both Class I and Class II MHC system for recognition by adaptive immune system. SARS-Cov-2 infection led to the disruption of antigen presentation as demonstrated by higher level of HLA proteins from the flow-through of MHC immunoprecipitation. Glycosylation analysis of HLA proteins from the elution and flow-through of immunoprecipitation revealed that the synthesis and degradation of HLA protein was affected by SARS-Cov-2 infection. This study provided many useful information to study the host response to SARS-Cov-2 infection and would be helpful for the development of therapeutics and vaccine for Covid-19 and future pandemic.
Sensitivity to naturalistic texture relies primarily on high spatial frequencies
Authors: Lieber Justin D. , Lee Gerick M. , Majaj Najib J. , Movshon J. Anthony
Published: August 2022

Natural images contain information at multiple spatial scales. Although we understand how early visual mechanisms split multi-scale images into distinct spatial frequency channels, we do not know how the outputs of these channels are processed further by mid-level visual mechanisms. We have recently developed a naturalness discrimination task that uses synthesized, multi-scale textures to isolate these mid-level mechanisms (Freeman et. al. 2013). Here, we use three experimental manipulations (image blur, image rescaling, and eccentric viewing) to show that naturalness sensitivity is strongly dependent on image features at highobjectspatial frequencies (measured in cycles/image). As a result, sensitivity depends on atexture acuity limit, a property of the visual system that sets the highestretinalspatial frequency (measured in cycles/degree) that can be used to solve the task. A model observer analysis shows that high object spatial frequencies carry more task-relevant information than low object spatial frequencies. Comparing the outcome of this analysis with human performance reveals that human observers’ efficiency is similar for all object spatial frequencies. We conclude that the mid-level mechanisms that underlie naturalness sensitivity effectively extract information from all image features below the texture acuity limit, regardless of their retinal and object spatial frequency.
A neural signature of reward
Authors: Chang Luke J. , Li Xiao , Nguyen Kenny , Ranger Maxwell , Begunova Yelyzaveta , Chen Pin-Hao A. , Castrellon Jaime J. , Samanez-Larkin Gregory R. , Zald David H. , Fareri Dominic S. , Delgado Mauricio R. , Tomova Livia
Published: August 2022

Using a neurometric approach, we identify and validate a neural signature of reward encoded in a distributed pattern of brain activity using data collected from 21 different studies (N = 2,691). Our model can discriminate between receiving rewards from punishments in completely independent data with 99% accuracy and includes weights located in regions containing a high density of D2/D3 receptors. The model exhibits strong generalizability across a range of tasks probing reward, and a high degree of specificity for reward compared to non-reward constructs. We demonstrate several applications of how this model can infer psychological states of positive affect in the absence of self report. The model is sensitive to changes in brain activity following causal manipulations of homeostatic states, can uncover individual preferences for loss-aversion, and can be used to identify positive affective experiences when watching a television show. Our results suggest that there is a shared neural signature of reward elicited across these different task contexts.
COVID-19 Contact Tracing Analysis with Bluetooth Technology Using Raspberry Pis
Authors: Zhang Dean
Published: August 2022

Contact tracing, a method for detecting and preventing the spread of a disease, can become more efficient by becoming automated, rather than being done manually. Bluetooth based contact tracing is a potential method for creating an automated method for contact tracing. However, Bluetooth signals cannot always predict something with complete accuracy due to many subtle obstructions. Received signal strength indicator (RSSI), a value produced when Bluetooth devices send and receive signals, generated from Raspberry Pis can predict the distance between the two devices. By running many experiments with variations of obstructions, I was able to successfully create models to correlate RSSI values and distance with a potential success rate of 91.973%. For my research, a success is determined to be anything but a false negative. Despite the limitations when conducting my research, the inaccuracies of my results prove Bluetooth based contact tracing to not be a reliable method for determining people who have been in contact with an index case in the real world.