bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of face masks and sunglasses on identity and expression recognition with super-recognizers and typical observers
Authors: Noyes Eilidh , Davis Josh P. , Petrov Nikolay , Gray Katie L. H. , Ritchie Kay L.
Published: March 2021

Face masks present a new challenge to face identification (here matching) and emotion recognition in Western cultures. Here, we present the results of three experiments that test the effect of masks, and also the effect of sunglasses (an occlusion that individuals tend to have more experienced with) on (i) familiar face matching, (ii) unfamiliar face matching and (iii) emotion categorization. Occlusion reduced accuracy in all three tasks, with most errors in the mask condition; however, there was little difference in performance for faces in masks compared with faces in sunglasses. Super-recognizers, people who are highly skilled at matching unconcealed faces, were impaired by occlusion, but at the group level, performed with higher accuracy than controls on all tasks. Results inform psychology theory with implications for everyday interactions, security and policing in a mask-wearing society.
Effectiveness and resource requirements of test, trace and isolate strategies for COVID in the UK
Authors: He Bobby , Zaidi Sheheryar , Elesedy Bryn , Hutchinson Michael , Paleyes Andrei , Harling Guy , Johnson Anne M. , Whye Teh Yee ,   on behalf of the Royal Society's DELVE group
Published: March 2021

We use an individual-level transmission and contact simulation model to explore the effectiveness and resource requirements of various test-trace-isolate (TTI) strategies for reducing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the UK, in the context of different scenarios with varying levels of stringency of non-pharmaceutical interventions. Based on modelling results, we show that self-isolation of symptomatic individuals and quarantine of their household contacts has a substantial impact on the number of new infections generated by each primary case. We further show that adding contact tracing of non-household contacts of confirmed cases to this broader package of interventions reduces the number of new infections otherwise generated by 5–15%. We also explore impact of key factors, such as tracing application adoption and testing delay, on overall effectiveness of TTI.
Systematic review of soil ecosystem services in tropical regions
Authors: Rodrigues Aline F. , Latawiec Agnieszka E. , Reid Brian J. , Solórzano Alexandro , Schuler Azeneth E. , Lacerda Carine , Fidalgo Elaine C. C. , Scarano Fabio R. , Tubenchlak Fernanda , Pena Ingrid , Vicente-Vicente Jose Luis , Korys Katarzyna A. , Cooper Miguel , Fernandes Nelson F. , Prado Rachel B. , Maioli Veronica , Dib Viviane , Teixeira Wenceslau G.
Published: March 2021

Soil ecosystem service (SES) approaches evidence the importance of soil for human well-being, contribute to improving dialogue between science and decision-making and encourage the translation of scientific results into public policies. Herein, through systematic review, we assess the state of the art of SES approaches in tropical regions. Through this review, 41 publications were identified; while most of these studies considered SES, a lack of a consistent framework to define SES was apparent. Most studies measured soil natural capital and processes, while only three studies undertook monetary valuation. Although the number of publications increased (from 1 to 41), between 2001 and 2019, the total number of publications for tropical regions is still small. Countries with the largest number of publications were Brazil (
n
= 8), Colombia (
n
= 6) and Mexico (
n
= 4). This observation emphasizes an important knowledge gap pertaining to SES approaches and their link to tropical regions. With global momentum behind SES approaches, there is an opportunity to integrate SES approaches into policy and practice in tropical regions. The use of SES evaluation tools in tropical regions could transform how land use decisions are informed, mitigating soil degradation and protecting the ecosystems that soil underpins.
Fate of a bulge in an inflated hyperelastic tube: theory and experiment
Authors: Hejazi Masoud , Hsiang York , Srikantha Phani A.
Published: March 2021

Mechanical instability in a pre-tensioned finite hyperelastic tube subjected to a slowly increasing internal pressure produces a spatially localized bulge at a critical pressure. This instability is studied in controlled experiments on inflated latex rubber tubes, from the perspective of buckling observed in aneurysms and their rupture risk. The fate of the bulge under continued inflation is governed by the end-conditions and the initial tension in the tube. In a tube with one end fixed and a weight attached to the other freely moving end, the bulge propagates axially at low initial tension, growing in length, and the tube relaxes by extension without buckling. Rupture occurs when the tension is high. By contrast, the bulge formed in an initially stretched tube held fixed at both its ends can buckle or rupture, depending on the amount of initial tension. Experiments are reported for different initial tensions and boundary conditions (BCs). Failure maps in the stretch parameter space and in stretch–tension space are constructed by extending existing theories for bulge formation and buckling analyses to the experimentally relevant BCs. Failure maps deduced from the theory are compared against experiments, and the underlying assumptions are critically assessed. Experiments reveal that buckling provides an alternative route to relieve the stress built up during inflation. Hence, buckling, when it occurs, can be a protective fail-safe mechanism against the rupture of a bulge in an inflated elastic tube.
JMM Profile: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
Authors: Inglis Timothy J. J. , Mathee Kalai
Published: March 2021

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus is the cause of an infection known as coronavirus infectious disease 2019 (COVID-19). COVID-19 has become a global source of morbidity, mortality and social disruption since its emergence in East Asia in late 2019 and subsequent pandemic spread. Typical symptoms include cough, sore throat, fever, and sudden loss of taste and smell. Persistent, post-infection sequelae have been noted in a minority of cases. Severe complications and deaths occur mostly in older adults. Laboratory confirmation can be performed by viral RNA and antigen detection in nasal swabs or by detecting specific neutralizing antibodies. There is no effective and approved antiviral treatment, but several vaccines with favourable safety and efficacy profiles are being used in mass vaccination programmes. Vaccine-based COVID control should be seen as an addition to existing hygiene measures such as physical distancing, increased hand hygiene, cough etiquette, and barrier protection with personal protective equipment for frontline healthcare workers and other high-risk professions.
In vitro exploration of the Xanthomonas hortorum pv. vitians genome using transposon insertion sequencing and comparative genomics to discriminate between core and contextual essential genes
Authors: Morinière Lucas , Lecomte Solène , Gueguen Erwan , Bertolla Franck
Published: March 2021

The essential genome of a bacterium encompasses core genes associated with basic cellular processes and conditionally essential genes dependent upon environmental conditions or the genetic context. Comprehensive knowledge of those gene sets allows for a better understanding of fundamental bacterial biology and offers new perspectives for antimicrobial drug research against detrimental bacteria such as pathogens. We investigated the essential genome of

Xanthomonas hortorum

pv. vitians, a gammaproteobacterial plant pathogen of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) which belongs to the plant-pathogen reservoir genus

Xanthomonas

and is affiliated to the family

Xanthomonadaceae

. No practical means of disease control or prevention against this pathogen is currently available, and its molecular biology is virtually unknown. To reach a comprehensive overview of the essential genome of

X. hortorum

pv. vitians LM16734, we developed a mixed approach combining high-quality full genome sequencing, saturated transposon insertion sequencing (Tn-Seq) in optimal growth conditions, and coupled computational analyses such as comparative genomics, synteny assessment and phylogenomics. Among the 370 essential loci identified by Tn-Seq, a majority was bound to critical cell processes conserved across bacteria. The remaining genes were either related to specific ecological features of

Xanthomonas

or

Xanthomonadaceae

species, or acquired through horizontal gene transfer of mobile genetic elements and associated with ancestral parasitic gene behaviour and bacterial defence systems. Our study sheds new light on our usual concepts about gene essentiality and is pioneering in the molecular and genomic study of

X. hortorum

pv. vitians.
Genome-Wide Meta-Analysis of Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Using Rare Variant Imputation in 65,602 Subjects Identifies Novel Rare Variant Locus NCK2: The International Genomics of Alzheimer’s Project (IGAP)
Authors: Naj Adam C. , Leonenko Ganna , Jian Xueqiu , Grenier-Boley Benjamin , Dalmasso Maria Carolina , Bellenguez Celine , Sha Jin , Zhao Yi , van der Lee Sven J. , Sims Rebecca , Chouraki Vincent , Bis Joshua C. , Kunkle Brian W. , Holmans Peter , Leung Yuk Yee , Farrell John J. , Chesi Alessandra , Chen Hung-Hsin , Vardarajan Badri , Benchek Penelope , Barral Sandral , Lee Chien-Yueh , Kuksa Pavel , Haut Jacob , Lee Edward B. , Li Mingyao , Zhang Yuanchao , Grant Struan , Phillips-Cremins Jennifer E. , Comic Hata , Pitsillides Achilleas , Xia Rui , Hamilton-Nelson Kara L. , Kuzma Amanda , Valladares Otto , Fulton-Howard Brian , Dupuis Josee , Bush Will S. , Wang Li-San , Below Jennifer E. , Farrer Lindsay A. , van Duijn Cornelia , Mayeux Richard , Haines Jonathan L. , DeStefano Anita L. , Pericak-Vance Margaret A. , Ramirez Alfredo , Seshadri Sudha , Amouyel Philippe , Williams Julie , Lambert Jean-Charles , Schellenberg Gerard D.
Published: March 2021

Risk for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD) is driven by multiple loci primarily identified by genome-wide association studies, many of which are common variants with minor allele frequencies (MAF)> 0.01. To identify additional common and rare LOAD risk variants, we performed a GWAS on 25,170 LOAD subjects and 41,052 cognitively normal controls in 44 datasets from the International Genomics of Alzheimer’s Project (IGAP). Existing genotype data was imputed using the dense, high-resolution Haplotype Reference Consortium (HRC) r1.1 reference panel. Stage 1 associations of P<10−5 were meta-analyzed with the European Alzheimer’s Disease Biobank (EADB) (n=20,301 cases; 21,839 controls) (stage 2 combined IGAP and EADB). An expanded meta-analysis was performed using a GWAS of parental AD/dementia history in the UK Biobank (UKBB) (n=35,214 cases; 180,791 controls) (stage 3 combined IGAP, EADB, and UKBB). Common variant (MAF≥0.01) associations were identified for 29 loci in stage 2, including novel genome-wide significant associations at TSPAN14 (P=2.33×10−12), SHARPIN (P=1.56×10−9), and ATF5/SIGLEC11 (P=1.03×10−8), and newly significant associations without using AD proxy cases in MTSS1L/IL34 (P=1.80×10−8), APH1B (P=2.10×10−13), and CLNK (P=2.24×10−10). Rare variant (MAF<0.01) associations with genome-wide significance in stage 2 included multiple variants in APOE and TREM2, and a novel association of a rare variant (rs143080277; MAF=0.0054; P=2.69×10−9) in NCK2, further strengthened with the inclusion of UKBB data in stage 3 (P=7.17×10−13). Single-nucleus sequence data shows that NCK2 is highly expressed in amyloid-responsive microglial cells, suggesting a role in LOAD pathology.
Evaluation of pooling of samples for testing SARS-COV- 2 for mass screening of COVID-19
Authors: Mahmoud Sally , Ibrahim Esra , Thakre Bhagyashree , Teddy Juliet , Raheja Preety , Ganesan Subhashini , Zaher Walid
Published: March 2021

Background

The current pandemic of SARS- COV- 2 virus, widely known as COVID-19 has affected millions of people around the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended vigorous testing to differentiate SARS-CoV-2 from other respiratory infections to aid in guiding appropriate care and management. Situations like this have demanded robust testing strategies and pooled testing of samples for SARS- COV- 2 virus has provided the solution to mass screening of people. The pooled testing strategy can be very effective in testing with limited resources, yet it comes with its own limitations. These limitations need critical consideration when it comes to testing of highly infectious disease like COVID −19.

Methods

The study evaluated the pooled testing of nasopharyngeal swabs for SARS- COV- 2 by comparing sensitivity of individual sample testing with 4 and 8 pool sample testing. Median cycle threshold (Ct) values were compared. The precision of pooled testing was assessed by doing an inter and intra assay of pooled samples. Coefficient of variance was calculated for inter and intra assay variability.

Results

The sensitivity becomes considerably low when the samples are pooled, there is a higher percentage of false negatives with higher pool size and when the patient viral load is low or weak positive samples. High variability was seen in the intra and inter assay, especially in weak positive samples and larger pool size.

Conclusion

As COVID - 19 numbers are still high and testing capacity needs to be high, we have to meticulously evaluate the testing strategy for each country depending on its testing capacity, infrastructure, economic strength, and need to make a serious call on cost effective strategy of resource saving and risk/ cost of missing positive patients.
Development of a COVID-19 Application Ontology for the ACT Network
Authors: Visweswaran Shyam , Samayamuthu Malarkodi J. , Morris Michele , Weber Griffin M. , MacFadden Douglas , Trevvett Philip , Klann Jeffrey G. , Gainer Vivian , Benoit Barbara , Murphy Shawn N. , Patel Lav , Mirkovic Nebojsa , Borovskiy Yuliya , Johnson Robert D. , Wyatt Matthew C. , Wang Amy Y. , Follett Robert W. , Chau Ngan , Zhu Wenhong , Abajian Mark , Chuang Amy , Bahroos Neil , Reeder Phillip , Xie Donglu , Cai Jennifer , Sendro Elaina R. , Toto Robert D. , Firestein Gary S. , Nadler Lee M. , Reis Steven E.
Published: March 2021

Clinical data networks that leverage large volumes of data in electronic health records (EHRs) are significant resources for research on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Data harmonization is a key challenge in seamless use of multisite EHRs for COVID-19 research. We developed a COVID-19 application ontology in the national Accrual to Clinical Trials (ACT) network that enables harmonization of data elements that that are critical to COVID-19 research. The ontology contains over 50,000 concepts in the domains of diagnosis, procedures, medications, and laboratory tests. In particular, it has computational phenotypes to characterize the course of illness and outcomes, derived terms, and harmonized value sets for SARS-CoV-2 laboratory tests. The ontology was deployed and validated on the ACT COVID-19 network that consists of nine academic health centers with data on 14.5M patients. This ontology, which is freely available to the entire research community on GitHub at https://github.com/shyamvis/ACT-COVID-Ontology, will be useful for harmonizing EHRs for COVID-19 research beyond the ACT network.
Impact of COVID-19 on tuberculosis notifications in Blantyre Malawi: an interrupted time series analysis and qualitative study with healthcare workers
Authors: Soko Rebecca Nzawa , Burke Rachael M , Feasey Helena RA , Sibande Wakumanya , Nliwasa Marriott , Henrion Marc YR , Khundi McEwen , Dodd Peter J , Ku Chu Chang , Kawalazira Gift , Choko Augustine T , Divala Titus H , Corbett Elizabeth L , MacPherson Peter
Published: March 2021

COVID-19 may impact on tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis and care. We analysed a city-wide electronic TB register in Blantyre, Malawi and interviewed TB officers. Malawi had no official “lockdown” but closed schools and borders on 23-March 2020. In interrupted time series analysis, there was an immediate 35.9% reduction in TB notifications (95% CI 22.0 to 47.3%) in April, which recovered to near pre-pandemic numbers by December 2020, but with 333 (95% CI 291 to 375) fewer cumulative notifications than anticipated. Women and girls were impacted (30.7% fewer cases, 95% CI 28.4 to 33.0%) more than men and boys (20.9% fewer, 95% CI 18.5 to 23.3). Fear of COVID-19 infection, temporary facility closure, inadequate protective equipment and COVID-19 stigma with similar presenting symptoms to TB were mentioned. Public health measures could benefit both TB and COVID-19, but only if diagnostic services remain accessible and are considered safe to attend.
A Spatiotemporal Analysis of Socio-Environmental Patterns in Severe Maternal Morbidity: A Retrospective Birth Cohort
Authors: Harden Stella , Runkle Jennifer , Sugg Margaret
Published: March 2021

Objectives

Severe Maternal Morbidity (SMM) is a group of pregnancy complications in which a woman nearly dies. Despite its increasing prevalence, there is little research that evaluates geographic patterns of SMM and the underlying social determinants that influence excess risk. This study examines the spatial clustering of SMM across South Carolina, US, and its associations with place-based social and environmental factors.

Methods

Hospitalized deliveries from 1999 to 2017 were analyzed using Kulldorff’s spatial scan statistic to locate areas with abnormally high rates of SMM. Patients inside and outside risk clusters were compared using Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) to determine underlying risk factors.

Results

Final models revealed that the odds of living in a high-risk cluster were 84% higher among Black patients (OR=1.84, p<.001), 30% higher among Hispanic and Latina patients (OR=1.3, p<.05), and 1.51 times more likely among women living in highly segregated and poorer minority communities (OR=1.51 p<.001). Odds for residing in a high-risk cluster were 23% higher for those who gave birth during a period with temperatures above 30.65°C/87.3°F (OR=1.23, p<.001).

Conclusions

This study is the first to characterize the geographic clustering of SMM risk in the US. Our geospatial approach contributes a novel understanding to factors which influence SMM beyond patient-level characteristics and identifies the impact of systemic racism on maternal morbidity. Findings address an important literature gap surrounding place-based risk factors by explaining the contextual social and built environment variables that drive SMM risk.

Significance

It is not entirely clear why SMM is increasing in the US. Underlying health conditions, environmental, and social factors have been linked to higher SMM risk. This study is the first to assess these factors across space to determine the characteristics and locations where SMM likelihood is elevated.

Highlights

First study to examine spatial patterning of severe maternal morbidity (SMM)

SMM is geographically clustered and increasing in South Carolina, USA

Highest risk for SMM in racially segregated low-income communities

Obesity and race were significant individual risk factors

High ambient temperatures corresponded with high SMM clustering
Within-Day Variability of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Municipal Wastewater Influent During Periods of Varying COVID-19 Prevalence and Positivity
Authors: Bivins Aaron , North Devin , Wu Zhenyu , Shaffer Marlee , Ahmed Warish , Bibby Kyle
Published: March 2021

Wastewater surveillance of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA is being used to monitor Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) trends in communities; however, within-day variation in primary influent concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 RNA remain largely uncharacterized. In the current study, grab sampling of primary influent was performed every 2 hours over two different 24-hour periods at two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in northern Indiana, USA. In primary influent, uncorrected, recovery-corrected, and pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV)-normalized SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations demonstrated ordinal agreement with increasing clinical COVID-19 positivity, but not COVID-19 cases. Primary influent SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations exhibited greater variation than PMMoV RNA concentrations as expected for lower shedding prevalence. The bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) process control recovery efficiency was low (mean: 0.91%) and highly variable (coefficient of variation: 51% - 206%) over the four sampling events with significant differences between the two WWTPs (p <0.0001). The process control recovery was similar to the independently assessed SARS-CoV-2 RNA recovery efficiency, which was also significantly different between the two WWTPs (p <0.0001). Recovery-corrected SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations better reflected within-day changes in primary influent flow rate and fecal content, as indicated by PMMoV concentrations. These observations highlight the importance of assessing the process recovery efficiency, which is highly variable, using an appropriate process control. Despite large variations, both recovery-corrected and PMMoV-normalized SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations in primary influent demonstrate potential for monitoring COVID-19 positivity trends in WWTPs serving peri-urban and rural areas.
Calculating variant penetrance using family history of disease and population data Authorship
Authors: Spargo Thomas P , Opie-Martin Sarah , Lewis Cathryn M , Iacoangeli Alfredo , Al-Chalabi Ammar
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Genetic penetrance is the probability of a phenotype manifesting if one harbours a specific pathogenic variant. For most Mendelian genes, penetrance is incomplete and may be age-dependent. Accurate penetrance estimates are important in many biomedical fields including genetic counselling, disease research, and for gene therapy. The main methods for its estimation are limited in situations where large family pedigrees are not available, the disease is rare, late onset, or complex.

Methods

Here we present a novel method for penetrance estimation in autosomal dominant phenotypes. It uses population-scale data regarding the distribution of a variant among unrelated people affected (cases) and unaffected (controls) by an associated phenotype and can be operated using samples of affected people only by considering family disease history.

Results

The method is validated within simulation studies. Candidate variant-disease case studies yield estimates which align with existing disease knowledge and estimates derived using established methods.

Conclusion

We have presented a valid method for penetrance estimation in autosomal dominant traits which avoids kinship-specific penetrance estimates and the ascertainment biases that can arise when sampling rare variants among control populations. It can be accessed from our public web server (https://adpenetrance.rosalind.kcl.ac.uk) and is available as an open-source R library (https://github.com/ThomasPSpargo/adpenetrance).
Systemic cytokines and GlycA discriminate inflammaging, disease progression and corticosteroid response in HTLV-1-associated neuroinflammation
Authors: Assone Tatiane , Menezes Soraya Maria , de Toledo Gonçalves Fernanda , Folgosi Victor Angelo , da Silva Prates Gabriela , Dierckx Tim , Braz Marcos , Smid Jerusa , Haziot Michel E. , Marcusso Rosa M N , E. Dahy Flávia , Bruhn Roberta , Murphy Edward L. , de Oliveira Augusto César Penalva , Daelemans Dirk , Vercauteren Jurgen , Casseb Jorge , Van Weyenbergh Johan
Published: March 2021

Background

HTLV-1-Associated Myelopathy/Tropical Spastic Paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is an incapacitating neuroinflammatory disorder for which no disease-modifying therapy is available, but corticosteroids provide some clinical benefit.

Objective

To investigate systemic cytokines and GlycA as possible biomarkers of immunopathogenesis and therapeutic response to corticosteroid pulse therapy in HAM/TSP.

Methods

We prospectively followed 110 People living with HTLV-1 (PLwHTLV-1, 67 asymptomatic individuals and 43 HAM/TSP patients), for a total of 906 person-years. Plasma cytokine levels (IL-2/4/6/10/17A, IFN-γ, TNF) and GlycA were quantified by Cytometric Bead Array and 1NMR, respectively. Cytokine signaling and prednisolone response were validated in an independent cohort by nCounter digital transcriptomics. We applied logistic regression and machine learning algorithms to predict disease progression and glucocorticoid response.

Results

IL-6 was positively correlated with age and GlycA in asymptomatics but not HAM/TSP patients. Systemic IFN-γ and IL-17A levels were increased in HAM/TSP patients, as compared to asymptomatics. All patients significantly decreased IL-17A levels post-treatment but only prednisolone-responders decreased IFN-γ levels post-treatment. Higher pre-treatment GlycA and TNF levels significantly predicted a negative therapeutic outcome, which was associated with higher post-treatment IFN-γ levels. Low IL-4 and IL-10 levels in incident HAM/TSP can be reverted to increased IL-10 and IL-4/IL-13 signaling by prednisolone in vitro.

Conclusions

1) An age-related increase in systemic IL-6/GlycA levels reveals inflammaging in PLwHTLV-1. 2) IFN-γ and IL-17A are biomarkers of untreated, active HAM/TSP disease, while pre-treatment GlycA and TNF predict therapeutic response to prednisolone pulse therapy. 3) Low IL-4/IL-10 and high IFN-γ signaling in incident HAM/TSP can be normalized by prednisolone.
How safe is Covishield (ChAdOx1nCoV-19) vaccine? Experience from a tertiary care hospital in South India
Authors: Inbaraj Leeberk Raja , George Carolin Elizabeth , Franklyn Nirupama Navamani
Published: March 2021

Background

COVID vaccine has been recently rolled out for Health care workers in India. Though vaccine trials and data are available, people, including HCWs, need more real-life data from their contexts to get over the vaccine hesitancy. We aimed to determine the incidence of Adverse Event Following Immunisation (AEFI) among HCWs after their first dose of ChAdOx1nCoV-19 vaccine

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study among 218 staff of a tertiary care hospital. We circulated a google form with informed consent on the hospital WhatsApp platform and asked them to self-report their vaccination experience.

Results

Two thirds (69.7% (152/218), 95% CI: 63.1-75.7) had minor AEFI, and none had severe AEFI. Body ache (46.8% (102/218), 95% CI :40 – 53.6) was the most common symptom followed by headache (30.3% (66/218), 95% CI :24.2 – 36.8) and fever (22% 948/218), 95% CI :16.7 – 28.1). Most of them (39.4% (87/218) 95% CI:32.9 – 46.2) experienced symptoms within 4-24 hours after taking the vaccine while 22.3% (49/218) (95% CI: 17.1 – 28.6) experienced it after a day. Majority of the HCWs (78.9% (172/218), 95% CI: 72.8 – 84.1) were anxious before the vaccination. Younger age group and female gender were significantly associated with AEFI compared to their counterparts.

Conclusion

HCWs experienced minor, self-limiting AEFI with the first dose of ChAdOx1nCoV-19. The hospital reported no serious AEFI following the vaccination
Occupational risk of COVID-19 by country of birth. A register-based study
Authors: Kjøllesdal M , Magnusson K
Published: March 2021

Aim

To assess the role of occupation in the spread of COVID-19 among immigrants in Norway.

Methods

In 2.729.627 residents in Norway aged 20-70 years and born in Norway, Somalia, Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan and Turkey (mean [SD] age 44 (14) years and 51% men), we examined whether persons employed as taxi drivers, bus- and tram drivers, child care workers, nurses, personal care workers in health, food service counter attendants, waiters/bartenders, cleaners and shop sale persons had a higher risk of COVID-19, from April 1st 2020 to December 2nd 2020, compared to 1) Norwegian-born in the same occupational group and 2) all others with the same birth country and aged 20-70 years, using logistic regressions.

Results

Within each of the included occupational groups, immigrants had a greatly increased odds of COVID-19 when compared to Norwegian-born (OR ∼ 1.66-12.72). However, immigrants working in the selected occupations had the same odds of COVID-19 as person with same birth country not having the same occupation (OR∼1). Exceptions were Somalian-, Afghani- and Iraqi personal care workers in health services who had an increased odds of COVID-19 (OR 1.61 (95% CI 1.31, 1.98), OR 1.46 (1.06, 2.02) and OR 1.40 (1.03, 1.91), respectively) compared to others from the same country.

Conclusion

Immigrants holding various occupations implying close contact with others did not have higher odds of notified infection than others with the same country of birth, except for health care workers. Our study indicates that occupation is not an important driver of the high rates of COVID-19 among immigrants from Somalia, Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan and Turkey.
Longitudinal determination of mRNA-vaccination induced strongly binding SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in a cohort of Romanian healthcare workers
Authors: Korodi Mónika , Horváth István , Rákosi Kinga , Jenei Zsuzsanna , Hudák Gabriella , Kákes Melinda , Dallos-Fejér Katalin , Simai Enikő , Páll Orsolya , Staver Natalia , Briciu Violeta , Lupşe Mihaela , Flonta Mirela , Almaş Ariana , Birlutiu Victoria , Lupu Claudia Daniela , Ghibu Andreea Magdalena , Pianoschi Dana , Terza Livia-Maria , Fejer Szilard N.
Published: March 2021

Mass vaccination against the disease caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was a crucial step in slowing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in 2021. Even in the face of new variants, it still remains extremely important for reducing hospitalizations and COVID-19 deaths. Only limited data exists about the short- and long-term dynamics of humoral immune response. We present a longitudinal analysis of post-vaccination IgG levels in a cohort of 166 healthcare workers vaccinated with BNT162b2 with weekly follow-up until 35 days past the first dose and monthly follow-up up to 6 months post-vaccination. A subset of the patients continued with follow-up after 6 months and either received a booster dose or got infected during the Delta wave in Romania. Tests were carried out on 1697 samples using a CE-marked IgG ELISA assay developed in-house, containing S1 and N antigens of the wild type virus.

Participants infected with SARS-CoV-2 before vaccination mount a quick immune response, reaching peak IgG levels two weeks after the first dose, while IgG levels of previously uninfected participants mount gradually, increasing abruptly after the second dose. Overall higher IgG levels are maintained for the previously infected group 35-70 days after vaccination. The decrease of IgG levels is gradual, with lower overall values in the infection naïve cohort even 7-8 months after vaccination, compared to the previously infected cohort. Administration of a booster dose yielded higher average IgG antibody levels than post second dose in the infection naïve group and comparable levels in the previously infected group.
Forecasting the Epidemiological Impact of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): Pre-vaccination Era
Authors: Amusat Saheed Oladele
Published: March 2021

Background

During this pandemic, many studies have been published on the virology, diagnosis, prevention, and control of the novel coronavirus. However, fewer studies are currently available on the quantitative future epidemiological impacts. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to forecast the COVID-19 morbidities and associated-mortalities among the top 20 countries with the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases globally prior to vaccination intervention.

Method

We conducted a secondary data analysis of the prospective geographic distribution of COVID-19 cases data worldwide as of 10 April 2020. The historical data was forecasted using Exponential-Smoothing to detect seasonality patterns and confidence intervals surrounding each predicted value in which 95 percent of the future points are expected to fall based on the forecast.

Results

The total mean forecasted cases and deaths were 99,823 and 8,801. Interestingly, the US has the highest forecasted cases, deaths, and percentage cases-deaths ratio of 45,338, 2 358, and 5.20% respectively. China has the lowest cases, deaths, and percentage cases-deaths ratio −267, −2, and 0.75% respectively. In addition, France has the highest forecasted percentage cases-deaths ratio of 26.40% with forecasted cases, and deaths of 6,246, and 1,649 respectively.

Conclusion

Our study revealed the possibility of higher COVID-19 morbidities and associated-mortalities worldwide.
HLA and red blood cell antigen genotyping in SARS-CoV-2 convalescent plasma donors
Authors: Lemieux William , Perreault Josée , Leiva-Torres Gabriel André , Baillargeon Nadia , Yanez Jessica Constanzo , Chevrier Marie-Claire , Richard Lucie , Lewin Antoine , Trépanier Patrick
Published: March 2021

Introduction

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has put significant additional pressure on healthcare systems throughout the world. The identification of at-risk population beyond age, pre-existing medical conditions and socioeconomic status has been the subject of only a small part of the global COVID-19 research so far. To this day, more data is required regarding the association between HLA allele and red blood cell (RBC) antigens’ expression in regard to SARS-CoV-2 infection susceptibility and virus clearance capability, and COVID-19 susceptibility, severity, and duration.

Methods

The phenotypes for ABO and RhD, and the genotypes for 37 RBC antigens and HLA-A, B, C, DRB1, DQB1 and DPB1 were determined using high throughput platforms (Luminex and Next-generation Sequencing) in 90 Caucasian convalescent plasma donors. The results were compared to expected reference frequencies, local and international databases, and literature.

Results

The AB group was significantly increased (1.5x, p=0.018) and a non-significant (2.2x, p=0.030) increase was observed for the FY*A allele frequency in the convalescent cohort (N=90) compared to reference frequencies. Some HLA alleles were found significantly overrepresented (HLA-B*44:02, C*05:01, DPB1*04:01, DRB1*04:01 and DRB1*07:01) or underrepresented (A*01:01, B51:01 and DPB1*04:02) in convalescent individuals compared to the local bone marrow registry population.

Conclusion

Our study of infection-susceptible but non-hospitalized Caucasian COVID-19 patients contributes to the global understanding of host genetic factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection susceptibility and severity of the associated disease.
SARS-CoV-2 spike protein gene variants with N501T and G142D mutation dominated infections in minks in the US
Authors: Cai Hugh Y. , Cai Allison
Published: March 2021

Large number of minks were infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus containing the spike protein Y453F mutation in Europe, causing zoonosis concerns. To evaluate the genetic characteristics of the US and Canadian mink-derived SARS-CoV-2 sequences, we analyzed all animal-derived (977), all Canadian (19,529) and US (173,277) SARS-CoV-2 sequences deposited in GISAID from December 2019 to March 12, 2021, and identified 2 dominant novel variants, the N501T-G142D variant and N501T-G142D-F486L variant, in the US mink-derived SARS-CoV-2 sequences. These variants were not found in minks from Canada or other countries. The Y453F mutation was not identified in the mink-derive sequences in the US and Canada. The N501T mutation occurred two months earlier in the human than in the minks in the US, and the novel N501T-G142D variant and N501T-G142D-F486L variant were found in human prior to minks. The result of this study indicates that the novel variants may have evolved during human infection and then transmitted to mink populations in the US.
Self-reported smell and taste recovery in COVID-19 patients: a one-year prospective study
Authors: Boscolo-Rizzo Paolo , Guida Francesco , Polesel Jerry , Marcuzzo Alberto Vito , Antonucci Paolo , Capriotti Vincenzo , Sacchet Erica , Cragnolini Fiordaliso , D’Alessandro Andrea , Zanelli Enrico , Marzolino Riccardo , Lazzarin Chiara , Tofanelli Margherita , Gardenal Nicoletta , Borsetto Daniele , Hopkins Claire , Vaira Luigi Angelo , Tirelli Giancarlo
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The aim of the present study was to estimate the one-year prevalence and recovery rate of self-reported chemosensory dysfunction in a series of subjects with previous mild-to-moderate symptomatic COVID-19.

Methods

Prospective study based on the SNOT-22 (item sense of smell or taste) and additional outcomes.

Results

268/315 patients (85.1%) completing the survey at baseline also completed the follow-up interview. The 12-months prevalence of self-reported COVID-19 associated chemosensory dysfunction was 21.3% (95% CI: 16.5-26.7%). Of the 187 patients who complained of COVID-19 associated chemosensory dysfunction at baseline, 130 (69.5%; 95% CI 62.4-76.0%) reported complete resolution of smell or taste impairment, 41 (21.9%) reported a decrease in the severity, and 16 (8.6%) reported the symptom was unchanged or worse one year after onset. The risk of persistence was higher for patients reporting a baseline SNOT-22 score > o = 4 (OR=3.32; 95% CI: 1.32-8.36) as well as for those requiring > o = 22 days for a negative swab (OR=2.18; 95% CI: 1.12-4.27).

Conclusion

A substantial proportion of patients with previous mild-to-moderate symptomatic COVID-19 characterized by new onset of chemosensory dysfunction still complained on altered sense of smell or taste one-year after the onset.
Pregnancy loss and postpartum mortality in a sub-Saharan African setting
Authors: Moodley Yoshan , Eilerts Hallie , Herbst Kobus , Tanser Frank
Published: March 2021

Objective

Studies from industrialized countries report a harmful association between pregnancy loss and postpartum mortality. However, the nature of this relationship has not been established in resource limited sub-Saharan Africa. Given the potential implications of this knowledge for risk stratification and subsequent maternal health in sub-Saharan Africa, our study sought to use data from one of the continent’s largest and longest running population-based cohorts to investigate the relationship between pregnancy loss and postpartum mortality.

Methods

We conducted a population-based cohort study involving 25048 postpartum women from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The study data was collected during biannual/triannual general household surveys, which also incorporated a pregnancy questionnaire for women who reported a pregnancy between survey waves. Pregnancy loss was defined as a pregnancy which ended in abortion, miscarriage, or stillbirth. Postpartum mortality was defined as the death of a woman, from any cause, within one year after the date that her pregnancy ended. We used a quasi-poisson regression model, adjusted for maternal age and other setting-specific predictors of postpartum mortality, to investigate the relationship between pregnancy loss and postpartum mortality.

Results

The incidence of postpartum mortality was three times higher in women who experienced pregnancy loss (Adjusted Incidence Rate Ratio: 3.23, 95% Confidence Interval: 2.13-4.71), when compared with women who had live births.

Conclusion

Our results reveal a clear association between pregnancy loss and increased postpartum mortality in a typical rural sub-Saharan African setting. Women who have recently experienced pregnancy loss should be targeted with a package of risk reduction interventions, including additional opportunities for medical care or psychosocial support.
SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing from COVID-19 in Ecuadorian patients: a whole country analysis
Authors: Márquez Sully , Prado-Vivar Belén , José Guadalupe Juan , Becerra-Wong Mónica , Gutierrez Bernardo ,   Clinical COVID-19 Ecuador Consortium, Fernández-Cadena Juan Carlos , Andrade-Molina Derly , Morey-Leon Gabriel , Moncayo Miguel , Guevara Rommel , Coloma Josefina , Trueba Gabriel , Grunauer Michelle , Barragán Verónica , Rojas-Silva Patricio , Cárdenas Paúl
Published: March 2021

SARS-CoV-2, the etiological agent of COVID-19, was first described in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and has now spread globally. Ecuador was the second country in South America to confirm cases and Guayaquil was one of the first cities in the world to experience high mortality due to COVID-19. The aim of this study was to describe the lineages circulating throughout the country and to compare the mutations in local variants, to the reference strain. In this work we used the MinION platform (Oxford Nanopore Technologies) to sequence the whole SARS-CoV-2 genomes of 119 patients from all provinces of Ecuador, using the ARTIC network protocols. Our data from lineage assignment of the one hundred and nineteen whole genomes revealed twenty different lineages. All genomes presented differences in the S gene compared to the Wuhan reference strain, being the D614G amino acid replacement the most common change. The B.1.1.119 lineage was the most frequent and was found in several locations in the Coast and Andean region. Three sequences were assigned to the new B.1.1.7 lineage. Our work is an important contribution to the understanding of the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Ecuador and South America.

Highlights

All 119 genomes showed mutations compared to the reference strain, which could be important to understand the virulence, severity and transmissibility of the virus.

Until January 17, three sequences were assigned to the new B.1.1.7 lineage.

Our findings suggest that there were at least twenty independent introductions of SARS-CoV-2 to Ecuador.

Article Summary Line

We report 119 sequences of SARS-CoV-2 across all Ecuadorian provinces, 20 different lineages were found until January 17th, including B.1.1.7.
Viral And Antibody Testing For Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19): Factors Associated With Positivity In Electronic Health Records From The United States
Authors: Lindsay Lisa , Secrest Matthew H. , Rizzo Shemra , Keebler Dan , Yang Fei , Tsai Larry W.
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Background

Insufficient information on SARS-CoV-2 testing results exists in clinical practice from the United States.

Methods

We conducted an observational retrospective cohort study using Optum® de-identified COVID-19 electronic health records from the United States to characterize patients who received a SARS-CoV-2 viral or antibody test between February 20, 2020 and July 10, 2020. We assessed temporal trends in testing and positivity by demographic and clinical characteristics; evaluated concordance between viral and antibody tests; and identified factors associated with positivity via multivariable logistic regression.

Results

Our study population included 891,754 patients. Overall positivity rate for SARS-CoV-2 was 9% and 12% for viral and antibody tests, respectively. Positivity rate was inversely associated with the number of individuals tested and decreased over time across regions and race/ethnicities. Among patients who received a viral test followed by an antibody test, concordance ranged from 90%-93% depending on the duration between the two tests which is notable given uncertainties related to specific viral and antibody test characteristics. The following factors increased the odds of viral and antibody positivity in multivariable models: male, Hispanic or non-Hispanic Black and Asian, uninsured or Medicaid insurance, Northeast residence, dementia, diabetes, and obesity. Charlson Comorbidity Index was negatively associated with test positivity. We identified symptoms that were positively associated with test positivity, as well as, commonly co-occurring symptoms / conditions. Pediatric patients had reduced odds of a positive viral test, but conversely had increased odds of a positive antibody test.

Conclusions

This study identified sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 testing and positivity within routine clinical practice from the United States.
Seroprevalence of IgG antibody against SARS-CoV-2 among health care workers of anaesthesia departments from various hospital settings in India
Authors: Parai Debaprasad , Choudhary Hari Ram , Dash Girish Chandra , Peter Annalisha , Saket Dipika , Roy Ritesh , Agarwal Gaurav , Sahoo Saroj , Rout Usha Kiran , Nanda Rashmi Ranjan , Pati Sanghamitra , Bhattacharya Debdutta
Published: March 2021

Background

Health care workers (HCWs) are the most susceptible group to get COVID-19 infection and this group always need special attention as they are the key human resource to contain this pandemic.

Objective

To track down the seroprevalence among a particular group of HCWs working in the anaesthesia department in hospital settings.

Study design

Two rounds of serosurvey were done to track the dynamicity among the 128 and 164 HCWs participants in the first round and second round, respectively. 5 mL of blood was collected and IgG SARS-CoV-2 antibody was tested in Abbott Architect i1000SR.

Results

The seroprevalence found in the first and second round was 12.5% and 38.4%, respectively. A significant number (n=61, 77.21%) of seropositivity came from the asymptomatic HCWs group as found in both the survey. There was no significant association among different age, gender and RT-PCR tested groups.

Conclusion

Routine diagnosis of COVID-19 should be referred among HCWs to identify and act upon unrecognized SARS-CoV-2 infection.
The Acute Treatment of Migraine with Low-Dose Naltrexone and acetaminophen Combinations and Each Component: Findings of a Small, Randomized, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Toledano Annette C.
Published: March 2021

We tested two low-dose naltrexone and acetaminophen combinations and each component in the acute treatment of migraine. The patients use a single-dose of the study medication for a moderate or severe pain intensity migraine attack. Patients were adults with migraine with or without aura experiencing 2 to 20 (average 6.4) monthly migraine days. The co-primary endpoints were pain-freedom and absence of prospectively-identified most bothersome migraine-associated symptom 2 hours after dosing. We randomized 92 patients; 72 completed the study (mean age, 43 years; 75% women). Pain-freedom at 2 hours was 10.2% higher than placebo with naltrexone 2.25 mg/acetaminophen 325 mg, 10.9% with naltrexone 3.25 mg/acetaminophen 325 mg, 17.3% with naltrexone 2.25 mg, and 31.3% with acetaminophen 325 mg. The treatment groups’ migraine burden at baseline was unbalanced due to randomized patients’ uneven study completion. The acetaminophen group had the lowest migraine burden, giving its results lower credibility.

Saliently, Low-dose naltrexone alone (n=19) had a 17.3% higher response rate for headache pain-freedom at 2 hours than placebo (n=17). The naltrexone and the placebo groups were the largest and had a balanced disease burden, implying higher credibility to the naltrexone group results. We found low-dose naltrexone and acetaminophen combination, low-dose naltrexone, and acetaminophen had higher response rates than placebo in treating headache pain. The most commonly reported adverse events were sedation, nausea, and dizziness. We postulate that naltrexone’s toll-like receptor (TLR4) antagonism properties prevent pro-inflammatory cytokines’ production in the trigeminal ganglion averting “overactive nerves” (layman’s term) and migraine. Although this trial used low-dose naltrexone (defined as 1 – 5 mg/day), future phase 3 studies will test a range of naltrexone and acetaminophen combination doses.