bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Distribution of Wealth in Alexander Pope’s Epistle to Bathurst
Authors: Ferraro Julian
Published: November 2020

This article examines Pope’s treatment of financial inequality in the Epistle to Bathurst through a reading of the process of composition and revision recoverable from the manuscripts and editions published in Pope’s lifetime. In the 60 years since the publication of Earl Wasserman’s reading of the poem and edition of the Huntington Library manuscripts, the Epistle to Bathurst has been one of the poems by Pope that has been regularly revisited by critics. Perhaps for this reason there has been a striking lack of consensus about the way the poem treats its announced theme—the use of riches. This lack of consensus in its reception is complemented by the poem’s complex textual history. Close attention to the process of composition and revision reveals the difficulties Pope faced in incorporating his address to Lord Bathurst, with its tautologous image of ‘oeconomy’ joined with ‘magnificence’, within a poem that abounds in grotesque examples of noble misers and spendthrifts and of the corruption of financial skulduggery and luxurious consumption. By this means, the Epistle can be shown to be not so much a ‘manual of capitalist piety’ as a critique of specious justifications of extreme financial inequality.
The Sururgia of Nicholas Neesbett: Writing Medical Authority in Later Medieval England
Authors: Reynolds Melissa
Published: November 2020

The surgical recipe book of Nicholas Neesbett, a fifteenth-century practitioner in northern Yorkshire, is a unique artefact in the history of medieval English medicine. Though Neesbett had little Latin and no formal training, his vernacular surgical manual bridges two distinct forms of expertise often at odds in medieval medicine, merging the traditions of the learned Latin surgery with the hands-on experiential knowledge of the empiric. This article publishes Neesbett’s manuscript, a portion of MS Oxford, Bodleian Library, Ashmole 1438, contributing to a growing number of studies that focus on medical manuscripts as instruments of practice. The Section ‘The Surgical Manual in Medieval Medicine’ situates Neesbett’s ‘Sururgia’ within the context of learned and vernacular medical manuscripts in later medieval England. The Section ‘A Medical Man Makes His Mark’ reveals both Neesbett’s textual influences and the everyday practices of exchange, manufacture and collection that generated medical knowledge among rural practitioners. The Appendix contains a full diplomatic transcription of the previously unpublished manuscript.
A Codon Model for Associating Phenotypic Traits with Altered Selective Patterns of Sequence Evolution
Authors: Halabi Keren , Karin Eli Levy , Guéguen Laurent , Mayrose Itay
Published: November 2020

Detecting the signature of selection in coding sequences and associating it with shifts in phenotypic states can unveil genes underlying complex traits. Of the various signatures of selection exhibited at the molecular level, changes in the pattern of selection at protein-coding genes have been of main interest. To this end, phylogenetic branch-site codon models are routinely applied to detect changes in selective patterns along specific branches of the phylogeny. Many of these methods rely on a prespecified partition of the phylogeny to branch categories, thus treating the course of trait evolution as fully resolved and assuming that phenotypic transitions have occurred only at speciation events. Here, we present TraitRELAX, a new phylogenetic model that alleviates these strong assumptions by explicitly accounting for the uncertainty in the evolution of both trait and coding sequences. This joint statistical framework enables the detection of changes in selection intensity upon repeated trait transitions. We evaluated the performance of TraitRELAX using simulations and then applied it to two case studies. Using TraitRELAX, we found an intensification of selection in the primate SEMG2 gene in polygynandrous species compared to species of other mating forms, as well as changes in the intensity of purifying selection operating on sixteen bacterial genes upon transitioning from a free-living to an endosymbiotic lifestyle.[Evolutionary selection; intensification; $\gamma $-proteobacteria; genotype–phenotype; relaxation; SEMG2.]
Aphelenchoides besseyiParasitizing Common Bean in Brazil
Authors: Favoreto Luciany , Meyer Maurício Conrado , Calandrelli Angélica , Maia da Silva Michele Corpolato , Aleandro da Silva Santino , Machado Andressa Cristina Zamboni
Published: November 2020

Aphelenchoides besseyi is the causal agent of soybean green stem and foliar retention syndrome known as “Soja Louca II.” This nematode has recently been reported parasitizing cotton in Brazil. In Costa Rica, it causes the symptoms known as “amachamiento” and false angular spots in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). Due to the great importance of beans to Brazilian agriculture, the objective of this research was to study the pathogenicity of A. besseyi in common bean under greenhouse conditions, including its endoparasitic relationships by staining root and shoot system tissues with fuchsin acid. In addition, A. besseyi was collected and quantified from shoot systems 30 days after inoculation by washing the tissue in water and blender centrifugal flotation. We observed the symptoms of amachamiento, leaf and vein deformation in the expanded trifoliate leaves, and also leaves with necrotic, brown to reddish and angular lesions, characteristics from false angular spot, and deformed stems characterized by enlargement of nodes, retortions, and necrotic lesions. High numbers of nematodes were found inside common bean plants. This is the first report of the pathogenicity and symptoms caused by A. besseyi in common bean in Brazil. These findings are important for development of management strategies to avoid losses on bean cropped in infested areas.
Sudden Death Due to Severe Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome
Authors: Wang Ning , Chen Ziyuan , Guo Xiangshen , Cheng Hao , Wang Pengfei , Wang Tianqi , Wang Linlin , Tash Dilichati , Ren Peng , Zhu Baoli , Guan Dawei , Zhang Guohua , Zhao Rui
Published: November 2020

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a rare iatrogenic disorder associated with controlled ovarian stimulation during assisted reproductive technology. Severe OHSS may impose serious complications, including pleural effusion, acute renal insufficiency, venous thrombosis, and even death, although lethal outcomes are rare in forensic practice. The reported incidence of severe OHSS ranges from 0.008% to 10%. Herein, we present the case of a 29-year-old woman who diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome and infertility chose to undergo assisted reproduction. She received leuprorelin acetate and follicle stimulating hormone prior to egg retrieval. Three days after the retrieval procedure, she developed abdominal pain and distension. Later that same day, she died unexpectedly. The subsequent autopsy revealed turbid effusions of pleural and peritoneal cavities, abnormal ovarian enlargement, and duskiness of multiple organ surfaces. Microscopic examination disclosed edema and hemorrhage in follicles of both ovaries, thrombosis within the myocardial matrix, and massive pulmonary edema. Routine toxicology screening was negative. The death was attributed to severe OHSS. This case provides a morphologic reference for clinical and forensic work. Autopsy findings in instances of severe OHSS provide valuable insight into the mechanisms and pathogenesis of this disease.
Cocaine Consumption and Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody–associated Glomerulonephritis
Authors: Vermeulen Louise , Dirix Marie , Dendooven Amélie
Published: November 2020

Cocaine is often sold in a mixture with levamisole to increase the profit margin and potentiate the euphoric effect. Apart from an overdose, cocaine can induce a wide range of clinical symptoms. We present a case of cocaine/levamisole-induced pauci-immune glomerulonephritis. A 22-year-old patient was sent to the hospital after a laboratory result showed an unexpected acute kidney injury, with an estimated glomerular filtration rate of 34 mL/min/1.73 m2. The medical history included cocaine abuse. Renal biopsy showed a pauci-immune necrotizing glomerulonephritis. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies were positive with a perinuclear staining pattern and target specificity for leucocyte myeloperoxidase (antimyeloperoxidase). Despite treatment, the kidney function did not show significant improvement. The forensic implication of this case is that even if the toxicological values are not high enough to suggest a lethal intoxication, an idiosyncratic reaction on cocaine and/or levamisole has to be taken into account.
The Risk of Uterine Malignancy in a Population Being Evaluated for Uterine Fibroid Embolization
Authors: Coffin Philip H. , Ascher Susan , Spies James
Published: November 2020

Objective

The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of uterine malignancy in patients evaluated for uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) and the role of magnetic resonance imaging in triage.

Methods

Records and imaging studies of 864 UFE consult patients were reviewed for MRI findings suggestive of fibroid malignancy. Pathology was obtained for cases with suspicious baseline MRI's, and the most atypical mass was reanalyzed by an experienced radiologist, blinded to the pathological findings.

Results

Twenty one of 864 patients had baseline MRI findings concerning for malignancy at consultation and 17 had complete records. Re-evaluation suggested that 5 were malignant. Three were confirmed malignant (0.35%). One malignancy among the 843 without suspicious baseline MRI findings was missed at consultation.

Conclusions

In our UFE population, uterine malignancy is rare (4/864, 0.46%), and MRI detected the majority, 3 (75%) of 4 before UFE. The observed prevalence of any malignancy was 0.35%, congruent with current Federal Drug Administration estimates.
Cross-Sectional Imaging Evaluation of Vascular Lesions in the Gastrointestinal Tract and Mesentery
Authors: Zheng Yanqiu , Shabana Amr , Elsayes Khaled M. , Hamid Aws , Abdelaziz Amr , Menias Christine O. , Shaaban Akram M. , Liu Peter , Gaballah Ayman H.
Published: November 2020

Gastrointestinal (GI) tract and mesenteric vascular lesions can have various clinical presentations, of which GI bleeding is the most common. This collection of pathology is highly variable in etiology ranging from occlusive disease to vascular malformations to trauma to neoplasms which makes for a challenging workup and diagnosis. The advent of multiple imaging modalities and endoscopic techniques makes the diagnosis of these lesions more achievable, and familiarity with their various imaging findings can have a significant impact on patient management. In this article, we review the gamut of GI tract and mesenteric vascular lesions and their associated imaging findings.
Incidence of and Risk Factors for Medical Adhesive–Related Skin Injuries Among Patients
Authors: Gao Chunhua , Yu Chao , Lin Xiuxi , Wang Hui , Sheng Yunyun
Published: November 2020

PURPOSE:

We explored the incidence of medical adhesive–related skin injuries (MARSIs) that developed in an intensive care unit (ICU) and identified the relevant risk factors associated with these skin injuries.

DESIGN:

Cross-sectional.

SUBJECTS AND SETTING:

A 29-bed adult general ICU of a tertiary teaching hospital affiliated with Zhejiang University in southeast China.

METHODS:

Data regarding MARSIs, skin assessments, and related nursing procedures were collected between January 2018 and May 2018. The incidence of MARSIs was calculated, and the associated risk factors were analyzed using a logistic regression model.

RESULTS:

During the study period, 430 patients were evaluated, of which 55 experienced MARSIs (4 prior to hospitalization in our ICU). The overall MARSI incidence rate was 11.86% (51/430); mechanical damage including epidermal stripping (72.7%; 40/55) and skin tears (14.5%; 8/55) was the most common MARSI. Moderate-to-severe edema, hyperthermia, and the use of certain medicines such as immunosuppressants and anticoagulants were independent risk factors for MARSIs.

CONCLUSIONS:

Critically ill patients are at a high risk of MARSIs in China. Preventive measures and good clinical nursing practice are needed to ensure patient safety.
COVID-19 pandemic risk analytics: Data mining with reliability engineering methods for analyzing spreading behavior and comparison with infectious diseases
Authors: Bracke Stefan , Puls Alicia
Published: November 2020

In December 2019, the world was confronted with the outbreak of the respiratory disease COVID-19 (Corona). The first infection (confirmed case) was detected in the City Wuhan, Hubei, China. First, it was an epidemic in China, but in the first quarter of 2020, it evolved into a pandemic, which continues to this day. The COVID-19 pandemic with its incredible speed of spread shows the vulnerability of a globalized and networked world. The first months of the pandemic were characterized by heavy burden on health systems. Worldwide, the population of countries was affected with severe restrictions, like educational system shutdown, public traffic system breakdown or a comprehensive lockdown. The severity of the burden was dependent on many factors, e.g. government, culture or health system. However, the burden happened regarding each country with slight time lags, cf. Bracke et al. (2020). This paper focuses on data analytics regarding infection data of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a continuation of the research study COVID-19 pandemic data analytics: Data heterogeneity, spreading behavior, and lockdown impact, published by Bracke et al. (2020). The goal of this assessment is the evaluation/analysis of infection data mining considering model uncertainty, pandemic spreading behavior with lockdown impact and early second wave in Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand and France. Furthermore, a comparison with other infectious diseases (measles and influenza) is made. The used data base from Johns Hopkins University (JHU) runs from 01/22/2020 until 09/22/2020 with daily data, the dynamic development after 09/22/2020 is not considered. The measles/influenza analytics are based on Robert Koch Institute (RKI) data base 09/22/2020. Statistical models and methods from reliability engineering like Weibull distribution model or trend test are used to analyze the occurrence of infection.
The Fractional Epidemics Theory: Managing and Ending an Epidemic
Authors: Duclos T. , Reichert T.
Published: November 2020

Susceptible–infectious–recovered (SIR) models are widely used for estimating the dynamics of epidemics and project that social distancing “flattens the curve”, i.e., reduces but delays the peak in daily infections, causing a longer epidemic. Based on these projections, individuals and governments have advocated lifting containment measures such as social distancing to shift the peak forward and limit societal and economic disruption. Paradoxically, the COVID-19 pandemic data exhibits phenomenology opposite to the SIR models’ projections. Here, we present a new model that replicates the observed phenomenology and quantitates pandemic dynamics with simple and actionable analytical tools for policy makers. Specifically, it offers a prescription of achievable and economically palatable measures for ending an epidemic.

One Sentence Summary

The SIR epidemic models are wrong; a new model offers achievable and economically viable measures for ending an epidemic.
A gender comparison of the psychological distress of medical students in Nigeria during the Coronavirus pandemic: A cross-sectional survey
Authors: Idowu Oluwaseun Mercy , Adaramola OyinOluwa Gloria , Aderounmu Boluwatife Samson , Olugbamigbe Ifeoluwa Delight , Dada Olaoluwa Ezekiel , Osifeso Adeyinka Christopher , Ogunnubi Oluseun Peter , Odukoya Oluwakemi Ololade
Published: November 2020

Background

The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic as a large scale stressor could have negative distress on the mental health on medical students. Since gender differences in mental health may exist between males and females, it would prove interesting to see if a large scale stressor such as the pandemic will cause variances in the psychological distress between both genders.This study assessed and compared the psychological distress of COVID-19 among male and female medical students in medical schools in South-Western Nigeria

Materials and methods

A cross-sectional online survey using was carried out among 1010 medical students from three largest universities in south western Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic. The respondents were purposively selected, data was obtained on participants demographic and psychological distress was assessed using the General Health Questionnaire 12 (GHQ-12). Data was analyzed using the SPSS version 21 statistical software, chi square was used to assess gender differences, multivariate regression analysis assessed the predictors of psychological distress among both gendersand p values less than 0.05 were considered significant.

Results

Female medical students are at a higher risk of psychological distress compared to their male counterparts (p<0.005). Females were almost twice at risk of psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic than males (OR=1.534, 95% p=0.003). Females with a positive history of mental illness were five times more at risk of psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to females with no previous mental health history (OR=5.102, p=0.002)

Conclusion

Females were at higher risk of psychological distress compared to male students. Gender specific interventions addressing psychological distress among medical students are recommended.
Age-Specific SARS-CoV-2 Infection Fatality and Case Identification Fraction in Ontario, Canada
Authors: Fisman David N. , Drews Steven J. , Tuite Ashleigh R. , O’Brien Sheila F.
Published: November 2020

Background

SARS-CoV-2 is a novel pandemic pathogen that displays great variability in virulence across cases. Due to limitations in diagnostic testing only a subset of infections are identified. Underestimation of true infections makes calculation of infection fatality ratios (IFR) challenging.

Seroepidemiology allows estimation of true cumulative incidence of infection in populations, for estimation of IFR.

Methods

Seroprevalence estimates were derived using retention samples stored by Canadian Blood Services in May 2020. These were compared to non-long-term care-linked case and fatality data from the same period. Estimates were combined to generate IFR and case identification fraction estimates.

Results

Overall IFR was estimated to be 0.80% (0.75 to 0.85%), consistent with estimates from other jurisdictions. IFR increased exponentially with age from 0.01% (0.002 to 0.04%) in those aged 20-29 years, to 12.71% (4.43 to 36.50%) in those aged 70 and over. We estimated that 5.88 infections (3.70 to 9.21) occurred for every case identified, with a higher fraction of cases identified in those aged 70 and older (42.0%) than those aged 20-29 (9.4%). IFR estimates in those aged 60 and older were identical to pooled estimates from other countries.

Conclusions

To our knowledge these are the first Canadian estimates SARS-CoV-2 IFR and case identification fraction. Notwithstanding biases associated with donor sera they are similar to estimates from other countries, and approximately 80-fold higher than estimates for influenza A (H1N1) during the 2009 epidemic. Ontario’s first COVID-19 pandemic wave is likely to have been accurately characterized due to a high case identification fraction.
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL AND CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF COVID-19 PATIENTS IN KENYA
Authors: Ombajo Loice Achieng , Mutono Nyamai , Sudi Paul , Mutua Mbuvi , Sood Mohammed , Ali Loo Alliy Muhammad , Juma Phoebe , Odhiambo Jackline , Shah Reena , Wangai Frederick , Maritim Marybeth , Anzala Omu , Amoth Patrick , Kamuri Evans , Munyu Waweru , Thumbi SM
Published: November 2020

Background

More than 49,000 cases of infection and 900 deaths from COVID-19 have been recorded in the Kenya. However, the characteristics and risk factors for severe outcomes among hospitalized COVID-19 patients in this setting have not been described.

Methods

We extracted demographic, laboratory, clinical and outcome data from medical records of RT-PCR confirmed SARS-CoV2 patients admitted in six hospitals in Kenya between March and September, 2020. We used Cox proportional hazards regressions to determine factors related to in-hospital mortality.

Results

Data from 787 COVID-19 patients was available. The median age was 43 years (IQR 30-53), with 505 (64%) males. At admission, 455 (58%) were symptomatic. The commonest symptoms were cough (337, 43%), loss of taste or smell (279, 35%), and fever (126, 16%). Co-morbidities were reported in 340 (43%), with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and HIV documented in 130 (17%), 116 (15%), 53 (7%) respectively. 90 (11%) were admitted to ICU for a mean of 11 days, 52 (7%) were ventilated with a mean of 10 days, 107 (14%) died. The risk of death increased with age [hazard ratio (HR) 1.57 (95% CI 1.13 – 2.19)] for persons >60 years compared to those <60 years old; having co-morbidities [HR 2.34 (1.68 – 3.25)]; and among males [HR 1.76 (1.27, 2.44)] compared to females. Elevated white blood cell count and aspartate aminotransferase were associated with higher risk of death.

Conclusions

We identify the risk factors for mortality that may guide stratification of high risk patients.
Childhood obesity prediction from nationwide health records
Authors: Rossman Hagai , Shilo Smadar , Barbash-Hazan Shiri , Artzi Nitzan Shalom , Hadar Eran , Balicer Ran D. , Feldman Becca , Wiznitzer Arnon , Segal Eran
Published: November 2020

Rapid rise in childhood obesity prevalence worldwide and its major implications for health warrant the development of better prevention strategies. Here, we analyzed electronic health records of children from Israel’s largest healthcare provider from 2002 to 2018 and developed a model for predicting children’s obesity. Data included demographics, anthropometric measurements, medications, diagnoses, and laboratory tests of children and their families. Obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI) ≥95th percentile for age and sex. To identify the most critical time-window in which the largest annual increases in BMI percentile occurs during early childhood, we first analyzed childhood BMI trajectories among 382,132 adolescents. Next, we devised a prediction model targeted to identify children at high risk of obesity prior to this time-window, predicting obesity at 5-6 years of age based on data from the first 2 years of life of 136,196 children. Retrospective BMI analysis revealed that among obese adolescents, the greatest acceleration in BMI percentiles occured between 2-4 years of age. Our model, validated temporally and geographically, accurately predicted obesity at 5-6 years old (auROC of 0.804). Discrimination results on subpopulations demonstrated its robustness across the pediatric population. The model’s most influential features included anthropometric measurements of the child and family. Other impactful features included ancestry and pregnancy glucose. Antibiotics exposure in utero and during the first 2 years of life had no observed impact on obesity prediction. Our model, targeted to identify children prior to the most critical time-window of BMI acceleration, may allow a more accurate identification and implementation of early prevention strategies for children at high risk of obesity and can be readily embedded into healthcare systems.
Quantitative measurement of IgG to SARS-CoV-2 proteins using ImmunoCAP
Authors: Keshavarz Behnam , Wiencek Joesph R. , Workman Lisa J. , Straesser Matthew D. , Muehling Lyndsey M. , Canderan Glenda , Drago Fabrizio , Bonham Catherine A. , Sturek Jeffrey M. , Ramani Chintan , McNamara Coleen A. , Woodfolk Judith A. , Kadl Alexandra , Platts-Mills Thomas A.E. , Wilson Jeffrey M.
Published: November 2020

Background

Detailed understanding of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2, the cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has been hampered by a lack of quantitative antibody assays.

Objective

To develop a quantitative assay for IgG to SARS-CoV-2 proteins that could readily be implemented in clinical and research laboratories.

Methods

The biotin-streptavidin technique was used to conjugate SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding-domain (RBD) or nucleocapsid protein to the solid-phase of the ImmunoCAP resin. Plasma and serum samples from patients with COVID-19 (n=51) and samples from donors banked prior to the emergence of COVID-19 (n=109) were used in the assay. SARS-CoV-2 IgG levels were followed longitudinally in a subset of samples and were related to total IgG and IgG to reference antigens using an ImmunoCAP 250 platform.

Results

Performance characteristics demonstrated 100% sensitivity and 99% specificity at a cut-off level of 2.5 µg/mL for both SARS-CoV-2 proteins. Among 36 patients evaluated in a post-hospital follow-up clinic, median levels of IgG to spike-RBD and nucleocapsid were 34.7 µg/mL (IQR 18-52) and 24.5 µg/mL (IQR 9-59), respectively. Among 17 patients with longitudinal samples there was a wide variation in the magnitude of IgG responses, but generally the response to spike-RBD and to nucleocapsid occurred in parallel, with peak levels approaching 100 µg/mL, or 1% of total IgG.

Conclusions

We have described a quantitative assay to measure IgG to SARS-CoV-2 that could be used in clinical and research laboratories and implemented at scale. The assay can easily be adapted to measure IgG to novel antigens, has good performance characteristics and a read-out in standardized units.
Interleukin- 10 (IL-10) gene polymorphisms and prostate cancer susceptibility: evidence from a meta-analysis
Authors: Yadav Upendra , Kumar Pradeep , Rai Vandana
Published: November 2020

Prostate cancer is the second most frequent cancer in men. The frequency of the prostate cancer is greatly varies in different populations of the world. Three common polymorphisms in promoter region of interleukin-10 (IL-10) gene viz. -1082 A>G, -819 C>T and -592 C>A are extensively studied in prostate cancer with inconclusive results. So, a meta-analysis was performed to assess the association between these three IL-10 gene polymorphisms and risk of prostate cancer susceptibility. Suitable studies were retrieved by electronic databases search and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used as association measure. All the statistical analyses were conducted in the Open Meta-Analyst program.

In our meta-analysis we included 17 studies (10,718 samples), 11 studies (8,391 samples) and 13 studies (7,801 samples) for -1082 A>G, -819 C>T and -592 C>A polymorphisms respectively. The result of the -592 C>A polymorphism revealed low heterogeneity with no association in the overall analysis (ORAvs.C= 1.05, 95% CI= 0.99-1.12, p= 0.09, I2= 35.89%). In ethnicity based stratified analyses, significant association was found in Caucasian population with prostate cancer using allele contrast model (ORAvs.C= 1.08, 95% CI= 1.01-1.16, p= 0.02, I2= 19.37%), homozygote model (ORAAvs.CC= 1.24, 95% CI= 1.00-1.52, p= 0.04, I2= 0%), and dominant model (ORAA+CAvs.CC= 1.10, 95% CI= 1.00-1.22, p= 0.05, I2= 32.57%). No such results were found in the Asian population. In the other two polymorphisms i.e. -1082 A>G and -819 C>T, no significant association with prostate cancer was observed.

In conclusion, results of present meta-analysis suggested that IL-10 -592 C>A polymorphism plays a role in the progression of the prostate cancer in the Caucasian population.
Passive smartphone-based assessment of cognitive changes in neurosurgery
Authors: Akeret Kevin , Vasella Flavio , Zindel-Geisseler Olivia , Dannecker Noemi , Brugger Peter , Regli Luca , Young Peter , Stienen Martin N. , Ghosh Arko
Published: November 2020

Clinical observations suggest dynamic alterations in behavior after brain surgery. While some alterations reportedly occur within days others gradually develop over several months. These alterations can be attributed to the pre-surgical impact of the diseased tissue, neuronal damage caused by the surgery, and subsequent plasticity. A key step towards a systems-level understanding of the brain-behavior relationships is to capture the dynamics of the cognitive alterations. Here, we first established in 38 healthy individuals that the day-to-day smartphone interactions can be used to inform on cognitive processing speed. Next, we analyzed the smartphone interactions in 12 patients undergoing intracranial tumor surgery, with postsurgical follow-up of up to a year. In healthy individuals, the speed of the touchscreen interactions was highly correlated to choice reaction times (R2 = 0.71) but less so to simple reaction times (R2 = 0.15) on Deary-Liewald tests. Touchscreen interactions slowed immediately after surgery but the post-surgical changes varied between patients. Data-driven models revealed the time-constant of the short-term postsurgical changes and the time taken to stabilize after the surgery. Furthermore, by using conceptually distinct types of touchscreen interaction speeds – i.e. unlocking time and app locating speed – we established that the post-surgical changes are domain-specific. Interestingly, in this small sample, the pre-surgical smartphone speeds were highly related to the speeds post-stabilization (R2 = 0.75 to 0.95). The proxy measures of cognition seamlessly captured on the smartphone can reveal postsurgical dynamics inaccessible to conventional testing. We propose that the transient cognitive alterations indicate the time-constrained influence of distinct neuronal mechanisms triggered by the surgery.
Evaluation of the disease outcome in Covid-19 infected patients by disease symptoms: a retrospective cross-sectional study in Ilam Province, Iran
Authors: Sadeghifar Jamil , Jalilian Habib , Momeni Khalil , Delam Hamed , Sheleme Tadesse , Rashidi Ayoub , Hemmati Fariba , Falahi Shahab , Arab-Zozani Morteza
Published: November 2020

Background

novel coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) announced as a global pandemic in the year 2020. With the spread of the disease, a better understanding of patient outcomes associated with their symptoms in diverse geographic levels is vital. We aimed to analysis clinical outcomes of COVID-19 patients by disease symptoms in Ilam province of Iran.

Methods

This is a retrospective study. Data were collected from integrated health system records for all hospitals affiliated to Ilam University of Medical Sciences between 26 Jan 2020 and 02 May 2020. All patients with definite positive test were enrolled in this study. We used descriptive analyses, chi-square test and binary logistic regression to analyze the data using SPSS version 22.

Results

The mean age was 46.47±18.24 years. Of 3608 patients, 3477 (96.1%) were discharged and 129 (3.9%) were died. 54.2% of the patients were male and were in the age group of 30-40 years old age. Cough, sore throat, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing and fever or chills were the most common symptoms. People with symptoms of shortness of breath, abnormal radiographic findings of the chest, and chest pain and pressure were relatively more likely to die. Based on the findings of binary logistic regression probability of death in people who showed shortness of breath, abnormal chest radiographic findings and chest pain was 1.34, 1.24 and 1.32 times higher than those who did not show these symptoms, respectively.

Conclusion

Our study provides evidence that presentation of some symptoms does significantly impact on outcomes of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. Early detection of symptoms and proper management of outcomes can reduce mortality in patients with COVID-19.
Ngari virus (Orthobunyavirus, Peribunyaviridae) in ixodid ticks collected from cattle in Guinea
Authors: Makenov MT , Toure AH , Bayandin RB , Gladysheva AV , Shipovalov AV , Boumbaly S , Sacko N , Korneev MG , Yakovlev SA , Zhurenkova OB , Grigoreva YaE , Fyodorova MV , Radyuk EV , Morozkin ES , Boiro MY , Khafizov K , Matsvay A , Karan LS
Published: November 2020

Abstract

Ngari virus is a mosquito-borne virus belonging to the genus Orthobunyavirus (Peribunyaviridae family). This virus is pathogenic to humans and causes severe illness. Ngari virus is present in several African countries, including Madagascar. Here, we report the detection of Ngari virus in ixodid ticks collected from cows in Guinea.

A tick survey was conducted in March-November of 2018 in six regions of Guinea. The sample comprised 710 pools, with a total of 2067 ticks belonging to five species collected from 197 cows. At the initial stage, we screened a subsample of tick pools of vector-borne viruses with a multiplex genus-specific primer panel. In the second stage of the study, we narrowed the search and screened all the samples by qPCR for the detection of Ngari virus. All positive samples were sequenced with primers flanking Ngari virus-specific fragments on the S and M segments.

We found Ngari virus in 12 pools that were formed from engorged ticks collected from livestock in three villages of the Kindia and Kankan regions. Sequencing of the S and M segments confirmed that the detected viruses belong to Ngari virus, and the viruses were most similar to the strain Adrar, which was isolated in Mauritania. We detected viral RNA in ticks of the following species: Amblyomma variegatum, Rhipicephalus geigyi, and Rh. (Boophilus) spp. There is no evidence that ixodid ticks are competent vectors of the Ngari virus. Most likely, the ticks obtained the virus through blood from an infected host.
Care homes, their communities, and resilience in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic: interim findings from a qualitative study
Authors: Marshall Fiona , Gordon Adam L , Gladman John RF , Bishop Simon
Published: November 2020

Background

From late February 2020, English care homes rapidly adapted their practices in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to accommodating new guidelines and policies, staff had to adjust to rapid reconfiguration of services external to the home that they would normally depend upon for support. This study examined the complex interdependencies of support as staff responded to COVID-19. The aim was to inform more effective responses to the ongoing pandemic, and to improve understanding of how to work with care home staff and organisations after the pandemic has passed.

Methods

Ten managers of registered care homes in the East Midlands of England were interviewed by videoconference or phone about their experiences of the crisis from a structured organisational perspective. Analysis used an adapted organisational framework analysis approach with a focus on social ties and interdependencies between organisations and individuals.

Results

Three key groups of interdependencies were identified: care processes and practice; resources; and governance. Care home staff had to deliver care in innovative ways, making high stakes decisions in circumstances defined by: fluid ties to organisations outside the care home; multiple, sometimes conflicting, sources of expertise and information; and a sense of deprioritisation by authorities. Organisational responses to the pandemic by central government resulted in resource constraints and additional work, and sometimes impaired the ability of staff and managers to make decisions. Local communities, including businesses, third-sector organisations and individuals, were key in helping care homes overcome challenges. Care homes, rather than competing, were found to work together to provide mutual support. Resilience in the system was a consequence of dedicated and resourceful staff using existing local networks, or forging new ones, to overcome barriers to care.

Conclusions

This study identified how interdependency between care home organisations, the surrounding community, and key statutory and non-statutory organisations beyond their locality, shaped decision making and care delivery during the pandemic. Recognising these interdependencies, and the expertise shown by care home managers and staff as they navigate them, is key to providing effective healthcare in care homes as the pandemic progresses, and as the sector recovers afterwards.
Penalized longitudinal mixed models with latent group structure, with an application in neurodegenerative diseases
Authors: Hatami Farhad , Perrakis Konstantinos , Cooper-Knock Johnathan , Mukherjee Sach , Dondelinger Frank
Published: November 2020

Summary

Large-scale longitudinal data are often heterogeneous, spanning latent subgroups such as disease subtypes. In this paper, we present an approach calledlongitudinal joint cluster regression(LJCR) for penalized mixed modelling in the latent group setting. LJCR captures latent group structure via a mixture model that includes both the multivariate distribution of the covariates and a regression model for the response. The longitudinal dynamics of each individual are modeled using a random effect intercept and slope model. Inference is done via a profile likelihood approach that can handle high-dimensional covariates via ridge penalization. LJCR is motivated by questions in neurodegenerative disease research, where latent subgroups may reflect heterogeneity with respect to disease presentation, progression and diverse subject-specific factors. We study the performance of LJCR in the context of two longitudinal datasets: a simulation study and a study of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). LJCR allows prediction of progression as well as identification of subgroups and subgroup-specific model parameters.
Serum Vitamin D Levels Are Not Associated with Obstructive Lung Disease in the General Population: An NHANES Analysis (2007-2008 to 2009-2010)
Authors: Seedahmed Mohamed I , Baugh Aaron D , Kempker Jordan A
Published: November 2020

Background

Obstructive lung disease is a significant cause of morbidity and healthcare burden within the United States. A growing body of evidence has suggested that vitamin D levels can influence the course or incidence of obstructive lung disease. However, there is an insufficient previous investigation of this association.

Study Design and Methods

We used the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycles 2007-2008 and 2009-2010 spirometry results of individuals aged 40 years and older to assess the association between serum 25(OH)D levels and obstructive lung disease, as defined by the American Thoracic Society using the lower limit of normal (LLN). We used stage multivariate survey-logistic regression with backward selection.

Results

The final model included body mass index, pack-years smoking history, and ethnicity. In the primary model, there was no association between vitamin D levels and obstructive lung disease. We noted an association between “Other Hispanic” self-identified race and serum Vitamin D levels wherein higher levels were associated with higher odds of obstructive lung disease in this ethnicity, but not among other racial or ethnic groups (OR= 1.48, p= 0.02).

Conclusions

Serum Vitamin D levels among adults are not associated with the odds of obstructive lung disease in the general population. Results among non-Mexican Hispanic participants highlight the need for further research in minority populations. More work is needed to address the course and incidence of lung disease in the United States.

RESEARCH IN CONTEXT

What is the key question?

In the general population, is there an independent association between Vitamin D and obstructive lung disease after controlling for relevant covariates?

What is the bottom line?

In exploring whether serum vitamin D levels are associated with odds of obstructive lung disease in the general US population, we did not find an independent association in the overall sample.

Why read on?

This paper adds nuance to the broad understanding of vitamin D’s role in lung pathophysiology.
Repetitive but not single blast mild traumatic brain injury increases ethanol responsivity in mice and risky drinking behavior in combat Veterans
Authors: Schindler Abigail G. , Baskin Britahny , Juarez Barbara , Lee Suhjung Janet , Hendrickson Rebecca , Pagulayan Katherine , Zweifel Larry S. , Raskind Murray A. , Phillips Paul E.M. , Peskind Elaine R. , Cook David G.
Published: November 2020

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is common in civilians and highly prevalent among military Servicemembers and in contact sports athletes. mTBI, especially within military populations, is often comorbid with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and can increase health-risk behaviors (e.g., sensation/novelty seeking, impulsivity, risk taking, irritability/aggression) and substance misuse/abuse, but underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Using an established mouse model of blast mTBI, here we examined the effects of single (1x) and repetitive (3x) blast exposure on ethanol responsivity using a battery of tests, each associated with distinct aspects of alcohol abuse vulnerability. While both single and repetitive blast exposure increased the sedative properties of high-dose ethanol (with no change in tolerance or metabolism), only repetitive blast exposure potentiated ethanol-induced locomotor stimulation and shifted ethanol intake patterns (i.e., increased consumption ‘front-loading’) during intermittent two bottle choice. To establish translational relevance, we next examined self-report responses to the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption Questions (AUDIT-C) and used a novel unsupervised machine learning approach to investigate whether a history of blast with acute symptoms and mTBI affected drinking behaviors in Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans. AUDIT-C scores were increased in Veterans with a history of blast exposure and subsequent cluster analysis identified a three-cluster solution: ‘low’ (low intake and low frequency), ‘frequent’ (low intake but high frequency), and ‘risky’ (high intake and high frequency), where Veterans with a history of blast mTBI displayed a shift in cluster assignment from ‘frequent’ to ‘risky’, as compared to Veterans who were deployed to Iraq and/or Afghanistan who had no lifetime history of TBI. Together, these results offer new insight regarding how blast mTBI may give rise to increased substance use/misuse and highlight the increased potential for adverse health-risk behaviors following repetitive blast mTBI exposure.
Short-term forecasts to inform the response to the Covid-19 epidemic in the UK
Authors: Funk S , Abbott S , Atkins BD , Baguelin M , Baillie JK , Birrell P , Blake J , Bosse NI , Burton J , Carruthers J , Davies NG , De Angelis D , Dyson L , Edmunds WJ , Eggo RM , Ferguson NM , Gaythorpe K , Gorsich E , Guyver-Fletcher G , Hellewell J , Hill EM , Holmes A , House TA , Jewell C , Jit M , Jombart T , Joshi I , Keeling MJ , Kendall E , Knock ES , Kucharski AJ , Lythgoe KA , Meakin SR , Munday JD , Openshaw PJM , Overton CE , Pagani F , Pearson J , Perez-Guzman PN , Pellis L , Scarabel F , Semple MG , Sherratt K , Tang M , Tildesley MJ , Van Leeuwen E , Whittles LK ,   CMMID COVID-19 Working Group,   Imperial College COVID-19 Response Team,   ISARIC4C Investigators
Published: November 2020

Background

Short-term forecasts of infectious disease can aid situational awareness and planning for outbreak response. Here, we report on multi-model forecasts of Covid-19 in the UK that were generated at regular intervals starting at the end of March 2020, in order to monitor expected healthcare utilisation and population impacts in real time.

Methods

We evaluated the performance of individual model forecasts generated between 24 March and 14 July 2020, using a variety of metrics including the weighted interval score as well as metrics that assess the calibration, sharpness, bias and absolute error of forecasts separately. We further combined the predictions from individual models into ensemble forecasts using a simple mean as well as a quantile regression average that aimed to maximise performance. We compared model performance to a null model of no change.

Results

In most cases, individual models performed better than the null model, and ensembles models were well calibrated and performed comparatively to the best individual models. The quantile regression average did not noticeably outperform the mean ensemble.

Conclusions

Ensembles of multi-model forecasts can inform the policy response to the Covid-19 pandemic by assessing future resource needs and expected population impact of morbidity and mortality.
The Use of Saliva as a Diagnostic Specimen for SARS CoV-2 Molecular Diagnostic Testing for Pediatric Patients
Authors: Delaney Meghan , Simpson Joelle , Thomas Bobbe , Ralph Christal , Evangalista Michael , Moshgriz Mahdi , Granados Joyce , McGuire Mark , DeBiasi Roberta , Campos Joseph
Published: November 2020

Background

Children are an important population to test for COVID-19 infection, particularly because they may shed the virus without displaying symptoms. Testing children for COVID-19 via sensitive molecular methods is important, although collecting nasopharyngeal (NP) specimens can be challenging. A less invasive mode of specimen collection that yields test results comparable to those from NP specimens would be beneficial to simplify sample collection.

Methods

To demonstrate that saliva is a suitable specimen for collection from children, the clinical usability/acceptability and the analytic performance of saliva were compared to NP specimens suspended in viral transport medium. Four different FDA EUA-approved real-time RT-PCR assays and one EUA approved saliva collection device were investigated.

Results

The study population included 526 patients between the ages of 3 and 61 years, 461 (88%) were <18 years, 425 were asymptomatic (81.1%), 92 were symptomatic (17.6%). Saliva mixed with saliva stabilizing buffer was found to yield comparable sensitivity to NP specimens when tested on the AllPlex SARS-CoV-2 molecular test (Seegene Inc). The analytic sensitivity of the AllPlex assay during testing of spiked saliva mixed with SpectrumDNA saliva stabilizer was found to be 250 genomic copies/mL.

Conclusions

Of the four FDA EUA-approved SARS-CoV-2 PCR assays studied, we found the AllPlex assay to be best suited for testing saliva specimens collected from children 5 years of age or older. The sensitivity of viral detection was equivalent to NP specimens when saliva specimens were mixed with the saliva stabilizer.