bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Panax Notoginseng Saponins Protect H9c2 Cells From Hypoxia-reoxygenation Injury Through the Forkhead Box O3a Hypoxia-inducible Factor-1 Alpha Cell Signaling Pathway
Authors: Liu Xin-Wen , Lu Meng-Kai , Zhong Hui-Ting , Liu Jing-Jing , Fu Yong-Ping
Published: August 2021

Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) are commonly used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Whether PNS can protect myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury by regulating the forkhead box O3a hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (FOXO3a/HIF-1α) cell signaling pathway remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effect of PNS on H9c2 cardiomyocytes through the FOXO3a/HIF-1α cell signaling pathway. Hypoxia and reoxygenation of H9C2 cells were used to mimic MIRI in vitro, and the cells were treated with PNS, 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME2), and LY294002.” Cell proliferation, lactate dehydrogenase, and malonaldehyde were used to evaluate the degree of cell injury. The level of reactive oxygen species was detected with a fluorescence microscope. The apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry. The expression of autophagy-related proteins and apoptosis-related proteins was detected by western blot assay. PNS could reduce H9c2 hypoxia-reoxygenation injury by promoting autophagy and inhibiting apoptosis through the HIF-1α/FOXO3a cell signaling pathway. Furthermore, the protective effects of PNS were abolished by HIF-1α inhibitor 2ME2 and PI3K/Akt inhibitor LY294002. PNS could reduce H9c2 hypoxia-reoxygenation injury by promoting autophagy and inhibiting apoptosis through the HIF-1α/FOXO3a cell signaling pathway.
Tumor Control Following Stereotactic Radiosurgery in Patients with Vestibular Schwannomas – A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Santa Maria Peter L. , Shi Yangyang , Aaron Ksenia A. , Gurgel Richard K. , Corrales C. Eduardo , Soltys Scott G. , Santa Maria Chloe , Chang Steven D. , Blevins Nikolas H. , Jackler Robert K. , Gibbs Iris C.
Published: August 2021

Background:

To better counsel vestibular schwannoma patients, it is necessary to understand the tumor control rates of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS).

Objectives:

To determine tumor control rates, factors determining control and complication rates following SRS.

Methods:

Tertiary hospital retrospective cohort.

Results:

579 tumors (576 patients) were treated with SRS. 477 tumors (474 patients, 82%) had ≥1 year follow up and 60% (344) ≥3 years follow up. 88% of tumors had primary SRS and 6.7% salvage SRS. Median follow up time was 4.6 years. At 3 years, the tumor control rate of primary SRS was 89% (258 of 290) in sporadic tumors compared to 43% in Neurofibromatosis type II (3 of 17) (p < 0.01). Our bivariable survival data analysis showed that Neurofibromatosis type II, documented pre-SRS growth, tumor measured by maximum dimension, SRS given as nonprimary treatment increased hazard of failure to control. There was one case of malignancy and another of rapid change following intra-tumoral hemorrhage. For tumors undergoing surgical salvage (25 of 59), 56% had a total or near-total resection, 16% had postoperative CSF leak, with 12% new facial paralysis (House-Brackmann grade VI) and worsening of facial nerve outcomes (House-Brackmann grade worse in 59% at 12 mo).

Conclusions:

Control of vestibular schwannoma after primary SRS occurs in the large majority. Salvage surgical treatment was notable for higher rates of postoperative complications compared to primary surgery reported in the literature.
Glasgow Benefit Inventory in Cochlear Implantation: A Reliable Though Ancillary Quality of Life Metric
Authors: Lui Justin T. , Lee John J.W. , Ma Yifei , Dixon Peter R. , Crowson Matthew G. , Dahm Valerie , Shipp David B. , Chen Joseph M. , Lin Vincent Y.
Published: August 2021

Objective:

The Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) is a health-related quality of life instrument used to detect changes in health status following otolaryngologic interventions. Despite its use in cochlear implant literature, assessment of utility, reliability, and validity of GBI in an adult cochlear implants (CI) patient population has yet to be performed.

Study Design:

Retrospective case series.

Setting:

Academic, tertiary referral center.

Patients:

Postlingually deafened, adult CI patients with at least 1 year of device use.

Interventions:

Five hundred fifty-two patients were administered GBI questionnaires at least 1 year following CI activation during follow-up visits.

Main Outcome Measures:

GBI total and subscale scoring were compared to either the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults or Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly. Moreover, a factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha were performed to determine GBI validity and internal reliability, respectively.

Results:

The average overall GBI score was 38.6 ± 21.7. This was weakly correlated to the reduction in Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults/Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (τb = 0.282, p < 0.05). High factor loading with minimal cross-loading was noted on a three-factor solution, which emulated the original GBI development. Internal reliability was acceptable for the general benefit (α = 0.913) and social support subclasses (α = 0.706), whereas physical health's was low (α = 0.643).

Conclusions:

Although GBI possesses adequate convergent and discriminant validity with acceptable reliability, its routine use to capture CI-specific health-related changes should not supersede validated CI-specific QoL instruments.
Morphological Analysis of the Adult Eustachian Tube: A Fresh-Frozen Human Cadaver Study
Authors: Kwak Min Young , Kang Jeon Min , Park Jung-Hoon , Lee Dong Kyu , Ryu Sung Seok , Chun Taeuk , Kim Yehree , Park Jin Taek , Kang Woo Seok , Park Hong Ju
Published: August 2021

Objectives:

To evaluate the dilated Eustachian tube (ET) anatomy configuration using fresh human cadavers.

Methods:

Fourteen ears from human cadavers were used to identify the ET configuration. The cadaver head was cut in the sagittal plane parallel to the nasal septum, dividing it into right and left sides. Silicone was then inserted into the ET through the nasopharyngeal orifice (NO). The volume and length of the impression were measured using 3D computed tomography imaging.

Results:

The ET lumen was found to narrow from the NO to the isthmus, and the ET surface was concave anteriorly and convex posteriorly. The lower portion of the ET lumen was the most dilated and displayed a narrow top. The average volume of the ET impression was 1.4 ± 0.5 ml. The total length of the posterior side was 30.5 ± 3.6 mm, and that of the anterior side was 26.3 ± 3.4 mm. The widest ET area of the NO was 10.1 ± 0.9 mm in height and 8.0 ± 1.5 mm in width. The preisthmus was 2.4 ± 0.4 mm in height and 1.3 ± 0.5 mm in width. The height and width were 8.37 and 5.33 mm at the 5 mm point from the NO, and 5.51 and 1.94 mm at the 20 mm point from the NO, respectively.

Conclusion:

We evaluated the configuration of the cartilaginous ET lumen, which is the main target of balloon dilation, and our findings may give insights into this dilation process and assist with the further development of ET balloons and stents.
Prognostic Implications of Ambulatory N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Changes in Patients with Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Devices
Authors: Ali Abbas , Akintoye Emmanuel , Ruiz Duque Ernesto , Kshetri Rupesh , Shetty Suchith , Sharma Umesh C. , Johnson Carol M. , Panos Anthony L. , Briasoulis Alexandros , Alvarez Paulino
Published: August 2021

Data regarding the role of N-terminal Pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP) in patients with a continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CFLVAD) is scarce. To evaluate the prognostic implications of measuring both absolute values and changes in NT-pro BNP concentrations in ambulatory patients with a CFLVAD, we performed a retrospective study of 168 consecutive patients who had an LVAD implantation at our institution and survived beyond their index hospitalization. Of these, 127 patients (56.2 ± 12.5 years, 21.2% female) had NT-pro BNP measured at 1 and 3 months postdischarge in ambulatory settings. Compared to the NT-pro BNP concentration at 1 month, 94 patients (74%) had a decline, and 33 patients (26%) had an increase in concentrations, from their 1 month baseline. After a median follow-up of 17 months, a total of 53 (41.7%) adverse events occurred. Of these, 37 (69.8%) were heart failure (HF) hospitalizations, and 16 (30.2%) were deaths. For each 1,000 unit increase in NT-pro BNP concentration at 3 months, there was a 17% increase in the risk of HF hospitalization or death (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.04–1.32, p = 0.007). Conversely, each 1000 unit decline during the same time, was associated with an 11% decrease in the risk of HF hospitalization or death (HR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.77–0.98, p = 0.04). In conclusion, in patients with a CFLAD, an increase in NT-pro BNP concentration from 1 to 3 months is associated with an increased risk of HF hospitalization and death. In contrast, a decline is associated with a reduction in the risk of HF hospitalization and death.
Mini-incision and open repair for acute Achilles tendon rupture
Authors: Cao Le , Wang Ping , Wu Yongping , Zhang Qiang , Miao Xudong
Published: August 2021

Background:

The treatment of acute Achilles tendon ruptures remains controversial; operative options include open, mini-invasive, and percutaneous repair of the tendon. This trial aimed to compare the clinical effects of mini-invasive and open repair in treating acute Achilles tendon rupture.

Methods:

We performed a prospective randomized controlled trial of 100 patients with acute Achilles tendon rupture. Patients will be randomized into a mini-invasive group and an open group. The mini-invasive group will undergo a mini-invasive technique using a percutaneous Achilles repair system device, and the open group will undergo open repair using the Krackow technique. The primary outcomes were the Achilles Tendon Total Rupture Score, ankle range of motion, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot score, and visual analog scale pain score. The secondary outcomes will be the Leppilahti score, SF-36, time to return to sports, calf circumference difference, and percentage of recovery to pre-injury physical activity. Complications such as rerupture, sural nerve problems, superficial/deep infections, deep venous thromboembolism, and wound complications will be recorded and analyzed. All analyses were performed using SPSS software. The value of P < .05 was considered significant.

Discussion:

The results of this study will provide comprehensive data and outcomes on mini-incision vs open repair in treating acute Achilles tendon rupture, so as to help surgeons and patients make better choices.

Trial registration:

This study protocol was registered at www.chictr.org.cn (registration number: ChiCTR2000041053).
Sternoclavicular joint septic arthritis manifesting as deep neck infection in patients with recent acupuncture history and intra-articular injection
Authors: Kim Min Ji , Kim Young-Mo , Choi Jeong-Seok , Kim Ji Won
Published: August 2021

Introduction:

Septic arthritis in sternoclavicular joint (SCJ) with neck abscesses is very rare. Acupuncture and intra-articular injections have been reported as a cause of septic arthritis.

Patient concerns:

Two patients, one with a history of acupuncture and the other with a history of intra-articular injection complained of fever and neck abscess arising as a complication of SCJ septic arthritis.

Diagnosis:

Computed tomography revealed abscesses in the upper chest wall, retrosternum, anterior mediastinum, lower portion of the neck, and SCJ area.

Interventions:

Surgical drainage was performed successfully for both patients. The tissues from the SCJ, proximal clavicle, and deep cervical fascia showed chronic active inflammation without granulomas, accompanied with joint arthritis and osteomyelitis. In the abscesses, methicillin-resistant & sensitive Staphylococcus aureus was isolated. Empirical antibiotic treatment covering these organisms was administered to these patients.

Outcomes:

Following the surgical drainage, the hospital stay was free of complications and there was no recurrence of SCJ arthritis at 6 months follow-up.

Conclusion:

Neck abscesses in patients with a recent acupuncture or intra-articular injection may develop due to SCJ septic arthritis. If SCJ septic arthritis is not detected early, fatal complications can occur. Therefore, awareness of such an atypical presentation is essential for prompt diagnosis and appropriate management.
New therapies for esophageal strictures in children
Authors: Angelino Giulia , Tambucci Renato , Torroni Filippo , De Angelis Paola , Dall’Oglio Luigi
Published: August 2021

Purpose of review

The present review aims at describing recent advances in therapeutic strategies for the treatment of benign esophageal strictures in children. We discuss current knowledge and practice on esophageal dilations, which are still the mainstream of treatment. We present new evidence about adjuvant treatments for recurrent and refractory strictures, including endoscopic incisional therapy, esophageal stenting, intralesional or topical mytomicin C and intralesional, systemic or topical steroids.

Recent findings

Current evidence on esophageal dilations is not sufficient to establish superiority of one of the available techniques, especially the use of balloon or bougie dilators, but a prospective international cohort study on anastomotic stricture in esophageal atresia is underway to address this issue. Recurrent and refractory strictures still represent a challenge, since none of the adjuvant pharmacological and mechanical interventions has shown to be enough feasible, effective and safe to revolutionize clinical practice.

In the last couple of years, several encouraging results have been published on management of esophageal strictures in children. Further research is needed, hopefully directed toward secure, easily reproducible and minimally invasive measures.
Case Report: Steroid-induced Ocular Hypertension in a 6-year-old Boy
Authors: Tasaki Anne
Published: August 2021

SIGNIFICANCE

Systemic corticosteroid use in children is rare because of known risks of adverse effects. The increased prevalence of multisystem inflammatory syndrome associated with COVID-19 may change this. It is critical for eye care providers to be aware of potential severe and rapid ocular hypertensive response to prevent irreversible vision loss.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to report the importance of early monitoring of intraocular eye pressure in pediatric patients on systemic steroid medication.

CASE REPORT

A 6-year-old White boy presented with a complaint of headache for 2 weeks. He was on his 19th day of treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia with oral dexamethasone and chemotherapy. IOP at presentation was 65 mmHg in both eyes measured with iCare tonometry. Treatment with maximum topical glaucoma therapy reduced IOP to normal levels and eliminated the symptom of headache.

CONCLUSIONS

This case reminds eye care providers to be aware of the potential ocular hypertensive response to systemic steroid treatment and the importance of establishing early monitoring. With the emergence of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children during the current COVID-19 pandemic, eye care providers may encounter more pediatric patients on systemic corticosteroid treatment than previously and should adjust their examinations appropriately.
Case Report: Use of Multimodal Imaging to Document a Rare Complication of Torpedo Maculopathy
Authors: Byer Megan , Rousso Leticia , Rodman Julie , Shechtman Diana
Published: August 2021

SIGNIFICANCE

This study demonstrates the importance of routine multimodal imaging for the diagnosis of choroidal neovascular membrane secondary to torpedo maculopathy.

CASE REPORT

A 63-year-old woman with a history of torpedo maculopathy presented with recent-onset symptoms of visual distortion in the right eye. Multimodal imaging modalities revealed the presence of a choroidal neovascular membrane. The choroidal neovascular membrane was treated, and the patient was subsequently followed up to monitor the retinal appearance over time. Significant structural restoration of the macular anatomy with overall functional improvement was seen.

CONCLUSIONS

Although torpedo maculopathy is often a benign diagnosis, complications such as choroidal neovascular membrane can occur. Choroidal neovascular membrane formation is well documented in younger patients with torpedo maculopathy; however, we present a rare case of choroidal neovascular membrane in an elderly individual. Multimodal imaging proved instrumental in the early detection and management of this infrequently reported complication.
Forensic Neuropathologic Phenotypes of Fungal Central Nervous System Infections
Authors: Wu Gary , Liu Ying , Bulakhtina Elena , Hammers Jennifer L. , Linde Erin M. , Omalu Bennet I.
Published: August 2021

Fungal infections of the central nervous system (FI-CNS) are life-threatening infections that most commonly affect immunocompromised individuals, but immunocompetent individuals may also be infected. Although FI-CNS are relatively rare, the prevalence of FI-CNS is on the rise because of the increasing number of transplant recipients, human immunodeficiency virus–infected individuals, and use of immunosuppressive therapies. Most cases of FI-CNS originate from outside the central nervous system. The etiologic fungi can be classified into 3 fungal groups: molds, dimorphic fungi, and yeasts. The clinical presentation of FI-CNS is highly variable and may be difficult to diagnose premortem. We present a case series of 3 patients, each infected by 1 representative species from each of the 3 fungal groups (Aspergillus species, Blastomyces species, Candida species) to illustrate different neuropathologic phenotypes of FI-CNS. All 3 patients had no history of immunodeficiency and were not suspected to have FI-CNS until they were diagnosed at autopsy. Fungal infections of the central nervous system are often fatal due to delayed diagnosis and diagnostic testing. Awareness of such poly-phenotypic manifestations of FI-CNS will be helpful in reducing delayed diagnosis. It is important for clinicians to include FI-CNS on the differential diagnosis when radiographic findings are nonspecific.
Changing Patterns of Lymphoma in the Antiretroviral Therapy Era in Johannesburg, South Africa
Authors: Wiggill Tracey , Mayne Elizabeth , Perner Yvonne , Vaughan Jenifer
Published: August 2021

Background:

South Africa has a high HIV prevalence, which associates with an increased risk of lymphoma. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) became accessible in 2004, but the program has substantially expanded. Changes in lymphoma patterns are documented in high-income countries after wide-scale ART including declining high-grade B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas (HG B-NHLs), particularly diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and increased Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). There are limited data from Africa. This study aimed to compare HG B-NHL characteristics in the early (2007) and later (2017) ART era.

Methods:

All incident lymphomas at the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, were identified using the laboratory information system, and data were collected for each patient.

Results:

The total number of lymphoma cases increased from 397 (2007) to 582 (2017). This was associated with improved lymphoma classification and patient referral for oncological care. HG B-NHL remained the most diagnosed lymphoma subtype in 2017 comprising 70% of HIV-associated lymphomas, followed by HL (24%). Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma comprised 65% of all HG B-NHLs and 45% of all lymphomas in people with HIV in 2017. Significantly more patients were on ART in 2017, with improvements in virological control documented. Despite this, 47.6% of patients were not virologically suppressed, and 37.5% of patients were ART-naive at time of diagnosis in 2017. Immunological reconstitution was suboptimal, which may reflect late initiation of ART.

Conclusion:

Public health initiatives to initiate ART as early as possible and to retain patients in ART programs may assist in decreasing the number of HIV-associated lymphomas in our setting.
Patients’ Experiences With HIV-positive to HIV-positive Organ Transplantation
Authors: Van Pilsum Rasmussen Sarah E. , Seaman Shanti , Johnson Morgan A. , Vanterpool Karen , Brown Diane M. , Tobian Aaron A.R. , Pruett Timothy , Kirchner Varvara , Fletcher Faith E. , Smith Burke , Trinh Sonya , Segev Dorry L. , Durand Christine M. , Sugarman Jeremy
Published: August 2021

Background.

HIV+ donor (HIV D+) to HIV+ recipient (HIV R+) transplantation involves ethical considerations related to safety, consent, stigma, and privacy, which could be better understood through studying patients’ actual experiences.

Methods.

We interviewed kidney and liver transplant recipients enrolled in clinical trials evaluating HIV D+/R+ transplantation at 4 centers regarding their decision-making process, the informed consent process, and posttransplant experiences. Participants were interviewed at-transplant (≤3 wk after transplant), posttransplant (≥3 mo after transplant), or both time points. Interviews were analyzed thematically using constant comparison of inductive and deductive coding.

Results.

We conducted 35 interviews with 22 recipients (15 at-transplant; 20 posttransplant; 13 both time points; 85% participation). Participants accepted HIV D+ organs because of perceived benefits and situational factors that increased their confidence in the trials and outweighed perceived clinical and social risks. Participants reported positive experiences with the consent process and the trial. Some described HIV-related stigma and emphasized the need for privacy; others believed HIV D+/R+ transplantation could help combat such stigma. There were some indications of possible therapeutic misestimation (overestimation of benefits or underestimation of risks of a study). Some participants believed that HIV+ transplant candidates were unable to receive HIV-noninfected donor organs.

Conclusions.

Despite overall positive experiences, some ethical concerns remain that should be mitigated going forward. For instance, based on our findings, targeted education for HIV+ transplant candidates regarding available treatment options and for transplant teams regarding privacy and stigma concerns would be beneficial.
Validation of Pefloxacin for detection of fluoroquinolone (FQ) resistance among Salmonella Typhi with special reference to GyrB mutations
Authors: Inayath Shakila Banu , Broor Shobha , Gupta Ruchi , Agarwal Priti , Majumder Subhradeep , Anveshi Anupam Kumar , Gaind Rajni
Published: August 2021

Introduction. Fluoroquinolone (FQ) resistant

Salmonella

are classified as high priority pathogens by WHO. FQ resistance among

Salmonella

Typhi has emerged rapidly and is predominantly mediated by mutations in the topoisomerase genes gyrA, and parC. Mutations in GyrA result in classical FQ resistance (DCS-NAR) i.e. decreased susceptibility to ciprofloxacin (MIC of 0.12 to 0.5 µg ml−1) (DCS) and resistance to nalidixic acid (NAR). Previously a nalidixic acid disc test was proposed for detection of DCS. Recently isolates with non-classical FQ resistance caused by plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) and mutations in GyrB have emerged. These mechanisms also result in DCS but are nalidixic acid susceptible (NAS) and thus pose diagnostic challenges. CLSI and EUCAST have recommended use of 5 µg pefloxacin discs for detection of DCS in

Salmonella

.

Hypothesis. The CLSI and EUCAST recommendations for use of 5 µg pefloxacin for detection of DCS has not been validated on typhoidal

Salmonella

and resistance mediated by GyrB mutation in

Salmonella

species.

Aim. The aim of the present study was to validate the performance of the 5 µg pefloxacin discs to detect isolates of S. Typhi with DCS with special reference to GyrB mutations.

Methodology. A total of 180 clinical isolates of

Salmonella

Typhi (2005–2014) were investigated for genetic mechanisms of resistance. Zone diameters for nalidixic acid (30μg), ciprofloxacin (5μg) and pefloxacin (5µg) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for ciprofloxacin were determined using CLSI guidelines. Performance of the three discs was evaluated to detect FQ resistance in S. Typhi.

Results. Topoisomerase mutations in GyrB +/ ParC and GyrB were detected in 112 and 34 isolates respectively. Different mutations have a varied effect on the MIC for ciprofloxacin. The current breakpoints for susceptible (≤0.06 µg ml−1) and non-susceptible (≥0.125 µg ml−1), failed to detect all isolates with a resistance mechanism. Performance of both ciprofloxacin and pefloxacin discs were excellent compared to nalidixic acid in differentiating isolates with non-classical resistance mediated by GyrB from wild-type.

Conclusion. The pefloxacin disc can be used to detect FQ resistance among S. Typhi. This is the first report of validation of pefloxacin for detection of FQ resistance in S. Typhi mediated by GyrB mutation.
Association between metabolic status and gut microbiome in obese populations
Authors: Zeng Qiang , Yang Zhenyu , Wang Fei , Li Dongfang , Liu Yanhong , Wang Daxi , Zhao Xiaolan , Li Yinhu , Wang Yu , Feng Xin , Chen Jiaxing , Li Yongli , Zheng Yuejie , Kenney Toby , Gu Hong , Feng Su , Li Shuangcheng , He Yuan , Xu Ximing , Dai Wenkui
Published: August 2021

Despite that obesity is associated with many metabolic diseases, a significant proportion (10–30 %) of obese individuals is recognized as ‘metabolically healthy obeses’ (MHOs). The aim of the current study is to characterize the gut microbiome for MHOs as compared to ‘metabolically unhealthy obeses’ (MUOs). We compared the gut microbiome of 172 MHO and 138 MUO individuals from Chongqing (China) (inclined to eat red meat and food with a spicy taste), and performed validation with selected biomarkers in 40 MHOs and 33 MUOs from Quanzhou (China) (inclined to eat seafood and food with a light/bland taste). The genera

Alistipes

,

Faecalibacterium

and

Odoribacter

had increased abundance in both Chongqing and Quanzhou MHOs. We also observed different microbial functions in MUOs compared to MHOs, including an increased abundance of genes associated with glycan biosynthesis and metabolism. In addition, the microbial gene markers identified from the Chongqing cohort bear a moderate accuracy [AUC (area under the operating characteristic curve)=0.69] for classifying MHOs distinct from MUOs in the Quanzhou cohort. These findings indicate that gut microbiome is significantly distinct between MHOs and MUOs, implicating the potential of the gut microbiome in stratification and refined management of obesity.
Inequality in access to dental services in a market-based dental care system. A population study from Norway 1975-2018
Authors: Jiang Nan , Grytten Jostein , Kinge Jonas Minet
Published: August 2021

Objective

To examine income-related inequalities in access to dental services from 1975 to 2018. In Norway, dental care services for adults are privately financed. This might lead to income-related inequalities in access to dental services. However, over the last decades Norwegians have experienced a rapid growth in income, including people with lower income. This may have led to improved access to dental services for these people. Therefore, inequalities in access to dental services may have become less over the last decades.

Research design

This was a prospective study. Statistics Norway collected samples of cross-sectional health survey data for the following years: 1975, 1985, 1995, 2002, 2008, 2012 and 2018. For each sample, individuals 20 years and older were drawn randomly from the non-institutionalized adult population using a two-stage stratified cluster sample technique. Inequalities were measured using the concentration index. The dependent variable was use of dental services during the last year and the key independent variable was equalized household income.

Results

The concentration index for inequalities in use of dental services according to income decreased from 0.10 (95% confidence interval = 0.09, 0.11) in 1975 to 0.04 (95% confidence interval = 0.03, 0.05) in 2018. The decrease was particularly large from 2002 to 2012. This was a period with a large growth in gross national income.

Conclusion

People with a low income had a marked increase in their purchasing power from 1975 to 2018. This coincided with an increase in demand for dental care for this low-income group.
Temporal Geospatial Analysis of COVID-19 Pre-infection Determinants of Risk in South Carolina
Authors: Lyu Tianchu , Hair Nicole , Yell Nicholas , Li Zhenlong , Qiao Shan , Liang Chen , Li Xiaoming
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Disparities and their geospatial patterns exist in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) morbidity and mortality for people who are engaged with clinical care. However, studies centered on viral infection cases are scarce. It remains unclear with respect to the disparity structure, its geospatial characteristics, and the pre-infection determinants of risk (PIDRs) for people with the infection. This work aimed to assess the geospatial associations between PIDRs and COVID-19 infection at the county level in South Carolina by different timepoints during the pandemic.

Method

We used global models including spatial error model (SEM), spatial lag model (SLM), and conditional autoregressive model (CAR), as well as geographically weighted regression model (GWR) as a local model to examine the associations between COVID-19 infection rate and PIDRs. The data were retrieved from multiple sources including USAFacts, US Census Bureau, and Population Estimates Program.

Results

The percentage of males and the percentage of the unemployed population were statistically significant (p values < 0.05) with positive coefficients in the three global models (SEM, SLM, CAR) throughout the time. The percentage of white population and obesity rate showed divergent spatial correlations at different times of the pandemic. GWR models consistently have a better model fit than global models, suggesting non-stationary correlations between a region and its neighbors.

Conclusion

Characterized by temporal-geospatial patterns, disparities and their PIDRs exist in COVID-19 incidence at the county level in South Carolina. The temporal-geospatial structure of disparities and their PIDRs found in COVID-19 incidence are different from mortality and morbidity for patients who are connected with clinical care. Our findings provided important evidence for prioritizing different populations and developing tailored interventions at different times of the pandemic. These findings provided implications on containing early viral transmission and mitigating consequences of infectious disease outbreaks for possible future pandemics.
COVID-19 impact on stroke admissions during France’s first epidemic peak: an exhaustive, nationwide, observational study
Authors: Risser Clémence , Ba Loc Pierre Tran , Binder-Foucard Florence , Fabacher Thibaut , Lefevre Hassina , Sauvage Claire , Sauleau Erik-André , Wolff Valérie
Published: August 2021

Background and Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have great impacts on the care of non-COVID-19 patients. This was especially true during the first epidemic peak in France, which coincided with the national lockdown (17 March 2020 to 10 May 2020). Patients with serious and urgent disease like stroke may have experienced a degradation of care, or may have been hesitant to seek healthcare during this period. The aim of this study was to identify, on a national level, whether a decrease in stroke admissions occurred in spring 2020, by analyzing the evolution of all stroke admissions in France from January 2019 to June 2020.

Methods

We conducted a nationwide cohort study using the French national database of hospital admissions (PMSI) to extract exhaustive data on all hospitalizations in France with at least one stroke diagnosis between 1 January 2019 and 30 June 2020. The primary endpoint was the difference in the slope gradients of stroke hospitalizations between pre-epidemic, epidemic peak and post-epidemic periods. Modeling was carried out using Bayesian techniques.

Results

Stroke hospitalizations dropped from 10 March 2020 (slope gradient: -11.70), and began to rise again from 22 March (slope gradient: 2.090) to 7 May. In total, there were 23 873 stroke admissions during the period March-April 2020, compared to 29 263 at the same period in 2019, representing a decrease of 18.42%. The percentage change was -15.63%, - 25.19%, -18.62% for ischemic strokes, transient ischemic attacks, and hemorrhagic strokes, respectively. In spatial models of French departments, the incidence of COVID-19 explained the ratio of stroke hospitalizations.

Conclusions

Stroke hospitalizations in France experienced a decline during the first lockdown period, which cannot be explained by a sudden change in stroke incidence. This decline is therefore likely to be a direct, or indirect, result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mapping genetic determinants of 184 circulating proteins in 26,494 individuals to connect proteins and diseases
Authors: Macdonald-Dunlop Erin , Klarić Lucija , Folkersen Lasse , Timmers Paul R.H.J. , Gustafsson Stefan , Zhao Jing Hua , Eriksson Niclas , Richmond Anne , Enroth Stefan , Mattsson-Carlgren Niklas , Zhernakova Daria V. , Kalnapenkis Anette , Magnusson Martin , Wheeler Eleanor , Hwang Shih-Jen , Chen Yan , Morris Andrew P , Prins Bram , Võsa Urmo , Wareham Nicholas J. , Danesh John , Sundstrom Johan , Gigante Bruna , Baldassarre Damiano , Strawbridge Rona J. , Campbell Harry , Gyllensten Ulf , Yao Chen , Zanetti Daniela , Assimes Themistocles L. , Eriksson Per , Levy Daniel , Langenberg Claudia , Smith J. Gustav , Esko Tõnu , Fu Jingyuan , Hansson Oskar , Johansson Åsa , Hayward Caroline , Wallentin Lars , Siegbahn Agneta , Lind Lars , Butterworth Adam S. , Michaëlsson Karl , Peters James E. , Mälarstig Anders , Joshi Peter K. , Wilson James F.
Published: August 2021

We performed the largest genome-wide meta-analysis (GWAMA) (Max N=26,494) of the levels of 184 cardiovascular-related plasma protein levels to date and reported 592 independent loci (pQTL) associated with the level of at least one protein (1308 significant associations, median 6 per protein). We estimated that only between 8-37% of testable pQTL overlap with established expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) using multiple methods, while 132 out of 1064 lead variants show evidence for transcription factor binding, and found that 75% of our pQTL are known DNA methylation QTL. We highlight the variation in genetic architecture between proteins and that proteins share genetic architecture with cardiometabolic complex traits. Usingcis-instrument Mendelian randomisation (MR), we infer causal relationships for 11 proteins, recapitulating the previously reported relationship between PCSK9 and LDL cholesterol, replicating previous pQTL MR findings and discovering 16 causal relationships between protein levels and disease. Our MR results highlight IL2-RA as a candidate for drug repurposing for Crohn’s Disease as well as 2 novel therapeutic targets: IL-27 (Crohn’s disease) and TNFRSF14 (Inflammatory bowel disease, Multiple sclerosis and Ulcerative colitis). We have demonstrated the discoveries possible using our pQTL and highlight the potential of this work as a resource for genetic epidemiology.
Effects of repeated vaccination and vaccine formulation on the induction of broadly neutralizing antibody responses against influenza A virus in children
Authors: Yegorov Sergey , Celeste Daniel B. , Gomes Kimberly Braz , Ang Jann C. , Vandenhof Colin , Wang Joanne , Rybkina Ksenia , Tsui Vanessa , Loeb Mark , Miller Matthew S.
Published: August 2021

The induction of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) that target the hemagglutinin stalk domain is a promising strategy for the development of “universal” influenza virus vaccines. bNAbs can be boosted in adults by sequential exposure to heterosubtypic viruses through natural infection or vaccination. However, little is known about if/how bNAbs are induced by vaccination in more immunologically naive children. Here, we describe the impact of repeated seasonal influenza vaccination and vaccine type on induction of bNAbs in a well-characterized paediatric cohort enrolled in a series of randomized control trials of seasonal influenza vaccination. Repeated seasonal vaccination resulted in significant boosting of a durable bNAb response. Boosting of serological bNAbs titers was comparable within inactivated and live attenuated (LAIV) vaccinees and declined with age. These data provide new insights into vaccine-elicited bNAb induction in children, which has important implications for the design of “universal” influenza vaccine modalities in this critical population.
Challenges in Tracking the Risk of COVID-19 in Bangladesh: Evaluation of A Novel Method
Authors: Hoque Md. Enamul , Islam Md. Shariful , Sharma Arnab Sen , Islam Rashedul , Amin Mohammad Ruhul
Published: August 2021

Identifying actual risk zones in a country where the overall test positive rate (TPR) is higher than 5% is crucial to contain the pandemic. However, TPR-based risk zoning methods are debatable since they do not consider the rate of infection in an area and thus, it has been observed to overestimate the risk. Similarly, the rate of infection in an area has been noticed to underestimate the risk of COVID-19 spreading for the zones with higher TPR. In this article, we discuss the shortcomings of currently available risk zoning methods that are followed in the lower-middle-income countries (LMIC), especially in Bangladesh. We then propose to determine a risk zone by combining the rate of infection with TPR and effective reproduction number, Rt in a distinct manner from existing methods. We evaluate the efficacy of the proposed method with respect to the mass-movement events and show its application to track the evolution of COVID-19 pandemic by identifying the risk zones over time. Demo website for the visualization of the analysis can be found at: http://erdos.dsm.fordham.edu:3000

CCS CONCEPTS

Applied computing → Health informatics.

ACM Reference Format

Md. Enamul Hoque, Md. Shariful Islam, Arnab Sen Sharma, Rashedul Islam, and Mohammad Ruhul Amin. 2021. Challenges in Tracking the Risk of COVID-19 in Bangladesh: Evaluation of A Novel Method. In Proceedings of August 15 (KDD Workshop on Data-driven Humanitarian Mapping, 27th ACM SIGKDD Conference). ACM, New York, NY, USA, 7 pages.
Transcriptome-wide association study in UK Biobank Europeans identifies associations with blood cell traits
Authors: Rowland Bryce , Venkatesh Sanan , Tardaguila Manuel , Wen Jia , Rosen Jonathan D , Tapia Amanda L , Sun Quan , Graff Mariaelisa , Vuckovic Dragana , Lettre Guillaume , Sankaran Vijay G. , Reiner Alexander P. , Soranzo Nicole , Huffman Jennifer E. , Voloudakis Georgios , Roussos Panos , Raffield Laura , Li Yun
Published: August 2021

Previous genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of hematological traits have identified over 10,000 distinct trait-specific risk loci, but the underlying causal mechanisms at these loci remain incompletely characterized. We performed a transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) of 29 hematological traits in 399,835 UK Biobank (UKB) participants of European ancestry using gene expression prediction models trained from whole blood RNA-seq data in 922 individuals. We discovered 557 TWAS signals associated with hematological traits distinct from previously discovered GWAS variants, including 10 completely novel gene-trait pairs corresponding to 9 unique genes. Among the 557 associations, 301 were available for replication in a cohort of 141,286 participants of European ancestry from the Million Veteran Program (MVP). Of these 301 associations, 199 replicated at a nominal threshold (α = 0.05) and 108 replicated at a strict Bonferroni adjusted threshold (α = 0.05/301). Using our TWAS results, we systematically assigned 4,261 out of 16,900 previously identified hematological trait GWAS variants to putative target genes. Compared to coloc, our TWAS results show reduced specificity and increased sensitivity to assign variants to target genes.
Novel design of imputation-enabled SNP arrays for breeding and research applications supporting multi-species hybridisation
Authors: Keeble-Gagnère G , Pasam R , Forrest KL , Wong D , Robinson H , Godoy J , Rattey A , Moody D , Mullan D , Walmsley T , Daetwyler HD , Tibbits J , Hayden MJ
Published: August 2021

Array-based SNP genotyping platforms have low genotype error and missing data rates compared to genotyping-by-sequencing technologies. However, design decisions used to create array-based SNP genotyping assays for both research and breeding applications are critical to their success. We describe a novel approach applicable to any animal or plant species for the design of cost-effective imputation-enabled SNP genotyping arrays with broad utility and demonstrate its application through the development of the Infinium Wheat Barley 40K SNP array. We show the approach delivers high-quality and high-resolution data for wheat and barley, including when samples are jointly hybridised. The new array aims to maximally capture haplotypic diversity in globally diverse wheat and barley germplasm while minimising ascertainment bias. Comprising mostly biallelic markers designed to be species-specific and single-copy, it permits highly accurate imputation in diverse germplasm to improve statistical power for GWAS and genomic selection. The SNP content captures tetraploid wheat (A- and B-genome) and Ae. tauschii (D-genome) diversity and delineates synthetic and tetraploid wheat from other wheats, as well as tetraploid species and subgroups. The content includes SNP tagging key trait loci in wheat and barley and that directly connect to other genotyping platforms and legacy datasets. The utility of the array is enhanced through the web-based tool Pretzel (https://plantinformatics.io/) which enables the array’s content to be visualised and interrogated interactively in the context of numerous genetic and genomic resources to more seamlessly connect research and breeding. The array is available for use by the international wheat and barley community.

Short summary

Designing SNP genotyping arrays for closely related species with broad applicability in both research and breeding is challenging. Here we describe a novel generic approach to select SNP content for such arrays and demonstrate its utility in wheat and barley to:

capture haplotypic diversity while minimising ascertainment bias;

accurately impute to high SNP density in diverse germplasm;

generate high-quality high-resolution genotypic data; and

jointly hybridise samples to the same bead chip array.
Sift-PULs: A public repository for specific functional polysaccharide utilization loci
Authors: Song Tao , Wei Congchong , Yuan Dezhi , Xiang Shengwei , Lv Hua , Huang Ting , Zhao Kelei , Wang Xinrong , Chu Yiwen , Luo Dan , Lin Jiafu
Published: August 2021

Background

Polysaccharide utilization loci (PULs) were bacterial gene clusters encoding genes responsible for polysaccharide utilization process. PUL studies are blooming in recent years but the biochemical characterization speed is relative slow. There is a growing demand for PUL database with function annotations.

Results

Using signature genes corresponding for specific polysaccharide, 10422 PULs specific for 6 polysaccharides (agar, alginate, pectin, carrageenan, chitin and β-manan) from various bacterial phyla were predicted. Then online website of specific functional polysaccharide utilization loci (Sift-PULs) was constructed. Sift-PULs provides a repository where users could browse, search and download interested PULs without registration.

Conclusions

The key advantage of Sift-PULs is to assign a function annotation of each PUL, which is not available in existing PUL databases. PUL’s functional annotation lays a foundation for studying novel enzymes, new pathways, PUL evolution or bioengineering. The website is available on https://sift-puls.org
Super-resolution imaging of highly curved membrane structures in giant vesicles encapsulating molecular condensates
Authors: Zhao Ziliang , Roy Debjit , Steinkühler Jan , Robinson Tom , Lipowsky Reinhard , Dimova Rumiana
Published: August 2021

Molecular crowding is an inherent feature of the cell interior. Synthetic cells as provided by giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) encapsulating macromolecules (polyethylene-glycol and dextran) represent an excellent mimetic system to study membrane transformations associated with molecular crowding and protein condensation. Similarly to cells, such GUVs loaded with macromolecules exhibit highly curved structures such as internal nanotubes. In addition, upon liquid-liquid phase separation as inside living cells, the membrane of GUVs encapsulating an aqueous two-phase system deforms to form apparent kinks at the contact line of the interface between the two aqueous phases. These structures, nanotubes and kinks, have dimensions below optical resolution and if resolved, can provide information about material properties such as membrane spontaneous curvature and intrinsic contact angle describing the wettability contrast of the encapsulated phases to the membrane. Previous experimental studies were based on conventional optical microscopy which cannot resolve these membrane and wetting properties. Here, we studied these structures with super-resolution microscopy, namely stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy, together with microfluidic manipulation. We demonstrate the cylindrical nature of the nanotubes with unprecedented detail based on the superior resolution of STED and automated data analysis. The spontaneous curvature deduced from the nanotube diameters is in excellent agreement with theoretical predictions. Furthermore, we were able to resolve the membrane “kink” structure as a smoothly curved membrane demonstrating the existence of the intrinsic contact angle. We find very good agreement between the directly measured values and the theoretically predicted ones based on the apparent contact angles on the micrometer scale. During different stages of cellular events, biomembranes undergo a variety of shape transformations such as the formation of buds and nanotubes regulated by membrane necks. We demonstrate that these highly curved membrane structures are amenable to STED imaging and show that such studies provide important insights in the membrane properties and interactions underlying cellular activities.
Sparse Sonomyography-based Estimation of Isometric Force: A Comparison of Methods and Features
Authors: Kamatham Anne Tryphosa , Alzamani Meena , Dockum Allison , Sikdar Siddhartha , Mukherjee Biswarup
Published: August 2021

Noninvasive methods for estimation of joint and muscle forces have widespread clinical and research applications. Surface electromyography or sEMG provides a measure of the neural activation of muscles which can be used to estimate the force produced by the muscle. However, sEMG based measures of force suffer from poor signal-to-noise ratio and limited spatiotemporal specificity. In this paper, we propose an ultrasound imaging or sonomyography-based approach for estimating continuous isometric force from a sparse set of ultrasound scanlines. Our approach isolates anatomically relevant features from A-mode ultrasound signals, greatly reducing the dimensionality of the feature space and the computational complexity involved in traditional ultrasound-based methods. We evaluate the performance of four regression methodologies for force prediction using the reduced feature set. We also evaluate the feasibility of a practical wearable sonomyography-based system by simulating the effect of transducer placement and varying the number of transducers used in force prediction. Our results demonstrate that Gaussian process regression models outperform other regression methods in predicting continuous force levels from just four equispaced transducers and are tolerant to speckle noise. These findings will aid in the design of wearable sonomyography-based force prediction systems with robust, computationally efficient operation.