bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combating Morale Injury Caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors:   La Jolla, CA USA, Schmitz Evan
Published: May 2021

No abstract available. Article truncated after 150 words. Healthcare burnout is on the rise during the great COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare burnout is emotional exhaustion, cynicism and depersonalization, reduced professional efficacy and personal accomplishment caused by work-related stress. Numerous factors cause healthcare burnout: long work hours, lack of respect, difficult patients, feeling of helplessness, lack of healthcare worker safety and leadership seemingly disconnected from the universal goal of all healthcare workers—saving people’s lives. Moral injury occurs when hands are tied from giving each and every patient the very best care, he/she deserves. Healthcare workers experience disappointment from doing a great job when saving lives. Hearing negative feedback about inconsequential small details and lack of praise for their great deeds can understandably lead to depression, anxiety and fear about the future. In order to combat negative feelings built up over time, it is important to fight back with positive feelings. This requires active positive thinking and not negative thoughts …
Binocular dynamics of accommodation, convergence, and pupil size in myopes
Authors: Ghoushchi Vahid Pourreza , Mompeán Juan , Prieto Pedro M. , Artal Pablo
Published: May 2021

The purpose of this work is to study the dynamics of the accommodative response as a function of the subject's refractive error, as a first step in determining whether an anomalous accommodative function could affect emmetropization or trigger myopia progression. A secondary goal was to establish potential relationships between the speed of accommodation and other parameters in the accommodation process. Parameters related to the speed and amplitude of accommodation, convergence, miosis, and change in high-order aberrations were measured during the accommodative process for 2.8 D demand in 18 young healthy subjects (mean age 25.0 ± 4.7 years) with a range of refractive errors between 0 and -7.5 D (spherical equivalent). Measurements were performed in real time (25 Hz) with an open-view binocular Hartmann-Shack (HS) sensor using a GPU-based processing unit. Correlation coefficients were calculated between refractive error and each computed variable. Additionally, the speed of accommodation was correlated with all the other parameters in the study. Correlation coefficients with refractive error had non-zero values for several parameters of the accommodative response but p-values were higher than 0.05 except in two cases: with pupil miosis speed (R = –0.49, p = 0.041) and with lag of accommodation (R = –0.57, p = 0.014). Additionally, correlation values with p-value < 0.05 were found between accommodation speed and convergence duration (R = 0.57, p = 0.014), convergence speed (R = 0.48, p = 0.044), and pupil miosis amplitude (R = 0.47, p = 0.049). We did not find strong evidence of a link between myopia and altered dynamics of the accommodation process. Only miosis speed was found to be correlated to refractive error with p < 0.05, being slower for myopes. On the other hand, increased lag of accommodation tends to be associated to larger refractive errors. Additionally, our data suggests that the faster the accommodation, the faster and longer the convergence and the larger the pupil miosis.
Deriving high contrast fluorescence microscopy images through low contrast noisy image stacks
Authors: Acuña Sebastian , Roy Mayank , Villegas-Hernández Luis E. , Dubey Vishesh K. , Ahluwalia Balpreet Singh , Agarwal Krishna
Published: May 2021

Contrast in fluorescence microscopy images allows for the differentiation between different structures by their difference in intensities. However, factors such as point-spread function and noise may reduce it, affecting its interpretability. We identified that fluctuation of emitters in a stack of images can be exploited to achieve increased contrast when compared to the average and Richardson-Lucy deconvolution. We tested our methods on four increasingly challenging samples including tissue, in which case results were comparable to the ones obtained by structured illumination microscopy in terms of contrast.
Wavelength variable generation and detection of photon pairs in visible and mid-infrared regions via spontaneous parametric downconversion
Authors: Arahata Masaya , Mukai Yu , Cao Bo , Tashima Toshiyuki , Okamoto Ryo , Takeuchi Shigeki
Published: May 2021

We report an experimental demonstration of wavelength variable generation and detection of photon pairs in the visible and mid-infrared (MIR) regions over a wide spectral range of 2–5 µm via spontaneous parametric downconversion. Despite the recent increase in interest in such a photon-pair source, there have been few detailed evaluations of emitted photons generated via the downconversion process in the low gain regime, due to the lack of suitable single-photon detectors. By changing the angle of the nonlinear crystal, we continuously tune the phase-matching condition and generate photon pairs as signal photons in the wavelength range of 600–965 nm and idler photons in the wavelength range of 1186–4694 nm. We evaluate the generated photon pairs using single and coincidence counts by superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors up to a wavelength of 2 µm and detect the intensity using an InSb detector with a lock-in detection system up to 5 µm. From this analysis, a pair generation rate of

10
5

s

−
1

per mW of pump power is experimentally obtained for this wavelength range. This work provides a basis for the realization of applications such as heralded MIR single-photon sources, infrared imaging, and infrared spectroscopy based on quantum technologies in the MIR region.
Photon-limited bounds for phase retrieval
Authors: Schulz Timothy J. , Brady David J. , Wang Chengyu
Published: May 2021

We show that the optimal Cramér-Rao lower bound on the mean-square error for the estimation of a coherent signal from photon-limited intensity measurements is equal to the number of signal elements, or the number of signal elements minus one when we account for the unobservable reference phase. Whereas this bound is attained by phase-quadrature holography, we also show that it can be attained through a phase-retrieval system that does not require a coherent reference. We also present the bounds for classic phase-retrieval and ptychography, and show that practical coding strategies can approach optimal performance.
High-dynamic-resolution optical edge detection based on liquid crystal diffractive moiré lenses with a tunable focal length
Authors: Yin Yue , Yang Yang , Li Ting , Zhou Yuan , Wu Yan , Huang Sijia , Huang Huihui
Published: May 2021

In this Letter, we experimentally demonstrate liquid crystal-based moiré lenses with a wide and tunable focal length by direct-writing photoalignment. Our moiré lenses, which consist of two cascaded diffractive optical elements, have a large range of refractive power between

±
0.85

m

−
1

at 532 nm and a mutual rotation between

±

90
∘

with high diffraction efficiency (

>

75

%

). Based on the as-designed moiré lenses, we propose high-dynamic-resolution optical edge detection without any axial shift or substitution of components. The minimum edge width is 13.2 µm and can be adjusted within 100 µm by mutual rotation of this device, which has great potential to be used in adaptive and compact optical systems.
Epidemiology and reporting characteristics of preclinical systematic reviews
Authors: Hunniford Victoria T. , Montroy Joshua , Fergusson Dean A. , Avey Marc T. , Wever Kimberley E. , McCann Sarah K. , Foster Madison , Fox Grace , Lafreniere Mackenzie , Ghaly Mira , Mannell Sydney , Godwinska Karolina , Gentles Avonae , Selim Shehab , MacNeil Jenna , Sikora Lindsey , Sena Emily S. , Page Matthew J. , Macleod Malcolm , Moher David , Lalu Manoj M.
Published: May 2021

In an effort to better utilize published evidence obtained from animal experiments, systematic reviews of preclinical studies are increasingly more common—along with the methods and tools to appraise them (e.g., SYstematic Review Center for Laboratory animal Experimentation [SYRCLE’s] risk of bias tool). We performed a cross-sectional study of a sample of recent preclinical systematic reviews (2015–2018) and examined a range of epidemiological characteristics and used a 46-item checklist to assess reporting details. We identified 442 reviews published across 43 countries in 23 different disease domains that used 26 animal species. Reporting of key details to ensure transparency and reproducibility was inconsistent across reviews and within article sections. Items were most completely reported in the title, introduction, and results sections of the reviews, while least reported in the methods and discussion sections. Less than half of reviews reported that a risk of bias assessment for internal and external validity was undertaken, and none reported methods for evaluating construct validity. Our results demonstrate that a considerable number of preclinical systematic reviews investigating diverse topics have been conducted; however, their quality of reporting is inconsistent. Our study provides the justification and evidence to inform the development of guidelines for conducting and reporting preclinical systematic reviews.
The human visual system differentially represents subjectively and objectively invisible stimuli
Authors: Stein Timo , Kaiser Daniel , Fahrenfort Johannes J. , van Gaal Simon
Published: May 2021

The study of unconscious processing requires a measure of conscious awareness. Awareness measures can be either subjective (based on participant’s report) or objective (based on perceptual performance). The preferred awareness measure depends on the theoretical position about consciousness and may influence conclusions about the extent of unconscious processing and about the neural correlates of consciousness. We obtained functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) measurements from 43 subjects while they viewed masked faces and houses that were either subjectively or objectively invisible. Even for objectively invisible (perceptually indiscriminable) stimuli, we found significant category information in both early, lower-level visual areas and in higher-level visual cortex, although representations in anterior, category-selective ventrotemporal areas were less robust. For subjectively invisible stimuli, similar to visible stimuli, there was a clear posterior-to-anterior gradient in visual cortex, with stronger category information in ventrotemporal cortex than in early visual cortex. For objectively invisible stimuli, however, category information remained virtually unchanged from early visual cortex to object- and category-selective visual areas. These results demonstrate that although both objectively and subjectively invisible stimuli are represented in visual cortex, the extent of unconscious information processing is influenced by the measurement approach. Furthermore, our data show that subjective and objective approaches are associated with different neural correlates of consciousness and thus have implications for neural theories of consciousness.
Ranking microbial metabolomic and genomic links in the NPLinker framework using complementary scoring functions
Authors: Hjörleifsson Eldjárn Grímur , Ramsay Andrew , van der Hooft Justin J. J. , Duncan Katherine R. , Soldatou Sylvia , Rousu Juho , Daly Rónán , Wandy Joe , Rogers Simon
Published: May 2021

Specialised metabolites from microbial sources are well-known for their wide range of biomedical applications, particularly as antibiotics. When mining paired genomic and metabolomic data sets for novel specialised metabolites, establishing links between Biosynthetic Gene Clusters (BGCs) and metabolites represents a promising way of finding such novel chemistry. However, due to the lack of detailed biosynthetic knowledge for the majority of predicted BGCs, and the large number of possible combinations, this is not a simple task. This problem is becoming ever more pressing with the increased availability of paired omics data sets. Current tools are not effective at identifying valid links automatically, and manual verification is a considerable bottleneck in natural product research. We demonstrate that using multiple link-scoring functions together makes it easier to prioritise true links relative to others. Based on standardising a commonly used score, we introduce a new, more effective score, and introduce a novel score using an Input-Output Kernel Regression approach. Finally, we present NPLinker, a software framework to link genomic and metabolomic data. Results are verified using publicly available data sets that include validated links.
CBFB cooperates with p53 to maintain TAp73 expression and suppress breast cancer
Authors: Malik Navdeep , Yan Hualong , Yang Howard H. , Ayaz Gamze , DuBois Wendy , Tseng Yu-Chou , Kim Young-Im , Jiang Shunlin , Liu Chengyu , Lee Maxwell , Huang Jing
Published: May 2021

TheCBFBgene is frequently mutated in several types of solid tumors. Emerging evidence suggests that CBFB is a tumor suppressor in breast cancer. However, our understanding of the tumor suppressive function of CBFB remains incomplete. Here, we analyze genetic interactions between mutations ofCBFBand other highly mutated genes in human breast cancer datasets and find thatCBFBandTP53mutations are mutually exclusive, suggesting a functional association between CBFB and p53. Integrated genomic studies reveal thatTAp73is a common transcriptional target of CBFB and p53. CBFB cooperates with p53 to maintainTAp73expression, as either CBFB or p53 loss leads to TAp73 depletion. TAp73 re-expression abrogates the tumorigenic effect of CBFB deletion. Although TAp73 loss alone is insufficient for tumorigenesis, it enhances the tumorigenic effect of NOTCH3 overexpression, a downstream event of CBFB loss. Immunohistochemistry shows that p73 loss is coupled with higher proliferation in xenografts. Moreover, TAp73 loss-of-expression is a frequent event in human breast cancer tumors and cell lines. Together, our results significantly advance our understanding of the tumor suppressive functions of CBFB and reveal a mechanism underlying the communication between the two tumor suppressors CBFB and p53.
Global patterns of aegyptism without arbovirus
Authors: Olson Mark F. , Juarez Jose G. , Kraemer Moritz U. G. , Messina Jane P. , Hamer Gabriel L.
Published: May 2021

The world’s most important mosquito vector of viruses, Aedes aegypti, is found around the world in tropical, subtropical and even some temperate locations. While climate change may limit populations of Ae. aegypti in some regions, increasing temperatures will likely expand its territory thus increasing risk of human exposure to arboviruses in places like Europe, Northern Australia and North America, among many others. Most studies of Ae. aegypti biology and virus transmission focus on locations with high endemicity or severe outbreaks of human amplified urban arboviruses, such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya viruses, but rarely on areas at the margins of endemicity. The objective in this study is to explore previously published global patterns in the environmental suitability for Ae. aegypti and dengue virus to reveal deviations in the probability of the vector and human disease occurring. We developed a map showing one end of the gradient being higher suitability of Ae. aegypti with low suitability of dengue and the other end of the spectrum being equal and higher environmental suitability for both Ae. aegypti and dengue. The regions of the world with Ae. aegypti environmental suitability and no endemic dengue transmission exhibits a phenomenon we term ‘aegyptism without arbovirus’. We then tested what environmental and socioeconomic variables influence this deviation map revealing a significant association with human population density, suggesting that locations with lower human population density were more likely to have a higher probability of aegyptism without arbovirus. Characterizing regions of the world with established populations of Ae. aegypti but little to no autochthonous transmission of human-amplified arboviruses is an important step in understanding and achieving aegyptism without arbovirus.
Digital imaging and vision analysis in science project improves the self-efficacy and skill of undergraduate students in computational work
Authors: Durham Brooks Tessa , Burks Raychelle , Doyle Erin , Meysenburg Mark , Frey Tim
Published: May 2021

In many areas of science, the ability to use computers to process, analyze, and visualize large data sets has become essential. The mismatch between the ability to generate large data sets and the computing skill to analyze them is arguably the most striking within the life sciences. The Digital Image and Vision Applications in Science (DIVAS) project describes a scaffolded series of interventions implemented over the span of a year to build the coding and computing skill of undergraduate students majoring primarily in the natural sciences. The program is designed as a community of practice, providing support within a network of learners. The program focus, images as data, provides a compelling ‘hook’ for participating scholars. Scholars begin the program with a one-credit spring semester seminar where they are exposed to image analysis. The program continues in the summer with a one-week, intensive Python and image processing workshop. From there, scholars tackle image analysis problems using a pair programming approach and can finish the summer with independent research. Finally, scholars participate in a follow-up seminar the subsequent spring and help onramp the next cohort of incoming scholars. We observed promising growth in participant self-efficacy in computing that was maintained throughout the project as well as significant growth in key computational skills. DIVAS program funding was able to support seventeen DIVAS over three years, with 76% of DIVAS scholars identifying as women and 14% of scholars identifying as members of an underrepresented minority group. Most scholars (82%) entered the program as first year students, with 94% of DIVAS scholars retained for the duration of the program and 100% of scholars remaining a STEM major one year after completing the program. The outcomes of the DIVAS project support the efficacy of building computational skill through repeated exposure of scholars to relevant applications over an extended period within a community of practice.
Estimating poaching risk for the critically endangered wild red wolf (Canis rufus)
Authors: Agan Suzanne W. , Treves Adrian , Willey Lisabeth L.
Published: May 2021

The reintroduced red wolf (Canis rufus) population in northeastern North Carolina declined to 7 known wolves by October 2020, the majority of which is due to poaching (illegal killing), the major component of verified anthropogenic mortality in this and many other carnivore populations. Poaching is still not well understood and is often underestimated, partly as a result of cryptic poaching, when poachers conceal evidence. Cryptic poaching inhibits our understanding of the causes and consequences of anthropogenic mortality, which is important to conservation as it can inform us about future population patterns within changing political and human landscapes. We estimate risk for marked adult red wolves of 5 causes of death (COD: legal, nonhuman, unknown, vehicle and poached) and disappearance, describe variation in COD in relation to hunting season, and compare time to disappearance or death. We include unknown fates in our risk estimates. We found that anthropogenic COD accounted for 0.78–0.85 of 508 marked animals, including poaching and cryptic poaching, which we estimated at 0.51–0.64. Risk of poaching and disappearance was significantly higher during hunting season. Mean time from collaring until nonhuman COD averaged 376 days longer than time until poached and 642 days longer than time until disappearance. Our estimates of risk differed from prior published estimates, as expected by accounting for unknown fates explicitly. We quantify the effects on risk for three scenarios for unknown fates, which span conservative to most likely COD. Implementing proven practices that prevent poaching or hasten successful reintroduction may reverse the decline to extinction in the wild of this critically endangered population. Our findings add to a growing literature on endangered species protections and enhancing the science used to measure poaching worldwide.
Incidence of dengue illness in Mexican people aged 6 months to 50 years old: A prospective cohort study conducted in Jalisco
Authors: DeAntonio Rodrigo , Amaya‐Tapia Gerardo , Ibarra‐Nieto Gabriela , Huerta Gloria , Damaso Silvia , Guignard Adrienne , de Boer Melanie
Published: May 2021

Background and objectives

The burden of dengue virus (DENV), a mosquito-borne pathogen, remains difficult to assess due to misdiagnosis and underreporting. Moreover, the large proportion of asymptomatic dengue cases impairs comprehensive assessment of its epidemiology even where effective surveillance systems are in place. We conducted a prospective community-based study to assess the incidence of symptomatic dengue cases in Zapopan and neighboring municipalities in the state of Jalisco, Mexico.

Methods

Healthy subjects aged 6 months to 50 years living in households located in the Zapopan and neighboring municipalities were enrolled for a 24-month follow-up study (NCT02766088). Serostatus was determined at enrolment and weekly contacts were conducted via phone calls and home visits. Participants had to report any febrile episode lasting for at least two days. Suspected dengue cases were tested by reverse-transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), detection of non-structural protein 1 (NS1), anti-DENV immunoglobulin G and M (IgG and IgM) assays.

Results

A total of 350 individuals from 87 households were enrolled. The overall seroprevalence of anti-DENV IgG at enrolment was 19.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 14.5–25.6) with the highest seroprevalence rate observed in the adult group. Over the 27-month study period from July 2016 to September 2018, a total of 18 suspected dengue cases were reported. Four cases were confirmed by RT-qPCR and serotyped as DENV-1. A fifth case was confirmed by the NS1 assay. The 13 remaining suspected cases were tested negative by these assays. Based on the 5 virologically confirmed cases, symptomatic dengue incidence proportion of 1.4% (95%CI 0.5–3.8) was estimated. No severe cases or hospitalizations occurred during the study.

Conclusion

Community-based active surveillance was shown as efficient to detect symptomatic dengue cases.

Clinical trial registration

NCT02766088.
Triple sulfur-oxygen-strontium isotopes probabilistic geographic assignment of archaeological remains using a novel sulfur isoscape of western Europe
Authors: Bataille Clément P. , Jaouen Klervia , Milano Stefania , Trost Manuel , Steinbrenner Sven , Crubézy Éric , Colleter Rozenn
Published: May 2021

Sulfur isotope composition of organic tissues is a commonly used tool for gathering information about provenance and diet in archaeology and paleoecology. However, the lack of maps predicting sulfur isotope variations on the landscape limits the possibility to use this isotopic system in quantitative geographic assignments. We compiled a database of 2,680 sulfur isotope analyses in the collagen of archaeological human and animal teeth from 221 individual locations across Western Europe. We used this isotopic compilation and remote sensing data to apply a multivariate machine-learning regression, and to predict sulfur isotope variations across Western Europe. The resulting model shows that sulfur isotope patterns are highly predictable, with 65% of sulfur isotope variations explained using only 4 variables representing marine sulfate deposition and local geological conditions. We used this novel sulfur isoscape and existing strontium and oxygen isoscapes of Western Europe to apply triple isotopes continuous-surface probabilistic geographic assignments to assess the origin of a series of teeth from local animals and humans from Brittany. We accurately and precisely constrained the origin of these individuals to limited regions of Brittany. This approach is broadly transferable to studies in archaeology and paleoecology as illustrated in a companion paper (Colleter et al. 2021).
A cluster-randomised controlled trial of the LifeLab education intervention to improve health literacy in adolescents
Authors: Woods-Townsend Kathryn , Hardy-Johnson Polly , Bagust Lisa , Barker Mary , Davey Hannah , Griffiths Janice , Grace Marcus , Lawrence Wendy , Lovelock Donna , Hanson Mark , Godfrey Keith M. , Inskip Hazel
Published: May 2021

Adolescence offers a window of opportunity during which improvements in health behaviours could benefit long-term health, and enable preparation for parenthood—albeit a long way off, passing on good health prospects to future children. This study was carried out to evaluate whether an educational intervention, which engages adolescents in science, can improve their health literacy and behaviours. A cluster-randomised controlled trial of 38 secondary schools in England, UK was conducted. The intervention (LifeLab) drew on principles of education, psychology and public health to engage students with science for health literacy, focused on the message “Me, my health and my children’s health”. The programme comprised: • Professional development for teachers. • A 2–3 week module of work for 13-14-year-olds. • A “hands-on” practical health science day visit to a dedicated facility in a university teaching hospital. Data were collected from 2929 adolescents (aged 13–14 years) at baseline and 2487 (84.9%) at 12-month follow-up. The primary outcome was change in theoretical health literacy from pre- to 12 months post- intervention. This study is registered (ISRCTN71951436) and the trial status is complete. Participation in the LifeLab educational intervention was associated with an increase in the students’ standardised total theoretical health literacy score (adjusted difference between groups = 0.27 SDs (95%CI = 0.12, 0.42)) at 12-month follow-up. There was an indication that intervention participants subsequently judged their own lifestyles more critically than controls, with fewer reporting their behaviours as healthy (53.4% vs. 59.5%; adjusted PRR = 0.94 [0.87, 1.01]). We conclude that experiencing LifeLab led to improved health literacy in adolescents and that they demonstrated a move towards a more critical judgement of health behaviour 12 months after the intervention. Further work is needed to examine whether this leads to sustained behaviour change, and whether other activities are needed to support this change.
Nutritional markers and proteome in patients undergoing treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis differ by geographic region
Authors: Jarsberg Leah G. , Kedia Komal , Wendler Jason , Wright Aaron T. , Piehowski Paul D. , Gritsenko Marina A. , Shi Tujin , Lewinsohn David M. , Sigal George B. , Weiner Marc H. , Smith Richard D. , Keane Joseph , Jacobs Jon M. , Nahid Payam
Published: May 2021

Introduction

Contemporary phase 2 TB disease treatment clinical trials have found that microbiologic treatment responses differ between African versus non-African regions, the reasons for which remain unclear. Understanding host and disease phenotypes that may vary by region is important for optimizing curative treatments.

Methods

We characterized clinical features and the serum proteome of phase 2 TB clinical trial participants undergoing treatment for smear positive, culture-confirmed TB, comparing host serum protein expression in clinical trial participants enrolled in African and Non-African regions. Serum samples were collected from 289 participants enrolled in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention TBTC Study 29 (NCT00694629) at time of enrollment and at the end of the intensive phase (after 40 doses of TB treatment).

Results

After a peptide level proteome analysis utilizing a unique liquid chromatography IM-MS platform (LC-IM-MS) and subsequent statistical analysis, a total of 183 core proteins demonstrated significant differences at both baseline and at week 8 timepoints between participants enrolled from African and non-African regions. The majority of the differentially expressed proteins were upregulated in participants from the African region, and included acute phase proteins, mediators of inflammation, as well as coagulation and complement pathways. Downregulated proteins in the African population were primarily linked to nutritional status and lipid metabolism pathways.

Conclusions

We have identified differentially expressed nutrition and lipid pathway proteins by geographic region in TB patients undergoing treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis, which appear to be associated with differential treatment responses. Future TB clinical trials should collect expanded measures of nutritional status and further evaluate the relationship between nutrition and microbiologic treatment response.
Clinical significance of central systolic blood pressure in LV diastolic dysfunction and CV mortality
Authors: Choi Sun Ryoung , Lee Young-Ki , Cho Park Hayne , Kim Do Hyoung , Cho Ajin , Kang Min-Kyung , Choi Seonghoon
Published: May 2021

Background and aims

Cardiovascular (CV) disease is the major cause of death in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction reflects LV pressure overload and is common in patients with ESKD. Recently, there have been studies on the usefulness of central blood pressure (BP); however, the relationship between central BP and LV diastolic dysfunction is not clear in dialysis patients with preserved systolic function. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical implication of central BP on LV diastolic dysfunction and CV mortality in the ESKD patients with preserved LV systolic function.

Methods

This prospective observational cohort study investigated the effect of LV diastolic dysfunction on CV mortality in the ESKD patients with preserved systolic function using echocardiography. Vascular calcification was evaluated using the abdominal aortic calcification score, and aortic stiffness was determined by measuring pulse wave velocity (PWV). The predictors of CV mortality were analyzed using Cox proportional hazard analysis.

Results

The subjects were comprised of 61 patients, with an average age of 54 years, 20 males (32.8%), and 25 diabetics (41.0%). There were 39 patients on hemodialysis and 22 patients receiving peritoneal dialysis treatment. During the mean follow-up period of 79.3 months, 16 patients (26.2%) died, and 7 patients (11.4%) died of CV events. The central systolic BP and diabetes were independent risk factors for LV diastolic dysfunction. In addition, patients with LV diastolic dysfunction had an increased CV mortality. When left atrial volume index and PWV were adjusted, the E/E’ ratio was found to be a predictor of CV mortality.

Conclusions

Central systolic BP and diabetes were found to be significant risk factors for LV diastolic dysfunction. LV diastolic dysfunction can independently predict CV mortality in dialysis patients with preserved LV systolic function.
Potential value of urine lateral-flow lipoarabinomannan (LAM) test for diagnosing tuberculosis among severely acute malnourished children
Authors: Schramm Birgit , Nganaboy Rodrigue C. , Uwiragiye Piex , Mukeba Didier , Abdoubara Aboubacar , Abdou Illa , Nshimiymana Jean-Claude , Sounna Seyni , Hiffler Laurent , Flevaud Laurence , Huerga Helena
Published: May 2021

Background

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious co-morbidity among children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and TB diagnosis remains particularly challenging in the very young. We explored whether, in a low HIV-prevalence setting, the detection of mycobacterial lipoarabinomannan (LAM) antigen in urine may assist TB diagnosis in SAM children, a pediatric population currently not included in LAM-testing recommendations. To that end, we assessed LAM test-positivity among SAM children with and without signs or symptoms of TB.

Methods

A cross-sectional assessment (February 2016-August 2017) included children <5 years with SAM from an Intensive-Therapeutic-Feeding-Centre in Madaoua, Niger. Group 1: children with signs or symptoms suggestive of TB. Group 2: children without any sign or symptom of TB. Urine-specimens were subjected to DetermineTM TB-LAM lateral-flow-test (using a 4-grade intensity scale for positives). LAM-results were used for study purposes and not for patient management. Programmatic TB-diagnosis was primarily based on patients’ clinical symptoms and TB contact history with no systematic access to X-ray or microbiological reference testing.

Results

102 (Group 1) and 100 children (Group 2) were included (median age 18 months, 59.4% male, 1.0% HIV-positive). In Group 1, 22 (21.6%) children were started on TB-treatment (probable TB) and none of the children in Group 2. LAM-positivity was 52.0% (53/102) and 37.0% (37/100) in Group 1 and 2, respectively. Low-intensity (Grade 1) LAM test-positivity was similarly high in both Groups (37.3% and 36.0%, respectively), while Grade 2 or 3-positives were mainly detected in Group 1 (Group 1: 14.7%, Group 2: 1.0%, p<0.001). When considering only Grades >1 as positive, LAM-testing detected 22.7% (95%CI: 7.8, 45.4) among probable TB cases, while 99% (95%CI: 94.6, 99.9) of unlikely TB cases (Group 2) tested negative.

Conclusion

These findings suggest the potential utility of LAM urine testing in HIV-negative children with SAM. Determine LAM-positivity with Grades >1 may identify HIV-negative SAM children that are eligible for rapid TB-treatment initiation, though low-intensity (Grade 1) LAM-positive results may not be helpful in this way. Further studies in this specific pediatric population are warranted, including evaluations of new generation LAM tests.
How well did experts and laypeople forecast the size of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Authors: Recchia Gabriel , Freeman Alexandra L. J. , Spiegelhalter David
Published: May 2021

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, social and traditional media have disseminated predictions from experts and nonexperts about its expected magnitude. How accurate were the predictions of ‘experts’—individuals holding occupations or roles in subject-relevant fields, such as epidemiologists and statisticians—compared with those of the public? We conducted a survey in April 2020 of 140 UK experts and 2,086 UK laypersons; all were asked to make four quantitative predictions about the impact of COVID-19 by 31 Dec 2020. In addition to soliciting point estimates, we asked participants for lower and higher bounds of a range that they felt had a 75% chance of containing the true answer. Experts exhibited greater accuracy and calibration than laypersons, even when restricting the comparison to a subset of laypersons who scored in the top quartile on a numeracy test. Even so, experts substantially underestimated the ultimate extent of the pandemic, and the mean number of predictions for which the expert intervals contained the actual outcome was only 1.8 (out of 4), suggesting that experts should consider broadening the range of scenarios they consider plausible. Predictions of the public were even more inaccurate and poorly calibrated, suggesting that an important role remains for expert predictions as long as experts acknowledge their uncertainty.
Heterogeneous multimeric structure of isocitrate lyase in complex with succinate and itaconate provides novel insights into its inhibitory mechanism
Authors: Kwon Sunghark , Chun Hye Lin , Ha Hyun Ji , Lee So Yeon , Park Hyun Ho
Published: May 2021

During the glyoxylate cycle, isocitrate lyases (ICLs) catalyze the lysis of isocitrate to glyoxylate and succinate. Itaconate has been reported to inhibit an ICL from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (tbICL). To elucidate the molecular mechanism of ICL inhibition, we determined the crystal structure of tbICL in complex with itaconate. Unexpectedly, succinate and itaconate were found to bind to the respective active sites in the dimeric form of tbICL. Our structure revealed the active site architecture as an open form, although the substrate and inhibitor were bound to the active sites. Our findings provide novel insights into the conformation of tbICL upon its binding to a substrate or inhibitor, along with molecular details of the inhibitory mechanism of itaconate.
Identification of a variant in NDP associated with X-linked retinal dysplasia in the English cocker spaniel dog
Authors: Joyce Hannah , Burmeister Louise M. , Wright Hattie , Fleming Lorraine , Oliver James A. C. , Mellersh Cathryn
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Three related male English Cocker Spaniels (ECS) were reported to be congenitally blind. Examination of one of these revealed complete retinal detachment. A presumptive diagnosis of retinal dysplasia (RD) was provided and pedigree analysis was suggestive of an X-linked mode of inheritance. We sought to investigate the genetic basis of RD in this family of ECS.

Methods

Following whole genome sequencing (WGS) of the one remaining male RD-affected ECS, two distinct investigative approaches were employed: a candidate gene approach and a whole genome approach. In the candidate gene approach, COL9A2, COL9A3, NHEJ1, RS1 and NDP genes were investigated based on their known associations with RD and retinal detachment in dogs and humans. In the whole genome approach, affected WGS was compared with 814 unaffected canids to identify candidate variants, which were filtered based on appropriate segregation and predicted pathogenic effects followed by subsequent investigation of gene function. Candidate variants were tested for appropriate segregation in the ECS family and association with disease was assessed using samples from a total of 180 ECS.

Results

The same variant in NDP (c.653_654insC, p.Met114Hisfs*16) that was predicted to result in 15 aberrant amino acids before a premature stop in norrin protein, was identified independently by both approaches and was shown to segregate appropriately within the ECS family. Association of this variant with X-linked RD was significant (P = 0.0056).

Conclusions

For the first time, we report a variant associated with canine X-linked RD. NDP variants are already known to cause X-linked RD, along with other abnormalities, in human Norrie disease. Thus, the dog may serve as a useful large animal model for research.
US adults with diabetes mellitus: Variability in oral healthcare utilization
Authors: Baccaglini Lorena , Kusi Appiah Adams , Ray Mahua , Yu Fang
Published: May 2021

Background

Diabetic patients are advised to have at least one dental examination per year. It is unclear to what extent different subgroups of US diabetic adults closely follow this recommendation. Thus, we assessed dental care utilization and related factors in a representative sample of US diabetic adults from rural and urban counties.

Methods

Cross-sectional data were from the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Survey logistic regression was used to account for the complex sampling design.

Results

Among 40,585 eligible participants, 24,887 (60% of the population) had at least one dental visit for any reason within the past year. The lowest compliance was observed among edentulous participants (27%, adjusted OR = 0.26, 95% CI = 0.22–0.31 vs. fully dentate). Dental compliance was also negatively associated with having a lower income or education, ever being a smoker, or having barriers to access to care. Rural residents had lower dental compliance compared to urban residents, particularly those without healthcare coverage.

Conclusions

Dental compliance among US adult diabetic individuals was low, particularly among rural residents, and as compared to other recommended diabetic care practices. Future public health interventions may target rural individuals without healthcare coverage, smokers and edentulous individuals. There is a need to integrate dental and medical care to facilitate cross-talks among different health professionals, so that educational preventive messages are reinforced at every healthcare visit.
Laminar flow substantially affects the morphology and functional phenotype of glomerular endothelial cells
Authors: ‘t Hart Daan C. , van der Vlag Johan , Nijenhuis Tom
Published: May 2021

Shear stress induced by laminar blood flow has a profound effect on the morphology and functional phenotype of macrovascular endothelial cells. The influence of laminar flow on the glomerular microvascular endothelium, however, remains largely elusive. The glomerular endothelium, including its glycocalyx, is a crucial part of the glomerular filtration barrier, which is involved in blood filtration. We therefore investigated the influence of laminar flow-induced shear stress on the glomerular endothelium. Conditionally immortalized mouse glomerular endothelial cells were cultured for 7 days under a laminar flow of 5 dyn/cm2 to mimic the glomerular blood flow. The cells were subsequently analysed for changes in morphology, expression of shear stress-responsive genes, nitric oxide production, glycocalyx composition, expression of anti-oxidant genes and the inflammatory response. Culture under laminar flow resulted in cytoskeletal rearrangement and cell alignment compared to static conditions. Moreover, production of nitric oxide was increased and the expression of the main functional component of the glycocalyx, Heparan Sulfate, was enhanced in response to shear stress. Furthermore, glomerular endothelial cells demonstrated a quiescent phenotype under flow, characterized by a decreased expression of the pro-inflammatory gene ICAM-1 and increased expression of the anti-oxidant enzymes HO-1 and NQO1. Upon exposure to the inflammatory stimulus TNFα, however, glomerular endothelial cells cultured under laminar flow showed an enhanced inflammatory response. In conclusion, laminar flow extensively affects the morphology and functional phenotype of glomerular endothelial cells in culture. Furthermore, glomerular endothelial cells respond differently to shear stress compared to macrovascular endothelium. To improve the translation of future in vitro studies with glomerular endothelial cells to the in vivo situation, it appears therefore crucial to culture glomerular endothelial cells under physiological flow conditions.
Social media and public perception as core aspect of public health: The cautionary case of @realdonaldtrump and COVID-19
Authors: Fuentes Agustín , Peterson Jeffrey V.
Published: May 2021

The social media milieu in which we are enmeshed has substantive impacts on our beliefs and perceptions. Recent work has established that this can play a role in influencing understanding of, and reactions to, public health information. Twitter, in particular, appears to play a substantive role in the public health information ecosystem. From July 25th, 2020 to November 15th, 2020, we collected weekly tweets related to COVID19 keywords and assessed their networks, patterns and properties. Our analyses revealed the dominance of a handful of individual accounts as central structuring agents in the networks of tens of thousands of tweets and retweets, and thus millions of views, related to specific COVID19 keywords. These few individual accounts and the content of their tweets, mentions, and retweets are substantially overrepresented in terms of public exposure to, and thus interaction with, critical elements of public health information in the pandemic. Here we report on one particularly striking aspect of our dataset: the prominent position of @realdonaldtrump in Twitter networks related to four key terms of the COVID19 pandemic in 2020.
Couples’ decision-making on post-partum family planning and antenatal counselling in Uganda: A qualitative study
Authors: Willcox Merlin L. , Mubangizi Vincent , Natukunda Silvia , Owokuhaisa Judith , Nahabwe Haeven , Nakaggwa Florence , Laughton Matthew , Chambers Isabella , Coates Sabine , King Emma , Fall Emma , Muller Ingrid , Goodhart Clare , Graffy Jonathan
Published: May 2021

Background

Although health workers have been trained to provide post-partum family planning (PPFP), uptake remains low in Uganda. An important reason is that women want the agreement of their partner, who is often absent at the time of delivery. In order to address this, we aimed to understand the views of couples and explore barriers and facilitators to implementation of antenatal couples’ counselling on PPFP in Uganda.

Methods

We conducted individual interviews with a purposive sample of 12 postpartum and 3 antenatal couples; and 34 focus groups with a total of 323 participants (68 adolescent women, 83 women aged 20–49, 79 men, 93 health workers) in four contrasting communities (urban and rural) in South-West and Central Uganda. These were recorded, transcribed, translated, and analysed thematically.

Results

Although most participants felt that it is important for partners to discuss family planning, half of the couples were unaware of each other’s views on contraception. Most had similar views on motivation to use family planning but not on preferred contraceptive methods. Most liked the idea of antenatal couples’ counselling on PPFP. The main barrier was the reluctance of men to attend antenatal clinics (ANC) in health facilities. Respondents felt that Village Health Teams (VHTs) could provide initial counselling on PPFP in couples’ homes (with telephone support from health workers, if needed) and encourage men to attend ANC. Suggested facilitators for men to attend ANC included health workers being more welcoming, holding ANC clinics at weekends and “outreach” clinics (in rural villages far from health facilities).

Conclusion

Antenatal couples’ counselling has the potential to facilitate agreement PPFP, but some men are reluctant to attend antenatal clinics. Counselling at home by VHTs as well as simple changes to the organisation of antenatal clinics, could make it possible to deliver antenatal couples’ counselling on PPFP.
Hipertensión arterial: estilos de vida y estrategias de intervención
Authors: Meléndez Mogollón Isabel Cristina , García Silvera Edgar Edurman , Pérez Arias Amauris , Vivas Barona Nicole
Published: May 2021

Introducción: La Hipertensión Arterial (HTA) es una enfermedad crónica de alta prevalencia que debe manejar el paciente en su entorno cotidiano, por lo que el autocuidado se presenta como un elemento de alto valor, y con ello, las prácticas saludables que mantengan las personas.Objetivo: Evaluar los estilos de vida de personas con HTA, que participan en un programa de intervención comunitaria sobre autocuidado dentro de su entorno rural como parte de una valoración de seguimiento.Metodología: El diseño es observacional, el nivel descriptivo y de corte transversal. La muestra fue no probabilística de carácter intencional, con la participación de un total de 60 personas que forman parte del ¨Programa de Autocuidado en Hipertensión Arterial¨ de la Parroquia de Calderón, Quito, Ecuador. El procesamiento estadístico descriptivo.Resultados: La media en edad de la población de estudio es de 70.6 años. El 94% presenta valores de TA e IMC fuera del rango normal. La mayoría de los participantes cumplen sus autocuidados bajo el refuerzo de intervenciones relacionadas a charlas educativas y grupos de apoyo.Conclusión: Se evidencia la transcendencia del acercamiento instituciones-comunidad y la alfabetización digital, junto a cambios favorables en el estilo de vida, logrando detectar intervenciones significativas para el mantenimiento de los autocuidados.