bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vitamin D—A New Perspective in Treatment of Cerebral Vasospasm
Authors: Kashefiolasl Sepide , Leisegang Matthias S , Helfinger Valeska , Schürmann Christoph , Pflüger-Müller Beatrice , Randriamboavonjy Voahanginirina , Vasconez Andrea E , Carmeliet Geert , Badenhoop Klaus , Hintereder Gudrun , Seifert Volker , Schröder Katrin , Konczalla Juergen , Brandes Ralf P
Published: October 2020

BACKGROUND

Cerebral vasospasm (CVS) is a frequent complication after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), with no sufficient therapy and a complex pathophysiology.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the vitamin D system as a potential treatment for CVS.

METHODS

25-vitamin D3 levels tested between 2007 and 2015 and data of SAH patients admitted during the months with a peak vs nadir of VitD3 values were analyzed, retrospectively. We prospectively correlated VitD3 and vasospasm/outcome data in SAH patients admitted in 2017. An experimental mice SAH model and cell culture model were used to investigate the effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-VitD3). Additionally, the mediators acting in the VitD mechanism were researched and detected.

RESULTS

Based on the retrospective analysis demonstrating an increased frequency of vasospasm in SAH patients during the low vitamin D period in winter, we started basic research experiments. Active 1,25-VitD3 hormone attenuated CVS, neurological deficit, and inflammation after intrathecal blood injection in mice. Deletion of the vitamin D receptor in the endothelium or in myeloid cells decreased the protective 1,25-VitD3 effect. Co-culture experiments of myeloid and endothelial cells with blood confirmed the anti-inflammatory 1,25-VitD3 effect but also revealed an induction of stroma-cell-derived factor 1α (SDF1α), vascular endothelial growth factor, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase by 1,25-VitD3. In mice, SDF1α mimicked the protective effect of 1,25-VitD3 against CVS. From bench to bedside, CVS severity was inversely correlated with vitamin D plasma level, prospectively. Patients with more severe CVS exhibited attenuated expression of SDF1α and 1,25-VitD3-responsive genes on circulating myeloid cells.

CONCLUSION

1,25-VitD3 attenuates CVS after SAH by inducing SDF1α. However, VitD administration should be tested as optional treatment to prevent CVS.
What Is Wrong with Empirical-Legal Research into Victimhood? A Critical Analysis of the Ordered Apology and the Victim Impact Statement
Authors: Geeraets Vincent , Veraart Wouter
Published: October 2020

The central question in this article is whether an empirical-legal approach to victimhood and victim rights could offer a sufficient basis for proposals for reform of the legal system. In this article, we choose a normative-critical approach and raise some objections to the way in which part of such research is currently taking place, on the basis of two examples of research in this field, one dealing with compelled apologies as a remedy within civil law and the other with the victim impact statement within criminal law. In both cases, we argue, the strong focus on the measurable needs of victims can lead to a relatively instrumental view of the legal system. The legal system must then increasingly be tailored to the wishes and needs of victims. Within this legal-empirical, victim-oriented approach, there is little regard for the general normative principles of liberal democratic legal systems, in which an equal and respectful treatment of each human being as a free and responsible legal subject is a central value. We argue that results of empirical-legal research should not too easily or too quickly be translated into proposals for legal reform, but first become part of a hermeneutical discussion about norms and legal principles, specific to the normative character of law and legal science.
Is Dry Needling Effective for the Management of Spasticity, Pain, and Motor Function in Post-Stroke Patients? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Fernández-de-las-Peñas César , Pérez-Bellmunt Albert , Llurda-Almuzara Luis , Plaza-Manzano Gustavo , De-la-Llave-Rincón Ana I , Navarro-Santana Marcos J
Published: October 2020

Objective

To evaluate the effects of muscle dry needling alone or combined with other interventions on post-stroke spasticity (muscle tone), related pain, motor function, and pressure sensitivity.

Databases and Data Treatment

Electronic databases were searched for randomized controlled trials including post-stroke patients where at least one group received dry needling and outcomes were collected on spasticity and related pain. Secondary outcomes included motor function and pressure pain sensitivity. Data were extracted by two reviewers. The risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool, methodological quality was assessed with the Physiotherapy Evidence Database score, and the quality of evidence was assessed by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. Between-groups mean differences (MDs) and standardized mean differences (SMDs) were calculated.

Results

Seven studies (three within the lower extremity, four in the upper extremity) were included. The meta-analysis found significantly large effect sizes of dry needling for reducing spasticity (SMD: -1.01, 95%confidence interval [CI] -1.68 to -0.34), post-stroke pain (SMD -1.01, 95%CI -1.73 to -0.30), and pressure pain sensitivity (SMD 1.21, 95% CI: 0.62 to 1.80) as compared with a comparative group at short-term follow-up. The effect on spasticity was found mainly in the lower extremity (MD -1.05, 95% CI: -1.32 to -0.78) at short-term follow-up. No effect on spasticity was seen at 4 weeks. No significant effect on motor function (SMD 0.16, 95% CI: -0.13 to 0.44) was observed. The risk of bias was generally low, but the imprecision of the results downgraded the level of evidence.

Conclusion

Moderate evidence suggests a positive effect of dry needling on spasticity (muscle tone) in the lower extremity in post-stroke patients. The effects on related pain and motor function are inconclusive.
Population Genomics Trace Clonal Diversification and Intercontinental Migration of an Emerging Fungal Pathogen of Boxwood
Authors: LeBlanc Nicholas , Cubeta Marc A. , Crouch Jo Anne
Published: October 2020

Boxwood blight was first documented in Europe, prior to its recent colonization of North America, where it continues to have significant negative impacts on the ornamental industry. Due to near genetic uniformity in the two sister species of fungal plant pathogens that cause boxwood blight, understanding historical disease emergence and predicting future outbreaks is limited. The goal of this research was to apply population genomics to understand the role of pathogen diversification and migration in disease emergence. Specifically, we tested whether the primary pathogen species Calonectria pseudonaviculata has remained genetically isolated from its European-limited sister species C. henricotiae, while diversifying into clonal lineages that have migrated among continents. Whole-genome sequencing identified 1,608 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 67 C. pseudonaviculata isolates from four continents and 1,017 SNPs in 13 C. henricotiae isolates from Europe. Interspecific genetic differentiation and an absence of shared polymorphisms indicated lack of gene flow between the sister species. Tests for intraspecific genetic structure in C. pseudonaviculata identified four genetic clusters, three of which corresponded to monophyletic phylogenetic clades. Comparison of evolutionary divergence scenarios among the four genetic clusters using approximate Bayesian computation indicated that the two C. pseudonaviculata genetic clusters currently found in the United States were derived from different sources, one from the first genetic cluster found in Europe and the second from an unidentified population. Evidence for multiple introductions of this pathogen into the United States and intercontinental migration indicates that future introductions are likely to occur and should be considered in plant disease quarantine regulation.
Migraine variants
Authors: Vacca Vincent M. , Thomas Sarah Beth
Published: October 2020

Migraine is a common, chronic disorder that often manifests in childhood. This article discusses the prevalence, diagnosis, and clinical management of uncommon subtypes of migraine with aura, including hemiplegic migraine, retinal migraine, and abdominal migraine.
Plasma Levels of Proresolving and Prophlogistic Lipid Mediators: Association With Severity of Respiratory Failure and Mortality in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Authors: Tejera Paula , Abdulnour Raja-Elie E. , Zhu Zhaozhong , Su Li , Levy Bruce D. , Christiani David C.
Published: October 2020

Objectives:

Acute respiratory distress syndrome is characterized by an overly exuberant inflammatory state in the lung. Specialized proresolving mediators are endogenous agonists for the resolution of lung inflammation and injury in health, yet their association with acute respiratory distress syndrome severity and outcomes remains to be defined. In the current study, we investigate associations between plasma levels of specialized proresolving mediators and acute respiratory distress syndrome severity and mortality.

Design:

Translational pilot study nested within a large prospective cohort of patients with risk factors for acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Setting:

ICU from a large medical center.

Patients:

Twenty-six Caucasian patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome and available plasma from early in critical illness.

Interventions:

None.

Measurements and Main Results:

Here, in samples from 26 acute respiratory distress syndrome patients, we examined plasma levels of select specialized proresolving mediators that promote lung injury resolution in preclinical systems, namely lipoxin A4 and maresin 1, and select prophlogistic lipid mediators linked to acute respiratory distress syndrome pathogenesis, namely cysteinyl leukotrienes and thromboxane B2. These mediators were detected by sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay: lipoxin A4 (assay range) (8.2–5,000 pg/mL), maresin 1 (7.8–1,000 pg/mL), cysteinyl leukotrienes (7.8–1,000 pg/mL), and thromboxane B2 (15.6–2,000 pg/mL). Lower plasma levels of specialized proresolving mediators were associated with increased duration of ventilatory support and ICU length of stay. Even in this small sample size, trends were evident for increased cysteinyl leukotrienes to specialized proresolving mediator ratios (cysteinyl leukotrienes/maresin 1 and cysteinyl leukotrienes/lipoxin A4) in acute respiratory distress syndrome nonsurvivors.

Conclusions:

Lower specialized proresolving mediator levels in acute respiratory distress syndrome patients may disrupt timely resolution of lung inflammation and/or injury and contribute to clinical severity and mortality.
A Prospective Study of Optic Nerve Ultrasound for the Detection of Elevated Intracranial Pressure in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Agrawal Deepak , Raghavendran Krishnan , Zhao Lili , Rajajee Venkatakrishna
Published: October 2020

Objectives:

Intracranial pressure monitoring plays a critical role in the management of severe traumatic brain injury. Our objective was to evaluate the accuracy of optic nerve sheath diameter as a noninvasive screening test for the detection of elevated intracranial pressure and prediction of intracranial pressure treatment intensity.

Design:

Prospective, blinded study of diagnostic accuracy.

Setting:

Neurotrauma ICU.

Subjects:

Consecutive patients with severe traumatic brain injury.

Interventions:

Optic nerve ultrasound was performed daily and optic nerve ultrasound measured at the point-of-care as well as remotely by an expert blinded to all patient details. Optic disc elevation was also measured. The index test was the highest remote-expert optic nerve ultrasound for the admission. The reference standard was the concurrent invasive intracranial pressure, with test-positivity set at intracranial pressure greater than 22 mm Hg. A priori the minimally acceptable sensitivity threshold was 90% with corresponding specificity 60%. We also evaluated the ability of optic nerve ultrasound to predict a therapeutic intensity level greater than 10.

Measurements and Main Results:

One hundred twenty patients were enrolled. The intraclass correlation coefficient between point of care and expert optic nerve sheath diameter after enrollment of 50 subjects was poor at 0.16 (–0.08 to 0.41) but improved to 0.87 (0.81–0.92) for the remaining subjects after remedial training. The area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic curve of the highest expert-measured optic nerve sheath diameter to detect intracranial pressure greater than 22 mm Hg was 0.81 (0.73–0.87); area under the curve for prediction of therapeutic intensity level greater than 10 was 0.51 (0.42–0.60). Optic nerve sheath diameter greater than 0.72 demonstrated sensitivity 82% (48–98%) and specificity 79% (70–86%) for intracranial pressure greater than 22 mm Hg. The area under the curve of highest measured optic disc elevation to detect intracranial pressure greater than 22 mm Hg was 0.84 (0.76–0.90). Optic disc elevation greater than 0.04 cm attained sensitivity 90% (56–100%) and specificity 71% (61–79%).

Conclusions:

While optic nerve sheath diameter demonstrated a modest, statistically significant correlation with intracranial pressure, a predetermined level of diagnostic accuracy to justify routine clinical use as a screening test was not achieved. Measurement of optic disc elevation appears promising for the detection of elevated intracranial pressure, however, verification from larger studies is necessary.
Effect of Guided Imagery Along With Breathing Relaxation on Sleep Quality of the Elderly Patients Under Abdominal Surgery
Authors: Ramezani Kermani Ali , Aghebati Nahid , Mohajer Samira , Ghavami Vahid
Published: October 2020

Elderly patients undergoing surgery often suffer from sleep disorder. Holistic therapies might help them sleep better. The aim of this research was to determine the effect of guided imagery along with breathing relaxation on sleep quality in elderly patients undergoing abdominal surgery. A double-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on 90 elderly patients undergoing abdominal surgery in 2 educational hospitals in 2018, Mashhad, Iran. The elderly patients with different abdominal surgical procedures were distributed to the wardrooms and then the rooms were randomly assigned into 2 groups. In the intervention group, the patients learned breathing relaxation the day before surgery and then an audiotape was provided to perform the guided imagery from the day before surgery for 5 days (twice) along with breathing relaxation. St Mary's Hospital Sleep Inventory was completed the night before, 48 hours and 96 hours after the surgery. Data analysis was done using SPSS 21 through analytical tests. Results of the test indicated that the score of sleep quality was significantly higher in the intervention group the night before surgery (P = .001). The total scores of sleep quality in the intervention group 48 and 96 hours after the surgery were significantly higher (P < .001). Based on results of generalized estimating equation model, the score of sleep quality for patients was 8.76 units higher in the intervention group than in the control group by controlling for the effects of time. Guided imagery along with breathing relaxation improved the sleep quality of the elderly patients undergoing abdominal surgery.

Trial registration: IRCT20180731040652N1.
Rituximab Therapy for Recalcitrant Idiopathic Sclerosing Orbital Inflammation
Authors: Yazici Bulent , Cekic Sukru , Yalcinkaya Ulviye , Kilic S. Sebnem
Published: October 2020

Three patients (3 female patients; aged 7, 35, and 61 years) who had recalcitrant idiopathic sclerosing orbital inflammation were treated with rituximab. The disease was bilateral in 1 patient (4 orbits in total): diffuse in 2 and localized in 2 orbits. It caused optic neuropathy in 1 orbit of each patient. Conventional immunotherapy and tumor debulking surgery were unsuccessful in controlling the disease. After rituximab infusions (375 mg/m2/week for 4 weeks), all patients improved symptomatically. Radiologically, the local lesions resolved completely and diffuse lesions partially. Two patients with recurrent inflammation during follow up (78, 58, and 51 months) responded well to immediate, short-term steroid treatments. Short-term rituximab therapy can induce effective remissions in patients with refractory idiopathic sclerosing orbital inflammation. Early and local lesions may respond better to treatment than diffuse lesions. Nevertheless, inflammatory exacerbations can occur during late follow up.
Push-Rate Threshold for Physical Activity Intensity in Persons Who Use Manual Wheelchairs
Authors: Rice Ian M. , Jeng Brenda , Silveira Stephanie L. , Motl Robert W.
Published: October 2020

There is evidence that manual wheelchair users are among the least physically active in society. However, the current cut points for quantifying physical activity intensity based on steps per minute have been developed for ambulatory adults from the general population and other clinical populations and may not be appropriate or applicable for manual wheelchair users. This study examined the association between push rate (an analog of step rate) and energy expenditure across three speeds of treadmill wheelchair propulsion among manual wheelchair users and further generated a push-rate cut point for quantifying moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Persons who used manual wheelchairs (N = 17) performed three, 6-min bouts of manual wheelchair propulsion on a motor-driven treadmill at speeds of 0.7, 1.3, and 2.0 m/sec. Push rate per trial was measured using SMARTwheels, and the rate of oxygen consumption per trial was measured using a portable metabolic system. The mean (SD) R2
value for the relationship between push rate and energy expenditure was 0.78 (0.14). The mean (SD) push-rate cut point for quantifying moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was 55.05 (26.06) pushes/min. This preliminary study provides the first push-rate cut point for quantifying moderate-to-vigorous physical activity among a heterogeneous sample of manual wheelchair users. This threshold may be important for public health promotion and individual-level monitoring and prescription of free-living physical activity behavior among manual wheelchair users.
Asymptomatic neurocognitive impairment is a risk for symptomatic decline over a 3-year study period
Authors: Rourke Sean B. , Bekele Tsegaye , Rachlis Anita , Kovacs Colin , Brunetta Jason , Gill M. John , Carvalhal Adriana , Cysique Lucette A. , Marcotte Thomas , Power Christopher
Published: October 2020

Objective:

To examine whether persons with asymptomatic neurocognitive impairment (ANI) were more likely to show progression to mild neurocognitive disorder or HIV-associated dementia than those who were neuropsychologically normal (NP-N).

Design:

Longitudinal observational cohort study.

Methods:

Study sample included 720 HIV-1 seropositive persons (317 with ANI and 403 NP-N) receiving care in Toronto, Canada [83% were on antiretroviral treatment; 71% had undetectable (<50 copies/ml) plasma HIVRNA]. Neuropsychological assessments were conducted at 12 months intervals for a median follow-up time of 34 months. Neuropsychological data were corrected for age, education, sex, and race/ethnicity, and corrected for practice effect at follow-ups. Progression to mild neurocognitive disorder and HIV-associated dementia at each time point was determined using the Global Deficit Score and presence of cognitive symptoms.

Results:

Over the follow-up period, 170 individuals (24%) progressed to symptomatic HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). Persons with ANI were more likely to progress to symptomatic HAND than persons with NP-N after adjusting for baseline and time-varying confounders (adjusted hazards ratio: 1.88; 95% confidence interval: 1.37–2.60; P 
< 0.001). Female sex, depression, and cigarette smoking were associated with higher risk of progression to symptomatic HAND, but traditional HIV markers and antiretroviral treatment were not.

Conclusion:

ANI is associated with a two-fold increased risk of progression to symptomatic HAND in a cohort with universal healthcare access. This represents the largest replication of comparable US results. Reproducibility of these findings indicate that routine monitoring of persons with ANI and exploration of clinical interventions to prevent or delay progression to symptomatic HAND are imperative.

Search terms:

HIV, HAND, HIV-associated dementia, cohort study, replicability, reproducibility.
Efficacy of Epinephrine Injection in Preventing Post-ERCP Pancreatitis
Authors: Torun Serkan , Ödemiş Bülent , Çetin Mehmet F. , Önmez Attila , Coşkun Orhan
Published: October 2020

Background:

Rectal indomethacin or a topical spray of epinephrine to the papilla of Vater has each shown efficacy alone in the prevention of post–endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (PEP). We supposed that a submucosal epinephrine injection would be more effective and longer acting than a topical epinephrine spray and therefore would further reduce the incidence of PEP.

Patients and Methods:

A retrospective analysis was conducted of 412 patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) between January 2017 and December 2019. These patients were divided into 2 groups: the indomethacin group and the indomethacin plus the submucosal epinephrine injection group. The incidence rates and severity of PEP, post-ERCP hyperamylasemia, other outcomes, and any other adverse events were compared between the groups.

Results:

Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics and procedure-related parameters were similar between the 2 groups. The incidence of PEP was 0.4% in the epinephrine group compared with 5.1% in the indomethacin group (P<0.001). Post-ERCP hyperamylasemia occurred in 24.6% of patients in the indomethacin group, whereas 7.6% of patients in the epinephrine group developed this condition; the difference was significant (P<0.001). Postsphincterotomy bleeding occurred in 5 patients, all of whom were in the indomethacin group (P<0.001). Other adverse events, including arrhythmias, acute coronary events, stroke, or hypertension were not significantly different between the 2 groups.

Conclusion:

Addition of a submucosal epinephrine injection in conjunction with rectal indomethacin significantly reduced the incidence of PEP, post-ERCP hyperamylasemia, and postsphincterotomy bleeding.
Upper body and ankle strategies compensate for reduced lateral stability at very slow walking speeds
Authors: Best Aaron N. , Wu Amy R.
Published: October 2020

At the typical walking speeds of healthy humans, step placement seems to be the primary strategy to maintain gait stability, with ankle torques and upper body momentum providing additional compensation. The average walking speeds of populations with an increased risk of falling, however, are much slower and may require differing control strategies. The purpose of this study was to analyse mediolateral gait stability and the contributions of the different control strategies at very slow walking speeds. We analysed an open dataset including kinematics and kinetics from eight healthy subjects walking at speeds from 0.1 to 0.6 m s
−1
as well as a self-selected speed. As gait speed slowed, we found that the margin of stability (MoS) decreased linearly. Increased lateral excursions of the extrapolated centre of mass, caused by increased lateral excursions of the trunk, were not compensated for by an equivalent increase in the lateral centre of pressure, leading to decreased MoS. Additionally, both the ankle eversion torque and hip abduction torque at the minimum MoS event increased at the same rate as gait speed slowed. These results suggest that the contributions of both the ankle and the upper body to stability are more crucial than stepping at slow speeds, which have important implications for populations with slow gait and limited motor function.
Contrasting stripes are a widespread feature of group living in birds, mammals and fishes
Authors: Negro Juan J. , Doña Jorge , Blázquez M. Carmen , Rodríguez Airam , Herbert-Read James E. , Brooke M. de L.
Published: October 2020

Grouping is a widespread form of predator defence, with individuals in groups often performing evasive collective movements in response to attack by predators. Individuals in these groups use behavioural rules to coordinate their movements, with visual cues about neighbours’ positions and orientations often informing movement decisions. Although the exact visual cues individuals use to coordinate their movements with neighbours have not yet been decoded, some studies have suggested that stripes, lines, or other body patterns may act as conspicuous conveyors of movement information that could promote coordinated group movement, or promote dazzle camouflage, thereby confusing predators. We used phylogenetic logistic regressions to test whether the contrasting achromatic stripes present in four different taxa vulnerable to predation, including species within two orders of birds (Anseriformes and Charadriiformes), a suborder of Artiodactyla (the ruminants), and several orders of marine fishes (predominantly Perciformes) were associated with group living. Contrasting patterns were significantly more prevalent in social species, and tended to be absent in solitary species or species less vulnerable to predation. We suggest that stripes taking the form of light-coloured lines on dark backgrounds, or
vice vers
a
,
provide a widespread mechanism across taxa that either serves to inform conspecifics of neighbours' movements, or to confuse predators, when moving in groups. Because detection and processing of patterns and of motion in the visual channel is essentially colour-blind, diverse animal taxa with widely different vision systems (including mono-, di-, tri-, and tetrachromats) appear to have converged on a similar use of achromatic patterns, as would be expected given signal-detection theory. This hypothesis would explain the convergent evolution of conspicuous achromatic patterns as an antipredator mechanism in numerous vertebrate species.
Sphingomonas changnyeongensis sp. nov. isolated from the Hapcheon–Changnyeong barrage area in the Nakdong river
Authors: Park Chulwoo , Kim Minkyung , Lee Byoung-Hee , Lee Ki-Eun , Park Woojun
Published: October 2020

The novel bacterial strain C33T was isolated from a freshwater sample collected from the Hapcheon–Changnyeong barrage. The Gram-negative, motile, yellow-pigmented strain C33T was characterized as a rod-shaped and strictly aerobic bacterium. A 16S-rRNA phylogenetic analysis revealed that this strain was most closely related to

Sphingomonas changbaiensis

V2M44T,

Sphingomonas tabacisoli

X1-8T, and

Sphingomonas flavalba

ZLT-5T with 97.1, 97.0, and 95.0 % 16S-rRNA sequence similarities, respectively. The genomic DNA GC content of strain C33T was estimated at 65.0 mol%. The average nucleotide identity of strain C33T relative to

S. changbaiensis

V2M44T and

S. flavalba

ZLT-5T was found to be 77.0 and 75.6%, with average amino-acid identities of 69.9, and 66.7%, and the digital DNA–DNA hybridization values of 21.3 and 17.7 %, respectively. The cells grew at 19–37 °C and pH 6–9 with 0–0.5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum: 28 °C, pH 6.5, and 0 % NaCl). The major component identified in the polyamine pattern was sym-homospermidine, and the main ubiquinone was Q-10. The predominant polar lipids characterized were diphophatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine, and sphingoglycolipid. Iso-C15 : 0, C15 : 0 anteiso, and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1
ω6c and/or C16 : 1
ω7c) were found to be the primary cellular fatty acids in strain C33T. Based on these genotypic and phenotypic characteristics, strain C33T was classified as a novel species of the genus

Sphingomonas

; and the name Sphingomonas changnyeongensis sp. nov. is proposed (=KACC 21511T=JCM 33880T).
Antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of SARS-CoV-2 infection in recovered COVID-19 patients: studies based on cellular and structural biology analysis
Authors: Wu Fan , Yan Renhong , Liu Mei , Liu Zezhong , Wang Yingdan , Luan Die , Wu Kaiyue , Song Zhigang , Sun Tingting , Ma Yunping , Zhang Yuanyuan , Wang Qimin , Li Xiang , Ji Ping , Li Yaning , Li Cheng , Wu Yanling , Ying Tianlei , Wen Yumei , Jiang Shibo , Zhu Tongyu , Lu Lu , Zhang Yongzhen , Zhou Qiang , Huang Jinghe
Published: October 2020

Antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) has been reported in several virus infections including dengue fever virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus infection. To study whether ADE is involved in COVID-19 infections, in vitro pseudotyped SARS-CoV-2 entry into Raji cells, K562 cells, and primary B cells mediated by plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients were employed as models. The enhancement of SARS-CoV-2 entry into cells was more commonly detected in plasma from severely-affected elderly patients with high titers of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-specific antibodies. Cellular entry was mediated via the engagement of FcγRII receptor through virus-cell membrane fusion, but not by endocytosis. Peptide array scanning analyses showed that antibodies which promote SARS-CoV-2 infection targeted the variable regions of the RBD domain. To further characterize the association between the spike-specific antibody and ADE, an RBD-specific monoclonal antibody (7F3) was isolated from a recovered patient, which potently inhibited SARS-Cov-2 infection of ACE-2 expressing cells and also mediated ADE in Raji cells. Site-directed mutagenesis the spike RBD domain reduced the neutralization activity of 7F3, but did not abolish its binding to the RBD domain. Structural analysis using cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM) revealed that 7F3 binds to spike proteins at a shift-angled pattern with one “up” and two “down” RBDs, resulting in partial overlapping with the receptor binding motif (RBM), while a neutralizing monoclonal antibody that lacked ADE activity binds to spike proteins with three “up” RBDs, resulting in complete overlapping with RBM. Our results revealed that ADE mediated by SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific antibodies could result from binding to the receptor in slightly different pattern from antibodies mediating neutralizations. Studies on ADE using antibodies from recovered patients via cell biology and structural biology technology could be of use for developing novel therapeutic and preventive measures for control of COVID-19 infection.
Meta-analysis and adjusted estimation of COVID-19 case fatality risk in India and its association with the underlying comorbidities
Authors: Singh Balbir B. , Ward Michael P , Lowerison Mark , Lewinson Ryan T. , Vallerand Isabelle A. , Deardon Rob , Gill Játinder PS. , Singh Baljit , Barkema Herman W.
Published: October 2020

There is a lack of COVID-19 adjusted case fatality risk (aCFR) estimates and information on states with high aCFR. State-specific aCFRs were estimated, using 13-day lag for fatality. To estimate country-level aCFR, state estimates were meta-analysed. Multiple correspondence analyses (MCA), followed by univariable logistic regression, were conducted to understand the association between aCFR and geodemographic, health and social indicators. Based on health indicators, states likely to report a higher aCFR were identified. Using random- and fixed-effects models, the aCFRs in India were 1.42 (95% CI 1.19 – 1.70) and 2.97 (95% CI 2.94 – 3.00), respectively. The aCFR was grouped with the incidence of diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and acute respiratory infections in the first and second dimensions of MCA. The current study demonstrated the value of using meta-analysis to estimate aCFR. To decrease COVID-19 associated fatalities, states estimated to have a high aCFR must take steps to reduce co-morbidities.

Article Summary Line

Meta-analysis and the COVID-19 adjusted case fatality risks (aCFRs) in India are reported and states likely to report a higher aCFR have been identified.
Increased aperiodic gamma power in young boys with Fragile X is associated with better language ability
Authors: Wilkinson Carol L. , Nelson Charles A.
Published: October 2020

The lack of identified clinical biomarkers in Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), the most common inherited form of intellectual disability, has limited the successful translation of bench-to-bedside therapeutics. While numerous drugs have shown promise in reversing synaptic and behavioral phenotypes in mouse models of FXS, none have demonstrated clinical efficacy in humans. Electroencephalographic (EEG) measures have been identified as candidate biomarkers as EEG recordings of both adults with FXS and mouse models of FXS consistently exhibit increased resting-state gamma power. However, the developmental timing of these EEG differences is not known as thus far EEG studies have not focused on young children with FXS. Further, understanding how EEG differences are associated to core symptoms of FXS is crucial to successful use of EEG as a biomarker, and may improve our understanding of the disorder. Resting-state EEG was collected from FXS boys with full mutation of Fmr1 (32-84 months old, n=11) and compared with both age-matched (n=12) and cognitive-matched (n=12) typically developing boys. Power spectra (including aperiodic and periodic components) were compared using non-parametric cluster-based permutation testing. Associations between 30-50Hz gamma power and cognitive, language, and behavioral measures were evaluated using Pearson correlation and linear regression with age as a covariate. FXS participants showed increased power in the beta/gamma range (∼25-50Hz) across multiple brain regions. Both a reduction in the aperiodic (1/f) slope and increase in beta/gamma periodic activity contributed to the significant increase in high-frequency power. Increased gamma power, driven by the aperiodic component, was associated with better language ability in the FXS group. No association was observed between gamma power and parent report measures of behavioral challenges, sensory hypersensitivities, or adaptive behaviors. The observed positive association between increased aperiodic gamma power and language supports hypotheses that increased E/I ratios observed in FXS mouse models may reflect beneficial compensation.
Cleaning and Re-Use of cobas® 6800/8800 Processing Plates for the SARS-CoV-2 Assay
Authors: Sperling Matt , Relich Ryan , Schmitt Bryan , Bell Drew , Cooper Lauren
Published: October 2020

Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) is the primary method used for the detection and diagnosis of infections caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Since SARS-CoV-2’s entrance into the United States, numerous clinical laboratories and in vitro diagnostic companies have developed rRT-PCR assays, some requiring specialized materials and reagents. One such assay includes the cobas® SARS-CoV-2 Qualitative Assay for use on the cobas® 6800/8800 (Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.). Since initiation of this assay at our facility, our ability to run testing at full capacity has been limited due to restricted supply of the omni cobas® Processing Plate (Product Number 05534917001), a 96 deep well plate used for all sample processing and total nucleic acid extraction via MagNA Pure magnetic beads. To work around this limiting factor, we have successfully designed and tested a cleaning protocol utilizing the widely available laboratory resources of bleach, ethyl-alcohol and autoclaving, for omni cobas® Processing Plate re-use.
COVID-19 Disease Severity and Associated Factors among Ethiopian Patients: A study of the Millennium COVID-19 Care Center
Authors: Leulseged Tigist W. , Abebe Kindalem G. , Hassen Ishmael S. , Maru Endalkachew H. , Zewde Wuletaw C. , Chamiso Negat W. , Yegele Kalkidan T. , Bayisa Abdi B. , siyoum Dagne F. , Edo Mesay G. , Mesfin Edmialem G. , Derejie Meskerem N. , Shiferaw Helina K.
Published: October 2020

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic started a little later in Ethiopia than Europe and most of the initial cases were reported to have a milder disease course and a favorable outcome. This changed as the disease spread into the population and the more vulnerable began to develop severe disease. Understanding the risk factors for severe disease in Ethiopia was needed to provide optimal health care services in a resource limited setting.

Objective

The study assessed COVID-19 patients admitted to Millennium COVID-19 Care Center in Ethiopia for characteristics associated with COVID-19 disease severity.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted from June to August 2020 among 686 randomly selected 686 patients. Chi-square test was used to detect the presence of a statistically significant difference in the characteristics of the patients based on disease severity (Mild vs Moderate vs Severe). A multinomial logistic regression model was used to identify risk factors of COVID-19 disease severity where Adjusted Odds ratio (AOR), 95% CIs for AOR and P-values were used for significance testing.

Results

Having moderate as compared with mild disease was significantly associated with having hypertension (AOR=2.30, 95%CI=1.27,4.18, p-value=0.006), diabetes mellitus (AOR=2.61, 95%CI=1.31,5.19, p-value=0.007 for diabetes mellitus), fever (AOR=6.12, 95%CI=2.94,12.72, p-value=0.0001) and headache (AOR=2.69, 95%CI=1.39,5.22, p-value=0.003). Similarly, having severe disease as compared with mild disease was associated with age group (AOR=4.43, 95%CI=2.49,7.85, p-value=0.0001 for 40-59 years and AOR=18.07, 95%CI=9.29,35.14, p-value=0.0001 for ≥ 60 years), sex (AOR=1.84, 95%CI=1.12,3.03, p-value=0.016), hypertension (AOR=1.97, 95%CI=1.08,3.59, p-value=0.028), diabetes mellitus (AOR=3.93, 95%CI=1.96,7.85, p-value=0.0001), fever (AOR=13.22, 95%CI=6.11, 28.60, p-value=0.0001) and headache (AOR=4.82, 95%CI=2.32, 9.98, p-value=0.0001). In addition, risk factors of severe disease as compared with moderate disease were found to be significantly associated with age group (AOR=4.87, 95%CI=2.85, 8.32, p-value=0.0001 for 40-59 years and AOR=18.91, 95%CI=9.84,36.33, p-value=0.0001 for ≥ 60 years), fever (AOR=2.16, 95%CI=1.29,3.63, p-value=0.004) and headache (AOR=1.79, 95%CI=1.03, 3.11, p-value=0.039).

Conclusions

Risk factors associated with severe COVID-19 in Ethiopia are being greater than 60 years old, male, a diagnosis of hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, and the presence of fever and headache. This is consistent with severity indicators identified by WHO and suggests the initial finding of milder disease in Ethiopia may have been because the first people to get COVID-19 in Ethiopia were less than 60 years of age with fewer health problems.
Maternal health care services utilization in the amid of COVID-19 pandemic in West Shoa Zone, Central Ethiopia
Authors: Temesgen Kababa , Wakgari Negash , Tefera Bikila , Tafa Belay , Alemu Getu , Wandimu Fekadu , Gudisa Tolera , Gishile Tolosa , Daba Gurmessa , Abdissa Gizachew , Soboka Bikila
Published: October 2020

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. Despite strong efforts that have been taking place to control the pandemic globally, the virus is on the rise in many countries. Hence, this study assessed the maternal health care services utilization in the amid of the COVID-19 pandemic in West Shoa Zone, Central Ethiopia. Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 844 pregnant women or those gave birth in the last 6 months before the study. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the study participants. The data were collected through face-to-face interview using a semi-structured questionnaire. Logistic regressions were performed to identify the presence of significant associations, and adjusted odds ratio with 95%CI was employed for the strength and directions of association between the independent and outcome variables. A P-value of <0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. The prevalence of maternal health service utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic was 64.8%. The odds of maternal health service utilization was higher among mothers who had primary (AOR=2.16, 95%CI: 1.29-3.60), secondary (AOR=1.97, 95%CI: 1.13-3.44), and college and above education (AOR=2.89, 95%CI: 1.34-6.22) than those who could not read and write. In addition, mothers who did travel 25-74 km (AOR= 0.37, 95%CI: 0.23-0.59) and 75-99 km (AOR= 0.10, 95%CI: 0.05-0.19) to reach health facility had a lower odds of maternal health service utilization than those who did travel < 24 km. Moreover, mothers who earn 1000-2000 (AOR= 3.10, 95%CI: 1.73-5.55) and > 2000 birr (AOR=2.66 95%CI: 1.52-4.64) had higher odds of maternal health service utilization than those who earn <500 birr. Similarly, the odds of utilizing maternal health service were higher among mothers who did not fear COVID-19 infection (AOR= 2.79, 95%CI: 1.85-4.20), who had not had to request permission from husband to visit the health facility (AOR= 7.24, 95%CI: 2.65-19.75), who had practiced COVID-19 prevention measure (AOR=5.82, 95%CI: 3.87-8.75), and used face mask (AOR= 2.06, 95% CI: 1.28-3.31) than their counterpart. Empowering mothers and creating awareness on the COVID-19 prevention is recommended to improve maternal health service utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 trends in Colombian regions with the highest disease burden
Authors: Chaparro Pablo , Zapata Helmer , Hurtado Isabel , Alzate Alberto , Lesmes Maria Cristina , Herrera Sócrates
Published: October 2020

Introduction

COVID-19 pandemic is currently the most significant global public health challenge, with more than 31 million cases reported to date. Colombia first reported COVID-19 cases in the country by early March 2020, and six months later it has reached ∼750,471 clinical cases, with significant regional differences in morbidity, mortality, and hospitalization rates.

Aims

Identify population characteristics and hospital capacity in the 13 municipalities with the highest disease notification and examine differences in cumulative reported cases, hospitalization, and mortality rates that may explain the regional differences.

Materials and methods

A multi-group ecological study was performed based on the information available from public databases. Notification of cases, hospitalization, and crude mortality and age-adjusted rates were calculated.

Results

The municipalities with the highest COVID-1 burden at different times during the study period displayed significant differences in population density and the proportion of elderly inhabitants, indigenous and afro descendants minorities; indices of unsatisfied basic needs and multidimensional poverty index, as well as the number of hospital beds. Likewise, essential variations in notification rates, hospitalization, and mortality were observed. The highest age-adjusted of reported cases (4,219 cases) and mortality (230.4 cases) rates were found in Leticia, the lowest general hospitalization rates in Buenaventura (37.5 cases) and the lowest ICU hospitalization rates (0) in Leticia and Tumaco due to a lack of these units in these municipalities.

Conclusion

The probability of getting sick, hospitalized, and dying from COVID-19 appeared closely related to socio-economic, ethnic, and cultural characteristics, and also to hospital bed capacity.
Strain inheritance and neonatal gut microbiota development: a meta-analysis
Authors: Podlesny Daniel , Fricke W. Florian
Published: October 2020

As many inflammatory and metabolic disorders have been associated with structural deficits of the human gut microbiota, the principles and mechanisms that govern its initialization and development are of considerable scientific interest and clinical relevance. However, our current understanding of the developing gut microbiota dynamics remains incomplete. We carried out a large-scale, comprehensive meta-analysis of over 1900 available metagenomic shotgun samples from neonates, infants, adolescents, and their families, using our recently introduced SameStr program for strain-level microbiota profiling and the detection of microbial strain transfer and persistence. We found robust associations between gut microbiota composition and age, as well as delivery mode which was measurable for up to two years of life. C-section was associated with increased relative abundances of non-gut species and delayed transition from a predominantly oxygen-tolerant to intolerant microbial community. Unsupervised networks based on shared strain profiles generated family-specific clusters connecting infants, their siblings, parents and grandparents and, in one case, suggested strain transfer between neonates from the same hospital ward, but could also be used to identify potentially mislabeled metagenome samples. Following birth, larger quantities of strains were shared between vaginally born infants and their mothers compared to C-section infants, which further persisted throughout the first year of life and belonged to the same bacterial species as strains that were shared between adults and their parents. Irrespective of delivery type, older children shared strains with their mothers and fathers and, into adulthood, could be accurately distinguished from unrelated sample pairs. Prominent gut commensal bacteria were both among frequently transferred (e.g. Bacteroides and Sutterella) and newly acquired taxa (e.g. Blautia, Faecalibacterium, and Ruminococcus). Our meta-analysis presents a more detailed and comprehensive picture of the highly dynamic neonatal and infant gut microbiota development than previous studies and presents evidence for taxonomic and functional compositional differences early in life between infants born naturally or by C-section, which persist well into adolescence.
Unsupervised explainable AI for simultaneous molecular evolutionary study of forty thousand SARS-CoV-2 genomes
Authors: Ikemura Toshimichi , Wada Kennosuke , Wada Yoshiko , Iwasaki Yuki , Abe Takashi
Published: October 2020

Unsupervised AI (artificial intelligence) can obtain novel knowledge from big data without particular models or prior knowledge and is highly desirable for unveiling hidden features in big data. SARS-CoV-2 poses a serious threat to public health and one important issue in characterizing this fast-evolving virus is to elucidate various aspects of their genome sequence changes. We previously established unsupervised AI, a BLSOM (batch-learning SOM), which can analyze five million genomic sequences simultaneously. The present study applied the BLSOM to the oligonucleotide compositions of forty thousand SARS-CoV-2 genomes. While only the oligonucleotide composition was given, the obtained clusters of genomes corresponded primarily to known main clades and internal divisions in the main clades. Since the BLSOM is explainable AI, it reveals which features of the oligonucleotide composition are responsible for clade clustering. The BLSOM has powerful image display capabilities and enables efficient knowledge discovery about viral evolutionary processes.