bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Primary adrenal lymphoma: a case of hiccups
Authors: Pathmanathan Kylan , Kodali Venkata , Mohamad Abdulrazak
Published: May 2020

Approximately 250 cases of primary adrenal lymphoma have been reported. We describe an unusual presentation of this condition. Our patient is a 65-year-old male whom presented to the emergency department with 4 days of severe persistent hiccups. He had lost 26 kg in weight in the preceding 4 months. Computed tomography abdomen revealed large invasive bilateral adrenal masses. Biochemical evaluation confirmed adrenal insufficiency. Hiccups resolved within 24 h of steroid replacement. Adrenal biopsy confirmed a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Hypotheses for the aetiology of his hiccups include diaphragmatic irritation and primary adrenal insufficiency. This case is interesting for its rarity involving bilateral adrenal glands, Addison’s disease from the primary adrenal tumour and rapid resolution of hiccups with corticosteroid therapy.
Major liver trauma post-mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation—the first reported case of survival with normal cardiovascular and neurological outcome
Authors: Sharma P , Hernandez-Caballero C
Published: May 2020

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is often conducted with mechanical devices, such as Lund University Cardiac Arrest System in the setting of cardiac arrest during coronary catheterization, to enable effective chest compressions for a prolonged period. Certain injuries from such devices are common such as skin lesions, sternal and rib fractures. Others are rarer, such as visceral injury to the heart, major vessels, lung, liver, spleen and stomach. Major liver injuries have been previously reported but were universally fatal. Here, we report the first case of a capsular liver tear post-mechanical CPR, requiring immediate laparotomy and primary repair, resulting in patient survival with a normal cardiovascular and neurological and outcome.
Treatment of a Fusiform Anterior Cerebral Artery Aneurysm With an A3-A3 Bypass: 2-Dimensional Operative Video
Authors: Hendricks Benjamin K , Spetzler Robert F
Published: May 2020

Distal anterior cerebral artery (ACA) aneurysms remain a relatively rare and challenging entity for both open microsurgical and endovascular treatments. These lesions provide a significant surgical challenge because of the narrow interhemispheric surgical field, limited proximal control, common fixation of the aneurysm to the adjacent cingulate gyrus, and possible involvement of an unpaired azygos A2. These challenges result in a known association between distal ACA aneurysms and higher operative morbidity. This video demonstrates indirect obliteration of a prior ruptured fusiform right A2 aneurysm utilizing an A3-to-A3 side-to-side anastomotic bypass with aneurysm trapping. An anterior interhemispheric approach was used for exposure of bilateral ACAs, arteriotomies, microanastomosis, and trapping of the aneurysmal right A2 segment. Postoperatively, the patient's neurological status returned to baseline, and imaging demonstrated evidence of bypass patency with no residual filling of the fusiform aneurysmal segment. This video verifies the feasibility and efficacy of the A3-to-A3 anastomotic bypass for treatment of distal ACA aneurysms. The patient gave informed consent for surgery and video recording. Institutional review board approval was deemed unnecessary. Used with permission from Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona.
Does Household Finance Affect the Political Process? Evidence from Voter Turnout During a Housing Crisis
Authors: McCartney W Ben
Published: May 2020

I examine the effect of house price declines on voter participation using a novel person-level panel data set. Contrary to what the “angry voter hypothesis” predicts, I find that a 10% decline in local house prices decreases the participation rate of the average mortgaged homeowner by 1.6 percentage points. Consistent with a financial distress channel, house price declines have no effects on renters and particularly severe effects on highly leveraged households. My findings are consistent with the existence of a feedback loop between financial distress and inequality operating through voter participation.
Confronting Medical Error
Authors: Brown Theresa
Published: May 2020

A new book makes the case for ‘a culture shift of epic proportions.’
Where Are the Masks?
Authors: Todd Betsy
Published: May 2020

Shortages of vital PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Three Prescription Drugs are Now Available Over the Counter
Authors: Aschenbrenner Diane S.
Published: May 2020

Three drugs previously available only by prescription will now be available only over the counter: diclofenac sodium topical gel, 1% (Voltaren Arthritis Pain); olopatadine HCl ophthalmic solution/drops, 0.1% (Pataday Twice Daily Relief); and olopatadine HCl ophthalmic solution/drops, 0.2% (Pataday Once Daily Relief).
Lifestyle Changes After Initiating Medication for Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Rosenberg Karen
Published: May 2020

According to this study:

The initiation of antihypertensive or lipid-lowering medication is associated with lifestyle changes, both positive and negative.

More effective measures are needed to support positive lifestyle changes in patients prescribed these medications for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.
Antibiotics, Systemic Corticosteroids Effective for Copd Exacerbations
Authors: Rosenberg Karen
Published: May 2020

According to this study:

A systematic review of the literature provides support for the use of antibiotics and systemic corticosteroids in adults experiencing exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, regardless of severity.

These medications, however, were associated with an increased number of total adverse events and endocrine-related adverse events.
Improving LGBTQ Health and Well-Being
Authors: Ortelli Tracy A.
Published: May 2020

Free, evidence-based resources for health care providers, individuals, and families.
A 5-Year Review of Acanthamoeba Keratitis Related to Wearing Contact Lenses in Korea
Authors: Jo Yeon Ji , Jang Soo Kyung , Lee Jieun , Lee Jong Soo
Published: May 2020

Purpose:

To investigate the presentation, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) in Busan, South Korea, over a 5-year period.

Methods:

This retrospective study involved a review of the medical records of 16 patients (19 eyes in total) who were diagnosed with AK, related to wearing contact lenses, at the tertiary hospital, Pusan National University Hospital at Busan City, from December 2013 to December 2018.

Results:

Nineteen eyes of 16 patients with a diagnosis of AK were identified. The average age of the patients was 21.1±12.6 years; there were 2 men and 14 women. The mean period from the onset of the first symptoms to diagnosis was 7.0±6.5 days. The average initial visual acuity was 0.78±0.37 (tested on a logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution chart), and the final visual acuity after treatment was 0.07±0.07, indicating a significant improvement (P=0.001). A variety of corneal lesions were identified. Early diagnosis of AK was associated with a significantly better final visual acuity.

Conclusion:

The average therapeutic period for AK, when a surface epithelial lesion of the cornea was identified, was 4 months compared with an average period of over 6 months for a deeper stromal lesion. Therefore, this study highlights the fundamental importance of early diagnosis, preventing deeper layers of the cornea from being affected, and appropriate management to ensure a favorable outcome.
Simplified Classification of Tear Film Break-Up Patterns and Their Clinicopathological Correlations in Patients With Dry Eye Disease
Authors: Eom Hee Dong , Jung Jae Uk , Lee Kyoung-Pil , Kim Jeongho , Yoon Dong Hee , Kim Myung Jun , Son Byung Jae , Kim Hong Kyun
Published: May 2020

Purpose:

To analyze the pathophysiological differences between patients with dry eye disease (DED) having different tear film break-up patterns (TBUPs).

Methods:

This investigative analysis involved 91 eyes of 91 patients with DED who were divided into two groups: those with “dot” break-up pattern (group I) and those with “random” break-up pattern (group II). Clinical severity was evaluated using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), Oxford stain score system (OSS) score, and tear film break-up time (TF-BUT). Eighteen patients in group I and 17 patients in group II were selected for sampling of tears and the conjunctiva, and the concentrations of inflammatory cytokines and mucin in the tears and conjunctival tissue were measured.

Results:

Thirty-seven patients were classified as group I and 54 patients as group II. Patients in group I had a statistically lower TF-BUT and a higher OSS score than those in group II, whereas the OSDI was not statistically different between the groups. The concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 were statistically higher in group I than those in group II. Impression cytology showed that the expression of IL-1β and IL-8 was higher in group I, whereas that of other genes was not statistically different.

Conclusions:

We were able to clearly classify patients with DED with different TBUPs into two groups, and each group had different clinical and pathophysiological characteristics. In patients with the dot break-up pattern, the disease was strongly associated with ocular surface inflammation, as opposed to that in patients without this pattern.
Effects of a Single Dose of Topical Brimonidine 0.15% on Anterior Segment Morphology, Pupil Characteristics, and Choroidal Thickness in Healthy Subjects
Authors: Cankurtaran Veysel , Tekin Kemal
Published: May 2020

Purpose:

To investigate the effects of a single dose of brimonidine 0.15% on anterior segment morphology, pupil characteristics, and choroidal blood flow in treated and untreated eyes of healthy subjects and to compare the results obtained with those in another healthy volunteer group.

Methods:

Participants were classified as study and control groups. The eyes in the study group were randomized. Only one eye received one drop of brimonidine (treated eyes), and the contralateral eye received single dose of sodium hyaluronate (untreated eyes). In addition, only right eyes of control subjects, who had single dose of sodium hyaluronate to both eyes, were analyzed (control eyes). Anterior segment parameters including central corneal thickness (CCT), aqueous depth, anterior chamber volume, iridocorneal angle (ICA), horizontal anterior chamber diameter, and pupil measurements including scotopic, mesopic, photopic, and dynamic pupil diameters (PDs) were performed with Sirius Scheimpflug camera. Choroidal thickness (CT) measurements were taken with optical coherence tomography. These measurements were taken at baseline and repeated 1 hour after the dosing.

Results:

Only the treated eyes had significantly thicker CCT and wider ICA values after instillation of brimonidine. Static and dynamic PD values of treated eyes and even untreated eyes significantly decreased after brimonidine. However, brimonidine has no significant effect on CT measurements.

Conclusion:

A single dose of brimonidine causes thickening in CCT and widening in ICA values in treated eyes. In addition, it has significant effect to decrease the scotopic, mesopic, photopic, and dynamic PD values in treated and even contralateral eyes while has no effect on choroidal blood flow.
Partner Notification Approaches for Sex Partners and Children of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Index Cases in Côte d'Ivoire
Authors: Kingbo Marie-Huguette K.A. , Isaakidis Petros , Lasry Arielle , Takarinda Kudakwashe C. , Manzi Marcel , Pringle John , Konan Flore Adjoua , N'Draman Jules , Danho Nathalie Krou , Abokon Armand K. , Doumatey Nicole Isabelle L.
Published: May 2020

Background

Four partner notification approaches were introduced in health facilities in Côte d'Ivoire to increase human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing uptake among the type of contacts (sex partners and biological children younger than 15 years). The study assessed the 4 approaches: client referral (index cases refer the contacts for HIV testing), provider referral (health care providers refer the contacts), contract referral (index case-provider hybrid approach), and dual referral (both the index and their partner are tested simultaneously).

Methods

Program data were collected at 4 facilities from October 2018 to March 2019 from index case files and HIV testing register. We compared uptake of the approaches, uptake of HIV testing, and HIV positivity percentages, stratified by contact type and gender.

Results

There were 1089 sex partners and 469 children from 1089 newly diagnosed index cases. About 90% of children were contacted through client referral: 85.2% of those were tested and 1.4% was positive. Ninety percent of the children came from female index cases. The provider referral brought in 56.3% of sex partners, of whom 97.2% were HIV-tested. The client referral brought in 30% of sex partners, of whom only 81.5% were HIV-tested. The HIV positivity percentages were 75.5% and 72.7%, respectively, for the 2 approaches. Male index cases helped to reach twice as many HIV-positive sexual contacts outside the household (115) than female index cases (53). The contract and dual referrals were not preferred by index cases.

Conclusions

Provider referral is a successful and acceptable strategy for bringing in sex partners for testing. Client referral is preferred for children.
Explaining very early acute mild traumatic brain injury after motor vehicle collision pain variability: additive value of pain sensitivity questionnaire
Authors: Kuperman Pora , Granovsky Yelena , Bahouth Hany , Fadel Shiri , Ben Lulu Hen , Bosak Noam , Buxbaum Chen , Sprecher Elliot , Crystal Shoshana , Granot Michal
Published: May 2020

Introduction and Objectives:

Chronic pain is a common postcollision consequence. Wherein, a clearer understanding of acute pain can help stem the acute-to-chronic pain transition. However, the variability of acute pain is only partially explained by psychophysical pain characteristics as measured by quantitative sensory testing. The Pain Sensitivity Questionnaire (PSQ) may reflect inherent psychocognitive representations of patient's sensitivity and thus may reveal less-explored pain dimensions. In the vein of the biopsychosocial approach, this study aimed to explore whether PSQ holds additive value in explaining head and neck pain reports in very early acute-stage mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) after collision, above the use of psychophysical assessment.

Methods:

Study cohort (n = 130) consisted of mTBI patients (age range 19–66, 57 F) after accident with area-of-injury pain of at least 20 on the day of testing (mean pain 58.4 ± 21.6, range 20–100 Numerical Pain Scale) who underwent clinical, psychophysical, and pain-related psychological assessment within 72-hour after injury.

Results:

Pain Sensitivity Questionnaire scores were significantly correlated with acute clinical, psychophysical, and pain-related psychological measures. Regression model (R
2 = 0.241, P < 0.001) showed that, together, age, sex, high PSQ, enhanced temporal summation, and less-efficient conditioned pain modulation explained head and neck pain variance. This model demonstrated that the strongest contribution to degree of postinjury pain was independently explained by PSQ (ß = 0.32) and then pressure pain threshold-conditioned pain modulation (ß = −0.25).

Conclusion:

Appraisal of cognitive daily-pain representations, by way of memory and imagination, provides an additional important dispositional facet to explain the variability in the acute mTBI postcollision clinical pain experience, above assessing nociceptive responsiveness to experimentally induced pain.
High levels of resistance to nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors in newly diagnosed antiretroviral treatment-naive children in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Inzaule Seth C. , Jordan Michael R. , Bello George , Wadonda-Kabondo Nellie , Mounerou Salou , Mbulli Innocent A. , Akanmu Sulaimon A. , Vubil Adolfo , Hunt Gillian , Kaleebu Pontiano , Mthethwa-Hleza Simangele , Dzangare Janet , Njukeng Patrick , Penazzato Martina , Rinke de Wit Tobias F. , Eshleman Susan H. , Bertagnolio Silvia
Published: May 2020

Exposure of infants to antiretroviral drugs for prevention of mother-to-child transmission can induce resistance to nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). Data from nine national surveys of pretreatment drug resistance in children newly diagnosed with HIV show high levels of resistance to NRTIs included in first-line antiretroviral treatment (ART) regimens (dual abacavir-lamivudine/emtricitabine resistance). Additional research is needed to determine the impact of NRTI resistance on treatment response and optimize infant ART.
Genome-based analyses reveal the presence of 12 heterotypic synonyms in the genus Streptomyces and emended descriptions of Streptomyces bottropensis, Streptomyces celluloﬂavus, Streptomyces fulvissimus, Streptomyces glaucescens, Streptomyces murinus, and Streptomyces variegatus
Authors: Madhaiyan Munusamy , Saravanan Venkatakrishnan Sivaraj , See-Too Wah-Seng
Published: May 2020

Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences of the genus

Streptomyces

showed the presence of six distinguishable clusters, with 100 % sequence similarity values among strains in each cluster; thus they shared almost the same evolutionary distance. This result corroborated well with the outcome of core gene (orthologous gene clusters) based genome phylogeny analysis of 190 genomes including the

Streptomyces

species in those six clusters. These preeminent results led to an investigation of genome-based indices such as digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH), average nucleotide identity (ANI) and average amino acid identity (AAI) for the strains in those six clusters. Certain strains recorded genomic indices well above the threshold values (70 %, 95–96 % and >95 % for dDDH, ANI and AAI, respectively) determined for species affiliation, suggesting only one type strain belongs to described species and the other(s) may need to be reduced in taxa to a later heterotypic synonym. To conclude, the results of comprehensive analyses based on phylogenetic and genomic indices suggest that the following six reclassifications are proposed:

Streptomyces flavovariabilis

as a later heterotypic synonym of

Streptomyces variegatus

;

Streptomyces griseofuscus

as a later heterotypic synonym of

Streptomyces murinus

;

Streptomyces kasugaensis

as a later heterotypic synonym of

Streptomyces celluloflavus

;

Streptomyces luridiscabiei

as a later heterotypic synonym of

Streptomyces fulvissimus

;

Streptomyces pharetrae

as a later heterotypic synonym of

Streptomyces glaucescens

; and

Streptomyces stelliscabiei

as a later heterotypic synonym of

Streptomyces bottropensis

.
The true case fatality of COVID-19: An analytical solution
Authors: Khan Syamantak
Published: May 2020

The exact risk of dying from COVID-19 has remained elusive and a topic of debate. In this study, the observed case fatality rates of 46 different countries are hypothesized to be dependent on their testing rates. An analytical test to this hypothesis suggests that the case fatality rate of COVID-19 could be consistent to a certain degree across all countries and states. The current global fatality rate is estimated to be around 1% and expected to converge between 1-3% when the pandemic ends. This model can be helpful to estimate the true infection rate for individual countries.
COVID 19 in Bangladesh: Assumption of possible infection and death
Authors: Shuvo Sadik Hasan
Published: May 2020

Abstract: It is a painful job to predict the death of people. But sometimes it is important to predict the future and concern the government. A furious future is waiting for Bangladesh.
Objective: Objective of the study is to assume the number of positive case and death till 30th December, 2020 in Bangladesh.
Study design: This study was designed with systematic review and data analysis.
Method: The study was completed by analyzing data available on website. First COVID 19 case in Bangladesh was identified on 8th March. Analyzing the data increasing rate/common ratio of infection and death has been identified. Then this common ratio has been used in the formula of multiplication series. Data of China, Iran, Italy and the USA was also analyzed to assume how the death and case number increased. Social issues of Bangladesh were also analyzed. Considering all these the assumption was made.
Result: It has been assumed that by the 43rd week (on 30th December, 2020) of first identification the total case can be 17024322 and total death can be 86265 by 30 December, 2020. As this is an assumption this can be true, partially true or false. But the base of assumption is strong enough so the possibility of being true or nearly true is higher.
Policy Suggestion: Government should choose properly one between two options. Either government should declare curfew or let people lead normal life. A very weak lock down for a long time does not make any sense.
A computational biomarker of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy from resting-state MEG
Authors: Lopes Marinho A , Krzemiński Dominik , Hamandi Khalid , Singh Krish D. , Masuda Naoki , Terry John R. , Zhang Jiaxiang
Published: May 2020

Objective
Functional networks derived from resting-state scalp EEG from people with idiopathic (genetic) generalized epilepsy (IGE) have been shown to have an inherent higher propensity to generate seizures than those from healthy controls when assessed using the concept of brain network ictogenicity (BNI). Herein we test whether the BNI framework is applicable to resting-state MEG and whether it may achieve higher classification accuracy relative to previous studies using EEG.

Methods
The BNI framework consists in deriving a functional network from apparently normal brain activity, placing a mathematical model of ictogenicity into the network and then computing how often such network generates seizures in silico. We consider data from 26 people with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) and 26 healthy controls.

Results
We find that resting-state MEG functional networks from people with JME are characterized by a higher propensity to generate seizures (i.e. BNI) than those from healthy controls. We found a classification accuracy of 73%.

Conclusions
The BNI framework is applicable to MEG and capable of differentiating people with epilepsy from healthy controls. The observed classification accuracy is similar to previously achieved in scalp EEG.

Significance
The BNI framework may be applied to resting-state MEG to aid in epilepsy diagnosis.
Ischemic Heart Disease and Cognitive Prognosis in the First Year after Stroke
Authors: O'Sullivan Michael J , Wright Paul
Published: May 2020

Importance: Cognitive impairment is the greatest single source of unmet need identified by stroke survivors. Knowledge of the factors that influence cognitive prognosis will lead to better preventive and rehabilitation strategies.
Objective: To identify the factors that influence general cognitive function, memory and executive function in the first year after ischemic stroke.
Design: Single centre longitudinal observational study.
Setting: Hospital stroke service.
Participants: A cohort of 179 patients identified within 7 days of first symptomatic ischaemic stroke were enrolled into a longitudinal cognitive study, STRATEGIC. General cognitive function, episodic memory and executive function were assessed in the first three months and again at one year after stroke. Lesion topography was defined by imaging (n=152) performed in the acute period. Cognitive evaluation was repeated at one year in 141 participants.
Main Outcome Measures: Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score at 1 year. Verbal free recall (Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test) and Digit Symbol Substitution Score provided secondary outcome measures of episodic memory and executive function respectively.
Results: At 50+-19 days after stroke, diabetes mellitus and smoking were associated with MoCA score independent of other risk and demographic factors. Lesion vascular territory was independently associated with memory while white matter lesion burden was associated with executive function. In contrast to other risk factors, ischaemic heart disease was associated with change in cognitive scores and MoCA score at one year but not MoCA score at 3 months. IHD was the only factor significantly associated with change over time. This association was significant independent of other factors.
Conclusions and Relevance: Associations between post-stroke cognition, and age, diabetes, smoking and white matter lesions, are likely to reflect the general effects of these factors on brain structure and function. These risk factors are not associated with change in cognitive function between 3 months and one year. In contrast, pre-existing ischemic heart disease was associated specifically with change in cognition over time. On average, patients with IHD showed decline in MoCA scores between 3 and 12 months while those free of IHD showed improvement. Intervention for IHD, alongside best-care stroke rehabilitation, merits investigation as a strategy to improve cognitive prognosis after stroke.
Mathematical framework to model Covid-19 daily deaths
Authors: Barman Poulami , Deb Nabarun , Mukherjee Sumit
Published: May 2020

The novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) pandemic has caused widespread socio-economic disruption and, as of 04/07/2020, resulted in more than 72,614 confirmed deaths worldwide. Robust prediction of the trajectory of the death incidence curve is helpful for policy decisions during this ongoing crisis. We propose a non-parametric model to fit the number of daily deaths in a region, which hypothesizes that the death incidence curve will have a convex shape in the beginning, a concave shape near the peak, and a convex shape in the final stage of the death incidence curve after the peak. Using this, we performed robust short-term predictions on phases in five countries worldwide and five US states. Our analysis shows while the five states are all at peaks or past their peaks, US as a country is possibly not at peak yet. Our model can be easily fitted on daily death data from any region.
Corticothalamic feedback sculpts visual spatial integration in mouse thalamus
Authors: Born Gregory , Schneider Felix A. , Erisken Sinem , Klein Agne , Lao Chu Lan , Mobarhan Milad H. , Spacek Martin A. , Einevoll Gaute T. , Busse Laura
Published: May 2020

En route from retina to cortex, visual information passes through the dorsolateral geniculate nucleus of the thalamus (dLGN), where extensive corticothalamic (CT) feedback has been suggested to modulate spatial processing. How this modulation arises from direct excitatory and indirect inhibitory CT feedback pathways remains enigmatic. Here we show that in awake mice, retinotopically organized cortical feedback sharpens receptive fields (RFs) and increases surround suppression in the dLGN. Guided by a network model indicating that widespread inhibitory CT feedback is necessary to reproduce these effects, we targeted the visual sector of the thalamic reticular nucleus (visTRN) for recordings. We found that visTRN neurons have large receptive fields, show little surround suppression, and exhibit strong feedback-dependent responses to large stimuli. These features make them an ideal candidate for mediating feedback-enhanced surround suppression in the dLGN. We conclude that cortical feedback sculpts spatial integration in dLGN, likely via recruitment of neurons in visTRN.
Cholinergic Modulation of Hippocampally Mediated Attention and Perception
Authors: Ruiz Nicholas A. , Thieu Monica , Aly Mariam
Published: May 2020

Attention to the relations between visual features modulates hippocampal representations. Moreover, hippocampal damage impairs discrimination of spatial relations. We explore a mechanism by which this might occur: modulation by the acetylcholine system. Acetylcholine enhances afferent input to the hippocampus and suppresses recurrent connections within it. This biases hippocampal processing toward environmental input, and should improve externally-oriented, hippocampally mediated attention and perception. We examined cholinergic modulation on an attention task that recruits the hippocampus. On each trial, participants viewed two images (rooms with paintings). On “similar room” trials, they judged whether the rooms had the same spatial layout from a different perspective. On “similar art” trials, they judged whether the paintings could have been painted by the same artist. On “identical” trials, participants simply had to detect identical paintings or rooms. We hypothesized that cholinergic modulation would improve performance on the similar room task, given past findings that hippocampal representations predicted, and hippocampal damage impaired, behavior on this task. To test this, nicotine cigarette smokers took part in two sessions: one before which they abstained from nicotine for 12 hours, and one before which they ingested nicotine in the past hour. Individual differences in expired breath carbon monoxide levels — a measure of how recently or how much someone smoked — predicted performance improvements on the similar room task. This finding provides novel support for computational models that propose that acetylcholine enhances externally oriented attentional states in the hippocampus.
Maternal health around pregnancy and autism risk: a population-based study.
Authors: Kodesh Arad , Levine Stephen Z , Khachadourian Vahe , Rahman Rayees , Schlessinger Avner , O'Reilly Paul F , Grove Jakob , Schendel Diana , Buxbaum Joseph D , Croen Lisa , Reichenberg Abraham , Sandin Sven , Janecka Magdalena U
Published: May 2020

IMPORTANCE: Many maternal diagnoses in pregnancy have been linked with offspring ASD risk. However, pregnant women receive many other diagnoses, most of which have not been evaluated for an association with offspring ASD.

OBJECTIVE: Systematically test the associations between maternal diagnoses around pregnancy, and ASD risk in offspring, filtering out potential false positives and accounting for correlation between maternal diagnoses.

DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: This case-cohort study included children born in Israel from January 1, 1999, through December 31, 2008, and followed up until January 26, 2015. We used information on all ICD-9 codes received by their mothers during pregnancy and the preceding year. ASD risk in children whose mothers experienced each of those conditions during the exposure period was compared with ASD risk in unexposed children. Data were analyzed from December 1, 2019, through April 30, 2020.

MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURES: Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of ASD risk associated with each maternal ICD-9 code, calculated using Cox proportional hazards regression, adjusted for the confounders (birth year, maternal age, socioeconomic status and number of ICD-9 diagnoses during the exposure period).

RESULTS: The analytic sample consisted of 80,187 individuals (1,132 cases, 79,055 controls; median [interquartile range] age at the end of follow up was 11.2 [8.8-13.6]; 48.8% female). Of 822 ICD-9 codes tested, 148 were recorded in at least 10 of each case and control mothers. Of those, 22 maternal diagnoses were nominally significantly associated with offspring ASD, and 16 of those survived subsequent filtering steps (permutation testing, multiple testing correction, multiple regression). Among those 16 diagnoses, we recorded increased risk of ASD associated with certain metabolic (e.g. hypertension (ICD-9 401); HR=2.74(1.92-3.90), P=2.43E-8), genitourinary (e.g. noninflammatory disorders of cervix (ICD-9 622); HR=1.88(1.38-2.57), P=7.06E-5) and psychiatric (depressive disorder (ICD-9 311); HR=2.11(1.32-3.35), P=1.70E-3) diagnoses. Meanwhile, mothers of children with ASD were less likely to attend prenatal care appointment (ICD-9 V22; HR=0.62 (0.54-0.71), P=1.80E-11).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: We observed an association between ASD and 16 maternal ICD-9 diagnoses, after rigorous filtering out potential false positive associations. Replication in other cohorts and further research to understand the mechanisms underlying the observed associations with ASD are warranted.
Exemplar Scoring Identifies Genetically Separable Phenotypes of Lithium Responsive Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Nunes Abraham , Stone William , Ardau Raffaella , Berghoefer Anne , Bocchetta Alberto , Chillotti Caterina , Deiana Valeria , Degenhardt Franziska , Forstner Andreas J , Menzies Julie S. , Grof Eva , Hajek Tomas , Manchia Mirko , McMahon Francis , Muller-Oerlinghausen Bruno , Nothen Markus M , Pinna Marco , Pisanu Claudia , O'Donovan Claire , Rietschel Marcella D.C. , Rouleau Guy , Schulze Thomas , Severino Giovanni , Slaney Claire M , Squassina Alessio , Suwalska Aleksandra , Turecki Gustavo , Zvolsky Petr , Cervantes Pablo , del Zompo Maria , Grof Paul , Rybakowski Janusz , Tondo Leonardo , Trappenberg Thomas , Alda Martin
Published: May 2020

Predicting lithium response (LiR) in bipolar disorder (BD) could expedite effective pharmacotherapy, but phenotypic heterogeneity of bipolar disorder has complicated the search for genomic markers. We thus sought to determine whether patients with "exemplary phenotypes"---those whose clinical features are reliably predictive of LiR and non-response (LiNR)---are more genetically separable than those with less exemplary phenotypes. We applied machine learning methods to clinical data collected from people with BD (n=1266 across 7 international centres; 34.7% responders) to compute an "exemplar score", which identified a subset of subjects whose clinical phenotypes were most robustly predictive of LiR/LiNR. For subjects whose genotypes were available (n=321), we evaluated whether responders/non-responders with exemplary phenotypes could be more accurately classified based on genetic data than those with non-exemplary phenotypes. We showed that the best LiR exemplars had later illness onset, completely episodic clinical course, absence of rapid cycling and psychosis, and few psychiatric comorbidities. The best exemplars of LiR and LiNR were genetically separable with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.88 (IQR [0.83, 0.98]), compared to 0.66 [0.61, 0.80] (p=0.0032) among the poor exemplars. Variants in the Alzheimer's amyloid secretase pathway, along with G-protein coupled receptor, muscarinic acetylcholine, and histamine H1R signaling pathways were particularly informative predictors. In sum, the most reliably predictive clinical features of LiR and LiNR patients correspond to previously well-characterized phenotypic spectra whose genomic profiles are relatively distinct. Future work must enlarge the sample for genomic classification and include prediction of response to other mood stabilizers.
Modulation of premotor cortex response to sequence motor learning during escitalopram-intake
Authors: Molloy Eóin N. , Mueller Karsten , Beinhölzl Nathalie , Blöchl Maria , Piecha Fabian A. , Pampel André , Steele Christopher J. , Scharrer Ulrike , Zheleva Gergana , Regenthal Ralf , Sehm Bernhard , Nikulin Vadim V. , Möller Harald E. , Villringer Arno , Sacher Julia
Published: May 2020

The contribution of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) to motor learning by inducing motor cortical plasticity remains controversial given diverse findings from positive preclinical data to negative findings in recent clinical trials. To empirically address this translational disparity, we use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in a double-blind, randomized controlled study to assess whether 20 mg escitalopram improves sequence-specific motor performance and modulates cortical motor response in 64 healthy female participants. We found decreased left premotor cortex responses during sequence-specific learning performance comparing single dose and steady escitalopram state. Escitalopram plasma-levels negatively correlated with the premotor cortex response. We did not find evidence in support of improved motor performance after a week of escitalopram-intake. These findings do not support the conclusion that one-week escitalopram intake increases motor performance but could reflect early adaptive plasticity with improved neural processing underlying similar task performance when steady peripheral escitalopram levels are reached.
The potential effect of the African population age structure on COVID-19 mortality
Authors: Mougeni Fabrice , Mangaboula Ance , Lell Bertrand
Published: May 2020

Currently (mid May 2020), most active cases of COVID-19 are found in Europe and North America while it is still in the initial phases in Africa. As COVID-19 mortality occurs mainly in elderly and as Africa has a comparably young population, the death rates should be lower than on other continents.
We calculated standardised mortality ratios (SMR) using age-specific case fatality rates for COVID-19 and the age structure of the population of Africa and of other continents.
Compared to a European or Northern American population, the standardised mortality ratio was only 0.22 and 0.25, respectively, corresponding to reduction of deaths rates to a quarter. Compared to the Asian and Latin American & Caribbean population, the SMR was 0.43 and 0.44, respectively, corresponding to half the death rate for Africa.
It is useful to quantify the isolated effect of the African age-structure on potential COVID-19 mortality for illustrative and communication purposes, keeping in mind the importance of public health measures that have been shown to be effective in reducing cases and deaths. The different aspect of age pyramids of a European and an African population are striking and the potential implications for the pandemic are often discussed but rarely quantified.
Domestic Violence across 30 Countries in Africa
Authors: Ssentongo Anna E , Heilbrunn Emily S. , Ssentongo Paddy , Lin Dan , Yang Yanxu , Onen Justin , hazelton joshua P. , Oh John S
Published: May 2020

Introduction: Domestic violence is a prevalent global health issue that causes incredibly adverse consequences for an individuals physical and psychological health. The rates of physical and sexual violence in developing countries are thought to be some of the highest in the world, where up to 44% of women in Sub-Saharan Africa have experienced domestic violence. However, this has not been explored systematically. We present the first study to estimate the incidence and prevalence of physical and sexual violence across Africa.
Methods: Poisson meta-regression analysis on demographic health survey data from 482,670 women from 442,507 households in 30 countries across Africa. Hotspot analysis using the Getis-ORD Gi approach at the sub-regional level.
Results: Of 482,670 women, those who were divorced or separated were approximately 7 times more likely to experience physical violence and 6 times more likely to experience sexual violence compared to those who were never married (Risk Ratio: RRs:7.35, 95%CI 7.16-7.54 and 5.89, 95%CI 5.75-6.02 respectively). Likewise, wealth index and education level were inversely related to the incidence and prevalence of sexual and physical violence. Hotspots of sexual and physical violence were identified in Congo and surrounding areas.
Conclusions: Interventions should be designed to address the high levels of physical and sexual violence in Congo and surrounding areas, especially in those who are less educated, have lower wealth indices, and are divorced or separated.
Analyzing the Effect of Temperature on the Outspread of COVID-19 around the Globe
Authors: Das Pratik , Manna Suvendu , Basak Piyali
Published: May 2020

The emergence of the pandemic around the world owing to COVID-19 is putting the world into a big threat. Many factors may be involved in the transmission of this deadly disease but not much-supporting data are available. Till now no proper evidences has been reported supporting that temperature changes can affect COVID-19 transmission. This work aims to correlate the effect of temperature with that of Total Cases, Recovery, Death, and Critical cases all around the globe. All the data were collected in April and the maximum and minimum temperature and the average temperature were collected from January to April (i.e the months during which the disease was spread). Regression was conducted to find a non-linear relationship between Temperate and the cases. It was evident that indeed temperature does have a significant effect on the total cases and recovery rate around the globe. It was also evident from the study that the countries with lower temperatures are the hotspots for COVID-19. The Study depicted a non-linear dose-response between temperature and the transmission, indicating the existence of the best temperature for its transmission. This study can indeed put some light on how temperature can be a significant factor in COVID-19 transmission.
Disturbance-induced changes in size-structure promote coral biodiversity
Authors: Álvarez-Noriega Mariana , Madin Joshua S. , Baird Andrew H. , Dornelas Maria , Connolly Sean R
Published: May 2020

Reef-building coral assemblages are typically species-rich, yet the processes maintaining coral biodiversity remain poorly understood. Disturbance has long been believed to promote coral species coexistence by reducing the strength of competition. However, such disturbance-induced effects have since been shown to be insufficient on their own to prevent competitive exclusion. Nevertheless, Modern Coexistence Theory has revealed other mechanisms by which disturbance and, more generally, environmental variation can favour coexistence. Here, we formulate, calibrate, and analyze a size-structured, stochastic coral competition model using field data from two common colony morphologies. These two coral morphologies, tabular and digitate, differ in their size-dependent vulnerability to dislodgement caused by wave action. We confirm that fluctuations in wave action can promote coral species coexistence. However, using a recently proposed partitioning framework, we show that, contrast to previous expectations, temporal variability in strength of competition did not promote coexistence. Instead, coexistence was enabled by differential fluctuations in size-dependent mortality among competitors. Frequent and intense disturbances resulted in monocultures of digitate corals, which are more robust to wave action than tabular corals. In contrast, infrequent or weak disturbances resulted in monocultures of tabular corals. Coexistence was only possible under intermediate levels of disturbance frequency and intensity. Given the sensitivity of coexistence to disturbance frequency and intensity, anthropogenic changes in disturbance regimes are likely to affect biodiversity in coral assemblages in ways that are not predictable from single population models.
Arabidopsiscell wall composition determines disease resistance specificity and fitness
Authors: Molina Antonio , Miedes Eva , Bacete Laura , Rodríguez Tinguaro , Mélida Hugo , Denancé Nicolas , Sánchez-Vallet Andrea , Rivière Marie-Pierre , López Gemma , Freydier Amandine , Barlet Xavier , Pattathil Sivakumar , Hahn Michael , Goffner Deborah
Published: May 2020

Plant cell walls are complex structures subject to dynamic remodeling in response to developmental and environmental cues, and play essential functions in disease resistance responses. We tested the specific contribution of plant cell walls to immunity by determining the susceptibility of a set ofArabidopsiscell wall mutants (cwm) to pathogens with different parasitic styles: a vascular bacterium, a necrotrophic fungus and a biotrophic oomycete. Remarkably, mostcwmmutants tested (31/38; 81.6%) showed alterations in their resistance responses to at least one of these pathogens, in comparison to wild-type plants, illustrating the relevance of wall composition in determining disease resistance phenotypes. We found that the enhanced resistance ofcwmplants to the necrotrophic and vascular pathogens negatively impacted oncwmfitness traits, like biomass and seed yield. Enhanced resistance ofcwmplants is not only mediated by canonical immune pathways, like those modulated by phytohormones or Microbe-Associated Molecular Patterns, which are not de-regulated in allcwmtested. Pectin-enriched wall fractions isolated fromcwmplants triggered immune responses in other plants, suggesting that wall-mediated defensive pathways might contribute tocwmresistance. Cell walls ofcwmplants show a high diversity of composition alterations as revealed by glycome profiling that detect specific wall carbohydrate moieties. Mathematical analysis of glycome profiling data identified correlations between the amounts of specific wall carbohydrate moieties and disease resistance phenotypes ofcwmplants. These data support the relevant and specific function of plant wall composition in plant immune response modulation and in balancing disease resistance/development trade-offs.
A prevalent and culturable microbiota links ecological balance to clinical stability of the human lung after transplantation
Authors: Das Sudip , Bernasconi Eric , Koutsokera Angela , Wurlod Daniel-Adrien , Tripathi Vishwachi , Bonilla-Rosso Germán , Aubert John-David , Derkenne Marie-France , Mercier Louis , Pattaroni Céline , Rapin Alexis , von Garnier Christophe , Marsland Benjamin J. , Engel Philipp , Nicod Laurent P.
Published: May 2020

There is accumulating evidence that the lower airway microbiota impacts lung health. However, the link between microbial community composition and lung homeostasis remains elusive. We combined amplicon sequencing and culturomics to characterize the viable bacterial community in 234 longitudinal bronchoalveolar lavage samples from 64 lung transplant recipients and established links to viral loads, host gene expression, lung function, and transplant health. We find that the lung microbiota post-transplant can be categorized into four distinct compositional states, ‘pneumotypes’. The predominant ‘balanced’ pneumotype was characterized by a diverse bacterial community with moderate viral loads, and host gene expression profiles suggesting immune tolerance. The other three pneumotypes were characterized by being either microbiota-depleted, or dominated by potential pathogens, and were linked to increased immune activity, lower respiratory function, and increased risks of infection and rejection. Collectively, our findings establish a link between the lung microbial ecosytem, human lung function, and clinical stability post-transplant.

Graphical abstract
Introducing undergraduate students to reverse genetics in the laboratory: a case study of a project-oriented learning (POL) system in Taishan Medical University, China
Authors: Yu Lijuan , Zhang Henglong , Zhai Jing
Published: May 2020

Biochemistry and molecular biology have become increasingly reliant on experimental experience, because they are difficult subjects to understand from a theoretical approach. The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program was established by the China Ministry of Education to foster the scientific interests and experiences of undergraduate students. Here, we reported on an innovative project-oriented learning (POL) system directed by Taishan Medical University (Named Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Sciences since February 2019) China, which fused innovative project with biochemical course concepts. This study takes reverse genetics, which is considered to be difficult to understand through course-only learning, as an example. To help undergraduate students understand the principle of reverse genetics, the project involved producing hepatitis C virusin vitro. Furthermore, to give them a comprehensive scientific experience based on their knowledge from textbook, extensive mentorship was provided through the project, including theoretical guidance and technical support for experiments. Assessment showed a comprehensive improvement after participating in these programs. In conclusion, this POL system was a good model that enabled undergraduates to learn more during courses. It also provided a chance to experience hands-on sciences, which might motivate them to pursue a career in science.