bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Systematic Review of Osteochondral Allograft Transplant Immunology: How We Can Further Optimize Outcomes
Authors: Luk Josephine , Stoker Aaron M. , Teixeiro Emma , Kuroki Keiichi , Schreiner Anna J. , Stannard James P. , Wissman Robert , Cook James L.
Published: January 2021

Despite the growing success for osteochondral allograft (OCA) transplantation in treating large articular cartilage lesions in multiple joints, associated revision and failure rates are still higher than desired. While immunorejection responses have not been documented, the effects of the host's immune responses on OCA transplantation failures have not been thoroughly characterized. The objective of this study was to systematically review clinically relevant peer-reviewed evidence pertaining to the immunology of OCAs to elucidate theragnostic strategies for improving functional graft survival and outcomes for patients undergoing OCA transplantation. This systematic review of Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, MEDLINE, PubMed, and EMBASE suggests that host immune responses play key roles in incorporation and functional survival of OCA transplants. OCA rejection has not been reported; however, graft integration through creeping substitution is reliant on host immune responses. Prolonged inflammation, diminished osteogenic potential for healing and incorporation, and relative bioburden are mechanisms that may be influenced by the immune system and contribute to undesirable outcomes after OCA transplantation. Based on the safety and efficacy of OCA transplantation and its associated benefits to a large and growing patient population, basic, preclinical, and clinical osteoimmunological studies on OCA transplantation that comprehensively assess and correlate cellular, molecular, histologic, biomechanical, biomarkers, diagnostic imaging, arthroscopic, functional, and patient-reported outcome measures are of high interest and importance.
Validity of In-Home Teleneuropsychological Testing in the Wake of COVID-19
Authors: Parks Adam C , Davis Jensen , Spresser Carrie D , Stroescu Ioan , Ecklund-Johnson Eric
Published: January 2021

Objective

Teleneuropsychology (TNP) has been shown to be a valid assessment method compared with in-person neuropsychological evaluations. Interest in delivering TNP directly to patients’ homes has arisen in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, prior research has typically involved patients tested in clinical settings, and the validity of in-home TNP testing has not yet been established. The present study aims to explore the validity and clinical utility of in-home TNP testing in a mixed clinical sample in the wake of COVID-19.

Methods

Test profiles for 111 in-home TNP patients were retrospectively compared with 120 patients who completed in-person evaluations. The TNP test battery consisted of tests measuring attention/processing speed, verbal memory, naming, verbal fluency, and visuoconstruction. TNP scores of cognitively normal (CN) patients were compared with patients with neurocognitive disorders (NCD), and score profiles were examined among suspected diagnostic groups of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and vascular disease (VaD).

Results

TNP test scores did not significantly differ from in-person testing across all tests except the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised Discrimination Index. Within the TNP group, significant differences between the CN and NCD groups were found for all tests, and the memory and semantic fluency tests yielded large effect sizes (d ≥ 0.8). Score profiles among the AD, PD, and VaD groups were explored.

Conclusions

These findings support the validity of in-home TNP testing compared with in-person neuropsychological testing. Practice considerations, limitations, and future directions are discussed.
Risk of Venous Thromboembolism Following Rhinoplasty
Authors: Okland Tyler S , Wadhwa Harsh , Patel Priyesh N , Most Sam P
Published: January 2021

Background

Although prior studies have identified a low risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in rhinoplasty, these studies are limited by small samples and associated risk factors remain unknown.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to discern the incidence of VTE following rhinoplasty in a large patient population through analysis of a nationwide insurance claims database.

Methods

This study involved a population-based retrospective analysis of insurance claims made by patients who underwent rhinoplasty between 2007 and 2016. Established risk factors for VTE, demographic data, procedural details, and absolute incidence of VTE were collected.

Results

We identified a total of 55,287 patients who underwent rhinoplasty from 2007 to 2016. Mean age [standard error of the mean] was 38.74 [0.06] years (range, 18-74 years), and 54% were female. The overall incidence of VTE was 111, of which 70 were DVT and 41 were PE. From multivariate regression analysis, previous VTE (odds ratio [OR], 52.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 35.2-78.6; P < 0.0001), peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC)/central line placement (OR, 19.6; 95% CI, 9.8-153; P < 0.05), rib graft (OR, 4.6; 95% CI, 2.3-8.5; P < 0.0001), age 41 to 60 years (OR, 2.65; 95% CI, 1.7-4.3; P < 0.01), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.0-5.5; P < 0.05), and age 61 to 74 years (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.2-4.8; P < 0.05) were associated with an increased risk of VTE.

Conclusions

We demonstrate a low overall incidence of VTE in rhinoplasty patients. Previous VTE, PICC/central line, advancing age, IBD, and intraoperative rib graft harvest were most strongly associated with VTE in this population cohort.

Level of Evidence: 4
Health determinants and risk factors for coronary artery disease among older Filipinos in rural communities
Authors: Cacciata Marysol C , Alvarado Irma , Jose Mini M , Evangelista Lorraine S
Published: January 2021

Aims

Lifestyle modifications and healthy behavioural regimens are critical in preventing coronary artery disease (CAD) and other important health conditions. Little is known about the risk for CAD and health behaviour among older adults (>60 years) living in rural areas in the Philippines. Compare risk profiles and health behaviours of Filipinos at low- vs. moderate-to-high-risk for CAD and examine the association between demographic variables, risk profiles, and health behaviours.

Methods and results

A comparative, cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenient sample of 427 Filipinos (≥60 years old). Data on sociodemographic characteristics, risk profiles, and health behaviours (e.g. diet, physical activity, smoking status, and alcohol use) were collected. Ten-year CAD risk was estimated using the non-laboratory-based Framingham algorithm. Of the 427 participants [mean age was 69.2 ± 6.7 years, primarily women (65%), married (52.8%)], 319 (75%) were at low risk, and 108 (25%) were at moderate-to-high-risk for CAD. Filipinos at moderate to high risk were more likely to have cardiometabolic diseases (e.g. hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes, and obesity, all P's < 0.001). Health behaviours did not differ between the two groups except for the consumption of ≥5 servings of fruit, higher in the low-risk group.

Conclusion

Data showed highly consistent and convergent evidence among older Filipinos living in rural areas at high risk for CAD and other health conditions. These findings underscore the need for culturally sensitive guidance to improve CAD outcomes for moderate to high-risk older adults living in rural areas, including education and counselling on risk and risk-reducing strategies.
Deep learning compound trend prediction model for hydraulic turbine time series
Authors: Xiong Lei , Liu Jiajun , Song Bo , Dang Jian , Yang Feng , Lin Haokun
Published: January 2021

As a clean energy with mature technology, hydropower has been widely applied in industry. The hydraulic turbine unit plays an important role in hydropower station. Since the fault of turbine unit will affect the normal operation of the whole hydropower station, this paper proposes a universal, fast and memory-efficient method trend for time-series prediction of hydraulic turbines. The proposed method adopts the expressive power of deep neural networks and the time characteristics of sequence-to-sequence structure (parallel convolution and recurrent neural network) to make time-series prediction. It also uses convolutional quantile loss and memory network to predict future extreme events. The experimental results show that the proposed method is fast, robust and accurate. It can reduce at least 34% in mean square error and 33% in convergence speed compared with the existing methods.
Probing the existence of a rich galaxy overdensity at z = 5.2
Authors: Calvi Rosa , Dannerbauer Helmut , Arrabal Haro Pablo , Rodríguez Espinosa José M , Muñoz-Tuñón Casiana , Pérez González Pablo G , Geier Stefan
Published: January 2021

We report the results of a pilot spectroscopic program of a region at z = 5.2 in the GOODS-N field containing an overdensity of galaxies around the well-known submillimetre galaxy (SMG) HDF850.1. We have selected candidate cluster members from the optical 25 medium-band photometric catalogue of the project SHARDS (Survey for High-z Absorption Red and Dead Sources). 17 rest-frame ultraviolet (UV)-selected galaxies (LAEs and LBGs) with 5.15 < zphot < 5.27, candidates to be physically associated with the overdensity, have been observed with the instrument OSIRIS at the GranTeCan telescope. 13 out of these 17 (76 per cent) sources have secure spectroscopic confirmations via the Ly α line at the redshift of the galaxy protocluster PCl−HDF850.1, demonstrating the high reliability of our photometric redshift method. 10 out of 13 sources are newly confirmed members. Thus, we increase the number of confirmed members in this overdensity from 13 to 23 objects. In order to fully characterize this structure we combined our data set with the sample from the literature. Beside the SMG HDF850.1, none of the 23 spectroscopically confirmed members are bright in the far-infrared/sub-mm wavelength regime (SFRIR < few hundred M⊙ yr−1). The clustering analysis of the whole sample of 23 confirmed members reveals four distinct components in physical space in different evolutionary states, within Δz < 0.04 from the central region hosting SMG HDF850.1. The halo mass of the whole structure at z = 5.2, estimated by a variety of methods, range between 2 and $8\times 10^{12}\, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }$. The comparison with literature suggests a large-scale assembly comparable to the formation of a central Virgo-like cluster at z = 0 with several satellite components which will possibly be incorporated in a single halo if the protocluster is the progenitor of a more massive Coma-like cluster ($\gt 10^{15}\, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }$).
Responsibility in Cases of Structural and Personal Complicity: A Phenomenological Analysis
Authors: Knowles Charlotte
Published: January 2021

In cases of complicity in one’s own unfreedom and in structural injustice, it initially appears that agents are only vicariously responsible for their complicity because of the roles circumstantial and constitutive luck play in bringing about their complicity. By drawing on work from the phenomenological tradition, this paper rejects this conclusion and argues for a new responsive sense of agency and responsibility in cases of complicity. Highlighting the explanatory role of stubbornness in cases of complicity, it is argued that although agents may only be vicariously responsible for becoming complicit, they can be held more directly responsible for entrenching their complicity. The complicit agent is responsible for their complicity to the extent that they fail to take responsibility for it.
Getting to Count
Authors: Hisama Ellie M
Published: January 2021

The Society for Music Theory (SMT) remains a starkly male-identified society. According to the SMT’s 2019 annual report on demographics of its membership, 33% of SMT members self-identified as women—a figure that has not changed significantly over the last five years—in comparison to 51.2% of American Musicological Society members in 2017 and 52.2% of Society for Ethnomusicology members in 2014, the most recent data available. The NORC Survey of Earned Doctorates indicates that in 2018, only 20% of U.S. Ph.D.s in music theory and composition were women, a decrease from 26.4% of the period 2013–16; the previous five-year period was 18.9%. The paucity of women, trans, and non-binary gender music theorists over many decades should be a huge concern to the Society. Demographic diversity is not only an issue of equity, but also yields innovation in research that enriches the field. Drawing on insights about disciplinary constructions of gender and race by women scholars and scholars of color in classics and philosophy, experiences shared by women in music theory, an interview I conducted with composer and theorist Milton Babbitt, and the archive of music theorist and pianist Patricia Carpenter, this article proposes that we rethink what gets to count as music theory, become aware of discriminatory attitudes and behavior towards those who are not men, white, or heterosexual in the field, and take action by reshaping the field into one that supports those who wish to be part of it.
The 2021 Nucleic Acids Research database issue and the online molecular biology database collection
Authors: Rigden Daniel J , Fernández Xosé M
Published: January 2021

The 2021 Nucleic Acids Research database Issue contains 189 papers spanning a wide range of biological fields and investigation. It includes 89 papers reporting on new databases and 90 covering recent changes to resources previously published in the Issue. A further ten are updates on databases most recently published elsewhere. Seven new databases focus on COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 and many others offer resources for studying the virus. Major returning nucleic acid databases include NONCODE, Rfam and RNAcentral. Protein family and domain databases include COG, Pfam, SMART and Panther. Protein structures are covered by RCSB PDB and dispersed proteins by PED and MobiDB. In metabolism and signalling, STRING, KEGG and WikiPathways are featured, along with returning KLIFS and new DKK and KinaseMD, all focused on kinases. IMG/M and IMG/VR update in the microbial and viral genome resources section, while human and model organism genomics resources include Flybase, Ensembl and UCSC Genome Browser. Cancer studies are covered by updates from canSAR and PINA, as well as newcomers CNCdatabase and Oncovar for cancer drivers. Plant comparative genomics is catered for by updates from Gramene and GreenPhylDB. The entire Database Issue is freely available online on the Nucleic Acids Research website (https://academic.oup.com/nar). The NAR online Molecular Biology Database Collection has been substantially updated, revisiting nearly 1000 entries, adding 90 new resources and eliminating 86 obsolete databases, bringing the current total to 1641 databases. It is available at https://www.oxfordjournals.org/nar/database/c/.
BMI changes in pediatric type 1 narcolepsy under sodium oxybate treatment
Authors: Ponziani Virginia , Pizza Fabio , Zenesini Corrado , Vignatelli Luca , Pession Andrea , Plazzi Giuseppe
Published: January 2021

Pediatric type 1 narcolepsy (NT1) is often associated with overweight and obesity. Sodium oxybate (SO), approved for the treatment of narcolepsy with cataplexy from the age of 7 years old in the United States, has been associated with weight loss, although longitudinal pediatric studies are lacking. We report a retrospective cohort of 129 consecutive patients with a 4-year follow-up, to analyze the impact of different pharmacological treatments on body mass index (BMI) z-score. At baseline, the prevalence of obesity and overweight was 26.4% (34/129) and 29.5% (38/129), respectively. Patients were divided into three groups: children treated with SO alone (group 1), with SO-combined therapy (group 2), and without SO (group 3). At the end of the first year of follow-up, group 1 and group 2 showed a significant BMI z-score reduction compared to baseline: from 1.2 ± 1.1 to 0.4 ± 1.4 for group 1 (p < 0.001), and from 1.4 ± 1.1 to 1 ± 1.3 for group 2 (p = 0.002), independently from baseline clinical features. In the second year, only group 2 experienced a further and significant BMI z-score decrease (from 1.0 ± 1.2 to 0.6 ± 1.2, p = 0.037). No further significant BMI z-score changes were observed in SO-treated patients in the following years. Instead, children treated without SO developed a significant weight increase between the second and third year of therapy (BMI z-score from 0.3 ± 0.9 to 0.5 ± 0.9). In conclusion, SO treatment in pediatric NT1 is associated with a favorable weight reduction in the first year of treatment.
Multi-seasonal water-stress memory versus temperature-driven dynamic structural changes in grapevine
Authors: Shtein Ilana , Wolberg Shunamit , Munitz Sarel , Zait Yotam , Rosenzweig Tovit , Grünzweig José M , Ohana-Levi Noa , Netzer Yishai
Published: January 2021

Perennial plants perpetually adapt to environmental changes in complex and yet insufficiently understood manner. We aimed to separate the intra-seasonal temperature effects on structure and function from perennial and annual water stress effects. This study focused on grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’) petioles, which being a continuously produced organ, represent the current status of the plant. Field-grown mature plants subjected to multi-annual irrigation treatments (severe water stress, mild water stress and non-stressed) throughout the growing season were compared with greenhouse-grown plants under three temperature regimes (22, 28 and 34 °C). Physiological and functional anatomy parameters were measured. A generalized additive model (GAM) based on meteorological and lysimeter-based field data was applied to determine the relative influence of various meteorological parameters on evapotranspiration (ETc) during the growing season in the field experiment.

At the beginning of the growing season, in May, petioles in the severe stress treatment showed a stress-related structure (decreased length, safer hydraulic structure and increased lignification), though having high values of stem water potential (SWP). As the season progressed and temperatures increased, all water availability treatments petioles showed similar changes, and at the end of season, in August, were structurally very similar. Those changes were independent of SWP and were comparable to high temperature-induced changes in the greenhouse. In contrast, stems hydraulic structure was strongly influenced by water availability. Regression analyses indicated a relationship between petioles xylem structure and stomatal conductance (gs), whereas gs (but not SWP) was temperature-dependent. The GAM showed that ETc was mainly dependent on temperature.

Our results indicate a perennial water-stress memory response, influencing the petiole structure at the beginning of the following season. Intra-seasonally, the petiole's structure becomes independent of water status, whereas temperature drives the structural changes. Thus, ongoing climate change might disrupt plant performance by purely temperature-induced effects.
MACULAR SENSITIVITY IN THE AREA OF INTERNAL LIMITING MEMBRANE PEELING IN EYES AFTER PARS PLANA VITRECTOMY WITH THE TEMPORAL INVERTED INTERNAL LIMITING MEMBRANE FLAP TECHNIQUE FOR A FULL-THICKNESS MACULAR HOLE
Authors: Kaluzny Jakub J. , Zabel Przemysław , Kaluzna Martyna , Lamkowski Aleksander , Jaworski Damian , Woznicki Krzysztof , Zabel Katarzyna
Published: January 2021

Purpose:

To examine the relationship between retinal sensitivity and the area of internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling during pars plana vitrectomy for a full-thickness macular hole.

Methods:

Twenty-four eyes a minimum of 6 months after temporal inverted flap pars plana vitrectomy for a full-thickness macular hole were included in the study. En face spectral-domain optical coherence tomography images were used to assess margins of the peeled ILM area. Microperimetry was performed to examine retinal sensitivity within the central 10°. Areas of peeled ILM in en face optical coherence tomography images were correlated with the average sensitivity threshold. Retinal sensitivities at the location of each measurement point were compared with structural abnormalities observed in en face spectral-domain optical coherence tomography images.

Results:

The mean retinal sensitivity in the area of ILM removal was significantly lower compared with the area of preserved ILM (24.29 ± 3.96 dB vs. 26.19 ± 2.10 dB, P < 0.0001, respectively). The peeled ILM area showed a negative correlation with the average sensitivity threshold (r = −0.56, P < 0.01).

Conclusion:

A larger area of ILM peeling during temporal inverted flap pars plana vitrectomy for a full-thickness macular hole is related to lower retinal sensitivity in the central macula.
THE INCIDENCE, CHARACTERISTICS, MANAGEMENT, PROGNOSIS, AND CLASSIFICATION OF BREAKTHROUGH VITREOUS HEMORRHAGE SECONDARY TO POLYPOIDAL CHOROIDAL VASCULOPATHY
Authors: Zhao Xin-Yu , Luo Ming-Yue , Meng Li-Hui , Zhang Wen-Fei , Li Bing , Wang Er-Qian , Liu Sheng-Zhi , Yu Wei-Hong , Chen You-Xin
Published: January 2021

Purpose:

To describe breakthrough vitreous hemorrhage secondary to polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).

Methods:

Patients with the diagnosis of PCV from January 2005 to March 2020 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital were retrospectively reviewed, cases with breakthrough vitreous hemorrhage were analyzed. Subgroup analysis was conducted regarding pachychoroid PCV and nonpachychoroid PCV.

Results:

Among 722 PCV patients (834 eyes), 103 eyes with breakthrough vitreous hemorrhage (12.4%) were included. Pars plana vitrectomy and proper further interventions could significantly improve the best-corrected visual acuity from logMAR 2.15 ± 0.48 (Snellen 20/2825) to 1.65 ± 0.67 (20/893). Hemorrhagic retinal detachment, baseline central macular thickness, and best-corrected visual acuity were factors associated with final best-corrected visual acuity (P < 0.05). In the pachychoroid PCV group, patients were younger, all had hemorrhagic pigment epithelial detachment, with a higher prevalence of choroidal vascular hyperpermeability and hemorrhagic retinal detachment, thicker subfoveal choroidal thickness, and thinner central macular thickness; besides, the initial pars plana vitrectomy were more complicated, more additional surgeries had to be performed. More eyes in the nonpachychoroid PCV group had received anti–vascular endothelial growth factor or photodynamic therapy, mostly fibrovascular pigment epithelial detachment, the best-corrected visual acuity and the status of the fellow eye were significantly worse. For the final ocular status, more eyes in nonpachychoroid PCV group were taking anti–vascular endothelial growth factor monotherapy, whereas more eyes in pachychoroid PCV group were stable. The choroidal parameters of these two groups were all significantly different.

Conclusion:

Breakthrough vitreous hemorrhage is a troublesome complication of PCV. Pars plana vitrectomy and additional interventions are required for better prognosis. Vitreous hemorrhage secondary to pachychoroid PCV or nonpachychoroid PCV have different characteristics and prognosis.
Cervical Cancer Prevention: Screening Among Undocumented Hispanic Women Compared With Documented Hispanic Women
Authors: Mehta Naaman , Raker Christina , Robison Katina
Published: January 2021

Objective

This study compared cervical cancer knowledge, screening practices, and barriers to screening among undocumented and documented Hispanic women.

Materials and Methods

An anonymous cross-sectional survey was administered to self-identifying Hispanic women older than 21 years at community-based clinics and health care–focused community sites in Rhode Island. The survey included demographics, immigration status, questions related to cervical cancer knowledge, screening practices, and barriers to screening. Participants were stratified based on their immigration status. Categorical variables were compared by χ2 or Fisher exact test. Knowledge scores and the number of barriers were compared by t test and Wilcoxon rank sum test, respectively. p values of less than .05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

Seventy-three undocumented women and 70 documented women were enrolled. Undocumented women had a significantly lower mean cervical cancer knowledge score (3.53, SD =1.97) compared with documented women (4.43, SD = 2.04; p = .0085) and also experienced more barriers to having cervical cytology or a human papillomavirus test (p = .001). Eighty-eight percent of the undocumented women and 47% of the documented women did not have health insurance (p < .0001). Sixty-two percent of the undocumented women felt that their lack of documentation was a barrier to cervical cancer screening. Fifty percent of the undocumented and 47% of the documented women had never heard of the human papillomavirus vaccine.

Conclusions

Undocumented women have significantly lower mean cervical cancer knowledge scores compared with documented women. A lack of legal documentation is a significant barrier to cervical cancer screening among Hispanic women. Challenges inherent to being undocumented may contribute to women's lower knowledge scores and more pronounced barriers.
Lacrimal scintigraphy BNMS Guidelines
Authors: Costa Ines M. , Pereira Luisa R. , Jessop Maryam , Shawgi Mohamed , James Jackie M. , Dizdarevic Sabina ,   on behalf of the British Nuclear Medicine Society Professional Standards committee (PSC)
Published: January 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this guideline is to assist specialists in Nuclear Medicine and Radionuclide Radiology in recommending, performing, interpreting and reporting the results of lacrimal scintigraphy (also known as Dacroscintigraphy). This guideline will assist individual departments to formulate their own local protocols. This does not aim to be prescriptive regarding technical aspects of individual camera acquisitions, which need to be developed in conjunction with the local experts in medical physics. There are numerous radiological techniques to assess the physiology of the lacrimal system. This guideline will describe the application of a drop of radiotracer into each eye and consecutive imaging to demonstrate the level of impaired drainage, with the possibility of quantifying such impairment. This guideline is a recent and updated version of a previously published guideline on the British Nuclear Medicine Society website in 2018 [1].
Comparison of the diagnostic utility of 99mTc-PSMA scintigraphy versus 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT in the detection of metastatic prostate cancer and dosimetry analysis: a gamma-camera-based alternate prostate-specific membrane antigen imaging modality
Authors: Singh Baljinder , Sharma Sarika , Bansal Parul , Hooda Monika , Singh Harmandeep , Parihar Ashwin Singh , Kumar Ajay , Watts Ankit , Mohan Ravi , Singh Shrawan K.
Published: January 2021

Objective

The present study was performed for head-to-head comparison between 68Ga-prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET/computed tomography (CT) and 99mTc-PSMA whole-body and regional single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/CT for the detection of prostate cancer metastases.

Methods

Ten patients with metastatic prostate cancer underwent 99mTc-PSMA whole-body scan after intravenous injection of 230–330 MBq 99mTc-PSMA. Anterior and posterior whole-body images were acquired at 10 min, 2, 4 and/or 5/6 h post-injection. Additional SPECT/CT images were acquired for the involved sites, where planar images did not clearly identify the metastatic sites. All patients also underwent whole-body 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT and the results between the two techniques were compared for the detection of the metastatic lesions. Dosimetry analysis of the 99mTc-PSMA studies was performed using the MIRD-OLINDA approach.

Results

68Ga-PSMA PET/CT detected lesions in all 10 patients, whereas 99mTc-PSMA imaging detected lesions in 9/10 patients. 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT imaging identified a total of 112 PSMA avid metastatic lesions compared to 57 (51%) lesions on 99mTc-PSMA imaging. Eighteen out of 57 lesions were detected only on delayed 99mTc-PSMA imaging at 4 h and/or 6 h. The regional 99mTc-PSMA SPECT detected 51/83 (61.0%) lesions seen on 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT. The dosimetry results demonstrated that 99mTc-PSMA provided organs’ radiation absorbed/effective doses comparable with 99mTc-PSMA imaging.

Conclusion

Whole-body 99mTc-PSMA combined with regional SPECT/CT could be a potential alternative to 68Ga-PSMA PET for the detection of the advanced stage metastatic prostate cancer and for response evaluation to PSMA-based targeted therapies.
A trans-ancestry genome-wide association study of unexplained chronic ALT elevation as a proxy for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease with histological and radiological validation
Authors: Vujkovic Marijana , Ramdas Shweta , Lorenz Kimberly M. , Guo Xiuqing , Darlay Rebecca , Cordell Heather J. , He Jing , Gindin Yevgeniy , Chung Chuhan , Meyers Rob P , Schneider Carolin V. , Park Joseph , Lee Kyung M. , Serper Marina , Carr Rotonya M. , Kaplan David E. , Haas Mary E. , MacLean Matthew T. , Witschey Walter R. , Zhu Xiang , Tcheandjieu Catherine , Kember Rachel L. , Kranzler Henry R. , Verma Anurag , Giri Ayush , Klarin Derek M. , Sun Yan V. , Huang Jie , Huffman Jennifer , Creasy Kate Townsend , Hand Nicholas J. , Liu Ching-Ti , Long Michelle T. , Yao Jie , Budoff Matthew , Tan Jingyi , Li Xiaohui , Lin Henry J. , Chen Yii-Der Ida , Taylor Kent D. , Chang Ruey-Kang , Krauss Ronald M. , Vilarinho Silvia , Brancale Joseph , Nielsen Jonas B. , Locke Adam E. , Jones Marcus B. , Verweij Niek , Baras Aris , Reddy K. Rajender , Neuschwander-Tetri Brent A. , Schwimmer Jeffrey B. , Sanyal Arun J. , Chalasani Naga , Ryan Katherine A. , Mitchell Braxton D. , Gill Dipender , Wells Andrew D. , Manduchi Elisabetta , Saiman Yedidya , Mahmud Nadim , Miller Donald R. , Reaven Peter D. , Phillips Lawrence S. , Muralidhar Sumitra , DuVall Scott L. , Lee Jennifer S. , Assimes Themistocles L. , Pyarajan Saiju , Cho Kelly , Edwards Todd L. , Damrauer Scott M. , Wilson Peter W. , Gaziano J. Michael , O’Donnell Christopher J. , Khera Amit V. , Grant Struan F.A. , Brown Christopher D. , Tsao Philip S. , Saleheen Danish , Lotta Luca A. , Bastarache Lisa , Anstee Quentin M. , Daly Ann K. , Meigs James B. , Rotter Jerome I. , Lynch Julie A. ,   Regeneron Genetics Center, DiscovEHR Collaboration, EPoS Consortium Investigators, VA Million Veteran Program, Rader Daniel J. , Voight Benjamin F. , Chang Kyong-Mi
Published: January 2021

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a growing cause of chronic liver disease. Using a proxy NAFLD definition of chronic alanine aminotransferase elevation (cALT) without other liver diseases, we performed a trans-ancestry genome-wide association study in the Million Veteran Program including 90,408 cALT cases and 128,187 controls. In the Discovery stage, seventy-seven loci exceeded genome-wide significance – including 25 without prior NAFLD or ALT associations – with one additional locus identified in European-American-only and two in African-American-only analyses (P<5×10-8). External replication in cohorts with NAFLD defined by histology (7,397 cases, 56,785 controls) or liver fat extracted from radiologic imaging (n=44,289) validated 17 SNPs (P<6.5×10-4) of which 9 were novel (TRIB1,PPARG,MTTP,SERPINA1,FTO,IL1RN,COBLL1,APOH, andIFI30). Pleiotropy analysis showed that 61 of 77 trans-ancestry and all 17 validated SNPs were jointly associated with metabolic and/or inflammatory traits, revealing a complex model of genetic architecture. Our approach integrating cALT, histology and imaging reveals new insights into genetic liability to NAFLD.
Number of tests required to flatten the curve of coronavirus disease-2019
Authors: Hwang Seogwon , Kim Jong-Hoon , Choe Young June , Oh Dong-hyun
Published: January 2021

We developed a mathematical model to quantify the number of tests required to stop the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Our model analyses performed using the data from the U.S. suggest that the infection coefficient increases by approximately 47% upon relaxing the lockdown policy. To offset the effect of lockdown relaxation, the number of tests should increase by 2.25 times, corresponding to approximately 280,000–360,000 tests per day in April 2020.
Cervical cancer screening uptake in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yimer Nigus Bililign , Mohammed Mohammed Akibu , Solomon Kalkidan , Tadese Mesfin , Grutzmacher Stephanie , Meikena Henok Kumsa , Alemnew Birhan , Sharew Nigussie Tadesse , Habtewold Tesfa Dejenie
Published: January 2021

Background

Cervical cancer screening and prevention programs have been given considerable attention in high-income countries, while only receiving minimal effort in many African countries. This meta-analytic review aimed to estimate the pooled uptake of cervical cancer screening uptake and identify its predictors in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods

PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, African Journals Online, Web of Science and SCOPUS electronic databases were searched. All observational studies conducted in Sub-Saharan Africa and published in English language from January 2000 to 2019 were included. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was applied to examine methodological quality of the studies. Inverse variance-weighted random-effects model meta-analysis was done to estimate the pooled uptake and odds ratio of predictors with 95% confidence interval. I2 test statistic was used to check between-study heterogeneity, and funnel plot and Egger’s regression statistical test were used to check publication bias. To examine the source of heterogeneity, subgroup analysis based on sample size, publication year and geographic distribution of the studies was carried out.

Results

Of 3,537 studies identified, 29 studies were included with 36,374 women. The uptake of cervical cancer screening in Sub-Saharan Africa was 12.87% (95% CI: 10.20, 15.54; I2= 98.5%). Meta-analysis of seven studies showed that knowledge about cervical cancer increased screening uptake by nearly 5-folds (OR: 4.81; 95% CI: 3.06, 7.54). Other predictors include educational status, age, HIV status, contraceptive use, perceived susceptibility, and awareness about screening locations.

Conclusion

Cervical screening uptake is low in Sub-Saharan Africa and influenced by several factors. Health outreach and promotion targeting identified predictors are needed to increase uptake of screening service in the region.s

Protocol registration

CRD42017079375
Non-medical COVID-19-related personal impact in medical ecological perspective: A global multileveled, mixed method study
Authors: Dye Timothy , Levandowski Brooke , Siddiqi Shazia , Ramos José Pérez , Li Dongmei , Sharma Saloni , Muir Erin , Wiltse Sophia , Royzer Rebecca , Panko Tiffany , Hall Wyatte , Barbosu Monica , Irvine Carrie , Pressman Eva
Published: January 2021

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to widespread public health measures to reduce transmission, morbidity, and mortality attributed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. While much research and focus surrounds COVID-19 vaccine development, testing, and supportive management, little is known about the determinants of non-medical, personal impact of COVID-19 prevention policies. We aimed to understand determinants of non-medical COVID-19 impact and to account for its multileveled, intersectional nature of associations.

Methods

This cross-sectional, multi-level, convergent mixed-methods study assessed a range of beliefs, practices, and experiences relating to COVID-19. We recruited a global sample (n=7,411) using both Facebook and Amazon mTURK platforms. We constructed a novel data-driven non-medical COVID-19 Impact Score and four subcomponents (“Personal Action,” “Supply-related,” “Cancellations,” and “Livelihood” impacts). We used generalized estimating equation models with identity link functions to determine concomitant association of individual, household, and country-level variables on the impact scores. We also classified 20,015 qualitative excerpts from 6859 respondents using an 80-code codebook.

Results

Total and component impact scores varied significantly by region with Asia, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean observing the highest impact scores. Multilevel modeling indicated that individual-level sociocultural variables accounted for much of this variation with COVID-related worry, knowledge, struggles in accessing food and supplies, and worsening mental health most strongly associated with non-medical impact. Family responsibilities, personal COVID medical experience, and health locus of control – in addition to country-level variables reflecting social and health challenge – were also significantly and independently associated with non-medical impact.

Discussion

Non-medical personal impact of COVID-19 affects most people internationally, largely in response to shutdowns, implementing prevention requirements, and through economic consequences. In the context where most of the world’s population does not have direct medical experience with COVID-19, this phenomena of non-medical impact is profound, and likely impacts sustainability of public health interventions aimed at containing COVID-19.
Heart Rate n-Variability (HRnV) Measures for Prediction of Mortality in Sepsis Patients Presenting at the Emergency Department
Authors: Liu Nan , Chee Marcel Lucas , Qi Foo Mabel Zhi , Pong Jeremy Zhenwen , Guo Dagang , Koh Zhi Xiong , Wah Ho Andrew Fu , Niu Chenglin , Chong Shu-Ling , Hock Ong Marcus Eng
Published: January 2021

Background

Sepsis is a potentially life threatening condition that requires prompt recognition and treatment for optimal outcomes. There is little consensus on an objective way to assess for sepsis severity and risk for mortality. In recent years, heart rate variability (HRV), a measure of the cardiac autonomic regulation derived from short electrocardiogram tracings, has been found to correlate with sepsis mortality, and its use as a prognostic variable and for risk stratification has been promising. In this paper, we present using novel heart rate n-variability (HRnV) measures for sepsis mortality risk prediction and compare against current mortality prediction scores.

Methods

This study was a retrospective cohort study on a convenience sample of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) of Singapore General Hospital between September 2014 to April 2017. Patients were included in the study if they were above 21 years old, were suspected to have sepsis by their attending physician, triaged as emergency or urgent cases, and if they met two or more of the Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) criteria. Demographic and clinical variables were obtained from the electronic medical records, and HRV and novel HRnV parameters were calculated from five minute ECG tracings. Univariable analysis was conducted on variables obtained, with the primary outcome being 30-day in-hospital mortality (IHM). Variables selected through univariable analysis and stepwise selection were included in a multivariable logistic regression model, the results of which were presented using receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis.

Results

Of 342 patients included for final analysis, 66 (19%) met with the primary outcome. On univariable analysis, 85 out of 142 analysed HRV and HRnV parameters showed statistical difference between groups. The final multivariable logistic regression model comprised of 21 variables including four vital signs, two HRV parameters, and 15 HRnV parameters. The area under the curve (AUC) of the model was 0.86 (95% confidence interval 0.81-0.90), outperforming several established clinical scores.

Conclusion

The use of novel HRnV measures can provide adequate power to predictive models in the risk stratification of patients presenting to the ED with sepsis. When included in a multivariable logistic regression model, the HRnV-based model outperformed traditional risk stratification scoring systems. The HRnV measures may have potential to allow for a rapid, objective, and accurate means of patient risk stratification for sepsis severity and mortality.
Gender- and Age-Specific Associations of Visit-To-Visit Blood Pressure Variability with Incident Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Authors: Zhou Jiandong , Lee Sharen , Wong Wing Tak , Leung Keith Sai Kit , Lam Ronald Hang Kin , Leung Prudence Shun Hay , Liu Tong , Chang Carlin , Cheung Bernard Man Yung , Tse Gary , Zhang Qingpeng
Published: January 2021

Background

There is a bidirectional relationship between blood pressure variability (BPV) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), but few studies have examined the gender- and age-specific effects of visit-to-visit BPV on GAD incidence. We examined the predictive value of BPV for the incidence of GAD in a family clinic cohort.

Methods

Consecutive patients with a first attendance to family medicine clinics in Hong Kong between January 1st, 2000, and December 31st, 2002, with at least three blood pressure measurements available thereafter were included. The primary endpoint was incident GAD as identified by ICD-9 coding from the local Clinical Data Analysis and Reporting System.

Results

This study included 48023 (50% males) patients with a median follow-up of 224 (IQR: 217-229) months. Females were more likely to develop GAD compared to males (incidence rate: 7% vs. 2%), as were patients of older age. Significant univariate predictors were female gender, older age, pre-existing cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and gastrointestinal diseases, various laboratory examinations and the number of blood pressure measurements. Higher baseline, maximum, minimum, SD, CV, and variability score of diastolic blood pressure significantly predicted GAD, as did all systolic blood pressure measures (baseline, latest, maximum, minimum, mean, median, variance, SD, RMS, CV, variability score).

Conclusions

The relationships between longer term visit-to-visit BPV and incident GAD were identified. Female and older patients with higher blood pressure and higher BPV were at the highest risks of GAD.
The new Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in Central America: Demographic-spatial simulations, Analyses of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) and Neutrality Tests in complete genomes from Belize, Guatemala, Cuba, Jamaica and Puerto Rico
Authors: Felix Pierre Teodosio , Ramos Robson da Silva , Venâncio Dallynne Bárbara Ramos , Da Silva Eduarda Doralice Alves Braz , de Albuquerque Rosane Maria
Published: January 2021

In this work, we evaluated the levels of genetic diversity in 38 complete genomes of SARS-CoV-2 from five Central American countries (Belize, Guatemala, Cuba, Jamaica and Puerto Rico) with 04, 10, 2, 8 and 14 haplotypes, respectively, with an extension of up to 29,885 bp. All sequences were publicly available on the National Biotechnology Information Center (NCBI) platform. Using specific methodologies for paired FST, AMOVA, mismatch, demographic-spatial expansion, molecular diversity and for the time of evolutionary divergence, it was possible to notice that only 79 sites remained conserved and that the high number of polymorphisms found helped to establish a clear pattern of genetic non-structuring, based on the time of divergence between the groups. The analyses also showed that significant evolutionary divergences within and between the five countries corroborate the fact that possible rapid and silent mutations are responsible for the increase in genetic variability of the Virus, a fact that would hinder the work with molecular targets for vaccines and medications in general.
Covid-19, Lockdowns and Motor Vehicle Collisions: Empirical Evidence from Greece
Authors: Vandoros Sotiris
Published: January 2021

Reduced mobility during Covid-19 lockdowns means fewer vehicles at risk of collision, but also an opportunity to speed on empty streets. Other collision risk factors that have changed during the pandemic include alcohol consumption, sleeping patterns, distraction, unemployment and economic uncertainty. Evidence on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on motor vehicle collisions is scarce, as such statistics are often released with a delay. The objective of this paper is to examine the impact of the first wave of the pandemic and the first lockdown on motor vehicle collisions and associated injuries and deaths in Greece. Using monthly data at the regional unit level, I provide descriptive evidence and subsequently follow a difference-in-difference econometric approach, comparing trends in 2020 to those of the previous five years while controlling for unemployment and petrol prices. I found a steep decline in collisions, injuries and deaths compared to what would have been otherwise expected. In March and April 2020, there were about 1,226 fewer collisions, 72 fewer deaths, 40 fewer serious injuries and 1,426 fewer minor injuries compared to what would have been expected in the absence of the pandemic.
Perception and awareness of COVID-19 among health science students and staff of Kuwait University: An online cross-sectional study
Authors: Alali Walid Q. , AlFouzan Wadha , Aljimi Dhuha , Al-Tawalah Haya , Kheirallah Khalid A. , Yimer Getnet
Published: January 2021

Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is unprecedented. Health science students are the future frontliners to fight pandemics. Awareness and perception toward COVID-19 among health science students and staff at Kuwait University was assessed.

Methods

Between June and July 2020, an online questionnaire was distributed to all students and staff at HCS. The questionnaire was divided into six sections: socio-demography, risk and awareness, preparedness and prevention, source of information, policies, and social stigma.

Results

A total of 592 students and 162 staff completed the questionnaire. The prevalence of self-reported chronic condition among students and staff was 14.0% and 19.1%, respectively. Moreover, self-reported COVID-19 prevalence among students and staff was 2.7% and 1.2%, respectively. Interestingly, 54% of students and 38.3% of staff reported that they knew someone within their immediate social environment who have been/are infected with SARS-CoV-2. Among students, 92.4% wore face mask in indoor places (outside of their home) often/all the time compared to wearing it outdoors (69.3%); whereas, for staff, it was more common to wear it outdoor than in indoor places (75.9% vs. 81.5%). Both students and staff showed greatest deal of trust was in official government press release and consultation with healthcare workers.

Willingness to take COVID-19 vaccine was indicated by 50% of students strongly agreed and an additional 25.8% agreed to taking it. Interest vaccine uptake was lower among staff (28.4% and 34.6% strongly agreed or agreed, respectively). Participants strongly agreed or agreed (72.5% and 19.6% of students as well as 68.5% and 22.2% of staff) that wearing face mask in public should be obligatory. More than 18% of students and staff indicated that they would avoid contact with COVID-19 infected people.

Conclusions

Responses of students and staff were mostly similar and showed that they follow precautionary measures to control spread of COVID-19, understand the viral transmission risk, and willing to raise awareness to reduce social stigma.