bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and safety of acupuncture combined with rehabilitation in the treatment of strephenopodia after stroke
Authors: Feng Sisi , Zhou Yihao , Tang Mingzhi , Wang JuMei , Lv YuLan , Gu LiHua
Published: April 2022

Background:

Strephenopodia is a common complication after stroke, which is easily neglected in the early stage of the disease and seriously affects the rehabilitation process of patients’ limbs, and brings huge security risks and family burden. A large number of studies have confirmed that acupuncture combined with rehabilitation (ACR) has a significant effect on strephenopodia after stroke (SAS), but there is still a lack of systematic scientific evidence to support this argument. In this systematic review, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ACR in the treatment of SAS, to provide evidence-based medical evidence for the clinical treatment of the disease.

Methods:

We will search the following databases of 8 electronic databases from inception to January 2022: PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Web of Science, China National Knowledge infrastructure (CNKI), Technology Periodical Database (VIP), WanFang Data, and China Biology Medicine (CBM). All relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) focus on ACR in the treatment of strephenopodia after stroke will be included. The primary outcome will be the Measurement of strephenopodia angle and Clinical Spasm Index Scale (CSI). The Secondary outcomes will include Holden Functional Walking Classification (FAC), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Modified Barthel Index Score (MBI). Two reviewers will independently conduct the Study selection and data extraction. The risk of bias will be evaluated according to the Cochrane tool. Risk ratio and 95% confidence intervals will be used to estimate the efficacy of treatment, and the grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation approach to rate the certainty of evidence. The data analysis will be analyzed using by RevMan5.4.

Result:

This study will provide a comprehensive evaluation of the efficacy and safety of ACR in the treatment of SAS, with a view of providing more reliable evidence-based solutions for SAS.

Conclusions:

The conclusion of this study will provide evidence to judge whether ACR is effective and safe in treating SAS.

PROSPERO registration number:

CRD42021290960.
Prognostic value of CD20 antigen mediated immune checkpoint inhibition in patients with acute or chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Mkhwanazi Zekhethelo A. , Mfusi Snenhlanhla A. , Nkambule Bongani B.
Published: April 2022

Background:

The addition of rituximab to standard chemotherapy has been shown to improve response rates in patients with acute or chronic lymphocytic leukemia. However, the prognostic factors associated with progression-free survival in rituximab treated patients with lymphocytic leukemias remains unclear. We will perform a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis on available data on prognostic factors associated with the clinical outcomes of patients with acute and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Methods and analysis:

This protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of prognostic factors has been prepared following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015 guidelines. Electronic databases will be searched using keywords related to the objectives of this review. This systematic review and meta-analysis will include published randomized clinical trials, observational, prospective, and retrospective comparative cohorts. Two reviewers (ZAM and SAM) will independently screen studies, with a third reviewer consulted in cases of disagreements using a defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data items will be extracted using a predefined data extraction sheet. Moreover, the risk of bias and the quality of evidence were independently assessed using the quality in prognostic studies tool (QUIPS). The I2 and chi squared statistical tests will be used to analyze statistical heterogeneity across studies. An I2 values of > 50% will be considered substantial. All data analysis will be performed using STATA 16.0 (StataCorp LP, TX, USA). The outcomes examined will be progression-free and overall survival.

Ethics and dissemination:

No ethical approval will be required and the findings of this meta-analysis will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Systematic review registration:

International prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSERO) number: CRD42021218997.
Adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette subfamily C members in liver hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Meng Xiangtong , Dong Shen , Yangyang Liu , Wang Song , Xu Xiaohao , Liu Tiejun , Zhuang Xiong
Published: April 2022

Aberrant expression of adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette subfamily C (ABCC), one of the largest superfamilies and transporter gene families of membrane proteins, is associated with various tumors. However, its relationship with liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) remains unclear.

We used the Oncomine, UALCAN, Human Protein Atlas, GeneMANIA, GO, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), TIMER, and Kaplan–Meier Plotter databases. On May 20, 2021, we searched these databases for the terms ABCC1, ABCC2, ABCC3, ABCC4, ABCC5, ABCC6, ABCC7, ABCC8, ABCC9, ABCC10, ABCC11, ABCC12, ABCC13, and “liver cancer.” The exposure group comprised LIHC patients, and the control group comprised normal patients (those with noncancerous liver tissue). All patients shown in the retrieval language search were included. We compared the mRNA expression of these proteins in LIHC and control patients to examine the potential role of ABCC1–13 in LIHC.

Relative to the normal liver tissue, mRNA expression of ABCC1/2/3/4/5/6/10 was significantly upregulated (P < .001), and that of ABCC9/11 significantly downregulated (both P < .001), in LIHC. ABCC mRNA expression varied with gender (P < .05), except for ABCC11–13; with tumor grade (P < 0.05), except for ABCC7/12/13; with tumor stage (P < .05), except for ABCC11–13; and with lymph node metastasis status (P < .05), except for ABCC7/8/11/12/13. Based on KEGG enrichment analysis, these genes were associated with the following pathways: ABC transporters, Bile secretion, Antifolate resistance, and Peroxisome (P < .05). Except for ABCC12/13, the ABCCs were significantly associated with B cell, CD8+ T cell, CD4+ T cell, macrophage, neutrophil, and dendritic cell infiltration (P < .05). High mRNA expression of ABCC1/4/5/8 (P < .05) and low expression of ABCC6/7/9/12/13 (P < .05) indicated poor prognosis. Prognostic significance was indicated for ABCC2/13 for both men and women (P < .05); for ABCC1/6/12/13 for tumor grades 1–3 (P < .05); for ABCC5/11/12/13 for all tumor stages (P < .05); for ABCC1/11/12/13 for American Joint Committee on Cancer T stages 1–3 (P < .05); and for ABCC1/5/6/13 for vascular invasion. None showed prognostic significance for microvascular invasion (P < .05).

We identified ABCC1/2/3/4/5/6/9/10/11 as potential diagnostic markers, and ABCC1/4/5/6/7/8/9/12/13 as prognostic markers, of LIHC. Our future work will promote the use of ABCCs in the diagnosis and treatment of LIHC.
Prognostic value of serum amyloid A in COVID-19
Authors: Li Yongkai , Xiaojing He , Zhuanyun Li , Li Dandan , Yang Jianzhong
Published: April 2022

Background:

There is still a lack of large-scale clinical studies and evidence-based evidence to prove the relationship between serum amyloid A (SAA) and the severity and prognosis of patients with new coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19).

Methods:

We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Excerpta Medica Database, and Web of Science for original articles from December 1, 2019 to December 19, 2020. Search criteria include free text search, explosive MESH/EMTREE terms, and all synonyms for SAA and COVID-19. There are no language restrictions on the searched documents. Statistical methods were performed using Stata 14.0 software, and RevMan 5.4 software provided by the Cochrane Collaboration for meta-analysis. The 10 included studies in the literature were classified according to the severity of the novel coronavirus treatment guidelines, with mild/moderate categorized as nonsevere and severe/critical as severe, and the data were meta-analyzed using multiple subgroup standard deviations combined. Severe and nonsevere were finally divided into 2 groups, and the combined data were meta-analyzed according to the standardized mean difference.

Results:

The results of the meta-analysis given by random effects showed that SAA levels were significantly higher in severe vs nonsevere (standardized mean difference 1.20 [95% confidence interval 0.91–1.48]), which was statistically significant (P < .001). The 3 literatures studied (random effect size 0.11 [95% confidence interval 0.05–0.19]; I2 = 56.68%) and were statistically significant, z = 5.46 P < .01, suggesting that the risk of death occurs at higher levels with increasing SAA values, with the risk of death in the severe group being 11% higher than in the nonsevere group.

Conclusion:

SAA can be considered as a biomarker for predicting the severity and prognosis of COVID-19. SAA can be used for early warning of the poor prognosis of COVID-19 and for monitoring the recovery process, which has important clinical value.
Case report: atrial septostomy as a bridge to lung transplantation in a patient with venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
Authors: Ryoo Jiwon , Huh Jung , Cho Hee Sun , Kim Jin-Jin , Kim Seok Chan , Lee Jongmin
Published: April 2022

Introduction:

Advances in critical care management have led to the recent increase in the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as a bridge to lung transplantation (LT). Patients with respiratory failure requiring venovenous ECMO usually experience progressive right ventricular (RV) failure. Diagnosis and treatment of RV failure during ECMO are essential for improving the prognosis of patients.

Patient concerns:

A 28-year-old female patient underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) from a matched unrelated donor for acute myeloid leukemia presenting with progressive dyspnea.

Diagnoses:

Computed tomography revealed multifocal patchy peribronchial and subpleural ground-glass opacities in both lungs, and the patient was clinically diagnosed with cryptogenic organizing pneumonia.

Interventions and outcomes:

Despite intensifying systemic corticosteroid therapy, her symptoms deteriorated, and mechanical ventilation and ECMO were applied. During treatment, her respiratory failure continued to progress, and systemic hypotension developed. An echocardiogram showed evidence of RV failure, and percutaneous atrial septostomy was performed for RV decompression. After a balloon atrial septostomy was performed, RV failure of the patient improved, and LT was successfully performed.

Lessons:

We report the first case of atrial septostomy as a successful bridge to LT in a HSCT recipient with venovenous ECMO. Atrial septostomy could be an option for management of RV failure during ECMO. Further studies need to be conducted to validate the effect of atrial septostomy in patients with RV failure during ECMO.
Efficacy and safety of moxibustion in the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence
Authors: Zhang Yueyu , Zhou Zhongyu , Wei Dan , Jiao Yang , Zhu Qiaochu , Shi Yue , Peng Baoyi , Zhang Yangpu , Song Aiqun
Published: April 2022

Background:

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is one of the common diseases in female urinary system diseases, and the incidence is increasing year by year. Moxibustion therapy, as a kind of acupuncture therapy, has been widely used in the clinical treatment of SUI, but its therapeutic effect and safety have not been scientifically and systematically evaluated. Therefore, the protocol of this systematic review we propose this time is to scientifically evaluate the effectiveness and safety of moxibustion in the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (FSUI).

Methods:

The following 8 electronic databases will be searched from establishment to December 2021: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP Database, Wanfang Database, China Biology Medicine disc. All randomized controlled trials of moxibustion in the treatment of FSUI will be searched in the above electronic databases. Two reviewers will independently complete research selection, data extraction, and research quality evaluation. After screening the studies, the quality of the included studies will be evaluated according to the quality standards specified in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (version 5.1.0). The primary outcome of included studies is the change from baseline in urine leakage measured by the 1-hour pad test. Secondary outcomes include: the short-form of the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire, the mean 72-hour urinary incontinence episode frequency, self-assessment of the patient's treatment effect, severity of urinary incontinence, and adverse events. Two reviewers will independently conduct study selection, data extraction, risk of bias assessment, and study quality assessment. And the STATA 14.0 software will be implemented for data synthesis and meta-analysis.

Results:

The result of this meta-analysis will be submitted to peer-reviewed journals for publication, and a comprehensive review of current evidence will be conducted.

Conclusions:

The conclusion of this systematic review will provide evidence for judging whether moxibustion is a safer and more effective intervention for female stress urinary incontinence.

Trial registration number:

The protocol has been registered on INPLASY2021120052.
The efficacy and safety of simple-needling for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea compared with ibuprofen
Authors: Xuan Yichen , Zhang Haifeng , Liu Duanyong , Huang Yiyong , Li Linhui , Cao Qianan , Fu Yong
Published: April 2022

Background:

Needling and ibuprofen are often used clinically to treat primary dysmenorrhea (PD). However, the difference between the efficacy and safety of the treatment of PD is not clear. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of simple-needling for PD patients through a comparison with ibuprofen.

Methods:

A comprehensive search of 7 electronic databases and relevant medical journals, from the establishment of the publication to December 2020. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to evaluate the methodological quality of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that met the inclusion criteria, and a meta-analysis was performed with the Review Manager version (RevMan version 5.3).

Results:

Twenty three RCTs were included. The meta-analysis reported that simple-needling groups had better than ibuprofen groups on cure rate (relative risk = 2.29, 95% CI [1.96, 2.68], P < .00001) and total effective rate (relative risk = 1.24, 95% CI [1.19, 1.29], P < .00001) and VAS score (MD = −1.24, 95% CI [−1.92, −0.55], P = .0004). Seven studies reported adverse events, of which 4 studies had mild adverse events.

Conclusion:

Simple-needling is superior to ibuprofen treatment in terms of clinical efficacy and improvement of pain symptoms. A small number of studies reported whether simple-needling produced adverse events, so there is not enough evidence to support the safety of simple-needling in the treatment of PD.

PROSPERO registration number:

CRD42021233403
Association between gastric reflux, obesity and erosive tooth wear among psychiatric patients
Authors: Ashour Amal Adnan , Fahmi Mohammed Khalil , Mohamed Roshan Noor , Basha Sakeenabi , Binmadi Nada , Enan Enas Tawfik , Basalim Alaa , Qahatani Abeer Al
Published: April 2022

The prevalence of erosive tooth wear and obesity are high in psychiatric patients and soft drink consumption is a common risk factor associated with both diseases. This study aimed to assess the association between soft drink consumption, gastric reflux, erosive tooth wear, and obesity among resident patients at the Psychiatric Hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia.

This descriptive, cross-sectional study included 223 adult psychiatric inpatients (126 male, 97 female) with a mean age of 42.3 years (± 2.2). Dental erosion detection was performed according to World Health Organization criteria. The medical evaluation included assessment of the body mass index (BMI). With appropriate sample weighting, relationships between erosive tooth wear, gastric reflux, and obesity were assessed using multivariable logistic regression.

Ninety eight patients (43.9%) presented with erosive tooth wear. The mean BMI for the entire study population was 27.7 ± 6.3 kg/m2. Regression analysis showed a strong association between erosive tooth wear and chronic vomiting or bulimia (adjusted odds ratio = 2.11; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.98–5.07, P < .001), gastric reflux (adjusted odds ratio = 2.13; 95% CI = 1.34–6.23, P < .001), consumption of soft drinks (adjusted odds ratio = 2.14; 95% CI = 1.03–6.08, P < .001), and schizophrenia and delusional disorders (adjusted odds ratio = 2.07; 95% CI = 1.98–5.08, P < .001).

This study demonstrates a significant association between erosive tooth wear prevalence and chronic vomiting or bulimia, consumption of soft drinks, and gastric reflux among resident patients at psychiatric hospital.
Forgetting: The New Normal
Authors: Powell Suzanne K.
Published: April 2022

Recently, research is exploring the value of forgetting. As opposed to pathological forgetting, such as in Alzheimer's disease, normal forgetting may help reduce unneeded pieces of information so we can retain the most relevant information for long-term storage. In fact, the brain has molecular “nano-machines” within the neurons for both remembering and forgetting.
Safety and immunogenicity of a reduced dose of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (REDU-VAC): a single blind, randomized, non-inferiority trial
Authors: Pannus Pieter , Depickère Stéphanie , Kemlin Delphine , Houben Sarah , Neven Kristof Y , Heyndrickx Leo , Michiels Johan , Willems Elisabeth , De Craeye Stéphane , Francotte Antoine , Chaumont Félicie , Olislagers Véronique , Waegemans Alexandra , Verbrugghe Mathieu , Schmickler Marie-Noëlle , Van Gucht Steven , Dierick Katelijne , Marchant Arnaud , Desombere Isabelle , Ariën Kevin K , Goossens Maria E
Published: April 2022

1

Background

The use of fractional dose regimens of COVID-19 vaccines has the potential to accelerate vaccination rates in low-income countries. Dose-finding studies of the mRNA vaccine BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) have suggested that a fractional dose induces comparable antibody responses to the full, licensed dose in people below 55 years old. Here, we report the safety and immunogenicity of a fractional dose regimen of the BNT162b2 vaccine.

Methods

REDU-VAC is a participant-blinded, randomised, phase 4, multicentre, non-inferiority study investigating safety, reactogenicity and immunogenicity of BNT162b2. Adults aged between 18 and 55 years, without uncontrolled co-morbidities, either previously infected or infection naïve, were eligible and recruited at five sites across Belgium. Participants were randomly assigned to receive 20µg/20µg (fractional dose) or 30µg/30µg (full dose) of BNT162b2, administered intra-muscularly at a three-week interval. The primary endpoint was the geometric mean ratio (GMR) of serum SARS-CoV-2 anti-RBD IgG titres at 28 days post second dose between the reduced and the full dose regimens. The reduced dose was considered non-inferior to the full dose if the lower limit of the two-sided 95% CI of the GMR was greater than 0.67. The primary analysis was done on the per-protocol population, including infection naïve participants only.

Findings

Between April 19 and April 23, 2021, 145 participants were enrolled in the study and randomized, of whom 141 were vaccinated and reached the primary endpoint. Participants were mostly female (69.5%), of European origin (95%), with a mean age of 40.4 years (SD 7.9). At 28 days post second dose, the geometric mean titre (GMT) of SARS-CoV-2 anti-RBD IgG of the reduced dose regimen (1,705 BAU/mL) was not non-inferior to the full dose regimen (2,387 BAU/mL), with a GMR of 0.714 (two-sided 95% CI 0.540-0.944). No serious adverse events occurred.

Conclusions

While non-inferiority of the reduced dose regimen was not demonstrated, the SARS-CoV-2 anti-RBD IgG titre was only moderately lower than that of the full dose regimen and, importantly, still markedly higher than the reported antibody response to the licensed adenoviral vector vaccines. These data suggest that reduced doses of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine may offer additional benefit as compared to the vaccines currently in use in most low and middle-income countries, warranting larger immunogenicity and effectiveness trials. The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04852861).
Can electroencephalography (EEG) identify ADHD subtypes? A systematic review
Authors: Slater Jessica , Joober Ridha , Koborsy Brenda Lynn , Mitchell Samantha , Sahlas Ella , Palmer Caroline
Published: April 2022

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has been associated with atypical patterns of neural activity measured by electroencephalography (EEG). However, the identification of EEG diagnostic biomarkers has been complicated by the disorder’s heterogeneity. The objective of this review was to synthesize the literature investigating EEG variation in patients diagnosed with ADHD, addressing the following questions: 1) Are the diagnostic ADHD subtypes associated with different EEG characteristics? 2) Are EEG measures correlated with ADHD traits and/or symptom severity? and 3) Do classification techniques using EEG measures reveal different clinical presentations of ADHD? Outcomes highlight the potential for electrophysiological measures to provide meaningful insights into the heterogeneity of ADHD, although direct translation of EEG biomarkers for diagnostic purposes is not yet supported. Key measures that show promise for the discrimination of existing ADHD subtypes and symptomatology include: resting state and task-related modulation of alpha, beta and theta power, and the event-related N2 and P3 components. Prescriptions are discussed for future studies that may help to bridge the gap between research and clinical application.
Mapping brain endophenotypes associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis genetic risk
Authors: Mohammadi-Nejad Ali-Reza , Allen Richard J. , Kraven Luke M. , Leavy Olivia C. , Jenkins R Gisli , Wain Louise V. , Auer Dorothee P , Sotiropoulos Stamatios N.
Published: April 2022

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a serious disease of the lung parenchyma. It has a known polygenetic risk, with at least seventeen regions of the genome implicated to date. Growing evidence suggests linked multimorbidity of IPF with neurodegenerative or affective disorders. However, no study so far has explicitly explored links between IPF, associated genetic risk profiles, and specific brain features.

Methods: We exploited imaging and genetic data from more than 32,000 participants available through the UK Biobank population-level resource to explore links between IPF genetic risk and imaging-derived brain endophenotypes. We performed a brain-wide imaging-genetics association study between the 17 known loci of IPF genetic risk and 1,248 multi-modal imaging-derived features, which characterise brain structure and function.

Findings: We identified strong associations between cortical thickness and white matter microstructure and IPF risk loci in chromosomes 17 (17q21.31) and 8 (DEPTOR). Through co-localisation analysis, we confirmed that the associated neuroimaging features and IPF share a single causal variant at the chromosome 8 locus. Exploratory post-hoc analysis suggested that forced vital capacity may act as a partial mediator in the association between the DEPTOR variant and white matter microstructure, but not between the DEPTOR risk variant and cortical thinning in the anterior cingulate.

Interpretation: Our results reveal for the first time associations between IPF genetic risk and differences in brain structure, for both cortex and white matter. Differences in tissue-specific imaging signatures suggest distinct underlying mechanisms with focal cortical thinning in regions with known high DEPTOR expression unrelated to lung function, and more widespread microstructural white matter changes consistent with hypoxia or neuroinflammation with potential mediation by lung function.

Funding: This study was supported by the NIHR-funded Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre and the UK Medical Research Council.
Protein Quaternary Structures in Solution are a Mixture of Multiple forms
Authors: Marciano Shir , Dey Debabrata , Listov Dina , Fleishman Sarel J , Sonn-Segev Adar , Mertens Haydyn , Busch Florian , Kim Yongseok , Harvey Sophie R. , Wysocki Vicki H. , Schreiber Gideon
Published: April 2022

Over half the proteins form homo or hetero-oligomeric structures. Experimentally determined structures are often considered in determining a protein’s oligomeric state, but static structures miss the dynamic equilibrium between different quaternary forms. The problem is exacerbated in homo-oligomers, where the oligomeric states are challenging to characterize. Here, we re-evaluated the oligomeric state of 17 different bacterial proteins across a broad range of protein concentrations and solutions by native mass-spectrometry (MS), mass photometry (MP), size exclusion chromatography (SEC), and small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS), finding that most exhibit several oligomeric states. Surprisingly, many proteins did not show mass-action driven equilibrium between the oligomeric states. For approximately half the proteins, the predicted oligomeric forms described in publicly available databases underestimated the complexity of protein quaternary structures in solution. Conversely, AlphaFold Multimer provided an accurate description of the potential multimeric states for most proteins, suggesting that it could help resolve uncertainties on the solution state of many proteins.
Immunogenicity and reactogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in people living with HIV: a nationwide prospective cohort study in the Netherlands
Authors: Hensley Kathryn S. , Jongkees Marlou J. , Geers Daryl , GeurtsvanKessel Corine H. , Mueller Yvonne M. , Dalm Virgil A.S.H. , Papageorgiou Grigorios , Steggink Hanka , Gorska Alicja , Bogers Susanne , den Hollander Jan G. , Bierman Wouter F.W. , Gelinck Luc B.S. , Schippers Emile F. , Ammerlaan Heidi S.M. , van der Valk Marc , van Vonderen Marit G.A. , Delsing Corine E. , Gisolf Elisabeth H. , Bruns Anke H.W. , Lauw Fanny N. , Berrevoets Marvin A.H. , Sigaloff Kim C.E. , Soetekouw Robert , Branger Judith , de Mast Quirijn , Lammers Adriana J.J. , Lowe Selwyn H. , de Vries Rory D. , Katsikis Peter D. , Rijnders Bart J.A. , Brinkman Kees , Roukens Anna H.E. , Rokx Casper
Published: April 2022

Background

Vaccines can be less immunogenic in people living with HIV (PLWH), but for SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations this is unknown.

Methods and Findings

A prospective cohort study to examine the immunogenicity of BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, ChAdOx1-S and Ad26.COV2.S vaccines in adult PLWH, without prior COVID-19, compared to HIV-negative controls. The primary endpoint was the anti-spike SARS-CoV-2 IgG response after mRNA vaccination. Secondary endpoints included the serological response after vector vaccination, anti-SARS-CoV-2 T-cell response and reactogenicity.

Between February-September 2021, 1154 PLWH (median age 53 [IQR 44-60], 86% male) and 440 controls (median age 43 [IQR 33-53], 29% male) were included. 884 PLWH received BNT162b2, 100 mRNA-1273, 150 ChAdOx1-S, and 20 Ad26.COV2.S. 99% were on antiretroviral therapy, 98% virally suppressed, and the median CD4+T-cell count was 710 cells/µL [IQR 520-913]. 247 controls received mRNA-1273, 94 BNT162b2, 26 ChAdOx1-S and 73 Ad26.COV2.S. After mRNA vaccination, geometric mean concentration was 1418 BAU/mL in PLWH (95%CI 1322-1523), and after adjustment for age, sex, and vaccine type, HIV-status remained associated with a decreased response (0.607, 95%CI 0.508-0.725). In PLWH vaccinated with mRNA-based vaccines, higher antibody responses were predicted by CD4+T-cell counts 250-500 cells/µL (2.845, 95%CI 1.876-4.314) or >500 cells/µL (2.936, 95%CI 1.961-4.394), whilst a viral load >50 copies/mL was associated with a reduced response (0.454, 95%CI 0.286-0.720). Increased IFN-γ, CD4+, and CD8+T-cell responses were observed after stimulation with SARS-CoV-2 spike peptides in ELISpot and activation induced marker assays, comparable to controls. Reactogenicity was generally mild without vaccine-related SAE.

Conclusion

After vaccination with BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273, anti-spike SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels were reduced in PLWH. To reach and maintain the same serological responses and vaccine efficacy as HIV-negative controls, additional vaccinations are probably required.
Ethnic inequalities in multiple long-term health conditions in the United Kingdom: a systematic review and narrative synthesis
Authors: Hayanga Brenda , Stafford Mai , Bécares Laia
Published: April 2022

Indicative evidence suggests that minoritised ethnic groups have higher risk of developing multiple long-term conditions (MLTCs), and do so earlier than the white majority population. While there is evidence on ethnicity and single conditions and comorbidities, no review has attempted to look across these from a MLTCs perspective. As such, we currently have an incomplete understanding of the extent of ethnic inequalities in the prevalence of MLTCs. In this systematic review we aimed to 1) describe the literature that provides evidence of ethnicity and prevalence of MLTCs amongst people living in the UK, and 2) summarise the prevalence estimates of MLTCs across ethnic groups. We registered the protocol on PROSPERO (CRD42020218061). Between October and December 2020, we searched ASSIA, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science, OpenGrey, and reference lists of key studies/reviews. The main outcome was prevalence estimates for MLTCs for at least one minoritised ethnic group, compared to the majority white population. We included studies conducted in the UK reporting on ethnicity and prevalence of MLTCs. To summarise the prevalence estimates of MLTCs across ethnic groups we included only studies of MLTCs that provided estimates adjusted at least for age. Two reviewers screened and extracted data from a random sample of studies (10%). Data were synthesised using narrative synthesis. Of the 7949 studies identified, 84 met criteria for inclusion. Of these, seven contributed to the evidence of ethnic inequalities in MLTCs. Five of the seven studies point to higher prevalence of MLTCs in at least one minoritised ethnic group compared to their white counterparts. Because the number/types of health conditions varied between studies and some ethnic populations were aggregated, the findings may not accurately reflect the true level of inequality. Thus, our conclusions can only be tentative. Future research should consider key explanatory factors, including those at the macrolevel (e.g. racism, discrimination), as they may play a role in the development of MLTCs in different ethnic groups.
Drone-based delivery: a concurrent heuristic approach using a genetic algorithm
Authors: Thida San Khin , Chang Yoon Seok
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to solve NP-Hard drone routing problem for the last-mile distribution. This is suitable for the multi-drones parcel delivery for the various items from a warehouse to many locations.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducts as a mission assignment of the single location per flight with the constraint satisfactions such as various payloads in weight, drone speeds, flight times and coverage distances. A genetic algorithm is modified as the concurrent heuristics approach (GCH), which has the knapsack problem dealing initialization, gene elitism (crossover) and gene replacement (mutation). Those proposed operators can reduce the execution time consuming and enhance the routing assignment of multiple drones. The evaluation value of the routing assignment can be calculated from the chromosome/individual representation by applying the proposed concurrent fitness.

Findings

This study optimizes the total traveling time to accomplish the distribution. GCH is flexible and can provide a result according to the first-come-first-served, demanded weight or distance priority.

Originality/value

GCH is an alternative option, which differs from conventional vehicle routing researches. Such researches (traveling time optimization) attempt to minimize the total traveling time, distance or the number of vehicles by assuming all vehicles have the same traveling speed; therefore, a specific vehicle assignment to a location is neglected. Moreover, the main drawback is those concepts can lead the repeated selection of best quality vehicles concerning the speed without considering the vehicle fleet size and coverage distance while this study defines the various speeds for the vehicles. Unlike those, the concurrent concept ensures a faster delivery accomplishment by sharing the work load with all participant vehicles concerning to their different capabilities. If the concurrent assignment is applied to the drone delivery effectively, the entire delivery can be accomplished relatively faster than the traveling time optimization.
WoW! Momo – creating a sustainable WOW in innovative QSR chain brand
Authors: Bhattacharya Subhajit , Chattopadhyay Subrata
Published: April 2022

Learning outcomes

The various learning outcomes of the case include the following: to provide information and help the students to understand how a start-up business succeeds with the proper branding and marketing; to help understand different marketing theories related to segmentation, targeting, positioning, branding, distribution and marketing process and the frameworks of understanding start-up business marketing with a practical example; to improve analytical skills and help evaluate marketing strategies related to segmentation, targeting, positioning, branding, distribution and marketing in the Indian quick-service restaurant (QSR) business; and to encourage learners to think differently towards solution generation and strategy decisions.

Case overview/Synopsis

The case portrays the dilemmas related to segmentation, targeting, brand positioning, distribution and start-up business marketing in the context of an Indian QSR. The present case strives to portray the journey of WoW! Momo is a QSR brand in India and highlights the company's branding and marketing challenges. Based on the challenges faced by the company and the decision dilemma pointed out in the case, the readers can get sufficient motivation to generate probable solutions. This was early 2007; Binod Kumar Homagai and Sagar Daryani, bosom friends, were on the verge of finishing their graduate studies in commerce from St. Xavier's College Kolkata. Pursuing Chartered Accountancy or MBA was the common trend as the career option among most commerce graduates then. Still, both Homagai and Daryani thought to be innovative and different in their career options. After a series of discussions, they determined to start with their favorite dish, momos, as an alternative brand proposition that would be opening off from the City of Joy, Kolkata. They managed to arrange a seed capital of INR 30,000 in 2008 and started their venture WoW! Momo. In the financial year 2018–2019, the company's revenue had already crossed INR 1170m, achieved its presence in 11 cities in India, and reached more than 243 outlets. This case has followed the qualitative research methods where in-depth interviews of the founders and stakeholders along with the observation method were used. The case unfolds a systematic solution of dilemmas related to segmentation, targeting, brand positioning, distribution and start-up business marketing in the context of Indian QSR business. This case can also be seen as one of the youth entrepreneurial success stories of Indians.

Complexity academic level

This case is primarily meant for second-year students in a postgraduate program in business management. The case could also be discussed in an executive development program on marketing/brand management/business strategy.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 8: Marketing.
Death of a controversial tax
Authors: Saldanha Avil Terrance , Upveja Swati
Published: April 2022

Learning outcomes

Learning objectives are as follows: Analyze the reasons for the implementation of retrospective taxation by the Government of India; infer the dynamics of international tax laws and the settlement process of international taxation disputes; critically analyze the factors that led to the Indian Government’s decision to scrap the retrospective tax; and infer the relationship between a country’s taxation system and its potential to attract foreign direct investment.

Case overview/synopsis

This case is an analysis of the Indian Government’s decision to scrap the retrospective taxation amendment. The case discusses the underlying factors that led the incumbent government to take this sudden decision. The case discusses in detail the causes for the introduction of the retrospective taxation amendment and the tax terror unleashed by this draconian law. The case also discusses the embarrassment faced by the Indian Government because of a series of adverse decisions against it and in favor of Cairn Energy and Vodafone in the international courts. It also discusses the adverse effect on Indian banks in case of ailing telecom conglomerate Vodafone Idea Ltd failure.

Complexity level

The case is best suited for postgraduate and executive students studying Taxation subjects in Commerce and Business Management streams.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject Code

CSS 1: Accounting and Finance.
Prediction of polarities of online hotel reviews: an improved stacked decision tree (ISD) approach
Authors: Trivedi Shrawan Kumar , Singh Amrinder , Malhotra Somesh Kumar
Published: April 2022

Purpose

There is a need to predict whether the consumers liked the stay in the hotel rooms or not, and to remove the aspects the customers did not like. Many customers leave a review after staying in the hotel. These reviews are mostly given on the website used to book the hotel. These reviews can be considered as a valuable data, which can be analyzed to provide better services in the hotels. The purpose of this study is to use machine learning techniques for analyzing the given data to determine different sentiment polarities of the consumers.

Design/methodology/approach

Reviews given by hotel customers on the Tripadvisor website, which were made available publicly by Kaggle. Out of 10,000 reviews in the data, a sample of 3,000 negative polarity reviews (customers with bad experiences) in the hotel and 3,000 positive polarity reviews (customers with good experiences) in the hotel is taken to prepare data set. The two-stage feature selection was applied, which first involved greedy selection method and then wrapper method to generate 37 most relevant features. An improved stacked decision tree (ISD) classifier) is built, which is further compared with state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms. All the tests are done using R-Studio.

Findings

The results showed that the new model was satisfactory overall with 80.77% accuracy after doing in-depth study with 50–50 split, 80.74% accuracy for 66–34 split and 80.25% accuracy for 80–20 split, when predicting the nature of the customers’ experience in the hotel, i.e. whether they are positive or negative.

Research limitations/implications

The implication of this research is to provide a showcase of how we can predict the polarity of potentially popular reviews. This helps the authors’ perspective to help the hotel industries to take corrective measures for the betterment of business and to promote useful positive reviews. This study also has some limitations like only English reviews are considered. This study was restricted to the data from trip-adviser website; however, a new data may be generated to test the credibility of the model. Only aspect-based sentiment classification is considered in this study.

Originality/value

Stacking machine learning techniques have been proposed. At first, state-of-the-art classifiers are tested on the given data, and then, three best performing classifiers (decision tree C5.0, random forest and support vector machine) are taken to build stack and to create ISD classifier.
Big data analytics and hotel guest experience: a critical analysis of the literature
Authors: Zarezadeh Zohreh Zara , Rastegar Raymond , Xiang Zheng
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Guest experience and satisfaction have been central constructs in the hospitality management literature for decades. In recent years, the use of big data as an increasing trending practice in hospitality research has been characterised as a modern approach that offers valuable insights into understanding and enhancing guest experience and satisfaction. Recognising such potential, both researchers and practitioners need to better understand big data’s application and contribution in the hospitality landscape. The purpose of this paper is to critically review and synthesise the literature to shed light on trends and extant patterns in the application of big data in hospitality, particularly in research focusing on hotel guest experience and satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is based on a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis literature review of academic journal articles in Google Scholar published up to the end of 2020.

Findings

By data types, user-generated content, especially online reviews and ratings, was at the centre of attention for hospitality-related big data research. By variables, the hospitality-related big data fell into two crucial factor categories: physical environment and guest-to-staff interactions.

Originality/value

This paper shows that big data research can create new insights into attributes that have been extensively researched in the hospitality field. It facilitates a thorough understanding of big data studies and provides valuable insights into future prospects for both researchers and practitioners.
Examining sustainable Shari’ah compliance under shirkah-ul-milk: does Shari’ah-compliant risk matter
Authors: Uddin Mohammad Nazim
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Shari’ah compliance has been a subject of debate to academics, Islamic scholars and practitioners since its inception in 1983. Besides a wide range of publications in Shari’ah compliance, only a few studies have examined Shari’ah-compliant risks especially among the Islamic banks. This paper aims to investigate the factors of Shari’ah-compliant risks in Shari’ah compliance under the Shirkah-ul-milk (hire purchase) in Bangladesh.

Design/methodology/approach

The investigation of Shari’ah compliant risks from both bankers and clients were gained via a structured questionnaire to acquire a better understanding of Islamic banking practices in Bangladesh. In analyzing the data, two empirical tests were used to draw inferences on Shari’ah-compliant risks–Shari’ah compliance relationship: the measurement model, a diagnostic test, was used to justify the reliability and validity of constructs, and the partial least squares structural equation modeling was applied to examine the hypotheses on the existent links between Shari’ah-compliant risks and Shari’ah compliance under Shirkahul-milk.

Findings

Unlike previous studies, the empirical evidence provides the pertinent attributes of Shari’ah-compliant risks, which are more significant in avoidance of the compliance of Shari’ah laws in banking operations. Such Shari’ah-compliant risks are significantly raised by various comprehensive, operational, environmental and distributional risks in banking that have failed to address fairness, justice and economic well-being at the transactional level.

Originality/value

A new empirical evidence focusing on the propagation of Shari’ah-compliant risks is preferred for effective Shari’ah compliance in operations as being an original structure of Islamic banks.
Revisiting financial inclusion-stability nexus: cross-country heterogeneity
Authors: Saha Mallika , Dutta Kumar Debasis
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the debated nexus of financial inclusion (FI) and financial stability (FS) in a comprehensive way, with several indicators of FI, considering nonlinearity and cross-country heterogeneity.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors introduce several indexes for FI by applying principal component analysis (PCA) and explore their impact on stability for a sample of 108 countries and subsamples based on income grouping as well as for pre- and post-crisis episodes over the period 2004–2017. To address the heterogeneity and endogeneity, the authors use the two-step quantile regression (2SQR), three-stage least square (3SLS) and two-step system-GMM (System-GMM).

Findings

The findings reveal that the relationship of FI and stability depends on the measurement of FI used and the heterogeneity of different macroeconomic factors. Besides, there is nonlinearity, irrespective of the measurement of inclusion used. The findings also confirm that the effect of FI is more prominent in countries with strong governance. The results are robust to several robustness validations, which could be useful for policymakers to align the divergence of these policies and ensure FS while expanding access to formal financial services.

Originality/value

This study makes an attempt to explore the reasons behind the debated empirical findings of the existing literature by revisiting the nexus using several disaggregated indexes, each representing individual dimension and a multidimensional index, examine the possible nonlinearity and investigate the conditioning effect of different macroeconomic factors that might play a significant role in this relationship.
Shariah auditing: analyzing the past to prepare for the future
Authors: Khatib Saleh F.A. , Abdullah Dewi Fariha , Al Amosh Hamzeh , Bazhair Ayman Hassan , Kabara Ali Shariff
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study aims to present a detailed investigation of Shariah audit research based on a systematic literature review.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 53 studies were collected from the Scopus and Web of Science databases following a systematic methodology. These studies were analyzed and evaluated based on the theoretical perspective, geographical distribution, research settings and themes background.

Findings

The findings indicate an increase in the literature on Shariah auditing over time, especially in the Malaysian context, with a dearth of research in other contexts and institutions (Takaful). It has been also revealed that the existing literature is still unclear about the effectiveness and consequences of effective Shariah auditing, pointing the need for more work on these areas. The authors outline opportunities for future Shariah auditing research.

Originality/value

The synthesized findings are helpful for policymakers and managers to understand better how research in Shariah auditing is developing and how to translate research findings into practice. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first research to comprehensively synthesize the literature on this topic and identify the potential opportunities for future research directions.