bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on well-being and virtual care for people living with dementia and care partners living in the community
Authors: Roach P , Zwiers A , Cox E , Fischer K , Charlton A , Josephson CB , Patten SB , Seitz D , Ismail Z , Smith EE 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated public health measures that have impacted the provision of care for people living with dementia and their families. Additionally, the isolation that results from social distancing may be harming well-being for families, as formal and informal supports become less accessible. For those with living with dementia and experiencing agitation, social distancing may be even harder to maintain, or social distancing could potentially aggravate dementia-related neuropsychiatric symptoms. To understand the lived experience of social and physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada we remotely interviewed 21 participants who normally attend a dementia specialty clinic in Calgary, Alberta, during a period where essential businesses were closed and healthcare had abruptly transitioned to telemedicine. The impacts of the public health measures in response to the pandemic emerged in three main categories of experience: 1) personal; 2) health services; and 3) health status (of both person living with dementia and care partner). This in-depth understanding of the needs and experiences of the pandemic for people living with dementia suggests that innovative means are urgently needed to facilitate provision of remote medicine and also social interaction and integration.
Binocular integration of perceptually suppressed visual information in amblyopia
Authors: Chow Amy , Silva Andrew E. , Tsang Katelyn , Ng Gabriel , Ho Cindy , Thompson Benjamin 
Published: June 2020

AbstractAbnormal visual experience during an early critical period of visual cortex development can lead to a neurodevelopmental disorder of vision called amblyopia. A key feature of amblyopia is interocular suppression, whereby information from the amblyopic eye is blocked from conscious awareness when both eyes are open. Suppression of the amblyopic eye is thought to occur at an early stage of visual processing and to be absolute. Using a binocular rivalry paradigm, we demonstrate that suppressed visual information from the amblyopic eye remains available for binocular integration and can influence overall perception of stimuli. This finding reveals that suppressed visual information continues to be represented within the brain even when it is blocked from conscious awareness by chronic pathological suppression. These results have direct implications for the clinical management of amblyopia.
FEAT: A Flexible, Efficient and Accurate Test for COVID-19
Authors: Fang Linjiajie , Jing Bing-Yi , Ling Shen , Yang Qing 
Published: June 2020

AbstractEarly detection of COVID-19 is critical in mitigating the spread of the virus. Commonly used tests include nucleic acid detection, antibodies detection via blood testing and CT imaging. Some tests are accurate but time-consuming, while others are cheaper but less accurate. Exactly which test to use is constrained by various considerations, such as availability, cost, accuracy and efficiency. In this paper, we propose a Flexible, Efficient and Accurate Test (FEAT). FEAT is based on group testing with simple but careful design by incorporating ideas such as close contact cliques and repeated tests. FEAT could dramatically improve the efficiency and/or accuracy for any existing test. For example, for accurate but slow test such as RT-PCR, FEAT can improve efficiency by multiple times without compromising accuracy. On the other hand, for fast but inaccurate tests, FEAT can sharply lower the false negative rates (FNR) and greatly increase efficiency. Theoretical justifications are provided. We point out some scenarios where the FEAT can be effectively employed.
Impaired glucose metabolism in patients with diabetes, prediabetes and obesity is associated with severe Covid-19
Authors: Smith Stephen M. , Boppana Avinash , Traupman Julie A. , Unson Enrique , Maddock Daniel A. , Chao Kathy , Dobesh David P. , Connor Ruth I. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundIdentification of risk factors of severe Covid-19 is critical for improving therapies and understanding SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis.MethodsWe analyzed 184 patients hospitalized for Covid-19 in Livingston, New Jersey for clinical characteristics associated with severe disease.ResultsThe majority of Covid-19 patients had diabetes mellitus (DM) (62.0%), Pre-DM (23.9%) with elevated FBG, or a BMI > 30 with normal HbA1C (4.3%). SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with new and persistent hyperglycemia in 29 patients, including several with normal HbA1C levels. Forty-four patients required intubation, which occurred significantly more often in patients with DM as compared to non-diabetics.ConclusionsSevere Covid-19 occurs in the presence of impaired glucose metabolism in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The association of dysregulated glucose metabolism and severe Covid-19 suggests a previously unrecognized manifestation of primary SARS-CoV-2 infection. Exploration of pathways by which SARS-CoV-2 impacts glucose metabolism is critical for understanding disease pathogenesis and developing therapies.
Cohort-based approach to understanding the roles of generation and serial intervals in shaping epidemiological dynamics
Authors: Park Sang Woo , Sun Kaiyuan , Champredon David , Li Michael , Bolker Benjamin M. , Earn David J. D. , Weitz Joshua S. , Grenfell Bryan T. , Dushoff Jonathan 
Published: June 2020

AbstractGeneration intervals and serial intervals are critical quantities for characterizing outbreak dynamics. Generation intervals characterize the time between infection and transmission, while serial intervals characterize the time between the onset of symptoms in a chain of transmission. They are often used interchangeably, leading to misunderstanding of how these intervals link the epidemic growth raterand the reproduction numberℛ. Generation intervals provide a mechanistic link betweenrandℛbut are harder to measure via contact tracing. While serial intervals are easier to measure from contact tracing, recent studies suggest that the two intervals give different estimates ofℛfromr. We present a general framework for characterizing epidemiological delays based on cohorts (i.e., a group of individuals that share the same event time, such as symptom onset) and show thatforward-lookingserial intervals, which correctly linkℛwithr, are not the same as “intrinsic” serial intervals, but instead change withr. We provide a heuristic method for addressing potential biases that can arise from not accounting for changes in serial intervals across cohorts and apply the method to estimatingℛfor the COVID-19 outbreak in China using serial-interval data — our analysis shows that using incorrectly defined serial intervals can severely bias estimates. This study demonstrates the importance of early epidemiological investigation through contact tracing and provides a rationale for reassessing generation intervals, serial intervals, andℛestimates, for COVID-19.Significance StatementThe generation- and serial-interval distributions are key, but different, quantities in outbreak analyses. Recent theoretical studies suggest that two distributions give different estimates of the reproduction numberℛfrom the exponential growth rater; however, both intervals, by definition, describe disease transmission at the individual level. Here, we show that the serial-interval distribution, defined from the correct reference time and cohort, gives the same estimate ofℛas the generation-interval distribution. We then apply our framework to serial-interval data from the COVID-19 outbreak in China. While our study supports the use of serial-interval distributions in estimatingℛ, it also reveals necessary changes to the current understanding and applications of serial-interval distribution.
Profiles of Social Distance Compliance: Psychological and Situational Predictors of Risky Behavior during COVID-19
Authors: Haupt Michael Robert , Weiss Staci Meredith , Chiu Michelle , Cuomo Raphael , Chein Jason M. , Mackey Tim 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to explore the factors underlying variability in compliance with CDC guidelines in response to the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. To do this, we examined the frequency of once ordinary, but newly risky behavior (as deemed by CDC guidelines) in a sample of 482 MTurkers. We ran analyses probing the situational and dispositional variables that predicted variance in risky behavior using data-driven and hypothesis-generated approaches. We found situational and dispositional variables contributed unique variance to risky behavior, controlling for variability accounted for by demographic factors. More frequent report of risky activity was associated with higher extraversion, need for cognitive closure, behavior activation, and perceived resource scarcity; in contrast, more frequent report of risky activity was associated with less empathy and living space access, as well as younger age. To break down these findings, we used a cluster analysis to profile individuals, using only situational and dispositional variables belonging to seven clusters. Combined with testing differences in risk taking by cluster identity, we suggest this profile approach might allow consideration of multi-faceted attributes that influence adherence with public health guidance in the context of health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic.
A tertiary center experience of multiple myeloma patients with COVID-19: lessons learned and the path forward
Authors: Wang Bo , Van Oekelen Oliver , Mouhieddine Tarek H. , Del Valle Diane Marie , Richter Joshua , Cho Hearn Jay , Richard Shambavi , Chari Ajai , Gnjatic Sacha , Merad Miriam , Jagannath Sundar , Parekh Samir , Madduri Deepu 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus, has resulted in over 100,000 deaths in the United States. Our institution has treated over 2,000 COVID-19 patients during the pandemic in New York City. The pandemic directly impacted cancer patients and the organization of cancer care. Mount Sinai Hospital has a large and diverse multiple myeloma (MM) population. Herein, we report the characteristics of COVID-19 infection and serological response in MM patients in a large tertiary care institution in New York.MethodsWe performed a retrospective study on a cohort of 58 patients with a plasma-cell disorder (54 MM, 4 smoldering MM) who developed COVID-19 between March 1, 2020 and April 30, 2020. We report epidemiological, clinical and laboratory characteristics including persistence of viral detection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing, treatments initiated, and outcomes.ResultsOf the 58 patients diagnosed with COVID-19, 36 were hospitalized and 22 were managed at home. The median age was 67 years; 52% of patients were male and 63% were non-white. Hypertension (64%), hyperlipidemia (62%), obesity (37%), diabetes mellitus (28%), chronic kidney disease (24%) and lung disease (21%) were the most common comorbidities. In the total cohort, 14 patients (24%) died. Older age (>70 years), male sex, cardiovascular risk, and patients not in complete remission (CR) or stringent CR were significantly (p<0.05) associated with hospitalization. Among hospitalized patients, laboratory findings demonstrated elevation of traditional inflammatory markers (CRP, ferritin, D-dimer) and a significant (p<0.05) association between elevated inflammatory markers, severe hypogammaglobulinemia, non-white race, and mortality. Ninety-six percent (22/23) of patients developed antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 at a median of 32 days after initial diagnosis. Median time to PCR negativity was 43 (range 19-68) days from initial positive PCR.ConclusionsDrug exposure and MM disease status at the time of contracting COVID-19 had no bearing on mortality. Mounting a severe inflammatory response to SARS-CoV-2 and severe hypogammaglobulinemia were associated with higher mortality. The majority of patients mounted an antibody response to SARS-CoV-2. These findings pave a path to identification of vulnerable MM patients who need early intervention to improve outcome in future outbreaks of COVID-19.
CoVID-19 in Singapore: Impact of Contact Tracing and Self-awareness on Healthcare Demand
Authors: Huang Qiuyang , Wang Lin , Yang Yongjian , Huang Liping , Du Zhanwei , Xiao Gaoxi 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundA great concern around the globe now is to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic via contact tracing. Analyzing the control strategies during the first five months of 2020 in Singapore is important to estimate the effectiveness of contacting tracing measures.MethodsWe developed a mathematical model to simulate the COVID-19 epidemic in Singapore, with local cases stratified into 5 categories according to the conditions of contact tracing and self-awareness. Key parameters of each category were estimated from local surveillance data. We also simulated a set of possible scenarios to predict the effects of contact tracing and self-awareness for the following month.FindingsDuring January 23 - March 16, 2020, the success probabilities of contact tracing and self-awareness were estimated to be 31% (95% CI 28%-33%) and 54% (95% CI 51%-57%), respectively. During March 17 - April 7, 2020, several social distancing measures (e.g., limiting mass gathering) were introduced in Singapore, which, however, were estimated with minor contribution to reduce the non-tracing reproduction number per local case (Rι,2). If contact tracing and self-awareness cannot be further improved, we predict that the COVID-19 epidemic will continue to spread in Singapore ifRι,2≥ 1.5.ConclusionContact tracing and self-awareness can mitigate the COVID-19 transmission, and can be one of the key strategies to ensure a sustainable reopening after lifting the lockdown.SummaryWe evaluate the efficiency of contact tracing and self-awareness in Singapore’s early-stage control of COVID-19. Then use a branching model to simulate and evaluate the possible prospective outcomes of Singapore’s COVID-19 control in different scenarios.
Protocol for partnering with peers intervention to improve medication adherence among African Americans with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Shiyanbola Olayinka O , Maurer Martha , C Ward Earlise , Sharp Lisa , Lee Jonas , Tarfa Adati 
Published: June 2020

AbstractAfrican Americans (AAs) with diabetes are more likely to develop diabetes-related complications and have the highest diabetes-related mortality rates, than all other racial/ethnic groups. These health disparities are primarily due to poor medication adherence (defined as not taking medications as prescribed). AAs have substantially lower adherence to diabetes medications than whites, which contributes to higher rates of diabetes-related complications, such as amputations and strokes. There is a critical need to develop diabetes self-management interventions that improve medication adherence, clinical outcomes and in turn reduce morbidity and mortality among AAs with diabetes. Focusing on psychosocial factors such as health beliefs, self-efficacy and patient-provider communication is instrumental to improving AAs medication adherence. To address this need, we developed, the Peers Supporting Health Literacy, Self-Efficacy, Self-Advocacy, and Adherence (Peers LEAD) intervention, which provides AAs with culturally adapted diabetes and medication beliefs information, one-on-one peer support from AAs with diabetes, and communication and self-efficacy skill development to enhance medication adherence. This pilot research is a pre-post single group intervention study design which will be conducted in two phases using a community engaged approach. The objective is to test the Peers LEAD intervention in Phase 1, and then examine specific intervention elements for refinement in Phase 2. We will employ both quantitative and qualitative methods to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and outcomes of Peers LEAD. Building on established community partnerships, we plan to recruit and enroll 30 Peer Buddies and 20 Peer Ambassadors to participate in the intervention. By utilizing patient feedback to refine Peers LEAD and piloting it to examine its feasibility, we will generate evidence regarding its real world use and provide support for a randomized controlled trial of its impact on AAs diabetes medication adherence and clinical outcomes.
AIM2 Inflammasome Mediates Hallmark Neuropathological Alterations and Cognitive Impairment in a Mouse Model of Vascular Dementia
Authors: Poh Luting , Fann David Y. , Wong Peiyan , Lim Hong Meng , Foo Sok Lin , Kang Sung-Wook , Rajeev Vismitha , Selvaraji Sharmelee , Iyer Vinaya Rajagopal , Parathy Nageiswari , Khan Mohammad Badruzzaman , Hess David C. , Jo Dong-Gyu , Drummond Grant R. , Sobey Christopher G. , Lai Mitchell K.P. , Chen Christopher Li-Hsian , Lim Lina H. K. , Arumugam Thiruma V. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractChronic cerebral hypoperfusion is associated with vascular dementia (VaD). Cerebral hypoperfusion may initiate complex molecular and cellular inflammatory pathways that contribute to long-term cognitive impairment and memory loss. Here we used a bilateral common carotid artery stenosis (BCAS) mouse model of VaD to investigate its effect on the innate immune response – particularly the inflammasome signaling pathway. Comprehensive analyses revealed that chronic cerebral hypoperfusion induces a complex temporal expression and activation of inflammasome components and their downstream products (IL-1β and IL-18) in different brain regions, and promotes activation of apoptotic and pyroptotic cell death pathways. Polarized glial cell activation, white matter lesion formation and hippocampal neuronal loss also occurred in a spatiotemporal manner. Moreover, in AIM2 knockout mice we observed attenuated inflammasome-mediated production of proinflammatory cytokines, apoptosis and pyroptosis, as well as resistance to chronic microglial activation, myelin breakdown, hippocampal neuronal loss, and behavioural and cognitive deficits following BCAS. Hence, we have demonstrated that activation of the AIM2 inflammasome substantially contributes to the pathophysiology of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion-induced brain injury and may therefore represent a promising therapeutic target for attenuating cognitive impairment in VaD.
Phenotype Spectrum reflects Synergies among the Cell Architecture over Stages of the Cell Cycle
Authors: Lan Tian , Yu Meng , Chen Weisheng , Yin Jun , Chang Hsiang-Tsun , Tang Shan , Zhao Ye , Svoronos Spyros , Wong Samuel W. K. , Tseng Yiider 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe heterogeneity of cell phenotypes remains a barrier in progressing cell research and a challenge in conquering cancer-related drug resistance. Cell morphology, the most direct property of cell phenotype, evolves along the progression of the cell cycle; meanwhile, cell motility, the dynamic property of cell phenotype, also alters over the cell cycle. However, a quantifiable research understanding the strict relationship between the cell cycle and cell migration is missing. Herein, we separately elucidate the correspondence of single NIH 3T3 fibroblast migratory behaviors with the G1, S, and G2 phases of the cell cycle, an underlying property of proliferation. The results show that synergies among the highly spatiotemporal arrangements of signals in Rho GTPases and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, p21Cip1, and p27Kip1coordinates proliferation and migration. Taken together, we explain the synergies among these processes through providing an interactive molecular mechanism between the cell cycle and cell migration and demonstrate that both cell morphology and the dynamic subcellular behavior are homogenous within each stage of the cell cycle phases, posing potential implications in countering drug resistance.
Orphan nuclear receptor COUP-TFII drives the myofibroblast metabolic shift leading to fibrosis
Authors: Li Li , Galichon Pierre , Xiao Xiaoyan , Figueroa-Ramirez Ana C , Tamayo Diana , Lee Jake June-Koo , Kalocsay Marian , Gonzalez-Sanchez David , Chancay Maria S , McCracken Kyle , Lemos Dario , Lee Nathan , Ichimura Takaharu , Mori Yutaro , Valerius M. Todd , Sun Xiaoming , Edelman Elazer R , Bonventre Joseph V 
Published: June 2020

ABSTRACTRecent studies demonstrated that metabolic disturbance, such as augmented glycolysis, contributes to fibrosis. The molecular regulation of this metabolic perturbation in fibrosis, however, has been elusive. COUP-TFII (also known as NR2F2) is an important regulator of glucose and lipid metabolism. Its contribution to organ fibrosis is undefined. Here, we found increased COUP-TFII expression in myofibroblasts in kidneys of patients with chronic kidney disease, fibrotic lungs of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, fibrotic human kidney organoids, and fibrotic mouse kidneys after injury. Genetic ablation of COUP-TFII in mice resulted in attenuation of injury-induced kidney fibrosis. A non-biased proteomic study revealed the suppression of fatty acid oxidation and the enhancement of glycolysis pathways in COUP-TFII overexpressing fibroblasts. Overexpression of COUP-TFII in fibroblasts was sufficient to enhance glycolysis and increase alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA) and collagen1 levels. Knockout of COUP-TFII decreased glycolysis and collagen1 levels in fibroblasts. Chip-qPCR assays revealed the binding of COUP-TFII on the promoter of PGC1α, a critical regulator of mitochondrial genesis and oxidative metabolism. Overexpression of COUP-TFII reduced the cellular level of PGC1α. In conclusion, COUP-TFII mediates fibrosis by serving as a key regulator of the shift in cellular metabolism of interstitial pericytes/fibroblasts from oxidative respiration to aerobic glycolysis. The fibrogenic response may share a common pathway in different organ injury and failure. Targeting COUP-TFII serves as a novel treatment approach for mitigating fibrosis in chronic kidney disease and potential other organ fibrosis.
Several FDA-approved drugs effectively inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infectionin vitro
Authors: Xiong Hua-Long , Cao Jia-Li , Shen Chen-Guang , Ma Jian , Qiao Xiao-Yang , Shi Tian-Shu , Yang Yang , Ge Sheng-Xiang , Zhang Jun , Zhang Tian-Ying , Yuan Quan , Xia Ning-Shao 
Published: June 2020

AbstractTo identify drugs that are potentially used for the treatment of COVID-19, the potency of 1403 FDA-approved drugs were evaluated using a robust pseudovirus assay and the candidates were further confirmed by authentic SARS-CoV-2 assay. Four compounds, Clomiphene (citrate), Vortioxetine, Vortioxetine (hydrobromide) and Asenapine (hydrochloride), showed potent inhibitory effects in both pseudovirus and authentic virus assay. The combination of Clomiphene (citrate), Vortioxetine and Asenapine (hydrochloride) is much more potent than used alone, with IC50 of 0.34 μM.