bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Geographical identification of the vulnerable groups during COVID-19 crisis: the typhoon eye effect and its boundary conditions
Authors: Tang Pok Man , Zhang Stephen X. , Li Chi Hon , Wei Feng 
Published: May 2020

AimAlthough some studies suggest the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is associated with negative consequences on physical health, our knowledge about the detrimental effects of COVID-19 on people’s mental health is still nascent. This study uses typhoon eye theory to offer insights in helping clinical psychiatrists to screen people with well-being issues during COVID-19 outbreak.MethodsWe collected survey data from working adults across different geographical areas in China on 20 and 21 February 2020 during the outbreak of COVID-19. The sample contains 308 working adults, who were in various parts of China, with varying distance to the epicenter of Wuhan.ResultsIndividual adults’ distance to the epicenter was negatively associated with life satisfaction (β = −0.235, 95% CI −0.450 to −0.020, p = 0.032). This association between distance and life satisfaction was significant only for adults who were young or had smaller family sizes. For example, the negative relationship was strongest when the individuals were in the age bracket of 20 years old (15.7%; β = −0.703, 95% CI −1.098 to −0.307; p = 0.001) and single (32.3%; β = −0.767, 95% CI −1.125 to −0.408; p < 0.001).ConclusionOur results that people’s well-being deteriorates by the distance from the epicenter for specific groups of people help guide mental healthcare providers towards the regions that are further away from the epicenter in the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. Meanwhile, our results indicate the practitioners should be cautious of using typhoon eye effect for individuals who were older or had a larger family size.
Ultra-Sensitive High-Resolution Profiling of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies for Detecting Early Seroconversion in COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Norman Maia , Gilboa Tal , Ogata Alana F. , Maley Adam M. , Cohen Limor , Cai Yongfei , Zhang Jun , Feldman Jared E. , Hauser Blake M. , Caradonna Timothy M. , Chen Bing , Schmidt Aaron G. , Alter Galit , Charles Richelle C. , Ryan Edward T. , Walt David R. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic continues to infect millions of people worldwide. In order to curb its spread and reduce morbidity and mortality, it is essential to develop sensitive and quantitative methods that identify infected individuals and enable accurate population-wide screening of both past and present infection. Here we show that Single Molecule Array assays detect seroconversion in COVID-19 patients as soon as one day after symptom onset using less than a microliter of blood. This multiplexed assay format allows us to quantitate IgG, IgM and IgA immunoglobulins against four SARS-CoV-2 targets, thereby interrogating 12 antibody isotype-viral protein interactions to give a high resolution profile of the immune response. Using a cohort of samples collected prior to the outbreak as well as samples collected during the pandemic, we demonstrate a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 100% during the first week of infection, and 100% sensitivity and specificity thereafter. This assay should become the gold standard for COVID19 serological profiling and will be a valuable tool for answering important questions about the heterogeneity of clinical presentation seen in the ongoing pandemic.
China’s effective control and other countries’ uncharted challenge against COVID-19: an epidemiological and modelling study
Authors: Zheng Lingling , Kang Qin , Liao Weiyao , Chen Xiujuan , Huang Shuai , Liu Dong , Xia Huimin , Tang Jinling , Liang Huiying 
Published: May 2020

AbstractBackgroundOn the present trajectory, COVID is inevitably becoming a global epidemic, leading to concerns regarding the pandemic potential in China and other countries.ObjectiveIn this study, we use the time-dependent reproduction number (Rt) to comprise the COVID transmissibility across different countries.MethodsWe used data from Jan 20, 2019, to Feb 29, 2020, on the number of newly confirmed cases, obtained from the reports published by the CDC, to infer the incidence of infectious over time. A two-step procedure was used to estimate the Rt. The first step used data on known index-secondary cases pairs, from publicly available case reports, to estimate the serial interval distribution. The second step estimated the Rt jointly from the incidence data and the information data in the first step. Rt was then used to simulate the epidemics across all major cities in China and typical countries worldwide.ResultsBased on a total of 126 index-secondary cases pairs from 4 international regions, we estimated that the serial interval for SARS-2-CoV was 4.18 (IQR 1.92 – 6.65) days. Domestically, Rt of China, Hubei province, Wuhan had fallen below 1.0 on 9 Feb, 10 Feb and 13 Feb (Rt were 0.99±0.02, 0.99±0.02 and 0.96±0.02), respectively. Internationally, as of 26 Feb, statistically significant periods of COVID spread (Rt >1) were identified for most regions, except for Singapore (Rt was 0.92±0.17).ConclusionsThe epidemic in China has been well controlled, but the worldwide pandemic has not been well controlled. Worldwide preparedness and vulnerability against COVID-19 should be regarded with more care.What is already known on this subject?The basic reproduction number (R0) and the-time-dependent reproduction number (Rt) are two important indicators of infectious disease transmission. In addition, Rt as a derivative of R0 could be used to assess the epidemiological development of the disease and effectiveness of control measures. Most current researches used data from earlier periods in Wuhan and refer to the epidemiological features of SARS, which are possibly biased. Meanwhile, there are fewer studies discussed the Rt of COVID-19. Current clinical and epidemiological data are insufficient to help us understand the full view of the potential transmission of this disease.What this study adds?We use up-to-data observation of the serial interval and cases arising from local transmission to calculate the Rt in different outbreak level area and every province in China as well as five-top sever outbreak countries and other overseas. By comparing the Rt, we discussed the situation of outbreak around the world.
Brazilian Modeling of COVID-19(BRAM-COD): a Bayesian Monte Carlo approach for COVID-19 spread in a limited data set context
Authors: Dana Samy , Simas Alexandre B. , Filardi Bruno A. , Rodriguez Rodrigo N. , Valiengo Leandro da Costa Lane , Gallucci-Neto Jose 
Published: May 2020

1ABSTRACT1.1BackgroundThe new coronavirus respiratory syndrome disease (COVID-19) pandemic has become a major health problem worldwide. Many attempts have been devoted to modeling the dynamics of new infection rates, death rates, and the impact of the disease on health systems and the world economy. Most of these modeling concepts use the Susceptible-Infectious-Susceptible (SIS) and Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovered (SEIR) compartmental models; however, wide imprecise outcomes in forecasting can occur with these models in the context of poor data, low testing levels, and a nonhomogeneous population.1.2ObjectivesTo predict Brazilian ICU beds demand over time and during COVID-19 pandemic “peak”.1.3MethodsIn the present study, we describe a Bayesian COVID-19 model combined with a Hamiltonian Monte Carlo algorithm to forecast quantitative predictions of infections, number of deaths and the demand for critical care beds in the next month in the Brazilian context of scarce data availability. We also estimated COVID-19 spread tendency in the state of São Paulo and forecasted the demand for critical care beds, as São Paulo is the epicenter of the Latin America pandemic.1.4ResultsOur model estimated that the number of infected individuals would be approximately 6.5 million (median) on April 25, 2020, and would reach 16 to 17 million (median) by the end of August 2020 in Brazil. The probability that an infected individual requires ICU-level care in Brazil is 0.5833%. Our model suggests that the current level of mitigation seen in São Paulo is sufficient to reach Rt < 1, thus attaining a “peak” in the short term. In São Paulo state, the total number of deaths is estimated to be around 9,000 (median) with the 2.5% quantile being 6,600 deaths and the 97.5% quantile being around 13,350 deaths. Also, São Paulo will not attain its maximum capacity of ICU beds if the current trend persists over the long term.1.5ConclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic should peak in Brazil between May 8 and May 20, 2020 with a fatality rate lower than that suggested in the literature. The northern and northeastern regions of Brazil will suffer from a lack of available ICU beds, the southern and central-western regions appear to have sufficient ICU beds, finally, the southeastern region seems to have enough ICU beds only if it shares private beds with the publicly funded Unified Health System (SUS). The model predicts that, if the current policies and population behavior are maintained throughout the forecasted period, by the end of August 2020, Brazil will have around 7.6% to 8.2% of its population immune to COVID-19.
Dominant extrafollicular B cell responses in severe COVID-19 disease correlate with robust viral-specific antibody production but poor clinical outcomes
Authors: Woodruff Matthew C. , Ramonell Richard P. , Cashman Kevin S. , Nguyen Doan C. , Saini Ankur Singh , Haddad Natalie , Ley Ariel M. , Kyu Shuya , Howell J. Christina , Ozturk Tugba , Lee Saeyun , Chen Weirong , Estrada Jacob , Morrison-Porter Andrea , Derrico Andrew , Anam Fabliha A. , Sharma Monika , Wu Henry , Le Sang N. , Jenks Scott A. , Tipton Christopher M. , Daiss John L. , Hu William T. , Lee F. Eun-Hyung , Sanz Ignacio 
Published: May 2020

Abstract/IntroductionA wide clinical spectrum has become a hallmark of theSARS-CoV-2(COVID-19) pandemic, although its immunologic underpinnings remain to be defined. We have performed deep characterization of B cell responses through high-dimensional flow cytometry to reveal substantial heterogeneity in both effector and immature populations. More notably, critically ill patients displayed hallmarks of extrafollicular B cell activation as previously described in autoimmune settings. Extrafollicular activation correlated strongly with large antibody secreting cell expansion and early production of high levels ofSARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies. Yet, these patients fared poorly with elevated inflammatory biomarkers, multi-organ failure, and death. Combined, the findings strongly indicate a major pathogenic role for immune activation in subsets of COVID-19 patients. Our study suggests that, as in autoimmunity, targeted immunomodulatory therapy may be beneficial in specific patient subpopulations that can be identified by careful immune profiling.
Effect of magnesium supplementation on circulating biomarkers of cardiovascular disease
Authors: Alonso Alvaro , Chen Lin Y. , Rudser Kyle D. , Norby Faye L. , Rooney Mary R. , Lutsey Pamela L. 
Published: May 2020

ABSTRACTBackgroundMagnesium supplementation may be effective for the prevention of cardiometabolic diseases, but mechanisms are unclear. Proteomic approaches can assist in identifying underlying mechanisms.MethodsWe collected repeated blood samples in 52 individuals enrolled in a double-blind trial which randomized participants 1:1 to oral magnesium supplementation (400 mg magnesium / day in the form of magnesium oxide) or matching placebo for 10 weeks. Plasma levels of 91 proteins were measured in baseline and follow-up samples using the Olink Cardiovascular Disease III proximity extension assay panel, and modeled as arbitrary units in log2scale. We evaluated the effect of oral magnesium supplementation on changes in protein levels and the baseline association between serum magnesium and protein levels. The Holm procedure was used to adjust for multiple comparisons.ResultsParticipants were 73% women, 94% white, and had a mean age of 62. Changes in proteins did not significantly differ between the two intervention groups after correction for multiple comparisons. The most statistically significant effects were on myoglobin [difference −0.319 log2units, 95% confidence interval (CI) (−0.550, −0.088), p = 0.008], tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase type 5 [−0.187, (−0.328, −0.045), p = 0.011], tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 13B [−0.181, (−0.332, −0.031), p = 0.019], ST2 protein [−0.198, (−0.363, −0.032), p =0.020], and interleukin-1 receptor type 1 [−0.144, (−0.273, −0.015), p = 0.029]. Similarly, none of the associations of baseline serum magnesium with protein levels were significant after correction for multiple comparisons.ConclusionThough we did not identify statistically significant effects of oral magnesium supplementation in this relatively small study, this study demonstrates the value of proteomic approaches for the investigation of mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of magnesium supplementation.Clinical Trials RegistrationClinicalTrials.govNCT02837328
Sex differences and Psychological Stress: Responses to the COVID-19 epidemic in China
Authors: Song Kangxing , Xu Rui , Stratton Terry D. , Kavcic Voyko , Luo Dan , Hou Fengsu , Bi Fengying , Jiao Rong , Yan Shiyan , Jiang Yang 
Published: May 2020

AbstractAbout 83000 COVID-19 patients were confirmed in China up to May 2020. The effects of this public health crisis - and the varied efforts to contains its spread - have altered individuals’ “normal” daily functioning. This impact on social, psychological, and emotional well-being remain relatively unexplored, especially the ways in which Chinese men and women experience and respond to potential behavioral-related stressors. A cross-sectional study was conducted in late February 2020. Demographic characteristics and residential living conditions were measured along with psychological stress and behavior responses to the COVID-19 epidemic. 3088 questionnaires were received: 1749 females (56.6%) and 1339 males (43.4%). The mean level of stress, as measured by a visual analog scale, was 3.4 (SD=2.4) - but differed significantly by sex. Besides sex, factors positively associated with stress included: age (≤45 years), employment (unsteady income, unemployed), risk infection population (exposed to COVID-19, completed medical observation), difficulties encountered (diseases, work/study, financial, mental), behaviors(higher desire for COVID-19 knowledge, more time spent on the COVID-19). “Protective” factors included frequently contact with colleagues, calmness, and psychological resilience. Males and females also differed significantly in adapting to current living/working status, coping with heating, and psychological support service needs. Among Chinese, self-reported stress related to the COVID-19 epidemic were significantly related to sex, age, employment, resilience and coping styles. Future responses to such public health threats may wish to provide sex- and/or age-appropriate supports for psychological health and emotional well-being to those at greatest risk of experiencing stress.
A surprising formula for the spread of Covid-19 under aggressive management
Authors: Cherednik Ivan 
Published: May 2020

AbstractWe propose an algebraic-type formula that describes with high accuracy the total number of detected infections for the Covid-19 pandemic in many countries. Our 2-phase formula can be used as a powerful forecasting tool. It is based on the author’s new theory of momentum management of epidemics; Bessel functions are employed. Its 3 parameters are the initial transmission rate, reflecting the viral fitness and “normal” frequency of contacts in the infected areas, and the intensity of prevention measures at phases 1, 2. Austria, Brazil, Germany, Japan, India, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, and the USA are considered. For the USA, all states are processed independently and some “interaction” is added; the forecasting software is provided.
Act early, save lives: managing COVID-19 in Greece
Authors: Ilias Gountas , Georgios Hillas , Kyriakos Souliotis 
Published: May 2020

AbstractObjectivesTo assess the impact of the implemented social distancing interventions (SD) in Greece.Study DesignA dynamic, discrete time, stochastic individual-based model was developed to simulate COVID-19 transmission.MethodsWe fit the transmission model to the observed trends in deaths and ICU beds use.ResultsIf Greece had not implemented the SD measures, the healthcare system would have been overwhelmed between 30 March and 4 of April. Additionally, the SD interventions averted 4360 deaths and prevent the healthcare system from overwhelmed.ConclusionsThe fast reflexes of the Greek government limit the burden of the Covid-19 outbreak.
Inflammatory markers in Covid-19 Patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Vaseghi Golnaz , Mansourian Marjan , Karimi Raheleh , Heshmat-Ghahdarijani Kiyan , Rouhi Paria , Shariati Mahfam , Javanmard Shaghayegh Haghjoo 
Published: May 2020

AbstractIntroductionDiagnosis of COVID-19 is based on clinical manifestation, history of exposure, positive findings on chest CT and laboratory tests. It has been shown that inflammation plays a role in pathogenesis of COVID-19.MethodWe used the necessary transformations to convert the median and IQR to mean and SD Random-effect model using Der Simonian, and Laird methods was used if heterogeneity between studies was significant, the homogeneity among studies was assessed with I2 Statistic, values above 50%, and for the chi-square test, P-values <0.1 was supposed statistically significantResultsTwelve studies were included in the analysis that all of which were conducted in China in the year 2020. The result of combining 12 articles with 772 participants showed that the pooled estimate of the mean of lymphocyte with 95% CI was (Mean: 1.01; 95% CI (0.76-1.26); p-value<0.001). About WBC the pooled result of 9 studies with 402 participants was (Mean: 5.11; 95% CI (3.90-6.32); p-value<0.001) Also the pooled mean estimate of 9 studies with 513 patients for the ratio of Neutrophil/lymphocyte was (Mean: 3.62; 95% CI (1.48-5.77); p-value=0.001). The pooled mean from the combination of 7 studies with 521 patients on CRP was (Mean: 28.75; 95% CI (8.04-49.46).ConclusionInflammatory Markers increase in patients with Covid-19, which can be a good indicator to find patients.
Integrative genomic analysis in African American children with asthma finds 3 novel loci associated with lung function
Authors: Goddard Pagé C. , Keys Kevin L. , Mak Angel C.Y. , Lee Eunice Yujung , Liu Amy K. , Samedy-Bates Lesly-Anne , Risse-Adams Oona , Contreras María G. , Elhawary Jennifer R. , Hu Donglei , Huntsman Scott , Oh Sam S. , Salazar Sandra , Eng Celeste , Himes Blanca E. , White Marquitta J. , Burchard Esteban G. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractBronchodilator drugs are commonly prescribed for treatment and management of obstructive lung function present with diseases such as asthma. Administration of bronchodilator medication can partially or fully restore lung function as measured by pulmonary function tests. The genetics of baseline lung function measures taken prior to bronchodilator medication has been extensively studied, and the genetics of the bronchodilator response itself has received some attention. However, few studies have focused on the genetics of post-bronchodilator lung function. To address this gap, we analyzed lung function phenotypes in 1,103 subjects from the Study of African Americans, Asthma, Genes, and Environment (SAGE), a pediatric asthma case-control cohort, using an integrative genomic analysis approach that combined genotype, locus-specific genetic ancestry, and functional annotation information. We integrated genome-wide association study (GWAS) results with an admixture mapping scan of three pulmonary function tests (FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC) taken before and after albuterol bronchodilator administration on the same subjects, yielding six traits. We identified 18 GWAS loci, and 5 additional loci from admixture mapping, spanning several known and novel lung function candidate genes. Most loci identified via admixture mapping exhibited wide variation in minor allele frequency across genotyped global populations. Functional fine-mapping revealed an enrichment of epigenetic annotations from peripheral blood mononuclear cells, fetal lung tissue, and lung fibroblasts. Our results point to three novel potential genetic drivers of pre- and post-bronchodilator lung function:ADAMTS1, RAD54B, andEGLN3.
A broad response to intracellular long-chain polyphosphate in human cells
Authors: Bondy-Chorney Emma , Abramchuk Iryna , Nasser Rawan , Holinier Charlotte , Denoncourt Alix , Baijal Kanchi , McCarthy Liam , Khacho Mireille , Lavallée-Adam Mathieu , Downey Michael 
Published: May 2020

AbstractPolyphosphates (PolyP) are composed of long chains of inorganic phosphates linked together by phosphoanhydride bonds. They are found in all kingdoms of life, playing roles in cell growth, infection, and blood coagulation. A resurgence in interest in polyP has shown links to diverse aspects of human disease. However, unlike in bacteria and lower eukaryotes, the mammalian enzymes responsible for polyP metabolism are not known. Many studies have resorted to adding polyP to cell culture media, but it is not clear if externally applied polyP enters the cell to impact signaling events or whether their effect is mediated exclusively by extracellular receptors. For the first time, we use RNA-seq and mass spectrometry to define a broad impact of polyP produced inside of mammalian cells via ectopic expression of theE. colipolyP synthetase Ppk1. RNA-seq demonstrates that Ppk1 expression impacts expression of over 350 genes enriched for processes related to transcription and cell motility. Analysis of proteins via label-free mass spectrometry identified over 100 changes with functional enrichment in cell migration. Follow up work suggests a role for internally-synthesized polyP in promoting activation of mTOR and ERK1/2-EGR1 signaling pathways implicated in cell growth and stress. Finally, fractionation analysis shows that polyP accumulated in multiple cellular compartments and was associated with the relocalization several nuclear/cytoskeleton proteins, including chromatin bound proteins DEK, TAF10, GTF2I and translation initiation factor eIF5b. Our work is the first to demonstrate that internally produced polyP can activate diverse signaling pathways in human cells.Significance StatementFor many years following its discovery in 1890, polyphosphates (polyP) were dismissed as evolutionary fossils. Best understood for its role in bacteria and yeast, our understanding of polyP in mammals remains rudimentary because the enzymes that synthesize and degrade polyP in mammalian systems are currently unknown. In our work, we carried out large-scale transcriptome and proteome approaches on human cells designed to accumulate internally produced polyP via ectopic expression of a bacterial polyP synthetase. Our work is the first to systematically assess the impact of increased intracellular polyP.