bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Motion Sifnos: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study demonstrating the effectiveness of tradipitant in the treatment of motion sickness
Authors: Polymeropoulos Vasilios M. , É. Czeisler Mark , Gibson Mary M. , Anderson Austin A. , Miglo Jane , Wang Jingyuan , Xiao Changfu , Polymeropoulos Christos M. , Birznieks Gunther , Polymeropoulos Mihael H. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBackgroundNovel therapies are needed for the treatment of motion sickness given the inadequate relief, and bothersome and dangerous adverse effects of currently approved therapies. Neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptor antagonists have the potential to be effective in improving the symptoms of motion sickness, given the involvement of Substance P in nauseogenic and emetic pathways and the expression of NK1 receptors in the gastrointestinal system. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of tradipitant, a novel NK1 receptor antagonist, in preventing motion sickness in variable sea conditions.MethodsA total of 126 adults participated in the Motion Sifnos Study. Groups of participants were assigned to one of seven boat trips lasting approximately four hours on the Pacific Ocean. Participants were randomized 1:1 to tradipitant 170 mg or placebo and completed the Motion Sickness Severity Scale (MSSS) every 30 minutes, in addition to other assessments. Severity of motion sickness was assessed with the incidence of vomiting and the MSSS.ResultsParticipants on tradipitant had a significantly lower incidence of vomiting as compared to those on placebo across all boat trips (tradipitant=17.5%, placebo=39.7%, p=0.0039). For trips exposed to rough sea conditions, the difference in the incidence of vomiting between the groups was more dramatic (tradipitant=15.79%, placebo=72.22%, p=0.0009). Across these trips, motion sickness symptoms were significantly lower in the tradipitant group compared to the placebo group (tradipitant=3.19, placebo=4.57, p=0.0235).DiscussionTradipitant has the potential to be an effective therapy for the prevention of vomiting and treatment of nausea in people with motion sickness.
Rate and synchrony at the level of the auditory nerve are not sufficient to account for behaviorally estimated cochlear compression - a modeling study
Authors: Encina-Llamas Gerard , Lindahl Jens Thuren , Epp Bastian 
Published: April 2020

AbstractMethods based on psychoacoustical forward masking have been proposed to estimate the local compressive growth of the basilar membrane (BM). This results from normal outer hair cells function, which leads to level-dependent amplification of BM vibration. Psychoacoustical methods assume that cochlear processing can be isolated from the response of the overall system, that sensitivity is dominated by the tonotopic location of the probe and that the effect of forward masking is different for on- and off-characteristic frequency (CF) maskers. In the present study, a computational model of the auditory nerve (AN) in combination with signal detection theory was used to test these assumptions. The underlying idea was that, for the BM compression to be estimated using psychoacoustics, enough information should be preserved at the level of the AN, because this forms an information bottleneck in the ascending auditory pathway. The simulated AN responses were quantified in terms of rate and synchrony for different types of AN fibers and CFs. The results show that, when using a low-intensity probe, local activity at the tonotopic location of the probe frequency is the dominant contributor to sensitivity in the healthy auditory system. However, on- and off-CF maskers produced similar forward masking onto the probe, which was mainly encoded by high- and to little extent by medium-spontaneous rate fibers. The simulation results suggested that the estimate of compression based on the behavioral experiments cannot be derived from sensitivity at the level of the AN but may require additional contributions, supporting previous physiological studies.
ESTIMATING COVID-19 INFECTIONS IN HOSPITAL WORKERS IN THE UNITED STATES
Authors: Razzak Junaid A. , Bhatti Junaid A. , Tahir Ramzan , Pasha-Razzak Omrana 
Published: April 2020

ABSTRACTObjectiveWe estimated that how many hospital workers in the United States (US) might get infected or die in the COVID-19 pandemic. We also estimated the impact of personal protective equipment (PPE) and age restrictions on these estimates.MethodsOur secondary analyses estimated hospital worker infections in the US based on health worker infection and death rates per 100 deaths from COVID-19 in Hubei and Italy. We used Monte Carlo simulations to compute point estimates with 95% confidence intervals for hospital worker infections in the US based on the two scenarios. We computed potential decrease in infections if the PPE were available only to those involved in direct care of COVID-19 patients (∼ 30%) and if workers aged ≥ 60 years are restricted from patient care. Estimates were adjusted for hospital workers per bed in the US compared to China and Italy.ResultsThe hospital worker infections per 100 deaths were 108.2 in Hubei and 94.1 in Italy. Based on Hubei scenario, we estimated that about 53,640 US hospital workers (95% CI: 43,160 to 62,251) might get infected from COVID-19. The Italian scenario suggested 53,097 US hospital worker (95% CI: 37,133 to 69,003) might get infected during the pandemic. Availability of PPE to high-risk workers could reduce counts to 28,100 (95% CI: 23,048 to 33,242) considering Hubei and to 28,354 (95% CI: 19,829 to 36,848) considering Italy. Restricting hospital workers aged ≥ 60 years from direct patient care reduced counts to 1,985 (95% CI: 1,627 to 2,347) considering Hubei and to 2,002 (95% CI: 1,400 to 2,602) considering the Italian scenario.ConclusionWe estimated significant burden of illness due to COVID-19 if no strategies are adopted. Making PPE available to all hospital workers and reducing exposure of hospital workers above the age of 60 could have significant reductions in hospital worker infections.VISUAL ABSTRACTFigure 1.Estimated number of COVID-19 related infections among healthcare workers in the United States based on Hubei and Italian scenarios
INFEKTA: A General Agent-based Model for Transmission of Infectious Diseases: Studying the COVID-19 Propagation in Bogotá - Colombia
Authors: Gomez Jonatan , Prieto Jeisson , Leon Elizabeth , Rodríguez Arles 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe transmission dynamics of the coronavirus - COVID-19-have challenged humankind at almost every level. Currently, research groups around the globe are trying to figure out such transmission dynamics using different scientific and technological approaches. One of those is by using mathematical and computational models like the compartmental model or the agent-based models. In this paper, a general agent-based model, called INFEKTA, that combines the transmission dynamics of an infectious disease with agents (individuals) that can move on a complex network of accessible places defined over a Euclidean space representing a real town or city is proposed. The applicability of INFEKTA is shown by modeling the transmission dynamics of the COVID-19 in Bogotá city, the capital of Colombia.
Prediction of the clinical outcome of COVID-19 patients using T lymphocyte subsets with 340 cases from Wuhan, China: a retrospective cohort study and a web visualization tool
Authors: Liu Qibin , Fang Xuemin , Tokuno Shinichi , Chung Ungil , Chen Xianxiang , Dai Xiyong , Liu Xiaoyu , Xu Feng , Wang Bing , Peng Peng 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBackgroundWuhan, China was the epicenter of the 2019 coronavirus outbreak. As a designated hospital, Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital has received over 700 COVID-19 patients. With the COVID-19 becoming a pandemic all over the world, we aim to share our epidemiological and clinical findings with the global community.MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, we studied 340 confirmed COVID-19 patients from Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital, including 310 discharged cases and 30 death cases. We analyzed their demographic, epidemiological, clinical and laboratory data and implemented our findings into an interactive, free access web application.FindingsBaseline T lymphocyte Subsets differed significantly between the discharged cases and the death cases in two-sample t-tests: Total T cells (p < 2·2e-16), Helper T cells (p < 2·2e-16), Suppressor T cells (p = 1·8-14), and TH/TS (Helper/Suppressor ratio, p = 0·0066). Multivariate logistic regression model with death or discharge as the outcome resulted in the following significant predictors: age (OR 1·05, p 0·04), underlying disease status (OR 3·42, p 0·02), Helper T cells on the log scale (OR 0·22, p 0·00), and TH/TS on the log scale (OR 4·80, p 0·00). The McFadden pseudo R-squared for the logistic regression model is 0·35, suggesting the model has a fair predictive power.InterpretationWhile age and underlying diseases are known risk factors for poor prognosis, patients with a less damaged immune system at the time of hospitalization had higher chance of recovery. Close monitoring of the T lymphocyte subsets might provide valuable information of the patient’s condition change during the treatment process. Our web visualization application can be used as a supplementary tool for the evaluation.FundingThe authors report no funding.
A Highly Scalable and Rapidly Deployable RNA Extraction-Free COVID-19 Assay by Quantitative Sanger Sequencing
Authors: Chandler-Brown Devon , Bueno Anna M. , Atay Oguzhan , Tsao David S. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThere is currently an urgent unmet need to increase coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing capability to effectively respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the current shortage in RNA extraction reagents as well as limitations in qPCR protocols have resulted in bottlenecks in testing capacity. Herein, we describe a novel molecular diagnostic for COVID-19 based on Sanger sequencing. This assay uses the addition of a frame-shifted spike-in, a modified PCR master mix, and custom Sanger sequencing data analysis to detect and quantify SARS-CoV-2 RNA at a limit of detection comparable to existing qPCR-based assays, at 10-20 genome copy equivalents. Crucially, our assay was able to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA from viral particles suspended in transport media that was directly added to the PCR master mix, suggesting that RNA extraction can be skipped entirely without any degradation of test performance. Since Sanger sequencing instruments are widespread in clinical laboratories and commonly have built-in liquid handling automation to support up to 3840 samples per instrument per day, the widespread adoption of qSanger COVID-19 diagnostics can unlock more than 1,000,000 tests per day in the US.
Role of RNA Guanine Quadruplexes in Favoring the Dimerization of SARS Unique Domain in Coronaviruses
Authors: Hognon Cécilia , Miclot Tom , Iriepa Cristina Garcia , Francés-Monerris Antonio , Grandemange Stephanie , Terenzi Alessio , Marazzi Marco , Barone Giampaolo , Monari Antonio 
Published: April 2020

ABSTRACTCoronaviruses may produce severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). As a matter of fact, a new SARS-type virus, SARS-CoV-2, is responsible of a global pandemic in 2020 with unprecedented sanitary and economic consequences for most countries. In the present contribution we study, by all-atom equilibrium and enhanced sampling molecular dynamics simulations, the interaction between the SARS Unique Domain and RNA guanine quadruplexes, a process involved in eluding the defensive response of the host thus favoring viral infection of human cells. Our results evidence two stable binding modes involving an interaction site spanning either the protein dimer interface or only one monomer. The free energy profile unequivocally points to the dimer mode as the thermodynamically favored one. The effect of these binding modes in stabilizing the protein dimer was also assessed, being related to its biological role in assisting SARS viruses to bypass the host protective response. This work also constitutes a first step of the possible rational design of efficient therapeutic agents aiming at perturbing the interaction between SARS Unique Domain and guanine quadruplexes, hence enhancing the host defenses against the virus.TOC GRAPHICS
Clinical evaluation of a SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR assay on a fully automated system for rapid on-demand testing in the hospital setting
Authors: Nörz Dominik , Fischer Nicole , Schultze Alexander , Kluge Stefan , Mayer-Runge Ulrich , Aepfelbacher Martin , Pfefferle Susanne , Lütgehetmann Marc 
Published: April 2020

1AbstractBackgroundThe ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic presents a unique challenge for diagnostic laboratories around the world. Automation of workflows in molecular diagnostics are instrumental for coping with the large number of tests ordered by clinicians, as well as providing fast-tracked rapid testing for highly urgent cases. In this study we evaluated a SARS-CoV-2 LDT for the NeuMoDx 96 system, a fully automated device performing extraction and real-time PCR.MethodsA publicly available SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR assay was adapted for the automated system. Analytical performance was evaluated using in-vitro transcribed RNA and clinical performance was compared to the cobas 6800-based reference assay within the lab.ResultsThe NeuMoDx-sarbeco-LDT displayed good analytical performance with an LoD of 95.55 cp/ml and no false positives during evaluation of cross-reactivity. A total of 176 patient samples were tested with both the Sarbeco-LDT and the reference assay. Positive and negative agreement were 100% and 99.2% respectively. Invalid-rate was 6.3%.ConclusionThe NeuMoDx-sarbeco-LDT showed analytical and clinical performance comparable to the cobas6800-based reference assay. Due to its random-access workflow concept and rapid time-to-result of about 80 minutes, the device is very well suited for providing fast-tracked SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics for urgent clinical samples in the hospital setting.HighlightsA publicly available SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR assay was adapted and evaluated on the open mode of the NeuMoDx 96 system (Qiagen)The assay showed comparable analytical and clinical performance to the reference assayFast turn-around times (80 minutes) and random-access workflow of the system makes the assay well suited for urgent clinical samples.
New Epidemiological Model Suggestions Revealing Size of Epidemics Based on the COVID-19 Pandemic Example: Wavelength Models
Authors: Bulut Tevfik 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe main purpose of the study is to introduce the wavelength models developed to measure the size of outbreaks based on the COVID-19 example. In this way, the wavelengths of the outbreaks can be calculated, ensuring that the outbreaks are valid, reliable and easy to follow at the national and international level. Wavelength models consist of approved case, death, recovered case and net wavelength models. Thus, the size of the outbreak can be measured both individually and as a whole. COVID-19 cases of 181 countries were used to demonstrate the application of the models. The prominent findings in the applied wavelength models are as follows: the countries with the highest case wavelength are USA, Italy, Spain and Germany, respectively. However, Italy ranks first in the death wavelength, followed by Spain, the USA and France. On the other hand, China has taken the first place in the recovered case wavelength. This country was followed by Spain and Germany and Italy, respectively. Based on all these wavelength models mentioned, net wavelength lengths are calculated. According to the findings of net wavelengths obtained, Canada ranked first, followed by United Kingdom, USA and Italy, respectively.
Effectiveness of “Reducing Disability in Alzheimer’s Disease” among dyads with moderate dementia
Authors: Perales-Puchalt Jaime , Barton Kelli , Ptomey Lauren T , Niedens C. Michelle , Yeager Amy , Gilman Laura , Seymour Pam , George Amanda , Sprague Susan C. , Neira Antonio Mirás , Van Dyke Rik , Teri Linda , Vidoni Eric D 
Published: April 2020

AbstractInterventions such as Reducing Disability in Alzheimer’s Disease (RDAD) improve the health of care receiver-caregiver dyads but plans to implement it locally in regional community agencies yielded three changes: 1) reduced reliance on licensed clinicians, 2) centralized exercise interventionists and 3) more flexible delivery. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of the Kansas City RDAD implementation (RDAD-KC) among a non-probabilistic sample of dyads with moderate dementia, which addressed these changes. We hypothesized that dyads’ health would improve from baseline to the end-of-treatment. Outcomes improved (p<0.01) from pre to post-intervention: Behavioral symptom severity (range 0-36) decreased from 11.3 to 8.6, physical activity increased from 125.0 to 190.0 minutes/week, caregiver unmet needs (range 0-34) decreased from 10.6 to 5.6, caregiver behavioral symptom distress (0-60) decreased from 15.5 to 10.4 and caregiver strain (0-26) decreased from 11.1 to 9.7. This adapted implementation of RDAD leads to clinically meaningful improvements and might inform scaling-up.
Chest CT Scan of Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Wu Lianpin , Jin Qike , Chen Jie , He Jiawei , Dong Jianghu (James) 
Published: April 2020

AbstractIntroductionThis paper sought to investigate the clinical characteristic differences between suspected and confirmed patients with COVID-19 from CT scan to prevent and treat this infectious disease, since the coronavirus outbreak in the world has seriously affected the quality of life.MethodsWe proposed to use a retrospective case-control study to give a comparison between suspected patients and confirmed patients in the clinical characteristics.Results(56%) patients were confirmed for COVID-19 from suspected 167 patients. We find that elder people were more likely to be infected by COVID-19. Among the confirmed 94 patients, 2 (2%) patients were admitted to an intensive care unit, and 0 (0%) patients died during the study period. We find that images of CT scan of patients with a COVID-19 are significantly different from patients without a COVID-19.ConclusionsTo our best knowledge, it is the first time to use the case-control design to study the coronavirus disease, since it is particularly appropriate for investigating infectious disease outbreaks. The clinical treatment experience in this study can supply a guideline for treating COVID-19 as the number of the infected patients is increasing in the world. Compared with other studies, we find that the mortality rate and the intensive care unit rate can be reduced if patients can be treated timely in the right identification and detection with nucleic acid testing and chest CT scan. Therefore, we recommend nucleic acid testing and chest CT scan for the clinical treatment practice from this successful clinical treatment study.
A secure and rapid query-software for COVID-19 test results that can easily be integrated into the clinical workflow to avoid communication overload
Authors: Völkel Gunnar , Fürstberger Axel , Schwab Julian D. , Kühlwein Silke D. , Gscheidmeier Thomas , Kraus Johann M. , Groß Alexander , Kohlmayer Florian , Kuhn Peter , Kuhn Klaus A. , Kohlbacher Oliver , Seufferlein Thomas , Kestler Hans A. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractOvercoming the COVID-19 crisis requires new ideas and strategies. Rapid testing of a large number of subjects is essential to monitor, and delay, the spread of SARS-CoV-2 to mitigate the consequences of the pandemic. People not knowing that they are infected may not stay in quarantine and, thus, are a risk for infecting others. Unfortunately, the massive number of COVID-19 tests performed is challenging for both laboratories and the units that take the throat swab and have to communicate test results. Here, we present a secure tracking system (CTest) to report COVID-19 test results online as soon as they become available. The system can be integrated into the clinical workflow with very modest effort and avoids excessive load to telephone hotlines. With this open-source and browser-based online tracking system, we aim to minimize the time required to inform the tested person but also the test units, e.g. hospitals or the public healthcare system. Instead of personal calls, CTest updates the status of the test automatically when the test results are available. Test reports are published on a secured web-page enabling regular status checks also by patients not using smartphones with dedicated mobile apps which has some importance as smartphone usage diminishes with age.The source code, as well as further information to integrate CTest into the IT environment of other clinics or test-centres, are freely available from https://github.com/sysbio-bioinf/CTest under the Eclipse Public License v2.0 (EPL2).
UV light dosage distribution over irregular respirator surfaces. Methods and implications for safety
Authors: Baluja Aurora , Arines Justo , Vilanova Ramón , Cortiñas Julio , Bao Carmen , Flores Maite 
Published: April 2020

ABSTRACTBackground and ObjectivesThe SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has led to a global decrease in personal protective equipment (PPE), especially filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs). Ultraviolet-C wavelength is a promising way of decontamination, however adequate dosimetry is needed to ensure balance between over and underexposed areas and provide reliable results. Our study demonstrates that UVGI light irradiance varies significantly on different respirator angles and propose a method to decontaminate several masks at once ensuring appropriate dosage in shaded zones.MethodsAn UVGI irradiator was built with internal dimensions of 69.5 × 55 × 33 cm with three 15W UV lamps. Inside, a grating of 58 × 41 × 15 cm was placed to hold the masks. Two different flat fold respirator models were used to assess irradiance, four of model Aura 9322 3M of dimensions 17 × 9 × 4cm (tri-fold), and two of model SAFE 231FFP3NR (bi-fold) with dimensions 17 × 6 × 5 cm. A spectrometer STN-SilverNova was employed to verify wavelength spectrum and surface irradiance. A simulation was performed to find the irradiance pattern inside the box and the six masks placed inside. These simulations were carried out using the software DIALUX EVO 8.2.ResultsThe data obtained reveal that the irradiance received inside the manufactured UVGI-irradiator depends not only on the distance between the lamps plane and the base of the respirators but also on the orientation and shape of the masks. This point becomes relevant in order to assure that all the respirators inside the chamber receive the correct dosage.ConclusionIrradiance over FFR surfaces depend on several factors such as distance and angle of incidence of the light source. Careful irradiance measurement and simulation can ensure reliable dosage in the whole mask surface, balancing overexposure. Closed box systems might provide a more reliable, reproducible UVGI dosage than open settings.
Can people with asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic COVID-19 infect others: a systematic review of primary data
Authors: Aguirre-Duarte Nelson 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAsymptomatic but infectious people have been reported in many infectious diseases. Asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic carriers would be a hidden reservoir of COVID-19.AimThis review identifies primary empirical evidence about the ability of asymptomatic carriers to infect others with COVID-19 pandemic and reflects on the implications for control measures.MethodsA systematic review is followed by a narrative report and commentary inclusion criteria were: studies reporting primary data on asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic patients, who were considered to have passed on COVID-19 infection; and published in indexed journals or in peer review between January 1 and March 31, 2020.ResultsNine articles reported on 83 asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic persons.ConclusionsThe evidence confirms COVID-19 transmission from people who were asymptomatic at the time. A series of implications for health service response are laid out.