bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development of HPV 16/18 E6 oncoprotein paper-based nanokit for enhanced detection of HPV 16/18 E6 oncoprotein in cervical cancer screening
Authors: Mwai Lucy Muthoni , Kyama Mutinda C. , Ngugi Caroline W. , Walong Edwin 
Published: May 2020

AbstractCervical cancer caused mainly by high risk human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 and 18 strains is the second most prevalent cancer of women in Kenya. It is often diagnosed late when treatment is difficult due to very low percentage of women attending screening thus, mortalities remain high. The most available tests in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) have relatively low specificity, low sensitivity, require a laboratory setting and huge technical and financial support not readily available. HPV 16/18 E6 oncoprotein has been identified as a potential biomarker in a more specific early diagnosis of cervical cancer. This retrospective cross-sectional study developed a paper-based nanokit with enhanced detection of HPV 16/18 E6 oncoprotein for cervical cancer screening. The HRP labelled antibodies HPV 16 E6/18 E6-HRP (CP15) passively conjugated to citrate stabilized 20nm gold nanoparticles were evaluated for immune sensing mechanism using a recombinant viral HPV E6 protein. The diagnostic accuracy was evaluated using 50 tissue lysates from formalin fixed paraffin embedded cervical biopsy, including control (n=10), Mild Dysplasia (n=10), Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 3 (CIN3) (n=10), Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 4 (CIN4) (n=10) and invasive carcinoma (n=10). The molecular technique used was dot blot molecular assay. A positive result was generated by catalytic oxidation of peroxidase enzyme on 3,3’,5,5’-Tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) substrate. The gold nanoparticles were used to enhance the signal produced by peroxidase activity of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzyme giving a more sensitive assay as compared to use of non-conjugated antibody. This study provides a significantly high and reliable diagnostic accuracy for precancerous and cancerous lesions with a sensitivity of 90%, a specificity of 90%, a likelihood ratio for positive and negative tests as 9:1 and 1:9 respectively, a Positive Predictive Value of 97.3% and a Negative Predictive Value of 69.2%. This study avails a sensitive, rapid test using paper-based nanotechnology which can be utilised in community-based screening outreaches particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Whole-brain computational modeling reveals disruption of microscale brain dynamics in HIV infected individuals
Authors: Zhuang Yuchuan , Zhang Zhengwu , Tivarus Madalina , Qiu Xing , Zhong Jianhui , Schifitto Giovanni 
Published: May 2020

AbstractIn this study, we adopted the relaxed mean-field dynamic modeling to investigate structural and functional connectivity in forty-two HIV-infected subjects before and after 12-week of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) and compared them with forty-six age-matched healthy subjects. Microscale brain dynamics were modeled by a set of parameters including two region-specific microscale brain properties, recurrent connection strengths, and subcortical inputs. We also analyzed the relationship between the model parameters (i.e. the recurrent connection and subcortical inputs) and functional network topological characterizations. The results show that untreated HIV-infected individuals have disrupted local brain dynamics that in part correlate with network topological measurements. Notably, after 12 weeks of cART, both the microscale brain dynamics and the network topological measurements improved and were closer to those in the healthy brain. This was also associated with improved cognitive performance, suggesting that improvement in local brain dynamics translates into clinical improvement.
Antibody Profiling and Prevalence in the US population during the SARS-CoV2 Pandemic
Authors: Krishnamurthy Hari Krishnan , Jayaraman Vasanth , Krishna Karthik , Rajasekaran Karenah E. , Wang Tianhao , Bei Kang , Rajasekaran John J. , Yaskin Inna , Rai Alex J. , Choung Rok Seon , Murray Joseph A. 
Published: May 2020

ABSTRACTBackgroundAntibody diagnostics play an important role in disease detection and can potentially aid in monitoring of the immune responses to see if an individual has developed immunity. Developing high throughput diagnostics which does not involve handling of infectious material becomes imperative in the case of pandemics such as the recent outbreak of SARS-CoV2.MethodsA protein microarray technology was used to detect the plurality of antibody response to four novel antigens namely S1 glycoprotein, Receptor binding domain (RBD), S2 glycoprotein and Nucleoprotein of the novel coronavirus named SARS-CoV2 using serum samples. A DBS card was additionally used to compare its performance with a venipuncture-based serum separator tube (SST) draw.ResultsThe three main subclasses of antibodies IgM, IgA and IgG were analyzed to see the variations in immune responses in the affected population and compared to their microbial RT-PCR based NP swab results. The clinical sensitivity and specificity were determined to be 98.1% and 98.6%. In the matrix comparison study, which would enable patients to test without risk of transmitting the virus, DBS matched with higher than 98% accuracy to a venipuncture-based SST collection.ConclusionMultiplex testing enables higher sensitivity and specificity which is essential while establishing exposure on a population scale. This flexible platform along with a discrete collection methodology would be crucial and broadly useful to scale up testing in current and future pandemics. Minimum sample volume that can be collected using DBS cards can be processed in this multiplex pillar plate format enabling the capacity to provide the reliability of high throughput analyzers while having the ease of collection similar to rapid tests.
Detection of mTBI in pediatric populations using BrainCheck, a tablet-based cognitive testing software
Authors: Ye Siao , Ko Brian , Phi Huy , Eagleman David M. , Flores Benjamin , Katz Yael , Huang Bin , Ghomi Reza Hosseini 
Published: May 2020

AbstractAimDespite its high frequency of occurrence, mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), or concussion, is difficult to recognize and diagnose, particularly in pediatric populations. Conventional methods to diagnose mTBI primarily rely on clinical questionnaires and sometimes include imaging such as computed tomography (CT) or pencil and paper neuropsychological testing. However, these methods are time consuming, require administration/interpretation from health professionals, and lack adequate test sensitivity and specificity. We explore the use of BrainCheck, a computerized neurocognitive test that is available on iPad, iPhone or computer desktop, for mTBI assessment. The BrainCheck battery consists of 6 gamified traditional neurocognitive tests that assess areas of cognition vulnerable to mTBI such as attention, processing speed, executing functioning, and coordination.MethodsWe administered BrainCheck to 10 participants diagnosed with mTBI at the emergency department (ED) of Children’s hospital within 96 hours of admittance to the ED, and 126 normal controls at a local high school. Statistical analysis included Chi-Square tests, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), independent sample t-tests, and Hochberg tests to examine differences between mTBI, diagnoses by current gold standard clinical exam, and control groups on each assessment in the battery. Significant metrics from these assessments were used to build a logistic regression model that distinguishes mTBI from non-mTBI participants.ResultsBrainCheck was able to detect significant differences in coordination, Flanker, Stroop, Digital Symbol, Immediate/Delayed recall and recognition assessments between normal people and mTBI patients. Receiver operator score (ROC) analysis of our logistic regression model found a sensitivity of 84% and specificity of 80%.ConclusionsBrainCheck has potential in distinguishing mTBI from non-mTBI participants, by providing a shorter, gamified test battery to assess cognitive function after brain injury, while also providing a method for tracking recovery with the opportunity to do so remotely from a patient’s home.
Homegrown Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation for Hospital-Based N95 Decontamination during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Schnell Eric , Harriff Melanie J. , Yates Jane E. , Karamooz Elham , Pfeiffer Christopher D. , McCarthy James F. , Trapp Christopher L. , Frazier Sara K. , Dodier John E. , Smith Stephen M. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractCoronavirus disease (COVID-19), the disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus, is responsible for the 2020 global pandemic and characterized by high transmissibility and morbidity. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at risk of contracting COVID-19, and this risk is mitigated through the use of personal protective equipment such as N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators (FFRs). The high demand for FFRs is not currently met by global supply chains, potentially placing HCWs at increased exposure risk. Effective FFR decontamination modalities exist, which could maintain respiratory protection for HCWs in the midst of the current pandemic, through the decontamination and re-use of FFRs. Here, we present a locally-implemented ultraviolet-C germicidal irradiation (UVGI)-based FFR decontamination pathway, utilizing a home-built UVGI array assembled entirely with previously existing components available at our institution. We provide recommendations on the construction of similar systems, as well as guidance and strategies towards successful institutional implementation of FFR decontamination.
Beyond Deaths per Capita: Comparative CoViD-19 Mortality Indicators
Authors: Heuveline Patrick , Tzen Michael 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThe number of CoViD-19 deaths is a lagged but more reliable indicator of the disease progression across populations than the number of confirmed cases. With substantial age and sex differences in CoViD-19 mortality, that number should be adjusted for the age-and-sex composition of the population as well as its total size. Following well-established practices in demography, this article discusses several period measures based on cumulative numbers of CoViD-19 deaths up to a point in time and illustrate them with weekly-updated data from 386 national and subnational populations. First is an unstandardized occurrence-exposure rate comparable to the Crude Death Rate. The peak estimate for New York exceeded the state most recent annual Crude Death Rate and remains the highest on record. Second, an indirectly standardized rate is shown to perform quite like a directly standardized rate but without requiring an age-and-sex breakdown of CoViD-19 deaths. Relative to the US, standardization lowers death rates in European populations and increases them in most other populations, with the highest standardized rates currently found in subnational Mexican and Peruvian populations. Last, projected end-of-the-year CoViD-19 death tallies can be translated into reductions in 2020 life expectancies, which could exceed two and a half years in Peru and Ecuador, and in various subnational entities from Baja California to Madrid and New York. To put these in perspective, the 1.5-year projected reduction for the US would bring 2020 life expectancy at birth to its lowest level since 2003 and induce its largest annual decline since World War II.
Efficacy of smoking cessation in spirometry results of COPD smokers: a randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors: alipour abbas , zarghami mehran , sharifpour ali , taghizadeh fatemeh 
Published: May 2020

AbstractBackgroundNicotine replacement therapy (NRT) may be more effective if it is combined with short cognitive-behavioral interventions for smoking cessation in chronic obstructive pulmonary diseasesmokers.Material and methodsTo examine the effectiveness of guided self-change (GSC), in a randomized controlled clinical trial, 57 men ranging from 45 to 77 years old were randomly assigned to three 19-member groups (GSC, NRT, and combined GSC-NRT).The primary data on smoking cessation and pulmonary functions were examined during 29 weeks using General Linear (GEE) Model status, intention-to-treat analysis, and repeated measures ANOVA test.ResultsA total of 9 (47.4%) of the participants in the GSC and combined groups and 4 (21.1%) participants in the NRT group reported total abstinence rate from smoking by the end of 29 weeks. Daily cigarette number was changed from 24 to 4 in GSC group, 26 to 11 in NRT group, and 20 to 6 in combined group. The GEE model revealed that this variable decreased in GSC group more than two other groups significantly (P=0.003). Moreover, the FVC level of the NRT group was lower than the GSC group (P=0.04), and the FEV in the NRT group was lower than GSC group (P=0.02). Furthermore, the level of FEV1/FVC act/pred in the NRT group was lower than GSC group (−6, 95% CI: -10.4-(−1.5), P=0.008) and it was also lower in the combined group than the GSC group (−6, 95% CI: -11.3-(−0.5), PV=0.03).ConclusionGSC and combined GSC-NRT treatments were equally effective in abstinence rate. Moreover Daily cigarette and the FEV1/FVC act/pred in GSC group was more than two other groups, indicating the health professionals can apply GSC alone in smoking cessation and improve lung function of COPD smokers.
Changes in access to Australian disability support benefits during a period of social welfare reform
Authors: Collie Alex , Sheehan Luke R , Lane Tyler J 
Published: May 2020

ABSTRACTThe Disability Support Pension (DSP) is the major Australian government financial benefit program for people of working age with medical conditions and disabilities that restrict work capacity. Between 2012 and 2018 a series of policy reforms sought to restrict the growth in DSP payments and encourage more people with some work capacity to seek employment. We characterise changes in three markers of access to disability financial support over the reform period (1) DSP recipient rates (2) DSP grant (approval) rates and (3) the rate of unemployment benefit receipt in people with impaired work capacity. Results demonstrate a significant reduction in DSP receipt and grant rates, and significant increase in the rate of unemployment benefit receipt in working-age Australians with work disabling medical conditions and disability. These changes were not distributed uniformly. People whose primary medical condition was a musculoskeletal or circulatory system disorder demonstrated greater declines in DSP receipt and grant rates, while there was a more rapid increase in unemployment benefit receipt among people with primary mental health conditions. Some trend changes occur in periods during which new disability assessment and pension eligibility policies were introduced, though our ability to attribute changes to specific policy changes is limited.FUNDING AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTSThis study was supported by an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship awarded to the first author (FT190100218). De-identified, aggregate data for the study was provided by the Australian Government Department of Human Services and Department of Social Services.
TEG Max Clot Strength is Consistently Elevated and May Be Predictive of COVID-19 Status at the Time of ICU Admission
Authors: Lawicki Shaun , Wang Katherine , Han Bing , Love Gordon 
Published: May 2020

AbstractBackgroundHypercoagulability is becoming widely recognized as a major complication of COVID-19 infection as evidenced by high levels of fibrinogen degradation products and microthrombi identified within the lungs and kidneys of autopsy specimens from these patients. We report thromboelastography (TEG) testing on a cohort of patients with suspected COVID-19 infection at the time of admission to the intensive care unit.MethodsTEG testing was performed using the TEG 6s analyzer near or at the time of ICU admission. We also report the results of other coagulation or inflammatory related indices such as platelet count, prothrombin time, fibrinogen, D-dimer, C-reactive protein, ferritin, and procalcitonin. All laboratory testing was performed at the discretion of the attending physician in the course of normal patient care and retrospectively reviewed.ResultsWe found that maximum clot strength was consistently elevated in COVID-19 patients while normal in all patients found to be negative. We did not encounter significant prolongations of coagulation assays outside of those expectedly prolonged by heparin therapy nor was meeting the criteria for disseminated intravascular coagulation encountered.ConclusionsWe postulate that elevated maximum clot strength by TEG testing is predictive of COVID-19 status as within our cohort this perfectly predicted patients’ COVID-19 status despite a high level of suspicion in negative patients with normal TEG results. While these results require a larger cohort for confirmation, we feel that TEG testing could improve confidence in COVID-19 testing results in suspected patients possibly allowing for earlier de-escalation of infectious precautions and personal protective equipment utilization.
Monitoring social distancing and SARS-CoV-2 transmission in Brazil using cell phone mobility data
Authors: de Oliveira Silvano Barbosa , Pôrto Victor Bertollo Gomes , Ganem Fabiana , Mendes Fabio Macedo , Almiron Maria , de Oliveira Wanderson Kleber , Fantinato Francieli Fontana Sutile Tardetti , de Almeida Walquiria Aparecida Ferreira , de Macedo Borges Abel Pereira , Pinheiro Hector Natan Batista , Oliveira Raíza dos Santos , Andrews Jason R. , Faria Nuno R , Lopes Marcelo Barreto , de Araújo Wildo Navegantes , Diaz-Quijano Fredi A. , Nakaya Helder I. , Croda Julio 
Published: May 2020

AbstractSocial distancing measures have emerged as the predominant intervention for containing the spread of COVID-19, but evaluating adherence and effectiveness remains a challenge. We assessed the relationship between aggregated mobility data collected from mobile phone users and the time-dependent reproduction number R(t), using severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) cases reported by São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. We found that the proportion of individuals staying home all day (isolation index) had a strong inverse correlation with R(t) (rho<-0.7) and was predictive of COVID-19 transmissibility (p<0.0001). Furthermore, indexs of 46.7% had the highest accuracy (93.9%) to predict R(t) below one. This metric can be monitored in real time to assess adherence to social distancing measures and predict their effectiveness for controlling SARS-CoV-2 transmission.One Sentence SummaryMobility data to monitoring social distancing in the COVID-19 outbreak
SARS-CoV-2 infection of the placenta
Authors: Hosier Hillary , Farhadian Shelli , Morotti Raffaella A. , Deshmukh Uma , Lu-Culligan Alice , Campbell Katherine H. , Yasumoto Yuki , Vogels Chantal B.F. , Casanovas-Massana Arnau , Vijayakumar Pavithra , Geng Bertie , Odio Camila D. , Fournier John , Brito Anderson F. , Fauver Joseph R. , Liu Feimei , Alpert Tara , Tal Reshef , Szigeti-Buck Klara , Perincheri Sudhir , Larsen Christopher , Gariepy Aileen M. , Aguilar Gabriela , Fardelmann Kristen L. , Harigopal Malini , Taylor Hugh S. , Pettker Christian M. , Wyllie Anne L. , Cruz Charles Dela , Ring Aaron M. , Grubaugh Nathan D. , Ko Albert I. , Horvath Tamas L. , Iwasaki Akiko , Reddy Uma M. , Lipkind Heather S. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe effects of Covid-19 in pregnancy remain relatively unknown. We present a case of second trimester pregnancy with symptomatic Covid-19 complicated by severe preeclampsia and placental abruption.MethodsWe analyzed placenta for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 through molecular and immunohistochemical assays and by and electron microscopy, and we measured the maternal antibody response in blood to this infection.ResultsSARS-CoV-2 localized predominantly to syncytiotrophoblast cells at the maternal-fetal interface of the placenta. Histological examination of the placenta revealed a dense macrophage infiltrate, but no evidence for vasculopathy typically associated with preeclampsia.ConclusionThis case demonstrates, for the first time, SARS-CoV-2 invasion of the placenta, highlighting the potential for severe morbidity among pregnant women with Covid-19.
Hindsight is 2020 vision: a characterisation of the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Warne David J. , Ebert Anthony , Drovandi Christopher , Hu Wenbiao , Mira Antonietta , Mengersen Kerrie 
Published: May 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe global impact of COVID-19 and the country-specific responses to the pandemic provide an unparalleled opportunity to learn about different patterns of the outbreak and interventions. We model the global pattern of trajectories of reported COVID-19 cases during the primary response period, with the aim of learning from the past to prepare for the future.MethodsUsing Bayesian methods, we analyse the response to the COVID-19 outbreak for 158 countries for the period 22 January to 9 June 2020. This encompasses the period in which many countries imposed a variety of response measures and initial relaxation strategies. Instead of modelling specific intervention types and timings for each country explicitly, we adopt a stochastic epidemiological model including a feedback mechanism on virus transmission to capture complex nonlinear dynamics arising from continuous changes in community behaviour in response to rising case numbers. We analyse the overall effect of interventions and community responses across diverse regions. This approach mitigates explicit consideration of issues such as period of infectivity and public adherence to government restrictions.ResultsCountries with the largest cumulative case tallies are characterised by a delayed response, whereas countries that avoid substantial community transmission during the period of study responded quickly. Countries that recovered rapidly also have a higher case identification rate and small numbers of undocumented community transmission at the early stages of the outbreak. We also demonstrate that uncertainty in numbers of undocumented infections dramatically impacts the risk of second waves. Our approach is also effective at pre-empting potential second waves and flare-ups.ConclusionsWe demonstrate the utility of modelling to interpret community behaviour in the early epidemic stages. Two lessons learnt that are important for the future are: i) countries that imposed strict containment measures early in the epidemic fared better with respect to numbers of reported cases; and ii) broader testing is required early in the epidemic to understand the magnitude of undocumented infections and recover rapidly. We conclude that clear patterns of containment are essential prior to relaxation of restrictions and show that modelling can provide insights to this end.