bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The COVID-19 pandemic through eyes of a NYC fertility center: a unique learning experience with often unexpected results
Authors: Gleicher Norbert 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
Affecting basic tenets of human existence such as health, economic as well as personal security and, of course, reproduction, the COVID-19 pandemic transcended medical specialties and professional disciplines. Yet, six months into the pandemic, there still exists no consensus on how to combat the virus in absence of a vaccine. Facing unprecedented circumstances, and in absence of real evidence on how to proceed, our organization early in the pandemic decided to act independently from often seemingly irrational guidance and, instead, to carefully follow a quickly evolving COVID-19 literature. Here described is the, likely, unique journey of a fertility center that maintained services during peaks of COVID-19 and political unrest that followed. Closely following publicly available data, we recognized relatively early that New York City and other East Coast regions, which during the initial COVID-19 wave between March and May represented the hardest-hit areas in the country, during the second wave, beginning in June and still in progress, remained almost completely unaffected. In contrast, south western regions, almost completely unaffected by the initial wave, were severely affected in the second wave. These two distinctively different infectious phenotypes suggested two likely explanations: The country was witnessing infections with two different SARS-CoV-2 viruses and NYC (along with the East Coast) acquired during the first wave much better immunity to the virus than south western regions. Both hypotheses since have been confirmed: East and West Coasts, indeed, were initially infected by two distinctively different lineages of the virus, with the East Coast lineage being 10-times more infectious. In addition, immunologists discovered an up to this point unknown long-term anti-viral innate (cellular) immune response which offers additional and much broader anti-viral immunity than the classical adaptive immunity via immobilizing antibodies that has been known for decades. Consequently, we predict that in the U.S., even in absence of an available vaccine, COVID-19, by September–October, will be at similarly low levels as are currently seen in NYC and other East Coast regions (generally < 1% test-positivity). We, furthermore, predict that, if current mitigation measures are maintained and no newly aggressive mutation of the virus enters the country, a significant fall-wave of COVID-19, in combination with the usual fall wave of influenza, appears unlikely. To continue serving patients uninterrupted throughout the pandemic, turned for all of our center’s staff into a highly rewarding experience, garnered respect and appreciation from patients, and turned into an absolutely unique learning experience.
Introducing cell-free DNA noninvasive testing in a Down syndrome public health screening program: a budget impact analysis
Authors: Nshimyumukiza L. , Beaumont J. A. , Rousseau F. , Reinharz D. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractBackgroundNon-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) using cell-free fetal DNA in maternal plasma is a high accurate test for prenatal screening for Down syndrome. Although it has been reported to be cost effective as a contingent test, evidence about its budget impact is lacking.ObjectiveTo evaluate, using computer simulations, the budget impact of implementing NIPT as a contingent test in the Quebec Program of screening for Trisomy 21.MethodsA semi-Markov analytic model built to simulate the budget impact of implementing NIPT into the current Quebec Trisomy 21 public Prenatal Screening, Serum Integrated prenatal screening (SIPS). Comparisons were made for a virtual population similar to that of expected Quebec pregnant women in 2015 in terms of size and age. Data input parameters were retrieved from a thorough literature search and in government databases, especially data from Quebec Program of screening for Trisomy 21. The 2015–2016 fiscal year budget impact was estimated from the Quebec healthcare system perspective and was expressed as the difference in the overall costs between the two alternatives (SIPS minus SPS + NIPT).ResultsOur study found that, at a baseline cost for NIPT of CAD$ 795, NIPT as a second-tier test offered to high-risk women identified by current screening program (SIPS + NIPT) may be affordable for Quebec health care system. Compared to the current screening program, it would be implemented at a neutral cost, considering a modest annual savings of $ 80,432 (95% CI $ 79, $ 874–$ 81,462). Results were sensitive to the NIPT costs and the uptake-rate of invasive diagnostic tests.ConclusionIntroducing NIPT as a contingent test in the Quebec Trisomy 21 screening program is an affordable strategy compared to the current practice. Further research is needed to confirm if our results can be reproduced in other healthcare jurisdictions.
The physical activity parenting practices (PAPP) item Bank: a psychometrically validated tool for improving the measurement of physical activity parenting practices of parents of 5–12-year-old children
Authors: Mâsse Louise C. , O’Connor Teresia M. , Lin Yingyi , Carbert Nicole S. , Hughes Sheryl O. , Baranowski Tom , Beauchamp Mark R. 
Published: November 2020

Abstract

Background
Many tools have been developed to measure physical activity parenting practices (PAPP). Currently, there is little standardization on how PAPP constructs are operationalized for 5–12 year-old children. Given this lack of consistency our team have started the process of standardizing the measurement of PAPP by developing an item bank which was conceptually informed by 24 experts from 6 countries.

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present the psychometric properties of the PAPP item bank using the expert-informed PAPP conceptual framework.

Methods
A sample (N = 626) of Canadian parents completed the PAPP item bank (100 items measuring 12 constructs). Confirmatory Factor Analyses (CFA), confirmatory bi-factor item analyses, and Item Response Modeling (IRM) were used to assess the structural validity of scores derived from the PAPP item bank. Differential Item Functioning (DIF) and Differential Response Functioning (DRF) were used to determine whether the PAPP items are invariant by parent sex, ethnicity of parent, and household income. Finally, Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) simulations were used to determine the efficiency of the item bank – this involved ascertaining whether each construct can be assessed with fewer items.

Results
The PAPP expert-informed conceptual framework was mainly supported by the CFA analyses. Notable changes included: a) collapsing smaller constructs into one general construct (modeling, co-participation, and monitoring constructs were collapsed into a construct assessing nondirective support); or b) splitting a construct into two smaller constructs (restrict for safety reason construct was split into indoor physical activity restriction and allowance for unsupervised outside physical activity). While the CFA analyses supported the structural validity of 11 constructs, the bi-factor item analyses and IRM analyses supported collapsing correlated constructs into more general constructs. These analyses further reduced the number of constructs measured by the PAPP item bank to nine constructs (65 items – reliability ranging from .79 to .94). As seven of the PAPP constructs had reliability greater than .80, CAT simulations further reduced the number of items to 31 items.

Conclusion
Overall, the PAPP item bank has excellent psychometric properties and provides an efficient way to assess PAPP.
Effect of age and sex on immune checkpoint expression and kinetics in human T cells
Authors: Reitsema Rosanne D. , Hid Cadena Rebeca , Nijhof Sander H. , Abdulahad Wayel H. , Huitema Minke G. , Paap Davy , Brouwer Elisabeth , Boots Annemieke M. H. , Heeringa Peter 
Published: November 2020

AbstractBackgroundImmune checkpoints are crucial molecules in maintaining a proper immune balance. Even though age and sex are known to have effects on the immune system, the interplay between age, sex and immune checkpoint expression by T cells is not known. The aim of this study was to determine whether age and sex affect immune checkpoint expression by T cells and if age and sex affect the kinetics of immune checkpoint expression followingex vivostimulation. In this study, whole blood samples of 20 healthy young adults (YA, 9 males and 11 females) and 20 healthy older adults (OA, 9 males and 11 females) were stained for lymphocyte lineage markers and immune checkpoints and frequencies of CD28+, PD-1+, VISTA+ and CD40L+ T cells were determined. Immune checkpoint expression kinetics were studied followingex vivoanti-CD3/anti-CD28 stimulation of T cells from young and older healthy adults.ResultsWe report an age-associated increase of CD40L + CD4+ and CD40L + CD8+ T-cell frequencies, whereas CD40+ B-cell frequencies were decreased in older adults, suggesting modulation of the CD40L-CD40 interaction with age. Immune checkpoint expression kinetics revealed differences in magnitude between CD4+ and CD8+ T cells independent of age and sex. Further analysis of CD4+ T-cell subsets revealed an age-associated decrease of especially PD-1 + CD4+ memory T cells which tracked with the female sex.ConclusionCollectively, our results demonstrate that both age and sex modulate expression of immune checkpoints by human T cells. These findings may have implications for optimising vaccination and immune checkpoint immunotherapy and move the field towards precision medicine in the management of older patient groups.
Therapeutic role of curcumin and its novel formulations in gynecological cancers
Authors: Pourhanifeh Mohammad Hossein , Darvish Maryam , Tabatabaeian Javad , Fard Mahboobeh Rabbani , Mottaghi Reza , Azadchehr Mohammad Javad , Jahanshahi Moghaddaseh , Sahebkar Amirhossein , Mirzaei Hamed 
Published: November 2020

AbstractGynecological cancers are among the leading causes of cancer-associated mortality worldwide. While the number of cases are rising, current therapeutic approaches are not efficient enough. There are considerable side-effects as well as treatment resistant types. In addition, which all make the treatment complicated for afflicted cases. Therefore, in order to improve efficacy of the treatment process and patients’ quality of life, searching for novel adjuvant treatments is highly warranted. Curcumin, a promising natural compound, is endowed with numerous therapeutic potentials including significant anticancer effects. Recently, various investigations have demonstrated the anticancer effects of curcumin and its novel analogues on gynecological cancers. Moreover, novel formulations of curcumin have resulted in further propitious effects. This review discusses these studies and highlights the possible underlying mechanisms of the observed effects.
Circulating bioactive adrenomedullin as a marker of sepsis, septic shock and critical illness
Authors: Lundberg Oscar H. M. , Lengquist Maria , Spångfors Martin , Annborn Martin , Bergmann Deborah , Schulte Janin , Levin Helena , Melander Olle , Frigyesi Attila , Friberg Hans 
Published: November 2020

Abstract

Background
Biomarkers can be of help to understand critical illness and to identify and stratify sepsis. Adrenomedullin is a vasoactive hormone, with reported prognostic and potentially therapeutic value in sepsis. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the association of circulating bioactive adrenomedullin (bio-ADM) levels at intensive care unit (ICU) admission with mortality in sepsis patients and in a general ICU population. Secondary aims included the association of bio-ADM with organ failure and the ability of bio-ADM to identify sepsis.

Methods
In this retrospective observational study, adult patients admitted to one of four ICUs during 2016 had admission bio-ADM levels analysed. Age-adjusted odds ratios (OR) with 95% CI for log-2 transformed bio-ADM, and Youden’s index derived cut-offs were calculated. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality, and secondary outcomes included the need for organ support and the ability to identify sepsis.

Results
Bio-ADM in 1867 consecutive patients were analysed; 632 patients fulfilled the sepsis-3 criteria of whom 267 had septic shock. The median bio-ADM in the entire ICU population was 40 pg/mL, 74 pg/mL in sepsis patients, 107 pg/mL in septic shock and 29 pg/mL in non-septic patients. The association of elevated bio-ADM and mortality in sepsis patients and the ICU population resulted in ORs of 1.23 (95% CI 1.07–1.41) and 1.22 (95% CI 1.12–1.32), respectively. The association with mortality remained after additional adjustment for lactate in sepsis patients. Elevated bio-ADM was associated with an increased need for dialysis with ORs of 2.28 (95% CI 2.01–2.59) and 1.97 (95% CI 1.64–2.36) for the ICU population and sepsis patients, respectively, and with increased need of vasopressors, OR 1.33 (95% CI 1.23–1.42) (95% CI 1.17–1.50) for both populations. Sepsis was identified with an OR of 1.78 (95% CI 1.64–1.94) for bio-ADM, after additional adjustment for severity of disease. A bio-ADM cut-off of 70 pg/mL differentiated between survivors and non-survivors in sepsis, but a Youden’s index derived threshold of 108 pg/mL performed better.

Conclusions
Admission bio-ADM is associated with 30-day mortality and organ failure in sepsis patients as well as in a general ICU population. Bio-ADM may be a morbidity-independent sepsis biomarker.
Acute skeletal muscle wasting and dysfunction predict physical disability at hospital discharge in patients with critical illness
Authors: Mayer Kirby P. , Thompson Bastin Melissa L. , Montgomery-Yates Ashley A. , Pastva Amy M. , Dupont-Versteegden Esther E. , Parry Selina M. , Morris Peter E. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractBackgroundPatients surviving critical illness develop muscle weakness and impairments in physical function; however, the relationship between early skeletal muscle alterations and physical function at hospital discharge remains unclear. The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether changes in muscle size, strength and power assessed in the intensive care unit (ICU) predict physical function at hospital discharge.MethodsStudy design is a single-center, prospective, observational study in patients admitted to the medicine or cardiothoracic ICU with diagnosis of sepsis or acute respiratory failure. Rectus femoris (RF) and tibialis anterior (TA) muscle ultrasound images were obtained day one of ICU admission, repeated serially and assessed for muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), layer thickness (mT) and echointensity (EI). Muscle strength, as measured by Medical Research Council-sum score, and muscle power (lower-extremity leg press) were assessed prior to ICU discharge. Physical function was assessed with performance on 5-times sit-to-stand (5STS) at hospital discharge.ResultsForty-one patients with median age of 61 years (IQR 55–68), 56% male and sequential organ failure assessment score of 8.1 ± 4.8 were enrolled. RF muscle CSA decreased significantly a median percent change of 18.5% from day 1 to 7 (F = 26.6,p = 0.0253). RF EI increased at a mean percent change of 10.5 ± 21% in the first 7 days (F = 3.28,p = 0.081). At hospital discharge 25.7% of patients (9/35) met criteria for ICU-acquired weakness. Change in RF EI in first 7 days of ICU admission and muscle power measured prior to ICU were strong predictors of ICU-AW at hospital discharge (AUC = 0.912). Muscle power at ICU discharge, age and ICU length of stay were predictive of performance on 5STS at hospital discharge.ConclusionICU-assessed muscle alterations, specifically RF EI and muscle power, are predictors of diagnosis of ICU-AW and physical function assessed by 5x-STS at hospital discharge in patients surviving critical illness.
Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of fire needle compared to filiform needle on knee osteoarthritis: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Gao Yuanjie , Liu Lu , Li Bin , Guo Jing , Liu Huilin , Wang Shaosong , Zhang Fan , Ji Xu , Fu Yuanbo , Wang Yizhan , Sun Jingqing , Yuan Fang 
Published: November 2020

Abstract

Background
Knee osteoarthritis is a common clinical chronic degenerative disease associated with high morbidity and long-term disability. Previous studies have confirmed the efficacy of acupuncture on knee osteoarthritis. Fire needle acupuncture is a combination of heat and acupuncture, which may be more effective than the commonly used filiform needle acupuncture. This study is designed as a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of fire needle acupuncture compared to filiform needle acupuncture in knee osteoarthritis patients.

Methods and analysis
This is a prospective randomized controlled superiority clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of fire needle acupuncture compared to filiform needle acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis. A total of 100 participants will be randomly assigned to two different groups. Participants will receive fire needle acupuncture treatment in the fire needle group, while participants in the filiform needle group will be treated with a filiform needle at the same acupuncture points as the fire needle group. All participants will receive 6 weeks of treatment (2 times per week). The primary outcome is the change of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, and the secondary outcomes include the change of the visual analog scale and 12-item Short Form Health Survey from baseline to endpoint.

Ethics and dissemination
Ethical approval of this study was granted by the Research Ethical Committee of Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Capital Medical University (2018SB-066). Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. Outcomes of the trial will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications.

Trial registration
Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1800019579. Registered on November 18, 2018
Hilbert-type inequalities for time scale nabla calculus
Authors: Rezk H. M. , AlNemer Ghada , Abd El-Hamid H. A. , Abdel-Aty Abdel-Haleem , Nisar Kottakkaran Sooppy , Zakarya M. 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
This paper deals with the derivation of some new dynamic Hilbert-type inequalities in time scale nabla calculus. In proving the results, the basic idea is to use some algebraic inequalities, Hölder’s inequality, and Jensen’s time scale inequality. This generalization allows us not only to unify all the related results that exist in the literature on an arbitrary time scale, but also to obtain new outcomes that are analytical to the results of the delta time scale calculation.
The role of infectious pathogens in exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Dakahlia Governorate
Authors: Fahmy Elsayed Ahmed , Abdelwahab Heba Wagih , Eldegla Heba Elsayed , Elbadrawy Mohammed Khairy Fahmy 
Published: November 2020

AbstractBackgroundExacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represent important events in the management of COPD because of its negative impact on health status and disease progression. The etiology of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPDAE) is heterogeneous and still under discussion. So, this study was planned to investigate the role of infectious pathogens (fungi and atypical mycobacteria in addition to the well-known bacteria) in patients with COPD exacerbation in our locality.ResultsThis observational cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 patients with acute exacerbation of COPD. Sputum specimens were collected for mycobacterial and fungal examination in addition to routine sputum bacteriology. All sputum samples were negative for typical and atypical mycobacteria whereas sputum samples of 18 patients (18%) were negative for fungi. Mixed fungal growth was found in 19 patients (19%).Candidawas isolated from 67 patients (67%),Aspergilluswas isolated from 27 patients (27%),Alternariawas isolated from 3 patients (3%), and other fungi were isolated from 4 patients (4%). As regards sputum bacteriology, sputum samples of 49 patients (49%) have bacterial growth.Streptococcus pneumoniaewas isolated from 16 samples (16%) and represents the most frequent bacterial isolate in this study.ConclusionThe present study indicates that typical and atypical mycobacteria have no role in COPD exacerbations in our locality. However, fungi and bacteria may have a role in COPD exacerbations.
HY5 and phytochrome activity modulate shoot-to-root coordination during thermomorphogenesis in Arabidopsis
Authors: Gaillochet Christophe , Burko Yogev , Platre Matthieu Pierre , Zhang Ling , Simura Jan , Willige Björn C. , Kumar S. Vinod , Ljung Karin , Chory Joanne , Busch Wolfgang 
Published: November 2020

ABSTRACT
Temperature is one of the most impactful environmental factors to which plants adjust their growth and development. Although the regulation of temperature signaling has been extensively investigated for the aerial part of plants, much less is known and understood about how roots sense and modulate their growth in response to fluctuating temperatures. Here, we found that shoot and root growth responses to high ambient temperature are coordinated during early seedling development in Arabidopsis. A shoot signaling module that includes HY5, the phytochromes and the PIFs exerts a central function in coupling these growth responses and maintaining auxin levels in the root. In addition to the HY5/PIF-dependent shoot module, a regulatory axis composed of auxin biosynthesis and auxin perception factors controls root responses to high ambient temperature. Taken together, our findings show that shoot and root developmental responses to temperature are tightly coupled during thermomorphogenesis and suggest that roots integrate energy signals with local hormonal inputs.