bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Combination therapy with tocilizumab and corticosteroids for aged patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia: a single-center retrospective study
Authors: López-Medrano Francisco , Pérez-Jacoiste Asín María Asunción , Fernández-Ruiz Mario , Carretero Octavio , Lalueza Antonio , de la Calle Guillermo Maestro , Caro José Manuel , de la Calle Cristina , Catalán Mercedes , García-García Rocío , Martínez-López Joaquín , Origüen Julia , Ripoll Mar , Juan Rafael San , Trujillo Hernando , Sevillano Ángel , Gutiérrez Eduardo , de Miguel Borja , Aguilar Fernando , Gómez Carlos , Silva José Tiago , de Morales Daniel García-Ruiz , Saro-Buendía Miguel , Marrero-Sánchez Ángel , Chiara-Graciani Guillermo , Bueno Héctor , Paz-Artal Estela , Lumbreras Carlos , Pablos José L. , Aguado José María 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe role of combination immunomodulatory therapy with systemic corticosteroids and tocilizumab (TCZ) for aged patients with COVID-19-associated cytokine release syndrome remains unclear.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective single-center study including consecutive patients ≥65 years that developed severe COVID-19 between March 3 and May 1, 2020 and were treated with corticosteroids at various doses (methylprednisolone [0.5 mg/Kg/12 hours to 250 mg/24 hours]), either alone (“CS group”) or associated to intravenous tocilizumab (400-600 mg, one to three doses) (“CS-TCZ group”). Primary outcome was all-cause mortality by day +14, whereas secondary outcomes included mortality by day +28 and clinical improvement (discharge and/or a ≥2-point decrease on a six-point ordinal scale) by day +14. Propensity score (PS)-based adjustment and inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTW) were applied.ResultsOverall, 181 and 80 patients were included in the CS and CS-TCZ groups. All-cause 14-day mortality was lower in the CS-TCZ group, both in the PS-adjusted (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.34; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.17 – 0.68;P-value = 0.002) and IPTW-weighted models (odds ratio [OR]: 0.38; 95% CI: 0.21 – 0.68;P-value = 0.001). This protective effect was also observed for 28-day mortality (PS-adjusted HR: 0.38; 95% CI: 0.21 – 0.72;P-value = 0.003). Clinical improvement by day +14 was higher in the CS-TCZ group in the IPTW analysis only (OR: 2.26; 95% CI: 1.49 – 3.41;P-value <0.001). The occurrence of secondary infection was similar between both groups.ConclusionsThe combination of corticosteroids and TCZ was associated with better outcomes among patients ≥65 years with severe COVID-19.
Psychological distress during the COVID-19 epidemic in Chile: the role of economic uncertainty
Authors: Duarte Fabián , Jiménez-Molina Álvaro 
Published: October 2020

AbstractPrevious research has shown that the COVID-19 outbreak, social distancing and lockdown can affect people’s psychological well-being. The aim of this study was to estimate the extent to which perceptions and expectations regarding the social, economic and domestic effects of the COVID-19 outbreak are associated with psychological distress, and identify some demographic, psychosocial and economic factors associated with increased vulnerability to psychological distress during the COVID-19 outbreak in Chile. 1078 people participated in a telephone survey between May 30 and June 10, 2020. The sample is representative of the Chilean adult population. Psychological distress was assessed through a questionnaire of anxious and depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-4). We analyze the data set using ordinary least-squares regression models, first estimating models for the entire sample, and then stratifying the sample into different groups to explore differences by gender and age. 19.2% participants displayed significant psychological distress (PHQ-4 ≥ 6), with moderate to severe anxiety-depression symptoms being more prevalent in women than in men (23.9% vs 14.09%, χ2 6.89, p < 0.001). The results of this study suggest that being a woman, feeling lonely and isolated, living in the areas hit hardest by the pandemic and lockdown, expecting a lack of income due to having to stop working as a consequence of the pandemic, and having a history of mental health diagnosis are significantly associated with psychological distress (p < 0.05). The results of this study highlight the need to implement psychosocial programs to protect people’s psychological well-being and social policies to address economic uncertainty during the current COVID-19 outbreak in Chile.
Exclusive Breastfeeding at 6 Weeks Related to Pain Self-Management, Emotion and Self-Efficacy: A Secondary Analysis of a Pilot Randomized Control Trial
Authors: Lucas Ruth , Zhang Yiming , Russell Beth , Srisopa Pornpan , Boyle Julianna , Francis Jimi 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIntroductionExclusive breastfeeding (EBF) outcomes can vary by concomitant emotions, ongoing pain, and breastfeeding self-efficacy. The purpose of this study is to examine the association of ongoing pain with breastfeeding, concomitant emotions and breastfeeding self-efficacy scores (BSES) with EBF outcomes at 6 weeks postpartum.DesignA secondary analysis of a randomized pilot trial of a home-based breastfeeding pain self-management (BSM) intervention for 56 mothers (26 BSM, 30 Control). The BSM intervention provided self-management strategies for breastfeeding and breastfeeding pain. Effect modification of EBF and associated symptoms of depression, anxiety, sleep, well-being pain severity scores, BSES, and group assignment was assessed using the likelihood ratio test.ResultsEBF at 6 weeks controlling for demographic covariates, the group, pain severity, anxiety and sleep were significant predictors. Mothers with every one point increase in their pain severity score and sleep score, had a decrease of 9% (OR = .91, 95%CI = [.79, .98]) and 25% (OR = .75, 95% CI = [.52, .95]) respectively and with a one point increase in the anxiety score, a 58% (OR = 1.58, 95% CI = [1.13, 2.72]) increase in the odds of EBF at week 6.ConclusionExaminations of EBF at 6 weeks should include evaluation of mothers’ ongoing pain and emotional distress, as mothers continue breastfeeding even at personal cost. Early identification and validation of breastfeeding challenges, ongoing pain, and emotional distress are needed to bolster mothers’ confidence in their breastfeeding skills, thus supporting their EBF goals.Quick pointsUnresolved pain during breastfeeding may affect breastfeeding self-efficacy, maternal self-efficacy and bondingThe effect of maternal emotion on breast and nipple pain and breastfeeding outcomes is not consistently evaluated during breastfeedingMothers who received breastfeeding pain self-management strategies reported higher breastfeeding self-efficacy scores and lower pain and anxiety scoresProviding breastfeeding pain self-management is a pathway to increase breastfeeding self-efficacy and exclusive breastfeedingEmpowering women with the skills needed to self-manage anxiety and pain by providing real-time support in the first weeks after birth support mother to reach their breastfeeding goals
Catastrophic Health Expenditure Before and After of the Implementation of Health Sector Evolution Plan
Authors: Ahmadi Razieh , Shafiei Milad , Ameri Hosein , Askari Roohollah , Fallahzadeh Hossein 
Published: October 2020

AbstractObjectiveOne of the fundamental goals of health sector evolution plan (HSEP) in Iran is to improve household’s financial protection against catastrophic health expenditure (CHE). The aim of this study was to calculate the percentage of CHE after implementing the plan and compare that with CHE before the plan at the same households.MethodsThe data was collected through face-to-face interview during a single visit. The World Health Survey (WHS) questionnaire was completed by 400 households. The relationships between CHE and variables were examined by the Fisher exact tests, and the impacts of variables on CHE were assessed by logistic regression model.ResultsThe exposure of the households to CHE increased from 8.2% in 2011 to 14.25% in 2020, and percentage of the impoverished households due to health expenditures in 2020 was more than that in 2011(4.3% vs. 7.5%). The economic status, dental services and inpatients services were the key factor determining CHE. The most important determinant affecting the exposure to CHE was dental service utilization in 2011(92.64) and 2020(122.68).ConclusionThe results showed a negative incremental change for the households facing CHE in this period. The dental and inpatients services, as well as the presence of member ≥65 years and economic status were the key determining factors for CHE. The services need to be more widely covered by the basic health insurance and households having members ≥65 years and the poor households should be exempted from paying some of the healthcare expenditures for improving financial protection against CHE.
Selecting stimulation intensity in repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation studies: A systematic review between 1991 and 2020
Authors: Turi Zsolt , Lenz Maximilian , Paulus Walter , Mittner Matthias , Vlachos Andreas 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackgroundRepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an increasingly used, non-invasive brain stimulation technique in neuroscience research and clinical practice with a broad spectrum of suggested applications. Among other parameters, the choice of stimulus intensity and intracranial electric field strength substantially impact rTMS outcome. This review provides a systematic overview of the intensity selection approaches and stimulation intensities used in human rTMS studies. We also examined whether studies report sufficient information to reproduce stimulus intensities in basic science research models.Methods. We performed a systematic review by focusing on original studies published between 1991 and 2020. We included conventional (e.g., 1 Hz or 10 Hz) and patterned protocols (e.g., continuous or intermittent theta burst stimulation). We identified 3,784 articles in total, and we manually processed a representative portion (20%) of randomly selected articles.Results. The majority of the analyzed studies (90% of entries) used the motor threshold (MT) approach and stimulation intensities from 80 to 120% of the MT. For continuous and intermittent theta burst stimulation, the most frequent stimulation intensity was 80% of the active MT. Most studies (92% of entries) did not report sufficient information to reproduce the stimulation intensity. Only a minority of studies (1.03% of entries) estimated the rTMS-induced electric field strengths.Conclusion. We formulate easy-to-follow recommendations to help scientists and clinicians report relevant information on stimulation intensity. Future standardized reporting guidelines may facilitate the use of basic science approaches aiming at better understanding the molecular, cellular, and neuronal mechanisms of rTMS.
RNAi gene knockdown in the poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer 1778), a tool for functional genomics
Authors: Chen Wan , Bartley Kathryn , Nunn Francesca , Bowman Alan S. , Sternberg Jeremy M. , Burgess Stewart , Nisbet Alasdair J. , Price Daniel R. G. 
Published: October 2020

Background: The avian haematophagous ectoparasite, Dermanyssus gallinae or the poultry red mite, causes significant economic losses to the egg laying industry worldwide and also represents a significant welfare threat. Current acaricide-based controls are unsustainable due to the mite's ability to rapidly develop resistance, thus developing a novel sustainable means of control for D. gallinae is a priority. RNA interference (RNAi) mediated gene silencing is a valuable tool for studying gene function in non-model organisms, but is also emerging as a novel tool for parasite control.Methods: Here we use an in silico approach to identify core RNAi pathway genes in the recently sequenced D. gallinae genome. In addition we utilise an in vitro feeding device to deliver dsRNA to D. gallinae targeting the D. gallinae vATPase subunit A (Dg vATPase A) gene and monitor gene knockdown using quantitive PCR (qPCR). Results: We identified core components of the small interfering RNA (siRNA) and micro RNA (miRNA) pathways in D. gallinae, which indicate these gene silencing pathways are likely functional. Strikingly, the Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway was absent in D. gallinae. In addition, we demonstrate that feeding Dg vATPase A dsRNA to adult female D. gallinae results in silencing of the targeted gene compared to control mites fed non-specific lacZ dsRNA. In D. gallinae, dsRNA mediated gene knockdown is rapid, detectable 24 hours after oral delivery of dsRNA and persisted for at least 120 hours. Conclusions: This study has shown the presence of core RNAi machinery components in the D. gallinae genome. In addition, we have developed a robust RNAi methodology for targeting genes in D. gallinae, which will be of value for studying genes of unknown function and validating potential control targets in D. gallinae.
SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses in patients with aggressive haematological malignancies
Authors: O’Nions J. , Muir L. , Zheng J. , Rees-Spear C. , Rosa A. , Earl C. , Cherepanov P. , Gupta R. , Khwaja A. , Jolly C. , McCoy L.E. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe development of antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 is an indicator of seroprevalence and may afford protection from infection. It has been presumed that antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 will be impaired in patients with aggressive haematological malignancy (PHM) due to underlying immunological dysfunction caused by malignancy or systemic anti-cancer treatment (SACT), placing them at increased risk. Here we analysed longitudinal serum samples from ten hospitalised PHM with aggressive disease and on SACT, collected up to 103 days post-onset of COVID-19 symptoms. We found that the majority (8/9) of PHM with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection seroconverted and developed antibodies to the major SARS-CoV-2 antigens (S1 and N) with most (6/8) produced neutralising antibody responses. Furthermore, the dynamics of antibody responses were broadly similar to that reported for the general population, except for a possible delay to seroconversion. Our finding that PHM on SACT can make functional antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 has important implications for patient management and serological monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in high-risk groups.
Alzheimer’s Disease variant portal (ADVP): a catalog of genetic findings for Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Kuksa Pavel P. , Liu Chia-Lun , Fu Wei , Qu Liming , Zhao Yi , Katanic Zivadin , Kuzma Amanda B , Ho Pei-Chuan , Tzeng Kai-Teh , Valladares Otto , Chou Shin-Yi , Naj Adam C , Schellenberg Gerard D , Wang Li-San , Leung Yuk Yee 
Published: October 2020

AbstractAlzheimer’s Disease (AD) genetics has made substantial progress through genome-wide association studies (GWASs). An up-to-date resource providing harmonized, searchable information on AD genetic variants with linking to genes and supporting functional evidence is needed.We developed the Alzheimer’s Disease Variant Portal (ADVP), an extensive collection of associations curated from >200 GWAS publications from Alzheimer’s Disease Genetics Consortium (ADGC) and other researchers. Publications are reviewed systematically to extract top associations for harmonization and genomic annotation.ADVP V1.0 catalogs 6,990 associations with disease-risk, expression quantitative traits, endophenotypes and neuropathology across >900 loci, >1,800 variants, >80 cohorts, and 8 populations. ADVP integrates with NIAGADS Alzheimer’s GenomicsDB where investigators can cross-reference other functional evidence.ADVP is a valuable resource for investigators to quickly and systematically explore high-confidence AD genetic findings and provides insights into population- and tissue-specific AD genetic architecture. ADVP is continually maintained and enhanced by NIAGADS and is freely accessible (https://advp.niagads.org).
Ultra-rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 in public workspace environments
Authors: Yaren Ozlem , McCarter Jacquelyn , Phadke Nikhil , Bradley Kevin M. , Overton Benjamin , Yang Zunyi , Ranade Shatakshi , Patil Kunal , Bangale Rishikesh , Benner Steven A. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractManaging the pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 requires new capabilities in testing, including the possibility of identifying, in minutes, infected individuals as they enter spaces where they must congregate in a functioning society, including workspaces, schools, points of entry, and commercial business establishments. Here, the only useful tests (a) require no sample transport, (b) require minimal sample manipulation, (c) can be performed by unlicensed individuals, (d) return results on the spot in much less than one hour, and (e) cost no more than a few dollars. The sensitivity need not be as high as normally required by the FDA for screening asymptomatic carriers (as few as 10 virions per sample), as these viral loads are almost certainly not high enough for an individual to present a risk for forward infection. This allows tests specifically useful for this pandemic to trade-off unneeded sensitivity for necessary speed, simplicity, and frugality. In some studies, it was shown that viral load that creates forward-infection risk may exceed 105 virions per milliliter, easily within the sensitivity of an RNA amplification architecture, but unattainable by antibody-based architectures that simply target viral antigens. Here, we describe such a test based on a displaceable probe loop amplification architecture.
The Challenge of Forecasting Demand of Medical Resources and Supplies During a Pandemic: A Comparative Evaluation of Three Surge Calculators for COVID-19
Authors: Kamar A.A. , Maalouf N. , Hitti E. , Eid G. El , Isma’eel H. , Elhajj I. H. 
Published: October 2020

SummaryEver since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a pandemic, there has been a public health debate concerning medical resources and supplies including hospital beds, intensive care units (ICU), ventilators, and Protective Personal Equipment (PPE). Forecasting COVID-19 dissemination has played a key role in informing healthcare professionals and governments on how to manage overburdened healthcare systems. However, forecasting during the pandemic remained challenging and sometimes highly controversial. Here, we highlight this challenge by performing a comparative evaluation for the estimations obtained from three COVID-19 surge calculators under different social distancing approaches, taking Lebanon as a case study. Despite discrepancies in estimations, the three surge calculators used herein agree that there will be a relative shortage in the capacity of medical resources and a significant surge in PPE demand as the social distancing policy is removed. Our results underscore the importance of implementing containment interventions including social distancing in alleviating the demand for medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic in the absence of any medication or vaccine. It is said that “All models are wrong, but some are useful,” in this paper we highlight that it is even more useful to employ several models.
Vagus Nerve and Stomach Synucleinopathy in Parkinson’s Disease, Incidental Lewy Body Disease and Normal Elderly Subjects: Evidence Against the “Body-First” Hypothesis
Authors: Beach Thomas G. , Adler Charles H. , Sue Lucia I. , Shill Holly A. , Driver-Dunckley Erika , Mehta Shyamal H. , Intorcia Anthony J. , Glass Michael J. , Walker Jessica E. , Arce Richard , Nelson Courtney M. , Serrano Geidy E. 
Published: October 2020

ABSTRACTBraak and others have proposed that Lewy-type α-synucleinopathy (aSyn) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) may arise from an exogenous pathogen that passes across the gastric mucosa and then is retrogradely transported up the vagus nerve to the medulla. We tested this “body-first” hypothesis by immunohistochemically staining stomach and vagus nerve tissue from an autopsy series of 111 normal elderly subjects (no brain aSyn), 33 with incidental Lewy body disease (ILBD) (brain aSyn without clinical parkinsonism or dementia) and 53 with PD. Median disease duration for the PD group was 13 years. Vagus nerve samples were taken adjacent to the carotid artery in the neck. Stomach samples were taken from the gastric body, midway along the greater curvature. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections were immunohistochemically stained for α-synuclein phosphorylated at serine-129. In the vagus nerve none of the 111 normal subjects had aSyn in the vagus, while 12/26 ILBD (46%) and 32/36 PD (89%) subjects were aSyn-positive. In the stomach none of the 102 normal subjects had aSyn while 5/30 (17%) ILBD and 42/52 (81%) of PD subjects were aSyn-positive. As there was no aSyn in the vagus nerve or stomach of subjects without brain aSyn, these results support initiation of aSyn in the brain. The presence of aSyn in the vagus nerve and stomach of a subset of ILBD cases indicates that progression of synucleinopathy to the peripheral nervous system may occur at preclinical stages of Lewy body disease.
Intravital Deep-Tumor Single-Beam 2-, 3- and 4-Photon Microscopy
Authors: Bakker Gert-Jan , Weischer Sarah , Heidelin Judith , Andresen Volker , Beutler Marcus , Friedl Peter 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThree-photon excitation has recently been introduced to perform intravital microscopy in deep, previously inaccessible layers of the brain. The applicability of deep-tissue three-photon excitation in more heterogeneously structured, dense tissue types remains, however, unclear. Here we show that in tumors and bone, high-pulse-energy low-duty-cycle infrared excitation near 1300 and 1700 nm enables two-up to fourfold increased tissue penetration compared to conventional 2-photon excitation. Using a single laser line, simultaneous 2-, 3- and 4-photon processes are effectively induced, enabling the simultaneous detection of blue to far-red fluorescence together with second and third harmonic generation. This enables subcellular resolution at power densities in the focus that are not phototoxic to live cells and without color aberration. Thus, infrared high-pulse-energy low-duty-cycle excitation advances deep intravital microscopy in strongly scattering tissue and, in a single scan, delivers rich multi-parameter datasets from cells and complex organ structures.
Efficient Multiplex Genome Editing Tools identified by Protoplast Technology inPhalaenopsis
Authors: Xia Keke , Zhang Dengwei , Liu Guangyu , Xu Xiaojing , Yang Yong , Zhang Guo-Qiang , Sun Hai-Xi , Gu Ying 
Published: October 2020

AbstractPhalaenopsisorchids are popular ornamental plants worldwide. The application of the efficient multiplex genome editing tools inPhalaenopsis, will greatly accelerate the development of orchid gene function and breeding research. In this study, we establish a fast and convenientPhalaenopsisprotoplast platform for the identification of functional genome editing tools. Two multiplex genome editing tools, PTG-Cas9 (PTG, polycistronic tRNA gRNA) system and PTGm-Cas9 (PTG-Cas9 system with modified sgRNA structure) system are designed to editPDSgene of commercialPhalaenopsisST166 at four target sites. We find that both PTG-Cas9 and PTGm-Cas9 system are functional inPhalaenopsis, and the PTGm-Cas9 system with modified sgRNA has a higher editing efficiency than PTG-Cas9 system. Further, we design another multiplex genome editing tool, termed as DPII-Cpf1 system (dual Pol II promoter to drive the expression of Cpf1 endonuclease and crRNA), to editPDSgene ofPhalaenopsisat four target sites likewise. All the four targets are efficiently edited by DPII-Cpf1 system, and the total mutation rate is about 3 times higher than that of PTGm-Cas9 system. Taken together, using thePhalaenopsisprotoplast platform, we successfully establish two efficient multiplex genome editing tools forPhalaenopsisresearch, PTGm-Cas9 and DPII-Cpf1. The multiplex genome editing tools established in this study have great application potentials in efficiently constructing large-scale knockout mutant libraries of orchid and speeding up orchid precise breeding.