bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis: an update for nephrologists
Authors: Raglianti Valentina , Rossi Giovanni M. , Vaglio Augusto 
Published: March 2020

AbstractIdiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis (IRF) is a rare condition characterized by the development of a peri-aortic and peri-iliac tissue showing chronic inflammatory infiltrates and pronounced fibrosis. Ureteral entrapment with consequent obstructive uropathy is one of the most common complications of IRF, which can lead to acute renal failure and, in the long term, to varying degrees of chronic kidney disease. IRF may be isolated or develop in association with autoimmune diseases (e.g. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and psoriasis) and other fibro-inflammatory disorders (often within the spectrum of immunoglobulin G4-related disease), which suggests that it should be considered as a potentially systemic condition. IRF is an immune-mediated disease: genetic variants (e.g. human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1*03) and environmental agents (mainly exposure to asbestos and smoking) are strongly associated with an increased risk of developing the disease, while a complex network of chemokines (e.g. CXCL12 and C-C moti chemokine 11 (CCL11)) and cytokines [e.g. interleukin (IL)-6, IL-12 and IL-13] is likely to orchestrate the inflammatory response and simultaneously promote fibrosis. Glucocorticoids, alone or in combination with traditional immunosuppressants such as methotrexate and mycophenolate mofetil, are usually efficacious and promptly induce disease remission; however, up to 50% of patients relapse, thus requiring repeat immunosuppressive courses. Biologic drugs, namely rituximab, are being explored for the treatment of IRF. In addition to medical therapies, interventional procedures (mainly ureteral stenting) are required to relieve ureteral obstruction, whereas surgical ureterolysis is generally reserved to refractory cases. If appropriately treated, then the overall and renal prognosis of IRF are good, with &lt;5% patients developing end-stage renal disease.
3New Materialisms
Authors: Diener Samuel 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThis review considers work in the field of new materialisms, bearing in mind the wide range of approaches that make up the broader ‘material turn’ in critical and cultural theory but focusing in particular on the feminist new materialist conversation that draws on the work of Jane Bennett, Karen Barad, Samantha Frost, Rosi Braidotti, and others. It notes the new materialisms’ continued heterogeneity and describes a turn to method in the field, one that enables a vibrant dialogue between applied and theoretical scholarship. The pieces reviewed share an engagement with that trend. They also illustrate two important problems that the field has engaged with in 2019. The first question concerns the new materialisms’ politics of citation, and the need for a decolonial practice that engages with indigenous and non-western thought. The second is the question of a new materialist ontology: how to reconcile the tension between ‘flat’ and differentiated, subject-oriented accounts of agency, significance, and value. The new materialists this review follows seek a middle ground, one that allows them to emphasize the political stakes of human and more-than-human relations. Following the introduction, sections are: 1. New Materialist Practice, Feminist Ends; 2. Indigeneity and the New Materialisms; 3. Sensation in a Material World; 4. A Cartography of the New Materialisms; 5. Reading's Situation; 6. Exclusion and Activist New Materialism; and 7. The Things We Imagine.
Global profiling of SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG/ IgM responses of convalescents using a proteome microarray
Authors: Jiang He-wei , Li Yang , Zhang Hai-nan , Wang Wei , Men Dong , Yang Xiao , Qi Huan , Zhou Jie , Tao Sheng-ce 
Published: March 2020

AbstractCOVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2, and has become a global pandemic. There is no highly effective medicine or vaccine, most of the patients were recovered by their own immune response, especially the virus specific IgG and IgM responses. However, the IgG/ IgM responses is barely known. To enable the global understanding of SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG/ IgM responses, a SARS-CoV-2 proteome microarray with 18 out of the 28 predicted proteins was constructed. The microarray was applied to profile the IgG/ IgM responses with 29 convalescent sera. The results suggest that at the convalescent phase 100% of patients had IgG/ IgM responses to SARS-CoV-2, especially to protein N, S1 but not S2. S1 purified from mammalian cell demonstrated the highest performance to differentiate COVID-19 patients from controls. Besides protein N and S1, significant antibody responses to ORF9b and NSP5 were also identified. In-depth analysis showed that the level of S1 IgG positively correlate to age and the level of LDH (lactate dehydrogenase), especially for women, while the level of S1 IgG negatively correlate to Ly% (Lymphocyte percentage). This study presents the first whole picture of the SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG/ IgM responses, and provides insights to develop precise immuno-diagnostics, effective treatment and vaccine.HighlightsA SARS-CoV-2 proteome microarray contains 18 of the 28 predicted proteinsThe 1stglobal picture of the SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG/ IgM response reveals that at the convalescent phase, 100% of patients have IgG/ IgM responses to protein N and S1Significant antibody responses against ORF9b and NSP5 were identifiedProtein S1 specific IgG positively correlates to age and LDH, while negatively to Ly%
Factors associated with prolonged viral shedding and impact of Lopinavir/Ritonavir treatment in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Yan Dan , Liu Xiao-Yan , Zhu Ya-nan , Huang Li , Dan Bi-tang , Zhang Guo-jun , Gao Yong-hua 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe duration of viral shedding is central to guide decisions around isolation precautions and antiviral treatment. However, studies about risk factors associated with prolonged SARS-CoV-2 shedding and the potential impact of Lopinavir/Ritonavir (LPV/r) treatment remain scarce.MethodsIn this retrospective study, data were collected from all SARS-CoV-2 infected patients who were admitted to isolation wards and had RT-PCR conversion at the NO.3 People’s hospital of Hubei province between 31 January and 09 March 2020. We compared clinical features and SARS-CoV-2 RNA shedding between patients with LPV/r treatment and those without. Logistic regression analysis was employed to evaluate risk factors associated with prolonged viral shedding.ResultsOf 120 patients, the median age was 52 years, 54 (45%) were male and 78 (65%) received LPV/r treatment. The median duration of SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection from symptom onset was 23 days (IQR, 18-32 days). Older age (odd ratio [OR] 1.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00-1.05, p=0.03) and lack of LPV/r treatment (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.10-5.36, p=0.029) were independent risk factors for prolonged SARS-CoV-2 RNA shedding in multivariate logistic regression analysis. The median duration of viral shedding was shorter in the LPV/r treatment group (n=78) than that in no LPV/r treatment group (n=42) (median, 22 days vs. 28.5 days, p=0.02). Only earlier administration of LPV/r treatment (≤10 days from symptom onset) could shorten the duration of viral shedding.ConclusionsOlder age and lack of LPV/r treatment were independently associated with prolonged SARS-CoV-2 RNA shedding in patients with COVID-19. Earlier administration of LPV/r treatment could shorten viral shedding.Take home messageRisk factors for prolonged SARS-CoV-2 shedding included older age and lack of Lopinavir/Ritonavir treatment. Earlier administration of Lopinavir/Ritonavir treatment could shorten the duration of SARS-CoV-2 RNA shedding.
An alarming high prevalence of resistance associated mutations to macrolides and fluoroquinolones in Mycoplasma genitalium in Belgium: Results from samples collected between 2015-2018
Authors: De Baetselier I. , Kenyon C. , Berghe W. Vanden , Smet H. , Wouters K. , Van den Bossche D. , Vuylsteke B. , Crucitti T. 
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACTObjectivesThe number of reported cases of multi-resistant Mycoplasma genitalium (Mg) is increasing globally. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of macrolide and possible fluoroquinolone resistance associated mutations (RAMs) of Mg in Belgium.MethodsThe study was performed retrospectively on two sets of Mg positive samples collected in Belgium between 2015-2018. The first set of samples originated from routine surveillance activities and the second set came from a cohort of men who have sex with men (MSM) using pre-exposure prophylaxis to prevent HIV transmission. Detection of RAMs to macrolides and fluoroquinolones was performed on all samples using DNA sequencing of the 23S ribosomal RNA gene, the gyrA gene and the parC gene.ResultsSeventy-six percent of the Mg samples contained a mutation conferring resistance to macrolides or fluoroquinolones (parC position 83/87). RAMs were more frequently found among men compared to women for fluoroquinolones (28.7% vs 9.1%) and macrolides (82.9% vs 27.3%). More than 90% of the Mg infections among MSM possessed a RAM to macrolides (90.7%). In addition, 23.4% of the samples harboured both macrolides and fluoroquinolone RAMs; 3.0% in women and 30.7% in MSM. Being MSM was associated with macrolide RAMs (Odds ratio: 15.1), fluoroquinolone RAMs (Odds ratio: 3.4) and having a possible multi-resistant Mg infection (Odds ratio: 8.2).ConclusionThe study shows an alarmingly high prevalence of Mg with RAMs to macrolides and fluoroquinolones in Belgium. These results highlight the need to improve antimicrobial stewardship in Belgium in order to avoid the emergence of untreatable Mg.KEY MESSAGESOur study reports an alarmingly high prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium antimicrobial resistance to either macrolides or fluoroquinolones in Belgium (76.6%).Multi-resistant Mg was found in almost 25% of cases, however, the prevalence of multi-resistant Mg was remarkably higher in men (27.1% vs 3.0%).The number of Mg resistant cases was much higher in men who have sex with men compared to heterosexual men and women.These results highlight the need to improve antimicrobial stewardship in Belgium.
Exponential damping: The key to successful containment of COVID-19
Authors: Zhang Feng , Zhang Jinmei , Cao Menglan , Zhang Yong , Hui Cang 
Published: March 2020

AbstractDue to its excessively high capacity for human-to-human transmission, the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), first reported in Wuhan in China, spread rapidly to the entire nation and beyond, and has now been declared a global public health emergency. Understanding the transmission pattern of the virus and the efficacy of transmission control measures is crucial to ensuring regional and global disease control. Here we propose a simple model based on exponential infectious growth, but with a time-varying, largely damping, transmission rate. This model provides an excellent fit to the existing data from the 102 countries and regions which have reported cases for more than 6 days, and, we think, has largely captured the transmission patterns of the COVID-19 outbreak under a variety of intervention and control measures. We found that the damping rate, defined as the rate of the exponential decline in transmission rate, ranged from -0.125 to 0.513 d-1 globally (a negative damping rate represents acceleration in spread). The estimated peak time (when the fastest spread occurs) and the final number of infections were found to be greatly affected by the damping rate. Successful control measures, such as those implemented in China and South Korea, have resulted in a clear pattern of exponential damping in the viral spread (also shown during the 2003 outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, SARS). The damping rate, therefore, could be used as an indicator for the efficacy of implemented control measures. Our model suggests that the COVID-19 outbreak is currently accelerating worldwide, especially rapidly in certain countries (e.g. USA and Australia) where exponential damping is yet to emerge. Consistent with the message from the World Health Organisation (WHO), we thus strongly suggest all countries to take active measures to contain this global pandemic. Slight increments in the damping rate from additional control efforts, especially in countries showing weak or no exponential damping in COVID-19 transmission, could lead to a radically more positive outcome in the fight to contain the pandemic.
Deep Learning-Based Universal Expert-Level Recognizing Pathological Images of Hepatocellular Carcinoma and beyond
Authors: Chen Wei-Ming , Fu Min , Zhang Cheng-Ju , Xing Qing-Qing , Zhou Fei , Lin Meng-Jie , Dong Xuan , Zheng Qi-Zhong , Hong Mei-Zhu , Pan Jin-Shui 
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACTPurposeHuman-based medical-image interpretation always falls into the predicament between specialized practitioners and expanding medical imaging. We aim at developing a diagnostic tool for pathological-image classification by using transfer learning that can be applied to diverse tumor types.Experimental DesignIn this study, images were retrospectively collected and prospectively analyzed using machine learning. Microscopic images of liver tissue that show or do not show hepatocellular carcinoma were used to train and validate a classification framework based on convolutional neural network. To evaluate the universal classification performance of the artificial-intelligence (AI) framework, histological images from colorectal tissue and breast were also collected. Training and validation set of images were collected from Xiamen Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine whereas test set of images were collected from Zhongshan Hospital Xiamen University.ResultsAccuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were reported and compared to human image interpretation and other AI image classification systems such as AlexNet and GoogLeNet. For the test dataset, sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve of the AI framework were 99.1%, 98.0%, and 0.960, respectively. In human-machine comparisons, the accuracy of the AI framework was 98.5%, while the accuracy of human experts fluctuated between 93.0% and 95.0%. Based on transfer learning, the AI framework accuracy for colorectal carcinoma, breast invasive ductal carcinoma, were 96.8%, and 96.0%, respectively.ConclusionsThe performance of the proposed AI framework in classifying histological images with hepatocellular carcinoma is comparable to the classification by human experts. With limited training, the proposed AI framework has potential universality in histological image classification.Study HighlightsWHAT IS KNOWN✓Accurate recognition of medical images is the basis for clinical decision-making.✓Unresolved challenge exists between specialized practitioners and expanding medical imaging output.WHAT IS NEW HERE✓Proposed AI framework has excellent performance in classifying hepatocellular carcinoma.✓The AI framework has universal feature in classifying other types of histological images.✓The AI framework may help to interpret emerging imaging technology.
Delaying the COVID-19 epidemic in Australia: Evaluating the effectiveness of international travel bans
Authors: Adekunle Adeshina I. , Meehan Michael , Rojas Dianna , Trauer James , McBryde Emma 
Published: March 2020

AbstractFollowing the outbreak of novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) or COVID-19 in Wuhan, China late 2019, different countries have put in place interventions such as travel ban, proper hygiene, and social distancing to slow the spread of this novel virus. We evaluated the effects of travel bans in the Australia context and projected the epidemic until May 2020. Our modelling results closely align with observed cases in Australia indicating the need for maintaining or improving on the control measures to slow down the virus.
Gastrointestinal tract symptoms in coronavirus disease 2019: Analysis of clinical symptoms in adult patients
Authors: Zhang Yong , Lu Zuneng , Wang Bo , Cang Jinxing , Ma Yonggang 
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo investigate the clinical presentation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), particularly the incidence of gastrointestinal tract symptoms.DesignWe enrolled adult COVID-19 patients from a mobile cabin hospital in Wuhan with a definitive diagnosis by SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid testing. Face-to-face interviews were conducted in which the patient selected COVID-19-related symptoms and report the time of onset and duration of symptoms.ResultsA total of 212 adults were enrolled in this study, of which 127 (59.9%) were females, mean age was 48.50 ±13.15 (range: 17-79) years, and mean disease course was 26.78±9.16 (3-60) days. Fever and cough were the most common and earliest clinical symptoms of COVID-19.Diarrhoea occurred in 43.8% (93/212) of patients, of which 86.0% (80/93) had mushy stools. Nausea and vomiting were also common (20.7%). Diarrhoea lasted for 4.00(2.00-8.85) days and mostly occurred 5.00(0.25-11.00) days after the emergence of the first symptoms. Multiple logistic regression analysis found that diarrhoea was significantly correlated with fatigue [OR2.900,95%CI (1.629-5.164), p<0.0001].ConclusionsGastrointestinal tract symptoms are common in COVID-19 and most occur during the middle stage of the disease and lasts for a short period of time. Clinicians need to pay greater attention to gastrointestinal tract symptoms of COVID-19.
Impact of changing case definitions for COVID-19 on the epidemic curve and transmission parameters in mainland China
Authors: Tsang Tim K. , Wu Peng , Lin Yun , Lau Eric H. Y. , Leung Gabriel M. , Cowling Benjamin J. 
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACTBackgroundWhen a new infectious disease emerges, appropriate case definitions are important for clinical diagnosis and also for public health surveillance. Tracking case numbers over time allows us to determine speed of spread and the effectiveness of interventions. Changing case definitions during an epidemic can affect these inferences.MethodsWe examined changes in the case definition for COVID-19 in mainland China during the first epidemic wave. We used simple models assuming exponential growth and then exponential decay to estimate how changes in the case definitions affected the numbers of cases reported each day. We then inferred how the epidemic curve would have appeared if the same case definition had been used throughout the epidemic.FindingsFrom January through to early March 2020, seven versions of the case definition for COVID-19 were issued by the National Health Commission in China. As of February 20, there were 55,508 confirmed cases reported in mainland China. We estimated that when the case definitions were changed from version 1 to 2, version 2 to 4 and version 4 to 5, the proportion of infections being detected as cases were increased by 7.1-fold (95% credible interval (CI): 4.8, 10.9), 2.8-fold (95% CI: 1.9, 4.2) and 4.2-fold (95% CI: 2.6, 7.3) respectively. If the fifth version of the case definition had been applied throughout the outbreak, we estimated that by February 20 there would have been 232,000 (95% CI: 161,000, 359,000) confirmed cases.InterpretationThe case definition was initially narrow, but was gradually broadened to allow detection of more cases as knowledge increased, particularly milder cases and those without epidemiological links to Wuhan or other known cases. This should be taken into account when making inferences on epidemic growth rates and doubling times, and therefore on the reproductive number, to avoid bias.FundingCommissioned grant from the Health and Medical Research Fund, Food and Health Bureau, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
The role of the environment in overweight and eating behavior variability: Insights from a multivariate twin study
Authors: Herle Moritz , Madrid-Valero Juan J , Morosoli José J , Colodro-Conde Lucía , Ordoñana Juan 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe health consequences of overweight and obesity remain one of the greatest global health challenges. Twin and molecular studies have confirmed the genetic basis of individual differences in BMI; however, genetics cannot explain the rapid rise of obesity rates over the past decades. Eating behaviors have been stipulated to be the behavioral expression of genetic risk in an obesogenic environment. Multivariate twin studies can inform future applied research by providing insights into the etiology of the relationship between behaviors and BMI. In this study, we aimed to decompose variation and covariation between three key eating behaviors and BMI in a sample from a population-based twin registry of adult women in the southeast of Spain, The Murcia Twin Registry (345 complete, 9 incomplete, same-sex female twin pairs, 175 MZ, 170 DZ). Phenotypes were emotional eating, uncontrolled eating, and cognitive restraint, as measured by the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire, as well as objectively measured BMI. Variation in eating behaviors was mostly driven by non-shared environmental factors (range: 56-65%), whereas shared environmental and genetic factors were secondary. All three eating behaviors were associated with BMI at a phenotypic level (range r=0.19–0.25). Etiological correlations implied that non-shared environmental factors underly the covariations of the phenotypes (Emotional eating – Uncontrolled eating: rE= 0.54, 95%CI: 0.43, 0.64; BMI – Cognitive restraint: rE= 0.15, 95%CI: 0.01, 0.28). Results indicate that in contrast to BMI, individual differences in eating behaviors are mostly explained by non-shared environmental factors, which also account for the phenotypic correlation between eating behaviors and BMI. These results support that eating behaviors are viable intervention targets to help individuals reach and maintain a healthy weight.
History of coronary heart disease increases the mortality rate of COVID-19 patients: a nested case-control study
Authors: Gu Tian , Chu Qiao , Yu Zhangsheng , Fa Botao , Li Anqi , Xu Lei , He Yaping , Wu Ruijun 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBackgroundChina has experienced an outbreak of a novel human coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) since December 2019, which quickly became a worldwide pandemic in early 2020. There is limited evidence on the mortality risk effect of pre-existing comorbidities for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which has important implications for early treatment.ObjectiveEvaluate the risk of pre-existing comorbidities on COVID-19 mortality, and provide clinical suggestions accordingly.MethodThis study used a nested case-control design. A total of 94 publicly reported deaths in locations outside of Hubei Province, China, between December 18th, 2019 and March 8th, 2020 were included as cases. Each case was matched with up to three controls, based on gender and age ± 1 year old (94 cases and 181 controls). The inverse probability weighted Cox proportional hazard model was performed.ResultsHistory of comorbidities significantly increased the death risk of COVID-19: one additional pre-existing comorbidity led to an estimated 40% higher risk of death (p<0.001). The estimated mortality risk in patients with CHD was three times of those without CHD (p<0.001). The estimated 30-day survival probability for a profile patient with pre-existing CHD (65-year-old female with no other comorbidities) was 0.53 (95% CI [0.34-0.82]), while it was 0.85 (95% CI [0.79-0.91]) for those without CHD. Older age was also associated with increased death risk: every 5-year increase in age was associated with a 20% increased risk of mortality (p<0.001).ConclusionExtra care and early medical intervention are needed for patients with pre-existing comorbidities, especially CHD.