bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impacts of Smoking and Alcohol Consumption on Workplace Presenteeism: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Lee So Young , Lee Jinhwa , Kwon Min 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background: Presenteeism refers to the practice of going to work despite poor health, resulting in subpar performance. The problems caused by smoking and drinking alcohol while on company premises have received limited attention despite their health hazards, which are linked to sick leave, occupational injuries, and reduced productivity. This study aimed to investigate the effects of smoking and alcohol drinking on presenteeism. Methods: The study participants were 60,051 wage workers from the database of the second and third Korean Working Conditions Surveys (KWCS) in 2010 and 2011 , respectively. A total of 41,672 workers aged 19 and over who had worked for at least one hour in the previous week answered the survey questions. Chi-squared tests and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted using SPSS 18.0 to determine the impacts of smoking and drinking alcohol on presenteeism. Results: Of the 41,672 Korean workers, 8565 (20.6%) had experienced presenteeism in the past 12 months. Presenteeism was higher among women; the elderly; people with low educational status; people with low income; people with 5-11 days absenteeism; people with more working time; people with health problems; heavy smokers; and high-risk alcohol drinkers than other participants. Based on the results of multiple regression analysis, heavy smoking (AOR = 2.10, 95% CI [1.56, 2.82]) and high-risk drinking of alcohol (AOR = 1.20, 95% CI [1.10, 1.31]) were significantly related to presenteeism among workers.Conclusions: Smoking and alcohol drinking are associated with and potentially influence presenteeism; therefore, interventions for employees, and for the general public, may improve workplace productivity and reduce accidents. Companies that encourage employees to receive treatments for reduction of smoking or alcohol consumption may benefit from greater productivity. Hence, we should consider the impact of smoking and alcohol in the workplace and build appropriate strategies and implementation programs to help reduce heavy smoking and high-risk alcohol drinking behaviors.
COVID-19 detection and disease progression visualization: Deep learning on chest X-rays for classification and coarse localization
Authors: Zebin Tahmina , Rezvy Shahadate , Pang Wei 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Chest X-rays are playing an important role in the testing and diagnosis of COVID-19 disease in the recent pandemic. However, due to the limited amount of labelled medical images, automated classification of these images for positive and negative cases remains the biggest challenge in their reliable use in diagnosis and disease progression. We applied and implemented a transfer learning pipeline for classifying COVID-19 chest X-ray images from two publicly available chest X-ray datasets {https://github.com/ieee8023/covid-chestxray-dataset},{https://www.kaggle.com/paultimothymooney/chest-xray-pneumonia}}. The classifier effectively distinguishes inflammation in lungs due to COVID-19 and pneumonia (viral and bacterial) from the ones with no infection (normal). We have used multiple pre-trained convolutional backbones as the feature extractor and achieved an overall detection accuracy of 91.2% , 95.3%, 96.7% for the VGG16, ResNet50 and EfficientNetB0 backbones respectively. Additionally, we trained a generative adversarial framework (a cycleGAN) to generate and augment the minority COVID-19 class in our approach. For visual explanations and interpretation purposes, we visualized the regions of input that are important for predictions and a gradient class activation mapping (Grad-CAM) technique is used in the pipeline to produce a coarse localization map of the highlighted regions in the image. This activation map can be used to monitor affected lung regions during disease progression and severity stages.
Using prenatal blood samples to validate COVID-19 rapid serologic tests
Authors: Alger Jackeline , Cafferata Maria Luisa , Alvarado Tito , Ciganda Alvaro , Corrales Arturo , Desale Hans , Drouin Arnaud , Fusco Dahlene , Garcia Jorge , Gibbons Luz , Harville Emily , Lopez Wendy , Lorenzana Ivette , Muñoz-Lara Fausto , Palou Elsa , Retes Eduardo , Sierra Manuel , Stella Candela , Xiong Xu , Zambrano Lysien I. , Buekens Pierre 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
IntroductionBackground cross-reactivity with other coronaviruses may reduce the specificity of COVID-19 rapid serologic tests. Blood collected during prenatal care is a unique source of population-based samples appropriate for validation studies. We used stored 2018 serum samples from an existing pregnancy cohort study to evaluate the specificity of COVID-19 serologic rapid diagnostic tests. MethodsWe randomly selected 120 stored serum samples from pregnant women enrolled in a cohort in 2018, at least one year before the COVID-19 pandemic. We used stored serum to evaluate four lateral flow rapid diagnostic tests, following manufacturers’ instructions. Pictures were taken for all tests and read by two blinded trained evaluators. Results We evaluated 120, 80, 90, and 90 samples, respectively. Specificity for both IgM and IgG was 100% for the first two tests. The third test had a specificity of 98.9% for IgM and 94.4% for IgG. The fourth test had a specificity of 88.9% for IgM and 100% for IgG.Discussion COVID-19 serologic rapid tests are of variable specificity. Blood specimens from sentinel prenatal clinics provide an opportunity to validate serologic tests with population-based samples.
Diagnostic classification of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and other pneumonias using radiomics features in CT chest images
Authors: Yang Ning , Liu Faming , Li Chunlong , Xiao Wenqing , Xie Shuangcong , Yuan Shuyi , Zuo Wei , Ma Xiaofen , Jiang Guihua 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
We propose a classification method using the radiomics features of CT chest images to identify patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and other pneumonias. The chest CT images of two groups of participants (90 COVID-19 patients and 90 other pneumonias patients) were collected, and the two groups of data were manually drawn to outline the region of interest (ROI) of pneumonias. The radiomics method was used to extract textural features and histogram features of the ROI and obtain a radiomics features vector from each sample. Finally, using the radiomics features as an input, a support vector machine (SVM) model was constructed to classify patients with COVID-19 and patients with other pneumonias. This model used 20 rounds of 10-fold cross-validation for training and testing. In the COVID-19 patients, correlation analysis (multiple comparison correction—Bonferroni correction, p<0.05/7) was also conducted to determine whether the textural and histogram features were correlated with the laboratory test index of blood, i.e., blood oxygen, white blood cell, lymphocytes, neutrophils, C-reactive protein, hypersensitive C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The results showed that the proposed method had a classification accuracy as high as 88.33%, sensitivity of 83.56%, specificity of 93.11%, and an area under the curve of 0.947. This proved that the radiomics features were highly distinguishable, and this SVM model can effectively identify and diagnose patients with COVID-19 and other pneumonias. The correlation analysis results showed that some texture features were positively correlated with WBC, NE, and CRP and also negatively related to SPO2H and NE.
The Practice of Obtaining Informed Consent for Elective Surgery and Anesthesia from Patients’ Perspective: An Institutional based Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Negash Tadese Tamire , Tesfaw Aragaw 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background : Informed consent is a body of shared decision making process and voluntary authorization of patients to receive medical or surgical intervention. There are limited studies conducted so far to examine the practice of informed consent in Ethiopia. The aim of the study was to assess the practice of informed consent for surgery and Anesthesia from patients’ perspective.Method: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March to May 2019. The data were collected using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire and entered and analyzed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS version 23.Results: A total of 139 patients were interviewed in this study. Most 42(30.2%) of patients were in the age group of 29-38 years. The majority 74(53.2%) of the population were females and most 85 (61.2%) were from a rural residence. Nearly half 68 (48.9%) of the patients were informed of the benefits of the surgical procedure and 78(56.1%) of the patients were informed on the type of anesthesia to be administered while 65 (46.8% ) were not informed on any complications related to the anesthesia. About 66 (47.5%) of the patients interviewed were informed on alternatives to the surgery done. Of these patients, 39(59%) were not informed of any benefits and possible risks associated with the alternative modes of treatment. More than half 75 (54%) of the patients reported as they were understood the information provided during the pre-operative counseling and about 114 (82%) of the patients interviewed satisfied with the current process of obtaining informed consent.Conclusions and recommendation: The current practice of obtaining informed consent addressed only certain aspects of the informed consent component which reflects that patients were inadequately informed on complications related to surgery and anesthesia, alternative forms of treatment and their risks and benefits.
Possible COVID-19 recurrence in an older patient: a case report
Authors: Garnier-Crussard Antoine , Haution Marine , Gueret-Du-Manoir Mathilde , Reynaud Quitterie , Freymond Nathalie , Bouscambert-Duchamp Maude , Conrad Anne , Falandry Claire 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background: Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic cause by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) threatens the world for few months. Few cases of prolonged positivity of viral tests and clinical recurrence of COVID-19 have been described. We report the case of a 78-year-old woman with metastatic breast cancer who developed possible COVID-19 recurrence in a post-acute and rehabilitation unit. Case presentation: A 78-year-old woman with metastatic breast cancer and hypertension developed COVID-19. After symptom improvement and RT-PCR negativation, she regained symptom (fever, fall) and lymphopenia on Day 26 and we note a turned positive RT-PCR even though she was tested positive for antibody against SARS-CoV-2. After the diagnosis of possible COVID-19 recurrence, she was transferred back to an acute “COVID-19” unit and she then quickly clinically recovered. Conclusions: This clinical case allows us to discuss the risk of recurrence and possible specific causes in older patients. Moreover, prolonged symptoms and lymphopenia could be associated to worse outcomes in older patients. Finally, at a collective level, even if traces of virus detected by RT-PCR were not necessarily correlated with the contagiousness, the importance of possible COVID-19 recurrence in the care pathway for older adults must be taken into account, since they are often surrounded by frail older people.
Assessing (in) equalities in contraceptives use and family planning demand satisfied with modern contraceptives in Kenya
Authors: Gichangi Peter , Agwanda Alfred , Thiongo Mary , Waithaka Michael , Tsui Amy , Radloff Scott , Temmerman Marleen , Zimmerman Linnea , Ahmed Saifuddin , Anglewicz Philip 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background: Family planning plays an important role in reducing high-risk and unwanted pregnancies and associated complications. Kenya has made progress increasing the use of modern contraceptives. We assessed inequalities in contraceptive use and family planning demand satisfied.Methods: We used data from seven rounds of Performance, Monitoring and Accountability 2020 cross-sectional surveys, 2014-2018. Women aged 15-49 years were interviewed after informed consent was obtained. Contraceptive prevalence and demand for family planning satisfied standard definitions were used. Data were stratified by type of contraception (long-acting/permanent, short-acting, or traditional); wealth, residence, education, age, and wealth. Data were analysed using Stata v14.Results: Modern contraceptive prevalence has increased from 58.7% in 2014 to 64.2% in 2018 among sexually active married women. Total demand for family planning satisfied (DFPS) has increased from 70.5% in 2014 to 79.0% in 2018. There was a significant increase in long acting/permanent methods from 27.1% in 2014 to 42.9% in 2018 and a decrease in short acting methods from 71.6% in 2014 to 54.0% in 2018. The odds of contraception use among older women was 1.48 times higher than among adolescents (aOR=1.48; 95% CI: 1.21, 1.81); among married women 0.74 times compared to the unmarried women (aOR 0.74; 95% CI: 0.63, 0.86). The odds of contraception use increased with increasing education (secondary or higher education: aOR 3.78; 95% CI: 2.90, 4.92) and wealth quintiles (highest wealth quintile: aOR = 1.36; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.65). There were significant differences in DFPS by modern methods: older women vs adolescents (aOR = 2.40; 95% CI: 1.96, 2.93); married vs unmarried women (aOR = 1.53; 95% CI: 1.32, 1.78); secondary or higher education vs no education: aOR 2.39 (95% CI: 1.95, 2.94); and highest vs lowest wealth quintile: aOR = 1.53 (95% CI: 1.24, 1.89).Conclusion: Contraceptive use and specifically long-acting reversible contraceptives are on the rise in Kenya. However, persistent inequities need to be addressed if no women are going to be left behind to access and use family planning/contraceptives. Current achievements should be maintained while targeting women who are poor, uneducated/illiterate, young, and living in rural areas.
The carbapenem resistance gene blaOXA-23 is disseminated by a conjugative plasmid containing the novel transposon Tn6681 in Acinetobacter johnsonii M19
Authors: Zong Gongli , Zhong Chuanqing , Fu Jiafang , Zhang Yu , Zhang Peipei , Zhang Wenchi , Xu Yan , Cao Guangxiao , Zhang Rongzhen 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
Carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter species have caused great difficulties in clinical therapy in the worldwide. Here we describe an Acinetobacter johnsonii M19 with a novel blaOXA−23 containing transposon Tn6681 on the conjugative plasmid pFM-M19 and the ability to transferand carbapenem resistance.
Methods
A. johnsonii M19 was isolated under selection with 8 mg/L meropenem from hospital sewage, and the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for the representative carbapenems imipenem, meropenem and ertapenem were determined. The genome of A. johnsonii M19 was sequenced by PacBio RS II and Illumina HiSeq 4000 platforms. A homologous model of OXA-23 was generated, and molecular docking models with imipenem, meropenem and ertapenem were constructed by Discovery Studio 2.0. Type IV secretion system and conjugation elements were identified by the Pathosystems Resource Integration Center (PATRIC) server and the oriTfinder. Mating experiments were performed to evaluate transfer of OXA-23 to Escherichia coli 25DN.
Results
MICs of A. johnsonii M19 for imipenem, meropenem and ertapenem were 128 mg/L, 48 mg/L and 24 mg/L, respectively. Genome sequencing identified plasmid pFM-M19, which harbours the carbapenem resistance gene blaOXA−23 within the novel transposon Tn6681. Molecular docking analysis indicated that the elongated hydrophobic tunnel of OXA-23 provides a hydrophobic environment and that Lys-216, Thr-217, Met-221 and Arg-259 were the conserved amino acids bound to imipenem, meropenem and ertapenem. Furthermore, pFM-M19 could transfer blaOXA−23 to E. coli 25DN by conjugation, resulting in carbapenem-resistant transconjugants.
Conclusions
Our investigation showed that A. johnsonii M19 is a source and disseminator of blaOXA−23 and carbapenem resistance. The ability to transfer blaOXA−23 to other species by the conjugative plasmid pFM-M19 raises the risk of spread of carbapenem resistance.
Broadly active zinc finger protein-guided transcriptional activation of HIV
Authors: Scott tristan , O'Meally Denis V , Grepo Nicole Anne , Soemardy Citradewi , lazar Daniel , Zheng Yue , Weinberg Marc , Planelles Vicente , Morris Kevin Vance 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) is a lentivirus that causes a persistent viral infection and results in the demise of immune regulatory cells. Clearance of HIV-1 infection by the immune system is inefficient, and integration of proviral DNA into the genome of host cells provides a means for evasion and long-term persistence. A therapeutic compound that specifically targets and sustainably activates a latent HIV provirus could be transformative and is an overarching goal for the “shock-and-kill” approach to a functional cure for HIV.
Results
Substantial progress has been made towards the development of recombinant proteins that can target specific genomic loci for gene activation, repression or inactivation by directed mutations. However, most of these modalities are too large, or too complex, for efficient therapeutic application. We describe here the development and testing of a novel recombinant zinc finger protein transactivator, ZFPb-362-VPR, which specifically and potently enhances proviral HIV transcription both in established latency models and across different viral clades. Additionally, ZFP-362-VPR activated HIV reporter gene expression in a well-established primary human CD4+ T-cell latency model and was specific in targeting the HIV LTR as determined from off-target transcriptome analyses.
Conclusions:
This study provides clear proof of concept for the application of a novel, and therapeutically relevant, protein transactivator to purge cellular reservoirs of HIV-1.
Regulatory B Cell Imbalance Correlates With TFH Expansion in Systemic Sclerosis.
Authors: mekinian arsene , Ricard Laure , Malard Florent , Riviere Sébastien , Laurent Charlotte , Fain Olivier , Mohty Mohamad , Gaugler Béatrice , Mekinian Arsène 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Objective.Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by fibrosis, microangiopathy and immune dysfunction. B cell abnormalities characterized by autoantibody production and polyclonal B cell activation play an important role in the pathogenesis of SSc. We previously identified an expansion of functional and activated circulating T follicular helper (cTfh) cells in SSc patients. The aim of this study was to analyze the frequency of regulatory B (Breg) cell subsets and the correlation with Tfh in SSc patients.Methods.Circulating Breg cells CD24hiCD38hi and CD27+CD24hilevels and cTfh cells CD4+CXCR5+PD1+were determined by cytometry in 50SSc patients and 32 healthy subjects.Results.The frequency of Breg cells CD24hiCD38hi and CD24hiCD27+ was significantly reduced in patients with SSc as compared to controls (p=0.02 and p<0.001, respectively). In contrast, when examining the CD21low B cell subset, the frequency was significantly increased in SSc patients compared to healthy controls, (p<0.001). There was no difference in Bregcell levels in patients with diffuse SSc and limited SSc. However, CD24hiCD27+Breg cell frequency was significantly decreased in SSc patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (p=0.014), but not in patients with interstitial lung disease (p=0.058).Furthermore, we observed a negative correlation between cTfh and CD24hiCD27+ Breg cell levels in SSc patients but not in healthy controls (p=0.02). Conclusions: These results suggest that Breg cell subsets may participate in the regulation of cTfh and disease severity. Decreased CD24hiCD27+ Breg cell frequencymay contribute to the development of SSc.
Minimally invasive esophagectomy with intrathoracic anastomosis in a situs inversus totalis patient
Authors: Meng Yunchong , Zhang Zheng , Li Kuo , Huang Quanfu , Qiu Wenlin , Xiao Han , Liao Yongde 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
Situs inversus totalis (SIT) is a rare congenital condition which is characterized by abnormal placement of the thoracic and abdominal organs. Laparoscopic and thoracoscopic esophagectomy with intrathoracic anastomosis is technically difficult and has rarely been reported in SIT patients with esophageal cancer.
Case presentation:
We report a SIT patient whose condition is complicated by middle and lower esophageal cancer. This 55-year-old patient underwent total laparoscopic and thoracoscopic esophagectomy with intrathoracic anastomosis. The overall operation time was 270 minutes. Estimated blood loss was 150 mL and the patient was discharged after 20 days.
Conclusions
Laparoscopic and thoracoscopic esophagectomy with intrathoracic anastomosis is technically feasible and secure in SIT patients with esophageal cancer.
Cerebrospinal fluid levels of amyloid-beta oligomers in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus are elevated before shunt surgery but decrease afterward
Authors: Kawamura Kaito , Miyajima Masakazu , Nakajima Madoka , Kanai Mitsuyasu , Motoi Yumiko , Nojiri Shuko , Akiba Chihiro , Ogino Ikuko , Xu Hanbing , Kamohara Chihiro , Yamada Shinya , Karagiozov Kostadin , Arai Hajime 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background

The amyloid-beta (Aβ) oligomer has strong neurotoxicity and is associated with cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, its role in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is poorly understood. We hypothesised that cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) stagnation leads to Aβ oligomer accumulation in patients with iNPH. We measured CSF Aβ oligomer levels before and after CSF shunting in patients with iNPH.
Methods

We evaluated two iNPH cohorts: an analysis cohort (cohort-1) with 52 patients and a validation cohort (cohort-2) with 13 patients. For comparison cohorts, we recruited 27 neurologically normal controls (NCs), 16 patients with AD, 15 patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), and 14 patients with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). We measured CSF Aβ oligomer levels and assessed participants’ neurological statuses. We then compared the iNPH cohorts’ pre-shunting measurements with the comparison groups’ measurements and compared cohort-1’s measurements recorded before and after CSF shunting.
Results

iNPH cohort-1 had higher CSF Aβ oligomer levels than the NC, PD, and PSP cohorts. This result was validated with data from iNPH cohort-2. CSF Aβ oligomer levels differentiated iNPH cohort-1 from the PD and PSP groups, with an area under receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.94. Aβ oligomer levels in iNPH cohort-1 decreased after CSF shunting. However, there was no correlation between Aβ oligomer levels and cognitive functions in iNPH cohort-1.
Conclusion

The Aβ oligomer accumulates in patients with iNPH patients but can be eliminated with CSF shunting, suggesting that CSF stagnation causes Aβ oligomer accumulation in iNPH.