bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Does mother’s pregnancy intention affect child healthcare and growth in India? Evidence from a longitudinal survey
Authors: Chowdhury Poulomi , Garg Mausam Kumar , Sk Md Illias Kanchan 
Published: August 2020

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo assess the effect of unintended births on children’s health care and nutritional status.DesignThe study uses cross-sectional prospective design.SettingThe nationally representative Indian Human Development Survey (IHDS) data of two rounds (i.e. 2004-5, 2011-12) was used in this study. The women data was used to draw representative sample of 7,166, and out of them 3,905 belong to under 5 years of age group.Statistical AnalysesSecondary analysis, using bivariate and multivariate linear and logistic models was conducted using both rounds of IHDS data. We categorized birth as an unintended birth if mother did not want to have addition child at IHDS-I but gave birth during inter-survey. Furthermore, all births exceeding to the desired number of children reported by mothers in the IHDS-II were also included in unintended births and all other births were considered as intended births. Multivariate logistic regression models were applied to analyse the effect of unintended and intended births on child-immunization and exclusive breastfeeding. While multivariate linear regression models were used to assess the effect of childbearing intention on child nutritional status.ResultsThe study shows that by controlling other factors, unintended births were less likely to be exclusively breastfed (OR 0.885, p<0.05) and receive full immunization (OR 0.830, p<0.001). Moreover, children’s poor nutrition was more prevalent among unintended births as they were more likely to be stunting and underweight.ConclusionsThe findings of the study underscore the importance of investments in family planning to reduce the unintended births to improve children’s health and growth.Strengths and limitations of the studyThe findings of this study are from nationally representative sample of 3,905 belong to under 5 years of age group.Other child development indicators namely cognitive skills and academic performance are not included in this study.The seven years of duration between the survey period could have changed women’s childbearing intention.
ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ETHNICITY AND SEVERE COVID-19 DISEASE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS
Authors: Raharja Antony , Tamara Alice , Kok Li Teng 
Published: August 2020

ABSTRACTBackgroundMultiple reports suggest a disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on ethnic minorities. Whether ethnicity is an independent risk factor for severe Covid-19 disease is unclear.PurposeReview the association between ethnicity and poor outcomes including all-cause mortality, hospitalisation, critical care admission, respiratory and kidney failure.Data SourcesMEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane COVID-19 Study Register, WHO COVID-19 Global Research Database up to 15/06/2020, and preprint servers. No language restriction.Study SelectionAll studies providing ethnicity-aggregated data on the pre-specified outcomes, except case reports or interventional trials.Data ExtractionPairs of investigators independently extracted data, assessed risk of bias using Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS), and rated certainty of evidence following GRADE framework.Data SynthesisSeventy-two articles (59 cohort studies with 17,950,989 participants; 13 ecological studies; 54 US-based and 15 UK-based; 41 peer-reviewed) were included for systematic review and 45 for meta-analyses. Risk of bias was low, with median NOS 7 of 9 (interquartile range 6-8). In the unadjusted analyses, compared to white ethnicity, all-cause mortality risk was similar in Black (RR:0.96 [95%CI: 0.83-1.08]), Asian (RR:0.99 [0.85-1.16]) but reduced in Hispanic ethnicity (RR:0.69 [0.57-0.84]). Age and sex-adjusted-risks were significantly elevated for Black (HR:1.38 [1.09-1.75]) and Asian (HR:1.42 [1.15-1.75]), but not for Hispanic (RR:1.14 [0.93-1.40]). Further adjusting for comorbidities attenuated these association to non-significance; Black (HR:0.95 [0.72-1.25]); Asian (HR:1.17 [0.84-1.63]); Hispanic (HR:0.94 [0.63-1.44]). Similar results were observed for other outcomes. In subgroup analysis, there was a trend towards greater disparity in outcomes for UK ethnic minorities, especially hospitalisation risk.LimitationsPaucity of evidence on native ethnic groups, and studies outside the US and UK.ConclusionsCurrently available evidence cannot confirm ethnicity as an independent risk factor for severe Covid-19 illness, but indicates that disparity may be partially attributed to greater burden of comorbidities.RegistrationPROSPERO, CRD42020188421Funding sourcenone
Universal screening for SARS-CoV-2 infection among pregnant women at Elmhurst Hospital Center, Queens, New York
Authors: Maru Sheela , Patil Uday , Carroll-Bennett Rachel , Baum Aaron , Bohn-Hemmerdinger Tracy , Ditchik Andrew , Scanlon Michael L , Krishnan Parvathy , Bogaert Kelly , Woodbury Carson , Maru Duncan , Noble Lawrence , Wasserman Randi , Brown Barry , Vreeman Rachel , Masci Joseph 
Published: August 2020

AbstractBackgroundUniversal screening for SARS-CoV-2 infection on Labor and Delivery (L&D) units is a critical strategy to manage patient and health worker safety, especially in a vulnerable high-prevalence community. We describe the results of a SARS-CoV-2 universal screening program at the L&D Unit at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, NY, a 545-bed public hospital serving a diverse, largely immigrant and low-income patient population and an epicenter of the global pandemic.Methods and findingsWe conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study. All pregnant women admitted to the L&D Unit of Elmhurst Hospital from March 29, 2020 to April 22, 2020 were included for analysis. The primary outcomes of the study were: (1) SARS-CoV-2 positivity among universally screened pregnant women, stratified by demographic characteristics, maternal comorbidities, and delivery outcomes; and (2) Symptomatic or asymptomatic presentation at the time of testing among SARS-CoV-2 positive women.A total of 126 obstetric patients were screened for SARS-CoV-2 between March 29 and April 22. Of these, 37% were positive. Of the women who tested positive, 72% were asymptomatic at the time of testing. Patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 were more likely to be of Hispanic ethnicity (unadjusted difference 24.4 percentage points, CI 7.9, 41.0) and report their primary language as Spanish (unadjusted difference 32.9 percentage points, CI 15.8, 49.9) than patients who tested negative.ConclusionsIn this retrospective cross-sectional study of data from a universal SARS-Cov-2 screening program implemented in the L&D unit of a safety-net hospital in Queens, New York, we found over one-third of pregnant women testing positive, the majority of those asymptomatic. The rationale for universal screening at the L&D Unit at Elmhurst Hospital was to ensure safety of patients and staff during an acute surge in SARS-Cov-2 infections through appropriate identification and isolation of pregnant women with positive test results. Women were roomed by their SARS-CoV-2 status given increasing space limitations. In addition, postpartum counseling was tailored to infection status. We quickly established discharge counseling and follow-up protocols tailored to their specific social needs. The experience at Elmhurst Hospital is instructive for other L&D units serving vulnerable populations and for pandemic preparedness.
Testing Healthcare Workers Exposed to COVID19 using Rapid Antigen Detection
Authors: Herrera Victor , Hsu Vincent , Adewale Ademola , Johnson Lee , Hendrix Timothy , Kuhlman Jeffrey , Finkler Neil 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThere is a need to develop safe and cost-effective ways to test healthcare workers for COVID19. Here we describe a rapid antigen testing strategy in a cohort of 497 Healthcare workers exposed to SARS-CoV-2 that can be applied by systems facing a surge of COVID19 cases, increased number of exposures in their workforce and limited RT-PCR availability. Our findings support an expanded use for antigen testing beyond its current indication and highlights the importance of further evaluating this modality for the diagnosis of COVID19 on asymptomatic individuals.
Inherited extremes of aortic diameter confer risk for a specific class of congenital heart disease
Authors: Tcheandjieu Catherine , Zanetti Daniela , Yu Mengyao , Priest James R. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractPopulation based studies demonstrate strong familial recurrence of cardiac malformations particularly for individuals affected with a specific class of CHD, left-ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction. Recently we linked 99 lead variants across 71 loci to diameter of the ascending aorta derived from MRI measurements across multiple ethnicities in the UK Biobank. Using these data we created a polygenic risk score capturing ascending aortic diameter (PRSAoD) Among 2,594 individuals with CHD; a decrease by one standard deviation in PRSAoD was associated with an increased risk of congenital LVOT (OR=1.14[1.03-1.26], p=0.014) but not with other subtypes of CHD. Using Mendelian Randomization we observed strong evidence of a causal effect where inheritance of a smaller diameter of the ascending aorta corresponded to an increase in risk for congenital LVOT (p_IVW = 0.008). Our data may suggest that genetic determinants of a smaller ascending aorta act during early development to disturb blood flow through left-sided structures to increasing the risk of LVOT CHD, which is consistent with experimental evidence and the “no flow, no grow” paradigm in the formation of the left ventricular outflow tract.
Hospital preparedness in epidemics by using simulation. The case of COVID-19
Authors: Garcia-Vicuña Daniel , Esparza Laida , Mallor Fermin 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThis paper presents a discrete event simulation model to support the decision-making concerned with the short-term planning of the necessary hospital resources, especially Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds, to face outbreaks, as the SARS-CoV-2. Being used as a short-term forecasting tool, the simulation model requires an accurate representation of the current system state and high fidelity in mimicking the system dynamics from that state. The two main components of the simulation model are the stochastic modeling of the admission of new patients and the patient flow through the hospital facilities. For the patient arrival process, we analyze different models based on growth curves of the twenty most affected countries (until June 15) and propose the use of the Gompertz curve. The length of stay is divided into several stages, each one modeled separately. We analyze the starting of the simulation model, which requires different procedures depending on the information available about the patients currently hospitalized. We also report the use of this simulation model during the COVID-19 outbreak in the Autonomous Community of Navarre, in Spain. Every day, the research team informed the regional logistic team in charge of planning the health resources, who programmed the ward and ICU beds based on the resulting predictions.
Analysing air particle quantity in a dental primary care setting
Authors: Bates A. J. , Bates D. R. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractObjectivesThis study was undertaken to assess the amount of dental aerosol created in a primary care dental surgery.MethodsTwo particle meters were placed a set distances round a volunteer patient whilst undergoing simulated dental treatment using a high speed dental handpiece, and 3-in-1 air/water syringe, moisture control was managed with high volume suction and a saliva ejector. Measurement were taken every thirty seconds with the surgery environment set a neutral ventilation and with the windows open plus fan assistance.ResultsFrom the cessation of aerosol generation it took between 6 and 19 minutes for the surgery to return to baseline. The ventilated surgery had faster aerosol dispersal, returning to background levels within 5 minutes.ConclusionIt is concluded for the surgery under investigation the dental aerosol had dissipated after 30 minutes using HVS and optimal surgery.
Efficacy of Tocilizumab in Covid 19: A metanalysis of case series studies
Authors: Hussain Shalam Mohamed , Syeda Ayesha Farhana , Al-Wutayd Osama , Al Nafeesah Abdullah , Alshammari Mohammad , Alnasser Sulaiman , Krishnadas Nandakumar 
Published: August 2020

AbstractBackgroundcharacteristic feature of COVID-19 during its progression in severity is the cytokine storm (via interleukin-6, IL-6) which is responsible for secondary acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) [4]. Tocilizumab has an antagonist effect on the IL-6 receptor. With present review and metanalysis, we intend to update the current status on the clinical efficacy of tocilizumab in the treatment of Covid 19 infections in the published literature of case series.MATERIALS AND METHODSThe following inclusion criteria were used: (i) case series studies (number of reported patients in each study equal to or greater than ten (ii) use of tocilizumab alone or in combination with standard of care therapy (iii) Covid 19 adult patients (iv) the studies with endpoints on all-cause mortality, need for mechanical ventilation, clinical improvements.Data synthesis and statistical analysisMeta-analysis was performed using a random effects model and the DerSimonian and Laird method.RESULTS18 were selected for the quantitative analysis (meta-analysis). 14 studies were retrospective and 4 were prospectiveMeta-analysisThe mortality rate of COVID-19 patients with tocilizumab was 21% (251/1212) Asymmetric funnel plot in the cylindrical form due to publication biasIn conclusionthe present synthesis provide us useful insights with the other available evidence to refine our strategy and equip ourselves effectively with tocilizumab to defeat COVID 19 to save humanity.LimitationsThe included studies utilized varied doses of tocilizumab (single or double), and duration drug availability issues emerged in some centers, which may have influenced both sample sizes and study designs.Clinical implicationsIncorporated studies without control groups into systematic reviews and quantitative synthesis especially when there are no other studies to consider can provide information for formulating effective treatment strategies for management of COVID 19 infections through the use of tocilizumab.
Antibody prevalence for SARS-CoV-2 following the peak of the pandemic in England: REACT2 study in 100,000 adults
Authors: Ward Helen , Atchison Christina , Whitaker Matthew , Ainslie Kylie EC , Elliott Joshua , Okell Lucy , Redd Rozlyn , Ashby Deborah , Donnelly Christl A , Barclay Wendy , Darzi Ara , Cooke Graham , Riley Steven , Elliott Paul 
Published: August 2020

AbstractBackgroundEngland, UK has experienced a large outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 infection. As in USA and elsewhere, disadvantaged communities have been disproportionately affected.MethodsNational REal-time Assessment of Community Transmission-2 (REACT-2) prevalence study using a self-administered lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) test for IgG among a random population sample of 100,000 adults over 18 years in England, 20 June to 13 July 2020.ResultsData were available for 109,076 participants, yielding 5,544 IgG positive results; adjusted (for test performance) and re-weighted (for sampling) prevalence was 6.0% (95% Cl: 5.8, 6.1). Highest prevalence was in London (13.0% [12.3, 13.6]), among people of Black or Asian (mainly South Asian) ethnicity (17.3% [15.8, 19.1] and 11.9% [11.0, 12.8] respectively) and those aged 18-24 years (7.9% [7.3, 8.5]). Adjusted odds ratio for care home workers with client-facing roles was 3.1 (2.5, 3.8) compared with non-essential workers. One third (32.2%, [31.0-33.4]) of antibody positive individuals reported no symptoms. Among symptomatic cases, most (78.8%) reported symptoms during the peak of the epidemic in England in March (31.3%) and April (47.5%) 2020. We estimate that 3.36 million (3.21, 3.51) people have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 in England to end June 2020, with an overall infection fatality ratio (IFR) of 0.90% (0.86, 0.94); age-specific IFR was similar among people of different ethnicities.ConclusionThe SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in England disproportionately affected ethnic minority groups and health and care home workers. The higher risk of infection in minority ethnic groups may explain their increased risk of hospitalisation and mortality from COVID-19.
Models of Accommodation Deficiency in Presbyopia Patients
Authors: Karkhanis Mohit U. , Banerjee Aishwaryadev , Ghosh Chayanjit , Likhite Rugved , Meyer David , Mastrangelo Carlos H. 
Published: August 2020

Structured AbstractPurposeWe describe new phenomenological illumination-dependent static models of the accommodation deficiency for patients with presbyopia. Such models are suitable for vision restoration with adaptive-optics accommodating eyeglasses and contact lenses.MethodsData from fifteen participants over the age of 45 and diagnosed with presbyopia was collected. Participants were asked to wear a pair of mechanically-tunable eyeglasses and clearly identify the optotypes corresponding to the LogMAR 0.0 line on Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) charts, by suitably adjusting the optical powers of the lenses on these tunable eyeglasses for each measurement. Seven ETDRS charts, placed at distances from the patients varying from 4 m through 30 cm, were used under three chart illumination levels (75 lx, 500 lx and 800 lx). The optical power of the lenses in the patient-adjusted tunable eyeglasses was subsequently measured using a Shack-Hartman wavefront sensor for each chart, which provided the accommodation deficiency data of the participants.ResultsThe measured accommodation deficiency data from 15 presbyopes was curve-fitted to a model for each patient. The calculated root-mean-square error values for the fitted models ranged between 0.09 D – 0.67 D over a 3.08D accommodation stimulus range.ConclusionsThe data shows that while accommodation deficiency in humans is a function of the stimulus, it is also strongly dependent on the object illumination and age of the patients. The models adequately describe the relation between static accommodation deficiency, accommodation stimulus and object illumination.
Differential DNA methylation landscape in skin fibroblasts from African Americans with systemic sclerosis
Authors: Frost DeAnna Baker , da Silveira Willian , Hazard E. Starr , Atanelishvili Ilia , Wilson Robert C. , Flume Jonathan , Day Kayleigh L. , Oates James C. , Bogatkevich Galina S. , Feghali-Bostwick Carol , Hardiman Gary , Ramos Paula S. 
Published: August 2020

ABSTRACTObjectiveThe etiology and reasons underlying the ethnic disparities in systemic sclerosis (SSc) remain unknown. African Americans are disproportionally affected by SSc, yet underrepresented in research. The aim of this study was to comprehensively investigate the association of DNA methylation levels with SSc in dermal fibroblasts from patients of African ancestry.MethodsReduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) was performed on primary cultured dermal fibroblasts from 15 SSc patients and 15 controls of African ancestry, and over 3.8 million CpG sites were tested for differential methylation patterns between cases and controls. Gene set enrichment (GSEA) and gene ontology (GO) analyses were computed to elucidate the underlying biological processes. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was performed to assess correlations between DNA methylation changes and gene expression levels of top candidate genes.ResultsSkin fibroblasts from African American patients exhibited widespread reduced DNA methylation. Differentially methylated CpG sites were most enriched in introns and intergenic regions, while depleted in 5’ UTR, promoters, and CpG islands. Seventeen genes and eleven promoters showed significant differential methylation, mostly in non-coding RNA genes and pseudogenes. GSEA and GO enrichment analysis revealed enrichment of immune, metabolism, cell development, and cell signaling pathways, including those related to interferon signaling and mesenchymal differentiation. The hypomethylation of DLX5 and TMEM140 was accompanied by these genes’ overexpression, while for the IncRNA MGC12916, it was accompanied by its under-expression in patients.ConclusionThese data show that differential methylation occurs in dermal fibroblasts from African American patients with SSc and identifies novel coding and non-coding genes.
Alice in Wonderland syndrome (AIWS): A research overview
Authors: Hossain Md Mahbub 
Published: August 2020

AbstractBackgroundAlice in Wonderland syndrome (AIWS) is a rare neuropsychiatric condition characterized by distorted visual perceptions, body schema, and experience of time. This bibliometric study aimed to analyze the characteristics of the global research landscape on AIWS.MethodsBibliometric data on AIWS related publications published until 2019 were retrieved from the Web of Science database. The data were analyzed using statistical and scientometric tools to evaluate the publication trends, key research domains, top contributing journals, institutions, and countries associated with AIWS-related research.ResultsA total of 125 published items were analyzed with a mean of 3 authors and 8.15 citations per document. Most articles were published after 2008, in medical journals focused on neuropsychiatric sciences, and most institutions affiliated with AIWS research were based on high-income countries. Major research domains associated with AIWS included visual disturbances, body image, migraine, infections, risk factors, and other clinical correlates.ConclusionThe current research landscape informs a developing trend in AIWS research in selected regions and specialties. Future research should emphasize multidisciplinary and translational investigations through global collaborations to advance the knowledge and practice on AIWS.
The operational impact of deploying SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in countries of the WHO African Region
Authors: Ortiz Justin R. , Robertson Joanie , Hsu Jui-Shan , Yu Stephen L. , Driscoll Amanda J. , Williams Sarah R. , Chen Wilbur H. , Fitzpatrick Meagan C. , Sow Samba , Biellik Robin J. , Okwo-Bele Jean-Marie , Neuzil Kathleen M. 
Published: August 2020

ABSTRACTBackgroundAfter SARS-CoV-2 vaccines become available, they will be deployed to many countries with limited immunization systems.MethodsWe conducted a cold chain capacity assessment of a simulated country in the WHO African Region. We combined region-specific data regarding immunization, population, healthcare workforce, and cold storage capacity (upper and lower range and quartile values for national and subnational levels). We used seasonal influenza vaccines as proxies for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. We evaluated the increase in vaccine doses to be administered, doses administered per vaccinator, and cold storage volumes for SARS-CoV-2 campaigns targeting risk groups compared to routine immunization baselines.FindingsCompared to routine immunization, a SARS-CoV-2 vaccination campaign would increase monthly doses administered when targeting risk groups: ≥65 years (29.9%), chronic diseases patients (101.5%), and healthcare workers (1.2%). SARS-CoV-2 vaccination campaigns would increase doses administered per vaccinator for risk groups: ≥65 years (32.5%), chronic diseases patients (110.4%), or healthcare workers (1.4%). Routine vaccine volumes already exceed national level storage capacity for at least 75% of African Region countries, but subnational levels would have sufficient storage capacity for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in all but the lower 25% of African Region countries.InterpretationSARS-CoV-2 vaccination campaigns would substantially increase doses per vaccinator and cold chain capacity requirements over routine immunization baselines. Pandemic vaccination campaigns would add volume to national level stores already at their limits, but substantial capacity exists at subnational levels for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Immediate attention to strengthening delivery systems is essential to support pandemic vaccine responses in the African Region.FundingNone