bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Brain Development in Infants of Mothers With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study
Authors: Xuan De-Sheng , Zhao Xin , Liu Yan-Chao , Xing Qing-Na , Shang Hong-Lei , Zhu Pei-Ying , Zhang Xiao-An 
Published: November 2020

Objective
The objective of this study was to investigate clinical neurocognitive performance and microstructural white matter (WM) alterations in infants of mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) using diffusion tensor imaging.

Materials and Methods
Infants (corrected gestational age, 33.42–36.00 weeks) of mothers with GDM (n = 31) and gestational age- and sex-matched unexposed controls (n = 31) accomplished 3-T diffusion tensor imaging scans and neurocognitive tests. Diffusion tensor imaging measures, mainly referring to fractional anisotropy (FA) values, were compared between 2 groups, and within-group analysis of correlation between FA values and neurocognitive testing outcomes in GDM-exposed infants was conducted subsequently.

Results
Fractional anisotropy was significantly decreased in the splenium of corpus callosum, posterior limb of internal capsule, thalamus in infants of mothers with GDM when compared with controls (P < 0.05), reflecting microstructural WM abnormalities in the GDM group. Decreased FA was associated with worse neurocognitive performance in the exposed group (P < 0.05).

Conclusions
Individuals of mothers with GDM showed microstructural WM abnormalities in different brain regions, which were significantly related to worse neurocognitive performance. This might reveal that GDM directly insults the brain development of the offspring.
Independent Dentists in the UK have less access to Occupational Health
Authors: Ranka Meena Satish , Ranka Satish 
Published: November 2020

AbstractObjectivesRespiratory illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome and the current SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic are transmitted by respiratory droplets. Certain dental procedures generate aerosols, one of the highest sources of transmission of droplet infections. During the current pandemic, dentists in the UK were initially restricted in their work and now have guidance from NHS England and the Chief Dental Officer for the full resumption of safe and effective routine dental care to patients. Lack of work, impact on income and working in the continual pandemic situation are likely to cause significant mental stress in dentists. Occupational health (OH) can have a vital role to help such dentists remain in work by advising strategies to cope with stress and offering timely evidence-based interventions and adjustments. The aim was to assess if the dentists in the UK had access to OH and whether access to the OH services helped.MethodsA survey link was sent to 200 dentists in the UK after the peak of the current pandemic.Results124 dentists responded to the survey. The response rate was 62%. 59% of the dentists in the survey did not have access to OH services in their workplace. Only 15% of dentists working in the independent sector had access to OH services compared to 78% working in the NHS or having NHS contracts. None of the dentists in the survey accessed OH services.ConclusionsAccess to OH services for the dentists needs improvement, particularly in the Independent sector in the UK.Article SummaryStrengths and limitations of the study:Sample representative of the population studied.No observer subjectivityPrecise resultsInflexible design, no control group and lack of random sampling
A model of endemic coronavirus infections
Authors: Huen David S. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThis work proposes that epidemiological features of both endemic coronaviruses and the recent highly pathogenic outbreak coronaviruses can be combined within an integrated framework. In this framework, mortality amongst those infected for the first time is mostly amongst the old but survivors acquire fatal infection immunity (FII). Subjects with FII can subsequently be infected and infect others without suffering significant mortality. Under these conditions, coronaviruses induce endemic infections that elicit FII in individuals during childhood when the risk of mortality is low and maintain it throughout their lifetime, thereby protecting the population against the worst effects of infection.A multi-compartment ODE model was constructed to explore the implications of this proposal on the evolution of a zoonosis sharing properties of both SARS-CoV-2 and endemic coronaviruses. The results show that mortality has two components, the first incurred during transition to endemicity and the other is exacted on a continuing basis. The relative contribution of each depends on the longevity of the FII state. In particular, a one-time vaccination of the older subpopulation is sufficient to reduce total mortality if FII is long-lived. The effect of a regular vaccination was also examined when FII was shorter lived. Herd immunity was not achieved.The validity of this proposal with regard to Covid-19 depends on whether reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 behaves in the manner expected of FII. If it does, then certain considerations apply to how Covid-19 is to be managed and how vaccine choice could influence that.
A time-resolved proteomic and diagnostic map characterizes COVID-19 disease progression and predicts outcome
Authors: Demichev Vadim , Tober-Lau Pinkus , Nazarenko Tatiana , Thibeault Charlotte , Whitwell Harry , Lemke Oliver , Röhl Annika , Freiwald Anja , Szyrwiel Lukasz , Ludwig Daniela , Correia-Melo Clara , Helbig Elisa T. , Stubbemann Paula , Grüning Nana-Maria , Blyuss Oleg , Vernardis Spyros , White Matthew , Messner Christoph B. , Joannidis Michael , Sonnweber Thomas , Klein Sebastian J. , Pizzini Alex , Wohlfarter Yvonne , Sahanic Sabina , Hilbe Richard , Schaefer Benedikt , Wagner Sonja , Mittermaier Mirja , Machleidt Felix , Garcia Carmen , Ruwwe-Glösenkamp Christoph , Lingscheid Tilman , de Jarcy Laure Bosquillon , Stegemann Miriam S. , Pfeiffer Moritz , Jürgens Linda , Denker Sophy , Zickler Daniel , Enghard Philipp , Zelezniak Aleksej , Campbell Archie , Hayward Caroline , Porteous David J. , Marioni Riccardo E. , Uhrig Alexander , Müller-Redetzky Holger , Zoller Heinz , Löffler-Ragg Judith , Keller Markus A. , Tancevski Ivan , Timms John F. , Zaikin Alexey , Hippenstiel Stefan , Ramharter Michael , Witzenrath Martin , Suttorp Norbert , Lilley Kathryn , Mülleder Michael , Sander Leif Erik ,   PA-COVID-19 Study group, Ralser Markus , Kurth Florian 
Published: November 2020

AbstractCOVID-19 is highly variable in its clinical presentation, ranging from asymptomatic infection to severe organ damage and death. There is an urgent need for predictive markers that can guide clinical decision-making, inform about the effect of experimental therapies, and point to novel therapeutic targets. Here, we characterize the time-dependent progression of COVID-19 through different stages of the disease, by measuring 86 accredited diagnostic parameters and plasma proteomes at 687 sampling points, in a cohort of 139 patients during hospitalization. We report that the time-resolved patient molecular phenotypes reflect an initial spike in the systemic inflammatory response, which is gradually alleviated and followed by a protein signature indicative of tissue repair, metabolic reconstitution and immunomodulation. Further, we show that the early host response is predictive for the disease trajectory and gives rise to proteomic and diagnostic marker signatures that classify the need for supplemental oxygen therapy and mechanical ventilation, and that predict the time to recovery of mildly ill patients. In severely ill patients, the molecular phenotype of the early host response predicts survival, in two independent cohorts and weeks before outcome. We also identify age-specific molecular response to COVID-19, which involves increased inflammation and lipoprotein dysregulation in older patients. Our study provides a deep and time resolved molecular characterization of COVID-19 disease progression, and reports biomarkers for risk-adapted treatment strategies and molecular disease monitoring. Our study demonstrates accurate prognosis of COVID-19 outcome from proteomic signatures recorded weeks earlier.
Diagnosis and Tracking of SARS-CoV-2 Infection By T-Cell Receptor Sequencing
Authors: Gittelman Rachel M. , Lavezzo Enrico , Snyder Thomas M. , Zahid H. Jabran , Elyanow Rebecca , Dalai Sudeb , Kirsch Ilan , Baldo Lance , Manuto Laura , Franchin Elisa , Vecchio Claudia Del , Pacenti Monia , Boldrin Caterina , Cattai Margherita , Saluzzo Francesca , Padoan Andrea , Plebani Mario , Simeoni Fabio , Bordini Jessica , Lorè Nicola I. , Lazarevic Dejan , Cirillo Daniela M. , Ghia Paolo , Toppo Stefano , Carlson Jonathan M. , Robins Harlan S. , Tonon Giovanni , Crisanti Andrea 
Published: November 2020

AbstractIn viral diseases T cells exert a prominent role in orchestrating the adaptive immune response and yet a comprehensive assessment of the T-cell repertoire, compared and contrasted with antibody response, after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is currently lacking. A prior population-scale study of the municipality of Vo’, Italy, conducted after the initial SARS-CoV-2 outbreak uncovered a high frequency of asymptomatic infected individuals and their role in transmission in this town. Two months later, we sampled the same population’s T-cell receptor repertoire structure in terms of both diversity (breadth) and frequency (depth) to SARS-CoV-2 antigens to identify associations with both humoral response and protection. For this purpose, we analyzed T-cell receptor and antibody signatures from over 2,200 individuals, including 76 PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 cases (25 asymptomatic, 42 symptomatic, 9 hospitalized). We found that 97.4% (74/76) of PCR confirmed cases had elevated levels of T-cell receptors specific for SARS-CoV-2 antigens. The depth and breadth of the T-cell receptor repertoire were both positively associated with neutralizing antibody titers; helper CD4+ T cells directed towards viral antigens from spike protein were a primary factor in this correlation. Higher clonal depth of the T-cell response to the virus was also significantly associated with more severe disease course. A total of 40 additional suspected infections were identified based on T-cell response from the subjects without confirmatory PCR tests, mostly among those reporting symptoms or having household exposure to a PCR-confirmed infection. Taken together, these results establish that T cells are a sensitive, reliable and persistent measure of past SARS-CoV-2 infection that are differentially activated depending on disease morbidity.
Genetic analyses of gynecological disease identify genetic relationships between uterine fibroids and endometrial cancer, and a novel endometrial cancer genetic risk region at the WNT4 1p36.12 locus
Authors: Kho Pik Fang , Mortlock Sally ,   Endometrial Cancer Association Consortium,   International Endometriosis Genetics Consortium, Rogers Peter A.W. , Nyholt Dale R. , Montgomery Grant W. , Spurdle Amanda B. , Glubb Dylan M. , O’Mara Tracy A. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractEndometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and uterine fibroids have been proposed as endometrial cancer risk factors; however, disentangling their relationships with endometrial cancer is complicated due to shared risk factors and comorbidities. Using genome-wide association study (GWAS) data, we explored the relationships between these non-cancerous gynecological diseases and endometrial cancer risk by assessing genetic correlation, causal relationships and shared risk loci. We found significant genetic correlation between endometrial cancer and PCOS, and uterine fibroids. Adjustment for genetically predicted body mass index (a risk factor for PCOS, uterine fibroids and endometrial cancer) substantially attenuated the genetic correlation between endometrial cancer and PCOS but did not affect the correlation with uterine fibroids. Mendelian randomization analyses provided evidence of a causal relationship between only uterine fibroids and endometrial cancer. Gene-based analyses revealed risk regions shared between endometrial cancer and endometriosis, and uterine fibroids. Multi-trait GWAS analysis of endometrial cancer and the genetically correlated gynecological diseases identified a novel genome-wide significant endometrial cancer risk locus at 1p36.12, which replicated in an independent endometrial cancer dataset. Interrogation of functional genomic data at 1p36.12 revealed biologically relevant genes, including WNT4 which is necessary for the development of the female reproductive system. In summary, our study provides genetic evidence for a causal relationship between uterine fibroids and endometrial cancer. It further provides evidence that the comorbidity of endometrial cancer, PCOS and uterine fibroids may partly be due to shared genetic architecture. Notably, this shared architecture has revealed a novel genome-wide risk locus for endometrial cancer.
Public participation in crisis policymaking. How 30,000 Dutch citizens advised their government on relaxing COVID-19 lockdown measures
Authors: Mouter Niek , Hernandez Jose Ignacio , Itten Anatol Valerian 
Published: November 2020

AbstractFollowing the outbreak of COVID-19, governments took unprecedented measures to curb the spread of the virus. Public participation in decisions regarding (the relaxation of) these measures has been notably absent, despite being recommended in the literature. Here, as one of the exceptions, we report the results of 30,000 citizens advising the government on eight different possibilities for relaxing lockdown measures in the Netherlands. By making use of the novel method Participatory Value Evaluation (PVE), participants were asked to recommend which out of the eight options they prefer to be relaxed. Participants received information regarding the societal impacts of each relaxation option, such as the impact of the option on the healthcare system. The results of the PVE informed policymakers about people’s preferences regarding (the impacts of) the relaxation options. For instance, we established that participants assign an equal value to a reduction of 100 deaths among citizens younger than 70 years and a reduction of 168 deaths among citizens older than 70 years. We show how these preferences can be used to rank options in terms of desirability. Citizens advised to relax lockdown measures, but not to the point at which the healthcare system becomes heavily overloaded. We found wide support for prioritising the re-opening of contact professions. Conversely, participants disfavoured options to relax restrictions for specific groups of citizens as they found it important that decisions lead to “unity” and not to “division”. 80% of the participants state that PVE is a good method to let citizens participate in government decision-making on relaxing lockdown measures. Participants felt that they could express a nuanced opinion, communicate arguments, and appreciated the opportunity to evaluate relaxation options in comparison to each other while being informed about the consequences of each option. This increased their awareness of the dilemmas the government faces.
For a structured response to the psychosocial consequences of the restrictive measures imposed by the global COVID-19 health pandemic: The MAVIPAN longitudinal prospective cohort study protocol
Authors: LeBlanc Annie , Baron Marie , Blouin Patrick , Tarabulsy George , Routhier François , Mercier Catherine , Després Jean-Pierre , Hébert Marc , De Koninck Yves , Cellard Caroline , Collin-Vézina Delphine , Côté Nancy , Déry Marie-Pier , Dionne Émilie , Fleet Richard , Gagné Marie-Hélène , Isabelle Maripier , Lessard Lily , Menear Matthew , Mérette Chantal , Ouellet Marie-Christine , Roy Marc-André , Saint-Jacques Marie-Christine , Savard Claudia 
Published: November 2020

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic and the isolation measures taken to control it has caused important disruptions in economies and labour markets, changed the way we work and socialize, forced schools to close and healthcare and social services to reorganize in order to redirect resources on the pandemic response. This unprecedented crisis forces individuals to make considerable efforts to adapt and can have serious psychological and social consequences that are likely to persist once the pandemic has been contained and restrictive measures lifted. These impacts will be significant for vulnerable individuals and will most likely exacerbate existing social and gender health and social inequalities. This crisis also puts a toll on the capacity of our healthcare and social services structures to provide timely and adequate care. In order to minimize these consequences, there is an urgent need for high-quality, real-time information on the psychosocial impacts of the pandemic. The MAVIPAN (Ma vie et la pandémie/My life with the pandemic) study aims to document how individuals, families, healthcare workers, and health organisations that provide services are affected by the pandemic and how they adapt.MethodsThe MAVIPAN study is a 5-year longitudinal prospective cohort study that was launched on April 29th, 2020 in the province of Quebec which, at that time, was the epicenter of the pandemic in Canada. Quantitative data is collected through online questionnaires approximately 5 times a year depending on the pandemic evolution. Questionnaires include measures of health, social, behavioral and individual determinants as well as psychosocial impacts. Qualitative data will be collected with individual and group interviews that seek to deepen our understanding of coping strategies.DiscussionThe MAVIPAN study will support the healthcare and social services system response by providing the evidence base needed to identify those who are most affected by the pandemic and by guiding public health authorities’ decision making regarding intervention and resource allocation to mitigate these impacts. It is also a unique opportunity to advance our knowledge on coping mechanisms and adjustment strategies.Trial registrationNCT04575571 (retrospectively registered)
Reallocating time from device-measured sleep, sedentary behaviour or light physical activity to moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is associated with lower cardiovascular disease risk
Authors: Walmsley Rosemary , Chan Shing , Smith-Byrne Karl , Ramakrishnan Rema , Woodward Mark , Rahimi Kazem , Dwyer Terence , Bennett Derrick , Doherty Aiden 
Published: November 2020

AbstractBackgroundModerate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), light physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep have all been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Due to challenges in measuring and analysing movement behaviours, there is uncertainty about how the association with incident CVD varies with the time spent in these different movement behaviours.MethodsWe developed a machine-learning model (Random Forest smoothed by a Hidden Markov model) to classify sleep, sedentary behaviour, light physical activity and MVPA from accelerometer data. The model was developed using data from a free-living study of 152 participants who wore an Axivity AX3 accelerometer on the wrist while also wearing a camera and completing a time use diary. Participants in UK Biobank, a prospective cohort study, were asked to wear an accelerometer (of the same type) for seven days, and we applied our machine-learning model to classify their movement behaviours. Using Compositional Data Analysis Cox regression, we investigated how reallocating time between movement behaviours was associated with CVD incidence.FindingsWe classified accelerometer data as sleep, sedentary behaviour, light physical activity or MVPA with a mean accuracy of 88% (95% CI: 87, 89) and Cohen’s kappa of 0·80 (95% CI: 0·79, 0·82). Among 87,509 UK Biobank participants, there were 3,424 incident CVD events. Reallocating time from any behaviour to MVPA, or reallocating time from sedentary behaviour to any behaviour, was associated with a lower risk of CVD. For example, for a hypothetical average individual, reallocating 20 minutes/day to MVPA from all other behaviours proportionally was associated with 9% (7%, 10%) lower risk of incident CVD, while reallocating 1 hour/day to sedentary behaviour was associated with 5% (3%, 7%) higher risk.InterpretationReallocating time from light physical activity, sedentary behaviour or sleep to MVPA, or reallocating time from sedentary behaviour to other behaviours, was associated with lower risk of incident CVD. Accurate classification of movement behaviours using machine-learning and statistical methods to address the compositional nature of movement behaviours enabled these insights. Public health interventions and guidelines should promote reallocating time to MVPA from other behaviours, as well as reallocating time from sedentary behaviour to light physical activity.FundingMedical Research Council.
Two-step strategy for the identification of SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern 202012/01 and other variants with spike deletion H69-V70, France, August to December 2020
Authors: Bal Antonin , Destras Gregory , Gaymard Alexandre , Stefic Karl , Marlet Julien , Eymieux Sébastien , Regue Hadrien , Semanas Quentin , d’Aubarede Constance , Billaud Geneviève , Laurent Frédéric , Gonzalez Claudia , Mekki Yahia , Valette Martine , Bouscambert Maude , Gaudy-Graffin Catherine , Lina Bruno , Morfin Florence , Josset Laurence ,   COVID-Diagnosis HCL Study Group
Published: November 2020

AbstractWe report the implementation of a two-step strategy for the identification of SARS-CoV-2 variants carrying the spike deletion H69-V70 (ΔH69/ΔV70). This spike deletion resulted in a S-gene target failure (SGTF) of a three-target RT-PCR assay (TaqPath kit). Whole genome sequencing performed on 37 samples with SGTF revealed several receptor-binding domain mutations co-occurring with ΔH69/ΔV70. More importantly, this strategy enabled the first detection of the variant of concern 202012/01 in France on December 21th 2020.Since September a SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) deletion H69-V70 (ΔH69/ΔV70) has attracted increasing attention. This deletion was detected in the cluster-5 variant identified both in minks and humans in Denmark. This cluster-5 variant carries a receptor binding domain (RBD) mutation Y453F and was associated with reduced susceptibility to neutralizing antibodies to sera from recovered COVID-19 patients [1–3]. The ΔH69/ΔV70 has also co-occurred with two other RBD mutations of increasing interest [4]: N439K that is currently spreading in Europe and might also have reduced susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 antibodies [5]; and N501Y that is part of the SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern (VOC) 202012/01 recently detected in England [6]. Although the impact of ΔH69/ΔV70 on SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis is not clear, enhanced surveillance is urgently needed. Herein we report the implementation of a two-step strategy enabling a rapid detection of VOC 202012/01 or other variants carrying ΔH69/ΔV70.