bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Implementation of Intraoperative Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (O-arm) for Stereotactic Imaging During Deep Brain Stimulation Procedures
Authors: Holewijn Rozemarije A , Bot Maarten , van den Munckhof Pepijn , Schuurman P Richard 
Published: May 2020

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Intraoperative cone-beam computed tomography (iCBCT) allows for rapid 3-dimensional imaging. However, it is currently unknown whether this imaging technique offers sufficient accuracy for stereotactic registration during deep brain stimulation (DBS) procedures.

OBJECTIVE
To determine the accuracy of iCBCT, with the O-arm O2 (Medtronic), for stereotactic registration by comparing this modality to stereotactic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

METHODS
All DBS patients underwent a preoperative non-stereotactic 3 Tesla MRI, stereotactic 1.5 Tesla MRI, stereotactic O-arm iCBCT, postimplantation O-arm iCBCT, and postoperative conventional multidetector computed tomography (CT) scan. We compared stereotactic (X, Y, and Z) coordinates of the anterior commissure (AC), the posterior commissure (PC), and midline reference (MR) between stereotactic MRI and iCBCT. For localisation comparison of electrode contacts, stereotactic coordinates of electrode tips were compared between the postoperative multidetector CT and iCBCT.

RESULTS
A total of 20 patients were evaluated. The average absolute difference in stereotactic coordinates of AC, PC, and MR was 0.4 ± 0.4 mm for X, 0.4 ± 0.4 mm for Y, and 0.7 ± 0.5 mm for Z. The average absolute difference in X-, Y-, and Z-coordinates for electrode localisation (N = 34) was 0.3 ± 0.3 mm, 0.6 ± 0.3 mm, and 0.6 ± 0.6 mm. These differences were small enough not to be considered clinically relevant.

CONCLUSION
Stereotactic MRI and O-arm iCBCT yield comparable coordinates in pre- and postoperative imaging. Differences found are below the threshold of clinical relevance. Intraoperative O-arm CBCT offers rapid stereotactic registration and evaluation of electrode placement. This increases patient comfort and neurosurgical workflow efficiency.
Early gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with worse pregnancy outcomes compared with GDM diagnosed at 24–28 weeks gestation despite early treatment
Authors: Mustafa M , Bogdanet D , Khattak A , Carmody L A , Kirwan B , Gaffney G , O’Shea P M , Dunne F 
Published: May 2020

Summary

Background
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated+ with adverse pregnancy outcomes compared with women with normal glucose tolerance in pregnancy. The WHO recommends screening at 24–28 weeks gestation for GDM. Women who are diagnosed before 24–28 weeks gestation have a longer intervention period which may impact positively on pregnancy outcomes.

Aim
This study aimed to examine pregnancy outcomes of women with GDM diagnosed &lt;24 weeks gestation compared with those diagnosed at 24–28 weeks in a large Irish cohort.

Methods
A retrospective cohort study of 1471 pregnancies in women with GDM diagnosed using IADPSG criteria between September 2012 and April 2016 was conducted. At GDM diagnosis, women were classified as early GDM &lt;24 weeks or standard GDM 24–28 weeks gestation.

Results
Women with early GDM had a significantly greater risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension (12.4% vs. 5.3%; P &lt; 0.05), post-partum haemorrhage (8.7% vs. 2.4%; P &lt; 0.05) and post-partum glucose abnormalities (32% vs. 15.6%; P &lt; 0.05). Their offspring had a greater risk of pre-maturity (10.9% vs. 6.6%; P &lt; 0.05), stillbirth (1.4% vs. 0.5%; P &lt; 0.05), large for gestational age (19.1% vs. 13.4% P &lt; 0.05) and need neonatal intensive care (30.7% vs. 22.1%; P &lt; 0.05) compared with offspring of women with standard GDM. Rates of C-section and pre-maturity were still higher in the early GDM group when the two groups where compared based on their post-natal OGTT.

Conclusion
Early GDM women and their offspring are at greater risk of an adverse pregnancy outcome compared with those diagnosed at 24–28 weeks. In view of the abnormal post-natal glucose findings, early GDM may reflect a more advanced state in diabetes pathogenesis.
Optimization and mechanism of postponing aging of polysaccharides from Chinese herbal medicine formula
Authors: Pu Xiuying , Luo Amiao , Su Hui , Zhang Kaili , Tian Changyi , Chen Bo , Chai Pengdi , Xia Xiaoyu 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
To study the extraction technology of polysaccharides (AAP) from Chinese herbal medicine formula and its mechanism of delaying aging. First, L9(3)4 orthogonal test was used to optimize the optimal enzyme-assisted extraction parameters of polysaccharides. And the anti-aging effects was evaluated by detecting mitochondrial function, protein, DNA, adhesion molecules and cell cycle in aging rats. The optimal extraction process parameters were the cellulase concentration of 1.5%, the pH at 5, the enzyme temperature at 50°C and the extraction time of 180 min. The anti-aging results showed that AAP can effectively increase the activities of malate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase and superoxide dismutase. It also can decrease the activity of monoamine oxidase and methane dicarboxylic aldehyde levels in the brain tissue. Meanwhile, the polysaccharides enhanced telomerase activity while reduced p16 protein expression of the brain mitochondria. In addition, the polysaccharides continued to improve heart damage and significantly lessen mitochondrial DNA concentrations. For a certain period of time, it also enhanced the activity of superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase and decreased protein carbonyl and methane dicarboxylic aldehyde content of kidney in D-galactose-induced aging rats. Furthermore, the polysaccharides restored the number of cells in the peripheral blood lines and BMNC through inhibiting the drop of the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets in the peripheral blood and bone marrow mononuclear cell of the aging rats. At the same time, AAP accelerated G1 phase cell to enter S phase in cell cycle in aging rats. Our research suggests that the polysaccharides may be a potential anti-aging agent and can be further developed as a functional food or new drug to delay aging or treat aging-related diseases.
Inhibition of MyD88 by LM8 Attenuates Obesity-Induced Cardiac Injury
Authors: Liu Hui , Jia Wenjing , Tang Yelin , Zhang Wentao , Qi Jiayu , Yan Jueqian , Ding Wenting , Cao Huixin , Liang Guang , Zhu Zaisheng , Zheng Hao , Zhang Yali 
Published: May 2020

Abstract:
Obesity-induced cardiomyopathy involves chronic and sustained inflammation. The toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway can associate innate immunity with obesity. Myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88), an indispensable downstream adaptor molecule of TLR4, has been reported to mediate obesity complications. However, whether inhibition of MyD88 can mitigate obesity-induced heart injury remains unclear. LM8, a new MyD88 inhibitor, exhibits prominent anti-inflammatory activity in lipopolysaccharide-treated macrophages. In this study, the protective effects of LM8 on a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced heart injury were assessed in a mouse model of obesity. As suggested from the achieved results, LM8 treatment alleviated HFD-induced pathological and functional damages of the heart in mice. Meantime, the treatment of mice with LM8 could significantly inhibit myocardial hypertrophy, fibrosis, inflammatory cytokines expression, and inflammatory cell infiltration induced by HFD. Besides, LM8 administration inhibited the formation of MyD88/TLR4 complex, phosphorylation of ERK, and activation of nuclear factor–κB induced by HFD. According to the achieved results, MyD88 inhibitor LM8 ameliorated obesity-induced heart injury by inhibiting MyD88-ERK/nuclear factor–κB dependent cardiac inflammatory pathways. Furthermore, targeting MyD88 might be a candidate of a therapeutic method to treat obesity-induced heart injury.
Clinical, Demographic, and Tomographic Aspects Related to Iris Mammillations Among Patients With Keratoconus: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Antunes-Foschini Rosalia , Costa Roberta Martins S. , Menezes‐Filho Celso Ribeiro Ângelo , Bellissimo-Rodrigues Fernando , de Faria-e-Sousa Sidney Julio , Rocha Eduardo Melani 
Published: May 2020

Purpose:
Iris mammillations (IM) were previously described in patients with keratoconus, but the clinical implications of this finding have never been studied. Our aim was to investigate demographic, tomographic, and clinical characteristics potentially associated with the presence of IM among patients with keratoconus.

Methods:
This was a cross-sectional study performed among patients with keratoconus in a public-affiliated university hospital. All patients under follow-up were considered eligible to participate in the study. Participants were evaluated by 2 trained ophthalmologists and submitted to corneal tomography (Pentacam). Selected demographic, clinical, and tomographic characteristics were assessed and compared among participants with IM (IM group) and without IM (No-IM group) using the Wilcoxon test or 2-tailed Fisher exact test, as appropriate.

Results:
The study population consisted of 106 subjects and 19 (17.9%) presented with IM. The median age and interquartile range were 18 years old (14–24) in the IM group and 20 years old (17–24) in the No-IM group (P = 0.135). The female proportion was 47.3% in the IM group and 52.8% in the No-IM group (P = 0.801). Median (interquartile ranges) pachymetric values of the right eyes were 498 (466–525) for the IM group and 459 (421–482) for the No-IM group (P = 0.005). For the left eyes, the values were 490 (456–523) in the IM group and 450 (418–485) in the No-IM group (P = 0.024).

Conclusions:
Subjects with keratoconus presenting with IM have thicker corneas than those without IM. Follow-up studies should be performed to evaluate the clinical implications of this finding.
The Use of Anatomical Side Markers in General Radiology: A Systematic Review of the Current Literature
Authors: Chung Lilian , Kumar Saravana , Oldfield Joanne , Phillips Maureen , Stratfold Megan 
Published: May 2020

Objectives
The use of an anatomical side marker (ASM) on x-rays, be it digital or radiopaque, is an important quality and safety concept within general radiology. Using radiopaque ASMs is best practice, and lack of any ASMs may have dire consequences in terms of patient safety. To date, there have been no systematic reviews investigating the use of ASMs in clinical practice.

Methods
A systematic search of electronic databases (CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, Medline, EMBASE, ERIC, and JBI) from inception to March 1, 2018, was undertaken. Gray literature searching (through Google) and pearling was conducted. Methodological quality was assessed using a modified version of the McMaster Critical Appraisal tool for quantitative studies. A customized data extraction tool was developed, which included characteristics of the studies.

Results
Of 624 studies, 7 studies met the eligibility criteria. Despite diverse study designs, collectively, the studies demonstrated that only a small number of x-rays did not include an ASM. On x-rays that did use a radiopaque ASM, most of them were positioned in the primary radiation field. A noticeable shift in practice from the use of radiopaque ASMs to digital ASM was also identified. Multifaceted barriers were reported for the use of ASM in routine clinical practice.

Conclusions
Although missing ASMs on x-rays were a small feature, findings from this review highlight opportunities for improvement and a need to ameliorate barriers for ASM use.
Implementation of a Patient-Provider Agreement to Improve Healthcare Delivery for Patients With Substance Use Disorder in the Inpatient Setting
Authors: Wurcel Alysse G. , Yu Sun , Burke Deirdre , Lund Amy , Schelling Kim , Weingart Saul N. , Freund Karen M. 
Published: May 2020

Objectives
Inpatient healthcare delivery to people who use drugs is an opportunity to provide acute medical stabilization and offer treatment for underlying substance use disorder (SUD). The process of delivering quality healthcare to people with SUD can present challenges.

Methods
We convened a group of stakeholders to discuss challenges and opportunities for improving healthcare safety and employee satisfaction when providing inpatient care to people with SUD.

Results
We developed, implemented, and evaluated a “Pain and Addiction Agreement” tool, a document to guide discussions between providers and patients about expectations and policies for inpatient care.

Conclusions
In this article, we share our experience of working closely with stakeholders. We hope that our project can serve as a blueprint motivating other centers to pursue quality improvement initiatives to improve healthcare for people with SUD and support the people who take care of them in the hospital.
Evaluating lipid-lowering drug targets for Parkinson disease prevention with Mendelian randomization
Authors: Williams Dylan M. , Bandres-Ciga Sara , Heilbron Karl ,   the 23andMe Research Team,   the International Parkinson’s Disease Genomics Consortium, Hinds David , Noyce Alastair J 
Published: May 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo examine whether long-term exposure to statins and other lipid-lowering drugs may affect PD risk – either beneficially or adversely – using Mendelian randomization (MR).MethodsMR analyses were based on variants in genes encoding the targets of several approved or emerging drug classes that reduce circulating low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) or triglycerides. Variants were weighted by their associations with differences in circulating LDL-C, triglycerides or apolipoprotein B (ApoB) using data from genome-wide association studies of lipids (N = 14,004 to 295,826). MR models indexing the effects of modulating each drug target on PD risk were then estimated from genetic associations with PD case-control status (N = 37,688 cases and 981,372 controls).ResultsEstimates for statin exposure were incompatible with drug use increasing PD risk, but were not precise enough to confirm a protective effect: odds ratio for PD per standard deviation (SD) reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol = 0.83; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.65, 1.07. Findings for other LDL-lowering targets were also close to the null. Among triglyceride-lowering targets, variants indexing Apolipoprotein-A5 / Apolipoprotein-C3 modulation suggested a protective effect (OR per SD lower triglycerides = 0.84; 95% CI = 0.80, 0.89), whereas others were null.InterpretationThis genetic evidence does not support findings from large observational studies which suggest that statin exposure could alter risk of PD. Our overall pattern of results suggest peripheral lipid transport may not influence PD etiology, but this does not necessarily exclude effects of statins or the modulation of apolipoproteins A5/C3 via other mechanisms.
Massive Multiplexing Can Deliver a $1 Test for COVID-19
Authors: Hebert Paul DN , Prosser Sean WJ , Ivanova Natalia V , Zakharov Evgeny V , Ratnasingham Sujeevan 
Published: May 2020

ABSTRACTThe severe acute respiratory syndrome virus, SARS-CoV-2 (hereafter COVID-19), rapidly achieved global pandemic status, provoking large-scale screening programs in many nations. Their activation makes it imperative to identify methods that can deliver a diagnostic result at low cost. This paper describes an approach which employs sequence variation in the gene coding for its envelope protein as the basis for a scalable, inexpensive test for COVID-19. It achieves this by coupling a simple RNA extraction protocol with low-volume RT-PCR, followed by E-Gel screening and sequencing on high-throughput platforms to analyze 10,000 samples in a run. Slight modifications to the protocol could support screening programs for other known viruses and for viral discovery. Just as the $1,000 genome is transforming medicine, a $1 diagnostic test for viral and bacterial pathogens would represent a major advance for public health.
COVID-19 Induced Anxiety and Protective Behaviors During COVID-19 Outbreak: Scale Development and Validation
Authors: Riad Abanoub , Huang Yi , Zheng Liping , Elavsky Steriani 
Published: May 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe outbreak of communicable diseases increases community anxiety levels; however, it demands protective behavioral changes with adjacent awareness of the emerging epidemic. This work aims to develop valid instruments to evaluate COVID-19 induced anxiety, protective behaviors, and knowledge towards COVID-19, and to explore the relationship between the three constructs.MethodsA total sample of 215 university students were recruited to participate in an online self-administered questionnaire. The e-survey consisted of three instruments: COVID-19 Induced Anxiety Scale (CIAS) with 10 items, Protective Behaviors towards COVID-19 Scale (PBCS) with 14 items, and COVID-19 Related Knowledge Scale (CRKS) with 12 items.ResultsItem-total analysis and CFA models indicated that CIAS items no. 1, 2, 5, and 8 should be removed to achieve adequate internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha=0.78) and structural validity. The protective behaviors towards COVID-19 can be estimated from 3 dimensions: Routine Protective Behaviors (RPB), Post-exposure Protective Behaviors (PPB), and Post-exposure Risky Behaviors (PRB). Meanwhile, PBCS showed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha=0.85). Although the sample was unbalanced on gender, gender explained 5% of the variance in protective behaviors with females being more inclined to engage in protective behaviors. Structural Equation Model (SEM) implied that an individual’s COVID-19 related knowledge was associated with the three dimensions of protective behaviors (RPB, PPB and PRB) positively. However, the level of COVID-19 induced anxiety was linked to RPB and PPB positively but negatively to PRB.ConclusionThe 6-item version of CIAS and the 14-item version of PBCS are promising tools for measuring COVID-19 induced anxiety and protective behaviors and can be adopted for future use during early phases of communicable diseases outbreaks. Knowledge is a key indicator for protective behavior; therefore, awareness strategies need to suppress infodemic impact. Severe stress must be monitored during early phases of outbreaks as it significantly increases the probability of risk behavior engagement.
Diagnostic serial interval as a novel indicator for contact tracing effectiveness exemplified with the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 outbreak in South Korea
Authors: Mettler Sofia K. , Kim Jihoo , Maathuis Marloes H. 
Published: May 2020

BACKGROUNDThe clinical onset serial interval is often used as a proxy for the transmission serial interval of an infectious disease. For SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19, data on clinical onset serial intervals is limited, since symptom onset dates are not routinely recorded and do not exist in asymptomatic carriers.METHODSWe define the diagnostic serial interval as the time between the diagnosis dates of the infector and infectee. Based on the DS4C project data on SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 in South Korea, we estimate the means of the diagnostic serial interval, the clinical onset serial interval and the difference between the two. We use the balanced cluster bootstrap method to construct 95RESULTSThe mean of the diagnostic serial interval was estimated to be 3.63 days (95CONCLUSIONSThe relatively short diagnostic serial intervals of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 in South Korea are likely due to the country’s extensive efforts towards contact tracing. We suggest the mean diagnostic serial interval as a new indicator for the effectiveness of a country’s contact tracing as part of the epidemic surveillance.
Predicting Disease Progression in COVID19: A Score Based On Lab Tests At Time Of Diagnosis
Authors: Jamal Mohammad H. , Doi Suhail A. , AlYouha Sarah , Almazeedi Sulaiman , Al-Haddad Mohannad , Al-Muhaini Ali , Al-Ghimlas Fahad , Al-Sabah Salman 
Published: May 2020

AbstractBackgroundCOVID19 is worldwide pandemic that is mild in the majority of patients but can result in a pneumonia like illness with progression to acute respiratory distress syndrome and death. Predicting the disease severity at time of diagnosis can be helpful in prioritizing hospital admission and resources.MethodsWe prospectively recruited 1096 consecutive patients with COVID19 from the Jaber Hospital, a COVID19 facility in Kuwait, between 24 February and 20 April 2020. The primary endpoint of interest was disease severity defined algorithmically. Predefined risk variables were collected at the time of PCR based diagnosis of the infection. Prognostic model development used 5-fold cross-validated regularized logit regression. The cohort was divided into a training and validation cohort and all model development proceeded on the training cohort.ResultsThere were 643 patients with clinical course data of whom 94 developed severe COVID19. In the final model, age, CRP, procalcitonin, lymphocyte and monocyte percentages and serum albumin were independent predictors of a more severe illness course. The final prognostic model demonstrated good discrimination, calibration and internal validity.ConclusionWe developed and validated a simple score calculated at time of diagnosis that can predict patients with severe COVID19 disease.
Anxiety and Depression in Health Workers and General Population During COVID-19 Epidemic in IRAN: A Web-Based Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Hassannia Leila , Taghizadeh Fatemeh , Moosazadeh Mahmood , Zarghami Mehran , Taghizadeh Hassan , Dooki Azadeh Fathi , Fathi Mohammad , Navaei Reza Alizadeh , Hedayatizadeh-Omran Akbar 
Published: May 2020

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe COVID-19 outbreak has exerted a great deal of psychological pressure on Iranian health workers and the general population. In the present study, the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms along with the related variables in this epidemic were investigated.MethodAn online cross-sectional study was conducted for the general public and healthcare workers in IRAN using a questionnaire comprised of demographic questions and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Chi square test was used to compare categorical variables, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were conducted.ResultsOf the 2045 participants,1136 (65.6%) were considered to have moderate and severe anxiety symptoms, and 865(42.3%) had moderate and severe depression symptoms. Based on the logistic regression models, the prevalence of anxiety was higher in the females than in the males (OR=1.4, 95% CI: 1.123-1.643, P=.002); the prevalence of anxiety was significantly higher in those aged 30-39 years than in other age groups (OR=1.6, 95% CI: 1.123-2.320, P=0.001); furthermore, the prevalence of anxiety and depression was significantly higher in doctors and nurses compared with other occupations (OR=1.9, 95% CI: 1.367-2.491, P< 0.001) and(OR=1.5, 95% CI: 1.154-2.021, P=0.003). In addition, the prevalence of anxiety symptoms in the likely-infected COVID-19 group was higher than in the noninfected COVID-19 group (OR=1.35, 95% CI: 1.093-1.654, P=0.005).ConclusionsRegarding the high prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms, especially among health care workers, appropriate psychological/psychiatric intervention necessitates.
Application-oriented mathematical algorithms for group testing
Authors: Csóka Endre 
Published: May 2020

AbstractGroup testing is a widely used protocol which aims to test a small group of people to identify whether at least one of them is infected. It is particularly efficient if the infection rate is low, because it only requires a single test if everybody in the group is negative. The most efficient use of group testing is a complex mathematical question. However, the answer highly depends on practical parameters and restrictions, which are partially ignored by the mathematical literature. This paper aims to offer practically efficient group testing algorithms, focusing on the current COVID-19 epidemic.