bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Changes in D-Dimer after initiation of antiretroviral therapy in adults living with HIV in Kenya
Authors: Teasdale Chloe A , Hernandez Cecilia , Zerbe Allison , Chege Duncan , Hawken Mark , El-Sadr Wafaa M 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background: Increased coagulation biomarkers are associated with poor outcomes among people living with HIV(PLHIV). There are few data available from African cohorts demonstrating the effect of antiretroviral therapy (ART) on coagulation biomarkers.Methods: From March 2014 to October 2014, ART-naïve PLHIV initiating non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-based ART were recruited from seven clinics in western Kenya and followed for up to 12 months. Demographics, clinical history and blood specimens were collected. Logistic regression models adjusted for intrasite clustering examined associations between HIV viral load and D-Dimer at baseline. Mixed linear effects models were used to estimate mean change from baseline to six months overall, and by baseline viral load, sex and TB status at enrollment. Mean change in D-dimer at six months is reported on the log10 scale and as percentage change from baseline.Results: Among 611 PLHIV enrolled, 66% were female, median age was 34 years (interquartile range (IQR) 29-43 years), 31 (5%) participants had tuberculosis and median viral load was 113,500 copies/mL (IQR: 23,600-399,000). At baseline, 311 (50.9%) PLHIV had elevated D-dimer (>500 ng/mL) and median D-dimer was 516.4 ng/mL (IQR: 302.7-926.6) (log baseline D-dimer: 2.7, IQR: 2.5-3.0). Higher baseline D-dimer was significantly associated with higher viral load (p<0.0001), female sex (p=0.02) and tuberculosis (p=-0.02). After six months on ART, 518 (84.8%) PLHIV had achieved viral load <1,000 copies/mL and median D-dimer was 390.0 (IQR: 236.6-656.9) (log D-dimer: 2.6, IQR: 2.4-2.8). Mean change in log D-dimer from baseline to six months was -0.12 (95%CI -0.15, - 0.09) (p<0.0001) indicating at 31.3% decline (95%CI -40.0, -23.0) in D-dimer levels over the first six months on ART. D-dimer decline after ART initiation was significantly greater among PLHIV with tuberculosis at treatment initiation (-172.1%, 95%CI -259.0, -106.3; p<0.0001) and those with log viral load >6.0 copies/mL (-91.1%, 95%CI -136.7, -54.2; p<0.01). Conclusions: In this large Kenyan cohort of PLHIV, women, those with tuberculosis and higher viral load had elevated baseline D-dimer. ART initiation and viral load suppression among ART-naïve PLHIV in Kenya were associated with significant decrease in D-dimer at six months in this large African cohort.
What methods are used to promote patient and family involvement in healthcare regulation? A case study across four countries
Authors: Wiig Siri , Rutz Suzanne , Boyd Alan , Churruca Kate , Kleefstra Sophia , Haraldseid-Driftland Cecilie , Braithwaite Jeffrey , O'Hara Jane , de Bovenkamp Hester van 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background: In the regulation of healthcare, the subject of patient and family involvement figures increasingly prominently on the agenda. However, the literature on involving patients and families in regulation is still in its infancy. A systematic analysis of how patient and family involvement in regulation is accomplished across different health systems is lacking. We provide such an overview by mapping and classifying methods of patient and family involvement in regulatory practice in four countries; Norway, England, the Netherlands, and Australia. We thus provide a knowledge base that enables discussions about possible types of involvement, and advantages and difficulties of involvement encountered in practice. Methods: The research design was a multiple case study of patient and family involvement in regulation in four countries. The authors collected 1) academic literature if available and 2) documents of regulators that describe user involvement. Based on the data collected, the authors from each country completed a pre-agreed template to describe the involvement methods. The following information was extracted and included where available: 1) Method of involvement, 2) Type of regulatory activity, 3) Purpose of involvement, 4) Who is involved and 5) Lessons learnt.Results: Our mapping of involvement strategies showed a range of methods being used in regulation, which we classified into four categories: individual proactive, individual reactive, collective proactive, and collective reactive methods. Reported advantages included: increased quality of regulation, increased legitimacy, perceived justice for those affected, and empowerment. Difficulties were also reported concerning: how to incorporate the input of users in decisions, the fact that not all users want to be involved, time and costs required, organizational procedures standing in the way of involvement, and dealing with emotions. Conclusions: Our mapping of user involvement strategies establishes a broad variety of ways to involve patients and families. The four categories can serve as inspiration to regulators in healthcare. The paper shows that stimulating involvement in regulation is a challenging and complex task. The fact that regulators are experimenting with different methods can be viewed positively in this regard.
An epidemiological review of tuberculosis in Sabah, Malaysia, 2012-2018
Authors: Goroh Michelle , Rajahram Giri , Avoi Richard , Boogaard Christel van den , William Timothy , Ralph Anna P , Lowbridge Christopher 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is of high public health importance in Malaysia. Sabah State, located on the island of Borneo, has previously reported a particularly high burden of disease and faces unique contextual challenges compared with peninsular Malaysia. The aim of this study is to describe the epidemiology of TB in Sabah to identify risk groups and hot spots of TB transmission.Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of TB cases notified in Sabah, Malaysia, between 2012 and 2018. Using data from the state’s ‘myTB’ notification database, we calculated the case notification rate and described trends in the epidemiology, diagnostic practices and treatment outcomes of TB in Sabah within this period. Results: Between 2012 and 2018 there were 33,193 cases of TB reported in Sabah (128 cases per 100,000 population). We identified several geographic hotspots, including districts with >200 cases per 100,000 population per year. TB rates increased with age and were highest in older males. Children <15 years accounted for only 4.6% of cases. Moderate or advanced disease on chest x-ray and sputum smear positivity was high (58% and 81% of cases respectively), suggesting frequent late diagnosis. Multi-drug Resistant (MDR) TB prevalence was low (0.3% of TB cases), however, rapid diagnostic test coverage was low (1.2%) and only 18% of all cases had a positive culture result. Treatment success was 83% in those with drug-sensitive TB and 30% in cases of MDR-TB. Conclusion: Between 2012 and 2018, Sabah State accounted for 20% of Malaysia’s TB notifications, despite representing only 10% of Malaysia’s population. We found hotspots of TB in urbanised population hubs and points of migration, as well as evidence of late presentation and diagnosis. Ensuring universal health coverage and expansion of GeneXpert® coverage is recommended to reduce barriers to care and early diagnosis and treatment for TB.
Changes in Oxidation-antioxidation Function on the Thymus of Chickens Infected with Reticuloendotheliosis Virus
Authors: Yang Dahan , Zhao Chenhui , Zhang Meixi , Zhang Shujun , Zhai Jie , Gao XueLi , Liu Chaonan , Lv Xiaoping , Zheng Shimin 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
Reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) is a retrovirus that causes severe immunosuppression in infected poultry. Under oxidative stress,the animals grow slowly. In addition, long-term oxidative stress can impair immune function, as well as accelerate the aging and death of the animal.This study aimed to elucidate the pathogenesis of REV from the perspective of changes in oxidative-antioxidative function following REV infection.
Results
In specific pathogen free chickens infected with REV, the levels of H2O2 and MDA in the thymus increased, the levels of T-AOC, SOD, CAT, and GPx1 decreased, and there was a reduction in CAT and Gpx1 mRNA expression, compared with the control group. The thymus index was also significantly reduced. Morphological analysis showed that after REV infection, there was an increase in thymic reticular endothelial cells, inflammatory cell infiltration, mitochondrial swelling, and destruction of the nuclear structure.
Conclusions
These results indicate that an increase in oxidative substances within the thymus, enhanced lipid peroxidation, a markedly decrease in antioxidant function, atrophy of the thymus, and immunosuppression in REV-infected chickens.
Relaxometric learning: a pattern recognition method for T2 relaxation curves based on machine learning supported by an analytical framework
Authors: Date Yasuhiro , Wei Feifei , Tsuboi Yuuri , Ito Kengo , Sakata Kenji , Kikuchi Jun 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based relaxometry is widely used in various fields of research because of its advantages such as simple sample preparation, easy handling, and relatively low cost compared with metabolomics approaches. However, there have been no reports on the application of the T2 relaxation curves in metabolomics studies involving the evaluation of metabolic mixtures, such as geographical origin determination and feature extraction by pattern recognition and data mining. In this study, we describe a data mining method for relaxometric data (i.e., relaxometric learning). This method is based on a machine learning algorithm supported by the analytical framework optimized for the relaxation curve analyses. In the analytical framework, we incorporated a variable optimization approach and bootstrap resampling-based matrixing to enhance the classification performance and balance the sample size between groups, respectively. The relaxometric learning enabled the extraction of features related to the physical properties of fish muscle and the determination of the geographical origin of the fish by improving the classification performance. Our results suggest that relaxometric learning is a powerful and versatile alternative to conventional metabolomics approaches for evaluating fleshiness of chemical mixtures in food and for other biological and chemical research requiring a nondestructive, cost-effective, and time-saving method.
Nature of dispensing errors in selected hospitals providing free healthcare: A multi-center study in Sri Lanka
Authors: Dilsha R.A.N. , Kularathne H.M.I.P. , Mujammil M.T.M. , Irshad S.M.M. , Samaranayake Nithushi 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
Dispensing errors may result in patient harm. Dispensing errors are preventable if we knew its nature, but only very little information is available on these errors that occur in limited resourced settings where healthcare is provided free of charge. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the types and prevalence of dispensing errors in selected hospitals in Sri Lanka.
Methods
A prospective, cross sectional and multi-centered study (in one tertiary care and two secondary care hospitals) was conducted among 420 patients attending medical, surgical, diabetes and pediatric clinics of study hospitals, proportioned according to population size, and selected through a systematic random sampling. A prescription audit was conducted. Dispensing errors were categorized as content, labelling, documentation, concomitant, and other errors based on definitions developed in-house. The total number of dispensing errors identified was used as the denominator for calculating percentages.
Results
A total of 420 prescriptions (1849 medicines) were analyzed (Hospital-01, 248 prescriptions with 1010 medicines; Hospital-02, 84 prescriptions with 400 medicines; Hospital-03, 88 prescriptions with 439 medicines), where 16,689 dispensing errors were detected. However, most frequent were labelling errors (63.1%). There were 4.9% content errors, 21% concomitant errors, 10.6% documentation errors, and 0.4% of other errors. No omissions or deteriorated medicines were detected.
Conclusions
Dispensing errors happen in Sri Lankan hospitals that operate with limited resources and provide free healthcare to citizens. However, most were labeling errors with little chance of immediate harm. Content errors were minimal. More emphasis on error-proofing the dispensing process could improve medication safety in these hospitals.
Clinical Features of Hypertensive Patients With Covid-19 Compared With a Normotensive Group
Authors: wang shuang , zhang qiang , zheng zhao bin , wang peng , ye hua hong , jing xiao qing , zhang jun hua , fan da yu , jia ping , zhang zhong dan , luo ting ting , zhu shi sheng 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background: The novel coronavirus (COVID-19), which began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, has spread worldwide and poses a great threat to human health. Among COVID-19 patients, those with hypertension have been reported to have higher morbidity and mortality. This study was conducted to provide the international community with a deeper understanding of COVID-19 with hypertension.Methods: A total of 188 COVID-19 patients were studied from January to March 2020. The epidemiology, clinical features, and laboratory data of hypertensive patients with COVID-19 were collected, retrospectively analyzed, and compared with a normotensive group. The use of anti-hypertensive drugs, general treatment, and clinical outcomes of hypertensive patients were also analyzed.Results: The median ages in hypertensive patients with mild and severe COVID-19 were both significantly greater than the median age in the normotensive group. But there was no significant gender difference between the hypertensive and normotensive groups. All patients had lived in the Wuhan area. Common symptoms of all of the patients included fever, cough, and fatigue. Chest CT scans showed bilateral patchy shadows or ground glass opacity in the lungs of all of the patients. All (98 [100%]) of the hypertensive patients received antiviral therapy (Arbidol was used alone or in combination with Ribavirin), antibiotic therapy (85 [86.7%]), and corticosteroids (31 [31.6%]). It has been suggested that the combination of Arbidol and Ribavirin as initial therapy for hypertensive patients with COVID-19 is effective and safe. There were no significant differences in laboratory data between the mild cases in the hypertensive and the normotensive groups. In the severe cases, the hypertensive patients had higher plasma levels of D-dimer, C-reactive protein (CRP), and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the hypertensive patients who were treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers (ACEI/ARB) had no statistically significant differences between the mild and severe groups (p > 0.05).Conclusion: In this study, we demonstrated that the hypertensive patients who were treated with ACEI/ARB did not have an increased risk of developing severe COVID-19. Arbidol and Ribavirin played an important role in the treatment of the viral pneumonia. Hypertensive patients with severe viral pneumonia had stronger inflammatory responses than non-hypertensive patients.
Perceptions of motivation and willingness to participate in randomized clinical trials in emergency obstetric and newborn care among survivors of severe obstetric complications
Authors: Kaye Daniel Kabonge , Chongwe Gershom , Sewankambo Nelson K. , Ali Joseph , Hyder Adnan A. , Kass Nancy E 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background

Previous studies have shown that participants in emergency research may not understand the research and therefore may not make informed decisions to participate. Little is documented about motivation for research participation in randomized clinical trials in emergency obstetric and newborn care. Conducted among survivors of severe obstetric complications, this study sought to assess beliefs, perceptions and values as well as motivation and willingness for participation in research.
Methods

This was a qualitative study conducted among 18 survivors of severe obstetric complications who were attending the post-natal clinic of Kawempe National Referral Hospital, Uganda. The participants were contacted 6–8 weeks after surviving severe obstetric complications during pregnancy or childbirth. Eighteen in-depth interviews were conducted from June 1 to July 6, 2019. The issues explored included interviewees’ perceptions and beliefs regarding 1) what constitutes clinical trial research in emergence obstetric and newborn care, 2) the purpose and necessity to conduct such research, 3) how emergency research-related information should be delivered to potential participants and their caregivers, 4) why women would be willing and motivated to participate in this type of research, and 5) the potential benefits and risks to research participants. Data were analyzed according to themes using the constant comparative method.
Findings:

Many respondents were potentially willing to participate in research during obstetric emergencies, even when there was no possibility of material or therapeutic benefit, provided there was reasonable assurance that there would be no harm to them or (more especially) to their babies. Both solidarity and communitarian consent were important influences on motivation to participate in clinical trials in emergency obstetric care. Motivation to participate in research was partly related to the desire to access care, to contribute to knowledge about pregnancy complications, to possibility of material or therapeutic benefit, to perceived low level of risk particularly to the baby, to trust in the investigators and to opportunity to receive research results.
Conclusion

Solidarity, communitarian consent, perceived level of potential risk, possibility of benefit and trust in the investigators were the major potential motivators for participation in research in the emergency obstetric and newborn care context.
Land conversion changes soil microbial community structure and diversity
Authors: Zhang Tong , Liu Yufei , Sui Xin , Song Fuqiang 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background: To study the impact of land-use change on soil microbial community structure and diversity in Northeast China, three typical land-use types (plough, grassland, and forest), from grassland change to forest land and grassland change to plough, in the Qiqihar region of Heilongjiang Province were taken as research objects. Methods: MiSeq high-throughput sequencing technology based on bacterial 16S rRNA and fungal ITS rRNA was used to study the above community structure of soil bacteria and fungi and to explore the relationship between soil bacteria and soil environmental factors. Results: The results showed that there was no significant difference in soil bacterial community diversity and fungal community diversity after the grassland was completely changed to forest land. The dominant bacterial phylum changed from Actinobacteria to Acidobacteria, the dominant fungal phylum changed from Ascomycetes to Basidiomycetes, and the ECM functional group increased significantly. After the grassland was changed to plough, there was no significant difference in the diversity of soil bacterial communities, and the diversity of fungal communities increased significantly. The dominant phylum changed from Actinomycetes to Proteobacteria. The dominant phylum was still Ascomycetes, and the functional groups of pathogens and parasites increased significantly. CCA showed that soil pH, MC, NO3--N, TP and AP were important factors affecting the composition of soil microbial communities, and changes in land-use patterns changed the physical and chemical properties of soils, thereby affecting the structure and diversity of microbial communities. Conclusions: Our research results clarify the impact of changes in land use on the characteristics of soil microbial communities and provide basic data on the healthy use of land.
Ocular and Corneal Aberrations changes in controlled randomized clinical trial MiSight® Assessment Study Spain (MASS)
Authors: LOPES-FERREIRA DANIELA , Ruiz-Pomeda Alicia , Peréz-Sanchéz Belén , Queirós António , Villa-Collar César 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
BackgroundTo compare ocular and corneal inherent aberrations in the naked eyes of randomly selected children fitted with MiSight contact lenses (CL) for myopia control, versus children corrected with single-vision spectacles (control), over a 24-months period.MethodsChildren aged 8 to 12 years, with myopia (-0.75 to -4.00 D sphere) and astigmatism (< -1.00 D cylinder), were assigned to the lens study group (MiSight) or the control group (single-vision spectacles). Axial length (AL) was measured by biometry, corneal RMS (RMS_C), corneal high order RMS (HO_RMS_C), corneal low order RMS (LO_RMS_C), ocular total RMS (RMS_T), ocular total high order RMS (HO_RMS_T), ocular total low order RMS (LO_RMS_T), corneal spherical aberration (SA_C) and ocular total SA (SA_T) were calculated by aberrometric measures at the baseline, and on 12- and 24-months visits. A 5 mm diameter was defined for the analysis in all visits for all subjects. Only the dominant eye was analyzed.ResultsSeventy-four subjects completed the clinical trial: 41 subjects from the MiSight group (age: 11.01 ± 1.23 years) and 33 from the single-vision group (age: 10.12 ± 1.38 years). In the control group, axial length changed significantly (0.444 ± 0.049 mm, p < 0.001) after 2 years. Also RMS_T (0.565 ± 0.199 µm, p = 0.029) and LO_RMS_T (0.461 ± 0.175 µm, p = 0.047) registered significant changes after 24-months in the control group. In the MiSight group, only axial length changed significantly (0.284 ± 0.025 mm, p < 0.001) after 2 years. The SA_C and SA_T did not reveal significant changes between visits or between groups.ConclusionsThe wear of MiSight CL did not induce significant changes in aberrations in anterior cornea and contrary of control group the total ocular RMS and low order RMS did not significantly caused by significantly lower eye growth and myopia progression,Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01917110.
Coronavirus disease 2019 screening in adult patients hospitalized due to pneumonia in a single hospital in Japan.
Authors: Komagamine Junpei , Yabuki Taku 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background: In Japan, the number of patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has increased since the first case was confirmed in January 2020, reaching more than ten thousand cases as of April 30, 2020. Nonetheless, a true prevalence of COVID-19 in Japan remains unknown due to testing restrictions and a lack of epidemiological research for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).Methods: We investigated 37 consecutive pneumonia patients hospitalized in our hospital located in Utsunomiya, Japan, from February 25 to May 16, 2020. Both nasopharyngeal swabs and sputum were obtained and sent for SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing. The percentage of positive results for SARS-CoV-2 in the screened patients was determined.Results: None of the patients reported in this study had contact with COVID-19 patients. Of the 37 screened patients, none had positive SARS-CoV-2 test results. None were clinically diagnosed with COVID-19. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that COVID-19 was not prevalent in this region during this period. Further studies are needed to determine an accurate number or prevalence of COVID-19 in other regions of Japan.