bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reflections on volunteer nurses' work and caring experiences during COVID-19: a phenomenological study
Authors: Chung Loretta Yuet Foon , Han Lin , Du Yifei , Liu Libo 
Published: June 2021

Background With epidemics emerging at a hastened pace, a phenomenological study allows researchers to cast aside their perceptions to understand nurses’ lived experiences, and from there to discover previously unavailable insights at the epicentre of a pandemic. Aims To understand volunteer nurses’ lived experiences in Wuhan. Methods A descriptive phenomenological study with a purposive sampling strategy was used to describe volunteer nurses’ experiences in Wuhan. Interviews continued until data saturation. Ten semi-structured interviews of 30 to 60 minutes duration were conducted from 27 to 30 March 2020. The narrative data were audiotaped, transcribed and analysed using Colaizzi’s method. Results Four themes emerged: mission and challenges denoted the participants’ realisation of the grim challenges ahead; challenges called for actions that described the concerted actions through partnerships and familial bonds; caring acts from all around revealed an external support system; and actions that made a difference portrayed the interplay of actions with feelings, thoughts and further actions to accomplish the mission. Conclusions This phenomenological study showed the interplay of nurses’ intentions and actions, and ‘actions speak louder than words’ when nurses were motivated by workmates’ actions to change their feelings, thoughts and actions. The concerted efforts can be used to develop educational programmes, management strategies and institutional policy on structure, system and resource utilisation, as well as dissemination of scientific knowledge to global healthcare workers and the public.
Long-Segmental Posterior Fusion Combined With Vertebroplasty and Wiring: Alternative Surgical Technique for Kummell’s Disease With Neurologic Deficits – A Retrospective Case Series
Authors: Park Hyung-Youl , Kim Ki-Won , Ryu Ji-Hyun , Yoon S. Tim , Baek In-Hwa , Jang Tae-Yang , Lee Jun-Seok 
Published: June 2021

Purpose: Various surgical methods have been reported for Kummell’s disease with neurologic deficits. The aim of this study was to introduce long-segmental posterior fusion (LPF) combined with vertebroplasty (VP) and wiring as an alternative surgical technique. Material and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 10 patients undergoing posterior decompression and LPF combined with VP and wiring for Kummell’s disease with neurologic deficits from January 2011 to December 2014. The radiologic outcomes included the local kyphotic angle (LKA) and vertebral wedge angle (VWA). Clinical outcomes, including the visual analog scale (VAS), the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the Frankel grade were assessed. Surgery-related complications were also evaluated. Results: The mean age of the included patients was 77 ± 8 years with a mean follow-up period of 31.4 ± 4.9 months and a mean bone mineral density of −3.5 ± 0.7 (T-score). The mean operation time was 220 ± 32.3 minutes with a mean blood loss of 555 ± 125.7 mL. The preoperative LKA and VWA were significantly corrected postoperatively (37.9 ± 8.7° vs. 15.3 ± 5.3°, p = 0.005 for LKA; 21.3 ± 5.1° vs. 7.6 ± 2.8°, p = 0.005 for VWA) without a loss of correction at the last follow-up. The VAS and ODI were also significantly improved (7.7 ± 1.1 vs. 3.0 ± 1.6, p = 0.007 for VAS; 90.3 ± 8.9 vs. 49.6 ± 22.7, p = 0.007 for ODI). The Frankel grade of all patients was improved by at least 1 or 2 grades at the last follow-up. Surgery-related complications such as intraoperative cement leakage and implant loosening during the follow-up were not observed. Conclusions: LPF combined with VP and wiring might be an effective surgical option for Kummell’s disease with neurologic deficits, especially for the elderly patients with morbidities. Level of Evidence: level IV.
Transcript annotation tool (TransAT): an R package for retrieving annotations for transcript-specific genetic variants
Authors: Shih Ching-Yu , Chattopadhyay Amrita , Wu Chien-Hui , Tien Yu-Wen , Lu Tzu-Pin 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background
An individual’s genetics play a role in how RNA transcripts are generated from DNA and consequently in their translation into protein. Transcriptional and translational profiling of patients furnishes the information that a specific marker is present; however, it fails to provide evidence whether the marker correlates with response to a therapeutic agent. A comparative analysis of the frequency of genetic variants, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), in diseased and general populations can identify pathogenic variants in individual patients. This is in part because SNPs have considerable effects on protein function and gene expression when they occur in coding regions and regulatory sequences, respectively. Therefore, a tool that can help users to obtain the allele frequency for a corresponding transcript is the need of the day. Several annotation tools such as SNPnexus and VariED are publicly available; however, none of them can use transcript IDs as input and provide the corresponding genomic positions of variants.

Results
In this study, we developed an R package, called transcript annotation tool (TransAT), that provides (i) SNP ID and genomic position for a user-provided transcript ID from patients, and (ii) allele frequencies for the SNPs from publicly available global populations. All data elements are extracted, collected, and displayed in an easily downloadable format in two simple command lines. TransAT is available on Windows/Linux/MacOS and is operative for R version 4.0.4 or later. It is available at https://github.com/ShihChingYu/TransAT and can be downloaded and installed using devtools::install_github("ShihChingYu/TransAT", force=T) on the R execution page. Thereafter, all functions can be executed by loading the package into R with library(TransAT).

Conclusions
TransAT is a novel tool that seamlessly provides genetic annotations for queried transcripts. Such easily obtainable information would be greatly advantageous for physicians, assisting them to make individualized decisions about specific drug treatments. Moreover, allele frequencies from user-chosen global ethnic populations will highlight the importance of ethnicity and its effect on patient pathogenicity.
DNA methylation-based sex classifier to predict sex and identify sex chromosome aneuploidy
Authors: Wang Yucheng , Hannon Eilis , Grant Olivia A. , Gorrie-Stone Tyler J. , Kumari Meena , Mill Jonathan , Zhai Xiaojun , McDonald-Maier Klaus D. , Schalkwyk Leonard C. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBackgroundSex is an important covariate of epigenome-wide association studies due to its strong influence on DNA methylation patterns across numerous genomic positions. Nevertheless, many samples on the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) frequently lack a sex annotation or are incorrectly labelled. Considering the influence that sex imposes on DNA methylation patterns, it is necessary to ensure that methods for filtering poor samples and checking of sex assignment are accurate and widely applicable.ResultsHere we presented a novel method to predict sex using only DNA methylation beta values, which can be readily applied to almost all DNA methylation datasets of different formats (raw IDATs or text files with only signal intensities) uploaded to GEO. We identified 4345 significantly (p<0.01) sex-associated CpG sites present on both 450K and EPIC arrays, and constructed a sex classifier based on the two first principal components of the DNA methylation data of sex-associated probes mapped on sex chromosomes. The proposed method is constructed using whole blood samples and exhibits good performance across a wide range of tissues. We further demonstrated that our method can be used to identify samples with sex chromosome aneuploidy, this function is validated by five Turner syndrome cases and one Klinefelter syndrome case.ConclusionsThis proposed sex classifier not only can be used for sex predictions but also applied to identify samples with sex chromosome aneuploidy, and it is freely and easily accessible by calling the ‘estimateSex’ function from the newestwateRmelonBioconductor package (https://github.com/schalkwyk/wateRmelon).
Lung ultrasound predicts clinical course but not outcome in COVID-19 ICU patients: a retrospective single-center analysis
Authors: Stecher Stephanie-Susanne , Anton Sofia , Fraccaroli Alessia , Götschke Jeremias , Stemmler Hans Joachim , Barnikel Michaela 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background
Point-of-care lung ultrasound (LU) is an established tool in the first assessment of patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of lung ultrasound in COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) patients in predicting clinical course and outcome.

Methods
We analyzed lung ultrasound score (LUS) of all COVID-19 patients admitted from March 2020 to December 2020 to the Internal Intensive Care Unit, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) of Munich. LU was performed according to a standardized protocol at ICU admission and in case of clinical deterioration with the need for intubation. A normal lung scores 0 points, the worst LUS has 24 points. Patients were stratified in a low (0–12 points) and a high (13–24 points) lung ultrasound score group.

Results
The study included 42 patients, 69% of them male. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (81%) and obesity (57%). The values of pH (7.42 ± 0.09 vs 7.35 ± 0.1; p = 0.047) and paO2 (107 [80–130] vs 80 [66–93] mmHg; p = 0.034) were significantly reduced in patients of the high LUS group. Furthermore, the duration of ventilation (12.5 [8.3–25] vs 36.5 [9.8–70] days; p = 0.029) was significantly prolonged in this group. Patchy subpleural thickening (n = 38; 90.5%) and subpleural consolidations (n = 23; 54.8%) were present in most patients. Pleural effusion was rare (n = 4; 9.5%). The median total LUS was 11.9 ± 3.9 points. In case of clinical deterioration with the need for intubation, LUS worsened significantly compared to baseline LU. Twelve patients died during the ICU stay (29%). There was no difference in survival in both LUS groups (75% vs 66.7%, p = 0.559).

Conclusions
LU can be a useful monitoring tool to predict clinical course but not outcome of COVID-19 ICU patients and can early recognize possible deteriorations.
The impact of multimodal analgesia based enhanced recovery protocol on quality of recovery after laparoscopic gynecological surgery: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Geng Zhiyu , Bi Hui , Zhang Dai , Xiao Changji , Song Han , Feng Ye , Cao Xinni , Li Xueying 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBackgroundOur objective was to evaluate the impact of multimodal analgesia based enhanced recovery protocol on quality of recovery after laparoscopic gynecological surgery.MethodsOne hundred forty female patients scheduled for laparoscopic gynecological surgery were enrolled in this prospective, randomized controlled trial. Participants were randomized to receive either multimodal analgesia (Study group) or conventional opioid-based analgesia (Control group). The multimodal analgesic protocol consists of pre-operative acetaminophen and gabapentin, intra-operative flurbiprofen and ropivacaine, and post-operative acetaminophen and celecoxib. Both groups received an on-demand mode patient-controlled analgesia pump containing morphine for rescue analgesia. The primary outcome was Quality of Recovery-40 score at postoperative day (POD) 2. Secondary outcomes included numeric pain scores (NRS), opioid consumption, clinical recovery, C-reactive protein, and adverse events.ResultsOne hundred thirty-eight patients completed the study. The global QoR-40 scores at POD 2 were not significantly different between groups, although scores in the pain dimension were higher in Study group (32.1 ± 3.0 vs. 31.0 ± 3.2,P = 0.033). In the Study group, NRS pain scores, morphine consumption, and rescue analgesics in PACU (5.8% vs. 27.5%;P = 0.0006) were lower, time to ambulation [5.0 (3.3–7.0) h vs. 6.5 (5.0–14.8) h;P = 0.003] and time to bowel function recovery [14.5 (9.5–19.5) h vs.17 (13–23.5) h;P = 0.008] were shorter, C-reactive protein values at POD 2 was lower [4(3–6) ng/ml vs. 5 (3–10.5) ng/ml;P = 0.022] and patient satisfaction was higher (9.8 ± 0.5 vs. 8.8 ± 1.2,P = 0.000).ConclusionFor minimally invasive laparoscopic gynecological surgery, multimodal analgesia based enhanced recovery protocol offered better pain relief, lower opioid use, earlier ambulation, faster bowel function recovery and higher patient satisfaction, while no improvement in QoR-40 score was found.Trial registrationChiCTR1900026194; Date registered: Sep 26,2019.
Detection of diarrhoea associated rotavirus and co-infection with diarrhoeagenic pathogens in the Littoral region of Cameroon using ELISA, RT-PCR and Luminex xTAG GPP assays
Authors: Ghapoutsa Rahinatou N. , Boda Maurice , Gautam Rashi , Ndze Valantine Ngum , Mugyia Akongnwi E. , Etoa Francois-Xavier , Bowen Michael D. , Esona Mathew D. 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background
Despite the global roll-out of rotavirus vaccines (RotaTeq/Rotarix / ROTAVAC/Rotasiil), mortality and morbidity due to group A rotavirus (RVA) remains high in sub-Saharan Africa, causing 104,000 deaths and 600,000 hospitalizations yearly. In Cameroon, Rotarix™ was introduced in March 2014, but, routine laboratory diagnosis of rotavirus infection is not yet a common practice, and vaccine effectiveness studies to determine the impact of vaccine introduction have not been done. Thus, studies examining RVA prevalence post vaccine introduction are needed. The study aim was to determine RVA prevalence in severe diarrhoea cases in Littoral region, Cameroon and investigate the role of other diarrheagenic pathogens in RVA-positive cases.

Methods
We carried out a study among hospitalized children < 5 years of age, presenting with acute gastroenteritis in selected hospitals of the Littoral region of Cameroon, from May 2015 to April 2016. Diarrheic stool samples and socio-demographic data including immunization and breastfeeding status were collected from these participating children. Samples were screened by ELISA (ProSpecT™ Rotavirus) for detection of RVA antigen and by gel-based RT-PCR for detection of the VP6 gene. Co-infection was assessed by multiplexed molecular detection of diarrheal pathogens using the Luminex xTAG GPP assay.

Results
The ELISA assay detected RVA antigen in 54.6% (71/130) of specimens, with 45, positive by VP6 RT-PCR and 54, positive using Luminex xTAG GPP. Luminex GPP was able to detect all 45 VP6 RT-PCR positive samples. Co-infections were found in 63.0% (34/54) of Luminex positive RVA infections, with Shigella (35.3%; 12/34) and ETEC (29.4%; 10/34) detected frequently. Of the 71 ELISA positive RVA cases, 57.8% (41/71) were fully vaccinated, receiving two doses of Rotarix.

Conclusion
This study provides insight on RVA prevalence in Cameroon, which could be useful for post-vaccine epidemiological studies, highlights higher than expected RVA prevalence in vaccinated children hospitalized for diarrhoea and provides the trend of RVA co-infection with other enteric pathogens. RVA genotyping is needed to determine circulating rotavirus genotypes in Cameroon, including those causing disease in vaccinated children.
The global prevalence of familial multiple sclerosis: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ehtesham Naeim , Rafie Maryam Zare , Mosallaei Meysam 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background
Considering that many recent studies have reported the prevalence of familial multiple sclerosis (FMS), we performed an updated meta-analysis of the worldwide prevalence of FMS by the addition of recent publications.

Methods
A search in PubMed, Scopus, the ISI Web of Science, and Google Scholar was undertaken up to 20 December 2020. The inclusion criteria were based on the CoCoPop approach (condition, context, and population). Meta-analysis of the qualified studies was conducted by comprehensive meta-analysis ver. 2 software.

Results
The pooled prevalence of MS in relatives of 16,179 FMS cases was estimated to be 11.8% (95% CI: 10.7–13) based on a random-effects model. The pooled mean age of disease onset in adult probands was calculated to be 28.7 years (95% CI: 27.2 ± 30.2). Regarding 13 studies that reported the data of FMS in pediatrics (n = 877) and adults (n = 6636), the FMS prevalence in pediatrics and adults was 15.5% (95% CI: 13.8–17.4) and 10.8% (95% CI: 8.1–14.2), respectively. The prevalence of FMS in affected males (n = 5243) and females (n = 11,503) was calculated to be 13.7% (95% CI: 10.1–18.2) and 15.4% (95% CI: 10.3–22.4), respectively. The odds ratio of male/female in FMS cases was not statistically significant (OR = 0.9; 95% CI: 0.6–1.2, P = 0.55). Subgroup analysis demonstrated a significant difference in the prevalence of FMS between the geographical areas (P = 0.007). The meta-regression model indicated that the prevalence of FMS is lower with higher latitude and higher MS prevalence (P < 0.001). In contrast, meta-regression based on prevalence day was not statistically significant (P = 0.29).

Conclusions
The prevalence of FMS is higher in the pediatric group than that of adults, distinct between geographical areas, and diminishes with the increment of MS prevalence and latitude. Also, the symptoms initiate relatively at younger ages in the FMS cases. Interestingly, our analysis unveiled that FMS is not more prevalent in men than women and the risk of MS development in relatives is not higher when the affected proband is male.
Amniotic band syndrome in a monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancy after rupture of the dividing membrane in the early second trimester: A case report
Authors: Nakashima Mizuki , Iizuka Takashi , Kagami Kyosuke , Yamazaki Rena , Ono Masanori , Fujiwara Hiroshi 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background
Amniotic band syndrome is a rare phenomenon, but it can result in serious complications. We report herein our experience of amniotic band syndrome in a monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancy where rupture of the dividing membrane occurred early in the second trimester.

Case Presentation
A 29-year-old nulliparous woman was referred to us for management of her monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancy at 10 weeks of gestation. When we were unable to identify a dividing membrane at 15 weeks of gestation using two-dimensional ultrasonography, we used three-dimensional ultrasonography to confirm its absence. Both modalities showed that the left arm of baby B was swollen and attached to a membranous structure originating from the placenta at 18 weeks of gestation. Tangled umbilical cords were noted on magnetic resonance imaging at 18 weeks of gestation. Emergency cesarean delivery was performed at 30 weeks of gestation because of the nonreassuring fetal status of baby A. The left arm of baby B had a constrictive ring with a skin defect. Both neonates had an uncomplicated postnatal course and were discharged around 2 months after delivery.

Conclusions
Attention should be paid to the potential for amniotic band syndrome if rupture of the dividing membrane between twins is noted during early gestation.
Brigatinib versus other second-generation ALK inhibitors as initial treatment of anaplastic lymphoma kinase positive non-small cell lung cancer with deep phenotyping: study protocol of the ABP trial
Authors: Christopoulos Petros , Bozorgmehr Farastuk , Brückner Lena , Chung Inn , Krisam Johannes , Schneider Marc A. , Stenzinger Albrecht , Eickhoff Regina , Mueller Daniel W. , Thomas Michael 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background
Availability of potent anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) has pushed the median survival of ALK+ non-smallcell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients to over five years. In particular, second-generation ALK TKI have demonstrated superiority compared to the first-generation compound crizotinib and are meanwhile standard first-line treatment. However, clinical courses of individual patients vary widely, with secondary development of drug resistance and intracranial progression remaining important problems. While these limitations highlight the need for better disease monitoring and additional therapeutic tools, molecular tumor features are increasingly recognized as crucial determinants of clinical outcome. This trial aims to optimize management of ALK+ NSCLC by analyzing the efficacy of second-generation ALK inhibitors in conjunction with deep longitudinal phenotyping across two treatment lines.

Methods/design
In this exploratory prospective phase II clinical trial, newly diagnosed ALK+ NSCLC patients will be randomized into two treatment arms, stratified by presence of brain metastases and ECOG performance status: brigatinib (experimental arm) vs. any other approved second-generation ALK TKI. Tumor tissue and blood samples will be collected for biomarker analysis at the beginning and throughout the study period to investigate baseline molecular tumor properties and analyze the development of acquired drug resistance. In addition, participating investigators and patients will have the possibility of fast-track molecular tumor and ctDNA profiling at the time of disease progression using state-of-the-art next-generation sequencing (NGS), in order to support decisions regarding next-line therapy.

Discussion
Besides supporting therapeutic decisions for enrolled patients, the ABP trial primarily aims to deepen the understanding of the underlying biology and facilitate development of a framework for individualized management of ALK+ NSCLC according to molecular features. Patients with low molecular risk and the perspective of a “chronic disease” will be distinguished from “high-risk” cases, molecular properties of which will be utilized to elaborate improved methods of non-invasive monitoring and novel preclinical models in order to advance therapeutic strategies.

Trial registration
Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT04318938. Registered March 182,020, https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04318938
Eudra-CT, 2019–001828-36. Registered September 302,019, https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/search?query=2019-001828-36
Correlation between intraocular pressure reduction and anterior chamber aqueous flare after micropulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation
Authors: Kimura Akitoshi , Nakashima Kei-Ichi , Inoue Toshihiro 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background
Micropulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (MP-CPC) is a technique that has been approved in recent years to treat glaucoma. MP-CPC causes anterior chamber inflammation; a relationship with reduced intraocular pressure (IOP) has not been reported. Therefore, we analyzed the correlation between IOP and anterior chamber aqueous flare after MP-CPC.

Methods
This retrospective study included 37 eyes of 37 patients who underwent MP-CPC between November 2018 and October 2020. IOP and flare values were measured at 1, 4, and 12 weeks after MP-CPC. Correlations were assessed between the percentage IOP reduction and flare elevation by calculating Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient.

Results
The percentage IOP reduction at 1 week after surgery was correlated with the flare elevation at 1 week after surgery (ρ = 0.47, P = 0.006). The percentage IOP reduction at 12 weeks after surgery was correlated with the flare elevation at 4 weeks after surgery (ρ = 0.53, P = 0.006).

Conclusions
A short-term correlation was implied between reduced IOP and flare elevation after MP-CPC.