bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Epidemiological changes of geriatric trauma in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Alao David O. , Cevik Arif Alper , Grivna Michal , Eid Hani O. , Abu-Zidan Fikri M. 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
We aimed to study the epidemiological changes in geriatric trauma in Al-Ain City, United Arab Emirates, in the past decade to give recommendations on injury prevention.
Trauma patients aged 65 years and above who were hospitalized at Al-Ain Hospital for more than 24 hours or died in the hospital after their arrival regardless of the length of stay were studied. Data were extracted from the Al-Ain Hospital trauma registry. Two periods were compared; March 2003 to March 2006 and January 2014 to December 2017. Studied variables which were compared included demography, mechanism of injury and its location, and clinical outcome.
There were 66 patients in the first period and 200 patients in the second period. The estimated annual incidence of hospitalized geriatric trauma patients in Al-Ain City was 8.5 per 1000 geriatric inhabitants in the first period compared with 7.8 per 1000 geriatric inhabitants in the second period. Furthermore, mortality was reduced from 7.6% to 2% (P = 0.04). There was a significant increase in falls on the same level by14.9% (62.1%–77%, P = 0.02, Pearson χ2 test). This was associated with a significant increase of injuries occurring at home (55.4%–78.7% P = 0.0003, Fisher Exact test). There was also a strong trend in the reduction of road traffic collision injuries which was reduced by 10.8% (27.3%–16.5%, P = 0.07, Fisher Exact test).
Although the incidence and severity of geriatric trauma did not change over the last decade, in-hospital mortality has significantly decreased over time. There was a significant increase in injuries occurring at homes and in falls on the same level. The home environment should be targeted in injury prevention programs so as to reduce geriatric injuries.
Plasmodium falciparum hrp2 and hrp3 gene deletion status in Africa and South America by highly sensitive and specific digital PCR
Authors: Vera-Arias Claudia A. , Holzschuh Aurel , Oduma Colins O. , Badu Kingsley , Abdul-Hakim Mutala , Yukich Joshua , Hetzel Manuel W. , Fakih Bakar S. , Ali Abdullah , Ferreira Marcelo U. , Ladeia-Andrade Simone , Sáenz Fabián E. , Afrane Yaw , Zemene Endalew , Yewhalaw Delenasaw , Kazura James W. , Yan Guiyun , Koepfli Cristian 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe most commonly used Plasmodium falciparum rapid diagnostic tests target the Histidine-Rich Proteins 2 and 3 (HRP2, HRP3). An increasing number of countries report parasites that carry hrp2 and/or hrp3 gene deletions, resulting in false negative test results. Molecular surveillance of hrp2 and hrp3 deletions is crucial but adequate protocols have been lacking.Methods and FindingsWe have developed novel assays for deletion typing based on droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), targeting hrp2 exon1, hrp2 exon 2, and hrp3. In the ddPCR assay, hrp2 or hrp3 and a control gene were quantified with very high accuracy in a single tube. The theoretical limit of detection of the ddPCR assay was 0.33 parasites/uL, and thus well suited for typing of low-density asymptomatic infections. The deletion was reliably detected in mixed infections with wild-type and hrp2-deleted parasites when the proportion of parasites carrying the deletion was >40%. For a side-by-side comparison with the conventional nested PCR (nPCR) assay, 248 samples from asymptomatic individuals from western Kenya were screened in triplicate by ddPCR and nPCR. No deletions were observed by ddPCR, while by nPCR no band for hrp2 was observed in 8% of samples. The ddPCR assay was applied to screen 830 samples from six countries in Africa and South America. No or very few deletions were observed in Kenya (n=241), Zanzibar/Tanzania (n=91), and Ghana (n=223). In southwestern Ethiopia, 1/47 (2.1%) samples carried hrp2 deletion, and 35/47 (74.5%) hrp3 deletions. In Brazil, 87/187 (46.5%) samples carried hrp2 deletions, and 116/187 (62%) hrp3 deletions. In Ecuador, no hrp2 deletions were observed, but 22/41 (53.7%) samples carried hrp3 deletions.ConclusionsCompared to nPCR, the ddPCR assay minimizes the risk of false-negative results (i.e. hrp2 deletion observed when the sample is wild type), increases sensitivity, and greatly reduces the number of reactions that need to be run. Pronounced differences in the prevalence of deletion were observed among sites, with more hrp3 than hrp2 deletions.
Intra-individual reproducibility as essential determinant of clinical utility of smartphone-based neurological disability tests
Authors: Messan Komi S. , Pham Linh , Harris Thomas , Kim Yujin , Morgan Vanessa , Kosa Peter , Bielekova Bibiana 
Published: June 2021

AbstractTechnological advances, lack of medical professionals, high cost of face-to face encounters and disasters such as COVID19 pandemic, fuel the telemedicine revolution. Numerous smartphone apps have been developed to measure neurological functions. However, their psychometric properties are seldom determined. Lacking such data, it is unclear which designs underlie’ eventual clinical utility of the smartphone tests.We have developed the smartphone Neurological Function Tests Suite (NeuFun-TS) and are systematically evaluating their psychometric properties against the gold-standard of complete neurological examination digitalized into NeurExTM App. This paper examines the fifth, and thus far the most complex NeuFun-TS test, the “Spiral tracing”. We generated 40 features in the training cohort (22 healthy donors [HD] and 105 multiple sclerosis [MS] patients) and compared their intraclass correlation coefficient, fold-change between HD and MS and correlations with relevant clinical and imaging outcomes. We assembled the best features into machine-learning models and examined their performance in the independent validation cohort (56 MS patients).We show that by aggregating multiple neurological functions, complex tests such as spiral tracing are susceptible to intra-individual variations, decreasing their reproducibility and thus, clinical utility. Simple tests, reproducibly measuring single function(s) that can be aggregated to increase sensitivity are preferable in app design.
Rates of Glaucoma Progression Derived from Linear Mixed Models Using Varied Random Effect Distributions
Authors: Swaminathan Swarup S. , Berchuck Samuel I. , Jammal Alessandro A. , Rao J. Sunil , Medeiros Felipe A. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractPurposeTo compare the ability of linear mixed models with different random effect distributions to estimate rates of visual field loss in glaucoma patients.MethodsEyes with ≥5 reliable standard automated perimetry (SAP) tests were identified from the Duke Glaucoma Registry. Mean deviation (MD) values from each visual field and associated timepoints were collected. These data were modeled using ordinary least square (OLS) regression and linear mixed models using the Gaussian, Student-t, or log-gamma (LG) distributions as the prior distribution for random effects. Model fit was compared using Watanabe-Akaike information criterion (WAIC). Simulated eyes of varying initial disease severity and rates of progression were created to assess the accuracy of each model in predicting the rate of change and likelihood of declaring progression.ResultsA total of 52,900 visual fields from 6,558 eyes of 3,981 subjects were included. Mean follow-up period was 8.7±4.0 years, with an average of 8.1±3.7 visual fields per eye. The LG model produced the lowest WAIC, demonstrating optimal model fit. In simulations, the LG model declared progression earlier than OLS (P<0.001) and had the greatest accuracy in predicted slopes (P<0.001). The Gaussian model significantly underestimated rates of progression among fast and catastrophic progressors.ConclusionsLinear mixed models using the LG distribution outperformed conventional approaches for estimating rates of SAP MD loss in a population with glaucoma.Translational RelevanceUse of the LG distribution in models estimating rates of change among glaucoma patients may improve their accuracy in rapidly identifying progressors at high risk for vision loss.
Antibody profiling reveals gender differences in response to SARS-COVID-2 infection
Authors: Tsverava Lia , Chitadze Nazibrola , Chanturia Gvantsa , Kekelidze Merab , Dzneladze David , Imnadze Paata , Gamkrelidze Amiran , Lagani Vincenzo , Khuchua Zaza , Solomonia Revaz 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe recent emergence of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to an ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic and public health crisis. Detailed study of human immune response to SARS-COVIS-2 infection is the important topic for a successful treatment of this disease. Our study was aimed to characterize immune response on the level of antibody profiling in convalescent plasma of patients in Georgia. Antibodies against the following SARS-COV-2 proteins were studied: nucleocapsid and various regions of Spike (S) protein: S1, S2 and Receptor binding domain (RBD). Convalescent plasma of patients 6-8 weeks after initial confirmation of SARS-COV-2 infection were tested. Nearly 80% out of 154 patients studied showed presence of antibodies against nucleocapsid protein. The antibody response to three fragments of S protein was significantly less and varied in the range of 20-30%. Significantly more females as compared to males were producing antibodies against S1 fragment, whereas the difference between genders by the antibodies against nucleocapsid protein and RBD was statistically significant only by one-tailed Fisher exact test. There were no differences between the males and females by antibodies against S2 fragment. Thus, immune response against some viral antigens are stronger in females and we suggest that it could be one of the factors of less female fatality after SARS-COVID-2 infection.
Necessity of COVID-19 Vaccination in Persons who have Already had COVID-19
Authors: Shrestha Nabin K. , Burke Patrick C. , Nowacki Amy S. , Terpeluk Paul , Gordon Steven M. 
Published: June 2021

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the necessity of COVID-19 vaccination in persons with prior COVID-19.MethodsEmployees of Cleveland Clinic working in Ohio on Dec 16, 2020, the day COVID-19 vaccination was started, were included. Anyone who tested positive for COVID-19 at least once before the study start date was considered previously infected. One was considered vaccinated 14 days after receipt of the second dose of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. The cumulative incidence of COVID-19, symptomatic COVID-19, and hospitalizations for COVID-19, were examined over the next 10.5 months.ResultsAmong the 52238 employees, 4718 (9%) had prior COVID-19 at the start of the study, and 35113 (67%) had received at least two doses of the vaccine by the end of the study. Of the 4284 COVID-19 infections during the study, 3476 (81.1%) occurred in persons who were unvaccinated, and 4263 (99.5%) occurred among those without prior COVID-19. In Cox proportional hazards regression, both prior COVID-19 and vaccination were independently associated with significantly lower risk of COVID-19. Vaccination was associated with lower risk of COVID-19 among those without prior COVID-19 (HR 0.24, 95% CI 0.22–0.26) but not among those with prior COVID-19 (HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.33–2.29).ConclusionsBoth previous infection and vaccination provide substantial protection against COVID-19. Vaccination reduces risk of COVID-19 among those without prior COVID-19 but not among those with prior COVID-19, at least not within one year following infection.SummaryCumulative incidence of COVID-19 over 10.5 months, including the Delta phase, was examined among 52238 employees at Cleveland Clinic. Vaccination was associated with significantly lower risk of COVID-19 among those without prior COVID-19 but not among those with prior COVID-19.
2020 SARS-CoV-2 diversification in the United States: Establishing a pre-vaccination baseline
Authors: Capoferri Adam A. , Shao Wei , Spindler Jon , Coffin John M. , Rausch Jason W. , Kearney Mary F. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractIn 2020, SARS-CoV-2 spread across the United States (U.S.) in three phases distinguished by peaks in the numbers of infections and shifting geographical distribution. We investigated the viral genetic diversity in each phase using sequences publicly available prior to December 15th, 2020, when vaccination was initiated in the U.S. In Phase 1 (winter/spring), sequences were already dominated by the D614G Spike mutation and by Phase 3 (fall), genetic diversity of the viral population had tripled and at least 54 new amino acid changes had emerged at frequencies above 5%, several of which were within known antibody epitopes. These findings highlight the need to track the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants in the U.S. to ensure continued efficacy of vaccines and antiviral treatments.One Sentence SummarySARS-CoV-2 genetic diversity in the U.S. increased 3-fold in 2020 and 54 emergent nonsynonymous mutations were detected.
Formation of oxidized gases and secondary organic aerosol from a commercial oxidant-generating electronic air cleaner
Authors: Joo Taekyu , Rivera-Rios Jean C. , Alvarado-Velez Daniel , Westgate Sabrina , Ng Nga Lee 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAirborne virus transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic increased the demand for indoor air cleaners. While some commercial electronic air cleaners could be effective in reducing primary pollutants and inactivating bioaerosol, studies on the formation of secondary products from oxidation chemistry during their use are limited. Here, we measured oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOCs) and the chemical composition of particles generated from a hydroxyl radical generator in an office. During operation, enhancements in OVOCs, especially low-molecular-weight organic and inorganic acids, were detected. Rapid increases in particle number and volume concentrations were observed, corresponding to the formation of highly-oxidized secondary organic aerosol (SOA) (O:C ∼1.3). The organic mass spectra showed an enhanced signal at m/z 44 (CO2+) and the aerosol evolved with a slope of ∼ -1 in the Van Krevelen diagram. These results suggest that organic acids generated during VOC oxidation contributed to particle nucleation and SOA formation. Nitrate, sulfate, and chloride also increased during the oxidation without a corresponding increase in ammonium, suggesting organic nitrate, organic sulfate, and organic chloride formation. As secondary species are reported to have detrimental health effects, further studies are needed to evaluate potential OVOCs and SOA formation from electronic air cleaners in different indoor environments.SynopsisWe observed formation of oxygenated volatile organic compounds and secondary organic aerosol from an electronic air cleaner.
The Impact of COVID-19 Vaccination on California’s Return to Normalcy
Authors: Daza–Torres Maria L. , García Yury E. , Schmidt Alec J. , Pollock Brad H , Sharpnack James , Nuño Miriam 
Published: June 2021

AbstractSARS-CoV-2 has infected nearly 3.7 million and killed 61,722 Californians, as of May 22, 2021. Non-pharmaceutical interventions have been instrumental in mitigating the spread of the coronavirus. How- ever, as we ease restrictions, widespread implementation of COVID- 19 vaccines is essential to prevent its resurgence. In this work, we addressed the adequacy and deficiency of vaccine uptake within California and the possibility and severity of resurgence of COVID-19 as restrictions are lifted given the current vaccination rates. We implemented a real-time Bayesian data assimilation approach to provide projections of incident cases and deaths in California following the reopening of its economy on June 15, 2021. We implemented scenarios that vary vaccine uptake prior to reopening, and transmission rates and effective population sizes following the reopening. For comparison purposes, we adopted a baseline scenario using the current vaccination rates, which projects a total 11,429 cases and 429 deaths in a 15-day period after reopening. We used posterior estimates based on CA historical data to provide realistic model parameters after reopening. When the transmission rate is increased after reopening, we projected an increase in cases by 21.8% and deaths by 4.4% above the baseline after reopening. When the effective population is increased after reopening, we observed an increase in cases by 51.8% and deaths by 12.3% above baseline. A 30% reduction in vaccine uptake alone has the potential to increase cases and deaths by 35% and 21.6%, respectively. Conversely, increasing vaccine uptake by 30% could decrease cases and deaths by 26.1% and 17.9%, respectively. As California unfolds its plan to reopen its economy on June 15, 2021, it is critical that social distancing and public behavior changes continue to be promoted, particularly in communities with low vaccine uptake. The Centers of Disease Control’s (CDC) recommendation to ease mask- wearing for fully vaccinated individuals despite major inequities in vaccine uptake in counties across the state highlights some of the logistical challenges that society faces as we enthusiastically phase out of this pandemic.
Rapid and Sensitive Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Using Quantitative Peptide Enrichment LC-MS Analysis
Authors: Hober Andreas , Hua Tran-Minh Khue , Foley Dominic , McDonald Thomas , Vissers Johannes P.C. , Pattison Rebecca , Ferries Samantha , Hermansson Sigurd , Betner Ingvar , Uhlen Mathias , Razavi Morteza , Yip Richard , Pope Matthew E. , Pearson Terry W. , Anderson N. Leigh , Bartlett Amy , Calton Lisa , Alm Jessica J. , Engstrand Lars , Edfors Fredrik 
Published: June 2021

AbstractReliable, robust, large-scale molecular testing for SARS-CoV-2 is essential for monitoring the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. We have developed a scalable analytical approach to detect viral proteins based on peptide immunoaffinity enrichment combined with liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry (LC-MS). This is a multiplexed strategy, based on targeted proteomics analysis and read-out by LC-MS, capable of precisely quantifying and confirming the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in PBS swab media from combined throat/nasopharynx/saliva samples.The results reveal that the levels of SARS-CoV-2 measured by LC-MS correlate well with their corresponding RT-PCR readout (r=0.79). The analytical workflow shows similar turnaround times as regular RT-PCR instrumentation with a quantitative readout of viral proteins corresponding to cycle thresholds (Ct) equivalents ranging from 21 to 34. Using RT-PCR as a reference, we demonstrate that the LC-MS-based method has 100% negative percent agreement (estimated specificity) and 95% positive percent agreement (estimated sensitivity) when analyzing clinical samples collected from asymptomatic individuals with a Ct within the limit of detection of the mass spectrometer (Ct ≤30). These results suggest that a scalable analytical method based on LC-MS has a place in future pandemic preparedness centers to complement current virus detection technologies.
Passively Sensing SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Public Transit Buses
Authors: Hoffman Jason , Hirano Matthew , Panpradist Nuttada , Breda Joseph , Ruth Parker , Xu Yuanyi , Lester Jonathan , Nguyen Bichlien , Ceze Luis , Patel Shwetak N. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAffordably tracking the transmission of respiratory infectious diseases in urban transport infrastructures can inform individuals about potential exposure to diseases and guide public policymakers to prepare timely responses based on geographical transmission in different areas in the city. Towards that end, we designed and tested a method to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the air filters of public buses, revealing that air filters could be used as passive fabric sensors for the detection of viral presence. We placed and retrieved filters in the existing HVAC systems of public buses to test for the presence of trapped SARS-CoV-2 RNA using phenol-chloroform extraction and RT-qPCR. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in 14% (5/37) of public bus filters tested in Seattle, Washington, from August 2020 to March 2021. These results indicate that this sensing system is feasible and that, if scaled, this method could provide a unique lens into the geographically relevant transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through public transit rider vectors, pooling samples of riders over time in a passive manner without installing any additional systems on transit vehicles.SynopsisPassive sensing of viral presence on urban transit infrastructure is proven, with forward-looking benefits for tracking pandemic spread.
Image-based computational hemodynamics analysis of systolic obstruction in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Fumagalli Ivan , Vitullo Piermario , Scrofani Roberto , Vergara Christian 
Published: June 2021

ABSTRACTHypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a pathological condition characterized by an abnormal thickening of the myocardium. When it affects the medio-basal portion of the septum, it is named Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy because it induces a flow obstruction in the left ventricle outflow tract, which may compromise the cardiac function and possibly lead to cardiac death. In this work, we investigate the hemodynamics of different HCM patients by means of computational hemodynamics, aiming at quantifying the effects of this pathology on blood flow and pressure gradients and thus providing clinical indications that may help diagnosis and the design of surgical treatment (septal myectomy). To this aim, we employ an enhanced version of an image-based computational pipeline proposed in a previous work, integrating fluid dynamics simulations with geometrical and functional data reconstructed from standard cine-MRI acquisitions. Blood flow is modelled as an incompressible Newtonian fluid, The corresponding Navier-Stokes equations are solved in a moving domain obtained from cine-MRI, whereas the valve leaflets are accounted for by a resistive method.
Health care use up to 6 months after COVID-19 in 700.000 children and adolescents: a pre-post study
Authors: Magnusson Karin , Skyrud Katrine Damgaard , Suren Pål , Greve-Isdahl Margrethe , Størdal Ketil , Kristoffersen Doris Tove , Telle Kjetil 
Published: June 2021

ObjectivesTo explore whether, and for how long COVID-19 among children gives an increase in use of health care services, when compared to children with no COVID-19.MethodsStudying all Norwegian residents aged 1-5, 6-15 and 16-19 years from August 1st2020 to February 1st2021 (N= 768 560), we contrasted rates of monthly all-cause primary and specialist health care use before and after testing for SARS-CoV-2 (% relative change), for children testing positive (non-hospitalized in the acute phase) (N=10 306) vs children with no COVID-19 (N=758 254).ResultsWe found a substantial elevation in short-term primary care use for children testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 during the first month following positive test when compared to children testing negative (relative elevation 1-5 years: 325%, 95%CI=296-354; 6-15 years: 434%, 95%CI=415-453; 16-19 years: 360%, 95%CI=342-379). There was still elevated primary care use at 2 months (1-5 years: 21%, 95%CI= 4-38; 6-15 years: 13%, 95%CI=2-25) and at 3 months (1-5 years: 26%, 95%CI=7-45, 6-15 years: 15%, 95%CI=3-26) for young children, but not at 2 or 3 months for the older children (16-19 years: 10%, 95%CI=-1-22 and 6%, 95%CI=-5-18, respectively). The 1-5-year-olds also had a long-term (up to 6 months) increase of primary care (14%, 95%CI=1-26) that was not observed for older age groups, when compared to same-aged children testing negative. We observed no elevated use of specialist care.ConclusionChildren in pre-school age used health services for a longer time (3-6 months) after COVID-19 than children in primary and secondary school age (1-3 months).