bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Agent-based Investigation of the Impact of Low Rates of Influenza on Next Season Influenza Infections
Authors: Krauland Mary G , Galloway David D , Raviotta Jonathan M , Zimmerman Richard K , Roberts Mark S 
Published: August 2021

AbstractIntroductionInterventions to curb the spread of SARS-CoV-2 during the 2020-21 influenza season essentially eliminated influenza during that season. Given waning antibody titers over time, future residual population immunity against influenza will be reduced. The implication for the subsequent 2021-22 influenza season is unknown.MethodsWe used an agent-based model of influenza implemented in the FRED (Framework for Reconstructing Epidemiological Dynamics) simulation platform to estimate cases and hospitalization over two succeeding influenza seasons. The model uses a synthetic population to represent an actual population, and individual interactions in workplaces, school, households and neighborhoods. The impact of reduced residual immunity was estimated as a consequence of increased protective measures (e.g., social distancing and school closure) in the first season. The impact was contrasted by the level of similarity (cross-immunity) between influenza strains over the seasons.ResultsWhen the second season strains were dissimilar to the first season (have a low level of cross immunity), a low first season has limited impact on second season cases. When a high level of cross-immunity exists between strains in the 2 seasons, the first season has a much greater impact on the second season. In both cases this is modified by the transmissibility of strains in the 2 seasons. In the context of the 2021-22 season, the worst case scenario is a highly transmissible strain causing increased cases and hospitalizations over average influenza seasons, with a possible significant increase in cases in some scenarios. The most likely overall scenario for 2021-22 is a more modest increase in flu cases over an average season.DiscussionGiven the light 2020-21 season, we found that a large, compensatory second season might occur in 2021-22, depending on cross-immunity from past infection and transmissibility of strains. Furthermore, we found that enhanced vaccine coverage could reduce this high, compensatory season. Young children may be especially at risk in 2021-22 since very young children were unlikely to have had any exposure to infection and most immunity in that age group would be from vaccination, which wanes quickly.
Intraspecies strain exclusion, antibiotic pretreatment, and donor selection control microbiota engraftment after fecal transplantation
Authors: Podlesny Daniel , Durdevic Marija , Paramsothy Sudarshan , Kaakoush Nadeem O. , Högenauer Christoph , Gorkiewicz Gregor , Walter Jens , Fricke W. Florian 
Published: August 2021

ABSTRACTFecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is both a promising therapeutic approach to treat microbiota-associated pathologies and an experimental tool to establish a causal role of microbiome dysbiosis in human pathologies. Although clearly efficacious in resolving recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI), the therapeutic value of FMT in other pathologies is not yet established, and our mechanistic and ecological understanding of how FMT alters the microbiome in patients is incomplete. Here, we assembled the most comprehensive FMT trial microbiota dataset to date, including new and previously generated fecal metagenomes from FMT trials in rCDI, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), metabolic syndrome (MetS), drug-resistant pathogen colonization (MDR), and resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitor anti-tumor therapy (ICI). We characterized post-FMT microbiota assembly in the recipients by establishing the origin of the detected strains, and we identified the clinical and ecological factors that determine the engraftment of donor strains. Our findings showed little coexistence of donor and recipient strains and linked the magnitude of donor strain engraftment to dysbiosis of the recipient microbiome. Dysbiosis and strain engraftment were low in pathologies other than rCDI but could be enhanced through pretreatment with antibiotics and lavage. Using generalized linear mixed-effects models, we demonstrate that both ecological (low recipient and high donor ɑ-diversity and relative species abundance) and clinical (antibiotic pretreatment, bowel lavage, multiple rounds of FMT) variables are associated with increased donor microbiota engraftment, and that donor strain engraftment events are predictable for individual patients and strains. Overall donor strain engraftment was not linked to FMT outcome in IBD patients but was higher in ICI patients that responded to immunotherapy after FMT. Our findings provide an ecological framework for post-FMT microbiota assembly that can predict donor strain engraftment and determine its importance for clinical outcomes, informing more targeted and personalized approaches to increase the therapeutic benefits of FMTs.
Modeling SARS-CoV-2 transmission at a winter destination resort region with high outside visitation
Authors: Wu E.J. , Bayham J. , Carlton E. , Samet J. , Buchwald A.G. 
Published: August 2021

ABSTRACTTravel destinations, particularly large resorts in otherwise small communities, risk infectious disease outbreaks from an influx of visitors who may import infections during peak seasons. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted this risk in the context of global travel and has raised questions about appropriate interventions to curb the potential spread of infectious disease at tourist destinations. In Colorado, the initial outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 in the state occurred in ski communities, leading to large economic losses from closures and visitor restrictions. In this study, we modeled SARS-CoV-2 transmission during the 2020-21 season in a ski region of Colorado to determine optimal combinations of intervention strategies that would keep the region below a predetermined threshold of SARS-CoV-2 infection density. This analysis used an age-stratified, deterministic SEIR compartmental model of disease transmission, calibrated to cellphone-based mobility data, to simulate infection trajectories during the winter ski season. Under three national infection levels corresponding to high, medium, and low viral importation risk, we estimated the potential impact of interventions including policy and behavior changes, visitor restriction strategies, and case investigation/contact tracing, in order to quantify the relative and absolute impacts of these interventions in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our results suggest that, in the context of low viral importation risk, case investigation/contact tracing and policy and behavior changes may be sufficient to stay below predetermined infection thresholds without visitor restrictions. However, if viral importation risk is high, visitor restrictions and/or screening for infected visitors would be needed to avoid lockdown-like control scenarios and large outbreaks in tourist communities. These findings provide important guidance to tourist destinations for balancing policy impact in future infectious disease outbreaks.
Interventions designed to improve vaccination uptake: Scoping review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses - protocol (version 1)
Authors: Heneghan CJ , Plüddemann A , Spencer EA , Brassey J , Rosca EC , Onakpoya IJ , Evans DH , Conly JM , Brewer NT , Jefferson T 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundVaccine uptake varies substantially, and resources to promote the uptake of vaccines differ widely by country and income level. As a result, immunization rates are often suboptimal. There is a need to understand what works, particularly in low- and middle-income countries and other settings where resources are scarce.MethodsWe plan to conduct a scoping review of interventions designed to increase vaccination uptakeWe will include systematic reviews and meta-analyses of interventional studies that address the question of vaccine uptake. We will search the following electronic databases: MEDLINE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, EMBASE, Epistemonikos, Google Scholar, LILACs and TRIP database (which covers guidelines and the grey literature) until 01 July 2021 and hand-search the reference lists of included articles. We will include systematic reviews that comprise studies of all ages if they report quantitative data on the impact on vaccine uptake. To assess the quality, we will use a modified AMSTAR score and ate the quality of the evidence in included reviews using the “Grade of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation” (GRADE).Expected resultsWe intend to present the evidence using summary tables to present the evidence stratified by vaccine coverage, the specific population, e.g., children, adolescents and older adults, and by setting, e.g. healthcare, community. We will also present when low middle-income subgroups are reported.
Effects of the Mindfulness-Based Blood Pressure Reduction (MB-BP) Program on Depression and Neural Structural Connectivity
Authors: Polcari Justin J. , Cali Ryan J. , Nephew Benjamin C. , Lu Senbao , Rashkovskii Mikhail , Wu Julianne , Saadeh Frances , Loucks Eric , King Jean A. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractHypertension-related illnesses are a leading cause of disability and death in the United States, where 46% of adults have hypertension and only half have it controlled. It is critical to reduce hypertension, and either new classes of interventions are required, or we need to develop enhanced approaches to improve medical regimen adherence. The Mindfulness-Based Blood Pressure Reduction program (MB-BP) is showing novel mechanisms and early evidence of efficacy, but the neural correlates are unknown. The objectives of this study were to identify structural neural correlates of MB-BP using diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DTI) and assess potential correlations with key clinical outcomes. In a subset of participants from a larger randomized controlled trial, MB-BP participants exhibited increased interoception and decreased depressive symptoms compared to controls. Analyses of DTI data revealed significant group differences in several white matter neural tracts associated with the limbic system and/or hypertension. Specific changes in neural structural connectivity were significantly associated with measures of blood pressure, depression anxiety and symptoms, mindfulness, and emotional regulation. It is concluded that MB-BP has extensive and substantial effects on brain structural connectivity which could mediate beneficial changes in depression, interoceptive awareness, blood pressure, and related measures in individuals with hypertension.
Tissue damage detected by quantitative gradient echo MRI correlates with clinical progression in non-relapsing progressive MS
Authors: Xiang Biao , Brier Matthew R. , Kanthamneni Manasa , Wen Jie , Snyder Abraham Z. , Yablonskiy Dmitriy A. , Cross Anne H. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundImaging biomarkers of progressive MS are needed. Quantitative gradient recalled echo (qGRE) MRI technique allows evaluation of tissue damage associated with microstructural damage in multiple sclerosis (MS).ObjectiveTo evaluate qGRE-derived R2t* as an imaging biomarker of MS disease progression as compared to atrophy and lesion burden.MethodsTwenty-three non-relapsing progressive MS (PMS), twenty-two relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and eighteen healthy control participants were imaged with qGRE at 3T. PMS subjects were imaged and neurologically assessed every nine months over five sessions. In each imaging session, lesion burden, atrophy and R2t* in cortical grey matter (GM), deep GM, normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) were measured.ResultsR2t* reductions correlated with neurological impairment cross-sectionally and longitudinally. PMS patients with clinically defined disease progression showed significantly faster decrease of R2t* in NAWM and deep GM compared with the clinically stable PMS group. Importantly, tissue damage measured by R2t* outperformed lesion burden and atrophy as a biomarker of progression during the study period.ConclusionClinical impairment and progression correlated with accumulating R2t*-defined microstructural tissue damage in deep GM and NAWM. qGRE-derived R2t* is a potential imaging biomarker of MS progression.
Large-scale study of antibody titer decay following BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine or SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Israel Ariel , Shenhar Yotam , Green Ilan , Merzon Eugene , Golan-Cohen Avivit , Schäffer Alejandro A , Ruppin Eytan , Vinker Shlomo , Magen Eli 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundImmune protection following either vaccination or infection with SARS-CoV-2 decreases over time.ObjectiveTo determine the kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies following administration of two doses of BNT162b2 vaccine, or SARS-CoV-2 infection in unvaccinated individuals.MethodsAntibody titers were measured between January 31, 2021, and July 31, 2021 in two mutually exclusive groups: i) vaccinated individuals who received two doses of BNT162b2 vaccine and had no history of previous infection with COVID-19 and ii) SARS-CoV-2 convalescents who had not received the vaccine.ResultsA total of 2,653 individuals fully vaccinated by two doses of vaccine during the study period and 4,361 convalescent patients were included. Higher SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody titers were observed in vaccinated individuals (median 1581 AU/mL IQR [533.8-5644.6]) after the second vaccination, than in convalescent individuals (median 355.3 AU/mL IQR [141.2-998.7]; p<0.001). In vaccinated subjects, antibody titers decreased by up to 40% each subsequent month while in convalescents they decreased by less than 5% per month. Six months after BNT162b2 vaccination 16.1% subjects had antibody levels below the seropositivity threshold of <50 AU/mL, while only 10.8% of convalescent patients were below <50 AU/mL threshold after 9 months from SARS-CoV-2 infection.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates individuals who received the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine have different kinetics of antibody levels compared to patients who had been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, with higher initial levels but a much faster exponential decrease in the first group.FundingThis research was internally funded by Leumit Health Services (LHS) and was supported in part by the Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Center for Cancer Research.The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.Impact statementLarge scale study display the kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies present in individuals vaccinated with two doses of mRNA vaccine vs. unvaccinated patients who had recovered from the disease: initial levels of antibody are much higher in vaccinated patients, but decrease faster.
Intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccine by HIV status among a population-based sample of women and gender diverse individuals in British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Kaida Angela , Brotto Lori A. , Murray Melanie C.M. , Côté Hélène C. F. , Albert Arianne Y. , Nicholson Valerie , Gormley Rebecca , Gordon Shanlea , Booth Amy , Smith Laurie W. , Baaske Ally , Galea Liisa A. M. , Sadarangani Manish , Ogilvie Gina S. 
Published: August 2021

ABSTRACTIntroductionCOVID-19 vaccination is recommended for people living with HIV (PLWH), among whom social inequities and co-morbidities may drive risks of COVID-19 infection and outcome severity. Among a provincial (British Columbia) sample, we determined the prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine intention by HIV status and assessed socio-demographic, vaccine hesitancy, and psychological predictors of vaccine intention.MethodsIndividuals (25-69y) recruited from province-wide research cohorts completed an online survey examining COVID-19 impacts (August/2020-March/2021). Among women and gender diverse participants, we compared intention to receive a recommended COVID-19 vaccine (Very likely/Likely vs Neutral/Unlikely/Very Unlikely) by self-reported HIV status. Logistic regression models assessed the independent effect of HIV status and other factors on vaccine intention.ResultsOf 5,588 participants, 69 (1.2%) were PLWH, of whom 79.7% were on antiretroviral therapy. Intention to vaccinate was significantly lower among PLWH compared to participants not living with HIV (65.2% vs 79.6%; OR: 0.44; 95%CI: 0.32-0.60). However, this association was attenuated after adjustment for social disparities (aOR:0.85; 95%CI: 0.48-1.55). Among PLWH, those with greater vaccine confidence, positive attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine, and more strongly influenced by direct and indirect social norms to vaccinate had significantly higher odds of vaccine intention.DiscussionTailored messaging is needed to build vaccine confidence, address questions about vaccine benefits, and support informed vaccination decision-making to promote COVID-19 vaccine uptake among women and gender diverse PLWH.
Is the BioNTech-Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination effective in elderly populations? Results from population data from Bavaria, Germany
Authors: Gomes Delphina , Beyerlein Andreas , Katz Katharina , Hoelscher Gabriele , Nennstiel Uta , Liebl Bernhard , Überla Klaus , von Kries Rüdiger 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe effect of the BioNTech-Pfizer BNT162b2 vaccination in the elderly (≥80 years) could not be fully assessed in the BioNTech-Pfizer trial due to low numbers in this age group. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the BioNTech-Pfizer (BNT162b2) vaccine to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe outcomes in octo- and novo-generians in a German state setting.Methods and FindingsA prospective observational study of 708,187 persons aged ≥80 years living in Bavaria, Germany, was conducted between Jan 9 to Apr 11, 2021. We assessed the vaccine efficacy (VE) for two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine with respect to SARS-CoV-2 infection and related hospitalisations and mortality. Additionally, differences in VE by age groups ≥80 to ≤89 years and ≥90 years were studied. Analyses were adjusted by sex.By the end of follow-up, 63.8% of the Bavarian population ≥80 years had received one dose, and 52.7% two doses, of the BNT162b2 vaccine. Two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine lowered the proportion of SARS-CoV-2 infections and related outcomes, resulting in VE estimates of 68.3% (95% confidence interval (CI) 65.5%, 70.9%) for infection, 73.2% (95% CI 65.3%, 79.3%) for hospitalisation, and 80.1% (95% CI 80.0%, 89.0%) for mortality. Sex differences in the risk of COVID-19 outcomes observed among unvaccinated persons disappeared after two BNT162b2 vaccine doses. Overall, the BNT162b2 vaccine was equally efficacious in octo- and novo-genarians.ConclusionsTwo doses of BioNTech-Pfizer’s BNT162b2 vaccine is highly effective against COVID-19 outcomes in elderly persons.
The burden of isolation to the individual: a comparison between isolation for COVID-19 and for other influenza-like illnesses in Japan
Authors: Tsuzuki Shinya , Ohmagari Norio , Beutels Philippe 
Published: August 2021

AbstractAt present, there is scarce evidence about how much burden the isolation of COVID-19 patients is. We aimed to assess the differences between COVID-19 and other influenza like illnesses in disease burden brought by isolation. We conducted an online questionnaire survey of 302 people who had COVID-19 or other influenza-like illnesses (ILIs) and compared the burden of isolation due to sickness with one-to-one propensity score matching. The primary outcomes are the duration and productivity losses of isolation, the secondary outcome is quality of life (QOL) valuation on the day of the survey. Acute symptoms of outpatient COVID-19 and other ILIs lasted 17 (interquartile range [IQR] 9-32) and 7 (IQR 4-10) days, respectively. The length of isolation due to COVID-19 was 18 (IQR 10-33) days and that due to other ILIs was 7 (IQR 4-11) days, respectively. The monetary productivity loss of isolation due to COVID-19 was 1424.3 (IQR 825.6-2545.5) USD and that due to other ILIs was 606.1 (IQR 297.0-1090.9) USD, respectively. QOL at the time of the survey was lower in the COVID-19 group than in the “other ILIs” group (0.89 and 0.96, p = 0.001). COVID-19 infection imposes a substantial disease burden, even in patients with non-severe disease. This burden is larger for COVID-19 than other ILIs, mainly because the required isolation period is longer.
Childhood malnutrition and bacteraemia at a tertiary hospital in Malawi
Authors: Mukhula Victoria Temwanani , Harawa Philliness Prisca , Phiri Chisomo , Khoswe Stanley , Chaziya Jessica , Mbale Emmie , Tigoi Caroline , Tam Pui-Ying Iroh , Bandsma Robert , Voskuijl Wieger 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundMalnutrition increases risk of acquiring infections but clinical characteristics and hospital outcomes among children in low resource settings with high rates of antimicrobial resistance have not been clearly described.AimOur main aim was to ascertain prevalence of bacteraemia in hospitalised children at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Malawi.MethodsWe conducted a secondary analysis of a prospective study of children who had a blood culture collected during hospitalisation.ResultsOut of 175 children who had blood cultures collected during hospitalisation, 75 had severe acute malnutrition (SAM), 31 moderate acute malnutrition (MAM), and 69 no acute malnutrition (NAM). Twelve (7%) had bacteraemia (8 SAM, 1 MAM, 3 NAM) and seventeen (10%) died (14 SAM, 2 MAM, 1 NAM). Fever, vomiting and convulsions were least common in SAM (69%, 37%, 1%) compared to MAM (90%, 81%, 10%) and NAM (99%, 46%, 29%; p<0.001) children. Mortality was significantly higher in those with than without bacteraemia (33% vs 8%, p=0.004). Most common isolates were Salmonella Typhimurium (31%) and Escherichia coli (23%). High rates of bacterial resistance were noted to gentamicin (58%), a first-line antibiotic, and ceftriaxone (33%), a second-line antibiotic.ConclusionsMortality and bacteraemia rates are highest in hospitalised children with SAM. Despite this, SAM children do not present with typical clinical features, including fever, vomiting and convulsions. Given the high rate of antimicrobial resistance in this setting, a high index of infection clinical suspicion, awareness of local susceptibility patterns and evidence-based antibiotic guidelines are needed to optimise clinical care and antimicrobial stewardship.Lay SummaryMalnutrition increases the risk of having an infection but symptoms and hospital outcomes among children with malnutrition, in countries like Malawi with high rates of antimicrobial resistance, have not been clearly described. This study describes a study of children who had a blood culture collected during admission to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Malawi. Of 175 children who had blood cultures collected, 12 (7%) had a bacteria found (‘bactaeriemia’) and 17 (10%) died. Fever, vomiting and convulsions were significantly less common in severe malnutrition compared to children with moderate malnutrition and those with no malnutrition. Mortality was significantly higher in those with bacteraemia than without. High rates of bacterial resistance were noted to first- and second-line antibiotics. Mortality and bacteraemia rates are highest in hospitalised children with SAM even though they do not present with typical features of bacteraemia.