bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Biochemical assessment of adequate levothyroxine replacement in primary hypothyroidism differs with different TSH assays: potential clinical implications
Authors: Kalaria Tejas R , Sanders Anna , Ford Clare , Buch Harit , Fenn Jonathan Samuel , Ashby Helen L , Mohammed Pervaz , Gama Rousseau Mariano 
Published: May 2021

AimThyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) assays provided by Abbott Laboratories and Roche Diagnostics are used by approximately 75% of laboratories in the UK. We assessed the potential impact of Abbott and Roche TSH assay differences on the biochemical assessment of levothyroxine replacement in primary hypothyroidism.MethodSamples from 100 consecutive primary care patients (83 women, median age 64 years, IQR 51–73 years) with primary hypothyroidism on adequate levothyroxine based on an Abbott Architect TSH in the reference range were analysed for TSH on Roche cobas within 24 hours. The Abbott and Roche TSH results were compared. Over 1 year, TSH results from patients in primary care from the laboratories with Abbott and Roche methods were compared.ResultsThe median (IQR) Roche TSH (2.5 (1.3–3.6) mIU/L) was 30%±10% higher (p<0.001) than Abbott TSH (1.9 (1.1–2.6) mIU/L). Although all Abbott TSH results were in the Abbott specific reference range, 14 patients (14%) had Roche TSH results above the Roche specific reference range. In the 1 year gather, Roche TSH (1.9 (1.3–2.9) mIU/L, n=103 932) results were higher (p<0.001) than Abbott TSH (1.5 (1.0–2.2) mIU/L, n=1 10 544) results. The TSH results were above their assay-specific upper reference limit in 10.7% of Roche results and 4.2% of Abbott results.ConclusionBiochemical assessment of levothyroxine replacement may be dependent on the type of TSH assay. Laboratorians and clinicians should be aware that the lack of harmonisation between TSH methods and their assay-specific reference ranges may potentially lead to different patient management decisions. We suggest lot verification in laboratories should include processes to identify cumulative drift in assay performance.
How does income affect mental health and health behaviours? A quasi-experimental study of the earned income tax credit
Authors: Shields-Zeeman Laura , Collin Daniel F. , Batra Akansha , Hamad Rita 
Published: May 2021

BackgroundAlthough research has repeatedly demonstrated the association between poverty, mental health, and health behaviours, there is limited evidence on the effects of interventions to improve these outcomes by addressing poverty directly. Moreover, most prior studies are often confounded by unobserved characteristics of individuals, making it difficult to inform possible interventions. We addressed this gap in the literature by leveraging quasi-random variation in the earned income tax credit (EITC)—the largest US poverty alleviation programme for families with children—to examine the effects on overall health, psychological distress, smoking, and alcohol consumption.MethodsWe used a large diverse national sample drawn from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (N=34 824). We first conducted ordinary least squares (OLS) models to estimate the association of income and the EITC with the outcomes of interest. We subsequently employed a quasi-experimental instrumental variables (IV) analysis—in which EITC refund size was the instrument—to estimate the effect of income itself.ResultsIn OLS models, higher income was associated with reductions in psychological distress, increased drinking, increased smoking, and more cigarettes per day, and larger EITC refunds were associated with reductions in psychological distress. In IV models, higher income was associated with decreased psychological distress.ConclusionThese results suggest that typical correlational studies of the health effects of income may be confounded, although results may not generalise to income distributed in different ways than the EITC. The findings also provide valuable information for policymakers and researchers seeking to address socioeconomic disparities in mental health.
Long-term exposure to ambient fine particulate matter originating from traffic and residential wood combustion and the prevalence of depression
Authors: Allaouat Sara , Yli-Tuomi Tarja , Tiittanen Pekka , Turunen Anu W , Siponen Taina , Kukkonen Jaakko , Kangas Leena , Kauhaniemi Mari , Aarnio Mia , Ngandu Tiia , Lanki Timo 
Published: May 2021

IntroductionAir pollution has been suggested to be associated with depression. However, current evidence is conflicting, and no study has considered different sources of ambient particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter below 2.5 µm (PM2.5). We evaluated the associations of long-term exposure to PM2.5from road traffic and residential wood combustion with the prevalence of depression in the Helsinki region, Finland.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional analysis based on the Helsinki Capital Region Environmental Health Survey 2015–2016 (N=5895). Modelled long-term outdoor concentrations of PM2.5were evaluated using high-resolution emission and dispersion modelling on an urban scale and linked to the home addresses of study participants. The outcome was self-reported doctor-diagnosed or treated depression. We applied logistic regression and calculated the OR for 1 μg/m3increase in PM2.5, with 95% CI. Models were adjusted for potential confounders, including traffic noise and urban green space.ResultsOf the participants, 377 reported to have been diagnosed or treated for depression by a doctor. Long-term exposure to PM2.5from road traffic (OR=1.23, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.73; n=5895) or residential wood combustion (OR=0.78, 95% CI 0.43 to 1.41; n=5895) was not associated with the prevalence of depression. The estimates for PM2.5from road traffic were elevated, but statistically non-significant, for non-smokers (OR=1.38, 95% CI 0.94 to 2.01; n=4716).ConclusionsWe found no convincing evidence of an effect of long-term exposure to PM2.5from road traffic or residential wood combustion on depression.
Health transition of the causes of mortality between 2005 and 2015 in Guangdong, China
Authors: Zheng Xue-yan , Yi Qian , Xu Yan-jun , Zeng Xin-ying , Xu Xiao-jun , Chen Ge , Ma Shu-li , Tang Si-li , Lin Li-feng 
Published: May 2021

AbstractObjectivesTo analyse the patterns of transition of health burden for 110 causes of death by stratification of age, sex and geographic regions in Guangdong between 2005 and 2015.MethodsWe analysed the age-specific, sex-specific, region-specific mortality in Guangdong based on assembled databases. County-level surveillance data were calculated to inform city-level changes.ResultsThe age-standardised mortality of all causes, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), communicable diseases, maternal diseases, neonatal diseases, malnutrition and injury declined progressively. Despite declining mortality of NCDs, the overall burden of disease was dominated by NCDs (ie, cerebrovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) that still accounted for 86.93% and 88.12% of death in 2005 and 2015, respectively. Considerable variations across geographic regions were observed (lowest in Pearl River Delta and highest in west Guangdong). There was a modest shift to transport injuries at younger ages and unintentional injuries in the elderly.ConclusionsWe have documented a dramatic change in the overall mortality and age-specific, sex-specific and cause-specific mortality in Guangdong province between 2005 and 2015. The significant burden of NCDs remains a major healthcare issue despite the notable progress in reducing mortality in Guangdong, China. Our findings highlight important unmet needs to refine healthcare services by taking into account the inequity of age, sex and geographic regions. Identification of the ‘treatable’ risk factors and improved disease surveillance should be continuously improved to minimised the overall and cause-specific mortality.
A prescription for projectors to compute helicity amplitudes in D dimensions
Authors: Chen Long 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThis article discusses a prescription to compute polarized dimensionally regularized amplitudes, providing a recipe for constructing simple and general polarized amplitude projectors in D dimensions that avoids conventional Lorentz tensor decomposition and avoids also dimensional splitting. Because of the latter, commutation between Lorentz index contraction and loop integration is preserved within this prescription, which entails certain technical advantages. The usage of these D-dimensional polarized amplitude projectors results in helicity amplitudes that can be expressed solely in terms of external momenta, but different from those defined in the existing dimensional regularization schemes. Furthermore, we argue that despite being different from the conventional dimensional regularization scheme (CDR), owing to the amplitude-level factorization of ultraviolet and infrared singularities, our prescription can be used, within an infrared subtraction framework, in a hybrid way without re-calculating the (process-independent) integrated subtraction coefficients, many of which are available in CDR. This hybrid CDR-compatible prescription is shown to be unitary. We include two examples to demonstrate this explicitly and also to illustrate its usage in practice.
Prediction of new scientific collaborations through multiplex networks
Authors: Tuninetti Marta , Aleta Alberto , Paolotti Daniela , Moreno Yamir , Starnini Michele 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe establishment of new collaborations among scientists fertilizes the scientific environment, fostering novel discoveries. Understanding the dynamics driving the development of scientific collaborations is thus crucial to characterize the structure and evolution of science. In this work, we leverage the information included in publication records and reconstruct a categorical multiplex networks to improve the prediction of new scientific collaborations. Specifically, we merge different bibliographic sources to quantify the prediction potential of scientific credit, represented by citations, and common interests, measured by the usage of common keywords. We compare several link prediction algorithms based on different dyadic and triadic interactions among scientists, including a recently proposed metric that fully exploits the multiplex representation of scientific networks. Our work paves the way for a deeper understanding of the dynamics driving scientific collaborations, and validates a new algorithm that can be readily applied to link prediction in systems represented as multiplex networks.
Approximating Edit Distance in Truly Subquadratic Time: Quantum and MapReduce
Authors: Boroujeni Mahdi , Ehsani Soheil , Ghodsi Mohammad , Hajiaghayi Mohammadtaghi , Seddighin Saeed 
Published: May 2021

The
edit distance
between two strings is defined as the smallest number of
insertions
,
deletions
, and
substitutions
that need to be made to transform one of the strings to another one. Approximating edit distance in subquadratic time is “one of the biggest unsolved problems in the field of combinatorial pattern matching” [37]. Our main result is a quantum constant approximation algorithm for computing the edit distance in truly subquadratic time. More precisely, we give an

quantum algorithm that approximates the edit distance within a factor of 3. We further extend this result to an

quantum algorithm that approximates the edit distance within a larger constant factor.

Our solutions are based on a framework for approximating edit distance in parallel settings. This framework requires as black box an algorithm that computes the distances of several smaller strings all at once. For a quantum algorithm, we reduce the black box to
metric estimation
and provide efficient algorithms for approximating it. We further show that this framework enables us to approximate edit distance in distributed settings. To this end, we provide a MapReduce algorithm to approximate edit distance within a factor of

, with sublinearly many machines and sublinear memory. Also, our algorithm runs in a logarithmic number of rounds.
The Panorama of Cancer Genetics
Authors: Bader Joel S. 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Cancer, a disease of the genome, is caused by a combination of germline predisposing variants and acquired somatic mutations. A unified view of heritable and acquired genetic factors will improve our understanding of cancer occurrence and progression. Fanfani and colleagues provide new insight into heritable cancer risk through a computational method that identifies genes and loci that contribute strongly to cancer heritability; many of these loci also harbor somatic drivers. Beyond improving cancer clinical outcomes, these methods will also be valuable across complex disorders by identifying regions responsible for missing heritability.
See related article by Fanfani et al., p. 2588
Estimated Health Care Utilization and Expenditures in Individuals With Heart Failure From the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey
Authors: Klein Sharon , Jiang Shangqing , Morey Jacob R. , Pai Akila , Mancini Donna M. , Lala Anuradha , Ferket Bart S. 
Published: May 2021

Background:
Heart failure (HF) constitutes a growing burden for public health and the US health care system. While the prevalence of HF is increasing, differences in health care utilization and expenditures within various sociodemographic groups remain poorly defined.

Methods:
We used the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey to assess annual health care utilization and expenditures from 2012 to 2017. Health care utilization was based on the annual frequency of various health care encounters. Annual total and out-of-pocket expenditures were evaluated for hospital inpatient stays, emergency room visits, outpatient visits, office-based medical provider visits, prescribed medicines, dental visits, home health aid visits, and other medical expenses. We performed univariable and multivariable regression analysis based on patient characteristics including sociodemographic and comorbidity variables.

Results:

Our results showed that total health care expenditures among patients with HF were $21 177 (95% CI, $18 819–$24 736) per year as compared with $5652 (95% CI, $5469–$5837) in those without HF (
P
<0.001). Total expenditures within the population with HF were primarily being driven by expenditures associated with inpatient hospitalizations. Increasing number of comorbid conditions was associated with significant increases in total health care expenditures. Older age, female sex, earlier study years, number of comorbidities, higher level of education, and increasing family income brackets independently raised out-of-pocket expenditures.

Conclusions:
Our findings of increased health care utilization and expenditures based on sex, age, increasing number of comorbidities, wealthier income status, and increased education attainment level may be used for efforts aimed at better distributing health care resources to improve health outcomes in HF.
Effect of Neprilysin Inhibition on Left Ventricular Remodeling in Patients With Asymptomatic Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction Late After Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Docherty Kieran F. , Campbell Ross T. , Brooksbank Katriona J.M. , Dreisbach John G. , Forsyth Paul , Godeseth Rosemary L. , Hopkins Tracey , Jackson Alice M. , Lee Matthew M.Y. , McConnachie Alex , Roditi Giles , Squire Iain B. , Stanley Bethany , Welsh Paul , Jhund Pardeep S. , Petrie Mark C. , McMurray John J.V. 
Published: May 2021

Background:
Patients with left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction after myocardial infarction are at a high risk of developing heart failure. The addition of neprilysin inhibition to renin angiotensin system inhibition may result in greater attenuation of adverse LV remodeling as a result of increased levels of substrates for neprilysin with vasodilatory, antihypertrophic, antifibrotic, and sympatholytic effects.

Methods:
We performed a prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, active-comparator trial comparing sacubitril/valsartan 97/103 mg twice daily with valsartan 160 mg twice daily in patients ≥3 months after myocardial infarction with a LV ejection fraction ≤40% who were taking a renin angiotensin system inhibitor (equivalent dose of ramipril ≥2.5 mg twice daily) and a β-blocker unless contraindicated or intolerant. Patients in New York Heart Association class ≥II or with signs and symptoms of heart failure were excluded. The primary outcome was change from baseline to 52 weeks in LV end-systolic volume index measured using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Secondary outcomes included other magnetic resonance imaging measurements of LV remodeling, change in NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I, and a patient global assessment of change questionnaire.

Results:

From July 2018 to June 2019, we randomized 93 patients with the following characteristics: mean age, 60.7±10.4 years; median time from myocardial infarction, 3.6 years (interquartile range, 1.2–7.2); mean LV ejection fraction, 36.8%±7.1%; and median NT-proBNP, 230 pg/mL (interquartile range, 124–404). Sacubitril/valsartan, compared with valsartan, did not significantly reduce LV end-systolic volume index; adjusted between-group difference, –1.9 mL/m
2
(95% CI, –4.8 to 1.0);
P
=0.19. There were no significant between-group differences in NT-proBNP, high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I, LV end-diastolic volume index, left atrial volume index, LV ejection fraction, LV mass index, or patient global assessment of change.

Conclusions:
In patients with asymptomatic LV systolic dysfunction late after myocardial infarction, treatment with sacubitril/valsartan did not have a significant reverse remodeling effect compared with valsartan.

Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT03552575.
Diagnosing surfzone impacts on inner-shelf flow spatial variability using realistic model experiments with and without surface gravity waves
Authors: Wu Xiaodong , Feddersen Falk , Giddings Sarah N. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractRip currents are generated by surfzone wave breaking and are ejected offshore inducing inner-shelf flow spatial variability (eddies). However, surfzone effects on the inner-shelf flow spatial variability have not been studied in realistic models that include both shelf and surfzone processes. Here, these effects are diagnosed with two nearly identical twin realistic simulations of the San Diego Bight over summer to fall where one simulation includes surface gravity waves (WW) and the other that does not (NW). The simulations include tides, weak to moderate winds, internal waves, submesoscale processes, and have surfzone width Lsz of 96(±41) m (≈ 1 m significant wave height). Flow spatial variability metrics, alongshore root mean square vorticity, divergence, and eddy cross-shore velocity, are analyzed in a Lsz normalized cross-shore coordinate. At the surface, the metrics are consistently (> 70%) elevated in the WW run relative to NW out to 5Lsz offshore. At 4Lsz offshore, WW metrics are enhanced over the entire water column. In a fixed coordinate appropriate for eddy transport, the eddy cross-shore velocity squared correlation betweenWWand NW runs is < 0.5 out to 1.2 km offshore or 12 time-averaged Lsz. The results indicate that the eddy tracer (e.g., larvae) transport and dispersion across the inner-shelf will be significantly different in the WW and NW runs. The WW model neglects specific surfzone vorticity generation mechanisms. Thus, these inner-shelf impacts are likely underestimated. In other regions with larger waves, impacts will extend farther offshore.
Peritonsillar Abscess Size as a Predictor of Medical Therapy Success
Authors: Urban Matthew J. , Masliah Jamie , Heyd Cameron , Patel Tirth R. , Nielsen Thomas 
Published: May 2021

Objective: To evaluate the success of sole medical therapy (MT) versus surgical therapy (ST) in patients with both clinically and radiographically confirmed peritonsillar abscess (PTA). To also determine treatment safety based on abscess size, and identify predictors of treatment failure. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort of 3 hospitals in a single academic health system. A total of 214 immunocompetent patients diagnosed with uncomplicated PTA underwent a contrasted CT scan of the neck. About 87 patients were treated with sole MT (intravenous antibiotics and steroids), and 127 patients were treated with ST (MT plus drainage). Results: Treatment failure occurred in 8.0% of the MT group and 7.9% of the ST group ( P = 1.00). In PTAs <2 cm, treatment failure occurred in 5.3% of the MT group and 5.0% of the ST group ( P = 1.00). In PTAs ≥2 cm, treatment failure occurred in 13.3% of the MT group and 9.0% treated with ST ( P = .53). Size ≥2 cm (OR – 3.46, P = .08) and IV clindamycin as sole IV antibiotic (OR – 2.46, P = .15) trended toward predicting treatment failure. In addition to those considered failures, 7.0% of the ST group returned to the ED with pain versus 0% of the MT group ( P = .01). Conclusion: Frequency of treatment failure was not significantly different among patients receiving MT and ST. Abscesses ≥2 cm in size were more likely to fail in both groups and ST was not statistically superior. Sole MT for uncomplicated PTA may help reduce unnecessary procedures and healthcare costs.
The impact of exogenous nitric oxide during cardiopulmonary bypass for cardiac surgery
Authors: Loughlin Joseph Mc , Browne Lorraine , Hinchion John 
Published: May 2021

Objectives: Cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass frequently provokes a systemic inflammatory response syndrome. This can lead to the development of low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS). Both of these can affect morbidity and mortality. This study is a systematic review of the impact of gaseous nitric oxide (gNO), delivered via the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit during cardiac surgery, on post-operative outcomes. It aims to summarise the evidence available, to assess the effectiveness of gNO via the CPB circuit on outcomes, and highlight areas of further research needed to develop this hypothesis. Methods: A comprehensive search of Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library was performed in May 2020. Only randomised control trials (RCTs) were considered. Results: Three studies were identified with a total of 274 patients. There was variation in the outcomes measures used across the studies. These studies demonstrate there is evidence that this intervention may contribute towards cardioprotection. Significant reductions in cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels and lower vasoactive inotrope scores were seen in intervention groups. A high degree of heterogeneity between the studies exists. Meta-analysis of the duration of mechanical ventilation, length of ICU stay and length of hospital stay showed no significant differences. Conclusion: This systematic review explored the findings of three pilot RCTs. Overall the hypothesis that NO delivered via the CPB circuit can provide cardioprotection has been supported by this study. There remains a significant gap in the evidence, further high-quality research is required in both the adult and paediatric populations.