bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
What is the extent of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Bangladesh? : A cross-sectional rapid national survey
Authors: Ali Mohammad , Hossain Ahmed 
Published: February 2021

AbstractobjectivesTo assess COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Bangladesh and identify population subgroups with higher odds of vaccine hesitancy.designA nationally representative cross-sectional survey was used. Univariate analysis was employed to compute vaccine hesitancy proportions and compare them across groups and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to compute the adjusted odds ratio.settingBangladeshparticipantsA total of 1134 participants from the general population, aged 18 years and above.outcome measuresPrevalence and predictors of vaccine hesitancy.results32.5% of participants showed COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Hesitancy was high among respondents who were males, over age 60, unemployed, from low-income families, from central Bangladesh including Dhaka, living in rented houses, tobacco users, politically affiliated, participants who did not believe in the vaccine’s effectiveness for Bangladeshis and those who did not have any physical illnesses in the last year. In the multilevel logistic regression models, respondents who were transgender (AOR= 3.62), married (AOR=1.49), tobacco users (AOR=1.33), those who did not get any physical illnesses in the last year (AOR=1.49), those with political affiliations with opposition parties (AOR= 1.48), those who believed COVID-19 vaccines will not be effective for Bangladeshis (AOR= 3.20), and those who were slightly concerned (AOR = 2.87) or not concerned at all (AOR = 7.45) about themselves or a family member getting infected with COVID-19 in the next one year were significantly associated with vaccine hesitancy (p < 0.05).conclusionsGiven the high prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, it is important to promote evidence-based communication, mass media campaigns, and policy initiatives across Bangladesh to reduce vaccine hesitancy among the Bangladeshi population.Strengths and Limitations of the studyThis study is the first its kind to measure COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Bangladesh.In this study, randomly selected participants were interviewed face to face, enabling a nearly true representative sample of the Bangladeshi general population.This study identified a wide range of sub-groups of the general population with higher odds of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy relating to their sociodemographic characteristics in Bangladesh; thus, providing baseline evidence for the low and middle-income and low-resourced countries worldwide.Traditional media and social media influence on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was not measured which is a major limitation of this study.
Multicenter cohort study of children hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Barton Michelle , Papenburg Jesse , Ulloa-Gutierrez Rolando , Brenes-Chacon Helena , Yock-Corrales Adriana , Ivankovich-Escoto Gabriela , Soriano-Fallas Alejandra , Mezerville Marcela Hernandez-de , Bitnun Ari , Morris Shaun K. , Tal Tala El , Yeh E. Ann , Gill Peter , Laxer Ronald M. , Nateghian Alireza , Aski Behzad Haghighi , Manafif Ali , Lefebvre Marie-Astrid , Caya Chelsea , Cooke Suzette , Dewan Tammie , Restivo Lea , Viel-Thériault Isabelle , Trajtman Adriana , Dwilow Rachel , Bullard Jared , Sadarangani Manish , Roberts Ashley , Saux Nicole Le , Bowes Jennifer , Wong Jacqueline K. , Purewal Rupeena , Lautermilch Janell , Leifso Kirk , Foo Cheryl , Newhook Leigh Anne , Bayliss Ann , Petel Dara , Robinson Joan 
Published: February 2021

ABSTRACTBackgroundA cohort study was conducted to describe and compare the characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infection in hospitalized children in three countries.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort of consecutive children admitted to 15 hospitals (13 in Canada and one each in Iran and Costa Rica) up to November 16, 2020. Cases were included if they had SARS-CoV-2 infection or multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) with molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 or positive SARS-CoV-2 serology.ResultsOf 211 included cases (Canada N=95; Costa Rica N=84; Iran N=32), 103 (49%) had a presumptive diagnosis of COVID-19 or MIS-C at admission while 108 (51%) were admitted with other diagnoses. Twenty-one (10%) of 211 met criteria for MIS-C. Eighty-seven (41%) had comorbidities. Children admitted in Canada were older than those admitted to non-Canadian sites (median 4.1 versus 2.2 years; p<0.001) and less likely to require mechanical ventilation (3/95 [3%] versus 15/116 [13%]; p<0.05). Sixty-four of 211 (30%) required supplemental oxygen or intensive care unit (ICU) admission and 4 (1.9%) died. Age < 30 days, admission outside Canada, presence of at least one comorbidity and chest imaging compatible with COVID-19 predicted severe or critical COVID-19 (defined as death or need for supplemental oxygen or ICU admission).ConclusionsApproximately half of hospitalized children with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection or MIS-C were admitted with other suspected diagnoses. Disease severity was higher at non-Canadian sites. Neonates, children with comorbidities and those with chest radiographs compatible with COVID-19 were at increased risk for severe or critical COVID-19.Main pointsApproximately half of hospitalized children with laboratory confirmed MIS-C or SARS-CoV-2 infection were admitted with another primary diagnoses. The severity of disease was higher in the middle income countries (Costa Rica and Iran) than in Canada.
Disorganization of language and working memory systems in frontal versus temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Caciagli Lorenzo , Paquola Casey , He Xiaosong , Vollmar Christian , Centeno Maria , Wandschneider Britta , Braun Urs , Trimmel Karin , Vos Sjoerd B. , Sidhu Meneka K. , Thompson Pamela J. , Baxendale Sallie , Winston Gavin P. , Duncan John S. , Bassett Danielle S. , Koepp Matthias J. , Bernhardt Boris C. 
Published: February 2021

ABSTRACTCognitive impairment is a common comorbidity of epilepsy, and adversely impacts people with both frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE) and temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). While the underlying neural substrates in TLE have been extensively investigated, functional imaging studies in FLE are scarce. In this study, we profiled cognitive dysfunction in FLE, and directly compared FLE and TLE patients to establish commonalities and differences. We investigated 172 adult participants (56 with FLE, 64 with TLE, and 52 controls), using neuropsychological tests and four functional MRI tasks probing the neural correlates of expressive language (verbal fluency, verb generation) and working memory (verbal and visuo-spatial). Patient groups were comparable in disease duration and anti-epileptic drug load. We devised a multiscale approach to map the landscape of brain activation and deactivation during cognition, and track reorganization in FLE and TLE. Voxel-based analyses were complemented with profiling of task effects (i) across intrinsic functional systems, and (ii) along the principal functional connectivity gradient, which encodes a continuous transition from lower-level sensory to higher-order transmodal brain areas. We show that cognitive impairment in FLE is associated with reduced activation across attentional and executive systems, and reduced deactivation of the default mode system, indicative of a large-scale disorganization of task-related recruitment. Functional abnormalities in FLE were modulated by disease load. Patterns of dysfunction in FLE were broadly similar to those in TLE, but some traits were syndrome-specific: altered default-mode deactivation was more prominent in FLE, while impaired recruitment of posterior language areas during a task with semantic demands was more marked in TLE. Our study elucidates neural processes underlying language and working memory impairment in FLE, identifies shared and syndrome-specific alterations in the two most common focal epilepsies, and sheds light on system behavior that may be amenable to future remediation strategies.
A Prospective Clinical Evaluation of a Patient Isolation Hood During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: McGain Forbes , Bates Samantha , Lee Jung Hoon , Timms Patrick , Kainer Marion A , French Craig , Monty Jason 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundHealthcare workers have frequently become infected with SARS-CoV-2 whilst treating patients with COVID-19. A variety of novel devices have been proposed to reduce COVID-19 cross contamination.ObjectiveTo test whether a novel patient isolation hood was safe and comfortable, and could potentially reduce HCW COVID-19 infections.MethodsProspective cohort study of 20 patients, entailing staff/patient questionnaires, and safety aspects of prototype isolation hoods.Prospective collection of HCW COVID-19 data.Assessment of the hood’s safety and practicality, and adverse event reporting.Outcome MeasuresQuestionnaires’ responses, adverse events reporting, rates of HCW infections during study period (20/6/2020 −21/7/2020).HCW COVID-19 infections reported until last recorded HCW COVID-19 diagnosis (20/6/2020 −27/9/2020).ResultsOf the 60 (of 64) eligible individual staff surveys, 60 favoured isolation hood use.Staff were unanimous in: perceiving the hood as safe (60/60), preferring its use (56/56), and understanding its potential COVID-19 cross-contamination minimisation (60/60). All eight patients who completed the questionnaire thought the isolation hood helped prevent COVID-19 cross-infection, was safe, and comfortable. There were no reported patient safety adverse events. The overall attack COVID-19 attack rate from 20/6/2020-27/9/2020 among registered nurses was 3.4% (102/2994): ICUs 2.2% (3/138), Geriatric wards 13.2% (26/197), and COVID-19 Wards 18.3% (32/175). The COVID-19 attack rate among medical staff was: all junior medical staff 2.1% (24/932), senior medical staff 0.7% (4/607), aged care/rehabilitation 6.7% (2/30), and ICU all medical staff 8.6% (3/35).ConclusionsThe isolation hood was strongly endorsed by staff and patients, and post-study became part of standard ICU therapy. ICU nurse COVID-19 infection rates were low. ICU HCWs feel safer when treating patients with COVID-19 using an isolation hood.
Quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of magnetically confined bacteria enables rapid determination of early-stage human bacteremia
Authors: Lee Min Seok , Hyun Hwi , Park Inwon , Kim Sungho , Jang Dong-Hyun , Kim Seonghye , Im Jae-Kyeong , Kim Hajin , Lee Jae Hyuk , Kwon Taejoon , Kang Joo H. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe current diagnosis of bacteremia mainly uses blood culture, which is insufficient to offer rapid and quantitative determination of pathogens in blood. Here, we report a quantitative and sequential multiplexed fluorescence in situ hybridization in a microfluidic device (µFISH) that enables early and rapid (2-hour) diagnosis of bacteremia without prior blood culture. Mannose-binding lectin-coated magnetic nanoparticles enrich a broad range of pathogens, and µFISH enables identification and quantification of the magnetically confined bacteria. We detect Escherichia coli (E. coli) and measure their relative proportions to universal bacteria levels in the bacteremic blood of a porcine model and human whole blood collected from E. coli-infected patients, which was elusive with the conventional bacteremia diagnosis methods. Thus, µFISH can be used as a versatile tool to rapidly identify pathogens and further assess the number of both culturable and non-culturable bacteria in biological and environmental samples.
Long-term air pollution and other risk factors associated with COVID-19 at the census-tract-level in Colorado
Authors: Berg Kevin , Present Paul Romer , Richardson Kristy 
Published: February 2021

AbstractAn effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic requires identification of the factors that affect the severity and mortality of the disease. Previous nationwide studies have reported links between long-term PM2.5 concentrations and COVID-19 infection and mortality rates. In order to translate these results to the state level, we use Bayesian hierarchical models to explore potential links between long-term PM2.5 concentrations and census tract-level rates of COVID-19 outcomes (infections, hospitalizations, and deaths) in Colorado. We explicitly consider how the uncertainty in PM2.5 estimates affect our results by comparing four different PM2.5 surfaces from academic and governmental organizations. After controlling for 20 census tract level covariates including race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, social distancing, age demographics, comorbidity rates, meteorology, and testing rate, we find that our results depend heavily on the choice of PM2.5 surface. Using PM2.5 estimates from the United States EPA, we find that a 1 µg/m3 increase in long term PM2.5 is associated with a statistically significant 25% increase in the relative risk of hospitalizations and a 35% increase in mortality. Results for all other surfaces and outcomes were not statistically significant. At the same time, we find a clear association between communities of color and COVID-19 outcomes at the Colorado census-tract level that is minimally affected by the choice of PM2.5 surface. A per-interquartile range (IQR) increase in the percent of non-African American people of color was associated with a 31%, 44%, and 59% increase in the relative risk of infection, hospitalization, and mortality respectively, while a per-IQR increase in the proportion of non-Hispanic African Americans was associated with a 4% and 7% increase in the relative risk of infections and hospitalizations. These results have strong implications for the implementation of an equitable public health response during the crisis and suggest targeted areas for additional air monitoring in Colorado.
Regulatory-approved Deep Learning/Machine Learning-Based Medical Devices in Japan as of 2020: A Systematic Review
Authors: Aisu Nao , Miyake Masahiro , Takeshita Kohei , Akiyama Masato , Kawasaki Ryo , Kashiwagi Kenji , Sakamoto Taiji , Oshika Tetsuro , Tsujikawa Akitaka 
Published: February 2021

AbstractMachine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) are changing the world and reshaping the medical field. Thus, we conducted a systematic review to determine the status of regulatory-approved ML/DL-based medical devices in Japan, a leading stakeholder in international regulatory harmonization. Information about the medical devices were obtained from the Japan Association for the Advancement of Medical Equipment search service. The usage of ML/DL methodology in the medical devices was confirmed using public announcements or by contacting the marketing authorization holders via e-mail when the public announcements were insufficient for confirmation. Among the 114,150 medical devices found, 11 were regulatory-approved ML/DL-based Software as a Medical Device (SaMD), with 6 products (54.5%) related to radiology and 5 products (45.5%) related to gastroenterology. The domestic ML/DL-based SaMD were mostly related to health check-ups, which are common in Japan. Our review provides a global overview that can foster international competitiveness and further tailored advancements.
Cytokine status of patients with atherosclerotic injury of carotid arteries
Authors: Danilova M.A. , Baidina T.V. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe research was aimed at studying interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in serum of 61 patients suffering from atherosclerotic injury of carotid arteries. The results received by the immunoferment method were compared with ultrasound features of atherosclerotic plaques and morphological peculiarities of their biopsies which were obtained during carotid endarterectomy.An increased concentration of cytokines under analysis and CRP in serum of patients with atherosclerotic injury of carotid arteries was detected. It was found out that high levels of IL-6 and CRP are associated with progressing atherosclerosis of carotid arteries and its cerebral complications. The research revealed that detection of cytokines and CRP in serum can be used as an additional method to diagnose unstable character of atherosclerotic plaques.
International travel in times of the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from German school breaks
Authors: Backhaus Andreas 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic has triggered severe global restrictions on international travel with the intention of limiting the spread of SARS-CoV-2 across countries. This paper studies the effects of the partial relaxation of these travel restrictions in Europe during the summer months of 2020. It exploits the staggered start of the summer school breaks across German states as an exogenous shock to the travel opportunities of the population. While the school breaks also increased mobility within Germany, the event study regressions include disaggregated and time-varying controls for domestic mobility and local COVID-19-related restrictions. The resulting intention-to-treat effects of the relaxed travel restrictions show a significant and sizable increase of the COVID-19 incidence in German counties during the later weeks of the school breaks.
Evolutionary trajectories and transmission dynamics of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Tibet, China
Authors: Jiang Qi , Liu Hai-can , Liu Qing-yun , Phelan Jody E. , Shi Li , Gao Min , Zhao Xiu-qin , Wang Jian , Glynn Judith R. , Yang Chong-guang , Takiff Howard E. , Wan Kang-lin , Clark Taane G. , Gao Qian 
Published: February 2021

ABSTRACTObjectiveTibet has the highest prevalence of both tuberculosis disease and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in China. The circulated Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains from Tibet were sequenced to investigate the underlying drivers for the high burden of MDR-TB.MethodsUsing whole-genome sequencing data of 576 M. tuberculosis strains isolated from consecutive patients in Tibet, we mapped resistance-conferring mutations onto phylogenetic trees to determine their evolution and spread. The impact of drug resistance on bacterial population growth was assessed with a Bayesian (Skyline Plot) analysis. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for the development of rifampicin resistance.ResultsOf the 576 isolates, 284 (49.3%), 280 (48.6%), and 236 (41.0%) were, respectively, genetically resistant to isoniazid, rifampicin, or both (MDR-TB). Among the isoniazid- and rifampicin-resistant strains, the proportions in phylogenetically-inferred clusters were 77.8% (221/284) and 62.1% (174/280), respectively. Nearly half (47.2%, 134/284) of the isoniazid-resistant strains were in six major clades, which contained between 8 and 58 strains with katG S315T, katG S315N, or fabG1 promoter −15 C>T resistance mutations. These major clades exponentially expanded after emerging with isoniazid resistance and stabilized before evolving into MDR-TB twenty years later. Isoniazid-resistant isolates showed an increased risk of accumulating rifampicin resistance compared to isoniazid-susceptible strains, with an adjusted odds ratio of 3.81 (95% confidence interval 2.47-5.95).ConclusionHistorical expansion of isoniazid-resistant strains and their increased likelihood of acquiring rifampicin resistance both contributed to the high burden of MDR-TB in Tibet, highlighting the need to detect INH-resistant strains promptly and to control their transmission.
Effect of antihypertensive drug treatment on long-term blood pressure reduction: An individual patient-level data meta-analysis of 352,744 Participants from 51 large-scale randomised clinical trials
Authors:   The Blood Pressure Lowering Treatment Trialists’ Collaboration
Published: February 2021

ABSTRACTObjectivesEvidence from randomised trials on long-term blood pressure (BP) reduction from pharmacologic treatment is limited. To investigate the effects of antihypertensive drugs on long-term BP change and examine its variation over time and among people with different clinical characteristicsDesignIndividual participant-level data meta-analysisSetting and data sourceThe Blood Pressure Lowering Treatment Trialists’ Collaboration involving 51 large-scale long-term randomised clinical trialsParticipants352,744 people (42% women) with mean age of 65 years and mean baseline systolic/diastolic BP of 152/87 mmHg, of whom 18% were current smokers, 50% had cardiovascular disease, 29% had diabetes, and 72% were taking antihypertensive treatment at baselineInterventionPharmacological BP-lowering treatmentOutcomeDifference in longitudinal changes in systolic and diastolic BP between randomised treatment arms over an average follow-up of four yearsResultDrugs were effective in lowering BP, with the maximum effect becoming apparent after 12-month follow-up and with gradual attenuation towards later years. Based on measures taken ≥12 months post-randomisation, more intense BP-lowering treatment reduced systolic/diastolic BP (95% confidence interval) by −11.2 (−11.4 to −11.0)/−5.6 (−5.8 to −5.5) mmHg than less intense treatment; active treatment by −5.1 (−5.3 to −5.0)/−2.3 (−2.4 to −2.2) mmHg lower than placebo, and active arm by −1.4 (−1.5 to −1.3)/−0.6 (−0.7 to −0.6) mmHg lower than the control arm for drug class comparison trials. BP reductions were consistently observed across a wide range of baseline BP values and ages, and by sex, history of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and prior antihypertensive treatment use.ConclusionPharmacological agents were effective in lowering long-term BP among individuals with a wide range of characteristics, but the net between-group reductions were modest, which is partly attributable to the intended trial goals.
Human mobility data from the BBC Pandemic project
Authors: Conlan Andrew JK , Klepac Petra , Kucharski Adam J , Kissler Stephen , Tang Maria L , Fry Hannah , Gog Julia R 
Published: February 2021

AbstractWe present human mobility data for the United Kingdom collected from the “BBC Pandemic”, a public science project linked to the BBC Four television documentary of the same name. Mobile phone GPS trajectories submitted by users and collected over a 24 hour period were aggregated to construct anonymised origin-destination flux matrices at the local administrative district (LAD). We use these data to explore how mobility patterns change with age and employment status - unique stratifications that are not available from other publicly and privately held mobility data sets. We validate the consistency of the aggregated BBC mobility data set against census workflow data and illustrate how the systematic differences in mobility rates with age affect the risk and pattern of transmission between regions with 18-30 year old’s contributing the greatest risk of transmission to adjacent regions, but older 60-100 years playing the most important role in more remote low-density locations.