bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Safety and efficacy of a prehospital initiated protocol of nitrates plus non-invasive ventilation on prehospital and Emergency Department outcomes for acute cardiogenic pulmonary oedema
Authors: Howard Ian , Castle Nicholas , Al Shaikh Loua , Owen Robert 
Published: October 2021

ABSTRACTBackgroundAcute heart failure is a common presentation to Emergency Departments (ED) the world over. Amongst the most common presenting signs and symptoms is dyspnoea due to acute pulmonary oedema, a life-threatening emergency that if left untreated or poorly managed. There is increasing evidence demonstrating improved outcomes following the use of vasodilators or non-invasive ventilation for these patients in the emergency setting. Consequently, the potential exists that initiating these therapies in the prehospital setting will similarly improve outcomes.MethodsA historical cohort study was conducted to assess the effect of a prehospital initiated treatment protocol of nitrates plus non-invasive ventilation (NIV) versus regular therapy for severe cardiogenic APO on all-cause in-hospital mortality at 7 days, 30 days, and in total. Secondary outcomes included changes in EMS respiratory and haemodynamic parameters; admission status; length of stay; and emergency endotracheal intubation.ResultsThe intervention led to an approximate 85% reduction in adjusted odds of mortality at 7 days compared to the regular therapy (AOR 0.15, 95% CI: 0.05 – 0.46, p = 0.001); approximate 80% reduction in odds of mortality at 30 days (AOR 0.19, 95% CI: 0.07 – 48, p < 0.0001); and Approximate 60% reduction in odds of total mortality (AOR 0.25, 95% CI: 0.12 – 0.56, p = 0.001).ConclusionThe results of this analysis provide strong evidence of the potential synergistic benefits that can be achieved with the early implementation of a simple treatment protocol of prehospital administered nitrates and initiation of NIV for cardiogenic APO.
Time-Varying Effectiveness of Three Covid-19 Vaccines in Puerto Rico
Authors: Robles Fontán Mónica M. , Nieves Elvis G. , Gerena Iris Cardona , Irizarry Rafael A. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractBackgroundAs of October 1, 2021 2,217,547 individuals were fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in Puerto Rico. Since the vaccination process commenced on December 15, 2020 111,052 laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections have been reported. These data permitted us to quantify the benefits of the immunization campaign and to compare effectiveness of the mRNA-1273 (Moderna), BNT162b2 (Pfizer), and Ad26.COV2.S (J&J) vaccines.MethodsDepartment of Health databases holding vaccination status, SARS-CoV-2 test results, and COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths were integrated. We fit a statistical model that adjusted for time-varying incidence rates and age to estimate vaccine effectiveness and hospitalization and death relative risks. Code and data are provided here: https://github.com/rafalab/vax-eff-pr.ResultsAt the peak of their protection, mRNA-1273, BNT162b2, and Ad26.COV2.S had an effectiveness of 90% (88%-91%), 87% (85%-89%), and 58% (51%-65%), respectively. After four months, effectiveness waned to about 70%, 60%, and 30%. We found no evidence that effectiveness was different after the Delta variant became dominant. For those infected, the vaccines provided further protection against hospitalization and deaths across all age groups. All vaccines had a lower effectiveness for those over 85 years, with a larger decrease for the Ad26.COV2.S vaccine. Overall, thousands of hospitalizations and deaths were avoided thanks to the vaccines.ConclusionsThe mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2 vaccines were highly effective across all age groups. They were still effective after four months although the protection waned. The Ad26.COV2.S vaccine was effective but to a lesser degree, especially for older age groups.
Radical versus partial nephrectomy and survival from stage T1 renal cell carcinoma in three prospective cohorts
Authors: Sauer Christopher M. , Markt Sarah C. , Mucci Lorelei A. , Sanchez Alejandro , Chang Steven L. , Graff Rebecca E. , Preston Mark A. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractBackgroundWhether or not a survival difference exists between radical and partial nephrectomy for stage T1 renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is controversial. We therefore aimed to evaluate cancer-specific, other cause, and overall survival among patients undergoing radical or partial nephrectomy for stage pT1 RCC.Materials and methodsWe identified 330 participants with pT1a-b RCC diagnosed between 2000-2015 in three prospective cohort studies and compared treatment with radical nephrectomy (N=196) versus partial nephrectomy (N=134). The primary outcome was overall survival. Secondary outcomes were other-cause and cancer-specific mortality. Kaplan-Meier plots were used to visualize overall survival for the two treatment groups. Cox proportional hazards regression was utilized to compare outcomes between groups, and Fine and Gray competing risks regression was used to compare cancer-specific and other cause mortality between groups. Multivariable models adjusted for age, tumor size, sex, year of diagnosis, body mass index, history of smoking, history of hypertension, surgical technique, and pathological differentiation.ResultsDuring a median follow-up of eight years, overall survival was 84%. We did not detect a statistically significant difference in overall survival between partial and radical nephrectomy (Hazard Ratio (HR) = 0.84, 95% Confidence Interval: 0.40-1.78). There was no significant difference in cause-specific or other cause mortality between groups. This study had 80% power to detect an HR ≥2.20.ConclusionsThese results did not suggest a difference in long-term survival outcomes between radical and partial nephrectomy.
Meta-analysis of coagulation disbalances in COVID-19: 41 studies and 17601 patients
Authors: Len Polina , Iskakova Gaukhar , Sautbayeva Zarina , Kussanova Aigul , Tauekelova Ainur T. , Sugralimova Madina M. , Dautbaeva Anar S. , Abdieva Meruert M. , Ponomarev Eugene D. , Tikhonov Alexander , Bekbossynova Makhabbat S. , Barteneva Natasha S. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractIntroductionCoagulation parameters are important determinants for COVID-19 infection. We conducted meta-analysis to assess the early hemostatic parameters in retrospective studies in association with severity of infection.MethodsOvid, PubMed, Web of Sciences, and Google Scholar were searched for research articles that addressed clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients and disease severity. Results were filtered using exclusion and inclusion criteria and then pooled into a meta-analysis to estimate the standardized mean difference with 95% CI for each of five coagulation parameters (D-dimers, fibrinogen, prothrombin time, platelets count, activated partial thromboplastin time). Two authors independently extracted data and assessed study quality. To explore the heterogeneity and robustness of our fundings, sensitivity and subgroup analyses were conducted. Publication bias was assessed with contour-enhanced funnel plots and Egger test by linear regression.ResultsOverall, 41 original studies (17601 patients) on SARS-CoV2 were included. For the two groups of patients, stratified by severity, we identified that D-dimers, fibrinogen, activated partial thromboplastin time, and prothrombin time were significantly higher in the severe group (SMD 0.6985 with 95%CI [0.5155; 0.8815]); SMD 0.661with 95%CI [0.3387; 0.9833]; SMD 0.2683 with 95%CI [0.1357; 0.4009]; SMD 0.284 with 95%CI [0.1472; 0.4208]). In contrast, PLT was significantly lower in patients with more severe cases of COVID-19 (SMD −0.1684 with 95%CI [-0.2826; −0.0542]). Neither the analysis by the leave-one-out method nor the influence diagnostic have identified studies that solely cause significant change in the effect size estimates. Subgroup analysis showed no significant difference between articles originated from different countries but revealed that severity assessment criteria might have influence over estimated effect sizes for platelets and D-dimers. Contour-enhanced funnel plots and the Egger test for D-dimers and fibrinogen revealed significant asymmetry that might be a sign of publication bias.ConclusionsThe standard coagulation laboratory parameters with exception of platelets counts are significantly elevated in patients with severe COVID-19. However, fibrinolysis shutdown requires evaluation outside conventional coagulation tests and analysis of additional specific markers related to clotting formation and PLT characteristics. We hypothesize that a proportion and parameters of immature reticulated platelets may serve as additional biomarkers for prediction of adverse events.
Self-reported safety of the BBIBP-CorV (Sinopharm) COVID-19 vaccine among Iranian people with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Etemadifar Masoud , Abhari Amir Parsa , Nouri Hosein , Sigari Amirhosein Akhavan , Piran Daliyeh Seyed Mohammad , Maracy Mohammad Reza , Salari Mehri , Maleki Shiva , Sedaghat Nahad 
Published: October 2021

AbstractTo affirm the short-term safety of the BBIBP-CorV (Sinopharm) COVID-19 vaccine among people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS), 517 vaccinated and 174 unvaccinated pwMS were interviewed. 16.2% of the vaccinated pwMS reported at least one neurological symptom in their respective at-risk periods (ARP) – a period from the first until two weeks after the second vaccine dose. In a multivariable logistic regression model, presence of comorbidities (P = 0.01), being on natalizumab (P = 0.03), and experiencing post-vaccination myalgia (P < 0.01) predicted the development of post-vaccination neurological symptoms. One MS relapse, one COVID-19 contraction, and one ulcerative colitis flare after the first, and four MS relapses after the second dose, were the only reported serious adverse events during the ARPs. A multivariable Poisson regression model accounting for possible confounders failed to show any statistically-significant increase in relapse rates during the ARPs of vaccinated, compared to the prior year of unvaccinated pwMS (P = 0.78). Hence, the BBIBP-CorV vaccine does not seem to affect short-term MS activity. Furthermore, as 83.33% of the unvaccinated pwMS reported fear of possible adverse events to be the reason of their vaccination hesitancy, provision of misinformed pwMS with evidence-based consultations in this regard is encouraged.
Reductions in US life expectancy during the COVID-19 pandemic by race and ethnicity: Is 2021 a repetition of 2020?
Authors: Andrasfay Theresa , Goldman Noreen 
Published: October 2021

AbstractCOVID-19 had a huge mortality impact in the US in 2020 and accounted for most of the overall reduction in 2020 life expectancy at birth. There were also extensive racial/ethnic disparities in the mortality impact of COVID-19 in 2020, with the Black and Latino populations experiencing reductions in life expectancy at birth over twice as large as that of the White population. Despite continued vulnerability of these populations, the hope was that widespread distribution of effective vaccines would mitigate the overall impact and reduce racial/ethnic disparities in 2021. In this study, we quantify the mortality impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on 2021 US period life expectancy by race and ethnicity and compare these impacts to those estimated for 2020. Our estimates indicate that racial/ethnic disparities have persisted, and that the US population experienced a decline in life expectancy at birth in 2021 of 2.2 years from 2019, 0.6 years more than estimated for 2020. The corresponding reductions estimated for the Black and Latino populations are slightly below twice that for Whites, suggesting smaller disparities than those in 2020. However, all groups experienced additional reductions in life expectancy relative to 2020, and this apparent narrowing of disparities is primarily the result of Whites experiencing proportionately greater increases in mortality in 2021 compared with the corresponding increases in mortality for the Black and Latino populations in 2021. Estimated declines in life expectancy at age 65 increased slightly for Whites between 2020 and 2021 but decreased for both the Black and Latino populations, resulting in the same overall reduction (0.8 years) estimated for 2020 and 2021.
The premature mortality to incidence ratio (PREMIER): a person-centred measure of cancer burden
Authors: Banham David , Karnon Jonathan , Brown Alex , Roder David , Lynch John 
Published: October 2021

AbstractBackgroundCancer control initiatives are informed by quantifying the capacity to reduce cancer burden through effective interventions. Burden measures using health administrative data are a sustainable way to support monitoring and evaluating of outcomes among patients and populations. The PREmature Mortality to IncidencE Ratio (PREMIER) is one such burden measure. We use data on Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal South Australians from 1990 to 2010 to show how PREMIER quantifies disparities in cancer burden: between populations; between sub-population cohorts where stage at diagnosis is available; and when follow-up is constrained to 24-months after diagnosis.MethodPREMIERcancer is the ratio of years of life expectancy lost due to cancer (YLLcancer) to life expectancy years at risk at time of cancer diagnosis (LYAR) for each person. The Global Burden of Disease standard life table provides referent life expectancies. PREMIERcancer was estimated for the population of cancer cases diagnosed in South Australia from 1990 to 2010. Cancer stage at diagnosis was also available for cancers diagnosed in Aboriginal people and a cohort of non-Aboriginal people matched by sex, year of birth, primary cancer site and year of diagnosis.ResultsCancers diagnoses (N=144,891) included 777 among Aboriginal people. Cancer burden described by PREMIERcancer was higher among Aboriginal than non-Aboriginal (0.55, 95%CIs 0.52-0.59 versus 0.39, 95%CIs 0.39-0.40). Diagnoses at younger ages among Aboriginal people, 7 year higher LYAR (31.0, 95%CIs 30.0-32.0 versus 24.1, 95%CIs 24.1-24.2) and higher premature cancer mortality (YLLcancer=16.3, 95%CIs 15.1-17.5 versus YLLcancer=8.2, 95%CIs 8.2-8.3) influenced this. Disparities in cancer burden between the matched Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal cohorts manifested 24-months after diagnosis with PREMIERcancer 0.44, 95%CIs 0.40-0.47 and 0.28, 95%CIs 0.25-0.31 respectively.ConclusionPREMIER described disproportionately higher cancer burden among Aboriginal people in comparisons involving: all people diagnosed with cancer; the matched cohorts; and, within groups diagnosed with same staged disease. The extent of disparities were evident 24-months after diagnosis. This is evidence of Aboriginal peoples’ substantial capacity to benefit from cancer control initiatives, particularly those leading to earlier detection and treatment of cancers. PREMIER’s use of readily available, person-level administrative records can help evaluate health care initiatives addressing this need.
Active reconfiguration of cytoplasmic lipid droplets governs migration of nutrient-limited phytoplankton
Authors: Sengupta Anupam , Dhar Jayabrata , Danza Francesco , Ghoshal Arkajyoti , Müller Sarah , Kakavand Narges 
Published: October 2021

AbstractAs open oceans continue to warm, modified currents and enhanced stratification exacerbate nitrogen and phosphorus limitation, constraining primary production. The ability to migrate vertically bestows motile phytoplankton a crucial–albeit energetically expensive–advantage toward vertically redistributing for optimal growth, uptake and resource storage in nutrient-limited water columns. However, this traditional view discounts the possibility that the phytoplankton migration strategy may be actively selected by the storage dynamics when nutrients turn limiting. Here we report that storage and migration in phytoplankton are coupled traits, whereby motile species harness energy storing lipid droplets (LDs) to biomechanically regulate migration in nutrient limited settings. LDs grow and translocate–directionally–within the cytoplasm to accumulate below the cell nucleus, tuning the speed, trajectory and stability of swimming cells. Nutrient reincorporation reverses the LD translocation, restoring the homeostatic migratory traits measured in population-scale millifluidic experiments. Combining intracellular LD tracking and quantitative morphological analysis of red-tide forming alga, Heterosigma akashiwo, along with a model of cell mechanics, we discover that the size and spatial localization of growing LDs govern the ballisticity and orientational stability of migration. The strain-specific shifts in migration which we identify here are amenable to a selective emergence of mixotrophy in nutrient-limited phytoplankton. We rationalize these distinct behavioral acclimatization in an ecological context, relying on concomitant tracking of the photophysiology and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and propose a dissipative energy budget for motile phytoplankton alleviating nutrient limitation. The emergent resource acquisition strategies, enabled by distinct strain-specific migratory acclimatizing mechanisms, highlight the active role of the reconfigurable cytoplasmic LDs in guiding vertical movement. By uncovering the mechanistic coupling between dynamics of intracellular changes to physiologically-governed migration strategies, this work offers a tractable framework to delineate diverse strategies which phytoplankton may harness to maximize fitness and resource pool in nutrient-limited open oceans of the future.One sentence summaryPhytoplankton harness reconfigurable lipid droplets to biomechanically tune migratory strategies in dynamic nutrient landscapes.
VISTA as a ligand downregulates LPS-mediated inflammation in macrophages and neutrophils
Authors: Ma Yu-Heng Vivian , Sparkes Amanda , Gariépy Jean 
Published: October 2021

AbstractV-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T-cell activation (VISTA) has emerged as a unique immunoregulatory receptor on cells of the myeloid lineage. Agonizing VISTA on myeloid cells has recently been demonstrated to have a profound effect on dampening inflammatory responses. VISTA has been proposed to function both as a ligand and as a receptor. In this context, the role of VISTA as a ligand has been largely ignored. Using a high-avidity agonist of the VISTA receptor (VISTA-COMP), we investigated the effect of exogenous VISTA, as a ligand, on macrophages and neutrophil cellular pathways in an acute inflammatory setting. RNA sequencing analysis demonstrated that VISTA-COMP downregulates pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines and upregulates immunoregulatory genes in both LPS-stimulated macrophages and neutrophils ex vivo. Interestingly, unlike VISTA itself, the receptor is only expressed following LPS stimulation of these cell populations. Furthermore, the administration of VISTA-COMP attenuated the rise in circulating TNFα levels in LPS-treated mice in vivo. These results suggest that VISTA serves a redundant role on macrophages and neutrophils acting as both a ligand and a receptor in the context of an acute inflammatory event.
Nanoscopic resolution within a single imaging frame
Authors: García Esley Torres , Cámara Raúl Pinto , Linares Alejandro , Martínez Damián , Abonza Víctor , Brito-Alarcón Eduardo , Calcines-Cruz Carlos , Galindo Gustavo Valdés , Torres David , Jabloñski Martina , Torres-Martínez Héctor H. , Martínez José L. , Hernández Haydee O. , Ocelotl-Oviedo José P. , Garcés Yasel , Barchi Marco , D’Antuono Rocco , Boskovic Ana , Dubrovsky Joseph G. , Darszon Alberto , Buffone Mariano G. , Morales Roberto Rodríguez , Rendon-Mancha Juan Manuel , Wood Christopher D. , Hernández-García Armando , Krapf Diego , Crevenna Álvaro H. , Guerrero Adán 
Published: October 2021

AbstractMean-Shift Super Resolution (MSSR) is a principle based on the Mean Shift theory that extends spatial resolution in fluorescence images, beyond the diffraction limit. MSSR works on low- and high-density fluorophore images, is not limited by the architecture of the detector (EM-CCD, sCMOS, or photomultiplier-based laser scanning systems) and is applicable to single images as well as temporal series. The theoretical limit of spatial resolution, based on optimized real-world imaging conditions and analysis of temporal image series, has been measured to be 40 nm. Furthermore, MSSR has denoising capabilities that outperform other analytical super resolution image approaches. Altogether, MSSR is a powerful, flexible, and generic tool for multidimensional and live cell imaging applications.
Structural and functional properties of a magnesium transporter of the SLC11/NRAMP family
Authors: Ramanadane Karthik , Straub Monique S. , Dutzler Raimund , Manatschal Cristina 
Published: October 2021

AbstractMembers of the ubiquitous SLC11/NRAMP family catalyze the uptake of divalent transition metal ions into cells. They have evolved to efficiently select these trace elements from a large pool of Ca2+and Mg2+, which are both orders of magnitude more abundant, and to concentrate them in the cytoplasm aided by the cotransport of H+serving as energy source. In the present study, we have characterized a member of a distant clade of the family found in prokaryotes, termed NRMTs, that were proposed to function as transporters of Mg2+. The protein transports Mg2+and Mn2+but not Ca2+by a mechanism that is not coupled to H+. Structures determined by cryo-EM and X-ray crystallography revealed a generally similar protein architecture compared to classical NRAMPs, with a restructured ion binding site whose increased volume provides suitable interactions with ions that likely have retained much of their hydration shell.
Calling the Amino Acid Sequence of a Protein/Peptide from the Nanospectrum Produced by a Sub-nanometer Diameter Pore
Authors: Liu Xiaowen , Dong Zhuxin , Timp Gregory 
Published: October 2021

AbstractThe blockade current that develops when a protein translocates across a thin membrane through a sub-nanometer diameter pore (i.e., a nanospectrum) informs with extreme sensitivity on the sequence of amino acids that constitute the protein. Whereas mass spectrometry (MS) is still the dominant technology for protein identification, it suffers limitations. In proteome-wide studies, MS fails to sequence proteins de novo, but merely classifies a protein and it is not very sensitive requiring about a femtomole to do that. Compared with MS, a sub-nanometer diameter pore (i.e. a sub-nanopore) directly reads the amino acids constituting a single protein molecule, but efficient computational tools are still required for processing and interpreting the blockade current. Here, we delineate computational methods for processing sub-nanopore nanospectra and predicting electrical blockade currents from protein sequences, which are essential for protein identification.