bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Obesity among postmenopausal women: what is the best anthropometric index to assess adiposity and success of weight-loss intervention?
Authors: Ghachem Ahmed , Marcotte-Chénard Alexis , Tremblay Dominic , Prud’homme Denis , Rabasa-Lhoret Rémi , Riesco Eléonor , Brochu Martin , Dionne Isabelle J. 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Objectives:
First, to establish the respective ability of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and relative fat mass index (RFM), to estimate body fat (BF%) measured by DXA (DXA-BF%) and correctly identify postmenopausal women living with obesity (BF% > 35). Second, to identify the best indicator of successful weight-loss intervention in postmenopausal women living with obesity.

Methods:
A total of 277 women (age: 59.8 ± 5.3 y; BF%: 43.4 ± 5.3) from five weight-loss studies with complete data for anthropometric measurements [BMI = weight/height (kg/m2); WC (cm)] and BF% were pooled together. Statistical performance indicators were determined to assess ability of RFM [64−(20 × height/waist circumference) + (12 × sex)], BMI and WC to estimate BF% before and after weight-loss intervention and to correctly identify postmenopausal women living with obesity.

Results:
Compared with RFM (r = 0.51; r
2 = 0.27; RMSE = 4.4%; Lin's CCC = 0.46) and WC (r = 0.49; r
2 = 0.25; RMSE = 4.8%; Lin's CCC = 0.41), BMI (r = 0.73; r
2 = 0.52; RMSE = 3.7%; Lin's CCC = 0.71) was the best anthropometric index to estimate DXA-BF% and correctly identify postmenopausal women living with obesity (sensitivity + specificity: BMI = 193; RFM = 152; WC = 158), with lower misclassification error, before weight-loss intervention. After weight-loss, the change in BMI was strongly correlated with change in DXA-BF%, indicating that the BMI is the best indicator of success weight-loss intervention.

Conclusion:
In the absence of more objective measures of adiposity, BMI is a suitable proxy measure for BF% in postmenopausal women, for whom a lifestyle intervention is relevant. Furthermore, BMI can be used as an indicator to assess success of weight-loss intervention in this subpopulation.
Abdominal visceral adipose tissue over the menopause transition and carotid atherosclerosis: the SWAN heart study
Authors: Samargandy Saad , Matthews Karen A. , Brooks Maria M. , Barinas-Mitchell Emma , Magnani Jared W. , Janssen Imke , Kazlauskaite Rasa , El Khoudary Samar R. 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Objectives:
To characterize abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) trajectory relative to the final menstrual period (FMP), and to test whether menopause-related VAT accumulation is associated with greater average, common carotid artery intima-media thickness (cIMT) and/or internal carotid artery intima-media thickness (ICA-IMT).

Methods:
Participants were 362 women (at baseline: age was (mean ± SD) 51.1 ± 2.8 y; 61% White, 39% Black) with no cardiovascular disease from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation Heart study. Women had up to two measurements of VAT and cIMT over time. Splines revealed a nonlinear trajectory of VAT with two inflection points demarcating three time segments: segment 1: >2 years before FMP; segment 2: 2 years before FMP to FMP; and segment 3: after FMP. Piecewise-linear random-effects models estimated changes in VAT. Random-effects models tested associations of menopause-related VAT with each cIMT measure separately. Estimates were adjusted for age at FMP, body mass index, and sociodemographic, lifestyle, and cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Results:
VAT increased significantly by 8.2% (95% CI: 4.1%-12.5%) and 5.8% (3.7%-7.9%) per year in segments 2 and 3, respectively, with no significant change in VAT within segment 1. VAT predicted greater ICA-IMT in segment 2, such that a 20% greater VAT was associated with a 2.0% (0.8%-3.1%) greater ICA-IMT. VAT was not an independent predictor of ICA-IMT in the other segments or of the other cIMT measures after adjusting for covariates.

Conclusions:
Women experience an accelerated increase in VAT starting 2 years before menopause. This menopause-related increase in VAT is associated with greater risk of subclinical atherosclerosis in the internal carotid artery.

Video Summary:

http://links.lww.com/MENO/A722.
The Hidden Costs of War: Healthcare Utilization Among Individuals Sustaining Combat-related Trauma (2007–2018)
Authors: Dalton Michael K. , Jarman Molly P. , Manful Adoma , Koehlmoos Tracey P. , Cooper Zara , Weissman Joel S. , Schoenfeld Andrew J. 
Published: March 2021

Objective:
We sought to evaluate long-term healthcare requirements of American military servicemembers with combat-related injuries.

Summary of Background Data:
US military conflicts since 2001 have produced the most combat casualties since Vietnam. Long-term consequences on healthcare utilization and associated costs remain unknown.

Methods:
We identified servicemembers who were treated for combat-related injuries between 2007 and 2011. Controls consisted of active-duty servicemembers injured in the civilian sector, without any history of combat-related trauma, matched (1:1) on year of injury, biologic sex injury severity, and age at time of injury. Surveillance was performed through 2018. Total annual healthcare expenditures were evaluated overall and then as expenditures in the first year after injury and for subsequent years. Negative binomial regression was used to identify the adjusted influence of combat injury on healthcare costs.

Results:
The combat-injured cohort consisted of 3981 individuals and we identified 3979 controls. Total healthcare utilization during the follow-up period resulted in median costs of $142,214 (IQR $61,428, $323,060) per combat-injured servicemember as compared to $50,741 (IQR $26,669, $104,134) among controls. Median expenditures, adjusted for duration of follow-up, for the combat-injured were $45,211 (IQR $18,698, $105,437). In adjusted analysis, overall costs were 30% higher (1.30; 95% confidence interval: 1.23, 1.37) for combat-injured personnel.

Conclusion:
This investigation represents the longest continuous observation of healthcare utilization among individuals after combat injury and the first to assess costs. Expenditures were 30% higher for individuals injured as a result of combat-related trauma when compared to those injured in the civilian sector.
Epidemiological health assessment in primary health care in the State of Qatar-2019
Authors: Al-Kuwari Mohamed Ghaith , Al – Abdulla Samya Ahmad , Abdulla Maha Yousef , Bakri Ahmad Haj , Mohammed Azza Mustafa , Kandy Mujeeb Chettiyam , Patterson Amanda 
Published: March 2021

AbstractObjectivesThe Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) in Qatar conducted epidemiological health assessment to understand the burden of diseases impacting the PHCC registered populationDesignThis is a cross-sectional study design among all PHCC registered population between the 1st of September 2018 and the 31st of August 2019SettingPrimary Health Care Corporation health centersParticipantsThe target population is all persons residing in Qatar aged (0-80) years and registered at the PHCC. Excluding patients with expired Qatar residence permit by the 31st of AugustResultsObesity rates ranged between 37% and 35% among the total population registered with the lowest rate in the central region at 34.7%. Burden of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia was the highest among population of the Central region at 13.9%, 15.7% and 11.1%, respectively. Tobacco consumption among males ranged from 25.4 % to 27.8%, with the highest rate in the Northern region. 39.9% of females in the Northern region had BMI above 30 kg/m2. Exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months was significantly lower than that at 4 months across all regions. Children in the Northern region had the highest rate of overweight/obesity based on Z-scores. Western region population had the highest number of communicable diseases notifications especially Chicken pox at 94.6 per 10,000 childrenConclusionUnderstanding the patterns of disease in the local population will enable PHCC to provide a clear set of objectives to work towards meeting population health needs
Physical Activity Patterns Among Patients with Intracardiac Remote Monitoring Devices Before, During, and After COVID-19-related Public Health Restrictions
Authors: Lu Yuan , Murugiah Karthik , Jones Paul W , Massey Daisy S , Mahajan Shiwani , Caraballo César , Ahmed Rezwan , Bader Eric M , Krumholz Harlan M 
Published: March 2021

ABSTRACTNationwide public health restrictions due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have disrupted people’s routine physical activities, yet little objective information is available on the extent to which physical activity has changed among patients with pre-existing cardiac diseases. Using remote monitoring data of 9,924 patients with pacemakers and implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICDs) living in New York City and Minneapolis/Saint Paul, we assessed physical activity patterns among these patients in 2019 and 2020 from January through October. We found marked declines in physical activity among patients with implantable cardiac devices during COVID-19-related restrictions and the reduction was consistent across age and sex subgroups. Moreover, physical activity among these vulnerable patients did not return to pre-restrictions levels several months after COVID-19 restrictions were eased. Our findings highlight the need to consider the unintended consequences of mitigation strategies and develop approaches to encourage safe physical activity during the pandemic.
Mendelian randomization analysis identified genes pleiotropically associated with central corneal thickness
Authors: Yang Zhikun , Yang Jingyun , Liu Di , Yu Weihong 
Published: March 2021

AbstractObjectiveTo prioritize genes that were pleiotropically or potentially causally associated with central corneal thickness (CCT).MethodsWe applied the summary data-based Mendelian randomization (SMR) method integrating summarized data of genome-wide association study (GWAS) on CCT and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) data to identify genes that were pleiotropically associated with CCT. We performed separate SMR analysis using CAGE eQTL data and GTEx eQTL data. SMR analysis were done for participants of European and East Asian ancestries, separately.ResultsWe identified multiple genes showing pleiotropic association with CCT in the participants of European ancestry. CLIC3 (ILMN_1796423; PSMR=4.15×10−12), PTGDS (ILMN_1664464; PSMR=6.88×10−9) and C9orf142 (ILMN_1761138; PSMR=8.09×10−9) were the top three genes using the CAGE eQTL data, and RP11-458F8.4(ENSG00000273142.1; PSMR=5.89×10−9), LCNL1 (ENSG00000214402.6; PSMR=5.67×10−8), and PTGDS (ENSG00000107317.7; PSMR=1.92×10−7) were the top three genes using the GTEx eQTL data. No genes showed significantly pleiotropic association with CCT in the participants of East Asian ancestry after correction for multiple testing.ConclusionWe identified several genes pleiotropically associated with CCT, some of which represented novel genes influencing CCT. Our findings provided important leads to a better understanding of the genetic factors influencing CCT, and revealed potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma and keratoconus.
Negligible impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants on CD4+and CD8+T cell reactivity in COVID-19 exposed donors and vaccinees
Authors: Tarke Alison , Sidney John , Methot Nils , Zhang Yun , Dan Jennifer M. , Goodwin Benjamin , Rubiro Paul , Sutherland Aaron , da Silva Antunes Ricardo , Frazier April , Rawlings Stephen A. , Smith Davey M. , Peters Bjoern , Scheuermann Richard H. , Weiskopf Daniela , Crotty Shane , Grifoni Alba , Sette Alessandro 
Published: March 2021

SUMMARYThe emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants highlighted the need to better understand adaptive immune responses to this virus. It is important to address whether also CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses are affected, because of the role they play in disease resolution and modulation of COVID-19 disease severity. Here we performed a comprehensive analysis of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses from COVID-19 convalescent subjects recognizing the ancestral strain, compared to variant lineages B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P.1, and CAL.20C as well as recipients of the Moderna (mRNA-1273) or Pfizer/BioNTech (BNT162b2) COVID-19 vaccines. Similarly, we demonstrate that the sequences of the vast majority of SARS-CoV-2 T cell epitopes are not affected by the mutations found in the variants analyzed. Overall, the results demonstrate that CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses in convalescent COVID-19 subjects or COVID-19 mRNA vaccinees are not substantially affected by mutations found in the SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Impact of COVID-19 on healthcare workers at a cancer care centre
Authors: Dogra Atika , Parkash Anuj , Mehta Anurag , Bhatia Meenu 
Published: March 2021

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe services of front-line health care workers (HCWs) have been paramount in the management of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Health care professionals have been at high occupational risk of getting disease and even dying of the disease, however; they have been the subject of very limited studies in terms of COVID-19. The objectives of this study are to examine the incidence and the impact of COVID-19 infection among HCWs in terms of recovery, productivity, quality of life (QOL) and post-COVID complications.Materials and MethodsThis was a retrospective, questionnaire based study including demographic details, workplace characteristics, symptoms, source/ spread of infection, details of recovery and the consequences of COVID-19 comprising impaired productivity/ QOL, post-COVID-19 complications and others. The data were analyzed by using IBM SPSS software (Version 23, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).Results and ConclusionsOut of a total of 1482 employees, 18.3% (271) were laboratory confirmed to have contracted novel contagion during the study period of 5 months. The median age at diagnosis was 29 (range, 21-62) years. Front-line workers and female workers were the most infected personnel with COVID-19. Flu-like symptoms were the most frequently experienced symptoms. The median time for recovery was 20 (range, 2-150) days. The relationship between pre-existing comorbidities and age was highly significant. The QOL and productivity were associated with pre-existing comorbidities, severity of the disease, time for recovery and post-COVID syndrome. More than a half (51.8%) of all HCWs had suffered from post-COVID complications. There was no fatality reported due to COVID-19. The post-COVID complications were related to pre-existing comorbidities, severity of disease, time for recovery and status of recovery. Further research to explore the consequences of COVID-19 is warranted. The general public needs to be aware of symptoms and management of the post-COVID syndrome.
Modeling COVID-19 Nonpharmaceutical Interventions: Exploring periodic NPI strategies
Authors: Vardavas Raffaele , de Lima Pedro Nascimento , Baker Lawrence 
Published: March 2021

AbstractWe developed a COVID-19 transmission model used as part of RAND’s web-based COVID-19 decision support tool that compares the effects of nonpharmaceutical public health interventions (NPIs) on health and economic outcomes. An interdisciplinary approach informed the selection and use of multiple NPIs, combining quantitative modeling of the health/economic impacts of interventions with qualitative assessments of other important considerations (e.g., cost, ease of implementation, equity). This paper provides further details of our model, describes extensions, presents sensitivity analyses, and analyzes strategies that periodically switch between a base NPI level and a higher NPI level. We find that a periodic strategy, if implemented with perfect compliance, could have produced similar health outcomes as static strategies but might have produced better outcomes when considering other measures of social welfare. Our findings suggest that there are opportunities to shape the tradeoffs between economic and health outcomes by carefully evaluating a more comprehensive range of reopening policies.
Small molecule SWELL1-LRRC8 complex induction improves glycemic control and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in murine Type 2 diabetes
Authors: Gunasekar Susheel K. , Xie Litao , Chheda Pratik R. , Kang Chen , Kern David M. , My-Ta Chau , Kumar Ashutosh , Maurer Joshua , Gerber Eva E. , Grzesik Wojciech J. , Elliot-Hudson Macaulay , Zhang Yanhui , Kulkarni Chaitanya A. , Samuel Isaac , Smith Jessica K. , Nau Peter , Imai Yumi , Sheldon Ryan D. , Taylor Eric B. , Lerner Daniel J. , Norris Andrew W. , Brohawn Stephen G. , Kerns Robert , Sah Rajan 
Published: March 2021

AbstractType 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with insulin resistance, impaired insulin secretion from the pancreatic β-cell, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). SWELL1 (LRRC8a) ablation impairs adipose and skeletal muscle insulin-pAKT2 signaling, β-cell insulin secretion and glycemic control - suggesting that SWELL1-LRRC8 complex dysfunction contributes to T2D pathogenesis. Here, we show that ICl,SWELLand SWELL1 protein are reduced in adipose and β-cells in murine and human T2D. Combining cryo-electron microscopy, molecular docking, medicinal chemistry, and functional studies, we define a structure activity relationship to rationally-designed active derivatives (SN-40X) of a SWELL1 channel inhibitor (DCPIB/SN-401), that bind the SWELL1-LRRC8 hexameric complex, restore SWELL1-LRRC8 protein, plasma membrane trafficking, signaling and islet insulin secretion via SWELL1-dependent mechanisms.In vivo, SN-401 and active SN-40X compounds restore glycemic control and prevents NAFLD by improving insulin-sensitivity and insulin secretion in murine T2D. These findings demonstrate that small molecule SWELL1 modulators restore SWELL1-dependent insulin-sensitivity and insulin secretion in T2D and may represent a first-in-class therapeutic approach for T2D and NAFLD.
Reduced Frontal Cortical Tracking of Conflict between Selfish versus Prosocial Motives in Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Authors: Stolz David S. , Vater Aline , Schott Björn H. , Roepke Stefan , Paulus Frieder M. , Krach Sören 
Published: March 2021

AbstractNarcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) entails severe impairments in interpersonal functioning that are likely driven by selfish and exploitative behavior. Here, we investigate the underlying motivational and neural mechanisms of prosocial decision-making by experimentally manipulating motivational conflict between selfish and prosocial incentives. One group of patients diagnosed with NPD and a group of healthy controls (CTL) were scanned using functional magnetic resonance imaging while performing a prosocial decision-making task. In this task, we systematically varied the level of conflict between selfish and prosocial options on each trial. We analyzed choice behavior, response times, and neural activity in regions associated with conflict monitoring to test how motivational conflict drives prosocial choice behavior. Participants in the NPD group behaved less prosocially than the CTL group overall. Varying degrees of motivational conflict between selfish and prosocial options induced response variability in both groups, but more so in the CTL group. The NPD group responded faster than the CTL group, unless choosing prosocially, which slowed response times to a level comparable to the CTL group. Additionally, neural activity tracking motivational conflict in dorsomedial prefrontal cortex was reduced in the NPD group. Collectively, low generosity in NPD appears to arise from reduced consideration of prosocial motives, which obviates motivational conflict with selfish motives and entails reduced activity in neural conflict monitoring systems. Yet, our data also indicate that NPD is not marked by an absolute indifference to others’ needs. This points to potentials for improving interpersonal relationships, effectively supporting the well-being of patients and their peers.
The evaluation of a web‐based tool for measuring the uncorrected visual acuity and refractive error in keratoconus eyes: a prospective open‐label method comparison study
Authors: Muijzer Marc B , Claessens Janneau L J , Cassano Francesco , Godefrooij Daniel A , Prevoo Yves F D M , Wisse Robert P L 
Published: March 2021

AbstractPurposeTo evaluate the outcome of a web‐based digital assessment of visual acuity and refractive error, compared to a manifest refraction assessment, in keratoconus patients with complex refractive errors.Material and methodsKeratoconus patients, aged 18 to 40, with a refractive error between ‐6 and +4 diopters were eligible. Each participant subsequently underwent an uncorrected visual acuity and a refractive assessment. Refractive error was assessed with the web‐based tool (index test), an autorefractor, and a manifest refraction (reference test) by an optometrist. Corrected visual acuity was assessed with the web‐based and manifest refractive prescription. Non‐inferiority was defined as the 95% limits‐of‐agreement (95%LoA) of the differences in spherical equivalent between the index and reference test not exceeding +/‐ 0.5 diopters. Agreement was assessed by an intraclass correlation coefficient and Bland‐Altman analyses.ResultsA total of 100 eyes of 50 patients were examined. The overall mean difference of the uncorrected visual acuity measured ‐0.01 LogMAR (95%LoA:‐0.63–0.60). The variability decreased in the high uncorrected visual acuity subgroup (mean difference: 0.15 LogMAR, 95%LoA:‐0.25–0.55). The intraclass correlation coefficient of the three refractive assessments was 0.32. The overall mean difference in spherical equivalent between the index and reference test measured ‐0.58 diopters (95%LoA:‐4.49 – 3.33, P=0.008). The mean differences for myopic and hyperopic subjects were 0.09 diopters (P=0.675) and ‐2.06 diopters (P<0.001), respectively.ConclusionsOur results show promising results in the ability of the web‐based tool to remotely assess visual acuity in keratoconus patients. The agreement is better in higher visual acuity ranges and could provide physicians with an objective measurement to enhance teleconsultations, especially relevant when access to health care is limited. The assessment of the refractive error using the web‐based tool was found to be inferior to the manifest refraction and deserves further training of the tools algorithm.