bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Immature platelets as a biomarker for disease severity and mortality in COVID‐19 patients
Authors: Welder Daniel , Jeon‐Slaughter Haekyung , Ashraf Bilal , Choi Sung‐Hee , Chen Weina , Ibrahim Ibrahim , Bat Taha 
Published: June 2021

SummaryCOVID‐19, caused by SARS‐CoV‐2, is a contagious life‐threatening viral disease that has killed more than three million people worldwide to date. Attempts have been made to identify biomarker(s) to stratify disease severity and improve treatment and resource allocation. Patients with SARS‐COV‐2 infection manifest with a higher inflammatory response and platelet hyperreactivity; this raises the question of the role of thrombopoiesis in COVID‐19 infection. Immature platelet fraction (IPF, %) and immature platelet counts (IPC, ×109/l) can be used to assess thrombopoiesis. This study investigates whether the level of thrombopoiesis correlates with COVID‐19 severity. A large cohort of 678 well‐characterized COVID‐19 patients was analyzed, including 658 (97%) hospitalized and 139 (21%) admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Elevated percentage IPF at presentation was predictive of length of hospitalization (P < 0·01) and ICU admission (P < 0·05). Additionally, percentage IPF at the peak was significantly higher among ICU patients than non‐ICU patients (6·9 ± 5·1 vs 5·3 ± 8·4, P < 0·01) and among deceased patients than recovered patients (7·9 ± 6·3 vs 5·4 ± 7·8, P < 0·01). Furthermore, IPC at the peak was significantly higher among ICU patients than non‐ICU patients (18·5 ± 16·2 vs. 13·2 ± 8·3, P < 0·05) and among patients on a ventilator than those not (22·1 ± 20·1 vs.13·4 ± 8·4, P < 0·05). Our study demonstrated that elevated initial and peak values of percentage IPF and IPC might serve as prognostic biomarkers for COVID‐19 progression to severe conditions.
Towards automatic recognition of pure and mixed stones using intra‐operative endoscopic digital images
Authors: Estrade Vincent , Daudon Michel , Richard Emmanuel , Bernhard Jean‐Christophe , Bladou Franck , Robert Grégoire , Denis de Senneville Baudouin 
Published: June 2021

ObjectiveTo assess automatic computer‐aided in situ recognition of the morphological features of pure and mixed urinary stones using intra‐operative digital endoscopic images acquired in a clinical setting.Materials and MethodsIn this single‐centre study, a urologist with 20 years' experience intra‐operatively and prospectively examined the surface and section of all kidney stones encountered. Calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) or Ia, calcium oxalate dihydrate (COD) or IIb, and uric acid (UA) or IIIb morphological criteria were collected and classified to generate annotated datasets. A deep convolutional neural network (CNN) was trained to predict the composition of both pure and mixed stones. To explain the predictions of the deep neural network model, coarse localization heat‐maps were plotted to pinpoint key areas identified by the network.ResultsThis study included 347 and 236 observations of stone surface and stone section, respectively; approximately 80% of all stones exhibited only one morphological type and approximately 20% displayed two. A highest sensitivity of 98% was obtained for the type ‘pure IIIb/UA’ using surface images. The most frequently encountered morphology was that of the type ‘pure Ia/COM’; it was correctly predicted in 91% and 94% of cases using surface and section images, respectively. Of the mixed type ‘Ia/COM + IIb/COD’, Ia/COM was predicted in 84% of cases using surface images, IIb/COD in 70% of cases, and both in 65% of cases. With regard to mixed Ia/COM + IIIb/UA stones, Ia/COM was predicted in 91% of cases using section images, IIIb/UA in 69% of cases, and both in 74% of cases.ConclusionsThis preliminary study demonstrates that deep CNNs are a promising method by which to identify kidney stone composition from endoscopic images acquired intra‐operatively. Both pure and mixed stone composition could be discriminated. Collected in a clinical setting, surface and section images analysed by a deep CNN provide valuable information about stone morphology for computer‐aided diagnosis.
Encephalopathy at admission predicts adverse outcomes in patients with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection
Authors: Tang Lei , Liu Shixin , Xiao Yanhe , Tran Thi My Linh , Choi Ji Whae , Wu Jing , Halsey Kasey , Huang Raymond Y. , Boxerman Jerrold , Patel Sohil H , Kung David , Liu Renyu , Feldman Michael D. , Danoski Daniel D , Liao Wei‐hua , Kasner Scott E. , Liu Tao , Xiao Bo , Zhang Paul J. , Reznik Michael , Bai Harrison X. , Yang Li 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAimsTo determine if neurologic symptoms at admission can predict adverse outcomes in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2).MethodsElectronic medical records of 1053 consecutively hospitalized patients with laboratory‐confirmed infection of SARS‐CoV‐2 from one large medical center in the USA were retrospectively analyzed. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses were performed with the calculation of areas under the curve (AUC) and concordance index (C‐index). Patients were stratified into subgroups based on the presence of encephalopathy and its severity using survival statistics. In sensitivity analyses, patients with mild/moderate and severe encephalopathy (defined as coma) were separately considered.ResultsOf 1053 patients (mean age 52.4 years, 48.0% men [n = 505]), 35.1% (n = 370) had neurologic manifestations at admission, including 10.3% (n = 108) with encephalopathy. Encephalopathy was an independent predictor for death (hazard ratio [HR] 2.617, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.481–4.625) in multivariable Cox regression. The addition of encephalopathy to multivariable models comprising other predictors for adverse outcomes increased AUCs (mortality: 0.84–0.86, ventilation/ intensive care unit [ICU]: 0.76–0.78) and C‐index (mortality: 0.78 to 0.81, ventilation/ICU: 0.85–0.86). In sensitivity analyses, risk stratification survival curves for mortality and ventilation/ICU based on severe encephalopathy (n = 15) versus mild/moderate encephalopathy (n = 93) versus no encephalopathy (n = 945) at admission were discriminative (p < 0.001).ConclusionsEncephalopathy at admission predicts later progression to death in SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, which may have important implications for risk stratification in clinical practice.
The dynamics of the house price‐to‐income ratio: Theory and evidence
Authors: Leung Charles Ka Yui , Tang Edward Chi Ho 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe house price‐to‐income ratio (PIR) is widely used as an affordability indicator. This paper complements the cross‐sectionally focused literature by proposing a tractable model for the PIR dynamics. Our model predicts that the PIR is very persistent and is correlated to the lagged aggregate output. Cross‐country analysis confirms this prediction and provides evidence for a long‐term, positive, and significant relationship between PIR and aggregate production. Our results hint at the construction of an early warning system for housing market mispricing. Our tractable formulation of a stochastic money growth rule may carry independent research interest.
Factors associated with switching from sulphonylureas to dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors among patients with type 2 diabetes in the United States
Authors: Tan Xi , Yang Lingfeng , Khunti Kamlesh , Zhang Ruya , Zhang Ye , Rajpathak Swapnil , Yu Miao 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAimsStudies examining the prevalence of and factors associated with switching from sulphonylureas (SUs) to dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP‐4) inhibitors in real‐world settings are lacking. We assessed the factors associated with switching from SUs to DPP‐4 inhibitors in the United States.Materials and MethodsThis retrospective cohort study was conducted using the Optum Clinformatics® Data Mart (2009‐2018). Adults with type 2 diabetes and newly prescribed at least two SUs were included and were followed for 2 years after the initiation of SU (index date). We compared the characteristics of those who switched from SUs to DPP‐4 inhibitors (only; no additional antidiabetic drugs) with those who continued with SUs (without adding other antidiabetic drugs) using multivariate logistic regression. Multinomial regression analyses were also conducted to assess the factors associated with switching to different drug classes versus continuation with SUs.ResultsIn a sample of 119 107 new SU users, 2.2% (2633) switched to DPP‐4 inhibitors, 3.8% (4542) switched to antidiabetic drugs other than DPP‐4 inhibitors, 68.3% (81 394) discontinued SUs but did not switch to another antidiabetic drug, 12.9% (15 345) continued with SUs and added other antidiabetic drugs, and 12.8% (15 193) continued with SUs only. Multivariate logistic regression showed that those who had significantly higher likelihood of switching were younger, female [vs. males; adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.70], and living in the south; had previous use of DPP‐4 inhibitors (AOR = 1.71); were not using antidiabetic drugs at baseline; had more baseline diabetes‐related emergency room visits (AOR = 1.13), depression (AOR = 1.34), post‐index hypoglycaemia (AOR = 2.20), and an earlier index year; and were glyburide users (vs. glimepiride users; AOR = 1.29).ConclusionsThe discontinuation rate for SUs is high. Factors associated with switching from SUs to DPP‐4 inhibitors included age, sex, geographic region, baseline antidiabetic drug use, type of SU, baseline diabetes‐related emergency room visits, hypoglycaemia and depression.
Evaluation of sepsis teaching for medical and dental students at a British University
Authors: Ali Kamran , Venkatasami Neelam , Zahra Daniel , Brookes Zoe , Kisielewska Jolanta 
Published: June 2021

AbstractIntroductionThe aim of this study was to evaluate sepsis on undergraduate programmes in medicine (BMBS), dentistry (BDS) and dental therapy (BScDTH) at a university in England.Materials and MethodsThe study was carried out at the Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth. Questionnaires consisting of a series of closed and open‐ended items were designed for students and faculty by a group of academics. Following a pilot, participants were invited to complete the questionnaires online. Data collection and analyses were completed over a period of 3 months.ResultsA total of 71 students responded, including 43 were on the BDS programme, 21 on BMBS and 7 on BScDTH. The vast majority were aged between 18–24 years old (n = 61), with 9 reporting being between 25–44 years old. Of the 14 staff who responded, 13 were aged between 35 and 54 years old, with one respondent reporting being aged 25–34. The participants reported their perceptions regarding the teaching and clinical exposure of students to sepsis patients; availability of resources for students and patients to raise sepsis awareness. Students across all programmes reported limited clinical exposure to management of sepsis and lack of confidence in recognising early signs of sepsis in patients. The agreement profile between programmes only differed significantly for recognition of sepsis risk item (χ(6, n = 71) = 26.187, p < 0.001), with BDS students disagreeing with the item to a larger extent than BMBS and BScDTH students. Students and staff reported similar perceptions regarding information available to students and patients. Responses to open‐ended items provided several suggestions for improvements in the teaching of students and raising public awareness on sepsis.ConclusionThis study identified several areas related to sepsis teaching which require improvements across all programmes. The key issues highlighted by the students included limited clinical exposure to sepsis patients and lack of confidence in recognising early signs of sepsis.
No evidence of rhythmic visuospatial attention at cued locations in a spatial cuing paradigm, regardless of their behavioural relevance
Authors: van der Werf Olof J. , Ten Oever Sanne , Schuhmann Teresa , Sack Alexander T. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractRecent evidence suggests that visuospatial attentional performance is not stable over time but fluctuates in a rhythmic fashion. These attentional rhythms allow for sampling of different visuospatial locations in each cycle of this rhythm. However, it is still unclear in which paradigmatic circumstances rhythmic attention becomes evident. First, it is unclear at what spatial locations rhythmic attention occurs. Second, it is unclear how the behavioural relevance of each spatial location determines the rhythmic sampling patterns. Here, we aim to elucidate these two issues. Firstly, we aim to find evidence of rhythmic attention at the predicted (i.e. cued) location under moderately informative predictor value, replicating earlier studies. Secondly, we hypothesise that rhythmic attentional sampling behaviour will be affected by the behavioural relevance of the sampled location, ranging from non‐informative to fully informative. To these aims, we used a modified Egly‐Driver task with three conditions: a fully informative cue, a moderately informative cue (replication condition), and a non‐informative cue. We did not find evidence of rhythmic sampling at cued locations, failing to replicate earlier studies. Nor did we find differences in rhythmic sampling under different predictive values of the cue. The current data does not allow for robust conclusions regarding the non‐cued locations due to the absence of a priori hypotheses. Post‐hoc explorative data analyses, however, clearly indicate that attention samples non‐cued locations in a theta‐rhythmic manner, specifically when the cued location bears higher behavioural relevance than the non‐cued locations.
The fragile X mental retardation protein promotes adjustments in cocaine self‐administration that preserve reinforcement level
Authors: Huebschman Jessica L. , Davis Megan C. , Tovar Pensa Catherina , Guo Yuhong , Smith Laura N. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), an RNA‐binding protein, regulates cocaine‐induced neuronal plasticity and is critical for the normal development of drug‐induced locomotor sensitization, as well as reward‐related learning in the conditioned place preference assay. However, it is unknown whether FMRP impacts behaviors that are used to more closely model substance use disorders. Utilizing a cocaine intravenous self‐administration (IVSA) assay in Fmr1 knockout (KO) and wild‐type (WT) littermate mice, we find that, despite normal acquisition and extinction learning, Fmr1 KO mice fail to make a normal upward shift in responding during dose–response testing. Later, when given access to the original acquisition dose under increasing fixed ratio (FR) schedules of reinforcement (FR1, FR3, and FR5), Fmr1 KO mice earn significantly fewer cocaine infusions than WT mice. Importantly, similar deficits are not present in operant conditioning using a palatable food reinforcer, indicating that our results do not represent broad learning or reward‐related deficits in Fmr1 KO mice. Additionally, we find an FMRP target, the activity‐regulated cytoskeleton‐associated protein (Arc), to be significantly reduced in synaptic cellular fractions prepared from the nucleus accumbens of Fmr1 KO, compared with WT, mice following operant tasks reinforced with cocaine but not food. Overall, our findings suggest that FMRP facilitates adjustments in drug self‐administration behavior that generally serve to preserve reinforcement level, and combined with our similar IVSA findings in Arc KO mice may implicate Arc, along with FMRP, in behavioral shifts that occur in drug taking when drug availability is altered.
Buoyancy of post‐fertilised Dissostichus mawsoni eggs and implications for early life history
Authors: Parker Steven J. , Sundby Svein , Stevens Darren , Di Blasi Davide , Schiaparelli Stefano , Ghigliotti Laura 
Published: June 2021

AbstractGametes from gravid Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) were combined in vitro and buoyancy measurements were made on fertilised eggs during early development. Eggs were strongly positively buoyant, indicating that they would ascend quickly in the water column and reside near or in association with the underside of sea ice, which covers most of the spawning habitat during winter. An association with sea ice may provide: protection from the turbulence of ice‐free surface waters, a mechanism that modifies the velocity of advection by surface currents, and a habitat with a concentrated planktonic food source during spring months. An association with sea ice would also create spatial differences in egg advection patterns for eggs produced spanning a large geographic area. The effects of climate change on sea ice formation and melting patterns, or fishery‐induced changes in the spatial density of adults could then influence juvenile advection patterns and influence survival.
Effect of nutritional support on nutritional status and inflammation in malnourished patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis
Authors: Gurlek Demirci Bahar , Carrero Juan Jesus , Tutal Emre , Bal Zeynep , Sezer Siren 
Published: June 2021

AbstractIntroductionProtein energy wasting/malnutrition is a strong predictor of morbidity and mortality in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). We aimed to compare the effects of oral and/or intradialytic parenteral nutrition (IDPN) support on nutritional and inflammatory parameters in malnourished patients with MHD.MethodsThis is an observational study of 56 malnourished patients on MHD. We offered combined oral nutritional support (ONS) and IDPN for 12 months to all patients. Depending on patient choices for treatment, they were classified into four groups: group 1 (ONS only), group 2 (IDPN only), group 3 (both ONS and IDPN), and group 4 (patients who refused artificial nutrition support and only followed dietary advice). Normalized protein catabolic rate (nPCR), malnutrition inflammation score (MIS), and body composition (fat mass [FM], muscle mass [MM]) were assessed monthly.FindingsThe mean serum albumin levels of groups 2 and 3 significantly increased with the intervention, whereas that of group 4 significantly decreased. The mean nPCR levels of groups 2 and 3 significantly increased. Group 3 had the most significant positive change in serum albumin and nPCR levels. Mean serum C‐reactive protein (CRP) levels of groups 1, 2, and 3 decreased, whereas those of group 4 increased. A ∆ in CRP was only identified in group 3. The MIS of groups 1, 2, and 3 significantly decreased whereas that of group 4 significantly increased. The ∆% in FM was 1.1, 1.9, 9.1, and −2.9 for groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively, and that in MM was −0.6, 4.4, 6.9, and −7.9 for groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively.DiscussionCompared to monotherapy or nutritional counseling, the choice of ONS plus IDPN is associated with improved nutritional status and decreased inflammation in malnourished patients on MHD. Nonetheless, interventional studies must be conducted to confirm these observations.
Elevated circulating fibrocyte levels in hemodialysis‐dependent end‐stage renal disease patients
Authors: Li Xinjian , Liu Xing , Zhang Haipeng , Zhang Ruining , Li Guangping 
Published: June 2021

AbstractIntroductionNumerous studies have demonstrated that end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) have high myocardial fibrosis (MF) levels. Circulating fibrocytes are bone marrow‐derived circulating mesenchymal progenitors, and new evidence suggests a vital role for fibrocytes in the development of MF. This study aimed to investigate whether fibrocyte levels are elevated in patients undergoing HD and its influence factors.MethodsWe carried out a flow cytometry analysis to measure the proportion of peripheral blood circulating fibrocytes in a cohort of 126 healthy control individuals and 161 subjects with HD. Cardiac function and morphology were assessed by electrocardiogram and transthoracic echocardiogram.FindingsCompared to healthy controls, individuals with ESRD had significantly higher levels of circulating fibrocytes. There was a strong correlation between the frequency of fragmented QRS (fQRS) and circulating fibrocytes in HD patients. Furthermore, higher fibrocytes correlated to increasing age, dialysis age, left ventricular mass index (LVMI), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and hypertension complication. On multivariate analysis, the dialysis age [odds ratio (OR) 1.011, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.003–1.019, p = 0.006], LVMI (OR 1.012, 95% CI 1.002–1.022, p = 0.016), hypertension (OR 4.303, 95% CI 1.129–16.406, p = 0.033), and fQRS (OR 2.439, 95% CI 1.049–5.262, p = 0.038) were significant independent predictors of fibrocytes percentage.DiscussionWe concluded that bone marrow‐derived circulating fibrocytes were significantly increased in ESRD patients with HD compared with controls. Our data suggested that these cells might play essential roles during MF in HD patients.
Cognitive impairment in a patient with COVID‐19 on hemodialysis: Too dangerous to neglect!
Authors: Jacobs Lucas M. , Gazagnes Marie Dominique , Sanoussi Said , Collart Frederic , Mesquita Maria do Carmo F. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractNeurological manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) often have tragic repercussions. Although many reports of neurological complications of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection exist, none of them are of patients on hemodialysis, who have a fivefold greater risk of stroke than the general population. In this report, we emphasize the importance of being vigilant for mild stroke in high risk populations—such as patients on hemodialysis—with COVID‐19, since these conditions have overlapping symptoms.
Standard risk assessment forms help reduce preventable harm in older adult inpatients: A retrospective chart review study
Authors: Han Chin‐Yen , Redley Bernice , Lin Chun‐Chih , Chen Li‐Chin , Ng Chip Jin , Wang Li‐Hsiang 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAimsTo examine nurse documentation of assessments using standard risk assessment forms in older inpatients, and to determine the value of such assessment.DesignCross‐sectional retrospective chart review.MethodsThis retrospective review of risk evaluation documentation in patients’ medical records focused on skin, continence, medical complications, nutrition, cognition, mobility, medications and pain.ResultsA total of 1000 medical records from Taiwan hospitals were reviewed from January 2016 to December 2017, and 379 from Australian hospitals were reviewed from March 2011 to February 2012. Taiwanese patients with documented assessment of skin (aOR =2.94, 95%CI =1.88–4.54), nutrition (aOR =3.22, 95%CI =1.08–9.59), cognition (aOR =2.61, 95%CI =1.32–5.16) and pain (aOR =5.01, 95%CI=1.63–15.38) had significantly higher odds of developing new problems; while Australian patients with documented assessments of continence (aOR =11.55, 95%CI =1.48–90.45) and nutrition (aOR =12.90, 95%CI =1.67–99.06) had significantly higher odds of developing new problems.DiscussionNursing assessments and interventions documented in standard risk assessment forms help clinical nurses detect new preventable problems and prevent harm in older hospital inpatients across geographic locations and hospital types. Standard nursing forms can be used in clinical practice to guide proactive care by nurses to prevent harm during hospitalisation.ImpactOlder inpatients are at risk of preventable harm and new health problems. The present study found that incorporating eight factors sensitive to nursing care into standard risk assessment forms can help reduce preventable harm in older inpatients. In addition, these forms guide assessment and intervention effectively in different countries.