bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prospective Comparison of Angiogenesis-Specific 68Ga-RGD2 PET/CT Imaging Parameters and DAS28-ESR in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Kavanal Anwin Joseph , Bhattacharya Anish , Sharma Aman , Shukla Jaya , Chattopadhyay Arghya , M B Adarsh , Sharma Vikas , Vatsa Rakhee , Rana Nivedita , Kaur Gurvinder , Mittal Bhagwant Rai 
Published: March 2021

Objective
The aim of this study was to compare the performance of angiogenesis-specific 68Ga-RGD2 PET/CT with Disease Activity Score 28–erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR) in assessing disease activity and treatment response in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods
This was a prospective study comparing the performance of 68Ga-RGD2 PET/CT and DAS28-ESR in 30 RA patients. All of them underwent 68Ga-RGD2 PET/CT scan from head to toe and clinical examination at the baseline. A repeat scan and clinical examination were done in 27 patients after 3 months of treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs ± steroids. Three PET parameters, that is, PJC (PET-positive joint count), aSUVmax (average SUVmax), and hSUVmax (highest SUVmax), of positive joints were compared with the DAS28-ESR for disease activity assessment and response evaluation.

Results
Among the 3 PET parameters, PJC showed a significant correlation with the DAS28-ESR (0.64, P < 0.01). A significant change was observed with treatment in the DAS28-ESR and PET parameters of 27 patients at follow-up. There was significant correlation between percentage changes in DAS28-ESR and scan parameters such as PJC (0.689, P < 0.001), aSUVmax (0.712, P < 0.001), and hSUVmax (0.555, P = 0.003) values. The absolute change in aSUVmax value could accurately discriminate (area under the curve, 0.98; P = 0.001) European League Against Rheumatism responders from nonresponders.

Conclusions

68Ga-RGD2 PET/CT is a promising tool for objective assessment of disease activity and treatment response in patients with RA.
Uncommon Testicular Germ Cell Tumor Thrombus in Azygos Vein Detected by FDG PET/CT
Authors: Peker Abdusselim Adil , Toprak Huseyin , Yasin Ayse Irem , Aydin Mehmet 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
A 40-year old man admitted to the nuclear medicine department to undergo PET/CT for restaging of known testicular germ cell tumor. The patient had a history of orchiectomy for left testis and left nephrectomy with retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. Histopathology revealed testicular germ cell tumor. During the follow-up period, there is a rapidly expanding mass in posterior mediastinum. PET reveals increased FDG activity in the azygos vein. Contrast-enhanced CT of the thorax showed distended azygos vein with heterogeneously enhancing thrombus and peripheral fat stranding. Findings are consistent with azygos vein tumor thrombosis related to testicular germ cell tumor.
18F-FDG PET/CT Monitoring of Tumor Response to Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Alkylating Drugs in an SDH-Deficient GIST
Authors: Somme François , Bender Laura , Kurtz Jean-Emmanuel , Gantzer Justine , Imperiale Alessio 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH)–deficient gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are associated with loss of function of SDH complex and represent 5% to 7.5% of GISTs. SDH-deficient GISTs usually develop in the stomach of children and young adults, and could be part of Carney triad or Carney-Stratakis syndromes including paraganglioma. SDH-deficient GISTs are often indolent despite the high rate of distant metastasis, and overall unresponsive to tyrosine kinase inhibitors. However, epigenetic inactivation of MGMT leads to potential effectiveness of alkylating agents. We report the 18F-FDG PET/CT results for monitoring response to TKI and alkylating drugs in a patient with refractory SDHB-deficient GIST.
18F-FDG–Avid Lymph Nodes After COVID-19 Vaccination on 18F-FDG PET/CT
Authors: Ulaner Gary A. , Giuliano Peter 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
A 68-year-old man with right cheek melanoma after resection underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT, which was unremarkable except for multiple FDG-avid subcentimeter but rounded lymph nodes in the left axilla. The patient had undergone a COVID-19 vaccination in the left arm 3 weeks prior. As under vaccinations have been documented to cause reactive FDG-avid lymph nodes, the nodes in our patient were considered benign, reactive to the COVID-19 vaccination. Although FDG-avid benign, reactive nodes have been an uncommon finding in the past, the upcoming surge in COVID-19 vaccinations makes this an important finding for the interpreting physician to consider and recognize.
Patient Preparedness for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Surgery: A Randomized Equivalence Trial of Preoperative Counseling
Authors: Sassani Jessica C. , Grosse Philip J. , Kunkle Lauren , Baranski Lindsey , Ackenbom Mary F. 
Published: March 2021

Objective
Preoperative counseling can affect postoperative outcomes and satisfaction. We hypothesized that patient preparedness would be equivalent after preoperative counseling phone calls versus preoperative counseling office visits before prolapse surgery.

Methods
This was an equivalence randomized controlled trial of women undergoing pelvic organ prolapse surgery. Participants were randomized to receive standardized counseling via a preoperative phone call or office visit. The primary outcome was patient preparedness measured on a 5-point Likert scale by the Patient Preparedness Questionnaire at the postoperative visit. A predetermined equivalence margin of 20% was used. Two 1-sided tests for equivalence were used for the primary outcome.

Results
We randomized 120 women. The study was concluded early because of COVID-19 and subsequent surgery cancellations. There were 85 participants with primary outcome data (43 offices, 42 phones). Mean age was 62.0 years (±1.0) and 64 (75.3%) had stage III or stage IV prolapse. The primary outcome, patient preparedness measured at the postoperative visit, was equivalent between groups (office, n = 43 [97.7%]; phone, n = 42 [97.6%], P < 0.001). Most women reported they would have preferred a phone call (n = 66, 65.5%) with more women in the phone group expressing this preference than the office group (office 40.5% vs phone 90.5%, P < 0.001). Ultimately, nearly all women (96.5%) were satisfied with their method of counseling.

Conclusions
Preoperative counseling phone calls were equivalent to office visits for patient preparedness for pelvic organ prolapse surgery. This study demonstrates patient acceptance of phone calls for preoperative counseling. Telehealth modalities should be considered as an option for preoperative patient counseling.
Attitudes toward COVID-19 illness and COVID-19 vaccination among pregnant women: a cross-sectional multicenter study during August-December 2020
Authors: Battarbee Ashley N. , Stockwell Melissa S. , Varner Michael , Newes-Adeyi Gabriella , Daugherty Michael , Gyamfi-Bannerman Cynthia , Tita Alan , Vorwaller Kelly , Vargas Celibell , Subramaniam Akila , Reichle Lawrence , Galang Romeo , Powers Emily , Lucca-Susana Miriam , Parks Mickey , Chen Tiffany J. , Razzaghi Hilda , Dawood Fatimah S. 
Published: March 2021

ABSTRACTObjectiveEvaluate pregnant women’s attitudes toward COVID-19 illness and vaccination and identify factors associated with vaccine acceptability.Study DesignCross-sectional survey among pregnant women enrolled in a prospective COVID-19 cohort study in Salt Lake City, UT, Birmingham, AL, and New York, NY, August 9– December 10, 2020. Women were eligible if they were 18-50 years old and <28 weeks of gestation. Upon enrollment, women completed surveys regarding concerns about COVID-19 illness and likelihood of getting COVID-19 vaccine if one were available during pregnancy. Vaccine acceptability was defined as a response of “very likely” or “somewhat likely” on a 4-point Likert scale. Factors associated with vaccine acceptability were assessed with multivariable logistic regression.ResultsOf 939 pregnant women eligible for the main cohort study, 915 (97%) consented to participate. Among these 915 women, 39% self-identified as White, 23% Black, 33% Hispanic, and 4% Other. Sixty-two percent received an influenza vaccine last season. Seventy-two percent worried about getting sick with COVID-19. If they were to get sick, 92% worried about harm to their pregnancy and 80% about harm to themselves. Only 41% reported they would get a vaccine. Of women who were unlikely to get vaccinated, the most frequently cited concern was vaccine safety for their pregnancy (82%). Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic women had lower odds of accepting a vaccine compared with non-Hispanic White women (adjusted odds ratios (aOR) 0.4, 95%CI 0.2–0.6 for both). Receipt of influenza vaccine during the previous season was associated with higher odds of vaccine acceptability (aOR 2.1, 95%CI 1.5-3.0).ConclusionAlthough most pregnant women worried about COVID-19 illness, <50% were willing to get vaccinated during pregnancy. Racial and ethnic disparities in plans to accept COVID-19 vaccine highlight the need to prioritize strategies to address perceived barriers among groups at high risk for COVID-19.
Non-Invasive Scale Measurement of Cardiac Output Compared with the Gold-Standard Direct Fick Method: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Yazdi Daniel , Patel Sarin , Sridaran Suriya , Wilson Evan , Smith Sarah , Centen Corey , Gillon Leah , Kapur Sunil , Tracy Julie A. , Lewine Katherine , Systrom David M. , MacRae Calum A. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundObjective markers of cardiac function are limited in the outpatient setting and may be beneficial for monitoring patients with chronic cardiac conditions.ObjectiveWe assess the accuracy of a scale, with the ability to capture ballistocardiography, electrocardiography, and impedance plethysmography signals from a patient’s feet while standing on the scale, in measuring stroke volume and cardiac output compared to the gold-standard direct Fick method.MethodsThirty-two patients with unexplained dyspnea undergoing level 3 invasive cardiopulmonary exercise test at a tertiary medical center were included in the final analysis. We obtained scale and direct Fick measurements of stroke volume and cardiac output before and immediately after invasive cardiopulmonary exercise test.ResultsStroke volume and cardiac output from a cardiac scale and the direct Fick method correlated with r = 0.81 and r = 0.85, respectively (P < 0.001 each). The mean absolute error of the scale estimated stroke volume was -1.58 mL, with a 95% limits of agreement (LOA) of -21.97 mL to 18.81 mL. The mean error for the scale estimated cardiac output was -0.31 L/min, with a 95% LOA of -2.62 L/min to 2.00 L/min. The change in stroke volume and cardiac output before and after exercise were 78.9% and 96.7% concordant, respectively between the two measuring methods.ConclusionsThis novel scale with cardiac monitoring abilities may allow for non-invasive, longitudinal measures of cardiac function. Using the widely accepted form factor of a bathroom scale, this method of monitoring can be easily integrated into a patient’s lifestyle.
Efficacy and safety of convalescent plasma and intravenous immunoglobulin in critically ill COVID-19 patients. A controlled clinical trial
Authors: Gonzalez Jose Lenin Beltran , González Gámez Mario , Mendoza Enciso Emmanuel Antonio , Esparza Maldonado Ramiro Josue , Palacios Daniel Hernández , Campos Samuel Dueñas , Robles Itzel Ovalle , Macías Guzmán Mariana Jocelyn , García Díaz Andrea Lucia , Gutiérrez Peña César Mauricio , Reza-Escalera Ana Lilian , Tiscareño Gutierrez Maria Teresa , Galvan-Guerra Elva , Dorantes Morales Maria del Rocio , Medina Lucila Martínez , Monroy Colin Victor Antonio , Jose Manuel Arreola Guerra 
Published: March 2021

SummaryBackgroundThe proportion of critically ill COVID-19 patients has collapsed hospital care worldwide. The need for alternative therapies for this group of patients is imperative. This study aims to compare the safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma (CP) compared with human immunoglobulin (IVIg) in patients requiring the administration of high oxygen levels or mechanical ventilation.MethodsThis is a controlled, randomized, open clinical trial of patients with pneumonia secondary to SARS-CoV-2 infection, that fulfilled criteria for severe or critical disease. They were randomized in a 1:2 ratio; group 1 was administered IVIg at a dose of 0.3 grams per kilogram of ideal weight, in an 8-hour infusion every 24 hours, for 5 days. Group 2 was administered 200 ml of CP infused in 2 hours, for 2 days. The primary outcomes were duration of hospitalization and mortality at 28 days.ResultsOne hundred and ninety (190) patients were randomized; 130 to the CP group, and 60 to the IVIg group. Their average age was 58 years (IQR 47 – 72), and most were male (n= 119, 62.6 %). On inclusion, 85.2 % of patients (n=162) were on invasive mechanical ventilation therapy. Overall mortality in all included patients was 53 % (n= 102), with a median follow-up of 14 days (IQI 8 – 26). Mortality at 28 days was 45.2 % (n=86). In the intention-to-treat analysis, there was no difference between groups neither in mortality on follow-up (53.8 vs. 53.3, p =1.0) nor at 28 days (46.2 vs 43 %, p=0.75, Log Rank p = 0.83). Per-protocol analysis between treatment groups revealed no difference in mortality throughout hospitalization (51.5 vs 51.4 %, p=1.0) nor after 28 days (42.1 vs 42.87 %, p=0.92 Log Rank p = 0.54). Only 23 patients in the CP group received plasma with detectable anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.ConclusionsIn critically ill patients or on invasive mechanical ventilation for treatment of Covid-19, the use of CP is not superior to IVIg in terms of hospitalization duration or mortality. The use of CP is based on complex logistics and requires an assured level of antibodies if used therapeutically. IVIg does not appear to be useful in this group of patients.clinicaltrials.gov identifier:NCT04381858.
Rapid genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in a dense urban community using environmental (sewage) samples
Authors: Napit Rajindra , Manandhar Prajwol , Chaudhary Ashok , Shrestha Bishwo , Poudel Ajit , Raut Roji , Pradhan Saman , Raut Samita , Mathema Sujala , Rajbhandari Rajesh , Dixit Sameer , Schwind Jessica S. , Johnson Christine K , Mazet Jonna K , Karmacharya Dibesh 
Published: March 2021

AbstractUnderstanding disease burden and transmission dynamics in resource-limited, developing countries like Nepal is often challenging due to a lack of adequate surveillance systems. These issues are exacerbated by limited access to diagnostic and research facilities throughout the country. Nepal has one of the highest COVID-19 case rates (915 cases per 100,000 people) in South Asia, with densely-populated Kathmandu experiencing the highest number of cases. Swiftly identifying case clusters and introducing effective intervention programs is crucial to mounting an effective containment strategy. The rapid identification of circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants can also provide important information on viral evolution and epidemiology. Genomic-based environmental surveillance can help in the early detection of outbreaks before clinical cases are recognized, and identify viral micro-diversity that can be used for designing real-time risk-based interventions. This research aimed to develop a genomic-based environmental surveillance system by detecting and characterizing SARS-CoV-2 in sewage samples of Kathmandu using portable next-generation DNA sequencing devices. Out of 20 selected sites in the Kathmandu Valley, sewage samples from 16 (80%) sites had detectable SARS-CoV-2. A heat-map was created to visualize transmission activity in the community based on viral load intensity and corresponding geospatial data. Further, 41 mutations were observed in the SARS-CoV-2 genome. Some detected mutations (n=9, 2%) were novel and yet to be reported in the global database, with one indicating a frameshift deletion in the spike gene. We also observed more transition than transversion on detected mutations, indicating rapid viral evolution in the host. Our study has demonstrated the feasibility of rapidly obtaining vital information on community transmission and disease dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 using genomic-based environmental surveillance.
Pediatric household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Paul Lauren A. , Daneman Nick , Schwartz Kevin L. , Science Michelle , Brown Kevin A. , Whelan Michael , Chan Ellen , Buchan Sarah A. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBACKGROUNDAs a result of low numbers of pediatric cases early in the COVID-19 pandemic, pediatric household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 remains an understudied topic. This study sought to determine whether there are differences in the odds of household transmission for younger children compared to older children.METHODSWe assembled a cohort of all individuals in Ontario, Canada with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between June 1 and December 31, 2020. The cohort was restricted to individuals residing in private households (N=132,232 cases in 89,191 households), identified through an address matching algorithm. Analysis focused on households in which the index case was aged <18 years. Logistic regression models were fit to estimate the association between age group of pediatric index cases (0-3, 4-8, 9-13, and 14-17 years) and odds of household transmission.RESULTSA total of 6,280 households had pediatric index cases, and 1,717 (27.3%) experienced secondary transmission. Children aged 0-3 years had the highest odds of household transmission compared to children aged 14-17 years (model adjusted for gender, month of disease onset, testing delay, and average family size: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.17-1.75). This association was similarly observed in sensitivity analyses defining secondary cases as 2-14 days or 4-14 days after the index case, and stratified analyses by presence of symptoms, association with a school/childcare outbreak, or school/childcare reopening. Children aged 4-8 years and 9-13 years also had increased odds of transmission (4-8: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.18-1.67; 9-13: 1.13, 95% CI: 0.97-1.32).CONCLUSIONSThis study suggests that younger children are more likely to transmit SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to older children, and the highest odds of transmission was observed for children aged 0-3 years. Differential infectivity of pediatric age groups has implications for infection prevention controls within households, as well as schools/childcare, to minimize risk of household secondary transmission.
Nonpharmaceutical Interventions Remain Essential to Reducing COVID-19 Burden Even in a Well-Vaccinated Society: A Modeling Study
Authors: León Tomás M. , Vargo Jason , Pan Erica S. , Jain Seema , Shete Priya B. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractVaccination and non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) reduce transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection, but their effectiveness depends on coverage and adherence levels. We used scenario modeling to evaluate their effects on cases and deaths averted and herd immunity. NPIs and vaccines worked synergistically in different parts of the pandemic to reduce disease burden.
Migration of households from New York City and the Second Peak in Covid-19 cases in New Jersey, Connecticut and New York Counties
Authors: Schulman Adam , Bhanot Gyan 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe five boroughs of New York City (NYC) were early epicenters of the Covid-19 pandemic in the United States, with over 380,000 cases by May 31. High caseloads were also seen in nearby counties in New Jersey (NJ), Connecticut (CT) and New York (NY). The pandemic started in the area in March with an exponential rise in the number of daily cases, peaked in early April, briefly declined, and then, showed clear signs of a second peak in several counties. We will show that despite control measures such as lockdown and restriction of movement during the exponential rise in daily cases, there was a significant net migration of households from NYC boroughs to the neighboring counties in NJ, CT and NY State. We propose that the second peak in daily cases in these counties around NYC was due, in part, to the movement of people from NYC boroughs to these counties. We estimate the movement of people using “Change of Address” (CoA) data from the US Postal Service, provided under the “Freedom of Information Act” of 1967. To identify the timing of the second peak and the number of cases in it, we use a previously proposed SIR model, which accurately describes the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic in European countries. Subtracting the model fits from the data identified, we establish the timing and the number of cases, NCS, in the second peak. We then related the number of cases in the second peak to the county population density, P, and the excess Change of Address, ECoA, into each county using the simple model which fits the data very well with α = 0.68, β = 0.31 (R2 = 0.74, p = 1.3e-8). We also find that the time between the first and second peaks was proportional to the distance of the county seat from NY Penn Station, suggesting that this migration of households and disease was a directed flow and not a diffusion process. Our analysis provides a simple method to use change of address data to track the spread of an infectious agent, such as SARS-Cov-2, due to migrations away from epicenters during the initial stages of a pandemic.
The unbiased estimation ofr2between two sets of noisy neural responses
Authors: Pospisil Dean A. , Bair Wyeth 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe Pearson correlation coefficient squared,r2, is often used in the analysis of neural data to estimate the relationship between neural tuning curves. Yet this metric is biased by trial-to-trial variability: as trial-to-trial variability increases, measured correlation decreases. Major lines of research are confounded by this bias, including the study of invariance of neural tuning across conditions and the similarity of tuning across neurons. To address this, we extend the estimator,, developed for estimating model-to-neuron correlation to the neuron-to-neuron case. We compare the estimator to a prior method developed by Spearman, commonly used in other fields but widely overlooked in neuroscience, and find that our method has less bias. We then apply our estimator to the study of two forms of invariance and demonstrate how it avoids drastic confounds introduced by trial-to-trial variability.Significant StatementQuantifying the similarity between two sets of averaged neural responses is fundamental to the analysis of neural data. A ubiquitous metric of similarity, the correlation coefficient, is attenuated by trial-to-trial variability that depends on a variety of irrelevant factors. Spearman recognized this problem and proposed corrected methods that have been extended over a century. We show this method has large asymptotic biases and derive a novel estimator to overcome this. Despite the frequent use of the correlation coefficient in neuroscience, consensus on how to address this fundamental statistical issue has not been reached. We both explicate this issue in a neuroscience setting while at the same time making major strides in addressing it.