bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Quadriceps Muscle Weakness in Association with Symptomatic and Radiological Osteoarthritis of the Knee
Authors: Hegde Siddhi , Ranganath N 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundPrimary knee osteoarthritis is a significant cause of impairment of the lower limb’s mobility, making effective rehabilitation particularly important. This study aimed to identify the association of quadriceps strength with pain and disability in comparison to its association with increasing severity of radiological grades of knee osteoarthritis.Methods50 subjects above the age of 40 years with different grades of knee osteoarthritis were evaluated for their radiological grade of osteoarthritis using Kellgren-Lawrence grading criteria for the knee radiographs, isometric quadriceps muscle strength using a modified hand-held dynamometer, pain, and disability using WOMAC questionnaire, all on the same day in this cross-sectional study.ResultsThere is a significant negative correlation between K/L grade and maximum strength of the quadriceps muscle, r(50) = -0.28(p<0.05). We found a highly significant negative correlation between WOMAC score and strength of the quadriceps muscle,r (50) = -0.41(p<0.05).DiscussionQuadriceps strength reduced progressively in subjects with more significant radiographic changes, questioning whether quadriceps muscle weakness precedes the onset of osteoarthritis and progressively results in further damage or osteoarthritis itself reduces the quadriceps strength. Though patients may have greater joint destruction on knee radiographs, increasing the strength of quadriceps might reduce the pain and functional disability.
Easy-BILAG: a new tool for simplified recording of SLE disease activity using BILAG-2004 index
Authors: Carter Lucy M , Gordon Caroline , Yee Chee Seng , Bruce Ian , Isenberg David , Skeoch Sarah , Vital Edward M 
Published: August 2021

AbstractObjectiveBILAG-2004 index is a comprehensive disease activity instrument for SLE but administrative burden and frequency of errors limits its use in routine practice. We aimed to develop a tool for more accurate, time-efficient scoring of BILAG-2004 index with full fidelity to the existing instrument.MethodsFrequency of BILAG-2004 items was collated from a BILAG-biologics registry (BILAG-BR) dataset. Easy-BILAG prototypes were drafted to address known issues affecting speed and accuracy. After expert-verification, accuracy and usability of the finalised Easy-BILAG was validated against standard format BILAG-2004 index in a workbook exercise of 10 case vignettes. 33 professionals with a range of expertise from 14 UK centres completed the validation exercise.ResultsEasy-BILAG incorporates all items present in ≥5% BILAG-BR records, plus full constitutional and renal domains into a rapid single-page assessment. An embedded glossary and colour-coding assists scoring each domain. A second page captures rarer manifestations when needed. In the validation exercise, Easy-BILAG yielded higher median scoring accuracy (96.7%) than standard BILAG-2004 documentation (87.8%, p=0.001), with better inter-rater agreement. Easy-BILAG was completed faster (59.5min) than the standard format (80.0min, p=0.04) for 10 cases. An advantage in accuracy was observed with Easy-BILAG use among general hospital rheumatologists (91.3 vs 75.0, p=0.02), leading to equivalent accuracy as tertiary centre rheumatologists. Clinicians rated Easy-BILAG as intuitive, convenient, and well adapted for routine practice.ConclusionEasy-BILAG facilitates more rapid and accurate scoring of BILAG-2004 across all clinical settings which could improve patient care and biologics prescribing. Easy-BILAG should be adopted wherever BILAG-2004 assessment is required.
Characterising COVID-19 empirical research production in Latin America and the Caribbean: a scoping review
Authors: Mansilla Cristián , Herrera Cristian A. , Boeira Laura , Yearwood Andrea , Lopez Analia S. , Colunga-Lozano Luis E. , Brocard Eva , Villacres Tatiana , Vélez Marcela , Di Paolantonio Gabriel , Reveiz Ludovic 
Published: August 2021

ABSTRACTIntroductionThe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID19) pandemic has struck Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) particularly hard. One of the crucial areas in the international community’s response relates to accelerating research and knowledge sharing. The aim of this article is to map and characterise the existing empirical research related to COVID-19 in LAC countries and contribute to identify opportunities for strengthening future research.MethodsIn this scoping review, articles published between December 2019 and 11 November 2020 were selected if they included an empirical component (explicit scientific methods to collect and analyse primary data), LAC population was researched, and the research was about the COVID-19 pandemic, regardless of publication status or language. MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, Scielo, CENTRAL and Epistemonikos were searched. All titles and abstracts, and full texts were screened by two independent reviewers. Data from included studies was extracted by one reviewer and checked by a second independent reviewer.Results14,406 records were found. After removing duplicates, 5,458 titles and abstracts were screened, of which 2,323 full texts were revised to finally include 1,626 empirical studies. The largest portion of research came from people/population of Brazil (54.6%), Mexico (19.1%), Colombia (11.2%), Argentina (10.4%), Peru (10.3%) and Chile (10%), while Caribbean countries concentrated 15.3%. The methodologies most used were cross-sectional studies (34.7%), simulation models (17.5%) and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (13.6%). Using a modified version of WHO’s COVID-19 Coordinated Global Research Roadmap classification, 54.2% were epidemiological studies, followed by clinical management (22.3%) and candidate therapeutics (12.2%). Government and public funds support were reported in 19.2% of studies, followed by universities or research centres (9%), but 47.5% did not include any funding statement.ConclusionDuring the first part of the COVID-19 pandemic, LAC countries have contributed to the global research effort primarily with epidemiological studies, with little participation on vaccines research, meaning that this type of knowledge would be imported from elsewhere. Research agendas could be further coordinated aiming to enhance shared self-sufficiency regarding knowledge needs in the region.
Multiple-time measurements of multidimensional psychiatric states from immediately before the COVID-19 pandemic to one year later: A longitudinal online survey of the Japanese population
Authors: Oka Taiki , Kubo Takatomi , Kobayashi Nao , Nakai Fumiya , Miyake Yuka , Hamamura Toshitaka , Honjo Masaru , Toda Hiroyuki , Boku Shuken , Kanazawa Tetsufumi , Nagamine Masanori , Cortese Aurelio , Takebayashi Minoru , Kawato Mitsuo , Chiba Toshinori 
Published: August 2021

ABSTRACTThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has profoundly affected the mental health of both infected and uninfected people. Although most psychiatric disorders have highly overlapping genetic and pathogenic backgrounds, most studies investigating the impact of the pandemic have examined only single psychiatric disorders. It is necessary to examine longitudinal trajectories of factors that modulate psychiatric states across multiple dimensions. 2274 Japanese citizens participated in online surveys presented in December 2019 (before the pandemic), August 2020, Dec 2020, and April 2021. These surveys included nine questionnaires on psychiatric symptoms, such as depression and anxiety. Multi-dimensional psychiatric time series data were then decomposed into four principal components. We used generalized linear models to identify modulating factors for effects of the pandemic on these components. The four principal components can be interpreted as general psychiatric burden, social withdrawal, alcohol-related problems, and depression/anxiety. Principal components associated with general psychiatric burden and depression/anxiety peaked during the initial phase of the pandemic. They were further exacerbated by the economic burden of the pandemic. In contrast, principal components associated with social withdrawal showed a delayed peak, with human relationships as an important risk modulating factor. In addition, being elderly and female were risk factors shared across all components. Our results show that COVID-19 has imposed a large and varied burden on the Japanese population since the commencement of the pandemic. Although components related to the general psychiatric burden remained elevated, peak intensities differed between components related to depression/anxiety and those related to social anxiety. These results underline the importance of using flexible monitoring and mitigation strategies for mental problems, according to the phase of the pandemic.
The 3p21.31 genetic locus promotes progression to type 1 diabetes through the CCR2/CCL2 pathway
Authors: Tran Paul , Purohit Sharad , Kim Eileen , Satter Khaled bin , Hopkins Diane , Waugh Kathleen , Dong Fran , Onengut-Gumuscu Suna , Rich Stephen S. , Rewers Marian , She Jin-Xiong 
Published: August 2021

AbstractObjectiveMultiple cross-sectional and longitudinal studies have shown that serum levels of the chemokine ligand 2 (CCL-2) are associated with type 1 diabetes (T1D), although the direction of effect differs. We assessed CCL-2 serum levels in a longitudinal cohort to clarify this association, combined with genetic data to elucidate the regulatory role of CCL-2 in T1D pathogenesis.Research design and methodsThe Diabetes Autoimmunity Study in the Young (DAISY) followed 310 subjects with high risk of developing T1D. Of these, 42 became persistently seropositive for islet autoantibodies but did not develop T1D (non-progressors); 48 did develop T1D (progressors). CCL-2 serum levels among the three study groups were compared using linear mixed models adjusting for age, sex, HLA genotype, and family history of T1D. Summary statistics were obtained from the CCL-2 protein quantitative trait loci (pQTL) and CCR2 expression QTL (eQTL) studies. The T1D fine mapping association data were provided by the Type 1 Diabetes Genetics Consortium (T1DGC).ResultsSerum CCL-2 levels were significantly lower in both progressors (p=0.004) and non-progressors (p=0.005), compared to controls. Two SNPs (rs1799988 and rs746492) in the 3p21.31 genetic locus, which includes the CCL-2 receptor, CCR2, were associated with increased CCR2 expression (p = 8.2e-5 and 5.2e-5, respectively), decreased CCL-2 serum level (p = 2.41e-9 and 6.21e-9, respectively), and increased risk of T1D (p = 7.9e-5 and 7.9e-5, respectively).ConclusionsThe 3p21.31 genetic region is associated with developing T1D through regulatory control of the CCR2/CCL2 immune pathway.
Low SARS-CoV-2 infection rate and high vaccine-induced immunity among German healthcare workers at the end of the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Brehm Thomas Theo , Thompson Michelle , Ullrich Felix , Schwinge Dorothee , Addo Marylyn M , Spier Anthea , Knobloch Johannes K , Aepfelbacher Martin , Lohse Ansgar W , Lütgehetmann Marc , zur Wiesch Julian Schulze 
Published: August 2021

AbstractIn this longitudinal cohort study, we assessed the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) seroconversion rates and analyzed the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine-induced immunity of 872 hospital workers at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf between May 11 and May 31, 2021. The overall seroprevalence of anti-NC-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was 4.7% (n=41), indicating low SARS-CoV-2 infection rates and persistent effectiveness of hospital-wide infection control interventions during the second and third wave of the pandemic. In total, 92.7% (n=808) out of the entire study cohort, 98.2% (n=325) of those who had been vaccinated once and all 393 individuals who had been vaccinated twice had detectable anti-S1-RBD-SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers and no significant differences in vaccine-induced immune response were detected between male and female individuals and between different age groups. Vaccinated study participants with detectable anti-NC-SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers (n=30) developed generally higher anti-S1-RBD-SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers compared to anti-NC-SARS-CoV-2 negative individuals (n=694) (median titer: 7812 vs. 345 BAU/ml, p<0.0001). Furthermore, study participants who received heterologous vaccination with AZD1222 followed by an mRNA vaccine showed markedly higher anti-S1-RBD-SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers than individuals who received two doses of an mRNA vaccine or two doses of AZD1222 (median titer: AZD1222 / AZD1222: 1069 BAU/ml, mRNA / mRNA: 1388 BAU/ml, AZD1222/mRNA: 9450 BAU/ml; p<0.0001). Our results demonstrate that infection control interventions were generally effective in preventing nosocomial transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and that COVID-19 vaccines can elicit strong humoral responses in the majority of a real-world cohort of hospital workers.
A qualitative exploration of the perspectives of international medical students residing in university hostels amid COVID-19 pandemic lockdown
Authors: Khadka Sitaram , Usman Muhammad , Saleem Mohammad , Ali Moshin , Rasheed Huma , Giri Santoshi , Saeed Hafiz Asad , Gupta Ravi Prasad , Bajgain Yogesh , Shahi Janak 
Published: August 2021

ABSTRACTBackgroundCOVID-19 pandemic has portentously frightened the existence of life all over the world. The lockdown approach was adopted as a containment strategy as the disease itself has manifested severe social, economic, and psychiatric implications.ObjectivesTo explore the perception and preparedness of international medical students residing in university hostels amid the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.DesignA semi-structured interview guide was developed in this qualitative study design. All the interviews were audio-taped, transcribed verbatim, and then analyzed for thematic contents by standard content analysis framework.SettingInterviews were conducted in university hostels in Punjab, Pakistan.ParticipantsA total of 11 international medical students were interviewed face-to-face through the purposive sampling technique to obtain in-depth individual viewpoints.ResultsThe thematic content analysis yielded five major themes: Familiarity with COVID-19, Perceptions and attitudes towards COVID-19, Preparedness for safety against COVID-19, Barriers to lifestyle, and Psychological perspectives. A better general perception and preparedness among international medical students regarding COVID-19 was found. Good knowledge regarding the overview of COVID-19; adequate preventive approaches such as social distancing, use of masks, gloves, and sanitizers; and compliance with the lockdown measures were reported by the respondents. The pertinent issue raised by the respondents is the disturbance in normal routine due to distortion in social life and isolation that may cause psychological stress.ConclusionsThe findings from this study lighten the people’s perspectives that help the government to prepare public health strategies based on population-focused approaches. The present study demonstrates the respondents’ opinion on COVID-19 management by personal hygiene, social distancing, and complying with the lockdown measures. Furthermore, it demands that timely and evidence-based teaching-learning techniques should be adopted for students’ engagement which ensures mental health and self-motivation as well. Therefore, they can utilize their time productively which could have a long-term effect on their careers and healthcare services.
Outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in a prison: Low effectiveness of a single dose of the adenovirus vector ChAdOx1 vaccine in recently vaccinated inmates
Authors: Marco A , Teixidó N , Guerrero RA , Puig L , Rué X , Cobo A , Barnés I , Turu E 
Published: August 2021

AbstractIntroductionTo analyse the effectiveness of a dose of adenovirus vector ChAdOx1 vaccine (AVChOx1) in an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 detected in a prison.MethodsObservational study carried out at Brians-1 Prison, Barcelona. After detecting a case of infection, rt-PCR was administered to all prisoners (some of whom had been vaccinated 21-23 days previously with a dose of AVChOx1) and to staff. Infection rates in vaccinated and unvaccinated populations were calculated, as was vaccine effectiveness.ResultsOne hundred and eighty-four asymptomatic prisoners (50.3% vaccinated) and 33 staff were screened. Forty-eight (25.9%) infections by the SCV-B.1.17 variant were recorded in prisoners and none in staff. Infection rates were higher in younger prisoners, immigrants, and those admitted ≥7 days previously. In all, 22.6% of vaccinated subjects were infected vs. 29.3% of unvaccinated. Vaccine effectiveness was 23%. Only 6.2 cases would have been prevented by vaccinating the unvaccinated individuals. At seven days, the rt-PCR was negative in 46.2% of vaccinated subjects vs. 13.6% of unvaccinated (p = 0.02).DiscussionIn a prison outbreak, a dose of AVChAdOx1 administered 21-23 days earlier did not significantly prevent the occurrence of infections, but did reduce the duration of rt-PCR positivity. Maintaining post-vaccination preventive measures is essential.
Temporal considerations in the 2021 COVID-19 lockdown of Ho Chi Minh City
Authors: Plan Emmanuel L. C. VI M. , Thi Huong Le , Le Duy Manh , Phan Haidang 
Published: August 2021

The success of Vietnam in controlling the spread of COVID-19 hinges on a timely implementation of its coherent strategy of containment and rapid tracing and testing efforts. The Vietnamese living in Mekong Delta are currently being besieged by the SARS-Cov-2 Delta variant as they undergo several and extended levels of lockdown. In this work we examine the temporal aspects of the lockdown in Ho Chi Minh City and predict the progress of the outbreak in terms of the total number of confirmed cases.A compartmental model with containment is fit to data to estimate the rate of transmission in Ho Chi Minh City. The severity of the lockdown is estimated from publicly-available data on mobility and coupled to the rate of infection. Various scenarios on when to begin a lockdown and its duration are assessed. This report, dated 27 July 2021, supports a lockdown of at least 3 weeks and predicts that there could be half as many cases had the inevitable lockdown started a week earlier.
Epidemiological characteristics of the B.1.526 SARS-CoV-2 variant
Authors: Yang Wan , Greene Sharon K. , Peterson Eric R. , Li Wenhui , Mathes Robert , Graf Laura , Lall Ramona , Hughes Scott , Wang Jade , Fine Anne 
Published: August 2021

AbstractTo characterize the epidemiological properties of the B.1.526 SARS-CoV-2 variant of interest, here we utilized nine epidemiological and population datasets and model-inference methods to reconstruct SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics in New York City, where B.1.526 emerged. We estimated that B.1.526 had a moderate increase (15-25%) in transmissibility and could escape immunity in 0-10% of previously infected individuals. In addition, B.1.526 substantially increased the infection-fatality risk (IFR) among adults 65 or older by >60% during Nov 2020 – Apr 2021, compared to baseline risk estimated for preexisting variants. Overall, findings suggest that new variants like B.1.526 likely spread in the population weeks prior to detection and that partial immune escape (e.g., resistance to therapeutic antibodies) could offset prior medical advances and increase IFR. Early preparedness for and close monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 variants, their epidemiological characteristics, and disease severity are thus crucial to COVID-19 response as it remains a global public health threat.
On the persistence of mental health deterioration during the COVID-19 pandemic by sex and ethnicity in the UK: evidence from Understanding Society
Authors: Proto Eugenio , Quintana-Domeque Climent 
Published: August 2021

AbstractWe use longitudinal data from a representative sample of the UK and compare self-reported mental health, as measured by the GHQ-12 score, at three timepoints (2017-2019, April 2020 and March 2021), for the whole sample and by sex and ethnicity. Out of the 14,382 individuals interviewed in 2017-2019 and April 2020, 10,445 were interviewed again in March 2021. The mean GHQ-12 in April 2020 is 12.37 [95% CI: 12.22, 12.52] and in March 2021 is 12.36 [95% CI: 12.21, 12.51], above that in 2017-2019, 11.13 [95% CI: 10.99, 11.26]. We do not find evidence that the level of mental health goes back to pre-pandemic levels. In terms of inequalities, while the gender gap (mean difference between women and men) in mental health deterioration among White British is closing, there is no clear evidence that the ethnic gap (mean difference between ethnic minorities and White British) among men is changing.
Preliminary Analysis of Excess Mortality in India During the Covid-19 Pandemic (Update September 26, 2021)
Authors: Leffler Christopher T. , Lykins V Joseph D. , Yang Edward 
Published: August 2021

AbstractAs both testing for SARS Cov-2 and death registrations are incomplete or not yet available in many countries, the full impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is currently unknown in many world regions.We studied the Covid-19 and all-cause mortality in 19 Indian states (combined population of 1.27 billion) with available all-cause mortality data during the pandemic for the entire state or for large cities. Excess mortality was calculated by comparison with available data from years 2015-2019. The known Covid-19 deaths reported by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering for a state were assumed to be accurate, unless excess mortality data suggested a higher toll during the pandemic. Data from one state were not included in the final model due to anomalies.In several regions, fewer deaths were reported in 2020 than expected. The excess mortality in Mumbai (in Maharashtra) in 2020 was 137.0 / 100K. Areas in Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kolkata (in West Bengal), saw spikes in mortality in the spring of 2021.The pandemic-related mortality through August 31, 2021 in 18 Indian states was estimated to be 198.7 per 100,000 population (range 146.1 to 263.8 per 100K). If these rates apply to India as a whole, then 2.69 million people (range 1.98 to 3.57 million) may have perished in India as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic by August 31, 2021.