bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of Submental Surface Neuromuscular Stimulation on Laryngeal Vestibule Opening in Healthy Volunteers at Rest and During Swallowing
Authors: Safi Mohammed F. , Mohamud Mohamud S. 
Published: April 2021

Objective:
The aim of this study was to determine (a) whether submental electrical stimulation could induce hyolaryngeal movement in healthy adults, (b) the effect of submental surface electrical stimulation on hyolaryngeal movement during stimulated swallows in comparison to nonstimulated swallows, and (c) the effect of submental surface electrical stimulation on vestibular closing both during stimulated swallows and stimulation at rest.

Methods:
Seven healthy participants with a mean age was 51 ± 5.6 years were included in this study. Each participant received submental neuromuscular electrical stimulation and was given 5 mL of liquid barium to swallow both with and without stimulation. Six randomized trials were recorded—3 with submental surface stimulation and 3 without stimulation with at least one sham stimulation swallow trial at rest. Trials were recorded via videofluoroscopy.

Results:
A total of 82 trails were recorded. The results of this study indicated (a) there was a hyoid movement as a result of submental stimulation, (b) no laryngeal movement occurred as a result of stimulation, and (c) the vestibule opening size was larger during stimulated swallows as compared with nonstimulated swallows.

Conclusion:
This study shows that there is increased risk of aspiration with submental stimulation as a result of increased vestibular opening following submental neuromuscular electrical stimulation.
The Presence of a Marked Imbalance Between Regulatory T Cells and Effector T Cells Reveals That Tolerance Mechanisms Could Be Compromised in Heart Transplant Children
Authors: Bernaldo-de-Quirós Esther , López-Abente Jacobo , Camino Manuela , Gil Nuria , Panadero Esther , López-Esteban Rocío , Martínez-Bonet Marta , Pion Marjorie , Correa-Rocha Rafael 
Published: April 2021

Background.
Regulatory T cells (Treg) are crucial for the induction and maintenance of graft tolerance. In pediatric heart transplant procedures, the thymus is routinely excised, removing the primary source of T-cell replenishment. Consequently, thymectomy joined to the effects of immunosuppression on the T-cell compartment may have a detrimental impact on Treg values, compromising the intrinsic tolerance mechanisms and the protective role of Treg preventing graft rejection in heart transplant children.

Methods.
A prospective study including 7 heart transplant children was performed, and immune cell populations were evaluated periodically in fresh peripheral blood at different time points before and up to 3 y posttransplant.

Results.
Treg counts decreased significantly from the seventh-month posttransplant. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in effector memory and terminally differentiated effector memory T cells coinciding with the fall of Treg counts. The Treg/Teffector ratio, a valuable marker of the tolerance/rejection balance, reached values around 90% lower than pretransplant values. Additionally, a negative correlation between Treg count and T effector frequency was observed. Particularly, when Treg count decreases below 50 or 75 cells/μL in the patients, the increase in the frequency of T effector CD4+ and CD8+, respectively, experiences a tipping point, and the proportion of T-effector cells increases dramatically.

Conclusions.
These results reveal that interventions employed in pediatric heart transplantation (immunosuppression and thymectomy) could induce, as an inevitable consequence, a dysregulation in the immunologic status characterized by a marked imbalance between Treg and T effector, which could jeopardize the preservation of tolerance during the period with the higher incidence of acute rejection.
COVID-19 risk assessment for the Tokyo Olympic Games
Authors: Zhu Wenhui , Feng Jie , Li Cheng , Wang Huimin , Zhong Yang , Zhang Xingyu , Zhang Tao 
Published: April 2021

AbstractObjectivesTo explore effective prevention and control measures for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in large international events through simulations of different interventions according to risk assessment.MethodsWe used random model to calculate the number of initial infected patients. And Poisson distribution was used to determine the number of initial infected patients based on the number of countries involved. Further, to simulate the COVID-19 transmission, the susceptible-exposed-symptomatic-asymptomatic-recovered-hospitalized (SEIARH) model was established based on susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered (SEIR) mathematical model of epidemic diseases. According to risk assessment indicators produced by different scenarios of the simulated interventions, the risk of COVID-19 transmission in Tokyo Olympic Games was assessed.ResultsThe large-scale vaccination will effectively control the spread of COVID-19. If the effective rate of vaccine is 100%, and the vaccination rate of athletes reaches 80%, an epidemic prevention barrier can be established.ConclusionsThe current COVID-19 prevention measures proposed by the Japan Olympic Committee were needed to be enhanced. For the vaccination intervention had the best control effect, a mass vaccination serves was an effective way to control COVID-19.
Adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet and risk of stroke and stroke subtypes: A Danish cohort study
Authors: Ibsen Daniel B. , Christiansen Anne H. , Olsen Anja , Tjønneland Anne , Overvad Kim , Wolk Alicja , Mortensen Janne K. , Dahm Christina C. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the association between adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet, a sustainable and mostly plant-based diet, and risk of stroke and subtypes of stroke in a Danish population. For comparison, we also investigated the Alternate Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI).MethodsWe used the Danish Diet, Cancer and Health cohort (n=55,016) including adults aged 50-64 years at baseline (1993-1997). A food frequency questionnaire was used to assess dietary intake and group participants according to adherence to the diets. Stroke cases were identified using a national registry and subsequently validated by review of medical records (n=2253). Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for associations with the EAT-Lancet diet or the AHEI and risk of stroke and stroke subtypes.ResultsAdherence to the EAT-Lancet diet was associated with a lower risk of stroke, although not statistically significant (highest vs lowest adherence: HR 0.91; 95% CI 0.76, 1.09). A lower risk was observed for the AHEI (0.75; 0.64, 0.87). For stroke subtypes we found that adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet was associated with a lower risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage (0.30; 0.12, 0.73) and the AHEI was associated with a lower risk of ischemic stroke (0.76; 0.64, 0.90) and intracerebral hemorrhage (0.58; 0.36, 0.93).ConclusionsAdherence to the EAT-Lancet diet was associated with a lower risk of subarachnoid stroke and the AHEI was associated with a lower risk of total stroke, mainly ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage.
Association of in-hospital use of ACE-I/ARB and COVID-19 outcomes in African American population
Authors: Li Shilong , Sarangarajan Rangaprasad , Jun Tomi , Kao Yu-Han , Wang Zichen , Schadt Emilio , Kiebish Michael A. , Granger Elder , Narain Niven R. , Chen Rong , Schadt Eric E. , Li Li 
Published: April 2021

AbstractImportanceThe ACE D allele is more prevalent among African Americans (AA) compared to other races/ethnicities and has previously been associated with severe COVID-19 pathogenesis through excessive ACE1 activity. ACE-I/ARBs may counteract this mechanism, but their association with COVID-19 outcomes has not been specifically tested in the AA population.ObjectivesTo determine whether the use of ACE-I/ARBs is associated with COVID-19 in-hospital mortality in AA compared with non-AA population.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsIn this observational, retrospective study, patient-level data were extracted from the Mount Sinai Health System’s (MSHS) electronic medical record (EMR) database, and 6,218 patients with a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis from February 24 to May 31, 2020 were identified as ACE-I/ARB users.ExposuresPatients with an active prescription from January 1, 2019 up to the date of admission for ACE-I/ARB (outpatient use) and patients administered ACE-I/ARB during hospitalization (in-hospital use) were identified.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe primary outcome was in-hospital mortality, assessed in the entire, AA, and non-AA population.ResultsOf the 6,218 COVID-19 patients, 1,138 (18.3%) were ACE-I/ARB users. In a multivariate logistic regression model, ACE-I/ARB use was independently associated with reduced risk of in-hospital mortality in the entire population (OR, 0.655; 95% CI, 0.505-0.850; P=0.001), AA population (OR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.249-0.779; P=0.005), and non-AA population (OR, 0.748, 95% CI, 0.553-1.012, P=0.06). In the AA population, in-hospital use of ACE-I/ARBs was associated with improved mortality (OR, 0.378; 95% CI, 0.188-0.766; P=0.006) while outpatient use was not (OR, 0.889; 95% CI, 0.375-2.158; P=0.812). When analyzing each medication class separately, ARB in-hospital use was significantly associated with reduced in-hospital mortality in the AA population (OR, 0.196; 95% CI, 0.074-0.516; P=0.001), while ACE-I use was not associated with impact on mortality in any population.Conclusion and RelevanceIn-hospital use of ARBs was associated with a significant reduction in in-hospital mortality among COVID-19-positive AA patients. These results support further investigation of ARBs to improve outcomes in AA patients at high risk for COVID-19-related mortality.
Specific concussion curriculum: Does it improve residents’ comfort, knowledge, and In-Training Examination scores? A pilot study
Authors: Saleem Sandal , Jary Jessica , Levasseur Kelly 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBackgroundConcussion is defined as aberrant brain function consequent to traumatic injury characterized by disorientation or loss of consciousness or memory. If concussions are not recognized and treated appropriately, they can cause significant morbidity. Because ∼20% of sports-related concussions occur in juveniles, pediatricians must be able to treat this injury. Our primary objective was to assess the comfort and competence of pediatric residents in managing patients with concussions. Secondary objective was to assess the change in the In-Training Examination (ITE) scores after instituting a novel multimodal concussion curriculum.MethodFrom February to June 2019, all pediatric residents (N = 24) were required to complete a multimodal concussion curriculum, including board review-style questions, lectures, and rotation in a concussion clinic. Residents voluntarily participated in a pre-and post-curriculum survey. ITE scores from 2018 and 2019 were compared.ResultsTwenty-three of 24 (96%) residents completed both pre- and post-curriculum surveys; of those, 17 (74%) had matched identifiers. Most residents (82%) want more education about concussion management. Residents’ scores on knowledge-based questions increased an average of 0.64 questions, with PGY-1 showing the most improvement. The proportion of residents who correctly answered the ITE head injury/concussion questions increased from 0.33 to 0.88. The concussion clinic was identified as the most helpful tool.ConclusionTo better educate pediatric residents about concussions, we propose a unique multimodal curriculum. We found improved self-assessed comfort and performance on knowledge-based questions and the ITE. We recommend that pediatric and other residency training programs consider implementing this type of curriculum.
Using Whole Genome Sequencing to Characterize Clinically Significant Blood Groups Among Healthy Older Australians
Authors: Jadhao Sudhir , Davison Candice , Roulis Eileen V. , Lee Simon , Lacaze Paul , Riaz Moeen , McNeil John J , Thomas David M , Pecheniuk Natalie M. , Hyland Catherine A. , Flower Robert L. , Nagaraj Shivashankar H. 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACTThere have been no comprehensive studies of a full range of blood group polymorphisms within the Australian population. The problem is compounded by the absence of any databases carrying genomic information on chronically transfused patients and low frequency blood group antigens in Australia. Here, we use RBCeq, a web server-based blood group genotyping software, to identify unique blood group variants among Australians and compare the variation detected versus global data. Whole genome sequencing data was analysed from for 2796 healthy older Australians from the Medical Genome Reference Bank and compared with data from 1000G phase 3 (1KGP3) databases comprising 661 African, 347 American, 503 European, 504 East Asian, and 489 South Asian participants. There were 688 rare variants detected in this Australian sample population, including nine variants that had clinical associations. Notably, we identified 149 variants that were computationally predicted to be novel and deleterious. No clinically significant rare or novel variants were found associated with the genetically complex ABO blood group system. For the Rh blood group system, one novel and 16 rare variants were found. Our detailed blood group profiling results provide a starting point for the creation of an Australian blood group variant database.Key pointsWe identified unique blood group variants among the healthy older Australian population compared with global data using RBCeq software.Our detailed blood group profiling result may be a starting point for the creation of an Australian blood group variant database.
Effect of asymptomatic transmission and emergence time on multi-strain viral disease severity
Authors: Alizad-Rahvar A. R. , Sadeghi M. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBackgroundIn a viral epidemic, the emergence of a novel strain with increased transmissibility (larger value of basic reproduction numberR0) sparks the fear that the increase in transmissibility is likely to lead to an increase in disease severity. It is required to investigate if a new, more contagious strain will be necessarily dominant in the population and resulting in more disease severity.MethodsThe impact of the asymptomatic transmission and the emergence time of a more transmissible variant of a multi-strain viral disease on the disease prevalence, disease severity, and the dominant variant in an epidemic was investigated by a proposed 2-strain epidemic model, called 2-SEICARD model, that is an extension of the SEIRD model.ResultsThe simulation results showed that considering onlyR0, is insufficient to predict the outcome of a new, more contagious strain in the population. A more transmissible strain with a high fraction of asymptomatic cases can substantially reduce the mortality rate. If the emergence time of the new strain is closer to the start of the epidemic, the new, more contagious variant has more chance to win the viral competition and be the dominant strain; otherwise, despite being more contagious, it cannot dominate previous strains.ConclusionsThree factors ofR0, the fraction of asymptomatic transmission, and the emergence time of the new strain are required to correctly determine the prevalence, disease severity, and the winner of the viral competition.
Cell environment shapes TDP-43 function: implications in neuronal and muscle disease
Authors: Šušnjar Urša , Škrabar Neva , Brown Anna-Leigh , Abbassi Yasmine ,   NYGC ALS Consortium, Phatnani Hemali , Cortese Andrea , Cereda Cristina , Bugiardini Enrico , Cardani Rosanna , Meola Giovanni , Ripolone Michela , Moggio Maurizio , Romano Maurizio , Secrier Maria , Fratta Pietro , Buratti Emanuele 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACTTDP-43 aggregation and redistribution have been recognised as a hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia and other neurological disorders. While TDP-43 has been studied extensively in neuronal tissues, TDP-43 inclusions have also been described in the muscle of inclusion body myositis patients, highlighting the need to understand the role of TDP-43 beyond the central nervous system. Using RNA-seq we performed the first direct comparison of TDP-43-mediated transcription and alternative splicing in muscle (C2C12) and neuronal (NSC34) mouse cells. Our results clearly show that TDP-43 displays a tissue-characteristic behaviour targeting unique transcripts in each cell type. This is not due to variable transcript abundance but rather due to cell-specific expression of RNA-binding proteins, which influences TDP-43 performance. Among splicing events commonly dysregulated in both cell lines, we identified some that are TDP-43-dependent also in human cells and show that inclusion levels of these alternative exons appear to be differentially altered in affected tissues of FTLD and IBM patients. We therefore propose that TDP-43 dysfunction, reflected in aberrant splicing, contributes to disease development but it does so in a tissue- and disease-specific manner.
Socio-demographic and knowledge-related determinants of vitamin D supplementation in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: assessment of an educational intervention
Authors: Žmitek Katja , Hribar Maša , Lavriša Živa , Hristov Hristo , Kušar Anita , Pravst Igor 
Published: April 2021

AbstractVitamin D is a pro-hormone, essential for musculo-skeletal health, normal immune system, and numerous other body functions. Vitamin D deficiency is considered a risk factor in many conditions, and there is growing evidence of its potential role in the severity of COVID-19 outcomes. However, an alarmingly high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is reported in many regions, and vitamin D supplementation is commonly recommended, particularly during wintertime. To reduce the risk for vitamin D deficiency in the Slovenian population during the COVID-19 pandemic, we conducted mass media intervention with an educational campaign. The objective of this study was to investigate vitamin D supplementation practices in Slovenia before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to determine the effects of the educational intervention on supplementation practices. Two data collections were conducted using an online panel with quota sampling for age, sex, and geographical location. A pre-intervention (N=602, April 2020) and post-intervention (N=606) sampling were done during the first and second COVID-19 lockdown, respectively. We also focused on the identification of different factors connected to vitamin D supplementation, with a particular emphasis on vitamin D-related knowledge. Study results showed significant changes in vitamin D supplementation in the population. Penetration of the supplementation increased from 33% in April to 56% in December 2020. The median daily vitamin D intake in supplement users was 25 µg, with about 95% of supplement users taking safe intake levels below 100 µg/daily. Vitamin D-related knowledge (particularly about dietary sources of vitamin D, the health-related impact of vitamin D, and the prevalence of deficiency) was identified as a key independent predictor of vitamin D supplementation. Based on the study findings, we prepared recommendations, which will enable the development of effective awareness campaigns for increasing supplementation of vitamin D.
Saliva Is Comparable to Nasopharyngeal Swabs for Molecular Detection of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Callahan Cody , Ditelberg Sarah , Dutta Sanjucta , Littlehale Nancy , Cheng Annie , Kupczewski Kristin , McVay Danielle , Riedel Stefan , Kirby James E. , Arnaout Ramy 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe continued need for molecular testing for SARS-CoV-2 and potential for self-collected saliva as an alternative to nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs for sample acquisition led us to compare saliva to NP swabs in an outpatient setting, without restrictions to avoid food, drink, smoking, or tooth-brushing.MethodsA total of 385 pairs of NP and saliva specimens were obtained, the majority from individuals presenting for initial evaluation, and were tested on two high-sensitivity RT-PCR platforms: the Abbott m2000 and Abbott Alinity m (both with limits of detection [LoD] of 100 copies of viral RNA/mL).ResultsConcordance between saliva and NP was excellent overall (Cohen’s κ=0.93), for both initial and followup testing, for both platforms, and for specimens treated with guanidinium transport medium as preservative as well as for untreated saliva (κ=0.88-0.95). Viral loads were on average 16x higher in NP specimens than saliva specimens, suggesting that only the relatively small fraction of outpatients (∼8% in this study) who present with very low viral loads (<1,600 copies/mL from NP swabs) would be missed by testing saliva instead of NP swabs, when using sensitive testing platforms. Special attention was necessary to ensure leak-resistant specimen collection and transport.ConclusionsThe advantages of self-collection of saliva, without behavioral restrictions, will likely outweigh a minor potential decrease in clinical sensitivity in individuals less likely to pose an infectious risk to others for many real-world scenarios, especially for initial testing.Key pointsSaliva has comparable sensitivity and specificity to nasopharyngeal swabs for RT-PCR-based COVID-19 testing (concordance, κ=0.93; n=385 participants), albeit with slightly lower recovery of viral RNA. Treatment with a readily available guanidinium preservative within 24 hours of sample collection improves recovery.
Assessing genetic overlap and causality between blood plasma proteins and Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Handy Alex , Lord Jodie , Green Rebecca , Xu Jin , Aarsland Dag , Velayudhan Latha , Hye Abdul , Dobson Richard , Proitsi Petroula ,   Add NeuroMed, and the GERAD1 Consortium
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACTBackgroundBlood plasma proteins are modifiable and have been associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but understanding which proteins are on the causal pathway remains challenging.ObjectiveInvestigate the genetic overlap between candidate proteins and AD using polygenic risk scores (PRS) and interrogate their causal relationship using bi-directional Mendelian Randomization (MR).MethodsFollowing a literature review, 31 proteins were selected for PRS analysis. PRS were constructed for prioritised proteins with and without the apolipoprotein E region (APOE+/- PRS) and tested for association with AD status across three cohorts (n=6244). An AD PRS was also tested for association with protein levels in one cohort (n=410). Proteins showing association with AD were taken forward for MR.ResultsFor APOE e3, apolipoprotein B-100, and C-reactive protein (CRP), protein APOE+ PRS were associated with AD below Bonferroni significance (pBonf, p-value <0.00017). No protein APOE-PRS or AD PRS (APOE+/-) passed pBonf. However, vitamin D-binding protein (protein PRS APOE-, p-value=0.009) and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 2 (AD APOE- PRS p-value=0.025, protein APOE-PRS p-value=0.045) displayed suggestive signals and were selected for MR. In bi-directional MR, none of the 5 proteins demonstrated a causal association (p-value<0.05) in either direction.ConclusionApolipoproteins and CRP PRS are associated with AD and provide a genetic signal linked to a specific, modifiable risk factor. Whilst evidence of causality was limited, this study was conducted in a moderate sample size and provides a framework for larger samples with greater statistical power.