bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
IMPACT smoking cessation support for people with severe mental illness in South Asia (IMPACT 4S): a protocol for a randomised controlled feasibility trial of a combined behavioural and pharmacological support intervention
Authors: Mazumdar Papiya , Zavala Gerardo , Aslam Faiza , Muliyala Krishna Prasad , Chaturvedi Santosh Kumar , Kandasamy Arun , Nizami Asad , Haq Baha Ul , Kellar Ian , Jackson Cath , Thomson Heather , McDaid David , Siddiqi Kamran , Hewitt Catherine , Siddiqi Najma , Gilbody Simon , Murthy Pratima , Mdege Noreen 
Published: November 2021

AbstractIntroductionThe prevalence of smoking is high among people living with severe mental illness (SMI). Evidence on feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions among smokers with SMI is lacking, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. We aim to test the feasibility and acceptability of delivering an evidence-based intervention (i.e., the IMPACT 4S intervention) that is a combination of behavioural support and smoking cessation pharmacotherapies among adult smokers with SMI in India and Pakistan. We will also test the feasibility and acceptability of evaluating the intervention in a randomised controlled trial.MethodsWe will conduct a parallel, open label, randomised controlled feasibility trial among 172 (86 in each country) adult smokers with SMI in India and Pakistan. Participants will be allocated 1:1 to either Brief Advice or the IMPACT 4S intervention. BA comprises a single five-minute BA session on stopping smoking. The IMPACT 4S intervention comprises behavioural support delivered in up to 15 one-to-one, face-to-face or audio/video, counselling sessions, with each session lasting between 15 and 40 minutes; nicotine gum and/or bupropion; and breath carbon monoxide monitoring and feedback. The outcomes are recruitment rates, reasons for ineligibility/non-participation/non-consent of participants, length of time required to achieve required sample size, retention in study and treatments, intervention fidelity during delivery, smoking cessation pharmacotherapy adherence and data completeness. A process evaluation will also be conducted.Ethics and disseminationThe study has been approved by the University of York’s Health Sciences Research Governance Committee; Health Ministry Screening Committee, India; the Ethics Committee (Behavioural Sciences Division), NIMHANS, Bangalore, India; National Bioethics Committee Pakistan and; Institutional Research and Ethics Forum of Rawalpindi Medical University, Pakistan. Feasibility study results will be disseminated through peer-review articles, and presentations at national and international conferences and policy-engagement forums.Trial registrationISRCTN34399445 (Updated 22/03/2021), ISRCTN Registry https://www.isrctn.com/
Point-of-care sample preparation and automated quantitative detection of Schistosoma haematobium using mobile phone microscopy
Authors: Armstrong Maxim , Harris Andrew R. , D’Ambrosio Michael V. , Coulibaly Jean T. , Essien-Baidoo Samuel , Ephraim Richard K.D. , Andrews Jason R. , Bogoch Isaac I. , Fletcher Daniel A. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractSchistosoma haematobium continues to pose a significant public health burden despite ongoing global control efforts. One of several barriers to sustained control (and ultimately elimination) is the lack of access to highly sensitive diagnostic or screening tools that are inexpensive, rapid, and can be utilized at the point of sample collection. Here, we report an automated point-of-care diagnostic based on mobile phone microscopy that rapidly images and identifies S. haematobium eggs in urine samples. Parasite eggs are filtered from urine within a specialized, inexpensive cartridge that is then automatically imaged by the mobile phone microscope (the “SchistoScope”). Parasite eggs are captured at a constriction point in the tapered cartridge for easy imaging, and the automated quantification of eggs is obtained upon analysis of the images by an algorithm. We demonstrate S. haematobium egg detection with greater than 90% sensitivity and specificity using this device compared to the field gold standard of conventional filtration and microscopy. With simple sample preparation and image analysis on a mobile phone, the SchistoScope combines the diagnostic performance of conventional microscopy with the analytic performance of an expert technician. This portable device has the potential to provide rapid and quantitative diagnosis of S. haematobium to advance ongoing control efforts.
Primary Care Diagnosis and Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in School-aged Children: Trends and Disparities During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Bannett Yair , Dahlen Alex , Huffman Lynne C. , Feldman Heidi M. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractImportanceLittle is known about changes in health care in the first year of the pandemic for the large population of school-aged children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), who were especially impacted by lockdowns, school closures, and remote learning.ObjectiveTo assess temporal trends in rates of primary care provider (PCP) diagnosis and treatment of school-aged children with ADHD in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic as compared to pre-pandemic years, and to investigate disparities in care.MethodWe retrospectively analyzed electronic health records from all primary care visits (in-person and telehealth) of children ages 6-17 years seen between 01/2016 and 03/2021 in a community-based primary healthcare network in California (n=77,298 patients). Study Outcomes: (1) # of primary care visits, (2) # of visits with ADHD diagnosis (ADHD-related visits), (3) # of first ADHD diagnoses, (4) # of PCP prescriptions for ADHD medications (stimulants, alpha-2 agonists, atomoxetine), (5) # of first PCP prescriptions of ADHD medications. Interrupted time-series analysis evaluated changes in rates of study outcomes during 4 quarters of the pandemic year (3/15/2020-3/15/2021) compared to pre-pandemic years. Patient demographic characteristics were compared pre-pandemic to pandemic year.ResultsIn the first quarter (Q1) of the pandemic year, all primary care visits dropped by 62% (CI 54.9-67.2%); ADHD-related visits dropped by 33% (95% CI 22.2-43.6%). In Q2-4, while all primary care visits remained significantly below pre-pandemic rates, ADHD-related visits returned to pre-pandemic rates. Conversely, rates of first ADHD diagnoses remained at half of pre-pandemic rates throughout the year (Q1-4). ADHD medication prescription rates remained stable throughout the pandemic year. The proportion of patients living in low-income neighborhoods who received ADHD-related care (ADHD-related visits and first ADHD diagnoses) were lower during the pandemic year compared to pre-pandemic years. Females comprised a higher proportion of first ADHD diagnoses compared to pre-pandemic years (34% vs. 28%, absolute standardized difference=0.13, p=0.03).ConclusionOngoing treatment for school-aged children with ADHD was maintained during the pandemic, especially in children from high-income families. Socioeconomic differences in ADHD-related care emphasize the need to improve access to care for all children with ADHD in the ongoing pandemic and beyond.
Contribution of markers of adiposopathy and adipose cell size in predicting insulin resistance in women of varying age and adiposity
Authors: Tremblay Eve-Julie , Tchernof André , Pelletier Mélissa , Chabot Nicolas , Joanisse Denis R. , Mauriège Pascale 
Published: November 2021

AbstractAdipose tissue (AT) dysfunctions, such as adipocyte hypertrophy, macrophage infiltration and secretory adiposopathy (low plasma adiponectin/leptin, A/L, ratio), associate with metabolic disorders. However, no study has compared the relative contribution of these markers to cardiometabolic risk in women of varying age and adiposity. Body composition, regional AT distribution, lipid-lipoprotein profile, glucose homeostasis and plasma A and L levels were determined in 67 women (age: 40-62 years; BMI: 17-41 kg/m2). Expression of macrophage infiltration marker CD68 and adipocyte size were measured from subcutaneous abdominal (SCABD) and omental (OME) fat. AT dysfunction markers correlated with most lipid-lipoprotein levels. The A/L ratio was negatively associated with fasting insulinemia and HOMA-IR, while SCABD or OME adipocyte size and SCABD CD68 expression were positively related to these variables. Combination of tertiles of largest adipocyte size and lowest A/L ratio showed the highest HOMA-IR. Multiple regression analyses including these markers and TAG levels revealed that the A/L ratio was the only predictor of fasting insulinemia and HOMA-IR. The contribution of the A/L ratio was superseded by adipose cell size in the model where the latter replaced TAGs. Finally, leptinemia was a better predictor of IR than adipocyte size and the A/L ratio in our participant sample.
Omnipose: a high-precision morphology-independent solution for bacterial cell segmentation
Authors: Cutler Kevin J. , Stringer Carsen , Wiggins Paul A. , Mougous Joseph D. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractAdvances in microscopy hold great promise for allowing quantitative and precise readouts of morphological and molecular phenomena at the single cell level in bacteria. However, the potential of this approach is ultimately limited by the availability of methods to perform unbiased cell segmentation, defined as the ability to faithfully identify cells independent of their morphology or optical characteristics. In this study, we present a new algorithm, Omnipose, which accurately segments samples that present significant challenges to current algorithms, including mixed bacterial cultures, antibiotic-treated cells, and cells of extended or branched morphology. We show that Omnipose achieves generality and performance beyond leading algorithms and its predecessor, Cellpose, by virtue of unique neural network outputs such as the gradient of the distance field. Finally, we demonstrate the utility of Omnipose in the characterization of extreme morphological phenotypes that arise during interbacterial antagonism and on the segmentation of non-bacterial objects. Our results distinguish Omnipose as a uniquely powerful tool for answering diverse questions in bacterial cell biology.
What is the role and value of facilitation within sessions of Case-based Learning (CBL) in undergraduate medicine: Protocol for a scoping review of the literature
Authors: Berg C. , Hammond L. , Howard B. , Diug B. , Sorinola O. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractBackgroundCBL involves students working within groups to solve clinical and non-clinical cases which enables the development of communication and team-working skills and promotes a deeper understanding of relevant clinical knowledge. CBL sessions are traditionally supported by an in-person facilitator in face to face settings. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated moves to online learning in many areas, one of which is CBL, providing good reason to consider the role of the facilitator in CBL and digital opportunities to augment facilitation.AimsTo understand the role of facilitation within CBL teaching (in face to face and online settings) and the impact that different approaches to facilitation can have on outcomes including student experience and engagement.MethodsA scoping review will be conducted of four main academic and medical databases: MedLine, Scopus, Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE) and Education Research Complete (ERC) using a search strategy built around ‘Undergraduate medical students’ (Population), ‘Approaches to facilitation’ (Concept) and ‘Case-based learning’ (Context). Articles will be selected according to pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria, with scope for the selection criteria to further develop. Charting from included full text articles will encompass research approach, approach to facilitation and findings about facilitation. A constructivist conceptual framework will be used to guide the synthesis.ConclusionsOverall, it is hoped that this review will be able to inform the role of facilitation within CBL sessions and the potential impact that this has on attainment, engagement and satisfaction of students, as well as their development of skills such as: teamworking, communication and problem solving.
Predicting Clinical Course from Subcortical Shape in Provisional Tic Disorder
Authors: Che Tiffanie , Kim Soyoung , Greene Deanna J. , Heywood Ashley , Ding Jimin , Hershey Tamara , Schlaggar Bradley L. , Black Kevin J. , Wang Lei 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThe NewTics study examined children at the onset of tic disorder (with tics for less than 9 months: NT group), a population on which little research exists. Here, we investigate relationships between the shape of subcortical nuclei and tic symptom outcomes. 187 children were assessed at baseline and a 12-month follow-up: 88 with NT, 60 tic-free healthy controls (HC), and 39 with chronic tic disorder or Tourette syndrome (TS), using T1-weighted MRI and total tic scores (TTS) from the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale to evaluate symptom change. Subcortical surface maps were generated using FreeSurfer-initialized large deformation diffeomorphic metric mapping, and linear regression models were constructed to correlate baseline structural shapes with follow-up TTS while accounting for covariates, with relationships mapped onto structure surfaces. We found that the NT group had a larger right hippocampus compared to healthy controls. Surface maps illustrate distinct patterns of inward deformation (localized lower volume) in the putamen and outward deformation (localized volume gain) in the thalamus for the NT group compared to healthy controls. We also found distinct patterns of outward deformation in almost all studied structures when comparing the TS group to healthy controls. In the significant vertices of this comparison, the caudate further exhibited an overall trend of greater outward deformation (compared to the template) in the TS group compared to both the NT group and controls. When comparing the NT and TS groups, the NT group showed consistent outward deformation in the caudate, accumbens, putamen, and thalamus. Since the NT group has had tics only for a few months, we can rule out the possibility that these subcortical volume differences are caused by living with tics for years; they are more likely related to the cause of tics. Subsequent analyses including clinical symptoms revealed that a larger pallidum and thalamus at baseline predicted less improvement of tic symptoms in the future. These observations constitute some of the first prognostic biomarkers for tic disorders and suggest that these subregional volume differences may be associated with outcome of tic disorders.
Multiplexed micronutrient, inflammation, and malarial antigenemia assessment using a plasma fractionation device
Authors: Brindle Eleanor , Lillis Lorraine , Barney Rebecca , Bansil Pooja , Arredondo Francisco , Craft Neal E. , Murphy Eileen , Boyle David S. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractCollecting, processing, and storing blood samples for future analysis of biomarkers can be challenging when performed in resource limited environments. The preparation of dried blood spots (DBS) from heel or finger stick collection of whole blood is a widely used and established method. DBS pose less risk of infection from blood borne pathogens, do not require immediate specimen processing and tolerate a wider range of storage temperatures, and are easier to ship. As such, DBS are commonly used in large-scale surveys to assess infectious disease status and/or micronutrient status in vulnerable populations. Recently, we reported that DBS can be used with a multiplexed immunoassay, the Q-plex™ Human Micronutrient 7-plex Array (MN 7-plex). This tool can simultaneously quantify seven protein biomarkers related to micronutrient deficiencies (iodine, iron and vitamin A), inflammation and malarial antigenemia using plasma or serum. Serum ferritin, a key iron biomarker, cannot be measured from DBS due to red blood cell (RBC) ferritin confounding the results. In this study, we demonstrate the performance of a simple and rapid blood fractionation tool that passively separates serum from cellular components via diffusion through a membrane into a plasma collection disc (PCD) to produce plasma spots. We evaluated the concordance of MN 7-plex analyte concentrations from matched panels of eighty-eight samples of PCD, DBS, and wet plasma prepared from anticoagulated venous whole blood. The results show high correlation between eluates from PCD and DBS and wet plasma for each analyte. Serum ferritin measures from the PCD eluates were highly correlated to wet plasma samples. This suggests that surveillance for iron deficiency may be improved over the current methods restricted to only measuring sTfR in DBS as when used in combination with the MN 7-plex, all seven biomarkers can be simultaneously measured using PCDs.
Is modular control related to functional outcomes in individuals with knee osteoarthritis and following total knee arthroplasty?
Authors: Koehn Rebekah R. , Roelker Sarah A. , Pan Xueliang , Schmitt Laura C. , Chaudhari Ajit M.W. , Siston Robert A. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractBackgroundIndividuals who undergo total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for treatment of knee osteoarthritis often experience suboptimal outcomes. Investigation of neuromuscular control strategies in these individuals may reveal factors that contribute to these functional deficits. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the relationship between patient function and modular control during gait before and after TKA.MethodsElectromyography data from 36 participants (38 knees) were collected from 8 lower extremity muscles on the TKA-involved limb during ≥5 over-ground walking trials before (n=30), 6-months after (n=26), and 24-months after (n=13) surgery. Muscle modules were estimated using non-negative matrix factorization. The number of modules was determined from 500 resampled trials.ResultsA higher number of modules was related to better performance-based and patient-reported function before and 6-months after surgery. Participants with organization similar to healthy, age-matched controls trended toward better function 24-months after surgery, though these results were not statistically significant. We also observed plasticity in the participants’ modular control strategies, with 100% of participants who were present before and 24-months after surgery (10/10) demonstrating changes in the number of modules and/or organization of at least 1 module.ConclusionsThis pilot work suggests that functional improvements following TKA may initially present as increases in the number of modules recruited during gait. Subsequent improvements in function may present as improved module organization.NoteworthyThis work is the first to characterize motor modules in TKA both before and after surgery and to demonstrate changes in the number and organization of modules over the time course of recovery, which may be related to changes in patient function. The plasticity of modular control following TKA is a key finding which has not been previously documented and may be useful in predicting or improving surgical outcomes through novel rehabilitation protocols.
Longitudinal Changes of Cardiac and Aortic Imaging Phenotypes Following COVID-19 in the UK Biobank Cohort
Authors: Bai Wenjia , Raman Betty , Petersen Steffen E. , Neubauer Stefan , Raisi-Estabragh Zahra , Aung Nay , Harvey Nicholas C , Allen Naomi , Collins Rory , Matthews Paul M. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractCase studies conducted after recovery from acute infection with SARS-CoV-2 have frequently identified abnormalities on CMR imaging, suggesting the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 infection commonly leads to cardiac pathology. However, these observations have not been able to distinguish between associations that reflect pre-existing cardiac abnormalities (that might confer a greater likelihood of more severe infection) from those that arise as consequences of infection. To address this question, UK Biobank volunteers (n=1285; 54.5% women; mean age at baseline, 59.8 years old; 96.3% white) who attended an imaging assessment including cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic were invited to attend a second imaging assessment in 2021. Cases with evidence of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection were identified through linkage to PCR-testing or other medical records, or a positive antibody lateral flow test; n=640 in data available on 22 Sep 2021) and were matched to controls with no evidence of previous infection (n=645). The majority of these infections were milder and did not involve hospitalisation. Measures of cardiac and aortic structure and function were derived from the CMR images obtained on the cases before and after SARS-CoV-2 infection from images for the controls obtained over the same time interval using a previously validated, automated algorithm. Cases and controls had similar cardiac and aortic imaging phenotypes at their first imaging assessment. Changes between CMR imaging measures in cases before and after infection were not significantly different from those in the matched control group. Additional adjustment for comorbidities made no material difference to the results. While these results are preliminary and limited to imaging metrics derived from automated analyses, they do not suggest clinically significant persistent cardiac pathology in the UK Biobank population after generally milder (non-hospitalised) SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Estimation of the basic reproduction number of COVID-19 from the incubation period distribution
Authors: Basnarkov Lasko , Tomovski Igor , Avram Florin 
Published: November 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe estimates of future course of spreading of the SARS-CoV-2 virus are frequently based on Markovian models in which the transitions between the compartments are exponentially distributed. Specifically, the basic reproduction number R0 is also determined from formulae where it is related to the parameters of such models. The observations show that the start of infectivity of an individual appears nearly at the same time as the onset of symptoms, while the distribution of the incubation period is not an exponential.MethodsWe propose a method for estimation of R0 for COVID-19 based on the empirical incubation period distribution and assumed very short infectivity period that lasts only few days around the onset of symptoms. It is tested on daily new cases in six major countries in Europe, in the first wave of epidemic in spring, 2020.ResultsThe calculations show that even if the infectivity starts two days before the onset of symptoms and stops immediately when they appear, the value of R0 is larger than that from the classical, Markovian approach. For more realistic cases, when only individuals with mild symptoms spread the virus for few days after onset of symptoms, the respective values are even larger.ConclusionsThe calculations of R0 and other characteristics of spreading of COVID-19 based on the classical, Markovian approaches should be taken very cautiously. Instead, non-Markovian models with general distribution functions of transition between compartments should be considered as more appropriate.Key messagesAlthough formulae for estimate of the basic reproduction number R0, by using general-form functions of infectivity are known since the earliest works in epidemiology, majority of studies are based on exponential distribution function.We introduce a new methodology of calculating R0 with an infectivity function obtained by combining empirical incubation period distribution with infectivity window function that is localized around the onset of symptoms.Estimates of R0 for the first wave of COVID - 19 in the spring 2020, by the proposed methodology are larger than those from the classical SIR model.When possible, the estimates of R0 should be based on empirical distributions of the infectivity functions, while the values obtained with the conventional epidemic spreading models should be taken with caution.