bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Serum Vitamin D: Correlates of Baseline Concentration and Response to Supplementation in VITAL-DKD
Authors: Best Cora M , Zelnick Leila R , Thummel Kenneth E , Hsu Simon , Limonte Christine , Thadhani Ravi , Sesso Howard D , Manson JoAnn E , Buring Julie E , Mora Samia , Lee I-Min , Cook Nancy R , Friedenberg Georgina , Luttmann-Gibson Heike , de Boer Ian H , Hoofnagle Andrew N 
Published: September 2021

Abstract

Context
The effect of daily vitamin D supplementation on the serum concentration of vitamin D (the parent compound) may offer insight into vitamin D disposition.

Objective
To assess the total serum vitamin D response to vitamin D3 supplementation and whether it varies according to participant characteristics. To compare results with corresponding results for total serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], which is used clinically and measured in supplementation trials.

Design
Exploratory study within a randomized trial.

Intervention
2000 International Units of vitamin D3 per day (or matching placebo).

Setting
Community-based.

Participants
161 adults (mean ± SD age 70 ± 6 years; 66% males) with type 2 diabetes.

Main Outcome Measures
Changes in total serum vitamin D and total serum 25(OH)D concentrations from baseline to year 2.

Results
At baseline, there was a positive, nonlinear relation between total serum vitamin D and total serum 25(OH)D concentrations. Adjusted effects of supplementation were a 29.2 (95% CI: 24.3, 34.1) nmol/L increase in serum vitamin D and a 33.4 (95% CI: 27.7, 39.2) nmol/L increase in serum 25(OH)D. Among those with baseline 25(OH)D &lt; 50 compared with ≥ 50 nmol/L, the serum vitamin D response to supplementation was attenuated (15.7 vs 31.2 nmol/L; interaction P-value = 0.02), whereas the serum 25(OH)D response was augmented (47.9 vs 30.7 nmol/L; interaction P-value = 0.05).

Conclusions
Vitamin D3 supplementation increases total serum vitamin D and 25(OH)D concentrations with variation according to baseline 25(OH)D, which suggests that 25-hydroxylation of vitamin D3 is more efficient when serum 25(OH)D concentration is low.
Impact of COVID-19 on the Endocrine System: A Mini-review
Authors: Clarke Sophie A , Abbara Ali , Dhillo Waljit S 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to exert a significant impact on global health care systems, causing devastating mortality and morbidity. As time passes and our understanding of this novel respiratory virus deepens, it is increasingly clear that its effects extend beyond that of the respiratory system. The coronavirus responsible for COVID-19, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, obtains cellular access through the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor in a process requiring the transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) protein. Both ACE2 and TMPRSS2 are widely expressed in many endocrine glands. This, along with several case reports of thyroid and pituitary disruption in patients with COVID-19, has resulted in significant interest in its impact on the endocrine system. Indeed, as mortality is abated by the increasing availability of effective vaccines, there is increasing focus on the long-term effects on health in COVID-19 survivors. This review summarizes data investigating the effects of COVID-19 on each of the endocrine axes to guide appropriate investigations and optimal management.
A Research Note Describing a More Inclusive Approach to Identifying Same-Sex Cohabiters in the American Time Use Survey
Authors: Flood Sarah M. , Genadek Katie R. 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Identification of individuals in same-sex relationships in the American Time Use Survey (ATUS) is of increasing interest to the research community. While the ATUS interviews one person per household, by using information about who else lives in the household, researchers can easily identify respondents in coresident same-sex couple arrangements. Previous research has outlined two approaches to identifying individuals in same-sex relationships in the ATUS that use information on the sex of household members. We extend that work in this research note by using additional information collected from a direct question to identify unmarried cohabiting partners in the Current Population Survey (CPS). We identify 23% more individuals in cohabiting same-sex relationships when we use the CPS direct question information than when we use information from the ATUS alone. We argue that this identification strategy is more inclusive of individuals in same-sex cohabiting relationships.
BLMP-1 promotes developmental cell death in C. elegans by timely repression of ced-9 transcription
Authors: Jiang Hang-Shiang , Ghose Piya , Han Hsiao-Fen , Wu Yun-Zhe , Tsai Ya-Yin , Lin Huang-Chin , Tseng Wei-Chin , Wu Jui-Ching , Shaham Shai , Wu Yi-Chun 
Published: September 2021

ABSTRACT
Programmed cell death (PCD) is a common cell fate in metazoan development. PCD effectors are extensively studied, but how they are temporally regulated is less understood. Here, we report a mechanism controlling tail-spike cell death onset during Caenorhabditis elegans development. We show that the zinc-finger transcription factor BLMP-1, which controls larval development timing, also regulates embryonic tail-spike cell death initiation. BLMP-1 functions upstream of CED-9 and in parallel to DRE-1, another CED-9 and tail-spike cell death regulator. BLMP-1 expression is detected in the tail-spike cell shortly after the cell is born, and blmp-1 mutations promote ced-9-dependent tail-spike cell survival. BLMP-1 binds ced-9 gene regulatory sequences, and inhibits ced-9 transcription just before cell-death onset. BLMP-1 and DRE-1 function together to regulate developmental timing, and their mammalian homologs regulate B-lymphocyte fate. Our results, therefore, identify roles for developmental timing genes in cell-death initiation, and suggest conservation of these functions.
Prevalence of comorbidities among patients with Acromegaly
Authors: Khan Sajjad Ali , Ram Nanik , Masood Muhammad Qamar , Islam Najmul 
Published: September 2021

Background and Objective: Acromegaly is a chronic disorder resulting from excessive secretion of growth hormone and (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and is associated with several comorbidities. These complications contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality associated with this condition thus early diagnosis leads to better outcomes. There have been studies in other countries to assess the comorbidities associated with acromegaly. However, we do not have any recent data with regards to Pakistan. So, in order to demonstrate the prevalence of demographics, hormonal disorders, and other complications associated with acromegaly we conducted this study.
Methods: It is a retrospective review of patients’ records presented to the tertiary care Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan for the diagnosis and management of acromegaly and the complications associated with this condition between the time periods 2000 till 2020. A total of 89 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria of acromegaly and were included in the study. Comorbid conditions were described based on current guidelines. Patient baseline characteristics were recorded along with other complications arising during treatment.
Results: Eighty-nine patients were included. 64% were male, over 70% were older than 30 years old and more than 40% of patients had BMI greater than 30. HTN, pre-hypertension, and CCF were reported in 35.95%, 3.37%, and 6.74%. Diabetes mellitus, hypocortisolism, hypothyroidism, hypogonadism, and hyperprolactinemia were reported in 39.32%, 38.20%, 37.07%, 34.46%, and 16.85% of cases. The prevalence of osteoarthritis, blood disorder, skin changes, thyroid cancer, and spinal stenosis was found out to be around 1.12% each.
Conclusions: Acromegaly is associated with cardiovascular and endocrinal disorders. Screening for these disorders at the time of diagnosis can lead to early management and better outcomes translating into decreased mortality.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.7.4277
How to cite this:Khan SA, Ram N, Masood MQ, Islam N. Prevalence of comorbidities among patients with Acromegaly. Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(7):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.7.4277
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Development, validation and reliability of a questionnaire for assessment of physician's knowledge, attitude and practices (KAPs) regarding foodborne diseases in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Authors: AL-Mohaithef Mohammed 
Published: September 2021

Background: The burden of foodborne illness is considered to be high across the world. Based on the Knowledge-Attitude-Practice (KAP) model, physician’s awareness is essential for conducting individualized treatments, thus reducing the burden of foodborne illness. However, there have been no validated questionnaires specific to the awareness of physicians with foodborne diseases. This study aims to develop and validate a KAP questionnaire for physicians to assess their awareness about the diagnosis and management of foodborne illness. Methods The questionnaire was developed in three phases: a comprehensive literature review, face and content validity, followed by a reliability test by internal consistency. A cross-sectional study was designed in Abha, Saudi Arabia. Physicians (n=125) were opportunistically recruited from both public and private primary healthcare centers. The questionnaire’s content and validity were confirmed by experts in their corresponding fields. After signing the informed consent, the study participants received the questionnaire to evaluate their KAPs on foodborne diseases. Results: A total of 160 physicians from both public and private primary health care centers were approached to enrol 125 study participants into the survey (response rate 78.13%). Of the 31 items designed for assessing the KAP of physicians on foodborne illnesses, three items were excluded after Cronbach’s α analysis. In total, 29 items were included in the final set of the questionnaire. Results of different validity and reliability analyses suggest the questionnaire has a high face and content validity as well as good reliability in internal consistency and stability. Conclusions: This study introduces a newly developed questionnaire with good reliability and validity values that can assess physician’s awareness of foodborne disease. The awareness questionnaire, as a study instrument, had a favourable acceptance among physicians. It is a sound method for evaluating and measuring levels of foodborne disease-related awareness among physicians in Abha, Saudi Arabia.
Is a periacetabular osteotomy as efficacious in retroversion as it is in dysplasia?
Authors: Verhaegen Jeroen , Salih Saif , Thiagarajah Shankar , Grammatopoulos George , Witt Johan D. 
Published: September 2021

AimsPeriacetabular osteotomy (PAO) is an established treatment for acetabular dysplasia. It has also been proposed as a treatment for patients with acetabular retroversion. By reviewing a large cohort, we aimed to test whether outcome is equivalent for both types of morphology and identify factors that influenced outcome.MethodsA single-centre, retrospective cohort study was performed on patients with acetabular retroversion treated with PAO (n = 62 hips). Acetabular retroversion was diagnosed clinically and radiologically (presence of a crossover sign, posterior wall sign, lateral centre-edge angle (LCEA) between 20° and 35°). Outcomes were compared with a control group of patients undergoing PAO for dysplasia (LCEA < 20°; n = 86 hips). Femoral version was recorded. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), complications, and reoperation rates were measured.ResultsThe mean Non-Arthritic Hip Score (NAHS) preoperatively was 58.6 (SD 16.1) for the dysplastic hips and 52.5 (SD 12.7) for the retroverted hips (p = 0.145). Postoperatively, mean NAHS was 83.0 (SD 16.9) and 76.7 (SD 17.9) for dysplastic and retroverted hips respectively (p = 0.041). Difference between pre- and postoperative NAHS was slightly lower in the retroverted hips (18.3 (SD 22.1)) compared to the dysplastic hips (25.2 (SD 15.2); p = 0.230). At mean 3.5 years’ follow-up (SD 1.9), one hip needed a revision PAO and no hips were converted to total hip arthroplasty (THA) in the retroversion group. In the control group, six hips (7.0%) were revised to THA. No differences in complications (p = 0.106) or in reoperation rate (p = 0.087) were seen. Negative predictors of outcome for patients undergoing surgery for retroversion were female sex, obesity, hypermobility, and severely decreased femoral anteversion.ConclusionA PAO is an effective surgical intervention for acetabular retroversion and produces similar improvements when used to treat dysplasia. Femoral version should be routinely assessed in these patients and when extremely low (< 0°), as an additional procedure to address this abnormality may be necessary. Females with signs of hypermobility should also be consulted of the likely guarded improvement. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2(9):757–764.
Short-term stability of Cs microcell-stabilized lasers using dual-frequency sub-Doppler spectroscopy
Authors: Gusching A. , Petersen M. , Passilly N. , Brazhnikov D. , Abdel Hafiz M. , Boudot R. 
Published: September 2021

The combination of atomic spectroscopy, integrated photonics, and microelectromechanical systems leads the way to the demonstration of microcell-based optical atomic clocks. Here, we report the short-term stability budget of table-top Cs microcell-stabilized lasers based on dual-frequency sub-Doppler spectroscopy (DFSDS). The dependence of the sub-Doppler resonance properties on key experimental parameters is studied. The detection noise budget and absolute phase noise measurements are in good agreement with the measured short-term frequency stability of the laser beatnote, at the level of

1.1
×

10

−
12

τ

−
1

/

2

until 100 s, currently limited by the intermodulation effect from a distributed-feedback laser setup. The fractional frequency stability of the laser beatnote at 1 s is about 100 times greater than that of commercial microwave chip-scale atomic clocks and validates interest in the DFSDS approach for the development of high-performance microcell-based optical standards.
Circular dichroism metamirror with diversified chiral molecules combinations
Authors: Gao Wentao , Huang Congying , Feng Zheyu , Li Minhua , Dong Jianfeng 
Published: September 2021

In this paper, we propose a giant circular dichroism (CD) chiral metamirror that differentially absorbs circularly polarized (CP) waves with dual/multi bands. The structure is composed of two variable τ resonators with counter split opening directions and different eigenfrequencies. Even more important, these two resonators are aligned vertically, and then integrated into one periodical unit cell, which results in the high-efficiency absorptive CD. The chiral metamirror has a narrow-band absorption of the left-handed circularly polarized (LCP) wave for lower resonance, and a broadband absorption of the right-handed circularly polarized (RCP) wave in the higher-frequency range. Optical resonator designs with diversified chiral molecules combinations are further studied in detail. Through the study of different periodic arrangements, parameters scanning optimization, and power loss distributions, it is proved that the overall permutation symmetry breakdown of total combined chiral molecules is the determining factor for the absorptive CD. Based on the principle in the microwave model, two mid-infrared chiral metamirrors are further realized, which can still show good spin-dependent absorption. This multi-polarization and multifunction response advance novel photonic devices for a variety of applications including CP laser, biomolecules detection, and energy harvester.
Parametric control of a diffractive axicon beam rider
Authors: Chu Ying-Ju Lucy , Meem Monjurul , Srivastava Prateek R. , Menon Rajesh , Swartzlander Grover A. 
Published: September 2021

A laser beam rider is a large-scale optical structure designed so that it is attracted toward the optical axis, while also affording forward propulsion via radiation pressure along the beam path. Such structures form the basis of laser-driven light sails. Experimental measurements are described whereby a thin diffractive axicon film is shown to exhibit a natural restoring force when its axis is displaced from the optical axis. This effect is attributed to the optical momentum change of diffracted light. Whereas continuous illumination supports harmonic motion, modulated illumination is shown to support both parametric gain and parametric damping. The

12.7

µ

m

period photopolymer axicon grating was suspended in a vacuum torsion oscillator and irradiated with a 1.5 W near-infrared laser modulated at a period of 38 s.
Sex differences in psychotropic and analgesic drug use before and after initiating treatment with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
Authors: Efjestad Anne Sverdrup , Ihle-Hansen Hege , Hjellvik Vidar , Engedal Knut , Salvesen Blix Hege 
Published: September 2021

Background/aims
The aim was to explore the impact of sex on prevalence, patterns and trends in the prescription of psychotropics and analgesics in users of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs), before and after AChEI initiation, compared to the general population.

Methods
A prospective study applying data from the Norwegian Prescription Database (NorPD) in the period 2004–2016. Prescription of antidepressants, antipsychotics, analgesics including opioids, benzodiazepines and z-hypnotics in persistent AChEI users was studied in a follow-up period from four years before to two years after AChEI initiation in men and women of four age groups: 37–64, 65–72, 73–80 and 81–88 years.

Results
Use of antidepressants, antipsychotics and weaker analgesics increased in both sexes during the follow-up period in 11.764 persistent AChEI users. Women with pre-dementia and dementia stages of AD showed a prescription pattern with more use of psychotropics and opioids than men, except for antipsychotics.

Conclusion
Female sex showed to have a significant influence on the prescriptions of psychotropics and analgesics in AD patients in a pre-dementia and dementia stage. The exception is for antipsychotics, that men used more than women. The prescription pattern showed a higher extent of polypharmacy of psychotropics and/or opioids in women than in men. The total prescription pattern of analgesics could indicate an undertreatment of pain in pre-dementia and dementia stages, most pronounced in men.
Immunological assessment of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy from diagnosis to delivery: A multicentre prospective study
Authors: Glennon Kate , Donnelly Jennifer , Knowles Susan , McAuliffe Fionnuala M. , O’Reilly Alma , Corcoran Siobhan , Walsh Jennifer , McMorrow Roger , Higgins Tess , Bolger Lucy , Clinton Susan , O’Riordan Sarah , Start Alexander , Roche Doireann , Bartels Helena , Malone Ciara , McAuley Karl , McDermott Anthony , Inzitari Rosanna , O’Donnell Colm P. F. , Malone Fergal , Higgins Shane , De Gascun Cillian , Doran Peter , Brennan Donal J. 
Published: September 2021

Background
Background Population-based data on SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy and assessment of passive immunity to the neonate, is lacking. We profiled the maternal and fetal response using a combination of viral RNA from naso-pharyngeal swabs and serological assessment of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.

Methods
This multicentre prospective observational study was conducted between March 24th and August 31st 2020. Two independent cohorts were established, a symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 cohort and a cohort of asymptomatic pregnant women attending two of the largest maternity hospitals in Europe. Symptomatic women were invited to provide a serum sample to assess antibody responses. Asymptomatic pregnant women provided a nasopharyngeal swab and serum sample. RT-PCR for viral RNA was performed using the Cobas SARS-CoV-2 6800 platform (Roche). Umbilical cord bloods were obtained at delivery. Maternal and fetal serological response was measured using both the Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoassay (Roche), Abbott SARS-CoV-2 IgG Assay and the IgM Architect assay. Informed written consent was obtained from all participants.

Results
Ten of twenty three symptomatic women had SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected on nasopharyngeal swabs. Five (5/23, 21.7%) demonstrated serological evidence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies and seven (30.4%, 7/23) were positive for IgM antibodies. In the asymptomatic cohort, the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in RNA was 0.16% (1/608). IgG SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected in 1·67% (10/598, 95% CI 0·8%-3·1%) and IgM in 3·51% (21/598, 95% CI 2·3–5·5%). Nine women had repeat testing post the baseline test. Four (4/9, 44%) remained IgM positive and one remained IgG positive. 3 IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detectable in cord bloods from babies born to five seropositive women who delivered during the study. The mean gestation at serological test was 34 weeks. The mean time between maternal serologic positivity and detection in umbilical cord samples was 28 days.

Conclusion
Using two independent serological assays, we present a comprehensive illustration of the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 in pregnancy, and show a low prevalence of asymptomatic SARS-CoV2. Transplacental migration of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was identified in cord blood of women who demonstrated antenatal anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, raising the possibility of passive immunity.