bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Safety of recombinant zoster vaccine: a retrospective study of 622 rheumatology patients
Authors: Lenfant Tiphaine , Jin Yuxuan , Kirchner Elizabeth , Hajj-Ali Rula A , Calabrese Leonard H , Calabrese Cassandra 
Published: February 2021

AbstractObjectivesTo provide insight into the safety of recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID).MethodsPatients who received RZV in a single-centre rheumatology department were retrospectively included. An IMID flare was defined as (i) a documentation of flare in the office notes or patient portal communication or (ii) new prednisone prescription, in the 12 weeks after each dose.ResultsSix-hundred and twenty-two patients were included (67% female, median age 67 years), 8.5% of them experienced adverse events (AEs) and herpes zoster (HZ) incidence was 0.6% after median follow-up of 36 weeks. Of 359 IMID patients: 88 had RA (25%), 50 vasculitis (14%) and 29 PMR (8%). At vaccination, 35% were on glucocorticoids (GC). Fifty-nine patients (16%) experienced a flare, 18 flares occurred in temporal relation to a treatment change (31%). RA patients had the highest flare rate (n = 21, 24%), 25% of patients who flared required adjustment of immunosuppression. In a multivariate analysis, use of GC at time of vaccination was associated with flare after vaccination [odds ratio (OR) 2.31 (1.3–4.1), P =0.004]. A time-to-flare survival analysis (Cox-model) showed that GC was a significant predictor of IMID flare after first RZV dose [hazard ratio (HR) 2.4 (1.3–4.5), P =0.0039] and that a flare after the first dose was associated with flaring after the second RZV dose [HR 3.9 (1.7–9), P =0.0015].ConclusionRZV administration in patients with IMIDs was generally well-tolerated, though mild flares were not uncommon in the first 12 weeks after vaccination. These data may provide useful information for patient education when considering RZV administration.
State Variation in TANF Expenditures: Implications for Social Work and Social Policy
Authors: Fusaro Vincent A. 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program is a federal block grant to the states, with a required state contribution. Although often viewed as a cash assistance program with work requirements and services targeted at extremely low-income families with children, only about one-quarter of all state and federal TANF funds are now used for traditional cash aid. Uses of funds vary widely by state, and alternatives range from refundable tax credits to support of state child welfare systems. In this article, the author examines the relationship between state categorical TANF spending and key social, political, and economic characteristics using data from 2015 to 2017 and multilevel linear models. Racial and ethnic demographics of the cash assistance caseload are associated with differences in spending, with states with larger proportions of the caseload composed of people of color devoting a lower percentage of effort to traditional benefits and more to alternative cash transfers. Changes in unemployment rate within states are associated with greater spending on basic assistance and reduced spending on alternative transfers. These findings indicate that, although TANF cash benefits spending may be economically responsive within the program’s overall flexible structure, spending patterns raise issues of equity for disadvantaged families.
Gene Tree Discord, Simplex Plots, and Statistical Tests under the Coalescent
Authors: Allman Elizabeth S , Mitchell Jonathan D , Rhodes John A 
Published: February 2021

AbstractA simple graphical device, the simplex plot of quartet concordance factors, is introduced to aid in the exploration of a collection of gene trees on a common set of taxa. A single plot summarizes all gene tree discord and allows for visual comparison to the expected discord from the multispecies coalescent model (MSC) of incomplete lineage sorting on a species tree. A formal statistical procedure is described that can quantify the deviation from expectation for each subset of four taxa, suggesting when the data are not in accord with the MSC, and thus that either gene tree inference error is substantial or a more complex model such as that on a network may be required. If the collection of gene trees is in accord with the MSC, the plots reveal when substantial incomplete lineage sorting is present. Applications to both simulated and empirical multilocus data sets illustrate the insights provided. [Gene tree discordance; hypothesis test; multispecies coalescent model; quartet concordance factor; simplex plot; species tree].
Health workers’ psychological distress during early phase of the covid-19 pandemic in Morocco
Authors: Belayachi Jihane , Benammi Sarah , Chippo Hasnae , Bennis Rhita Nechba , Madani Naoufel , Hrora Abdelmalek , Abouqal Redouane 
Published: February 2021

ABSTRACTIntroductionThe mental being of healthcare workers with the COVID 19 pandemic is a determinant of their resilience. We investigated the psychological impact of health workers during early phase of Covid 19 pandemic in Morocco.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study based on a survey of health workers of the Rabat University Hospital Ibn-Sina in Morocco. Data were collected during the first week of health emergency state –between 23 and 30 march-related to the covid-19 pandemic declaration in Morocco. Sociodemographic, health characteristics and professional characteristics of each health worker were collected. We also evaluated the knowledge of health workers concerning the protective measures against COVID 19. The mental health status of the health workers was investigated using the Arabic validated version of HADS 14 items, evaluating hospital anxiety and depressionResultsTwo hundred eighty-seven health workers were included.The mean age was 34.4±12.18 year; and 64.5% were female, 54% have been trained regarding protection procedures, and 94.8% declared that they are aware of individual protection measures. The incidence of anxiety and depression was respectively 77.4% and 73.9%. High degree of anxiety and depression was associated with female gender. However, Higher degree of anxiety was also related to function, specialty of practice, and knowledge of the protective measures against COVID-19.ConclusionWe reported the result of the first evaluation of psychological burden of health worker during early period of COVID-19 pandemic in a developing country. The study showed high frequency of anxiety and depression among Moroccan health worker in a hospital faced to COVID-19 patient management.
Infection and mRNA-1273 vaccine antibodies neutralize SARS-CoV-2 UK variant
Authors: Edara Venkata Viswanadh , Floyd Katharine , Lai Lilin , Gardner Meredith , Hudson William , Piantadosi Anne , Waggoner Jesse J. , Babiker Ahmed , Ahmed Rafi , Xie Xuping , Lokugamage Kumari , Menachery Vineet , Shi Pei-Yong , Suthar Mehul S. ,   for the COVID-19 Neutralization Study Group
Published: February 2021

AbstractAntibody responses against the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein correlate with protection against COVID-19. Serum neutralizing antibodies appear early after symptom onset following SARS-CoV-2 infection and can last for several months. Similarly, the messenger RNA vaccine, mRNA-1273, generates serum neutralizing antibodies that are detected through at least day 119. However, the recent emergence of the B.1.1.7 variant has raised significant concerns about the breadth of these neutralizing antibody responses. In this study, we used a live virus neutralization assay to compare the neutralization potency of sera from infected and vaccinated individuals against a panel of SARS-CoV-2 variants, including SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7. We found that both infection- and vaccine-induced antibodies were effective at neutralizing the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant. These findings support the notion that in the context of the UK variant, vaccine-induced immunity can provide protection against COVID-19. As additional SARS-CoV-2 viral variants continue to emerge, it is crucial to monitor their impact on neutralizing antibody responses following infection and vaccination.
IgA autoantibodies target pulmonary surfactant in patients with severe COVID-19
Authors: Sinnberg Tobias , Lichtensteiger Christa , Ali Omar Hasan , Pop Oltin T. , Gilardi Mara , Risch Lorenz , Bomze David , Kohler Philipp , Vernazza Pietro , Albrich Werner C. , Kahlert Christian R. , Brugger Silvio D. , Abdou Marie-Therese , Zinner Carl , Tzankov Alexandar , Röcken Martin , Kern Lukas , Brutsche Martin H. , Kalbacher Hubert , Velic Ana , Maček Boris , Penninger Josef M. , Matter Matthias S. , Flatz Lukas 
Published: February 2021

ABSTRACTComplications affecting the lung are hallmarks of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). While there is evidence for autoimmunity in severe COVID-19, the exact mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we established a prospective observational cohort to study lung specific autoantibodies (auto-Abs). Incubation of plasma from severe COVID-19 patients with healthy human lung tissue revealed the presence of IgA antibodies binding to surfactant-producing pneumocytes. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and protein pull-downs using porcine surfactant confirmed the presence of auto-Abs binding to surfactant proteins in severe COVID-19 patients. Mass spectrometry and ELISAs with recombinant proteins identified IgA auto-Abs that target human surfactant proteins B and C. In line with these findings, lungs of deceased COVID-19 patients showed reduced pulmonary surfactant. Our data suggest that IgA-driven autoimmunity against surfactant may result in disease progression of COVID-19.
Could the new COVID-19 mutant strain undermine vaccination efforts? A mathematical modelling approach for estimating the spread of the UK mutant strain using Ontario, Canada, as a case study
Authors: Betti Matthew , Bragazzi Nicola Luigi , Heffernan Jane Marie , Kong Jude , Raad Angie 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundInfections represent highly dynamic processes, characterized by evolutionary changes and events that involve both the pathogen and the host. Among infectious agents, viruses, such as the “Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus type 2” (SARS-CoV-2), the infectious agent responsible for the currently ongoing “Coronavirus disease 2019” (COVID-2019) pandemic, have a particularly high mutation rate. Taking into account the mutational landscape of an infectious agent, it is important to shed light on its evolution capability over time. As new, more infectious strains of COVID-19 emerge around the world, it is imperative to estimate when these new strains may overtake the wild-type strain in different populations. Therefore, we developed a general-purpose framework to estimate the time at which a mutant variant is able to takeover a wild-type strain during an emerging infectious diseases outbreak. In this study, we used COVID-19 as a case-study, but the model is adaptable to any emerging pathogens.Methods and findingsWe devise a two-strain mathematical framework, to model a wild- and a mutant-type viral population and fit cumulative case data to parameterize the model, using Ontario as a case study. We found that, in the context of under-reporting and the current case levels, a variant strain is unlikely to dominate until March/April 2021. Current non-pharmaceutical interventions in Ontario need to be kept in place longer even with vaccination in order to prevent another outbreak. The spread of a variant strain in Ontario will mostly likely be observed by a widened peak of the daily reported cases. If vaccine efficacy is maintained across strains, then it is still possible to have an immune population by end of 2021.ConclusionsOur findings have important practical implications in terms of public health as policy-and decision-makers are equipped with a mathematical tool that can enable the estimation of the take-over of a mutant strain of an emerging infectious disease.
Impact of Vaccination and Testing in an Urban Campus model for the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic *
Authors: Zhang Yi , Kapoor Sanjiv 
Published: February 2021

The crisis induced by the Coronavirus pandemic has severely impacted educational institutes. Even with vaccination efforts underway, it is not clear that sufficient confidence will be achieved for schools to reopen soon.This paper considers the impact of vaccination rates and testing rates to reduce infections and hospitalizations and evaluates strategies that will allow educational institute in urban settings to reopen. These strategies are also applicable to businesses and would help plan reopening in order to help the economy.Our analysis is based on a graph model where nodes represent population groups and edges represent population exchanges due to commuting populations. The commuting population is associated with edges and is associated with one of the end nodes of the edge during part of the time period and with the other node during the remainder of the time period. The progression of the disease at each node is determined via compartment models, that include vaccination rates and testing to place infected people in quarantine along with consideration of asymptomatic and symptomatic populations. Applying this to a university population in Chicago with a substantial commuter population, chosen to be 80% as an illustration, provides an analysis which specifies benefits of testing and vaccination strategies over a time period of 150 days.
Experience of clinical services shapes attitudes to mental health data sharing: Findings from a UK-wide survey
Authors: Kirkham E.J. , Lawrie S. M. , Crompton C.J. , Iveson M.H. , Jenkins N. D. , Goerdten J. , Beange I. , Chan S.W.Y. , McIntosh A. , Fletcher-Watson S. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundRoutinely-collected mental health data could deliver novel insights for mental health research. However, patients’ willingness to share their mental health data remains largely unknown. We investigated factors influencing likelihood of sharing these data for research purposes amongst people with experience of mental illness.MethodsWe collected responses from a diverse sample of UK National Health Service (NHS) users (n = 2187) of which about half (n = 1087) had lifetime experience of mental illness. Ordinal logistic regression was used to examine the influence of demographic factors, clinical service experience, and primary mental illness on willingness to share mental health data, contrasted against physical health data.ResultsThere was a high level of willingness to share mental (89.7%) and physical (92.8%) health data for research purposes. Higher levels of satisfaction with the NHS were associated with greater willingness to share mental health data. Furthermore, people with personal experience of mental illness were more willing than those without to share mental health data, once the effect of NHS satisfaction had been controlled for. Of the mental illnesses recorded, people with depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), personality disorder or bipolar disorder were significantly more likely to share their mental health data than people without mental illness.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that positive experiences of health services and personal experience of mental illness are associated with greater willingness to share mental health data. NHS satisfaction is a potentially modifiable factor that could foster public support for increased use of NHS mental health data in research.
Increased SAR-CoV-2 shedding associated with reduced disease severity despite continually emerging genetic variants
Authors: Tang Cynthia Y. , Wang Yang , Gao Cheng , Smith David R. , McElroy Jane A. , Li Tao , Segovia Karen , Haynes Tricia , Hammer Richard , Sampson Christopher , Ritter Detlef , Schulze Christopher , Trotman Robin , Lidl Grace M , Webby Richard , Hang Jun , Wan Xiu-Feng 
Published: February 2021

ABSTRACTSince the first report of SARS-CoV-2 in December 2019, genetic variants have continued to emerge, complicating strategies for mitigating the disease burden of COVID-19. Positive SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal swabs (n=8,735) were collected from Missouri, USA, from March-October 2020, and viral genomes (n=178) were sequenced. Hospitalization status and length of stay were extracted from medical charts of 1,335 patients and integrated with emerging genetic variants and viral shedding analyses for assessment of clinical impacts. Multiple introductions of SARS-CoV-2 into Missouri, primarily from Australia, Europe, and domestic states, were observed. Four local lineages rapidly emerged and spread across urban and rural regions in Missouri. While the majority of Missouri viruses harbored Spike-D614G mutations, a large number of unreported mutations were identified among Missouri viruses, including seven in the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase complex and Spike protein that were positively selected. A 15.6-fold increase in viral RNA levels in swab samples occurred from March to May and remained elevated. Accounting for other comorbidities, individuals test-positive for COVID-19 with high viral loads were less likely to be hospitalized (odds ratio=0.39, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.20, 0.77) and had shorter hospital stays (hazard ratio=0.34, p=0.003) than those with low viral loads. Overall, the first eight months of the pandemic in Missouri saw multiple locally acquired mutants emerge and dominate in urban and rural locations. Although we were unable to find associations between specific variants and greater disease severity, Missouri COVID-positive individuals that presented with increased viral shedding had less severe disease by several measures.
Extubation generates lung volume inhomogeneity in preterm infants
Authors: Bhatia R , Carlisle HR , Armstrong RK , Kamlin COF , Davis PG , Tingay DG 
Published: February 2021

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the feasibility of EIT to describe the regional tidal ventilation (VT) and change in end-expiratory lung volume (EELV) patterns in preterm infants during the process of extubation from invasive to non-invasive respiratory support.DesignProspective observational studySettingSingle-centre tertiary neonatal intensive care unitPatientsPreterm infants born <32 weeks gestation who were being extubated to nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) as per clinician discretion.InterventionsElectrical Impedance Tomography measurements were taken in supine infants during elective extubation from synchronised positive pressure ventilation (SIPPV) before extubation, during and then at 2 and 20 minutes after commencing nCPAP. Extubation and pressure settings were determined by clinicians.Main outcome measuresGlobal and regional ΔEELV and ΔVTwere measured. Heart rate, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation were measured throughout.ResultsThirty infants of median (range) 2 (1, 21) days were extubated to a median (range) CPAP 7 (6, 8) cmH2O. SpO2/FiO2ratio was mean (95% CI) 50 (35, 65) lower 20 minutes after nCPAP compared with SIPPV. EELV was lower at all points after extubation compared to SIPPV, and EELV loss was primarily in the ventral lung (p=0.04). VTwas increased immediately after extubation, especially in the central and ventral regions of the lung, but the application of nCPAP returned VTto pre-extubation patterns.ConclusionsLung behaviour during the transition from invasive positive pressure ventilation to CPAP at moderate distending pressures is variable and associated with lung volume loss in the ventral lung.
Impact of systemic corticosteroids on hospitalized patients with COVID-19: January 2021 Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Robinson Robert , Prakash Vidhya , Tamimi Raad Al , Albast Nour , Al-Bast Basma 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has stimulated worldwide investigation into a myriad of potential therapeutic agents, including corticosteroids. The first RCT reporting results on the impact of systemic corticosteroids on COVID-19 in a peer reviewed journal was the RECOVERY trial published in July, 2020. The RECOVERY trial showed a reduced risk of 28-day mortality in patients who received oral or intravenous dexamethasone for 10 days.This study is a meta-analysis of peer reviewed RCTs aims to estimate the association of systemic corticosteroid therapy compared to the usual care or placebo on all-cause mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Software based tools to accelerate the analysis process.MethodsMeta-analysis of peer reviewed RCTs comparing systemic corticosteroids to usual care or placebo.ResultsFive English language RCTs were identified, including data from 7645 hospitalized patients worldwide using systemic dexamethasone, hydrocortisone and methylprednisolone in COVID-19 positive patients. Three RCTs were discontinued when preliminary results from the RECOVERY trial became available.Meta-analysis of all identified RCTs showed no difference in survival in patients who received systemic corticosteroid therapy compared to usual care or placebo (Odds ratio 0.82, 95% CI 0.64-1.05, p = 0.09). Subgroup analysis from the 1967 critically ill patients in the identified RCTs showed improved survival in patients who received systemic corticosteroid therapy (Odds ratio 0.67, 95% CI 0.51-0.87, p = 0.01).ConclusionsThis meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials published in peer-reviewed literature by January 1, 2021 showed reduced mortality in critically ill patients but not all hospitalized patients with COVID-19 who received systemic corticosteroids. The early termination of three of the included RCTs because of the preliminary results of the RECOVERY trial is likely to have dramatically influenced the results of this meta-analysis. Further research is needed to clarify the role of systemic corticosteroid therapy in the management of COVID-19.
Ultrasound-Guided Needling and Lidocaine Plus Sterile Water Injection in Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Authors: Chen Carl PC , Suputtitada Areerat , Pongpirul Krit 
Published: February 2021

AbstractObjectiveTo study the effect of ultrasound-guided (USG) needling and lidocaine plus sterile water injections in lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS).MethodThis retrospective study examined data of LSS patients who received USG lidocaine injection to lumbar facets, medial branches to facet joints, and multifidus muscles with one needle insertion at 4 spinal levels.ResultsA total of 213 lumbar spinal stenosis patients—104 patients received USG needling and 1% lidocaine without adrenaline 2 ml plus sterile water 10 ml injection (Group A) and 109 patients received 1% lidocaine without adrenaline 6 ml injection (Group B)—for 4 times, once per week. The VAS of chronic low back pain, radicular pain, claudication, and walking ability of both groups at 3, 6, and 12 months were significantly better than the baseline. Group A reported significantly better chronic low back pain, radicular pain, claudication, and walking ability at 3, 6, and 12 months than Group B.ConclusionsUSG needling and 1% lidocaine without adrenaline 2 ml plus sterile water 10 ml injection to lumbar facets, medial branches to facet joints, and multifidus muscles with one needle insertion at 4 spinal levels, once a week for 4 weeks can improve low back pain, radicular pain and gait ability in LSS with long term pain relief at least 12 months.HighlightsThere is evidence of the long-lasting effectiveness of local anesthetic alone for chronic spinal pain on noxious peripheral stimulation, phenotypic changes for neuronal plasticity, and neurotransmitter release responsible for secondary hyperalgesia.USG needling and amount of safety solution as 1% lidocaine without adrenaline 2 ml plus sterile water 10 ml is effective for treating chronic low back pain, radicular pain, and claudication in LSS at least 12 months.These clinical outcomes should be the effects of peripheral and central desensitization. The other possible effect is the mechanical removal of fibrosis and calcification at lumbar facets, medial branches to facet joints, and multifidus muscles.