bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The relationship between physical function and psychological symptoms in Parkinson’s: A Survey of People with Parkinson’s and Carers
Authors: Hodgson Philip , Jordan Alastair , Sinani Charikleia , Charura Divine 
Published: September 2024

AbstractBackgroundPeople with Parkinson’s (PwP) can experience both physical and psychological symptoms, and understanding the perspectives of people affected is crucial for improved management, and clinical outcomes.ObjectivesThis online survey sought to investigate whether individuals perceive a connection between physical and psychological symptoms, while also considering the influence of personal roles and past symptom experiences.MethodsA UK-wide survey of 251 PwP and 61 family/carers was conducted. The survey focused on reported diagnosed and non-diagnosed psychological symptoms experienced, their onset, and the perceived impact of physical and psychological symptoms on one another. Responses were summarised using descriptive statistics.ResultsA substantial proportion of respondents reported at least one diagnosed psychological condition (38.5%) or undiagnosed psychological symptoms (44.6%) such as anxiety and depression. Half of respondents reported perceiving a bi-directional interaction between physical and psychological symptoms, with this perception most reported in people with prior experience of psychological symptoms. Our sample shows that while PwP and carers have similar views on the impact of psychological symptoms, carers perceive the impact of physical symptoms to be greater than PwP.ConclusionsPwP and carers appear to perceive an interaction between physical and psychological symptoms in Parkinson’s, noting that psychological symptoms frequently precede Parkinson’s diagnosis but are often under-recognised. Improved awareness of the potential link between physical and psychological symptoms in PwP may help to improve assessment, and onward referral processes to enhance care. Further research may assist in identifying potential sub-groups and allow the prediction of changes in physical and psychological presentation.
The global pattern of centenarians highlights deep problems in demography
Authors: Newman Saul Justin 
Published: September 2024

AbstractAccurate age data is fundamental to medicine, social sciences, epidemiology, and good government. However, recent and heavily disputed debates on data quality have raised questions on the accuracy of demographic data at older ages. Here, we catalogue late-life survival patterns of every country in the world from 1970-2021 using comprehensive estimates of old-age populations provided by global governments and curated by the United Nations. Analysis of 236 nations or states across 51 years reveals that late-life survival data is dominated by anomalies at all scales and in all time periods. Life expectancy at age 100 and late-life survival from ages 80 to 100+, which we term centenarian attainment rate, is highest in a seemingly random assortment of states. The top 10 ‘blue zone’ regions with the best survival to ages 100+ routinely includes Thailand, Kenya and Malawi – respectively now 212thand 202ndin the world for life expectancy, the non-self-governing territory of Western Sahara, and Puerto Rico where birth certificates are so unreliable they were recently declared invalid as a legal document. These anomalous rankings are conserved across long time periods and multiple non-overlapping cohorts, and do not seem to be sampling effects. Instead these patterns suggest a persistent inability, even for nation-states or global organisations, to detect or measure error rates in human age data, with troubling implications for epidemiology, demography, and medicine.
Online monitoring technology for deep phenotyping of cognitive impairment after stroke
Authors: Gruia Dragos-Cristian , Giunchiglia Valentina , Coghlan Aoife , Brook Sophie , Banerjee Soma , Kwan Jo , Hellyer Peter J. , Hampshire Adam , Geranmayeh Fatemeh 
Published: September 2024

AbstractBackgroundDespite the high prevalence of disabling post-stroke cognitive sequalae, these impairments are often underdiagnosed and rarely monitored longitudinally. Provision of unsupervised remote online cognitive technology would provide a scalable solution to this problem. However, despite recent advances, such technology is currently lacking, with existing tools either not meeting the scalability challenge or not optimised for specific applications in post-stroke cognitive impairment. To address this gap, we designed and developed a comprehensive online battery highly optimised for detecting cognitive impairments in stroke survivors.MethodThe technology is optimised to allow both diagnosis and monitoring of post-stroke deficits, and for remote unsupervised administration. Participants performed 22 computerised tasks, and answered neuropsychiatric questionnaires and patient reported outcomes. 90 stroke survivors (Mean age = 62.1 years; 68% and 32% in the acute and subacute/chronic phase after stroke respectively) and over 6,000 age-matched healthy older adults were recruited. Patient outcome measures were derived from Bayesian Regression modelling of the large normative sample and validated against standard clinical scales.ResultsOur online technology has greater sensitivity to post-stroke cognitive impairment than pen-and-paper tests such as the MOCA (mean sensitivity 81.75% and 52.25% respectively, P<0.001). Further, our outcomes show a stronger correlation with post-stroke quality of life (r(78)=0.51, R2=0.26, P<0.001) when compared to MOCA, which only explains half of this variance (r(78)=0.38, R2=0.14, P< 0.001). An additional set of experiments confirm that the online tasks yield highly reliable outcomes, with consistent performance observed across supervised versus unsupervised settings, and minimal learning effects across multiple timepoints.ConclusionThe current online cognitive monitoring technology is feasible, sensitive, and reliable when assessing patients with stroke. The technology offers an economical and scalable method for assessing post-stroke cognition in the clinical setting and sensitively monitoring cognitive outcomes in clinical trials for stroke.
Seroprevalence of chikungunya and o’nyong-nyong viruses in Senegal, West Africa
Authors: Tonto Prince Baffour , Sy Mouhamad , Ndiaye Ibrahima Mbaye , Toure Mariama , Gaye Amy , Aidara Mariama , Mbaye Amadou Moctar , Dia Abdoulaye Kane , Diallo Mamadou Alpha , Gomis Jules Francois , Yade Mamadou Samba , Diedhiou Younous , Dieye Baba , Diongue Khadim , Seck Mame Cheikh , Badiane Aida S. , Herrera Bobby Brooke , Ndiaye Daouda 
Published: September 2024

AbstractBackgroundArthritogenic alphaviruses such as chikungunya (CHIKV) and o’nyong-nyong (ONNV) viruses have shown capacity to cause widespread epidemics, with recurrent and sporadic outbreaks occurring throughout sub-Saharan Africa.MethodsWe analyzed the seroprevalence for CHIKV and ONNV in 470 non-febrile subjects from three regions in Senegal (Sindia, 2018; Thies, 2018; and Kedougou, 2022/2023) using retrospective samples. We assessed the presence of anti-CHIKV IgG and neutralizing antibody titers against CHIKV and ONNV via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and microneutralization tests, respectively, and determined risk factors of CHIKV and ONNV exposure by binary logistic regression.ResultsThe overall alphavirus seroprevalence based on an anti-CHIKV viral like particle (VLP) IgG ELISA was 38.5%, with rates varying geographically: Kedougou (48.6%), Thies (31.9%), and Sindia (14.9%). Neutralizing antibody titers revealed CHIKV and ONNV seroprevalence rates of 7.4% and 9.8%, respectively, with significant variations by region and age group. Cross-reactivity analysis showed that 82.9% of CHIKV cases exhibited a neutralizing response to ONNV, while 71.7% of ONNV cases cross-neutralized CHIKV. Residents of Thies had significantly higher odds of CHIKV infection (aOR, 3.147; 95% CI: 1.164-8.510) while ONNV infection was more likely in Kedougou (aOR, 3.888; 95% CI: 1.319-11.466). Furthermore, older age (> 40 years) was a significant risk factor both CHIKV (aOR, 2.094; 95% CI: 0.846-5.185) and ONNV infection (aOR, 2.745; 95% CI: 1.212-6.216).ConclusionsOur study confirms the co-circulation of CHIKV and ONNV in Senegal, highlighting their geographic and demographic distribution. These findings underscore the need for continued surveillance, alphavirus testing, and tailored public health strategies to mitigate their impact in Senegal.
Immunotoxic Effects in Children Resulting from Prenatal and Early Childhood Exposure to Pesticides: Protocol and Pilot Study of a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Sherif Moustafa , Darwish Aya , Ádám Balázs 
Published: September 2024

AbstractBackgroundPesticides, commonly employed in both agricultural and domestic environments, have been associated with disturbing the balance of the immune system during prenatal and early childhood phases of development. This disturbance has the potential to result in various outcomes such as autoimmunity, immunosuppression, inflammation, hypersensitivity, tissue damage, and overall alterations in immune modulation. The escalating concern regarding the immunotoxic effects of pesticides necessitates a systematic review and potential meta-analysis to consolidate empirical evidence and address the knowledge gaps. This systematic review aims to comprehensively assess the immunotoxic impact of pesticide exposure on children, considering alterations in immune system function induced by specific types of pesticides.MethodsThrough a meticulous search of the literature and synthesis of findings, the review will scrutinize prevalence, effect size, mechanisms, vulnerable periods, and the role of pre-existing conditions. The submitted protocol to PROSPERO aligns with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P) statement, ensuring methodological rigor. A preliminary exploration involved a systematic search in electronic databases based on a pre-defined Population, Exposure, Comparator, and Outcome (PECO) statement. Data extraction sheets and risk of bias assessment tools were piloted on eight eligible articles to ensure reliability and efficiency. Subsequently, a rerun of the search will be executed, and two independent reviewers will employ the systematic review tool Covidence for article screening and data extraction, and Excel for risk of bias assessment. The results will be synthetized narratively in summary tables, and, if findings allow, meta-analysis including subgroup and sensitivity analysis will be conducted.DiscussionBy elucidating the intricate relationship between pesticide exposure and immunotoxicity during prenatal and early childhood, this review will provide insights into immune response that can contribute to public health awareness and guide interventions.PROSPERO Registration number[CRD42024510916].Impact StatementThis study will establish a high level of evidence to highlight the critical immunotoxic risks of prenatal and early childhood pesticide exposure, offering essential insights for public health policies and interventions to safeguard the infants during this vulnerable developmental periods.
Genome-wide association studies of Down syndrome associated congenital heart defects
Authors: Feldman Elizabeth R. , Li Yunqi , Cutler David J. , Rosser Tracie C. , Wechsler Stephanie B. , Sanclemente Lauren , Rachubinski Angela L. , Elliott Natalina , Vyas Paresh , Roberts Irene , Rabin Karen R. , Wagner Michael , Gelb Bruce D. , Espinosa Joaquin M. , Lupo Philip J. , de Smith Adam J. , Sherman Stephanie L. , Leslie Elizabeth J. 
Published: September 2024

AbstractCongenital heart defects (CHDs) are the most common structural birth defect and are present in 40-50% of children born with Down syndrome (DS). To characterize the genetic architecture of DS-associated CHD, we sequenced genomes of a multiethnic group of children with DS and a CHD (n=886: atrioventricular septal defects (AVSD), n=438; atrial septal defects (ASD), n=122; ventricular septal defects (VSD), n=170; other types of CHD, n=156) and DS with a structurally normal heart (DS+NH, n=572). We performed four GWAS for common variants (MAF>0.05) comparing DS with CHD, stratified by CHD-subtype, to DS+NH controls. Although no SNP achieved genome-wide significance, multiple loci in each analysis achieved suggestive significance (p<2×10−6). Of these, the 1p35.1 locus (nearRBBP4) was specifically associated with ASD risk and the 5q35.2 locus (nearMSX2) was associated with any type of CHD. Each of the suggestive loci contained one or more plausible candidate genes expressed in the developing heart. While no SNP replicated (p<2×10−6) in an independent cohort of DS+CHD (DS+CHD: n=229; DS+NH: n=197), most SNPs that were suggestive in our GWASs remained suggestive when meta-analyzed with the GWASs from the replication cohort. These results build on previous work to identify genetic modifiers of DS-associated CHD.
Loon Lens 1.0 Validation: Agentic AI for Title and Abstract Screening in Systematic Literature Reviews
Authors: Janoudi Ghayath , Uzun Mara , Jurdana Mia , Fuzul Ena , Ivkovic Josip 
Published: September 2024

AbstractIntroductionSystematic literature reviews (SLRs) are critical for informing clinical research and practice, but they are time-consuming and resource-intensive, particularly during Title and Abstract (TiAb) screening. Loon Lens, an autonomous, agentic AI platform, streamlines TiAb screening without the need for human reviewers to conduct any screening.MethodsThis study validates Loon Lens against human reviewer decisions across eight SLRs conducted by Canada’s Drug Agency, covering a range of drugs and eligibility criteria. A total of 3,796 citations were retrieved, with human reviewers identifying 287 (7.6%) for inclusion. Loon Lens autonomously screened the same citations based on the provided inclusion and exclusion criteria. Metrics such as accuracy, recall, precision, F1 score, specificity, and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated. Bootstrapping was applied to compute 95% confidence intervals.ResultsLoon Lens achieved an accuracy of 95.5% (95% CI: 94.8–96.1), with recall at 98.95% (95% CI: 97.57–100%) and specificity at 95.24% (95% CI: 94.54–95.89%). Precision was lower at 62.97% (95% CI: 58.39–67.27%), suggesting that Loon Lens included more citations for full-text screening compared to human reviewers. The F1 score was 0.770 (95% CI: 0.734–0.802), indicating a strong balance between precision and recall.ConclusionLoon Lens demonstrates the ability to autonomously conduct TiAb screening with a substantial potential for reducing the time and cost associated with manual or semi-autonomous TiAb screening in SLRs. While improvements in precision are needed, the platform offers a scalable, autonomous solution for systematic reviews. Access to Loon Lens is available upon request athttps://loonlens.com/.
Impact of vaccination on SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the UK: a modelling study
Authors: Derqui Nieves , Mishra Swapnil , Hinsley Wes R , Bhatt Samir , Laydon Daniel J 
Published: September 2024

AbstractBackgroundEfficacy and effectiveness of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 infection, severe disease and death have been widely assessed. However, the impact of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 transmission is far less well-characterized, and has major implications for public health, because it informs the indirect effects of vaccination in addition to its direct effects. Analysing the effects of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination on transmission is challenging, because they must be considered in tandem with the time-varying reproduction number (Rt), while also accounting for regional variability, for example due to the presence of more transmissible variants.MethodsWe fitted a Bayesian hierarchical model to previously obtained estimates ofRtto estimate the effectiveness of vaccination with one, two and three doses on SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the UK during 2021. Vaccine effectiveness is defined as the proportional reduction in the time-varying reproduction numberRt. The model accounts for transmission at national and Lower Tier Local Authority (LTLA)-level, and uses vaccination data provided by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), detailing the LTLA-specific proportions of people who have received doses one, two and three. The model also incorporates data on the proportion of wild-type, Alpha and Delta SARS-CoV-2 variants over time in each LTLA, obtained from UKHSA and the COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) Consortium.ResultsWe find that vaccination had moderate-to-large effectiveness against transmission for dose 1 (39.30%, 95% CrI 26.64% - 48.07%), and for dose 3 (48.69%, 95% CrI 27.97% - 71.30%), but negligible effects on dose 2, likely attributable to the coincident importation and dominance of the Delta variant in the UK. Nationally, our model fitted the previously estimated values of time-series ofRtvalues well, largely reproducing the reproduction number averaged across LTLAs for each timepoint. This lends support to our hypothesis that the extent of vaccination (or lack thereof) was a major determinant of transmission intensity. Our model fits further reproduced well the reproduction numbers at regional level, although outliers were less well captured, implying some degree of variation that is not explained by our model.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, our analysis is the first evidence of the effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination against its transmission at population level. We find that vaccination is an effective tool for the control of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, in addition to its well-documented effects on disease burden and mortality. Our results allow future assessment of the impact of vaccination accounting for several circulating variants and sociodemographic factors.
Establishing a Core Outcome Set for Creatine Transporter Deficiency and Guanidinoacetate Methyltransferase Deficiency
Authors: Nasseri Moghaddam Zahra , Reinhardt Emily K. , Thurm Audrey , Potter Beth K. , Smith Maureen , Graham Celeste , Tiller Beth H. , Baker Steven A. , Bilder Deborah A. , Bogar Regina , Britz Jacobus , Cafferty Rachel , Coller Daniel P. , DeGrauw Ton J. , Hall Vicky , Lipshutz Gerald S. , Longo Nicola , Mercimek-Andrews Saadet , Miller Judith S. , Pasquali Marzia , Salomons Gajja S. , Schulze Andreas , Wheaton Celine P. , Williams Kayla F. , Young Sarah P. , Li Jasmine , Balog Sofia , Selucky Theresa , Stockler-Ipsiroglu Sylvia , Wallis Heidi 
Published: September 2024

SUMMARYCreatine transporter (CTD) and guanidinoacetate methyltransferase (GAMT) deficiencies are rare inborn errors of creatine metabolism, resulting in cerebral creatine deficiency. Patients commonly exhibit intellectual and developmental disabilities, often accompanied by behavior problems, delayed speech, seizures, and motor impairments. There is currently no efficacious treatment for CTD, while the current management for GAMT requires lifelong treatment with a protein restricted diet and intake of high amounts of oral supplements. Efforts to develop effective, sustainable treatments for these disorders are limited by the lack of clinical and patient-derived meaningful outcomes. A core outcome set (COS) can facilitate consensus about outcomes for inclusion in studies. Unfortunately, patient and caregiver perspectives have historically been overlooked in the COS development process, thus limiting their input into the outcome selection. We partnered with caregivers and health professionals to establish the first COS for CTD and GAMT. The COS developed includes seven outcomes (“Adaptive Functioning”, “Cognitive Functioning”, “Emotional Dysregulation”, “MRS Brain Creatine”, “Seizure/Convulsions”, “Expressive Communication”, and “Fine Motor Functions”) for both CTD and GAMT, and an additional outcome for GAMT (“Serum/Plasma Guanidinoacetate”) that are important to stakeholders and consequently should be considered for measurement in every clinical trial. Caregivers were valued partners throughout the COS development process, which increased community engagement and facilitated caregiver empowerment. We expect this COS will ensure a patient-centered approach for accelerating drug development for CTD and GAMT, make clinical trial results comparable, minimize bias in clinical trial outcome selection, and promote efficient use of resources.1-sentence take home messageA core outcome set for creatine transporter (CTD) and guanidinoacetate methyltransferase (GAMT) deficiencies was created through a multiphase process in partnership with caregivers and health professionals.
Effects of Statin Therapy in Patients Treated with Drug-Eluting and Drug- Coated Stents for Femoropopliteal Lesions: STAR-FP Study Outcomes
Authors: Takei Tatsuro , Tokuda Takahiro , Yoshioka Naoki , Ogata Kenji , Tanaka Akiko , Kojima Shunsuke , Yamaguchi Kohei , Yanagiuchi Takashi , Nakama Tatsuya 
Published: September 2024

AbstractBackgroundThe effects of statins on drug-eluting stents (DESs) and drug-coated stents (DCSs) for femoropopliteal (FP) lesions are not well known. Therefore, this multicenter retrospective evaluated the impact of statins on DES and DCS patency.MethodsBetween January 2018 and December 2021, 449 patients were treated with DES and DCS at eight cardiovascular centers in Japan (LEADers FP registry). These lesions were divided into statin-treated and non-statin-treated arms. After propensity score matching, the effects of statins on DES and DCS were evaluated. The 2-year primary outcome measure was stent patency. The secondary outcomes included secondary patency, clinically driven target lesion revascularization (CD-TLR), limb salvage, major adverse limb events (MALE, CD-TLR+ major amputation), and a composite of overall survival and MALE or all-cause death at 2 years.ResultsAfter propensity score matching, the baseline and procedural characteristics did not differ significantly between the 135 patient pairs in the statin and non-statin groups. The primary patency at two years was significantly better in the statin group than in the non-statin group (86.9% vs. 75.1%, p=0.041). Regarding the secondary endpoints, the statin group demonstrated significantly superior secondary patency and freedom from MALE or all-cause mortality (95.5% vs. 87.0%, p=0.023 and 73.7% vs. 60.0%, p=0.012, respectively).ConclusionsThe results of this retrospective multicenter study demonstrated the superior primary patency in the statin group compared with the non-statin group at two years. These findings suggest that statins improve patency in patients undergoing DES and DCS.