bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessment of the Performance of Expired and Unexpired BinaxNOW COVID Rapid Antigen Test Kits Using Positive and Negative Controls
Authors: Vaeth Mary Jane E. , Mitchell Asia , Sun Kristie , Foyez Maisha , Byrd Lourdes , Elhabashy Maryam , Cheema Minahil , Gupta Ishaan , Purekal Sophia , Locke Charles , Kantsiper Melinda , Siddiqui Zishan 
Published: March 2023

AbstractRapid antigen tests are widely used to diagnose infection with SARS-CoV-2, and millions of kits have been distributed for free by government agencies. However, unused and expired kits beyond their final expiration dates remain prevalent in people’s homes. This study aimed to determine the accuracy of expired BinaxNOW COVID rapid antigen test kits. 100 expired and 100 unexpired test kits were checked for sensitivity and specificity using positive and negative controls, respectively. The results showed that there was no change in the sensitivity and specificity of BinaxNOW COVID rapid antigen test kits four months beyond the manufacturer-extended expiration date when using manufacturer-provided positive controls. The findings provide confidence in the accuracy of expired test kits, which could potentially reduce waste and strengthen supply chain resilience for pandemic preparedness. Further research utilizing actual human specimens can help determine the true accuracy of expired rapid antigen test kits in clinical use.
Multiomics machine learning identifies inflammation molecular pathways in prodromal Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Gómez-Pascual Alicia , Naccache Talel , Xu Jin , Hooshmand Kourosh , Wretlind Asger , Gabrielli Martina , Lombardo Marta Tiffany , Shi Liu , Buckley Noel J. , Tijms Betty M. , Vos Stephanie J. B. , ten Kate Mara , Engelborghs Sebastiaan , Sleegers Kristel , Frisoni Giovanni B. , Wallin Anders , Lleó Alberto , Popp Julius , Martinez-Lage Pablo , Streffer Johannes , Barkhof Frederik , Zetterberg Henrik , Visser Pieter Jelle , Lovestone Simon , Bertram Lars , Nevado-Holgado Alejo J. , Gualerzi Alice , Picciolini Silvia , Proitsi Petroula , Verderio Claudia , Botía Juan A. , Legido-Quigley Cristina 
Published: March 2023

AbstractMild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a phase that can precede Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). To better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying conversion from MCI to AD, we applied a battery of machine learning algorithms on 800 samples from the EMIF-AD MBD study. The cohort comprised participants diagnosed as 230 normal cognition (NC), 386 MCI (with longitudinal data on AD conversion or remaining stable) and 184 AD-type dementia. Data consisted of metabolites (n=540) and proteins (n=3630) measured in plasma coupled to clinical data (n=26). Multiclass models selected oleamide, MMSE and the priority language as the most confident features while MCI conversion models selected pTau, tTau and JPH3, CFP, SNCA and PI15 proteins. These proteins selected for MCI conversion have been previously associated with AD-related phenotype. Oleamide, a possible anti-inflammatory, prompted in-vitro experiments in rodent microglia. The results demonstrated that disease-associated microglia synthesize oleamide which were excreted in vesicles. In addition, plasma vesicles extracted from participants with AD showed elevated oleamide levels compared to controls (P<0.05). This study uncovered MCI conversion pathways that involve inflammation, neuronal regulation and protein degradation.Graphical abstract
Reference values of Complete blood count in healthy adult Eritrean
Authors: Noury Ahmed O , Musa Omer A. , Gasmalbari Elmuiz , Bakhit Barakat M , Tesfamariam Eyasu H , Abraha Daniel M , Ghebre Zekarias B , Suleman Omer , Tesfay Efrem G , Hailezghi Filmon G 
Published: March 2023

AbstractBackgroundBlood count is the most commonly prescribed biological examination in general medical practice. The reference intervals of the hematological parameters of this examination are critical for clinical orientations and therapeutic decisions. Because there are racial, ethnic, and geographical differences in complete blood count (CBC) reference intervals (RIs), population-specific RIs must be established. The goals of this study were to identify hematological reference ranges in healthy adult Eritreans.Method942 healthy Eritreans between 18 and 60 years old were included,331 males and 611 females by use of a DXH500 analyzer, age ranging between 18-60 years. The venous blood sample was collected in a tube containing EDTA anticoagulant for the blood tests. SPSS version 25 statistical software was used for data analysis, P value < 0.05 was considered significant A non-parametric test was used for the determination of upper (97.5th percentile) and lower (2.5th percentile) reference interval limits with 95% CI. The Harris and Boyd Rule is used to determine the need for partitioning of reference intervals based on gender.ResultsThe established 95% reference intervals combined median (2.5th–97.5th percentile) for both males and females were: WBCs: 6.37 (3.02-13.55×103/µL), Lymph%:39.34 (21.39-60.54 %), Mono %:8.98 (5.18-14.54%), Neut%: 49.13(16.90-81.98 %), Baso%: 0.22 (0.00-0.63%), MCV: 87.67 (76.58-97.29fl), MCH: 27.53 (20.46-32.70 pg), MCHC: 31.38 (25.20-35.30 g/dl, RDW: 14.65 (12.70-18.60 %), PLT: 286.83 (131.62-453.13 ×103/µL) and MPV: 8.92 (7.28-11.01fl). The parameters that demand separate RI and Their respective median (2.5th – 97.5th percentile) for males versus females were: Eosin: 3.86 (0.29-16.68 %) versus 1.80 (0.20-6.73 %), RBCs: 5.57 (4.47-7.69×106/µL) versus 4.97 (3.98-6.38×106/µL), Hb: 15.28 (11.48-17.99 g/dl) versus 13.50 (10.74-16.54 g/dl), and HCT: 48.75 (38.96-61.17 %) versus 43.19 (34.86-58.60 %).The median of WBCs was significantly higher in females than males, the mean WBCs were lower in people residing at high altitudes compared to those leaving at low altitudes, The WBC is significantly higher among obese participants. The median Platelet count is significantly higher in females than in males.ConclusionThe reference intervals established in this study differ from the international one and thus should be used for the interpretation of laboratory results in diagnosis and follow-up in Eritrea. The study showed significant variations in Hb levels, RBCs count, WBCs count, and platelet according to gender, Age, BMI, and physical activity.
Cost-Effectiveness of a Pediatric Operating Room Installation in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Yap Ava , Halid Salamatu I. , Ukwu Nancy , Laverde Ruth , Park Paul , Klazura Greg , Bryce Emma , Cheung Maija , Marseille Elliot , Ozgediz Doruk , Ameh Emmanuel A. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe unmet need for pediatric surgery incurs enormous health and economic consequences globally, predominantly shouldered by Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where children comprise almost half of the population. Lack of economic impact data on improving pediatric surgical infrastructure in SSA precludes informed allocation of limited resources towards the most cost-effective interventions to bolster global surgery for children. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of installing and maintaining a pediatric operating room in a hospital in Nigeria with a pre-existing pediatric surgical service by constructing a decision tree model of pediatric surgical delivery at this facility over a year, comparing scenarios before and after the installation of two dedicated pediatric operating rooms (ORs), which were funded philanthropically. Health outcomes measured in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) averted were informed by the hospital’s operative registry and prior literature. A societal perspective included costs incurred by the hospital system, charity, and patients’ families. Costs were annualized and reported in 2021 United States dollars ($). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) of the annualized OR installation were presented from charity and societal perspectives. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed. We found that the installation and maintenance of two pediatric operating rooms averted 1145 DALYs and cost $155,509 annually. Annualized OR installation cost was $87,728 (56% of the overall cost). The ICER of the OR installation was $152 per DALY averted (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 147-156) from the societal perspective, and $77 per DALY averted (95% UI 75-81) from the charity perspective. These ICERs were well under the cost-effectiveness threshold of the country’s half-GDP per capita in 2020 ($1043) and remained cost-effective in one-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. Installation of additional pediatric operating rooms in SSA with pre-existing pediatric surgical capacity is therefore very cost-effective, supporting investment in children’s global surgical infrastructure as an economically sound intervention.
Whole-Body Photobiomodulation Therapy for Fibromyalgia: A Feasibility Trial
Authors: Fitzmaurice Bethany C , Heneghan Nicola R , Rayen Asius TA , Grenfell Rebecca L , Soundy Andrew A 
Published: March 2023

AbstractEffective treatment for fibromyalgia (FM) is lacking and further treatment options are needed. Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) represents one potential treatment option. Whilst favourable findings have been reported using localised PBMT, no investigations have established the value of whole-body PBMT for the complete set of symptom domains in FM. A single-arm feasibility study was conducted in accordance to CONSORT guidelines. A non- probability sampling method was used to access individuals with FM. The primary outcome measure was identified as the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR). Forty-nine participants were screened and 21 trial participants entered the trial. Nineteen participants completed the intervention (18 whole-body PBMT sessions over approximately six weeks). Descriptive statistics and qualitative analysis was undertaken to represent feasibility outcomes. Acceptability of the trial device and processes were established. Outcome measures towards efficacy data were guided by core and peripheral OMERACT domains, utilising a combination of participant-reported and performance-based outcome measures. Positive changes were observed for FM-specific quality of life, pain, tenderness, stiffness, fatigue, sleep disturbance, anxiety, depression and cognitive impairment. Patient global assessment revealed improvements at 6 weeks, with continued effect at 24 weeks. FM- specific quality of life at 24 weeks remained improved compared with baseline scores. Data for the embedded qualitative component of the trial were captured by participant-reported experience measures and audio-recorded semi-structured interviews. Findings provide evidence to support a full-scale trial and shows promise regarding potential efficacy of this novel non-invasive treatment in an FM population.
Spectrum of Genetic Disorders and Gene Variants in the United Arab Emirates National Population: Insights from the CTGA Database
Authors: Bizzari Sami , Nair Pratibha , Hana Sayeeda , Deepthi Asha , Al-Ali Mahmoud Taleb , Al-Gazali Lihadh , El-Hayek Stephany 
Published: March 2023

AbstractLike many other Arab countries, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has a relatively high prevalence of genetic disorders. Here we present the first review and analysis of all genetic disorders and gene variants reported in Emirati nationals and hosted on the Catalogue for Transmission Genetics in Arabs (CTGA), an open-access database hosting bibliographic data on human gene variants associated with inherited or heritable phenotypes in Arabs. To date, CTGA hosts 665 distinct genetic conditions that have been described in Emiratis, 621 of which follow a clear Mendelian inheritance. Strikingly, over half of these are extremely rare according to global prevalence rates, predominantly with an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. This is likely due to the relatively high consanguinity rates within the Emirati population. The 665 conditions include disorders that are unique to the Emirati population, as well as clearly monogenic disorders that have not yet been mapped to a causal genetic locus. We also describe 1,365 gene variants reported in Emiratis, most of which are substitutions and over half are classified as likely pathogenic or pathogenic. Of these, 235 had not been reported on the international databases dbSNP and Clinvar, as of December 2022. Further analysis of this Emirati variant dataset allows a comparison of clinical significance as reported by Clinvar and CTGA, where the latter is derived from the study cited. A total of 307 pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants from CTGA’s Emirati dataset, were classified as benign, variants of uncertain significance, or were missing a clinical significance or had not been reported by Clinvar. In conclusion, we present here the spectrum of genetic disorders and gene variants reported in Emiratis. This review emphasizes the importance of ethnic databases such as CTGA in addressing the underrepresentation of Arab variant data in international databases and documenting population - specific discrepancies in variant interpretation, reiterating the value of such repositories for clinicians and researchers, especially when dealing with rare disorders.
Improving the impact of pharmacy interventions in hospitals
Authors: Baptista Rafael , Williams Mary , Price Jayne 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe interventions of pharmacy professionals are considered impactful inputs towards optimised patient care and safety, by rationalising prescriptions, enhancing therapeutic choices and reducing and preventing medication errors and adverse effects. Between October 2020 and October 2021, the community hospitals at Powys Teaching Health Board recorded 158 interventions, corresponding to 0.4 interventions per pharmacy staff per week. Predominantly, only two members of the team were recording these pharmacy interventions (PIs). Poor indicative PIs can result in lost opportunities for medication optimisation and prescribing rationalisation, increased costs and unidentified education and training potentials.The aims of this project were (1) to record 180 interventions between 22/11/2021 and 08/04/2022 (20 weeks), corresponding to an average 3-fold increase, compared to the interventions recorded between October 2020 and October 2021 (52 weeks); (2) to have all hospital pharmacy staff recording at least one intervention during the same period.The number of interventions recorded and the number of pharmacy staff recording each intervention were two process measures. The project was completed through two Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles and applied theory on managing change in healthcare.The most successful intervention influencing positively the process measures was the implementation of a newPharmacy InterventionRecordTool (xPIRT) toolkit that included an online recording tool (xPIRT) and an interactive panel with up-to-date results from all interventions recorded (xPIRT Dashboard). Motivating change was proven to be one of the best determinants of user satisfaction and engagement that contributed to meet the project’s targets. xPIRT Dashboard provided staff the capacity to act on possible personal motivators and the possibility to improving care with medicines on their wards. The implementation of xPIRT toolkit was able to increase the representativity and significance of PIs recorded by the hospital pharmacy team and it is expected to be used for personal professional development, demonstrating team activity and impact, service planning, prescribing practice optimisation, and to identify education/training needs. This toolkit can be easily applied and adapted to other health organisations, settings and services.
Effects of Race on Chronic Pain in a Randomized Clinical Trial of Integrative Medical Group Visits
Authors: Polcari Justin J. , Incollingo Rodriguez Angela C. , Nephew Benjamin C. , Melican Veronica , King Jean A. , Gardiner Paula 
Published: March 2023

ABSTRACTChronic pain is one of the most common reasons adults seek medical care in the US, with estimates of prevalence ranging from 11% to 40% and relatively higher rates in diverse populations. Mindfulness meditation has been associated with significant improvements in pain, depression, physical and mental health, sleep, and overall quality of life. Group medical visits are increasingly common and are effective at treating myriad illnesses including chronic pain. Integrative Medical Group Visits (IMGV) combine mindfulness techniques, evidence based integrative medicine, and medical group visits and can be used as adjuncts to medications, particularly in diverse underserved populations with limited access to non-pharmacological therapies. The objective of the present study was to assess the effects of race on the primary pain outcomes and evaluate potential relationships between race and additional patient characteristics in data from a randomized clinical trial of IMGV in socially diverse, marginalized patients suffering from chronic pain and depression. It was hypothesized that there would be racial differences in the effects of IMGV on pain outcomes. Our analyses identified significant racial differences in the response to IMGV. Black subjects had increased pain severity throughout the duration of the 21-week study but were less likely to respond to the pain intervention compared to White subjects. These results may be related to differential comorbidity rates, catastrophizing, and digital health literacy among these participant groups. To improve patient outcomes in similar studies, interactions between pain outcomes and these factors require further investigation to affect levels and trajectory of pain severity and enhance the response to complimentary interventions.
N-MYC regulates Cell Survival via eIF4G1 in inv(16) Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Peramangalam Philomina Sona , Surapally Sridevi , Zheng Shikan , Burns Robert , Zhu Nan , Rao Sridhar , Muller-Tidow Carsten , Pulikkan John A. 
Published: March 2023

Abstractc-MYC and N-MYC are critical regulators of hematopoietic stem cell activity. While the role of c-MYC deregulation is studied in detail in hematological malignancies, the importance of N-MYC deregulation in leukemogenesis remains elusive. Here we demonstrate that N-MYC is overexpressed in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells with chromosome inversion inv(16) and crucial to the survival and maintenance of inv(16) leukemia. We identified a novelMYCNenhancer, active in multiple AML subtypes, essential for MYCN mRNA levels and survival in inv(16) AML cells. We also identified eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4 gamma 1 (eIF4G1) as a key N-MYC target that sustains leukemic survival in inv(16) AML cells. Ours is the first report to demonstrate the oncogenic role of eIF4G1 in AML. Our results reveal a mechanism whereby N-MYC drives a leukemic transcriptional program and provide a rationale for the therapeutic targeting of the N-MYC/eIF4G1 axis in myeloid leukemia.
Medieval social landscape through the genetic history of Cambridgeshire before and after the Black Death
Authors: Hui Ruoyun , Scheib Christiana L. , D’Atanasio Eugenia , Inskip Sarah A. , Cessford Craig , Biagini Simone A. , Wohns Anthony W. , Ali Muhammad Q.A. , Griffith Samuel J. , Solnik Anu , Niinemäe Helja , Ge Xiangyu Jack , Rose Alice K. , Beneker Owyn , O’Connell Tamsin C. , Robb John E. , Kivisild Toomas 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe extent of the devastation of the Black Death pandemic (1346-53) on European populations is known from documentary sources and its bacterial source illuminated by studies of ancient pathogen DNA. What has remained less understood is the effect of the pandemic on human mobility and genetic diversity at local scale in the context of the social stratification of medieval communities. Here we study 275 newly reported ancient genomes from later medieval and post-medieval Cambridgeshire, from individuals buried before, during, and after the Black Death. The majority of individuals examined had local genetic ancestries. Consistent with the function of the institutions, we found a lack of close relatives among the friars and the inmates of the hospital in contrast to their abundance in general urban and rural parish communities. Accounting for the genetic component for height accentuates the disparities between social groups in stature estimated from long bones, as a proxy for health and the quality of life. While we detect long-term shifts in local genetic ancestry in Cambridgeshire that either pre- or postdate the Black Death, we find no evidence of major changes in genetic ancestry nor, in contrast to recent claims, higher differentiation of immune loci between cohorts living before and after the Black Death.
Prognostic Significance of Different Ventricular Ectopic Burdens During Exercise in Asymptomatic UK Biobank Subjects
Authors: van Duijvenboden Stefan , Ramírez Julia , Orini Michele , Doherty Aiden , Tinker Andrew , Munroe Patricia B. , Lambiase Pier D. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractBackground and AimsThe consequences of exercise-induced premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) in asymptomatic individuals remain unclear. This study aimed to assess the association between PVC burdens during stress testing and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; myocardial infarction (MI), life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia (LTVA), and heart failure (HF)), and all-cause mortality. Additional end-points were: MI, LTVA, HF and cardiovascular mortality.MethodsA neural network was developed to count PVCs from ECGs recorded during exercise (6 min) and recovery (1 min) in 48,502 asymptomatic participants from UK Biobank. Associations were estimated using multivariable Cox proportional hazard models.ResultsMean age was 56.8 (+/-8.2 years); 51.1% were female, and median follow-up was 11.5 years. Low PVC counts during exercise and recovery were both associated with MACE risk, independently from clinical factors: adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 1.2 (2-4 exercise PVCs, p = 0.022) and HR 1.2, (1 recovery PVC, p = 0.031). Risk increased with increasing PVC count: HR 1.8 (>25 exercise PVCs, p<0.001) and HR 1.5 (≥5 recovery PVCs, p < 0.001). A similar trend was observed for all-cause mortality, although associations were only significant for higher PVC burdens: HRs: 1.4 (11-25 exercise PVCs, p = 0.007) and 1.5 (≥5 recovery PVCs, p < 0.001). Complex PVCs rhythms were associated with higher risk compared to PVC count alone. PVCs were also strongly associated with incident HF, LTVA, and cardiovascular mortality, but not MI.ConclusionPVC count during exercise and recovery are both associated with MACE, all-cause mortality, HF, LTVAs and cardiovascular mortality, independent of clinical and exercise stress test factors, indicating a “dose response” between PVC count and risk. Complex PVCs rhythms are associated with higher risk compared to PVC count alone.