bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Shifting patterns of dengue three years after Zika virus emergence in Brazil
Authors: Pinotti Francesco , Giovanetti Marta , de Lima Maricelia Maia , de Cerqueira Erenilde Marques , Alcantara Luiz CJ , Gupta Sunetra , Recker Mario , Lourenço José 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThe Zika virus (ZIKV) emerged in Brazil in 2015, causing large outbreaks across South America and the Caribbean. In the years that followed, many countries in these areas reported exceptionally low circulation of Dengue virus (DENV), which later resurged in 2018-2019. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain low DENV transmission, yet no consensus has been reached so far. We show that while short-term cross-protection induced by ZIKV can explain the temporary disappearance of DENV, it also predicts, in contrast with observations, a rising mean age of DENV incidence in the post-ZIKV era. We further demonstrate that disease enhancement of DENV, especially in primary infections in ZIKV-positive hosts, is required to remedy these shortfalls. Our results suggest that both population-level immunity to DENV and ZIKV contributed positively to the reduction in mean age of DENV incidence.
Inequity in the face of success: Understanding geographic and wealth-based equity in success of facility-based delivery for under-5 mortality reduction in six countries
Authors: Ntawukuriryayo Jovial Thomas , VanderZanden Amelia , Amberbir Alemayehu , Teklu Alula , Huda Fauzia Akhter , Maskey Mahesh , Sall Mohamadou , Garcia Patricia J , Subedi Raj Kumar , Felix Sayinzoga , Hirschhorn Lisa R , Binagwaho Agnes 
Published: June 2023

AbstractBackgroundBetween 2000-2015, many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) implemented evidence-based interventions (EBIs) known to reduce under-5 mortality (U5M). Even among LMICs successful in reducing U5M, this drop was unequal subnationally, with varying success in EBI implementation. Building on mixed methods multi-case studies of six LMICs (Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Nepal, Peru, Rwanda, and Senegal) leading in U5M reduction, we describe geographic and wealth-based equity in facility-based delivery (FBD), a critical EBI to reduce neonatal mortality which requires a trusted and functional health system, and comparethe implementation strategies and contextual factors which influenced success or challenges within and across the countries.MethodsTo obtain equity gaps in FBD coverage and changes in absolute geographic and wealth-based equity between 2000-2015, we calculated the difference between the highest and lowest FBD coverage across subnational regions and in the FBD coverage between the richest and poorest wealth quintiles. We extracted and compared contextual factors and implementation strategies associated with reduced or remaining inequities from the country case studies.ResultsThe absolute geographic and wealth-based equity gaps decreased in three countries, with greatest drops in Rwanda – decreasing from 50% to 5% across subnational regions and from 43% to 13% across wealth quintiles. The largest increases were seen in Bangladesh – from 10% to 32% across geography – and in Ethiopia – from 22% to 58% across wealth quintiles. Facilitators to reducing equity gaps across the six countries included leadership commitment and culture of data use; in some countries, community or maternal and child health insurance was also an important factor (Rwanda and Peru). Barriers across all the countries included geography, while country-specific barriers included low female empowerment subnationally (Bangladesh) and cultural beliefs (Ethiopia). Successful strategies included building on community health worker (CHW) programs, with country-specific adaptation of pre-existing CHW programs (Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Senegal) and cultural adaptation of delivery protocols (Peru). Reducing delivery costs was successful in Senegal, and partially successful in Nepal and Ethiopia.ConclusionVariable success in reducing inequity in FBD coverage among countries successful in reducing U5M underscores the importance of measuring not just coverage but also equity. Learning from FBD interventions shows the need to prioritize equity in access and uptake of EBIs for the poor and in remote areas by adapting the strategies to local context.
Modifying gut integrity and microbiome in children with severe acute malnutrition using legume-based feeds (MIMBLE II): A Phase II trial
Authors: Walsh Kevin , Kiosia Agklinta , Olupot-Oupot Peter , Okiror William , Ssenyond Tonny , Okalebo Charles Bernard , Muhindo Rita , Mpoya Ayub , George Elizabeth C , Frost Gary , Maitland Kathryn 
Published: June 2023

AbstractBackgroundChildren hospitalised with severe malnutrition (SM) have high mortality and relapse/readmission rates. Current milk-based formulations targets restoring ponderal growth but not modification of gut barrier integrety or microbiome which increase risk of gram-negative sepsis and poor outcomes.ObjectivesWe propose that legume-based feeds rich in fermentable carbohydrates will promote better gut health and improve overall outcomes.MethodsWe conducted at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, Uganda an open-label Phase II trial involving 160 Ugandan children with SM (mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) <11.5cm and/or nutritional oedema). Children were randomised to a lactose-free, chickpea-enriched legume paste feed (LF) (n=80) versus WHO standard F75/F100 feeds (n=80). Co-primary outcomes were change in MUAC and mortality to Day 90. Secondary outcomes included weight gain (>5 g/kg/day),de novodevelopment of diarrhoea, time to diarrhoea and oedema resolution.FindingsIncrease in Day 90 MUAC was similar in LF and WHO arms (1.1 cm (interquatile range.IQR 1.1) vs 1.4cm (IQR 1.40) p=0.09. Day 90 mortality was similar 11/80 (13.8%) vs 12/80 (15%) respectively OR 0.91 (0.40 -2.07) p=0.83. There were no differences in any of the other secondary outcomes. Owing to initial poor palatability of the legume feed 10 children switched to WHO feeds. Per protocol analysis indicated a non-significant trend to lower Day 90 mortality and readmission rates in the legume feed (6/60: (10%) and (2/60: 3%) vs WHO feeds (12/71: 17.5%) and (4/71: 6%) respectively.ConclusionFurther refinement of legume feeds and clinical trials are warrented given the poor outcomes in children with severe malnutrition.Trial registrationISRCTN 10309022.FundingConfidence in Concepts – Joint Translational Fund 2017(Imperial College, London)
Interpretable Speech Features vs. DNN Embeddings: What to Use in the Automatic Assessment of Parkinson’s Disease in Multi-lingual Scenarios
Authors: Favaro Anna , Tsai Yi-Ting , Butala Ankur , Thebaud Thomas , Villalba Jesús , Dehak Najim , Moro-Velázquez Laureano 
Published: June 2023

AbstractIndividuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) develop speech impairments that deteriorate their communication capabilities. Speech-based approaches for PD assessment rely on feature extraction for automatic classification or detection. It is desirable for these features to be interpretable to facilitate their development as diagnostic tools in clinical environments. However, many studies propose detection techniques based on non-interpretable embeddings from Deep Neural Networks since these provide high detection accuracy, and do not compare them with the performance of interpretable features for the same task. The goal of this work was twofold: providing a systematic comparison between the predictive capabilities of models based on interpretable and non-interpretable features and exploring the language robustness of the features themselves. As interpretable features, prosodic, linguistic, and cognitive descriptors were employed. As non-interpretable features, x-vectors, Wav2Vec 2.0, HuBERT, and TRILLsson representations were used. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study applying TRILLsson and HuBERT to PD detection. Mono-lingual, multi-lingual, and cross-lingual machine learning experiments were conducted on six data sets. These contain speech recordings from different languages: American English, Castilian Spanish, Colombian Spanish, Italian, German, and Czech. For interpretable feature-based models, the mean of the best F1-scores obtained from each language was 81% in mono-lingual, 81% in multi-lingual, and 71% in cross-lingual experiments. For non-interpretable feature-based models, instead, they were 85% in mono-lingual, 88% in multi-lingual, and 79% in cross-lingual experiments. On one hand, models based on non-interpretable features outperformed interpretable ones, especially in cross-lingual experiments. Among the non-interpretable features used, TRILLsson provided the most stable and accurate results across tasks and data sets. Conversely, the two types of features adopted showed some level of language robustness in multi-lingual and cross-lingual experiments. Overall, these results suggest that interpretable feature-based models can be used by clinicians to evaluate the evolution and the possible deterioration of the speech of patients with PD, while non-interpretable feature-based models can be leveraged to achieve higher detection accuracy.HighlightsBoth interpretable and non-interpretable features displayed robust behaviors.Models based on non-interpretable features outperformed interpretable ones.Interpretable feature-based models provide insights into speech and language deterioration.Non-interpretable feature-based models can be used to achieve higher detection accuracy.
Unveiling Women’s Experiences Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria: An Interpretive phenomenological analysis
Authors: Ndu M. , Teachman G. , Martin J. , Nouvet E. 
Published: June 2023

AbstractBackgroundThe past three years have seen an increasing gap in health inequalities in Nigeria’s health systems, with many women having trouble accessing health care due to persistent social determinants of health. Studies indicate that the amplified impact of the pandemic is due to the lack of contextual focus on response plans. This study used an interpretive phenomenological analysis to analyze women’s experiences with healthcare as the pandemic progressed in Nigeria.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted between August to November 2022. It was supplemented with three focus group discussions with mothers. The mothers were purposively recruited for their experiences with health care during the pandemic. The analysis of the interviews followed the interpretive phenomenological analysis approach.ResultsTwenty-four women aged 15 to 49 years with children between 0 and 5 years participated in this study. These women reported mixed experiences during the pandemic, with many attributing positive health behaviours to the pandemic. Following analysis, four themes emerged: i) Influence of diversity of Healthcare Practices and Beliefs on health-seeking behaviour; ii) Unpacking Systemic Barriers to Seeking Timely and Appropriate Health Care Services; iii) Women’s fear of contracting COVID-19; iv) Socioeconomic Burden for Holistic Health Care Delivery.ConclusionHealth planners must examine contextual factors that drive health usage, especially potentially changing gender dynamics ahead of the next pandemic. This paper examined women’s decision to seek or not seek care, the type of care they received, and where they went for care. Women felt that the pandemic affected their decision to seek or not seek care. However, while they learned new behaviours that are now integrated into their daily lives, they also indicate that some behaviours are habitual and have persisted through the pandemic.
Seasonal purchase of antihistamines and ovarian cancer risk in the Cancer Loyalty Card Study (CLOCS): results from an observational case-control study
Authors: Brewer Hannah R. , Jiang Qianhui , Sundar Sudha , Hirst Yasemin , Flanagan James M. 
Published: June 2023

AbstractObjectiveAntihistamine use has previously been associated with a reduction in incidence of ovarian cancer, particularly in pre-menopausal women. Herein, we investigate antihistamine exposure in relation to ovarian cancer risk using a novel data resource by examining purchase histories from retailer loyalty card data.Study DesignA subset of participants from the Cancer Loyalty Card Study (CLOCS) for which purchase histories were available were analysed in this study. Cases (n=153) were women in the UK with a first diagnosis of ovarian cancer between Jan 2018 – Jan 2022. Controls (n=120) were women in the UK without a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Up to 6 years of purchase history was retrieved from two participating high street retailers from 2014-2022.Main outcome measuresLogistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for ovarian cancer associated with antihistamine purchases, ever versus never, adjusting for age and oral contraceptive use. The association was stratified by season of purchase, age over and under 50 years, ovarian cancer histology, and family history.ResultsEver purchasing antihistamines was not significantly associated with ovarian cancer overall in this small study (OR:0.68, 95% CI: 0.39,1.19). However, antihistamine purchases were significantly associated with reduced ovarian cancer risk when purchased only in spring and/or summer (OR: 0.37, 95% CI: 0.17,0.82) compared with purchasing all year (OR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.51,1.92). In the stratified analysis, the association was strongest in non-serous ovarian cancer (OR: 0.41, 95% CI:0.18,0.93).ConclusionsAntihistamine purchase is associated with reduced ovarian cancer risk when purchased seasonally in spring and summer. However, larger studies and more research is required to understand the mechanisms of reduced ovarian cancer risk related to seasonal purchases of antihistamines and allergies.
Multi-omic transcriptional, brain, and clinical variations in schizophrenia
Authors: Cui Long-Biao , Zhao Shu-Wan , Zhang Ya-Hong , Chen Kun , Fu Yu-Fei , Qi Ting , Wang Mengya , Fan Jing-Wen , Gu Yue-Wen , Liu Xiao-Fan , Li Xiao-Sa , Wu Wen-Jun , Wu Di , Wang Hua-Ning , Liu Yong , Yin Hong , van den Heuvel Martijn P. , Wei Yongbin 
Published: June 2023

AbstractHow genetic risk variants may relate to brain abnormalities is crucial for understanding cross-scale pathophysiological mechanisms underlying schizophrenia. The present study identifies brain structural correlates of variation in gene expression in schizophrenia and its clinical significance. Of 43 patients with schizophrenia, RNA-seq data from blood samples, MRI, and clinical assessments were collected, together with data from 60 healthy controls. Gene expression differentiation between schizophrenia and health controls was assessed and cross-referenced to schizophrenia-related genomic variations (GWAS on 76,755 patients and 243,649 controls and GWAS on 22,778 East Asian patients) and brain gene expressions (samples from 559 patients and 175 individuals). Multivariate correlation analysis was employed to examine associations across gene expression, brain volume, and clinical assessments. Differentially expressed genes in blood samples from patients with schizophrenia were significantly enriched for genes previously reported in genome-wide association studies on schizophrenia (P= 0.002, false discovery rate corrected) and were associated with gene expression differentiation in the brain (P= 0.016, 5,000 permutations). Transcriptional levels of differentially expressed genes were found to significantly correlate with gray matter volume in the frontal and temporal regions of cognitive brain networks in schizophrenia (q< 0.05, false discovery rate corrected). A significant correlation was further observed between gene expression, gray matter volume, and performance in the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale test (P= 0.031). Our findings suggest that genomic variations in schizophrenia are associated with differentiation in the blood transcriptome, which further plays a role in individual variations in macroscale brain structure and cognition.
Optimization of nutritional strategies using a mechanistic computational model in prediabetes: Application to the J-DOIT1 study data
Authors: Chen Julia H. , Fukasawa Momoko , Sakane Naoki , Suganuma Akiko , Kuzuya Hideshi , Pandey Shikhar , D’Alessandro Paul , Venkatapurapu Sai Phanindra , Dwivedi Gaurav 
Published: June 2023

AbstractLifestyle interventions have been shown to prevent or delay the onset of diabetes; however, inter-individual variability in responses to such interventions makes lifestyle recommendations challenging. We analyzed the Japan Diabetes Outcome Intervention Trial-1 (J-DOIT1) study data using a previously published mechanistic simulation model of type 2 diabetes onset and progression to understand the causes of inter-individual variability and to optimize dietary intervention strategies at an individual level. J-DOIT1, a large-scale lifestyle randomized intervention study, involved 2607 subjects with a 4.2-year median follow-up period. We selected 112 individuals from the J-DOIT1 study and calibrated the mechanistic model to each participant’s body weight and HbA1c time courses. We evaluated the relationship of physiological (e.g., insulin sensitivity) and lifestyle (e.g., dietary intake) parameters with variability in outcome. Finally, we used simulation analyses to predict individually optimized diets for weight reduction. The model predicted individual body weight and HbA1c time courses with a mean (±SD) prediction error of 1.0 kg (±1.2) and 0.14% (±0.18), respectively. Individuals with the most and least improved biomarkers showed no significant differences in model-estimated energy balance. A wide range of weight changes was observed for similar model-estimated caloric changes, indicating that caloric balance alone may not be a good predictor of body weight. The model suggests that a set of optimal diets exists to achieve a defined weight reduction, and this set of diets is unique to each individual. Our diabetes model can simulate changes in body weight and glycemic control as a result of lifestyle interventions. Moreover, this model could help dieticians and physicians to optimize personalized nutritional strategies according to their patients’ goals.
Mudan Granules for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: A Systematic Review of Preclinical and Clinical Evidence
Authors: Zhou Jianlong , Zhu Lv , Li Yadi 
Published: June 2023

AbstractBackgroundMudan granules has been used in China to treat diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), but there is a lack of systematic review of reports in this area. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Mudan granules in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.MethodsInitial studies were searched from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP database, Wanfang electronic databases. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool was used to evaluate the risk of bias. The meta-analysis was performed by Stata 16.0 software. For dichotomous and continuous outcomes, the relative risk (RR) and standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were conducted, respectively.Results51 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 5,416 patients were included. In the meta-analysis, compared with routine treatment (RT) alone, Mudan granules plus RT reduced Toronto clinical scoring system (TCSS) score (SMD, −0.52; 95% CI, −0.66 to −0.38;P< 0.01), total symptoms score (TSS) (SMD, −1.44; 95% CI, −2.88 to −0.00;P= 0.05), serum homocysteine (Hcy) levels (SMD, - 3.84; 95% CI, −5.99 to −1.70;P< 0.01), serum high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels (SMD, −1.68; 95% CI, −3.29 to −0.08;P= 0.04), and improved total clinical efficacy (RR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.19 to 1.27;P< 0.01) and serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels (SMD, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.13 to 1.95;P< 0.01). Besides, Mudan granules presented an adjuvant efficacy on median motor nerve conduction velocity (SMD, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.16 to 2.07), median sensory nerve conduction velocity (SMD, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.26 to 2.20), common peroneal motor nerve conduction velocity (SMD, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.86), common peroneal sensory nerve conduction velocity (SMD, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.23 to 1.92), tibial motor nerve conduction velocity (SMD, 1.34; 95% CI, 0.82 to 1.87), and tibial sensory nerve conduction velocity (SMD, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.86 to 1.20). In terms of adverse events, there was no statistically significant difference between the trial group and the control group (P=0.87). Five preclinical studies were also retrieved for the study. Animal studies have shown that Mudan granules have anti-oxidative stress effects and could reduce the inflammatory response. It may improve peripheral nerve injury in diabetic rats by modulating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway, TLR4/p38 MAPK pathway and PI3K/AKT pathway.ConclusionsMudan granules presented an adjuvant efficacy on patients with DPN and could improve the oxidative stress and inflammatory levels in preclinical models. However, high-quality original studies are needed to further prove the evidence.
Hypothalamic subunit volumes in schizophrenia and bipolar spectrum disorders
Authors: Ruggeri Aurora , Nerland Stener , Mørch-Johnsen Lynn , Nordbø Jørgensen Kjetil , Barth Claudia , Wortinger Laura , Andreou Dimitrios , Andreassen Ole A. , Agartz Ingrid 
Published: June 2023

AbstractBackgroundThe hypothalamus is central to many hormonal and autonomous nervous system pathways. Emerging evidence indicates that these pathways may be disrupted in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Yet, few studies have examined the volumes of hypothalamic subunits in these patient groups. We compared hypothalamic subunit volumes in individuals with psychotic disorders to healthy controls.Study DesignWe included 344 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SCZ), 340 patients with bipolar disorders (BPD) and 684 age-and-sex-matched healthy controls (CTR). Total hypothalamus and five hypothalamic subunit volumes were extracted from T1-weighted MRI using an automated Bayesian segmentation method. Regression models, corrected for age, age2, sex, and segmentation-based intracranial volume (sbTIV), were used to examine diagnostic group differences, interactions with sex, and associations with clinical symptoms, antipsychotic medication, antidepressants and mood stabilizers.Study ResultsSCZ had larger volumes in the left inferior tubular subunit and smaller right anterior inferior, right anterior superior and right posterior hypothalamic subunits compared to CTR. BPD did not differ significantly from CTR for any hypothalamic subunit volume, however, there was a significant sex-by-diagnosis interaction. Analyses stratified by sex showed smaller right hypothalamus and right posterior subunit volumes in male patients, but not female patients, relative to same-sex controls. There was a significant association between BPD currently taking antipsychotic medication and the left inferior tubular subunits volumes.ConclusionsOur results show regional-specific alterations in hypothalamus subunit volumes in individuals with SCZ, with relevance to HPA-axis dysregulation, circadian rhythm disruption and cognition impairment.HighlightsSmaller right anterior-inferior, right anterior superior, right posterior and larger left inferior tubular subunit volumes were observed in individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders compared to healthy controls.Smaller total right hypothalamus volume and smaller right posterior subunit volumes were found for males, but not females, with bipolar disorders.There were no significant associations with clinical symptom dimensions.Larger left inferior tubular subunits volumes were observed in individuals with bipolar disorders currently taking antipsychotic medication.