bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Association between social networks and substance use among male tribal adolescents in the North-East Indian state of Tripura
Authors: Debbarma Benjamin , Srivastava Ankita , Saikia Nandita 
Published: May 2023

AbstractsPurposeThe prevalence of substance use among tribal adolescents in north-east India is higher than that of the rest of India.ObjectiveThe study aimed to investigate the association between social network measures and substance use among male tribal adolescents in the West district of Tripura, North-East India.MethodsWe used data on 12-19-year-old tribal adolescents (N=340) from a primary cross-sectional survey in selected schools in the study area. We carried out bivariate and logistic regression analysis to establish the association between substance use and social network.ResultsOut of the total sample 340, about 27.65% reported smoking, 26.18% reported using smokeless tobacco, and 30.59% reported drinking alcohol; 35.29% reported using any of these substances. The substance use status of social network members was highly correlated to the substance use status among adolescents. The odds of substance consumption among adolescents increase with having a friend who smokes (OR = 6.152, 95% CI = 1.80–21.09), having friends who instigate to smoke (OR = 5.41, 95% CI = 1.86–15.74), and having friends who say smoking as a sign of masculinity(OR = 5.19, 95% CI = 1.4–18.22). Adolescents were more likely to smoke when their family member uses a substance (OR = 3.39, 95% CI = 1.5– 7.4,p= 0.002) and who spent time with friends with the same behaviour (OR = 2.66, 95% CI= 1.5–4.5,p≤ 0.000).ConclusionsIntervention is needed to address adolescents’ substance use habits and members belonging to close social networks.
Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation (iTBS) and Resting State Functional Connectivity in People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) Who Smoke Tobacco Cigarettes
Authors: Rakesh Gopalkumar , Adams Thomas G. , Morey Rajendra A. , Alcorn Joseph L. , Khanal Rebika , Su Amanda E. , Himelhoch Seth S. , Rush Craig R. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractBackgroundPeople living with HIV (PLWHA) smoke at three times the rate of the general population and respond poorly to cessation strategies. Previous studies examined transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (L. dlPFC) to reduce craving, but no studies have explored TMS among PLWHA who smoke. The current pilot study compared the effects of active and sham intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) on resting state functional connectivity (rsFC), cigarette cue attentional bias, and cigarette craving in PLWHA who smoke.MethodsEight PLWHA were recruited (single-blind, within-subject design) to receive one session of iTBS (n=8) over the L. dlPFC using neuronavigation and, four weeks later, sham iTBS (n=5). Cigarette craving and attentional bias assessments were completed before and after both iTBS and sham iTBS. rsFC was assessed before iTBS (baseline) and after iTBS and sham iTBS.ResultsCompared to sham iTBS, iTBS enhanced rsFC between the L. dlPFC and bilateral medial prefrontal cortex and pons. iTBS also enhanced rsFC between the right insula and right occipital cortex compared to sham iTBS. iTBS also decreased cigarette craving and cigarette cue attentional bias.ConclusioniTBS could potentially offer a therapeutic option for smoking cessation in PLWHA.
Malaria Infection in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease in Nigeria: Association with Markers of Hyposplenism
Authors: Ladu Adama I , Kadaura Mairo Y , Dauda Mohammed , Baba Abubakar Sadiq , Zango Nasir Garba , Jeffery Caroline , Farate Abubakar , Adekile Adekunle , Bates Imelda 
Published: May 2023

AbstractBackgroundMalaria is considered an important cause of morbidity and mortality among people living with sickle cell disease (SCD). This has partly been attributed to the loss of splenic function that occurs early in the disease process. We aimed to study the prevalence of malaria infection among Nigerian SCD patients and explore the association with spleen size and function.MethodThis was a hospital-based, cross-sectional study performed at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital in North-Eastern Nigeria from October 2020 to November 2021. Giemsa-stained blood smears for malaria parasites, Howell-Jolly body (HJB) red cells enumeration for spleen function evaluation and ultrasonography for spleen size assessment, were performed in acutely-ill SCD patients. Results of malaria parasitaemia and parasite density were compared with those of steady-state SCD patients and non-SCD controls.ResultsA total of 394 participants consisting of 119 acutely-ill SCD patients, 167 steady-state SCD controls and 108 non-SCD controls were studied. The prevalence ofP. falciparumparasitaemia was 51.3% in acutely-ill SCD patients, 31.7% in steady-state SCD controls and 13.0% in the non-SCD controls. In the SCD group, the mean parasite density was significantly higher among the acutely-ill SCD patients than the steady-state SCD controls (29,747 vs 18,563 parasites / ul;P = 0.001). Although parasitaemia prevalence was lower among the non-SCD controls, parasite density was significantly higher compared to both SCD groups (P = 0.0001). Among the acutely-ill SCD patients, the prevalence of clinical malaria and severe malaria anaemia were highest among children less than 5 years of age. Prevalence of parasitaemia (P = 0.540) and parasite density (P = 0.975) among acutely-ill SCD patients with visualized spleens on ultrasonography were not statistically different compared to those with absent spleens. Similarly, the frequency of HJB red cells among patients with parasitaemia was not significantly different compared to patients without parasitaemia (P = 0.183).ConclusionOur study highlights the frequency and role of malaria infection in acutely-ill SCD patients, especially in those younger than five years. Although we have found no evidence of an increased risk of malaria parasitaemia or parasite density with markers of hyposplenism, the role played by an underlying immunity to malaria among SCD patients is not clear. Further studies are required to elucidate the role of hyposplenism and malaria in SCD patients in malaria-endemic regions.
Higher Family Income and Clinical Dental Outcomes of Minority Children: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Okuji David , Luo Rolina , Wei Tianqi , Lee Myeonggyun 
Published: May 2023

AbstractPurposeThis study utilized Minorities’ Diminished Return theory and aimed to learn if minority children gain less protective effect from higher family income compared to White children for dental caries and multiple oral health problems.MethodsThis study was designed cross-sectionally from 21,599 subject-responses to the 2017 National Survey of Children’s Health. Specific outcomes included parental-reported dental caries and multiple oral health problems (e.g., toothaches, bleeding gums, and/or caries) compared across Hispanic and non-Hispanic White, Black, Asian, and Multi-race children. Logistic regression models estimated the effects of race/ethnicity on each outcome, with adjustments for child sex, parental education, child age, and income-to-needs ratio.ResultsThe findings showed when all racial/ethnic groups increased family income and socioeconomic status, there were no statistically significant differences between all racial/ethnic groups for the parental-reported dental caries and multiple oral health problems.ConclusionsThis study’s findings show either 1) Minorities’ Diminished Return theory, which postulates that structural racism negatively impacts health gains from higher socioeconomic status for minority children, does not apply to children’s dental caries and multiple oral health problems or 2) the biologic load of the caries disease process supersedes the protective health gain effects from increased family income, expected by Minorities’ Diminished Return theory. Regardless, dentists and policymakers must support best practices and policies which benefit entire populations of children, through widespread disease prevention techniques, access-to-care, and utilization-of-care programs to decrease levels of childhood caries and other oral health problems.
Carboxypeptidase B2 gene polymorphisms in the donor associate with kidney allograft loss
Authors: Poppelaars Felix , Eskandari Siawosh K. , Damman Jeffrey , Frazer-Abel Ashley , Holers V. Michael , Dixon Bradley P. , Daha Mohamed R. , Sanders Jan-Stephan F. , Seelen Marc A. , Faria Bernardo , Costa Mariana Gaya da , Thurman Joshua M. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractIntroductionPlasma carboxypeptidase B2 (CPB2) is an enzyme that cleaves C-terminal amino acids from proteins, thereby regulating their activities. CPB2 has anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrinolytic properties and can therefore be protective or harmful in disease. We explored the impact of functional carboxypeptidase B2 gene (CPB2) polymorphisms on graft survival following kidney transplantation.MethodsWe performed a longitudinal cohort study to evaluate the association of functionalCPB2polymorphisms (rs2146881, rs3742264, rs1926447, rs3818477) and complement polymorphisms (rs2230199, rs17611) with long-term allograft survival in 1,271 kidney transplant pairs from the University Medical Center Groningen in The Netherlands.ResultsThe high-producingCPB2rs3742264 polymorphism in the donor was associated with a reduced risk of graft loss following kidney transplantation (hazard ratio, 0.71 for the A-allele; 95%-CI, 0.55–0.93;P=0.014). In fully adjusted models, the association between the CPB2 polymorphism in the donor and graft loss remained significant. The protective effect of the high-producingCPB2variant in the donor could be mitigated by the hazardous effect of gain-of-function complement polymorphisms. Additionally, we compiled a genetic risk score of the fourCPB2variants in the recipients and donors, which was independently associated with long-term allograft survival. Furthermore, this genetic risk score substantially improved risk prediction for graft loss beyond currently used clinical predictors.ConclusionKidney allografts from deceased donors possessing a high-producing CPB2 polymorphism are at a lower risk of graft loss after kidney transplantation. Furthermore, our findings suggest that CPB2 might have a protective effect on graft loss through its ability to inactivate complement anaphylatoxins.EssentialsCarboxypeptidase B2 (CPB2) is a metalloprotease with anti-fibrinolytic and anti-inflammatory properties.We investigated the impact ofCPB2polymorphisms on graft loss after kidney transplantation.The rs3742264-A SNP in the donor, linked to higher CPB2 levels, decreased the risk of graft loss.CPB2 could have a protective effect on graft survival by inactivating complement anaphylatoxins.
Quantification of joint mobility limitation in adult type 1 diabetes
Authors: Phatak Sanat , Mahadevkar Pranav , Chaudhari Kaustubh , Chakladar Shreya , Jain Swasti , Dhadge Smita , Jadhav Sarita , Wagh Rucha , Shah Rohan , Bhalerao Aboli , Patil Anupama , Ingram Jennifer , Goel Pranay , Yajnik Chittaranjan 
Published: May 2023

AbstractBackgroundDiabetic cheiroarthropathies consist of limited joint mobility (LJM), flexor tenosynovitis (FTS), Dupuytren’s contracture (DC), and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). There is heterogeneity in definitions and lack of a method to measure hand fibrosis load. We measured metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint restriction and describe magnetic resonance (MR) imaging characteristics across the spectrum of joint restriction.MethodsAdults with type 1 diabetes were screened for hand manifestations using a symptom questionnaire, clinical examination, function (Duruoz hand index (DHI), grip strength). We measured maximum possible extension at the MCP joint. Patients were segregated by mean MCP extension (<20 degrees, 20-40 degrees, 40-60 degrees, and >60 degrees) for MRI scanning. Patients in the four groups were compared using ANOVA for clinical features as well as MRI measurements (tenosynovial, skin, and fascia thickness, additive score of three).FindingsOf 237 patients (90 males), 79 (33.8%) had cheiroarthropathy; these had MCP extension limitation (39 degrees versus 61 degrees, p<0.01). Groups with restricted MCP extension were older, had higher prevalence of retinopathy and nephropathy, and higher DHI (1.9 vs 0.2) but very few (7%) had pain. MRI scans of the hand (n=61) showed flexor tenosynovitis in four and median neuritis in one. Groups with maximum MCP limitation had the thickest palmar skin but mean tendon thickness or median nerve area did not differ. The additive score could differentiate between levels of joint mobility restriction. Only mean palmar skin thickness was associated with MCP extension angle in multiple linear regression.InterpretationJoint mobility limitation, quantified by restricted MCP extension, was driven by skin thickening. MCP extension and fibrosis scoring on MRI can serve as quantitative measures of hand involvement for future associative studies.
“Now you see me”: detecting asymptomatic infectious individuals in the population
Authors: Iseli Alena , Dobay Akos , Breitling Lutz Philipp 
Published: May 2023

AbstractQuarantine is an effective countermeasure to stop or slow the spread of an emerging infectious disease when no other preventive measures are available to protect the population. However, when the disease results in a proportion of asymptomatic infections, the spread dynamics are affected, and quarantine efficiency is impaired.Here, we introduce an extended susceptible-infected-recovered (SIR) model to study the effects of asymptomatic individuals at the onset of an emerging infectious disease when no vaccination is yet available and/or when a vaccine is available but only a subset of the population can be vaccinated due to limited supply or the unwillingness of susceptible individuals to receive an injection. These aspects have been indirectly incorporated into the model using a time-dependent vaccination rate.With this model, we confirm that, in the case of a missing vaccine, quarantine is effective in stopping the spread of an infectious disease, but its efficiency can be substantially reduced in the presence of individuals developing asymptomatic infection. Moreover, we show that vaccination is effective only if available early during the epidemic and if the vaccination rate is sufficiently high. By applying this model to Zurich and all of Switzerland in case of the COVID-19 pandemic, we found that the following two strategies have similar outcomes: either placing infectious individuals into quarantine when no vaccine is available or dropping quarantine measures but administering a vaccine at a daily rate of 1%, starting no later than 105 days after the onset of the epidemic. Beyond this time period, a vaccination campaign will have no effect in stopping the spread of the disease if 25% of the susceptible population is asymptomatic. We also found that the option of deploying a vaccination campaign was more effective for all of Switzerland than for only the city of Zurich.
Real-world study of Cerviron®vaginal ovules in the treatment of cervical lesions of various etiologies
Authors: Petre Izabella , Sirbu Daniela Teodora , Petrita Ramona , Toma Andreea-Denisa , Peta Ema , Dimcevici-Poesina Florentina 
Published: May 2023

AbstractCervical lesions can be caused by pathogens, hormonal changes or by cervical injury. The recommended treatment in all cases is excision. Local re-epithelialization therapy should be initiated preoperatively and postoperatively. The present study assessed the post-market performance and tolerability of Cerviron®ovules in the treatment and management of cervical lesions postoperatively. The study population included 345 participants aged 20-70 years with either a cervical lesion under treatment or with recent surgical removal of a cervical lesion. The degree of re-epithelialization of the cervical mucosa was improved in 73.17% of the patients evaluated during routine colposcopy exams and 92.73% of patients recorded no bleeding. When adding Cerviron®either as monotherapy or in association with other antimicrobials in postoperative care of the cervical ectropion, improved postoperative outcomes such as reduced post-interventional bleeding and a superior quality of healing were observed. The study and its details are registered inwww.clinicaltrials.govunder IDNCT05668806.
Insight into risk associated phenotypes behind COVID-19 from phenotype genome-wide association studies
Authors: Chen Zhongzhong , Matsuda Koichi 
Published: May 2023

SUMMARYLong COVID presents a complex and multi-systemic disease that poses a significant global public health challenge. Symptoms can vary widely, ranging from asymptomatic to severe, making the condition challenging to diagnose and manage effectively. Furthermore, identifying appropriate phenotypes in genome-wide association studies of COVID-19 remains unresolved. This study aimed to address these challenges by analyzing 220 deep-phenotype genome-wide association data sets (159 diseases, 38 biomarkers and 23 medication usage) from BioBank Japan (BBJ) (n=179,000), UK Biobank and FinnGen (n=628,000) to investigate pleiotropic effects of known COVID-19 risk associated single nucleotide variants. Our findings reveal 32 different phenotypes that share the common genetic risk factors with COVID-19 (p< 7.6×10−11), including two diseases (myocardial infarction and type 2 diabetes), 26 biomarkers with seven categories (blood cell, metabolic, liver-related, kidney-related, protein, inflammatory and anthropometric), and four medications (antithrombotic agents, HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, thyroid preparations and anilides). As long COVID continues to coexist with humans, our results highlight the need for targeted screening to support specific vulnerable populations to improve disease prevention and healthcare delivery.
An algorithm for automated detection of evoked potentials from polarity reversed electrical stimulations
Authors: Vidmark Jessica S L , Sanger Terence D 
Published: May 2023

AbstractBackgroundIn neurophysiological research involving neural responses to electrical stimuli, each recording must be searched for evoked potentials (EPs) prior to further analysis. Conducting this process manually is time consuming for the researcher and also inserts bias. However, automated detection methods often struggle to distinguish between artifacts and neural responses, which can have highly complex and varying shapes.MethodsWe have developed a novel algorithm for automated detection of polarity reversed EPs (ADPREP), which uses the knowledge that reversing the polarity of a pair of stimulating contacts reverses the sign of the stimulus artifact, but not that of the neural response. Hence, our algorithm searches for any positive correlation between the recordings from two polarity reversed stimulations, after removing any stimulus decay artifacts. If the peak-to-peak amplitude in a positively correlated region surpasses a user-defined threshold, the recording is labeled as an EP; otherwise, it is not. Neural recordings from deep brain nuclei and cortical regions during deep brain stimulation (DBS) in 28 pediatric patients with dystonia were used to test and prove the validity of the method.ResultsThe ADPREP algorithm is able to distinguish EPs of varying shapes and sizes with a high level of accuracy, as early as 0.35 ms after stimulation, despite large stimulus artifacts. The algorithm has proven useful in initial tests with DBS data in hundreds of stimulation/recording combinations within the basal ganglia and thalamic nuclei as well as from these deep brain nuclei to cortex, at stimulation frequencies up to 250 Hz.ConclusionOur automated EP detection algorithm can accurately detect DBS EPs in deep brain nuclei and cortex, and has promising applications in other stimulation and recording modalities that allow for polarity reversal of the recorded stimulus artifact. The algorithm successfully labels EPs of varying shapes and sizes, as early as a fraction of a millisecond after stimulation, in a range of stimulus frequencies and stimulation-recording pairs – even under large stimulus decay artifacts and in same-lead stimulation and recordings. As such, it is a great method to improve efficacy and minimize human bias, setting up for more reliable conclusions to be drawn from the data.
Rising daptomycin resistance inEnterococcus faeciumacross a hospital system occurred via rampant recurrent evolution and occasional transmission between patients
Authors: Woods Robert J. , Forstchen Meghan , Kinnear Clare , McKaig Jordan , Patel Twisha , Tracy Kevin , Young Carol , Read Andrew F. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThe rise of antibiotic resistance in a population involves two distinct processes: the origin of resistance and its spread. Here we study the contribution of both processes to the increase in daptomycin resistance inEnterococcus faeciumin a hospital system. This case-control genomic study includes whole-genome sequencing of 82 isolates obtained from 24 case patients with clinically determined daptomycin-resistance and 24 controls. Among the case patients, the first isolate was resistant in 15 patients (R patients) while in the remaining nine the first isolate was susceptible but was followed by one or more resistant isolates (SR patients). Mutations in a set of candidate daptomycin resistance genes were compared within and between all patients. Additionally, among closely related isolates, mutations were identified across the entire assembled genome. Daptomycin resistance evolved separately multiple times and there was no phylogenetic clustering of the R or the SR groups. Six of the nine SR pairs gained mutations in previously identified candidate loci for daptomycin resistance, with the major cardiolipin synthase (clsA) being mutated most frequently. The hospital-wide increases in daptomycin resistance inE. faeciumwas the result of recurrent evolution taking multiple evolutionary pathways and occasional transmission of resistant isolates between patients.ImportanceAntimicrobial resistance in healthcare settings presents an important challenge, because infections with resistant organisms are associated with higher cost, longer hospital stays and worse outcomes for patients. However, it can be difficult to identify the factors driving the increase in resistance, specifically the relative contribution of resistance arising anew through mutation versus the transmission of resistant organisms from patient to patient. We study a hospital where resistance to daptomycin was increasing amongEnterococcus faecium, an important hospital pathogen. We find the increase in resistance was the results of resistance arising many times independently. We also identify occasional transmission of daptomycin resistant organisms. Thus, control of daptomycin resistance inE. faeciummay require interventions that both slow the emergence of resistance within patients and slow its spread. This work sheds light on the complex population dynamics leading to antibiotic resistance in hospitals.