bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of radiofrequency ablation in addition to biliary stent on overall survival and stent patency in malignant biliary obstruction: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Tarar Zahid Ijaz , Farooq Umer , Gandhi Mustafa , Ghous Ghulam , Saleem Saad , Kamal Faisal , Imam Zaid , Jamil Laith 
Published: May 2023

Objectives
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is used in addition to stent placement to manage extrahepatic malignant biliary obstruction. We aimed to study the effect of RFA on overall survival (OS) and stent patency in malignant biliary obstruction.

Methods
A comprehensive literature search was performed from inception to May 2022 for all studies measuring the effect of RFA plus stents compared to stents placement only on OS and stent patency in patients with malignant biliary obstruction. We measured differences in OS, stent patency, and odds of adverse events. A random effect model was used to pool data for stent patency, OS, and adverse event.

Results
A total of 17 studies (14 observational and 3 RCT) containing 1766 patients were included in the analysis. The weighted pooled mean survival difference was 58.5 days [95% confidence interval (CI): 32.6–84.4, I
2 = 71%] in favor of the RFA treatment group. The weighted mean difference in stent patency was better in the RFA plus stent group by 45.3 days (95% CI: 30.1–60.5, I
2 = 16.4%) compared to stent only group. The pooled odds of adverse events were the same in both groups [odds ratio (OR) 1.52, 95% CI: 0.96–2.43, I
2 = 59%], and no serious adverse event was seen in either group, or no death reported secondary to RFA procedure. No difference in stent patency based on procedure type, including percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography versus endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (P = 0.06), and an underline cause of bile duct obstruction was found (P = 0.261).

Conclusion
RFA treatment, in addition to stent placement in malignant biliary obstruction, potentially improves OS and stent patency duration.
Insights Regarding Optometric Findings of CHARGE Syndrome in a Pediatric Low Vision Clinic
Authors: Donahue Alicia M. , Deffler Rebecca A. , Kran Barry S. , Ross Nicole C. 
Published: May 2023

ABSTRACT

Significance
CHARGE, named for common findings: coloboma, heart defects, atresia of choanae, retardation of growth and development, genital hypoplasia and ear anomalies, is a frequent etiology of deaf-blindness. A retrospective review in a pediatric low vision clinic presented the opportunity to investigate ocular findings in this syndrome with variable clinical presentations.

Purpose
This retrospective study reviewed ocular findings and visual function measures from low vision evaluations of patients with CHARGE syndrome, which may influence their multidisciplinary management.

Methods
A retrospective chart review was conducted by three examiners of 60 patients presenting with CHARGE syndrome at a pediatric low vision clinic. Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were obtained using standard measures. Ocular alignment and cycloplegic refractive error measurements were recorded. Refractive findings were analyzed using vector analysis. Anterior and posterior segment findings were recorded.

Results
Patients ranged in age from 1 to 29 years and were followed for a mean of 4.3 years. Best-corrected visual acuity ranged from no light perception to 20/20 Snellen equivalent. Characteristics of strabismus, occurring in 82% of patients, were reported. Contrast sensitivity was reduced in 52% of patients. Chorioretinal coloboma were reported in 88% of patients. The most common ocular findings included nystagmus (43%), microphthalmia (27%), iris coloboma (27%), and facial nerve palsy (23%). Refractive vector analysis revealed significant myopic progression of the spherical equivalent with age and a tendency for with the rule astigmatism and minimal obliquity.

Conclusions
This retrospective review of a relatively large sample size for this rare condition, outlined the most common ocular manifestations of CHARGE syndrome. Decreased visual acuity, myopic refractive error, strabismus, and reduced contrast sensitivity were common. Thus, careful optometric evaluation in this population is required, as these findings must be considered in appropriate clinical and habilitative management.
Quantifying the Risk of General Health and Early COVID-19 Spread in Residential Buildings with Deep Learning and Expert-augmented Machine Learning
Authors: Guan Jingjing , Leung Eman , Kwok Kin On , Hung Chi Tim , Lee Albert , Chong Ka Chun , Yam Carrie Ho Kwan , Cheung Clement KM. , Tieben Hendrik , Tsang Hector W.H. , Yeoh Eng-kiong 
Published: May 2023

AbstractBuildings’ built environment has been linked to their occupants’ health. It remains unclear whether those elements that predisposed its residents to poor general health before the two SARS pandemics also put residents at risk of contracting COVID-19 during early outbreaks. Relevant research to uncover the associations is essential, but there lacks a systematic examination of the relative contributions of different elements in one’s built environment and other non-environmental factors, singly or jointly. Hence, the current study developed a deep-learning approach with multiple input channels to capture the hierarchical relationships among an individual’s socioecology’s demographical, medical, behavioral, psychosocial, and built-environment levels. Our findings supported that 1) deep-learning models whose inputs were structured according to the hierarchy of one’s socioecology outperformed plain models with one-layered input in predicting one’s general health outcomes, with the model whose hierarchically structured input layers included one’s built environment performed best; 2) built-environment features were more important to general health compared to features of one’s sociodemographic and their health-related quality of life, behaviors, and service utilization; 3) a composite score representing built-environment features’ statistical importance to general health significantly predicted building-level COVID-19 case counts; and 4) building configurations derived from the expert-augmented learning of granular built-environment features that were of high importance to the general health were also linked to building-level COVID-19 case counts of external samples. Specific built environments put residents at risk for poor general health and COVID-19 infections. Our machine-learning approach can benefit future quantitative research on sick buildings, health surveillance, and housing design.HighlightsThe current modeling approaches for COVID-19 transmission at early spread are limited due to uncertainty and rare events.Socio-ecological structure (SES) can organize variables from different hierarchies of a total environment.TensorFlow-based deep learning with recurrent and convolutional neural networks is developed to explain general health with SES-organized variables.Among SES factors, built environments have a greater association with general health.Built-environment risks on individual general health associated with early-spread COVID-19 infections in residential buildings.
ANAEMIA IN CHILDREN AGED 7 MONTHS TO 12 YEARS AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY OF CHILDREN ADMITTED AT THE EFFIDUASE DISTRICT HOSPITAL AND AHMADIYYA MISSION HOSPITAL, GHANA
Authors: Barimah Antwi Joseph , Ibrahim Mohammed Mohammed , Allotey Solomon Saka , Amoah Bernard Opoku , Agyemang Larry , Dumba James , Nketiah Yaw Boakye , Commey Rebecca Dorcas , Alorvi Semefa , Ampofo Deborah 
Published: May 2023

ABSTRACTA number of factors have been identified as influencing the prevalence of anaemia in children. In the Sekyere East district, an increasing trend of children with severe anaemia leading to haemotransfusion has been observed. Over a three-month period (June to August 2022) approximately one hundred (100) children were haemotransfused due to severe anaemia in the Effiduase district hospital. This quantitative oriented study adopted the descriptive cross-sectional study design. Specifically, the study sought to explore the prevalence of childhood anaemia and its associated factors in the district. Purposive sampling technique which is a non-probability (non-randomized) was used to select children and their guardians to partake in the study. SPSS statistical software version 25 was used to analyze quantitative data of this study and data were presented in frequencies using tables. This study has accentuated high prevalence of anaemia in the Sekyere East district looking at the various findings brought to light by the Haemoglobin (Hb) blood analysis, Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) blood tests and the Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH) test results. The findings from the study have also shown that malaria in children is significantly associated with the onset of childhood anaemia. The study additionally revealed moderate nutritional intake of food products very rich in iron, vitamin B12 and folate nutrients necessary to curb anaemia in children. In conclusion, study findings therefore underscore the need for multi-faceted approaches that address both malaria control and nutrition in order to reduce anaemia among the children in the Sekyere East district.
Evaluating the Performance of the DPP® ZDC IgM/IgG Rapid Test for Chikungunya Virus Diagnosis in Febrile Outpatients: A Prospective, Diagnostic Accuracy Study
Authors: Moreira José , Barros Janaina , Fernandez-Carballo B. Leticia , Escadafal Camille , Ribeiro Guilherme S. , Dittrich Sabine , Brasil Patrícia , Siqueira André M. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractObjectiveEvaluate the performance of a novel antibody-based rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for detecting Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection in febrile patients in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.MethodsWe prospectively enrolled non-severe febrile patients aged 2-65 years presenting as outpatients between October 2018 and July 2019. Serum samples were collected during acute and convalescent phases and tested for CHIKV antibodies using the DPP® ZDC IgM/IgG rapid test and compared against the reference test, CHIKV RT-PCR. We determined the seropositivity using ELISA IgM/IgG and evaluated the diagnostic performance of the WHO-endorsed CHIKV clinical definition against the reference test.ResultsOf 500 participants, 226/261 (86.5%) tested ELISA IgM positive, 45/271 (16.6%) tested ELISA IgG positive, 100/294 (34%) CHIKV RT-PCR positive, and 117/495 (23.6%) RDT-antibody positive. During the acute phase [median 3 (2-4) days post illness onset], the sensitivity of IgM, IgG, and combined IgM/IgG ranged from 14.71-34.85%, while specificity ranged from 63.32-65.61%. During the convalescent phase [mean 16.5 (±5.5) days post-illness onset], sensitivity increased from 65.75% to 77.78%, and specificity ranged from 93.33-98.11%. The WHO’s CHIKV clinical definition had a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 88 (79.9-93.6)%, 74 (68-80)%, 64.2 (58.2-69.8)%, and 92.3 (87.6-95.3)%, respectively.ConclusionsThe DPP® ZDC IgM/IgG accurately diagnosed CHIKV on samples collected during the convalescent phase. Field applications include investigating CHIKV in patients with sub-acute to chronic osteoarticular symptoms and conducting serosurveys to inform priority areas for CHIKV vaccine implementation. The WHO’s clinical definition of CHIKV was accurate and could be deployed, especially in regions with limited diagnostic capacity.Clinicaltrials.govNCT03047642
The 100 most-cited articles in soccer injuries: a bibliometric study
Authors: Chaabeni Amr , Kalai Amine , Slama Meryam , Ben Salah Frih Zohra , Jellad Anis 
Published: May 2023

AbstractBibliometric analysis is an increasingly popular method for assessing aspects of a specific field of research and identifying its emerging areas of interest. Although it has been increasingly used in sports medicine research to assess injuries, few studies have focused on soccer. The purpose of our study was to identify the 100 most-cited publications related to soccer injuries and conduct a thorough bibliometric mapping analysis to understand the research trends. Using the Clarivate Analytics Web of Science Database and Bibliometrix R-package software, we identified 100 articles with 26,046 total citations (range = 146-945) published between 1990 and 2017. Most were published in theBritish Journal of Sports Medicine(32 articles) andAmerican Journal of Sports Medicine(31 articles), and most corresponding authors originated from Sweden. About half of the articles were descriptive or epidemiology studies using level-2 evidence. The main research topics were epidemiology (25 articles) and prevention (24 articles). Most focused on male and adult elite soccer players.
Troponin Level at Presentation as a Prognostic Factor Among Patients Presenting with non-ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction
Authors:   the Jerusalem platelets thrombosis and intervention in cardiology (JUPITER-18) study group, Loutati Ranel , Perel Nimrod , Bruoha Sharon , Taha Louay , Tabi Meir , Marmor David , Amsalem Itshak , Hitter Rafael , Manassra Mohammed , Hamayel Kamal , Karameh Hani , Maller Tommer , Steinmetz Yoed , Karmi Mohammad , Shuvy Mony , Glikson Michael , Asher Elad 
Published: May 2023

AbstractIntroductionTimely reperfusion within 120 minutes is strongly recommended in patients presenting with non-ST segment myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) with very high-risk features. Evidence regarding the use of high sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) concentration upon admission for the risk-stratification of patients presenting with NSTEMI in order to expedite percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and thus potentially improve outcomes is limited.MethodsAll patients admitted to a tertiary care center intensive cardiac care unit (ICCU) between July 2019 – July 2022 were included and were followed for up to 3 years. Hs-cTnI level on presentation was recorded and patients were divided into four quartiles according to their hs-cTnI level on admission. Association between the initial hs-cTnI level and all-cause mortality during the follow-up period was examined.ResultsA total of 544 NSTEMI patients with a median age of 67 were included. There was no difference between the initial hs-cTnI level groups regarding age and comorbidities. A higher mortality rate was observed in the highest hs-cTnI quartile as compared with the lowest hs-cTnI quartile (16.2% vs. 7.35%, p=0.03) with Hazard ratio (HR) for mortality of 2.6 (CI: 1.23-5.4; p=0.012).ConclusionsPatients presenting with NSTEMI and higher Hs-cTnI levels on admission were at higher risk for mortality during follow-up. This finding supports further prospective studies to examine the impact of early reperfusion strategy on mortality in patients presenting with NSTEMI according to degree of troponin elevation on admission.
WEGS: a cost-effective sequencing method for genetic studies combining high-depth whole exome and low-depth whole genome
Authors: Bhérer Claude , Eveleigh Robert , Trajanoska Katerina , St-Cyr Janick , Paccard Antoine , Ravindran Praveen Nadukkalam , Caron Elizabeth , Asbah Nimara Bader , Wei Clare , Baumgartner Iris , Schindewolf Marc , Döring Yvonne , Perley Danielle , Lefebvre François , Lepage Pierre , Bourgey Mathieu , Bourque Guillaume , Ragoussis Jiannis , Mooser Vincent , Taliun Daniel 
Published: May 2023

0AbstractWhole genome sequencing (WGS) at high-depth (30X) allows the accurate discovery of variants in the coding and non-coding DNA regions and helps elucidate the genetic underpinnings of human health and diseases. Yet, due to the prohibitive cost of high-depth WGS, most large-scale genetic association studies use genotyping arrays or high-depth whole exome sequencing (WES). Here we propose a novel, cost-effective method, which we call “Whole Exome Genome Sequencing” (WEGS), that combines low-depth WGS and high-depth WES with up to 8 samples pooled and sequenced simultaneously (multiplexed). We experimentally assess the performance of WEGS with four different depth of coverage and sample multiplexing configurations. We show that the optimal WEGS configurations are 1.7-2.0 times cheaper than standard WES (no-plexing), 1.8-2.1 times cheaper than high-depth WGS, reach similar recall and precision rates in detecting coding variants as WES, and capture more population-specific variants in the rest of the genome that are difficult to recover when using genotype imputation methods. We apply WEGS to 862 patients with peripheral artery disease and show that it directly assesses more known disease-associated variants than a typical genotyping array and thousands of non-imputable variants per disease-associated locus.
Study protocol for comparison of post-operative pain between intraosseous multimodal injection and periarticular multimodal injection in Simultaneous Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty – A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Ploynumpon Patcharavit , Wilairatana Vajara , Chompoosang Thakrit 
Published: May 2023

AbstractionBackground:Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) was the procedure which is preform by orthopedic surgeons in end stage osteoarthritis knee patients who fail conservative treatment. Periarticular analgesia is one of the effective and safe technique used to reduce pain after surgery. However, the location and formula of the mixture have not yet been controversy. Recently, a study compared intraosseous analgesic injection, which provided significant postoperative pain relief compared to the control group. The authors conducted this study to compare periarticular and intraosseous analgesic injection in patients undergoing simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty.Method:The study is a two-arm, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial with 26 patients (52 knees) who underwent simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty. The primary outcome is postoperative pain at 12, 24, and 48 hours using the Visual Analog Scale for assessment. The secondary outcomes include postoperative range of motion at 24 and 48 hours, postoperative blood loss, and postoperative complications.Discussion:While periarticular analgesic is the standard practice, intraosseous analgesic injection is a potential route for controlling postoperative pain after total knee arthroplasty surgery. This study offers a better alternative route for analgesic injection.
Tricontinental detection of Streptococcus pyogenes M1UK: A call for wider research and active surveillance
Authors: Vieira Ana , Soo Valerie WC , Li Ho Kwong , Zhi Xiangyun , Reeves Lucy , Huse Kristin K. , Mok Kai Yi , Cowen Oscar , Jauneikaite Elita , Coelho Juliana , Sriskandan Shiranee 
Published: May 2023

SummaryTheStreptococcus pyogenesM1UKlineage, characterised by an intrinsic ability to express SpeA toxin and defined by 27 single nucleotide polymorphisms in the core genome, dominates the population ofemm1S. pyogenesisolates in England. The lineage has been identified elsewhere in Europe, North America, and, most recently, Australia. SpeA however may not be the sole deterministic factor underlying success of the M1UKlineage. Production of SpeA by strains belonging to an intermediateemm1 sublineage, M123SNP, is indistinguishable from M1UKstrains. Despite this, in England at least, M1UKhas outcompeted strains from the M123SNPsublineage. We infer that the fitness of M1UKresides in additional properties that confer an advantage toS. pyogenes, underlining a need for further research. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the ssrA leader sequence upstream ofspeAis one of a limited number of SNPs that distinguish intermediate sublineages that differ in SpeA production. Introduction of the ssrA SNP into representative isolates of the widely disseminated M1globalclone and the intermediate M113SNPlineage (that cannot otherwise produce readily-detectable SpeA in culture) resulted in SpeA expression, confirming the importance of the ssrA SNP to SpeA phenotype. However, RNAseq analysis of clinical strains showed that presence of the SNP was not invariably linked to read-through from the ssrA leader sequence or SpeA expression. Literature review suggests that read through andspeAmRNA transcript length may be impacted by the two component regulator CovRS, pointing to a complex regulatory network interaction between the bacterial chromosome and phage-encoded superantigens.
gcplyr: an R package for microbial growth curve data analysis
Authors: Blazanin Michael 
Published: May 2023

AbstractCharacterization of microbial growth is of both fundamental and applied interest. Modern platforms can automate collection of high-throughput microbial growth curves, necessitating the development of computational tools to handle and analyze these data to produce insights. To address this need, here I present a newly-developed R package: gcplyr. gcplyr can flexibly import growth curve data in common tabular formats, and reshapes it under a tidy framework that is flexible and extendable, enabling users to design custom analyses or plot data with popular visualization packages. gcplyr can also incorporate metadata and generate or import experimental designs to merge with data. Finally, gcplyr carries out model-free (non-parametric) analyses. These analyses do not require mathematical assumptions about microbial growth dynamics, and gcplyr is able to extract a broad range of important traits, including growth rate, doubling time, lag time, maximum density and carrying capacity, diauxie, area under the curve, extinction time, and more. gcplyr makes scripted analyses of growth curve data in R straightforward, streamlines common data wrangling and analysis steps, and easily integrates with common visualization and statistical analyses.Availabilitygcplyr is available from the central CRAN repository (https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=gcplyr), or from GitHub (https://github.com/mikeblazanin/gcplyr).