bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
COVID‐19 vaccination status and testing rates in Finland—A potential cause for bias in observational vaccine effectiveness analysis
Authors: Kuitunen Ilari , Uimonen Mikko , Seppälä Santeri J. , Ponkilainen Ville T. 
Published: April 2022

AbstractCOVID‐19 vaccination effectiveness has been monitored in observational studies (test‐negativity design or traditional cohort design), but these studies have not addressed the potential behavioral bias between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. We aimed to address this by comparing COVID‐19 testing rates between vaccination status and whether vaccination changes the testing rates. We found that three times vaccinated had least tests performed during the pandemic and unvaccinated had the highest testing rate. Each vaccination dose increased the testing rate. In conclusion the observational studies addressing vaccine effectiveness should also present testing rates between vaccinated and unvaccinated to address the potential behavioral bias.
Risk factors and medical resource utilization in US adults hospitalized with influenza or respiratory syncytial virus in the Hospitalized Acute Respiratory Tract Infection study
Authors: Hartnett Jessica , Donga Prina , Ispas Gabriela , Vandendijck Yannick , Anderson David , House Stacey , Suner Selim 
Published: April 2022

AbstractBackgroundInfluenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality in the United States. We assessed risk factors for severe disease and medical resource utilization (MRU) among US adults hospitalized with influenza or RSV in the Hospitalized Acute Respiratory Tract Infection (HARTI) study.MethodsHARTI was a prospective global (40 centers, 12 countries) epidemiological study of adults hospitalized with acute respiratory tract infections conducted across the 2017–2019 epidemic seasons. Patients with confirmed influenza or RSV were followed up to 3 months post‐discharge. Baseline characteristics, prevalence of core risk factors (CRFs) for severe disease (age ≥65 years, chronic heart or renal disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or asthma), and MRU were summarized descriptively.ResultsThe US cohort included 280 influenza‐positive and 120 RSV‐positive patients. RSV patients were older (mean: 63.1 vs. 59.7 years) and a higher proportion had CRFs (87.5% vs. 81.4%). Among those with CRFs (influenza, n = 153; RSV, n = 99), RSV patients required longer hospitalizations (median length of stay: 4.5 days) and a greater proportion (79.8%) required oxygen supplementation during hospitalization compared with influenza patients (4.0 days and 59.5%, respectively). At 3 months post‐discharge, a greater proportion of RSV patients with CRFs reported use of antibiotics, antitussives, bronchodilators, and inhaled and systemic steroids versus those with influenza and CRFs. Many patients with CRFs reported hospital readmission at 3 months post‐discharge (RSV: 13.4%; influenza: 11.9%).ConclusionsMRU during and post‐hospitalization due to RSV in adults is similar to or greater than that of influenza. Enhanced RSV surveillance and preventive and therapeutic interventions are needed.
Observations by health care professionals about wound healing in Ghanaian patients who skin‐bleach
Authors: La‐Anyane Okensama M , Feinn Richard S , Hill David J , Copes Lynn , Kwakye Gifty , Seshie Bernard K 
Published: April 2022

AbstractSkin‐bleaching is a common practice globally and is associated with many cutaneous and systemic health risks. Anecdotally, skin‐bleaching is linked to impairments in wound healing, but there are little data to support the claim. This cross‐sectional survey of health care professionals serving the Greater Accra Region, Ghana region investigates their observations of wound healing in patients who skin‐bleach and their methods for screening skin‐bleach use in patients. A 25‐item self‐administered questionnaire using 5‐point Likert scale was distributed with convenient sampling to physicians and nurses employed at Ghanaian hospitals. Fifty‐seven electronic and 78 paper responses were collected (total = 135). Most respondents agreed that wounds in skin‐bleaching patients heal more slowly (4.22), are more prone to infection (4.11), haemorrhage (3.89), wound dehiscence (3.9), and are more difficult to manage (4.13). No respondent reported universal screening of all patients for skin‐bleaching, but most ask about skin‐bleaching if there is suspicion of it (42.2%). Our findings support the anecdotes about observable wound healing impairments in patients who skin‐bleach. There is also wide variation in skin‐bleaching screening practices, suggesting a need for guidelines to properly identify these patients and facilitate early risk prevention.
The role of cardiac surgeon in transvenous lead extraction: Experience from 3462 procedures
Authors: Tułecki Łukasz , Czajkowski Marek , Targońska Sylwia , Polewczyk Anna , Jacheć Wojciech , Tomków Konrad , Karpeta Kamil , Nowosielecka Dorota , Kutarski Andrzej 
Published: April 2022

AbstractIntroductionThe professional society guidelines recommend that transvenous lead extraction (TLE) operating teams collaborate closely with cardiac surgeons in the management of life‐threatening complications.MethodsWe assessed the role of cardiac surgeons participating in 3462 TLE procedures at a high‐volume center between 2006 and 2021. The roles for cardiac surgery in TLE can be categorized into five areas: emergency surgical interventions for the management of cardiac laceration and severe bleeding (1.184%), cardiac surgery complementing partially successful TLE or vegetation removal (0.693%), delayed surgical treatment of TLE‐related tricuspid valve dysfunction (0.751%), epicardial pacemaker implantation through sternotomy during emergency, complementing or delayed surgical interventions (0.607%), and delayed epicardial lead implantation (0.491%).ResultsIsolated damage to the wall of the right atrium was the most common cause of cardiac tamponade (53.66% of emergency surgeries) followed by injury to the right ventricle and vena cava (both 7.317%).ConclusionsEmergency cardiac surgery for the management of severe hemorrhagic complications is still the most common treatment option. The remaining areas include surgery complementing partially successful TLE: repair of tricuspid valve or epicardial ventricular lead placement to achieve permanent cardiac resynchronization. The experience at a single high‐volume TLE center indicates the necessity of close collaboration with the cardiac surgeons whose roles appear broader than the mere surgical standby. Mortality in patients who survived cardiac surgery during TLE does not differ from the survival of other patients after TLE without complications requiring surgical intervention.
Discordantly high glycated hemoglobin might assist in diagnosing α‐thalassemia, but not diabetes: A case report
Authors: Gao Wei , Jin Yanwen , Huang Yan , Tang Huairong 
Published: April 2022

AbstractGlycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is an important method for monitoring blood glucose and diagnosing diabetes. High‐performance liquid chromatography is more commonly used in the laboratory for the detection of HbA1c. Although HbA1c detected by high‐performance liquid chromatography is susceptible to abnormal hemoglobin, there are few reports that it is affected by α‐thalassemia. Previous reports have generally concluded that α‐thalassemia does not affect or lower HbA1c. Here, we report a case of discordantly high HbA1c inconsistent with fasting blood glucose. Finally, the patient was diagnosed with α‐thalassemia and insulin resistance. α‐Thalassemia might lead to a discordantly high HbA1c result, which could be attributed to elevated hemoglobin H. In this case, glycated albumin might accurately reflect the real average level of blood glucose. When finding discordant HbA1c, patients should be advised to undergo thalassemia and hemoglobinopathy screening by diabetologists/endocrinologists or primary care physicians to avoid a missed diagnosis of hematopathy.
30‐day mortality following COVID‐19 and influenza hospitalization among US veterans aged 65 and older
Authors: Seligman Benjamin , Charest Brian , Ho Yuk‐Lam , Gerlovin Hanna , Ward Rachel E. , Cho Kelly , Driver Jane A. , Gaziano J. Michael , Gagnon David R. , Orkaby Ariela R. 
Published: April 2022

AbstractBackgroundCOVID‐19 and influenza are important sources of morbidity and mortality among older adults. Understanding how outcomes differ for older adults hospitalized with either infection is important for improving care. We compared outcomes from infection with COVID‐19 and influenza among hospitalized older adults.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study of 30‐day mortality among veterans aged 65+ hospitalized with COVID‐19 from March 1, 2020–December 31, 2020 or with influenza A/B from September 1, 2017 to August 31, 2019 in Veterans Affairs Health Care System (VAHCS). COVID‐19 infection was determined by a positive PCR test and influenza by tests used in the VA system. Frailty was defined by the claims‐based Veterans Affairs Frailty Index (VA‐FI). Logistic regressions of mortality on frailty, age, and infection were adjusted for multiple confounders.ResultsA total of 15,474 veterans were admitted with COVID‐19 and 7867 with influenza. Mean (SD) ages were 76.1 (7.8) and 75.8 (8.3) years, 97.7% and 97.4% were male, and 66.9% and 76.4% were white in the COVID‐19 and influenza cohorts respectively. Crude 30‐day mortality (95% CI) was 18.9% (18.3%–19.5%) for COVID‐19 and 4.3% (3.8%–4.7%) for influenza.Combining cohorts, the odds ratio for 30‐day mortality from COVID‐19 (versus influenza) was 6.61 (5.74–7.65). There was a statistically significant interaction between infection with COVID‐19 and frailty, but there was no significant interaction between COVID‐19 and age.Separating cohorts, greater 30‐day mortality was significantly associated with older age (p: COVID‐19: <0.001, Influenza: <0.001) and for frail compared with robust individuals (p for trend: COVID‐19: <0.001, Influenza: <0.001).ConclusionMortality from COVID‐19 exceeded that from influenza among hospitalized older adults. However, odds of mortality were higher at every level of frailty among those admitted with influenza compared to COVID‐19. Prevention will remain key to reducing mortality from viral illnesses among older adults.
Efficacy and toxicity of surufatinib in neuroendocrine tumors: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Ali Muhammad Ashar , Shah Syed S. , Tahir Nayha , Rehman Sana , Saeed Memoona , Bajwa Shammas Farooq , Ali Rimsha , Aiman Wajeeha , Anwar Muhammad Yasir 
Published: April 2022

AbstractThe incidence and prevalence of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) has increased in the US in recent decades. These are well‐vascularized tumors, but no antiangiogenic drug has been approved for treatment of extra‐pancreatic NENs. The aim is to assess efficacy and safety of surufatinib in pancreatic and extra‐pancreatic NETs. We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Clinicaltrials.gov. Clinical trials and observational studies that provided safety and efficacy data in clinical terms were included. Characteristics of the study, baseline characteristics of participants, treatment drugs, measures of efficacy, and toxicity (≥grade 3 adverse effects) were extracted. The meta‐analysis was performed using the “R” programming language. Risk ratio (RR) of objective response (OR)/partial response (PR) was 8.55 (95% CI: 1.68–43.66, I2 = 0) in favor of surufatinib. The hazard ratio (HR) of progression‐free survival (PFS) was 0.48 (95% CI: 0.25–0.92, I2 = 77%) in favor of surufatinib. The risk of ≥grade 3 adverse effects: diarrhea, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, proteinuria, and vomiting were high with the use of surufatinib. Quality of life (QoL) was similar in surufatinib and placebo groups except for the diarrhea that was high with surufatinib. Lack of randomized clinical trials in non‐Chinese population. Surufatinib is well tolerated and is more effective than placebo in both pancreatic and extra‐pancreatic NETs. More multicenter randomized, double‐blinded clinical trials are needed to confirm these results.
Vaccine and inclusion
Authors: Nganmeni Zéphirin , Pongou Roland , Tchantcho Bertrand , Tondji Jean‐Baptiste 
Published: April 2022

AbstractIn majoritarian democracies, popular policies may not be inclusive, and inclusive policies may not be popular. This dilemma raises the crucial question of when it is possible to design a policy that is both inclusive and popular. We address this question in the context of vaccine allocation in a polarized economy facing a pandemic. In such an economy, individuals are organized around distinct networks and groups and have in‐group preferences. We provide a complete characterization of the set of inclusive and popular vaccine allocations. The findings imply that the number of vaccine doses necessary to generate an inclusive and popular vaccine allocation is greater than the one necessary to obtain an allocation that is only popular. The analysis further reveals that it is always possible to design the decision‐making rule of the economy to implement an inclusive and popular vaccine allocation. Under such a rule, the composition of any group endowed with the veto power should necessarily reflect the diversity of the society.
Influence of concurrent lower respiratory tract disease on point‐of‐care lung ultrasound in small‐breed dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease
Authors: Lam Man‐Cham , Lin Chung‐Hui , Lo Pei‐Ying , Wu Huey‐Dong 
Published: April 2022

AbstractBackgroundSmall‐breed dogs commonly have concurrent myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) and lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD).HypothesisSmall‐breed dogs with preclinical MMVD and concurrent LRTD have more B‐lines on point‐of‐care lung ultrasound (POC‐LUS) compared to dogs without concurrent LRTD and are prone to misdiagnose as cardiogenic pulmonary edema (CPE).AnimalsA total of 114 small‐breed dogs with preclinical MMVD.MethodsA prospective study was conducted, in which POC‐LUS was obtained and the number of B‐lines was calculated by a single clinician using the Veterinary Bedside Lung Ultrasound Examination protocol. The presence/absence of LRTD was assessed by clinicians blinded to the POC‐LUS results.ResultsFifty and 64 dogs were in ACVIM stage B1 and B2, respectively. The presence of LRTD was prevalent in 74.6% (85/114) of small‐breed dogs with preclinical MMVD. When a previously reported criterion for CPE diagnosis (≥2 sites with >3 B‐lines/site) was applied, false‐positive results were observed in 15.8% (18/114) of dogs with preclinical MMVD. The summated number of B‐lines (3 vs. 1, P = .003), as well as the false‐positive rate (20% vs 3%, P = .04), were significantly higher in dogs with LRTD compared with dogs without LRTD. Multivariable logistic regression showed the presence of abnormalities other than B‐line on POC‐LUS (eg, thickened pleura or consolidation) could predict false‐positive results (odds ratio = 3.75, 95% confidence intervals 1.12‐12.54; P = .03) after adjustment for other clinical and echocardiographic factors.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceConcurrent LRTD and abnormalities other than B‐lines should be considered in the interpretation of POC‐LUS in MMVD dogs.
Relationship between serum cobalamin concentration and endoscopic ileal appearance and histology in dogs with chronic inflammatory enteropathy
Authors: Pérez‐Merino Eva M. , Cristóbal‐Verdejo Ignacio , Duque‐Carrasco Francisco J. , Espadas‐González Lorena , Pastor‐Sirvent Nieves , Usón‐Casaús Jesús M. 
Published: April 2022

AbstractBackgroundIt has not been determined whether ileal appearance differs among dogs with chronic inflammatory enteropathy (CIE) and different serum concentrations of cobalamin.ObjectiveTo compare endoscopic and histologic ileal findings in dogs with CIE and different serum cobalamin concentrations and then evaluate the correlation of ileal changes to cobalamin serum concentration using updated scoring systems to assess the ileum.AnimalsSixty‐eight dogs with CIE.MethodsRetrospective study. Frequency of ileal features and ileal histologic and endoscopic scores (IHS and IES) were obtained and compared among CIE dogs with severe hypocobalaminemia (SHC; <200 ng/L), hypocobalaminemia (HC; 200‐350 ng/L), or normocobalaminemia (NC; >350 ng/L). The correlation of IHS and IES with cobalamin was evaluated.ResultsFriability, villus atrophy, crypt dilatation, epithelial injury, and intraepithelial lymphocytes were more frequent in SHC than in NC dogs (all P ≤ .01). Median SHC‐IES (2; range, 0‐4) was higher than NC‐IES (1; range, 0‐5; P = .004). Median SHC‐IHS (6; range, 3‐9) was higher than HC‐IHS (4; range, 1‐7; P < .001) and NC‐IHS (3; range, 1‐8; P < .001). Cobalamin concentration correlated negatively with IES (ρ = −.34, P = .005) and IHS (ρ = −.58, P < .001).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceIleal features and involvement degree markedly differed when cobalamin was <200 or >350 ng/L in CIE dogs. With updated scales to assess the mucosa, greater ileal damage was associated with lower serum cobalamin concentration.
Gifts for votes? Vote buying as a predictor of turnout in Latin America
Authors: Školník Milan 
Published: April 2022

AbstractThis article focuses on the repercussions of vote buying on turnout in presidential elections in eight Latin American countries. The research is conducted with individual‐level data from the AmericasBarometer database from 2018 to 2019, which includes unique questions about the respondents' experience with vote buying and whether they participated in the last presidential election. The results of our logistic regression analysis reveal that vote buying was a predictor of turnout in the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico, whereas in Colombia, El Salvador, Paraguay, and Peru, this variable was statistically insignificant for predicting voter turnout.
Entitlement, generosity, relativism, and structure‐internal goods
Authors: Pedersen Nikolaj Jang Lee Linding 
Published: April 2022

AbstractCrispin Wright is widely known for having introducedepistemicentitlement, a species of non‐evidential warrant, as a response to certain skeptical challenges. This paper investigates a fundamental issue concerning entitlement: it appears to be quite generous, as it appears to apply indiscriminately to anti‐skepticial hypotheses as well as a range of radically different—indeed, even incompatible—propositions. It argues that the generosity of entitlement is reflective of an underlying commitment to a form of epistemic relativism. In addition, the paper presents an axiology that helps entitlement theorists to address the pressing issue of how, given the absence of evidence, there can be anything epistemically good about acceptance of anti‐skeptical hypotheses and other cornerstones for inquiry. Lastly, the paper argues that the issues of generosity and epistemic relativism are rather deeply rooted: they surface at the level of value. It explains why.
Setting a universal standard: Should we benchmark quality outcomes for pediatric anesthesia care?
Authors: Olbrecht Vanessa A. , Uffman Joshua C. , Morse Rustin B. , Engelhardt Thomas , Tobias Joseph D. 
Published: April 2022

AbstractAnesthesiology is a medical specialty well known for its work in patient safety, allowing the field to show a dramatic decrease in perioperative morbidity and mortality in both adults and children since the 1950s. Currently, anesthesia‐related mortality is close to zero in healthy children, with deaths occurring primarily in children ASA physical status ≥4. Survival during anesthesia today represents the expectation and standard of care, rather than a marker of quality. Several programs and organizations have created measures to assess safety in pediatric anesthesia—yet none are universally accepted as safety metrics or bundled to evaluate specific aspects of care. In addition, collection of this nonstandardized data in individual centers requires a significant investment of resources and personnel limiting access to only large, “resource‐rich” institutions. In this perspective paper, we provide an overview of the efforts made to enhance quality of care across medical specialties with a specific emphasis on pediatric anesthesiology. We discuss the need for standardization of metrics to establish targets and benchmarks for the delivery of high‐quality care to children and adolescents mainly in North America. The time has come to move beyond mortality and establish universally accepted minimum outcome standards in pediatric anesthesia. We believe this will ultimately improve confidence in the quality of pediatric anesthesia care offered to children, no matter where they are receiving that care.
Molecular mapping of all‐stage stripe rust resistance in Indian wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivar ‘VL404’
Authors: Baranwal Deepak , Qureshi Naeela , Forrest Kerrie , Bariana Harbans , Bansal Urmil 
Published: April 2022

AbstractPuccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), the causal agent of stripe rust of wheat, is a highly evolving fungal pathogen and several widely deployed stripe rust resistance genes have been overcome worldwide often through single step increase in virulence. Development of stripe rust resistant cultivars depends on the availability of widely effective sources of resistance. An Indian wheat cultivar ‘VL404’ exhibited high level of resistance against Australian Pst pathotypes. ‘VL404’ was crossed with a susceptible genotype Avocet ‘S’ (AvS) and an F6 recombinant inbred line (RIL) population was developed. The VL404/AvS RIL population was evaluated at the seedling stage against three Pst pathotypes differing in their virulence profiles. Monogenic segregation for stripe rust response variation was observed in this population and the resistance locus was tentatively named YrVL. Incorporation of stripe rust data into the VL404/AvS genetic map constructed using 40K Wheat‐Barley Illumina XT single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array placed YrVL in the long arm of chromosome 2B in the 769.1–779.3 Mb region of the Chinese Spring physical map. YrVL was aligned with the previously reported genes in chromosome 2BL (Yr43, Yr72 and YrAW12) using Pretzel, and it was placed distal to all these genes. Hence, YrVL appears to represent a new resistance locus.
Trichoderma as a biostimulator and biocontrol agent against Fusarium in the production of cereal crops: Opportunities and possibilities
Authors: Modrzewska Marta , Bryła Marcin , Kanabus Joanna , Pierzgalski Adam 
Published: April 2022

AbstractDespite technological advances in global agriculture in recent years, the problem of pathogenic fungi in the production of cereal crops continues to be an issue. Currently, the high variability of weather factors that are considered unusual for specific locations affect the growth and physiology of pathogens attacking cereal crops. One of the most common plant protection methods is the use of synthetic pesticides; however, there is growing controversy over this approach due to the build‐up of pesticides in the environment and the presence of their residues in food. The purpose of this literature review is to explore the current state of knowledge regarding the potential of using Trichoderma species as a biostimulator and for the biological protection of cereal crops against pathogenic fungi. Trichoderma fungi—through mycoparasitism, antibiosis and competition for space and nutrients—help to inhibit the growth of pathogens and have a positive impact on the growth of plants, including their root system, which is considered a desirable effect during drought episodes. It has also been demonstrated that Trichoderma fungi can convert Fusarium toxins into new metabolites that can be of lower toxicity. However, the highly limited number of in vivo studies investigating the use of these fungi for biocontrol in cereal crops remains an obstacle to the commercialization of Trichoderma fungi. It appears that the determination of their effectiveness in the biocontrol of cereal crops under variable weather and climate conditions presents a considerable challenge.