bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pediatric Eosinophilic Esophagitis is Associated With Low Baseline Impedance
Authors: Eldredge Jessica A. , Omari Taher I. , Moore David J. 
Published: February 2022

ABSTRACTBackground and Aims:Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic inflammatory disorder that requires repeat endoscopic evaluation(s) to assess response to treatment. This results in high health care costs and a procedural burden in affected children. Noninvasive alternate modalities to reassess disease activity have not been established. Low baseline impedance measured by multichannel pH impedance (pH‐MII) is seen in adults with EoE, in keeping with poor mucosal integrity. We aimed to investigate the relationship between esophageal eosinophilia (or severity of eosinophilic infiltration) and baseline impedance in children with EoE.Methods:We retrospectively identified 15 children diagnosed with EoE at our institution who had undergone pH‐MII within 30 days of 3‐level esophageal biopsy. This group were not concurrently prescribed proton pump inhibitors and had negligible reflux parameters on pH‐MII. Average impedance baseline was calculated upper, mid, and lower esophageal segments via baseline impedance automated analysis (RIAA) and mean nocturnal baseline impedance (MNBI) methods. Eosinophil count data for upper, mid, and lower esophageal segments in the EoE group was collated.Results:A significantly lower baseline impedance was seen across the esophageal length in children with EoE, compared with 30 controls who had no differences in age or reflux burden on nonparametric testing. A relationship between baseline impedance and eosinophil number at corresponding esophageal segments was not established.Conclusions:Baseline impedance may be an important, less invasive adjunct in clinical practice to monitor treatment response in children with EoE. Larger prospective cohort studies should delineate optimally predictive baseline impedance thresholds for active and inactive disease.
Evaluation of Risk for Thromboembolic Events in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Dilillo Anna , Del Giudice Emanuela , Cucchiara Salvatore , Viola Franca , Maliardo Saverio , Isoldi Sara , lorfida Donatella , Bloise Silvia , Marcellino Alessia , Martucci Vanessa , Sanseviero Mariateresa , De Luca Enrica , Protano Carmela , Marotta Daniela , Ventriglia Flavia , Lubrano Riccardo 
Published: February 2022

ABSTRACTObjectives:The occurrence of thrombotic events in adult patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is linked to multiple interactions between hereditary and acquired risk factors. There are few published data concerning children with iBD. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of thromboembolic risk factors also in children with iBD.Methods:We enrolled three groups of children: one with Crohn disease (cD), one with ulcerative colitis (Uc), and a control group of healthy subjects. For all the participants the potential thromboembolic risk was evaluated clinically and with laboratory tests.Results:We studied: 30 children (25.6%) with CD, 28 (23.9%) with UC, and 59 (50.4%) healthy control subjects. Regarding Pediatric Crohn Disease Activity Index, no significant differences between thromboembolic risk factors and disease activity were detected. Instead, in the patients with UC, stratified with the Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index, there was a statistically significant difference in serum fibrinogen levels between patients with mild and moderate/severe disease [3.8 (3.2–4.5) g/L vs 5.7 (4.8–6.2) g/L, P < 0.0032]. serum homocysteine levels were lower in healthy controls than in CD (P = 0.176) and UC (P = 0.026). An increased level ofhomocysteine in UC with a homozygous mutation in the methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase C677T gene was also observed.Conclusions:Our study showed that children with IBD have clinical features, acquired and congenital factors that can increase thrombotic risk, similarly to adults.
COVID-19 in Kidney Transplant Recipient and Waitlist Patients
Authors: Dong Yuchen , Dhingra Anant , Shamir Stephanie B. , Azzi Yorg A. , Ye Kenny , Greenstein Stuart M. , Haramati Linda B. 
Published: February 2022

Purpose:
To evaluate the chest radiographic severity score (CXR-SS) for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients who are kidney transplant recipients compared with patients on the waitlist.

Study Design and Methods:
This retrospective cohort includes 78 kidney transplant recipients (50 men, mean age 59.9±11.9 y) and 59 kidney transplant waitlist patients (33 men, mean age 58.8±10.8 y) diagnosed with COVID-19 between March 15 and May 30, 2020 with reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Patient chest radiographs were divided into 6 zones and examined for consolidation. Primary outcome was mortality. Secondary outcomes included hospital admission, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and intubation. Predictors of our primary and secondary outcomes were identified by bivariate analysis and multivariate regression analysis.

Results:
No significant difference was found in CXR-SS between 2 groups (P=0.087). Transplant recipients had significantly higher rates of hospitalization (odds ratio, 6.8; 95% confidence interval: 1.7, 39.3; P<0.001), ICU admission (odds ratio, 6.5; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.8-35.9; P=0.002), intubation (odds ratio, 11; 95% CI: 2.4-96.9; P=0.001), and mortality (odds ratio, 17; 95% CI: 3.9-153.1; P<0.001). A higher CXR-SS was not predictive of mortality, intubation, or ICU admission. CXR-SS was associated with hospital admission overall (odds ratio, 1.613; 95% CI: 1.04-2.49; P=0.0314).

Conclusion:
The CXR-SS was not predictive of mortality, ICU admission or intubation in our population. Kidney transplant patients with COVID-19 had near universal hospital admission, more than one-third mortality and about a quarter were intubated and admitted to the ICU—all significantly worse outcomes than for patients on the transplant waitlist.
Burn Scar Ectropion Correction
Authors: Zucal Isabel , Waldner Matthias , Shojaati Golnar , Schweizer Riccardo , Klein Holger J. , Giovanoli Pietro , Plock Jan A. 
Published: February 2022

Background
Eyelid scarring after severe burn injury of the face is a significant complication endangering vision in addition to the burn scar sequelae. Scar contraction leads to asymmetry and malposition of the eyelid axis, resulting in corneal exposure, eyelid retraction, and incomplete eyelid closure. In consequence, dryness and irritation of the cornea can lead to keratitis, corneal opacity, and vision impairment. In this study, we present our surgical technique for lateral canthopexy in combination with full-thickness skin grafting (FTSGing) in patients with eyelid axis distortion after scar contraction of the periorbital region after severe burn injuries of the face.

Methods
In this retrospective, single-center case study, we present 5 consecutive patients who experienced severe burn injuries to the face between 2014 and 2019. Patients were suffering from ectropion and malposition of the eyelid axis. In all cases, we performed lateral transosseous canthopexy and FTSGing.

Results
Improved symmetry and complete eyelid closure were restored in all 5 patients. The following ophthalmological examinations showed resolved corneal erosions, as well as reduction of chemosis and epiphora. Further vision impairment was successfully prohibited. Surgical revision with FTSGing was required in 2 patients because of recurrence of unilateral lower eyelid retraction.

Conclusions
Lateral transosseous canthopexy represents a suitable surgical method to durably correct eyelid malposition, ectropion, and incomplete lid closure in patients with severe scarring of the periorbital region after burns of the face. Early detection of patients at risk and timing of surgical intervention are of great importance.
A new stem-varanid lizard (Reptilia, Squamata) from the early Eocene of China
Authors: Dong Liping , Wang Yuan-Qing , Zhao Qi , Vasilyan Davit , Wang Yuan , Evans Susan E. 
Published: February 2022

Monitor lizards (genusVaranus) are today distributed across Asia, Africa and Australasia and represent one of the most recognizable and successful lizard lineages. They include charismatic living species like the Komodo dragon of Indonesia and the even larger extinctVaranus prisca(Megalania) of Australia. The fossil record suggests that living varanids had their origins in a diverse assemblage of stem (varaniform) species known from the Late Cretaceous of China and Mongolia. However, determining the biogeographic origins of crown-varanids has proved problematic, with Asia, Africa and Australia each being proposed. The problem is complicated by the fragmentary nature of many attributed specimens, and the fact that the most widely accepted, and most complete, fossil of a stem-varanid, that ofSaniwa ensidens, is from North America. In this paper, we describe a well-preserved skull and skeleton of a new genus of stem-varanid from the Eocene of China. Phylogenetic analysis places the new genus as the sister taxon ofVaranus,suggesting that the transition from Cretaceous varaniform lizards toVaranusoccurred in East Asia before the origin and dispersal ofVaranusto other regions. The discovery of the new specimen thus fills an important gap in the fossil record of monitor lizards. The similar lengths of the fore- and hindlimbs in this new taxon are unusual among the total group Varanidae and suggest it may have had a different lifestyle, at least from the contemporaneous North AmericanS. ensidens.This article is part of the theme issue ‘The impact of Chinese palaeontology on evolutionary research’.
Reading instruction causes changes in category-selective visual cortex
Authors: Yeatman Jason D. , McCloy Daniel R. , Caffarra Sendy , Clarke Maggie D. , Ender Suzanne , Gijbels Liesbeth , Joo Sung Jun , Kubota Emily C. , Kuhl Patricia K. , Larson Eric , O’Brien Gabrielle , Peterson Erica R. , Takada Megumi E. , Taulu Samu 
Published: February 2022

AbstractEducation sculpts specialized neural circuits for skills like reading that are critical to success in modern society but were not anticipated by the selective pressures of evolution. Does the emergence of brain regions that selectively process novel visual stimuli like words occur at the expense of cortical representations of other stimuli like faces and objects? To answer this question we conducted a randomized controlled trial with pre-school children (five years of age). We found that being taught reading versus oral language skills induced different patterns of change in category-selective regions of visual cortex. Reading instruction enhanced the response to text but did not diminish the response to other categories. How these changes play out over a longer timescale is still unknown but, based on these data, we can surmise that high-level visual cortex undergoes rapid changes as children enter school and begin establishing new skills like literacy.
Traveling waves in the monkey frontoparietal network predict recent reward memory
Authors: Zabeh E. , Foley N.C. , Jacobs J. , Gottlieb J.P. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBrain function depends on neural communication, but the mechanisms of this communication are not well understood. Recent studies suggest that one form of neural communication is through traveling waves (TWs)—patterns of neural oscillations that propagate within and between areas. We show that TWs appear robustly in microarray recordings in monkey frontal and parietal cortex and encode memory for recent rewards. While making saccades to obtain probabilistic rewards, monkeys were sensitive to the (statistically irrelevant) prior reward, which is consistent with behavioral biases produced by reward history. TWs in frontal and parietal areas were stronger in trials following a prior reward versus a lack of reward and, in the frontal lobe, correlated with the monkeys’ sensitivity to the prior reward. The findings suggest that neural communication across fronto-parietal areas, reflected by TWs, maintains default reward memories, while communication within the frontal lobe mediates the read out of the memories for prospective expectations.
Contact investigation of tuberculosis in Brunei Darussalam: Evaluation and risk factor analysis
Authors: Chaw Liling , Hamid Rafizah Abdul , Koh Kai Shing , Thu Kyaw 
Published: February 2022

AbstractIntroductionWe evaluated the yield of tuberculosis (TB) contact investigation in Brunei Darussalam, and identified the associated factors for latent TB infection (LTBI) diagnosis, as well as for initiating and completing LTBI treatment.MethodsData was extracted and digitalised for all close contacts of pulmonary TB cases at the National TB Coordinating Centre from January 2009 to December 2018. Generalising estimating equations (GEE) logistic regression models were used to determine the associated factors. Manual matching against electronic health records system was done to identify contacts who had progressed to active TB disease.ResultsAmong 10,537 contacts, 9.9% (n= 1047) were diagnosed as LTBI, out of which 43.0% (n= 450) initiated LTBI treatment. Among those who initiated, 74.0% (n= 333) completed LTBI treatment. Contact factors associated with LTBI diagnosis include being male (adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR)= 1.18 [95%CI: 1.03,1.34]), local (aOR= 0.70 [95%CI: 0.56,0.88]), and a household contact (aOR= 1.59 [95%CI: 1.26,1.99]). Contacts of index cases who were <60 years old and diagnosed as smear positive PTB (aOR= 1.62 [95%CI: 1.19,2.20]) had higher odds of being diagnosed with LTBI. Local LTBI cases had higher odds of initiating LTBI treatment (aOR= 1.86 [95%CI: 1.26,2.73]). Also, LTBI cases detected from local (aOR= 2.32 [95%CI: 1.08,4.97]) and smear positive PTB index cases (aOR= 2.23 [95%CI: 1.09,4.55]) had higher odds of completing LTBI treatment. Among 1047 LTBI cases, 5 (0.5%) had progressed to active PTB within 1-8 years post-LTBI diagnosis.DiscussionLTBI burden is disproportionately high towards foreign nationals, with higher odds of LTBI diagnosis but lower odds of treatment initiation. Determining the reasons of not initiating LTBI treatment will be useful to help improve LTBI treatment uptake. Establishing digital databases and building TB laboratory capacity for molecular typing would be useful to determine the contribution of LTBI or reactivation towards TB incidence in Brunei.Key messagesWhat is already known on this topicBrunei is an intermediate TB burden country with stagnating TB incidence since 2004, despite having an established national TB programme.We undertook this study to evaluate the contact investigation process and also to understand the contribution of LTBI towards TB incidence in the country.What this study addsAmong contacts of PTB index cases identified between 2009 and 2018, the proportions of LTBI diagnosis, treatment initiation and treatment completion were 9.9%, 43.0% and 74.0%, respectively.The associated factors of LTBI diagnosis include being, male, foreign and a household contact. Local cases had higher odds of initiating LTBI treatment when compared to foreign nationals.How this study might affect research, practice or policyStrengthening LTBI screening and treatment uptake among foreign nationals could be an important step towards reducing TB incidence in Brunei.
Effects of cannabidiol on activated immune-inflammatory pathways in major depressive patients and healthy controls
Authors: Rachayon Muanpetch , Jirakran Ketsupar , Sodsai Pimpayao , Klinchanhom Siriwan , Sughondhabirom Atapol , Plaimas Kitiporn , Suratanee Apichat , Maes Michael 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundMajor depressive disorder and a major depressive episode (MDD/MDE) are characterized by activation of the immune-inflammatory response system (IRS) and the compensatory immune-regulatory system (CIRS). Cannabidiol (CBD) is a phytocannabinoid isolated from the cannabis plant which was reported to have antidepressant-like and anti- inflammatory effects. The aim of the present study is to examine the effects of CBD on IRS, CIRS, M1, T helper (Th)-1, Th-2, Th-17, T regulatory (Treg) profiles, and growth factors in depression and healthy controls.MethodsCulture supernatant of stimulated (5 μg/mL of PHA and 25 μg/mL of LPS) whole blood of 30 depressed patients and 20 controls was assayed for cytokines using the LUMINEX assay. The effects of three CBD concentrations (0.1 µg/ml, 1 µg/mL, and 10 µg/mL) were examined.ResultsDepression was characterized by significantly increased Th-1, Th-2, Th-17, Treg, IRS, CIRS and neurotoxicity profiles. CBD 0.1 µg/mL did not have any immune effects. CBD 1.0 µg/mL decreased CIRS activities but increased growth factor production, while CBD 10.0 µg/mL suppressed Th-1, Th-17, IRS, CIRS, and a neurotoxicity profile and enhanced T cell growth and growth factor production. CBD 1.0 to 10.0 µg/mL dose-dependently decreased sIL- 1RA, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-13, CCL11, G-CSF, IFN-γ, CCL2, CCL4, and CCL5, and increased IL-1β, IL-4, IL-15, IL-17, GM-CSF, TNF-α, FGF, and VEGF.ConclusionCBD has very complex immunomodulatory effects which depend on the CBD dose. CBD does not normalize the activated immune profiles observed in depression while higher concentrations can worsen inflammatory processes.
Speech understanding oppositely affects acoustic and linguistic neural tracking in a speech rate manipulation paradigm
Authors: Verschueren Eline , Gillis Marlies , Decruy Lien , Vanthornhout Jonas , Francart Tom 
Published: February 2022

ABSTRACTWhen listening to continuous speech, the human brain can track features of the presented speech signal. It has been shown that neural tracking of acoustic features is a prerequisite for speech understanding and can predict speech understanding in controlled circumstances. However, the brain also tracks linguistic features of speech, which may be more directly related to speech understanding. We investigated acoustic and linguistic speech processing as a function of varying speech understanding by manipulating the speech rate. In this paradigm, acoustic and linguistic speech processing are affected simultaneously but in opposite directions: When the speech rate increases, more acoustic information per second is present. In contrast, the tracking of linguistic information becomes more challenging when speech is less intelligible at higher speech rates. We measured the EEG of 18 participants (4 male) who listened to speech at various speech rates. As expected and confirmed by the behavioral results, speech understanding decreased with increasing speech rate. Accordingly, linguistic neural tracking decreased with increasing speech rate, but acoustic neural tracking increased. This indicates that neural tracking of linguistic representations can capture the gradual effect of decreasing speech understanding. In addition, increased acoustic neural tracking does not necessarily imply better speech understanding. This suggests that, although more challenging to measure due to the low signal-to-noise ratio, linguistic neural tracking may be a more direct predictor of speech understanding.Significance statementAn increasingly popular method to investigate neural speech processing is to measure neural tracking. Although much research has been done on how the brain tracks acoustic speech features, linguistic speech features have received less attention. In this study, we disentangled acoustic and linguistic characteristics of neural speech tracking via manipulating the speech rate. A proper way of objectively measuring auditory and language processing paves the way towards clinical applications: An objective measure of speech understanding would allow for behavioral-free evaluation of speech understanding, which allows to evaluate hearing loss and adjust hearing aids based on brain responses. This objective measure would benefit populations from whom obtaining behavioral measures may be complex, such as young children or people with cognitive impairments.
Local Extensional Flows Induce Long-Range Fiber Alignment in 3D Collagen Hydrogels
Authors: Ahmed Adeel , Joshi Indranil M. , Mansouri Mehran , Byerley Ann M. , Day Steven W. , Gaborski Thomas R. , Abhyankar Vinay V. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractRandomly oriented type I collagen (COL1) fibers in the extracellular matrix (ECM) are reorganized by biophysical forces into aligned domains extending several millimeters and with varying degrees of fiber alignment. These aligned fibers can transmit traction forces, guide tumor cell migration, facilitate angiogenesis, and influence tissue morphogenesis. To create aligned COL1 domains in microfluidic cell culture models, shear flows have been used to align thin COL1 matrices (<50μm in height) in a microchannel. However, there has been limited investigation into the role of shear flows in aligning 3D hydrogels (>130μm). Here, we show that pure shear flows do not induce fiber alignment in 3D atelo COL1 hydrogels, but the simple addition of local extensional flow promotes alignment that is maintained across several millimeters, with a degree of alignment directly related to the extensional strain rate. We further advance experimental capabilities by addressing the practical challenge of accessing a 3D hydrogel formed within a microchannel by introducing a magnetically coupled modular platform that can be released to expose the microengineered hydrogel. We demonstrate the platform’s capability to pattern cells and fabricate multi-layered COL1 matrices using layer-by-layer fabrication and specialized modules. Our approach provides an easy-to-use fabrication method to achieve advanced hydrogel microengineering capabilities that combine fiber alignment with biofabrication capabilities.
Comparative study of immunogenicity and safety of Gam-COVID-Vac and Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV vaccines in Belarus
Authors: Stoma Igor , Korsak Katsiaryna , Voropaev Evgenii , Osipkina Olga , Kovalev Aleksey 
Published: February 2022

AbstractIntroductionLack of comparative studies on efficiency of a broad range of COVID19 vaccines leads to lower levels of adoption and subsequent lower total immunity in several regions, including Republic of Belarus. This clinical study captures and transparently demonstrates varying immunogenic responses to Sputnik V and Sinopharm vaccines.Aim of this study wasto compare the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of Sputnik V (Gam-COVID-Vac), RF and Sinopharm (BBIBP-CorV), PRC vaccines in vaccinated individuals.Materials and MethodsA total of 60 adults participated the study. The immune response after vaccination was assessed using enzyme immunoassay. IgG levels measured in all participants at three time points: before the vaccination, 42 days after the first vaccine dose, and 6 months after the first vaccine dose. The results of the SARS-CoV-2 antibody test is quantified according to the WHO First International Standard (NIBSC code:20/136) and expressed in international units (BAU/ml).ResultsThe study participants were divided into two groups, where 30 people (50%) were vaccinated with Sputnik V (Gam-COVID-Vac), and 30 people were vaccinated with Sinopharm (BBIBP-CorV), with no gender differences in the groups. The IgG levels at 42 days after the first vaccine dose were: Sputnik V (Gam-COVID-Vac)(42 days): Me=650.4 (642.2-669.4); Sinopharm (BBIBP-CorV)(42 days): Me=376.5 (290.9-526.4); p<0,001). The IgG levels at 6 months after the first vaccine dose were: Sputnik V (Gam-COVID-Vac)(6 months) Me=608.7 (574.6-647.1); Sinopharm (BBIBP-CorV)(6 months): Me=106.3 (78.21-332.4); p<0,001). Reactions after vaccination appeared in 27 vaccinated individuals (45%).ConclusionThe study showed that Sputnik V (Gam-COVID-Vac) vaccine was more immunogenic than Sinopharm (BBIBP-CorV) vaccine. IgG levels in vaccinated individuals who previously recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection (“hybrid immunity”) were higher than in SARS-CoV-2 naïve individuals. Reactions after vaccines administration were mild to moderate.