bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The course of COVID-19 in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria receiving omalizumab treatment
Authors: Atayik Emel , Aytekin Gokhan 
Published: February 2022

AbstractIntroductionAlthough there are case reports and guideline recommendations that states omalizumab can be used in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) patients during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, there are scarce studies showing the course of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in CSU patients receiving omalizumab.Materials and MethodsA total of 370 patients with chronic urticaria were included in the study between June 2020 and December 31, 2020.ResultsSixty patients (16.2%) became infected with the SARS-CoV-2. The rate of pneumonia and hospitalization were 4.1% and 1.9%. There was no significant difference was determined between the CSU patients with omalizumab treatment and the non-receivers in regard to the rate of SARS-CoV-2 (+) (p: 0.567) and in regard to the rate of SARS-CoV-2 related pneumonia and hospitalization (p: 0.331 and p: 0.690). Gender, duration of CSU, serum IgE levels, omalizumab treatment, and atopy were not found to be associated with an increased risk for SARS-CoV-2 positivity in patients with CSU.ConclusionOur study shows that the use of omalizumab does not increase the risk of COVID-19 infection, COVID-19-related pneumonia and hospitalizations in CSU patients and supports the views that omalizumab can be used safely in patients with CSU during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Synaptic loss in behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia revealed by [11C]UCB-J PET
Authors: Malpetti Maura , Jones P. Simon , Cope Thomas E. , Holland Negin , Naessens Michelle , Rouse Matthew A. , Savulich George , Fryer Tim D. , Hong Young T. , Sephton Selena Milicevic , Aigbirhio Franklin I. , O’Brien John T. , Rowe James B. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractSynaptic loss is an early feature of neurodegenerative disease models, and is often severe inpost mortemclinical studies, including frontotemporal dementia. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with radiotracers that bind to synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A enables quantification of synapsesin vivo. This study used [11C]UCB-J PET in people with behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), testing the hypothesis that synaptic loss is severe and related to clinical severity. We performed a cross-sectional observational study of bvFTD,versushealthy controls, in which participants underwent neurological examination, neuropsychological assessment, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and [11C]UCB-J PET. Patients were recruited from the Cambridge Centre for Frontotemporal Dementia at the University of Cambridge, and healthy volunteers from the UK National Institute for Health Research Join Dementia Research register. Eleven people with a clinical diagnosis of probable bvFTD and 25 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included. All participants underwent dynamic [11C]UCB-J PET imaging, structural MRI and a neuropsychological battery, including the Addenbrooke’s cognitive examination (ACE-R), and INECO frontal screening (IFS). General linear models were used to compare [11C]UCB-J binding potential maps between groups, and correlate synaptic density with cognitive performance and clinical features in patients. Group-comparison and correlation analyses were also performed using partial-volume corrected [11C]UCB-J binding potential from regions of interest (ROIs). Patients with bvFTD showed severe synaptic loss compared to controls. In particular, [11C]UCB-J binding was significantly reduced bilaterally in medial and dorsolateral frontal regions, inferior frontal gyri, anterior and posterior cingulate gyrus, insular cortex and medial temporal lobe. Synaptic loss in the left frontal and cingulate regions correlated significantly with cognitive impairments as assessed with ACE-R and IFS. Results from ROI-based analyses mirrored the voxel-wise results. In keeping with preclinical models, and human post mortem data, there is widespread frontotemporal loss of synapses in symptomatic bvFTD, in proportion to disease severity. [11C]UCB-J PET could support translational studies and experimental medicines strategies for new disease-modifying treatments for neurodegeneration.
Logistic regression with machine learning sheds light on the problematic sexual behavior phenotype
Authors: Jiang Shui , Wallace Keanna , Yang Esther , Roper Leslie , Aryal Garima , Lee Dawon , Lodhi Rohit J , Isenberg Rick , Green Bradley , Wishart David , Aitchison Katherine J 
Published: February 2022

AbstractObjectivesThere has been a longstanding debate about whether the mechanisms involved in problematic sexual behavior (PSB) are similar to those observed in addictive disorders, or related to impulse control or to compulsivity. The aim of this report was to contribute to this debate by investigating the association between PSB, addictive disorders (internet addiction, compulsive buying), measures associated with the construct known as reward deficiency (RDS), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in young adults in post-secondary education.MethodsA Canadian university Office of the Registrar invited 68,846 eligible students and postdoctoral fellows. Out of 4710 expressing interest in participating, 3359 completed on-line questionnaires, and 1801 completed the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). PSB was measured by combining those screening positive (≥6) on the Sexual Addiction Screening Test-Revised (SAST-R) Core with those self-reporting PSB. Current mental health condition(s) and childhood trauma were measured by self-report. OCD was assessed by a combination of self-report and MINI data.Results12.18% (407/3341) of participants screened positive on the SAST-R Core. On logistic regression, OCD, attention deficit, internet addiction, a family history of PSB, childhood trauma, compulsive buying and male gender were associated with PSB. On multiple correspondence analysis (MCA), OCD appeared to cluster separately from the other measures, and the pattern of data differed by gender.ConclusionsFactors that have previously been associated with RDS and OCD are both associated with increased odds of PSB. The factors associated with RDS appear to contribute to a separate data cluster from OCD, and to lie closer to PSB.
An outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in a public-facing office in England, 2021
Authors: Atkinson Barry , van Veldhoven Karin , Nicholls Ian , Coldwell Matthew , Clarke Adam , Frost Gillian , Atchison Christina J. , Raja Amber I. , Bennett Allan M , Morgan Derek , Pearce Neil , Fletcher Tony , Brickley Elizabeth B , Chen Yiqun 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBetween August-September 2021, an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, with an attack rate of 55% (22/40 workers), occurred in a public-facing office in England. To identify workplace and worker-related risk factors, a comprehensive investigation involving surface sampling, environmental assessment, molecular and serological testing, and worker questionnaires was performed in September – October 2021. The results affirm the utility of surface sampling to identify SARS-CoV-2 control deficiencies and the importance of evolving, site-specific risk assessments with layered COVID-19 mitigation strategies.
Using the app “Injurymap©” to provide exercise rehabilitation for people with acute lateral ankle sprains seen at the Hospital Emergency Department – a mixed-method pilot study
Authors: Bak Jonas , Thorborg Kristian , Clausen Mikkel Bek , Elkjær Johannsen Finn , Kirk Jeanette Wassar , Bandholm Thomas 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundAcute lateral ankle sprains (LAS) account for 4-5% of all Emergency Department (ED) visits. Few patients receive the recommended care of exercise rehabilitation. A simple solution is an exercise app for mobile devices, which can deliver tailored and real-time adaptive exercise programs.PurposeThe purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the use and preliminary effect of an app-based exercise program in patients with LAS seen in the Emergency Department at a public hospital.Materials and methodsWe used an app that delivers evidence-based exercise rehabilitation for LAS using machine-based learning. Participants were recruited from the ED and followed for four months. Data on app-use and preliminary effect were collected continuously through the exercise app and weekly text-messages. Baseline and follow-up data were collected though an online questionnaire. Semi-structured interviews were performed after participants stopped using the app.ResultsHealth care professionals provided 485 patients with study information and exercise equipment. Of those, 60 participants chose to enroll in the study and 43 became active users. The active users completed a median of 7 exercise sessions. Most of the active users were very satisfied or satisfied (79%-93%) with the app and 95.7% would recommend it to others. The interviews showed that ankle sprains were considered an innocuous injury that would recover by itself. Several app users expressed they felt insufficiently informed from the ED health care professionals. Only 39% felt recovered when they stopped exercising, and 33% experienced a recurrent sprain in the study period.ConclusionIn this study, only few patients with LAS became active app users after receiving information in the ED about a free app-based rehabilitation program. We speculate the reason for this could be the perception that LAS is an innocuous injury. Most of the patients starting training were satisfied with the app, although few completed enough exercise sessions to realistically impact clinical recovery. Interestingly more than half of the participants did not feel fully recovered when they stopped exercising and one third experienced a recurrent sprain.Trial-identifiershttps://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03550274, preprint (open access): doi/xxx.
Structural differences in adolescent brains can predict alcohol misuse
Authors: Rane Roshan Prakash , de Man Evert Ferdinand , Kim JiHoon , Görgen Kai , Tschorn Mira , Rapp Michael A. , Banaschewski Tobias , Bokde Arun L.W. , Desrivières Sylvane , Flor Herta , Grigis Antoine , Garavan Hugh , Gowland Penny , Brühl Rüdiger , Martinot Jean-Luc , Paillère Martinot Marie-Laure , Artiges Eric , Nees Frauke , Orfanos Dimitri Papadopoulos , Lemaitre Herve , Paus Tomáš , Poustka Luise , Fröhner Juliane H. , Robinson Lauren , Smolka Michael N. , Winterer Jeanne , Whelan Robert , Schumann Gunter , Walter Henrik , Heinz Andreas , Ritter Kerstin ,   IMAGEN Consortium
Published: February 2022

ABSTRACTAlcohol misuse during adolescence (AAM) has been linked with disruptive structural development of the brain and alcohol use disorder. Using machine learning (ML), we analyze the link between AAM phenotypes and adolescent brain structure (T1-weighted imaging and DTI) at ages 14, 19, and 22 in the IMAGEN dataset (n ∼ 1182). ML predicted AAM at age 22 from brain structure with a balanced accuracy of 78% on independent test data. Therefore, structural differences in adolescent brains could significantly predict AAM. Using brain structure at age 14 and 19, ML predicted AAM at age 22 with a balanced accuracy of 73% and 75%, respectively. These results showed that structural differences preceded alcohol misuse behavior in the dataset. The most informative features were located in the white matter tracts of the corpus callosum and internal capsule, brain stem, and ventricular CSF. In the cortex, they were spread across the occipital, frontal, and temporal lobes and in the cingulate cortex. Our study also demonstrates how the choice of the phenotype for AAM, the ML method, and the confound correction technique are all crucial decisions in an exploratory ML study analyzing psychiatric disorders with weak effect sizes such as AAM.
Public perceptions and interactions with UK COVID-19 Test, Trace and Isolate policies, and implications for pandemic infectious disease modelling
Authors: Marshall Guy C. , Skeva Rigina , Jay Caroline , Silva Miguel E. P. , Fyles Martyn , House Thomas , Davis Emma L. , Pi Li , Medley Graham F. , Quilty Billy J. , Dyson Louise , Yardley Lucy , Fearon Elizabeth 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe efforts to contain SARS-CoV-2 and reduce the impact of COVID-19 have been supported by Test, Trace and Isolate (TTI) systems in many settings, including the United Kingdom. The mathematical models underlying policy decisions about TTI make assumptions about behaviour in the context of a rapidly unfolding and changeable emergency. This study investigates the reported behaviours of UK citizens in July 2021, assesses them against how a set of TTI processes are conceptualised and represented in models and then interprets the findings with modellers who have been contributing evidence to TTI policy. We report on testing practices, including the uses of and trust in different types of testing, and the challenges of testing and isolating faced by different demographic groups. The study demonstrates the potential of input from members of the public to benefit the modelling process, from guiding the choice of research questions, influencing choice of model structure, informing parameter ranges and validating or challenging assumptions, to highlighting where model assumptions are reasonable or where their poor reflection of practice might lead to uninformative results. We conclude that deeper engagement with members of the public should be integrated at regular stages of public health intervention modelling.
Noninvasive Epileptogenic Signal Direction Determination by Effective Connectivity of Resting State Functional MRI - Independent of EEG
Authors: Boerwinkle Varina L. , Sussman Bethany L. , Wyckoff Sarah N. , Manjón Iliana , Fine Justin M. , Adelson P. David 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe goal of this study was to determine resting state fMRI effective connectivity (RSEC) capacity, agnostic of epileptogenic events, in distinguishing seizure onset zones (SOZ) from propagation zones (pZ). Consecutive patients (2.1-18.2 years old), with epilepsy and hypothalamic hamartoma, pre-operative rs-fMRI-directed surgery, post-operative imaging, and Engel class I outcomes were collected. Cross-spectral dynamic causal modelling (DCM) was used to estimate RSEC between the ablated rs-fMRI-SOZ to its region of highest connectivity outside the HH, defined as the propagation zone (pZ). RSEC between the SOZ and PZ was characterized as positive (excitatory), negative (inhibitory), or null. It was hypothesized that connectivity from the SOZ would be excitatory and connectivity from the pZ would be inhibitory. Sensitivity, accuracy, positive predictive value were determined for node-to-node connections. A Parametric Empirical Bayes (PEB) group analysis was performed to identify effects of Engel class outcome and age. RSEC strength was also evaluated for correlation with percent seizure frequency improvement, sex, and region of interest size. Of the SOZ’s RSEC, only 3.6% had no connection of significance to the pZ when patient models were individually reduced. Among remaining, 96% were in expected (excitatory signal found from SOZ→pZ and inhibitory signal found from pZ→SOZ) versus 3.6% reversed polarities. Both polarity signals were equivalently as expected, with one false signal direction out of 26 each (3.7% total). Sensitivity of 96%, accuracy of 93%, and positive predictive value of 96% in identifying and differentiating the SOZ and pZ. Groupwise PEB analysis confirmed SOZ→pZ EC was excitatory, and pZ→SOZ EC was inhibitory. Patients with better outcomes (Engel Ia vs. Ib) showed stronger inhibitory signal (pZ→SOZ). Age was negatively associated with absolute RSEC bidirectionally, but had no relationship with Directionality SOZ identification performance. This study demonstrates the accuracy of Directionality to identify the origin of excitatory and inhibitory signal between the surgically confirmed SOZ and the region of hypothesized propagation zone in children with DRE due to a HH. Thus, this method validation study in a homogenous DRE population may have potential in narrowing the SOZ-candidates for epileptogenicity in other DRE populations and utility in other neurological disorders.HighlightsDirectional rs-fMRI connectivity identifies seizure onset zone independent of EEGSignal from seizure onset zone to propagation zone is excitatorySignal from propagation zone to seizure onset zone is inhibitoryGreater inhibition from propagation zone is associated with better surgical outcome
Cost effective sequencing enables longitudinal profiling of clonal hematopoiesis
Authors: Uddin Md Mesbah , Zhou Ying , Bick Alexander G. , Burugula Bala Bharathi , Jaiswal Sidd , Desai Pinkal , Love Shelly-Ann , Hayden Kate , Manson JoAnn , Whitsel Eric , Kooperberg Charles , Natarajan Pradeep , Reiner Alexander P. , Kitzman Jacob 
Published: February 2022

ABSTRACTClonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), the age-related expansion of mutant hematopoietic stem cells, confers risk for multiple diseases of aging including hematologic cancer and cardiovascular disease. Whole-exome or genome sequencing can detect CHIP, but due to its high cost, most population studies have been cross-sectional, sequencing only a single timepoint. Here we describe a cost-effective sequencing assay for detecting CHIP. We validate this technology on a set of 548 longitudinal and multi-timepoint samples from 182 participants in the Women’s Health Initiative cohort over median 16 years, including 85 participants with ≥3 timepoints assayed. The majority (52.1%) of clonal mutations expanded over time (with a median doubling period of 7.43 years), with the others remaining static or decreasing in size in the absence of any cytotoxic therapy. This assay provides a cost-effective and sensitive platform for investigating the associations between CHIP dynamics and health outcomes at a biobank scale.
Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography in Pediatric Ocular Pathology: Imaging Study of 115 eyes
Authors: Nadeem Sana 
Published: February 2022

ABSTRACTBackgroundTo assess the pediatric anterior segment characteristics in ocular pathology, using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).MethodsOur case series follows 115 eyes of 78 children aged 2–17 years of age with anterior segment pathology in an academic facility. A thorough eye examination and investigations were performed for each child. The anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) analysis was done using the Optopol Revo 80®high resolution SD-OCT (840 nm, axial resolution of 5 µm) using an imaging adapter. All pathological features visible on imaging were observed, studied, tabulated, and analyzed.Results115 eyes of 78 children with anterior segment pathology were imaged. The average age was 11.84 years, with 44 males and 34 females. The primary clinical diagnosis wascataract(congenital and acquired) in 40 (34.8%) eyes, followed bycorneal disease(congenital, inflammatory, and traumatic) in 28 (24.3%) eyes,glaucoma(juvenile and secondary) in 18 (15.7%) andtraumain 15 (13%) eyes. Systemic diseases were associated in 20.9%. The commonest imaging pathology observed waslens opacification(any morphology/location) in 43 (37.4%),increased reflectivity of the corneain 31 (28.2%), corneal stromal thinningin 34 (29.6%), increased corneal thickness in 28 (24.3%),shallow anterior chamberin 17 (14.8%), andcells in anterior chamberin18 (15.7%) eyes, along with a multitude of other findings.ConclusionsOur study demonstrates that anterior segment optical coherence tomography is a useful non-contact technique used without sedation for the detailed anatomic and pathologic assessment, imaging, diagnosis, and monitoring of pediatric ocular diseases.
Monitoring tubular epithelial cell damage in AKI via urine flow cytometry
Authors: Kujat Jacob , Langhans Valerie , Brand Hannah , Freund Paul , Görlich Nina , Wagner Leonie , Metzke Diana , Timm Sara , Ochs Matthias , Grützkau Andreas , Baumgart Sabine , Skopnik Christopher M. , Hiepe Falk , Riemekasten Gabriela , Klocke Jan , Enghard Philipp 
Published: February 2022

IntroductionAcute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The diagnosis is currently based on urine output and serum creatinine and there is a lack of biomarkers that directly reflect tubular damage. Here, we establish flow cytometric quantification of renal epithelial cells as a potential biomarker for quantifying the severity of tubular kidney damage and for predicting AKI outcome.MethodsA total of 84 patients with AKI were included in this study, divided into an exploratory cohort (n=21) and confirmatory cohort (n=63), as well as 25 controls. Urine of patients was collected and processed within 72 hours after AKI onset. Different urinary tubular epithelial cell (TEC) populations were identified and quantified by flow cytometry (FACS). Urinary cell counts were analyzed regarding AKI severity defined by KDIGO stage as well as renal recovery, length of hospital stay and occurrence of MAKE-30 events.ResultsUrinary TEC counts correlated with stages of AKI based on KDIGO classification and were significantly enriched in patients with AKI compared to healthy donors and inpatient controls in both cohorts. Furthermore, both proximal and distal TEC (pTEC, dTEC) counts performed well in identification of patients with AKI regardless of stage. Urinary amounts of pTEC and dTEC showed a strong correlation, with predominance of dTEC. Higher numbers of TEC were associated with extended length of hospital stay, while elevated pTEC counts were associated with the occurrence of MAKE-30 events. Follow-up measurements showed decreasing amounts of urinary TEC after AKI recovery over several days.ConclusionThe amount of urinary TEC directly reflects severity of tissue damage in human AKI. Our protocol furthermore provides a basis for a deeper phenotypic analysis of urinary TEC populations.