bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enhanced Depth-of-focus Intraocular Lenses: Latest Wavefront-shaped Optics versus Diffractive Optics
Authors: Schmid Ruediger , Luedtke Holger , Borkenstein Andreas F. 
Published: February 2022

SIGNIFICANCE
The modulation transfer functions (MTFs) of two novel enhanced depth-of-focus (EDoF) intraocular lenses (IOLs) were compared with an established diffractive EDoF IOL. Such assessment, which was not described before in the literature, is of high clinical impact in lens surgery.

PURPOSE
A new kind of nondiffractive, wavefront-shaped EDoF IOLs has been introduced very recently to cope with halos and glare known from diffractive optics. We aimed to assess the performance of two of these novel EDoF IOLs compared with an established diffractive EDoF IOL.

METHODS
TECNIS Symfony, AcrySof IQ Vivity, and LuxSmart Crystal IOLs (22 D each) were assessed by the OptiSpheric IOL PRO 2 imaging test bench with an ISO-2 cornea and a wavelength of 546 nm. Measurements were carried out by TRIOPTICS GmbH. Through-frequency MTF, Strehl ratio, and U.S. Air Force targets were evaluated. A decentration of 1 mm and a tilt of 5° as well as different apertures of 3 and 4.5 mm were applied additionally.

RESULTS
TECNIS Symfony performed superiorly to Vivity and LuxSmart for our settings. The diffractive optics of Symfony showed a considerable decrease in MTF and Strehl ratio when decentered. Overall, decentration had more impact on MTF and Strehl ratio than tilt. Larger aperture led to a decreased MTF and Strehl ratio for all IOLs tested. U.S. Air Force targets had better contrast for Symfony and for small aperture.

CONCLUSION
The novel wavefront-shaped EDoF IOLs failed to outperform the established diffractive achromatic optics of Symfony EDoF IOL with respect to MTF and qualitative contrast function. These results apply only to the distance viewing condition. Near vision performance will be evaluated in a future study.
Hydatid Disease, an Uncommon Etiology of Death in Forensic Practice
Authors: Mahjoub Yosra , Boussaid Marwa , Mesrati Mohamed Amine , Hadj Meriem Bel , Limem Hiba , Abdeljalil Nouha , Salem Nidhal Haj , Zakhama Abdelfatteh , Chadly Ali , Aissaoui Abir 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
In Tunisia, hydatid cyst is an endemic parasitic disease. The cyst may remain asymptomatic, discovered accidentally, or in case of a complication, the most serious of which is sudden death. We propose, in this article, to analyze the degree of involvement of the cyst in the mechanism of death, through the review of 25 cases. A total of 7932 autopsy cases were performed during the study period. Twenty-five cases of hydatid cyst discovered at autopsy were collected and death was attributed to hydatid cyst in 13 cases. The seat of the cyst was variable and death was due to anaphylaxis in 10 cases, to hydatious embolism in 2 cases and to cardiac arrhythmia, resulting from a cardiac localization of a large hydatid cyst, in 1 case.
Although rare, echinococcosis can be a life-threatening disease. Its involvement in the death mechanism remains difficult in many cases.
Motor Vehicle Collision and Acute Kidney Injury in Children
Authors: Kuok Chon In , Chan Winnie Kwai Yu 
Published: February 2022

Objective
Our study aimed to determine the prevalence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in pediatric patients who sustained trauma due to motor vehicle collision (MVC) and identify factors associated with its development.

Methods
We retrospectively reviewed the clinical information and laboratory tests of pediatric patients who were admitted because of MVC from January 2014 to April 2021. The occurrence of AKI was our primary outcome, which was defined by the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes criteria. A serum creatine kinase (CK) level of 1000 IU/L or greater was defined as rhabdomyolysis.

Results
Sixty-four patients (median age, 9.6 years) were included in the study. Twenty three of the patients (35.9%) developed AKI: stage 1 AKI in 18 (78.3%) and stage 2 AKI in 5 (21.7%) patients. Acute kidney injury patients had higher injury severity scores (no AKI: 5.0; stage 1 AKI: 10.5; stage 2 AKI: 26.0). Rhabdomyolysis was present in 21.1% of the patients and was associated with the overall AKI risk (odds ratio [OR], 7.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6–32.6) and stage 2 AKI (OR, 15.0; 95% CI, 1.4–163.2). Blood tests from AKI patients showed lower serum bicarbonate and base excess, higher leukocyte and CK levels on admission, and a higher peak CK in the first 72 hours of admission. Intubation in emergency department (OR, 11.1; 95% CI, 1.2–102.1) and surgical interventions (OR, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.0–9.8) were associated with AKI. Acute kidney injury patients required longer stay in pediatric intensive care unit (median 1.0 vs 2.3 days, P < 0.001) and hospital (median 4.1 vs 7.0 days, P = 0.010).

Conclusions
Approximately one third of pediatric patients who sustained trauma from MVC developed AKI. Initial blood results, including higher CK and leukocyte count, and lower bicarbonate and base excess, were associated with the development of AKI. Rhabdomyolysis occurred in approximately one fifth of the patients and was significantly associated with AKI.
The Effects of Cold Exposure Training and a Breathing Exercise on the Inflammatory Response in Humans: A Pilot Study
Authors: Zwaag Jelle , Naaktgeboren Rick , van Herwaarden Antonius E. , Pickkers Peter , Kox Matthijs 
Published: February 2022

ABSTRACT

Objective
We previously showed that a training intervention comprising a combination of meditation, exposure to cold, and breathing exercises enables voluntary activation of the sympathetic nervous system, reflected by profoundly increased plasma epinephrine levels, and subsequent attenuation of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory response. Several elements of the intervention may contribute to these effects, namely, two different breathing exercises (either with or without prolonged breath retention) and exposure to cold. We determined the contribution of these different elements to the observed effects.

Methods
Forty healthy male volunteers were randomized to either a short or an extensive training in both breathing exercises by either the creator of the training intervention or an independent trainer. The primary outcome was plasma epinephrine levels. In a subsequent study, 48 healthy male volunteers were randomized to cold exposure training, training in the established optimal breathing exercise, a combination of both, or no training. These 48 participants were subsequently intravenously challenged with 2 ng/kg LPS. The primary outcome was plasma cytokine levels.

Results
Both breathing exercises were associated with an increase in plasma epinephrine levels, which did not vary as a function of length of training or the trainer (F(4,152) = 0.53, p = .71, and F(4,152) = 0.92, p = .46, respectively). In the second study, the breathing exercise also resulted in increased plasma epinephrine levels. Cold exposure training alone did not relevantly modulate the LPS-induced inflammatory response (F(8,37) = 0.60, p = .77), whereas the breathing exercise led to significantly enhanced anti-inflammatory and attenuated proinflammatory cytokine levels (F(8,37) = 3.80, p = .002). Cold exposure training significantly enhanced the immunomodulatory effects of the breathing exercise (F(8,37) = 2.57, p = .02).

Conclusions
The combination of cold exposure training and a breathing exercise most potently attenuates the in vivo inflammatory response in healthy young males. Our study demonstrates that the immunomodulatory effects of the intervention can be reproduced in a standardized manner, thereby paving the way for clinical trials.

Trial Registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers: NCT02417155 and NCT03240497.
Unmet needs for HIV ancillary care services by healthcare coverage and Ryan White HIV/AIDS program assistance
Authors: Dasgupta Sharoda , Crim Stacy M. , Dawson Lindsey , Kates Jennifer , Weiser John , Klein Pamela W. , Dempsey Antigone , Hauck Heather , Lu Jen-Feng , Shu Fengjue , Beer Linda 
Published: February 2022

Objective:
To investigate unmet needs for HIV ancillary care services by healthcare coverage type and Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) assistance among adults with HIV.

Design:
We analyzed data using the 2017–2019 cycles of the CDC Medical Monitoring Project, an annual, cross-sectional study designed to produce nationally representative estimates of characteristics among adults with diagnosed HIV.

Methods:
Unmet need was defined as needing, but not receiving, one or more HIV ancillary care services. We estimated prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using predicted marginal means to examine associations between healthcare coverage type and unmet needs for HIV ancillary care services, adjusting for age. Associations were stratified by receipt of RWHAP assistance.

Results:
Unmet needs for HIV ancillary care services were highest among uninsured persons (58.7%) and lowest among those with private insurance living with at least 400% of the federal poverty level (FPL; 21.7%). Uninsured persons who received RWHAP assistance were less likely than those who did not receive RWHAP assistance to have unmet needs for HIV clinical support services (aPR: 0.21; 95% CI: 0.16–0.28) and other medical services (aPR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.59–0.96), but not subsistence services (aPR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.74–1.27). Unmet needs for other medical services and subsistence services did not differ by RWHAP assistance among those with Medicaid, Medicare, or other healthcare coverage.

Conclusions:
RWHAP helped reduce some needs for uninsured persons. However, with growing socioeconomic inequities following the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, expanding access to needed services for all people with HIV could improve key outcomes.
Plasma d-amino acids are associated with markers of immune activation and organ dysfunction in people with HIV
Authors: Yap Siew Hwei , Lee Cheng Siang , Furusho Aogu , Ishii Chiharu , Shaharudin Syahirah , Zulhaimi Nurul Syuhada , Kamarulzaman Adeeba , Kamaruzzaman Shahrul Bahyah , Mita Masashi , Leong Kok Hoong , Hamase Kenji , Rajasuriar Reena 
Published: February 2022

Background:

d-Amino acids (d-AAs) have been associated with age-associated conditions in the general population but their relevance in people with HIV (PWH), who experience accentuated/accelerated aging has not been studied. We compared d-AA levels in HIV-infected and uninfected controls and explored their association with markers of immune activation, gut permeability and organ dysfunction.

Design:
Case–control analysis.

Method:
Plasma samples from 60 antiretroviral therapy-treated HIV-infected individuals and 59 uninfected controls were analysed. A three-dimensional HPLC system was used to measure d-and l-asparagine, serine, alanine and proline and presented as %d-AA. Additionally, cell-associated and soluble markers of immune activation and senescence were characterized. Kidney and liver functions were expressed as estimated glomerular filtration rate and fibrosis-4 scores, respectively. Mann–Whitney and Spearman rank correlation coefficients were used for statistical analysis.

Results:

d-Asparagine, d-serine, d-alanine and d-proline were detectable in all plasma samples and correlated with age in HIV-infected and uninfected but not different between groups. Kynurenine/tryptophan ratio was positively correlated with all %d-AAs in PWH and with %d-serine and %d-proline in controls. %d-AAs were not consistently correlated with markers of gut permeability in both groups. All %d-AAs were also correlated with kidney function in both groups whereas age-associated accumulation of %d-asparagine, %d-serine and %d-proline were correlated with liver function and the VACS score in controls.

Conclusion:
Plasma d-AAs are associated with chronological age and correlated with markers of immune activation and organ decline, though variably, in PWH and controls. Their role in the biology of aging warrants further investigation.
Exploring Estimates and Reasons for Lost to Follow-Up Among People Living With HIV on Antiretroviral Therapy in Kisumu County, Kenya
Authors: Samba Benard O. , Lewis-Kulzer Jayne , Odhiambo Francesca , Juma Eric , Mulwa Edwin , Kadima Julie , Bukusi Elizabeth A. , Cohen Craig R. 
Published: February 2022

Background:
A better understanding why people living with HIV (PLHIV) become lost to follow-up (LTFU) and determining who is LTFU in a program setting is needed to attain HIV epidemic control.

Setting:
This retrospective cross-sectional study used an evidence-sampling approach to select health facilities and LTFU patients from a large HIV program supporting 61 health facilities in Kisumu County, Kenya.

Methods:
Eligible PLHIV included adults 18 years and older with at least 1 clinic visit between September 1, 2016, and August 31, 2018, and were LTFU (no clinical contact for ≥90 days after their last expected clinic visit). From March to June 2019, demographic and clinical variables were collected from a sample of LTFU patient files at 12 health facilities. Patient care status and retention outcomes were determined through program tracing.

Results:
Of 787 LTFU patients selected and traced, 36% were male, median age was 30.5 years (interquartile range: 24.6–38.0), and 78% had their vital status confirmed with 560 (92%) alive and 52 (8%) deceased. Among 499 (89.0%) with a retention outcome, 233 (46.7%) had stopped care while 266 (53.3%) had self-transferred to another facility. Among those who had stopped care, psychosocial reasons were most common {65.2% [95% confidence interval (CI): 58.9 to 71.1]} followed by structural reasons [29.6% (95% CI: 24.1 to 35.8)] and clinic-based reasons [3.0% (95% CI: 1.4 to 6.2)].

Conclusion:
We found that more than half of patients LTFU were receiving HIV care elsewhere, leading to a higher overall patient retention rate than routinely reported. Similar strategies could be considered to improve the accuracy of reporting retention in HIV care.
Production of a Highly Immunogenic Antigen from SARS-CoV-2 by Covalent
Coupling of the Receptor Binding Domain of Spike Protein to a Multimeric
Carrier
Authors:   Argentinian AntiCovid
                    Consortium, Berguer Paula M. , Blaustein Matías , Bredeston Luis M. , Craig Patricio O. , D’Alessio Cecilia , Elias Fernanda , Farré Paola C. , Fernández Natalia B. , Gentili Hernán G. , Gándola Yamila B. , Gasulla Javier , Gudesblat Gustavo E. , Herrera María G. , Ibañez Lorena I. , Idrovo-Hidalgo Tommy , Nadra Alejandro D. , Noseda Diego G. , Paván Carlos H. , Pavan María F. , Pignataro María F. , Roman Ernesto A. , Ruberto Lucas A. M. , Rubinstein Natalia , Sanchez María V. , Santos Javier , Wetzler Diana E. , Zelada Alicia M. 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Since the discovery of SARS-CoV-2, several antigens have been proposed to be
part of COVID-19 vaccines. The receptor binding domain (RBD) of Spike protein is
one of the promising candidates to develop effective vaccines since it can
induce potent neutralizing antibodies. We previously reported the production of
RBD in Pichia pastoris and showed it is structurally
identical to the protein produced in mammalian HEK-293T cells. In this work we
designed an RBD multimer construct with the purpose of increasing RBD
immunogenicity. We produced multimeric particles by a transpeptidation reaction
between the RBD expressed in P. pastoris and Lumazine
Synthase from Brucella abortus (BLS), which is a
highly immunogenic and very stable decameric protein of 170 kDa. We vaccinated
mice with two doses 30 days apart, and then we measured humoral immune response.
When the number of RBD copies coupled to BLS was high (6-7 RBD molecules per BLS
decamer, in average), the immune response was significantly better than that
elicited by RBD alone or even by RBD-BLS comprising low number of RBD copies
(1-2 RBD molecules per BLS decamer). Remarkably, the construct with high number
of RBD copies induced high IgG titers with high neutralizing capacity.
Furthermore, a superior immune response was observed when Al(OH)3 adjuvant was
added to this formulation, exhibiting a higher titer of neutralizing antibodies.
Altogether our results suggest that RBD covalent coupled to BLS forming a
multimer-particle shows an advantageous architecture to the antigen-presentation
to the immune system which enhances immune responses. This new antigen should be
considered a potent candidate for a protein-based vaccine.
Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in air and on surfaces in rooms of infected nursing home residents
Authors: Linde K.J. , Wouters I.M. , Kluytmans J.A.J.W. , Kluytmans-van den Bergh M.F.Q. , Pas S.D. , GeurtsvanKessel C.H. , Koopmans M.P.G. , Meier M. , Meijer P. , Raben C.R. , Spithoven J. , Tersteeg-Zijderveld M.H.G. , Heederik D.J.J. , Dohmen W. ,   COCON consortium
Published: February 2022

AbstractThere is an ongoing debate on airborne transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) as a risk factor for infection. In this study, the level of SARS-CoV-2 in air and on surfaces of SARS-CoV-2 infected nursing home residents was assessed to gain insight in potential transmission routes.During outbreaks, air samples were collected using three different active and one passive air sampling technique in rooms of infected patients. Oropharyngeal swabs (OPS) of the residents and dry surface swabs were collected. Additionally, longitudinal passive air samples were collected during a period of 4 months in common areas of the wards. Presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA was determined using RT-qPCR, targeting the RdRp- and E-genes. OPS, samples of two active air samplers and surface swabs with Ct value ≤35 were tested for the presence of infectious virus by cell culture. In total, 360 air and 319 surface samples from patient rooms and common areas were collected. In rooms of 10 residents with detected SARS-CoV-2 RNA in OPS, SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in 93 of 184 collected environmental samples (50.5%) (lowest Ct 29,5), substantially more than in the rooms of residents with negative OPS on the day of environmental sampling (n=2) (3.6%). SARS-CoV-2 RNA was most frequently present in the larger particle size fractions (>4 μm 60% (6/10); 1-4 μm 50% (5/10); <1 μm 20% (2/10)) (Fischer exact test p=0.076). The highest proportion of RNA-positive air samples on room level was found with a filtration-based sampler 80% (8/10) and the cyclone-based sampler 70% (7/10), and impingement-based sampler 50% (5/10). SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in ten out of twelve (83%) passive air samples in patient rooms. Both high-touch and low-touch surfaces contained SARS-CoV-2 genome in rooms of residents with positive OPS (high 38% (21/55); low 50% (22/44)). In one active air sample, infectious virus in vitro was detected.In conclusion, SARS-CoV-2 is frequently detected in air and on surfaces in the immediate surroundings of room-isolated COVID-19 patients, providing evidence of environmental contamination. The environmental contamination of SARS-CoV-2 and infectious aerosols confirm the potential for transmission via air up to several meters.
Evaluation of Three Forms of Rhizoctonia solani Mediated Pathogenicity to Sugar Beet Cultivars in Greenhouse Studies
Authors: Haque Md Ehsanul , Parvin Most Shanaj 
Published: February 2022

AbstractRhizoctonia solani causes damping-off, as well as crown and root rot of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L). This pathogen overwinters as sclerotia or melanized mycelia. Traditionally, the resistance of cultivars to R. solani is evaluated by scoring disease reactions of the crowns and roots of older seedlings, instead of evaluating at seed germination. Most studies that have evaluated cultivar resistance to R. solani have used colonized whole barley grains as artificial inocula. Colonized grains are prone to contamination with other pathogens and are often lost to rodents/birds when applied in the field. Considering those limitations, a study was undertaken (1) to develop in vitro methods to generate natural sclerotia of R. solani on a large scale, (2) to compare pathogenic potentials of R. solani sclerotia, mycelia, and colonized barley grains for optimization of damping-off assays, and (3) to evaluate resistance of selected commercial cultivars to R. solani. Of the six-culture media, amended clarified V8 (ACV8) was the most suitable culture medium to grow and produce sclerotia on a large scale and 10% PDA was the least suitable. Three testing sizes of sclerotia were found to be equally effective in causing plant losses. Sclerotia inocula were comparable with mycelial discs and colonized barley grains in causing pre-emergence damping off under aseptic in vitro conditions. Sclerotia also were equally or more effective than mycelia plug or barley grain inocula in reducing seedling emergence, inducing damping off, and increased root rot under greenhouse in vivo conditions. To conclude, sclerotia can be prepared on a feasible scale and used as natural inocula to screen response to R. solani on sugar beet.
Intermittent Fasting Mitigates Vascular and Neuronal Pathologies in a Mouse Model of Vascular Dementia
Authors: Rajeev Vismitha , Fann David Y. , Dinh Quynh Nhu , Kim Hyun Ah , De Silva T. Michael , Jo Dong-Gyu , Drummond Grant R. , Sobey Christopher G. , Lai Mitchell K.P. , Chen Christopher Li-Hsian , Arumugam Thiruma V. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractChronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) is an important pathophysiological mechanism of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI). The heterogeneous effects of CCH complicate establishing single target therapies against VCI and its more severe form, vascular dementia (VaD). Intermittent fasting (IF) has multiple targets and is neuroprotective across a range of disease conditions including stroke, but its effects against CCH-induced neurovascular pathologies remain to be elucidated. We therefore assessed the effect of IF against CCH-associated neurovascular pathologies and investigated underlying mechanisms. Male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to either ad libitum feeding (AL) or IF (16 hours of fasting per day) for 4 months. In both groups, CCH was experimentally induced by the bilateral common carotid artery stenosis (BCAS) method. Sham operated groups were used as controls. Measures of leaky microvessels, blood brain barrier (BBB) permeability, protein expression of tight junctions, extracellular matrix components and white matter changes were determined to investigate the effect of IF against CCH-induced neurovascular pathologies. IF alleviated CCH-induced neurovascular pathologies by reducing the number of leaky microvessels, BBB breakdown, loss of tight junctional proteins and vascular endothelial growth factors. In addition, IF mitigated the severity of white matter lesions, maintained myelin basic protein levels, while concurrently reducing hippocampal neuronal cell death. Furthermore, IF reduced CCH-induced increase in levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and its upstream activator MT1-MMP, which are involved in the breakdown of the extracellular matrix that is a core component of the BBB. Additionally, we observed that IF reduced CCH-induced increase in the oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde, and increased antioxidant markers glutathione and superoxide dismutase. Combined, our data suggests that IF attenuates neurovascular damage, metalloproteinase and oxidative stress-associated pathways, and cell death in the brain following CCH in a mouse model of VCI. Although IF has yet to be assessed in human patients with VaD, our data suggest that IF may be an effective means of preventing the onset or suppressing the development of neurovascular pathologies in VCI and VaD.