bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Meningococcal vaccination in adolescents and adults induces bactericidal activity against hyperinvasive complement-resistant meningococcal isolates
Authors: Ohm Milou , Wolf Janine J. , van Rooijen Debbie M. , Visser Linda J. , Miellet Willem R. , Mariman Rob , Trzciński Krzysztof , Buisman Anne-Marie , van der Klis Fiona R.M. , Berbers Guy A.M. , Knol Mirjam J. , van Sorge Nina M. , den Hartog Gerco 
Published: May 2022

ABSTRACTBackgroundComplement-mediated killing is critical in the defense against meningococci. During a recent outbreak of invasive meningococcal serogroup W disease (IMD-W) in the Netherlands, the predominant isolates belonged to clonal complex (cc) 11, which may suggest a role for cc11-assocated traits in complement resistance. We investigated complement resistance of invasive and carriage meningococcal isolates of different serogroups and lineages. In addition, we investigated whether vaccine-induced antibodies can overcome resistance to complement-mediated killing.MethodsWe analyzed IMD isolates (n=56) and carriage isolates (n=19) of different serogroups and clonal lineages in the serum bactericidal antibody (SBA) assay using pooled serum from unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals. Furthermore, we determined meningococcal serogroup W geometric mean titers (GMTs) and protection levels with the routinely-used non-cc11 isolate and hyperinvasive cc11 isolates using individual serum samples from adolescents and adults 5 years postvaccination.ResultsThe hyperinvasive IMD isolates showed high variation in their resistance to complement-mediated killing when pooled serum from unvaccinated individuals was used (median 96, range 2-1,536). When pooled sera from vaccinated individuals was used, all isolates were killed. The minimum spanning tree revealed moderate clustering of serogroup and cc, while complement resistance did not. While a significantly lower GMT was observed against cc11 meningococcal serogroup W (MenW) compared to a non-cc11 MenW isolate in vaccinated adults but not in adolescents, we found no differences in the proportion protected between these isolates.ConclusionsThese data show that vaccine-induced antibodies are effectively inducing complement-mediated killing of complement-resistant hyperinvasive and carriage meningococcal isolates.Short summaryMeningococcal isolates of hyperinvasive lineages are resistant to complement-mediated killing but vaccine-induced antibodies effectively kill these invasive isolates.
Neonatal outcomes and indirect consequences following maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy: A systematic review
Authors: Sturrock Sarah , Ali Shohaib , Gale Chris , Battersby Cheryl , Doare Kirsty Le 
Published: May 2022

AbstractObjectivesIdentify the association between maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy and individual neonatal morbidities and outcomes, particularly longer-term outcomes such as neurodevelopment.SettingCase-control and cohort studies from any location published after 1st January 2020, including pre-print articles.ParticipantsNeonates born to pregnant women diagnosed with a SARS-CoV-2 infection at any stage during pregnancy, including asymptomatic women.Primary and secondary outcome measuresNeonatal mortality and morbidity, including preterm birth, Caesarean delivery, small for gestational age, admission to neonatal intensive care unit, level of respiratory support required, diagnosis of culture-positive sepsis, evidence of brain injury, necrotising enterocolitis, visual or hearing impairment, neurodevelopmental outcomes, and feeding method. These outcomes were selected according to a Core Outcome Set developed between health professionals, researchers and parents.ResultsThe search returned 3234 papers, from which 204 were included with a total of 45,646 infants born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy across 36 countries. We found limited evidence of an increased risk of some neonatal morbidities, including respiratory disease. There was minimal evidence from low-income settings (1 study) and for neonatal outcomes following first trimester infection (17 studies). Neonatal mortality was very rare. Preterm birth, neonatal unit admission and small for gestational age status were more common in infants born following maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy in most larger studies.ConclusionsThere is limited data on neonatal morbidity and mortality following maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy, particularly from low-income countries and following early pregnancy infections. Large, representative studies addressing these outcomes are needed to better understand the consequences for babies born to women with SARS-CoV-2 in pregnancy.Trial registrationPROSPERO ID: CRD42021249818Strengths and limitationsInclusion of studies of both asymptomatic and symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections at any point in pregnancy to maximise generalisability of findingsFocus on neonatal outcomes, as opposed to purely obstetric outcomes, to accurately quantify neonatal morbidityStudy is limited by available data; important data gap in low-income settings
Household Air Pollution from Cooking Fuels and its Association with Under-Five Mortality in Bangladesh
Authors: Alam Md. Badsha , Acharjee Supria , Mahmud S. M. Ashique , Tania Jesmin Akter , Ali Khan Md Mostaured , Islam Md. Syful , Khan Md. Nuruzzaman 
Published: May 2022

AbstractBackgroundSolid fuel use was found to be associated with under-five mortality in low- and lower-middle income countries (LMICs). However, the current understanding of this association for Bangladesh is absent through around 80% of the total households in Bangladesh used solid fuel and the higher under-five mortality rate is a significant public health burden. We explored the associations of household cooking fuels used and the level of exposure to HAP through cooking fuels used with neonatal, infant, and under-five child mortality in Bangladesh.MethodsWe analysed 4,198 mother-child dyads data extracted from the 2017/18 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey data. Type of cooking fuels used (solid fuel, clean fuel) and level of exposure to HAP through cooking fuels used (unexposed, moderately exposed, highly exposed) were considered as exposure variables. Neonatal, infant and under-five mortality were considered as the outcome variables. Relationships between the exposure and outcome variable were explored by using the multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression model adjusting for possible confounders.ResultsSolid fuels were found to be used in nearly 80% of the total mothers analysed. A higher likelihood of mortality was found among neonates (aOR, 3.78; 95% CI, 1.14-12.51) and infants (aOR, 2.93; 95% CI, 1.60-6.15) of the women who used solid fuels as compared to the mothers who used clean fuel. The association was found strongest when we considered solid fuel used together with place of cooking. The likelihood of neonatal and infant mortality was found 4.33 (95% CI, 1.16-16.23) and 2.05 (95% CI, 1.18-7.23) times higher among mothers who were highly exposed to solid fuel used as compared to the mothers who were unexposed to solid fuel used.ConclusionSolid fuel used and its increased exposure increased the occurrence of neonatal and infant mortality. Prioritizing the use of clean fuel use and increasing awareness about the adverse effects of solid fuel use are important.
The negative impact of COVID-19 on working memory revealed using a rapid online quiz
Authors: Baseler Heidi A , Aksoy Murat , Salawu Abayomi , Green Angela , Asghar Aziz UR 
Published: May 2022

AbstractAlthough coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affects the respiratory system, it can also have neurological consequences leading to cognitive deficits such as memory problems. The aim of our study was to assess the impact of COVID-19 on working memory function. We developed and implemented an online anonymous survey with a working memory quiz incorporating aspects of gamification to engage participants. 5428 participants successfully completed the survey and memory quiz between 8th December 2020 and 5th July 2021 (68.6% non-COVID-19 and 31.4% COVID-19). Most participants (93.3%) completed the survey and memory quiz relatively rapidly (mean time of 8.84 minutes). Categorical regression was used to assess the contribution of COVID status, age, time post-COVID (number of months elapsed since having had COVID), symptoms, ongoing symptoms and gender, followed by non-parametric statistics. A principal component analysis explored the relationship between subjective ratings and objective memory scores. The objective memory scores were significantly correlated with participants’ own assessment of their cognitive function. The factors significantly affecting memory scores were COVID status, age, time post-COVID and ongoing symptoms. Our main finding was a significant reduction in memory scores in all COVID groups (self-reported, positive-tested and hospitalised) compared to the non-COVID group. Memory scores for all COVID groups combined were significantly reduced compared to the non-COVID group in every age category 25 years and over, but not for the youngest age category (18-24 years old). We found that memory scores gradually increased over a period of 17 months post-COVID-19. However, those with ongoing COVID-19 symptoms continued to show a reduction in memory scores. Our findings demonstrate that COVID-19 negatively impacts working memory function, but only in adults aged 25 years and over. Moreover, our results suggest that working memory deficits with COVID-19 can recover over time, although impairments may persist in those with ongoing symptoms.
Brain Total Creatine Differs Between Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) Subtypes and Correlates with Disease Severity
Authors: Hupfeld Kathleen E. , Zöllner Helge J. , Oeltzschner Georg , Hyatt Hayden W. , Herrmann Olivia , Gallegos Jessica , Hui Steve C. N. , Harris Ashley D. , Edden Richard A. E. , Tsapkini Kyrana 
Published: May 2022

AbstractPrimary progressive aphasia (PPA) is comprised of three subtypes: logopenic (lvPPA), non-fluent (nfvPPA), and semantic (svPPA). We used magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to measure tissue-corrected metabolite levels in the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and right sensorimotor cortex (SMC) from 61 PPA patients. We aimed to: 1) characterize subtype differences in metabolites; and 2) test for metabolite associations with symptom severity. tCr differed by subtype across the left IFG and right SMC. tCr levels were lowest in lvPPA and highest in svPPA. tCr levels predicted lvPPA versus svPPA diagnosis. Higher IFG tCr and lower Glx correlated with greater disease severity. As tCr is involved in brain energy metabolism, svPPA pathology might involve changes in specific cellular energy processes. Perturbations to cellular energy homeostasis in language areas may contribute to symptoms. Reduced cortical excitatory capacity (i.e., lower Glx) in language regions may also contribute to symptoms. Thus, tCr may be useful for differentiating between PPA subtypes, and both tCr and Glx might have utility in understanding PPA mechanisms and tracking progression.HighlightsNo prior work has examined differences in brain metabolite levels for PPA subtypes.Total creatine (tCr) levels were lowest in lvPPA and highest in svPPA.tCr levels differentiated lvPPA from svPPA diagnosis.Higher tCr and lower Glx in the left IFG correlated with greater disease severity.Changes in cellular energy and excitatory processes may relate to PPA pathology.
Factors Associated With Regional Differences in Healthcare Quality for Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction in Japan
Authors: Watanabe Shusuke , Shin Jung-ho , Goto Etsu , Kunisawa Susumu , Imanaka Yuichi 
Published: May 2022

ABSTRACTObjectivesRegional medical coordination is essential for health-system reform in Japan, and the quality of healthcare at the regional level is of great interest. Regional differences in the quality of healthcare for cardiovascular diseases have been pointed out in previous research, and we aimed to clarify regional factors that influence the quality.DesignInsurance claims database study.SettingPatients of acute care in Japan.ParticipantsJapanese patients included in the national Diagnosis Procedure Combination (DPC) databases who admitted to hospitals with diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) from April 2016 to March 2019.Main outcome and measuresUsing the national DPC databases, risk-adjusted mortality (RAM) in each secondary medical area (SMA) was derived as an indicator for the quality of the healthcare for patients with AMI. Factors associated with RAM were analysed using the partial least squares (PLS) regression model.ResultsThere is a wide variation in RAM in the SMAs; the maximum value was 0.593 and the minimum value was 1.445. The PLS regression identified two components positively correlated with RAM. The first component (Component 1) positively correlates with the proportion of the elderly within the population and negatively correlates with the number of medical facilities per area, the population density, and the intra-SMA access to centres with a high volume of emergency percutaneous coronary interventions (ePCI). The second component (Component 2) positively correlates with the number of medical facilities per area and negatively correlates with the number of physicians per person and the intra-SMA access to centres with a high volume of ePCI.ConclusionThere was wide regional variation in the quality of in-hospital AMI treatments. Results suggested the degree of rurality, the sufficiency of medical resources, the access to high-volume ePCI centres, and coordination of healthcare delivery were associated with healthcare quality for AMI patients.
Social divisions and risk perception can drive divergent epidemic dynamics and large second and third waves
Authors: Harris Mallory J. , Mordecai Erin A. 
Published: May 2022

AbstractDuring infectious disease outbreaks, individuals may adopt protective measures like vaccination and physical distancing in response to awareness of disease burden. Prior work showed how feedback between epidemic intensity and awareness-based behavior shapes disease dynamics (e.g., producing plateaus and oscillations). These models often overlook social divisions, where population subgroups may be disproportionately impacted by a disease and more responsive to the effects of disease within their group. We hypothesize that socially divided awareness-based behavior could fundamentally alter epidemic dynamics and shift disease burden between groups.We develop a compartmental model of disease transmission in a population split into two groups to explore the impacts of awareness separation (relatively greater in-versus out-group awareness of epidemic severity) and mixing separation (relatively greater in-versus out-group contact rates). Protective measures are adopted based on awareness of recent disease-linked mortality. Using simulations, we show that groups that are more separated in awareness have smaller differences in mortality. Fatigue-driven abandonment of protective behavior can drive additional infection waves that can even exceed the size of the initial wave, particularly if uniform awareness drives early protection in one group, leaving that group largely susceptible to future infection. Finally, vaccine or infection-acquired immunity that is more protective against transmission and mortality may indirectly lead to more infections by reducing perceived risk of infection, and thereby reducing vaccine uptake. The dynamics of awareness-driven protective behavior, including relatively greater awareness of epidemic conditions in one’s own group, can dramatically impact protective behavior uptake and the course of epidemics.
Robust alignment of single-cell and spatial transcriptomes with CytoSPACE
Authors: Vahid Milad R. , Brown Erin L. , Steen Chloé B. , Kang Minji , Gentles Andrew J. , Newman Aaron M. 
Published: May 2022

AbstractRecent studies have emphasized the importance of single-cell spatial biology, yet available assays for spatial transcriptomics have limited gene recovery or low spatial resolution. Here we introduce CytoSPACE, a method for aligning single-cell and spatial transcriptomes via convex linear optimization. Across diverse platforms and tissue types, we show that CytoSPACE outperforms previous methods with respect to noise-tolerance, accuracy, and efficiency, enabling improved analysis of spatial transcriptomics data at single-cell resolution.
Ratiometric NAD+ sensors reveal subcellular NAD+ modulators
Authors: Chen Liuqing , Chen Meiting , Luo Mupeng , Li Yong , Liao Bagen , Hu Min , Yu Qiuliyang 
Published: May 2022

AbstractMapping NAD+ dynamics in live cells and human are essential for translating NAD+ interventions into effective therapies. Yet genetically encoded NAD+ sensors with better specificity and pH-resistance are still needed for cost-effective monitoring of subcellular and clinical NAD+. We introduce multicolor, resonance energy transfer-based NAD+ sensors that cover nano- to milli-molar concentration ranges for clinical NAD+ measurement and subcellular NAD+ visualization. The sensors captured the blood NAD+ increase induced by NMN supplementation and revealed the distinct subcellular effects of NAD+ supplements and modulators. Then, the sensors enabled high-throughput screenings for mitochondrial and nucleic NAD+ modulators and identified α-GPC, a cognition-related metabolite, induces NAD+ redistribution from mitochondria to nucleus relative to the total adenine nucleotides, which was confirmed by NAD+ FRET microscopy.
Skin mesenchymal niches maintain and protect AML-initiating stem cells
Authors: Sandhow Lakshmi , Cai Huan , Leonard Elory , Xiao Pingnan , Tomaipitinca Luana , Månsson Alma , Kondo Makoto , Sun Xiaoyan , Johansson Anne-Sofie , Tryggvason Karl , Kasper Maria , Järås Marcus , Qian Hong 
Published: May 2022

AbstractLeukemia cutis or leukemic cell infiltration in skin is one of the common extramedullary manifestations of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and signifies a poorer prognosis. However, its pathogenesis and maintenance remain understudied. Here, we report massive AML cell infiltration in the skin in a transplantation-induced MLL-AF9 AML mouse model. These AML cells could regenerate AML post-transplantation. Prospective niche characterization revealed that skin harbored mesenchymal progenitor cells (MPCs) with a similar phenotype as BM mesenchymal stem cells. These skin MPCs protected AML-initiating stem cells (LSCs) from chemotherapyin vitropartially via mitochondrial transfer. Furthermore,Lama4deletion in skin MPCs promoted AML LSC proliferation and chemoresistance. Importantly, more chemoresistant AML LSCs appeared to be retained inLama4-/-mouse skin post-cytarabine treatment. Our study reveals the characteristics and previously unrecognized roles of skin mesenchymal niches in maintaining and protecting AML LSCs during chemotherapy, meriting future exploration of their impact on AML relapse.A 40-word summarySandhow et al have in transplantation-induced AML mouse models demonstrated the leukemia-regenerating capacity of AML cells infiltrated in the skin and the role of skin mesenchymal niches in maintaining/protecting AML cells, providing new insight into the pathology of leukemia cutis.
Divergent projections from Locus Coeruleus to the cortico-basal ganglia system and ventral tegmental area of the zebra finch
Authors: Singh Alvarado Jonnathan , Hatfield Jordan , Mooney Richard 
Published: May 2022

AbstractThe locus coeruleus (LC) is a small brainstem nucleus that is the primary source of noradrenaline (NA) throughout the vertebrate brain. Understanding the anatomical organization of the LC is important because NA plays a central role in regulating arousal, attention, and performance. In the mammalian brain, individual LC neurons make highly divergent axonal projections to different brain regions, which are distinguished in part by which NA receptor subtypes they express. Here we sought to determine whether similar organizational features - divergent LC projections acting regionally through different receptor subtypes - characterize cortico-basal ganglia (CBG) circuitry important to birdsong learning and performance. Single and dual retrograde tracer injections reveal that single LC-NA neurons make divergent projections to both cortical and basal ganglia components of this circuit, as well as to dopaminergic nuclei that innervate this circuit. Moreover, in situ hybridization revealed that differential expression of the α2A and α2C adrenoreceptor distinguish LC-recipient song nuclei. Therefore, LC - NA signaling in the songbird CBG circuit could employ a similar strategy as in mammals, which allows a relatively small number of LC neurons to exert widespread yet distinct effects across multiple brain regions.Key PointsThe locus coeruleus projects to most of the song system (HVC, RA, LMAN, Area X, DLM).Noradrenergic receptors are regionally specialized in BG despite divergent connectivity of LC neurons.Noradrenergic projections to dopaminergic nuclei could influence vocal variability and learning.
A Novel Strategy for Dynamic Modelling of Genome-Scale Interaction Networks
Authors: Borzou Pooya , Ghaisari Jafar , Izadi Iman , Eshraghi Yasin , Gheisari Yousof 
Published: May 2022

AbstractBackgroundModern medicine is equipped with huge amounts of big biological datasets and a wide range of computational methods to understand the molecular events underlying complex disorders. The recent availability of omics data allows a holistic view towards the interactions of various biomolecule types. However, the constructed maps are static, ignoring the dynamicity of molecular processes. On the other hand, the dynamic models of biological systems are commonly generated in small scales. Hence, the construction of large scale dynamic models that can quantitatively predict the time-course cellular behaviors is a big challenge. This study was aimed at developing a pipeline for automatic construction of such models from time-course experimental data.ResultsInformation of interactions between input genes is retrieved from SIGNORE 2.0 database and an interaction network is constructed which then is translated to biochemistry language and converted to a biochemical reactions network. In the next step, a large-scale ODE system is constructed by generating the ODE equivalent of each biochemical reaction. To estimate the kinetics parameters of the ODE model, a novel large-scale parameter approximation method is proposed. This method gives an estimation of system parameters by fitting model outputs to time-course experimental measurements. The total pipeline is provided as a MATLAB toolbox called SPADAN, standing for Systematic Protein Association Dynamic ANalyzer. Using multilayer time-series experimental data, the performance of the pipeline was checked by modeling 4379 regulatory interactions between 768 molecules in colon cancer cells exposed to chemotherapy agents.ConclusionStarting from time-series experimental data, SPADAN automatically constructs map of interactions, generates an ODE system, and performs a parameter approximation procedure. It constructs genome-scale dynamic models, filling the gap between large-scale static and small-scale dynamic modeling strategies. This simulation approach allows for holistic quantitative predictions which is critical for the simulation of therapeutic interventions in precision medicine.