tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
A global analysis of the impact of COVID-19 stay-at-home restrictions on crime
Authors: Amy E. Nivette, Renee Zahnow, Raul Aguilar, Andri Ahven, Shai Amram, Barak Ariel, María José Arosemena Burbano, Roberta Astolfi, Dirk Baier, Hyung-Min Bark, Joris E. H. Beijers, Marcelo Bergman, Gregory Breetzke, I. Alberto Concha-Eastman, Sophie Curtis-Ham, Ryan Davenport, Carlos Díaz, Diego Fleitas, Manne Gerell, Kwang-Ho Jang, Juha Kääriäinen, Tapio Lappi-Seppälä, Woon-Sik Lim, Rosa Loureiro Revilla, Lorraine Mazerolle, Gorazd Meško, Noemí Pereda, Maria F. T. Peres, Rubén Poblete-Cazenave, Simon Rose, Robert Svensson, Nico Trajtenberg, Tanja van der Lippe, Joran Veldkamp, Carlos J. Vilalta Perdomo, Manuel P. Eisner
Journal: Nature Human Behaviour (2021)

Abstract The stay-at-home restrictions to control the spread of COVID-19 led to unparalleled sudden change in daily life, but it is unclear how they affected urban crime globally. We collected data on daily counts of crime in 27 cities across 23 countries in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. We conducted interrupted time series analyses to assess the impact of stay-at-home restrictions on different types of crime in each city. Our findings show that the stay-at-home policies were associated with a considerable drop in urban crime, but with substantial variation across cities and types of crime. Meta-regression results showed that more stringent restrictions over movement in public space were predictive of larger declines in crime.
POS0830 FACTORS INFLUENCING PATIENT-REPORTED OUTCOMES IN ANCA-ASSOCIATED VASCULITIS
Authors: S. Monti, P. Delvino, C. Klersy, G. Coppa, A. Milanesi, C. Montecucco
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2021)

Background: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are currently poorly integrated in the clinical evaluation of disease activity in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). Objectives: To assess the distribution of the Patient Global Assessment (PtGA) in patients with AAV in stable remission, and to identify correlates of PtGA; to assess the discordance between PtGA score and PhGA. Methods: Patients with a diagnosis of AAV [eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, microscopic polyangiitis] in stable, complete remission (defined by a BVAS=0) and with a Physician Global Assessment (PhGA)=0 were included. A questionnaire including several aspects of disease captured by PROs was collected. PtGA on a 0-100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS) was assessed, with higher scores representing higher/worse levels of disease activity. Similarly, VAS for pain, chronic damage according to the patient’s opinion, general health (GH), fatigue, and sleep quality were collected. The worst symptom in the patient’s opinion affecting the overall assessment of disease activity was recorded. The Cragg Hurdle model was used to assess the predictors of PtGA. Results: 65 patients were included, female 57%, mean age 61±12 years. Mean disease duration at enrollment was 8±6 years. Mean vasculitis damage index (VDI) was 4.4 ±2.3, with 45% of patients having a VDI ≥ 5. Despite having been classified as being in remission, PtGA was elevated in 37% of patients. We explored several correlates of PtGA. Higher degree of damage accrual (VDI) did not influence the patient’s evaluation of current disease activity. Similarly, we did not identify a correlation between older age, educational level, number of organ-systems involved, number of comorbidities, the number of previous major or minor relapses, higher disease duration, nor the type of AAV diagnosis (figure 1, panel A). Only sex significantly correlated with PtGA scores: 19 (51%) of female patients reported an elevated PtGA compared to only 5 (18%) of male (p=0.009). PtGA resulted to be significantly correlated with other (mostly modifiable) PROs including VAS pain, perception of the level of chronic damage accrual, GH, and fatigue (figure 1, panel B). The agreement between patients’ and physicians’ assessments of disease activity was 63%. Patients reported pain, followed by chronic respiratory symptoms to be the worst-experienced ongoing manifestations affecting their evaluation of disease activity. Conclusion: A significant proportion of patients with AAV considered to be in remission by the physician still declares to have persistent aspects of uncontrolled disease. PtGA is significantly influenced by persistent pain and fatigue, which warrant better assessment in the future. Disclosure of Interests: None declared
Changes in Dialysis Center Quality Associated With the End-Stage Renal Disease Quality Incentive Program
Authors: Kyle H. Sheetz, Laura Gerhardinger, Andrew M. Ryan, Seth A. Waits
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2021)

Background: In 2012, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services started levying performance-based financial penalties against outpatient dialysis centers under the mandatory End-Stage Renal Disease Quality Incentive Program. Objective: To determine whether penalization was associated with improvement in dialysis center quality. Design: Leveraging the threshold for penalization (total performance score < 60), a regression discontinuity design was used to examine the effect of penalization on quality over 2 years. Publicly available Medicare data from 2015–2018 were used. The effect of penalization at dialysis centers with different characteristics (for example, size or chain affiliation) was also examined. Setting: United States. Participants: Outpatient dialysis centers (n = 5830). Measurements: Dialysis center total performance scores (a composite metric ranging from 0 to 100 based on clinical quality and adherence to reporting requirements) and individual measures that contribute to the total performance score. Results: There were 1109 (19.0%) outpatient dialysis centers that received penalties in 2017 on the basis of performance in 2015. Penalized centers were located in ZIP codes with a higher average proportion of non-White residents (36.4% vs. 31.2%; P < 0.001) and residents with lower median income ($49 290 vs. $51 686; P < 0.001). Penalization was not associated with improvement in total performance scores in 2017 (0.4 point [95% CI, −2.5 to 3.2 points]) or 2018 (0.3 point [CI, −2.8 to 3.4 points]). This was consistent across dialysis centers with different characteristics. There was also no association between penalization and improvement in specific measures. Limitation: The study could not account for how centers respond to penalization. Conclusion: Penalization under the End-Stage Renal Disease Quality Incentive Program was not associated with improvement in the quality of outpatient dialysis centers. Primary Funding Source: None.
Outcomes of COVID-19 in Patients With Cancer: Report From the National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C)
Authors: Noha Sharafeldin, Benjamin Bates, Qianqian Song, Vithal Madhira, Yao Yan, Sharlene Dong, Eileen Lee, Nathaniel Kuhrt, Yu Raymond Shao, Feifan Liu, Timothy Bergquist, Justin Guinney, Jing Su, Umit Topaloglu
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2021)

Variation in risk of adverse clinical outcomes in patients with cancer and COVID-19 has been reported from relatively small cohorts. The NCATS' National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) is a centralized data resource representing the largest multicenter cohort of COVID-19 cases and controls nationwide. We aimed to construct and characterize the cancer cohort within N3C and identify risk factors for all-cause mortality from COVID-19.
Modulation of Gastrointestinal Mucus Properties with Ionic Liquids for Drug Delivery
Authors: Kevin Peng, Yongsheng Gao, Pavimol Angsantikul, Anthony LaBarbiera, Morgan Goetz, Alexander M. Curreri, Danika Rodrigues, Eden E. L. Tanner, Samir Mitragotri
Journal: Advanced Healthcare Materials (2021)

Abstract The mucus barrier lining the gastrointestinal tract poses a significant barrier to the oral delivery of macromolecular drugs. Successful approaches to overcoming this barrier have primarily focused on reducing drug and carrier interactions with mucus or disrupting the mucus layer directly. Choline‐based ionic liquids (ILs) such as choline geranate and choline glycolate (CGLY) have recently been shown to be effective in enhancing the intestinal absorption of macromolecules such as insulin and immunoglobulin (IgG), respectively. Herein, the use of choline‐based ILs as mucus‐modulating agents for safely improving drug penetration through mucus is described. Choline‐based ILs significantly increase the diffusion rates of cationic dextrans through mucin solution. Choline‐maleic acid (CMLC 2:1) enhances the diffusion of 4 kDa cationic dextran in mucin solution by more than fourfold when compared to phosphate‐buffered saline control. Choline‐based ILs also reduce mucus viscosity without significantly impacting the native mucus gel structure. In vitro studies in a mucus‐secreting coculture model with Caco‐2 and HT29MTX‐E12 cells further demonstrate the effectiveness of ILs in improving transport of cationic molecules in the presence of secreted mucus. This work demonstrates the potential for choline‐based ionic liquids to be used as nondestructive mucus‐modulating agents for enabling enhanced oral delivery of macromolecular drugs.
POS1070 ANXIETY IN PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS PATIENTS: RESULTS FROM THE HUR-BIO BIOLOGIC REGISTRY
Authors: G. Ayan, B. Farisoğullari, E. Bilgin, E. C. Bolek, G. K. Yardimci, E. Duran, Z. Özsoy, G. Sandal Uzun, L. Kiliç, A. Akdoğan, O. Karadag, Ş. A. Bilgen, S. Kiraz, A. İ. Ertenli, U. Kalyoncu
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2021)

Background: Anxiety is commonly observed, underestimated problem in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Overall rate has been reported around 20% [1]. However the data on anxiety in PsA patients requiring advanced treatment and change in response to therapy is scarce. Objectives: Our aim was to understand the frequency of anxiety before starting biologic agents and change in the anxiety scores with the treatment. Methods: PsA patients from the Hacettepe University biological database (HUR-BIO) were assessed for anxiety (score ≥ 4) using the patient self-reported measure of anxiety on a 0-10 numerical scale, included in the Psoriatic Arthritis Impact of Disease questionnaire (PSAID-12) [2]. The anxiety rate and scores were determined before starting biologic agents and at first visit in 6 months. Change in the scores were compared between patients according to the favourable treatment responses (Table 1). The correlation between the score-changes in anxiety and treatment response parameters was assessed by spearman correlation analysis. Results: From 520 patients registered, 147 [mean (SD) age 43.3 (12.4) years, 70.7% female] had anxiety score registered both at baseline and first visit in 6 months. Both the frequency and mean (SD) score of anxiety decreased at first visit [63.9% vs 41.4 %, 4.8(3.4) vs 3.2 (3.1) respectively, p&lt;0.001 for both] after a mean (SD) follow-up of 105.7 (22.2) days. There was a statistically significant difference between changes in the anxiety scores in patients with/without treatment responses in pain, PGA, BASDAI, HAQ-DI and DAS-28. A positive correlation between the change in anxiety and all treatment response parameters was observed (Table 1, Figure 1). Table 1. Patient characteristics at baseline and changes in the anxiety score according to treatment response Conclusion: Anxiety is a more frequent problem at the time of biologic initiation compared to rates observed in general PsA population which could be related to the high disease activity. The rates are still high in 6 months under treatment, however both the frequency and score of anxiety showed a decreasing trend parallel to the treatment response. References: [1]Zusman EZ, Howren AM, Park JYE,et. al (2020) Epidemiology of depression and anxiety in patients with psoriatic arthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Semin Arthritis Rheum 50 (6):1481-1488. [2]Gossec L, de Wit M, Kiltz U, Braun J, et al (2014) A patient-derived and patient-reported outcome measure for assessing psoriatic arthritis: elaboration and preliminary validation of the Psoriatic Arthritis Impact of Disease (PsAID) questionnaire, a 13-country EULAR initiative. Ann Rheum Dis 73 (6):1012-1019. Figure 1. Correlation between the score changes Disclosure of Interests: None declared.
New strategy for MS treatment with autoantigen-modified liposomes and their therapeutic effect
Authors: Kosuke Shimizu, Kazuki Agata, Shohei Takasugi, Shungo Goto, Yudai Narita, Tomohiro Asai, Yasuhiro Magata, Naoto Oku
Journal: Journal of Controlled Release (2021)

As current treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS) remain chemotherapeutic ones directed toward symptoms, the development of a curative treatment is urgently required. Herein, we show an autoreactive immune cell-targetable approach using autoantigen-modified liposomes for the curative treatment of MS. In these experiments, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) induced by autoantigenic myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) peptide was used as a model of primary progressive MS, and MOG-modified liposomes encapsulating doxorubicin (MOG-LipDOX) were used as a therapeutic drug. The results showed that the progression of encephalomyelitis symptoms was significantly suppressed by MOG-LipDOX injection, whereas the other samples failed to show any effect. Additionally, invasion of inflammatory immune cells into the spinal cord and demyelination of neurons were clearly suppressed in the MOG-LipDOX-treated mice. FACS analysis revealed that the number of both MOG-recognizable CD4+ T cells in the spleen was obviously decreased after MOG-LipDOX treatment. Furthermore, the number of effector Th17 cells in the spleen was significantly decreased and that of regulatory Treg cells was concomitantly increased. Finally, we demonstrated that myelin proteolipid protein (PLP)-modified liposomes encapsulating DOX (PLP-LipDOX) also showed the therapeutic effect on relapsing-remitting EAE. These findings indicate that autoantigen-modified liposomal drug produced a highly therapeutic effect on EAE by delivering the encapsulated drug to autoantigen-recognizable CD4+ T cells and thus suppressing autoreactive immune responses. The present study suggests that the use of these autoantigen-modified liposomes promises to be a suitable therapeutic approach for the cure of MS.
Covid-19: Thousands died needlessly from UK pandemic response, says PM’s former aide
Authors: Gareth Iacobucci
Journal: BMJ (2021)

The government and senior officials fell “disastrously short” in their response to the covid-19 pandemic, the prime minister’s former chief aide has said.

In a lengthy session giving evidence to the parliamentary health and science select committees’ inquiry into lessons learnt from the pandemic on 26 May, Dominic Cummings acknowledged that thousands of people died needlessly as a result of the government’s mistakes.

Boris Johnson’s former chief adviser told MPs that the government had been too slow to get onto a “war footing” in January and February 2020, had no initial plan beyond herd immunity, and had been too slow to impose lockdowns in March and again in the autumn.

“The truth is that senior ministers, senior officials, senior advisers like me fell disastrously short of the standards that the public has a right to expect of its government in a crisis like this,” Cummings told MPs. “When the public needed us most the government failed. I would like to say to all the families of those who died unnecessarily how sorry I am for the mistakes that were made and for my own mistakes at that.”

Cummings was highly critical of the prime minister, who he said was “unfit for the job.” The former aide claimed that Johnson initially dismissed covid-19 as a “scare story” and was later reluctant to lock down again in September 2020 despite the clear evidence from …
Abstract 16307: Long-Term Sirolimus for Primary Immunosuppression is Associated With Decreased Incidence of Malignancies After Heart Transplantation
Authors: Rabea Asleh, Naveen L Pereira, Walter Kremers, Byron Smith, Xin Li, Brooks S Edwards, Richard C Daly, Sudhir S Kushwaha
Journal: Circulation (2018)

Introduction: Development of malignancy after heart transplantation (HT) is a major cause of late post-HT mortality. Sirolimus (SRL) exerts antiproliferative properties and its long-term use in HT ...
Central anorexigenic actions of bile acids are mediated by TGR5
Authors: Alessia Perino, Laura. A. Velázquez-Villegas, Nadia Bresciani, Yu Sun, Qingyao Huang, Valérie S. Fénelon, Ashley Castellanos-Jankiewicz, Philippe Zizzari, Giuseppe Bruschetta, Sungho Jin, Aiste Baleisyte, Antimo Gioiello, Roberto Pellicciari, Julijana Ivanisevic, Bernard L. Schneider, Sabrina Diano, Daniela Cota, Kristina Schoonjans
Journal: Nature Metabolism (2021)
Prevalence of persistent symptoms after treatment for lyme borreliosis: A prospective observational cohort study
Authors: Jeanine Ursinus, Hedwig D. Vrijmoeth, Margriet G. Harms, Anna D. Tulen, Hans Knoop, Stefanie A. Gauw, Tizza P. Zomer, Albert Wong, Ingrid H.M. Friesema, Yolande M. Vermeeren, Leo A.B. Joosten, Joppe W. Hovius, Bart Jan Kullberg, Cees C. van den Wijngaard
Journal: The Lancet Regional Health - Europe (2021)

Concerns about long-lasting symptoms attributed to Lyme borreliosis (LB) are widespread in the Western world, while such symptoms are highly prevalent in the general population.In the largest prospective study to date, adults with physician-confirmed LB were included at the start of antibiotic treatment. Primary outcomes, prevalence of persistent symptoms and symptom severity, were assessed using three-monthly standardised questionnaires during one year. Persistent symptoms were defined as impaired scores for fatigue (CIS, subscale fatigue), cognitive impairment (CFQ) or pain (SF-36, subscale bodily pain) ≥6 months, with onset <6 months. Outcomes were compared with a longitudinal general population and a tick-bite cohort without LB as a reference.Of 1135 LB patients (94•8% erythema migrans, 5•2% disseminated LB), 1084 fulfilled primary analysis criteria, as well as 1942 population and 1887 tick-bite controls. Overall prevalence of persistent symptoms in LB patients was 27•2% (95%CI, 24•7%-29•7%); 6•0% and 3•9% higher than in population (21•2%, 95%CI, 19•3%-23•1%; p < 0•0001) and tick-bite (23•3%, 95%CI 21•3%-25•3%; p = 0•016) cohorts, respectively. At 12 months, fatigue, cognitive impairment, and pain were significantly more severe in erythema migrans patients than in reference cohorts, while in disseminated LB patients, only pain was more severe.In treated LB patients, persistent symptoms were significantly more prevalent and symptoms were more severe than in individuals without LB, although the background prevalence was substantial. This suggests an association, either direct or indirect, between persistent symptoms and LB in a relatively small subset of patients.ZonMw; Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport.
AB0409 INTRAVENOUS ILOPROST: A REGION WIDE SURVEY OF CURRENT PRESCRIBING AMONGST HOSPITALS IN THE WESSEX MULTI-DISCIPLINARY CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISEASE NETWORK
Authors: L. Parker, A. Mason, B. Davidson
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2021)

Background: Digital ulceration in systemic sclerosis is a severe and disabling aspect of this complex, multi-system disease. Traditionally, intravenous (IV) iloprost has been prescribed to treat the problem. Alternative oral medications including sildenafil and bosentan are now readily available, although NHS clinical commissioning policy is yet to be updated to reflect changes in drug costs. Use of IV iloprost across Wessex was audited to review current practice across the region. Objectives: To compare use of IV iloprost across 7 different hospital rheumatology departments Methods: Data was collected across 7 different NHS hospital sites using rheumatology specific pharmacy records for high cost drug prescribing and a single uniform data collection proforma, which was then analysed by 1 person to ensure uniformity of results. Case notes were reviewed retrospectively to determine diagnosis, frequency and duration of iloprost treatment, if patients had been considered for sildenafil treatment (including if sildenafil was prescribed, any cautions or contra-indications to treatment, dose and any reason for discontinuation of treatment) and if patients had been considered for bosentan treatment and if it was prescribed. Results: 45 patients were identified currently receiving IV iloprost. 32/45 (71%) had a diagnosis of systemic sclerosis, mixed connective tissue disease (CTD) or undifferentiated CTD (to be called scleroderma group). 13/45 had other miscellaneous diagnoses which had resulted in digital ulceration. These 13 patients were excluded from further analysis relating to sildenafil or bosentan prescribing as these medications were not indicated for other causes of digital ulceration. In the scleroderma group, 27/32 (84%) had been considered for sildenafil treatment. Of these, 8/27 started and discontinued due to intolerance and 17/27 remained on sildenafil. In the scleroderma group, 9/32 had been considered for bosentan treatment, and of these 7/9 remained on bosentan. Conclusion: The authors have identified that IV iloprost is still widely used for management of digital ulceration in rheumatology departments across seven different hospitals in Wessex. Most of this group of patients would likely be eligible for treatment with sildenafil or bosentan. Sildenafil intolerance is a challenge to management. Consideration of bosentan as a treatment option was limited in this group, and may be a cost-effective alternative to IV iloprost which would also eliminate the risk of infection associated with IV access in a potentially immunosuppressed group of patients. Disclosure of Interests: None declared