Abstract Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic demands reliable prognostic models for estimating the risk of long COVID. We developed and validated a prediction model to estimate the probability of known common long COVID symptoms at least 60 days after acute COVID-19. Methods The prognostic model was built based on data from a multicentre prospective Swiss cohort study. Included were adult patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between February and December 2020 and treated as outpatients,...

Abstract Epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) assessing the link between DNA methylation (DNAm) and phenotypes related to structural brain measures, cognitive function, and neurodegenerative diseases are becoming increasingly more popular. Due to the inaccessibility of brain tissue in humans, several studies use peripheral tissues such as blood, buccal swabs, and saliva as surrogates. To aid the functional interpretation of EWAS findings in such settings, there is a need to assess the correlation of DNAm variability across...

Abstract Object Scarlet fever is an acute respiratory infectious disease that endangers public health and imposes a huge economic burden. In this paper, we systematically studied its spatial and temporal evolution and explore its potential ecological drivers. The goal of this research is to provide a reference for analysis based on surveillance data of scarlet fever and other acute respiratory infectious illnesses, and offer suggestions for prevention and control. Method This research is based on...

Mid-infrared (MIR) single-photon detection is emerging as an important technology for various applications. Superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SNSPDs) fabricated with superconducting films with energy gaps of a few meV are natural broadband single-photon detectors. Recently, extending SNSPDs’ operation wavelengths into the MIR region is highly attractive. γ-Nb₄N₃ has a reduced N content and lower energy gap than the commonly used δ-NbN, making SNSPDs based on γ-Nb₄N₃ film more sensitive to low energy photons. We...

Abstract Background Giant intracranial aneurysms (GIAs) are challenges for surgical treatment. Risk factors of postoperative stroke remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the predictors of postoperative stroke in GIAs and the impact of stroke on outcomes. Methods We performed a retrospective medical record review of patients with GIAs who received microsurgery at our institution between 2011 and 2018. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were carried out to identify risk factors for postoperative stroke. The clinical...

Abstract Objective A steadily increasing demand and decreasing number of rheumatologists push current rheumatology care to its limits. Long travel times and poor accessibility of rheumatologists present particular challenges for patients. Need-adapted, digitally supported, patient-centered and flexible models of care could contribute to maintaining high-quality patient care. This qualitative study was embedded in a randomized controlled trial (TELERA) investigating a new model of care consisting of the use of a medical app for ePRO (electronic...

Abstract Background Long-term prescriptions of strong opioids for chronic noncancer pain—which are not supported by scientific evidence—suggest miscalibrated risk perceptions among those who prescribe, dispense, and take opioids. Because risk perceptions and behaviors can differ depending on whether people learn about risks through description or experience, we investigated the effects of descriptive versus simulated-experience educative formats on physicians’ risk perceptions of strong opioids and their prescription behavior for managing chronic noncancer pain. Methods Three hundred...

Abstract Background The pathophysiology of hepatitis B-related liver cirrhosis (HBV-LC) remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the disease mechanisms using topological analysis of the miRNA/mRNA network. Methods Paired miRNA/mRNA sequencing was performed with thirty-three peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples (LC, n = 9; chronic hepatitis B, n = 12; normal controls, n = 12) collected from a prospective cohort to identify the miRNA/mRNA network. Topological features and functional implications of the network were analyzed...

Abstract Background Anaplasma translocated substrate 1 (Ats-1) is an effector of type 4 secretory systems (T4SS) and the main virulence factor of Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Ats-1 is involved in the regulation of host cell biological processes, but the specific molecular mechanism of its action is unclear. Results In this study, we identified Ats-1 as involved in mitochondrial respiratory regulation of HEK293T cells by multi-omics analysis. After intracellular expression of Ats-1, adenosine triphosphate levels and the proliferation...

Abstract Background Cerebral infection with the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is responsible for inflammation of the central nervous system (CNS) contributing to subtle neuronal alterations. Albeit essential for brain parasite control, continuous microglia activation and recruitment of peripheral immune cells entail distinct neuronal impairment upon infection-induced neuroinflammation. PACAP is an endogenous neuropeptide known to inhibit inflammation and promote neuronal survival. Since PACAP is actively transported into the CNS, we aimed to assess the impact...

Abstract Background The global expansion of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) includes health systems that face a shortage of skilled health care workers (HCWs). We estimated the human resource needs and costs for providing PrEP in nurse-led primary care clinics in Eswatini. Furthermore, we assessed potential cost savings from task sharing between nurses and other HCW cadres. Methods We conducted a time-and-motion and costing study in a PrEP demonstration project between August 2017 and January 2019....

Abstract Background Structured and harmonized implementation of molecular tumor boards (MTB) for the clinical interpretation of molecular data presents a current challenge for precision oncology. Heterogeneity in the interpretation of molecular data was shown for patients even with a limited number of molecular alterations. Integration of high-dimensional molecular data, including RNA- (RNA-Seq) and whole-exome sequencing (WES), is expected to further complicate clinical application. To analyze challenges for MTB harmonization based on complex molecular datasets, we...

Abstract Aneuploidy, chromosomal instability, somatic copy-number alterations, and whole-genome doubling (WGD) play key roles in cancer evolution and provide information for the complex task of phylogenetic inference. We present MEDICC2, a method for inferring evolutionary trees and WGD using haplotype-specific somatic copy-number alterations from single-cell or bulk data. MEDICC2 eschews simplifications such as the infinite sites assumption, allowing multiple mutations and parallel evolution, and does not treat adjacent loci as independent, allowing overlapping copy-number events....

Abstract Background Volatile components are important secondary metabolites essential to fruit aroma quality, thus, in the past decades many studies have been extensively performed in clarifying fruit aroma formation. However, aroma components and biosynthesis in the fruit of Binzi (Malus pumila × Malus asiatica), an old local species with attractive aroma remain unknown. Results We investigated two Binzi cultivars, ‘Xiangbinzi’ (here named high-fragrant Binzi, ‘HFBZ’) and ‘Hulabin’ (here named low-fragrant Binzi, ‘LFBZ’) by monitoring the...

Optical pulling is an attractive concept due to the counterintuitive feature, the profound mechanism underneath and promising applications. In recent ten years, optical pulling of micro-nano objects have been fully demonstrated. However, optical pulling of a macroscopic object is challenging. Herein, laser pulling of a macroscopic object is presented in rarefied gas. The pulling force is originated from the Kundsen force when a gauss laser beam irradiates a macroscopic structure composed of the absorptive bulk...

Abstract Background Mass gatherings (MGs) such as music festivals and sports events have been associated with a high risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. On-site research can foster knowledge of risk factors for infections and improve risk assessments and precautionary measures at future MGs. We tested a web-based participatory disease surveillance tool to detect COVID-19 infections at and after an outdoor MG by collecting self-reported COVID-19 symptoms and tests. Methods We conducted a digital prospective observational cohort...

Abstract Introduction Video consultations have proven to be a powerful support tool for patient–doctor interactions in general, not only during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study analyzed the feasibility and usefulness of orthopedic telemedical consultations (OTCs) for orthopedic patients at the interface of a clinic and general practitioners. Methods The study was carried out at an orthopedic department of a German hospital between April 2020 and October 2020. After written informed consent was obtained, general practitioners...

Abstract Introduction Video consultations have proven to be a powerful support tool for patient–doctor interactions in general, not only during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study analyzed the feasibility and usefulness of orthopedic telemedical consultations (OTCs) for orthopedic patients at the interface of a clinic and general practitioners. Methods The study was carried out at an orthopedic department of a German hospital between April 2020 and October 2020. After written informed consent was obtained, general practitioners...

Abstract Background Prostate cancer (PCa) is currently the major malignancy in men. It is becoming increasingly clear that competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulation networks are important in a wide variety of cancers. Nevertheless, there is still much to learn about the biological functions of the ceRNA network in prostate cancer. Methods The ceRNA network was constructed using the "GDCRNATools" package. Based on survival analysis, we obtained AC005154.6/hsa-miR-29c-3p/CCNL2 for further analysis. The prognostic model based on...

Abstract Background Traditional Chinese exercise as a new pulmonary rehabilitation technique has been increasingly used and achieved good results in pulmonary rehabilitation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this study is to investigate the protective effects of Liuzijue on exercise tolerance, lung function, and quality of life in patients with COPD. Methods This study is a multicenter, non-randomized, prospective study. Patients will be divided into a control group (CG) and a Liuzijue...

Abstract Background Inappropriate use of antibiotics in children is common in many countries. The purpose of the study was to explore patterns of antibiotic prescribing in children’s outpatient clinics in primary care institutions in a province of southwest China. Methods We obtained electronic prescription data from 75 primary care institutions in Guizhou province in 2020. The classification of incorrect spectrum of antibiotics, unnecessary use and combined use of antibiotics was based on the Guiding Principle...

Background:Tofacitinib is a Janus kinase inhibitor for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and has been investigated for psoriasis (PsO).Objectives:This post hoc analysis examined baseline cardiovascular (CV) disease risk and its association with the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and malignancies in tofacitinib-treated patients with PsA and PsO.Design:Included three phase III/long-term extension (LTE) PsA trials and seven phase II/phase III/LTE PsO trials of patients receiving ⩾ 1 dose of tofacitinib.Methods:Incidence rates (IRs: patients...

Background:Due to the absence of robust biomarkers, and the low sensitivity and specificity of routine imaging techniques, the differential diagnosis between Parkinson’s disease (PD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA) is challenging. High-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) opened up new possibilities regarding the analysis of pathological alterations associated with neurodegenerative processes. Recently, we have shown that quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) enables visualization and quantification of two major histopathologic hallmarks observed in MSA: reduced myelin density and...

Background:Due to the absence of robust biomarkers, and the low sensitivity and specificity of routine imaging techniques, the differential diagnosis between Parkinson’s disease (PD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA) is challenging. High-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) opened up new possibilities regarding the analysis of pathological alterations associated with neurodegenerative processes. Recently, we have shown that quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) enables visualization and quantification of two major histopathologic hallmarks observed in MSA: reduced myelin density and...

Abstract Purpose Radiotherapy is one of the essential treatment modalities for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), however, radioresistance still poses challenges. Three-dimensional (3D) tumor culture models mimic the in vivo growth conditions of cells more accurately than 2D models. This study is to compare the tumor biological behaviors of NPC cells in 2D, On-Surface 3D and Embedded 3D systems, and to investigate the correlation between radioresistance and extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness. Methods The morphology and radioresistance of...