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Frontiers in Epidemiology 2022The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) played a crucial role in streamlining testing and diagnosis, formulating guidelines, and devising management strategies...
BACKGROUND
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) played a crucial role in streamlining testing and diagnosis, formulating guidelines, and devising management strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, ICMR designed and developed a comprehensive data management tool for collecting testing data in a standardized format from all laboratories across the country. The current report is a retrospective analysis of the testing data generated by the ICMR. The study's main objectives are to understand the probability of a person testing negative based on their age after an initial positive test and to assess the varied impact and duration of the disease in people of different age groups and genders.
METHODS
Anonymized data on the testing for COVID were analyzed. The P-to-P is the longest time interval between two consecutive positive tests for a patient without any negative test in between the positives. P-to-P is the time between the first positive and last positive test, as opposed to P-to-P, here we are looking at the first and last positive tests that might or might not be consecutive. P-to-N intervals is the time between the first positive and first negative test of a patient.
RESULTS
India conducted 170,914,170 tests during the study-period (until December 29, 2020). After excluding invalid test results and duplicates, there were 11,101,603 (6.5%) positive and 156,542,352 (93.5%) negative test-results performed upon 150,086,257 unique individuals. A negative-report following a positive-test was available in 12.69%. Nearly three-fourths of the cases (78.29%) belonged to the working-age group (18-60 years). The proportion of patients >50 years old has risen from 26.06 to 35.03%, with a steep rise beyond September 2020. Gender-ratio among the positives was 1.73:1 which was neutral in neonates < 7-days (age). The gender ratio was skewed in-favor-of males in the initial months with a reverse trend thereafter and with increasing age of patients. The mean P-to-P, P-to-P, and P-to-N durations were 12.7 + 4.3, 13.3 + 4.6, and 14.2 + 4.9 days for individuals with P-to-P duration of 1-4 weeks. The probability of testing negative was 82 & 85% at 14 & 21 days after the first-positive-test respectively with no gender bias.
CONCLUSIONS
The current study has highlighted some vital aspects of COVID-19 epidemiology in India. This study will add to the current understanding of the virus in the absence of pre- existing information on the novel virus and the disease per se.
PubMed: 38638332
DOI: 10.3389/fepid.2022.933820 -
Computers in Biology and Medicine Jul 2021This study aimed to implement and evaluate machine learning based-models to predict COVID-19' diagnosis and disease severity.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to implement and evaluate machine learning based-models to predict COVID-19' diagnosis and disease severity.
METHODS
COVID-19 test samples (positive or negative results) from patients who attended a single hospital were evaluated. Patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were categorised according to the severity of the disease. Data were submitted to exploratory analysis (principal component analysis, PCA) to detect outlier samples, recognise patterns, and identify important variables. Based on patients' laboratory tests results, machine learning models were implemented to predict disease positivity and severity. Artificial neural networks (ANN), decision trees (DT), partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and K nearest neighbour algorithm (KNN) models were used. The four models were validated based on the accuracy (area under the ROC curve).
RESULTS
The first subset of data had 5,643 patient samples (5,086 negatives and 557 positives for COVID-19). The second subset included 557 COVID-19 positive patients. The ANN, DT, PLS-DA, and KNN models allowed the classification of negative and positive samples with >84% accuracy. It was also possible to classify patients with severe and non-severe disease with an accuracy >86%. The following were associated with the prediction of COVID-19 diagnosis and severity: hyperferritinaemia, hypocalcaemia, pulmonary hypoxia, hypoxemia, metabolic and respiratory acidosis, low urinary pH, and high levels of lactate dehydrogenase.
CONCLUSION
Our analysis shows that all the models could assist in the diagnosis and prediction of COVID-19 severity.
Topics: COVID-19; COVID-19 Testing; Humans; Machine Learning; Prognosis; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 34091385
DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2021.104531 -
Quality & Quantity 2021Sentiment research is dominated by studies that assign texts to positive and negative categories. This classification is often based on a bag-of-words approach that...
Sentiment research is dominated by studies that assign texts to positive and negative categories. This classification is often based on a bag-of-words approach that counts the frequencies of sentiment terms from a predefined vocabulary, ignoring the contexts for these words. We test an aspect-based network analysis model that computes sentiment about an entity from the shortest paths between the sentiment words and the target word across a corpus. Two ground-truth datasets in which human annotators judged whether tweets were positive or negative enabled testing the internal and external validity of the automated network-based method, evaluating the extent to which this approach's scoring corresponds to the annotations. We found that tweets annotated as negative had an automated negativity score that was nearly twice as strong than positivity, while positively annotated tweets were six times stronger in positivity than negativity. To assess the predictive validity of the approach, we analyzed sentiment associated with coronavirus coverage in television news from January 1 to March 25, 2020. Support was found for the four hypotheses tested, demonstrating the utility of the approach. H1: broadcast news expresses less sentiment about coronavirus, panic, and social distancing than non-broadcast news outlets. H2: there is a negative bias in the news across channels. H3: sentiment increases are associated with an increased volume of news stories. H4: sentiment is associated with uncertainty in news coverage of coronavirus over time. We also found that as the type of channel moved from broadcast network news to 24-h business, general, and foreign news sentiment increased for coronavirus, panic, and social distancing.
PubMed: 32836468
DOI: 10.1007/s11135-020-01000-x -
Epidemiology and Infection Sep 2019We examined the prevalence and correlates of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection according to cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) phenotype, a main virulence...
We examined the prevalence and correlates of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection according to cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) phenotype, a main virulence antigen, among the ethnically diverse population groups of Jerusalem. A cross-sectional study was undertaken in Arab (N = 959) and Jewish (N = 692) adults, randomly selected from Israel's national population registry in age-sex and population strata. Sera were tested for H. pylori immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies. Positive samples were tested for virulence IgG antibodies to recombinant CagA protein, by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Multinomial regression models were fitted to examine associations of sociodemographic factors with H. pylori phenotypes. H. pylori IgG antibody sero-prevalence was 83.3% (95% confidence interval (CI) 80.0%-85.5%) and 61.4% (95% CI 57.7%-65.0%) among Arabs and Jews, respectively. Among H. pylori positives, the respective CagA IgG antibody sero-positivity was 42.3% (95% CI 38.9%-45.8%) and 32.5% (95% CI 28.2%-37.1%). Among Jews, being born in the Former Soviet Union, the Middle East and North Africa, vs. Israel and the Americas, was positively associated with CagA sero-positivity. In both populations, sibship size was positively associated with both CagA positive and negative phenotypes; and education was inversely associated. In conclusion, CagA positive and negative infection had similar correlates, suggesting shared sources of these two H. pylori phenotypes.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Antibodies, Bacterial; Antigens, Bacterial; Arabs; Bacterial Proteins; Cross-Sectional Studies; Demography; Female; Helicobacter Infections; Helicobacter pylori; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Israel; Jews; Male; Middle Aged; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Socioeconomic Factors; Virulence Factors
PubMed: 31552815
DOI: 10.1017/S0950268819001456 -
Frontiers in Psychology 2021In order to capitalize on positive emotions at work and build high-quality interpersonal relationships and psychological safety, it is important that coworkers respond...
In order to capitalize on positive emotions at work and build high-quality interpersonal relationships and psychological safety, it is important that coworkers respond to each other's positive emotions in a constructive and validating way. However, despite the importance of symmetrical emotion regulation outcomes, organizational research has largely overlooked how an employee can positively respond to coworkers' positive emotions. Existing research has concentrated almost exclusively on negative ways of responding, with a particular focus on envy. This article develops a theoretical model of employees' positive responses to coworkers' positive emotional experiences, introduced here as a validating response. We identify four steps - noticing, sensemaking, feeling, and acting - and the key mechanisms within each step that enable a responder to react in a validating way. We connect the validating response to important potential individual and organizational outcomes. These outcomes include improved relationship quality and trust, as well as increased positivity and well-being that can result in enhanced learning behavior and collaboration. This article also discusses the connection between a validating response and compassion. We identify them both as parallel affirmative processes that acknowledge a coworker's emotions, with the former being a response to positive emotion while the latter is a response to negative emotion.
PubMed: 34707528
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.668160 -
The Journals of Gerontology. Series B,... May 2023This study examines how age and cognitive ability predict use of different emotion regulation strategies in a laboratory task eliciting emotions varying in valence and...
OBJECTIVES
This study examines how age and cognitive ability predict use of different emotion regulation strategies in a laboratory task eliciting emotions varying in valence and arousal.
METHODS
Participants (N = 287) aged 25-85 completed the NIH Toolbox Cognitive Battery and an emotion regulation task in a laboratory setting. They watched a series of emotional clips (disgust, sadness, amusement, and contentment) under instructions to increase positive emotions or decrease negative emotions. After each clip, they rated the extent to which they used emotion regulation strategies that involve different types of engagement with emotional stimuli and disengagement from emotional stimuli.
RESULTS
Older age was predictive of greater use of immersive-engagement strategies (e.g., perspective taking) and less use of disengagement strategies (e.g., distraction). Fluid cognitive ability was positively associated with immersive-engagement strategy use, particularly for high-arousal clips. For older adults, fluid cognitive ability was also associated with using positive-engagement strategies (e.g., positive reappraisal) to a greater extent to regulate negative emotions.
DISCUSSION
Patterns of emotion regulation strategy use varied by age, even when accounting for differences in reactivity. Findings suggest that older adults may not necessarily prefer strategies that are lower in cognitive demands or that focus on enhancing positivity. Results support the idea that strategy preferences are driven by a combination of characteristics of the regulator and the regulation context. The relevance of cognitive resources likely varies across situations, perhaps being most consequential for deeper processing of high-arousal stimuli and for older adults' engagement with positive aspects of an otherwise negative situation.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Emotional Regulation; Emotions; Cognition; Arousal; Sadness
PubMed: 36744761
DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbad021 -
Asian Journal of Transfusion Science 2022Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) is a major determinant in deciding upon solid organ histocompatibility. Donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies (Donor-specific anti-HLA...
BACKGROUND
Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) is a major determinant in deciding upon solid organ histocompatibility. Donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies (Donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies (DSAs)) are always a contraindication for solid organ transplantation, and identification of DSA becomes very crucial before transplantation to provide long-term graft survival. For identification of DSA, usually, either cell-based or HLA bead-based assay is being used in laboratories. However, both cell-based and bead-based assays have certain limitations. One such common limitation is "prozone effect," which can give false-negative results. Here, we would like to present a small pilot study to analyze the effect of the prozone phenomenon in the cell-based and HLA bead-based assays and its utility in histocompatibility testing.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In a series of four experiments, cell-based assay, flow cytometric cross-match (FCXM), and HLA bead-based flow cytometric panel reactive antibodies (PRAs) were performed. Single-antigen bead (SAB) testing was conducted as a first experiment on four known positives samples for anti-HLA antibody-antibodies. In the second experiment, these four samples were pooled together (called pooled sera in the text) and tested for FCXM and PRA. In the third experiment, known commercially available positive control sera were mixed with pooled positive sera (positive control sera + pooled sera) to prepare, what we have called "positive concoction" in the text. In the fourth experiment, the positive concoction was diluted serially (1:2, 1:4, 1:8, and 1:16) and FCXM and PRA were performed again to analyze and compare the prozone effect.
RESULTS
Pooled sera did not have the expected median fluorescence intensity (MFI) values in FCXM assay, whereas the PRA was showing >90% positivity. In positive concoction, the MFI of FCXM assay was observed to be declining; however, PRA values remained almost constant. Dilutions of the pooled sera showed that MFI values of FCXM assays were increased suddenly after dilution. The highest MFI values were observed in 1:4 dilution of the sera, and then, it declined gradually, but the PRA values remained almost constant even after serial dilutions.
CONCLUSION
In our experimental findings, it was clear that cell-based assay (FCXM) was more severely affected by the prozone, whereas solid-phase (flow PRA) assay remained resistant to prozone.
PubMed: 36687549
DOI: 10.4103/ajts.ajts_145_20 -
Frontiers in Psychology 2022People say it is hard to stay truly positive in Lebanon. Studies showed that 63% of Lebanese young adults are highly dissatisfied with their country. In fact, young...
BACKGROUND
People say it is hard to stay truly positive in Lebanon. Studies showed that 63% of Lebanese young adults are highly dissatisfied with their country. In fact, young adults are the most vulnerable population to stressors in Lebanon since their future is at stake and it is their time to shape their lives in a country that cripples them. This study aimed to assess factors (flourishing, religious coping, experiences in life, and the economic burden) associated with positivity among a sample of Lebanese university students despite the various stressors they are facing on top of the economic collapse and the COVID-19 pandemic.
METHODS
This cross-sectional study was conducted between November and December 2021. A total of 333 participants (219 females and 114 males; mean age = 22.95 ± 4.79 years) was recruited through convenience sampling and snowball technique through several areas in Lebanon's governorates. A linear regression taking the positivity score as the dependent variable was adopted and all variables that showed a correlation > │0.24│ in absolute value were entered in the final model as independent.
RESULTS
A linear regression taking the positivity score as the dependent variable showed that more positive experiences in life (Beta = 0.49; 95% CI 0.35-0.62), more flourishing (Beta = 0.10; 95% CI 0.05-0.14), living in rural area compared to urban (Beta = 3.06; 95% CI 2.02-4.11), and female gender (Beta = 1.56; 95% CI 0.50-2.61) were significantly associated with more positivity (Nagelkerke of the model = 45.8%).
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrated that the youth's positivity is strongly affected by age, gender, residency, and the country they live in that will both directly and indirectly shape their life experiences and their ability to flourish and prosper. Along with all the efforts done to help during this collapse and alleviate the stress that young adults are enduring, follow-up studies are still needed to determine accurate coping techniques that pushes these young adults to think positively in a country where negativity reigns and all else fails.
PubMed: 35548518
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.880437 -
False Positivity of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Patients with Acute Tropical Diseases in Thailand.Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease Jul 2022Serology remains a useful indirect method of diagnosing tropical diseases, especially in dengue infection. However, the current literature regarding cross-reactivity...
Serology remains a useful indirect method of diagnosing tropical diseases, especially in dengue infection. However, the current literature regarding cross-reactivity between SARS-CoV-2 and dengue serology is limited and revealed conflicting results. As a means to uncover relevant serological insight involving antibody classes against SARS-CoV-2 and cross-reactivity, anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgA, IgM, and IgG ELISA, based on spike and nucleocapsid proteins, were selected for a fever-presenting tropical disease patient investigation. The study was conducted at the Faculty of Tropical Medicine during March to December 2021. The study data source comprised (i) 170 non-COVID-19 sera from 140 adults and children presenting with acute undifferentiated febrile illness and 30 healthy volunteers, and (ii) 31 COVID-19 sera from 17 RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 patients. Among 170 non-COVID-19 samples, 27 were false positives (15.9%), of which IgA, IgM, and IgG cross-reactive antibody classes were detected in 18 (10.6%), 9 (5.3%), and 3 (1.8%) cases, respectively. Interestingly, one case exhibited both IgA and IgM false positivity, while two cases exhibited both IgA and IgG false positivity. The false positivity rate in anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgA and IgM was reported in adults with dengue infection (11.3% and 5%) and adults with other tropical diseases (16.7% and 13.3%). The urea dissociation method applied to mitigate false positivity resulted in significantly decreased ELISA-based false and true positives. In conclusion, the analysis of antibody against SARS-CoV-2 in sera of patients with different tropical diseases showed that high IgA and IgM false positivity thus potentially limits serological assay utility in fever-presenting patients in tropical areas.
PubMed: 35878144
DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7070132 -
Acta Psychologica Apr 2023An important aspect of implicit self-esteem is the positivity of peoples spontaneous affective reactions to the self. In this study, we developed and validated a...
An important aspect of implicit self-esteem is the positivity of peoples spontaneous affective reactions to the self. In this study, we developed and validated a physiology-based measure that captures such positive reactions. We presented participants (N = 256) self-related stimuli (i.e., pictures of themselves) and used electromyography (EMG) to record changes in facial muscular activity that are indicative of subtle smiling. EMG responses were on average positive, which matches with previous research findings on positively biased self-evaluations. Individual differences in EMG responses were moderately reliable and positively associated with explicit self-esteem and self- and peer-rated likability (but not consistently with measures of well-being and agentic behavior). The relations between the EMG responses and likability indicators largely held when we controlled for explicit self-esteem, indicating that the novel measure possessed incremental validity over self-reports. The results thus indicated that the EMG approach might be fruitful for the assessment of implicit self-esteem.
Topics: Humans; Electromyography; Smiling; Self Report; Self Concept; Self-Assessment
PubMed: 36805189
DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2023.103868