Addressing bias in artificial intelligence for public health surveillance.

Components of artificial intelligence (AI) for analysing social big data, such as natural language processing (NLP) algorithms, have improved the timeliness and robustness of health data. NLP techniques have been implemented to analyse large volumes of text from social media platforms to gain insights on disease symptoms, understand barriers to care and predict disease outbreaks. However, AI-based decisions may contain biases that could misrepresent populations, skew results or lead to errors. Bias, within the scope of this paper, is described as the difference between the predictive values and true values within the modelling of an algorithm. Bias within algorithms may lead to inaccurate healthcare outcomes and exacerbate health disparities when results derived from these biased algorithms are applied to health interventions. Researchers who implement these algorithms must consider when and how bias may arise. This paper explores algorithmic biases as a result of data collection, labelling and modelling of NLP algorithms. Researchers have a role in ensuring that efforts towards combating bias are enforced, especially when drawing health conclusions derived from social media posts that are linguistically diverse. Through the implementation of open collaboration, auditing processes and the development of guidelines, researchers may be able to reduce bias and improve NLP algorithms that improve health surveillance.

Exploring mobility data for enhancing HIV care engagement in Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx individuals: a longitudinal observational study protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Increasing engagement in HIV care among people living with HIV, especially those from Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx communities, is an urgent need. Mobility data that measure individuals' movements over time in combination with sociostructural data (eg, crime, census) can potentially identify barriers and facilitators to HIV care engagement and can enhance public health surveillance and inform interventions. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The proposed work is a longitudinal observational cohort study aiming to enrol 400 Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx individuals living with HIV in areas of the USA with high prevalence rates of HIV. Each participant will be asked to share at least 14 consecutive days of mobility data per month through the study app for 1 year and complete surveys at five time points (baseline, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months). The study app will collect Global Positioning System (GPS) data. These GPS data will be merged with other data sets containing information related to HIV care facilities, other healthcare, business and service locations, and sociostructural data. Machine learning and deep learning models will be used for data analysis to identify contextual predictors of HIV care engagement. The study includes interviews with stakeholders to evaluate the implementation and ethical concerns of using mobility data to increase engagement in HIV care. We seek to study the relationship between mobility patterns and HIV care engagement. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval has been obtained from the Institutional Review Board of the University of California, Irvine (#20205923). Collected data will be deidentified and securely stored. Dissemination of findings will be done through presentations, posters and research papers while collaborating with other research teams.

Internet Searches for Self-Managed Abortion After Roe v Wade Overturned.

This cross-sectional study used search data from Google Trends to estimate public interest in self-managed abortion.

Ethical Perspectives in Using Technology-Enabled Research for Key HIV Populations in Rights-Constrained Settings.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: People who use illicit drug substances (e.g., heroin) and sex workers are vulnerable to acquiring HIV. Due to the criminalization of illicit drug substances and sex work in many countries, these populations often reside in rights-constrained settings where their well-being, freedom, and access to HIV prevention and care services may be compromised due to legal prosecutions and societal stigma. RECENT FINDINGS: This study conducted a literature review on papers that evaluated a combination of the following three components: ethics, technology-based research, and populations who use drug substances and/or sex workers. We explored research on these ethical perspectives from both key populations and researchers. Findings revealed potential risks in data security and possible harmful implications of compromised data within these rights-constrained settings. Best practices were explored within the literature to identify potential methods for addressing these ethical concerns and improving HIV prevention and care.

Insects in food and their relevance regarding allergenicity assessment.

Within the European Green Deal, the 'Farm-to-Fork' strategy aims to accelerate the transition to a sustainable food system and to make food systems fair, healthy and environmentally friendly. Insects contribute to the circularity of agriculture, and are ideal candidates to complement traditional sources of protein. In this context, a working programme within the European Food Risk Assessment (EU-FORA) Fellowship Programme framework was developed at the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment in collaboration with the Spanish National Research Council. The purpose of this technical report is to describe the activities in which the fellow was involved. As part of the training, the fellow performed a literature search regarding insects as food and allergenicity resulting in 493 hits. Out of the literature search a comprehensive scientific database with 200 publications has been built using the application 'EndNote'. Furthermore, an extensive scientific review with the title 'Sustainable food systems: EU regulatory framework and contribution of insects to the Farm-to-Fork strategy' approaching several important issues regarding insects (Regulatory frame, Market situation, Labelling and Control, Application as food/feed, Consumer acceptance and Allergenicity risk assessment) has been drafted and sent for publication in a peer reviewed journal. In order to analyse the impact of food processing on the allergenicity of insects, different food samples were prepared and artificially digested using a protocol simulating the gastrointestinal tract. Further laboratory work to analyse the readouts, including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), has been discussed and proposed, scheduled for the end of July. In conclusion, the present working programme, together with additional activities and training provided by different institutions, enabled the fellow to gain a broader perspective in food safety, particularly concerning insects as novel foods and their safety assessment.

Ethical Considerations in the Application of Artificial Intelligence to Monitor Social Media for COVID-19 Data.

The COVID-19 pandemic and its related policies (e.g., stay at home and social distancing orders) have increased people's use of digital technology, such as social media. Researchers have, in turn, utilized artificial intelligence to analyze social media data for public health surveillance. For example, through machine learning and natural language processing, they have monitored social media data to examine public knowledge and behavior. This paper explores the ethical considerations of using artificial intelligence to monitor social media to understand the public's perspectives and behaviors surrounding COVID-19, including potential risks and benefits of an AI-driven approach. Importantly, investigators and ethics committees have a role in ensuring that researchers adhere to ethical principles of respect for persons, beneficence, and justice in a way that moves science forward while ensuring public safety and confidence in the process.

The Cannabinoid Receptor 1 Reverse Agonist AM251 Ameliorates Radiation-Induced Cognitive Decrements.

Despite advancements in the radiotherapeutic management of brain malignancies, resultant sequelae include persistent cognitive dysfunction in the majority of survivors. Defining the precise causes of normal tissue toxicity has proven challenging, but the use of preclinical rodent models has suggested that reductions in neurogenesis and microvascular integrity, impaired synaptic plasticity, increased inflammation, and alterations in neuronal structure are contributory if not causal. As such, strategies to reverse these persistent radiotherapy-induced neurological disorders represent an unmet medical need. AM251, a cannabinoid receptor 1 reverse agonist known to facilitate adult neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity, may help to ameliorate radiation-induced CNS impairments. To test this hypothesis, three treatment paradigms were used to evaluate the efficacy of AM251 to ameliorate radiation-induced learning and memory deficits along with disruptions in mood at 4 and 12 weeks postirradiation. Results demonstrated that acute (four weekly injections) and chronic (16 weekly injections) AM251 treatments (1 mg/kg) effectively alleviated cognitive and mood dysfunction in cranially irradiated mice. The beneficial effects of AM251 were exemplified by improved hippocampal- and cortical-dependent memory function on the novel object recognition and object in place tasks, while similar benefits on mood were shown by reductions in depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors on the forced swim test and elevated plus maze. The foregoing neurocognitive benefits were associated with significant increases in newly born (doublecortin+) neurons (1.7-fold), hippocampal neurogenesis (BrdU+/NeuN+mature neurons, 2.5-fold), and reduced expression of the inflammatory mediator HMGB (1.2-fold) in the hippocampus of irradiated mice. Collectively, these findings indicate that AM251 ameliorates the effects of clinically relevant cranial irradiation where overall neurological benefits in memory and mood coincided with increased hippocampal cell proliferation, neurogenesis, and reduced expression of proinflammatory markers.

Regional variation in discussion of opioids on social media.

BACKGROUND: New data sources and analysis methods are urgently needed to improve opioid surveillance and prevent potential overdose. Social media data is one potential data source that might be used and integrated to address this issue. Objective: This study explored opioid-related topics discussed across geographical regions of varying population sizes to determine whether social media data might inform opioid surveillance. Methods: Between March 17th to July 17th, 2020, we collected tweets (N = 19,721) mentioning opioid-related keywords across seven cities within the United States. Results: Results found that opioid-related keywords were distributed as follows: New York (29%), Los Angeles (23%), Chicago (18%), Atlanta (18%), San Francisco (8%), Iowa (3%), and Orange County, CA (1%). We also found regional differences in the types of opioids and topics mentioned. Conclusions: Findings suggest the feasibility of using opioid-related social media data to inform surveillance efforts, as well as potential regional and time-varying differences in topics discussed.

Sex-Specific Cognitive Deficits Following Space Radiation Exposure.

The radiation fields in space define tangible risks to the health of astronauts, and significant work in rodent models has clearly shown a variety of exposure paradigms to compromise central nervous system (CNS) functionality. Despite our current knowledge, sex differences regarding the risks of space radiation exposure on cognitive function remain poorly understood, which is potentially problematic given that 30% of astronauts are women. While work from us and others have demonstrated pronounced cognitive decrements in male mice exposed to charged particle irradiation, here we show that female mice exhibit significant resistance to adverse neurocognitive effects of space radiation. The present findings indicate that male mice exposed to low doses (≤30 cGy) of energetic (400 MeV/n) helium ions (4He) show significantly higher levels of neuroinflammation and more extensive cognitive deficits than females. Twelve weeks following 4He ion exposure, irradiated male mice demonstrated significant deficits in object and place recognition memory accompanied by activation of microglia, marked upregulation of hippocampal Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and increased expression of the pro-inflammatory marker high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1). Additionally, we determined that exposure to 4He ions caused a significant decline in the number of dendritic branch points and total dendritic length along with the hippocampus neurons in female mice. Interestingly, only male mice showed a significant decline of dendritic spine density following irradiation. These data indicate that fundamental differences in inflammatory cascades between male and female mice may drive divergent CNS radiation responses that differentially impact the structural plasticity of neurons and neurocognitive outcomes following cosmic radiation exposure.

Generalized and Prolonged Use of Gentamicin-Lock Therapy Reduces Hemodialysis Catheter-Related Infections Due to Gram Negatives.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI) ranges from 2.2 to 5.5 episodes per 1,000 catheter-days. Our aim was to evaluate the utility of a generalized and prolonged gentamicin-lock therapy in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) in a third-level hospital for the reduction in CRBSI. METHODS: A prospective cohort analyzed before and after intervention. During intervention periods after each HD-session, the catheter lumens were locked with gentamicin/heparin for all patients compared to nonintervention periods were the same procedure was performed without gentamicin. Active surveillance was performed for HD CRBSI. Microbiologic assessment and epidemiological data were gathered. Continuous hand hygiene and water quality monitoring were performed. RESULTS: The rates of CRBSI were reduced from 1.28 to 0.2 cases per 1,000 catheter-days when the lock therapy was employed (p = 0.001) The greatest reduction was for CRBSI caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa were no cases were recorded during the intervention periods (p = 0.001). There was a significant reduction in the total number of isolates; Gram-negative bacterial species (-97.2%) and Gram-positive bacterial species (-61.5%) although only the former reached statistical significance (p = 0.0001). The difference in the absolute risk reduction was 20.56% (95% CI 14.46-26.66%), the calculated Number Needed to Treat was 5 (95% CI 3.8-6.9). No adverse effects were noted. CONCLUSION: In the current study, gentamicin-lock therapy was associated with a significant reduction in CRBSI specially with P. aeruginosa and other Gram-negative bacteria. It proved to be safe and effective intervention when applied to the entire population of HD patients.

Enhanced influenza vaccination among healthcare personnel prevents cases despite community burden.

INTRODUCTION: Influenza vaccination for healthcare personnel is not obligatory in Mexico, and compliance relies on promotion and persuasion. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of influenza vaccination compliance on the reduction of influenza and influenza-like illness among healthcare personnel throughout two consecutive influenza seasons. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective study comparing cases of influenza and influenza-like illness among vaccinated and unvaccinated healthcare personnel registered in a Mexican 500-bed University Hospital surveillance and immunization registry during seasons 2015-16 and 2016-17. RESULTS: Total influenza immunization compliance was 21.3% and 42.7%, respectively. Reduction of the number of influenza-like illness (58 in 2015-16 and 15 in 2016-17; P = 0.0001) and confirmed influenza cases (28 in 2015-16 and 13 in 2016-17; P = 0.036) was evident. During 2016-17, influenza activity in the community was higher than 2015-16 (4800 and 1338 cases, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Increased influenza vaccination compliance among healthcare personnel was associated with reduction of the overall number of influenza and influenza-like illness cases, even in the setting of high activity of the disease in the community through 2016-17 and reported suboptimal vaccine effectiveness during both seasons.

Outcomes of Clostridium difficile-infected patients managed in a common isolation unit compared with isolation in their bed of diagnosis.

Cohorting Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) patients is a strategy which has not been thoroughly evaluated. We compared clinical characteristics and outcomes of CDI patients treated in a common isolation unit (CIU) versus those treated in their bed of diagnosis. Patients treated in the CIU showed lower mortality rates and antibiotic usage; however, a higher recurrence rate was reported.

Early hearing loss detection in rheumatoid arthritis and primary Sjögren syndrome using extended high frequency audiometry.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the hearing behavior of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and primary Sjögren syndrome (PSS) patients and compare them with a healthy control group and with each other. A comparative cross-sectional study was performed with a group of 117 female RA patients, a group of 60 female PSS patients, and a 251 female healthy control group. Every subject underwent a series of studies including high-frequency audiometry, speech audiometry, and tympanometry. The high-frequency audiometry measured 250 to 16,000 Hz. The 117 patients with RA and the 60 with PSS were diagnosed according to American College of Rheumatology criteria / ACR 2010, and the validated classification of the American-European Consensus Group. Hearing loss was present in 36.8% of the RA group in 500-3000 Hz, 68.4% in 4000-8000 Hz, and 94.9% in 10,000-16,000 Hz. Hearing loss was present in 60% of the PSS group in 500-3000 Hz, 70% in 4000-8000 Hz, and 100% in 10,000-16,000 Hz. The hearing impairment prevalence of both groups was significantly different (p < 0.05) when compared with the healthy control group. We also compared the hearing thresholds between RA and PSS patients, finding a significant hearing threshold increase in 500-3000 Hz of the PSS group. This study consolidates the association between RA and PSS with hearing impairment. A deeper hearing loss was reported in PSS than in RA patients, demonstrating a greater auditory and speech recognition repercussion.

Correlation between rapid HIV testing and fourth-generation ELISA results for HIV detection among pregnant patients in the delivery room.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the usefulness of rapid HIV testing in pregnant patients in the delivery room. METHODS: This prospective study compared a rapid test and a fourth-generation enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) for HIV screening among pregnant patients admitted in labor with an unknown HIV status at a university hospital in Mexico between July 2015 and February 2016. Pearson correlation analysis was performed, and the diagnostic accuracy of the two tests was assessed with HIV RNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as the reference method. RESULTS: Overall, 534 patients were included. With a signal-to-cutoff (S/CO) value of 1.0 or more as a diagnostic criterion, 6 (1.1%) patients had a positive ELISA result. Three had a negative rapid test and three had a positive test (r=0.705). With an S/CO value of 2.0 or more as cutoff, 4 (0.7%) patients had a positive ELISA result. Three had a positive rapid test and one had a negative test (r=0.865). Only three of six patients with an S/CO of 1.0 or more were confirmed to have HIV by RNA PCR. CONCLUSION: The rapid test showed a strong correlation with the fourth-generation ELISA. Therefore, rapid testing is a useful tool in the delivery room for patients with unknown HIV status.

Enhancement of hand hygiene compliance among health care workers from a hemodialysis unit using video-monitoring feedback.

BACKGROUND: The importance of hand hygiene in the prevention of health care-associated infection is well known. Experience with hand hygiene compliance (HHC) evaluation in hemodialysis units is scarce. METHODS: This study was a 3-phase, prospective longitudinal intervention study during a 5-month period in a 13-bed hemodialysis unit at a university hospital in Northern Mexico. The unit performs an average of 1,150 hemodialysis procedures per month. Compliance was evaluated by a direct observer and a video assisted observer. Feedback was given to health care workers in the form of educational sessions and confidential reports and video analysis of compliance and noncompliance. RESULTS: A total of 5,402 hand hygiene opportunities were registered; 5,201 during 7,820 minutes of video footage and 201 by direct observation during 1,180 minutes. Lower compliance during the baseline evaluation was observed by video monitoring compared with direct observation (P <0.05). Discrepancy between both methods was 29.2% (0.4%-59.8%); the average improvement in compliance during the study was 30.6% (range, 7.3%-75.5%). Global and Individual results for each subject revealed a statistically significant Improvement in the majority. Noncompliance according to WHO's 5 Moments for HH was greater for moment 5 (30.1%). We estimated that a health care worker in a hemodialysis unit could take 22-44.3% of working hours for proper hand hygiene compliance. CONCLUSIONS: Video-assisted monitoring of hand hygiene is an excellent method for the evaluation of HHC in a hemodialysis unit; enhanced HHC can be achieved through a feedback program to the hemodialysis staff that includes video examples and confidential reports.

Association between early influenza vaccination and the reduction of influenza-like syndromes in health care providers.

A comparison of 2 different influenza seasons (2013-2014 and 2014-2015) where early vaccination among health care providers (HCPs) in the latter was the difference. Differences in leave of absence because of influenza-like illness (ILI) (52 vs 15 [total number of leave of absence issued], P < .001) and total days of lost work (218 vs 68, P < .001) were found for the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 seasons, respectively. An association between earlier influenza vaccination among HCPs and a reduction in ILI, leave of absence, and days of lost work was found.

Comparación de las pruebas de función pulmonar en población adulta sana de la Provincia de Mendoza, Argentina, con valores de referencia internacionales / Comparison of Pulmonary Function Tests in Healthy Adult Population in Mendoza Province, Argentina, with International Reference Values

Las pruebas de función pulmonar (PFP) son herramientas de gran utilidad clínica, que presentan diferencias regionales, étnicas y antropométricas. El objetivo es realizar PFP a adultos sanos de la Provincia de Mendoza, Argentina, para comparar los valores obtenidos en dicha población con los valores de referencia internacionales y determinar si existe adecuada correlación. Se realizó un estudio prospectivo, transversal, observacional y descriptivo, desde noviembre 2011 a junio 2013 que incluyó a 103 personas. Se realizaron las siguientes PFP: espirometría, test de marcha de 6 minutos (T6m), presiones bucales máximas y flujo pico espiratorio (FPE). Se compararon con valores de referencia, para espirometría con NHANES III y para T6m con Enright, utilizando el modelo de regresión lineal; en el caso de FPE por comparar dos instrumentos de medición se utilizó además el método de Bland-Altman. Se observó una adecuada correlación entre los valores obtenidos en la población de Mendoza y los valores de referencia propuestos por NHANES III especialmente en el VEF1. En el caso de VEF1/CVF el uso de límite inferior de la normalidad resultó más adecuado para definir normalidad. El T6m mostró una menor distancia recorrida en la muestra estudiada. Se observó una inadecuada correlación de presiones bucales máximas entre la muestra y los valores de referencia. Se observó buena correlación entre la medición de FPE automatizado y portátil. Este es el primer estudio epidemiológico de valores normales en pruebas de función respiratoria en la población de Mendoza por lo que presenta una contribución en el conocimiento de nuestra región.

Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) are useful clinical tools, presenting regional, ethnic, and anthropometric differences. The aim was to perform PFTs among healthy adults in the Mendoza province, Argentina, so as to compare the values obtained in the aforesaid population with the international reference values, and determine if there is an adequate correlation. From November 2011 to June 2013, a prospective, transversal, observational and descriptive study was performed, with the participation of 103 healthy adults. The following PFTs were performed: spirometry, 6-minute walk test (6MWT), maximum static mouth pressures, and Peak Expiratory Flow. They were compared with the reference values, for spirometry with NHANES III and for T6m with Enright, using the lineal regression model; for Peak Expiratory Flow, since two measurement instruments were compared, the Bland-Altman method was also used. An adequate correlation was observed to exist between the values in Mendoza and the reference values proposed by NHANES III, particularly in the FEV1. As for FEV1/FVC, the use of the lower limit of normality was more appropriate in defining normality. The 6MWT showed that a shorter distance was covered by the tested population sample. The correlation observed for the maximum static mouth pressures between the population sample and the reference values was inadequate. An adequate correlation was observed between the automated and the portable Peak Expiratory Flow measurements. This is the first epidemiological study of normal PFT values in the Mendoza population, which contributes to the knowledge about our region.

Comparación de las pruebas de función pulmonar en población adulta sana de la Provincia de Mendoza, Argentina, con valores de referencia internacionales

Las pruebas de función pulmonar (PFP) son herramientas de gran utilidad clínica, que presentan diferencias regionales, étnicas y antropométricas. El objetivo es realizar PFP a adultos sanos de la Provincia de Mendoza, Argentina, para comparar los valores obtenidos en dicha población con los valores de referencia internacionales y determinar si existe adecuada correlación. Se realizó un estudio prospectivo, transversal, observacional y descriptivo, desde noviembre 2011 a junio 2013 que incluyó a 103 personas. Se realizaron las siguientes PFP: espirometría, test de marcha de 6 minutos (T6m), presiones bucales máximas y flujo pico espiratorio (FPE). Se compararon con valores de referencia, para espirometría con NHANES III y para T6m con Enright, utilizando el modelo de regresión lineal; en el caso de FPE por comparar dos instrumentos de medición se utilizó además el método de Bland-Altman. Se observó una adecuada correlación entre los valores obtenidos en la población de Mendoza y los valores de referencia propuestos por NHANES III especialmente en el VEF1. En el caso de VEF1/CVF el uso de límite inferior de la normalidad resultó más adecuado para definir normalidad. El T6m mostró una menor distancia recorrida en la muestra estudiada. Se observó una inadecuada correlación de presiones bucales máximas entre la muestra y los valores de referencia. Se observó buena correlación entre la medición de FPE automatizado y portátil. Este es el primer estudio epidemiológico de valores normales en pruebas de función respiratoria en la población de Mendoza por lo que presenta una contribución en el conocimiento de nuestra región.(AU)

Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) are useful clinical tools, presenting regional, ethnic, and anthropometric differences. The aim was to perform PFTs among healthy adults in the Mendoza province, Argentina, so as to compare the values obtained in the aforesaid population with the international reference values, and determine if there is an adequate correlation. From November 2011 to June 2013, a prospective, transversal, observational and descriptive study was performed, with the participation of 103 healthy adults. The following PFTs were performed: spirometry, 6-minute walk test (6MWT), maximum static mouth pressures, and Peak Expiratory Flow. They were compared with the reference values, for spirometry with NHANES III and for T6m with Enright, using the lineal regression model; for Peak Expiratory Flow, since two measurement instruments were compared, the Bland-Altman method was also used. An adequate correlation was observed to exist between the values in Mendoza and the reference values proposed by NHANES III, particularly in the FEV1. As for FEV1/FVC, the use of the lower limit of normality was more appropriate in defining normality. The 6MWT showed that a shorter distance was covered by the tested population sample. The correlation observed for the maximum static mouth pressures between the population sample and the reference values was inadequate. An adequate correlation was observed between the automated and the portable Peak Expiratory Flow measurements. This is the first epidemiological study of normal PFT values in the Mendoza population, which contributes to the knowledge about our region.(AU)