scholarly journals Self-reported COVID-19 symptoms on Twitter: An analysis and a research resource

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abeed Sarker ◽  
Sahithi Lakamana ◽  
Whitney Hogg-Bremer ◽  
Angel Xie ◽  
Mohammed Ali Al-Garadi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Studies ◽  
Research Community ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Self Reports ◽  
Automatic Filtering

AbstractObjectiveTo mine Twitter to quantitatively analyze COVID-19 symptoms self-reported by users, compare symptom distributions against clinical studies, and create a symptom lexicon for the research community.Materials and methodsWe retrieved tweets using COVID-19-related keywords, and performed several layers of semi-automatic filtering to curate self-reports of positive-tested users. We extracted COVID-19-related symptoms mentioned by the users, mapped them to standard IDs, and compared the distributions with multiple studies conducted in clinical settings.ResultsWe identified 203 positive-tested users who reported 932 symptoms using 598 unique expressions. The most frequently-reported symptoms were fever/pyrexia (65%), cough (56%), body aches/pain (40%), headache (35%), fatigue (35%), and dyspnea (34%) amongst users who reported at least 1 symptom. Mild symptoms, such as anosmia (26%) and ageusia (24%) were frequently reported on Twitter, but not in clinical studies.ConclusionThe spectrum of COVID-19 symptoms identified from Twitter may complement those identified in clinical settings.

scholarly journals Self-reported COVID-19 symptoms on Twitter: an analysis and a research resource

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (8) ◽  
pp. 1310-1315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abeed Sarker ◽  
Sahithi Lakamana ◽  
Whitney Hogg-Bremer ◽  
Angel Xie ◽  
Mohammed Ali Al-Garadi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Studies ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Language System ◽  
Unified Medical Language System ◽  
Medical Language ◽  
Self Reports ◽  
Body Ache ◽  
Standard Concept

Abstract Objective To mine Twitter and quantitatively analyze COVID-19 symptoms self-reported by users, compare symptom distributions across studies, and create a symptom lexicon for future research. Materials and Methods We retrieved tweets using COVID-19-related keywords, and performed semiautomatic filtering to curate self-reports of positive-tested users. We extracted COVID-19-related symptoms mentioned by the users, mapped them to standard concept IDs in the Unified Medical Language System, and compared the distributions to those reported in early studies from clinical settings. Results We identified 203 positive-tested users who reported 1002 symptoms using 668 unique expressions. The most frequently-reported symptoms were fever/pyrexia (66.1%), cough (57.9%), body ache/pain (42.7%), fatigue (42.1%), headache (37.4%), and dyspnea (36.3%) amongst users who reported at least 1 symptom. Mild symptoms, such as anosmia (28.7%) and ageusia (28.1%), were frequently reported on Twitter, but not in clinical studies. Conclusion The spectrum of COVID-19 symptoms identified from Twitter may complement those identified in clinical settings.

Cessation and reduction in alcohol consumption and misuse after psychedelic use

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (9) ◽  
pp. 1088-1101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert Garcia-Romeu ◽  
Alan K Davis ◽  
Fire Erowid ◽  
Earth Erowid ◽  
Roland R Griffiths ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Clinical Studies ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Problematic Alcohol ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Problematic Alcohol Use

Background:Meta-analysis of randomized studies using lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) for alcohol use disorder (AUD) showed large, significant effects for LSD efficacy compared to control conditions. Clinical studies suggest potential anti-addiction effects of LSD and mechanistically-related classic psychedelics for alcohol and other substance use disorders.Aims:To supplement clinical studies, reports of psychedelic use in naturalistic settings can provide further data regarding potential effects of psychedelics on alcohol use.Methods:An anonymous online survey of individuals with prior AUD reporting cessation or reduction in alcohol use following psychedelic use in non-clinical settings.Results:343 respondents, mostly White (89%), males (78%), in the USA (60%) completed the survey. Participants reported seven years of problematic alcohol use on average before the psychedelic experience to which they attributed reduced alcohol consumption, with 72% meeting retrospective criteria for severe AUD. Most reported taking a moderate or high dose of LSD (38%) or psilocybin (36%), followed by significant reduction in alcohol consumption. After the psychedelic experience 83% no longer met AUD criteria. Participants rated their psychedelic experience as highly meaningful and insightful, with 28% endorsing psychedelic-associated changes in life priorities or values as facilitating reduced alcohol misuse. Greater psychedelic dose, insight, mystical-type effects, and personal meaning of experiences were associated with a greater reduction in alcohol consumption, controlling for prior alcohol consumption and related distress.Conclusions:Although results cannot demonstrate causality, they suggest that naturalistic psychedelic use may lead to cessation or reduction in problematic alcohol use, supporting further investigation of psychedelic-assisted treatment for AUD.

scholarly journals Questioning the Effort Hypothesis That Depressed Patients Perform Disproportionately Worse on Effortful Cognitive Tasks

2020 ◽  
Vol 127 (2) ◽  
pp. 401-414
Author(s):  
Dustin B. Hammers ◽  
Sara Weisenbach
Keyword(s):  
Digit Span ◽  
Severe Depression ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Trail Making Test ◽  
Moderate Depression ◽  
Self Reports ◽  
Trail Making ◽  
Neuropsychological Evaluations ◽  
Accuracy Indices ◽  
Effort Hypothesis

The debate over Hasher and Zacks’ effort hypothesis—that performance on effortful tasks by patients with depression will be disproportionately worse than their performance on automatic tasks—shows a need for additional research to settle whether or not this notion is “clinical lore.” In this study, we categorized 285 outpatient recipients of neuropsychological evaluations into three groups—No Depression, Mild-to-Moderate Depression, and Severe Depression—based on their Beck Depression Inventory-2 self-reports. We then compared these groups’ performances on both “automatic” and “effortful” versions of the Ruff 2 & 7 Selective Attention Test Total Speed and Total Accuracy Indices, the Digit Span subtest from the Wechsler Adult Intellectual Scale—Fourth Edition, and Trail Making Test Parts A and B, using a two-way (3 × 2) mixed multivariate analysis of variance. Patients with Mild-to-Moderate Depression or Severe Depression performed disproportionately worse than patients with No Depression in our sample on more effortful versions of only one of the four attention or executive functioning measures (Trail Making Test). Thus, these data failed to fully support a hypothesis of disproportionately worse performance on more effortful tasks. While this study failed to negate the effort hypothesis in some specific instances, particularly for use in the Trail Making Test, there is cause for caution in routinely applying the effort hypothesis when interpreting test findings in most clinical settings and for most measures.

scholarly journals Population-scale hand tremor analysis via anonymized mouse cursor signals

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryen W. White ◽  
Eric Horvitz
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Studies ◽  
Web Search ◽  
Target Selection ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Hand Tremor ◽  
Mouse Cursor ◽  
Self Reports ◽  
Population Scale

Abstract Tremors are a common movement disorder with a spectrum of benign and pathological causes, including neurodegenerative disease, alcohol withdrawal, and physical overexertion. Studies of tremors in clinical practice are limited in size and scope and depend on explicit tracking of tremor characteristics by clinicians. Data drawn from small numbers of patients observed in short-duration sessions pose challenges for understanding the nature and distribution of tremors over a large population. Methods are presented to estimate hand tremors based on anonymized computer mouse cursor movement data collected from millions of users of a web search engine. To determine the feasibility of using this signal for the estimation of the prevalence of tremors over a large population, the characteristics of tremor-like movements are computed and compared against user data that can be interpreted as self-reports, the findings of published clinical studies, and a target selection study where participants self-report hand tremors and known causes. The results demonstrate significant alignment between estimated tremors and both self-reports and clinical findings. Those with cursor tremor events are more likely to report tremor-related search interests. Variations in cursor tremor quantity and cursor tremor frequency with demographics mirror those from clinical studies. Distributions of cursor tremor frequencies vary as expected for different medical conditions. Overall, the study finds evidence for the validity of harnessing anonymized mouse cursor motion as a population-scale tremor sensor for epidemiologic studies. Feasible future applications include opt-in services for screening and for monitoring the progression of illness.

Durability of antimicrobial activity of antibiotic-impregnated external ventricular drains: a prospective study

2019 ◽  
Vol 74 (11) ◽  
pp. 3328-3336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roman Mounier ◽  
Elodie Lang ◽  
Anne Hulin ◽  
Paul-Louis Woerther ◽  
David Lobo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
Prospective Study ◽  
Staphylococcus Epidermidis ◽  
Clinical Studies ◽  
Significant Decline ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Methicillin Resistant ◽  
Initial Concentration ◽  
A Prospective Study

Abstract Background Antibiotic-impregnated external ventricular drains (AI-EVDs) have a debated efficacy in clinical studies. Objectives Our aim was to assess the durability of antimicrobial activity of AI-EVDs used in clinical settings. Methods From April 2017 to January 2018, all consecutive AI-EVDs (Bactiseal™) inserted in adult patients were prospectively included. After removal, each AI-EVD was cultured and assessed for antimicrobial activity on both internal and external sides of AI-EVDs. Catheters were each challenged with a single Staphylococcus strain [MSSA, MRSA or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE)]. MS was used to measure residual concentrations of rifampicin and clindamycin. Results Sixty-five AI-EVDs were included (56 patients). Among these, 21 were challenged with MSSA, 23 with MRSA and 21 with MRSE. Five ventriculostomy-related colonizations (9%) and two ventriculostomy-related infections (4%) occurred. Staphylococcus was the main bacterium responsible for colonization (4/5). AI-EVD inhibition decreased significantly against MRSA and MRSE according to duration of catheterization (for external and internal sides, P < 0.02) and overall volume of CSF drained (P < 0.005 for both sides against MRSE, P < 0.005 for external side against MRSA), but not against MSSA. Clindamycin concentration was not correlated with duration of catheterization or CSF volume drained, but <20% of initial concentration was recovered even after 5 days of AI-EVD dwelling. Conversely, rifampicin concentration showed a rapid and significant decline correlated to duration and CSF volume (P < 0.001 and P = 0.03, respectively). Conclusions Antimicrobial activity of AI-EVDs dropped quickly in vivo. Antimicrobial impregnation did not prevent AI-EVD colonization by susceptible strains in 9% of the cases.

Women in Clinical Studies: A Feminist View

1994 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 533-538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Sherwin
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Studies ◽  
The United States ◽  
Research Community ◽  
National Institutes Of Health ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Feminist Ethics ◽  
The Face ◽  
New Policies ◽  
The U.S ◽  
Significant Factors

There is significant evidence that the health needs of women and minorities have been neglected by a medical research community whose agendas and protocols tend to focus on more advantaged segments of society. In response, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States have recently issued new policies aimed at increasing the utilization of women in clinical studies. As well, the U.S. Congress passed the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993, which specifically mandates increased inclusion of women and racial and ethnic groups in clinical studies. On the face of it, such gender and race-specific policies would appear to be morally problematic because traditionally ethics opposes the use of sex or race as legitimate criteria for distributions of benefits or burdens in social policies. Hence, these policies pose some significant moral questions. Feminist ethics provides us with a framework for evaluating such policies because of its readiness to recognize that socially and politically significant factors such as sex and race are morally relevant in setting public policy. Of course, feminist ethics does not simply endorse all appeals to sex and race but only the policies in which attention to such factors will contribute to social justice. In this essay, I Identify some of the Important ethical questions that a feminist ethics perspective raises about research policies devised to promote the Inclusion of women in clinical studies.

Classification of Chronic Venous Insufficiency: A Review

Angiology ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 52 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. S17-S26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pier Luigi Antignani
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Venous Insufficiency ◽  
Clinical Studies ◽  
Venous Insufficiency ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
European Working ◽  
Current Therapies ◽  
Ceap Classification ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Classi Fication

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a very variable and complex entity that has stimulated different attempts at classification. Several proposals have been made in recent years, based on objective and anatomical criteria, most of them incomplete and unsatisfactory. Finally the CEAP classification was presented in 1994. This certainly is the most nearly complete classi fication, since it takes into consideration not only the main aspects of CVI: Clinical, Etiological, Anatomical, and Pathophysiological, but also the degrees of severity, reported in the form of scores. It is now accepted internationally although it still has some flaws (such as the absence of the corona phlebectactica sign) and inaccuracies (above all in the clinical part and the scoring). Recently, some members of the Promoting Committee proposed a substantial modi fication of the part on scores, coming closest to the clinical reality, instrumental diagnosis, and current therapies. The characteristics of CEAP enable us to affirm that this represents the most original and useful classification, not only for clinical studies, but also in the assessment of therapeutic results and in patient follow-up. Like all classifications, CEAP also needs to be validated by means of clinical studies in order to demonstrate its applicability. For this purpose, a European Working Group was set up in 1997. The first interesting results of 872 dossiers collected by means of a computerized program (European Phlebological File) were presented at several international congresses and concentrated on the consistency and reproducibility of the clinical part of the CEAP classification in different clinical settings.

scholarly journals Understanding Rhinovirus Circulation and Impact on Illness

Viruses ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 141
Author(s):  
Camille Esneau ◽  
Alexandra Cate Duff ◽  
Nathan W. Bartlett
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Resource Utilization ◽  
Clinical Studies ◽  
Economic Cost ◽  
Respiratory Viruses ◽  
Therapeutic Strategies ◽  
Research Community ◽  
Respiratory Illnesses ◽  
Specific Focus

Rhinoviruses (RVs) have been reported as one of the main viral causes for severe respiratory illnesses that may require hospitalization, competing with the burden of other respiratory viruses such as influenza and RSV in terms of severity, economic cost, and resource utilization. With three species and 169 subtypes, RV presents the greatest diversity within the Enterovirus genus, and despite the efforts of the research community to identify clinically relevant subtypes to target therapeutic strategies, the role of species and subtype in the clinical outcomes of RV infection remains unclear. This review aims to collect and organize data relevant to RV illness in order to find patterns and links with species and/or subtype, with a specific focus on species and subtype diversity in clinical studies typing of respiratory samples.

scholarly journals Identifying and Ranking Common COVID-19 Symptoms From Tweets in Arabic: Content Analysis (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eisa Alanazi ◽  
Abdulaziz Alashaikh ◽  
Sarah Alqurashi ◽  
Aued Alanazi
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Assessment System ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Chronological Order ◽  
Specific Group ◽  
Related Data ◽  
Self Reports ◽  
Risk Estimator ◽  
Twitter Users ◽  
Asymptomatic Individuals

BACKGROUND A substantial amount of COVID-19–related data is generated by Twitter users every day. Self-reports of COVID-19 symptoms on Twitter can reveal a great deal about the disease and its prevalence in the community. In particular, self-reports can be used as a valuable resource to learn more about common symptoms and whether their order of appearance differs among different groups in the community. These data may be used to develop a COVID-19 risk assessment system that is tailored toward a specific group of people. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to identify the most common symptoms reported by patients with COVID-19, as well as the order of symptom appearance, by examining tweets in Arabic. METHODS We searched Twitter posts in Arabic for personal reports of COVID-19 symptoms from March 1 to May 27, 2020. We identified 463 Arabic users who had tweeted about testing positive for COVID-19 and extracted the symptoms they associated with the disease. Furthermore, we asked them directly via personal messaging to rank the appearance of the first 3 symptoms they had experienced immediately before (or after) their COVID-19 diagnosis. Finally, we tracked their Twitter timeline to identify additional symptoms that were mentioned within ±5 days from the day of the first tweet on their COVID-19 diagnosis. In total, 270 COVID-19 self-reports were collected, and symptoms were (at least partially) ranked. RESULTS The collected self-reports contained 893 symptoms from 201 (74%) male and 69 (26%) female Twitter users. The majority (n=270, 82%) of the tracked users were living in Saudi Arabia (n=125, 46%) and Kuwait (n=98, 36%). Furthermore, 13% (n=36) of the collected reports were from asymptomatic individuals. Of the 234 users with symptoms, 66% (n=180) provided a chronological order of appearance for at least 3 symptoms. Fever (n=139, 59%), headache (n=101, 43%), and anosmia (n=91, 39%) were the top 3 symptoms mentioned in the self-reports. Additionally, 28% (n=65) reported that their COVID-19 experience started with a fever, 15% (n=34) with a headache, and 12% (n=28) with anosmia. Of the 110 symptomatic cases from Saudi Arabia, the most common 3 symptoms were fever (n=65, 59%), anosmia (n=46, 42%), and headache (n=42, 38%). CONCLUSIONS This study identified the most common symptoms of COVID-19 from tweets in Arabic. These symptoms can be further analyzed in clinical settings and may be incorporated into a real-time COVID-19 risk estimator.

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