bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Racial disparities in prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors in head and neck cancer patients
Authors: Mukherjee A , Griffin R , Lenneman C , Lewis C , Nabell L , Shrestha S
Published: May 2021

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Other. Main funding source(s): American Heart Association Pre-doctoral Fellowship

Background

Cancer patients and survivors have higher burden of cardiovascular diseases than the age-adjusted general population. However, evidence on distribution of cardiovascular disease risk factors in cancer patients is limited.

Purpose

Our aim was to assess if racial disparities exist in prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors in head and neck cancer patients. 

Methods

In this clinical cohort, we included 2299 head neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients diagnosed between 2012-2018 at a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center. We used a combination of ICD-9/10 codes, medication use and pharmacy records from electronic medical records data, to identify cardiovascular disease risk factors (hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes mellitus). We reported prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors at and one year-post HNSCC diagnosis, by race, using Chi-square or Wilcoxon test, as appropriate. 

Results

Black HNSCC patients were diagnosed at a slightly younger age (median: 60.0 vs 62.0 years, p-value 0.0745), had a higher proportion of males (p-value 0.0221) and advanced cancer stage at diagnosis (p-value 0.0033), than white HNSCC patients. At diagnosis, 32.63% of black HNSCC patients had hypertension and 34.44% had at least one cardiovascular disease risk factor, compared to 24.59% and 27.74% in whites, respectively (p-values 0.0020 and 0.0127, respectively). At one-year post HNSCC diagnosis, 84.73% of all HNSCC patients had at least one cardiovascular disease risk factor. No statistically significant racial differences were observed for hypertension and diabetes mellitus at one-year post HNSCC diagnosis, however, 37.74% of white HNSCC patients had dyslipidemia compared to 27.49% black patients (p-value 0.003). 

Conclusion

Higher prevalence of hypertension and advanced cancer stage at HNSCC diagnosis in black patients highlights issues of racial disparity and unequal access to care. High prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors at one-year post HNSCC diagnosis and increase in dyslipidemia in white patients emphasizes the impact of therapeutic agents and need for routine personalized monitoring of cardiovascular disease risk factors and cardiovascular disease preventive services in high risk HNSCC patients.
Falls among patients with hypertension - preliminary study
Authors: Swiatoniowska-Lonc N , Jaciow E , Polanski J , Jankowska-Polanska B
Published: May 2021

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background. Falls among the elderly are a major cause of injury, significant disability and premature death. Hypotension is a potential risk factor for falls in older adults, especially patients with hypertension (HTN) taking antihypertensive drugs. Furthermore, the cardiovascular benefit of treatment of hypertension in older patients is clear, findings from observational studies have raised concerns that antihypertensive therapies in the elderly might also induce adverse effects, including injurious falls.  In spite of the large number of issues related to this topic, the analysis of the causes of falls is insufficient.

The aim of the study was to assess the frequency of falls and the impact of selected variables on the occurrence of risk of falls among patients with HTN.

Material and methods. 100 patients, including 55 women, with HTN (mean age 69.4 ± 3.29 years) were enrolled into the study. The Tinetti test was used to assess the risk of falls. Sociodemographic and clinical data were obtained from the hospital register.

Results. 89% of patients had a high risk of falls and 11% were prone to falls. The average number of falls during the last year in the study group was 1.86 ± 2.82 and in 30% of cases the fall was the cause of hospitalization. Single-factor analysis of the influence of selected variables on the risk of falls showed that higher values of SBP (-0.27; p = 0.007), DBP (-0.279; p = 0.005) and younger age of patients decrease the risk of falls (-0.273; p = 0.006). The linear regression model showed that independent predictors increasing the risk of falling are: use of diuretics (β=4.192; p < 0.001), co-occurrence of ischemic heart disease (β=4.669; p = 0. 007) and co-occurrence of heart failure (β=3.494; p = 0.016), and predictors reducing the risk of falling patients with hypertension are: the use of beta-blockers (β= -4.033; p = 0.013) and higher DBP value (β= -0.123; p = 0.016).

Conclusions. Patients with HTN have a high risk of falling. Independent determinants increasing the risk of falling patients with HTN are the use of diuretics and the co-occurrence of ischemic heart disease or heart failure, while beta-blockers and a higher DBP value are factors reducing the risk of falling. Fall risk assessment and implementation of fall prevention should be carried out in everyday practice.
Telemedicine reduces long term mortality in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction
Authors: Koulaouzidis G , Charisopoulou D
Published: May 2021

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

Telemonitoring was introduced with the potential to improve the medical care, quality of life and prognosis of patients with heart failure (HF). The aim of the study was to assess the effect of home telemedicine (HTM) in long-term mortality in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Methods

This is a retrospective study of 452 consecutive subjects with HFrEF  who were referred to  HTM service. The HTM service was offered to HFrEF patients who: a) have been recently diagnosed with HF, b) have been recently hospitalized due to HF, c) have worsening HF, d) need frequent medication changes, e) are NYHA class II or III.

Most patients (n= 352) accepted HTM (HTM-group), but 100 patients refused and received the usual care (UC-group). The HTM group were assessed daily by body weight, blood pressure and heart rate using electronic devices with automatic transfer of data to an online database. A nurse practitioner evaluated the measurements every day using a dedicated clinical user interface. Clinical alerts are dealt with by the HTM nurse calling the patient and then, if necessary, a clinical responder; either a community HF nurse with prescribing qualifications or a cardiologist if long-term changes in therapy are required. Patients in both groups were seen at a specialist HF clinic and the frequency of clinical follow-up was at the discretion of the HF team. The same cardiologists reviewed the patients in both groups. Follow-up period was 60 months.

Higher prevalence of male gender was seen in the UC-group (78% vs 67%, p = 0.03). Otherwise there was no significant difference in the demographic characteristics or primary cause of HF between the two groups. Also no differences were seen between the two groups in the treatment with beta blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers and aldosterone antagonists.

Results

The mean follow-up period for survivors was significantly higher in HTM-group compared with UC-group (50.6 ± 18.2 vs. 37.8 ± 25.2, p < 0.001). After 3 month of follow-up, the all-cause mortality was significantly lower in HTM-group than in UC-group (2.8% vs. 14%; p <0.01). This significantly lower mortality in HTM-group compared to UC-group was further observed in 6 months follow-up ( 4.5% vs. 22%, p < 0.0009); in 12 months follow-up (9% vs. 31.2%,  p < 0.0002); in 18 months follow-up (13.4% vs. 38.2%, p < 0.0001); in 24 months follow-up (15.1% vs. 42%, p < 0.0001); in 36 months follow-up (19% vs. 44.5%, p < 0.0002); in 48 months follow-up (23% vs. 46%, p < 0.001); and finally in 60 months follow-up (25.3% vs. 46%, p < 0.003).

Conclusion

HTM was associated with improved survival. This was observed from the first months of the study and remained present until the end of the study.The reduced mortality in the HTM patients may reflect the fact that HTM improves patient HF knowledge and self-care behaviors.
Bridging the gap from hospital discharge to cardiac rehabilitation using the intervention mapping approach (BRIDGE2CARE)
Authors: Keessen P , Van Duijvenbode ICD , Latour CHM , Kraaijenhagen RA , Janssen V , Jorstad HT , Scholte Op Reimer WJM , Visser B
Published: May 2021

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Dutch Research Council

INTRODUCTION

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is the cornerstone of secondary prevention. After hospital discharge, patients have to wait for participation in CR while often feeling overwhelmed by their cardiac event and in need of tailored information and support.  

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was to develop a remote (digital) intervention to bridge the gap from hospital discharge to CR.

METHODS

We developed an intervention by completing the first three steps of the intervention mapping protocol. Step 1: identification of information- and support needs from the literature and semi-structured interviews. Step 2: Describing performance objectives for the intervention and selecting determinants. Step 3: Generation of program themes and theory based change methods.

RESULTS

(Step 1) The following Information- and support needs were identified from the literature (n = 33) and semi structured interviews (n = 22): information about pathology and intervention, medication and side effects, daily physical activities, psychological distress, body signals and social support. Advanced communication and pedagogical skills of the health care provider and the ability to build trust were described as important prerequisites for the intervention. (Step 2) The following performance objectives were formulated: (1) Patients gain knowledge on how their cardiac illness and procedure affects their bodies and health, (2) Patients gain knowledge about medication and side effects, (3) Patients know which daily physical activities they can and can’t do after hospital discharge and are physically active, (4) Patients and informal caregivers can deal with psychological distress and know how to discriminate between harmful and harmless body signals. Objectives were described per determinant (knowledge, skill, attitude, social influence, self-efficacy and outcome expectation). (Step 3) A comprehensive remote intervention was developed using theory based coaching strategies, a digital patient platform and information videoclips.

CONCLUSION

This study describes the information and support needs of patients after cardiac hospitalization and offers a remote intervention that bridges the gap form hospital discharge to CR.

Abstract Figure. BRIDGE2CARE
The role of the novel MyAlgos e-medicine Platform in promoting patient-centered self-care management in patients with atrial fibrillation: The emPOWERD trial
Authors: Lazaridis C , Mouselimis D , Bakogiannis C , Tsarouchas A , Antoniadis A , Papadopoulos CE , Tzikas S , Fragakis N , Vassilikos VP
Published: May 2021

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

The emergence of digital health has revolutionized most aspects of healthcare. Meanwhile, atrial fibrillation (AF) remains the most common sustained arrhythmia associated with high morbidity and impaired quality of life. Patient-perceived treatment burden can be further optimized by digital health interventions utilizing smartphone technology. 

The MyAlgos platform is an integrated software system designed to enhance the remote management and communication between the patient and the healthcare practitioner. The mobile application encourages patient self-management through educational modules and tools to improve medication adherence. The web-based platform allows the health care practitioner to receive live updates on patient status and design personalized self-care management plans.

Purpose 

To investigate whether the use of the MyAlgos platform by AF patients is safe and improves the quality of self-care, quality of life (QoL), and hospitalization rate.

Methods

We designed a single-center, randomized, controlled, prospective, open-label, pilot study to compare the effect of the use of the full-feature MyAlgos platform version versus a stripped-down control version of the platform on the QoL, medication adherence and hospitalization rate in patients with paroxysmal AF.  The full version of the e-medicine platform includes active patient education, communication with the medical team, medication reminders as well as the full record of clinically significant data such as heart rate and blood pressure. Specialized algorithms monitor patient data and alert physicians for potential AF episodes. The control version only allows the recording of patient’s heart rate.

Results

A total of 80 patients with paroxysmal AF were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either the full or the control version of the MyAlgos Platform. The mean age of all patients, 53 (66%) male, was 58.1 ± 9.1 years. Hypertension and diabetes were present in 47 (59%) and 7 (9%) respectively. At baseline, the majority of patients had AF-related symptoms classified as European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) I (45%) or EHRA II (24%), while the mean Atrial Fibrillation Effect on QualiTy-of-Life (AFEQT) score was 70.1 ± 17.0.  Between the two groups, there were no statistically significant differences in the baseline characteristics of the participants.

Conclusion

The emPOWERD trial will provide data on the impact of a novel e-medicine platform on the QoL, medication adherence and hospitalizations of patients with paroxysmal AF. We anticipate better outcomes for the subjects receiving the full version of the MyAlgos platform, allowing it to positively affect the further management of paroxysmal AF.

Abstract Figure. The MyAlgos e-medicine Platform
Design of an E-Health platform using artificial intelligence technologies for the surveillance and prevention of patients with cardiovascular diseases against covid19
Authors: Mouine N , Hilmani A , Maizate A , Mahmoudi C , Benyass A
Published: May 2021

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Introduction

Covid-19 disease is caused by SARS-CoV-2.The symptomatology is variable, it can range from a common cold to a severe acute respiratory distress. Severe forms are mainly seen in patients with cardio vascular disease, they are at very high risk of mortality. The aim of our project is to design and producean E-Health platform to enable telemedicine acts such as telemonitoring and assistance of patients with cardio vascular disease to prevent covid 19 infection

Materials and methods

It is an e-health platform that uses digital technologies associated with artificial intelligence to provide remote monitoring and assistance to patients; It consists of two parts: the acquisition of patient data, a gateway and a central system. Acquisition of patient data by sensors equipped with a wireless data transmission device allowing the recovery of patient health indices such as heart rate, respiratory rate ..., a mobile application which allows to acquire data emitted by the sensors placed on the patient, which includes an AI module that analyzes the data in real time in order to send alerts to the patient Expected results

Through telemedicine, patients with cardiac diseases will be under continuous monitoring of hemodynamic parameters: Temperature, Arterial oxygen saturation, Heart Rate, Blood Pressure, Electrocardiogram ...,,these data will be processed by an AI module which will analyze the results and will detect anomalies. The latter will give recommendations and immediately alert the patient

Conclusion

Telemedicine is a new and innovative concept, it will improve the health care and will have a great socio-economic impact on bothpatient andhealth services. it"s can help to fight against Covid 19 infection.
Validity and trends of myocardial infarction incidence and case-fatality estimated from linked administrative databases
Authors: Camps-Vilaro A , Perez-Fernandez S , Elosua R , Subirana I , Palomo I , Sanchis J , Tizon-Marcos H , Vaquerizo B , Farre N , Sala J , Masia R , Ramos R , R Degano I , Marrugat J
Published: May 2021

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): CIBERCV of cardiovascular diseases; CIBERESP.

OnBehalf

REGICOR investigators

Background

Although myocardial infarction (MI) severity trends are systematically measured with mortality rates, MI incidence trends and the precision of its estimation by linkage of anonymized electronic databases are relatively untested. We validated a linked-data method (LDM) to estimate a population MI incidence and case-fatality, and to analyse the 1990-2016 trends in North-Eastern Spain. 

Methods

LDM consisted of linking MI hospital discharges (n = 4,533,981) and mortality registry data (n = 40,676) for 2008-2016, selecting key MI diagnostic codes. The prospective REGICOR study, including all MI cases in Girona, 1990-2009, was used as the gold standard for validation purposes. Standardized MI cumulated incidence and 28-day case fatality for population aged 35-74 years was calculated, 1990-2016 trends were analysed by linear and joinpoint regression and annual percentage change (APC).

Results

LDM and REGICOR MI incidence and case-fatality estimates were similar for 2008-09 (Table). LDM MI incidence and case-fatality significantly decreased: APC 1990-2016 [95% CI]) was -1.8 [-2.6;-0.9] in women, and APC 2002-2016  -2.8 [-3.8;-1.8] in men; case-fatality APC 1990-2016 was -4.7% [-5.7;-3.8] in women and APC 1995-2005 -6.5%[-8.5;-4.5] in men. 

Conclusions

LDM in population aged 35-74 reliably estimated MI incidence and case-fatality. MI incidence and case-fatality significantly decreased after 1990.

Comparative analysis of REGICOR vs LDM REGICOR 2008-2009 LDM 2008-2009 Estimate 95% CI Estimate 95% CI P-Value Cumulated incidence Men 245.4 228.3; 262.5 239.7 222.5; 256.3 0.626 Women 61.1 52.6; 69.6 58.2 49.9; 66.4 0.626 Overall 28-day case-fatality Men 23.5% 19.7; 27.2 21.3% 17.8; 24.9 0.422 Women 19.3% 6.7; 31.9 17.7% 6.3; 29.1 0.855 In-hospital case-fatality Men 6.9% 4.8; 9.0 5.7% 3.8; 7.6 0.394 Women 5.0% 1.9; 8.2 3.7% 1.0; 6.5 0.540 Pre-hospital case-fatality Men 16.5% 11.8; 21.3 15.6% 11.2; 20.1 0.791 Women 14.2 % 6.6; 21.9 14.0% 6.3; 21.7 0.961 CI Confidence Interval
Potentially inappropriate home medications among older patients with cardiovascular disease in a Moroccan population
Authors: Maaroufi A , Zahidi H , Abouradi S , Choukrani H , Habbal R
Published: May 2021

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background :

Patients with cardiovascular diseases use often multi-drugs regimen , which can often be associated with use of potentially inappropriate medications PIMs especially in elderly , which may pose more risks than benefits to patients and is a major factor contributing to the likelihood of serious adverse drug reactions and negative health outcomes among this population .

Methods

A Prospective study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Morocco where home medications of out patients were reviewed during follow-up consults and analyzed over three months, from October till December 2020.  Inclusion criteria were age of 65 years and above, history of cardiovascular disease.  The aim of our study was to determine the frequency and factors associated with PIMs, by applying the updated Beers 2015 criteria.

Results

A total of 214 patients were included in the study and were taking a total of 1498 medications at home, an average of  7 ± 3 medications per patient. The proportion of PIMS was 32 % of all medications reported, with an average of 2.2 PIM per patient, and 84% of patients were receiving at least one PIM.

 Significant association was found between use of PIMs and number of home medications, female gender, self medication , and number and types of comorbidities.

Comorbidities associated with more PIMs were heart failure, atrial fibrillation/flutter, rheumatological diseases, cerebrovascular accident, and insomnia/depression . The most commonly prescribed PIMs were: drugs that may exacerbate or cause syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion or hyponatremia (27.3%), NSAIDs use in patients under anticoagulants (21.2%) , use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) > 8 weeks in non-high-risk patients (10.5%), and benzodiazepines  (5.7%).

Conclusions

A high prevalence of PIMs in older patients with cardiovascular disease was observed. Health care giver’s education and detailed assessment of medication lists upon follow-up consults or hospital admission by multidisciplinary teams can help in preventing the use of PIMs.
Standardised quantification of coronary inflammation using cardiac computed tomography: The Fat Attenuation Index Score (FAI-Score)
Authors: Oikonomou EK , Schottlander D , Antonopoulos AS , Marwan M , Kotanidis CP , Kluner LV , Shirodaria C , Channon KM , Neubauer S , Desai MY , Deanfield J , Achenbach S , Antoniades C
Published: May 2021

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): British Heart Foundation

OnBehalf

the CRISP-CT study investigators

Introduction

Non-invasive detection of coronary inflammation has the potential to improve targeting of cardiovascular prevention strategies. Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA)-based fat attenuation indexing (FAI) is a novel, validated measure of coronary inflammation that captures spatial changes in perivascular fat composition induced by coronary inflammation. However, to ensure accuracy, FAI values must be carefully standardized for technical, anatomical and biological factors before they are introduced for risk stratification in clinical practice.

Purpose

To validate the prognostic value of FAI-Score, the output of a new, artificial intelligence (AI)-powered algorithm, that harmonizes the FAI values of each coronary artery to generate a standardized metric of coronary inflammation for clinical use.

Methods

The study included 3912 individuals from the CRISP-CT study (2040 from the United States and 1872 from Europe) with a mean age of 55.7 (± standard deviation 13.7 years), 1608 (41.1%) of whom were women; all underwent clinically indicated CCTA. FAI-Score was measured at baseline in the proximal right coronary (RCA), left anterior descending (LAD) and left circumflex arteries (LCX) using the CaRi-Heart V1.1 platform (panel A). Percentile curves were created for the FAI-score of the RCA, LAD and LCX across different age and sex strata. Their prognostic value was further assessed in Cox models adjusted for hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, smoking, high-risk plaque features and the modified Duke prognostic coronary artery disease index.

Results

Over a median follow-up period of 5.6 years there were a total of 74 cardiac deaths. FAI-Score percentile curves were created to provide a population reference map for FAI-Score phenotyping of the three main coronary territories; LAD (panels B, C), RCA and LCX.  There was a stepwise association between higher FAI-Score percentiles and the prospective risk of cardiac mortality across all three vessels analysed. When compared to individuals below the 50th percentile, those in the 90th percentile or higher had a 3.5-fold (LAD, panel D), 5.5-fold (RCA, panel E) and 2-fold (LCX, panel F) higher adjusted risk of cardiac mortality.

Conclusion

Coronary FAI-Score percentile curves provide a reference map for coronary inflammatory burden and enable standardized interpretation of perivascular FAI mapping on CCTA. Individuals in the top percentile curves have an increased cardiovascular risk independent of traditional risk factors and existing atherosclerotic changes.

Abstract Figure.
New endothelial markers: implications for coronary artery disease and chronic periodontitis
Authors: Lipatova TE , Eremin AV , Lepilin AV
Published: May 2021

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Introduction

There is an association between chronic periodontitis (CP) and coronary artery disease (CAD). Endothelial function is increasingly used as an important outcome measure in cardiovascular diseases. But the data on early markers endothelial dysfunction in patients with CP is limited.

Aim. To determine whether there are differences in parameters of tissue endothelial markers in gingiva between patients with CP, CAD or CAD and concomitant CP.

Methods

We examined 30 patients with CAD, 75 patients with CP and 35 patients with CAD and concomitant CP and 25 healthy control. There were no differences between the groups of patients with CP, CAD and co-morbidity in age, gender, smoking and obesity. In marginal gingiva NO-synthase-like cells (NOs-cells) and marker of endothelial progenitor cells (CD34+ cells) by immunohistochemical and morphometric analyses were assessed. Endothelium-dependent vasodilation (EDV) of the brachial artery was evaluated.

Results

Immunoreactivity to NOs and the CD34+ cells was found mainly in the vascular. In patients with average and severe CP significant decrease of expression of NOs–cells (6.2 ± 2.4% vs 7.9 ± 1.9%, p < 0.05) and of CD34+ -cells (6.3%±1.8 vs 8.9 ± 2.6%, p < 0.05) in gingiva was detected. There were no differences of endothelial immunohistochemical markers between the groups of patients with mild CP and healthy person. In patients with CAD also significant decrease of expression of NOs–cells (5.0 ± 2.1%) and of CD34+ -cells (4.9%±2.0%) in gingiva was found. The most significance changes of gingival expression of NOs–cells (4.3 ± 1.4%) and of CD34+ -cells (3.8%±1.7%) in patients with CAD and concomitant CP were observed.

In the control group EDV 15.4 ± 6.5%, in patients with mild CP 13.9 ± 6.5, in patients with average and severe CP 10,9 ± 5,1% (p = 0.02 between healthy person). There were associations between the decrease of EDV of the brachial artery with gingival expression of NOs–cells and of CD34+ -cells (Spearman"s R = 0.575 and R = 0.578).

Conclusion

Average and severe periodontitis is associated with vascular effects outside the oral cavity. Periodontitis also as CAD are associated with changes in the cell expression of NOs and endothelial progenitor cells in the periodontal tissue. Immunohistochemical assessment of endothelial markers in periodontium is a promising method of early assessment of endothelial dysfunction in cardiovascular disease.
Vascular retinopathy predictive role in long-term appearance of myocardial perfusion defects assessed by SPECT
Authors: Aguila Gordo D , Marina Breysse M , Piqueras Flores J , Salas Bravo D , Martinez Del Rio J , Mateo Gomez C , Negreira Caamano M , Frias Garcia R , Perez Diaz P , Moron Alguacil A , Munoz Garcia M
Published: May 2021

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Introduction

There is little evidence of the association between the different types and degrees of retinopathy and long-term appearance of myocardial perfusion defects assessed by SPECT in patients with suspected ischemic heart disease.

Methods

Prospective study of 107 patients (75.19 ± 11.53 years; 60.7% male) from a cohort (median follow-up 9.9 years) who underwent coronary angiography and a fundus photography. The myocardial perfusion defects were evaluated by SPECT.

Results

Baseline characteristics were 60.7% men, 78.5% hypertensive, 32.7% diabetic, and 57% dyslipidemic patients. Retinopathy types were: diabetic: 0.9%, hypertensive 3.7%, atherosclerotic 1.9%, hypertensive-atherosclerotic 70.1%, and all types 8.4% SYNTAX score in coronary angiography was 3.99 ± 7.5. During follow-up, male (p = 0.017) and higher SYNTAX score (p = 0.086) were more frequently associated with pathological myocardial SPECT. In the long term, patients with advanced hypertensive retinopathy (p = 0.012) and atherosclerotic retinopathy (p = 0.027) have perfusion defects more frequently. Male sex (OR 4.13; 95% CI: 0.85-20.14) and grade ≥2 atherosclerotic retinopathy (OR: 2.2. 95% CI: 0.7-7) showed in multivariate analysis a trend as high risk predictors of myocardial perfusion defects.

Conclusions

Hypertensive and atherosclerotic retinopathy were associated with long-term myocardial perfusion defects. The performance of the fundus as part of the cardiovascular risk study is an useful tool that allows identifying higher risk patients.
Multifaceted Demands of Work and Cognitive Functioning: Findings From the Health and Retirement Study
Authors: Lee Yeonjung Jane , Gonzales Ernest , Andel Ross
Published: May 2021

Objectives

The present study examines the associations between mental, social, and physical demands of work and cognitive functioning among older adults in the United States.

Method

Data from 3,176 respondents in the Health and Retirement Study were analyzed using growth curve modeling (2004–2014). The study investigated differences by gender, race, ethnicity, and education.

Results

Higher mental and social demands of work were associated with higher levels of initial cognitive functioning, but were not significantly associated with slower cognitive decline over time. Physical demands of work were negatively associated with initial cognitive functioning and were also marginally associated with a slower rate of decline in cognitive functioning going into older adulthood. In stratified analyses, results varied by sociodemographic characteristics.

Discussion

The results partially support the environmental complexity hypothesis and the productive aging framework in that higher mental and social demands and lower physical demands relate to better cognitive functioning at baseline, with the differences appearing stable throughout older adulthood. The stratified results shed light on addressing disparities in cognitive aging and work environments.
Local earthquake tomography of the source region of the 2018 Lombok earthquake sequence, Indonesia
Authors: Afif H , Nugraha A D , Muzli M , Widiyantoro S , Zulfakriza Z , Wei S , Sahara D P , Riyanto A , Greenfield T , Puspito N T , Priyono A , Sasmi A T , Supendi P , Ardianto A , Syahbana D K , Rosalia S , Cipta A , Husni Y M
Published: May 2021

We develop and present a 3-D seismic velocity model of the source region of the 2018 Lombok, Indonesia earthquakes by using local earthquake tomography. The data consist of 28 728 P- and 20 713 S-wave arrival times from 3259 events which were recorded by 20 local seismic stations. The results show that most of the significant earthquakes occur to the edge of high-velocity regions. We interpret these to represent coherent blocks of the Flores Oceanic Crust underthrusting Lombok. At depths shallower than the nucleation area of the largest earthquake, many triggered aftershocks are located within a low-velocity, high-Vp/Vs region which is probably a highly fractured fault zone with a large amount of fluid. This fault zone is parallel to the dip of the Flores Back Arc Thrust and probably ruptured during this earthquake sequence. A prominent low-velocity, high-Vp/Vs region is colocated with the northwest and southern flank of the Rinjani volcanic complex. This large aseismic region is probably related to a wide area of the crust containing fluids due to ongoing magma intrusion beneath the volcano. To the east of Rinjani Volcano a cooled intrusive complex was imaged. It is characterized by high-velocity and low-Vp/Vs, supported by the presence of a high Bouguer anomaly. We confirm the existence of the Sumbawa Strait Strike-Slip Fault and find it is characterized by an elongated low-velocity, high-Vp/Vs zone.
Endocrine Modulation of Sending and Receiving Signals in Context-Dependent Social Communication
Authors: Maruska Karen P , Butler Julie M
Published: May 2021

Animal communication requires senders to transmit signals through the environment to conspecific receivers, which then leads to context-dependent behavioral decisions. Sending and receiving sensory information in social contexts, however, can be dramatically influenced by an individual’s internal state, particularly in species that cycle in and out of breeding or other physiological condition like nutritional state or social status. Modulatory substances like steroids, peptides, and biogenic amines can influence both the substrates used for sending social signals (e.g., motivation centers, sensorimotor pathways, and muscles) as well as the peripheral sensory organs and central neural circuitry involved in the reception of this information and subsequent execution of behavioral responses. This issue highlights research from neuroethologists on the topic of modulation of sending and receiving social signals and demonstrates that it can occur in both males and females, in different senses at both peripheral sensory organs and the brain, at different levels of biological organization, on different temporal scales, in various social contexts, and across many diverse vertebrate taxa. Modifying a signal produced by a sender or how that signal is perceived in a receiver provides flexibility in communication and has broad implications for influencing social decisions like mate choice, which ultimately affects reproductive fitness and species persistence. This phenomenon of modulators and internal physiological state impacting communication abilities is likely more widespread than currently realized and we hope this issue inspires others working on diverse systems to examine this topic from different perspectives. An integrative and comparative approach will advance discovery in this field and is needed to better understand how endocrine modulation contributes to sexual selection and the evolution of animal communication in general.
Supporting innovative entrepreneurship: an evaluation of the Italian “Start-up Act”
Authors: Manaresi Francesco , Menon Carlo , Santoleri Pietro
Published: May 2021

The role of innovative start-ups in contributing to aggregate economic dynamism has attracted increased attention in recent years. While this has translated into several public policies explicitly targeting them, there is little evidence on their effectiveness. This article provides a comprehensive evaluation of the “Start-up Act,” a policy intervention aimed at supporting innovative start-ups in Italy. We construct a unique database encompassing detailed information on firm balance sheets, employment, firm demographics, patents and bank–firm relationships for all Italian start-ups. We use conditional difference-in-differences and instrumental variable strategies to evaluate the impact of the “Start-up Act” on firm performance. Results show that the policy induces a significant increase in several firm outcomes whereas no effect is detected in patenting propensity and survival chances. We also document that the policy alleviates financial frictions characterizing innovative start-ups through the provision of tax credits for equity and a public guarantee scheme which, respectively, trigger an increase in the probability of receiving VC and accessing bank credit.
Emergent valve replacement after circular mapping catheter entrapment in mitral valve apparatus
Authors: Karabulut M N , Akay M Hakan , Salas de Armas Ismael A , Gregoric Igor D
Published: May 2021

We present the case of a 47-year-old male patient with a history of symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation who failed guideline-directed medical treatment and cardioversion. Electrical mapping was attempted and complicated with catheter entrapping in the mitral valve (MV) apparatus, and multiple attempts for retrieval were unsuccessful and caused severe valvular dysfunction. Emergent valve replacement was required secondary to the extensive disruption of the valvular apparatus and posterior annulus. Mapping catheter entrapment in the valvular apparatus is an uncommon complication, but when it occurs, there is a high risk of injury to the MV apparatus during retrieval. To avoid extensive MV damage, operators should use minimal force during standard manoeuvres to extract the catheter. If gentle retrieval manoeuvres fail, surgical exploration and open retrieval may prevent MV damage. Early surgical consultation and exploration could result in open catheter retrieval or MV repair versus MV replacement.
Genetic and non-genetic factors associated with health and vitality traits in beef calves
Authors: Condon Tom , Murphy Craig , Sleator Roy D , Judge Michelle M , Ring Siobhan , Berry Donagh P
Published: May 2021

Awareness and interest in calf health and wellbeing is intensifying, prompting change in the management and breeding decisions of producers and associated policy-makers. The objectives of the present study were to 1) quantify the risk factors associated with subjectively measured scores of vigor and birth size as well as diagnoses of scour and pneumonia in a large national dataset of beef calves, and 2) to estimate the contribution of genetic variance to such phenotypic measures. After edits, the data consisted of health and birth size data subjectively scored by producers on 88,207 calves born in 6,126 Irish beef herds. Vigor was recorded on a scale of 1 (very poor) to 5 (very good). Birth size was also scored on a scale of 1 (very small) to 5 (very large). Scour and pneumonia were both scored independently based on the suspected number of occurrence of each (0 = no occurrence, 1 = one occurrence, or 2 = more than one occurrence). On average, 14.7% of calves were recorded as having had at least one occurrence of scour within the first 5 mo of life, whereas 6.4% of calves were recorded as having had at least one occurrence of pneumonia within the first 5 mo of life. Relative to female calves, male calves had a worse vigor score and a suspected greater incidence of both scour and pneumonia. Relative to singletons, twins were, on average, smaller at birth, they had a worse vigor score, and they were more prone to scour. Calves born in the later periods of the calving season (i.e., late and very late) had a greater incidence of scour relative to calves in the herd born earlier in the calving season. Heritability estimates for vigor, birth size, and pneumonia were 0.12 (0.02), 0.33 (0.03), and 0.08 (0.02), respectively; no genetic variance was detected for scour. Breeding for vigorous calves that are less susceptible to pneumonia could provide producers with an additional strategy to ensure consumer concerns regarding food quality, safety, and calf wellbeing are being met.
Advantages of negative pressure wound therapy with instillation of super oxidized solution and dwell time in diabetic foot syndrome: a rare case report
Authors: Enodien Bassey , Hendie Dana , Pozza Gioia , Lyzikov Alexei , Taha-Mehlitz Stephanie , Taha Anas
Published: May 2021

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) with instillation therapy (V.A.C. Vera-Flow™) and dwell time (NPWTi-d) is an innovative method for complex wound healing. NPWTi-d combines vacuum-aided drainage of wounds with the precise distribution of topical cleansing solution over the wounds. Furthermore, super oxidized solutions have illustrated their ability to potentiate wound healing and decrease bacterial contamination. Furthermore, aided with this method, infected wounds can be disinfected. If surgical debridement or removal of the infected site is not possible or desired. Therefore, in the case of a 66-year-old patient with diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) with severe infection, our approach was to couple NPWTi-d with instillation and dwelling of super oxidized solution to bolster benefits. This is the first case report using NPWTi-d with instillation of super oxidized solution in DFS in Switzerland. This case indicates that this approach is beneficial in the treatment of complex and critically infected wounds in DFS.
Place and Space in Nineteenth-Century Representations of Old London: The Thieves’ House on West Street
Authors: Smyth Patricia
Published: May 2021

The proposed demolition in 1844 of the infamous ‘Thieves' House’, a dilapidated structure situated on West Street in the notorious London slum of West Smithfield, was the focus of great public interest. Thousands of spectators reportedly came to see the house in the days leading up to its destruction, with some privileged individuals given lamp-lit tours of its interior. An unremarkable facade belied its strange internal construction, which incorporated trap doors, false walls and secret passages. These were described in detail in several journalistic accounts in which the house was imagined as a lair of thieves and murderers, fitted out for the commission and concealment of crime. The house seized the imagination of both authors and artists, becoming the inspiration for serialized fiction, three dramas, and a large body of drawings and prints. While the various representations of it foreground the familiar ‘slum’ narratives of dereliction, degeneration and criminality, this article uncovers a counter-narrative of nostalgia and regret for the old city as a space shaped by the needs of its inhabitants, in contrast to the emerging metropolis designed for the circulation of labour and capital.
Salt-induced inhibition of rice seminal root growth is mediated by ethylene-jasmonate interaction
Authors: Zou Xiao , Liu Li , Hu Zhubing , Wang Xuekui , Zhu Yanchun , Zhang Jialiang , Li Xuefei , Kang Ziyi , Lin Yongjun , Yin Changxi
Published: May 2021

The phytohormones ethylene and jasmonate play important roles in the adaptation of rice plants to salt stress. However, the molecular interactions between ethylene and jasmonate on rice seminal root growth under salt stress are unknown. In this study, the effects of NaCl on the homeostasis of ethylene and jasmonate, and on rice seminal root growth were investigated. Our results indicate that NaCl treatment promotes ethylene biosynthesis by up-regulating the expression of ethylene biosynthesis genes, whereas NaCl-induced ethylene does not inhibit rice seminal root growth directly, but rather indirectly, by promoting jasmonate biosynthesis. NaCl treatment also promotes jasmonate biosynthesis through an ethylene-independent pathway. Moreover, NaCl-induced jasmonate reduces meristem cell number and cell division activity via down-regulated expression of Oryza sativa PLETHORA (OsPLT) and cell division-related genes, respectively. Additionally, NaCl-induced jasmonate inhibits seminal root cell elongation by down-regulating the expression of cell elongation-related genes. Overall, salt stress promotes jasmonate biosynthesis through ethylene-dependent and -independent pathways in rice seminal roots, and jasmonate inhibits rice seminal root growth by inhibiting root meristem cell proliferation and root cell elongation.
The role of the elaphrocentre in void galaxy formation
Authors: Peper Marius , Roukema Boudewijn F
Published: May 2021

Voids may affect galaxy formation via weakening mass infall or increasing disk sizes, which could potentially play a role in the formation of giant low surface brightness galaxies (LSBGs). If a dark matter halo forms at the potential hill corresponding to a void of the cosmic web, which we denote the ‘elaphrocentre’ in contrast to a barycentre, then the elaphrocentre should weaken the infall rate to the halo when compared to infall rates towards barycentres. We investigate this hypothesis numerically. We present a complete software pipeline to simulate galaxy formation, starting from a power spectrum of initial perturbations and an N-body simulation through to merger-history-tree based mass infall histories. The pipeline is built from well-established, free-licensed cosmological software packages, and aims at highly portable long-term reproducibility. We find that the elaphrocentric accelerations tending to oppose mass infall are modest. We do not find evidence of location in a void or elaphrocentric position weakening mass infall towards a galaxy. However, we find indirect evidence of voids influencing galaxy formation: while void galaxies are of lower mass compared to galaxies in high-density environments, their spin parameters are typically higher. For a fixed mass, the implied disc scale length would be greater. Tangential accelerations in voids are found to be high and might significantly contribute to the higher spin parameters. We find significantly later formation epochs for void galaxies; this should give lower matter densities and may imply lower surface densities of disc galaxies. Thus, void galaxies have higher spin parameters and later formation epochs; both are factors that may increase the probability of forming LSBGs in voids.
Chemical abundance of the LINER galaxy UGC 4805 with SDSS-IV MaNGA
Authors: Krabbe A C , Oliveira C B , Zinchenko I A , Hernández-Jiménez J A , Dors O L , Hägele G F , Cardaci M V , Telles N R
Published: May 2021

Chemical abundance determinations in Low-Ionization Nuclear Emission-line Regions (LINERs) are especially complex and uncertain because the nature of the ionizing source of this kind of object is unknown. In this work, we study the oxygen abundance in relation to the hydrogen abundance (O/H) of the gas phase of the UGC 4805 LINER nucleus. Optical spectroscopic data from the Mapping Nearby Galaxies survey was employed to derive the O/H abundance of the UGC 4805 nucleus based on the extrapolation of the disc abundance gradient, on calibrations between O/H abundance and strong emission-lines for active galactic nuclei (AGNs) as well as on photoionization models built with the Cloudy code, assuming gas accretion into a black hole (AGN) and post-asymptotic giant branch (p-AGB) stars with different effective temperatures. We found that abundance gradient extrapolations, AGN calibrations, AGN, and p-AGB photoionization models produce similar O/H values for the UGC 4805 nucleus and similar ionization parameter values. The study demonstrated that the methods used to estimate the O/H abundance using nuclear emission-line ratios produce reliable results, which are in agreement with the O/H values obtained from the independent method of galactic metallicity gradient extrapolation. Finally, the results from the WHAN diagram combined with the fact that the high excitation level of the gas has to be maintained at kpc scales, we suggest that the main ionizing source of the UGC 4805 nucleus probably has a stellar origin rather than an AGN.
The observable supernova rate in galaxy–galaxy lensing systems with the TESS satellite
Authors: Holwerda B W , Knabel S , Steele R C , Strolger L , Kielkopf J , Jacques A , Roemer W
Published: May 2021

The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is the latest observational effort to find exoplanets and map bright transient optical phenomena. Supernovae (SNe) are particularly interesting as cosmological standard candles for cosmological distance measures. The limiting magnitude of TESS strongly constrains SN detection to the very nearby Universe (m ∼ 19, z < 0.05). We explore the possibility that more distant SNe that are gravitationally lensed and magnified by a foreground galaxy can be detected by TESS, an opportunity to measure the time delay between light paths and constrain the Hubble constant independently. We estimate the rate of occurrence of such systems, assuming reasonable distributions of magnification, host dust attenuation, and redshift. There are approximately 16 Type Ia SNe (SNIa) and 43 core-collapse SNe (SNcc) expected to be observable with TESS each year, which translates to 18 and 43 per cent chance of detection per year, respectively. Monitoring the largest collections of known strong galaxy–galaxy lenses from Petrillo et al., this translates into 0.6 and 1.3 per cent chances of an SNIa and an SNcc per year. The TESS all-sky detection rates are lower than those of the Zwicky Transient Facility and Vera Rubin Observatory. However, on the ecliptic poles, TESS performs almost as well as its all-sky search, thanks to its continuous coverage: 2 and 4 per cent chance of an observed SN (Ia or cc) each year. These rates argue for timely processing of full-frame TESS imaging to facilitate follow-up and should motivate further searches for low-redshift lensing system.