bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Functions of ADP-ribose transferases in the maintenance of telomere integrity
Authors: Muoio Daniela , Laspata Natalie , Fouquerel Elise
Published: March 2022

The ADP-ribose transferase (ART) family comprises 17 enzymes that catalyze mono- or poly-ADP-ribosylation, a post-translational modification of proteins. Present in all subcellular compartments, ARTs are implicated in a growing number of biological processes including DNA repair, replication, transcription regulation, intra- and extra-cellular signaling, viral infection and cell death. Five members of the family, PARP1, PARP2, PARP3, tankyrase 1 and tankyrase 2 are mainly described for their crucial functions in the maintenance of genome stability. It is well established that the most describedrole of PARP1, 2 and 3 is the repair of DNA lesions while tankyrases 1 and 2 are crucial for maintaining the integrity of telomeres. Telomeres, nucleoprotein complexes located at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes, utilize their unique structure and associated set of proteins to orchestrate the mechanisms necessary for their own protection and replication. While the functions of tankyrases 1 and 2 at telomeres are well known, several studies have also brought PARP1, 2 and 3 to the forefront of telomere protection. The singular quality of the telomeric environment has highlighted protein interactions and molecular pathways distinct from those described throughout the genome. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the current knowledge on the multiple roles of PARP1, PARP2, PARP3, tankyrase 1 and tankyrase 2 in the maintenance and preservation of telomere integrity.
Initiation and progression of α-synuclein pathology in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Tofaris George K.
Published: March 2022

α-Synuclein aggregation is a critical molecular process that underpins the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease. Aggregates may originate at synaptic terminals as a consequence of aberrant interactions between α-synuclein and lipids or evasion of proteostatic defences. The nature of these interactions is likely to influence the emergence of conformers or strains that in turn could explain the clinical heterogeneity of Parkinson’s disease and related α-synucleinopathies. For neurodegeneration to occur, α-synuclein assemblies need to exhibit seeding competency, i.e. ability to template further aggregation, and toxicity which is at least partly mediated by interference with synaptic vesicle or organelle homeostasis. Given the dynamic and reversible conformational plasticity of α-synuclein, it is possible that seeding competency and cellular toxicity are mediated by assemblies of different structure or size along this continuum. It is currently unknown which α-synuclein assemblies are the most relevant to the human condition but recent advances in the cryo-electron microscopic characterisation of brain-derived fibrils and their assessment in stem cell derived and animal models are likely to facilitate the development of precision therapies or biomarkers. This review summarises the main principles of α-synuclein aggregate initiation and propagation in model systems, and their relevance to clinical translation.
New Expression for CDF of $$\chi _\nu '^2(\lambda )$$ Distribution and Marcum $$Q_1$$ Function
Authors: Brychkov Yury A. , Maširević Dragana Jankov , Pogány Tibor K.
Published: March 2022

Closed form expression is established for the cumulative distribution function of the non-central $$\chi _\nu '^2(\lambda )$$

χ
ν

′
2

(
λ
)

probability distribution with integer degrees of freedom $$\nu $$
ν
. This expression includes the Humbert $$\Phi _1$$

Φ
1

(confluent Appell) hypergeometric function of two variables. A new representation of the Marcum $$Q_1$$

Q
1

function of the first order is obtained, interconnection formula accompanied with a reduction formula for specific, equal unit-parameter case of the Humbert function $$\Phi _1$$

Φ
1

and the function $$\Phi _3$$

Φ
3

are established.
COVID-19 lockdown impact on familial relationships and mental health in a large representative sample of Italian adults
Authors: Zeduri Margherita , Vigezzi Giacomo Pietro , Carioli Greta , Lugo Alessandra , Stival Chiara , Amerio Andrea , Gorini Giuseppe , Pacifici Roberta , Politi Pierluigi , Gallus Silvano , Odone Anna
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Benefits of national-level stay-at-home order imposed in Italy to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission need to be carefully weighed against its impact on citizens’ health. In a country with a strong familial culture and where welfare relies on households, confinement drastically decreased support provided by elder relatives, which may have resulted in mental health worsening.

Methods

A web-based cross-sectional study (LOST in Italy) was conducted on a representative sample of Italian adults during lockdown (27th of April–3rd of May 2020). We asked 3156 subjects to report on reduced help in housework and childcare from retired parents to assess the impact of confinement on mental health, through validated scales before and during lockdown.

Results

Overall, 1484 (47.0%) subjects reported reduced housework help from parents, and 769 (64.0%, of the 1202 subjects with children) diminished babysitting support. Subjects reporting reduced housework help had worsened sleep quality (multivariate odds ratio, OR = 1.74, 95% confidence interval, CI 1.49–2.03) and quantity (OR = 1.50, 95% CI 1.28–1.76), depressive (OR = 1.32, 95% CI 1.14–1.53) and anxiety symptoms (OR = 1.53, 95% CI 1.32–1.78), compared to those reporting unreduced help. Worsening in sleep quality (OR = 2.32, 95% CI 1.76–3.05), and quantity (OR = 1.80, 95% CI 1.36–2.37), depressive (OR = 1.79, 95% CI 1.39–2.31) and anxiety symptoms (OR = 1.90, 95% CI 1.48–2.46) was also associated with reduced babysitting help. Mental health outcomes were worse in subjects with poorer housing and teleworking during lockdown.

Conclusion

Confinement came along with reduced familial support from parents, negatively impacting household members’ mental health. Our findings might inform evidence-based family and welfare policies to promote population health within and beyond pandemic times.
Pharmacological modelling of dissociation and psychosis: an evaluation of the Clinician Administered Dissociative States Scale and Psychotomimetic States Inventory during nitrous oxide (‘laughing gas’)-induced anomalous states
Authors: Piazza Giulia G. , Iskandar Georges , Hennessy Vanessa , Zhao Hannah , Walsh Katie , McDonnell Jeffrey , Terhune Devin B. , Das Ravi K. , Kamboj Sunjeev K.
Published: March 2022

Rationale

A significant obstacle to an improved understanding of pathological dissociative and psychosis-like states is the lack of readily implemented pharmacological models of these experiences. Ketamine has dissociative and psychotomimetic effects but can be difficult to use outside of medical and clinical-research facilities. Alternatively, nitrous oxide (N2O) — like ketamine, a dissociative anaesthetic and NMDAR antagonist — has numerous properties that make it an attractive alternative for modelling dissociation and psychosis. However, development and testing of such pharmacological models relies on well-characterized measurement instruments.

Objectives

To examine the factor structures of the Clinician Administered Dissociative States Scale (CADSS) and Psychotomimetic States Inventory (PSI) administered during N2O inhalation in healthy volunteers.

Methods

Secondary analyses of data pooled from three previous N2O studies with healthy volunteers.

Results

Effect sizes for N2O-induced dissociation and psychotomimesis were comparable to effects reported in experimental studies with sub-anaesthetic ketamine in healthy volunteers. Although, like ketamine, a three-factor representation of N2O-induced dissociation was confirmed, and a more parsimonious two-factor model might be more appropriate. Bayesian exploratory factor analysis suggested that N2O-induced psychosis-like symptoms were adequately represented by two negative and two positive symptom factors. Hierarchical cluster analysis indicated minimal item overlap between the CADSS and PSI.

Conclusion

N2O and ketamine produce psychometrically similar dissociative states, although parallels in their psychosis-like effects remain to be determined. The CADSS and PSI tap largely non-overlapping experiences under N2O and we propose the use of both measures (or similar instruments) to comprehensively assess anomalous subjective states produced by dissociative NMDAR antagonists.
Lower Bounds on Anderson-Localised Eigenfunctions on a Strip
Authors: Goldsheid Ilya , Sodin Sasha
Published: March 2022

It is known that the eigenfunctions of a random Schrödinger operator on a strip decay exponentially, and that the rate of decay is not slower than prescribed by the slowest Lyapunov exponent. A variery of heuristic arguments suggest that no eigenfunction can decay faster than at this rate. We make a step towards this conjecture (in the case when the distribution of the potential is regular enough) by showing that, for each eigenfunction, the rate of exponential decay along any subsequence is strictly slower than the fastest Lyapunov exponent, and that there exists a subsequence along which it is equal to the slowest Lyapunov exponent.
Left Renal Vein Division for Juxtarenal Aortic Exposure: Influence on Renal Function and Role of the Communicating Lumbar Vein
Authors: Selberherr Andreas , Mari Marta , Klinger Markus , Burghuber Christopher , Eilenberg Wolf , Gollackner Bernd , Neumayer Christoph , Domenig Christoph
Published: March 2022

Background

In this study, we evaluate the outcome of renal function in patients undergoing juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair with or without division of the left renal vein with special focus on the role of the communicating lumbar vein.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of 110 patients undergoing elective juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair between 2000 and 2018 was performed.

The demographic characteristics and comorbidities were reviewed in detail and the renal function was analysed pre‐ and post‐operatively. The cohort of patients was split into group A (left renal vein divided) and B (left renal vein mobilised). Group A was further sub‐analysed regarding the presence of a communicating lumbar vein on preoperative imaging data (group A+ = vein present, group A− = no communicating lumbar vein present).

Results

The patients were matched well regarding their demographic characteristics and comorbidities. In the analysis of renal function, no statistically significant difference could be detected between group A and B. In the sub‐analysis of group A, the group with a communicating lumber vein (group A+) turned out to have a significantly better renal function in the long term (sCrea 0.87 vs. 1.51; p = 0.016).

Conclusion

Ligation of the left renal vein is a safe procedure in surgery of juxtarenal aortic aneurysms regarding the outcome of the renal function. A communicating lumbar vein between the left renal vein and the left ascending lumbar vein seems to play a key role to provide venous drainage after division of the left renal vein.
TAP Block Prior to Open Ventral Hernia Repair Improves Surgical Outcome
Authors: Licari Leo , Viola Simona , Salamone Giuseppe
Published: March 2022

Background

Ventral hernias commonly affect patients after major abdominal surgery. To reduce postoperative pain, the effects of the transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block, epidural analgesia and medication‐only protocol have been investigated. The primary outcome was the cumulative dosage of opioids (morphine milligram equivalents MME), of acetaminophen and diclofenac for postoperative pain control on postoperative day (POD) 0, 1, and 2. Secondary outcomes were length of stay (LOS) and the pain scale rating using the numeric rating scale (NRS) on POD 0, 1, and 2.

Methods

The data were retrospectively extracted from the charts of the patients admitted for a surgical operation for OVHR from January 2015 to December 2019.

Results

Patients receiving medication‐only analgesia had longer LOS (mean 6.1 days; p < 0.00001). Cumulative opioid consumption was significantly lower at 24 and 48 h after surgery in the TAP block group than in the other groups (mean MME 1.9 mg and 0.7 mg, respectively; p < 0.05). The cumulative consumption of diclofenac was significantly lower in the TAP block group than in the others (44.1 mg; p ≤ 0.00001 on POD 1; 4.4 mg; p = 0.03 on POD 2). TAP block is more effective in pain control in POD 0 (mean NRS 5.4; p < 0.00001), POD 1 (mean NRS 6.1; p = 0.006), and POD 2 (mean NRS 4.9; p = 0.001) if it is performed after adopting the retromuscular technique.

Conclusions

The comparison between the medication‐only technique, epidural, and TAP block demonstrated the superiority of the last one for the aims considered in this study.
Clinical impact of assessing thrombus age using magnetic resonance venography prior to catheter-directed thrombolysis
Authors: Arnoldussen Carsten W. K. P. , Notten Pascale , Brans Rutger , Vroegindeweij Dammis , Tick Lidwine W. , van de Poel Marlène H. W. , Wikkeling Otmar R. M. , Vleming Louis-Jean , Koster Ad , Jie Kon-Siong G. , Jacobs Esther M. G. , Planken Nils , Wittens Cees H. A. , ten Cate Hugo , Wildberger Joachim E. , ten Cate-Hoek Arina J.
Published: March 2022

Objectives

Magnetic resonance venography (MRV) is underutilized in the evaluation of thrombus properties prior to endovascular treatment but may improve procedural outcomes. We therefore investigated the clinical impact of using a dedicated MRV scoring system to assess thrombus characteristics prior to endovascular intervention for iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Methods

This is a post hoc analysis of data from the CAVA trial (Clinicaltrials.gov:NCT00970619). MRV studies of patients receiving ultrasound-accelerated catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) for iliofemoral DVT were reviewed. Thrombus age-related imaging characteristics were scored and translated into an overall score (acute, subacute, or old). MRV scores were compared to patient-reported complaints. MRV-scored groups were compared for CDT duration and success rate.

Results

Fifty-six patients (29 men; age 50.8 ± 16.4 years) were included. Using MRV, 27 thrombi were classified acute, 17 subacute, and 12 old. Based on patient-reported complaints, 11 (91.7%) of these old thrombi would have been categorized acute or subacute, and one (3.7%) of the acute thrombi as old. Average duration of CDT to > 90% restored patency differed significantly between groups (p < 0.0001): average duration was 23 h for acute thromboses (range: 19–25), 43 h for subacute (range: 41–62), and 85 h for old thromboses (range: 74–96). CDT was almost eleven times more successful in thromboses characterized as acute and subacute compared to old thromboses (OR: 10.7; 95% CI 2.1–55.5).

Conclusion

A dedicated MRV scoring system can safely discriminate between acute, subacute, and old thromboses. MRV-based selection is predictive of procedural duration and success rate and can help avoid unnecessary complications.

Key Points

• Thrombus age, characterized by MRV as acute, subacute, and old, can predict CDT duration and probability of success.

• Accurate pre-interventional MRV-based thrombus aging has the potential to facilitate identification of eligible patients and may thus prevent CDT-related complications.
Are preoperative CT variables associated with the success or failure of subsequent ventral hernia repair: nested case-control study
Authors: Kumar Shankar , Rao Nikhil , Parker Sam , Plumb Andrew , Windsor Alastair , Mallett Sue , Halligan Steve
Published: March 2022

Objectives

Systematic review of CT measurements to predict the success or failure of subsequent ventral hernia repair has found limited data available in the indexed literature. To rectify this, we investigated multiple preoperative CT metrics to identify if any were associated with postoperative reherniation.

Methods

Following ethical permission, we identified patients who had undergone ventral hernia repair and had preoperative CT scanning available. Two radiologists made multiple measurements of the hernia and abdominal musculature from these scans, including loss of domain. Patients were divided subsequently into two groups, defined by hernia recurrence at 1-year subsequent to surgery. Hypothesis testing investigated any differences between CT measurements from each group.

Results

One hundred eighty-eight patients (95 male) were identified, 34 (18%) whose hernia had recurred by 1-year. Only three of 34 CT measurements were significantly different when patients whose hernia had recurred were compared to those who had not; these significant findings were assumed contingent on multiple testing. In particular, preoperative hernia volume (recurrence 155.3 cc [IQR 355.65] vs. no recurrence 78.2 [IQR 303.52], p = 0.26) nor loss of domain, whether calculated using the Tanaka (recurrence 0.02 [0.04] vs. no recurrence 0.009 [0.04], p = 0.33) or Sabbagh (recurrence 0.019 [0.05] vs. no recurrence 0.009 [0.04], p = 0.25) methods, differed between significantly between groups.

Conclusions

Preoperative CT measurements of ventral hernia morphology, including loss of domain, appear unrelated to postoperative recurrence. It is likely that the importance of such measurements to predict recurrence is outweighed by other patient factors and surgical reconstruction technique.

Key Points

• Preoperative CT scanning is often performed for ventral hernia but systematic review revealed little data regarding whether CT variables predict postoperative reherniation.

• We found that the large majority of CT measurements, including loss of domain, did not differ significantly between patients whose hernia did and did not recur.

• It is likely that the importance of CT measurements to predict recurrence is outweighed by other patient factors and surgical reconstruction technique.
Combined quantitative T2 mapping and [18F]FDG PET could improve lateralization of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Zhang Miao , Huang Hui , Liu Wei , Tang Lihong , Li Qikang , Wang Jia , Huang Xinyun , Lin Xiaozhu , Meng Hongping , Wang Jin , Zhan Shikun , Li Biao , Luo Jie
Published: March 2022

Objectives

To investigate whether quantitative T2 mapping is complementary to [18F]FDG PET in epileptogenic zone detection, thus improving the lateralization accuracy for drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) using hybrid PET/MR.

Methods

We acquired routine structural MRI, T2-weighted FLAIR, whole brain T2 mapping, and [18F]FDG PET in 46 MTLE patients and healthy controls on a hybrid PET/MR scanner, followed with computing voxel-based z-score maps of patients in reference to healthy controls. Asymmetry indexes of the hippocampus were calculated for each imaging modality, which then enter logistic regression models as univariate or multivariate for lateralization. Stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) recordings and clinical decisions were collected as gold standard.

Results

Routine structural MRI and T2w-FLAIR lateralized 47.8% (22/46) of MTLE patients, and FDG PET lateralized 84.8% (39/46). T2 mapping combined with [18F]FDG PET improved the lateralization accuracy by correctly lateralizing 95.6% (44/46) of MTLE patients. The asymmetry indexes of hippocampal T2 relaxometry and PET exhibit complementary tendency in detecting individual laterality, especially for MR-negative patients. In the quantitative analysis of z-score maps, the ipsilateral hippocampus had significantly lower SUVR (LTLE, p < 0.001; RTLE, p < 0.001) and higher T2 value (LTLE, p < 0.001; RTLE, p = 0.001) compared to the contralateral hippocampus. In logistic regression models, PET/T2 combination resulted in the highest AUC of 0.943 in predicting lateralization for MR-negative patients, followed by PET (AUC = 0.857) and T2 (AUC = 0.843).

Conclusions

The combination of quantitative T2 mapping and [18F]FDG PET could improve lateralization for temporal lobe epilepsy.

Key Points

• Quantitative T2 mapping and18F-FDG PET are complementary in the characterization of hippocampal alterations of MR-negative temporal lobe epilepsy patients.

• The combination of quantitative T2 and18F-FDG PET obtained from hybrid PET/MR could improve lateralization for temporal lobe epilepsy.
Biochar and Selenium Nanoparticles Induce Water Transporter Genes for Sustaining Carbon Assimilation and Grain Production in Salt-Stressed Wheat
Authors: Soliman Mona H. , Alnusairi Ghalia S. H. , Khan Amir Abdullah , Alnusaire Taghreed S. , Fakhr Marwa A. , Abdulmajeed Awatif M. , Aldesuquy Heshmat S. , Yahya Muhammad , Najeeb Ullah
Published: March 2022

In a controlled environment experiment, we studied how physiological changes in leaves during the vegetative phase regulate final grain yield of wheat crops in salt-affected soils. We also hypothesized that amendments such as biochar (SB) and selenium-chitosan nanoparticles (Se-NPs) can protect wheat plants from salt injury. 20-day-old wheat plants were submitted to 4-week salt stress (3000 ppm NaCl). Soybean straw biochar was mixed with soil media at planting and Se-NPs (30 ppm) was sprayed 5 days after the first salt stress treatment. At the end of 4-week Se-NPs treatment, one set of plants was harvested for studying leaf level physiological changes. The salt-stressed plants accumulated significantly high leaf Na+(~ 13-fold increase), which trigged oxidative and osmotic damage. This salt-induced cellular injury was evident from significantly high levels of lipid membrane peroxidation and inhibited photosynthesis. Our study suggested that leaf physiological impairment in wheat plants was translated into poor biomass production and grain yield loss at crop maturity. Compared with control, salt-stressed plants produced 43% lesser biomass during vegetative phase, and 62% lesser grain yield at maturity. Amendments such as SB and Se-NPs protected the plants from salt-induced cellular injury by restricting Na+transport toward leaf tissues. Plants treated with NaCl + SB + Se-NPs accumulated 50% less Na+concentrations in leaves compared with NaCl-treated plants. Our study also suggested that SB and Se-NPs can restore ionic homeostasis and carbon assimilation in salt-stressed wheat by upregulating key transporter genes in leaves.
Improvement of bladder function after bladder augmentation surgery: a report of 26 years of clinical experience
Authors: Trojan Katharina C. , Schneider Joanna , Marco Beatriz Bañuelos , Ciesla Luise , Geppert Tamara , Kaindl Angela M. , Lingnau Anja
Published: March 2022

Introduction

To assess the long-term effect of bladder augmentation surgery in patients with spina bifida and to identify risk factors for severe bladder dysfunction requiring bladder augmentation.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was performed on 178 patients with spina bifida, 23 of them underwent bladder augmentation. Surgery outcome was evaluated according to urodynamic assessments at three follow-up time points per patient up to 120 months postoperatively. The results were compared to the preoperative situation and to the non-operated control group. Bladder function was evaluated using the modified Hostility score. To identify risk factors for bladder dysfunction requiring bladder augmentation, characteristics such as type of spina bifida, lesion level and therapy of bladder dysfunction were analyzed.

Results

A high spinal lesion level is a risk factor for requiring bladder augmentation. In the BA group, significantly more thoracic lesions were found than NBA group, BA: 26.1%, NBA: 8.4% (p = 0.021). With bladder augmentation surgery, the modified Hostility score decreased from a preoperative median value of 4.3 ± 1.4 to 1.6 ± 1.0 at the third postoperative follow-up (FU3 = 61–120 months after surgery). In the reference group, the score of the last urological assessment was 2.0 ± 1.5. The age at which clean intermittent catheterization or anticholinergic medication started had no significant influence on the decision to perform bladder augmentation.

Discussion/conclusion

Spina bifida patients with bladder augmentation had a significant improvement of the bladder function even at long-term follow-up. A high level of spinal lesion was a predisposing factor for requiring a bladder augmentation.
Der außergewöhnliche Nachahmer einer Polymyositis
Authors: Jendrek S. T. , Glatzel M. , Pauli D. , Schinke S. , Humrich J. Y. , Lamprecht P. , Riemekasten G.
Published: March 2022

Beschrieben wird eine Hantavirus-assoziierte, ausgeprägte Myositis als seltene Differenzialdiagnose zu einer Polymyositis. In der Literatur wird für die Pathogenese der Hantaviruserkrankung weniger eine direkte virale Zytopathologie als eine sekundäre Immundysregulation mit Induktion eines Kapillarlecks diskutiert. Wir beschreiben mit diesem Fall erstmalig die erfolgreiche Behandlung einer protrahiert verlaufenen Hantavirus-Myositis mittels Einsatzes von hoch dosierten Glukokortikoiden und Cyclophosphamid, gefolgt von Ciclosporin und Methotrexat (MTX).
Validation of the TLICS and AOSpine injury score for surgical management of paediatric traumatic spinal injuries
Authors: Schömig Friederike , Taheri Nima , Kalaf Hussein , Muellner Maximilian , Becker Luis , Pumberger Matthias
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Fractures of the thoracolumbar spine in children are rare. Consequently, classification systems providing detailed treatment recommendations as already established in adults are still lacking in the paediatric population. We aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the thoracolumbar injury classification and severity score system (TLICS) and the AOSpine injury score in paediatric patients presenting with a traumatic fracture of the thoracolumbar spine.

Materials and methods

Patients younger than 18 years presenting with a traumatic thoracolumbar fracture at a large academic trauma centre between 2010 and 2020 were included retrospectively. Demographic and clinical data were retrieved from electronic medical reports. The AOSpine injury score and TLICS were calculated using plain radiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and/or computed tomography.

Results

Sixty patients with 167 fractures were included. Surgical treatment was performed in 14 patients. The mean AOSpine injury score was 1.49 ± 2.0, the mean TLICS was 1.32 ± 1.65. A significant correlation between the classification systems was found (Spearman r = 0.975, p < 0.001). Interrater reliability analysis revealed Kappa values of 0.868 for the TLICS and 0.860 for the AOSpine injury score (p < 0.001). Contingency table analysis showed a sensitivity of 1.00 and specificity of 0.94 for the AOSpine injury score and a sensitivity of 0.90 and specificity of 0.90 for the TLICS in predicting the performed treatment.

Conclusions

Our results confirm that the TLICS is a valid classification system for determining treatment decisions in paediatric patients and show slightly higher accuracy of the AOSpine injury score as well as high interrater reliabilities for both classification systems.
One year after the COVID-19 outbreak in Germany: long-term changes in depression, anxiety, loneliness, distress and life satisfaction
Authors: Benke Christoph , Autenrieth Lara K. , Asselmann Eva , Pané-Farré Christiane A.
Published: March 2022

Several studies have linked the COVID-19 pandemic to unfavorable mental health outcomes. However, we know little about long-term changes in mental health due to the pandemic so far. Here, we used longitudinal data from a general population sample of 1388 adults from Germany, who were initially assessed between April and May 2020 (i.e., at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany) and prospectively followed up after 6 (n = 1082) and 12 months (n = 945). Depressive and anxiety symptoms as well as loneliness did not change from baseline to 6-month follow-up. While anxiety symptoms did not change in the long run, depressive symptoms and loneliness increased and life satisfaction decreased from baseline to 12-month follow-up. Moreover, vulnerable groups such as younger individuals or those with a history of mental disorders exhibited an overall higher level of psychopathological symptoms across all assessment waves. Our findings suggest a deterioration in mental health during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, which emphasizes the importance to implement targeted health promotions to prevent a further symptom escalation especially in vulnerable groups.
Validity of cingulate–precuneus–temporo-parietal hypometabolism for single-subject diagnosis of biomarker-proven atypical variants of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Isella Valeria , Crivellaro Cinzia , Formenti Anna , Musarra Monica , Pacella Sara , Morzenti Sabrina , Ferri Francesca , Mapelli Cristina , Gallivanone Francesca , Guerra Luca , Appollonio Ildebrando , Ferrarese Carlo
Published: March 2022

The aim of our study was to establish empirically to what extent reduced glucose uptake in the precuneus, posterior cingulate and/or temporo-parietal cortex (PCTP), which is thought to indicate brain amyloidosis in patients with dementia or MCI due to Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), permits to distinguish amyloid-positive from amyloid-negative patients with non-classical AD phenotypes at the single-case level. We enrolled 127 neurodegenerative patients with cognitive impairment and a positive (n. 63) or negative (n. 64) amyloid marker (cerebrospinal fluid or amy-PET). Three rating methods of FDG-PET scan were applied: purely qualitative visual interpretation of uptake images (VIUI), and visual reading assisted by a semi-automated and semi-quantitative tool: INLAB, provided by the Italian National Research Council, or Cortex ID Suite, marketed by GE Healthcare. Fourteen scans (11.0%) patients remained unclassified by VIUI or INLAB procedures, therefore, validity values were computed on the remaining 113 cases. The three rating approaches showed good total accuracy (77–78%), good to optimal sensitivity (81–93%), but poorer specificity (62–75%). VIUI showed the highest sensitivity and the lowest specificity, and also the highest proportion of unclassified cases. Cases with asymmetric temporo-parietal hypometabolism and a progressive aphasia or corticobasal clinical profile, in particular, tended to be rated as AD-like, even if biomarkers indicated non-amyloid pathology. Our findings provide formal support to the value of PCTP hypometabolism for single-level diagnosis of amyloid pathophysiology in atypical AD, but also highlight the risk of qualitative assessment to misclassify patients with non-AD PPA or CBS underpinned by asymmetric temporo-parietal hypometabolism.
Single anastomosis duodenal-ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy (SADI-S): experience from a high-bariatric volume center
Authors: Pennestrì Francesco , Sessa Luca , Prioli Francesca , Salvi Giulia , Gallucci Pierpaolo , Ciccoritti Luigi , Greco Francesco , De Crea Carmela , Raffaelli Marco
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch and single anastomosis duodenal-ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy (SADI-S) are technically demanding hypo-absorptive bariatric procedures generally indicated in super-obese patients (BMI ≥ 50 kg/m2). Data from the literature prove the procedure to be safe and effective, with promising bariatric and metabolic effects. Anyway, international societies support the creation of multicentric national and international registries to obtain more homogeneous data over the long period. We aimed to report our experience with this procedure.

Methods

Among 2313 patients who underwent bariatric procedures at our institution, between July 2016 and August 2021, 121 (5.2%) consenting patients were scheduled for SADI-S as primary (SADIS) or revisional procedure after sleeve gastrectomy (SADI) (respectively 87 and 34 patients). Early and late post-operative complications, operative time, post-operative stay, and follow-up data were analyzed.

Results

Overall, the median preoperative BMI was 52.3 (48.75–57.05) kg/m2 with a median age of 44 (39–51) years, the median operative time was 120 (100–155) min. Complications at 30th-day post-op were registered in 4 (3.3%) patients and late complications in 4 (3.3%) patients. At a median follow-up of 31 (14–39) months, the median percentage excess weight loss was 79.8 (55.15–91.45)%, and the median total weight loss was 57.0650 (43.3925–71.3475)%.

Conclusion

Our data, coherently with the literature, confirm that SADI-S is a safe, effective procedure with acceptable complications rate. Larger studies with longer follow-ups are necessary to draw definitive conclusions.
Parental insulin resistance is associated with unhealthy lifestyle behaviours independently of body mass index in children: The Feel4Diabetes study
Authors: González-Gil Esther M. , Giménez-Legarre Natalia , Cardon Greet , Mavrogianni Christina , Kivelä Jemina , Iotova Violeta , Tankova Tsvetalina , Imre Rurik , Liatis Stavros , Makrilakis Konstantinos , Schwarz Peter , Timpel Patrick , Dupont Elisabeth , Couck Pedro , Manios Yannis , Moreno Luis A.
Published: March 2022

Parental health is associated with children’s health and lifestyles. Thus, the aim of the present study was to assess lifestyle behaviours of children of parents with insulin resistance (IR) and at risk of type 2 diabetes. 2117 European families from the Feel4Diabetes-study were identified as being at risk for diabetes with the FINDRISC questionnaire and included in the present study. One parent and one child per family were included. Parental IR was considered when homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) was equal or higher than 2.5. Children’s screen-time, physical activity and diet were assessed and clustered by K-means. Weight and height were measured and children’s body mass index (BMI) was calculated. For children, a Healthy Diet Score (HDS) was calculated. Linear regression and multilevel logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the associations between parental IR and children’s lifestyle behaviours in 2021. Children of parents with IR had higher BMI (p < 0.001) and spent more screen time (p = 0.014) than those of non-IR parents. Children of parents with IR had a lower value in the breakfast and vegetable components of the HDS (p = 0.008 and p = 0.05). Four lifestyle clusters were found. Children of IR parents had higher odds of being in a non-healthy cluster (OR: 1.19; 95%CI: 1.001–1.437).

Conclusion: Having an IR parent was associated with a high screen time and an increased probability of having an unhealthy lifestyle pattern in children. These data point out that children’s lifestyles should be assessed in families with IR parents to provide tailored interventions.

What is Known:• Children with diabetic or insulin-resistant parents could also develop this condition.• Unhealthy lifestyles are directly related with insulin resistance even in children.

What is New:• Children from parents with insulin resistance have higher chances of unhealthy lifestyles.• A higher BMI was found for those children with an insulin-resistant parent.
Nephrocalcinosis in very low birth weight infants: incidence, associated factors, and natural course
Authors: Fayard Jeanne , Pradat Pierre , Lorthois Sylvie , Bacchetta Justine , Picaud Jean-Charles
Published: March 2022

Background

Preterm kidney is exposed to various exogenous factors that may impact its function such as nephrotoxic drugs or nephrocalcinosis. We investigated prevalence and risk factors of nephrocalcinosis (NC) in recently born very low birth weight (VLBW) infants submitted to improved biological monitoring.

Methods

Retrospective, case–control study in very preterm infants (< 32 + 6 weeks, ≤ 1500 g) admitted to a tertiary care unit during a 6-year period. Each case (ultrasound-diagnosed NC) was matched with two controls (no NC). Data were collected at days 15 and 30 of life and 35 weeks corrected age, with follow-up at 18 months and 3 years.

Results

Of 525 eligible infants, overall prevalence of NC was 17.1% at 35 weeks corrected age. Prevalence was halved between 2012 (26.1%) and 2017 (11.8%). We included 265 infants, more than half being born before 28 weeks. Cases presented with more severe morbidity than controls, but reached statistical significance only in infants born < 28 weeks (88.2% vs. 68.3%, P = 0.01). Protein, energy, calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D intakes were similar in the two groups and did not change significantly over the study period. Weight gain was similar in the two groups. Exposure to furosemide (OR [IC95%]: 1.26 [1.02; 1.57]) and postnatal growth (1.65 [1.04; 2.67]) were independent risk factors of NC. NC resolved 12–18 months after diagnosis in 61% of infants.

Conclusion

Prevalence of NC is significant but can be reduced. Furosemide should be cautiously prescribed in VLBW infants, and nutritional support must be well monitored to support postnatal growth and limit risk of nephrocalcinosis.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT 04,860,583.

Graphical abstract

A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information
A rare failure detection model for aircraft predictive maintenance using a deep hybrid learning approach
Authors: Dangut Maren David , Jennions Ian K. , King Steve , Skaf Zakwan
Published: March 2022

The use of aircraft operation logs to develop a data-driven model to predict probable failures that could cause interruption poses many challenges and has yet to be fully explored. Given that aircraft is high-integrity assets, failures are exceedingly rare. Hence, the distribution of relevant log data containing prior signs will be heavily skewed towards the typical (healthy) scenario. Thus, this study presents a novel deep learning technique based on the auto-encoder and bidirectional gated recurrent unit networks to handle extremely rare failure predictions in aircraft predictive maintenance modelling. The auto-encoder is modified and trained to detect rare failures, and the result from the auto-encoder is fed into the convolutional bidirectional gated recurrent unit network to predict the next occurrence of failure. The proposed network architecture with the rescaled focal loss addresses the imbalance problem during model training. The effectiveness of the proposed method is evaluated using real-world test cases of log-based warning and failure messages obtained from the fleet database of aircraft central maintenance system records. The proposed model is compared to other similar deep learning approaches. The results indicated an 18% increase in precision, a 5% increase in recall, and a 10% increase in G-mean values. It also demonstrates reliability in anticipating rare failures within a predetermined, meaningful time frame.
Shared exposure liability of type 2 diabetes and other chronic conditions in the UK Biobank
Authors: He Yixuan , Patel Chirag J.
Published: March 2022

Aims

To investigate whether the cumulative exposure risks of incident T2D are shared with other common chronic diseases.

Research design and methods

We first establish and report the cross-sectional prevalence, cross-sectional co-prevalence, and incidence of seven T2D-associated chronic diseases [hypertension, atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, obesity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and chronic kidney and liver diseases] in the UK Biobank. We use published weights of genetic variants and exposure variables to derive the T2D polygenic (PGS) and polyexposure (PXS) risk scores and test their associations to incident diseases.

Results

PXS was associated with higher levels of clinical risk factors including BMI, systolic blood pressure, blood glucose, triglycerides, and HbA1c in individuals without overt or diagnosed T2D. In addition to predicting incident T2D, PXS and PGS were significantly and positively associated with the incidence of all 7 other chronic diseases. There were 4% and 8% of individuals in the bottom deciles of PXS and PGS, respectively, who were prediabetic at baseline but had low risks of T2D and other chronic diseases. Compared to the remaining population, individuals in the top deciles of PGS and PXS had particularly high risks of developing chronic diseases. For instance, the hazard ratio of COPD and obesity for individuals in the top T2D PXS deciles was 2.82 (95% CI 2.39–3.35, P = 4.00 × 10−33) and 2.54 (95% CI 2.24–2.87, P = 9.86 × 10−50), respectively, compared to the remaining population. We also found that PXS and PGS were both significantly (P < 0.0001) and positively associated with the total number of incident diseases.

Conclusions

T2D shares polyexposure risks with other common chronic diseases. Individuals with an elevated genetic and non-genetic risk of T2D also have high risks of cardiovascular, liver, lung, and kidney diseases.
Hypocomplementemia in primary Sjogren’s syndrome: association with serological, clinical features, and outcome
Authors: Lin Wei , Xin Zhifei , Wang Jialan , Ren Xiuying , Liu Yixuan , Yang Liu , Guo Shaoying , Yang Yupeng , Li Yang , Cao Jingjing , Ning Xiaoran , Liu Meilu , Su Yashuang , Sun Lijun , Zhang Fengxiao , Zhang Wen
Published: March 2022

Objective

The aim of the present study was to assess the clinical characteristic of hypocomplementemia (HC) in primary Sjogren’s syndrome (pSS), and to address possible risk factors and the prognosis associated with HC in pSS patients.

Methods

pSS patients with HC in Hebei General Hospital from September 2016 to March 2019 were retrospectively analyzed and compared to those with normocomplementemia (NC). Logistic regression analysis was used to detect risk factors.

Results

Of the 333 patients with pSS, 84 patients (25.23%) were presented with HC at diagnosis. The presence of hyper-IgG and anti-Ro52 antibodies was significantly more common in patients with HC. In addition to systemic involvement, pSS patients with HC had more hematological, renal, and nervous system involvement, and received more immunosuppressant treatments than NC group (p < 0.05). ESSDAI score was significantly higher in patients with HC (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic analysis indicated that leukopenia (OR = 2.23) and hyper-IgG (OR = 2.13) were independent risk factors for pSS with HC. In addition, profound CD16/CD56+ NK-cell lymphopenia was found in pSS-HC patients. More pSS patients developed SLE in the HC group than NC group (4.76% vs. 0.80%, p = 0.04) during the follow-up.

Conclusion

HC was not an uncommon manifestation of pSS and had an independent association with the main clinical and immunological features. Patients with pSS-HC had an increased possibility to develop SLE that required more positive treatment with glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants.

Key Points:

• Hypocomplementemia had an independent association with the main clinical and immunological features in primary Sjogren’s syndrome patients.

• ESSDAI score was significantly higher in patients with hypocomplementemia.

• The pSS patients with hypocomplementemia had an increased possibility to develop SLE.
Application of chitosan-ZnO nanoparticle edible coating to wild-simulated Korean ginseng root
Authors: Kang Soo Hyun , Cha Hee Jin , Jung Seung Won , Lee Seung Ju
Published: March 2022

Chitosan-ZnO nanoparticle (ZnONP) edible coating was applied to extend shelf life of wild-simulated Korean ginseng root (WsKG). In antimicrobial testing of various coating solutions (0.01, 0.02, 0.03% ZnONP),Bacillus cereus(Gram-positive) andEscherichia coli(Gram-negative) were most inhibited by the 0.03% chitosan-ZnONP solution. The 0.03% chitosan-ZnONP solution was finally used for edible coating of WsKG. In SEM analysis, the coat of chitosan and ZnONP was well-formed on the surface of WsKG. In isothermal storage tests (temperature: 5–20 °C, RH: 95%), microbial limit (4.70 log CFU/g) of total aerobic bacteria for non-coated and coated WsKG were reached at 3.9 and 6.3 weeks at 5 °C, 1.9 and 4.3 weeks at 10 °C, and 1.3 and 2.0 weeks at 20 °C, respectively. Mold occurred in the non-coated sample at 4 weeks at 5 °C, but not in the coated sample during 6 weeks. Chitosan-ZnONP edible coating was very effective in preserving WsKG.
Noisy tensor completion via the sum-of-squares hierarchy
Authors: Barak Boaz , Moitra Ankur
Published: March 2022

In the noisy tensor completion problem we observementries (whose location is chosen uniformly at random) from an unknown$$n_1 \times n_2 \times n_3$$n1×n2×n3tensorT. We assume thatTis entry-wise close to being rankr. Our goal is to fill in its missing entries using as few observations as possible. Let$$n = \max (n_1, n_2, n_3)$$n=max(n1,n2,n3). We show that if$$m > rsim n^{3/2} r$$m≳n3/2rthen there is a polynomial time algorithm based on the sixth level of the sum-of-squares hierarchy for completing it. Our estimate agrees with almost all ofT’s entries almost exactly and works even when our observations are corrupted by noise. This is also the first algorithm for tensor completion that works in the overcomplete case when$$r > n$$r>n, and in fact it works all the way up to$$r = n^{3/2-\epsilon }$$r=n3/2-ϵ. Our proofs are short and simple and are based on establishing a new connection between noisy tensor completion (through the language of Rademacher complexity) and the task of refuting random constraint satisfaction problems. This connection seems to have gone unnoticed even in the context of matrix completion. Furthermore, we use this connection to show matching lower bounds. Our main technical result is in characterizing the Rademacher complexity of the sequence of norms that arise in the sum-of-squares relaxations to the tensor nuclear norm. These results point to an interesting new direction: Can we explore computational vs. sample complexity tradeoffs through the sum-of-squares hierarchy?
MemoRec: a recommender system for assisting modelers in specifying metamodels
Authors: Di Rocco Juri , Di Ruscio Davide , Di Sipio Claudio , Nguyen Phuong T. , Pierantonio Alfonso
Published: March 2022

Model-driven engineering has been widely applied in software development, aiming to facilitate the coordination among various stakeholders. Such a methodology allows for a more efficient and effective development process. Nevertheless, modeling is a strenuous activity that requires proper knowledge of components, attributes, and logic to reach the level of abstraction required by the application domain. In particular, metamodels play an important role in several paradigms, and specifying wrong entities or attributes in metamodels can negatively impact on the quality of the produced artifacts as well as other elements of the whole process. During the metamodeling phase, modelers can benefit from assistance to avoid mistakes, e.g., getting recommendations like metaclasses and structural features relevant to the metamodel being defined. However, suitable machinery is needed to mine data from repositories of existing modeling artifacts and compute recommendations. In this work, we propose MemoRec, a novel approach that makes use of a collaborative filtering strategy to recommend valuable entities related to the metamodel under construction. Our approach can provide suggestions related to both metaclasses and structured features that should be added in the metamodel under definition. We assess the quality of the work with respect to different metrics, i.e., success rate, precision, and recall. The results demonstrate that MemoRec is capable of suggesting relevant items given a partial metamodel and supporting modelers in their task.