bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cardiovascular disease risk factors among physicians, nurses, and administrative staff: data analysis from a tertiary trauma center hospital
Authors: Kachrimanidis I , Apostolos A , Vlachakis P K , Mantzouranis E , Iliakis P , Drogkaris S , Katsaros O , Ktenopoulos N , Oikonomou G , Kalafatis E , Drakopoulou M , Toutouzas K , Kyriazis I , Tsioufis C
Published: June 2024

Background

Several studies have shown that hospital workers are at a higher risk for burnout and mental health issues. However, scant data exist about cardiovascular disease risk factors among them. Moreover, it remains unknown whether there are differences among physicians, nurses, and administrative staff working in a hospital. The purpose of our study is to explore the risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease among physicians, nurses, and administrative staff working in a tertiary trauma center hospital and to identify the group of workers under higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease.

Methods

Physicians, nurses, and administrative staff of a tertiary hospital trauma center located in an urban location participated in our study. Baseline demographical, somatometric, and pharmaceutical characteristics were collected prospectively through a questionnaire after a personal interview with a physician–investigator of our study. Cardiovascular risk was estimated according to Heart Score and the most recent European Guidelines.

Results

Between May 2023 and December 2023, a total of 354 hospital workers completed our questionnaire, participated in our study, and were analyzed. One hundred and eight were physicians (30.5%), 128 were nurses (36.2%), and the remaining 118 (33.3%) were administrative staff. Their mean age was 45.8±10.6, 48.4±8.4, and 51.9±8.5 years old, respectively (p-values < 0.001). The majority of the physicians were male (N=58, 53.7%), in contrast with nurses (N=32, 25%) and administrative staff (N=22, 18.6%). No significant differences were observed regarding body mass index (BMI) among physicians, nurses, and the remaining hospital workers (25.8±4.5, 27.0±6.1, and 28.1±14.9, respectively). The incidence of coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension was significantly higher in nurses (4.7%, 26.6%, and 10.9%) compared to physicians (1.9%, 13.0%, and 3.7%) and administrative staff (0%, 11.9%, and 3.4%); paradoxically, no significant difference was observed in dyslipidemia incidence (p=0.33). Estimating cardiovascular risk using Heart Score, we identified that administrative staff were at a higher risk compared with physicians and nurses (p<0.005). (See Figure) This could be attributed to the higher age of this group and the significantly higher levels of total and LDL-cholesterol (See Figure 2).

Conclusion

Our analysis showed that administrative staff is at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease compared to physicians and nurses. This could be attributed to the older age of administrative staff, as well as the higher levels of total and LDL-cholesterol. Further studies are required for the better risk stratification of hospital workers. Risk for CVD.  Risk Factors.
Potentially avoidable hospitalizations for heart failure in Switzerland
Authors: Maung K , Mauron C H A R L È , Gouveia A L E X , Marques-Vidal P E D R O
Published: June 2024

Background

Timely and appropriate outpatient care can prevent potentially avoidable hospitalizations (PAH) for heart failure. We analysed the trends, determinants, and consequences of PAH for heart failure in Switzerland over two decades.

Methods

Hospital discharge data from Switzerland for the years 1998 to 2018. PAH was defined according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development criteria (OECD).

Results

The number of PAH for heart failure increased from 2,633 in 1998 to 111,338 in 2018. However, expressed as percentage of total admissions for heart failure, there was a slight decrease in the prevalence of such admissions, declining from approximately 80% in 1998 to 78% in 2018. Compared to non-PAH, PAH for heart failure were more frequently in the middle age to older age categories, non-Swiss, without health insurance, with lower comorbidities as per Charlson’s index, and more frequently observed in the Zurich, Eastern, Central and Tessin regions of Switzerland (table). PAH for heart failure were more frequently admitted as an emergency, via the patient’s (table). Conversely, patients with PAH for heart failure stayed less frequently in the ICU (14.1% vs. 8.9%, p<0.001) and were mostly discharged home (25.57% vs. 70.0%, p<0.001) than patients without PAH. The length of stay was longer in PAH than non-PAH cases (9.4±1.0 vs. 8.7±1.0 days, p=0.001), but their cost was lower (11,404 vs. 12,954 CHF, p<0.001). In 2018, the overall financial burden associated with PAH for heart failure was estimated at 120.5 million CHF.

Conclusion

In Switzerland, the number of PAH for heart failure has increased considerably. The medical and financial burden due to the PAH for heart failure could be reduced with timely and appropriate outpatient care.
Cardiac rehabilitation current landscape in Romania - A new chapter for the heart
Authors: Narcisa Flavia L , Olteanu G , Ciuca-Pana M A , Serbanoiu L I , Busnatu S S
Published: June 2024

Background

In the year 2023, cardiovascular diseases persist as a significant global challenge, casting an immense burden over Europe and particularly affecting Romania, where elevated mortality rates position the country prominently within the European context. Despite concerted global efforts, progress in reducing the incidence of cardiovascular diseases has encountered stagnation. This research endeavors to shed light on and address the underutilization of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in Romania in comparison to other therapeutic approaches.

Purpose

Our aim is to comprehensively centralize information on CR centers in Romania, assess population coverage, evaluate costs and accessibility, and propose improvement strategies. Building on existing reports, we conducted a comparative analysis to uncover patient difficulties and explore potential solutions.

Methods

We extensively searched for cardiac recovery centers using Google and conducted telephone interviews to gather information on program details, costs, and the subvention status by the National Health Insurance House. Additionally, we mined specialized medical databases for relevant articles in cardiac recovery. Thorough analysis of the collected data offers insights into the landscape of cardiac recovery facilities in Romania.

Results

Despite COVID-19 challenges and the lack of an integrated model for network centers, along with insufficient financial support from the National Health Insurance House for cardiac rehabilitation services exceeding 16 days, the private sector managing 61.90% of centers, the total number of cardiac rehabilitation centers in Romania increased by 16.67% in the past 6 years. Some centers haven't fully resumed post-lockdown. Our investigation revealed a significant concentration of these centers in large cities, with 33.33% situated in the capital, indicating a geographical disparity. Lack of specialist endorsement is attributed to a lack of popularization in the sector. The pandemic worsened existing accessibility limitations; however, telerehabilitation emerged as a smart and effective alternative, overcoming geographical and logistical barriers. While only one center in Romania currently offers digital technology for remote monitoring, it signifies a significant evolution in cardiac rehabilitation. Proposed strategies include partnerships and health insurance expansion to improve access and affordability, with a focus on promoting telerehabilitation as a cost-effective alternative.

Conclusions

The gap between international recommendations and limited national coverage highlights potential restrictions in Romanian patients' access to the full benefits of CR programs. However, the expansion of cardiac telerehabilitation offers a convenient and accessible pathway for the development of this health sector.
Exploring menopausal disparities in cardiovascular risk factors: transitioning from the estrogen to the iron hypothesis
Authors: Ahanchi N , Quezada-Pinedo H , Marques-Vidal P , Muka T A U L A N
Published: June 2024

Background

Menopause is associated with an increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and mortality. Estrogen deficiency has been suggested as the main cause for this increased, but results are contradictory. An alternative hypothesis would be changes in iron biomarkers. Most previous studies have employed a cross-sectional design to evaluate the association between iron biomarkers and CVD risk factors (CVD-RFs). However, given the natural variability of iron levels, it is essential to incorporate repeated measurements of iron biomarkers for a more comprehensive assessment.

Goals

We aimed to explore the intra-variability of iron biomarkers over time.2) evaluate the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between iron biomarkers [serum ferritin, transferrin saturation (TSAT), transferrin] and CVD risk factors (CVD-RFs) among women.

Method

Data from the prospective CoLaus|PsyCoLaus study, conducted in Switzerland. 10-year prospective (1482 women, mean age 58.83) analysis were conducted using multiple linear regression for the cross-sectional part and multilevel mixed models for the longitudinal part. Intraclass correlation (ICC) was utilized to assess the variability of outcomes and iron markers between surveys in the prospective analysis.

Results

Different iron biomarkers showed inconsistent associations with CVD-RFs in cross-sectional and prospective analyses. In the cross-sectional analysis, after multivariable adjustment, ferritin levels were positively associated with insulin, while transferrin levels were positively associated with glucose, insulin, total and HDL-cholesterol, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. No association between TSAT and CVD-RFs was found . In our study all iron biomarkers (serum Iron, serum ferritin, transferrin and TSAT) had a low reliability as defined by the ICC, especially in the transition group (figure 1). To mitigate these challenges, in our study we took advantage of repeated measures of iron biomarkers to correct for this low reliability and improve precision and the ability to capture changes over time In the prospective analysis, and contrary to the cross-sectional analysis, transferrin levels were negatively associated with glucose (β =-0.55, CI= -1.06; -0.04) and diastolic blood pressure (β =-7.14, CI= -15.6; -0.18). Similar findings were obtained after stratification on menopausal status.

Conclusion

The positive associations between ferritin and CVD-RFs observed in the cross-sectional study were inverted in the prospective study. This discrepancy could be due to the variability of iron biomarkers during lifetime. The substantial longitudinal variation of iron biomarkers suggests that multiple measurements of iron are necessary for longitudinal analyses.
Attainment of guideline recommended cholesterol goals in cardiovascular prevention results from a preventive cardio-rheuma clinic in norway
Authors: Sollerud E S , Ikdahl E I , Sexton J S , Eirheim A S E , Semb A G S
Published: June 2024

Background

There is a large gap between the European Society of Cardiology/European Atherosclerosis Society (ESC/EAS) guideline recommendations and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goal attainment in routine clinical practice. Although it has been known for a decade that patients with inflammatory joint diseases (IJD), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), spondyloarthropathy (SpA), and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are at high risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), the increased risk is still present regardless of optimized anti-rheumatic medications.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate attainment of the 2019 ESC/EAS guideline recommended LDL-C goal in a high-risk patient population, patients with IJD.

Methods

Patients with IJD were referred to the Preventive Cardio-Rheuma clinic for an ASCVD risk evaluation between 2019 and 2023 were included. Primary and secondary prevention with lipid-lowering treatment were initiated in patients classified as high and very high risk. The LDL-C goals for patients with high and very high risk was 1.8 mmol/L and 1.4 mmol/L, respectively, or ≥ 50% LDL-C reduction from baseline. Lipid-lowering treatment was Atorvastatin 20-40 mg or Rosuvastatin 5-40 mg, mostly in a combination with Ezetimibe 10 mg. The patients were followed up until the LDL-C goals were attained, with the first lipid level control 1-3 months after lipid-lowering treatment initiation, before referral to general practitioner for follow-up.

Results

In total, 186 of the 320 referred patients (RA, n=166; SpA, n=80; PsA, n=74) were classified to high (n=20) and very high (n=166) risk of ASCVD. The mean±SD age was 55±11.2 years and baseline LDL-C was 3.3±1.0 mmol/L in the total study population. Approximately 49% of the referred patients had already established ASCVD and 58% of all patients had an indication for lipid-lowering treatment. There was a significant reduction in LDL-C from baseline to final consultation across diagnostic groups with a mean reduction of 1.97±1.10 mmol/L, 56% reduction (RA 55%, PsA 56%, SpA 57%), p<0.001 (Figure 1) in patients assigned to lipid-lowering treatment. Approximately 85% attained recommended LDL-C levels, using a median (IQR) of 3 (2.0, 4.0) consultations, but of these, 16% only obtained ≥ 50% LDL-C reduction (Figure 2). Those who did not obtain LDL-C goals (15%) was either unwilling to take lipid-lowering medications, had comorbidity issues or intolerable side effects of treatment.

Conclusion

Recommended LDL-C goal attainment according to guidelines is achievable in a high proportion of patients with IJD on few consultations. These results indicate that frequent lipid follow-up consultations after treatment initiation may be the key to success in LDL-C goal attainment.
Cardiovascular risk of persons following plant-based diets - the study of vegetarians and vegans from a large urban area
Authors: Kwasniewska M , Grygorczuk O , Mrozik M , Rebowska E , Legocki S , Kaminska S , Jegier A , Lipert A , Polakowski G , Drygas W
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Data on cardiovascular risk among persons following plant-based diets in societes of Central Europe are scarce .

Purpose

The aim of the study is to assess selected cardiovascular risk factors in the group of vegetarians and vegans living in a large urban area of Poland. Special attention was paid to the differences between the group of vegetarian and vegan participants of the study.

Methods

The study was performed among a group of 150 men and women who were following a plant-based diet for at least 12 months (100 vegetarians, mean age 34,5 yrs and 50 vegans, mean age 33,2 yrs). All the participants were extensively reviewed, including detailed dietary recalls. Anthropometric measurements included weight, height and waist circumference. Microvascular endothelial function was evaluated by means of the reactive hyperemia index (RHI) using Endo-PAT2000 system. A set of traditional CVD biomarkers included measurements of total cholesterol LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglicerydes, glucose, hs-CRP.

Results

Vegetarians had higher total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol concentrations as compared with vegans (4,64 vs 4,28 and 2,71 vs 2,47 mmol/L, respectively), higher hsCRP (1,24 vs 0,77 mmol/L), glucose (4,87 vs 4,71 mmol/L), body mass index (23, 1 vs 21,9 kg/m2). Hypercholesterolemia was more often among vegetarians (40% of the studied group) than among vegans (one forth of the participants). Both groups had comparable mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure (109/67 vs 109/66 mmHg) and endothelial function (RHI 2,1 and 2,2 , respectively).

Conclusions

Although plant-based diets are associated with relatively beneficial cardiovascular profile in the studied population from large urban area there are some abnormalities and differences between vegetarians and vegans. Vegan dietary model was associated with lower cardiovascular risk. The most important finding concerns high percentage of persons with elevated cholesterol concentrations, especially in vegetarians. Due to the growing popularity of diets with reduced animal products, there is a need to elaborate effective strategies regarding properly balanced plant-based nutrition models.
Lack of abnormal rise in blood pressure in obese subjects is associated with less structural and functional cardiovascular abnormalities
Authors: Mahneva O , Sheehan N , Theriault J , Sabatini A , El Shahawy M
Published: June 2024

Background

Abdominal adiposity has been reported to be associated with an abnormally elevated rise in blood pressure after exercise. Adults with both excess abdominal adiposity and an abnormal rise in blood pressure have been reported to be at higher risk for cardiovascular disease. However, some subjects may be metabolically healthy despite obesity. The purpose of this study is to see whether adults with obesity who exhibit a normal rise in blood pressure display any cardiovascular structural and functional abnormalities observed in obese adults with an abnormal rise in blood pressure.

Methods

We screened 244 obese subjects for cardiovascular disease risk assessment utilizing the ASCVD risk assessment score, previously published. The ASCVD assessment includes 10 tests, 3 of which are cardiac, and 7 of which are vascular. Additional testing included CT scan for coronary artery calcium score and epicardial fat volume utilizing Siemens Somatom Definition 64. The 244 subjects were divided into 2 groups: those with normal (122 subjects) and those with an abnormal rise in blood pressure (122 subjects) as defined as a blood pressure rise of >30 mmHg post-exercise. Results are shown in Table 1. Due to the prominent effect of age on CVD risk factors, subjects were further stratified into age <60 and age ≥60 categories (98 and 25 subjects, respectively). Results are shown in Table 2.

Results

1. As shown in Table 1:.

a) Obese adults with normal rise in blood pressure are found to have a lower prevalence of impaired small artery elasticity (C2), elevated systolic blood pressure, and elevated CRP.

b) Obese adults with abnormal rise in blood pressure may exhibit higher vascular risks regarding C2, systolic blood pressure, and CRP levels, but otherwise are not significantly different from obese subjects with normal blood pressure rise with regards to cardiovascular risk.

2. As shown in Table 2, older subjects are at greater risk of having impaired small artery elasticity and elevated CRP.

Conclusions

Obesity is a major cardiovascular risk factor, specifically when defined as elevated waist circumference. When combined with elevated blood pressure rise post-exercise and or aging, obesity may result in significant cardiovascular complications. We recommend intervention with weight management strategies. Early detect to protect!
Exercise as a means of preventing musculoskeletal problems in musicians, a systematic review
Authors: Dimopoulou M , Dimopoulos S
Published: June 2024

Introduction

The lifetime prevalence of performance related musculoskeletal disorders in musicians is reported to reach a very high rate (93%) and many times affect the music performance, playing efficacy, the quality of their work or their career progression. It can also have a significant financial burden on the musicians as well as on the organizations/orchestras.

Purpose

This systematic review summarizes the evidence available from randomized clinical trials investigating the effect of exercise in the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders in musicians.

Methods

The search was performed in the PubMed database and the specialized Journal of Medical Problems of Performing Artists, Science & Medicine, Inc. until March 2022. The keywords used were decided by Mesh terms. Studies that had titles and abstracts related to exercise or prevention programs in musicians to reduce or treat PRMDs were selected for detailed analysis. Exclusion and inclusion criteria were used for the final outcome. A qualitative assessment was also carried out with the PEDro scale.

Results

Of the 1050 articles found, 138 were selected by title for relevance and their abstracts were studied. Of these 22 randomized studies were selected for full reading. The criteria of the systematic review were met by 7 articles, which were examined in detail. Parallel searches were conducted with different combinations of keywords to cross-reference the selected randomized studies. Three clinical studies showed a reduction in the frequency of musculoskeletal disorders and a reduction in pain and symptom intensity with a statistically significant difference. Two clinical studies have had a positive effect on physical effectiveness. A control group in one study showed significant statistical significance in aerobic capacity. The same clinical study had a positive effect on the playing performance of the instrument. Another clinical study showed reduced inability related to music performance in both groups. Three clinical studies had an educational intervention together with the exercise intervention. No clinical research was found to assess the health costs of musculoskeletal disorders in musicians.

Conclusions

This systematic review provided evidence for the effect of exercise training in preventing musculoskeletal disorders in musicians. Prevention programs with exercise intervention had significant clinical value such as reducing the occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders in intensity, frequency and pain as well as improving their functional capacity and their quality of musical performance. Additional clinical randomized control studies are necessary with a larger number of participants and duration of follow-up of the results to confirm the above findings.
The water imbalance of skeletal muscle and muscle weakness in patients with heart failure
Authors: Nakamura K , Kinugasa Y , Sota T , Hirai M , Kato M , Yamamoto K
Published: June 2024

Aims

A high extracellular water (ECW) to intracellular water (ICW) ratio of skeletal muscle as assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis is reportedly associated with loss of muscle strength. However, the validity of this index for heart failure (HF), which is likely associated with changes in the water distribution, is unclear.

Methods and Results

This study involved 190 patients with HF. The total ECW and ICW of both upper and lower extremities were measured, and a high ECW/ICW ratio was defined as an ECW/ICW ratio higher than the median (≥0.636 for men, ≥0.652 for women). Low muscle strength was defined as reduced handgrip strength according to the criteria established by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. Patients with a high ECW/ICW ratio had a lower handgrip strength and 6-minute walk distance than those with a low ECW/ICW ratio (p < 0.05). An increasing ECW and/or decreasing ICW was associated with a higher ECW/ICW ratio and a lower handgrip strength (p < 0.05). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, a high ECW/ICW ratio and low skeletal muscle mass were independently associated with low muscle strength (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

A high ECW/ICW ratio in limb muscles, i.e., the water imbalance of increasing ECW and/or decreasing ICW, is useful in assessing muscle quality in patients with HF.
Statins for secondary prevention of coronary artery disease in patients aged 80 years or older: a nation-wide propensity score-based analysis
Authors: Jug B , Furlan T , Furlan T , Ravnikar T , Ravnikar T , Farkas Lainscak J , Farkas Lainscak J , Lainscak M , Lainscak M , Fras Z , Fras Z , Novakovic M , Novakovic M , Dosenovic Bonca P , Dosenovic Bonca P
Published: June 2024

Patients with established coronary artery disease are recommended statin therapy for secondary prevention, but randomised trials rarely include individuals above 80 years of age. Therefore, we sought to assess the impact of statin therapy on all-cause mortality and cardiovascular hospitalisations in a nation-wide cohort of patients hospitalised for coronary artery disease aged 80 years or older.

Patients hospitalised for coronary artery disease (acute and chronic coronary syndromes; ICD diagnoses I20.x, I21.x, and I25.x) were retrospectively identified by linking the national hospital database, medicines reimbursement claims, and the national mortality registry, using unique patient identifiers. Patient aged 80 years or more were included, with follow-up time of 5 years. The impact of statin prescription at discharge on clinical outcomes (all-cause mortality and/or cardiovascular hospitalisations) was assessed by Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards regression model with inverse probability of treatment weights, calculated using covariate-balancing propensity scores. A landmark period of 30 days post-discharge was used to address survival bias.

We included 5 ,618 patients with coronary artery disease aged 80 years or more; 2,973 were prescribed a statin within 30 days from discharge. Median age was 83 years (IQR 81–86 years), 49% were men, 42% had chronic coronary syndromes, 25% had heart failure, 27% had atrial fibrillation, 22% had diabetes mellitus, 63% had arterial hypertension, 6.7% had depression. After inverse probability of treatment weighting, uptake of statin therapy was associated with a 11.2% reduction in all-cause mortality and cardiovascular hospitalisations (HR 0.89, 95%CI 0.82-0.97, p<0.001). See Figure 1.

In conclusion, statin therapy in patients with coronary artery disease aged 80 years or older is associated with a moderate reduction in all-cause mortality and cardiovascular rehospitalisations.
Pollen products collected from honey bee hives experiencing minor stress have altered fungal communities and reduced antimicrobial properties
Authors: Fernandes Kenya E , Frost Elizabeth A , Kratz Madlen , Carter Dee A
Published: June 2024

Fungi are increasingly recognized to play diverse roles within honey bee hives, acting as pathogens, mutualists, and commensals. Pollen products, essential for hive nutrition, host significant fungal communities with potential protective and nutritional benefits. In this study, we profile the fungal communities and antifungal properties of three pollen products from healthy and stressed hives: fresh pollen collected by forager bees from local plants; stored pollen packed into the comb inside the hive; and bee bread, which is stored pollen following anaerobic fermentation used for bee and larval nutrition. Using amplicon sequencing, we found significant differences in fungal community composition, with hive health and sample type accounting for 8.8% and 19.3% of variation in beta diversity, respectively. Pollen and bee bread extracts had species-specific antimicrobial activity and inhibited the fungal hive pathogens Ascosphaera apis, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus fumigatus, and the bacterial hive pathogen Paenibacillus larvae. Activity was positively correlated with phenolic and antioxidant content and was diminished in stressed hives. The plant source of pollen determined by amplicon sequencing differed in stressed hives, suggesting altered foraging behaviour. These findings illustrate the complex interplay between honey bees, fungal communities, and hive products, which should be considered in hive management and conservation.
Political Settlement and China’s Overseas Operation: The Case of Ethiopia
Authors: Cao Ruixing , Noesselt Nele
Published: June 2024

Political settlement analysis (PSA) has become a common approach scholars use to study socioeconomic differences among African countries. However, less attention has been given to how political settlement influences how African countries interact with their foreign counterparts. In this article, we illustrate the impact of political settlement on foreign policy by analyzing Ethiopia’s interactions with China. As one of China’s closest economic partners in Africa, Ethiopia, with its long-standing ethnic cleavages and political instability in the last few years, represents an ideal case for this topic. We find that the evolving political settlement in Ethiopia has greatly influenced the official engagements between the two countries. Over time, various Chinese actors have also developed a more nuanced understanding of the political dynamics of Ethiopia and the associated risks of investing in the country. Our study contributes to an emerging literature that emphasizes the power of local agencies in influencing China–Africa relations.
Double-Edged Sword: A Positive Brain Scan Result Heightens Confidence in an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis But Also Leads to Higher Stigma Among Older Adults in a Vignette-Based Experiment
Authors: Stites Shana D , Lee Brian N , Largent Emily A , Harkins Kristin , Sankar Pamela , Krieger Abba , Brown Rebecca T
Published: June 2024

Objectives

Early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) using brain scans and other biomarker tests will be essential to increasing the benefits of emerging disease-modifying therapies, but AD biomarkers may have unintended negative consequences on stigma. We examined how a brain scan result affects AD diagnosis confidence and AD stigma.

Methods

The study used a vignette-based experiment with a 2 × 2 × 3 factorial design of main effects: a brain scan result as positive or negative, treatment availability and symptom stage. We sampled 1,283 adults ages 65 and older between June 11and July 3, 2019. Participants (1) rated their confidence in an AD diagnosis in each of four medical evaluations that varied in number and type of diagnostic tools and (2) read a vignette about a fictional patient with varied characteristics before completing the Modified Family Stigma in Alzheimer’s Disease Scale (FS-ADS). We examined mean diagnosis confidence by medical evaluation type. We conducted between-group comparisons of diagnosis confidence and FS-ADS scores in the positive versus negative brain scan result conditions and, in the positive condition, by symptom stage and treatment availability.

Results

A positive versus negative test result corresponds with higher confidence in an AD diagnosis independent of medical evaluation type (all p < .001). A positive result correlates with stronger reactions on 6 of 7 FS-ADS domains (all p < .001).

Discussion

A positive biomarker result heightens AD diagnosis confidence but also correlates with more AD stigma. Our findings inform strategies to promote early diagnosis and clinical discussions with individuals undergoing AD biomarker testing.
Electrical conductivity of the suboceanic upper mantle constrained by satellite-derived tidal magnetic fields: three-dimensional inversion, validation and interpretation
Authors: Šachl L , Knopp O , Velímský J
Published: June 2024

We present the first 3-D upper-mantle conductivity models obtained by an inversion of the satellite-derived tidally induced magnetic fields (TIMFs). We primarily use the M$_2$ period, but the potential benefit of the O$_1$ period is also inspected. The inverse-problem solution is found using the recently developed frequency-domain, spherical harmonic finite-element method based on the adjoint approach. We tested two different TIMF data sets derived from the satellite measurements of the Swarm mission and two different regularizations; the solution is either required to be sufficiently smooth or reasonably close to the a priori 3-D conductivity model WINTERC-e Wd-emax. The reconstructed conductivity models are locally compared with the 1-D conductivity profiles from other studies. If we use one of the available TIMF data sets, the smooth reconstructed model gravitates towards Wd-emax and the TIMF-adjusted Wd-emax model is closer to the reference conductivity profiles than the original Wd-emax model. Finally, we use the obtained 3-D conductivity distributions to calculate the corresponding 3-D water distribution in the upper mantle using thermodynamical and compositional models coupled to the electrical-conductivity laboratory measurement of individual mantle constituents.
Background and clustering characteristics of recent seismicity in Southwestern China
Authors: Liu Yue , Zhuang Jiancang , Guo Yicun , Jiang Changsheng , Tian Qinjian , Zhang Yongxian , Long Feng
Published: June 2024

This study analysed seismicity in southwestern China (1 January 2008 to 30 June 2021) using the earthquake catalogue compiled by the China Earthquake Network Center and four different space–time Epidemic-Type Aftershock Sequence models: the 2-D point-source (PS) model, the 2-D finite-source (FS) model, the 3-D PS model and the 3-D FS model. Our objective was to understand the features of the background seismicity and the patterns of earthquake clusters to better evaluate the regional seismic hazard. We carefully investigated the aftershock sequences that followed 7 of the 10 MS ≥ 6.0 earthquakes that have struck this region since the occurrence of the 2008 Wenchuan MS 8.0 earthquake [i.e. the Panzhihua (31 August 2008; MS 6.0), Yaoan (9 July 2009; MS 6.0), Lushan (20 April 2013; MS 7.0), Ludian (3 August 2014; MS 6.5), Jinggu (7 October 2014; MS 6.6), Kangding (11 November 2014; MS 6.3) and Yangbi (21 May 2021; MS 6.4) earthquakes]. Our results revealed the following. (1) The background seismicity level for natural earthquakes is usually stable but can experience sudden change due to major events, such as the 2014 Ludian MS 6.5, and the 2014 Jinggu MS 6.6 events. Such changes in the background rate can reach 50 per cent. (2) Reservoir-induced earthquakes substantially increase the level of regional seismicity, indicating that they cannot be ignored when analysing natural seismicity and evaluating regional earthquake hazards. (3) Events triggered directly by the main shock occur mostly in regions adjacent to areas with large coseismic slip, showing a pattern complementary to the main shock ruptures.
Deep Amplicon Sequencing Reveals Culture Selection of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis by Clinical Samples
Authors: Qu Jiuxin , Liu Wanfei , Chen Shuyan , Wu Chi , Lai Wenjie , Qin Rui , Ye Feidi , Li Yuanchun , Fu Liang , Deng Guofang , Liu Lei , Lin Qiang , Cui Peng
Published: June 2024

The commonly-used drug susceptibility testing (DST) relies on bacterial culture and faces shortcomings such as long turnaround time and clone/subclone selection. We developed a targeted deep amplification sequencing (DAS) method directly applied to clinical specimens. In this DAS panel, we examined 941 drug-resistant mutations associated with 20 anti-tuberculosis drugs with an initial amount of 4 pg DNA and reduced clinical testing time from 20 days to two days. A prospective study was conducted using 115 clinical specimens mainly with Xpert® Mycobacterium tuberculosis/rifampicin (Xpert MTB/RIF) assay positive to evaluate drug-resistant mutation detection. DAS was performed on culture-free specimens, while culture-dependent isolates were used for phenotypic DST, DAS, and whole-genome sequencing (WGS). For in silico molecular DST, our result based on DAS panel revealed the similar accuracy to three published reports based on WGS. For 82 isolates, application of DAS showed better sensitivity (93.03% vs. 92.16%), specificity (96.10% vs. 95.02%), and accuracy (91.33% vs. 90.62%) than Mykrobe software using WGS. Compared to culture-dependent WGS, culture-free DAS provides a full picture of sequence variation at population level, exhibiting in detail the gain-and-loss variants caused by bacterial culture. Our study performs a systematic verification of the advantages of DAS in clinical applications and comprehensively illustrates the discrepancy in Mycobacterium tuberculosis before and after culture.
Ex-combatants and the Truth Commission in Colombia: An Analysis of the Participation of Former Military and Ex-guerrillas
Authors: Ugarriza Juan E , Peralta Laly C
Published: June 2024

ABSTRACT∞

The Colombian Truth Commission (2018 to 2022) provides a unique opportunity to delve into the participation of ex-military personnel and former guerrillas within truth-seeking bodies. While existing literature highlights the importance of their involvement in facilitating the assumption of responsibilities, rebuilding relations with their victims and undergoing personal transformation, it tends to overlook their potential contribution to truth and memory. After conducting interviews with former Commissioners, staff, soldiers and ex-guerrillas over a two-year period, our research reveals that former fighters maintained confrontational attitudes toward their previous adversaries. They primarily focused on promoting historical memory narratives rather than making substantial contributions to uncovering the truth. Conversely, the Commission took a moral stance in supporting the victims but failed to prevent conflicting narratives from hindering the path to reconciliation. The Colombian experience underscores the need for strategies to ensure that truth-seeking and memory spaces play a constructive role postconflict, and to accommodate perpetrators’ contributions to historical clarification without condoning their actions.
Period Integrals of Hypersurfaces via Tropical Geometry
Authors: Yamamoto Yuto
Published: June 2024

Let $\left \{ Z_{t} \right \}_{t}$ be a one-parameter family of complex hypersurfaces of dimension $d \geq 1$ in a toric variety. We compute asymptotics of period integrals for $\left \{ Z_{t} \right \}_{t}$ by applying the method of Abouzaid–Ganatra–Iritani–Sheridan, which uses tropical geometry. As integrands, we consider Poincaré residues of meromorphic $(d+1)$-forms on the ambient toric variety, which have poles along the hypersurface $Z_{t}$. The cycles over which we integrate them are spheres and tori, which correspond to tropical $(0, d)$-cycles and $(d, 0)$-cycles on the tropicalization of $\left \{ Z_{t} \right \}_{t}$, respectively. In the case of $d=1$, we explicitly write down the polarized logarithmic Hodge structure of Kato–Usui at the limit as a corollary. Throughout this article, we impose the assumption that the tropicalization is dual to a unimodular triangulation of the Newton polytope.
Circle Actions on Oriented Manifolds With 3 Fixed Points
Authors: Jang Donghoon
Published: June 2024

Let the circle group act on a compact oriented manifold $M$ with a non-empty discrete fixed point set. Then the dimension of $M$ is even. If $M$ has one fixed point, $M$ is the point. In any even dimension, such a manifold $M$ with two fixed points exists, a rotation of an even dimensional sphere. Suppose that $M$ has three fixed points. Then the dimension of $M$ is a multiple of 4. Under the assumption that each isotropy submanifold is orientable, we show that if $\dim M=8$, then the weights at the fixed points agree with those of an action on the quaternionic projective space $\mathbb{H}\mathbb{P}^{2}$, and show that there is no such 12-dimensional manifold $M$.
Communicating through Protocols: The Case of Diplomatic Credential Ceremonies
Authors: Berkowitz Roni , Heimann Gadi , Kampf Zohar
Published: June 2024

This study questions to what extent state agents invest efforts in building interpersonal relations with their counterparts. It is based on data collected during two years of ethnographic fieldwork at the Israeli president’s residence, where we observed credential ceremonies involving ambassadors from twenty-three states and interviewed the president’s advisors. We consider the credential ceremony an extreme case study regulated by highly formalized protocol, including the strictest guidelines existing in the world of diplomacy. We assume that if relation-building between statespersons takes place in the most unexpected spaces of international politics, we can detect it in all sites of diplomacy. Adopting a relational practice approach, we identified two methods of positive signaling for relationship building: preplanned by the organizers “from above,” directed at the individual-as-state-representative, and conveyed by participants “from below,” targeting the individual-as-guest/host. We conclude by discussing the implications of the prevalence of interpersonal relation-building in international politics, the role of diplomatic protocols as a communicative resource that affects the diplomatic environment, and how the concept of affordances provides a fresh look at one of the most fundamental debates in the field of IR: the relationship between agency and structure.
Transcriptomics reveal a unique phago-mixotrophic response to low nutrient concentrations in the prasinophyte Pterosperma cristatum
Authors: Charvet Sophie , Bock Nicholas A , Kim Eunsoo , Duhamel Solange
Published: June 2024

Constitutive mixoplankton—plastid–bearing microbial eukaryotes capable of both phototrophy and phagotrophy—are ubiquitous in marine ecosystems and facilitate carbon transfer to higher trophic levels within aquatic food webs, which supports enhanced sinking carbon flux. However, the regulation of the relative contribution of photosynthesis and prey consumption remains poorly characterized. We investigated the transcriptional dynamics behind this phenotypic plasticity in the prasinophyte green alga Pterosperma cristatum. Based on what is known of other mixoplankton species that cannot grow without photosynthesis (obligate phototrophs), we hypothesized that P. cristatum uses phagotrophy to circumvent the restrictions imposed on photosynthesis by nutrient depletion, to obtain nutrients from ingested prey, and to maintain photosynthetic carbon fixation. We observed an increase in feeding as a response to nutrient depletion, coinciding with an upregulation of expression for genes involved in essential steps of phagocytosis including prey recognition, adhesion and engulfment, transport and maturation of food vacuoles, and digestion. Unexpectedly, genes involved in the photosynthetic electron transfer chain, pigment biosynthesis, and carbon fixation were downregulated as feeding increased, implying an abatement of photosynthesis. Contrary to our original hypothesis, our results therefore suggest that depletion of inorganic nutrients triggered an alteration of trophic behavior from photosynthesis to phagotrophy in P. cristatum. While this behavior distinguishes P. cristatum from other groups of constitutive mixoplankton, its physiological response aligns with recent discoveries from natural microbial communities. These findings indicate that mixoplankton communities in nutrient-limited oceans can regulate photosynthesis against bacterivory based on nutrient availability.
Intracellular symbiont Symbiodolus is vertically transmitted and widespread across insect orders
Authors: Wierz Jürgen C , Dirksen Philipp , Kirsch Roy , Krüsemer Ronja , Weiss Benjamin , Pauchet Yannick , Engl Tobias , Kaltenpoth Martin
Published: June 2024

Insects engage in manifold interactions with bacteria that can shift along the parasitism–mutualism continuum. However, only a small number of bacterial taxa managed to successfully colonize a wide diversity of insects, by evolving mechanisms for host-cell entry, immune evasion, germline tropism, reproductive manipulation, and/or by providing benefits to the host that stabilize the symbiotic association. Here, we report on the discovery of an Enterobacterales endosymbiont (Symbiodolus, type species Symbiodolus clandestinus) that is widespread across at least six insect orders and occurs at high prevalence within host populations. Fluorescence in situ hybridization in several Coleopteran and one Dipteran species revealed Symbiodolus’ intracellular presence in all host life stages and across tissues, with a high abundance in female ovaries, indicating transovarial vertical transmission. Symbiont genome sequencing across 16 host taxa revealed a high degree of functional conservation in the eroding and transposon-rich genomes. All sequenced Symbiodolus genomes encode for multiple secretion systems, alongside effectors and toxin-antitoxin systems, which likely facilitate host-cell entry and interactions with the host. However, Symbiodolus-infected insects show no obvious signs of disease, and biosynthetic pathways for several amino acids and cofactors encoded by the bacterial genomes suggest that the symbionts may also be able to provide benefits to the hosts. A lack of host-symbiont cospeciation provides evidence for occasional horizontal transmission, so Symbiodolus’ success is likely based on a mixed transmission mode. Our findings uncover a hitherto undescribed and widespread insect endosymbiont that may present valuable opportunities to unravel the molecular underpinnings of symbiosis establishment and maintenance.
Disruption of the cell division protein ftsK gene changes elemental selenium generation, selenite tolerance, and cell morphology in Rahnella aquatilis HX2
Authors: Xu Qiaolin , Gao Shanshan , Zhang Sasa , Li Kui , Guo Yanbin
Published: June 2024

Aims

Some studies have indicated that the alterations in cellular morphology induced by selenite [Se(Ⅳ)] may be attributed to its inhibitory effects on cell division. However, whether the genes associated with cell division are implicated in Se(Ⅳ) metabolism remains unclear.

Methods and Results

The ftsK gene in Rahnella aquatilis HX2 was mutated with an in-frame deletion strategy. The ftsK mutation strongly reduced the tolerance to selenite [Se(Ⅳ)] and the production of red elemental selenium [Se(0)] in R. aquatilis HX2, and this effect could not be attributed solely to the inhibition of cell growth. Deleting the ftsK gene also resulted in a significant decrease in bacterial growth of R. aquatilis HX2 during both exponential and stationary phases. The deletion of ftsK inhibited cell division, resulting in the development of elongated filamentous cells. Furthermore, the loss-of-function of FtsK significantly impacted the expression of seven genes linked to cell division and Se(Ⅳ) metabolism by at least 2-fold, as unveiled by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) under Se(Ⅳ) treatment.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that FtsK is associated with Se(Ⅳ) tolerance and Se(0) generation and is a key player in coordinating bacterial growth and cell morphology in R. aquatilis HX2.
Exploring coaggregation mechanisms involved in biofilm formation in drinking water through a proteomic-based approach
Authors: Afonso Ana C , Simões Manuel , Saavedra Maria José , Simões Lúcia , Lema Juan M , Trueba-Santiso Alba
Published: June 2024

Aim

Coaggregation, a highly specific cell–cell interaction mechanism, plays a pivotal role in multispecies biofilm formation. While it has been mostly studied in oral environments, its occurrence in aquatic systems is also acknowledged. Considering biofilm formation’s economic and health-related implications in engineered water systems, it is crucial to understand its mechanisms. Here, we hypothesized that traceable differences at the proteome level might determine coaggregation ability.

Methods and Results

Two strains of Delftia acidovorans, isolated from drinking water were studied. First, in vitro motility assays indicated more swarming and twitching motility for the coaggregating strain (C+) than non-coaggregating strain (C−). By transmission electronic microscopy, we confirmed the presence of flagella for both strains. By proteomics, we detected a significantly higher expression of type IV pilus twitching motility proteins in C+, in line with the motility assays. Moreover, flagellum ring proteins were more abundant in C+, while those involved in the formation of the flagellar hook (FlE and FilG) were only detected in C−. All the results combined suggested structural and conformational differences between stains in their cell appendages.

Conclusion

This study presents an alternative approach for identifying protein biomarkers to detect coaggregation abilities in uncharacterized strains.