bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Revascularization of Occluded Right Coronary Artery and Outcome After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
Authors: Biancari Fausto , Dalén Magnus , Tauriainen Tuomas , Gatti Giuseppe , Salsano Antonio , Santini Francesco , Feo Marisa De , Zhang Qiyao , Mazzaro Enzo , Franzese Ilaria , Bancone Ciro , Zanobini Marco , Mäkikallio Timo , Saccocci Matteo , Francica Alessandra , Onorati Francesco , El-Dean Zein , Mariscalco Giovanni
Published: February 2023

Objectives The aim of the present study was to evaluate the results of isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with or without revascularization of the occluded right coronary artery (RCA).

Methods Patients undergoing isolated CABG were included in a prospective European multicenter registry. Outcomes were adjusted for imbalance in preoperative variables with propensity score matching analysis. Late outcomes were evaluated with Kaplan–Meier's method and competing risk analysis.

Results Out of 2,948 included in this registry, 724 patients had a total occlusion of the RCA and were the subjects of this analysis. Occluded RCA was not revascularized in 251 (34.7%) patients with significant variability between centers. Among 245 propensity score-matched pairs, patients with and without revascularization of occluded RCA had similar early outcomes. The nonrevascularized RCA group had increased rates of 5-year all-cause mortality (17.7 vs. 11.7%, p = 0.039) compared with patients who had their RCA revascularized. The rates of myocardial infarction and repeat revascularization were only numerically increased but contributed to a significantly higher rate of MACCE (24.7 vs. 15.7%, p = 0.020) at 5 year among patients with nonrevascularized RCA.

Conclusion In this multicenter study, one-third of totally occluded RCAs was not revascularized during isolated CABG for multivessel coronary artery disease. Failure to revascularize an occluded RCA in these patients increased the risk of all-cause mortality and MACCEs at 5 years.
Changing minds about climate change: a pervasive role for domain-general metacognition
Authors: De Beukelaer Sophie , Vehar Neza , Rollwage Max , Fleming Stephen M. , Tsakiris Manos
Published: February 2023

Updating one’s beliefs about the causes and effects of climate change is crucial for altering attitudes and behaviours. Importantly, metacognitive abilities - insight into the (in)correctness of one’s beliefs- play a key role in the formation of polarised beliefs. We here aimed at investigated the role of metacognition in changing beliefs about climate change. To that end, we focused on the role of domain-general and domain-specific metacognition in updating prior beliefs about climate change across the spectrum of climate change scepticism. We also considered the role of how climate science is communicated in the form of textual or visuo-textual presentations. We asked two large US samples to perform a perceptual decision-making task (to assess domain-general decision-making and metacognitive abilities. They next performed a belief-updating task, where they were exposed to good and bad news about climate change and we asked them about their beliefs and their updating. Lastly, they completed a series of questionnaires probing their attitudes to climate change. We show that climate change scepticism is associated with differences in domain-general as well as domain-specific metacognitive abilities. Moreover, domain-general metacognitive sensitivity influenced belief updating in an asymmetric way: lower domain-general metacognition decreased the updating of prior beliefs, especially in the face of negative evidence. Our findings highlight the role of metacognitive failures in revising erroneous beliefs about climate change and point to their adverse social effects.
On the gas pressure inside cavitation bubbles
Authors: Delale Can F. , Pasinlioğlu Şenay
Published: February 2023

The validity of the reduced order [Delale and Pasinlioglu, “Acoustic cavitation model based on a novel reduced order gas pressure law,” AIP Adv. 11, 115309 (2021)] and of classical polytropic gas pressure laws during the response of a bubble to variations in the pressure of the surrounding liquid is investigated. In particular, from the exact expression of the gas pressure coupled to the thermal behavior of gas bubbles, we identify the conditions where the reduced order gas pressure law and the classical polytropic law hold. We then distinguish three regimes for the change of state of the bubble during its nonlinear oscillations as the nearly isothermal, transition, and nearly adiabatic regimes, depending on the value of the polytropic index, and we determine the mean value of the polytropic index in each regime by averaging over a parameter, which is a function of the Peclet number based on the characteristic thermal diffusion time. The results of the temporal evolution of the bubble radius, the bubble wall temperature, and the partial gas pressure inside the bubble are presented using an acoustic cavitation model based on the reduced order gas pressure law for both constant and variable interface properties.
Control of airfoil broadband noise through non-uniform sinusoidal trailing-edge serrations
Authors: Singh Sushil Kumar , Narayanan S.
Published: February 2023

This study provides experimental and analytical investigations on the use of non-uniform sinusoidal trailing edge (TE) serrations as a passive means for the control of airfoil broadband noise over a wide range of frequencies. Combinations of sharper/wider non-uniform TE serrations provide higher noise reductions up to about 5 dB over the uniform ones. The normalized sound power reductions (ΔPWL/) of non-uniform sinusoidal TE serrated airfoils show linear dependence with the corrected Strouhal number, i.e., ΔPWL/ = a Stm + b, where a and b are the arbitrary constants and Stm is the modified Strouhal number. It reveals that the presence of non-uniform wavy TE serrations shows superior noise reduction performance over uniform ones from mid to high frequencies when λ2 (wide) > λ1 (narrow), which is indicated by the good coalesce of ΔPWL/ with Stm. Furthermore, the modified Strouhal number scaling law for non-uniform sinusoidal TE serrated airfoils indicates the universal behavior of the noise reduction performance. The highest overall noise reductions provided by the non-uniform wavy TE serrations occur when the transverse turbulence integral length scale (Λt) is 0.5 times the geometric mean of the wavelengths of two individual serrations. The flow visualization clearly shows the breakup of eddies by the tip of serrations, and the pairing of the vortices evolved from the root/tip of the serrations. The presence of higher span-wise de-coherence/phase interference provided by the non-uniform TE serrated airfoils leads to higher noise reductions over uniform ones.
Mechanism and contact time of off-center impacts at relatively high Weber numbers
Authors: Jin Jia-Xin , Gao Shu-Rong , Wei Bo-Jian , Jia Qi-Hui , Zheng Shao-Fei , Yang Yan-Ru , Wang Xiao-Dong
Published: February 2023

When a droplet off-center impacts a superhydrophobic surface with macro-ridges, it may split into two asymmetric fragments that then exhibit asymmetric spreading and retraction phenomena. The contact time depends on the volume of the larger fragment, which is determined by the off-center distance. However, it is difficult to predict the contact time in practical applications. To establish a quantitative law of the contact time based on the volume of the larger fragment, the dynamics of off-center impacts at relatively high Weber numbers are investigated using lattice Boltzmann method simulations. The relationship between the volume of the larger fragment and the off-center distance is established to elucidate the mechanism of the redistribution of liquid volume. On this basis, another mechanism, i.e., the asymmetry of the liquid film, is studied to derive the relationship between the contact time and the length of the larger liquid film. Combining the two mechanisms, a quantitative relationship of the contact time for off-center impacts, which is proved to be applied in a wide range of Weber numbers, is finally established.
Modeling particle collisions in moderately dense curtain impacted by an incident shock wave
Authors: Zhang Pikai , Zhang Huangwei , Zhang Yun Feng , Li Shangpeng , Meng Qingyang
Published: February 2023

The interactions between an incident shock and a moderately dense particle curtain are simulated with the Eulerian–Lagrangian method. A customized solver based on OpenFOAM is extended with an improved drag model and collision model and then validated against two benchmark experiments. The results show that the collision model has a limited impact on curtain morphology compared with the improved drag model. In this work, parametric studies are performed considering different particle sizes, volume fractions, and curtain thicknesses. Smaller particle sizes and larger volume fractions lead to stronger reflected shock and weaker transmitted shock. Attention is paid to the particle collision effects on the curtain evolution behaviors. According to our results, for the mono-dispersed particle curtain, the collision effects on curtain front behaviors are small, even when the initial particle volume fraction is as high as 20%. This is due to the positive velocity gradient across the curtain after the shock wave passage, leading to the faster motion of downstream particles than the upstream ones, and hence, no collision occurs. For the bi-dispersed particle curtain, the collision effects become important in the mixing region of different-size particles. Collisions decelerate small particles while accelerating large ones and cause velocity scattering. Moreover, increasing the bi-dispersed curtain thickness leads to multiple collision force peaks, which is the result of the delayed separation of different particle groups. Our results indicate that the collision model may be unnecessary to predict curtain fronts in mono-dispersed particles, but in bi-dispersed particles, the collision effects are important and, therefore, must be modeled.
The rheological performance of shear-thickening fluids based on carbon fiber and silica nanocomposite
Authors: Sun Li , Liang Tianqi , Zhang Chunwei , Chen Jianyun
Published: February 2023

Current available shear-thickening fluid (STFs) may suffer from issues such as unsatisfactory energy dissipation performance and unstable dynamic stability for practical engineering applications. This paper investigates the innovated compounded STFs which are fabricated by mixing needlelike carbon fiber powder (CFP) and silicon dioxide (SiO2) into polyethylene glycol (PEG) under proper synthesis conditions. The microstructure and rheological properties of the compounded STFs, namely, CFP-SiO2/PEG, are investigated. The interaction between CFP and SiO2 and the shear-induced microstructure are analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. Steady-state rheological tests reveal that compounded STFs with different mass ratios exhibit significant rheological behavior and shear-thickening effects. The peak viscosity is demonstrated to be increased from 51.59 (monodispersed STFs) to 574.74 Pa s (compounded STFs), and the critical shear rate decreased from 79.42 to 10.00 s−1 when the mass fraction of CFP is set at 0.2%. The peak viscosity of the compounded STFs is shown to be increased by 313.96% when the plate spacing is increased from 0.25 to 1.00 mm. The dynamic rheological analysis shows that the compounded STFs exhibit excellent energy dissipation capacity at different stages. More importantly, the modulus instability and shear-thinning problems of monodispersed STFs could be significantly improved. According to the results, the key performance index of the CFP/SiO2-PEG compounded STFs is demonstrated to be improved by ten times or even higher. This work presents a novel type of STFs with high energy dissipation capacity and high dynamic stability for the application of shear-thickening fluids composite in engineering practice.
Noise analysis in the centrifugal pump based on vortex sound theory with vorticity binary decomposition
Authors: Yuan Zhiyi , Zhang Yongxue , Zhu Jianjun , Zhang Jinya
Published: February 2023

This paper aims to analyze the sound and pseudo-sound generation mechanism and its corresponding control method in a centrifugal pump. The delayed detached eddy simulation and vortex sound theory are applied to calculate the flow and acoustic fields. The prediction results agree well with the experimental results. Based on the vorticity binary decomposition, the influence of vorticity and its components of rigid vorticity and shear on the sound and pseudo-sound fluctuation is discussed. The results show that the sound source is dominated by the shearing part rather than rigid vorticity. Sound and pseudo-sound pressure levels could be amplified when the fluctuation of vorticity and its components gets intense, but the pseudo-sound is less sensitive. The amplitude of sound pressure is threefold over the pseudo-sound in the spiral casing, while the pseudo-sound becomes higher than the sound at the outlet as the former decay slowly along the outlet tube. Increasing the volute tongue angle could reduce the fluctuation of vorticity and its components in the outlet tube, leading to a decrease in as much as 44% in sound pressure amplitude and 10% in pseudo-sound.
Pore-scale study on miscible thermal displacing process in porous media using lattice Boltzmann method
Authors: Ju Long , Shan Baochao , Wang Shusen
Published: February 2023

A pore-scale investigation for a miscible thermal displacing process in porous media is performed in the present work using the lattice Boltzmann method. Particularly, the effects of viscous expansion coefficient βT and Lewis number Le on the displacing patterns and the residual rate σ are investigated. The numerical results show that the thermal displacement in porous media can be divided into four modes, i.e., one dominant displacement, conical displacement, local ramified displacement, and compact displacement. The prediction of the displacing modes for different values of βT and Le is summarized. Quantities analysis for characterizing thermal displacement indicates that σ in all simulation cases increases with βT, but the evolution trends of the residual rate for different Le are different. When βT>0, the residual rate σ decreases with the increasing Le, while for the cases with βT<0, the opposite is true. Furthermore, we found that σ changes obviously in the range of Le = 1–10, indicating that the thermal displacement mode can be easily changed by adjusting the thermal conductivity of the fluid to achieve different Lewis numbers of the system, thereby improving the displacement efficiency and displacement rate.
Effects of accumulated versus continuous individualized exercise on postprandial glycemia in young adults with obesity
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyuan , Tian Xiao Yu , Miyashita Masashi , Sun Fenghua , Huang Wendy Y. J. , Zheng Chen , Sum Man Kuk , Wong Stephen H. S.
Published: February 2023

Background: Elevated postprandial glucose (PPG) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Post‐meal exercise effectively reduces PPG concentrations. However, the effect of accumulated versus continuous post‐meal exercise on PPG control remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of individualized accumulated or continuous exercise on PPG in young adults with obesity.

Twenty young adults with obesity (11 males) completed three 4‐h randomized crossover trials with 6–14‐day washout periods: (1) sitting (SIT), (2) one 30‐min walking bout (CONT), and (3) three 10‐min walking bouts separated by 20‐min resting (ACCU). Walking was initiated 20 min before individual PPG peak after breakfast, which was predetermined by continuous glucose monitoring. Blood samples were collected at 15–30 min intervals, and the 24‐h glucose was monitored via continuous glucose monitoring.

Results: The 4‐h PPG incremental area under the curve (iAUC) was 12.1%±30.9% and 21.5%±21.5% smaller after CONT (P = 0.022) and ACCU (P < 0.001), respectively, than after SIT. PPG concentrations were lower during CONT at 30–60 min and during ACCU at 30–105 min after breakfast than during SIT (all P < 0.05). The 4‐h plasma insulin and C‐peptide iAUC, and mean amplitude of glycemic excursions were lower after CONT and ACCU than after SIT (all P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Both continuous and accumulated exercises reduced PPG, insulin, and C‐peptide concentrations and improved glucose fluctuations. Accumulated exercise maintained lower PPG concentrations for a longer time than continuous exercise in young adults with obesity.

Clinical Trial Information: Clinical trial registration No. ChiCTR 2000035064, URL: http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=56584; (registered July 29, 2020).
Hypothalamic Paraventricular Nucleus Hydrogen Sulfide Exerts Antihypertensive Effects in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats via the Nrf2 Pathway
Authors: Xia Wen-Jie , Liu Kai-Li , Wang Xiao-Min , Yang Yu , Meng Tingting , Qiao Jin-An , Zhang Nianping , Sun Yao-Jun , Kang Yu-Ming , Yu Xiao-Jing
Published: February 2023

Background

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is widely distributed throughout the nervous system with various antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Hypertension involves an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammation in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). However, it is unclear how H2S in PVN affects hypertension.

Methods

Our study used spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and control Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats, microinjected with adenovirus-associated virus (AAV)-CBS (cystathionine beta-synthase overexpression) or AAV-ZsGreen in bilateral PVN, or simultaneously injected with virus-carrying nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-shRNA for 4 weeks. Blood pressure (BP) and plasma noradrenaline level were detected, and the PVN was collected. Finally, levels of CBS, H2S, Nrf2, Fra-LI, ROS, gp91phox, p47phox, superoxide dismutase 1, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α, tyrosine hydroxylase, and glutamate decarboxylase 67 were measured.

Results

We found that AAV-CBS increased H2S in the PVN, and BP, neuronal activation, oxidative stress, and inflammation of PVN were substantially reduced. Furthermore, endogenous H2S in the PVN activated Nrf2 and corrected the PVN’s imbalance of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters. However, Nrf2 knockdown in the PVN was similarly observed to abolish the beneficial effect of H2S on hypertension.

Conclusions

The findings imply that endogenous H2S in SHR PVN is reduced, and PVN endogenous H2S can alleviate hypertension via Nrf2-mediated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
ProFAB—open protein functional annotation benchmark
Authors: Özdilek A Samet , Atakan Ahmet , Özsarı Gökhan , Acar Aybar , Atalay M Volkan , Doğan Tunca , Rifaioğlu Ahmet S
Published: February 2023

As the number of protein sequences increases in biological databases, computational methods are required to provide accurate functional annotation with high coverage. Although several machine learning methods have been proposed for this purpose, there are still two main issues: (i) construction of reliable positive and negative training and validation datasets, and (ii) fair evaluation of their performances based on predefined experimental settings. To address these issues, we have developed ProFAB: Open Protein Functional Annotation Benchmark, which is a platform providing an infrastructure for a fair comparison of protein function prediction methods. ProFAB provides filtered and preprocessed protein annotation datasets and enables the training and evaluation of function prediction methods via several options. We believe that ProFAB will be useful for both computational and experimental researchers by enabling the utilization of ready-to-use datasets and machine learning algorithms for protein function prediction based on Gene Ontology terms and Enzyme Commission numbers. ProFAB is available at https://github.com/kansil/ProFAB and https://profab.kansil.org.
netANOVA: novel graph clustering technique with significance assessment via hierarchical ANOVA
Authors: Duroux Diane , Van Steen Kristel
Published: February 2023

Many problems in life sciences can be brought back to a comparison of graphs. Even though a multitude of such techniques exist, often, these assume prior knowledge about the partitioning or the number of clusters and fail to provide statistical significance of observed between-network heterogeneity. Addressing these issues, we developed an unsupervised workflow to identify groups of graphs from reliable network-based statistics. In particular, we first compute the similarity between networks via appropriate distance measures between graphs and use them in an unsupervised hierarchical algorithm to identify classes of similar networks. Then, to determine the optimal number of clusters, we recursively test for distances between two groups of networks. The test itself finds its inspiration in distance-wise ANOVA algorithms. Finally, we assess significance via the permutation of between-object distance matrices. Notably, the approach, which we will call netANOVA, is flexible since users can choose multiple options to adapt to specific contexts and network types. We demonstrate the benefits and pitfalls of our approach via extensive simulations and an application to two real-life datasets. NetANOVA achieved high performance in many simulation scenarios while controlling type I error. On non-synthetic data, comparison against state-of-the-art methods showed that netANOVA is often among the top performers. There are many application fields, including precision medicine, for which identifying disease subtypes via individual-level biological networks improves prevention programs, diagnosis and disease monitoring.
Bioinformatics toolbox for exploring target mutation-induced drug resistance
Authors: Huang Yuan-Qin , Sun Ping , Chen Yi , Liu Huan-Xiang , Hao Ge-Fei , Song Bao-An
Published: February 2023

Drug resistance is increasingly among the main issues affecting human health and threatening agriculture and food security. In particular, developing approaches to overcome target mutation-induced drug resistance has long been an essential part of biological research. During the past decade, many bioinformatics tools have been developed to explore this type of drug resistance, and they have become popular for elucidating drug resistance mechanisms in a low cost, fast and effective way. However, these resources are scattered and underutilized, and their strengths and limitations have not been systematically analyzed and compared. Here, we systematically surveyed 59 freely available bioinformatics tools for exploring target mutation-induced drug resistance. We analyzed and summarized these resources based on their functionality, data volume, data source, operating principle, performance, etc. And we concisely discussed the strengths, limitations and application examples of these tools. Specifically, we tested some predictive tools and offered some thoughts from the clinician’s perspective. Hopefully, this work will provide a useful toolbox for researchers working in the biomedical, pesticide, bioinformatics and pharmaceutical engineering fields, and a good platform for non-specialists to quickly understand drug resistance prediction.
Performance of the Glucose Management Indicator (GMI) in Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Fang Michael , Wang Dan , Rooney Mary R , Echouffo-Tcheugui Justin B , Coresh Josef , Aurora R Nisha , Punjabi Naresh M , Selvin Elizabeth
Published: February 2023

Background

The glucose management indicator (GMI) is an estimated measure of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) recommended for the management of persons with diabetes using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). However, GMI was derived primarily in young adults with type 1 diabetes, and its performance in patients with type 2 diabetes is poorly characterized.

Methods

We conducted a prospective cohort study in 144 adults with obstructive sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes not using insulin (mean age: 59.4 years; 45.1% female). HbA1c was measured at the study screening visit. Participants simultaneously wore 2 CGM sensors (Dexcom G4 and Abbott Libre Pro) for up to 4 weeks (2 weeks at baseline and 2 weeks at the 3-month follow-up visit). GMI was calculated using all available CGM data for each sensor.

Results

Median wear time was 27 days (IQR: 23–29) for the Dexcom G4 and 28 days (IQR: 24–29) for the Libre Pro. The mean difference between HbA1c and GMI was small (0.12–0.14 percentage points) (approximately 2 mmol/mol). However, the 2 measures were only moderately correlated (r = 0.68–0.71), and there was substantial variability in GMI at any given value of HbA1c (root mean squared error: 0.66–0.69 percentage points [7 to 8 mmol/mol]). Between 36% and 43% of participants had an absolute difference between HbA1c and GMI ≥0.5 percentage points (≥5 mmol/mol), and 9% to 18% had an absolute difference >1 percentage points (>11 mmol/mol). Discordance was higher in the Libre Pro than the Dexcom G4.

Conclusions

GMI may be an unreliable measure of glycemic control for patients with type 2 diabetes and should be interpreted cautiously in clinical practice.

Clinicaltrials.gov Registration Number: NCT02454153.
Preoperative Cell-Free DNA (cfDNA) in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer Treatment Outcome
Authors: Papadimitriou Maria-Alexandra , Levis Panagiotis , Kotronopoulos Georgios , Stravodimos Konstantinos , Avgeris Margaritis , Scorilas Andreas
Published: February 2023

Background

Tumor heterogeneity and lack of personalized prognosis leads to bladder cancer (BlCa) patients’ lifelong surveillance with invasive interventions, highlighting the need for modern minimally invasive tools for disease management. Herein, we have evaluated the clinical utility of preoperative serum cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in ameliorating patients’ risk-stratification and prognosis.

Methods

cfDNA was purified from 190 preoperative BlCa patients and 26 healthy individuals’ serum samples and quantified by 2 assays: an in-house quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay using LEP as reference control and a direct fluorometric assay using Qubit HS dsDNA. Capillary electrophoresis was performed in 31 samples for cfDNA fragment profiling. Tumor relapse/progression and metastasis/death were used as clinical endpoints for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer and muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), respectively.

Results

cfDNA profiling by capillary electrophoresis highlighted that total and fragment-related cfDNA levels were significantly increased in BlCa and associated with advance disease stages. Evaluation of cfDNA levels by both Qubit/qPCR displayed highly consistent results (rs = 0.960; P < 0.001). Higher cfDNA was correlated with MIBC and stronger risk for early metastasis (Qubit:hazard ratio [HR] = 3.016, P = 0.009; qPCR:HR = 2.918, P = 0.004) and poor survival (Qubit:HR = 1.898, P = 0.042; qPCR:HR = 1.888, P = 0.026) of MIBC patients. Multivariate cfDNA-fitted models led to superior risk stratification and net benefit for MIBC prognosis compared to disease established markers.

Conclusions

Elevated preoperative cfDNA levels are strongly associated with higher risk for short-term metastasis and poor outcome of MIBC, supporting modern noninvasive disease prognosis and management.
Outcomes with catheter-directed thrombolysis vs. catheter-directed embolectomy among patients with high-risk pulmonary embolism: a nationwide analysis
Authors: Sedhom Ramy , Elbadawi Ayman , Megaly Michael , Athar Ahmed , Bharadwaj Aditya S , Prasad Vinoy , Cameron Scott J , Weinberg Ido , Mamas Mamas A , Messerli Adrian W , Jaber Wissam , Elgendy Islam Y
Published: February 2023

Aims

To examine the shot-term outcomes with catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) vs. catheter-directed embolectomy (CDE) for high-risk pulmonary embolism (PE).

Methods and results

The Nationwide Readmissions Database was utilized to identify hospitalizations with high-risk PE undergoing CDE or CDT from 2016 to 2019. The main outcome was all-cause in-hospital mortality. Propensity score matching was used to compare the outcomes in both groups. Among 3216 high-risk PE hospitalizations undergoing catheter-directed interventions, 868 (27%) received CDE, 1864 (58%) received CDT, and 484 (15%) received both procedures. In the unadjusted analysis, the rate of all-cause in-hospital mortality was not different between CDE and CDT (39.6% vs. 34.2%, P = 0.07). After propensity score matching, there was no difference in the incidence of in-hospital mortality [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.28, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.95, 1.72, P = 0.10], intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) (adjusted OR 1.57, 95% CI: 0.75, 3.29, P = 0.23), or non-ICH bleeding (aOR: 1.17, 95% CI: 0.85, 1.62, P = 0.33). There were no differences in the length of stay, cost, and 30-day unplanned readmissions between both groups.

Conclusion

In this contemporary observational analysis of patients admitted with high-risk PE undergoing CDT or CDE, the rates of in-hospital mortality, ICH, and non-ICH bleeding events were not different.
Lessons from timing of ablation therapy for multi-drug refractory gestational atrial tachycardia with abruptio placentae: a case report
Authors: You Joseph , Pagan Eric , Mitra Raman
Published: February 2023

Background

Supraventricular tachycardia poses a clinical challenge during pregnancy, particularly if refractory to antiarrhythmic medications. Performing catheter ablation during pregnancy necessitates careful risk benefit analysis for both the mother and foetus, especially with left-sided ablations that may require post-procedural systemic anticoagulation.

Case summary

We describe a case of a 31-year-old pregnant woman with refractory atrial tachycardia which failed a multi-antiarrhythmic drug regimen and ultimately developed abruptio placentae, requiring a carefully staged ablation approach for definitive treatment.

Discussion

This case highlights the importance of taking into consideration the risks of post-procedural anticoagulation in the event of clinical complications in pregnancy such as abruptio placentae and coordinating carefully with gynaecologists to optimize maternal and foetal outcomes. Here, careful risk stratification was paramount to successfully navigate through the management of her atrial tachycardia while ensuring foetal viability.
Successful management of near-incessant bidirectional ventricular tachycardia in one-year-old child with COVID-19 infection: a case report
Authors: Ghazaryan Nare , Hovakimyan Tatevik
Published: February 2023

Background

The COVID-19 is an infectious disease, caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus. Cardiovascular complications of COVID-19 are reported more often, from inflammatory cardiac diseases to acute coronary syndromes, thromboembolic events and arrhythmias. Sometimes, these arrhythmias may be life threatening and require urgent intervention.

Case summary

This is a case of one-year-old boy, who was referred to our hospital because of premature ventricular complexes on ECG. The child had genetic chimerism with a karyotype of 46XY(12)/46XX(3) and small patent ductus arteriosus. We observed non-sustained episodes of bidirectional ventricular tachycardia (VT) on 24 h Holter monitor, which increased over time and caused multiple planned and urgent shocks, despite antiarrhythmic drugs and deep sedation and intubation. Patient was tested positive for COVID-19 using PCR. After thorough echocardiographic testing and a negative genetic analysis for arrhythmogenic disorders he was diagnosed with COVID-19 associated ventricular tachycardia, taking into account that he also developed multisystem inflammatory syndrome. Further, a significant decrease of ventricular activity was observed, which allowed us to implant a cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). Soon after the implantation the storm of ventricular tachycardia restarted with multiple shocks of the device. This time left partial thoracic sympathectomy was performed and the patient didn't have ICD shocks any more.

Discussion

COVID-19 infection can be associated with significant arrhythmias, including fatal ventricular arrhythmias also in children. Left partial thoracic sympathectomy can be a helpful option in patients with sustained ventricular tachycardia and multiple ICD shocks, in whom antiarrhythmic treatment or VT ablation is useless or not available.
Control variable selection in applied quantitative sociology: a critical review
Authors: Kohler Ulrich , Class Fabian , Sawert Tim
Published: February 2023

A review of all research papers published in the European Sociological Review in 2016 and 2017 (N = 118) shows that only a minority of papers clearly define the parameter of interest and provide sufficient reasoning for the selected control variables of the statistical analysis. Thus, the vast majority of papers does not reach minimal standards for the selection of control variables. Consequently, a majority of papers interpret biased coefficients, or statistics without proper sociological meaning. We postulate that authors and reviewers should be more careful about control variable selection. We propose graphical causal models in the form of directed acyclic graphs as an example for a parsimonious and powerful means to that end.
HDL cholesterol and clinical outcomes in diabetes mellitus
Authors: Ishibashi Takuma , Kaneko Hidehiro , Matsuoka Satoshi , Suzuki Yuta , Ueno Kensuke , Ohno Ryusei , Okada Akira , Fujiu Katsuhito , Michihata Nobuaki , Jo Taisuke , Takeda Norifumi , Morita Hiroyuki , Node Koichi , Yasunaga Hideo , Komuro Issei
Published: February 2023

Aims

HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) has been thought to protect against cardiovascular disease (CVD), whereas a U-shaped association of both low and extremely high HDL-C with a high mortality risk has been increasingly reported in recent years. However, whether this U-shaped association is universal regardless of the individual’s clinical background, including lifestyle diseases, remains unclear. We examined whether fasting plasma glucose modifies the U-shaped association between the HDL-C level and clinical outcomes.

Methods and results

This retrospective observational cohort study analysed data from the JMDC Claims Database between 2005 and 2021 for 3 282 389 participants without a history of CVD. The median age was 44 years (IQR, 36–51), and 1 878 164 participants (57.2%) were men. The median HDL-C level was 62 (IQR 52–74) mg/dL. The study participants were categorized according to fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels (<100 mg/dL, 100–125 mg/dL, and ≥126 mg/dL). The primary endpoint was composite CVD outcome, consisting of myocardial infarction, stroke, and all-cause death. During a mean follow-up period of 1181 ± 932 days, 35 233 composite CVD events were recorded. The association between low HDL-C and CVD risk increased with the FPG level, and the relationship of high HDL-C with CV outcome was prominent only in people with diabetes mellitus. A similar relationship was observed in the individual subgroups and in each CV outcome.

Conclusion

The U-shaped association between HDL-C and clinical outcomes was amplified with worsening glucose tolerance, suggesting a potential interaction between HDL-C levels and glycaemic status on clinical outcomes.
Soil Carbon Dioxide Emission along a Permafrost Hillslope inLarix gmeliniiForest in China
Authors: Luo Yuyang , Li Shangyuan , Ma Yingmei , Meng Fanxu , Wang Bo , Wang Xu , Wang Shusen
Published: February 2023

Quantification of regional soil carbon changes in boreal forests in China is difficult for high spatial heterogeneity, especially considering soil CH4 fluxes in permafrost regions. This study attempted to quantify the variation of soil CO2 emission and its relationship with other soil properties along a permafrost hillslope in Larix gmelinii Kuzen. forest. Using a closed-chamber method, the soil CO2 emission was measured at four slope positions in the Greater Xing’an Range of China in two growing seasons. The results showed that soil CO2 changes have high spatial variability in Larix gmelinii forest along the slope, and average soil CO2 emission at the upper part of the slope was 64% higher than at the bottom. Soil CO2 fluxes showed high positive correlation with soil temperature at 10 cm depth and fungi numbers and negative correlation with soil CH4 change. This study showed the complexity of CO2 emission and could provide data support for forest carbon measurement caused by hillslope in the boreal forest of China.

Study Implications: The forest area of Larix gmelinii Kuzen. in the Greater Xing’an Range accounts for 13.2% of the total forest area China. Therefore, the accurate calculation of carbon sequestration of Larix gmelinii forest is significant to the forest carbon measurement of China. However, due to the topographical complexity of the Greater Xing’an Range, the measurement of soil carbon has always been a problem. This study explored the soil carbon dioxide emissions at different slope positions along a hillslope and provided some methods and data support to solve measurement problems caused by hillslope in boreal forest in China.
Neural Mechanisms of Age-Related Loss of Muscle Performance and Physical Function
Authors: Clark Brian C
Published: February 2023

Background: This article discusses the putative neural mechanisms of age-related muscle weakness within the broader context of the development of function-promoting therapies for sarcopenia and age-related mobility limitations. We discuss here the evolving definition of sarcopenia and its primary defining characteristic, weakness.

Methods: This review explores the premise that impairments in the nervous system’s ability to generate maximal force or power contribute to sarcopenia.

Results: Impairments in neural activation are responsible for a substantial amount of age-related weakness. The neurophysiological mechanisms of weakness are multifactorial. The roles of supraspinal descending command mechanisms, spinal motor neuron firing responsivity, and neuromuscular junction transmission failure in sarcopenia are discussed. Research/clinical gaps and recommendations for future work are highlighted.

Conclusion: Further research is needed to map putative neural mechanisms, determine the clinical relevance of age-related changes in neural activation to sarcopenia, and evaluate the effectiveness of various neurotherapeutic approaches to enhancing physical function.
Challenges and Future Prospects of Targeting Myostatin/Activin A Signaling to Treat Diseases of Muscle Loss and Metabolic Dysfunction
Authors: Lee Se-Jin , Bhasin Shalender , Klickstein Lloyd , Krishnan Venkatesh , Rooks Daniel
Published: February 2023

Over the past 25 years, considerable progress has been made in terms of elucidating the regulatory and signaling mechanisms underlying the control of skeletal muscle mass by myostatin and other secreted proteins belonging to the transforming growth factor-β superfamily. Preclinical studies demonstrating the potential benefits of targeting the activities of these ligands have fueled the development of numerous biologics capable of perturbing this signaling pathway and increasing muscle mass and function. These biologics have been tested in numerous clinical trials for a wide range of indications characterized by muscle loss and excess adiposity. Here, we review the results of these trials and discuss some of the challenges and future prospects for targeting this signaling pathway to treat muscle and metabolic diseases. Myostatin inhibitors may improve metabolic outcomes by increasing muscle mass, and metabolic disorders may be attractive potential indications for these molecules.
Attitudes to COVID-19 Vaccines Among Australians During the Delta Variant Wave: A Qualitative Interview Study
Authors: Lupton Deborah
Published: February 2023

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 globally, a range of vaccines has been developed and delivered to reduce viral transmission and prevent COVID cases. This article reports findings from a qualitative research project involving telephone interviews with a diverse group of 40 adult Australians about their experiences of the COVID crisis. Interviews were conducted in late 2021 when Australians were dealing with the Delta variant outbreak and following a major effort on the part of government authorities to improve COVID-19 vaccination supplies and take-up. Responses to a question about COVID vaccines revealed that attitudes to and acceptance of COVID vaccines among this group were overwhelmingly positive. All participants had received at least one vaccine dose and the majority expressed views in support of mass vaccination against COVID. People who were hesitant or cautious about accepting COVID vaccination referred to the vaccines’ novelty and potential side effects. While many people were aware of debates about vaccine safety in the news media, trust in science and medical advice about COVID vaccines was strong. Participants wanted to protect themselves and others by accepting the recommended doses. Participants’ locale was a major factor in shaping experiences and stances on vaccines. The setting of government targets and mandates for vaccination was a key motivating factor. The goal of ‘getting back to normal’ was expressed as another reason for accepting vaccination, particularly for those living in areas that had been badly affected by high COVID cases and prolonged lockdowns.
Mind the gap: Danish school heads’ ability to implement a national physical activity school requirement
Authors: Nielsen Jonas Vestergaard , Koch Sofie , Skovgaard Thomas
Published: February 2023

In 2014, the Danish government introduced a wide-ranging reform of primary and lower secondary education that applied to all public schools. A distinctive feature was that it became mandatory for schools to provide an average of 45 min of daily physical activity (PA). The capacity for change of local school heads and the schools overall are considered key to fulfilling such a policy-driven requirement. The aim of this study is therefore to explore local school heads’ ability to implement the stated requirement of 45 min of daily PA within their local organizational capacity for change. Eleven semi-structured interviews were conducted across 11 schools. Respondents were school staff with management responsibilities (leading teachers with school management responsibilities, deputy heads and school heads). Results indicate that local school heads are central agents in converting the Danish school requirement of 45 min of daily PA into local action. This includes their ability to advance broad aims into concrete goals, secure supportive structures and organize the implementation strategy. Heads also need to support the staff in building sufficient knowledge capacity on how to arrange and incorporate PA into their daily practice, support the widespread dissemination of this knowledge across the school and reserve work hours for such activities. Assigning local PA ambassadors was particularly highlighted as important implementation support, as they can help build and disseminate knowledge while also broadcasting the school head’s strategy and focus on integrating and upholding students’ PA levels.
‘Football and dancing are in our blood’: culture promoting sports practice among immigrants in Europe
Authors: Monserrate-Gómez Sílvia , Rubio-Rico Lourdes , Cuesta-Martínez Roser , Raventós-Torner Rosa-Dolors , Roca-Biosca Alba , de Molina-Fernández Inmaculada
Published: February 2023

The current state of knowledge indicates that regular sports practice helps prevent and treat non-communicable diseases. The promotion of sport is, therefore, an important community health intervention for maintaining and improving the health of individuals and populations. Culture is identified as being associated with sports practice and sedentary behaviour of ethnic and national minorities. This study aims qualitatively to analyse the potential for culture as a basis for the promotion of sport among immigrants in four regions of Mediterranean Europe. Ten focus groups (n = 62) were conducted with immigrants—adults and young people over the age of 11—and people involved in promoting sport. Thematic content analysis was conducted. The results enabled identifying two major issues: sport as a vehicle for cultural expression and synergies between sport and culture. Accordingly, sport serves to express global, local and non-ethno-national cultural belonging. Regarding synergies, culture and sport feed each other positively and contribute to immigrants’ health and cultural well-being. Culture as a strategy for promoting sports practice requires an interdisciplinary approach that involves collaboration between healthcare practitioners and social sciences professionals. There is also a need to use the various axes of cultural definition—global, local and non-ethno-national—of those involved, and for them to take part themselves in designing sports activities. Moreover, promoting sport through non-ethno-national axes of cultural definition may help with immigrants’ social inclusion, as intercultural relations between migrants and newcomers are promoted.
Medication adherence to disease-modifying therapies among a cohort of Jordanian patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a multicentre cross-sectional study
Authors: Al-Keilani Maha S , Almomani Basima A
Published: February 2023

Objectives

To evaluate medication adherence to oral and parenteral disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) and to explore factors associated with medication non-adherence in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods

A cross-sectional multicentre study was conducted among patients with MS. Patients who attended outpatient clinics of neurology departments from three major referral centres were invited to participate in the study. Medication adherence was measured using the Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Adherence Questionnaire.

Key findings

A total of 319 patients with MS on DMT were included in the final analyses, their average age was 35 years and more than two-thirds (72.1%) of them were women. The adherent group comprised 46.7% of patients. The results of association analyses showed that factors that were associated with adherence level were female gender (P = 0.034), non-smoking/x-smoking (P = 0.007), school education (P = 0.019), unemployment (P = 0.006), history of previous DMT (P = 0.020), longer previous treatment duration (P = 0.008), and type of current DMT (P = 0.020). Among the non-adherent patients, there were significant differences between oral and parenteral DMT users in the importance of barriers to adherence (P < 0.001). Additionally, the degree of treatment satisfaction was higher in oral users than in parenteral users (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

The adherence level was quite low. Gender, smoking status, education, employment status, history of previous DMT, previous treatment duration and type of current DMT were associated with medication non-adherence in our patients with MS. These factors should be considered when evaluating medication adherence, and the modifiable factors may represent potential targets for interventions to improve pharmaceutical care planning in patients with MS.