bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of Gamma Irradiation in Dried Cocoa (Theobroma Cacao L.) Seeds Physico-Chemical Properties
Authors: Kadir I , Tanhindarto R P , Widyastuti H , Pratama I M , Lasmawati D
Published: May 2023

A preliminary study has been conducted on the Physicochemical properties of irradiated cocoa beans. Polyethylene (PE) plastic was used to pack dried cocoa beans. After that, samples were vacuumed and irradiated using the gamma rays at the levels dose of 2 kGy, 4 kGy, and 6 kGy as well as non-irradiated used as control. Physico-chemical properties were tested, including water content, pH, water activity (Aw), protein, fat, and polyphenols of irradiated cocoa beans, immediately after the irradiation process. The examination results revealed that moderate doses of 2 kGy up to 6 kGy did not affect the moisture content, pH, water activity (Aw), protein, and fat content of cocoa beans, whereas the polyphenol content tends to increase. Therefore, the moderate levels dose of irradiation 2 kGy up to 6 kGy can maintain the quality of cocoa beans such as moisture content, pH, water activity (Aw) as well as protein and fat content, whereas polyphenols content was increased. Further investigation is needed on the effect of gamma irradiation on the physicochemical properties of other cocoa beans and the microbiological properties and storage time.
Antioxidant activity and phytochemical compositions of Mucuna pruriens L. in different conditions of time and temperature extraction
Authors: Diniyah Nurud , Bulgis Umi Malikal , Novi Marchianti Ancah Caesarina
Published: May 2023

Mucuna pruriens L. is a type of legume with high total phenolic and flavonoid compounds and may be a source of antioxidants. Bioactive and chemical components contained in velvet beans were obtained through maceration. Temperature and time of extraction were needed to obtain the optimal extract. The present study aims to explore temperature (30-60°C) and time (120-360 minutes) of the extraction effects on total phenol compounds (TPC), total flavonoid compounds (TFC), total tannin compounds (TTC), and the antioxidant capacity: 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical - scavenging activity (DPPH-RSA), 2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid radical - scavenging activity (ABTS+-RSA), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of velvet beans using double factor experiments approach. All of the studies extraction conditions indicated a significant effect (p < 0.05) on yield, TPC, TFC, TTC, DPPH-RSA, ABTS+-RSA, and FRAP. These results pointed that velvet beans extract for 60°C at 360 minutes was the highest content of TPC, TFC, and TTC were obtained with values of 41.78 mg GAE/g, 309,65 mg QE/g, and 237,13 mg TAE/g. The antioxidant capacity was 38.15 mg AAEAC/g on DPPH-RSA, 6.36 mg AAEAC/g on ABTS+-RSA, and 35.06 mM FE2+ /g on FRAP.
Utilization of pruning leaves of coffee plants as a functional drink
Authors: Khamidah Aniswatul , Syafitri W. , Handoko H. , Pratomo A.G. , Zubaidi T. , Fauziah L , Daroini P.B. , Astuti D.W. , Nuarie L.R.B. , Susanti I. , Jumadi J. , Supriyanto S. , Abdurrahman A. M.
Published: May 2023

Pruning at coffee plants is very important to maintain productivity, growing optimal, healthy and continuous. During pruning, a lot of coffee leaves are wasted whereas coffee leaves contain bioactive compounds that can be used as a drink that tastes almost like coffee beans. The purpose of this research is to determine the influence of the type of leaf (location of the leaf on the branch) and the processing technique on the resulting coffee leaf drink. This research was conducted at Trenggalek from April to May 2020. This research used a factorial Randomized Block Design, with 2 factors, A = Type of Leaf [A1 = Top of the first leaf to the third below it ; A2 = fourth leaf to eighth (counted after the top of the leaf)]; B = Processing method, [B1 = Fermentation, B2 = Roasting (non-fermentation), B3 = Fresh processing]. Based on the panelist’s assessment, the most preferred coffee leaf drink is a made from the first leaves (starting from the top to the third leaves below it) through the fermentation process (treatment A1B1). In this treatment, the color’s value at 4.00 (like); flavors at 3,500 (likes); turbidity level 3.625 (likes); aroma 3,625 (likes) and overall parameters 3,750 (likes). This treatment produces a red drink color (typical of tea), a pleasant taste that is not too bitter, a distinctive aroma of tea and the appropriate level of turbidity (typical of tea). The results of the phytochemical screening for samples of dried coffee leaves showed that these coffee leaves contain flavonoids, tannins and saponins. Caffeine content of dry coffee leaves is 1.4%; Polyphenol content of 9.5% and antioxidants of 75.611%.
The percentages of chlorophyll, flavonoids, dietary fibre, and water content in cyclea barbata, premna oblongata miq, and cocculus orbiculatus leaves
Authors: Suharyo Seno , Handayani Iryan Dwi , Wahjoerini
Published: May 2023

Some plants whose leaves can be made into green grass jelly are Cyclea barbata (Cincau rambat bulu), Premna oblongata Miq (Cincau perdu), and Cocculus orbiculatus (Cincau jelly). However, the percentage of the content contained in each plant leaf is not necessarily the same. This study aims to determine the percentage of chlorophyll, flavonoids, dietary fibre, and water content from these three fresh leaves planted by researchers in Semarang. The analysis of chlorophyll content using spectrophotometry method with a 663 nm and 645 nm wavelength. The analysis of flavonoid content using the spectrophotometry method with a 420 nm wavelength. The study of dietary fibre content using the multienzyme method. And the analysis of water content using the heating method. Cyclea barbata leaves have the highest chlorophyll (9.806%) and flavonoids (0.1054%) content of all, while Premna oblongata Miq leaves have the highest water content (79.3370%) and dietary fibre (12.5125%) content of all.
Antibacterial Efficacy of Susu Banana (Musa paradisiaca L.) Peel Methanol Extract and The Total Contents of Flavonoid and Phenolic Compounds
Authors: Rita W S , Swantara I M D , Asih I A R A , Damayanti N L Y
Published: May 2023

Banana peels contain antimicrobial properties. The objectives of this study are to determine the antibacterial efficacy of the methanol extract of susu banana peels and to quantify the total amount of phenolic and flavonoid components present. Maceration techniques were used for the extraction. The agar diffusion method was applied to determine antibacterial efficacy. The UV-Vis Spectrophotometry technique was performed to determine the amounts of phenolic and flavonoid. S. aureus and E. coli were severely inhibited by the methanol extract. With an increase in extract concentration, the antibacterial activity increased. The Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) was 4 and 15%, but the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was 3 and 10%, respectively. The methanol extract had a total of 1883,73 mg QE/100 g extracts of flavonoids and 273,09 mg GAE/100 g extracts of phenolics, respectively.
Morphology and Decomposing Ability of Composite Bioplastic Carrageenan In Water And Soil
Authors: Djonaedi Emmidia , Yuniarti Endang , Kartika Rachmah N , Indah Kenanga , Ariq Nafi’ah , Asni N
Published: May 2023

Bioplastic should have the capability to dissolve in water and decompose in soil. However, bioplastics sold in the market need time to release their natural ingredients in water and soil. While bioplastics were made by mixing organic and inorganic materials to enhance their durability, they also increase the difficulty of decomposing in soil and water. Composite Bioplastic from carrageenan, Poly Vinyl Alcohol, and adding TiO2 must be researched to ensure bioplastic and its composites are easily assimilated with microorganisms in water and soil. This research uses two characteristics of water (neutral water and alkali water) and two characteristics of soil (neutral soiland compost from leftovers) as a decomposing media. Afterward eight days of observation in decomposing media, it is found that bioplastic from carrageenan + PVA and carrageenan + TiO2 lost almost 100% decompose in mixed soil. In contrast, the marketable bioplastic only 20% lost its weight. The surface structures immersed in various solutions are not significantly different from the initial look. Both composite bioplastics from carrageenan and marketable bioplastic enhance its weight while soaking in distillate water for two hours. The most significant water absorption is composite bioplastic from carrageenan with Polyvinyl Alcohol. Composite bioplastic from Carrageenan was also partially soluble within 8 days of immersion, and the biggest percentage of solubility test was bioplastic with an acid solution.
Effect of Soybean Waste Ash as Additional Ingredients Against the Compression Strenght of Concrete
Authors: Kustirini Anik , Budiningrum Diah Setyati , Purnijanto Bambang , Amanuyasa Yuda , Aji Juniarto Bayu
Published: May 2023

Concrete is an element that is needed in various kinds of civil engineering building construction. This research aims to investigate the effect of adding soybean waste ash on the compressive strength of concrete. Soybean waste ash content used in manufacturing concrete samples was 0%, 3%, 6%, and 9%. The planned compressive strength is 20 MPa. In this study, 9 samples of each test object were made with a cylindrical mold size of 15cm X 30cm. The compressive strength test was carried out when the concrete was 7 days, 14 days, and 28 days. It was concluded that the concrete with the added material of soybean waste ash increased in each test age. The maximum concrete compressive strength occurs at 28 days with 6% soybean waste ash content, with concrete compressive strength of 27.30 MPa.
Feed Durability and Feed Quality of Concentrate Feed with Addition of Monosodium Glutamate Manufacturing by-products
Authors: Aprilliza M N , Krishna N H , Mariyono  , Pamungkas D
Published: May 2023

This research was conducted at the Nutrition and Animal Feed Laboratory, Beef Cattle Research Institute, Grati, Pasuruan, East Java. This study aimed to determine the effect of the addition of MSG by-product on the durability and nutritional content of the concentrate. The material used in this research was concentrate, which contained several raw materials and was added with MSG by-product with several levels. The treatments applied were: Treatment A: 5 Kg Concentrate (C) + 12% MSG by product (OP); Treatment B: C + 16% OP; Treatment C: C + 20% OP; and Treatment D: C + 24% OP. Observations on variables were carried out for 4 weeks, and the data obtained were analyzed descriptively. The results showed that until the fourth week of storage, there were no differences in flavor, clumpiness, louse, and fungus in treatments A, B, C, and D. In the color of the concentrate, it was known that treatment D had a brownish color but was the darkest when compared to the other treatments and the dust produced by treatment A appears to have the highest dust. However, it was found that the total acid content in treatment D has the highest total acid content, as a result of adding the highest OP concentration and resulting in the highest total acid formation when fermentation occurs during the feed shelf life. Based on these data, it can be concluded that adding OP to the concentrate could maintain its durability and quality until the fourth week of storage in the feed warehouse.
Internally crosslinked alginate-based bioinks for the fabrication of in vitro hepatic tissue models
Authors: Guagliano Giuseppe , Volpini Cristina , Camilletti Jacopo , Donnaloja Francesca , Briatico-Vangosa Francesco , Visai Livia , Petrini Paola
Published: May 2023

Bioprinting is a key technique to fabricate cell-laden volumetric constructs with controlled geometry. It can be used not only to replicate the architecture of a target organ but also to produce shapes that allow for the mimicry, in vitro, of specific desired features. Among the various materials suitable to be processed with this technique, sodium alginate is currently considered one of the most appealing because of its versatility. To date, the most widespread strategies to print alginate-based bioinks exploit external gelation as a primary process, by directly extruding the hydrogel-precursor solution into a crosslinking bath or within a sacrificial crosslinking hydrogel, where the gelation takes place. In this work, we describe the print optimization and the processing of Hep3Gel: an internally crosslinked alginate and ECM-based bioink for the production of volumetric hepatic tissue models. We adopted an unconventional strategy, by moving from the reproduction of the geometry and the architecture of liver tissue to the use of bioprinting to fabricate structures that can promote a high degree of oxygenation, as is the case with hepatic tissue. To this end, the design of structures was optimized by employing computational methods. The printability of the bioink was then studied and optimized through a combination of different a priori and a posteriori analyses. We produced 14-layered constructs, thus highlighting the possibility to exploit internal gelation alone to directly print self-standing structures with finely controlled viscoelastic properties. Constructs loaded with HepG2 cells were successfully printed and cultured in static conditions for up to 12 d, underlining the suitability of Hep3Gel to support mid/long-term cultures.
Closed corner divertor with B × ∇B away from the divertor: a promising divertor scenario for tokamak power exhaust
Authors: XU Guosheng , JIA Guozhang , DING Genfan , TAO Yuqiang , MENG Lingyi , YU Lin , WANG Liang , LIU Jianbin
Published: May 2023

A major challenge facing the steady-state operation of tokamak fusion reactors is to develop a viable divertor solution with order-of-magnitude increase in power handling capability as compared with present experience. A recently developed divertor concept for this end has been tested recently on EAST tokamak through combining the effects of a closed divertor corner and
E × 
B
drifts. The
E × 
B
drifts in the divertor move particles towards the outer divertor corner area in the scrape-off layer for
B
× ∇B directed away from the divertor, which can significantly enhance the particle concentration there, facilitating divertor detachment. In recent EAST experiments, the effects have been demonstrated where the lowest electron temperature at the divertor plate is obtained with strike point located close to the corner in the horizontal target and with
B
× ∇B away from the divertor. These experimental results are in reasonable agreement with SOLPS-ITER simulations including drift effects, suggesting that the new divertor concept potentially provides a promising divertor solution for long-pulse operations of future tokamak fusion reactors with much higher power fluxes.
Pure water spots antineutrinos from nuclear reactors
Authors: Jarman Sam
Published: May 2023

Pure water has been used to detect low-energy antineutrinos produced by nuclear reactors for the first time.
‘Significant’ publishing inequalities affect non-white researchers
Authors: Randall Ian
Published: May 2023

Researchers who are not white face “significant” inequalities when publishing their work, according to an analysis of a million scientific papers published between 2001 and 2020.
Accelerating European neutron science
Authors: McEntee Joe
Published: May 2023

Helmut Schober, director-general of the €3bn European Spallation Source in Lund, Sweden, talks to Joe McEntee about building one of the world’s most powerful neutron facilities.
What’s in a rename?
Authors: Crease Robert P
Published: May 2023

Robert P Crease reveals what Physics World readers told him about whether we should airbrush out physicists who’ve done bad things in the past – and what he thinks.
Ask me anything: Clare Burrage
Authors: Tesh Sarah
Published: May 2023

Clare Burrage is a cosmologist and professor of physics at the University of Nottingham, where her research focuses on understanding what the universe is made of. She has recently won the 2023 Blavatnik Award for Young Scientists in the UK in Physical Sciences and Engineering for her work on detecting dark energy.
High rolling on high-Tc
Authors: Niroula Pradeep
Published: May 2023

From Ferris wheels to fermions, Pradeep Niroula shares the highs and lows of the annual physicist pilgrimage that is the March Meeting of the American Physical Society (APS).
Preparation and performance optimization of resistive flexible temperature sensors prepared by inkjet printing method
Authors: Wang Shuilian , Hu Yuxuan , Ma Lisha , Cui Xiaoqing , Peng Yuan , Zheng Jiahui , Qiao Lu , Ma Haitao , Wang Rui , Zhang Hongyan
Published: May 2023

In recent years, inkjet printing has been widely used in the field of flexible sensor preparation. However, the effects of inkjet printing parameters and post-processing conditions on sensor performance have not been systematically investigated. Simple fabrication and optimized performance are eagerly desired for the practical use of temperature sensors in wearable healthcare devices. Herein, we report the resistive flexible temperature sensor fabricated on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs)-based ink using an inkjet printer. We have thoroughly investigated and optimized the sensitivity and linearity between the resistance and temperature of inkjet-printed temperature sensors by adjusting droplet spacing and curing conditions (temperature and time). In conclusion, the droplet spacing of 20 µm and the curing condition of 30 min at 150 °C were determined as the optimized parameters. With optimized process parameters, the temperature sensor has a high sensitivity of 0.084 °C−1 and a linear coefficient of 0.999 between relative resistance and temperature in the range of 30 °C–100 °C. Furthermore, it has a fast response time (7 s) and high stability against repeated bending deformation of 500 cycles. The prepared wearable sensors have potential application prospects in temperature monitoring.
VI—On Type Distinctions and Expressivity
Authors: Florio Salvatore
Published: May 2023

Quine maintained that philosophical and scientific theorizing should be conducted in an untyped language, which has just one style of variables and quantifiers. By contrast, typed languages, such as those advocated by Frege and Russell, include multiple styles of variables and matching kinds of quantification. Which form should our theories take? In this article, I argue that expressivity does not favour typed languages over untyped ones.
Nightingale: web components for protein feature visualization
Authors: Salazar Gustavo A , Luciani Aurélien , Watkins Xavier , Kandasaamy Swaathi , Rice Daniel L , Blum Matthias , Bateman Alex , Martin Maria
Published: May 2023

Motivation

The visualization of biological data is a fundamental technique that enables researchers to understand and explain biology. Some of these visualizations have become iconic, for instance: tree views for taxonomy, cartoon rendering of 3D protein structures or tracks to represent features in a gene or protein, for instance in a genome browser. Nightingale provides visualizations in the context of proteins and protein features.

Results

Nightingale is a library of re-usable data visualization web components that are currently used by UniProt and InterPro, among other projects. The components can be used to display protein sequence features, variants, interaction data, 3D structure, etc. These components are flexible, allowing users to easily view multiple data sources within the same context, as well as compose these components to create a customized view.

Availability and implementation

Nightingale examples and documentation are freely available at https://ebi-webcomponents.github.io/nightingale/. It is distributed under the MIT license, and its source code can be found at https://github.com/ebi-webcomponents/nightingale.
FLONE: fully Lorentz network embedding for inferring novel drug targets
Authors: Yue Yang , McDonald David , Hao Luoying , Lei Huangshu , Butler Mark S , He Shan
Published: May 2023

Motivation

To predict drug targets, graph-based machine-learning methods have been widely used to capture the relationships between drug, target and disease entities in drug–disease–target (DDT) networks. However, many methods cannot explicitly consider disease types at inference time and so will predict the same target for a given drug under any disease condition. Meanwhile, DDT networks are usually organized hierarchically carrying interactive relationships between involved entities, but these methods, especially those based on Euclidean embedding cannot fully utilize such topological information, which might lead to sub-optimal results. We hypothesized that, by importing hyperbolic embedding specifically for modeling hierarchical DDT networks, graph-based algorithms could better capture relationships between aforementioned entities, which ultimately improves target prediction performance.

Results

We formulated the target prediction problem as a knowledge graph completion task explicitly considering disease types. We proposed FLONE, a hyperbolic embedding-based method based on capturing hierarchical topological information in DDT networks. The experimental results on two DDT networks showed that by introducing hyperbolic space, FLONE generates more accurate target predictions than its Euclidean counterparts, which supports our hypothesis. We also devised hyperbolic encoders to fuse external domain knowledge, to make FLONE enable handling samples corresponding to previously unseen drugs and targets for more practical scenarios.

Availability and implementation

Source code and dataset information are at: https://github.com/arantir123/DDT_triple_prediction.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics Advances online.
Molecular basis of FAAH-OUT-associated human pain insensitivity
Authors: Mikaeili Hajar , Habib Abdella M , Yeung Charlix Wai-Lok , Santana-Varela Sonia , Luiz Ana P , Panteleeva Kseniia , Zuberi Sana , Athanasiou-Fragkouli Alkyoni , Houlden Henry , Wood John N , Okorokov Andrei L , Cox James J
Published: May 2023

Chronic pain affects millions of people worldwide and new treatments are needed urgently. One way to identify novel analgesic strategies is to understand the biological dysfunctions that lead to human inherited pain insensitivity disorders. Here we report how the recently discovered brain and dorsal root ganglia-expressed FAAH-OUT long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) gene, which was found from studying a pain-insensitive patient with reduced anxiety and fast wound healing, regulates the adjacent key endocannabinoid system gene FAAH, which encodes the anandamide-degrading fatty acid amide hydrolase enzyme.

We demonstrate that the disruption in FAAH-OUT lncRNA transcription leads to DNMT1-dependent DNA methylation within the FAAH promoter. In addition, FAAH-OUT contains a conserved regulatory element, FAAH-AMP, that acts as an enhancer for FAAH expression.

Furthermore, using transcriptomic analyses in patient-derived cells we have uncovered a network of genes that are dysregulated from disruption of the FAAH-FAAH-OUT axis, thus providing a coherent mechanistic basis to understand the human phenotype observed.

Given that FAAH is a potential target for the treatment of pain, anxiety, depression and other neurological disorders, this new understanding of the regulatory role of the FAAH-OUT gene provides a platform for the development of future gene and small molecule therapies.
Health Care in Service of Life: Preventative Medicine in Light of the Analogia Entis
Authors: Hirschfeld Mary
Published: May 2023

The medicalization of risk rests on foundational assumptions shared by economics and public health. Economists, however, think in terms of pursuing an array of goods, and hence, they offer useful critiques of the irrationality involved in trying to subordinate all goods to one narrow good, like avoiding death from a particular disease. Many of our approaches to health do not appear to be fully rational, suggesting that the deeper motivation lying behind our concerns about health are to be found in something other than the impulse to extend human lives as much as possible. This paper draws on the theology of St. Thomas Aquinas to sketch a richer way of thinking about the goods we pursue in health care that can help us to avoid the pitfalls associated with the medicalization of risk.
Evaluation of advanced imaging biomarkers at kidney failure in patients with ADPKD: a pilot study
Authors: Wigerinck Stijn , Gregory Adriana V , Smith Byron H , Iliuta Ioan-Andrei , Hanna Christian , Chedid Maroun , Kaidbay Hasan-Daniel N , Senum Sarah R , Shukoor Shebaz , Harris Peter C , Torres Vicente E , Kline Timothy L , Chebib Fouad T
Published: May 2023

Background

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) presents with variable disease severity and progression. Advanced imaging biomarkers may provide insights into cystic and non-cystic processes leading to kidney failure in different age groups.

Methods

This pilot study included 39 ADPKD patients with kidney failure, stratified into three age groups (<46, 46–56, >56 years old). Advanced imaging biomarkers were assessed using an automated instance cyst segmentation tool. The biomarkers were compared with an age- and sex-matched ADPKD cohort in early chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Results

Ht-total parenchymal volume correlated negatively with age at kidney failure. The median Ht-total parenchymal volume was significantly lower in patients older than 56 years. Cystic burden was significantly higher at time of kidney failure, especially in patients who reached it before age 46 years. The cyst index at kidney failure was comparable across age groups and Mayo Imaging Classes. Advanced imaging biomarkers showed higher correlation with Ht-total kidney volume in early CKD than at kidney failure. Cyst index and parenchymal index were relatively stable over 5 years prior to kidney failure, whereas Ht-total cyst volume and cyst parenchymal surface area increased significantly.

Conclusion

Age-related differences in advanced imaging biomarkers suggest variable pathophysiological mechanisms in ADPKD patients with kidney failure. Further studies are needed to validate the utility of these biomarkers in predicting disease progression and guiding treatment strategies.
Changes in laboratory results in transgender individuals on hormone therapy: a retrospective study and practical approach
Authors: Boekhout-Berends Evelien T M , Wiepjes Chantal M , Nota Nienke M , Schotman Hans H M , Heijboer Annemieke C , den Heijer Martin
Published: May 2023

Objective

Interpreting laboratory results for transgender individuals who started hormone therapy requires careful consideration, specifically for analytes that have sex-specific reference intervals. In literature, conflicting data exist on the effect of hormone therapy on laboratory parameters. By studying a large cohort, we aim to define what reference category (male or female) is most appropriate to use for the transgender population over the course of gender-affirming therapy.

Methods

A total of 2201 people (1178 transgender women and 1023 transgender men) were included in this study. We analyzed hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Ht), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), creatinine, and prolactin, at 3 different time points: pretreatment, during hormone therapy, and after gonadectomy.

Results

For transgender women, Hb and Ht levels decrease after initiation of hormone therapy. The concentration of liver enzymes ALT, AST, and ALP decreases whereas the levels of GGT do not change statistically significantly. Creatinine levels decrease whereas prolactin levels rise in transgender women during gender-affirming therapy. For transgender men, Hb and Ht values increase after starting hormone therapy. Liver enzymes and creatinine levels increase statistically significantly as well upon hormone therapy while prolactin concentrations decrease. Overall, reference intervals in transgender people after 1 year on hormone therapy resembled those of their affirmed gender.

Conclusions

Generating transgender-specific reference intervals is not essential to correctly interpret laboratory results. As a practical approach, we recommend to use the reference intervals of the affirmed gender from 1 year onwards after starting hormone therapy.
Previous antithrombotic therapy does not have an impact on the in-hospital mortality of patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding
Authors: Hozman Marek , Hassouna Sabri , Grochol Lukas , Waldauf Petr , Hracek Tomas , Pazdiorova Blanka Zborilova , Adamec Stanislav , Osmancik Pavel
Published: May 2023

The association between antithrombotics (ATs) and the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding is well known; however, data regarding the influence of ATs on outcomes are scarce. The goals of this study are: (i) to assess the impact of prior AT therapy on in-hospital and 6-month outcomes and (ii) to determine the re-initiation rate of the ATs after a bleeding event. All patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGB) who underwent urgent gastroscopy in three centres from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019 were retrospectively analysed. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used. Among 333 patients [60% males, mean age 69.2 (±17.3) years], 44% were receiving ATs. In multivariate logistic regression, no association between AT treatment and worse in-hospital outcomes was observed. Development of haemorrhagic shock led to worse survival [odds ratio (OR) 4.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.9–10.2, P < 0.001; after PSM: OR 5.3, 95% CI 1.8–15.7, P = 0.003]. During 6-months follow-up, higher age (OR 1.0, 95% CI 1.0–1.1, P = 0.002), higher comorbidity (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.2–1.7, P < 0.001), a history of cancer (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.6–8.1, P < 0.001) and a history of liver cirrhosis (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.0–4.4, P = 0.029) were associated with higher mortality. After a bleeding episode, ATs were adequately re-initiated in 73.8%. Previous AT therapy does not worsen in-hospital outcomes in after UGB. Development of haemorrhagic shock predicted poor prognosis. Higher 6-month mortality was observed in older patients, patients with more comorbidities, with liver cirrhosis and cancer.
Physical activity levels and statin therapy: differences between symptomatic and asymptomatic statin users
Authors: Allard N A E , Bakker E A , Janssen L , Baltussen D C J , Hopman M T E , Timmers S , Assendelft W J J , Van De Laar F A
Published: May 2023

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Introduction

Combining statin treatment and physical activity is highly effective to reduce cardiovascular diseases. Statin use may exacerbate statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS), making an active lifestyle more difficult for statin users. It is, however, unknown whether daily activity patterns differ between symptomatic and asymptomatic statin users.

Purpose

To objectively assess physical activity levels and sedentary time and compare these between long-term statin users with or without muscle complaints.

Methods

Ninety-seven symptomatic (66±9 years, 74% male) and 97 asymptomatic statin users, matched for age and gender in a 1:1 ratio, were recruited from general practitioners offices. Physical activity patterns were measured using the activPAL3 micro monitor, which was attached to the upper right thigh. Participants wore the activity monitor 24 hours per day during 7 consecutive days and were asked to maintain normal daily activities.

Results

Symptomatic statin users performed less physical activity of moderate to vigorous intensity per day (61.1 min, IQR: 43.1-77.0 min) compared to asymptomatic statin users (69.1 min, IQR: 50.7-94.6 min; P=0.02). There were no differences in physical activity levels of light intensity or sedentary time between the statin groups. Symptomatic statin users took less steps per day (7560 steps, IQR: 5649-9692 steps) compared to asymptomatic statins users (8721 steps, IQR 6306-11791 steps; P=0.02).

Conclusion

Symptomatic statin users have reduced levels of physical activity compared to asymptomatic statin users. These findings highlight the clinical relevance to explore possibilities for symptomatic statin users to increase physical activity levels and the associated health benefits.
Sodium content in Swedish processed food items compared to other countries
Authors: Karlsson K , Radholm K , Dunford E , Wu J , Neal B , Sundstrom J
Published: May 2023

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

Dietary sodium has a dose-response relationship with cardiovascular disease, and sodium intake in Sweden exceeds national and international recommendations. Two thirds of dietary sodium intake comes from processed foods, and adults in Sweden eat more processed foods than any other European country. We hypothesised that sodium content in Swedish processed foods is higher than other countries due to the high sodium intake in the Swedish population.

Purpose

To investigate sodium content in Swedish processed food items, and how it differs from Australia, France, Hong Kong, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Method

Data were collected from retailers by trained research staff using standardised methods. Ten food categories were compared using Kruskal-Wallis test of ranks.

Results

Compared to other countries, Sweden had among the highest sodium content in the ‘dairy’ and ‘convenience foods’ categories, but among the lowest in ‘cereal and grain products’, ‘seafood and seafood products’ and ‘snack foods’ categories. The highest sodium contents in the Swedish data were found in the ‘meat and meat products’ category.

Conclusion

Contrary to our hypothesis, Swedish processed foods had overall lower sodium content than most other included countries. Sodium content differed substantially between countries in all food categories. Swedish foods had higher sodium content than other countries in increasingly consumed food categories.
Left atrial mechanics and functional capacity in HFpEF patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
Authors: Katbeh A , Kodeboina M , Kodeboina M , Penicka M , Penicka M , Van Camp G , Van Camp G , Bartunek J , Bartunek J , Vanderheyden M , Vanderheyden M
Published: May 2023

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

Exercise capacity and ventilatory efficiency are often impaired in heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Since left atrial (LA) pressure, particularly during exercise plays a major role in the exercise intolerance observed in these patients, we aimed to characterize the contribution of resting LA mechanical properties, assessed by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography upon exercise capacity.

Objective

To evaluate relationship between LA mechanics, measured by LA strain (LAS) and parameters of exercise capacity, assessed by cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in HFpEF patients with dyspnea and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods

The study included 23 consecutive patients (63 ± 8 years, 83 % males) with dyspnea (NYHA≥II), paroxysmal AF and preserved LV ejection fraction (≥50%), referred for elective pulmonary vein ablation. The probability of HFpEF was estimated using H2FPEF score. During sinus rhythm, all patients underwent speckle tracking echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise testing by treadmill. Peak oxygen uptake (VO2max) served as measure of functional capacity and ventilation/carbon dioxide output (VE/VCO2) slope as surrogate of ventilation/perfusion mismatch.

Results

Out of all the echocardiographic indices, only LA contractile strain and strain rate showed significant correlation with peak VO2 (both p < 0.05). All three strain components of LA phasic function, i.e. reservoir, conduit and contractile LAS, had significant relationship with VE/VCO2 slope (all p<0.050). Patients with LA strain rate above the median had significantly higher VE/VCO2 slope (p=0.025) and lower peak VO2 (p=0.010). In contrast, no correlations were observed between exercise parameters and LA volumes or LA emptying fraction or any other echocardiographic indices.

Conclusions

In HFpEF patients, VO2 max and VE/VCO2 slope are closely related to LA contractile strain, suggesting that abnormalities in LA mechanics may contribute to the blunted exercise capacity observed. Therefore, these markers can be used as an echocardiographic surrogate of functional capacity in HFpEF patients with paroxysmal AF.
Impact of Heart Failure Telemonitoring on unplanned hospitalization: Findings from the non-invasive cardiac telemonitoring programme
Authors: Kaihara T , Falter M , Scherrenberg M , Xu L , Boesmans S , Shkedy Z , Dendale P
Published: May 2023

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

Telemonitoring is an intervention that has shown to improve care of heart failure (HF) patients and thus plays a major role in preventing frequent hospital visits.

Purpose

This study examined the impact of HF telemonitoring on unplanned hospitalization.

Methods

Patients admitted to the hospital for HF and who agreed to use the non-invasive telemonitoring system were candidates in the study. It measured body weight, blood pressure and heart rate each day, and an alert was made if they exceeded a certain limit. The study contained data from 97 patients. The primary endpoint was a composite of unplanned cardiovascular hospitalization and all-cause mortality. Patients were classified into three groups: hospitalized (for any of the endpoints) during the telemonitoring period (Group 1 ["monitoring failure"]), hospitalized after the telemonitoring period (Group 2), and not hospitalized (Group 3).

Results

Median telemonitoring period was 222 [141, 518] days. The number of patients in each group was 18, 18, and 61. Patients in Group 1 were older (75 vs. 63 years, p < 0.001) and had poorer estimated glomerular filtration rate (31 vs. 62 mL/min/1.73m2, p < 0.001) than those in Group 3. Length of hospitalization periods at the endpoint tended to be longer in Group 1 than Group 2 (8.5 [6, 14] vs. 5 [4, 10] days, p = 0.084).

Conclusion

If heart failure telemonitoring fails to prevent unplanned hospitalization, the length of that hospitalization period may be longer than if the unplanned hospitalization could have been prevented.
The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on cardiovascular diseases hospitalization, management and mortality in Switzerland
Authors: Maung K , Marques-Vidal P
Published: May 2023

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

COVID-19 pandemic led to a reduction in hospital admissions and intervention for other diseases in many countries.

Purpose

We aimed to assess the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on cardiovascular disease (CVD) hospitalizations, management and mortality in Switzerland.

Methods

Swiss hospital discharge and mortality data for period 2017-2020. CVD hospitalizations, CVD interventions and CVD mortality were assessed before (2017-2019) and during (2020) the pandemic.

Results

Compared to 2017-2019, 2020 was characterized by a reduction of CVD admissions in age groups 65-84 and ≥85 by approximately 3,700 and 1,700 cases, respectively, and by an increase in the percentage of admissions with a Charlson Index >8. The total number of CVD-related deaths decreased from 21,042 in 2017 to 19,901 in 2019, and increased to 20,511 in 2020, with an estimated excess of 1,181 deaths. This increase was due to out-of-hospital deaths (+1400), while the number of in-hospital deaths decreased from 5030 in 2019 to 4796 in 2020. The total number of cardiovascular interventions increased from 55,181 in 2017 to 57,864 in 2019, and decreased in 2020, with an estimated reduction of 4,472 interventions; PTCA was the exception, as the number and percentage of emergency PTCA increased. The preventive measures applied against COVID-19 inverted the seasonal pattern of CVD admissions, the highest number of admissions being found in summer and the lowest in winter. Preventive measures were also followed by a decrease in CVD admission (figure).

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a reduction in CVD hospital admissions, planned CVD interventions, an increase in total and out-of-hospital mortality, and a change in seasonal patterns.
Multimodality imaging for negative T waves among athletes with normal transthoracic echocardiography: prevalence and prognosis of structural heart disease
Authors: Conte E , Pizzamiglio F , Dessanai M , Mushtaq S , Schillaci M , Marchetti D , Melotti E , Volpato V , Tondo C , Bartorelli A , Andreini D
Published: May 2023

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Introduction

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of structural heart disease (SHD) among competitive athletes with negative T waves without pathological findings at transthoracic echocardiogram, evaluated at cardiac MRI and cardiac CT.

Methods

From a prospective register of 450 athletes consecutively evaluated during a second-level cardiological examination, we retrospectively identified all subjects with the following inclusion criteria: 1)not previously known cardiovascular disease; 2)negative T waves in leads other than V1-V2; 3)normal transthoracic echocardiogram. Patients underwent cardiac MRI and CT. The primary endpoint was the diagnosis of definite SHD after multimodality imaging evaluation. A follow-up was collected for a combined end-point of sudden death, resuscitated sudden cardiac death and hospitalization for any cardiovascular causes.

Results

A total of 55 competitive athletes were finally enrolled (50 males, 90%) with a mean age of 27.5±14.1 years old. Among the population enrolled 16 (29.1%) athletes had a final diagnosis of SHD. At multivariate analysis, only deep negative T waves remained statistically significant [OR(95%CI) 7.81(1.24–49.08), p=0.0285]. Contemporary identification of deep negative T waves and complex arrhythmias in the same patients appeared to have an incremental diagnostic value. No events were collected at 49.3±12.3 months of follow-up.

Conclusion

In an unselected cohort of athletes with negative T waves at ECG, cardiac MRI (and selected use of cardiac CT) enabled the identification of 16 (29.1%) subjects with SHD despite normal transthoracic echocardiography. Deep negative T waves and complex ventricular arrhythmias were the only clinical characteristic associated with SHD diagnosis.
Right ventricular longitudinal systolic strain as a tool to predict the progression to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in hypertensive patients
Authors: Marketou M A R I A , Kampanieris E , Maragkoudakis S , Zacharis E , Karagounis T , Alifrangie A , Lasithiotaki G , Fragkiadakis K , Fragkiadoulakis I , Pateromichelakis T , Plevritaki A , Savva E , Kochiadakis G
Published: May 2023

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

Accurate assessment of right ventricular (RV) systolic function is important, as it is an established prognostic marker in cardiac diseases. Speckle-tracking echocardiography is a sensitive tool for detection of subclinical left ventricular impairment in essential hypertension.

Purpose

Our aim was to investigate the usefulness of RV longitudinal peak systolic strain (GLS) to predict the risk of future development of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in patients with essential hypertension.

Methods

We performed a retrospective observational study that included 453 patients with essential hypertension (266 males, aged 63 ± 18 years) and 175 normotensives (100 males, aged 66 ± 15 years). Standard echocardiography was performed at the initial visit. 2D speckle tracking echocardiography with evaluation of longitudinal strain in each segment of the RV (basal: RVLS-B; mid: RVLS-M, apical: RVLS-A) and global RV free-wall strain (RVLS-G) were also performed. We studied the cases of new onset HFpEF in hypertensive patients.

Results

The median follow up was 85 months (22–122). RVLS-G, RVLS-B and RVLS-M were significantly impaired in hypertensives compared to controls (RVLS-G: -16.1 ± 9.7 vs -20.0 ± 5.1, RVLS-B: -11.7 ± 3.7 vs -20.6 ± 3.3, RVLS-M:-16.3 ± 5.4 vs -20.7 ± 4.9, p < 0.05 for all). No significant difference was detected for the RVLS-A (-20.1 ± 3.8 for hypertensives vs -21.31 ± 6.5 for controls, p=NS). Thirty two hypertensive patients developed HFpEF (7 %). A cut-off RVLS-G worse than -17 % was significantly associated with new onset HFpEF (p< 0.001) in those patients. A multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that RVLS-G had independent significant prognostic value for the risk of HFpEF (HR: 10.5, 95% confidence interval (CI): 7.3-25.4).

Conclusions

Essential hypertension leads to a decrease of RVLS which is strong predictor of a new onset HFpEF. Future studies are needed to assess the significance of these findings and the effects of treatment.
Determinants of Hospitalisation and Intubation in COVID-19 Infection
Authors: Xuereb R A , Gatt J , Barbara J , Tabone Adami N , Darmanin J , Erasmi R , Xuereb R G , Barbara C , Fava S , Magri C J
Published: May 2023

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

The novel Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the unexpected pandemic, has resulted in significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, with frail and immunocompromised subjects being more severely affected. Nonetheless, it is still unclear which patients are most adversely affected by COVID-19.

Purpose

To assess determinants of severe COVID-19, as suggested by hospitalisation and need for intubation.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in subjects who were diagnosed with COVID-19 following nasopharyhngeal swabbing. All participants were asked whether they required hospitalisation or intubation. Furthermore, they were submitted to a standardized questionnaire regarding past medical history, drug history, smoking history and alcohol intake. This was done via telephone call.

Results

In total, 2,650 subjects accepted to participate in this survey. The median age of the participants was 44 years (IQR: 31-55 years). Of these, 48.6% were males while 51.2% were females. Five per cent of the study population were hospitalised in view of severe illness and of these 0.7% were intubated. Univariate followed by multivariate analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 23.0. In univariate analysis, age, gender, smoking, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, ischaemic heart disease, history of cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, heart failure, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, atrial fibrillation, obesity, chronic kidney disease as well as being on immunosuppressant treatment either in view of HIV or following transplant surgery, were found to be statistically significant. However, on multivariate analysis, age (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.05-1.08, p<0.001), male gender (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.27-2.68, p=0.001), hypertension (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.21-2.73, p=0.004), chronic kidney disease (OR 66.67, 95% CI 7.04-500, p<0.001) and chronic respiratory disease (OR 3.19, 95% CI 1.92-5.32, p<0.001) were shown to be independent determinants of hospitalisation. Likewise, univariate analysis was performed to assess for variables that are associated with intubation. Here, age, male gender, smoking, hypertension, the presence of heart failure, atrial fibrillation and chronic kidney disease were found to be statistically significant. However, on multivariate analysis, age (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.004-1.113, p= 0.034) and chronic kidney disease (OR 22.22, 95% CI 1.87-250, p= 0.014) were found to be independent determinants.

Conclusion

In the study population, chronic kidney disease was the strongest predictor of severe COVID-19 disease, followed by chronic respiratory disease, hypertension, male gender and increasing age. Further follow-up with regards outcome of the hospitalised population is merited.