bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lactulose therapy for patients with cirrhosis, portal hypertension, and poor patient-reported outcomes: The Mi-Kristal trial
Authors: Tapper Elliot B. , Ospina Erin , Salim Najat , Chen Xi , Nikirk Samantha
Published: April 2023

Background and Aims:

Poor patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are common in cirrhosis, including poor sleep and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). HE is a major driver of poor PROs. Many clinicians initiate lactulose therapy to address poor PROs. PRO-triggered therapy, however, has not been studied till date.

Methods:

We conducted a 28-day randomized trial of crystalline lactulose therapy (20 g BID) compared with no HE-directed therapy in 52 patients with cirrhosis, portal hypertension, no prior HE, and high Work Productivity and Activity Impairment scores (0–10) attributed to cirrhosis. The primary outcome was change in global HRQOL measured with Short Form-8 Health Survey. Secondary outcomes included change in Animal Naming Test score, Work Productivity and Activity Impairment, and sleep quality (scored “very bad” to “very good”).

Approach and Results:

Overall, 52 patients underwent randomization; 3 subjects withdrew from the crystalline lactulose arm (1 before medication initiation, 1 due to an unrelated condition, and 1 due to high baseline bowel movements). The average age was 60 years, the average Model for Endstage Liver Disease—Sodium score was 10.5, and 56% of the patients had ascites. Baseline bowel movements were 2.3/day, with 35% of the patients having Bristol Stool Scale >4. At 28 days, there was no improvement in HRQOL: patients receiving crystalline lactulose had an 8.1-point (95% CI: 3.7–12.4) increase compared with 6.6 (95% CI: 2.3–10.8) in the control group (p = 0.6). Lactulose was associated with a significantly (p = 0.002) increased Animal Naming Test score (3.7, 95% CI: 2.1–5.4) versus the control group (0.2, 95% CI: −1.7, 1.4). Lactulose users reported more good sleep (92% vs. 52%, p = 0.001) and lower activity impairment (3.0 vs. 4.8, p = 0.02).

Conclusions:

Lactulose improves sleep and activity impairment in patients with poor PROs. We did not observe any improvement in global HRQOL after 28 days using the Short Form-8 Health Survey instrument.
State Experiences Linking Medicaid Data With Birth Certificates and Other Data Sources
Authors: Predmore Zachary , Heins Sara , Hoch Emily , Baxi Sangita , Grigorescu Violanda , Smith Scott
Published: April 2023

Background:

Many states link Medicaid claims with birth certificates or other data, often to inform programs and policies aimed at improving maternal and child health (MCH).

Objectives:

To develop an up-to-date understanding of the extent of the use of linked Medicaid claims for MCH research by state.

Research Design:

We completed a structured literature review, developed an inventory of linkage efforts, and facilitated semistructured discussions with representatives from 9 states with established Medicaid claims data linkages to understand the technical details of linkages, experiences creating and maintaining linkages, and barriers or facilitators to establishing linkages.

Results:

We identified 45 peer-reviewed journal articles representing 22 states that used linked Medicaid data to study MCH and 33 states and territories that publicly report on Medicaid data linkages for a total of 39 states with any in-scope linkage. Discussions revealed that linkages often arose from the desire to answer a specific question or evaluate a program but then expanded to other use cases and that most states enable external researchers to access data for analysis. Respondents provided a few examples of where linked birth certificate data were used for health outcomes research.

Conclusion:

Additional resources including technical assistance for identifying best practices along with interagency collaboration could overcome barriers and facilitate a coordinated and consolidated approach across states.
Urinary tract infections older adults at Mohammed VI University Hospital of Oujda: case series
Authors: Saddari Abderrazak , Benhamza Noussaiba , Dalli Mohammed , Ezrari Said , Benaissa Elmostapha , Ben Lahlou Yassine , Elouennass Mostafa , Maleb Adil
Published: April 2023

Background:

Due to its incidence, clinical polymorphism and severity, urinary tract infection is an important problem in elderly. The objectives of the authors’ work were to establish the bacteriological profile of urinary tract infection and/or colonization in the elderly and then to study drug resistance of bacterial strains isolated.

Materials and methods:

This is a 36 months retrospective study from 22 March 2016 to 11 May 2019. The study included urinary specimens of persons aged 65 years or over, hospitalized or consulting at the authors’ hospital. Urines were processed according to the recommendations of the medical microbiology reference system and European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing.

Results:

The authors collected 6552 requests for cytobacteriological examination of urine. Most of the specimens was collected in the middle stream (n=5503; 84%). Cultures were sterile in 49.77% of cases. Positive in 50.22% of cases. Among positive samples we had 53.41% polymorphic cultures, 32.75% urinary tract infection, and 13.82% urinary tract colonization. Gender distribution showed a sex ratio at 0.62. Gram-negative bacilli, with Escherichia coli as the main species, dominated the isolated bacteria. Resistance rates of E. coli strains that we isolated were 70% for amoxicillin, 36.31% for amoxicillin-clavulanate and 25% for ciprofloxacin. A high resistance rate was seen for third generation cephalosporins. Least resistance recorded to nitrofurantoin.

Conclusion:

ITU in the elderly is diverse and significantly different from that of younger patients, through its high contamination rate, difficulty in acquiring clinical information, high rate of asymptomatic bacteriuria, and high proportion of multidrug resistant bacteria.
Biological Agent Switching in Patients With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Authors: Güngörer Vildan , Çelikel Elif , Ekici Tekin Zahide , Polat Merve Cansu , Öner Nimet , Kurt Tuba , Kaplan Melike Mehveş , Sezer Müge , Tekgöz Nilüfer , Karagöl Cüneyt , Coşkun Serkan , Çelikel Acar Banu
Published: April 2023

Objective

The purpose of this study is to investigate the causes and outcomes of switching biological agents in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients using biological agents and compare the characteristics of patients whose biological agents are switched and those whose are not.

Methods

This medical records review study was conducted with 128 patients who were diagnosed with JIA at our clinic between January 2009 and January 2022 and were receiving biologic agents. Factors affecting the biologic agent switching were investigated.

Results

The JIA subtype with the most frequent switching in biological agents was systemic JIA (n = 13, 40.6%). Systemic JIA was followed by rheumatoid factor–negative polyarticular JIA and persistent oligoarticular JIA with 5 patients (15.6%), extended oligoarticular JIA and enthesitis-related JIA with 3 patients (9.3%), rheumatoid factor–positive polyarticular JIA with 2 patients (6.2%), and undifferentiated JIA with 1 patient (3.1%). Among the patients, 32 (25%) patients had their biological agent switched once, and 5 (3.9%) had theirs switched twice. The most frequently used biological agent was etanercept (n = 76, 59.3%), whereas the most frequently observed cases of biological agent switching were from an anti-TNF agent to another anti-TNF agent (40.6%). The reason for switching was unresponsiveness to the agent in 22 patients (68.8%), adverse effects in 6 patients (18.7%), drug intolerance in 1 patient (3.1%), and other reasons in 3 patients (9.3%).

Conclusions

The most frequently used biological agent was etanercept; the most frequent cases of biological agents switching were from an anti-TNF agent to another anti-TNF agent.
History repeats itself: Impact of mental illness on violent reinjury and hospital reencounters among female victims of interpersonal violence
Authors: Neufeld Miriam Y. , Plaitano Enzo , Janeway Megan G. , Munzert Timothy , Scantling Dane , Allee Lisa , Sanchez Sabrina E.
Published: April 2023

BACKGROUND

Violence-related reinjury impacts both patients and health care systems. Mental illness (MI) is prevalent among violently injured individuals. The relationship between preexisting MI and violent reinjury among women has not been fully characterized. Our objective was to determine if risk of hospital reencounter—violent reinjury and all-cause—was associated with preexisting MI at time of index injury among female victims of violence.

METHODS

All females (15–100 + years) presenting to a level I trauma center with violent injury (2002–2019) surviving to discharge were included (N = 1,056). Exposure was presence of preexisting MI. The primary outcome was hospital reencounters for violent reinjury and all-cause within one year (through 2020). The secondary outcome was the development of a new MI within one year of index injury. Odds of reencounter and development of new MI for those with and without preexisting MI were compared with multivariable logistic regression, stratified for interaction when appropriate.

RESULTS

There were 404 women (38%) with preexisting MI at time of index injury. Approximately 11% of patients with preexisting MI experienced violent reinjury compared to 5% of those without within 1 year (p < 0.001). Specifically, those with MI in the absence of concomitant substance use had more than three times the odds of violent reinjury (adjusted Odds Ratio, 3.52 (1.57, 7.93); p = 0.002). Of those with preexisting MI, 64% had at least one reencounter for any reason compared to 46% of those without (p < 0.001). Odds of all-cause reencounter for those with preexisting MI were nearly twice of those without (adjusted Odds Ratio, 1.81 [1.36, 2.42]; p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Among female victims of violence, preexisting MI is associated with a significantly increased risk of hospital reencounter and violent reinjury within the first year after index injury. Recognition of this vulnerable population and improved efforts at addressing MI in trauma patients is critical to ongoing prevention efforts to reduce violent reinjury.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic and Epidemiological; Level IV.
Characterization of fatal blunt injuries using postmortem computed tomography
Authors: Levin Jeremy H. , Pecoraro Anthony , Ochs Victoria , Meagher Ashley , Steenburg Scott D. , Hammer Peter M.
Published: April 2023

BACKGROUND

Rapid triage of blunt agonal trauma patients is necessary to maximize survival, but autopsy is uncommon, slow, and rarely informs resuscitation guidelines. Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) can serve as an adjunct to autopsy in guiding blunt agonal trauma resuscitation.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort review of trauma decedents who died at or within 1 hour of arrival following blunt trauma and underwent noncontrasted PMCT. Primary outcome was the prevalence of mortal injury defined as potential exsanguination (e.g., cavitary injury, long bone and pelvic fractures), traumatic brain injury, and cervical spine injury. Secondary outcomes were potentially mortal injuries (e.g., pneumothorax) and misplacement airway devices. Patients were grouped by whether arrest occurred prehospital/in-hospital. Univariate analysis was used to identify differences in injury patterns including multiple-trauma injury patterns.

RESULTS

Over a 9-year period, 80 decedents were included. Average age was 48.9 ± 21.7 years, 68% male, and an average ISS of 42.3 ± 16.3. The most common mechanism was motor vehicle accidents (67.5%) followed by pedestrian struck (15%). Of all decedents, 62 (77.5%) had traumatic arrest prehospital while 18 (22.5%) arrived with pulse. Between groups there were no significant differences in demographics including ISS. The most common mortal injuries were traumatic brain injury (40%), long bone fractures (25%), moderate/large hemoperitoneum (22.5%), and cervical spine injury (25%). Secondary outcomes included moderate/large pneumothorax (18.8%) and esophageal intubation rate of 5%. There were no significant differences in mortal or potentially mortal injuries, and no differences in multiple-trauma injury patterns.

CONCLUSION

Fatal blunt injury patterns do not vary between prehospital and in-hospital arrest decedents. High rates of pneumothorax and endotracheal tube misplacement should prompt mandatory chest decompression and confirmation of tube placement in all blunt arrest patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic and Epidemiological; Level IV.
Altered Allocation of Vertical Attention in Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Steigerwald Alisha J. , Ferguson Bradley J. , Nuraini Nanan , Barnett Joseph C. , Takahashi Nicole , Zamzow Rachel , Heilman Kenneth M. , Beversdorf David Q.
Published: April 2023

Background:

Typical adults most frequently orient their attention to other people’s eyes, whereas individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) orient their attention to other people’s mouths. Typical adults also reveal visuospatial biases on tasks such as vertical and horizontal line bisections. Therefore, the difference in face viewing might be related to a more general group difference in the allocation of vertical attention.

Objective:

To use vertical line bisection and quadrisection tasks to evaluate whether individuals with ASD have a more downward-oriented vertical attentional bias than do typical individuals.

Method:

We recruited 20 individuals with ASD and 20 control participants matched for age (6–23 years), IQ, and sex. We asked the individuals to bisect and quadrisect lines on the top and bottom when the vertical lines were placed at the intersection of their right, left, and center egocentric sagittal planes and their coronal plane. The distances from the true midpoint and quadripoint were measured, and between-group performances were compared.

Results:

No significant difference was found between the ASD and control groups for vertical line bisections or lower line quadrisections. However, when the ASD group was compared with the control group for higher line quadrisections, the ASD group exhibited a greater upward deviation.

Conclusion:

There is no downward vertical attentional spatial bias associated with ASD that could help to explain these individuals’ attentional bias toward the mouth. However, additional studies are required to learn if this atypical upward vertical attentional bias might account for some of the symptoms and signs associated with ASD.
Mixed-species groups of herbivorous reef fishes show variable responses to ecosystem perturbations in the Lakshadweep Islands, India
Authors: Theo Anne Heloise , Shanker Kartik
Published: April 2023

Herbivorous reef fishes provide a vital function in reef ecosystems by removing algae and making space available to coral recruits. The high abundance of herbivores in the reefs of the Lakshadweep islands has potentially aided in reef recovery and helped avoid a phase shift to an algal-dominated system, despite most areas having suffered massive coral losses. Mixed-species grouping in herbivores could potentially benefit both the participant species and the reef ecosystem by improving foraging efficiency. We examined the grouping propensity and species richness for three types of herbivore groups after a mass-bleaching event in 2010 and a mass recruitment event in 2015. The species richness and number of parrotfish groups, as well as the grouping propensity of common species, declined starkly across years, indicating that these groups may have formed in response to the mass-bleaching event, slowly diminishing as the reefs recovered. Conversely, large surgeonfish, which varied in richness and propensity across islands and aspect, are probably influenced by local processes. Small surgeonfish only increased in species richness and number in 2015, which may have been in response to the recruitment event. Thus, herbivorous fishes may respond differently to local ecosystem perturbations and play different roles in reef recovery.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Mixed-species groups and aggregations: shaping ecological and behavioural patterns and processes’.
Inferring the decision rules that drive co-foraging affiliations in wild mixed-species parrot groups
Authors: Ferdinand Vanessa , Pattenden Elle , Brightsmith Donald J. , Hobson Elizabeth A.
Published: April 2023

Animals gathered around a specific location or resource may represent mixed-species aggregations or mixed-species groups. Patterns of individuals choosing to join these groups can provide insight into the information processing underlying these decisions. However, we still have little understanding of how much information these decisions are based upon. We used data on 12 parrot species to test what kind of information each species may use about others to make decisions about which mixed-species aggregations to participate in. We used co-presence and joining patterns with categorization and model fitting methods to test how these species could be making grouping decisions. Species generally used a simpler lower-category method to choose which other individuals to associate with, rather than basing these decisions on species-level information. We also found that the best-fit models for decision-making differed across the 12 species and included different kinds of information. We found that not only does this approach provide a framework to test hypotheses about why individuals join or leave mixed-species aggregations, it also provides insight into what features each parrot could have been using to make their decisions. While not exhaustive, this approach provides a novel examination of the potential features that species could use to make grouping decisions and could provide a link to the perceptive and cognitive abilities of the animals making these minute-by-minute decisions.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Mixed-species groups and aggregations: shaping ecological and behavioural patterns and processes’.
Neotropical mixed-species bird flocks in a community context
Authors: Muñoz Jenny , Jankowski Jill E.
Published: April 2023

Mixed-species flocks are an important component of bird communities, particularly in the Neotropics, where flocks reach their highest diversity. The extent to which mixed-species flocks represent unique functional or ecological roles within communities, and how these attributes change over environmental gradients, however, is not well understood. We use a trait-based approach to examine functional aspects of flocking assemblages as they relate to those observed in the larger avian community across a 3000 m elevational gradient. Our results reveal similar ecological strategies among flocking species and the communities in which they occur, at the scale of the regional pool and across elevations. Trait variation in flocking and non-flocking assemblages is structured along two major axes defined by size- and resource-related traits. The trait space occupied by flocking species, however, represents only half (51%) that of the larger community. Similarly, the trait space of flocks across elevations is restricted compared to non-flocking species. The shared trait space across flock types represents small-bodied invertivores foraging in lower forest strata, traits associated with increased vulnerability to predation. The concentration of flocking species in functional trait space suggests high niche packing and either more overlap in ecological strategies or more finely divided niches relative to non-flocking species.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Mixed-species groups and aggregations: shaping ecological and behavioural patterns and processes’.
Sex differences in the associations of genetic, sociodemographic and cardiovascular risk factors with depression in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA)
Authors: Théberge Emilie , Dennis Jessica
Published: April 2023

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of morbidity and disability worldwide, with approximately twice as many women reported to have a lifetime occurrence of MDD than men. MDD is a polygenic trait, wherein hundreds to thousands of common genetic variants with small effect sizes contribute to risk of disease. This study investigated sex differences in the risk factor comorbidity and genetic architecture of MDD in over 16,000 people aged 45-85 from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA), with 21% of females (n=1,741) and 12% of males (n=1,055) coded with MDD. Polygenic risk scores (PRS) for individuals were made using sex-stratified and non-sex-specific (“both-sexes”) UK Biobank genome-wide association study summary statistics data. Odds of MDD for the sex-specific PRSs, socioeconomic, lifestyle and clinical risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease risk were assessed using a multivariable logistic regression model for each sex. Significant sex-specific risk factor associations with odds of MDD were found in females (history of ischemic heart disease (OR 1.52 (1.14-2.01), hypothyroidism (OR 1.42 (1.25-1.63), not being partnered (OR 1.34 (1.17-1.52)), having diabetes (OR 1.30 (1.11-1.52)), and higher female sex-specific autosomal PRS (OR 1.10 (1.04-1.16))) and males (high blood pressure, OR 1.35 (1.04-1.47)). Significant differences were observed in the proportion of variables that contributed to the most to each model, evaluated by relative pseudo-R2values. Age contributed the most to the model for both sexes (46.9% for females, 32.5% for males), wherein younger age was associated with higher odds of MDD. These results underscore the relevance for sex-disaggregating analyses of complex traits, like MDD, and the incorporation of clinical variables into models of MDD, in applications such as early detection and primary prevention.
Assessment of Geriatric Depression among Elderly Peoples Residing at Rural Area of Kheda District, Gujarat
Authors: Parmar Vaibhavi , Nagar Kailash , Jain Virendra
Published: April 2023

Background

Depression is a major mental health problem, which is yet to be recognized as an important public health challenge. About 322 million people affected with depression worldwide.

Depression among the elderly population in India has been recognized as one of the major public health problems with a prevalence of 8 to 22%. It causes significant suffering and accounts for 5.7% of the years lived with disability, to make matters worse, it has been reported that in many cultures and societies, deteriorating mental status, say it dementia or depression, has been perceived as a part of normal ageing.

Aims and Objectives

The aim of this study is to explore the magnitude and risk factors of depression in elderly people residing in rural area of Gujarat.

Objective

1. To assess the level of depression among elderly people residing at rural area. 2. To find out Significant Association between the level of depression selected demographic variables among elderly people at rural area.

Methodology

Design and Setting

A cross sectional descriptive study design was used. Non probability convenient sampling technique was used to drawn samples. 100 elderly persons were screened. Geriatric depression scale (GDS) was used to assess depressive level. A self-rating questionnaire tool was used to collect data and some socio-demographics and clinical variables. Prior to data collection written setting permission obtain from authority of the village and written consent from was obtained from the participants. Data for study was collected by door to door visit in selected community. Chi square was employed to determine association of collected data.Tool consists of followingSection A:Socio-demographic variables.Section B:Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS).

The GDS questions are answered ‘yes’ or ‘no’, instead of a five-category response set. This simplicity enables the scale to be used with ill or moderately cognitively impaired individuals. The scale is commonly used as a routine part of a comprehensive geriatric assessment. One point is assigned to each answer and the cumulative score is rated on a scoring grid. The grid sets a range of 0–9 as ‘normal’, 10–19 as ‘mildly depressed’, and 20–30 as ‘severely depressed.

Results

Results showed that 61% was Male and 39% was Female. The majority of had 71% primary education. Regarding work majority 60% are labor, regarding financial dependency most 62% was independent, 35(35%) dependent. This study reveals that level of depression among geriatric peoples, 51 (51%) peoples had no depression, 33 (33%) having mild depression and 16 (16%) having severe depression level.

Conclusion

It is concluded that nearly 50% of geriatric peoples having no depression and mild depression is more prevalent among elderly in selected rural area of Gujarat. So majority of the elderly peoples were found normal.
Short-term surrogate biomarkers of chronic lesion expansion
Authors: Klistorner Samuel , Barnett Michael H , Parratt John , Yiannikas Con , Klistorner Alexander
Published: April 2023

Objectives

Slow expansion of multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions has been shown to significantly contribute to disease progression. However, accurate assessment of this metric remains challenging. We investigated whether the long-term damage caused by slow-burning inflammation at the rim of chronic MS lesions can be predicted within timeframe of a typical clinical trial, using surrogate imaging markers.

Methods

Pre- and post-gadolinium 3D-T1, 3D FLAIR and diffusion tensor images were acquired from 42 patients with MS. Lesion expansion was analysed annually between baseline and 48 months. The volume of chronic lesion expansion was stratified by the degree of tissue damage within the expanding component of the lesion, measured by a progressive volume/severity index (PVSI). Central brain atrophy (CBA) and the degree of tissue loss inside chronic lesions (measured by the change of T1 intensity and MD) were used as surrogate markers.

Results

CBA measured after 2 years of follow-up predicted PVSI at 4 years with a high degree of accuracy (r=0.90, p<0.001, ROC area under the curve 0.92, sensitivity of 94%, specificity of 85%). Increased MD within chronic lesions measured over 2 years was also strongly associated with future PVSI (r=0.80, p<0.001, ROC area under the curve 0.87, sensitivity of 81% and specificity of 81%). In contrast, change in lesion T1 hypointensity poorly predicted future PVSI (best sensitivity and specificity 60% and 59% respectively).

Interpretation

CBA and, to a lesser degree, the change in MD within chronic MS lesions, measured over 2 years are reliable and sensitive predictors of the extent and severity of long-term lesion expansion.
Breakfast skipping as an indicator of unhealthy lifestyle among adolescents: A short letter
Authors: Daneshvar Mojtaba
Published: April 2023

Regular breakfast consumption plays a crucial role in the overall health and well-being of children and adolescents, making it an essential factor in maintaining healthy lifestyle habits. This study examined the association between breakfast skipping (BS) and unhealthy lifestyle behaviors in US adolescents using the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBS) 2018 survey. The prevalence of BS was significantly linked to age and race but not gender. After adjusting for confounding variables, a significant positive correlation was observed between BS and low physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and high TV time. No such association was found with high video-game time. The findings highlight the importance of regular breakfast consumption as a vital component of healthy lifestyles among youth. Encouraging regular breakfast habits may reduce the risk of developing unhealthy behaviors and obesity in this population
Coronary artery calcification in the Moscow population (based on the Moscow Experiment on the use of computer vision in medical imaging)
Authors: Vasilev Yuriy A. , Goncharova Inna V. , Vladzymyrskyy Anton V. , Shulkin Igor M. , Arzamasov Kirill M.
Published: April 2023

Introduction

The challenges related to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular diseases remain acute. One of the measures to prevent these conditions from occurring is early detection of risk factors, one of which is coronary calcium. The latest achievements in computer vision made it possible to conduct opportunistic screening for coronary calcium.

Objective

To study the prevalence of coronary artery calcification (CAC) as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in the Moscow population based on automated analysis of imaging findings.

Materials and methods

A retrospective descriptive epidemiology study was carried out. Chest CT studies of 165,234 patients were analyzed. AI services carried out the automated analysis to detect CAC and to calculate the CAC score (CACS).

Results

Coronary calcium was detected in 61.4% of the participants. The proportion of diagnosed men was 68.9% (of all men), women – 55.7% (of all women) (p<0.001). The CAC score ranged between 1 to 60,306; the mean value was 558.2. The mean CACS increase for the entire population was 170.75; the mean growth was 168.13% the mean growth rate was 68.13%. 47.6% of men and 36.5% of women had clinically significant CACS (p<0.001). Most participants with clinically significant CAC belonged to Elderly and Senile age groups (42.0% each).

Conclusions

The prevalence of coronary calcium in the Moscow population was 8.03 per 1000 people. CAC (including clinically significant) was significantly more common in men. The mean CACS was significantly higher compared to the female population across most age groups. There is a continuous increase in the mean CACS with age.
The Lasting Legacy of COVID-19: Exploring the Long-Term Effects of Infection, Disease Severity, and Vaccination on Health and Cognitive Function
Authors: Flegr Jaroslav , Latifi Ashkan
Published: April 2023

COVID-19 affects a variety of organs and systems of the body including the central nervous system. Recent research has shown that COVID-19 survivors often experience neurological and psychological complications that can last for months after infection. We conducted a large internet study using online tests to analyze the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection, COVID-19 severity, and vaccination on health, intelligence, memory, and information processing precision and speed in a cohort of 4,446 subjects. We found that both SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity were associated with negative impacts on patients’ health. Furthermore, we observed a negative association between COVID-19 severity and cognitive performance. Younger participants had a higher likelihood of SARS-CoV-2 contraction, while the elderly had a higher likelihood of severe COVID-19 and vaccination. The association between age and COVID-19 severity was primarily mediated by older participants’ impaired long-term health. Vaccination was positively associated with intelligence and the precision of information processing. However, the positive association between vaccination and intelligence was likely mediated by achieved education, which was itself strongly associated with the likelihood of being vaccinated.
Spatial autocorrelation dimension as a potential determinant for the temporal persistence of human atrial and ventricular fibrillation
Authors: Dharmaprani Dhani , Jenkins Evan V. , Quah Jing X. , Tiver Kathryn , Mitchell Lewis , Tung Matthew , Ahmad Waheed , Stoyanov Nik , Aguilar Martin , Nash Martyn P. , Clayton Richard H. , Nattel Stanley , Ganesan Anand N.
Published: April 2023

Background:Despite being central to atrial fibrillation (AF) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) mechanisms and therapy, the factors governing AF and VF termination are poorly understood. It has been noted that ratio of system size (L) and the two-point spatial correlation length (ξ2) are associated with time until termination in transient spatiotemporally chaotic systems, but the relationship between these characteristics and termination has not been systematically studied in human AF and VF.

Objective:We aimed assess whether the time to cardiac fibrillation termination can be predicted using a novel estimator, the spatial autocorrelation dimension (Di), defined as the ratio ofLand ξ2, in human AF and VF.

Methods:Diwas computed and compared in a multi-centre, multi-system study with data for sustained versus spontaneously terminating human AF/VF. VF data was collected during coronary-bypass surgery; and AF data during clinically indicated AF ablation. We analyzed: i) VF mapped using a 256-electrode epicardial sock (n=12pts); ii) AF mapped using a 64-electrode constellation basket-catheter (n=15pts); iii) AF mapped using a 16-electrode HD-grid catheter (n=42pts). To investigate temporal fibrillation persistence, the response of AF-episodes to flecainide (n=7pts) was also studied.

Results:Spontaneously terminating fibrillation demonstrated a lowerDi(P<0.001 all systems). LowerDiwas also seen in paroxysmal compared to persistent AF (P=0.002). Post-flecainide,Didecreased over time (P<0.001). LowerDiwas also associated with longer-lasting episodes of AF/VF (R2>0.90, P<0.05 in all cases). Using k-means clustering, two distinct clusters and their centroids were identified i) a cluster of spontaneously terminating episodes, and ii) a cluster of sustained epochs.

Conclusion:Dipredicts the temporal persistence of cardiac fibrillation. This finding provides potentially important insights into a possible common pathway to termination and therapeutic approaches.
Endocardial HDAC3 is required for myocardial trabeculation
Authors: Jang Jihyun , Bentsen Mette , Kim Ye Jun , Kim Erick , Garg Vidu , Cai Chen-Leng , Looso Mario , Li Deqiang
Published: April 2023

Failure of proper ventricular trabeculation is often associated with congenital heart disease (CHD). Support from endocardial cells, including the secretion of extracellular matrix (ECM) and growth factors is critical for trabeculation. However, it is poorly understood how the secretion of ECM and growth factors is initiated and regulated by endocardial cells.

We found that genetic knockout (KO) of histone deacetylase 3 (Hdac3) in the endocardium in mice resulted in early embryo lethality and ventricular hypotrabeculation. Single cell RNA sequencing identified significant downregulation of ECM components inHdac3KO endocardial cells. Secretome from culturedHdac3KO mouse cardiac endothelial cells lacked transforming growth factor ß3 (TGFß3) and showed significantly reduced capacity in stimulating cultured cardiomyocyte proliferation, which was remarkably rescued by TGFß3 supplementation. Mechanistically, we identified that HDAC3 inducedTgfß3expression through repressing microRNA (miR)-129-5p.

Our findings provide novel insights into the pathogenesis of CHD and conceptual strategies to promote myocardial regeneration.
De novogenome assembly resolving repetitive structures enables genomic analysis of 35 EuropeanMycoplasma bovisstrains
Authors: Triebel Sandra , Sachse Konrad , Weber Michael , Heller Martin , Diezel Celia , Hölzer Martin , Schnee Christiane , Marz Manja
Published: April 2023

Mycoplasma (M.) bovis, the agent of mastitis, pneumonia, and arthritis in cattle, harbors a small genome of approximately 1 Mbp. Combining data from Illumina and Nanopore technologies, we sequenced and assembled the genomes of 35 European strains and isolate DL422_88 from Cuba. While the high proportion of repetitive structures inM. bovisgenomes represents a particular challenge, implementation of our own pipelineMycovista(available on GitHubwww.github.com/sandraTriebel/mycovista) in a hybrid approach enabled contiguous assembly of the genomes and, consequently, improved annotation rates considerably. To put our European strain panel in a global context, we analyzed the new genome sequences together with 175 genome assemblies from public databases. Construction of a phylogenetic tree based on core genes of these 219 strains revealed a clustering pattern according to geographical origin, with European isolates positioned on clades 4 and 5. Genomic data allowing assignment of strains to tissue specificity or certain disease manifestations could not be identified. Seven strains isolated from cattle with systemic circular condition (SCC), still a largely unknown manifestation ofM. bovisdisease, were located on both clades 4 and 5. Pairwise association analysis revealed 108 genomic elements associated with a particular clade of the phylogenetic tree. Further analyzing these hits, 25 genes are functionally annotated and could be linked to aM. bovisprotein, e.g. various proteases and nucleases, as well as ten variable surface lipoproteins (Vsps) and other surface proteins. These clade-specific genes could serve as useful markers in epidemiological and clinical surveys.
Understanding inter-individual social networks in mixed-species bird flocks
Authors: Bharadwaj Akshay , Thapa Aiti , Bhat Akshiti , Biswakarma Aman , Tamang Bharath , Munda Binod , Biswakarma Biren , Pradhan Dambar K , Tamang Dema , Pradhan Kabir , Rai Mangal K , Rai Pawan Chamling , Rai Rohit , Rai Shambu , Srinivasan Umesh
Published: April 2023

Mixed-species flocks (MSFs) are an important form of social organisation in forest bird communities worldwide. MSFs provide participants with the benefits of reduced predation risk and/or enhanced foraging efficiency. Recent work has shown that participation in MSFs confers long-term survival benefits in the face of anthropogenic change. However, our understanding of MSFs mainly comes from studies that examine species-level networks, where each node is a unique species and the edges or connections between nodes are associations/interactions between species. While valuable, such approaches might not allow us to understand and investigate the mechanisms that drive MSF formation and structure because social interactions and their effects occur at the individual-level. Empirical studies on multi-species, individual-level MSF social networks have seldom been undertaken due to the various complexities and logistical challenges involved. In this study, we use mist-netting and colour-ringing followed by a standardised observation protocol to construct individual-level social networks in MSFs at 2000m ASL in Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh, Eastern Himalaya, India. First, we found two separate flocktypes at our study site, comprising two distinct sets of understorey species. The mechanisms contributing to individual-level co-occurrences are likely to differ between these flocktypes, and with MSFs in the Neotropics. The Rusty-fronted Barwing (the nuclear species of one flocktype) shows spatially disjunct territories for each flock while the Yellow-throated Fulvetta (nuclear species of the other flocktype) shows large spatial overlap in its MSF networks, which is likely driven by non-individual-specific benefits such as predation risk dilution. Further, the addition of associating individuals to the social networks has opposite impacts on the two networks. The addition of Coral-billed Scimitar Babblers to the barwing networks greatly reduces network modularity because the associating individuals bridge two modules of barwings (both spatially and in the social network). On the contrary, territorial Rufous-capped Babblers and Grey-cheeked Warblers increase the modularity of the spatially overlapping fulvetta network. Our study provides novel insights into flock formation mechanisms in the Eastern Himalaya, likely applicable to other multi-species flock systems in the Old World.
Amoeboid cells undergo durotaxis with soft end polarized NMIIA
Authors: Kang Chenlu , Chen Pengcheng , Yi Xin , Li Dong , Hu Yiping , Yang Yihong , Cai Huaqing , Li Bo , Wu Congying
Published: April 2023

Cell migration towards stiff substrates has been coined as durotaxis and implicated in development, wound healing and cancer, where complex interplays between immune and non-immune cells are present. Compared to the emerging mechanisms underlying the strongly adhesive mesenchymal durotaxis, little is known about whether immune cells - migrating in amoeboid mode - could follow mechanical cues. Here we develop an imaging-based confined migration device with stiffness gradient. By tracking live cell trajectory and analyzing the directionality of T cells and neutrophils, we observe that amoeboid cells can durotax. We further delineate the underlying mechanism to involve non-muscle myosin IIA (NMIIA) polarization towards the soft-matrix-side but may not require differential actin flow up- or down-stiffness gradient. Using the protistaDictyostelium, we demonstrate the evolutionary conservation of amoeboid durotaxis. Finally, these experimental phenomena are theoretically captured by an active gel model capable of mechanosensing. Collectively, these results may shed new lights on immune surveillance and recently identified confined migration of cancer cells, within the mechanically inhomogeneous tumor microenvironment or the inflamed fibrotic tissues.
Wide scope analysis of bioactive lipids, including steroids, bile acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolites, in human plasma by LC/MS/MS
Authors: Nakatani Kohta , Izumi Yoshihiro , Umakoshi Hironobu , Yokomoto-Umakoshi Maki , Nakaji Tomoko , Kaneko Hiroki , Nakao Hiroshi , Ogawa Yoshihiro , Ikeda Kazutaka , Bamba Takeshi
Published: April 2023

Quantitative information on blood metabolites has the potential to be utilized in medical strategies such as early disease detection and prevention. Monitoring of bioactive lipids, such as steroids, bile acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) metabolites, could be a valuable indicator for health status. However, a method for simultaneous measurement of these bioactive lipids has not been reported at present. Here, we report a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method that can simultaneously measure more than 140 bioactive lipids, including steroids, bile acids, and PUFA metabolites, from human plasma, and a sample preparation method for these targets. Protein removal in methanol precipitation and purification operations of bioactive lipids by solid-phase extraction improved the recovery of targeted compounds in human plasma samples, demonstrating the importance of sample preparation methods in a wide range of bioactive lipid analyses. Using the developed method, we measured plasma from healthy human volunteers and confirmed the presence of bioactive lipid molecules associated with sex differences and circadian rhythms. The practical bioactive lipid analysis method developed is expected to be applied to health monitoring and disease biomarker discovery for precision medicine.
Sugar feeding by invasive mosquito species on ornamental and wild plants
Authors: Upshur Irving Forde , Fehlman Mikhyle , Parikh Vansh , Lahondère Chloé
Published: April 2023

Feeding on plant-derived sugars is an essential component of mosquito biology that affects key aspects of their lives such as survival, metabolism, and reproduction. Mosquitoes locate plants to feed on using olfactory and visual cues.Aedes aegyptiandAedes albopictusare two invasive mosquito species to the US, and are vectors of diseases such as dengue fever, chikungunya, and Zika. These species live in heavily populated, urban areas, where they have a high accessibility to human hosts as well as to plants in backyards and town landscapes. Therefore, it is important to understand what plants may attract or repel mosquitoes to inform citizens and municipal authorities accordingly. Here, we analyzedAe. aegyptiandAe. albopictussugar-feeding behavior with eleven different commonly planted ornamental plant species. We then assessed feeding activity using the anthrone method and identified volatile composition of plant headspace using gas-chromatography mass-spectroscopy. Finally, we determined the sugar-feeding activity of field caught mosquitoes using the plant DNA barcoding technique and compared these results with the eleven ornamental species tested in the laboratory. The potential for application to disease vector control is also discussed.
Localization and function of multivesicular-bodies that release exosomes in islet cells: dysregulation during type-2 diabetes
Authors: Priyadarshini Veerabhadraswamy , Belekar Prajakta , Kothegala Lakshmi , Gandasi Nikhil R.
Published: April 2023

Type-2 diabetes (T2D) is characterized by high blood glucose due to compromised insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells. β-cells primarily comprise insulin-secreting large-dense-core-vesicles/insulin-secretory-granules (ISGs) and also multivesicular-bodies (MVBs). MVBs are vesicles of endosomal origin containing intraluminal vesicles, which upon fusion with the plasma membrane, secrete exosomes. These play a significant role in the physiology and pathology of T2D via intercellular communication. The role of MVBs and their influence on ISGs of β-cells or their characterization is yet to be uncovered. In our study, we characterized the role of MVBs by comparing them to largely well-characterized ISGs in β-cells. We compared the density, localization, and exocytosis of MVBs with ISGs in β-cells. For this, we developed a novel probe where we exploit the efficiency of tetraspanins CD63 and CD151 to label the MVBs in β-cells. We showed that the β-cells have a significantly higher density of ISGs than MVBs. MVBs and ISGs are spatially localized apart within β-cells. The proteins that localize with MVBs are different from the ones that localize with ISGs. Exocytosis of ISGs occurs at the periphery of the β-cells and takes significantly lesser time when compared to exosome release, which is non-peripheral and takes a longer duration. Further, we also observed a significant reduction in the density of ISGs and MVBs in T2D patients’ islets compared to healthy controls. Studying the effect of MVBs on insulin secretion in physiological and T2D conditions has huge potential. This study provides a strong basis to open new avenues for such future studies.
Can ChatGPT pass Glycobiology?
Authors: Williams Devin Ormsby , Fadda Elisa
Published: April 2023

The release of text-generating applications based on interactive Large Language Models (LLMs) in late 2022 triggered an unprecedented and ever-growing interest worldwide. The almost instantaneous success of LLMs stimulated lively discussions in public media and in academic fora alike on the value and potentials of such tools in all areas of knowledge and information acquisition and distribution, but also about the dangers posed by their uncontrolled and indiscriminate use. This conversation is now particularly active in the higher education sector, where LLMs are seen as a potential threat to academic integrity at all levels, from facilitating cheating by students in assignments, to plagiarising academic writing in the case of researchers and administrators. Within this framework, we were interested in testing the boundaries of the LLM ChatGPT (www.openai.com) in areas of our scientific interest and expertise, and in analysing the results from different perspectives, i.e. of a final year BSc student, of a research scientist, and of a lecturer in higher education. To this end, in this paper we present and discuss a systematic evaluation on how ChatGPT addresses progressively complex scientific writing tasks and exam-type questions in Carbohydrate Chemistry and Glycobiology. The results of this project allowed us to gain insight on, 1) the strengths and limitations of the ChatGPT model to provide relevant and (most importantly) correct scientific information, 2) the format(s) and complexity of the query required to obtain the desired output, and 3) strategies to integrate LLMs in teaching and learning.