bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Palpitations across the menopause transition in SWAN: trajectories, characteristics, and associations with subclinical cardiovascular disease
Authors: Carpenter Janet S. , Cortés Yamnia I. , Tisdale James E. , Sheng Ying , Jackson Elizabeth A. , Barinas-Mitchell Emma , Thurston Rebecca C.
Published: October 2022

Objective

Our objectives were to identify trajectories of palpitations over the menopause transition, characterize them, and examine associations with subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Methods

We analyzed the following data from the multisite, multiethnic SWAN (Study of Women Across the Nation): reported palpitations occurrence over time; baseline sociodemographic, reproductive, medication, and health-related factors; and follow-up visit subclinical CVD (carotid atherosclerosis, vascular stiffness). Trajectories of palpitations (n = 3,276), their characteristics, and their associations with subclinical CVD (n = 1,559) were identified using group-based trajectory modeling and linear and logistic regression models.

Results

Three trajectories emerged: high probability of palpitations in perimenopause to early postmenopause diminishing in late postmenopause (15.9% of women), moderate probability of palpitations in perimenopause to early postmenopause diminishing in late postmenopause (34.3%), and sustained low probability of palpitations (49.8%). In the fully adjusted multivariable model, the high probability group had a more adverse reproductive and health-related profile at baseline (higher gravidity, early perimenopause, vasomotor symptoms, poorer overall health, higher depressive symptoms, higher perceived stress, greater sleep problems, higher blood pressure). In fully adjusted multivariable models, palpitation trajectories were not related to atherosclerosis or arterial stiffness.

Conclusions

Distinct patterns of palpitations emerged, with a substantial portion of women having palpitations during the perimenopause and early postmenopause. Palpitations were not associated with subclinical CVD. Findings can help identify women at risk of palpitations during the menopause transition who may need symptom relief.
Characteristics of Corneal Endothelium in Axenfeld Rieger Spectrum
Authors: Achanta Divya Sree Ramya , Chaurasia Sunita , Mohamed Ashik , Barur Sneha Reddy , Ramappa Muralidhar , Edward Deepak P.
Published: October 2022

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to compare the corneal endothelial characteristics in Axenfeld anomaly (AXA), Rieger anomaly (RGA), and Axenfeld–Rieger anomaly/syndrome with age-matched healthy controls.

Methods:

This is a retrospective, comparative case-control study of 52 eyes of 30 patients with AXA/RGA and AXA/S and 36 controls.

Results:

Median age at endothelial imaging was 21.5 years (interquartile range, 13.8–33.3 years). In the study group, the mean endothelial cell density (ECD) was 2112.4 ± 78.5 cells/mm2, the mean cell area (MCA) was 526.9 ± 28.5 μm2, and the coefficient of variation of cell size was 41.2 ± 1.8%. The ECD was significantly (all, P < 0.0001) lower than controls, while MCA (P < 0.0001), SD of cell size (P < 0.0001), and maximum cell area (P = 0.0007) were significantly higher than controls. Four eyes of 3 patients had guttae on slitlamp evaluation and endothelial imaging. There were no differences in the corneal endothelial characteristics among the clinical subtypes.

Conclusions:

Patients with AXA, RGA, and Axenfeld–Rieger anomaly/syndrome have lower ECD and increased MCA compared with normal eyes. The reduced ECD associated with inherent anterior segment alterations can predispose to the risk of postcataract surgery endothelial decompensation in these eyes. The association of guttae in some eyes needs further investigational studies.
Efficacy and Safety of Deep Sclerectomy With the Esnoper Clip Implant for Uncontrolled Primary Open Angle Glaucoma: A 1 Year Prospective Study
Authors: Baxant Alina-Dana , Klimešová Yun Min , Holubová Lucie , Pluhovský Patrik , Bartošová Jitka , Veselý Ľudovít , Nemčoková Martina , Rosina Jozef , Studený Pavel
Published: October 2022

Précis:

Deep sclerectomy (DS) with the Esnoper Clip drainage implant in patients with uncontrolled primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) achieved a complete success rate of 87.2% at the 1-year follow-up.

Purpose:

To investigate the efficacy and safety of DS followed by Esnoper Clip implantation in patients with uncontrolled POAG.

Materials and Methods:

In a prospective, consecutive, interventional study, we investigated 39 eyes of 35 patients with uncontrolled POAG who underwent DS with Esnoper Clip implantation. Complete ophthalmologic examinations including corrected visual acuity and intraocular pressure (IOP), were performed preoperatively, and at 1 day, at 1 week as well as at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months postoperatively. Moreover, any goniopunctures and glaucoma medications required postoperatively were noted.

Results:

The mean preoperative IOP was 20.8±5.2 mm Hg and it decreased to 13.9±3.1 mm Hg at 1 year postoperatively (P<0.001). The number of glaucoma medications decreased from 2.9±0.7 preoperatively to 0.3±0.8 after 1 year (P<0.001). The complete success rate (IOP≤21 mm Hg without glaucoma medication) and the qualified success rate (IOP ≤21 mm Hg with or without glaucoma medication) were 87.2% and 94.9%, respectively. Goniopuncture was performed in 33.3% of cases. No significant corrected visual acuity changes were registered at the final follow-up. Perioperative complications consisted of 3 micro-perforations of the trabeculo-descemet membrane. Postoperative complications included: hyphema (6 eyes), hypotony (6 eyes), shallow anterior chamber (3 eyes), choroidal detachment (4 eyes)—all of which were resolved without surgical intervention during the first postoperative month—and conjunctival dehiscence, which required resuture (2 eyes).

Conclusion:

Deep sclerectomy with the Esnoper Clip implant was safe and effectively lowered IOP in patients with uncontrolled POAG.
Effects of cataract surgery on blinking
Authors: Talens-Estarelles Cristian , Díez-Ajenjo María Amparo , Pons Álvaro M. , Peris-Martínez Cristina , García-Lázaro Santiago
Published: October 2022

Purpose:

To assess the effects of cataract surgery on the spontaneous blinking pattern and blinking kinematics.

Setting:

FISABIO Oftalmología Médica Eye Hospital, Valencia, Spain.

Design:

Observational descriptive clinical study.

Method:

Patients with senile cataract were evaluated before (visit 1) and at 1 month (visit 2) and 3 months (visit 3) after undergoing phacoemulsification cataract surgery. The blinking of patients was recorded for 90 seconds using an eye-tracking device. Blinks were analyzed by means of image analysis to obtain a noninvasive detailed description of blinking including blink rate, number of complete and incomplete blinks, percentage of incomplete blinks, and kinematic parameters, including amplitude, closing, contact, opening, and total durations and closing and opening speeds.

Results:

50 patients were included in this study. The blink rate was significantly smaller at visit 3 compared with baseline (P = .03) and visit 2 (P = .001). Likewise, the number of complete blinks was significantly smaller, and the percentage of incomplete blinks was significantly higher at 3 months postoperatively compared with baseline (P = .02 and P = .01, respectively), although no differences were observed at 1 month postoperatively (P > .05). Conversely, no differences in the number of incomplete blinks or any kinematic parameter were observed between visits (P = .12).

Conclusions:

Cataract surgery significantly altered the blinking pattern at 3 months postoperatively, although kinematic parameters remained unvaried. Clinicians should be aware of potential alterations in blinking after phacoemulsification cataract surgery and the implications this may have on the ocular surface of patients.
Content Analysis of Multifaceted Needs for Improving the Quality of Pediatric Palliative Care Among Parents of Children With Life-threatening Conditions
Authors: Cho-Hee Kim , Min-Sun Kim , Yi-Ji Moon , Hee-Young Shin , Myung-Nam Lee , Kyung-Ah Kang
Published: October 2022

This study aimed to identify parental needs for pediatric palliative care and obtain their opinions on developing pediatric palliative care in South Korea. This qualitative research design used inductive and deductive methods. The data were collected through semistructured interviews. A total of 6 parents actively caring for a child with life-threatening conditions and 7 bereaved parents participated in this study. A total of 707 significant statements, 43 subthemes, and 16 themes according to 6 structured matrices (advance care planning and symptom control, psychological and spiritual care, supporting everyday lives, end-of-life care and bereavement support, delivery model of pediatric palliative care, and unmet needs within current services) on the care and bereavement experiences of parents of children with life-threatening conditions were derived. Palliative care for children is a multidisciplinary approach to evaluate, prevent, and manage multifaceted symptoms and to support children with life-threatening conditions and their families. Our findings suggest that parents of children with life-threatening conditions in South Korea present multidimensional needs across the diagnostic groups and the illness trajectories and inform policy makers and health care professionals to design a pediatric palliative care delivery model. Further studies examining the unmet needs are required to enhance the quality of pediatric palliative care.
Validation of Combined Deep Learning Triaging and Computer-Aided Diagnosis in 2901 Breast MRI Examinations From the Second Screening Round of the Dense Tissue and Early Breast Neoplasm Screening Trial
Authors: Verburg Erik , van Gils Carla H. , van der Velden Bas H.M. , Bakker Marije F. , Pijnappel Ruud M. , Veldhuis Wouter B. , Gilhuijs Kenneth G.A.
Published: October 2022

Objectives

Computer-aided triaging (CAT) and computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) of screening breast magnetic resonance imaging have shown potential to reduce the workload of radiologists in the context of dismissing normal breast scans and dismissing benign disease in women with extremely dense breasts. The aim of this study was to validate the potential of integrating CAT and CAD to reduce workload and workup on benign lesions in the second screening round of the DENSE trial, without missing cancer.

Methods

We included 2901 breast magnetic resonance imaging scans, obtained from 8 hospitals in the Netherlands. Computer-aided triaging and CAD were previously developed on data from the first screening round. Computer-aided triaging dismissed examinations without lesions. Magnetic resonance imaging examinations triaged to radiological reading were counted and subsequently processed by CAD. The number of benign lesions correctly classified by CAD was recorded. The false-positive fraction of the CAD was compared with that of unassisted radiological reading in the second screening round. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was performed and the generalizability of CAT and CAD was assessed by comparing results from first and second screening rounds.

Results

Computer-aided triaging dismissed 950 of 2901 (32.7%) examinations with 49 lesions in total; none were malignant. Subsequent CAD classified 132 of 285 (46.3%) lesions as benign without misclassifying any malignant lesion. Together, CAT and CAD yielded significantly fewer false-positive lesions, 53 of 109 (48.6%) and 89 of 109 (78.9%), respectively (P = 0.001), than radiological reading alone. Computer-aided triaging had a smaller area under the ROC curve in the second screening round compared with the first, 0.83 versus 0.76 (P = 0.001), but this did not affect the negative predictive value at the 100% sensitivity operating threshold. Computer-aided diagnosis was not associated with significant differences in area under the ROC curve (0.857 vs 0.753, P = 0.08). At the operating thresholds, the specificities of CAT (39.7% vs 41.0%, P = 0.70) and CAD (41.0% vs 38.2%, P = 0.62) were successfully reproduced in the second round.

Conclusion

The combined application of CAT and CAD showed potential to reduce workload of radiologists and to reduce number of biopsies on benign lesions. Computer-aided triaging (CAT) correctly dismissed 950 of 2901 (32.7%) examinations with 49 lesions in total; none were malignant. Subsequent computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) classified 132 of 285 (46.3%) lesions as benign without misclassifying any malignant lesion. Together, CAT and CAD yielded significantly fewer false-positive lesions, 53 of 109 (48.6%) and 89 of 109 (78.9%), respectively (P = 0.001), than radiological reading alone.
Enhancing Clinical Diagnosis for Patients With Persistent Pulmonary Abnormalities After COVID-19 Infection
Authors: Sviridenko Anna , Boehm Anna , di Santo Gianpaolo , Uprimny Christian , Nilica Bernhard , Fritz Josef , Giesel Frederik L. , Haberkorn Uwe , Sahanic Sabina , Decristoforo Clemens , Tancevski Ivan , Widmann Gerlig , Loeffler-Ragg Judith , Virgolini Irene
Published: October 2022

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)–related pneumonia challenges clinical practice. We explore the potential diagnostic benefit of PET/CT to establish the underlying inflammatory or fibrotic repair processes in prolonged structural lung abnormalities in COVID-19 patients.

Patients and Methods

Six post COVID-19 patients suspected for pulmonary fibrosis were scheduled for dual-tracer PET/CT with 18F-FDG and 68Ga–fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI)–46. The uptake of 68Ga-FAPI-46 in the involved lung was compared with a control group of 9 non–COVID-19 patients. Clinical data and PET/CT imaging were collected and analyzed.

Results

PET/CT revealed in all 6 pulmonary impaired patients the reduced glucose avidity on 18F-FDG and clear positivity on 68Ga-FAPI-46 PET/CT in comparison to the control group.

Conclusions

Enhancing fibrotic repair mechanisms, 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT may improve noninvasive clinical diagnostic performance in patients with long-term CT abnormalities after severe COVID-19. Although this study shows promising results, additional studies in larger populations are required to establish a general diagnostic guideline.
Accuracy of Manual and Virtual Predictive Tracings in Patients Submitted to Orthognathic Surgery
Authors: Gorla Luís Fernando de Oliveira , Dos Santos José Cleveilton , Carvalho Pedro Henrique de Azambuja , Hochuli-Vieira Eduardo , Gabrielli Marisa Aparecida Cabrini
Published: October 2022

Cephalometric tracing done manually was considered gold standard for the cephalometric analysis in the last decades. The digital radiographs began to be commonly used in order to make that in a digital way. The objective was to define the accuracy of the predictive and final cephalometric tracings performed manually and virtually. The authors selected 20 patients submitted to bimaxillary orthognathic surgery. The data were collected from lateral cephalometric radiographs, in the preoperative and postoperative periods. The interest were: points, angles (Sella–Nasion to A point angle; Sella–Nasion to B point angle; Frankfurt plane to Mandibular plane angle; Frankfurt plane to occlusal plane angle; Upper and lower central incisors long axes angle; Incisor to Mandibular plane angle; Upper incisor axis to Sella–Nasion plane angle) distances (Co-A; Co-Gn). Data were submitted to the Shapiro-Wilk, analysis of variance, and Kruskal-Wallis tests. The measurement differences were compared using a t test. Descriptive statistics were performed in Excel 2013 and SPSS software, P<0.05 being considered significant. No statistically significant difference was found between the mean values predictive and postoperative of the angles and distances within the manual and digital groups. When comparing the means of the differences between the predictive values and the final values, only the 1:1 angle presented a statistically significant difference, indicating a greater accuracy of the digital predictive tracing for this measure. In conclusion, both methods for obtaining predictive tracings are accurate, which shows that clinical results can be successfully simulated by the most accessible technique.
RECOVERY OF ENDOTHELIOPATHY AT 24 HOURS IN AN ESTABLISHED MOUSE MODEL OF HEMORRHAGIC SHOCK AND TRAUMA
Authors: Barry Mark , Trivedi Alpa , Vivona Lindsay R. , Chui Jenna , Pathipati Praneeti , Miyazawa Byron , Pati Shibani
Published: October 2022

Introduction

The endotheliopathy of trauma develops early after injury and consists of increased vascular permeability, inflammation, and dysfunctional coagulation. Persistence of these abnormalities ultimately leads to multi-organ failure. We hypothesized that extending an established 3-hour acute mouse model of hemorrhagic shock and trauma (HS/T) to a 24-hour survival model would allow for evaluation of persistent endotheliopathy and organ injury after HS/T.

Methods

Adult male C57BL/6 J mice underwent laparotomy, femoral artery cannulation, and blood withdrawal to induce HS to a mean arterial pressure of 35 mmHg for 90 minutes. Mice were resuscitated with either lactated Ringer’s (LR) or fresh frozen plasma (FFP). Vascular permeability in the lung and gut were assessed by measuring extravasation of a fluorescent dextran dye. Lungs were evaluated for histopathologic injury, and immunofluorescent staining was used to evaluate intercellular junction integrity. Pulmonary inflammatory gene expression was evaluated using NanoString (Seattle, WA). All endpoints were evaluated at both 3 and 24 hours after initiation of shock.

Results

LR- and FFP-treated mice had an equal mortality rate of 17% in the 24-hour model. LR-treated mice demonstrated increased vascular permeability in the lung and gut at 3 hours compared to sham mice (lung p < .01; gut p < .001), which was mitigated by FFP treatment (lung p < .05; gut p < .001). Twenty-four hours after shock, however, there were no differences in vascular permeability between groups. Similarly, although at 3 hours the lungs of LR-treated mice demonstrated significant histopathologic injury, loss of tight and adherens junctions, and a pro-inflammatory gene expression profile at 3 hours, these endpoints in LR mice were similar to sham mice by 24 hours.

Conclusions

In an established mouse model of HS/T, endotheliopathy and lung injury are evident at 3 hours but recover by 24 hours. Larger animal models allowing for more severe injury coupled with supportive care are likely necessary to evaluate endotheliopathy and organ injury outside of the acute period.
The Value of Klotho in Kidney Transplantation
Authors: Donate-Correa Javier , Matos-Perdomo Emiliano , González-Luis Ainhoa , Martín-Olivera Alberto , Ortiz Alberto , Mora-Fernández Carmen , Navarro-González Juan F.
Published: October 2022

Kidney transplant recipients have better survival rates and improved quality of life than long-term dialysis patients. However, delayed graft function, immunosuppressive therapy nephrotoxicity, and rejection episodes may compromise graft and patient survival. The KL gene is highly expressed in kidney tubular cells and encodes the antiaging and kidney-protective protein Klotho, which has membrane-anchored and soluble forms and regulates mineral metabolism. Klotho expression decreases during acute kidney injury or chronic kidney disease, and human chronic kidney disease shares features of accelerated aging with murine Klotho deficiency. In this work, we review clinical studies on the relationship between Klotho and kidney transplantation. Specifically, we address the dynamics of serum and kidney Klotho levels in donors and kidney transplant recipients, the role of Klotho as a marker of current graft function and graft outcomes, and the potential impact of Klotho on kidney protection in the transplantation context. A better understanding of the potential biomarker and therapeutic utility of Klotho in kidney transplant recipients may provide new insights into the control of graft function and new therapeutic strategies to preserve allograft function.
Should Aquaporin-4 Antibody Test Be Performed in all Patients With Isolated Optic Neuritis?
Authors: Siantar Rosalynn G. , Ibrahim Farah N.I. , Htoon Hla M. , Tow Sharon L.C. , Goh Kong Yong , Loo Jing Liang , Lim Su Ann , Milea Dan , Tien Melissa C.H. , Chen Zhiyong , Yeo Tianrong , Chai Josiah Y.H. , Singhal Shweta , Chin Chee Fang , Tan Kevin
Published: October 2022

Background:

Optic neuritis (ON) may be the initial manifestation of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Aquaporin-4 antibody (AQP4 Ab) is used to diagnose NMOSD. This has implications on prognosis and is important for optimal management. We aim to evaluate if clinical features can distinguish AQP4 Ab seropositive and seronegative ON patients.

Methods:

We reviewed patients with first episode of isolated ON from Tan Tock Seng Hospital and Singapore National Eye Centre who tested for AQP4 Ab from 2008 to 2017. Demographic and clinical data were compared between seropositive and seronegative patients.

Results:

Among 106 patients (120 eyes) with first episode of isolated ON, 23 (26 eyes; 22%) were AQP4 Ab positive and 83 (94 eyes; 78%) were AQP4 Ab negative. At presentation, AQP4 Ab positive patients had older mean onset age (47.9 ± 13.6 vs 36.8 ± 12.6 years, P < 0.001), worse nadir VA (OR 1.714; 95% CI, 1.36 to 2.16; P < 0.001), less optic disc swelling (OR 5.04; 95% CI, 1.682 to 15.073; p = 0.004), and higher proportions of concomitant anti-Ro antibody (17% vs 4%, p = 0.038) and anti-La antibody (17% vs 1%, p = 0.008). More AQP4 Ab positive patients received steroid-sparing immunosuppressants (74% vs 19%, p < 0.001) and plasma exchange (13% vs 0%, p = 0.009). AQP4 Ab positive patients had worse mean logMAR VA (visual acuity) at 12 months (0.70 ± 0.3 vs 0.29 ± 0.5, p = 0.051) and 36 months (0.37±0.4 vs 0.14 ± 0.2, p = 0.048) follow-up.

Conclusion:

Other than older onset age and retrobulbar optic neuritis, clinical features are non-discriminatory for NMOSD. We propose a low threshold for AQP4 Ab serology testing in inflammatory ON patients, particularly in high NMOSD prevalence populations, to minimize diagnostic and treatment delays.
A Consensus Statement on the Terminology for Automated Visual Field Abnormalities
Authors: Kruger Joshua M. , Almer Zina , Almog Yehoshua , Aloni Eyal , Bachar-Zipori Anat , Bialer Omer , Ben-Bassat Mizrachi Iris , Horowitz Josepha , Huna-Baron Ruth , Ivanir Yair , Jabaly-Habib Haneen , Klein Ainat , Krasnitz Irena , Leiba Hana , Maharshak Idit , Marcus Mira , Ostashinsky Michal , Paul Michael , Rappoport Daniel , Stiebel-Kalish Hadas , Rath Eitan Z. , Tam Guy , Walter Eyal , Johnson Chris A.
Published: October 2022

Background:

A multitude of terms have been used to describe automated visual field abnormalities. To date, there is no universally accepted system of definitions or guidelines. Variability among clinicians creates the risk of miscommunication and the compromise of patient care. The purposes of this study were to 1) assess the degree of consistency among a group of neuro-ophthalmologists in the description of visual field abnormalities and 2) to create a consensus statement with standardized terminology and definitions.

Methods:

In phase one of the study, all neuro-ophthalmologists in Israel were asked to complete a survey in which they described the abnormalities in 10 selected automated visual field tests. In phase 2 of the study, the authors created a national consensus statement on the terminology and definitions for visual field abnormalities using a modified Delphi method. In phase 3, the neuro-ophthalmologists were asked to repeat the initial survey of the 10 visual fields using the consensus statement to formulate their answers.

Results:

Twenty-six neuro-ophthalmologists participated in the initial survey. On average, there were 7.5 unique descriptions for each of the visual fields (SD 3.17), a description of only the location in 24.6% (SD 0.19), and an undecided response in 6.15% (SD 4.13). Twenty-two neuro-ophthalmologists participated in the creation of a consensus statement which included 24 types of abnormalities with specific definitions. Twenty-three neuro-ophthalmologists repeated the survey using the consensus statement. On average, in the repeated survey, there were 5.9 unique descriptions for each of the visual fields (SD 1.79), a description of only the location in 0.004% (SD 0.01), and an undecided response in 3.07% (SD 2.11%). Relative to the first survey, there was a significant improvement in the use of specific and decisive terminology.

Conclusions:

The study confirmed a great degree of variability in the use of terminology to describe automated visual field abnormalities. The creation of a consensus statement was associated with improved use of specific terminology. Future efforts may be warranted to further standardize terminology and definitions.
Comparison of a New Head Mount Virtual Reality Perimeter (C3 Field Analyzer) With Automated Field Analyzer in Neuro-Ophthalmic Disorders
Authors: Odayappan Annamalai , Sivakumar Priya , Kotawala Sandal , Raman Ramalakshmi , Nachiappan Sivagami , Pachiyappan Arulmozhivarman , Venkatesh Rengaraj
Published: October 2022

Background:

Automated perimetry in neurologically disabled patients is a challenge. We have devised a patient-friendly virtual reality perimeter, the C3 field analyzer (CFA). We aim to assess the utility of this as a visual field-testing device in neuro-ophthalmic patients for screening and monitoring.

Methods:

Neuro-ophthalmic patients and controls were selected to participate in the study between September and December 2018. They randomly underwent either the CFA or automated field analyzer (HFA) first followed by the other in an undilated state. The CFA results were compared with the HFA, and the correlation of the pattern of the field defect was assessed by an independent masked physician.

Results:

In total, 59 eyes of 33 neuro-ophthalmic patients (cases) and another 95 normal individuals (controls) were enrolled. CFA was found to have greater proportion of reliable fields (81.4%) than HFA (59.3%) (P = 0.009). There were less false negatives (P < 0.001) and more false positives in CFA (P < 0.001) among neuro-ophthalmic patients compared with controls. Among neuro-ophthalmology patients, the number of fixation losses was greater with CFA (P < 0.001), whereas false negatives were greater in HFA (P < 0.001). On assessing the pattern of the field defects, we found that there was almost 70% correlation of CFA with HFA. Moreover, in classical neurological fields such as hemianopia, the correlation was 87.5%.

Conclusions:

The CFA seems to correlate well with HFA in classic neurological fields such as hemianopias and may serve as an alternative in patients unable to perform a standard automated perimetry. Further developments are currently underway to incorporate threshold testing.
Paenibacillus vietnamensis sp. nov., isolated from the rhizosphere soil of Arachis hypogaea
Authors: Nguyen Minh Hong , Dinh Mai Thi Ngoc , Lee Keun Chul , Kim Ji-Sun , Nguyen Thao Kim Nu , Lee Jung-Sook
Published: October 2022

A novel bacterial strain, N4T, was isolated from the soil of a groundnut Arachis hypogaea field in Nghean province, Vietnam. The phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic characteristics of this strain were determined. Cells of strain N4T were Gram-negative, aerobic, endospore-forming and rod-shaped. Strain N4T grew at 20–37 °C (optimum, 30 °C), pH 6–10 (optimum, pH 7) and 0–5 % NaCl (optimum, 0 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain N4T belonged to the genus

Paenibacillus

and was closely related to

Paenibacillus harenae

B519T (=KCTC 3951T) and

Paenibacillus alkaliterrae

KSL-134T (=KCTC 3956T) with 96.3 and 96.5% gene sequence similarity, respectively. It contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The DNA G+C content was 52.9 mol%. The major isoprenoid quinone was MK-7. Anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0 were the dominant cellular fatty acids. Based on phylogenetic, physiological and biochemical characteristics, strain N4T represents a novel species of the genus

Paenibacillus

, for which the name Paenibacillus vietnamensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is N4T (=KCTC 33932T= VTCC 12236T).
Estimating the neural spike train from an unfused tetanic signal of low threshold motor units using convolutive blind source separation
Authors: Rohlén Robin , Lundsberg Jonathan , Antfolk Christian
Published: October 2022

The central nervous system initiates voluntary force production by providing excitatory inputs to spinal motor neurons, each connected to a set of muscle fibres to form a motor unit. Motor units have been imaged and analysed using ultrafast ultrasound based on the separation of ultrasound images. Although this method has great potential to identify regions and trains of motor unit twitches (unfused tetanus) evoked by the spike trains, it currently has a limited motor unit identification rate. One potential explanation is that the current method neglects the temporal information in the separation process of ultrasound images, and including it could lead to significant improvement. Here, we take the first step by asking if it is possible to estimate the spike train of an unfused tetanic signal from simulated and experimental signals using convolutive blind source separation. This finding will provide a direction for ultrasound-based method improvement. In this study, we found that the estimated spike trains highly agreed with the simulated and reference spike trains. This result implies that the convolutive blind source separation of an unfused tetanic signal can be used to estimate its spike train. Although extending this approach to ultrasound images is promising, the translation remains to be investigated in future studies where spatial information is inevitable as a discriminating factor between different motor units.
A meta-analysis of neural systems underlying delay discounting: implications for transdiagnostic research
Authors: Souther Min Kang , Boateng Bema , Kable Joseph W.
Published: October 2022

Delay discounting is a promising paradigm for transdiagnostic research because both excessive and insufficient tendency to discount future rewards have been reported across diagnoses. Because delay discounting involves multiple neurocognitive functions, researchers have used many strategies to characterize brain activity during delay discounting. However, which of these analytic approaches yield truly robust and replicable findings remains unclear. To this end, we conducted a meta-analysis of 78 fMRI studies of delay discounting, testing which statistical contrasts yield reliable effects across studies. Despite being a widely used analytic approach, comparing impulsive and patient choices did not yield reliable effects across studies. Instead, subjective value reliably engaged the valuation network across studies. We also found that task versus baseline and choice difficulty contrasts reliably engaged regions in the frontoparietal and salience networks. We strongly recommend that future neuroimaging studies of delay discounting use these analytic approaches shown to reliably identify specific networks. In addition, we provide all cluster maps from our meta-analysis for use asa prioriregions of interest for future experiments.
An e-cigarette aerosol generation, animal exposure and toxicants quantification system to characterizein vivonicotine kinetics in arterial and venous blood
Authors: Zhang Jushan , Xue Mo , Pan Rong , Zhu Yujie , Zhang Zhongyang , Cheng Haoxiang , Björkegren Johan L M , Chen Jia , Shi Zhiqiang , Hao Ke
Published: October 2022

The increasing e-cigarette use worldwide presents an urgent need to characterize their nicotine delivery property, brain stimulation and potential long-term health effects. We constructed an end-to-end system enabling combustible-cigarette (c-cigarette) and e-cigarette aerosol generation, animal exposure, and effect assessment. The system consists of (1) a 10-channel aerosol generator resembling human smoking/vaping scenarios, (2) nose-only and whole-body exposure chambers suitable for long- or short-duration studies, (3) a lab protocol for animal exposure and collecting arterial and venous blood <1 minute after the exposure, and (4) chromatograph and mass spectrometry to quantify nicotine concentrations in aerosol and biospecimens. We applied the system in a proof-of-principle study characterizingin vivonicotine delivery after e-cigarette aerosol inhalation. Groups of Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to e-cigarette aerosols for 1, 2 and 4 minutes, respectively. Arterial and venous blood samples were collected immediately after the exposure. We also directly compared nose-only and whole-body exposure approaches. After nose-only e-cigarette aerosol exposure, the nicotine concentration in arterial blood was substantially higher (11.32 ng/mL in average) than in veins. Similar arterio-venous concentration difference was observed in whole-body exposure experiments. In summary, we described a complete system ideal for e- and c-cigarettein vivonicotine kinetics and long-term health research. Our findings highlight arterial blood as the suitable bio-specimen for e-cigarette nicotine delivery studies.

Highlight

We constructed a combustible- and e-cigarette aerosol generation - exposure - effect assessment system resembling real world human smoking/vaping scenarios.

Proof-of-principle study characterizedin vivonicotine delivery from e-cigarette aerosol to arterial and venous blood at high temporal resolution.

After exposure, the nicotine concentration was substantially higher (11.32 ng/mL) in arterial blood than in veins.

Our results suggest arterial blood as the suitable bio-specimen to study nicotine delivery and brain stimulation.
Knowledge Mapping of Alternative Splicing of Cancer From 2012 to 2021: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Tian Bo , Bian Yan , Bian De-Jian , Gao Ye , Zhang Xun , Zhou Si-Wei , Zhang Yan-Hui , Pang Ya-Nan , Li Zhao-Shen , Wang Luo-Wei
Published: October 2022

Background

As a processing method of RNA precursors, alternative splicing plays a critical role in normal cell physiological activities. Aberrant alternative splicing events are associated with cancer development and are promising targets for cancer treatment. However, no detailed and unbiased study describes the current state of alternative splicing of cancer research. This study aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis of alternative splicing of cancer research in the last decade to measure and recognize the current state and trends.

Methods

Web of Science Core Collection was used to acquire the articles. Utilizing three bibliometric tools (CiteSpace, VOSviewer, R-bibliometrix), we were able to measure and recognize the influence and collaboration data of individual articles, journals, and co-citations. Analysis of co-occurrence and bursts information helped us identify the trending research areas related to alternative splicing of cancer.

Results

From 2012 to 2021, the total number of papers on alternative splicing of cancer published in 766 academic journals was 3,507, authored by 20,406 researchers in 405 institutions from 80 countries/regions. Research involving alternative splicing of cancer genes was primarily conducted in the United States and China, with the United States retaining the prime status; simultaneously, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fudan University and National Cancer Institute were the institutions with strong research capabilities. Scorilas Andreas is the scholar with the most publications, while the most co-citations were generated by Wang, Eric T. Plos One published the most papers on alternative splicing of cancer, while J biol chem was the most co-cited academic journal in this field. Furthermore, these publications covered a wide range of areas, but were still primarily focused on the fields of molecular, biology, and immunology. The results of keyword co-occurrence analysis can be divided into three types: molecular (P53, CD44, Androgen receptor, SRSF3, ESRP1), pathological process (apoptosis, EMT, metastasis, angiogenesis, proliferation), and disease (breast cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, gastric cancer).

Conclusion

Research on alternative splicing of cancer has been a hot topic over the past decade, increasing in intensity each year. Current alternative splicing of cancer studies focused on hallmarks of alternative splicing in cancer, and alternative splicing signatures including diagnostic and therapeutic targets. Among them, the current trends are splicing factors regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition and other hallmarks, aberrant splicing events in tumors, and further mechanisms. These might give researchers interested in this field a forward-looking perspective and inform further research.
Inferring cell diversity in single cell data using consortium-scale epigenetic data as a biological anchor for cell identity
Authors: Sun Yuliangzi , Shim Woo Jun , Shen Sophie , Sinniah Enakshi , Pham Duy , Su Zezhuo , Mizikovsky Dalia , White Melanie D. , Ho Joshua W.K. , Nguyen Quan , Bodén Mikael , Palpant Nathan J.
Published: October 2022

Methods for cell clustering and gene expression from single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data are essential for biological interpretation of cell processes. Here we present TRIAGE-Cluster which uses genome-wide epigenetic data from diverse bio-samples to identify genes demarcating cell diversity in scRNA-seq data. TRIAGE-Cluster integrates patterns of repressive chromatin deposited across diverse cell types with weighted density estimation to determine cell type clusters in a 2D UMAP space. We then present TRIAGE-ParseR, a machine learning method that evaluates gene expression rank lists to define gene groups governing the identity and function of cell types. We demonstrate the utility of this two-step approach using atlases ofin vivoandin vitrocell diversification and organogenesis. We also provide a web accessible dashboard for analysis and download of data and software. Collectively, genome-wide epigenetic repression provides a versatile strategy to define cell diversity and study gene regulation of scRNA-seq data.
Deduplication Improves Cost-Efficiency and Yields ofDe novoAssembly and Binning of Shot-Gun Metagenomes in Microbiome Research
Authors: Zhang Zhiguo , Zhang Lu , Zhao Ze , Wang Hui , Ju Feng
Published: October 2022

Metagenomics has in the last decade greatly revolutionized the study of microbial communities. However, the presence of artificial duplicate reads mainly raised from the preparation of metagenomic DNA sequencing library and their impacts on metagenomic assembly and binning have never brought to the attention. Here, we explicitly investigated the effects of duplicate reads on metagenomic assembly and binning, based on analyses of four groups of representative metagenomes with distinct microbiome complexity. Our results showed that deduplication considerably increased the binning yields (by 3.5% to 80%) for most of the metagenomic datasets examined thanks to improved contig length and coverage profiling of metagenome-assembled contigs. Specifically, 411 versus 397, 331 versus 317, 104 versus 88 and 9 versus 5 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) were recovered from MEGAHIT assemblies of bioreactor sludge, surface water, lake sediment, and forest soil metagenomes, respectively. Noticeably, deduplication reduced the computational costs of metagenomic assembly including elapsed time (by 9.0% to 29.9%) and maximum memory requirement (by 4.3% to 37.1%). Collectively, it is recommended to remove duplicate reads in metagenomic data before assembly and binning analyses, particularly for complex environmental samples, such as forest soils examined in this study.

Importance

Duplicated reads are usually considered as technical artefacts. Their presence in metagenomes would theoretically not only introduce bias in the quantitative analysis, but also result in mistakes in coverage profile, leading to negative effects or even failures on metagenomic assembly and binning, as the widely used metagenome assemblers and binners all need coverage information for graph partitioning and assembly binning, respectively. However, this issue was seldomly noticed and its impacts on the downstream key bioinformatic procedures (e.g., assembly and binning) still remained unclear. In this study, we comprehensively evaluated for the first time the impacts of duplicate reads on de novo assembly and binning of real metagenomic datasets by comparing assembly quality, binning yields and the requirements of computational resources with and without the removal of duplicate reads. It was revealed that deduplication considerably increased the binning yields and significantly reduced the computational costs including elapsed time and maximum memory requirement. The results provide empirical reference for more cost-efficient metagenomic analyses in microbiome research.
Arctic humpback whales respond to nutritional opportunities before migration
Authors: Kettemer Lisa Elena , Ramm Theresia , Broms Fredrik , Biuw Martin , Blanchet Marie-Anne , Bourgeon Sophie , Dubourg Paul , Ellendersen Anna C. J. , Horaud Mathilde , Kershaw Joanna , Miller Patrick J. O. , Øien Nils , Pallin Logan J. , Rikardsen Audun H.
Published: October 2022

Rapid climate change in Arctic and Subarctic ecosystems is altering the spatio-temporal dynamics and abundance of resources. Whether highly mobile predators can respond and match their movements to changed resource peaks remains largely unclear. In the last decade, humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) established a new foraging site in fjords of northern Norway during the winter, outside of their presumed foraging season. We used photographic matching to show that whales first sighted during fall in the Barents Sea foraged in northern Norway from late October to February, staying for up to three months and showing high inter-annual return rates (up to 82%). The number of identified whales increased steadily from 2010 to 2016. Genetic sexing and hormone profiling in both areas suggest higher proportions of pregnancy and a female bias in Norwegian waters. This indicates that the new site may be particularly important for pregnant females, likely to improve body condition before migration. Our results suggest that baleen whales can respond to nutritional opportunities along their migration pathways, in some cases by extending their feeding season. This supports the idea that migrating marine mammals can access novel prey resources as part of their response to environmental changes.
NeuroWRAP: integrating, validating, and sharing neurodata analysis workflows
Authors: Bowen Zac , Magnusson Gudjon , Diep Madeline , Ayyangar Ujjwal , Smirnov Aleksandr , Losert Wolfgang
Published: October 2022

Multiphoton calcium imaging is one of the most powerful tools in modern neuroscience. However, multiphoton data require significant pre-processing of images and post-processing of extracted signals. As a result, many algorithms and pipelines have been developed for the analysis of multiphoton data, particularly two-photon imaging data. Most current studies use one of several algorithms and pipelines that are published and publicly available, and add customized upstream and downstream analysis elements to fit the needs of individual researchers. The vast differences in algorithm choices, parameter settings, pipeline composition, and data sources combine to make collaboration difficult, and raise questions about the reproducibility and robustness of experimental results. We present our solution, called NeuroWRAP, which is a tool that wraps multiple published algorithms together, and enables integration of custom algorithms. It enables development of collaborative, shareable custom workflows and reproducible data analysis for multiphoton calcium imaging data enabling easy collaboration between researchers. NeuroWRAP implements an approach to evaluate the sensitivity and robustness of the configured pipelines. When this sensitivity analysis is applied to a crucial step of image analysis, cell segmentation, we find a substantial difference between two popular workflows, CaImAn and Suite2p. NeuroWRAP harnesses this difference by introducing consensus analysis, utilizing two workflows in conjunction to significantly increase the trustworthiness and robustness of cell segmentation results.
Variability of the urinary and blood steroid profiles in healthy women
Authors: Moreillon Basile , Salamin Olivier , Krumm Bastien , Iannella Loredana , Molaioni Francesco , Kuuranne Tiia , Nicoli Raul , Saugy Jonas J. , Botrè Francesco , Faiss Raphael
Published: October 2022

The steroidal module of the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) targets the use of exogenous androgenous anabolic steroids (EAAS) in elite sport by monitoring urinary steroid profiles.

Urine and blood samples were collected weekly during two consecutive OCP cycles (8 weeks) in 15 physically active women to investigate the low urinary steroid concentrations and putative confounding effect of OCP.

In urine, testosterone (T) and/or epitestosterone (E) were below the limit of quantification of 1 ng/mL in 62% of the samples. Biomarkers’ variability ranged between 31% and 41%, with a significantly lesser variability for ratios (with the exception of T/E (41%)): 20% for androsterone/etiocholanolone (p < 0.001) and 25% for 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol/5ß-androstane-3α,17β-diol (p < 0.001).

In serum, variability for testosterone (T; 24%), androstenedione (A4; 23%), dihydrotestosterone (DHT; 19%) and T/A4 (16%) was significantly lower than urinary biomarkers (p < 0.001). Urinary A/Etio increased by > 18% after the first two weeks (p < 0.05) following blood loss. In contrast, T (0.98 nmol/L during the first week), and T/A4 (0.34 the first week) decreased significantly by more than 25% and 17% (p<0.05), respectively in the following weeks.

Our results outline steroidal variations during the OCP cycle highlighting exogenous hormonal preparations as confounder for steroid concentrations in blood. Low steroid levels in urine samples have a clear detrimental impact on the subsequent interpretation of steroidal variations for the ABP. With a greater analytical sensitivity and lesser variability for steroids in serum vs. urine in healthy active women, serum represents a complementary matrix to urine in the ABP steroidal module.
Benefits and costs of a global cooperative surveillance strategy to control trans-boundary crop pathogens
Authors: Radici Andrea , Martinetti Davide , Bevacqua Daniele
Published: October 2022

Trans-boundary diseases are extremely complex to control and can cause global socioeconomic damages. In the context of crop protection, surveillance strategies are usually designed according to administrative boundaries. In this study, we investigate to which extent this geographical scale of surveillance is suitable for long-distance dispersed pathogens. We lever on a global epidemic network, presented in a previous work, describing worldwide potential transport ofP. graminis, the causal agent of stem rust of wheat. We conceive two surveillance strategies: “Country-based” and “Cooperative” and we compare their performances, in terms of minimizing the number of sentinels deployed, to achieve given surveillance targets, both at the global and country level. As expected, we find that a “Cooperative” strategy is more efficient at the global scale, and this is particularly true for intermediate targets of surveillance. However, costs and benefits of adopting a “Cooperative” strategy are not equally distributed among countries. Medium size countries in central Europe and Asia are those that would benefit most from a cooperative strategy. On the other hand, Greece and Finland, having a small wheat production but placed in importantPucciniapathways, are those that should deploy, in the global interest, more sentinels than they would place in the national interest. Among the major wheat producers, China is the only country that would have a cost from a cooperative strategy, while India, Russia, United States, France and Ukraine would have the most benefits. It follows that the acknowledgement of these discrepancies could help to achieve general stakeholder support for a global international cooperative surveillance system.