bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reducing Retained Foreign Objects in the Operating Room: A Quality Improvement Initiative
Authors: Keane Olivia A , Chambers Cindi , Brady Colin M , Rehberg Jeff , Iyer Srikant , Santore Matthew T
Published: August 2023

Background:

While the incidence of pediatric retained foreign objects (RFOs) during surgery is diminutive (1/32,000), RFOs are often the most common sentinel events reported. In 2021, our institution noted an increase in RFOs evidenced by a substantial decrease in days between events. We aimed to minimize the incidence of RFO which was measured as an increase days between events at our institution by implementation of a Quality Improvement (QI) initiative.

Study Design:

This effort was conducted across four surgical centers within a tertiary children’s healthcare system in December 2021. Patients undergoing surgery within this healthcare system across all surgical specialties were included. The QI initiative was developed by a multidisciplinary team and included six steps focusing on quiet time, minimizing interruptions, and closed loop communication during final surgical count. Seven Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles were used to test, refine, and implement the protocol. Adherence to the final surgical count protocol was monitored throughout the study period.

Results:

In 2021, prior to protocol implementation, average time between RFO events was 29 days. After implementation of our quality initiative, the final surgical count protocol, we improved to 451 days between RFO events by February 2023, exceeding the upper control limit (235 days). Following implementation, the number of RFO events dropped from 7 in 2021 to 0 in 2022. Adherence to the final surgical count protocol implementation was 96.4% by the end of cycle 7.

Conclusions:

Retained foreign objects (RFOs) during pediatric surgical procedures can be successfully reduced using quality improvement methodology focusing on standardizing the procedure of the final surgical count.
A Convection-Free Apparatus for Low Force and High Efficiency Centrifugation
Authors: Yang Teng-Chieh
Published: August 2023

Centrifugation is a common technique for material separation. Most biological materials are separated under a relatively strong centrifugal force. Despite several reports highlighted the impact from centrifugal force on the separated materials, low force centrifugation typically results in low efficiency of separation and may not be achievable from the traditional centrifugation apparatus. Here, we present a novel apparatus for separating materials under low centrifugal force with high efficiency. Compare to the traditional apparatus, the design of this apparatus minimizes the convection during centrifugation. Using homogeneous polystyrene particles, we confirmed that the centrifugation process is essentially convection-free. Separation of human blood cells indicated that, under a fixed centrifugal force, less than half of the centrifugation time is required compared to the traditional apparatus. The isolated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells have higher viability and can afford multiple centrifugations without impacting cell viability. Additionally, this new apparatus has a higher resolution to separate materials by size and is sensitive to detect size heterogeneity. This apparatus provides a new opportunity for efficient centrifugation under low centrifugal force and for a systematic evaluation of the impact from centrifugal force on the quality of separated materials.
“When a man drinks alcohol it’s cool but when a woman drinks she is a hoe”: A Qualitative Exploration of Alcohol, Gender, Stigma, and Sexual Assault in Moshi, Tanzania
Authors: Pauley Alena , Metcalf Madeline , Buono Mia , Rent Sharla , Mikindo Mariana , Sawe Yvonne , Kilasara Joseph ,   APRN MNS-FNP, Boshe Judith , Staton Catherine A. , Mmbaga Blandina T.
Published: August 2023

Background

Alcohol’s ever-increasing global use poses a distinct threat to human well-being, with intake and associated burdens rising especially quickly in low- and middle-income countries like Tanzania. Prior research has shown alcohol use and related consequences differ by gender in Moshi, Tanzania, with important implications for both clinical care and future alcohol-reduction interventions. This study builds upon this knowledge by providing a deeper understanding of how gender differences affect alcohol-related stigma and sexual assault among Emergency Department (ED) and Reproductive Health Center (RHC) patients at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC) in Moshi.

Methods

In-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted among ED and RHC KCMC patients (n = 19) selected for participation via purposive sampling. A mix of inductive and deductive coding schemes was used to identify themes and subthemes. All data were analyzed through a grounded theory approach.

Results

Gender roles that linked men with financial responsibilities and women with child caretaking led to different expectations on alcohol intake, with alcohol use normalized for men but vilified for women. Women who drank, for example, were deemed poor mothers and undesirable spouses. Patients likewise emphasized that both alcohol-related stigma and sexual violence disproportionately impacted women, the latter fueled through alcohol use, with serious and lasting acts of discrimination and isolation from community members seen among women alcohol users but not for men.

Conclusion

Women alcohol users in Moshi are subject to severe social consequences, facing disproportionate stigma and sexual violence as compared to men. Alcohol-related treatment for women should be mindful of the disproportionate burdens present in this context and incorporate strategies to address and/or mitigate these harms in subsequent care and interventions.
Protocol for a scoping review of literature on digital sexual, reproductive, and gender health care for LGBTQI+ youth
Authors: McLeod Julie , Flowers Paul , Gibbs Jo , Estcourt Claudia S. , MacDonald Jennifer
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, questioning, and other sexual and gender minority (LGBTQI+) youth are diverse populations who experience poor sexual health outcomes (e.g., high rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), unplanned pregnancy, and sexual violence) and multiple barriers to sexual and reproductive health care (SRHC) and gender health care (GHC). In high-income, developed countries, barriers include confidentiality concerns; stigma and discrimination; and health care providers’ lack of specific training. Digital SRHC and GHC have the potential to overcome key barriers for LGBTQI+ youth by offering anonymous and independent access to care. However, the literature on digital SRHC and GHC for LGBTQI+ youth is fragmented, often focussing on one sub-population at a time, despite shared barriers. The extent and nature of recent literature regarding digital SRHC and GHC for LGBTQI+ youth is unclear, as is acceptability of, and barriers/facilitators to, LGBTQI+ youth engaging with digital SRHC and GHC.

Objective

To identify, describe, and evaluate the methodological quality of, the existing literature on digital SRHC and GHC for LGBTQI+ youth in high-income, developed countries, synthesise study findings, and make recommendations for future research.

Inclusion criteria

Research studies from 2018 onward in published and grey literature on any aspect of digital (e.g., websites, mobile applications) SRHC and GHC (e.g., online information, support and advice, and clinical care for STIs and HIV, fertility, sexual violence, sexual wellbeing, and gender expression and transition) for LGBTQI+ youth (aged 10-35 years) in high-income, developed countries.

Method

This study will follow the Joanna-Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews. The databases to be searched include APA PsycInfo (ProQuest); APA PsycArticles (ProQuest); CINAHL Complete (EBSCO); MEDLINE (EBSCO); ERIC (EBSCO); British Education Index (EBSCO); Education Database (ProQuest); Computer Science Database (ProQuest); and Web of Science. Grey literature will be identified using Google Scholar. Studies will be screened against and selected for inclusion in line with the eligibility criteria. Key data from included studies will be extracted to a structured spreadsheet, adapted from the JBI extraction tool, then synthesised qualitatively using the JBI meta-aggregative approach for a systematic narrative account, accompanied by tables as appropriate.
Impact of treatment of varicose veins with polidocanol foam compared to conventional surgery on quality of life
Authors: Sakugawa Lissa Severo , Portela Felipe Soares Oliveira , Louzada Andressa Cristina Sposato , Portugal Maria Fernanda Cassino , Teivelis Marcelo Passos , Mendes Cynthia de Almeida , Fioranelli Alexandre , Wolosker Nelson
Published: August 2023

Background and objective

Lower limb varicose veins are very prevalent and there are several treatment options available, including conventional surgery and polidocanol foam sclerotherapy. Few studies analyze therapeutic modalities based on PROMs (patient-reported outcome measures). The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of treatment with polidocanol foam sclerotherapy compared to conventional surgery in a large sample, based on an analysis of PROMs.

Methods

This was a prospective, observational, and qualitative study of 205 patients who underwent varicose vein treatment with polidocanol foam sclerotherapy (57 patients - 90 legs) or conventional surgery (148 patients - 236 legs). Patients were assessed preoperatively and 30 days after the procedure using venous disease severity scores (VCSS) and specific venous disease quality of life questionnaires (VEINES-QoL/Sym).

Results

Both treatments promoted a significant improvement in VCSS and VEINES 30 days after the procedure (p < 0.05). However, surgery promoted a greater improvement in VCSS (on average 4.02 points difference, p < 0.001), VEINES-QoL (8 points difference, p < 0.001) and VEINES-Sym (on average 11.66 points better, p < 0.001) compared to sclerotherapy. Post-operative pain and aesthetic concern about the legs were the domains of the questionnaires that had the greatest impact on this difference between the two types of treatment, generating worse results with sclerotherapy.

Conclusion

Polidocanol foam sclerotherapy and conventional surgery have a positive impact on quality of life after 30 days, but there is a more significant improvement in patients undergoing conventional surgery.
Early Hyperoxaemia and 2-year Outcomes in Infants with Hypoxic-ischemic Encephalopathy- a Secondary Analysis of the Infant Cooling Evaluation (ICE) trial
Authors: Badurdeen Shiraz , Cheong Jeanie L Y , Donath Susan , Graham Hamish , Hooper Stuart B , Polglase Graeme R , Jacobs Sue , Davis Peter G
Published: August 2023

Objective(s)

To determine the causal relationship between exposure to early hyperoxaemia and death/disability in infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).

Study design

We analyzed data from the Infant Cooling Evaluation (ICE) trial that enrolled newborns ≥35 weeks’ gestation with moderate-severe HIE, randomly allocated to hypothermia or normothermia. The primary outcome was death or major sensorineural disability at 2 years. We included infants with arterial pO2measured within 2 h of birth. Using a directed acyclic graph, we established that markers of severity of perinatal hypoxia-ischemia and pCO2were a minimally sufficient set of variables for adjustment in a regression model to estimate the causal relationship between arterial pO2and death/disability.

Results

Among 221 infants, 116 (56%) had arterial pO2and primary outcome data. The unadjusted analysis revealed a U-shaped relationship between arterial pO2and death/disability. Among hyperoxaemic infants (pO2100–500 mmHg) the risk of death/disability was 40/58 (0.69), while the risk in normoxaemic infants (pO240 – 99mmHg) was 20/48 (0.42). In the adjusted model, hyperoxaemia increased the risk of death/disability (adjusted risk ratio 1.61, 95% CI 1.07 – 2.00, p= 0.03) in relation to normoxaemia.

Conclusions

Early hyperoxaemia increased the risk of death/disability among infants who had an early arterial pO2in the ICE trial. Limitations include the possibility of residual confounding and other causal biases. Further work is warranted to confirm this relationship in the era of routine therapeutic hypothermia.
Patient Phenotyping for Atopic Dermatitis with Transformers and Machine Learning
Authors: Wang Andrew , Fulton Rachel , Hwang Sy , Margolis David J. , Mowery Danielle L.
Published: August 2023

Background

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic skin condition that millions of people around the world live with each day. Performing research studies into identifying the causes and treatment for this disease has great potential to provide benefit for these individuals. However, AD clinical trial recruitment is a non-trivial task due to variance in diagnostic precision and phenotypic definitions leveraged by different clinicians as well as time spent finding, recruiting, and enrolling patients by clinicians to become study subjects. Thus, there is a need for automatic and effective patient phenotyping for cohort recruitment.

Objective

Our study aims to present an approach for identifying patients whose electronic health records suggest that they may have AD.

Methods

We created a vectorized representation of each patient and trained various supervised machine learning methods to classify when a patient has AD. Each patient is represented by a vector of either probabilities or binary values where each value indicates whether they meet a different criteria for AD diagnosis. Results: The most accurate AD classifier performed with a class-balanced accuracy of 0.8036, a precision of 0.8400, and a recall of 0.7500 when using XGBoost (Extreme Gradient Boosting).

Conclusions

Creating an automated approach for identifying patient cohorts has the potential to accelerate, standardize, and automate the process of patient recruitment for AD studies; therefore, reducing clinician burden and informing knowledge discovery of better treatment options for AD.
Clinical, Echocardiographic, and Longitudinal Characteristics Associated with Heart Failure with Improved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Romero Erick , Baltodano Alexander Francois , Rocha Paulo , Sellers-Porter Camryn , Patel Dev Jaydeep , Soroya Saad , Bidwell Julie , Ebong Imo , Gibson Michael , Liem David A. , Jimenez Shirin , Bang Heejung , Sirish Padmini , Chiamvimonvat Nipavan , Lopez Javier E. , Cadeiras Martin
Published: August 2023

Background

Heart failure (HF) with improved ejection fraction (HFimpEF) has better outcomes than HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). However, factors contributing to HFimpEF remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate clinical and longitudinal characteristics associated with subsequent HFimpEF.

Methods

This was a single-center retrospective HFrEF cohort study. Data were collected from 2014 to 2022. Patients with HFrEF were identified using ICD codes, echocardiographic data, and natriuretic peptide levels. The main endpoints were HFimpEF (defined as ejection fraction >40% at ≥3 months with ≥10% increase) and mortality. Cox proportional hazards and mixed effects models were used for analyses.

Results

The study included 1307 HFrEF patients with a median follow-up of 16.3 months (IQR 8.0-30.6). The median age was 65 years; 68% were male while 57% were white. On follow-up, 39% (n=506) developed HFimpEF, while 61% (n=801) had persistent HFrEF. A multivariate Cox regression model identified sex, race comorbidities, echocardiographic, and natriuretic peptide as significant covariates of HFimpEF (p<0.05). The HFimpEF group had better survival compared to the persistent HFrEF group (p<0.001). Echocardiographic and laboratory trajectories differed between groups.

Conclusion

In this HFrEF cohort, 39% transitioned to HFimpEF and approximately 50% met the definition within the first 12 months. In a HFimpEF model, sex, comorbidities, echocardiographic parameters, and natriuretic peptide were associated with subsequent HFimpEF. The model has the potential to identify patients at risk of subsequent persistent or improved HFrEF, thus informing the design and implementation of targeted quality-of-care improvement interventions.
Accuracy and Correlation Between Bed Scale and Standing Scale Weights in Monitoring Volume Status in Patients Hospitalized for Acute Decompensated Heart Failure
Authors: Skoll Devin , Abarca Phillip , Pham Vu , Das Anushka , Mantini Clark , Tun Han , Van Herle Helga , Vaidya Ajay , Wolfson Aaron M. , Fong Michael W.
Published: August 2023

Background

Accurate monitoring of volume status is vital in managing diuretic therapy in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). Guidelines recommend daily measurement of standing body weight as an indicator of volume status, though many healthcare facilities use bed scales instead. There is limited data surrounding the accuracy of bed scales compared to standing scales, and literature suggests discrepancy between the two. This study is the first to evaluate the accuracy and correlation between scales among patients hospitalized for ADHF.

Methods

Adults (age ≥18) diagnosed with ADHF and its derivatives who were hospitalized at our center between March and April 2023 were identified via electronic medical record. Patients were included if they demonstrated capacity to consent and were medically cleared to ambulate independently. Participants’ weights were measured via bed scale and standing scale at the same time on each day of data collection. The mean difference (bias), precision [standard deviation (SD)], and limits of agreement (±2 SD) were calculated and graphed using the Bland-Altman method. Based on expert opinion, a bias of greater than ± 0.6 kg and precision greater than ± 3.0 kg were considered clinically significant.

Results

51 pairs of bed and standing scale weights were obtained among 43 patients. The mean difference ± precision between weights was 1.42 ± 1.18 kg (95% CI, -0.894 – 3.73), exceeding the recommended bias. In addition, 71% (n=36) of participants’ weights differed by more than 0.6 kg between the bed and standing scale, 22% (n=11) differed by more than 2.0 kg, and 5.9% (n=3) differed by more than 4.0 kg (see Table I).

Conclusions

Bed scales are not accurate compared to standing scales and may lead to errors in fluid management in patients hospitalized for acute decompensated heart failure.

What is Known

Adequate diuresis and volume status optimization are mainstays of therapy in patients with acute decompensated heart failure

Guidelines recommend measurement of standing body weight as an indicator of volume status, though many hospitals use bed scales instead

What the Study Adds

This is the first study to assess the difference in weights between bed and standing scales in patients hospitalized for acute decompensated heart failure

This study provides evidence that bed scale weights are not accurate compared to standing scale weights in this population
Prevalence and pattern of Post Covid-19 symptoms in recovered patients of Delhi: A Population-Based study
Authors: Bhatnagar Nidhi , Singh M.M. , Sharma Hitakshi , Mishra Suruchi , Singh Gurmeet , Rao Shivani , Borle Amod , Anand Tanu , Kumar Naresh , Goswami Binita , Singh Sarika , Kapoor Mahima , Singla Sumeet , Khuraijam Bembem , Khurana Nita , Sharma Urvi , Garg Suneela
Published: August 2023

Background

Post-coronavirus disease (COVID) is widely reported but the data of Post COVID-19 after infection with the Omicron variant is limited. This prospective study was conducted to determine the prevalence, pattern, and duration of symptoms related to Covid-19 recovered patients. Methods: Adults (>18 years old) in 11 districts of Delhi who had recovered from Covid-19 were followed up at 3 months and 6 months post-recovery. Results: The study found that the participants had a mean age of 42.07 years, with a standard deviation of 14.89. Additionally, a significant proportion of the participants (79.7%) experienced post-Covid symptoms. The participants elicited a history of Joint Pain (36%), Persistent dry cough (35.7%), anxiousness (28.4%) and shortness of breath (27.1%). The other symptoms reported were persistent fatigue (21.6%), persistent headache (20%), forgetfulness (19.7%) and weakness in limbs (18.6%). The longest duration of symptom was observed in participants reporting anxiousness (138.75 ±54.14) followed by fatigue (137.57±48.33), shortness of breath (131.89±60.21) and joint pain/swelling (131.59±58.76). During the first follow-up, 2.2% of participants had an abnormal ECG reading, while no abnormalities were reported during the second follow-up. Additionally, 4.06% of participants had abnormal chest X-ray findings during the first follow-up, with this number decreasing to 2.16% during the second follow-up. Conclusion: Our study concluded that the clinical symptoms persist in participants until 6 months and a multi-system involvement is seen in the post-COVID period. Thus, the findings necessitate long-term, regular follow-ups.
Single-cell-resolved interspecies comparison identifies a shared inflammatory axis and a dominant neutrophil-endothelial program in severe COVID-19
Authors: Peidli Stefan , Nouailles Geraldine , Wyler Emanuel , Adler Julia M. , Kunder Sandra , Voß Anne , Kazmierski Julia , Pott Fabian , Pennitz Peter , Postmus Dylan , Teixeira Alves Luiz Gustavo , Goffinet Christine , Gruber Achim D. , Blüthgen Nils , Witzenrath Martin , Trimpert Jakob , Landthaler Markus , Praktiknjo Samantha D.
Published: August 2023

Key issues for research of COVID-19 pathogenesis are the lack of biopsies from patients and of samples at the onset of infection. To overcome these hurdles, hamsters were shown to be useful models for studying this disease. Here, we further leveraged the model to molecularly survey the disease progression from time-resolved single-cell RNA-sequencing data collected from healthy and SARS-CoV-2-infected Syrian and Roborovski hamster lungs. We compared our data to human COVID-19 studies, including BALF, nasal swab, and post-mortem lung tissue, and identified a shared axis of inflammation dominated by macrophages, neutrophils, and endothelial cells, which we show to be transient in Syrian and terminal in Roborovski hamsters. Our data suggest that, following SARS-CoV-2 infection, commitment to a type 1 or type 3-biased immunity determines moderate versus severe COVID-19 outcomes, respectively.

One-Sentence Summary

Activation of different immunological programs upon SARS-CoV-2 infection determines COVID-19 severity.
S-Nitrosylation of CRTC1 in Alzheimer’s disease impairs CREB-dependent gene expression induced by neuronal activity
Authors: Zhang Xu , Vlkolinsky Roman , Wu Chongyang , Dolatabadi Nima , Scott Henry , Prikhodko Olga , Blanco Mayra , Lang Nhi , Piña-Crespo Juan , Nakamura Tomohiro , Roberto Marisa , Lipton Stuart A.
Published: August 2023

CREB-regulated transcription coactivator 1 (CRTC1) plays an important role in synaptic plasticity, learning and long-term memory formation through regulation of neuronal activity-dependent gene expression, and CRTC1 dysregulation is implicated in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Here, we show that increased S-nitrosylation of CRTC1 (forming SNO-CRTC1), as seen in cell-based, animal-based, and human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived cerebrocortical neuron-based AD models, disrupts its binding with CREB and diminishes the activity-dependent gene expression mediated by the CRTC1/CREB pathway. We identified Cys216 of CRTC1 as the primary target of S-nitrosylation by nitric oxide (NO)-related species. Using CRISPR/Cas9 techniques, we mutated Cys216 to Ala in hiPSC-derived cerebrocortical neurons bearing one allele of the APPSwemutation (AD-hiPSC neurons). Introduction of this non-nitrosylatable CRTC1 construct rescued defects in AD-hiPSC neurons, including decreased neurite length and increased neuronal cell death. Additionally, expression of non-nitrosylatable CRTC1in vivoin the hippocampus rescued synaptic plasticity in the form of long-term potentiation (LTP) in 5XFAD mice. Taken together, these results demonstrate that formation of SNO-CRTC1 contributes to the pathogenesis of AD by attenuating the neuronal activity-dependent CREB transcriptional pathway, and suggests a novel therapeutic target for AD.
Social network centrality predicts dietary decisions in a wild bird population
Authors: McMahon Keith , Marples Nicola M. , Spurgin Lewis G. , Rowland Hannah M. , Sheldon Ben C. , Firth Josh A.
Published: August 2023

How individuals balance costs and benefits of group living remains central to understanding sociality. In relation to diet, social foraging provides many advantages but also increases competition. Nevertheless, social individuals may offset increased competition by broadening their diet and consuming novel foods. Despite the expected relationships between social behaviour and dietary decisions, how sociality shapes individuals’ novel food consumption remains largely untested in natural populations. Here, we use wild, RFID-tracked, great tits to experimentally test how sociality predicts dietary decisions. We show that individuals with more social connections have higher propensity to use novel foods compared to socially-peripheral individuals, and this is unrelated to neophobia, observations, and demographic factors. These findings indicate sociable individuals may offset potential costs of competition by foraging more broadly. We discuss how social environments may drive behavioural change in natural populations, and the implications for the causes and consequences of social strategies and dietary decisions.
Preserving endothelial integrity in human saphenous veins during preparation for coronary bypass surgery
Authors: Sedovy Meghan W. , Leng Xinyan , Iqbal Farwah , Renton Mark C. , Leaf Melissa , Roberts Kailynn , Malek Arya , Scott Arnold W. , Wyatt David A. , Choate Cynthia W. , Rowe Joseph F. , Baker Joseph W. , Johnstone Scott R. , Joseph Mark
Published: August 2023

Objective

While multiple factors influence coronary artery bypass graft success rates, preserving saphenous vein endothelium during surgery may improve patency. Standard methods of saphenous vein graft preparation in heparinized saline (saline) solutions result in endothelial loss and damage. Here we investigated the impact of preparing saphenous graft vessels in heparinized patient blood (blood) vs saline on cellular health and survival.

Methods

Saphenous vein tissues from a total of 23 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery were split into 2 treatment groups, 1) standard preparation using saline and 2) preparation using blood. Immediately following surgery, excess tissue was fixed for analysis. Level of endothelial coverage, oxidative stress marker 4-hydroxynonenal (4HNE), and oxidative stress protective marker nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) expression were evaluated.

Results

In saline patient veins, histological analysis revealed a broken or absent luminal layer, suggesting a loss of endothelial cell (EC) coverage. Luminal cell coverage was notably preserved in blood-treated samples. Immunofluorescent staining of endothelial markers vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) and endothelial nitric oxide (eNOS) identified a significant improvement in endothelial coverage in the blood group compared to saline. Although in both treatment groups EC expressed 4HNE indicating a similar level of oxidative stress, EC stored in blood solutions expressed higher levels of the protective transcription NRF2.

Conclusions

Our data indicate that maintaining and preparing saphenous vein tissues in solutions containing heparinized blood helps preserve the endothelium and promotes vein graft health. This has the potential to improve long-term outcomes in patients.

Central Message

During coronary artery bypass grafting, preparation of saphenous veins with heparinized saline damages the endothelium and increases oxidative stress. Heparinized blood preparation limits this endothelial loss and damage.

Perspectives Statement

Saphenous vein grafts are prone to failure through neointimal hyperplasia or thrombosis. Endothelial damage and loss are thought to be major contributing factors to graft failure. Here we find that preparation and preservation of saphenous vein grafts with patients’ own heparinized blood is sufficient to ensure endothelial preservation and protect vessels from oxidative stress compared with heparinized saline. These changes may increase long-term graft patency rates.
Androgen receptor alpha regulates aromatase expression in the ventromedial hypothalamus of male cichlids
Authors: Lopez Mariana S. , Alward Beau A.
Published: August 2023

Social behaviors are regulated by sex steroid hormones such as androgens and estrogens. However, the specific molecular and neural processes modulated by steroid hormones to generate social behaviors remain to be elucidated. We investigated whether some actions of androgen signaling in the control of social behavior may occur through the regulation of estradiol synthesis in the highly social cichlid fishAstatotilapia burtoni. Specifically, we examined the expression ofcyp19a1, a brain-specific aromatase, in the brains of maleA. burtonilacking a functional ARα gene, which was recently found to be necessary for aggression in this species. We found thatcyp19a1expression is higher in wild-type males compared to ARα mutant males in the homolog of the mammalian ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), a brain region that governs aggression across taxa. Usingin situhybridization chain reaction (HCR), we determined that ARα+andcyp19a1+cells are commonly nearby, but very infrequently was co-expression observed, including in the fish VMH. We speculate that ARα may modulatecyp19a1expression in the fish VMH to govern aggression through an indirect, potentially transsynaptic, mechanism. These studies provide novel insights into the hormonal mechanisms of social behavior and lay a foundation for future functional studies.
Coastal Marine Mammal conservation using thermal imaging-based detection systems
Authors: Richter Sebastian , Yurk Harald , Winterl Alexander , Chmelnitsky Elly , Serra Norma , O’Hara Patrick D. , Zitterbart Daniel
Published: August 2023

Marine mammal habitats in coastal regions are increasingly threatened as anthropogenic use of these areas increases. Vessel traffic from commercial and pleasure craft leads to increased underwater noise and risk of marine mammal vessel-strike. Mitigation measures advised by competent authorities, such as static and dynamic speed restriction zones or area closures, must be based on reliable data to be justified and find widespread adoption. Thermal detection systems can augment currently employed monitoring approaches such as passive acoustic monitoring or marine mammal observers. Thermal imaging whale detection systems are cost-effective, can be operated around the clock and do not rely on the animal to vocalize, hence have a different availability bias than passive acoustic monitoring. It has been shown in previous studies that thermal detections based on a pronounced blow is possible for larger baleen whales. In this study, we evaluate how effective thermal imaging base whale detection systems are for detecting smaller marine mammals, with a focus on killer whales in Salish Sea.
Abstract, modality-specific and experience-dependent coding of affect in the human brain
Authors: Lettieri Giada , Handjaras Giacomo , Cappello Elisa M. , Setti Francesca , Bottari Davide , Bruno Valentina , Diano Matteo , Leo Andrea , Tinti Carla , Garbarini Francesca , Pietrini Pietro , Ricciardi Emiliano , Cecchetti Luca
Published: August 2023

Emotion and perception are tightly intertwined, as affective experiences often arise from the appraisal of sensory information. Nonetheless, whether the brain encodes emotional instances using a sensory-specific code or in a more abstract manner is unclear. Here, we answer this question by measuring the association between emotion ratings collected during a unisensory or multisensory presentation of a full-length movie and brain activity recorded in typically-developed, congenitally blind and congenitally deaf participants. Emotional instances are encoded in a vast network encompassing sensory, prefrontal, and temporal cortices. Within this network, the ventromedial prefrontal cortex stores a categorical representation of emotion independent of modality and experience, and the posterior superior temporal cortex maps valence using an abstract code. Sensory experience more than modality impacts how the brain organizes emotional information outside supramodal regions, suggesting the existence of a scaffold for the representation of emotional states where sensory inputs during development shape its functioning.
The phase of tACS-entrained pre-SMA beta oscillations modulates motor inhibition
Authors: Fang Zhou , Sack Alexander T , Leunissen Inge
Published: August 2023

Inhibitory control has been linked to beta oscillations in the fronto-basal ganglia network. Here we aim to investigate the functional role of the phase of this oscillatory beta rhythm for successful motor inhibition. We applied 20 Hz transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) to the pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA) while presenting stop signals at 4 (Experiment 1) and 8 (Experiment 2) equidistant phases of the tACS entrained beta oscillations. Participants showed better inhibitory performance when stop signals were presented at the trough of the beta oscillation whereas their inhibitory control performance decreased with stop signals being presented at the oscillatory beta peak. These results are consistent with the communication through coherence theory, in which postsynaptic effects are thought to be greater when an input arrives at an optimal phase within the oscillatory cycle of the target neuronal population. The current study provides mechanistic insights into the neural communication principles underlying successful motor inhibition and may have implications for phase-specific interventions aimed at treating inhibitory control disorders such as PD or OCD.
Tick-borne zoonotic flaviviruses andBorreliainfections in wildlife hosts: what have field studies contributed?
Authors: Poisson Armelle , Boulinier Thierry , Bournez Laure , Gonzalez Gaëlle , Migné Camille V. , Moutailler Sara , Faivre Bruno , Métras Raphaëlle
Published: August 2023

Tick-borne flaviviruses andBorreliaspp. are globally spread pathogens of zoonotic potential that are maintained by a transmission cycle at the interface between ticks and vertebrate hosts, mainly wild animals. Aside data on pathogen burden in ticks, information on the status of various hosts relative to infection could be critical. We reviewed how those infections have been studied in wildlife species in the field to discuss how collected data provided relevant epidemiological information and identify needs for further studies. The literature was screened for populational studies on direct or antibody detection for tick-borneBorreliaspp. and flaviviruses in animals, in the wild. Overall,Borreliaspp. were more studied (73% of case studies, representing 297 host species) than flaviviruses (27% of case studies, representing 114 host species). Studies on bothBorreliaspp. and flaviviruses focused mainly on the same species, namely bank vole and yellow-necked mouse. Most studies were order-specific and cross-sectional, reporting prevalence at various locations, but with little insight into the underlying epidemiological dynamics. Species with potential to act as reservoir hosts were overlooked, notably passerine birds. We highlight the necessity of collecting both demographics and infection data in wildlife studies, and to consider communities of species, to better estimate zoonotic risk potential in the One Health context.
GDF15 is a dynamic biomarker of the Integrated Stress Response in the central nervous system
Authors: Asundi Jyoti , Zhang Chunlian , Donnelly-Roberts Diana , Solorio Josè Zavala , Challagundla Malleswari , Connelly Caitlin , Boch Christina , Chen Jun , Richter Mario , Maneshi Mohammad Mehdi , Swensen Andrew M. , Lebon Lauren , Schiffmann Raphael , Sanyal Subhabrata , Sidrauski Carmela , Kolumam Ganesh , Baruch Amos
Published: August 2023

Aim

Characterize Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF15) as a secreted biomarker of the Integrated Stress Response (ISR) within the Central Nervous System (CNS).

Methods

We determined GDF15 levels utilizingin vitroandin vivoneuronal systems wherein the ISR was activated. Primarily, we used the murine model of Vanishing White Matter disease (VWMD), a neurological disease driven by persistent ISR in the CNS, to establish a link between levels of GDF15 in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and ISR gene expression signature in the CNS. GDF15 was also determined in the CSF of VWM patients.

Results

GDF15 expression was increased concomitant to ISR activation in stress-induced primary astrocytes as well as in retinal ganglion cells following optic nerve crush, while treatment with 2Bact, a specific eIF2B activator, suppressed both the ISR and GDF15. In the VWMD model, CSF GDF15 levels corresponded with the magnitude of the ISR and were reduced by 2BAct. In VWM patients, mean CSF GDF15 was elevated >20-fold as compared to healthy controls, whereas plasma GDF15 was undifferentiated.

Conclusions

These data suggest that CSF GDF15 is a dynamic marker of ISR activation in the CNS and may serve as a pharmacodynamic biomarker for ISR-modulating therapies.
Transcriptome analysis of left versus right intrinsic laryngeal muscles associated with innervation
Authors: Kemfack Angela M. , Hernández-Morato Ignacio , Moayedi Yalda , Pitman Michael J.
Published: August 2023

Objectives/Hypothesis

Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury diagnosed as idiopathic or due to short-term surgery-related intubation exhibits a higher incidence of left-sided paralysis. While this is often attributed to nerve length, it is hypothesized there are asymmetric differences in the expression of genes related to neuromuscular function that may impact reinnervation and contribute to this laterality phenomenon. To test this hypothesis, this study analyzes the transcriptome profiles of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles (ILMs), comparing gene expression in the left versus right, with particular attention to genetic pathways associated with neuromuscular function.

Study Design

Laboratory experiment.

Methods

RNA was extracted from the left and right sides of the rat posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA), lateral thyroarytenoid (LTA), and medial thyroarytenoid (MTA), respectively. After high-throughput RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq), 88 samples were organized into 12 datasets according to their age (P15/adult), sex (male/female), and muscle type (PCA/LTA/MTA). A comprehensive bioinformatics analysis was conducted to compare the left-right ILMs across different conditions.

Results

774 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified across the 12 experimental groups, revealing age, sex, and muscle-specific differences between the left versus right ILMs. Enrichment analysis of Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways implicated several genes with a left-right laryngeal muscle asymmetry. These genes are associated with neuronal and muscular physiology, immune/inflammatory response, and hormone control.

Conclusion

Bioinformatics analysis confirmed divergent transcriptome profiles between the left-right ILMs. This preliminary study identifies putative gene targets that will characterize ILM laterality.

Level of Evidence

N/A

LAY SUMMARY

Vocal fold paralysis is more common on the left. This study shows left versus right differences in gene expression related to innervation, suggesting the increased rate of left recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis may be associated with genetic differences, not just nerve length.
A general exposome factor explains individual differences in functional brain network topography and cognition in youth
Authors: Keller Arielle S. , Moore Tyler M. , Luo Audrey , Visoki Elina , Gataviņš Mārtiņš M. , Shetty Alisha , Cui Zaixu , Fan Yong , Feczko Eric , Houghton Audrey , Li Hongming , Mackey Allyson P. , Miranda-Dominguez Oscar , Pines Adam , Shinohara Russell T. , Sun Kevin Y. , Fair Damien A. , Satterthwaite Theodore D. , Barzilay Ran
Published: August 2023

Our minds and brains are highly unique. Despite the long-recognized importance of the environment in shaping individual differences in cognitive neurodevelopment, only with the combination of deep phenotyping approaches and the availability of large-scale datasets have we been able to more comprehensively characterize the many inter-connected features of an individual’s environment and experience (“exposome”). Moreover, despite clear evidence that brain organization is highly individualized, most neuroimaging studies still rely on group atlases to define functional networks, smearing away inter-individual variation in the spatial layout of functional networks across the cortex (“functional topography”). Here, we leverage the largest longitudinal study of brain and behavior development in the United States to investigate how an individual’s exposome may contribute to functional brain network organization leading to differences in cognitive functioning. To do so, we apply three previously-validated data driven computational models to characterize an individual’s multidimensional exposome, define individual-specific maps of functional brain networks, and measure cognitive functioning across broad domains. In pre-registered analyses replicated across matched discovery (n=5,139, 48.5% female) and replication (n=5,137, 47.1% female) samples, we find that a child’s exposome is associated with multiple domains of cognitive functioning both at baseline assessment and two years later – over and above associations with baseline cognition. Cross-validated ridge regression models reveal that the exposome is reflected in children’s unique patterns of functional topography. Finally, we uncover both shared and unique contributions of the exposome and functional topography to cognitive abilities, finding that models trained on a single variable capturing a child’s exposome can more accurately and parsimoniously predict future cognitive performance than models trained on a wealth of personalized neuroimaging data. This study advances our understanding of how childhood environments contribute to unique patterns of functional brain organization and variability in cognitive abilities.
Comparative Phylogeography of Tree Species in the Hyrcanian Forests, Iran by Genome-wide SNPs
Authors: Vatanparast Mohammad , Madsen Palle , Sagheb-Talebi Khosro , Larsen Jørgen Bo , Ayan Sezgin , Hansen Ole K.
Published: August 2023

The Hyrcanian forests in Iran are one of the last remaining natural deciduous forests in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. We investigated the population genetics of representative indigenous tree species,Acer velutinumBoiss.,Fagus orientalisLipsky, andQuercus castaneifoliaC.A. Mey. in northern Iran and alsoF. orientalispopulations in the Euro-Siberian and Colchic sub-regions in northern Türkiye. We used the double-digest RAD-seq method and genotyped 90 populations and 1,589 individuals across the distribution range of the species. Our analyses yielded 1,347, 2,091, and 8,881 genome-wide SNPs from 28 populations ofA. velutinum, 32 populations ofF. orientalis, and 30Q. castaneifolia, respectively. Our results revealed higher genetic differentiations amongA. velutinumpopulations than those ofF. orientalisandQ. castaneifoliawithin the Hyrcanian forests. The globalFSTvalue was lowest forF. orientalispopulations (0.019) and highest forA. velutinumpopulations (0.12), while theFISvalue was negative forA. velutinum(–0.095). Demographic history analysis indicated a bottleneck during the last glacial maximum for theA. velutinumpopulations with reduced effective population size. The three species showed evidence of population bottlenecks during the Pliocene. Our findings highlight the pronounced genetic divergence amongA. velutinumpopulations in the Hyrcanian forests compared to the other two species, suggesting cryptic speciation. Conversely,F. orientalisandQ. castaneifoliapopulations demonstrated a reduced level of genetic structure, indicating that species-specific factors, such as pollen production and pollination efficiency, may have influenced the genetic patterns within these species in similar environments. We did not observe significant elevational genetic differentiation within populations of the studied species. Furthermore, theF. orientalispopulations from Türkiye exhibited a distinct west-east genetic structure and were highly diverged from the IranianF. orientalispopulations.
SSDraw: software for generating comparative protein secondary structure diagrams
Authors: Chen Ethan A. , Porter Lauren L.
Published: August 2023

The program SSDraw generates publication-quality protein secondary structure diagrams from three-dimensional protein structures. To depict relationships between secondary structure and other protein features, diagrams can be colored by conservation score, B-factor, or custom scoring. Diagrams of homologous proteins can be registered according to an input multiple sequence alignment. Linear visualization allows the user to stack registered diagrams, facilitating comparison of secondary structure and other properties among homologous proteins. SSDraw can be used to compare secondary structures of homologous proteins with both conserved and divergent folds. It can also generate one secondary structure diagram from an input protein structure of interest. The source code can be downloaded (https://github.com/ethanchen1301/SSDraw) and run locally for rapid structure generation, while a Google Colab notebook allows easy use.
Genomic insights into post-domestication expansion and selection of body size in ponies
Authors: Li Xingzheng , Wang Zihao , Zhu Min , Wang Binhu , Teng Shaohua , Yan Jing , Yuan Pengxiang , Cao Shuwei , Qu Xiaolu , Wang Zhen , Choudhury Panir , Yang Xintong , Bao Qi , He Sang , Liu Lei , Zhao Pengju , Jiang Jicai , Xiang Hai , Fang Lingzhao , Tang Zhonglin , Liao Yuying , Yi Guoqiang
Published: August 2023

Horses domestication revolutionized human civilization by changing transportation, farming, and warfare patterns. Despite extensive studies on modern domestic horse origins, the intricate demographic history and genetic signatures of pony size demand further exploration. Here, we present a high-quality genome of the Chinese Debao pony and extensively analyzed 385 individuals from 49 horse breeds. We reveal the conservation of ancient components in East Asian horses and close relationships between Asian horses and specific European pony lineages. Genetic analysis uncovers Asian paternal origin for European pony breeds, and these pony-sized horses share a close genetic affinity due to the presence of a potential ancestral ghost pony population. Additionally, we identify promising cis-regulatory elements influencing horse withers height by regulating genes likeRFLNAandFOXO1. Overall, our study provides insightful perspectives into the development history and genetic determinants underlying body size in ponies and offers broader implications for horse population management and improvement.

Teaser

Decoding pony genetics: exploring origins and size determinants sheds light on their historical and biological impacts.