bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
COVID-19-Induced Changes in Photoplethysmography
Authors: Peck Jacquelin , Wishon Michael J , Wittels Harrison , Hasty Frederick , Hendricks Stephanie , Lee Stephen J , Wittels S Howard
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Photoplethysmography (PPG) is the science behind many commonly used medical devices such as the pulse oximeter. PPG changes, herein as “PPG dropouts,” have been described in existing in vitro studies following artificially induced clot activation. Because COVID-19 causes increased arterial, venous, and microvascular clot formation, our hypothesis is that PPG dropouts identified in vitro can also be found in vivo in patients with COVID-19. The aim of this study is to evaluate PPG recordings and D-dimer levels for patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and compare them with the PPG tracings from non-COVID controls.

Materials and Methods

PPG recordings were obtained for 197 ICU patients with COVID-19 and 300 non-COVID controls. PPG tracings were obtained using a TigerTech CovidPlus monitor, which received U.S. FDA emergency use authorization in March 2020 for monitoring the biometrics of patients with COVID-19 and featured unfiltered red and infrared spectrum PPG monitoring. D-dimer lab results were also recorded whenever available.

Results

The results demonstrated significant differences in the prevalence rate of PPG dropout among patients with COVID-19 vs. non-COVID controls. The median PPG dropout rate was 0.58 for COVID-19 patients (median 0.58, IQR 0.42-0.72, P < .05) as opposed to a median 0.0 for non-COVID patients (median 0.0, IQR 0.0-0.0, P < .05). Furthermore, at least one incidence of PPG dropout was detected in 100% of COVID-19 patients, as opposed to 2.3% of non-COVID controls (P < .05). PPG dropout also correlated closely with the normalized serum D-dimer levels taken on the same day. The change in the normalized D-dimer levels was plotted against the change in PPG dropout, and a line of best fit was created. Linear regression resulted in R2 = 0.743 (P < .05), indicating that changes in the PPG dropout rate correlate with hemorheological changes in COVID-19 patients.

Conclusions

PPG dropout, like D-dimer, may not be specific for COVID-19. However, the inflammatory nature of the disease and the prevalence of prolonged ICU created a large sample size and allowed the authors to observe PPG changes in vivo in a statistically meaningful way. Further confirmatory studies are needed to confirm the potential application of PPG dropout as a measure of inflammation in other disease processes.
ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE3/EIN3-LIKE1 modulate FLOWERING LOCUS C expression via histone demethylase interaction
Authors: Xu Mengting , Li Xiaoxiao , Xie Wei , Lin Chuyu , Wang Qiannan , Tao Zeng
Published: February 2023

Time to flowering (vegetative to reproductive phase) is tightly regulated by endogenous factors and environmental cues to ensure proper and successful reproduction. How endogenous factors coordinate with environmental signals to regulate flowering time in plants is unclear. Transcription factors ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE 3 (EIN3) and its homolog EIN3 LIKE 1 (EIL1) are the core downstream regulators in ethylene signal transduction, and their null mutants exhibit late flowering in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana); however, the precise mechanism of floral transition remains unknown. Here, we reveal that FLOWERING LOCUS D (FLD), encoding a histone demethylase acting in the autonomous pathway of floral transition, physically associates with EIN3 and EIL1. Loss of EIN3 and EIL1 upregulated transcriptional expression of the floral repressor FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) and its homologs in Arabidopsis, and ethylene-insensitive mutants displayed inhibited flowering in an FLC-dependent manner. We further demonstrated that EIN3 and EIL1 directly bind to FLC loci, modulating their expression by recruiting FLD and thereafter removing di-methylation of lysine 4 on histone H3 (H3K4me2). In plants treated with 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid, decreased expression of FLD resulted in increased enrichment of H3K4me2 at FLC loci and transcriptional activation of FLC, leading to floral repression. Our study reveals the role of EIN3 and EIL1 in FLC-dependent and ethylene-induced floral repression and elucidates how phytohormone signals are transduced into chromatin-based transcriptional regulation.
School Shootings, Protests, and the Gun Culture in the United States
Authors: Olzak Susan
Published: February 2023

Scholars document that attitudes toward guns and gun policy reflect deeply entrenched cultures that overlap with ideological affiliations and party politics. Does exposure to dramatic events such as school shootings and protests regarding gun control affect these patterns? I explore two aspects of the gun culture: attitudes favoring (or rejecting) stricter gun policies and the number of memberships in a key organization supporting the expansion of gun rights, the National Rifle Association (NRA). I first argue that school shootings are significant triggering events that become associated with attitudes favoring gun restrictions. A second argument holds that while triggering events such as school shootings reinvigorate the growth of a gun-rights organization, school shootings that are also accompanied by gun-control protests will decrease growth in that organization. To examine these ideas, I combine information from national exit poll data on respondents’ attitudes toward gun policy with state-level information on the counts of recent school shootings, gun-policy protests, existing laws restricting gun use, and membership in the NRA. To minimize problems associated with observational data, the analysis of public opinion applies Coarsened Exact Matching techniques followed by analysis using mixed-level logit. The second analysis uses data on gun control protests, school shootings, and NRA memberships in states over time. Results show that conservatives (but not liberals) exposed to more school shootings favor more restrictive gun policies. The second, longitudinal analysis found that there is a significant interaction effect between increases in school shootings and gun control protests that diminishes NRA memberships significantly.
A Jasmonic Acid–Related Mechanism Affects ARGONAUTE5 Expression and Antiviral Defense Against Potato Virus X in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Silva-Martins Guilherme , Roussin-Léveillée Charles , Bolaji Ayooluwa , Veerapen Varusha Pillay , Moffett Peter
Published: February 2023

During virus infection, Argonaute (AGO) proteins bind to Dicer-produced virus small interfering RNAs and target viral RNA based on sequence complementarity, thereby limiting virus proliferation. The Arabidopsis AGO2 protein is important for resistance to multiple viruses, including potato virus X (PVX). In addition, AGO5 is important in systemic defense against PVX. Normally AGO5 is expressed only in reproductive tissues, and its induction by virus infection is thought to be important for its participation in antiviral defense. However, it is unclear what mechanisms induce AGO5 expression in response to virus infection. Here, we show that dde2-2, a mutant compromised in jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis, displays constitutive upregulation of AGO5. This mutant also showed increased resistance to PVX and this resistance was dependent on a functional AGO5 gene. Furthermore, methyl jasmonate treatment ablated AGO5 expression in leaves during virus infection and resulted in increased susceptibility to virus. Our results further support a role for AGO5 in antiviral RNA silencing and a negative regulation by JA, a plant hormone associated with defense against plant-feeding arthropods, which are often the vectors of plant viruses.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .
Fusarium graminearum Effector FgNls1 Targets Plant Nuclei to Induce Wheat Head Blight
Authors: Hao Guixia , Naumann Todd A. , Chen Hui , Bai Guihua , McCormick Susan , Kim Hye-Seon , Tian Bin , Trick Harold N. , Naldrett Michael J. , Proctor Robert
Published: February 2023

Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by Fusarium graminearum is one of the most devastating diseases of wheat and barley worldwide. Effectors suppress host immunity and promote disease development. The genome of F. graminearum contains hundreds of effectors with unknown function. Therefore, investigations of the functions of these effectors will facilitate developing novel strategies to enhance wheat resistance to FHB. We characterized a F. graminearum effector, FgNls1, containing a signal peptide and multiple eukaryotic nuclear localization signals. A fusion protein of green fluorescent protein and FgNls1 accumulated in plant cell nuclei when transiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana. FgNls1 suppressed Bax-induced cell death when co-expressed in N. benthamiana. We revealed that the expression of FgNLS1 was induced in wheat spikes infected with F. graminearum. The Fgnls1 mutants significantly reduced initial infection and FHB spread within a spike. The function of FgNLS1 was restored in the Fgnls1-complemented strains. Wheat histone 2B was identified as an interacting protein by FgNls1-affinity chromatography. Furthermore, transgenic wheat plants that silence FgNLS1 expression had significantly lower FHB severity than control plants. This study demonstrates a critical role of FgNls1 in F. graminearum pathogenesis and indicates that host-induced gene silencing targeting F. graminearum effectors is a promising approach to enhance FHB resistance.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .
Oxidized Zirconium Versus Cobalt Chromium for Primary TKA: No Difference in Midterm Revision Rates From the American Joint Replacement Registry
Authors: Gowd Anirudh K. , Bang Katrina E. , Bullock Garrett S. , Luo Tianyi D. , Matthews John H. , Rosas Samuel , Shields John S. , Plate Johannes F.
Published: February 2023

Background

Cobalt chromium (CoCr) is the most commonly used material in TKA; however, the use of oxidized zirconium (OxZr) implants has increased. The advantages to this material demonstrated in basic science studies have not been borne out in clinical studies to date.

Question/purpose

In the setting of the American Joint Replacement Registry (AJRR), how do revision rates differ between CoCr and OxZr after primary TKA?

Methods

The AJRR was accessed for all primary TKAs performed between 2012 and 2020 for osteoarthritis, resulting in 441,605 procedures (68,506 with OxZr and 373,099 with CoCr). The AJRR is the largest joint replacement registry worldwide and collects procedure-specific details, making it ideal for large-scale comparisons of implant materials in the United States. Competing risk survival analyses were used to evaluate the all-cause revision rates of primary TKAs, comparing CoCr and OxZr implants. Data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services claims from 2012 to 2017 were also cross-referenced to capture additional revisions from other institutions. Revision rates were tabulated and subclassified by indication. Multivariate Cox regression was used to account for confounding variables such as age, gender, region, and hospital size.

Results

After controlling for confounding variables, there were no differences between the OxZr and CoCr groups in terms of the rate of all-cause revision at a mean follow-up of 46 ± 23 months and 44 ± 24 months for CoCr and OxZr implants, respectively (hazard ratio 1.055 [95% confidence interval 0.979 to 1.137]; p = 0.16) The univariate analysis demonstrated increased rates of revisions for pain and instability in the OxZr group (p = 0.003 and p < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion

These findings suggest there is no difference in all-cause revision between OxZr and CoCr implants in the short-term to mid-term. However, further long-term in vivo studies are needed to monitor the safety and all-cause revision rate of OxZr implants compared with those of CoCr implants. OxZr implants may be favorable in patients who have sensitivity to metal. Despite similar short-term to mid-term all-cause revision rates to CoCr implants, because of the limitations of this study, definitive recommendations for or against the use of OxZr cannot be made.

Level of Evidence

Level III, therapeutic study.
Risk Factors and Characteristics of Candidemia After Cardiac Surgery in Pediatric Patients in Central Israel
Authors: Kahan Yaara , Tope Samantha G. , Ovadia Adi , Shpring Adi , Shatzman-Steuerman Rachel , Sherman Gilad , Barkai Galia , Mandelberg Avigdor , Armoni-Domany Keren , Tasher Diana
Published: February 2023

Background:

Candidemia is a serious complication in pediatric patients with congenital heart defects (CHD) after cardiac surgery. Information about the epidemiology, clinical characteristics and risk factors for candidemia in this vulnerable population remains limited.

Methods:

This retrospective case–control study was conducted in 2 pediatric intensive care units between 2004 and 2019. All patients <18 years old who developed candidemia following cardiac surgery were included. Each case was matched with 2 control patients based on age and date of surgery. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the risk factors for postoperative candidemia.

Results:

Thirty-five candidemia cases were identified and matched to 70 control cases. The incidence of candidemia was 6.3 episodes per 1000 admissions. The median age for candidemia cases was 4 months. The attributable mortality was 28.5%. The predominant (54%) pathogens isolated were non-albicans Candidaspecies, of whichC. parapsilosisisolates demonstrated high resistance to fluconazole (70%). Independent risk factors associated with candidemia included cumulative antibiotic exposure for ≥4 days [OR: −4.3; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3–14.6;P= 0.02], the need for total parenteral nutrition or peritoneal dialysis (OR: −6.1; 95% CI: 2–18.8;P= 0.001), male sex (OR: 6.2; 95% CI: 1.9–20.3;P= 0.002) and delayed sternal closure≥2 days (OR: −3.2; 95% CI: 1–11.2;P= 0.05).

Conclusions:

Postoperative candidemia in children with CHD is an uncommon but severe complication. Our study revealed an unexpectedly high frequency of fluconazole-resistantC. parapsilosisas the main cause of non-albicanscandidemia. In addition to confirming previously recognized risk factors, our results reveal new potential risk factors such as delayed sternal closure and male sex.
Neurologic Manifestations of Influenza in Children
Authors: Pozailov Shani , Elamour Siham , Noyman Iris , Ben-Shimol Shalom
Published: February 2023

Objective:

We assessed the neurologic manifestation of influenza among hospitalized children with influenza (neuro-flu), comparing their demographic and clinical characteristics to hospitalized children without neurologic manifestation (classic-flu).

Methods:

A retrospective, cohort study. All children with laboratory confirmed influenza (PCR), admitted to the Soroka University Medical Center (SUMC) between 2016 and 2019 were included.

Results:

Overall, 951 patients were identified: 201 with neuro-flu, and 750 with classic-flu. Seizures (n = 125) were the most common neurological manifestation of neuro-flu (seizure-flu): 73 simple febrile seizures, 45 atypical febrile seizures, and 7 afebrile seizures. Neurological comorbidities rates were significantly higher in neuro-flu versus classic-flu (13.0% vs. 6.0%), while respiratory and cardiac comorbidities were less common in neuro-flu (4.5% and 0.5% vs. 8.0% and 4.5%, respectively). Neuro-flu (compared with classic-flu) was associated with leukocytosis (21.0% vs. 13.0%, P < 0.001) and lower C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (2.4 ± 4.1 vs. 3.3 ± 5.4, P = 0.03). Notably, patients with classic flu had a more prominent respiratory disease, as they had more chest radiographs (CXR) performed (60.5% vs. 45.0%, P < 0.001), higher rates of pneumonia (27.0% vs. 12.0%, P < 0.001), and antibiotic (antibacterial) treatment (60.0% vs. 42.0%, P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

Influenza can appear as a neurologic disease, manifested mainly with febrile seizures. Children with neuro-flu have more neurologic comorbidities, suggesting that neuro-flu is mainly driven by host-factors, rather than by pathogen-factors. The relatively lower rates of pneumonia in neuro-flu suggests that these patients are admitted in the early stage of the influenza infection, which triggers the neurologic response.
Prediction of postoperative effective lens position using iris root depth in primary angle-closure diseases
Authors: Ding Yujie , Hou Min , Liu Liangping , Mao Yan , Liu Xing , Wu Mingxing
Published: February 2023

Purpose:

To evaluate the role of a new parameter, iris root depth (IRD), in intraocular lens power calculation using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) in primary angle-closure diseases (PACDs), and to compare the accuracy of 6 formulas in PACDs: Barrett Universal II (BUII), Haigis, Hill-Radial Basis Function (RBF) v. 3.0, Hoffer Q, Kane and Sanders Retzlaff Kraff/Theoretical (SRK)/T.

Setting:

Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Guangzhou, China.

Design:

Retrospective consecutive case series.

Methods:

Patients diagnosed with PACDs who had undergone cataract surgery were reviewed to first evaluate the performance of 6 formulas. Then preoperative UBM examinations of 58 eyes were used to measure IRD and predict effective lens position (ELP) to generate the HaigisIRD formula. The accuracy of HaigisIRD was compared with BUII, Haigis and Kane formulas. The SD of predicted error was the main indicator evaluating formula performance, according to heteroscedastic analysis.

Results:

103 eyes (103 patients) were included. The SDs of Kane (0.59, P = .01), RBF 3.0 (0.61, P = .02) and SRK/T formula (0.62, P = .04) were significantly lower than Hoffer Q. Modified with IRD, HaigisIRD generated the lowest SD (0.41), which was significantly lower than Haigis formula (0.54, P = .03) and was equal to Kane formula (0.45, P = .37).

Conclusions:

Kane, RBF 3.0 and SRK/T were more accurate in PACD eyes. Optimized with IRD, HaigisIRD formula achieved the lowest SD and had comparable accuracy with Kane formula. IRD could be a promising parameter to improve accuracy of IOL power calculation for PACDs.
Weathering the Storm
Authors: Haezebrouck Evan , Yorke Amy M.
Published: February 2023

Introduction:

The COVID-19 pandemic overwhelmed hospital systems. Frontline workers, including physical therapists, experienced multiple challenges impacting job satisfaction. The Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) measures constructs related to workplace quality of life.

Purpose:

To describe levels of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue (consisting of burnout and secondary trauma) among a similar cohort of acute care physical therapy staff prior to and approximately 1 year into the pandemic.

Methods:

Cross-sectional online survey methodology using the ProQOL was completed. A convenience sample of acute care physical therapy professionals employed at a large Midwestern academic medical center was surveyed at separate time points in 2018 (prepandemic) and 2021 (pandemic).

Results:

A total of 54 (2018) and 53 (2021) acute care physical therapy professionals completed the survey. Overall, respondents reported moderate to high levels of compassion satisfaction with low to moderate levels of burnout and secondary trauma at both periods, consistent with other previously reported health care professionals. However, the respondents exhibited a shift toward worsening compassion fatigue, with increasing levels of burnout and secondary traumatic stress, and a decreased level of compassion satisfaction.

Conclusions:

Describing the professional quality of life in a cohort of acute care physical therapy professionals before and during the pandemic provides a foundation of further understanding burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Future studies could be completed longitudinally to track changes in acute care physical therapy staff and explore effective support strategies.
On the Cutting Edge
Authors: Rimbos Kristine
Published: February 2023

Myelomeningocele is a complex medical diagnosis that, when discovered prenatally, allows for the option of maternal–fetal surgery aimed at improving long-term outcomes. Significant advancements have been made in prenatal myelomeningocele surgical techniques that reduce morbidity and mortality for the pregnant person and their child. The pathway to prenatal surgery consists of in-depth obstetric and fetal assessment partnered with intense family education and counseling. Fetal care centers provide specialized care of families undergoing assessment, diagnosis, and prenatal and postnatal treatment of spina bifida. The counseling process in a fetal care center is unique, comprehensive, and directed to ensure families receive multidisciplinary care and support that is individualized to their specific needs and concerns.
Initial outcome of external biliary drainage in living donor liver transplantation with pure laparoscopic donor hepatectomy
Authors: Jang Eunsung , Hong Su young , Hong Suk Kyun , Lee Sola , Lee Jeong-Moo , Choi YoungRok , Yi Nam-Joon , Lee Kwang-Woong , Suh Kyung-Suk
Published: February 2023

Biliary complications after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) are the most common and intractable complications due to both surgical and nonsurgical factors. External biliary drainage (EBD), a surgical option to prevent biliary complications, has recently been adopted in the era of pure laparoscopic donor right hepatectomy, which may result in increased bile duct problems in the recipients. This study retrospectively reviewed the patients who underwent LDLT with duct-to-duct anastomosis between July 2017 and October 2020 to analyze the initial outcomes of EBD and to compare the incidence of biliary complications in adult LDLT recipients who underwent duct-to-duct anastomosis with or without EBD. Only patients who underwent pure laparoscopic donor hepatectomy were included in this study. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the application of EBD. The median follow-up period was 28.5 months. The overall incidence of Clavien-Dindo grade IIIa biliary complications was 35.0% (n=14) in the EBD group and 50.7% (n=76) in the non-EBD group (p = 0.08). The incidence of biliary leakage was 0% in the EBD group and 15.3% in the non-EBD group (p = 0.01). The EBD-related complication rate, that is, involving retraction, accidental removal, and dislocation, was 40.0%. EBD implementation is effective in preventing biliary leakage after LDLT with a graft procured using the pure laparoscopic donor right hepatectomy method with duct-to-duct biliary anastomosis. However, efforts should be made to prevent EBD-related complications. Further studies are needed to establish appropriate selection criteria for EBD.
COVID-19 Vaccination and Hospitalization Among Persons Living With Diagnosed HIV in New York State
Authors: Rosenthal Elizabeth M. , Patterson Wendy , Chicoine Joyce , Dorabawila Vajeera , Adamashvili Natalia , Rajulu Deepa T. , Rosenberg Eli S. , Tesoriero James M.
Published: February 2023

Background:

Persons living with diagnosed HIV (PLWDH) have higher COVID-19 diagnoses rates and poorer COVID-19–related outcomes than persons living without diagnosed HIV. The intersection of COVID-19 vaccination status and likelihood of severe COVID-19 outcomes has not been fully investigated for PLWDH.

Setting:

New York State (NYS).

Methods:

We matched HIV surveillance, immunization, and hospitalization databases to compare COVID-19 vaccination and COVID-19–related hospitalizations among PLWDH during B.1.617.2 (Delta) and B.1.1.529 (Omicron) predominance.

Results:

Through March 4, 2022, 69,137 of the 101,205 (68%) PLWDH were fully vaccinated or boosted for COVID-19. PLWDH who were virally suppressed or in care were more often to be fully vaccinated or boosted compared with PLWDH who were not virally suppressed (77% vs. 44%) or without evidence of care (74% vs. 33%). Overall hospitalization rates were lower among virally suppressed PLWDH. During Delta predominance, PLWDH with any vaccination history who were in care had lower hospitalization rates compared with those not in care; during Omicron predominance, this was the case only for boosted PLWDH.

Conclusions:

Approximately 28% (28,255) of PLWDH in NYS remained unvaccinated for COVID-19, a rate roughly double of that observed in the overall adult NYS population. PLWDH of color were more often than non-Hispanic White persons to be unvaccinated, as were the virally unsuppressed and those without evidence of HIV-related care, threatening to expand existing disparities in COVID-19–related outcomes. Vaccination was protective against COVID-19–related hospitalizations for PLWDH; however, differences in hospitalization rates between fully vaccinated and unvaccinated PLWDH were smaller than those among all New Yorkers.
Clinical correlates and prognostic implications of severe suicidal ideation in major depressive disorder
Authors: Olgiati Paolo , Fanelli Giuseppe , Serretti Alessandro
Published: February 2023

Suicidal ideation (SI) is a risk factor for suicidal behaviour. To ascertain the clinical correlates and prognostic impact of severe SI, we analysed 249 outpatients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and suicidal thoughts included in the COmbining Medications to Enhance Depression outcome (CO-MED) trial. Patients with severe SI (36%) were younger at disease onset (P = 0.0033), more severely depressed (P = 0.0029), had more lifetime suicidal behaviour (P < 0.0001) and psychiatric comorbidities (panic disorder: P = 0.0025; post-traumatic stress disorder: P = 0.0216), and a history of childhood maltreatment (neglect: P = 0.0054; emotional abuse: P = 0.0230; physical abuse: P = 0.0076; sexual abuse: P = 0.0016) than those experiencing low-moderate SI. After controlling for depression score, severe SI was positively correlated with lifetime suicidal behaviour (OR [95% CI]: 1.26 [1.12–1.41]), panic disorder (1.05 [1.00–1.12]), and childhood maltreatment (neglect: 1.93 [1.13–3.30]; physical abuse: 2.00 [1.11–3.69]; sexual abuse: 2.13 [1.17–3.88]), and inversely correlated with age of onset (0.97 [0.95–0.99]) and sleep-onset insomnia (0.76 [0.61–0.96]). Finally, the occurrence of serious lifetime suicidal behaviour was predicted by SI severity (2.18 [1.11-4.27]), bipolar score (1.36 [1.02–1.81]), and childhood sexual abuse (2.35 [1.09–5.05]). These results emphasise the importance of assessing childhood maltreatment and bipolar liability in MDD to estimate suicidal behaviour risk.
The development and usability testing of two arts-based knowledge translation tools for parents of children with functional constipation
Authors: Thompson Alison , Le Anne , Hartling Lisa , Scott Shannon D.
Published: February 2023

Pediatric functional constipation (FC) is a common childhood problem that involves difficult or painful defecation and can be caused by a variety of different factors. In children, FC is often unrecognized and poorly treated, and has potential to cause abdominal pain, appetite suppression, loss of control over defecation, and family disruption. A recent interpretive description qualitative study found that parents who care for children with FC often experience a myriad of negative sentiments, including isolation and self-doubt. Furthermore, parents often have unanswered questions about the condition, particularly regarding the cause, symptoms, and treatment options. As such, more effective knowledge translation (KT) tools are needed to satisfy parental information needs.

The purpose of this research was to collaborate with parents to develop and test the usability of two animated KT tools (video and interactive infographic) on FC in children. Prototypes were co-developed with parents, and then evaluated by parents through usability testing in a large Alberta emergency department waiting room. Usability was assessed based on nine items with responses on a five-point Likert scale from 1=strongly disagree to 5=strongly agree. Overall, results were positive and the tools were highly rated across most usability items. Mean scores across usability items were 4.20 to 4.59 for the video and 3.73 to 4.30 for the infographic. The scores from the usability testing suggest arts-based digital tools are useful in sharing complex health information with parents about FC and provide meaningful guidance on how to improve KT tools to better reflect the needs of parents of children with FC.
Fast, accurate and robust sparse-view CT reconstruction via residual-guided Golub-Kahan iterative reconstruction technique (RGIRT)
Authors: Zhang Jianru , Wang Zhe , Cao Tuoyu , Cao Guohua , Ren Wuwei , Jiang Jiahua
Published: February 2023

Reduction of projection views in X-ray computed tomography (CT) can protect patients from over exposure to ionizing radiation, thus is highly attractive for clinical applications. However, image reconstruction for sparse-view CT which aims to produce decent images from few projection views remains a challenge. To address this, we propose a Residual-guided Golub-Kahan Iterative Reconstruction Technique (RGIRT). RGIRT utilizes an inner-outer dual iteration framework, with a flexible least square QR (FLSQR) algorithm implemented in the inner iteration and a restarted iterative scheme applied in the outer iteration. The inner FLSQR employs a flexible Golub-Kahan (FGK) bidiagonalization method to reduce the dimension of the inverse problem, and a weighted generalized cross-validation (WGCV) method to adaptively estimate the regularization hyper-parameter. The inner iteration efficiently yields the intermediate reconstruction result, while the outer iteration minimizes the residual and refines the solution by using the result obtained from the inner iteration. Reconstruction performance of RGIRT is evaluated and compared to other reference methods (FBPConvNet, SART-TV, and FLSQR) using realistic mouse cardiac micro-CT data. Experiment results demonstrate RGIRT’s merits for sparse-view CT reconstruction in high accuracy, efficient computation, and stable convergence.
The Mechanism of Effort Intolerance in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease: a Combined Stress Echocardiography and Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test
Authors: Ghantous Eihab , Shetrit Aviel , Erez Yonatan , Zamanzadeh Ryan S. , Zahler David , Granot Yoav , Levi Erez , Laufer Perl Michal , Banai Shmuel , Topilsky Yan , Havakuk Ofer
Published: February 2023

Background

Data to delineate exercise intolerance in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) are scarce. We used a combined stress echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) to explore effort intolerance in PAD.

Methods

Twenty-eight patients who had both PAD and coronary artery disease (CAD) were compared with sex and age-matched 31 CAD patients and 15 normal controls using a symptom-limited ramp bicycle CPET on a tilting dedicated ergometer. Echocardiographic images were obtained concurrently with gas exchange measurements along predefined stages of exercise. Oxygen extraction was calculated using the Fick equation: (VO2)/(echocardiography-calculated cardiac output) at each activity level.

Results

Along stages of exercise (unloaded; anaerobic threshold; peak), in PAD+CADF patients compared with CAD or controls: diastolic function worsened (E/e’ 13.2±3.1 vs 9.3±2.4 vs 9.6±4; 16.6±4.3 vs 10.4±2.5 vs 9.1±3.8; 15.8±4 vs 11.9±2.9 vs 9.1±4.1), and oxygen consumption (6.1±1.4 vs 5.8±1.9 vs 6.5±2.5;14.2±1.8 vs 17.1±2.9 vs 18.1±3.3; 14.9±2 vs 19.3±2.5 vs 22±3.6 ml/kg/min) and oxygen pulse (6.5±1.9 vs 6.5±2 vs 6.6±2.3; 8.2±1.8 vs 10±2.4 vs 8.1±2.3; 8.1±2.2 vs 11.1±2 vs 11.7±2.6ml/beat) were reduced. Notably, oxygen pulse was blunted due to an insufficient increase in both stroke volume (89±11 vs 92±11 vs 92±13; 95±10 vs 104±9 vs 103±11; 86±10 vs 97±10 vs 98±11ml) and oxygen extraction (0.06±0.03 vs 0.07±0.03 vs 0.07±0.03; 0.09±0.03 vs 0.12±0.03 vs 0.12±0.03; 0.09±0.03 vs 0.13±0.03 vs 0.13±0.03l/l). Chronotropic incompetence was more prevalent in PAD patients and persisted after correction for beta-blockers use (62% vs 42% and 11% respectively). Reduced ventilatory efficiency (peak VE/VCO2 36.8±4.9 vs 31.5±4 vs 30.5±5l/l) and reduced mechanical efficiency (slope of oxygen consumption/work rate 8.96±0.42 vs 10.37±0.41 vs 10.8±0.49l/W) were found.

Conclusion

Exercise limitation is affected by diastolic dysfunction, chronotropic incompetence and peripheral factors in PAD patients.

Clinical perspectives

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is characterized by exercise intolerance. Yet, the mechanism behind this limitation is not well characterized. We show here that effort limitation in PAD is caused by a combination of central and peripheral cardiovascular factors including diastolic dysfunction, chronotropic incompetence and insufficient peripheral muscle oxygen extraction. These data may assist targeting future therapeutic measures.
Molecular mechanisms of heavy metal adaptation of an extremophilic red algaCyanidioschyzon merolae
Authors: Marchetto Francesca , Santaeufemia Sergio , Lebiedzińska-Arciszewska Magdalena , Śliwińska Małgorzata A. , Pich Magdalena , Kurek Eliza , Naziębło Aleksandra , Strawski Marcin , Solymosi Daniel , Szklarczyk Marek , Bulska Ewa , Szymański Jędrzej , Wierzbicka Małgorzata , Allahverdiyeva-Rinne Yagut , Więckowski Mariusz R. , Kargul Joanna
Published: February 2023

The order of Cyanidiales comprise seven acido-thermophilic red microalgal species thriving in hot springs of volcanic origin characterized by extremely low pH, moderately high temperatures and the presence of elevated concentrations of sulphites and heavy metals that are prohibitive for most other organisms. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms of Cyanidiales long-term adaptation to such hostile environments, in particular to heavy metals, yet elucidation of these processes is important for understanding the evolution of the metabolic pathways underlying heavy metal detoxification for developing rational strategies for heavy metal bioremediation. Here, we investigated the long-term adaptive responses ofCyanidioschyzon merolaecells, a member of Cyanidiales, to extremely high nickel concentrations. Through complementary approaches based on physiological, microscopic and elemental analyses we dissect several molecular mechanisms underlying the long-term adaptation of this model extremophilic microalga to high Ni exposure. These include: (i) extrusion of Ni from the cells and lack of significant Ni accumulation inside the cells; (ii) maintenance of efficient photoprotective responses including non-photochemical quenching and state transitions; (iii) dynamic remodeling of the chloroplast ultrastructure such as formation of metabolically active prolamellar bodies and plastoglobuli together with loosening of the thylakoid membranes; (iv) activation of ROS amelioration metabolic pathways; and (v) preservation of the efficient respiratory chain functionality. All the dynamically regulated processes identified in this study underlie the remarkable adaptability ofC. merolaeto extremely high Ni levels that exceed by several orders of magnitude the levels of this heavy metal found in the natural environment of this extremophile.
What mycologists should talk about when they are talking about the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants
Authors: Nilsson R. Henrik , Ryberg Martin , Wurzbacher Christian , Tedersoo Leho , Anslan Sten , Põlme Sergei , Spirin Viacheslav , Mikryukov Vladimir , Svantesson Sten , Hartmann Martin , Lennartsdotter Charlotte , Belford Pauline , Khomich Maryia , Retter Alice , Corcoll Natàlia , Martinez Daniela Gómez , Jansson Tobias , Ghobad-Nejhad Masoomeh , Vu Duong , Sanchez-Garcia Marisol , Kristiansson Erik , Abarenkov Kessy
Published: February 2023

Fungal metabarcoding of substrates such as soil, wood, and water are uncovering an unprecedented number of fungal species that do not seem to produce tangible morphological structures and that defy our best attempts at cultivation, thus falling outside of the ambit of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants. The present study uses the new, ninth release of the species hypotheses of the UNITE database to show that species discovery through environmental sequencing vastly outpaces traditional, Sanger sequencing-based efforts in a strongly increasing trend over the last five years. Our findings challenge the present stance of the mycological community – that “the code” works fine and that these complications will somehow sort themselves out given enough time and a following wind – and suggest that we should be discussing not whether to allow DNA-based descriptions (typifications) of species and by extension higher ranks of fungi, but what the precise requirements for such DNA-based typifications should be. We submit a tentative list of such criteria for further discussion. However, the present authors fear that no waves of change will be lapping the shores of mycology for the foreseeable future, leaving the overwhelming majority of extant fungi without formal names and thus scientific and environmental agency. It is not clear to us who benefits from that, but neither fungi nor mycology are likely to be on the winning side.
Convolutional-recurrent neural networks approximate diffusion tractography from T1-weighted MRI and associated anatomical context
Authors: Cai Leon Y. , Lee Ho Hin , Newlin Nancy R. , Kerley Cailey I. , Kanakaraj Praitayini , Yang Qi , Johnson Graham W. , Moyer Daniel , Schilling Kurt G. , Rheault François , Landman Bennett A.
Published: February 2023

Diffusion MRI (dMRI) streamline tractography is the gold-standard forin vivoestimation of white matter (WM) pathways in the brain. However, the high angular resolution dMRI acquisitions capable of fitting the microstructural models needed for tractography are often time-consuming and not routinely collected clinically, restricting the scope of tractography analyses. To address this limitation, we build on recent advances in deep learning which have demonstrated that streamline propagation can be learned from dMRI directly without traditional model fitting. Specifically, we propose learning the streamline propagator from T1w MRI to facilitate arbitrary tractography analyses when dMRI is unavailable. To do so, we present a novel convolutional-recurrent neural network (CoRNN) trained in a teacher-student framework that leverages T1w MRI, associated anatomical context, and streamline memory from data acquired for the Human Connectome Project. We characterize our approach under two common tractography paradigms, WM bundle analysis and structural connectomics, and find approximately a 5-15% difference between measures computed from streamlines generated with our approach and those generated using traditional dMRI tractography. When placed in the literature, these results suggest that the accuracy of WM measures computed from T1w MRI with our method is on the level of scan-rescan dMRI variability and raise an important question: is tractography truly a microstructural phenomenon, or has dMRI merely facilitated its discovery and implementation?
Secretory IgM (sIgM) is an ancient master regulator of microbiota homeostasis and metabolism
Authors: Ding Yang , Fernández-Montero Alvaro , Mani Amir , Casadei Elisa , Shibasaki Yasuhiro , Takizawa Fumio , Miyazawa Ryuichiro , Salinas Irene , Sunyer J. Oriol
Published: February 2023

The co-evolution between secretory immunoglobulins (sIgs) and microbiota began with the emergence of IgM over half a billion years ago. Yet, IgM function in vertebrates is mostly associated with systemic immunity against pathogens. sIgA and sIgT are the only sIgs known to be required in the control of microbiota homeostasis in warm- and cold-blooded vertebrates respectively. Recent studies have shown that sIgM coats a large proportion of the gut microbiota of humans and teleost fish, thus suggesting an ancient and conserved relationship between sIgM and microbiota early in vertebrate evolution. To test this hypothesis, we temporarily and selectively depleted IgM from rainbow trout, an old bony fish species. IgM depletion resulted in a drastic reduction in microbiota IgM coating levels and losses in gutassociated bacteria. These were accompanied by bacterial translocation, severe gut tissue damage, inflammation and dysbiosis predictive of metabolic shifts. Furthermore, depletion of IgM resulted in body weight loss and lethality in an experimental colitis model. Recovery of sIgM to physiological levels restores tissue barrier integrity, while microbiome homeostasis and their predictive metabolic capabilities are not fully restituted. Our findings uncover a previously unrecognized role of sIgM as an ancient master regulator of microbiota homeostasis and metabolism and challenge the current paradigm that sIgA and sIgT are the key vertebrate sIgs regulating microbiome homeostasis.

One-Sentence Summary

IgM, the most ancient and conserved immunoglobulin in jawed vertebrates, is required for successful symbiosis with the gut microbiota.
A deep-learning based approach to detect and classify animals flying near wind turbines using thermal surveillance cameras and open-source software
Authors: Yarbrough John , Cunitz Isabelle , Schipper Jessica , Lawson Michael , Straw Bethany , Hein Cris , Cryan Paul
Published: February 2023

The authors have withdrawn their manuscript because it was distributed without the proper approvals from the United States Geological Survey. Therefore, the authors do not wish this work to be cited as reference for the project. If you have any questions, please contact the corresponding author.
Research landscape of lymphovascular invasion in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A bibliometric analysis from 1994 to present
Authors: Tandon Ankita , Sandhya Kumari , Singh Narendra Nath , Gulati Nikita
Published: February 2023

Background: The primary factor affecting tumor biology is neo-lymphangiogenesis in solid epithelial malignancies like OSCC. Determining the impact of lymphovascular invasion is critical in order to determine OSCC's loco-regional, and global dissemination. Bibliometric landscapes are vital to learning about the most recent advancements in the aforementioned topic because the ongoing research in OSCC is multifaceted. This analysis can reveal the progressions that might modernize OSCC diagnosis and treatment. Objectives: To study the relevance and effects of lymphovascular invasion in oral squamous cell carcinoma utilizing co-occurrence of keywords analysis and co-authorship analysis for the PubMed database. Methodology: Cross-sectional bibliometric analysis of full-text PubMed articles from 1994 to the present using VOSviewer (Version 1.6.19) was performed. The keywords for the search of data included Lymphovascular invasion in oral squamous cell carcinoma using the Boolean operator (AND). The data obtained was analyzed for co-occurrence and co-authorship analysis using the VOSviewer standard protocol. Results: The query revealed 296 searches in the PubMed database. Seven clusters were found with default colors in the representation of the entire term co-occurrence network, which also displayed a total link strength of 22262. The items were categorized into clusters based on their commonalities. The labels' weights, as determined by Links and Occurrences, did not depend on one another, and the co-occurrence of keywords does not imply a causal association. In the item density visualization, item labels represented individual things. The number of items from a cluster that was close to the point was represented by the weight given to its color, which was formed by combining the colors of other clusters. A network of 57 authors who matched the search parameters was discovered by the co-authorship analysis. The network visualization map displayed three clusters with a total link strength of 184. The quantity of co-authorship relationships and the number of publications did not appear to be significantly correlated. Conclusion: This investigation uncovered a sizable body of bibliometric data that emphasizes key trends and advancements in the aforementioned theme. The observed variances may be a result of the various objectives of the researchers and journals, who collaborate to provide the best possible literature dissemination.
EiDA: A lossless approach for the dynamic analysis of connectivity patterns in signals; application to resting state fMRI of a model of ageing
Authors: de Alteriis Giuseppe , MacNicol Eilidh , Hancock Fran , Ciaramella Alessandro , Cash Diana , Expert Paul , Turkheimer Federico E.
Published: February 2023

Abstract

Dynamic Functional Connectivity (dFC) is the study of the dynamical patterns emerging from brain function. We introduce EiDA (Eigenvector Dynamic Analysis), a method that losslessly reduces the dimension of the instantaneous connectivity patterns of a time series to characterise dynamic Functional Connectivity (dFC). We apply EiDA to investigate the signatures of ageing on brain network dynamics in a longitudinal dataset of resting-state fMRI in ageing rats.

Previous dFC approaches have relied on the concept of the instantaneous phase of signals, computing the instantaneous phase-locking matrix (iPL) and its eigenvector decomposition. In this work, we fully characterise the eigenstructure of theiPLanalytically, which provides a 1000 fold speed up in dFC computations.

The analytical characterization of theiPLmatrix allows us to introduce two methods for its dynamic analysis. 1) Discrete EiDA identifies a discrete set of phase locking modes using k-means clustering on the decomposediPLmatrices. 2) Continuous EiDA provides a 2-dimensional “position” and “speed” embedding of the matrix; here, dFC is conceived as a continuous exploration of this 2-D space rather than assuming the existence of discrete brain states.

We apply EiDA to a cohort of 48 rats that underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at four stages during the course of their lifetime. Using Continuous and Discrete EiDA we found that brain phase-locking patterns become less intense and less structured with ageing. Using information theory and metastability measures derived from the properties of theiPLmatrix, we see that ageing reduces the available functional repertoire postulated to be responsible for flexible cognitive functions and overt behaviours, and reduces the area explored in the embedding space.
Single-cell analysis of CX3CR1+cells reveal a pathogenic role for BIRC5+myeloid proliferating cells driven byStaphylococcus aureusleukotoxins
Authors: Loredan Denis G. , Devlin Joseph C. , Lacey Keenan A. , Howard Nina , Chen Ze , Zwack Erin E. , Lin Jian-Da , Ruggles Kelly V. , Khanna Kamal M. , Torres Victor J. , Loke P’ng
Published: February 2023

Our previous studies identified a population of stem cell-like proliferating myeloid cells within inflamed tissues that could serve as a reservoir for tissue macrophages to adopt different activation states depending on the microenvironment. By lineage tracing cells derived from CX3CR1+precursors in mice during infection and profiling by scRNA-seq, here we identify a cluster of BIRC5+myeloid cells that expanded in the liver during either chronic infection with the parasiteSchistosoma mansonior the bacterial pathogenStaphylococcus aureus. In the absence of tissue damaging toxins,S. aureusinfection does not elicit these BIRC5+cells. Moreover, deletion of BIRC5 from CX3CR1 expressing cells results in improved survival duringS. aureusinfection. Hence, the combination of scRNA-Seq and genetic fate mapping CX3CR1+cells revealed a toxin dependent pathogenic role for BIRC5 in myeloid cells duringS. aureusinfection.