bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Size matters: the impact of nucleus size on results from spatial transcriptomics
Authors: Mohammadi Elyas , Chojnowska Katarzyna , Bieńkowski Michał , Kostecka Anna , Koczkowska Magdalena , Żmijewski Michał A. , Jąkalski Marcin , Ingelsson Martin , Filipowicz Natalia , Olszewski Paweł , Davies Hanna , Wierzbicka Justyna M. , Hyman Bradley T. , Dumanski Jan P. , Piotrowski Arkadiusz , Mieczkowski Jakub
Published: April 2023

Background

Visium Spatial Gene Expression (ST) is a method combining histological spatial information with transcriptomics profiles directly from tissue sections. The use of spatial information has made it possible to discover new modes of gene expression regulations. However, in the ST experiment, the nucleus size of cells may exceed the thickness of a tissue slice. This may, in turn, negatively affect comprehensive capturing the transcriptomics profile in a single slice, especially for tissues having large differences in the size of nuclei.

Methods

Here, we defined the effect of Consecutive Slices Data Integration (CSDI) on unveiling accurate spot clustering and deconvolution of spatial transcriptomic spots in human postmortem brains. By considering the histological information as reference, we assessed the improvement of unsupervised clustering and single nuclei RNA-seq and ST data integration before and after CSDI.

Results

Apart from the escalated number of defined clusters representing neuronal layers, the pattern of clusters in consecutive sections was concordant only after CSDI. Besides, the assigned cell labels to spots matches the histological pattern of tissue sections after CSDI.

Conclusion

CSDI can be applied to investigate consecutive sections studied with ST in the human cerebral cortex, avoiding misinterpretation of spot clustering and annotation, increasing accuracy of cell recognition as well as improvement in uncovering the layers of grey matter in the human brain.
A methodological exploration to study 2D arm kinematics in Ophiuroidea (Echinodermata)
Authors: Goharimanesh Mona , Stöhr Sabine , Ghassemzadeh Fereshteh , Mirshamsi Omid , Adriaens Dominique
Published: April 2023

Brittle stars, unlike most other echinoderms, do not use their small tube feet for locomotion but instead use their flexible arms to produce a rowing or reverse rowing movement. They are among the fastest-moving echinoderms with the ability of complex locomotory behaviors. Considering the high species diversity and variability in morphotypes, a proper understanding of intra- and interspecies variation in arm flexibility and movement is lacking. This study focuses on the exploration of the methods to investigate the variability in brittle star locomotion and individual arm use. We performed a two-dimensional (2D) image processing on horizontal movement only. The result indicated that sinuosity, disc displacement and arm angle are important parameters to interpret ophiuroid locomotion. A dedicated Python script to calculate the studied movement parameters and visualize the results applicable to all 5-armed brittle stars was developed. These results can serve as the basis for further research in robotics inspired by brittle star locomotion.
Identification of a sub-group of critically ill patients with high risk of intensive care unit-acquired infections and poor clinical course using a transcriptomic score
Authors: Bodinier Maxime , Monneret Guillaume , Casimir Marie , Fleurie Aurore , Conti Filippo , Venet Fabienne , Cazalis Marie-Angélique , Cerrato Elisabeth , Peronnet Estelle , Rimmelé Thomas , Lukaszewicz Anne-Claire , Brengel-Pesce Karen , Llitjos Jean-François
Published: April 2023

Background

The development of stratification tools based on the assessment of circulating mRNA of genes involved in the immune response is constrained by the heterogeneity of septic patients. The aim of this study is to develop a transcriptomic score based on a pragmatic combination of immune-related genes detected with a prototype multiplex PCR tool.

Methods

As training cohort, we used the gene expression dataset obtained from 176 critically ill patients enrolled in the REALISM study (NCT02638779) with various etiologies and still hospitalized in intensive care unit (ICU) at day 5–7. Based on the performances of each gene taken independently to identify patients developing ICU-acquired infections (ICU-AI) after day 5–7, we built an unweighted score assuming the independence of each gene. We then determined the performances of this score to identify a subgroup of patients at high risk to develop ICU-AI, and both longer ICU length of stay and mortality of this high-risk group were assessed. Finally, we validated the effectiveness of this score in a retrospective cohort of 257 septic patients.

Results

This transcriptomic score (TScore) enabled the identification of a high-risk group of patients (49%) with an increased rate of ICU-AI when compared to the low-risk group (49% vs. 4%, respectively), with longer ICU length of stay (13 days [95% CI 8–30] vs. 7 days [95% CI 6–9], p < 0.001) and higher ICU mortality (15% vs. 2%). High-risk patients exhibited biological features of immune suppression with low monocytic HLA-DR levels, higher immature neutrophils rates and higher IL10 concentrations. Using the TScore, we identified 160 high-risk patients (62%) in the validation cohort, with 30% of ICU-AI (vs. 18% in the low-risk group, p = 0.06), and significantly higher mortality and longer ICU length of stay.

Conclusions

The transcriptomic score provides a useful and reliable companion diagnostic tool to further develop immune modulating drugs in sepsis in the context of personalized medicine.
CasKAS: direct profiling of genome-wide dCas9 and Cas9 specificity using ssDNA mapping
Authors: Marinov Georgi K. , Kim Samuel H. , Bagdatli S. Tansu , Higashino Soon Il , Trevino Alexandro E. , Tycko Josh , Wu Tong , Bintu Lacramioara , Bassik Michael C. , He Chuan , Kundaje Anshul , Greenleaf William J.
Published: April 2023

Detecting and mitigating off-target activity is critical to the practical application of CRISPR-mediated genome and epigenome editing. While numerous methods have been developed to map Cas9 binding specificity genome-wide, they are generally time-consuming and/or expensive, and not applicable to catalytically dead CRISPR enzymes. We have developed CasKAS, a rapid, inexpensive, and facile assay for identifying off-target CRISPR enzyme binding and cleavage by chemically mapping the unwound single-stranded DNA structures formed upon binding of a sgRNA-loaded Cas9 protein. We demonstrate this method in both in vitro and in vivo contexts.
Consequences and opportunities arising due to sparser single-cell RNA-seq datasets
Authors: Bouland Gerard A. , Mahfouz Ahmed , Reinders Marcel J. T.
Published: April 2023

With the number of cells measured in single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets increasing exponentially and concurrent increased sparsity due to more zero counts being measured for many genes, we demonstrate here that downstream analyses on binary-based gene expression give similar results as count-based analyses. Moreover, a binary representation scales up to ~ 50-fold more cells that can be analyzed using the same computational resources. We also highlight the possibilities provided by binarized scRNA-seq data. Development of specialized tools for bit-aware implementations of downstream analytical tasks will enable a more fine-grained resolution of biological heterogeneity.
DMC reports in the 21st century: towards better tools for decision-making
Authors: Vandemeulebroecke Marc , Baillie Mark , Mirshani Ardalan , Lesaffre Emmanuel
Published: April 2023

Data Monitoring Committees (DMCs) have the important task to protect the safety of current and future patients during the conduct of a clinical study. Unfortunately, their work is often made difficult by voluminous DMC reports that are poorly structured and difficult to digest. In this article, we suggest improved solutions. Starting from a principled approach and building upon previous proposals, we offer concrete and easily understood displays, including related computer code. While leveraging modern tools, the most important is that these displays support the DMC’s workflow in answering the relevant questions of interest. We hope that the adoption of these proposals can ease the task of DMCs, and importantly, lead to better decision-making for the benefit of patients.
Genetic and environmental contributions to co-occurring physical health conditions in autism spectrum condition and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Authors: Pan Pei-Yin , Taylor Mark J. , Larsson Henrik , Almqvist Catarina , Lichtenstein Paul , Lundström Sebastian , Bölte Sven
Published: April 2023

Background

Autism spectrum condition and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are associated with a range of physical health conditions. The aim of this study was to examine the etiological components contributing to co-occurring physical health conditions in autism and ADHD.

Methods

In this nationwide Child and Adolescent Twin Study in Sweden, we analyzed data from 10,347 twin pairs aged 9 and 12. Clinical diagnoses of autism, ADHD, and physical health conditions were identified through the Swedish National Patient Register. Subclinical phenotypes of autism and ADHD were defined by symptom thresholds on a standardized parent-interview, the Autism–Tics, ADHD, and Other Comorbidities inventory. Associations between physical health conditions and autism/ADHD phenotypes were examined using generalized estimating equations. Bivariate twin models were applied to estimate the extent to which genetic and environmental risk factors accounted for physical health comorbidities.

Results

Similar patterns of association with physical health conditions were found in clinical and subclinical autism/ADHD, with odds ratios ranging from 1.31 for asthma in subclinical ADHD to 8.03 for epilepsy in clinical autism. The estimated genetic correlation (ra) with epilepsy was 0.50 for clinical autism and 0.35 for subclinical autism. In addition, a modest genetic correlation was estimated between clinical autism and constipation (ra = 0.31), functional diarrhea (ra = 0.27) as well as mixed gastrointestinal disorders (ra = 0.30). Genetic effects contributed 0.86 for mixed gastrointestinal disorders in clinical ADHD (ra = 0.21). Finally, subclinical ADHD shared genetic risk factors with epilepsy, constipation, and mixed gastrointestinal disorders (ra = 0.30, 0.17, and 0.17, respectively).

Limitations

Importantly, since medical records from primary care were not included in the registry data used, we probably identified only more severe rather than the full range of physical health conditions. Furthermore, it needs to be considered that the higher prevalence of physical health conditions among autistic children and children with ADHD could be associated with the increased number of medical visits.

Conclusions

Shared genetic effects contribute significantly to autism and ADHD phenotypes with the co-occurring physical health conditions across different organ systems, including epilepsy and gastrointestinal disorders. The shared genetic liability with co-occurring physical health conditions was present across different levels of autism and ADHD symptom severity.
Socio-demographic and economic inequity in the use of insecticide-treated bed nets during pregnancy: a survey-based case study of four sub-Saharan African countries with a high burden of malaria
Authors: Haileselassie Werissaw , Adam Ruth , Habtemichael Mizan , David Randy E. , Solomon Nabel , Workineh Salle , Haider Jemal , Belachew Ayele , Deressa Wakgari , Yan Guiyun , Kassaw Nigussie Assefa , Parker Daniel M.
Published: April 2023

Despite global investments in malaria eradication and mitigation efforts, including the dissemination of ITNs to vulnerable communities, the goal of widespread malaria control among pregnant women has yet to be realized in many African countries. One of the explanations forwarded for this is related to the adoption and regular use of ITNs by pregnant women. Based on the available DHS and MIS data from four malaria high burden African countries– according to WHO malaria report 2020– inequality was measured by applying both relative and absolute summary measures for the four dimensions of inequality: economic status, education, place of residence and region. By considering the number of subgroups in each variable, simple and complex summary measures were used.ITN utilization by pregnant women showed an increasing trend over time in all the four countries. There was also significant inequality (variability) in the ITN utilization among population groups. DRC, Mozambique and Uganda showed noticeable inequality that favors the richest population, whereas in Nigeria the inequality was observed among both the rich and the poor during different survey yearsIn conclusion, in all the four countries, there were significant regional variations or differences in ITN use among pregnant mothers across all dimensions of inequality in the survey years. Tailored cost-effective interventions could be considered to improve ITN utilization among pregnant women.
Some novel peptides containing a modified pyrazolopyrimidine moiety: design, synthesis, and in vitro antibacterial screening
Authors: Al-Mohammadi Abdul-Raouf , Zayda Mohamed Ge , Zayda Mahmoud Ge , Abdel-Rahman Adel A.-H. , Yousef Einas , Magdy Amina
Published: April 2023

Numerous peptide drugs are currently undergoing advanced phases of clinical testing to determine their efficacy in combating antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens. Our aim was to prepare some novel peptides containing a modified pyrazolopyrimidine moiety and assess their activity against a set of selected bacteria in comparison to a widely used antibiotic, ciprofloxacin. In this study, eight new peptide compounds incorporating a modified pyrazolopyrimidine moiety were synthesized. Our results revealed that compounds 4 and 5, which contained only the pyrazolopyrimidine scaffold were less active than the peptide-conjugated pyrazolopyrimidines 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, and 17. The antibacterial activities of the eight novel compounds 4, 5, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, and 17 were evaluated against a panel of bacterial strains. All the novel compounds exhibited potent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains compared to the reference antibiotic ciprofloxacin. The tested Escherichia coli strain displayed resistance against the newly synthesized compounds. Moreover, P. aeruginosa strain displayed resistance against ciprofloxacin and six of the newly synthesized compounds. Compounds 15 and 17 effectively inhibited the growth of the P. aeruginosa strain at MIC ≥ 1 μg/mL. Our results are encouraging and urge additional biological and pharmacological screening of the most active compounds against drug-resistant microbial strains.
Disentangling temporal associations in marine microbial networks
Authors: Deutschmann Ina Maria , Krabberød Anders K. , Latorre Francisco , Delage Erwan , Marrasé Cèlia , Balagué Vanessa , Gasol Josep M. , Massana Ramon , Eveillard Damien , Chaffron Samuel , Logares Ramiro
Published: April 2023

Background

Microbial interactions are fundamental for Earth’s ecosystem functioning and biogeochemical cycling. Nevertheless, they are challenging to identify and remain barely known. Omics-based censuses are helpful in predicting microbial interactions through the statistical inference of single (static) association networks. Yet, microbial interactions are dynamic and we have limited knowledge of how they change over time. Here, we investigate the dynamics of microbial associations in a 10-year marine time series in the Mediterranean Sea using an approach inferring a time-resolved (temporal) network from a single static network.

Results

A single static network including microbial eukaryotes and bacteria was built using metabarcoding data derived from 120 monthly samples. For the decade, we aimed to identify persistent, seasonal, and temporary microbial associations by determining a temporal network that captures the interactome of each individual sample. We found that the temporal network appears to follow an annual cycle, collapsing, and reassembling when transiting between colder and warmer waters. We observed higher association repeatability in colder than in warmer months. Only 16 associations could be validated using observations reported in literature, underlining our knowledge gap in marine microbial ecological interactions.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that marine microbial associations follow recurrent temporal dynamics in temperate zones, which need to be accounted for to better understand the functioning of the ocean microbiome. The constructed marine temporal network may serve as a resource for testing season-specific microbial interaction hypotheses. The applied approach can be transferred to microbiome studies in other ecosystems.
Gauge your phage: benchmarking of bacteriophage identification tools in metagenomic sequencing data
Authors: Ho Siu Fung Stanley , Wheeler Nicole E. , Millard Andrew D. , van Schaik Willem
Published: April 2023

Background

The prediction of bacteriophage sequences in metagenomic datasets has become a topic of considerable interest, leading to the development of many novel bioinformatic tools. A comparative analysis of ten state-of-the-art phage identification tools was performed to inform their usage in microbiome research.

Methods

Artificial contigs generated from complete RefSeq genomes representing phages, plasmids, and chromosomes, and a previously sequenced mock community containing four phage species, were used to evaluate the precision, recall, and F1 scores of the tools. We also generated a dataset of randomly shuffled sequences to quantify false-positive calls. In addition, a set of previously simulated viromes was used to assess diversity bias in each tool’s output.

Results

VIBRANT and VirSorter2 achieved the highest F1 scores (0.93) in the RefSeq artificial contigs dataset, with several other tools also performing well. Kraken2 had the highest F1 score (0.86) in the mock community benchmark by a large margin (0.3 higher than DeepVirFinder in second place), mainly due to its high precision (0.96). Generally, k-mer-based tools performed better than reference similarity tools and gene-based methods. Several tools, most notably PPR-Meta, called a high number of false positives in the randomly shuffled sequences. When analysing the diversity of the genomes that each tool predicted from a virome set, most tools produced a viral genome set that had similar alpha- and beta-diversity patterns to the original population, with Seeker being a notable exception.

Conclusions

This study provides key metrics used to assess performance of phage detection tools, offers a framework for further comparison of additional viral discovery tools, and discusses optimal strategies for using these tools. We highlight that the choice of tool for identification of phages in metagenomic datasets, as well as their parameters, can bias the results and provide pointers for different use case scenarios. We have also made our benchmarking dataset available for download in order to facilitate future comparisons of phage identification tools.
The patterns and driving forces of dengue invasions in China
Authors: Zhao Zhe , Yue Yujuan , Liu Xiaobo , Li Chuanxi , Ma Wei , Liu Qiyong
Published: April 2023

Background

Global connectivity and environmental change pose continuous threats to dengue invasions from worldwide to China. However, the intrinsic relationship on introduction and outbreak risks of dengue driven by the landscape features are still unknown. This study aimed to map the patterns on source-sink relation of dengue cases and assess the driving forces for dengue invasions in China.

Methods

We identified the local and imported cases (2006–2020) and assembled the datasets on environmental conditions. The vector auto-regression model was applied to detect the cross-relations of source-sink patterns. We selected the major environmental drivers via the Boruta algorithm to assess the driving forces in dengue outbreak dynamics by applying generalized additive models. We reconstructed the internal connections among imported cases, local cases, and external environmental drivers using the structural equation modeling.

Results

From 2006 to 2020, 81,652 local dengue cases and 12,701 imported dengue cases in China were reported. The hotspots of dengue introductions and outbreaks were in southeast and southwest China, originating from South and Southeast Asia. Oversea-imported dengue cases, as the Granger-cause, were the initial driver of the dengue dynamic; the suitable local bio-socioecological environment is the fundamental factor for dengue epidemics. The Bio8 [odds ratio (OR) = 2.11, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.67–2.68], Bio9 (OR = 291.62, 95% CI: 125.63–676.89), Bio15 (OR = 4.15, 95% CI: 3.30–5.24), normalized difference vegetation index in March (OR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.06–1.51) and July (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.00–1.07), and the imported cases are the major drivers of dengue local transmissions (OR = 4.79, 95% CI: 4.34–5.28). The intermediary effect of an index on population and economic development to local cases via the path of imported cases was detected in the dengue dynamic system.

Conclusions

Dengue outbreaks in China are triggered by introductions of imported cases and boosted by landscape features and connectivity. Our research will contribute to developing nature-based solutions for dengue surveillance, mitigation, and control from a socio-ecological perspective based on invasion ecology theories to control and prevent future dengue invasion and localization.

Graphical Abstract
Development of cell-laden multimodular Lego-like customizable endometrial tissue assembly for successful tissue regeneration
Authors: Park Se-Ra , Kook Myung Geun , Kim Soo-Rim , Lee Jin Woo , Park Chan Hum , Oh Byung-Chul , Jung YunJae , Hong In-Sun
Published: April 2023

Background

The endometrium, the inner lining of the uterine cavity, plays essential roles in embryo implantation and its subsequent development. Although some positive results were preliminarily archived, the regeneration of damaged endometrial tissues by administrating stem cells only is very challenging due to the lack of specific microenvironments and their low attachment rates at the sites of injury. In this context, various biomaterial-based scaffolds have been used to overcome these limitations by providing simple structural support for cell attachment. However, these scaffold-based strategies also cannot properly reflect patient tissue-specific structural complexity and thus show only limited therapeutic effects.

Method

Therefore, in the present study, we developed a customizable Lego-like multimodular endometrial tissue architecture by assembling individually fabricated tissue blocks.

Results

Each tissue block was fabricated by incorporating biodegradable biomaterials and certain endometrial constituent cells. Each small tissue block was effectively fabricated by integrating conventional mold casting and 3D printing techniques. The fabricated individual tissue blocks were properly assembled into a larger customized tissue architecture. This structure not only properly mimics the patient-specific multicellular microenvironment of the endometrial tissue but also properly responds to key reproductive hormones in a manner similar to the physiological functions.

Conclusion

This customizable modular tissue assembly allows easy and scalable configuration of a complex patient-specific tissue microenvironment, thus accelerating various tissue regeneration procedures.
Barriers to health care utilization among patients with type 2 diabetes living in slums: a qualitative study from providers' perspective
Authors: Ghammari Fawzieh , Khodayari-zarnaq Rahim , Jalilian Habib , Gholizadeh Masumeh
Published: April 2023

Background

Due to slum dwellers' deprivation, they are more likely to develop Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) and its complications. Type 2 Diabetes is a long-life disease that requires continuous health care utilization. One of the negative outcomes of slum-dwelling is health care underutilization. Therefore, this study aimed to understand barriers to health care utilization among those with T2D living in Tabriz slums, Iran, from the perspective of healthcare providers, in 2022.

Methods

A phenomenological approach was used in this study. Purposive sampling for conducting in-depth interviews was used to select 23 providers consisting of general practitioners, midwives, nutritionists, and public health experts. We conducted a content analysis using the 7 stages recommended by Colaizzi. We used four criteria recommended by Lincoln and Guba for ensuring the research’s trustworthiness.

Results

Three main themes and 8 categories were developed. Three main themes are 1) health care provision system barriers, including four categories: lack of motivation, non-availability of facilities and doctors, poor relationship between patients and providers, and disruption in the process 2) coverage problems, including two categories: insurance inefficiency, and limited access, and 3) contextual barriers, including two categories: environmental problems, and socioeconomic barriers.

Conclusions

Recommendations are presented in three levels to improve implementation. The health care system needs to modify the payment methods, Patients-providers relationship improvement, and increase the number of providers. Insurance organizations should consider sufficient coverage of costs for slum-dwellers with T2D and expand the benefits package for them. Government should consider infrastructure upgrading in slums to eliminate barriers related to slum-dwelling. Overall, health care utilization promotion needs intersection cooperation.
Wearable synthetic leather-based high-performance X-ray shielding materials enabled by the plant polyphenol- and hierarchical structure-facilitated dispersion
Authors: Yan Linping , Zhou Jibo , Li Hao , Zhong Rui , Zhuang Junxin , Xu Xiaohui , Wang Yaping , Liao Xuepin , Shi Bi
Published: April 2023

Effective protection against X-ray is the premise of utilizing the X-ray, thus it is critical to develop novel X-ray shielding materials with both low density and high X-ray attenuation efficiency. As the even distribution of high-Z element components is of great significance for increasing the attenuation efficiency of X-ray shielding materials, in this study, the microfiber membrane (MFM), a type of synthetic leather featuring hierarchical structure was chosen to provide large surface area for the dispersion of rare earth (RE) element. Meanwhile, plant polyphenol was utilized to achieve the stable loading and uniform dispersion of the Ce or Er into MFM. Benefiting from the assistance of polyphenol and hierarchical structure of MFM, the even dispersion of RE element was successfully realized. The resultant shielding materials displayed approximately 10% superior X-ray attenuation efficiency compared to that without polyphenol, and an averagely 9% increment in X-ray attenuation efficiency than that without hierarchical structure. Moreover, the obtained composite with a thickness of 2.8 mm displayed superior X-ray shielding performance compared to 0.25 mm lead sheet in 16–83 keV and retained an ultralow density of 1.4 g cm–3. Our research results would shed new light on the manufacture of high-performance X-ray shielding materials with excellent X-ray shielding performance.

Graphical Abstract
A novel mutation in the SOX5 gene c.1627del; p.(Tyr543IlefsTer14) is associated to Lamb–Shaffer syndrome: a case report
Authors: Cuenca Alcocel Jose , Criado Álamo Elena , Salvador-Rupérez Elvira , Goñi Ros Nuria , Izquierdo Álvarez Silvia , Peña Segura Jose Luis , González-Tarancón Ricardo
Published: April 2023

Background

Lamb–Shaffer syndrome (LAMSHF) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by heterozygous mutation or microdeletion involving the SOX5 gene. LAMSHF is characterize by developmental delay, intellectual disability, poor expressive speech, mild dysmorphic facial features and skeletal abnormalities.

Case presentation

We presented a case of a child with delayed psychomotor development in all areas, scoliosis, peculiar facies, and suspicion of intermittent endotropia, alteration in the alignment of one foot and difficulty in standing. These clinical features lead to genetics studies, in which a novel pathogenic variant in the SOX5 gene was detected in association with LAMSHF.

Conclusions

LAMSHF should be suspected in patients with developmental delay, speech delay, intellectual disability, behavioural disturbances, ophthalmological alterations and skeletal abnormalities. A novel pathogenic mutation in the SOX5 gene c.1627del p.(Tyr543IlefsTer14) was identified in this patient as responsible of Lamb–Shaffer syndrome. This case contributes to understanding the genetic characteristics, clinical features, and diagnosis of LAMSHF.
Prognostic value of right ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with inferior ST-elevated myocardial infarction
Authors: El Amrawy Ahmed Mahmoud , Zaghloul Shaimaa Abd ElKhalek , El Sharkawy Eman Mohamed , Sobhy Mohamed Ahmed
Published: April 2023

Background

Right ventricle infarction (RVI) is predominantly a complication of inferior wall myocardial infarction; it occurs in approximately one third of these patients. Right ventricular dysfunction in patients with inferior STEMI and RV infarction was under assessed. Nevertheless, studies which targeted RV assessment by echocardiography, did not routinely evaluate RV diastolic dysfunction. In this study, we aimed to evaluate RV diastolic dysfunction and its prognostic value in patients with inferior STEMI and RVI.

Results

Sixty patients with inferior STEMI and RV infarction, who underwent primary PCI were enrolled in the study. Patients with pre-existing clinical conditions that might affect RV function, were excluded. Echocardiography was performed within twenty-four hours following the PCI, to assess the RV systolic and diastolic functions with special focus on tricuspid inflow velocities (E velocity, A velocity and E/A ratio) by pulsed wave (PW) doppler and tricuspid annular velocities by tissue doppler index (TDI) (E′, A′ and E/E′ ratio). Clinical features and MACE, including cardiogenic shock, arrhythmia, stroke, reinfarction and death were analyzed in all our patients within 3 months follow up period. The average age of the study population was 51.58 ± 10.11 years, 10% were females. Five patients developed MACE (death, cardiogenic shock and pulmonary edema, anterior STEMI and cardiogenic shock, recurrent inferior STEMI, and arrhythmia and stroke), of whom four occurred in hospital within the first 48 h. Patients who developed MACE had high filling pressures, as all of them had E/E′ > 6. E′ velocity ≤ 6 cm/sec was associated with increased MACE as 25% of patients with E′ velocity ≤ 6 had MACE compared with 2.3% of patients with E′ velocity > 6 with a p value of 0.015.

Conclusions

Tricuspid annular velocities by TDI are essential when evaluating RV diastolic dysfunction. E/E′ and E′ velocity have a prognostic value in patients with inferior STEMI and RV infarction; E/E′ > 6 and E′ velocity ≤ 6 cm/sec were associated more MACE in patients with inferior STEMI and RVI.
Prevalence and characteristics of COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough infection in Upper Egypt
Authors: Hussein Aliae A. R. Mohamed , Hashem Maiada K. , Azizeldine Mohammed G. , Shaddad Ahmad M.
Published: April 2023

Background

Infection breakthrough after COVID-19 vaccination is a point of conflict in current literature not only because of the estimation of the potential hazards and symptoms severity but also due to establishing a vaccination policy and measuring the extent of immunity after vaccination in addition to the waning of the humoral immunity over time. To our knowledge, this is the first study to stratify the risk of post-COVID-19 vaccination breakthroughs in Upper Egypt.

Methods

In this cross-sectional observational study, we enrolled 369 vaccinated patients registered in our facility either admitted or in out-patient clinic. Patients were interviewed and any proven history of COVID-19 infection after vaccination was recorded.

Results

In the current study, 18.97% (70 patients) of the 369 subjects enrolled in the study had COVID-19breakthrough infection. Students were the high-risk group representing 18.6% of the study subjects. Hypertension, diabetes, and cardiac disease were the most comorbidities associated with a prevalence of 15.7%, 8.6%, and 4.3% respectively. Prior to COVID-19, confirmed infection was present in 42.9% of the study group. Fever, headache, myalgia, and cough were among the most common symptoms of the post-COVID vaccination breakthrough with a prevalence of 90%, 75.7%, 84.3%, and 74.3% respectively.

Conclusion

Breakthrough infection after COVID-19 vaccination is not uncommon. Most cases are mild and don’t require hospitalization. All types of vaccines tested in the current study offer adequate immunity and guard against severe COVID-19 infection. We encourage the current global policy of full vaccination.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT05033834. Registered September 5, 2021. COVID-19 Infection in After Vaccination-Full Text View-ClinicalTrials.gov.
Benefits of an Early Mobility Program for Hospitalized Patients With Cancer
Authors: Aronson Julia H. , Allen Olivia S. , Berkalieva Asem , Mazumdar Madhu , Gorbenko Ksenia , Gunning Melissa , Liu Mark , Kisswany Carol , Bhardwaj Aarti , Smith Cardinale B.
Published: April 2023

PURPOSE

Patients with cancer are often hospitalized with complications from cancer and cancer treatment. Many experience a decline in physical functioning, including loss of mobility, which likely contributes to increased length of stay (LOS) and increased readmissions. We aimed to determine whether a mobility program would improve quality of care and decrease health care utilization.

METHODS

We implemented a mobility aide program on an oncology unit in a large academic medical center for all patients without bedrest orders between October 1, 2018, and February 28, 2021. The program consisted of nursing evaluation using the Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care (AMPAC), an ordinal scale ranging from bed rest to ambulating ≥ 250 feet, to quantify mobility. Plan of care was determined in a multidisciplinary manner with physical therapy (PT), nursing, and a mobility aide, who is a medical assistant with enhanced rehabilitation training. Patients were then mobilized two times per day 7 days a week. Using descriptive statistics and mixed effects logistic regression, we evaluated the programs impact on LOS, readmissions, and changes in mobility during this time period compared with the 6-month interval before implementation.

RESULTS

A total of 1,496 hospitalized patients were identified. The odds of hospital readmission within 30 days of discharge was significantly less for those who received the intervention (OR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.37 to 0.78; P = .001). The odds ratio (OR) of having a final AMPAC score at or above the median was significantly higher for those who received the intervention (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.04 to 2.45; P < .05). There was no significant difference in LOS.

CONCLUSION

Use of this mobility program resulted in a significant decrease in readmissions and maintained or improved patients' mobility. This demonstrates that non-PT professionals can effectively mobilize hospitalized patients with cancer, thereby decreasing the burden on PT and nursing resources. Future work will evaluate the sustainability of the program and evaluate association with health care costs.
Associations of Slow-Wave Sleep With Prevalent and Incident Type 2 Diabetes in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis
Authors: Kianersi Sina , Redline Susan , Mongraw-Chaffin Morgana , Huang Tianyi
Published: April 2023

Context

N3 sleep (i.e., slow-wave sleep), a marker of deep restorative sleep, is implicated in hormonal and blood pressure regulation and may impact cardiometabolic health.

Objective

We conducted cross-sectional and prospective analyses to test whether a higher proportion and longer duration of N3 sleep are associated with reduced type 2 diabetes risk.

Methods

A subsample of participants from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis completed 1-night polysomnography at Exam 5 (2010-2013) and were prospectively followed until Exam 6 (2016-2018). We used modified Poisson regression to examine the cross-sectional associations of N3 proportion and duration with prevalent diabetes and Cox proportional hazards models to estimate risk of diabetes according to N3 measures.

Results

In cross-sectional analyses (n = 2026, mean age: 69 years), diabetes prevalence was 28% (n = 572). Compared with the first quartile (Q1) of the N3 proportion (<2.0%), participants in Q4 (≥15.4%) were 29% (95% CI 0.58, 0.87) less likely to have prevalent diabetes (P trend = .0016). The association attenuated after adjustment for demographics, lifestyles, and sleep-related factors (P trend = .3322). In prospective analyses of 1251 participants and 129 incident cases over 6346 person-years of follow-up, a curvilinear relationship was observed between N3 proportion and incident diabetes risk. In the fully adjusted model, the hazard ratio (95% CI) of developing diabetes vs Q1 was 0.47 (0.26, 0.87) for Q2, 0.34 (0.15, 0.77) for Q3, and 0.32 (0.10, 0.97) for Q4 (P nonlinearity = .0213). The results were similar for N3 duration.

Conclusion

Higher N3 proportion and longer N3 duration were prospectively associated with lower type 2 diabetes risk in a nonlinear fashion among older American adults.
A Multiomics Atlas of Brown Adipose Tissue Development Over Time
Authors: Kumagai Yutaro , Saito Yutaka , Kida Yasuyuki S
Published: April 2023

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) regulates homeostatic energy balances in response to physiological changes such as nutrition intake, calorie restriction, exercise, and environmental temperature by consuming energy to generate heat, and thus serves as an important organ for obesity and metabolic diseases. We performed an integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic characterization of developing mouse BAT from embryo to adult to obtain a time-resolved picture of BAT development. We demonstrated that there are 2 distinct developmental changes that are BAT specific. We also examined transcription factor binding sites and discovered key transcription factors in the developmental time course. A comparison of our data with other organ development transcriptome and metabolome data revealed BAT-specific transcriptome and metabolome patterns. Our findings provide an overview of mouse BAT development as well as implications for developmental and functional BAT controls.
Colon Cancer Presenting as Pituitary Mass and Hypopituitarism: Recognition and Multidisciplinary Approach of a Rare Case
Authors: Costanza Flavia , Giampietro Antonella , Mattogno Pier Paolo , Chiloiro Sabrina
Published: April 2023

Pituitary metastases are rare. Until now, few cases have been reported; about 50% of pituitary metastases originate from breast or lung cancers. We describe the clinical case of a primary colon carcinoma first presenting with a pituitary metastasis. A 76-year-old woman, with no history of malignancy, presented with headache, dizziness, and diplopia, at the Emergency Department. The neurologic examination was remarkable for complete left ophthalmoplegia with sensitivity deficit on the left side of the face. Radiologic investigations documented a voluminous sellar and suprasellar lesion, with extension in the left cavernous sinus and temporal lobe. Pituitary hormone levels were suggestive of anterior hypopituitarism and mild hyperprolactinemia. Subtotal surgical removal of the lesion was achieved through a trans-sphenoidal endoscopic endonasal approach. The histological examination disclosed a metastasis of gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma. A subsequent colonoscopy identified right colon cancer. A contrasted total-body computerized tomography ruled out other metastases. Postsurgical MRI showed a stable parasellar residual tumor. Conventional radiotherapy was scheduled.

This case underlines the importance of considering pituitary metastases in the differential diagnosis of aggressive pituitary lesions, which should be managed in a pituitary tumor center of excellence through a multidisciplinary approach, for the complexity in diagnosis and therapeutic management of this rare condition.
Atypical Course of a Patient With AIP-Positive Acromegaly: From GH Excess to GH Deficiency and Back to GH Excess
Authors: García-de-la-Torre Keren-Sandyn , Kerbel Jacobo , Cano-Zaragoza Amayrani , Mercado Moisés
Published: April 2023

Acromegaly/giantism results from the chronic excess of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), in more than 96% of cases, due to a GH-secreting pituitary adenoma. Primary treatment of choice is transsphenoidal resection of the adenoma. More than 30% to 40% of operated cases require adjunctive forms of treatment, be it pharmacological or radiotherapeutical. The multimodal treatment of acromegaly has resulted in substantial improvements in the quality of life and life expectancy of these patients. We herein present the complex case of a patient with acromegaly due to a mammosomatotrope adenoma, with a germ-line AIP (aryl hydrocarbon receptor–interacting protein) mutation, who had a chronic and protracted course of more than 15 years during which he was treated with surgery, somatostatin receptor ligands, dopamine agonist, and the GH receptor antagonist pegvisomant. At one point, he was able to come off medications and was even found to be transiently GH-deficient, only to develop acromegaly again after a couple of years.
Cattle, Viral Invasions, and State-Society Relations in a Colonial Korean Borderland
Authors: Seeley Joseph
Published: April 2023

For early twentieth-century Koreans, one of the most feared invaders to breach the country’s northern border with China was the tiny viral pathogen Rinderpest morbillivirus (rinderpest, or cattle plague). This study examines the social consequences of rinderpest outbreaks along the colonial Sino-Korean border and the methods undertaken by the Japanese Government-General of Korea to control viral “invasions” from Manchuria. Rinderpest prevention primarily functioned as an extension of the colonial police. Despite universal fears of rinderpest’s ravages, which devastated a rural economy dependent on animal labor, colonized Koreans exhibited wide-ranging reactions to the heavy-handed methods adopted by imperial officials to fight the disease. Korean responses included outright resistance such as cross-border cattle smuggling, attacking veterinary officials, or protests against livestock travel bans, as well as varying degrees of cooperation. Moving chronologically from before the beginning of formal colonial rule in 1910 until the 1930s, this article strives to explain how a modern veterinary regime was implemented and negotiated in the northern colonial Korean borderland. Such a view is essential for understanding not only Korea’s colonial past but also Korean responses to infectious disease “invasions” in the present day.
Romanticism Strait: Coloniality and Liminality in Im Hwa’s Maritime Poetry
Authors: Smith Kevin Michael
Published: April 2023

This article examines the colonial-era poet and critic Im Hwa’s (林和 1908–1953) maritime literary trope of Hyŏnhaet’an (玄海灘), the strait separating the Korean peninsula from the Japanese archipelago, as it encompasses Korea’s contradictory peripheral location within the Japanese empire. Im Hwa’s repeated invocations of this body of water served as a channel for navigating the escalating pressures of colonial censorship, in which the romanticized, masculinist figure of the valiant “youth” (ch’ŏngnyŏn) substituted for the former working-class protagonist from Im’s esteemed “short narrative poems” (tanp’yŏn sŏsasi) during the heyday of the proletarian literary movement. Further, Im’s fixation on the vicissitudes of the seafaring journey across the strait can be said to articulate the precarious position occupied by Korean colonial subjects of the Japanese emperor, neither permitted full assimilation nor capable of enduring perpetual subjugation as second-class citizens. The article concludes by exploring how the liminality of passage across Hyŏnhaet’an exemplifies both the tensions between nationalism and social class in the revised geopolitical contours of Im’s anti-colonial, oceanic imagination, what he eloquently referred to as a “new map of the peninsula” (pando ŭi sae chido).
Black and Queer, Music on Screen
Authors: Tobias James
Published: April 2023

While Black Studies and Queer Studies have offered a range of terms and methods for considering sound, music, and musicality in audiovisual work over the last half century, studies of sound and music in audiovisual media that have attempted to define these latter disciplines have tended to neglect or simply ignore those innovations. The result is a lack of attention and analysis given to key forces and voices at important moments of media transition. This editor's introduction surveys relevant methods and exemplars to demonstrate this problem of disciplinary blind spots and suggests ways that contributions to this special issue help to address and reorient it.
Experience and Balance: Long-Term Trends in Preferred Skull Base Approach for a Case Series of Cavernous Malformation Resections
Authors: Devia Diego A. , Graffeo Christopher S. , Benner Dimitri , Scherschinski Lea , Thomas George , Koester Stefan W. , Srinivasan Visish M. , Lawton Michael T.
Published: April 2023

BACKGROUND:

Skull base approaches are a foundation of modern cerebrovascular surgery; however, their application over time has varied.

OBJECTIVE:

To assess trends in skull base approach selection for cavernous malformation (CM) resection.

METHODS:

This is a retrospective case series of all first-time CM resections by a single surgeon from 1997 to 2021. Cases were classified by craniotomy and approach. Four sets of common comparator skull base approaches were identified by coauthor consensus: pterional and orbitozygomatic; retrosigmoid, extended retrosigmoid (xRS), and far-lateral; suboccipital and torcular; and trans-cerebellar peduncle (MCP) and transcerebellopontine angle. Counts were binned by 5-year or 10-year clusters for descriptive statistical assessment of temporal trends.

RESULTS:

In total, 372 primary CM resections met the study criteria and were included. Orbitozygomatic approach use increased during the second 5-year period, after which the pterional approach rapidly became and remained the preferred approach. During the first two 5-year periods, the far-lateral approach was preferred to the retrosigmoid and xRS approaches, but the xRS approach grew in popularity and accounted for >50% of operations in this comparator group. Trans-MCP use compared with the transcerebellopontine angle approach closely mirrored the change in xRS use. The midline suboccipital approach accounted for a larger proportion (range, 62%-88%) of cases than the torcular approach (range, 12%-38%) across all periods.

CONCLUSION:

The xRS and trans-MCP approaches have been increasingly used over time, while the orbitozygomatic and far-lateral approaches have become less common. These trends seem to reflect versatility, efficiency, and safety of these techniques.