bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Focal arrhythmia ablation with multipolar mapping: Does it still make sense to stay off‐grid?
Authors: Montgomery Jay A. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractMultipolar mapping (MPM) has primarily been studied in complex arrhythmia substrates or reentrant circuits. Chieng et al. use a case‐control design to compare MPM and point‐by‐point mapping with an ablation catheter for focal atrial and ventricular tachycardias, showing reduced procedure times and earlier electrograms in the MPM group but no difference in clinical outcomes. It is plausible that faster mapping and better delineation of earliest signals may translate to improved clinical outcomes if studied in a randomized trial in a larger population. Future MPM systems will guide the operator toward the focus in real‐time and may even triangulate the source in three dimensions, giving an estimate of depth within the myocardium or likely focus in the opposite chamber.
Multipolar mapping with the high‐density grid catheter compared with conventional point‐by‐point mapping to guide catheter ablation for focal arrhythmias
Authors: Chieng David , Lahiri Anandaroop , Sugumar Hariharan , Al‐Kaisey Ahmed , Parameswaran Ramanathan , Anderson Robert D. , Prabhu Sandeep , Ling Liang‐Han , Morton Joseph B. , McLellan Alex J. , Lee Geoffrey , Kalman Jonathan M. , McGavigan Andrew D. , Kistler Peter M. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundMultipolar catheters provide high‐density mapping which may reduce the procedural duration and improve the success of catheter ablation (CA) for focal arrhythmias. The high‐density grid (HDG) catheter is a 16 electrode mapping catheter with bipole recordings at orthogonal splines. The aim of this study is to compare the clinical and procedural features from a cohort who underwent CA for focal arrhythmias using multipolar mapping (MPM) with age and case‐matched cohort using point‐by‐point (PbyP) mapping.MethodsConsecutive patients undergoing CA for focal arrhythmias between October 2018 and January 2020 guided by MPM were compared with PbyP mapping with the ablation catheter over a similar period. Demographics, procedural features, and outcomes were compared.ResultsA total of 54 patients (27 in MPM vs. 27 in PbyP mapping) underwent CA for 68 focal arrhythmias (26 atrial and 42 ventricular). In the MPM group, the electrogram at the successful site was significantly earlier (39 ± 11 ms) than in the PbyP group (33 ± 7 ms; p = .02). In the MPM group, the mapping time (35 ± 24 vs. 53 ± 31 min in PbyP; p = .03) and procedural duration (126 ± 42 vs. 153 ± 39 min in PbyP; p = .02) were significantly shorter. There was no significant difference in radiofrequency and fluoroscopy times, acute procedural success, and arrhythmia recurrence.ConclusionMPM with the HDG catheter for focal tachycardias identified earlier activation times and was associated with shorter mapping and procedure duration with equivalent success to PbyP mapping.
gdnf affects early diencephalic dopaminergic neuron development through regulation of differentiation‐associated transcription factors in zebrafish
Authors: Wong Chee Ern David , Hua Khang , Monis Simon , Saxena Vishal , Norazit Anwar , Noor Suzita Mohd , Ekker Marc 
Published: June 2020

AbstractGlial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has been reported to enhance dopaminergic neuron survival and differentiation in vitro and in vivo, although those results are still being debated. Glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor (gdnf) is highly conserved in zebrafish and plays a role in enteric nervous system function. However, little is known about gdnf function in the teleost brain. Here, we employed clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR‐associated protein 9 to impede gdnf function in the maintenance of dopaminergic neuron development. Genotyping of gdnf crispants revealed successful deletions of the coding region with various mutant band sizes and down‐regulation of gdnf transcripts at 1, 3 and 7 day(s) post fertilization. Notably, ~20% reduction in ventral diencephalic dopaminergic neuron numbers in clusters 8 and 13 was observed in the gdnf‐deficient crispants. In addition, gdnf depletion caused a modest reduction in dopaminergic neurogenesis as determined by 5‐ethynyl‐2'‐deoxyuridine pulse chase assay. These deleterious effects could be partly attributed to deregulation of dopaminergic neuron fate specification‐related transcription factors (otp,lmx1b,shha,and ngn1) in both crispants and established homozygous mutants with whole mount in‐situ hybridization (WISH) on gdnf mutants showing reduced otpb and lmx1b.1 expression in the ventral diencephalon. Interestingly, locomotor function of crispants was only impacted at 7 dpf, but not earlier. Lastly, as expected, gdnf deficiency heightened crispants vulnerability to 1‐methyl‐4‐phenylpyridinium toxic insult. Our results suggest conservation of teleost gdnf brain function with mammals and revealed the interactions between gdnf and transcription factors in dopaminergic neuron differentiation.
image
Gender Differences Regarding the Impact of Change in Cognitive Function on the Functional Status of Intensive Care Unit Survivors: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Son Youn‐Jung , Song Hyo‐Suk , Seo Eun Ji 
Published: June 2020

AbstractPurposeThis study aimed to identify gender differences with regard to the impact of change in cognitive function on functional status 3 months after receiving critical care.Design and MethodsThis prospective cohort study investigated 152 intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Their functional status and cognitive function were assessed using the validated Korean version of the Modified Barthel Index and Mini‐Mental State Examination, respectively. Hierarchical regression was used to evaluate the impact of change in cognitive function on functional status in ICU survivors by gender.FindingsThe proportion of women suffering from consistent cognitive impairment was significantly higher than that of men. Women had a rate of improvement to normal cognitive function within 3 months after discharge that was higher than that of men. Functional status 3 months after discharge was significantly lower for patients whose cognitive impairment was consistent than that for those whose cognitive function was normal. The impact of change in cognitive function on men (R2 change = .28) was greater than that on women (R2 change = .13).ConclusionsPersistent cognitive impairment after critical illness had a negative effect on functional status in ICU survivors. Importantly, the negative impact of consistent cognitive impairment was greater in men than in women.Clinical RelevanceEarly careful assessment of functional and cognitive status after critical illness is warranted. Strategies addressing the gender‐specific characteristics related to cognitive improvement should also be developed.
Functional morphology of the ankle extensor muscle‐tendon units in the springharePedetes capensisshows convergent evolution with macropods for bipedal hopping locomotion
Authors: Veiga Gabriela N. , Biewener Andrew A. , Fuller Andrea , van de Ven Tanja M. F. N. , McGowan Craig P. , Panaino Wendy , Snelling Edward P. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThis study assesses the functional morphology of the ankle extensor muscle‐tendon units of the springharePedetes capensis, an African bipedal hopping rodent, to test for convergent evolution with the Australian bipedal hopping macropods. We dissect and measure the gastrocnemius, soleus, plantaris, and flexor digitorum longus in 10 adult springhares and compare them against similar‐sized macropods using phylogenetically informed scaling analyses. We show that springhares align reasonably well with macropod predictions, being statistically indistinguishable with respect to the ankle extensor mean weighted muscle moment arm (1.63 vs. 1.65 cm, respectively), total muscle mass (41.1 vs. 29.2 g), total muscle physiological cross‐sectional area (22.9 vs. 19.3 cm2), mean peak tendon stress (26.2 vs. 35.2 MPa), mean tendon safety factor (4.7 vs. 3.6), and total tendon strain energy return capacity (1.81 vs. 1.82 J). However, total tendon cross‐sectional area is significantly larger in springhares than predicted for a similar‐sized macropod (0.26 vs. 0.17 cm2, respectively), primarily due to a greater plantaris tendon thickness (0.084 vs. 0.048 cm2), and secondarily because the soleus muscle‐tendon unit is present in springhares but is vestigial in macropods. The overall similarities between springhares and macropods indicate that evolution has favored comparable lower hindlimb body plans for bipedal hopping locomotion in the two groups of mammals that last shared a common ancestor ~160 million years ago. The springhare’s relatively thick plantaris tendon may facilitate rapid transfer of force from muscle to skeleton, enabling fast and accelerative hopping, which could help to outpace and outmaneuver predators.
The vomeronasal organ of wild canids: the fox (Vulpes vulpes) as a model
Authors: Ortiz‐Leal Irene , Torres Mateo V. , Villamayor Paula R. , López‐Beceiro Ana , Sanchez‐Quinteiro Pablo 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe vomeronasal system (VNS) has been extensively studied within specific animal families, such as Rodentia. However, the study of the VNS in other families, such as Canidae, has long been neglected. Among canids, the vomeronasal organ (VNO) has only been studied in detail in the dog, and no studies have examined the morphofunctional or immunohistochemical characteristics of the VNS in wild canids, which is surprising, given the well‐known importance of chemical senses for the dog and fox and the likelihood that the VNS plays roles in the socio‐reproductive physiology and behaviours of these species. In addition, characterising the fox VNS could contribute to a better understanding of the domestication process that occurred in the dog, as the fox would represent the first wild canid to be studied in depth. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics of the fox VNO. Tissue dissection and microdissection techniques were employed, followed by general and specific histological staining techniques, including with immunohistochemical and lectin‐histochemical labelling strategies, using antibodies against olfactory marker protein (OMP), growth‐associated protein 43 (GAP‐43), calbindin (CB), calretinin (CR), α‐tubulin, Gαo, and Gαi2 proteins, to highlight the specific features of the VNO in the fox. This study found significant differences in the VNS between the fox and the dog, particularly concerning the expression of Gαi2 and Gαo proteins, which were associated with the expression of the type 1 vomeronasal receptors (V1R) and type 2 vomeronasal receptors (V2R), respectively, in the vomeronasal epithelium. Both are immunopositive in foxes, as opposed to the dog, which only expresses Gαi2. This finding suggests that the fox possesses a well‐developed VNO and supports the hypothesis that a profound transformation in the VNS is associated with domestication in the canid family. Furthermore, the unique features identified in the fox VNO confirm the necessity of studying the VNS system in different species to better comprehend specific phylogenetic aspects of the VNS.
New method for large‐scale facial skin sebum quantification and skin type classification
Authors: Qin Jingjing , Qiao Liyuan , Hu Jingjing , Xu Jichao , Du Le , Wang Qianqian , Ye Rui 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe demand for personalized skin care is increasing rapidly in recent years. In order to provide suitable products for different customers, an accurate assessment of the skin condition is required. It is necessary to establish a remote and convenient method for quantifying skin condition.Materials and MethodsWe established a new method for quantifying the facial sebum excretion, using Sebutape as well as a model for objective skin type classification.ResultsIn total, 2173 sebum quantification samples were collected and categorized into 4 skin types. We found good agreement between subjective and objective skin types. 60.33% of the detection is consistent, and the proportion of discrepancies is only 0.55%. The main mismatch is caused by broad criteria for combination type classification. Quantifying the sebum excretion will help to describe and analyze the skin state easily. We found sebum levels in Chinese women peak at the age between 20 and 30 and decrease dramatically after age 40s.ConclusionThis new sebum quantitative method is well consistent to self‐report skin type. In addition, it provides a powerful tool for the cosmetic industry to evaluate skin condition precisely and recommend personalized products accordingly.
Statin exposure and the risk of dementia in individuals with hypercholesterolaemia
Authors: Lee J.‐W. , Choi E.‐A. , Kim Y.‐S. , Kim Y. , You H.‐S. , Han Y.‐E. , Kim H.‐S. , Bae Y.‐J. , Kim J. , Kang H.‐T. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractObjectivesThis study aimed to examine the association between statin exposure and dementia risk in individuals with hypercholesterolaemia using data from the NHIS‐HEALS database between 2002 and 2015.MethodsSubjects were classified into statin exposure and statin nonexposure groups according to medication possession ratio. Dementia was defined as those with primary diagnostic dementia codes such as F00‐F03, G30, G31.1, G31.9 or G31.82. Cox proportional hazards regression models were adopted after stepwise adjustment for confounders to investigate the prospective association between statin exposure and dementia risk.ResultsDuring the follow‐up period (median follow‐up 11.7 years), 711 cases of dementia occurred, accounting for 11.5% of the total study population (statin exposure group, 8.2%; statin nonexposure group, 12.9%). Compared to the statin nonexposure group, fully adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) for overall dementia in the statin exposure group were 0.63 (0.43–0.91) and 0.62 (0.50–0.78) in men and women, respectively. Compared to the statin nonexposure group, the HRs (95% CIs) for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia, vascular dementia and other types of dementia in the statin exposure group were 0.54 (0.32–0.91), 2.45 (0.69–8.68) and 0.59 (0.32–1.07), respectively, in men and 0.53 (0.38–0.73), 1.29 (0.42–3.96) and 0.70 (0.51–0.96), respectively, in women.ConclusionsHypercholesterolaemic individuals exposed to statin had a lower risk of overall dementia and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia in both sexes, and a lower risk of other types of dementia in women, than subjects who were not exposed to statins.
Effects of intermittent treatment with parathyroid hormone (PTH) on osteoblastic differentiation and mineralization of mouse induced pluripotent stem cells in a 3D culture model
Authors: Sato Masahiro , Aoki Hideto , Nakamura Takashi , Onodera Shoko , Yamaguchi Akira , Saito Atsushi , Azuma Toshifumi 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackground/ObjectivesPTH plays an important role in bone remodeling, and different actions have been reported depending on its administration method. iPSCs are promising as a cell source for regeneration of periodontal tissue due to their ability of proliferation and pluripotency. However, the effects of PTH on iPSCs remain mostly unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate in vitro effects of parathyroid hormone (PTH) on osteoblastic differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in a 3D culture model.Materials and MethodsFollowing embryoid body (EB) induction from mouse iPSCs (miPSCs), dissociated cells (miPS‐EB‐derived cells) were seeded onto atelocollagen sponge (ACS) in osteoblast differentiation medium (OBM). Cell‐ACS constructs were divided into three groups: continuous treatment with human recombinant PTH (1‐34) (PTH‐C), intermittent PTH treatment (PTH‐I) or OBM control. To confirm the expression of PTH receptor‐1(PTH1R), the expression of Pth1r and cAMP production over time were assessed. Real‐time PCR was used to assess the expression of genes encoding osterix (Sp7), runt‐related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), collagen type 1 (Col1a1), and osteocalcin (Bglap) at different time points. Mineralization was assessed by von Kossa staining. Histochemical staining was used to analyze alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and immunolocalization of SP7 and BGLAP was analyzed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM).ResultsOn days 7 and 14, expression of the Pth1r in miPS‐EB‐derived cells was increased in all groups. Production of cAMP, the second messenger of the PTH1R, tended to increase in the PTH‐I group compared with PTH‐C group on day 14. Expression of Col1a1 in the PTH‐I group on day 14 was significantly higher than other groups. There was a time‐dependent increase in the expression of Sp7 in all groups. On day 14, the expression level of Sp7 in the PTH‐I group was significantly higher than other groups. In von Kossa staining, the PTH‐I group showed higher level of staining compared with other groups on day 14, whereas the level was slightly attenuated in the PTH‐C group. In histochemical staining, ALP‐positive cells were significantly increased in the PTH‐I group compared with other groups on day 14. In CLSM analysis, the numbers of SP7‐ and BGLAP‐positive cells showed a gradual increase over time, and on day 14, a significantly greater SP7 expression was observed in the PTH‐I group than other groups.ConclusionThese results suggested that the intermittent PTH treatment promotes osteoblastic differentiation and mineralization of miPSCs in the ACS scaffold.
Relationship between periodontal disease and lung cancer: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Wang Jiahe , Yang Xiaoyu , Zou Xiaolong , Zhang Yunhan , Wang Jiantao , Wang Yan 
Published: June 2020

AbstractPeriodontal disease (PD), as a chronic bacterial infection, might cause cardiovascular and some other systemic diseases, with recent studies reporting that it exhibits some connection with lung cancer. While studies have shown that poor oral health might increase the risk of lung cancer, the veracity of these reports is questionable. Therefore, this meta‐analysis was undertaken to investigate the association between PD and the risk of lung cancer. A search was run in PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, CENTRAL, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases up to January 1, 2020. Cohort and case‐control studies investigating the correlation between PD and lung cancer were included. Eligibility assessment and data extraction were conducted independently, and a meta‐analysis was performed to synthesize the data. The association between PD, edentulism, and lung cancer was measured by the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) or odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) provided in articles. We employed appropriate effect model in terms of I2 (a fixed‐effect model for PD and a random‐effect model for edentulism) to obtain summary effect estimates. Statistical heterogeneity was investigated by chi‐square test and I2 statistics. Newcastle‐Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to assess the quality of their method. Six cohort studies (eight references) and two case‐control studies, assessed as high‐quality, involving 167 256 participants, were included in the review. The summary estimates based on adjusted data showed an association between PD and a significant risk of lung cancer both in cohort studies (HR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.25‐1.58; I2 = 8.7%) and case‐control studies (OR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.16‐1.98; I2 = 36.5%). Similar features were found in the sensitivity analysis and subgroups for six cohort studies, of male only (HR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.15‐2.60), setting the lung cancer incidence as endpoint (HR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.24‐1.57; I2 = 23.9%), and adjusting alcohol for multifactorial HR (HR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.21‐1.57; I2 = 39.9%). The summary HR for edentulism was 1.93 (95% CI = 1.05‐3.57; I2 = 55.3%). No obvious publication bias was detected. This systematic review and meta‐analysis demonstrated a significant association between PD and the incidence of lung cancer. Further observational studies are required by using standardized measurements to assess the periodontal status and by eliminating confounding factors, such as alcohol and diabetes, to verify such a relationship.
The relationship between epixylic bryophyte communities and microclimate
Authors: Táborská Markéta , Kovács Bence , Németh Csaba , Ódor Péter 
Published: June 2020

AbstractAimDead wood‐inhabiting bryophyte communities are formed by several important factors. Besides the amount, quality and continuity of the substrate, there are also external factors indirectly influencing their structure. One of the most important is local microclimate. This fact has been recognized by many previous authors, yet studies exploring the direct effect of the microclimate on epixylic bryophytes are still sparse. Based on directly measured values of local temperature, air humidity and canopy openness (CO), we explored the associations between microclimate and epixylic bryophyte communities.LocationOld‐growth mixed Fagus sylvatica‐Abies alba montane forest in the Czech Republic (West Carpathians).MethodsThe associations between microclimate and bryophyte communities were studied on 61 large logs of Abies alba in advanced decay stage. Air temperature and humidity were measured in three periods of the year 2017, CO was measured in leafless and leaf‐on periods. Water potential (Ψ) values were calculated from the data. The importance of the seasons was compared, the effect of microclimate variables on the species composition of logs was explored by canonical correspondence analysis. The effect on total cover and species richness was analyzed by linear models.ResultsOur analysis revealed a clear relationship between the communities and the microclimatic gradient. The most important factors for bryophyte composition were the spring and summer water potential and CO in the leaf‐on period. Total species richness and cover increased with increasing water potential (relatively cool and humid conditions). Also, the appearance of sensitive epixylic specialists (mainly liverworts) was positively correlated with these microclimatic conditions. On the other hand, species more tolerant to desiccation preferred logs with a drier and warmer microclimate.ConclusionsComparing logs with similar physical properties but different microclimates, we confirmed that epixylic bryophyte communities are significantly associated to microclimatic conditions in natural temperate forest.
An advanced local calibration method for mechanistic‐empirical pavement design
Authors: Dong Shi , Yuan Xian‐Xun , Hao Peiwen 
Published: June 2020

AbstractModel calibration and validation is an important step of empirical modeling. The current local calibration (LC) method suggested by the AASHTOWare mechanistic‐empirical pavement design guide (MEPDG) is defective and can result in a completely distorted prediction of pavement reliability in design. This paper proposes an advanced LC method that integrates a jackknife sampling procedure and an iteratively weighted least squares technique into one coherent LC process. The jackknife sampling method, which has been recommended by AASHTO for model validation, is now used for identifying outliers of the data in order to ensure a homogeneous population. Meanwhile, an iteratively weighted least squares method is proposed to simultaneously estimate the LC coefficients and the standard deviation functions. Two LC case studies for Ontario roads are presented: one for the bottom‐up fatigue cracking models of asphalt concrete pavements and the other for the joint faulting models of Portland cement concrete pavements. The comparison with the traditional split‐data method has shown the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed method. With little modification, the method can be introduced as a general calibration‐validation process for all empirical and mechanistic‐empirical models in engineering disciplines.