bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Torsade de pointes induced by intravenous amiodarone therapy accompanied by marked augmentation of the transmural dispersion of repolarization in a patient with tachycardia‐induced‐cardiomyopathy
Authors: Yonai Ryo , Kawabata Mihoko , Maeda Shingo , Kawashima Tomoyuki , Tsuda Yasuhide , Nakasone Takashi , Nakane Hiroki , Hirao Kenzo 
Published: October 2020

AbstractWe report a 77‐year‐old human on renal dialysis for end‐stage renal disease with heart failure and atrial fibrillation (AF) complicated by a high ventricular frequency. The underlying disease was thought as tachycardia‐induced‐cardiomyopathy. Intravenous infusion of amiodarone was initiated, and direct current cardioversion succeeded in converting AF to sinus rhythm. Then, excessive increases in the QT and Tpeak‐Tend (Tp‐e) intervals were seen and hypokalemia induced by hemodialysis led to the development of numerous episodes of torsades de pointes (TdP). Magnesium repletion was effective in preventing TdP, while Tp‐e intervals returned to the previous values 2 days after the discontinuation of amiodarone.
Percutaneous balloon mitral valvotomy during pregnancy: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Sreerama Damini , Surana Mahak , Moolchandani Kailash , Chaturvedula Latha , Keepanasseril Arun , Keepanasseril Anish , Pillai Ajith A. , Nair Narayanapillai Sreekumaran 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIntroductionThe objective of this study was to systematically review the maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnant women who underwent percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV) during pregnancy.Material and methodsA search was conducted on MEDLINE and Embase databases to identify studies published between 2000 and 2018 that reported on maternal and fetal outcomes following PBMV performed in pregnancy. Randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, case‐control studies, cross‐sectional studies and case series with four or more pregnancies in which PBMV was performed during pregnancy were included. Reference lists from relevant articles were also hand‐searched for relevant citations. A successful procedure was defined as one where there was a reported improvement in the valve area or reduction in the mitral valve gradient. A random effects model was used to derive pooled estimates of various outcomes and the final estimates were reported as percentages with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI).ResultsTwenty‐one observational studies reporting 745 pregnancies were included in the review, all of them having reported outcomes without a comparison group. Most of the studies fell into the low‐risk category as determined using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklist for case series. Most of the studies (86%) were reported from low‐ to middle‐income countries and PBMV was mostly performed during the second trimester of pregnancy. Forty‐three procedures (5.7%) were unsuccessful, nearly half (n = 19) of them reported among women with the severe subvalve disease (Wilkins subvalve score 3 or more). There were 11 maternal deaths among those with suboptimal valve anatomy (severe subvalve disease or Wilkin score >8). Mitral regurgitation was the most common cardiac complication (12.7%; 95% CI 7.3%‐19.1%), followed by restenosis (2.4%; 95% CI 0.02%‐7.2%). Pooled incidence of cesarean section was 12.1% (95% CI 3.6%‐23.8%), preterm delivery 3.9% (95% CI 0.6%‐9.0%), stillbirth 0.9% (95%CI 0.2%‐2.2%) and low birthweight 5.4% (95% CI 0.2%‐14.7%).ConclusionsPBMV may be an effective and safe procedure for optimizing outcomes in pregnant women with mitral stenosis in the absence of severe subvalve disease.
PTBP1‐targeting microRNAs regulate cancer‐specific energy metabolism through the modulation of PKM1/M2 splicing
Authors: Taniguchi Kohei , Uchiyama Kazuhisa , Akao Yukihiro 
Published: October 2020

AbstractUnderstanding of the microRNAs (miRNAs) regulatory system has become indispensable for physiological/oncological research. Tissue and organ specificities are key features of miRNAs that should be accounted for in cancer research. Further, cancer‐specific energy metabolism, referred to as the Warburg effect, has been positioned as a key cancer feature. Enhancement of the glycolysis pathway in cancer cells is what primarily characterizes the Warburg effect. Pyruvate kinase M1/2 (PKM1/2) are key molecules of the complex glycolytic system; their distribution is organ‐specific. In fact, PKM2 overexpression has been detected in various cancer cells. PKM isoforms are generated by alternative splicing by heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins. In addition, polypyrimidine tract‐binding protein 1 (PTBP1) is essential for the production of PKM2 in cancer cells. Recently, several studies focusing on non‐coding RNA elucidated PTBP1 or PKM2 regulatory mechanisms, including control by miRNAs, and their association with cancer. In this review, we discuss the strong relationship between the organ‐specific distribution of miRNAs and the expression of PKM in the context of PTBP1 gene regulation. Moreover, we focus on the impact of PTBP1‐targeting miRNA dysregulation on the Warburg effect.
Allergenicity at component level of sub‐pollen particles from different sources obtained by osmolar shock: A molecular approach to thunderstorm‐related asthma outbreaks
Authors: Cecchi Lorenzo , Scala Enrico , Caronni Sarah , Citterio Sandra , Asero Riccardo 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe so‐called “thunderstorm asthma” (TA) is an uncommon but dramatic outbreak of asthma attacks occurring during a thunderstorm in the pollen and moulds season. Mechanisms which make the pollen able to enter the deeper airways and provoke severe asthma symptoms are still unclear.ObjectiveTo test the hypothesis that sub‐pollen particles (SPPs) originated from the rupture by an osmotic shock of pollen associated with TA contain allergens.MethodsAfter hydration, SPPs released from pollen grains of grass, pellitory, olive, cypress, ragweed and birch were isolated and determined by microscopy. Allergens were determined by in vitro ELISA inhibition tests indirectly using the sera from 10 polyreactive patients. An inhibition <50% was considered as negative, 50%‐75% moderate and > 75% complete.ResultsThe inhibition experiments showed that the SPPs from birch and cypress were unable to inhibit serum IgE reactivity to Bet v 1 and Cup a 1, respectively. Ragweed SPPs inhibited ragweed pollen extract and Amb a 1 by 75.8 ± 0.11% and 81.2 ± 0.15%, respectively. Olive and pellitory SPPs retained almost the whole IgE‐binding capability in all cases tested. Grass SPPs inhibited 32 ± 0.06% of Lolium perenne Lol p 1 and 65% of Phleum pratense extracts, but results were highly variable for individual allergens (97.5%‐0.03% for Phl p 2, 45.3 ± 0.12% for Phl p 5, 24.7 ± 0.22% for Phl p 6, and 38.3 ± 0.2% for Phl p 1).ConclusionsInhibition experiments confirm the hypothesis that SSPs obtained after the osmotic shock of pollen involved in TA, namely grass, pellitory and olive tree pollen, contain allergens and therefore they can induce severe asthma attacks during thunderstorms.
Randomized trial of 3 maintenance regimens (TAC/SRL vs. TAC/MMF vs. CSA/SRL) with low‐dose corticosteroids in primary kidney transplantation: 18‐year results
Authors: Ciancio Gaetano , Gaynor Jeffrey J. , Guerra Giselle , Roth David , Chen Linda , Kupin Warren , Mattiazzi Adela , Ortigosa‐Goggins Mariella , Moni Lissett , Burke George W. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractA randomized trial of 150 primary kidney transplant recipients, initiated in May 2000, compared tacrolimus (TAC)/sirolimus (SRL) vs. TAC/mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) vs. cyclosporine microemulsion (CSA)/SRL (N = 50/group). All patients received daclizumab induction and maintenance corticosteroids. With current median follow‐up of 18 years post‐transplant, biopsy‐proven acute rejection (BPAR) occurred less often in TAC/MMF (26% (13/50)), vs. the TAC/SRL (36% (18/50)) and CSA/SRL (34% (17/50)) arms combined (p = .23), with statistical significance favoring TAC/MMF (p = .05) after controlling for the multivariable (Cox model) effects of recipient age, recipient race/ethnicity, and donor age. First BPAR rate was clearly more favorable for TAC/MMF after stratifying patients by having 0–1 (N = 72) vs. 2–3 (N = 78) unfavorable baseline characteristics (recipient age <50 years, African American or Hispanic recipient, and donor age ≥50 years) (p = .02). Mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), using the CKD‐EPI formula, was consistently higher for TAC/MMF, particularly after controlling for the multivariable effect of donor age, throughout the first 96 months post‐transplant (p ≤ .008). These differences were translated into an observed more favorable graft failure due to immunologic cause (CAI/TG) rate for TAC/MMF (p = .06), although no significant differences in overall death‐uncensored graft loss were observed. Previously reported significantly higher study drug discontinuation and requirement for antilipid therapy rates in the SRL‐assigned arms were maintained over time. Overall, these results at 18 years post‐transplant more definitively show that TAC/MMF should be the gold standard for achieving optimal, long‐term maintenance immunosuppression in kidney transplantation.
Climate overrides the effects of land use on the functional composition and diversity of Mediterranean reptile assemblages
Authors: Barnagaud Jean‐Yves , Geniez Philippe , Cheylan Marc , Crochet Pierre‐André 
Published: October 2020

AbstractAimTo test the hypothesis that spatial variations in climate and land use explain the distribution and diversity of reptiles’ ecological traits in a biodiversity hotspot of the Mediterranean basin.LocationFrench Mediterranean region.TaxonReptiles (25 species).MethodsWe defined 288 species assemblages from 27,858 opportunistic occurrence records within 10 × 10 km square grid cells. Using a RLQ analysis, we investigated the distribution of nine ecological traits describing reptiles’ reproductive, dietary and behavioural strategies along environmental gradients formed by 10 climatic, topographic and land‐use descriptors. After homogenizing survey effort through rarefaction, we used generalized additive models to assess variations in species richness and several measures of functional diversity and composition along these gradients.ResultsAlthough ecological traits were not structured by environmental gradients at a species level, species richness and all measures of functional diversity varied nonlinearly with climate, elevation and secondarily land use. Species richness and body size peaked at intermediate altitudes, indicating a climatic transition zone between Mediterranean and medio‐European herpetofaunas. Conversely, functional diversity increased from Mediterranean plains, dominated by urbanization and agriculture, to higher elevations. These changes were associated with shifts towards less productive, more diurnal and more forest‐related species.Main conclusionsSpecies‐scale patterns are insufficient to assess regional variations in ecological traits in space. Our results support the hypothesis that climatic limitations in species’ distributions, rather than environmental filtering, explain the taxonomic and ecological diversity of reptiles at a regional scale. Although secondary to climate, land abandonment has a strong structuring effect which may contribute to homogenize the composition of reptile assemblages.
The proof is in the appendage: A case report of a fenestrated membrane overlying the left atrial appendage
Authors: Holbert Jaime , Shepple Ben , Rogers Bret , Hirsh Jeffrey 
Published: October 2020

AbstractA 35‐year‐old man with history of recurrent arrhythmias presented for pulmonary vein isolation. He underwent pre‐procedural screening for thromboembolism risk with transesophageal echocardiogram. He had an incidental finding of a rare fenestrated membrane overlying his left atrial appendage. Additional workup throughout his clinical course revealed genetic mutations in the LMNA and SNTA1 genes. There have been no previous reported genetic mutations reported in cases with LAA membranes.
The beneficial effect of low‐intensity exercise on cardiac performance assessed by two‐dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography
Authors: Yaman Belma , Akpınar Onur , Kemal Hatice S. , Cerit Levent , Sezenöz Burak , Açıkgöz Eser , Duygu Hamza 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackgroundRegular physical activity is associated with cardiovascular health; however, intensive exercise can have harmful effects on the heart. Two‐dimensional (2D) speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is a well‐established diagnostic tool to evaluate subclinical myocardial dysfunction and has been widely used in athletes in recent years. This study is designed to evaluate whether low‐intensity exercise has beneficial effects on myocardial performance. We aimed to evaluate systolic and diastolic functions of myocardium derived from STE in sports practitioners in a low‐intensity exercise training program.MethodEighty‐four sports practitioners and eighty‐two sedentary healthy controls were prospectively included in our study. In addition to standard 2D echocardiographic measurements, left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS), right ventricular (RV) GLS, RV‐free wall strain (FWS), left atrium (LA) strain, and strain rate were analyzed.ResultsMean LV GLS was significantly higher in sports practitioners compared with sedentary population (−19.21 ± 2.61% vs −18.37 ± 2.75%, P = .044). RV GLS was significantly higher in sports practitioners than sedentary population (−21.82 ± 4.86% vs −20.04 ± 4.62%, P = .016). Longitudinal strain and strain rate of LA conduit phase were significantly higher in sports practitioners than sedentary participants (−23.60 ± 6.83% vs −20.20 ± 6.64%, P = .001; −2.45 ± 0.81 L/s vs −2.10 ± 0.89 L/s, P = .010; respectively). Also, LA conduit phase strain/contraction phase strain and conduit phase strain rate/contraction phase strain rate ratios were higher in sports practitioners (1.88 ± 0.93 vs 1.48 ± 0.63, P = .001; 1.42 ± 0.65 vs 1.16 ± 0.53, P = .005; respectively).ConclusionThe findings in the current study suggest that regular low‐intensity exercise may have a beneficial effect on both systolic and diastolic functions of the myocardium.
Myocardial performance index is associated with cardiac computed tomography findings in patients with suspected coronary artery disease
Authors: Olsen Flemming Javier , Lassen Mats Christian Højbjerg , Brainin Philip , Bech Jan , Alhakak Alia Saed , Pedersen Sune , Claggett Brian , Fritz‐Hansen Thomas , Folke Fredrik , Gislason Gunnar H. , Biering‐Sørensen Tor 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackgroundStudies suggest cardiac time intervals to be associated with cardiac ischemia. A novel method to assess cardiac time intervals by tissue Doppler echocardiography has been proposed. Cardiac time intervals can assess the myocardial performance index (MPI), which quantifies the proportion of time spent contributing effective myocardial work. We hypothesized that MPI associates with coronary artery lesions detected by cardiac computed tomography (CT) in patients suspected of coronary artery disease (CAD).MethodsWe investigated patients referred for cardiac CT under suspicion of CAD who had an echocardiogram performed. Curved m‐mode tissue Doppler imaging was used to measure cardiac time intervals and MPI. The outcome was coronary artery lesions, defined as a calcium score > 400 and/or coronary artery stenosis (>70% luminal narrowing). Logistic regression was applied with multivariable models including: (a) SCORE chart risk factors and (b) SCORE chart risk factors, body mass index, dyslipidemia, familial history of CAD, diabetes mellitus, LVEF, and left ventricular mass index.ResultsOf 404 patients, 41 (10%) had a coronary artery lesion. Overall, 42% were male, mean age was 58 years, and LVEF was 58%. Patients with coronary artery lesions exhibited higher MPI than those without (0.52 vs. 0.44, P < .001).MPI associated with coronary artery lesions in unadjusted analyses (OR = 1.69 [1.30–2.19], per 0.1 increase), and this association persisted when adjusted for SCORE chart risk factors (OR = 1.55 [1.16–2.07], P = .003, per 0.1 increase), and additional risk factors (OR = 1.64 [1.11–2.41], P = .013, per 0.1 increase).ConclusionCurved m‐mode‐derived MPI is associated with coronary artery lesions detected by cardiac CT in suspected CAD patients.
Molecular signature of extracellular matrix pathology in schizophrenia
Authors: Pantazopoulos Harry , Katsel Pavel , Haroutunian Vahram , Chelini Gabriele , Klengel Torsten , Berretta Sabina 
Published: October 2020

AbstractGrowing evidence points to a critical involvement of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia (SZ). Decreases of perineuronal nets (PNNs) and altered expression of chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans (CSPGs) in glial cells have been identified in several brain regions. GWAS data have identified several SZ vulnerability variants of genes encoding for ECM molecules. Given the potential relevance of ECM functions to the pathophysiology of this disorder, it is necessary to understand the extent of ECM changes across brain regions, their region‐ and sex‐specificity and which ECM components contribute to these changes. We tested the hypothesis that the expression of genes encoding for ECM molecules may be broadly disrupted in SZ across several cortical and subcortical brain regions and include key ECM components as well as factors such as ECM posttranslational modifications and regulator factors. Gene expression profiling of 14 neocortical brain regions, caudate, putamen and hippocampus from control subjects (n = 14/region) and subjects with SZ (n = 16/region) was conducted using Affymetrix microarray analysis. Analysis across brain regions revealed widespread dysregulation of ECM gene expression in cortical and subcortical brain regions in SZ, impacting several ECM functional key components. SRGN, CD44, ADAMTS1, ADAM10, BCAN, NCAN and SEMA4G showed some of the most robust changes. Region‐, sex‐ and age‐specific gene expression patterns and correlation with cognitive scores were also detected. Taken together, these findings contribute to emerging evidence for large‐scale ECM dysregulation in SZ and point to molecular pathways involved in PNN decreases, glial cell dysfunction and cognitive impairment in SZ.
Genetic profile and clinical characteristics of Chinese patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 2: A multicenter experience over 10 years
Authors: Yang Lu , Dong Yi , Ma Yin , Ni Wang , Wu Zhi‐Ying 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackground and purposeSpinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) is the second most common type of spinocerebellar ataxia in China. However, data on the clinical and genetic features of Chinese SCA2 patients are scarce. This study aims to provide a comprehensive description of in the Chinese SCA2 cohort.MethodsA total of 135 patients with SCA2 from 92 families and 104 unrelated normal controls were recruited from three medical centers between 2008 and 2020. Sanger sequencing and TA cloning were used to determine the CAG repeat length and intrinsic structure. The clinical data of patients with SCA2, including electromyography, magnetic resonance imaging, positron‐emission tomography, and clinical scale scores, were recorded.ResultsThe mean ± SD age at onset of SCA2 patients was 32.6 ± 11.9 years and the corresponding CAG repeat length was 42.1 ± 3.6. CAG repeat length accounted for 64% of the age‐at‐onset variance. We observed that patients had a significantly lower proportion of (CAG)8CAA(CAG)4CAA(CAG)8 within normal alleles than normal controls (48.8% vs. 64.9%; p = 0.003), while the distribution of the proportion of (CAG)13CAA (CAG)8 was the opposite. Peripheral neuropathy was frequent, occurring in 75.9% of the patients. Parkinsonism was relatively common, with a frequency of 11.8%. Two patients with parkinsonism had a significantly more severe reduction in dopamine transporter levels in the bilateral striatum than the one patient with pure ataxia. An infant‐onset case of SCA2 with more than 180 CAG repeats was characterized by global development delay, hypotonia and hearing impairment.ConclusionsThis study describes the genetic profile and clinical characteristics of the largest SCA2 cohort to date in the Chinese population and analyzes inter‐population differences. Many aspects of this study population were different from other populations with SCA2.
High concordance between hippocampal transcriptome of the mouse intra‐amygdala kainic acid model and human temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Conte Giorgia , Parras Alberto , Alves Mariana , Ollà Ivana , De Diego‐Garcia Laura , Beamer Edward , Alalqam Razi , Ocampo Alejandro , Mendez Raúl , Henshall David C. , Lucas José J. , Engel Tobias 
Published: October 2020

AbstractObjectivePharmacoresistance and the lack of disease‐modifying actions of current antiseizure drugs persist as major challenges in the treatment of epilepsy. Experimental models of chemoconvulsant‐induced status epilepticus remain the models of choice to discover potential antiepileptogenic drugs, but doubts remain as to the extent to which they model human pathophysiology. The aim of the present study was to compare the molecular landscape of the intra‐amygdala kainic acid model of status epilepticus in mice with findings in resected brain tissue from patients with drug‐resistant temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE).MethodsStatus epilepticus was induced via intra‐amygdala microinjection of kainic acid in C57BL/6 mice, and gene expression was analyzed via microarrays in hippocampal tissue at acute and chronic time‐points. Results were compared to reference datasets in the intraperitoneal pilocarpine and intrahippocampal kainic acid model and to human resected brain tissue (hippocampus and cortex) from patients with drug‐resistant TLE.ResultsIntra‐amygdala kainic acid injection in mice triggered extensive dysregulation of gene expression that was ~3‐fold greater shortly after status epilepticus (2729 genes) when compared to epilepsy (412). Comparison to samples from patients with TLE revealed a particularly high correlation of gene dysregulation during established epilepsy. Pathway analysis found suppression of calcium signaling to be highly conserved across different models of epilepsy and patients. cAMP response element‐binding protein (CREB) was predicted as one of the main upstream transcription factors regulating gene expression during acute and chronic phases, and inhibition of CREB reduced seizure severity in the intra‐amygdala kainic acid model.SignificanceOur findings suggest the intra‐amygdala kainic acid model faithfully replicates key molecular features of human drug‐resistant TLE and provides potential rational target approaches for disease‐modification through new insights into the unique and shared gene expression landscape in experimental epilepsy.
Medical management of a large intra‐abdominal mass caused by Rhodococcus equi in a foal
Authors: Shaw S. D. , Arroyo L. G. , zur Linden A. , Allen C. , Giraldo A. , Cohen N. D. 
Published: October 2020

SummaryA 4‐month‐old Thoroughbred filly presented with pyrexia, inappetence and diarrhoea. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed a multilobulated abdominal mass that was determined to be associated with the caecum using computed tomography. Computed tomography also identified mesenteric lymphadenopathy and a pulmonary mass in the left caudal lung lobe. Percutaneous aspiration of the abdominal mass yielded pure growth of Rhodococcus equi. The filly responded in a positive fashion to the administration of clarithromycin, rifampin and gallium maltolate. Follow‐up computed tomography revealed complete resolution of the abdominal mass and lymphadenopathy. Extrapulmonary disorders associated with R. equi should be considered even when thoracic ultrasonography reveals no evidence of pulmonary pathology. Although intra‐abdominal abscesses have a grave prognosis, successful treatment is possible. Gallium maltolate can be safely administered to foals and may improve patient outcomes.