bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long-term results of edge-to-edge and neochordal mitral repair for isolated anterior leaflet lesion: a propensity match analysis
Authors: Zancanaro Edoardo , Carino Davide , Lorusso Roberto , Del Forno Benedetto , Lapenna Elisabetta , Sala Alessandra , Ascione Guido , Scarale Maria Giovanna , Nonis Alessandro , Castiglioni Alessandro , Alfieri Ottavio , Maisano Francesco , De Bonis Michele 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Mitral regurgitation due to anterior mitral leaflet lesions is associated with an increased risk of mitral regurgitation recurrence after mitral valve repair compared with posterior leaflet-related lesions. Both edge-to-edge (E-to-E) and neochordal repair, associated with ring annuloplasty, have been used in our institution to address isolated anterior mitral leaflet lesions. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and echocardiographic long-term results of those two approaches for isolated anterior mitral leaflet lesions by means of a propensity match analysis.

METHODS
An institutional database retrospective review within the time-frame 2000 to 2021 was carried out. The Kaplan–Meier method and cumulative incidence function were employed. Cox regression was used to identify the risk factor for mortality during the follow-up.

RESULTS
The estimated freedom from reoperative mitral valve surgery at 20 years was 78% in the E-to-E group and 64% in the neochordae group (P = 0.032). The longitudinal analysis performed to analyse the mitral regurgitation recurrence rate showed a higher rate of mitral regurgitation ≥3+ recurrence in the neochordae group at 5 (5.1% vs 8.7%), −10 (8.2% vs 13.2%), and 15 years (8.8% vs 16.5%) (P &lt; 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS
Isolated anterior leaflet pathology can be effectively treated with E-to-E or neochordal repair and ring annuloplasty. In our series, clinical and echocardiographic results were better in E-to-E group. The excellent durability of this technique up to 20 years of follow-up, together with its simplicity and reproducibility, confirms the role the E-to-E techniques as an excellent treatment option for severe mitral regurgitation due anterior mitral leaflets lesions.
Postoperative bleeding in myocardial revascularization under cardiopulmonary bypass for patients treated with aspirin or dual antiplatelet therapy using reduced goal-directed anticoagulation
Authors: Eid Maroua , Dang Van Simon , Hamon Yveline , Rineau Emmanuel , Riou Jérémie , Baufreton Christophe 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Antiplatelet therapy increases the risk of bleeding and transfusion in patients undergoing extracorporeal circulation. Reduced goal-directed anticoagulation is a personalized approach to reduce the anticoagulation based on a lower targeted activated clotting time. We assessed whether reduced goal-directed anticoagulation using optimized extracorporeal circulation alleviates the risk of severe bleeding in patients treated by dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) compared to aspirin alone during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

METHODS
A total of 2275 patients undergoing CABG from 2002 to 2022 were selected after propensity matching from a retrospective cohort of 3018 patients. Patients treated with a combination of aspirin and prasugrel or ticagrelor or clopidogrel were included in the DAPT group (n = 1111). Patients treated with aspirin alone (ASA) constituted the control group (n = 1164). Optimized extracorporeal circulation was conducted under reduced systemic anticoagulation with a target activated clotting time 250 s. Severe bleeding was assessed using 3 validated scores of bleeding: UDPB, E-CABG, and BARC-4.

RESULTS
While all scores showed low ranges of severe bleeding (&lt;6%), they were significantly higher after DAPT compared to ASA (P values for UDPB, E-CABG, and BARC-4 at 0.016, 0.006, and 0.063, respectively). Higher maximal activated clotting time was associated with higher rate of transfusion (P &lt; 0.001) and bleeding (P &lt; 0.001) after multivariate adjustment. Mortality was 1.24% in DAPT vs 0.94% in ASA group (P = NS), whereas cardiac death, myocardial infarction, stroke, and transient ischaemic attack were low (&lt;1%) and similar between groups.

CONCLUSIONS
Despite higher bleeding under DAPT compared to ASA alone, optimized extracorporeal circulation with reduced goal-directed anticoagulation alleviated severe bleeding which remained low in patients undergoing CABG.
The effect of virtual reality on postoperative anxiety and pain in patients following cardiac surgery: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: el Mathari Sulayman , Shehadeh Saadullah , Zwaan W Patrick , Boulidam Noor , Kuitert Lieke , Twisk Jos W R , Klautz Robert J M , de Lind van Wijngaarden Rob , Veen Kevin , Kluin Jolanda 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The VRECOVERY investigated the impact of virtual reality (VR) distraction therapy on postoperative pain, anxiety and quality of recovery in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

METHODS
A single-centre randomized controlled trial was conducted involving 192 participants, allocated to either the intervention or control group. Participants in the intervention group received VR distraction therapy on postoperative days 1, 2 and 3, while the control group received standard postoperative care. Primary outcomes were measured in both groups directly following the VR sessions of the intervention group. Outcomes included (i) postoperative pain [Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)], (ii) postoperative anxiety [State Trait Anxiety Inventory 6 questionnaire (STAI-6)] and (iii) quality of postoperative recovery [Quality of Recovery 15 questionnaire (QoR-15)].

RESULTS
A total of 100 participants completed the study, including 39 patients (mean age 69.1 ± 7.7 years) in the intervention group and 61 patients (mean age 66.8 ± 8.2 years) in the control group. Eighty-nine percent of participants was male. VR-distraction therapy demonstrated a significant difference in postoperative pain decrease between groups (NRS score; intervention group −1.45/day vs control group −0.73/day, P = 0.007), and an important overall difference in postoperative anxiety slopes (STAI-6 score; intervention group −0.60/day vs control group +0.09/day, P = 0.06). There was no effect observed on postoperative quality of recovery (P = 0.11).

CONCLUSIONS
The VRECOVERY trial suggests a beneficial impact of VR distraction therapy in reducing postoperative pain. There was no significant effect on postoperative anxiety and quality of recovery.
High barriers to treatment are associated with stereotactic radiation instead of surgery for patients with operable stage I non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Rodriguez-Quintero Jorge Humberto , Kamel Mohamed K , Jindani Rajika , Zhu Roger , Loh Isaac , Vimolratana Marc , Chudgar Neel P , Stiles Brendon 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Although surgery is considered the standard of care for early-stage lung cancer, there has been increased use of stereotactic radiotherapy for operable patients in recent years. Given that this modality may be perceived as a more practical treatment, we hypothesized that it might be more often delivered to patients who experience barriers to care.

METHODS
The National Cancer Database (2018–2020) was queried for patients with clinical stage IA non-small cell lung cancer treated with surgery or stereotactic radiotherapy (48–60 Gy, 3–5 fractions), excluding patients with contraindications to surgery. Patients who had all the following characteristics were categorized as experiencing ‘high barriers’ to treatment: income below median national levels, lack of private insurance, treatment at a community facility and residence in non-metropolitan areas. Using multivariable logistic regression, the association between high barriers to treatment and stereotactic radiotherapy use was estimated.

RESULTS
A total of 60 829 patients were included, of whom 3382 (5.6%) experienced high barriers to treatment. Among them, 13 535 (22.3%) underwent stereotactic radiotherapy and 47 294 (77.7%) underwent surgery. Overall, more patients undergoing stereotactic radiotherapy faced high barriers to treatment compared to those who received surgery (8.6% vs 4.7%, P &lt; 0.001). Geographic region was associated with the delivery of stereotactic radiotherapy (P &lt; 0.001). The magnitude of such association was stronger among those who faced high barriers. In multivariable analysis, experiencing high barriers to treatment remained associated with receiving stereotactic radiotherapy (OR: 1.46, 95% CI 1.35–1.58).

CONCLUSIONS
The use of stereotactic radiotherapy is more prevalent among patients facing barriers to care. Further research is needed to clarify the role of this treatment modality in early-stage lung cancer.
Under what conditions do citizens support future-oriented welfare reforms? Public opinion and second dimension welfare politics
Authors: Garritzmann Julian L , Häusermann Silja , Pinggera Michael 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Important reforms are necessary to adjust today’s welfare states to the challenges of post-industrial knowledge economies. Public opinion, however, is often sceptical towards large-scale reforms, especially when the benefits will accrue only in the future. We analyse the conditions that affect citizens’ support for such reforms on the basis of original survey experiments from two novel public opinion surveys in nine countries. We test the role of ‘supply-side factors’, referring to characteristics of the reform design itself (its policy field, distributive reform effect, time horizon, and costs) and ‘demand-side factors’, that is, respondents’ characteristics and ideological orientations. We argue and demonstrate that among these ‘demand-side factors’, positions on the socio-cultural ideological dimension between universalism and particularism are key to explaining support for future-oriented social investment reforms. We thereby provide robust new evidence highlighting the role of ‘second dimension politics’ for welfare state reform.
Does it matter where you’re from? Geographical variation in social mobility in Britain
Authors: Breen Richard , In Jung 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
There is increasing interest among sociologists in geographical, or regional, variation in intergenerational mobility. The most important questions in studying this topic are, first, whether, and how much, variation there is between regions, and to what extent this is due to characteristics of places themselves, and how far to sorting or compositional differences—that is, to the spatial distribution of relevant individual and family variables. We analyse regional variation in social mobility in Great Britain, first asking whether there are differences in occupational attainment and intergenerational social mobility according to where a person was raised, and then asking whether these differences persist or disappear when we control for individual family factors that are known to influence social mobility. We also discuss some methodological problems that arise in trying to answer these questions: these have largely been neglected in the burgeoning literature on this topic. Overall, we find little evidence for any substantial effects of place of origin on social mobility in Britain once we take account of sorting.
Digest: Habitat associations shape a hybrid zone in killifish
Authors: Petersen Mary E , Rader Jonathan A 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Hybrid zones provide valuable opportunities to interrogate the processes that drive speciation. In a new study, Hardy et al. (2025) demonstrate that the dominant vegetation type in patchy cordgrass salt marshes and mangrove swamps drives a mosaic hybrid zone between two species of killifish. Furthermore, the authors showed that hybridization is asymmetrical, and that Fundulus grandis is more likely to hybridize than F. heteroclitus. This study highlights the need for interdisciplinary study of the environmental context of reproductive isolation.
The relationship between self-care preparedness and quality of life in a 3-year-follow-up: a study in primary health care
Authors: Mikkonen Ulla , Tusa Nina , Sinikallio Sanna , Lehto Soili Marianne , Ruusunen Anu , Kautiainen Hannu , Mäntyselkä Pekka 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Background
Measuring self-care preparedness may enable better support for patients in general practice.

Objective
This study assessed the relationship between the self-care preparedness index (SCPI) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a longitudinal analysis over 36 months.

Methods
This was a secondary analysis of an intervention group of a randomized controlled trial. Participants were adults (n = 256) with hypertension, diabetes, or coronary artery disease in primary health care. The intervention group was included in the present study since they had answered SCPI as a part of the intervention. The relationship between SCPI and HRQoL (15D) and other outcomes were studied at baseline. The mean changes in SCPI and 15D were calculated from baseline up to 36 months. Regression-based analysis was used to study to what extent the baseline SCPI was associated with the change in SCPI and 15D and to what extent the change in SCPI was associated with the change in 15D.

Results
At baseline, 15D, physical activity, self-rated health, life satisfaction, and patient activation measures had a positive linear relationship with SCPI. Body mass index and depressive symptoms had a negative linear relationship with SCPI. The longitudinal association between changes in SCPI and 15D was statistically significant and positive. The adjusted β was + 0.19 (95% confidence interval: 0.07 to 0.30, P = .002).

Conclusion
Those patients who managed to increase their SCPI over the study period experienced an improvement in HRQoL.
Exploring polyamine metabolism of the yeast-like fungus, Emergomyces africanus
Authors: Koroleva Elizaveta , Toplis Barbra , Taylor Malcolm , van Deventer Corné , Steffen Heidi C , van den Heever Christiaan , Govender Nelesh P , de Hoog Sybren , Botha Alfred 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Emergomyces africanus is a thermally dimorphic pathogen causing severe morbidity and mortality in immunocompromized patients. Its transition to a pathogenic yeast-like phase in the human host is a notable virulence mechanism. Recent studies suggest polyamines as key players in dimorphic switching, yet their precise functions remain enigmatic. This work aimed to explore polyamine metabolism of two clinical strains of E. africanus (CBS 136260 and CBS 140360) in mycelial and yeast-like phases. In this first report of the polyamine profile of E. africanus, we reveal, using mass spectrometry, spermidine, and spermine as the major polyamines in both phases. The secretion of these amines was significantly higher in the pathogenic yeast-like phase than in the mycelial phase, warranting further investigation into the implications thereof on virulence. Additionally, we detected the activity of several polyamine biosynthesis enzymes, including arginine decarboxylase, agmatinase, arginase, and ornithine decarboxylase, with significant differences in enzyme expression between morphological phases and strains. Finally, we provide initial evidence for the requirement for spermine, spermidine, and putrescine during the thermally induced dimorphic switch of E. africanus, with strain-specific differences in the production of these amines. Overall, our study presents novel insight into polyamine metabolism and its role in dimorphism of E. africanus.
Impact of liquid antibacterial soap and hand sanitizer on DNA transfer in forensic investigations: an experimental study
Authors: Sessa Francesco , Panepinto Elisabetta , Salerno Monica , Chisari Mario , Esposito Massimiliano , Cocimano Giuseppe , Pomara Cristoforo 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
DNA transfer, whether intentional or not, is becoming an important part of forensic evidence gathering and analysis. This study seeks to determine the impact of liquid antibacterial soap and hand sanitizer use on the DNA present on the palm of hands that may potentially reduce direct transfer. Twelve volunteers were enrolled and typed. After, each palm was swabbed, ignoring previous activities in order to collect background DNA profiles. Subsequently, each subject washed his/her hands for 30 s with antibacterial soap first, and after with sanitizing gel and then air-dried them, after drying, each palm was immediately swabbed for DNA typing. The results of this study demonstrated that the possibility of recovering a complete profile from a hand swab is strictly related to previous activity: considering the results of the samples taken before handwashing, there is the possibility of having a median recovery of 80.01%, while it is very low (median recovery was 3.43%) after hand washing with antibacterial soap followed by alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Analyzing the results after handwashing we were unable to detect any drop-in alleles. Moreover, we determined that in 11/12 samples less than 9 alleles were detected: considering that the kit used for the profiling could analyze 23 STRs it is possible to conclude that we obtain inconclusive profiles. Based on the findings of the present study, it is more difficult to obtain a perpetrator’s profile if he/she used liquid antibacterial soap hand sanitizer immediately before the criminal action.
Quantifying forensically relevant vertebrate scavenging: a pilot study to develop a methodological framework using cape grey mongoose (Galerella pulverulenta) as an illustrative model
Authors: Finaughty Devin Alexander , French Gabriella May , Adams Kara Sierra , Spies Maximilian Jan , Gibbon Victoria Elaine 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Currently, forensic death investigations in the Western Cape, South Africa do not account for vertebrate scavenging activity; however, previous research in the city of Cape Town has shown a significant impact on the rate of decomposition due to scavenging by the local Cape grey mongoose (Galerella pulverulenta). This pilot study aimed to develop a framework to more robustly quantifiably describe and analyse the scavenging behaviour of this species on a single clothed 60 kg porcine carcass in a forensically significant location in Cape Town (ie, a region of the city with a proportionately large forensic case load). Feeding behaviours are the focus of this framework and analysis, but non-feeding behaviours in the immediate vicinity of the carcass are also distinguished and described. Additionally, it was assessed whether all behaviours varied in their frequency of occurrence as decomposition progressed. More than 40 hours of mongoose interaction with the carcass were recorded using motion-activated infrared-capable wildlife trail camera videography. The highest frequencies of scavenging activity were observed in the abdominal and the eye socket regions of the carcass. Abdominal feeding largely involved soft tissue modification, whereas more intensive activity in the eye socket suggested a higher likelihood of hard tissue scavenger artefacts being found there. A Kruskal-Wallis test confirmed that some feeding behaviours occur more frequently during specific decomposition stages. For example, scratching is common during the earlier stages of decomposition, ostensibly to create an opening in the flesh. Twisting whilst biting was only observed in latter stages of decomposition, likely due to the increased toughness of the soft tissue as it desiccated. This pilot research offers detailed insight into scavenger behaviours previously unreported in the forensic taphonomic literature, and proposes a provisional method of quantifiable analyses of scavenger behaviours that extends what has previously been published in the forensic taphonomic literature. Local validation of the observations is planned, and international replication of the research for diverse scavenger guilds is encouraged.
Current status of serum metabolites biomarkers for polyps and colorectal cancer: a systematic review
Authors: Abu Bakar Maryam Fatimah , Mohammed Nawi Azmawati , Chin Siok Fong , Makpol Suzana 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Background
Early detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) is crucial to enhance the disease treatment and prognosis of patients. Colonoscopy remains the gold standard for CRC detection; however, it requires trained personnel with expensive tools. Currently, serum metabolites have been discovered to be used to discriminate patients with polyps and CRC. This study aimed to identify the most commonly detected predictive serum metabolites for polyps and CRC.

Methods
A systematic search of the Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane Library databases was conducted using PRISMA guidelines. Ten studies investigating serum metabolite biomarkers of CRC and polyps using different analytical platforms and study populations were included. QUADOMICS tool was used to analyse the quality of the included studies. All reported metabolites were then enriched into the pathways using MetaboAnalyst 5.0.

Results
We found that several potential signature metabolites overlapped between studies, including tyrosine, lysine, cystine, arabinose, and lactate for CRC and lactate and glutamate for polyps. The most affected pathways related to CRC were the urea cycle, glutathione metabolism, purine metabolism, glutamate metabolism, and ammonia recycling. In contrast, those affected in the polyps were the urea cycle, glutamate metabolism, glutathione metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, and carnitine synthesis.

Conclusions
This review has found commonly detected serum metabolites for polyps and CRC with huge potential to be used in clinical settings. However, the differences between altered pathways in polyps and CRC, other external factors, and their effects on the regulation level, sensitivity, and specificity of each identified metabolite remained unclear, which could benefit from a further extensive cohort study and well-defined analysis equipment.
Exploring the Allelic Diversity of the Self-Incompatibility Gene Across Natural Populations in Petunia (Solanaceae)
Authors: Maenosono Taiga , Isono Kazuho , Kuronuma Takanori , Hatai Miho , Chimura Kaori , Kubo Ken-ichi , Kokubun Hisashi , Greppi Julián Alejandro , Watanabe Hitoshi , Uehara Koichi , Tsuchimatsu Takashi 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Self-incompatibility (SI) is a genetic mechanism to prevent self-fertilization and thereby promote outcrossing in hermaphroditic plant species through discrimination of self and nonself-pollen by pistils. In many SI systems, recognition between pollen and pistils is controlled by a single multiallelic locus (called the S-locus), in which multiple alleles (called S-alleles) are segregating. Because of the extreme level of polymorphism of the S-locus, identification of S-alleles has been a major issue in many SI studies for decades. Here, we report an RNA-seq–based method to explore allelic diversity of the S-locus by employing the long-read sequencing technology of the Oxford Nanopore MinION and applied it for the gametophytic SI system of Petunia (Solanaceae), in which the female determinant is a secreted ribonuclease called S-RNase that inhibits the elongation of self-pollen tubes by degrading RNA. We developed a method to identify S-alleles by the search of S-RNase sequences, using the previously reported sequences as queries, and found in total 62 types of S-RNase including 45 novel types. We validated this method through Sanger sequencing and crossing experiments, confirming the sequencing accuracy and SI phenotypes corresponding to genotypes. Then, using the obtained sequence data together with polymerase chain reaction–based genotyping in a larger sample set of 187 plants, we investigated the diversity, frequency, and the level of shared polymorphism of S-alleles across populations and species. The method and the dataset obtained in Petunia will be an important basis for further studying the evolution of S-RNase–based gametophytic SI systems in natural populations.