bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hospital care for the dying patient with cancer: does an advance care planning invitation influence bereaved relatives’ experiences? A two country survey
Authors: Hjorth Nina Elisabeth , Hufthammer Karl Ove , Sigurdardottir Katrin , Tripodoro Vilma Adriana , Goldraij Gabriel , Kvikstad Anne , Haugen Dagny Faksvåg 
Published: November 2021

ObjectivesAdvance care planning (ACP) is not systematically performed in Argentina or Norway. We used the post-bereavement survey of the ERANet-LAC International Care Of the Dying Evaluation (CODE) project (2017–2020) to examine the proportion of relatives who were offered an ACP conversation, the proportion of those not offered it who would have wanted it and whether the outcomes differed between those offered a conversation and those not.MethodsRelatives after cancer deaths in hospitals answered the CODE questionnaire 6–8 weeks post bereavement, by post (Norway) or interview (Argentina). Two additional questions asked if the relative and patient had been invited to a conversation about wishes for the patient’s remaining lifetime, and, if not invited, whether they would have wanted such a conversation. The data were analysed using mixed-effects ordinal regression models.Results276 participants (Argentina 98 and Norway 178) responded (56% spouses, 31% children, 68% women, age 18–80+). Fifty-six per cent had been invited, and they had significantly more positive perceptions about care and support than those not invited. Sixty-eight per cent of the participants not invited would have wanted an invitation, and they had less favourable perceptions about the care, especially concerning emotional and spiritual support.ConclusionsRelatives who had been invited to a conversation about wishes for the patient’s remaining lifetime had more positive perceptions about patient care and support for the relatives in the patient’s final days of life. A majority of the relatives who had not been invited to an ACP conversation would have wanted it.
Double parton distributions out of bounds in colour space
Authors: Diehl M. , Gaunt J. R. , Pichini P. , Plößl P. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractWe investigate the positivity of double parton distributions with a non-trivial dependence on the parton colour. It turns out that positivity is not preserved by leading-order evolution from lower to higher scales, in contrast to the case in which parton colour is summed over. We also study the positivity properties of the distributions at small distance between the two partons, where they can be computed in terms of perturbative splitting kernels and ordinary parton densities.
Testing a new method for scattering in finite volume in the $$\phi ^4$$ theory
Authors: Garofalo Marco , Romero-López Fernando , Rusetsky Akaki , Urbach Carsten 
Published: November 2021

AbstractWe test an alternative proposal by Bruno and Hansen (J High Energy Phys 2021(6), 10.1007/JHEP06(2021)043, 2021) to extract the scattering length from lattice simulations in a finite volume. For this, we use a scalar $$\phi ^4$$

ϕ
4

theory with two mass nondegenerate particles and explore various strategies to implement this new method. We find that the results are comparable to those obtained from the Lüscher method, with somewhat smaller statistical uncertainties at larger volumes.
A probabilistic numerical method for a class of mean field games
Authors: Sahar Ben Aziza , Salwa Toumi 
Published: November 2021

The Mean Field Games PDEs system is at the heart of the Mean Field Games theory initiated by [J.-M. Lasry and P.-L. Lions, Jeux à champ moyen. I–le cas stationnaire, C. R. Math. 343 (2006) 619–625; J.-M. Lasry and P.-L. Lions, Jeux à champ moyen. II–horizon fini et contrôle optimal, C. R. Math. 343 (2006) 679–684; J.-M. Lasry and P.-L. Lions, Mean field games, Jpn. J. Math. 2 (2007) 229–260] which constitutes a seminal contribution to the modeling and analysis of games with a large number of players. We propose here a numerical method of resolution of such systems based on the construction of a discrete mean field game where the controlled state-variable is a Markov chain approximating the controlled stochastic differential equation [H. Kushner and P. G. Dupuis, Numerical Methods for Stochastic Control Problems in Continuous Time, Stochastic Modeling and Applied Probability, Vol. 24 (Springer Science & Business Media, 2013)]. In particular, existence and uniqueness properties of the discrete MFG are investigated with convergence results under adequate assumptions.
Disturbances of the Gut Microbiota, Sleep Architecture, and mTOR Signaling Pathway in Patients with Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Associated Hypertension
Authors: Ko Chih-Yuan , Su Huan-Zhang , Zhang Li , Zeng Yi-Ming 
Published: November 2021

Intermittent hypoxia and sleep fragmentation are pathophysiological processes involved in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) which affect gut microbiota, sleep architecture, and mTOR signaling pathway. However, the involvement of these elements in the pathogenesis mechanism of OSA-associated hypertension remains unclear. Therefore, this study investigated whether the OSA-associated hypertension mechanism is regulated by the gut microbiota and mTOR signaling pathway. Patients were diagnosed by polysomnography; their fecal samples were obtained and analyzed for their microbiome composition by 16S ribosomal RNA pyrosequencing and bioinformatics analysis. Transcript genes on fasting peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were examined using Illumina RNA-sequencing analysis. Totally, we enrolled 60 patients with severe OSA [without hypertension (n = 27) and with hypertension (n = 33)] and 12 controls (neither OSA nor hypertension). Results revealed that severe-OSA patients with hypertension had an altered gut microbiome, decreased short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria

P
<
0.05

, and reduced arginine and proline metabolism pathways

P
=
0.001

, compared with controls; also, they had increased stage N1 sleep and reduced stages N2 and N3 sleep accompanied by repeated arousals

P
<
0.05

. Analysis of PBMCs using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database showed that the mTOR signaling pathway

P
=
0.006

was the most important differential gene-enriched pathway in severe-OSA patients with hypertension. Our findings extend prior work and suggest a possibility that the regulation of the mTOR signaling pathway is involved in developing OSA-associated hypertension through its interaction with the disturbance of the gut microbiome and sleep architecture.
Inevitable Progress—Relying on the Immune System, Not Chance
Authors: Sacco Assuntina G. , Cohen Ezra E.W. 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Locoregional recurrence of head and neck cancer after curative therapy portends a poor prognosis even when resectable. Immunotherapy has opened the door to novel strategic approaches in the curative treatment paradigm. Potentially improving outcomes for patients with recurrent, resectable disease through combination immune modulators highlights a new frontier.
See related article by Hanna et al., p. 468
Cardiovascular Family History Increases the Risk of Disease Recurrence After a First Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Wahrenberg Agnes , Kuja‐Halkola Ralf , Magnusson Patrik K. E. , Häbel Henrike , Warnqvist Anna , Hambraeus Kristina , Jernberg Tomas , Svensson Per 
Published: November 2021

Background
Family history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is easily accessible and captures genetic cardiovascular risk, but its prognostic value in secondary prevention is unknown.

Methods and Results

We followed 25 615 patients registered in SWEDEHEART (Swedish Web‐System for Enhancement and Development of Evidence‐Based Care in Heart Disease Evaluated According to Recommended Therapies) from their 1‐year revisit after a first‐time myocardial infarction during 2005 to 2013, until December 31, 2018. Data on relatives, diagnoses and socioeconomics were extracted from national registers. The association between family history and recurrent ASCVD was studied with Cox proportional‐hazard regression, adjusting for risk factors and socioeconomics. A family history of ASCVD was defined as hospitalization due to myocardial infarction, angina with coronary revascularization, stroke, or cardiovascular death in ≥1 parent or full sibling, with early‐onset defined as disease‐onset before 55 years in men and 65 in women. The additional discriminatory value of family history to Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Risk Score for Secondary Prevention was assessed with Harrell’s C‐index difference and reclassification was studied with continuous net reclassification improvement. Family history of early‐onset ASCVD in ≥1 first‐degree relative was present in 2.3% and was associated with recurrent ASCVD (hazard ratio [HR] 1.31; 95% CI, 1.17–1.47), fully adjusted for risk factors (HR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.05–1.42). Early‐onset family history improved the discriminatory ability of the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Risk Score for Secondary Prevention, with Harrell’s C improving 0.003 points (95% CI, 0.001–0.005) from initial 0.587 (95% CI, 0.576–0.595) and improved reclassification (continuous net reclassification improvement 2.1%,
P
<0.001).

Conclusions
Family history of early‐onset ASCVD is associated with recurrent ASCVD after myocardial infarction, independently of traditional risk factors and improves secondary risk prediction. This may identify patients to target for intensified secondary prevention.
Increased Lung Uric Acid Deteriorates Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Watanabe Takanori , Ishikawa Mariko , Abe Kohtaro , Ishikawa Tomohito , Imakiire Satomi , Masaki Kohei , Hosokawa Kazuya , Fukuuchi Tomoko , Kaneko Kiyoko , Ohtsubo Toshio , Hirano Mayumi , Hirano Katsuya , Tsutsui Hiroyuki 
Published: November 2021

Background
Recent studies have demonstrated that uric acid (UA) enhances arginase activity, resulting in decreased NO in endothelial cells. However, the role of lung UA in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) remains uncertain. We hypothesized that increased lung UA level contributes to the progression of PAH.

Methods and Results
In cultured human pulmonary arterial endothelial cells, voltage‐driven urate transporter 1 (URATv1) gene expression was detected, and treatment with UA increased arginase activity. In perfused lung preparations of VEGF receptor blocker (SU5416)/hypoxia/normoxia‐induced PAH model rats, addition of UA induced a greater pressure response than that seen in the control and decreased lung cGMP level. UA‐induced pressor responses were abolished by benzbromarone, a UA transporter inhibitor, or L‐norvaline, an arginase inhibitor. In PAH model rats, induction of hyperuricemia by administering 2% oxonic acid significantly increased lung UA level and induced greater elevation of right ventricular systolic pressure with exacerbation of occlusive neointimal lesions in small pulmonary arteries, compared with nonhyperuricemic PAH rats. Administration of benzbromarone to hyperuricemic PAH rats significantly reduced lung UA levels without changing XOR (xanthine oxidoreductase) activity, and attenuated right ventricular systolic pressure increase and occlusive lesion development. Topiroxostat, a XOR inhibitor, significantly reduced lung XOR activity in PAH rats, with no effects on increase in right ventricular systolic pressure, arterial elastance, and occlusive lesions. XOR‐knockout had no effects on right ventricular systolic pressure increase and arteriolar muscularization in hypoxia‐exposed mice.

Conclusions
Increased lung UA per se deteriorated PAH, whereas XOR had little impact. The mechanism of increased lung UA may be a novel therapeutic target for PAH complicated with hyperuricemia.
Large‐Scale Plasma Protein Profiling of Incident Myocardial Infarction, Ischemic Stroke, and Heart Failure
Authors: Lind Lars , Zanetti Daniela , Ingelsson Martin , Gustafsson Stefan , Ärnlöv Johan , Assimes Themistocles L. 
Published: November 2021

Background
We recently reported a link between plasma levels of 2 of 84 cardiovascular disease (CVD)–related proteins and the 3 major CVDs, myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and heart failure. The present study investigated whether measurement of almost 10 times the number of proteins could lead to discovery of additional risk markers for CVD.

Methods and Results

We measured 742 proteins using the proximity extension assay in 826 male participants of ULSAM (Uppsala Longitudinal Study of Adult Men) who were free from CVD at the age of 70 years. Cox proportional hazards models were adjusted for age only, as well as all traditional risk factors. During a 12.5‐year median follow‐up (maximal, 22.0 years), 283 incident CVDs occurred. Forty‐one proteins were significantly (false discovery rate <0.05) related to the combined end point of incident CVD, with N‐terminal pro–brain natriuretic peptide as the top finding, while 53 proteins were related to incident myocardial infarction. A total of 13 and 16 proteins were significantly related to incident ischemic stroke and heart failure, respectively. Growth differentiation factor 15, 4‐disulfide core domain protein 2, and kidney injury molecule were related to all of the 3 major CVD outcomes. A lasso selection of 11 proteins improved discrimination of incident CVD by 5.0% (
P
=0.0038).

Conclusions
Large‐scale proteomics seem useful for the discovery of new risk markers for CVD and to improve risk prediction in an elderly population of men. Further studies are needed to replicate the findings in independent samples of both men and women of different ages.
Braiding Braak and Braak: Staging patterns and model selection in network neurodegeneration
Authors: Putra Prama , Thompson Travis B. , Chaggar Pavanjit , Goriely Alain 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
A hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease is the aggregation of insoluble amyloid-beta plaques and tau protein neurofibrillary tangles. A key histopathological observation is that tau protein aggregates follow a structured progression pattern through the brain. Mathematical network models of prion-like propagation have the ability to capture such patterns, but a number of factors impact the observed staging result, thus introducing questions regarding model selection. Here, we introduce a novel approach, based on braid diagrams, for studying the structured progression of a marker evolving on a network. We apply this approach to a six-stage ‘Braak pattern’ of tau proteins, in Alzheimer’s disease, motivated by a recent observation that seed-competent tau precedes tau aggregation. We show that the different modeling choices, from the model parameters to the connectome resolution, play a significant role in the landscape of observable staging patterns. Our approach provides a systematic way to approach model selection for network propagation of neurodegenerative diseases that ensures both reproducibility and optimal parameter fitting.
MJO as a Gestalt
Authors: Yano Jun-Ichi 
Published: November 2021

ABSTRACT
Objectively identifying a phenomenon from observation is often difficult. This essay reflects upon this problem from a philosophical perspective by taking the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) as an example. I argue that it can be considered as a problem of Gestalt. This concept is introduced by closely following Ludwig Wittgenstein’s two philosophical works, Philosophical Investigations (Philosophische Untersuchungen) and Remarks on the Philosophy of Psychology(Bemerkungen über die Philosophie der Psychologie). Reflections upon the concept of Gestalt suggest why an objective identification of a phenomenon is so difficult. Importantly, the problem should not be reduced to that of “pattern recognition.” Rather a given phenomenon must be considered as a whole, including a question of a driving mechanism.
Early non-EPI DW-MRI after cholesteatoma surgery
Authors: Barbara Maurizio , Covelli Edoardo , Monini Simonetta , Bandiera Giorgio , Filippi Chiara , Margani Valerio , Volpini Luigi , Salerno Gerardo , Romano Andrea , Bozzao Alessandro 
Published: November 2021

Objective Middle ear cholesteatoma may lead to the erosion of the bony structures of the temporal bone, possibly causing intra- and extracranial complications. Surgical treatment is mandatory, and due to possible residual/recurrent disease, the use of reliable diagnostic methods is essential. Our study aimed to evaluate the reliability of non-EPI DW-MRI for the follow-up of cholesteatoma after surgery. Methods In a study group including 53 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for cholesteatoma at a tertiary university hospital, an imaging protocol was applied, including non-echo planar diffusion-weighted imaging magnetic resonance (MR) at 1 month after surgery and then at 6 and 12 months after surgery. Based on the combination of preoperative assessment and intraoperative findings, the study group was divided into 3 subgroups: petrous bone (PB) cholesteatoma, complicated cholesteatoma and uncomplicated cholesteatoma. PB cholesteatoma patients were treated by a subtotal petrosectomy, whereas complicated and uncomplicated cholesteatoma patients were treated either by a canal wall up procedure or a retrograde (inside-out) canal wall down technique with bone obliteration technique (BOT). Results The results show that patients who had positive findings on non-EPI DW-MRI scans 1 month after surgery consequently underwent revision surgery during which residual cholesteatoma was noted. All the patients who displayed negative findings on non-EPI DWI-MRI scan at 1 month after surgery did not show the presence of a lesion at the 6- and 12-month evaluations. The 6 patients who displayed residual cholesteatoma at the 1-month follow-up presented dehiscence/exposure of the facial nerve canal at the primary surgery, mostly at the level of the labyrinthine segment. Conclusion Non-EPI DW-MRI is a useful and reliable tool for follow-up cholesteatoma surgery, and when applied early, as was done in the protocol proposed in the present study, this tool may be used to detect the presence of residual cholesteatoma in some patients, prompting the planning of early revision surgery.
Rooming in and Breast Feeding Practices and Rate of Horizontal Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Virus in 5 UAE Hospitals—An Observational Study
Authors: Kaushal Monika , Tulasi Venkata Subba Yamuna , Kaushal Ayush , Rakhecha Aditya , Memon Rafiq , Ramasamy Karvendhan , Khan Shoaib Shahzad 
Published: November 2021

Objectives: To assess risks of mother to child horizontal transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus during rooming in and breastfeeding in infants born to mothers with the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease. Design: Retrospective observational study. Participants: Five tertiary care centers located in the United Arab Emirates. Infants born to mothers positive for SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at the time of delivery, born between April 1 and October 30, 2020. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, we analyzed the newborn care practices in various tertiary care hospitals and the rate of horizontal transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from mother to infant (horizontal) while rooming in, breastfeeding, and post-discharge. Results: There were total of 2,405 deliveries in the 5 stated hospitals of which 40 infants were born to mothers with positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR at the time of delivery. One infant tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 after birth at 24 h of life and had respiratory symptoms and fever. Twenty-three of the well infants were roomed in during their hospital stay and were breastfed. In 8 cases, the mother and baby were separated and isolated from the time of birth till discharge. 95% of the discharged infants were rooming in with mothers, 45% of the infants were exclusively breastfed, and 55% were on mixed feeding (breast milk and formula milk) at the follow-up. None of the infants developed significant health issues or symptoms attributable to SARS-CoV-2. Conclusion: The risk of mother to infant horizontal transmission of COVID-19 in the perinatal period is very low. Our study reaffirms the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines that rooming in and breastfeeding of newborns born to SARS-CoV-2 positive mothers is safe without an increased risk of horizontal transmission by following mandated safety precautions.
Assessment of molecular response to tyrosine kinase inhibitors in Tunisian Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Frikha Rim , Kassar Olfa , Elloumi Moez , Kamoun Hassen 
Published: November 2021

Aim This study was carried out to assess the minimal residual disease in Tunisian patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors in routine clinical practice, to recognize potentially eligible carrier for treatment discontinuation, based on a molecular response (MR). Patients and Methods A retrospective study was carried out in the Hospital University of Sfax, south of Tunisia from January 2016 to October 2020, including all CML patients in the chronic phase at diagnosis, treated with TKI (tyrosine kinase inhibitors) for a minimum duration of 6 months. Quantitative assessment of the BCR-ABL transcript was performed using the Cepheid Xpert BCR-ABL ultra-assay. Molecular response and outcome were evaluated, according to the European Leukemia Net guidelines. Results A total of 162 CML patients were carried out. The median age was 50 years, the sex ratio M/F was 1.62. The rate of cumulative EMR; MMR and DMR was 80.8%; 73.8% and 55.9% respectively. According to the ELN criteria, 141 CML patients were evaluable. Optimal, suboptimal response and failure were noted in 81 (57.4%), 33(23.4%), and 27(19.1%) patients, respectively. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were 96.3% and 85%. Risk factors for an event (death/progression) were lack of EMR, MMR, and DMR (P < 0.05). Among 149 patients with sustained DMR; 14 (8.6%) CML patients have discontinued TKI therapy. Conclusion Despite the limit of our study (duration and size), the available real-life molecular responses with TKI therapy should be considered to identify potentially CML patients eligible for discontinuation of TKI therapy.