bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Functional Specialization of the Medial Temporal Lobes in Human Recognition Memory: Dissociating Effects of Hippocampal versus Parahippocampal Damage
Authors: Argyropoulos Georgios P D , Dell’Acqua Carola , Butler Emily , Loane Clare , Roca-Fernandez Adriana , Almozel Azhaar , Drummond Nikolas , Lage-Martinez Carmen , Cooper Elisa , Henson Richard N , Butler Christopher R 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
A central debate in the systems neuroscience of memory concerns whether different medial temporal lobe (MTL) structures support different processes in recognition memory. Using two recognition memory paradigms, we tested a rare patient (MH) with a perirhinal lesion that appeared to spare the hippocampus. Consistent with a similar previous case, MH showed impaired familiarity and preserved recollection. When compared with patients with hippocampal lesions appearing to spare perirhinal cortex, MH showed greater impairment on familiarity and less on recollection. Nevertheless, the hippocampal patients also showed impaired familiarity compared with healthy controls. However, when replacing this traditional categorization of patients with analyses relating memory performance to continuous measures of damage across patients, hippocampal volume uniquely predicted recollection, whereas parahippocampal, rather than perirhinal, volume uniquely predicted familiarity. We consider whether the familiarity impairment in MH and our patients with hippocampal lesions arises from “subthreshold” damage to parahippocampal cortex (PHC). Our data provide the most compelling neuropsychological support yet for dual-process models of recognition memory, whereby recollection and familiarity depend on different MTL structures, and may support a role for PHC in familiarity. Our study highlights the value of supplementing single-case studies with examinations of continuous brain–behavior relationships across larger patient groups.
Higher Comorbidity Burden Predicts Worsening Neurocognitive Trajectories in People with Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Authors: Ellis Ronald J , Paolillo Emily , Saloner Rowan , Heaton Robert K 
Published: July 2021

Abstract

Background
Age-related comorbidities accumulate faster in people with HIV (PWH) than in those without HIV. We evaluated whether a validated multimorbidity scale, the Charlson index, predicted neurocognitive trajectories in PWH.

Methods
Scaled scores of a comprehensive neuropsychological battery were averaged across all visits. Multilevel modeling examined between- and within-person predictors of global neurocognition. At the between-person level, averaged Charlson scores were examined as a predictor of neurocognitive change rate, covarying for HIV disease characteristics. Within-persons, visit-specific Charlson index was used to predict fluctuations in global neurocognition at the same and next visit, covarying for disease measures.

Results
Participants were 1195 PWH (mean baseline age: 43.0; SD: 9.7 years) followed for a mean of 7.1 years (range: 0.5–20.5). At the between-person level, more rapid neurocognitive worsening correlated with higher (worse) average Charlson scores (standardized β: −0.062; SE: 0.015; P = .001) and lower CD4 nadir (standardized β: 0.055; SE: 0.021; P = .011), but not viral suppression or average CD4+ lymphocytes (P &gt; .05). At the within-person level, poorer visit-specific neurocognition was related to worse concurrent, but not preceding, Charlson scores (standardized β: −0.046; SE: 0.015; P = .003), detectable HIV viral load (standardized β: 0.018; SE: 0.006; P = .001), and higher CD4+ (standardized β: 0.043; SE: 0.009; P &lt; .001).

Conclusions
The impact of comorbidities on neurocognitive decline exceeded that of HIV disease factors. Although correlative, the temporal relationships suggested that treatment of comorbidities might improve neurocognitive prognosis for PWH.
The significance of an outpatient multidisciplinary educational consultation to atrial fibrillation patients before electrical cardioversion
Authors: Von Hirsch A , Flendalen C , Kvernstrom B , Bru E , Morken IM 
Published: July 2021

Abstract

Funding Acknowledgements
none

Background
Atrial fibrillation (AF) patients may have many concerns related to their disease and to the electrical cardioversion (ECV) procedure. An outpatient multidisciplinary educational consultation before ECV may reduce their concerns.

Aims
This study aimed to investigate perceived support from healthcare professionals and symptoms of anxiety, depression among AF patients receiving multidisciplinary educational consultation before ECV, compared to patients receiving usual care.

Methods
Patients with persistent AF (n = 217) invited to undergo ECV at an AF outpatient clinic were non-randomly divided in two groups based on the need for an updated echo description: 1) multidisciplinary educational consultation before ECV (n = 115), and 2) usual care from a municipality physician before ECV (n =102). Both groups completed validated questionnaires on symptoms of anxiety and depression and perceived support from healthcare professionals.

Results
Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) revealed that patients receiving multidisciplinary educational consultation perceived higher constructive support from healthcare professionals (Mean [M] = 3.06 ± 0.79 vs 2.52 ± 0.98; Effect size [ES] = 0.66; p &lt; 0.000), as well as lesser non-constructive support from healthcare professionals (M = 1.19 ± 0.90 vs 1.53 ± 0.87; ES 0.40; p = 0.003), compared to patients receiving usual care. The analyses were controlled for gender, age and history of ECV. In this group the patients had also lesser symptoms of anxiety (M= 4.17 ± 4.11 vs 5.40 ± 4.00; ES = 0.28; p = 0.042), and depression (M = 3.35 ± 3.06 vs 4.77 ± 3.81; ES = 0.38; p = 0.005).

Conclusion
The findings indicate that a multidisciplinary educational consultation before ECV improves the patient’s perception of constructive support from healthcare professionals and reduce their symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Frequency of venous thromboembolism risk factors in hospitalized patients with pulmonary embolism in routine Russian practice
Authors: Nikulina NN , Terekhovskaya YUV , Iakushin SS 
Published: July 2021

Abstract

Funding Acknowledgements
Type of funding sources: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Ryazan State Medical University
Despite advances in the diagnosis and treatment of Pulmonary Embolism (PE), it remains one of the most common causes of death among cardiovascular diseases.
Purpose. To study the prevalence of the Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) risk factors (RFs) among patients with PE in the typical Regional Vascular Centers in Russia.
Materials and Methods. The study was conducted within the framework of the Russian SIRENA Register. А retro- and prospective analysis of the clinical cases (n = 107, median age 63 (52-74) years, 39.3% of men) of PE treated at the Regional Vascular Centers from 01 May 2018 to 31 May 2019 (13 months) was performed.
Results. It was revealed that 72.9% of patients had multiple RFs. The average number of strong RFs per PE patient is 1.1, moderate RFs – also 1.1, weak RFs - 2.4. Strong (± moderate and weak) RFs were registered in 26.2% of patients. The most common strong RFs is a history of VTE (22.4% of the PE cohort). Moderate (± low) RFs were observed in 31.8% of PE cases. The most common moderate RFs is malignant neoplasms (17.8%, n = 19; 7 out of 19 had metastases, 5 out of 19 received chemotherapy). In the 40.2% of patients, only weak RFs were identified. The most prevalent were arterial hypertension (70.1%), old age (59.8%) and obesity (46.7%). As a result, 6.5% of PE patients did not have any RFs, and 67.3% of PE patients did not have reversible RFs.
Сonclusion. A high frequency and multiple character of VTE RFs were registered in PE patients in routine clinical practice. The greatest frequency is common cardiovascular RFs, which allows to consider VTE as part of the cardiovascular continuum. In a small number of PE patients, no known VTE RFs were detected, which determines the need to study other possible conditions that contribute to the PE development. Two-thirds of patients do not have reversible VTE RFs, which leads to the need for active anticoagulant prevention of PE in these patients.
Cardiac involvement in patients with coronavirus pneumonia
Authors: Germanova O , Tereshina O 
Published: July 2021

Abstract

Funding Acknowledgements
Type of funding sources: None.
Background. New COVID-19 disease is well known by its primary damage of respiratory system. However, it is also possible to involve other organs and systems.
Purpose. To determine the cardiac involvement in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.
Materials and methods. We performed echocardiography with speckle tracking in 48 patients. All of them had serologically verified COVID-19 pneumonia with lung involvement 5-60% on CT. None of them were treated by antimalarial drugs. 28 of them were men and 20 women, mean age - 45 ± 4,4 years old. We performed echocardiography in 1 month period from onset of the disease.
Results. Most of the patients (30 patients) had enlargement of right heart chambers. Despite of right ventricle enlargement, in none of the patients had reduced right ventricle function (TAPSE 22 ± 2 mm, right ventricle strain -21,2 ± 1,5%). The mean systolic pulmonary artery pressure was slightly elevated (38 ± 2 mm Hg).
Left ventricle was enlarged in 9 patients (with mean end diastolic volume 82 ± 5 ml/m2). In 25 of them, the ejection fraction was decreased (44 ± 4%). In all patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, the changes in circumferential and longitudinal strain were observed. Both parameters were decreased. The mean value of circumferential strain was -16,3 ± 1,9%. The longitudinal strain parameter was -14,2 ± 1,4%. 25 patients had enlargement of left atrium (&gt;40ml/m2) and the reservoir strain of left atrium was decreased (-23,3 ± 1,5%) in 29 of them.
After 2 months from the onset of the disease, we noticed the normalization of echocardiography data in all patients.
Nevertheless, we observed cardiac structural and functional changes in all patients, troponins levels were increased only in 12 patients.
Conclusion. We observed cardiac involvement in different degree in all of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. Changes characterized by atriums and ventricles enlargement, and left ventricle contractile dysfunction. Due to the fact that only part of the patients with COVID-19 with cardiac changes had elevated troponins, we believe that the mechanism of these pathological changes need further research.
Relationship of myocardial fibrosis markers with glomerular filtration rate in patients with arterial hypertension
Authors: Sharafutdinova R , Ruzov VI , Razin VA , Gimaev RH , Nizamova LT 
Published: July 2021

Abstract

Funding Acknowledgements
Type of funding sources: None.
Background. Renal damage in arterial hypertension is considered among the typical damage variants of target organs such as heart, blood vessels and brain. One of the complications of arterial hypertension is nephrosclerosis. Developing quite gradually, arterial hypertension kidney damage goes unnoticed for a long time because clinically it does not cause the patient any discomfort. The most accessible and objective way to assess renal function is to calculate glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) is a protein that is a natural inhibitor of metalloproteinases and forms complexes with matrix metalloproteinase-1 and other metalloproteinases, irreversibly inhibiting their activity. Many studies have demonstrated that TIMP-1 can be considered a serum marker of myocardial and vascular fibrosis
Aim of the study. To assess the relationship between GFR and plasma TIMP-1 concentration in patients with arterial hypertension.
Materials and Methods. 144 patients (87 men, 67 women) with arterial hypertension with preserved systolic function were examined, mean age was 52.45 ± 4.81 years, duration of AH was 4.82 ± 2.63 years. Calculation of GFR was carried out using the MDRD formula. Tissue matrix metalloproteinase-1 inhibitor concentrations were measured with DSL kit (USA). The reference values were 92-116 ng/ml. The patients were divided into 3 groups depending on GFR: group 1 - GFR over 90 ml/min/1.73m2 (n = 59), group 2 - GFR 60-90 ml/min/1.73m2 (n = 63), group 3 - GFR under 60 ml/min/1.73m2 (n = 22).
Results. The highest level of TIMP-1 (481.9 ± 106.4 ng/ml) was found in Group 3 patients (GFR &lt;60 ml/min/1.73m2). The level of TIMP-1 in Group 3 was statistically significantly higher than in patients of Group 1 (p &lt; 0.0001) and Group 2 (p &lt; 0.0001). In group 2 (GFR 60-90 ml/min/1.73m2) the level of TIMP-1 (330.5 ± 108.3 ng/ml) was higher than in group 1 (297.6 ± 104.9 ng/ml), but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.091). The correlation analysis revealed a negative association of plasma TIMP-1 level and GFR in patients with arterial hypertension, i.e. the higher TIMP-1, the lower glomerular filtration rate (r=-0.37, p = 0.0001).
Conclusions. The increased concentration of TIMP-1 in the blood of patients with arterial hypertension is evidence of increasing fibrosis in the heart and vessels, leading to the emergence and progression of renal dysfunction.
Spontaneous platelet aggregation in patients with chronic heart failure with arterial hypertension
Authors: Sharafutdinova R , Ruzov VI , Razin VA , Gimaev RH , Nizamova LT 
Published: July 2021

Abstract

Funding Acknowledgements
Type of funding sources: None.
Aim of study. To study spontaneous platelet aggregation in patients with arterial hypertension with different functional classes (FC) of CHF with preserved systolic function not taking antiplatelet therapy.

Material and Methods
51 patients with AH with different types of CHF, mean age 55.4 ± 5.9 years, with preserved left ventricular systolic function according to ECHO-CS were studied. The patients were divided into 4 groups depending on FC of CHF: Group 1 - 0 FC of CHF (n = 11), Group 2 - 1 FC of CHF (n = 13), Group 3 - 2 FC of CHF (n = 14), and Group 4 - 3 FC of CHF (n = 13). Spontaneous platelet aggregation was determined on a KFK-2MP photoelectrocolorimeter (Russia).
Results. During the study, the spontaneous platelet aggregation was 1.08 ± 0.31 in patients with CHF class 0 (1 gr), and 1.22 ± 0.25 in patients with CHF class 1, with no statistical difference in comparison with 1 gr (p = 0.233). In group 3 (2FC CHF), spontaneous platelet aggregation was 1.33 ± 0.27, with a statistically significant difference with spontaneous platelet aggregation in patients with type 0 (p = 0.042), but with group 2 (1FC CHF), no statistically significant difference was found (p = 0.281). Spontaneous platelet aggregation in group 4 (3FC CHF) was 1,62 + 0,32, with statistically significant difference in comparison with all groups, so with group 1 - p &lt; 0,001, with group 2 - p = 0,016 and with group 3 - p = 0,017.
Conclusion. Patients with arterial hypertension with preserved systolic function showed an increase in spontaneous platelet aggregation with increasing functional class of CHF, and the most significant increase in platelet aggregation was seen in patients with class 3 CHF.
The feasibility and acceptability of a virtual six-week psychoeducational intervention for carers of patients with heart failure
Authors: Cassidy L , Hill L , Fitzsimons D 
Published: July 2021

Abstract

Funding Acknowledgements
Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke Queen"s University Belfast

Background
Globally, the number of individuals living with heart failure (HF) is increasing, with many living with additional comorbidities and complex health needs. Carers play an invaluable role in helping the patient with self-care at home, taking on the key responsibility for tasks critical in the management and monitoring of HF symptoms. As a result, carers can frequently experience poor quality of life attributed to this caring role, whilst simultaneously managing health problems of their own. Evidence has shown that many of these carers have unmet educational, social and emotional needs, that require urgent support and information.

Purpose
To assess the feasibility and acceptability of a six-week psychoeducational intervention tailored towards carers of patients with HF.

Methods
The psychoeducational intervention was co-produced with involvement of carers, HF professionals and researchers. It was delivered over six weeks, with four support group sessions and an information booklet tailored specifically to the needs of carers. Carers were identified by the clinical HF team or through social media, with informed consent obtained before inclusion. Due to COVID-19 regulations, the support group sessions were delivered virtually via a secure online app (Zoom). Each session involved a member of the interdisciplinary research team and covered topics including: 1. Understanding HF, 2. Personal wellbeing, 3. Communication and Support, and 4. Practical skills to help manage HF. Validated questionnaires (SF-12, HADS,ZBI,PSS,MSPSS,CPS) measuring carer related outcomes were completed at baseline, at 6 weeks and 3 months post intervention. Qualitative data from focus group post-intervention explored the acceptability of the intervention. Data was analysed using SPSS (version 27) and NVivo (version 11).

Results
Nine participants consented to participate, six of which were recruited from heart failure clinics, and three volunteered in response to social media advertisements. Two participants, due to personal health reasons, withdrew consent and did not attend the support group sessions. All carers were female, mean age 61 years, four spouses and three adult children. Preliminary qualitative findings show carers recalled information and advice included in the intervention as useful and easy to understand. With the intervention being described as, "a dimension that doesn’t already exist". The majority of participants (n = 5) preferred the convenience and flexibility of the online approach to the intervention, however some participants (n = 2) felt that they would have benefitted more from an in-person approach. A second support group is currently underway.

Conclusions
Preliminary results are promising and indicate that carers responded well to an online psychoeducational intervention.
The biomedical, socioeconomic and demographic predictors of heart failure readmissions
Authors: Choi ESC , Wiseman T , Gordon CG , Betihavas V 
Published: July 2021

Abstract

Funding Acknowledgements
Type of funding sources: Other. Main funding source(s): Sydney Local Health District

Introduction
Heart failure hospitalisations and readmissions pose a significant clinical and economic burden internationally. Current studies support a range of biomedical and sociodemographic factors as predictors of HF readmissions; however, there are a paucity of studies synthesising the research on this topic.

Purpose
The purpose of this systematic review was to identify biomedical, socioeconomic and demographic predictors of heart failure-related readmissions in adults with heart failure.

Methods
Electronic databases (Medline, Embase and Scopus) were searched using a structured search strategy. The particular risk factors of interest were left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), New York Heart Association (NYHA) function class, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), heart rate, blood pressure, employment status, income, age, sex, ethnicity, indigenous status, marital status, and socioeconomic indexes for areas (SEIFA) scores. After the removal of duplicates, the article selection process was conducted by two independent authors according to an inclusion and exclusion criteria. The articles were first filtered by title and abstract against the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The remaining articles were then assessed by reviewing the studies in full text. The relevant Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tools were then used to appraise the final articles included for review.

Results
In total 1,516 papers were retrieved from the search. Of the 1,516 papers, 666 were from Medline, 567 were from CINAHL, 282 were from Embase, and one paper was from an independent search. After the removal of duplicates, 1296 papers were filtered according to title and abstract and 1183 papers were excluded from this process. 95 papers were assessed by reading them in full and of the 95 papers, 77 were excluded. This resulted in eighteen studies being included for review. Unemployment was the only socioeconomic factor predictive of HF readmissions (HR = 1.09; 95%CI= 1.05-1.14; p = 0.03) and SEIFA scores did not predict HF readmissions in adults with HF (p &gt; 0.05). Indigenous status was a risk factor of HF readmissions according to one study (p &lt; 0.05). Age or sex did not affect the risk of HF readmissions in adults with HF (p &gt; 0.05). NYHA function class, BNP levels, and heart rate predicted HF readmissions in the population of interest. LVEF and blood pressure were non-significant predictors of HF readmissions (p &gt; 0.05).

Conclusions
Current HF guidelines have a strong biomedical focus in the management of HF patients. This review however, shows there are sociodemographic factors that are predictive of HF readmissions in addition to the biomedical predictors that have been more extensively studied. Future studies should examine their combined effect on readmission risk and the early interventions to prevent readmissions.