bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Parasitic Load Correlates With Left Ventricular Dysfunction in Patients With Chronic Chagas Cardiomyopathy
Authors: de Oliveira Maykon Tavares , Schmidt André , da Silva Maria Cláudia , Donadi Eduardo Antônio , da Silva João Santana , Marin-Neto José Antônio 
Published: September 2021

Background: Chronic Chagas disease (CChD), one of the infectious parasitic diseases with the greatest social and economic impact upon a large part of the American continent, has distinct clinical manifestations in humans (cardiac, digestive, or mixed clinical forms). The mechanisms underlying the development of the most common and ominous clinical form, the chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC) have not been completely elucidated, despite the fact that a high intensity of parasite persistence in the myocardium is deemed responsible for an untoward evolution of the disease. The present study aimed to assess the parasite load CCC and its relation to left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), a definite prognostic marker in patients with CCC.Methods: Patients with CCC were clinically evaluated using 12-lead-electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, chest X-ray. Peripheral blood sampling (5 ml of venous blood in guanidine/EDTA) was collected from each patient for subsequent DNA extraction and the quantification of the parasite load using real-time PCR.Results: One-hundred and eighty-one patients with CCC were evaluated. A total of 140 (77.3%) had preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (of ≥40%), and 41 individuals had LV dysfunction (LVEF of &lt;40%). A wide variation in parasite load was observed with a, mean of 1.3460 ± 2.0593 (0.01 to 12.3830) par. Eq./mL. The mean ± SD of the parasite load was 0.6768 ± 0.9874 par. Eq./mL and 3.6312 ± 2.9414 par. Eq./mL in the patients with LVEF ≥ 40% and &lt;40%, respectively.Conclusion: The blood parasite load is highly variable and seems to be directly related to the reduction of LVEF, an important prognostic factor in CCC patients.
Long-Term Glycemic Variability Is Associated With Arterial Stiffness in Chinese Adults
Authors: Zhang Yuwen , Wu Shujing , Li Mian , Wang Tiange , Xu Min , Lu Jieli , Wang Shuangyuan , Zhang Jie , Bi Yufang , Wang Weiqing , Ning Guang , Xu Yu , Chen Yuhong 
Published: September 2021

ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to investigate the association between the visit-to-visit variability (VVV) of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and arterial stiffness in Chinese adults.MethodsWe performed a cohort study involving 2002 Chinese adults with no history of myocardial infarction or stroke. All the participants attended three visits (the baseline visit in 2008, the 2nd visit in 2009 and the 3rd visit in 2013). We used four measures to define the VVV of FPG across the three visits: the standard deviation (SD), the coefficient of variation (CV), the average successive variability (ASV) and the variability independent of the mean (VIM). We used brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV) to measure arterial stiffness at the 2nd and the 3rd visits.ResultsCompared with the lowest tertile of all the four measurements of VVV of FPG, significantly increased levels of ba-PWV change, ratio of ba-PWV change and the occurrence of the elevated ba-PWV were found in the highest tertile. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) comparing participants in the highest tertile vs. the lowest tertile of FPG-SD was 1.37 (1.01-1.86) for risks of having elevated ba-PWV, even after adjustment for covariates including the mean FPG. Similar results were found for FPG-CV and FPG-VIM.ConclusionGreater long-term variability of FPG was associated with an increased risk of arterial stiffness, suggesting that the VVV of FPG could be used for an early detection of subclinical atherosclerosis.
Does the Anti-Mullerian Hormone Decline Rate Improve the Prediction of Age at Menopause?
Authors: Ramezani Tehrani Fahimeh , Sheidaei Ali , Firouzi Faezeh , Tohidi Maryam , Azizi Fereidoun , Behboudi-Gandevani Samira 
Published: September 2021

ObjectivesThere are controversial studies investigating whether multiple anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) measurements can improve the individualized prediction of age at menopause in the general population. This study aimed to reexplore the additive role of the AMH decline rate in single AMH measurement for improving the prediction of age at physiological menopause, based on two common statistical models for analysis of time-to-event data, including time-dependent Cox regression and Cox proportional-hazards regression models.MethodsA total of 901 eligible women, aged 18–50 years, were recruited from the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS) population and followed up every 3 years for 18 years. The serum AMH level was measured at the time of recruitment and twice after recruitment within 6-year intervals using the Gen II AMH assay. The added value of repeated AMH measurements for the prediction of age at menopause was explored using two different statistical approaches. In the first approach, a time-dependent Cox model was plotted, with all three AMH measurements as time-varying predictors and the baseline age and logarithm of annual AMH decline as time-invariant predictors. In the second approach, a Cox proportional-hazards model was fitted to the baseline data, and improvement of the complex model, which included repeated AMH measurements and the logarithm of the AMH annual decline rate, was assessed using the C-statistic.ResultsThe time-dependent Cox model showed that each unit increase in the AMH level could reduce the risk of menopause by 87%. The Cox proportional-hazards model also improved the prediction of age at menopause by 3%, according to the C-statistic. The subgroup analysis for the prediction of early menopause revealed that the risk of early menopause increased by 10.8 with each unit increase in the AMH annual decline rate.ConclusionThis study confirmed that multiple AMH measurements could improve the individual predictions of the risk of at physiological menopause compared to single AMH measurements. Different alternative statistical approaches can also offer the same interpretations if the essential assumptions are met.
Study on Waste Heat-Driven Refrigeration System for Energy Saving and Fast Cooling of Dust Collector in Monocrystalline Silicon Manufacture
Authors: Hou Jiwei , Xu Yingjie 
Published: September 2021

Single-crystal silicon is key raw material in photovoltaic industry. In its manufacture, silicon monoxide dust, a byproduct, is collected under vacuum environment. To clean the dust collector, air is recharged into the collector, reacting with the dust and causing very high temperature. Collector components may be damaged. It also takes several hours to cool down. In this paper, a cooling system based on ejection refrigeration cycle is proposed, which collects the reaction heat and simultaneously controls the collector temperature around 100°C. Then, it is driven by stored waste reaction heat and cools down the dust to a lower temperature. The designed cooling system, employing a 9.7972 m2 fin-tube heat exchanger, can simultaneously meet the cooling load of four dust collectors with 330L/S capacity. By a thermodynamic model established in this work, performance analysis is carried out. Generating temperature around 73°C and evaporating temperature around 6°C are recommended for system operation. Results also show the cooling system is able to provide 3270 kJ cooling energy that is needed by the collector, for fast cooling down the dust no longer than 620 s. It is about 92% shorter than the time of current collector, indicating the cooling system is effective and feasible.
Production and Characterization of Keratin/Tragacanth Gum Nanohydrogels for Drug Delivery in Medical Textiles
Authors: Mansouri Shirazi Nazanin , Eslahi Niloofar , Gholipour-Kanani Adeleh 
Published: September 2021

Keratin protein has been applied for biomedical applications due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, mechanical resistance, and bioavailability. Tragacanth gum (TG) as a polysaccharide-based biopolymer has wound healing and antimicrobial properties. In this study, keratin was extracted from protein-based chicken feather by using reduction hydrolysis (sodium sulfide), and nanogels of keratin and TG composites at different ratios were produced by using the chemical cross-linking method. Then, cinnamon (5 and 10%) as an antibacterial herbal extract was added to the nanogels and coated on cotton fabric. The morphology and size of the composite nanogels, chemical structure, biological, and antibacterial properties were evaluated. According to DLS results, TGK2:1 (ratio of TG to keratin = 2:1) had the minimum size (80 nm) and PDI (0.1), and therefore, this sample was chosen as the optimum one. FESEM and TEM images showed the semi-spherical shape of the produced nanogels. FTIR spectra revealed the possible hydrogen bonding between the components, and the formation of disulfide bonds after the addition of hydrogen peroxide was confirmed by XPS. After loading cinnamon into the nanogels, an increase in size was observed from 80 nm for free-nanogel to 85 and 105 nm for 5 and 10% extract-loaded nanogels, respectively. Besides, more cinnamon was released from the treated fabrics by increasing time and cinnamon concentration. The antibacterial test exhibited good antibacterial properties against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Finally, MTT assay approved the biocompatibility of the produced nanogels for potential use in medical textiles.
Initial Blood pH, Lactate and Base Deficit Add No Value to Peri-Arrest Factors in Prognostication of Neurological Outcome After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest
Authors: Mueller Matthias , Grafeneder Juergen , Schoergenhofer Christian , Schwameis Michael , Schriefl Christoph , Poppe Michael , Clodi Christian , Koch Moritz , Sterz Fritz , Holzer Michael , Ettl Florian 
Published: September 2021

Background: In cardiac arrest survivors, metabolic parameters [pH value, lactate concentration, and base deficit (BD)] are routinely added to peri-arrest factors (including age, sex, bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation, shockable first rhythm, resuscitation duration, adrenaline dose) to enhance early outcome prediction. However, the additional value of this strategy remains unclear.Methods: We used our resuscitation database to screen all patients ≥18 years who had suffered in- or out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA, OHCA) between January 1st, 2005 and May 1st, 2019. Patients with incomplete data, without return of spontaneous circulation or treatment with sodium bicarbonate were excluded. To analyse the added value of metabolic parameters to prognosticate neurological function, we built three models using logistic regression. These models included: (1) Peri-arrest factors only, (2) peri-arrest factors plus metabolic parameters and (3) metabolic parameters only. Receiver operating characteristics curves regarding 30-day good neurological function (Cerebral Performance Category 1-2) were analysed.Results: A total of 2,317 patients (OHCA: n = 1842) were included. In patients with OHCA, model 1 and 2 had comparable predictive value. Model 3 was inferior compared to model 1. In IHCA patients, model 2 performed best, whereas both metabolic (model 3) and peri-arrest factors (model 1) demonstrated similar power. PH, lactate and BD had interchangeable areas under the curve in both IHCA and OHCA.Conclusion: Although metabolic parameters may play a role in IHCA, no additional value in the prediction of good neurological outcome could be found in patients with OHCA. This highlights the importance of accurate anamnesis especially in patients with OHCA.
Widefield Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Assessment of Choroidal Changes in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease
Authors: Qian Yujing , Yang Jingyuan , Liang Anyi , Zhao Chan , Gao Fei , Zhang Meifen 
Published: September 2021

Purpose: To investigate choroidal changes in patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH) using widefield swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA).Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 133 eyes of 69 patients with VKH (52 eyes of 28 active VKH patients and 81 eyes of 41 inactive VKH patients) and 104 eyes of 52 age and sex matched healthy volunteers were imaged using a widefield SS-OCTA instrument. On 12 mm × 12 mm OCTA scans, mean choroidal thickness (MCT), choroidal vascularity index (CVI), choriocapillaris (CC) flow area, and mean retinal thickness (MRT) were separately calculated in the fovea (diameter of 1 mm) and in concentric rings with different radii (1–3, 3–6, 6–9, and 9–12 mm).Results: Eyes with active VKH showed significant increases in MCT, CVI, and MRT, and decreased CC flow area in all central and peripheral regions (0–1, 1–3, 3–6, 6–9, and 9–12 mm) than in the healthy eyes (p ≤ 0.01) and inactive VKH eyes (p &lt; 0.05). Inactive VKH eyes only showed marked decrease in CC flow area in all regions compared with controls (p &lt; 0.05). Flow voids were observed in 51 of 52 (98.1%) active VKH eyes and 50 of 81 (61.7%) inactive VKH eyes on 12 mm × 12 mm OCTA. The MCT of all regions was significantly correlated with age, disease duration, and disease activity, whereas CVI was associated with age and disease activity. The CC flow void was related to visual acuity in all regions (p &lt; 0.05).Conclusion: Widefield SS-OCTA enables a more comprehensive evaluation of chorioretinal changes in patients with VKH disease. Structural and vascular abnormalities are observed in both the central and peripheral choroid and are closely correlated with disease activity.
Atypical Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in a Postpartum Woman With Moyamoya Disease: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Zou Ning , Guo Guixiang , Wan Fangchao , Li Xin 
Published: September 2021

Background: Moyamoya disease is a rare cerebrovascular occlusive disease, which is characterized by stenosis and gradual occlusion of the internal carotid arteries, causing the progression of characteristic collateral vessels. To date, most studies investigating moyamoya disease have focused on medical implications, and the potential implications for neurocognitive and/or neuropsychiatric functioning were inconclusive.Case Presentation: we present a case of a 26-year-old Chinese postpartum woman who presented to the emergency department with a 19-h history of cognitive decline, vomiting, and convulsions. Blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration rate were 200/120 mmHg, 115 beats/minute, and 30 breaths/minute, respectively, on arrival. The Glasgow Coma Scale, modified RANKIN scale (mRS), and National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) scores were 3, 5, and 18, respectively. Moyamoya disease was diagnosed using cerebral angiography and digital subtraction angiography. The cognitive functions of orientation, use of language, ability to calculate, and memory significantly improved after 11 days of treatment (Glasgow Coma Scale: 15; mRS: 0; NIHSS: 0).Conclusions:This patient was diagnosed with reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome related to moyamoya disease. This case highlights that atypical posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome can occur in patients with moyamoya disease, and should be considered for the differential diagnosis of cerebral infarcts and hemorrhage in a postpartum female.
Intake of Dietary Fiber From Grains and the Risk of Hypertension in Late Midlife Women: Results From the SWAN Study
Authors: Du Peng , Luo Kaifeng , Wang Yali , Xiao Qi , Xiao Jiansheng , Li Yong , Zhang Xingjian 
Published: September 2021

Background: The possible effects of dietary fiber intake on hypertension have not been clarified fully. The association of dietary fiber intake with hypertension risk in midlife women was analyzed in this study.Methods: Baseline data were obtained from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN). Smooth curve, linear regression, and logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the associations of four indices of daily dietary estimate (DDE) of dietary fiber (dietary fiber intake, dietary fiber intake from beans, dietary fiber intake from vegetables/fruit, and dietary fiber intake from grains) with blood pressure in midlife women. For this research purpose, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥90 mmHg was defined as diastolic hypertension, and systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥140 mmHg was defined as systolic hypertension.Results: This study included 2,519 participants with an average age of 46. The smooth curve showed approximate negative correlations between three fiber indices (DDE dietary fiber, DDE fiber from vegetables/fruit, and DDE fiber from grains) and blood pressure, including DBP and SBP (all P &lt; 0.005). There were also approximate negative correlations between two fiber indices (DDE dietary fiber and DDE fiber from grains) and the risk of diastolic hypertension and systolic hypertension (all P &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, multiple linear regression analysis suggested that DDE dietary fiber (Sβ = −0.057, 95% CI −0.194 – −0.012, P = 0.027), DDE fiber from vegetables/fruit (Sβ = −0.046, 95% CI −0.263 – −0.007, P = 0.039), and DDE fiber from grains (Sβ = −0.073, 95% CI −0.600 – −0.099, P = 0.006, Model 4) were still negatively correlated with DBP after adjusting for confounding factors. Only DDE fiber from grains was independently and negatively associated with SBP (Sβ = −0.060, 95% CI −0.846 – −0.093, P = 0.015) after these same confounding factors were adjusted for. Importantly, multiple logistic regression analysis suggested that only higher DDE fiber from grains was independently associated with a reduced risk of diastolic hypertension (OR = 0.848, 95% CI 0.770–0.934, P = 0.001, Model 4) and systolic hypertension (OR = 0.906, 95% CI 0.826–0.993, P = 0.034, Model 4) after the adjustments were made for confounding factors.Conclusions: We found that dietary fiber intake, especially DDE fiber from grains, contributes to a lower risk of systolic hypertension and diastolic hypertension in midlife women.
Thirty Days of Montmorency Tart Cherry Supplementation Has No Effect on Gut Microbiome Composition, Inflammation, or Glycemic Control in Healthy Adults
Authors: Hillman Angela R. , Chrismas Bryna C. R. 
Published: September 2021

Tart cherries possess properties that may reduce inflammation and improve glycemic control, however human data on supplementation and the gut microbiota is equivocal. Processing (i.e., juice concentrate, dried, frozen) may affect the properties of tart cherries, and therefore alter their efficacious health benefits. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 30 days of supplementation with Montmorency tart cherry (MTC) in concentrate or freeze-dried form on the gut microbiome and markers of inflammation and glycemic control. Healthy participants with no known disease (n = 58, age: 28 ± 10 y, height: 169.76 ± 8.55 cm, body mass: 72.2 ± 12.9 kg) were randomly allocated to four groups and consumed either concentrate or freeze-dried capsules or their corresponding placebos for 30 days. Venous blood samples were drawn at baseline, day 7, 14, and 30 and analyzed for inflammatory markers TNF-alpha, uric acid, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate and glycemic control markers glycated albumin, glucose and insulin. A fecal sample was provided at baseline, day 14 and 30 for microbiome analysis. TNF-alpha was significantly lower at 30 vs. 14 days (p = 0.01), however there was no other significant change in the inflammatory markers. Insulin was not changed over time (p = 0.16) or between groups (p = 0.24), nor was glycated albumin different over time (p = 0.08) or between groups (p = 0.56), however glucose levels increased (p &lt; 0.001) from baseline (4.79 ± 1.00 mmol·L−1) to 14 days (5.21 ± 1.02 mmol·L−1) and 30 days (5.61 ± 1.22 mmol·L−1) but this was no different between groups (p = 0.33). There was no significant change in composition of bacterial phyla, families, or subfamilies for the duration of this study nor was there a change in species richness. These data suggest that 30 days of MTC supplementation does not modulate the gut microbiome, inflammation, or improve glycemic control in a healthy, diverse group of adults.Clinical Trail Registration:https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04467372, identifier: NCT04467372.
Influence of Using a Contrast-Enhanced CT Image as the Primary Image on CyberKnife Brain Radiosurgery Treatment Plans
Authors: Zhang Jianping , Wang Lin , Xu Benhua , Huang Miaoyun , Chen Yuangui , Li Xiaobo 
Published: September 2021

Background and PurposeThis study aimed to quantify the differences between pre- and post-contrast agent (CA) CT for CyberKnife brain SRS plans.Materials and MethodsTwenty-five patients were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into two categories, inhomogeneous cases (13 patients) and homogeneous cases (12 patients), according to whether the tumor was close to the cavity and inhomogeneous tissues or not. The pre-CA and post-CA plans were designed and calculated using the same monitor unit and paths as those in the ray-tracing algorithm, respectively.ResultsThe CT number difference of tumor between pre- and post-CA was significant (on average, 24.78 ± 18.56 HU, P-value &lt; 0.01). The deviation value of the target was the largest at approximately 37 HU (inhomo-) and 13 HU (homo-) (P &lt; 0.01), and the values of the organs at risk (OARs) were not statistically significant (P-value &gt; 0.05). However, it was not statistically significant for the dose difference between the two groups with the injection of CA (P-value &gt; 0.05). The absolute effective depth difference generally remained at a level of 1 mm, but the dose difference was quitely fluctuated sometimes more than 20%. The absolute effective depth difference of the inhomo-case (0.62 mm) was larger than that of the homo-case (0.37 mm) on median, as well as the variation amplitude (P-value &lt; 0.05). Moreover, the relative dose differences between the two cases were 0.38% (inhomo-) and 0.2% (homo-), respectively (P-value &lt; 0.05). At the criterion of 1 mm/1%, the gamma pass rate of the homo-case (95.89%) was larger than that of the inhomo-case (93.79%). For the OARs, except for the cochlea, the two cases were almost the same (&gt;98.85%). The tumor control probability of the target was over 99.99% before and after injection of a CA, as well as the results for the homo-case and inhomo-case.ConclusionsConsidering the difference of evaluation indexes between pre- and post-CA images, we recommended plain CT to be employed as the primary image for improving the CK treatment accuracy of brain SRS, especially when the target was close to CA-sensitive OARs and cavity.