bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of a structured patient education programme on early diagnosis of prosthetic pulmonary valve endocarditis
Authors: Babic Daniela , Hämmerli Ramona , Santos Lopes Bruno , Attenhofer Jost Christine , Tobler Daniel , Schwerzmann Markus , Hasse Barbara , Bonassin Tempesta Francesca , Greutmann Matthias 
Published: November 2021

AbstractBackground:Infective endocarditis is a major threat after prosthetic pulmonary valve replacement. Early diagnosis may improve outcomes.Methods:A structured patient education programme for prevention and early diagnosis of infective endocarditis was developed at our institution since 2016. Time delay between onset of symptoms of prosthetic pulmonary valve endocarditis and its diagnosis (defined as initiation of appropriate high-dose intravenous antibiotic treatment) was compared for patients presenting before (cohort 1) and after (cohort 2) initiation of the patient education programme.Results:Between 2008–2019, 26 patients (median age 24.9, range: 16.8–62.0 years, 73% male) were diagnosed with prosthetic pulmonary valve endocarditis, 13 patients (cohort 1) before (1.7 cases/year) and 13 patients (cohort 2) after June 2016 (3.7 cases/year). There were no differences in baseline characteristics or clinical presentation between the study cohorts. Overall, the median delay between onset of symptoms and diagnosis of infective endocarditis was 6 days (range: 0–133 days) with a significantly longer delay among patients in cohort 1, compared to cohort 2 (25 days, range: 5–133 days versus 3 days, range: 0–13 days, p < 0.0001). A delay of >7 days was documented in 11/13 patients (85%) in cohort 1 as compared to 1/13 (8%) in cohort 2 (p < 0.001). Need for urgent valve replacement or permanent deterioration of prosthetic valve function was higher in cohort 1, compared to cohort 2 (11/13, 85% versus 5/13, 39%; p = 0.041).Conclusions:Prosthetic pulmonary valve endocarditis is increasingly recognised. A structured patient education programme may improve early diagnosis and clinical outcomes.
Thalamic dopamine D2-receptor availability in schizophrenia: a study on antipsychotic-naive patients with first-episode psychosis and a meta-analysis
Authors: Plavén-Sigray Pontus , Ikonen Victorsson Pauliina , Santillo Alexander , Matheson Granville J. , Lee Maria , Collste Karin , Fatouros-Bergman Helena , Sellgren Carl M. , Erhardt Sophie , Agartz Ingrid , Halldin Christer , Farde Lars , Cervenka Simon 
Published: November 2021

AbstractPharmacological and genetic evidence support a role for an involvement of the dopamine D2-receptor (D2-R) in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Previous molecular imaging studies have suggested lower levels of D2-R in thalamus, but results are inconclusive. The objective of the present study was to use improved methodology to compare D2-R density in whole thalamus and thalamic subregions between first-episode psychosis patients and healthy controls. Differences in thalamocortical connectivity was explored based on the D2-R results. 19 antipsychotic-naive first-episode psychosis patients and 19 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were examined using high-resolution Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and the high-affinity D2-R radioligand [11C]FLB457. The main outcome was D2-R binding potential (BPND) in thalamus, and it was predicted that patients would have lower binding. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was performed in a subgroup of 11 patients and 15 controls. D2-R binding in whole thalamus was lower in patients compared with controls (Cohen’s dz = −0.479, p = 0.026, Bayes Factor (BF) > 4). Among subregions, lower BPND was observed in the ROI representing thalamic connectivity to the frontal cortex (Cohen’s dz = −0.527, p = 0.017, BF > 6). A meta-analysis, including the sample of this study, confirmed significantly lower thalamic D2-R availability in patients. Exploratory analyses suggested that patients had lower fractional anisotropy values compared with controls (Cohen’s d = −0.692, p = 0.036) in the inferior thalamic radiation. The findings support the hypothesis of a dysregulation of thalamic dopaminergic neurotransmission in schizophrenia, and it is hypothesized that this could underlie a disturbance of thalamocortical connectivity.
Caught in vicious circles: a perspective on dynamic feed-forward loops driving oxidative stress in schizophrenia
Authors: Cuenod Michel , Steullet Pascal , Cabungcal Jan-Harry , Dwir Daniella , Khadimallah Ines , Klauser Paul , Conus Philippe , Do Kim Q. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractA growing body of evidence has emerged demonstrating a pathological link between oxidative stress and schizophrenia. This evidence identifies oxidative stress as a convergence point or “central hub” for schizophrenia genetic and environmental risk factors. Here we review the existing experimental and translational research pinpointing the complex dynamics of oxidative stress mechanisms and their modulation in relation to schizophrenia pathophysiology. We focus on evidence supporting the crucial role of either redox dysregulation, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor hypofunction, neuroinflammation or mitochondria bioenergetics dysfunction, initiating “vicious circles” centered on oxidative stress during neurodevelopment. These processes would amplify one another in positive feed-forward loops, leading to persistent impairments of the maturation and function of local parvalbumin-GABAergic neurons microcircuits and myelinated fibers of long-range macrocircuitry. This is at the basis of neural circuit synchronization impairments and cognitive, emotional, social and sensory deficits characteristic of schizophrenia. Potential therapeutic approaches that aim at breaking these different vicious circles represent promising strategies for timely and safe interventions. In order to improve early detection and increase the signal-to-noise ratio for adjunctive trials of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and NMDAR modulator drugs, a reverse translation of validated circuitry approach is needed. The above presented processes allow to identify mechanism based biomarkers guiding stratification of homogenous patients groups and target engagement required for successful clinical trials, paving the way towards precision medicine in psychiatry.
Mild behavioral impairment correlates of cognitive impairments in older adults without dementia: mediation by amyloid pathology
Authors: Sun Yan , Xu Wei , Chen Ke-Liang , Shen Xue-Ning , Tan Lan , Yu Jin-Tai ,   for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: November 2021

AbstractThe relationship between mild behavioral impairment (MBI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is intricate and still not well investigated. The purpose of the study is to examine the roles of the AD imaging pathologies in modulating the associations of MBI with cognitive impairments. We analyzed 1129 participants (563 [49.86%] female), who had measures of Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q), cognition, and amyloid PET AD biomarkers from the Alzheimer’s disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). We assess the longitudinal neuropathological and clinical correlates of baseline MBI via linear mixed effects and Cox proportional hazard models. The mediation analyses were used to test the mediation effects of AD pathologies on cognition. We found that MBI was associated with worse global cognition as represented by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) (p < 0.001), and higher β-amyloid burden (p < 0.001). β-amyloid partially mediated the effects of MBI on cognition with the mediation percentage varied from 14.67 to 40.86% for general cognition, memory, executive, and language functions for non-dementia individuals. However, no significant associations were discovered between MBI and tau burden or neurodegeneration. Furthermore, longitudinal analyses revealed that individuals with MBI had a faster increase in brain amyloid burden (p < 0.001) and a higher risk of clinical conversion (HR = 2.42, 95% CI = 1.45 to 4.01 p < 0.001). In conclusion, MBI could be an imperative prediction indicator of clinical and pathological progression. In addition, amyloid pathologies might partially mediate the influences of MBI on cognitive impairments and AD risk.
De-escalation antibiotic therapy alleviates organ injury through modulation of NETs formation during sepsis
Authors: Duan Zehua , Xie Tian , Chu Chengnan , Chen Fang , Wang Xinyu , Li Jieshou , Ding Weiwei 
Published: November 2021

AbstractEmpiric broad-spectrum antimicrobials therapy is suggested to be started immediately for sepsis patients. Empiric antimicrobial therapy should be narrowed once pathogen identification and sensitivities are established. However, the detailed mechanisms of de-escalation strategy are still unclear. Here we hypothesized neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) played an essential role and de-escalation strategy might alleviate organs injury through regulation of NETs formation in sepsis. We evaluated the effect of imipenem and ceftriaxone on NETs formation in vitro and examined the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Next, we designed de-escalation and escalation strategy in cecum ligation and puncture (CLP) models. Organ injury, inflammatory cytokines, NETs levels were compared and evaluated. In CLP models, de-escalation therapy resulted in an increased serum MPO-DNA level during the early stage and decreased MPO-DNA level during late stage, which exerted the reverse effects in escalation therapy. Inflammatory response and organ injury exacerbated when eliminated NETs with DNAse I during the early stage of sepsis (p < 0.01). Histopathological analysis showed decreased injury in lung, liver, and intestine in de-escalation therapy compared with escalation therapy (p < 0.01). De-escalation therapy results in the highest 6-day survival rate compared with the control group (p < 0.01), however, no significant difference was found between de-escalation and escalation group (p = 0.051). The in vitro study showed that the imipenem could promote, while the ceftriaxone could inhibit the formation of NETs in PMA-activated PMNs through a ROS-dependent manner. We firstly demonstrate that de-escalation, not escalation, therapy reduces organ injury, decreases inflammatory response by promoting NETs formation in the early stage, and inhibiting NETs formation in the late stage of sepsis.
Cardiac expression of microRNA-7 is associated with adverse cardiac remodeling
Authors: Gupta Manveen K. , Sahu Anita , Sun Yu , Mohan Maradumane L. , Kumar Avinash , Zalavadia Ajaykumar , Wang Xi , Martelli Elizabeth E. , Stenson Kate , Witherow Conner P. , Drazba Judy , Dasarathy Srinivasan , Naga Prasad Sathyamangla V. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractAlthough microRNA-7 (miRNA-7) is known to regulate proliferation of cancer cells by targeting Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR/ERBB) family, less is known about its role in cardiac physiology. Transgenic (Tg) mouse with cardiomyocyte-specific overexpression of miRNA-7 was generated to determine its role in cardiac physiology and pathology. Echocardiography on the miRNA-7 Tg mice showed cardiac dilation instead of age-associated physiological cardiac hypertrophy observed in non-Tg control mice. Subjecting miRNA-7 Tg mice to transverse aortic constriction (TAC) resulted in cardiac dilation associated with increased fibrosis bypassing the adaptive cardiac hypertrophic response to TAC. miRNA-7 expression in cardiomyocytes resulted in significant loss of ERBB2 expression with no changes in ERBB1 (EGFR). Cardiac proteomics in the miRNA-7 Tg mice showed significant reduction in mitochondrial membrane structural proteins compared to NTg reflecting role of miRNA-7 beyond the regulation of EGFR/ERRB in mediating cardiac dilation. Consistently, electron microscopy showed that miRNA-7 Tg hearts had disorganized rounded mitochondria that was associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. These findings show that expression of miRNA-7 in the cardiomyocytes results in cardiac dilation instead of adaptive hypertrophic response during aging or to TAC providing insights on yet to be understood role of miRNA-7 in cardiac function.
Identifying autism spectrum disorder symptoms using response and gaze behavior during the Go/NoGo game CatChicken
Authors: Putra Prasetia Utama , Shima Keisuke , Alvarez Sergio A. , Shimatani Koji 
Published: November 2021

AbstractPrevious studies have found that Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) children scored lower during a Go/No-Go task and faced difficulty focusing their gaze on the speaker’s face during a conversation. To date, however, there has not been an adequate study examining children’s response and gaze during the Go/No-Go task to distinguish ASD from typical children. We investigated typical and ASD children’s gaze modulation when they played a version of the Go/No-Go game. The proposed system represents the Go and the No-Go stimuli as chicken and cat characters, respectively. It tracks children’s gaze using an eye tracker mounted on the monitor. Statistically significant between-group differences in spatial and auto-regressive temporal gaze-related features for 21 ASD and 31 typical children suggest that ASD children had more unstable gaze modulation during the test. Using the features that differ significantly as inputs, the AdaBoost meta-learning algorithm attained an accuracy rate of 88.6% in differentiating the ASD subjects from the typical ones.
Effect of maturity timing on the physical performance of male Polish basketball players aged 13 to 15 years
Authors: Gryko Karol 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThe aims of this study were (i) to identify the motor potential and basic anthropometric characteristics of Polish basketball players aged 13 to 15 years, (ii) to demonstrate the effect of maturity timing on the results achieved in motor tests and basic body composition parameters, and (iii) to determine which index contributes most to the prediction of performance in the individual tests of speed, jumping ability, agility, and endurance. The sample included 818 male Polish players. Analysis of values related to age-adjusted characteristics showed that in the under 13-year-old group, early maturers had significantly better results (except for stage 1 in the agility test) than average maturers. However, in the endurance test in the under 14- and 15-year-old groups (both distance covered and VO2max), the average maturers obtained higher values. Furthermore, maturity differentiation in the under 14- and 15-year-old groups significantly affected body size, 20-m sprinting time (under 14-year-old group only), and the results of all jumping tests. ANCOVA results (age, body height, and body mass as covariates) showed better results of early maturers in the under 13-year-old group. The opposite trend was observed in the under 14- to 15-year-old groups, where early maturing individuals performed worse in the running vertical jump (VJ) and endurance tests (both distances covered and VO2max). Maturity timing (VJ and VO2max), chronological age (5 m, 10 m, 20 m, agility, and VO2max tests), body height (all tests), body mass (5 m), and the interaction between body mass and height (10 m, 20 m, agility, standing vertical jump, vertical jump) were significant (adjusted R2 = 0.08–0.25; p < 0.001) predictors of motor skills. These findings can be helpful in quantifying and controlling the results of youth sports programs adjusted to biological requirements used in the training process.
Inverse correlation between urethral length and continence before and after native tissue pelvic floor reconstruction
Authors: Mothes A. R. , Mothes H. K. , Kather A. , Altendorf-Hofmann A. , Radosa M. P. , Radosa J. C. , Runnebaum I. B. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractUrethral length was evaluated retrospectively in patients with prolapse undergoing anterior native-tissue repair. Effects of age, prolapse stage, defect pattern, urodynamic and clinical stress test findings, and tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) surgery indication were analyzed using Mann–Whitney and Wilcoxon tests and linear and logistic regression. Of 394 patients, 61% had stage II/III and 39% had stage IV prolapse; 90% of defects were central (10% were lateral). Median pre- and postoperative urethral lengths were 14 and 22 mm (p < 0.01). Preoperative urethral length was greater with lateral defects [p < 0.01, B 6.38, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.67–8.08] and increased stress incontinence risk (p < 0.01, odds ratio 1.07, 95% CI 1.03–1.12). Postoperative urethral length depended on prolapse stage (p < 0.01, B 1.61, 95% CI 0.85–2.38) and defect type (p = 0.02, B – 1.42, 95% CI – 2.65 to – 0.2). Postoperatively, TVT surgery was indicated in 5.1% of patients (median 9 months), who had longer urethras than those without this indication (p = 0.043). Native-tissue prolapse repair including Kelly plication increased urethral length, reflecting re-urethralization, particularly with central defects. The functional impact of urethral length in the context of connective tissue aging should be examined further.
Scale invariance of cell size fluctuations in starving bacteria
Authors: Shimaya Takuro , Okura Reiko , Wakamoto Yuichi , Takeuchi Kazumasa A. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractIn stable environments, cell size fluctuations are thought to be governed by simple physical principles, as suggested by recent findings of scaling properties. Here, by developing a microfluidic device and using E. coli, we investigate the response of cell size fluctuations against starvation. By abruptly switching to non-nutritious medium, we find that the cell size distribution changes but satisfies scale invariance: the rescaled distribution is kept unchanged and determined by the growth condition before starvation. These findings are underpinned by a model based on cell growth and cell cycle. Further, we numerically determine the range of validity of the scale invariance over various characteristic times of the starvation process, and find the violation of the scale invariance for slow starvation. Our results, combined with theoretical arguments, suggest the relevance of the multifork replication, which helps retaining information of cell cycle states and may thus result in the scale invariance.
Correlation of Ophthalmology Residency Application Characteristics with Subsequent Performance in Residency
Authors: Gudgel Brett M. , Melson Andrew T. , Dvorak Justin , Ding Kai , Siatkowski R. Michael 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Purpose Only from reviewing applications, it is difficult to identify which applicants will be successful ophthalmology residents. The change of the USMLE Step 1 scoring to “Pass/Fail” removes another quantitative metric. We aimed to identify application attributes correlated with successful residency performance. This study also used artificial intelligence (AI) to evaluate letters of recommendation (LOR), the Dean's letter (MSPE), and personal statement (PS).
Design Retrospective analysis of application characteristics versus residency performance was conducted.
Participants Residents who graduated from the Dean McGee Eye Institute/University of Oklahoma Ophthalmology residency from 2004 to 2019 were included in this study.
Methods Thirty-four attributes were recorded from each application. Residents were subjectively ranked into tertiles and top and bottom deciles based on residency performance by faculty present during their training. The Ophthalmic Knowledge Assessment Program (OKAP) examination scores were used as an objective performance metric. Analysis was performed to identify associations between application attributes and tertile/decile ranking. Additional analysis used AI and natural language processing to evaluate applicant LORs, MSPE, and PS.
Main Outcome Measures Characteristics from residency applications that correlate with resident performance were the primary outcome of this study.
Results Fifty-five residents and 21 faculty members were included. A grade of “A” or “Honors” in the obstetrics/gynecology (OB/GYN) clerkship and the presence of a home ophthalmology department were associated with ranking in the top tertile but not the top decile. Mean core clerkship grades, medical school ranking in the top 25 U.S. News and World Report (USNWR) primary care rankings, and postgraduate year (PGY)-2 and PGY-3 OKAP scores were predictive of being ranked in both the top tertile and the top decile. USMLE scores, alpha-omega-alpha (AOA) status, and number of publications did not correlate with subjective resident performance. AI analysis of LORs, MSPE, and PS did not identify any text features that correlated with resident performance.
Conclusions Many metrics traditionally felt to be predictive of residency success (USMLE scores, AOA status, and research) did not predict resident success in our study. We did confirm the importance of core clerkship grades and medical school ranking. Objective measures of success such as PGY-2 and PGY-3 OKAP scores were associated with high subjective ranking.
Virtual Ophthalmology Fellowship Interviews: Perceptions of U.S. Ophthalmology Fellowship Applicants in 2020
Authors: Patel Samir N. , Cherkas Elliot G. , Shields Charlotte N. , Soares Rebecca R. , Hinkle John W. , Razeghinejad Reza , Hammersmith Kristin M. , Finklea Brenton D. , Shields Carol L. , Cohen Michael N. , Khan M. A. , Kuriyan Ajay E. , Klufas Michael A. 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Objective This study aimed to evaluate the experiences and preferences of ophthalmology fellowship applicants utilizing a virtual interview format.
Design Present study is a cross-sectional study.
Subjects All fellowship applicants to Wills Eye Hospital during 2020 to 2021 application cycle were included.
Methods A nonvalidated, online survey was conducted, and surveys were distributed at the conclusion of the interview process after rank list submission.
Main Outcome Measures Applicant demographics, application submissions, interview experiences, financial considerations, and suggestions for improvement of the virtual interview process were the primary outcomes of this cross-sectional study.
Results Survey responses were received from 68 fellowship applicants (34% response rate). Thirty (44%) applicants preferred in-person interviews, 25 (36%) preferred virtual interviews, and 13 (19%) would like to prefer the option to choose either. Fifty-five of 68 (80%) applicants attended the same range of interviews for which they received interview invitations. Reduced costs were reported as the highest ranked strength of virtual interviews in 44 (65%) applicants, with a majority of respondents (68%) spending less than U.S. $250 throughout the entire process. The highest ranked limitation for virtual interviews was limited exposure to the culture/environment of the program in 20 (29%) respondents. On a scale of 0 to 100, the mean (standard deviation [SD]) satisfaction level with the fellowship application process was 74.6 (18.3) and mean (SD) perceived effectiveness levels of virtual interviews was 67.4 (20.4).
Conclusion Respondents were generally satisfied with virtual interviews and noted reduced costs and increased ability to attend more fellowship interviews as the strengths of the virtual interview format. Limited exposure to the culture/environment of the program was cited as the most important limitation.