bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An outbreak of infective endocarditis during the COVID-19 pandemic? - an observational retrospective single centre study
Authors: Cabral M , Fernandes S , Santos LG , Carvalho R , Sa FM , Martins H , Pernencar S , Ruivo C , Santos B , Morais J 
Published: April 2021

Abstract

Funding Acknowledgements
Type of funding sources: None.
Infective endocarditis (IE) is described as an uncommon and challenging infective disease, due to its presentation variability. Its mortality remains high besides the better disease knowledge and therapeutic progress.
The aim of this study was to describe the clinical features and the incidence of IE. Furthermore, we try to identify the risk factors associated with early mortality.
A retrospective study was conducted and all patients diagnosed with definite or possible IE between January 2015 and June 2020, according to the modified Duke criteria, were included. Patient selection and information collection were obtained through medical records. Outcomes were in-hospital and 3 months after discharge mortality.
Group comparisons and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed. A p-value less than 0.05 is statistically significant.
We analysed 51 patients, which 41 were admitted between 2015 and 2019 with a mean incidence of 8.2 cases per year. In 2020, 10 cases were diagnosed, corresponding to a percentual increase of 143.9%.
Of the 51 patients, 70.6% were male. The mean age was 65 years. Fever was the main presentation feature at admission. We counted 33.3% prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) and 5.9% IE device-related. The most common pathogens were Streptococcus gallolyticus (13.7%) and Streptococcus oralis (13.7%). 35 patients (68.6%) had local complications and 26 patients (51%) had systemic complications. One-third of the patients was referenced to surgical treatment. Overall in-hospital mortality was 19.6% and early mortality at 3 months was 27.5%.
In the univariate analysis, early mortality was higher in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients (p &lt; 0.01) and in those who developed sepsis during hospitalization (p = 0.04). In multivariate logistic regression, only DM (OR = 15.8, 95% CI [3.2, 79.0]) was shown to be an independent factor of mortality.
The incidence of IE increased during the first semester of 2020, possibly due to the increased attention given to patients with fever. Diabetes mellitus was found to be the only independent predictor of mortality. More national multicentre studies are needed. Predictive factors of 3 months mortalitySurvivors (n = 37)Non-survivors (n = 14)p-valueAge, med (IQ)70.0 (23.0)70.5 (14.0)0.42Female, n(%)11 (29.7)4 (28.6)1.00Diabetes mellitus, n(%)6 (16.2)11 (78.6)&lt;0.01Local complication, n(%)24 (64.9)11 (78.4)0.50Sepsis, n(%)2 (5.4)4 (28.6)0.04Univariate analysis (resumed version). med-median, IQ-interquartile range, n-absolute frequencyAbstract Figure. ROC curve for logistic regression model
Cardiac sarcoidosis evaluation and characterization with cardiac magnetic resonance
Authors: Caldeira Da Rocha R , Picarra B , Santos AR , Pais J , Carrington M , Dias Claudio F , Fernandes R , Trinca M 
Published: April 2021

Abstract

Funding Acknowledgements
Type of funding sources: None.

Introduction
Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic inflammatory disease, which accounts for substantial morbimortality. Cardiac involvement portends a worse prognosis. A major limitation in the evaluation of cardiac sarcoidosis is that no gold standard clinical diagnostic criteria exists. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) may be indicated in patients with suspected cardiac involvement as a diagnostic and prognostic tool.

Purpose
The aim of this study was to characterize the features of cardiac involvement of sarcoidosis in patients with stablished diagnosis of the systemic disease, as well as to describe changes observed.

Methods
A multicenter, 6-years prospective study of all patients with sarcoidosis who performed CMR to evaluate possible cardiac involvement. We followed a protocol to evaluate the left and right ventricles (VE; RV) both anatomically and functionally, T2- weighted STIR sequences to evaluate myocardial edema and presence of late gadolinium enhancement(LGE).

Results
A total of 20 patients were included. Female patients accounted for 75% of the cases, and the mean age was 53 ± 15 years old. A majority of the patients (90%) had preserved LV (mean LV ejection fraction(EF)63 ± 6%) and RV ejection fraction (mean RV EF 62 ± 7%). Patients observed presented with mean LV end diastolic indexed volume(EDIV) of 72 ± 19 mL/m2 and mean RV EDIV of 63 ± 18mL/m2, with only one patient presenting with LV dilation(LV EDIV 138mL/m2) and two with RV dilation (mean RV EDIV 107 ± 6mL/m2). Possible features of cardiac sarcoidosis were present in 10% (n = 2) of patients. One of them presented with biventricular dilation and severe ejection fraction depression(LV EF 22% and RV EF 28%). LGE was observed in these two patients, with one presenting with an intramyocardial lesion with nodular appearance on the apical inferior segment and the other patient having its distribution characterized with two different patterns: linear appearance on the septal intramyocardium and subepicardial on the basal and mid segments of the inferior wall. On STIR sequences none of the patients presented with hypersignal suggestive of edema. None of them presented with left atrium dilation.

Conclusion
CMR provides a noninvasive and multidimensional assessment of the heart for evaluation of cardiac sarcoidosis. In our population of patients with sarcoidosis but without established cardiac involvement diagnosis, CMR allowed a 10% increasement on the diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis. CMR myocardial fibrosis detection allowed a better stratification of patients with sarcoidosis.
Features of heart rate variability in patients with takotsubo syndrome
Authors: Evdokimov D , Boldueva SA , Feoktistova VS , Baeva TA 
Published: April 2021

Abstract

Funding Acknowledgements
Type of funding sources: None. Main funding source(s): North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov

Objective
to study the features of autonomic regulation of sinus rhythm features of autonomic regulation of cardiac sinus rhythm in patients with Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) during inpatient stay in hospital.
Materials and methods. The study included 25 female patients (the median age 57.5 ± 28.5 years) with TTS, diagnosis was based on the InterTAK criteria. On the 5-7th day after admission, the heart rate variability (HRV) was assessed both at rest and cardiac autonomic function tests: the deep breathing test (DBT) and active orthostatic test (AOT) with the usage of a computer diagnostic system «Valenta».

RESULTS
According to HRV data, initially at rest, the majority of the studied patients predominantly had a parasympathetic impact on the heart rate regulation: in 70% - increased parasympathetic influence, in 17% - increased sympathetic influence, in 13% - a balanced heart rate regulation. When performing a DBT, the predominance of the parasympathetic influence on the heart rate was noted both in spectral parameters and according to the data of time analysis (HF during DBT increased 1.8 times up to 489.6 ± 114.2 ms2 (p &lt;0.05) ; LF decreased 1.7 times up to 254.1 ± 70.3 ms2 (p &lt;0.05); VLF increased 2.8 times up to 402.3 ± 101.8 ms2 (p &lt;0, 05); TP increased 1.4 times up to 1145.9 ± 251.3 ms2; CV increased 1.3 times up to 6.5 ± 0.7% (p &lt;0.05); SDNN increased 1.3 times up to - 58.7 ± 6.6 ms (p &lt;0.05). HRV measured during an AOT showed a paradoxical evaluation in the parasympathetic impact on the heart rate (HF increased by 1.8 times and reached - 488.0 ± 104.7 ms2 (p &lt;0.05); LF decreased by 1.1 times up to 408 , 4 ± 103.6 ms2; VLF increased 1.2 times up to 166.4 ± 52.2 ms2; TP increased 1.3 times up to 1062.8 ± 181.1 ms2 (p &lt;0.05); CV increased 1.6 times up to 8.0 ± 0.9% (p &lt;0.05); SDNN increased 1.4 times up to 62.6 ± 7.5 ms (p &lt;0.05)).

Conclusions
During the index hospital inpatient stays the majority of patients with TTS have a vegetative imbalance due to increased parasympathetic influence on the heart rate, both at rest and during a deep breathing test and an active orthostatic test. This fact is quite unexpected and requires further study.
Effects of catheter-directed therapy for pulmonary embolism on pulmonary artery systolic pressure and PaO2/FiO2
Authors: Muzzio M , Rossini A , Costa D , Garcia Iturralde L , Gonzalez C , Sero B , Notrica M , Gregorietti V , Coronel R 
Published: April 2021

Abstract

Funding Acknowledgements
Type of funding sources: None.

Background
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is the third global cause of cardiovascular death. Treatment of high-risk cases and selected intermediate-risk cases is based on systemic thrombolysis, which can be inconvenient in patients with a contraindications for thrombolysis. Catheter-directed therapies are emerging as an alternative for treatment when there is an increased bleeding risk.

Methods
One-center retrospective study of patients with high or intermediate-high risk PE with contraindications for systemic thrombolysis. Catheter directed rheolytic thrombectomy or mechanical thrombectomy was performed, assessing its effect on clinical variables, pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), PaO2/FiO2, and the occurrence of complications.

Results
In 12 patients with PE treated with catheter-directed therapy, we observed a mean increase of the PaO2/FiO2 of 62 mm Hg (p = 0.013), as well mean reduction in the PASP of 13 mm Hg (p &lt; 0.001), as can be observed in the figure. As complications, there was one case of hemoptysis, and two of hemolysis, with an in-hospital mortality of 16.7%.

Conclusion
Catheter-directed therapy in patients with high or intermediate-high risk PE is a feasible option when there are contraindications for thrombolysis or there is a high bleeding risk. It has been shown to improve surrogate endpoints as PASP and right to left ventricle ratio in other studies, although data on mortality from a randomized trial is lacking. Abstract Figure. Gardner-Altman plots.
Outcome and predictors for mortality in cardiogenic shock: a Dutch nationwide registry-based study of 75,407 patients with acute coronary syndrome treated by PCI
Authors: Karami M , Lagrand WK , Houterman S , Den Uil CA , Engstrom AE , Otterspoor LC , Ottervanger JP , Montero-Cabezas JM , Sjauw K , Van Ramshorst J , Kraaijeveld AO , Verouden NJ , Lipsic E , Vlaar AP , Henriques JPS 
Published: April 2021

Abstract

Funding Acknowledgements
Type of funding sources: None.

OnBehalf
Netherlands Heart Registration

Background
It is important to gain more insight into cardiogenic shock (CS), as currently little is known on how to improve outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence, clinical outcome and predictors for mortality of CS in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients treated by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods
The Netherlands Heart Registration (NHR) is a nationwide registry on all cardiac interventions. We used NHR data of ACS patients treated with PCI between 2015 and 2019. CS was defined as shock present at admission. Cox regression analysis was used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results
Among 75,407 ACS patients treated with PCI, 3,028 patients (4.1%) were identified with CS. The incidences of CS were respectively; 4.3%, 3.9%, 3.5% and 4.3% per year. Median follow-up duration was 9 months (IQR 0-26) for patients with CS and 22 months (IQR 12-36) for patients without CS. Thirty-day mortality was 36% for patient with CS and 3% for patients without CS (p &lt; 0.001). Factors independently associated with mortality in CS were: age (HR 1.02, 95%CI 1.02-1.03), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (HR 0.98, 95%CI 0.98-0.99), diabetes mellitus (DM) (HR 1.25, 95%CI 1.08-1.45), multivessel disease (HR 1.22, 95%CI 1.06-1.39), prior myocardial infarction (MI) (HR 1.24, 95%CI 1.06-1.45) and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) (HR 1.71, 95%CI 1.50-1.94) (Table 1).

Conclusion
In this Dutch nationwide registry-based study of ACS patients treated by PCI, the incidence of CS was 4.1% over the 4-year study period. Predictors for mortality in CS were higher age, renal insufficiency, presence of DM, multivessel disease, prior MI and OHCA. Multivariable Cox regression analysisHR95% CIp-valueAge (years)1.021.02-1.03&lt;0.001MaleNSDiabetes mellitus1.251.08-1.45&lt;0.01Multivessel disease1.221.06-1.39&lt;0.01CTONSPrior MI1.241.06-1.45&lt;0.01Prior CABGNSeGFR (ml/min/1.73 m2)0.980.98-0.99&lt;0.001OHCA1.711.50-1.94&lt;0.001STEMINSIntervention yearNS
Evaluation of basic life support education for high school students in a city in brazil
Authors: Coutinho Cordeiro J , Sousa Pinheiro S , Oliveira De Deus M , Aparecida De Sousa Pereira L , Souto Lucio De Oliveira MC 
Published: April 2021

Abstract

Funding Acknowledgements
Type of funding sources: Private grant(s) and/or Sponsorship. Main funding source(s): The researchers themselves.

Background
Cardiorespiratory Arrest (CRP) is a medical emergency that requires urgent aid as well as technical skills to initiate Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) maneuvers, primarily among the lay population, seeing as the majority of CRP episodes take place in community environments.

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to compare the Basic Life Support (BLS) skills of high school students before and after a theoretical-practical approach.

Method
A quasi-experimental study was conducted, consisting of theoretical-practical training on BLS running 60 minutes total (20 minutes of theory and 40 minutes of practice), addressing various steps in layman’s out-of-hospital BLS. Evaluations were conducted before and after training. The instrument was developed by the researchers themselves and underwent a previous validation process. The statistical software employed for the purpose of analyzing the data was SPSS version 21.0 for Windows. At the outset, descriptive statistics were employed to present the data, as well as the Wilcoxon test to compare the results of questionnaires taken before and after the intervention.

Results
The sample consisted of 322 students from private institutions in Brazil. The median age was 16.0 years, with an interquartile interval (IQ) of 2 years, with 181 (56.2%) students being female and 141 (43.8%) male. The before and after results revealed statistically significant differences in performance: pre-training – median = 5 points, IQ = 2 points; post training – 9 points, IQ = 2 points; p &lt; 0.0001. Conclusion: The conduction of theoretical-practical classes was followed by an increase in correct answers to the BLS questionnaire. The results suggest that simple educational strategies might aid in the training of lay young people to respond correctly to CRP scenarios.
Bullet-associated ventricular tachycardia: a case report
Authors: Doldi Florian , Reinke Florian , Yilmaz Ali , Eckardt Lars 
Published: April 2021

Abstract

Background
The majority of ventricular tachycardias (VTs) occurs in patients with structural heart disease and is associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. These VT are scar-related and may develop in patients with ischaemic or non-ischaemic cardiomyopathies.

Case summary
We describe a 44-year-old patient without any pre-existing cardiovascular disease, presenting with the first documentation of a haemodynamically unstable sustained fast VT with a cycle length of 250 ms. He reported a suicidal attempt with a self-made handgun aged 16 when he had shot himself in the thorax and had injured the myocardium. After presenting with the VT coronary artery disease was excluded through cardiac catheterization. A cardiovascular magnetic resonance study showed a localized myocardial scar in the left ventricular free wall starting from the subepicardium and correlating to the scar described 28 years ago by the thoracic surgeons. In an electrophysiological study, non-sustained VT were easily inducible. Presuming a causal relationship between the fast VT and the epicardial scar, a single-chamber implantable cardioverter-defibrillator was implanted and beta-blocker therapy was initiated.

Discussion
Scar-related VT often occur many years after an acute event, e.g. an acute myocardial infarction. This case highlights, that any cardiac trauma, even a superficial epicardial projectile-related damage with subsequent scarring, may cause a VT after many years and to our knowledge for the first time describes the occurrence of a VT due to mechanical damage to the myocardium by a gunshot.
The Effect of Heterologous Insertions on Gene Conversion in Mitotically Dividing Cells in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Coveny Angela M , Dray Tammy , Gloor Gregory B 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
We examined the influence that heterologous sequences of different sizes have on the frequency of double-strand-break repair by gene conversion in Drosophila melanogaster. We induced a double-strand break on one X chromosome in female flies by P-element excision. These flies contained heterologous insertions of various sizes located 238 bp from the break site in cis or in trans to the break, or both. We observed a significant decrease in double-strand-break repair with large heterologous insertions located either in cis or in trans to the break. Reestablishing the homology by including the same heterologous sequence in cis and in trans to the double-strand break restored the frequency of gene conversion to wild-type levels. In one instance, an allelic nonhomologous insertion completely abolished repair by homologous recombination. The results show that the repair of a double-strand break by gene conversion requires chromosome pairing in the local region of the double-strand break.
The Saccharomyces cerevisiae RNase Mitochondrial RNA Processing Is Critical for Cell Cycle Progression at the End of Mitosis
Authors: Cai Ti , Aulds Jason , Gill Tina , Cerio Michael , Schmitt Mark E 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
We have identified a cell cycle delay in Saccharomyces cerevisiae RNase MRP mutants. Mutants delay with large budded cells, dumbbell-shaped nuclei, and extended spindles characteristic of “exit from mitosis” mutants. In accord with this, a RNase MRP mutation can be suppressed by overexpressing the polo-like kinase CDC5 or by deleting the B-type cyclin CLB1, without restoring the MRP-dependent rRNA-processing step. In addition, we identified a series of genetic interactions between RNase MRP mutations and mutations in CDC5, CDC14, CDC15, CLB2, and CLB5. As in most “exit from mitosis” mutants, levels of the Clb2 cyclin were increased. The buildup of Clb2 protein is not the result of a defect in the release of the Cdc14 phosphatase from the nucleolus, but rather the result of an increase in CLB2 mRNA levels. These results indicate a clear role of RNase MRP in cell cycle progression at the end of mitosis. Conservation of this function in humans may explain many of the pleiotropic phenotypes of cartilage hair hypoplasia.
Molecular Analysis of Nondisjunction in Mice Heterozygous for a Robertsonian Translocation
Authors: Underkoffler Lara A , Mitchell Laura E , Localio A Russell , Marchegiani Shannon M , Morabito Justin , Collins Joelle N , Oakey Rebecca J 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
A Robertsonian translocation results in a metacentric chromosome produced by the fusion of two acrocentric chromosomes. Rb heterozygous mice frequently generate aneuploid gametes and embryos, providing a good model for studying meiotic nondisjunction. We intercrossed mice heterozygous for a (7.18) Robertsonian translocation and performed molecular genotyping of 1812 embryos from 364 litters with known parental origin, strain, and age. Nondisjunction events were scored and factors influencing the frequency of nondisjunction involving chromosomes 7 and 18 were examined. We concluded the following: The frequency of nondisjunction among 1784 embryos (3568 meioses) was 15.9%.Nondisjunction events were distributed nonrandomly among progeny. This was inferred from the distribution of the frequency of trisomics and uniparental disomics (UPDs) among all litters.There was no evidence to show an effect of maternal or paternal age on the frequency of nondisjunction.Strain background did not play an appreciable role in nondisjunction frequency.The frequency of nondisjunction for chromosome 18 was significantly higher than that for chromosome 7 in males.The frequency of nondisjunction for chromosome 7 was significantly higher in females than in males.
These results show that molecular genotyping provides a valuable tool for understanding factors influencing meiotic nondisjunction in mammals.
Nuclear Import of Upf3p Is Mediated by Importin-α/-β and Export to the Cytoplasm Is Required for a Functional Nonsense-Mediated mRNA Decay Pathway in Yeast
Authors: Shirley Renee L , Ford Amanda S , Richards M Rachel , Albertini Markus , Culbertson Michael R 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Upf3p, which is required for nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) in yeast, is primarily cytoplasmic but accumulates inside the nucleus when UPF3 is overexpressed or when upf3 mutations prevent nuclear export. Upf3p physically interacts with Srp1p (importin-α). Upf3p fails to be imported into the nucleus in a temperature-sensitive srp1-31 strain, indicating that nuclear import is mediated by the importin-α/β heterodimer. Nuclear export of Upf3p is mediated by a leucine-rich nuclear export sequence (NES-A), but export is not dependent on the Crm1p exportin. Mutations identified in NES-A prevent nuclear export and confer an Nmd– phenotype. The addition of a functional NES element to an export-defective upf – allele restores export and partially restores an Nmd+ phenotype. Our findings support a model in which the movement of Upf3p between the nucleus and the cytoplasm is required for a fully functional NMD pathway. We also found that overexpression of Upf2p suppresses the Nmd– phenotype in mutant strains carrying nes-A alleles but has no effect on the localization of Upf3p. To explain these results, we suggest that the mutations in NES-A that impair nuclear export cause additional defects in the function of Upf3p that are not rectified by restoration of export alone.
A Genealogical Interpretation of Linkage Disequilibrium
Authors: McVean Gilean A T 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
The degree of association between alleles at different loci, or linkage disequilibrium, is widely used to infer details of evolutionary processes. Here I explore how associations between alleles relate to properties of the underlying genealogy of sequences. Under the neutral, infinite-sites assumption I show that there is a direct correspondence between the covariance in coalescence times at different parts of the genome and the degree of linkage disequilibrium. These covariances can be calculated exactly under the standard neutral model and by Monte Carlo simulation under different demographic models. I show that the effects of population growth, population bottlenecks, and population structure on linkage disequilibrium can be described through their effects on the covariance in coalescence times.
Mosaicism of Solid Gold Supports the Causality of a Noncoding A-to-G Transition in the Determinism of the Callipyge Phenotype
Authors: Smit Maria , Segers Karin , Carrascosa Laura Garcia , Shay Tracy , Baraldi Francesca , Gyapay Gabor , Snowder Gary , Georges Michel , Cockett Noelle , Charlier Carole 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
To identify the callipyge mutation, we have resequenced 184 kb spanning the DLK1-, GTL2-, PEG11-, and MEG8-imprinted domain and have identified an A-to-G transition in a highly conserved dodecamer motif between DLK1 and GTL2. This was the only difference found between the callipyge (CLPG) allele and a phylogenetically closely related wild-type allele. We report that this SNP is in perfect association with the callipyge genotype. The demonstration that Solid Gold—the alleged founder ram of the callipyge flock—is mosaic for this SNP virtually proves the causality of this SNP in the determinism of the callipyge phenotype.