bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Experience and procedural efficacy of pulmonary vein isolation using the fourth and second generation cryoballoon: The shorter, the better?
Authors: Heeger Christian‐Hendrik , Bohnen Jan‐Eric , Popescu Sorin , Meyer‐Saraei Roza , Fink Thomas , Sciacca Vanessa , Kirstein Bettina , Hatahet Sascha , Traub Anna , Lopez Lisbeth D. , Schlüter Michael , Kuck Karl‐Heinz , Eitel Charlotte , Vogler Julia , Richard Tilz Roland 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe second‐generation cryoballoon (CB2) provides effective and durable pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) associated with encouraging clinical outcome. The novel fourth‐generation cryoballoon (CB4) incorporates a 40% shorter distal tip. This design change may translate into an increased rate of PVI real‐time signal recording, facilitating an individualized ablation strategy using the time to effect (TTE).Methods and ResultsThree hundred consecutive patients with paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation were prospectively enrolled. The first 150 consecutive patients underwent CB2 based PVI (CB2 group) and the last 150 consecutive patients were treated with the CB4 (CB4 group). A total of 594/594 (100%, CB4) and 589/594 (99.2%, CB2) pulmonary veins (PVs) were successfully isolated utilizing the CB4 and CB2, respectively (p = .283). The real‐time PVI visualization rate was 47% (CB4) and 39% (CB2; p = .005) and the mean freeze cycle duration 200 ± 90 s (CB4) and 228 ± 110 s (CB2; p < .001), respectively. The total procedure time did not differ between the groups (CB4: 64 ± 32 min) and (CB2: 62 ± 29 min, p = .370). No differences in periprocedural complications were detected.ConclusionsA higher rate of real‐time electrical PV recordings are seen using the CB4 as compared to CB2, which may facilitate an individualized ablation strategy using the TTE.
Risk stratification by long non‐coding RNAs profiling in COVID‐19 patients
Authors: Cheng Jie , Zhou Xiang , Feng Weijun , Jia Min , Zhang Xinlu , An Taixue , Luan Minyuan , Pan Yi , Zhang Shu , Zhou Zhaoming , Wen Lei , Sun Yun , Zhou Cheng 
Published: March 2021

AbstractCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), has become a global pandemic worldwide. Long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a subclass of endogenous, non‐protein‐coding RNA, which lacks an open reading frame and is more than 200 nucleotides in length. However, the functions for lncRNAs in COVID‐19 have not been unravelled. The present study aimed at identifying the related lncRNAs based on RNA sequencing of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection as well as health individuals. Overall, 17 severe, 12 non‐severe patients and 10 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Firstly, we reported some altered lncRNAs between severe, non‐severe COVID‐19 patients and healthy controls. Next, we developed a 7‐lncRNA panel with a good differential ability between severe and non‐severe COVID‐19 patients using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression. Finally, we observed that COVID‐19 is a heterogeneous disease among which severe COVID‐19 patients have two subtypes with similar risk score and immune score based on lncRNA panel using iCluster algorithm. As the roles of lncRNAs in COVID‐19 have not yet been fully identified and understood, our analysis should provide valuable resource and information for the future studies.
Single‐cell analysis reveals metastatic cell heterogeneity in clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Liu Kun , Gao Rui , Wu Hao , Wang Zhe , Han Guang 
Published: March 2021

AbstractRenal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer‐related death worldwide. Tumour metastasis and heterogeneity lead to poor survival outcomes and drug resistance in patients with metastatic RCC (mRCC). In this study, we aimed to assess intratumoural heterogeneity (ITH) in mRCC cells by performing a combined analysis of bulk data and single‐cell RNA‐sequencing data, and develop novel biomarkers for prognosis prediction on the basis of the potential molecular mechanisms underlying tumorigenesis. Eligible single‐cell cohorts related to mRCC were acquired using the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset to identify potential mRCC subpopulations. We then performed gene set variation analysis to understand the differential function in primary RCC and mRCC samples. Subsequently, we applied weighted correlation network analysis to identify coexpressing gene modules that were related to the external trait of metastasis. Protein‐protein interactions were used to screen hub subpopulation‐difference (sub‐dif) markers (ACTG1, IL6, CASP3, ACTB and RAP1B) that might be involved in the regulation of RCC metastasis and progression. Cox regression analysis revealed that ACTG1 was a protective factor (HR < 1), whereas the other four genes (IL6, CASP3, ACTB and RAP1B) were risk factors (HR > 1). Kaplan‐Meier survival analysis suggested the potential prognostic value of these sub‐dif markers. The expression of sub‐dif markers in mRCC was further evaluated in clinical samples by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Additionally, the genetic features of sub‐dif marker expression patterns, such as genetic variation profiles, correlations with tumour‐infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and targeted signalling pathway activities, were assessed in bulk RNA‐seq datasets. In conclusion, we established novel subpopulation markers as key prognostic factors affecting EMT‐related signalling pathway activation in mRCC, which could facilitate the implementation of a treatment for mRCC patients.
Characterizing the degeneration of nuclear membrane and mitochondria of adipose‐derived mesenchymal stem cells from patients with type II diabetes
Authors: Horiguchi Michiko , Hata Shinichi , Tsurudome Yuya , Ushijima Kentaro 
Published: March 2021

AbstractRegenerative therapeutic approaches involving the transplantation of stem cells differentiated into insulin‐producing cells are being studied in patients with rapidly progressing severe diabetes. Adipose‐derived mesenchymal stem cells have been reported to have varied cellular characteristics depending on the biological environment of the location from which they were harvested. However, the characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells in type II diabetes have not been clarified. In this study, we observed the organelles of mesenchymal stem cells from patients with type II diabetes under a transmission electron microscope to determine the structure of stem cells in type II diabetes. Transmission electron microscopic observation of mesenchymal stem cells from healthy volunteers (N‐ADSC) and those from patients with type II diabetes (T2DM‐ADSC) revealed enlarged nuclei and degenerated mitochondrial cristae in T2DM‐ADSCs. Moreover, T2DM‐ADSCs were shown to exhibit a lower expression of Emerin, a constituent protein of the nuclear membrane, and a decreased level of mitochondrial enzyme activity. In this study, we successfully demonstrated the altered structure of nuclear membrane and the decreased mitochondrial enzyme activity in adipose‐derived mesenchymal cells from patients with type II diabetes. These findings have contributed to the understanding of type II diabetes‐associated changes in mesenchymal stem cells used for regenerative therapy.
Human SHC‐transforming protein 1 and its isoforms p66shc: A novel marker for prediabetes
Authors: Jelinek Herbert F , Helf Charlotte , Khalaf Kinda 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAimsPrediabetes is a multifactorial condition. Current guidelines for diabetes screening recommend either the use of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), or blood glucose level (BGL). This research aimed to identify if p66shc a component of the Human SHC‐Transforming Protein 1 (Shc1), a mitochondrial associated oxidative stress biomarker, is significantly altered in patients with elevated BGL. Furthermore, we evaluated if inflammatory and oxidative stress markers, such as p66shc, are a useful addition to the regularly used biomarkers to increase sensitivity for identification of prediabetes.MethodsAll participants attended the Diabetic Health Screening at Charles Sturt University (CSU), Australia. The cross‐sectional clinical study collected demographic and clinical variables from 346 participants and classified into control or prediabetes based on fasting BGL. Blood and urine samples were analyzed for oxidative stress and inflammation markers. Logistic regression was used to compare multidimensional diagnostic models for prediabetes, including p66shc/Shc1, to the current HbA1c‐only model in terms of sensitivity, specificity and predictive accuracy. Significance was set at P ≤ 0.05.ResultsA significant decrease of p66shc/Shc1 was determined in prediabetes compared to controls (P ≤ 0.05). HbA1c testing resulted in an accuracy of 62%, while adding p66shc and triglycerides increased predictive accuracy to 88.05%. When HbA1c was omitted and Shc1 was combined with 8‐hydroxy‐2′‐deoxyguanosine (8‐OHdG) and monocyte chemo‐attractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1), a predictive accuracy of 89.5% was achieved.ConclusionOur findings showed a major improvement of sensitivity to identify prediabetes by including oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers underlining beneficial diagnostic information, which most likely improves prevention and early treatment options in prediabetes.
Conceptual framework for telehealth strategies to increase family involvement in treatment and recovery for youth opioid use disorder
Authors: Hogue Aaron , Bobek Molly , Levy Sharon , Henderson Craig E. , Fishman Marc , Becker Sara J. , Dauber Sarah , Porter Nicole , Wenzel Kevin 
Published: March 2021

AbstractWith opioid use at crisis levels, it is imperative to support youth ages with opioid use disorders (OUD) in taking medication and accessing behavioral services over long periods. This article presents a conceptual framework for telehealth strategies that can be adopted to increase family involvement across a four‐stage continuum of youth OUD treatment and recovery: Treatment Preparation, Treatment Initiation, Treatment Stabilization, OUD Recovery. It first identifies provider‐delivered tele‐interventions that can enhance OUD services in each of the four stages, including family outreach, family engagement, family‐focused intervention, and family‐focused recovery maintenance. It then introduces several types of direct‐to‐family tele‐supports that can be used to supplement provider‐delivered interventions. These include both synchronous tele‐supports (remote interactions that occur in real time) such as helplines, peer‐to‐peer coaching, and online support groups; and asynchronous tele‐supports (communications that occur without participants being simultaneously present) such as automated text messaging, self‐directed internet‐based courses, and digital web support.
Comparing dysmenorrhea beliefs and self‐management techniques across symptom‐based phenotypes
Authors: Rogers Sarah Katherine , Rand Kevin L. , Chen Chen Xiao 
Published: March 2021

AbstractObjectivesTo compare beliefs about dysmenorrhea and self‐management techniques across three dysmenorrhea symptom‐based phenotypes.BackgroundMany reproductive‐age women experience dysmenorrhea, with varying symptoms and intensity. Dysmenorrhea symptom‐based phenotypes have been identified in previous research, defining distinctive phenotypes of mild localised pain, severe localised pain, and multiple severe symptoms. It is unknown if women from different phenotypes hold different beliefs about dysmenorrhea or if they engage in different self‐management techniques.DesignQuantitative secondary analysis of cross‐sectional survey data.MethodsThis online study surveyed 762 women with dysmenorrhea in the United States. Participants reported their dysmenorrhea symptom intensity, beliefs about dysmenorrhea (i.e. beliefs about consequences, timeline, controllability, symptom severity, normalcy, emotional response to symptoms and treatments) and self‐management techniques to prevent or treat symptoms. Beliefs regarding dysmenorrhea and types of self‐management techniques used were compared across three phenotypes utilising ANOVA tests and Tukey's HSD for pairwise comparisons. Reporting followed the STROBE guidelines.ResultsWomen with multiple severe symptoms had significantly more negative beliefs regarding dysmenorrhea and utilised significantly more self‐management techniques than women with severe localised pain and women with mild localised pain. Women with severe localised pain had significantly more negative beliefs regarding dysmenorrhea and utilised significantly more self‐management techniques than women with mild localised pain. Negative beliefs regarding dysmenorrhea included: consequences of dysmenorrhea, timeline of symptoms, personal and treatment control, symptom severity, normalcy of symptoms, emotional response to symptoms and willingness to utilise complementary medicine.ConclusionResults further support the distinction between dysmenorrhea symptom‐based phenotypes. Not only do women in different phenotypes experience different severity and number of dysmenorrhea symptoms, they also perceive and manage their dysmenorrhea differently.Relevance to Clinical PracticeThese findings have implications for tailoring interventions to different dysmenorrhea symptom‐based phenotypes.
Evaluating and communicating hepatitis C cascades of care data in Tayside, Scotland: A journey towards elimination
Authors: Baiano Cassandra X. , Caven Madeleine , Robinson Emma M. , Dillon John F. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractChronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the leading causes of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The WHO 2030 Elimination Goals require each country to evaluate their response to their epidemics. This can be achieved by visualization of cascades of care, depicting how infected cases move through disease control stages. However, methods of displaying data are debated and lack practical application. This project proposes a new way of codifying and displaying HCV data using Tayside as a case study. 1464 cases of active HCV infections in Tayside from 2015 to 2019 were analysed from NHS Tayside’s HCV Database. Variables were evaluated to create a systematic coding framework that was then used to code each patient’s diagnosis, treatment and cure status each year from 2015 to 2019. Graphical representation of the data in the form of a stacked clustered bar chart demonstrates general trends and conversion rates. For example, Tayside has seen an increase in diagnosis‐to‐cure rates from 18% to 49% (2015‐2019). This method also demonstrates the portion of newly and previously diagnosed people accessing treatment, those with unsuccessful or incomplete treatments, completed treatments with unconfirmed cure, and the number of deaths and relocations. In conclusion, this project proposes a novel way of displaying cascades of care data that relays yearly snapshots of an epidemic, cumulative progression over time, nuanced information of each stage and progression towards elimination targets. This method can be meaningfully used to improve local service planning, knowledge exchange across health systems and reporting to bodies like the WHO.
Macronutrient intake, carbohydrate metabolism and cholesterol in Polish male amateur athletes on a vegan diet
Authors: Śliż Daniel , Parol D. , Wełnicki M. , Chomiuk T. , Grabowska I. , Dąbrowska D. , Król W. , Price S. , Braksator W. , Mamcarz A. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractVegan diets are gaining in popularity with physically active individuals. Many long‐distance runners follow a vegan diet at least periodically. This cross‐sectional study of Polish, male, vegan (VEG) (n = 44) and omnivore (OMN) (n = 54) athletes, aged 20–39 years and matched for body mass index (BMI) and training duration, compared their energy and macronutrient intakes, carbohydrate metabolism and cholesterol concentrations. The participants self‐recorded their diets for 4 days. Serum concentrations of cholesterol, glucose, C‐peptide and insulin were measured. The VEG group consumed less protein (12.0% of daily dietary energy ± 1.9% vs. 18.1% ± 3.3%; p < 0.01), less fat (25.6% ± 9.8% vs. 31.7% ± 6.6%; p < 0.01) and more carbohydrate (61.7% ± 11.1% vs. 49.0% ± 7.9%; p < 0.01) than the OMN group. Protein intakes relative to body mass were also lower in the VEG group than the OMN group (1.11 g/kg ± 0.30 vs. 1.44 g/kg ± 0.41; p < 0.01) and below the range recommended for endurance athletes (1.2–2.0 g/kg). The VEG group consumed more unsaturated fatty acids and less saturated fatty acids and had a higher n‐6/n‐3 fatty acid ratio (6.5% ± 2.3% vs. 5.0% ± 2.1%; p < 0.01). The VEG group consumed 0 mg EPA+DHA versus 156 mg in the OMN group (p < 0.01), the current guideline being 250 mg. The VEG group had significantly better insulin sensitivity (HOMA‐IR) and lower C‐peptide and total blood cholesterol levels. In conclusion, the vegan diet provided a healthy balance of macronutrients, and vegan athletes had better insulin sensitivity and lower cholesterol than omnivore athletes, but protein, EPA and DHA may be inadequate and increased intake or supplementation of these nutrients could be considered by vegan athletes.
Complications of distraction osteogenesis: Narrative review
Authors: Kende Prajwalit P. , Sarda Ashish Sunilkumar , Desai Harsh , Landge Jayant , Nimma Vijayalaxmi , Varte Varthangpuii 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAimThe aim of this narrative review is to discuss the complications of distraction osteogenesis (DO) of facial skeleton and their management.Materials and MethodA detailed literature search was done on PubMed, Google Scholar and Embase from the year 1990 onwards. Any systematic review, randomized controlled trial, controlled clinical trial, retrospective/prospective study discussing about complications of maxillofacial DO and their management were included.ResultsComplications related to DO were divided based on phases as (a) planning (patient counselling, improper vector, errors in device selection, etc.), (b) surgery (tooth injury, neurosensory disturbance, incomplete osteotomy, etc.), (c) distraction (device failure, pain at regenerate site, premature consolidation, etc.) and (d) consolidation (infection, hypertrophic scar, relapse, etc.).ConclusionWidespread applications are possible with DO though it is a device‐dependent and technique‐sensitive procedure. With proper planning and execution, DO can become the gold standard for managing various maxillofacial disorders.
Determinants of blood eosinophilia in moderate and severe asthmatic patients during childhood: Evidence from the severe asthma molecular phenotype (SAMP) cohort
Authors: Just Jocelyne , Saf Sarah , Guiddir Tamazoust , Cottel Nathalie , Amat Flore , Lambert Nathalie , Saint‐Pierre Philippe , Bourgoin‐Heck Mélisande 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundAsthma is a heterogeneous disease in which the interaction between genetic and environmental factors plays a major role. The significance of blood eosinophil is unclear. The aim of the study was to determine the significance of blood eosinophil count in moderate‐to‐severe asthmatic children of preschool age and school age.MethodsThis was a prospective cross‐sectional study performed from 2011 to 2015 including children from the severe asthma molecular phenotype (SAMP) cohort at Trousseau Hospital (Paris, France). We included children with severe and moderate asthma, or severe and moderate recurrent wheeze, aged from 1 to 15 years at the time of exploration.ResultsWe analyzed data from 402 children: 248 of preschool age and 154 of school age. Blood eosinophil count third quartile thresholds were 322 and 600 cells/μL for the preschool‐ and school‐age groups, respectively. In multivariate analysis, a blood eosinophil count over this threshold was associated with elevated total IgE (OR = 5.33, P < .01), multiple hospitalizations for asthma attacks (OR = 4.96, P = .03), and a maternal history of asthma (OR = 4.91, P = .01) in preschool children; and with staphylococcal toxin–specific IgE (OR = 2.75, P = .03) in children of school age. Random forest analysis reinforced these results.ConclusionHigh blood eosinophil count is linked to both atopic features and control of asthma with different parameters associated with these features depending on age.
Life history trait response to ambient temperature and food availability variations in the bean weevil Zabrotes subfasciatus
Authors: Corrêa Cindi P. , Parreiras Sheila S. , Beijo Luiz A. , de Ávila Paulo M. , Teixeira Isabel R. V. , Barchuk Angel Roberto 
Published: March 2021

AbstractTemperature is among the most influential factors in animal biology, and especially thermal fluctuations are key determinants of life history traits for ectothermic organisms. Diet characteristics add complexity to the effect of temperature on animals' life history traits. This is even more intricate in phytophagous insects that develop inside hosts. Here, using the seed beetle Zabrotes subfasciatus Boheman we tested life history trait response to five different ambient temperatures (15, 25, 30, 35, and 45 °C). We also tested the effect of the interaction between temperature and diet on the weevils' life history traits and estimated fitness for individuals at different temperature and food supplementation conditions. We first showed that the relationship between temperature and egg size and number, and adult emergence is altered by sugar ingestion, mainly at 30 °C. Additionally, we showed that temperature and sugar ingestion have opposite effects on longevity, with this trait being heightened by sugar ingestion at 25 °C. Interestingly, except at 35 °C, egg size shows a response that opposes the temperature‐size rule, which states increasing environmental temperature reduces insect's size. Finally, excluding the extreme temperatures, fitness patterns increased with temperature and the clearer effect of parental feeding on fitness was registered at 30 °C. Since 30 °C is the temperature at which our weevil populations are maintained in the laboratory, these results point to a possible long‐term “acclimation effect” on the weevils' fitness. Thus, testing the effect of the temperature experienced by the original population on the experimental weevils' fitness might shed light on the biological explanation of the observed temperature vs diet interaction.
Air Disinfection for Airborne Infection Control with a Focus on COVID‐19: Why Germicidal UV is Essential†
Authors: Nardell Edward A. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAerosol transmission is now widely accepted as the principal way that COVID‐19 is spread, as has the importance of ventilation—natural and mechanical. But in other than healthcare facilities, mechanical ventilation is designed for comfort, not airborne infection control, and cannot achieve the 6 to 12 room air changes per hour recommended for airborne infection control. More efficient air filters have been recommended in ventilation ducts despite a lack of convincing evidence that SARS‐CoV‐2 virus spreads through ventilation systems. Most transmission appears to occur in rooms where both an infectious source COVID‐19 case and other susceptible occupants share the same air. Only two established room‐based technologies are available to supplement mechanical ventilation: portable room air cleaners and upper room germicidal UV air disinfection. Portable room air cleaners can be effective, but performance is limited by their clean air delivery rate relative to room volume. SARS‐CoV‐2 is highly susceptible to GUV, an 80‐year‐old technology that has been shown to safely, quietly, effectively and economically produce the equivalent of 10 to 20 or more air changes per hour under real life conditions. For these reasons, upper room GUV is the essential engineering intervention for reducing COVID‐19 spread.