bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inter‐atrial block as a predictor of adverse outcomes in patients with HFpEF
Authors: Weerts Jerremy , Mourmans Sanne G.J. , Lopez‐Martinez Helena , Domingo Mar , Aizpurua Arantxa Barandiarán , Henkens Michiel T.H.M. , Achten Anouk , Lupón Josep , Rocca Hans‐Peter Brunner‐La , Knackstedt Christian , Bayés‐Genís Antoni , van Empel Vanessa P.M. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractAimsInter‐atrial block (IAB), a marker of electrical atrial dysfunction, is associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) and adverse events in various populations. The prognostic impact of IAB in heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains unknown. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of IAB and the association of IAB and AF with adverse events in HFpEF across different healthcare settings.Methods and resultsTo identify electrical atrial dysfunction, baseline ECG's and medical history were analysed in HFpEF patients in an ambulatory setting and after recent HF hospitalisation. Patients were categorised into (i) HFpEFNo IAB, (ii) HFpEFIAB, or (iii) HFpEFAF. Adverse events included HF hospitalisation, cardiac/sudden death and a composite of both. The ambulatory cohort included 372 patients [mean age 75 ± 7 years, 252 (68%) females]. The recently hospitalised cohort included 132 patients [mean age 81 ± 10 years, 80 (61%) females]. Ambulatory patients included 17 (4%) HFpEFnoIAB, 114 (31%) HFpEFIAB and 241 (65%) HFpEFAF, while recently hospitalised patients included 31 (23%), 73 (55%) and 28 (21%), respectively. After 33 months of follow‐up of ambulatory patients, composite endpoints occurred in 0 (0%) HFpEFnoIAB, 12 (11%) HFpEFIAB [HR 4.1 (95% CI 0.5–522.6)] and 59 (24%) HFpEFAF patients [HR 10.1 (95% CI 1.5–1270.4), P < 0.001]. Recently hospitalised patients showed a similar trend, with composite endpoints in 10 (32%) HFpEFnoIAB, 31 (42%) HFpEFIAB (HR 1.5 [95% CI 0.7–3.1]) and 22 (79%) HFpEFAF (HR 3.8 [95% CI 1.8–8.1], P < 0.001).ConclusionsProgressive stages of electrical atrial dysfunction appeared to be prognostic markers of adverse outcomes in ambulatory and recently hospitalised patients with HFpEF. Ambulatory patients with HFpEF and no early stages of electrical atrial dysfunction showed to be at very low risk for adverse outcomes. Whether such patients benefit less strict management remains to be investigated.
The prognostic value of the Dandel's index in patients undergoing tricuspid transcatheter edge‐to‐edge repair
Authors: Kassar Mohammad , Brugger Nicolas , Stolz Lukas , Gerçek Muhammed , Fortmeier Vera , Kresoja Karl‐Patrik , von Stein Jennifer , Koell Benedikt , Rottbauer Wolfgang , Goebel Bjoern , Denti Paolo , Achouh Paul , Rassaf Tienush , Barreiro‐Perez Manuel , Boekstegers Peter , Rück Andreas , Zdanyte Monika , Adamo Marianna , Vincent Flavien , Schlegel Philipp , von Bardeleben Ralph‐Stephan , Wild Mirjam G. , Toggweiler Stefan , Konstandin Mathias H. , Van Belle Eric , Metra Marco , Geisler Tobias , Estévez‐Loureiro Rodrigo , Luedike Peter , Karam Nicole , Maisano Francesco , Lauten Philipp , Kessler Mirjam , Kalbacher Daniel , Iliadis Christos , Lurz Philipp , Windecker Stephan , Hausleiter Jörg , Rudolph Volker , Praz Fabien 
Published: December 2024

AimsConventional parameters of right ventricular (RV) function are load‐dependent and therefore do not accurately reflect contractility in patients with relevant tricuspid regurgitation (TR). RV adaptability to load has been characterized using the Dandel's index in patients with heart failure, but its prognostic value in patients undergoing tricuspid transcatheter edge‐to‐edge repair (T‐TEER) has not been investigated so far.Methods and resultsFrom the EuroTR registry (2019 to 2022), patients with complete datasets and a minimum of 2‐years of follow‐up were included. RV functional parameters (i.e. tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion [TAPSE], fractional area change [FAC], TAPSE/systolic pulmonary arterial pressure [sPAP]), as well as a echocardiographic RV load adaptation index (Dandel's index) were assessed and their predictive value in terms of all‐cause mortality evaluated using logistic multivariate logistic regression. The majority of the 364 patients had secondary TR (96%) and were severely symptomatic (New York Heart Association class ≥III; 92%). At 2‐year follow‐up, 36% of patients had died. Functional RV parameters (TAPSE: hazard ratio [HR] 0.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.62–0.84; FAC: HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.59–0.91), coupling index (TAPSE/sPAP: HR 0.8, 95% CI 0.65–0.99) and Dandel's index (HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.53–0.85) were all associated with mortality at 2 years in univariable analyses. In a multivariate logistic regression model, the Dandel's index maintained its predictive value (p < 0.001), along with TAPSE and absence of signs of right heart failure, with an optimal threshold of 20.5 determined by the receiver‐operating characteristic analysis. This threshold also successfully predicted cardiac hospital readmission. A multivariate analysis was conducted to identify parameters linked to RV function and predicting clinical outcomes.ConclusionAssessment of the RV capacity to adjust for changes in loading conditions predicted mortality in patients with severe symptomatic TR undergoing T‐TEER. The use of a multiparametric approach including the Dandel's index to assess RV function had an incremental value for the stratification of patients into subgroups with different prognosis.
Synergistic Beneficial Effects of Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) Oil and Olive (Olea europaea L.) Oil Against Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Fatty Liver and Its Complications
Authors: Noreen Sana , Hashmi Bushra , Tufail Tabussam , Ikram Ali , Arshad Muhammad Tayyab , Gnedeka Kodjo Théodore 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTFlaxseed and olive oil effectively treat numerous diseases and health conditions, particularly metabolic disorders. Traditional medicine has used both oils for managing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, gastrointestinal dysfunctions, metabolic‐dysfunction‐associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), obesity, and more. This review explores the bioactive and polyphenolic compounds in flaxseed and olive oils that provide anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant, anti‐microbial, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, antidiabetic, and gastroprotective benefits. Flaxseed oil contains beneficial compounds like alpha‐linolenic acid (ALA), lignans, ferulic acid, p‐coumaric acid, and phytosterols. It contributes to its therapeutic effects on fatty liver disease and other conditions. Olive oil contains phenolic compounds, including oleic acid, hydroxytyrosol, and tocopherols, which are similarly linked to metabolic health benefits, especially in managing MAFLD. The purpose of this review is to elucidate the mechanisms of action of these bioactive compounds, highlighting their potential in managing various metabolic diseases.
Neuropsychiatric Symptoms Associated With Frontotemporal Atrophy in Older Adults Without Dementia
Authors: Liampas Ioannis , Siokas Vasileios , Stamati Polyxeni , Kyriakoulopoulou Panayiota , Tsouris Zisis , Zoupa Elli , Folia Vasiliki , Lyketsos Constantine G. , Dardiotis Efthimios 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTObjectivesWe investigated the association between neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) and frontotemporal atrophy (FTA) in older adults without dementia. We hypothesized that the odds of having NPS would be increased in the presence of FTA.MethodsNACC participants ≥ 50 years old with available data on FTA were considered for eligibility. Those with a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and those who were cognitively unimpaired (CU) were separately analyzed. NPS were quantified on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire. Binary logistic regression models estimated the association (odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals are provided) between FTA and having each of 11 NPS (psychotic symptoms were grouped together) in CU and MCI individuals.ResultsFTA data were available for 3165 participants with MCI and 4051 CU: 207 and 55 had FTA on structural MRI studies, respectively. In the MCI group, the presence of FTA was associated with higher odds of having elation [2.42(1.33–4.40), p = 0.004], aberrant motor behavior [2.43(1.61–3.69), p < 0.001], appetite disorders [2.15(1.52–3.04), p < 0.001], apathy [2.05(1.48–2.85), p < 0.001] and disinhibition [2.02(1.38–2.96), p < 0.001]. The odds of having specific NPS were not significantly elevated in CU individuals with FTA. Of note, the size and direction of the associations were indicative of a potential relationship between FTA and specific NPS (most notably elation, aberrant motor behavior, appetite disorders and anxiety); in light of the small number of CU individuals with FTA we believe this analysis was underpowered and obscured several true associations.ConclusionsFTA was associated with higher odds of some NPS in older adults with MCI but not with normal cognition.
DCFU‐Net: Rethinking an Effective Attention and Convolutional Architecture for Retinal Vessel Segmentation
Authors: Xian Yongli , Zhao Guangxin , Chen Xuejian , Wang Congzheng 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTMorphological changes in retinal vessels are early indicators of cardiovascular and various fundus diseases. However, accurately segmenting thin blood vessels remains a challenge due to the complexity of the vascular structure and the irregularity of pathological features. This paper proposes a dual chain fusion U‐Net (DCFU‐Net) for the precise segmentation of retinal vessels. The network consists of a multi‐level segmentation network and a fusion network. The multi‐level segmentation network is designed with a dual chain architecture to generate segmentation results for both thick and thin vessels simultaneously. The fusion network combines the segmented thin and thick vessels with the original image, facilitating the generation of accurate segmentation outcomes. Notably, traditional convolution structures in the DCFU‐Net are replaced by dynamic snake convolutions (DS‐Conv). DS‐Conv is designed to adaptively focus on slender and tortuous local features, accurately capturing vascular structures. The shared weight residual block, integrating DS‐Conv and residual structures, which is called DS‐Res block. It serves as the backbone of the DCFU‐Net, enhancing feature extraction capabilities, while significantly reducing computational resource consumption. Additionally, this paper rethinks effective components of the Transformer architecture, identifying the inverted residual mobile block (IRMB) as a key element. By extending the DS‐Conv‐based IRMB into effective attention‐based (EAB) blocks, the network mitigates the loss of semantic information, thereby addressing inherent limitations. The DCFU‐Net is evaluated on three publicly available datasets: DRIVE, STARE, and CHASE_DB1. Qualitative and quantitative analyses demonstrate that the segmentation results of DCFU‐Net outperform state‐of‐the‐art methods.
Comparison of coagulation–Fenton oxidation and coagulation–adsorption processes in textile and chemical industry mixed wastewater
Authors: Enfiyeci Aysun , Çifçi Deniz İzlen 
Published: December 2024

AbstractBACKGROUNDIn this study, the treatment of mixed wastewater from textile and chemical industries using coagulation followed by Fenton oxidation or adsorption processes was investigated. In the coagulation process, the effects of pH and coagulant dosage were examined using polyaluminium chloride, FeCl3 and alum. The effects of Fe2+ and H2O2 concentrations, pH and oxidation time on Fenton oxidation of coagulated mixed industrial wastewater were also investigated. In the adsorption process, the effects of pH, adsorbent dosage and adsorption time were evaluated using coconut‐based activated carbon (Coconut‐AC) and coal‐based activated carbon (Coal‐AC).RESULTSIn coagulation, 68.5% chemical oxygen demand (COD), 63.1% total organic carbon (TOC) and 94.3% color removal were achieved with FeCl3 at pH 5 and a coagulant dose of 600 mg L−1. Coagulation–Fenton oxidation resulted in 95.7% COD, 84.1% TOC and 99.0% color removal with 1500 mg L−1 Fe2+ and 6000 mg L−1 H2O2 at pH 3. In the coagulation–adsorption process, 97.5% COD, 95.5% TOC and 99.5% color removal were obtained using Coconut‐AC with an adsorbent dosage of 40 g L−1 at pH 3, while 92.3% COD, 82.4% TOC and 99.2% color removal were obtained with Coal‐AC at pH 3 and an adsorbent dosage of 30 g L−1.CONCLUSIONEffective treatment of mixed industrial wastewater from the textile and chemical industries can be achieved more quickly using Coconut‐AC for adsorption following coagulation. Conversely, the same removal efficiencies can be reached over a longer duration with Fenton oxidation after coagulation. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Augmentation of Solid Tumor Immunotherapy With IL‐12
Authors: Geils Christian , Kathrein Katie L. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTImmunotherapy describes a class of therapies in which the immune system is manipulated for therapeutic benefit. These treatments include immune checkpoint inhibitors, adoptive cell therapy, and vaccines. For many hematological malignancies, immunotherapy has emerged as an essential treatment component. However, this success has yet to be replicated for solid tumors, which develop advanced physical and molecular mechanisms for suppressing and evading immune destruction. Nevertheless, cytokine immunotherapy presents a potential remedy to these barriers by delivering a proinflammatory immune signal to the tumor and thereby transforming it from immunologically “cold” to “hot.” Interleukin‐12 (IL‐12), one of the most potent proinflammatory cytokines, was initially investigated for this purpose. However, initial murine and human studies in which IL‐12 was administered systemically resulted in dangerous immunotoxicity associated with off‐target immune activation. As a result, recent studies have employed advanced cell and molecular engineering approaches to reduce IL‐12 toxicity while increasing or maintaining its efficacy such that its effective doses can be tolerated in humans. This review highlights such developments and identifies promising future directions.
Development of Broad‐Spectrum β‐Cyclodextrins‐Based Nanomaterials Against Influenza Viruses
Authors: Zwygart Arnaud Charles‐Antoine , Medaglia Chiara , Zhu Yong , Bart Tarbet E. , Jonna Westover , Fage Clément , Le Roy Didier , Roger Thierry , Clément Sophie , Constant Samuel , Huang Song , Stellacci Francesco , Silva Paulo Jacob , Tapparel Caroline 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTIn recent decades, epidemics and pandemics have multiplied throughout the world, with viruses generally being the primary responsible agents. Among these, influenza viruses play a key role, as they potentially cause severe respiratory distress, representing a major threat to public health. Our study aims to develop new broad‐spectrum antivirals against influenza to improve the response to viral disease outbreaks. We engineered macromolecules (named CD‐SA) consisting of a β‐cyclodextrin scaffold modified with hydrophobic linkers in the primary face, onto which unitary sialic acid epitopes are covalently grafted to mimic influenza virus−host receptors. We assessed the antiviral efficacy, mechanism of action, and the genetic barrier to resistance of this compound against influenza in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo. We demonstrated that CD‐SA, with a unitary SA, without extensive polysaccharides or specific connectivity, acts as a potent virucidal antiviral against several human influenza A and B viruses. Additionally, CD‐SA displayed antiviral activity against SARS‐CoV‐2, a virus that also relies on sialic acid for attachment. We then assessed the genetic barrier to resistance for CD‐SA. While resistance emerged after six passages with CD‐SA alone, the virus remained sensitive through eight passages when co‐treated with interferon‐λ1 (IFN λ1). Finally, we completed the characterization of the antiviral activity by conducting both ex vivo and in vivo studies, demonstrating a potent antiviral effect in human airway epithelia and in a mouse model of infection, higher than that of Oseltamivir, a currently approved anti‐influenza antiviral. The findings presented in this study support the potential therapeutic utility of a novel β‐cyclodextrin‐based nanomaterial for the treatment of influenza infections and potentially other sialic acid‐dependent viruses.
Harnessing Trichoderma asperellum: Tri‐Trophic Interactions for Enhanced Black Gram Growth and Root Rot Resilience
Authors: Vijayakumar Praveen , Appusami Sudha , Anbazhagan Selva Amala , Rajendran Ramjegathesh , Shanmugam Kavitha , Perveen Kahkashan , Bukhari Najat A. , Sayyed Riyaz 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTRoot rot caused by Macrophomina phaseolina, a common soil‐borne disease in black gram, is managed with chemical fungicides, leading to toxicity and degradation of beneficial soil microbes. Existing bioagents, like talc formulation, cause leaching, clogging, and reduced productivity. The development of liquid bio‐formulation via drip irrigation is crucial to mitigate biotic stress and maximize yield. This study aims to investigate the efficacy and survivability of liquid formulation of Trichoderma asperellum against root rot and its growth promotion. The results showed that Tv1 effectively inhibited M. phaseolina (66.67%), under in vitro condition. The vigor index of 4025.00 and the spore load of 1 × 108 cfu/mL were recorded from plant growth promotion and spermosphere study @ 5 mL/kg of seeds with formulation. The study found that combined application of seed treatment @ 5 mL/kg of seed and soil application @ 10 mL/L of water significantly reduced disease incidence (9.1%) against control (74.3%), with increased biomass index. There are 32 mVOCs profiled during the tritrophic interaction in roots of black gram and they were up or downregulated, viz., mollugin, pentadecanoic acid, cyclopropaneoctanoic acid, 2‐octyl‐, methyl ester, rhodopin, dodecanoic acid, 1,2,3‐propanetriyl ester by involved in defense mechanism and biosynthetic pathways like jasmonic acid, glyconeogenic and act as acyl‐CoA: acyltransferase 2 inhibitor. The results of this study confirmed that liquid formulation performs better in growth promotion, survivability on seed surface, and managing root rot of black gram compared talc‐based formulation.
Therapeutic Potential of IL‐37 in Cervical Cancer: Suppression of Tumour Progression and Enhancement of CD47‐Mediated Macrophage Phagocytosis
Authors: Feng Yuan , Feng Lianlian , Wang Bingyu , Zhang Teng , Cui Baoxia 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTAs a promising therapeutic approach, immunotherapy is being extensively investigated in cervical cancer. Although immunotherapy has been validated to improve progression‐free survival and overall survival in clinical trials, the overall response rate for cervical cancer remains inadequate, necessitating further improvement. Interleukin (IL)‐37, an emerging immunomodulator, exhibits antitumour potentials by inhibiting tumour progression and regulating tumour‐associated macrophage recognition. We found a significant downregulation of IL‐37 expression in cervical cancer, correlated with a poor prognosis. Moreover, the upregulation of IL‐37 expression exhibited a suppressive effect on various tumorigenic processes, suppressing the proliferation, invasion, migration, apoptosis and angiogenesis of tumour cells. We also found that the upregulation of IL‐37 suppressed cluster of differentiation 47 (CD47) expression in tumour cells via suppression of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) expression and phosphorylation, thereby enhancing macrophage recognition and phagocytosis to tumour cells, ultimately reducing immune evasion. Overall, our study highlighted the crucial role of IL‐37 in antitumour efficacy and downregulating the expression of CD47 in tumour cells to reduce immune evasion, suggesting the potential of IL‐37 as a prognostic biomarker in cervical cancer and offering innovative therapeutic strategies to improve cancer treatment outcomes.
Evaluating Donor Morbidity in ALT and TDAP Flaps With Drainless Closure Compared to Conventional Drain Placement
Authors: Lee Dianne Dong Un , Lee Kyeong‐Tae 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTPurposeRecent trends in reconstructive surgery focus on rapid recovery, questioning the necessity of postoperative drains. Although harvesting perforator flaps causes minimal injury to anatomical structures at donor sites, attempts to omit drains have been limited. This study aimed to assess the safety of not using drains after harvesting the anterolateral thigh (ALT) perforators and the thoracodorsal artery perforator (TDAP) flaps.MethodsAll consecutive patients who underwent free ALT or TDAP flap‐based reconstruction between 2020 and 2022 did not have drains placed at the donor site. Their donor morbidities were evaluated, and compared with those who underwent the same operation between 2016 and 2019 with donor drains placed.ResultsThe drainless cohort consisting of 202 cases (159 ALT and 43 TDAP flaps) and the control cohort comprising 119 (52 ALT and 67 TDAP flaps) were analyzed. In ALT flap cases, the drainless cohort, apart from a larger flap dimension, exhibited comparable baseline characteristics to the control. The rates of overall donor complications were comparable between the two cohorts (10.1% vs. 11.5%, p = 0.795), as were rates for specific complications including wound dehiscence (p = 0.751) and seroma (p = 0.999). Multivariable analysis revealed no significant association between omitting drains and increased donor complications. Consistent results were obtained in the analysis for cases using TDAP flaps, with no significant difference between drainless and drain‐using groups (p = 0.297).ConclusionsOmitting drains in the donor site of ALT and TDAP flaps might be safe, not escalading the risks of donor morbidity.
Measurement of optical density of microbes by multi‐light path transmission method
Authors: Wang Hongwei , Gu Carina M. , Xu Sujuan , Wang Hongfeng , Zhao Xiaomin , Gu Lichuan 
Published: December 2024

AbstractOptical density (OD) is an important indicator of microbial density, and a commonly used variable in growth curves to express the growth of microbial culture. However, OD values show a linear relationship with bacterial concentration only at low concentrations. When the cell density is high, the relationship loses linearity, and serial dilution is needed to obtain readings of better accuracy. Here, we show that measuring OD values using shorter light paths is in close equivalence to measuring OD values of the cell culture with corresponding dilution. By measuring three different light paths simultaneously, accurate OD values can be easily obtained from low to high cell density. Using this method, growth curves of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pichia pastoris are measured with higher accuracy. To further simplify the process, an
L‐shaped cuvette and a corresponding turbidimeter are designed specifically for OD value measurement based on the multi‐light path transmission method.