bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Polyzwitterion-grafted decellularized bovine intercostal arteries as new substitutes of small-diameter arteries for vascular regeneration
Authors: Xia Yuan , Rao Zilong , Wu Simin , Huang Jiayao , Zhou Haiyun , Li Hanzhao , Zheng Hui , Guo Daxin , Quan Daping , Ou Jing-Song , Bai Ying , Liu Yunqi 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Coronary artery bypass grafting is acknowledged as a major clinical approach for treatment of severe coronary artery atherosclerotic heart disease. This procedure typically requires autologous small-diameter vascular grafts. However, the limited availability of the donor vessels and associated trauma during tissue harvest underscore the necessity for artificial arterial alternatives. Herein, decellularized bovine intercostal arteries were successfully fabricated with lengths ranging from 15 to 30 cm, which also closely match the inner diameters of human coronary arteries. These decellularized arterial grafts exhibited great promise following poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC) grafting from the inner surface. Such surface modification endowed the decellularized arteries with superior mechanical strength, enhanced anticoagulant properties and improved biocompatibility, compared to the decellularized bovine intercostal arteries alone, or even those decellularized grafts modified with both heparin and vascular endothelial growth factor. After replacement of the carotid arteries in rabbits, all surface-modified vascular grafts have shown good patency within 30 days post-implantation. Notably, strong signal was observed after α-SMA immunofluorescence staining on the PMPC-grafted vessels, indicating significant potential for regenerating the vascular smooth muscle layer and thereby restoring full structures of the artery. Consequently, the decellularized bovine intercostal arteries surface modified by PMPC can emerge as a potent candidate for small-diameter artificial blood vessels, and have shown great promise to serve as viable substitutes of arterial autografts.
From Europe to Caucasus: cryptic diversity and unexpected biogeographic history of a Western Palaearctic moss-inhabiting flea beetle (Chrysomelidae: Mniophila)
Authors: Damaška Albert František , Fikáček Martin , Daňková Klára , Čičovský Daniel , Smyčková Marie , Koštíř Vojtěch , Munclinger Pavel 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
The turbulent Tertiary and Quaternary history of Europe and the Ponto-Caucasus has had a strong impact on its biota, resulting in unusual patterns of speciation, diversification, and dispersal. Our study reveals the Late-Tertiary diversification and biogeographic history of Mniophila, a Western Palaearctic endemic moss-inhabiting flightless flea beetle distributed across Europe and the Ponto-Caucasus. We assembled samples across the whole range of the genus except Crimea. Based on a molecular phylogenetic analysis, we found that the diversification of Mniophila started in the Balkan Peninsula, and was followed by at least two independent colonizations of other parts of Europe. The Ponto-Caucasian species are all descendants of a single colonization from the Balkans, followed by species’ radiation. The Mniophila beetles are, therefore, one of the first-known cases of the colonization of the Caucasus from Europe. We integrated our DNA data with morphology, allowing us to uncover the cryptic diversity of Mniophila and to revise its European species. We describe Mniophila haveli sp. nov. from the Carpathians and Balkans, M. wroblewskiiWańkowicz, 1880 from Central Europe and the Balkans is restored as a valid species, and M. bosnica Apfelbeck, 1914 is newly recognized as a Dinaric endemic. We reveal an exceedingly large distribution range for M. muscorum (Koch, 1803), which is unusual for a flightless beetle.
Racial Disparities in Pulse Oximetry, in COVID-19 and ICU Settings
Authors: Reep Carmen A.T. , Fleuren Lucas M. , Heunks Leo , Wils Evert-Jan ,   on behalf of the National COVID Cohort Collaborative Consortium
Published: August 2024

OBJECTIVES (BACKGROUND):
This study aimed to assess the impact of race on pulse oximetry reliability, taking into account Spo
2 ranges, COVID-19 diagnosis, and ICU admission.

DESIGN:
Retrospective cohort study covering admissions from January 2020 to April 2024.

SETTING:
National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) database, consisting of electronic health records from 80 U.S. institutions.

PATIENTS/SUBJECTS:
Patients were selected from the N3C database based on the availability of data on self-identified race and both pulse oximetry estimated Spo
2 and Sao
2. Subgroups included patients in ICU and non-ICU settings, with or without a diagnosis of COVID-19 disease.

INTERVENTIONS:
None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:
The agreement between Spo
2 and Sao
2 was assessed across racial groups (American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black, Hispanic or Latino, Pacific Islander, and White). Each patient’s initial Sao
2 measurement was matched with the closest Spo
2 values recorded within the preceding 10-minute time frame. The risk of hidden hypoxemia (Spo
2 ≥ 88% but Sao
2 < 88%) was determined for various Spo
2 ranges, races, and clinical scenarios. We used a generalized logistic mixed-effects model to evaluate the impact of relevant variables, such as COVID-19, ICU admission, age, sex, race, and Spo
2, on the risk of hidden hypoxemia, while accounting for the random effects within each hospital. A total of 80,541 patients were included, consisting of 596 American Indian or Alaska Native, 2,729 Asian, 11,889 Black, 13,154 Hispanic or Latino, 221 Pacific Islander, and 51,952 White individuals. Discrepancies between Spo
2 and Sao
2 were observed across all racial groups, with the most pronounced bias in Black patients. Hidden hypoxemia rates were higher in Black patients across all Spo
2 subgroups, for all clinical scenarios. The odds of hidden hypoxemia were higher for Black and Hispanic or Latino patients and for those with COVID-19 disease.

CONCLUSIONS:
Race significantly impacts pulse oximetry reliability. Not only Black and Hispanic or Latino patients were at higher risk for hidden hypoxemia, but also those admitted with a COVID-19 diagnosis. Future in-depth explorations into the underlying causes and potential solutions are needed.
Association between phthalate exposure and sleep quality in pregnant women: Results from the Korean Children’s Environmental Health Study with repeated assessment of exposure
Authors: Lamichhane Dirga Kumar , Ha Eunhee , Bakian Amanda V. , Hong Yun-Chul , Lee Dong-Wook , Park Myung-Sook , Song Sanghwan , Kim Suejin , Park Hyunju , Kim Woo Jin , Bae Jisuk , Kim Hwan-Cheol ,   Ko-CHENS group
Published: August 2024

Background:
Evidence linking environmental toxicants to sleep quality is growing; however, these associations during pregnancy remain unclear. We examined the associations of repeated measures of urinary phthalates in early and late pregnancy with multiple markers of sleep quality among pregnant women.

Methods:
The study population included 2324 pregnant women from the Korean Children’s Environmental Health Study. We analyzed spot urine samples collected at two time points during pregnancy for exposure biomarkers of eight phthalate metabolites. We investigated associations between four summary phthalates (all phthalates: ∑Phthalates; di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate: ∑DEHP; phthalates from plastic sources: ∑Plastic; and antiandrogenic phthalates: ∑AA) and eight individual phthalates and self-reported sleep measures using generalized ordinal logistic regression and generalized estimating equations models that accounted for repeated exposure measurements. The models were adjusted for age, body mass index, education, gestational age, income, physical activity, smoking, occupation, chronic diseases, depression, and urinary cotinine levels.

Results:
Multiple individual phthalates and summary measures of phthalate mixtures, including ∑Plastic, ∑DEHP, ∑AA, and ∑Phthalates, were associated with lower sleep efficiency. To illustrate, every 1-unit log increase in ∑AA was associated with a reduction of sleep efficiency by 1.37 % (95% confidence interval [CI] = –2.41, –0.32). ∑AA and ∑Phthalates were also associated with shorter sleep duration and longer sleep latency. Associations between summary phthalate measures and sleep efficiency differed by urinary cotinine levels (P for subgroup difference < 0.05).

Conclusions:
Findings suggest that higher phthalate exposure may be related to lower sleep efficiency, shorter sleep duration, and prolonged sleep latency during pregnancy.
Unraveling the core and bridge menopausal symptoms of perimenopausal women: a network analysis
Authors: Zhang Tianyu , Wan Yinglu , Geng Li 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Objective
Perimenopause is the period from the early menopausal transition to 12 months after the final menstrual period. The clustering of menopausal symptoms poses a challenge for perimenopausal management. Core symptoms are targets for interventions that can alleviate other related symptoms. Bridge symptoms are connectors that link related symptom clusters and can improve the effectiveness of interventions. This study aims to construct a network structure of menopausal symptoms and to identify core and bridge symptoms as a reference for future management.

Methods
Two hundred forty-two Chinese perimenopausal women were included in the survey. The structure and associations of the menopausal symptoms assessed by the Greene Climacteric Scale were analyzed using a network analysis. We generated the network structure graph using R software and checked its accuracy and stability.

Results
In the menopausal transition, the most prevalent symptoms were feeling tired or lacking in energy, excitability, and irritability. Sexual dysfunction was common among early postmenopausal women. Irritability (S = 7.16, C = 0.0167, B = 8) was a core symptom of the network. The depressive symptom cluster was a core symptom cluster, most of which have high centrality indices. Excitability (B = 6) was a bridge symptom connecting the anxiety and depressive symptom clusters.

Conclusions
Our study has highlighted the crucial significance of irritability and excitability in perimenopausal management. Overcoming the challenges of perimenopausal management requires the public to ameliorate the prejudice and stigma associated with emotional symptoms.
Screening Preadolescents for Keratoconus Risk Factors in a Low-Resource Setting
Authors: Masiwa Lynett Erita , Moodley Vanessa 
Published: August 2024

Background:
Diagnosis of keratoconus (KC) involves the identification of corneal signs, refraction, and corneal imaging. The prevalence of KC ranges between 0.4 per 100,000 and 4,790, depending on geographical location and ethnicity. Diagnosis of KC should occur early for appropriate management with relatively affordable, accessible options to prevent visual impairment in low-income settings.

Method:
Written consent and assent were obtained from subjects before a questionnaire was administered to collate demographics, general and ocular history of subjects, and keratoconus risk factors. A novel scoring system was applied to identify subjects at a higher risk of developing KC and document KC risk factors prevalent in Harare using an informed risk score calculation.

Results:
Thousand one hundred fifty-three subjects aged between 6 and 12 years were seen. The prevalence of KC was found to be 626/100,000 in primary school children resident in Harare. Reduced visual acuity, vernal keratoconjunctivitis, itchy eyes, eye rubbing, and atopy are the most prevalent KC risk factors identified in this community. Informed risk score calculation proved valuable in the screening for KC.

Conclusion:
The prevalence of KC in primary school children in Harare is 626/100,000, which is relatively high. School-aged children stand to benefit from the early screening for KC based on evidence-based practices in the absence of advanced clinical instrumentation.
Clinical Dilemma—Ecthyma Gangrenosum Versus Sweet Syndrome
Authors: Rafique Soomal , Akram Mohammed Sami , Sundareshan Vidya 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Sweet syndrome is associated with malignancy, drugs, and certain infections; its pathogenesis is not well understood. We report a case of a 30-year-old woman with stage IV breast cancer, who presented with worsening respiratory failure and erythematous skin lesions. Biopsy of the skin lesion was consistent with the Sweet syndrome; however, the culture grew Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The lesions healed without scarring when treated with antibiotics and steroids. This is the first case report of classic Sweet syndrome in association with P. aeruginosa.
Comparable efficacy and safety for bicuspid aortic valve stenosis patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement with balloon-expandable or self-expanding valves using Wei’s sizing method
Authors: Lee Yung-Tsai , Yin Wei-Hsian , Tsao Tien-Ping , Lee Kuo-Chen , Lin Huan-Chiu , Liu Chun-Ting , Hsiung Ming-Chon , Wei Jeng 
Published: August 2024

Background:
The present study aimed to investigate whether proper sizing can improve the procedural and clinical outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with new-generation self-expanding valves (SEVs) and balloon-expandable valves (BEVs) for treating bicuspid aortic stenosis (BAS).

Methods:
We retrospectively evaluated consecutive patients who underwent TAVR with Sapien 3 valves (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA) or Evolut R/PRO valves (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) for severe BAS from 2017 to 2022. The primary endpoints were device success rate and major adverse cardiac and cerebral events (MACCEs), including mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction or disabling stroke, transcatheter heart valve failure, or clinically relevant valve thrombosis during follow-up. Our team used a complementary approach of supraannular sizing in addition to the conventional annular sizing method (Wei’s method) to guide the TAVR procedures.

Results:
We recruited a total of 75 consecutive patients, of whom 43 (57%) were treated with BEVs from October 2017 to June 2021, and 32 (43%) were treated with SEVs from July 2021 to December 2022. Device success was similar between the BEV and SEV groups (93% vs 94%; p > 0.99), and no cases of annular rupture occurred in either group. Similar rates of moderate-to-severe paravalvular leak were observed in the BEV and SEV groups (5% vs 6%, p > 0.99). At a median follow-up of 464 days, the MACCE rates were comparable between the two groups. In multivariate analysis, the presence of previous percutaneous coronary interventions (hazard ratio: 5.43; p = 0.039) and New York Heart Association functional class III/IV heart failure at 30 days of follow-up after TAVR (hazard ratio: 9.90; p = 0.037) were independently associated with long-term MACCEs.

Conclusion:
Our results demonstrated comparable efficacy and safety for BAS patients undergoing TAVR using either BEVs or SEVs when using Wei’s sizing method.
Endoscopic Shelf Acetabuloplasty Combined With Hip Arthroscopic Labral Repair, Cam Osteoplasty, and Capsular Plication Enables Elite Athletes With Acetabular Dysplasia to Return to Sport: A Case Series
Authors: Shimizu Kenta , Murata Yoichi , Tsukamoto Manabu , Yamanaka Yoshiaki , Quinn Patrick , Sakai Akinori , Uchida Soshi 
Published: August 2024

Objective:
To investigate clinical outcomes and return to sport timeline for athletes with acetabular dysplasia after endoscopic shelf acetabuloplasty (ESA).

Design:
A retrospective review.

Setting:
Wakamatsu Hospital of the University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan between 2012 and 2019.

Patients:
Fifteen elite athletes (median age: 20 years) of 253 patients undergoing ESA, arthroscopic labral repair/reconstruction, cam osteochondroplasty, and capsular plication. The mean follow-up period was 27.8 months after surgery.

Main Outcome Measures:
Patient-reported outcome scales (PROSs), including the modified Harris Hip Score, Nonarthritic Hip Score, International Hip Outcome Tool 12, Hip Outcome Score-Sports, and Vail Hip Score.

Results:
After ESA, all 15 elite athletes were able to return to sport effectively and compete at a preoperative level. The mean time between the operation and the first practice was 6.5 months, while the mean time between the ESA procedure and the first game was 9.6 months. Approximately 27.8 months after surgery, PROS outcomes improved significantly with no hips requiring emergency revision surgery at the final follow-up. At a mean of 47.1 months after surgery, 7 athletes decided to retire from their sport. Up to 71.1 months after surgery, the additional 8 patients continued to compete in their sport at an elite level.

Conclusions:
ESA enables elite athletes with acetabular dysplasia to return to competition at a mean of 9.6 months postsurgery. The ESA procedure is an effective and promising method of treating elite athletes with acetabular dysplasia.

Level of Evidence:
IV.
Quantification of high-density lipoprotein particle number by proton nuclear magnetic resonance: don’t believe the numbers
Authors: Vaisar Tomas , Heinecke Jay 
Published: August 2024

Purpose of review
Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) can rapidly assess lipoprotein concentrations and sizes in biological samples. It may be especially useful for quantifying high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which exhibits diverse particle sizes and concentrations. We provide a critical review of the strengths and limitations of NMR for quantifying HDL subclasses.

Recent findings
Recent studies using NMR have shed light on HDL's role in various disorders, ranging from residual cardiovascular risk to host susceptibility to infection. However, accurately quantifying HDL particle number, size, and concentration (HDL-P) remains a challenge. Discrepancies exist between NMR and other methods such as gel electrophoresis, ion mobility analysis and size-exclusion chromatography in estimating the abundance of HDL species and the ratio of apolipoprotein A-I (APOA1) to HDL particles.

Summary
NMR is a low-cost method for quantifying HDL-P that is readily applicable to clinical and translational studies. However, inconsistencies between the results of NMR quantification of HDL-P and other independent methods hinder the interpretation of NMR results. Because proton NMR apparently fails to accurately quantify the sizes and concentrations of HDL, the relevance of such studies to HDL biology poses challenges. This limits our understanding of pathophysiological implications of HDL-P as determined by NMR, particularly in determining cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
Longitudinal Transition of Symptom Cluster Profiles Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Heart Failure
Authors: Wang Zequan , Redeker Nancy S. , Walsh Stephen , Jeon Sangchoon , Kim Kyounghae , Conley Samantha , Tocchi Christine , Chyun Deborah 
Published: August 2024

Background
Older adults with heart failure experience clustered symptoms. However, little is known about how symptom clusters transition over time.

Objectives
This study aimed to (a) identify the longitudinal transition of symptom cluster profiles over 8 years and (b) examine the associations between demographic and clinical factors and the transition between symptom cluster profiles over time.

Methods
We conducted a longitudinal secondary analysis of data from the Health and Retirement Study’s 2008, 2012, and 2016 surveys. We included participants with heart failure in the core data sets and their proxy respondents in the exit data sets. We included demographic and clinical variables as well as six symptoms (fatigue, shortness of breath, pain, swelling, depressive symptoms, dizziness) through physical health interviews. We used latent transition analysis and multinominal regressions to determine longitudinal profiles and explored the association between demographic and clinical factors and membership in symptom cluster profiles.

Results
Among 690 participants, we found four symptom cluster profiles (high burden, low burden, distressing, and respiratory-depressive distress). Participants in the low burden at baseline had the highest probability of transitioning to the respiratory-depressive distress profile. Participants in the respiratory-depressive distress at 4 years had the highest probability of transitioning to the high burden profile. Male sex, Black/African American race, smoking, and comorbidities were associated with the increased odds of transiting from the low symptom burden to the high symptom burden profile.

Discussion
Symptom cluster profile memberships were stable over an 8-year period. However, symptom cluster profiles are changeable and deteriorate over time. Identifying predictive factors enables targeted interventions for those at highest risk.
COVID-19 Pandemic Increases in Nursing-Sensitive Quality Indicators
Authors: Lake Eileen T. , Pascale Angela , Warshawsky Nora E. , Smith Jessica G. , Staiger Douglas , Rogowski Jeannette A. 
Published: August 2024

Background
The pandemic profoundly stressed practicing nurses and could have thereby affected trends in nursing-sensitive quality indicators (NSIs), measures that detect changes in patient health status directly affected by nursing care.

Objectives
The aim of the study was to determine if NSIs have worsened in response to the pandemic and then returned to prepandemic levels using data from 2019 through 2022.

Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study of annual trends, examining unit data from the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) from 2019 through 2022 for five indicators: rates of falls, central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPI), and ventilator-associated events (VAE). The NDNQI is the largest repository of nursing quality indicators, which are derived from patient-level events, reported at the nursing unit level, and submitted quarterly by over 2,000 member hospitals. Adult medical-surgical or critical care inpatient nursing units with complete data for the 4 years were included, with samples ranging from 456 to 5,818 nursing units in 2,346 hospitals. Analysis of variance was conducted by comparing the 2019 rates to each subsequent year.

Results
In decreasing order of prevalence, the mean prepandemic rates were 6.58 VAE per 1,000 ventilator days (critical care only), 2.41 HAPI per 1,000 device days, 2.20 falls per 1,000 patient days, 0.96 CAUTI per 1,000 catheter days, and 0.68 CLABSI per 1,000 central line days for medical-surgical and critical care units combined. The rates for all five nurse-sensitive indicators increased significantly beginning in 2020 and have begun to decline but have not returned to baseline by 2022. The maximum rate was observed in 2020 for falls and 2021 for the remaining indicators. These increases to the maximum ranged from a 12% increase in CAUTI to 49% for CLABSI.

Discussion
NSIs increased during the pandemic and are now returning to baseline. The pandemic underscored the importance of nursing practice. The pandemic’s enduring negative effects on the nursing workforce must be addressed to preserve patient safety.