bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inter-individual responses to a hybrid walking program in patients with peripheral arterial disease - an exploratory analysis of the PROSECO study
Authors: Tekerlek H , Claes J , Cornelis N , Marcal I R , Colle A , Fourneau I , Cornelissen V 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background/Introduction
Walking programs are recommended to enhance walking capacity and alleviate symptoms in peripheral arterial disease (PAD). However, not every individual experiences the same benefits following walking therapy. Therefore, early identification of good and poor responders is essential for better personalizing treatments, optimizing resource allocation and improving patient outcomes.

Purpose
To compare inter-individual variation in patient and clinical characteristics associated with clinically meaningful improvement in a 6-minute walk test following a walking intervention.

Methods
This is an exploratory analysis of the PROSECO-study including 41 patients with PAD [32 men, mean age=70.3±9.2 yrs, ankle-brachial index=0.66±0.26]who completed a 12 week progressive hybrid walking program. The intervention included one in-hospital supervised exercise session and two home-based walking sessions per week, aiming for 150 minutes of walking at moderate pain intensity. Patient and clinical characteristics, including cardiac autonomic function via heart rate variability, pain free walking distance (PFWD) and maximal walking distance (MWD) by means of a progressive treadmill test and functional capacity by means of a 6-minute walk test (6MWT), were assessed at baseline and following completion of the intervention. Based on an established minimally clinically relevant change in 6MWD, patients were divided into two groups: poor responders (∆6MWT&lt;24 m) and good responders (∆6MWT≥24 m).

Results
Twenty three patients (56%) were identified as poor responders (median age 75 years, 73.9% male), while 18 patients (44%) were classified as good responders (median age 67.5 years, 83.3% male). 6MWD remained unchanged in the poor responders (median 6MWD pre 391 meters vs. post 389.50 m) and increased in the good responders (median 6MWD pre 478 vs post 501 m (Figure 1D). As shown in Table 1, good responders were younger and presented with a better PFWD at baseline. Good responders showed also a better improvement in PFWD (m), MWD (m) (Figure 1C-D-E) and an improvement in autonomic function (Figure 1A-B).

Conclusions
Our findings suggest that a significant proportion of patients do not show a significant improvement in functional capacity after walking therapy only. Further investigation is needed to better characterize patients that are more likely to respond favorably to walking therapy thereby enhancing personalisation of effective PAD treatment.
Effect of exercise training and potential moderating variables in patients with atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Manresa-Rocamora A , Fuertes-Kenneally L , Garcia-Cano L , Ibanez-Criado A , Blasco-Peris C , Baladzhaeva S , Sempere-Ruiz N , Hernandez-Perez I , Sanz-Rocher A , Garcia-Alvarez M , Climent-Paya V , Sarabia J 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background
While a substantial body of evidence supports the positive impact of exercise in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), the specific influence of moderating variables on the effectiveness of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) remains unclear.

Purpose
The aim of the current systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the effect of exercise-based CR, either alone or combined with other interventions, in patients with AF. We also examined the influence of exercise variables in this context.

Methods
Electronic searches were carried out in Pubmed, Embase, and Web of Science up to September 2023. Studies comparing the effect of exercise-based CR against usual care intervention, and those investigating the influence of exercise variables, on quality of life, exercise capacity (i.e., peak oxygen uptake [VO2 peak] and distance covered in the 6-minute walk test [6MWT]), resting heart rate (HR) and AF burden, in patients with AF were selected. The mean difference (MD) or standardised mean difference (SMD) were calculated for each outcome. Additionally, meta-analyses were conducted if the number of studies for the specific endpoint was greater than two.

Results
Eleven randomised studies published from 2011 to 2022 fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were finally included. Intervention duration ranged from eight to 24 weeks. Eight studies (73%) were controlled studies and three (27%) were multi-intervention studies (i.e., two parallel groups), of which, one investigated the influence of the exercise mode and two the influence of the exercise intensity. From the 14 intervention groups, 12 (86%) performed aerobic exercise alone and 2 (14%) combined aerobic and resistance exercise. Nine studies (64%) performed moderate intensity aerobic exercise, while only two (14%) conducted high-intensity interval exercise. Compared to usual care, exercise-based CR increased VO2 peak (4 studies; MD = 2.68 [0.77; 4.59] ml/kg/min) and reduced resting HR (4 studies; MD = –7.05 [–12.83; –1.27] beats per minute) in patients with AF. In contrast, no differences were found between the two groups for enhancing quality of life (7 studies; SMD = 1.12 [–0.25; 2.50]) and 6MWT (4 studies; MD = 22.63 [–17.16; 62.43] m). Pooled analyses were not conducted due to the low number of studies investigating the influence of exercise variables.

Conclusions
Few studies have explored the impact of exercise variables on exercise-induced effects in patients with AF, highlighting the need for further exploration. CR, based mainly on aerobic exercise, has shown superior efficacy compared to usual care in improving VO2 peak and resting HR, both recognised as independent mortality predictors.
Association of cardiorespiratory fitness measured by cardiopulmonary exercise testing with covid-19 positivity: a prospective register-based cohort study
Authors: Espen Alexander Eriksen E A E , Dorthe Stensvold D S , Javaid Nauman J N , Ulrik Wisloeff U W , Torbjoern Omland T O 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background
It has been suggested that high cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) may reduce the risk of infection and severe health outcomes for COVID-19. However, there is a need of studies to examine the association between objectively measured CRF and risk of COVID-19 infection.

Purpose
The objective of this study was to investigate if CRF measured by cardiopulmonary exercise testing is associated with risk of COVID-19 infection.

Methods
In this prospective register-based cohort study, we linked collected data from the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) (n = 2,408, 48,3% women) in Norway with the Norwegian Surveillance System for Communicable diseases (MSIS) registry. Included participants were tested for CRF as peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) during cardiopulmonary exercise testing between 2017-2019. The individual data were matched with MSIS indicative of having COVID-19 by reporting a positive PCR-test between 26th of February 2020 and 1st of October 2022. Participants were classified into age- and sex-specific quintiles, and modified Poisson regression with log link was used to estimate adjusted relative risk (aRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association of CRF with testing positive for COVID-19.

Results
During a median follow up of 2.6 years, 249 participants tested positive for COVID-19. After adjustment for confounders, participants in the highest quintile of CRF had a significantly lower risk (aRR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.40 to 0.88) of testing positive for COVID-19, compared with those in the lowest quintile of CRF. Each MET higher CRF was associated with lower risk of COVID-19 infection (aRR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.87 to 0.98).

Conclusions
This is the first study to assess the association between objectively measured CRF and risk of COVID-19 infection in a general population of healthy adults. The findings suggest a protective effect of high CRF on COVID-19 infection and highlight the importance of improving CRF to lower the burden of COVID-19 in the general population.
Muscle oxygenation kinetics in Long COVID-19: Illness severity and clinical implications
Authors: Luz Goulart C , Robson Fernando Borgesa R F B , Claudia Cristina Conde Holanda Sobral C C C H S , Thomas Beltrame T B , Mauricio Milani M M , Gerson Cipriano Junior G C J , Ana Cleides Pereira Dos Santos A C P S , Ricardo Stein R S , Fabricio Braga F B , Luiz Eduardo Fonteles Ritt L E F R 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Introduction
Several mechanistic hypotheses for exercise limitations in post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) have been formulated, but the issue is not yet resolved. It is believed that the limit to exercise performance is not central but rather peripheral. The latest findings raise the hypothesis of impairments in the utilization of oxygen by skeletal muscles, as initially observed in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, our study was designed to characterize and identify the main factors responsible for changes in the kinetic responses of muscle oxygenation and deoxygenation during constant-load exercise in the vastus lateralis muscle according to COVID-19 severity. This may help understand the phenotype of individuals with PASC.

Objective
The present study aimed to assess the muscle kinetics of oxyhemoglobin (oxy-[Hb/Mb]) and deoxyhemoglobin (deoxy-[Hb/Mb]) and the key clinical factors that may impact this response during constant-load exercise in individuals with PASC.

Methods and Results
Thirty individuals with PASC underwent constant load tests to assess the kinetics of oxy-[Hb/Mb] and deoxy-[Hb/Mb] of the vastus lateralis muscle utilizing near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). With a mean age of 52 years and 57% male, the most frequent comorbidities were hypertension (70%), obesity (43%), and diabetes (20%). Individuals were assessed on average 115 days after COVID-19, with a mean hospitalization length of stay of 22 days. We found an increased mean response time (MRT, s) for both oxy-[Hb/Mb] 141.8 (112.3-171.3) and deoxy-[Hb/Mb] 166.1 (135-196). Multivariate regression analysis showed that only body mass index (BMI, kg/m²) influenced the response of the decay time constant (τ) (β = 5.8; 95% CI: 1.3 to 10.3; p = 0.012) and MRT (β = 7.6; 95% CI: 1.1 to 14.1; p = 0.023) of oxy-[Hb/Mb] in the vastus lateralis muscle during constant load testing, even after adjusting for potential confounders such as sex and COVID-19 severity. Body adiposity was correlated with oxy-[Hb/Mb] τ (s) (r=0.488) and oxy-[Hb/Mb] MRT (s) (r = 0.431) in the vastus lateralis muscle during constant load testing. Additionally, when stratifying patients with Long COVID into obese and non-obese, obese patients showed a slower τ (s) and MRT (s) response compared to non-obese (p &lt; 0.001).

Conclusion
We found that, along with the impairment (slowing) of peripheral muscle oxy-[Hb/Mb] kinetics during exercise in Long COVID, which was also associated with the prevalence of obesity. Peripheral oxygen muscle limitation may be related to exercise limitation in this population.
Evaluating the cardiovascular benefits of stair climbing: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Paddock S , Veerni R , Bhalraam U , Meng J , Dawson-Plincke E , Vassiliou V , Tsampasian V 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background
Physical inactivity causes a significant burden from cardiovascular disease worldwide. As sedentary behaviours and associated health risks become increasingly prevalent, there is a growing imperative to explore accessible and practical strategies to mitigate cardiovascular risk. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the association between physical activity in the form of stair climbing and cardiovascular risk.

Methods
A systematic literature search of the PubMed database was conducted from inception until the 9th October 2023. The search criteria used were: ["((Stairs) OR (Stair climbing)) AND ((Cardiac) OR (Heart) OR (Cardiovascular))"]. Randomised controlled trials or observational studies including stair climbing as a variable were included. The outcomes of interest were cardiovascular mortality and incidence of cardiovascular disease including myocardial infarction, ischaemic stroke and heart failure. Statistical analyses were conducted using the Review Manager (RevMan) software.

Results
The database search yielded 725 studies, out of which, 8 studies with 473 197 patients were included in the analysis. The pooled analysis of 5 studies and 455 578 patients revealed that stair climbing was associated with a significant reduction in cardiovascular mortality (RR 0.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.50-0.83, p=0.0008) [figure 1]. Further analysis of these 5 studies revealed that stair climbing was also associated with a significant reduction in all-cause mortality (RR 0.70, 95% CI 0.56-0.87, p=0.002) [figure 2].

Conclusions
Physical activity in the form of stair climbing is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. These findings highlight the importance of promoting everyday activities, even within the workplace and home, to foster healthier lifestyles and mitigate the risks associated with cardiovascular diseases.
Hostility and related psychometric profiling in coronary artery disease patients participating in cardiac rehabilitation: a matched cross-sectional study
Authors: Lin C , Hsu Y H , Weng C Y , Hsu B C , Hsieh L , Yao H , Chang C L 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background and aim
Cardiac rehabilitation is essential for coronary heart disease patients. Past studies show psychosocial factors like depression, anxiety, hostility, and Type D personality traits may affect rehabilitation outcomes. However, psychometric profiling in Taiwanese cardiac rehabilitation is limited. This study examines the psychosocial profiling of coronary artery disease patients in outpatient cardiac rehabilitation.

Method
From December 2022 to May 2023, patients diagnosed with myocardial infarction or coronary artery disease underwent screening and were enrolled in an outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program at a tertiary hospital in central Taiwan. Each patient was matched for age and gender with normal participants. Demographic and clinical data were collected from all participants. All subjects were assessed using the self-administered psychoneurological measures, including the Neuropsychiatric Inventory, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, General Anxiety Disorder-7 questionnaire, Type D personality questionnaire, and Chinese Hostility Inventory-Short Form.

Result
A total of 61 patients and 45 normal controls were included in the study, with 93% of patients participating in outpatient cardiac rehabilitation. Among the patient cohort, 27.9% presented with depression, 8.2% showed moderate to severe anxiety, and 16.4% manifested Type D personality traits. In the control group, 20% displayed depression, 8.9% exhibited moderate to severe anxiety, and 17.8% exhibited Type D personality traits. Hostility Inventory total scores were lower in the patient group compared to the control group, with a statistically significant difference noted in the Hostility Cognition domain (11.85+4.92 vs 13.80+4.83, p= 0.05).

Conclusion
In patients enrolled in outpatient cardiac rehabilitation, depression and anxiety are prevalent, underscoring the need for psychosocial risk factor-specific management within cardiac rehabilitation program. The potential effect of cardiac rehabilitation on improving patients' psychosocial health through the reduction of hostility merits additional investigation. Result-Psychometric profiling.
What Makes a Mimic? Orange, Red, and Black Color Production in the Mimic Poison Frog (Ranitomeya imitator)
Authors: Rubio Andrew O , Stuckert Adam M M , Geralds BreAnn , Nielsen Rasmus , MacManes Matthew D , Summers Kyle 
Published: June 2024

Abstract
Aposematic organisms rely on their conspicuous appearance to signal that they are defended and unpalatable. Such phenotypes are strongly tied to survival and reproduction. Aposematic colors and patterns are highly variable; however, the genetic, biochemical, and physiological mechanisms producing this conspicuous coloration remain largely unidentified. Here, we identify genes potentially affecting color variation in two color morphs of Ranitomeya imitator: the orange-banded Sauce and the redheaded Varadero morphs. We examine gene expression in black and orange skin patches from the Sauce morph and black and red skin patches from the Varadero morph. We identified genes differentially expressed between skin patches, including those that are involved in melanin synthesis (e.g. mlana, pmel, tyrp1), iridophore development (e.g. paics, ppat, ak1), pteridine synthesis (e.g. gch1, pax3-a, xdh), and carotenoid metabolism (e.g. dgat2, rbp1, scarb2). In addition, using weighted correlation network analysis, we identified the top 50 genes with high connectivity from the most significant network associated with gene expression differences between color morphs. Of these 50 genes, 13 were known to be related to color production (gch1, gmps, gpr143, impdh1, mc1r, pax3-a, pax7, ppat, rab27a, rlbp1, tfec, trpm1, xdh).
Higher Number of Children Is Associated With Increased Risk of Generalization Deficits in Older African American Women
Authors: Abedullah Salma M , Fausto Bernadette A , Osiecka Zuzanna , Gluck Mark A 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Objectives
The objectives of this project were to: (1) examine the relationship between the number of biological children and hippocampal-dependent cognitive performance among older African American women and (2) determine the influence of socioeconomic status (i.e., age, education, marital status, median household income), if any, on this relationship.

Methods
A total of 146 cognitively unimpaired African American women aged 60 and older were recruited from the greater Newark area and reported their number of biological children, marital status, educational level, and age. We retrieved median household income from census tract data based on the participants’ addresses. Participants’ cognitive performance was assessed using the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) long delay recall and a Rutgers generalization task (Concurrent Discrimination and Transfer Task).

Results
As the number of biological children a woman has had increases, the number of generalization errors also increased, indicating poorer hippocampal-dependent cognitive performance when controlling for age, education, marital status, and median household income. There was no significant relationship between the number of children and performance on a standardized neuropsychological measure of episodic memory (RAVLT), although education was a significant covariate.

Discussion
Generalization tasks may better capture early changes in cognitive performance in older African American women who have had children than standardized neuropsychological assessments. This finding may be explained by the fluctuations in estrogen associated with having children. Future studies should explore how these findings can be applied to protecting cognitive function and preventing Alzheimer’s disease in older African American women who have had children.
Persons With Cognitive Impairment and Care Partner Motivations and Experiences of Undergoing an Amyloid Scan: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Studies
Authors: Couch Elyse , Ashford Miriam T , Prina Matthew 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background and Objectives
Amyloid positron emission tomography scans can enhance the accuracy of dementia diagnoses. However, the perspectives and experiences of people with cognitive impairment and their care partners undergoing an amyloid scan are less well understood. Therefore, this review aimed to identify and summarize qualitative studies exploring patient and care partner experiences of undergoing an amyloid scan.

Research Design and Methods
We searched Embase, MEDLINE, and PsychInfo in March 2024. Articles were screened for inclusion by 2 reviewers and critically appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool for Qualitative Studies. Data from the included studies were synthesized using thematic synthesis.

Results
We identified 10 papers from 6 studies. We identified 4 themes: (1) motivations for undergoing an amyloid scan, (2) experiences of receiving the result, (3) emotional responses to the result, and (4) actions in light of the scan result. Participants reported undergoing the scan to determine the cause of cognitive impairment. They described the information gained from the scan as helpful but struggled to recall the correct terminology or implications of the scan. Emotional responses to the scan varied depending on the scan result. In light of the scan result, the most common action was making advanced plans; however, this was mainly discussed among participants with elevated amyloid.

Discussions and Implications
Amyloid scans can provide useful and actionable information. However, learning the scan result could be distressing. Future research is needed to balance the potential benefits and harms of amyloid scans.
Novel genetically glycoengineered human dendritic cell model reveals regulatory roles of α2,6-linked sialic acids in DC activation of CD4+ T cells and response to TNFα
Authors: Tian Weihua , Blomberg Anne Louise , Steinberg Kaylin Elisabeth , Henriksen Betina Lyngfeldt , Jørgensen Josefine Søborg , Skovgaard Kerstin , Skovbakke Sarah Line , Goletz Steffen 
Published: June 2024

Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) are central for the initiation and regulation of appropriate immune responses. While several studies suggest important regulatory roles of sialoglycans in DC biology, our understanding is still inadequate primarily due to a lack of appropriate models. Previous approaches based on enzymatic- or metabolic-glycoengineering and primary cell isolation from genetically modified mice have limitations related to specificity, stability, and species differences. This study addresses these challenges by introducing a workflow to genetically glycoengineer the human DC precursor cell line MUTZ-3, described to differentiate and maturate into fully functional dendritic cells, using CRISPR-Cas9, thereby providing and validating the first isogenic cell model for investigating glycan alteration on human DC differentiation, maturation, and activity. By knocking out (KO) the ST6GAL1 gene, we generated isogenic cells devoid of ST6GAL1-mediated α(2,6)-linked sialylation, allowing for a comprehensive investigation into its impact on DC function. Glycan profiling using lectin binding assay and functional studies revealed that ST6GAL1 KO increased the expression of important antigen presenting and co-stimulatory surface receptors and a specifically increased activation of allogenic human CD4 + T cells. Additionally, ST6GAL1 KO induces significant changes in surface marker expression and cytokine response to TNFα-induced maturation, and it affects migration and the endocytic capacity. These results indicate that genetic glycoengineering of the isogenic MUTZ-3 cellular model offers a valuable tool to study how specific glycan structures influence human DC biology, contributing to our understanding of glycoimmunology.