bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cardiac pseudoaneurysms: a clinical case series
Authors: Alexander Grace , Ashwath Mahi L 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Background
Cardiac pseudoaneurysms are a potentially life-threatening pathology with a variety of non-specific clinical manifestations. This case series uniquely shares a collection of rare pathologies with differing preceding risk factors and presentations, with an emphasis on the utility of multi-modality imaging in diagnosis and management.

Case summary
We present three cases of cardiac pseudoaneurysms. Case 1 is a 27-year-old woman with delayed presentation of a traumatic left ventricular pseudoaneurysm (LVP). Case 2 is a 73-year-old man with post-myocardial infarction LVP. Case 3 is a 38-year-old man with left ventricular outflow tract pseudoaneurysm after aortic valve replacement.

Discussion
Cardiac pseudoaneurysms are rare and important to diagnose in a timely manner. Advances in non-invasive imaging modalities have improved our ability to distinguish pseudoaneurysms from other pathologies, leading to more timely management.
Anomalous origin of the left circumflex coronary artery: is surgery required? A case report
Authors: Murray William , Lavery Ros , O’Brien Jim 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Background
Deviations from usual coronary artery anatomy are well documented. The left circumflex artery (LCx) arising from the pulmonary artery is an example of one such deviation which is rarely seen. We present the case of a 26-year-old male with this coronary artery distribution presenting with an episode of ventricular flutter with late gadolinium enhancement and pluri-morphological ventricular arrhythmias.

Case summary
A 26-year-old male with a history of cardiac surgery presented to his local hospital with an episode of symptomatic broad-complex tachycardia (BCT). It failed to revert to sinus rhythm following intravenous beta-blockers and amiodarone and required external cardioversion. Subsequently, the patient developed a aspiration pneumonia requiring ICU admission, after which he was transferred to our institute for ongoing cardiac management. Cardiac computed tomography CTA and coronary angiography revealed that the LCx was found to originate from the pulmonary artery. He underwent insertion of a subcutaneous pacemaker and was subsequently discharged. Despite the potential for steal syndrome of viable coronary territories. Multidisciplinary team discussion determined him to be fit for conservative management and not for surgical correction of his anomalous coronary artery anatomy.

Discussion
Aberrant coronary artery anatomy can lead to diverse outcomes for patients in terms of both morbidity and mortality. The need for surgery in these situations varies on a case-by-case basis and little research exists to guide decision-making for healthcare professionals. As such there is a need for further study both to guide treatment and to ensure high-quality outcomes for patients with this condition.
Long-term secondary prevention and outcome following acute coronary syndrome: real-world results from the Swedish Primary Care Cardiovascular Database
Authors: Bentzel Sara , Ljungman Charlotta , Hjerpe Per , Schiöler Linus , Manhem Karin , Bengtsson Boström Kristina , Kahan Thomas , Mourtzinis Georgios 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Aims
Most studies of treatment adherence after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are based on prescribed drugs and lack long-term follow-up or consecutive data on risk factor control. We studied the long-term treatment adherence, risk factor control, and its association to recurrent ACS and death.

Methods and results
We retrospectively included 3765 patients (mean age 75 years, 40% women) with incident ACS from 1 January 2006 until 31 December 2010 from the Swedish Primary Care Cardiovascular Database of Skaraborg. All patients were followed until 31 December 2014 or death. We recorded blood pressure (BP), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), recurrent ACS, and death. We used data on dispensed drugs to calculate the proportion of days covered for secondary prevention medications. Cox regressions were used to analyse the association of achieved BP and LDL-C to recurrent ACS and death. The median follow-up time was 4.8 years. The proportion of patients that reached BP of &lt;140/90 mm Hg was 58% at Year 1 and 66% at Year 8. 65% of the patients reached LDL-C of &lt;2.5 mmol/L at Year 1 and 56% at Year 8; however, adherence to statins varied from 43% to 60%. Only 62% of the patients had yearly measured BP, and only 28% yearly measured LDL-C. Systolic BP was not associated with a higher risk of recurrent ACS or death. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol of 3.0 mmol/L was associated with a higher risk of recurrent ACS {hazard ratio [HR] 1.19 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00–1.40]} and death HR [1.26 (95% CI 1.08–1.47)] compared with an LDL-C of 1.8 mmol/L.

Conclusion
This observational long-term real-world study demonstrates low drug adherence and potential for improvement of risk factors after ACS. Furthermore, the study confirms that uncontrolled LDL-C is associated with adverse outcome even in this older population.
Ideal cardiovascular health and cardiovascular-related events: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: te Hoonte Femke , Spronk Merve , Sun Qi , Wu Kangrui , Fan Shiqi , Wang Ziyi , Bots Michiel L , Van der Schouw Yvonne T , Uijl Alicia , Vernooij Robin W M 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Aims
The aim of this study was to systematically review and quantitatively summarize the evidence on the association between Life Simple’s 7 (LS7) and multiple cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs).

Methods and results
EMBASE and PubMed were searched from January 2010 to March 2022 for observational studies that investigated the association between ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) with CVD or CMD outcomes in an adult population. Two reviewers independently selected studies according to the eligibility criteria, extracted data, and evaluated risk of bias. Data were analysed with a random-effects meta-analysis. This meta-analysis included 59 studies (1 881 382 participants). Participants with ideal CVH had a considerably lower risk of a variety of CVDs and CMDs as compared with those with poor CVH, varying from 40% lower risk for atrial fibrillation (AF) {hazard ratio [HR] = 0.60 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.44–0.83]} to 82% lower risk for myocardial infarction [HR = 0.18 (95% CI 0.12–0.28)]. Intermediate CVH was associated with 27–57% lower risk in CVDs and CMDs compared with poor CVH, with the highest hazard for AF [HR = 0.73 (95% CI 0.59–0.91)] and the lowest hazard for peripheral arterial disease [HR = 0.43 (95% CI 0.30–0.60)].

Conclusion
Ideal and moderate CVH were associated with a lower incidence of CVDs and CMDs than poor CVH. Life Simple’s 7 holds significant potential for promoting overall CVH and thereby contributing to the prevention of CVDs.
Heterologous pulcherrimin production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae confers inhibitory activity on Botrytis conidiation
Authors: Freimoser Florian M , Mahler Marina , McCullough Mark , Brachmann Alexander O , Nägeli Lukas , Hilber-Bodmer Maja , Piel Jörn , Hoffmann Stefan A , Cai Yizhi 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Pulcherrimin is an iron (III) chelate of pulcherriminic acid that plays a role in antagonistic microbial interactions, iron metabolism, and stress responses. Some bacteria and yeasts produce pulcherriminic acid, but so far, pulcherrimin could not be produced in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here, multiple integrations of the Metschnikowia pulcherrima PUL1 and PUL2 genes in the S. cerevisiae genome resulted in red colonies, which indicated pulcherrimin formation. The coloration correlated positively and significantly with the number of PUL1 and PUL2 genes. The presence of pulcherriminic acid was confirmed by mass spectrometry. In vitro competition assays with the plant pathogenic fungus Botrytis caroliana revealed inhibitory activity on conidiation by an engineered, strong pulcherrimin-producing S. cerevisiae strain. We demonstrate that the PUL1 and PUL2 genes from M. pulcherrima, in multiple copies, are sufficient to transfer pulcherrimin production to S. cerevisiae and represent the starting point for engineering and optimizing this biosynthetic pathway in the future.
Systematic profiling of ale yeast protein dynamics across fermentation and repitching
Authors: Garge Riddhiman K , Geck Renee C , Armstrong Joseph O , Dunn Barbara , Boutz Daniel R , Battenhouse Anna , Leutert Mario , Dang Vy , Jiang Pengyao , Kwiatkowski Dusan , Peiser Thorin , McElroy Hoyt , Marcotte Edward M , Dunham Maitreya J 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Studying the genetic and molecular characteristics of brewing yeast strains is crucial for understanding their domestication history and adaptations accumulated over time in fermentation environments, and for guiding optimizations to the brewing process itself. Saccharomyces cerevisiae (brewing yeast) is among the most profiled organisms on the planet, yet the temporal molecular changes that underlie industrial fermentation and beer brewing remain understudied. Here, we characterized the genomic makeup of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae ale yeast widely used in the production of Hefeweizen beers, and applied shotgun mass spectrometry to systematically measure the proteomic changes throughout 2 fermentation cycles which were separated by 14 rounds of serial repitching. The resulting brewing yeast proteomics resource includes 64,740 protein abundance measurements. We found that this strain possesses typical genetic characteristics of Saccharomyces cerevisiae ale strains and displayed progressive shifts in molecular processes during fermentation based on protein abundance changes. We observed protein abundance differences between early fermentation batches compared to those separated by 14 rounds of serial repitching. The observed abundance differences occurred mainly in proteins involved in the metabolism of ergosterol and isobutyraldehyde. Our systematic profiling serves as a starting point for deeper characterization of how the yeast proteome changes during commercial fermentations and additionally serves as a resource to guide fermentation protocols, strain handling, and engineering practices in commercial brewing and fermentation environments. Finally, we created a web interface (https://brewing-yeast-proteomics.ccbb.utexas.edu/) to serve as a valuable resource for yeast geneticists, brewers, and biochemists to provide insights into the global trends underlying commercial beer production.
Developing a Standardized Questionnaire for Measuring Older Adult’s Health and Well-Being in Kenya
Authors: Maina Lucy W , Chepngeno-Langat Gloria , Mwangi Samuel M 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Background and Objectives
Policy and program interventions for older adults 60 years or older in Africa have consistently been undermined by a lack of vital data as they are usually excluded from nationally representative population surveys. The Health and Wellbeing of Older Persons in Kenya (HWOPs-1) study developed a standardized assessment questionnaire that can be used for periodic data generation. This study presents how the questionnaire was developed and examines its internal consistency and psychometric properties of the health module.

Research Design and Methods
The development and validation of the HWOPs-1 questionnaire was a 3-step process. Step 1 was a review of 19 panel studies and 2 national level surveys followed by a wide consultation with key experts and stakeholders on aging. The 3rd step was validation of the questionnaire with a cross-section of a representative sample to test its applicability and adaptability in a mix of rural and semi-urban settings. The internal consistency and psychometric properties of the 3 subscales: functionality, disability, and quality of life were assessed using Cronbach’s (α) alpha and exploratory factor analysis, respectively.

Results
Three subscales of functionality, disability, and quality of life showed high internal consistency with α = 0.94, 0.97, and 0.87, respectively. There were also consistent factor loadings above 0.3 across all the factors. Gender differences across the 3 scales from the results of t test were observed. Finally, weak but statistically significant correlations between the measures of well-being and risk factors for noncommunicable diseases were also observed from the analyses.

Discussion and Implications
The indicators assessed have been used in settings outside Africa to measure health and well-being of older adults are adaptable and reliable enabling comparability across space and across studies. The questionnaire provides a framework for examining disease and disability burden and their determinants among older adults in Kenya or similar settings.
Enabling product development partnerships to bring forward the next generation of health technologies
Authors: So Anthony D , Woo Joshua , Helble Matthias 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Over the past quarter century, product development partnerships (PDPs) have importantly brought health technologies, particularly for neglected diseases, to market for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). With public sector financing, PDPs de-risk the gulf between where the global burden of disease falls and where paying markets exist. From fighting COVID-19 to developing novel antibiotics, the work of PDPs now extends beyond these traditional bounds. As PDPs have shepherded more health technologies to market, they are also confronting new access challenges. This article lays out 5 areas to strategically leverage the PDP model for better access to new health technologies. Making the case for enhanced support of the PDP approach will require greater transparency, as well as recognition of the contributions made by both public and private sector partners. The governance and funding of PDPs must be accountable to meeting the needs and building capacity of target beneficiaries in LMICs. To take an end-to-end approach, PDPs must work in tandem with other public sector institutions as well as local manufacturers as part of a larger innovation ecosystem. PDPs will need to keep pace with both the dynamics of diseases and markets in delivering the next generation of much needed health technologies.
Competing for the Youth: Jewish Scout Identity, Religion, and Gender during the Holocaust in France
Authors: Balint Barnabas 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
This article examines Jewish youth identity, gender, and ideology during the Holocaust in France in order to understand how young people responded to persecution. The author’s attempts to understand the youth perspective reveals that these adolescents’ experiences were distinct and varied, and each traversed complex and multifaceted paths through the war. Always in perpetual negotiation with other elements of their identities—such as their ideology, religion, and gender—for many, youth movements greatly impacted how they developed and matured into adulthood. Coming of age during the Holocaust meant not only enduring persecution, but also traditional discourses on the place of young people in society. Charting the trajectories of individual young people and Jewish youth groups within the context of the war, the Holocaust, and French Jewish history reveals their radicalized and accelerated wartime development. In researching this phenomenon, it becomes possible to decenter entrenched narratives of persecution and resistance and enhance our understanding of wartime gender roles, the impact of Judaism, and the various ideologies that informed these youths’ lives.
Gaining an Empathetic Insight into Parenting: Evaluating Infant Simulator Dolls for Professional Learning
Authors: Whiting Lisa , Petty Julia , Roberts Sheila , Littlechild Brian , Mills Karen 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
The development of an empathetic approach when working with parents and families is fundamental to both social work and children’s nursing; however, opportunities to develop this are limited. RealCare Baby infant simulator dolls were used with the aim of enabling students to gain an empathetic insight into parenting. A qualitative, evaluation study involving semistructured interviews with 10 social work and 11 children’s nursing students was undertaken to evaluate experiences and views of infant simulator dolls, in relation to professional learning. Using reflexive thematic analysis of interview data, six key themes were identified: (1) positive experiences, (2) challenges, (3) impact on self, (4) empathy toward parents, (5) realism and (6) learning by reflection. All themes were evident from the participants’ accounts in the context of the parenting experience. In addition to the overall positive impact on students, practical and technical challenges were also identified. However, despite these difficulties, participants valued the learning experience gained from caring for a doll and many articulated how an empathetic understanding of the parenting role was enhanced. This will potentially enable social work and children’s nursing students to support parents more sensitively and empathetically.
Characteristics of Interventional Trials for Patients Living With Intestinal Stoma Registered in ClinicalTrials.gov With a Focus on Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Vuyyuru Sudheer K , Ma Christopher , Sharma Tanmay , Nguyen Tran M , Bessissow Talat , Narula Neeraj , Singh Siddharth , Rieder Florian , Jairath Vipul 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Background
This systematic review was performed to characterize the landscape of research conducted in patients with intestinal stoma (IS) and highlight unmet needs for clinical research in Crohn’s disease (CD) and IS.

Methods
We searched ClinicalTrials.gov from inception to May 25, 2022, to identify clinical trials assessing interventions in patients with an IS, as well as those with an IS and CD. Studies were grouped according to type of intervention. We excluded observational studies with no treatment arm.

Results
A total of 253 studies were included in the final analysis. Most studies investigated devices (n = 122 [48.2%]), or surgical procedures (n = 63 [24.9%]), followed by behavioral interventions (n = 30 [11.8%]), drugs (n = 20 [7.9%]), dietary interventions (n = 2 [0.8%]), skin care products (n = 2 0.8%]), and others (n = 14 [5.5%]). A total of 50.9% (n = 129) of studies had completed recruitment, enrolling 11 116 participants. Only 6 studies (surgery: n = 3; physiological studies: n = 2; drugs: n = 1) exclusively included patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and 16 studies commented that patients with IBD were excluded in their eligibility criteria. No study assessed efficacy of drugs in patients with CD and IS. Approximately one-quarter of studies (n = 65 of 253) included quality of life as an outcome measure.

Conclusion
There is a paucity of research in IBD patients with IS, with the majority focusing on devices and surgical procedures. There have been no drug trials evaluating efficacy in patients with CD and IS. There is an urgent need to identify barriers to enrollment and develop eligibility and outcome measures that enable the inclusion of patients with CD with stoma into clinical trials.
A constraint dissolving approach for nonsmooth optimization over the Stiefel manifold
Authors: Hu Xiaoyin , Xiao Nachuan , Liu Xin , Toh Kim-Chuan 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
This paper focuses on the minimization of a possibly nonsmooth objective function over the Stiefel manifold. The existing approaches either lack efficiency or can only tackle prox-friendly objective functions. We propose a constraint dissolving function named NCDF and show that it has the same first-order stationary points and local minimizers as the original problem in a neighborhood of the Stiefel manifold. Furthermore, we show that the Clarke subdifferential of NCDF is easy to achieve from the Clarke subdifferential of the objective function. Therefore, various existing approaches for unconstrained nonsmooth optimization can be directly applied to nonsmooth optimization problems over the Stiefel manifold. We propose a framework for developing subgradient-based methods and establishing their convergence properties based on prior works. Furthermore, based on our proposed framework, we can develop efficient approaches for optimization over the Stiefel manifold. Preliminary numerical experiments further highlight that the proposed constraint dissolving approach yields efficient and direct implementations of various unconstrained approaches to nonsmooth optimization problems over the Stiefel manifold.
Evaluation of selected natural sesquiterpenes as sensitizing agents of β-lactam-resistant bacterial strains
Authors: Cruz-Martínez Yesica R , Hernández-Delgado Tzasna , Valencia Israel , Nieto-Camacho Antonio , Ramírez-Apan María Teresa , Espinosa-García Francisco Javier , Delgado Guillermo 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Aims
To evaluate the capacity of fourteen sesquiterpenes to enhance the action of known antibiotics against two β-lactam resistant strains, and to determine a possible mechanism of antibiotic sensitization by assessing their ability to inhibit a β-lactamase enzyme.

Methods and results
The broth microdilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of β-lactams cefuroxime (CEFM) and cefepime (CPM) against Staphylococcus aureus 23MR and Escherichia coli 82MR strains in the absence and presence of subinhibitory concentrations of fourteen natural sesquiterpenes. (1R,4R)-4H-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-hydroxycadalen-15-oic acid (5), xerantolide (8), estafiatin (11), and ambrosin (12) exhibited the best sensitizing effects in both strains. These compounds were able to reduce the MIC of CEFM by 2-fold (from 15.0 to 7.5 µg/mL) and CPM by 15-fold (from 0.9 to 0.06 µg/mL) in S. aureus 23MR. For E. coli 82MR, the MIC of CEFM was reduced up to 8-fold (from 120.0 to 15.0 µg/mL). In this strain, the activity of 8 and 11 surpassed that of clavulanic acid (positive reference), which reduced the MIC of CEFM from 120.0 to 60.0 µg/mL. To elucidate a possible mechanism of antibiotic sensitization, molecular docking studies were conducted with β-lactamases. These studies revealed an affinity with the enzymes (energies &gt; –4.93 kcal/mol) by the formation of hydrogen bonds with certain conserved amino acid residues within the active sites. However, the in vitro results indicated only marginal inhibition, with percentages &lt;50%.

Conclusions
The bioevaluations indicate that nine of fourteen sesquiterpenes enhance the action of CEFM and CPM against the β-lactam resistant strains, and these compounds displayed moderate activity as inhibitors of β-lactamase.