bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Adding an extension piece to the end of the purge side arm of the Impella device can prevent the incidence of the cassette breaking and decrease the Impella device failure rate: Impact of practice change on patient outcome
Authors: Satashia Parthkumar , White Andrew , Isha Shahin , Hanson Abby , Jenkins Anna , Blasavage Jessica , Matos Nikki , Tomlinson Amanda , Zhang Stephanie , Quinones Quintin , Waldron Nathan , Bhattacharyya Anirban , Kiley Sean , Guru Pramod , Chaudhury Sanjay , Shapiro Anna , Moreno Franco Pablo , Sanghavi Devang K 
Published: December 2023

Background: Impella 5.5® with Smart Assist is a minimally invasive Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVAD) approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating ongoing cardiogenic shock for up to 14 days. The Impella® intends to reduce ventricular workload and provide the circulatory support necessary for myocardial recovery. Research Question: Compared to standard practice, does adding an extension piece to the purge tube side arm of the Impella® Device decrease the incidence of device failure and positively impact the health outcome of adult patients receiving Impella® support? Study Design and Methods: A retrospective chart review of ICU patients was done at a tertiary care center from August 2018 to August 2022 to assess the differences in patient outcomes related to Impella® Device utilization before and after the implementation of the extension piece to the purge tube sidearm. Among patients reviewed, a total of 20 were included in our review, with seven not having the purge tube side arm extension added, while 13 patients had the extension. Results: The two study groups had no significant difference in patient health outcomes. Additionally, there were no instances of device failure requiring explanation without the extension tubing. However, there were no cases of the purge cassette cracking with the addition of the extension tubing. Conclusion: The addition of extension tubing to the purge cassette of the Impella® Device did not impact patient health outcomes or the incidence of device failure. There was a complete reduction in the incidence of the purge cassette cracking, which could reduce the potential for infection or device failure over a long period of mechanical support. There is a need for long-term prospective studies to confirm the results.
The feasibility study of stress position device simulating standing weight-bearing applied in computed tomography examination
Authors: Zhao Qiang , Zhang Yuhao , Gu Xiaohui 
Published: December 2023

Background In order to simulate weight-bearing Computed Tomography (CT) examination, this study designed a simple stress position device. By analyzing the relevant data of stress position footprints and weight-bearing position footprints, the feasibility of the stress position device to simulate standing weight-bearing was verified. Methods This study randomly selected 25 volunteers for standing weight-bearing and stress position footprints collection, and measured the relevant indicators of stress position footprints and standing weight-bearing position footprints. Two foot and ankle surgeons conducted two measurements respectively on the footprints. Intra-observer and inter-observer reliability were calculated using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC). Pearson correlation coefficient, ICC, scatter plot analysis, and paired t-test were used to analyze the stress and weight-bearing position data. Results The intra-observer and inter-observer measurement values were reliable. There was a certain degree of correlation between the stress position footprints and weight-bearing position footprints in terms of Pearson correlation coefficient, ICC, and scatter plot analysis. Paired t-tests showed significant differences in Clarke angle (t 2.636, p .012), C-S index (t 10.568, p .000), arch indx (t 2.176, p .035), and arch lower angle (t 6.246, p .000). Conclusion The stress position device can generate a certain degree of stress, and after further optimization and improvement of the stress position device, it is feasible to apply it to weight-bearing CT examination in clinical settings.
Longitudinal profiling and tracking stability in the Singapore study of macro-angiopathy and microvascular reactivity in type 2 diabetes cohort
Authors: Low Serena , Zheng Huili , Liu Jian-Jun , Moh Angela , Ang Keven , Tang Wern Ee , Lim Ziliang , Subramaniam Tavintharan , Sum Chee Fang , Lim Su Chi 
Published: December 2023

Introduction The Singapore Study of Macro-Angiopathy and microvascular Reactivity in Type 2 Diabetes (SMART2D) is a prospective cohort study which was started in 2011 to investigate the effect of risk factors on vascular function and diabetes-related complications in Asians. We aimed to compare the longitudinal change in risk factors by accounting for batch effect and assess the tracking stability of risk factors over time in patients recruited for SMART2D. In this study, we (1) described batch effect and its extent across a heterogenous range of longitudinal data parameters; (2) mitigated batch effect through statistical approach; and (3) assessed the tracking stability of the risk factors over time. Methods A total of 2258 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were recruited at baseline. The study adopted a three-wave longitudinal design with intervals of 3 years between consecutive waves. The changes in a few selected risk factors were assessed after calibration, assuming patients with similar demographic and anthropometry profile had similar physiology. The tracking pattern of the risk factors was determined with stability coefficients derived from generalised estimating equations. Results The medians of the longitudinal differences in risk factors between the waves were mostly modest at <10%. Larger increases in augmentation index (AI), aortic systolic blood pressure (BP) and aortic mean BP were consistently observed after calibration. The medians of the longitudinal differences in AI, aortic systolic BP and aortic mean BP between the waves were <2% before calibration, but increased slightly to <5% after calibration. Most of the risk factors had moderate to high tracking stability. Muscle mass and serum creatinine were among those with relatively high tracking stability. Conclusions The longitudinal differences in parameters between the waves were overall modest after calibration, suggesting that calibration may attenuate longitudinal differences inflated by non-biological factors such as systematic drift due to batch effect. Changes of the hemodynamic parameters are robust over time and not entirely attributable to age. Our study also demonstrated moderate to high tracking stability for most of the parameters.
Austria's annual leave legislation on its long journey to Europe
Authors: Gruber-Risak Martin , Obrecht Sascha 
Published: December 2023

This article discusses a recent decision of the Austrian Supreme Court on the period of limitation for annual leave entitlements in light of the Working Time Directive 2003/88 (WTD). In the past, the Supreme Court's case law has repeatedly been criticised in the literature, as the Court – based on the corresponding national provision – considered the (rather long) period of limitation after the mere passage of time to be in line with EU law. The decision under discussion has now changed this line of case law, but questions remain over the legal methodology. Case Austrian Supreme Court ( Oberster Gerichtshof – OGH) of 27.6.2023, 8 ObA 23/23z, ECLI:AT:OGH0002:2023:008OBA00023.23Z.0627.000.
Factors Associated With Treatment Escalation for Psoriasis: An Analysis of Electronic Health Records Data
Authors: Rhoads Jamie L. W. , Malatestinic William N. , Burge Russel , Ganz Michael L. , Duffin Kristina C. 
Published: December 2023

Background Electronic health records (EHRs) offer the possibility of using data entry templates to simultaneously document routine clinical care and capture disease-specific measures as discrete data elements that can be used for health services research (HSR). The objective of this study was to determine factors associated with meaningful treatment escalation (MTE) of psoriasis as a pilot study for future real-world HSR studies. Methods We conducted a retrospective, observational cohort study of psoriasis patients by using data collected during routine clinical care from an EHR using EpiCare® SmartForms. The psoriasis SmartForm records psoriasis disease severity measures and descriptive findings to generate visit notes. These data were extracted and analyzed to identify factors associated with MTE, defined as changing or adding, phototherapy, systemic, or biologic therapy. Results 473 psoriasis patients met study criteria; 239 underwent MTE between their first and third observed visits. Patients who experienced MTE had more severe disease at Visit 1—assessed by BSA, pPGA, oPGA, and a patient-reported disease severity measure--than patients who did not experience MTE. Other factors associated with MTE included use of topicals only or no active treatment at Visit 1, palmoplantar disease, and involvement of other difficult-to-treat body areas. Patients who underwent MTE experienced larger improvements in disease severity than those who did not. Conclusions This study highlights how data collected during routine clinical practice can be readily used for real-world retrospective HSR when disease measures are captured as discrete elements. This approach could provide a cost-effective platform to conduct real-world HSR.
Adult-onset idiopathic peripheral pulmonary artery stenosis
Authors: Tamura Yudai , Tamura Yuichi , Shigeta Ayako , Hosokawa Kazuya , Taniguchi Yu , Inami Takumi , Adachi Shiro , Tsujino Ichizo , Nakanishi Naohiko , Sato Kimi , Sakamoto Jiro , Tanabe Nobuhiro , Takama Noriaki , Nakamura Kazuto , Kubota Kayoko , Komura Naohiro , Kato Shigehiko , Yamashita Jun , Takei Makoto , Joho Shuji , Ishii Shunsuke , Takemura Ryo , Sugimura Koichiro , Tatsumi Koichiro 
Published: December 2023

BackgroundPeripheral pulmonary artery stenosis (PPS) refers to stenosis of the pulmonary artery from the trunk to the peripheral arteries. Although paediatric PPS is well described, the clinical characteristics of adult-onset idiopathic PPS have not been established. Our objectives in this study were to characterise the disease profile of adult-onset PPS.MethodsWe collected data in Japanese centres. This cohort included patients who underwent pulmonary angiography (PAG) and excluded patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension or Takayasu arteritis. Patient backgrounds, right heart catheterisation (RHC) findings, imaging findings and treatment profiles were collected.Results44 patients (median (interquartile range) age 39 (29–57) years; 29 females (65.9%)) with PPS were enrolled from 20 centres. In PAG, stenosis of segmental and peripheral pulmonary arteries was observed in 41 (93.2%) and 36 patients (81.8%), respectively. 35 patients (79.5%) received medications approved for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and 22 patients (50.0%) received combination therapy. 25 patients (56.8%) underwent transcatheter pulmonary angioplasty. RHC data showed improvements in both mean pulmonary arterial pressure (44versus40 mmHg; p<0.001) and pulmonary vascular resistance (760versus514 dyn·s·cm−5; p<0.001) from baseline to final follow-up. The 3-, 5- and 10-year survival rates of patients with PPS were 97.5% (95% CI 83.5–99.6%), 89.0% (95% CI 68.9–96.4%) and 67.0% (95% CI 41.4–83.3%), respectively.ConclusionsIn this study, patients with adult-onset idiopathic PPS presented with segmental and peripheral pulmonary artery stenosis. Although patients had severe pulmonary hypertension at baseline, they showed a favourable treatment response to PAH drugs combined with transcatheter pulmonary angioplasty.
Spatial model of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) risk: scoping review
Authors: Pakaya Ririn , Daniel D. , Widayani Prima , Utarini Adi 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Background
Creating a spatial model of dengue fever risk is challenging duet to many interrelated factors that could affect dengue. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how these critical factors interact and to create reliable predictive models that can be used to mitigate and control the spread of dengue.

Methods
This scoping review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the important predictors, and spatial modelling tools capable of producing Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) risk maps. We conducted a methodical exploration utilizing diverse sources, i.e., PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. The following data were extracted from articles published between January 2011 to August 2022: country, region, administrative level, type of scale, spatial model, dengue data use, and categories of predictors. Applying the eligibility criteria, 45 out of 1,349 articles were selected.

Results
A variety of models and techniques were used to identify DHF risk areas with an arrangement of various multiple-criteria decision-making, statistical, and machine learning technique. We found that there was no pattern of predictor use associated with particular approaches. Instead, a wide range of predictors was used to create the DHF risk maps. These predictors may include climatology factors (e.g., temperature, rainfall, humidity), epidemiological factors (population, demographics, socio-economic, previous DHF cases), environmental factors (land-use, elevation), and relevant factors.

Conclusions
DHF risk spatial models are useful tools for detecting high-risk locations and driving proactive public health initiatives. Relying on geographical and environmental elements, these models ignored the impact of human behaviour and social dynamics. To improve the prediction accuracy, there is a need for a more comprehensive approach to understand DHF transmission dynamics.
Prevalence of G6PD deficiency and submicroscopic malaria parasites carriage in malaria hotspot area in Northwest, Tanzania
Authors: Manjurano Alphaxard , Lyimo Eric , Kishamawe Coleman , Omolo Justin , Mosha Jacklin , Donald Miyaye , Kazyoba Paul , Kapiga Saidi , Changalucha John 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Background
The use of primaquine for mass drug administration (MDA) is being considered as a key strategy for malaria elimination. In addition to being the only drug active against the dormant and relapsing forms of Plasmodium vivax, primaquine is the sole potent drug against mature/infectious Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes. It may prevent onward transmission and help contain the spread of artemisinin resistance. However, higher dose of primaquine is associated with the risk of acute haemolytic anaemia in individuals with a deficiency in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. In many P. falciparum endemic areas there is paucity of information about the distribution of individuals at risk of primaquine-induced haemolysis at higher dose 45 mg of primaquine.

Methods
A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out using archived samples to establish the prevalence of G6PD deficiency in a malaria hotspot area in Misungwi district, located in Mwanza region, Tanzania. Blood samples collected from individuals recruited between August and November 2010 were genotyped for G6PD deficiency and submicroscopic parasites carriage using polymerase chain reaction.

Results
A total of 263 individuals aged between 0 and 87 were recruited. The overall prevalence of the X-linked G6PD A− mutation was 83.7% (220/263) wild type, 8% (21/263) heterozygous and 8.4% (22/263) homozygous or hemizygous. Although, assessment of the enzymatic activity to assign the phenotypes according to severity and clinical manifestation as per WHO was not carried out, the overall genotype and allele frequency for the G6PD deficiency was 16.4% and 13. 2%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in among the different G6PD genotypes (p > 0.05). Out of 248 samples analysed for submicroscopic parasites carriage, 58.1% (144/248) were P. falciparum positive by PCR. G6PD heterozygous deficiency were associated with carriage of submicroscopic P. falciparum (p = 0.029).

Conclusions
This study showed that 16.4% of the population in this part of North-western Tanzania carry the G6PD A− mutation, within the range of 15–32% seen in other parts of Africa. G6PD gene mutation is widespread and heterogeneous across the study area where primaquine would be valuable for malaria control and elimination. The maps and population estimates presented here reflect potential risk of higher dose of primaquine being associated with the risk of acute haemolytic anaemia (AHA) in individuals with a deficiency in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and call further research on mapping of G6PD deficiency in Tanzania. Therefore, screening and education programmes for G6PD deficiency is warranted in a programme of malaria elimination using a higher primaquine dose.
Identification of the protein coding capability of coronavirus defective viral genomes by mass spectrometry
Authors: Lin Ching-Hung , Hsieh Feng-Cheng , Lai Chien-Chen , Wang Wei-Chen , Kuo Cheng-Yu , Yang Chun-Chun , Hsu Hsuan-Wei , Tam Hon-Man-Herman , Yang Cheng-Yao , Wu Hung-Yi 
Published: December 2023

AbstractDuring coronavirus infection, in addition to the well-known coronavirus genomes and subgenomic mRNAs, an abundance of defective viral genomes (DVGs) can also be synthesized. In this study, we aimed to examine whether DVGs can encode proteins in infected cells. Nanopore direct RNA sequencing and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) analysis were employed. With the protein databases generated by nanopore direct RNA sequencing and the cell lysates derived from the RNA–protein pull-down assay, six DVG-encoded proteins were identified by LC–MS/MS based on the featured fusion peptides caused by recombination during DVG synthesis. The results suggest that the coronavirus DVGs have the capability to encode proteins. Consequently, future studies determining the biological function of DVG-encoded proteins may contribute to the understanding of their roles in coronavirus pathogenesis and the development of antiviral strategies.
EMMA: a new method for computing multiple sequence alignments given a constraint subset alignment
Authors: Shen Chengze , Liu Baqiao , Williams Kelly P. , Warnow Tandy 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Background
Adding sequences into an existing (possibly user-provided) alignment has multiple applications, including updating a large alignment with new data, adding sequences into a constraint alignment constructed using biological knowledge, or computing alignments in the presence of sequence length heterogeneity. Although this is a natural problem, only a few tools have been developed to use this information with high fidelity.

Results
We present EMMA (Extending Multiple alignments using MAFFT--add) for the problem of adding a set of unaligned sequences into a multiple sequence alignment (i.e., a constraint alignment). EMMA builds on MAFFT--add, which is also designed to add sequences into a given constraint alignment. EMMA improves on MAFFT--add methods by using a divide-and-conquer framework to scale its most accurate version, MAFFT-linsi--add, to constraint alignments with many sequences. We show that EMMA has an accuracy advantage over other techniques for adding sequences into alignments under many realistic conditions and can scale to large datasets with high accuracy (hundreds of thousands of sequences). EMMA is available at https://github.com/c5shen/EMMA.

Conclusions
EMMA is a new tool that provides high accuracy and scalability for adding sequences into an existing alignment.
Impact of specialist ataxia centres on health service resource utilisation and costs across Europe: cross-sectional survey
Authors: Morris Stephen , Vallortigara Julie , Greenfield Julie , Hunt Barry , Hoffman Deborah , Reinhard Carola , Graessner Holm , Federico Antonio , Quoidbach Vinciane , Giunti Paola 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Background
Little is known about the costs of treating ataxia and whether treatment at a specialist ataxia centre affects the cost of care. The aim of this study was to investigate whether patients who attended specialist ataxia centres in three European countries reported differences in their health care use and costs compared with patients who did not attend a specialist ataxia centre. We compared mean resource use and health service costs per patient affected by ataxia in the United Kingdom, Italy and Germany over a 12-month period. Data were obtained from a survey distributed to people with ataxia in the three countries. We compared mean resource use for each contact type and costs, stratifying patients by whether they were currently attending a specialist ataxia centre or had never attended one.

Results
Responses were received from 181 patients from the United Kingdom, 96 from Italy and 43 from Germany. Differences in the numbers of contacts for most types of health service use between the specialist ataxia centre and non-specialist ataxia centre groups were non-significant. In the United Kingdom the mean total cost per patient was €2209 for non-specialist ataxia centre patients and €1813 for specialist ataxia centre patients (P = 0.59). In Italy these figures were €2126 and €1971, respectively (P = 0.84). In Germany they were €2431 and €4087, respectively (P = 0.19). Inpatient stays made the largest contribution to total costs.

Conclusions
Within each country, resource use and costs were broadly similar for specialist ataxia centre and non-specialist ataxia centre groups. There were differences between countries in terms of health care contacts and costs.
∆4-3-oxo-5β-reductase deficiency: favorable outcome in 16 patients treated with cholic acid
Authors: Gardin Antoine , Ruiz Mathias , Beime Jan , Cananzi Mara , Rathert Margarete , Rohmer Barbara , Grabhorn Enke , Almes Marion , Logarajah Veena , Peña-Quintana Luis , Casswall Thomas , Darmellah-Remil Amaria , Reyes-Domínguez Ana , Barkaoui Emna , Hierro Loreto , Baquero-Montoya Carolina , Baumann Ulrich , Fischler Björn , Gonzales Emmanuel , Davit-Spraul Anne , Laplanche Sophie , Jacquemin Emmanuel 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Background
Oral cholic acid therapy is an effective therapy in children with primary bile acid synthesis deficiencies. Most reported patients with this treatment have 3β-hydroxy-Δ5-C27-steroid oxidoreductase deficiency. The aim of the study was the evaluation of cholic acid therapy in a cohort of patients with the rarer Δ4-3-oxosteroid 5β-reductase (Δ4-3-oxo-R) deficiency.

Methods
Sixteen patients with Δ4-3-oxo-R deficiency confirmed by AKR1D1 gene sequencing who received oral cholic acid were retrospectively analyzed.

Results
First symptoms were reported early in life (median 2 months of age), with 14 and 3 patients having cholestatic jaundice and severe bleeding respectively. Fifteen patients received ursodeoxycholic acid before diagnosis, with partial improvement in 8 patients. Four patients had liver failure at the time of cholic acid initiation. All 16 patients received cholic acid from a median age of 8.1 months (range 3.1–159) and serum liver tests normalized in all within 6–12 months of treatment. After a median cholic acid therapy of 4.5 years (range 1.1–24), all patients were alive with their native liver. Median daily cholic acid dose at last follow-up was 8.3 mg/kg of body weight. All patients, but one, had normal physical examination and all had normal serum liver tests. Fibrosis, evaluated using liver biopsy (n = 4) or liver elastography (n = 9), had stabilized or improved. Cholic acid therapy enabled a 12-fold decrease of 3-oxo-∆4 derivatives in urine. Patients had normal growth and quality of life. The treatment was well tolerated without serious adverse events and signs of hepatotoxicity.

Conclusions
Oral cholic acid therapy is a safe and effective treatment for patients with Δ4-3-oxo-R deficiency.