bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impact of COVID-19 on clinical outcomes of burn patients
Authors: Walters Elliot T , Palackic Alen , Franco-Mesa Camila , Shah Nikhil R , Erickson Michael J , Wolf Steven E 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Background
Multiple studies have shown the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19) to be associated with deleterious outcomes in a wide range of patients. The impact of COVID-19 has not been well investigated among burned patients. We suspect that patients will have worsened respiratory and thrombotic complications, ultimately leading to increased mortality. The objective of this study is to determine the impact a concurrent infection of COVID-19 has on clinical outcomes after a burn injury.

Methods
This is a retrospective, propensity matched, cohort study. We examined a de-identified database of electronic medical records of over 75 million patients across 75 health care associations in the United States for patients treated for thermal burns from 1 January 2020, to 31 July 2021, and those who also were diagnosed with COVID-19 infection within one day before or after injury based on International Classification of Disease, tenth revision (ICD-10) codes. Study participants included adults who were treated for a burn injury during the study period.

Results
We included 736 patients with burn injury and concomitant COVID-19 infection matched to 736 patients with burn injury and no concurrent COVID-19 infection (total 1472 patients, mean age 36.3 ± 24.3). We found no significant increase in mortality observed for patients with concurrent COVID-19 (OR 1.203, 95% CI 0.517–2.803; p = 0.6675). We did observe significant increase in infections (OR 3.537, 95% CI 2.798–4.471; p = 0.0001), thrombotic complications (OR 2.342, 95% CI 1.351–4.058; p = 0.0018), as was the incidence of hypertrophic scarring (OR 3.368, 95% CI 2.326–4.877; p = 0.0001).

Conclusions
We observed that concurrent COVID-19 infection was associated with an increase in infections, thrombosis and hypertrophic scarring but no increase in mortality in our cohort of burn patients.
Rapid Environmental Contamination With Candida auris and Multidrug-Resistant Bacterial Pathogens Near Colonized Patients
Authors: Sansom Sarah E , Gussin Gabrielle M , Schoeny Michael , Singh Raveena D , Adil Hira , Bell Pamela , Benson Ellen C , Bittencourt Cassiana E , Black Stephanie , Del Mar Villanueva Guzman Maria , Froilan Mary Carl , Fukuda Christine , Barsegyan Karina , Gough Ellen , Lyman Meghan , Makhija Jinal , Marron Stefania , Mikhail Lydia , Noble-Wang Judith , Pacilli Massimo , Pedroza Robert , Saavedra Raheeb , Sexton D Joseph , Shimabukuro Julie , Thotapalli Lahari , Zahn Matthew , Huang Susan S , Hayden Mary K 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Background
Environmental contamination is suspected to play an important role in Candida auris transmission. Understanding speed and risks of contamination after room disinfection could inform environmental cleaning recommendations.

Methods
We conducted a prospective multicenter study of environmental contamination associated with C. auris colonization at 6 ventilator-capable skilled nursing facilities and 1 acute care hospital in Illinois and California. Known C. auris carriers were sampled at 5 body sites followed by sampling of nearby room surfaces before disinfection and at 0, 4, 8, and 12 hours after disinfection. Samples were cultured for C. auris and bacterial multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). Odds of surface contamination after disinfection were analyzed using multilevel generalized estimating equations.

Results
Among 41 known C. auris carriers, colonization was detected most frequently on palms/fingertips (76%) and nares (71%). C. auris contamination was detected on 32.2% (66/205) of room surfaces before disinfection and 20.5% (39/190) of room surfaces by 4 hours after disinfection. A higher number of C. auris–colonized body sites was associated with higher odds of environmental contamination at every time point following disinfection, adjusting for facility of residence. In the rooms of 38 (93%) C. auris carriers co-colonized with a bacterial MDRO, 2%–24% of surfaces were additionally contaminated with the same MDRO by 4 hours after disinfection.

Conclusions
C. auris can contaminate the healthcare environment rapidly after disinfection, highlighting the challenges associated with environmental disinfection. Future research should investigate long-acting disinfectants, antimicrobial surfaces, and more effective patient skin antisepsis to reduce the environmental reservoir of C. auris and bacterial MDROs in healthcare settings.
Seasonal temperatures in South Eleuthera, The Bahamas, have considerable impacts on the cardiorespiratory function and swimming performance of Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus)
Authors: Porter E S , Gamperl A K 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Surprisingly, the impacts of environmental changes on the physiology of tropical/subtropical marine fishes have received limited attention. Given that (i) temperature is considered to be a key factor controlling the biology of fishes; (ii) no published data are available on the swimming performance, metabolic capacity or cardiac function of any of the ~165 grouper species worldwide; and (iii) the Nassau grouper is an endangered species of great ecological and socioeconomic significance in The Bahamas, we investigated how current summer/early fall (30°C) and winter (22°C) temperatures in South Eleuthera affected the aerobic metabolism and heart function of wild Nassau grouper when swum to exhaustion (i.e. to their critical swimming speed, Ucrit). The Nassau grouper had a very low Ucrit at 30°C (i.e. &lt;1 body lengths s−1), and a 30% lower swimming performance during the winter (at 22°C), and this was that was indicative of a reduced absolute aerobic scope (~185 vs. 290 mg O2 kg−1 h−1) and values of maximum heart rate ($f$HMax) and scope for $f$H that were only one-half of that achieved at 30°C (~60 vs. 120 and 29 vs. 61 beats min−1, respectively). Overall, these data reveal that the Nassau grouper’s aerobic and swimming capacity are well below values reported for other tropical/subtropical fishes and suggest that, despite a compensatory (~30–40%) increase in stroke volume, constraints on $f$H near this species’ lower thermal limit negatively affect its cardiac output and swimming performance. These findings have considerable ecological implications as Bahamian grouper populations migrate over long distances to spawn during the winter months, and given the predicted increase in temperature variability with climate change.
Regurgitant volume to LA volume ratio in patients with secondary MR: the COAPT trial
Authors: Coisne Augustin , Scotti Andrea , Granada Juan F , Grayburn Paul A , Mack Michael J , Cohen David J , Kar Saibal , Lim D Scott , Lindenfeld JoAnn , Bax Jeroen , Kotinkaduwa Lak N , Redfors Björn , Weissman Neil J , Asch Federico M , Stone Gregg W 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Aims
The conceptual framework of proportionate vs. disproportionate mitral regurgitation (MR) translates poorly to individual patients with heart failure (HF) and secondary MR. A novel index, the ratio of MR severity to left atrial volume (LAV), may identify patients with ‘disproportionate’ MR and a higher risk of events. The objectives, therefore, were to investigate the prognostic impact of MR severity to LAV ratio on outcomes among HF patients with severe secondary MR randomized to transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) with the MitraClip™ device plus guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) vs. GDMT alone in the COAPT trial.

Methods and results
The ratio of pre-procedural regurgitant volume (RVol) to LAV was calculated from baseline transthoracic echocardiograms. The primary endpoint was 2-year covariate-adjusted rate of HF hospitalization (HFH). Among 567 patients, the median RVol/LAV was 0.67 (interquartile range 0.48–0.91). In patients randomized to GDMT alone, lower RVol/LAV was independently associated with an increased 2-year risk of HFH (adjHR: 1.77; 95% CI: 1.20–2.63). RVol/LAV was a stronger predictor of adverse outcomes than RVol or LAV alone. Treatment with TEER plus GDMT compared with GDMT alone was associated with lower 2-year rates of HFH both in patients with low and high RVol/LAV (Pinteraction = 0.28). Baseline RVol/LAV ratio was unrelated to 2-year mortality, health status, or functional capacity in either treatment group.

Conclusion
Low RVol/LAV ratio was an independent predictor of 2-year HFH in HF patients with severe MR treated with GDMT alone in the COAPT trial. TEER improved outcomes regardless of baseline RVol/LAV ratio.

Clinical Trial Registration
Trial Name: Cardiovascular Outcomes Assessment of the MitraClip Percutaneous Therapy for Heart Failure Patients With Functional Mitral Regurgitation (The COAPT Trial) (COAPT)
ClinicalTrial.gov Identifier NCT01626079
URL https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01626079
Arrhythmic mitral valve prolapse: a practical approach for asymptomatic patients
Authors: Malagoli Alessandro , Albini Alessandro , Benfari Giovanni , Ilardi Federica , Lisi Matteo , Mandoli Giulia Elena , Pastore Maria Concetta , Sperlongano Simona , Cameli Matteo , D’Andrea Antonello 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is usually regarded as a benign condition though the proportion of patients with a life-threatening arrhythmic MVP form remains undefined. Recently, an experts’ consensus statement on arrhythmic MVP has proposed approaches for risk stratification across the spectrum of clinical manifestation. However, sudden cardiac death may be the first presentation, making clinicians focused to early unmasking this subset of asymptomatic patients. Growing evidence on the role of cardiac imaging in the in-deep stratification pathway has emerged in the last decade. Pathology findings have suggested the fibrosis of papillary muscles and inferobasal left ventricular wall as the malignant hallmark. Cardiac magnetic resonance, while of limited availability, allows the identification of this arrhythmogenic substrate. Therefore, speckle-tracking echocardiography may be a gateway to prompt referring patients to further advanced imaging investigation. Our review aims to summarize the phenotypic features linked to the arrhythmic risk and to propose an image-based algorithm intended to help stratifying asymptomatic MVP patients.
The gut microbiome across the cardiovascular risk spectrum
Authors: Prins Femke M , Collij Valerie , Groot Hilde E , Björk Johannes R , Swarte J Casper , Andreu-Sánchez Sergio , Jansen Bernadien H , Fu Jingyuan , Harmsen Hermie J M , Zhernakova Alexandra , Lipsic Erik , van der Harst Pim , Weersma Rinse K , Gacesa Ranko 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Aims
Despite treatment advancements, cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of death worldwide. Identifying new targets is crucial for enhancing preventive and therapeutic strategies. The gut microbiome has been associated with coronary artery disease (CAD), however our understanding of specific changes during CAD development remains limited. We aimed to investigate microbiome changes in participants without clinically manifest CAD with different cardiovascular risk levels and in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods and results
In this cross-sectional study, we characterized the gut microbiome using metagenomics of 411 faecal samples from individuals with low (n = 130), intermediate (n = 130), and high (n = 125) cardiovascular risk based on the Framingham score, and STEMI patients (n = 26). We analysed diversity, and differential abundance of species and functional pathways while accounting for confounders including medication and technical covariates. Collinsella stercoris, Flavonifractor plautii, and Ruthenibacterium lactatiformans showed increased abundances with cardiovascular risk, while Streptococcus thermophilus was negatively associated. Differential abundance analysis revealed eight species and 49 predicted metabolic pathways that were differently abundant among the groups. In the gut microbiome of STEMI patients, there was a depletion of pathways linked to vitamin, lipid, and amino acid biosynthesis.

Conclusion
We identified four microbial species showing a gradual trend in abundance from low-risk individuals to those with STEMI, and observed differential abundant species and pathways in STEMI patients compared to those without clinically manifest CAD. Further investigation is warranted to gain deeper understanding of their precise role in CAD progression and potential implications, with the ultimate goal of identifying novel therapeutic targets.
Tracking fungal species-level responses in soil environments exposed to long-term warming and associated drying
Authors: Romero-Olivares Adriana L , Frey Serita D , Treseder Kathleen K 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Climate change is affecting fungal communities and their function in terrestrial ecosystems. Despite making progress in the understanding of how the fungal community responds to global change drivers in natural ecosystems, little is known on how fungi respond at the species level. Understanding how fungal species respond to global change drivers, such as warming, is critical, as it could reveal adaptation pathways to help us to better understand ecosystem functioning in response to global change. Here, we present a model study to track species-level responses of fungi to warming—and associated drying—in a decade-long global change field experiment; we focused on two free-living saprotrophic fungi which were found in high abundance in our site, Mortierella and Penicillium. Using microbiological isolation techniques, combined with whole genome sequencing of fungal isolates, and community level metatranscriptomics, we investigated transcription-level differences of functional categories and specific genes involved in catabolic processes, cell homeostasis, cell morphogenesis, DNA regulation and organization, and protein biosynthesis. We found that transcription-level responses were mostly species-specific but that under warming, both fungi consistently invested in the transcription of critical genes involved in catabolic processes, cell morphogenesis, and protein biosynthesis, likely allowing them to withstand a decade of chronic stress. Overall, our work supports the idea that fungi that invest in maintaining their catabolic rates and processes while growing and protecting their cells may survive under global climate change.
Peace at Home, Conflict Abroad: Government Ideology, Mission Type, and Parliamentary Support for Military Interventions
Authors: Vignoli Valerio , Baraldi Francesco 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
International relations scholarship has long overlooked the role of parliament in shaping states’ decision to go to war. In contrast, recent studies explored variations in parliamentary war powers across time and countries and their impact on troop deployments abroad. However, a systematic analysis of the determinants of support for military interventions in parliament is still missing. This article fills this literature gap by examining votes on 119 missions in twenty-one democracies between 1990 and 2019. Our findings suggest that parliamentary contestation is fundamentally driven by government ideology and the type of mission. Parliamentary support for military intervention is significantly higher when a left-wing government is in power. Moreover, “inclusive” missions with a robust humanitarian dimension draw a considerably lower level of contestation than “strategic” missions aimed at contrasting a security threat. Through such findings, the article contributes to the debates on the relevance of domestic political institutions in foreign policy and the party politics of military interventions.
Simplified homology-assisted CRISPR for gene editing in Drosophila
Authors: Rankin Anne E , Fox Elizabeth , Chisholm Townley , Lantz Nicole , Rajan Arjun , Phillips William , Griffin Elizabeth , Harper Jaekeb , Suhr Christopher , Tan Max , Wang Jason , Yang Alana , Kim Ella S , Ankrah Naa Kwama A , Chakraborty Praachi , Lam Alistair C K , Laws Madeleine E , Lee Jackson , Park Kyle K , Wesel Emily , Covert Peter H , Kockel Lutz , Park Sangbin , Kim Seung K 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
In vivo genome editing with clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 generates powerful tools to study gene regulation and function. We revised the homology-assisted CRISPR knock-in method to convert Drosophila GAL4 lines to LexA lines using a new universal knock-in donor strain. A balancer chromosome–linked donor strain with both body color (yellow) and eye red fluorescent protein (RFP) expression markers simplified the identification of LexA knock-in using light or fluorescence microscopy. A second balancer chromosome–linked donor strain readily converted the second chromosome–linked GAL4 lines regardless of target location in the cis-chromosome but showed limited success for the third chromosome–linked GAL4 lines. We observed a consistent and robust expression of the yellow transgene in progeny harboring a LexA knock-in at diverse genomic locations. Unexpectedly, the expression of the 3xP3-RFP transgene in the “dual transgene” cassette was significantly increased compared with that of the original single 3xP3-RFP transgene cassette in all tested genomic locations. Using this improved screening approach, we generated 16 novel LexA lines; tissue expression by the derived LexA and originating GAL4 lines was similar or indistinguishable. In collaboration with 2 secondary school classes, we also established a systematic workflow to generate a collection of LexA lines from frequently used GAL4 lines.
Identification of Candidate Genes Associated With Development of Vascular Cognitive Impairment by Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis Combined With Biological Experiments
Authors: Cheng Yajing , Liu Ying , Wu Rong , Xu Yiyuan , Sun Meiyue , Wang Feng , Geng Xin , Wang Fei 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
The morbidity and mortality associated with vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) generally increase steeply, and health systems will face increasing demand for services. The present study aims to screen key genes to give new insight into the mechanisms and treatment of VCI based on bioinformatic approaches combined with biological experiments in rats. The gene expression data of VCI patients contained in the GSE122063 data set were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus. We performed a weighted gene co-expression network analysis to identify a hub module and 44 hub genes. Two hundred and seventy-seven differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed using R software by the “limma” package. STRING database was used to construct protein–protein interaction (PPI) network, after which 36 hub genes were identified through Cytoscape. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that these genes from the yellow module and 277 DEGs were mainly associated with these pathways, such as Staphylococcus aureus infection, complement, and coagulation cascades. These biological functions are related to inflammatory cell activation and inflammatory response. The key genes of VCI were the overlapping hub genes from the yellow module and the PPI network. The expressions of hub genes in rats were determined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence. In conclusion, C1QA, C1QB, C1QC, CD163, and FCGR2A were highly expressed in the hippocampus of VCI rats, and they can serve as candidate biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of VCI. Finally, molecular docking results suggested that 5 genes interact with Bisphenol A. These findings open a new avenue to investigate molecular mechanisms for preventing or treating VCI.
The Phenomenon and Determinants of Healthcare Service Utilization for Older Adults With Multimorbidity in China: An Explanatory, Mixed-Method Study
Authors: Wu Jingjie , Xue Erxu , Fu Yujia , Zhao Binyu , Lai Chuyang , Shao Jing , Chen Dandan , Cui Nianqi , Zhang Hui , Tang Leiwen , Ye Zhihong 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Objectives
The objective of this study was to explore the phenomenon and determinants of healthcare service utilization in Chinese older adults with multimorbidity.

Methods
We adopted a mixed-methods explanatory design from July 2022 to May 2023. The quantitative research was a social network analysis to explore the phenomenon of healthcare service utilization in target participants. The quantitative results were further interpreted as the participant’s propensity for healthcare services and the potential for information sharing between healthcare providers through shared patients. Logistic regression was conducted to identify individual determinants for healthcare service utilization. The quantitative research was followed by qualitative interviews with stakeholders to deeply understand the phenomenon of interest from the individual, healthcare system, and societal perspectives.

Results
We recruited 321 participants for the quantitative study. They preferred using medication services from primary healthcare providers, pharmacists at private pharmacies, and hospital specialists, and preferred using other services from hospital specialists. Dense relationships arose from shared patients among healthcare providers across various professions and settings, making it possible to share patient information. Primary healthcare providers were particularly important in the process, as they were closely related to others through patient sharing. Health status was identified through logistic regression and qualitative interviews as an individual determinant for healthcare service utilization. More determinants were explored in qualitative interviews with 30 stakeholders, including trust, resource allocation, healthcare accessibility, medical treatment process, and healthcare awareness.

Discussion
Strategies should be proposed to intervene with patients’ nonoptimal propensity toward healthcare services and promote information sharing among healthcare providers.
Characterizing hospitalization trajectories in the high-need, high-cost population using electronic health record data
Authors: Lee Scott S , French Benjamin , Balucan Francis , McCann Michael D , Vasilevskis Eduard E 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
High utilization by a minority of patients accounts for a large share of health care costs, but the dynamics of this utilization remain poorly understood. We sought to characterize longitudinal trajectories of hospitalization among adult patients at an academic medical center from 2017 to 2023. Among 3404 patients meeting eligibility criteria, following an initial “rising-risk” period of 3 hospitalizations in 6 months, growth mixture modeling discerned 4 clusters of subsequent hospitalization trajectories: no further utilization, low chronic utilization, persistently high utilization with a slow rate of increase, and persistently high utilization with a fast rate of increase. Baseline factors associated with higher-order hospitalization trajectories included admission to a nonsurgical service, full code status, intensive care unit-level care, opioid administration, discharge home, and comorbid cardiovascular disease, end-stage kidney or liver disease, or cancer. Characterizing hospitalization trajectories and their correlates in this manner lays groundwork for early identification of those most likely to become high-need, high-cost patients.