bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Estimation of time-varying causal effects with multivariable Mendelian randomization: some cautionary notes
Authors: Tian Haodong , Burgess Stephen 
Published: January 2023

Abstract

Introduction
For many exposures present across the life course, the effect of the exposure may vary over time. Multivariable Mendelian randomization (MVMR) is an approach that can assess the effects of related risk factors using genetic variants as instrumental variables. Recently, MVMR has been used to estimate the effects of an exposure during distinct time periods.

Methods
We investigated the behaviour of estimates from MVMR in a simulation study for different time-varying causal scenarios. We also performed an applied analysis to consider how MVMR estimates of body mass index on systolic blood pressure vary depending on the time periods considered.

Results
Estimates from MVMR in the simulation study were close to the true values when the outcome model was correctly specified: i.e. when the outcome was a discrete function of the exposure at the precise time points at which the exposure was measured. However, in more realistic cases, MVMR estimates were misleading. For example, in one scenario, MVMR estimates for early life were clearly negative despite the true causal effect being constant and positive. In the applied example, estimates were highly variable depending on the time period in which genetic associations with the exposure were estimated.

Conclusions
The poor performance of MVMR to study time-varying causal effects can be attributed to model misspecification and violation of the exclusion restriction assumption. We would urge caution about quantitative conclusions from such analyses and even qualitative interpretations about the direction, or presence or absence, of a causal effect during a given time period.
In vitro activity of imipenem/relebactam against piperacillin/tazobactam-resistant and meropenem-resistant non-Morganellaceae Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas aeruginosa collected from patients with lower respiratory tract infections in Western Europe: SMART 2018–20
Authors: Karlowsky James A , Lob Sibylle H , Akrich Brune , DeRyke C Andrew , Siddiqui Fakhar , Young Katherine , Motyl Mary R , Hawser Stephen P , Sahm Daniel F 
Published: January 2023

Abstract

Objectives
To describe the in vitro activity of imipenem/relebactam against non-Morganellaceae Enterobacterales (NME) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa recently isolated from lower respiratory tract infection samples by hospital laboratories in Western Europe.

Methods
From 2018 to 2020, 29 hospital laboratories in six countries in Western Europe participated in the SMART global surveillance programme and contributed 4414 NME and 1995 P. aeruginosa isolates. MICs were determined using the CLSI broth microdilution method and interpreted by EUCAST (2021) breakpoints. β-Lactamase genes were identified in selected isolate subsets (2018–20) and oprD sequenced in molecularly characterized P. aeruginosa (2020).

Results
Imipenem/relebactam (99.1% susceptible), amikacin (97.2%), meropenem (96.1%) and imipenem (95.9%) were the most active agents tested against NME; by country, relebactam increased imipenem susceptibility from &lt;1% (France, Germany, UK) to 11.0% (Italy). A total of 96.0% of piperacillin/tazobactam-resistant (n = 990) and 81.1% of meropenem-resistant (n = 106) NME were imipenem/relebactam-susceptible. Only 0.5% of NME were MBL positive, 0.9% were OXA-48-like-positive (MBL negative) and 2.8% were KPC positive (MBL negative). Amikacin (91.5% susceptible) and imipenem/relebactam (91.4%) were the most active agents against P. aeruginosa; 72.3% of isolates were imipenem-susceptible. Relebactam increased susceptibility to imipenem by 34.4% (range by country, 39.1%–73.5%) in piperacillin/tazobactam-resistant and by 37.4% (3.1%–40.5%) in meropenem-resistant P. aeruginosa. Only 1.8% of P. aeruginosa isolates were MBL positive. Among molecularly characterized imipenem/relebactam-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates from 2020, 90.9% (30/33) were oprD deficient.

Conclusions
Imipenem/relebactam appears to be a potential treatment option for lower respiratory tract infections caused by piperacillin/tazobactam- and meropenem-resistant NME and P. aeruginosa in Western Europe.
Sudden cardiac death in synucleinopathies
Authors: Javanshiri Keivan , Drakenberg Tove , Haglund Mattias , Englund Elisabet 
Published: January 2023

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to investigate the cause of death in subjects with α-synucleinopathies (ASs) and the confirmed presence of cardiac α-synuclein (α-syn), compared to non-AS disorders in a neuropathologically confirmed cohort. In total, 78 neuropathologically confirmed AS cases positive for cardiac α-syn were included in the study. Individuals with other neurocognitive diseases, having no α-syn in the brainstem or above, nor in cardiac nerves, served as controls (n = 53). Data regarding the cause of death, cardiac α-syn, pathological cardiac findings, and cardio- and cerebrovascular disease were assembled from autopsy reports and medical records. In the AS group, there was a significantly higher prevalence of sudden cardiac death ([SCD]; n = 40, 51.3%) compared to the control group (n = 12, 22.6%, p &lt; 0.001). No statistically significant differences between the groups were reported regarding other cardiac conditions on autopsy or regarding cardio- and cerebrovascular disease from the medical records. The most prevalent cause of death in the AS group was SCD, which differed significantly from the control group. This suggests that α-syn deposits in cardiac nerves may cause lethal alterations in cardiac function, warranting further research.
Integrating individual preferences into collective argumentation
Authors: Li Chonghui , Liao Beishui 
Published: January 2023

AbstractIn the field of collective argumentation, multiple agents may have different knowledge representations and individual preferences. In order to obtain a reasonable collective outcome for the group, either individual frameworks should be merged or individual preferences should be aggregated. However, framework merging and preference aggregation are different procedures, leading to disagreements on collective outcomes. In this paper, we figure out a solution to combine framework merging, argumentative reasoning and incomplete preference aggregation together. Furthermore, a couple of rational postulates are proposed to be the criteria for the rationality of collective outcomes obtained based on our approach.
Role of Uterine Telocytes During Pregnancy
Authors: Soliman Soha A , Abd-Elhafeez Hanan H , Abou-Elhamd Alaa S , Kamel Basma Mohamed , Abdellah Nada , Mustafa Fatma El-Zahraa A 
Published: January 2023

AbstractEndometrial remolding and angiogenesis are critical events that occur during pregnancy in order to establish uteroplacental vascular communication. This study investigated the role of uterine telocytes (TCs) in pregnancy. We analyzed the distribution of TCs and morphological changes in the endometrium of the gravid rabbit uterus at different stages of pregnancy: after ovulation, pre-implantation (day 7), post-implantation (days 8 and 9), and mid-pregnancy (day 14) and late (days 21–28) pregnancy. TCs gradually increased with the progression of pregnancy. They had distinctive telopodes (TPs) and podoms, with intranucleolar chromatin. The TCs established contact with decidual cells, growing a glandular epithelium, blood vessels, and immune cells, such as lymphocytes, neutrophils, and macrophages. The TCs underwent morphological changes at the post-implantation phase. They acquired thick and voluminous TPs, formed an extensive three-dimensional (3D) labyrinth at mid-pregnancy, and exhibited irregular-shaped nuclei and a dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum at late pregnancy. They also acquired a convoluted contour-formed complex network. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed an extensive 3D network in the endometrium, forming a condensed sheath at late pregnancy. Transmission electron microscopy and SEM detected fenestrated TPs, and TCs were identified by CD34 and vascular endothelial growth factor expression. TCs also expressed matrix metalloproteinase-9 and transforming growth factor beta-1. Results suggested that TCs might play an essential role in maternal placenta formation, especially decidualization, regulation of uterine gland development, and neovascularization of maternal uterine blood vessels.
Electron-Beam-Induced Carbon Contamination in STEM-in-SEM: Quantification and Mitigation
Authors: Hugenschmidt Milena , Adrion Katharina , Marx Aaron , Müller Erich , Gerthsen Dagmar 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Contamination is an undesired side effect in many electron microscopy studies that covers structures of interest and degrades resolution. Although contamination has been studied for decades, open questions remain regarding favorable imaging conditions for contamination minimization and the efficiency of contamination-mitigation strategies. This work focuses on electron-beam-induced carbon contamination in scanning transmission electron microscopy at electron energies of 30 keV and below. A reliable method to measure contamination thicknesses was developed in this work and enables the identification of imaging conditions that minimize contamination. Thin amorphous carbon films were used as test samples. The variation of important imaging parameters shows that the contamination thickness increases with the reduction of the electron energy to about 1 keV but decreases below 1 keV. Contamination increases with the beam current but saturates at high currents. Applying a given dose with a high dose rate reduces contamination. Among the tested contamination-mitigation methods, plasma cleaning and beam showering are most effective. Most experiments in this work were performed with focused scanning illumination. Experiments were also carried out with a stationary defocused beam for comparison with a theoretical contamination model with good agreement between measured and calculated contamination thickness.
The Micro-CT Analysis of the Structural Parameters of Collagen-based Porous Scaffolds: The Influence of Image Processing and Binarization
Authors: Bartoš Martin , Suchý Tomáš , Luňáčková Jitka , Soukup Petr 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
The micro-CT evaluation of structural parameter values is dependent on the processing of the image prior to its analysis. However, the degree of bias introduced by the image-processing process is generally unknown. The micro-CT analysis of three basic parameters (volume, surface, and pore size) was performed for 20 collagen-based porous scaffolds. The image data were processed using various approaches (noise reduction, binarization), analyzed and results were compared. A high degree of variability was observed in the values of the structural parameters. The differences between the mean values were as follows: 190% (volume), 160% (surface density), and 210% (pore size). Significant differences were observed with respect to the noise reduction in terms of the pore size values (frequently in excess of 300%). Our study proved the significant dependence of image processing on the results obtained. The data presented can be used as an estimate for the introduced bias. We suggest improvements in terms of the selection of the image-processing approach based on a combination of subjective selection (the standard method) and numerical analysis based on the consistency of the results. Although we focused on tissue engineering scaffolds, the principles are similar for all fields of the micro-CT application.
Operando Liquid-Phase TEM Experiments for the Investigation of Dissolution Kinetics: Application to Li-Ion Battery Materials
Authors: Poulizac Julie , Boulineau Adrien , Billy Emmanuel , Masenelli-Varlot Karine 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
We present here a novel and universal sample preparation method for liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy (TEM) experiments involving powder materials. Thanks to this new protocol, we demonstrate the ability to study the dissolution of cathode materials by sulfuric acid using operando TEM. Based on ultramicrotomy, this method has been developed to avoid compatibility issues between sample size and liquid cell geometry. The observation parameters have been optimized to get the best contrast in scanning TEM (STEM) images. The reaction kinetics have been investigated by image analysis and compared to those obtained ex situ. By taking into account the sample geometry and the reacting surfaces in both experiments, we show that the reaction kinetics are equivalent and could be overlaid. This proves that the protocol developed enables real operando experiments, as it provides quantitative data at the nanoscale that are representative of the bulk specimen. The main challenges of such a protocol for operando liquid-phase TEM, as well as the accuracy of the image analysis method used, are also discussed.
Assessing the Accuracy of Mass Attenuation Coefficients for Soft X-ray EPMA
Authors: Llovet Xavier , Pöml Philipp , Moy Aurélien , Fournelle John H 
Published: January 2023

AbstractThe use of soft X-rays in electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) has gained renewed interest over the past decades due to the advent of new detector technologies. Because X-ray absorption is the dominant correction for soft X-rays, a reliable set of mass attenuation coefficients (MACs) is needed for accurate composition determination. Although several MAC tabulations cover the soft X-ray range, the accuracy of such tabulations below 1 keV is not firmly established. In this study, we assess the accuracy of MAC tabulations in the soft X-ray region by comparing tabulated values for Be, B, C, N, O, and F Kα X-rays with experimental data available in the literature. We find that the 1993 semi-empirical MAC compilation of Henke et al. [(1993). Low-energy X-ray interaction coefficients: Photoabsorption, scattering, transmission and reflection at E=50−30000 eV, Z=1−92. Atom Data Nucl Data Tables54, 181–342] and the more recent theoretical MAC calculations of Sabbatucci and Salvat [(2016). Theory and calculation of the atomic photoeffect. Rad Phys Chem121, 122–140] perform slightly better than the rest of the considered tabulations. The Sabbatucci–Salvat dataset also provides the best agreement with the few existing experimental measurements for Al L2,3M X-rays.
Scoping Review of Postvention for Mental Health Providers Following Patient Suicide
Authors: Daly Kelly A , Segura Anna , Heyman Richard E , Aladia Salomi , Slep Amy M Smith 
Published: January 2023

ABSTRACTIntroductionAs suicides among military personnel continue to climb, we sought to determine best practices for supporting military mental health clinicians following patient suicide loss (i.e., postvention).Materials and MethodsWe conducted a scoping review of the literature using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. Our initial search of academic databases generated 2,374 studies, of which 122 were included in our final review. We categorized postvention recommendations based on the socioecological model (i.e., recommendations at the individual provider, supervisory/managerial, organizational, and discipline levels) and analyzed them using a narrative synthesizing approach.ResultsExtracted recommendations (N = 358) comprised those at the provider (n = 94), supervisory/managerial (n = 90), organization (n = 105), and discipline (n = 69) levels.ConclusionsThe literature converges on the need for formal postvention protocols that prioritize (1) training and education and (2) emotional and instrumental support for the clinician. Based on the scoped literature, we propose a simple postvention model for military mental health clinicians and recommend a controlled trial testing of its effectiveness.
Blastomycosis in New England: 5 Cases and a Review
Authors: Ross John J , Koo Sophia , Woolley Ann E , Zuckerman Richard A 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
The geographic range of blastomycosis is thought to include New England, but documentation is sparse. We report 5 cases of infection with Blastomyces dermatitidis that were likely acquired in New England between 2011 and 2021. Our experience suggests that chart coding for the diagnosis of blastomycosis is imprecise and that mandatory reporting might help resolve uncertainties about the prevalence and extent of blastomycosis.
Lateral medullary infarction presenting only with dermatomal sensory disturbance: a case report
Authors: Aratake Yuriko , Inoue Manabu 
Published: January 2023

ABSTRACT
The triad of Horner’s syndrome, ataxia and sensory disturbances clinically identifies patients with lateral medullary infarct (LMI). However, dermatomal temperature and pain sensory loss have rarely been reported in patients with LMI. We describe the case of a patient with LMI presenting solely with temperature and pain sensory disorder below the C5 sensory level. Magnetic resonance imaging findings demonstrated a small superficial infarction in the right lateral medulla oblongata, indicating that the sensory deficit was caused by a restricted infarction of the lateral spinothalamic tract. We emphasize the importance of adding LMI to a differential diagnosis of acute dermatomal sensory disturbance without other major symptoms of LMI, such as cranial nerve abnormalities, ataxia and Horner’s syndrome.
Left lung aplasia with patent ductus arteriosus in a term newborn baby: a case report
Authors: Aslamzai Mansoor , Mukhlis Abdul Hakim , Hakimi Turyalai , Froogh Basir Ahmad 
Published: January 2023

ABSTRACT
Pulmonary aplasia is a very rare congenital anomaly identified by the absence of lung parenchyma or vessels. This malformation mostly accompanies other anomalies, and chest computed tomography (CT) is a useful diagnostic tool. We present a rare case of left lung aplasia with patent ductus arteriosus and neonatal sepsis in a term newborn baby who had respiratory distress. The clinical features were observed during the first week of life, and the diagnosis of these anomalies was established by clinical, laboratory, chest x-ray, thoracic CT and echocardiographic findings. After the management of neonatal sepsis and patent ductus arteriosus, he was discharged from the hospital in good condition. Since the index case of lung aplasia was associated with congenital heart disease and had strong parental consanguinity, a genetic basis may have been involved in the pathogenesis of pulmonary aplasia.
Pleomorphic adenoma of nasal septum, an unusual site: a case report from Nepal
Authors: Aryal Gyan Raj , Shrestha Nischal , Basnet Meenakshi , Shrestha Oshan , Sharma Pratikshya 
Published: January 2023

ABSTRACT
Pleomorphic adenoma is the commonest benign salivary glands tumor. Major salivary glands are mainly involved, and there is very low reported incidence of such tumor in minor salivary glands of nasal cavity. We report a case of 69-year-old woman who complaint of chronic left nasal obstruction and recurrent scanty bleeding from left nostril for last 2 months. On anterior Rhinoscopy examination, there was a pinkish non-tender mass in left nasal cavity arising from cartilaginous part of nasal septum. Intranasal endoscopic excision was done under general anesthesia and histopathological examination of excised tissue revealed pleomorphic adenoma. Patient was discharged after 3 days. There was no recurrence at sixth month of follow-up.
Progressively confluent monkeypox lesions with necrosis
Authors: Smith Kolton , Tyson Kelly , Hossain Raeesa , Young Alexandra , Melnick Jillian 
Published: January 2023

ABSTRACT
Human monkeypox virus became a burgeoning global health issue when outbreaks were identified in over 100 countries beginning in early 2022. We describe the case of a 38-year-old male with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome who presented one month after the development of painful anal lesions, subsequently confirmed to be monkeypox. The patient was unsuccessfully treated outpatient with multiple courses of oral tecovirimat before presenting to the emergency department for continual lesion progression. Given his AIDS, the patient was at-risk for poor response to oral treatment due to the potential for malabsorption from disruptions in his gut microbiome as well as inability to consume the recommended 25 grams of fat per dose needed for absorption. The identification of patients at-risk for severe disease is imperative as this population may be better suited for intravenous tecovirimat treatment due to the difficult parameters required for optimal absorption of oral therapy.
Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis after COVID-19 vaccination: a case report and literature review
Authors: Elfil Mohamed , Aladawi Mohammad , Balian Dmitry , Fahad Ismail , Zhou Daniel J , Villafuerte-Trisolini Brian , Diesing Thomas Scott 
Published: January 2023

ABSTRACT
As COVID-19 vaccines became widely available, there have been reports of neurovascular complications. In this article, we aim to report a case of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) induced by COVID-19 vaccination, with a literature review on similar cases as well as the potential pathophysiological mechanisms. Our case is a healthy male who developed headache, vomiting, photophobia and diplopia after receiving the Ad26.COV2.S vaccine. Fundus examination showed papilledema, and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and cerebral veins showed CVST involving the superior sagittal sinus and right transverse sinus extending into the right jugular vein. Hypercoagulability workup was unremarkable, and the patient received immunotherapy and anticoagulation. Following this treatment, symptoms resolved, and he had no residual neurologic deficits. Developing neurologic manifestations, especially severe headaches with papilledema, after COVID-19 vaccination should warrant neuroimaging. Early recognition and management of CVST are essential for good clinical outcomes.
Cardiogenic shock secondary to stress-induced cardiomyopathy precipitated by severe diabetic ketoacidosis
Authors: Gurreri Riley , Poommipanit Paul , Alghamdi Abdullah 
Published: January 2023

ABSTRACTStress-induced cardiomyopathy is caused by neurohormonal release of catecholamines. Although diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a well-known complication of diabetes, diabetes mellitus is usually protective of stress-induced cardiomyopathy. Stress-induced cardiomyopathy secondary to DKA is extremely rare; however, cardiogenic shock is a potential complication of stress-induced cardiomyopathy. We present a rare case describing diabetic ketoacidosis leading to profound acidosis causing stress-induced cardiomyopathy and cardiogenic shock that is successfully managed with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in adults.