bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Neuraminidase-1 inhibition reduces arterial stiffness and improves endothelial function in diabetic mice
Authors: Betancourt-Cortes Edgar , Betancourt-Cortes Edgar , Foote Christopher , Ramirez-Perez Francisco , Jurrisen Thomas , Power Gavin , Morales-Quiñones Mariana , Lazo-Fernandez Yoskaly , Augenreich Marc , Manrique-Acevedo Camila , Padilla Jaume , Martinez-Lemus Luis 
Published: May 2023

Plasma neuraminidase (Neu) activity has been shown to be increased in type 2 diabetes (T2D). The net result of neuraminidase activity is cleavage of sialic acid moieties from structures such as the glycoproteins and proteoglycans found in the glycocalyx, a mesh protruding out from the plasmalemma of all cells. In the vasculature, the glycocalyx participates in multiple functions including the mechanosensation of blood flow by the endothelium and consequently the production of the potent vasodilator and vascular homeostasis regulator, nitric oxide. Notably, endothelial dysfunction in the form of reduced flow-mediated dilation and arterial stiffening are two major vascular abnormalities associated with T2D. Therefore, we hypothesized that inhibition of Neu-1, which is a Neu isoform found in plasma, would improve flow-mediated dilation and reduce vascular stiffness in the db/db mouse model of T2D. To test this hypothesis, db/db mice were implanted subcutaneously with minipumps randomly assigned to deliver a Neu-1 inhibitor (n=10 mice) or vehicle control (n=10 mice) for 4 weeks. All differences reported here are significant at a P<0.05. Results show that compared with db/db controls, Neu-1 inhibition improved flow-mediated dilation in isolated mesenteric arteries as assessed using pressure myography. Neu-1 inhibition also reduced arterial stiffness as measured in vivo via aortic pulse wave velocity and ex vivo via passive pressure diameter curves in isolated femoral and mesenteric arteries. These findings indicate that Neu-1 inhibition can improve endothelial function and decrease arterial stiffness in the setting of T2D and thus support Neu-1 as potential target for amelioration of vascular disease in T2D. The particular mechanisms by which Neu-1 inhibition improves flow-mediated dilation and reduces arterial stiffness remain to be fully elucidated. Supported by: National Institutes of Health grant: R01HL153264 to LM-L and JP. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.
Angiotensin receptor blocker ameliorates hypertension, improves glucose intolerance, and reduces visceral fat in OLETF rats fed a high-cholesterol diet
Authors: Jardines Eira , Rodriguez Ruben , Nakano Daisuke , Nishiyama Akira , Ortiz Rudy 
Published: May 2023

Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) affects more than 30% of the US population and unmanaged can lead to cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes mellitus. MetS is a cluster of conditions, which include elevated arterial pressure, poor glucose tolerance with or without insulin resistance, and abdominal obesity. Existing literature has demonstrated high cholesterol diet’s (HCD) potential to develop MetS cluster factor conditions like dyslipidemia. Our lab has previously shown that angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), a common therapy to treat hypertension by disrupting the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), attenuate cluster factor conditions of MetS. However, the efficacy of ARBs during the consumption of a HCD remains unclear. Otsuka Long Evan Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats (a MetS model) were fed an HCD and at presentation of elevated arterial pressure, they were treated with ARB (10 mg olmesartan/kg/d x 3 wks) by oral gavage. Blood pressure was monitored in real-time with surgically implanted radio telemeters. ARB reduced systolic blood pressure by 15±1mmHg (11%; p<0.05). ARB also reduced BM by 3% (p<0.05) in chow-fed and 4% (p<0.05) in HCD-fed OLETF compared to OLETF. However, there was no difference in BM between OLETF+ARB and OLETF+HCD+ARB. Neither, HCD nor ARB alone reduced abdominal fat in OLETF rats. Although, ARB in OLETF+HCD induced visceral fat loss (37%; p<0.05) compared to OLETF. Additionally, ARB reduced AUCglucose by 28% (P<0.05) and tended to reduce fasting blood glucose by 19% (p=0.06). These findings demonstrate that chronic treatment of ARB can effectively ameliorate MetS-associated hypertension, hyperglycemia, and abdominal obesity despite the additional insult of a HCD. This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health NCMHD 9T37MD001480 and National Institutes of Health, National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities. E.E.J was supported by NIH GRISE BIO-STeP. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.
Core concepts intervention was more effective for improving student “big picture” understanding when accompanied by embedded core concept instruction
Authors: Schaefer Jennifer , Hannah Rachael 
Published: May 2023

This study hypothesized that student ability to connect course content and scientific papers to broader contexts and concepts in neuroscience (“big picture”) could be improved through implementation of a novel intervention that uses core concepts for neuroscience higher education (Chen et al., 2023) as an instructional tool. The intervention was enacted in two upper-division undergraduate biology courses–one at a liberal arts institution and one at a large public university. In both courses, open-ended student responses explaining how a scientific paper fit into the broader picture of neuroscience were collected before and after the intervention. The intervention asked students to explicitly connect that same scientific paper to specific core concepts in neuroscience. Responses from before and after the intervention were compared for depth and quality of connection to broader contexts and concepts. In order to examine the most effective pedagogical approach for the core concept intervention, it was deployed without prior instruction on neuroscience core concepts in one course while instruction on the neuroscience core concepts were integrated into class meetings prior to the intervention in the other course. Results indicate that the intervention was more effective when embedded in ongoing pedagogical use of core concepts rather than without prior instruction on core concepts. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.
Genetic deletion of CXCL10 prevents pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction
Authors: Souza-Neto Fernando , van Berlo Jop H 
Published: May 2023

Rationale: Heart failure is an inflammatory disease characterized by elevated serum levels of CXCL9 and CXCL10, which are CXCR3 receptor ligands. Both chemokines are expressed by cardiac fibroblasts and myeloid cells in mice subjected to pressure overload induced by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) surgery. Although it is known that CXCR3-/- animals are protected from cardiac remodeling induced by TAC, the role of CXCL10 is unknown. Objective: To assess the role of CXCL10 in the cardiac remodeling response to cardiac pressure overload induced by TAC in mice. Methods and results: We subjected wild-type and CXCL10-/- (male and female) mice to TAC surgery. After 6 weeks, we observed that the CXCL10-/- mice showed an attenuation of heart weight when compared to the increase observed in wild-type animals. At the cellular level, the genetic deletion of CXCL10 prevented the TAC-induced increase in the cross-sectional area of cardiac tissue. In addition, echocardiographic changes, including dilation and cardiac dysfunction, induced by pressure overload in wild animals were blunted in CXCL10-/- mice. Conclusion: CXCL10 determines cardiac hypertrophy and cardiac dysfunction induced by pressure overload in mice. We are currently unraveling the mechanism through which CXCL10 can accelerate the development of heart failure in response to cardiac pressure overload. T cells are likely mediating these effects. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.
Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase Activating Peptide Restores Hyperoxia-Impaired Relaxation of Tracheal Smooth Muscle in Neonatal Rats
Authors: Thaçi Qëndrim , Kryeziu Islam , Reçica Shkëlzen , Beqiraj-Zeqiraj Qëndresa , Bislimi Kemajl , Mladenov Mitko , Sopi Ramadan 
Published: May 2023

Neonatal hyperoxia induces airway hyperreactivity by potentiating contractile responses and impairing the relaxation of airway smooth muscle (ASM). Maintenance of balance between these processes in airways is critical for normal flow of air, and non-adrenergic- noncholinergic inhibitory system is an important component of airway smooth muscle tone. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that exogenous pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP) will restore the impaired relaxant responses of tracheal smooth muscle exposed to neonatal hyperoxia. Tracheal cylinders were obtained from Wistar rat pups (P10) exposed to hyperoxia (≥ 95% O2) or room air for seven days. These cylinders were used to study relaxant responses of ASM evoked by electrical field relaxation (EFS) in precontracted tissues (carbachol, 5x10μM) in absence or presence of a single dose of PACAP (50 nM). In addition, the dose-response relaxant effect of PACAP (1nM – 1μM) was tested in absence or presence of a PAC1 receptor antagonist; a protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor (Rp-8-CPT-cAMPS); a phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor (rolipram); or a large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channel blocker (charybdotoxin). The relaxation is expressed as percentage of preconstricted state, and data are presented as mean±s.e.m. Hyperoxic exposure significantly decreased the relaxant responses of ASM towards EFS, as compared to those obtained from control animals exposed to room air, and these reduced relaxant responses in hyperoxic tissues were significantly reversed in presence of PACAP (p<0.001). PACAP induced dose-dependent relaxation and the relaxant responses were overcompensated in hyperoxic animals. PAC1 antagonist; PKA; PDE4 inhibition; or blockade of calcium-activated potassium channel significantly reduced PACAP-induced relaxation (p<0.01).The results of this study revealed that PACAP reverses the impaired relaxation of airway smooth muscle induced by hyperoxic exposure via cAMP/PKA signaling pathway and through calcium-activated potassium channel. We speculate that use of PACAP might be an effective therapeutic approach to prevent the airway hyperreactivity induced by hyperoxia. Supported by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology of the Republic of Kosovo - Small Research Grants: 2-2459-11 This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.
Leptomeningeal Collaterals and Infarct Progression in Patients With Acute Large‐Vessel Occlusion and Low NIHSS
Authors: Kim Yong Soo , Kim Beom Joon , Menon Bijoy K. , Yoo Joonsang , Han Jung Hoon , Kim Bum Joon , Kim Chi Kyung , Kim Jae Guk , Kim Joon‐Tae , Park Hyungjong , Baik Sung Hyun , Han Moon‐Ku , Kang Jihoon , Kim Jun Yup , Lee Keon‐Joo , Jeong Han‐gil , Park Jong‐Moo , Kang Kyusik , Lee Soo Joo , Cha Jae‐Kwan , Kim Dae‐Hyun , Jeong Jin‐Heon , Park Tai Hwan , Park Sang‐Soon , Lee Kyung Bok , Lee Jun , Hong Keun‐Sik , Cho Yong‐Jin , Park Hong‐Kyun , Lee Byung‐Chul , Yu Kyung‐Ho , Oh Mi‐Sun , Kim Dong‐Eog , Ryu Wi‐Sun , Choi Kang‐Ho , Choi Jay Chol , Kim Joong‐Goo , Kwon Jee‐Hyun , Kim Wook‐Joo , Shin Dong‐Ick , Yum Kyu Sun , Sohn Sung‐Il , Hong Jeong‐Ho , Kim Chulho , Lee Sang‐Hwa , Lee Juneyoung , Bae Hee‐Joon ,   for the Clinical Research Collaboration for Stroke in Korea investigators
Published: May 2023

Background
Approximately 10% of patients with acute ischemic stroke with large‐vessel occlusion (LVO) have mild neurological deficits. Although leptomeningeal collaterals (LMCs) are the major determinant of clinical outcomes for patients with acute ischemic stroke with LVO, the contribution of baseline LMC status to subsequent infarct progression in patients with mild stroke with LVO is poorly defined.

Methods
This observational study included patients with acute anterior circulation LVO and mild stroke symptoms (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale < 6) from a prospectively collected, multicenter, national stroke registry. The Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score was quantified on the initial and follow‐up images. An infarct progression, defined as any Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score decrease between the initial versus follow‐up scans, was categorized as either 0/1/2+. The LMCs on the baseline images were graded as good, fair, or poor.

Results
Of the 623 included patients (mean age, 67.6±13.4 years; 380 [61.0%] men; 186 [29.9%] with reperfusion treatment), the baseline LMC was graded as good in 331 (53.1%), fair in 219 (35.2%), and poor in 73 (11.7%). The Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score decrement was noted as 0 in 288 (46%) patients, 1 in 154 (24%), and 2+ in 181 (29%). A poor LMC was associated with an infarct progression (adjusted odds ratio, 2.05 [95% CI, 1.22–3.47]).

Conclusions
Poor collateral blood flow was associated with infarct progression in patients with acute ischemic stroke with LVO and mild symptoms. In this selective population, early assessment of collateral blood flow status can help in early detection of patients susceptible to infarct progression.
To queue or not to queue: Facility managers and mental health care users’ experiences of integrated health care in a rural South African district
Authors: Rall Divan , Swartz Leslie 
Published: May 2023

Background: A key feature of South Africa’s state health care strategy since 1994 has been the development and expansion of services towards integrated health care at primary health care level. Within the new system, emphasis has been on the integration of patients with mental health care needs with other patients where multiple health conditions and needs would be addressed simultaneously. As part of a larger study into mental health care in a predominantly rural district, we investigated the experiences of facility managers and mental health service users in rural clinics within the system of care. We were interested both in their views as to the advisability of the integrated model and the ways in which they managed any challenges they may have experienced within the system at local level. Methods: Data were collected through once-off semi-structured interviews with facility managers and mental health care service users to gather qualitative information. Narratives were transcribed and translated into English. Transcriptions were imported to Atlas.ti 22 and analysed through Thematic Analysis. Results: The integration of mental health care into routine primary health services poses challenges to treatment delivery and to patients who come for treatment. Our study also suggests resegregating mental health care as a possible solution to facilitate service delivery and treatment to service users. Conclusion: This research provided first insights into facility managers’ and service users’ views of integrated mental health care at primary health care level in this district. While mental health care services have been expanded and integrated into primary health care over recent years, the system may not have been as streamlined as in other parts of the country. The integration of mental health into primary health care can pose various challenges to facilities, health care providers, and mental health service users. Managers in these constrained circumstances have observed that resegregating mental health care from physical treatment, as in the past, may be deemed more effective for health care provision and reception. Generalised integration of mental health treatment with physical care should be approached with caution unless there is wider scale provisioning and greater organisational change.
The causal effects of age at menarche, age at first live birth, and estradiol levels on systemic lupus erythematosus: A two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis
Authors: Zhang Yongbin , Fang Yuxuan , Xu Nan , Tian Longlong , Min Xingxing , Chen Guiyu , Dai Tiantian , Liu Nianxing , Wang Xuanhan , Rao Yujun , Li Guoqing 
Published: May 2023

Objectives To determine whether age at menarche (AAM), age at first live birth (AFB), and estradiol levels are causally correlated with the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed after data was collected from a dataset of genome-wide association studies (GWASs) related to SLE (as outcome), and from open access databases to find statistics related to AAM, AFB, and estradiol levels (as exposure). Result In our study, a negative causal correlation between AAM and SLE was confirmed by MR analysis (MR egger: beta = 0.116, SE = 0.948, p = 0.909; weighted median: beta = −0.416, SE = 0.192, p = 0.030; and IVW: beta = −0.395, SE = 0.165 , p = 0.016). However, there were no genetic causal effects of AFB and the estradiol levels on SLE, based on the results of MR analysis as follows: AFB (MR egger: beta = - 2.815, SE = 1.469, p = 0.065; Weighted median: beta = 0.334, SE = 0.378, p = 0.377; and IVW: beta = 0.188, SE = 0.282, p = 0.505) and the estradiol levels (MR egger: beta = 0.139, SE = 0.294, p = 0.651; weighted median: beta = 0.063, SE = 0.108, p = 0.559; IVW: beta = 0.126, SE = 0.097, p = 0.192). Conclusions Our findings revealed that AAM may be associated with increased risk of the development of SLE, while there were no such causal effects from AFB and estradiol levels.
Role of Meditation in Ameliorating Examination Stress Induced Changes in Cardiovascular and Autonomic Functions
Authors: Bhagat Anumeha , Srivastav Shival , Malhotra Anita S. , Rohilla Ravi , Sidana Ajeet K. , Deepak K. K. 
Published: May 2023

Background Examination stress is a very well-known model of psychological stress in students. It induces changes in systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), along with changes in heart rate variability (HRV) and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), due to autonomic perturbations. Purpose To find out if Raj Yoga meditation (RYM) practice affects autonomic and cardiovascular function in healthy young subjects during periods of examination stress. Our primary objective was to evaluate the effect of one month of supervised RYM practice on ameliorating examination-induced changes in cardiovascular and autonomic function. The secondary objective was to measure the stress levels of medical students before and after RYM. Methods Pre-training measurements of SBP, DBP, HRV, and BRS were done, and the Medical Student Stressor Questionnaire (MSSQ) was administered to 80 participants one month before examinations. They were then trained in RYM. Post-training assessment of the same parameters was done after examinations and also after two months. Results In our study, RYM training decreased DBP ( p = 0.01) but not SBP. BRS showed a trend towards an increase after RYM practice, but it was not statistically significant ( p = 0.44). The standard deviation of the NN interval (SDNN) ( p = 0.03), low-frequency (LF) nu (0.003), and high-frequency (HF) nu (0.04) showed a statistically significant change. Average RR, median RR, average rate, square root of the mean squared differences of successive NN intervals (RMSSD), pRR, total power, LF (µs2), and LF/HF ratio were not statistically significantly different between the three groups. There was a statistically significant decline in MSSQ scores for MSSQ I ( p = 0.04), MSSQ II ( p = 0.04), and MSSQ IV ( p = 0.03). Conclusion Short-term practice of supervised RYM during stressful periods is protective for the cardiovascular and autonomic systems and decreases stress in medical students.
Can an Integrated Palliative and Oncology Co-rounding Model Reduce Aggressive Care at the End of Life? Secondary Analysis of an Open-label Stepped-wedge Cluster-randomized Trial
Authors: Zhuang Qingyuan , Zhou Siqin , Ho Shirlynn , Neo Patricia Soek Hui , Cheung Yin Bun , Yang Grace Meijuan 
Published: May 2023

Background Clinical trial evidence on the effect of palliative care models in reducing aggressive end-of-life care is inconclusive. We previously reported on an integrated inpatient palliative care and medical oncology co-rounding model that significantly reduced hospital bed-days and postulate additional effect on reducing care aggressiveness. Objectives To compare the effect of a co-rounding model vs usual care in reducing receipt of aggressive treatment at end-of-life. Methods Secondary analysis of an open-label stepped-wedge cluster-randomized trial comparing two integrated palliative care models within the inpatient oncology setting. The co-rounding model involved pooling specialist palliative care and oncology into one team with daily review of admission issues, while usual care constituted discretionary specialist palliative care referrals by the oncology team. We compared odds of receiving aggressive care at end-of-life: acute healthcare utilization in last 30 days of life, death in hospital, and cancer treatment in last 14 days of life between patients in two trial arms. Results 2145 patients were included in the analysis, and 1803 patients died by 4th April 2021. Median overall survival was 4.90 (4.07 – 5.72) months in co-rounding and 3.75 (3.22 – 4.21) months in usual care, with no difference in survival (P = .12). We found no significant differences between both models with respect to receipt of aggressive care at end-of-life. (Odds Ratio .67 – 1.27; all P > .05) Conclusion The co-rounding model within an inpatient setting did not reduce aggressiveness of care at end-of-life. This could be due in part to the overall focus on resolving episodic admission issues.
Fahr’s Syndrome Secondary to Primary Hypoparathyroidism Presenting With Seizures and the Role of Steroid Therapy
Authors: Shah Syed Yasir , Hadi Faiza Amatul , Idrees Muhammad , Levin-Carrion Yaxel , Pande Harshawardhan , Oorloff Melysze Deanne , Khan Qaisar Ali , Nadella Adithya 
Published: May 2023

Background: Fahr’s syndrome a rare neurological condition characterized by an abnormal basal ganglia calcification. The condition has both genetic and metabolic causes. Here, we describe a patient who had Fahr’s syndrome and basal secondary to hypoparathyroidism, and her calcium level raised after the administration of steroid therapy. Case report: We presented a case of a 23-year-old female with seizures. Associated symptoms included headache, vertigo, disturbed sleep, and reduced appetite. Her laboratory workup revealed hypocalcemia and low parathyroid hormone level, computed tomographic (CT) scan of the brain showed diffuse calcification in the brain parenchyma. The patient was diagnosed as a case of Fahr’s syndrome secondary to hypoparathyroidism. The patient was started on calcium and calcium supplementations along with anti-seizure therapy. Her calcium level raised after the initiation of oral prednisolone and she remained asymptomatic. Conclusion: Steroid could be considered as an adjunct therapy with calcium and vitamin D supplementation in patient whose Fahr’s syndrome is secondary to primary hypoparathyroidism.