bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
FAST technique: fast atrial sheath traction technique for device closure of atrial septal defects
Authors: Haddad Raymond N. , Kaddoura Rachid , Kasem Mohamed , Alsoufi Mahmoud 
Published: May 2023

BackgroundTranscatheter closure of atrial septal defects (ASDs) is well-established. However, this procedure can be challenging, requiring multiple attempts and advanced implantation maneuvers.Materials and methodsFrom July 2019 to July 2022, patients to whom the fast atrial sheath traction (FAST) technique was applied for ASD device closure were prospectively followed up. The device was rapidly unsheathed in the middle of the left atrium (LA) to let it clamp the ASD from both sides simultaneously. This novel technique was directly applied in patients with absent aortic rims and/or ASD size-to-body weight ratio higher than 0.9 or after failed attempts of standard implantation.ResultsSeventeen patients (64.7% males) were involved with a median age of 9.8 years [interquartile range (IQR), 7.6–15.1] and a median weight of 34 kg (IQR, 22–44). The median ASD size on ultrasound was 19 mm (IQR, 16–22). Five (29.4%) patients had absent aortic rims, and three (17.6%) patients had an ASD size-to-body weight ratio higher than 0.9. The median device size was 22 mm (IQR, 17–24). The median difference between device size and ASD two-dimensional static diameter was 3 mm (IQR, 1–3). All interventions were straightforward without any complications using three different occluder devices. One device was removed before release and upsized to the next size. The median fluoroscopy time was 4.1 min (IQR, 3.6–4.6). All patients were discharged the next postoperative day. On a median follow-up of 13 months (IQR, 8–13), no complications were detected. All patients achieved full clinical recovery with complete shunt closure.ConclusionWe present a new implantation technique to efficiently close simple and complex ASDs. The FAST technique can be of benefit in overcoming left disc malalignment to the septum in defects with absent aortic rims and in avoiding complex implantation maneuvers and the risks of injuring the pulmonary veins.
Exercise intervention improves mitochondrial quality in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease zebrafish
Authors: Zou Yun-Yi , Tang Xiang-bin , Chen Zhang-Lin , Liu Bin , Zheng Lan , Song Ming-Yang , Xiao Qin , Zhou Zuo-Qiong , Peng Xi-Yang , Tang Chang-Fa 
Published: May 2023

IntroductionRecent reports indicate that mitochondrial quality decreases during non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) progression, and targeting the mitochondria may be a possible treatment for NAFLD. Exercise can effectively slow NAFLD progression or treat NAFLD. However, the effect of exercise on mitochondrial quality in NAFLD has not yet been established.MethodsIn the present study, we fed zebrafish a high-fat diet to model NAFLD, and subjected the zebrafish to swimming exercise.ResultsAfter 12 weeks, swimming exercise significantly reduced high-fat diet-induced liver injury, and reduced inflammation and fibrosis markers. Swimming exercise improved mitochondrial morphology and dynamics, inducing upregulation of optic atrophy 1(OPA1), dynamin related protein 1 (DRP1), and mitofusin 2 (MFN2) protein expression. Swimming exercise also activated mitochondrial biogenesis via the sirtuin 1 (SIRT1)/ AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/ PPARgamma coactivator 1 alpha (PGC1α) pathway, and improved the mRNA expression of genes related to mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation and oxidative phosphorylation. Furthermore, we find that mitophagy was suppressed in NAFLD zebrafish liver with the decreased numbers of mitophagosomes, the inhibition of PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) – parkin RBR E3 ubiquitin protein ligase (PARKIN) pathway and upregulation of sequestosome 1 (P62) expression. Notably, swimming exercise partially recovered number of mitophagosomes, which was associated with upregulated PARKIN expression and decreased p62 expression.DiscussionThese results demonstrate that swimming exercise could alleviate the effects of NAFLD on the mitochondria, suggesting that exercise may be beneficial for treating NAFLD.
Cross-sectional and longitudinal comparison of health-related quality of life and mental well-being between persons with and without post COVID-19 condition
Authors: Scott Emily Stella , Lubetkin Erica I. , Janssen Mathieu F. , Yfantopolous John , Bonsel Gouke J. , Haagsma Juanita A. 
Published: May 2023

BackgroundStill little is known about the impact of post COVID-19 condition (PC) on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and mental well-being. We compared participants with PC with three groups: an acute COVID-19 infection (AC) only, at least one chronic condition (CC) but no COVID-19, or no condition at all, healthy (PH). Between these disease groups, we also estimated and compared HRQOL and mental well-being change over time.MethodsParticipants from six countries (Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, United Kingdom and United States) completed two web-based questionnaires (T1 = April–May 2020 and T2 = April–June 2022). Primary outcomes were HRQOL, measured by EQ-5D-5L and EQ VAS, and mental well-being (measured by World Health Organisation-Five (WHO-5) Well-Being Index, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 and General Anxiety Disorder (GAD)-7). All analyses were stratified by the disease groups.ResultsIn total, 4,999 participants filled out both surveys: 240 were in PC, 107 in AC, 1798 in CC and 2,854 in PH. At T2, the mean EQ-5D-5L index values for the PC, AC, CC and PH groups were 0.70, 0.73, 0.75 and 0.92 (p &lt; .001), respectively. Mean EQ VAS scores were 66, 65, 68 and 81 (p &lt; .001), respectively. Poor mental well-being, depression and anxiety mean values were highest in the PC group (47.7; 9.1; 7.4), followed by the AC group (51.1; 7.7; 5.7), CC group (56.1; 5.2; 4.2) and the PH group (65.6; 2.8; 2.5), respectively (p &lt; .001 between groups). Over time, HRQOL deteriorated in all groups, apart from the PH group. We observed the largest deterioration in the CC (EQ-5D-5L index: Δ0.03, p &lt; .001) and AC group (EQ VAS: Δ6.3, p &lt; .001). For the mental well-being outcomes, deterioration for WHO-5 and PHQ-9 were largest in the AC group (Δ4.8, p = .016; Δ-1.3, p = .012). Rates for GAD-7 improved for the PH and CC groups (PH: Δ1.27, CC: Δ0.56, p &lt; .001).ConclusionsIn the cross-sectional analysis, participants with PC had the worst HRQOL and mental well-being compared to the other groups. In terms of change since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, HRQOL and mental well-being deterioration was highest among AC participants and had a lower impact among PC participants, most likely due to pre-existing chronic disease.
Altered gut microbiota in temporal lobe epilepsy with anxiety disorders
Authors: Wei Shouchao , Mai Yingren , Hu Li , Zheng Ruxing , Zheng Dongming , Chen Wenrong , Cai Yan , Wang Junjun 
Published: May 2023

IntroductionPatients with epilepsy are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of anxiety disorders. In particular, temporal lobe epilepsy with anxiety disorders (TLEA) has attracted more attention in epilepsy research. The link between intestinal dysbiosis and TLEA has not been established yet. To gain deeper insight into the link between gut microbiota dysbiosis and factors affecting TLEA, the composition of the gut microbiome, including bacteria and fungi, has been examined.MethodsThe gut microbiota from 51 temporal lobe epilepsy patients has been subjected to sequencing targeting 16S rDNA (Illumina MiSeq) and from 45 temporal lobe epilepsy patients targeting the ITS-1 region (through pyrosequencing). A differential analysis has been conducted on the gut microbiota from the phylum to the genus level.ResultsTLEA patients' gut bacteria and fungal microbiota exhibited distinct characteristics and diversity as evidenced by high-throughput sequencing (HTS). TLEA patients showed higher abundances of Escherichia-Shigella (genus), Enterobacterales (order), Enterobacteriaceae (family), Proteobacteria (phylum), Gammaproteobacteria (class), and lower abundances of Clostridia (class), Firmicutes, Lachnospiraceae (family), Lachnospirales (order), and Ruminococcus (genus). Among fungi, Saccharomycetales fam. incertae sedis (family), Saccharomycetales (order), Saccharomycetes (class), and Ascomycota (phylum) were significantly more abundant in TLEA patients than in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy but without anxiety. Adoption and perception of seizure control significantly affected TLEA bacterial community structure, while yearly hospitalization frequency affected fungal community structures in TLEA patients.ConclusionHere, our study validated the gut microbiota dysbiosis of TLEA. Moreover, the pioneering study of bacterial and fungal microbiota profiles will help in understanding the course of TLEA and drive us toward preventing TLEA gut microbiota dysbiosis.
Continuous low-dose cyclophosphamide plus prednisone in the treatment of relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma with severe complications
Authors: Shi Haotian , Wei Wei , Peng Rong , Chen Haimin , Zhou Nian , Wu Lixia , Yu Wenjun , Zhao Wenhao , Hou Jian , Zhou Fan 
Published: May 2023

Background/objectiveWe retrospectively analyzed the effective and safety of continuous low-dose cyclophosphamide combined with prednisone (CP) in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) patients with severe complications.MethodsA total of 130 RRMM patients with severe complications were enrolled in this study, among which 41 patients were further given bortezomib, lenalidomide, thalidomide or ixazomib on the basis of CP regimen (CP+X group). The response to therapy, adverse events (AEs), overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were recorded.ResultsAmong the 130 patients, 128 patients received therapeutic response assessment, with a complete remission rate (CRR) and objective response rate (ORR) of 4.7% and 58.6%, respectively. The median OS and PFS time were (38.0 ± 3.6) and (22.9±5.2) months, respectively. The most common AEs were hyperglycemia (7.7%), pneumonia (6.2%) and Cushing’s syndrome (5.4%). In addition, we found the pro-BNP/BNP level was obviously decreased while the LVEF (left ventricular ejection fraction) was increased in RRMM patients following CP treatment as compared with those before treatment. Furthermore, CP+X regimen further improved the CRR compared with that before receiving the CP+X regimen (24.4% vs. 2.4%, P=0.007). Also, both the OS and PFS rates were significantly elevated in patients received CP+X regimen following CP regimen as compared with the patients received CP regimen only.ConclusionThis study demonstrates the metronomic chemotherapy regimen of CP is effective to RRMM patients with severe complications.
Distinct neural signaling characteristics between fibromyalgia and provoked vestibulodynia revealed by means of functional magnetic resonance imaging in the brainstem and spinal cord
Authors: Ioachim Gabriela , Warren Howard J. M. , Powers Jocelyn M. , Staud Roland , Pukall Caroline F. , Stroman Patrick W. 
Published: May 2023

IntroductionFibromyalgia and provoked vestibulodynia are two chronic pain conditions that disproportionately affect women. The mechanisms underlying the pain in these conditions are still poorly understood, but there is speculation that both may be linked to altered central sensitization and autonomic regulation. Neuroimaging studies of these conditions focusing on the brainstem and spinal cord to explore changes in pain regulation and autonomic regulation are emerging, but none to date have directly compared pain and autonomic regulation in these conditions. This study compares groups of women with fibromyalgia and provoked vestibulodynia to healthy controls using a threat/safety paradigm with a predictable noxious heat stimulus.MethodsFunctional magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired at 3 tesla in the cervical spinal cord and brainstem with previously established methods. Imaging data were analyzed with structural equation modeling and ANCOVA methods during: a period of noxious stimulation, and a period before the stimulation when participants were expecting the upcoming pain.ResultsThe results demonstrate several similarities and differences between brainstem/spinal cord connectivity related to autonomic and pain regulatory networks across the three groups in both time periods.DiscussionBased on the regions and connections involved in the differences, the altered pain processing in fibromyalgia appears to be related to changes in how autonomic and pain regulation networks are integrated, whereas altered pain processing in provoked vestibulodynia is linked in part to changes in arousal or salience networks as well as changes in affective components of pain regulation.
Effect of dexmedetomidine on liver transplantation: a meta-analysis
Authors: Jia Degong , Guo Shanshan , Wu Xinyi , Zhao Minjie , Luo Jiefu , Cheng Mingxiang , Qin Yajun 
Published: May 2023

Background: Dexmedetomidine (DEX), an adjuvant anesthetic, may improve the clinical outcomes of liver transplantation (LT).Methods: We summarized the relevant clinical trials of DEX in patients undergoing LT. As of 30 January 2023, we searched The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Clinical Trial.gov and the WHO ICTRP. The main outcomes were postoperative liver and renal function. The random effect model or fixed effect model was used to summarize the outcomes across centers based on the differences in heterogeneity.Results: The meta-analysis included nine studies in total. Compared with the control group, the DEX group had a reduced warm ischemia time (MD-4.39; 95% CI-6.74−‐2.05), improved postoperative liver (peak aspartate transferase: MD-75.77, 95% CI-112.81−‐38.73; peak alanine transferase: MD-133.51, 95% CI-235.57−‐31.45) and renal function (peak creatinine: MD-8.35, 95% CI-14.89−‐1.80), and a reduced risk of moderate-to-extreme liver ischemia-reperfusion injury (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.14-0.60). Finally, the hospital stay of these patients was decreased (MD-2.28, 95% CI-4.00−‐0.56). Subgroup analysis of prospective studies showed that DEX may have better efficacy in living donors and adult recipients.Conclusion: DEX can improve short-term clinical outcomes and shorten the hospital stay of patients. However, the long-term efficacy of DEX and its interfering factors deserves further study.Systematic Review: identifier CRD42022351664.
Evaluation of renal cold ischemia–reperfusion injury with intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging and blood oxygenation level-dependent MRI in a rat model
Authors: Ren Yan , Chen Lihua , Yuan Yizhong , Xu Jipan , Xia Fangjie , Zhu Jinxia , Shen Wen 
Published: May 2023

Purpose: Cold ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) is one of the most serious complications following renal transplantation. The current study investigated the feasibility of Intravoxel Incoherent Motion (IVIM) imaging and blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) in the evaluation of different degrees of renal cold ischemia-reperfusion injury in a rat model.Methods: Seventy five rats were randomly divided into three groups (N = 25 for each group): T0: sham-operated group, T2/T4: CIRI groups with different cold ischemia hours (2, 4 h, respectively). The rat model of CIRI group was established by left kidney cold ischemia with right nephrectomy. All the rats received a baseline MRI before the surgery. Five rats in each group were randomly selected to undergo an MRI examination at 1 h, day 1, day 2 and day 5 after CIRI. The IVIM and BOLD parameters were studied in the renal cortex (CO), the outer stripe of the outer medulla (OSOM), and the inner stripe of the outer medulla (ISOM) followed by histological analysis to examine Paller scores, peritubular capillary (PTC) density, apoptosis rate and biochemical indicators to obtain the contents of serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA).Results: The D, D*, PF and T2* values in the CIRI groups were lower than those in the sham-operated group at all timepoints (all p &lt; 0.05). The prolonged cold ischemia times resulted in gradually lower D, D*, PF and T2* values (all p &lt; 0.05). The D and T2* values of cortex and OSOM in Group T0 and T2 returned to the baseline level (all p &gt; 0.05) except Group T4. The D* and PF values of cortex, OSOM and ISOM in Group T2 and T4 still remained below the normal levels (all p &lt; 0.05) except Group T0. D, D*, PF and T2* values were strongly correlated with histopathological (Paller scores, PTC density and apoptosis rate) and the biochemistry indicators (SOD and MDA) (|r|&gt;0.6, p &lt; 0.001). D*, PF and T2* values were moderately to poorly correlated with some biochemistry indicators (Scr and BUN) (|r|&lt;0.5, p &lt; 0.05).Conclusion: IVIM and BOLD can serve as noninvasive radiologic markers for monitoring different degrees of renal impairment and recovery after renal CIRI.
Analysis of the molecular composition of humic substances and their effects on physiological metabolism in maize based on untargeted metabolomics
Authors: Wang Yuhong , Lu Yanli , Wang Lei , Song Guipei , Ni Lu , Xu Mengze , Nie Caie , Li Baoguo , Bai Youlu 
Published: May 2023

IntroductionHumic substances (HSs), components of plant biostimulants, are known to influence plant physiological processes, nutrient uptake and plant growth, thereby increasing crop yield. However, few studies have focused on the impact of HS on overall plant metabolism, and there is still debate over the connection between HS’ structural characteristics and their stimulatory actions.MethodsIn this study, two different HSs (AHA, Aojia humic acid and SHA, Shandong humic acid) screened in a previous experiment were chosen for foliar spraying, and plant samples were collected on the tenth day after spraying (62 days after germination) to investigate the effects of different HSs on photosynthesis, dry matter accumulation, carbon and nitrogen metabolism and overall metabolism in maize leaf.Results and discussionThe results showed different molecular compositions for AHA and SHA and a total of 510 small molecules with significant differences were screened using an ESI-OPLC-MS techno. AHA and SHA exerted different effects on maize growth, with the AHA inducing more effective stimulation than the SHA doing. Untargeted metabolomic analysis revealed that the phospholipid components of maize leaves treated by SHA generally increased significantly than that in the AHA and control treatments. Additionally, both HS-treated maize leaves exhibited different levels of accumulation of trans-zeatin, but SHA treatment significantly decreased the accumulation of zeatin riboside. Compared to CK treatment, AHA treatment resulted in the reorganization of four metabolic pathways: starch and sucrose metabolism, TCA cycle, stilbenes, diarylheptanes, and curcumin biosynthesis, and ABC transport, SHA treatment modified starch and sucrose metabolism and unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis. These results demonstrate that HSs exert their function through a multifaceted mechanism of action, partially connected to their hormone-like activity but also involving hormoneindependent signaling pathways.
Effect of empathy training on the empathy level of healthcare providers in Ethiopia: a cluster randomized controlled trial
Authors: Hurissa Bekana Fekecha , Koricha Zewdie Birhanu , Dadi Lelisa Sena 
Published: May 2023

ObjectiveEmpathy has deteriorated throughout clinical training and medical practice, and little is known about the effect of empathy training on the empathy level of healthcare providers. To address this gap, we assessed the effect of empathy training on the empathy level of healthcare providers in Ethiopia.DesignA cluster randomized controlled trial study design was conducted from 20 December 2021 to 20 March 2022. The empathy training intervention was conducted for three consecutive days.SettingThe study was conducted in five fistula treatment centers in Ethiopia.ParticipantsThe participants were all randomly selected healthcare providers.Main outcome measuresTotal mean score, percentage changes, and Cohen’s effect size were computed. A linear mixed effects model and independent t-test were used for data analysis.ResultsA majority of the study participants were nurses in the profession, married, and first-degree holders. There was no statistically significant difference in the baseline empathy score of the intervention arm across their socio-demographic features. At the baseline, the mean empathy scores of the control and intervention arms were 102.10 ± 15.38 and 101.13 ± 17.67, respectively. The effect of empathy training on the total mean score changes of empathy of the intervention arm compared to the control arm at each follow-up time had a statistically significant difference. After a week, a month, and three months of post-intervention, the total mean empathy scores between the intervention and control arms were as follows: (intervention 112.65 ± 18.99, control 102.85 ± 15.65, d = 0.55, p = 0.03); (intervention 109.01 ± 17.79, control 100.52 ± 12.57, d = 0.53, p = 0.034); and (intervention 106.28 ± 16.24, control 96.58 ± 14.69, d = 0.60, p = 0.016) with the overall percentage changes of 11, 8, and 5% from the baseline scores, respectively.ConclusionIn this trial, the empathy training intervention was found to have more than a medium effect size. However, over the follow-up intervals, there was a decreasing trend in the total mean empathy scores of healthcare providers; suggesting that there should be continued empathy training and integration of it into educational and training curriculums to enhance and sustain the empathy of healthcare providers.Clinical Trial Registration: Pan African Clinical Trial Registry: http://www.edctp.org/panafrican-clinical-trials-registry or https://pactr.samrc.ac.za, PACTR202112564898934.
The Community Rehabilitation Assessment: patient and clinician-reported outcomes in ambulatory rehabilitation
Authors: Turcotte Luke Andrew , McArthur Caitlin , Levy Charissa , Ho Rebecca , Hirdes John P. , Berg Katherine 
Published: May 2023

ObjectivesThe interRAI Community Rehabilitation Assessment (CRA) is a comprehensive health assessment designed to collect essential health and function information for rehabilitation care planning, benchmarking, and evaluation of clinic and home-based programs. A portion of the CRA is completed through patient self-report. The objective of this study was to demonstrate how the CRA can be used to describe the baseline clinical characteristics of patients participating in ambulatory rehabilitation programs and measure change across numerous domains of function, health, and wellbeing over time.DesignCohort study.Setting and participantsIn total, 709 patients were assessed with the CRA across 25 ambulatory clinics in Ontario, Canada between January 1st, 2018, to December 31st, 2018. We examined sub-groups of patients receiving rehabilitation following stroke (n = 82) and hip or knee total joint replacement (n = 210).MethodsFrequency responses and means were compared between admission and discharge from the ambulatory rehabilitation programs. Measures of interest included self-reported difficulty in completing instrumental activities of daily living, locomotion, fear of falling, and pain.ResultsSignificant improvement relative to at admission was detected for the overall cohort and both sub-samples on individual instrumental activities of daily living, stair difficulty, use of mobility aides, distance walked, fear of falling, and pain.Conclusions and implicationsThe standardized and comparable information collected by the CRA is expected to provide clinicians, clinic, and health system administrators with essential health and function information that can be used for care planning, benchmarking, and evaluation.