bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
LACK OF CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS AFTER ONE YEAR FOLLOW-UP IN PATIENTS FOLLOWED HOSPITAL ADMISSION FOR MODERATE TO SEVERE COVID-19 PNEUMONIA
Authors: Cattaneo Chiara , Salvotti Francesca , Leidi Francesca , Pellegrinelli Riccardo , Geroldi Veronica , Cherubini Fabio , Vaccarello Paola , Napoli Federico , Reale Scilla , Loro Giorgia , Turini Daniele , Malerba Paolo , Viola Sara , Pasini Giancarlo , Ferrari-Toninelli Giulia , Guarinoni Vittoria , Brami Valeria , Bonzi Bianca , Rizzoni Damiano , Boari Gianluca E.M. 
Published: June 2023

Objective:
There is increasing evidence that SARS-CoV-2 infection may involve many organs, including cardiovascular system, possibly causing not only acute but cardiovascular events in the long term.
In this retrospective analysis we investigated cardiovascular events during a long time span since hospitalization (384 days and 848) on two different groups of patients.

Design and method:
This study considers two different groups: the first included 43 patients from the second-third wave (October 2020-May 2021), hospitalized in our Internal Medicine ward for moderate to severe SARS-CoV2 related pneumonia treated with high-flow oxygen support that accepted to be re-evaluated after an average period of 324 days by quality-of-life questionnaire, standard laboratory tests, chest computed tomography, spirometry with evaluation of DLCO. Mean age was 63 years, 28% (12/43) were female and 72% (31/43) were male.
The second group included 82 patients from the first wave (February 2020-May 2022) over 94 that underwent a similar follow-up protocol after a mean of 4 month (no CV events at that time) and were contacted with a phone interview assessing quality of life and cardiovascular event after a mean of 848±16 days. Mean age was 66 years, 37% (30/82) were female and 63% (52/82) were male.

Results:
None of the first group of 43 patients had major cardiovascular events: coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral arterial disease, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.
Of them, 35% suffered from heart diseases, 56% of them were hypertensives and 23% had type-2 diabetes; 12% had chronic kidney disease and 49% was obese;
In the second group one patient underwent a PTCA and another had an apparently non-provoked pulmonary embolism, but no other major cardiovascular events were reported
Among second group, 18% had heart diseases, 51% hypertension, 17% type 2 diabetes; 6% chronic kidney disease and 39% were obese

Conclusions:
This study has some limitations, anyway, failed to demonstrate a higher new-onset CV events compared with normal population. Il is plausible that longer follow-up studies with much higher numbers or more detailed analyses are needed to better define cardiovascular risk following SARS-CoV-2 infection.
EFFECTS OF SARS-COV-2 INFECTION ON THE CARDIORESPIRATORY PERFORMANCE BY HYPERTENSION STATUS
Authors: Kariori Maria , Fragoulis Christos , Chrysochoou Christina , Tsioufis Panagiotis , Grigoriou Kalliopi , Papakonstantinou Panteleimon , Mageiras Nikolaos , Manta Eleni , Nikolopoulou Lefki , Siafi Eirini , Mantzouranis Emmanouil , Tatakis Fotios , Konstantinidis Dimitrios , Thomopoulos Costas , Tsioufis Konstantinos 
Published: June 2023

Objective:
Few data have been published regarding the holistic approach of patients with history of arterial hypertension after Sars-Cov-2 infection. The purpose of our study was to examine the impact of Covid-19 in the cardiopulmonary status of hypertensive patients 3 months after the first day of infection.

Design and method:
All participants who recovered Covid-19 infection underwent cardiorespiratory exercise test using either Bruce or modified Bruce protocol and transthoracic echocardiogram where all parameters were evaluated. The population was separated into two groups based on history of hypertension. Group I included 62hypertensives and Group II included 134normotensive subjects.

Results:
A total of 198 patients (51±15 years, 44.4% males, 6.6% history of coronary heart disease) were assessed. Hypertensives had higher BMI (30.47±4.68 vs. 26.20 ±5.36 kg/m2, p<0.001) and BSA (2.03±0.24 vs. 1.91±0.45, p<0.001). They were hospitalized in higher percentage comparing to normotensives(54.8% vs. 35.8%, p<0.01). Out of echocardiographic parameters, diastolic dysfunction parameters including left atrial diameter(40 ±6 vs. 35±5mm, p<0.001) and E/A ratio (0.95±0.34 vs. 1.22±0.43, p<0.001) differed significantly between two groups. LVEF(%) was also significantly impaired (56±10% vs. 58±9%, p:0.04) in hypertensives. This finding was depicted in lower oxygen consumption (VO2 (ml/kg/min)) both maximum (22±4 vs.28±7, p<0.001) and during the 1st minute of recovery (19±18 vs.21±23, p<0.006), metabolic equivalents (METS) at peak, 10±13 vs. 10±3, p<0.001) and HR1st minute recovery (124±23 vs. 138±21 bpm, p< 0.001) comparing to normotensives. Systolic blood pressure(mmHg) at rest (132±13 vs. 125±16, p: 0.002), maximum (189±28 vs. 177±26, p: 0.01) and during the 1st minute of recovery (179±29 vs. 162±25, p: 0.001) was higher while the exercise duration was significantly lower (8±3 vs. 9±3 min, p<0.001) in patients with hypertension. Finally, hypertensive subjects reported higher scores in Borg scale for dyspnea (7±2 vs. 6±2, p:0.02) comparing to normotensives.

Conclusions:
Current study highlighted the negative impact of Sars-Cov-2 infection in the ability of patients with hypertension to exercise. Therefore, the need for a more comprehensive approach for rehabilitation including the modification of risk factors like hypertension and obesity in post-covid patients is mandatory
UNCONTROLLED BLOOD PRESSURE BEFORE COVID-19 IS ASSOCIATED WITH ELEVATED SERUM IL-17 AND LONG-COVID SEQUELAE IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS
Authors: Stepanova Natalia , Driianska Victoria , Rysyev Andriy , Ostapenko Tetyana , Kalinina Nataliia , Savchenko Victoria , Kolesnyk Mykola 
Published: June 2023

Objective:
Hypertension, a nearly ubiquitous complication in hemodialysis (HD) patients, has been identified as a risk factor for COVID -19 and its associated adverse outcomes. In turn, both hypertensive and COVID-19-infected patients with long- COVID sequelae have been reported to have elevated serum interleukin-17 (IL-17) levels. Although HD patients belong to the high-risk group for long COVID sequelae, the association between pre-infection blood pressure (BP) control, serum IL-17 levels, and long COVID sequelae has never been investigated in this cohort.

Design and method:
A total of 80 HD patients aged 56 (44-63.2) years with a dialysis vintage of 40 (23-74) months who had experienced COVID-19 before enrollment were included in this cross-sectional cohort study. Controlled BP was defined as a 3-month average pre-dialysis BP < 140/90 mmHg and post-dialysis < 130/80 mmHg. IL-17 was measured at least 5 months after acute COVID-19 by ELISA assay. Data were expressed as proportion or median (Me) and interquartile ranges (Q25-Q75) and compared with the Chi-squared test or the Mann-Whitney test as appropriate.

Results:
Of the 80 patients included, 46 (57.5%) had uncontrolled BP and 34 (42.5%) had controlled BP before infection with COVID -19. Long-term COVID sequelae were observed in 26/46 (56.5%) patients with uncontrolled BP and 11/34 (32.4%) of the BP -controlled group (⇙2 = 4.6, p = 0.03). Serum levels of IL-17 ranged from 0.01 to 15.14 pg/ml and were significantly higher in patients with uncontrolled BP than in the controlled BP group [0.34 (0.08-0.98) vs 0.06 (0.03-0.14) pg/mL, p = 0.001]. In addition, IL-17 was also higher in patients with long-COVID sequelae than in fully recovered patients [0.43 (0.07-1.58) vs 0.08 (0.02-0.16) pg/mL, p = 0.0003], while those with long-COVID sequelae and preinfection uncontrolled BP had the highest value IL-17 (p = 0.04) (Fig. 1).

Conclusions:
Uncontrolled BP before COVID-19 is associated with increased serum IL-17 levels and long-COVID sequelae in HD patients. Further studies are needed to understand the role of IL-17 in BP control and long-term COVID sequelae in HD patients.
EFFECT OF THE PERIOD OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON HYPERTENSIVE PEOPLE: A PROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY
Authors: Guimarães Mayra Cristina Luz Pádua , Santos Juliano , Coelho Juliana Chaves , Campos Cassia Lima De , Silva Giovanio Vieira da , Drager Luciano Ferreira , Pierin Angela Maria Geraldo 
Published: June 2023

Objective:
To analyze the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic period on habits and lifestyles, adherence to antihypertensive treatment, control of blood pressure and comorbidities, in hypertensive patients followed in a specialized outpatient clinic of high complexity.

Design and method:
Prospective longitudinal study that evaluated hypertensive patients treated at the hypertension outpatient clinic of a tertiary teaching hospital, in São Paulo - SP, Brazil before and during the covid-19 pandemic. The following were included: older than 18 years old and being followed up for at least six months. Pregnant women were excluded. In the pre-pandemic period, the interview and assessments were carried out between March and May 2019, in person (face to face). During the pandemic, assessments were carried out between March and August 2020, by telephone. Biosocial data, habits and lifestyles and disease history were evaluated. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee. Values of p less or equal 0.05 were considered significant.

Results:
111 hypertensive patients were evaluated, the majority (61.3%) women, with a mean age of 66.0 (SD = 12.6) years, 66.7% white, 56.8% married, with an average schooling of 10.5 (SD = 4.2) years. When comparing before and during the pandemic, statistically significant differences (p less or equal 0.05) were observed, respectively, for the variables: monthly income (R$2,362.98 vs R$1,924.88); in the number of widowed (16.2% vs 19.8%) and divorced people (8.1% vs 22.5%), smoking habits (8.1% vs 7.2%), alcoholism (45.0% vs 21.8%) and physical inactivity (97.3% vs 89.2%); glycemia [116.1 (SD = 33.2) vs 129.6 (SD = 57.3) mg/dL] adherence to antihypertensive drug treatment (89.2% vs 54.9%), increase in diabetics ( 48.6% vs 52.2%) and chronic kidney patients (18.9% vs 28.8%). Despite the decrease in blood pressure control, there was no significant difference (67.6% vs 56.9%).

Conclusions:
The findings indicate that there were favorable influences for habits and lifestyles in hypertensive people in the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, but there was a compromise in income, comorbidities, and especially in adherence to antihypertensive treatment.
FEATURES OF THE COURSE OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION IN PATIENTS WITH CORONAVIRUS DISEASE
Authors: Stasyshena Oksana , Sychov Oleg , Romanova Olena , Marchenko Olena 
Published: June 2023

Objective:
The aim of our study was to study the course of the most common and potentially dangerous arrhythmia - atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients within 6 months after infection with COVID-19 (CI).

Design and method:
The study included 187 pts aged 62.5±0.9 years (47% men, 53% women). The first three groups formed 116 pts who had AF and underwent coronavirus infection (CI). The first group (G1) consisted of 36 patients who did not have AF before CI. The second group (G2) was represented by 25 patients in whom the transition of the paroxysmal form of AF into persistent, or persistent AF into its permanent form occurred. The third group (G3) consisted of 55 patients in whom the form of AF did not change.

Results:
Older age, female gender, hypertension, and coronary heart disease were clinical factors associated with the occurrence of AF or the worsening of the course of previously diagnosed AF in patients who underwent COVID-19. In addition, there were more pronounced signs of damage to the functional properties of the endothelium, the severity of systemic insufficient content in the blood of total cholesterol and TG, proatherogenic fractions of blood lipoproteins, which can be the cause of more clinically pronounced arrhythmias.

Conclusions:
A proportion of COVID-19 patients with newly diagnosed AF may have a pre-existing substrate for AF, and acute COVID-19 infection may be a trigger for the initiation of AF, consistent with a temporal relationship between new-onset AF and COVID-19 infection.
POST HOC ERGO PROPTER HOC? NOT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS AFTER COVID-19 IS LONG COVID. OR, THE MANY MASQUERADES OF PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA
Authors: Kuzior Agnieszka , Rios-Gomez Carlos , Ojeda-Santana Borja , Leon-Durango Ricardo Jose de , Hernandez-Lazaro Alba , Arnas-Leon Claudia , Acosta-Calero Carmen , Ortiz-Hernandez Catherine Pino , Perez-Rivero Jennifer Maria , Rodriguez-Escobedo Raul , Gonzalez-Martinez Silvia , Martinez-Martin Francisco Javier 
Published: June 2023

Objective:
A seemingly endless list of symptoms and conditions are being labeled as long COVID or post-COVID syndrome, but not everything that happens after a COVID-19 episode can be attributed to it. We hereby present a clinical case in which pheochromocytoma was masquerading as long COVID.

Design and method:
Review of the patient's clinical record and the relevant literature.

Results:
A previously healthy, non-smoker, 57-year-old woman was admitted in October 2020 with fever, dyspnea and asthenia. She was diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 bilateral bronchopneumonia and required oxygen therapy but not assisted ventilation or intensive care. Three months after discharge the patient was asymptomatic but in the two following years she progressively developed symptoms of confusion, dizziness, inability to concentrate, gait instability, tachycardia, palpitations, anxiety and insomnia. The syndrome was labeled as post-COVID and in March 2022 began treatment with alprazolam and propranolol. Subsequently she complained of severe non-pulsatile holocranial headache accompanied by vertigo, nausea and skin pallor. In October 2022 she was admitted in Emergency Care with a BP reading of 226/118 mmHg, HR 132 bpm, ECG: sinus rhythm without repolarization anomalies. She was referred to our Outpatient Hypertension Clinic for workup of suspected secondary hypertension.
Physical exam: BMI 27.3 kg/m2, BP 156/94 mmHg, FC 112 lpm, normal cardiopulmonary auscultation, no murmurs or oedema.
Lab: Plasma glucose, ionogram, lipid profile, blood count, free T4, TSH, aldosterone, renin, ARR, NT-pro-BNP: normal, metanephrines 876/1238 pg/mL, albuminuria 56 mg/g Cr.
Echocardiography: slight LVH (13 mm septum and posterior wall) with preserved function.
Abdominal CT: Left adrenal mass, 54 mm, hyperdense, heterogeneous.
MIBG scintigraphy: hyperintense left adrenal uptake without additional anomalies.
After standard presurgical conditioning the patient underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy, uneventfully. Pheochromocytoma was pathologically confirmed, without suggestion of malignancy (Ki-67 <2%). Three months afterwards the patient is normotensive and asymptomatic without medication, with normal plasma metanephrines.

Conclusions:
The clinical presentation of pheochromocytoma may be atypical and sometimes bizarre. Sustained hypertension may be absent, but the paradoxical hypertensive response to beta-adrenergic blockade is highly suggestive. Anyhow, a ‘post-COVID syndrome’ label may be masking unrelated and solvable serious diseases.
CARDIAC REMODELING IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS WITH COVID-19: PRE-DISCHARGE ASSESSMENT AND A 1-MONTH FOLLOW-UP
Authors: Honchar Oleksii 
Published: June 2023

Objective:
To study the impact of hypertension on the formation of structural and functional cardiac changes during hospitalization for COVID-19 and the dynamics of detected changes in the early post-discharge period.

Design and method:
212 hospitalized COVID-19 patients (mean age 53.4+-13.6 years, 53% female) underwent comprehensive transthoracic echocardiographic examination and the 6-minute walk test at the baseline 1-2 days prior to discharge and after 31 days of follow-up, being compared to 88 matched controls.

Results:
COVID-19 patients had increased absolute (10.1 ± 1.5 vs 9.1 ± 0.9 mm, p < 0.001) and relative LV walls thickness (0.45 ± 0, 07 vs 0.39 ± 0.04, p < 0.001), LV myocardial mass index (38.1 ± 8.9 vs 33.9 ± 5.8 g/m2.7, p < 0.001) and left atrial volume index (28.6 ± 6.6 vs 25.1 ± 4.9 ml/m2, p < 0.001), as well as decrease in LV global longitudinal strain (-17.5 ± 2.4 vs -18.6 ± 2, 2%, p < 0.001) and diastolic filling parameters (e’ 9.2 ± 2.2 vs 11.3 ± 2.6 cm/s, p < 0.001; E/e’ 7.5 ± 1.8 vs 6.8 ± 1.7, p = 0.002). The observed changes were more pronounced in the cohort of hypertensive participants, but also persisted among normotensive patients, resulting in a high prevalence of concentric LV geometry (78% and 43%, respectively, p < 0.001 between groups and vs control), predominantly grade I diastolic dysfunction (51% and 25%, p < 0.001 between groups and vs control), and abnormal values of global longitudinal strain (32% and 19%, p = 0.027 between groups, p < 0.001 vs control), all of which persisted throughout 1-month follow-up. The increase in the % of predicted 6-minute walk distance was 11.2 ± 7.5 in hypertensives vs 12.8 ± 7.6 in non-hypertensive participants, p > 0.05.

Conclusions:
Hospitalised COVID-19 patients at the pre-discharge period were characterized by the high prevalence of LV concentric geometry and diastolic dysfunction, as well as the minor decrease of its longitudinal contractility, which were more pronounced in the presence of concomitant hypertension and did not improve during 1 month of follow-up.
EFFECTS OF DIABETES ON CLINICAL OUTCOMES OF PSORIATIC PATIENTS WITH CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE
Authors: Zhao Lin , Sun Lin , Yang Kunqi , Zeng Yan , Zhou Xianliang , Yang Weixian 
Published: June 2023

Objective:
Psoriasis is associated with a heightened prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, including diabetes. However, it is not clear whether diabetes will cause differences on clinical outcomes of psoriatic patients who have already suffered from coronary artery disease.

Design and method:
We conducted a retrospective cohort study of consecutive psoriatic patients with coronary artery disease between January 2017 and May 2022 in our hospital. The clinical records, laboratory measurements and coronary angiography reports were collected, and comparisons were made between patients with and without diabetes. The Cox regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were used to evaluate the association between diabetes and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs).

Results:
Of the 307 participants, 147 patients had diabetes. Individuals with diabetes were more prone to be with hypertension (p = 0.045), history of stroke (p = 0.041) and peripheral vascular disease (p = 0.043). The levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.039), uric acid (p = 0.013) and homocysteine (p = 0.006) were higher in the non-diabetes group. Patients with diabetes were more likely to have lesions in the right coronary artery than those without diabetes(p = 0.03). After the mean follow-up of 35.32 ± 18.61 months, MACEs were more prone to occur in diabetes group than non-diabetes group (30.0% vs. 19.2%, p = 0.032). Kaplan-Meier estimates showed the same trend. The COX regression analysis showed that diabetes [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.661, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 1.025–2.692, p = 0.039] was positively associated with an increased risk of MACEs. In the subgroup analysis, diabetes was associated with the occurrence of MACEs especially in men (p = 0.008) and in patients without chronic kidney disease(p = 0.021).

Conclusions:
In psoriatic patients with coronary artery disease, patients with diabetes were more likely to have lesions in the right coronary artery and diabetes can independently predict MACEs, especially in men and in patients without chronic kidney disease. To reduce the cardiovascular disease risk associated with diabetes, it is vital to increase awareness of the condition among these patients.
POLYGENIC SCORES TOGETHER WITH COMMON RISK FACTORS ARE INFORMATIVE PREDICTORS OF METABOLIC HEALTH
Authors: Timasheva Yanina , Balkhiyarova Zhanna , Avzaletdinova Diana , Morugova Tatiana , Korytina Gulnaz , Prokopenko Inga , Kochetova Olga 
Published: June 2023

Objective:
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a complex metabolic disorder influenced by various genetic, behavioural, and environmental factors, with ageing and obesity most prominently contributing to its development. Our aim was to examine an association between common variants in genes implicated in the development of T2D, and evaluate the predictive value of polygenic scores and other risk factors.

Design and method:
We tested associations between 13 established genetic variants and T2D in 1371 study participants from the Volga-Ural region of Eurasian continent, and evaluated the prognostic ability of the model containing polygenic scores for the variants associated with T2D in our dataset, alone and in combination with other risk factors, such as age and sex.

Results:
Using logistic regression analysis, we found associations with T2D for the CCL20 rs6749704 (OR = 1.68, PFDR = 3.40 × 10-5), CCR5 rs333 (OR = 1.99, PFDR = 0.033), ADIPOQ rs17366743 (OR = 3.17, PFDR = 2.64 × 10-4), TCF7L2 rs114758349 (OR = 1.77, PFDR = 9.37 × 10-5), and CCL2 rs1024611 (OR = 1.38, PFDR = 0.033) polymorphisms. We showed that the most informative prognostic model included weighted polygenic scores for these five loci, and non-genetic factors such as age and sex (AUC 85.8%, 95%CI 83.7%-87.8%).

Conclusions:
The five variants associated with T2D in people from the Volga-Ural region are linked to inflammation (CCR5, CCL2, CCL20) and glucose metabolism regulation (TCF7L, ADIPOQ2). Further studies in independent groups of T2D patients should validate the prognostic value of the model and further elucidate the molecular mechanisms of the disease development.
Figure 1. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves visualising the predictive prognostic ability abilities of the models to predict type 2 diabetes: A. model constructed using the unweighted polygenic score calculated for the five genetic variants associated with type 2 diabetes in our study; B. model constructed using the weighted polygenic score; C. model constructed using the unweighted polygenic score in combination with age and sex; D. model constructed using the weighted polygenic score in combination with age and sex polygenic scores for type 2 diabetes.
This research was funded by THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND HIGHER EDUCATION OF RUSSIAN FEDERATION, grant number 075-15-2021-595; RUSSIAN SCIENCE FOUNDATION, grant number 22-25-00010.