bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of early rhythm control in improving clinical outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zhu Wengen , Wu Zexuan , Dong Yugang , Lip Gregory Y. H. , Liu Chen 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Background
Current guidelines recommend rhythm control for improving symptoms and quality of life in symptomatic patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the long-term prognostic outcomes of rhythm control compared with rate control are still inconclusive. In this meta-analysis, we aimed to assess the effects of early rhythm control compared with rate control on clinical outcomes in newly diagnosed AF patients.

Methods
We systematically searched the PubMed and Embase databases up to August 2022 for randomized and observational studies reporting the associations of early rhythm control (defined as within 12 months of AF diagnosis) with effectiveness outcomes. The primary outcome was a composite of death, stroke, admission to hospital for heart failure (HF), or acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from each study were pooled using a random-effects model, complemented with an inverse variance heterogeneity or quality effects model.

Results
A total of 8 studies involving 447,202 AF patients were included, and 23.5% of participants underwent an early rhythm-control therapy. In the pooled analysis using the random-effects model, compared with rate control, the early rhythm-control strategy was significantly associated with reductions in the primary composite outcome (HR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.86–0.89) and secondary outcomes, including stroke or systemic embolism (HR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.71–0.85), ischemic stroke (HR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.69–0.94), cardiovascular death (HR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.70–0.99), HF hospitalization (HR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.88–0.92), and ACS (HR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.76–0.98). Reanalyses using the inverse variance heterogeneity or quality effects model yielded similar results.

Conclusions
Our current meta-analysis suggested that early initiation of rhythm control treatment was associated with improved adverse effectiveness outcomes in patients who had been diagnosed with AF within 1 year.

Registration
The study protocol was registered to PROSPERO (CRD42021295405).
Effects of sphingolipid metabolism disorders on endothelial cells
Authors: Lai Yali , Tian Yue , You Xintong , Du Jiangnan , Huang Jianmei 
Published: October 2022

AbstractMany cardiovascular disorders, including atherosclerosis, hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes, etc., are characterized by endothelial cell dysfunction. Endothelial cell function is closely related to sphingolipid metabolism, and normal sphingolipid metabolism is critical for maintaining endothelial cell homeostasis. Sphingolipid metabolites or key enzymes in abnormal situation, including sphingosine, ceramide (Cer), sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), serine, sphingosine kinase (SPHK), ceramide kinase (Cerk), sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase (S1PL) etc., may have a protective or damaging effect on the function of endothelial cells. This review summarizes the effects of sphingolipid metabolites and key enzymes disordering in sphingolipid metabolism on endothelial cells, offering some insights into further research on the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases and corresponding therapeutic targets.
Clinical characteristics of sitosterolemic children with xanthomas as the first manifestation
Authors: Zhang Jun , Chen Qiu-li , Guo Song , Li Yan-hong , Li Chuan , Zheng Ru-jiang , Luo Xue-qun , Ma Hua-mei 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Background:
Sitosterolemia (STSL) is an extremely rare genetic disease. Xanthomas as the first symptom are frequently misinterpreted as familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) in children. Inappropriate treatment may deteriorate the condition of STSL.

Objectives:
To present the clinical and laboratory characteristics of xanthomatous children diagnosed with sitosterolemia in comparison with childhood FH with xanthomas.

Methods:
We summarized and compared the clinical characteristics of STSL and FH patients with xanthomas as the first manifestations and investigated the different indicators between the STSL and FH groups, as well as their diagnostic values for STSL.

Results:
Two tertiary pediatric endocrinology departments contributed ten STSL cases. Five of the STSL patients (50%) experienced mild anemia, whereas two (20%) had vascular complications. The xanthomas of the STSL group displayed morphologies comparable to those of the FH group. There were ten cases of homozygous FH (HoFH) with xanthomas as the predominant symptom of the control group who had no anemia. The serum cholesterol (Chol) levels of the STSL and FH groups were 12.57 (9.55 ~ 14.62) mmol/L and 17.45 (16.04 ~ 21.47) mmol/L, respectively (p value 0.002). The serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) levels of the STSL and FH groups were 9.26 ± 2.71 mmol/L and 14.58 ± 4.08 mmol/L, respectively (p value 0.003). Meanwhile, the mean platelet volume (MPV) levels of the STSL and FH groups were 11.00 (9.79 ~ 12.53) fl. and 8.95 (8.88 ~ 12.28) fl., respectively (p value 0.009). The anemia proportions of the STSL and FH groups were 50% and 0%, respectively (p value 0.033). The AUC values of Chol, LDL-c, MPV, hemoglobin (Hb) for the diagnosis of STSL were 0.910, 0.886, 0.869, 0.879, respectively. Chol ≤ 15.41 mmol/L, LDL-c ≤ 13.22 mmol/L, MPV ≥ 9.05 fl., or Hb≤120 g/L were the best thresholds for diagnosing STSL with childhood xanthomas.

Conclusion
The xanthoma morphology of STSL patients resembles that of FH patients. Xanthomas as the initial symptom of a child with Chol ≤ 15.41 mmol/L, LDL-c≤13.22 mmol/L, MPV ≥ 9.05 fl., or Hb≤120 g/L, he was most likely to have STSL.
Evaluation of a hybrid automatic planning solution for rectal cancer
Authors: Peng Jiyou , Yu Lei , Xia Fan , Zhang Kang , Zhang Zhen , Wang Jiazhou , Hu Weigang 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Background
Script-based planning and knowledge-based planning are two kinds of automatic planning solutions. Hybrid automatic planning may integrate the advantages of both solutions and provide a more robust automatic planning solution in the clinic. In this study, we evaluated and compared a commercially available hybrid planning solution with manual planning and script-based planning.

Methods
In total, 51 rectal cancer patients in our institution were enrolled in this study. Each patient generated 7 plans: one clinically accepted manual plan ($${plan}_{manual}$$

plan

manual

), three script-based plans and three hybrid plans generated with the volumetric-modulated arc therapy technique and 3 different clinical goal settings: easy, moderate and hard ($${plan}_{hybrid}^{easy}$$

plan

hybrid

easy

, $${plan}_{hybrid}^{moderate}$$

plan

hybrid

moderate

, $${plan}_{hybrid}^{hard}$$

plan

hybrid

hard

, $${plan}_{script}^{easy}$$

plan

script

easy

, $${plan}_{script}^{moderate}$$

plan

script

moderate

and $${plan}_{script}^{hard}$$

plan

script

hard

). Planning goals included planning target volume (PTV) Dmax, bladder Dmean and femur head Dmean. The PTV prescription was the same (50.00 Gy) for the 3 goal settings. The hard setting required a lower PTV Dmax and stricter organ at risk (OAR) dose, while the easy setting was the opposite. Plans were compared using dose metrics and plan quality metric (PQM) scores, including bladder D15 and D50, left and right femur head D25 and D40, PTV D2, D98, CI (conformity index) and HI (homogeneity index).

Results
Compared to manual planning, hybrid planning with all settings significantly reduced the OAR dose (p < 0.05, paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed rank test) for all dose-volume indices, except D25 of the left femur head. For script-based planning, $${plan}_{script}^{easy}$$

plan

script

easy

significantly increased the OAR dose for the femur head and D2 and the PTV homogeneity index (p < 0.05, paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed rank test). Meanwhile, the maximum dose of the PTV was largely increased with hard script-based planning (D2 = 56.06 ± 7.57 Gy). For all three settings, the comparison of PQM between hybrid planning and script-based planning showed significant differences, except for D25 of the left femur head and PTV D2. The total PQM showed that hybrid planning could provide a better and more robust plan quality than script-based planning.

Conclusions
The hybrid planning solution was manual-planning comparable for rectal cancer. Hybrid planning can provide a better and more robust plan quality than script-based planning.
Inclusive education in a refugee camp for children with disabilities: How are school setting and children’s behavioral functioning related?
Authors: Crea Thomas M. , Klein Elizabeth K. , Okunoren Oladoyin , Jimenez Maria Paula , Arnold Greg St. , Kirior Truphena , Velandria Eric , Bruni Daniela 
Published: October 2022

AbstractMany refugee children face challenges accessing education, but refugee children with disabilities are especially vulnerable to exclusion from school environments as well as social settings. Mainstreaming is considered a best practice but may not always be feasible given the limited resources available in refugee camps. The purpose of this study is to examine the extent to which school setting (i.e., special needs vs. mainstream classrooms) is associated with changes in children’s prosocial behaviors (i.e., social skills and ability to get along well with peers) and behavioral difficulties, accounting for disability status. In Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya, researchers collected two waves of data (approximately 2.5 years apart) for students enrolled in special needs schools (n = 78) and students who had transitioned from special needs schools into mainstream classrooms (n = 51). Children’s average prosocial scores decreased between wave 1 and wave 2, but scores from children in special needs schools decreased at a lower rate indicating potential protective factors in these settings. While children’s average total difficulties decreased over time, children’s difficulties in special needs schools decreased at a faster rate, also indicating potential protective factors. Neither severity of disability nor gender significantly predicted change in prosocial or difficulties scores. In the context of a refugee camp, mainstreaming alone may not fully address the needs of children with disabilities. Specific factors seen in special education settings, such as individualized services, accessible accommodations, and infrastructure supports, must be considered as a means of creating inclusive educational environments.
DC electrical stimulation enhances proliferation and differentiation on N2a and MC3T3 cell lines
Authors: Martín Daniel , Bocio-Nuñez J. , Scagliusi Santiago F. , Pérez Pablo , Huertas Gloria , Yúfera Alberto , Giner Mercè , Daza Paula 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Background
Electrical stimulation is a novel tool to promote the differentiation and proliferation of precursor cells. In this work we have studied the effects of direct current (DC) electrical stimulation on neuroblastoma (N2a) and osteoblast (MC3T3) cell lines as a model for nervous and bone tissue regeneration, respectively. We have developed the electronics and encapsulation of a proposed stimulation system and designed a setup and protocol to stimulate cell cultures.

Methods
Cell cultures were subjected to several assays to assess the effects of electrical stimulation on them. N2a cells were analyzed using microscope images and an inmunofluorescence assay, differentiated cells were counted and neurites were measured. MC3T3 cells were subjected to an AlamarBlue assay for viability, ALP activity was measured, and a real time PCR was carried out.

Results
Our results show that electrically stimulated cells had more tendency to differentiate in both cell lines when compared to non-stimulated cultures, paired with a promotion of neurite growth and polarization in N2a cells and an increase in proliferation in MC3T3 cell line.

Conclusions
These results prove the effectiveness of electrical stimulation as a tool for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, both for neural and bone injuries. Bone progenitor cells submitted to electrical stimulation have a higher tendency to differentiate and proliferate, filling the gaps present in injuries. On the other hand, neuronal progenitor cells differentiate, and their neurites can be polarized to follow the electric field applied.
Anti-Müllerian hormone independently affect mtDNA copy number in human granulosa cells
Authors: Bowolaksono Anom , Sundari Ayu Mulia , Fauzi Muhammad , Maidarti Mila , Wiweko Budi , Mutia Kresna , Iffanolida Pritta Ameilia , Febri Ririn Rahmala , Dwiranti Astari , Funahashi Hiroaki 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Background:
Recently, as a delayed childbearing trend is emerging in modern women’s adulthood, diminished reproductive potential due to age-related changes is more prevalent. Reduction in the abundance of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copies and circulating anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) have been separately reported with aging, contributing to the decrease in successful reproduction. However, there are limited reports on the impact of age on mtDNA and AMH in the same individual and whether mtDNA copy numbers are influenced by age and AMH.

Methods:
In the present study, we utilized a real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) to quantify the mtDNA copy number of granulosa cells obtained from 43 women undergoing an in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) program.

Results:
According to our analysis, a significant correlation was observed between age and mtDNA copy number (r = −0.54, P < 0.001) and between age and AMH level (r = −0.48, P < 0.001) of the same individual. There was also a positive correlation between mtDNA copy number and AMH (r = 0.88, P < 0.001) with AMH level falling as mtDNA decreases. In our regression, age and AMH were shown to have low collinearity (VIF = 1.297) but only AMH was correlated with mtDNA quantity (P < 0.001).

Conclusion:
Our study suggests that both mtDNA and AMH abundance are influenced by age and that AMH levels independently affect mtDNA copy number regardless of age. Further research is required to understand the role of AMH on mitochondria bioenergetics.
Absence of Epstein-Barr virus DNA in anti-citrullinated protein antibody-expressing B cells of patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Kroos Sanne , Kampstra Arieke S. B. , Toes René E. M. , Slot Linda M. , Scherer Hans U. 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Objective
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by the presence of disease-specific autoreactive B cell responses, in particular those generating anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA). For many years, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been implicated in disease pathogenesis, possibly by facilitating the development and persistence of autoreactive B cells. To test this hypothesis, the presence of EBV episomes in ACPA-expressing B cells was analyzed.

Methods
ACPA-expressing B cells derived from peripheral blood (PB) of seven EBV-seropositive RA patients, and synovial fluid (SF) of one additional EBV-seropositive RA patient, were isolated by flow cytometry. PB cells were expanded for 11–12 days, after which supernatant was harvested and analyzed for cyclic citrullinated-peptide (CCP)2 reactivity. SF cells were isolated directly in a lysis buffer. DNA was isolated and qPCR reactions were performed to determine the EBV status of the cells. EBV-immortalized B cell lymphoblastoid-cell lines (EBV blasts) served as standardized controls.

Results
Two hundred ninety-six PB and 60 SF ACPA-expressing B cells were isolated and divided over 16 and 3 pools containing 10–20 cells, respectively. Supernatants of all 16 cultured PB pools contained CCP2-Ig. DNA of all pools was used for qPCR analysis. While EBV-blast analysis showed sensitivity to detect EBV DNA in single B cells, no EBV DNA was detected in any of the ACPA-expressing B cell pools.

Conclusion
ACPA-expressing B cells are not enriched for EBV-DNA-containing clones. These results do not support the hypothesis that EBV infection of autoreactive B cells causes or maintains autoreactive B cell populations in RA. Instead, other mechanisms might explain the association between positive EBV serology and RA.
Metabolic syndrome and the immunogenicity of Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine: a cross-sectional study in Japanese healthcare workers
Authors: Van Hoang Dong , Yamamoto Shohei , Fukunaga Ami , Inoue Yosuke , Mizoue Tetsuya , Ohmagari Norio 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Background
The clustering of metabolic abnormalities may weaken vaccine-induced immunity, but epidemiological data regarding SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are scarce. The present study aimed to examine the cross-sectional association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and humoral immune response to Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine among the staff of a research center for medical care in Japan.

Methods
Participants were the staff (aged 21–75 years) of the National Center of Global Health and Medicine who had completed the second dose of Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine 1–3 months before the survey. MetS was defined according to the Joint Interim Statement. SARS-CoV-2 spike immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody was measured using quantitative assays. Multivariable linear regression was used to estimate the geometric mean titers (GMT) and geometric mean ratio (GMR) of IgG titers, relative to MetS status.

Results
Of 946 participants who received the second vaccine dose, 51 (5.4%) had MetS. Those with MetS had a significantly lower IgG titer (GMT 4125; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2885–5896) than those without MetS (GMT 5348; 95% CI, 3914–7309); the GMR was 0.77 (95% CI 0.64–0.93). Taking those having no MetS component as reference, fully adjusted GMR (95% CI) for those having 1, 2, 3 or ≥ 4 components was 1.00 (0.90, 1.11), 0.89 (0.77, 1.04), 0.86 (0.68, 1.10) and 0.61 (0.45, 0.82), respectively (P trend = 0.024).

Conclusion
Results suggest that having MetS and a greater number of its components are associated with a weaker humoral immune response to the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine.
Temporal decay for the highest-order derivatives of solutions of the compressible Hall-magnetohydrodynamic equations
Authors: Sun Rui , Guo Yuting , Wang Weiwei 
Published: October 2022

AbstractRecently, Gao and Yao established the global existence and temporal decay rates of solutions for a system of compressible Hall-magnetohydrodynamic fluids (Gao and Yao in Discrete Contin. Dyn. Syst. 36: 3077–3106, 2016). However, because of the difficulty of derivative loss in the nonlinear terms, Gao and Yao could not provide the temporal decay for the highest-order derivatives of classical solutions. In this paper, motivated by the decomposition technique of both low and high frequencies of solutions in (Wang and Wen in Sci. China Math. 65: 1199–1228 2022), we further derive the temporal decay for the highest-order derivatives of the strong solutions. Moreover, the decay rate is optimal, since it agrees with the solutions of the linearized system.
Imaging near-surface S-wave velocity and attenuation models by full-waveform inversion with distributed acoustic sensing-recorded surface waves
Authors: Pan Wenyong , Qu Luping , Innanen Kristopher A. , Dettmer Jan , Macquet Marie , Lawton Donald , Wang Yanfei 
Published: October 2022

Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) technology is, increasingly, the seismic acquisition mode of choice for its high spatial sampling rate, low cost, and nonintrusive deployability. It is being widely evaluated as an enabler of seismic monitoring for [Formula: see text] sequestration in building subsurface time-lapse images and in characterizing near-surface environments. To advance this evaluation, field seismic surveys with optical fibers have been conducted at the Containment and Monitoring Institute’s Field Research Station (CaMI.FRS) in Newell County, Alberta, Canada. In comparison to the standard geophones, optical fibers deployed in surface trenches at CaMI.FRS have recorded high-quality surface waves, rich in low frequencies and exhibiting limited spatial aliasing. These benefits have motivated us to apply the full-waveform inversion (FWI) approach to image the S-wave velocity ([Formula: see text]) and attenuation (quality factor [Formula: see text]) models at shallow site using the surface waves recorded by optical fibers. Compared to the conventional surface-wave dispersion approach, FWI can intrinsically incorporate fundamental and high-order modes and produce [Formula: see text] model with high spatial resolution that resolves horizontal variations. The low-frequency components below 10 Hz measured in the DAS recordings are helpful to overcome the cycle-skipping problem of FWI. Following the adjoint-state method, [Formula: see text] sensitivity kernel can be calculated efficiently with memory strain variables. The [Formula: see text] model is iteratively estimated with a new misfit function measuring root-mean-square amplitude differences, which helps to reduce the trade-off artifacts. The synthetic data obtained from the inverted models are consistent with the observed data in amplitude and phase. The inversion results provide valuable information to characterize the near-surface environments at CaMI.FRS and are expected to support seismic imaging in deeper [Formula: see text] injection zones.
Enhancing Administrative Claims Data: Feasibility, Validation and Application of Linking Medicare Claims Data and National Marrow Donor Program Search Data
Authors: Preussler Jaime M. , Meyer Christa L. , Sees Coles Jennifer A. , Yoo Dana , Mau Lih-Wen , Garrett Nicole D. , Auletta Jeffery J. 
Published: October 2022

PURPOSE Administrative claims data provide real-world service utilization of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treatment, but lacks insight into treatment delays or barriers. The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP)/Be The Match Search (Search) data contains information on donor search, but lacks information on treatment received if allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) is not performed. We hypothesized that linking these two data sets would create a rich resource to define factors associated with receiving HCT that could not be evaluated with either data set alone. METHODS A subset of 2010-2016 Medicare administrative claims data was linked with Search data. A total of 5,351 patients with AML age 65-74 years (HCT = 607, no HCT = 4,744) were identified using Medicare. These patients were then linked to 93,800 records with a donor search between 2009 and 2016. Patient date of birth, sex, disease, ZIP code, transplant center/hospital, and diagnosis date were used for matching. Exploratory analysis was conducted to identify predictors associated with receiving HCT for patients with AML who received a search. RESULTS The data sets were successfully linked, showing high sensitivity and specificity. The final cohort included 5,085 patients with AML (HCT = 533, no HCT = 4,552). Of 97 patients who received HCT without a matched search, more than 85% received a related donor HCT. Of those not receiving HCT, 609 had a matched NMDP search and 3,943 did not have a matched NMDP search. Multivariate analysis showed time to search, age, diagnosis year, race/ethnicity, and neighborhood education status associated with receiving HCT. CONCLUSION Methods herein demonstrate the feasibility of linking Search and Medicare data. Similar methods may be applied to answer critical questions regarding barriers to HCT, thereby identifying areas to improve access to care.