bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ankle‐Brachial Index and Energy Production in People Without Peripheral Artery Disease: The BLSA
Authors: Oberdier Matt T. , AlGhatrif Majd , Adelnia Fatemeh , Zampino Marta , Morrell Christopher H. , Simonsick Eleanor , Fishbein Kenneth , Lakatta Edward G. , McDermott Mary M. , Ferrucci Luigi 
Published: March 2022

Background
Lower ankle‐brachial index (ABI) values within the 0.90 to 1.40 range are associated with poorer mitochondrial oxidative capacity of thigh muscles in cross‐sectional analyses. Whether ABI decline is associated with greater declines in thigh muscle oxidative capacity with aging is unknown.

Method and Results

We analyzed data from 228 participants (100 men) of the BLSA (Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging), aged 39 to 97 years, with an ABI between 0.9 and 1.40 at baseline and at follow‐up (mean follow‐up period of 2.8 years). We examined mitochondrial oxidative capacity of the left thigh muscle, by measuring the postexercise phosphocreatine recovery rate constant (
k
PCr) from phosphorus‐31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Greater
k
PCr indicated higher mitochondrial oxidative capacity. Although
k
PCr was available on the left leg only, ABI was measured in both legs. Longitudinal rates of change (
Change
) of left and right ABI and
k
PCr of the left thigh muscle were estimated using linear mixed effects models, and their association was analyzed by standardized multiple linear regressions. In multivariate analysis including sex, age, baseline
k
PCr, both left and right baseline ABI, and ABI change in both legs, (
k
PCr)
Change
was directly associated with ipsilateral (left) (ABI)
Change
(standardized [STD]‐β=0.14;
P
=0.0168) but not with contralateral (right) (ABI)
Change
(
P
=0.22). Adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, this association remained significant (STD‐β=0.18;
P
=0.0051). (
k
PCr)
Change
was steeper in White race participants (STD‐β=0.16;
P
=0.0122) and body mass index (STD‐β=0.13;
P
=0.0479). There was no significant association with current smoking status (
P
=0.63), fasting glucose (
P
=0.28), heart rate (
P
=0.67), mean blood pressure (
P
=0.78), and low‐density lipoprotein (
P
=0.75), high‐density lipoprotein (
P
=0.82), or triglycerides (
P
=0.15).

Conclusions
In people without peripheral arterial disease, greater decline in ABI over time, but not baseline ABI, was associated with faster decline in thigh mitochondrial oxidative capacity in the ipsilateral leg. Further studies are needed to examine whether early interventions that improve lower extremity muscle perfusion can improve and prevent the decline of muscle energetics.
Association Between Radiotherapy and Death From Cardiovascular Disease Among Patients With Cancer: A Large Population‐Based Cohort Study
Authors: Liu Enrui , Guan Xu , Wei Ran , Jiang Zheng , Liu Zheng , Wang Guiyu , Chen Yinggang , Wang Xishan 
Published: March 2022

Background
This study aimed to investigate the association between radiotherapy for cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths and evaluate the relative risk for CVD deaths in the general population and among patients with cancer treated with radiotherapy.

Methods and Results
The statistics of cancers from 16 sites were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database and evaluated. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to analyze the association between radiotherapy and cardiovascular‐specific survival. The standardized mortality ratio for CVD deaths was estimated by comparing the observed deaths of patients with cancer treated with radiotherapy to the expected deaths of the general population. Of the 2 214 944 patients identified from the database, 292 102 (13.19%) died from CVD. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analyses demonstrated that radiotherapy was an independent risk factor for cardiovascular‐specific survival among patients with lung and bronchus, cervix uteri, corpus uteri, and urinary bladder cancers. The long‐term cardiovascular‐specific survival of patients with cancer who underwent radiotherapy was significantly lower than that of patients who did not undergo radiotherapy. The incidence of CVD deaths among patients with lung and bronchus, cervix uteri, corpus uteri, and urinary bladder cancers who underwent radiotherapy was higher than that among the general population. Standardized mortality ratio significantly decreased with increasing age at cancer diagnosis, gradually decreased within 10 years of diagnosis and increased after 10 years of diagnosis.

Conclusions
Radiotherapy is associated with worse cardiovascular‐specific survival in patients with lung and bronchus, cervix uteri, corpus uteri, and urinary bladder cancers. Long‐term surveillance of cardiovascular conditions should be performed after radiotherapy.
Sedentary Behavior and Atrial Fibrillation in Older Women: The OPACH Study
Authors: Boursiquot Brian C. , Bellettiere John , LaMonte Michael J. , LaCroix Andrea Z. , Perez Marco V. 
Published: March 2022

Background
Sedentary behavior is associated with cardiovascular disease, but its association with incident atrial fibrillation is not well studied. Our aim was to measure the association between objectively measured sedentary behavior and incident atrial fibrillation.

Methods and Results

Sedentary behavior was measured by a triaxial accelerometer worn on a belt for 1 week. Incident atrial fibrillation was ascertained from Medicare claims. The associations between total sedentary time (or patterns of sedentary behavior) and incident atrial fibrillation were assessed using Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for demographic and clinical covariates. Among 2675 participants (mean age, 78.2 years), there were 268 (10.0%) cases of incident atrial fibrillation at a rate of 31 cases per 1000 person‐years. Greater total sedentary time was associated with a higher risk of incident atrial fibrillation after adjustment for age, race and ethnicity, body mass index, education, smoking history, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, heart disease, and other chronic conditions (quartile 4 versus quartile 1: hazard ratio, 1.20, [95% CI, 0.81–1.78];
P
for trend=0.05). After adjusting for physical function and self‐rated health, this was no longer statistically significant. Both longer mean sedentary bout duration and more continuous sedentary periods (versus frequent breaks in sedentary time) were also associated with higher risks of incident atrial fibrillation, but these associations were also attenuated with serial adjustment.

Conclusions
Total sedentary time and prolonged patterns of sedentary accumulation were associated with a higher risk of atrial fibrillation in this prospective study of community‐dwelling older women, but these associations were attenuated by adjustment for physical function and self‐reported health. This suggests that associations between sedentary behavior and atrial fibrillation may be attributable to global measures of overall function and health.
Relationship of Quantitative Retinal Capillary Network and Myocardial Remodeling in Systemic Hypertension
Authors: Chua Jacqueline , Le Thu‐Thao , Sim Yin Ci , Chye Hui Yi , Tan Bingyao , Yao Xinwen , Wong Damon , Ang Briana W. Y. , Toh Desiree‐Faye , Lim Huishan , Bryant Jennifer A. , Wong Tien Yin , Chin Calvin Woon Loong , Schmetterer Leopold 
Published: March 2022

Background
This study examined the associations between quantitative optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) parameters and myocardial abnormalities as documented on cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging in patients with systemic hypertension.

Methods and Results

We conducted a cross‐sectional study of 118 adults with hypertension (197 eyes). Patients underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging and OCTA (PLEX Elite 9000, Carl Zeiss Meditec). Associations between OCTA parameters (superficial and deep retinal capillary density) and adverse cardiac remodeling (left ventricular mass, remodeling index, interstitial fibrosis, global longitudinal strain, and presence of left ventricular hypertrophy) were studied using multivariable linear regression analysis with generalized estimating equations. Of the 118 patients with hypertension enrolled (65% men; median [interquartile range] age, 59 [13] years), 29% had left ventricular hypertrophy. After adjusting for age, sex, systolic blood pressure, diabetes, and signal strength of OCTA scans, patients with lower superficial capillary density had significantly higher left ventricular mass (β=−0.150; 95% CI, −0.290 to −0.010), higher interstitial volume (β=−0.270; 95% CI, −0.535 to −0.0015), and worse global longitudinal strain (β=−0.109; 95% CI, −0.187 to −0.032). Lower superficial capillary density was found in patients with hypertension with replacement fibrosis versus no replacement fibrosis (16.53±0.64 mm
‐1
versus 16.96±0.64 mm
‐1
;
P
=0.003).

Conclusions
We showed significant correlations between retinal capillary density and adverse cardiac remodeling markers in patients with hypertension, supporting the notion that the OCTA could provide a non‐invasive index of microcirculation alteration for vascular risk stratification in people with hypertension.
Global Longitudinal Strain is Incremental to Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction for the Prediction of Outcome in Optimally Treated Dilated Cardiomyopathy Patients
Authors: Raafs Anne G. , Boscutti Andrea , Henkens Michiel T. H. M. , van den Broek Wout W. A. , Verdonschot Job A. J. , Weerts Jerremy , Stolfo Davide , Nuzzi Vincenzo , Manca Paolo , Hazebroek Mark R. , Knackstedt Christian , Merlo Marco , Heymans Stephane R. B. , Sinagra Gianfranco 
Published: March 2022

Background
Speckle tracking echocardiographic global longitudinal strain (GLS) predicts outcome in patients with new onset heart failure. Still, its incremental value on top of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with nonischemic, nonvalvular dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) after optimal heart failure treatment remains unknown.

Methods and Results

Patients with DCM were included at the outpatient clinics of 2 centers in the Netherlands and Italy. The prognostic value of 2‐dimensional speckle tracking echocardiographic global longitudinal strain was evaluated when being on optimal heart failure medication for at least 6 months. Outcome was defined as the combination of sudden or cardiac death, life‐threatening arrhythmias, and heart failure hospitalization. A total of 323 patients with DCM (66% men, age 55±14 years) were included. The mean LVEF was 42%±11% and mean GLS after optimal heart failure treatment was −15%±4%. Twenty percent (64/323) of all patients reached the primary outcome after optimal heart failure treatment (median follow‐up of 6[4–9] years). New York Heart Association class ≥3, LVEF, and GLS remained associated with the outcome in the multivariable‐adjusted model (New York Heart Association class: hazard ratio [HR], 3.43; 95% CI, 1.49–7.90,
P
=0.004; LVEF: HR, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.11–4.10,
P
=0.024; GLS: HR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.18–4.29,
P
=0.015), whereas left ventricular end‐diastolic diameter index, left atrial volume index, and delta GLS were not. The addition of GLS to New York Heart Association class and LVEF improved the goodness of fit (log likelihood ratio test
P
<0.001) and discrimination (Harrell’s C 0.703).

Conclusions
Within this bicenter study, GLS emerged as an independent and incremental predictor of adverse outcome, which exceeded LVEF in patients with optimally treated DCM. This presses the need to routinely include GLS in the echocardiographic follow‐up of DCM.
Polysorbate 80-Induced Anaphylactoid Reaction and the Effects on Cardiovascular Function: Dose Threshold and Species Comparison
Authors: Pouliot Mylène , Bussiere Jeanine , Coppi Aldo , Holbrook Kristen , Shelton Amy , Sparapani Samantha , Maher Jonathan , Zabka Tanja S , Boulay Emmanuel , Authier Simon 
Published: March 2022

Polysorbate 80 (PS80) is commonly used in pre-clinical formulations. The dose threshold for cardiovascular (CV) changes and hypersensitivity reaction in the dog was assessed and compared to other species. PS80 was administered by intravenous (IV) bolus (.5, 1 mg/kg), IV infusion (.3, .5, 1, 3 mg/kg), subcutaneous (SC) injection (5, 10, 15 mg/kg) and oral gavage (10 mg/kg) to dogs with CV monitoring. Monkeys and minipigs received PS80 by IV infusion at 3 mg/kg. Plasma histamine concentration was measured following PS80 IV infusion and with diphenhydramine pre-treatment in dogs only. In dogs, PS80 was not associated with CV changes at doses up to 15 mg/kg SC and 10 mg/kg oral, but decreased blood pressure and increased heart rate with IV bolus at ≥ .5 mg/kg and IV infusion at ≥ 1.0 mg/kg and decreased body temperature with IV infusion at 3 mg/kg was observed. Transient edema and erythema were noted with all administration routes, in all three species including doses that were devoid of CV effects. In monkeys and minipigs, PS80 did not induce CV, cutaneous or histamine concentration changes. These results suggest that mild, transient skin changes occur following PS80 administration at doses that are not associated with CV effects in the dogs. In dogs, the cardiovascular effect threshold was <.5 mg/kg for IV bolus, .3 mg/kg for IV infusion, 15 mg/kg for SC injection, and 10 mg/kg for oral administration. Monkey and minipig were refractory to PS80-induced histamine release at 3 mg/kg by IV infusion over 15 minutes.
Understanding feeding problems in autistic children: Exploring the interplay between internalizing symptoms and sensory features
Authors: Crippa Alessandro , Colombo Paola , De Cosmi Valentina , Mazzocchi Alessandra , Scaglioni Silvia , Spolidoro Giulia Carla Immacolata , Bettocchi Silvia , D’Oria Veronica , Viganò Nicole , Mani Elisa , Molteni Massimo , Agostoni Carlo 
Published: March 2022

Feeding/behavior problems are highly prevalent in autistic children. This study aimed to explore the interplay between autistic features, sensory processing patterns, emotional/behavioral difficulties, and feeding problems in children with a clinical diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. Ninety-nine children aged 1.5–5 years were assessed using the Children’s Eating Behavior Inventory (CEBI), the Child Behavior Checklist, the Revised Sensory Profile—Second Edition (SP-2), and the Food Frequency Questionnaire. The sample was divided into two subgroups based on the presence of feeding behavior problems as rated by parents on the CEBI. Children with feeding problems showed more severe internalizing symptoms and were more reactive to sensory stimuli than children without feeding problems. We also found a significant relationship between higher levels of autistic features and greater feeding behavior problems. A mediation analysis model indicated that this relationship was mediated by sensory processing, as reflected by SP-2 quadrants scores. Although preliminary, these findings suggest that children with higher levels of autistic features could be at greater risk of developing feeding behavior problems only if they also have a higher sensory sensitivity to environmental stimuli. Lay abstract This study adds to a growing body of research documenting feeding problems in autistic children. Our results indicate that children aged 1.5–5 years with feeding problems may present with elevated internalizing difficulties and alterations in sensory processing when compared to same-age children without feeding problems. Our study also proposes that sensory processing may be an important, mediating factor in the relationship between autism features and feeding problems. The present work suggests, therefore, that implementers should thoroughly consider the sensory profile of autistic children prior to intervening on feeding behaviors. In particular, based on these preliminary findings, feeding interventions could benefit from environments designed to support children who can find them noisy and overwhelming.
Lung transplantation for severe COVID-19-related ARDS
Authors: Ko Ryoung-Eun , Oh Dong Kyu , Choi Sun Mi , Park Sunghoon , Park Ji Eun , Lee Jin Gu , Kim Young Tae , Jeon Kyeongman 
Published: March 2022

Background: Lung transplantation (LT) is the gold standard for various end-stage chronic lung diseases and could be a salvage therapeutic option in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, LT is uncertain in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related ARDS who failed to recover despite optimal management including extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). This study aims to describe the pooled experience of LT for patients with severe COVID-19-related ARDS in Korea. Methods: A nationwide multicenter retrospective observational study was performed with consecutive LT for severe COVID-19-related ARDS in South Korea (June 2020–June 2021). Data were collected and compared with other LTs after bridging with ECMO from the Korean Organ Transplantation Registry. Results: Eleven patients with COVID-19-related ARDS underwent LT. The median age was 60.0 years [interquartile range (IQR), 57.5–62.5; six males]. All patients were supported with venovenous ECMO at LT listing and received rehabilitation before LT. Patients were transplanted at a median of 49 (IQR, 32–66) days after ECMO cannulation. Primary graft dysfunction within 72 h of LT developed in two (18.2%). One patient expired 4 days after LT due to sepsis and one patient underwent retransplantation for graft failure. After a median follow-up of 322 (IQR, 299–397) days, 10 patients are alive and recovering well. Compared with other LTs after bridging with ECMO ( n = 27), post-transplant outcomes were similar between the two groups. Conclusions: LT in patients with unresolving COVID-19-related ARDS were effective with reasonable short-term outcome.
Impact of wastewater treatment plants on microbiological contamination for evaluating the risks of wastewater reuse
Authors: Bonetta Silvia , Pignata Cristina , Gasparro Elisa , Richiardi Lisa , Bonetta Sara , Carraro Elisabetta 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background
Wastewater reuse represents a promising alternative source of water supply considering the water scarcity related to climate change. However, if not adequately treated, wastewater represents a source of microbiological health risk. The purpose of this work was to investigate the role of wastewater treatment on microbiological contamination by evaluating the possible risks associated with wastewater effluent reuse, taking into account new EU legislation (2020/741) on minimum requirements for water reuse. E. coli that produce Shiga toxins (STEC) and thermotolerant Campylobacter were monitored using an enrichment step associated with specific PCR, while Salmonella spp. and Legionella were detected with both cultural and molecular methods (PCR and q-PCR, respectively). Culture method was also used for the enumeration of different microbial indicators. The bacteria detection was compared in different wastewater plants with membrane bioreactor (MBR) system or with disinfection step with chlorine dioxide (ClO2). Moreover a comparison between molecular and culture methods was discussed.

Results
The results obtained showed good abatement performance for WWTPs equipped with MBR. The high concentrations of E. coli (range between 0.88 and 5.21 Log MPN/100 mL) and contamination by Salmonella spp. in effluent disinfected with ClO2 (17% of samples) showed the need to control the quality of this effluent. In addition, despite the absence of Legionella spp. with the culture method required by EU regulation, high concentrations of Legionella spp. (range between 2 and 7 log GU/L) and the presence of Leg. pneumophila with qPCR (15% of samples) highlight the need to carry out further investigations for reuse associated with aerosol formation (e.g. spray irrigation in agriculture).

Conclusions
The results obtained underline that the MBR technology can be suitable for wastewater reuse applications allowing to achieve the requirement proposed by the new European legislation. More attention should be given to wastewater reuse of effluents treated with ClO2. The use of the molecular methods for pathogens detection in wastewater could allow a more precautionary risks estimation associated with reuse. The overall results highlight that an evaluation of the effectiveness of the wastewater treatments is required for the prevention of a possible risk to public health.
CNVind: an open source cloud-based pipeline for rare CNVs detection in whole exome sequencing data based on the depth of coverage
Authors: Kuśmirek Wiktor , Nowak Robert 
Published: March 2022

AbstractBackgroundA typical Copy Number Variations (CNVs) detection process based on the depth of coverage in the Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) data consists of several steps: (I) calculating the depth of coverage in sequencing regions, (II) quality control, (III) normalizing the depth of coverage, (IV) calling CNVs. Previous tools performed one normalization process for each chromosome—all the coverage depths in the sequencing regions from a given chromosome were normalized in a single run.MethodsHerein, we present the new CNVind tool for calling CNVs, where the normalization process is conducted separately for each of the sequencing regions. The total number of normalizations is equal to the number of sequencing regions in the investigated dataset. For example, when analyzing a dataset composed ofnsequencing regions, CNVind performsnindependent depth of coverage normalizations. Before each normalization, the application selects thekmost correlated sequencing regions with the depth of coverage Pearson’s Correlation as distance metric. Then, the resulting subgroup of$$k+1$$k+1sequencing regions is normalized, the results of allnindependent normalizations are combined; finally, the segmentation and CNV calling process is performed on the resultant dataset.Results and conclusionsWe used WES data from the 1000 Genomes project to evaluate the impact of independent normalization on CNV calling performance and compared the results with state-of-the-art tools: CODEX and exomeCopy. The results proved that independent normalization allows to improve the rare CNVs detection specificity significantly. For example, for the investigated dataset, we reduced the number of FP calls from over 15,000 to around 5000 while maintaining a constant number of TP calls equal to about 150 CNVs. However, independent normalization of each sequencing region is a computationally expensive process, therefore our pipeline is customized and can be easily run in the cloud computing environment, on the computer cluster, or the single CPU server. To our knowledge, the presented application is the first attempt to implement an innovative approach to independent normalization of the depth of WES data coverage.