bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Speciation and Bio-Imaging of Chromium in Taraxacum officinale Using HPLC Post-column ID-ICP-MS, High Resolution MS and Laser Ablation ICP-MS Techniques
Authors: Marković Stefan , Levstek Lucija , Žigon Dušan , Ščančar Janez , Milačič Radmila 
Published: May 2022

A new analytical procedure for the speciation of chromium (Cr) in plants by high performance liquid chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS) was developed using a strong anion-exchange Mono Q column for the separation of the Cr species. To optimize the analytical procedure, Cr complexes were first synthesized from Cr-nitrate with the addition of an excess of ligand (90°C). Cr-oxalate, Cr-malate, Cr-citrate, Cr-aconitate and Cr-quinate complexes and Cr-nitrate (pH 6.5) were chromatographically separated from Cr(VI) by applying linear gradient elution from 100% water to 100% NH4Cl at a flow rate of 1.5 ml min−1 in 10 min. The column recoveries ranged from 100 to 104%. The exception was Cr-aconitate (column recovery 33%), where a quantitative synthesis was not possible. Good repeatability of the measurements (relative standard deviations better than ± 3%) and low limits of detection (below 0.37 ng ml−1 Cr) were achieved for the individual Cr species. The developed analytical procedure was applied to Cr speciation for dandelions (Taraxacum officinale) grown in soil with a high Cr content and a study of the uptake and metabolism of Cr species in dandelions grown in soil with a low Cr content treated with solutions of Cr(VI) or Cr-nitrate (5000 ng ml−1 Cr, pH 6.5) for 48 h. The separated Cr species were quantified by post-column isotope dilution ICP-MS, while the identification was based on retention times and was also supported by mass spectra obtained with high resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS). The data indicate that for dandelions grown in Cr-rich soil and that treated with Cr-nitrate (pH 6.5), the Cr was mainly accumulated in the roots, while in plants treated with Cr(VI) (pH 6.5), the Cr was evenly distributed between the roots and the leaves. The Cr species found in dandelion roots and leaves were Cr-aconitate, Cr-malate, and Cr-quinate. The results revealed that Cr(VI) was completely reduced and metabolized to Cr(III) complexes. LA-ICP-MS data showed that the Cr in a leaf of dandelion grown in Cr-rich soil was localized mainly at the apex of the leaf.
Cost-Effectiveness in Patients Undergoing Revascularization of Chronic Total Occluded Coronary Arteries—A Cohort Study
Authors: Holck Emil Nielsen , Winther Naja Stausholm , Mogensen Lone Juul Hune , Christiansen Evald Høj 
Published: May 2022

BackgroundRevascularization of patients with chronic total occluded coronary arteries (CTO) is recommended if they have symptoms despite medical treatment. The cost-effectiveness of treatment with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was investigated in this cohort study.Materials and MethodsThe study was designed as a cohort study enrolling all patients undergoing PCI for a CTO in the Central Region of Denmark and recorded in the EUROCTO database. Major adverse cardio- and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) and admissions for cardiac symptoms were collected in the Western Denmark Heart Registry and through medical Journal Audits. Exposure was defined as successful revascularization of all CTO lesions compared with having one or more remaining CTOs after PCI attempt(s). Cost-effectiveness was evaluated as the net benefit (NB) at the patient level 3 years after treatment and through cost-effectiveness planes. The cost was defined as the cumulative cost of the index procedure and admissions due to MACCE and cardiac symptoms. Effectiveness was defined as the difference in MACCE for the primary analysis and the difference in death and symptomatic admissions for the secondary.ResultsBetween 2009 and 2019, 441 patients with ≥ 3 years of follow-up were treated with PCI for at least one CTO lesion (342 in the successful arm and 99 in the unsuccessful arm). The technical success rate was 85.4%. In total, 155 MACCE and 184 symptomatic admissions occurred in the follow-up period. The mean total cost was EUR 11.719 (11.034; 12.406) in the successful group vs. EUR 13.565 (11.899; 15,231) (p = 0.02) in the unsuccessful group. Net-benefit was EUR 1.846 (64; 3,627) after successful revascularization for MACCE. The adjusted analysis found an NB of EUR 1,481 (–118; 3,079). Bootstrap estimates showed cost-effectiveness planes in favor of successful revascularization.ConclusionPatients fully revascularized for all CTO lesions had a more cost-efficient treatment. However, results need confirmation in a randomized controlled trial due to the risk of residual confounding after adjustment.
Alcohol Septal Ablation or Septal Myectomy? An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Septal Reduction Therapy for Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Zheng Xifeng , Yang Bin , Hui Haosheng , Lu Bing , Feng Yinhui 
Published: May 2022

ObjectiveTo evaluate the safety and effectiveness of alcohol septal ablation (ASA) and septal myectomy (SM) for the treatment of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.MethodsWe searched the PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CBM databases for observational research articles related to ASA and SM published from the establishment of the databases to November 2021. All ultimate selected articles were highly related to our target. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to evaluate the literature quality. A fixed or random effect model was performed in the meta-analysis depending on the heterogeneity of the included studies. The Mantel-Haenszelt test with relative risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to measure the effect indicator of binary data, while the inverse variance method with weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% CI was used to measure the effect indicator of continuous data.ResultsA totally of 3,647 cases (1,555 cases treated with ASA and 2,092 cases treated with SM) were included. The results of the systematic review indicated no statistically significant difference in postoperative all-cause mortality (RR = 0.82; 95% CI: 0.65–1.04; P = 0.10) between patients treated with ASA and SM, but both the reduction in the postoperative left ventricular outflow tract pressure gradient (WMD = 9.35 mmHg, 95% CI: 5.38–13.31, P &lt; 0.00001) and the post-operative improvement on cardiac function, assessed by the grade of New York Heart Association (NYHA), compared to pre-operative measurements (WMD = 0.13; 95% CI: 0.00–0.26; P &lt; 0.04) in the ASA group were slightly inferior to those in the SM group. In addition, both the risk of pacemaker implantation (RR = 2.83, 95% CI: 2.06–3.88; P &lt; 0.00001) and the risk of reoperation (RR = 11.23, 95% CI: 6.21–20.31; P &lt; 0.00001) are recorded at a higher level after ASA procedure.ConclusionBoth ASA and SM have a high degree of safety, but the reduction in the postoperative left ventricular outflow tract pressure gradient and the improvement on cardiac function are slightly inferior to SM. In addition, both the risk of pacemaker implantation and the risk of reoperation are recorded at a higher level after ASA procedure. The operative plan should be chosen through multidisciplinary discussions in combination with the wishes of the patients and the actual clinical situation.
Circulating Extracellular Vesicles Are Strongly Associated With Cardiovascular Risk Markers
Authors: Zhou Ruihan , Bozbas Esra , Allen-Redpath Keith , Yaqoob Parveen 
Published: May 2022

BackgroundExtracellular vesicles (EVs) are submicron membrane-bound vesicles released from various cells, which are emerging as a potential novel biomarker in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) due to their procoagulatory and prothrombotic properties. However, there is little information about the relationships between circulating EVs and conventional and thrombogenic risk markers of CVDs.ObjectiveTo investigate the relationships between circulating EVs, conventional cardiovascular risk markers and thrombogenic markers in subjects with moderate risk of CVDs.DesignSubjects (n = 40) aged 40-70 years with moderate risk of CVDs were recruited and assessed for body mass index, blood pressure and plasma lipid profile, as well as platelet aggregation, clot formation, thrombin generation and fibrinolysis. Numbers of circulating EVs were assessed by Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis and flow cytometry. A range of assays were used to assess the procoagulatory activity of plasma and circulating EVs.ResultsCirculating EV numbers were positively associated with body mass index, blood pressure, plasma triacylglycerol concentration and overall CVD risk. Higher circulating EV numbers were also associated with increased thrombin generation and enhanced clot formation, and EVs isolated from subjects with moderate CVD risk promoted thrombin generation ex vivo. Higher numbers of endothelial-derived EVs were associated with a greater tendency for clot lysis. Plasma triacylglycerol concentration and diastolic blood pressure independently predicted circulating EV numbers, and EV numbers independently predicted aspects of thrombin generation and clot formation and 10-year CVD risk.ConclusionCirculating EVs were strongly associated with both conventional and thrombogenic risk markers of CVDs, and also with overall CVD risk, highlighting a potentially important role for EVs in CVDs.
Relationship Between SGLT-2i and Ocular Diseases in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Zhou Bin , Shi Yetan , Fu Rongrong , Ni Haixiang , Gu Lihu , Si Yuexiu , Zhang Mengting , Jiang Ke , Shen Jingyi , Li Xiangyuan , Sun Xing 
Published: May 2022

BackgroundThis meta-analysis was conducted to explore the association between sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2is) and ocular diseases in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.MethodsPubMed, Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials, Web of Science and Springer were searched for articles on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving T2DM patients treated with SGLT-2i versus placebo or other hypoglycemic agents published prior to August 2021. The primary outcome of this meta-analysis was incidence of ocular diseases, which was assessed using risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). We reviewed 47 papers and compared the effect of SGLT-2i with the effect of the control groups (placebo and other hypoglycemic drugs) on the incidence of ocular diseases.ResultsCompared with controls, overall SGLT-2i use in T2DM patients was not associated with incidences of cataract, glaucoma, retinal disease and vitreous disease. Ertugliflozin (RR=0.47, P=0.01) reduced the risk for retinal disease, while empagliflozin (RR=0.44, P=0.05) reduced the risk for diabetic retinopathy (DR) compared with controls. SGLT-2i (RR=0.50, P=0.02), perhaps empagliflozin (RR=0.47, P=0.06), reduced the risk of retinal disease compared with active hypoglycemic agents. Canagliflozin (RR=4.50, P=0.03) increased the risk for vitreous disease compared with placebo.ConclusionsThere was no significant correlation between overall SGLT-2i and ocular diseases (cataract, glaucoma, retinal disease, vitreous disease, corneal disease, conjunctival disease, uveal disease, eye haemorrhage and vision problems) in T2DM patients. Ertugliflozin and empagliflozin may protect against ocular diseases, but canagliflozin may promote ocular diseases.
Impacts of Vegetation Changes on Land Evapotranspiration in China During 1982–2015
Authors: MingYue Zhan , Guojie Wang , Hagan Daniel Fiifi Tawia , Waheed Ullah , Giri Kattel , Jiao Lu , ShiJie Li 
Published: May 2022

Evapotranspiration (ET) bridges the hydrological and energy cycle through vegetation transpiration (T), soil evaporation (ES), and canopy interception evaporation (EI). Transpiration to evapotranspiration ratio (T/ET) quantifies the water use efficiency of terrestrial ecosystems explaining the mechanism of vegetation water transport and water–carbon interactions. This study employed GIMMS LAI3g data to improve the CLM4.5 land surface scheme of RegCM4.6. We designed two simulation experiments, each with control (CTL) and sensitivity (SEN), simulating the interannual variability of vegetation on ET and T/ET in China from 1982 to 2015. Studies show China has experienced a greening trend, especially in mid-south China and South China. Leaf area index (LAI) increased significantly (0.002 m2m−2yr−1). ∆LAI (SEN input LAI data minus CTL input LAI data) and ∆T/ET (T/ET data output by SEN minus T/ET data output by CTL) have shown significant positive correlations. The impacts of LAI on T/ET are more prominent during spring and winter than in autumn and summer. Compared with T/ET and LAI (R = 0.70), the correlation between ET and LAI is moderate (R &lt; 0.5), indicating that vegetation has a higher impact on T/ET than ET. The impact of vegetation anomalies (positive and negative LAI anomalies) on T/ET and ET is spatially different, mainly due to dominant factors affecting ET and T/ET changes. In spring, summer, and autumn, &amp;T (transpiration changes corresponding to vegetation anomalies) is the leading factor affecting both ET and T/ET regionally, and &amp;T has a stronger influence on T/ET than ET, especially in summer. Vegetation anomalies have a stronger influence on T/ET than ET; and the influence of positive vegetation anomalies on ET and T/ET is greater than that of negative vegetation anomalies, especially in spring and autumn. This study reveals the mechanisms behind vegetation processes and their influences on the water and heat fluxes at the land–atmosphere interface and provides a strong scientific basis for studying the water cycle under climate warming.
Long-Term Effects of Straw and Straw-Derived Biochar on Humic Substances and Aggregate-Associated Humic Substances in Brown Earth Soil
Authors: Sun Qiang , Yang Xu , Meng Jun , Lan Yu , Han Xiaori , Chen Wenfu , Huang Yuwei 
Published: May 2022

Turning maize straw into biochar is useful for improving soil fertility and mitigating climate change. However, the difference between straw and straw-derived biochar on soil aggregate associated humic substances has not been sufficiently studied in brown earth soil. The objective of this study was to investigate how different straw management practices affect soil humic substances and aggregate-associated humic substances in the field. As such, an eight-year study (2013–2020) was conducted on brown earth in Northeast China. Three treatments were applied: 1) CK, in which only chemical fertilizer was applied every year; 2) BC, in which biochar was applied at a rate of 2.625 t ha−1 (the same rate of chemical fertilizer as that in the CK was applied); 3) SR, in which straw was returned at a rate of 7.5 t ha−1 (the same rate of chemical fertilizer as that in the CK was applied). Both biochar and straw improved soil aggregate stability that reflected by the mean weight diameter (MWD) and geometric mean diameter (GMD). Compared to the CK treatment, the BC treatment enhanced humic carbon (HMC) both in bulk soil and different aggregate fractions. Biochar decreased the humic acid carbon (HAC) in bulk soil compared to the initial content, but no differences were observed between BC and CK after the eight-year field experiment. All of the aggregate-associated HAC contents were significantly enhanced in response to BC treatment. SR was an effective way to improve soil organic carbon (SOC) and humic substances in bulk soil and aggregate fractions. SR had a relatively small effect on the relative proportions of the C functional groups. Solid-state 13C cross-polarization magic-angle-spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (CPMAS-NMR) spectra of bulk soils revealed that biochar increased the proportion of aromatic C. The ratios of alkyl C/O-alkyl C, aromatic C/aliphatic C, and hydrophobic C/hydrophilic C increased in response to the BC treatment compared to the other treatments. Taken together, biochar amendment can enhance soil aggregate stability, aggregate-associated HMC and stability of SOC on the scale of an eight-year field experiment. Biochar could be an effective approach to sequestrate carbon and improve the quality of brown earth soil.
Prediction of Prognosis and Immunotherapy of Osteosarcoma Based on Necroptosis-Related lncRNAs
Authors: Wang Guowei , Zhang Xiaobo , Feng Wanjiang , Wang Jianlong 
Published: May 2022

Background: Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary tumor of bone in adolescents, and its survival rate is generally less than 20% when metastases occur. Necroptosis, a novel form of programmed necrotic cell death distinct from apoptosis, has been increasingly recognized as a promising therapeutic strategy. This study sought to identify long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) associated with necrotizing apoptosis to predict prognosis and target drug use to improve patient survival.Methods: Transcriptomic data and clinical data from 85 OS patients with survival time data and expression profiles from 85 random normal adipose tissue samples were extracted from the UCSC Xena website (http://xena.ucsc.edu/). Nine necroptosis-associated differential prognostic lncRNAs were then identified by analysis of variance, correlation analysis, univariate Cox (uni-Cox) regression, and Kaplan–Meier analysis. Then, patients were randomized into training or testing groups. According to uni-Cox, we obtained prognostic lncRNAs in the training group and intersected them with the abovementioned nine lncRNAs to obtain the final necrotizing apoptosis–related differential prognostic lncRNAs (NRlncRNAs). Next, we performed the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) to construct a risk model of NRlncRNAs. Kaplan–Meier analysis, ROC curves, nomograms, calibration curves, and PCA were used to validate and evaluate the models and grouping. We also analyzed the differences in tumor immunity and drugs between risk groups.Results: We constructed a model containing three NRlncRNAs (AL391121.1, AL354919.2, and AP000851.2) and validated its prognostic predictive power. The value of the AUC curve of 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival probability was 0.806, 0.728, and 0.731, respectively. Moreover, we found that the overall survival time of patients in the high-risk group was shorter than that in the low-risk group. GSEA and ssGSEA showed that immune-related pathways were mainly abundant in the low-risk group. We also validated the differential prediction of immune checkpoint expression, tumor immunity, and therapeutic compounds in the two risk groups.Conclusion: Overall, NRlncRNAs have important functions in OS, and these three NRlncRNAs can predict the prognosis of OS and provide guidance for immunotherapy in OS.
Post-COVID-19 Fatigue and SARS-CoV-2 Specific Humoral and T-Cell Responses in Male and Female Outpatients
Authors: Meisinger Christa , Goßlau Yvonne , Warm Tobias D. , Leone Vincenza , Hyhlik-Dürr Alexander , Linseisen Jakob , Kirchberger Inge 
Published: May 2022

BackgroundInformation on the clinical characteristics and pathophysiological mechanisms underlying post-COVID-19 fatigue are scarce. The main objective of this study was to evaluate sex-specific humoral and T-cell responses associated with post-COVID-19 fatigue in a sample of individuals treated as outpatients.MethodsAt a median time of 279 (179;325) days after the acute infection, a total of 281 individuals (45.9% men) aged 18-87 years old were included in the analysis. The participants were examined at the University Hospital of Augsburg, Southern Germany. Fatigue was assessed using the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS). Levels of anti-SARS-CoV2-spike IgG antibodies were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and for exploration of the SARS-CoV2-specific T-cell response, ex vivo ELISpot/FLUOROspot assays were conducted using an interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) SARS-CoV-iSpot kit.ResultsWomen more significantly suffered from post-COVID-19 fatigue in comparison to men (47.4% versus 25.6%, p=0.0002). Females but not males with fatigue showed a significantly lower number of T-cells producing IFN-γ, IL-2 or both IL-2 and IFNγ in comparison with females without fatigue. In both sexes, serum levels of anti-SARS-CoV2-spike IgG antibodies did not differ significantly between participants with or without fatigue.ConclusionsDevelopment of fatigue after acute COVID-19 disease might be associated with SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell responses in women, but not men after a mild infection course treated outpatient.
Distinct Effects of the Apolipoprotein E ε4 Genotype on Associations Between Delayed Recall Performance and Resting-State Electroencephalography Theta Power in Elderly People Without Dementia
Authors: Wang Jing , Sun Tingting , Zhang Ying , Yu Xin , Wang Huali 
Published: May 2022

BackgroundAbnormal electroencephalography (EEG) activity has been demonstrated in mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and theta rhythm might be inversely related to memory. The apolipoprotein E (ApoE) epsilon 4 (ε4) allele, as a genetic vulnerability factor for pathologic and normal age-related cognitive decline, may influence different patterns of cognitive dysfunction. Therefore, the present study primarily aimed to verify the role of resting theta rhythm in delayed recall deficits, and further explore the effects of the ApoE genotype on the associations between the resting theta power and delayed recall performance in the elderly individuals without dementia.MethodsA total of 47 individuals without dementia, including 23 MCI and 24 healthy subjects (HCs), participated in the study. All subjects were administered the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test–Revised (HVLT-R) to measure delayed recall performance. Power spectra based on resting-state EEG data were used to examine brain oscillations. Linear regression was used to examine the relationships between EEG power and delayed recall performance in each subgroup.ResultsThe increased theta power in the bilateral central and temporal areas (Ps = 0.02–0.044, uncorrected) was found in the patients with MCI, and were negatively correlated with delayed recall performance (rs = −0.358 to −0.306, Ps = 0.014–0.036, FDR corrected) in the elderly individuals without dementia. The worse delayed recall performance was associated with higher theta power in the left central and temporal areas, especially in ApoE ε4 non-carriers and not in carriers (rs = −0.404 to −0.369, Ps = 0.02–0.035, uncorrected).ConclusionOur study suggests that theta disturbances might contribute to delayed recall memory decline. The ApoE genotype may have distinct effects on EEG-based neural correlates of episodic memory performance.