bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impact of hospital case volume on the outcomes after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation according to the ablation technology
Authors: Kanaoka Koshiro , Nishida Taku , Nishioka Yuichi , Myojin Tomoya , Kubo Shinichiro , Soeda Tsunenari , Okada Katsuki , Noda Tatsuya , Iwanaga Yoshitaka , Miyamoto Yoshihiro , Sakata Yasushi , Imamura Tomoaki , Saito Yoshihiko 
Published: April 2022

AbstractIntroductionThe appropriate hospital case volume for catheter ablation (CA) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) according to the ablation technology has not been fully examined. This study aimed to investigate the association between the hospital case volume for AF and periprocedural complications and AF recurrence.MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, we used data from the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups, which covers almost all healthcare insurance claims data in Japan. We included patients with AF who underwent first‐time CA from April 2014 to March 2020. Using mixed‐effect logistic regression, we analyzed the effect of the annual case volume for AF ablation on acute periprocedural complications and 1‐year success rate off antiarrhythmic drugs according to the ablation technology (radiofrequency ablation or cryoballoon ablation).ResultsAmong 270 116 patients, 207 839 (77%) patients underwent radiofrequency ablation and 56 648 (21%) patients underwent cryoballoon ablation. Of all patients, acute complications occurred in 5411 (2.0%) patients, and the recurrence at 1 year was 71 511 (27%). In the radiofrequency ablation group, acute complications and 1‐year AF recurrence according to case volume decreased as the annual case volume increased to up to 150−200 cases/year. However, in the cryoballoon ablation group, these outcomes were similar regardless of the case volumes.ConclusionThe case‐volume effect was noted in the radiofrequency ablation group, but not in the cryoballoon ablation group. Our results may affect the selection of ablation technology, especially in smaller case‐volume hospitals.
Insurance lesions: Does a second lesion make a difference?
Authors: Toloczko Alexandra , Buchan Skylar , John Mathews , Post Allison , Razavi Mehdi 
Published: April 2022

AbstractIntroductionIn radiofrequency ablation procedures for cardiac arrhythmia, the efficacy of creating repeated lesions at the same location (“insurance lesions”) remains poorly studied. We assessed the effect of type of tissue, power, and time on the resulting lesion geometry during such multiple ablation procedures.MethodsA custom ex vivo ablation model was used to assess lesion formation. An ablation catheter was oriented perpendicular to the tissue and used to create lesions that varied by type of tissue (atrial or ventricular free wall), power (30 or 50 W), and time (30, 40, or 50 s for standard ablations and 5, 10, or 15 s for high‐power, short‐duration [HPSD] ablations). Lesion dimensions were recorded and then analyzed. Radiofrequency ablations were performed on 57 atrial tissue samples (28 HPSD, 29 standard) and 28 ventricular tissue samples (all standard).ResultsWith ablation parameters held constant, performing multiple ablations significantly increased lesion depth in ventricular tissue when ablations were performed at 30 W for 50 s. No other set of ablation parameters was shown to affect the width or depth of the resulting lesions in either tissue type.ConclusionMultiple ablations created with the same power and time, delivered within 30 s of each other at the same exact location, offer no meaningful benefit in lesion depth or width over single ablations, with the exception of ventricular ablation at 30 W for 50 s. Given the risks associated with excessive ablation, our results suggest that this practice should be re‐evaluated by clinical electrophysiologists.
Alexithymia in individuals maltreated as children and adolescents: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Khan Anika N. , Jaffee Sara R. 
Published: April 2022

BackgroundChildren who are maltreated show deficits in emotion recognition, expression, and understanding. The goal of the current meta‐analysis was to determine the degree to which maltreatment is associated with deficits in the ability to recognize one’s own emotions – a phenomenon known as alexithymia. Alexithymia may be a mechanism explaining the association between childhood maltreatment and various psychological disorders.MethodsThis meta‐analytic review (88 studies, n = 43,076) examined the association between the experience of childhood maltreatment and alexithymia, mainly in adulthood. Additional meta‐analyses were run to examine if the strength of the association between maltreatment as a child and alexithymia varied as a function of the type of maltreatment individuals reported and other moderators.ResultsWe found significant small effect sizes for all models, indicating higher levels of maltreatment in childhood or adolescence were associated with higher levels of alexithymia. Alexithymia was more strongly associated with forms of neglect than with physical or sexual abuse. The effect sizes also increased as the percentages of females in the sample increased.ConclusionsResults suggest that researchers should examine whether alexithymia is a transdiagnostic mechanism in the association between childhood maltreatment and psychopathology and whether targeting alexithymia in treatment could reduce a wide range of symptoms.
Carbon‐film‐based Zernike phase plates with smooth thickness gradient for phase‐contrast transmission electron microscopy with reduced fringing artefacts
Authors: Obermair M. , Hettler S. , Dries M. , Hugenschmidt M. , Spiecker R. , Gerthsen D. 
Published: April 2022

AbstractPhase plates (PPs) in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) improve the contrast of weakly scattering objects under in‐focus imaging conditions. A well‐established PP type is the Zernike (Z)PP, which consists of a thin amorphous carbon (aC) film with a microscaled hole in the centre. The mean inner potential of the aC film is exploited to shift the phase of the scattered electrons while the unscattered electrons in the zero‐order beam propagate through the hole and remain unaffected. However, the abrupt thickness increase at the hole edge induces an abrupt change of the phase‐shift distribution and leads to fringing, that is, intensity oscillations around imaged objects, in TEM images. In this work, we have used focused‐ion‐beam milling to fabricate ZPPs with abrupt and graded thickness profiles around the centre hole. Depending on the thickness gradient and inner hole radius, graded‐ZPP‐TEM images of an aC/vacuum interface and bundles of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) show strongly reduced fringing. Image simulations were performed with ZPP‐phase‐shift distributions derived from measured thickness profiles of graded ZPPs, which show good agreement with the experimental images.

Fringing artefacts, that is, intensity oscillations around imaged objects, are strongly reduced for Zernike phase plates with a graded thickness profile around the centre hole.
Focused‐ion‐beam milling is used to fabricate graded Zernike phase plates with specific inner hole radius and thickness gradients.
The phase‐shift distribution is obtained from measured thickness profiles around the centre hole.
Image simulations based on experimentally measured thickness/phase‐shift distributions show good agreement with experimental Zernike phase‐plate TEM images.
Hedgehog signaling plays a crucial role in hyperalgesia associated with neuropathic pain in mice
Authors: Okuda Hiroaki , Ishikawa Tatsuya , Hori Kiyomi , Kwankaew Nichakarn , Ozaki Noriyuki 
Published: April 2022

AbstractNeuropathic pain is a debilitating chronic syndrome of the nervous system caused by nerve injury. InDrosophila, the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is related to increased pain sensitivity (hyperalgesia) but does not affect the baseline nociceptive threshold. In general, the contribution of the Hh signaling pathway to neuropathic pain in vertebrates is a highly debated issue. Alternatively, we investigated the potential role of Hh signaling in mechanical allodynia using a mouse model of neuropathic pain. Seven days after spinal nerve‐transection (SNT) surgery, microglial activation increased in the ipsilateral spinal dorsal horn compared with that in the sham group; however, 21 days after surgery, microglial activation decreased. Contrastingly, astrocyte activation in the spinal cord did not differ between the groups. On day 21 of postsurgery, the SNT group showed marked upregulation of sonic hedgehog expression in peripheral glial cells but not in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Intrathecal administration of the Hh signaling inhibitor vismodegib attenuated the mechanical allodynia observed on day 21 postsurgery. Conversely, intrathecal treatment with the Hh signaling activator smoothened agonist in naive mice induced mechanical allodynia, which was abolished by the ATP transporter inhibitor clodronate. Moreover, inhibition of Hh signaling by pretreatment with vismodegib significantly reduced ATP secretion and the frequency/number of spontaneous elevations of intracellular calcium ion levels in cultured DRG cells. Thus, the Hh signaling pathway appears to modulate the neural activity of DRG neurons via ATP release, and it plays an important role in sustaining mechanical allodynia and hypersensitivity in a mouse model of neuropathic pain.image
Machine learning prediction models for postpartum depression: A multicenter study in Japan
Authors: Matsuo Seiko , Ushida Takafumi , Emoto Ryo , Moriyama Yoshinori , Iitani Yukako , Nakamura Noriyuki , Imai Kenji , Nakano‐Kobayashi Tomoko , Yoshida Shigeru , Yamashita Mamoru , Matsui Shigeyuki , Kajiyama Hiroaki , Kotani Tomomi 
Published: April 2022

AbstractAimPostpartum depression (PPD) and perinatal mental health care are of growing importance worldwide. Here we aimed to develop and validate machine learning models for the prediction of PPD, and to evaluate the usefulness of the recently adopted 2‐week postpartum checkup in some parts of Japan for the identification of women at high risk of PPD.MethodsA multicenter retrospective study was conducted using the clinical data of 10 013 women who delivered at ≥35 weeks of gestation at 12 maternity care hospitals in Japan. PPD was defined as an Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score of ≥9 points at 4 weeks postpartum. We developed prediction models using conventional logistic regression and four machine learning algorithms based on the information that can be routinely collected in daily clinical practice. The model performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC).ResultsIn the machine learning models developed using clinical data before discharge, the AUROCs were similar to those in the conventional logistic regression models (AUROC, 0.569–0.630 vs. 0.626). The incorporation of additional 2‐week postpartum checkup data into the model significantly improved the predictive performance for PPD compared to that without in the Ridge regression and Elastic net (AUROC, 0.702 vs. 0.630 [p < 0.01] and 0.701 vs. 0.628 [p < 0.01], respectively).ConclusionsOur machine learning models did not achieve better predictive performance for PPD than conventional logistic regression models. However, we demonstrated the usefulness of the 2‐week postpartum checkup for the identification of women at high risk of PPD.
Where did it hit harder? Understanding the geography of excess mortality during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Díaz Ramírez Marcos , Veneri Paolo , Lembcke Alexander C. 
Published: April 2022

AbstractThe health impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic across OECD (Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development) and European regions has been strikingly uneven. In 2020, excess mortality rates in the hardest‐hit regions were, on average, 17 percentage points higher than those in the least affected regions of the same country. This paper shows that low health system capacity, followed by population density, air pollution, the share of elderly people, and low institutional quality were associated with higher excess mortality during the first year of the pandemic. Finally, reduced home‐to‐work mobility, following governments' COVID‐19 responses, was associated with lower excess mortality 2 months after implementation of the measures.
Expert recommendations for prevention and management of Candida auris transmission
Authors: Aldejohann Alexander Maximilian , Wiese‐Posselt Miriam , Gastmeier Petra , Kurzai Oliver 
Published: April 2022

AbstractCandida auris was first described as a yeast pathogen in 2009. Since then, the species has emerged worldwide. In contrast to most other Candida spp., C. auris frequently exhibits multi‐drug resistance and is readily transmitted in hospital settings. While most detections so far are from colonised patients, C. auris does cause superficial and life‐threatening invasive infections. During management of the first documented C. auris transmission in a German hospital, experts from the National Reference Centers for Invasive Fungal Infections (NRZMyk) and the National Reference Center for Surveillance of Nosocomial Infections screened available literature and integrated available knowledge on infection prevention and C. auris epidemiology and biology to enable optimal containment. Relevant recommendations developed during this process are summarised in this guidance document, intended to assist in management of C. auris transmission and potential outbreak situations. Rapid and effective measures to contain C. auris spread require a multi‐disciplinary approach that includes clinical specialists of the affected unit, nursing staff, hospital hygiene, diagnostic microbiology, cleaning staff, hospital management and experts in diagnostic mycology / fungal infections. Action should be initiated in a step‐wise process and relevant interventions differ between management of singular C. auris colonised / infected patients and detection of potential C. auris transmission or nosocomial outbreaks.
COVID‐19 death and kidney disease in a multiracial Asian country
Authors: Goh Bak Leong , Shanmuganathan Malini , Peariasamy Kalaiarasu , Misnan Nor Arisah , Chidambaram Suresh Kumar , Wong Eddie Fook Sem , Pathmanathan Mohan Dass , Ang Kim Liong , Wong Hin Seng , Yeap Lena Lay Ling 
Published: April 2022

AbstractIntroductionCOVID‐19 infection and kidney disease (KD) carry a considerable risk of mortality. Understanding predictors of death and KD may help improve management and patient outcome.MethodsThis is a prospective multicentre observational study conducted in a multiracial Asian country to identify predictors of death and acute kidney injury (AKI) in hospitalized COVID‐19 patients from January to June 2020.ResultsA total of 6078 patients were included in this study. Mean age was 37.3 (±16.8) years, 71% were male, 59.4% Malay, 6.7% Chinese, 2.3% Indian and 31.7% other ethnicities. AKI was seen in 3.5% of patients while 1.6% had pre‐existing chronic kidney disease (CKD). Overall case fatality rate (CFR) was 1.3%. Patients with KD (AKI and CKD) had CFR of 20%. Many factors were associated with increased risk of death and AKI. However, significant predictors of death after adjustment for covariates were age (>70 years), Chinese ethnicity, diabetes mellitus (DM) and KD. Adjusted predictors of AKI were age (>51 years), DM and severity at presentation. Chinese were 2.58 times more likely to die (p = .036) compared to Malay. Centre capacity to manage, ventilate and dialyze patients significantly influenced death. Among those with AKI, the most common symptoms were fever, cough, and dyspnea. They had lower absolute lymphocyte count, were more likely to be admitted to ICU, required more ventilation and longer hospitalization.ConclusionPatient and centre factors influence death and AKI among COVID‐19 patients. This study also demonstrates death disparities across different racial groups and centre capacities in this multiracial Asian country.
Preliminary experience of permanent left bundle branch area pacing using stylet‐directed pacing lead without delivery sheath
Authors: Sun Yaxun , Yao Xiaofeng , Zhou Xiang , Jiang Chenyang , Zhang Jiefang , Sheng Xia , Wang Min , Yang Ying , Pan Yiwen , Su Lan , Chen Xueying , Fu Guosheng 
Published: April 2022

AbstractBackgroundLeft bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) aims to capture the cardiac conduction system in area of the left bundle branch. Currently, LBBAP is mainly performed using lumen‐less pacing leads (LLLs) with preshaped sheath. However, the data on LBBAP with stylet‐driven leads (SDLs) without sheath is limited.ObjectiveThis study presents the feasibility, safety, and pacing characteristics of LBBAP using SDLs without the support of sheath.MethodsA total of 25 patients with bradycardia indications who received LBBAP implantation with an attempt of SDL (FINELINE II 4471 lead, Boston Scientific, MA, US) between August 2020 and April 2021 at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital were included in this retrospective cohort study. Twenty of them finally were paced with SDL in priority (SDL‐LBBAP group). Twenty propensity score matching patients who underwent LBBAP with LLL (Select Secure 3830 lead, Medtronic, MN, US) and 20 right ventricular septal pacing (RVSP) with regular active fixation lead respectively in the same period (the LLL‐LBBAP group and RVSP group) were compared using ECG characteristics, pacing parameters and complications during 6‐month follow‐up.ResultsLBBAP was successful with SDL in 23 of 25 patients (92%) and 20 of them were paced with SDL first. In the SDL‐LBBAP group, the average age was 70.4 ± 8.2 years, and 55% of patients were male. Paced QRS duration and the stimulus to peak left ventricular activation time (Sti‐LVAT) in SDL‐LBBAP group were similar with those in LLL‐LBBAP group and significantly shorter than those in RVSP group (126.1±14.1 ms vs. 124.8±10.9 ms, p = 1.00; 77.7 ± 11.2 ms vs. 73.5 ± 9.3 ms, P = .75; 126.1 ± 14.1 ms vs. 147.7 ± 22.5 ms, P<.001; 77.7 ± 11.2 ms vs. 97.0 ± 13.2 ms, P<.001). The pacing threshold and R‐wave amplitude of SDL‐LBBAP group were 0.53 ± 0.18V and 11.53 ± 3.63 mV at baseline respectively, which were comparable with the other two groups. During the 6‐month follow‐up, the pacing parameters remained stable and no lead‐related complications were recorded.ConclusionIt is feasible and safe to use stylet‐directed pacing lead for permanent LBBAP without a delivery sheath. Similar to LLL, LBBAP using SDL showed stable parameters and narrower paced QRS duration compared with RVSP, which could be an alternative to LLL in LBBAP.
Imagination in science
Authors: Murphy Alice 
Published: April 2022

AbstractWhile discussions of the imagination have been limited in philosophy of science, this is beginning to change. In recent years, a vast literature on imagination in science has emerged. This paper surveys the current field, including the changing attitudes towards the scientific imagination, the fiction view of models, how the imagination can lead to knowledge and understanding, and the value of different types of imagination. It ends with a discussion of the gaps in the current literature, indicating avenues for future research.
Maternal periconceptional alcohol consumption and gastroschisis in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997–2011
Authors: Fisher Sarah C. , Howley Meredith M. , Romitti Paul A. , Desrosiers Tania A. , Jabs Ethylin Wang , Browne Marilyn L. ,   the National Birth Defects Prevention Study
Published: April 2022

AbstractBackgroundGastroschisis is particularly prevalent among offspring of young women and has increased over recent decades. Although previous studies suggest that maternal alcohol consumption is associated with increased gastroschisis risk, none have explored whether maternal age modifies that association.ObjectiveThe objective of the study was to evaluate associations between self‐reported maternal periconceptional alcohol consumption (1 month prior through the third month after conception) and risk of gastroschisis among offspring, by maternal age.MethodsWe used data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS), a multi‐site population‐based case‐control study. The analysis included 1450 gastroschisis cases and 11,829 unaffected liveborn controls delivered during 1997–2011 in ten US states. We estimated adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the individual and joint effects of alcohol consumption and young maternal age at delivery (<25 years vs ≥25 years) on gastroschisis risk. We estimated the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI) to quantify additive interaction.ResultsPericonceptional alcohol consumption was common regardless of maternal age (women <25 years: cases 38.8%, controls 29.3%; women ≥25: cases 43.5%, controls 39.5%). Compared with women ≥25 years who did not consume alcohol, we observed increased risk of gastroschisis among women <25 years, with higher estimates among those who consumed alcohol (women <25 years who did not consume alcohol. aOR 5.90, 95% CI 4.89, 7.11; women <25 years who did consume alcohol: aOR 8.21, 95% CI 6.69, 10.07). Alcohol consumption among women ≥25 years was not associated with gastroschisis (aOR 1.12, 95% CI 0.88, 1.42). This suggests super‐additive interaction between alcohol consumption and maternal age (RERI −2.19, 95% CI 1.02, 3.36).ConclusionsPericonceptional alcohol consumption may disproportionately increase risk of gastroschisis among young mothers. Our findings support public health recommendations to abstain from alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
Molecular characterization of wheat floret development‐related F‐box protein (TaF‐box2): Possible involvement in regulation of Arabidopsis flowering
Authors: Kim Jae Ho , Jung Woo Joo , Kim Moon Seok , Ko Chan Seop , Yoon Jin Seok , Hong Min Jeong , Shin Hyo Jeong , Seo Yong Weon 
Published: April 2022

AbstractIn wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), the floret development stage is an important step in determining grain yield per spike; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying floret development remain unclear. In this study, we elucidated the role of TaF‐box2, a member of the F‐box‐containing E3 ubiquitin protein ligases, which is involved in floret development and anthesis of wheat. TaF‐box2 was transiently expressed in the plasma membrane and cytoplasm of both tobacco and wheat. We also found that the SCFF‐box2(Skp1‐Cul1‐Rbx1‐TaF‐box2) ubiquitin ligase complex mediated self‐ubiquitination activity. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants that constitutively overexpressed TaF‐box2 showed markedly greater hypocotyl and root length than wild‐type plants, and produced early flowering phenotypes. Flowering‐related genes were significantly upregulated in TaF‐box2‐overexpressing Arabidopsis plants. Further protein interaction analyses such as yeast two‐hybrid, in vitro pull‐down, and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays confirmed that TaF‐box2 physically interacted with TaCYCL1 (Triticum aestivum cyclin‐L1‐1). Ubiquitination and degradation assays demonstrated that TaCYCL1 was ubiquitinated by SCFF‐box2 and degraded through the 26S proteasome complex. The physiological functions of the TaF‐box2 protein remain unclear; however, we discuss several potential routes of involvement in various physiological mechanisms which counteract flowering in transgenic Arabidopsis plants.