bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Negative pressure pneumomediastinum: a novel concept of spontaneous pneumomediastinum without mediastinal widening following weight loss
Authors: Hagiwara Hiroaki , Kinno Yoshinori , Ikegami Tadashi 
Published: August 2022

AbstractPurposeSpontaneous pneumomediastinum, supposedly attributed to air leakage from the respiratory tract, is a common complication of interstitial lung disease often resulting in mediastinal widening. However, several cases of pneumomediastinum without mediastinal widening have been observed. This study aimed to investigate the cause of pneumomediastinum in patients without mediastinal widening.Patients and methodsThis study included 41 patients diagnosed with pneumomediastinum using computed tomography (CT) between July 2011 and September 2021 at Yokohama Minamikyosai Hospital; they had undergone a previous CT showing no gas density. Based on a comparison with previous CT images, the patients were classified into two groups: without mediastinal widening and with mediastinal widening.ResultsOf the 41 patients, 13 and 28 had pneumomediastinum without and with mediastinal widening, respectively. There were no significant differences in the sex, age, body mass index, or pneumomediastinum distribution between the two groups. However, the rate of weight loss per month was significantly higher in the group without mediastinal widening than in that with mediastinal widening. No significant differences were observed in the respiratory function test results between the two groups; however, 11 of the 13 patients had restrictive disorders. Pulmonary disease in this group included idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (n = 6) and interstitial lung disease with collagen disease (n = 4). Pneumomediastinum occurred during periods of weight loss in all the patients excluding two patients without data.ConclusionPneumomediastinum without mediastinal widening occurs during rapid weight loss and is often associated with restrictive lung disorders. The negative pressure attributed to the decreased plasticity of the lungs, which complements the space where the mediastinal fat has disappeared, is presumably the cause of pneumomediastinum. This pathophysiology is different from that of conventional pneumomediastinum attributed to increased intrapleural space pressure; thus, we propose to name the abovementioned pathophysiology negative pressure pneumomediastinum.
Real-life evaluation of a rapid antigen test (DPP® SARS-CoV-2 Antigen) for COVID-19 diagnosis of primary healthcare patients, in the context of the Omicron-dominant wave in Brazil
Authors: Bezerra Matheus Filgueira , Amorim Silva Lilian Caroliny , Pessoa-e-Silva Rômulo , Soares Gisele Lino , Dezordi Filipe Zimmer , de Lima Gustavo Barbosa , de Lima Raul Emídio , Campos Tulio L. , Docena Cassia , de Oliveira Anderson Bruno , Rocha Pitta Maira Galdino da , da Silva Santos Francisco de Assis , Pereira Michelly , Wallau Gabriel Luz , Santos Paiva Marcelo Henrique 
Published: August 2022

ABSTRACTRapid antigen tests play an important role in the monitoring and mitigation of the COVID-19 pandemic, as it provides an easy, fast and efficient diagnosis with minimum infrastructure requirements. However, as new variants of concern continue to emerge, mutations in the virus genome may impair the recognition of the mutated antigen by the tests. Therefore, it is essential to re-assess the test’s sensitivity as the virus mutation profile undergoes significant changes. Here, we prospectively accessed the performance of the DPP® SARS-CoV-2 Antigen test in the context of an omicron-dominant real-life setting. We evaluated 347 unselected individuals (all-comers) from a public testing center in Brazil, performing the rapid antigen test diagnosis at point-of-care with fresh samples. The combinatory result from two distinct RT-qPCR methods was employed as reference and 13 samples with discordant PCR results were excluded. The assessment of the rapid test in 67 PCR-positive and 265 negative samples revealed an overall sensitivity of 80.5%, specificity of 99.2% and positive/negative predictive values higher than 95%. However, we observed that the sensitivity was dependent on the viral load (sensitivity in Ct<31 = 93.7%; Ct>31 = 47.4%). Furthermore, we were able to confirm that the positive samples evaluated in the study were Omicron (BA.1/BA.1.1) by whole-genome sequencing (n=40) and multiplex RT-qPCR (n=17). Altogether, the data obtained from a real-life prospective cohort supports that the rapid antigen test sensitivity for the Omicron remains high and underscores the reliability of the test for COVID-19 diagnosis in a setting with high disease prevalence and limited PCR testing capability.
Why does left ventricular distension usually not occur in veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation?
Authors: Myneni Manoj , Cheema Faisal , Rajagopal Keshava 
Published: August 2022

AbstractObjectivesUsing a lumped parameter-based theoretical circulatory model, we sought to examine the potential effects of veno-arterial (V-A) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support on coronary blood flow and resultant left ventricular (LV) contractility.BackgroundPrevious theoretical studies have suggested that V-A ECMO support results in markedly increased left ventricular intracavity pressures and volumes, i.e., not only inadequate unloading, but exacerbated loading. However, this phenomenon of LV distension occurs only uncommonly in clinical scenarios. This discrepancy between previous theoretical work and clinical experience requires explanation.MethodsWe defined a piecewise linear relation between the end-systolic pressure and volume of the ventricles to simulate ascending and descending limbs of the Frank-Starling relationship. A linear relationship between coronary blood flow rate and left ventricular contractility was added, defining the so-called “Gregg effect”.ResultsLV systolic dysfunction resulted in reduced coronary blood flow; V-A ECMO support augmented coronary blood flow, proportionally to the circuit flow rate. On V-A ECMO support, a weak or absent Gregg effect resulted in increased LV end-diastolic pressures and volumes, and increased end-systolic volume with decreased LV ejection fraction (LVEF), consistent with LV distension. In contrast, a more robust Gregg effect resulted in unaffected and/or even reduced LV end-diastolic pressure and volume, end-systolic volume, and unaffected or even increased LVEF.ConclusionsIn this lumped parameter model-based theoretical study, V-A ECMO support was found to augment coronary arterial blood flow. A resultant proportional augmentation of LV contractility may be an important contributory mechanism underlying why LV distension is uncommon in the setting of V-A ECMO support.
COVID-19 illness, SARS-CoV2 infection, and subsequent suicidal ideation in the French nationwide population-based EpiCov cohort : a propensity score analysis of more than 50,000 individuals
Authors: Davisse-Paturet Camille , Orri Massimiliano , Legleye Stéphane , Florence Aline-Marie , Hazo Jean-Baptiste , Warszawski Josiane , Falissard Bruno , Geoffroy Marie-Claude , Melchior Maria , Rouquette Alexandra ,   the EPICOV study group
Published: August 2022

AbstractSymptomatic COVID-19 appears to be associated with suicidal ideation but longitudinal evidence is still scarce. SARS-CoV2-induced neurological damages might underline this association, but findings are inconsistent. We therefore investigated the association between COVID-19 disease and subsequent suicidal ideation in the general population, using both self-reported symptoms and serology as well as inverse probability weighting to draw as near as possible to the direct association.Using data from the nationwide French EpiCov cohort, COVID-19 disease was assessed through 1) COVID-19 illness (self-reported symptoms of sudden loss of taste/smell or fever alongside cough, shortness of breath or chest oppression, between February and November 2020), and 2) SARS-CoV2 infection (Spike protein ELISA test screening in dried-blood-spot samples). Suicidal ideation was self-reported between December 2020 and July 2021. Inverse probability weighting with propensity scores was used as an adjustment strategy, leading to balanced sociodemographic and health-related factors between the exposed and non-exposed groups of both COVID-19 disease measures. Then, modified Poisson regression models were used to investigate the association of COVID-19 illness and SARS-CoV2 infection with subsequent suicidal ideation.Among 52,050 participants from the EpiCov cohort, 1.68% [1.54% - 1.82%] reported suicidal ideation in the first half of 2021, 9.57% [9.24% – 9.90%] had a SARS-CoV2 infection in 2020 and 13.23% [12.86% – 13.61%] reported COVID-19 symptoms in 2020. COVID-19 illness in 2020 was associated with higher risks of subsequent suicidal ideation in the first half of 2021 (Relative Riskipw [CI95%]= 1.43 [1.20 – 1.69]) while SARS-CoV2 infection in 2020 was not (RRipw = 0.88 [0.69 – 1.12]).If COVID-19 illness was associated with subsequent suicidal ideation, the exact role of SARS-CoV2 infection with respect to suicide risk has yet to be clarified. Psychological support should be offered to persons recovering from symptomatic COVID-19 in order to minimize suicidal ideation risk. Moreover, if such psychological support is to be implemented, serology status alone does not seem a relevant criterion to define persons who suffered from COVID-19 to prioritize.
Reactive Inhibitory Control Precedes Overt Stuttering Events
Authors: Orpella Joan , Flick Graham , Assaneo M. Florencia , Pylkkänen Liina , Poeppel David , Jackson Eric S. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractResearch points to neurofunctional differences underlying fluent speech between stutterers and non-stutterers. Considerably less work has focused on processes that underlie stuttered vs. fluent speech. Additionally, most of this research has focused on speech motor processes despite contributions from cognitive processes that occur prior to the onset of stuttered speech. We used MEG to test the hypothesis that reactive inhibitory control is triggered prior to stuttered speech. Twenty-nine stutterers completed a delayed-response task that featured a cue (prior to a go cue) signaling the imminent requirement to produce a word that was either stuttered or fluent. Consistent with our hypothesis, we observed increased beta power in the R-preSMA –an area implicated in reactive inhibitory control– in response to the cue preceding stuttered vs. fluent productions. Beta power differences between stuttered and fluent trials correlated with stuttering severity and participants’ percentage of trials stuttered increased exponentially with beta power in the R-preSMA. Trial-by-trial beta power modulations in the R-preSMA following the cue predicted whether a trial would be stuttered or fluent. Stuttered trials were also associated with delayed speech onset suggesting an overall slowing or freezing of the speech motor system that may be a consequence of inhibitory control. Post-hoc analyses revealed that independently-generated anticipated words were associated with greater beta power and more stuttering than researcher-assisted anticipated words, pointing to a relationship between self-perceived likelihood of stuttering (i.e., anticipation) and inhibitory control. This work offers a neurocognitive account of stuttering by characterizing the cognitive processes that precede overt stuttering events.
DNA Origami Presenting the Receptor Binding Domain of SARS-CoV-2 Elicit Robust Protective Immune Response
Authors: Oktay Esra , Alem Farhang , Hernandez Keziah , Narayanan Aarthi , Veneziano Remi 
Published: August 2022

AbstractEffective and safe vaccines are invaluable tools in the arsenal to fight infectious diseases. The rapid spreading of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) responsible of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has highlighted the need to develop methods for rapid and efficient vaccine development. DNA origami nanoparticles (DNA-NPs) presenting multiple antigens in prescribed nanoscale patterns have recently emerged as a safe, efficient, and easily scalable alternative for rational design of vaccines. Here, we are leveraging the unique properties of these DNA-NPs and demonstrate that precisely patterning ten copies of a reconstituted trimer of the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 along with CpG adjuvants on the DNA-NPs is able to elicit a robust protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 in a mouse model. Our results demonstrate the potential of our DNA-NP-based approach for developing safe and effective nanovaccines against infectious diseases.
Comparison of the human’s and camel’s erythrocyte deformability by optical tweezers and Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Pesen Tuna , Haydaroglu Mete , Capar Simal , Unlu Mehmet Burcin , Parlatan Ugur 
Published: August 2022

ABSTRACTThe evolution of red blood cells (RBCs) or erythrocytes has led to variation in morphological and mechanical properties of these cells among many species today. Camelids have the most different RBC characteristics among the vertebrates. As a result of adaptation to the desert environment, camelid RBCs can expand twice as much of their total volume in the case of rapid hydration yet are almost undeformable under mechanical stress. In this work, the difference between cell features of the human and the camelid species was explored both mechanically and chemically with optical tweezers and Raman spectroscopy, respectively. We measured the deformability of camel RBCs relative to the human RBCs at the single-cell level using optical tweezers. We found that the deformability index (DI) of the camel and the human RBCs were 0.024±0.0188 and 0.215±0.061, respectively. Raman spectral analysis of the whole blood of these two species indicated that some of the Raman peaks observed on the camel’s blood spectrum were absent on the human blood’s spectrum, which further points to the difference in chemical contents of these two species.
Change the direction: 3D optimal control simulation by directly tracking marker and ground reaction force data
Authors: Nitschke Marlies , Marzilger Robert , Leyendecker Sigrid , Eskofier Bjoern M. , Koelewijn Anne D. 
Published: August 2022

ABSTRACTOptimal control simulations of musculoskeletal models can be used to reconstruct motions measured with optical motion capture to estimate joint and muscle kinematics and kinetics. These simulations are mutually and dynamically consistent, in contrast to traditional inverse methods. Commonly, optimal control simulations are generated by tracking generalized coordinates in combination with ground reaction forces. The generalized coordinates are estimated from marker positions using, for example, inverse kinematics. Hence, inaccuracies in the estimated coordinates are tracked in the simulation. We developed an approach to reconstruct arbitrary motions, such as change of direction motions, using optimal control simulations of 3D full-body musculoskeletal models by directly tracking marker and ground reaction force data. For evaluation, we recorded three trials each of straight running, curved running, and a v-cut for 10 participants. We reconstructed the recordings with marker tracking simulations, coordinate tracking simulations, and inverse kinematics and dynamics. First, we analyzed the convergence of the simulations and found that the wall time increased three to four times when using marker tracking compared to coordinate tracking. Then, we compared the marker trajectories, ground reaction forces, pelvis translations, joint angles, and joint moments between the three reconstruction methods. Root mean squared deviations between measured and estimated marker positions were smallest for inverse kinematics (e.g., 7.6 ± 5.1 mm for v-cut). However, measurement noise and soft tissue artifacts are likely also tracked in inverse kinematics, meaning that this approach does not reflect a gold standard. Marker tracking simulations resulted in slightly higher root mean squared marker deviations (e.g., 9.5 ± 6.2 mm for v-cut) than inverse kinematics. In contrast, coordinate tracking resulted in deviations that were nearly twice as high (e.g., 16.8 ± 10.5 mm for v-cut). Joint angles from coordinate tracking followed the estimated joint angles from inverse kinematics more closely than marker tracking (e.g., root mean squared deviation of 1.4 ± 1.8 deg vs. 3.5 ± 4.0 deg for v-cut). However, we did not have a gold standard measurement of the joint angles, so it is unknown if this larger deviation means the solution is less accurate. In conclusion, we showed that optimal control simulations of change of direction running motions can be created by tracking marker and ground reaction force data. Marker tracking considerably improved marker accuracy compared to coordinate tracking. Therefore, we recommend reconstructing movements by directly tracking marker data in the optimal control simulation when precise marker tracking is required.
Abscisic acid plays a key role in the regulation of date palm fruit ripening
Authors: Elbar Saar , Maytal Yochai , David Isaac , Carmeli-Weissberg Mira , Shaya Felix , Barnea-Danino Yaara , Bustan Amnon , Harpaz-Saad Smadar 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThe date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruit is of major importance for the nutrition of broad populations in the world’s desert strip; yet this crop is sorely understudied. Understanding the mechanisms regulating date fruit development and ripening is essential to customise this crop to the climatic change, which elaborates yield losses due to often too early occurring wet season. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism regulating date fruit ripening. To that end, we followed the natural process of date fruit development and the effects of exogenous hormone application on fruit ripening in the elite cultivar ‘Medjool’. The results of the current study indicate that the onset of fruit ripening occurred once the seed had reached maximum dry weight. From this point until fruit harvest, the pulp endogenous abscisic acid (ABA) turned up and its levels consistently increased. The final stage in fruit ripening, the yellow-to-brown transition, was preceded by an arrest of xylem-mediated water transport into the fruit. Exogenous ABA application enhanced fruit ripening when applied just prior to the green-to-yellow fruit color transition. Repeated ABA applications hastened all fruit ripening processes, resulting in a significantly earlier harvest. The emerging pivotal role of ABA in the regulation of date fruit ripening is thoroughly discussed.HighlightsThe plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) promotes date fruit ripening, as indicated by the enhanced change in fruit color, from green to yellow, and the enhanced rate of sugar accumulation.
Brief synaptic inhibition persistently interrupts firing of fast-spiking interneurons
Authors: Chamberland Simon , Nebet Erica R. , Valero Manuel , Hanani Monica , Egger Robert , Larsen Samantha B. , Eyring Katherine W. , Buzsáki György , Tsien Richard W. 
Published: August 2022

SummaryNeurons perform input-output operations that integrate synaptic inputs with intrinsic electrical properties, operations generally constrained by the brevity of synaptic events. Here we report that sustained firing of CA1 hippocampal fast-spiking parvalbumin-expressing interneurons (PV-INs) can be persistently interrupted for up to several hundred milliseconds following brief GABAAR-mediated inhibition in vitro and in vivo. A single presynaptic neuron could interrupt PV-INs firing, occasionally with a single action potential (AP), and reliably with AP bursts. Experiments and computational modeling revealed that the persistent interruption of firing maintains neurons in a depolarized, quiescent state through a cell-autonomous mechanism. Strikingly, interrupted PV-INs are highly responsive to Schaffer collateral inputs. The persistent interruption of firing provides a disinhibitory circuit mechanism favoring spike generation in CA1 pyramidal cells. Overall, our results demonstrate that neuronal silencing can far outlast brief synaptic inhibition owing to well-tuned interplay between neurotransmitter release and postsynaptic membrane dynamics, a phenomenon impacting microcircuit function.
Perception of dynamic facial expressions activates a cortico-subcortico-cerebellar network in marmosets
Authors: Dureux Audrey , Zanini Alessandro , Everling Stefan 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThe perception and identification of faces and facial emotional expressions are critical for social communication in the daily life of all primates. Here, we investigated the neural network activated by dynamic facial expressions in awake New World common marmosets with ultra-high field fMRI at 9.4T. Our results show that dynamic facial expressions activate several areas along the occipitotemporal axis (V2/V3, V4/TEO, FST, caudal TE, rostral TE, TPO), frontal cortex (areas 45/47, 13, 8a and orbital cortex), amygdala, motion-sensitive areas, premotor area, and in the posterior lobe of the cerebellum. Negative faces increased the monkeys’ respiration rates and elicited stronger responses along the occipitotemporal cortical axis, in the amygdala and in the hypothalamus. This cortico-subcortico-cerebellar network may play an important role in the perception of behaviorally relevant facial expressions that are vital for social communication in marmosets.Significance StatementRecent research has highlighted the importance of emotional content of faces in social communication in humans and non-human primates. The current study focuses on the neural responses to dynamic emotional facial expressions in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), a New World primate species sharing several similarities of social behavior with humans. Using ultra-high-field fMRI, we show that negative facial expressions activate a cortico-subcortico-cerebellar network and, critically, negative faces increase the level of arousal of marmosets, possibly relayed through a modulation of the activity in the autonomic nervous system via stress-integrative brain centres in the hypothalamus.Our results reveal the existence of specific neural and physiological responses to negative emotional faces suggesting that behaviorally relevant facial expressions are vital for social communication in New World marmosets.
Chromatin state modeling across individuals reveals global patterns of histone modifications
Authors: Zou Jennifer , Ernst Jason 
Published: August 2022

AbstractEpigenetic mapping studies across individuals have identified many positions of epigenetic variation in various human tissues and conditions. However the relationships between these positions, and in particular global patterns that recur in many regions of the genome remains understudied. In this study, we use a stacked chromatin state model to systematically learn global patterns of epigenetic variation across individuals and annotate the human genome based on them. We applied this framework to histone modification data across individuals in lymphoblastoid cell lines and across autism spectrum disorder cases and controls in prefrontal cortex tissue. We find that global patterns are correlated across multiple histone modifications and with gene expression. We used the global patterns as a framework to predict transregulators, identify trans-QTL, and study complex disease. The frameworks for identifying and analyzing global patterns of epigenetic variation are general and we expect will be useful in other systems.