bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mild COVID-19 induces early, quantifiable, persistent troponin I elevations in elder men
Authors: Bürgi Justus J. , Rösslein Matthias , Nolte Oliver , Wick Peter , Garcia Boy Regine , Stranders Siegfried , Dollenmaier Günter , Peier Karen , Nohynek Brigitte , Fischer Aldo , Stolz Raphael , Cettuzzi Michele , Graf Lukas , Korte Wolfgang 
Published: December 2022

ImportanceElderly patients, especially men, are at risk of increased morbidity from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Long-term data on troponin I levels in longitudinal observational studies of outpatients with mild to moderate COVID-19 are scarce.ObjectiveThis controlled cohort study aimed to evaluate the course of troponin I concentrations over a long period in convalescent COVID-19 outpatients with mild to moderate symptoms.Setting and participantsIn this cohort study, individuals with PCR-confirmed, mild to moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection as well as control individuals with confirmed negative PCR and negative SARS-CoV-2 serology were included. Study visits were performed from April 2020 through July 2021 (initialized during the first wave of the corona pandemic in Switzerland). A study visit in patients comprised blood draws every week in the first month and additionally after 8 weeks. This course was repeated in patients observed long-term.ResultsThis study enrolled 278 individuals from the Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland, aged 12–92 years (59.5% women), who had mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms (outpatients only) and a diagnosis confirmed by positive RT-PCR. Fifty-four of the participants with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were followed for 14 months with repeat cycles of the testing protocol. In addition, 115 symptomatic patients that were PCR and serology negative were enrolled in the same time period as a control group. In COVID-19 patients, low-level troponin I concentrations (cTnI) were significantly increased from baseline until week 9 after positive RT-PCR diagnosis in men older than 54 years [ΔcTnI = 5.0 ng/L (median); 95% CI 4.1–6.0; p = 0.02]. The troponin I concentration remained elevated throughout 14 months in men older than 54 years within the cohort with a prolonged observation period. This statistically significant change in troponin I concentration was not dependent on co-morbidities in this group. ALT, Creatinine, BNP, and D-Dimer values after convalescence did not differ in comparison to the control cohort.ConclusionIn this analysis of individuals with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, hs troponin I levels of men aged 54 or older significantly increased after infection. They remained elevated for at least 14 months after diagnosis. This suggests the possibility of an ongoing, long-term, low-grade myocardial injury. Further studies with focus on elderly patients and a prolonged observational period are necessary to elucidate whether the phenomenon observed is associated with detectable structural changes to the heart muscle or is without further clinical consequences.
Assessing the risk of cardiovascular events in patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors
Authors: Torrente María , Blanco Mariola , Franco Fabio , Garitaonaindia Yago , Calvo Virginia , Collazo-Lorduy Ana , Gutiérrez Lourdes , Sánchez Juan Cristóbal , González-del-Alba Aranzazu , Hernández Roberto , Méndez Miriam , Cantos Blanca , Núñez Beatriz , Sousa Pedro A. C. , Provencio Mariano 
Published: December 2022

BackgroundImmune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer treatment. However, despite their excellent therapeutic effect, these medications typically result in a broad spectrum of toxicity reactions. Immune-related cardiotoxicity is uncommon but can be potentially fatal, and its true incidence is underestimated in clinical trials. The aim of this study is to assess the incidence and identify risk factors for developing a cardiac event in patients treated with ICIs.MethodsWe conducted a single-institution retrospective study, including patients treated with ICIs in our center. The main outcomes were cardiac events (CE) and cardiovascular death.ResultsA total of 378 patients were analyzed. The incidence of CE was 16.7%, during a median follow-up of 50.5 months. The multivariable analysis showed that age, a history of arrhythmia or ischemic heart disease, and prior immune-related adverse events were significantly associated with CE.ConclusionCE during ICI treatment are more common than currently appreciated. A complete initial cardiovascular evaluation is recommended, especially in high-risk patients, being necessary a multidisciplinary approach of a specialized cardio-oncology team.
Median nerve stimulation elevates ventricular fibrillation threshold via the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway in myocardial infarction canine model
Authors: Wang Xuewen , Qian Yongsheng , Yao Yajun , Wang Youcheng , Zhang Youjing , Zhang Shujuan , Zhao Qingyan 
Published: December 2022

BackgroundMedian nerve stimulation (MNS) diminishes regional myocardial ischemia and ventricular arrhythmia; however, the underlying mechanism has not been elucidated.MethodsIn this study, we randomly categorized 22 adult mongrel dogs into a control group, MNS group 1, and MNS group 2. After a 4-week experimental myocardial infarction (MI), ventricular electrophysiology was measured in the MNS group 1 before and after 30 min of MNS. The same measurements were performed in the MNS group 2 dogs via bilateral vagotomy. Venous blood and ventricular tissue were collected to detect molecular indicators related to inflammation and cholinergic pathways by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and Western blot (WB).ResultsNo significant changes were reported in the ventricular effective refractory period (ERP) in the MNS group 1 and MNS group 2 dogs before and after MNS. The ventricular fibrillation threshold (VFT) in the MNS group 1 was significantly higher than that in the MNS group 2 (20.3 ± 3.7 V vs. 8.7 ± 2.9 V, P &lt; 0.01). The levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) were lower (P &lt; 0.01), whereas the levels of Ach were higher in the peri-infarct zone tissues in the MNS group 1 dogs than those in the MNS group 2 dogs (P &lt; 0.01).ConclusionThis study demonstrated that MNS increases VFT in a canine model with MI. The effects of MNS on VFT are potentially associated with the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway.
Familial dietary intervention in children with excess body weight and its impact on eating habits, anthropometric and biochemical parameters
Authors: Strączek Kamilla , Horodnicka-Józwa Anita , Szmit-Domagalska Justyna , Jackowski Tomasz , Safranow Krzysztof , Petriczko Elżbieta , Walczak Mieczysław 
Published: December 2022

IntroductionObesity is considered a civilisation disease which increases mortality and impairs quality of life, also among children and adolescents. The prevalence of overweight and obesity is steadily increasing in the developmental age population. Environmental factors are responsible for the main reason of excessive adipose tissue accumulation. Among these, poor eating habits and lack of exercise play the largest role. Familial prevalence of obesity and family dietary patterns also receive significant attention. Many specialists believe that the treatment of obesity should be multidirectional, effective and minimally invasive. Therefore, effective and safe methods are being investigated to effectively reduce body weight and improve eating habits. Dietary education programmes are an alternative to improve the health status of obese and overweight children and adolescents. To be fully effective, these programmes should involve the whole family.Aim of the studyIn the face of constantly increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in the developmental age population and the lack of effective methods to combat its occurrence, it seems appropriate to try to assess the effectiveness of a one-year-long dietary education of children and adolescents with excess body weight on their eating habits and the eating habits of their mothers, as well as selected anthropometric and biochemical parameters in these children using a simple educational tool, the Healthy Food Pyramid.Patients and methodsThe study group consisted of 68 children with overweight and obesity, patients of the Department of Paediatrics, Endocrinology, Diabetology, Metabolic Diseases and Cardiology of the Developmental Age of the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin. The study used a proprietary questionnaire to assess dietary habits. Patients participated in six individual educational meetings over a twelve-month period. Eating habits were assessed in children and mothers before and after dietary intervention. Sixty-seven questionnaires before and after the dietary intervention were used for analysis.ResultsSixty-eight children completed the study. Those who did not complete the study came from families living in rural areas and their mothers mostly had primary or vocational education. One-year dietary education resulted in significant improvements in body weight, waist and hip circumference, WHtR and selected measured carbohydrate and lipid metabolism parameters with the exception of total cholesterol. The one-year dietary intervention did not have the same effect on the change in dietary habits in children and in their mothers.
Optimum non-invasive predictive indicators for metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease and its subgroups in the Chinese population: A retrospective case-control study
Authors: Liu Jing , Duan Shaojie , Wang Che , Wang Yutong , Peng Hongye , Niu Zuohu , Yao Shukun 
Published: December 2022

ObjectiveMetabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) affects 25% of the population without approved drug therapy. According to the latest consensus, MAFLD is divided into three subgroups based on different diagnostic modalities, including Obesity, Lean, and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) MAFLD subgroups. This study aimed to find out the optimum non-invasive metabolism-related indicators to respectively predict MAFLD and its subgroups.Design1058 Chinese participants were enrolled in this study. Anthropometric measurements, laboratory data, and ultrasonography features were collected. 22 metabolism-related indexes were calculated, including fatty liver index (FLI), lipid accumulation product (LAP), waist circumference-triglyceride index (WTI), etc. Logistic regression analyzed the correlation between indexes and MAFLD. Receiver operating characteristics were conducted to compare predictive values among 22 indicators for screening the best indicators to predict MAFLD in different subgroups.ResultsFLI was the best predictor with the maximum odds ratio (OR) values of overall MAFLD (OR: 6.712, 95%CI: 4.766-9.452, area under the curve (AUC): 0.879, P &lt; 0.05) and T2DM MAFLD subgroup (OR: 14.725, 95%CI: 3.712-58.420, AUC: 0.958, P &lt; 0.05). LAP was the best predictor with the maximum OR value of Obesity MAFLD subgroup (OR: 2.689, 95%CI: 2.182-3.313, AUC: 0.796, P &lt; 0.05). WTI was the best predictor with the maximum OR values of Lean MAFLD subgroup (OR: 3.512, 95%CI: 2.286-5.395, AUC: 0.920, P &lt; 0.05).ConclusionThe best predictors of overall MAFLD, Obesity, Lean, and T2DM MAFLD subgroups were respectively FLI, LAP, WTI, and FLI.
Association of maternal TSH and neonatal metabolism: A large prospective cohort study in China
Authors: Hou Qingzhi , Zou Hui , Zhang Shuping , Lin Jiujing , Nie Wenying , Cui Yazhou , Liu Sijin , Han Jinxiang 
Published: December 2022

AimsNeonatal metabolites are very important in neonatal disease screening, and maternal thyroid hormones play an important role in fetal and neonatal health. Our study aimed to explore the association of maternal thyroid hormones with neonatal metabolites and identify an important time windows.MethodsPregnant women were recruited in Jinan Maternity and Child Care Hospital and followed up until delivery. Multivariate generalized linear regression models (GLMs) and restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression analysis models were used to investigate the associations of maternal TSH and FT4 with neonatal metabolites.ResultsIn total, 6,653 pairs of mothers and newborns were enrolled in our study. We identified 5 neonatal metabolites, including arginine/ornithine (Arg/Orn), C14:1/C2, C18:1, C3DC+C4OH and C8:1, that were significantly associated with maternal serum TSH during the whole pregnancy (P &lt; 0.05), especially in the first trimester. Moreover, 10 neonatal metabolites were significantly associated with maternal serum FT4 (P &lt; 0.05), most of which had positive correlations with maternal FT4 in the first trimester (P &lt; 0.05). Some neonatal metabolites also had linear or nonlinear dose-effect relationships with maternal serum TSH and FT4 during the whole pregnancy, particularly in the first trimester.ConclusionsOur study, for the first time, provides epidemiological evidence that maternal serum TSH and FT4, especially during the first trimester, are associated with linear or nonlinear variations in neonatal metabolites. Efforts to identify newborn metabolism levels should carefully consider the effects of maternal thyroid function.
Probiotic treatment with specific lactobacilli does not improve an unfavorable vaginal microbiota prior to fertility treatment—A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Jepsen Ida E. , Saxtorph Malene Hviid , Englund Anne Lis Mikkelsen , Petersen Kathrine Birch , Wissing Marie Louise Muff , Hviid Thomas Vauvert F. , Macklon Nicholas 
Published: December 2022

ObjectiveTo investigate whether treatment with proprietary lactobacilli-loaded vaginal capsules improves an unfavorable vaginal microbiome diagnosed using a commercially available test and algorithm.DesignA randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study was conducted in 74 women prior to undergoing fertility treatment at a single university fertility clinic between April 2019 and February 2021. The women were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive one vaginal capsule per day for 10 days containing either a culture of more than 108 CFU of Lactobacillus gasseri and more than 108 CFU Lactobacillus rhamnosus (lactobacilli group) or no active ingredient (placebo group). Vaginal swabs for microbiota analysis were taken at enrollment, after treatment and in the cycle following treatment.Participants and methodsWomen aged 18–40 years who prior to fertility treatment were diagnosed with an unfavorable vaginal microbiota, characterized by either a low relative load of Lactobacillus or a high proportion of disrupting bacteria using the criteria of the IS-pro™ diagnostic system (ARTPred, Amsterdam, the Netherlands), were enrolled in the study. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of women with improvement of the vaginal microbiota after intervention.ResultsThe vaginal microbiota improved after intervention in 34.2% of all participants (lactobacilli group 28.9%, placebo group 40.0%), with no significant difference in the improvement rate between the lactobacilli and placebo groups, RR = 0.72 (95% CI 0.38–1.38).ConclusionThis study indicates that administering vaginal probiotics may not be an effective means of modulating the vaginal microbiome for clinical purposes in an infertile population. However, a spontaneous improvement rate of 34.2% over a period of one to three months, confirming the dynamic nature of the vaginal microbiota, indicates that a strategy of postponing further IVF treatment to await microbiota improvement may be relevant in some patients, but further research is needed.Clinical trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT03843112.
An innovative synthetic support for immunocytochemical assessment of cytologically indeterminate (Bethesda III) thyroid nodules
Authors: Taccogna Silvia , Papini Enrico , Novizio Roberto , D’Angelo Martina , Turrini Luca , Persichetti Agnese , Pontecorvi Alfredo , Guglielmi Rinaldo 
Published: December 2022

BackgroundFine needle aspiration (FNA) is the procedure of choice in the evaluation of thyroid nodules. Nodules with indeterminate cytological categories, Bethesda III and IV, pose challenges in clinical practice and are frequently submitted to diagnostic surgery. CytoFoam Core (CFCS) uses an absorbent foam device inserted into the needle hub to collect the cytological sample aspirated during FNA. Specimen is formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded.Aim of the studyAssessing diagnostic efficacy of CFCS, compared to traditional cytology, in re-evaluating thyroid nodules classified as Bethesda III, using post-surgical histology as reference standard.MethodRetrospective study on 89 patients with a first indeterminate cytological report who were referred to the Department of Endocrinology of Regina Apostolorum Hospital (Albano L. Rome, Italy) for a second FNA. FNA was performed after at least one month under ultrasound guidance with a 23G needle according to the established procedure. During the second procedure, both traditional cytological (TC) smears and a single-pass CFCS specimen were obtained for each patient. On CFCS samples immunocytochemical staining for Galectin-3, HBME-1, and CK-19 was also performed. 51 patients eventually underwent surgery, and their histological diagnoses were compared to the TC and CFCS reports. Four parameters were evaluated: inadequacy rate, rate of persistent indeterminate (Bethesda III and IV) reports, rate of malignancy in persistently indeterminate nodules, and rate of cancer in lesions cytologically classified as malignant.ResultsNon-diagnostic samples were 6 (11.8%) in TC vs 3 (5.9%) in CFCS (p=0.4). Persistent indeterminate samples were 31 (60.8%) in TC vs 19 (37.2%) in CFCS (p=0.01). Rate of malignancy in persistently indeterminate nodules was 8/19 (42.1%) in CFCS vs 9/31 (29%) in TC group (p=0.3). Nine/51 (17.6%) samples were classified as benign by TC vs 21/51 (41.2%) samples by CFCS (p&lt;0.01). All nodules resulted benign at post-surgical evaluation. Five/51 (9.8%) samples were classified as suspicious for malignancy/malignant in TC group against 8/51 (15.7%) samples in CFCS (p=0.5). Post-surgical evaluation confirmed malignancy in all these cases.ConclusionCFCS demonstrated greater diagnostic accuracy than TC in repeat FNA assessment of cytologically indeterminate nodules. CFCS increased the conclusive diagnosis rate and decreased the number of cytologically indeterminate cases.
Circulating and dietary advanced glycation end products and obesity in an adult population: A paradox of their detrimental effects in obesity
Authors: Turki Jalil Abduladheem , Alameri Ameer A. , Iqbal Doewes Rumi , El-Sehrawy Amr A. , Ahmad Irfan , Ramaiah Pushpamala , Kadhim Mustafa M. , Kzar Hamzah H. , Sivaraman R. , Romero-Parra Rosario Mireya , Ansari Mohammad Javed , Fakri Mustafa Yasser 
Published: December 2022

BackgroundThe detrimental role of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) against cardio-metabolic health has been revealed in several previous reports. However, the results of studies regarding the association between AGEs and obesity measurements are inconsistent. In the current meta-analysis, we aimed to quantitatively summarize the results of studies that evaluated the association between circulating and dietary AGEs with obesity measurements among the adult population.MethodsA systematic search from PubMed, Embase, and Scopus electronic databases until 30 October 2022 retrieved a total of 21,429 observational studies. After duplicate removal, title/abstract screening, and full-text reading by two independent researchers, a final number of 18 manuscripts remained to be included in the meta-analysis.ResultsThose in the highest category of circulating AGEs had ~1.5 kg/m2reduced BMI compared with those in the lowest AGEs category [weighted mean difference (WMD): −1.485; CI: −2.459, −0.511;p= 0.003], while a nonsignificant increase in BMI was observed in the highest versus lowest category of dietary AGEs (WMD: 0.864, CI: −0.365, 2.094;p= 0.186). Also, lower amounts of circulating AGEs in individuals with obesity versus individuals without obesity were observed (WMD: −57.220, CI: −84.290, −30.149;p&lt; 0.001). AGE type can be considered as a possible source of heterogeneity.ConclusionIn the current meta-analysis, we observed an inverse association between circulating AGEs and body mass index among adults. Due to low study numbers, further studies are warranted to better elucidate these results.
A snap-shot assessment of carbon emission and export in a pristine river draining permafrost peatlands (Taz River, Western Siberia)
Authors: Vorobyev Sergey N. , Pokrovsky Oleg S. , Korets Mikhail , Shirokova Liudmila S. 
Published: December 2022

Mobilization of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and CO2 from the frozen peat to surface waters in the permafrost zone of high latitude regions is expected to enhance under on-going permafrost thaw and active layer thickness deepening. Here we explored one of the most remote, pristine, unregulated and yet environmentally important rivers in western Siberia (Taz). This subarctic river drains through forested and tundra peat bogs over a gradient of permafrost and climate and likely acts as an important conduit of CO2 to the atmosphere and carbon and nutrient exporter to the Arctic Ocean. In a snapshot study during end of spring flood–beginning of summer baseflow (July 2019), we monitored daytime CO2 and CH4 concentrations and measured CO2 emissions using floating chambers in the main stem (700 km from the upper reaches to the mouth) and 16 main tributaries and we also assessed day/night variations in the emissions. We further tested the impact of land cover parameters of the watershed and tributaries. Based on regular monitoring of the terminal (gauging) station, we quantified the C export to the Arctic Ocean during the study period. We revealed sizable CO2 emissions from the main stem and tributaries (1.0 ± 0.4 and 1.8 ± 0.6 g C-CO2 m−2 d−1, respectively). The CO2 concentrations positively correlated with dissolved organic carbon (DOC), whereas the CH4 concentrations could be partially controlled by dissolved nutrients (N, P) and proportion of light coniferous forest at the watershed. The overall C emission from the water surfaces (4,845 km2) of the Taz basin (150,000 km2) during open water period (6 months, May to October) was estimated as 0.92 Tg C (&gt;99.5% C-CO2, &lt;0.5% C-CH4) which is twice higher than the total dissolved C (organic and inorganic) riverine export flux during the same period. Applying a “substituting space for time” approach for northern and southern parts of the river basin, we suggest that the current riverine CO2 emission may increase 2 to 3 fold in the next decades due to on-going climate warming and permafrost thaw. When integrating the obtained results into global models of C and biogeochemical cycle in the Arctic and subarctic region, the use of the Taz River as a representative example of continental planes should help to estimate the consequences of frozen peatland thaw on CO2 cycle in the Arctic and subarctic regions.