bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Relationship between 3D and 2D global longitudinal strain in patients with acute myocardial infarction after percutaneous revascularization
Authors: Tomoaia R , Beyer RS , Zdrenghea D , Dadarlat-Pop A , Cismaru G , Gusetu G , Chetan IMI , Minciuna IA , Simu GR , Hada N , Ganea A , Pop D 
Published: February 2022

Abstract

Funding Acknowledgements
Type of funding sources: Other. Main funding source(s): This research was funded by “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Dept. of Cardiology, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. This paper was published under the frame of European Social Found, Human Capital Operational Programme 2014-2020, project no. POCU/380/6/13/125171

Introduction
Impaired longitudinal strain (GLS) is associated with increased wall stress following acute myocardial infarction (MI). However, little is known about the relationship between three-dimensional (3D)-GLS and two-dimensional (2D)-GLS. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between 3D-GLS and 2D-GLS and also the association of 3D-GLS with specific biomarkers (NT-proBNP and Troponin) in patients with acute MI following percutaneous revascularization (PCI).

Methods
We included 100 patients with acute MI after successful PCI with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) &gt;40%. 2D-GLS and 3D-GLS were assessed using speckle-tracking echocardiography and plasma concentrations of NT-proBNP and high sensitive troponin were analyzed.

Results
The patients had a mean age of 67.1 ± 13.1 years. 69 patients were diagnosed with ST-elevation MI (STEMI). Mean 3D-GLS was of -9.44 ± 4.35% and mean 2D-GLSwas of -10.1 ± 3.9%. 3D-GLS showed a strong correlation with 2D-GLS (r=-0.57, p &lt; 0.001) and LVEF (r=-0.58,p &lt; 0.001), a moderate correlation with NT-proBNP (r = 0.22), but no correlation with Troponin (r = 0.19). There was no difference (paired t-test) between 3D-GLS and 2D-GLS (p = 0.56, mean of differences of 0.65), but the limits of agreement were wide (-6.8% and 8.11%).

Conclusion
3D-GLS showed small bias compared to 2D-GLS, but wide limits of agreement. The correlation between 3D-GLS and NT-proBNP was only moderate in acute MI. 3D-GLS might offer additional advantages in patients with complex geometry after acute MI due to faster data acquisition and lack of geometric assumption,but future studies are needed to confirm its role. Abstract Figure. Relationship between 3D and 2D GLS Abstract Figure. Corresponding Bland-Altman plots
No signs of diffuse myocardial fibrosis by T1 mapping in male elite endurance athletes
Authors: Andresen K , Klaeboe LG , Lie ØH , Broch K , Kvaslerud AB , Bosse GS , Hopp E , Haugaa KH , Edvardsen T 
Published: February 2022

Abstract

Funding Acknowledgements
Type of funding sources: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Department of Cardiology, Oslo, Norway.
Background/Introduction: Observational data indicating increased prevalence of focal myocardial fibrosis in endurance athletes have raised concerns regarding the potential detrimental cardiac consequences of long-term athleticism. Cumulative exercise and competitive exposure has been associated with focal myocardial fibrosis visualised as late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging. Reports of higher extracellular volume (ECV) in the remote myocardium of athletes with LGE have suggested that this fibrotic process may affect the entire myocardium. However, detailed data on exercise exposure and possible associations with diffuse myocardial fibrosis in endurance athletes are scarce.

Purpose
Our aim was to investigate the association between cumulative exercise exposure and diffuse myocardial fibrosis in male elite endurance athletes.

Methods
In this cross-sectional observational study we evaluated 27 healthy adult male elite endurance athletes age 41 ± 9 years and 16 healthy controls age 41 ± 12 years. All subjects underwent 3 T CMR including LGE and T1 mapping. The athletes detailed their exercise history from 12 years of age in a structured interview.

Results
Athletes had lower resting heart rate, enlarged cardiac chambers and increased left ventricular mass compared to controls, in accordance with the athlete’s heart phenotype (table 1). In contrast to what would have been expected in diffuse myocardial fibrosis, athletes had shorter native T1 time than controls (1214 ± 24 vs. 1268 ± 48 ms, p &lt; 0.001). The native T1 time fell with increasing yearly exercise dose, accumulated exercise duration and accumulated exercise dose (r=-0.46, -0.51 and -0.53, p &lt; 0.05 for all). In a stepwise multiple linear regression model, only the accumulated exercise dose was independently associated with native T1 time as shown in figure 1 (r = 0.53, p = 0.01). There was no clear difference in ECV between athletes and controls (22.5 ± 3.1 vs. 23.8 ± 2.0 %, p = 0.16), indicating that increased left ventricular mass in the athletes was balanced without disproportionate extracellular expansion. There was no association between exercise exposure and ECV. LGE was observed in 5 (19 %) of the athletes and none of the controls (p = 0.14). There was no difference in native T1 time (1220 ± 4 vs. 1212 ± 27 ms, p = 0.56) or ECV (22.0 ± 1.2 vs. 22.7 ± 3.4 %, p = 0.69) between athletes with or without LGE.
Conclusion(s): We did not observe signs of diffuse myocardial fibrosis in healthy elite endurance athletes. These results indicate that diffuse myocardial fibrosis is not highly prevalent in healthy athletes with extreme exercise exposure. Abstract Figure. Abstract Figure.
Test-retest reproducibility of echocardiography and CMR in the same patients for assessing left atrial function
Authors: Alfuhied A , Gulsin GS , Brady EM , Yeo JL , Parke K , Marsh AM , Arnold JR , Mccann GP , Singh A 
Published: February 2022

Abstract

Funding Acknowledgements
Type of funding sources: Other. Main funding source(s): King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Background
Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) has been shown to give higher left atrial (LA) volumes than trans-thoracic echocardiography (TTE) but the agreement and test-retest reproducibility of LA functional measure have not been directly compared in the same patient cohort.

Methods
People with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) without cardiovascular disease underwent TTE and CMR on the same day on two separate occasions with a mean period of 11± 4 days. TTE images were analysed using TomTec-ARENA (v2.4, 2D-CPA), where Medis Suite (v3.1, medical imaging system) was used for CMR images. The analysis included LA strain, corresponding to LA reservoir, conduit, and booster pump (contraction function), LA volumes, and LA emptying fraction (LAEF), which was calculated using area length method. Strain and volume were assessed on 4- and 2-chamber long-axis and average values were calculated for both modalities.

Results
10 participants with T2D (mean age 65.6 ± 7.3 years, 50% male) were studied. CMR LA volumes were significantly higher and LAEF significantly lower compared to TTE (P &lt; 0.01 for all), whilst reservoir strain on CMR was lower compared to TTE (29.2 ± 6.5 vs 33.8 ± 3.7, p = 0.04). The inter-modality agreement was moderate for LA volumes and contraction strain (ICC ≥0.55) and poor for LAEF, strain at reservoir and conduit. Overall, the test-retest reproducibility of CMR was higher than for TTE, but the overall limits of agreement were not too dissimilar on Bland-Altman analysis (Table & Figure). TTE reproducibility was good for LA volumes and strain at conduit (CoV 18-24%, ICC ∼0.80) and moderate for LAEF, strain at reservoir and contraction. CMR showed excellent test-retest reproducibility for LA volumes, EF and strain at reservoir (CoV 7-20%, ICC ≥0.83).

Conclusion
The test-retest reproducibility of CMR is slightly better than TTE for LA assessment using volumes and strain. LA volumes have superior reproducibility compared to functional LA parameters. Abstract Table: Test-retest reproducibility Abstract Figure: Bland-Altman plot
A rare case report of severe cardiomyopathy associated with myotonic dystrophy type 2
Authors: Touma Anja M , Nijjar Prabhjot S , Manousakis Georgios E , Kamdar Forum 
Published: February 2022

Abstract

Background
Myotonic dystrophies (DM) are multi-systemic diseases characterized by muscle weakness and myotonia. Despite a growing appreciation for the cardiovascular manifestations in myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), cardiac involvement in myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2) has been less well characterized. In patients with DM2, cardiomyopathy has rarely been described.

Case summary
This case report describes a rare case of DM2 associated cardiomyopathy. A 56-year-old male with DM2 who presented with palpitations and fatigue. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging confirmed a severely enlarged left ventricular cavity with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 28% consistent with severely reduced global systolic function. The lateral wall epicardium exhibited late gadolinium enhancement in a pattern seen in myotonic dystrophy-related cardiomyopathy.

Discussion
This case highlights the potential for significant cardiovascular involvement in DM2, as well as the importance of screening, including CMR imaging, and therapy in the myotonic dystrophy patient population.
Multilobulated Sinus of Valsalva Aneurysm Dissecting into the Interventricular Septum (DAIS) and Rupturing into Left Ventricle: A Case Report
Authors: Ghosh Soumitra , Bootla Dinakar , Barward Parag , Sharma Arun 
Published: February 2022

Abstract

Background
Dissecting aneurysm of sinus of Valsalva (SOV) into the interventricular septum is a rare entity. Multilobulated form of dissection rupturing into the left ventricle (LV) has never been reported in the literature.

Case summary
A 52-year-old male presented with dyspnoea and palpitation with wide pulse pressure and peripheral signs of distal run-off and a continuous murmur along the left parasternal area. Echocardiography revealed dilated right coronary cusp (RCC), which burrowed into the interventricular septum (IVS), forming multi-loculated cystic lesion which ruptured into LV with associated restrictive ventricular septal defect (VSD) and severe aortic regurgitation. Computed tomography (CT) angiography confirmed a 4.8 cm × 5.3 cm × 5.4 cm multiseptated aneurysm. The surgery involved excision of the aortic valve (AV) with the sinus, ligation of its penetrating portion at the crest of IVS, closure of VSD, and AV replacement. Postoperative echocardiography showed the complete collapse of the IVS component of the SOV aneurysm and the normally functioning mechanical AV.

Discussion
Dissecting aneurysm into the IVS is a rare variant of SOV aneurysm, usually arising from RCC. It is mostly congenital in origin and has wide variety of presentations like congestive heart failure, palpitations, recurrent syncope, chest pain, sudden cardiac arrest, infective endocarditis, cerebral infarction, or asymptomatic. Aortic regurgitation is present in 30–50% of cases. Conduction disturbances from first-degree block to complete heart block are common. Echocardiogram, CT angio, and magnetic resonance imaging are useful for diagnosis. Surgical repair is the only option for treatment.
Successful percutaneous coronary intervention to the left anterior descending artery in-stent chronic total occlusion via the left internal mammary artery graft: a case report
Authors: Khan Usman Azhar , Ahmed Mahmoud Saad , Monaghan Monica , Ramsewak Adesh 
Published: February 2022

Abstract

Background
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) via left internal mammary artery (LIMA) graft is technically challenging, requires special consideration due to association with potential complications and therefore, infrequently performed. Data on in-stent chronic total occlusion (CTO) PCI via the LIMA graft is even rarer.

Case summary
A 59-year-old male with a background history of coronary artery bypass graft surgery and previous PCI, presented with progressive chest pain on mild exertion, in the setting of a chronic coronary syndrome. Transradial coronary angiography revealed significant native three-vessel disease with CTO of right coronary, left anterior descending (LAD) and left circumflex arteries. Left internal mammary artery-LAD was widely patent. The previous LIMA-LAD stent at the anastomosis had a CTO with severe in-stent restenosis (ISR) at the distal end of the stent in the native LAD. The distal LAD was filled from bridging collaterals. Following discussion at the heart team meeting, he underwent successful complex PCI of LAD CTO via the LIMA graft at the site of ISR of previous LIMA-LAD anastomosis stent, which was finally treated with drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty.

Discussion
Recurrent angina post-coronary revascularization can be very challenging to manage by medical therapy alone. Percutaneous intervention of complex coronary lesions in these patients requires experience and skill, especially when approaching lesions using the LIMA as a conduit. The use of DCB for ISR management is a well-known strategy; however, adequate lesion preparation is the key to satisfactory outcome.
Eosinophilic myocarditis complicated by permanent atrioventricular nodal block: a case report
Authors: Messner Moritz , Mayr Agnes , Zaruba Marc-Michael , Poelzl Gerhard 
Published: February 2022

Abstract

Background
Eosinophilic myocarditis (EM) is a rare disease with different clinical pictures and disease courses. Little literature is available on the various courses of the disease.

Case summary
A previously healthy 44-year-old male patient presented with acute heart failure and developed complete atrioventricular (AV) block requiring pacing. Acute heart failure was managed with inotropic support, non-invasive ventilation, and implantation of a permanent AV-sequential pacemaker. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was suggestive of myocarditis and endomyocardial biopsy diagnosed EM histologically. Endomyocardial biopsy was essential for definite aetiologic assignment, thus dispelling initial reservations about immunosuppressive therapy. Final treatment strategy consisted of steroids and Azathioprine.

Discussion
Endomyocardial biopsy is essential to establish diagnosis and targeted treatment in EM, which can rapidly lead to life-threatening conditions. Left ventricular function recovered within 2 weeks in response to immunosuppression and the patient was consistently well during follow-up. Despite the otherwise good response to immunosuppression, complete AV block continued over time.
Discrimination Between Religious and Non-Religious Groups: Evidence from Marking High-Stakes Exams
Authors: Lavy Victor , Sand Edith , Shayo Moses 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
While religions frequently preach preferential treatment of fellow believers, the magnitude and economic implications of religiosity-based discrimination are largely unknown. Religiosity is often confounded with ethnicity, but it varies even within ethnicities and religious denominations. It is also seldom observed in administrative data. This paper exploits a setting that avoids these limitations. We analyse grading decisions in national matriculation exams in Israel, exploiting unique features that reveal student religiosity to the graders, and grader religiosity to the researcher. We find evidence of in-group bias between religious and non-religious groups, but in our setting this effect is very small. There seem to be two main reasons. First, religious in-group bias is limited to male graders only. Moreover, patterns of bunching in the grade distribution suggest the bias is primarily due to the religious—rather than secular—men. This is a small fraction of the grader population. A second potential reason is that many graders live in integrated communities. Our evidence suggests that living and working in close proximity to people with different levels of religiosity attenuates discrimination.
Wage Risk and the Skill Premium
Authors: Slavík Ctirad , Yazici Hakki 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
The skill premium has increased significantly in the United States in the last five decades. During the same period, individual wage risk has also increased. This paper proposes a mechanism through which a rise in wage risk increases the skill premium. Intuitively, a rise in uninsured wage risk increases precautionary savings, thereby boosting capital accumulation, which increases the skill premium due to capital-skill complementarity. Using a quantitative macroeconomic model, we find that the rise in wage risk observed between 1967 and 2010 increases the skill premium significantly. This finding is robust across a variety of model specifications.
Predicting the genomic resolution of bulk segregant analysis
Authors: Shen Runxi , Messer Philipp W 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Bulk segregant analysis is a technique for identifying the genetic loci that underlie phenotypic trait differences. The basic approach is to compare two pools of individuals from the opposing tails of the phenotypic distribution, sampled from an interbred population. Each pool is sequenced and scanned for alleles that show divergent frequencies between the pools, indicating potential association with the observed trait differences. Bulk segregant analysis has already been successfully applied to the mapping of various quantitative trait loci in organisms ranging from yeast to maize. However, these studies have typically suffered from rather low mapping resolution, and we still lack a detailed understanding of how this resolution is affected by experimental parameters. Here, we use coalescence theory to calculate the expected genomic resolution of bulk segregant analysis for a simple monogenic trait. We first show that in an idealized interbreeding population of infinite size, the expected length of the mapped region is inversely proportional to the recombination rate, the number of generations of interbreeding, and the number of genomes sampled, as intuitively expected. In a finite population, coalescence events in the genealogy of the sample reduce the number of potentially informative recombination events during interbreeding, thereby increasing the length of the mapped region. This is incorporated into our model by an effective population size parameter that specifies the pairwise coalescence rate of the interbreeding population. The mapping resolution predicted by our calculations closely matches numerical simulations and is surprisingly robust to moderate levels of contamination of the segregant pools with alternative alleles. Furthermore, we show that the approach can easily be extended to modifications of the crossing scheme. Our framework will allow researchers to predict the expected power of their mapping experiments, and to evaluate how their experimental design could be tuned to optimize mapping resolution.
The genetic history of Mayotte and Madagascar cattle breeds mirrors the complex pattern of human exchanges in Western Indian Ocean
Authors: Magnier Jessica , Druet Tom , Naves Michel , Ouvrard Mélissa , Raoul Solène , Janelle Jérôme , Moazami-Goudarzi Katayoun , Lesnoff Matthieu , Tillard Emmanuel , Gautier Mathieu , Flori Laurence 
Published: February 2022

AbstractDespite their central economic and cultural role, the origin of cattle populations living in Indian Ocean islands still remains poorly documented. Here, we unravel the demographic and adaptive histories of the extant Zebus from the Mayotte and Madagascar islands using high-density SNP genotyping data. We found that these populations are very closely related and both display a predominant indicine ancestry. They diverged in the 16th century at the arrival of European people who transformed the trade network in the area. Their common ancestral cattle population originates from an admixture between an admixed African zebu population and an Indian zebu that occurred around the 12th century at the time of the earliest contacts between human African populations of the Swahili corridor and Austronesian people from Southeast Asia in Comoros and Madagascar. A steep increase in the estimated population sizes from the beginning of the 16th to the 17th century coincides with the expansion of the cattle trade. By carrying out genome scans for recent selection in the two cattle populations from Mayotte and Madagascar, we identified sets of candidate genes involved in biological functions (cancer, skin structure, and UV-protection, nervous system and behavior, organ development, metabolism, and immune response) broadly representative of the physiological adaptation to tropical conditions. Overall, the origin of the cattle populations from Western Indian Ocean islands mirrors the complex history of human migrations and trade in this area.
Transcriptome-wide association study in UK Biobank Europeans identifies associations with blood cell traits
Authors: Rowland Bryce , Venkatesh Sanan , Tardaguila Manuel , Wen Jia , Rosen Jonathan D , Tapia Amanda L , Sun Quan , Graff Mariaelisa , Vuckovic Dragana , Lettre Guillaume , Sankaran Vijay G , Voloudakis Georgios , Roussos Panos , Huffman Jennifer E , Reiner Alexander P , Soranzo Nicole , Raffield Laura M , Li Yun 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Previous genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of hematological traits have identified over 10 000 distinct trait-specific risk loci. However, at these loci, the underlying causal mechanisms remain incompletely characterized. To elucidate novel biology and better understand causal mechanisms at known loci, we performed a transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) of 29 hematological traits in 399 835 UK Biobank (UKB) participants of European ancestry using gene expression prediction models trained from whole blood RNA-seq data in 922 individuals. We discovered 557 gene-trait associations for hematological traits distinct from previously reported GWAS variants in European populations. Among the 557 associations, 301 were available for replication in a cohort of 141 286 participants of European ancestry from the Million Veteran Program. Of these 301 associations, 108 replicated at a strict Bonferroni adjusted threshold ($\alpha$= 0.05/301). Using our TWAS results, we systematically assigned 4261 out of 16 900 previously identified hematological trait GWAS variants to putative target genes. Compared to coloc, our TWAS results show reduced specificity and increased sensitivity in external datasets to assign variants to target genes.