bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
P.051 Do clinical confounders to the neurological examination modify the
diagnostic accuracy of CT-angiography for death by neurological
criteria/brain death?
Authors: Neves Briard J , Nitulescu R , Lemoine É , English S , McIntyre L , Knoll G , Shemie S , Martin C , Turgeon A , Lauzier F , Fergusson D , Chassé M 
Published: January 2022

Background: CT-angiography is an ancillary test
used to diagnose death by neurological criteria (DNC), notably in cases of
unreliable neurological examinations due to clinical confounders. We studied
whether clinical confounders to the neurological examination modified
CT-angiography diagnostic accuracy. Methods:
Systematic review and meta-analysis of studies including deeply comatose
patients undergoing DNC ancillary testing. We estimated pooled sensitivities
and specificities using a Bayesian hierarchical model, including data on
CT-angiography (4-point, 7-point, 10-point scales, and no intracranial
flow), and performing a subgroup analysis on clinical confounders to the
reference neurological examination. Results: Of 40
studies included in the meta-analysis, 7 involve CT-angiography (n=586).
There was no difference between subgroups (Table). The degree of uncertainty
involving sensitivity estimates was high in both subgroups.
Conclusions: Statistical uncertainty in
diagnostic accuracy estimates preclude any conclusion regarding the impact
of clinical confounders on CT-angiography diagnostic accuracy. Further
research is required to validate CT-angiography as an accurate ancillary
test for DNC.
Table. Pooled sensitivities and specificities of
CT-angiography for death by neurological criteria
P.115 Vessel Wall Imaging of Unusual Childhood Strokes: a Pediatric Case
Series
Authors: Albassam FF , Muthusami P , Dlamini N 
Published: January 2022

Background: MR-based vessel wall imaging (VWI)
has gained influence in the clinical investigations, and management of
pediatric strokes. Limitations still exist in interpreting it as a singular
modality. Methods: We present 4 pediatric stroke
cases with VWI enhancement. Results: Case 1. 4-year
old boy with sickle cell anemia, who developed encephalopathy during a
hemolytic crisis. MR-VWI revealed bilateral extracranial internal carotid
enhanced narrowing, deemed a secondary vasculopathy, with resolution upon
follow-up.
Case 2. 16-year old male presented with left
middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction. VWI revealed left internal carotid
terminus and proximal MCA enhancement. Conventional angiography showed
abnormalities in mesentric and hepatic arteries. Stability sustained on
anticoagulation and immunosuppressive therapy.
Case 3. 10-year old girl, developed bilateral MCA
infarctions with enhanced extracranial segments of both ICAs, and narrow
PCAs, consistent with Moyamoya vasculopathy. Improved on combined
immunosuppressive and anticoagulation therapy.
Case 4. 13-year old boy had an episode of right
facial weakness, with a normal neurological exam; with enhancement and
narrowing in the left extracranial ICA, likely an intramural hematoma from
dissection. He responded to dual anticoagulation therapy.
Conclusions: In conclusion, these cases
illustrate similarities in vessel wall imaging abnormalities under different
clinical contexts, with practical utility in longitudinal follow-up and
prognostication.
P.205 Association Between Vein of Galen Aneurysmal Malformation and
Hirayama Disease: A Clue into Pathophysiology?
Authors: Ashour M , Fortin O , Sébire G , Saint-Martin C , Poulin C , Dudley R 
Published: January 2022

Background: Hirayama Disease (HD) is a rare
disorder consisting of insidious onset of unilateral weakness and atrophy of
the forearm and intrinsic hand muscles. Vein of Galen aneurysmal
malformations (VGAMs) are rare congenital cerebral vascular malformations,
consisting of high-flow arteriovenous shunting between a persistent median
prosencephalic vein and arterial feeders. Methods: 14
years old boy known for VGAM presented with left-sided HD. His cervical MRI
revealed enlarged epidural with anterior, left-ward displacement of the
posterior dura and spinal cord. He underwent surgical treatment by
laminotomies, along with tenting of an autologous duroplasty to the
overlying laminae. Results: We decided to combine
epidural venous plexus coagulation with posterior duraplasty and dural
fixation using tenting suture which led to a favorable clinical outcome has
not been previously proposed in the literature.
We hypothesize that in this context, an abnormal vasculature could also
predispose to posterior epidural venous plexus engorgement, anterior dural
displacement in cervical flexion, and microvascular changes in the anterior
spinal arterial circulation, leading to the progressive anterior horn cell
ischemia that lead to the clinical phenotype of HD.
Conclusions: The association between HD and VGAM
in this patient may provide clues with regard to the pathophysiology of
HD.
Data trust and data privacy in the COVID-19 period
Authors: Biddle Nicholas , Edwards Ben , Gray Matthew , Hiscox Michael , McEachern Steven , Sollis Kate 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
In this article, we focus on data trust and data privacy, and how attitudes may be changing during the COVID-19 period. On balance, it appears that Australians are more trusting of organizations with regards to data privacy and less concerned about their own personal information and data than they were prior to the spread of COVID-19. The major determinant of this change in trust with regards to data was changes in general confidence in government institutions. Despite this improvement in trust with regards to data privacy, trust levels are still low.
Safer sex negotiation and parity among women in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Adu Collins , Frimpong James Boadu , Mohammed Aliu , Tetteh Justice Kanor , Budu Eugene , Ahinkorah Bright Opoku , Seidu Abdul-Aziz 
Published: January 2022

AbstractWomen’s ability to negotiate for safer sex has effects on their sexual and reproductive health. This study investigated the association between safer sex negotiation and parity among women in sub-Saharan Africa. The data were sourced from the Demographic and Health Surveys of 28 sub-Saharan African countries conducted from 2010 to 2019. A total of 215,397 women aged 15–49 were included in the study. Multilevel logistic analysis was conducted to examine the association between safer sex negotiation and parity among women in sub-Saharan Africa. The results were presented as adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and the significance level set at p<0.05. The overall prevalences of safer sex negotiation and high parity among women in sub-Saharan Africa were 82.7% and 52.1%, respectively. The prevalence of high parity ranged from 32.3% in Chad to 72.1% in Lesotho. The lowest prevalence of safer sex negotiation was in Chad (16.8%) while the highest prevalence was recorded in Rwanda (99.7%). Women who had the capacity to negotiate for safer sex were less likely to have high parity compared with those who had no capacity to negotiate for safer sex (aOR = 0.78, CI: 0.75–0.81). Other factors that were associated with high parity were age, educational level, marital status, exposure to media, contraceptive use, religion, wealth quintile, sex of household head, and place of residence. The study identified significant association between safer sex negotiation and high parity among women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa. It is worth noting that women’s ability to negotiate for safer sex could reduce high parity among women in sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, policies and programmes aimed at birth control or reducing high parity among women could be targeted at improving their capacity to negotiate for safer sex through education.
Improving Take-Up by Reaching Out to Potential Beneficiaries. Insights from a Large-Scale Field Experiment in Belgium
Authors: VAN GESTEL RAF , GOEDEMÉ TIM , JANSSENS JULIE , LEFEVERE EVA , LEMKENS RIK 
Published: January 2022

AbstractNon-take-up of means-tested benefits is a widespread phenomenon which undermines the effectiveness and fairness of social policies. The digitalisation of the welfare state creates new opportunities for proactively contacting people who are potentially entitled to benefits, but do not take up their social rights. In this study, we report on how new data flows were used to reach out to potential beneficiaries of the Increased Reimbursement of health care, a programme targeted at low-income households in Belgium. By randomizing the period in which potential beneficiaries were contacted, we were able to identify a three- to four-fold increase in take-up among those contacted as a result of the outreaching activities. Households that did not respond to the intervention, the never takers, have lower pre-intervention healthcare expenditures. This suggests that non-take-up was reduced primarily among those who would expect to benefit most from receiving the Increased Reimbursement. Exploiting the combination of rich administrative data with experimental evidence, we also find that early responders are mostly older and have higher historic health expenditures than late responders. Furthermore, results point to the need for balancing well the inclusiveness of the intervention with an increased number of applications by ineligible people.
Estimated path information gain-based robot exploration under perceptual uncertainty
Authors: Liu Jie , Wang Chaoqun , Chi Wenzheng , Chen Guodong , Sun Lining 
Published: January 2022

AbstractAt present, the frontier-based exploration has been one of the mainstream methods in autonomous robot exploration. Among the frontier-based algorithms, the method of searching frontiers based on rapidly exploring random trees consumes less computing resources with higher efficiency and performs well in full-perceptual scenarios. However, in the partially perceptual cases, namely when the environmental structure is beyond the perception range of robot sensors, the robot often lingers in a restricted area, and the exploration efficiency is reduced. In this article, we propose a decision-making method for robot exploration by integrating the estimated path information gain and the frontier information. The proposed method includes the topological structure information of the environment on the path to the candidate frontier in the frontier selection process, guiding the robot to select a frontier with rich environmental information to reduce perceptual uncertainty. Experiments are carried out in different environments with the state-of-the-art RRT-exploration method as a reference. Experimental results show that with the proposed strategy, the efficiency of robot exploration has been improved obviously.
Impact of fetal haemodynamics on surgical and neurodevelopmental outcomes in patients with Ebstein anomaly and tricuspid valve dysplasia
Authors: Bao Min , Jaeggi Edgar , Sun Liqun , Lee Fu-Tsuen , Sananes Renee , Chau Vann , Macgowan Christopher K. , Miller Steven P. , Seed Mike , Marini Davide 
Published: January 2022

AbstractObjectives:To evaluate the impact of fetal haemodynamics on surgical and neurodevelopmental outcomes in severe Ebstein anomaly and tricuspid valve dysplasia.Methods:Thirty-four fetuses with Ebstein anomaly/tricuspid valve dysplasia were referred from 2013 to 2019 for fetal echocardiography and clinical management. Nineteen fetuses with Ebstein anomaly/tricuspid valve dysplasia and 30 controls underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance to quantify the fetal blood flow and to calculate cerebral oxygen delivery (cDO2) and consumption (cVO2). The 3D steady-state free precession acquisition was used to measure fetal brain volume. Surgical outcome, brain MRI, and neurodevelopmental follow-up were reviewed.Results:Twenty-six fetuses were live born (76%) and survival (65%) at a mean follow-up of 4 years. Nine fetuses had a brain MRI before discharge, and all had clinically silent injuries and volume loss. At 18 months, five single-ventricle patients had a neurodevelopmental delay in cognition and language (mean percentile: 11th), with gross-motor skills more affected than fine-motor skills (mean percentiles: 4th and 34th). Fetuses with Ebstein anomaly/tricuspid valve dysplasia had smaller brains, lower combined ventricular output, ascending aorta, superior caval vien and umbilical vein flows, lower oxygen saturation in ascending aorta and superior caval vien, lower cDO2 and cVO2 (p < 0.05). Superior caval vien/combined ventricular output and descending aorta/combined ventricular output ratios were lower in fetuses with circular shunt (p < 0.05). Fetuses requiring the Starnes procedure tended to have smaller brains, lower combined ventricular output, superior caval vien, descending aorta, and umbilical vein flows.Conclusions:All patients with Ebstein anomaly/tricuspid valve dysplasia are at high risk of neurodevelopmental delay and warrant follow-up. Fetal cardiovascular magnetic resonance revealed impaired brain growth with diminished cerebral blood flow and cDO2, the extenting dependent on the severity of the haemodynamic compromise.
Effects of blood pressure percentile, body mass index, and race on left ventricular mass in children
Authors: Udine Michelle L. , Kaltman Jonathan R. , Li Qianxi , Liu Jin , Sun Deyu , Cheung Man Ching , Sabouni Sam , Al Dulaimi Ahmed , Sable Craig 
Published: January 2022

AbstractObjective:To evaluate the association of systolic blood pressure percentile, race, and body mass index with left ventricular hypertrophy on electrocardiogram and echocardiogram to define populations at risk.Study design:This is a retrospective cross-sectional study design utilising a data analytics tool (Tableau) combining electrocardiogram and echocardiogram databases from 2003 to 2020. Customized queries identified patients aged 2–18 years who had an outpatient electrocardiogram and echocardiogram on the same date with available systolic blood pressure and body measurements. Cases with CHD, cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmia diagnoses were excluded. Echocardiograms with left ventricle mass (indexed to height2.7) were included. The main outcome was left ventricular hypertrophy on echocardiogram defined as Left ventricle mass index greater than the 95th percentile for age.Results:In a cohort of 13,539 patients, 6.7% of studies had left ventricular hypertrophy on echocardiogram. Systolic blood pressure percentile >90% has a sensitivity of 35% and specificity of 82% for left ventricular hypertrophy on echocardiogram. Left ventricular hypertrophy on electrocardiogram was a poor predictor of left ventricular hypertrophy on echocardiogram (9% sensitivity and 92% specificity). African American race (OR 1.31, 95% CI = 1.10, 1.56, p = 0.002), systolic blood pressure percentile >95% (OR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.34, 1.93, p < 0.001), and higher body mass index (OR = 7.22, 95% CI = 6.23, 8.36, p < 0.001) were independently associated with left ventricular hypertrophy on echocardiogram.Conclusions:African American race, obesity, and hypertension on outpatient blood pressure measurements are independent risk factors for left ventricular hypertrophy in children. Electrocardiogram has little utility in the screening for left ventricular hypertrophy.
Evaluation of ventricular function and myocardial deformation in children with repaired tetralogy of Fallot by real-time three-dimensional (four-dimensional) echocardiography
Authors: Eroğlu Ayşe G. , Gökalp Selman , Atik Sezen U. , Önal Damla , Acar Hazal C. , Saltık Levent 
Published: January 2022

AbstractAim:The left and right ventricular dysfunction are important clinical course indicators in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot. This study aimed to evaluate ventricular volumes, functions, and myocardial deformation in children with repaired tetralogy of Fallot by real-time three-dimensional (four-dimensional) echocardiography and compared with healthy children. It also aimed to investigate the relationships between ventricular volumes, functions, and myocardial deformation parameters in the patients.Materials and methods:In this cross-sectional study, 35 patients (mean age 15.1 ± 2.8 years, 54% male) and 35 healthy controls of similar age, gender, and body measurements underwent echocardiography. End-diastolic volume index, end-systolic volume index, and ejection fractions of both ventricles; global longitudinal, circumferential, radial strain, twist, and torsion of the left ventricle; the longitudinal strain of the right ventricle free wall and septum were measured.Results:Left ventricular ejection fraction, global circumferential and radial strain, twist and torsion were significantly lower in patients compared with controls. Left ventricular ejection fraction correlated with global circumferential (r = −0.446, p < 0.001) and radial strain (r = −0.433, p < 0.001) in the patients. Right ventricular volumes were significantly higher, and ejection fraction was significantly lower in patients compared with controls. All right ventricular parameters correlated with each other in the patients.Conclusion:Left ventricular contraction pattern was changed, circumferential and radial fibres were most affected in the patients. Right ventricular dilatation and dysfunction were detected, and right ventricular ejection fraction correlated well with strain measurements of the right ventricle.
Electrocardiographic changes in non-hospitalised children with COVID-19
Authors: Heching Howard J. , Goyal Anmol , Harvey Brian , Malloy-Walton Lindsey , Follansbee Christopher , Mcintosh Amanda , Forsha Daniel 
Published: January 2022

AbstractObjectives:Many children diagnosed with COVID-19 infections did not require hospitalisation. Our objective was to analyse electrocardiographic changes in children with asymptomatic, mild or moderate COVID-19 who did not require hospitalisationMethods:All children are seen in a paediatric cardiology clinic who had asymptomatic, mild or moderate COVID-19 that did not require hospitalisation and had at least one electrocardiogram after their diagnosis were included in this retrospective analysis. Records were reviewed to determine COVID-19 disease severity and presence of Long COVID. Rhythm assessment, atrial enlargement, ventricular hypertrophy, PR/QRS/QT interval duration and ST-T wave abnormalities were analysed by a paediatric electrophysiologist. Clinically ordered echocardiograms were reviewed for signs of myopericarditis (left ventricular ejection fraction and pericardial effusion) on any subject with an electrocardiographic abnormality.Results:Of the 82 children meeting inclusion criteria (14.4 years, range 1–18 years, 57% male), 17 patients (21%) demonstrated electrocardiographic changes. Ten patients (12%) had electrocardiogram of borderline significance, which included isolated mild PR prolongation or mild repolarisation abnormalities. The other seven patients (9%) had concerning electrocardiographic findings consisting of more significant repolarisation abnormalities. None of the patients with an abnormal electrocardiogram revealed any echocardiographic abnormality. All abnormal electrocardiograms normalised over time except in two cases. Across the entire cohort, greater COVID-19 disease severity and long COVID were not associated with electrocardiographic abnormalities.Conclusions:Electrocardiographic abnormalities are present in a minority of children with an asymptomatic, mild or moderate COVID-19 infection. Many of these changes resolved over time and no evidence of myopericarditis was present on echocardiography.
The impact of the radiotherapy technique in sparing the heart substructures in central tumor irradiation in lung cancer
Authors: Guler Avci Gulhan , Altınısık Inan Gonca , Bozkurt Halis 
Published: January 2022

Abstract

Introduction:
In thoracic radiotherapy (RT), heart sparing is very essential, as the high cardiac dose is associated with poor survival in patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study aims to determine the doses exposed to heart substructures and coronary arteries by different RT techniques in central tumor irradiation in lung cancer.

Methods:
Twenty patients with NSCLC, irradiated between January 2018 and December 2020 in our department, were included in this study. Patients whose primary tumor was centrally located in the left lung were selected. The heart substructures [left atrium, right atrium (RA), left ventricle, and right ventricle] and coronary arteries (left main, left anterior descending, circumflex, and right coronary arteries) were delineated by the same physician. The doses of 60 Gy external RT were prescribed in 30 fractions using three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT), static intensity-modulated radiotherapy (s-IMRT), and dynamic intensity-modulated radiotherapy (d-IMRT) techniques in all patients. The obtaining plans using three different techniques were compared.

Results:
The d-IMRT plans were statistically the best optimal plan for planning target volume (PTV) [Dmean (p = 0 04), Dmax (p < 0 0001), V95 (p < 0 0001), V107 (p < 0 0001), CI (p < 0 0001) and HI (p < 0 0001)]. The s-IMRT plans were significantly superior to 3D-CRT plans for PTV. RA Dmax and V45 were not different between the three techniques [Dmax (p = 0 148) and V45 (p = 0 12)]. The d-IMRT technique was significantly better in other heart substructures and coronary arteries.

Conclusions:
Compared to 3D-CRT and s-IMRT techniques, the d-IMRT technique provided the best protection in all heart substructures except for a few parameters (RA Dmax and V45 doses).
Isolation enhancement of metamaterial structure MIMO antenna for WiMAX/WLAN/ITU band applications
Authors: Suneetha Pasumarthi , Naik Kethavathu Srinivasa , Muthusamy Pachiyannan 
Published: January 2022

AbstractThe μ-negative metamaterial (MNG) two-element MIMO antenna design was proposed in this article for WiMAX (2.5–2.8 GHz), WLAN (3.2–5.9 GHz), and ITU band (8.15−8.25 GHz) applications. The first design of the MIMO antenna operates at 2.7 and 4.9 GHz frequencies. In order to reduce the mutual coupling, a defective ground structure is used. For further isolation improvement, an MNG unit cell is placed in between the two radiating elements at a distance of 10 mm. The designed antenna elements have better than −23 dB coupling isolation between the two radiating elements. Moreover, with MNG an additional frequency of 8.2 GHz is obtained, which is useful for ITU band applications. The proposed antenna bandwidth is expanded by 19% in the lower operational band, 20% in the second operational band, and 32% in the higher frequency band with the MNG unit cell. From the analysis, the proposed antenna is suitable for WiMAX/WLAN/ITU band applications because of its low enveloped correlation coefficient, and highest directive gain and low mutual coupling between the radiating components. The proposed antenna was simulated, fabricated, and measured with the help of the Schwarz ZVL vector network analyzer and anechoic chamber. Both measured and simulated results are highly accurate and highly recommended for WiMAX/WLAN/ITU bands.
Design of ultra-compact ISM band implantable patch antenna for bio-medical applications
Authors: Zaki Ahmed Z. A. , Hamad Ehab K. I. , Abouelnaga Tamer Gaber , Elsadek Hala A. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractIn this paper, an ultra-compact implantable antenna for biomedical applications is proposed. The proposed implanted meandered compact patch antenna is implanted inside the body at a depth of 2 mm. The proposed antenna was designed with Roger RO3003 (ɛr= 3) as substrate with an overall size of dimensions 5 × 5 × 0.26 mm3. The radiating element is a square patch antenna with different size rectangular slots and coaxial feeding. The proposed implantable antenna resonates at 2.45 GHz (from 2.26 to 2.72 GHz) frequency with a bandwidth of 460 MHz and a gain of −22.6 dB. The specific absorption rate has been considered for health care considerations, and the result is within the limits of the federal communication commission. The measured and simulated scattering parameters are compared, and good agreements are achieved. The proposed antenna is simulated and investigated for biomedical applications suitability.