bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cardiac magnetic resonance follow-up of COVID-19 vaccine associated acute myocarditis
Authors: Kravchenko Dmitrij , Isaak Alexander , Mesropyan Narine , Bischoff Leon M. , Pieper Claus C. , Attenberger Ulrike , Kuetting Daniel , Zimmer Sebastian , Hart Christopher , Luetkens Julian A. 
Published: November 2022

BackgroundMass COVID-19 vaccination campaigns have helped impede the COVID-19 pandemic. In rare cases, some vaccines have led to vaccine associated myocarditis in a specific subset of the population, usually young males. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) can reliably diagnose vaccine associated myocarditis, but follow-up data of CMR proven acute myocarditis is scarce.Materials and methodsNine patients with acute vaccine associated myocarditis underwent baseline and follow-up CMR examinations and were compared to baseline parameters at initial presentation and to a group of 20 healthy controls. CMR protocol included functional assessment, T1 and T2 mapping, T2 signal intensity ratio, strain feature tracking, and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE).ResultsMyocarditis patients (n = 9, aged 24 ± 6 years, 8 males) underwent CMR follow-up after an average of 5.8 ± 4.3 months. All patients showed a complete resolution of visual myocardial edema while also demonstrating a reduction in overall LGE extent from baseline to follow-up (4.2 ± 2.1 vs. 0.9 ± 0.8%, p &lt; 0.001), although visual LGE was still noted in all patients. Left ventricular ejection fraction was normal at baseline and at follow-up (58 ± 6 vs. 62 ± 4%, p = 0.10) as well as compared to a healthy control group (60 ± 4%, p = 0.24). T1 (1024 ± 77 vs. 971 ± 34 ms, p = 0.05) and T2 relaxations times (57 ± 6 vs. 51 ± 3 ms, p = 0.03) normalized at follow-up. Most patients reported a resolution of clinical symptoms, while two (22%) reported new onset of exertional dyspnea.ConclusionPatients with COVID-19 vaccine associated acute myocarditis showed a complete, uncomplicated resolution of myocardial inflammation on follow-up CMR, which was associated with a near complete resolution of symptoms. Minor, residual myocardial scarring was present on follow-up LGE imaging. The long-term implications of the remaining myocardial scar-tissue after vaccine associated myocarditis remain unknown warranting further studies.
Stress hyperglycemia ratio and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio are reliable predictors of new-onset atrial fibrillation in patients with acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Pan Lifei , Li Zhitong , Li Chenglin , Dong Xiaopeng , Hidru Tesfaldet H. , Liu Fei , Xia Yunlong , Yang Xiaolei , Zhong Lei , Liu Ying 
Published: November 2022

BackgroundThe occurrence of new-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) post-acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is associated with worse outcomes. In this study, we sought to assess the predictive effect of stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) to predict NOAF in patients with AMI.Materials and methodsWe recruited 3,194 individuals with AMI but free of atrial fibrillation (AF). AMI cases were stratified into groups according to SHR and NLR quartiles and were further categorized based on diabetes status. High SHR and high NLR were defined as the highest quartile of SHR and NLR. A nomogram incorporating risk factors for NOAF was constructed using multivariate logistic regression analyses. The performance of the novel nomogram was tested for predictive performance, agreement between the actual and predicted probability, and clinical utility using area under the curve (AUC), bootstrapped calibration curves, and decision curve analysis, respectively.ResultA total of 245 (7.67%) patients developed NOAF post-AMI. The NOAF cases had higher values of SHR and NLR than non-NOAF patients after AMI regardless of diabetes status. After adjusting for potential confounders, high SHR and NLR were independently associated with NOAF post-AMI. Moreover, the novel nomogram incorporating high NLR and high SHR for NOAF risk estimation in patients with AMI showed satisfactory performance assessed by the AUC, calibration curves, decision curve analysis.ConclusionSHR and NLR were independently associated with NOAF in AMI patients. The constructed novel nomogram that incorporates SHR and NLR might assist in NOAF risk stratification post-AMI.
Ultra-high-resolution assessment of lesion extension after cryoballoon ablation for pulmonary vein isolation
Authors: Spera Francesco , Narducci Maria Lucia , Bencardino Gianluigi , Perna Francesco , Bisignani Antonio , Pinnacchio Gaetano , Tondo Claudio , Maggio Ruggero , Stabile Giuseppe , Iacopino Saverio , Tundo Fabrizio , Ferraro Anna , De Simone Antonio , Malacrida Maurizio , Pintus Federico , Crea Filippo , Pelargonio Gemma 
Published: November 2022

IntroductionUnrecognized incomplete pulmonary vein (PV) isolation during the index procedure, can be a major cause of clinical recurrences of atrial fibrillation (AF) after cryoballoon (CB) ablation. We aimed to characterize the extension of the lesions produced by CB ablation and to assess the value of using an ultra-high resolution electroanatomic mapping (UHDM) system to detect incomplete CB lesions.Materials and methodsTwenty-nine consecutive patients from the CHARISMA registry undergoing AF ablation at four Italian centers were prospectively evaluated. The Rhythmia™ mapping system and the Orion™ (Boston Scientific) mapping catheter were used to systematically map the left atrium and PVs before and after cryoablation.ResultsA total of 116 PVs were targeted and isolated. Quantitative assessment of the lesions revealed a significant reduction of the antral surface area of the PV, resulting in an ablated area of 5.7 ± 0.7 cm2 and 5.1 ± 0.8 cm2 for the left PV pair and right PV pair, respectively (p = 0.0068). The mean posterior wall (PW) area was 22.9 ± 2 cm2 and, following PV isolation, 44.8 ± 6% of the PW area was ablated. After CB ablation, complete isolation of each PV was documented by the POLARMap™ catheter in all patients. By contrast, confirmatory UHDM and the Lumipoint™ tool unveiled PV signals in 1 out of 114 of the PVs (0.9%). Over 30-day follow-up, no major procedure-related adverse events were reported. After a mean follow-up of 333 days, 89.7% of patients were free from arrhythmia recurrence.ConclusionThe lesion extension achieved by the new CB ablation system involved the PV antrum, with less than 50% of the PW remaining untouched. The new system, with short tip and circular mapping catheter, failed to achieve PV isolation in only 0.9% of all PVs treated.Clinical trial registration[http://clinicaltrials.gov/], identifier [NCT03793998].
The efficacy and safety of different endovascular modalities for infrapopliteal arteries lesions: A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Guo Julong , Ning Yachan , Wang Hui , Li Yu , Su Zhixiang , Zhang Fan , Wu Sensen , Guo Lianrui , Gu Yongquan 
Published: November 2022

BackgroundEndovascular treatment has become the first-line therapy for infrapopliteal artery occlusive disease (IPOD), while the optimal endovascular method remains to be determined. We performed a network meta-analysis (NWM) of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to simultaneously compare the outcomes of different endovascular modalities for IPOD.Methods and resultsThe Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were used as data sources. The NWM approach used random-effects models based on the frequentist framework. In total, 22 eligible RCTs (44 study arms; 1,348 patients) involving nine endovascular modalities or combinations [balloon angioplasty (BA), drug-coated balloon (DCB), drug-eluting stent (DES), atherectomy device + BA (AD + BA), AD + DCB, balloon-expandable bare metal stent (BMS), self-expanding stent (SES), absorbable metal stents (AMS), and inorganics-coated stent (ICS)] were included. BA had a lower 12-month primary patency rate than DCB (RR 0.50, CI 0.27, 0.93) and AD + DCB (RR 0.34, CI 0.12, 0.93). AD + DCB decreased 6-month TLR compared with AMS (RR 0.15, CI 0.03, 0.90), and DES decreased it compared with BMS (RR 0.25, CI 0.09, 0.71). DCB had a lower 6-month TLR rate than AMS (RR 0.26, CI 0.08, 0.86) and BA (RR 0.51, CI 0.30, 0.89). BA had a higher 12-month TLR rate than DCB (RR 1.76, CI 1.07, 2.90). According to the value of the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA), AD + DCB was considered the best treatment in terms of primary patency at 6 months (SUCRA = 87.5) and 12 months (SURCA = 91). AD + BA was considered the best treatment in terms of 6-month TLR (SUCRA = 83.1), 12-month TLR (SURCA = 75.8), and 12-month all-cause mortality (SUCRA = 92.5). In terms of 12-month major amputation, DES was considered the best treatment (SUCRA = 78.6), while AD + DCB was considered the worst treatment (SUCRA = 28.8). Moreover, AD + BA always ranks higher than AD + DCB in the comparison including these two combinations. Subgroup analyses of modalities without stenting did not significantly change the primary outcomes.ConclusionADs showed noteworthy advantages in multiple terms for IPOD except for 12-month major amputation. AD + BA may be a better method for IPOD than AD + DCB. The efficacy and safety of ADs are worthy of further investigation.Systematic review registration[https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/], identifier [CRD42022331626].
Self-managed weight loss by smart body fat scales ameliorates obesity-related body composition during the COVID-19 pandemic: A follow-up study in Chinese population
Authors: Huang Xinru , Li Mingjie , Shi Yefei , Yao Hongyun , Lei Zhijun , Kou Wenxin , Li Bo , Shi Jiayun , Zhang Weiwei , Jian Weixia 
Published: November 2022

BackgroundSince 2020, longer stay-at-home time in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has changed the weight-related behaviors of Chinese population.ObjectivesTo explore the demographic and basic characteristics of body fat scale users and to investigate the changes in obesity-related body composition of overweight and obese users during COVID-19. Further, we analyzed the factors associated with successful weight loss and improved body composition changes in overweight and obese people.MethodsThe study included 107,419 Chinese adults registered in the smart app connecting to the body fat scale in 2020 to describe the demographic characteristics of body fat scale users by Unpaired Student’s t-test and Chi-Square test. Subsequently, overweight and obese participants with body mass index (BMI) of more than 24 kg/m2 were screened to investigate the independent factors associated with effective weight loss and improved body composition changes by multivariable logistic regression analyses.ResultsDuring the pandemic, the number of body fat scale users increased markedly compared with pre-pandemic. Over half of the participants were women and with normal baseline BMI. Based on BMI classification, multivariable logistic regressions showed that age, gender, measurement frequency classification, baseline BMI, visceral adipose index and skeletal muscle rate were associated with weight loss and fat loss in the overweight and obese population, with the high-frequency measurement being the most important factor for effective weight and fat loss. In the population with normal BMI obesity, younger age was the most significant factor for effective fat loss.ConclusionDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, participation in self-monitored weight loss increased markedly compared with pre-pandemic, and women accounted for the majority. We found that many overweight and obese participants achieved weight loss goals by smart body fat scales, and the effectiveness of weight and fat loss was greater in obese participants than in overweight participants, both based on BMI and PBF classification. In addition, promoting the usage of smart body fat scales could contribute to more effective weight and fat loss in the overweight and obese population based on BMI classification. However, in the population with normal BMI obesity, young subjects might be easier to successfully lose fat compared with the elder. Digital self-management by smart body fat scales could become a promising approach for the obese population with high BMI to lose weight and keep healthy.
Experimental study of the adsorption of 2-Chloroacetophenone at the air-environmental water interface
Authors: Hao Shangpeng , Liu Xuefeng , Sun Chao , Zhang Yuanpeng , Gao Runli , Wang Haitao , Wang Xiaolu 
Published: November 2022

The widespread surface of the air-water interface plays a crucial role in the partitioning processes between the atmosphere and the hydrosphere. As one of the prime CWAs (Chemical Warfare Agents) abandoned by Japanese, the unfound 2-Chloroacetophenone posed a severe threat to the Chinese people. In this study, the interface partition constant of 2-Chloroacetophenone was obtained by measuring the mass uptake vapor on different environmental water films with various thicknesses. The surface tension, dissolved organic matter, and salinity of the environmental samples were analyzed. The partition constant of 2-Chloroacetophenone in pure water, river water and sea water samples at 288 K were 1182.2 ± 49.9, 1606.6 ± 101.3 and 408.9 ± 18.3, respectively. Surface adsorption is the predominant mechanism. The results also indicate that the adsorption partitioning ability of 2-Chloroacetophenone at the air/water interface was negatively correlated with surface tension. 2-Chloroacetophenone is more likely to adsorb at the gas/water interface with lower surface tension.
The role of costimulatory molecules in glioma biology and immune microenvironment
Authors: Wang Ji , Wang Zi , Jia Wenxue , Gong Wei , Dong Bokai , Wang Zhuangzhuang , Zhou Meng , Tian Chunlei 
Published: November 2022

Background: Extensive research showed costimulatory molecules regulate tumor progression. Nevertheless, a small amount of literature has concentrated on the potential prognostic and therapeutic effects of costimulatory molecules in patients with glioma.Methods: The data were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) database, and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database for bioinformatics analysis. R software was applied for statistical analysis. Using the FigureYa and Xiantao online tools (https://www.xiantao.love/) for mapping.Results: The Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and Cox regression analysis were utilized to identify the signature consisting of five costimulatory molecules. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that the prognosis of glioma could be independently predicted by the riskscore. Furthermore, we explored clinical and genomic feature differences between the two groups. The level of tumor mutational burden (TMB) was higher in the high-risk group, while more mutation of IDH1 was observed in the low-risk group. Results of Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) analysis showed that high-risk patients were more prone to be responded to immunotherapy. In addition, subclass mapping analysis was performed to validate our findings and the results revealed that a significantly higher percentage of immunotherapy response rate was observed in the high-risk group.Conclusion: A novel signature with a good independent predictive capacity of prognosis was successfully identified. And our findings reveal that patients with high-risk scores were more likely to be responded to immunotherapy.
Congenital absence of the vas deferens with hypospadias or without hypospadias: Phenotypic findings and genetic considerations
Authors: Fang Jianzheng , Wang Xiaoyi , Sun Xueping , Cui Yugui , Diao Feiyang , Yang Xiaoyu 
Published: November 2022

Congenital absence of the vas deferens (CAVD) is a major cause of obstructive azoospermia. Mutations of CFTR and ADGRG2 cause the majority of CAVD. Despite this, 10%–20% of CAVD patients remain without a clear genetic diagnosis. Herein, the CFTR and ADGRG2 genes were first sequenced using Sanger sequencing in 50 CAVD patients. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was used to further identify potential novel genetic causes in CAVD with hypospadias. In total, 29 of 50 CAVD patients carried at least one CFTR mutation, but no ADGRG2 mutation was found. 5T was found to be the most frequent variant in our CAVD populations. Seven CAVD patients with hypospadias were further analyzed using WES. No homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations related to disorders of sex development (DSDs) or male infertility were identified by WES. CAVD with hypospadias presented lower testicular volume (9.71 ± 2.14 ml vs. 14.45 ± 2.93 ml, p &lt; 0.001) and higher FSH level (FSH: 7.28 ± 3.91 IU/L vs. 4.24 ± 1.96 IU/L, p = 0.027) than CAVD without hypospadias. It is worth noting that neither CFTR or ADGRG2 mutation nor homozygous or compound heterozygous gene mutations were identified in seven CAVD cases with hypospadias. However, nine heterozygous or hemizygous mutations were selected as potential pathogenic genes in CAVD with hypospadias. In conclusion, CFTR variants, especially 5T, play a major role in the Chinese CAVD population. CAVD with hypospadias shows relatively lower testicular spermatogenesis, suggesting a different genetic basis or pathogenic factor from cystic fibrosis/CAVD or unilateral renal agenesis/CAVD.
A pyroptosis-related gene model and its correlation with the microenvironment of lung adenocarcinoma: A bioinformatics analysis and experimental verification
Authors: Dong Yi , Yi Lina , Song Qibin , Yao Yi 
Published: November 2022

Background: Non-small cell lung cancer, comprising lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinoma, is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality. Pyroptosis is a new form of programmed cell death involved in cancer development. The relationship between LUAD and pyroptosis is unclear. This research aims to investigate this relationship and develop a stratified clinical model based on pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs).Methods: We analyzed the data of LUAD from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and evaluated the expression of 48 PRGs to identify the differentially expressed genes. Then, constructing the risk model using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator and the Cox regression method to find the gene signatures. The functional enrichment, immune cell infiltration, tumor mutational burden (TMB), and expression of immune checkpoints were compared to investigate the potential mechanism. The IC50 of common drugs was evaluated and compared. The inflammasome activation assay and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay of NLR-family CARD-containing protein 4 (NLRC4) were also performed to confirm the role of pyroptosis in LUAD.Results: The pyroptosis-related model accurately predicted the prognosis of patients with LUAD, with the low-risk group exhibiting a higher survival probability. The risk score was an independent prognostic factor for survival. The stratified patients exhibited distinct tumor microenvironments, TMB, and drug sensitivity. The validation experiments of NLRC4 confirmed its role in inducing pyroptosis via promoting IL-1 maturation.Conclusion: PRGs regulated the tumor microenvironment and influenced the outcome of LUAD. NLRC4 may function as a hub gene in the process of LUAD.
Granzyme B in circulating CD8+ T cells as a biomarker of immunotherapy effectiveness and disability in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders
Authors: Shi Ziyan , Du Qin , Wang Xiaofei , Wang Jianchen , Chen Hongxi , Lang Yanling , Kong Lingyao , Luo Wenqin , Yang Mu , Zhou Hongyu 
Published: November 2022

Background and objectiveNeuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are chronical inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) and the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Several recent studies have demonstrated that T cells play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of NMOSD.In this study, we investigated CD8+ T cell phenotypes and levels of the cytotoxic protein granzyme B (GzmB), as well as their potential clinical application in NMOSD.MethodsIn this study, 90 peripheral blood samples were collected from 59 NMOSD patients with seropositive anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibodies and 31 sex- and age-matched healthy donors (HDs). Flow cytometry was used to detect circulating levels of GzmB and CD8+ T cell subpopulations, including naïve (TN, CCD7+CD45RA+), central memory (TCM, CCD7+CD45RA-), effector memory (TEM, CCD7-CD45RA-), terminal differentiation effector memory cells (TEMRA, CCD7-CD45RA+) in both groups. The associations between GzmB levels in CD8+T cells and clinical characteristics of NMOSD were evaluated.ResultsNMOSD patients exhibited significantly decreased proportions of CD8+TN cells and increased proportions of highly differentiated CD8+T cells (TEMRA) compared with HDs. In addition, levels of GzmB in CD8+ T cells were markedly higher in NMOSD patients than in HDs. Moreover, we observed that high proportions of GzmB-expressing CD8+ T cells were more common in patients with a poor response to immunotherapies, and showed a good potential to distinguish poor responders from responders (ACU=0.89). Clinical correlation analysis indicated that high levels of GzmB in CD8+ T cells were not only related to severe disability but also significantly associated with increased serum levels of neurofilament light (NFL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Multivariate linear regression analyses further suggested that GzmB expression in CD8+ T cells was predominantly associated with disability and immunotherapy effectiveness in NMOSD, independent of the sex, age, and disease phase. Transcription factor T-bet in CD8+ T cells were also significantly elevated in NMOSD and were associated with increasing number of circulating CD8+TEMRA cells and GzmB-expressing CD8+T cells.ConclusionsOur study support the involvement of GzmB-expressing CD8+ T cells in the inflammatory response in patients with NMOSD and provide a potential biomarker for disease immunotherapy effectiveness and disability progression.