bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Women in gastroenterology: the UK trainee experience
Authors: Sethi Sonika , Kumar Aditi , Clough Jennifer , Ravindran Srivathsan , Harris Rebecca , Harvey Philip , Raju Suneil , Brookes Matthew James , Rutter Charlotte S , Steed Helen 
Published: March 2022

IntroductionCompared with other medical specialties, there are lower numbers of female trainees and lower rates of flexible working in gastroenterology. This study aims to examine the experience of male and female trainees to understand specialty demographics and the experience of training.MethodsGastroenterology training data were obtained from the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) trainee surveys from 2014, 2018 and 2020, and from the Royal College of Physicians Medical Workforce unit between 2011 and 2019. Data on endoscopy measures from 2011 to 2021 were obtained from the Joint Advisory Group (JAG) on gastrointestinal endoscopy, including the JAG Endoscopy training system and the National Endoscopy Database. Data were segregated and compared by gender.ResultsThe percentage of female gastroenterology trainees remains at around 40%, largely unchanged over the previous decade. From the BSG trainee survey, 29.5% of women have flexible working patterns compared with 2.6% of men (p<0.001), which is lower than other medical specialties. Less than half of female trainees felt confident about their job prospects once they qualify. A greater proportion of male than female trainees achieved provisional colonoscopy certification during training (55% vs 45%, p=0.005) and female trainees took longer to certify than male trainees (63 months vs 56 months, p=0.004). The total length of training time from primary medical qualification to consultancy was the same for men and women.ConclusionChanges must be addressed from a national and institutional level to address equitable access to national training programmes and equality of outcome for male and female trainees.
Baseline vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging characteristics associated with in-stent restenosis for intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis
Authors: Tian Bing , Zhu Chengcheng , Tian Xia , Kang Qinqin , Shao Chengwei , Mossa-Basha Mahmud , Lu Jianping , Saloner David A 
Published: March 2022

BackgroundImaging factors, specifically baseline plaque features on high-resolution magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging (HR-VWI) that could be associated with in-stent restenosis (ISR), are still unknown. We aimed to investigate the presenting clinical and plaque features on HR-VWI associated with ISR.MethodsSixty-four patients with intracranial stent placement for intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis who had pre- and post-contrast T1-weighted HR-VWI on 3.0T prior to stenting were included in this analysis. Student's t-test, Mann–Whitney U test, χ2 test, or the Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel (CMH) test were used to compare clinical and baseline HR-VWI characteristics of the patients between the ISR and non-ISR groups. Univariable and multivariable logistic analysis were used to test the clinical and imaging factors associated with ISR.ResultsAmong the 64 patients, 9 patients (14.06%) developed ISR during the 2-year follow-up period. Plaque burden (median 0.89 vs 0.92, P=0.04), minimum lumen area (0.009 cm2vs 0.006 cm2, P=0.04), plaque eccentricity (55.6% vs 89.1%, P＜0.01), enhancement ratio (1.36 vs 0.84, P＜0.01), and enhancement involvement (type 2 represents ≥50% cross-sectional wall involvement; 100% vs 63.6%, P=0.03) all significantly differed between patients with and without ISR. Multivariable analysis revealed that lower frequency of plaque eccentricity (OR 0.18, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.96, P=0.04) and higher enhancement ratio (OR 3.57, 95% CI 1.02 to 12.48, P=0.04) were independently associated with ISR.ConclusionsPreliminary findings showed that ISR was independently associated with plaque concentricity and higher enhancement ratios on pre-stenting HR-VWI for patients with symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis.
New Gedanken experiment on RN-AdS black holes surrounded by quintessence
Authors: Qu Yang , Tao Jun , Wu Jiayi 
Published: March 2022

AbstractIn this paper, we use the new version of Gedanken experiment to investigate the weak cosmic censorship conjecture(WCCC) for RN-AdS black holes surrounded by quintessence. The process of matter fields falling into the black hole can be regarded as a dynamic process. Since the perturbation of matter fields doesn’t affect the spacetime geometry, we propose the stability condition and assume the process of matter fields falling into the black hole satisfies the null energy condition. Based on the stability condition and the null energy condition, the first-order and second-order perturbation inequalities are derived. As a result, we show that the WCCC for RN-AdS black holes surrounded by quintessence cannot be violated under the second-order approximation of matter fields perturbation.
Quasinormal modes in two-photon autocorrelation and the geometric-optics approximation
Authors: Qian Wei-Liang , Lin Kai , Kuang Xiao-Mei , Wang Bin , Yue Rui-Hong 
Published: March 2022

AbstractIn this work, we study the black hole light echoes in terms of the two-photon autocorrelation and explore their connection with the quasinormal modes. It is shown that the above time-domain phenomenon can be analyzed by utilizing the well-known frequency-domain relations between the quasinormal modes and characteristic parameters of null geodesics. We found that the time-domain correlator, obtained by the inverse Fourier transform, naturally acquires the echo feature, which can be attributed to a collective effect of the asymptotic poles through a weighted summation of the squared modulus of the relevant Green’s functions. Specifically, the contour integral leads to a summation taking over both the overtone index and angular momentum. Moreover, the dominant contributions to the light echoes are from those in the eikonal limit, consistent with the existing findings using the geometric-optics arguments. For the Schwarzschild black holes, we demonstrate the results numerically by considering a transient spherical light source. Also, for the Kerr spacetimes, we point out a potential difference between the resulting light echoes using the geometric-optics approach and those obtained by the black hole perturbation theory. Possible astrophysical implications of the present study are addressed.
Quantum fields in teleparallel gravity: renormalization at one-loop
Authors: Casadio Roberto , Kuntz Iberê , Paci Gregorio 
Published: March 2022

AbstractWe consider the quantization of matter fields in a background described by the teleparallel equivalent to general relativity. The presence of local Lorentz and gauge symmetries gives rise to different coupling prescriptions, which we analyse separately. As expected, quantum matter fields produce divergences that cannot be absorbed by terms in the background action of teleparallel equivalent to general relativity. Nonetheless, the formulation of teleparallel gravity allows one to find out the source of the problem. By imposing local Lorentz invariance after quantization, we show that a modified teleparallel gravity, in which the coefficients in the action are replaced by free parameters, can be renormalized at one-loop order without introducing higher-order terms. This precludes the appearance of ghosts in the theory.
D-dimer, CRP, PCT, and IL-6 Levels at Admission to ICU Can Predict In-Hospital Mortality in Patients with COVID-19 Pneumonia
Authors: Milenkovic Marija , Hadzibegovic Adi , Kovac Mirjana , Jovanovic Bojan , Stanisavljevic Jovana , Djikic Marina , Sijan Djuro , Ladjevic Nebojsa , Palibrk Ivan , Djukanovic Marija , Velickovic Jelena , Ratkovic Sanja , Brajkovic Milica , Popadic Viseslav , Klasnja Slobodan , Toskovic Borislav , Zdravkovic Darko , Crnokrak Bogdan , Markovic Olivera , Bjekic-Macut Jelica , Aleksic Aleksandra , Petricevic Simona , Memon Lidija , Milojevic Ana , Zdravkovic Marija 
Published: March 2022

Introduction. Health care workers have had a challenging task since the COVID-19 outbreak. Prompt and effective predictors of clinical outcomes are crucial to recognize potentially critically ill patients and improve the management of COVID-19 patients. The aim of this study was to identify potential predictors of clinical outcomes in critically ill COVID-19 patients. Methods. The study was designed as a retrospective cohort study, which included 318 patients treated from June 2020 to January 2021 in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Clinical Hospital Center “Bezanijska Kosa” in Belgrade, Serbia. The verified diagnosis of COVID-19 disease, patients over 18 years of age, and the hospitalization in ICU were the criteria for inclusion in the study. The optimal cutoff value of D-dimer, CRP, IL-6, and PCT for predicting hospital mortality was determined using the ROC curve, while the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used to assess survival. Results. The study included 318 patients: 219 (68.9%) were male and 99 (31.1%) female. The median age of patients was 69 (60-77) years. During the treatment, 195 (61.3%) patients died, thereof 130 male (66.7%) and 65 female (33.3%). 123 (38.7%) patients were discharged from hospital treatment. The cutoff value of IL-6 for in-hospital death prediction was 74.98 pg/mL (Sn 69.7%, Sp 62.7%); cutoff value of CRP was 81 mg/L (Sn 60.7%, Sp 60%); cutoff value of procalcitonin was 0.56 ng/mL (Sn 81.1%, Sp 76%); and cutoff value of D-dimer was 760 ng/mL FEU (Sn 63.4%, Sp 57.1%). IL-

6
≥
74.98

pg/mL,

CRP
≥
81

mg/L,

PCT
≥
0.56

ng/mL, and D-

dimer
≥
760

ng/mL were statistically significant predictors of in-hospital mortality. Conclusion. IL-

6
≥
74.98

pg/mL,

CRP

values
≥
81

mg/L,

procalcitonin
≥
0.56

ng/mL, and D-

dimer
≥
760

ng/mL could effectively predict in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients.
Synergistic Effect of Uroguanylin and D
1
Dopamine Receptors on Sodium Excretion in Hypertension
Authors: Zeng Cindy , Xia Tianyang , Zheng Shuo , Liang Lijia , Chen Yue 
Published: March 2022

Background
Oral NaCl produces a greater natriuresis and diuresis than the intravenous infusion of the same amount of NaCl, indicating the existence of a gastro‐renal axis. As one of the major natriuretic hormones secreted by both the intestines and the kidney, we hypothesized that renal uroguanylin interacts with dopamine receptors to increase sodium excretion synergistically, an impaired interaction of which may be involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension.

Methods and Results

In Wistar‐Kyoto rats, the infusion of uroguanylin or fenoldopam (a D
1
‐like receptor agonist) induced natriuresis and diuresis. Although subthreshold dosages of uroguanylin or fenoldopam had no effect, the coinfusion of subthreshold dosages of those reagents significantly increased sodium excretion. The coinfusion of an antagonist against D
1
‐like receptors, SCH23390, or an antagonist against uroguanylin, 2‐methylthioadenosine triphosphate, prevented the fenoldopam‐ or uroguanylin‐mediated natriuresis and diuresis in Wistar‐Kyoto rats. However, the natriuretic effects of uroguanylin and fenoldopam were not observed in spontaneously hypertensive rats. The uroguanylin/D
1
‐like receptor interaction was also confirmed in renal proximal tubule cells. In renal proximal tubule cells from Wistar‐Kyoto rats but not spontaneously hypertensive rats, stimulation of either D
1
‐like receptors or uroguanylin inhibited Na
+
‐K
+
‐ATPase activity, an effect that was blocked in the presence of SCH23390 or 2‐methylthioadenosine triphosphate. In renal proximal tubule cells from Wistar‐Kyoto rats, guanylyl cyclase C receptor (uroguanylin receptor) and D
1
receptor coimmunoprecipitated, which was increased after stimulation by either uroguanylin or fenoldopam; stimulation of one receptor increased renal proximal tubule cell membrane expression of the other.

Conclusions

These data suggest that there is synergism between uroguanylin and D
1
‐like receptors to increase sodium excretion. An aberrant interaction between the renal uroguanylin and D
1
‐like receptors may play a role in the pathogenesis of hypertension.
Macrophage Polarization in the Perivascular Fat Was Associated With Coronary Atherosclerosis
Authors: Farias‐Itao Daniela Souza , Pasqualucci Carlos Augusto , de Andrade Renato Araújo , da Silva Luiz Fernando Ferraz , Yahagi‐Estevam Maristella , Lage Silvia Helena Gelas , Leite Renata Elaine Paraízo , Campo Alexandre Brincalepe , Suemoto Claudia Kimie 
Published: March 2022

Background
Inflammation of the perivascular adipose tissue (PvAT) may be related to atherosclerosis; however, the association of polarized macrophages in the pericoronary PvAT with measurements of atherosclerosis components in humans has not been fully investigated.

Methods and Results

Coronary arteries were dissected with surrounding PvAT. We evaluated the percentage of arterial obstruction, intima‐media thickness, fibrous cap thickness, plaque components, and the number of vasa vasorum. The number of proinflammatory (M1) and anti‐inflammatory (M2) macrophages in the periplaque and control PvAT were evaluated using immunohistochemistry. Regression models adjusted for sociodemographic and clinical variables were used. In 319 segments from 82 individuals, we found a correlation of the M1/M2 macrophage density ratio with an increase in arterial obstruction (
P
=0.02) and lipid content (
P
=0.01), and a decrease in smooth muscle cells (
P
=0.02). M1 and the ratio of M1/M2 macrophages were associated with an increased risk of thrombosis (
P
=0.03). In plaques with thrombosis, M1 macrophages were correlated with a decrease in fibrous cap thickness (
P
=0.006), an increase in lipid content (
P
=0.008), and the number of vasa vasorum in the adventitia layer (
P
=0.001). M2 macrophages were correlated with increased arterial obstruction (
P
=0.01), calcification (
P
=0.02), necrosis (
P
=0.03) only in plaques without thrombosis, and decrease of the number of vasa vasorum in plaques with thrombosis (
P
=0.003).

Conclusions
M1 macrophages in the periplaque PvAT were associated with a higher risk of coronary thrombosis and were correlated with histological components of plaque progression and destabilization. M2 macrophages were correlated with plaque size, calcification, necrotic content, and a decrease in the number of vasa vasorum in the adventitia layer.
Mental Health Conditions and Nonpersistence of Direct Oral Anticoagulant Use in Patients With Incident Atrial Fibrillation: A Nationwide Cohort Study
Authors: Teppo Konsta , Jaakkola Jussi , Airaksinen K. E. Juhani , Biancari Fausto , Halminen Olli , Putaala Jukka , Mustonen Pirjo , Haukka Jari , Hartikainen Juha , Luojus Alex , Niemi Mikko , Linna Miika , Lehto Mika 
Published: March 2022

Background
Mental health conditions (MHCs) are associated with poor outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation. However, persistence of oral anticoagulation therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation and MHCs is unknown. We aimed to evaluate the effect of MHCs on the persistence of direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) use in patients with atrial fibrillation based on a nationwide cohort.

Methods and Results

The nationwide registry‐based FinACAF (Finnish Anticoagulation in Atrial Fibrillation) cohort included 67 503 patients with incident atrial fibrillation and indication for permanent oral anticoagulation (CHA
2
DS
2
‐VASc score >1 in men and >2 in women) starting DOAC therapy between 2011 and 2018. MHCs of interest were depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, and composite of any MHC. The main outcome was nonpersistence of DOAC use, defined as the first 120‐day period without DOAC purchases after drug initiation. The mean age of the patients was 75.3±8.9 years, 53.6% were women, and the prevalence of any MHC was 17.8%. Persistence after 1 year from DOAC initiation was 79.3% in patients without MHCs and 77.2% in patients with any MHC, and after 2 years were 64.4% and 60.6%, respectively (
P
<0.001). Higher incidence of nonpersistence to DOACs was observed in all MHC categories: adjusted subdistribution hazard ratios, 1.16 (95% CI, 1.11–1.21) for any MHC, 1.32 (95% CI, 1.22–1.42) for depression, 1.44 (95% CI, 1.15–1.80) for bipolar disorder, 1.25 (95% CI, 1.11–1.41) for anxiety disorder, and 1.30 (95% CI, 1.02–1.64) for schizophrenia. However, patients with only anxiety disorder without other MHCs were not at higher risk of nonpersistence.

Conclusions
MHCs are associated with nonpersistence of DOAC use.

Registration

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT04645537.
Chelation Therapy in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review
Authors: Ravalli Filippo , Vela Parada Xavier , Ujueta Francisco , Pinotti Rachel , Anstrom Kevin J. , Lamas Gervasio A. , Navas‐Acien Ana 
Published: March 2022

Background
EDTA is an intravenous chelating agent with high affinity to divalent cations (lead, cadmium, and calcium) that may be beneficial in the treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although a large randomized clinical trial showed benefit, smaller studies were inconsistent. We conducted a systematic review of published studies to examine the effect of repeated EDTA on clinical outcomes in adults with CVD.

Methods and Results
We searched 3 databases (MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane) from database inception to October 2021 to identify all studies involving EDTA treatment in patients with CVD. Predetermined outcomes included mortality, disease severity, plasma biomarkers of disease chronicity, and quality of life. Twenty‐four studies (4 randomized clinical trials, 15 prospective before/after studies, and 5 retrospective case series) assessed the use of repeated EDTA chelation treatment in patients with preexistent CVD. Of these, 17 studies (1 randomized clinical trial) found improvement in their respective outcomes following EDTA treatment. The largest improvements were observed in studies with high prevalence of participants with diabetes and/or severe occlusive arterial disease. A meta‐analysis conducted with 4 studies reporting ankle‐brachial index indicated an improvement of 0.08 (95% CI, 0.06–0.09) from baseline.

Conclusions
Overall, 17 studies suggested improved outcomes, 5 reported no statistically significant effect of treatment, and 2 reported no qualitative benefit. Repeated EDTA for CVD treatment may provide more benefit to patients with diabetes and severe peripheral arterial disease. Differences across infusion regimens, including dosage, solution components, and number of infusions, limit comparisons across studies. Additional research is necessary to confirm these findings and to evaluate the potential mediating role of metals.

Registration

URL:
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/
; Unique identifier: CRD42020166505.
Repolarization Dispersion Is Associated With Diastolic Electromechanical Discoordination in Children With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Schäfer Michal , Frank Benjamin S. , Ivy D. Dunbar , Mitchell Max B. , Collins Kathryn K. , Jone Pei‐Ni , von Alvensleben Johannes C. 
Published: March 2022

Background
Electromechanical dyssynchrony is a well described comorbidity in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). ECG‐derived measurements reflective of diastolic dysfunction and electromechanical imaging markers are yet to be investigated. In this study we investigated the ECG‐ derived marker of repolarization dispersion, interval between the peak and end of T wave (TpTe), in pediatric patients with PAH and left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction.

Methods and Results

We measured TpTe from a standard 12‐lead ECG and in 30 children with PAH and matched control subjects. All participants underwent same‐day echocardiography and myocardial strain analysis to calculate the diastolic electromechanical discoordination marker diastolic relaxation fraction. When compared with control subjects, patients with PAH had increased TpTe (93±15 versus 81±12 ms,
P
=0.001) and elevated diastolic relaxation fraction (0.33±0.10 versus 0.27±0.03,
P
=0.001). Patients with PAH with LV diastolic dysfunction had significantly increased TpTe when compared with patients with PAH without diastolic dysfunction (
P
=0.012) and when compared with control group (
P
<0.001). Similarly, patients with PAH with LV diastolic dysfunction had increased diastolic relaxation fraction when compared with PAH patients without diastolic dysfunction (
P
=0.007) and when compared with control group (
P
<0.001). A 10‐ms increase in TpTe was significantly associated with 0.023 increase in diastolic relaxation fraction (
P
=0.008) adjusting for body surface area, heart rate, right ventricular volumes, and function.

Conclusions
Prolonged myocardial repolarization and abnormal LV diastolic electromechanical discoordination exist in parallel in children with PAH and are associated with worse LV diastolic function and functional class.
Nordic Migration Cases before the UN Treaty Bodies
Authors: Ford Sarah Scott 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
The UN human rights treaty bodies have decided an extensive amount of complaints brought by asylum seekers and immigrants against the Nordic states. This development forms part of a larger shift in international accountability routes that have emerged from the uptake of migrants’ rights claims by human rights courts and treaty bodies. The article examines what this development engenders in both international and national contexts, using the Nordic litigation as a focal point. The first part posits that the litigation has played a significant role in developing international law. It further explains that the significant amount of these cases in the region, but also variance across states, partly comes down to the degree of strategic litigation and the design of national asylum systems. The second part examines what emerges from this oversight, and identifies four factors from which to understand these national contexts: the design of the asylum system; the question of ‘credibility’; existence of parallel jurisprudence from the European Court of Human Rights; and communicative and functional processes that exist beyond final merits decisions. Overall, attention to the aftermath of these – formally soft law – decisions reveals that they do have quasi-judicial effects in the national contexts.
Policy Analysis
Authors: Tan Nikolas Feith 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
While efforts by destination states in the Global North to externalise their asylum are not new, Denmark’s current proposal to establish a reception centre outside the EU is novel in the Nordic context. Since 2018, the Danish Social Democrats have proposed transferring all asylum seekers arriving on Danish territory to a third country for the processing of their asylum claims. This contribution provides an account of the Danish extraterritorial asylum effort, from the origins of the 2018 Social Democrats’ platform to the 2021 amendments to Denmark’s Aliens Act. The contribution pays particular attention to international reactions to the Danish policy, before reflecting on the current and potential role of extraterritorial asylum policies in the international protection regime.