bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of dietary mycotoxin control strategies on nursery pig growth performance and blood measures
Authors: Becker Larissa L , DeRouchey Joel M , Woodworth Jason C , Tokach Mike D , Goodband Robert D , Vidal Arnau , Gougoulias Christos , Gebhardt Jordan T 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
A total of 4,318 pigs (337 × 1,050, PIC; initially 6.5 ± 0.08 kg) were used in a 35-day study to evaluate dietary mycotoxin control strategies on nursery pig performance and blood measures. Pigs were weaned at approximately 21 d of age and randomly allotted to 1 of 5 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design with blocking structure including sow farm origin, date of entry into facility, and average pen BW. A total of 160 pens were used with 80 double-sided 5-hole stainless steel fence line feeders, with feeder serving as the experimental unit. For each feeder, 1 pen contained 27 gilts and 1 pen contained 27 barrows. There were 16 replications per dietary treatment. A common phase 1 diet was fed to all pigs in pelleted form for 7 day prior to treatment diets. Experimental treatments were fed from days 7 to 42 after weaning (days 0 to 35 of the study) and included a low deoxynivalenol (DON) diet (1.12 ± 0.623 mg/kg), high DON diet (2.34 ± 1.809 mg/kg), high DON+ 0.50% sodium metabisulfite (SMB), high DON+ one of two mitigating products; 0.30% Technology1, or 0.30% Technology1+. Technology1 and 1+ are comprised of clays, yeast cell wall components, and a blend of plant extracts. Technology1+ also contains SMB. Overall (days 0 to 35), pigs fed high DON had decreased (P &lt; 0.05) final BW, ADG, and ADFI compared with low DON. Additionally, pigs fed high DON+SMB had increased (P &lt; 0.05) ADG compared with all other treatments. An improvement (P &lt; 0.05) in G:F was observed in pigs fed high DON + SMB or high DON + Technology1+ compared with the low DON or high DON + Technology1 diets with high DON diets intermediate. Pigs fed high DON + SMB or high DON + Technology1 diets had reduced (P &lt; 0.05) total removals and mortality compared with pigs fed low DON diets with high DON and high DON + Technology1+ intermediate. Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of circulating blood collected on day 35 revealed that pigs fed high DON or high DON + Technology1 had increased (P &lt; 0.05) DON concentrations compared to low DON with high DON + SMB and high DON + Technology1+ intermediate. In summary, pigs fed high DON diets had reduced performance compared with pigs fed low DON. Sodium metabisulfite in high DON diets provided a benefit in growth performance with ADG and G:F exceeding growth performance in the low DON diet while, the improved G:F ratio combined with other immunometabolic changes (gamma glutamyltransferase and creatine kinase) associated with Technology1+ warrant further investigation.
Conserved recombination patterns across coronavirus subgenera
Authors: de Klerk Arné , Swanepoel Phillip , Lourens Rentia , Zondo Mpumelelo , Abodunran Isaac , Lytras Spyros , MacLean Oscar A , Robertson David , Kosakovsky Pond Sergei L , Zehr Jordan D , Kumar Venkatesh , Stanhope Michael J , Harkins Gordon , Murrell Ben , Martin Darren P 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Recombination contributes to the genetic diversity found in coronaviruses and is known to be a prominent mechanism whereby they evolve. It is apparent, both from controlled experiments and in genome sequences sampled from nature, that patterns of recombination in coronaviruses are non-random and that this is likely attributable to a combination of sequence features that favour the occurrence of recombination break points at specific genomic sites, and selection disfavouring the survival of recombinants within which favourable intra-genome interactions have been disrupted. Here we leverage available whole-genome sequence data for six coronavirus subgenera to identify specific patterns of recombination that are conserved between multiple subgenera and then identify the likely factors that underlie these conserved patterns. Specifically, we confirm the non-randomness of recombination break points across all six tested coronavirus subgenera, locate conserved recombination hot- and cold-spots, and determine that the locations of transcriptional regulatory sequences are likely major determinants of conserved recombination break-point hotspot locations. We find that while the locations of recombination break points are not uniformly associated with degrees of nucleotide sequence conservation, they display significant tendencies in multiple coronavirus subgenera to occur in low guanine-cytosine content genome regions, in non-coding regions, at the edges of genes, and at sites within the Spike gene that are predicted to be minimally disruptive of Spike protein folding. While it is apparent that sequence features such as transcriptional regulatory sequences are likely major determinants of where the template-switching events that yield recombination break points most commonly occur, it is evident that selection against misfolded recombinant proteins also strongly impacts observable recombination break-point distributions in coronavirus genomes sampled from nature.
TIME-VARYING SERUM URIC ACID PREDICTS NEW-ONSET ATRIAL FIBRILLATION IN TREATED HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS
Authors: Kjeldsen Sverre E. , Zachs Eran S. , Stokke Ildri M. , Wachtell Kristian , Hille Darcy A. , H⊘ieggen Aud , Julius Stevo , Gerdts Eva , Okin Peter M. , Devereux Richard B. 
Published: June 2022

Objective:
The Losartan Intervention For Endpoint reduction in hypertension (LIFE) study was the first clinical outcome trial to suggest that lowering of serum uric acid by a uricosuric drug such as losartan has a beneficial effect on cardiovascular outcome independently of changes in renal function or blood pressure. LIFE also showed less new-onset atrial fibrillation in hypertensive patients receiving losartan vs. atenolol based treatment. Because losartan reduces serum uric acid levels, we investigated relations of serum uric acid with new-onset atrial fibrillation in the study.

Design and method:
Hypertensive patients with electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy and no prior atrial fibrillation (n = 8243) were treated for 5.0 ± 0.4 years with losartan or atenolol based therapy. Associations of serum uric acid with new-onset atrial fibrillation documented by Minnesota coding were assessed by Cox models using serum uric acid and systolic blood pressure as time-varying covariates to take into account changes of serum uric acid related to losartan or diuretic treatment, changes in renal function, and aging.

Results:
Time-varying serum uric acid was associated with new atrial fibrillation defined by Minnesota code (HR = 1.19 per 16.8 umol/L [1 mg/dL] [95% CIs, 1.12–1.26], P < 0.0001), independent of losartan treatment (HR = 0.75 [95% CIs, 0.61–0.93], P = 0.007), older age (HR = 1.95 per 7.0 years [95% CIs, 1.73–2.20], P < 0.0001), male sex (HR = 1.46 [95% CIs, 1.09–1.94], P = 0.010) and higher Cornell voltage duration product (HR = 1.10 per 1023 msec x mm [95% CIs, 1.01–1.21], P = 0.034). Similar results were obtained in Cox models with serum uric acid levels partitioned according to baseline quartiles and in which atrial fibrillation was defined by physician reports or by both Minnesota coding and physician reports.

Conclusions:
Thus, we found a strong relationship between time-varying serum uric acid levels during antihypertensive treatment and new-onset atrial fibrillation in elderly patients with left ventricular hypertrophy. Our data suggest that in-treatment serum uric acid is a strong predictor for new onset atrial fibrillation in hypertensive patients, independent of effects of antihypertensive treatment, age, sex, and electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy. Further research is needed to clarify how serum uric acid may provoke atrial fibrillation.
PREDICTING THE RISK OF SYNCOPE IN PATIENTS WITH AN INDICATION FOR ANTIHYPERTENSIVE TREATMENT: DEVELOPMENT OF THE STRATIFY-SYNCOPE PREDICTION MODEL
Authors: Constantinos Koshiaris , Stevens Richard , Hobbs F.D. Richard , McManus Richard J. , Sheppard James P. 
Published: June 2022

Objective:
Syncope is one of the most common side effects associated with antihypertensive medication. In patients at increased of syncope, the additional risk of harm from antihypertensive medication may outweigh the potential benefits of treatment in terms of cardiovascular risk reduction. However, it is unclear how to identify patients at most risk of syncope events. This study aimed to develop a clinical prediction model for risk of hospitalisation or death from syncope.

Design and method:
This was a cohort study using data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) in the UK. The electronic health records of patients aged greater than 40, with at least one blood pressure measurement between 130–179 mmHg were included. Outcomes were defined as a syncope event resulting in hospitalisation or death within 10 years of baseline. Predictors of syncope were based on the literature and expert opinion and included patient characteristics, past medical history and prescribed treatment (including antihypertensive prescription). A Fine-Gray model was used to adjust for competing risk of mortality and results are reported as subdistribution hazard ratios (SHR).

Results:
A total of 1,772,617 patients were eligible for the study, with mean age of 59 and 48% males. Median follow up was 6.2 years with 39898 syncope events (2.3%). The antihypertensive medications most strongly associated with syncope were alpha blockers (SHR: 1.21, 95%CI 1.15 to 1.28) and ACE inhibitors (SHR: 1.19, 95%CI 1.16 to 1.22). Other important predictors included age (Figure 1), male sex, high social deprivation, heavy alcohol consumption, previous syncope, diabetes, dementia, structural cardiac problems, arrhythmias, spinal cord injuries, parkinsonism, cardiopulmonary disease and prescription of antidepressants, antipsychotics and opioids (table 1).

Conclusions:
This prediction model identified a number of strong predictors of syncope which are routinely available in an individual's electronic health records. The accuracy of this model will examined in a further ∼3,000,000 patients from a different electronic health record database. If it is found to perform well, such a model could be used to provide personalised estimates of an individual's risk of harm from antihypertensive treatment, thus facilitating more informed treatment choices.
REDUCED NACL COTRANSPORTER ABUNDANCE AND PHOSPHORYLATION IN URINARY EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES IN RESPONSE TO KCL SUPPLEMENTS IN HEALTHY ADULTS MAINTAINED ON A HIGH-NA+ LOW-K+ DIET: A
Authors: Wu Aihua , Wolley Martin , Mayr Hannah , Cowley Diane , Li Bo , Welling Paul , Campbell Katrina , Fenton Robert , Stowasser Michael 
Published: June 2022

Objective:
A renal-K switch mechanism has been established in rodent models and demonstrates that a low K+ intake acts as a trigger that links K+ and Na+-dependent blood pressure. This mechanism involves activation (phosphorylation) of the NaCl-cotransporter NCC in the distal convoluted tubule in response to low-K+ intake and suppression (dephosphorylation) after a high-K+ intake. As a first step to establishing a similar mechanism in humans, this study aimed to examine if the abundance of NCC and pNCC in urinary extracellular vesicles (uEVs) of healthy adults on a high-Na+ diet changes in response to alterations in K+ intake.

Design and method:
The study design was a double-blind, randomised and placebo-controlled trial. Healthy adults maintained on a high-Na+ (∼200mmol/day), low-K+ (∼60mmol/day) diet underwent a run-in period of 1-week followed by a cross-over study, with 5 days supplementary KCl (active phase, Span K, 24mmol thrice daily) or 5 days placebo administered in random order and separated by 2 days washout. NCC and pNCC were measured in uEVs after each phase. Participants who met dietary compliance (no less than 80%) and increased urinary K+ in the active phase were included in analyses.

Results:
Among the 18 (out of 28) participants who met inclusion criteria, supplementary KCl administration (versus placebo) in the active phase was associated with higher levels of plasma K+ (p < 0.001) and 24-Hour urine levels of K+ (p < 0.001), Cl- (p < 0.001) and aldosterone (p < 0.001), and lower levels of 24-Hour urinary Na+/K+ (p < 0.001), NCC (p < 0.01) and pNCC (p < 0.05); whilst the ratio of pNCC/NCC remained unchanged. Correlation analyses revealed an inverse correlation of plasma K+ with NCC (R2 = 0.11, p = 0.05) and δurinary K+ with δpNCC (R2 = 0.23, p = 0.04). Ambulatory systolic blood pressure positively correlated with timed urinary Na+/K+ (R2 = 0.08, p = 0.04) during interventions.δ

Conclusions:
KCl supplementation in healthy adult subjects maintained on a high-Na+ low-K+ diet was associated with a fall in NCC and pNCC, consistent with the renal-K switch mechanism, and offers a useful target for dietary intervention.
ARTERIAL STIFFNESS FROM MONITORING OF QKD INTERVALL PREDICTS OVERALL MORTALITY
Authors: Gosse Philippe , Boulestreau Romain , Doublet Julien , Cremer Antoine 
Published: June 2022

Objective:
Markers of subclinical target organ damage increase cardiovascular risk prediction beyond traditional risk factors. Arterial stiffness is one of these parameters, and QKD intervall a marker of arterial stiffness.
We aimed to precise if arterial stiffness through QKD intervall measurement could predict overall mortality.

Design and method:
The patients included in this study belong to the Bordeaux cohort of hypertensive started in 1984.
It includes patients with essential hypertension and no cardiovascular complications or pathology likely to affect the prognosis. All the patients benefited from an ambulatory measurement of blood pressure coupled with the measurement of QKD interval (Diasys 200RK then Diasys integra and from 2020 Diasys 3 plus, Novacor, France). QKD interval is the time between the QRS wave on the ECG and the detection of the last Korotkoff sound on deflation of the cuff. The stiffer the arteries, the shorter the QKD intervall. The value obtained is expressed as a percentage of a theoretical normal value based on the height predicted value of a population of normal young subjects. In 2021, we made a systematic search of all cause deaths for all the patients in the registry from national institut INSEE.

Results:
We included 913 patients whose main characteristics are summarized in table 1. The average follow up period for the population was 11.88 ± 7.5 years. Cardiovascular prediction calcultated by the score SCORE, 24 h SBP and QKDh as a continuous or discontinuous variable were significantly and independently linked to the occurrence of cardiovascular complications or all cause deaths in multivariate Cox model.

Conclusions:
Arterial stiffness evaluated by the ambulatory measurement of QKD interval has an independent prognostic value in the hypertensive and add significant predictive information to the risk SCORE.
SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM ACTIVITY IN ATTENDED AND UNATTENDED BP MEASUREMENTS: NAVIGATING THE UNCHARTED
Authors: Manta Eleni , Andrikou Ioannis , Thomopoulos Costas , Konstantinidis Dimitrios , Zammanis Ioannis , Polyzos Dimitrios , Drogkaris Sotrios , Iliakis Panagiotis , Mantzouranis Emmanouil , Dimitriadis Kyriakos , Tsioufis Konstantinos 
Published: June 2022

Objective:
It has been hypothesized that unattended blood pressure (BP) measurement may provide complementary clinical information to conventionally attended BP measurement. The role of sympathetic nervous system activation during attended and unattended BP measurements is largely undetermined.

Design and method:
We studied 161 untreated hypertensive patients undergoing attended and unattended office BP measurements. Patients were divided into two groups - group A, unattended systolic BP greater than the attended systolic BP (n = 79), and group B, unattended systolic BP equal or lower than the attended (n = 82). All participants underwent muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) estimation by microneurography. Unattended and attended BP measurements were performed with the same device in a random order for each patient on the day of MSNA recording. MSNA levels were compared between the two groups

Results:
We examined 161 hypertensive patients [54% men, mean age 56 ± 12 years, BMI 29 ± 5 kg/m2, mean attended BP 140 ± 17 / 87 ± 13 mmHg, mean unattended BP 141 ± 20 / 85 ± 12 mmHg]. Group A and group B had statistically significant differences between attended systolic BP (136.7 ± 17.8 vs 143.7 ± 15.7 mmHg respectively, p = 0.009), attended diastolic BP (85.5 ± 14.7 vs 89.7 ± 11.4 mmHg respectively, p = 0.04), unattended systolic BP (145.5 ± 19 vs 135.7 ± 19.9 mmHg respectively, p = 0.002) and unattended diastolic BP (86.9 ± 13 vs 83.2 ± 11.2 mmHg respectively, p = 0.05). However, the two groups did not differ as regards MSNA levels (41.6 ± 8.9 vs. 42.1 ± 8.1 bursts per minute respectively, p = 0.7). MSNA levels did not correlate to attended and unattended systolic/diastolic BP in both groups.

Conclusions:
sympathetic nervous system activity may not contribute significantly to the differential BP levels during attended or unattended BP measurements.
INFLUENCE OF SEX, BODY MASS INDEX, AND SKIN COLOR ON THE ACCURACY OF NON-INVASIVE CUFFLESS PHOTOPLETHYSMOGRAPHY-BASED BLOOD PRESSURE MEASUREMENTS
Authors: Eisenkraft Arik 
Published: June 2022

Objective:
It is suggested that vital signs obtained by photoplethysmography-based devices might be influenced by subcutaneous fat and skin color. This study aimed to test the accuracy of blood pressure (BP) measurements taken using a photoplethysmography-based device by stratifying participants based on sex, body mass index (BMI), and skin color.

Design and method:
Ambulatory individuals coming for a routine BP checkup were recruited for an observational, comparative study. Systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) measurements compared between the photoplethysmography-based and the cuff-based devices were stratified based on sex, BMI, and skin color (types 1–3 and 4–6 by the Fitzpatrick scale).

Results:
A total of 1548 measurements were nalysed. Correlations of SBP and DBP between the devices among males and females were between 0.914 to 0.987 (p < 0.001), Bland-Altman analysis of SBP and DBP showed a bias of less than 0.5 mmHg for both sexes. Correlations of SBP and DBP between the devices among BMI groups were between 0.931 to 0.991 (p < 0.001), Bland-Altman analysis of SBP and DBP showed a bias of less than 1 mmHg for all. Correlations of SBP and DBP between the devices among the skin color groups were between 0.936 to 0.983 (p < 0.001), Bland-Altman analysis of SBP and DBP showed a bias of less than 1 mmHg for all.

Conclusions:
This study shows similar and high agreement rates between BP measurements obtained using a PPG-based non-invasive cuffless BP device and a cuff-based BP device across sex, BMI groups, and skin color.
RISK STRATIFICATION BY CROSS-CLASSIFICATION OF CENTRAL AND BRACHIAL SYSTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE
Authors: Cheng Yi-Bang , Thijs Lutgarde , Aparicio Lucas S. , Huang Qi-Fang , Wei Fang-Fei , Yu Yu-Ling , Barochiner Jessica , Sheng Chang-Sheng , Yang Wen-Yi , Niiranen Teemu J. , Boggia José , Zhang Zhen-Yu , Stolarz-Skrzypek Katarzyna , Gilis-Malinowska Natasza , Tikhonoff Valérie , Wojciechowska Wiktoria , Casiglia Edoardo , Narkiewicz Krzysztof , Filipovský Jan , Kawecka-Jaszcz Kalina , Wang Ji-Guang , Li Yan , Staessen Jan A. 
Published: June 2022

Objective:
Whether cardiovascular risk is more tightly associated with central (cSBP) than brachial (bSBP) systolic pressure remains debated, because of their close correlation and uncertain thresholds to differentiate cSBP into normotension vs hypertension.

Design and method:
In a person-level meta-analysis of the International Database of Central Arterial Properties for Risk Stratification (n = 5576; 54.1% women; mean age 54.2 years), outcome-driven thresholds for cSBP were determined and whether the cross-classification of cSBP and bSBP improved risk stratification was explored. cSBP was tonometrically estimated from the radial pulse wave using SphygmoCor software.

Results:
Over 4.1 years (median), 255 composite cardiovascular endpoints occurred. In multivariable bootstrapped analyses, cSBP thresholds (in mm Hg) of 110.5 (95% CI, 109.1–111.8), 120.2 (119.4–121.0), 130.0 (129.6–130.3) and 149.5 (148.4–150.5) generated 5 year cardiovascular risks equivalent to the ACC/AHA bSBP thresholds of 120, 130, 140 and 160. Applying 120/130 mm Hg as cSBP/bSBP thresholds delineated concordant central and brachial normotension (43.1%) and hypertension (48.2%) vs isolated brachial hypertension (5.0%) and isolated central hypertension (3.7%). With concordant normotension as reference, the multivariable hazard ratios for the cardiovascular endpoint were 1.30 (95% CI, 0.58–2.94) for isolated brachial hypertension, 2.28 (1.21–4.30) for isolated central hypertension, and 2.02 (1.41–2.91) for concordant hypertension. The increased cardiovascular risk associated with isolated central and concordant hypertension was paralleled by cerebrovascular endpoints with hazard ratios of 3.71 (1.37–10.06) and 2.60 (1.35–5.00), respectively.

Conclusions:
In conclusion, irrespective of the brachial blood pressure status, central hypertension increased cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk indicating the importance of controlling central hypertension.
AMBULATORY BLOOD PRESSURE TRAJECTORIES AND BLOOD PRESSURE VARIABILITY IN KIDNEY TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY AGAINST HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS
Authors: Korogiannou Maria , Sarafidis Pantelis , Alexandrou Maria Eleni , Theodorakopoulou Marieta , Pella Eva , Xagas Efstathios , Argyris Antonis , Protogerou Athanase , Papagianni Aikaterini , Boletis Ioannis N. , Marinaki Smaragdi 
Published: June 2022

Objective:
Hypertension is the most prevalent cardiovascular risk factor in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). Preliminary data suggest similar ambulatory blood pressure (BP) levels in KTRs and hemodialysis (HD) patients. This is the first study evaluating in comparison the full ambulatory BP profile and short-term BP variability (BPV) in KTRs versus HD patients.

Design and method:
Two hundred four KTRs were matched (2:1 ratio) with 102 HD patients for age and gender. BP levels, BP trajectories and BPV indices over a 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) in KTRs were compared against both the 1st and 2nd 24-hour period of a standard 48-hour ABPM in HD. To evaluate the effect of renal replacement treatment and time on ambulatory BP levels, two-way-ANOVA for repeated-measurements was performed.

Results:
KTRs had significantly lower SBP and pulse pressure (PP) levels compared to HD during all periods studied (24-hour SBP: KTR: 126.5 ± 12.1mmHg; HD 1st 24-hour: 132.0 ± 18.1mmHg, p = 0.006; 2nd 24-hour: 134.3 ± 17.7mmHg, p < 0.001); no significant differences were noted for DBP levels with the exception of 2nd nighttime. Repeated-measurements-ANOVA showed a significant effect of RRT modality and time on ambulatory SBP levels during all periods studied, and a significant interaction between them; the greatest between-group difference in BP (KTRs - HD in mmHg) was observed at the end of the 2nd 24-hour (-13.9mmHg, 95%CI: -21.5 to -6.2, p < 0.001). Ambulatory systolic and diastolic BPV indices were significantly lower in KTRs than in HD during all periods studied (24-hour SBP-ARV: KTRs: 9.6 ± 2.3mmHg; HD 1st 24-hour: 10.3 ± 3.0mmHg, p = 0.032; 2nd 24-hour: 11.5 ± 3.0mmHg, p < 0.001). No differences were noted in dipping pattern between the two groups.

Conclusions:
SBP and PP levels and trajectories, and BPV were significantly lower in KTRs compared to age- and gender-matched HD patients during all periods studied. These findings suggest a more avourable ambulatory BP profile in KTRs, in contrast to previous observations.