bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Association of Hypoalbuminaemia with the Angiographic Severity of Coronary Artery Disease in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome
Authors: Parvez Jubair Mahmud , Rahman Md Afzalur , Islam AKM Monwarul , Aziz Mustafizul , Mamun Al , Arefin Md Minhaj , Azam MG 
Published: January 2022

Introduction: Serum albumin as a biomarker of coronary artery disease (CAD) severity and mortality in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is presently a subject of growing interest. Evidences accumulated from the studies suggest a possible association between serum albumin and severity of CAD. Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to find the association between serum albumin level and severity of CAD in patients of ACS.
Methods: The present cross-sectional analytical study was carried out in the Department of Cardiology, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), Dhaka, Bangladesh, over a period of 1 year from July 2017 to June 2018. A total of 104 ACS patients undergoing coronary angiogram in the above-mentioned hospital during the index hospitalization within the specified time-frame were included in the study. Result: None of the demographic characteristics and traditional risk factors for CAD except age was found to be associated with severity of CAD. Friesinger Score was significantly higher in patients with low serum albumin than that in patients with normal serum albumin (8.84 ± 3.71 vs. 6.38 ± 3.02, p<0.001). Leman Score was also significantly higher in in the former group than that in latter group (12.48 ± 8.44 vs. 8.50 ± 4.94 mm, p = 0.004).The risk of having severe CAD in patients with low serum albumin was 5.46(95% CI = 2.141 – 13.925) (p < 0.001) times higher in terms of Friesinger score and 2.58(95% CI = 1.097 – 6.083) (p = 0.03) times higher in terms of Leaman score than that in patients with normal serum albumin. Spearman’s correlation revealed that the two variables serum albumin and Friesinger score, exhibit a significantly inverse correlation (r = -0.323, p = 0.001). Serum albumin demonstrated a significantly inverse correlation with Leaman score (r = -0.254, p = 0.009).
Conclusion: The study concluded that serum albumin concentration was significantly associated with the severity of coronary artery disease with low serum albumin carrying at least two-fold higher risk of having severe CAD, as measured by the Friesinger and Leaman score, in patients with ACS.
University Heart Journal 2022; 18(1): 44-49
TNF Family–Based Signature Predicts Prognosis, Tumor Microenvironment, and Molecular Subtypes in Bladder Carcinoma
Authors: Li Huihuang , Liu Siyuan , Li Chenxuan , Xiao Zicheng , Hu Jiao , Zhao Cheng 
Published: January 2022

Background: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family members play vital roles in cancer development and antitumor immune responses. However, the expression patterns, prognostic values, and immunological characteristics of TNF members in bladder carcinoma (BLCA) remain unclear.Methods: The training cohort, TCGA-BLCA, was downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas; another two Gene Expression Omnibus datasets (GSE13507 and GSE32894) and the Xiangya cohort (RNA-sequencing cohort collected from our hospital) were used as the external validation cohort. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm and cross-validation were used to screen variables. Cox regression model and random survival forest (RSF) were used to develop the risk score, respectively. Then, we systematically correlated the TNF risk score with the tumor microenvironment (TME) cell infiltration, molecular subtypes of BLCA, and the potential value for predicting the efficacy of immunotherapy.Results: We developed two TNF-based patterns, named TNF cluster 1 and TNF cluster 2. TNF cluster 1 exhibited poorer survival outcome and an inflamed TME characteristic compared with TNF cluster 2. We then filtered out 196 differentially expressed genes between the two TNF clusters and applied the LASSO algorithm and cross-validation to screen out 22 genes to build the risk score. For risk score, we found that RSF exhibited higher efficacy than the Cox regression model, and we chose the risk score developed by RSF for the following analysis. BLCA patients in the higher risk score group showed significantly poorer survival outcomes. Moreover, these results could be validated in the external validation cohorts, including the GSE13507, GSE32894, and Xiangya cohorts. Then, we systematically correlated the risk score with TME cell infiltration and found that it was positively correlated with the infiltration of a majority of immune cells. Also, a higher risk score indicated a basal subtype of BLCA. Notably, the relationship between risk score, TME cell infiltration, and molecular subtypes could be validated in the Xiangya cohort.Conclusion: We developed and validated a robust TNF-based risk score, which could predict prognostic outcomes, TME, and molecular subtypes of BLCA. However, the value of risk score predicting the efficacy of immunotherapy needs further research.
TMAO-Activated Hepatocyte-Derived Exosomes Impair Angiogenesis via Repressing CXCR4
Authors: Liu Xiang , Shao Yijia , Tu Jiazichao , Sun Jiapan , Dong Bing , Wang Zhichao , Zhou Jianrong , Chen Long , Tao Jun , Chen Jimei 
Published: January 2022

Objective: Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) was found to play crucial roles in vascular endothelial function. However, the exact molecular mechanisms are not yet entirely clear. Recently, we found that exosomes (Exos) isolated from TMAO-treated hepatocytes (TMAO-Exos) contained a distinctive profile of miRNAs compared to those from the TMAO-free group (Control-Exos). Furthermore, TMAO-Exos could notably promote inflammation, damage vascular endothelial cells (VECs), and impair endothelium-dependent vasodilation. This study aimed to further evaluate the effects of TMAO-Exos on VECs and explore the underlying mechanisms.Methods: Exos were isolated from the hepatocyte culture supernatant with or without TMAO, using differential centrifugation. Then, VECs were treated with these Exos for 48 h and subjected to RNA-sequencing for detecting the changes of alternative polyadenylation (APA) and mRNA. After validation by qPCR and western blotting, the recombinant viruses were used to mediate the overexpression of C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4). The in vitro VEC function was evaluated by cell migration and tube formation, and in vivo angiogenesis was investigated in hindlimb ischemia models.Results: Exos released from hepatocytes were differentially regulated by TMAO; both could be taken up by VECs; and furthermore, TMAO-Exos significantly reduced cell migration and tube formation in vitro and impaired perfusion recovery and angiogenesis after hindlimb ischemia, by down-regulating the CXCR4 expression. However, TMAO-Exos failed to regulate the splicing events, at least in this experimental setting, which suggested that TMAO-Exos may affect CXCR4 expression via an APA-independent manner.Conclusions: Our findings revealed a novel indirect mechanism by which TMAO impaired endothelial function through stimulating hepatocytes to produce Exos that possessed distinctive activity. The crosstalk between the liver and vascular endothelial mediated by these Exos may offer a new target for restraining the harmful effects induced by TMAO.
Novel Non-Invasive Diagnosis of Bladder Cancer in Urine Based on Multifunctional Nanoparticles
Authors: Xu Jinshan , Zeng Shuxiong , Li Jun , Gao Li , Le Wenjun , Huang Xin , Wang Guandan , Chen Bingdi , Zhang Zhensheng , Xu Chuanliang 
Published: January 2022

Objectives: Tumor cells were reported to have perpetual negative surface charges due to elevated glycolysis, and multifunctional nanoprobes (Fe3O4@SiO2, mNPs) could attach onto tumor cells via opposite surface charges. We thus evaluated whether mixing mNPs with urine could improve the sensitivity of urine cytology test (UCT).Methods: We developed a novel UCT method by mixing urine with mNPs (Nano-cytology) to harvest more tumor cells during UCT procedures. The same voided urine sample was divided equally for the Nano-cytology and UCT assay, and evaluated by cytopathologists in a blinded way. The accuracy of UCT, Nano-cytology, and the combination of the two approaches (Nano-UCT) for detecting bladder cancer were determined.Results: Urine samples were prospectively collected from 102 bladder cancer patients and 49 non-cancer participants from June 2020 to February 2021 in Changhai Hospital. Overall sensitivity of the Nano-cytology assay was significantly higher than that of the UCT assay (82.4 vs. 59.8%, p &lt; .01). Sensitivity for low- and high-grade tumors was 79.1% and 39.5% (p &lt; .01) and 84.7% and 74.6% (p = .25) for Nano-cytology and UCT, respectively. Specificity of Nano-cytology was slightly lower than that of UCT (89.8% vs. 100%, p = .022), which is mainly caused by severe urinary tract infection. In addition, Nano-UCT showed increased sensitivity with 90.2% for overall patients, and 83.7% and 94.9% for low- and high-grade tumor, respectively.Conclusion: The Nano-cytology assay had a significantly improved sensitivity compared with UCT for detecting bladder cancer patients. It represents a promising tool for diagnosis of bladder cancer in clinical practice.
Electron Dynamics and Correlations During High-Order Harmonic Generation in Be
Authors: Kutscher Eric , Artemyev Anton N. , Demekhin Philipp V. 
Published: January 2022

We investigate theoretically the high-order harmonic generation in beryllium atom irradiated by a short 1850 nm linearly polarized laser pulse in the intermediate strong-field ionization regime with the Keldysh parameter of 0.85. To this end, the respective time-dependent Schrödinger equation is solved by the time-dependent restricted-active-space configuration-interaction (TD-RASCI) method. By systematically increasing the active space of included configurations, we demonstrate an individual effect of different physical processes evoked by the pulse, which, all together, significantly enrich and extend the computed high-order harmonic generation spectrum.
Newly Developed Graft Failure Detected Using Computed Tomography Within 1 Year After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery: One Single-Center Experience
Authors: Li Zhaoshui , Qiao Youjin , Sheng Wei , Chi Yifan 
Published: January 2022

BackgroundNewly developed graft failure negatively affects the short- and long-term outcomes of patients who experience coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. This study explored the value of transit time flow measurement (TTFM) parameters for predicting the risk of newly developed graft failure that occurs within 1 year after CABG, as well as investigated the relationship between newly developed graft failure and adverse cardiovascular events.MethodsA total of 134 patients who underwent CABG and had CT angiography (CTA) data (1 year post-operatively) were divided into two groups: the patient group, in which patients did not have newly developed graft failure, and the occluded group, in which patients developed newly developed graft failure between 1 and 12 months after CABG. The patency rate of grafts in different targets was analyzed. The correlations between graft failure and TTFM parameters and between graft failure and the occurrence of adverse cardiovascular events were investigated.ResultsThe overall rate of newly developed graft failure was 7.2%, the venous graft failure was 10.8%, and the arterial graft failure was 0.7%. The occluded group had a higher pulse index (PI) (2.9 vs. 2.4, P = 0.007), a lower mean graft flow (MGF) (20 vs. 25 ml/min, P = 0.028), and a lower diastolic flow fraction (DF) (63.5 vs. 70%, P = 0.019) than the patent group. The cut-off value for predicting newly developed graft failure was PI &gt; 2.75 (P = 0.007), MGF &lt; 23.5 ml/min (P = 0.03), and DF &lt; 65.5% (P = 0.019). Compared with the patent group, the newly developed graft failure group had higher rates of recurrent angina (13.6 vs. 0.9%, P = 0.0014) and revascularization intervention (9.1 vs. 0% P = 0.026). However, there were no differences in death, cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and cerebral infarction after CABG operation between these two groups (P &gt; 0.05).ConclusionsA high PI and low MGF and DF are risk factors for newly developed graft failure. The patients with newly developed graft failure had higher rates of recurrent angina and revascularization intervention. TTFM parameters may be used to predict the occurrence of newly developed graft failure in patients after CABG surgery.
Hybrid CMR- and FDG-PET-Imaging Gives New Insights Into the Relationship of Myocardial Metabolic Activity and Fibrosis in Patients With Becker Muscular Dystrophy
Authors: Vehof Volker , Büther Florian , Florian Anca , Drakos Stefanos , Chamling Bishwas , Kies Peter , Stegger Lars , Yilmaz Ali 
Published: January 2022

BackgroundCardiac involvement in patients with Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) is an important predictor of mortality. The cardiac phenotype of BMD patients is characterized by slowly progressive myocardial fibrosis that starts in the left ventricular (LV) free wall segments and extends into the septal wall during the disease course.PurposeSince the reason for this characteristic cardiac phenotype is unknown and comprehensive approaches using e.g. hybrid imaging combining cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) are limited, the present study addressed this issue by a comprehensive non-invasive imaging approach.MethodsHybrid CMR- and FDG-PET-imaging was performed in N = 14 patients with BMD on a whole-body Biograph mMR system (Siemens, Erlangen, Germany). The CMR protocol comprised cine- and late-gadolinium-enhancement (LGE)-imaging. Metabolism was assessed with FDG-PET after oral glucose loading to effect myocardial carbohydrate uptake. PET was acquired for 65 min starting with tracer injection. Uptake values from 60 to 65 min p.i. were divided by the area under the blood activity curve and reported as percentages relative to the segment with maximal myocardial FDG uptake.ResultsA characteristic pattern of LGE in the LV lateral wall was observed in 13/14 patients whereas an additional septal LGE pattern was documented in 6/14 patients only. There was one patient without any LGE. Segmental FDG uptake was 88 ± 6% in the LV lateral wall vs. 77 ± 10% in the septal wall (p &lt; 0.001). There was an inverse relationship between segmental FDG activity compared to segmental LGE extent (r = −0.33, p = 0.089). There were N = 6 LGE-positive patients with a segmental difference in FDG uptake of &gt;15% in the LV lateral wall compared to the septal wall = ΔFDG-high group (lateral FDG = 91±3% vs. septal FDG = 69±8%; p &lt; 0.001) while the remaining N = 7 LGE-positive patients showed a segmental difference in FDG uptake of ≤ 15% = ΔFDG-low group (lateral FDG = 85±7% vs. septal FDG = 83 ± 5%; p = 0.37). Patients in the ΔFDG-high group showed only a minor difference in the LGE extent between the LV lateral wall vs. septal wall (p = 0.09) whereas large differences were observed in the ΔFDG-low group (p &lt; 0.004).ConclusionsSegmental FDG uptake—reflecting myocardial metabolic activity—is higher in the LV free wall of BMD patients—possibly due to a higher segmental work load. However, segmental metabolic activity seems to be dependent on and limited by the respective segmental extent of myocardial fibrosis as depicted by LGE-imaging.
Damage Types and Deterioration Characteristics of Check Dams Built on Mountain Streams in Southeast Korea
Authors: Lee Ki-Hwan , Ewane Ewane Basil , Uchida Taro , Woo Choong-Shik 
Published: January 2022

Check dams are one of representative structural measures to reduce sediment disaster at a forest watershed. Therefore, it is essential to assess the structural vulnerability and functionality of check dams in the management of sediment disaster risk at watersheds. This study examined the main types of damages and deterioration characteristics in concrete and stone check dams, which comprise more than 80.0% of Korea’s check dam stock. This was based on the 4-step condition assessment, which is the modified version of condition assessment methodology for embankment dams to meet the characteristics of check dams. As a result, the damages and deterioration of concrete check dams were classified into ten representative types. And representative damage types of stone check dams were classified into nine types. The condition assessment results demonstrated that the spillway part frequently contacted with water and debris flows was deteriorated approximately 1.2 times faster than the wing parts for both concrete and stone check dams, and the maintenance demands of both types of check dams increased 15–20 years after construction. Thus, these deterioration characteristics of concrete and stone check dams should be considered in decision-making to determine maintenance priorities among the check dams stock. Furturemore, we analyzed the relationship between condition index and service time in the examined concrete and stone check dams. The degree of deterioration in concrete and stone check dams increased significantly as the service time increased. Based on the relationship between condition index and service time, we classified deterioration characteristics of check dams into two groups: 1) those that follow the average deterioration trends of their facility group (Group II) and 2) those that undergo an unexpected end-of-service life because of exceptional incidents or severe defects (Group I). We hope that our work will form a useful resource for engineers and decision-makers involved in planning, designing, constructing, and maintaining check dams.
Flow Characteristics and Structure Optimization of a Baffle Plate Heat Exchanger
Authors: Lu Mengshi , Feng Zhuoheng , Wang Yungang , Yang Hongwei , Xia Wenqing , Zhu Haimiao , Hua Dan 
Published: January 2022

In this study, a theoretical model of the hot and cold fluid flow, heat transfer, and thermal stress coupling in a baffle plate heat exchanger is established, and numerical simulation is carried out. The flow field in the heat exchanger and the deformation of the heat exchange tube bundles in the baffle plate heat exchanger are studied. The optimization effect of the diversion grid on the flow field at the inlet of the variable section is emphasized. The influence of grid arrangement on the flow field and the performance of the tube bundles are analyzed and discussed. The results show that the backflow situation can be effectively improved and the vortex intensity in the straight section of the cold fluid inlet can be greatly reduced by adding the grid. The deformation of the heat exchange tube bundles illustrates the maximum deformation with 1.39 mm at the position of the strongest backflow. The deformation can be reduced by 26% due to the arrangement of the diversion grid, which is helpful to improve the safety of the device.
Natural Antioxidants can Improve Microplastics-Induced Male Reproductive Impairment in the African Catfish (Clarias Gariepinus)
Authors: El-Din H. Sayed Alaa , Hamed Mohamed , Ismail Rania F. 
Published: January 2022

This study was conducted to explore the protective potential of three different antioxidant supplements, lycopene, citric acid, andChlorella, against reproductive injuries induced by microplastics (MPs) in freshwater mature male catfish. A total of 150 mature male African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) were assigned to five treatment groups as follows: control group fish were fed with control diet, the second group fish were fed with 500 mg/kg MP diet, and the remaining three groups of fish were fed with 500 mg/kg MP diet plus lycopene (500 mg/kg diet), citric acid (30 g/kg diet), andChlorella(50 g/kg diet), respectively, for 15 days. Ingestion of MPs significantly decreased serum luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, sex steroid (testosterone and estradiol) levels and sperm count, spermatocrit, motility, and viability. It also induced histological alterations and degenerative changes in testicular tissues. Administration of lycopene andChlorellawith MP diets maintained hormone levels comparable to those in the control group, enhanced sperm quality, and decreased testicular histological damage.Chlorellawas more effective in enhancing sperm quality, and lycopene was more efficient in alleviating testicular tissue damage. Citric acid supplementation was irrelevant in mitigating MP-induced injury. This study indicated that both lycopene andChlorellaameliorated the MP-induced reproductive dysfunction by improving reproductive hormonal levels, sperm parameters, and histological configuration, whereas the citric acid dose used in this study was not effective in ameliorating the MP-induced reproductive stress. Additional research and monitoring of MP-induced pollution in freshwater ecosystems are required to avoid the severity of reproductive toxicity in freshwater fish.
Urinary Sediment mRNA Level of CREBBP and CYBA in Children With Steroid-Resistant Nephrotic Syndrome
Authors: Li Wei , Shou Xinyi , Xiang Wenqing , He Lin , Li Lin , Fu Haidong , Mao Jianhua 
Published: January 2022

BackgroundThis study aimed to evaluate gene expression patterns in urinary sediment samples of children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS).MethodsThe messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of 770 immune-related genes were detected using a NanoString nCounter platform. To verify the NanoString results, quantitative analysis of nine gene mRNAs was performed using real-time RT-PCR in more samples.ResultsFirstly, compared with the steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) group (n=3), significant changes were observed in the mRNA level of 70 genes, including MAP3K14, CYBA, SLC3A2, CREB-binding protein (CREBBP), CD68, forkhead box P1 (FOXP1), CD74, ITGB2, IFI30, and so forth, in the SRNS group (n=3). A total of 129 children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS), 15 with acute glomerulonephritis, and 6 with immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) were enrolled to verify the NanoString results. Compared with patients with IgAN, those with INS had significantly lower levels of FOXP1 (P=0.047) and higher levels of CREBBP (P=0.023). Among SSNS, the mRNA level of ITGB2 was significantly lower in the non-relapse group than in the non-frequent relapse and frequent-relapse groups (P=0.006). Compared with the SSNS group, CREBBP was significantly elevated in the SRNS group (P=0.02). Further, CYBA significantly decreased in the SRNS group (P=0.01). The area under the curve (AUC) for CREBBP and CYBA was 0.655 and 0.669, respectively. CREBBP had a sensitivity of 83.3% and a specificity of 49.4% and CYBA had a sensitivity of 58.3% and a specificity of 83.1% to rule out SSNS and SRNS. The diagnosis value was better for CREBBP+CYBA than for CREBBP or CYBA alone, indicating that the combination of CREBBP and CYBA was a more effective biomarker in predicting steroid resistance (AUC=0.666; sensitivity=63.9%; specificity=76.4%).ConclusionsThis study was novel in investigating the urinary sediment mRNA level in children with INS using high-throughput NanoString nCounter technology, and 70 genes that may relate to SRNS were found. The results revealed that the urinary sediment mRNA level of ITGB2 was significantly lower in the non-relapse group than in the non-frequent relapse and frequent-relapse groups. Meanwhile, CREBBP was significantly elevated and CYBA was significantly lowered in the SRNS group compared with the SSNS group.