Novel Findings in Travel-related Thrombosis and COVID-19 Related Cardiovascular Data: Data Mining Method for Previously Published Data

Image analysis software is used in the review process to detect research misconduct ( [1][1] ), but not for positive motives (e.g., for missing findings). Also, scientists analyze “raw images” (e.g., MRI), but there are no methods for published “charts.” So, we conceived an analysis method. We applied our idea to two cardiovascular data related to thrombosis (traveler’s or travel-related thrombosis and COVID-19) because there are still controversial discussions that might be due to some overlooked information. We found overlooked an approximately 28 days cycle of thrombosis onset over several weeks after travel in a figure (Cannegieter et al., PLoS Med . 2006, in the top 25% of all research scored by Altmetric) ( [2][2] ). Also, we found an eighteen-day cycle of thrombosis onset in another chart (Kelman et al., BMJ . 2003, in the top 5% of research) ( [3][3] ). In COVID-19, we found overlooked subgroup patterns in a scatterplot of Troponin T and NT-proBNP (Guo et al. JAMA Cardiol . 2020, top 5% research) ( [4][4] ), which has already appeared in the cardiomyopathy study in 2016 (Budnik et al., Int J Cardiol . 2016) ( [5][5] ). The above cyclic patterns suggested that travel-related oral contraceptive initiation (e.g., honeymoon and OC initiation) or hormone replacement therapy caused thrombosis. Also, the in-flight environment can likely not explain the cyclic patterns. In conclusion, women’s life-stage-related events, which are also related to travel, may be the underlying cause. In COVID-19, biomarker data should require a re-analysis. Our findings in the well-known figures suggest that our tips can be an essential review technique. Significance statement Raw images (raw data), such as MRI, are often analyzed, but the chart is not. We developed a method for review charts and found about 28 days of thrombosis onset rhythm after travel in a published figure, which suggests travel-related oral contraceptive (OC) initiation exists (e.g., honeymoon and starting birth control OC). The OC has already been discussed as a risk (aggravating) factor in the context that the thrombosis is caused by increased blood viscosity due to dehydration in a dry cabin or blood stasis due to restricted movement in a narrow seat (e.g., economy class). However, our result may require reversing the root cause because the rhythm suggests that thrombus (blood clot) is not developed in the cabin but is related to drug concentration. ### Competing Interest Statement Keiichiro Kimoto has been in charge of external advisor for the Data Strategy Research Institute but received no financial support for this study. Except for this, the authors have no conflicts of interest or financial disclosures that should be disclosed. ### Funding Statement This study did not receive any funding. ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: The study used ONLY openly available two types of human data. Firstly, this study performed meta-analyses as secondary analysis. The source of the data was described in the method section. Secondary, this study analyzed measured values from figures in previous published scientific papers. All the figures were appropriately treated with careful attention to the copyright issues to protect the integrity of the science. The sources of the original papers were described in the figure legend following the copyright holder's instructions. This study suggests a new method for exploratory data analysis and reports some epidemiological findings during the evaluation process. So, there were no applicable guidelines. However, this study carefully follows the usage of the statistical analysis method and the whole process was precisely described in the method section and Extended Fig. 1. I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines and uploaded the relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material as supplementary files, if applicable. Yes Data availability statement We analyzed clinical data published by other studies (third parties). Used data is identified by indicated information of citation (reference numbers and list of references). The corresponding author responds to inquiries in the case of measured values from published figures requested by reviewers or readers. Code availability statement Correspondence author (KK) can respond to inquiries for the corresponding author’s email address on offering the Python source code and spreadsheet software files for statistical analysis. Also, we have already uploaded our Python programs for the following GitHub repository to keep traceability perfectly. [1]: #ref-1 [2]: #ref-2 [3]: #ref-3 [4]: #ref-4 [5]: #ref-5