Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adhesion and protective properties of electrospun PVA/ES composites obtained by using spiral disk spinnerets

The parameters of electrospinning polyvinylalcohol (PVA) of different molecular weights using spiral disk spinnerets were explored. Ethylene-propylene side-by-side (ES) nonwoven was used as the substrate. Electrospun PVA/ES composite membranes were fabricated by laminating a nanofiber web onto the nonwoven substrate via the hot-press method. The adhesion properties between the PVA nanofiber mat and the ES nonwoven were studied. The results showed that the adhesion properties were significantly affected by temperature, pressure, and processing time. The resultant composite membranes, when treated at 145℃ with a pressure of 100 Pa for 10 minutes, exhibited a preferable adhesion energy of 7.95 J/m2 and a maximum peeling strength of 20.17 cN, as well as a maximum air permeability of 73.92 dm3/(m2s). Simultaneously, the effect of electrospinning time on the characteristics of PVA/ES composites was also explored. The filtration efficiency increased with the prolongation of the electrospinning time, whereas the air permeability decreased. All of the samples were grade A in terms of the electrostatic half-life period (which was less than two seconds), and the softness slowly declined with the addition of nanofibrous layers. The breaking stress, the initial modulus, and the elongation were enhanced with the prolongation of electrospinning time.
Novel multiresistance cfr plasmids in linezolid-resistant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) from a hospital outbreak: co-location of cfr and optrA in VRE

Background Linezolid is often the drug of last resort to treat infections caused by Gram-positive cocci. Linezolid resistance can be mutational (23S rRNA or L-protein) or, less commonly, acquired [predominantly cfr, conferring resistance to phenicols, lincosamides, oxazolidinones, pleuromutilins and streptogramin A compounds (PhLOPSA) or optrA, encoding oxazolidinone and phenicol resistance]. Objectives To investigate the clonality and genetic basis of linezolid resistance in 13 linezolid-resistant (LZDR) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE) isolates recovered during a 2013/14 outbreak in an ICU in an Irish hospital and an LZDR vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) isolate from an LZDR-MRSE-positive patient. Methods All isolates underwent PhLOPSA susceptibility testing, 23S rRNA sequencing, DNA microarray profiling and WGS. Results All isolates exhibited the PhLOPSA phenotype. The VRE harboured cfr and optrA on a novel 73 kb plasmid (pEF12-0805) also encoding erm(A), erm(B), lnu(B), lnu(E), aphA3 and aadE. One MRSE (M13/0451, from the same patient as the VRE) harboured cfr on a novel 8.5 kb plasmid (pSEM13-0451). The remaining 12 MRSE lacked cfr but exhibited linezolid resistance-associated mutations and were closely related to (1-52 SNPs) but distinct from M13/0451 (202-223 SNPs). Conclusions Using WGS, novel and distinct cfr and cfr/optrA plasmids were identified in an MRSE and VRE isolate, respectively, as well as a cfr-negative LZDR-MRSE ICU outbreak and a distinct cfr-positive LZDR-MRSE from the same ICU. To our knowledge, this is the first report of cfr and optrA on a single VRE plasmid. Ongoing surveillance of linezolid resistance is essential to maintain its therapeutic efficacy.
Predicting habitat affinities of herbaceous dicots to soil wetness based on physiological traits of drought tolerance

Background and Aims Soil water availability is an important mechanism filtering plant species but the functional basis of this filtering in herbaceous dicots is poorly studied. The authors address three questions: Which physiological traits best predict different levels of drought tolerance or avoidance in herbaceous dicots? To what degree can species' habitat preferences along the gradient of soil moisture availability be predicted by their physiological responses to drought? What are the direct and indirect relationships between the physiological traits and how do they interact to determine the species' habitat preferences? Methods Twenty-five species of herbaceous dicots whose field distributions span a gradient of soil moisture from continually moist to dry were chosen. Under controlled conditions, watering was stopped in a treatment group, the plants were monitored until death of the above-ground tissues and compared with a control group watered at field capacity. Fourteen traits related to plant water economy were measured, including stomatal conductance, net photosynthesis and the visual wilting of leaves. Traits were then analysed using a cumulative link model and path analysis. Key Results Five physiological traits (stomatal conductance and net photosynthesis measured at soil field capacity, water use efficiency, stomatal conductance and soil water potential measured when leaves begin to wilt) related to the ability to acquire resources (when water is not limiting) or conserve water (when it is limiting) best predicted different levels of drought tolerance or avoidance in herbaceous dicots. Conclusions Species' habitat preferences can be fairly predicted by their physiological responses to drought ( R 2 = 0·48). Strong direct and indirect relationships between the five identified traits (plus net photosynthesis at wilting and the time until death) led to synergistic and antagonistic relationship in a path analysis model. To allow better prediction of species distributions along a wetness gradient, the next step would be to link these physiological traits to more accessible functional traits.
The diagnostic accuracy of the Ascertain Dementia 8 questionnaire for detecting cognitive impairment in primary care in the community, clinics and hospitals: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background The prevalence of cognitive impairment is increasing due to the aging population, and early detection is essential clinically. The Ascertain Dementia 8 (AD8) questionnaire is a brief informant-based measure recently developed to assess early cognitive impairment, however, its overall diagnostic performance is controversial. The objective of this meta-analysis was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the AD8 for cognitive impairment. Methods All relevant studies were collected from databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library up to April 2017. We used QUADAS-2 to assess the methodological quality after the systematic search. The accuracy data and potential confounding variables were extracted from the eligible studies which included those in English and non-English. All analyses were performed using the Midas module in Stata 14.0 and Meta-DiSc 1.4 software. Results Seven relevant studies including 3728 subjects were collected, and classified into two subgroups according to the severity of cognitive impairment. The overall sensitivity (0.72, 0.91) was superior to specificity (0.67, 0.78). The pooled negative likelihood ratio (0.17, 0.13) was better than the positive likelihood ratio (2.52, 3.94). The areas under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve were 0.83 and 0.92, respectively. Meta-regression analysis showed that location (community versus non-community) may be the source of heterogeneity. The average administration time was less than 3 minutes. Conclusion Our findings suggest that the AD8 is a competitive tool for clinically screening cognitive impairment and has an optimal administration time in the busy primary care setting. Subjects with an AD8 score ≧2 should be highly suspected to have cognitive impairment and a further definite diagnosis is needed.
Factors leading to dyspepsia in renal transplant recipients

Introduction Renal transplantation is the definitive treatment for end stage renal disease. Patients subjected to transplantation require lifelong immunosuppression and are prone to several gastrointestinal disorders. Dyspepsia is a common disorder in these patients. The objective of this study was to determine factors leading to dyspepsia in renal (kidney) transplant recipients. Methods It was a cross sectional study conducted at department of hepatogastroenterology and transplant sciences, SIUT Karachi, from 1-6-15 to 1-12-15 for six months. All renal transplanted patients having dyspeptic symptoms for more than 6 weeks. EGD was performed, biopsy specimens obtained from antrum and duodenum, these were sent for histopathological examination. Frequency and percentages were obtained for categorical variables, mean ± SD was calculated for continuous variables. Chi square test was used for categorical variable and student t-test for continuous variables. Results Ninety patients were included in the study out of which 64 (71.1%) were males, mean age was 35.82 ± 10.04 years (range: 18-65 years). Gastritis (non H.pylori associated) in 78 (78.6%), duodenitis in 35 (38.9%) and H. pylori infection in 29 (32.2%), renal transplant recipients. Most of the patients belonged to Sindhi ethnicity, 27 (30%), followed by Punjabi. Hypertension was the most common co-morbid condition in our patients found in 29 (32.2%), while most of them don't have any co morbid condition. Duodenitis was found to be associated with tacrolimus use (p = 0.037). Conclusion Gastritis is the most common factor accountable for this symptoms, followed by duodenitis and H. Pylori. Patients taking tacrolimus as immunosuppressant are more prone to develop duodenitis.
The Prevalence of Vitamin D Insufficiency and Deficiency and Their Relationship with Bone Mineral Density and Fracture Risk in Adults Receiving Long-Term Home Parenteral Nutrition

It has been demonstrated that low bone mass and vitamin D deficiency occur in adult patients receiving home parenteral nutrition (HPN). The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency and its relationship with bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk in long-term HPN patients. Methods: A retrospective chart review of all 186 patients in the HPN registry followed by the Northern Alberta Home Parenteral Nutrition Program receiving HPN therapy >6 months with a 25 (OH) D level and BMD reported were studied. Results: The mean age at the initiation of HPN was 53.8 (20–79) years and 23 (37%) were male. The mean HPN duration was 56 (6–323) months and the most common diagnosis was short bowel syndrome. Based on a total of 186 patients, 62 patients were categorized based on serum vitamin D status as follows: 1 (24.2%) sufficient, 31 (50%) insufficient and 16 (25.8%) deficient. Despite an average of 1891 IU/day orally and 181 IU/day intravenously vitamin D, the mean vitamin D level was 25.6 ng/mL (insufficiency) and 26.2 ± 11.9 ng/mL in patients with the highest 10-year fracture risk. Conclusion: Suboptimal vitamin D levels are common among patients on long-term HPN despite nutrient intake that should meet requirements.
Neuregulin-1 (NRG1) polymorphisms linked with psychosis transition are associated with enlarged lateral ventricles and white matter disruption in schizophrenia

Background Two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs4281084 and rs12155594) within the neuregulin-1 (NRG1) gene have been associated with psychosis transition. However, the neurobiological changes associated with these SNPs remain unclear. We aimed to determine what relationship these two SNPs have on lateral ventricular volume and white matter integrity, as abnormalities in these brain structures are some of the most consistent in schizophrenia. Methods Structural (n = 370) and diffusion (n = 465) magnetic resonance imaging data were obtained from affected and unaffected individuals predominantly of European descent. The SNPs rs4281084, rs12155594, and their combined allelic load were examined for their effects on lateral ventricular volume, fractional anisotropy (FA) as well as axial (AD) and radial (RD) diffusivity. Additional exploratory analyses assessed NRG1 effects on gray matter volume, cortical thickness, and surface area throughout the brain. Results Individuals with a schizophrenia age of onset ⩽25 and a combined allelic load ⩾3 NRG1 risk alleles had significantly larger right (up to 50%, p adj = 0.01) and left (up to 45%, p adj = 0.05) lateral ventricle volumes compared with those with allelic loads of less than three. Furthermore, carriers of three or more risk alleles, regardless of age of onset and case status, had significantly reduced FA and elevated RD but stable AD in the frontal cortex compared with those carrying fewer than three risk alleles. Conclusions Our findings build on a growing body of research supporting the functional importance of genetic variation within the NRG1 gene and complement previous findings implicating the rs4281084 and rs12155594 SNPs as markers for psychosis transition.
Plasma exchange combining with plasma bilirubin adsorption effectively removes toxic substances and improves liver functions of hepatic failure patients.

OBJECTIVE Hepatic failure (HF) is a kind of complex disease characterizing with liver dysfunction and a few clinical complications. Artificial liver support system (ALSS) has been applied to HF patients to improve dysfunctional liver in recent years. This study aims to evaluate therapeutic effects of ALSS approaches, including plasma exchange (PE), plasma diafiltration (PDF) and plasma bilirubin adsorption (PBA), on liver function of HF patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS This study is a retrospective analysis involving 516 patients diagnosed as HF between February 2014 and February 2015. Patients were randomly divided into PE, PDF, PE plus PBA, and PDF plus PBA group. Meanwhile, single-drug group and combined-drug group were also divided. The liver functions, capability of removing toxic substances and coagulation functions were evaluated both pre-treatment and post-treatment. The side effects and hospital improvement rate were also observed post-treatment. RESULTS Hospital improvement rate achieves to 69.6%. TBIL levels and MELD scores were significantly decreased post-treatment compared to pre-treatment (p<0.05). PTA values were significantly increased post-treatment compared to pre-treatment (p<0.05). Reduction value in PE+PBA group was significantly higher compared to PE and PDF group (p=0.002, 0.002, respectively). MELD scores were significantly decreased post-treatment compared to pre-treatment in each group (p<0.05). Combined-drug treatment is superior to single-drug treatment for removing toxic substances and improving liver functions. PE treatment, PDF treatment and PE+PBA treatment induced more side effects compared to PDF+PBA treatment. CONCLUSIONS PE combining with PBA plays a better role in removing toxic substances, improving liver functions of HF patients.
Are Sleep Problems a Risk Factor for the Onset of Musculoskeletal Pain in Children and Adolescents? A Systematic Review

Study Objectives Musculoskeletal pain is a major burden on the society. Adults with sleep problems are at higher risk of musculoskeletal pain onset, but there is no evidence for this relationship in children and adolescents. This study aimed to systematically review prospective studies on the risk of musculoskeletal pain onset in children and adolescents with sleep problems. Methods Five databases (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, AMED, EMBASE, and HMIC) were systematically searched to identify prospective studies that investigated if children and adolescents (aged 6-19 years) with sleep problems are at higher risk of musculoskeletal pain onset. Included studies were assessed for study quality and a best evidence synthesis was carried out on extracted data. Results Thirteen prospective studies were identified. Overall, evidence indicates that sleep problems (quality, quantity, and day time tiredness) are not risk factors for musculoskeletal pain onset. Further analysis on specific body regions shows strong evidence that sleep problems are a risk factor for neck pain onset (only in girls) and that sleep problems are not a risk factor for the onset of widespread pain. Conclusions Overall, sleep problems are not a risk factor for musculoskeletal pain onset in children and adolescents. Increased risk was found for some specific body regions and subgroups, but the evidence base was less strong and generally inconsistent. This review found a lack of quality in research methodology compared to research in adults, and further research with improved methodology is required.
Conflict with Mothers and Siblings During Caregiving: Differential Costs for Black and White Adult Children

Objectives Family conflict has been found to play a role in caregivers' psychological well-being; however, few studies have considered race differences in the prevalence and consequences of caregiving conflict. In this paper, we use mixed-methods to examine differences in the experiences of conflict among Black and White adult children caring for mothers. Methods Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 279 adult-child caregivers (213 White; 66 Black). Results Multilevel modeling revealed that conflict with mothers predicted depressive symptoms among Black, but not White caregivers, whereas there were not statistically significant race differences in the effects of conflict with siblings. However within-model tests showed stronger effects of conflict with mothers than siblings for Black caregivers, and stronger effects of conflict with siblings than mothers for White caregivers. Qualitative data revealed that Black caregivers' conflict with mothers resulted from their inability to meet their mothers' needs, inducing concern and sadness. White children's conflict stemmed from mothers' resistance to unwanted assistance and requests for support that children considered excessive, evoking irritation and frustration. Discussion This study highlights ways in which the experiences of caregivers reflect broader patterns of differences between Black and White families in both intergenerational cohesion and health disparities in midlife.
Survival benefit of adding docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil induction chemotherapy to concurrent chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma with nodal Stage N2–3

Background Concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy (CCRT-AC) has been established as the standard of care in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA-NPC). The survival benefit of induction chemotherapy (ICT) for LA-NPC remains controversial. We analyzed the efficacy and feasibility of docetaxel, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (TPF) ICT followed by CCRT for LA-NPC with nodal Stage N2-3. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of 28 LA-NPC patients with nodal Stage N2-3 receiving induction TPF followed by CCRT (TPF group; n = 12) or CCRT-AC (CCRT group; n = 16) between October 2006 and May 2016. Results The median follow-up periods were 36.4 (range 6.7-55.2) and 40.1 months (range 4.3-99.0) for the TPF and CCRT groups, respectively. One- and three-year overall survival for the TPF group vs. the CCRT group were 100% and 100% vs. 94% and 75%, respectively (P = 0.21). The cumulative one- and three-year incidences of locoregional recurrence or progression for the TPF group vs. the CCRT group were 10% and 21% vs. 16% and 32% (P = 0.49), and those of distant metastasis were 0% and 0% vs. 26% and 26%, respectively (P = 0.08). The common Grade 3-4 acute toxicities were neutropenia, anorexia, febrile neutropenia, and stomatitis in the TPF group. The Grade 3-4 late toxicities did not differ significantly between the two groups. Conclusions This study suggests that induction TPF followed by CCRT might reduce distant metastasis, so this combination may be feasible for the treatment of LA-NPC with nodal Stage N2-3.
Novel Gene Encoding 5-Aminosalicylate 1,2-Dioxygenase from Comamonas sp. Strain QT12 and Catalytic Properties of the Purified Enzyme

ABSTRACT The 1,125-bp mabB gene encoding 5-aminosalicylate (5ASA) 1,2-dioxygenase, a nonheme iron dioxygenase in the bicupin family that catalyzes the cleavage of the 5ASA aromatic ring to form cis-4-amino-6-carboxy-2-oxohexa-3,5-dienoate in the biodegradation of 3-aminobenzoate, was cloned from Comamonas sp. strain QT12 and characterized. The deduced amino acid sequence of the enzyme has low sequence identity with that of other reported ring-cleaving dioxygenases. MabB was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli cells and purified as a His-tagged enzyme. The optimum pH and temperature for MabB are 8.0 and 10°C, respectively. FeII is required for the catalytic activity of the purified enzyme. The apparent Km and Vmax values of MabB for 5ASA are 52.0 ± 5.6 μM and 850 ± 33.2 U/mg, respectively. The two oxygen atoms incorporated into the product of the MabB-catalyzed reaction are both from the dioxygen molecule. Both 5ASA and gentisate could be converted by MabB; however, the catalytic efficiency of MabB for 5ASA was much higher (∼70-fold) than that for gentisate. The mabB-disrupted mutant lost the ability to grow on 3-aminobenzoate, and mabB expression was higher when strain QT12 was cultivated in the presence of 3-aminobenzoate. Thus, 5ASA is the physiological substrate of MabB. IMPORTANCE For several decades, 5-aminosalicylate (5ASA) has been advocated as the drug mesalazine to treat human inflammatory bowel disease and considered the key intermediate in the xenobiotic degradation of many aromatic organic pollutants. 5ASA biotransformation research will help us elucidate the microbial degradation of these pollutants. Most studies have reported that gentisate 1,2-dioxygenases (GDOs) can convert 5ASA with significantly high activity; however, the catalytic efficiency of these enzymes for gentisate is much higher than that for 5ASA. This study showed that MabB can convert 5ASA to cis-4-amino-6-carboxy-2-oxohexa-3,5-dienoate, incorporating two oxygen atoms from the dioxygen molecule into the product. Unlike GDOs, MabB uses 5ASA instead of gentisate as the primary substrate. mabB is the first reported 5-aminosalicylate 1,2-dioxygenase gene.
Lack of genotoxic mechanisms in early‐stage furan‐induced hepatocellular tumorigenesis in gpt delta rats

Furan has been used as an intermediate in the chemical‐manufacturing industry and has been shown to contaminate various foods. Although furan induces hepatocellular tumors in rodents, equivocal results from in vitro and in vivo mutagenicity tests have caused controversy regarding the involvement of genotoxic mechanisms in furan‐induced carcinogenesis. In the present study, to elucidate the possible mechanisms underlying furan‐induced hepatocarcinogenesis, a comprehensive medium‐term analysis was conducted using gpt delta rats treated with furan at carcinogenic doses for 13 weeks. In the liver, the frequencies of gpt and Spi‐ mutants derived mainly from point and deletion mutations, respectively, were not changed, and there were no furan‐specific gpt mutations in furan‐treated rats. In contrast, the number and area of glutathione S‐transferase placental form (GST‐P)‐ positive foci were significantly increased in the high‐dose group. Also, the ratio of PCNA‐positive hepatocytes was significantly elevated in the same group, as supported by significant increases in cyclin d1 and cyclin e1 mRNA levels. Thus, it is highly probable that cell proliferation, but not genotoxic mechanisms, contribute to the development of GST‐P foci in furan‐treated rats. Based on the close relationship between GST‐P and neoplastic hepatocytes, these data allowed us to hypothesize that cell proliferation following signal transduction other than the mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK)/ERK pathway may play a crucial role in early‐stage furan‐induced hepatocarcinogenesis. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.