Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative Analysis of the Radiology of Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures in Women and Men: Cross‐Sectional and Longitudinal Observations from the Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study (CaMos)

We compared two methods for osteoporotic vertebral fracture (VF) assessment on lateral spine radiographs, the Genant semiquantitative (GSQ) technique and a modified algorithm‐based qualitative (mABQ) approach. We evaluated 4465 women and 1771 men aged ≥50 years from the Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study with available X‐ray images at baseline. Observer agreement was lowest for grade 1 VFs determined by GSQ. Among physician readers, agreement was greater for VFs diagnosed by mABQ (ranging from 0.62 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.00–1.00] to 0.88 [0.76–1.00]) than by GSQ (ranging from 0.38 [0.17–0.60] to 0.69 [0.54–0.85]). GSQ VF prevalence (16.4% [95% CI 15.4–17.4]) and incidence (10.2/1000 person‐years [9.2; 11.2]) were higher than with the mABQ method (prevalence 6.7% [6.1–7.4] and incidence 6.3/1000 person‐years [5.5–7.1]). Women had more prevalent and incident VFs relative to men as defined by mABQ but not as defined by GSQ. Prevalent GSQ VFs were predominantly found in the mid‐thoracic spine, whereas prevalent mABQ and incident VFs by both methods co‐localized to the junction of the thoracic and lumbar spine. Prevalent mABQ VFs compared with GSQ VFs were more highly associated with reduced adjusted L1 to L4 bone mineral density (BMD) (–0.065 g/cm2 [–0.087 to –0.042]), femoral neck BMD (–0.051 g/cm2 [–0.065 to –0.036]), and total hip BMD (–0.059 g/cm2 [–0.076 to –0.041]). Prevalent mABQ VFs compared with prevalent GSQ were also more highly associated with incident VF by GSQ (odds ratio [OR] = 3.3 [2.2–5.0]), incident VF by mABQ (9.0 [5.3–15.3]), and incident non‐vertebral major osteoporotic fractures (1.9 [1.2–3.0]). Grade 1 mABQ VFs, but not grade 1 GSQ VFs, were associated with incident non‐vertebral major osteoporotic fractures (OR = 3.0 [1.4–6.5]). We conclude that defining VF by mABQ is preferred to the use of GSQ for clinical assessments. © 2017 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Comparison of Fecal Collection Methods for Microbiota Studies in Bangladesh

ABSTRACT To our knowledge, fecal microbiota collection methods have not been evaluated in low- and middle-income countries. Therefore, we evaluated five different fecal sample collection methods for technical reproducibility, stability, and accuracy within the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study (HEALS) in Bangladesh. Fifty participants from the HEALS provided fecal samples in the clinic which were aliquoted into no solution, 95% ethanol, RNAlater, postdevelopment fecal occult blood test (FOBT) cards, and fecal immunochemical test (FIT) tubes. Half of the aliquots were frozen immediately at −80°C (day 0) and the remaining samples were left at ambient temperature for 96 h and then frozen (day 4). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated for the relative abundances of the top three phyla, for two alpha diversity measures, and for four beta diversity measures. The duplicate samples had relatively high ICCs for technical reproducibility at day 0 and day 4 (range, 0.79 to 0.99). The FOBT card and samples preserved in RNAlater and 95% ethanol had the highest ICCs for stability over 4 days. The FIT tube had lower stability measures overall. In comparison to the “gold standard” method using immediately frozen fecal samples with no solution, the ICCs for many of the microbial metrics were low, but the rank order appeared to be preserved as seen by the Spearman correlation. The FOBT cards, 95% ethanol, and RNAlater were effective fecal preservatives. These fecal collection methods are optimal for future cohort studies, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. IMPORTANCE The collection of fecal samples in prospective cohort studies is essential to provide the opportunity to study the effect of the human microbiota on numerous health conditions. However, these collection methods have not been adequately tested in low- and middle-income countries. We present estimates of technical reproducibility, stability at ambient temperature for 4 days, and accuracy comparing a “gold standard” for fecal samples in no solution, 95% ethanol, RNAlater, postdevelopment fecal occult blood test cards, and fecal immunochemical test tubes in a study conducted in Bangladesh. Fecal occult blood test cards and fecal samples stored in 95% ethanol or RNAlater adequately preserve fecal samples in this setting. Therefore, new studies in low- and middle-income countries should include collection of fecal samples using fecal occult blood test cards, 95% ethanol, or RNAlater for prospective cohort studies.
Older adults rate their mental health better than their general health

Background. Self-rated health (SRH) shows strong associations with measures of health and well-being. Increasingly, studies have used self-rated mental health (SRMH) as a predictor of various outcomes, independently or together with SRH. Research has not firmly established if and how these two constructs differ. We sought to characterize the relationship between SRH and SRMH, and to determine how this relationship differed across subgroups defined by sociodemographic and health-related characteristics. Design and methods. We analyzed data from the 2012 CAHPS Medicare Advantage Survey. SRH and SRMH ratings were crosstabulated to determine the distribution of responses across response categories. The expected joint probability distribution was computed and compared to the observed distribution. A constructed variable indicated whether SRMH was better, the same, or worse than SRH. We analyzed the distribution of this variable across various subgroups defined by sociodemographic and health-related factors. Results. A total of 114,905 Medicare Advantage beneficiaries responded to both the SRH and SRMH questions. Both in general and within all subgroups, SRMH was usually rated as better than SRH, and rarely as worse. Conclusions. Within a large group of Medicare recipients, the overwhelming trend was for recipients to rate their mental health as at least as good as their overall health, regardless of any sociodemographic and health-related factors. This finding of a shifted distribution encourages caution in the analytic use of selfrated mental health, particularly the use of both SRH and SRMH for adjustment. Additional research is needed to help clarify the complex relationship between these variables. Significance for public health Self-rated health (SRH) has become established as a general measure of health status, but less is known about self-rated mental health (SRMH). Recent epidemiological studies have included self-rated mental health (SRMH) without scrutinizing its properties and in particular its relationship with SRH. In a large dataset of Medicare recipients, we found that self-rated mental health was consistently rated better than self-rated health, across all patient groups. None of the sociodemographic or health factors we examined accounted for this discrepancy. Self-rated mental health seemed to be more resistant to the effects of medical illnesses and functional impairments than was self-rated health. This points to a likely difference in how people formulate and differentiate between their mental and general health, with mental health being seen as more separate from other health factors. These findings encourage caution in the use of SRMH in analytic models, especially if included simultaneously with SRH.
The North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society Consensus Guidelines for Surveillance and Medical Management of Midgut Neuroendocrine Tumors

Abstract There have been significant developments in diagnostic and therapeutic options for patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Key phase 3 studies include the CLARINET trial, which evaluated lanreotide in patients with nonfunctioning enteropancreatic NETs; the RADIANT-2 and RADIANT-4 studies, which evaluated everolimus in functioning and nonfunctioning NETs of the gastrointestinal tract and lungs; the TELESTAR study, which evaluated telotristat ethyl in patients with refractory carcinoid syndrome; and the NETTER-1 trial, which evaluated 177Lu-DOTATATE in NETs of the small intestine and proximal colon (midgut). Based on these and other advances, the North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society convened a multidisciplinary panel of experts with the goal of updating consensus-based guidelines for evaluation and treatment of midgut NETs. The medical aspects of these guidelines (focusing on systemic treatment, nonsurgical liver-directed therapy, and postoperative surveillance) are summarized in this article. Surgical guidelines are described in a companion article.
Cerebrospinal fluid neurofilament light concentration in motor neuron disease and frontotemporal dementia predicts survival

Abstract Objective: To aid diagnostics, patient stratification and studies seeking to find treatments for the related diseases motor neuron disease (MND) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), there is a need to establish a way to assess disease severity and the amount of ongoing neurodegeneration. Previous studies have suggested that cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neurofilament light (NFL) may serve this purpose. Methods: We cross-referenced the Swedish mortality registry with the laboratory database at Sahlgrenska University Hospital to produce a dataset of CSF NFL concentrations and mortality information for 715 MND patients, 87 FTD patients, and 107 healthy controls. Biomarker concentrations were analysed in relation to recorded cause of death and time of death. Results: MND patients had significantly higher CSF NFL concentrations than FTD patients. Both groups had significantly higher concentrations than the healthy controls (mean 709% increase in MND and 307% increase in FTD). Higher concentrations of CSF NFL were associated with shorter survival in both MND and FTD. Conclusions: The results of this study strengthen the notion of CSF NFL as a useful tool for determining disease intensity in MND and FTD patients. Further studies in patient cohorts with clinically subtyped and genetically classified diagnoses are needed.
Association of increased eomesodermin, BCL6, and granzyme B expression with major clinical manifestations of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis – an observational study

ABSTRACT Purpose Studies of cytotoxic T cells and their respective lineage master regulators have been limited in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT). It is unclear whether their transcriptomes are changed in HT patients and how these changes are associated with the thyroid damage, major clinical manifestations, and disease progression. Methods We explored the gene expression patterns of selected transcription factors [eomesodermin (EOMES), BACH2, BCL6, TCF1] and cytolytic molecules [granzyme B (GZMB)] in peripheral blood (PB) T cells of 10 healthy controls and 30 HT patients of various subtypes (hypothyroid, untreated HT; L-thyroxine (T4)-treated HT, and spontaneously euthyroid HT) using real-time quantitative PCR. Results EOMES (Mann–Whitney P = 0.044), GZMB (P = 0.028), and BCL6 mRNA (P = 0.001) were overrepresented in PB T cells from HT and showed levels varying by age, thyroid volume and disease severity. BCL6 transcripts were predominantly enriched in severely affected, hypothyroid cases, both on and off LT4. Increased EOMES RNA expression was associated with advancing age, lower thyroid volumes and higher peak adjusted TSH levels over the course of the disease. The body mass-adjusted, steady-state maintenance dose of LT4 increased with GZMB and BCL6 levels in PB T cells of hypothyroid cases, mostly postmenopausal women having long-standing, non-goitrous and atrophic disease form. Conclusions Our exploratory results suggest a role for GZMB, EOMES, and BCL6 in the context of HT, thyroid injury, and aggressive/advanced disease forms. Functions enriched within differentially expressed transcripts could be an important new target in understanding the pathogenesis of HT.
Reverse Engineering the Febrile System

Fever, the elevation of core body temperature by behavioral or physiological means, is one of the most salient aspects of human sickness, yet there is debate regarding its functional role. In this paper, we demonstrate that the febrile system is an evolved adaptation shaped by natural selection to coordinate the immune system to fight pathogens. First, we show that previous arguments in favor of fever being an adaptation are epistemologically inadequate, and we describe how an adaptationist strategy addresses this issue more effectively. Second, we argue that the mechanisms producing fever provide clear indications of adaptation. Third, we demonstrate that there are many beneficial immune system responses activated during fever and that these responses are not mere byproducts of heat on chemical reactions. Rather, we show that natural selection appears to have modified several immune system effects to be coordinated by fever. Fourth, we argue that there are some adaptations that coordinate the febrile system with other important fitness components, particularly growth and reproduction. Finally, we discuss evidence that the febrile system may also have evolved an antitumor function, providing suggestions for future research into this area. This research informs the debate on the functional value of fever and antipyretic use
Restoration of burned and post-fire logged Austrocedrus chilensis stands in Patagonia: effects of competition and environmental conditions on seedling survival and growth

In Andean Patagonia, Argentina, severe wildfires produce high mortality in Austrocedrus chilensis forests. Owing to its high timber quality, A. chilensis trees are generally salvage logged right after wildfires. Post-logged areas result in open, denuded stands with low herbaceous or shrub cover, which precludes natural A. chilensis regeneration. In severely burned A. chilensis stands, we determined how different site conditions (salvage logging, SL, and without logging, WL), and the combination of different methods of control of above- and belowground competition and micro-environmental factors (incident radiation, soil temperature and soil moisture) affected survival, growth and hydric status of planted A seedlings. Two growing seasons after plantation, seedling survival was lower than 10% at SL sites, whereas it was near 90% at WL sites. Four seasons after establishment, and regardless of competition treatments, no seedlings survived at SL sites, whereas over 75% survived at WL sites. Radiation attenuation by canopy of WL sites benefitted A. chilensis seedling survival, and no additional control of early successional herbaceous species should be necessary to attain high seedling survival 4 years after restoration. Selective logging, by leaving ~50% of burned snags, and active restoration practices, may help reconcile economic needs of society and ecological requirements of A. chilensis for recovering former structure and functions.
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and gastrointestinal stromal tumor as models for targeted therapy in soft tissue sarcomas

ABSTRACT Introduction: The development of novel targeted treatment in soft tissue sarcomas (STS) is important since many sarcoma subtypes are resistant to chemotherapy and effective therapeutic options are limited. Areas covered: This review discusses the molecular background and treatment in two STS types which became a model for targeted therapy – gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP). DFSP is characterized, by chromosomal translocation which results in the formation of COL1A1-PDGFB fusion gene causing platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta(PDGFRB) signaling activation in tumor cells. The majority of GIST malignancies are associated with activating, constitutive, mutually exclusive mutations of two genes: KIT and PDGFRA (PDGF receptor-alpha). Molecular diagnostics are an essential part of GIST and DFSP management. The first effective systemic therapy in clinical practice in GIST and DFSP was imatinib – tyrosine kinase inhibitor acting on KIT and PDGFR alpha/beta. Use of the drug revolutionized treatment of inoperable and/or metastatic cases and demonstrated activity in locally advanced cases. This review summarizes the analogies of therapy and perspectives of GIST and DFSP management. Expert commentary: The next generation of kinase inhibitors are approved for use after the progression of GIST during imatinib treatment. However, little is known about treatment beyond progression in DFSP.
MicroRNA-130a Regulation of Desmocollin 2 in a Novel Model of Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNA molecules that play a critical role in regulating physiological and disease processes. Recent studies have now recognized microRNAs as an important player in cardiac arrhythmogenesis. Molecular insight into arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (AC) has primarily focused on mutations in desmosome proteins. To our knowledge, models of AC due to microRNA dysregulation have not been reported. Previously, we reported on miR-130a mediated down-regulation of Connexin43. OBJECTIVE Here, we investigate miR-130a-mediated translational repression of Desmocollin2 (DSC2), as it has a predicted target site for miR-130a. DSC2 is an important protein for cell adhesion, which has been shown to be dysregulated in human AC. METHOD & RESULTS After induction of miR-130a, transgenic mice demonstrated right ventricular dilation. Surface ECG revealed spontaneous premature ventricular complexes confirming an arrhythmogenic phenotype in αMHC-miR130a mice. Using total protein from whole ventricular lysate, western blot analysis demonstrated an 80% reduction in DSC2 levels in transgenic myocardium. Furthermore, immunofluorescent staining confirmed downregulation of DSC2 in transgenic compared with littermate control myocardium. In transgenic hearts, histologic findings revealed fibrosis and lipid accumulation within both ventricles. To validate DSC2 as a direct target of miR-130a, we performed in vitro target assays in 3T3 fibroblasts, known to express miR-130a. Using a luciferase reporter fused to the 3UTR of DSC2 compared with a control, we found a 42% reduction in luciferase activity with the DSC2 3UTR. This reduction was reversed upon selective inhibition of miR-130a. CONCLUSION Overexpression of miR-130a results in a disease phenotype characteristic of AC and therefore, may serve as potential model for microRNA-induced AC.
Permanent tooth loss and sugar‐sweetened beverage intake in U.S. young adults

OBJECTIVE In young adults, sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake is associated with dental caries, which in turn is a major contributor to tooth loss. The independent role of SSB intake on tooth loss, however, has not been well-described. This cross-sectional study examined associations between tooth loss and SSB intake among U.S. young adults. METHODS The outcome was number of permanent teeth lost because of dental caries or periodontal disease (0, 1-5, ≥6 teeth). Data from the 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were used. The 22,526 adults aged 18-39 years completed the Sugar Drink Module. The exposure variable was daily frequency of SSB intake. We used multinomial logistic regression to examine the adjusted associations between tooth loss and daily SSB consumption (0, >0 to <1, 1-2, >2 times/day). RESULTS Approximately, 26% of young adults reported losing at least one permanent tooth. Tooth loss was positively associated with SSB intake frequency; the odds of losing 1-5 teeth were higher among adults drinking SSBs >0-<1 times/day (OR = 1.44, 95%CI = 1.16-1.79), 1-2 times/day (OR = 1.58, 95%CI = 1.25-1.99), and >2 times/day (OR = 1.97, 95%CI = 1.51-2.58) than non-SSB consumers. The odds of losing ≥6 teeth were higher among adults drinking SSBs 1-2 times/day (OR = 2.20, 95%CI = 1.15-4.22) and >2 times/day (OR = 2.81, 95%CI = 1.37-5.76) than non-SSB consumers. CONCLUSIONS Frequency of SSB consumption was positively associated with tooth loss among young adults even when the average SSB intake was less than one time per day. This study suggests that efforts to reduce SSB intake among young adults may help to decrease the risk of tooth loss.
Heat transfer through glassfiber fabrics coated with silicone resin

Abstract Coatings can improve the performance of textiles, including flame retardants, water repellents and for heat resistance and weather resistance. Experimental methods are used normally to prepare heat insulation fabrics using coating technology. But there are many problems such as long processing time, high energy consumption, and the production of fumes. As computer technology develops, it is important to use numerical methods to predict the heat transfer performance of the coated fabrics. In this work, based on the yarn paths and their cross-sectional shapes, geometry models of the coated fabrics have been established. The finite element method was used to solve the heat transfer equations, and the numerical model was established to predict heat transfer performance. It was found that: (1) when comparing with the SEM images, the geometry model can represent well the structure and appearance of the coated fabric; (2) validation of the experimental data indicates that the numerical simulation model of heat transfer through the coated fabric is reliable and useful to predict the heat transfer performance, and the average relative deviation between the numerical data and experimental data was less than 7.0%; (3) when the thickness of the silicone coating layer is less than 0.50 mm, the temperature of the back face of fabric rapidly increased between 1 and 10 s, and it remained more than 510 °C as the heating time was extended. When the coating thickness is between 0.75 and 2 mm, the rising tendency of the temperature becomes gradually slower, and their temperatures remained 489, 455, 369 and 281 °C when the thickness of the coating layer is 0.75, 1.00, 1.50 and 2.00 mm, respectively.
Vertical variation of ice particle size in convective cloud tops

A novel technique is used to estimate derivatives of ice effective radius with respect to height near convective cloud tops (dre/dz) from airborne shortwave reflectance measurements and lidar. Values of dre/dz are about −6 μm/km for cloud tops below the homogeneous freezing level, increasing to near 0 μm/km above the estimated level of neutral buoyancy. Retrieved dre/dz compares well with previously documented remote sensing and in situ estimates. Effective radii decrease with increasing cloud top height, while cloud top extinction increases. This is consistent with weaker size sorting in high, dense cloud tops above the level of neutral buoyancy where fewer large particles are present and with stronger size sorting in lower cloud tops that are less dense. The results also confirm that cloud top trends of effective radius can generally be used as surrogates for trends with height within convective cloud tops. These results provide valuable observational targets for model evaluation.