Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Time to Change the Name!

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were officially named more than 25 years ago to represent a class of cells from human and mammalian bone marrow and periosteum that could be isolated and expanded in culture while maintaining their in vitro capacity to be induced to form a variety of mesodermal phenotypes and tissues. The in vitro capacity to form bone, cartilage, fat, etc., became an assay for identifying this class of multipotent cells and around which several companies were formed in the 1990s to medically exploit the regenerative capabilities of MSCs. Today, there are hundreds of clinics and hundreds of clinical trials using human MSCs with very few, if any, focusing on the in vitro multipotential capacities of these cells. Unfortunately, the fact that MSCs are called “stem cells” is being used to infer that patients will receive direct medical benefit, because they imagine that these cells will differentiate into regenerating tissue‐producing cells. Such a stem cell treatment will presumably cure the patient of their medically relevant difficulties ranging from osteoarthritic (bone‐on‐bone) knees to various neurological maladies including dementia. I now urge that we change the name of MSCs to Medicinal Signaling Cells to more accurately reflect the fact that these cells home in on sites of injury or disease and secrete bioactive factors that are immunomodulatory and trophic (regenerative) meaning that these cells make therapeutic drugs in situ that are medicinal. It is, indeed, the patient's own site‐specific and tissue‐specific resident stem cells that construct the new tissue as stimulated by the bioactive factors secreted by the exogenously supplied MSCs. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2017;6:1445–1451
Spoken language development in children following cochlear implantation.

CONTEXT Cochlear implantation is a surgical alternative to traditional amplification (hearing aids) that can facilitate spoken language development in young children with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). OBJECTIVE To prospectively assess spoken language acquisition following cochlear implantation in young children. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Prospective, longitudinal, and multidimensional assessment of spoken language development over a 3-year period in children who underwent cochlear implantation before 5 years of age (n = 188) from 6 US centers and hearing children of similar ages (n = 97) from 2 preschools recruited between November 2002 and December 2004. Follow-up completed between November 2005 and May 2008. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Performance on measures of spoken language comprehension and expression (Reynell Developmental Language Scales). RESULTS Children undergoing cochlear implantation showed greater improvement in spoken language performance (10.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 9.6-11.2 points per year in comprehension; 8.4; 95% CI, 7.8-9.0 in expression) than would be predicted by their preimplantation baseline scores (5.4; 95% CI, 4.1-6.7, comprehension; 5.8; 95% CI, 4.6-7.0, expression), although mean scores were not restored to age-appropriate levels after 3 years. Younger age at cochlear implantation was associated with significantly steeper rate increases in comprehension (1.1; 95% CI, 0.5-1.7 points per year younger) and expression (1.0; 95% CI, 0.6-1.5 points per year younger). Similarly, each 1-year shorter history of hearing deficit was associated with steeper rate increases in comprehension (0.8; 95% CI, 0.2-1.2 points per year shorter) and expression (0.6; 95% CI, 0.2-1.0 points per year shorter). In multivariable analyses, greater residual hearing prior to cochlear implantation, higher ratings of parent-child interactions, and higher socioeconomic status were associated with greater rates of improvement in comprehension and expression. CONCLUSION The use of cochlear implants in young children was associated with better spoken language learning than would be predicted from their preimplantation scores.
Prevalence and treatment patterns of psoriatic arthritis in the UK.

OBJECTIVES The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of PsA in The Health Improvement Network (THIN), a large population-based medical records database in the UK, to examine factors associated with prevalent PsA among patients with psoriasis and to describe the use of DMARDs in patients with PsA. METHODS Two cohorts were derived from THIN to examine the prevalence of PsA in a cross-sectional study among all patients aged 18-90 years and among a subcohort of 4900 psoriasis patients aged 45-65 years. Prescription codes were used to describe therapies after the diagnosis of PsA. Associations for prevalent PsA among psoriasis patients were assessed using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS Among 4.8 million patients in THIN between the ages of 18 and 90 years, 9045 patients had at least one medical code for PsA, giving an overall prevalence of 0.19% (95% CI 0.19%, 0.19%). Of those patients, 45.9% with PsA have been prescribed DMARDs. Among the 4064 confirmed psoriasis patients, the prevalence of PsA was 8.6% (95% CI 7.7%, 9.5%). PsA was more prevalent among patients with severe psoriasis [odds ratio (OR) 3.34; 95% CI 2.40, 4.65], obesity (OR 1.77; 95% CI 1.30, 2.41) and duration of psoriasis for ≥10 years (OR 7.42; 95% CI 3.86, 14.25) in the fully adjusted model. CONCLUSION The prevalence of PsA in THIN is consistent with previous population-based estimates. Limitations include a definition of PsA based on a diagnostic code rather than Classification Criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis (CASPAR) criteria. Given the large population of PsA patients, THIN is an important resource for the study of PsA.
Improvement of small to large grain A15 ratio in Nb3Sn PIT wires by inverted multistage heat treatments

The next generation of superconducting accelerator magnets for the Large Hadron Collider at CERN will require large amounts of Nb3Sn superconducting wires and the Powder-In-Tube (PIT) process, which utilizes a NbSn2-rich powder core within tubes of Nb(7.5wt%Ta) contained in a stabilizing Cu matrix, is a potential candidate. However, the critical current density, Jc, is limited by the formation of a large grain (LG) A15 layer which does not contribute to transport current, but occupies 25-30% of the total A15 area. Thus it is important to understand how this layer forms, and if it can be minimized in favor of the beneficial small grain (SG) A15 morphology which carries the supercurrent. The ratio of SG/LG A15 is our metric here, where an increase signals improvement in the wires A15 morphology distribution. We have made a critical new observation that the initiation of the LG A15 formation can be controlled at a wide range of temperatures relative to the formation of the small grain (SG) A15. The LG A15 can be uniquely identified as a decomposition product of the Nb6Sn5(Cux), surrounded by a layer of rejected Cu, thus the LG A15 is not only of low pin density, but is not continuous grain to grain. We have found that in single stage reactions limited to 630 °C - 690 °C, the maximum SG A15 layer thickness prior to LG A15 formation is very sensitive to temperature, with a maximum around 670 °C. This result led to the design of four novel heat treatments which all included a short, high temperature stage early in the reaction, followed by a slow cooling to a more typical reaction temperature of 630 °C. We found that this heat treatment (HT) modification increased the SG A15 layer thickness while simultaneously suppressing LG A15 morphology, with no additional consumption of the diffusion barrier. In the best heat treatment the SG/LG A15 ratio improved by 30%. Unfortunately, Jc values suffered slightly, however further exploration of this high temperature reaction region is required to understand the limits to A15 formation in Nb3Sn PIT conductors.
Tuberculosis at the end of the 20th century in England and Wales: results of a national survey in 1998

BACKGROUND A national survey of tuberculosis was conducted in England and Wales in 1998 to obtain detailed information on the occurrence of the disease and recent trends. This survey also piloted the methodology for enhanced tuberculosis surveillance in England and Wales and investigated the prevalence of HIV infection in adults with tuberculosis. METHODS Clinical and demographic data for all cases diagnosed during 1998 were obtained, together with microbiological data where available. Annual incidence rates in the population were estimated by age, sex, ethnic group, and geographical region using denominators from the 1998 Labour Force Survey. Incidence rates in different subgroups of the population were compared with the rates observed in previous surveys. The tuberculosis survey database for 1998 was matched against the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre HIV/AIDS database to estimate the prevalence of HIV co-infection in adult patients with tuberculosis. RESULTS A total of 5658 patients with tuberculosis were included in the survey in England and Wales (94% of all formally notified cases during the same period), giving an annual rate of 10.93 per 100 000 population (95% CI 10.87 to 10.99). This represented an increase of 11% in the number of cases since the survey in 1993 and 21% since 1988. In many regions case numbers have remained little changed since 1988, but in London an increase of 71% was observed. The number of children with tuberculosis has decreased by 10% since 1993. Annual rates of tuberculosis per 100 000 population have continued to decline among the white population (4.38) and those from the Indian subcontinent, although the rate for the latter has remained high at 121 per 100 000. Annual rates per 100 000 have increased in all other ethnic groups, especially among those of black African (210) and Chinese (77.3) origin. Over 50% of all patients were born outside the UK. Recent entrants to the UK had higher rates of the disease than those who had been in the country for more than 5 years or who had been born in the UK. An estimated 3.3% of all adults with tuberculosis were co-infected with HIV. CONCLUSIONS The epidemiology of tuberculosis continues to change in England and Wales and the annual number of cases is rising. More than one third of cases now occur in young adults and rates are particularly high in those recently arrived from high prevalence areas of the world. The geographical distribution is uneven with urban centres having the highest rates. The increase in the number of cases in London is particularly large. Tuberculosis in patients co-infected with HIV makes a small but important contribution to the overall increase, particularly in London. To be most effective and to make the most efficient use of resources, tuberculosis prevention and control measures must be based on accurate and timely information on the occurrence of disease. A new system of continuous enhanced tuberculosis surveillance was introduced in 1999, based on the methodology developed in this national survey.
Predictors of post-partum stress in Vietnamese immigrant women in Taiwan.

AIM The post-partum period is a stressful time of change, particularly for immigrant women, but, to the best of the present authors' knowledge, the subject has not been explored. This study aimed to examine immigrant women's post-partum stress, depression, and levels of social support, and to determine the predictors of post-partum stress for Vietnamese immigrant women in Taiwan. METHODS A cross-sectional design was used. In this descriptive survey, 208 Vietnamese immigrant women were telephone interviewed by a trained Vietnamese research assistant during one of their 6 weeks post-partum. Data were collected through telephone interviews using three questionnaires, including the Hung Postpartum Stress Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and Social Support Scale. RESULTS The result shows that Vietnamese women had low level post-partum stress scores. Participants' family support rated higher than friend support. The incidence of depression was 0.5%. Social support, number of post-partum days, and family income were found to be predictors for post-partum stress, accounting for 26.6% of the variance. The Vietnamese immigrant women experienced significant stress regarding their maternal roles and received most of their support from their families rather than from friends. CONCLUSION Nurses caring for this cohort should therefore consider these factors in order to help them cope with their post-partum stress. Healthcare providers should offer available resources to these immigrant women and their spouses during this critical period in their lives. For instance, antenatal education classes could be provided to help immigrant women manage and overcome post-partum issues.
Validation of post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD using the International Trauma Questionnaire

The 11th version of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD‐11) has proposed two related trauma diagnoses: Post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD (CPTSD). Using a newly developed, disorder‐specific measure of PTSD and CPTSD called the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) the current study will (i) assess the factorial validity of ICD‐11 PTSD and CPTSD; (ii) provide the first test of the discriminant validity of these constructs; and (iii) provide the first comparison of ICD‐11, and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition (DSM‐5), PTSD diagnostic rates using disorder‐specific measures.
Biphasic Role of Calcium in Mouse Sperm Capacitation Signaling Pathways

Mammalian sperm acquire fertilizing ability in the female tract in a process known as capacitation. At the molecular level, capacitation is associated with up‐regulation of a cAMP‐dependent pathway, changes in intracellular pH, intracellular Ca2+, and an increase in tyrosine phosphorylation. How these signaling systems interact during capacitation is not well understood. Results presented in this study indicate that Ca2+ ions have a biphasic role in the regulation of cAMP‐dependent signaling. Media without added Ca2+ salts (nominal zero Ca2+) still contain micromolar concentrations of this ion. Sperm incubated in this medium did not undergo PKA activation or the increase in tyrosine phosphorylation suggesting that these phosphorylation pathways require Ca2+. However, chelation of the extracellular Ca2+ traces by EGTA induced both cAMP‐dependent phosphorylation and the increase in tyrosine phosphorylation. The EGTA effect in nominal zero Ca2+ media was mimicked by two calmodulin antagonists, W7 and calmidazolium, and by the calcineurin inhibitor cyclosporine A. These results suggest that Ca2+ ions regulate sperm cAMP and tyrosine phosphorylation pathways in a biphasic manner and that some of its effects are mediated by calmodulin. Interestingly, contrary to wild‐type mouse sperm, sperm from CatSper1 KO mice underwent PKA activation and an increase in tyrosine phosphorylation upon incubation in nominal zero Ca2+ media. Therefore, sperm lacking Catsper Ca2+ channels behave as wild‐type sperm incubated in the presence of EGTA. This latter result suggests that Catsper transports the Ca2+ involved in the regulation of cAMP‐dependent and tyrosine phosphorylation pathways required for sperm capacitation. J. Cell. Physiol. 230: 1758–1769, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Association Between Social Cognition and Executive Functioning and Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression in Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorders

While high levels of anxiety and depression are now recognized as major co‐occurring problems in children and young people with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), research examining possible associations with individual differences in neurocognitive functioning has been limited. This study included 90 adolescents with an ASD aged 14–16 years with a full‐scale IQ > 50. Using structural equation modeling, we examined the independent relationships between multiple measures of executive functioning and social cognition on severity of anxiety or depressive symptoms. Results indicated a significant association between poorer executive functioning and higher levels of anxiety, but not depression. In contrast, social cognition ability was not associated with either anxiety or depression. This study is the first to report significant associations between executive functions and anxiety in ASD. This may suggest that poor executive functioning is one factor associated with the high prevalence of anxiety disorder in children and adolescents with ASD. Autism Res 2014, 7: 216–228. © 2014 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Hyaluronic Acid Microgels Modulate Inflammation and Key Matrix Molecules toward a Regenerative Signature in the Injured Annulus Fibrosus

Low back pain results from disc degeneration, which is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by an imbalance between anabolic and catabolic factors. Today, regenerative medicine is focused on identifying inflammatory markers to target disc disease. Hyaluronan is used as a scaffold for cell delivery in disc degeneration; however, to date high molecular weight hyaluronan (HMW HA) is evaluated for its anti‐inflammatory and matrix modulatory properties in an in vivo disc injury model. Ex vivo bovine organ culture studies demonstrate the anti‐inflammatory and matrix modulatory effects of HMW HA on the IFNα2β signaling pathway that provides the motivation for evaluating its efficacy in regenerating the annulus fibrosus in an in vivo disc injury model. It is demonstrated that the HMW HA microgel acts as an anti‐inflammatory molecule in the annulus fibrosus, by downregulating the expression of the pro‐inflammatory interferon gamma (IFNα) and pro‐apoptotic insulin‐like growth factor‐binding protein 3 (IGFBP3) and the apoptosis marker caspase 3. Mass spectrometry studies demonstrate that the HMW HA microgel modulates the matrix modulatory effect by upregulating hyaluronic acid link protein (HAPLN1) and aggrecan, which are further confirmed by immunostaining. The microgel's regenerative capacity is illustrated by the increase in the disc height index.
Ultrastructural and molecular studies of Microgemma carolinus n. sp. (Microsporidia), a parasite of the fish Trachinotus carolinus (Carangidae) in Southern Brazil

SUMMARY A new species of Microsporidia Microgemma carolinus n. sp. found in the marine teleost Trachinotus carolinus collected in Florianópolis, Brazil was described based on light, ultrastructural and phylogenetic studies. This parasite developed in the liver forming whitish xenomas that contained different developmental stages with monokaryotic nuclei. The periphery of the xenoma presented some vacuolization and possessed several small projections in the membrane. The mature spores, measuring 3·8 ± 0·4 μm in length and 2·4 ± 0·4 μm in width, were slightly pyriform to ellipsoidal and had rounded ends. The polaroplast was bipartite and the isofilar polar filament was coiled with 8 – 9 turns in a single or double row at the posterior end of the spore. The nucleus was voluminous and in a central position, measuring ∼0·9 μm in diameter. A large posterior vacuole appeared as a pale area, occupying about a third of the spore length. The SSU rRNA gene was sequenced and analysed using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and neighbour-joining methods. This study allowed us to conclude that this was a new species of the genus Microgemma, being the first description of this genus from among South America fauna.
Interactivity, engagement, and technology dependence: understanding users’ technology utilisation behaviour

ABSTRACT To better understand users’ technology utilisation behaviour, a construct named technology dependence is suggested; as well a technology dependence model is proposed and empirically tested. Based on the literature on marketing, information systems’ utilisation, and psychology, a comprehensive set of constructs and hypotheses are compiled with a methodology for testing them in this paper. A questionnaire was designed and data were collected from 255 users of smartphones in Korea, mainly consisting of students and academics. Structural equation modelling was then applied to analyse the data. The result indicated that engagement is the strongest indicator of technology dependence along with user satisfaction. User satisfaction is affected by engagement and responsiveness of the technology. And all three dimensions of interactivity, namely, control, communication, and responsiveness, are revealed to be significant indicators of engagement. Based on the findings, the model develops useful insights into the factors that influence technology dependence and provides new ideas in understanding technology utilisation.
Comparative in vitro activities of nemonoxacin, doripenem, tigecycline and 16 other antimicrobials against Nocardia brasiliensis, Nocardia asteroides and unusual Nocardia species.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to assess the in vitro activities of nemonoxacin (a novel non-fluorinated quinolone), doripenem, tigecycline and 16 other antimicrobial agents against the Nocardia species. METHODS MICs of 19 antimicrobial agents for 125 clinical isolates of the Nocardia species were determined by the broth microdilution method. RESULTS Nocardia brasiliensis (n = 61), Nocardia asteroides (n = 45), Nocardia flavorosea (n = 5), Nocardia otitidiscaviarum (n = 4), Nocardia farcinica (n = 3), Nocardia beijingensis (n = 2), Nocardia puris (n = 2) and one each of Nocardia nova, Nocardia jinanensis and Nocardia takedensis were identified based on a 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis. For N. brasiliensis isolates, the MIC(90)s of the tested quinolones were in the order nemonoxacin < gemifloxacin = moxifloxacin < levofloxacin = ciprofloxacin, and the MIC(90)s of the tested carbapenems were in the order doripenem = meropenem < ertapenem < imipenem. Tigecycline had a lower MIC(90) (1 mg/L) than linezolid (8 mg/L). For N. asteroides isolates, the MIC(90)s of the tested quinolones were in the order nemonoxacin < gemifloxacin = moxifloxacin < levofloxacin < ciprofloxacin, and the MIC(90)s of the tested carbapenems were in the order doripenem = meropenem = imipenem < ertapenem. For the other 19 Nocardia species isolates, nemonoxacin showed good activity with the lowest MIC(90) of the tested quinolones. Among the four tested carbapenems, doripenem and meropenem had comparatively lower MIC(90)s. CONCLUSIONS The results of this in vitro study suggest that nemonoxacin, linezolid and tigecycline show promise as treatment options for nocardiosis. Further investigation of their clinical role is warranted.