Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Children's Initial Responses and Beyond: Effects of Niceness and Similarity on Preference, Giving, and Memory.

This study assessed children's preference, giving, and memory to investigate the impact of social information over time. We compared 5- and 6-year-olds' (N = 144) immediate or delayed responses to an individual who does or does not share their toy preference (similar vs. dissimilar) or an individual who treats others kindly or poorly (nice vs. mean). Immediately, children all preferred the similar or nice characters but gave more stickers to the similar character. This strong initial effect of similarity was not evident after 1 week; children's preference, giving, and memory reflected a greater long-term impact of niceness than similarity. These findings highlight the importance of using multiple features and measures to elucidate children's evolving views about others.
Influence of Chronic Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation on Cognitive Function, Learning, and Memory in Healthy and Diabetic Middle-Aged Rats

Diabetes mellitus can induce impairment in learning and memory. Cognitive and memory deficits are common in older adults and especially in those with diabetes. This is mainly because of hyperglycemia, oxidative stress, and vascular abnormalities. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) can decrease oxidative stress, hyperglycemia, and inflammatory markers, and improve vascular function. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the possible effects of CoQ10 on cognitive function, learning, and memory in middle-aged healthy and diabetic rats. Adult middle-aged male Wistar rats (390–460 g, 12–13 months old) were divided into 6 experimental groups. Diabetes was induced by a single i.p. injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg). CoQ10 (20 or 120 mg/kg, orally by gavage) was administered for 45 days. The cognitive function and learning memory of rats were evaluated using novel object recognition (NOR) and passive avoidance tests. The discrimination index of the NOR test in the diabetic groups receiving CoQ10 (20 or 120 mg/kg) and the healthy group receiving CoQ10 (120 mg/kg) was significantly higher than that in the control group. In addition, the step through latency was significantly longer and the time spent in the dark compartment was significantly shorter in the diabetic groups receiving CoQ10 than in the control group. CoQ10 supplementation can improve learning and memory deficits induced by diabetes in older subjects. In addition, CoQ10 at higher doses can improve cognitive performance in older healthy subjects.
Personality Traits Share Overlapping Neuroanatomical Correlates With Internalizing and Externalizing Psychopathology

Although personality traits have been linked to internalizing and externalizing psychopathology, the extent to which these traits and psychopathological phenotypes share a common neuroanatomical structure is unclear. To address this gap, we used structural neuroimaging and self-report data from 1101 participants in the Human Connectome Project to generate neuroanatomical profiles (NAPs) of FFM traits and psychopathology indices composed of the thickness, surface area, and gray matter volume of each region in the Desikan atlas, then used a profile matching approach to compare the absolute similarity of the FFM trait NAPs and psychopathology index NAPs. These analyses indicated that the NAPs derived from Neuroticism and Extraversion demonstrated medium to large positive and negative absolute similarities to the NAPs of internalizing psychopathology, respectively. Similarly, the NAPs of Agreeableness and Conscientiousness showed medium to large negative relations with the NAPs of antisocial behavior and substance use, respectively. These results suggest that similar neuroanatomical correlates underlie specific personality traits and symptoms of psychopathology, providing support for dimensional models that incorporate personality traits into the etiology and manifestation of psychopathology.
Competing risks and cause-specific mortality in patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

Background and objective Currently, there are no competing risk analyses of cause-specific mortality in patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Materials and methods We estimated a cumulative incidence function for cause-specific mortality. The first nomogram for predicting cause-specific mortality was constructed using a proportional subdistribution hazard model, validated using bootstrap cross-validation, and evaluated with decision curve analysis. Results Sex, age, positive lymph node status, metastasis, surveillance, epidemiology, and end results historic stage, grade, and surgery strongly predicted cause-specific mortality. The discrimination performance of Fine–Gray models was evaluated using the c-index, which was 0.864. In addition, the calibration plot of the developed nomogram demonstrated good concordance between the predicted and actual outcomes. Decision curve analysis yielded a range of threshold probabilities (0.014–0.779) at which the clinical net benefit of the risk model was greater than that in hypothetical all-screening or no-screening scenarios. Conclusion Our nomogram allows selection of a patient population at high risk for cancer-specific mortality and thus facilitates the design of prevention trials for the affected population.
Nesfatin-1 and Vaspin as Potential Novel Biomarkers for the Prediction and Early Diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is considered to be one of the most frequent medical complication observed among pregnant women. The role of adipokines in the pathogenesis of GDM remains strictly unknown. Different adipokines have been studied throughout gestation, and they have been proposed as biomarkers of GDM and other pregnancy-related complications; however, there is no biomarker reported for GDM screening at present. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum nesfatin-1 and vaspin levels in GDM and non-GDM women, to characterize the correlation between these adipokines, and to assess the potential role of circulating adipokines in the prediction of risk of gestational diabetes mellitus. Serum concentrations of nesfatin-1 and vaspin were measured in 153 women with GDM, and in 84 patients with uncomplicated pregnancy by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Circulating levels of nesfatin-1 and vaspin were significantly lower in the GDM group than in the control group. Nesfatin-1 levels were negatively correlated with vaspin levels. The results of this study point out the possible role of nesfatin-1 and vaspin as potential novel biomarkers for the prediction and early diagnosis of GDM. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the influence of nesfatin-1 and vaspin on glucose metabolism in the early stages of GDM.
Histological and anatomical variations of septomarginal trabecula in bovine hearts

The use of hearts from different animals as models in the experimental pharmacology and surgical clinic has led, in recent years, to an increase on interest of research with this organ. The heart’s conducting system, from the septomarginal trabecula, presents several variations, which generates numerous controversies in the literature. So, the objective of the present study is to analyse the morphology of the septomarginal trabecula of bovine hearts, identifying possible macro‐ and microscopic variations. Thirty‐four bovine hearts were analysed. Each trabecula was analysed macroscopically to obtain an anatomical description and measurements of its length and thickness. For histological and morphometric analysis, the samples were fixed in Bouin’s solution and then subjected to histological processing. In all the analysed bovine hearts, the septomarginal trabecula presented itself as a smooth, tubular meaty structure of muscular consistency, with variable length and diameter. The anatomical variations observed included a trabecula with forked marginal fixation, and single septal fixation, in addition to a trabecula with extremely reduced or excessively thick caliber. The septomarginal trabecula consists of cardiac muscle fibres, connective tissue, vascular tissue and conduction myofibrils or Purkinje fibres. In the samples of smaller thicknesses, there was a predominance of connective tissue and scarce cardiac muscle tissue, whereas in the thicker samples the predominance was of cardiac striated muscle tissue. Therefore, there are significant macro‐ and microscopic differences between the bovine septomarginal trabecula concerning their diameter and constituent tissue, and that can lead to possible changes in cardiac physiology.
Clinical Determinants and Prognostic Implications of Right Ventricular Dysfunction in Pulmonary Hypertension Caused by Chronic Lung Disease

Background Patients with pulmonary hypertension caused by chronic lung disease (Group 3 PH) have disproportionate right ventricle (RV) dysfunction, but the correlates and clinical implications of RV dysfunction in Group 3 PH are not well defined. Methods and Results We performed a cohort study of 147 Group 3 PH patients evaluated at the University of Minnesota. RV systolic function was quantified using right ventricular fractional area change (RVFAC) and + dP/dtmax/instantaneous pressure. Tau and RV diastolic stiffness characterized RV diastolic function. Multivariate linear regression was used to define correlates of RVFAC. Kaplan‐Meier and Cox proportional hazards analyses were used to examine freedom from heart failure hospitalization and death. Positive correlates of RVFAC on univariate analysis were pulmonary arterial compliance, cardiac index, and left ventricular diastolic dimension. Conversely, male sex, N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide, heart rate, right atrial enlargement, mean pulmonary arterial pressure, and pulmonary vascular resistance were negative correlates. Male sex was the strongest predictor of lower RVFAC, after adjusting for pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary arterial compliance. When comparing sexes, males had lower RVFAC (26% versus 31%, P=0.03) both overall and for any given mean pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance value. Males exhibited a reduction in + dP/dtmax/instantaneous pressure as pulmonary vascular resistance increased, whereas females did not. There were no sex differences in RV diastolic function. RV dysfunction (RVFAC <28%) was associated with increased risk of heart failure hospitalization or death (hazard ratio: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.04–3.10, P=0.035). Conclusions Male sex is associated with RV dysfunction in Group 3 PH, even after adjusting for RV afterload. RV dysfunction (RVFAC <28%) identifies Group 3 PH patients at risk for poor outcomes.
Induction Chemotherapy in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Question of Belief

Induction chemotherapy (IC) in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA HNSCC) has been used for decades. However, its role is yet to be clearly defined outside of larynx preservation. Patients with high risk of distant failure might potentially benefit from sequential treatment. It is now widely accepted that TPF (docetaxel, cisplatin, and fluorouracil) is the standard IC regimen. Essays that have compared this approach with the standard of care, concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT), are mostly inconclusive. Radiotherapy (RT) can be used in the post-IC setting and be sensitized by chemotherapy or cetuximab. Again, no consensus exists but there seems to be trend in favor of potentiation by cisplatin. Less toxic schemes of IC are tested as toxicity is a major issue with TPF. IC might have an interesting role in human papilloma virus (HPV)-related LA HNSCC and lead to CCRT de-escalation.
Biocompatibility and Immunogenicity of Decellularized Allogeneic Aorta in the Orthotopic Rat Model.

IMPACT STATEMENT The generation of a small-caliber arterial graft, utilizing a large vessel of a small animal, such as the aorta of the rat or rabbit, for clinical use in the peripheral arterial tree, can widen the options for arterial prostheses. This in vivo study demonstrated the ability of the decellularization protocol that was used to produce a noncytotoxic acellular small-caliber arterial graft, with sufficient biomechanical and biological integrity to withstand the demanding flow and pressure environment of the rat aorta. This work also demonstrated the superiority of the decellularized homograft over its intact counterpart, in terms of lower immunogenicity.
A comparative evaluation of the anticaries efficacy of herbal extracts (Tulsi and Black myrobalans) and sodium fluoride as mouthrinses in children: A randomized controlled trial

Background: Dental caries is a multifactorial disease in which microorganisms play an important role. Recently, herbs have been tried as mouthrinses to combat the side effects of chemical mouthrinses. The anticaries efficacy of Sodium fluoride, Tulsi leaf, and Black myrobalans fruit extracts on Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) have been reported in the literature, but no comparative study has been done yet. Aim: This study aims to observe the change in the pH of saliva and to assess the efficacy of the herbal rinses-Tulsi and Black myrobalans on S. mutans count while comparing it with Sodium fluoride mouthrinse. Methods: Herbal ethanolic extracts of Tulsi (4%) and Black myrobalans (2.5%) were prepared as mouthrinses and compared with sodium fluoride mouthrinse (0.05%). Sixty high caries risk patients were selected and allocated randomly into three groups [n = 20], categorized as Group A-Sodium fluoride mouthrinse, Group B-Tulsi mouthrinse, and Group C-Black myrobalans mouthrinse. They were instructed to rinse their mouth with their assigned mouthrinses for 7 days. Salivary samples were collected and sent to the laboratory at baseline, 1 h postrinsing and after 7th day of rinsing for determining the salivary pH and S. mutans count. The increase in pH and reduction of S. mutans were determined. The values obtained were tabulated and statistically analyzed. Results: There was a significant increase in the salivary pH and reduction in S. mutans count after rinsing in all the three groups. Increase in salivary pH was more in the Sodium fluoride mouthrinse when compared to the experimental herbal groups (Group B and Group C). While S. mutans counts reduced more with Tulsi mouthrinse at 1 h postrinsing and after the 7th day of rinsing more reduction was seen in Black myrobalans mouthrinse group. Conclusion: The results of the study suggest that herbal mouthrinses could be tried as an adjunctive anticaries agent against dental caries causing microorganisms.
Tobacco Retail Licensing and Youth Product Use

Strong TRL ordinances used to reduce youth access were associated with lower rates of cigarette and e-cigarette use in young adult life. BACKGROUND: Restricting youth access to tobacco is a central feature of US tobacco regulatory policy, but impact of local tobacco retail licensing (TRL) regulation on cigarette smoking rates remains uncertain. Effects of TRL on other tobacco product use and use as adolescents reach the age to legally purchase tobacco products has not been investigated. METHODS: Prevalences of ever and past 30-day cigarette, electronic cigarette (e-cigarette), cigar, and hookah use were assessed in a survey of a cohort of 1553 11th- and 12th-grade adolescents (mean age: 17.3 years); rates of initiation were evaluated 1.5 years later. An American Lung Association (2014) youth access grade was assigned to each of 14 political jurisdictions in which participants lived on the basis of the strength of the local TRL ordinance. RESULTS: At baseline, participants living in 4 jurisdictions with “A” grades (ie, with most restrictive ordinances) had lower odds of ever cigarette use (odds ratio [OR] 0.61; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.41–0.90) and of past 30-day use (OR 0.51; 95% CI 0.29–0.89) than participants in 10 D- to F-grade jurisdictions. At follow-up at legal age of purchase, lower odds of cigarette use initiation (OR 0.67; 95% CI 0.45–0.99) occurred in jurisdictions with stronger TRL policy. Lower odds of e-cigarette initiation at follow-up (OR 0.74; 95% CI 0.55–0.99) and of initiation with past 30-day use (OR 0.45; 95% CI 0.23–0.90) were also associated with better regulation. CONCLUSIONS: Strong local TRL ordinance may lower rates of cigarette and e-cigarette use among youth and young adults.
Transient Ischemic Attack and Carotid Web

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Carotid web was recognized as a cause of ischemic stroke. We sought to determine the clinical and imaging profiles of patients with a carotid web as well as its association with TIA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of carotid CT angiography studies and brain MR imaging in patients with TIA during the past 3 years (n = 135) was performed to determine the presence of carotid webs by 2 experienced neuroradiologists according to previously published criteria. Demographics and clinical and imaging characteristics are shown by descriptive statistics for patients with an identified carotid web. The agreement in the detection of carotid webs between 2 neuroradiologists was examined using κ statistics. RESULTS: There were 12 (8.9%) carotid webs at the symptomatic bifurcation and 1 carotid web (0.7%) at the asymptomatic bifurcation, and no hyperintensity was seen on DWI of these 12 patients. Eight of these 12 (75%) patients with a carotid web were women. None of the 12 patients with a carotid web had major risk factors or other causes of TIA. Fair-to-good interobserver agreement (κ = 0.87) was seen for diagnosing a carotid web with CT angiography. The rate (10/12, 83.3%) of short-term recurrent episodes of TIA in patients with TIA with a carotid web was significantly higher than that of patients without a carotid web (15/123, 12.2%) (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of carotid web in patients with TIA was 8.9%. There is an association between carotid web and patients with TIA without other identified risks. Carotid web may be an underestimated risk factor for TIA.
Malignancy in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Patients

Background: Malignancies are among the leading causes of death in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) patients with studies reporting a higher prevalence of malignancy in SLE patients compared to the general population. We wanted to determine the frequency of cancer in a cohort of SLE patients and identify its associated risk factors. Methods: Cross-sectional study involving SLE patients attending the nephrology outpatient clinic, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre between January and June 2014. Results: We recruited 228 patients (207 female, 21 male), aged 40.48 ± 12.86 years with mean SLE duration of 11.65 ± 6.46 years. Majority (87%) had lupus nephritis and were in remission with a median SLEDAI score 2 (0, 14). Majority (89%) were on corticosteroid with either a steroid sparing agent like mycophenolate mofetil (15.4%), azathioprine (36.8%) or ciclosporin (15.4%). One hundred and sixty (70.2%) patients were either receiving or had received intravenous cyclophosphamide with median dose of 5,173.6 ± 3,242.4 mg. Seven female patients were diagnosed with cancer during the course of their SLE with 56 (34-78) years being median age at malignancy and SLE duration of 4 (0-12) years. Majority (5/7) had lupus nephritis and all patients a median dose of prednisolone 10 (2.5, 10) mg with 10 (4-24) years of steroids. Two patients had a family history of cancer with majority developing cancer after the diagnosis of SLE. Two patients received intravenous cyclophosphamide prior to the development of cancer for their SLE compared to overall cohort of 160. Three patients had colorectal cancer, 2 had cervical cancer, 1 had breast cancer, and one patient had germ cell tumour and one thyroid cancer. All patients had their cancer successful treated with no signs of recurrence. Conclusion: We found a lower occurrence of cancer in our SLE patients as compared with the reported literature.
Selective Ablation of Megalin in the Retinal Pigment Epithelium Results in Megaophthalmos, Macromelanosome Formation and Severe Retina Degeneration

Purpose Mutations in the megalin-encoding gene, LRP2, cause high myopia as seen in patients suffering from Donnai-Barrow/facio-oculo-acoustico-renal syndrome. Megalin is present in both the nonpigmented epithelium of the ciliary body and in the RPE. In this study, we set out to establish an animal model to study the mechanisms underlying the ocular phenotype and to establish if high myopia/megaophthalmos is induced by postnatal megalin-deficiency in the RPE. Methods Postnatal RPE-specific deletion of megalin was generated by crossing mice bearing a homozygous loxP-flanked Lrp2 allele with transgenic mice expressing the Cre recombinase driven by the BEST1 promotor. The model was investigated by immunohistologic techniques, and transmission electron microscopy. Results Mice with postnatal RPE-specific loss of megalin developed a megaophthalmos phenotype with dramatic increase in ocular size and severe retinal thinning associated with compromised vision. This phenotype was present at postnatal day 14, indicating rapid development in the period from onset of BEST1 promotor activity at postnatal day 10. Additionally, RPE melanosomes exhibited abnormal size and morphology, suggested by electron tomography to be caused by fusion events between multiple melanosomes. Conclusions Postnatal loss of megalin in the RPE induces dramatic and rapid ocular growth and retinal degeneration compatible with the high myopia observed in Donnai-Barrow patients. The morphologic changes of RPE melanosomes, believed to be largely inert and fully differentiated at birth, suggested a continued plasticity of mature melanosomes and a requirement for megalin to maintain their number and morphology.
Effective Tetradentate Compound Complexes against Leishmania spp. that Act on Critical Enzymatic Pathways of These Parasites

The spectrum and efficacy of available antileishmanial drugs is limited. In the present work we evaluated in vitro the antiproliferative activity of 11 compounds based on tetradentate polyamines compounds against three Leishmania species (L. braziliensis, L. donovani and L. infantum) and the possible mechanism of action. We identified six compounds (3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10) effective against all three Leishmania spp both on extracellular and intracellular forms. These six most active leishmanicidal compounds also prevent the infection of host cells. Nevertheless, only compound 7 is targeted against the Leishmania SOD. Meanwhile, on the glucose metabolism the tested compounds have a species-specific effect on Leishmania spp. : L. braziliensis was affected mainly by 10 and 8, L. donovani by 7, and L. infantum by 5 and 3. Finally, the cellular ultrastructure was mainly damaged by 11 in the three Leishmania spp. studied. These identified antileishmania candidates constitute a good alternative treatment and will be further studied.
Greater Odds for Angina in Uranium Miners than Non-uranium Miners in New Mexico.

OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that uranium miners in New Mexico (NM) have a greater prevalence of cardiovascular disease than miners who extracted non-uranium ore. METHODS NM-based current and former uranium miners were compared to non-uranium miners by using cross-sectional standardized questionnaire data from the Mining Dust in the United States (MiDUS) study from 1989 to 2016. RESULTS Of the 7,215 eligible miners, most were men (96.3%). Uranium miners (n = 3,151, 43.7%) were older and diabetic, but less likely to currently smoke or use snuff (p ≤ 0.001 for all). After adjustment for covariates, uranium miners were more likely to report angina (O.R. 1.51, 95% C.I. 1.23, 1.85) than non-uranium miners. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that along with screening for pulmonary diseases, uranium industry workers should be screened for cardiovascular diseases.