Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mitophagy links oxidative stress conditions and neurodegenerative diseases

Mitophagy is activated by a number of stimuli, including hypoxia, energy stress, and increased oxidative phosphorylation activity. Mitophagy is associated with oxidative stress conditions and central neurodegenerative diseases. Proper regulation of mitophagy is crucial for maintaining homeostasis; conversely, inadequate removal of mitochondria through mitophagy leads to the generation of oxidative species, including reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species, resulting in various neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. These diseases are most prevalent in older adults whose bodies fail to maintain proper mitophagic functions to combat oxidative species. As mitophagy is essential for normal body function, by targeting mitophagic pathways we can improve these disease conditions. The search for effective remedies to treat these disease conditions is an ongoing process, which is why more studies are needed. Additionally, more relevant studies could help establish therapeutic conditions, which are currently in high demand. In this review, we discuss how mitophagy plays a significant role in homeostasis and how its dysregulation causes neurodegeneration. We also discuss how combating oxidative species and targeting mitophagy can help treat these neurodegenerative diseases.
Covariation of Intraindividual Variability in Cognitive Speed and Cognitive Performance Across Young, Middle, and Older Adulthood

Intraindividual variability (IIV) in cognitive speed, or moment-to-moment changes in ability, is a developmental phenomenon indicative of neurological integrity that increases gradually across adulthood. Past research has shown that IIV negatively covaries with cognitive performance, in which higher IIV at one occasion is associated with poorer cognitive ability at the same occasion. However, this association has been demonstrated only in older adulthood. Further, all past examinations of IIV change with cognitive change did not remove the average or between-person effect from within-person change in IIV. Using the PATH Through Life Study, we evaluated whether there were differences across 3 age cohorts (20–24, 40–44, and 60–64 years at baseline) in the relationship between 8-year change in IIV and change in cognitive ability (N = 7,485). Change in IIV was partitioned into between-person and within-person components, and multilevel models covarying for education, sex, diabetes, hypertension, and anxiety and depressive symptoms were conducted. IIV was negatively related to baseline cognitive performance at the between-person level. Notably, this relation was apparent and, in fact, strongest for those in young adulthood. Level of IIV was also negatively associated with cognitive change, but primarily for the youngest cohort. In contrast to previous research, there was minimal evidence of significant covariation in which within-person changes in IIV were associated with changes in cognitive performance, regardless of age group. Overall, IIV is a stable characteristic negatively associated with cognition in adulthood, but this link may primarily exist at the between-person level.
Electrophysiological demyelinating features in hereditary ATTR amyloidosis

Abstract Objective: To elucidate the electrophysiological demyelinating features in patients with hereditary ATTR amyloidosis that may lead to a misdiagnosis of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). Methods: In 102 patients with hereditary ATTR amyloidosis (85 Val30Met and 17 non-Val30Met; 37 and 65 from endemic and non-endemic areas, respectively), results of motor nerve conduction studies (MNCSs) with a 2-Hz low-cut filter in the unilateral ulnar and tibial nerves were retrospectively investigated to assess whether each MNCS parameter demonstrated demyelinating features that fulfil the European Federation of Neurological Societies/Peripheral Nerve Society electrodiagnostic (EFNS/PNS EDX) criteria for CIDP. Results: Thirteen patients with low compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude in the tibial nerve (0.7 ± 0.7 mV) and prolonged distal CMAP duration in the ulnar nerve satisfied the definite EFNS/PNS EDX criteria for CIDP. Abnormal temporal dispersion and prolongation of distal latency in the tibial nerve were observed in 5 of 13 patients. However, only one of the 13 patients presented with the reduction of motor conduction velocity in each nerve. No patient exhibited conduction block in any nerve. Conclusion: Patients with hereditary ATTR amyloidosis occasionally show electrophysiological demyelinating features without conduction block following severe axonal degeneration.
Dual-task effects on postural sway during sit-to-stand movement in children with Down syndrome.

BACKGROUND Cognitive and postural tasks require common cognitive mechanisms, resulting in conflicts when both tasks are simultaneously performed. The presence of neuromotor dysfunctions, such as Down syndrome, may impair coordination processes required to perform dual-tasks. The objective of this study was to investigate the dual-task effects on postural sway during sit-to-stand movements in typical children and children with Down syndrome in a cross-sectional study. METHODS Twenty six typical children (10.2 ± 2.4 years) and 21 with Down syndrome (10.3 ± 2.3 years) performed sit-to-stand in the following conditions: (1) simple task; (2) dual-task bimanual activity (DT-Bim): sit-to-stand while carrying a tray using both hands; (3) dual-task unimanual dominant activity (DT-Uni-Dom): sit-to-stand while holding a plastic cup simulating water using the dominant hand; (4) dual-task unimanual non-dominant activity (DT-Uni-Nondom): sit-to-stand movement while holding a plastic cup simulating water. For data analysis, sit-to-stand was divided into three phases: preparation (phase 1), rising (phase 2), and stabilisation (phase 3). The following variables were calculated for each phase: anterior-posterior and medial-lateral amplitude of centre-of-pressure displacement, anterior-posterior and medial-lateral velocity of centre-of-pressure sway and area of centre-of-pressure sway. RESULTS Children with Down syndrome showed greater sway than typical children in all sit-to-stand phases. Typical children showed greater anterior-posterior amplitude in phase 2 of sit-to-stand during DT-Uni Nondom compared with DT-Uni Dom. Children with Down syndrome during simple task condition showed greater and faster values sway in phases 2 and 3 of sit-to-stand movement than in DT-Bim activity, DT-Uni Dom activity and DT-Uni Nondom activity. During the condition of DT-Bim activity, these children showed lower anterior-posterior velocity of sway in phase 2 than during DT-Uni Dom activity. CONCLUSIONS Children with Down syndrome showed greater postural sway during sit-to-stand than typical children. The addition of a concurrent motor task to sit-to-stand impacted postural sway in different intensities and in different ways across groups. Dual-tasks increased body sway in typical children in the DT-Uni Nondom condition compared with dominant one. In children with Down syndrome, dual-tasks decreased body sway, apparently resulting in a postural strategy of stiffness.
Reducing Opioid Prescriptions in Outpatient Pediatric Urological Surgery

Purpose: We assessed the impact of a 2-phase Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle to decrease opioid prescriptions following pediatric urological surgery. Materials and Methods: Parents of children undergoing outpatient urological procedures were given questionnaires to assess opioid dosing and pain scores using the Parents’ Postoperative Pain Measure scale. Age, procedure and opioid prescription data were recorded, as well as volume of medication administered. During the first phase of data collection children received an opioid prescription for 10 doses. In the second phase opioid prescriptions were reduced by 50%. Nonparametric tests and Fisher exact test were used for analysis. Results: Of 250 eligible children 98 (39%) with a median age of 3.0 years (IQR 7.0) participated. In the 81 patients prescribed opioids a median of 2 doses (IQR 3.6) were used in the preintervention and postintervention groups (p = 0.68). Using nonparametric statistical testing, no significant differences were found between pain scores in the 5-dose group (31 patients) and the 10-dose group (24 patients; p = 0.05 for day 1, p = 0.07 for day 2, p = 0.06 for day 3). There was no association between age and percent opioid used (p = 0.83). There were no significant differences in median pain scores or median doses among procedure types. Conclusions: In outpatient pediatric surgical practice opioid prescriptions can be decreased without increasing pain scores. Physician prescribing practices may contribute more to opioid consumption than actual pain patterns.
Dimension-specific symptom patterns in trajectories of broad anxiety: A longitudinal prospective study in school-aged children

Abstract Theories of maladaptive anxiety in children have suggested different developmental trajectories across age. Weems (2008) suggested that one subgroup of children demonstrates high and stable levels of broad anxiety, but shifting levels of dimension-specific symptoms in part due to related normative challenges. In a prospective longitudinal design, the current study examined patterns of dimension-specific anxiety symptoms in subgroups of children following different developmental trajectories of broad anxiety. A total of 300 children (150 girls, 150 boys) ages 8–11 at baseline, completed the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale four times over 3 years. Using latent class growth mixture modeling, we found evidence of three subgroups of children following different trajectories of broad anxiety across age: low-stable, moderate-increasing, and high-decreasing. Compared with other children, the subgroup with moderate and increasing levels of broad anxiety demonstrated an initially higher level of separation anxiety with larger improvement across time but, initially, similar levels of generalized and social anxiety with a larger increase across age. High broad anxiety was partly carried by different sets of dimension-specific symptoms at different ages, which suggests that children with high levels of broad anxiety across time may be more sensitive to normative challenges that happen in typical child development.
Exploring binding mechanisms of VEGFR2 with three drugs lenvatinib, sorafenib, and sunitinib by molecular dynamics simulation and free energy calculation

Lenvatinib (LEN), sorafenib (SOR), and sunitinib (SUN) are drugs targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2). Despite sharing similar chemical structures and bioactivities, LEN and SOR bind to different functional states of VEGFR2, viz. DFG‐in and DFG‐out state, respectively. SUN binds to the DFG‐out state of VEGFR2 just like SOR but with less potency. Thus, detail binding mechanisms between VEGFR2 and these drugs, especially dynamic interaction, are valuable for future drug design. In the present work, molecular dynamics simulation, essential dynamic analysis, and molecular mechanics/generalized born surface area were performed to these VEGFR2–drugs systems. Rank of calculated binding affinities is in accordance with the experimental data. The binding free energy calculation suggests that van der Waals interaction plays a vital role in the binding. Per‐residue free energy decomposition indicates that residues L840, V848, A866, E885, L889, V899, V916, F918, C919, L1035, C1045, D1046, and F1047 play an important role in the binding between VEGFR2 and LEN/SOR. While residues L840, V848, E917, F918, C919, G922, L1035, and F1047 contribute the major hydrophobic interaction for SUN binding to the receptor. Our results also reveal that residue E885/D1046 plays a vital role in binding via forming hydrogen bonds with drugs.
Role of blood inflammatory cells in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps

Abstract Background/Objective: The pathophysiological and prognostic role of blood inflammatory cells in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) emerging from recent studies was investigated. Material and Methods: The main available evidence and largely-recent publications were critically analyzed. Results: Several authors reported a direct association between blood eosinophilia and CRSwNP recurrence rates. In some large series, a direct association between recurrent CRSwNP and blood basophil values emerged too. CRSwNP patients’ blood eosinophil and basophil values were strongly related. It was also found that preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte, eosinophil-to-lymphocyte, and basophil-to-lymphocyte ratios were significantly higher in patients who experienced a disease relapse than in those who did not. In histologically-confirmed eosinophilic-type CRSwNP treated with endoscopic sinus surgery, mean blood eosinophil values dropped significantly from before to after the surgical procedure. Conclusions/Significance: CRSwNP endotypes have different inflammatory profiles reflected in the relative proportions of different types of blood cells. The available data support the theory that blood eosinophil and basophil levels should be included in the routine preoperative work-up of CRSwNP patients in order to give patients accurate prognostic information, adopt rational follow-up protocols after surgery, and provide dedicated postoperative medical treatments.
Salient Classroom Management Skills: Finding the Most Effective Skills to Increase Student Engagement and Decrease Disruptions.

Effective teaching requires a complex skill set. Teachers must deftly deliver academic instruction while maintaining efficiently managed classrooms to ensure student engagement and few disruptions. The bottom line is that students cannot learn if they are not engaged and paying attention to instruction. Therefore, successful classroom instruction is contingent upon effective classroom management to maintain appropriate student behavior, engagement, and, subsequently, academic achievement (Evertson & Weinstein, 2006). In a recent study of elementary teacher effectiveness based on value-added models, classroom management was the only significant predictor of difference between the top-quartile and bottom-quartile teachers (Stronge et al., 2011), supporting the contention that effective teachers are effective classroom managers.
Systemic treatment with the enteric bacterial metabolic product propionic acid results in reduction of social behavior in juvenile rats: Contribution to a rodent model of autism spectrum disorder.

The role of the gut microbiome and its enteric metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), in the etiology of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) has recently received increased attention. Of particular interest has been the SCFA, propionic acid (PPA). Several different rodent models have been developed using PPA treatment to examine behaviors of relevance to ASD. The effects of systemic (intraperitoneal, i.p.) administration of PPA on social behavior, anxiety-related behavior, and locomotor activity in juvenile male rats (age 35 days) were examined in this study. Rats received seven i.p. injections of buffered PPA (500 mg/kg) or phosphate-buffered saline. Behavior was video-recorded during social interaction in a large open field (first four injections) or assessed in an automated activity system (individual animals, last three injections). PPA treatment significantly reduced social interaction, increased anxiety-related behavior, and produced hypoactivity and increased abnormal motor movements. These findings suggest that PPA alters behaviors of relevance to ASD in juvenile rats. These results contribute to the behavioral validity of the rodent model of ASD with systemic PPA treatment.
Periodontal disease may induce liver fibrosis in an experimental study on Wistar rats.

BACKGROUND The aim was to assess the effects of periodontal disease in promoting liver fibrosis in a rat model of ligature-induced periodontitis. METHODS Twenty-four Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control (CTRL), experimental periodontitis group at day 7 (PER7), at day 14 (PER14), at day 21 (PER21). Experimental periodontitis was induced by the placement of a silk ligature around mandibular incisors. The following parameters were assessed: gingival index, tooth mobility; liver status, and portal vein caliber by ultrasound examination; bone retraction, bone mineral density (BMD), bone volume/tissue volume (BV/TV) by micro-CT analysis; aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALAT); oxidative stress (malondialdehyde [MDA], reduced glutathione/oxidative glutathione ratio [GSH/GSSG]), and matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) levels; and histopathological evaluation of periodontal and liver tissues. RESULTS Periodontal parameters showed the development of periodontitis in experimental groups. Micro-CT results indicates an increase of bone retraction and BMD values and a decrease of BV/TV value in PER groups. Liver fibrosis could not be diagnosed with Ultrasound examination in any of the groups. Elevated levels of ASAT and ALAT in PER groups compared with CTRL group were found. MDA have indicated elevated levels and a decrease of GSH/GSSG ratio in PER group compared with the CTRL group. Levels of MMP-8 have indicated high values in PER21 compared with the other groups. Histological analysis of the periodontal and liver tissues sustains the link between periodontal and hepatic injury. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates a positive correlation between periodontal lesions and liver disease. Periodontitis may be an independent risk factor for liver fibrosis.
Conference on ‘Multi-stakeholder nutrition actions in Africa: translating evidence into policies, and programmes for impact’ Urban food environments in Africa: implications for policy and research

Africa is currently experiencing rapid urbanisation impacting on people’s food environments and dietary habits. Such changes are associated with higher prevalence of obesity coexisting with undernutrition. The present paper provides an overview of the healthiness of African urban food environments. We discuss the ways that food environments can be characterised and summarise the methods that can be used to investigate and intervene in the food environment. Data for Africa over a 50-year period (1961–2013) suggest an increasing availability of energy, animal products, fruit and vegetables, vegetable oils, sugar and sweeteners but a decrease in animal fats. There is a lack of evidence about how social, physical and macroenvironments drive dietary habits in urban Africa, as most research has focused on the individual level. Examining how food consumption is embedded in everyday life, by investigating social environments is crucial to developing effective interventions. The informal food sector plays an important role in the retail food environment. Macro-level food price changes are an important factor influencing nutritional quality of African diets. The rapid expansion of food/ beverages advertising in Africa threatens traditional food habits. Liberalisation of food trade is already impacting on the nutritional quality of food available. Improving African food environments represents a pressing public health concern and has the potential to prevent all forms of malnutrition. Hence, by conducting research into the role of urban social, physical and macro-environments, emerging interventions and policies are likely to positively impact on nutritional status, thereby enhancing social and economic development.
Effect of Left Atrial Enlargement on Success Rates of Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation in Women.

BACKGROUND Catheter ablation (CA) is a well-established therapeutic option for patients with recurrent symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF). Data on gender-related differences are limited with regard to baseline characteristics and long-term success rates of catheter ablation for AF. METHODS We analyzed a cohort of 251 consecutive patients who underwent a first catheter ablation for AF in our institute during the period 2008 through 2015. All patients were followed by regular annual clinic visits, electrocardiograms, periodic 24-48 hour Holter monitoring, and loop recorders. The primary endpoint was first recurrence of AF during 1 year of follow-up. RESULTS The cohort comprised 26% women (n=65), who were older (62.1 ± 9.6 vs. 54.4 ± 11.3 years, P < 0.01) and had a higher proportion of diabetes mellitus (23.1 vs. 5.4%, P < 0.001) than male patients. No other significant differences were evident. At 1 year follow-up, the cumulative survival free of AF was significantly higher in women compared with men (83% vs. 66%, respectively, log rank P value = 0.021). Subgroup analysis showed an interaction between female and small indexed left atrial diameter (LADi < 23 mm/m2). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that women experience a significantly lower rate of AF recurrence post-CA compared with men. This gender-related advantage appears to be restricted to women without significant left atrial enlargement. It further implies that left atrial enlargement has a stronger negative impact on post-CA AF recurrence in females than in males. Due to the relatively small sample number of females further research is warranted to validate our conclusions.
Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Disorders in Parents of Children and Adolescents With Chronic Physical Illnesses: A Meta-Analysis.

The present meta-analysis analyzed whether parents of young people with pediatric chronic physical illnesses experience higher levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and higher rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than other adults and searched for correlates of PTSS in these parents. Based on a systematic search in electronic databases, 184 studies were included in the meta-analysis. On average, 18.9% of the parents fulfilled the criteria for PTSD, and PTSS were more common among parents of young people with pediatric chronic physical illnesses than in other adults, with Hedges' g showing a 0.85 increase in standard deviation units. Parental PTSS were most prevalent among parents of children with epilepsy, g = 1.25, and diabetes, g = 1.16, and were positively associated with being the mother, r = . 19; illness severity, r = . 18; treatment duration/intensity, r = . 21; and PTSS of the child, r = . 34. In contrast, longer illness duration, r = -. 19; longer time since active treatment, r = -. 10; and better social resources, rs = -. 17 to -. 07, were associated with lower parental PTSS. The findings indicate that parents who have faced traumatic events in the context of their child's chronic illnesses should be screened for PTSS and PTSD and receive psychological interventions when needed.