Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative study of conventional local steroid injections only with multi-drugs therapy and steroid injections in Oral Submucosal Fibrosis (OSMF).

The present study was undertaken to assess how the patient’s signs and symptoms relieved and the changes appearing during conservative treatment in OSMF. The study was also aimed to establish the vitamins A, C and E is a must for effective conservative treatment along with steroid injection, hyaluronidase and jaw dilatation exercises in OSMF. ABSTRACT Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is defined as the chronic inflammatory disease and progressive fibrosis with localized collagen disorder involving oral mucosa. There are multiple pathophysiological changes that occur in this disease. The aim of this study is to establish that multidrugs needed for effective conservative treatment in oral submucous fibrosis. A total number of 35 cases of OSMF managed in our ENT out patient department (OPD) over one year period ( March 2010 to February 2011) were followed up until July 2011 and the results were analyzed retrospectively to find out any incidence of recurrence of this disease. All the cases received injection steroid and hyaluronidase with multivitamins (A,C and E in higher doses) for 10 weeks. At the end of treatment all the patients were relieved of burning sensation of mouth and got nearnormal mouth opening. The oral mucosa also changed from pale to pink. During follow-up no recurrence was detected. The study suggested that Vitamins A, C and E in higher doses are required to ensure best possible result apart from intralesional steroid and hyaluronidase as a standard conservative treatment protocol in oral submucous fibrosis.
The oral microbiome and subclinical herpesvirus shedding in HIV infected men on ART

Despite undetectable plasma HIV load and CD4 counts reconstitution due to the effective Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) people living with HIV (PWH) are still at a higher risk for developing non-AIDS-associated chronic diseases, which have been linked to systemic immune activation and inflammation. Human microbiota composed of bacteria, viruses and fungi plays an important role in the induction and function of the host immune system and the symbiosis and dysbiosis of fecal and/or oral microbiome have both the local and systemic effects on the immune system. We hypothesize that oral microbiome dysbiosis of PWH leads to systemic immune activation and contributes to non-AIDS-associated chronic diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the oral microbiome of PWH on ART is associated with levels of systemic immune activation and oral herpesvirus shedding. Thirteen HIV-infected participants on ART and 11 age matched HIV-negative controls participated in this study. Two oral samples with 6-month intervals were collected from each participant. The DNA was isolated from the samples, and the 16S rRNA V4 region was amplified of the DNA by PCR followed by sequencing using Illumina MiSeq platform. The sequence data were analyzed using Qiime2 and statistical analysis was performed by Stata. The results show there were no statistically significant differences in alpha diversity and beta diversity of oral bacteria at family level between PWH on ART and negative controls at both week 0 and week 24 time points, respectively. There are also no significant correlations between alpha diversity of oral bacteria and plasma inflammatory cytokine levels generated from the previous study. However, when the data were analyzed with herpesvirus shedding, which was obtained from a previous study using the same oral samples, alpha diversity of oral bacteria was significantly decreased in participants with HHV6 shedding compared to those who had no HHV6 shedding regardless of HIV status. In addition, the beta diversity of oral bacteria is also significantly different based on HHV6 shedding status in these oral samples. The same phenomena were not observed based on EBV, CMV or HHV8 shedding status. Our results suggest there may be intricate interplays in the oral microbiome. Future studies with a larger number of participants in each group are needed to determine the role of the oral microbiome in the systemic immune activation observed in PWH on ART. Among PWH on ART, a significant public health concern exists regarding the role of oral microbiome effect on immune activation. There is an imperative need for research to lead to a better treatment strategy concerning non-AIDS chronic diseases in this population.
Pentapeptide Protects INS-1 Cells From hIAPP-Mediated Apoptosis by Enhancing Autophagy Through mTOR Pathway

The human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP), the major component of islet amyloid deposition, is one of the amyloidogenic peptides and has been associated with β cell loss and dysfunction in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Autophagy plays a central role in the clearance of hIAPP aggregates, thereby diminishing the hIAPP-induced cytotoxicity. Conversely, hIAPP has been reported to have interfering effects on the autophagy. The pentapeptide FLPNF developed in our previous study has been shown to have effects on the level of the downstream proteins of mTOR and autophagy–lysosome pathway. In the present study, the peptide FLPNF-mediated increase in autophagy flux and its underlying mechanisms, as well as its protecting effect on INS-1 cells, were investigated. Autophagy flux in INS-1 cells overexpressing hIAPP (hIAPP-INS-1 cells) markedly increased after exposure to peptide FLPNF for 24 h and peaked at a concentration of 200 µM. Peptide FLPNF enhanced the autophagy by inhibiting the mTORC1 activity. Flow cytometry results showed the peptide FLPNF bind to mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and further molecular docking analysis revealed a direct interaction between peptide FLPNF and the FRB domain of mTOR. Meanwhile, both peptide FLPNF and rapamycin significantly decreased the hIAPP-induced apoptosis, whereas 3-MA increased the apoptosis. Furthermore, peptide FLPNF reduced the hIAPP oligomer and improved the hIAPP-INS-1 cells insulin release function at high glucose concentration. Taken together, the peptide FLPNF decreased the hIAPP oligomer via upregulating autophagy by inhibiting mTORC1 activity, thus protecting the INS-1 cells from hIAPP-induced apoptosis and improving the insulin release function of INS-1 cells.
First detection of Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus ( IAPV ) in Spanish honeybees

Spanish bee samples were analyzed for the presence of Israel Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV). Some of these samples were collected from colonies presenting compatible symptoms with the colony collapse disorder (CCD, 240 out of 484) and the rest were asymptomatic. Only one of these samples was diagnosed as positive to IAPV by employing a one step RT-PCR that targets the ORF 2 of the IAPV genome. Specif icity of the RT-PCR assay was evaluated by sequence analysis of size specific amplification products. IAPV nucleotide sequences already published in GeneBank were used to construct a phylogenetic tree that included the new Spanish IAPV sequence (FJ821506). They segregated in two main lineages and the Spanish isolate was mainly related with the American ones. As IAPV was detected in Spain in a very low frequency, no causal relation between IAPV and CCD in Spain was found. Additional key words: colony collapse disorder, honeybee viruses, RT-PCR, phylogeny.
Anthropometrics Analysis of Mental Foramen and Accessory Mental Foramen in Zambian Adult Human Mandibles

The mental foramen (MF) and accessory mental foramen (AMF) are the strategically important landmarks during surgical interventions and anaesthetic nerve blocks procedures involving the mental nerve. The study aimed at evaluating anthropometrics of MF and AMF in Zambian adult human mandibles and it was cleared for ethics from TDRC Ethics Review Committee (Reg. No.: 00002911; FWA: 00003729). A total of 33 Zambian adult human mandibles were evaluated for shape, position, and direction of opening of foramen. All measurements were performed using a Digital Vernier Calliper and statistically analysed for per cent frequency and mean and standard deviations, and we performed the one sample t-test for comparative analysis. Data were considered significant at p<0.05. All mandibles that were examined had bilateral MF while unilateral AMF was found in two mandibles (6%). The foramens were mostly oval in shape and their most common position was between the second premolar and first molar and the most common orientation was posterior-superior. The comparative analysis of mandibular anthropometrics showed significant variations (p<0.05) with different ethnic groups. The findings emphasize the ethnic variations and edify that the foramen position is not always as stated in reference textbooks. The clinical creditability of the study is cautioning the surgeons on possible variations of the MF and AMF anthropometrics compared to existing literature in order to avoid any unforeseen injury related to anaesthesia or dental surgeries. Further studies with large sample sizes representing whole country are recommended to establish the standard MF and AMF anthropometrics of Zambian population.
Urinary Monocyte Chemotactic Protein -1 in Childhood Nephrotic Syndrome

Background Childhood nephrotic syndrome is a clinical entity characterized by massive loss of urinary protein (primarily albuminuria) leading to hypoproteinemia (hypoalbuminemia) and edema. The mechanism of development of childhood nephrotic syndrome is not yet clear. Kidney disease involves an interplay between inflammatory and biochemical changes with the development of innate immune response and accumulation and activation of leucocytes, particularly monocytes/macrophages in the kidney. The moncyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) is one of the CC chemokine family and it plays an important role in the recruitment of monocytes/macrophages into renal tubulointerstitium. Aim of the Work The aim was to measure the urinary levels of MCP-1 in children with nephrotic syndrome and compare these levels in remission and relapse as well as in steroid sensitive and steroid resistant cases. Patients and method The study included 70 patients with nephrotic syndrome following up in Pediatric Nephrology Clinic, Ain Shams University diagnosed for at least one year and 20 age and sex matched healthy children as control group. Patients with renal impairment and secondary nephrotic syndrome were excluded from the study. Patients were divided into Group A: 35 patients in remission and Group B: 35 patients in relapse. Subgrouping according to the clinical type of nephrotic syndrome was done. Patients were subjected to thorough history taking and careful clinical examination. Routine laboratory investigations were done (s. albumin, s. creatinine, s. cholesterol, complete urialysis and urinary protein/creatinine ratio) together with quantitative determination of urinary monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in cases and controls. Results We found a highly significant difference in urinary MCP-1 between group A, group B, and controls, the highest being group B. the levels in patients in remission still exceeded the controls significantly. However, in group B, no significant difference was found between clinical types of the disease in urinary MCP-1. The same was found in group A. no difference was found between males and females in group A as regards urinary MCP-1 levels yet females had significantly higher levels in group B. This difference was not seen in controls. We found no significant difference in MCP-1 levels in patients receiving different treatment modalities. Conclusion Urinary MCP-1 is a highly sensitive and specific biomarker in childhood nephrotic syndrome (98.5% and 100% respectively), being highly elevated in both remission and relapse, but is not a suitable prognostic biomarker being insignificantly different among different clinical types of nephrotic syndrome.
An application of viola jones method for face recognition for absence process efficiency

Absence was a list of documents that the company used to record the attendance time of each employee. The most common problem in a fingerprint machine is the identification of a slow sensor or a sensor not recognizing a finger. The employees late to work because they get difficulties at fingerprint system, they need about 3 – 5 minutes to absence when the condition of finger is wet or not fit. To overcome this problem, this research tried to utilize facial recognition for attendance process. The method used for facial recognition was Viola Jones. Through the processing phase of the RGB face image was converted into a histogram equalization face image for the next stage of recognition. The result of this research was the absence process could be done less than 1 second with a maximum slope of ± 700 and a distance of 20-200 cm. After implement facial recognition the process of absence is more efficient, just take less 1 minute to absence.
Effect of systemic ghrelin administration on experimental myocardial infarction induced by isoproterenol in rats

Objective: Is to investigate the possible effects of ghrelin administration on isoproterenol (ISO)induced myocardial infarction (MI) in albino rats of local strain. Methods: 30 adult male albino rats were divided into 3 groups, each consisted of 10 rats. Group I: received saline as a control group. Group II: ISO injected subcutaneously to rats (100 mg/kg) at an interval of 24 h for 2 days. Group III: rats were pretreated with ghrelin (150 μg/kg, s.c.) for 15 days and at the 14th and 15th days received ISO as in group II. Levels of serum cardiac enzymes (CK, CK-MB fraction and LDH), lipid profiles and plasma TNF-α and IL-6 were evaluated. Specimens from heart were obtained to measure the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, lipid peroxidation products (MDA,GSH)and endogenous antioxidants enzymes activities (CAT,SOD,PON1). Results: ISOtreated rats showed significant increase in the activities of serum cardiac enzymes, plasma and cardiac tissues TNF-α and IL-6, as well as in heart tissues level of MDA and GSH and in serum cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL . On the other hand there are significant decrease in tissues SOD and PON1 enzyme activities and serum HDL-cholesterol when these results were compared to control rats. Pretreatment with ghrelin significantly attenuated these changes as compared to ISO treated rats (group I). Conclusions: This finding demonstrated that ghrelin may be considered as promising new therapies for MI Keywords
Enabling Electronic Resource Access for Distance Learners

Distance Education is gaining lot of prominence in the country due to various socio-economic parameters and the rising demand for education. The country has got a very comprehensive Distance Learning system comprising a national open university, 12 state open universities and 127 directorates of distance education attached to campus universities. The Indira Gandhi National Open University operates through a three-tier system having University Headquarters at Maidan Garhi, New Delhi; 64 Regional Centres in various States and 1621 Study Centres scattered all over the country. Library and Documentation Division (L&DD) is a hierarchical system with the Central Library at the Headquarters followed by branch libraries located at Regional Centres and Study Centres. To provide equitable information access to distance learners at par with the current national initiatives for campus based learners, the Library is working to form a library consortium, NODLINET (National Open and Distance Learners’ Library Network) for distance learning institutions as the network of national Open University, state Open Universities and directorates of distance education in campus universities in the country. Distance learning Libraries should concentrate on fulfilling the information needs and requirements of distance learners by exploring modern information technologies, developing library networks and negotiating with information providers to strike better learner friendly licensing and access models. The paper discusses the different barriers in providing electronic resources and services to the distance learners and arrives at viable suggestions for overcoming the same.
Evaluate the effect of combination of a taping and iontophoresis or taping alone in the treatment of plantar fasciitis pain

The Aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of combination of a Taping and Iontophoresis or Taping alone in the treatment of Plantar Fasciitis pain. Thirty patients (male =16; female=14) were selected as subjects and they were further divided into two groups. Each group comprising of 15 subjects (male=8; female=7). The results of the our study show an improvement in the mean values of Foot Functional Index scores and Visual Analog Scale after treatment in both groups. But our study was found that an improvement was statistical significant more in Taping and Iontophoresis group than Taping group alone. In the study was concluded that if the patients of plantar fasciitis were treated with combination therapy (Taping & Iontophoresis) then there was noticed significant recovery from pain and disability in them.
An independently validated nomogram for isocitrate dehydrogenase-wild-type glioblastoma patient survival

Abstract Background In 2016, the World Health Organization reclassified the definition of glioblastoma (GBM), dividing these tumors into isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wild-type and IDH-mutant GBM, where the vast majority of GBMs are IDH-wild-type. Nomograms are useful tools for individualized estimation of survival. This study aimed to develop and independently validate a nomogram for IDH-wild-type patients with newly diagnosed GBM. Methods Data were obtained from newly diagnosed GBM patients from the Ohio Brain Tumor Study (OBTS) and the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) for diagnosis years 2007–2017 with the following variables: age at diagnosis, sex, extent of resection, concurrent radiation/temozolomide (TMZ) status, Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) methylation status, and IDH mutation status. Survival was assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression, random survival forests, and recursive partitioning analysis, with adjustment for known prognostic factors. The models were developed using the OBTS data and independently validated using the UCSF data. Models were internally validated using 10-fold cross-validation and externally validated by plotting calibration curves. Results A final nomogram was validated for IDH-wild-type newly diagnosed GBM. Factors that increased the probability of survival included younger age at diagnosis, female sex, having gross total resection, having concurrent radiation/TMZ, having a high KPS, and having MGMT methylation. Conclusions A nomogram that calculates individualized survival probabilities for IDH-wild-type patients with newly diagnosed GBM could be useful to physicians for counseling patients regarding treatment decisions and optimizing therapeutic approaches. Free software for implementing this nomogram is provided: https://gcioffi.shinyapps. io/Nomogram_For_IDH_Wildtype_GBM_H_Gittleman/.
The role of aberrant salience and alexithymia in psychotic experiences of non-treatment-seeking adolescent immigrants compared with natives

Introduction and objectives Immigration in Europe is a challenge for health care systems. Psychotic experiences are not uncommon in the community. Meta-analyses showed that immigrants are at higher risk of psychotic symptoms and experiences than natives. In the international literature, there is little knowledge about the psychological processes explaining the relationship between immigrant status and psychotic experiences. Aberrant salience, the biased assignment of significance to otherwise innocuous stimuli, and alexithymia (difficulty identifying/verbalizing feelings and concrete speech/thinking) have been found to be vulnerability/maintenance factors of psychotic symptoms. This report presents a study investigating whether: 1) adolescent immigrants in Italy report more intense psychotic experiences than natives; 2) aberrant salience and alexithymia predict more intense psychotic experiences; and 3) these psychological processes moderate the effect of immigrant status on psychotic experiences. Knowledge about the role of these processes in psychotic experiences may suggest early detection or prevention strategies. Methods One hundred and forty-eight community adolescents were recruited (mean age =17.57 years, 47.30% females); of these, 75 were born in Italy (natives) and 73 were immigrants (born in countries other than Italy). The Aberrant Salience Inventory, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20, and the Screening for Psychotic Experiences were administered in classrooms. Results Immigrants had higher aberrant salience (F=4.38, p<0.05), alexithymia (F=8.93, p<0.01), and psychotic experiences (F=10.65, p<0.01) than natives. Higher aberrant salience and alexithymia predicted more intense psychotic experiences. An interaction effect between immigrant status and alexithymia emerged: immigrants with higher alexithymia had more intense psychotic experiences (β=0.17, p<0.001). Conclusion Early detection or prevention programs should focus on aberrant salience in the adolescent population and should consider young immigrants with higher alexithymia as a subgroup with higher psychotic experiences. Mindfulness-based programs may be implemented for this adolescent subgroup to promote emotional intelligence.
Validation of Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy with Nasopharyngeal Cancer Subscale (FACT-NP) for Quality of Life in Thai Patients

Objective: To develop and validate the Thai version of the functional assessment of cancer therapy with nasopharyngeal cancer subscale (FACT-NP) with the abbreviated version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF instrument (WHOQOL-BREF). Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in the Radiology Department between January 2014 and October 2016. Inclusion criteria: nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients aged greater than 18 years. Exclusion criteria: no comprehension of the Thai language, had other cancers (except for skin cancer and diagnosed with impaired cognition and/or overt psychosis), major depression or delirium. After signing the consent form, participants were interviewed and self-completed FACT-NP and WHOQOL-BREF. The structure of the FACT-NP was determined with exploratory factors analysis. The internal reliability of identified domains was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha. The correlation between domains of the modified FACT-NP and the domains of WHOQOL-BREF were examined with Spearman’s correlation. Known-group validity was determined by comparing patients with different sociodemographic and clinical characteristics using the T-test, Ranksum test and analysis of variance. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.Results: This study was terminated early due to a long accrual period. Of the 230 patients included in the study, only 220 completed both FACT-NP and WHOQOL-BREF. Exploratory factor analysis showed an accumulative variance of 0.56 with 4 factors. The internal reliability of modified FACT-NP was 0.92. There was moderate correlation between modified FACT-NP and WHOQOL-BREF. Both the modified FACT-NP and WHOQOL-BREF could identify differences between the groups.Conclusion: The Thai modified FACT-NP was found to be both valid and reliable for measuring the quality of life in Thai nasopharyngeal cancer patients.