Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigation of blood biomarkers for the diagnosis of mild to moderate asthma in horses

Abstract Background Asthma in horses is associated with nonspecific respiratory clinical signs and may be manifested only as exercise intolerance. Its diagnosis relies on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cytology in the presence of compatible clinical signs. The identification of blood biomarkers for this condition would facilitate diagnosis in the field, because there are regional areas where BAL is not routinely performed in clinical practice. Objective Identification of blood biomarkers for the diagnosis of asthma in horses. Animals Fourteen horses with asthma with increased neutrophil numbers in BALF (neutrophilic asthma), 9 healthy control horses, and 10 horses with other pathologic conditions (pathologic controls). Methods Physical examination, clinical score, hematology, and BALF cytology (in a subset of horses) were performed. Serum concentrations of surfactant protein D (SP‐D), haptoglobin, and secretoglobin (SCGB) were measured using commercial ELISA assays. Results Serum concentration of SP‐D > 43 ng/mL, serum concentration of haptoglobin >5730 ng/mL, and serum concentration of SCGB <19 ng/mL allowed differentiation of horses with neutrophilic asthma from horses of the control groups (healthy and pathologic) with sensitivity of 55, 95, and 75%, and specificity of 67, 28, and 60%, respectively. Specificity of 100% and sensitivity of 45% were obtained with the combination of SP‐D, haptoglobin, and SCGB at the serum concentrations indicated above. Specificity of 95% and sensitivity of 45% were obtained with the combination of SP‐D and SCGB serum concentrations. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Haptoglobin, SCGB, and SP‐D may be diagnostic aids in horses with clinical signs of lower airway disease and neutrophilic pulmonary inflammation.
The Production Effect Improves Memory in 7- to 10-Year-Old Children.

The production effect-whereby reading words aloud improves memory for those words relative to reading them silently-was investigated in two experiments with 7- to 10-year-old children residing in Brisbane, Australia. Experiment 1 (n = 41) involved familiar printed words, with words read aloud or silently appearing either in mixed- or blocked-list formats in a within-subject design. Recognition for words read aloud was better than for those read silently, an effect consistent across both list formats. These results were confirmed in Experiment 2 (n = 40) using longer lists of printed novel nonwords. Final analyses indicated that the production effect was comparable for words and nonwords. Findings are discussed in relation to the distinctiveness account and the use of production as a mnemonic in children.
Different risk factors between intracranial and extracranial atherosclerotic stenosis in Asian population: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Sex, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, smoking, age and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are major vascular risk factors for intracranial or extracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS or ECAS) in Asian population. Here, we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the different influence of these factors on ICAS compared to ECAS in Asian population, by searching PUBMED, EMBASE and Web of Science databases. Sensitivity analysis was performed by repeating the fixed or random effects model meta-analysis with removing each study individually. All statistical analysis was conducted with Stata 11.0. Finally, 15 studies including 3787 patients were identified, 2661 patients in ICAS group and 1126 patients in ECAS group, respectively. Our results showed that female or the patients with MetS were more likely to suffer from ICAS than ECAS, which pooled ORs of ICAS versus ECAS were 2.16 (95% CI: 1.65–2.83, p < 0.0001) and 1.68 (95% CI: 1.32–2.12, p < 0.0001), respectively. Meanwhile, the smoker or the patients with dyslipidemia were more likely to suffer from ECAS than ICAS, which pooled ORs of ICAS versus ECAS were 0.71 (95% CI: 0.61–0.84, p < 0.0001) and 0.75 (95% CI: 0.63–0.90, p = 0.002), respectively. However, age, hypertension and diabetes had not different influence on the location of atherosclerotic stenosis, and the pooled MD and ORs were −0.69 (95% CI: −1.52–0.15, p = 0.11), 1.08 (95% CI: 0.92–1.27, p = 0.34) and 1.02 (95% CI: 0.88–1.19, p = 0.76), respectively. Our results suggested that female sex and MetS were more associated with ICAS, while smoking and dyslipidemia were more associated with ECAS. There was no significant difference between ICAS and ECAS in terms of age, hypertension and diabetes.
Trimethylamine N-Oxide Aggravates Liver Steatosis through Modulation of Bile Acid Metabolism and Inhibition of Farnesoid X Receptor Signaling in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

SCOPE Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), the metabolite of choline generated by gut microbiota, is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and could influence bile acid (BA) metabolism. However, whether TMAO aggravates liver steatosis by modulating BA metabolism and the related mechanisms has not been investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS A case-control study including biopsy-proven NAFLD patients (n = 34) and controls (n = 14) is conducted to determine the correlation between TMAO and BA metabolism. Serum levels of total BA and the percentage of farnesoid X receptor (FXR)-antagonistic BA species are markedly higher in NAFLD patients than in the controls. Serum levels of TMAO positively correlated with the serum levels of total BA and hepatic mRNA expression of cholesterol 7 alpha hydroxylase (CYP7A1). In a murine model, it is found that 18 weeks administration of TMAO impairs liver function and increases hepatic triglyceride accumulation and lipogenesis in mice fed with a high-fat diet. TMAO increases BA synthesis and shifted hepatic BA composition toward FXR-antagonistic activity. Knockdown of CYP7A1 via small interfering RNA or activation of FXR by GW4064 blocks the effect of TMAO-induced lipogenesis in palmitic acid-treated HepG2 cells. CONCLUSION TMAO aggravates liver steatosis by suppressing BA-mediated hepatic FXR signaling.
Alterations in synaptic function and plasticity in Huntington disease

Huntington disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expansion of the CAG repeat region in the first exon of the huntingtin gene. Neurodegeneration, which begins in the striatum and then spreads to other brain areas, is preceded by dysfunction in multiple aspects of neurotransmission across a variety of brain areas. This review will provide an overview of the neurochemical mediators and modulators of synaptic transmission that are disrupted in HD. This includes classical neurotransmitters like glutamate and gamma‐aminobutyric acid, modulators such as dopamine, adenosine and endocannabinoids, and molecules like brain‐derived neurotrophic factor which affect neurotransmission in a more indirect manner. Alterations in the functioning of these signaling pathways can occur across multiple brain regions such as striatum, cortex and hippocampus, and affect transmission and plasticity at the synapses within these regions, which may ultimately change behaviour and contribute to the pathophysiology of HD. The current state of knowledge in this area has already yielded useful information about the causes of synaptic dysfunction and selective cell death. A full understanding of the mechanisms and consequences of disruptions in synaptic function and plasticity will lend insight into the development of the symptoms of HD, and potential drug targets for ameliorating them.
Platelet-Rich Fibrin and Its Emerging Therapeutic Benefits for Musculoskeletal Injury Treatment

New therapies that accelerate musculoskeletal tissue recovery are highly desirable. Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is a leukocyte- and platelet-rich fibrin biomaterial that acts as a binding site for both platelets and growth factors. Through increasing the local concentration of growth factors at specific tissues, PRF promotes tissue regeneration. PRF has been frequently used in combination with bone graft materials to reduce healing times and promote bone regeneration during maxillofacial surgery. However, its benefits during muscle repair and recovery are less well-documented. Here, we perform a narrative review on PRF therapies and muscle injuries to ascertain its beneficial effects. We reviewed the factors that contribute to the biological activity of PRF and the published pre-clinical and clinical evidence to support its emerging use in musculoskeletal therapy. We include in vitro studies, in vivo animal studies and clinical articles highlighting both the success and failures of PRF treatment. PRF can promote the healing process when used in a range of orthopaedic and sports-related injuries. These include cartilage repair, rotator cuff surgery and anterior cruciate ligament surgery. However, conflicting data for these benefits have been reported, most likely due to inconsistencies in both PRF preparation protocols and dosing regimens. Despite this, the literature generally supports the use of PRF as a beneficial adjuvant for a range of chronic muscle, tendon, bone or other soft tissue injuries. Further clinical trials to confirm these benefits require consistency in PRF preparation and the classification of a successful clinical outcome to fully harness its potential.
Processivity and Subcellular Localization of Glycogen Synthase Depend on a Non-catalytic High Affinity Glycogen-binding Site*

Glycogen synthase, a central enzyme in glucose metabolism, catalyzes the successive addition of α-1,4-linked glucose residues to the non-reducing end of a growing glycogen molecule. A non-catalytic glycogen-binding site, identified by x-ray crystallography on the surface of the glycogen synthase from the archaeon Pyrococcus abyssi, has been found to be functionally conserved in the eukaryotic enzymes. The disruption of this binding site in both the archaeal and the human muscle glycogen synthases has a large impact when glycogen is the acceptor substrate. Instead, the catalytic efficiency remains essentially unchanged when small oligosaccharides are used as substrates. Mutants of the human muscle enzyme with reduced affinity for glycogen also show an altered intracellular distribution and a marked decrease in their capacity to drive glycogen accumulation in vivo. The presence of a high affinity glycogen-binding site away from the active center explains not only the long-recognized strong binding of glycogen synthase to glycogen but also the processivity and the intracellular localization of the enzyme. These observations demonstrate that the glycogen-binding site is a critical regulatory element responsible for the in vivo catalytic efficiency of GS.
Genetic Stability of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for Regenerative Medicine Applications: A Fundamental Biosafety Aspect

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSC) show widespread application for a variety of clinical conditions; therefore, their use necessitates continuous monitoring of their safety. The risk assessment of mesenchymal stem cell-based therapies cannot be separated from an accurate and deep knowledge of their biological properties and in vitro and in vivo behavior. One of the most relevant safety issues is represented by the genetic stability of MSCs, that can be altered during in vitro manipulation, frequently required before clinical application. MSC genetic stability has the potential to influence the transformation and the therapeutic effect of these cells. At present, karyotype evaluation represents the definitely prevailing assessment of MSC stability, but DNA alterations of smaller size should not be underestimated. This review will focus on current scientific knowledge about the genetic stability of mesenchymal stem cells. The techniques used and possible improvements together with regulatory aspects will also be discussed.
Validation of the ICD-9 Diagnostic Code for Palliative Care in Patients Hospitalized With Heart Failure Within the Veterans Health Administration

Background: Patients with heart failure (HF) are at increased risk of unmet palliative care needs. The International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code, V66.7, can identify palliative care services. However, code validity for specialist palliative care in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has not been determined. Objective: To validate the ICD-9 code for specialist palliative care and determine common reasons for specialist palliative care consultation among VHA patients hospitalized with HF. Design: Electronic health record review of data from the Veterans Aging Cohort Study. Setting/Participants: The sample included 100 patients hospitalized with HF from 2003 to 2012. Measurements: Data from 50 patients with V66.7 were matched by age, race, site of care, hospital length of stay, intensive care unit admission, and fiscal year of study discharge to 50 patients with HF without V66.7 who had died within a year of hospitalization. We calculated positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV), sensitivity, and specificity. Results: All patients included in the sample were male, 66% black ethnicity, and mean age = 65 years (standard deviations [SD] ± 10.5 for cases; SD ± 9.8 for matches). Specialist palliative care was documented for 49 of 50 patients with V66.7 (PPV = 98%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 88-99) and 9 of 50 patients without the code (NPV = 82%, 95% CI: 68-91). Sensitivity was 84% (95% CI: 72-92), and specificity was 98% (95% CI: 86-99). Establishing goals of care was the most frequent reason for palliative care consultation (43% of the sample). Conclusion: The ICD-9 code V66.7 identifies specialist palliative care for hospitalized patients with HF in the VHA. Replication of findings in other data sources and populations is needed.
Expression of MIF, Beclin1, and LC3 in human salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma and its prognostic value

Abstract Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is an uncommon salivary gland malignancy with a poor long-term prognosis. Clinical reports show the high rates of local recurrences and distant metastases. This study aimed to investigate the expression of MIF, Beclin1, and light-chain 3 (LC3) in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC). Tissue specimens were obtained from 48 salivary glands adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC) patients and 15 oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to estimate the level of LC3, Beclin1, and MIF. All SACC patients were followed up. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to compare the prognosis of patients after treatment. The 3-year, 5 year-, and 10 year-survival rates of the SACC patients were 83.9%, 69.9%, and 46.6%, respectively. MIF, LC3, and Beclin1 in SACC were all obviously over-expressed. MIF showed an increased tendency in cases with advanced TNM stages, and at the same time, there was an inversely proportional relationship between MIF and LC3, Beclin1. The long-term survival of SACC patients is poor. MIF might be a risk factor for SACC patients, whereas, LC3 and Beclin1 might be an effective strategy for treatment of SACC.
Comparative study on 3 oral potassium formulations for treatment of hypokalemia in dairy cows

Abstract Background Hypokalemia is of clinical relevance in cattle. Different mostly empirical treatment options are suggested. Hypothesis/Objectives To evaluate if oral administration of potassium influences the plasma concentration, the intracellular concentration in erythrocytes and in muscle, renal excretion of potassium, and to assess if there are differences in the efficacy of the potassium formulations. Animals Thirty cows with hypokalemia (plasma concentration <3.5 mmol/L) were systematically allocated to 3 treatment groups (10 cows/group). Methods The cows received 52 g of potassium in different formulations: group B—potassium chloride bolus (release over 12 hours); group G—potassium propionate gel (release over 2 hours); and group S—potassium chloride solution (immediately available). Potassium concentrations were repeatedly measured in plasma, erythrocytes, muscle, and urine using ICP‐OES. Results Plasma potassium concentrations for all preparations increased within 30 minutes and the increase lasted for 12 hours. The concentrations of potassium in the erythrocytes and in the muscle, renal potassium excretion, and total urine volume were not affected by administration of any product. There were no differences between the treatments groups. The feed intake increased in 50% of cows within 2 hours after potassium application, which may contribute to the increase of plasma potassium concentration. Conclusions and Clinical Importance All the studied potassium formulations are equally effective to treat hypokalemia in dairy cows for over 12 hours but do not influence intracellular concentration or renal excretion of potassium. The plasma potassium concentration should be reevaluated after 12 hours.
Association between universal gloving and healthcare-associated infections: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis

Abstract Objective: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a significant burden on healthcare facilities. Universal gloving is a horizontal intervention to prevent transmission of pathogens that cause HAI. In this meta-analysis, we aimed to identify whether implementation of universal gloving is associated with decreased incidence of HAI in clinical settings. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted to find all relevant publications using search terms for universal gloving and HAIs. Pooled incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random effects models. Heterogeneity was evaluated using the Woolf test and the I2 test. Results: In total, 8 studies were included. These studies were moderately to substantially heterogeneous (I2 = 59%) and had varied results. Stratified analyses showed a nonsignificant association between universal gloving and incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA; pooled IRR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.79–1.11) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE; pooled IRR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.69–1.28). Studies that implemented universal gloving alone showed a significant association with decreased incidence of HAI (IRR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.67–0.89), but studies implementing universal gloving as part of intervention bundles showed no significant association with incidence of HAI (IRR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.86–1.05). Conclusions: Universal gloving may be associated with a small protective effect against HAI. Despite limited data, universal gloving may be considered in high-risk settings, such as pediatric intensive care units. Further research should be performed to determine the effects of universal gloving on a broader range of pathogens, including gram-negative pathogens.
Lymphocytes subsets in normal individuals: analysis by four color immunofluorescence and flow cytometry on whole blood.

In order to precisely define human lymphocytes subsets, we used four color immunofluorescence analysis and flow cytometry. We report here the results of systematic studies performed on whole blood from 20 normal volunteers. This was performed using monoclonal antibodies recognizing 18 different CD molecules and analyzed here into 14 different 4-color immunofluorescence combinations. This showed that among T cells, the two major CD3+CD8+ and CD3+CD8- subsets differed greatly in the percentage of cells expressing CD26, CD27, CD28, CD38, CD45RA, CD45RO, CD57, S6F1, BY55, CD101 and their respective combination representing an array of subsets. Furthermore the minor NK subsets, i.e. CD2+CD3-CD8+, CD2-CD3-CD8+, CD2+CD3-CD8-, CD2-CD3-CD8- also differed in percentages of cells expressing CD16, CD56, CD57, S6F1, BY55 and their combinations.
Molecular Data Reveal Multiple Lineages in Piranhas of the Genus Pygocentrus (Teleostei, Characiformes)

Carnivorous piranhas are distributed in four serrasalmid genera including Pygocentrus, which inhabit major river basins of South America. While P. cariba and P. piraya are endemics of the Orinoco and São Francisco basins, respectively, P. nattereri is widely distributed across the Amazonas, Essequibo, lower Paraná, Paraguay, and coastal rivers of northeastern Brazil, with recent records of introductions in Asia. Few studies have focused on the genetic diversity and systematics of Pygocentrus and the putative presence of additional species within P. nattereri has never been the subject of a detailed molecular study. Here we aimed to delimit species of Pygocentrus, test the phylogeographic structure of P. nattereri, and access the origin of introduced specimens of P. nattereri in Asia. Phylogenetic analyses based on a mitochondrial dataset involving maximum-likelihood tree reconstruction, genetic distances, Bayesian analysis, three delimitation approaches, and haplotype analysis corroborate the morphological hypothesis of the occurrence of three species of Pygocentrus. However, we provide here strong evidence that P. nattereri contains at least five phylogeographically-structured lineages in the Amazonas, Guaporé (type locality), Itapecuru, Paraná/Paraguay, and Tocantins/Araguaia river basins. We finally found that the introduced specimens in Asia consistently descend from the lineage of P. nattereri from the main Rio Amazonas. These results contribute to future research aimed to detect morphological variation that may occur in those genetic lineages of Pygocentrus.
Maternal and perinatal outcomes of asylum seekers and undocumented migrants in Europe: a systematic review

Abstract Background Asylum seekers (AS) and undocumented migrants (UM) are at risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes due to adverse health determinants and compromised maternal healthcare access and service quality. Considering recent migratory patterns and the absence of a robust overview, a systematic review was conducted on maternal and perinatal outcomes in AS and UM in Europe. Methods Systematic literature searches were performed in MEDLINE and EMBASE (until 1 May 2017), complemented by a grey literature search (until 1 June 2017). Primary research articles reporting on any maternal or perinatal outcome, published between 2007 and 2017 in English/Dutch were eligible for inclusion. Review protocols were registered on Prospero: CRD42017062375 and CRD42017062477. Due to heterogeneity in study populations and outcomes, results were synthesized narratively. Results Of 4652 peer-reviewed articles and 145 grey literature sources screened, 11 were included from 4 European countries. Several studies reported adverse outcomes including higher maternal mortality (AS), severe acute maternal morbidity (AS), preterm birth (UM) and low birthweight (UM). Risk of bias was generally acceptable, although the limited number and quality of some studies preclude definite conclusions. Conclusion Limited evidence is available on pregnancy outcomes in AS and UM in Europe. The adverse outcomes reported imply that removing barriers to high-quality maternal care should be a priority. More research focussing on migrant subpopulations, considering potential risk factors such as ethnicity and legal status, is needed to guide policy and optimize care.
Increased expression of miR‐146a, miR‐10b, and miR‐21 in cancer stem‐like gastro‐spheres

Gastric cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer‐associated mortalities globally. Accumulating evidence support the presence of gastric cancer stem cells (CSCs) and their role in the pathogenesis and therapeutic challenges of gastric cancer. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) may be influenced by the cellular differentiative state and as critical regulators of the cellular fate in development and cancer, can modulate the behavior of CSCs too. Here, we aimed to investigate the expression relevance of three prognostic miRNAs (miR‐21, miR‐10b, and miR‐146a) in CSCs of AGS and MKN‐45 gastric cancer cell lines.