Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of music care on depression and behavioral problems in elderly people with dementia in Taiwan: a quasi-experimental, longitudinal study

Objectives: The purpose was to examine the effectiveness of music care on cognitive function, depression, and behavioral problems among elderly people with dementia in long-term care facilities in Taiwan. Methods: The study had a quasi-experimental, longitudinal research design and used two groups of subjects. Subjects were not randomly assigned to experimental group (n = 90) or comparison group (n = 56). Based on Bandura's social cognition theory, subjects in the experimental group received Kagayashiki music care (KMC) twice per week for 24 weeks. Subjects in the comparison group were provided with activities as usual. Results: Results found, using the control score of the Clifton Assessment Procedures for the Elderly Behavior Rating Scale (baseline) and time of attending KMC activities as a covariate, the two groups of subjects had statistically significant differences in the mini-mental state examination (MMSE). Results also showed that, using the control score of the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (baseline) and MMSE (baseline) as a covariate, the two groups of subjects had statistically significant differences in the Clifton Assessment Procedures for the Elderly Behavior Rating Scale. Conclusion: These findings provide information for staff caregivers in long-term care facilities to develop a non-invasive care model for elderly people with dementia to deal with depression, anxiety, and behavioral problems.
Tributyltin exposure alters cytokine levels in mouse serum

Abstract Tributyltin (TBT), a toxic environmental contaminant, has been widely utilized for various industrial, agricultural and household purposes. Its usage has led to a global contamination and its bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms and terrestrial mammals. Previous studies suggest that TBT has debilitating effects on the overall immune function of animals, rendering them more vulnerable to diseases. TBT (at concentrations that have been detected in human blood) alters secretion of inflammatory cytokines from human lymphocytes ex vivo. Thus, it is important to determine if specified levels of TBT can alter levels of cytokines in an in vivo system. Mice were exposed to biologically relevant concentrations of TBT (200, 100 or 25 nM final concentrations). The quantitative determination of interferon (IFN)-γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL2, IL5, IL7, IL12βp40, IL13, IL15, keratinocyte chemoattractant (KC), macrophage inflammatory protein 1β (MIP), MIP2 and regulated on activation normal T-cell-expressed and secreted (RANTES) was performed in mouse sera by MAGPIX analysis and Western blot. Results indicated alterations (both decreases and increases) in several cytokines. The pro-inflammatory cytokines IFNγ, TNFα, IL-1β, IL-2, IL5, IL12βp40 and IL-15 were altered as were the chemokines MIP-1 and RANTES and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-13. Increases in IFNγ and TNFα were seen in the serum of mice exposed to TBT for less than 24 h. Levels of IL1β, IL-12 βp40, IL-5 and IL-15 were also modulated in mouse serum, depending on the specific experiment and exposure level. IL-2 was consistently decreased in mouse serum when animals were exposed to TBT. There were also TBT-induced increases in MIP-1β, RANTES and IL-13. These results from human and murine samples clearly suggest that TBT exposures modulate the secretion inflammatory cytokines.
Effect of Poor Sleep Quality and Excessive Daytime Sleepiness on Factors Associated With Diabetes Self-Management

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the association of impaired sleep quality and daytime sleepiness on self-reported diabetes control and psychological and social factors that affect diabetes self-management. Methods Participants were 107 adults with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) with self-reported daytime sleepiness. Subjective sleepiness was assessed using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS); sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) Global score and its 3 factors of Perceived Sleep Quality, Sleep Efficiency, and Daily Disturbances. The Diabetes Care Profile (DCP) scales (Control Problems, Social and Personal Factors, Positive Attitude, Negative Attitude, Self-Care Adherence, and Diet Adherence) were used to measure difficulty in maintaining glycemic control and factors important for diabetes control. Results Poor sleep quality was associated with significantly worse scores on the DCP scales, with lower diabetes control, negative attitude, decreased positive attitude, lower self-care adherence, and decreased adherence to dietary adherence. Hierarchal linear regression modeling revealed no significant associations between diabetes control problems and age, education, gender, and daytime sleepiness. Being married or partnered significantly decreased glycemic control problems, whereas poor sleep quality increased diabetes control problems. Further examination of PSQI factors (perceived sleep quality, sleep efficiency, and daily disturbances) found that being married or partnered significantly decreased diabetes control problems, whereas of the 3 factors of the PSQI, only the Daily Disturbances factor was significantly associated with increased diabetes control problems. Conclusions Impaired sleep quality and daytime sleepiness are associated with decreased diabetes self-management in adults with T2DM.
The impact of self-efficacy on physical activity maintenance in patients with hip osteoarthritis – a mixed methods study

Abstract Purpose: Understanding motivational factors related to physical activity (PA) maintenance is essential in promoting long-term exercise benefits. This study explored the impact of self-efficacy (SE) on post-intervention PA maintenance in patients with hip osteoarthritis. Method: An SE-theory based mixed-methods sub-study of a trial investigating the effects of 4 months supervised exercise in patients with hip osteoarthritis. Questionnaire data (n = 52; baseline and 12 months) on PA and SE (Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale, ASES, score-range 10–100) were analysed (Mann–Whitney test) for differences in characteristics of maintainers and non-maintainers. Semi-structured individual interviews (n = 15; at 12-months follow-up) were analysed using directed content analysis. Results: Compared to non-maintainers (n = 9; 17%) maintainers (n = 31; 60%) had improved (p < 0.01) in median scores of ASES (Pain: +12 versus −32 points; Function: +7 versus −9 points; Other Symptoms: +11 versus −26 points) from baseline to 12 months. Experiences of possessing required skills, inspiration by other participants, encouragement from physical therapists and altered interpretations of PA-induced physiological conditions contributed to increased SE and PA maintenance. Moreover, experienced symptoms, exercise outcome expectations and obligation towards the study influenced maintenance. Conclusion: SE contributes to understanding of post-intervention PA maintenance in patients with hip osteoarthritis. However, disease-related factors and clinical trial participation appears significant too. Implications for Rehabilitation Patients’ perceived self-efficacy for physical activity contributes to the understanding of post-intervention physical activity maintenance in patients with hip osteoarthritis. Practitioners may benefit from incorporating the self-efficacy theory in the planning and execution of exercise interventions to promote post-intervention physical activity maintenance and long term health benefits. Post-intervention physical activity maintenance may be increased by focussing on the patients’ exercise self-efficacy through verbal persuasion and support, disease-specific information and information on normal physiological responses to exercise combined with an individualised training progression to support experiences of success and achievement of desired outcomes.
Deep near-infrared adaptive-optics observations of a young embedded cluster at the edge of the RCW 41 H II region

Aims. We investigate the star formation activity in a young star forming cluster embedded at the edge of the RCW 41 H ii region. As a complementary goal, we aim to demonstrate the gain provided by wide-field adaptive optics (WFAO) instruments to study young clusters. Methods. We used deep, JHKs images from the newly commissioned Gemini-GeMS/GSAOI instrument, complemented with Spitzer IRAC observations, in order to study the photometric properties of the young stellar cluster. GeMS is a WFAO instrument that delivers almost diffraction-limited images over a field of ∼2 � across. The exquisite angular resolution allows us to reach a limiting magnitude of J ∼ 22 for 98% completeness. The combination of the IRAC photometry with our JHKs catalog is used to build color−color diagrams, and select young stellar object (YSO) candidates. The JHKs photometry is also used in conjunction with pre-main sequence evolutionary models to infer masses and ages. The K-band luminosity function is derived, and then used to build the initial mass function (IMF) of the cluster. Results. We detect the presence of 80 YSO candidates. Those YSOs are used to infer the cluster age, which is found to be in the range 1 to 5 Myr. More precisely, we find that 1/3 of the YSOs are in a range between 3 to 5 Myr, while 2/ 3o f the YSO are≤3 Myr. When looking at the spatial distribution of these two populations, we find evidence of a potential age gradient across the field that suggests sequential star formation. We construct the IMF and show that we can sample the mass distribution well into the brown dwarf regime (down to ∼0.01 M� ). The logarithmic mass function rises to peak at ∼0.3 M� , before turning over and declining into the brown dwarf regime. The total cluster mass derived is estimated to be 78 ± 18 M� , while the ratio derived of brown dwarfs to star is 18 ± 5%. When comparing it with other young clusters, we find that the IMF shape of the young cluster embedded within RCW 41 is consistent with those of Trapezium, IC 348, or Chamaeleon I, except for the IMF peak, which happens to be at higher mass. This characteristic is also seen in clusters like NGC 6611 or even Taurus. These results suggest that the medium-to-low mass end of the IMF possibly depends on environment.
Rate and characteristics of urgent hospitalisation in persons with profound intellectual disabilities compared with general population

BACKGROUND Little is known about the hospitalisation rate of adults with severe/profound intellectual disability (PID) presenting at emergency services or about the appropriateness of hospital admissions in this population. Examining the possible differences in the patterns of hospitalisation between people with PID and those without intellectual disability (ID) may shed light on aspects of health and illness in these patients and may in turn make it possible to differentiate more clearly between mild-moderate ID and PID. METHODS After an evaluation of the emergency visits made by adults with PID and by people without ID, patients in both groups requiring one or more hospitalisations were subsequently followed up for 18 months. The appropriateness of the decision to hospitalise was assessed using the ambulatory care-sensitive conditions index. RESULTS There were no differences in the proportion of people with PID and controls admitted to hospital after their emergency visit. The median hospital stay was higher for PIDs: 7.5 vs. 4 days for controls. People with PID were admitted more than controls for respiratory reasons and somewhat less for other somatic causes unrelated to the nervous system. There were no admissions for psychiatric causes in the group with PID other than unspecified conduct disorders. There were no differences in other diagnostic groups. The rate of inappropriate admissions was similar in the two study groups. CONCLUSIONS In contrast to previous results reported for the group with ID as a whole, patients with PID consulting the emergency service were not admitted to hospital more frequently than the general population nor did they present a higher rate of inappropriate admissions. These results support the utility of maintaining two distinct groups of people with ID: mild-moderate and severe-profound.
Influence of Age, Anatomic Site and Race on Skin Roughness and Scaliness

Background: Variations in skin roughness and scaliness between age groups, anatomic sites and race have been assumed but minimally quantified. Objective: We quantitatively investigated skin roughness, scaliness and stratum corneum hydration as a function of age, anatomic site and race (white and black). Methods: Skin roughness, scaliness and stratum corneum hydration were determined in vivo by noninvasive bioengineering and image analysis techniques in 22 female subjects grouped according to age (young and aged) and race (white and black). Results: Skin roughness, scaliness and stratum corneum hydration varied significantly in different anatomic areas and age groups. There was no racial variation in skin hydration between any anatomic site, nor significant differences in roughness and scaliness between races, except for the preauricular area. Skin roughness was significantly increased in the aged, compared to the young at the preauricle, volar forearm, lower back, thigh and lower leg. Older women demonstrated significantly more scaling at the preauricle than younger women. Stratum corneum hydration correlated with scaliness. No significant correlation between stratum corneum hydration and skin roughness was observed. Conclusion: Age and anatomic site but not race demonstrated a significant influence on skin roughness and scaliness. The desquamation index appears a good indicator of the status of stratum corneum hydration.
Budesonide in the Treatment of Collagenous Colitis

Collagenous colitis is characterized by watery diarrhea and inflammatory infiltration associated with a subepithelial collagen deposit on colonic biopsies despite a normal or subnormal endoscopic appearance. We here describe 5 patients treated with the locally active steroid budesonide. Complete and partial response was observed in 3 and 2 patients, respectively. Budesonide thus seems to be of therapeutic benefit in collagenous colitis. Prospective randomized long-term studies are needed to support this hypothesis.
Mesenchymal stem cells promote endothelial progenitor cell migration, vascularization, and bone repair in tissue‐engineered constructs via activating CXCR2‐Src‐PKL/Vav2‐Rac1

Tissue‐engineered constructs (TECs) hold great promise for treating large bone defects. Incorporated mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can facilitate the vascularization of TECs. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanism remains ambiguous. Here we analyzed the roles of C‐X‐C chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2) and its downstream signal pathways in MSC‐induced endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) migration. Transwell assays and immunofluorescence staining were performed for cell migration analysis in vitro and in vivo, respectively. A series of signal inhibitors and short hairpin RNA was used for screening essential signaling molecules. We found that blockade of CXCR2 abolished the migration of EPCs toward MSCs as well as subsequent vascularization and bone repair in TECs. Moreover, screening results suggested that steroid receptor coactivator (Src) acted as a predominant downstream effector of CXCR2. Further molecular biologic and histomorphological experiments revealed that the action of Src required the phosphorylation of ras‐related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Racl), which was pivotal for the development of lamellipodia and filopodia. The phosphorylation and colocalization of paxillin kinase linker (PKL) and vav guanine nucleotide exchange factor 2 (Vav2) were essential for the activation of Racl. Therefore, we demonstrated that MSCs promoted EPC migration via activating CXCR2 and its downstream Src‐PKL/Vav2‐Rac1 signaling pathway. These findings unveiled the molecular mechanism in the vascularization of TECs and were expected to provide novel targets for efficacy improvement. — Li, Z. , Yang, A. , Yin, X. , Dong, S. , Luo, F. , Dou, C. , Lan, X. , Xie, Z. , Hou, T. , Xu, J., Xing, J. Mesenchymal stem cells promote endothelial progenitor cell migration, vascularization, and bone repair in tissue‐engineered constructs via activating CXCR2‐Src‐PKL/Vav2‐Rac1. FASEB J. 32, 2197–2211 (2018). www.fasebj. org
A genomic map of clinal variation across the European rabbit hybrid zone

Speciation is a process proceeding from weak to complete reproductive isolation. In this continuum, naturally hybridizing taxa provide a promising avenue for revealing the genetic changes associated with the incipient stages of speciation. To identify such changes between two subspecies of rabbits that display partial reproductive isolation, we studied patterns of allele frequency change across their hybrid zone using whole‐genome sequencing. To connect levels and patterns of genetic differentiation with phenotypic manifestations of subfertility in hybrid rabbits, we further investigated patterns of gene expression in testis. Geographic cline analysis revealed 253 regions characterized by steep changes in allele frequency across their natural region of contact. This catalog of regions is likely to be enriched for loci implicated in reproductive barriers and yielded several insights into the evolution of hybrid dysfunction in rabbits: (i) incomplete reproductive isolation is likely governed by the effects of many loci, (ii) protein–protein interaction analysis suggest that genes within these loci interact more than expected by chance, (iii) regulatory variation is likely the primary driver of incompatibilities, and (iv) large chromosomal rearrangements appear not to be a major mechanism underlying incompatibilities or promoting isolation in the face of gene flow. We detected extensive misregulation of gene expression in testis of hybrid males, but not a statistical overrepresentation of differentially expressed genes in candidate regions. Our results also did not support an X chromosome‐wide disruption of expression as observed in mice and cats, suggesting variation in the mechanistic basis of hybrid male reduced fertility among mammals.
Selected aspects of medical care for patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Poland.

INTRODUCTION Noncompliance with healthcare undoubtedly has a strong influence on the high prevalence of uncontrolled obstructive diseases. The aim of our study was to evaluate the quality of medical conduct in patients with asthma or chronic obstructive lung diseases (COPD), with encompassed two-levelled system of health care. MATERIAL AND METHODS A survey of general practitioners (GP), allergists and pulmonologists practicing in Poland was performed between September and December 2016. The basic survey included the data concerning the number of treated patients, the course of the visits, treatment regimens and whether the patients follow the instructions of the physician. The specialist survey recorded the details of the specialist visits, their frequency and character, an evaluation of the pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies and an evaluation of the GP's actions. RESULTS The basic questionnaire was completed by 807 doctors with an average of 21 ± 9.85 years of medical experience. Most of the interviewed individuals were GPs (56%), followed by pulmonologists (28%) and allergists (16%). The GP reported 47 cases/month with obstructive pulmonary conditions, including 48.94% asthma and 51.06% COPD patients. They diagnosed three new asthma and COPD patients per month. The allergists treated patients with asthma (105 patients/ month), with 19 newly-diagnosed patients/month. The pulmonologists treated fewer asthma cases than COPD: 71 and 98 patients respectively. They reported 14 patients/month of newly-diagnosed COPD cases. The patients took inhaled glucocorticoids and long-acting b adrenoceptor agonists in separate inhalers. The most frequently-used device was a disc. In opinion of the specialists, half of the therapies initiated recently by GPs for patients with asthma and COPD required modifications. CONCLUSIONS There is a disparity between the true state of medical care of asthma and COPD patients and globally-accepted standards.
Current and Emerging Therapies in Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

Targeted therapies and immunotherapy have changed the face of multiple solid malignancies, including metastatic melanoma and lung cancer, but no such therapies exist for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) despite the knowledge of key mutations and an increasing understanding of the tumor microenvironment. Until now, most clinical studies have not been biomarker driven in this highly immunosuppressive and heterogeneous cancer. Ongoing basic and translational studies are better classifying the disease in hopes of identifying critical pathways that distinguish the unique PDAC subtypes, which will lead to personalized therapies. In this review, we discuss the current treatment options for metastatic pancreatic cancer and highlight current ongoing clinical trials, which aim to target the stroma and the immune microenvironment either alone or in combination with standard chemotherapy. Identifying biomarkers and key resistance pathways and targeting these pathways in a personalized manner in combination with chemotherapy are likely to yield a more immediate and durable clinical benefit. Clin Cancer Res; 23(7); 1670–8. ©2017 AACR. See all articles in this CCR Focus section, “Pancreatic Cancer: Challenge and Inspiration. ”
Interplay Between Children’s Biobehavioral Plasticity and Interparental Relationship in the Origins of Internalizing Problems

The present study demonstrates the interplay between interparental relationship satisfaction and child plasticity in the origins of internalizing problems in 99 community mothers, fathers, and children. Our cumulative measure of plasticity integrated genetics (5-HTTLPR polymorphism), psychophysiology (skin conductance level), and observed behavior (inhibition, sadness, joy). The interaction between plasticity and interparental relationship satisfaction reflected differential susceptibility. Compared with low-plasticity peers, high-plasticity children had more internalizing problems from 5.5 to 12 years when the interparental relationship at 4.5 years was acrimonious, but fewer problems when it was harmonious. Further, almost half of the children in this sample were “differentially affected” by the interaction such that greater plasticity was associated with fewer internalizing problems when their parents had a harmonious relationship, a key feature of differential susceptibility.