Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Immunometabolism in cancer at a glance

ABSTRACT The scientific knowledge about tumor metabolism has grown at a fascinating rate in recent decades. We now know that tumors are highly active both in their metabolism of available nutrients and in the secretion of metabolic by-products. However, cancer cells can modulate metabolic pathways and thus adapt to specific nutrients. Unlike tumor cells, immune cells are not subject to a ‘micro-evolution’ that would allow them to adapt to progressing tumors that continuously develop new mechanisms of immune escape. Consequently, immune cells are often irreversibly affected and may allow or even support cancer progression. The mechanisms of how tumors change immune cell function are not sufficiently explored. It is, however, clear that commonly shared features of tumor metabolism, such as local nutrient depletion or production of metabolic ‘waste’ can broadly affect immune cells and contribute to immune evasion. Moreover, immune cells utilize different metabolic programs based on their subtype and function, and these immunometabolic pathways can be modified in the tumor microenvironment. In this review and accompanying poster, we identify and describe the common mechanisms by which tumors metabolically affect the tumor-infiltrating cells of native and adaptive immunity, and discuss how these mechanisms may lead to novel therapeutic opportunities. Summary: This ‘At a Glance’ review and accompanying poster address how tumors can negatively affect immune cells through depletion of critical nutrients or through production of toxic metabolic products.
Peripartum women with dyspnea in the emergency department

Abstract Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is life-threatening and its diagnosis is a challenge. We highlight the clinical characteristics and bio-markers of PPCM and the proper differential diagnosis of peripartum dyspnea to aim to make an early diagnosis available. We analyzed 262 peripartum patients with dyspnea, and summed up the final diagnosis. The clinical data of the control group and the PPCM group as well as before and after the treatment of the PPCM group were compared. In total, 147 (56%) of the perinatal patients were physiologic dyspnea of pregnancy; only 11 (4%) patients met the PPCM diagnostic criteria. Compared with the basic baseline characteristics between the PPCM group and control group, patients with PPCM had a higher heart rate, and the white blood cell, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels were markedly elevated, whereas PaO2 and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were lower. The heart rate, CRP and BNP levels were lower at the follow-up compared with the pretreatment. Patients who were followed up showed significant improvements in the LVEF and New York Heart Association function class. We standardized the symptoms of dyspnea for calculating, and analyzed the diagnostic efficacy of laboratory indicators. The research highlighted that the use of echocardiography and disease-specific bio-markers may aid in the diagnosis and management.
Combination of positron emission tomography/computed tomography and chest thin-layer high-resolution computed tomography for evaluation of pulmonary nodules

Abstract This study aimed to analyze the imaging findings of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) and chest thin-layer high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), correlate the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), and the pathological type of benign or malignant pulmonary nodules (PNs), and assess the diagnostic accuracy in differentiating malignant from benign PNs. A retrospective review of 18F-FDG PET/CT scans from 88 patients with PNs confirmed by pathology or clinical follow-up were included. They both accepted PET/CT and HRCT scan conventional. The final results were determined by a combination of PET/CT and HRCT. Independent samples t test was used for statistical analysis. Receiver operating curves (ROC) were generated and the optimal threshold of SUVmax was determined. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of HRCT, PET/CT, and PET/CT combined with HRCT in the diagnosis of PNs were 83.3%, 70%, 77.3%; 91.7%, 62.5%, 78.4%; and 95.8%, 75%, 86.4%, respectively. The SUVmax of malignant nodules was significantly higher than that of benign nodules, and the difference was statistically significant (t = –5.668, P < .001). In the subgroup analysis, the SUVmax of squamous cell carcinoma was higher than that of the denocarcinoma (t = –5.442, P < .001), and that of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (t = 4.678, P < .001), the difference were both statistically significant. There were both no significant difference between adenocarcinoma and bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (t = 0.36, P = .722), tuberculosis and inflammatory nodules (t = –0.18, P = .858). Higher the value of SUVmax, greater the risk of malignancy. However, when the SUVmax ranges between 2.5 and 8.0, the lesion may be benign or malignant, and a comprehensive evaluation using combination methods with HRCT are required. When SUVmax <2.5, there is still a 9.5% chance of PN malignancy. ROC curve shows SUVmax >3.635 as the best threshold, and the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of PET/CT in diagnosis of PNs were 83.3%, 62.5%, 79.2%, 71.7%, and 71.4%, respectively. PET/CT combined with HRCT should be advocated to improve the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of PET/CT in diagnosis of PNs.
Mechatronic designs for a robotic hand to explore human body experience and sensory-motor skills: a Delphi study

ABSTRACT To bridge the gap between users' expectations and technological solutions, a better understanding of human body experience and sensory-motor skills is mandatory. This could pave the way towards a novel generation of robotic hands, which can be successfully employed in everyday life e.g. in prosthetics and assistive robotics. Available robotic hands are still far from matching the requirements of the corresponding experimental and real-world applications, e.g. fast motions might be achieved at the expense of accuracy. Knowledge of the users' sensory-motor skills can guide technical developments, e.g. prosthetic design processes. This paper presents design solutions developed in a Delphi study. Explorative questionnaires are prepared to acquire and elaborate expert opinions to improve the design of previously developed robotic anthropomorphic hands. By gathering and fusing expert opinions, novel robotic hand and wrist concepts specifically optimized regarding body experience and sensory-motor skill research are developed. In three rounds, experts with experience in robotic hand design and/or control analyze, develop, and rank solutions for mechanisms, actuators, and control , which result in overall design concepts. The technical concepts and implications resulting from the study are discussed considering psychological and biomechanical aspects. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Clinical outcomes following mechanical plus oral antibiotic bowel preparation versus oral antibiotics alone in patients undergoing colorectal surgery

Despite growing evidence to support use of preoperative mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) plus oral antibiotic bowel preparation (OABP) compared with MBP alone or no bowel preparation before colorectal surgery, evidence supporting use of MBP plus OABP relative to OABP alone is lacking. This study aimed to investigate whether the addition of MBP to OABP was associated with improved clinical outcomes after colorectal surgery compared with outcomes following OABP alone.
Multiple food allergy – unexpected culprits

Food allergy has an estimated prevalence of 6%–8% in children. Meat allergy and multiple food allergy due to sensitization to cross-reactive components in infancy is, however, less frequent. A 5-year-old girl was referred to our department with a multiple food allergy history. She had severe immediate worsening of her atopic dermatitis with hen's egg (6 months) and cow's milk introduction (7 months). At the age of 9 months, she presented with recurrent and reproducible atopic dermatitis' worsening and lip edema with the introduction of different meats (chicken, turkey, cow, pork, and rabbit), having the same complaints with fish at 12 months (salmon and hake). At her first appointment she was avoiding hen's egg, cow's milk, meat, and fish (except fresh tuna, codfish, and pollock). We performed skin prick tests (commercial extract and prick-to-prick with whole food) and specific IgE, which revealed sensitization to hen's egg, raw meat (cow, pork, chicken, turkey, duck, lamb, goat, and rabbit; negative for cooked meat), codfish and cow's milk (mild). ISAC was performed, revealing sensitization to 3 cross-reactive components (serum albumins Bosd6, Canf3, and Feld2) and specific food components of chicken's egg/meat (Gald1, 2, 3, and 5), cod (Gadc1), hazelnut (Cora9), and kiwi (Actd1). We present a rare case of multiple food allergy in infancy, where sensitization to cross-reactive components was responsible for most of the children complaints. The detection of serum albumins' involvement was especially important, because it can possibly mean tolerance to these foods in well-cooked forms, substantially improving patient and family's quality of life.
Immunomodulatory function of surfactant protein D in eosinophilic asthma

1. Roberts G, Pfaar O, Akdis CA, et al. EAACI guidelines on allergen immunotherapy: allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. Allergy. 2017;73:765‐ 798. 2. Weinstein SF, Katial R, Jayawardena S, et al. Efficacy and safety of dupilumab in perennial allergic rhinitis and comorbid asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2018;114:171‐177. 3. Compalati E, Passalacqua G, Bonini M, Canonica GW. The efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy for house dust mites respiratory allergy: results of a GA2LEN meta‐analysis. Allergy. 2009;64:1570‐1579. 4. Yukselen A, Kendirli S, Yilmaz M, Altintas D, Karakoc G. Effect of one‐year subcutaneous and sublingual immunotherapy on clinical and laboratory parameters in children with rhinitis and asthma: a randomized, placebo‐controlled, double‐blind, double‐dummy study. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2012;157:288‐298. 5. Xu LZ, Yang LT, Qiu SQ, et al. Combination of specific allergen and probiotics induces specific regulatory B cells and enhances specific immunotherapy effect on allergic rhinitis. Oncotarget. 2016;7:54360‐ 54369. 6. Dhami S, Nurmatov U, Arasi S, et al. Allergen immunotherapy for allergic rhinoconjunctivitis: a systematic review and meta‐analysis. Allergy. 2017;72:1597‐1631. 7. Nelson H, Cartier S, Allen-Ramey F, Lawton S, Calderon MA. Network meta‐analysis shows commercialized subcutaneous and sublingual grass products have comparable efficacy. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2015;3:256‐266. 8. Di Bona D, Plaia A, Leto-Barone MS, La Piana S, Di Lorenzo G. Efficacy of subcutaneous and sublingual immunotherapy with grass allergens for seasonal allergic rhinitis: a meta‐analysis‐based comparison. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2012;130:1097‐1107. 9. Durham SR, Penagos M. Sublingual or subcutaneous immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis? J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2016;137:339‐349. 10. Soh JY, Thalayasingam M, Ong S, Loo EX, Shek LP, Chao SS. Sublingual immunotherapy in patients with house dust mite allergic rhinitis: prospective study of clinical outcomes over a two‐year period. J Laryngol Otol. 2016;130:272‐277.
Altered neural signatures of interoception in multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients present several alterations related to sensing of bodily signals. However, no specific neurocognitive impairment has yet been proposed as a core deficit underlying such symptoms. We aimed to determine whether MS patients present changes in interoception—that is, the monitoring of autonomic bodily information—a process that might be related to various bodily dysfunctions. We performed two studies in 34 relapsing–remitting, early‐stage MS patients and 46 controls matched for gender, age, and education. In Study 1, we evaluated the heartbeat‐evoked potential (HEP), a cortical signature of interoception, via a 128‐channel EEG system during a heartbeat detection task including an exteroceptive and an interoceptive condition. Then, we obtained whole‐brain MRI recordings. In Study 2, participants underwent fMRI recordings during two resting‐state conditions: mind wandering and interoception. In Study 1, controls exhibited greater HEP modulation during the interoceptive condition than the exteroceptive one, but no systematic differences between conditions emerged in MS patients. Patients presented atrophy in the left insula, the posterior part of the right insula, and the right anterior cingulate cortex, with abnormal associations between neurophysiological and neuroanatomical patterns. In Study 2, controls showed higher functional connectivity and degree for the interoceptive state compared with mind wandering; however, this pattern was absent in patients, who nonetheless presented greater connectivity and degree than controls during mind wandering. MS patients were characterized by atypical multimodal brain signatures of interoception. This finding opens a new agenda to examine the role of inner‐signal monitoring in the body symptomatology of MS.
Rivaroxaban versus enoxaparin for the prevention of recurrent venous thromboembolism in patients with cancer

Background: Although low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is recommended as the first-line treatment in patients with active cancer and venous thromboembolism (VTE), many patients are more willing to choose oral anticoagulants. We collected currently available data to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the oral direct factor Xa inhibitor rivaroxaban compared with enoxaparin in patients with cancer and VTE. Methods: We retrieved electric databases, including Medline/PubMed and EMBASE, from inception through January, 2018. We included articles comparing enoxaparin with rivaroxaban in patients with cancer and VTE. Recurrences of VTE, incidence of major bleeding and deaths were compared between groups. Poole analysis was conducted in Review Manager Version 5.2. Results: A total of 4 articles and 667 patients were included in the final analysis. Pooled analysis showed that rivaroxaban was associated with a non-significantly lower recurrence of VTE (risk ratio [RR] = 0.55, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 0.28–1.06, I2 = 0%). Patients treated with rivaroxaban had a similar major bleeding risk compared with those administrated with enoxaparin (RR = 0.84, 95%CI: 0.39–1.83, I2 = 0%). No significant difference was observed in mortality between the 2 groups (RR = 0.51, 95%CI: 0.15–1.80, I2 = 89%). Conclusion: Rivaroxaban is as effective and safe as enoxaparin for the prevention of recurrent VTE in patients with malignancy. Rivaroxaban is a potential option for patients with cancer and VTE.
Early use of donepezil against psychosis and cognitive decline in Parkinson’s disease: a randomised controlled trial for 2 years

Objectives Brain acetylcholine is decreased even in patients with cognitively preserved Parkinson’s disease (PD). We investigated whether early and long-term use of donepezil prevents psychosis in non-demented PD patients. Methods A double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial was conducted. A total of 145 non-demented PD patients were randomly assigned to receive 5 mg/day donepezil (n=72) or placebo (n=73) for 96 weeks. Medications for PD were not restricted, but antipsychotic drugs were not permitted throughout the study. The primary outcome measure was survival time to psychosis that was predefined by Parkinson’s Psychosis Questionnaire (PPQ) B score ≥2 or C score ≥2. Secondary outcome measures included psychosis developing within 48 weeks, total PPQ score, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS) and subgroup analysis by apolipoprotein ε4 genotyping. Results Kaplan-Meier curves for psychosis development were very similar between the two groups, and the Cox proportional hazard model revealed an adjusted HR of 0.87 (95%CI 0.48 to 1.60). The changes in MMSE and WMS-1 (auditory memory) were significantly better with donepezil than in placebo. In the subgroup analysis, donepezil provided an HR of 0.31 (0.11–0.86) against psychosis in 48 weeks for apolipoprotein ε4 non-carriers. Conclusions Although donepezil provided beneficial effects on PPQ, MMSE and auditory WMS score changes in 2 years, it had no prophylactic effect on development of psychosis in PD. Apolipoprotein ε4 may suppress the antipsychotic effect of donepezil. Trial registration number UMIN000005403.
Associations between occupational stress and demographic characteristics in petroleum workers in the Xinjiang arid desert

Abstract Owing to the transformation of the biomedical model of health, more and more professionals pay close attention to the occupational social psychological factors, such as occupational stress. Due to the socioeconomic impact of occupational stress and the petroleum workers stationed in the unique environment in Xinjiang, a cross-sectional study was carried out between May and December 2016 to investigate the relationship between occupational stress and demographic characteristics. A total of 1480 workers were selected. Occupational stress was evaluated with the Occupational Stress Inventory-Revised Edition. The findings of the present study revealed that the values of the Occupational Roles Questionnaire results (t = 9.266, P < .001) and Personal Strain Questionnaire results (t = 21.381, P < .001) were found to be higher than the national normal. Personal Resources Questionnaire values (t = −17.575, P < .001) were found to be lower than the national normal in petroleum workers stationed in the arid desert, and suggested a strong correlation between occupational stress and demographic characteristics. These data provide evidence that different demographic characteristics are associated with different occupational stress levels in petroleum workers stationed in the arid desert.
A high school-based education concerning drug abuse prevention

OBJECTIVE: There is increasing evidence for declining the onset age of drug abuse worldwide. This study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of four educational methods including lecture, presentation of poster and leaflet, presentation of video clip, and group/class discussion for life skills training and changing in knowledge and attitude of adolescents toward drug abuse. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a pretest–posttest design, a sample of 897 girl and boy high school students from the first grade (14–15 years old) were involved in this cross-sectional study conducted in Isfahan, Iran. After collection of pretest questionnaires, each educational method was implemented separately for one class in one session (3 h) in each high school, and evaluation was carried out immediately after intervention through posttest questionnaires by the same students. RESULTS: According to paired t-test, the video clip- and lecture-based methods were significantly efficient in changing the attitudes toward drug abuse in boy and girl students, respectively. Analysis of covariance showed significant differences between girls and boys in pretest–posttest attitude scores using group discussion-based and video clip-based methods. CONCLUSION: Life skills training program through lecture-based and video clip-based educational methods was considerably effective in changing the high school students’ attitude toward drug abuse and addiction.
Knowledge, attitude and practice of good nutrition among women of childbearing age in Somolu Local Government, Lagos State

Women of child-bearing age (especially pregnant and lactating women) are in the most nutritionally-vulnerable stages of the life cycle. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of good nutrition among women of childbearing age in Somolu Local Government (LG), Lagos state. This study was a crosssectional descriptive survey of 244 women of childbearing age (15-49 years). Excellent knowledge and good attitude towards good nutrition was observed among 61.89% and 86.89% respectively. During pregnancy, greater than 80% took folic acid, iron supplements and increased daily consumption of fruits and vegetables while 43.59% avoided eggs, fish, meat and chocolate beverage because of taboos. Seven days prior to interview, over 90% had consumed fast foods, 56.15% and 50.01% of the respondents ate fruits and vegetables every day to ≥4 times in a day respectively. A majority of the respondents knew and had a good attitude towards good nutrition supporting studies from Kenya and Northern Nigeria. This, however, did not translate to good practice for about half of the respondents.
Prevalence of abnormal uterine bleeding according to new International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics classification in Chinese women of reproductive age

Abstract The PALM-COEIN classification for causes of abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) was proposed by the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) in 2011, which has been gradually applied in the diagnosis of AUB in the past 2 years in China. However, there are no reports yet on the causes of chronic AUB among Chinese women with this new classification system. The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence of the causes of chronic AUB among Chinese women of reproductive age using the PALM-COIEN classification system. This is a cross-sectional study. Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University. A total of 1053 women aged 15 to 55 years with chronic AUB were evaluated between November 2016 and May 2017. Prevalence of the causes of chronic AUB using the PALM-COEIN classification. AUB-O was the most frequent finding in women with chronic AUB, accounting for 608 (57.7%) cases. AUB-P was found in 171 (16.2%) women, AUB-L in 130 (12%) women, AUB-A in 52 (4.94%) women, AUB-E in 28 (2%) women, AUB-I in 23 (2%) women, AUB-M in 20 (1.9%) women, AUB-C in 10 (1%) women, and AUB-N in 10 (0.9%) women. Ovulatory dysfunction (AUB-O) is the most common cause of AUB among the nonstructural causes. Endometrial polyps (AUB-P) are the most common among the structural causes, followed by uterine fibroids (AUB-L) and uterine adenomyosis (AUB-A).
Demethoxycurcumin: A naturally occurring curcumin analogue with antitumor properties

The eradication of cancer in a patient remains an elusive challenge despite advances in early detection and diagnosis, chemo‐ and immunotherapy, pinpoint radiation treatments, and expert surgical intervention. Although significant gains have been made in our understanding of cancer cell biology, a definite cure for most cancers does not exist at present. Thus, it is not surprising that the research and medical communities continue to explore the importance and therapeutic potential of natural products in their multimodality cancer treatment approach. Curcuminoids found in turmeric are one such class of natural products that have been extensively investigated for their potential to halt the progression of cancer cell proliferation and, more important, to stop metastasis from occurring. In this review, we examine one curcuminoid (demethoxycurcumin [DMC]) largely because of its increased stability and better aqueous solubility at physiological pH, unlike the more well‐known curcuminoid (curcumin), which is largely unabsorbed after oral ingestion. The present review will focus on the signaling pathways that DMC utilizes to modulate the growth, invasion, and metastasis of cancer cells in an effort to provide enhanced mechanistic insight into DMC’s action as it pertains to brain, ovarian, breast, lung, skin, and prostate cancer. Additionally, this review will attempt to provide an overview of DMC’s mechanism of action by modulating apoptosis, cell cycle, angiogenesis, metastasis, and chemosensitivity. Lastly, it is hoped that increased understanding will be gained concerning DMC’s interactive role with microRNA‐551a, 5′ adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase, nuclear factor‐κB, Wnt inhibitory factor‐1, and heat shock protein 70 to affect the progression of cancer.