Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Glutathione S-transferases genes variants and chemotherapy efficacy in gastrointestinal cancer patients: a meta-analysis based on 50 pharmacogenetic studies

Background: The role of glutathione s-transferase genes (GSTP1, GSTM1 and GSTT1) variants and the GSTP1 expression level on chemotherapy efficacy of gastrointestinal cancer (GIC) patients were inconsistent. Methods: A meta-analysis about GSTP1, GSTM1 and GSTT1 variants and the GSTP1 expression level on chemotherapy efficacy of GIC patients was performed using data from PubMed, PMC, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Wanfang database. Results: Our meta-analysis enrolled 50 publications including 6518 patients. We found that patients with GIC harboring GSTP1 (IIe105Val) Val locus had higher objective response rates (ORR) than the IIe/IIe genotypic patients (odds ratio (OR) = 1.580, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.159-2.154, P = 0.004). Significant associations were found between the Ile105Val variant and overall survival of Caucasian GIC patients (IIe/Val vs. IIe/IIe: OR = 0.797 (0.674-0.944), P = 0.009). Caucasian GIC patients and gastric cancer patients with GSTT1 null genotype had worse response rates compared to GSTT1 present patients (OR = 0.530 (0.356-0.789), P = 0.002; OR = 0.643 (0.463-0.895), P = 0.009, respectively). Conclusion: This meta-analysis illustrates that GSTP1 IIe105Val and GSTT1 null/present variants could be useful predictors of chemotherapy efficacy in patients with gastrointestinal cancer.
Toll-like receptor 6 expression, sequence variants, and their association with colorectal cancer risk

This is the first study to examine the potential correlation of the rs3796508 and rs5743810 SNPs of the TLR6 gene in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) in a subset of the Saudi population. TLR6 gene expression was studied by real-time PCR assaysin 10 matching normal and cancer colon tissues. TLR6 expression at the protein level was determined by immunohistochemistry. A case-control search was conductedon 115 case patients and 102 controls. All samples were genotyped with the TaqMan assay for the TLR6 gene. Odds ratios and 95% confidence interval were computed from logistic regression models after adjusting for age, sex, and tumor localization. Our findings showed a decrease in TLR6 expression (p <0.001) in colon cancer tissues when compared to normal colon tissues. Global analysis revealed no significant association between the TLR6 rs3796508 and rs5743810 and CRC in this population. However, the Val/Met genotype of rs3796508 had a significantly higher frequency in the control group than in the cases for the male group (OR= 0.095, and p= 0.03385) or the volunteers aged more than 57 years OR= 0.152; and p= 0.04069, respectively). Two non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP; S249P and V327M) were common in a few patients and were predicted as damaging by SIFT and Polyphen and were further analyzed for their protein stability and function using advanced bioinformatics tools. The results suggest that TLR6 rs3796508 has a crucial role as a protective factor against colorectal cancer in the older Saudi male population.
C0097 Current status ultrasound use among spanish physiotherapists: on-line survey

Background The use of ultrasound among Spanish physiotherapists has grown in recent years. Methods On-line survey of 145 physical therapists spanish. Results A sample of 145 physical therapists (PTs) was recruited from 20 different geographical areas (figure 1). The time mean ±SD since subjects obtained their PT degree, started their ultrasonography training and clinical use were 10.40±7.10, 3.74±3.46 and 3.11±3.11 years, respectively. The PTs percentages who presented PhD, MSc (120 ECTS) and MSc (60 ECTS) degrees were 2.8%, 8.3% and 11%, respectively. Indeed, the 95.9% and 97.9% of PTs considered the ultrasonography necessity and evidence based use, respectively. Furthermore, the 28% of PTs believed that ultrasonography specialisation is difficult, althougth the 79% and 72.2% knew the Rehabilitative Ultrasound Imaging (RUSI) and Ultrasound Imaging (USI) term, respectively. Among these PTs, the 78.5% presented ultrasonography education and the 98.6% agreed with the use of ultrasonography in their clinic practice. Nevertheless, the 58.7% considered the cost of ultrasonography education as a limitation, despite of the 93.7% of PTs would like to study more deeply about ultrasonography. The 14%, 25.4%, 27.2% and 33.3% of PTs have received from 10 to 20, from 21 to 40, from 41 to 80 or more than 100 hours of ultrasonography education, respectively. Daily, the 65% of PTs works with ultrasonography, as well as the 22.7%, 21.6% and 51.7% carry out a mean from 1 to 5, from 5 to 10 or more than 10 ultrasonography assessments per week, respectively. The 72.4% found signs with ultrasonography different from conventional evaluation. Lineal transducer (99%), convex transducer (15.5%), panoramic view (24.6%), elastography (8.5%), colour Doppler (79.8%), touch screen (0.7%) and B-steer (3%) were included in their ultrasound tools. From an economical point of view, the 67.6% considered the ultrasound as a profitable tool in the physical therapy clinics. Finally, the majority of PTs (93.8%) stated that the RUSI is a physiotherapy competence, respecting the USI radiology competences. Conclusions It is an unstoppable reality.
Association of lncRNA H19 Gene Polymorphisms with the Occurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer, whose diversified occurrence worldwide indicates a connection between genetic variations among individuals and the predisposition to such neoplasms. Mounting evidence has demonstrated that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) H19 can have both promotive and inhibitory effects on cancer development, revealing a dual role in tumorigenesis. In this study, the link of H19 gene polymorphisms to hepatocarcinogenesis was assessed between 359 HCC patients and 1190 cancer-free subjects. We found that heterozygotes for the minor allele of H19 rs2839698 (T) and rs3741219 (G) were more inclined to develop HCC (OR, 1.291; 95% CI, 1.003–1.661; p = 0.047, and OR, 1.361; 95% CI, 1.054–1.758; p = 0.018, respectively), whereas homozygotes for the polymorphic allele of rs2107425 (TT) were correlated with a decreased risk of HCC (OR, 0.606; 95% CI, 0.410–0.895; p = 0.012). Moreover, patients who bear at least one variant allele (heterozygote or homozygote) of rs3024270 were less prone to develop late-stage tumors (for stage III/IV; OR, 0.566; 95% CI, 0.342–0.937; p = 0.027). In addition, carriers of a particular haplotype of three H19 SNPs tested were more susceptible to HCC. In conclusion, our results indicate an association between H19 gene polymorphisms and the incidence and progression of liver cancer.
New Perspective on Wood Thermal Modification: Relevance between the Evolution of Chemical Structure and Physical-Mechanical Properties, and Online Analysis of Release of VOCs

Thermal modification (TM) is an ecological and low-cost pretreated method to improve the dimensional stability and decay resistance of wood. This study systematically investigates the relevance between the evolution of chemical structure and the physical and mechanical properties during wood thermal modification processes. Moreover, the volatility of compounds (VOCs) was analyzed using a thermogravimetric analyzer coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (TGA-FTIR) and a pyrolizer coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometer (Py-GC/MS). With an increase of TM temperature, the anti-shrink efficiency and contact angle increased, while the equilibrium moisture content decreased. This result indicates that the dimensional stability improved markedly due to the reduction of hydrophilic hydroxyl (–OH). However, a slight decrease of the moduli of elasticity and of rupture was observed after TM due to the thermal degradation of hemicellulose and cellulose. Based on a TGA-FTIR analysis, the small molecular gaseous components were composed of H2O, CH4, CO2, and CO, where H2O was the dominant component with the highest absorbance intensity, i.e., 0.008 at 200 °C. Based on the Py-GC/MS analysis, the VOCs were shown to be mainly composed of acids, aldehydes, ketones, phenols, furans, alcohols, sugars, and esters, where acids were the dominant compounds, with a relative content of 37.05−42.77%.
Formation of Abasic Oligomers in Nonenzymatic Polymerization of Canonical Nucleotides

Polymerization of nucleotides under prebiotically plausible conditions has been a focus of several origins of life studies. Non-activated nucleotides have been shown to undergo polymerization under geothermal conditions when subjected to dry-wet cycles. They do so by a mechanism similar to acid-catalyzed ester-bond formation. However, one study showed that the low pH of these reactions resulted in predominantly depurination, thereby resulting in the formation of abasic sites in the oligomers. In this study, we aimed to systematically characterize the nature of the oligomers that resulted in reactions that involved one or more of the canonical ribonucleotides. All the reactions analyzed showed the presence of abasic oligomers, with purine nucleotides being affected the most due to deglycosylation. Even in the reactions that contained nucleotide mixtures, the presence of abasic oligomers was detected, which suggested that information transfer would be severely hampered due to losing the capacity to base pair via H-bonds. Importantly, the stability of the N-glycosidic linkage, under conditions used for dry-wet cycling, was also determined. Results from this study further strengthen the hypothesis that chemical evolution in a pre-RNA World would have been vital for the evolution of informational molecules of an RNA World. This is evident in the high degree of instability displayed by N-glycosidic bonds of canonical purine ribonucleotides under the same geothermal conditions that otherwise readily favors polymerization. Significantly, the resultant product characterization in the reactions concerned underscores the difficulty associated with analyzing complex prebiotically relevant reactions due to inherent limitation of current analytical methods.
Sulfonylureas as initial treatment for type 2 diabetes and the risk of adverse cardiovascular events: A population‐based cohort study

Sulfonylureas are recommended as second‐line treatment in the management of type 2 diabetes. However, they are still commonly used also as first‐line treatment instead of metformin. Given the controversial cardiovascular safety of sulfonylureas, we aimed to determine if their use as first‐line treatment is associated with adverse cardiovascular events among patients with newly treated type 2 diabetes compared with metformin.
Assessing the Irritable and Defiant Dimensions of Youth Oppositional Behavior Using CBCL and YSR Items

Research suggests that irritability and defiance are distinct dimensions of youth oppositionality that are differentially associated with internalizing and conduct problems, respectively. Because much of this evidence has emerged with limited psychometric evaluation, we conducted the first multi-informant examination of selected Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Youth Self Report (YSR) items for measuring irritability and defiance in a large clinical sample. Clinically referred youths (N = 1,030; ages 6–15; 43% female, 42% ethnic minority) were assessed prior to treatment using multi-informant rating scales and diagnostic interviews. Analyses examined factor structure, invariance, internal consistency, multi-informant patterns, and convergent, discriminant, and criterion validity with internalizing and externalizing problems/disorders. A correlated 2-factor model of irritability (stubborn/sullen/irritable, mood, temper) and defiance (argues, disobeys-home, disobeys-school) fit well for both informants. Adequate measurement invariance and scale consistency was consistently found for parent-report but not youth-report. With both informants, all hypothesized convergent and discriminant validity associations were supported: irritability and defiance with internalizing and conduct scales, respectively. However, hypothesized criterion validity associations were largely found only by parent-report: irritability with anxiety and depressive disorders, defiance with conduct disorder, and both with oppositional defiant disorder. Results consistently supported the reliability and validity of the CBCL irritability and defiance scales, with somewhat less consistent support for the YSR scales. Thus, CBCL items may provide psychometrically sound assessment of irritability and defiance, whereas further research is needed to advance youth-report and multi-informant strategies. Results also provide further support for a two subdimension model of oppositional defiant disorder symptoms that includes irritability and defiance.
Veronica Plants—Drifting from Farm to Traditional Healing, Food Application, and Phytopharmacology

The Veronica genus, with more than 200 species, belongs to the Plantaginaceae family and is distributed over most of the Northern Hemisphere and in many parts of Southern Hemisphere. These plants are traditionally used in medicine for wound healing, in the treatment of rheumatism, and in different human diseases. This paper reviews the chemical composition of some valuable Veronica species, the possibilities Veronica extracts have in food preservation and as food ingredients, and their functional properties. Veronica species represent a valuable source of biological active secondary metabolites, including iridoid glycosides and phenolic compounds. In particular, due to presence of these phytochemicals, Veronica species exhibit a wide spectrum of biological activities, including antimicrobial and antioxidant. In fact, some studies suggest that some Veronica extracts can inhibit foodborne pathogens, such as Listeria monocytogenes, but only a few of them were performed in food systems. Moreover, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and other bioactivities were reported in vitro and in vivo. The bioactivity of Veronica plants was demonstrated, but further studies in food systems and in humans are required.
The Impact of Surface Functionalization on the Biophysical Properties of Silver Nanoparticles

Among metal-based nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are particularly appealing because of their stability, functionality, and documented antimicrobial properties. AgNPs also offer the possibility of different surface modifications. In this work, we functionalized AgNPs with thiobarbituric acid or 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid residues to improve the nanoparticles’ biological activities. Subsequently, we assessed the physicochemical properties of newly synthesized AgNPs using a wide range of biophysical methodologies, including UV/vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, atomic force and scanning electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering and isothermal titration calorimetry. Next, we examined the effect of nanoparticles functionalization on AgNPs mutagenicity and toxicity. Our study revealed that AgNPs’ surface modification affects nanoparticles aggregation, and also impacts nanoparticles’ interaction with model acridine mutagen ICR-191. AgNPs coated with MUA showed the most interesting interactions with tested ICR-191, slightly modulating its toxicity properties by decreasing the viability in treated cells.
The role of ZAP and OAS3/RNAseL pathways in the attenuation of an RNA virus with elevated frequencies of CpG and UpA dinucleotides

Abstract Zinc finger antiviral protein (ZAP) is a powerful restriction factor for viruses with elevated CpG dinucleotide frequencies. We report that ZAP similarly mediates antiviral restriction against echovirus 7 (E7) mutants with elevated frequencies of UpA dinucleotides. Attenuation of both CpG- and UpA-high viruses and replicon mutants was reversed in ZAP k/o cell lines, and restored by plasmid-derived reconstitution of expression in k/o cells. In pull-down assays, ZAP bound to viral RNA transcripts with either CpG- and UpA-high sequences inserted in the R2 region. We found no evidence that attenuation of CpG- or UpA-high mutants was mediated through either translation inhibition or accelerated RNA degradation. Reversal of the attenuation of CpG-high, and UpA-high E7 viruses and replicons was also achieved through knockout of RNAseL and oligodenylate synthetase 3 (OAS3), but not OAS1. WT levels of replication of CpG- and UpA-high mutants were observed in OAS3 k/o cells despite abundant expression of ZAP, indicative of synergy or complementation of these hitherto unconnected pathways. The dependence on expression of ZAP, OAS3 and RNAseL for CpG/UpA-mediated attenuation and the variable and often low level expression of these pathway proteins in certain cell types, such as those of the central nervous system, has implications for the use of CpG-elevated mutants as attenuated live vaccines against neurotropic viruses.
Maturation of three-dimensional, hiPSC-derived cardiomyocyte spheroids utilizing cyclic, uniaxial stretch and electrical stimulation

Functional myocardium derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) can be impactful for cardiac disease modeling, drug testing, and the repair of injured myocardium. However, when hiPSCs are differentiated into cardiomyocytes, they do not possess characteristics of mature myocytes which limits their application in these endeavors. We hypothesized that mechanical and electrical stimuli would enhance the maturation of hiPSC-derived cardiomyocyte (hiPSC-CM) spheroids on both a structural and functional level, potentially leading to a better model for drug testing as well as cell therapy. Spheroids were generated with hiPSC-CM. For inducing mechanical stimulation, they were placed in a custom-made device with PDMS channels and exposed to cyclic, uniaxial stretch. Spheroids were electrically stimulated in the C-Pace EP from IONOptix for 7 days. Following the stimulations, the spheroids were then analyzed for cardiomyocyte maturation. Both stimulated groups of spheroids possessed enhanced transcript and protein expressions for key maturation markers, such as cTnI, MLC2v, and MLC2a, along with improved ultrastructure of the hiPSC-CMs in both groups with enhanced Z-band/Z-body formation, fibril alignment, and fiber number. Optical mapping showed that spheroids exposed to electrical stimulation were able to capture signals at increasing rates of pacing up to 4 Hz, which failed in unstimulated spheroids. Our results clearly indicate that a significantly improved myocyte maturation can be achieved by culturing iPSC-CMs as spheroids and exposing them to cyclic, uniaxial stretch and electrical stimulation.
Risk Factors for Unhealthy Weight Gain and Obesity among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder characterized by social and communication deficits and repetitive behaviors. Children with ASD are also at a higher risk for developing overweight or obesity than children with typical development (TD). Childhood obesity has been associated with adverse health outcomes, including insulin resistance, diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. Importantly some key factors that play a mediating role in these higher rates of obesity include lifestyle factors and biological influences, as well as secondary comorbidities and medications. This review summarizes current knowledge about behavioral and lifestyle factors that could contribute to unhealthy weight gain in children with ASD, as well as the current state of knowledge of emerging risk factors such as the possible influence of sleep problems, the gut microbiome, endocrine influences and maternal metabolic disorders. We also discuss some of the clinical implications of these risk factors and areas for future research.
Factors Affecting Self-Care Behavior Levels among Elderly Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Quantile Regression Approach

Background and objectives: Identifying factors that affect self-care according to low, middle, and high self-care levels among elderly patients with diabetes is the best way to prevent various life-threatening complications, and this can be accomplished by using an individualized approach to improve self-care. A quantile regression model is beneficial for estimating such factors because it allows the consideration of the entire conditional distribution of a dependent variable as it relates to independent variables. The objective of this study was to identify factors that affect self-care among elderly patients with diabetes using quantile regression. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey of elderly patients with diabetes was conducted using the Self-Care Scale and six other related scales at three medical health centers in South Korea. Results: In the 10% quantile, the factors affecting self-care were age, smoking within the past six months, being educated about diabetes, depression, knowledge related to diabetes, self-efficacy, diabetes distress, and family support. Additional factors were as follows: age, smoking within the past six months, self-efficacy, and diabetes distress in the 25% quantile; age, self-efficacy, perceived health status, and diabetes distress in the 50% quantile; age, self-efficacy, perceived health status, and diabetes distress in the 75% quantile; and self-efficacy and perceived health status in the 90% quantile. Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, suggestions include providing education for sub-groups incapable of self-care, teaching stress management strategies, and increasing family support. In addition, for individuals capable of self-care, simplified programs that consist of self-efficacy improvement and stress control strategies are necessary.
Effects of metformin and phenformin on apoptosis and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition in chemoresistant rectal cancer

Recurrence and chemoresistance in colorectal cancer remain important issues for patients treated with conventional therapeutics. Metformin and phenformin, previously used in the treatment of diabetes, have been shown to have anticancer effects in various cancers, including breast, lung and prostate cancers. However, their molecular mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, we examined the effects of these drugs in chemoresistant rectal cancer cell lines. We found that SW837 and SW1463 rectal cancer cells were more resistant to ionizing radiation and 5‐fluorouracil than HCT116 and LS513 colon cancer cells. In addition, metformin and phenformin increased the sensitivity of these cell lines by inhibiting cell proliferation, suppressing clonogenic ability and increasing apoptotic cell death in rectal cancer cells. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and transforming growth factor‐β/Smad signaling pathways were more activated in rectal cancer cells, and inhibition of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 expression using an inhibitor or siRNA sensitized rectal cancer cells to chemoresistant by inhibition of the expression of antiapoptotic proteins, such as X‐linked inhibitor of apoptosis, survivin and cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein 1. Moreover, metformin and phenformin inhibited cell migration and invasion by suppression of transforming growth factor β receptor 2‐mediated Snail and Twist expression in rectal cancer cells. Therefore, metformin and phenformin may represent a novel strategy for the treatment of chemoresistant rectal cancer by targeting signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and transforming growth factor‐β/Smad signaling.