Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors Predicting Mortality of Acute Variceal Bleeding in Liver Cirrhosis

ABSTRACT Introduction Acute variceal bleeding in liver cirrhosis is an immediate life-threatening condition and amajor complication of portal hypertension associated with higher morbidity, mortality and hospital costs than any other causes of UGI bleeding. Therefore, early stratification and initiation of therapy based on several factors can reduce mortality associated with it. We aimed to study the predictors of mortality in acute variceal bleeding in LC. Methods An observational prospective study was conducted in Gastroenterology and Hepatology units of Bir Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal from April 1, 2016 to May 30, 2017. Patients were included if they had underlying liver cirrhosis and presented upper GI bleeding which were proven to be secondary to variceal bleeding. Results Seventy-five patients with mean age of 52.5 years were available or the analysis. The M:F ratio was 2.1:1. There were 66 patients in mortality group and 9 in survivor group. The mean CTP and MELD score were 10.17+1.66 and 20.40+8.29 respectively. Among the predictors of the mortality studied, CTP score, MELD score, mean arterial pressure, Serum bilirubin, serum creatinine, need of FFP as well as PRP transfusion, presence of hepatorenal syndrome and hepatic encephalopathy were high in mortality group with statistical significance. On multivariate analysis, high CTP and high serum creatinine level were only significant predictors of mortality. Receiver operating curve for predicting accuracy of mortality was significant with higher MELD and higher CTP score. Conclusions Strong predictors of mortality in patients with cirrhosis presenting with variceal bleeding are CTP score and high serum creatinine level.
Comparison between effect of desflurane/remifentanil and propofol/remifentanil anesthesia on somatosensory evoked potential monitoring during scoliosis surgery—A randomized controlled trial

Background: Drugs used in anesthesia can affect somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) monitoring, which is used routinely for intraoperative monitoring of spinal cord integrity during spinal surgery. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether combined total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) technique with propofol/remifentanil is associated with less SSEP suppression when compared to combined volatile agent desflurane/remifentanil anesthesia during corrective scoliosis surgery at a comparable depth of anesthesia. Design: It is a randomized controlled trial. Setting: The study was conducted at the Single tertiary University Hospital during October 2014 to June 2015. Patients: Patients who required SSEP and had no neurological deficits, and were of American Society of Anesthesiologist I and II physical status, were included. Patients who had sensory or motor deficits preoperatively and significant cardiovascular and respiratory disease were excluded. A total of 72 patients were screened, and 67 patients were randomized and allocated to two groups: 34 in desflurane/remifentanil group and 33 in TIVA group. Four patients from desflurane/remifentanil group and three from TIVA group were withdrawn due to decrease in SSEP amplitude to <0.3 µV after induction of anesthesia. Thirty patients from each group were analyzed. Interventions: Sixty-seven patients were randomized to receive TIVA or desflurane/remifentanil anesthesia. Main outcome measures: The measurements taken were the amplitude and latency of SSEP monitoring at five different time points during surgery: before and after the induction of anesthesia, at skin incision, at pedicle screw insertion, and at rod insertion. Results: Both anesthesia techniques, TIVA and desflurane/remifentanil, resulted in decreased amplitude and increased latencies of both cervical and cortical peaks. The desflurane/remifentanil group had a significantly greater reduction in the amplitude (p = 0.004) and an increase in latency (p = 0.002) of P40 compared with the TIVA group. However, there were no differences in both amplitude (p = 0.214) and latency (p = 0.16) in cervical SSEP between the two groups. Conclusions: Compared with TIVA technique, desflurane/remifentanil anesthesia caused more suppression in cortical SSEP, but not in cervical SSEP, at a comparable depth of anesthesia.
Aberrant expression of Rab1A and its prognostic significance in human colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVE Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide. Emerging evidence has verified that Rab1A plays an oncogenic role in several human malignancies including breast cancer, lung cancer, and hepatocellular carcinomas. However, the clinical significance and prognostic impact of Rab1A in CRC is still unclear. PATIENTS AND METHODS We initiated our investigation by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis to confirm Rab1A expression in CRC tissues. Meanwhile, the correlation of Rab1A expression and clinicopathologic features, as well as outcome in CRC patients, were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS In the issue, Rab1A is overexpressed in CRC tissues compared with matched noncancerous tissues. Meanwhile, high Rab1A expression was significantly associated with the TNM stage, lymph node metastasis, and peritoneal metastasis. In addition, multivariate analyses identified Rab1A expression and TNM stage as independent predictors for CRC patients. Moreover, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that patients with high Rab1A expression had a significantly worse survival time than those with low Rab1A expression, which especially affected the survival in CRC patients with advanced stage. Spearman analysis suggested that there was a positive relationship between Rab1A expression and preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) for CRC patients. CONCLUSIONS These results suggested that Rab1A is an important diagnostic marker for CRC, and Rab1A can be used as a valuable biomarker for prognosis as well as peritoneal metastasis in CRC patients. Rab1A may prove to be clinically useful for developing a new therapeutic target of CRC treatment.
Cognitive functioning following discontinuation of antipsychotic medication. A naturalistic sub-group analysis from the OPUS II trial

Abstract Background The effect of antipsychotics medication on cognitive functioning in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia is poorly understood. Some studies of second generation antipsychotics indicated that they improved cognitive functioning while other studies have found that they decrease the level of cognitive functioning. Method We included patients with schizophrenia who were in treatment with antipsychotics 1.5 years (baseline) after initiation of treatment and followed them up 3.5 years later (n = 189). At follow-up 60 (32%) had discontinued their antipsychotic treatment and 129 (68%) were still taking antipsychotics. Using the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) we assessed cognition at baseline and follow-up. Results The patients who discontinued their medication had a higher level of cognitive functioning in all domains at baseline, as well as Global cognitive function [mean z-score −1.50 (s.d. 1.24) v. −2.27 (s.d. 1.30), p = 0.00015]. After controlling for relevant confounders those who discontinued antipsychotic medication improved significantly more than those who remained on antipsychotic medication during the course of the follow-up on the Token Motor task [estimated mean change difference −0.46 (95% CI −0.89 to −0.04)], the Speed of Processing Domain [estimated mean change difference −0.38 (95% CI −0.68 to −0.08)] and global cognition [estimated mean change difference −0.36 (95% CI −0.66 to −0.07)]. Conclusion Due to the naturalistic design, we cannot conclude on the direction of the relationship between antipsychotics and cognition. There is no evidence that discontinuation of medication had a negative effect on cognitive functioning. Rather, we found that that discontinuation of medication was associated with better cognitive functioning.
Assessment of Psychiatric Comorbidity and WISC-R Profiles in Cases Diagnosed with Specific Learning Disorder According to DSM-5 Criteria.

Introduction In this study, the frequency of psychiatric comorbidity in children and adolescents who were diagnosed with specific learning disorder, the factors that affect the frequency of comorbidity, the subtypes of specific learning disorder and the effects on cognitive profile have been investigated. Methods Our study was performed among 80 cases with the age range 6-15 years who diagnosed with specific learning disorder Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department between January and June 2015. In the study, DSM-IV Based Screening and Evaluation Scale for Child and Adolescent Behavioral Disorders, Specific Learning Disability Evaluation Scale and the WISC-R test were performed. During the interview, reading-writing-math abilities evaluation list (error analysis) was performed in order to define the specific learning disorder subgroup and to evaluate the detailed error profile of the specific learning disorder subgroup. Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-age Children-Present and Lifetime Turkish Version (KSADS) was performed to detect psychiatric comorbidity diagnoses. Results 92.5% of the cases have a comorbid psychiatric disorder. The most frequent psychiatric comorbidity was attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (82.3%), followed by specific phobia (46.3%), oppositional defiant disorder (26.3%), enuresis (25%) and tic disorders (22.5%). Psychiatric comorbidity is detected more often in patients with specific learning disorder accompanied by attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder. The most frequent subtype of specific learning disorder is combined type disorder consisting of reading, writing and math disorder (37.5%). The WISC-R score of the patients who had math disorder were found to be lower than the others, and also it was detected that they learned reading and writing later, and have more comorbid psychiatric disorders. Conclusion The results of our study indicate that associated psychiatric disorders are frequent with specific learning disorder. Specific learning disorder should not be considered as a single disorder, but should be assessed and treated with comorbid psychiatric disorders.
Metagenomic Evidence of Microbial Community Responsiveness to Phosphorus and Salinity Gradients in Seagrass Sediments

Sediment microorganisms can have profound influence on productivity and functioning of marine ecosystems through their critical roles in regulating biogeochemical processes. However, the identity of sediment microorganisms that mediate organic matter turnover and nutrient cycling in seagrass sediments is only poorly understood. Here, we used metagenomic sequencing to investigate shifts in the structure and functioning of the microbial community of seagrass sediments across a salinity and phosphorus (P) availability gradient in Shark Bay, WA, Australia. This iconic ecosystem is oligotrophic and hypersaline with abundant seagrass meadows that directly contribute Shark Bay’s status as a World Heritage Site. We show that sediment phosphonate metabolism genes as well as enzyme activities increase in hypersaline conditions with lower soluble reactive phosphate in the water column. Given that sediment organic P content is also highest where P concentrations in the water column are low, we suggest that microbial processing of organic P can contribute to the P requirements of seagrasses at particularly oligotrophic sites. Seagrass meadows are often highly productive in oligotrophic waters, and our findings suggest that an increase in the functional capacity of microbial communities in seagrass sediments to break down organic P may contribute to the high productivity of seagrass meadows under oligotrophic conditions. When compared to soil and sediment metagenomes from other aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, we also show microbial communities in seagrass sediments have a disproportionately high abundance of putative phosphorus and sulfur metabolism genes, which may have played an important evolutionary role in allowing these angiosperms to recolonize the marine environment and prosper under oligotrophic conditions.
A Growth-Curve Analysis of the Effects of Future-Thought Priming on Insight and Analytical Problem-Solving

Research based on construal level theory (CLT) suggests that thinking about the distant future can prime people to solve problems by insight (i.e., an “aha” moment) while thinking about the near future can prime them to solve problems analytically. In this study, we used a novel method to elucidate the time-course of temporal priming effects on creative problem solving. Specifically, we used growth-curve analysis (GCA) to examine the time-course of priming while participants solved a series of brief verbal problems. Participants were tested in two counterbalanced sessions in a within-subject experimental design; one session featured near-future priming and the other featured far-future priming. Our results suggest high-level construal may temporarily enhance analytical thinking; far-future priming caused transient facilitation of analytical solving while near-future priming induced weaker, transient facilitation of insightful solving. However, this effect is short-lived; priming produced no significant differences in the total number of insights and analytical solutions. Given the fleeting nature of these effects, future studies should consider implementing methodology that allows for aspects of the time-course of priming effects to be examined. A method such as GCA may reveal mild effects that would be otherwise missed using other types of analyses.
Inhibition of lipid and protein oxidation in raw ground pork by Terminalia arjuna fruit extract during refrigerated storage

Objective Terminalia arjuna plant, specially its leaves, bark, and roots, are widely used in traditional herbal medicine due to presence of bioactive components and being a rich source of natural antioxidants. But its fruit has not been used for any such purposes despite its potential to retard oxidation. Hence, the antioxidant potential of Arjuna fruit extract (AFE) in retarding lipid and protein oxidation of raw ground pork was evaluated during refrigerated storage for 9 days. Methods The AFEs were prepared using different solvents viz. ethanol (EH), water, ethanol: water (60:40) and methanol:hot water (60:40). The AFEs were analysed for total phenolic content (TPC), 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity and reducing power. Water extract (WE) and ethanol-water extract (EH-WE) were selected and incorporated at 1.0% into freshly minced pork meat and compared with a synthetic antioxidant, in retarding lipid and protein oxidation during storage. Results The TPC in AFEs using different solvents ranged from 11.04 to 16.53 mg gallic acid equivalents/g and extracts exhibited appreciable scavenging activity ranging from 50.02% to 58.62%. Arjuna extracts significantly (p<0.05) improved the colour score of meat samples by reducing the formation of metmyoglobin during storage. Both the AFEs (WE and EH-WE) significantly (p<0.05) lowered the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances value, peroxide formation and formation of protein carbonyls in raw pork than control sample during storage. Upon sensory evaluation of all samples, it was found that AFE treatment could prolong the storage period of meat samples, without influencing the colour and odour score, up to 6 days. Conclusion AFEs used at 1% improved the oxidative stability, colour and odour score and prolonged the refrigerated shelf life of ground pork up 6 days. Therefore, AFE could be explored as an alternative natural antioxidant in retarding lipid and protein oxidation in meat products.
Beyond Cognition: Experts’ Views on Affective-Motivational Research Dispositions in the Social Sciences

Research competence (RC) as a key ability of students in the social sciences has thus far been conceptualized as consisting primarily of cognitive dispositions. However, owing to its highly complex and demanding nature, competence in conducting research might require additional affective and motivational dispositions. To address this deficiency in the literature, first, we conducted a qualitative interview study with academic experts (N = 16) in which we asked them to identify challenging research situations and the affective-motivational research dispositions needed to cope with them. We employed a subsequent online rating (N = 27) to evaluate the situations and dispositions that had been identified. The resulting affective-motivational facet of RC encompasses six challenging situations that are often encountered and nine dispositions that are necessary to successfully conduct research in the social sciences and may be used to both inform and evaluate research-based learning. The interview-based approach may serve as an exemplary procedure to postulate affective-motivational facets of competence models.
Human mesenchymal stromal cells in adhesion to cell‐derived extracellular matrix and titanium: Comparative kinome profile analysis

The extracellular matrix (ECM) physically supports cells and influences stem cell behaviour, modulating kinase‐mediated signalling cascades. Cell‐derived ECMs have emerged in bone regeneration as they reproduce physiological tissue‐architecture and ameliorate mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) properties. Titanium scaffolds show good mechanical properties, facilitate cell adhesion, and have been routinely used for bone tissue engineering (BTE). We analyzed the kinomic signature of human MSCs in adhesion to an osteopromotive osteoblast‐derived ECM, and compared it to MSCs on titanium. PamChip kinase‐array analysis revealed 63 phosphorylated peptides on ECM and 59 on titanium, with MSCs on ECM exhibiting significantly higher kinase activity than on titanium. MSCs on the two substrates showed overlapping kinome profiles, with activation of similar signalling pathways (FAK, ERK, and PI3K signalling). Inhibition of PI3K signalling in cells significantly reduced adhesion to ECM and increased the number of nonadherent cells on both substrates. In summary, this study comprehensively characterized the kinase activity in MSCs on cell‐derived ECM and titanium, highlighting the role of PI3K signalling in kinomic changes regulating osteoblast viability and adhesion. Kinome profile analysis represents a powerful tool to select pathways to better understand cell behaviour. Osteoblast‐derived ECM could be further investigated as titanium scaffold‐coating to improve BTE.
Effect of Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 on inflammatory markers and oxidative stress in subjects with and without the metabolic syndrome

Abstract Beneficial effects of probiotics have been reported on body weight, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, inflammatory state and oxidative stress in healthy subjects and in many metabolic and inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 on inflammatory state and nitro-oxidative stress in patients with and without the metabolic syndrome (MetS). The usual diets of the thirty-three subjects were supplemented with probiotic milk for 90 d. Inflammatory markers and oxidative measurements were performed. In relation to the baseline values, subjects in both groups showed a decrease in homocysteine (P=0·02 and P=0·03, respectively), hydroperoxides (P=0·02 and P=0·01, respectively) and IL-6 levels (P=0·02). Increases in adiponectin (P=0·04) and nitric oxide metabolites (NOx, P=0·001) levels were only seen in the group with the MetS in relation to the baseline values, whereas only the individuals without the MetS had increases in total radical-trapping antioxidant parameter levels (P=0·002). In conclusion, B. lactis HN019 have several beneficial effects on inflammatory and oxidative biomarkers in healthy subjects and the MetS patients. Patients with the MetS showed a specific improvement in adiponectin and NOx levels, whereas a specific favourable effect was shown in the antioxidant defenses in healthy subjects. If the results obtained in the present study are confirmed, supplementation of fermented milk with probiotics in healthy subjects and patients with the MetS must be further discussed.
Dcf1 Deficiency Attenuates the Role of Activated Microglia During Neuroinflammation

Microglia serve as the principal immune cells and play crucial roles in the central nervous system, responding to neuroinflammation via migration and the execution of phagocytosis. Dendritic cell-derived factor 1 (Dcf1) is known to play an important role in neural stem cell differentiation, glioma apoptosis, dendritic spine formation, and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), nevertheless, the involvement of the Dcf1 gene in the brain immune response has not yet been reported. In the present paper, the RNA-sequencing and function enrichment analysis suggested that the majority of the down-regulated genes in Dcf1-/- (Dcf1-KO) mice are immune-related. In vivo experiments showed that Dcf1 deletion produced profound effects on microglial function, increased the expression of microglial activation markers, such as ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1), Cluster of Differentiation 68 (CD68) and translocator protein (TSPO), as well as certain proinflammatory cytokines (Cxcl1, Ccl7, and IL17D), but decreased the migratory and phagocytic abilities of microglial cells, and reduced the expression levels of some other proinflammatory cytokines (Cox-2, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and Csf1) in the mouse hippocampus. Furthermore, in vitro experiments revealed that in the absence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the majority of microglia were ramified and existed in a resting state, with only approximately 10% of cells exhibiting an amoeboid-like morphology, indicative of an activated state. LPS treatment dramatically increased the ratio of activated to resting cells, and Dcf1 downregulation further increased this ratio. These data indicated that Dcf1 deletion mediates neuroinflammation and induces dysfunction of activated microglia, preventing migration and the execution of phagocytosis. These findings support further investigation into the biological mechanisms underlying microglia-related neuroinflammatory diseases, and the role of Dcf1 in the immune response.
Effect of graded levels of soapnut (Sapindus mukorossi) shell powder on reproductive performance in broiler breeders

Objective This study investigated the effects of soapnut (Sapindus mukorossi) shell powder (SSP) on serum hormone level, egg quality, semen characteristics and reproductive performance of broiler breeders fed with a maize-soybean meal based diet. Methods Ninety six female and twenty four male CARIBRO-VISHAL broiler breeders, 38-week old, were individually caged and randomly allocated to four treatment groups (24 female breeders/treatment and 6 male breeders/treatment): an un-supplemented control (T1) and three groups with 0.0176% SSP (group T2), 0.026% SSP (group T3) and 0.0528% SSP (group T4), to have supplementary saponin at 0, 50, 75, and 150 ppm, respectively, for 42 days. Results The results indicated that serum (p<0.001) and seminal plasma (p<0.05) testosterone level, semen volume (p<0.001), mass motility (p<0.001), and live spermatozoa count (p<0.001) was increased in groups T3 and T4 compared to T2 and control groups. Compared with control group, total sperm count was increased (p<0.001) and dead spermatozoa count was decreased (p<0.001) in SSP supplemented groups. Supplementation of SSP did not affected the quality of egg lay. Compared with control group, fertility (p<0.01) and hatchability (total eggs set and fertile eggs set) (p<0.001) were significantly improved in SSP supplemented groups with the highest improvement in T3 treatment group. Embryonic death was decreased (p< 0.001) in SSP supplemented groups compared to control; lowest embryonic death was recorded in T3 treatment group. Conclusion Thus, it was concluded that dietary supplementation of 0.026% SSP (saponin equivalent 75 ppm) improved the reproductive performance of broiler breeders.