Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterizing ecomorphological patterns in hyenids: a multivariate approach using postcanine dentition

We analyze the multivariate pattern of lower and upper cheek dentition for the family Hyaenidae along its evolutionary history. A total of 11,698 individual measurements of lengths and widths for the main postcanine teeth were collected for 54 extinct and three extant species of this family and analyzed by means of principal component analyses. Our results indicate that the functional aspects are better reflected by lower cheek dentition as a result of mosaic evolution. The multivariate structure captured by the three first principal components correspond to different adaptive strategies. The two first components characterize the main groups of ecomorphs, while hunting species separate from scavengers along the third axis. In the context of Hyaenidae, the post-canine cheek dentition of Parahyaena brunnea and Hyaena hyaena shows an extreme degree of specialization in scavenging.
Image-guided, Minimally Invasive Evacuation of Intracerebral Hematoma: A Matched Cohort Study Comparing the Endoscopic and Tubular Exoscopic Systems

Introduction Novel image-guided, minimally invasive techniques to evacuate intracerebral hematomas represent a promising new avenue in the management of this disease entity. To our knowledge, a direct comparison of the Penumbra Apollo (Penumbra Inc, Alameda, California, US) and Nico BrainPath (Indianapolis, Indiana, US) system has not yet been performed. Methods A retrospective review of image-guided, minimally invasive evacuation of intracerebral hematomas performed at one academic institution in the United States between July 2015 and July 2017 was performed. Cases performed with the Apollo and BrainPath system were matched based on age, gender, hematoma location and laterality, and volume. Results Twenty-four patients underwent surgery using either of the two minimally invasive surgical systems and five cases in each group were matched for age, gender, hematoma location and laterality, and volume. Median time from symptom onset to evacuation was two days with a mean distance from the brain surface to the clot of approximately 40 millimeters in both groups. Both techniques achieved comparable clot evacuation. The functional outcome was poor with either technique with the majority of patients dependent or dead at last follow-up. Conclusions In the present, small, matched cohort study, both the Apollo and BrainPath techniques achieved satisfactory clot evacuation. Nevertheless, the functional outcome in this patient population remains poor in the majority of cases.
Assessment of breast self-examination practice and its associated factors among female undergraduate students in Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2016

Background Breast self-examination (BSE) is a simple, very low-cost, non-invasive early detection method used to detect breast cancer at early stage. It should be done for all women older than 20 years. The aim of this study was to assess BSE practice and associated factors among female undergraduate students in Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods Institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted. Departments were selected from College of Business and Economics by using lottery method. A simple random sampling technique was used to select a total of 407 female students from each department. Data were collected by using structured self-administered and pretested questionnaire. Quantitative method was employed. Binary logistic regression and multiple logistic regressions were done to confirm association between variables. Results The finding of this study revealed that 87 (21.4%) of the study participants have practiced BSE. Of whom, 45 (51.7%) participants perform BSE every month and 9 (10.5%) of the study participants perform BSE at the right time, which is 2-3 days after menstruation. Family history of breast cancer, knowledge, and attitude of BSE were found to be significantly associated with BSE practice. Conclusion This study revealed that majority of study subjects did not practice BSE. So, It's recommended that the concerned bodies create awareness around BSE and train students on how to practice BSE.
Incomplete Suppression of HIV-1 by SAMHD1 Permits Efficient Macrophage Infection

Background: Sterile alpha motif and histidine/aspartic acid domain-containing protein (SAMHD1) is a dNTP triphosphorylase that reduces cellular dNTP levels in non-dividing cells, such as macrophages. Since dNTPs are required for reverse transcription, HIV-2 and most SIVs encode a Vpx protein that promotes proteasomal degradation of SAMHD1. It is unclear how HIV-1, which does not appear to harbor a SAMHD1 escape mechanism, is able to infect macrophages in the face of SAMHD1 restriction. Methods: To assess whether HIV-1 had a mechanism to negate SAMHD1 activity, we compared SAMHD1 and dNTP levels in macrophages infected by HIV-1 and SIV. We examined whether macrophages infected by HIV-1 still harbored antiviral levels of SAMHD1 by assessing their susceptibility to superinfection by vpx-deleted SIV. Finally, to assess whether HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) has adapted to a low dNTP environment, we evaluated SAMHD1 sensitivity of chimeric HIV-1 and SIV variants in which the RT regions were functionally exchanged. Results: Here, we demonstrate that HIV-1 efficiently infects macrophages without modulating SAMHD1 activity or cellular dNTP levels, and that macrophages permissive to HIV-1 infection remained refractory to superinfection by vpx-deleted SIV. Furthermore, through the use of chimeric HIV/SIV, we demonstrate that the differential sensitivity of HIV-1 and SIV to SAMHD1 restriction is not dictated by RT. Conclusions: Our study reveals fundamental differences between HIV-1 and SIV in the strategy used to evade restriction by SAMHD1 and suggests a degree of resistance of HIV-1 to the antiviral environment created by SAMHD1. Understanding how these cellular restrictions antagonize viral replication will be important for the design of novel antiviral strategies.
Silencing of OCH1 unveils the role of Sporothrix schenckii N-linked glycans during the host–fungus interaction

Background Sporothrix schenckii is a neglected fungal pathogen for the human being and other mammals. In several fungal systems, Och1 is a Golgi α1,6-mannosyltransferase with a key function in the synthesis of N-linked glycans; which are important elements during the host-fungus interplay. The role of OCH1 in fungal virulence seems to be species-specific, being an essential component for Candida albicans virulence and dispensable during the interaction of Aspergillus fumigatus with the host. Methods Here, we silenced S. schenckii OCH1 and characterized the phenotype of the mutant strains. Results The mutant strains did not show defects in the cell or colony morphology, the growth rate or the ability to undergo dimorphism; but the cell wall changed in both composition and exposure of inner components at the surface. When interacting with human monocytes, the silenced strains had a reduced ability to stimulate TNFα and IL-6 but stimulated higher levels of IL-10. The interaction with human macrophages was also altered, with reduced numbers of silenced cells phagocytosed. These strains showed virulence attenuation in both Galleria mellonella and in the mouse model of sporotrichosis. Nonetheless, the cytokine levels in infected organs did not vary significantly when compared with the wild-type strain. Conclusion Our data demonstrate that OCH1 silencing affects different aspects of the S. schenckii-host interaction.
Native Quercetin as a Chloride Receptor in an Organic Solvent

The binding properties of quercetin toward chloride anions were investigated by means of 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) measurements, as well as computational calculations. The results indicate that quercetin behaves primarily as a ditopic receptor with the binding site of the B ring that exhibits stronger chloride affinity compared to the A ring. However, these sites are stronger receptors than those of catechol and resorcinol because of their conjugation with the carbonyl group located on the C ring. The 1:1 and 1:2 complexation of this flavonoid with Cl− was also supported by ESI mass spectrometry.
Practice styles, knowledge and attitudes of general practitioners and gastroenterology specialists who treat gastroesophageal reflux disease

Abstract As little is known on the subject, our aim was to compare practice styles, knowledge and attitudes of general practitioners (GPs), and gastroenterology specialists (GIs) regarding the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). An internet survey designed by the authors was sent nationwide and randomly to 290 GIs and 1312 GPs. We assessed for the burden of GERD, indications for referral for a GI consultation, criteria for proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) selection, and main unmet treatment needs. Forty (14%) GIs and 132 (10%) GPs returned the questionnaire. Both groups treat 13 to 14 GERD patients weekly (mean age 41–50 years). The most common first and second line drug of choice in both groups was omeprazole and esomeprazole, respectively. GIs stated that the most important consideration for the selection of treatment was high safety profile, whereas GPs considered it to be a rapid symptomatic relief. In the case of first and second line PPI failures, GIs tended to prescribe a non PPI treatment, whereas GPs restarted esomeprazole. GIs stated that the most prevalent conceived limitations of PPI treatment were nighttime heartburn and undesirable side effects, whereas GPs considered treatment inflexibility and drug interactions. GIs and GPs hold different practice styles, knowledge, and attitudes on the treatment of GERD. Our findings ascertain the need for the development of updated National Clinical Guidelines focusing on GERD.
Construction and analysis of the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network based on competitive endogenous RNA reveals functional genes in heart failure

Heart failure (HF) is a principal cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, affecting an estimated 38 million people. Although significant progress has been made with respect to the underlying molecular mechanisms, the role of the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network in the pathogenesis of HF remains largely unknown. In this study, an HF-associated ceRNA network was constructed based on the differentially expressed long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs) and mRNAs obtained, respectively, from the GSE77399, GSE104150 and GSE84796 datasets. The ceRNA network consisted of 12 lncRNA nodes, 43 miRNA nodes, 343 mRNA nodes and 530 edges. Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis demonstrated that the ceRNA network was primarily enriched in the immune response, inflammatory response and T cell and B cell receptor signaling pathways. In addition, three lncRNAs (growth arrest specific 5, taurine upregulated 1 and HOX transcript antisense RNA) and three miRNAs [hsa-miRNA (miR)-26b-5p, hsa-miR-8485 and hsa-miR-940] with higher node degrees compared with other genes were selected as hub nodes. The expression of hub nodes in patients with HF was verified by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. The present study provided further insights into the important roles of the ceRNA network in HF development, and indicated the potential use of these hub nodes as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Urapidil, compared to nitroglycerin, has better clinical safety in the treatment of hypertensive patients with acute heart failure: a meta-analysis

Objectives The application of urapidil for treating hypertensive patients with acute heart failure in the emergency department remains controversial. Our objective was to organize the relevant articles and assess the clinical indexes between urapidil and nitroglycerin. Materials and methods PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library and China National Knowledge Infrastructure were searched for randomized studies that compared urapidil treatment with nitroglycerin treatment for hypertensive patients with acute heart failure. The risk ratio, with 95% CI, was calculated by using a corresponding effects model, according to the value of I 2. Results Seven randomized controlled trials were identified, in order to compare the clinical indexes. On comparing the clinical indexes, the urapidil group was found to be better than the nitroglycerin group in regard to left ventricular ejection fraction, systolic blood pressure, N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide, left ventricular end-diastolic volume, cardiac index, ALT, AST and health complications (P<0.05), but the indexes of creatinine were worse in the urapidil group. Furthermore, the two methods of treatment were comparable in diastolic blood pressure, left ventricular end-systolic volume, left ventricular end-systolic dimension, heart rate, fasting plasma glucose and total cholesterol levels (P>0.05). Conclusion Based on the current evidence, urapidil treatment had better clinical safety features than the traditional pharmaceutical treatment with nitroglycerin. For those indicators with a small amount of data, a greater number of randomized, high-quality controlled trials should be conducted in order to further verify the findings, which could give researchers a more comprehensive evaluation of urapidil treatment.
Factors Associated with Increased Risk of Unplanned Hospital Readmission after Endovascular Aortoiliac Interventions

Objectives Readmissions to hospital after surgical procedures are considered as reflective of poor quality of healthcare provided during the index hospitalization and are associated with increased costs of healthcare. Aortoiliac occlusive disease represents an aggressive form of atherosclerotic disease and has been traditionally treated with open surgical bypasses. Endovascular interventions for aortoiliac occlusive disease are associated with comparable outcomes to open surgical procedures. The purpose of this study is to review the factors associated with hospital readmission after aortoiliac endovascular interventions. Methods The 2015 procedure targeted American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database and general and vascular surgery NSQIP participant user file (PUF) were used for this analysis. Patient, diagnosis and procedure characteristics of patients undergoing aortoiliac endovascular interventions were reviewed. Bivariate analysis was used to identify the relationship between the independent variables and 30-day readmission. The significant variables from the bivariate analysis were used to generate a multivariable logistic regression model. The predicted probability of readmission was calculated. Results Out of 823 patients, 86 were readmitted. Readmission was related to the principal procedure in 48 (73.9%) patients. A total of 61 (7%) patients underwent an unplanned operation within 30 days after the index procedure. A multivariable logistic regression model identified the following variables to be significantly associated with 30-day risk of readmission: the use of pre-procedural beta blocker (OR = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.23 - 3.45, P < 0.01), external/internal iliac intervention (OR = 1.95, 95% CI = 1.18 - 3.20, P <0.01), critical limb ischemia (OR = 1.80, 95% CI = 1.10 - 2.94, P <0.05), and unplanned return to the operating room (OR = 11.65, 95% CI = 6.35 - 21.35, P <0.01). The predicted probability of readmission was as follows: 5.5% for critical limb ischemia, 5.9% for external iliac artery angioplasty/stenting, 6.2% for preoperative beta blockers, 17.7% for patients with cardiac arrest, 27% for unplanned return to the operating room, and 94.7% for patients with all of these risk factors. Conclusion Readmissions after endovascular interventions for severe atherosclerotic disease can be used as a quality metric. Several factors place a patient at a high risk for readmission. Unplanned return to the operating room, cardiac arrest, preoperative beta blockers, location of disease, and preoperative symptoms are independent risk factors for hospital readmission. Unplanned return to the operating room is associated with 11.65-fold increase in the risk of hospital readmission.
Aberrant expression of microRNAs 16 and 21 and gene targets in women with unexplained recurrent miscarriage: A case-control study

Background: Recurrent miscarriage, as the occurrence of two or more of pregnancy loss before the 20 th wk, can occur for multiple causes. One of the causes of miscarriage may be a defect in the process of angiogenesis because the delivery of nutrients to the fetus is decreased and it may lead to miscarriage. Also, micro ribonucleic acids play an important role in the development of diseases. The microRNAs 16 and 21 are the most well-known angiogenesis-related miRNAs, which their gene targets are vascular endothelial growth factor-A and phosphatase and tensin homolog, respectively. Objective: To evaluate the changes in expression of microRNAs 16 and 21 and their association with the gene targets in women with unexplained RM. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, blood samples were taken from 25 women with unexplained RM and 25 controls. After extraction of RNA, the relative expression of microRNAs and their gene targets was measured using real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR method. Results: Our findings showed that miR-21 expression was significantly decreased in both plasma and peripheral mononuclear cells (p=0.04 and p=0.02, respectively) and could be associated with the PTEN expression (p=0.03), however, there is no significant correlation between miR-16 and VEGF-A . Conclusion: One of the most remarkable results of this study is that miR-21 showed significant changes in both plasma and peripheral mononuclear cells, which can be related to the etiology and progression of RM.
Preoperative lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) could independently predict overall survival of resectable gastric cancer patients

Abstract Preoperational hemogram parameters have been reported to be associated with the prognosis of several types of cancers. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of hematological parameters in gastric cancer in a Chinese population. A total of 870 gastric cancer patients who underwent radical tumorectomy were recruited from January 2008 to December 2012. Preoperative hematological parameters were recorded and dichotomized by time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves. The survival curves of patients stratified by each hematological parameter were plotted by the Kaplan–Meier method and compared by log-rank test. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to select parameters independently correlated with prognosis. The median age of the patients was 60 years. The median follow-up time was 59.9 months, and the 5-year survival rate was 56.4%. Results from the univariate analyses showed that low lymphocyte count (<2.05 × 109/L), high neutrophil-to-white blood cell ratio (NWR > 0.55), low lymphocyte-to-white blood cell ratio (LWR < 0.23), low lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR < 5.43), high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR > 1.44), and high platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR > 115) were associated with poor survival of gastric cancer patients. Multivariate analysis showed that low LMR (HR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.17–1.89, P = .001) was the only hematological factor independently predicting poor survival. These results indicate that preoperational LMR is an independent prognostic factor for patients with resectable gastric cancer.
National action plan of the Islamic Republic of Iran for combating antimicrobial resistance during 2016 – 2021

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most important threats to health worldwide. Therefore, the World Health Organization (WHO) have invited countries around the world to work together to inhibit AMR, and all the member states are expected to prepare a national plan for tackling AMR by 2017. This project was aimed to prepare the National Action Plan of the Islamic Republic of Iran for combating antimicrobial resistance (NAP-IRIAMR) during 2016 to 2021. Methods: In this article, the literature and available documents were reviewed to identify key stakeholders. Moreover, interviews, brain storming sessions, and meetings with key stakeholders were held to determine NAP-IRIAMR objectives, strategies, policies, and indicators for monitoring and evaluation. To reach consensus and make a conclusion, participants’ views and comments were analyzed using Delphi method and expert panel. Results: In this national action plan for combating AMR, 13 key stakeholders were identified and 5 objectives were set: (1) raising public awareness and increasing trainings on AMR, (2) continuous monitoring of AMR, (3) preventing the spread of microorganisms resistant to antimicrobials, (4) promoting the rational use of antimicrobials, (5) promoting research and development in the field of AMR. Conclusion: The NAP-IRIAMR was prepared for the years 2016- 2021. Intersectoral cooperation is needed to combat AMR. It is expected that implementing the NAP-IRIAMR and reaching the determined goals will help overcome the problems related to AMR.
Modular reconfiguration of an auditory control brain network supports adaptive listening behavior

Significance How do brain networks shape our listening behavior? We here develop and test the hypothesis that, during challenging listening situations, intrinsic brain networks are reconfigured to adapt to the listening demands and thus, to enable successful listening. We find that, relative to a task-free resting state, networks of the listening brain show higher segregation of temporal auditory, ventral attention, and frontal control regions known to be involved in speech processing, sound localization, and effortful listening. Importantly, the relative change in modularity of this auditory control network predicts individuals’ listening success. Our findings shed light on how cortical communication dynamics tune selection and comprehension of speech in challenging listening situations and suggest modularity as the network principle of auditory attention. Speech comprehension in noisy, multitalker situations poses a challenge. Successful behavioral adaptation to a listening challenge often requires stronger engagement of auditory spatial attention and context-dependent semantic predictions. Human listeners differ substantially in the degree to which they adapt behaviorally and can listen successfully under such circumstances. How cortical networks embody this adaptation, particularly at the individual level, is currently unknown. We here explain this adaptation from reconfiguration of brain networks for a challenging listening task (i.e., a linguistic variant of the Posner paradigm with concurrent speech) in an age-varying sample of n = 49 healthy adults undergoing resting-state and task fMRI. We here provide evidence for the hypothesis that more successful listeners exhibit stronger task-specific reconfiguration (hence, better adaptation) of brain networks. From rest to task, brain networks become reconfigured toward more localized cortical processing characterized by higher topological segregation. This reconfiguration is dominated by the functional division of an auditory and a cingulo-opercular module and the emergence of a conjoined auditory and ventral attention module along bilateral middle and posterior temporal cortices. Supporting our hypothesis, the degree to which modularity of this frontotemporal auditory control network is increased relative to resting state predicts individuals’ listening success in states of divided and selective attention. Our findings elucidate how fine-tuned cortical communication dynamics shape selection and comprehension of speech. Our results highlight modularity of the auditory control network as a key organizational principle in cortical implementation of auditory spatial attention in challenging listening situations.