Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Association of Simultaneous Increase in Interleukin-6, C Reactive Protein, and Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Serum Levels with Increasing Stages of Colorectal Cancer

Background Tumor development and growth are driven in many cases by inflammatory cells, which can produce cytokines and other factors that can stimulate the development of the malignant process. The aim of this study was to evaluate interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), serum levels in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), and their association with the stage of CRC. Methods IL-6, MMP-9, and CRP serum levels were measured in 75 patients with CRC just before surgical treatment, as well as in 20 healthy individuals as controls. Surgically obtained tissue material was subjected to pathological analysis. Results Significant increase in CRP and IL-6 serum concentration is associated with increasing stage of CRC (p <0.05), where MMP-9 serum level was significantly higher in stages III and IV compared to the stage II CRC. Significant correlation was found between IL-6 and MMP-9 serum levels (rho=0.478; p <0.001) as well as between IL-6 and CRP serum levels (rho=0.720; p <0.001) and between MMP-9 and CRP serum levels (rho=0.379; p <0.001). Serum levels of MMP-9 and CRP have been shown to be independent predictors of the CRC stage. Conclusion Combined quantification of IL-6, MMP-9, and CRP serum levels seems to be a reliable index of inflammation-related processes during colorectal carcinogenesis.
Short-term cactus pear [Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill] fruit supplementation ameliorates the inflammatory profile and is associated with improved antioxidant status among healthy humans

Background Dietary ingredients and food components are major modifiable factors protecting immune system and preventing the progression of a low-grade chronic inflammation responsible for age-related diseases. Objective Our study explored whether cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica, Surfarina cultivar) fruit supplementation modulates plasma inflammatory biomarkers in healthy adults. Correlations between inflammatory parameters and antioxidant status were also assessed in parallel. Design In a randomised, 2-period (2 weeks/period), crossover, controlled-feeding study, conducted in 28 healthy volunteers [mean age 39.96 (±9.15) years, BMI 23.1 (±1.5) kg/m2], the effects of a diet supplemented with cactus pear fruit pulp (200 g, twice a day) were compared with those of an equivalent diet with isocaloric fresh fruit substitution. Results With respect to control, cactus pear diet decreased ( p < 0.05) the pro-inflammatory markers such as tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, interferon-γ (INF)-γ, IL-8, C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), whereas it increased ( p < 0.05) the anti-inflammatory marker IL-10. Moreover, the diet decreased ratios between pro-inflammatory biomarkers (CRP, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory biomarker (IL-10) ( p < 0.05). Cactus pear supplementation caused an increase ( p < 0.05) in dermal carotenoids (skin carotenoid score, SCS), a biomarker of the body antioxidant status, with correlations between SCS and CRP (r = −0.905, p < 0.0001), IL-8 (r = −0.835, p < 0.0001) and IL-10 (r = 0.889, p < 0.0001). Conclusions The presently observed modulation of both inflammatory markers and antioxidant balance suggests cactus pear fruit as a novel and beneficial component to be incorporated into current healthy dietary habits.
Exploring the Self-Assembly Capabilities of ABA-Type SBS, SIS, and Their Analogous Hydrogenated Copolymers onto Different Nanostructures Using Atomic Force Microscopy

In this work, the self-assembled morphologies obtained for poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) (SBS) and poly(styrene-b-isoprene-b-styrene) (SIS) ABA-type copolymers were investigated before and after hydrogenation of the polydiene block, which led to poly(styrene-b-ethylene)/poly(ethylene-b-styrene) (SEES) and poly(styrene-b-ethylene)/poly(propylene-b-styrene) (SEPS) copolymers, respectively. The evaluation of different morphologies was carried out using atomic force microscopy (AFM), analyzing the effect of various parameters such as the solvent and polymer concentrations employed for film casting (toluene, cyclohexane, or tetrahydrofurane with concentrations of 1 and 3 wt%), together with that of the annealing treatment (thermal annealing at room temperature, and 60, 80, and 100 °C). The effect of these parameters in combination with the chemical nature of the polydiene block led to different morphologies with different topographic aspects affecting the roughness (Ra) of the film.
Macropinosome formation by tent pole ruffling in macrophages

Pathogen-mediated activation of macrophages arms innate immune responses that include enhanced surface ruffling and macropinocytosis for environmental sampling and receptor internalization and signaling. Activation of macrophages with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) generates prominent dorsal ruffles, which are precursors for macropinosomes. Very rapid, high-resolution imaging of live macrophages with lattice light sheet microscopy (LLSM) reveals new features and actions of dorsal ruffles, which redefine the process of macropinosome formation and closure. We offer a new model in which ruffles are erected and supported by F-actin tent poles that cross over and twist to constrict the forming macropinosomes. This process allows for formation of large macropinosomes induced by LPS. We further describe the enrichment of active Rab13 on tent pole ruffles and show that CRISPR deletion of Rab13 results in aberrant tent pole ruffles and blocks the formation of large LPS-induced macropinosomes. Based on the exquisite temporal and spatial resolution of LLSM, we can redefine the ruffling and macropinosome processes that underpin innate immune responses.
Sets with Few Differences in Abelian Groups

Let $(G, +)$ be an abelian group. In 2004, Eliahou and Kervaire found an explicit formula for the smallest possible cardinality of the sumset $A+A$, where $A \subseteq G$ has fixed cardinality $r$. We consider instead the smallest possible cardinality of the difference set $A-A$, which is always greater than or equal to the smallest possible cardinality of $A+A$ and can be strictly greater. We conjecture a formula for this quantity and prove the conjecture in the case that $G$ is an elementary abelian $p$-group. This resolves a conjecture of Bajnok and Matzke on signed sumsets.
Sexuality and HIV prevention: consensus and dissent of Catholic youths.

OBJECTIVES To analyze the consensus and dissent of Catholics youths about HIV/AIDS prevention from their representations about sexuality. METHODS This is a quantitative and qualitative research based on the Theory of Social Representations carried out with 84 Catholics youths who answered online to the Free Word Association Test on Facebook and three questions about the influence of Catholic doctrine on the free exercise of sexuality and the adoption of practice safe sex. The techniques of Factorial Analysis of Correspondence and Semantic Content were used. RESULTS On sexuality, only the young women with access to higher education represented the term as a free practice that should not lead to guilt. There was a consensus on chastity, virginity, and sex within marriage as effective means of HIV prevention. It is also representational consensus of the young people that sexual practice is pleasurable, however, condemned by the church, and that AIDS is a preventable disease. Social representations have revealed dissent between men and women, while they consider that the exercise of sexuality should be restricted to marriage, they advocate sexual freedom. As for AIDS, they represent that the syndrome stems from prejudice, and they consider that vulnerability favors contagion. CONCLUSIONS In the consensuses among the young people studied, there are sexist prejudices and stereotypes that influence HIV/AIDS prevention actions. Therefore, health professionals, especially those of Nursing should propose actions aimed at this age group in educational activities about the adoption of preventive practices on safe sex, always considering the social representations around the subject.
Phenotypic diversity of patients diagnosed with VACTERL association

The combination of vertebral, anal, cardiac, tracheo‐esophageal, renal and limb anomalies termed VACTERL association, also referred to as VATER, has been used as a clinical descriptor and more recently, a diagnosis of exclusion, for a specific group of phenotypic manifestations that have been observed to co‐occur non‐randomly. Though the causes remain elusive and poorly understood in most patients, VACTERL association is thought to be due to defects in early embryogenesis and is likely genetically heterogeneous. We present data on 36 patients diagnosed with VACTERL association in addition to describing the phenotypic diversity of each component feature. Unique cases in our cohort include a patient with a 498.59 kb microdeletion in the 16p11.2 region and another with a 215 kb duplication in the 3p25.2 region. Our findings expand upon the current understanding of VACTERL association and guide future research aimed at determining its etiology.
Treatment Outcome of Severe Acute Malnutrition and Its Determinants among Pediatric Patients in West Ethiopia

Background Malnutrition is a silent killer that is underreported, underaddressed, and as a result underprioritized. It is reported that severe acute malnutrition is the commonest reason for pediatrics hospital admission in many poor countries; 25 to 30% of children with severe malnutrition die during hospital admissions. Objective To determine treatment outcome of severe acute malnutrition and identify its determinants among pediatric patients in pediatrics ward of Nekemte Referral Hospital. Methods A retrospective hospital-based cross-sectional study was done from November 2015 to April 2017. Data had been collected by using checklist for recording information from patient card and register book. Association between independent variables and depend variable was assessed using bivariate and stepwise multivariable logistic regression, respectively. Level of statistical significance was declared at p value < 0.05. Results Out of 205 admitted children with severe acute malnutrition, 137 (66.8%) cases were cured from SAM, 9 (4.4%) cases were died because of SAM, and (16.6%) cases were defaulter from SAM management, and 25 (12.2%) cases were transferred out. Multivariable logistic regression showed that children admitted with both edema and wasting AOR = 8.30, 95% CI (1.72, 40.09) P=0.008, children without hypothermia AOR = 2.91, 95%CI (1.10, 7.69) P=0.031, children who stay 8-14 days AOR = 3.86, 95%CI (1.01, 14.75) P=0.048, children without pneumonia AOR = 7.82, 95%CI (2.74, 222.29) P=0.001, children without anemia AOR = 3.22, 95%CI (1.04, 9.97) P=0.042, and children without HIV AOR = 9.21, 95% CI (2.20, 38.54) P=0.002 were more likely to be cured from severe acute malnutrition. Conclusion Treatment outcome of severe acute malnutrition in this study is good. It shows that around three-fourths of the children were cured. Factors such as admission criteria, hypothermia, length of stay, pneumonia, anemia, and presence of HIV were associated with treatment response.
Resveratrol Counteracts Insulin Resistance—Potential Role of the Circulation

Pre-clinical data and human trials indicate that resveratrol supplementation may help to counteract diabetes. Several mechanisms of action have been proposed to explain its metabolic benefits, including activation of sirtuins and estrogen receptors (ER) to promote glucose transporter type-4 (GLUT4) translocation and increase glucose uptake. Resveratrol can also enhance vasodilator function, yet the possibility that this action might help to alleviate insulin resistance in type-2 diabetes mellitus has received little attention. In this brief review we propose that, by restoring impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in insulin resistant individuals resveratrol increases blood perfusion of skeletal muscle, thereby facilitating glucose delivery and utilization with resultant improvement of insulin sensitivity. Thus, circulatory improvements by vasoactive nutrients such as resveratrol may play a role in preventing or alleviating insulin resistance.
Outcome of Initial Endodontic Treatment Performed, by One Specialist, in 122 Tunisian Patients: A Retrospective Study

Objective To assess the 6- to 24-month outcome of endodontic treatments performed, by one specialist, and to identify prognostic factors that may influence initial endodontic treatment outcome (IETO). Methods One hundred and forty-six patients out of 163 were included. A number of 201 teeth were endodontically treated, and an overall number of 408 canals were obturated. Of these, 165 teeth received initial endodontic treatment (IET). The criteria of the European Society of Endodontology were used to assess the IETO. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05%. Results Apical periodontitis (AP) was present in 42.5% of all cases, with a PAI >3 in 28.5%. The success rate (SR) was 91.5%. It was significantly higher in vital teeth (97%) than in devital teeth (87.7%) (p=0.04); however, a lower SR was recorded in teeth with AP (p=0.02). The lesion healed in 60 teeth (85.7%), decreased in size in 4 teeth (5.7%), and increased in size in 6 teeth (8.5%). A higher SR was obtained when a permanent restoration was present (94%) than absent (68.7%) (p=0.005). Conclusion Within the limitations of the study, pulp and periapical status and permanent restoration are found to be strong outcome predictors.
Chronic kidney disease in children: Assessment of oral health status.

BACKGROUND Oral disease may be more prevalent in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) due to the underlying pathology and its treatment. In children, it can elicit a wide spectrum of oral manifestations, including saliva changes, mucosal lesions, oral infection, gingivitis, and dental anomalies (mostly hypoplasia). OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to determine the oral health status in a group of children with CKD and to compare with that from healthy controls. MATERIAL AND METHODS A clinical cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2016 and September 2017 on 126 pediatric patients. Oral findings in a group of 65 children suffering from CKD were compared with a control group consisting of 61 individuals, free of any disease. We obtained an assessment of the oral health status by collecting carious, debris, calculus, gingival conditions, hypoplasia, and salivary flow rate data by using specific indexes. Medical and dental history was obtained for each subject. RESULTS We found that children with CKD have a lower prevalence of caries for both permanent dentition (p = 0.019) and primary dentition (p = 0.008), while the prevalence of calculus, debris, gingivitis and enamel hypoplasia seems to be higher (all p < 0.005). A significantly reduced salivary flow rate was also noted in the CKD children, both in unstimulated (p = 0.037) and stimulated (p = 0.026) conditions. CONCLUSIONS CKD pediatric patients are more likely to present oral and dental changes than healthy children, so proper oral care and preventive measures should be taken to avoid potentially severe dental problems.
Dextran Sulfate Sodium Colitis Facilitates Colonization with Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli: a Novel Murine Model for the Study of Shiga Toxicosis

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) bacteria are globally important gastrointestinal pathogens causing hemorrhagic gastroenteritis with variable progression to potentially fatal Shiga toxicosis. Little is known about the potential effects of E. coli-derived Shiga-like toxins (STXs) on host gastrointestinal immune responses during infection, in part due to the lack of a reproducible immunocompetent-animal model of STEC infection without depleting the commensal microbiota. ABSTRACT Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) bacteria are globally important gastrointestinal pathogens causing hemorrhagic gastroenteritis with variable progression to potentially fatal Shiga toxicosis. Little is known about the potential effects of E. coli-derived Shiga-like toxins (STXs) on host gastrointestinal immune responses during infection, in part due to the lack of a reproducible immunocompetent-animal model of STEC infection without depleting the commensal microbiota. Here, we describe a novel and reproducible murine model utilizing dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) colitis to induce susceptibility to colonization with clinical-isolate STEC strains. After exposure to DSS and subsequent oral STEC challenge, all the mice were colonized, and 66% of STEC-infected mice required early euthanasia. Morbidity during STEC infection, but not infection with an isogenic STEC mutant with toxin deleted, was associated with increased renal transcripts of the injury markers KIM1 and NGAL, histological evidence of renal tubular injury, and increased renal interleukin 6 gene (IL-6) and CXCL1 inflammatory transcripts. Interestingly, the intestinal burden of STEC during infection was increased compared to its isogenic Shiga toxin deletion strain. Increased bacterial burdens during Shiga toxin production coincided with decreased induction of colonic IL-23 axis transcripts known to be critical for clearance of similar gastrointestinal pathogens in mice, suggesting a previously undescribed role for STEC Shiga toxins in suppressing host immune responses during STEC infection and survival. The DSS+STEC model establishes infection with clinical-isolate strains of STEC in immunocompetent mice without depleting the gastrointestinal microbiota, enabling characterization of the effects of STXs on the IL-23 axis and other gastrointestinal pathogen-host interactions.
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Vitamin D Receptor Gene Affect Birth Weight and the Risk of Preterm Birth: Results From the “Mamma & Bambino” Cohort and A Meta-Analysis

The effect of vitamin D receptor gene (VDR) polymorphisms on adverse pregnancy outcomes—including preterm birth (PTB), low birth weight and small for gestational age—is currently under debate. We investigated 187 mother-child pairs from the Italian “Mamma & Bambino” cohort to evaluate the association of maternal VDR polymorphisms—BsmI, ApaI, FokI and TaqI—with neonatal anthropometric measures and the risk of PTB. To corroborate our results, we conducted a meta-analysis of observational studies. For the FokI polymorphism, we showed that gestational duration and birth weight decreased with increasing number of A allele (p = 0.040 and p = 0.010, respectively). Compared to the GG and GA genotypes, mothers who carried the AA genotype exhibited higher PTB risk (OR = 12.049; 95% CI = 2.606–55.709; p = 0.001) after adjusting for covariates. The meta-analysis confirmed this association under the recessive model (OR = 3.67, 95%CI 1.18–11.43), and also pointed out the protective effect of BsmI polymorphism against the risk of PTB under the allelic (A vs. G: OR = 0.74; 95%CI 0.59–0.93) and recessive (AA vs. GG + AG: OR = 0.62; 95%CI 0.43–0.89) models. Our results suggest the association between some maternal VDR polymorphisms with neonatal anthropometric measures and the risk of PTB.
In Vitro Study of Antiamoebic Activity of Methanol Extracts of Argemone mexicana on Trophozoites of Entamoeba histolytica HM1-IMSS

Infections caused by parasites in humans represent one of the main public health concerns. Amoebiasis, a parasitic infection caused by Entamoeba histolytica (E. histolytica), is considered endemic in Mexico, where Argemone mexicana (A. mexicana) has been used in traditional medicine to treat intestinal parasitic diseases. The objective of this work was to evaluate the potential biological activity of A. mexicana on E. histolytica. For this purpose, a methanolic extract was prepared from A. mexicana leaves, and a differential fractionation was carried out with solvents of different polarities. The inhibitory capacities of the extract and its fractions were evaluated in vitro using HM1-IMSS, a strain of Entamoeba histolytica. A. mexicana extract was found to have a growth-inhibiting activity for E. histolytica, showing IC50 = 78.39 μg/mL. The extract was characterized phytochemically, and the methanolic extract fractions were analyzed by liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry (MS). Berberine and jatrorrhizine were present in the active fractions, and these compounds may be responsible for the antiparasitic activity. The identification of amoebicidal activity of A. mexicana on E. histolytica gives support to the traditional use. Further studies with berberine and jatrorrhizine will be carried out to understand the mechanism involved.
Scaling of G1 Duration with Population Doubling Time by a Cyclin in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The longer cells stay in particular phases of the cell cycle, the longer it will take these cell populations to increase. However, the above qualitative description has very little predictive value, unless it can be codified mathematically. A quantitative relation that defines the population doubling time (Td) as a function of the time eukaryotic cells spend in specific cell cycle phases would be instrumental for estimating rates of cell proliferation and for evaluating introduced perturbations. Here, we show that in human cells, the length of the G1 phase (TG1) regressed on Td with a slope of ≈0.75, while in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the slope was slightly smaller, at ≈0.60. On the other hand, cell size was not strongly associated with Td or TG1 in cell cultures that were proliferating at different rates. Furthermore, we show that levels of the yeast G1 cyclin Cln3p were positively associated with rates of cell proliferation over a broad range, at least in part through translational control mediated by a short upstream ORF (uORF) in the CLN3 transcript. Cln3p was also necessary for the proper scaling between TG1 and Td. In contrast, yeast lacking the Whi5p transcriptional repressor maintained the scaling between TG1 and Td. These data reveal fundamental scaling relationships between the duration of eukaryotic cell cycle phases and rates of cell proliferation, point to the necessary role of Cln3p in these relationships in yeast, and provide a mechanistic basis linking Cln3p levels to proliferation rates and the scaling of G1 with doubling time.
An Artificial Neural Network Model for Predicting Successful Extubation in Intensive Care Units

Background: Successful weaning from mechanical ventilation is important for patients in intensive care units (ICUs). The aim was to construct neural networks to predict successful extubation in ventilated patients in ICUs. Methods: Data from 1 December 2009 through 31 December 2011 of 3602 patients with planned extubation in Chi-Mei Medical Center’s ICUs was used to train and test an artificial neural network (ANN). The input was 37 clinical risk factors, and the output was a failed extubation prediction. Results: One hundred eighty-five patients (5.1%) had a failed extubation. Multivariate analyses revealed that failure was positively associated with therapeutic intervention scoring system (TISS) scores (odds ratio [OR]: 1.814; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.283–2.563), chronic hemodialysis (OR: 12.264; 95% CI: 8.556–17.580), rapid shallow breathing (RSI) (OR: 2.003; 95% CI: 1.378–2.910), and pre-extubation heart rate (OR: 1.705; 95% CI: 1.173–2.480), but negatively associated with pre-extubation PaO2/FiO2 (OR: 0.529; 95%: 0.370–0.750) and maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) (OR: 0.610; 95% CI: 0.413–0.899). A multilayer perceptron ANN model with 19 neurons in a hidden layer was developed. The overall performance of this model was F1: 0.867, precision: 0.939, and recall: 0.822. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.85, which is better than any one of the following predictors: TISS: 0.58 (95% CI: 0.54–0.62; p < 0.001); 0.58 (95% CI: 0.53–0.62; p < 0.001); and RSI: 0.54 (95% CI: 0.49–0.58; p = 0.097). Conclusions: The ANN performed well when predicting failed extubation, and it will help predict successful planned extubation.