Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Proliferation, apoptosis, and number of Sertoli cells in the Syrian hamster during recrudescence after exposure to short photoperiod†

Abstract The Sertoli cell (Sc) has been described as a quiescent cell once the animal has reached sexual maturity. Syrian hamster is an animal that displays testicular regression due to short photoperiod, during which process germ cells and Sc are removed through apoptosis. The aim of this work was to investigate histochemically whether the spontaneous testicular recrudescence processes after exposure to a short photoperiod lead to an increase in Sc proliferative activity in order to restore the normal population. Three spontaneous recrudescence groups were established: initial (IR), advanced (AR), and total (TR) recrudescence, which were compared with animal undergoing the regression process (mild: MRg, strong: SRg, and total: TRg) and animals in long photoperiod (Controls). Histological sections were submitted to histochemical techniques for detecting apoptotic and proliferative Sc with bright-field and fluorescence microscopy. For each group, the proliferative Sc index (PScI) and apoptotic Sc index (AScI), and the total number of Sc were obtained. The results revealed the existence of Vimentin+/TUNEL+ as well as Vimentin+/PCNA+ cells. The PScI was significantly higher in TRg and IR than in the other groups. The AScI was only significantly higher in MRg and SRg with respect to the other groups. The total number of Sc increased among TRg, IR, and AR, reaching values similar to those of the Controls. In conclusion, the increase in Sc proliferation from final regression and recrudescence, accompanied by a similar rate of apoptosis to the Control group, is the cause of the restoration of the Sc population during spontaneous recrudescence. Summary Sentence The total population of Scs is recovered after spontaneous recrudescence due to an increase in Sc proliferation.
What is the Diagnostic Performance of 18F-FDG-PET/MRI in the Detection of Bone Metastasis in Patients with Breast Cancer?

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic performance of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the detection of bone metastasis in patients with breast cancer. Materials and methods From August 2018 to January 2019, a total of 23 patients with pathologically confirmed invasive breast cancer underwent whole-body hybrid 18F-FDG -PET/MRI for initial staging and follow-up of their malignancies. The number of the bone metastasis was recorded for each patient. The total 18F-FDG-PET/MRI protocol was compared with PET only and the contrast enhanced fused (CE) component for the detection of bone metastasis. Results Eight (26%) of 23 patients had bone metastasis. Bone metastases were dominantly localized in the spine (63%) and pelvis (25%). In terms of the total number of detected bone metastasis, there was a statistically significant difference between 18F-FDG-PET/MRI (mean 3.57; median 0; range, 0-2) and PET only component (mean 2.87; median 0; range, 0-1) (p=0.026), but no statistically significant difference was detected between 18F-FDG-PET/MRI and whole-body CE MRI (mean 3.43; median 0; range 0-2) (p=0.083). Conclusion Whole-body hybrid 18F-FDG-PET/MRI is superior to PET component only, but no statistically significant difference between hybrid 18F-FDG-PET/MRI and whole-body CE MRI is found for the detection of bone metastasis in patients with breast cancer.
Efficacy and Safety of Nanoparticle Albumin-Bound Paclitaxel in Elderly Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

Nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel) is an approved treatment for metastatic breast cancer (MBC). However, there is an ongoing debate about the efficacy and safety of nab-paclitaxel in elderly patients. We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate nab-paclitaxel efficacy and adverse events in MBC patients 65 years and older, compared with MBC patients younger than 65 years (control group). We performed a literature search using PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and EMBASE, from their inception to 30 September 2019. The relevant studies compared overall response rates (ORRs) and incidence of adverse events; four studies comprising 1204 patients were identified and included. ORRs were similar in patients older than 65 years and controls (odds ratio (OR) 0.71, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.42–1.21). On subgroup analysis, both first-line therapy (OR 2.54, 95% CI 1.92–3.36) and lower Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.06–0.69) were associated with a higher ORR. Adverse events including neutropenia, sensory neuropathy, diarrhea, and nausea were comparable between the groups. In conclusion, nab-paclitaxel showed comparable efficacy and safety in older and younger patients with MBC. Nab-paclitaxel can be a first-line treatment option for MBC patients 65 years and older.
Electronic consultations (E-consults) and their outcomes: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE Electronic consultations (e-consults) are clinician-to-clinician communications that may obviate face-to-face specialist visits. E-consult programs have spread within the US and internationally despite limited data on outcomes. We conducted a systematic review of the recent peer-reviewed literature on the effect of e-consults on access, cost, quality, and patient and clinician experience and identified the gaps in existing research on these outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS We searched 4 databases for empirical studies published between 1/1/2015 and 2/28/2019 that reported on one or more outcomes of interest. Two investigators reviewed titles and abstracts. One investigator abstracted information from each relevant article, and another confirmed the abstraction. We applied the GRADE criteria for the strength of evidence for each outcome. RESULTS We found only modest empirical evidence for effectiveness of e-consults on important outcomes. Most studies are observational and within a single health care system, and comprehensive assessments are lacking. For those outcomes that have been reported, findings are generally positive, with mixed results for clinician experience. These findings reassure but also raise concern for publication bias. CONCLUSION Despite stakeholder enthusiasm and encouraging results in the literature to date, more rigorous study designs applied across all outcomes are needed. Policy makers need to know what benefits may be expected in what contexts, so they can define appropriate measures of success and determine how to achieve them.
Screening for retinopathy in children with type 1 diabetes in Denmark

Children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are screened regularly for retinopathy with fundus photography to prevent visual impairment. According to Danish national guidelines, screening should take place at age 12, 15, and 18 years after minimum 3 years of diabetes. As glycemic control has improved, prevalence of retinopathy is expected to be decreased.
Prognostic Importance of Ki-67 in Breast Cancer and Its Relationship with Other Prognostic Factors.

Objective The clinical feature of breast cancer is very heterogeneous because of the variable prognostic factors impact its behaviour. The aim of study is to find the prognostic importance of Ki-67 and to analyse the correlation between Ki-67 index and the other conventional prognostic factors in breast cancer patients. Materials and Methods Between 2010 and 2017, patients with invasive ductal carcinoma who received radiotherapy after surgery were included in study. A single pathologist re-defined of all cases retrospectively. Ki-67 were established three categories based on Ki-67 levels: low (<10%), intermediate (10-25%) and high (>25%). Results A total of 258 patients were included. 46 of 258 (18%) patients were in low, 82 of 258 (32%) patients were in intermediate and 130 of 258 (50%) patients were in high Ki-67 group. There were no correlations between menopausal status, age, and Ki-67 level. Low-pT stages tended to have low Ki-67 expression (p=0.07). Low-pN stages correlated with low Ki-67 values (p=0.007). Patients with ECE (+) were prone to have higher Ki-67 values (p=0.02). The significant correlation was seen between Ki-67 and tumour grading (p=<0.0001). Patients with LVI (+) had higher Ki-67 expression (p=0.007). Luminal A tumours were correlated with low Ki-67 group (p=<0.0001). Ki-67 values had significant effect on DFS (p=0.03) but not OS (p=0.09). Conclusion This study showed that high Ki-67 expression is associated with higher pT-stage, higher pN-stage, higher grade, ER/PR negativity, HER2/neu positivity, ECE and LVI positivity. The prognostic impact of Ki-67 was only demonstrated for DFS.
Validity and reliability of a Persian version of the Dissociative Experiences Scale II (DES-II) on Iranian patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and mood disorders

ABSTRACT Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) is a valid self-reported tool to evaluate both non-pathological and pathological dissociative experiences. This study aims at evaluating the psychometric properties of a Persian version of the DES-II on both non-clinical samples and patients with schizophrenia and mood disorders. The back-translated DES-II was administered to 370 individuals being divided into three groups (270 healthy subjects, 50 patients with mood disorders, and 50 patients with schizophrenia) recruited from Shahid Beheshti Hospital of Kerman Medical University. The results showed a good reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.95), a very high item-total correlation, and a good internal consistency of 0.892 measured by split half. Moreover, the Persian version of the DES-II questionnaire demonstrated convergent validity of the scale. Analyses of the DES-II subscales revealed significant differences for amnesic experiences, absorption/imaginative involvement, and depersonalization/derealization among healthy individuals, and patients with mood disorders as well as schizophrenia. We also found significant differences among only schizophrenia group but not mood disorders group in comparison with healthy individuals (p value = .0001, and 0.70, respectively), and between patients with schizophrenia and patients with mood disorders (p value = .03) using DES-T. As a conclusion, the Persian version of the DES-II is an appropriate, reliable, and valid tool to screen dissociative experiences and discriminate subcomponents of dissociative disorders in the Iranian population.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Virus Infections Among Injecting and Non-Injecting Drug Users in Inner City Neighborhoods

Substance abuse is a continuing problem in the United States (US), impacting the individual and their social networks, and impacting society, economically and through public health programs. According to the 2004 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA), there were 19.1 million illicit drug users in the US. Drug use is directly and indirectly related to three blood-borne diseases, HIV, HBV and HCV. Direct exposure occurs through needle sharing and sharing other paraphernalia used to prepare and inject drugs [1-5]. The probability of direct exposure to HIV varies in relation to the procurement, preparation, and injection practices of drug users [6-10]. Frequency of injection and duration of injection are major factors for acquisition of HBV or HCV infections [11-13]. IDU is the primary mode of transmission of HCV in the US [14].
Asian management of hypertension: Current status, home blood pressure, and specific concerns in China

Increasing life expectancy in the population means that the prevalence of hypertension in China will increase over the coming decades. Although awareness and control rates have improved, the absolute rates remain unacceptably low. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the biggest killer in China, and sharp increases in the prevalence of CVD risk factors associated with rapid lifestyle changes will contribute to ongoing morbidity and mortality. This highlights the importance of effectively diagnosing and managing hypertension, where home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) has an important role. Use of HBPM in China is increasing, particularly now that Asia‐specific guidance is available, and this out‐of‐office BP monitoring tool will become increasingly important over time. To implement these recommendations and guidelines, a Web‐based and WeChat‐linked nationwide BP measurement system is being established in China. Local guidelines state that both HBPM and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring should be implemented where available. In China, hypertension is managed most often using calcium channel blockers, followed by angiotensin receptor blockers or angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors. Key barriers to hypertension control in China are low awareness and control rates.
Modeling Approaches to Predicting Persistent Hotspots in SCORE Studies for Gaining Control of Schistosomiasis Mansoni in Kenya and Tanzania

Abstract Background Some villages, labeled “persistent hotspots (PHS),” fail to respond adequately in regard to prevalence and intensity of infection to mass drug administration (MDA) for schistosomiasis. Early identification of PHS, for example, before initiating or after 1 or 2 years of MDA could help guide programmatic decision making. Methods In a study with multiple rounds of MDA, data collected before the third MDA were used to predict PHS. We assessed 6 predictive approaches using data from before MDA and after 2 rounds of annual MDA from Kenya and Tanzania. Results Generalized linear models with variable selection possessed relatively stable performance compared with tree-based methods. Models applied to Kenya data alone or combined data from Kenya and Tanzania could reach over 80% predictive accuracy, whereas predicting PHS for Tanzania was challenging. Models developed from one country and validated in another failed to achieve satisfactory performance. Several Year-3 variables were identified as key predictors. Conclusions Statistical models applied to Year-3 data could help predict PHS and guide program decisions, with infection intensity, prevalence of heavy infections (≥400 eggs/gram of feces), and total prevalence being particularly important factors. Additional studies including more variables and locations could help in developing generalizable models.
The right hemispheric dominance for face perception in preschool children depends on the visual discrimination level

Abstract The developmental origin of human adults’ right hemispheric dominance in response to face stimuli remains unclear, in particular because young infants’ right hemispheric advantage in face‐selective response is no longer present in preschool children, before written language acquisition. Here we used fast periodic visual stimulation (FPVS) with scalp electroencephalography (EEG) to test 52 preschool children (5.5 years old) at two different levels of face discrimination: discrimination of faces against objects, measuring face‐selectivity, or discrimination between individual faces. While the contrast between faces and nonface objects elicits strictly bilateral occipital responses in children, strengthening previous observations, discrimination of individual faces in the same children reveals a strong right hemispheric lateralization over the occipitotemporal cortex. Picture‐plane inversion of the face stimuli significantly decreases the individual discrimination response, although to a much smaller extent than in older children and adults tested with the same paradigm. However, there is only a nonsignificant trend for a decrease in right hemispheric lateralization with inversion. There is no relationship between the right hemispheric lateralization in individual face discrimination and preschool levels of readings abilities. The observed difference in the right hemispheric lateralization obtained in the same population of children with two different paradigms measuring neural responses to faces indicates that the level of visual discrimination is a key factor to consider when making inferences about the development of hemispheric lateralization of face perception in the human brain.
Unique Shine–Dalgarno Sequences in Cyanobacteria and Chloroplasts Reveal Evolutionary Differences in Their Translation Initiation

Abstract Microorganisms require efficient translation to grow and replicate rapidly, and translation is often rate-limited by initiation. A prominent feature that facilitates translation initiation in bacteria is the Shine–Dalgarno (SD) sequence. However, there is much debate over its conservation in Cyanobacteria and in chloroplasts which presumably originated from endosymbiosis of ancient Cyanobacteria. Elucidating the utilization of SD sequences in Cyanobacteria and in chloroplasts is therefore important to understand whether 1) SD role in Cyanobacterial translation has been reduced prior to chloroplast endosymbiosis or 2) translation in Cyanobacteria and in plastid has been subjected to different evolutionary pressures. To test these alternatives, we employed genomic, proteomic, and transcriptomic data to trace differences in SD usage among Synechocystis species, Microcystis aeruginosa, cyanophages, Nicotiana tabacum chloroplast, and Arabidopsis thaliana chloroplast. We corrected their mis-annotated 16S rRNA 3′ terminus using an RNA-Seq-based approach to determine their SD/anti-SD locational constraints using an improved measurement DtoStart. We found that cyanophages well-mimic Cyanobacteria in SD usage because both have been under the same selection pressure for SD-mediated initiation. Whereas chloroplasts lost this similarity because the need for SD-facilitated initiation has been reduced in plastids having much reduced genome size and different ribosomal proteins as a result of host-symbiont coevolution. Consequently, SD sequence significantly increases protein expression in Cyanobacteria but not in chloroplasts, and only Cyanobacterial genes compensate for a lack of SD sequence by having weaker secondary structures at the 5′ UTR. Our results suggest different evolutionary pressures operate on translation initiation in Cyanobacteria and in chloroplast.
Quality of life and gastric acid‐suppression medication 20 years after laparoscopic fundoplication

Laparoscopic fundoplication is an effective treatment for gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease (GERD). We aimed to assess quality of life (QoL), long‐term residual symptoms, patient satisfaction and use of acid‐suppression medication at 5, 10 and 20 years after surgery.
Cannabis, alcohol and cigarette use during the acute post-concussion period

ABSTRACT Objective: To document the prevalence of acute post-concussion cannabis, alcohol and cigarette use and their association with clinical recovery and symptom burden. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted. Concussions were physician-diagnosed and presented to the emergency department and concussion clinic within 7 days post-injury. Participants were assessed weekly and followed for a minimum 4 weeks. A survival analysis (using physician-determined recovery to both cognitive and physical activities) in addition to a weekly symptom score analysis was conducted. Results: A total of 307 acute concussions with a mean age of 33.7 years (SD, 13.0) were included. Acute post-concussion cannabis, alcohol and cigarette use were identified in 43 (14.0%), 125 (40.7%) and 61 (19.9%) individuals. Acute cannabis, alcohol and cigarette use were not associated with recovery to cognitive (p > .05) or physical activity (p > .05). Acute cigarette use was associated with a higher unadjusted symptom severity score at week1 (p = .003). Acute cannabis use was associated with lower symptom severity scores at week-3 (p = .061) and week-4 (p = .029). Conclusion: In conclusion, cannabis, alcohol and cigarette use were prevalent in the acute period post-concussion; however, were not observed to impact recovery within the first 4 weeks post-injury. Amongst unrecovered individuals, acute cannabis use was associated with lower symptom burden, while cigarette use was associated with greater initial symptom burden.
Psychopathological Symptoms and Gaming Motives in Disordered Gaming—A Psychometric Comparison between the WHO and APA Diagnostic Frameworks

Background: ‘Gaming Disorder’ (GD) has received increased medical attention and official recognition from both the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Although these two medical organizations have independently developed promising clinical diagnostic frameworks to assess disordered gaming, little is known about how these frameworks compare at different psychometric levels in terms of producing consistent outcomes in the assessment of GD. Methods: A sample of 1429 German gamers (Meanage = 29.74 years; SD = 12.37 years) completed an online survey including measures on different psychopathological symptoms (depression, loneliness and attention problems), gaming motives and disordered gaming according to the WHO and APA frameworks. Results: The findings suggest the existence of minor discrepancies in the estimation of prevalence rates of GD according among the two frameworks. Nevertheless, both diagnostic frameworks are fairly consistent in the psychometric prediction of GD in relation to gaming motives and psychopathological symptoms. The findings underscore the role of key gaming motives as risk factors and protective factors across both diagnostic frameworks. Finally, the study provides support for the WHO diagnostic framework for GD and its measurement with the German Gaming Disorder Test (GDT). The findings and their implications are further discussed in terms of clinical relevance.
A Mouse Model for Juvenile, Lateral Fluid Percussion Brain Injury Reveals Sex-Dependent Differences in Neuroinflammation and Functional Recovery

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability that lacks targeted therapies. Successful translation of promising neuroprotective therapies will likely require more precise identification of target populations through greater study of crucial biological factors like age and sex. A growing body of work supports the impact of these factors on response to and recovery from TBI. However, age and sex are understudied in TBI animal models. The first aim of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of lateral fluid percussion injury (FPI) in juvenile mice as a model of pediatric TBI. Subsequently, we were interested in examining the impact of young age and sex on TBI outcome. After adapting the lateral FPI model to 21-day-old male and female mice, we characterized the molecular, histological, and functional outcomes. Whereas similar tissue injury was observed in male and female juvenile mice exposed to TBI, we observed differences in neuroinflammation and neurobehavioral function. Overall, our findings revealed less acute inflammatory cytokine expression, greater subacute microglial/macrophage accumulation, and greater neurological recovery in juvenile male mice after TBI. Given that ongoing brain development may affect progression of and recovery from TBI, juvenile models are of critical importance. The sex-dependent differences we discovered after FPI support the necessity of also including this biological variable in future TBI studies. Understanding the mechanisms underlying age- and sex-dependent differences may result in the discovery of novel therapeutic targets for TBI.