Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
O-arm Navigation Combined With Microscope-assisted MIS-TLIF in the Treatment of Lumbar Degenerative Disease

Study design: This is a retrospective study. Objective: The purpose of this study is to compare the clinical outcomes between O-arm navigation combined with microscope-assisted minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (novel MIS-TLIF) and open-TLIF for the treatment of 1-level lumbar degenerative disease. Summary of Background Data: MIS-TLIF is becoming increasingly popular; however, the limited visualization may increase various surgical complications. O-arm navigation and microscope have the potential to display the specific anatomic structures and better magnification. Materials and Methods: This study involved 45 patients with 1-level lumbar degenerative disease who underwent novel MIS-TLIF or open-TLIF. Operating time, intraoperative blood loss, and hospitalization stay were analyzed. The accuracy of pedicle screw placement was assessed by computed tomography. Visual analog scale (VAS) scoring and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively. Results: Intraoperative blood loss was significantly less in the novel MIS-TLIF group compared with the open-TLIF group (P<0.05). The average time for hospitalization stay in the novel MIS-TLIF group was significantly shorter than open-TLIF group (P<0.05). However, the operative time of novel MIS-TLIF group was longer than open-TLIF group (P<0.05). The accuracy rate of pedicle screw position in the novel MIS-TLIF group which guided by O-arm navigation was higher than conventional open-TLIF group (96.4% vs. 86.5%; P<0.05). Meanwhile, the VAS score for the low back pain and ODI score in the novel MIS-TLIF group were lower than that in the open-TLIF group 1 month after surgery (P<0.05). No difference of the VAS score for leg pain was found between these 2 groups (P>0.05), neither as the fusion rate in between the 2 groups (P>0.05). Conclusions: O-arm navigation combined with microscope-assisted MIS-TLIF may has several advantages including less blood loss, shorter hospitalization stay, higher accuracy of pedicle screw placement, and faster recovery period in treating 1-level lumbar degenerative disease.
Treatment and Prevention of Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection with Functionalized Bovine Antibody-Enriched Whey in a Hamster Primary Infection Model

Toxin-induced Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a major disease characterized by severe diarrhea and high morbidity rates. The aim with this study was to develop an alternative drug for the treatment of CDI. Cows were repeatedly immunized to establish specific immunoglobulin G and A titers against toxins A (TcdA) and B (TcdB) and against C. difficile cells in mature milk or colostrum. The effect of three different concentrations of anti-C. difficile whey protein isolates (anti-CD-WPI) and the standard of care antibiotic vancomycin were investigated in an animal model of CD infected hamsters (6 groups, with 10 hamsters each). WPI obtained from the milk of exactly the same cows pre-immunization and a vehicle group served as negative controls. The survival of hamsters receiving anti-CD-WPI was 50, 80 and 100% compared to 10 and 0% for the control groups, respectively. Vancomycin suppressed the growth of C. difficile and thus protected the hamsters at the time of administration, but 90% of these hamsters nevertheless died shortly after discontinuation of treatment. In contrast, the surviving hamsters of the anti-CD-WPI groups survived the entire study period, although they were treated for only 75 h. The specific antibodies not only inactivated the toxins for initial suppression of CDI, but also provoked the inhibition of C. difficile growth after discontinuation, thus preventing recurrence. Oral administration of anti-CD-WPI is a functional therapy of CDI in infected hamsters for both primary treatment and prevention of recurrence. Thus, anti-CD-WPI could address the urgent unmet medical need for treating and preventing recurrent CDI in humans.
Decoding genetic and epigenetic information embedded in cell free DNA with adapted SALP‐seq

Cell free DNA (cfDNA) in human plasma carries abundant information, which has therefore been the key sample for noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) and liquid biopsy. Especially by using the rapidly developed next‐generation sequencing (NGS) techniques, the genetic and epigenetic information embedded in cfDNA has been effectively and extensively decoded. In this process, a key step is to construct the NGS library. Due to its high degradation, the single strand‐based method was reported to be more qualified to construct the NGS library of cfDNA. In order to develop a new simple method for this application, this study adapted our recently developed single strand adaptor library preparation (SALP) method for constructing an NGS library of cfDNA. In the improved method, cfDNA was firstly denatured into single strands and then ligated with a single strand adaptor (SSA) that had a 3′ overhang of 3 random bases by using T4 DNA ligase. The SSA‐ligated DNA was converted into double‐stranded DNA with an additional adenine at the other end by polymerizing with Taq polymerase. Next, a barcode T adaptor (BTA) was ligated to this end. Finally, the cfDNA ligated with two adaptors was amplified with the Illumina‐compatible primers for NGS. Using the method, this study successfully sequenced 20 cfDNA samples from 16 esophageal cancer patients and 4 healthy people. By bioinformatics analysis, this study found the genetic and epigenetic difference between patients and healthy people and identified 23 epigenetic and 28 genetic altered esophageal cancer‐specific genes.
Multiple Audiences for Encouraging Research Use: Uncovering a Typology of Educators

Purpose: We apply diffusion of innovations theory to examine two key research questions designed to inform efforts to improve the research–practice gap in education: (1) Are there distinct types of educators that differ in their prioritization of the compatibility, observability, complexity, relative advantage, and trialability of research? and (2) Are educators’ roles or context associated with their categorization in this typology? Research Method: Using semistructured interview data in two Michigan counties from intermediate school district staff (N = 24), district central office staff (N = 18), principals (N = 22), and school building staff (N = 23), we first used directed content analysis to code for mentions of compatibility, observability, complexity, relative advantage, and trialability. Next, using the coded data, we conducted a hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis and follow-up cross-tabulations to assess whether cluster memberships were associated with educators’ roles or county context. Findings: Educators in our sample could be categorized in one of five clusters distinguished primarily by different patterns of prioritization of the compatibility, observability, and complexity of research. Membership in these clusters did not vary by role but did vary by county, suggesting the importance of context for educators’ perceptions of research. Implications for Research and Practice: These findings suggest that narrowing the research–practice gap in education will require attending to multiple audiences of educators with distinct priorities that guide their perceptions and use of educational research and evidence-based practices.
Database description with SDM: a semantic database model

SDM is a high-level semantics-based database description and structuring formalism (database model) for databases. This database model is designed to capture more of the meaning of an application environment than is possible with contemporary database models. An SDM specification describes a database in terms of the kinds of entities that exist in the application environment, the classifications and groupings of those entities, and the structural interconnections among them. SDM provides a collection of high-level modeling primitives to capture the semantics of an application environment. By accommodating derived information in a database structural specification, SDM allows the same information to be viewed in several ways; this makes it possible to directly accommodate the variety of needs and processing requirements typically present in database applications. The design of the present SDM is based on our experience in using a preliminary version of it. SDM is designed to enhance the effectiveness and usability of database systems. An SDM database description can serve as a formal specification and documentation tool for a database; it can provide a basis for supporting a variety of powerful user interface facilities, it can serve as a conceptual database model in the database design process; and, it can be used as the database model for a new kind of database management system.
Sex-Related Hip Strength Measures Among Professional Soccer Players

Abstract Hedt, CA, Pearson, JM, Lambert, BS, McCulloch, PC, and Harris, JD. Sex-related hip strength measures among professional soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 35(7): 1992–1999, 2021—Lower-extremity musculoskeletal injuries in soccer are common among sexes. However, it remains unknown whether differences between sexes exist with regard to absolute or relative hip strength and how these differences may relate to injury. In the current study, we performed a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of pre-season data from male (♂n = 21) and female (♀n = 19) professional United States soccer organizations. Two years of pre-season data were collected for peak strength of lower extremity and hip musculature (no duplicates used). A 2 × 2 multivariate analysis of variance was used to detect differences in hip strength between sexes and dominant compared with nondominant legs. For all significant multivariate effects indicated by Wilks lambda and follow-up univariate analysis, a Tukey's post hoc test was used for pairwise univariate comparisons. A 2-tailed independent-samples T-test was used for comparison of height, body mass, body mass index (BMI), mean leg length, and strength ratios between dominant and nondominant limbs between sexes. Type I error was set at α = 0.05 for all analyses. Height (♂183.1 ± 6.8 cm, ♀170.0 ± 5.5 cm), body mass (♂79.0 ± 8.7 kg, ♀65.1 ± 5.6 kg), BMI (♂23.5 ± 1.3 kg·m−2, ♀22.5 ± 1.4 kg·m−2), and mean leg length (♂95.5 ± 4.34 cm, ♀ 88.3 ± 3.24 cm) differed between groups (p < 0.05). Sex differences (p < 0.05) were also found for hip abduction (dominant ♂19.5 ± 3.6 kg, ♀17.3 ± 2.2 kg; nondominant ♂18.5 ± 3.7 kg, ♀16.0 ± 2.3 kg), adduction (dominant ♂19.8 ± 3.0 kg, ♀16.7 ± 2.3 kg; nondominant ♂20.1 ± 2.9 kg, ♀17.6 ± 2.9 kg), external rotation (dominant ♂21.7 ± 3.4 kg, ♀17.7 ± 2.4 kg; nondominant ♂21.6 ± 3.9 kg, ♀16.8 ± 2.1 kg), and dominant hamstring strength (♂27.9 ± 6.5 kg, ♀23.0 ± 4.9 kg). The ratio of hip internal to external rotation strength differed in the nondominant leg (♂1.1 ± 0.2, ♀0.9 ± 0.2, p < 0.05). No significant differences were found between males and females when measures were normalized to body mass. These findings provide baseline pre-season normative data for professional soccer athletes and indicate that strength differences can be expected among different sexes, but are attenuated with attention to body mass. Further research should indicate how pre-season strength measures relate to injury.
Characterization of Mouse Monoclonal Antibodies Against the HA of A(H7N9) Influenza Virus

Many cases of human infection with the H7N9 virus have been detected in China since 2013. H7N9 viruses are maintained in chickens and are transmitted to humans at live bird markets. During circulation in birds, H7N9 viruses have accumulated amino acid substitutions in their hemagglutinin (HA), which resulted in an antigenically change in the recent H7N9 viruses. Here, we characterized 46 mouse monoclonal antibodies against the HA of the prototype strain. 16 H7-HA-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) possessed hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and neutralization activities by recognizing the major antigenic site A; four other H7-HA-specific clones also showed HI and neutralizing activities via recognition of the major antigenic sites A and D; seven mAbs that reacted with several HA subtypes and possibly recognized the HA stem partially protected mice from lethal infection with prototype H7N9 virus; and the remaining 19 mAbs had neither HI nor neutralization activity. All human H7N9 viruses tested showed a similar neutralization sensitivity to the first group of 16 mAbs, whereas human H7N9 viruses isolated in 2016–2017 were not neutralized by a second group of 4 mAbs. These results suggest that amino acid substitutions at the epitope of the second mAb group appear to be involved in the antigenic drift of the H7N9 viruses. Further analysis is required to fully understand the antigenic change in H7N9 viruses.
Flibanserin for Premenopausal Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder: Pooled Analysis of Clinical Trials.

Background: Flibanserin, a 5-hydroxytryptamine 5-HT1A agonist and 5-HT2A antagonist, is indicated for the treatment of acquired, generalized hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in premenopausal women. This post hoc analysis assessed pooled efficacy and safety data for flibanserin in premenopausal women with HSDD. Materials and Methods: Data for flibanserin 100 mg once daily at bedtime (qhs) and placebo were pooled from three pivotal 24-week, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter studies (VIOLET, DAISY, and BEGONIA) of premenopausal women with HSDD. Pooled efficacy endpoints included the change from baseline to study end (i.e., 24 weeks) in the number of satisfying sexual events (SSEs) over 28 days, the Female Sexual Function Index desire domain (FSFI-d) score, and the Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised Item 13 (FSDS-R-13) score. Results: The analysis included 2465 women (flibanserin, n = 1227; placebo, n = 1238) with a mean age of 36 years and a mean HSDD duration of 56.5 months. The mean ± standard error (SE) change from baseline to study end in SSEs over 28 days for flibanserin versus placebo was 2.1 ± 0.14 versus 1.2 ± 0.11, respectively (p < 0.0001). The least-squares mean ± SE changes from baseline to study end in FSFI desire domain score and FSDS-R-13 score were also significantly greater for flibanserin versus placebo (FSFI desire domain: 0.9 ± 0.04 vs. 0.6 ± 0.04, p < 0.0001; FSDS-R-13: -0.9 ± 0.04 vs. -0.6 ± 0.04, p < 0.0001). Patients in the flibanserin group generally had significantly greater improvements, compared with placebo, in SSEs, FSFI-d score, and FSDS-R-13 in subgroup analyses based on selected demographic and baseline clinical characteristics. Adverse events occurring in ≥10% of patients included dizziness and somnolence. Conclusions: This pooled analysis of three pivotal trials demonstrated that flibanserin 100 mg qhs was well tolerated, improved sexual desire, and reduced sexual distress associated with HSDD in premenopausal women, and these improvements were generally consistent across various subgroups based on demographic and baseline characteristics.
Attempted suicide by caffeine tablet overdose in a 14‐year‐old girl

mmol Cr; normal range, 14–23), and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (12.5 U/L; normal range, 5.9–8.7 U/L) before zoledronate therapy were reduced by the therapy. Bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP) and osteocalcin are markers of bone formation, which decrease with bisphosphonate therapy as well. BAP (72.9 lg/L; normal range, 37–148 lg/L), and osteocalcin (100 ng/mL; normal range, 11–230 ng/mL) before zoledronate therapy were also reduced by the therapy, but within the normal range. Serum vitamin D is noted to decrease along with longterm use of bisphosphonates. Although vitamin D remained in the normal range with short-term oral vitamin D treatment, it mildly decreased along with the therapy. Prolonged suppression of bone formation and vitamin D insufficiency by bisphosphonate therapy may increase the risk of skeletal-related adverse events, therefore, long-term observation is required. This is the first report to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of zoledronate therapy with a change in bone metabolic marker levels. Zoledronate therapy may be a practical alternative for treatment of pediatric osteolytic LCH with limited adverse effects. Further studies with large cohorts are warranted.
Prenatal cortisol modifies the association between maternal trauma history and child cognitive development in a sex-specific manner in an urban pregnancy cohort

Abstract Women’s experience of trauma may cause lifelong alterations in physiological stress regulation, which can be transmitted to offspring in utero. We investigated, in a prospective pregnancy cohort, associations among maternal lifetime interpersonal trauma (IPT) history, prenatal cortisol dysregulation, and children’s memory domains. Sex-specific effects were also explored. Pregnant women were enrolled from Brigham & Women’s Hospital and affiliated clinics near Boston, MA, in 2002–2007. IPT was assessed with the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale, short form. Salivary cortisol was measured at five time points on each of three days in one week at 29.0 ± 5.1 weeks gestation, and morning rise and diurnal slope were calculated. The Wide Range Assessment of Memory & Learning, 2nd Edition was administered at 6.5 ± 1.0 years and scores were generated for general memory and three sub-domains: verbal, visual, and attention/concentration. In total, 258 maternal-child dyads provided memory and IPT and/or cortisol data. IPT was positively associated with verbal memory in boys (β ± SE: 4.6 ± 2.6) and inversely associated with visual memory score in girls (−6.5 ± 3.2). IPT did not predict prenatal cortisol, but prenatal cortisol modified the association between IPT history and child memory in varying coefficient models allowing for non-linear effect modification. The strongest evidence of interaction was for visual memory in boys: IPT history was associated with poorer visual memory only in those with flatter prenatal diurnal slope (interaction p = .005). Maternal lifetime IPT that leads to prenatal HPA dysregulation may have consequences for child memory, more so than either trauma or elevated cortisol alone. Boys may be more vulnerable to effects. Sex- and timing-specific effects require further investigation.
Metabolic and oncogenic adaptations to pyruvate dehydrogenase inactivation in fibroblasts

Eukaryotic cell metabolism consists of processes that generate available energy, such as glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation (Oxphos), and those that consume it, including macromolecular synthesis, the maintenance of ionic gradients, and cellular detoxification. By converting pyruvate to acetyl-CoA (AcCoA), the pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) complex (PDC) links glycolysis and the TCA cycle. Surprisingly, disrupting the connection between glycolysis and the TCA cycle by inactivation of PDC has only minor effects on cell replication. However, the molecular basis for this metabolic re-equilibration is unclear. We report here that CRISPR/Cas9-generated PDH-knockout (PDH-KO) rat fibroblasts reprogrammed their metabolism and their response to short-term c-Myc (Myc) oncoprotein overexpression. PDH-KO cells replicated normally but produced surprisingly little lactate. They also exhibited higher rates of glycolysis and Oxphos. In addition, PDH-KO cells showed altered cytoplasmic and mitochondrial pH, redox states, and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨM). Conditionally activated Myc expression affected some of these parameters in a PDH-dependent manner. PDH-KO cells had increased oxygen consumption rates in response to glutamate, but not to malate, and were depleted in all TCA cycle substrates between α-ketoglutarate and malate despite high rates of glutaminolysis, as determined by flux studies with isotopically labeled glutamine. Malate and pyruvate were diverted to produce aspartate, thereby potentially explaining the failure to accumulate lactate. We conclude that PDH-KO cells maintain proliferative capacity by utilizing glutamine to supply high rates of AcCoA-independent flux through the bottom portion of the TCA cycle while accumulating pyruvate and aspartate that rescue their redox defects.
Mitochondrial dysfunctions in barth syndrome

Barth syndrome (BTHS) is a rare multisystemic genetic disorder caused by mutations in the TAZ gene. TAZ encodes a mitochondrial enzyme that remodels the acyl chain composition of newly synthesized cardiolipin, a phospholipid unique to mitochondrial membranes. The clinical abnormalities observed in BTHS patients are caused by perturbations in various mitochondrial functions that rely on remodeled cardiolipin. However, the contribution of different cardiolipin‐dependent mitochondrial functions to the pathology of BTHS is not fully understood. In this review, we will discuss recent findings from different genetic models of BTHS, including the yeast model of cardiolipin deficiency that has uncovered the specific in vivo roles of cardiolipin in mitochondrial respiratory chain biogenesis, bioenergetics, intermediary metabolism, mitochondrial dynamics, and quality control. We will also describe findings from higher eukaryotic models of BTHS that highlight a link between cardiolipin‐dependent mitochondrial function and its impact on tissue and organ function. © 2019 IUBMB Life, 9999(9999):1–11, 2019
Traditional gender roles and substance-use behaviors, attitudes, exposure, and resistance among early adolescents in large cities of Mexico

ABSTRACT This study investigated the associations between traditional gender roles (TGRs) and substance use among early adolescents in Mexico’s largest cities. The sample of seventh grade students (n = 4,932) attended 26 public schools in Mexico City, Guadalajara, or Monterrey in 2014. Outcomes included recent alcohol, binge drinking, cigarette and marijuana use, and lifetime poly-substance use; substance-use intentions, norms, attitudes, and expectancies; and substance-use exposure (peer use, offers) and resistance (refusal confidence, refusal skills, and decision-making skills). A TGR scale assessed endorsement of a polarized gender division of family labor and power. As hypothesized, among males, TGRs were consistently associated with poorer outcomes, and this association was usually stronger for males than for females. In contrast, among females there was no evidence that TGRs were associated with desirable outcomes. Contrary to expectations, TGRs predicted poorer outcomes for both females and males, and to equivalent degrees, for binge drinking, cigarette use, positive substance-use expectancies, and friends’ approval of substance use, and they predicted poorer outcomes for females but not for males on parental disapproval of substance use and drug-resistance skills. Interpretations highlight the persisting aspects of TGRs in the family and conflicting messages for females as Mexico undergoes changes in its gender order.