Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of HIV risk perception on both pre-exposure prophylaxis and condom use

Risk perception is one of the several important factors impacting sexual health behaviours. This study investigated the evolution of HIV risk perception on pre-exposure prophylaxis adherence and condom use in men who have sex with men at high risk of HIV and associated factors. Group-based trajectory modelling helped in identifying patterns of risk perception, pre-exposure prophylaxis adherence and condom use over time. The association between the former and the latter two dimensions was then investigated. An estimated 61 per cent (p < 0.001) of participants perceiving low risk and 100 per cent (p < 0.001) of those perceiving high risk had systematic pre-exposure prophylaxis adherence, while an estimated 49 per cent (p < 0.001) and 99.8 per cent (p < 0.001), respectively, reported low-level condom use.
NCS‐1 expression is higher in basal breast cancers and regulates calcium influx and cytotoxic responses to doxorubicin

Neuronal calcium sensor‐1 (NCS‐1) is a positive modulator of IP3 receptors and was recently associated with poorer survival in breast cancers. However, the association between NCS‐1 and breast cancer molecular subtypes and the effects of NCS‐1 silencing on calcium (Ca2+) signaling in breast cancer cells remain unexplored. Herein, we report for the first time an increased expression of NCS‐1 in breast cancers of the basal molecular subtype, a subtype associated with poor prognosis. Using MDA‐MB‐231 basal breast cancer cells expressing the GCaMP6m Ca2+ indicator, we showed that NCS‐1 silencing did not result in major changes in cytosolic free Ca2+ increases as a result of endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ store mobilization. However, NCS‐1 silencing suppressed unstimulated basal Ca2+ influx. NCS‐1 silencing in MDA‐MB‐231 cells also promoted necrotic cell death induced by the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (1 µm). The effect of NCS‐1 silencing on cell death was phenocopied by silencing of ORAI1, a Ca2+ store‐operated Ca2+ channel that maintains Ca2+ levels in the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ store and whose expression was significantly positively correlated with NCS‐1 in clinical breast cancer samples. This newly identified association between NCS‐1 and basal breast cancers, together with the identification of the role of NCS‐1 in the regulation of the effects of doxorubicin in MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cells, suggests that NCS‐1 and/or pathways regulated by NCS‐1 may be important in the treatment of basal breast cancers in women.
Smooth muscle differentiation shapes domain branches during mouse lung development

ABSTRACT During branching morphogenesis, a simple cluster of cells proliferates and branches to generate an arborized network that facilitates fluid flow. The overall architecture of the mouse lung is established by domain branching, wherein new branches form laterally off the side of an existing branch. The airway epithelium develops concomitantly with a layer of smooth muscle that is derived from the embryonic mesenchyme. Here, we examined the role of smooth muscle differentiation in shaping emerging domain branches. We found that the position and morphology of domain branches are highly stereotyped, as is the pattern of smooth muscle that differentiates around the base of each branch. Perturbing the pattern of smooth muscle differentiation genetically or pharmacologically causes abnormal domain branching. Loss of smooth muscle results in ectopic branching and decreases branch stereotypy. Increased smooth muscle suppresses branch initiation and extension. Computational modeling revealed that epithelial proliferation is insufficient to generate domain branches and that smooth muscle wrapping is required to shape the epithelium into a branch. Our work sheds light on the physical mechanisms of branching morphogenesis in the mouse lung. Highlighted Article: The pattern and rate of smooth muscle differentiation is essential to shape the airway epithelium into domain branches in the embryonic mouse lung.
A Case Report of an Unusual Type of Choledochal Cyst with Choledocholithiasis: Saccular Dilatation of the Confluent Portion of Both Intrahepatic Ducts

A choledochal cyst is a rare congenital anomaly of the biliary system, manifested as the cystic dilatation of bile ducts, usually occurring in the common bile duct (1-4). The Todani classification system is widely used to classify choledochal cysts; however, not all cases fit into this classification system. Here, we present a case of a choledochal cyst that did not fit into this Todani classification system: saccular cystic dilatation of the confluent portion of both intrahepatic ducts (IHDs).
Native adiponectin in serum binds to mammalian cells expressing T-cadherin, but not AdipoRs or calreticulin

Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived atypically abundant circulating factor that protects various organs and tissues through its receptors, AdipoRs, calreticulin, and T-cadherin. To identify the major binding partner of circulating native adiponectin, we expressed these receptors on the surface of HEK293 cells. Adiponectin, either that in mouse or human serum, purified from serum, or produced by mammalian cells, bound to cells expressing T-cadherin, but not to those expressing AdipoR1 or calreticulin. The stable introduction of T-cadherin and AdipoR1 into CHO cells resulted in the cell surface localization of these receptors. Native adiponectin in serum bound to cells expressing T-cadherin, not to those expressing AdipoR1. The knockdown of T-cadherin, but not AdipoRs resulted in the significant attenuation of native adiponectin binding to C2C12 myotubes. Therefore, native adiponectin binding depended on the amount of T-cadherin expressed in HEK293 cells, CHO cells, and C2C12 myotubes. Collectively, our mammalian cell-based studies suggest that T-cadherin is the major binding partner of native adiponectin in serum.
The impact of electroconvulsive therapy on the spatial QRS-T angle and cardiac troponin T concentration in psychiatric patients

Background Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective treatment method used in psychiatry; however, its cardiac safety has not been clearly demonstrated. The aim of the study was evaluation of the ECT effects on the myocardium based on troponin T concentrations and the following ECG parameters: the spatial QRS-T angle (QRS-TA), QRS duration (QRSd) and the corrected QT interval (QTc). Methods In the study 44 patients (12 female and 32 male) were enrolled diagnosed with schizophrenia (n = 21) and major depressive disorders (n = 23), according to the DSM-IVR criteria. All cases were undergoing ECT procedures. The mean age of the patients was 36.9±16 years (range: 18–74). Resting ECG was recorded before performing ECG and 1 hour after. The spatial QRS-TA was reconstructed from 12-lead ECG using the inverse Dower method. Troponin T concentration was assessed before the procedure and 6 hours after ECT. Results No significant changes to troponin T concentrations were observed during the ECT series. The pre-ECT value of the spatial QRS-TA was 41.1±18.9°. The follow-up examinations did not reveal any significant increase of this parameter (p = 0.09) in any of the consecutive measurements. There were no significant changes in the QTc interval duration or the QRS complex duration demonstrated before the third, fifth and last procedure in the cycle (p>0.05). No significant changes to troponin T concentrations were observed during the ECT series. Conclusions Our findings indicate a lack of negative ECT effects on the risk of adverse cardiovascular events measured by the spatial QRS-T angle and cardiac troponin T concentration.
Experiential Avoidance Predicts Persistence of Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Late Adolescence.

OBJECTIVE Experiential avoidance (EA) is a transdiagnostic construct that may underlie the high comorbidity between major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). This analysis used data from a longitudinal study (conducted September 2010-April 2016) to examine whether adolescent EA varies by MDD and GAD symptomatology trajectory and predicts said trajectories. Longitudinal associations between EA, anxiety, and depression symptoms were also examined. METHODS Adolescents aged 15 to 20 years (N = 183) were followed for 2 years using a comprehensive assessment battery. Symptom trajectory modeling, using weekly symptom ratings, identified 4 MDD and 4 GAD trajectories that were collapsed to form combined MDD/GAD trajectory groups: Persistent (n = 81), High-Decreasing (n = 44), Normal-Increasing (n = 37), and Minimal (n = 21). Group-based trajectory modeling, analyses of covariance, structural equation modeling, and linear regression analyses were performed. DSM-IV-TR criteria were used for MDD and GAD diagnoses. RESULTS The Persistent adolescents had higher EA than other groups (P values ≤ .001), with greater EA stability versus High-Decreasing adolescents (P = .008). EA predicted anxiety and depressive symptoms alike (P values ≤ .005), which in turn did not predict EA (P values ≥ .188). EA, at both time points, predicted combined MDD/GAD trajectories after adjustment for depressive and anxiety symptoms and other confounders (P values < .001). CONCLUSIONS EA appears to be an important predictor of MDD and GAD symptomatology in older adolescents, potentially serving as a treatment target. Findings suggest a possible trait-like nature for EA, perhaps increasing risk for the emergence and persistence of MDD and/or GAD. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02147184​.
From prior information to saccade selection: evolution of frontal eye field activity during natural scene search

Prior knowledge about our environment influences our actions. How does this knowledge evolve into a final action plan and how does the brain represent this? Here, we investigated this question in the monkey oculomotor system during self-guided search of natural scenes. In the frontal eye field (FEF), we found a subset of neurons, “early neurons,” that contain information about the upcoming saccade long before it is executed, often before the previous saccade had even ended. Crucially, much of this early information did not relate to the actual saccade that would eventually be selected. Rather, it related to prior information about the probabilities of possible upcoming saccades based on the pre-saccade fixation location. Nearer to the time of saccade onset, a greater proportion of these neurons’ activities related to the saccade selection, although prior information continued to influence activity throughout. A separate subset of FEF neurons, “late neurons”, only represented the final action plan near saccade onset and not prior information. Our results demonstrate how, across the population of FEF neurons, prior information evolves into definitive saccade plans.
Forward osmosis membrane bioreactor using Bacillus and membrane distillation hybrid system for treating dairy wastewater

ABSTRACT Wastewater recycling is one of the best ways to alleviate water scarcity and water/wastewater pollution. The dairy industry is the largest industrial food wastewater source in many countries. In this study, we used a forward osmosis membrane bioreactor (FOMBR) and membrane distillation (MD) hybrid system to recycle dairy wastewater. And we developed a new Bacillus-FOMBR inoculated with salt-tolerant Bacillus sludge to protect against the negative effects of accumulated salt on sludge characteristics, microbial community and treatment effectiveness, and to alleviate membrane biofouling. A laboratory-scale FOMBR-MD experiment was operated for 40 days and water flux, salinity change, sludge characteristics, microbial community, nutrient removal efficiency, and FO membrane fouling were investigated. The Bacillus-FOMBR showed a small decrease in biomass concentration, and the hybrid system removed almost 100% of the contaminants. High-throughput sequencing analysis indicated that Pirellula and Hyphomicrobium species dominated the Bacillus-FOMBR, which are obliged to perform heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification. These nitrogen-removing bacteria ensured high nitrogen removal efficiency of the bioreactor. The total nitrogen (TN) concentration in the bioreactor increased and then decreased, which did not continuously increase as occurred in conventional FOMBRs. The TN removal efficiency of the bioreactor was mostly above 40% and the highest reached 79%. Besides, the Bacillus-FOMBR suffered little membrane biofouling because of the quorum quenching effect of the Bacillus species. We speculate that the Bacillus-FOMBR has potential to treat high-salt wastewater and high strength ammonia-nitrogen wastewater. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT The laboratory-scale FOMBR-MD hybrid system (FS = feed solution, FO = forward osmosis, DS = draw solution, AGMD = air gap membrane distillation).
How Well-Behaved are Higher-Order Perturbation Solutions?

They are not well-behaved. The main problem is that one cannot control the radius of convergence when using perturbation techniques. Just outside the radius of convergence, higher-order approximations can easily behave extremely badly, and even within the radius of convergence one can expect higher- but finite-order perturbation solutions to display problematic oscillations. In contrast, with projection methods one can control the radius of convergence. Pruning, the solution proposed to deal with explosive behavior of higher-order perturbation solutions, is shown to be highly distortionary. A simple alternative based on short samples and rejection sampling is proposed and shown to be much less distortive.
Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Pertuzumab, Trastuzumab, and Docetaxel for Patients With Early or Locally Advanced ERBB2-Positive Breast Cancer in Asia: The PEONY Phase 3 Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance Prospective assessment of treatments known to benefit patients in global clinical trials in specific racial groups is essential. Objective To compare the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of adding pertuzumab to trastuzumab and docetaxel vs placebo, trastuzumab, and docetaxel in Asian patients with ERBB2-positive early or locally advanced breast cancer. Design, Setting, and Participants This multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial enrolled 329 women with ERBB2-positive early (T2-3, N0-1, M0) or locally advanced breast cancer (T2-3, N2 or N3, M0; T4, any N, M0) and primary tumor larger than 2 cm from March 14, 2016, to March 13, 2017. Analysis of the primary end point was performed on an intention-to-treat basis. Interventions Before surgery, patients received 4 cycles of intravenous pertuzumab (840-mg loading dose and 420-mg maintenance doses), trastuzumab (8-mg/kg loading dose and 6-mg/kg maintenance doses), and docetaxel (75 mg/m2) or intravenous placebo, trastuzumab, and docetaxel every 3 weeks. After surgery, patients received 3 cycles of intravenous fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide followed by 13 cycles of the same intravenous anti-ERBB2 therapy (pertuzumab and trastuzumab or placebo and trastuzumab) for up to 1 year. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary end point was independent review committee-assessed total pathologic complete response rate. The 2-sided Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test, stratified by disease category and hormone receptor status, was used to compare rates between treatment groups. Results In total, 329 female patients were randomized (pertuzumab, 219; and placebo, 110; mean [SD] age, 48.8 [9.5] years). In the intention-to-treat population, total pathologic complete response rates were 39.3% (86 of 219) in the pertuzumab group and 21.8% (24 of 110) in the placebo group (difference, 17.5% [95% CI, 6.9%-28.0%]; P = .001). Of the most common grade 3 or higher adverse events, there was a higher incidence of neutropenia in the pertuzumab group (83 of 218 [38.1%] vs 36 of 110 [32.7%]). Serious adverse events were reported in 10.1% of patients (22 of 218) in the pertuzumab group and 8.2% of patients (9 of 110) in the placebo group. Conclusions and Relevance Treatment with pertuzumab, trastuzumab, and docetaxel resulted in a statistically significant improvement in the total pathologic complete response rate vs placebo, trastuzumab, and docetaxel for the neoadjuvant treatment of ERBB2-positive early or locally advanced breast cancer in Asian patients. Safety data were in line with the known pertuzumab safety profile and generally comparable between treatment groups. The PEONY trial adds to the totality of data showing the benefit of the pertuzumab regimen. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02586025.
Antibiotic Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus from Poultry and Poultry Products in uMgungundlovu District, South Africa, Using the "Farm to Fork" Approach.

Background: This study determined the prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility profiles of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from selected critical control points (farm, transport, abattoir, and retail product) in an intensive poultry production system in the uMgungundlovu District, South Africa, using the "farm to fork" approach. Materials and Methods: Three hundred eighty-four samples from poultry and poultry products were examined across the "farm to fork" continuum for S. aureus using selective media, biochemical tests, and API Staph kit and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction identification of the nuc gene. Antibiotic susceptibility testing of the isolates was determined by the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method to 19 antimicrobials and to vancomycin by the broth microdilution technique. Results: The overall prevalence rate of S. aureus was 31.25% (n = 120/384), distributed across the continuum: farm site (40), transport (15), abattoir (30), and retail point (35). The isolates were resistant to tetracycline (61.67%), penicillin G (55.83%), erythromycin (54.17%), clindamycin (43.33%), doxycycline (36.67%), ampicillin (34.17%), moxifloxacin (30.83%), amikacin (30.83%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (30.00%), and levofloxacin (23.33%). A 100% susceptibility to tigecycline, teicoplanin, vancomycin, nitrofurantoin, chloramphenicol, and linezolid was observed in all isolates. The rate of multidrug resistance and the multiple antibiotic resistance index of the strains were 39.17% and 0.23%, respectively. The isolates showed similar patterns of resistance to commonly used growth promoters and antibiotics in veterinary and human medicine belonging to the same class. Conclusion: It is evident that the different antibiotics and growth promoters used in poultry production are exerting selection pressure for the emergence and co-selection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the production system, necessitating efficient antibiotic stewardship guidelines to streamline their use.
PD-1 Blockade in Advanced Adrenocortical Carcinoma.

PURPOSE Adrenocortical carcinomas (ACC) are rare and aggressive malignancies with limited treatment options. This study was undertaken to evaluate the immunogenicity of ACC. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with advanced ACC were enrolled in a phase II study to evaluate the clinical activity of pembrolizumab 200 mg every 3 weeks, without restriction on prior therapy. The primary end point was objective response rate. Efficacy was correlated with tumor programmed death-ligand 1 expression, microsatellite-high and/or mismatch repair deficient (MSI-H/MMR-D) status, and somatic and germline genomic correlates. RESULTS We enrolled 39 patients with advanced ACC and herein report after a median follow-up of 17.8 months (range, 5.4 months to 34.7 months). The objective response rate to pembrolizumab was 23% (nine patients; 95% CI, 11% to 39%), and the disease control rate was 52% (16 patients; 95% CI, 33% to 69%). The median duration of response was not reached (lower 95% CI, 4.1 months). Two of six patients with MSI-H/MMR-D tumors responded. The other seven patients with objective responses had microsatellite stable tumors. The median progression-free survival was 2.1 months (95% CI, 2.0 months to 10.7 months), and the median overall survival was 24.9 months (95% CI, 4.2 months to not reached). Thirteen percent of patients (n = 5) had treatment-related grade 3 or 4 adverse events. Tumor programmed death-ligand 1 expression and MSI-H/MMR-D status were not associated with objective response. CONCLUSION MSI-H/MMR-D tumors, for which pembrolizumab is a standard therapy, are more common in ACC than has been recognized. In advanced ACC that is microsatellite stable, pembrolizumab provided clinically meaningful and durable antitumor activity with a manageable safety profile.
The association between flavor capsule cigarette use and sociodemographic variables: Evidence from Chile

Purpose The objective of this article is to examine the factors associated with smoking of flavor capsule cigarettes in Chile, where the popularity of these products has increased dramatically, a trend increasingly observed across the world. Methods A representative poll of 851 smokers in Metropolitan Santiago de Chile, which comprises 40% of the country's total population, was implemented in mid-2017. Smokers were given a questionnaire that collected socio-demographic information and information on smoking patterns. Four discrete-choice models were estimated on the decision to smoke flavor capsule cigarettes to better understand the statistical relationships between traits of smokers and the consumption of flavor capsule cigarettes. Results The results of these models show that each year less in a smoker’s age increases the likelihood of preferring flavor capsule cigarettes by, on average, between 0.8 and 0.9 percentage points. If the smoker is a woman, the likelihood of preferring flavor capsule cigarettes increases between 13.4 and 13.5 percentage points. Results also reveal a positive relationship between the price paid and the consumption of flavor capsule cigarettes, indicating that these cigarettes tend to be more expensive. There is no statistical relationship between participation in the labor market and smoking these products. Conclusions Chile has the world’s highest prevalence of flavor capsule cigarette smoking, which is concentrated among young people (25 years and younger) and females. No relationship between socioeconomic status and use of these products is found, though there are indications that such relationship may exist, as they were at the time of study 14% more expensive, on average, than conventional non-flavored cigarettes. As in most countries, the tobacco industry appears to be deliberately promoting these products with the goal of halting or slowing the decline in cigarette consumption in Chile. Thus, to reduce cigarette consumption (especially among youth), restricting or forbidding cigarette flavorings of all types, including flavor capsules, would be an effective strategy.