Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sowing Methods Influence Soil Bacterial Diversity and Community Composition in a Winter Wheat-Summer Maize Rotation System on the Loess Plateau

Soil bacterial diversity and community composition are crucial for soil health and plant growth, and their dynamics in response to agronomic practices are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the response of soil bacterial community structure to the changes of sowing methods, soil depth and distance to roots in a winter wheat-summer maize crop rotation system on the Loess Plateau in china (35°17′38′′N, 111°40′24′′E). The experiment was laid out as completely randomized block design with three replications. Sowing methods trialed were: traditional sowing (TS), film-mulched ridge and furrow sowing (FMR&F), wide ridge and narrow furrow sowing (WR&NF) and unplanted control (CK). The result showed that the WR&NF sowing method treatment significantly decreased soil bacterial diversity (Chao 1 and Shannon indices) compared to the TS and FMR&F treatment, but increased abundance of beneficial bacteria such as genera Bacillus and Pseudomonas compared to the TS treatment. These genera showed a stronger correlation with soil properties and contributed to the soil nutrient cycling and crop productivity. Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Nevskia, and Lactococcus were the keystone genera in this winter wheat-summer maize rotation system on the Loess Plateau. Strong correlations between changes in soil properties and soil bacterial diversity and abundance were identified. In summary, we suggest that the WR&NF treatment, as a no-mulching film and no-deep tillage sowing method, would be the most suitable sowing technique in the winter wheat-summer maize rotation on Loess soil.
Clinical Outcomes From Cultivated Allogenic Stem Cells vs. Oral Mucosa Epithelial Transplants in Total Bilateral Stem Cells Deficiency

Total bilateral limbal stem cell deficiency results from various pathologies, from burns (either chemical or physical) to Sjogren Syndrome, aniridia or ocular cicatricial pemphigoid. After the loss of stem cells, normal corneal epithelium is replaced by a more opaque and vascularized conjunctival epithelium, causing loss of vision. After 1997, cultivation techniques for limbal stem cells became possible. In parallel, cultivation techniques for oral mucosa epithelial cells were also available. The aim of our review was to summarize the clinical outcomes following allogenic cultured limbal stem cell transplant (allogenic CLET), and on the other hand, oral mucosa derived epithelium transplant (cultivated oral mucosa epithelial transplant—COMET or cultivated autologous oral mucosal epithelial cell sheet—CAOMECS), in the case of total bilateral limbal stem cell loss. Thirty studies matching the inclusion criteria were found. The clinical improvement in both methods was reported similar, with percentages higher than 50% of the treated cases. However, the comparison between studies was difficult to achieve due to the lack of a universal and objective grading tool for assessing post-operative results. The definition of clinical improvement was problematic, because success was defined differently, depending on the study. Moreover, some of the studies followed both autologous and allogenic CLET, but described the results together, for both procedures, and therefore it was impossible to analyze them separately. COMET presented some advantages compared to CLET. By using autologous cells, there was no risk of immune activation and no immunosuppression was needed. COMET, however, might be associated with increased risk of persistent epithelial defects and graft failure, compared with allogenic CLET.
Heterotrophic Bacteria Exhibit a Wide Range of Rates of Extracellular Production and Decay of Hydrogen Peroxide

Bacteria have been implicated as both a source and sink of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a reactive oxygen species which can both impact microbial growth and participate in the geochemical cycling of trace metals and carbon in natural waters. In this study, simultaneous H2O2 production and decay by twelve species of heterotrophic bacteria were evaluated in both batch and flow-through incubations. While wide species-to-species variability of cell-normalized H2O2 decay rate coefficients [2 × 10–8 to 5 × 10–6 hr–1 (cell mL–1)–1] was observed, these rate coefficients were relatively consistent for a given bacterial species. By contrast, observed production rates (below detection limit to 3 × 102 amol cell–1 hr–1) were more variable even for the same species. Variations based on incubation conditions in some bacterial strains suggest that external conditions may impact extracellular H2O2 levels either through increased extracellular production or leakage of intracellular H2O2. Comparison of H2O2 production rates to previously determined superoxide (O2–) production rates suggests that O2– and H2O2 production are not necessarily linked. Rates measured in this study indicate that bacteria could account for a majority of H2O2 decay observed in aqueous systems but likely only make a modest contribution to dark H2O2 production.
A Novel Risk Stratification System for Thyroid Nodules With Indeterminate Cytology—A Pilot Cohort Study

Background: Thyroid ultrasound (US), fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB), and molecular testing have been widely used to stratify the risk of malignancy in thyroid nodules. The goal of this study was to investigate a novel diagnostic approach for cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules (ITN) based upon a combination of US features and genetic alterations. Methods: We performed a pilot cohort study of patients with ITN (Bethesda III/IV), who underwent surgical treatment. Based on standardized sonographic patterns established by the American Thyroid Association (ATA), each ITN received an US score (XUS), ranging between 0 and 0.9 according to its risk of thyroid cancer (TC). DNA and RNA were extracted from pathologic material, available for all patients, and subjected to Oncomine™ Comprehensive Assay v2 (OCAv2) next-generation sequencing. Each genetic alteration was annotated based on its strength of association with TC and its sum served as the genomic classifier score (XGC). The total risk score (TRS) was the sum of XUS and XGC. ROC curves were generated to assess the diagnostic accuracy of XUS, XGC, and TRS. Results: The study cohort consisted of 50 patients (39 females and 11 males), aged 47.5 ± 14.8 years. Three patients were excluded due to molecular testing failure. Among the remaining 47 patients, 28 (59.6%) were diagnosed with TC. BRAFV600E was the most common mutation in papillary TC, PAX8-PPARG fusion was present in NIFTP, pathogenic variants of SLX4, ATM, and NRAS were found in Hürthle cell TC and RET mutations in medullary TC. The diagnostic accuracy of XGC and TRS was significantly higher compared with XUS (88 vs. 62.5%, p < 0.001; 85.2 vs. 62.5%, p < 0.001, respectively). However, this increased accuracy was due to significantly better sensitivity (80.7 vs. 34.6%, p < 0.001; 84.6 vs. 34.6%, p < 0.001, respectively) without improved specificity (94.7 vs. 90%, p = 0.55; 85.7 vs. 90%, p = 0.63, respectively). Conclusion: Molecular testing might not be necessary in ITN with high-risk US pattern (XUS = 0.9), as specificity of TC diagnosis based on Xus alone is sufficient and not improved with molecular testing. OCAv2 is useful in guiding the management of ITN with low-to-intermediate risk US features (XUS < 0.9), as it increases the accuracy of TC diagnosis.
[First case of neonate infected with novel coronavirus pneumonia in China].

1例以"打喷嚏，伴间断吐奶1周"为主诉的17日龄新生儿于2020年2月5日就诊于武汉儿童医院新生儿内科隔离病房，其父母于入院前3 d出现发热伴咳嗽，确诊新型冠状病毒肺炎（NCP）患者。 患儿早期临床症状轻，病程中出现一过性发热及腹泻，无严重并发症，反复咽拭子和肛拭子2019新型冠状病毒(2019-nCoV)核酸检测阳性，肺部影像学提示炎性改变，诊断为新生儿NCP，提示感染后新生儿呼吸道及消化道中均可存在病毒。 需要关注新生儿作为感染者和传播者的可能性，同时也提出针对新生儿NCP的医疗及家庭看护问题。
Effects and outcomes of cardiac surgery in patients with cardiometabolic syndrome

Cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS) is diabetes mellitus (or insulin resistance) plus any two of the following risk factors: hypertension, obesity, and hyperlipidemia. The correlation of metabolic syndrome with cardiovascular disease and the increase in the prevalence of patients with risk factors have solidified the importance of continued focus on metabolic syndrome. We retrospectively evaluated single‐center data to determine if there is an association between CMS and outcomes.
Efficacy of eye drops containing crosslinked hyaluronic acid and CoQ10 in restoring ocular health exposed to chlorinated water

Purpose: A prospective, open-label study in 20 professional swimmers evaluated the efficacy and safety of an ophthalmic solution containing crosslinked hyaluronic acid, coenzyme Q10, and vitamin E TPGS in releasing eye irritation and restoring ocular surface damages after prolonged exposure to chlorinated water. Methods: Individually, one eye was instilled with the ophthalmic solution and the other used as a comparator. Eye drops were self-administered three times a day for 2 months. Tear film breakup time (primary endpoint), Schirmer I test, beating of eyelashes/min, tear osmolarity, corneal and conjunctival staining with fluorescein, Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire, subject satisfaction, visual acuity (secondary endpoints), and Efron Grading Scale were evaluated at screening/baseline (V1), week 1 (V2), week 2 (V3), week 4 (V4), and week 8 (V5). Results: After 2 months, breakup time test significantly improved in the treated eyes (+1.67 s) compared to control (−3.00 s) (p = 0.0002). Corneal and conjunctival surfaces of treated eyes recovered significantly compared to control eyes when assessed by fluorescein staining (p < 0.0001), Ocular Surface Disease Index (p < 0.05), and visual analog scale (p = 0.0348) scores. Improvements were also observed with Schirmer I test, beating of eyelashes, and tear osmolarity, despite without statistical significance. Efron Grading Scale was consistent with the other tests. The ocular tolerability was excellent. Conclusion: The adequate combination of crosslinked hyaluronic acid, coenzyme Q10, and vitamin E TPGS, contained in the ophthalmic solution VisuXL®, has been shown to protect ocular surface from potential damages originating from prolonged exposure to chlorinated water. VisuXL may represent a compelling treatment in other situations beyond dry eye syndrome.
Transcriptomic and functional studies reveal undermined chemotactic and angiostimulatory properties of aged microglia during stroke recovery

Age-dependent alterations in microglia behavior have been implicated in neurodegeneration and CNS injuries. Here, we compared the transcriptional profiles of young versus aged microglia during stroke recovery. CD45intermediateCD11b+ microglia were FACS-isolated from the brains of young (10-week-old) and aged (18-month-old) male mice with sham operation or 14 days after distal middle cerebral artery occlusion and subjected to RNA-sequencing analysis. Functional groups enriched in young microglia are indicative of upregulation in cell movement, cell interactions, inflammatory responses and angiogenesis, while aged microglia exhibited a reduction or no change in these features. We confirmed reduced chemoattractive capacities of aged microglia toward ischemic brain tissue in organotypic slide co-cultures, and delayed accumulation of aged microglia around dead neurons injected into the striatum in vivo. In addition, aging is associated with an overall failure to increase the expression of microglial genes involved in cell–cell interactions, such as CXCL10. Finally, impaired upregulation of pro-angiogenic genes in aged microglia was associated with a decline in neovascularization in aged mice compared to young mice after distal middle cerebral artery occlusion. This study provides a new resource to understand the mechanisms underlying microglial alterations in the aged brain milieu and sheds light on new strategies to improve microglial functions in aged stroke victims.
Clinical risk factors and atherosclerotic plaque extent to define risk for major events in patients without obstructive coronary artery disease: the long-term coronary computed tomography angiography CONFIRM registry.

AIMS In patients without obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), we examined the prognostic value of risk factors and atherosclerotic extent. METHODS AND RESULTS Patients from the long-term CONFIRM registry without prior CAD and without obstructive (≥50%) stenosis were included. Within the groups of normal coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) (N = 1849) and non-obstructive CAD (N = 1698), the prognostic value of traditional clinical risk factors and atherosclerotic extent (segment involvement score, SIS) was assessed with Cox models. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were defined as all-cause mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or late revascularization. In total, 3547 patients were included (age 57.9 ± 12.1 years, 57.8% male), experiencing 460 MACE during 5.4 years of follow-up. Age, body mass index, hypertension, and diabetes were the clinical variables associated with increased MACE risk, but the magnitude of risk was higher for CCTA defined atherosclerotic extent; adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for SIS >5 was 3.4 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.3-4.9) while HR for diabetes and hypertension were 1.7 (95% CI 1.3-2.2) and 1.4 (95% CI 1.1-1.7), respectively. Exclusion of revascularization as endpoint did not modify the results. In normal CCTA, presence of ≥1 traditional risk factors did not worsen prognosis (log-rank P = 0.248), while it did in non-obstructive CAD (log-rank P = 0.025). Adjusted for SIS, hypertension and diabetes predicted MACE risk in non-obstructive CAD, while diabetes did not increase risk in absence of CAD (P-interaction = 0.004). CONCLUSION Among patients without obstructive CAD, the extent of CAD provides more prognostic information for MACE than traditional cardiovascular risk factors. An interaction was observed between risk factors and CAD burden, suggesting synergistic effects of both.
Symptomatic Characteristics of Parkinson's Disease Induced by Neuroleptic Drugs, Based on a Functional Neuroimaging Diagnosis

Objective When patients take neuroleptics, the distinction between Parkinson's disease (PD) and drug-induced parkinsonism (DIP) based solely on clinical features can become difficult. At present, 123I-FP-CIT SPECT (DAT-SPECT) and 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) myocardial scintigraphy are widely used to supplement the differential diagnosis of parkinsonism. This study assessed the clinical symptoms and neurological findings in the patients suspected of having DIP based on DAT-SPECT findings. Methods Twenty-three patients (11 men, 12 women, age: 52-81 years old) presenting with DIP were recruited. All patients underwent neurological examinations, including brain magnetic resonance imaging and DAT-SPECT. Patients who showed abnormal DAT-SPECT results underwent MIBG myocardial scintigraphy. Results Eleven patients showed a reduction in the ligand uptake on DAT-SPECT (DAT-positive group), and nine of these patients showed a low delayed heart-to-mediastinum (H/M) ratio on MIBG myocardial scintigraphy. The remaining 12 patients showed normal results on DAT-SPECT (DAT-negative group). All patients in the DAT-positive group had asymmetric motor symptoms, whereas only 4 in the DAT-negative group exhibited this clinical feature (p=0.001). A detailed medical history showed that 7 of the 11 patients in the DAT-positive group had prodromal symptoms for PD. However, only 1 patient in the DAT-negative group exhibited these symptoms (p= 0.009). Although two patients in the DAT-negative group showed poor improvement, they showed a normal H/M ratio on MIBG and no response to levodopa. Conclusion The patients in the DAT-positive group might have prodromal symptoms that were worsened by neuroleptic drugs. The results of detailed history-taking and neurological findings seem to indicate cases of compromised dopaminergic transmission before the administration of neuroleptic drugs.
Oxidative stress, inflammation and disease activity biomarkers in lupus nephropathy

Lupus nephropathy is a severe and frequent complication of systemic lupus erythematosus. Here, we assessed the biomarkers of oxidative stress, inflammation and disease activity in patients with lupus nephritis. Thirty-four patients with active lupus nephritis, 31 patients with inactive lupus nephritis and 20 lupus patients without renal damage (non-lupus nephritis) were studied. Oxidative stress biomarkers malonyldialdehyde, oxidized-to-total glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase and total antioxidant status were assessed, as well as inflammation biomarkers CRP, interleukin 6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1. Renal tubular disease biomarkers neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and β2-microglobulin were assessed, together with the classic disease activity biomarkers urinary protein/creatinine ratio, anti-dsDNA, anti-C1q antibody and complement proteins C3 and C4. Significant differences were found between active lupus nephritis and inactive lupus nephritis patients and between active lupus nephritis and non-lupus nephritis patients for all the assessed biomarkers (P < 0.05), except for catalase, superoxide dismutase and interleukin 6. There is an imbalance in the redox status in active lupus nephritis patients that would be involved in lipid peroxidation of the glomerular basal membrane that would alter its integrity and could also affect renal tubular function in these patients.
Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling of the Structure of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms in Adults

This study examined the structure of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in an adult community sample using first-order confirmatory factor analysis, exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM), and bifactor confirmatory factor analysis and ESEM models, with two group factors (inattention [IA] and hyperactivity/impulsivity [HY/IM]) and two different three group factors (IA, hyperactivity [HY], and impulsivity [IM]; and IA, motoric HY/IM, and verbal HY/IM). A total of 738 adults (males = 374 and females = 364) between 17 and 72 years of age completed the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale. The results provided most support for the ESEM model with group factors for IA, motoric HY/IM, and verbal HY/IM. The factors in this model were reasonably well defined, had good internal consistency omega reliabilities, and had support for their external validities, thereby making it a suitable model for ratings of the ADHD symptoms presented in the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale. The theoretical and clinical implications of the findings are discussed.
Health-related quality of life on combination therapy with peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis in comparison with hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis: A cross-sectional study

Background: The health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of dialysis patients has not been well examined, especially in combination therapy with peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis (PD+HD) patients. We compared the HRQOL of PD+HD patients with that of HD and PD patients. Methods: A multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted on 36 PD+HD, 103 HD, and 90 PD patients in Japan who completed the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form 36, version 1.3. HRQOL scores were summarized into physical- (PCS), mental- (MCS), role/social- (RCS), and kidney disease component summaries (KDCS). Results: Of the PD+HD patients, 31 (86%) transferred from PD and 5 (14%) transferred from HD. They had the longest dialysis vintage and the smallest urine volume. PCS, MCS, and KDCS HRQOL scores of PD+HD patients were comparable with those of HD and PD patients. However, the RCS score for PD+HD was significantly higher than that for HD (p = 0.020) and comparable with that for PD. PD+HD and PD were associated with significantly higher RCS scores than HD after adjusting for age, gender, diabetic nephropathy, dialysis vintage, ischemic heart disease, and peripheral arterial disease. Conclusions: For RCS, HRQOL in PD+HD patients was better than that in HD and comparable with that in PD patients, whereas the PCS, MCS, and KDCS HRQOL scores of PD+HD patients were comparable with those of HD and PD patients.
Nurturing professionalism in medical schools. A systematic scoping review of training curricula between 1990–2019

Abstract Introduction: Professionalism is an evolving, socioculturally informed multidimensional construct that influences doctor-patient relationships, patient satisfaction and care outcomes. However, despite its clinical significance there is little consistency in how professionalism is nurtured amongst medical students. To address this gap a systemic scoping review of nurturing professionalism in medical schools, is proposed. Methods: Levac’s framework and the PRISMA-P 2015 checklist underpinned a 6-stage systematic review protocol. Concurrent use of Braun and Clarke’s approach to thematic analysis and directed content analysis was used to identify the key elements in nurturing professionalism. Results: 13921 abstracts were identified from six databases, 854 full-text articles reviewed, and 162 full-text included articles were included. The 4 themes identified through thematic analysis are consistent with findings of the directed content analysis. These were the definition of professionalism, the approaches, content, barriers and enablers to teaching professionalism. Conclusion: Informed by a viable definition of professionalism and clear milestones nurturing professionalism nurturing professionalism begins with culturally appropriate training in clinical competence, humanistic qualities and reflective capacity. This process requires effective evaluations of professional identity formation, and the impact of the learning environment underlining the need for longitudinal assessments of the training process.
Translational initiation in E. coli occurs at the correct sites genome-wide in the absence of mRNA-rRNA base-pairing

Shine-Dalgarno (SD) motifs are thought to play an important role in translational initiation in bacteria. Paradoxically, ribosome profiling studies in E. coli show no correlation between the strength of an mRNA’s SD motif and how efficiently it is translated. Performing profiling on ribosomes with altered anti-Shine-Dalgarno sequences, we reveal a genome-wide correlation between SD strength and ribosome occupancy that was previously masked by other contributing factors. Using the antibiotic retapamulin to trap initiation complexes at start codons, we find that the mutant ribosomes select start sites correctly, arguing that start sites are hard-wired for initiation through the action of other mRNA features. We show that A-rich sequences upstream of start codons promote initiation. Taken together, our genome-wide study reveals that SD motifs are not necessary for ribosomes to determine where initiation occurs, though they do affect how efficiently initiation occurs.