Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Early life predictors of late life cerebral small vessel disease in four prospective cohort studies

Abstract Development of cerebral small vessel disease, a major cause of stroke and dementia, may be influenced by early life factors. It is unclear whether these relationships are independent of each other, of adult socio-economic status or of vascular risk factor exposures. We examined associations between factors from birth (ponderal index, birth weight), childhood (IQ, education, socio-economic status), adult small vessel disease, and brain volumes, using data from four prospective cohort studies: STratifying Resilience And Depression Longitudinally (STRADL) (n = 1080; mean age = 59 years); the Dutch Famine Birth Cohort (n = 118; mean age = 68 years); the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 (LBC1936; n = 617; mean age = 73 years), and the Simpson’s cohort (n = 110; mean age = 78 years). We analysed each small vessel disease feature individually and summed to give a total small vessel disease score (range 1–4) in each cohort separately, then in meta-analysis, adjusted for vascular risk factors and adult socio-economic status. Higher birth weight was associated with fewer lacunes [odds ratio (OR) per 100 g = 0.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.88 to 0.99], fewer infarcts (OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.89 to 0.99), and fewer perivascular spaces (OR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.91 to 0.99). Higher childhood IQ was associated with lower white matter hyperintensity burden (OR per IQ point = 0.99, 95% CI 0.98 to 0.998), fewer infarcts (OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.97 to 0.998), fewer lacunes (OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.97 to 0.999), and lower total small vessel disease burden (OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.96 to 0.999). Low education was associated with more microbleeds (OR = 1.90, 95% CI = 1.33 to 2.72) and lower total brain volume (mean difference = −178.86 cm3, 95% CI = −325.07 to −32.66). Low childhood socio-economic status was associated with fewer lacunes (OR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.40 to 0.95). Early life factors are associated with worse small vessel disease in later life, independent of each other, vascular risk factors and adult socio-economic status. Risk for small vessel disease may originate in early life and provide a mechanistic link between early life factors and risk of stroke and dementia. Policies investing in early child development may improve lifelong brain health and contribute to the prevention of dementia and stroke in older age.
Heightened Sexual Misconduct Victimization Rates among Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Women: Results From a Campus Climate Survey

Sexual assault, harassment, and stalking are commonplace among college students, with identified subgroups being particularly at risk (e.g., Greek-life organizations and intercollegiate athletics). Despite higher rates of sexual misconduct among active-duty military and service academy women, no research has examined the risk for Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) women. A total of N = 1,562 college women were sampled from a sexual misconduct campus climate survey. ROTC women reported higher victimization rates for all variants of sexual misconduct and violence relative to the broader student population, as well as previously established high-risk groups. Directions for future research and implications for prevention programming/response are presented and discussed.
Surgical outcomes for esotropia in children with high accommodative convergence/accommodation ratio

Purpose: To assess if high accommodative convergence/accommodation (AC/A) ratio impacts surgical outcomes in children with esotropia (ET), and evaluate the appropriate target angle in surgical dosing in the presence of high AC/A ratio. Methods: A retrospective chart review identified patients who underwent primary bilateral medial rectus (BMR) recessions for ET. Patients were excluded if follow-up was ≤2 months. Basic demographic information, visual acuity, stereopsis, alignment, and target angle for surgery were collected. High AC/A was defined as ≥10 prism diopter (Δ) deviation at near compared to distance. Outcome parameters were near and distance deviations ≤10Δ within orthophoria, and/or stereopsis postoperatively. Yates' continuity correction, unpaired t-test, regression analysis, and one-way ANOVA were used. Results: We identified 103 patients, 23 with high AC/A and 80 with normal AC/A, preoperatively. Mean age was 4.0 ± 2.5 years. Surgical success measured by postoperative alignment was 48% and 45% in the high AC/A and normal AC/A groups, respectively (P = 1.0). There was a statistically significant difference in preoperative near deviation between high AC/A and normal AC/A groups (P = 0.0015); however, there was no significant difference in preoperative distance deviation (P = 0.061). In addition, there was not a significant difference in preoperative or postoperative stereopsis between high AC/A and normal AC/A groups (P = 0.88 and P = 0.44, respectively). There was a significant difference in the normal AC/A and high AC/A groups when target angle was directed toward preoperative near deviation as determined by one-way ANOVA (F = 170.88, P < 0.0001 and F = 14.61, P = 0.0010, respectively). Conclusion: In the setting of ET treated with BMR recession, the presence of high AC/A does not affect surgical success as measured by alignment and stereopsis. In addition, when high AC/A is present, surgical dosing with a target angle toward near deviation was found to yield the best surgical outcomes in our patient population.
Performance of Plasma Coproporphyrin I and III as OATP1B1 Biomarkers in Humans

A previous study in 356 healthy Finnish volunteers showed that glycochenodeoxycholate 3‐O‐glucuronide (GCDCA‐3G) and glycodeoxycholate 3‐O‐glucuronide (GDCA‐3G) are promising biomarkers of organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B1 (OATP1B1). In the same cohort, we now evaluated the performances of two other OATP1B1 biomarkers, coproporphyrin I (CPI) and III (CPIII), and compared them with GCDCA‐3G and GDCA‐3G. Based on decreased (*5 and *15) and increased (*14 and *20) function SLCO1B1 haplotypes, we stratified the participants to poor, decreased, normal, increased, and highly increased OATP1B1 function groups. Fasting plasma CPI concentration was 68% higher in the poor (95% confidence interval, 44%, 97%; P = 1.74 × 10−10), 7% higher in the decreased (0%, 15%; P = 0.0385), 10% lower in the increased (3%, 18%; P = 0.0087), and 23% lower in the highly increased (1%, 40%; P = 0.0387) function group than in the normal function group. CPIII concentration was 27% higher (7%, 51%; P = 0.0071) in the poor function group than in the normal function group. CPI and CPIII detected poor OATP1B1 function with areas under the precision‐recall curve (AUPRC) of 0.388 (95% confidence interval, 0.197, 0.689) and 0.0798 (0.0485, 0.203), and receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.888 (0.851, 0.919) and 0.731 (0.682, 0.776). The AUPRC and AUROC of GCDCA‐3G were, however, 0.389 (0.258, 0.563) and 0.100 (−0.0046, 0.204; P = 0.0610) larger than those of CPI, and 0.697 (0.555, 0.831) and 0.257 (0.141, 0.373; P < 0.0001) larger than those of CPIII. In conclusion, these data indicate that plasma CPI outperforms CPIII in detecting altered OATP1B1 function, but GCDCA‐3G is an even more sensitive OATP1B1 biomarker than CPI.
Quantification of relative afferent pupillary defect by an automated pupillometer and its relationship with visual acuity and dimensions of macular lesions in age-related macular degeneration

Purpose: The occurrence of relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD) secondary to optic nerve diseases and widespread retinal disorders is well established. However, only very few reports of RAPD in macular disorders exist in the literature. In this study, we used automated pupillometer to evaluate RAPD in eyes with macular lesions. Methods: It was a prospective cross-sectional study. A total of 82 patients with choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) – 65 unilateral and 17 bilateral macular lesions – were enrolled. RAPD was assessed with an automated pupillometer and macular lesions evaluated with optical coherence tomography (OCT). The length of the ellipsoid zone disruption was measured as the longest length of lesion on the horizontal raster scans and the area of macular lesion was measured manually, mapping the affected area of ellipsoid zone on the enface images. Results: RAPD scores showed good correlation with the intereye difference in length of maximum ellipsoid zone disruption (r-value = 0.84, P value <0.001) and macular lesion area as measured on OCT in all unilateral cases (r-value = 0.84, P value <0.001). Best-corrected visual acuity was also found to have a significant correlation with lesion size on the OCT as well as the length of ellipsoid zone disruption in unilateral cases. Conclusion: RAPD evaluated with an automated binocular pupillometer is a noninvasive and objective method to assess macular lesions in CNVMs; it shows good correlation with structural lesion dimensions on OCT in unilateral cases. Further longitudinal studies are needed to assess the significance of these findings in disease progression as well as correlation with lesion response to treatment.
Comparison of post-cataract surgery endophthalmitis rates using syringing or regurgitation on pressure over the lacrimal sac as a preoperative screening tool for nasolacrimal duct obstruction: An impact assessment of protocol alteration due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose: To compare the post-cataract endophthalmitis (PCE) rates among eyes undergoing syringing or regurgitation on pressure over the lacrimal sac (ROPLAS) test prior to cataract surgery. Methods: We performed a single-center, retrospective, comparative analysis of eyes developing PCE who underwent syringing prior to cataract surgery (group A) in the pre-COVID-19 era between November 1 2019 and January 31, 2020 and the eyes that underwent ROPLAS test prior to cataract surgery (group B) in the COVID-19 era between November 1, 2020 and January 31, 2021. Results: A total of 87,144 eyes underwent cataract surgery during the two time periods of the study. Syringing was performed in 48,071 eyes, whereas ROPLAS was performed in 39,073 eyes. In group A, 19 eyes (0.039%) developed PCE, whereas 20 eyes (0.051%) developed PCE in group B (P = 0.517). Between the two groups, the grade of anterior chamber cellular reaction (P = 0.675), hypopyon (P = 0.738), and vitreous haze (P = 0.664) were comparable. Gram-positive organisms were detected in 4 eyes in group A and 6 eyes in group B; 2 eyes in group A had gram-negative bacilli. The presenting visual acuity (Group A: LogMAR 1.42 and Group B: LogMAR 1.30) and final visual acuity (Group A: LogMAR 0.52 and Group B: LogMAR 0.5) were comparable between the two groups. (P = 0.544 and 0.384, respectively). Conclusion: The rates of PCE were comparable among the eyes undergoing either syringing test or ROPLAS prior to cataract surgery.
Organic nitrogen enhances nitrogen nutrition and early growth of Pinus sylvestris seedlings

Abstract Boreal trees are capable of taking up organic nitrogen (N) as effectively as inorganic N. Depending on the abundance of soil N forms, plants may adjust physiological and morphological traits to optimize N uptake. However, the link between these traits and N uptake in response to soil N sources is poorly understood. We examined Pinus sylvestris L. seedlings’ biomass growth and allocation, transpiration and N uptake in response to additions of organic N (the amino acid arginine) or inorganic N (ammonium nitrate). We also monitored in situ soil N fluxes in the pots following an addition of N, using a microdialysis system. Supplying organic N resulted in a stable soil N flux, whereas the inorganic N resulted in a sharp increase of nitrate flux followed by a rapid decline, demonstrating a fluctuating N supply and a risk for loss of nitrate from the growth medium. Seedlings supplied with organic N achieved a greater biomass with a higher N content, thus reaching a higher N recovery compared with those supplied inorganic N. In spite of a higher N concentration in organic N seedlings, root-to-shoot ratio and transpiration per unit leaf area were similar to those of inorganic N seedlings. We conclude that enhanced seedlings’ nutrition and growth under the organic N source may be attributed to a stable supply of N, owing to a strong retention rate in the soil medium.
An Analysis of the Effect of selected Factors on microsurgical Performance

Abstract Background Microsurgery is a specific surgical expertise that involves operating on very small structures, and requires the assistance of a magnifying device: a microscope or loupes. Several factors have been identified that could affect the quality of microsurgical performance in training or surgical procedures. Objective The objective of this study was to assess the impact of the selected factors – caffeine, alcohol and physical exercise – on a microsurgical task prior its performance. Methods Ten students from the 5th and 6th years of medical studies who had completed the advanced microsurgical course performed a “6-stitches test” on a latex glove spanned over a cup prior to and after consumption of caffeine, alcohol and performing physical exercises. The times taken to complete the task at baseline and post-exposure were recorded. Results The results of the study show a statistically significant positive effect of caffeine and a statistically significant negative effect of physical exercise on microsurgical performance when performed shortly before the task. Small dose of alcohol taken before the task showed had little effect on performance.
Antenatal depressive symptoms in Kenyan women living with HIV: contributions of recent HIV diagnosis, stigma, and partner violence

ABSTRACT Depression among pregnant women living with HIV (WLWH) in sub-Saharan Africa leads to poor pregnancy and HIV outcomes. This cross-sectional analysis utilized enrollment data from a randomized trial (Mobile WAChX, NCT02400671) in six Kenyan public maternal and child health clinics. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), stigma with the Stigma Scale for Chronic Illness, and intimate partner violence (IPV) with the Abuse Assessment Screen. Correlates of moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms (“depression”, PHQ-9 score ≥10) were assessed using generalized estimating equation models clustered by facility. Among 824 pregnant WLWH, 9% had depression; these women had more recent HIV diagnosis than those without depression (median 0.4 vs. 2.0 years since diagnosis, p = .008). Depression was associated with HIV-related stigma (adjusted Prevalence Ratio [aPR]:2.36, p = .025), IPV (aPR:2.93, p = .002), and lower social support score (aPR:0.99, p = .023). Using population-attributable risk percent to estimate contributors to maternal depression, 81% were attributable to stigma (27%), recent diagnosis (24%), and IPV (20%). Integrating depression screening and treatment in prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission programs may be beneficial, particularly in women recently diagnosed or reporting stigma and IPV.
Effectiveness of BNT162b2 Vaccine in Adolescents during Outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant Infection, Israel, 2021

In Israel, the BNT162b2 vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 was approved for use in adolescents in June 2021, shortly before an outbreak of B.1. 617.2 (Delta) variant–dominant infection. We evaluated short-term vaccine effectiveness and found the vaccine to be highly effective among this population in this setting.
Blood purification in sepsis and systemic inflammation

Purpose of review Sepsis and septic shock are life-threatening diseases with high mortality. Although efforts have made to improve the survivals, the outcomes are still frustrating. Blood purification was thought to be a promising adjunctive therapy to regulate the excessive cytokine storm or to reduce the endotoxin activity caused by sepsis. Critically ill COVID-19 characterized with the similar disease to sepsis may also benefit from blood purification. Recent findings The recent studies mainly focused on hemadsorption materials. The results of the clinical trials showed a tendency in decrease of cytokine levels and endotoxin activity and improvement in haemodynamics. However, the results were controversial. More evidence about blood purification in sepsis and COVID-19 are needed from currently ongoing trials and future well designed trials. Summary The blood purification therapy demonstrated the tendency in decrease of cytokines and endotoxin activity in different degree according to the current studies. However, the effect on mortality and haemodynamics is still in controversy. Further well designed, large sample sized studies should focus on the timing of initiating blood purification, the appropriate indications and the optimal type of blood purification membrane or cartridge to provide more evidence for clinical practice.
Year one of COVID-19 pandemic: Effect of lockdown and unlock phases on cataract surgery at a multi-tier ophthalmology network

Purpose: To describe the impact of lockdown and unlock phases of the COVID-19 pandemic on cataract surgery at a multitier ophthalmology network. Methods: This cross-sectional hospital-based study included 106,279 eyes operated between March 23, 2019 and March 31, 2021. The data of patients who underwent cataract surgery presenting during the lockdown and unlock phases were compared with the respective periods in the previous year before COVID-19. Results: The cataract surgeries performed decreased to 5.6% (839/14,994) of pre-COVID-19 volumes during the lockdown phase. There was a gradual recovery of the cataract surgeries performed to 86.7% of pre-COVID-19 volumes by May 2020 and exceeded by 17.9% by September 2020. There was a decrease in the number of women who underwent cataract surgery during the lockdown phase (49.11%) compared to the pre-COVID-19 (52.59%) or unlock phase (52.29%, P < 0.001). Patients operated during the lockdown phase were younger when compared to other groups (P < 0.001). The mean LogMAR presenting visual acuity at the time of surgery was worse in patients operated during the lockdown phase (1.84 ± 1.16) as compared to pre-COVID-19 (1.39 ± 1.05) and unlock phases (1.51 ± 1.08, P =<0.001). The proportion of patients with total cataracts were higher during the lockdown and unlock phases compared to the pre-COVID-19 phase (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The first year of the COVID-19 pandemic saw a drastic reduction in the surgical volume in the lockdown phase, which recovered quickly during the unlock period. Patients of younger age, male gender, poor presenting visual acuity, denser cataracts, and living close to the surgical center were able to access surgical care due to lockdown restrictions.
High‐Resolution Mapping and Ablation of Atrial Tachycardias Involving the Lateral Left Atrium

Background The lateral left atrium (LA) is often associated with atrial tachycardia (AT) because of its complex anatomy. We sought to characterize ATs associated with the lateral LA, including the posterolateral mitral isthmus (MI) and left atrial ridge. Methods and Results Twenty‐eight lateral LA‐associated ATs were mapped with high‐resolution mapping systems and entrainment pacing. The vein of Marshall was mapped with a 1.8‐Fr mapping catheter when possible. ATs were associated with the posterolateral MI in 18 ATs (14 perimitral, 3 small reentry, and 1 focal AT). All patients had undergone MI area ablation, and all ATs were successfully eliminated. During 27.0 (interquartile range, 10.5–40.0) months of follow‐up, all were free from any atrial tachyarrhythmias, with 3 patients on antiarrhythmics. Of 10 ATs involving the ridge or Marshall bundle, 3 were ridge related, 3 were Marshall bundle related based on vein of Marshall mapping, and 1 was a persistent left superior vena cava related AT. All 7 patients had undergone MI linear ablation. The critical isthmus was in the LA‐ridge junction or the LA‐Marshall bundle junction. Bidirectional conduction block between the LA and ridge or Marshall bundle was created. Two patients had the critical isthmus in the other area. The remaining patient had micro‐reentry in the ridge. All 10 ATs were terminated during ablation at the critical isthmus. During 12.0 (5.2–31.7) months of follow‐up, all were free from any atrial tachyarrhythmias, with 7 patients on antiarrhythmics. Conclusions Most ATs occurred after MI area ablation. An high resolution mapping‐guided approach is highly effective for identifying the mechanism.
Diversifying on the Ark: multiple new endemic lineages of dwarf geckos from the Western Ghats provide insights into the systematics and biogeography of South Asian Cnemaspis (Reptilia: Squamata)

The highly speciose gekkonid genus Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 is polyphyletic, with three distantly related and geographically isolated clades from Africa, South Asia (SA), and Southeast Asia. At present, there are 85 known species within SA Cnemaspis, although the number continues to increase rapidly with focused surveys and rigorous taxonomic work. Recent studies have provided valuable insights into the diversity and evolutionary history of SA Cnemaspis; however, most of these studies lack sufficient sampling in the Western Ghats (WG), where the genus has its greatest diversity. We addressed this research gap by conducting extensive sampling across the WG and re-examining museum specimens, thus providing a systematic account of various extant Cnemaspis species along with their distribution and natural history. We described 12 new species and a southern WG endemic clade of SA Cnemaspis. Ten of the newly described species are endemic to the forests of the southern WG. We also identified 10 well-supported subclades that can be separated across morphological, geographic, and phylogenetic axes. A time-calibrated phylogeny and ancestral area reconstructions confirmed the Paleocene origin of SA Cnemaspis in the WG and provide insights into its evolutionary history and biogeography. The discovery of multiple endemic and deeply divergent lineages further highlights the evolutionary significance of the WG for lizards.
In vivo, in vitro and in silico: an open space for the development of microbe‐based applications of synthetic biology

Living systems are studied using three complementary approaches: living cells, cell‐free systems and computer‐mediated modelling. Progresses in understanding, allowing researchers to create novel chassis and industrial processes rest on a cycle that combines in vivo, in vitro and in silico studies. This design–build–test–learn iteration loop cycle between experiments and analyses combines together physiology, genetics, biochemistry and bioinformatics in a way that keeps going forward. Because computer‐aided approaches are not directly constrained by the material nature of the entities of interest, we illustrate here how this virtuous cycle allows researchers to explore chemistry which is foreign to that present in extant life, from whole chassis to novel metabolic cycles. Particular emphasis is placed on the importance of evolution.