Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Benzodiazepines, Codispensed Opioids, and Mortality among Patients Initiating Long-Term In-Center Hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Mortality from benzodiazepine/opioid interactions is a growing concern in light of the opioid epidemic. Patients on hemodialysis suffer from a high burden of physical/psychiatric conditions, which are treated with benzodiazepines, and they are three times more likely to be prescribed opioids than the general population. Therefore, we studied mortality risk associated with short- and long-acting benzodiazepines and their interaction with opioids among adults initiating hemodialysis. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS The cohort of 69,368 adults initiating hemodialysis (January 2013 to December 2014) was assembled by linking US Renal Data System records to Medicare claims. Medicare claims were used to identify dispensed benzodiazepines and opioids. Using adjusted Cox proportional hazards models, we estimated the mortality risk associated with benzodiazepines (time varying) and tested whether the benzodiazepine-related mortality risk differed by opioid codispensing. RESULTS Within 1 year of hemodialysis initiation, 10,854 (16%) patients were dispensed a short-acting benzodiazepine, and 3262 (5%) patients were dispensed a long-acting benzodiazepine. Among those who were dispensed a benzodiazepine during follow-up, codispensing of opioids and short-acting benzodiazepines occurred among 3819 (26%) patients, and codispensing of opioids and long-acting benzodiazepines occurred among 1238 (8%) patients. Patients with an opioid prescription were more likely to be subsequently dispensed a short-acting benzodiazepine (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.66; 95% confidence interval, 1.59 to 1.74) or a long-acting benzodiazepine (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.03 to 1.20). Patients dispensed a short-acting benzodiazepine were at a 1.45-fold (95% confidence interval, 1.35 to 1.56) higher mortality risk compared with those without a short-acting benzodiazepine; among those with opioid codispensing, this risk was 1.90-fold (95% confidence interval, 1.65 to 2.18; P interaction<0.001). In contrast, long-acting benzodiazepine dispensing was inversely associated with mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.84; 95% confidence interval, 0.72 to 0.99) compared with no dispensing of long-acting benzodiazepine; there was no differential risk by opioid dispensing (P interaction=0.72). CONCLUSIONS Codispensing of opioids and short-acting benzodiazepines is common among patients on dialysis, and it is associated with higher risk of death.
Validation of canine uterine and testicular arteries for the functional characterisation of receptor-mediated contraction as a replacement for laboratory animal tissues in teaching

Teaching practicals for receptor physiology/pharmacology in medical and veterinary schools have involved the use of in vitro experiments using tissues from laboratory animals, which have been killed for isolated vascular strip or ring preparations. However, the use of scavenged tissues has been advocated to reduce animal use. Utilising discarded tissues from routine surgical procedures, such as canine neutering, has not previously been investigated. Canine testicular and uterine tissues (discarded tissues) were obtained from routine neutering procedures performed by the veterinary team at a local animal neutering clinic for stray dogs. Rings of uterine and testicular artery were dissected and mounted on a Mulvany-Halpern wire myograph in order to characterize the adrenergic and serotonergic receptors mediating vasoconstriction. Cumulative contractile concentration-response curves were constructed for the alpha adrenoceptor agonists epinephrine (α1 and α2 receptors), phenylephrine (α1 selective) and UK14304 (α2 selective). Pre-treatment with the α1-selective antagonist, prazosin, was also investigated. The response to serotonin (5-HT) receptor agonists were also investigated, including 5-HT (acting at both 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 receptors), 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT; 5-HT1 selective) and α-methyl 5-HT (5-HT2 selective). A contractile response was observed in both canine uterine and testicular arteries to epinephrine and phenylephrine, and prazosin caused a dose-dependent parallel rightward shift in the phenylephrine dose-response curve (pA2 values of 7.97 and 8.39, respectively). UK14304 caused a contractile response in canine testicular arteries but very little appreciable contractile response in uterine arteries. The maximum responses produced by the uterine arteries to 5-HT was significantly lower than those of the testicular arteries. In the testicular artery, the 5-HT2 receptor selective agonist, α-methyl 5-HT, produced a similar contractile response to 5-HT but the administration of 5-CT failed to produce a response in either the testicular or uterine artery segments. These results validate the use of discarded tissue from routine canine neutering procedures as a useful source of vascular tissue for pharmacological teaching, for characterizing alpha and 5-HT receptor contractile responses.
Growth increments and stability over time in fast- growing forest tree species

We review an analytical procedure useful for measuring the influence of time on the phenotypic expression of cumulative growth. It consists of separating the genetic control into two meaningful components: the cumulative genetic effect of growth increments and the effect of genotype × time interaction. The analysis is performed via a hierarchical mixed linear model. Data from three Pinus tecunumanii Eguiluz & J.P. Perry provenanceprogeny trials established by the CAMCORE Cooperative in South America were used to assess the practical application of the method. Results suggest that the simple observation of ageage correlations for cumulative growth can be misleading, because they hide the effects of family and within-family variation. The partition of cumulative growth into mutually exclusive growth increments can help to discriminate covariance components, which are also useful to predict the degree of association between growth at different ages and the potential value for early selection.
Nitrogen Fertilization in Coastcross Pastures Associated with Forage Peanut on Nutritional Composition of Forage and Animal Performance

The experiment was carried out at IAPAR, in Paranavai-PR, from July 2002 to June 2007. A completely randomized design was used, with two replications and such treatments: Coastcross ( Cynodon dactylon [L] Pers Cv Coastcross) + forage Peanut ( Arachis pintoi Krapovickas and Gregori. Cv. Amarillo) + 200 kg ha -1 of N; Coastcross + forage Peanut + 100 kg ha -1 of N; Coastcross + 200 kg ha -1 of N and Coastcross + forage Peanut. Cross heifers were used (Red angus × Nelore × Limousin), three of them as testers plus the regulator animals, with medium initial weight of 170 kg, and management in continuous stocking and variable stocking rate. The pasture was maintained to a medium height of, approximately, 17 cm. For the nutritional value evaluations (crude protein,CP, neutral detergent fibber, NDF, and in vitro dry matter digestibility, IVDMD) forage samples were collected, each 28 days, and separated in leaf blade, sheath+stem, dead material and plants of forage Peanut. The animal production was evaluated through the average daily gain (ADG, kg ha -1 day -1 ), weighted in fast each 28 days, stocking rate (AU, animal unit ha -1 ; being that the animal unit corresponds to 450 kg of live weight) and body weight gain (BWG, kg ha -1 ). Pastures of grasses and legumes with no N fertilization have a lower nutritional composition than fertilized pastures. Forage nutritional composition and animal performance vary according to the conditions each year, thereby affecting stocking rate and live weight gain.
Dynamic Characterization of Structural, Molecular, and Electrophysiological Phenotypes of Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cerebral Organoids, and Comparison with Fetal and Adult Gene Profiles

Background: The development of 3D cerebral organoid technology using human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) provides a promising platform to study how brain diseases are appropriately modeled and treated. So far, understanding of the characteristics of organoids is still in its infancy. The current study profiled, for the first time, the electrophysiological properties of organoids at molecular and cellular levels and dissected the potential age equivalency of 2-month-old organoids to human ones by a comparison of gene expression profiles among cerebral organoids, human fetal and adult brains. Results: Cerebral organoids exhibit heterogeneous gene and protein markers of various brain cells, such as neurons, astrocytes, and vascular cells (endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells) at 2 months, and increases in neural, glial, vascular, and channel-related gene expression over a 2-month differentiation course. Two-month organoids exhibited action potentials, multiple channel activities, and functional electrophysiological responses to the anesthetic agent propofol. A bioinformatics analysis of 20,723 gene expression profiles showed the similar distance of gene profiles in cerebral organoids to fetal and adult brain tissues. The subsequent Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) of select canonical pathways related to neural development, network formation, and electrophysiological signaling, revealed that only calcium signaling, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element-binding protein (CREB) signaling in neurons, glutamate receptor signaling, and synaptogenesis signaling were predicted to be downregulated in cerebral organoids relative to fetal samples. Nearly all cerebral organoid and fetal pathway phenotypes were predicted to be downregulated compared with adult tissue. Conclusions: This novel study highlights dynamic development, cellular heterogeneity and electrophysiological activity. In particular, for the first time, electrophysiological drug response recapitulates what occurs in vivo, and neural characteristics are predicted to be highly similar to the human brain, further supporting the promising application of the cerebral organoid system for the modeling of the human brain in health and disease. Additionally, the studies from these characterizations of cerebral organoids in multiple levels and the findings from gene comparisons between cerebral organoids and humans (fetuses and adults) help us better understand this cerebral organoid-based cutting-edge platform and its wide uses in modeling human brain in terms of health and disease, development, and testing drug efficacy and toxicity.
Dispersal Strategies in Roccellina Capensis (Arthoniales)

Abstract Morphological, anatomical, chemical and ecological evidence show that the South African lichen Roccellina capensis (Nyl. ex Stizenb.) Tehler has developed a dispersal strategy with either sexually dispersed individuals, or vegetatively dispersed, sorediate individuals, hence a putative species-pair. The concept ‘species-pair’ is well-known and widely used in lichenology. It refers to closely related, morphologically indistinguishable lichens that differ from each other by their dispersal strategies only. The so-called ‘ primary species ’ produces fruiting bodies and sexual spores, while its counterpart, the ‘ secondary species ’ is vegetatively dispersed by soredia, isidia or fragmentation. Our study uses molecular information to investigate if R. capensis should be treated as a species-pair or not. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA was sequenced for 17 specimens of R. capensis in order to test if sexual and asexual (sorediate) specimens would group into two distinct, monophyletic groups. Such grouping would support their recognition as separate taxa in a species-pair. We also investigated whether the randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) method would be a suitable procedure in population studies of lichens. The analysis of the ITS region produced a single most parsimonious tree. The sexual and asexual specimens were grouped according to their geographical distribution, rather than according to their dispersal strategy. This result clearly shows that the sexual and asexual specimens ofR. capensis do not represent a species-pair. The RAPD data set produced an almost completely unresolved tree due to several homoplasious characters, possibly a result of algal contamination.
Pathogenic variation of Rhynchosporium secalis in Alberta

Leaf samples with scald symptoms were taken from various barley cultivars in 1997 and 1998 at nine locations in Alberta for examination of pathogenic variability. Two hundred and fifty-six single-spore isolates of Rhynchosporium secalis were differentiated into 52 pathotypes using 12 differentials, which consisted of seven accessions with major resistance genes and five commercial cultivars. Fifty-two percent of isolates were virulent on cv. Harrington only (pathotype 1); five pathotypes, consisting of close to 25% of isolates, were virulent only on 4 of 5 commercial cultivars; and about 45 pathotypes, consisting of about 25% of isolates, were virulent on commercial cultivars and accessions. No differential was resistant to all pathotypes, and many pathotypes were represented by single isolates. There was a difference in pathotype diversity and complexity among locations in Alberta. Calmar, Lacombe, and Edmonton sites comprised the greatest number of pathotypes that were virulent on up to seven differentials; at the Beaverlodge, Carstairs, Stettler, and Westlock sites, pathotype 1 comprised more than 60% of total isolates with a few other pathotypes. The Trochu and Vegreville sites were intermediate in the number of pathotypes. Discriminant analysis based on the reactions of the 12 differentials also showed divergence in R. secalis virulence among locations. Pathogenic variability associated with location in Alberta is important in the context of breeding for resistance and use of the most resistant cultivars by producers.
Dietary Habits in Children with Respiratory Allergies: A Single-Center Polish Pilot Study

Background: The rising trend in allergic diseases has developed in parallel with the increasing prevalence of obesity, suggesting a possible association. The links between eating habits and allergies have not been sufficiently clarified. Aim: To evaluate the nutritional status, eating habits, and risk factors of obesity and pulmonary function in children with allergic rhinitis. Materials and methods: We evaluated 106 children with allergic rhinitis (mean age 12.1 ± 3.4 years; M/F 60/46) from the Department of Allergology. Clinical data were collected regarding allergies, physical activity, nutritional status (Bodystat), dietary habits (Food Frequency Questionnaire validated for the Polish population), skin prick test with aeroallergens (Allergopharma), and spirometry (Jaeger). Results: All children suffered from allergic rhinitis; among them, 43 (40.6%) presented symptoms of asthma. There were differences between children with only allergic rhinitis (AR group) and children with both rhinitis and asthma (AA group) in pulmonary function (forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) 100 ± 11 vs. 92.1 ± 15.0; p < 0.05). A total of 84 children (79%) presented a normal body mass index (BMI) (10–97 percentile), 8 (7.5%) were underweight, and 14 (13.5%) were overweight or obese. There were no differences in body composition between the AR and AA groups. Incorrect eating habits were demonstrated by most of the children, e.g., consumption of three or fewer meals in a day (38%), sweets every day (44%), snacking between meals every day (80%), and eating meals less than 1 h before bedtime (47%). Compared to the AR group, the AA group was more likely to eat more meals a day (p = 0.04), snack more often (p = 0.04), and eat before sleeping (p = 0.005). Multiple regression analysis showed a significant association between high BMI and snacking between meals and low physical activity (adjusted R2 = 0.97; p < 0.05). Conclusions: The risk factors for obesity in children with allergies include snacking and low physical activity. Most children with respiratory allergies, especially those with asthma, reported incorrect eating habits such as snacking and eating before bedtime. A correlation between pulmonary function and body composition or dietary habits was not found.
Hemostatic laboratory derangements in COVID-19 with a focus on platelet count

Abstract Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the coronavirus disease in 2019 (COVID-19) which rapidly evolved from an outbreak in Wuhan, China into a pandemic that has resulted in over millions of infections and over hundreds of thousands of mortalities worldwide. Various coagulopathies have been reported in association with COVID-19, including disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), sepsis-induced coagulopathy (SIC), local microthrombi, venous thromboembolism (VTE), arterial thrombotic complications, and thrombo-inflammation. There is a plethora of publications and conflicting data on hematological and hemostatic derangements in COVID-19 with some data suggesting the link to disease progress, severity and/or mortality. There is also growing evidence of potentially useful clinical biomarkers to predict COVID-19 progression and disease outcomes. Of those, a link between thrombocytopenia and COVID-19 severity or mortality was suggested. In this opinion report, we examine the published evidence of hematological and hemostatic laboratory derangements in COVID-19 and the interrelated SARS-CoV-2 induced inflammation, with a focussed discussion on platelet count alterations. We explore whether thrombocytopenia could be a potential disease biomarker and we provide recommendations for future studies in this regard.
Gynecologic oncology at the time of COVID-19 outbreak

The World Health Organization (WHO) classified the novel coronavirus (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]) as a global public health emergency. COVID-19 threatens to curtail patient access to evidence-based treatment. Medicine is changing, basically due to the limited available resources. In the field of gynecologic oncology, we have to re-design our treatments' paradigm. During COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, the highest priority is to achieve the maximum benefit from less demanding procedures. Extensive procedures should be avoided, in order to reduce hospitalization and postoperative events that might increase the in-hospital spread of the virus. There are ongoing concerns on the use of laparoscopic procedures, related to the possible contamination of the staff working in the operation room. Other minimally invasive techniques, including, vaginal surgery as well as robotic-assisted and isobaric procedures would be preferred over laparoscopy. A fair allocation of resources is paramount adequate treatments.
Incidence of HCV reinfection among HIV-positive MSM and its association with sexual risk behavior: a longitudinal analysis.

BACKGROUND HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) are at high risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) reinfection following clearance of HCV, but risk factors specifically for reinfection have never been comprehensively assessed. METHODS Using data from a prospective observational cohort study among HIV-positive MSM with an acute HCV infection (MOSAIC), the incidence of HCV reinfection following spontaneous clearance or successful treatment was assessed. A univariable Bayesian exponential survival model was used to identify risk factors associated with HCV reinfection. RESULTS 122 HIV-positive MSM who had a spontaneously cleared or successfully treated HCV infection between 2003 and 2017 were included. During a median follow-up of 1.4 years (interquartile range 0.5-3.8), 34 HCV reinfections were observed in 28 patients. The incidence of HCV reinfection was 11.5/100 person-years and among those with reinfection, median time to reinfection was 1.3 years (interquartile range 0.6-2.7). HCV reinfection was associated with receptive condomless anal intercourse, sharing of sex toys, group sex, anal rinsing before sex, ≥10 casual sex partners in the last 6 months, nadir CD4 cell count <200 cells/mm3, and recent CD4 cell count <500 cells/mm3. CONCLUSIONS Incidence of HCV reinfection was high and strongly associated with sexual risk behavior, highlighting the need for interventions to reduce risk behavior and prevent HCV reinfections among HIV-positive MSM.
The Effects of Soil Bulk Density on the Morphology and Anchorage Mechanics of the Root Systems of Sunflower and Maize

Abstract The effects of soil bulk density and hence strength on two contrasting species of herbaceous annuals, the dicot sunflower (Helianthus annuusL.) and the monocot maize (Zea maysL.), were investigated by comparing the morphology and mechanics of field-grown plants in soil with a low and high bulk density. Soil with a low bulk density had a significantly lower penetration resistance (118±4.4 kPa) than the high bulk density soil (325±12.2 kPa;P
Diet of Procyon cancrivorus (Carnivora, Procyonidae) in restinga and estuarine environments of southern Brazil

Despite its wide range and abundance on certain habitats, the crab-eating raccoon Procyon cancrivorus (G. Cuvier, 1798) is considered one of the less known Neotropical carnivore species. In the present study we analyzed the diet of P. cancrivorus in a peat forest and in an estuarine island in southernmost Brazil. Fruits of the geriva palm tree Syagrus romanzoffiana were the most consumed item in the peat forest, followed by insects and mollusks. Small mammals, followed by Bromelia antiacantha (Bromeliaceae) fruits and brachyuran crustaceans were the most frequent items in the estuarine island. Other items found in lower frequencies were Solanum sp. , Psidium sp. , Smilax sp. and Dyospiros sp. fruits, diplopods, scorpions, fishes, anuran amphibians, reptiles (black tegu lizard and snakes), birds and medium-sized mammals (white-eared opossum, armadillo and coypu). Levin's index values (peat forest: 0.38; estuarine island: 0.45) indicate an approximation to a median position between a specialist and a well distributed diet. Pianka's index (0.80) showed a considerable diet similarity between the two systems. Procyon cancrivorus presented a varied diet in the studied areas and may play an important role as seed disperser on coastal environments in southernmost Brazil.
Antiviral Effects of Hydroxychloroquine and Type I Interferon on In Vitro Fatal Feline Coronavirus Infection

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a viral disease with a high morbidity and mortality by the FIP virus (FIPV, virulent feline coronavirus). Several antiviral drugs for FIP have been identified, but many of these are expensive and not available in veterinary medicine. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is a drug approved by several countries to treat malaria and immune-mediated diseases in humans, and its antiviral effects on other viral infections (e.g., SARS-CoV-2, dengue virus) have been confirmed. We investigated whether HCQ in association with interferon-ω (IFN-ω) is effective for FIPV in vitro. A total of 100 μM of HCQ significantly inhibited the replication of types I and II FIPV. Interestingly, the combination of 100 μM of HCQ and 104 U/mL of recombinant feline IFN-ω (rfIFN-ω, veterinary registered drug) increased its antiviral activity against type I FIPV infection. Our study suggested that HCQ and rfIFN-ω are applicable for treatment of FIP. Further clinical studies are needed to verify the combination of HCQ and rIFN-ω will be effective and safe treatment for cats with FIP.