Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Using a Plastic Stent with Apically Repositioned Flap in Peri-Implant Soft Tissue Augmentation: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Objectives This study aimed to clinically assess and compare the width of peri-implant keratinized mucosa following the use of a readymade plastic stent with apically repositioned flap versus conventional apically repositioned flap with papillary sparing incisions during single-stage implant placement protocol. Materials and Methods A total of 20 patients were enrolled in this study. In the test group, a prefabricated implant-retained stent was clipped on the healing abutment after implant surgery to reposition the keratinized tissue buccoapically. In the control group, simple interrupted sutures were applied instead of using a stent. After the surgical procedure, the width of the buccal keratinized mucosa was measured at the mesial, middle, and distal aspects of the healing abutment. The change in the width of the buccal keratinized mucosa was assessed at 3 months and 6 months. Results No statistically significant difference was found between the stent group and control group in 6 months' interval where p=0.840, where both groups showed the same mean value of 4.70 ± 0.35 and 4.70 ± 0.63, respectively. The percent of change in the width of KM was found to be higher in the stent group than in the control group with no statistical significance. Conclusion The use of a readymade plastic stent in combined full/partial-thickness apically repositioned flap shows to be effective in increasing the width of KM compared to the conventional technique. This trial is registered with NCT03754894.
Combination Model of Thyrotrophin Receptor Antibody and Volumetric Orbital Apex Crowding Index as an Indicator of Dysthyroid Optic Neuropathy

Background Dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON) is one of the most serious vision-threatening complications of thyroid eye disease (TED); however, accurate and established diagnostic tools for DON are yet lacking. The present study was aimed at identifying new diagnostic factors for the accurate diagnosis of DON. Methods This retrospective cross-sectional study included 25 TED patients (50 eyes) with enlarged extraocular muscles, no previous anti-inflammatory therapy, and the absence of other vision-affecting diseases between May 2017 and August 2019. Baseline data, such as gender, age, ophthalmological history, thyroid disease and management, TED history including clinical features, management, and long-term results, ophthalmological examinations, serology examinations, and single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) results, were extracted. The diagnostic criteria were as follows: (1) best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) loss coexisting with either of the following—increased latency or reduction of amplitude on visual evoked potential (VEP), impaired color vision, visual field defects, contrast sensitivity impairment, and optic disk swelling—and (2) Barrett′s index ≥ 60% in CT. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses assessed the differences in age, gender, eyes, medical history, clinical activity, thyroid hormone and antibodies, uptake ratio (UR) of extraocular muscles in SPECT/CT, and volumetric orbital apex crowding index (VACI) using the generalized estimation equation. Consequently, the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) of the significant factors was constructed. Results Univariate analysis revealed significant differences in the clinical activity, free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyrotrophin receptor antibody (TRAb) levels, the UR of superior and medial rectus, and VACI between DON and TED (without DON) groups. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that TRAb and VACI were significantly different. ROC analysis showed that the univariate models of TRAb or VACI and the multivariate model were effective indicators of DON, while the multivariate model had the highest area under the ROC curve. Conclusion A combination of TRAb and VACI is an effective indicator for DON.
Ameliorative Effect of Parishin C Against Cerebral Ischemia-Induced Brain Tissue Injury by Reducing Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Responses in Rat Model

Background Gastrodia elata Blume (Orchidaceae) is a widely used traditional Chinese herbal medicine in the clinical practice of China, to treat nervous headache, convulsions, dizziness, neurasthenia, and so on. Parishin C (Par C), one of the major bioactive components of Gastrodia elata Blume, is known to exert many different biological activities, including antipsychotic and neuroprotective effects. However, there is little research about its neuroprotective effect in an ischemic stroke model. The objective of the present study is thus to investigate the neuroprotective effects of Par C against cerebral ischemia damage. Methods Rats were pretreated with Par C (25, 50, or 100 mg/kg/day, i.p.) for 21 days, then subjected to 2 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and 22 h of reperfusion. Neurological deficient scores, brain water content, histopathology, TCC staining were performed to assess the neuroprotective effects of Par C. Meanwhile, the oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis-related markers of brain tissue were evaluated by corresponding assay kits. Besides, the antioxidant and pro-inflammatory expression was measured by real-time quantification PCR (RT-qPCR). Results Our findings indicated that the pre-treatment with Par C improved nerve function, suppressed oxidative stress, and pro-inflammatory factors release in rats with cerebral ischemia damage. Besides, Par C significantly increased antioxidant expression and declined pro-inflammatory cytokines expression. Conclusion Par C is shown to exert neuroprotective effects partly via inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation in a rat model of MCAO.
NAT2 Gene rs1041983 is Associated with Anti-Tuberculosis Drug Induced Hepatotoxicity Among Pediatric Tuberculosis in Bandung, Indonesia

Background As pediatric tuberculosis (TB) globally is still reported challenging in diagnosis, to date, a lot of efforts have been established to eliminate the disease including proper treatment regimen using anti-TB drugs. However, antituberculosis drug-induced hepatotoxicity (ADIH) is known to interfere the success of the prescribed therapy. ADIH was found to be correlated with polymorphisms of NAT2 gene, that is responsible to transcript the NAT2 enzyme, a metabolizer of isoniazid (INH). The most common NAT2 gene polymorphisms in Asian population associated with ADIH are rs1041983, rs1799929, rs1799930 and rs1799931. The study aimed to investigate the 4 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in pediatric TB that experienced ADIH. Methods We conducted a case–control study comparing 31 each of pediatric TB experience with and without ADIH. All pediatric TB was selected from 451 pediatric TB Registry of Respirology Division, Department of Child Health Faculty of Medicine Universitas Padjadjaran/Dr Hasan Sadikin Hospital during January 2016 to July 2018. Genomic DNA PCR and sequencing to identify polymorphisms of rs1041983, rs1799929, rs1799930 and rs1799931 were performed in both groups. Data analysis was performed using the Epi info Ver. 7 software. Results Thirty-one pediatric TB experiences with and without ADIH were enrolled in this study. SNP rs1041983 significantly affected the occurrence of ADIH (OR 2.39, CI 95% (1.15–4.96), p=0.019). The rs1799929, rs1799930 and rs1799931 did not significantly affect the occurrence of ADIH (p=0.133, p=0.150 and p=0.659, respectively). Conclusion Polymorphism SNP rs1041983 had association with the occurrence of ADIH.
Efficacy of Wolbachia-infected mosquito deployments for the control of dengue

Background: Aedes aegypti mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia pipientis (wMel strain) have reduced potential to transmit dengue viruses. Methods: We conducted a cluster randomised trial of deployments of wMel-infected Ae. aegypti for control of dengue in Yogyakarta City, Indonesia. Twenty-four geographic clusters were randomly allocated to receive wMel deployments as an adjunct to local mosquito control measures; or to continue with local mosquito control measures only. A test-negative design was used to measure efficacy. Study participants were persons 3–45 years old attending primary care clinics with acute undifferentiated fever. Laboratory testing identified virologically-confirmed dengue cases and test-negative controls. The primary endpoint was efficacy of wMel in reducing the incidence of symptomatic, virologically-confirmed dengue, caused by any dengue virus serotype. Results: Following successful introgression of wMel in intervention clusters, 8144 participants were enrolled; 3721 from wMel-treated clusters and 4423 from untreated clusters. In the ITT analysis virologically-confirmed dengue occurred in 67 of 2905 (2.3%) participants in the wMel-treated and 318 of 3401 (9.4%) in the untreated arm (OR 0.23, 95% CI, 0.15 to 0.35; P=0.004): protective efficacy of 77.1% (95% CI, 65.3 to 84.9). Protective efficacy was similar for the four serotypes. Hospitalisation for virologically-confirmed dengue was less frequent for participants resident in the wMel-treated (13/2905, 2.8%) compared to the untreated arm (102/3401, 6.3%): protective efficacy 86.2% (95% CI, 66.2 to 94.3) Conclusions: wMel introgression into Ae. aegypti populations was efficacious in reducing the incidence of symptomatic dengue, and also led to fewer dengue hospitalisations. Trial registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03055585 and INA-A7OB6TW
Vitamin D Metabolic Profiles in Premenopausal Women Wearing Niqab and Hijab in Sunny Basrah

Background Conservative clothing like niqab and hijab may affect the wearer’s vitamin D metabolic parameters even in predominantly sunny areas of the world (i.e., areas with adequate sunlight exposure throughout the year). Our objective was to evaluate the effect of wearing the niqab or hijab on different vitamin D3 metabolic parameters in a sample of premenopausal women from Basrah. Methodology This was a cross-sectional observational study on premenopausal women who wore a niqab (n = 64), with a comparable age-matched group of women who wore the hijab (n = 60). Biochemical evaluation of the vitamin D3 metabolic profile involved 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OH)-vitamin D, corrected serum calcium, parathyroid hormone (PTH), phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase estimation. Statistical comparison of these parameters was made using the independent sample t-test and Mann-Whitney-U test. Results The two groups of women were age- and weight-matched, with a median age of 39 and median body mass index (BMI) of 31.8 kg/m2. Overall, age, marital status, and BMI of women in both groups had no significant relationship with the vitamin D3 metabolic parameters (low 25-OH-vitamin D, low corrected calcium, and high PTH). The subgroup analysis for women wearing the niqab showed the same results. Conclusions Wearing niqab or hijab in premenopausal women was not associated with any significant statistical relationship or difference in vitamin D3 metabolic parameters. Conservative dress styles like niqab and hijab are practical barriers to sun exposure and contribute to suboptimal vitamin D levels, affecting subsequent metabolic pathways. Healthcare professionals should advise women who wear niqab or hijab to increase their vitamin D3 levels through culturally appropriate alternative mechanisms.
Histone Deacetylase 2 Suppresses Skeletal Muscle Atrophy and Senescence via NF-κB Signaling Pathway in Cigarette Smoke-Induced Mice with Emphysema

Background Exposure to cigarette smoke (CS) is the main risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). CS not only causes chronic airway inflammation and lung damage but also is involved in skeletal muscle dysfunction (SMD). Previous studies have shown that histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) plays an important role in the progression of COPD. The aim of this study was to determine the role of HDAC2 in CS-induced skeletal muscle atrophy and senescence. Methods Gastrocnemius muscle weight and cross-sectional area (CSA) were measured in mice with CS-induced emphysema, and changes in the expression of atrophy-related markers and senescence-related markers were detected. In addition, the relationship between HDAC2 expression and skeletal muscle atrophy and senescence was also investigated. Results Mice exposed to CS for 24 weeks developed emphysema and gastrocnemius atrophy and exhibited a decrease in gastrocnemius weight and skeletal muscle cross-sectional area. In addition, the HDAC2 protein levels were significantly decreased while the levels of atrophy-associated markers, including MURF1 and MAFbx, and senescence-associated markers, including P53 and P21, were significantly increased in the gastrocnemius muscle. In vitro, the exposure of C2C12 cells to cigarette smoke extract (CSE) significantly increased the MAFbx and MURF1 protein levels and decreased the HDAC2 protein levels. Moreover, overexpression of HDAC2 significantly ameliorated CSE-induced atrophy and senescence and reversed the increased MURF1, MAFbx, P53, and P21 expression in C2C12 cells. In addition, CSE treatment significantly increased the IKK and NF-κB p65 protein levels, and PTDC (an NF-kB inhibitor) ameliorated atrophy and senescence. Conclusion Our findings suggest that HDAC2 plays an important role in CS-induced skeletal muscle atrophy and senescence, possibly through the NF-κB pathway.
Willingness-to-Pay and Benefit–Cost Analysis of Botulinum Toxin for the Treatment of Rosacea in China: Findings from a Web-Based Survey

Purpose Botulinum toxin (BTX) is a new treatment approach primarily aimed at relieving flushing and erythema for rosacea, but it is expensive and lacks economic benefit evaluation studies.This study aimed to investigate willingness-to-pay (WTP) of BTX treatment and conduct benefit–cost analysis (BCA) to assess if BTX treatment for rosacea is recommendable from a viewpoint of economics in China. Methods WTP of BTX treatment in rosacea and information of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were inquired via an online questionnaire among the Chinese rosacea patients. The WTP was inquired by photos of three cases with different severities of rosacea before and after BTX treatment. The benefit–cost ratio (BCR) was calculated by dividing WTP by cost. Factors associated with WTP were identified using logistic regression models. Results The average costs of BTX treatment were USD410.09. The mean WTP for Case 1, Case 2, and Case 3 was USD295.53, 307.91, and 311.78, respectively (p<0.05 for Case 1 vs Case 3). 44.31% to 47.52% of Chinese rosacea patients were willing to pay for the BTX treatment. The BCRs were 0.72, 0.75, and 0.76 for Case 1, Case 2, and Case 3, respectively. A positive correlation between WTP and visiting frequency in the past year (OR=1.181–1.200, p=0.015–0.032, for Cases 1 and 2) or Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) score (OR=2.022–2.266, all p<0.01) was observed, but duration (OR=0.521–0.564, p<0.05, for Cases 1 and 2) of rosacea was negatively correlated with WTP. Conclusion For rosacea patients with poor quality of life, and those with high visiting frequency, BTX should be regarded as a recommendable new treatment in China.
Taqman-MGB nanoPCR for Highly Specific Detection of Single-Base Mutations

Purpose Detection of single-base mutations is important for real-time monitoring of tumor progression, therapeutic effects, and drug resistance. However, the specific detection of single-base mutations from excessive wild-type background sequences with routine PCR technology remains challenging. Our objective is to develop a simple and highly specific qPCR-based single-base mutation detection method. Methods Using EGRF T790M as a model, gold nanoparticles at different concentrations were separately added into the Taqman-MGB qPCR system to test specificity improvement, leading to the development of the optimal Taqman-MGB nanoPCR system. Then, these optimal conditions were used to test the range of improvement in the specificity of mutant-type and wild-type templates and the detection limit of mutation abundances in a spiked sample. Results The Taqman-MGB nanoPCR was established based on the traditional qPCR, with significantly suppressed background noise and improved specificity for single-base mutation detection. With EGFR T790M as a template, we demonstrated that our Taqman-MGB nanoPCR system could improve specificity across a wide concentration range from 10−9 μM to 10 μM and detect as low as 0.95% mutation abundance in spiked samples, which is lower than what the traditional Taqman-MGB qPCR and existing PCR methods can detect. Moreover, we also proposed an experimentally validated barrier hypothesis for the mechanism of improved specificity. Conclusion The developed Taqman-MGB nanoPCR system could be a powerful tool for clinical single-base mutation detection.
Nomograms for Predicting Prognosis of Primary Mediastinal Seminoma: A Population-Based Study

Objectives Primary mediastinal seminoma (PMS) was an uncommon carcinoma, and the appropriate treatment remained controversial due to the low incidence. We aimed to investigate the demographics and tumor biological characteristics to determine the potential effective treatment and predict the prognosis. Methods Patients diagnosed with PMS were selected between 1975 and 2016 from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Kaplan–Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazard model were conducted to determine the prognostic factors, and nomograms were employed to visually predict the prognosis. Concordance index (C-index), calibration curve, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were conducted to validate the prediction model. Results A total of 476 patients were included with a median age of 31 years (range, 2–76 years), and a median size of the tumor was 11.6 cm (range, 0.2–24.0 cm). The 5- and 10-year overall survival (OS) rates were 70.4% and 68.4%, respectively. Age, the extent of the primary site, metastatic status, and surgery performance were independent prognostic factors. Not received surgery was considered a poor prognostic factor for OS (HR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.13–3.03; P=0.013). The C-index was 0.733 (95% CI, 0.685–0.781) and 0.819 (95% CI, 0.737–0.901) for internal and external validation for predicting OS, respectively. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.743 (95% CI, 0.681–0.804) for predicting OS (sensitivity, 0.532; specificity, 0.887) in the training cohort. Conclusions The nomogram could efficiently predict the survival of patients with PMS. Surgery was the potential effective treatment, and chemotherapy was strongly recommended for patients over 40 years.
Why Depressed Mood is Adaptive: A Numerical Proof of Principle for an Evolutionary Systems Theory of Depression

We provide a proof of principle for an evolutionary systems theory (EST) of depression. This theory suggests that normative depressive symptoms counter socioenvironmental volatility by increasing interpersonal support via social signalling and that this response depends upon the encoding of uncertainty about social contingencies, which can be targeted by neuromodulatory antidepressants. We simulated agents that committed to a series of decisions in a social two-arm bandit task before and after social adversity, which precipitated depressive symptoms. Responses to social adversity were modelled under various combinations of social support and pharmacotherapy. The normative depressive phenotype responded positively to social support and simulated treatments with antidepressants. Attracting social support and administering antidepressants also alleviated anhedonia and social withdrawal, speaking to improvements in interpersonal relationships. These results support the EST of depression by demonstrating that following adversity, normative depressed mood preserved social inclusion with appropriate interpersonal support or pharmacotherapy.
Latent Tuberculosis Infection Status of Pregnant Women in Uganda Determined Using QuantiFERON TB Gold-Plus

Abstract Background The risk of progression of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) to active disease increases with pregnancy. This study determined the prevalence and risk factors associated with LTBI among pregnant women in Uganda. Methods We enrolled 261 pregnant women, irrespective of gestational age. Participants who had known or suspected active tuberculosis (TB) on the basis of clinical evaluation or who had recently received treatment for TB were excluded. LTBI was defined as an interferon-γ concentration ≥0.35 IU/mL (calculated as either TB1 [eliciting CD4+ T-cell responses] or TB2 [eliciting CD8+ T-cell responses] antigen minus nil) using QuantiFERON TB Gold-Plus (QFT-plus) assay. Results LTBI prevalence was 37.9% (n = 99) (95% confidence interval [CI], 32.3–44.0). However, 24 (9.2%) subjects had indeterminate QFT-plus results. Among participants with LTBI, TB1 and TB2 alone were positive in 11 (11.1%) and 18 (18.2%) participants, respectively. In multivariable analysis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 4.4 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.1–18.0]; P = .04) and age 30–39 years (aOR, 4.0 [95% CI, 1.2–12.7]; P = .02) were independently associated with LTBI. Meanwhile, smoking status, alcohol use, nature of residence, crowding index, and TB contact were not associated with LTBI. Conclusions Our findings are in keeping with the evidence that HIV infection and advancing age are important risk factors for LTBI in pregnancy. In our setting, we recommend routine screening for LTBI and TB preventive therapy among eligible pregnant women.
A functionally distinct neutrophil landscape in severe COVID-19 reveals opportunities for adjunctive therapies

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening syndrome of respiratory failure and diffuse alveolar damage that results from dysregulated local and systemic immune activation, causing pulmonary vascular, parenchymal and alveolar damage. SARS-CoV-2 infection has become the dominant cause of ARDS worldwide, and emerging evidence implicates neutrophils and their cytotoxic arsenal of effector functions as central drivers of immune-mediated lung injury in COVID-19 ARDS. However, a key outstanding question is whether COVID-19 drives a unique program of neutrophil activation or effector functions that contributes to the severe pathogenesis of this pandemic illness, and whether this unique neutrophil response can be targeted to attenuate disease. Using a combination of high-dimensional single cell analysis and ex vivo functional assays of neutrophils from patients with COVID-19 ARDS compared to non-COVID ARDS (caused by bacterial pneumonia), we identified a functionally distinct landscape of neutrophil activation in COVID-19 ARDS that was intrinsically programmed during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Furthermore, neutrophils in COVID-19 ARDS were functionally primed to produce high amounts of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Surprisingly, this unique pathological program of neutrophil priming escaped conventional therapy with dexamethasone, thereby revealing a promising target for adjunctive immunotherapy in severe COVID-19.